June Issue B 2011

DR. AZZIZ on EMBRACING THE COOL FACTOR, PAGE 19

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ISSUE DR. AZZIZ EXPLAINS COOL + FUN PLACES TO ESCAPE THE SUMMER HEAT + MUSIC ARTEMIA + LITERARY THERESA COLE + FRONT PORCH Maestro z

vergelive.com | community driven news | June 15, 2011 3

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1102 Bar & Grill 8th Street Artists on the verge Augusta Market Bar on Broad Book Tavern Buzz on Biz Casella Eye Center Copy Center Plus Dominos edge salon Elduets Family Y First Round Garlic Clove halo Import Auto Exchange LOYO Music Festival Manuel’s Bread Café Metro Coffeehouse Mi Rancho MITS Monk Solutions Moon Beans/New Moon Nacho Mamas New Life DiChickos Oddfellows Gallery Palmetto Curbing Peach Mac re-fresh Rock Bottom Music Sanford Bruker Banks Sky City Sundrees the Loft The Well Wild Wings Windsor Jewelers

WHAT’S INSIDE

SMATTERINGS

To Be Cool, We Need Stronger Leadership In the guest editorial below, David Hutchison, the president of the Downtown Augusta Alliance, joins Dr. Ricardo Azziz in challenging Augusta and its leaders to find its “cool factor.” Read Azziz’ response on page 20.

Since The Augusta Chronicle reported on Georgia Health Sciences University President Ricardo Azziz’s assertion that Augusta lacks a certain coolness factor, it seems the entire city is abuzz with opinion on whether Augusta is cool or uncool. I am often uncertain what is meant by “cool.” Is it the ultra-hip hangout, The Soul Bar? Or perhaps the more recent players such as Bar on Broad? A large number of my friends think local pub, The Fox’s Lair, is the coolest hangout in all Augusta. I’m sure people from other areas in Augusta have wildly different ideas about which places are the coolest spots to hang out.

Some people might not like hanging out at all.

Azziz is not really asking whether we are cool, he is asking whether we can attract and retain quality paying jobs and the people who will fill them. We need to look at why people want to stay in or relocate to a community. Azziz calls it “cool” where others call it “quality of life”. These quality of life issues go beyond salary and job satisfaction and reside primarily in what a person can hope to do outside of work. Events such as last weekend’s Mudbugabeauxn-Brew and the upcoming USA Cycling National Championship and Pride Festival are part of that quality of life. So are entertainment opportunities such as Loretta Lynn at the Bell and Le Chat Noir’s performances of Amadeus.

Public spaces such as the Augusta Common and Pendleton King Park also play a role. In fact, Augusta already has a great investment in quality of life and if you pick up The Augusta Chronicle, especially the Applause section, or verge or the Metro Spirit, you will find out about hundreds of community events and places that make Augusta an enjoyable place to live.

But Azziz is not wrong. Augusta lacks something. Just visit a comparable community in the region such as Greenville, Athens, Macon, Savannah, Charleston, or even smaller communities such as Washington and Dahlonega, to see that somehow, at first blush, Augusta does not stack up. In these communities I noticed a greater investment in public spaces and a higher participation in community events. With everything Augusta has to offer, why aren’t we as jam packed with “coolness” like Greenville or Charleston? I see two main obstacles: leadership and a sense of community.

On the first point, our leaders, even those we love, are not doing a great job of leading. There are plenty of studies and proposals. We have “master plans” and ball parks and reorganizations being tossed about by a group that has difficulty agreeing to change the language of the law so they can keep meeting uninterrupted at the municipal building. But where is the voice giving a vision to Augustans for what sort of community we could have with a proposal for how we get there? This goes hand in hand with the second issue, we are a community divided. By race, by district, by economics, by artifice: We stand apart when in fact we are one Augusta. We should be looking with a view to what we can do as One Augusta for All Augustans instead of what is most expedient for my district, my neighborhood, my church, myself. It is US not MY that should begin to dominate our thinking and vocabulary.

Where do we go from here? Let’s start with looking out for each other. Instead of making Cheddars and Olive Garden the most crowded restaurants, let’s find a place to eat owned and operated by our neighbors. Instead of heading to Wal-Mart or a box store, see if one of your fellow Augustans can fill your need.

Looking for something to do? Pick up one of our local publications and find out what is going on, then go do it. This is how a community is built, by getting to know each other and looking to each other first.

While everyone plays a role in building community, leadership is absolutely vital. We need to demand our leaders actually lead. When I went to Charleston earlier this year for a conference, I visited the city hall and discovered they credit a mayor with a strong vision for helping build their city into what it is today. The people have kept him in office for more than 30 years because he continues to guide them towards a greater Charleston. When I was in Greenville, I was told a story about a man who brought a revitalization project to Augusta 15 years ago and was turned down, so he took it to Greenville and they said yes. Today, they boast a densely populated downtown with festivals nearly every weekend, amazing public spaces such as Falls Park and great shopping. We need to demand our leaders provide us with the kind of vision that shows us what we can be and how to get there, and if they do not, we should stop reelecting them.

I know it is not as simple as doing these two things. There are other questions we need to answer about how we educate, how we protect and police our community and how we care for the needy among us, but the cool thing is we can start answering these questions today. Call your elected leaders. Demand they lead or step aside. Then be a leader yourself. Spend a little time figuring out how you can help your fellow Augustan.

David Hutchison, President, Downtown Augusta Alliance

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you won’t want to miss a page

the main feature Women Street Survival Skills 11 Teaching Wally Baskovich focuses on practical, effective techniques Library Director Takes the Helm 13 New Theresa Cole brings patron focus to library system 15 Maestro Z Extends Symphony Contract Vision of building a stronger arts community needs continuity

19 In His Own Words: The Meaning of Cool 20 Escape the Sweltering Heat Dr. Azziz expounds on what Augusta needs to be competitive

Explore Augusta’s backyard to cool off – naturally

25 Creating Music Without Boundaries Local progressive rock band, Artemia, releases first CD

heard around town 5 5 7 7

Loveable Huggables Parking Meters Revisted The Criterium Challenge Safe Homes New Brand

music | theatre | art | film 17 26 27 27 29 31 35 37

Music: Kayla Marie Derrick Film: The Film Reel Festival: Augusta Pride Party: Aiken Beach Blast Music: Packway Handle Band Music: Athfest 2011 Music: The Stain Remains Parting Shot: Good to Be Alive Tour

regular stuff 05 09 09 23 23 27 31 34 35 36 37

Heard Around Town Buzz on Biz Living Green Chow Bella Fresh Food Bites The Daily Planner The Ink Well: NYT Crossword Puzzle Between the Covers Nightlife Ask Dr. Karp Sound Bites

vergequotes

here’s what inspires us

“Every now and then, you stumble upon a town that’s gotten everything right— great coffee, food with character, shop owners with purpose.”

— Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, travel writer

ON THE COVER SWIMMING THE SAVANNAH by HOLLY BIRDSONG

Photographer Holly Birdsong and writer Davis Branch explore the area’s natural water holes, lakes and rivers to escape the summer heat on page 20.

heard

around town

what’s happening in augusta and aiken

[create your own teddy bear the local way] Loveable Huggables, the teddy bear store featuring Blue the Bear, has found a home at 954 Broad St. and is visited every day by toy-seeking customers stopping by to say how much they enjoy the store, according to owner Debbie Murray and her fiancé, manager Raymond Cowins.

The store opened in late May and Loveable Huggables has already generated repeat business from customers impressed by the quality and value of their stuffed and unstuffed bears.

“We want our shop to be a boutique for kids, with all the toys and accessories they are looking for when they come in,” said Cowins. “Whereas you can spend $50 to $75 at Build-a-Bear, here you can spend half that for the same quality merchandise, and we keep an eye on competitors to make sure we offer the same kind of variety.”

Loveable Huggables previously had a booth at the flea market every weekend, but Murray says she soon felt the need for a shop that could be open six days a week. The current space provides room to display all 20 varieties of unstuffed bears they have available, which they hope to expand to 40 by the end of the year, and the accessories needed to enhance whatever kind of pet their customers choose to build.

DEBBIE MURRAY WITH BLUE THE BEAR

“We have unstuffed bears here for less than $15, and some of them are almost stuffed already, so we are happy if kids want to take a seat at our table while we finish stuffing their bear, and then present it to them with the bear’s birth certificate and wishing star,” said Murray. “We are going to get a portable stuffing machine so we can go out to different venues, but even without the machine it is fun for kids to hand-stuff the bears, and we do not mind doing it for them either.”

According to Cowins, a bear with an outfit and shoes is less than $30, whereas a 16-inch bear alone is only $15. An eightinch bear is $10, plus $8 for an outfit, and many customers have shown interest in their $4.99 monkeys.

Birthday party kits are available for $75 an hour, with 2 to 3 weeks notice, which includes a free, 16-inch bear with outfit for the birthday boy or girl. Cowins says he doesn’t discriminate based on age when putting on his Blue the Bear outfit – he wears it for 5-year-olds and for senior citizens when he goes to promotion events at St. John’s Towers.

Loveable Huggables is able to personalize bears with names or logos for a bit extra, but does not reproduce copy-written characters like SpongeBob or Elmo. They hope to add a selection of remote control cars and helicopters to their inventory before Christmas.

“This is a more specialized store, but I order from a lot of distributors and I will not order from them if their supplies look cheap or of poor quality,” said Murray. “We have had a lot of people come through, even a few repeat buyers, but I think once we get some advertising we will see a lot more traffic through here.”

Lovable Huggables is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and might stay open later on First Friday depending on the crowd. For more information, call 706.339.3535 or 706.339.0913. article and photo by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK

The concept is very enviro-friendly and it fits this climate.”

[parking meters a possibility] The possibility of adding parking meters to the downtown area, which raised controversy when introduced by the Downtown Development Authority two years ago, might be back on the table as the city looks for ways to solve parking issues related to the new Trade, Exhibition and Entertainment Center.

“People come to Aiken from everywhere; it is such a cosmopolitan place for a small city. Without going into chemistry, because of our climate, hair and skin products need to be lighter here than what most people use in other places. Most products are too stiff and too heavy for our climate,” she explained.

“Once the center is a done deal, we are going to have to look at how to enforce parking ordinances to give people the best access,” said District 1 Commissioner Matt Aitken. “With the amount of revitalization that is coming back to the downtown area, we have to make sure that there is adequate parking for all that is going on downtown in the near future.”

“We worked with a chemist in California who has been a longtime associate in the trade and told him what we wanted him to make.

With his years of top-level experience, he understood what we wanted,” she said.

“Our lines are all very eco-friendly. We spend time to educate our clients as to what they should ingest and what they should put on their bodies. You could eat just about anything we have in here,” she said with a smile.

The current parking ordinance stipulates a two-hour parking limit from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, from Fifth to 13th streets, and from Reynolds to Ellis streets. However, a 2005 traffic study noted that as many as 40 percent of downtown shoppers ignored the two hour parking limit. On average, 212 cars were parked for more than six hours.

“We feel like it is our job to protect the commerce when a parking spot does not have turnover and the business owners lose $150 to $300 a day,” said DDA executive director Margaret Woodard.

“According to our calculations, the city might be losing over three million dollars in sales tax revenue alone because potential customers cannot find a place to park.”

Riordan said that they continue to develop new lines. Hair Knowlogy is only available at the salon and on their web site. The salon is located at 217 Park Ave. W in Aiken, 803.642.9277.

HAIRKNOWLOGY.COM | article and photo by STEPHEN D. HALE

[donations Increase for children’s medical center] SHARON RIORDAN, OWNER OF HAir KNOWLOGY

Construction is under way on a 650-space parking deck near the TEE Center, but some believe this alone will not be enough to meet the city’s parking needs, particularly given the lack of sufficient parking at the new judicial center. Parking meters are one option the city is considering, according to Aitken, and any decision will be announced well in advance of its implementation.

[mixology for hair]

[calling all sacred heart brides]

Riordan and her husband, Kevin, moved to Aiken about eight years ago, bringing her experience with hair and skin care, including the years working in Asia.

Sacred Heart Cultural Center is undertaking a bridal registry of a different sort. A favorite wedding spot, Sacred Heart is looking for photographs from those weddings. The goal is to find at least one bride for each year – from 1900 through today. Submit the name of the bride (and the groom), the date of the wedding and photographs to rgregory@knology.net. | SACREDHEARTAUGUSTA.ORG

Sharon Riordan lived near the equator for years and knows firsthand the effects of high humidity on hair and skin. From that experience, she has developed her own line of products for the “Aiken Climate” at her Park Avenue salon, Hair Knowlogy.

“Living in Asia, we worked in an equatorial climate that was quite humid,” Riordan said. “We saw what worked there and what did not. That is where we learned about using natural ingredients and being eco-friendly. So, when we came to Aiken, we developed this line of hair and skin products that we named Hair Knowlogy.

The local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Celebration, which recently aired on WRDW-TV News 12, brought in about $857,893 in donations and pledges to benefit the services and programs at MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center. This year’s total is nearly $100,000 more than the $767,113 in donations and pledges in 2010, which is significant growth in a sluggish economy. The Children’s Medical Center is a not-for-profit organization that relies on community support to provide patient care services to children and families. The MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center has been a beneficiary of CMN since 1986.

[we goofed] In the June 1 issue of verge, the photograph of Matt Aitken was incorrectly credited. Katie McGuire took the photo. Also, on page 9, “Get This: Gifts for the Wedding Party” was written by Susan Hutchison and photographed by Gabi Hutchison. unless otherwise noted, Around Town is written by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK

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[criterium championship comes to town] Downtown Augusta will be the venue for the National Criterium Championship, part of the USA Cycling National Championships on June 24, which will temporarily close Broad and Ellis streets between 12th and Ninth streets.

The Criterium Championship takes place during a week of bicycling events around Augusta, with a diverse set of cyclists including U23 elite “developmental” racers, juniors and U.S. Paralympic cyclists and handcyclists. The cyclists will compete in road race, time trial and criterium categories. In addition, some competitors will ride for spots on the 2011 UCI Road World Championships team.

“We are truly honored to have been selected by USA Cycling to host the 2011 and 2012 cycling championships,” said Augusta Sports Council’s executive director Tammy Stout. “We strive to secure at least one high profile championship event a year and this certainly falls within that mission.”

A stage located behind the start and finish line on Broad and 10th streets will announce the races throughout the day, with the first wave of cyclists going out at 8 a.m. and the last finishing around 8:30 p.m. A vendor area between Broad and Ellis streets on 10th St. will host several

heard

around town

what’s happening in augusta and aiken

manufacturers of bicycles and related items, and provides an excellent view of both the front and back half of the course.

“A criterium is referred to as NASCAR on bicycles because the circuits are relatively small, about an eight-tenth of a mile and more about speed and agility,” said event manager Randy DuTeau. “These riders will be reaching speeds up to 40 mph and, as the day progresses, the level of competition goes up considerably. Even if you do not know anything about bicycle racing, a criterium is fast, flashy, super exciting and something a lot of people will want to come downtown just to see.”

According to an economic impact study commissioned by the University of Oregon, the national championships in Bend, Ore., generated nearly $2 million for their local economy. DuTeau expects more than 700 athletes to arrive in town for the event, including 2008 Beijing Olympics Time Trial champion Kristin Armstrong, for a total of nearly 1,500 out-of-town visitors.

“Just because there will not be on-street parking does not mean downtown is shut down. In fact, it is much more manageable,” said DuTeau.

“Our hope is to draw a lot of people downtown

because this course has the highest critical mass of restaurants, venues and entertainment, and it is really good for spectators.”

The Augusta Sports Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to marketing the Augusta area as a destination for amateur sporting events, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The announcement of the USA Cycling Championships comes as Augusta prepares to host the second annual ESi Ironman 70.3 Augusta triathlon, following last

year’s race with over 3,000 participants.

Volunteers are needed to help build the site at 5 a.m. Friday, to help secure the course during the events, and to break down the venue that night. After 5:30 a.m. there will be absolutely no parking allowed within the rectangle defined by the course and violators will be towed. For more information about how to get involved, call 706.722.8326 (ex. 231) or email michelle@ augustasportscouncil.org.

[wierhouse gives safehomes brand to match vision] Safehomes of Augusta unveiled their new name (Safehomesm Inc.) and logo at a ribbon cutting event on May 31 at Wierhouse, the Broad Street based design firm behind the nonprofit’s rebranding.

FIRST ROUND CREATES SPORTS BAR ATMOSPHERE

[it’s time for a first round] First Round sports bar opened on First Friday in June at the old Club Sparx location at 210 11th St. and looks forward to attracting a different crowd to the corner off Broad Street.

Owner Alan Odon hopes to create a fresh atmosphere by installing brand new pool tables and other equipment into the game room and instituting a variety of themed nights.

“First Round is going to be mainly a sports bar, but we wanted the name to apply to a lot of situations, from the first round of golf to the first round of drinks after you get done golfing,” said manager Chuck Axon.

Axon has been helping to build the new multilevel stage, which could be used to host karaoke, guitar hero night or special guests from Mixed Martial Arts tournaments, depending on the desires of their customers. The bar will host live bands weekly and might host an open mic night in which customers may take a turn to rant, tell jokes, play guitar or showcase another talent.

First Round will also offer drink specials during the week, including several varieties of domestic beers and $1.50 Pabst Blue Ribbons. Further selections will be added as customers let the bartender know what libations they prefer.

First Round is open from 6 p.m. to closing Monday through Saturday, but might open earlier as the new owner and manager get adjusted to the needs of their customers. For more information, call 706.364.8278.

[new chef at place on broad] The Place on Broad, at 1135 Broad St., recently hired J.D. Wier as head chef and is introducing new menu items to give the small bar and restaurant a classical Southern feel.

Wier describes it as upscale comfort food and prepares traditional Southern fare like barbeque sandwiches, fried pork chops, blackened catfish and fried green tomatoes.

“I was trained in Charleston and I always felt Augusta needed a place like that,” said Wier, who has been in the industry for nine years and was a chef at Rooster’s Beak.

Owner Melissa Jarrard, who purchased the restaurant in March, said the restaurant will have a new name by the end of the year. She has lowered prices on most of the menu items; entrees range between $7 and $18.

The Place on Broad is open for lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 706.755.2420.

Safehomes exists to transform victims of domestic violence to survivors through counseling, financial assistance, help with protective orders and a 24-hour hotline. According to board chairwoman Carrie Hodge, the consistent brand and unified logo donated by Wierhouse will allow them to become a more recognizable name for the communities they serve.

“You cannot advertise Safehomes in the same way you advertise cancer research,” she said. “It is difficult to even do a ribbon cutting because our headquarters is at an undisclosed location.

Now that we have the new logo, Wierhouse can be our greatest advocates in helping get out our message.”

“We are all here in celebration of Safehomes, an important and valuable member of our community,” said Chamber of Commerce President Sue Parr. “It is important for all of our nonprofits to be well positioned in the community so that they can maximize their effectiveness, and that is just what this rebranding is going to do.”

Changing the nonprofit’s name from Safehomes of Augusta to Safehomes, Inc. was a strategic move. Safehomes serves 10 counties in Georgia and has been eagerly anticipating a rebrand so as not to limit themselves geographically, according to community relations director Meghann Eppenbrock.

Wierhouse also created the Safehomes “Slap Fives, Not Wives” campaign and is now redesigning their website. Daniel Stewart, a Wierhouse principal, estimates that 150 to 250 hours of work has already been invested in helping Safehomes, but he says that one cannot put a dollar amount on serving the community.

“We try to take on one big pro-bono client per year. That way we can give them our very best work,” said Stewart’s partner, Alex Weir. “We never put our logo on anything because that is not the point. The point is for people to know about Safehomes and get involved with them. They have a life-and-death mission, and if there’s anything we can do to help people understand them then we are happy to do our part.”

Safehomes helps men, women and children; however the headquarters shelter is only for abused women and their children. Donations of clothing, household items or used cellphones are appreciated. To find out more about how to get involved with Safehomes, call 706.736.2499. unless otherwise noted, Around Town is written by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK

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the buzz on

biz

what’s moving and shaking in local business

Breaking Ground and Breaking Through

living the Green is Clean

green life practical ways to be more eco-concious

When cleaning your home, you expect the cleaning products you use to do what they advertise: clean your counters, brighten your clothes or make your windows shine. What you do not expect is that the product might be harmful if touched, poisonous if inhaled or contribute to air and water pollution.

AIKEN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER EXPANDS

Anytime a business adds on 10,000 square feet to its existing facility, it creates a “buzz!” In early June, hospital, political and business leaders broke ground on the land where Aurora Pavilion Behavioral Health Services will expand. Currently, APBH is a 47-bed center and South Carolina gave the green light to expand the facility to 59 beds. Apparently, there is increased need to help folks with depression, anxiety, substance abuse and other mental health issues.

Aiken Regional Medical Center also won a 2011 bronze Telly Award for a series of video vignettes that honored the city of Aiken’s 175th Anniversary.

Melissa Summer, the marketing director at AMRC, said, “To bring home a second Telly Award is an honor. This project was another way for Aiken Regional to give back to the community by giving life to stories that illuminate the town’s unique history, rich in culture and spirit.”

FRESH MARKET WITH A FRESH START IN AIKEN The location is being kept secret, but The Fresh Market detailed several new grocery store locations in a quarterly report – and the buzz is Aiken is on the list. Ten to 12 new stores will be built in fiscal year 2011 and Aiken and Peachtree City, Ga., are the only two planned for the Georgialina area.

Officials from the corporate headquarters in North Carolina have said they liked the results from the National Hills store and, a few years ago, authorized major expansion.

Aiken also plays home to another unique grocery store – Aldi – a no-frills, generic discount market headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. ALDI.US

BUFFALO WILD WINGS AND FIVE GUYS BURGERS AND FRIES Ground

breakings are about to occur on new sites for two of the fastest growing national restaurant chains.

Buffalo Wild Wings is moving into Carolina Ale’s territory across Wheeler Road between Best Buy and the old Skinner Mill Amoco Gas station. The sports bar will work hard to get open in time for college and professional football season. They are also taking advantage of the closing of another sports bar on upper Wheeler Road and the fact that the popular Somewhere in Augusta is nowhere near this location.

In Evans, Five Guys Burgers and Fries is set to open its third area restaurant on Washington Road. The store will be in front of the Home Depot parking lot and across from the Kroger Shopping Center and Fairway Ford. The franchisee is from Atlanta, but plans to relocate to Augusta to oversee the new store, the Whiskey Road store and the flagship restaurant at the Washington Walk Center near Augusta National.

THE WHITE ELEPHANT RESURFACES Well, at least the name does! A female entrepreneur chose the name as a way to describe the unique refurbished items you can find in her Olde Town shop. The store is in the former Quilt Shop on the Corner building on the corner of Fifth and Telfair streets. Thanks to Sharon Bennett for sharing the “buzz.” She says The White Elephant is great.

“I went by and I believe she has a lot to offer the area in the line of used needs, clothes, old records, home décor and a lot more,” said Bennett. photo of groundbreaking by Kelly Johnson, Buzz on Biz

Neil Gordon owns Buzz on Biz LLC, a company dedicated to highlighting business growth through newspaper, television, radio, and web content.

Story idea? Email neil.gordon@buzzon.biz

Many common household cleaning products contain chemicals that can have adverse health effects. These chemicals can cause cancer, irritate the lungs, interfere with the functioning of the liver and other organs, irritate the skin or affect the reproductive system. Some of the chemicals in these products become even more dangerous when they are mixed with chemicals in other products. For example, mixing ammonia with bleach (both are found in many household cleaning products) creates chlorine gas, which when inhaled, causes massive damage to your nose, throat and lungs, which might result in death.

Chronically toxic ingredients accumulate in the environment and can affect generations of people and animals. Many inexpensive cleansers and detergents contain compounds called APEs, which are suspected of causing diseases and abnormalities such as infertility and increased cancer rates.

Triclosan, a chemical found in antibacterial soaps, is classified as a pesticide that indiscriminately kills good and bad bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is concerned that the widespread use of triclosan and other antimicrobial agents could lead to the some bacteria becoming “super bugs” that are resistant to antibiotics.

Many petroleum-based solvents are toxic to aquatic life when they enter our waterways. When phosphates, which are used in many automatic dishwashing detergents, enter our waterways they cause the overgrowth of algae. The excess algae eventually uses up the oxygen supply, killing the fish and other organisms that live there.

With so many choices of products to clean your house, it can be difficult to choose the best one. To reduce the amount of hazardous chemicals in your home, consider buying an all-purpose cleaner instead of multiple specialty products.

When shopping for cleaning products, read the labels and look for the signal words — caution, warning, danger and poison — which indicate the level of hazard. Use the least hazardous product to do the job. (Caution is least hazardous and danger is most hazardous. Extremely toxic products must also include the word poison.)

Look for products that disclose ingredients and products that are: • Biodegradable • pH neutral • Plant-or bio-based, not petroleum-based • Packaged in pump-spray bottles, not aerosol cans • Packaged in recyclable containers • Certified by a reliable third-party certification organization such as Green Seal or EcoLogo • Consumer Reports has a tool to help you identify reliable certification labels. You can find the Consumer Reports tool at greenerchoices.org/eco-labels.

Finally, consider other ways to clean things using items that you already have around the house such as baking soda, lemon juice and vinegar. You can find suggestions for making your own nonhazardous cleaning products at ecocycle.org/hazwaste/ recipes.cfm. These methods will help keep your home clean and safe. They can even work better than the more-toxic conventional cleaning products.

Anne Lovell is an environmental consultant who lives in Aiken with her husband and three dogs. Her new column, Living Green, focuses on practical ways to be more environmentally conscious.

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teaching women

street survival skills wally baskovich focuses on not=so-fancy, but effective methods of self-protection

Wally Baskovich, the owner and chief instructor of Extreme Self-Defense, is a 30-year specialist in martial arts who teaches women street survival skills.

“There are a lot of different techniques,” he says. “However, I did not want to teach a rigid, traditional program with no flexibility in its format. I only teach what is practical and can be utilized instinctively in life-threatening situations.”

Extreme Self-Defense offers private and group classes for women, in addition to five-hour quarterly seminars held at the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center. Baskovich spoke about the importance of learning self-defense strategies. verge: What do your classes entail?

Defensive skills that are straightforward and to the point — no fancy techniques, spins and wild kicks. Classes entail the following: defenses against chokes, punches, rape escapes, clubs, knife and gun attacks, rape prevention and awareness. Advanced classes teach defenses against attacks in the car by knife and gun, in an elevator (close-quarter defenses), standing at a door to get in and much more.

Baskovich:

verge: What are the recommended age ranges

for the classes and are they exclusive to women?

“If you keep it simple and uncomplicated, you are much more likely to prevail in a violent situation.”

— WALLY BASKOVICH

Baskovich: Recommended ages are 18 to 80.

Anyone can learn as long as they can walk and move their limbs. I work around most any hindrance or disability that a person might have. Classes are virtually exclusive to women. verge: What do the seminars involve?

Baskovich: Level 1 Sessions I & II will teach how to get out of most any chokehold, with Session II being those students who have passed Session I. The techniques learned are effective immediately. You will not be a master, of course, but you will have the knowledge and effective techniques to save your life in a dire situation. We also teach how to defend and respond against a punch to the face, particularly for domestic violence situations. Session II includes more advanced techniques, plus weapon defenses. verge: Why is it important for women to enroll in classes?

Baskovich: There is constant violence all around us. Last year in Augusta, there were 34 murders, 102 rapes and 2,638 cases of domestic violence. One never knows when an attack will happen. Everyone should know how to defend themselves, a loved one or anyone else. Street Survival Skills for Women takes away some of the traditional stuff and gets down to the crux of the matter. In an actual violent situation, people naturally resort to basic motor skill functions. In the heat of the moment, even seasoned fighters use their most basic skills. verge: What are some of the most common mistakes we make when confronted with a dangerous situation?

Baskovich: The most common mistake people make is that they think they know what to do. They have false confidence, which will make for a frightening situation. Having confidence is good, but we want our students to have effective knowledge with the proper skills to defend.

Verge: How will these classes help women avoid these situations and/or do the right thing when threatened?

Baskovich: We teach overall awareness, rape prevention, verbal de-escalation skills and street combat skills, which are designed to stop an attack fast. In a real situation, an initial attack is over in a matter of seconds. We train our students to respond instantly and without hesitation. How one emotionally reacts in a situation is also vital so they can respond accordingly. We teach how to get through the adrenaline stress that a person is in during an aggressive confrontation that comes down to either fight or flight. verge: Is there a risk of a false sense of security from self-defense classes?

Baskovich: Only if you go to a class that teaches sport karate and fancy techniques. I am not putting down traditional martial arts, for without it we would have no foundation for what we do. Street Survival Skills for Women uses techniques from various styles that are more reality-based and designed specifically for a violent attack, not sparring. Many defensive techniques that are taught elsewhere are not effective in the adrenaline stress state and against a much larger assailant and take years to apply effectively. Our techniques are designed to work with a person that is not strong, is small in stature and has no previous martial arts skills. If you keep it simple and uncomplicated, you are much more likely to prevail in a violent situation. verge: How many classes do you recommend?

Baskovich: One five-hour seminar will teach you techniques to defend against a few basic attacks. We make sure that we do not teach too many different techniques at a time because a person cannot learn them properly. It is better to learn a few skills effectively. Private classes are typically 60 to 90 minutes and you will need at least three sessions to properly learn certain basic defensive moves. To have a solid basis that will truly benefit the student, at least 12 private sessions are recommended. Concerning the group sessions, all three levels should be taken and then the fourth level should you want to pursue much deeper. But after each class, the defensive moves you learned are complete in their own right. As in any type of sport, one or two classes will give you some information, but not enough to be proficient. Even though the techniques we teach are easy to learn, it takes practice to be proficient. Also, if you only go to a few classes, you might very well learn a few basics; however, you will not be well rounded enough should an attacker try to overtake you in a manner that you have never practiced. A little knowledge is dangerous.

by ALISON RICHTER photos HOLLY BIRDSONG

Self Defense Tips from Wally 1. Always have a mentally rehearsed plan of action for when you are in an uncomfortable situation. Be prepared for the unexpected attack you hope never happens.

2. Do not assume that because you live or work in a good area you can relax your guard. Predators come from every economic, ethnic and religious background.

3. Always trust your instincts. If you feel something is wrong, act on your feelings. Studies have shown that most people that have been victimized had a feeling something was not right just before they were attacked.

4. Always be physically and mentally prepared to run or escape from an attacker, or as a last resort, to fight back.

5. Always be alert and aware of your surroundings. If possible, do not restrict the ability to use both hands by carrying a purse or many bags.

6. If you feel that you are in danger, never feel awkward or embarrassed about enlisting the help of others.

7. If someone attempts to force or con you into going with them, turn and run like lighting while screaming “Fire!” at the top of your lungs.

For more details, call 888.867.4792 or visit extreme-selfdefense.com.

vergelive.com | community driven news | June 15, 2011 11

12 June 15, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

steering a library system is more than a

love for books

THERESA COLE TAKES THE HELM OF THE EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM

Theresa Cole, the new director of East Central Georgia Regional Libraries and the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library, greeted library patrons at a small reception on May 19 in the auditorium of the downtown public library. This meet-and-greet opportunity for the community came a month after Cole reported to orientation in April and two months after the retirement of her predecessor, Gary Swint.

“In a lot of ways, I feel like I should have done more by now,” said Cole, already in her fourth week as director. “It takes longer than you think. I have not yet sent out a letter to our legislative delegation introducing myself, which was near the top of my list when I made it, but additional responsibilities and diversions always seem to creep in.”

In the meantime, Cole is busy moving four cats into her new house in Martinez and waiting for her mother, who stayed behind in Albany, Ga. to finish packing. Cole was the director of the library there for five and a half years and looks forward to this new opportunity.

“I always liked Augusta and thought that if Gary ever retired I might like to take his position,” she said. “The library system of Augusta seems like a very efficient organization and the people have been very friendly.

(Augusta) is one of the greatest small towns I have ever been to, with access to a bigger city, which makes it the perfect place to live.”

Cole’s new role has her managing not just one library, but all five counties in the East Central Georgia Regional Library system.

“I do not tend to think of the two director positions as different jobs,” she says. “The relationship building you do in one county is the same you would do in multiple counties, and anywhere I go I am responsible for the implementation of policies and budgets set by the local board. I also work with Augusta’s Human Resources department on personnel matters, and am in charge of hiring and firing staff members, though I hope I do not have to do too much of the latter.”

On top of overseeing the daily operations of the library, Cole attends library board meetings and makes monthly visits to libraries in surrounding counties. She says her position technically requires her to be in her office from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., but she doubts it will ever happen just that way.

“This is a position that takes an enormous amount of time and I am always impressed when people have time for other things like large families or side projects,” she said.

“The people have been very friendly. This is one of the

greatest small towns I have ever been to, with access to a bigger city, which makes it the perfect place to live.”

– THERESA COLE

“I am frequently here till after 6 p.m. and I read less than I ever have because there is not enough time, which is ironic because I think most directors get into the position because they like to read.”

“On the other hand, when you are the director it is very important to keep your schedule as flexible as you can,” she continued. “I am rarely so busy that I cannot let paperwork wait for a few minutes, and I enjoy stopping to talk with whoever needs my attention.”

For the time being, Cole says, getting to know the patrons and staff is her most important task. She said she has been pleasantly surprised by the skill and professionalism of many who work in the library. In particular, assistant director Mashell Fashion, community services librarian Sheryl James and technical services librarian Roberta Wilder will be assisting Cole with various aspects of running the library. Cole said she has already begun developing a close relationship with each.

“I do know that I have a very strong staff and that is a great thing,” she said. “Everybody on this outstanding staff has been well-trained and is well-versed in their positions,

which is not always the case. Some of the places I have been, I had to spend the first week training the staff how to do their jobs, but that is definitely not the case here.”

Cole said she hopes to bring her own unique talents to the position as she tackles any problems that might arise over the next 10 to 15 years or longer until she retires.

“Every director has a different background and different experiences,” she said. “I started as a children’s librarian and I have also worked for the private sector while I was working my way through college. Observing operation management in a business has helped me to streamline library operations in other ways that I hope will be effective.”

“Everybody I have met since I have been here has been incredibly friendly and I know I am going to enjoy living here,” she continued. “This is a very well managed and good quality library, but I knew that before I applied to work here.” article and photo by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK

Go Around the World with Summer Reading Every Tuesday at 10 a.m., the puppet theatre in the children’s room of the Headquarters Library fills up with preschoolers. Librarians perform two or three stories and sing songs.

But for nine weeks out of the summer the puppet shows stop, because the real show is elsewhere, as children’s librarian Eileen McCoy knows all too well.

“When we are not doing the summer reading program we get as many as 180 3-to-5-yearolds in here,” said McCoy, “but every summer we go out to the different branches and host all kinds of special events to get kids excited about reading, so they do not stop just because school is not in session.”

Children can earn coupons for pizza, bowling, Putt-Putt golf and free meals by reading 30 books and keeping track of the titles in their reading log.

This year’s theme is “One World, Many Stories,” which appears in the “Animal Sounds Around the World” exhibit, in which McCoy

explains the way children learn animal sounds in different countries.

Kid, which she has difficulty keeping on her shelf.

“Everybody knows that a dog says ‘woof ’, but most people do not know that in the Philippines a dog says ‘bow wow,’ and that in Vietnam a frog which we think says ‘ribbit’ says ‘co-ak’!” said McCoy.

“It is so great to see how happy the kids are, particularly when I give them the book, but when I do not have it, I feel bad and wish I had a magic wand that would make it appear on my shelf,” she said. “Through reading, kids can maintain the things they got from school like vocabulary and pronunciation, not just idle away two and a half months of the summer. If they continue to cultivate their mind, then they’ll be more ready for the next grade in the fall.”

Other fun programs include story time at Pendleton King Park every Thursday at 10 a.m., in which guest readers are invited to read to groups of around 50 children.

“I have so much fun reading to these kids, I think I have more fun than they do,” said Helen Blocker-Adams, a local writer who has participated with story time for the last four years. “It is important for kids to understand the importance of reading, and I hope that I can be an example for them to pick up a book and have just as much fun with it as I do.”

According to McCoy, the most popular books for kids involve Judy Moody and Captain Underpants, but especially Diary of a Wimpy

Teens have their own program with the theme “You are Here”, and this year’s adult summer reading program is themed “Novel Destinations.”

All summer reading programs end July 22,

HELEN BLOCKER ADAMS READS AT PENDLETON PARK

after which if participants have not completed their checklists they are no longer eligible to receive any prizes. More information is available at any branch, at the library’s booth at the Saturday Market or by calling 706.821.2604.

vergelive.com | community driven news | June 15, 2011 13

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14 June 15, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

shizuo z kuwahara leads

music with vision

reflecting on last season and looking to an expanded future with the symphony orchestra augusta

involve young professionals in cultural scenes in Augusta. We are preparing to expand residencies of artists. More musicians will be in the community, touching the ears and hearts of many people in Augusta.

Maestro Shizuo Z. Kuwahara became music director of Symphony Orchestra Augusta in July 2009 and recently extended his contract through the 2014-2015 concert season. In addition to his work in Augusta, he is a guest conductor across the U.S. and in other countries. Shortly after a series of concerts in Nice, France, Maestro Kuwahara spoke to verge about his vision for the symphony and Augusta.

Verge: What is your vision under your extended contract?

Kuwahara: I always had a longer vision for Augusta and the symphony. More and more, the art organizations are collaborating and trying to figure out what makes the city culturally exciting. There are many hidden treasures and the trick is to figure out the best way to make everybody stand out.

To make this happen, my perspective for the orchestra will take a much longer term, and renewing year by year does not make sense because you finish one contract and talk about another. I wanted to focus on something more involved and we needed to solidify this first.

I am very proud to be the music director of the Symphony Orchestra Augusta. We have accomplished many things together and I look forward to making our organization a vital part of cultural organization not only in Augusta but in a much wider region. Let me point out several things that have changed in the two years I have been here: Artistic: SOA now explores a much wider range of repertoire and most of our programs are new music for Augusta, even if the music is written by more common composers such as Beethoven, Bach and Rachmaninoff. At the same time, we began exploring music written by composers of countries with which we had less association. The balance of keeping the traditional masterworks and exploring new fields has engaged a wider range of age groups and demographics because the program enables one to understand the beauty of the Arts from the language that is more common for them.

This effort of performing a wide range of repertoire has led to improvements of our orchestral sound. We also have established a strong sense of connection between the conductor and the orchestra. Sometimes I do not need to use my hands to conduct [because] the musicians understand what we are trying to create at the moment of musical creation.

Massive orchestral works, such as compositions by Gustav Mahler or Igor Stravinsky, used to intimidate me, but working with SOA, tackling these enormous works feels much simpler.

I can depend on the players to know their parts and, at the time of rehearsal, we can work on molding and melding artistic interpretation of the works. This does not necessarily happen with every orchestra and I am fortunate to work with musicians of such caliber.

“Music tells the story of who we are and what we need to strive for.”

— MAESTRO SHIZUO Z. KUWAHARA

Education and Community Engagement: Music is one of the most important aspects of human life that can only be taught by experiencing the process of creation or exposure to various musical styles. We are consciously observing and evaluating our program and looking to make changes to our education and community engagement programs. One very big change was the implementation of guest artists to perform in public schools.

This enabled students to hear a variety of instruments performed by leading professional musicians from all over the country. We also started a mentoring program with Augusta State University, where selected chamber groups receive mentorship from SOA musicians and are given opportunities to perform and talk about music in front of public school students. This program is designed to prepare these musicians to perform in realistic settings and learn how to talk about music to the audience.

We also began collaborating with Fort Gordon musicians and local artists, such as Wycliffe Gordon and Niki Haris. We teamed up with Young Professionals of Augusta and are finding ways to

Involvement in Humanitarian Effort: Arguably, SOA is the leading cultural organization musically, but I have always felt that we had much more and bigger responsibilities than leading music alone. I am always concerned about the people who are suffering around the world and it is my belief that music can play a big role in helping one another. In March, the tragedy of earthquake and tsunami especially broke my heart. That tragedy occurred in the soil where I was born, so this was very personal for me. We teamed up with the American Red Cross of Augusta and everyone in SOA and people associated with the organization donated their talent and their time for the whole month of March to help the victims of this catastrophic event.

This kind of effort is so important and I believe that we have responsibility in leading humanitarian effort through music. I would like us to keep seeking ways to make this world a better place a little at a time.

Verge: What do you have planned for 2011-2012 and how do

you determine the direction of each season’s repertoire?

Kuwahara: Things are taking a turn and changing into

something totally different. A lot of philosophers think about what it means to be alive, and this season we are experiencing this with our program. For example, we are doing a Pops concert of the music of Michael Jackson, who left such an important message that we should take to heart and cherish and put into action. His music speaks to people of our time and he addresses a lot of things that people take for granted. Music tells the story of who we are and what we need to strive for. When I select an artist to feature, I try to figure out what that artist can teach us. The music should be meaningful, so the sociological aspect of our program has to be thought out, and how we thread the season for people to understand why this music means something. I try to find the most important things in our lives and what makes them special. A concert happens in a moment and never again. You can share it with people around you and get something so incredible that it can change your life. If I can touch one person that way, I accomplish something special.

Verge: How has Augusta surprised you?

Kuwahara: I feel so fortunate to be here, surrounded by

wonderful people with good hearts. There are many small things that surprise me. Etiquette and Southern hospitality is something I am always impressed with. There are also young generations moving back to Augusta, which does not happen in many other cities — most cities, they leave for bigger cities. It says a lot about value and the importance of family and comfort of this city.

Follow Maestro Kuwahara and the SOA at SOAUGUSTA.COM.

by ALISON RICHTER photos HOLLY BIRDSONG

vergelive.com | community driven news | June 15, 2011 15

choosing the

greenway eco-friendly cleaning supply store opens

During a family vacation, Stephanie Ware’s two-year-old son awoke with a painful rash on his chest. Ware believes the rash was an allergic reaction to the detergent used on the cruise ship, and the potentially dangerous chemicals contained in many standard cleaning supplies.

“At home, we do not use any chemicals in our cleaning supplies,” Ware said. “We use EnviroSolutions products from Canada, where eco-certification standards are higher, and refillable bottles with natural cleaners. It was only because (my son) had not been exposed to that kind of stuff that he had such a bad reaction and, if I can help it, he will not be exposed to the same chemicals again while he is young.”

It is for this reason that Ware manages the Greenway Store at 1326 Reynolds St. Once a freestanding store in Evans, Greenway relocated to downtown Augusta two months ago and now shares space with parent company KAMO Manufacturing, bringing inexpensive, and eco-friendly cleaning supplies to the downtown community.

“A lot of people come to us with problems,” said Mary Meyers, the assistant to KAMO’s president.

“They do not know exactly what they need, but they know what surface they need cleaned and what kind of build-up they need to remove, whether it is wet, gritty or mold. There are an unlimited number of different ways things can be filthy.”

Ware’s father, KAMO CEO and owner Jack Weinstein, started the Greenway Store in November 2008 because of a growing national trend requiring government employees to use green products.

Going green did not cost significantly more and was safer for employees. Ware said KAMO wanted to be the first to offer that service to customers in Augusta and, now that it is becoming a need, they want to be the first name customers remember.

“Eco-friendly supplies used to be more expensive, but now that they are preferred it is hard for companies to charge more for them,” Ware said. “The only change that people have to get used to is that they do not smell the way some would expect. People associate clean with mountain fresh air, which is completely unnatural and unnecessary, because it is just an artificial scent some company put in there. The cleanest environment smells like nothing at all, but some people cannot get used to the fact that we have no additives in our products to make them smell that way, even though they work better.”

The base of most KAMO products, Greenway’s name brand, is peroxide and D-limonene, made from orange peel. They also sell a one-hundred percent D-limonene solution that breaks up heavy duty build-up such as grease, dirt and grime.

“The natural stuff will separate over time, but it never really goes bad,” said Ware. “Most of the dyes are plant based, so they break down if exposed to heavy sun, but that is a good thing because when a substance breaks down it is a lot better for the environment.”

One of Greenway’s most popular products is a series of refillable bottles, solution #25, #26 and #27, that are a glass, bathroom and heavy duty cleaner respectively. A bottle is $7.50, but customers can save money on refills by swapping their used bottle for a full one for $2.50 or by purchasing free refills for a year for $20. A $50 cleaning kit contains all three bottles, plus a concentrated floor cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner and additional supplies for cleaning every room in the house.

For the time being, the Greenway Store has enough commercial customers to sustain them, but Ware hopes for more walk-in customers once they add a real storefront with windows and a logo.

“People clean and have cleaners around them constantly,” she said, “but if you change one little thing about what you put in the air and water or on your hands, you are taking an important step toward making yourself safer and the earth healthier.”

The Greenway Store is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call 706.724.1488 or visit thegreenwaystore.com. article and photo by CHRISTOHPHER SELMEK

16 June 15, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

kayla marie derrick is

pursuing the dream

NORTH AUGUSTA SINGER-SONGWRITER HEADS FOR NASHVILLE

“My passion is unmatched.

When I want to do something, you cannot stop me, and I will

work even harder if you tell

me I can’t.”

— KAYLA MARIE DERRICK

Singer/songwriter Kayla Marie Derrick has had her eye on the musical prize since she was 8 years old, when she started her first band and performed original material. While her bandmates did not share her determination to follow through, Derrick was on a career path, inspired by classic rock and country music. When she reached middle school, one of her poems was published and, by 16, she was playing guitar to accompany the words she put to music.

“My passion is unmatched,” she says. “When I want to do something, you cannot stop me, and I will work even harder if you tell me I can’t. So many people said, ‘What are you doing?

You are quitting school for this?’ ”

She grew up in North Augusta and is self-taught on guitar, learning primarily by listening to records and watching instructional and artist videos on YouTube.

To date, Derrick has showcased numerous times, which led to her securing major management in Nashville. She recorded in Atlanta last fall — those tracks are available on iTunes — and will go back into the studio after she relocates.

“My family did not have a lot of money,” she says. “I had wanted a guitar since I was 10 or 12 and one Christmas, after years and years of having it on my wish list, my parents got me one. But guitar lessons are very expensive, so I taught myself to play. I listened to the type of music I wanted to learn, mostly country, and learned from that.”

When she performed an acoustic version of Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance” at her high school graduation, her parents realized just how serious she was about music.

Although she attended college and maintained a high grade point average, she opted to take a semester off in spring 2009 to pursue her career. She has not looked back.

“This” became recording sessions, radio airplay, gigs across the Southeast, business trips back and forth to Nashville and a manager. In August, Derrick will relocate to Nashville and work toward a recording contract. To step up her game, she is taking voice and guitar lessons, teaching herself to play mandolin and scheduling co-writes for her regular trips to Tennessee.

“I am waiting until I get to Nashville,” she says, “because no one else understands country music.”

Derrick will return to Augusta in September to perform at Arts in the Heart.

Learn more about Kayla Marie Derrick and listen to her music at reverbnation.com/ kaylamariederrick or look for Kayla Marie Derrick on Facebook.

by ALISON RICHTER

vergelive.com | community driven news | June 15, 2011 17

www.theaugustamarket.com

18 June 15, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

dr. ricardo azziz

defines the cool factor THE PRESIDENT OF GHSU EXPOUNDS ON WHAT HE MEANT BY COOL

This week, I used it in a presentation to the Rotary Club of Augusta while talking about Georgia Health Science University’s significant economic impact on the community and our plans for future growth. I said that to attract the workforce we need to drive this growth – young, highly educated knowledge workers – we have to be cool.

What do I mean by cool? A city’s attractiveness has a lot do with the arts and entertainment scene – whether it is a ‘happening’ place, energetic, edgy, trend setting, and accessible. But it also has a lot to do with the demographics of the community. Health indices. Socioeconomic rankings. Educational outcomes. What makes a city cool is highly subjective, but Next Generation Consulting, a market research firm located in the very cool city of Madison, Wisconsin, has done a good job of quantifying it.

The firm published a report titled Next Cities: The 60 U.S Hotspots for Young, Talented Workers. Their analysis is based on seven general indexes that young professionals use to evaluate communities: • Vitality: includes air and water quality, green space, and residents’ overall health • Earning: includes future job growth, diversity of employment opportunities, average income,

and percentage of jobs in the knowledge industry

• Learning: involving educational opportunities, public library use, and Wi-Fi hotspots • Social capital: involves how open and safe a city is using crime rates, voter participation,

and percentage of women and minority owned businesses as some of the measures

• Cost of lifestyle: self-explanatory • After hours: the places to go and things to do after work and on the weekends • Around town: the ‘walkability’ of the city, airport activity, commute times, and mass transit

opportunities

Who ranks at the top of our comparator group, cities with populations in the 100,000 to 200,000 range? Fort Collins, Colo., is number one. Charleston, S.C., home of our peer, the Medical University of South Carolina, ranks second. Eugene, Ore., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Springfield, the capital city of Illinois, round out the top five. All very cool cities.

But, what makes them cooler than Augusta?

Is it really about the indicators identified by Next Generation Consulting or are there other factors involved, a mysterious equation of inputs that results in the output of ‘cool.’

Granted, we are not located on the coast like Charleston, but we do have a river like Cedar Rapids. We do not have a Mount Pisgah like Eugene, but Mount Springer, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, is located about three hours from here. And Thurmond Lake (or Clarks Hill for the traditionalists among us), with its abundant opportunities for hiking, camping, fishing, and boating, is a short drive to the west of the city.

“Can we make Augusta one of the coolest cities in the Southeast?

Absolutely, we can ... we must be willing to embrace change. Disruptive

change. Big, scary ideas that challenge each and every one of us to

step out of our comfort zone.”

– DR. RICARDO AZZIZ

Over the past 11 months living and working in Augusta, my family and I have discovered a lot of things that we really enjoy about this city.

Nine public libraries in Richmond and Columbia counties, including the new headquarters on Telfair and the stately Appleby branch, located in a historic home in Summerville? That’s cool.

The biking path along the Augusta Canal that connects Columbia County to downtown? Kayaking and rowing on the Savannah River? And just over the river, North Augusta’s lush Greenway for cycling, running, or taking a Saturday morning stroll? An annual Ironman triathlon that brings more than 3,100 top athletes to Augusta to compete? That’s cool.

The storied Imperial Theatre? The Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre? Le Chat Noir, the intimate black box theater and lounge located at 8th and Ellis streets? An entertainment complex designed by internationally recognized architect I.M. Pei and named after James Brown, the godfather of soul?

That’s cool.

The annual Westobou Festival? A thriving symphony under the capable baton of Maestro Z? A Ballet? An Opera? And public art such as the brightly painted water-themed murals on the walls around the Augusta Waterworks? That’s cool.

Chef-owned and operated restaurants such as Frog Hollow, Sheehan’s, Bistro 491, Villa Europa, Takosushi, Five O’Clock Bistro and so many more, dishing out consistently impressive fare? South Augusta’s bustling ethnic food markets? That’s cool, too.

But members of our community who are unwilling to entertain the notion that we must make our city as cool as possible to maximize our growth? Individuals opposed to supporting the further growth of the university and the biotech industry in our community? An overabundance of chain restaurants and fast-food establishments? Multiple, well intended, but siloed not-for-profits,

unwilling to work together for the greater good? A dearth of inter-city walking paths and bike lanes? Limited public transportation?

That’s all decidedly uncool.

And this greatly impacts GHSU’s ability to recruit faculty and other knowledge workers to the region. This is not simply a problem for our university – it is also a problem for our city and our broader community. GHSU is not the only entity working to attract talented professionals to our area, professionals who look at these factors when making career and life decisions.

Augusta has much to offer and much to be proud of. We have great health care and a budding biotech industry. I receive Mayor Deke Copenhaver’s weekly updates and am impressed by the positive news about our city. While I cheer these accomplishments as loud as anyone, I know we can do so much more to increase the appeal – the vibrancy and liveliness – of this community. As I repeat to the GHSU campus community regularly …. Good Enough is Not Enough! Not in today’s highly competitive, highly connected, global environment.

Can we make Augusta one of the coolest cities in the Southeast? Absolutely we can! Will it be hard?

Sure, but we are actually much closer than we recognize.

But, we must be open to facing the realities of our environment and our times. And we must be willing to embrace change. Disruptive change. Big, scary ideas that challenge each and every one of us to step out of our comfort zone. We have to stop asking “why” and start asking “why not.”

We need to stop saying “we can’t” and start thinking about how “we can.”

Now that would be really cool.

by DR. RICHARDO AZZIZ originally publised on Dr. Azziz’s blog. Reprinted with permission.

Ricardo Azziz, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., is the eighth President of Georgia Health Sciences University and CEO of the MCG Health System. He began his tenure in July 2010 and has moved rapidly to integrate the university and its health system, while driving efforts to broaden the university’s reach statewide and globally. He has embraced sustainability and demonstrated a strong commitment to partnership within and beyond the university’s walls. A native of Uruguay and a gifted artist, Dr. Azziz brings a global and creative perspective to his leadership of GHSU. He and his wife, Cindy, are enjoying life in the South with children Ashlee, Jonathan and Mallory, and their dog, Arlo.

MORE Follow Dr. Azziz at azziz.georgiahealth.edu or on Twitter: @ricardoazziz.

vergelive.com | community driven news | June 15, 2011 19

cool o

discover a natu

There was a time for every Augustan under the a the school year and a choice had to be made – a to school in the fall. At Krystal River Water Park, Shoot – the bar mitzvah of water slides. The Son with its contemporaries. It was as close as you c ascending the seemingly never-ending staircase the stomach-clenching wait in the line. Then fina to face my fear and letting go, giving myself fully contact with the surface as I soared down the ch

My friends and I agree. The Sonic Shoot was definitely o It was a shared experience that brought us all together. K one of the last to experience that local legend. Our suc generations have to look forward to in the summer? It gallantry to bear through miles of red tape to rebuild th Augusta is nestled between a lake and a river. This provi

clarks hill lake With 1,200 miles of sho

Dam and Lake) is the most obvious choice to cure the s (although it certainly helps). The lake has several publi areas. It is perfect for afternoon cookouts combined with Springs. Follow Washington Road toward Evans; take a left. There is a $2 fee per vehicle. For a list of day-use area

the savannah river Along the banks of

Savannah River, there are several places to swim. Gettin these swimming holes is most easily done from the Aug Canal walking path. If you are near the train tracks on canal, there is a bike trail just off the canal. Walk away fr the bridge, towards the river side of the canal and on y left you will see an opening in the trees. Enter here an the bottom of the trail there are two paths. Follow the p on the left and it will lead you to a tree that has grown over the river. Two rope swings dangle from the tree and manner. Definitely proceed with caution since the rope

the canal water hole Aqueduct Par

Ryan Gay and Davis Branch Take a splash in the savannah

– right on the Augusta Canal. It is easily accessed from Washington Road). Turn right at Goodrich Street, a dirt and follow the dirt road across the railroad tracks. Ther Directly in front of the parking area is a small water hole and clear – a refreshing way to shed the city heat.

the splash pad If braving nature does not

a water park – the Splash Pad at Wood Park on Highlan you may not be able to swim laps, but you will definitely is gated and has lifeguards on duty. This is the only locati is only $1.50 per person. The Splash Pad is open daily fr only on weekends through September 26. Located at 186

fountains

Augusta has two fountains for a q near The Riverwalk (Reynolds and 8th streets) and the Stevens Creek Road. This is the fountain that can be see fountains are open to the public for use.

This list is not comprehensive – it is just a start. Ther locations in Augusta waiting to be found and turned in explore more – find ones that you and your friends can 2 to open. Venture outdoors and discover a secret swimm – ones you can boast about in the fall.

John Mobley tests out the tension on the rope swing

20 June 15, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

off this summer

ural water park

age of 15 when summer separated itself from a fear had to be conquered before returning one slide stood out from the rest – the Sonic nic Shoot was a widow-maker compared could get to a complete free fall. I remember e, my heartbeat increasing with the altitude and ally, strapping on the required helmet, pausing y over to the descent. My back barely made hute.

one of the clearest coming-of-age moments in our lives.

Krystal River shut its gates in 2003. Our generation was ccessors do not have this memory. What do these new t seems that, until someone produces enough cash and he water park, the most feasible options are natural ones. ides plenty of memory-making opportunities.

oreline, Clarks Hill Lake (officially, J. Strom Thurmond summer drought and you do not need a boat to enjoy it ic access beaches, each equipped with grills and picnic h cooling off in the water. A good spot to visit is in Lake a right at Pollard’s Corner. Lake Springs will be on your as, visit sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/thurmond/.

ryan gay braves the rock slide at aqueduct park.

f the ng to gusta n the rom your nd at path n out d a platform has been added in a Swiss Family Robinson es are constantly weathered by the rain and usage.

“Augusta is nestled between a lake and a river.

This provides plenty of

memory-making

opportunities each summer.”

rk is conveniently located just minutes from downtown m Broad Street (heading away from downtown toward road that runs along the Augusta Canal from Sibley Mill re will be a parking area soon after you cross the tracks. e, complete with a natural rock slide. The water is clean

appeal to you, Augusta has its own miniature version of nd Avenue. With water jettisoning out from every side, y cool off. Developed for children 12 and under, the park ion on the list that costs money. Luckily, the entrance fee rom 1 to 6 p.m. through August 8, and then it will open 66 Highland Ave. AUGUSTAGA.GOV

THE WATER BECKONS AT AQUEDUCT PARK

quick cool-down: The Bulkhead Fountain in downtown e single fountain splash pad- at Brookefield Park off of en while driving on Riverwatch Parkway. Both of these

re are a vast number of natural (and a few man-made) nto your own water park. Try these areas out and then call your own. Don’t sit inside waiting for Krystal River ming hole. Be sure to make new memories this summer

by DAVIS BRANCH photos HOLLY BIRDSONG

make a splash of your own by exploring augusta’s waterways and lakes

vergelive.com | community driven news | June 15, 2011 21

22 June 15, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

fresh food bites CHOW BELLA: HOMEMADE POPSICLES

Eating Out Old School Style

Cold Treats for Sweltering Summer Days

June finds people venturing outdoors to chill and relax.

Outside decks at restaurants are packed, sidewalk seating is hard to come by and friends and family are looking for cool ways to enjoy one another’s company away from the usual confines of home and, in many cases, their kitchens.

But, after a while, even that “big deck” at your favorite Mexican restaurant begs for a break and you find that you have sat in front of your cherished downtown hangout so long that you have begun to memorize the cracks in the sidewalk. Even the thought of firing up a hot grill is simply not that appealing. Perhaps all you need is a break from the usual things you love. Something cooler. You seek the simplicity and tranquility of a picnic.

Everyone is familiar with the things that go hand-in-hand with the “classic” picnic – blanket in a romantic, shaded spot meant for two with a basket of wine, sandwiches and some crackers and cheese. Before you run to the pantry to see if you have any Wonder Bread to go with that pack of processed grocery store meat, put a little creative thought into making this picnic something new and original.

Over the years, picnics have meant everything from Mom making sandwiches to Dad stopping by Wife Saver to pick up a family pack of fried chicken and sides. My point is – it can be anything you want it to be. Personally, I would keep it cool, crisp and refreshing. Keep it local, save some minor prep and make things fun and interesting. For the following scenario, you only need to start with a basket, paper plates, cups, napkins and utensils.

Summer has come upon us and my family has embraced it with open arms. We are enjoying pool trips, barbecues, movie nights and all that the carefree sunny days have to offer. We have almost forgotten that it feels like a furnace outside. It is definitely good to rotate outdoor activities with indoor lounging in a wonderful air-conditioned home. I do enjoy crawling up on the couch reading while I cool down. On a personal note, I have also started a boot camp at the local Family Y, which is kicking my butt. It is a six-week program and I am pushing through. We will see whether I survive it. I honestly have never done so many push-ups and sit-ups in my life. I just have to make sure I do not mess it up by falling off the wagon this summer, in regards to eating habits.

My first inclination in the summer is to go for ice cream,when my daughter and I want a cold snack. I love ice cream. But, I needed an alternative – something Emma and I would enjoy without the worry of calorie counting. I settled on popsicles.

Popsicles can be made out of any juice and it is easy to add fresh fruit to the recipe. We decided to try strawberry lemonade popsicles since we still had strawberries left over from prior kitchen adventures. Strawberry lemonade made from scratch is delicious, but you could easily use Santa Cruz Organic Strawberry Lemonade which can be found in most grocery stores.

I happened to have three popsicle molds; the right number for my family. If you do not have molds, you can use small paper or plastic cups. Follow the recipe below for strawberry lemonade, add your fruit of choice to the mold, freeze and enjoy. You can make this a summer activity for families that are home for the summer needing something to do. A trip to Gurosik’s Farm and an afternoon of popsicle making is sure to make for a memorable day. I promise these were a family pleaser and a lovely way to end a hot summer day. article and photos by ELIZABETH BENSON

On a hot day nothing beats a good sandwich, especially one filled with fresh ingredients and eaten right after it is made. New Moon Café (1002 Broad St.) has a great

from chow bella’s kitchen: STRAWBERRY LEMONADE POPSICLES

selection of freshly baked breads and bagels, spreads, hummus and other cool items which can add greatly to

A fresh, natural lemonade base with chunks of strawberries for a cool finish.

an awesome picnic. The New York Butcher Shop in Surrey Center has an incredible selection of meats and cheeses. If you want easy, they even have pre-made meals. Sundrees Urban Market (936 Broad St.) has a good mix of beers, sodas and healthy drinks. For that perfect bottle of wine, Cheers! Wine and Beverage (3109 Washington Road) is a great place that recently opened. If your picnic falls on a Saturday, check out the Augusta Market downtown for some crisp, fresh veggies – make your day even easier by just strolling over to Riverwalk for a great picnic spot.

The best part about going local is you have a great meal that features fresh, healthy ingredients and puts dollars back into your own community – dollars that stay here.

That is the great taste of fresh progress and, gee, is it delicious! June 18 is International Picnic Day.

by JOHN “STONEY” CANNON John believes that anyone can learn to eat healthier - in small steps - taking one bite at a time.

LEMONADE INGREDIENTS: 5 cups water 1 lb. strawberries cleaned and stems removed 3/4 cup honey 1 cup lemon juice Juice of 2 limes ** You will need ¾ to ½ pound of strawberries halved and sliced for the popsicles DIRECTIONS: 1. Warm 2 1/2 cups of water in a pot with the honey until well combined.

2. In a large pitcher, combine the remaining water, the honey water, lemon juice and lime juice.

3. Put the strawberries in a blender and blend until very smooth.

4. Mash the strawberries through a fine mesh sieve. Stir and press with a spatula to get

strawberries completely through the sieve.

5. Stir strawberry juice into the pitcher and stir well.

6. Chill.

POPSICLES:

1. Divide your strawberry slices and place in molds.

2. Pour in your strawberry lemonade, leave a little room for expansion.

3. Use the stick to mix the ingredients so not to have the strawberries all in one place, leave stick.

4. Freeze for a few hours and enjoy recipe adapted from The Gracious Pantry

vergelive.com | community driven news | June 15, 2011 23

24 June 15, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

music without boundaries

meet artemia CD RELEASE SHOW AT SKY CITY ON JUNE 24

“We want quality instead of quantity and that keeps us honest. We would rather play for a handful of people who

love and understand

us than in front of thousands who don’t.”

— BLAINE PRESCOTT

Although they are only a year old as a band, the members of Artemia — Blaine Prescott, lead vocals/keyboard/guitar; Michael Dinkins, drums/keyboard; Gregg Craft, bass; Eric Rinker, guitar/drums; and Jason Easler, guitar — have years of history on the local and national music scene, playing together and separately in different configurations before coming together to form what they describe as a progressive rock/fusion group.

Artemia will release their 13-song debut album, Something Special, this month. They recorded, produced and mixed all the tracks themselves, working from home studios and their practice space. Vocalist Blaine Prescott spoke to verge about the band’s roots, goals and very unique sound.

VERGE: How did Artemia come together?

Prescott: Michael and I are cousins. We lived a block away from each other and started playing music together when we were kids. Later, I started a band called dieAgnostic, Michael and Gregg played in Heir to Ruin, I met Eric when he was in Gearbox and we formed a band called Distal. Michael [also currently] plays drums for L.i.E., Jason and Eric were in a band called Cycle, then in Suns Collide. From a mix of all those bands, we eventually formed Artemia.

VERGE: How long did it take to find people who shared the vision you had for Artemia?

Prescott: There was another incarnation of the band that was much heavier, but Michael and I were not happy because we were trying to bring in all these different styles and they did not see it. We wanted people who could play their instruments well and did not care about playing only one style. We wanted to be able to present a piece of music and know that they could pick it up quickly and put their own spin on it, their own interpretation.

That is how we all communicate as musicians in this group. Each person puts something out and the next person answers it. It is like having a conversation.

VERGE: You all play several instruments. Do you interchange onstage as well as on the CD?

Prescott: We do. It is about phrasing and what is particular to the song. The CD has everything from rock to hip-hop to spoken word. We have certain things we do live, depending on what drives the song.

VERGE: You have all been part of the local club scene. Where does Artemia fit and how do you find gigs in a town that is mostly known for cover bands?

Prescott: The music industry in general has really changed.

Everything is created on a base level and the songs we hear on the radio are played and written by the same people and performed by 14-year-old girls. We were tired of what we were hearing and we decided to try to make something that we wanted to hear. You have got to be honest with yourself and what you do, because if not, people can see through it. We wanted quality instead of quantity and that keeps us honest. We’d rather play for a handful of people who love and understand us than in front of thousands who don’t. It is always tough for original bands to find gigs here.

Bands always came up through word of mouth, and now through the Internet. It is hard. You have to know which avenues to take and remember that opportunities do not last forever.

VERGE: Although this is a new band, you all have years of experience. How has this prepared you for an original band like Artemia?

Prescott: A lot of the bands we were in before were heavy metal bands. DieAgnostic did really well. We lived in New York and had been working with Columbia Records. It carried us a long way, but as we got older and grew as artists, our sound grew and people turned their backs because they felt we had abandoned them by not continuing to play the same style of music. We wanted to grow as musicians, grow our fan base and not compromise our beliefs or misrepresent ourselves, and that hurt us. But it is not fulfilling if you cannot do your best work and be appreciated for that, so we came back to Augusta. The premise of Artemia is to create music without boundaries. We are constantly changing, adding things — we are going to have a three-piece brass section with us for the CD release show.

Artemia is a blend of different influences and genres. We are very willing to take risks to fulfill our vision.

VERGE: What is the most valuable lesson you have learned from experience?

Prescott: Sometimes, failure is the secret to success. The more mistakes you make, the more you see a clearer path, as long as you do not give up. All of our cumulative experiences of playing music have taught us these lessons. Artemia is a place of creative bliss for us, and it brought us together on a personal level too. We all know what we want, and we are thrilled to have people with us, giving us a chance to bring them this creative energy.

by ALISON RICHTER

See the Show

WHAT ARTEMIA CD RELEASE SHOW with The Favors + Ganja + Sumilan + local art show WHERE Sky City WHEN Friday, June 24 at 10 p.m.

TICKETS $10 includes CD MORE ARTEMIA.BANDCAMP.COM

vergelive.com | community driven news | June 15, 2011 25

the

film reel NOW PLAYING ON THE BIG SCREEN

Does Dad like superheroes? Does he drool at the sight of Gossip Girl star Blake Lively? Then, celebrate Father’s Day with a trip to see GREEN LANTERN in 3D. There is something for the ladies, too, in the form of People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive, Ryan Reynolds, sporting skintight superhero attire.

The June 17 opener finds Reynolds playing Hal Jordan/Green Lantern, a cocky but heroic pilot who is chosen to help a group of superhuman intergalactic protectors, called the Green Lantern Corps, defeat a particularly challenging foe. Lively (in brunette mode) plays Jordan’s love interest and fellow pilot. Angela Bassett and Tim Robbins are among the other players in this DC Comics big-screen adaptation. Peter Sarsgaard (though nearly unrecognizable at times) plays Hector Hammond, the evil scientist who helps fuel Parllax, the ominous force threatening to destroy the human race. Martin Campbell (Casino Royale) directs the traditionally more comically inclined Reynolds (The Proposal) in this major star turn. Pending a healthy box office showing, sequels can be expected.

He has played Dr. Seuss’ Grinch, aging curmudgeon Lemony Snicket and Jim Carrey once again enters the live-action family-film arena as the lead character in MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS. Based on Richard and Florence Atwater’s Newberry Award-Winning book (1939), Carrey plays Mr. Popper, a wealthy Manhattan real estate developer whose tidy world of wealth is turned upsidedown when he receives a gift of live penguins from his recently-deceased world traveler father.

Fans of the book will notice this updated-to-present-day version of the story is a departure from the Atwaters’ original tale.

Popper slowly warms up to the Antarctic creatures – thanks in part to his son – and turns his luxurious Manhattan apartment into a penguin-friendly winter wonderland to accommodate them. Conflict arises in the form of a jealous nosy neighbor and a well-meaning zoo official. The eccentric behavior also affects Popper’s relationship with his ex-wife (Carla Gugino) and two children. Angela Lansbury co-stars in a rare big-screen appearance. The Spiderwick Chronicles helmer Mark Waters directs.

THE ART OF GETTING BY is a limited opener featuring Freddie Highmore (Finding Neverland) as a grossly-underperforming and undervalued problem student who finds a champion in fellow student Emma Roberts (Scream 4). This young romance is targeted at indie film fans.

The June 24 box office brings another sequel to a year jam-packed with continuations of familiar stories – Disney Pixar’s CARS 2 in 3D. Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy return to voice animated racecar Lightning McQueen and beat-up tow truck Mater, respectively. The cars are off to compete in the World Grand Prix in Europe and Japan, but encounter relentlessly fierce opponents.

Michael Caine joins the celebrity voice cast as Finn McMissile, a sleek car who is also involved in espionage.

This family-friendly flick marks John Lasseter’s first directorial feature since 2006’s original Cars though he has produced several animated hits including WALL-E and Toy Story 3.

The week’s other major opener features Cameron Diaz as a rude, thoughtless insult to the teaching profession in BAD TEACHER. After a break-up with her wealthy boyfriend, Diaz returns to work teaching junior high. She behaves horribly, insulting students and drinking on the job until she meets a wealthy new prospective boyfriend – who, ironically, is played by Diaz’s real-life exboyfriend Justin Timberlake. With Timberlake’s character in the picture, she improves her attitude in hopes of wooing him and sets her sights on fake breasts to seal the deal. The quest for implants depends on cash, forcing the world’s worst educator to clean up her act to win financial incentives from the school. Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother) co-stars in this crude comedy from Jake Kasdan, who also directed Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.

by MARIAH GARDNER, MOVIE GURU

26 June 15, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

the

daily planner

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?

JUN 15 to JUL 2

[ AUGUSTA PRIDE FESTIVAL ] Broad Street will turn into a rainbow of people during the second Augusta Pride Parade on June 25, beginning at 10th and Jones streets, running along Broad Street and ending at the Augusta Common for a day music, entertainment and children’s activities.

Festival headliner Kristine W transforms the Common into a dance club. Legendary in the club music scene, Kristine’s releases shoot up Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Songs charts – she has 16 number-one hits under her belt. Fittingly, the singer who brought “Downtown” back to the forefront in a 2007 Visa commercial, Niki Harris, joins the festivities. Other featured performers throughout the day include Claire Storm, Brandy Douglas, Dee Hemmingway, Elke Kennedy, Straightlace and Nicole Roberts.

All of the festivities are free to the public.

WHAT Augusta Pride Parade and Festival WHERE Augusta Common WHEN Saturday, June 25 | Parade at 10 a.m.; Festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m..

TICKETS Free MORE PRIDEAUGUSTA.ORG The Daily Planner is our selective guide to what is going on in the city during the next two weeks. IF YOU WANT TO BE LISTED: Submit information by email (info@vergelive.com) or by mail (verge, P.O. Box 38, Augusta, GA 30903). Details of the event - date, time, venue address, telephone number and admission price - should be included. Listings included are accurate at press time, check with specific venues for further details.

WEDNESDAY

6.15

FOR KIDS JUNIOR RANGERS Children will

discover the outdoor world through a diversity of adventures such as canoeing, learning about Georgia wildlife, hiking, lake ecology and building a wooden planter. Register by June 10.

Mistletoe State Park; 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; $25; 3725 Mistletoe Road, Appling; 706.541.0321 GASTATEPARKS.ORG

FOR KIDS SESAME STREET LIVE! 1-2-3 IMAGINE WITH ELMO AND FRIENDS Imagine

singing and dancing with Elmo, Abby Cadabby and Big Bird. It is as easy as counting “1-2-3, Imagine!” This highenergy musical will transport audiences to far-away places as Ernie captains the high seas, Elmo dances to the rhythm of

the African rainforest and Bert meets an octopus who has the blues. Bell Auditorium; 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.; $16 to $56; 712 Telfair St.; 877.4AUGTIX GEORGIALINATIX.COM

EDUCATION TAI CHI FOR BEGINNERS Learn the basics

FOR KIDS PATTI CAKE: “OH THE TALES WE’LL TELL” Entertaining stories from

FESTIVAL DOWNTOWN AFTER 6 BEACH BLAST

around the world told with the help of puppets, costumes and music. Aiken Library; 2 p.m.; free; 314 Chesterfield St. SW, Aiken; 803.642.7586 ABBE-LIB.ORG

SPORTS AUGUSTA GREENJACKETS vs. the

Lexington Legends. Lake Olmstead Stadium; 12:05 p.m.; $6 to $8 for adults; kids 3 and under are $1; 78 Milledge Road; 706.736.7889

THURSDAY

6.16

of this ancient Chinese art with an experienced instructor.

Headquarters Library; 4 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600

Read more below. this page.

Newberry Street, Aiken; 6 p.m

ART THE HEART GALLERY EXHIBIT OPENING The South

Carolina Heart Gallery is a program that enhances adoption recruitment opportunities for waiting children. Local photographers, including Julie Rowe, Hansje Gold-Krueck, Amy Hardee, Kim Gibson and Jason Tench, donate their services to provide portraits of the children. Aiken Center for the Arts; 6 to 9 p.m.; free; 122 Laurens St. SW, Aiken; 803.641.9094

KRSITINE W

FILM DAS BOOT

The claustrophobic world of a WWII German U-boat; boredom, filth and sheer terror.

Directed by Wolfgang Petersen.

(German) Headquarters Library; 6:30 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2604 ECGRL.ORG

CONCERT MUSIC IN THE PARK: CAREY MURDOCK AND NOSTAR Maude Edenfield Park; 7 p.m.; free; 400 Buena Vista Ave., North Augusta; 803.442.7588

FRIDAY

6.17

FOR KIDS A Visit from the Fire Department

Headquarters Library; 9:30 a.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG

ART ART AT LUNCH AND JEWELRY TRUNK SHOW

CONCERT THE TEMPTATIONS REVUE A

Artist Gogo Fergusondiscusses her unique jewelry and home accessory creations. After the program, join Gogo in the museum store for a special trunk show and sale. The Morris Museum of Art; noon; $10 to $14, paid reservations due June 15; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501

tribute to The Temptations featuring Nate Evans with opening act Palmetto Groove in a concert to benefit the H.T. “The Jailman” Leary Education Scholarship Fund. USCA Convocation Center; 6:30 p.m.; $17 to $27; 375 Robert Bell Parkway, Aiken; 866.722.8877

OUTDOORS HOW DOES THE EARTH WORK?

OUTDOORS MOONLIGHT MUSIC CRUISE: FRED WILLIAMS Enjoy live music

Look at the forces that shape the Earth. Reed Creek Wetlands Interpretative Center; 4:30 p.m.; free for members, nonmembers $2; 3820 Park Lane, Martinez; 706.210.4027

CONCERT GOOD TO BE ALIVE TOUR Read more

on page 37 Jessye Norman Amphitheatre; 5 p.m.; $15; Riverwalk and Ninth Street; 706.724.1172 ETIX.COM

while trolling the scenic Augusta Canal. Reservations are required.

Augusta Canal; 7 p.m.; $25; 1450 Greene St.; 706.823.0440

FILM MOVIES UNDER THE STARS: SHREK FOREVER AFTER Gates

open at 7 p.m. and movies start at dusk. Columbia County Amphitheater; 8 p.m.; free; 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd., Evans; 706.721.5736

FOR KIDS PAWS TO READ

Children in kindergarten to fifth grade who are reading independently may sign up to read to a therapy dog. Aiken Library; 314 Chesterfield St., SW Aiken; 803.642.7586

FOR KIDS STORY TIME AT PENDLETON KING PARK Stories read by K-9 Officer Gary. Pendleton King Park; 10 a.m.; free; 1600 Troupe St.; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG

LITERARY BROWN BAG BOOK CLUB Discuss The

Road by Cormac MacCarthy.

Bring your own lunch. Columbia County Library; 11:30 a.m.; free; 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd., Evans; 706.863.1946

[ AIKEN BEACH BLAST] Grab the family and head over to Aiken for an evening at the … beach! The Newberry Street Festival transforms into a undulating sandy beach – complete with virtual beach scenes, a dance floor and beach music – during Aiken’s Downtown Beach Blast. Several downtown stores will stay open late offering sales and specials.

The Aiken Horsepower Association joins the fun with a Cruise-In. “This is a celebration that summer is here” explained Carla Cloud, the executive director of Aiken Downtown Development Association who coordinates the event.

Bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the evening. No sunscreen is required.

WHERE Newberry Street Festival area, downtown Aiken WHEN Thursday, June 16 | 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. TICKETS Free MORE 803.649.2221 | DOWNTOWNAIKEN.COM

find the full daily planner @ vergelive.com

vergelive.com | community driven news | June 15, 2011 27

28 June 15, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

FRIDAY

6.17

SPORTS AUGUSTA GREENJACKETS vs. the

Asheville Tourists. Lake Olmstead Stadium; 7:05 p.m.; $6 to $8 for adults; kids 3 and under are $1; 78 Milledge Road; 706.736.7889

THEATRE AMADEUS This

epic period piece portrays the lives of composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. Mozart struggles with the ghost of his father while Salieri struggles with envy. Directed by Doug Joiner Le Chat Noir; 8 p.m.; $25; 304 Eighth St.; 706.722.3322 LCNAUGUSTA.COM

THEATRE WIT Vivian Bearing, Ph.D., a renowned professor of English who has spent years studying and teaching the brilliant and difficult metaphysical sonnets of John Donne, has been diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer. Vivian comes to reassess her life and

SATURDAY

6.18

her work with a profundity and humor that are transformative.

Aiken Community Playhouse; 8 p.m.; $12; 126 Newberry St. SW, Aiken; 803.648.1438

MARKET AUGUSTA MARKET AT THE RIVER

Augusta’s outdoor market with fresh locally grown produce, bread, food and other products.

Eighth Street Bulkhead; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 2 Eighth St.; 706.627.0128 THEAUGUSTAMARKET.COM

FESTIVAL RIDGE PEACH FESTIVAL Featuring unique

arts and crafts, antiques, handson demonstrations, fresh peaches, homemade peach desserts, preserves and ice cream, live entertainment and carnival rides. The parade begins at 10:30 a.m. and features the Fort Gordon Signal Corp Band.

Trenton Town Park; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; free; 106 Church St., Trenton; 803.275.5303 RIDGEPEACHFESTIVAL.COM

OUTDOORS BIRDING AND WILDFLOWER HIKE

Bring water and wear comfortable walking shoes for this two-mile walk on the Cliatt Creek Trail. Identify early summer wildflowers and look for birds that have returned after spending the winter as far away as South America. Mistletoe State Park; 9 a.m.; $5 per vehicle parking fee; 3725 Mistletoe Road, Appling; 706.541.0321 GASTATEPARKS.ORG

ART FOLK ART AND STORYTELLING

South Carolina folk artist and storyteller Bruce Ingram will be

on hand to share his stories and his art. Aiken Library; 10:30 a.m.; free; 314 Chesterfield St., SW Aiken; 803.642.7586

FILM OLD SCHOOL MOVIE MARATHON A trio of old

school movies: Cooley High (1975), Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) and Uptown Saturday Night (1974). Headquarters Library; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600

LITERARY BOOK SIGNING: CHRISTINE HURLEY DERISO Meet the author of

Then I Met My Sister. The Book Tavern; 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; free; 1026 Broad St.; 706.826.1940

FOR KIDS FATHER’S DAY BOXES Make a special box

for your father. Headquarters Library; 1:30 p.m.; $5 supply fee; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600

FOR KIDS TIME WITH TINA TERRY Story time at the

SUNDAY

6.19

THEATRE WIT See listing 6/17.

Aiken Community Playhouse; 3 p.m.

SPORTS AUGUSTA GREENJACKETS vs. the

Asheville Tourists. Lake Olmstead Stadium; 5:35 p.m.; $6 to $8 for adults; kids 3 and under are $1; 78 Milledge Road; 706.736.7889

JAZZ CANDLELIGHT JAZZ: Kings of Swing Bring your

THEATRE DON’T TELL DADDY Miss Monique (Power

MONDAY

program sharing nature photographs, discussion of equipment and technique and opportunities for taking photographs. Reed Creek Wetlands Interpretative Center; 4 p.m.; free for members, nonmembers $2; 3820 Park Lane, Martinez; 706.210.4027

SPORTS AUGUSTA GREENJACKETS vs. the

Asheville Tourists. Lake Olmstead Stadium; 7:05 p.m.; $6 to $8 for adults; kids 3 and under are $1; 78 Milledge Road; 706.736.7889

COUNTRY LORETTA LYNN

With the 2010 release of Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, it is the perfect time for Loretta Lynn to head back onto the road.

She still, however, continues to remain humble. ‘I ain’t a star – a star is something up in the night sky,” says Lynn. “People say to me, ‘You’re a legend.’ I’m not a legend. I’m just a woman.”

Bell Auditorium; 7:30 p.m.; $35.50 to $55.50; 712 Telfair St.; 877.4AUGTIX

THEATRE WIT See listing 6/17.

Aiken Community Playhouse; 8 p.m

THEATRE AMADEUS See listing 6/17. Le Chat Noir; 8 p.m

[ LIVE MUSIC: PACKWAY HANDLE BAND ]

brunch for Father’s Day with jazz vocalist Bill Karp performing.

Casa Blanca Café; 11:30 a.m.; 936 Broad St.; 706.504.3431 CASABLANCATIME.COM

own seating and picnic. The River Stage at the Eighth Street Bulkhead; 8 p.m.; $6; The River Stage, 2 Eighth St.; 706.495.6238 GARDENCITYJAZZ.COM

OUTDOORS NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY Instructional

daily planner

CUISINE FATHER’S DAY SUNDAY BRUNCH A special

library with a special puppet show and snacks. Headquarters Library; 2:30 p.m.; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG

107.7) makes her stage debut in her first original play about two friends who keep secrets, tell lies and have men in their lives are clueless about disease, addiction and the importance of parenting. Imperial Theatre; 3 p.m.; $22.50 to $26.50; 749 Broad St.; 706.722.8341 IMPERIALTHEATRE.COM

the

6.20

HISTORY MODEL A FORD CLUB DISPLAY The Shade

Tree A’s Model A Ford Club will hold a display of their vintage vehicles in the back parking lot of the library. Aiken Library; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; free; 314 Chesterfield St. SW, Aiken; 803.642.7586 ABBE-LIB.ORG

FOR KIDS JAPAN, LAND OF THE RISING SUN Visit

Japan through stories, then learn the art of origami. Tea and rice will be served. For ages 6 to 10. Maxwell Library; 3 p.m.; free; 1927 Lumpkin Road; 706.793.2020 ECGRL.ORG

FILM LESS THAN 2 MINUTES FILM WORKSHOP Learn the basics

of scripting and filming (or digitally creating) a less than two minute film and view a sample film created by free digital animation software.

Registration requested. Each one-hour workshop is limited to 10 participants. Diamond Lakes Library; 5 p.m.; free; 101 Diamond Lakes Way, Hephzibah; 706.772.2432 ECGRL.ORG

LITERARY Monday Night Book Club Discuss Fall of the

Giants by Ken Follett. Columbia County Amphitheatre; 6:30 p.m.; free; 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd., Evans; 706.721.5736

CONCERT AIKEN BRASS

Bring a picnic, blanket and lawn chairs for an evening of music outdoors at Hopelands Gardens.

Hopelands Gardens; 7 p.m.; free; 135 Dupree Place, Aiken; 803.642.7631 AIKEN.NET

Bluegrass fans might be more accustomed to hearing Athens’ Packway Handle Band at outdoor festivals or at Augusta’s own home for Americana music –Stillwater Taproom. But on Friday, June 17, Packway Handle brings its jam-up bluegrass sound to Metro Coffeehouse and Pub’s brand of coffee and beer lovers for the first time.

Over the past ten years, the five-piece band has released several albums, including last year’s What Are We Gonna Do Now? “We continue to sell the disc at the same cities we play on a regular basis,” Erwin said. “We kind of take that as a sign that there are more new people seeing us and liking us.”

The Packway Handle Band began in 2001 and truly took shape around 2006 when all of the members coalesced into what the band has since proven it could be: a tight knit and highly experienced group of musicians who take the blueprint of bluegrass and expand it with their own brand of experimentalism.

In recent months, Packway Handle Band stopped in at South by Southwest in Austin and the Planet Bluegrass Spring Concert Series in Colorado.

“Since then, we have been hammering the Southeast region,” Erwin said.

Included in their return to the south, Packway Handle Band will play an electric set at AthFest, featuring ...their “louder side,” as Erwin calls it. Later in the year, the band will head for a series of festivals up north.

Until these eclectic guys come roaring back into town from the festival circuit, check out The Metro on Friday night and experience Packway Handle Band’s experimental, constantly morphing and inventive bluegrass style. | by DINO LULL

WHERE Metro Coffeehouse and Pub at 1054 Broad St. WHEN June 17 at 10 p.m. | TICKETS $3 | MORE PACKWAYHANDLE.COM TUESDAY

6.21

FOR KIDS ONE WORLD, MANY STORIES Join Sean

Poppy for an eco-talk with live animals. Appleby Library; 10:30 a.m.; free; 2260 Walton Way; 706.736.6244 ECGRL.ORG

FOR KIDS BEATRIX POTTER TALES The Aiken

Community Youth Wing presents an evening of theater with the delightful tales of Beatrix Potter. Seating is limited.

Aiken Library; 7 p.m.; free; 314 Chesterfield St. SW, Aiken; 803.642.7586 ABBE-LIB.ORG

BLUEGRASS The Paul Roberts Band Enjoy

“bluegrass for the soul” under the stars. Bring your own blanket, chairs and picnic.

Appleby Library; 8 p.m.; free; 2260 Walton Way; 706.736.6244

WEDNESDAY

6.22

OUTDOORS ALL ABOUT BIRDS Talk about avian

adaptations such as wings, feathers, beak shape and feet shape, with a trip outside to go birding; expert and new birders welcome; ages 5 and up; registration required. Reed Creek Wetlands Interpretative Center; 10 a.m.; free for members, nonmembers $2; 3820 Park Lane, Martinez; 706.210.4027 REEDCREEKPARK.COM

FOR KIDS SAVANNAH RIVER ECOLOGY LAB

Get up close and personal with some of some of our local wildlife – reptiles, amphibians and more. Aiken Library; 2 p.m.; free; 314 Chesterfield St. SW, Aiken; 803.642.7586

find the full

daily planner @ vergelive.com

vergelive.com | community driven news | June 15, 2011 29

30 June 15, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

[ ATHFEST 2011 ]

the

daily planner

Fifteen years ago, AthFest took off and it has grown to become the number one Southern summer festival. Top bands from around the Athens area gather once a year to showcase the cutting-edge bands that are coming from the South’s indie music mecca.

“I spent 10 years trying to talk the city into doing it,” Jared Bailey, the director of AthFest, said.

Bailey is also a county commissioner, runs Flagpole magazine, oversees the Athens Half Marathon and has owned – or had a hand in booking– several night clubs around Athens, including the legendary 40 Watt Club. In a partnership with the Athens Downtown Development Authority, Bailey was finally able to put the festival together.

For five days, June 22 to 26, roughly 60,000 music lovers will migrate to Athens to discover what is happening in the underground music scene. This year, the headliners for AthFest include the popular 1980’s band Guadalcanal Diary, the Chickasaw Mudd Puppies, the Futurebirds, CentroMatic and Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit. There are another 150-plus bands playing, spread out over three stages and a dozen different venues. (This writer says these bands are “must-sees:” The Knockouts, The Spinoffs, Bombsbombsbombs and Powerkompany.)

Is it possible to see all of this year’s performances? Probably not, but fans might as well try. Concerts on the outdoor stages are free – purchase a $15 wrist band for unlimited access to the 21-and-up indoor venues (think pub crawl) and discounts to other concerts.

AthFest is basically the “greatest hits of Athens,” Bailey said, even though not of all the bands that play are from the city. The festival also includes the ArtMarket where local artists display their work; a KidsFest with kid-friendly bands, arts and crafts and nature programs; Sprockets, a showcase for teenage filmmakers; and the annual Flagpole Music Awards.

“My attention span is usually limited to five years,” Bailey said,.

“There have been a lot of changes over the years. As it has gotten bigger, it is more complicated to put on, harder to do,” he said.

But in the end, Bailey said, when the hundreds of music and art submissions have been trimmed down, the prizes and awards readied and everything is in place, there is nothing more satisfying than seeing this “hybrid event,” as he calls it, of music and the arts taking off to entertain a whole new generation of fans 15 years down the road. | by DINO LULL

WHERE Downtown Athens on West Washington Street WHEN June 22 to 26 TICKETS Free for outdoor activities and stages MORE For all the details and a full schedule, visit ATHFEST.COM

THURSDAY

6.23

FOR KIDS STORY TIME

with Mayor Deke Copenhaver.

Pendleton King Park; 10 a.m.; free; 1600 Troupe St.; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG

OUTDOORS POND EXPLORATION With dip nets,

explore and learn about what animals live in the pond; be prepared to get a little wet and muddy; for ages 5 and up. Reed Creek Wetlands Interpretative Center; 10 a.m.; free for members, nonmembers $2; 3820 Park Lane, Martinez; 706.210.4027 REEDCREEKPARK.COM

FOR TEENS FAUX FOODS

Don’t like real sushi? Come make your own out of candy. For grades 6 to 12. Aiken Library; 4 p.m.; free; 314 Chesterfield St. SW, Aiken; 803.642.7586

MUSIC AN EVENING WITH Rodney Crowell Famed Texas troubadour Rodney Crowell performs and reads from his recently published memoirs to benefit the Morris’ public programs. The Morris Museum of Art; 6 p.m.; $100; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501

EDUCATION SALSA DANCING FOR BEGINNERS Learn beginning techniques of salsa dancing. Headquarters Library; 6:30 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600

BLUEGRASS MUSIC IN THE PARK: Savannah River Bluegrass

Maude Edenfield Park; 7 p.m.; free; 400 Buena Vista Ave., North Augusta; 803.442.7588 NAARTSCOUNCIL.ORG

COUNTRy SUGARLAND: The Incredible Machine Tour Sugarland

returns to Augusta with special guest Ellis Paul.

James Brown Arena; 7:30 p.m.; $24.50 to $54.50; 601 Seventh St.; 877.4AUGTIX GEORGIALINATIX.COM

FRIDAY

6.24

OUTDOoRS Moonlight Music Cruise Folk-rock

singer-songwriter Amy Coccia.

Augusta Canal; 7 p.m.; $25; 1450 Greene St., Suite 400; 706.823.0440

FILM MOVIES UNDER THE STARS: Despicable Me Bring your lawn chairs

and blankets, and enjoy the fresh air while watching your favorite family films on a giant 30-foot screen. Columbia County Amphitheatre; 8 p.m.; free; 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd., Evans; 706.721.5736

THEATRE WIT See listing 6/17.

Aiken Community Playhouse; 8 p.m

THEATRE AMADEUS See listing 6/17. Le Chat Noir; 8 p.m

SATURDAY

6.25

MARKET AUGUSTA MARKET AT THE RIVER

Augusta’s outdoor market with fresh locally-grown produce, bread, food and other products.

Eighth Street Bulkhead; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 2 Eighth St.; 706.627.0128

outdoors MOUNTAIN DULCIMER WORKSHOP

Learn to play this beautiful folk instrument, with free, handson instruction from members of the Garden City Strummers Dulcimer Club. Mistletoe State Park; 9:30 a.m.; $5 per vehicle parking fee; 3725 Mistletoe Road, Appling; 706.541.0321

FESTIVAL AUGUSTA PRIDE PARADE AND FESTIVAL

Read more on page 27.

Downtown Augusta; Parade at 10 a.m.; Festival 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; free; Augusta Common

FOR KIDS THE MARTIAL ARTS Fitness with a little

history in the mix! Presented

by Johnny Hughes of the CSRA Defensive Arts, the class will be non-contact and will cover basic kicks, punches, and blocks from the Kindai Karate system. Wear loose clothing and athletic shoes.

Ages 8 and up. Friedman Library; 11 a.m.; free; 1447 Jackson Road; 706.736.6758 ecgrl.org

JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT

THE INK WELL

Puzzle

Edited by Will Shortz | No. 0507

Across 1 Best-selling jogging advocate 8 Most convenient section of a parking garage, usually 14 Size of about 16 tennis courts 15 Green light for un hombre 16 1963 and 1996 treaty topic 17 Fiber optics field 18 Where to see spots 19 They’re shortsighted 21 Some Asian fighters 22 Olympic gold-medal pentathlete Lehtonen 24 “___ turn up” 26 Cracked 27 Sole supporter?

31 Somewhat 33 Unlike the opera “Wozzeck” 34 Psychotherapist’s concern 35 Like scuba tanks, typically 38 Restrain 39 Show some fear 40 16-Across concern, briefly 41 You might have to fight them 42 Barbecue side dish 46 Hollywood’s Lee 47 Kind of defense 49 Main campus site of the University of the South Pacific 50 Zip across Corsica?

52 Big money maker 56 A number of perfect people?

57 Not clear 59 Postal activity 61 What an Arabian may command

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

14

15

16

17

18

19

22

20

23

27

29

25

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33 35

36

12

13

44

45

26 32

38

39

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57

11

34

37

50

10

21

24 28

9

47 51

48 52

58

43 49 53

54

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62

63

64

55

56 60

puzzle by Tim croce

62 Designer

with the Night of Fancy fragrance 63 Joins the bandwagon?

64 Kiss, e.g.

Down 1 Like many barely legible notes 2 Slight reaction?

3 Lead-in to multiple last names 4 Waist-ful?

5 Titan, e.g.

6 Aid in finding a break 7 Strange beginning?

8 Von Trapp girl who’s “sixteen going on seventeen”

9 What an issei might enroll in: Abbr.

10 Fork (off) 11 Lofty praise 12 Show-off’s shout 13 Fighter jets might be in it 15 Leaves alone, in a way 20 Tab 23 Jump on a staff, maybe 25 They moved to St. Louis in ’95 28 “Fingers crossed!”

29 ___ near 30 17-Across hookup 32 Deadly African tree-dwellers 34 High-tech gadgetry suffix 35 Boxy

36 Become 37 Threw

together in the air, for short 40 Leadership position 42 Wallop 43 Many a troubadour 44 Way in 45 “Shoot!”

48 Blades of song and film 51 Gives a heady response?

53 2000s service site 54 Bourgeois, to a Brit 55 Fancy Feast choice 58 Sky light?

60 Bitumen alternative 38 Up

Find the solution to this puzzle at VERGELIVE.BLOGSPOT.COM Annual subscriptions are available for the best

of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay.

vergelive.com | community driven news | June 15, 2011 31

32 June 15, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

SATURDAY

6.25

FOR KIDS TRICKSTER TALES Join local storytellers as

they tell the tales of Brer Rabbit from America, the spider Anansi from Africa, the leprechaun from Ireland and the coyote and raven from Native American lore. Maxwell Library; 11 a.m.; free; 1927 Lumpkin Road; 706.793.2020 ECGRL.ORG

GOOD CAUSE STOP THE VIOLENCE community altar call William

McDowell plays music from his CD As We Worship. Imperial Theatre; 7 p.m.; $11 to $31; 745 Broad St.; 706.722.8341 IMPERIALTHEATRE.COM

GOOD CAUSE CELEBRITY CO-ED CHARITY SOFTBALL

Game & Concert. Community leaders play softball to raise money for the Augusta Museum of History. Lake Olmstead Stadium; 7 p.m.; $10, children under 12, free; 78 Milledge Road; president@ypaugusta.com

THEATRE WIT See listing 6/17.

Aiken Community Playhouse; 8 p.m

THEATRE AMADEUS See

listing 6/17. Le Chat Noir; 8 p.m

SUNDAY

6.26

CONCERT MUSIC AT THE MORRIS: Keith Gehle A soothing selection

of guitar compositions. The Morris Museum of Art; 2 p.m.; free; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501 THEMORRIS.ORG

JAZZ CANDLELIGHT JAZZ Tribute to Gerry Mulligan featuring The Low End from Savannah. The River Stage at the Eighth Street Bulkhead; 8 p.m.; $6; The River Stage, 2 Eighth St.; 706.495.6238 GARDENCITYJAZZ.COM

MONDAY

6.27

LITERARY NON-FICTION BOOK CLUB Discuss My

Secret: A Post Secret Book by Frank Warren. Columbia County Library; 6:30 p.m.; free; 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd., Evans; 706.721.5736 ECGRL.ORG

CONCERT CROOKED RIVER DIXIELAND BAND Hopelands Gardens; 7 p.m.; free; 135 Dupree Place, Aiken; 803.642.7631 AIKEN.NET

SPORTS AUGUSTA GREENJACKETS vs. the

Charleston RiverDogs. Lake Olmstead Stadium; 7:05 p.m.; $6 to $8 for adults; kids 3 and under are $1; 78 Milledge Road; 706.736.7889

TUESDAY

6.28

LITERARY LUNCH BUNCH: The Walk Book discussion

of The Walk by Paul Evans.

Headquarters Library; 11:30 a.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600

FOR KIDS Family Craft Night Make crafts with an

international flair. Aiken Library; 7 p.m.; free; 314 Chesterfield St., SW, Aiken; 803.642.7586

CONCERT THE LOVE LETTERS TOUR WITH R. KELLY R&B singer R. Kelly,

joined by special guests Keyshia Cole and Marsha Ambrosius.

James Brown Arena; 7:30 p.m.; $24.50 to $54.50; 601 Seventh St.; 877.4AUGTIX GEORGIALINATIX.COM

BIG BAND APPLEBY SERIES: Savannah River Brass Works Appleby

Library; 8 p.m.; free; 2260 Walton Way; 706.736.6244 ECGRL.ORG

THURSDAY

6.30 LITERARY BOOK TO MOVIE: True Grit

After watching the two film adaptations of Charles Portis’ True Grit (on June 9 and 11), discuss the book and the films USC Aiken history instructor Alexia Helsley. Aiken Library; 2 p.m.; free; 314 Chesterfield St., SW, Aiken; 803.642.7586

FOR TEENS PIZZA AND GAMES Hang out in the

meeting room, eat pizza, play the Wii and some old fashioned board games. Aiken Library; 4 p.m.; free; 314 Chesterfield St. SW, Aiken; 803.642.7586

CONCERT MUSIC IN THE PARK Sand Hills String Band Maude Edenfield Park; 7

p.m.; free; 400 Buena Vista Ave., North Augusta; 803.442.7588

FRIDAY

7.01

FESTIVAL FIRST FRIDAY

Art galleries display new works, performers take to the sidewalks and streets and arts and craft vendors sell their hand-made

the

daily planner

goods along Broad Street.

Downtown Augusta; 5 p.m.; free; Broad Street; 706.826.4702 AUGUSTAARTS.COM

COMEDY SCHRODINGER’S CAT These theater games will to delight any mature audience member. Le Chat Noir; 8 p.m.; $8 in advance, $10 at door; 304 Eighth St.; 706.722.3322 LCNAUGUSTA.COM

SATURDAY

7.02

SAT MARKET AUGUSTA MARKET AT THE RIVER

Eighth Street Bulkhead; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 2 Eighth St., Augusta; 706.627.0128 THEAUGUSTAMARKET.COM

OUTDOORS SWAMP SATURDAY A 2.5 mile, 1.5

hour hike through the Nature Park. Phinizy Swamp; 9:30 a.m.; free; 1858 Lock & Dam Road; 706.828.2109

FESTIVAL INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION Bring the whole family to the Augusta Common and for an array of activities. Fireworks at dark.

Augusta Common; 4 p.m.; free; 936 Reynolds St.; 706.821.1754 AUGUSTAGA.GOV

ONGOING

ART

PHILIP JURAS: THE SOUTHERN FRONTIER and THE CHARLESTON RENAISSANCE ends June 28.

The Morris Museum of Art

THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF ART GREENE ends June 30.

Sacred Heart Cultural Center

JAREK KUBICKI ends June 30.

Oddfellows Art Gallery

THE ECLECTIC WORKS OF JOE ROB ends July 8.

Headquarters Library

find the full daily planner @ vergelive.com

[ RECAP: A DAY IN THE COMMUNITY ] A Day in the Community, which blocked off the corner of East Boundary and Telfair streets on June 4, attracted over 350 people to share in the best entertainment the area had to offer and focus on the needs of the community.

District One Commissioner Matt Aitken said the event exceeded his expectations, both for family attendance and for the amount of non-profit groups distributing information, which included the Fatherhood Task Force, Christ Community Health Services, Healthy Augusta and the Public Library.

“I could not be more pleased just to see the faces of the kids as they enjoyed this free, public event,” said Aitken. “Just the chance to see Olde Town and East Boundary dancing in the street together was awesome and, for a first time event, what we accomplished that day was phenomenal.”

The event also featured a petting zoo, pony rides, bounce castles for kids, face painting and Commissioners Joe Jackson and Wayne Guilfoyle grilling hamburgers and hotdogs to give away.

“The event went beautifully, just like we planned it,” said the Rev. Larry Cone of St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist Church, which hosted the event. “I was approached by so many people in the community who said some very special things to me – mainly they were so appreciative that so many people from the commission and other agencies would come down and give attention to their area, because they had never seen that before. For me, it was heartwarming.”

Aitken was equally appreciative of the opportunity to meet with Augusta residents, many of whom had questions or concerns for him to address. He anticipates a follow-up meeting this month to analyze the broad impact of the event and determine how to best serve the needs of the community in the future.

“I will definitely be involved with this next year, whether I am in or out of office,” said Aitken. “I live in this community and was involved with it long before I became a commissioner, and I would be pleased to see this happen again every year and continue to have the kind of impact we saw this year.” article and photos by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK

vergelive.com | community driven news | June 15, 2011 33

between the

covers ARE YOU WHAT YOU READ?

DISCOVER MORE ABOUT YOUR BRAIN Who isn’t fascinated by insights into how our own minds work? Four books that present a wide range of cool psychological studies about everyday interactions in everyday language have been written in the past year: Sex, Murder, and the Meaning of Life by Douglas Kenrick; On Second Thought: Outsmarting Your Brain’s Hard-Wired Habits by Wray Herbert; The Hidden Brain: How Our Unconscious Minds Elect Presidents, Control Markets, Wage Wars, and Save Lives by Shankar Vedantam; and The Invisible Gorilla: And Other Ways Our Intuitions Deceive Us by Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons.

What has become the most famous psychological experiment of recent times is the starting point of the book The Invisible Gorilla. If you have not already seen it, you should experience the fun “invisible gorilla” experiment on video for yourself at invisiblegorilla.com. This will give you a quick idea of what these books with the strange titles are really about.

Many books have been written by medical doctors about how our minds function, based on anatomical studies of different parts of the brain. None of these books cover brain anatomy.

All four are written by psychologists or psychology journalists, and all are mostly about the unconscious. These are the most interesting psychological books about the human unconscious to be written since Freud first used the term 110 years ago.

Freud came up with his idea by studying mental disorders. Perhaps because of the continued negative association of the unconscious with mental illness, these new authors avoid using the term. Vedantam chooses the “hidden brain,” instead of “unconscious,” as the title of his book (though “unconscious” is in the subtitle), while the other three authors do not use the term at all, not even in the useful indexes of terms at the back of their books. It is important to realize that they are all talking about basically the same thing, even though they use different terms. Each presents unique, new views of the human mind and, if you combine all of their views, you get a comprehensive picture of our minds.

The authors of The Invisible Gorilla focus on six “illusions” that make us overestimate our mental abilities: the illusion of attention, the illusion of memory, the illusion of cause, the illusion of confidence, the illusion of knowledge and the illusion of potential. Most of these “illusions” exist because we believe that we are making conscious decisions at all times, when in fact unconscious factors are influencing or limiting our decisions.

In addition to examples from psychological studies, the authors give dramatic real-life examples. An example of the illusion of memory and of confidence is given in the case of Ronald Cotton, who served 11 years in prison for rape, based on the testimony of Jennifer Thompson, whose absolute confidence in her clear memory of Cotton as her rapist led jurors to convict him. Cotton was released after DNA evidence proved that he was not the rapist, and he and Thompson now give speeches together on the issue of false conviction.

There is an emphasis in The Hidden Brain on the unconscious as the basis for prejudice and bias.

Vedantam cites studies that show bias is often an instinctive reaction, rather than a reasoned behavior. For example, in one study, prejudicial attitudes are reduced when participants are given lemonade with sugar, but not lemonade with Splenda. With sugar as ready brain food, study participants have the energy to consciously overrule an instinctive prejudice. Sex, Murder, and the Meaning of Life by Douglas T. Kenrick obviously also focuses on some of the negative aspects of the unconscious. It is different from the other books in that it discusses in detail a scientific evolutionary explanation for instinctive reactions, which the other books barely mention.

Kenrick also mixes in biographical stories from his own rowdy life to further illustrate his points, which makes it the easiest to read of the four books.

Wray Herbert uses the new psychological term “heuristic,” which basically means a set mental shortcut, to clearly organize his book On Second Thought into 20 chapters on 20 different heuristics. What I like about this book is that some of the heuristics are actually positive. While fascinating, many of the studies in these books are frankly depressing when read consecutively. On Second Thought might not be as readable, but it is more upbeat. In one study, Herbert describes how walking in a garden setting had a major positive effect on thinking ability among test subjects, while walking in an urban setting did not.

The underlying positive assumption of all these authors is that by increasing individual knowledge and awareness of our unconscious shortcomings, we can counteract them with conscious thought. You can pursue these ideas further by going to the websites available for three of the books: hiddenbrain.org | wrayherbert.com/blog | theinvisiblegorilla.com.

by MICHAEL SWAN, DIRECTOR OF THE AIKEN LIBRARY

34 June 15, 2011 | community driven news | vergelive.com

night

A SELECTIVE GUIDE TO NIGHTLIFE IN THE CSRA

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15

FRIDAY, JUNE 24

THURSDAY, JUNE 16

RHYS REEVES @ Coyote’s | 7 p.m.

DRESS TO IMPRESS @ 1102 Downtown Bar & Grill | 8 p.m.

DJ Mix @ Soul Bar | 9 p.m.

SWINGIN’ MEDALLIONS

SWINGIN’ MEDALLIONS @ Coyote’s | 7 p.m.

DISCO HELL @ Soul Bar | 9 p.m.

THE MASON JARS @ Metro Coffeehouse & Pub | 10 p.m.

ALAN THOMPSON @ The Cotton Patch

FRIDAY, JUNE 17

MULLAN FAMILY BENEFIT SHOW: HAPPY BONES + JOSH PIERCE + SIBLING STRING @ Metro Coffeehouse & Pub

GOOD TO BE ALIVE TOUR: ADLER’S APPETITE + WILLIE BASSE + ROCKETS TO RUIN + MAD MARGRITT + THE ISSUES + SCIENCE FRICTION @ Jessye Norman Amphitheatre 5 p.m.; $15

ARTEMIA CD RELEASE SHOW @ Sky City | 10 p.m.; $10, includes CD

BRANT QUICK @ The Cotton Patch | 8 p.m.

POP LIFE @ Soul Bar | 9 p.m.

JOHN BERRET John BerRet and The Laroxes @ The Playground Bar | 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25

JOSH ROBERTS JOSH ROBERTS AND THE HINGES @ Still Water Taproom 10 p.m.; $4 THE PACKWAY HANDLE BAND @ Metro Coffeehouse & Pub 10 p.m.

RITCHIE BROTHERS SUMMER JAM @ Sky City | 10 p.m.; $5 GARY RAY & THE HEARTWELLS @ The Country Club | 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 18 COALTRAIN @ Coyote’s | 7 p.m.

DANIEL LEE BAND @ Coyote’s 7 p.m.

ROSS COPPLEY BAND @ The Country Club | 10 p.m.

TUESDAY, JUNE 21

11 SPIRITS + We Are The Union + I Call Fives + Handguns + Mudbrute + A Brighter Life @ Sector7G | 5 p.m.; $7

FIND THE VENUE 1102 Downtown Bar & Grill @ 1102 Broad St.; 706. 364.4075

the country club @ 2834 Washington Road; 706.364.1862 Coyote’s @ 2512 Peach Orchard Road; 706.560.9245 JOE’S UNDERGROUND @ 144 Eighth St.; 706.724.9457 THE LOFT @ 917 Broad St.; 706.955.7954

THE PLAYGROUND BAR @ 978 Broad St.; 706.724.2232

THE JOE STEVENSON BAND @ Metro Coffeehouse & Pub

SECTOR 7G @ 631 Ellis St.; 706.496.5900

AN EVENING WITH SIBLING STRING @ Sky City | 10 p.m.; $5

SKY CITY @ 1157 Broad St.; 706.945.1270

SUNDAY, JUNE 26

Somewhere in augusta @ 2820 Washington Road; 706.739.0002

AUGUSTA CELEBRITY DJ PARTY @ 1102 Downtown Bar & Grill | 8 p.m.

MONDAY, JUNE 27

SOUL BAR @ 984 Broad St.; 706.724.8880 STILLWATER TAP ROOM @ 974 Broad St.; 706.826.9857 SURREY TAVERN @ 471 Highland Ave.; 706.736.1221

MILLIONAIRES MILLIONAIRES + Breathe Electric + Set it Off + Christian TV + Hennesey Williams + Gibby Redbeard + Jappa @ Sector 7G | 5 p.m.; $12

TUESDAY, JUNE 28

HAPPY BONES @ Metro Coffeehouse & Pub | 10 p.m.

THURSDAY, JUNE 30

THURSDAY, JUNE 23

LOOSE CANNON @ Coyote’s

McNARY (from Atlanta) @ Metro Coffeehouse & Pub 10 p.m.

THOMAS TILLMAN @ The Country Club | 10 p.m.; $5 to $7

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE @ Sky City | 10 p.m.; $5

TYLER REEVE @ The Country Club | 10 p.m. $5 to $7

PRETTY PETTY (Tribute to Tom Petty) @ Coyote’s | 7 p.m

EAT LIGHTNING (live recording session) @ Sky City | 10 p.m.; $3

THE MASON JARS @ Metro Coffeehouse & Pub | 10 p.m.

Metro Coffee House & Pub @ 1054 Broad St.; 706.722.6468

DJ SPINDRUM @ 1102 Downtown Bar & Grill | 8 p.m

MIKE FROST TRIO @ Metro Coffeehouse & Pub | 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, JULY 2

JOSH HILLEY @ Coyote’s | 7 p.m.

BRANDON REEVES @ The Cotton Patch | 8 p.m.

KEITH GREGORY @ The Cotton Patch | 8 p.m.

FUNK YOU with Dr. Bread @ Sky City | 10 p.m.; $5

CHILLAXATION THERAPY @ Metro Coffeehouse & Pub 10 p.m.

The cotton patch @ 816 Cotton Lane; 706. 724.4511

OUTSHYNE @ Coyote’s | 7 p.m.

DJ NICK SNOW (Nikki Gunz) @ 1102 Downtown Bar & Grill

FRIDAY, JULY 1 MAMA SAYS @ Coyote’s | 7 p.m.

FORTY WINTERS + Make It Reign + Maya Over Eyes + Hennessy Williams + Up In Arms + Decollator @ Sector7G | 6 p.m; $7 SYMPTON B @ Soul Bar | 9 p.m.

life

THRU JULY 2

WILD WING CAFE @ 3035 Washington Road.; 706.364.9453 GET LISTED: Submit information to info@vergelive.com with complete details, including time of event and ticket price or cover charge. To be listed, events must be received one week prior to publication date.

[ REVIEW: THE STAIN REMAINS ] Some bands come firing out of the gate while others bide their time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. With a small collection of shows in the last few years and only now on the brink of releasing their official debut Connect, Augusta modern hard rock band The Stain Remains appears to fall into the latter category.

Inspired by modern rock artists of the late ‘90s such as Tool and Korn, The Stain Remains – vocalist Jarrod Allison, guitarist Stanton Hayden, bassist Jarrod Saylor and drummer Wade Walls – blend these influences into their own brand of music. This could easily give a current band a “dated” sound, but The Stain Remains steps outside of direct comparisons with clever backing harmonies and a cool dynamic/hook combination rarely found in heavier modern rock bands.

Kicking off with the title track “Connect,” the band wastes little time in showing what they have been simmering – heavy, catchy, loaded with dynamic changes and topped with dark Alice in Chains style backing vocals.

While the second track “Resist” drones a bit for my personal tastes, the next track, “Break My Fall,” has just enough melody to make it perfect for modern rock radio. Then comes the barnburner of a tune, “Fold,” which mixes the classic Tool-esque darkness with smoking classic metal guitars. Fans of ‘80s metal might find themselves drooling over the solo section.

Connect closes out with three tracks that jump

all over the map. With “The Line,” the band’s attempt at creating a crowd-chanting tune, things go from intense to straight-up crazy.

Musically, The Stain Remains possesses an ear for incredibly melodic hard rock hooks while steering clear of generic lyrics. On “The Line,” with its rap sections and simplistic chorus, the band nearly undermines itself.

Oddly enough, the guys save themselves by widening the gap on “Escape.” Perhaps the most progressive track on the album, the song is the type of track that makes it easy to forget just how comfy your seat is – a true stand up, pump your fist in the air, yell-along song.

But, just as soon as it is time to bounce off the walls, The Stain Remains suddenly does the unthinkable – closing with a tune as stripped down as you can get – the hauntingly beautiful acoustic “Call It Nothing.”

The production of Connect might be below the standard of most tracks played on a station such as 95Rock, but it is the “made from scratch” feel of Connect that gives it an overall charm. Besides, who needs radio when you can catch the band live, grab a copy of Connect and crank it as loud as you want? | review by JOHN “STONEY” CANNON

WHAT Adler’s Appetite Afterparty: The Stain Remains CD Release + G-City Rockers + Stillview WHERE The Playground Bar WHEN Friday June 17 | free

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ask

dr. karp NO-NONSENSE NUTRITION ADVICE

Ayesha of Belair Elementary askS “How can I get my kids to eat more vegetables?”

Ayesha, I wish I had a nickel for every time I have been asked this question. The answer is actually very simple, but one most parents do not want to hear it. Okay, Augusta, get ready for some “no nonsense nutrition advice.” You CANNOT get your kids to eat vegetables. If you want your kids to eat veggies, fruits, grains and low-fat dairy ... then YOU have to eat them yourself.

In other words, it just does not work to sit at McDonald’s stuffing your mouth with french fries, all the while screaming at your kids: “Eat your apple wedges.” It does not work to tell your kids to drink their milk while you are chugalugging a Coke. You know, I hate to invoke a celebrity, but I really do admire Bill Cosby. When he urges parents to “step up to the plate” and take on their responsibilities as role models, he is talking about the vegetable plate, too. Good for you, Mr. Cosby!

So, your question should be, “How can I get MYSELF to eat more vegetables?”

Many studies have been done to determine the best approach adults can take to improve the nutrition of children, whether the adult is a parent, a relative, a teacher or another caregiver.

What the SCIENCE shows is a very clear-cut role for parents: 1. Parents need to buy healthy food. Healthy foods are ones that fits into the USDA dietary guidelines and food pyramid, not ones that fit into a food company’s advertising and marketing. Do not let food companies define what is healthy; i.e., “healthy” Capri Sun or “healthy” Captain Crunch. Really?

2. Parents need to prepare food in an attractive and healthy manner. That means no frying, using less salt and sugar and making sure that all the food groups are present at each meal and in a style that appeals to both you and your child.

3. Parents need to eat or drink the food themselves. This is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. Parents need to model good eating behavior.

Mom and Dad, you need to eat real food with your kids! You will be healthier for it and a better parent.

4. Parents need to shut up at dinner and stop urging, bribing, complaining, prompting and whatever. Parents SHOULD NOT prompt kids to “eat this” or “eat that.” You know what I mean: “Johnny, if you eat your tomatoes, you can have dessert.” All the studies show that when parents take this approach, Johnnie grows up hating tomatoes even more and loving dessert even more! After all, you are telling them, “I know veggies taste awful, but, as a reward, you can have this great-tasting dessert.”

Instead, try serving spaghetti with store-bought tomato sauce and cutting up extra tomatoes and adding them to the sauce prior to it being heated. Here is another idea: What could be more fun for a kid than growing his or her own “spaghetti garden” with tomatoes, peppers, oregano, basil and rosemary.

5. Parents need to be within their reasonable weight ranges and create a culture of health for the entire family. Being overweight, obese or physically inactive is NOT inherited. What is inherited is a family culture that emphasizes high fat, high salt, high sugar and high calorie foods and a culture that encourages inactivity, instead of ACTIVITY. Children are really good at picking up non-verbal cues from adults. Sprawling on a couch in your undershirt and telling your kids to “Go outside and play.” Do you really think THAT works? NO! So, listen to Bill Cosby and me when we say, “Parents, step up to the plate.” The simple, nononsense nutrition advice is that it means the VEGETABLE PLATE, too! Two terrific and free websites with very good science-based nutrition information for children are: choosemyplate.gov/preschoolers and choosemyplate.gov/kids

Ask Dr. Karp focuses on food, diet and nutrition. Dr. Warren Karp is a professor emeritus at Georgia Health Sciences University. If you have a question you would like answered in this column, email him at DrKarp@ vergelive.com, or visit his Facebook page, facebook.com/AskDrKarp or website at sites.google.com/site/drkarpverge.

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SOUND BITES  Parting Shot: Rock Party of the Summer

Lokal Music Musings

I blew back in from the beach just in time to rock this issue’s music column down.

I finally had the chance to hit up the Kiss Coffeehouse in Myrtle Beach and check out some live music. While I enjoyed both, nothing beats a booth and some java at Metro Pub & Coffeehouse (sorry, Mr. Simmons) and the great live music kickin’ week-in and week-out in the CSRA. So, maybe a visit to the lake cannot compete with the waves of the ocean, but when all is said and done it still basically amounts to water and a sandy butt crack right?

Speaking of the heat, I have been talking up the slew of recent area releases and I have one more everyone needs to get their hands on.

On June 25, at the Playground Bar, Brandy Douglas and Drea Suarez will release Crimson Silence. The title track alone has become one of my fave top 2011 Augusta tracks and the rest of the CD is just as incredible. Go to REVERBNATION.COM/BRANDYDOUGLAS and stream some tunes to get geared up for the show!

I do not know who out there has been paying attention, but my head is spinning trying to keep up with all the shows coming to the area and the Augusta Entertainment Complex (comprised of the Bell Auditorium and James Brown Arena) is finally keeping pace, especially when compared to past years. The end of June alone is packed with awesome performanced: Country legend Loretta Lynn plays the Bell on the 18th, and the JBA features Sugarland on the 23rd and R. Kelly on the 28th. Then, outlaw country legend Merle Haggard hits the Bell on August 6, while Keith Urban takes the JBA stage on August 13. Get more information and tickets at AUGUSTAENTERTAINMENTCOMPLEX.COM. In my humble opinion, between the AEC, the Imperial Theatre, our bars and clubs and outdoor events, why in the world did anyone even think that we needed a new arena of some sort? Augusta is rocking harder with more shows than any other time I can remember. What we have is working just fine. It is time we save a few bucks and keep what we have up to snuff, people.

Before I slap on some sun tan lotion and seek out another place in the sun, I want to give a huge birthday shout out to my soul mate, dream girl and all-around love of my life, Jeannie Colohan. It needs to be said that every accolade, compliment and great comment I receive in regards to my place in the Augusta music scene can be directly attributed to her. It has been said that behind every great guy there is a great gal. In our case, it is more like “for every dreamer (me), there is an incredible muse (Jeannie) leading the way.” Happy Birthday … I love you, Jeannie.

I think I hear the sounds of a smoky grill crackling along to my fave classic rock tunes and the beer getting colder. Until next time, make sure you check out the Daily Planner in print and online at vergelive.com for great live shows. To get an earful of what is happening in Augusta music, listen CONfederation of LOUDness which can be found, ironically enough, at confederationofloudness.com and, of course, as always … Make it LOKAL, Keep it Loud.

A rock ‘n’ roll ruckus hits the Savannah River on June 17 as Rock Bottom Music and Eagle 105.7 bring an army of hard rockin’ bands to throw the rock party event of the summer. We are talking sun, suds and lots and lots of loud rock ‘n’ roll for a day of kick-butt, all-ages music fun. If that is not enough reason for you to go, here are six more:

ADLER’S APPETITE It is one thing to drum for one of rock’s most controversial bands. It is a whole other thing to be dismissed from said band for being TOO outrageous and original. Guns n’ Roses drummer Steven Adler can lay claim to have having done both. As if that fall from grace was not enough, Adler weathered a stroke and did several stints in rehab. But, his positive demeanor and love for music and the fans helped make Adler someone rock fans love to pull for. With a loaded band line-up that pulls off Guns n’ Roses classics as well as – if not better than – the current GNR lineup, Adler’s Appetite is the perfect cure for fans dying to hear those old tunes live. ADLERSAPPETITEONLINE.COM STEVEN ADLER OF ADLER’S APPETITE

WHAT Adler’s Appetite + Willie Basse + Rockets to Ruin + Mad Margritt + The Issues + Science Friction WHERE Jessye Norman Amphitheatre WHEN Friday, June 17 at 5 p.m. TICKETS $15 MORE Rock Bottom Music, 706.724.2272 WILLIE BASSE

WILLIE BASSE As frontman for the legendary 1980’s Los Angeles band Black Sheep, bassist/vocalist Willie Basse was known for his outrageous studio parties which helped spawn the careers of bands including Guns n’ Roses, LA Guns, Racer X and Leatherwolf. Basse has worked with a wide mix of rock artists including Slash (Guns n’ Roses/Velvet Revolver), James Kottack (Kingdom Come/Scorpions/McAuley Schenker Group/Warrant), Paul Gilbert (Racer X/Mr. Big), Randy Castillo (Lita Ford/Ozzy Osbourne/Motley Crue) and Mitch Perry. Basse recently released single “Break Away” produced

by Led Zeppelin producer Andy Johns and featuring guitarist George Lynch. WILLBASSE.COM MAD MARGRITT Atlanta band Mad Margritt has been

a favorite visitor to the Garden City for over a decade and, with several albums and appearances on several compilations thanks to rock label Perris Records, it does not look like the band will be slowing down anytime soon. Over the years, Mad Margritt’s high energy show has earned the band slots opening for the likes of Kiss, Poison, Whitesnake, Skid Row, Cinderella, Ratt, Warrant, Tesla, Quiet Riot, Great White and Slaughter. MADMARGRITT.COM

THE ISSUES

THE ISSUES Formed in 2004, Hot-lanta trio The Issues are a fun, rocking band that feature songs full of sticky-sweet catchiness and boast an Augusta native in drummer Pat Turner (Family Jewels/Hot Rods). The trio has won several regional and national band contests and recently released It Goes to 11. With many more accolades in their back pocket, The Issues continue to build a following made up of fans of straight-up rock and pop punk. THEISSUESROCK.COM

by JOHN “STONEY” CANNON SCIENCE FRICTION

The next issue of VERGE hits the newstands on

JUNE 29 Look for Our Outdoor Racks or Find Your Copy At Publix | EarthFare | Kroger Bi-Lo | New Moon Cafe and Over 150 Locations Throughout the CSRA

ROCKETS TO RUIN

ROCKETS TO RUIN Having shared the stage with acts such as Paul Stanley (Kiss), Crossfade, Josh Todd (Buckcherry), Skid Row, Cinderella and the Georgia Satellites, Atlanta hard rockin’ Rockets To Ruin have consistently raised eyebrows of rock fans and rock royalty alike to the point of drawing the interest of Skid Row bassist Rachel Bolan who produced the band’s 2006 release Love Drugs Rebellion. The Rockets To Ruin tune “Gotta Go, Gotta Roll” was chosen by ESPN for the channel’s 2008 NASCAR promos and track “Take a Ride with Me” featured in the film Blood Ties. ROCKETSTORUIN.COM

SCIENCE FRICTION Being the sole local band on a bill packed with heavy-hitters might be daunting for some bands, but South Carolina’s Science Friction is far from just “some” band. Before it was even thinkable for area rock bands to play originals, Science Friction was doing their own material – and doing it well – attracting a loyal fan base and winning just about every CSRA battle of the bands in the late 1980’s. It took nearly 20 years and a chance retrospect article a few years ago to get the guys back together. Now, fans get to sing along to old Sci Fri classic songs and newly written tunes.

by JOHN “STONEY” CANNON

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