Women's Clothing Boutique Near Me Tybee Island, GA

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) - Would you take a vacation with your coworkers?

A business on Tybee Island closed its doors for a whole week to do just that.

7 days a week Pier 16 employees are hard at work.

And as they serve up their favorite dishes their service doesn’t go unnoticed by co-owner Natalia Navon.

She sees her employee’s efforts every day and that is why every year she and her husband try to take them on a trip.

“Right now if I’m going on a vacation I would feel like my employees would want to take a vacation too.”

And this year she took them on a cruise to Mexico.

For some, like Mathew Rodriguez, it was their first trip with the team.

“When I first started it was only a story I heard and the next thing you know it, I was in Mexico with these guys it was amazing.”

And for others, this isn’t their first rodeo.

“The first trip I went to Vegas with them. I had never been out of the south.. the second year we went to the Bahamas, this year we went to Mexico it was amazing.”

On this cruise, he had a chance to see his coworkers in a different light.

“This trip we got to learn a lot about each other.. it’s one house.. we are like a family.”

And that’s the goal for these vacations. Leadership training experts say having incentives like this has many benefits for both parties.

”Persons respond to bosses or managers or supervisors whom they have a good relationship with, where they have a good rapport. Like asking people how are your kids are, is everything going well? These things help to boost staff morale, increase company positive culture and it also leads to greater staff retention long term.”

Because at the end of the day, we spend most of our days with our coworkers, and having a chance to bond.. just makes work.. and our lives better.

“They have all become my best friends and my family.”

Copyright 2024 WTOC. All rights reserved.

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) - Heavy winds on Tybee Island as Idalia came through Georgia’s coast.

Some coming to see the crashing waves for themselves.

“I like to see what a hurricane does at the beach. It’s interesting.”

And some bars like Windrose still had their doors open, according to owner Jessica Hadley.

“They always like to have somewhere to have their hurricane parties.”

The wind knocked some power lines down, like one on 2nd Ave. Limbs and debris can be seen on the streets.

But there wasn’t as much rain as what might have been, meaning little flooding. That’s something Deb Barreiro is grateful for.

“We got off really easy today.”

She’s been living here for nearly 30 years and has seen many storms.

“We were really lucky today. The wind was scary and the gust were frightening but the damage seems to be minimal.”

And fellow islander Ashley Stille may have a mailbox to get situated but she shares the same relief.

“I said none of the neighbors had any big damage and we didn’t either. So a mailbox, if that’s all it is, I’m happy with.

While Tybee Island Mayor Shirley Sessions says she is also grateful, she acknowledges the fact that the beach endured some powerful winds. Erosion being her main concern.

“A lot of wind, a lot of flooding and that’s what really causes damage.”

She’s says city staff will be teaming up with the Department of Natural Resources to take a look at how much sand was lost and go from there.

“If it was significant, we will be able to get some funding to help with those repairs. But all in all, we’re very fortunate. My hearts and prayers go out to our neighbors in Florida and inland, who were not as fortunate,” said Mayor Sessions.

Mayor Sessions says she’ll keep us updated on what they find in the coming days. She applauded city leaders and residents for being well prepared.

She wants folks living out here to keep that preparation in mind because hurricane season is not over. That means having insurance policies because it’s better safe than sorry.

Copyright 2023 WTOC. All rights reserved.

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) -Tybee Island is looking to add childcare opportunities to the Island. In a survey conducted by the Tybee Island YMCA over 3/4 of families on the Island are looking for all-day childcare.

Saturday is the first open house for what the YMCA is calling their first phase into what they hope to see grow into those needed programs. The open house will be taking place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Starting in February they will be adding a Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to noon program. In hopes of being able to get the staffing and the space to move to all-day.

Tybee Island has become a place of destination, the beach outside of Savannah, but it’s not just a tourist location. According to the latest census over 3,000 people call the island home. And the demographic is changing and changing quickly.

“My wife and I have noticed the large amount of parents and kids that have come out here,” said Alan Davies, Tybee Island Maritime Academy parent.

With the additions like Tybee Island Maritime Academy, the need for before and after-school programs is increasing.

Alan Davies has been making the commute from his work on the far end of Chatham County here to the island to pick his son up from TIMA, something he says it’s not always possible.

“It’s not easy to get there by 3:15 to pick your kid up by 3:30,″ said Davies.

For parents of non-school-age children, the struggle is just as difficult. As many of the local full day childcare facilities on Whitemarsh or Wilmington Island have long waiting lists.

“Some people are going into Habersham and West Chatham, they are traveling far just to get childcare, ” said Carol Tanrath, YMCA Branch Director.

In 2023 The YMCA surveyed the residents to see just how in need extra programs out of the 152 responses over a third responded asking for more access to childcare.

“I think there has been a need, and I think people have been asking, but they haven’t been given the attention or support that they need, and that’s what we are here for,” said Tanrath.

The Y is starting the new Monday through Friday program in February and for the link to more information click here.

Copyright 2024 WTOC. All rights reserved.

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) - Tybee Island is gearing up for tens of thousands of visitors this Memorial Day weekend.

The holiday marks the kickoff of the summer beach season for many, when large crowds start hitting the sand almost every weekend.

This comes a few weeks after the beach community had what city leaders called a chaotic time during Orange Crush.

“It was not like this the other day. You can see people funneling in,” said Michelle Siegert, who is visiting from New Jersey.

The city is preparing for a busy stretch with officials saying last Memorial Day weekend 150,000 people visited Tybee beaches.

“Today is half more than when we first got here. There’s probably 50% more people,” said Tammy McLellan, visiting from Indiana.

To prepare, the island will have extra officers on duty and lifeguards patrolling the beach.

From Friday to Monday, traffic controls will be in effect.

Southbound Traffic on Butler Avenue will not be able to turn left onto 15th Street or Tybrisa Street.

Inlet Avenue will be closed to traffic as needed.

And now as the city prepares for a crowded weekend, another large unpermitted event could be in store for the island later this summer.

Social media posts are advertising an event called “Turnt Island” in conjunction with Orange Crush organizers scheduled on Tybee the weekend before July 4th.

Flyers promoting the event claim it will be the south’s biggest July 4th beach bash with over 10,000 people expected.

During last month’s Orange Crush party, the island’s leaders came under scrutiny after the roads went into gridlock with nearly 20 arrests and more than 300 emergency calls made in one weekend.

In response to the possible July 4th party, Tybee’s mayor said in a statement that the island is aware of the flyers advertising a non-permitted event saying in part....

”We have been in touch with our county and state officials (including GDOT, CEMA, GEMA) who have ensured their assistance if needed. Multiple actions are being taken to stop these public safety activities from disrupting our residents, businesses and visitors.”

Again, the “Turnt Island” event is being promoted by some of the organizers involved in the recent Orange Crush event.

An event several agencies said they could have better prepared for.

Our investigative team poured over many pages of documents about how the city handled preparations for Orange Crush.

Copyright 2023 WTOC. All rights reserved.

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) - Labor Day bringing many folks out to the beaches on Tybee Island.

Soaking up the sun, splashing in the waves and fishing off the pier.

Many of the people WTOC spoke with said they feel there’s no better way to spend this holiday than relaxing at the beach.

Some say this may be their last trip to the beach until next year, so for lots of people, this weekend marks the unofficial end of summer.

“Me and the kids are out here enjoying Labor Day weekend. Trying to catch some sun, get a little bit of exercise, probably get in this water and you know, try not to have too much fun,” Tybee Visitor Dylan Belcher said.

“We was at the beach, relaxing, enjoying this weather. We don’t have no beaches at home so enjoying the weather, enjoying the beach. It’s a good vibe,” Tybee Visitor Tyrone Simmerson said.

Simmerson is visiting from all the way from Mississippi. He said he knew Tybee was the place he wanted to spend this weekend because all he wanted to do was decompress by the ocean.

Business owners say they’re grateful for the foot traffic Labor Day brings to the island.

The owner of Boardwalk Ice Cream on Tybrisa Street says this weekend brought one of the busiest days of the summer. He says on Saturday his shop was packed from open until close.

That’s the kind of business he says is crucial this time of year.

“It’s a, it’s a little slow for a few, few weeks leading up to Labor Day, so this is kind of a good, good little extra bump to get us through the winter,” said Allen Newkirk.

Newkirk says although some mark this weekend as the unofficial end of summer, he’s hoping that with these warm temperatures, locals will continue to come out and cool off with his ice cream.

Meanwhile, some people said it was there first time out here on Tybee and they’re already looking forward to coming again.

“Well, we thought it was a great day to come out to Tybee because we did a lot of cleanup after the storm and we just needed to get out of the house and enjoy this beautiful day. There’s not a care in the world out here. I mean there’s nothing to do except just enjoy the sun and lay on the beach, enjoy the water,” said Janice and Jim Ambler.

The Ambler’s say they turn to Tybee when they need a place to forget all their worries.

Copyright 2023 WTOC. All rights reserved.