Letter from the Publisher
Happy New Year! January is a time for fresh beginnings, new goals, and a renewed focus on health and wellness. This month, we’re bringing you stories and ideas to inspire a healthier, more vibrant year.
In this issue, we feature Flex Health, a concierge medical clinic owned by husband-andwife team Dr. Beau and Dr. Brooke Gedrick. Their innovative approach combines primary and family care with sports medicine, weight loss support, and even esthetics—proving that wellness is about more than just avoiding illness; it’s about thriving.
If you're looking for ways to nurture your body and soul this season, we’ve got you covered. Our Soup and Bread: A Perfect Marriage article brings together the comfort of a hasselback mozzarella bread loaf with the hearty goodness of Italian wedding soup. It’s a recipe for delicious, nourishing meals on chilly winter nights.
For those curious about plant-based eating, our article on its benefits offers insights and simple tips to get started. Whether you’re looking to embrace a meat-free lifestyle or just incorporate more plant-forward meals, this guide can help you make informed, healthful choices.
As you step into 2025, I encourage you to focus on small, meaningful changes that lead to lasting wellness. Let this issue be your guide to building a year filled with vitality and balance.
Cheers to a healthy and happy year ahead!
JANA MORRIS, PUBLISHER @EVANS.LIFESTYLE
January 2025
PUBLISHER
Jana Morris | jana.morris@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Bailey Hall | bailey.hall@citylifestyle.com
PUBLISHER ASSISTANT
Michelle Parnell | michelle.parnell@citylifestyle.com
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR
Daniel Morris
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Bailey Hall, Claudia Martin-Ayoade, Michelle W. Parnell, Tyler Shane
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Janie Jones, Lifted Logic, Tyler Shane
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
CTO Ajay Krishnan
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT Erika Smiley
AD DESIGNER Mary Albers
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Marina Campbell
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1-7: The 2024 graduates of the Columbia County Chamber’s Young Women on the Way and Young Men on the Move.
business monthly
3rd Annual Kickball for a Cause
Mark your calendars! Prepare For Babies’ 3rd Annual Kickball for a Cause is coming February 22nd. Registration opens in January, so start gathering your team! Prepare For Babies is a local nonprofit organization that supports pregnant women in crisis, helping them build abundant lives rooted in Jesus Christ. Don’t miss this fun-filled day for an incredible cause. Visit their website, PrepareForBabies.org , or follow them on Facebook for updates!
Cudos2u Has Moved
Cudos2u, your favorite shop for gifts, home décor, jewelry, apparel, and more, has a new home at 619 Mullins Colony Drive! Stop by to explore their wide selection of stylish and unique items. Visit ShopCudos2u.com for more details and to shop online.
Augusta Symphony Gala 2025
Grab your gowns and cufflinks for a night at the opera! From Rossini to Puccini, your favorite librettos will be presented by acclaimed performers, featuring your Augusta Symphony, at the historic Miller Theater. The black-tie affair begins at 6:30pm with champagne, cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres. Head to your seats for the 7:30pm performance, conducted by Maestro Dirk Meyer. To purchase tickets, visit AugustaSymphony.com
CITY LIST
We have such amazing, innovative business leaders in our community who are proud to serve you, our residents, with class and quality. We’ve compiled some of our top company picks for the services that might be on your mind this month in an effort to make your lives a little easier.
Chiropractor
Flack Family Chiropractic flackfamilychiropractic.com | 706.305.3241
Larson Chiropractic PC larsonchiropracticevans.com | 706.210.8550
Evans Sport and Spine Chiropractic Center evanssportandspine.com | 706.305.9046
Boutwell Chiropractic Group boutwellchiropractic.com | 706.860.8717
Rising Chiropractic risingchiropracticevans.com | 706.524.8077
Dental Practice
Anderson Family Dentistry andersonfamilydentists.com | 706.868.0183
Comprehensive Dentistry of Augusta augustasmiles.com | 706.863.3290
Greenbrier Family Dental greenbrierfamilydental.com | 706.863.0111
Want to suggest a monthly pick?
West Augusta Dental Associates westaugustadental.com | 706.738.8070
Dental Care at Mullins Colony dentalcareatmullinscolony.com | 706.842.2215
Taking Charge of Your Health
Flex Health Concierge Medical Clinic takes a unique patientcentered approach to providing comprehensive health care
ARTICLE
BY MICHELLE PARNELL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIFTED LOGIC
After years of practicing traditional medicine in emergency rooms and clinical settings, Dr. Beau Gedrick and his wife, Dr. Brooke Gedrick, knew they wanted to provide a more personalized, holistic health care experience for their patients. Last year, the couple founded Flex Health Concierge Medical Clinic, a direct care medical clinic with a unique approach to health care. Flex Health offers comprehensive services, including primary care, family medicine, sports medicine, weight loss medicine, and esthetics, aiming to provide accessible, quality care without the constraints of insurance.
“Over the years, we have had friends email, text, and call us with medical questions and we thought everyone should have access to something like that,” shares Beau. “So, we had the idea of a direct care clinic where we provide all the services in one spot while giving our patients easy access to us as providers. Our goal is access, value, and quality.”
In addition to offering traditional primary and sports medicine care, Flex Health offers a medical weight loss program and other aesthetic services. Dr. Brooke Gedrick is one of two people in the area who is board-certified in weight loss and obesity medicine. “She does a lot on the aesthetic side of medicine such as body contouring, laser hair removal, tattoo removal, addressing spider vein vascular lesions, and skin rejuvenation,” he says. “She also specializes in addressing urinary incontinence and sexual health.”
One of the many aspects of this model that Beau likes is the ability to reevaluate patients quickly if a treatment method is not working. “If I'm off base or something is not working, patients can get a hold of me, come back in quickly, and we can try again,” he explains. “Whereas in other practices, it might be two months before a patient can get back in to see their doctor.”
Another convenient feature of Flex Health’s model is access to common medications during emergency situations. “Recently, one of our members was flying to Colorado, and their little girl came down with an ear infection at 10 o'clock at night,” he shares. “There are no 24-hour pharmacies anywhere near here, so we started housing certain medicines in house to use in those types of situations.”
Flex Health offers memberships for a monthly fee and members enjoy benefits such as office visits, access to a patient portal, telehealth, videoconferencing, and access to the staff through the office messaging system. Because membership is available with only a three month commitment, patients can join knowing that there is no long-term contract and they can extend membership after deciding the clinic fits their medical needs.
Financially, this model offers something for everyone.
“For patients who don’t have health insurance, we offer access to quality care at a reasonable price,” he explains.
“For others, they have what we call a catastrophic insurance plan with a high deductible for unthinkable events like a car accident or hospitalization. Then our membership takes care of daily, more mundane, medical concerns. The saving from decreasing the cost of normal insurance can then be put into a health savings account and be used for medications or even towards the high deductible if needed.”
The team at Flex Health Concierge Medical Clinic, located at 4490 Washington Road Suite 2 in Evans, would love to get to know you and see if their clinic is a good fit. For more information, visit www.flexmyhealth.com or call 762-930-3539. Also follow Flex Health on Instagram and Facebook.
“Over the years, we have had friends email, text, and call us with medical questions and we thought everyone should have access to something like that.”
ARTICLE AND
BY TYLER SHANE
A PERFECT M ARRIAGE SOUP AND BREAD:
Hearty food nourishes the body during cold winter months
PHOTOGRAPHY
As we continue to embrace the cold weather, we may find ourselves craving heavier and grounding foods as we retreat into hibernation. This change in appetite reflects our body’s desire to align with the cycles of nature. Moving into the New Year, it can be common to place more discipline or restrictions on our eating habits. But what if instead of dieting, we nourished ourselves by choosing to support the ebb and flow of our body’s seasons? What if we chose connection — cooking seasonal meals and allowing ourselves to pause to truly enjoy our food? Maybe cheesy bread could be served without the side of guilt.
This Italian wedding soup recipe is simple in its approach, but the result is a hearty and brothy dish. Chunky meats and vegetables add texture to the rich, savory broth making it the ideal meal to help you retreat from the cold temperatures. The Hasselback bread loaf is a straightforward, melty wonder and the perfect vessel for sopping up any leftover broth and goodies in your soup bowl. Together, the soup and cheesy bread make for a well-rounded meal to ground you this season, with a little indulgence.
HASSELBACK MOZZARELLA BREAD LOAF
INGREDIENTS
• 1 Italian bread loaf
• 1 cup butter
• 4-5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 8 oz. bag of shredded mozzarella cheese
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Cut foil that is 3 times the length of the bread loaf and lay flat on countertop.
3. Place bread loaf parallel to the length of the foil.
4. With a serrated knife, cut bread in ¾ in. slices, making sure not to cut all the way through.
5. Melt butter in a bowl. Add garlic and seasonings. Stir to incorporate.
6. With a pastry brush, coat the slices of bread with butter mixture. Be generous with your butter! If you have leftover butter, pour the rest over the entire loaf.
7. Grab handfuls of mozzarella cheese and stuff in between each slice.
8. Cover the bread loaf with foil and place in oven. Bake for 20 minutes, uncovering the foil for the last 5 minutes until the top of the bread is golden brown.
ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP RECIPE
4 Servings
INGREDIENTS
• 1 lb. fresh or frozen pre-made meatballs
• ½ cup carrots, diced small
• ½ cup celery, diced small
• 1 cup onions, diced small
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp cooking oil
• 48 oz low sodium chicken broth
• ½ cup orzo pasta (or any small, short noodle)
• 1 tbsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped roughly
• 1 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley
DIRECTIONS
1. Whether freshly baked or cooked from frozen, prepare your meatballs and set aside. Meatballs can be prepared ahead of time and kept in the fridge.
2. Bring a medium-sized pot to medium heat. Add oil and butter.
3. Add vegetables to the pot and sweat until onions are translucent (about 5 minutes). Stir occasionally.
4. Add the bay leaf, chicken broth, salt, and pepper to vegetables. Turn heat to medium-high.
5. Bring broth mixture to a rolling boil for five minutes. With tongs, add meatballs to the boiling broth.
6. Add orzo to the broth, stirring continuously to make sure the pasta doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
7. Continue to cook the pasta for 6-7 minutes. Taste test to make sure pasta is al dente.
8. Throw the fresh herbs into the soup and add salt and pepper to taste.
9. Serve immediately.
THE BENEFITS OF Plant Based Eating
Tips on starting your plant based lifestyle
ARTICLE BY CLAUDIA MARTIN-AYOADE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
Most people think a plant-based diet is strictly for those vegan and vegetarian types, but there is no debating the overwhelming evidence showing the benefits of improved health for those who make that diet choice. Plant based eating is more of a lifestyle than a diet. You are simply eating more foods that are closer to their harvested state with minimal processing.
Meatless diets have been shown to improve health outcomes by lowering the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, inflammation, and some cancers. It also improves gut health because of added fiber to your diet.
A plant-based diet still allows you to consume the carbohydrates, protein, fats, minerals and vitamins that are necessary for good health, with the added benefits of being higher in fiber and phytonutrients.
You do not have to give up meat entirely, and there are labels to identify where you fall in your plant eating journey. Do what is comfortable for you so you will stick with it.
You can choose to be a flexitarian which means you occasionally eat meat but you choose plants as the primary foods you eat. You have some flexibility with your diet. If you choose to be a vegetarian, then you do not eat meat but you still eat eggs and dairy products as opposed to being a vegan who eats no animal products.
There is also another reason to add more fruits and vegetables to your daily food intake; It is better for the environment. The industries that produce our dairy and meats are said to account for a third of the world’s water usage in addition to producing greenhouse gas emissions. Eat your greens and save the planet!
You do not have to give up meat entirely, and there are labels to identify where you fall in your plant eating journey. Do what is comfortable for you so you will stick with it.
TIPS TO GET STARTED ON YOUR PLANT-BASED JOURNEY:
1.Make small changes to test your comfort level when reducing meat intake. There is a risk of being overwhelmed if you suddenly stop eating meat altogether, and it will be harder to stick to your choice long term. Increase consumption of plant foods you already like.
2.Plant based diet does not mean boring. You can create a variety of dishes including ethnic meals that are meat free and delicious. This is a great time to try new spices to add a punch to your vegetables and add green leafy vegetables to your smoothies.
3. Use the whole plant because there are nutrients in every part of the plant including the stems, and leaves. Use the leaves from celery, radishes, beets and carrots, and use the stems from spinach. Don’t throw away vital nutrients like potassium, vitamin C and fiber. You are also reducing waste.
4. Eat the rainbow! Choose different colored fruits and vegetables to get a variety of nutrients. The color of plantbased foods is often an indicator of the vitamins and minerals they contain. So, more colors mean more nutrients. Example: Orange foods contain beta carotene, the precursor for vitamin A.
5. If you do not eat any animal products, you will need to take a B12 and possibly an iron supplement. Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin available only in animal products. Low b12 can cause anemia and damage to the nervous system. Some vegan foods are fortified with vitamin b12.
6. A meat free diet does not automatically mean healthy if you replace the meat with highly processed junk food and meat substitutes. You need to eat good, fresh quality fruits, vegetables and grains to get the health benefits that can add years to your life.
Claudia Martin-Ayoade, is a Registered Dietitian, Writer and Public Speaker who is passionate about educating people on nutrition and addressing food insecurity.
BOBBY & MADERA
Unplug to Recharge
The Benefits of a Digital Detox
In a world dominated by screens, taking a break from digital devices is more important than ever. While technology keeps us connected and entertained, excessive screen time can negatively affect our mental and physical well-being. A digital detox offers a chance to reset and rediscover the benefits of stepping away from screens.
Reducing screen time has a direct impact on stress levels and mental clarity. By unplugging, you can reduce overstimulation, improve focus, and even enhance your mood. Sleep quality can also improve by avoiding blue light before bed, allowing your body to produce more melatonin naturally. Physically, taking breaks from screens helps prevent eye strain, headaches, and poor posture caused by hunching over devices.
A digital detox can also strengthen relationships. Without the distraction of screens, you can engage more deeply with loved ones. Whether it’s sharing a meal, playing a game, or simply talking, unplugging creates space for meaningful connections.
Getting started doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Begin by setting small, achievable goals, such as device-free dinners or a no-screen hour before bed. Create screen-free
zones in your home, like the dining room or bedroom, to establish boundaries. Replace screen time with activities that inspire creativity or relaxation, such as reading, journaling, or trying a new hobby.
Families can make it a group effort by setting shared goals, like hosting a game night or taking a walk together without phones. Apps and tools that track screen usage can also provide insight and motivation to unplug more often.
Taking time to unplug isn’t about eliminating technology but about using it mindfully. A digital detox lets you prioritize what matters most—your health, relationships, and overall well-being. So, why not start small and rediscover the benefits of being present in the moment?
ARTICLE BY BAILEY HALL
A Better Approach to Family Medicine
Better Healthcare for the Whole Family. Small Business Healthcare Cost Savings. Accessibility and Communication.
418 Town Park Blvd., Suite 1A, Evans | (706) 739-5848 www.welcomehealth.net/welcome-health-evans
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JANUARY 2025
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
JANUARY 1ST
New Year’s Day
Happy New Year from all of us at the Evans City Lifestyle Team! We hope you have a wonderful year!
JANUARY 7TH - 8TH
Shen Yun 2025
Columbia County Performing Arts Center
Dust off your memory of a more compassionate world and experience China before communism. Shen Yun is a beautiful display of goodness, wisdom, and faith. For our world today, it is a message of hope. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit TheCenterOfCC.com.
JANUARY 9TH
2025 Business Expo
Columbia County Exhibition Center
The Columbia County Chamber is hosting the 2025 Business Expo on January 9th from 3pm to 6pm at the Columbia County Exhibition Center. This event is free to the public and will give people the chance to discover and connect with the businesses that exist in our community.
JANUARY 11TH
AugustaConPop Culture Show
Columbia County Exhibition Center
The 5th AugustaCon - Pop Culture Show will be at the Columbia County Exhibition Center on January 11th from 10am to 5pm. There will be fun for the whole family, cosplay and video game contests, and more! For more information, visit TheAugustaCon.com
Premier General Contractors Since 1986
Beyond providing quality workmanship and comprehensive design/build services, we strive to build a relationship of mutual trust and confidence with each of our clients’ large and small. We accomplish this by putting your priorities first and conducting ourselves with integrity in every aspect of our business.
