June Issue B

JUNE 20 2012

FREE

vol. 5 no. 7 community driven news

AUGUSTA•AIKEN•CSRA

FIRST FRIDAY HOT POTATO PG 9

As attendance fades, visitors, shopkeepers and officials differ on continuing. What’s the solution?

photo by john robeson

VIEWS WGAC’S SCOTT HUDSON INVESTIGATES + VIBE RICK SPRINGFIELD FIA’S STORY ROCK + VITTLES UNBIASED RESTAURANT REVIEW + VALUES JUNE 20 _ VERGELIVE.com / 1

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05 15 A Day In The Community Children from throughout the Olde Town Neighborhood flocked to District 1 Commissioner Matt Aitken’s A Day in the Community at the corner of East Boundary and Telfair streets on June 2 for horse rides, bounce castles and commissioners grilling hamburgers and hotdogs. This is the second year for the festival, which Aitken hopes to make an annual celebration of the youth in this inner city neighborhood, and this year introduces corporate sponsors Georgia Health Sciences University, the Olin Foundation and Pull-a-Part.

“It’s not about the color of your skin or how much money you’ve got, but it’s about all of us working together in unity that is going to be best for this community,” said Aitken. photo and article by Christopher Selmek

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what’sinside views

you won’t want to miss a page

vergestaff yeah, we made this

group publisher Matt Plocha publisher@vergelive.com

This is our voice to hold the powerful accountable in our community (First Friday solutions) and to provide a chance to showcase elected officials doing good things (A Day in the Community and Lilly Fundraiser).

president/editor Neil Gordon neil.gordon@buzzon.biz

vibe

(with consultation from Lara Plocha)

Be part of the “feel” of our community with all of the arts, music, entertainment and wonderful events going on in the CSRA. We hope you dig all of the events listings. You can find more listings at vergelive.com.

In this issue we hit Evans with our exclusive Rick Springfield interview/ photo session, Aiken with the world’s biggest slide and Augusta with our Behind The Curtain feature.

vittles

You can almost taste the savory food we have on display. In this issue, we feature Taste restaurant, follow McDonalds’ changes and digest a totally unbiased restaurant review.

35 values

We end each issue with positive examples of why the CSRA is such a great place to live – from medical advances to our faith story to AB’s sports character lessons to another chapter of Fran and Jack’s story to Nora Blithe’s humor in Life Face First.

10,000 copies of Verge are published on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month and is available FREE of charge at locations throughout the CSRA including Publix, Kroger, Bi-Lo and Earth Fare.

Verge is a publication of Buzz on Biz LLC, whose offices are at 3740 Executive Center Drive, Suite 300, Martinez, GA 30907. Reach us at 706.261.9981 or email staff members in regards to story ideas, events listings,

assistant editor Jennifer Pruett

primary writer Christopher Selmek events editor Sarah Childers events@vergelive.com photography Christopher Selmek, melissa@sofiacolton.com, John Robeson design opendoorgraphicdesign.com sales Buddy Miller buddy.miller@buzzon.biz distribution Matt Plocha, Christopher Selmek, Buddy Miller

vergeconnect we want to hear from you

call us: 706.951.0579 email us: advertising and general stuff publisher@vergelive.com story tips, ideas and letters editor@vergelive.com free event listings events@vergelive.com find us online: vergelive.com

JUNE 20 _ VERGELIVE.com / 3

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H.O.T.S.

Shakedown of Attorneys / PG 6

NEW ERA FOR VERGE NEIL AND MATT TEAM Up / PG 7

FIRST FRIDAY FOLLOW-UP

RECOVERING FROM 2002 INCIDENT / PG 9

HERE COMES THE JUDGE!

see the article on page 7

photo by Sofia Colton Photography

JUNE 20 _ VERGELIVE.com / 5

heard on the street

MR. ATTORNEY, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?

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well-established attorney in the CSRA with business in several counties from here to southeastern Georgia is one of many who are on the “hot list” of campaign fund-raisers for the July primary and the November general election.

This attorney has already donated more than $10,000 to around 20 incumbents and candidates for Sheriff, Clerk of Court, Commission seats, Magistrate Judges and others.

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Because his work in the courtroom or with investigators on client cases crosses paths with these key positions — he is not in a position to say “no”.

This attorney thinks there are two reasons why there are so many races and so many politicians with their hands out: redistricting to balance out black and white populations and questions about what party incumbents belong to and what party they are voting for when they go to vote themselves.

Luckily, there are limits. Those running for public office can only ask for $2,500 from each campaign contributor.

by NEIL GORDON

WHAT WE HEAR BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

BUllchicks takes “no bull”

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pparently, training from Waffle House, Pizza Hut and Burger King was not enough for the Texas-based franchise Bullchicks. The GM of the Highland Avenue restaurant had experience running all three of the afore-mentioned restaurants – but that didn’t make a difference in the franchisor’s decision to shut down the restaurant in May – citing training, equipment and management issues with the franchisee.

The franchisor decided to end its arrangement and is working with a new

franchisee on procedures that will allow a re-opening on June 25.

Meantime, a different franchisee is set to open a North Augusta Bullchicks on East Martintown Road near the entrance to the Aiken Augusta Highway.

The CSRA is the first region in the country to bring a Bullchicks restaurant outside of Texas.

On the menu, they specialize in serving 20 different flavors of chicken wings and 20 varieties of burgers.

Off the menu, they apparently specialize in running a tight ship and not taking any “bull”.

by NEIL GORDON

WHAT’S THE BUZZ WITH THE VERGE? Neil Gordon and Matt Plocha Unite to Relaunch Verge

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erge welcomes incoming owner/editor-in-chief Neil Gordon along with several changes in style and design which will make Verge an even better source for local information.

Gordon began running his Buzz on Biz television segment on WRDW in January 2006, and has since expanded into a radio show and newspaper of the same name. Verge, which launched a few months before the Buzz on Biz newspaper in March 2008, now represents a growing part of Buzz on Biz LLC with Matt Plocha publishing both newspapers.

“Verge is getting a louder voice,” said Plocha. “We’re keeping a lot of the core elements that the readers have enjoyed in the past, as well as adding categories of writing that Verge has not explored in the past.

Columns like Ask Dr. Karp, Lokal Loudness and Beers Locals Like will still have their place in our newspaper, but we’re adding edgier cover stories, a Behind the Curtain theatre column, a Faith column, a Medical Roundup, inspirational local sports stories, as well as a fresh design element.”

“I’ve gotten to know Matt and Lara through the process. I’ve gotten to know a lot about community publications and have an affinity for small companies trying to do well with it,” said Gordon. “Matt and I want to take Verge to the next level by enhancing what we already have and adding new content.”

According to Plocha and Gordon, their slow and methodical approach to the transition is the reason Verge skipped publishing the June 6 edition this month in favor of a bold, new relaunch with this June issue.

“It’s partly timing and partly because of the redesign,” said Gordon. “We wanted to give our graphic design team a lot of time to research the best way to do that for Verge and we gave them a lot of different samples of community newspapers to look through in order to determine what was best for our community.”

Jeff Brotherton of Open Door Graphic Design has been designing Buzz on Biz for two years, and as part

photo by Sofia Colton Photography of his redesign will organize the newspaper into four main sections: Views, Vibe, Vittles and Values, which will make it easier for readers to find the articles they are most interested in. In addition, a new cover and photography on each of the section covers will help to make the whole newspaper more visually appealing.

Verge’s event calendar, which has been consistently rated as one of the best event calendars in the CSRA, will continue to be a main focus of the newspaper and will become even easier to use through eventual enhancements to Vergelive.com.

Verge’s distribution model, which has remained consistent since the magazine started publishing monthly nearly five years ago, will increase from a 75 percent readership outside of the downtown area to 85 percent, in order to better serve the entire CSRA. Other new partners include WGAC’s Ashley Brown, who will write about the character, tenacity, competition and teamwork inherent in all of our local sports teams, and Scott Hudson, a reporter for WGAC who has won many awards for political investigative reporting. Charles Cochran, a pastor and former writer with the Savannah Morning News will take the reins of the Faith column beginning in July. Buddy Miller will represent Verge and Buzz on Biz in the sales aspect. All are welcome additions to the team and will represent both newspapers well as Verge reaches out to form partnerships with other kinds of media outlets.

“I think that Verge has established a trust factor over the last five years because of being community minded,” said Gordon. “It makes sense from a business standpoint to share resources, because we can use the same printer, the same graphics and the same writers.

We have really good synergy between the papers.”

“People who read our paper in Evans and Aiken aren’t necessarily interested in the same things as folks downtown, but by keeping the newspaper hyper-local we can represent them all,” said Plocha. “Hyper-local means we’re on the streets in your community, with our finger on the pulse, where people recognize us for our ability to know what’s going on. That is the future of print publications.” by christopher selmek

1 “IN IT TO WIN IT” FUNDRAISER NETS MORE THAN $100,000

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olumbia County business leader and co-owner of Hardwood Floors and More of Evans, Ray Lilly, is recovering from brain surgery and makes frequent trips to Duke University to take part in a study and initial 12-month treatment program. Friends and community leaders came out in hundreds to participate in a reception and auction on June 6 at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion, with a golf tournament at Champions Retreat on June 7. Between private donations and event money, more than $100,000 was raised. One hundred percent of the money raised went to Lilly for medical costs not covered by his health insurance.

The Columbia County Forward Foundation also helped in this nonprofit effort.

by NEIL GORDON

photography by MELISSA@SOFIACOLTON.COM

It was a great day at Champions Retreat for Ray, Suzanne and the Lilly children. Ray had a glioblastoma brain tumor removed on January 19. The doctor at Georgia Health Sciences University successfully removed the entire tumor which was visible. The Lillys now travel to Duke University on a regular basis for experimental treatment.

Judge Wade Padgett led the winning team at the In It to Win It benefit golf tournament at Champions Retreat on June 7. Thirty-four foursomes of golfers donated their time and money to the cause. The foursome pictured, made up of two “seasoned” judges, Wade Padgett (center) and Grady Blanchard (left), and two hot-shot young players, Doug Nelson (beside Padgett) and Evan Usry (far left), will get to play together again. They won a round of golf for four at Cassique, a private club on Kiawah Island.

photography by MELISSA@SOFIACOLTON.COM

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first friday time for change

photo by john robeson STORM OVER FIRST FRIDAY + he skies grew cloudy over June’s First Friday, with intermittent showers minimizing the crowds that normally gather for Augusta’s monthly festival. A brass band drew a small audience near Soy Noodle House by hunkering beneath an overhang, while elsewhere on Broad Street guitarists played for themselves.

Just before 7 p.m., Ooollee Bricker, the owner of Vintage Ooollee, told the vendors outside her store that a storm was on the way and suggested they leave.

Nevertheless, Pyroteque performed its fire show. That night the bars and nightclubs were packed as usual, but the official event from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., intended to attract art gallery and shopping enthusiasts, was underwhelming.

“People have always come downtown on First Friday, but they don’t come down now for the same reasons,” said Bricker. “People want to eat and drink and that’s it, when it used to be an event to promote local businesses and get people into the shops.

Judging the success or failure of First Friday based on poor weather isn’t fair, however this storm has been brewing for quite some time. Poor attendance, crime and disagreements over management plagued First Friday even before the Greater Augusta Arts Council took the reins in 2009. Many wonder if First Friday is really worth the trouble.

T

ATTENDANCE IMPACT ON BUSINESS + In the past few months attendance has been less than 10 percent of the more than 10,000 attendees in previous years. Ron Turner, a North Augusta artist and First Friday vendor, has noticed the change.

“The number of people coming to First Friday has dropped a lot. I think a lot of this is because of the city’s lack of involvement. There are fewer cops, so people do not feel safe, and the acts that attract patrons, like live music performances have decreased. Downtown is in

danger of turning into the ghost town it was years ago.

The artist community was what fueled a re-growth to downtown business, and it is a shame to let it die out,” he stated.

“When I first opened I would make my entire month on a First Friday, but I attributed that to being a new store,” said Bricker. “Now hardly anyone comes in, and I feel pretty isolated on this block. There needs to be more shops downtown. We have enough bars, restaurants and tattoo parlors.”

“It used to be that my rent and utilities would be covered by First Friday alone,” said David Hutchison, the owner of The Book Tavern. “Since then I’m happy to say that the other 29 days of the month have gotten better for business, but First Friday attendance has lagged and the number of people coming down to buy has lowered. However, the number of people coming down to drink has grown,” he said.

THE KEY PLAYERS + Several downtown shops choose not to stay open for First Friday, which has caused a push for local government to get more involved. The Downtown Development Authority used to manage and promote the event, but stopped doing so in 2006.

“Like other organizations, we just don’t have the money and manpower to give to First Friday,” said Margaret Woodard, the executive director of the DDA. “We looked at the event and felt we were losing almost $700 a month on it, and that there are better ways to promote downtown such as the Saturday Market. I also believe that events are like loaves of bread: they have a shelf life, and it’s possible that this one (First Friday) has already outlived its usefulness.”

Last year, District 1 Commissioner Matt Aitken attempted to establish a parking plan for First Friday, but the commission reached no final decision and, according to Aitken, the issue’s been tabled.

“If anyone wants to figure out how to make First Friday bigger and better, I think the Downtown Augusta Alliance is in a pretty good position to get the ball rolling,” said Aitken.

“We are a downtown merchants and residents association, and together as the Alliance we can serve as stewards for our downtown community,” said Ben Casella, the president of the Alliance. “I think a lot of people have a negative feeling about the event because of a few aspects blown up by the news media.”

Casella has not brought the concept before the Downtown Augusta Alliance board, but he said he anticipates mixed reactions. Hutchison, a previous Alliance president, said he had similar feelings that the group could help organize First Friday if they had the funding. “If the county wants to give us the 10- or 20-grand they give to the Arts Council then we would gladly take over management of First Friday, but this is something that the Arts Council fought for and now they get money to do it, only they need to start stepping up to the plate and actually do it,” said Hutchison. “Sales aren’t as good and they haven’t been for a number of years since the arts council took it over, but we’re limited about what we can do because we run our businesses on First Friday.”

The Greater Augusta Arts Council said it does not receive the city funding to which Hutchison refers.

“We’ve never gotten any money to do First Friday, and the money that we do get from the city to fund our other projects has never been increased. In fact, our budget has been cut every year along with every other arts organization in this economy,” said Brenda Durant, the executive director of the Greater Augusta Arts Council.

PERCEIVED OR REAL CRIME + The perception of crime is another element of First Friday that has been haunted the event. Casella and

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vergevoices Erwin Schaffran

Bavarian Roasted Nuts

“I started selling Bavarian Roasted Nuts six years ago at the Saturday Market, then moved to First Friday and have been out here ever since. Attendance has improved, but it all depends on the weather. “I haven’t had any problems with crime. The only thing I was told by the cops is to get the heck out of here by 10 p.m., so I usually close down around quarter till 10. I think First Friday is a good thing and it should keep on going.”

Thomas and Terry Hargrave

“We come down quite often and have since we lived downtown in 2005. Attendance varies on some nights but we like to walk around and see the art in the different shops; if it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be here. We don’t stay out as late as we used to, because there is absolutely a problem with crime downtown as it gets later and later.

When the courtesy patrol was rolling around it was much safer in my mind because they would keep the panhandlers in check, but now no one does, and we try to be out of here by 10 or 11 p.m. I want FF to be here. We’re just wondering how long it’s going to be until someone whips it into shape.”

Ashley Gray

“We come to First Friday every couple of months because we live in Aiken and there’s nothing to do there. I’ve come down to see Schrodinger’s Cat and also look in some art shops. In the winter it seems slow, but in the summer it really picks up and you see a lot of people out here enjoying themselves.”

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Hutchison said they believe crime on First Friday is Naylor announced he would provide at least 14 overblown, citing the many regular attendees who additional off-duty, patrolling police officers. Many have never personally witnessed a crime. business owners hoped this would break up the after“Crime exists and always will, but I don’t view First hours crowd and return the festival to its more humble Friday as having an exponentially worse crime rate roots. It did not work. than any other event in the city,” said Casella.

“Things were just wrapping up around 10 p.m. and “People say there is a crime problem but I don’t see most of the gallery crawlers were headed home, when it,” said Hutchison. “If you triple the amount of people suddenly all of these young people started showing downtown it makes sense that you would triple the up downtown. There were so many of them that cars crime, but most people who come downtown are well could not get out of the parking lots; they just kept behaved.” driving around and around Broad Street,” said Rich “The Sheriff ’s Department has a handle on whatever Borgatti, whose wife helped found Gallery on the Row crime problem there may be,” stated Aitken. in 1994. “People could hardly get out of the doors Captain Scott Gay of the Augusta Richmond County of any restaurants because of the crowds. It was like Sheriff ’s office said he works hard photo by Sofia Colton Photography to assure people safely enjoy First Friday, and his special operations division sends an additional 25 to 50 officers to Broad Street between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. every First Friday.

Still, he disagreed with Hutchison and Casella and the “perception theory”.

“I don’t think it can be fixed,” he said. “We’ve been dealing with this issue since 2002, and on every First Friday there is a significant spike Bars such as The Metro Pub and Coffeehouse remain busy on First Friday. in crime. The number of fights goes up, the number of DUI’s goes up, the number people were trapped downtown.” of drug offenses goes up, and the number of people That night every available sheriff ’s deputy in possessing illegal firearms goes up, so there’s a whole Richmond County was called downtown to respond gamut of criminal activity that centers on First Friday. to an outbreak of violence around 2 a.m. Deputies We don’t have these same problems any other Friday sprayed mace to disperse fights and arrested 19 for of the month, and I feel that by promoting the event disorderly conduct. The glass windows of two Broad we’re sending a message to the criminal element that Street businesses were broken. downtown is open for business.”

“That’s when it changed,” said Bricker. “People were thrown through windows that night. It was horrible.

THE TIPPING POINT: OCTOBER 2002 + As we watched it all happen we knew that First Friday “In 2002, we did not dedicate a force to the event,” was never going to be the same.”

Gay said. “We had just the single parking compliance officer assigned to patrol Broad Street Monday ORIGINAL INTENT OF FIRST FRIDAY + through Friday, and that officer’s only job was to police In 1994, Augusta Mayor Charles DeVaney had an idea Broad Street, Ellis, and all of the side streets. I wish to restore the boarded-up downtown Augusta, similar it would have stayed that way, because it’s become to what he had seen done elsewhere. His idea involved very problematic for us and it does a disservice to the fostering a community of local artists and encouraging residents of Augusta to be associated with it.” them to make improvements.

Before October 2002, First Friday did not need “Artists would use sweat equity to fix the buildings, much police enforcement because it was still an event and in exchange they got free or highly subsidized centered on art galleries. In 2001, commissioners space for their artwork,” said Borgatti. “That was when voted to merge Main Street Augusta, the merchant’s six or eight studios came in, centered on one block of organization that existed before the Downtown Broad Street in the heart of downtown.”

Augusta Alliance, with the Downtown Development “To get people downtown to visit their galleries, Authority. Chris Naylor became the executive director the owners decided they needed to hold some kind of both organizations. of event,” said Lou Ann Zimmerman, who opened “When Chris Naylor was in charge of both Gallery 1006 on Broad Street in 1996, now named organizations they were trying to determine whether Zimmerman Gallery. “What they decided on was people should be allowed to go from shop to shop sponsoring a gallery crawl and wine walk, where with a drink in their hand, and it got a lot of press,” people could munch on appetizers and look at art. said Bricker. “Then, suddenly, there were young kids It was family friendly, and only lasted from five until coming to First Friday with literally a keg of beer just about nine in the evening.” sitting in their cars and drinking. This was never what First Friday was born. the event was intended to be.”

“I remember putting fliers on the tables at Pizza Other problems arose over the next year as Naylor Joint, which used to be where Blue Sky Kitchen is now, attempted to crack down on alcoholic beverages at the in order to let people know about the event. It was a festival and begin enforcing restrictions on vendors real grassroots effort,” she said. selling flea market items and attracting the wrong The arrival of restaurants to the downtown scene crowd. Vendors were asked to leave earlier. was but one immediate benefit of First Friday. Before That year also marked the beginning of the First long, Soul Bar began drawing a crowd with their Friday “after-party,” which many shopkeepers lament nightly themed dance parties. Zimmerman recalled because it begins after the official ending of First that on a good night, there were a 12 to 20 people Friday when the bars start to get busy. walking around to the different galleries or sampling Immediately before October 2002’s First Friday, the tastes of the city.

“It grew very slowly, but when it exploded it was big,” going to decide which organization had responsibility said Zimmerman. for it,” said Durant.

In August 1998, Main Street Augusta compiled a list First Friday’s mission statement evolved then: of 15 new restaurants, gift shops, antique stores and “First Friday will present a free, monthly, familyother businesses that had opened downtown in the past friendly celebration designed to bring people downtown year, 10 of which had opened on Broad Street. Main to enjoy galleries, shops, restaurants, clubs, street Street at that time drew 90 percent of their funding vendors and performances. Success will be measured from the city and took control over the event until they by increased sales and First Friday visitors returning to merged with the DDA under Naylor in 2001. downtown.”

Following the harrowing October First Friday in “Some of the galleries still do very well on First 2002, Naylor all but canceled the event.

Fridays, and even when people come back to buy a “We decided not to have any vendors, musicians painting they’ll often say that they first decided to buy it or artists – nobody demonstrating on First Friday,” when they came for First Friday, said Durant.” explained Naylor to a local newspaper at the The Arts Council eventually established a simple time. “Originally it was said there would be a few policy which Durant said put the power entirely in the demonstrations and a few musicians, but it was felt by a hands of the business owners. Durant looks at Midtown majority that it would be best not to have any vendors. Market’s First Thursday celebration as a good example It would be for folks to come down, enjoy the galleries, of merchants working together. go in the restaurants, but nothing on the sidewalk.”

“We’ve put it back in the hands of the people who “After that there was a huge police presence are benefiting from the event,” said Durant. “The rule downtown, and Broad Street looked like an armed is that if participants want to set up a performance or camp for a few months,” said Zimmerman. “People a table, they go to a business downtown and ask if they shied away from First Friday for a long time after that, can set up in front of that business. Then the business which we didn’t think was fair that hosts them has the task photo by Sofia Colton Photography because the trouble didn’t start of consulting with the others until First Friday had already on their block to come to an ended.” arrangement.

For the next year, amplified “We may send a second bands were prohibited from release to the business owners downtown streets as the this summer, who sometimes city of Augusta adopted an seem to forget that they’re open-container law, began the ones with all the power. . enforcing a city ordinance We still get calls sometimes restricting downtown bar when the business that wants owners from distributing “toa tuba player is located next go” cups and created a regular to a business that wants an presence of sheriff ’s deputies accordion player, but in during and after First Friday. those cases I encourage the Crowds dropped from the businesses to talk to each 10,000 to 12,000 estimated other.” at October’s event to a more In 2011, the GAAC manageable 4,000 to 6,000, hired Jamie Lowe, a college Stephanie Forbes’ new art gallery features First where it remained for several journalism major involved in Friday firsts, such as a tasteful lingerie exhibit. years. Attendance has declined a federal work-study program, steadily since. to help coordinate First Friday.

“The word had gotten out that we’re not going to “Jamie has done a very good job managing the tolerate any type of unlawfulness,” said Cpt. Gay when schedule for us,” said Durant. “She likes going downtown he started the new downtown police patrols in 2003. during the festival and doing the walk around, and After some controversy in 2005, Naylor left and his many of the business owners and vendors can talk to successor, Margaret Woodard, arrived to preside over her if they need help.” the disbanding of Main Street Augusta. DDA ultimately FIRST FRIDAY FUTURE + decided to stop organizing and funding First Friday.

“Summer is always the best time for outdoor festivals, ” “First Friday was already having problems when I got said Lowe.

“This summer we will see a Barbershop here. MSA and the DDA were both under the same roof, and I have to give a lot of credit to concerned citizens Quartet, a couple of balloon sculptures, jewelry and for their effort in working things out,” said Woodard. other vendors, plus a Pride booth.”

According to Durant, the future for First Friday is “They brought in an event planner who had some great bright. ideas.”

“When the new TEE center becomes active there are THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP + going to be tons of new visitors to Augusta,” she said.

“Why would anyone want to cancel First Friday?” “When they get out of their meetings at 5 p.m. they’re asked Durant. “That sounds to me like you’re saying going to want to shop, and they’re going to want to downtown is closed and you’re rolling up the sidewalks.” do something that’s fun and unique, and I think First According to Durant, it was in the fall of 2008 that the Friday is only going to get better.”

DDA announced they would no longer be sponsoring Durant opposes the idea that the “after-party” is First Friday, and for the next three months First Friday connected with attendance at First Friday between was run by a steering committee made up of the Greater 5 and 9 p.m., but says that Capt. Gay’s forces and Augusta Arts Council, the DDA and the newly formed representatives of the Clean Augusta Downtown Downtown Augusta Alliance.

Initiative have been doing a fine job of making “First Friday never ended, but there were a few downtown Augusta welcoming to outsiders. months of just making sure it happened, at the end of “It’s not the people at the event who suddenly go which (City Administrator) Fred Russell said he was crazy at 9:30,” she said. “It’s different people, and there’s

no kind of marketing program that’s done to try to get them to come downtown. If the Book Tavern wants to have a 10-percent-off sale, I don’t consider that an advertisement to criminals. I don’t see any connection between those two things at all.” “[First Friday] has been very branded in the minds photo by Sofia Colton Photography

Pyroteque performed in spite of poor weather at June’s First Friday.

of people, and to me it would be easy to provide a little more structure,” said Hutchison. “You get a picture of how it has changed by seeing how many drunks there are out on the streets. Initially this was supposed to be an art event, and I wouldn’t want to shut it down unless another event is scheduled to take its place.” by christopher selmek contributions from Neil Gordon & Lara Plocha

vergevoices solutions...

Margaret woodard, dda

“A partnership could be created between all the organizations invested in our downtown, with both public and private aspects, and I believe DA2 would do a great job at coordinating that.”

Captain scott gay

Augusta-Richmond County “I think the whole First Friday brand has gone stale, and the city would be better served if we did something on a First Thursday or Second Saturday.” said Scott Gay.

ooollee bricker

Owner of Vintage Ooollee “Second Saturday, I just like the sound of it. I think it has a nice ring to it. It could be a familyfriendly, daytime event from 2 to 7 p.m. that the DA2 could sponsor. I think it would complement the Saturday Market well and could encourage people to go to the art shops, but it wouldn’t involve the heavy drinking crowd that has taken over First Friday.”

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hudson hears

WHO IS SCOTT HUDSON?

W

elcome to the new Verge! This column space has been given to me by the editors to be an extension of what I have been doing on the radio at WGAC AM/FM for the better part of a decade - bringing true investigative reporting to the public. For longtime listeners, this first column

around town

investigative reporting on local politics

will be boring, but for those who have not heard of the Hudson byline, I wish to indulge myself in an introduction.

An honors graduate of Augusta State University, I am. An English or communications major I am not. I graduated as a political science (pre-law) and history minor. As a writer and journalist, I think like an attorney. I understand the history of law and how it evolves. When I interview someone I watch their body language as I am listening to what they have to say. What they tell me is half the story, because their body language either backs up what I am being told or completely denies what they are saying. I also know the history of our city and how it has evolved. That being said, I recall and constantly remind myself the words of one of my favorite professors, “nobody likes a know-it-all.”

Augusta media, for a long time, lacked a true investigative reporter.

Television reporters are generally (with the exception of Chris Thomas of WRDW) not in this city long enough to understand the history behind what is going on currently. They have a tendency to focus their two minutes of air-time to anything they can find that is sensational.

In my tenure at WGAC I exposed the whole deal involving Betty Beard and her shakedowns of business that resulted in

a personal favor to a friend to get gastric by-pass surgery. Betty Beard’s political career ended with that story. It was my research and reports that led ultimately to the conviction of Columbia County Commissioner and former Harlem Mayor Scott Dean on child molestation charges. Along with Ben Harbin, Lee Anderson, Barbara Sims, Governor Deal and many others who gave their time and hard work, the Judicial Reform Act was passed in Georgia with only one dissenting vote in the General Assembly, and I proudly was one who helped make it happen.

That act removes the statute of limitations on child molestation.

My rag-tag group that calls itself the “First Saturday Crew” has removed about 12 tons on trash from the Augusta Canal area and other areas in Augusta and spawned more efforts at cleaning and conserving our city. The former Red Star Cafe building sits waiting for an occupant and not rotting into the ground partially thanks to my news reports which almost begged people to help save our historic landmarks.

Why am telling you this? And why are you still reading to this point? I am an Augustan. I have always been honest in what I report. Expect no difference in this article. The stories I’ve reported in the past have had an impact on our local area. With that, I understand how great my responsibility is to be honest and forthright.

In future columns, I will discuss the Sheriff ’s race, of which I have announced my support for Scott Peebles, and will again look at the redevelopment situation in the downtown area. This column, to me, is just another opportunity to bring the truth to the people of the CSRA. Long ago, I realized sometimes the truth isn’t pretty, but it is true that the truth will set you free. scott hudson is a freelance reporter for WGAC and coowner\operator of Cheers on Washington Road in West Augusta. Please send any comments to scott@wgac.com.

an investigative look into local politics A Look At Things To Do

where’s waldo W

here’s Waldo? He is coming to Augusta to celebrate his 25th birthday. Through the month of July, the famous fellow in the striped shirt and black-rimmed specs is visiting 20 different local businesses from New Moon Café at 936 Broad St. to Two Moms Cookies at 2569 Central Ave., from The Augusta Canal Gift Shop at 1450 Greene St. to Mema Had One at 2328 Washington Road through the month of July. Those who spot him can win prizes, including buttons, books, and more.

Anyone can participate – pick up a “Find Waldo in Augusta! search list with the names of all the businesses and collect an “I Found Waldo at ” card for each Waldo spotted. Collecting cards in 16 or

more businesses and turning them in at The Book Tavern at 1026 Broad St. will win a Waldo button and an entry for other prizes to be drawn at a Waldo party on July 31.

The Grand Prize is a complete six-volume set of Waldo books. People who prefer a shorter version of the hunt can collect the cards from eight businesses and pick up a Waldo button at The Book Tavern.

Waldo is the creation of Martin Handford, whose entertaining drawings of crowd scenes swept the world in 1987. Since then, the Where’s Waldo books have held a cherished spot on bookstore shelves the world over.

There are now over 55 million Waldo books in print worldwide and they’ve

been translated into eighteen languages. An entire generation has grown up searching for Waldo and his cast of wandering companions.

In celebration of Waldo’s longevity and popularity, his American publisher, Candlewick Press, is teaming up with the American Booksellers Association and 250 independent bookstores all across the country, including The Book Tavern here in Augusta, to have fun and encourage people to visit local businesses. There is no charge to participate, and the game lasts for the entire month of July. For more information about hunting for Waldo in Augusta, call The Book Tavern at 706.826.1940 or visit BOOKTAVERN.COM.

JUNE 20 _ VERGELIVE.com / 13

the lens masters thoughts and tips on photography from the pros

tech talk Latest Technology Trends

Risk and Reward: Photographing the John S. Davidson School

I

t’s been a long time since I was inside the John S. Davidson Magnet School for the Fine Arts on Telfair and 11th streets. Built in 1933, the building was condemned in the late 1990s and has sat empty since 1997. By the time a friend and I visited, it had been vacant for years. Despite the roof being partially collapsed, the rest of the building was in pretty good shape. In fact, classroom schedules were still posted beside doors, lesson plans remained on chalkboards, and, tellingly, several large mirrors hadn’t been smashed. It was eerie to walk the dark halls and wonder why everyone had left in such a hurry. The answer, of course, was asbestos. Science fiction writer J.G. Ballard once advised that a person be faithful to their obsessions, to “let them guide you like a sleepwalker”. When it comes to photography I consider this to be something like a Golden Rule, and if following my obsessions leads me to wander into an asbestos-filled building, well, I can’t say I didn’t know what I was doing.

The interiors of buildings can be difficult to shoot under the best of circumstances.

Lighting can be harsh, low, patchy or just plain weird. This is why people buy expensive lighting rigs. Of course, once a building is abandoned, interiors become even tougher to photograph. Inside the John S. Davidson School, the only available light came through the windows and fell haphazardly, leaving much of the space in relative darkness. Roaming decaying buildings requires a constant awareness of one’s surroundings, so I don’t lug around tripods or external flashes. This can make things interesting where proper exposure is concerned. It’s also why I like to use the “AUTO” setting on my camera so much.

We began at the back of the building, moving slowly down the halls, going from room to room, not touching anything, just getting to know the old place and maybe capturing a few metaphorical ghosts in the process. Eventually we entered the theater through a small back room that led right out onto the stage. This photo was taken after only a few steps, before I’d even considered other shots. Suddenly standing above all those empty, broken seats in a room that had seen decades of performances, I just clicked the shutter. Despite the large windows, the theater was somewhat dark and much of the shot is ever-so-slightly underexposed. On the other hand, the flash has washed out the front of the stage. While perhaps a flaw, I think the juxtaposition adds a nice sense of drama. As usual, I was using film and didn’t know any of this until I saw the prints. Beyond a basic color correction to the original scan, there was no post-processing.

I took a few more photographs in the theater, but only a few. None were as good as this one taken in the first rush of discovery. I’ve heard nothing but fond memories of this school from former students, a rarity worth noting. Of all the shots I took that day, I believe this has been the favorite amongst alumni, some of whom stood on this stage. I am glad to have captured it then - I believe it is in much worse shape now and can only hope that not too many asbestos fibers were inhaled in the effort. john m. mulhouse had never picked up a camera before moving to Augusta in 2003. There has been no other city that he has photographed as completely or, some have said, as well. He currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

LensMaster is a behind-the-lens look at the world of photography, prepared by members of the Augusta Photography Festival, which runs this year from October 27 to November 4 Submissions for this year’s photo competition are now being accepted.

Augustaphotofestival.org

14 / VERGELIVE.com _ JUNE 20

Windows 8 Makes Its Move

S

p ectators are closely watching Microsoft’s latest operating system product which is vital to ensuring the software giant’s future relevance in computing.

Microsoft has spent the past two years developing Windows 8, the next edition of its industry leading computer operating system. Windows 8 will, for the first time, run both on desktop computers and laptops, but more importantly, Windows 8 will support touch screens and tablet devices. The company is finalizing the software before shipping it to manufacturers, who are planning to load it on devices scheduled to hit stores in October or November, in time for the holiday sales season.

Windows 8 is Microsoft’s best hope for competing with devices running Google’s Android operating system and Apple’s iOS operating system, which is used on iPhone and iPad products.

Microsoft has almost no presence in the tablet market, which is expected to double in size, with sales of 118.9 million units this year, according to research firm Gartner Inc. Apple’s iPad is expected to account for a little less than two-thirds of those sales and Android machines for nearly a third. Microsoft’s quest to steal some of that market share will likely be a tough slog, however the effort is critical for their future as they try to compensate for flat personal computer sales. In its fiscal second quarter, Microsoft’s revenue from Windows products fell 6.3% from a year earlier.

Microsoft has said it would simplify the Windows product line by offering just three versions—Windows 8 for most people, Windows Pro for professionals and businesses, and the preinstalled Windows RT for tablets. Windows 8 has received positive reviews since Microsoft released a preliminary version to software developers in September, and the reviews have continued to be very positive since the public preview version was made available in February.

The features include an updated version of the Internet Explorer Web browser, Web-based storage, and a single-password sign-on to allow users to access their email, address books and documents across a range of Windows powered computers, tablets, and mobile phones.

Like Apple and Google, Microsoft is also courting the mass of developers that create apps, the tiny downloadable programs that run on tablets and smartphones – in some cases even paying some developers to write popular apps. To entice developers, Microsoft is offering them a bigger cut of sales than they get from Apple or Google. Developers who sell apps through the Windows Store get to keep 80% of the proceeds after an app hits $25,000 in sales. A large variety of available apps are one of the key checkboxes in a customers’ decision to buy a particular tablet or smart phone.

Needless to say, we should be in for quite a show this fall as Windows 8 takes the stage. It will have built-in legitimacy because it has the Windows name, but Windows 8 could steal the show if it captures the hearts and minds of the technology buying public.

Kevin wade is founder and CEO of Intellisystems, an IT and telephone systems company. Email him with tech or gadget questions kevinw@intellisystems.com

Daily Planner

Calendar of area events / PG 19

Aiken’s giant slide biggest in u.s.

/ PG 22

Behind the curtain

theatre vet eMpowers you / PG 23

63 YEAR OLD ROCKS EVANS

INTERVIEW on page 17

photo by Sofia Colton Photography

JUNE 20 _ VERGELIVE.com / 15

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vibe

rick rocks the lady a

Q & A with legend and greatest fan

S

inger/songwriter/guitarist Rick Springfield has never dwelled on his past.

“I’m always forward-looking,” he says. “I’ve never been the guy that hung the gold records on the wall or that sort of thing. I don’t usually look back. If I do, I tend to regret it!”

With several decades in the music industry, record sales topping 20 million, 17 Top 40 hits and a new album in the works, Springfield maintains his place onstage and on radio by keeping his career in forward motion as well. He tours throughout the year and made a recent stop in Augusta for WBBQ’s 65th birthday celebration.

“Oh, they’re older than me!” he quipped during a telephone interview. “I like that!”

Verge: You broke through during a very different musical climate. Can you imagine trying to launch a career in today’s industry?

Springfield: It’s pretty daunting. There’s YouTube and all the Internet stuff and ways to connect with fans. We had to go out and tour and physically connect. But there’s very limited record success now. The records people sell are done through websites, and it doesn’t pay what it used to pay, so you put a record out to support your tour, whereas before you used to tour to support your record.

The whole record industry is basically gone. There’s something new coming up in its place and we’re all just trying to figure out how to make that work.

Verge: With the Internet making it possible for anyone to release music, and social media bombarding us with content, is the day of the so-called rock star over?

Springfield: No, I think the rock star is not over. They’re just different rock stars now. They’re making them every week on American Idol. I’m a big reader of sci-fi books, and some of the books always stated that in the future we’d choose our stars on television in a game show, and man … [laughs]. There will always be rock stars, but I don’t know how much depth and longevity they’ll have. I think my ace in the hole is that I hit people at a certain point in their lives, mainly at puberty, and I know that music hit me at puberty and that’s the stuff that I still listen to.

photo by Sofia Colton Photography Verge: Do you ever get tired of playing certain songs, or are they a reminder that they are why you’re still able to make records and tour?

Springfield: There’s a lot of that. They become your children.

I love them. They become more than songs; they become part of your life. When you have a kid and people go, “What a beautiful child,” it’s the same kind of reaction when you play a song that people recognize and love. I don’t go, “Oh my god, I’m playing this damned song.” I’m very grateful and I love the energy that these songs create in people. “Jesse’s Girl” became a multimedia thing in movies, television and commercials, and I think a writer hopes for praise for a song at least once — the Beatles had 50 of them! — but most writers hope for something like that, and I feel very fortunate because that’s something you have no control over.

Verge: You’re thought of as a singer, a songwriter and an actor, but there’s not much emphasis on the fact that you’re quite the guitar player. Is that frustrating?

Springfield: Thanks for that. I have an Australian “Best Guitarist” award from 1971 that’s very dear to me! It hurt originally, because when I first hit, people didn’t even know that I wrote my own songs.

I think they thought that I was a teen idol — you find a producer, he finds you some songs and you go in and sing on key for a couple of tracks. To me, being a musician is when you write about your life in your own songs. Guitar playing was always part of me, and it’s never that anyone said, “He sucks at guitar playing,” it’s just never been mentioned and no one really asks me these questions. We surprise people when they come to the show. I’ve been playing guitar for over 40 years, so I have some proficiency. People always go, “Wow, the guy can really play guitar,” so I guess it’s better expecting less and getting more than the other way around! There’s a yin and a yang to everything.

Verge: You also use your music to benefit the Humane Society.

Springfield: Dogs have been very important in my life. I put my dog on my first album cover. My drummer and I are great dog lovers and we do a thing in Wisconsin every year where we play for a couple of nights for the no-kill shelter. It’s something we love to do.

My dog Gomer, who passed away two years ago, was going to be put to sleep when a lady rescued him. He had 14 great years with me, so I’m a big believer that they can always be saved.

Rick’s Biggest Fan! Thanks to Augustan Kim Grice for sharing this photo taken during sound check on the afternoon of the concert at the Lady A Ampitheater on June 1.

Grice became friends with Springfield after getting asked by him to come up on stage and sing at one of his concerts. “I think I have been to about 100 of his concerts,” she told Verge.

She was also at his last Augusta appearance at the James Brown Arena almost 30 years ago.

Another big fan, Jonathan Karow of Rock Bottom Music donated a guitar that Springfield signed before the concert. Andy Jones had the winning bid of nearly $5,000 and took the guitar home and a local charity received the money.

by alison richter

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daily planner

JUNE 20-July 6 2012

ROBERT EARL KEEN

Robert Earl Keen returns to the Imperial Theatre stage on June 27 with his unique style of Americana music.

Since 1981, Keen has built a reputation as one of the nation’s finest musical storytellers. He paints musical portraits that are as vivid as sunsets over the great Southwest and stories that are as compelling and timeless as Cormac McCarthy novels. His latest album, Ready for Confetti, recently hit the No. 1 spot on the Americana Music Chart. The record is a departure for Keen with its shorter song lengths, atypical song themes and Keen’s traditional method of songwriting.

“I always said that I never write on the road,” said Keen. “I threw certain formulas totally out the window because I just don’t always believe in convention as the best way to serve your purpose as far as singing songs that people enjoy however, on this one I stuck to more concise ideas, more universal themes and more sing-able melodies. Consequently, it has somewhat more of a conventional sound than any of my records.”

WHO Robert Earl Keen WHERE The Imperial Theatre | 745 Broad St. WHEN Wednesday June 27, 8 p.m.

TICKETS $14 to $24 BUY 706.722.8341 or IMPERIALTHEATRE.COM MORE robertearlkeen.com

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 (events@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

6.20

FOR KIDS DREAMING, READING AND SINGING with Mr. Bill and his guitar.

Maxwell Branch Library; 10 a.m.; free; 1927 Lumpkin Road; 706.793.2020 ECGRL.ORG

FOR KIDS THE WARRIOR MAIDEN The Morris Museum presents a Hopi Indian legend told by Ellen Schecter, followed by a weaving activity. Wallace Branch Library; 10 a.m.; free; 1237 Laney-Walker Blvd.; 706.722.6275 ECGRL.ORG

FOR KIDS AUGUSTA CANAL PRESENTATION Appleby Branch Library; 10:30 a.m.; free; 2260 Walton Way; 706.736.6244 ECGRL.ORG

FOR KIDS BEAREMY Bedtime stories with the life-sized bear from the Build-a-Bear Workshop.

Columbia County Library; 2 p.m.; free; 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd., Evans; 706.863.1946 ECGRL.ORG FOR KIDS MAGICIAN CHAD CREWS Prepare to be amazed by his mysterious feats of illusion.

Aiken Library; 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.; free; 314 Chesterfield St. SW, Aiken; 803.642.2020 ABBE-LIB.ORG FOR TEENS RECYCLED SODA TAB CRAFTS Make the latest in chic fashion and accessories at the Soda Tab Craft day. String, ribbon, bling and coke tabs provided. Headquarters Library; 2 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG

FOR TEENS CELESTIAL SAND ART Columbia County Library; 3 p.m.; free; 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd., Evans; 706.863.1946

ECGRL.ORG FOR TEENS COFFEE TIRAMISU SOAP A little science, a little art and a lot of fun. All materials provided. Best for ages 11 to17. Limited to 20 participants. Individual registration required.

Diamond Lakes Library; 4 p.m.; free; Diamond Lakes Regional Park; 706.772.2432 ECGRL.ORG FOR KIDS OVERBOARD: VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL After a light dinner and assembly, kids will go “overboard” to “go deep with God.” Parents are welcome to join the adult bible study at the same time. Asbury United Methodist Church; 5:30 p.m.; free; 1305 Troupe St.; 706.736.0061 ASBURYCHURCH.NET

LITERARY PHILOSOPHY CLUB Kroc Center; 7 p.m.; free; 1833 Broad St.; 706.364.5762 KROCAUGUSTA.ORG

+ THURSDAY

6.21

FOR KIDS STORY TIME Special guest Cathy Tugmon will read books about spiders.

Headquarters Library; 10 a.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG

FOR KIDS HOW BIG CAN YOU DREAM A time of stories and a craft for ages 2 to 8. Limited to 40 participants. Individual and group registration required. Diamond Lakes Library; 10 a.m.; free; Diamond Lakes Regional Park; 706.772.2432 ECGRL.ORG LITERARY BROWN BAG BOOK DISCUSSION Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls. Columbia County Library; 11:30 a.m.; free; 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd., Evans; 706.863.1946 ECGRL.ORG CONCERT MIDDAY MUSIC SERIES Call to make reservations for lunch.

First Presbyterian Church; noon; music free, $9 for lunch; 224 Barnwell Ave. NW, Aiken; 803.648.2662 FOR TEENS JUST DANCE PRACTICE ROUNDS Move to the groove of your favorite Just Dance songs.

Columbia County Library; 3 p.m.; free; 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd., Evans; 706.863.1946 ECGRL.ORG

LITERARY BOOK DISCUSSION Life Expectancy by Dean Koontz. Harlem Branch Library; 4 p.m.; free; 375 N. Louisville St.; 706.556.9795 FOR TEENS EXPRESSIONIST PAINTING Artist Jeanine Rodriguez will guide participants in creating an expressionist painting.

Bring a picture of something to paint and wear old clothes. For students in grades 6 to 12.

Aiken Library; 4 p.m.; free; 314 Chesterfield St. SW, Aiken, SC; 803.642.2020

FESTIVAL FIRST THURSDAY Enjoy the art of Leonard “Porkchop” Zimmerman and experience the words of author Charmain Zimmerman Brackett. The Cup Charity of the Month is Storyland Theatre.

The Midtown Market; 5 p.m.; 2113 Kings Way; 706.364.8479 FOR KIDS OVERBOARD VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL See listing on June 20. Asbury United Methodist Church; 5:30 p.m.

LITERARY IT’S YOUR BOOK CLUB Infidel

by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Headquarters Library; 6:30 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG

+ FRIDAY

6.22

FOR KIDS THE WARRIOR MAIDEN The Morris Museum presents a Hopi Indian legend, told by Ellen Schecter, followed by a weaving activity.

Headquarters Library; 10 a.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG FOR KIDS INSECT INVESTIGATIONS Learn about six-legged creatures and catch-and-release insects with bug nets in different areas of the park.

For ages 5-and-up. Preregistration required. Reed Creek Nature Park and Interpretive Center; 4:30 p.m.; $2; 3820 Park Lane; 706.210.4027 FOR KIDS OVERBOARD VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL See listing on June 20. Asbury United Methodist Church; 5:30 p.m.

CONCERT MOONLIGHT MUSIC CRUISE Impulse Ride, a guitar duo, will perform pop-rock covers and originals. Enterprise Mill Dock; 7 p.m.; $25; 1450 Greene St.; 706.823.0440 AUGUSTACANAL.COM

discover more events and classes @ vergelive.com

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aiken’s giant slide

vibe

daily planner GOOD CAUSE ACS THIRD ANNUAL AUGUSTA BACHELOR AUCTION Presented by the American Cancer Society. The Partridge Inn; 8 p.m.; $15 to $20; 2110 Walton Way; 706.731.9900 CANCER.ORG

+ SATURDAY

6.23

LITERARY LIZ COURSEN presents Write an Entertaining Autobiography in Three Easy Steps.

Headquarters Library; 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG

Parents watch as their little one begins a slide “Way up there.”

FOR TEENS MANGA Local artist Xavier Jones teaches Manga drawing. Beginners are welcome. Headquarters Library; 2 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG

open for fun at citizens’ park

A

IKEN, SC - Gordon Leopard has a big business…really big!

Leopard runs Big Event Slides, and he will be happy to bring his gigantic, four-story-high child magnet to your event - especially if it’s Big! “It’s not just for kids, said Leopard, “Go to Citizens’ Park in Aiken during June, and you’ll see people from two to seventy two taking a slide. While it’s mostly for kids, we get all sorts of people who aren’t too old to have fun. If you can climb the stairs going up, you’ll have a great time sliding down.”

This thing is really big, and it doesn’t seem to scare the kids like the high-dives of the past. Kids excitedly climb 36 feet to the top as the slide supervisor at the rear squirts them as a signal that all is clear and it’s their turn. They jump, slide and tumble for 175 feet, laughing all the way down.

The huge inflatable structure is 50 feet wide at its broadest.

“My mommy said I could slide as many times as I wanted,” squealed Savannah Williamson, 4, of Aiken. At $1 a slide or $10 for daily pass, it was steady business all day long for crew leader Kelly Hughes. While Hughes manned one slide at Citizens’ Park, Leopard was at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tenn. with the other.

Leopard stated, “At Big Event Slides we bring a larger-than-life experience to your event, and we do it in a safe and professional manner. Because children and their families have such a good time on the slide while attending events, it serves to create a great image for company sponsors. Company names and logos on the side of this gigantic attraction are seen from hundreds of yards away and remembered for years.”

Since December 2009, Leopard and two other dads with various backgrounds ranging from professional sports and entertainment to health care to business development have used the World’s Largest Inflatable Slide in some unique ways to spread companies’ news. By putting together a targeted logistical plan of events and venues and utilizing the advertising real estate (it’s that big) on the slide itself, they have been able to connect with the likes of 2010 Country Entertainer of the Year Brad Paisley. Big Events Slides participated in Paisley’s H2O Tour concert in Florida (see photograph above). by stephen delaney hale

22 / VERGELIVE.com _ JUNE 20

JUNE 20-July 6 2012

DAY CAMP Eco-Adventures is a week-long fun and fascinating look at ecology, farming, recycling, and more.

Campers will learn to test water for pollution, visit with Georgia native reptiles and amphibians, harvest foods from the organic gardens, and make art from recyclable materials. This is a day camp for children ages 10- to 15-years-old. Hickory Hill; $60 per child; 502 Hickory Hill Drive, Thomson; 706.595.7777 HICKORY-HILL.ORG

FOR KIDS DREAM CATCHER Read Grandmother’s Dream Catcher and make a dream catcher. For 4- to 8-year-olds.

Maxwell Branch Library; 3 p.m.; free; 1927 Lumpkin Road; 706.793.2020 ECGRL.ORG

+ TUESDAY

FOR KIDS THE ADVENTURES OF TIN TIN Watch the film and enjoy free popcorn. Headquarters Library; 2 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG FOR KIDS SEE THE MOVIE READ THE BOOK! Bridge to Terabithia, rated PG. See the movie and get a free copy of the book. Friedman Library; 2:30 p.m.; free; 1447 Jackson Road; 706.736.6758 ECGRL. ORG CONCERT SATURDAY SUNSET CRUISES Music

by The Henrys with Devran Roof on bass. Three-hour excursion to the Savannah Rapids headgates. Enterprise Mill dock; 5:30 p.m.; $21; 1450 Greene St.; 706.823.0440 AUGUSTACANAL.COM

+ SUNDAY

6.24

CONCERT THE HENRYS WITH DEVERAN ROOF 5 O’Clock Bistro; 6 p.m.; free; 2111 Kings Way; 706.922.9560 5OCLOCKBISTRO.COM

+MONDAY

6.25

FOR KIDS ECOADVENTURES SUMMER

6.26

FOR KIDS WINDOW ON THE WEST Explore the world of art with a book reading and an art project designed for children ages 12-and-younger by the Morris Museum of Art. Limited to 40 participants.

Individual registration required. Diamond Lakes Library; 10:30 a.m.; free; Diamond Lakes Regional Park; 706.772.2432 ECGRL.ORG

FOR KIDS TUESDAY CHILDREN’S MOVIES Kung Fu Panda 2. Harlem Branch Library; 2:30 p.m.; free; 375 N. Louisville St.; 706.556.9795 ECGRL.ORG FOR TEENS MANGA DRAWING CLUB Learn different techniques in drawing Manga. All supplies provided. Columbia County Library; 4 p.m.; free; 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd., Evans; 706.863.1946 ECGRL.ORG

FILM THE ARTIST Rated PG 13. Headquarters Library; 6 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG CONCERT EVENINGS IN THE APPLEBY GARDEN The Signal Corps Band performs patriotic music. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs or a blanket.

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

+ WEDNESDAY

6.27

FOR KIDS NURTURING NATURE WALKS For threeto five-year-olds. Reed Creek Nature Park and Interpretive Center; 9:30 a.m.; $2; 3820 Park Lane; 706.210.4027 REEDCREEKPARK.COM

FOR KIDS YOGA FOR KIDS with Jennifer Humphrey.

Maxwell Branch Library; 10 a.m.; free; 1927 Lumpkin Road; 706.793.2020 ECGRL.ORG FOR KIDS SEAN POPPY PRESENTS CREATURES FROM THE CSRA Appleby Branch Library; 10:30 a.m.; free; 2260 Walton Way; 706.736.6244 ECGRL.ORG

FOR KIDS PANTASIA STEEL BAND Music and stories of the Caribbean for first through fifth grade students.

Aiken Library; 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.; free; 314 Chesterfield St. SW, Aiken; 803.642.2020; ABBE-LIB.ORG FOR KIDS ECOLOGY LAB: REPTILE SHOW Columbia County Library; 2 p.m.; free; 7016 Evans Town Center Blvd., Evans; 706.863.1946 ECGRL.ORG FOR KIDS MORRIS MUSEUM OF ART Special, art-themed story time and craft. Harlem Branch Library; 2:30 p.m.; free; 375 N. Louisville St.; 706.556.9795 ECGRL.ORG FOR KIDS DREAM JARS Read The Dream Jar by Lindan Johnson and make a dream jar. For ages 7 to11; registration required. Maxwell Branch Library; 3 p.m.; free; 1927 Lumpkin Road; 706.793.2020 ECGRL.ORG

daily planner FOR TEENS OWN THE NIGHT: PLUSH ZOMBIE WORKSHOP Choose a favorite animal from the book Zombie Felties and create one with felt, beads and thread. All supplies provided. Columbia County Library; 3 p.m.; free; 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd.; 706.863.1946 ECGRL.ORG FOR KIDS FAMILY RETRO GAME NIGHT Bring the family to play board and card games. Great fun for all ages. Individual or family registration required.

Diamond Lakes Library; 5:30 p.m.; free; Diamond Lakes Regional Park; 706.772.2432 ECGRL.ORG LITERARY BOOK CLUB Kroc Center 6:30 p.m.; day pass or membership; 1833 Broad St.; 706-364-5762 KROCAUGUSTA.ORG

DINING EPIC BEER DINNER The Restaurant at The Willcox pairs four courses of food with four unique suds from MOA Brewing Co., one of the largest New Zealand beer exporters to the United States. The Willcox; 7 p.m.; $50 per person; 100 Colleton Ave. SW, Aiken,; 803.648.1898 THEWILLCOX.COM CONCERT ROBERT EARL KEEN Singer/songwriter Robert Earl Keen has built a reputation as one of the nation’s finest musical storytellers, guided by several self-imposed rules and traditions that are often the antithesis of music industry standards.

He tackles such universal themes as losing love, living the best possible life and transcending this world into other spiritual realms.

Imperial Theatre; 8 p.m.; $14 to $24; 745 Broad St.; 706.722.8341 IMPERIALTHEATRE.COM

+ THURSDAY

JUNE 20-July 6 2012

Headquarters Library; 10 a.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG

FOR TEENS KNIT WITS Knitter Marcy Vernon and her crew will show students how to knit with fingers, basics of knitting and share tips and resources.

Bring knitting needles; for students in grades 6 to12.

Aiken Library; 4 p.m.; free; 314 Chesterfield St. SW, Aiken; 803.642.2020 ABBE-LIB.ORG FESTIVAL FIRST THURSDAY The Midtown Market; 5 p.m.; 2113 Kings Way; 706.364.8479 HISTORY RECEPTION FOR HAMBURG: THE FORGOTTEN TOWN Historical exhibit on the powerful town of Hamburg, which formerly flourished on the South Carolina banks near modern day Fifth Street Bridge. Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta; 6 p.m.; free; 100 Georgia Ave., North Augusta; 803.441.4380

+ FRIDAY

6.29

FOR KIDS ANN SPRINKLE AND HER THERAPY DOGS Headquarters Library; 10 a.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG CONCERT MOONLIGHT MUSIC CRUISE with Terry & Jordan, a classic rock acoustic duo. Enterprise Mill dock; 7 p.m.; $25; 1450 Greene St.; 706.823.0440 CONCERT FRESH MUSIC FESTIVAL 2012 The Fresh Music Festival with Keith Sweat, K-Ci & JoJo, Guy, SWV and hosted by Doug E. Fresh. James Brown Arena; 8 p.m.; $39 to $65; 601 Seventh St.; 877.4AUGTIX

6.28 6.30

LITERARY MAXWELL MORNING BOOK CLUB The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson.

Maxwell Branch Library; 10 a.m.; free; 1927 Lumpkin Road; 706.793.2020 ECGRL.ORG FOR KIDS STORY TIME WITH TIM HOBBS Stories about honeybees.

+ SATURDAY

HISTORY LIVING HISTORY PARK Perry Hill, The Backwoods Cabin will be bustling with activities of the 18th Century. Living History Park; 10:30 a.m.; free; 299 W. Spring Grove Ave., North Augusta; 803.279.7560 COLONIALTIMES.US

FOR KIDS LOWE’S KIDS WORKSHOP Make basketball hoops.

Registration required.

Headquarters Library; 2 p.m.; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG FESTIVAL CLASSIC CAR CRUISE-IN Proceeds benefit the Veterans Fisher House. Sno-Cap Drive In; 4 p.m.; regular menu pricing applies; 618 West Ave., North Augusta; 803.279.4004 SNOCAPDRIVEIN.COM

behind the curtain

vibe

get off your butt and see a show!

Y

CONCERT DOUG AND THE HENRYS Enjoy music during a sunset cruise on the Savannah River. The Patriot Boat Tour; 6:30 p.m.; $25; 2 10th St.; 803.730.9739 PATRIOTTOURBOAT.COM

+ THURSDAY

7.5

FESTIVAL FIRST THURSDAY The Midtown Market; 5 p.m.; free; 2113 Kings Way; 706.364.8479

+FRIDAY

7.6

FILM FILMS ON FRIDAY High Noon, (1952). Fred Zinnemann’s post-war classic stars Academy Award winner Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly.

After viewing the film, museum director Kevin Grogan leads a discussion.

Participants are invited to bring a lunch. Morris Museum of Art; noon; free; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501 THEMORRIS.ORG

FESTIVAL FIRST FRIDAY Art galleries display new works, performers take to the sidewalks and streets, arts and craft vendors sell their hand-made goods along Broad St. Family friendly. Downtown Augusta; 5 to 9 p.m.; free; Broad Street; 706.826.4702 AUGUSTAARTS.COM

ou know what bugs me? It’s when I hear someone say, “There’s just nothing to do in Augusta!” Are you serious? I’m thinking just the opposite. “Why don’t I have enough time to get out and do everything there is to do in Augusta?”

When I moved from Arkansas to Augusta, this was the big city. I mean, there are interstates in this town. I’m moving up! And then a number of “natives” started telling me there was nothing to do. Luckily, as I’ve gotten involved in the local arts scene, I’ve learned that “nothing” is not actually the case. In fact, if you just sat at your house in May, you missed a beautiful stage version of The Sound of Music by the Augusta Players, Le Chat Noir’s adults-only puppet show, Avenue Q, a chance to hear the incredible Augusta Symphony under the stars, and an actual game show happening at the Fort Gordon Dinner Theater.

Have you thought about going to the Appleby Library and listening to music on Tuesday nights? How about Jazz by the River on a summer Sunday evening? And summer is a great time to audition to be part of a show! The Fort Gordon Dinner Theater has just cast its summer production, Almost, Maine.

Guys, I’m telling you that this is a date night where you can’t go wrong. In a series of sketches that are both hilarious and heartwarming, you’ll fall in love with the citizens of this cozy northeastern town as they fall in and out of love with each other.

My favorite part of this evening is that dinner is taken care of. Because honestly, who wants the stress of deciding where to eat? There’s just one problem, these shows sell out fast, so you’ve got about one month until opening night to get yourself a great seat and a great meal. Just go to fortgordon.com and click on “entertainment” to get the info.

Since this is my inaugural outing for Verge, by now you must be asking, what’s the point?

Well, we want to take some space every issue to go behind scenes of the performing arts in Augusta. So if you’ve got something going on, let us know!

You won’t find yourself saying, “there’s nothing going on in Augusta,” because you are a reader of Verge. You are smart and sophisticated and incredibly good-looking. wes hennings has been in the performing arts since he could walk, and since moving to Augusta has been in dozens of productions with companies such as The Augusta Players, Fort Gordon Dinner Theater, Enopion Theater Company and the Augusta Opera, both on stage and behind the scenes. By day, Wes is a technical director and media producer. Questions? Story Ideas? wes.verge@gmail.com

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daily planner COMEDY SCHRODINGER’S CAT PLAYS EXTREME THEATRE GAMES These extreme theater games are sure to delight any mature audience member. Le Chat Noir; 8 p.m.; $8 to $10; 304 Eighth St.; 706.722.3322

+ONGOING

WEEKLY +SUNDAYS ART SUNDAY SKETCH Sketch in the galleries with materials supplied by the museum. The Morris Museum of Art; 2 p.m.; free; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501 THEMORRIS.ORG SPORTS SUNDAY POLO Bring a chair and enjoy the games. Whitney Field; 3 p.m.; $5 per person to watch the game or $20 per person for the Social Tent; Mead Avenue, Aiken; 803.643.3611 AIKENPOLOCLUB.ORG

+MONDAYS CONCERT HOPELANDS GARDENS CONCERT SERIES Outdoor concerts each Monday evening from through August.

Bring a chair or a blanket.

Hopelands Gardens; 7 p.m.; free; 1700 Whiskey Road, Aiken; 803.642.7650 CITYOFAIKENSC.GOV

+THURSDAYS LITERARY CREATIVE WRITING GROUP This group is geared toward fiction writers interested in improving their craft.

Columbia County Library; 10 a.m.; free; 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd., Evans; 706.447.8184 ECGRL.ORG

+SATURDAYS FESTIVAL AUGUSTA MARKET AT THE RIVER Local farmers, crafters, artists and other vendors.

Eighth Street Bulkhead; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; free; Corner of Eighth and Reynolds streets; 706.627.0128

JUNE 20-July 6 2012

HISTORY AIKEN HISTORIC TOUR Experience Aiken’s grace, charm and elegance during this two-hour guided tour aboard a climate-controlled trolley.

Reservations are highly recommended as tours are often sold out. Aiken Visitors Center & Train Museum; 10 a.m.; 406 Park Ave. SE, Aiken; 803.642.7631 OUTDOORS SATURDAY SUNSET CRUISES Three-hour excursion to the Savannah Rapids and headgates. Enterprise Mill; 5:30 p.m.; $21; 1450 Greene St.; 706.823.0440 AUGUSTACANAL.COM OUTDOORS BOYD POND PARK Boyd Pond Park; 7 p.m.; free; 373 Boyd Pond Road, Aiken; 803.642.7559 BOYDOBSERVATORY.ORG

EDUCATION DUPONT PLANETARIUM More than Meets the Eye explores the mysteries of outer space, revealed as naked-eye views of objects in the sky and compared with views through binoculars and telescopes. Ruth Patrick Science Education Center; 9 p.m.; $1 to $4; 471 University Parkway, Aiken; 803.641.3654 RPSEC.USCA.EDU

+ONGOING

ART

SPACES BETWEEN | AN ART EXHIBIT BY SALLY ANN AND STACI SWIDER Ends June 30. Gaardensity Gallery; 1155 Broad St. GOLDEN AFTERNOON: ENGLISH WATERCOLORS FROM THE ELSLEY COLLECTION Ends July 1.

Morris Museum of Art; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501

WINDOW ON THE WEST: VIEWS FROM THE AMERICAN Ends July 21. Morris Museum of Art; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501 THEMORRIS.ORG

ANN ERICKSON: TEXT MESSAGES Erickson presents examples of the varied application of calligraphy as an art form.

Ends July 27. Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art; 506 Telfair St.; 706.722.5495 GHIA.ORG

CERAMIC ARTIST KYUNGMIN PARK A native of South Korea, Park creates ceramic sculptures that seem to tilt on the edge of possibility as she incorporates the human form into seemingly impossible spatial creations.

Ends July 27. Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art; 506 Telfair St.; 706.722.5495 GHIA.ORG ANNUAL PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION Ends July 31. Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History; $2 to $5; 1116 Phillips St.; 706.724.3576

HISTORY HAMBURG: THE FORGOTTEN TOWN History of the former South Carolina town near modern day Fifth St. Bridge. Opens June 28 and ends August 24. Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta; $3 to$5; 100 Georgia Ave.; 803.441.4380 OFFICE: SCULPTURE

BY BOB TROTMAN As a contemporary artist, Bob Trotman is fascinated by what he describes as the “noir narrative of life at the office.” His wooden people, often surprisingly posed, evoke both humor and anxiety and, taken together, offer an absurdist vision of an imaginary corporate purgatory. Ends Sept. 30.

Morris Museum of Art; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501

the film reel

vibe

now playing on the big screen

D

isney princesses tend to be rebels, and the latest inductee into the Magic Kingdom is no exception. Disney and Pixar are putting their collaborative moxie to work again (Cars, Finding Nemo, Up, Toy Story) on June 22 for their first-ever trip to times past and their first female main character with BRAVE. Enjoy lush Scottish landscapes as only Pixar can bring them to life in 3D while getting to know an especially tomboyish teenage princess, Merida. An archery standout, Merida does not wish to conform to her predetermined fate which includes marriage to one of the bumbling bachelors from another clan. Clashing with her mother the queen, Merida runs off only to find danger in the form of typical Disney villain types, bears and witches. The predominantly Scottish voice cast includes Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Craig Ferguson and Emma Thompson.

Hollywood’s vampire obsession has been out of hand for some time, but revising history with a flick called ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER seems plain unpatriotic.

Lincoln made enough of a mark on history to grace American currency to this day, but in writer Seth GrahameSmith’s imagination, our 16th president swung an axe at blood-sucking vampires, too. Benjamin Walker embodies Lincoln in a breakout role with a decidedly Gothic feel, one of producer Tim Burton’s hallmarks.

Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) directs. The 3D film earned back a few patriotic brownie points as it became the first major movie to premiere in front of an audience of US servicemen and women stationed in the Middle East.

What’s more depressing: a film about the end of the world or a film with Steve Carell acting somber? Luckily, SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD aims to put an ironic spin on all things Armageddon, which can be funny, beautiful and really tragic all at once as two neighbors (Carell and Keira Knightley) buddy up to search for the man’s long lost love. The bland businessman finds an intriguing challenge in his free-spirited neighbor as they decide how to act while facing a hopeless reality. Lorene Scafaria (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist) wrote this screenplay and makes her directorial debut.

Familiar faces in the cast include funnymen Patton Oswalt and Rob Corddry, adding laughs to make light of the doomsday scenario.

June 29 openers start out fairly tame with the family drama PEOPLE LIKE US, which features Chris Pine (Unstoppable) as a man who must find the sister he never knew he had (Elizabeth Banks) to give her $150,000 from their deceased father. Michelle Pfeiffer and Olivia Wilde also star in this story from Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (Star Trek, Transformers). From there, things go downhill with Tyler Perry’s gun-toting grandma taking in Eugene Levy and family in MADEA’S WITNESS PROTECTION. Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane makes the big screen leap as writer, producer, director and voice actor with TED, a CGI-live-action comedy featuring Mark Wahlberg as a man who is followed around by his childhood teddy bear, a crude outspoken creature. Also opening is director Steven Soderbergh’s creative effort with actor Channing Tatum (21 Jump Street, Step Up) based on Tatum’s past working as a male stripper.

MAGIC MIKE also features Alex Pettyfer (I Am Number Four) and Matthew McConaughey, who was a shoe-in for the shirtless club owner role. by mariah gardner, movie guru

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lokal music

vibe

Stoney’s sound bites

NIGHT LIFE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20

MURDER DEATH KILL + DEAD ICONS + THIN ICE + PANIC MANOR + ONLY IN OCTOBER + XHONORX @ Sector 7G 5:30 p.m.; $5

JUNE 20-July 7 2012

Tuesdays

NUKLEAR BLAST SUNTAN + DETHRONE @ Soul Bar | 8 p.m.

HAWK TALK WITH COACH RAPLH @ Somewhere in Augusta | 6 p.m.

JASON WHITE @ Wild Wing Café 10 p.m.

$100 TAB BIG PRIZE TRIVIA @ Somewhere in Augusta | 8 p.m.

GOOD PEOPLE DUO @ Wild Wing Café 10 p.m.

Trivia Night @ The Playground Bar 10 p.m.

KATHLEEN TURNER OVERDRIVE @ Joe’s Underground | 10 p.m.

THURSDAY, JUNE 21

A

photo by Sofia Colton Photography

few weeks ago I made it out to Columbia County for my first show at the Lady Antebellum Amphitheater. My wife and I were fortunate enough to get hold of V.I.P. passes to the Rick Springfield concert (thanks Andy and Holly!) and, I have to say, it was one of the most pleasant concert experiences we’ve had in a long time!

To be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of outdoor shows, especially this time of year. It’s hot and sticky, it’s difficult to find a place to sit, and views of the stage are not always great. You get the idea. From the jump, the night was hassle-free and enjoyable. We found free parking near the gate, and the workers were just and efficient without being pushy. As a matter of fact, they were downright pleasant. No power-hungry, “look I’m better than you cuz I have a shirt on that says ‘security’ on the back,” meatheads, just a crew of very hard working respectable people. We were able to bring folding chairs and found a nice piece of concrete to plant them on, about 25 yards from the stage. We rocked as the sun slowly went down with a great view and some great sound! To make things even better, openers Impulse Ride, were awesome. Springfield tore down the place for a night of fun, nostalgic, music.

I for one can’t wait to attend another show at the Lady A! Other concerts already planned for the venue include Christian rockers, the Newsboys on June 28; the Tams, Swinging Medallions and Drifters on July 13; and Charlie Daniels with Travis Tritt on July 19.

For more info, check out COLUMBIACOUNTRYGA.GOV. Speaking of rockers tearing it up at outdoor shows, a few weeks ago North Augusta native turned Nashville artist Carey Murdock returned home and took the stage at this year’s A Day in the Country concert and showed the home crowd just what all the fuss has been about outside of Augusta. What fuss you say? Well, June was already smoking with Murdock first tapped to take part in a scheduled Country Music Assocation event in Nashville, leading up to a final few southeast dates before heading off for his first ever European tour! Then out of the blue, on June 10, Murdock’s latest release, “Baby Don’t Look Down,” was Bandcamp’s Staff ’s Pick of the Day! Murdock obviously possesses a ton of talent, but maybe just as importantly, the guy has the drive to go a long way for a long time.

Check out more at CAREYMURDOCK.COM. If looking for something a little more “indoors” and maybe even a bit more “lokal,” on June 22 there’s yet another chance to support the home team as punky Augusta rockers 57 Flip release a new CD with a show at the Loft that will also feature music from False Flag. The night promises to be a great opportunity to catch a great high energy rock show and take home even more Augusta music for your growing collection. To get a taste of 57 Flip visit FACEBOOK.COM/57FLIP. 1102 Downtown Bar and Grill and will feature live music from G-City Rockers, Dredneck and Cameras, Guns and Radios. There’s no cover charge, but donations will be accepted from anyone who wishes to add to Camley’s transplant fund.

Before I head back outdoors I’d like to recommend checking the daily planner in this issue of Verge for a guide to some great upcoming live shows.

JOHN “STONEY” CANNON is considered the guru of “lokal” music.

Check out his long-running Augusta music website: LOKALLOUDNESS.COM. Send any music news to lokalloudness@ yahoo.com.

COUNTY LINE @ Somewhere in Augusta 9 p.m.

LO FIDELITY @ Wild Wing Café 10 p.m.

TRIPP SEAY @ Joe’s Underground 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, JUNE 22

PIANO @ The Willcox | 8 p.m.

SIBLING STRING @ Joe’s Underground 10 p.m.

Wednesdays

THURSDAY, JUNE 28

2013 BIKINI CALENDAR CONTEST @ Coyote’s | 8 p.m.

GET LOUD! (FILM) + ARTEMIA + FALSE FLAG + STILLVIEW + THE ATOM BLONDE @ Sky City | 9 p.m.; $3 COUNTY LINE @ Somewhere in Augusta 9 p.m.

NEWSBOYS @ Lady Antebellum Amphitheater | 6 p.m.; $18 to $20

MANUEL’S MUSIC WEDNESDAYS @ Manuel’s Bread Café | 5:30 p.m.

BIKE NIGHT! @ The First Round | 8 p.m.

Krazy Karaoke @ The Playground Bar 10 p.m.

Thursdays

TANGO NIGHT @ Casa Blanca Café 6 p.m.

MATT ACOSTA @ Wild Wing Café 10 p.m.

SIRENS AND SAILORS + EVERYONE DIES IN UTAH + MYKA RELOKATE + MIRACLE YEAR + MY BROTHERS KEEPER + OFF WITH CROWNS + ONLY IN OCTOBER @ Sector 7G | 5 p.m.

KARAOKE @ Midtown Lounge | 10 p.m.

RUSKIN Yeargin @ Joe’s Underground 10 p.m.

Soup, Suds & Conversations @ The Fox’s Lair | 6 p.m.

FRIDAY, JUNE 29

4 CATS IN THE DOG HOUSE @ The Willcox | 6 p.m.

AMY TAYLOR @ Coyote’s | 8 p.m.

Sports Trivia with Mike Thomas @ Malibu Jack’s | 7 p.m.

JOE STEVENSON @ Somewhere in Augusta | 9 p.m.; $8

Open Mic Night @ The Playground 8 p.m.

TONY WILLIAMS BAND @ Wild Wing Café | 10 p.m.

TX CLERGY @ Joe’s Underground 10 p.m.

BLAIR CRIMMINS AND THE HOOKERS @ Stillwater Taproom | 10 p.m.; $5 PRINCE & THE TIME TRIBUTE + THE KLASS BAND @ Sky City | 10:30 p.m.; $5

90’S NIGHT “CHECK YOUR HEAD” @ Soul Bar | 8 p.m.

CONNOR PLEDGER @ Somewhere in Augusta | 9 p.m.

THE RAMBLIN’ FEVERS + THE SHOAL CREEK STRANGLERS + THE LILIES AND SPARROWS @ Sky City | 10 p.m.; $5

SATURDAY, JUNE 23

MICHAEL PATTERSON BAND @ Wild Wing Café | 10 p.m.

DR. BREAD @ Soul Bar | 8 p.m.

THE HOLLERERS @ Joe’s Underground 10 p.m.

AMY TAYLOR @ Coyotes | 8 p.m.

Boom Box @ Soul Bar | 8 p.m.

80’s night with DJ Rana @ The Playground | 9 p.m.

Ladies Night & Karaoke @ Coyotes | 9 p.m.

Jazztini Thursday @ Hotel Aiken 9:30 p.m.

Fridays

Free Dance Lessons @ Country Club 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 30

FRIED GOAT @ Somewhere in Augusta 9 p.m.

UFC 147: BELFORT VS SILVA @ Somewhere in Augusta | 9 p.m.

LIVINGROOM LEGENDS + CAMOUFLAGE SPACESHIP + THE HOLLERERS @ Sky City | 9:30 p.m.; $5 CHICK FLIX @ Wild Wing Café | 10 p.m.

SOULTOPIA + FAYTH HOPE @ Sky City 10 p.m.; $5

Open Mic Night @ The Playground Bar 8 p.m.

BIG B & THE STINGERS @ Wild Wing Café | 10 p.m.

All-Out Acoustic Friday @ Hotel Aiken | 9:30 p.m.

HAPPY BONES @ Joe’s Underground 10 p.m.

Live Jazz Friday @ The Partridge Inn 10 p.m.

TUESDAY, JULY 3

LIVE MUSIC EVERY FRIDAY @ The First Round | 10 p.m.

DAVE FIRMIN @ Joe’s Underground 10 p.m.

HAPPY BONES @ Joe’s Underground 10 p.m.

SUNDAY, JUNE 24

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4

JOHN KOLBECK @ Wild Wing Café 10 p.m.

TUESDAY, JUNE 26

SABO & DAVE @ Wild Wing Café 10 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27

KATHLEEN TURNEROVERDRIVE @ Joe’s Underground | 10 p.m.

THURSDAY, JULY 5

VILLANOVA JUNCTION BAND @ Joe’s Underground | 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, JULY 7

SWYRV @ Joe’s Underground | 10 p.m.

THOSE DARLINS + BABY, BABY @ Sky City | 10:30 p.m.; $8

COMEDY ZONE: ALEXANDER + HARLOW @ Somewhere in Augusta 6 7:30 p.m., $8, 18+

NIGHTLIFE WEEKLY Mondays

MIKE FROST JAZZ @ The Willcox 8 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC EVERY FRIDAY @ 1102 Bar and Grill | 10 p.m.

Saturdays

Free Dance Lessons @ Country Club 7 p.m.

Freshsounds Dance Party @ The Playground | 8 p.m.

Now Dance, Baby! Saturday @ Hotel Aiken | 9:30 p.m., with DJ Kenny Ray, Greatwhitefunk & Smurf LIVE DJ EVERY SATURDAY @ 1102 Bar and Grill | 10 p.m.

Sundays

LIVE DJ EVERY SUNDAY @ 1102 Bar and Grill | 10 p.m.

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beers locals like i’ll drink to that / PG 31

taste

new restaurant in north augusta / PG 33

buzz

openings and closings / PG 33

feeding my family for under $50

/ pg 33

Honest, local restaurant review

JUNE 20 _ VERGELIVE.com / 29

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beers locals like

vittles

feed the family

vittles

Feeding a Family of Five for Under $50

Mexican Dining on a Dime

F

3 summer time brews W

ell, June in Georgia hasn’t exactly been the hottest on record. In fact, we’ve had one of the coolest late springs I can remember. I wouldn’t, however, say it’s time to break out the oatmeal stouts just yet. In fact, I think I feel a heat wave coming on for July. I’d love to say it’s going to be 85 and humid for the summer, but - let’s face it - we’ll all be drowning in our own sweat come Shark Week. So, I’ve chosen three relatively light brews for your moderate imbibing this late spring/early summer. Veteran readers of this column already know that if I write about three light beers in the same month, they’re probably all exceptional. In addition, those not from Georgia should know that 85 and humid isn’t actually that hot.

New Belgium Shift Pale Lager - This Colorado brew comes in a tall boy can. That’s right - a tall boy can. It pours a golden amber with a modest head and has a nose that conveys hops with a certain floral note that dampens (albeit mildly) the bitterness that a hoppy note exudes. The taste is a bit of malts, bitter hops, and toast - a combination that both dampens its aspects and intensifies their savor at the same time. So, when “sippin’ on a tall boy”, I hope it’s the “sunshine lightnin’” that is New Belgium Shift.

Victory Saison Du Buff - This Pennsylvania brew pours a light golden orange with an impressive head and lace to match. The nose hints at herbs and citrus with a very slight dash of malts, and - with spices, malts, and a mild bitterness without a real hoppiness (if that’s even possible) - the taste is both complicated and harmonious at the same time. There is an earthiness to the finish that competes with the malty hint, making this beer a perfect pairing with any fried fish from catfish to cod.

Batemans Combined Harvest - This authentic English pale ale pours yellowish amber with perhaps a finger of foamy head that dissipates rather quickly. The nose, although quite mild, is surprisingly malty. With a word like “harvest” in the name, one would think that hops should dominate the taste. However, the hops are quite unassuming, giving malts and fruits a chance to come forth in this compelling and delightful beer. Try it with a toasted ham and brie sandwich on sourdough.

These and more can be found at Aficionados on Eighth Street Downtown.

BEN CASELLA enjoys “Tall Boy” by Widespread Panic, and so should you. To the best of his knowledge, he last heard the song live in April of 2000 in Athens, GA. In fact, the one time he skipped class, it was to camp out for tickets to the show (don’t tell his parents).

eeding a family of five on a budget is challenging but not impossible. Each issue of Verge will highlight a local restaurant outlining the specifics of stretching dimes while not compromising taste or service. The first restaurant tested was Teresa’s Mexican Restaurant in North Augusta. Entering Teresa’s, we were greeted with smiles and seated right away. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. We were seated at the corner booth, which was large enough to comfortably seat eight to nine adults. Bottomless baskets of warm chips and deliciously mild salsa were served promptly. Gazing the menu, we found several dishes sounding delicious and inviting. On a mission to sample as much as possible, we each ordered something different. An appetizer of warm cheese dip, a must have according to our three children, got things started.

We even ordered a large so there would be enough to go around. At $6 it was a great value. Our entrees were chicken fajita nachos, beef fajita nachos, grilled shrimp tacos with rice and beans, changa steak (beef, onions and mushrooms wrapped in a flour tortilla, deep fried and topped with nacho cheese sauce), and a combination including one enchilada, one taco, rice and beans.

I was not as impressed with my husband’s changa steak as he was.

The veggies were great, but the steak took me a while (you know what I mean). My oldest son, Zack, thought his shrimp tacos were the hands down favorite.

They were simple and delicious. The downfall for him was that the rest of us couldn’t keep our forks away from his shrimp. Sam’s my kid who will eat anything. About his beef fajita nachos he said, “Mom, this meat is so hard to chew I had to cut it with my teeth.” This bothered me far more than it bothered him. He gobbled it up without a second thought. My favorite entrée, by far, was mine, the chicken fajita nachos. They had the ingredients of fajitas: chicken, beef, bell peppers, onions, yellow squash and mushrooms, and were covered with spicy nacho cheese. I ordered half-size and still ended up taking home leftovers.

A great practice, when dining out on a budget, is choosing beverages carefully. It’s our normal practice for everyone in the family drink water. This is not only less expensive, it’s also healthier.

On occasion we give the kids the option of ordering a soft drink, but they know if they make that choice then they forgo an appetizer. This took a little getting used to, but it’s taught them about making healthy choices and being frugal.

Our overall dining experience at Teresa’s was great. The servers were attentive, the kitchen was fast and accurate, the food was fresh and tasty, the atmosphere was family friendly, and the prices were perfect for a family of five on a budget. My only real complaint about the establishment overall is that the “facilities” need a little TLC. I don’t choose restaurants for clean restrooms, but they sure help!

FOOD QUALITY ***** Next month I plan to highlight a local barbeque SERVICE ***** restaurant for Fourth of July. I look forward to good food, good times, and good prices!

ENVIRONMENT

by sally panini

*****

(lost a point for bathrooms)

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new restaurant profile

vittles

fresh food bites

vittles

Thai DOWN YOUR TURKEY

L

ast month, I kind of “manned-up” and threw caution to the wind with a full-on beef burger for the guys. When I thought about it, I realized that maybe I should have saved it for June with this issue popping out on Father’s Day. Perhaps had I waited, some of the Dads out there would be chowing down on red meat sandwiches chargrilled to manly perfection.

Had I missed a chance at perfect timing? No sooner had I started to second guess my beefy judgment, the answer came via a comment in a downtown coffeehouse.

“We don’t even keep ground beef of any kind in our house.” said Joel, a big burly Augusta native who it appears rarely wears anything lacking a Georgia Bulldogs logo, “hadn’t kept it around in years!”

Seems that a while back Joel reluctantly gave in to his wife’s request to replace red meat with turkey and chicken, and while he admitted that at first it was tough to stomach the grounded versions, especially in a burger or meatloaf, over the years he has gotten “used to it.” I was the reluctant one when he next asked if I could help him and his wife “spice things up.”

“Your love life?!?!?!” I asked. “Naw, man,” he replied, “with our turkey burgers.”

So Joel, wherever you may be, this one’s for you … a burger all turkeyed up with some kick.

“TASTE” Opens in Hammond’s Ferry

T

ASTE: Savory Casual Cuisine opened in Hammond’s Ferry two months ago and has already begun drawing a dinnertime crowd to enjoy locally produced meals. Executive chef David McClusky is a member of the Chef ’s Collaborative and the James Beard Association, and has 30 years of experience in the industry. McClusky enjoys the freedom he has at TASTE to prepare creative meals for customers and thinks many are drawn to the restaurant’s full bar, which he believes is one of only two full bars in North Augusta.

“We started out doing mainly tapas, but we’ve changed that and are morphing into more of a typical restaurant,” he said.

“We’re going to be open for lunch probably in the next month or so, and we plan on condensing the tapas menu to do more entrees.” Some of the most popular items on the menu include wild caught crisp Carolina caramelized shrimp, Caw Caw Creek pork, and pan-seared Virginia coast jumbo scallops.

McClusky also prepares hand-crafted pizzas using organic

the buzz on vittles

T

he legend of the “Golden Arches” lives on in the CSRA. Everything “Mickey D’s” touches usually turns to gold for franchisees and problems for competitors.

I did a double-take when I got an email from Stephanie Rickard recently. She wanted to know why the McDonald’s on Knox Avenue had shut its doors with presumably no notice or no note. Well, it turns out Stephanie that it’s all about progress. The store is remodeling. Heck, that whole area looks like “stucco heaven”, so maybe it was time to “keep up with the Joneses”! Nearby, another McDonald’s is open for business after a fast-paced land clearing and building. McNuggets, fries and sweet tea

pepperoni and the best ingredients he can find.

“The restaurant is a member of Slow Food Colombia, which promotes traditional foods and food products for a locally-grown, farm-to-table experience,” he said. “Our pork is all from heirloom breeds, which are breeds that have been neglected because they are hard to transport long distances, but are great when you have them near your home. We also believe in promoting heirloom tomatoes. Slow Food is about saving a lot of things, be it grinding grits from locally produced corn, serving homegrown tomatoes, or just educating people about the importance of knowing where their food comes from.” TASTE gets most milk products from Hickory Hills Farms in Edgefield, South Carolina, and uses Bourbon Barrel Bluegrass Soy Sauce, which is the only micro-brewed soy sauce in the United States, made in Louisville, Kentucky.

TASTE, at 465 Railroad Ave., is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. until closing, which is typically around 10:30 or 11 p.m. For more information, call 803.341.9881. article and photo by christopher selmek

vittles are now available on Edgefield Road and Laurel Lake Road in North Augusta (near Exit 5 off of I-20).

It’s several months from opening, but McDonald’s contractors have also begun clearing the land at the corner of Augusta West Parkway and Wheeler Road - a perfect landing spot for the gulp - as medical staff at Doctor’s Hospital and adjacent physician offices are sure to flood the tables. A bit of “bad food” that tastes so good is okay once in awhile, right?

Lastly, the buzz is McDonald’s of Evans sealed the fate of Bojangles across the street, at Washington Road and Windmill Parkway. One day in May, Bojangles took down all of its signage and moved equipment to a few of its other franchised stores.

by NEIL GORDON

THAI TURKEY BURGERS Ingredients 2 cloves minced garlic 1 Tbsp. grated ginger ¼ cup chopped cilantro ¼ cup chopped mint ¼ cup basil Juice of one lime 1 Tbsp. soy sauce 1 tsp. sesame oil 1 tsp. granulated sugar 1 ¼ pounds ground turkey 1/3 cup bread crumbs 4 hamburger buns (whole-wheat) Instructions • Combine garlic, ginger, cilantro, mint, basil, lime juice, soy sauce, sesame oil and sugar in a bowl and mix well.

• Add turkey and bread crumbs and mix well; shape into four burgers.

• Heat grill and spray with cooking spray. Grill burgers until no longer pink in the middle (about 6-7 minutes per side). When done place on buns and serve.

Compared with last month’s burger, the Thai Turkey Burger only pulls in around 300 calories. While not offering quite the protein content of the beef, it’s pretty darn close. The cool part about this burger is: It is chock-full of so many different spices there is really no need to add condiments or cheese ... but you can if you really have to.

by JOHN “STONEY” CANNON

John believes that anyone can learn to eat healthier—in small steps— talking one bite at a time.

JUNE 20 _ VERGELIVE.com / 33

34 / VERGELIVE.com _ JUNE 20

medical round-up

here’s to your health / PG 36

ab’s sports

character lessons from csra star / PG 37

NORA’s last word life face fIRst / PG 39

13 days of lessons that last forever

see the article on page 37

photo by lana coon

JUNE 20 _ VERGELIVE.com / 35

here’s to your health

Doctors Hospital Sleep Center Named Top Sleep Center for 2012

A

dvance Magazine named Doctors Hospital Top Sleep Center after a lengthy process. Each year, the magazine chooses one sleep center in the United States for the Best in Sleep honor. The judging process evaluated various lab criteria including: development of innovative programs, supportive team members, awards and recognitions, implementation of “gold standards” of care and new technology, and the willingness to go above and beyond to reach out to the community.

“This is an honor that is beyond imaginable for our department,” said Jerri Jones, the manager of the Sleep Center. “We have always met the criteria, but to be recognized nationally is a huge achievement.”

The Sleep Center at Doctors Hospital was established 18 years ago and performs more than 1,200 sleep studies every year.

“It’s not often a sleep center in a smaller town, such as Augusta, is named the best in the nation. I am so proud of our sleep team and everyone who helps out to make it such a successful facility for our patients,” said John Doriot, the director of the Sleep Center at Doctors Hospital.

PHC Opens in Thomson The area’s most established medically directed weight loss company, PHC Weight Loss and Wellness Centers, opened a new location in Thomson on June 5. The newest addition to the PHC family is located at 510 Mount Pleasant Road, inside the office of Dr. John Bieltz.

“The addition of the Thomson office gives us better coverage

36 / VERGELIVE.com _ JUNE 20

for the CSRA and a chance to help a lot more people,” said PHC owner Donna Plants.

PHC programs provide one-on-one counseling in a private and caring environment. The company also offers a complete line of weight loss and health products.

“The newest innovation at PHC is the Lipo Lean Injection.

The proprietary formula, available only at PHC, increases fat burning, boosts metabolism and weight loss, and enhances energy and well being. Our clients just feel wonderful with this formula,” said Plants.

During the grand opening, PHC provided complimentary weight loss analysis for attendees. Anyone who enrolled during this visit received 40 percent off regular program fees.

“My favorite thing is watching the children and teens lose weight, gain confidence and change the course of their lives after participating in the weight loss program,” said Plants.

Future Scientists Explore Sickle Cell Research at GHSU Camp Georgia Health Sciences University will host two science and leadership camps this summer for teens ages 14 to 18 with Sickle Cell Disease. Participants in the GHSU Future Scientists Camps will receive hands-on laboratory experience in sickle cell research, develop self advocacy and leadership skills, and learn about health sciences career opportunities.

The free overnight camps will run June 11-15 and July 9-13 and include meals and accommodations on the GHSU campus.

A limited number of spaces are available for the June session.

The program is endorsed by the GHSU Sickle Cell Center and funded by the National Institute of Health and the National Institute of Minority Health.

For more information, contact Leah Taylor at hyperlink “mailto:letaylor@georgiahealth.edu” letaylor@georgiahealth. edu or Robert Gibson at HYPERLINK “mailto:rgibson@ georgiahealth.edu” rgibson@georgiahealth.edu or call 706721-3641.

ARMC Presents Funds for Women in Aiken County On May 15, Aiken Regional Medical Center, on behalf of Women Enlightened, presented a $3,000 check to the Best Chance Network, an affiliate of the American Cancer Society.

The funds were raised by hosting the First Annual WE Oyster

values

Roast on Saturday, April 28 at the beautiful Rose Hill Estate, downtown Aiken.

Brittini Everhardt, a communications specialist at ARMC, said, “We had nearly 150 in attendance, and everyone asked if we would host such an event again. For the first year, we couldn’t have asked for a better turnout.”

The proceeds were designated for the Best Chance Network upon discovering that South Carolina ranks ninth in the nation for estimated deaths from cervical caner and 25th from breast cancer. In Aiken County alone, there were 122 new cases of breast cancer in 2011, and with early detection there is a 98 percent survival rate.

“The Best Chance Network has been able to provide breast and cervical screenings to 3,004 women in Aiken County. Of those 60 were positive for breast cancer and 20 for cervical cancer,” said Dianna Lydiard, PhD, Best Chance Network Program Director.

“Aiken Regional Medical Centers is pleased to be able to help and organization that provides access to preventative screenings for women that they would otherwise be unable to access,” said ARMC CEO Carlos Milanes. “Being a healthcare provider, it’s our mission to support and provide all of the community resources that we can.”

Dr. Herbert Fechter Receives Top Honors Dr. Herbert Fechter received top honors at the recent American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons scientific film festival for his video demonstrating the latest glaucoma surgery techniques.

His video titled, Goldilocks and the Three “Baers,” won first place in the glaucoma category during the April 2012 meeting in Chicago. The international competition included 189 video submissions from 31 countries. Fechter performs glaucoma, cataract and refractive surgery with the Eye Guys in Augusta. compiled from area news releases by JENNIFER PRUETT

ab’s sports lessons

william avery’s persistence

A

ny basketball player would be extremely happy to have accomplished what William Avery has on the hardwood. He led his high school team to a state title, he earned a Division I Scholarship to one of the premier basketball schools in the land, he was a first round NBA selection, and he has been paid handsomely to play the sport he loves. Yes, just about anyone would look back on a career like Avery’s and be perfectly content. Well, anyone except William Avery.

Content and satisfied are not words in Avery’s vocabulary, and perhaps this is why he’s not quite finished with pro ball. The talented shooting guard who led Westside to the 1995 state title, took Duke to the 1999 National Championship Game, and was chosen 14th in the 1999 NBA Draft, told me recently that he’s going back overseas to play professionally.

“I have not even told anybody, but I have been working out, and I am going back overseas,” said Avery. Just few months ago it seemed his playing days were over. Avery was playing in Greece, hiding tendon trouble in both knees. He simply couldn’t move like the old William Avery. A stress test on his knees revealed the damage, and just like that, he was done. In support of their star player, the team in Greece bought out his contract. Avery came home to his wife Chasity, his high school sweetheart, who had been back in Augusta for a few years. The two married while Avery was with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and she followed him around the globe. Avery played in Spain, France, Greece, Israel and Germany. Only when he played in Turkey did he and Chasity decide she should remain in the states.

Despite his knees appearing to put an end to his career, Avery did not sit around and sulk over his misfortune. Instead, he started teaching others about the game he loved. He began by coaching an AAU Team, The Will Avery Stars.

He also established the Will Avery Basketball Academy to help young players improve their games and be better citizens.

“I want to teach them that they can use basketball to achieve so many things. I want to take the kids out in the community, to do volunteer work; I want to do more than just basketball,” stated Avery.

Avery is targeting Japan and Australia for his come back, because their seasons only last six months and are over in April. This gives him plenty of time in Augusta to run the Academy during the busy spring and summer months.

Every step of the way people have doubted Avery. He was told high school teams from Augusta could not win state titles, that he could not get accepted at Duke, and that he was crazy for playing overseas. Well, Westside won a state title, he DID get in to Duke, and his guaranteed six-figure contracts overseas have allowed him to provide for his family for the past decade.

There’s no doubting the efforts of William Avery. He’s proved the doubters wrong too many times not to believe he will come back.

ashley brown known to listeners as AB, is the sports director for

your faith

values

values

Fia’s Short Life on Earth was Heavenly

I

t’s been a little more than three years since I held our lifeless daughter, Evelyne Sofia Gordon, “Fia,” and carried her to a hearse waiting in the driveway. Fia was born with Trisomy 13, a genetic abnormality involving the presence of a third 13th chromosome in all of the body’s cells.

This diagnosis, during pregnancy, is usually a death sentence prior to birth. However, as in Fia’s case, some pregnancies do make it through gestation and to birth. Babies born with Trisomy 13 usually have short lives, battling abnormalities including: mental retardation, blindness, heart and kidney defects, cleft palates, and extra digits. Throughout our pregnancy we were educated on these conditions and as prepared for them as we possibly could have been.

It was God’s profound lessons that I wasn’t prepared for during pregnancy, birth and sudden death of Fia. We received the horrific news of her condition on December 23, 2008, on a day my wife and I should have spent celebrating our second wedding anniversary. A thickly-accented, direct New York Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist delivered the blow that would change our lives forever.

“I’ve reviewed your amniocentesis, and your baby is not compatible with life. I recommend you terminate the pregnancy,” stated the doctor. Considering his recommendation, we researched local hospitals and clinics. This process proved very frustrating, as the hospital where our doctor had privileges refused to allow such procedures.

We prayed through this entire process; however, in this moment, I remember praying with my wife, Melissa, “God, whatever you have for us we will accept and walk through.” After much prayer and support we opted to give life to Fia. God rewarded us with 13 days of love and a lifetime of lessons.

“All we had to do for 13 days was to love her,” remembers Melissa. Our family, church family and friends provided for all of our other needs—laundry, meals, housekeeping—and collected money for funeral and burial expenses. We also had nurses with us around the clock. Three of Melissa’s former co-workers from Trinity Hospital took turns care giving. They were all with us as Fia took her last breath. They were angels sent from heaven.

Throughout our journey we provided updates through Fia’s Caring Bridge site, caringbridge. org/visit/evelynesofia. To date, Fia’s site has had almost 20,000 visits. We’ve received notes of encouragement from friends and family as well as stories of how strangers have been inspired by our story. Belinda, an Augusta woman searching for God and a church home, saw our posts about Fia and was led to baptism at Stevens Creek Church on November 18, 2009. “God used Fia’s life to touch other lives,” said Pastor Dave Willis, as Belinda was submerged in the waters of baptism to begin her new life with God. A powerful crusade was started. Melissa’s daughter was baptized and their relationship healed. Our marriage became stronger and our bond closer. People around the community were inspired. One local business woman, Robyn of Trendz Salon, was so touched by Fia’s story that she began a quarterly “cut-a-thon” campaign to raise money for children with serious health conditions. To date, more than $20,000 has been raised.

“Every time Fia touches someone, it’s like kisses from God,” Melissa told a Stevens Creek Church video crew. Our four-minute video was posted on You Tube: My Story: Neil and Melissa Gordon. The purpose of the video was to show the power and peace of God, even through the toughest circumstances.

We are reminded every day that following God always leads to life. Only through God’s grace, just hours after Fia’s passing, Melissa had the privilege of participating in the delivery of her first grandchild, a perfectly healthy, blue-eyed boy named Brinson Tanner. Brinson was born at Trinity Hospital surrounded by the same nurses who helped us care for Fia in our home.

“Fia fulfilled her purpose here and, and she was healed.

Knowing what I know now I’d do it all again,” says my bride.

And I say, “Me too!”

Beasley Broadcasting in Augusta. He is also the producer of the Austin Rhodes SHow and the host of CSRA Sports Hours. AB’s quick wit and encyclopedic sports knowledge have made him the leader in sports broadcasting in the CSRA. Reach him at ab@wrdwam.com

neil gordon is the president of Buzz on Biz LLC and the proud father of Drake (age 18) and stepdad to Elle (age 11), Cody (age 19), Meagan (age 24) and Evan (age 26). His and Melissa’s daughter would have been three years. Reach Neil via email, neil.gordon@buzzon.biz

JUNE 20 _ VERGELIVE.com / 37

the love letters of fran and jack

injun joe loses his hat

B

ut it’s my hat!” Jack said.

“Injuns can’t wear hats,” Fran said.

His face was cross. He had stripped down to his white underwear and tied Hattie’s apron around his waist--a savage in a floral loincloth. The only remaining vestige of civilization was the widebrimmed white hat that sat low against his ears. She was a fat cowboy, her dress in lumpy bunches under the cotton trousers he had worn out into the field. She wrestled into his shirt and her puffy sleeves filled the shoulders like bulging muscles.

“C’mon,” he said. “Ain’t you never buttoned a shirt before?”

“Girls don’t wear button shirts,” she said.

He waited, staring at his bare feet, stained red with Georgia clay. Inspired, he squatted down and began rubbing handfuls of dust on his legs and arms.

“Done,” she said. The collar was lopsided and an extra button stuck out on the shirttail. “Gimme the star.”

He pinned the star to the shirt pocket, smudging the shiny metal with a ruddy thumbprint. Then the hat was off his head and in her hands. He reached for it, but she ducked away.

“You’ll mess it up!” she warned.

He looked down at his red hands and, for a brief moment, felt like crying. The hat was a birthday present, and in his possession for less than a week. For five days, he’d only taken it off to sleep, and when Hattie had threatened to withhold his dinner if he didn’t take it off at the table. And now the girl was wearing it, set back on her head with the front curve pointed to the sky. She was wearing it all wrong. Any boy would know the brim was there to keep the desert sun out of a cowboy’s eyes.

“Now,” she said, “I’m Sherriff and you’re Injun Joe. And I’m here to arrest you for horse thiefing.”

“Well,” he said, “We’re in Injun Territory and I’m an Apache and you can’t catch me ‘cause I know how to hide in the woods.”

“Fine,” she said. “I’ll count to twenty.”

Before she started counting, he took off across the fallow field, toward the windbreak stand of pines to the west. The flowered apron whipped behind him like a squirrel’s tail and his skinny legs carried him nearly to the edge of the field before he heard her scream after him.

“Injun Joe! I’m comin’ to arrest you for thiefing horses and

values

scalping women and...”

He didn’t hear the rest. He had reached the scrub grass between the field and the trees and instantly regretted leaving his shoes behind. The sticker burs bit into his feet and he danced through the brush, whooping and hollering like a godless native. The pine needles under the trees were no less prickly, but many falls had softened the brown and orange layers and, except for the occasional hidden pinecone, he found the footing more tolerable.

Hiding behind a tree, his naked back to the scaly trunk, he chanced a peek behind him. She was crouched in the grass just outside the trees and the white hat shone bright in the sun. She had a long, formidable stick in her hands, aiming it into the woods.

“Injun Joe!” she called, “I can see you!”

He knew she wasn’t lying.

“I’ll chop you up with my tomahawk,” he threatened, picking up a broken branch. Then, in a wild frenzy, he ran out of the cover of the trees. His bleeding feet pounded the ground beneath him and he let out his most ferocious war cry.

He charged and the sheriff cried out one loud “bang!”

Injun Joe fell, in the shadow of the trees, on the soft blanket of fallen pine needles, thankful that the merciful lawman had ended him before he reached the prickly grass.

the love letters of fran and jack by Doug Holley and Jennifer Craig is an ongoing, serialized story cycle. Look for further adventures of Fran and Jack in the second issue of Verge each month.

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Our proprietary system automatically sprays a fine mist of botanical insecticide, taking care of a variety of nuisance insects like mosquitoes, gnats and flies. The system virtually disappears into your landscape.

life face first

don’t feed the gators T

his is a true story fictionalized to protect the guilty… and to make it much funnier. .

“Only the stupid feed wild animals,” the bent old man cackled. He stood next to me on a low-lying boardwalk surrounded by weedy ponds.

A stranger stood on a bridge ahead of us. He tossed pork rinds to the alligators that swarmed in the water.

A family joined him and watched the alligators feeding.

“Wow,” screamed their young son as he stood bravely on tiptoes and peered over the railing of the bridge.

“Don’t let ‘em get yeh!” The old man shuffled toward the boy.

“He can’t get me!

NORA GETS LAST WORD AND MAKES US LAUGH

I’m on land.”

“Alligators walk on land,” the old man retorted.

“Yeah, but I’m fast!” The boy demonstrated by running in a circle.

The old man watched. “Not fast enough, boy.” He chuckled to himself. He leaned in and motioned for the boy to move closer. “A gator can run thirty miles an hour. Know what else runs that fast?” The boy stared at him wide eyed and shook his head no. “A race horse,” the old man wheezed.

“Come on, Tommy, that’s enough,” the boy’s mother called.

“Not only are gators fast, they’re sneaky,” the old man continued.

The boy was transfixed. He didn’t budge when his father placed a hand on his shoulder.

“They lie in the weeds by the

values water’s edge,” the man continued. “You can’t see ‘em.

They blend right in. Then, when some unsuspecting young boy gets near, they leap and grab him for their dinner!”

They all turned and stared down the path to the exit.

Tall weeds crowded the way. Following everyone’s eyes the man continued, “Oh, yeah, small boys are easy pickin’s for gators down there.”

Without warning he wheeled on the man with the pork rinds. “You!” He smacked the man on the head with his cane. “Don’t you know it’s stupid to feed wild animals?”

“I just wanted to see them,” the man protested. He rubbed the top of his head.

“Then learn to spot them. Don’t bait them. A gator who thinks people have food soon thinks people are food. You’re going to get this young man killed!” He jabbed the boy in the chest with a bony finger.

The tension was thick. A sudden flash of lighting caused a start. The old man laughed.

“Still gotta get down the path,” he said in a sing-song voice. “Gotta get past them gators.” nora blithe

is the author of Door In Face, a humor blog about all things that lay you flat. Read more at DOORINFACE.COM.

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IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC.

L D WI N I W G

THE LINEU P SUNDAY 6.24 John Kolbeck

MONDAY Tacos & Ritas Night (4pm start)

Plus Team Trivia!

TUESDAYS 6.26 Sabo & Dave

WEDNESDAY 6.20 Good People Duo 6.27 • Jason White

THURSDAY 6.21 Lo Fidelity 6.28 Matt Acosta

FRIDAY 6.29 Michael Patterson Band

SATURDAY 6.30 Big B & the Stingers

MICHA

EL PAT TERS FR ID AY T H E 29TH

ON BAN D

Washington Road just past I-20 • 706-364-WILD (9453) • w w w. w i l d w i n g c a f e . c o m

40 / VERGELIVE.com _ JUNE 20