Verge september 14 by Gary Kauffman

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Verge * September 2014

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Verge is published on the first of the month. Copies are available free at locations throughout the CSRA, including Publix, Kroger and Earth Fare, and 140-plus other locations. We also direct mail copies into some CSRA neighborhoods. Verge is a publication of Buzz on Biz, LLC. Reach us at 706-589-6727 or email the staff with story ideas, event listings or advertising inquiries. Publisher Neil R. Gordon

Issue Design Gary Kauffman

Editor in Chief Gary Kauffman/803-341-5830

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Sales Manager Neil R. Gordon/706-589-6727 Sales Janine Garropy/803-480-2800 Photography Gary Kauffman Melissa Gordon/sofiacolton.com

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what’s inside vibe This month’s leading story is all about the ARTS! Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at techies, upcoming events, movie reviews, and thoughts on the 5 O’clock Bistro.

vitality When it comes to health, lifestyle changes – not more medicine – make the difference, as Dr. Karp and Dr. Brad Steinle both point out. Give your palate a jolt with curry chicken salad or a pumpkin ale.

back-to-school Mathanasium has expanded to Aiken and leads off our second section. Skateland is a fun break from school and St. Mary’s school teaches a well-rounded education.

values Subtle parenting mistakes can cause big havoc, as Dave and Ashley Willis tells us. New writer Whitney Caudle explains how to pick the right realtor for you, and Kathy Crist tells us why caring for a caregiver is so important.

views

Destination weddings are all the rage but take careful planning, as Margaret Centers tells us. Humorist Nora Blithe reveals her encounter with her grandmother’s underwear, and editor Gary Kauffman finds the South a bit on the wet side.

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By Jennifer Reynolds

No visit to Arts in the Heart is complete without trying food from several different countries’ tables. —Stefanie Newhall

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icking a favorite part of Augusta’s annual Arts in the Heart festival is no easy task. “My favorite thing about Arts in the Heart of Augusta is a toss-up between the arts and crafts vendors, and the food,” said Stefanie Newhall, an Augusta resident. “I love to stroll through the artists’ market and see the original creations on display for sale. No visit to Arts in the Heart is complete without trying food from several different countries’ tables.” That is exactly what Arts in the Heart, Augusta’s favorite festival, is designed to do: Highlight the diverse cultural heritages of Augusta residents. The annual two-and-a-half day event, put on by Greater Augusta Arts Council features various local cultural groups who serve traditional food and perform music and dance. This year the iconic Augusta event is Sept. 19-21 on Augusta Commons (836 Reynolds St) and Broad Street in downtown Augusta. “It is a lesson in the celebration of the diversity of our city,” said Brenda Durant, Executive Director of the Greater Augusta Arts Council. “Arts in the Heart is a model. There is no race, no age that isn’t represented. I don’t think anyone could come here and think I’m not represented here.” There are more than 50 arts and crafts booths featuring a variety of mediums and price points. A children’s section gives kids the opportunity to be hands-on and the Young Artists Market sells handmade items from artisans aged 18 and under. The decision to expand the celebration to Broad Street has delighted many patrons of the event. “The move to Broad Street was smart as it supports local business as well,” Augusta resident Paige Patton said. “I love the diversity of

“They have a good reputation in the festival scene,” said Durant. When selecting a band for the event, Durant wanted a group that was known in festival circles and had a strong social media presence. She believes a group with both attributes will draw the largest number of attendees to Arts in the Heart. The addition of The Revivalists was brought about by a grant received by the Arts Council. The grant is aimed at promoting Arts in the Heart outside the local community and drawing guests who will stay overnight in area hotels. Its approval was contingent in part on bringing in a national act. Another major musical addition to the event is the Jazz Stage. It will join the other four stages that have been part of Arts in the Heart. The Global Stage holds dance and music performances that feature the traditional dance and song of the participating cultural groups. The Family Stage has kid-friendly events. The Troubadour Stage holds low-tech performance such as storytelling and acoustic music. The Community Stage highlights local performers and hosts Augusta Chronicle’s 2014 AMPED music contest featuring local bands

and musicians. The Jazz Stage will, of course, feature jazz. Karen Gordon of Garden City Jazz organized the performers. Festival-goers can expect to hear local favorites such as John Hobbs and Buzz Clifford on the jazz stage. There will be a special presentation of music and spoken word from the Harlem Renaissance. The Augusta Swing Dance Group will perform. There will be a jam session of jazz and blues music on Friday night. Karen Gordon will do her Clap, Wiggle and Shake presentation for children. “We are extremely excited to showcase the creative talents of jazz artists and musicians in this area. We hope that everyone will come out and enjoy the entire festival,” said Karen Gordon. While Wycliffe Gordon will not be able to attend Arts in the Heart due to travel, Karen Gordon said “his influence will definitely be present because so many of the musicians in this area have worked with him and been influenced by his work.” An Arts in the Heart tradition is the Unity Dance. Each year, two members of each cultural group are selected to learn a dance that they then perform together as a group. It was during the organization of this dance at a past Arts in the Heart that something happened which summarizes what Arts in the Heart means in the Augusta community. “An African American woman who was older held up her hand,” Durant said. “’I want to dance,’ she said. ‘I always wanted to be a dancer.” When the woman was growing up, segregation still fractured the south. The dance studios only allowed white children. At Arts in the Heart many years later, the woman danced the Unity Dance in the heart of downtown Augusta with dancers of many races. It is an example of the healing and unifying spirit of Arts in the Heart. The Global Village celebrates a diversity of cultures through food. Here, local community groups centered on cultural heritage – such as German Friendship Club of Augusta – staff tents. Each group serves authentic cuisine and wears traditional dress. Commercial ventures and restaurants are prohibited. Stefani Newhall loves the food choices. “Indian Samosas, Pancit from Guam, seasoned meat on a stick from the Phillipines -- there is just no other weekend in Augusta like it,” she said. In recent years, the Global Village occupied the Augusta Commons. This year it has been expanded to also include the 700 block of Broad Street and will include groups new to the event such as Cyprus, Indonesia/Micronesia, Lebanon and Sweden. The interactive family area has also been expanded and a stilt walker has been brought in to lead off the parade. When it began in 1981, the Greater Augusta Arts Council created Arts in the Heart as a way for art-

FRIDAY, SEPT. 19

artists, vendors, performers, and crowds coming together as a community. It’s a wonderful grassroots celebration!” This year there will be even more to celebrate as the festival promises to be the largest one yet. It will feature classic favorites plus some exciting changes. For the first time in its 34 year history, Arts in the Heart will feature a national music group as the event’s concert headliner. The Revivalists, a six-piece group from New Orleans that “rounds out traditional rock instrumentation with horns and pedal steel guitar” will perform as the main event Saturday night and later for the Arts in the Heart After Party at Sky City (1157 Broad Street).

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SATURDAY, SEPT. 20

—Coco Rubio

SUNDAY, SEPT. 21

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I love the move to Broad street.....and the music.

Stage Schedule

Community Stage 5 – Pinckney Sisters of North Augusta 6 – The Hollerers 6:45 – The Gilded Youth 8 – Livingroom Legends Global Stage 5 – Paine College Concert Choir 5:30 – Augusta Hoopers 6 – Opening Ceremonies 7:30 – Mixed Motionz 8 – Pyroteque 8:30 – Eastwind Under Flame Family Stage 5 – Stephanie’s Dance Explosion 5:30 – Celtic Rhythm Irish Dancers 6:30 – Rhythm & Class Cloggers 8 – Envy Dance of Augusta

Community Stage 11 – Dee Dee Love 11:45 – Breaking News 12:30 – Motherlickas 1:30 – Low Creek Killers 2:30 – Double D 3:30 – Billy S Power Trio 4:15 – Artemia 5 – Amped 8 – Mountain Express Acoustic Global Stage 11 – 5,6,7,8 Studios Performance Group 11:30 – CSRA Zumba Instructor Group 12:15 – Dance Xtreme 12:45 – Odyssey Greek Dancers 1:30 – Cutno Dance Center 2:15 – Drake Irish Dance 2:45 – CSRA Belly Dancers 3:30 – Shofusion Dance Arts Studio 4:30 – Chinese Dancers 5 – Eastern Star Dance Theatre 7 – Awards for Food, Fine Arts & Craft, SGI 7:30 – The Revivalists Family Stage 11 – Michelle’s Magical Poodles 12 – Davidson Fine Arts Improv Troupe 12:30 – Davidson Fine Arts Acting II 1 – Forte Step Team 1:30 – Savannah Winds Middle Eastern Dance Troupe 2:30 – Musical Theatre Workshops 4 – Augusta Flow Arts 5:30 – Kane and Company 6:45 – Augusta Prep Chorus 7:30 – Tori Langham 8:15 – Higher Definition Community Stage 12 – Cloud Formations 12:45 – Pure Love Music 2 – Second Chance Rising 3:15 – Chris Hardy 4:30 – She N She 5:30 – Celia Gary 6 – Carey Murdock Global Stage 12 – Indonesia and Micronesia 12:30 – Grupo Reolucion Juvenil de Aiken 1:30 – Mangelly Belly Dancers 2 – Hindu Temple Society 3 – Abatsu and Ajadaco 4 – Augusta Players 4:30 – Suzuki Strings 5:45 – Greater Augusta Arts Council 6 – Savannah River Stringband Family Stage 12 – Show Stoppers 1 – Saidi and Friends 1:30 – Pulse Dance Center 3:30 – Davidson Fine Arts Musical Theatre Ensemble 4:15 – Davidson Fine Arts Junior Advanced Acting 5:15 – Allison Skipper

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“I love the diversity of artists, vendors, performers, and crowds coming together as a community. —Paige Patton

ists to watch each other perform. Thirty-four years later, it has grown to a two-and-a-half day festival that requires a planning committee of more than 30, thousands of volunteers and its own logistics team. Durant said she and her colleagues at the Arts Council “could work full time on just this project.” The planning committee meets year round. The logistics team works hard to make the event seamless. Even things such as drainage are considered to ensure the event runs smoothly. “[They plan] all that sexy stuff that hopefully no one thinks about because it’s working well,” Durant said with a laugh. No detail is overlooked. There are bar managers to organize the beer tents, stage managers for each of the five stages, a person who will attend

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the needs of The Revivalists, a finance team to count and collect money and sheriff’s deputies to provide security. The event is so expertly managed that there is even a logistics person dedicated solely to ice. It helps to have volunteers and planners who participate year after year. The organization runs more smoothly and they give essential feedback. “I believe in keeping people on as long as they’ll stay with you,” Durant said. Another part of planning is selecting which vendors can participate in the Arts and Crafts booths. Artists submit applications and a jury made up of artists and people with a strong art background decide who to invite. They meet for one day in July and review more than 200 applications to select artists for roughly 60 spots. “We push to have local artists,” Durant said.

But since Arts in the Heart was recognized as a Top 200 Event by Sunshine Artist magazine, the event’s popularity with artists has boomed. Arts in the Heart has expanded to include artists from throughout the southeast. The jury’s hard work ensures that visitors to Arts in the Heart are exposed to numerous artistic mediums and because the jury seeks artists in a variety of price points, purchasing original art is accessible to all. One tradition of the festival that was eliminated was featuring a specific country. Durant said this practice caused confusion, particularly to out of town guests who were unfamiliar with the festival. For example, if the featured

country was Germany, people mistakenly believed Arts in the Heart was a German festival instead of a cultural festival. “[It’s] still a cultural experience but we don’t focus on one culture,” Durant said. Through the years, Arts in the Heart has grown and added new features. Durant hopes to expand the concert aspect of the event in the future and to expand the children’s area possibly by bringing in artists and crafters with a special appeal to kids. She also hopes that the food served at the event will draw recognition. “I’d love to be recognized by food,” she said. “It would be great to have someone from Food Network come down and cover the food aspect.”

vibe

Brothers playing at Sky City in Augusta. Photo by Payton Fisher

garden city beat

Matthew Porter

Band with Augusta ties releases new record

oming off a great show with Ruby the Rabbitfoot and White Violet at Sky City, bassist Noel Brown tells us a little bit about the Athens by way of Augusta band, Brothers. How long has Brothers been around as a band? Brothers has been around in some form for about four years. Who else is in the band and what do they do? Ryan Gray Moore sings and plays guitar and synth. He’s also the primary songwriter and lyricist. Stephen Pfannkuche also plays guitar and Michael Gonzalez play drums and percussion. I play bass. Some of you are from Augusta, you got together as a band in Athens, and some of you live in Atlanta now – how does that work? Michael, Ryan and I all grew up in Augusta. Those guys played in a band called Hello Lefty but I didn’t really get

to know them until we were all living in Athens. It’s funny because all three of us actually worked at Jay’s Music in Augusta, just not at the same time. Now Michael and I live in Atlanta and Ryan and Stephen live in Athens. It can be a bit tricky but we have a practice space in Athens that we use about once a week. I have family in Athens so I’m there pretty regularly anyway. You’ve recently released some new music. How does it fit in with the other things you’ve put out, and where can people get it? I think the songs are a bit more raw and immediate than the ones on our last record, Street Names. Those songs had been kicking around forever as demos from Ryan and then various incarnations and different recordings. What finally came out was ultimately the product of several years of work. This new EP, Beautiful, was written as

a band in a few months and then recorded mainly live with Jesse Mangum at The Glow in Athens. The band’s gotten some recent exposure from Paste magazine. Was it a surprise to the band? How did that happen? It was a really nice write up! They featured the new EP in a section about bands they found on Bandcamp and Soundcloud. As far as I know they just found us on their own. Do you have any shows in next couple months? We (played) at WonderRoot in Atlanta on Aug. 29. It’s this rad community arts center with a dark room, recording studio and tons of rotating art installations. They actually just got a new building that’s something like 10 times the size of where they are now. It’ll be a while before they move in but I’m pretty excited to see what they do with it.

What does “success” look like for the band? We’d really like to tour but all of us have day jobs, so it can be a little tough. For me, success would mean making records, touring in a way that doesn’t completely derail the rest of our lives and just making music together. To hear the newest record from brothers, Beautiful, visit brothersathens.bandcamp.com/ Matthew Porter is a music fanatic, record collector, deejay, and occasional soundman, living in Augusta.

Verge * September 2014

behind the curtain

Wes Hennings

Behind-the-scenes workers are stars, too

look at the GPS and I’ve driven past it. Again. Sadly, this is not the first time I’ve driven past this location, and I doubt it will be the last. Finally I find the industrial parts store and turn into the parking lot. Is it four or five warehouse doors down? I can’t remember. Luckily one of the doors flies open and inside lies the heart of Augusta’s entertainment industry. Have you seen a show at the Bell Auditorium? James Brown Arena? The Imperial? If so, chances are this warehouse had something to do with it. Or at least the guys that work there. This is not the part of town you’d want to be in when it’s dark out. And these are probably the guys you would misjudge on your first encounter. The warehouse is overshadowed and drowned out by the passing interstate, much like its inhabitants are overshadowed by the “celebrities” they support. Of course I am talking about the techies. People that run technology for entertainment – such as lights, sound, and video – are certainly a rare breed. I don’t know if they are born that way or if they’ve all had one too many run-ins

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with a diva in sequins in heels who thinks her (or his) spotlight isn’t big enough. Full disclosure, I am a techie by trade, running video and such for a local church, but I’ve dabbled in acting as well so of course I consider myself an expert in both. A very humble expert, as you can tell. Anyway, it’s easy to judge these guys dressed in black by their rough appearance and often coarse language. But if you ever get the chance to know them a bit below that exterior,

Wes Hennings has been in the performing arts since he could walk and since moving to Augusta has been in dozens of productions, both on stage and behind the curtain. Contact him at wes.verge@gmail.com.

techies are some of the finest people you will ever meet. The nature of their job ensures they are hard workers. They love a good laugh and can deal with the drama (mostly because they have to work with actors and singers). Also, they pretty much have unlimited access to the venues that you want to have unlimited access to. What’s cool about the warehouse is that inside is all of the equipment that’s rented to facilities throughout

the CSRA and way beyond. These lights are used at a high school one week and the James Brown Arena the next. A microphone in the hands of a community theater actor this week could be on Vince Gill at the guitar pull next week. I ask the proprietor what’s on the agenda and there’s any number of festivals and concerts in the works. I guess it’s just the life of a techie – always in the background, but never to be overlooked.

Samantha Taylor The Movie Chick Single moms, talking apes and a tiger in a boat

The Single Moms Club – PG 13 The Single Moms Club is a film about five single mothers from varying walks of life. When their children are caught vandalizing the prestigious school they attend, these moms must put aside their differences and work together on a school fundraiser in order to avoid having the kids expelled. The Single Moms Club was written and directed by Tyler Perry and plays out pretty much like all of his films do. The characters are in unfortunate situations, they band together and everything turns out alright. Honestly, if you’ve seen one Tyler Perry movie, you’ve seen them all. I know what you’re thinking right now. “Isn’t she always talking about positive messages? Doesn’t this movie have a positive message? Why is she being a hypocrite?” People, there’s a difference between a positive message and a fairy tale. Tyler Perry movies play out like fairy tales, and I have a problem with that. Women have been told since they were little girls that one day, the perfect man will come and all their problems will be solved. But that isn’t

true, now is it? Don’t get me wrong. I applaud Tyler Perry for his efforts. He’s doing the best he knows how. And his movies are much better than some of the nonsense that’s out there. Unfortunately, it’s the same Cinderella story we’ve been hearing all our lives. Rise of the Planet of the Apes – PG 13

jjj

When I was a child I loved the Planet of the Apes films. I realize now that it was all terribly cheesy and a franchising goldmine, but kids never know those things. All I saw was talking apes, and I loved every second of it. So it was only logical that I immediately chose this film when it came across the Redbox selections. Rise of the Planet of the Apes centers on scientist Will Rodman (James Franco) who is working on an experimental drug that will cure Alzheimer’s. His father (John Lithgow) is suffering from the disease and Will is desperate to get him back. The drug is given to apes and Will soon finds himself living with one extremely intelligent chim-

panzee. I like this movie because it’s all pretty plausible. As a kid, I always wondered how the apes got so smart, but this film explains it all. I mean, animal testing happens every day. Of course, towards the end things get a little Hollywood, but this is an action film. Should you watch Rise of the Planet of the Apes? I say yes. If you have older kids you can watch it on a rainy Friday night and everyone will be entertained. And on a family movie night that’s all you can ask for, now isn’t it?

jjj

Life of Pi – PG Many years ago I read this book. I was absolutely fascinated by it. Pi and his family own a zoo in India and for political reasons decide to move to Canada. The family and the animals board a ship and begin the journey across the ocean. A raging storm blows in and the ship sinks. There are only two survivors on a lifeboat when the storm dies down: Pi and Richard Parker. Did I mention that Richard Parker is a tiger? Now that you have the plot, you can understand my hesitancy to watch this film. I mean, how on earth can you make a movie about a boy and a tiger on lifeboat? And I haven’t even mentioned the sharks, the whale and the carnivorous island! Is it possible to transfer all these fantastic things to film? Yes!

I watched this film with my son, and we were both mesmerized. The special effects were beautiful and the acting far surpassed my expectations. The plot seems straightforward, but there are layers that cannot be explained in this tiny column. When I asked my son if he thought people should watch Life of Pi, he said yes. You know why? “It’s a movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat and it could help you if you ever get stuck at sea with a tiger.” Well, there you go.

Rating System

j Couldn’t even finish it, don’t waste your time. jj Watch it on TV, while you’re doing something else. jjjEnjoyed it! Definitely worth renting. jjjj Plan to watch it again. Just go ahead and buy it. Samantha Taylor “Sam the Movie Chick” is on a mission to find the best movies for you to rent from Redbox or download from another source. She loves good flicks, good food and good friends. Her eclectic tastes are sure to give readers a wide range of viewing choices.

Fall filled with activities at Augusta Canal By Alexandrea Daitch For a quick escape from the hustle and bustle of the city without traveling far, try the natural beauty of the historic Augusta. After its two-month summer hiatus, the fall offers a wide range of activities along the Canal, including discovery walks, moonlight music cruises and bike rides into history. The themed Discovery Walks are held twice a month, on Sundays at 3 p.m., lasting about an hour and a half. Some of the themes include “Walk on the Wild Side,” a walk geared towards wildflowers hosted by Dr. Charlotte Christy, a biology professor at Georgia Regents University, and “Making Fall Colors Pop,” a how-to for capturing the perfect fall picture, instructed by a member of the Augusta Photography Festival faculty. Another attraction at the Augusta Canal this fall is the return of the

Moonlight Music Cruises. The line-up ranges from Jeff Liberty, a blues and rock musician, to Eryn Eubanks and the Family Fold, a group with a gospel, bluegrass and Americana vibe. These bands and others will be playing on Friday nights in September and October aboard the Canal’s Petersburg boats. The last major highlight of the canal’s fall activities is Pedal Through the Past, a guided bike tour geared toward learning about the history and nature surrounding the Augusta Canal. Not only will those on the tour learn about the heritage area of Augusta, they’ll also get a great work out. These guided adventures are offered one Saturday per month at 10 a.m. and last 30 to 45 minutes one way. For more information regarding times, locations and pricings for these activities, visit augustacanal.com or call 706-823-0440.

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calendar of events Tue., Sept. 2

MARKET The Veggie Truck Farmers Market, Shop for organic, local produce. Double EBT/SNAP benefits! Located on Broad Street across from the Kroc Center, 4:30 – 7 p.m., theveggietruck.org

Thurs., Sept. 4

MARKET Evans Towne Farmer’s Market, Shop for local, organic produce, as well as enjoying crafts from local vendors, located on the grounds behind the Columbia County Library, 4:30 – 7 p.m., evanstownfarmersmarket.com COMMUNITY First Thursday, Explore the shops in historic Summerville, along with live music and local vendors, Shops along Kings Way, 5 – 8 p.m., free, augusta.org ART Preservation of Place: The Art of Edward Rice, Morris Museum of Art, Enjoy a documentary and question-and-answer period with Edward Rice, 6 p.m., free, themorris.org

a.m., Run in remembrance of those who lost their lives on 9/11 with all proceeds benefiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, $25, runsignup.com/ Race/SC/NorthAugusta/3rdAnn ualPatriotDayRun MARKET Diggin’ the River, Farmers market, food and craft vendors, free live music and yoga, as well as the 8 at 8 running group, 8th Street Plaza in Downtown Augusta, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., theaugustamarket. com HISTORY Saturday Historic Tours, Explore the history of the city of Aiken over a two-hour tour, Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum, 10 a.m., $15, cityofaikensc.gov HISTORY Augusta Historic Trolley Tour, Explore a variety of historic Augusta sites aboard the trolley, Augusta Museum of History, 1:30 p.m., $15, augusta.org

Sat., Sept. 6

RACE Patriot Day 5k and 10k, North Augusta Greeneway, 8

CONCERT Jake Owen Days of Gold Tour, James Brown Arena, 7 p.m., ticket prices vary, augustaentertainmentcomplex.com WRESTLING Live Pro Wrestling, Patriots Park, doors 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m. Belltime, $10 front row, $7 general admission, flatlineprowrestling.com

Patriot Day run on Greeneway On September 11, 2001 we witnessed our home get attacked. Lives changed forever. Friends, family, Americans, lost in the ashes. The Third Annual Patriot Day 5K/10K will be run on Sept. 6 on the Greeneway in North Augusta in remembrance of the brave souls that were lost that day, and those that followed since. All proceeds will benefit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. To sign up for the race, go to runsignup.com/Race/SC/ NorthAugusta/3rdAnnualPatr iotDayRun

ART Free tour Sundays, Morris Museum of Art, 3 p.m., free, themorris.org

Tue., Sept. 9

MARKET The Veggie Truck Farmers Market, Shop for organic, local produce. Double EBT/SNAP benefits! Located on Broad Street across from the Kroc Center, 4:30 – 7 p.m., theveggietruck.org FILM Southern Circuit Film Series: Speak Now, Morris Museum of Art, 6 p.m., free, themorris.org

Wed., Sept. 10 HISTORY Brown Bag History Talk – “Regional Politics: 1840 – 1870”, Augusta Museum of History, Bring a lunch and enjoy a talk by Joe Hotchkiss, beverages provided at 11:30 am, lecture 12:30 p.m., free to members, $3 nonmembers, augustamuseum.org

Thur., Sept. 11

Fri., Sept. 5

COMMUNITY First Friday, Enjoy live music and shop local vendors, Augusta Common and Broad Street, 5 – 9 p.m., free, augusta.org COMMUNITY First Friday In-Shop Wine Tasting featuring 6 wines, Wine World in North Augusta, 5 – 8 p.m., $5 admission with $3 rebate on purchase, wineworldsc.com

Sun., Sept. 7

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COMMUNITY Celebration of Life Blood Drive, Head out to the Bojangles in Grovetown and donate life-saving blood, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., wafj.com MARKET Evans Towne Farmer’s Market, Shop for local, organic produce, as well as enjoying crafts from local vendors, located on the grounds behind the Columbia County Library, 4:30 – 7 p.m., evanstownfarmersmarket.com

Fri., Sept. 12

FOOTBALL 21st annual Border Bash, Come out and enjoy the area’s largest tailgate party with UGA and USC cheerleaders and mascots, as well as live music, Augusta Common, $10 advance, $15 at the gate, kids 12 and under free, VIP tickets available, gates open 4 p.m., music 6 p.m., borderbash.net CONCERT Southern Soul and Song: Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver with special guests Kenny and Amanda Smith, Imperial Theatre, 7:30 p.m., ticket prices vary, imperialtheatre.com THEATER Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre, Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Nile, dinner 7 p.m., show 8 p.m., ticket prices vary, fortgordon.com/theatre

Sat., Sept. 13

The ultimate tailgate party Come out and enjoy the area’s largest tailgate party at the 21st annual Border Bash on Friday, Sept. 12. Celebrate with the UGA and USC cheerleaders and mascots, plus live music. The Border Bash will be held in the Augusta Common with gates opening at 4 p.m. and music starting at 6 p.m. Proceeds will benefit charities in the CSRA. For more information visit borderbash.net. MARKET Diggin’ the River, Farmers market, food and craft vendors, free live music and yoga, as well as the 8 at 8 running group, 8th Street Plaza in Downtown Augusta, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., theaugustamarket.com HISTORY Saturday Historic Tours, Explore the history of the city of Aiken over a two-hour tour, Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum, 10 a.m., $15, cityofaikensc.gov HISTORY Augusta Historic Trolley Tour, Explore a variety of historic Augusta sites aboard the trolley, Augusta Museum of History, 1:30 p.m., $15, augusta.org MUSIC 5TH Annual 96.3 Kiss FM Family Reunion, Come out and enjoy a day long musical festival featuring local and national R&B artists, vendors, car and bike shows and more, Evans Towne Center Park, 3- 7 p.m., $20 in advance, $30 day of show, 963kissfm.com THEATER Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre, Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Nile, dinner 7 p.m.,

show 8 p.m., ticket prices vary, fortgordon.com/theatre

Sun., Sept. 14

ART Free tour Sundays, Morris Museum of Art, 3 p.m., free, themorris.org

Tue., Sept. 16

MARKET The Veggie Truck Farmers Market, Shop for organic, local produce. Double EBT/SNAP benefits! Located on Broad Street across from the Kroc Center, 4:30 – 7 p.m., theveggietruck.org

Thur., Sept. 18

MARKET Evans Towne Farmer’s Market, Shop for local, organic produce, as well as enjoying crafts from local vendors, located on the grounds behind the Columbia County Library, 4:30 – 7 p.m., evanstownfarmersmarket.com HISTORY Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle, Augusta Museum of History, Enjoy a film screening and discussion, 6:30 p.m., augustamuseum.org

calendar of events

CONCERT Cheech and Chong with WAR, The Up in Smoke Tour, Bell Auditorium, 7:30 p.m., ticket prices vary, augustaentertainmentcomplex.com

Fri., Sept. 19

COMMUNITY 34th Annual Arts in the Heart of Augusta, Broad St. and Augusta Common, 5-9 p.m., $5 badges in advance, $10 at the gate, artsintheheart. com THEATER Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre, Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Nile, dinner 7 p.m., show 8 p.m., ticket prices vary, fortgordon.com/theatre THEATER Sleeping Beauty, Imperial Theatre, 7 p.m., ticket prices vary, imperialtheatre. com COMEDY Rockshow Comedy Tour with Tim Hawkins, West Acres Baptist Church, 7:30 p.m., $20, wafj.com

HISTORY Saturday Historic Tours, Explore the history of the city of Aiken over a two-hour tour, Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum, 10 a.m., $15, cityofaikensc.gov COMMUNITY 34th Annual Arts in the Heart of Augusta, Broad St. and Augusta Common, 11 a.m. -9 p.m., $5 badges in advance, $10 at the gate, artsintheheart.com HISTORY Augusta Historic Trolley Tour, Explore a variety of historic Augusta sites aboard the trolley, Augusta Museum of History, 1:30 p.m., $15, augusta.org THEATER Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre, Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Nile, dinner 7 p.m., show 8 p.m., ticket prices vary, fortgordon.com/theatre CONCERT Rickey Smiley, Bell Auditorium, 8 p.m., ticket prices TBA, augustaentertainmentcomplex.com

Sun. Sept. 21

Sat., Sept. 20

RACE Augusta HBCU 5k Fun Run/Walk and Health Fair, Riverview Park, North Augusta, 7 a.m., registration prices vary, facebook.com/GreaterAugustaHBCUAlumniAlliance MARKET Diggin’ the River, Farmers market, food and craft vendors, free live music and yoga, as well as the 8 at 8 running group, 8th Street Plaza in Downtown Augusta, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., theaugustamarket. com

COMMUNITY 34th Annual Arts in the Heart of Augusta, Broad St. and Augusta Common, 12 7 p.m., $5 badges in advance, $10 at the gate, artsintheheart. com ART Free tour Sundays, Morris Museum of Art, 3 p.m., free, themorris.org

Tue., Sept. 23 MARKET The Veggie Truck

Cancer Awareness Tennis tournament set for Sept. 11 The 4th Annual CSRA Cancer Awareness Tennis Tournament (CSRA CAT) will take place Sept. 11-14 at the Petersburg Racquet Club in Martinez. Tournament amenities include food and beverages throughout the event, door prizes, a player party and an auction. All proceeds will be donated to the GRU Cancer Center. Registration deadline is Sept. 7. To register and for more information, visit tennislink.usta.com/tournaments. Tournament ID number is 700120214. Farmers Market, Shop for organic, local produce. Double EBT/SNAP benefits! Located on Broad Street across from the Kroc Center, 4:30 – 7 p.m., theveggietruck.org PHOTOGRAPHY Photo Walk and Talk, downtown Augusta, bring your camera and tour downtown Augusta with photographer Michael Johnson, reservation requested and you must bring your own camera, 5 p.m., free, themorris.org

Thur., Sept. 25 MARKET Evans Towne Farmer’s Market, Shop for local, organic produce, as well as enjoying crafts from local vendors, located on the grounds behind the Columbia

County Library, 4:30 – 7 p.m., evanstownfarmersmarket.com THEATER Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre, Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Nile, dinner 7 p.m., show 8 p.m., ticket prices vary, fortgordon.com/theatre

Fri., Sept. 26

THEATER Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre, Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Nile, dinner 7 p.m., show 8 p.m., ticket prices vary, fortgordon.com/theatre THEATER The Addams Family, Imperial Theatre, 8 p.m., ticket prices vary, imperialtheatre. com

Sat., Sept. 27 MARKET Diggin’ the River, Farmers market, food and

craft vendors, free live music and yoga, as well as the 8 at 8 running group, 8th Street Plaza in Downtown Augusta, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., theaugustamarket. com HISTORY Saturday Historic Tours, Explore the history of the city of Aiken over a two-hour tour, Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum, 10 a.m., $15, cityofaikensc.gov HISTORY Augusta Historic Trolley Tour, Explore a variety of historic Augusta sites aboard the trolley, Augusta Museum of History, 1:30 p.m., $15, augusta.org MUSIC Soiree: Jazz +Wine, Classic jazz by Travis Shaw 3 while enjoying fine wine and light eats, Jessye Norman School, 7:30 p.m., $7, gardencityjazz.com THEATER Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre, Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Nile, dinner 7 p.m., show 8 p.m., ticket prices vary, fortgordon.com/theatre THEATER The Addams Family, Imperial Theatre, 8 p.m., ticket prices vary, imperialtheatre. com

Sun., Sept. 28

ART Free tour Sundays, Morris Museum of Art, 3 p.m., free, themorris.org THEATER The Addams Family, Imperial Theatre, 3 p.m., ticket prices vary, imperialtheatre. com

Tue., Sept. 30

MARKET The Veggie Truck Farmers Market, Shop for organic, local produce. Double EBT/SNAP benefits! Located on Broad Street across from the Kroc Center, 4:30 – 7 p.m., theveggietruck.org

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nightlife Tue., Sept. 2

Thur., Sept. 4

Happy Bones, Stillwater Taproom, 10 p.m., $5, facebook.com/stillwater. taproom Adelita’s Way, Sky City, doors open 8 p.m., music 10 p.m., $10 advance, $15 door, skycityaugusta.com

M.A.D. Open Mic, M.A.D. Studios, 7 p.m., $5, all ages, madstudiosaugusta. com

Fri., Sept. 5

First Friday 80’s Night, Sky City, 9 p.m., free, skycityaugusta.com Live Jazz Friday, The Partridge In, 10 p.m.–1:30 a.m., free, partridgeinn.com Funk You Acoustic, Stillwater Taproom, 10 p.m., $5, facebook.com/stillwater.taproom Richie Scholl, The Country Club, doors open 7 p.m., music 10 p.m., $3 ladies, $5 men, augustacountry.com Dank Sinatra, Surrey Tavern, 10 p.m., $5, augustasurreytavern.com

Sat., Sept. 6

Live Band Saturday, The Partridge Inn, 10 p.m. – 1:30 am, free, partridgeinn.com Almost Kings with special guests Stillview + DJ Fugi, Sky City, doors open 8 p.m., music 10 p.m., $10 advance, $15 door, skycityaugusta.com Holman Autry Band, The Country Club, doors open 7 p.m., music 10 p.m., $3 ladies, $5 men, augustacountry.com Coriander Blue and Brian Kaye, M.A.D. Studios, 7 p.m., $6 advance, $8 door, all ages, madstudiosaugusta.com The Get Right Band, Surrey Tavern, 10 p.m., $5, augustasurreytavern.com

Tue., Sept. 9

Two’sDay Nite Music Club, M.A.D. Studios, Singer/Songwriter Open Mic,

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Doors open 7 p.m., $2, madstudiosaugusta.com Trivia, Roadrunner Café, sign up at 7 p.m., trivia at 7:30 p.m., roadrunnercafe. com Trivia, Somewhere in Augusta, 8 p.m., somewhereinaugusta.com

Thur., Sept. 11

Pierce Eden, Stillwater Taproom, 10 p.m., $5, facebook.com/stillwater. taproom Angie Aparo with special guest Levi Lowrey, Sky City, doors open 8 p.m., music 10 p.m., $10, skycityaugusta.com M.A.D. Open Mic, M.A.D. Studios, 7 p.m., $5, all ages, madstudiosaugusta. com

Fri., Sept. 12

Live Jazz Friday, The Partridge In, 10 p.m.–1:30 a.m., free, partridgeinn.com Phillip Lee & Michael Baideme, Stillwater Taproom, 10 p.m., $5, facebook. com/stillwater.taproom Artemis with special guest Pixel Adams, Sky City, doors open 8 p.m., music 10:30 p.m., $5, skycityaugusta.com Amanda Daughtry, The Country Club, doors open 7 p.m., music 10 p.m., $3 ladies, $5 men, augustacountry.com Showtime, Surrey Tavern, 10 p.m., $5, augustasurreytavern.com

Sat., Sept. 13

Live Band Saturday, The Partridge Inn, 10 p.m. – 1:30 am, free, partridgeinn.com Will McCranie, Stillwater Taproom, 10 p.m., $5, facebook.com/stillwater. taproom Remembering Mikey: A Tribute to Michael Houser featuring Sam Holt Music with Scarlet Begonias, Sky City, doors open 8 p.m., music 10 p.m., $10 advance, $12 door, skycityaugusta.com Michael Stacy, The Country Club, doors open 7 p.m., music 10 p.m., $3 ladies, $5 men, augustacountry.com Wake Up and Never Sleep Again: The Power of Transgender Art, M.A.D. Studios, 6 p.m., $4 advance, $6 door, all ages, madstudiosaugusta.com Tony Williams and the Blues Express, Surrey Tavern, 10 p.m., $5, augustasurreytavern.com

Tue., Sept. 16

Tue., Sept. 23

Thur., Sept. 18

Thur., Sept. 25

Fri., Sept. 19

Fri., Sept. 26

Two’sDay Nite Music Club, M.A.D. Studios, Singer/Songwriter Open Mic, Doors open 7 p.m., $2, madstudiosaugusta.com Trivia, Roadrunner Café, sign up at 7 p.m., trivia at 7:30 p.m., roadrunnercafe. com Trivia, Somewhere in Augusta, 8 p.m., somewhereinaugusta.com Crying Wolf, Stillwater Taproom, 10 p.m., $5, facebook.com/stillwater. taproom M.A.D. Open Mic, M.A.D. Studios, 7 p.m., $5, all ages, madstudiosaugusta. com Live Jazz Friday, The Partridge In, 10 p.m.–1:30 a.m., free, partridgeinn.com Runaway Jug Band, Stillwater Taproom, 10 p.m., $5, facebook.com/stillwater.taproom Future Birds, Sky City, doors open 8 p.m., music 10:30 p.m., $10, skycityaugusta.com John King Band (Montgomery Gentry Afterparty), The Country Club, doors open 7 p.m., music 10 p.m., $3 ladies, $5 men, augustacountry.com Tony Williams and the Blues Express, Surrey Tavern, 10 p.m., $5, augustasurreytavern.com

Sat., Sept. 20

Live Band Saturday, The Partridge Inn, 10 p.m. – 1:30 am, free, partridgeinn.com Candid Coal People, Stillwater Taproom, 10 p.m., $5, facebook.com/stillwater.taproom The Revivalists with special guest Stop Light Observations (Arts in the Hearts Afterparty), Sky City, doors open 8 p.m., music 10:30 p.m., $10, skycityaugusta.com

Adam Sanders, The Country Club, doors open 7 p.m., music 10 p.m., $3 ladies, $5 men, augustacountry.com Austin Miller, M.A.D. Studios, 7 p.m., $5 advance, $7 door, all ages, madstudiosaugusta.com Stepping Stones, Surrey Tavern, Music 10 p.m., $5, augustasurreytavern.com

Sat., Sept. 27

Live Band Saturday, The Partridge Inn, 10 p.m. – 1:30 am, free, partridgeinn.com 2Steel Girls, The Country Club, doors open 7 p.m., music 10 p.m., $3 ladies, $5 men, augustacountry.com Soul Dimensions, Surrey Tavern, 10 p.m., $5, augustasurreytavern.com

Sun., Sept. 28

The Tarletans, M.A.D. Studios, 7 p.m., $5 advance, $7 door, all ages, madstudiosaugusta.com Jeremy Graham, The Country Club, doors open 7 p.m., music 10 p.m., $3 ladies, $5 men, augustacountry.com Cloud Formations, M.A.D. Studios, 7 p.m., $5 advance, $7 door, all ages, madstudiosaugusta.com Jordan Rager, Tim Cadiere, and Washboard Rd., Surrey Tavern, Music 10 p.m., $5, augustasurreytavern.com

Tue., Sept. 30

Jennifer Miller dinner date on a dime High expectations go unfulfilled at 5 O’Clock Bistro I jjj love the upscale charm of the little shops and restaurants along Central Avenue and Monte Sano Avenue. It’s such a happy area that strives for its own uniqueness and flavor. So, when friends asked me to join them for cocktails and appetizers followed by dinner at 5 O’Clock Bistro, I didn’t hesitate. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out as well as I’d hoped. 5 O’Clock Bistro is lovely with lots of original brick and rich woods with beautiful touches that take you to the French countryside. Our server was prompt, but slow. Since time wasn’t important no one minded. I opened with an Arugula Bleu Berry Salad that included candied pecans and feta, tossed in a blueberry balsamic vinaigrette with lemon oil. It was fresh and the cheese was delicious. The dressing, while the description was divine, was a little bitter, which did nothing to cut the natural bitterness of the greens. It just wasn’t worth the $8 price tag. Next I opted for the Scallop Tacos, one of the specials of the day. These lightly fried scallops were served with

Ratings Food Service jj Location jjjjj Price jj Ambiance jjjj

a deliciously sweet Thai chili sauce and topped with an even more delicious gingered apple and jalapeno slaw. This had the makings of Top 10 meal, but the tortilla shell was tough – like it had been sitting out for several hours. And for $12, the shell put a real damper on the dish. My friend Melissa opted for the marinated and pan-seared pork chop served with sweet and spicy collard greens, fingerling potatoes and topped with a special sauce. Her collard greens were the star of the show and she later told me she had been craving them ever since the dinner. The pork chop was a different story. It was well-cooked and good, but not overwhelming by any means. It was just a pork chop. Again, it didn’t match the $22 price. There were touches of brilliance on

both our plates, but not enough to overcome the problems. And it wasn’t helped by the way the service fell off as the night progressed. First there was the big Palmetto bug crawling up the wall beside our table. OK, we live in the South and it’s an old building. But the staff was so inattentive they didn’t notice the women at my table jumping around trying to kill it. (I was not one of them – I can ignore bugs.)

When it was time to go we asked for the check. Then we waited. I finally found our server on a trip to the restroom – she was hiding in a stall talking about co-workers to someone on her cell phone. Not a mortal sin, but it just added to the list of problems we had. I’ll give 5 O’Clock Bistro another shot because I’ve heard over and over how wonderful it is. I hope our poor experience was a one-night glitch.

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Beerfest rolls out new quality craft brews By Ben Casella Beer? Tasting? Festival? Now those are three words that definitely need to go together in this town more often. Let me tell you why… My brother, Vic, and I started an unseasonably pleasant Saturday with burgers at the Whiskey Bar Kitchen. He had a Bloody Mary (the sophisticated drinker’s daytime libation), and I had a Guinness on draft (the, well, beer reviewer’s daytime libation). We then headed over to the Augusta Beerfest at the Bell Auditorium. Having last been to the Bell for the Pops, I’ll have to admit I was a tad skeptical regarding the floor plan for such an event. I was also hoping for a crowd of beer enthusiasts rather than a few people kicking around a conversation about malts and hops and what-have-you’s. We walked in, got our wrist bands and headed for the floor. Right off the bat, I can tell you there was quite the crowd already in existence (we were about 45 minutes into the first session). We both remarked on how much of a success the event was before we even started trying the beer. The floor was packed with enthusiasts and friends of the craft sampling beers from a few dozen breweries with little commemorative mugs – a

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very nice (and green) touch for such an event. There were large canisters for dumping excess beer and water stations for rinsing your mug. Truly, the people in charge had done their homework prior to the kickoff of this event. Down to business After taking in the scene for a minute or so, Vic and I just dove right in and started trying beers. I can honestly say I had at least one beer I had never had before at each brewery’s station. Just about every brewery had a nice variety of styles, as well as a one or two for all seasons. Most of the breweries were from the Southeast. However, the West, Midwest and New England were well-represented, too. One thing, however, that caught my mind was the fact that we have a great deal of craft beers coming right out of Georgia (and they’re not all Sweetwater or Terrapin – no slight whatsoever to either of those breweries). Vic and I spent a little bit more time at the Three Taverns Brewery station than we did at others (although we made it a point to hit every brewery represented). Quasimodo, their Belgian-style quad ale is, in my opinion, the total package when it comes to ale. From the nose to the breathe-out after the sip, this brew is significant

in every aspect that a craft beer can exemplify. The pour is deep and dark with a head not unlike cappuccino, and the nose conveys dampened dark fruit with a tinge of brown sugar and roasted malts. The taste has these qualities with an addition of a yeasty savor that has been toned down to just below that which one would expect in a quad ale and a bready feel that translates nicely over the entirety of

the mouth. This was my favorite brew of the day (and Vic’s as well). A slew of quality craft brews ensued, and I could literally write a short book describing all of them, but then you wouldn’t read my column, so we’ll skip to another favorite brewery of mine: Southern Tier. There’s really nothing overtly southern about this brewery except for the fact that it’s located near the southern coast of Lake Erie (a region known colloquially as the “Southern Tier.” The beer of note for me at this station was Choklat. The appearance is much like that of Quasimodo. The aroma and taste conveyed more of a milk chocolate twist on something that one would expect to be more of a high cocoa flavor. The cocoa comes in toward the back end, however, but not so strongly so as to dampen a subtle sweetness throughout that makes this a brew I’m definitely going to enjoy this season (and likely the next). All in all, Vic and I walked away with an appreciation for this event that far exceeded what we expected beforehand. Beerfest 2015 (and I hope and expect that there would be one) is an event that you should mark on your calendar as soon as you hear about it. I can’t wait to see you there.

vitality Dr. Warren Karp ask dr. karp Healthy foods, exercise are still the best diet plan J oy, from West Augusta, asks, “Is the Anti-Inflammation Diet a good diet?” Great question. These days, doesn’t it seem like there’s a special diet for everything, with a book (and usually a product) to go along with it? Writing diet books seems to be very good

for promoting media appearances, making money and having 15 minutes of fame, but is a popular book a good source of nutrition information? Do you honestly have to eat one way for your heart, one for your brain, one for your libido, one for aging, one way for your hormones and, most recently, a

special way to decrease inflammation in your body? The answer to this question is simple – you do not. It turns out that there is one very well-known way of healthful eating and you do not have to buy anything to find out about it. And, it shouldn’t be big news to you, either. You must have heard by now that you need to eat lots of fruits and veggies, have a few nuts here and there, eat more fish and whole grain starches, have a plant-based diet, eat less highfat meats and avoid fried foods, fast foods and foods high in sugar, salt, fat and calories. Honestly, if this is news to you, then you must have just emerged from a World War II bomb shelter. From an economic point-of-view, the problem with this widely- and freely-available information is that you can’t really attract a lot of new interest, excitement and, most importantly, consumer buying power. So, simply throw in some “wishful thinking” among the factual information to stimulate people’s imaginations and their impulses to open their wallets. What are some examples of this “wishful thinking” as it relates to the “anti-inflammatory diet?” One “wish” is that there is a simple, reliable, precise, specific and accurate blood test to “monitor” your inflammation (CRP, C-Reactive Protein); other “wishes” include lists of specific foods to “avoid” and “seek out.” To wrap up this marketing approach, let’s also recommend specific dietary supplements, especially ones that you happen to sell. The CRP blood test, for example, has been around for many years and has

been studied pretty extensively. It is a blood test that has some use in measuring the inflammatory state of an individual, under specific conditions. For example, if you have a bacterial infection, this causes an inflammatory response in your body and you can use CRP to monitor the infection, especially if you want to know if the treatment for the infection is working. In this case, then, the CRP blood test may be used to monitor inflammation which is the result of the bacterial disease. Inflammation is not causing the disease. To jump from this to using CRP as a monitor for inflammation which may be causing diseases such as cardiovascular disease or arthritis...well, it is just a big leap of faith and where “wishful thinking” enters the picture. For this reason, there is no consensus among health scientists that CRP be routinely measured in the general population as an indication of health risk. On the other hand, CRP may be helpful in monitoring the risk of a second cardiovascular event in people who have already had a heart attack. The idea that certain foods and See DR. KARP, page 16 “Ask Dr. Karp” focuses on food, diet, and nutrition. Dr. Warren Karp is a Professor Emeritus at Georgia Regents University. If you have a question you would like answered in this column, post it on his Facebook page, “AskDrKarp”

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here’s to your health Doctors Hospital named to Georgia honor roll Doctors Hospital in Augusta has been named to the Georgia Hospital Association’s (GHA) Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) Core Measures Honor Roll. Doctors Hospital is one of 30 hospitals in Georgia to be placed in the Chairman’s category, the highest on the list. The honor roll is based on clinical data provided by the federal Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS), which administers the nation’s Medicare and Medicaid programs. The data was collected from January 2013 to December 2013. Hospitals are required to submit care data to CMS, which details how well a hospital’s caregivers adhere to a list of Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) core measures. These measures are the clinical processes of care that are known to be the most effective methods of treatment for surgical patients and patients who have suffered heart attacks, pneumonia and heart failure. For instance, a recommended treatment to help prevent a heart attack is

ask dr. karp

continued from page 15 dietary supplements may be used as if they are drugs to treat or avoid inflammation is just not supported by the data right now. Some good “no-nonsense nutrition advice” is to base your health behavior on the best possible evidence at the moment and not what is “ahead of the science” or considered evolving or transitional thinking. So, is there really solid evidence that specific foods, like blueberries, green tea, or specific dietary supplements, like Coenzyme Q10, decrease your “inflammatory state?” No. Is there really solid evidence that eating certain foods, like tomatoes and eggplants, can increase your inflammatory state and are to be avoided? No.

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Sponsored by Mourning Doves, see ad below

to take aspirin either before or upon arrival at the hospital, as well as at discharge. It is recommended that surgery patients are given an antibiotic one hour prior to surgery to prevent infection. The VBP core measure is a composite measure that determines whether or not a patient received the right care at the right time. Daybreak Adult Care expands to Evans DayBreak Adult Care Services has opened its newest office in Evans. With the expansion of the Aiken office, the adult care service company will be able to provide senior care to residents in Georgia. DayBreak provides personalized home care services with a focus on maintaining dignity and independence in daily living for seniors in their homes. DayBreak Services include 24/7 care, respite care, grocery shopping, Alzheimer’s and related dementia care, meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, hospital/facility sitting, companionship, transportation, medication reminders, errands, home health, palliative, or hospice support, bathing

assistance and dressing assistance. For more information about DayBreak Adult Care Services, call 706-7231744 (Evans), 803-226-0288 (Aiken) or visit daybreakcare.com. Childrens Hospital commemorates Childhood Cancer Month Pediatric cancer patients and their families helped hang gold ribbons on trees outside the Children’s Hospital of Georgia that will be on display for the entire month of September to commemorate national Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. CHOG offers the area’s only Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Clinic, and it is staffed with pediatric hematologists-oncologists, nurse practitioners and other specialists that diagnose and treat children with hemophilia, leukemia, lymphomas, sickle cell disease, various tumors, rare pediatric blood and clotting disorders, bone cancers, and more. Come out and meet some of the children and families affected by these illnesses. In the U.S., almost 13,000 children under the age of 21 are diagnosed with cancer every year; approximately

one-fourth of them will not survive. The objective of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is to put a spotlight on the types of cancer that largely affect children, survivorship issues and, most importantly, to help raise funds for research and family support. A diagnosis turns the lives of the entire family upside down. United Hospice rebrands as PruittHealth United Hospice’s Augusta and Aiken locations are now PruittHealth Hospice. After 45 successful years in the health care industry, UHS-Pruitt Corporation has changed its name to PruittHealth, as well as the names of its family of providers, and modified company branding to achieve a more unified image for its vast array of health care services. While the name may have changed, the quality of care and services has not. The community can expect the same quality services and commitment to caring that United Hospice has always provided, now with a new name. For more information visit PruittHealth. com.

When it comes to your “inflammatory state,” your lifestyle, including your overall eating pattern, is where the focus needs to be. The focus should not be on whether you are eating this food, using that herb (such as curry or ginger) or taking a specific supplement. What are these lifestyle factors? Probably the most important are not being overweight/obese and controlling your blood pressure and diabetes. In addition, exercise has a big effect on your health, by many mechanisms, one of which may be by lowering your “inflammatory state.” Uncontrolled and untreated gum disease and dental infections and smoking also can increase your chronic

disease risk, perhaps through the inflammatory connection. It also may be that, after talking to your physician, you are a specific individual who should take a daily baby aspirin and statin-based cholesterol-lowering medication as two more ways of reducing your chronic disease risk and “inflammatory state.” Yes, it is true the statins do reduce cardiovascular risk by reducing your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol; however, they may have a second affect by reducing inflammation in your body. So, do we know what the one diet is that is the healthy diet? We’re pretty sure we do. And will this diet decrease your risk of chronic disease, help you as you age, help your brain, your heart,

and your kidneys and, by the way, perhaps decrease your inflammatory state? We’re pretty sure it will. Where do you find out about this diet? The information is freely available on the USDA “Choose My Plate” website (choosemyplate.gov). What’s the “no-nonsense nutrition” advice for today? If you are worried about your “inflammatory state,” and your risk of chronic diseases, then your emphasis should be on your overall eating pattern and your lifestyle behaviors, not on specific foods, books, or TV programs. Don’t be “ahead of the science;” rather, be at the “leading edge,” right behind the science. All this writing has made me hungry. I’m going to eat a tomato sandwich. Bon Apetit!

beers locals like

Ben Casella

Beers that may affect the outcome of college football contests I

’ve never really been a fan of those chain emails that say something like “forward this to 10 of your friends and Jesus will give you a hug” or “forward this to 10 of your friends and you’ll make more money.” Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for hugs and money, but it’s just quicker to hit the delete button than it is to sit in front of my computer and ponder the possibility that I may actually have 10 friends to begin with. With that being said, if you want the Georgia Bulldogs to have a good football season, try every brew I recommend this autumn. There is one caveat, however: By the time we go to press with this issue, the Dawgs will already have played a game against Clemson. So, we’ll know ahead of time whether or not you’ve been doing your homework. Blue Moon Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale – I know, I know, but how many opportunities do you have to use the words “pumpkin” and “session” in the same sentence in the context of beer? Blue Moon has been a guilty mainstream pleasure of mine for some time now, and Harvest Moon Pumpkin is just as good (if not better) as it has been in previous years. I’ll tell you right off the bat that this isn’t my favorite pumpkin ale (you’ll see that one next month). I will tell you, however, that this seasonal brew has a balance of pumpkin and spice that’s subtle enough to replace your Miller Light at the tailgate and significant enough to let you know it’s there. Cooter Brown American Brown Ale – This Georgia brew from Jekyll

Brewing has really come on the scene as of late here in Augusta (much like Hop Dang Diggity IPA from the same brewery). It pours a clear amber brown with a head that’s surprisingly big for this craft of beer. The expected malts are abundant on the nose and translate onto the tongue with just enough yeast to make you think it may have a propensity toward sour before the hops decay the mouthful and leave you with the slightest of sweet (and a moderate hoppy bite) hints before another sip. I’m really not much for American Brown Ales, but Cooter Brown is definitely worth your consideration. Try it with the steak sandwich from Metro Market. These and more can be found Downtown (and around town) this season. So, make it a point to pop on down to Broad Street and pop one open. The rooftop patio of Metro Market isn’t a bad place to start.

Ben Casella recently attended Beerfest in Augusta and enjoyed tasting the many available beers. Read his review of the event on page 14.

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Jennifer Miller seasonal bites Chicken salad with a bold taste and good for you T his chicken salad recipe has everything I like. Tasty chicken, the bold flavor of curry and the sweet of juicy, luscious grapes. Add some crunch from almonds, and this is perfection. OK, maybe a little hyperbole there, but you get the idea. I created this from several chicken salad recipes, and I love it. My latest attempt is to make it as Weight Watchers-friendly as possible and it still be delicious. I think I’ve done it. You can cook the chicken yourself,

or try canned. Or, you can take the really easy way out and buy a rotisserie chicken at your favorite grocery store. Be sure to remove the skin and additional fat – if you want a healthy meal. (Confession: My dogs love the chicken skin – it’s a treat they look forward to.) You can serve this with lettuce, or on a pita, or alone in a bowl. Try bread, or a croissant, whatever you like. Use your imagination – you’ll love it!

Curried Chicken Salad 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cooked and diced 1 stalk celery, diced 4 green onions, chopped 1 apple - peeled, cored and diced (Golden Delicious works well. But pick your favorite) 1/3 cup golden raisins 1/2 cup seedless green grapes, halved 1/2 cup slivered toasted almonds 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon curry powder 3/4 cup light mayonnaise In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients. You can serve immediately, but wait a day and it’s even better.

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well-adjusted bodies

Brad Steinle

Changes in lifestyle, not drugs, key to health

t was Doctor O. W. Holmes, Professor of Medicine at Harvard University, who said, “If all the medicine in the world were thrown into the sea, it would be bad for the fish and good for humanity.” This insightful statement was written in the 1800s, when drug use was far less pervasive than it is today. In fact, the top 10 pharmaceutical companies spent $2.7 billion dollars on advertisements alone in 2012. A large majority of Americans have come to accept a dose of drugs as part of their daily lives. In many instances,

these pharmaceuticals serve a lifesaving purpose. However, that does not imply that they serve a healing purpose. For example, many people with cardiac issues take aspirin to “support heart function.” These people should ask themselves, “Do I have this heart problem because of an aspirin deficiency?” The truth is, citizens in first world countries have grown accustomed to instant gratification. There is very little personal responsibility for one’s own well-being in today’s society. People’s daily lives sweep them into a cavalcade of stress, distraction and pain. The idea

of spending extra time and energy on exercising and eating a nutritious meal is almost laughable. What many people fail to realize is, the more you exercise and the better you eat, the more energy you have. Chronic diseases develop from a lack of attention paid to the body at the present moment. To every disease, there is a cause. A very small percentage of disease processes are genetically unavoidable – meaning the vast majority of diseases are preventable by our life choices. If the cause of a particular disease is uncovered in an individual, a treatment plan can be administered that can aid the body in a true healing process. For example, a person diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis will frequently be prescribed a steroid to suppress the immune system so as to not further the damage to the body. However, with this course of action, the cause of the disease is never addressed. The question to ask is, “Why is my body’s immune system responding this way?” In a large amount of these cases, the patient has a disorder in the gut lining that allows larger molecules to enter the blood stream before being broken

down appropriately. These molecules are then deposited in different locations in the body. The immune system of that person responds appropriately by attacking these foreign particles. If the gut lining is not healed, this problem will persist. Former Vice President at the Academy of Medicine, Elmer Lee, M.D., stated “...in sickness the body is already loaded with impurities. By taking drug-medicines, more impurities are added, thereby the case is further embarrassed and harder to cure.” It is necessary for every person to take full responsibility of his or her own health at the present moment by making responsible life-style choices.

Dr. Brad Steinle practices out of Advanced Chiropractic and Wellness Center, His office is located at 122 Old Evans Road, Martinez, GA. Find him online at www.chiropractic4augusta. com or contact him by phone at (706) 738-7731.

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back-to-school guide

Mathnasium helps students achieve confidence By Stephen Delaney Hale Jeff Rucker, known to just about everybody in the CSRA as the former chief meteorologist at WAGT-TV 26 in Augusta, has become something of a missionary for math education. His enthusiasm for improving the lives of children is infectious. Rucker and his wife, Christine, have had such success with their Mathnasium teaching method in Evans and West Augusta that they are opening a third location in the Fresh Market shopping center on Whiskey Road in Aiken. In fact, the Mathnasium Method concept of teaching math to kids “in the way that makes sense to them,” has become so popular that in 10 years there are now more than 450 locations on four continents.

The Aiken Mathnasium opened Sept. 2 and is ready to take applicants. Rucker believes that success in mathematics creates a new selfconfidence in children, and that is an emphasis at Mathnasium. “Your child’s success is our first priority,” he said. He said that for many kids, their No. 1 need in school is improvement in math skills. “If the parents bring them here and if the child tries, we will bring them along to a successful level of math skills,” Rucker said. The Ruckers have a team of about 25 highly trained instructors that will staff their three locations. An immediate goal is to develop a team of instructors from Aiken. “We are already interviewing at USC

Aiken,” Rucker said. The business model of Mathnasium is easy for parents. “They can bring their children any time, as often as they want,” Rucker said. “That is a huge convenience factor for moms.” The typical times spent are one hour for elementary school children, an hour and 15 minutes for middle school kids and an hour and a half for high school students. “All new students take an assessment so that we know where the kids are in their math and thinking skills and from that we build a learning plan for that child,” said Christine Rucker, who serves as marketing director of the family business. “The learning plan

See MATHNASIUM, page 24

Jeff and Christine Rucker in front of their new Aiken location. Photo by Stephen Hale

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Skateland is fun place to take a break from school By Jennifer Reynolds Skateland of Augusta is a great place for families. Since it opened in 2007, it’s provided the CSRA a place to enjoy skating, host parties and spend quality family time together. “[Skating is] a relatively safe sport and it’s inexpensive in comparison to many other sports that you can do,” said owner Kathryn Nave. “Parents will come and stay with their kids and sometimes even skate with them. It’s a family thing.” Nave, who is also a teacher, says skating helps students with school by helping them and their parents cope with the stress of good school performance. “You can’t worry about that quiz, you can’t worry about that homework,” said Nave. “It gives your mind a chance to relax and have a good time.” As any good teacher would, she emphasized that skating should never be done in place of homework. Skateland provides many ways to enjoy skating. They offer theme nights such as Christian Music Night on Mondays and Family Night on Thursdays. Saturday mornings is Kids Skate for children ages 10 and under. This is the only time parents can wear shoes on the rink and it allows them a quiet,

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safe time to help small children learn to skate. Parents are invited to skate for free on Saturday mornings. “[We] encourage parents to bring their little kids because it’s our quietest time,” said Nave of Saturday mornings. During regular skating sessions, guests can expect to have lots of fun. There’s backward skating, couples skate and games like the Hokey Pokey. A live DJ keeps the music going and takes requests. Skateland of Augusta offers lessons for those new to skating or who haven’t skated in a long time and want to brush up on their skills. Lessons are open to both children and adults. The cost is $3 and includes skates. Group lessons are every Saturday at noon. Private lessons are also available. For the advanced lover of skating, Skateland participates in skating competitions. Imagine ice-skating but with roller skates and a wooden floor. Skateland of Augusta has applied to host the Southern Regional Championships for 2015. It’s a great place to host private events. Birthday parties, church groups, school fundraisers and fundraisers for charitable organizations are just some of the events held at

Photo by Melissa Gordon

Skateland. Its website boasts, “We take care of everything but the cake.” Parties can be booked by phone or online at skatelandofaugusta.com. Skateland is hosting an all night skating party on Septembe. 12. Come and skate from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. for only $9 or from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. for $20. The theme will be tie-dye. Skateland rents skates in children and adult sizes or bring your own. Both

roller and inline skates are permitted but they do not rent inlines. They have a store on site if you would like to purchase skates. Prices are competitive and with special promotions discounts. Skateland is an inexpensive place for a date and a great place for families. Parents never pay to watch their children skate. It’s an affordable place that is a clean and safe place to enjoy.

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MATHNASIUM

continued from page 21 is designed to reach them on their level and then bring them further ahead. Everyone is working on different material but everyone is moving ahead.” After the assessment comes a conference with the parents, the student and the instructor to discuss a plan of action before they decide on enrollment. One aspect of the Mathnasium Method that most parents will appreciate is that there are no computers in the room. Students today know how to push buttons and have their computers and smart phones give them information by completing remarkable mathematical functions – but the kids

don’t understand the relationships among the numbers and equations. In the Mathnasium Method, all questions are answered with a pencil and paper. When Mathnasium Method students finish an exercise, they understand what the answer means and how they got there. “Among our priorities is to provide a safe place for children where they are doing the things they need to do,” Jeff Rucker said. “Almost every parent comes back to us to tell us that their child’s overall confidence level has increased since they have developed a foundation in math.” For more information, call 803-2269090, e-mail aiken@mathnasium.com or visit www.mathnasium.com/aiken.

GMC grows by 27 percent Georgia Military College (GMC) Augusta has experienced a significant growth in students this year. The liberal arts junior college began classes on Aug. 2 with 1,140 students enrolled at the Augusta campus, a 27 percent increase at this time of the year in 2012. This number includes returning students as well as new students to the college. The number of new students also shows rapid growth. The college proudly welcomes 321 new students

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to the Augusta campus this quarter. This number shows a 46.5 percent increase in new students from the Fall 1 quarter in 2012. Missie Usry, the Enrollment Manager for the campus, said, “I attribute the growth of our new student population and high retention rate in the last two years to all new administrators and several departments who have hired new staff members with fresh, innovative ideas for streamlining processes.”

St. Mary’s school helps students grow in all areas By Rebecca Vigné The new school year has just begun at St. Mary Help of Christians School, but this is not Principal Peggy Wertz’s first rodeo. The St. Mary’s alumnus attended the school from Kindergarten through the sixth grade. This year will mark her 10th year as the principal of the school and she admits, “I still get the before school jitters!” St. Mary’s students return to school with some exciting new changes. All sixth through eighth grade students will now have iPads that are replacing textbooks and allowing students to be more organized and to carry a lighter load. “I am really excited about this new school year, but I have some anxiety because of the deployment of iPads this year,” Wertz said. “I know that there will be a learning curve for students and teachers, but it will be a wonderful and convenient new addition for the school.” St. Mary’s welcomes some talented new educators to its outstanding staff, all of whom are certified. The school recently added a Gaga Pit to its outdoor recreation facilities. The game is similar to dodge ball; however, only one ball is used, and players must be

hit below the knee in order to be eliminated. It is a safer alternative to dodge ball, and the children have already been enjoying the new game. Approximately 70 percent of the students at St. Mary’s are Catholic, but students of all faiths are welcome. The environment is stimulating, safe, and family-like. “When it was time to make the school decision for our family we knew we wanted a place that would be academically challenging, but that would also provide a nurturing Christian environment,” said St. Mary’s parent Heather Yeh. “When I was touring, with a special interest in the elementary school, I was struck by how vibrant the middle school was. I could picture my kids starting their first day of kindergarten and staying all the way through junior high. It is a loving family environment where each day our children are challenged to be the best they can be and uplifted every step along the way.” St. Mary’s School has been in continuous operation since it was established as St. Angela Academy in 1900. It provides a variety of learning opportunities and teaching strategies to enable students to reach their highest potential morally, intel-

lectually, spiritually, physically, and culturally. St. Mary’s core values include embracing the family, nurturing the spirit, challenging the mind, supporting the journey and preparing the way. The mission of St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School is to strengthen children in spirit, in mind and in body to

prepare them to lead lives based on Christian Faith and good reason. For more information about St. Mary Help of Christians School, visit www. stmaryschoolaiken.com or call 803649-2071. St. Mary’s is located at 118 York Street, SE in downtown Aiken. The school may also be found on Facebook.

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education connection Pilot program for teachers launched at GRU The College of Education at Georgia Regents University is working with a local school systems to help better prepare future teachers for the classroom. With the support of a grant from the Georgia Network for Transforming Educator Preparation, GRU is launching a pilot program that will see faculty working with P-12 school officials to provide professional development and directly supervise teacher candidates as they learn to implement teaching strategies they learned in actual classrooms, said Dr. Paula Dahoney, Associate Dean of the College of Education. Georgia is one of seven states selected to participate in a two-year pilot focused on transforming educator preparation and entry systems to the profession. The pilot program will begin in the Richmond County Schools with the intention of expanding to other schools and districts in the future. Partnership expands opportunities for Helms College students Helms College has entered a partnership with The Art Institute of Atlanta that will facilitate credit transfers to allow Helms culinary graduates to continue their education and receive credits toward an Associate or Bachelor degree at any of the seven campuses of The Art Institute of Atlanta. “This is an exceptional opportunity for Helms College students to continue their education and take it to the next level,” said James Stiff, President of Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA, the parent organization of Helms College. “The Helms College experience provides students access to greater earning potential through educational advancement, and this partnership with The Art Institute of Atlanta opens the door for those students to further develop their skills and obtain a well-rounded education.” Under this agreement with The Art Institute of Atlanta, Helms students

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Culinary students at Helms College can now continue their education at the Art Institute of Atlanta.

who earn a grade of “C” or higher will be able to transfer credits from the Macon or Augusta programs to The Art Institute of Atlanta and its branch campuses to continue their education and receive credits toward an Associate of Arts in Culinary Arts degree or a Bachelor of Science in Culinary Management degree. Students from the Polly Long Denton School of Hospitality at the Helms College, Macon Campus, and at the School of Culinary Arts at the Helms College, Augusta Campus, currently can study toward a 22-week certificate in restaurant fundamentals or a 44-week diploma in culinary arts, with an Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts degree available in Macon and under review for future addition in Augusta. Helms College students will be able to continue their education at The Art Institute of Atlanta campuses, including The Art Institute of Atlanta- Decatur, The Art Institute of Charleston (South Carolina), The Art Institute of Nashville (Tennessee), The Art Institute of Virginia Beach (Virginia), The Art Institute of Washington (Virginia), and The Art Institute of Washington- Dulles (Virginia). The Art Institute of Atlanta is accredited by the Southern Associa-

tion of Colleges and Schools (SACS), while Helms College is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Continuing Education and Training (ACCET). For more information on Helms College, go to www.helms.edu. For more on The Art Institute of Atlanta, visit artinstitutes.edu/atlanta. Auto center offers pick-up, delivery for teachers Wayne’s Automotive & Towing Center is now offering a pick-up service to educators that will help them maintain their vehicles without having to leave work. The automotive center encourages educators to “Shuttle Your Wheels with Wayne’s.” Wayne’s Automotive can provide an oil change, tire rotation or other vehicle maintenance while customers continue to work. Wayne’s picks up the vehicle from the customer’s workplace and delivers it back to the customer before the day is over. “We realize that taking care of a vehicle can be time consuming, and we want to reduce the stress for educators in Aiken,” Wayne’s owner Sherry Corbett said. “We realize that teachers have very little time to take care of day to day tasks, and we knew we could make things easier on them by offering

this service.” Additionally, the automotive center is leaving a goodie bag filled with school supplies in the car of each teacher that visits Wayne’s. Aiken Tech start Center for Energy building Aiken Technical College has begun construction on the Center for Energy and Advanced Manufacturing, a stateof-the-art facility that will be a training center for developing Aiken County’s nuclear and manufacturing workforce. The new, 36,000-square foot facility will house the College’s advanced manufacturing, welding, radiation protection technology and nuclear quality systems programs. ATC selected Augusta-based firm R.W. Allen as the new building’s contractor after a competitive bidding process. R.W. Allen operates in six states and focuses on highly specialized commercial construction projects. Construction began on the new facility in late August. The new building, which was designed by Greenvillebased architect McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, is slated for completion in late summer 2015. The new, $8.5 million facility will contain bays (labs), classrooms, a multi-use training space, and faculty offices. The building’s flexible design will allow for easy changeover between spaces to accommodate evolving training needs in the future. ATC has received financial support from legislative, community, and industry partners to make the Center for Energy and Advanced Manufacturing a reality. In 2012, ATC received a $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The grant required $2 million in matching funds from outside sources, and the ATC Foundation developed the Putting Knowledge to Work capital campaign to help raise this amount. So far, the College has reached approximately 98 percent of this goal.

values Dave & Ashley Willis love and marriage Subtle parenting mistakes and how to avoid them W

e don’t argue much in our marriage, but most of our disagreements are a direct result of stress or miscommunication related to parenting. Parenthood is such a blessing, but it’s also the toughest thing we’ve ever done! We want to do it right, because we recognize that being the best parents we can be is a vital to the health of our marriage and the health of our children. As parents, we “blow it” pretty much everyday in some way. Sometimes it’s when we lose our tempers and yell at the kids. Other times, it’s when we do something right after we’ve scolded one of our boys for doing the same exact thing. With most of my parenting blunders, we are instantly aware of the mistake which gives the opportunity to apologize and try to correct it, but we’ve found that some of the most dangerous parenting mistakes aren’t obvious.

They’re subtle and stealthy. This makes them even more dangerous, because we can go on doing them for years without even realizing we’re harming our kids in the process! As we’ve worked with families from all walks of life, I’m convinced that the list below represents some of the most common and most destructive parenting mistakes. We’re not writing this as an “expert,” but just as a Mom and Dad who are in the trenches of parenthood and desperately trying to get this right for the sake of our kids and future generations of our family. If you’re a parent too, let’s commit to stopping these behaviors and being the best we can be for our kids! 1. Subtle dishonesty Kids are human lie detectors, and we can’t teach them the value of honesty and integrity when we’re willing to be dishonest. One of the most com-

mon examples of this is when parents will lie about their child’s age right in front of their son or daughter just to save a few bucks on a kids’ meal or theme park admission ticket. Saving those few extra bucks will cost you a huge amount in the long run with the negative lessons you’re teaching your child about “selective honesty.” 2. Emotional sabotage It’s easy to fly off the handle when one of our children isn’t listening or when they’re being careless or disobedient. Sometimes we’ll even use our emotions just to get a reaction from our kids. This is dangerous, because when we can’t control our emotional reactions to our children, we’re teaching our children that they are in control of our emotions (instead of teaching them that we are in control of our own emotions). This can create a long-term pattern of emotional dysfunction in

the home. 3. The Comparison Trap In an attempt to encourage or correct our children, we might point out the example of another child (often a sibling) as a reference point. While this is usually a harmless attempt to bring context to the situation, most children won’t see past the comparison. This can subconsciously train children not to be the best they can be, but rather to find a way to simply “seem better” than their peers and siblings. 4. Guilty gifts In our culture, we’ve developed a bad habit of buying our kids’ affection

See LOVE AND MARRIAGE, page 30 Dave and Ashley Willis are founders of the facebook Marriage Page which currently has more than 500,000 subscribers worldwide. They serve in ministry at Stevens Creek Church in Augusta.

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Whitney Caudle on the homefront Tips for selecting the perfect realtor for you T

here are roughly 2,000 realtors in the CSRA alone, so how do you select just one? As the Relocation Director for Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate | Executive Partners, pairing realtors with potential home buyers is what I do on a daily basis. To select the perfect realtor, I perform a needs analysis for each potential client and determine which of our realtors would be most knowledgeable and have a compatible personality to the client. Here are a few do’s and don’ts to help in the decision process: Do interview several realtors It is advisable to do research on any realtors you are considering to represent you. How active are they in the local market? What is their area of expertise? How long have they been in real estate? Ask them any questions about the local market or general real estate. An educated buyer is always a happier buyer. Don’t think that you have to be represented by the realtor who is listing the home This is a common misconception for first-time homebuyers who look at properties before selecting representation. Most potential clients think they

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have to use the realtor who is marketing the home they’re interested in, and while you are welcome to do so, it is not a requirement. Do provide all information requested It is always best to be as forthcoming as possible. Most people cringe at this thought, as it is justifiably difficult for most people to talk about their personal lives and financial status with strangers, but doing so will allow the realtor to successfully provide information catered to your individual needs and expectations. WHITNEY CAUDLE is Relocation Director for Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate | Executive Partners, providing guidance to new residents moving to the CSRA. For assistance with your move, contact her at 706-364-1583 or relocation@epaugusta.com.

Don’t assume anything based on television Don’t assume you know what a realtor should be doing just because you’ve seen one in action on television. Most television networks want to draw as many ratings as possible, and one way of doing so is “enhancing” storylines for viewer attention. Knowing you’ve done your research and selected a professional and ethical realtor, you can guarantee that your chosen realtor will be more inclined to go above and beyond to be sure that he or she finds your best home.

Realtors are the heart of a real estate operation. They are the ones who drive you around, provide guidance in the methods to pursue your purchase and represent you when it comes to negotiating a good price on the home that you’ve got your eye on. As a former “new resident” myself, I understand the mentality of a client who is coming to the area and is anxious about all the requirements to set up a residence here. The bottom line is that your realtor is your local advocate in one of the most important, life altering decisions.

Steve Swanson your faith Understanding the types of people in our lives I t’s funny how some stories stay with you. It was around 1997. Our family was living in Florida and we were attending a new church that was meeting Sunday mornings on the other side of town in a middle school cafeteria. There was nothing fancy about the setting. There was no fancy stage, lights or sound system. A guy using a guitar led worship. Pastor Brian would just stand before the several dozen folks gathered and share his heart during the message. On this particular Sunday morning, the four of us had made the 30-minute trip across town to the school where the church was gathering. For some reason, part of the message Pastor Brian shared that day has stayed with me. I consider myself a person who values relationships. I know they take work. I know I most often have to initiate contact in order to connect with friends. It’s obvious to me that people are trying hard to make ends meet, provide for themselves and their families. They’re trying hard to look like they have things figured out and try to appear more confident than they actually

feel on the inside. Simply put, there is a deep desire to be connected with others. Many regularly feel isolated and alone. Thinking back, it strikes me that this message was presented before the explosive use of smartphones and the phenomenon of texting, Facebook and all other channels of social media we now encounter daily. Here’s the core of what I recall from that Sunday morning: There are three levels or groups of people you encounter daily. Picture a pyramid. At the base of the pyramid – clearly the largest part – are the “Landscape” people in your life. These folks are the ones you literally drive by on the way to work –they are the people walking down the sidewalk in your neighborhood. Those you stand in line with waiting to place your order at the sandwich shop. They are the people near you in the bus, train or plane. You see them (literally) in passing, but you know nothing about them. No clue about their lives, their goals, their challenges, families or jobs. You don’t even know their names! This makes up the vast majority of

the folks we see during our daily days. They provide a background landscape for us – we pass each other with no interaction at all. The second group we encounter are “Transactional” people – making up the center part of the pyramid. We have some limited contact with these folks. We get our cup of coffee at the drive through and may hear the words “Good morning!” We cash a check at the bank and may have a very brief conversation with the teller (if we don’t use an ATM, that is). These brief interactions happen as we buy groceries, lunch, and so on. We may see a person’s name tag, and if we’re creatures of habit, even know the name of some of the folks in this category. The common thread however, is that we don’t really know these folks. We don’t know their stories, their history, where they live, what they believe or much, if anything, about their hearts, priorities and motivations. We merely connect briefly because of a transaction. As we work our way up to the top of the pyramid, we find the smallest part. This represents people we actually know. The “People-people” group.

We actually have real relationships with them. We not only know their names, but often their families as well. We probably have shared meals, time at church or in a group at school together. These are our friends from work or church, or our neighborhoods. We really get to know and “do life” with this small group of people. They pray for us. They see us at our best – and worst. When they move away, we still keep in touch. We’re connected and really care what happens to them. This is where our most meaningful relationships happen.

See YOUR FAITH, page 30 Steve Swanson serves as the station manager for Family Friendly 88.3 WAFJ. He’s invested 30-plus years in the world of radio and was named the Christian Music Broadcasters Program Director of the Year in 2009 and 2011. He and his wife , Susie, live in North Augusta.

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Kathy Crist Run for Shelter raises right at home Care for the caregiver $10K for Rescue Mission I f you are a primary family caregiver, you understand the tough sacrifices and rewards of helping your elderly loved one maintain their independence. You step in when there are medical and financial decisions to be made. You break the doctor’s news, you listen to the reminiscences of days gone by, and you love and are there without question. Yet, like millions of other family caregivers, your life is expanding in responsibility. If you juggle caregiving with your own family’s needs and a career, you sense the intense squeeze of time and commitments all the more. With your loved one’s care continually on the front burner, your care needs stay on the backburner. Right at Home recommends the following stress busters for principal family caregivers: Refresh your own health. Exercise at the gym or go for a brisk walk a few times a week. Be sure you maintain good nutrition and sleep habits. Check in with your own doctor on annual exams and ways to support your own optimal health. Recruit help. Enlist the support of family members, friends and neighbors

who can lend caregiving help. Also, rely on regular respite breaks through the assistance of a professional inhome agency. From getting help for a few hours a day to regular overnight care, securing adult home healthcare is a sign of wisdom and strength, not a sign of weakness. Stay connected. Keep up your own family connections and friendships. Having a confidant who listens to you is crucial as you navigate the unknowns and challenges of caring for another person.

Kathy Crist, co-owner of Right at Home of the CSRA is available to discuss your family care giving needs. Right at Home is dedicated to helping the elderly by providing privateduty care giving services. Right at Home serves Augusta, North Augusta, Aiken and surrounding areas in SC. If you have further concerns about caring for a loved one, please contact them at 803-278-0250 or on the web at www.rightathome.net/csra

By Daniel Marshall A race on Aug. 23 helped raise more than $10,000 toward an effort to break the cycle of homelessness in the CSRA. The third annual Run for Shelter 5k race held by the Augusta Rescue Mission (ARM) with about 150 runners and walkers. Volunteers from the community helped support the run. “We are so blessed to have all who came out to support us on meeting the needs of homeless men,” said ARM Executive Director Randy Marsh. ARM operates a year-long program that works to break the cycle of homelessness. The shelter houses 28 men. During their stay at the shelter, the men learn budgeting and resume-writing skills. While going through the dif-

love and marriage continued from page 27 with gifts. When we’ve made a mistake or had to work late, we’re much more likely to repay the relational debt with money. This cycle can teach our kids to be materialistic and to see love as a transactional relationship which can be manipulated by money. We all know (or should know) that real love is something much more valuable than that. 5. Putting the happiness of your children ahead of the health of your marriage Many couples won’t even go on a Date Night because they’re afraid the children will cry, so to pacify the kids, they never invest in their relationship with each other. Ironically, many of these kids end up crying anyways after divorce rips the family in two. One of the greatest gifts you can give your children is the security that comes

from seeing their parents in a loving, committed marriage. 6. Digital babysitters I’ve been guilty of this one a lot. In our technology-driven world, it’s easy to plop the kids down in front of a screen so we can get some stuff done. In small doses, this is okay, but it can develop into a dangerous habit where we’re delegating our most sacred duty to TV shows and video games to raise our kids for us. 7. Hiding our flaws We all want our kids to see us as superheroes who never make mistakes, but our kids aren’t looking for perfection; they’re looking for authenticity. When you’ve blown it, own it! Use it as a teaching moment. Remember that God is the only “Perfect Parent” and His Grace has got you covered on those moments when you mess up (and we all have plenty of those moments)!

continued from page 29 In reality the “people-people” in our lives accounts for a very small group. This is the central reason churches offer small groups. We all need to be connected to others in order to thrive! We were made to be in relationships with others and learn and grow through that process. It’s called “community.” Jesus himself had a small group of 12 guys he spent his ministry years with. His “inner circle” was just three men. These were the folks that he spent most of his time with. I have no doubt you have friends. Maybe even hundreds or thousands of Facebook “friends.” No, this is not the kind of relationship I am talking about. You may still feel detached, lonely,

and alone. I’d like to encourage you today to ask God to lead you in to some real relationships that are deep, lasting, and life-giving. These relationships thrive across miles and continue throughout our lives. Someone has correctly observed that even the “Lone Ranger” (remember him?) had Tonto as a friend. Please don’t settle for trying to “go it alone.” Let God love you and lead you in to relationships that are meaningful and lasting. There is much more to life than just “getting through it.” Real life is to be celebrated, embraced, and shared with others! In closing, a word of congratulations to Svetlana S. of Evans. She won a copy of the book, “Just 18 Summers,” I offered last month.

your faith

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ferent phases of the program, the men learn how to obtain jobs and transition into being responsible residents. The faith-based program also requires discipleship coursework, which was important to ARM resident Sylvester Hunt. “Not only did they take me in, they showed me how to have a relationship with God,” he said. “I don’t know where I would be if it wasn’t for the family we have here.” Hunt said he now feels he stands for something. He works as a driver for ARM while going through the program. ARM receives no government funding and relies on the generosity of individuals, churches and businesses across the CSRA to fund its programs.

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Margaret Centers make time for travel Destination weddings are fun but need planning A

n increasing number of couples are choosing destination weddings over traditional “white gown and rehearsal dinner” weddings. Destination weddings provide a fun opportunity to reunite family and friends in a truly amazing setting or to celebrate a private ceremony in an unforgettable locale. With destination weddings representing approximately 10 percent of all weddings, it is easier to find more cruise lines and resorts offering robust and attractively priced packages especially designed for wedding parties. But destination weddings take considerable planning, and the best accommodations are not always

available to last-minute shoppers. The earlier you begin to plan your wedding, and the more experienced and professional assistance you have, the greater your chances of pulling off a hassle-free, exotic wedding. The most important decision in planning a destination wedding is the location. Some couples choose a destination that they have already vacationed or visited, while other couples choose somewhere new, hoping to create brand-new memories they will always relate to their wedding day. Some of the most popular destinations are the beaches of the Caribbean, Hawaii and Mexico, while others prefer historic settings or national parks.

Travel dates and trip length are major factors in choosing a location. Traveling out of the country will require more time as well as passports or other documentation for couples and guests. The couple planning a destination wedding must also take weather and season into consideration. Once you have an idea of where you would like to be married, analyze your budget. Carefully assess the costs of travel, accommodations, activities and meals. And you always have the option of marrying at home before or after a non-binding ceremony at your destination – you may find this to be the best choice to ensure that you’ll enjoy every minute of the trip.

Most importantly, remember that this is your day. Plan your dream wedding and make it your own. That’s what destination weddings are all about. Margaret Centers is the owner of Margaret’s Travel, www. margaret’stravel.com. She worked for Morris Travel for nearly 20 years and formed her own agency in 2010. For questions or bookings call 706-396-3769.

Verge * September 2014

life face first

Nora Blithe

Age-old advice about clean underwear “P

ut on clean underwear before you go out,” my grandmother Maxine said “That way if you have a wreck you’ll be wearing clean underwear.” It was an adage she lived by. My grandmother was a diminutive woman. By my ninth year, I towered over her. Yet her shortness of stature never slowed her down. She often told me of the years she spent playing softball and she beamed with pride when she told me of the time she won a jitterbug contest. She was the church pianist and banged out up-tempo hymns on her home piano for my sister and me to dance to. Of all the things she told me though, the charge to put on clean underwear was the one she repeated the most. After she passed away we cleaned out her things. We found package after package of unopened underwear, fresh and ready for my grandmother to put on before going out. In her lifetime, she never once had a wreck bad enough to require hospitalization but she and her underwear were ready for one, just in case. Besides being spunky and cleanly dressed, my grandmother was very organized; so organized in fact that she planned her own funeral ten years in advance. She asked her pastor to lead the service. When she outlived him, she enlisted his replacement instead. A friend from her gospel trio was to sing and she mailed sheet music of her selected hymn to a fellow pianist. My mother and aunt drew clothing delivery and makeup duty. I was too

young to be assigned a part when her funeral plans were first drafted though by the time the funeral actually happened I was in my early 20s. My mother and my aunt were understandably nervous about their role in the funeral arrangements, a chore made no less daunting by my grandmother’s makeup routine. Years before my birth, my grandmother shaved her eyebrows off. They never grew back. My whole life I knew her eyebrows as two thin lines, drawn onto her forehead with brown eyeliner. Mom and Aunt Christie rallied together bravely to do their part. It helped that my grandmother made a list of what she was to wear upon her death. They found her blue pantsuit, her leather flats, her favorite gold-plated watch and her “good” pearls, packed them up and drove to the funeral home. It was at the service when my aunt leaned over to my mother and said, “Did you pack any underwear for her?” “No,” my mother replied. “Did you?” And so it was that the woman who had enough underwear to clothe a small nation met her maker while going commando. Nora Blithe is an Augusta native, an entrepreneur and a syndicated humor columnist. She lives in Greenville, S.C., with her husband, Brian, and their pets. Find her online at doorinface. com or email her at norablithe@gmail.com

Test Kitchen coming to The Willcox The Willcox will host Southern Living Test Kitchen on the Road, featuring Chef Robby Melvin, test kitchen director at Southern Living and Regan Browell, executive chef at The Willcox, in two seatings with two separate specialties on Saturday, Sept. 20. Chef Melvin and Chef Browell will demonstrate recipes, share ideas and tips and interact with guests as they create “Sunday Suppers” during the first session staring at noon in The Restaurant at The Willcox, followed by a session on “Great Grilling,” appropriately by the hotel’s pool starting at 5 p.m. Joining Melvin and Browell will be Christian Carlisle of Plum Pudding, gourmet kitchen store on Laurens

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Street in downtown Aiken, and Karin Jeffcoat, master floral designer and event planner at Cote Design, also on Laurens Street. The afternoon demonstration of how easy it can be to prepare great “Sunday Suppers, when family and friends gather for easy conversations and good food!” begins at noon. At the evening demonstration, beginning at 5 p.m., the chefs will fire up the grill with your favorites for their session on “Great Grilling.” To purchase event tickets or a hotel package, please call The Willcox at 803-648-1898 for reservations. Seating is limited. For more information, visit www. thewillcox.com.

Gary Kauffman two cents worth Under the weather after rainy nights in Georgia W hen I prepared for my move to Augusta, I was given many dire warnings about the heat of summer. Even though according to local accounts this has been a relatively mild summer, I’ve probably already experienced more days in the 90s than since my three-year sojourn to Southern California more than 30 years ago. But no one mentioned a word about all the rain. I didn’t really expect Augusta to be akin to the Sahara, but I hadn’t expected so much rain. Of course, when I tell people this is the rainiest place I’ve ever lived, they look at me as if I’d just told them the earth is flat. They don’t consider the Augusta area to be particularly rainy and, in fact, tell me this is a dry summer. They also tell me sagely that at least it’s not living in Seattle. In a way, they’re right. Augusta ranks pretty far down the list of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s list of rainiest places in the United States. It doesn’t even rank particularly high in Georgia. According to the NOAA, Augusta receives an average of 46.55 inches of rain per year. After discovering this fact, I compared it to the area of north-

ern Indiana where I lived most of my life. There, it rains an average of 38.42 inches per year. That’s a difference of 8.13 inches. If it rained an inch per day, that’s eight more days of rain than I’m used to. If it rained half an inch a day, that’s 16 more days than I’m used to. At a quarter of an inch per day, it’s a full month more of rain than I’ve experienced before. As might be expected, the bulk of the 8 inches is made up during the winter months, when people in Indiana have snow instead of rain. But it is also rainier in Augusta in each of the other seasons, particularly in the summer. On average, Augusta receives 1.5 inches more rain during the summer

than my old stomping grounds. That includes an inch more in just July. But this past July was slightly wetter than normal here, at 5.54 inches, a quarter of an inch above normal. Meanwhile, my friends and family in Indiana received 1.91 inches during that month. While that is obviously drier than normal by quite a bit, in my experience that is not unusual. It is quite commonplace in Northern Indiana to mow lawn only once every other week or so during the summer (unless you have sprinklers). I remember one summer waiting four weeks to mow and then only to knock down the weeds that seems to thrive regardless of the worst of droughts. A few weeks ago we had a visit from

friends in Indiana. I went into my spiel about the rain and they looked at me a bit skeptically. A bit later, we hopped into the car and took them for a sightseeing tour of Augusta. As if on cue, it began raining – so hard it had me wondering if I should have foregone the car in favor of an ark. Even with the windshield wipers beating on high I could barely see. It didn’t take long for our visitors to become believers about Augusta being a rainier place. But at least it’s not Seattle, right. Uh, yeah, right, but not in the way people think. I checked the NOAA’s rainfall numbers for that jewel of Washington. It does rain a lot in Seattle in the winter months, but it turns out, hardly at all during the summer. As a result, overall rainfall in Seattle averages 36.15 inches, meaning it’s drier than either Augusta or my hometown. I guess we’ll have to find a new town to pick on. Gary Kauffman is editor in chief of Verge and Buzz on Biz. Since moving to the CSRA last December, he’s had to use an umbrella more often than in the previous 15 years combined.

Verge * September 2014

Glenn Campbell on the road with lugnut Teamwork pushes Dale Jr. to head of Chase pack A fter getting lucky in his first win at Pocono a few weeks ago, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was determined to show that his team could win one on its own this time around. Earnhardt might have benefited from bad luck for fellow driver Brad Keselowski in the first Pocono race but there was no shadow over this win as Earnhardt pulled away from the field to sweep both races at the “Tricky Triangle.” “We got a little luck on the win last time with Keselowski hitting the debris,” said the proud race winner. “We wanted to be in the driver’s seat this go round with a faster car and they did that.” The credit didn’t all go to Earnhardt as great pit strategy gave him the opportunity to be out front after a 15-car pileup eliminated a lot of the race contenders. “Steve did a great job, really, with his strategy to get in that position,” bragged Junior on his team’s efforts. “We’re not in that position just on car alone. We had a fast car, and I drove a good race, but Steve’s strategy gave

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us a chance to win.” Kevin Harvick was part of those caught up in the big wreck, but he was able to keep his car on track and drove that damaged car to a second-place finish. “It wasn’t too bad of damage,” Harvick said. “They were able to beat it out and in the end, top it off before we went green. So it was fun. Car wasn’t obviously quite as good after we wrecked it, but still they did a great job fixing it.” The win was Earnhardt’s third of the season and places him as the No. 1 seed headed into the Chase. However, Dale knows that being on top does not mean a lot once the Chase starts. “The garage is full of great com-

Glenn Campbell is a syndicated columnist and radio and TV show host. For more information, visit www. victorylaneonfox. com.

Photo by Tom Pennington/NASCAR via Getty Images

petitors, and the Chase is going to be different than we have ever seen,” he said. “No one knows how it’s going to be, we all have our predictions, we’ll see who is right.” Despite the success on the track this season, Earnhardt seems even prouder of how his team has jelled off the track as well. “I mean, every individual you work with, to try to make their day easier,

try to make their job easier, try to help them be better at their job,” Earnhardt. “We all do that for each other and I think the team clicks on all cylinders.” It is that type of teamwork that could propel NASCAR’s most popular driver to his first Cup Series title. Time will tell but if he can pull it off, there will be some wild times across Junior Nation.

Verge * September 2014