SEE PAGE 16
verge AUGUSTA & THE CSRA
FREE |MARCH 16 2011 |VOL 4 ISSUE 2 | YOUR SOURCE FOR COMMUNIT Y DRIVEN NEWS
PEOPLE Meet our Cover Artist Mikaela Fuchs + WORDS USCA Writers Series + NEWS The Crusade to Shut Down A Crack House + MUSIC Jim Perkins + Zach Myers
vergelive.com | community driven news | March 16, 2011 3
vergestaff
Focus on the Savannah River
publisher Matt Plocha editor Lara Plocha contributors Chris Selmek, Alison Richter, John Cannon, Dino Lull, Ben Casella, Kris Cook, Skyler Andrews, Charlotte Okie, Gabi Hutchison, Elizabeth Benson, Jennifer Maslyn, Holly Birdsong, Katie McGuire, Mariah Gardner, Susan Hutchison
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WHAT’S INSIDE
SMATTERINGS
yeah, we made this
“You can never step into the same river; for new waters are always flowing on to you.” — Heraclitus
Heraclitus spoke truly – new waters do keep flowing our way. For the first time in verge’s young publishing life, I am turning over my smatterings column to a guest. Recently, our very own Savannah Riverkeeper, Tonya Bonitatibus, spent several days on a raft in the middle of the Savannah River, a vital component of our community. Her story impacts all of us living in the CSRA directly. Below is her story of that time, its purpose and outcome. A raft, 25 mph winds, and 5 ospreys At the beginning of March, I took up residence on a 20’x20’ raft in the middle of the Savannah River. No, it was not insanity that sent me to the raft but a growing crisis that has been emerging on the Savannah River for the past few months. The big problem: South Carolina and Georgia have begun to bicker over river management and the last thing we need on this side of the state is a water war like Georgia currently has with Alabama and Florida. I came up with a plan – I would live on the dead center of the river until 500 people joined the Savannah Riverkeeper in asking the two states to cooperate. We had two big goals for the “Savannah River 500, Rescue the Riverkeeper” concept: (1) raise overall awareness of the river and the Savannah Riverkeeper and (2) raise specific awareness of the growing concern over river management in our area. The campaign ended on March 12, 11 days after I initially took up residence on the raft. I never left the river – except for a one-hour break due to a heavy storm. To say it was an experience would be an understatement. I have done my fair share of camping through the river basin, but I do not think I fully realized the power of the wind until now. People have asked: what was your scariest moment; what was your best moment; how did the experience change you? The scariest moment was when the wind was whipping at 35+ mph, collapsing my tent and threatening to blow everything off the raft. My favorite moment was when the fishermen I had daily while on the raft informed me on the tenth day that they had joined Savannah Riverkeeper. The whole experience caused me to fall even more in love with the river and the folks that use it on a regular basis. Hands down though, the hardest thing to deal with came after I got off the raft. After being surrounded by relative quiet for so many days, the noise of normal life was almost overwhelming. I am amazed at just how loud our lives are. The crucial question is “was the campaign successful?” I will turn the question back to you – did it make you think about the river? Did you learn something about it you did not know before? If your answer is yes, then that means success to me. We reached the magic 500 number – the benchmark we personally set – but real success will come from the raised awareness about the river issues and the action that results from it. The Savannah River is an amazing place. It supplies us with our drinking water, absorbs our waste water, provides us the economic engine with which our economy runs and provides endless opportunities for recreational enjoyment. Here is my challenge to you. Rent a kayak, take a boat or just go for a walk along the river. Enjoy the amazing beauty the river provides. Check out the birds, look at the blooming flowers and try to spot an otter (if you see trash, please pick it up). Stop and think about what our river provides us and what our lives would be like if we did not have it. We – you and me – own that river. She is ours to take care of and she certainly provides us with more than we give back. Finally, if you feel the urge, become one of us – join the Riverkeeper. Remember the Savannah River is your river – protect it! —Tonya Bonitatibus, The Savannah Riverkeeper With the dedication of the Savannah Riverkeeper and with the support of our community, I hope to never step in the same Savannah River twice. For more information on how to become active with Tonya and her vision for a safe watershed, visit: savannahriverkeeper.org. See you out and about. Matt
ON THE COVER TREEHOUSE by Mikaela Fuchs
See page 16 for the full story about Mikaela - “The Hungry Fox.”
4 March 16, 2011 | community driven news| vergelive.com
you won’t want to miss a page
the main feature
7 Viewpoint: Support No-Kill Shelters 09 Chemistry Never Looked So Good 13 Program Recognizes SC Writers Join the CSRA Humane Society for Paws in the Park
Renovated living periodic table shows impact on daily life
Authors Sue Monk Kidd and Percival Everett come to USCA
14 Adam Hoover’s Crusade 16 Mikaela Fuchs Does It All
One man’s fight to remove drug dealers from his neighborhood
Our cover artist, “The Hungry Fox,” bakes, makes and creates
21 Jim Perkins Finds His Voice 25 What Do YOU Want to Do?
Catch his CD release at Sky City before he heads to Nashville
Verge’s new Daily Planner can help answer the question
music | theatre | art | film 11 11 20 23 25 25 27
Film: Confederate Zombies in Progress Music: A Bluegrass Mass Film: The Film Reel Music: Zach Myer’s souLLow Tour Theatre: Fat Pig Film: A Woman, A Gun and A Noodle Shop The Profiler: The Fencesitters
experience more 05 05 07 10 19 19 25 26 29 29 29
Get This: Get Fit All Around Town Buzz on Biz New Business: 5 O’Clock Bistro Chow Bella & Fresh Food Bites Ask Dr. Karp The Ink Well & Digital Jukebox Nightlife Sound Bites The Last Word Parting Shot: Up Close & Impersonal
vergequotes
here’s what inspires us
“Whatever else you do, listen to your deepest self. Love her and be true to her, speak her truth always.” —SUE MONK KIDD
“Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in my pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.” —MARY JEAN IRON
GET THIS: GET FIT
Get in Shape for Summer Trips to the Beach
AROUND TOWN
TAKE A WALK
Whether in your neighborhood, walking the track at River View or along the board walk at Phinizy Swamp, a good pair of shoes is essential.
Walking Shoes by North Face | $110 American Wilderness Outfitters 2328 Washington Rd. 706.738.8500
GO FOR A SPIN
Enjoy nature and get fit on North Augusta’s Green Way with this great starter bike. The 21 speed Giant Sedona is light weight, includes a shock post and is easy to use.
Giant Sedona Bicycle | $379.95 Andy Jordan’s Bicycle Warehouse | 527 13th St. | 706.724.6777
REVISIT YOUR CHILDHOOD
FIRST THURSDAYS FOCUS ON MONTE SANO AVE The Garden City offers several enjoyable means to celebrate the advent of each new month. To complement the monthly festivities of downtown Augusta’s First Friday, the businesses of Midtown have put on First Thursday for over three years. A few months ago, First Thursday organizers chose to move the event from Central Avenue and center it on Monte Sano Avenue. Carroll Kelly is the president of the Monte Sano Merchants Association and the proprietor of the Knick Knack Paddy Whack Grand Emporium (located across from St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church). On First Thursdays, her store offers food catered by Pat Kelly, live entertainment, great savings and a signature cocktail – pomegranate martinis. “Knick Knack Paddy Whack was one of the instigators [to move] First Thursday to Monte Sano,” Kelly said. The first First Thursday on Monte Sano was this past December and “the response has been tremendous and has far exceeded our expectations,” Kelly continued. Other merchants that participate in First Thursdays include White Crane, Hill Drug Store, Tea with a Dutchess, Summerville Rags, Gary Michael’s, Hattie Anne’s, St. Mary on the Hill, Durden’s Barber Shop and Sheehan’s Irish Pub. The festivities begin at 5 p.m. (when many of these shops normally close) and officially continue until 8 p.m. Kelly suggested that patrons arrive early in order to enjoy the “Early Bird Specials” that the merchants offer. Each month’s event also sponsors a different cause by raising funds and building awareness. The next First Thursday is on April 7 with the theme “A Master Mulligan On Monte Sano.” The night will feature a live Southern Rock concert from Brandon Bower alongside the usual Monte Sano vendors offering their business outdoors, complete with sales and savings. April’s cause will be the Walton Foundation’s Adaptive Sports Program. If you are a transplant to Augusta (like me) and have not lived here very long, First Thursdays are a great opportunity to enjoy some good Southern hospitality while acquainting oneself with what Summerville has to offer. Between the food and cocktails, music and the homespun, saltof-the-earth atmosphere of Augusta’s Summerville area, First Thursday at Monte Sano proves that painting the town red can happen midtown as well as downtown. For details, contact Carroll Kelly at 706.755.2665 | by SKYLER ANDREWS photo ELIZABETH BENSON
REVIEW YOUR FOOD
Skip a rope while improving your agility and balance with this 9 ½ foot jump rope by Martin with ball-bearing handles.
Martin Jump Rope | $10.95 Johannsen’s Sporting Goods 1116 Broad St. | 706.722.0949
The best diet is the one that works for you and your lifestyle. Alice Waters in The Art of Simple Food proposes that eating healthier does not have to be a chore. Her recipes are simple and good tasting – without all of the added fat.
The Art of Simple Food | $35 The Book Tavern| 1026 Broad St.. 706.826.1940
discovered by SUSAN HUTCHISON photos by GABI HUTCHISON
PANCAKES FOR PATIENTS
It was a family affair at the National Hills area IHOP on National Pancake Day as Mallory, 10, Jonathan, 13, and mom Cindy Azziz donned aprons and served pancakes in support of MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center, part of the clinical arm of Georgia Health Sciences University (GHSU). Cindy Azziz is the First Lady of GHSU.
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6 March 16, 2011 | community driven news| vergelive.com
LOCAL BUSINESS
Portico Publications dumps Metro Spirt Staff; Former Employee Picks Up Pieces
VIEWPOINT
Support No Kill Shelters and Find a Friend
Joe White, one of the original Metropolitan Spirit managers (yes, it was called that in 1990), is expected to resurrect the Metro Spirit back into print sometime after Masters Week. The buzz was out there for the past few months that White would leave his Beasley Broadcasting job as 95 Rock sales manager and purchase the Metro Spirit from Portico Publications. White made a low-ball offer a few months back after learning that Portico Publications was bleeding red. In February of this year, Portico diffused rumors with the remaining staff and said they were not selling the publication to White. However, just a few weeks later on Wednesday, March 2, a senior executive at Portico in Virginia held a 9 a.m. conference call with the remaining 10 employees and abruptly fired everyone, with no notice and no severance pay. They used the words “suspended operations” in print, opening the door for White and his “lower-ball” offer to stick. White was hired in the early 1990’s by David Vantrease, who started the Metropolitan Spirit, added the Metro Augusta Parent, then Bites and Sites and Sass Monthly. Vantrease sold his entire operation, after more than 15 years, to Portico Publications for more than $1 million. Portico tried to take on The Augusta Chronicle by staring down staffers from across the street on the corner of Seventh and Broad Street in an expensive, former bank building. When the recession hit, Portico began making deep cuts and went through a two year period in which three different publishers were in place: White, Bryan Osborn and Matt Plocha (currently the publisher of verge). Eventually, a mere 10 employees remained in a 4,000 square foot building—about half of the staff when Portico initially took over the newspaper. The buzz is a former long-time advertiser of the Spirit is helping to back White in re-gearing up the newspaper. White is expected to utilize a location on Washington Road and have some staffers tele-commute to cut down on expensive monthly rent payments that Portico owners endured on Broad Street. Many smaller-staffed publications such as verge, The Medical Examiner, The Jail Report and Buzz on Biz find that the secret to surviving and thriving in the print world is to eliminate office space as a line item. Speaking of which, other publications have been “poaching” a bit on the Spirit’s former advertisers with limited success – many businesses are deciding to simply scale back on advertising that did not seem to work in the Metro Spirit. Former Spirit sales staff have already been interviewing for other positions and no word whether the editorial staff will remain or if White will begin publishing the Augusta Metro Parent as well. In an odd twist, several media companies made offers to purchase the Metro Spirit, including Joe White’s former employer at Beasley Broadcasting and Greg Rickabaugh at The Jail Report, among others. The buzz is that Rickabaugh and White are looking at some partnership opportunities. Former staffers tell the Buzz that Rickabaugh approached Portico to insert The Jail Report before deciding to distribute to nearly 300 convenience stores. If you start to see mug shots in the Metro Spirit, remember you heard it here first. Austin Rhodes has announced his column will return to the new incarnation of the Spirit, while White has stated he wants to bring back the “edgier” feel – like the old days, with more political news and humor. No word yet if White will bring distribution levels back up to the old day levels as well – Portico had shrunk distribution of the Spirit to 14,000 in the months leading up to its closure. The one thing we do know about these volatile moves with the Metro Spirit—it has caused area publishers, readers and advertisers to take a closer look at what their expectations are – and what they want from the local newspaper industry as a whole.
Four million cats and dogs — one about every eight seconds — are put down in U.S. shelters every year. That statistic comes from the Humane Society of the United States, one of many groups that work diligently to save and place unwanted, neglected, abused and homeless animals. The CSRA Humane Society adopted out 230 cats and dogs in 2010, but they remain at capacity — 275 animals — year-round. Some of these animals end up in shelters and foster groups because of irresponsible owners who no longer want them, military deployments, relocating families who opt not to bring the companion animal along or individuals who are no longer physically able to care for them. Many are gentle and are simply in need of a new and loving home. Left with the Humane Society or a foster group, they avoid euthanasia, but the same cannot be said for those who end up with Animal Control. Much like human adoptions, where infants are in demand while children and adolescents remain in the system, humans seeking companion animals usually want kittens and puppies, leaving adult animals to spend their lives in foster homes or pens. Kittens and puppies grow into large adult animals, sometimes rendering them back into a shelter or foster life. Adult animals, however, are fully grown, often housebroken, and are long past the chewing stage. For individuals seeking a particular breed of dog, there are also breed-specific rescue groups. Advantages to adopting from a shelter or foster group include taking in animals that have been spayed/neutered, tested and vaccinated, which saves the guardian time and money. These animals do not come from mills, unlike those purchased at many pet stores.
“The more I see of man, the more I
like dogs.” —Madame de Staël
Even if you are not looking to adopt an animal at this time, you can still help. Consider donating to the CSRA Humane Society or a foster group. They are always in need of financial assistance, towels, blankets and other essentials. Check their websites or call for a wish list. Note that each Humane Society is a stand-alone organization that exists solely from donations. They do not receive funding from the Humane Society of the United States and as a 501(c)(3) they receive no government funding. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Support Paws in the Park on March 19 Join the CSRA Humane Society on March 19 for Paws in the Park, their annual pet walk. Registration takes place at 9:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. Walk your dog or a shelter dog for a $5 donation. All proceeds go directly to the care and support of the CSRA Humane Society. The walk is a family event, with refreshments, T-shirts, pictures for the children and specialty booths from local sponsors. Microchipping will also be available. Pets on the walk should be healthy, at least four months or older and have current vaccinations, including rabies. Visit CSRAHumaneSociety.org for details. Call 706.261.PETS to schedule your pet’s microchip appointment. The CSRA Humane Society is located at the corner of Wood Street and Milledge Road at the North Entrance to Lake Olmstead Park. The CSRA Humane Society also has a half-hour radio program called Paws for Thought on WEZO 1230 AM or online streaming wezo.am. The show airs every Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
Neil Gordon owns Buzz on Biz, LLC, a company dedicated to highlighting business growth through Newspaper, Television, Radio, and Web content. Story idea? Email neil.gordon@buzzon.biz
Jennifer Carey is a freelance writer, animal lover and pet parent to a shelter/foster dog.
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8 March 16, 2011 | community driven news| vergelive.com
SCIENCE: A CHEMICAL REACTION
Living Periodic Table Demonstrates the Practical Side of Chemistry
The unveiling of the illustrative 10 by 20 foot Living Periodic Table at the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center at the University of South Carolina campus in Aiken kicked off the International Year of Chemistry for the Augusta-Aiken area. Although originally designed and built in 1994, this life-size wall cabinet with a collection of drawers and display windows containing physical samples of the elements has been refurbished. Once updated, the table made its public debut at the Science Café hosted by the Savannah River Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS-SR) in February.
Interesting Facts About the Periodic Table of Elements
“If you’ve gone to school, you recognize the Periodic Table as a scientific tool, but it’s just a poster on a wall with letters and numbers on it,” said Tom Walters, public relations chair of the ACS-SR and Advisory Scientist for the Weapons Technology Group at the Savannah River Laboratory. “This brings it home that these are real elements and a real part of the world we live in.” “Since the project was first initiated in 1993, elements have been discovered that were not represented in the [original] Living Periodic Table,” said project manager Dr. Elise Fox. “We have added lighting to each box and have obtained new element artifacts, such as a medical isotope generator and autographs from element discoverers, including the Nobel Prize winner, Glenn Seaborg.” The Science Café, at which the table debuted, is another method of promoting the International Year of Chemistry, inviting members of the community to speak with and ask questions of real industry scientists. “The United Nations will periodically declare an international year of ‘something,’ like physics or engineering, and this year they declared an International Year of Chemistry,” said Walters. “It’s a good opportunity to allow students, from kindergarten all the way up through college, to become aware of the chemistry that is in their environment and all around them.” In February, engineer Ralph Nichols of the Savannah River National Lab gave a presentation over wind power and the ways it might be improved in the future. “The chemistry comes in with the coating of the blades, the chemicals involved in the drive chain and the materials with which they make the blades,” said Nichols. “If you look closely enough at any discipline, there’s usually some chemistry involved somewhere.” The next “Ask a Chemist” event – or Science on Tap – will be held at Sheehan’s Irish Pub, 2571 Central Ave., on Wednesday, March 23 at 6 p.m. “I wanted a general level talk that would attract a diverse group of people interested in finding out about science,” said Tad Whiteside, chairman of the ACS-SR. “Some of our speakers may be more technical, but most will be of interest to a lot of people and we hope to see a good turn out.” The Living Periodic Table is a permanent exhibit at the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center. It sits next to a Foucault pendulum, across from an exhibit titled Interactive Nucleus and in the same room as a live alligator and snapping turtle. For more information about either the Living Periodic Table or the International Year of Chemistry, visit ACS.ORG or ACS-SR.ORG.
How many periods (OR ROWS) are on the periodic table? Seven Which element has the most known compounds? Carbon can form almost 10,000,000 known compounds. Many of the resultant compounds are essential to organic and life processes. Which element is most reactive? Fluorine, a corrosive gas, reacts with most organic and inorganic substances. Even water burns in fluorine with a bright flame. Fluorine is used for a variety of purposes, such as fluoride to help prevent tooth decay, for rocket fuel and in the construction of nuclear bombs. Who initially discovered that elements existed? Henning Brand, an alchemist in 1649, was searching for the elusive philosopher’s stone (which could supposedly turn base metals into gold) when he discovered phosphorus. Who designed the first Periodic Table? Siberian Dimitri Mendeleev created the classification method for the 65 elements known in his time by their atomic weights and chemical valency in 1869. What is the heaviest element? Uranium is the heaviest (by atomic weight) natural element. But ununoctium – a radioactive man-made element – is the true winner with an atomic weight of 293. How many elements are on the Table today? The standardized periodic table in use today recognizes 110 elements - 45 more than Mendeleev knew in his day but still all fitting into his concept of the Periodic Table.
article and photos by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK
vergelive.com | community driven news | March 16, 2011 9
NEW BUSINESS: 5 0’Clock Bistro
French Inspired Fine Dining Coming Soon to Kings Way The Five O’Clock Bistro, located at 2111 Kings Way off of Central Avenue, will be opening soon and serve as a fine dining restaurant and community center for the entire Summerville area. Owner and Chef David Ross hopes to open for business before March 23 and bring his own expertise crafting French cuisine to Augusta. “’Tapas’ is a Spanish word for small, tasty finger foods,” he said. “We aim to serve smaller portions for smaller prices, because we don’t believe it should be expensive to eat well.” Ross and his wife, Barbara Howard, have put in long hours constructing the building from the small concrete box it was when they first bought the land, personally laying much of the brickwork. The bar is carved in the shape of their logo, a giant number five, behind which a wide hallway stretches adorned with artwork and a veranda to mimic the streets of Paris. The restaurant will also include a small meeting room for private functions, a rear parking lot large enough for 60 cars and numerous small, personal touches that give the rooms a European elegance rarely found outside very expensive places. “We want our customers to be able to sit anywhere in this room and enjoy the view outside, or watch the chefs working in the kitchen, for a more complete dining experience,” said Howard. “This really is fine dining and we’ll have white tablecloths and fresh flowers so you know it the moment you walk in.” Ross, Howard and the team of four chefs they will be leading come with lengthy culinary resumes. Ross, originally from Scotland, lived for seven years in the south of France so that his food carries an authentic European flavor. He displays his gold medal from the 2002 Annual Salon of Culinary Art Exhibition in New York on the wall beside his kitchen. Howard teaches Culinary Arts at Grovetown High School and
10 March 16, 2011 | community driven news| vergelive.com
operates the Warriors Bistro at that school. Her sense of the art and style carries over into both of her establishments. “We always wanted to operate a place of our own because it’s really where our skills lie,” said Howard. “We were looking to create a community bistro for the Hill that the people who live, work and go to school here can use as a family bistro.” Jason Capito, executive chef, has also been involved with the bistro since the beginning. According to Ross, working on this project with a team of highly committed chefs has helped to establish a professional rapport between them and increase his confidence in their skills. “We’re going to be smoking our own salmon, making our own sausages and doing everything we can do from the kitchen in this restaurant,” said Ross. “Nothing is going to be bought and brought in, we [will] do things our way.” The chefs are keeping the menu under wraps for now, wanting the secrets of their art and wine recommendations to wait until opening day. However, Ross assures that the menu will include “just about everything. Of course we’ll have steak, but we’ll also have duck, seafood and maybe a few other surprises.” The Five O’Clock Bistro plans to be open Wednesday through Sunday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at least through Masters week, after which they may consider expanding hours. For more information and the opening date, call 706.922.9560 or visit 5OCLOCKBISTRO.COM. article and photo by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK
LOCAL FILM MUSIC: A BLUEGRASS MASS
Confederate Zombie in Progress
When Confederate Zombie: Trail of Blood premiered at the Poison Peach Festival at the Imperial Theatre in January, director Stephen Gilliam was doing more than showing a movie. He was also filming one. Members of the audience were invited to dress in period costume to serve as extras in the full-length movie inspired by the five-minute short, Confederate Zombie. FILMMAKER STEPHEN GILLIAM
Jubilant, Sacred Modern Music
“The first time I listened to The World
Beloved in the privacy of my home, I was brought almost to tears upwards of four times — freakish, considering my disposition.” —RICHARD THREDGILL, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
“Trail of Blood was just a test film so I could see the look of the effects and see if people liked the concept,” said Gilliam. “I got a bunch of actors together and shot it, literally, over a weekend. I think I got a good learning experience out of it. I learned what to do, but more importantly what not to do, on the full-length feature.” The scene shot at the Imperial, the assassination of President Lincoln, comes close to the end of the film and “is as close as I could come to filming the actual assassination so I could use it in the film.” Confederate Zombie features Tommy Tanner as Dillan, a cowardly Confederate soldier on a quest for redemption and, of course, zombies — many, many zombies. “These are infected zombies, not [the dead brought back to life], which is always of interest to the zombie fans,” said Gilliam. “They are also fast zombies, as opposed to slow-moving ones. Actor Robert Seawell was always one of the main zombies from the beginning and he is a smart zombie who can use weapons and open doors.” The film also stars Brandie Rigdon, Amber Burnette and Christopher Bowman, whom Gilliam describes as “the Obi-wan Kenobi of the story.” Though he has never written a full length script before, this is hardly Gilliam’s first foray into directing. He first appeared on the scene with Pumpkin Night, which won the best animated film award at the 2006 Southern Fried Flicks Film Festival. More recently, he wrote and directed the 13-minute short Sons of God and the Hellblinki music video Breaking Everything. “The first time I worked with Hellblinki was on the soundtrack for Pumpkin Night,” said Gilliam. “They will also be creating a completely original score for this film and I am hoping to have them involved in a scene in the film.” It was during the filming of Sons of God three years ago that Gilliam first had the idea for Confederate Zombie. “At the time, Christopher Forbes was making a bunch of Civil War movies and I wanted to see how I could take that concept and turn it into something I wanted to see [more if I added] zombies,” he said. “This movie is very campy and in the same way as Army of Darkness. You are not going to be depressed when you watch it and, when a zombie is killed, you are going to be more likely to laugh than to feel bad about it.” Gilliam also cites From Dusk Till Dawn as a strong inspiration for the flow of the movie and says he has enjoyed portraying things that do not necessarily appear in the history books. “I make things I want to see,” he said. “I don’t really stick to any one genre. I like comedy and, after this, I think I’d like to do something funny.” Gilliam has plans to distribute Confederate Zombie: Trail of Blood direct-to-DVD and plans to be finished filming sometime this summer. by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK
Hometown harmony hits Augusta this weekend when the Columbia County Choral Society presents Music of the Mountains featuring Carol Barnett’s The World Beloved - A Bluegrass Mass. The event is the first of its kind in the CSRA and will be held Friday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Evans. This one-of-a-kind music fuses the classical Christian mass with the down-home goodness of bluegrass, rendering a melody that is simple yet sophisticated, casual yet sacred and churchy yet country all at once. You will soon forget you are sitting in church when the banjoes, mandolins, fiddles and guitars complement the chorus of Latin and English melodies with relevant lyrics which address contemporary concerns of world peace, justice for all and environmental responsibility. Featured guests will include the versatile and talented soloist Ms. Elizabeth Grant and Carl Purdy with Custer’s Last Band. The unique “classical-choral meets countrycasual” tunes will be performed by some of Augusta’s most talented musicians of the Columbia County Choral Society (CCCS). The CCCS, which was established to create an excellent singing experience for participants throughout the CSRA, celebrates its 14th season and is now under the tutelage of artistic director Dr. Timothy M. Powell, an accomplished conductor and composer who also serves as director of Choral Activities for Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School. [Davidson, a public magnet school for grades 6 through 12, has been recognized as a National Grammy Signature School, ranked the #1 school in Georgia and has placed in the Top 100 tier of Newsweek’s “America’s Best High Schools”]. Dr. Powell holds a DMA in Conducting from the University of South Carolina and earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Church Music from Belmont University. Some of his
major works include Wedding Mass, which premiered at Carnegie Hall in June 2008 and His Terrible Swift Sword, which premiered in April of 2007. It comes as no surprise that Dr. Powell will bring the CCCS to center stage this summer. The group (along with Davidson Fine Arts’ Chorale) will perform the world premiere of Dr. Powell’s original work Incarnation Mysteria at Lincoln Center in June. For Augustans, being “local” does have its benefits – we’ll be able to get a “sneak peek” performance of the show prior to their New York performance on Friday, June 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church in Evans. In the meantime, come out and hear the Music of the Mountains before the CCCS go and get “rich and famous.” The celebration starts next Friday at First Baptist in Evans – just follow the toe-tapping and hand-clapping to a pew near you. Music of the Mountains is on Friday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Evans, 515 North Belair Road. All tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for seniors, students, active duty military and groups. To purchase tickets, call 762.233.7793 or visit CCHORALSOCIETY.ORG. by KRIS COOK photo FILE
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12 March 16, 2011 | community driven news| vergelive.com
THE WRITTEN WORD: USCA WRITERS SERIES
A Trio of Influential South Carolina Authors Inducted to Hall of Fame On March 17 and 18, the University of South Carolina Aiken’s Department of English will present its annual James and Mary Oswald Distinguished Writers Series. This year’s event features two nationally acclaimed authors, Percival Everett and Sue Monk Kidd, who will speak at the Etherredge Center on Thursday night. The following night, the South Carolina Academy of Authors (SCAA) will host its annual induction ceremony, honoring both authors and the late Gamel Woolsey into the state’s literary hall of fame. Dr. Tom Mack chairs the USC-Aiken English Department and the Writers Series and is also on the board of the Academy. He spoke to verge about the history of the Writers Series, this year’s Academy inductees and the future of English degrees. VERGE: Who were James and Mary Oswald?
in Charleston.
DR. MACK: They were local librarians. Jim was involved with the SRS library and Mary was involved with public school libraries. She was also a volunteer military librarian during World War II. As the Marines and Navy would liberate islands in the Pacific, they would open libraries for soldiers. Many American writers’ careers were revived when paperbacks were published for soldiers to read on the front lines. The Oswalds were very involved in literature and literacy and supported both the English department programming and the university. They wanted to do something with their money and they gave a big chunk to the English department, which is how we started the series and the undergraduate research journal The Oswald Review. It consists of undergraduate essays across the U.S., Canada and Great Britain, and it’s the only one of its kind.
Gamel Woolsey is an unusual feature of the hall of fame. Living and deceased writers are inducted — the hall was founded in 1986 and has a lot of catching up to do. In the early years, more dead writers were inducted to pay homage to the 19th century literary heritage. [Woolsey] was born in Aiken and raised on her father’s plantation in the 1890’s. He was a New York banker with tuberculosis and he came to South Carolina for his health.
VERGE: What is the purpose of the series? DR. MACK: One goal is to enrich the undergraduate experience for students. The series is integrated into the classroom. This semester, the students are reading the writers’ short stories and novels. It’s wonderful to be able to meet with the writers and hear them talk about and read from their works. Second, we provide programming for the community. This is a very popular series. We fill the Etherredge Center — the main theater holds 700 and it’s a full house for the reading. The writers often say that it’s their biggest crowd. This time we’re having two writers in a single evening because both are being inducted into the state’s literary hall of fame on Friday night. VERGE: Let’s talk about this year’s writers, Percival Everett and Sue Monk Kidd. Why were they chosen for the program? DR. MACK: The induction committee of the SCAA looks over South Carolina’s past for writers who made a mark in our state by illuminating some aspect of South Carolina culture and history, and in the case of contemporary writers, people born in the state, raised here, or who lived a significant amount of time in the state, acquired a national reputation and set their work in South Carolina, were inspired by South Carolina or called attention to South Carolina culture. Percival Everett was raised in Columbia, went to school here, and left the state to go to college. He comes back frequently because he has relatives in South Carolina. He lives in Los Angeles and is a distinguished professor at UCLA who has written 22 books. He is a very important American writer — not just an important African American writer — who hasn’t reached as great an audience as he deserves. Sue Monk Kidd has written nonfiction essays and personal narratives and she really struck a chord with The Secret Life of Bees. It’s standard reading in a lot of high schools and on college campuses. She just moved out of South Carolina to Florida with her husband, but her upcoming book is set
Woolsey bought property, Breeze Hill Plantation, that’s still in the family. Gamel spent her childhood in Aiken and a lot of her poetry refers to that. When her father died, her mother, a Charleston socialite, took the girls to Charleston, where Gamel finished school and went to New York after graduation to become an actress. She was a beautiful young woman and attracted the attention of a number of men, married a journalist, was not happy and got involved with other writers, particularly Llewellyn Powys, one of three British writers with whom she had an affair. She got to England and Spain and wrote novels, poetry and a memoir of the Spanish Civil War entitled Malaga Burning. Most of her work was published in England and only recently in the United States. It deserves rediscovery.
Percival Everett is “one of the most
adventurously experimental of modern American novelists.” – THE WASHINGTON POST
VERGE: How popular are English degrees in the age of text messaging and 140 characters (via Twitter)? DR. MACK: Recent studies provide data indicating that disciplines outside of English have abandoned objectives toward literacy and English majors may become the official scribes of society. A lot of our majors are hired by big companies to polish the writing of other people because there’s not enough emphasis on reading and writing in other academic programs. They’re a small group of people who will be designated scribes because nobody writes more than a text message or two. It’s sad. We’re fighting this rearguard action. The enrollment number of English majors has remained steady; but we have doubled the number of Communications majors because they all think they can be broadcast journalists. [The English Department] attracts the better students who can actually read. Half of them go on to further studies such as the graduate program in English, library sciences or even law school — something that requires reading and writing skills — and they get jobs that are generally connected to writing, but not always. The state of contemporary journalism is appalling. The programs are run by communications faculty and that program is largely speech communications, not reading and writing. In the student paper, we see problems with copy-editing because those students don’t focus on print and English majors are not involved. There are very few journalism programs connected with the English department. They’re in mass communications and visual communications. Once upon a time, journalists were English majors, but not anymore. They’re cranked out from communications programs, so their reading and writing skills are not what we would find acceptable in many cases. Reading is part of our curriculum and I think that matters. In English departments across the country, students want electronic databases. I have many faculty who insist upon citations from a book or two as research. Go to a building called a library and find a book! I think libraries are changing. They’re becoming IT centers. When you go to a library now, you see people in front of computer screens and little activity in the stacks. by ALISON RICHTER photos FILE
Sue Monk Kidd “has a flair for making us see her characters with great vividness and immediacy.” – NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
Meet the Authors WHAT 2011 James and Mary Oswald Distinguished Writers Series WHERE The Etherredge Center, USCA- Aiken FRIDAY Percival Everett & Sue Monk Kidd | Thursday, March 17 | 8 p.m. | Tickets are free, but must be acquired at the Etherredge Center box office SATURDAY South Carolina Academy of Authors annual induction ceremony | Friday, March 18 | 7 p.m. | $35 advance only
BUY Contact Dr. Tom Mack: TOMM@USCA.COM MORE | web.usca.edu/etherredge-center
vergelive.com | community driven news | March 16, 2011 13
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
Adam Hoover’s Crusade
Changing her son’s diaper in the sunlit playroom, Ellen Hoover caught a movement from beyond her picture window. Her eyes followed the vehicle coming to a slow stop in front of the small blue house across the street. The male driver stayed in the idling car and a young woman got out, looking around warily. The girl knocked at the door, but there was no answer, so she walked around to the side of the house where a high fence obscured the back yard. She returned to the car empty-handed. “Another one,” Ellen sighed. “Can’t they see what kind of damage they’re doing?” The house across the street from the Hoovers was a known drug house and the tenant had been allowing dealers to sell out of his back yard for years. This was Ellen’s daily battle just a few months ago, as it is for many Augustans. However, thanks to the dedication of brave community members and city leaders, the battle on Telfair’s 200 block has been won. I know because I was there. Ellen is my sister. Her husband Adam is my brother-in-law. Her children are my niece and nephews. Let it be known that their struggle against, and their ultimate triumph over, the corruption of their neighborhood is a personal matter, but it is also a story that needs to be told. It begins in May of 2004, when newlyweds Adam and Ellen moved to Augusta and rented an apartment at 246 Telfair Street, just a few doors down and across the street from their current home. They specifically chose to live in Olde Town because they wanted the opportunity to do some good in the place where they were living. “We didn’t necessarily want to live in a safe place,” says Ellen.
“Neighbors need to shepherd their neighborhoods.” — ADAM HOOVER
Life was good in that little first apartment, Adam says. “We could see that something was going on four houses away, yet somehow we were completely shielded from it; we were unbothered by it because it wasn’t in our faces.” The Hoovers moved within Olde Town and still, they had no sense of the affects of the drug dealing and violence just a few blocks over. Soon, however, they had two children and decided to throw in their lots entirely with Olde Town and bought a house on Telfair. The baby blue two-story historic house became their home in the summer of 2009. Almost immediately, the Hoovers recognized that their experience in this home would be totally different. The two previous owners had directly and indirectly cited the drug problem across the street as their reason for leaving. “They said, ‘We just kept the blinds (on the front window) closed all the time,’” explains Ellen. So when the Hoovers chose to let in the light, they were confronted by a picture of their neighborhood decaying before their eyes. The worst house, 232 Telfair, was directly across the street. It was falling apart. Trash was in the yard and on the street. The owners were running a kind of low-overhead car repair business from the front yard. Surly grown men loitered at all hours of the day and night among the broken-down cars. Every day, Ellen and Adam watched as strung-out users from all walks of life came in-and-out, repeatedly, getting their fix and perpetuating the blight upon the neighborhood. “Sometimes the buyers would park in front of our house,” remembers Ellen. “I’d just go outside and ask them if they were buying drugs, and if so, would they please move their car. Most people said, ‘Oh yeah, no problem!’” The total openness about their purpose for being there was not just the attitude of the buyers. The whole neighborhood, it seemed, knew what was going on. It seemed that few people were worried about the problem because it was not immediately visible to them, as it was to the Hoovers, and if they were worried about it, fear and family ties kept most people from opposing the trafficking. Still, the Hoovers stayed. They had just bought their first house; they were invested. They thought that by introducing themselves and being friendly to their neighbors who were facilitating the drug trade, they might realize the damage that they were doing to the neighborhood. At first, this seemed like a promising way to handle the situation; when Adam and Ellen talk about the residents across the street, they really seem to know their neighbors. They speak with remarkable compassion. “All these guys grew up here,” Adam says. Ellen finishes his thought “...and it’s a big deal to oppose the trafficking when you have a lot of history with people.” But a series of drive-by shootings in November 2009 made it clear to the Hoovers and other concerned neighbors, many of whom attend the same church as Adam and Ellen, that friendliness was getting them nowhere. So Adam, faced with the problem every single day, started calling the police each time he saw a drug deal go down, which sometimes was several times a day. He also repeatedly called the property owner, whose tenant was the one allowing the drug trade and the illegal car repair business to take place there. He called the city Code Enforcement and organized neighborhood meetings. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
14 March 16, 2011 | community driven news| vergelive.com
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH (CONTINUED)
One Man’s Battle to Take Back His Neighborhood from Drug Dealers
“This team effort underscores what can be done when we all work together towards a common goal. These proactive efforts establish a new model for how we will address this type of situation going forward.” — MAYOR DEKE COPENHAVER CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
But his calls were not making any progress either. The property owner felt terrorized by Adam, and an extensive police bust in July of 2010 just made the perpetrators increasingly hostile toward Adam and the family. Then in September, a month before Ellen gave birth to their third child, Adam’s life was threatened by a dealer. At this point, both Ellen and Adam were spent. Ellen was crying every day from the strain and they both felt deep resentment toward their neighbors and the city. They were thinking of giving up on Olde Town and moving, like their predecessors in their house. Even the Hoover children were feeling the weight their parents were bearing. Marit, their three-year-old, said to her father plaintively, “I don’t want to marry a drug dealer, Daddy.” Then, on October 5, 2010, something changed. All along, Adam had been confiding in Matt Aitken, commissioner for District One. Aitken invited Adam to address the Augusta Commission about the dangerous and illegal activity on his block and to request “a strategic response” to the problem. “As a community, we must strive to solve the majority of our problems ourselves,” Adam told to the Commission that day. “But I have concluded that the men who perpetrate this form of organized crime are too dangerous and too shielded to be dealt with effectively by their vulnerable neighbors. I beg you, deploy the resources of our government to deflect and absorb the danger that is aimed at my family.” Adam sat down to ringing applause in the Commission chamber. The effects were immediate. Mayor Deke Copenhaver’s response, there in the midst of the Commission meeting, was to ask for Adam’s contact information so he could visit the drug house himself. Within days, Adam and Rick Keuroglian of the Olde
Town Neighborhood Association met with a Neighborhood Services Task Force, including Rob Sherman and Pam Costabile from Code Enforcement, Scott Gay from the Sheriff ’s Office and Jeff Barrett from the Marshal’s Office. The Task Force launched a two-pronged campaign against the misuse of the Telfair Street property by involving both the landlords and law enforcement at the city, state and federal level. The property where the drug business was still flourishing was inspected and the Task Force began a round-table discussion with the property owners, who were finally convinced that their dilapidated and neglected rentals constituted a Chronic Nuisance Property Violation and that the renter’s illegal car repair business was reason enough to evict him. Then, on November 5, 2010, there was a massive, meticulouslyplanned search and seizure operation involving clandestine officers from the Sheriff ’s and Marshal’s Office, as well as the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency. During that raid, $5000 worth of crack cocaine was taken from 232 Telfair Street alone. The battle was over. Yet, if you talk to anyone involved in this story, they will tell you it is not the end of the fight. “Neighbors need to shepherd their neighborhoods,” insists Adam. Rick Keuroglian and he instituted the Olde Town Neighborhood Watch program, which was met with resounding approval by the Olde Town Association. This way, even neighbors who are not seeing criminal activity occur across the street or right next door can still support those who are. Neighborhood Watches could do a lot of good everywhere in Augusta. Scott Gay of the Sheriff ’s Office agrees that “police cannot rid a neighborhood of criminal activity if the neighbors are
not involved.” Another lesson to be learned from this experience is that neighbors cannot do anything without the backing of their leaders. “This team effort ultimately underscores what can be done when we all work together towards a common goal,” affirms Mayor Copenhaver. “These proactive efforts establish a new model for how we will address this type of situation going forward.” For Adam and Ellen Hoover and their children, it is like a cloud has been lifted from their lives. Every day they are thankful that they can continue living in, fighting for and loving their neighborhood and their city. by CHARLOTTE OKIE photos GABI HUTCHISON
Get on the Agenda You can address the commission, too. To get on the agenda for future Commission meetings, go to AUGUSTAGA.GOV. Click on the “Departments” tab and choose “Clerk of Commission.” On the left hand side of the page, click on “Agenda Item Requests.” Requests may also be mailed, faxed or delivered in person and must be received in the Clerk of Commission’s Office no later than 5 p.m. on the Wednesday preceding the Commission or Committee meeting of the following week. A five-minute time limit will be allowed for presentations. The Commission meets the first or third Tuesdays of every month at 5 p.m.
vergelive.com | community driven news | March 16, 2011 15
MEET THE HUNGRY FOX: Whether in the Kitchen or Studio, Mika
Mikaela Fuchs (pronounced “Fox”), baker at Manuel’s Bread Café, is a maker of things. She makes cakes, calendars and curtains. She labors for hours in the kitchen over her delicious pastries and slowrising breads, in the screenprinting studio where she creates her Hungry Fox printed goods and at home, on the floor or the dining room table, where she tries her hand at whatever pops in her head to create. She is twenty-six years old. Her artist’s statement? “I really think I can make anything.” Raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Blacksburg, Virginia, Mikaela graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Studio Art and minors in Art History and Creative Writing. Her concentrations were mostly in watercolor-drawing and pottery, though she took one screenprinting class. It was in these areas that she developed her two different but connected loves: dense, story-rich art and elemental, hands-on art. Now, as a baker and a freelance screenprinter in Augusta, she has the opportunity to embrace both. After college, Mikaela interned with the New York-based arts and culture project International Arts Movement and was able to work in the studio with one of her favorite artists, IAM founder Makoto Fujimura. She saw firsthand the type of life a successful artist leads, while gaining valuable studio experience and participating in a vibrant artist community in New York City. Her life took an unexpected turn when she fell in love and then married a man from Augusta, Eric Fuchs.
“I’ve been afforded more
opportunities and exposure here than I ever could have had somewhere else.” – MIKAELA FUCHS on AUGUSTA
of cupcakes. She discovered that precisely because it is a small town with a smaller community of artists and artisans, there is a lot of work to be done. “I’ve been afforded more opportunities and exposure here than I ever could have had somewhere else.” For instance, when she first moved here, she worked with potter Gary Dexter and was given the chance to do a pottery demonstration in North Augusta for the public. She has also developed a deep love for bread baking. Her interests in food and pottery led her directly to bread. “I like the earthiness of the bread-making lifestyle, the craft and the science of doing it well,” she said.
“My first experiences with Augusta were really positive,” says Mikaela. When she visited Eric during their courtship, he took her to all the wonderful places in the CSRA. But Augusta is not exactly New York, where artists in all colors ooze from every corner.
She started out as a server at Manuel’s Bread Café within months of arriving in Augusta and was told that there were no openings for a bread baker. Time passed and then a chance came for her to showcase her sweet-making talents for Manuel himself and she was installed as a pastry chef. Now she does all baking at the restaurant, especially the breads. For these, she often stays up all night to supply Manuel’s with a host of baked goods in the early morning.
Mikaela tells a story that is similar to that of many creative people who have found themselves in Augusta one way or another. “When I moved here, I was kind of lost. I had nothing to do,” Mikaela explains. So she started making a lot
She has the same kind of dedication in her screenprinting studio. This space is another boon afforded by Augusta: an acquaintance happens to have screenprinting equipment and a little room to house it all and he lets Mikaela
16 March 16, 2011 | community driven news| vergelive.com
use it for free if she provides her s
Mikaela spends many hours on h on a concrete floor in a windowl with pencil or pen drawings, the screenprinting equipment. She m Market and for the Little River B also prints wedding stationary an at Hammond’s Ferry, where Manu are delicately rendered and fascin
“The drawings I do are almost like the “concept art” she felt forced realism, to depicting whimsy and dense subject matter and in maki time and keep finding new things. expressive movement with this tig
Mikaela has a short-term master pl with a bread baker who has a woo family and be self-sufficient with h bread at farmers’ markets. She als design work and to further develo
Mikaela does not see herself as an anyone who lives with her brand o in the truest sense, who sees wha as valuable, regardless of its mon comes of that faith is art that is s the difference between her bread Farmers Markets.
See more of Mikaela’s work on he
THEHUNGRYFOXAUGUSTA.WOR
aela’s Creations are Sweet and Satisfying for the Soul and Stomach
supplies.
from the hungry fox’s kitchen: THE FOX’S OAT FUDGE BARS
her beautiful, meticulous prints — standing less room deep into the night. She starts out hen transfers them to transparencies for her made the posters for the Augusta Downtown Blueway in McCormick, South Carolina. She nd even designed the flag for Blue Clay Farm uel’s gets most of its produce. All of her pieces nating to look at for long periods.
e Where’s Waldo?” says Mikaela, who disliked d to do in college. She is drawn to magical d surprise in ordinary life. She is interested in ing drawings that you can look at for a long . Her goal is to marry her natural gestural and ght subject matter.
A local coffee shop in Blacksburg, VA, sold super amazing oat fudge bars that helped me through each and every final...and I made it my collegiate mission to crack the recipe. I was very scientific about it, taking notes on every batch I made, and I must say that this one is very, very close. You’ll find similar recipes for oat and chocolate bars, but the chocolate part always lacks the key ingredient: cocoa powder. It’s essential to achieving the fudginess that makes these things so darn phenomenal. I use regular oatmeal, not the quick-cooking kind. I like the texture better. Also, I like to pretend these things are healthy. I haven’t heard otherwise and I’m not going to bother asking. — Mikaela Fuchs
INGREDIENTS FOR THE OAT PART:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened 2 cups brown sugar 2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking soda
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3 cup regular oats
lan for her life. “I want to get an apprenticeship od fire oven.” Her mid-range plan is to have a her garden and her bread-making, selling her so wants to continue freelance screenprinting op the business side of her art.
FOR THE FUDGE PART: 2 tbsp. butter 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips 12 oz. sweetened condensed milk (I just pour in a 15 oz. can and don’t worry about scraping the sides.) 2/3 cup cocoa powder
n artist (“I’m more a maker,” she insists), but of confidence cannot be anything but an artist at she does as important and what she makes netary worth. What she has is faith and what substantial and storied, as broad in range as and the poster that proclaims it at Saturday
er blog, The Hungry Fox:
RDPRESS.COM by CHARLOTTE OKIE photos GABI HUTCHISON
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 2. Mix the dry ingredients (minus oats), set aside. 3. Cream the butter, sugar and vanilla. Then, add eggs one at a time and beat until smooth. 4. Mix in the dry ingredients, then stir in the oats. Set aside while making the fudge. 5. FUDGE: Melt the chocolate with the sweetened condensed milk and butter in a saucepan over low heat, stirring often. 6. When the chocolate mixture is smooth, add the cocoa powder and stir until smooth. (Add it a little at a time, and if it looks like it’s getting too dark and thick for you, then you can stop whenever. Really, any cocoa powder is better than no cocoa powder.) 7. Press 2/3 of the oat mixture into the bottom of a greased 9x9 pan. If you want thinner bars, use a greased 9x13 pan. 8. Scoop the fudge mixture on top of the oats and smooth. Drop the rest of the oat mixture on top, pieces at a time. 9. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, until golden brown on top. Don’t over bake — the fudge will set as it cools.
vergelive.com | community driven news | March 16, 2011 17
18 March 16, 2011 | community driven news| vergelive.com
CHOW BELLA: EAT YOUR SPINACH
fresh food bites
Mixing Favorite Foods for Artful Salads
Munchie March Madness Just about everyone knows that the big food and beverage holiday in March is St. Patrick’s Day. Tons of folks gather to wash down plates of corned beef and cabbage with green beer and Irish whiskey while counting on a mix of jigs and pint lifting exercises to help curb the calorie intake. St. Patrick’s Day is not the only food holiday in March – just about every day in March is some sort of food holiday. There is Oatmeal Cookie Day on March 18, National Ravioli Day on March 20 and even water has a special day – March 22. There’s day for everything from Melba Toast (23) to Turkey Necks (30). After looking through all the days, there is one day that stands out over them all on March 26 – “Make Up Your Own Holiday Day.” Why does this day appeal so much to me? First, you can have a day where you take food into your own hands and celebrate your favorite healthy food dish. It could be a cool healthy recipe you discovered that just blew you away, one you created or one a friend shared with you. That is the beauty of it … it is up to you. (I suppose you could make it a junk food holiday, but c’mon, where is the challenge in that?) With that in mind, I am declaring March 26 as Cheesy Turkey Burger Pie Day! Why not? The air is still cool enough out for a nice chilly day type meal. Really, there is nothing special here … just a healthy spin on the old Bisquick recipe. Add other stuff like black olives or chopped zucchini to make it your own.
Cheesy Turkey Burger Pie
1 lb extra lean ground turkey ½ cup of chopped onion 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 chopped garlic clove ¾ cup of Heart Smart Bisquick ¼ cup of water 1 cup of nonfat cottage cheese 1 egg ¾ cup 2% shredded cheddar cheese 4 tomato slices 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2. In a pan, brown ground turkey, onion and garlic. 3. Mix Bisquick and water to make dough mixture. 4. Flatten the dough with a rolling pin and spread in a pie pan. 5. When the turkey is almost done browning, mix in Worcestershire sauce and pour the mixture into the pie pan over the dough. 6. Separately mix cottage cheese and egg, then pour over turkey and top with shredded cheddar cheese and tomato slices. 7. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, let cool a bit and eat.
This recipe serves eight with each delicious serving containing only 164 calories, 5 grams of fat, 10 carbs and a whopping 21 grams of protein! It is low enough to even sneak an extra bite or two. Just remember – March 26 is the day to make your own holiday. This is just what I plan on celebrating! by JOHN “STONEY” CANNON John believes that anyone can learn to eat healthier - in small steps - taking one bite at a time.
I have a secret. At age 28, I have finally found a love for vegetables. I once hated vegetables, like most children, and was slower than most to grow out of that phase. My favorite veggie these days is spinach. I did not have much experience with spinach growing up. We were a meat and potatoes, tortillas and corn type of family. Although I was very familiar with a spinach-loving sailor, I do not recall ever eating spinach as a child. Today, if you open my fridge, you will find at least one or two bags of spinach at any given time. I have also developed a love for buying local vegetables. The current spinach residing in my crisper is from Walker Farms, a local farm that supplies to Augusta’s Locally Grown co-op. In my opinion, spinach make the perfect base for salads. I prefer it over iceberg lettuce any day of the week. If I could pick only one food to bring with me to a deserted island, it would be bacon. These strips of salty pork rank at the top of my list of favorite foods. I am always willing to include it in various meals, regardless of the time of day. Hard-boiled eggs and goat cheese always make worthy companions.
I am also thankful that I live in Georgia, the home of vidalia onions. That sweet onion makes a meal a bit more special. On a recent trip to Fresh Market, I spied a great deal on vidalia onions and became eager to marry it with some of my other favorite foods. I started with spinach and the vidalia onions, then added some delectable local bacon from Savannah River Farms, a few eggs laid by my inlaws’ chickens and a handful of yummy goat cheese. The result was an amazing salad – full of goodness and packed with vitamins. Creating salads provide me with the opportunity to marry my favorite foods with my artistic tendencies. This salad has become one of my favorite creations. As a photographer, it has been wonderful to veer from just imagery to writing; it is the best of both worlds. I look forward to continuing my journey into local, organic foods through images and words and am thankful for those of you out there that are following me in this venture. article and photos by ELIZABETH BENSON
from chow bella’s kitchen: VIDALIA SPINACH SALAD
A perfect salad in look, texture and taste. Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette for a perfect finish.
INGREDIENTS: 6 oz. of fresh spinach One medium Vidalia onion, sliced 1 to 3 slices of cooked bacon 1 hard boiled egg, sliced 1/3 cup of goat cheese, crumbled
DIRECTIONS:
Prepare for your salad by hard boiling your egg and cooking your bacon until crisp. If you are making this salad for more than one, feel free to just double the amount needed. I made three salads at once, so I boiled three eggs and cooked 5 pieces of bacon (use your own discretion here). Once the eggs are boiled and the bacon cooked, you can begin the rest of the salad.
This is the easiest thing to assemble. Pile a generous amount of spinach on your plate. Spread the onion slices over the spinach. Sprinkle your goat cheese directly over the spinach and onions. You can now crumble the bacon with your hands over the top of the salad. Now add the egg and to make it visually appealing you can spread it out accordion style over the side of the salad, just like the image above. All that is left to do is enjoy!
vergelive.com | community driven news | March 16, 2011 19
THE FILM REEL
Super Power Brains
From the ball field to the bedroom, performance-enhancing drugs have offered a quick fix for people looking to artificially reach their physical peak. Why haven’t scientists created a drug that could drastically improve the performance of our brains? A new psychological thriller takes some sci-fi liberties to explore this topic. The Hangover’s Bradley Cooper is not taking Rufilin this time around, but rather a provocative illegal pharmaceutical called NZT (director Neil Burger, The Illusionist, compared the fictional drug to Provigil or Adderall “times a thousand”). The drug allows Cooper’s character, Eddie, to use 100% of his brain so he can realize his full potential, transitioning from being a lazy wannabe writer to an accomplished author and Wall Street FULL BRAIN POTENTIAL mastermind in LIMITLESS, opening March 18. Having a super-charged brain gives Eddie charisma and culture, leading to popularity, riches and, ultimately, conflicts with gun-toting bad guys trying to get their hands on Eddie’s dwindling NZT supply . Withdrawal from the drug also has disastrous side effects for Eddie, including memory loss. Robert DeNiro plays a businessman who profits from Eddie’s brilliance under-the-influence in this adaptation of Alan Glynn’s novel The Dark Fields. Abbie Cornish co-stars.
THE TRUTH IS HARD TO COME BY
Matthew McConaughey played a lawyer in his breakout role in 1996’s A Time to Kill, so after nearly two years off the big-screen, he is getting back to that familiar place in THE LINCOLN LAWYER. In a story derived from Michael Connelly’s novel, McConaughey plays Mick Haller, an attorney who caters to petty thieves and lowlifes while working out of the back of a chauffeured Lincoln. He thinks he is getting a lucky break when he takes on the case of Louis (Ryan Phillippe), a wealthy playboy accused of attempted rape and murder. When it starts to look like his client is guilty, Mick has a tough moral dilemma. Making matters worse is the possibility Louis also committed a murder that landed one of Mick’s previous clients in jail. Two masters of manipulation come to blows as Louis threatens Mick’s family and Mick is forced to take the case to trial. Marisa Tomei co-stars along with William H. Macy, John Leguizamo and many other familiar faces. Country singer Trace Adkins even has a role in this legal thriller, which is the first major opener for director Brad Furman.
Superbad director Greg Mottola helms a road movie inspired by Comic-Con culture. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, who teamed up for Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, wrote this story (their first writing collaboration) and play geeky fanboys who find an alien named PAUL (with Seth Rogen’s voice) near Area 51. They take it upon themselves to protect the wisecracking extraterrestrial who escaped from a secret government facility, all the while being pursued by Jason Bateman’s Men in Black reminiscent agent. They accidentally kidnap someone, too (SNL’s Kristen Wiig), making the road trip truly memorable. March 25 openers include SUCKER PUNCH, an fantasy about a girl (Emily Browning) who is institutionalized for violently combating her stepfather’s sexual advances. She creates a video game-inspired fantasy world where she and other pretty patients have to complete tasks that may allow them to escape from the asylum permanently. Abbie Cornish, Vanessa Hudgens, Carla Gugino, John Hamm and Jena Malone also star. Writer-director Zack Snyder’s (300, Watchmen) creative stamp is prominent, showcasing his graphic-novelmeets-MTV signature style. Just one year after writer Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid made a surprisingly decent box office showing, its sequel is hitting theaters. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES finds main character Greg stuck in his awkward pre-teen years and getting questionable advice from his slacker older brother. by MARIAH GARDNER, MOVIE GURU
PHONE HOME?
20 March 16, 2011 | community driven news| vergelive.com
LIVE MUSIC: JIM PERKINS
Local Musician Prepares for Nashville Move with New CD in Hand Singer/songwriter Jim Perkins took an unconventional road establishing himself as a musician. He did not pick up a guitar or write songs until he was in college. An Augusta native, he grew up in a rural area with no access to cable or music videos, so he taught himself to play without the advantage of watching the artists on television. Thus, it should come as no surprise that his second and third albums — Broken Record Reasons, a band project, and Jim Perkins Live, recorded at a solo acoustic performance — buck the industry trends and are being released simultaneously. Perkins stays busy. He gigs consistently in the Georgia/South Carolina area, is a go-to guy to open for acoustic touring artists and has a CD release show on March 19. His wife and he are also preparing for relocation to Nashville in July. He spoke to verge about his road to the stage and the craft of songwriting.
“My job is to get the audience going. It’s not about me.” – JIM PERKINS
VERGE: You began playing guitar and writing in college. How much experience did you have? PERKINS: I was shoved out to sing solos in youth groups at church, but I was nervous and didn’t like the attention. I also thought everybody had the same voice I did. My parents and my sister all could sing and I was around soloists. From age 9 to 13, I was in singing groups and youth choir. My father played guitar and sang in dance bands like the Red Hots, and his voice was compared to Perry Como and Tennessee Ernie Ford. My mom had perfect pitch. My sister, who is eight years older than I am, also loved music and she played piano. My parents decided not to force an instrument on me and, ironically, I was the one who wanted to play and write. English came easily to me and when I was younger I wrote poetry. I wanted to play an instrument and I couldn’t take a piano with me, so I went with electric and acoustic guitar. I began with acoustic. My dad had a cheap, 50-year-old guitar and I tried to learn chords on it. Then I got a better guitar that I put on layaway at A World Of Music. I visited it every month and paid $50 until I paid it off. Seven years ago I got a beautiful Taylor 614ce. I really enjoyed how music brings people together. In church and camp, I was around people the same age and we were brought together by sports and music. I kind of naturally felt comfortable about performing after a while and, when people you don’t know say you’re good, you listen to them. I slowly realized that maybe I have talent and I should try to do something with it. In college, I began playing at Borders and PJ’s Coffeehouse. I had no demo, so I would learn songs and audition for them and I got hired. I kept doing this over and over. I gained credibility in Augusta and Columbia and I could pick where I wanted to play. I wanted to play original material, but Augusta is not an originals town, so I had to learn covers. VERGE: When did your songwriting develop? PERKINS: “Charleston” was the first song I wrote that actually had verse, chorus and bridge. It had only three chords because that’s all I knew at the time. It’s on my first album [Maker Of Dreams], but I do a completely different version today. It needed a groove, so I reformulated it and made it interesting. Song ideas come at different times. I have books filled with couplets, and sometimes I randomly put them together. Sometimes you write and only one minute of it is a gem. I keep everything because you never know. I continually grow and get better at my craft. You can rewrite all day long. It’s hard to put a stamp on it and say, “This is what I permanently want to do.” It’s amazing that you ever release anything. VERGE: You released your first album in 2002 and then traveled the U.S. and Canada with the North American Mission Board’s World Changers. Were you still involved with music? PERKINS: Yes. I was on the North Team for 10 or 12 weeks. We had people from churches in different states. We rebuilt houses and worked with youth doing video and audio by day. We played music at night. I came back to Augusta, played music at night and caddied at the Augusta National as my day job. In 2006, I played 220 shows. I had a lot of free time and I dug in deep. I played in the Southeast, spent nine months in Casper, Wyoming, got calls in Augusta and picked up where I left off. I played music in churches, traveled to venues and played in Charleston a lot. VERGE: When did you begin traveling to Nashville? PERKINS: In 2006, I was playing a coffeehouse and a guy walked up and said, “You should meet my brother-in-law; he’s in the music business in Nashville.” Of course, I’d heard this before, but I drove up to meet him. I played three songs and he set me up with other meetings. Since then, I’ve kept in touch with the people I met there. VERGE: You opened for John Corabi, you’re opening for Zach Myers, you’re doing some solo gigs and you have a CD release show coming up. You’re releasing two albums at once. Are they a package? How does the content differ? How do you tailor your material to suit different audiences? PERKINS: The same ten songs are on both albums and each album has two additional different songs. They are sold independently, not as a package. When I’m opening for an artist, I do half covers and half my album — whatever fits the energy and the artist’s fan base. I cater to the crowd. Some of my songs are blues, some are pop and some are country crossovers. It’s always different and it’s a lot of fun. My job is to get the audience going. It’s not about me. I’ve been writing for eight years, so I have a lot of material from different times in my life. by ALISON RICHTER photo Deb “Dr. Deb” Hemingway
See The Show WHO Jim Perkins Double CD Release Show + Sibling String WHERE Sky City WHEN Saturday, March 19 | 8:30 p.m. TICKETS $5 COVER ENCORE Jim Perkins opens for Zach Myers on March 22 at the Vue.
MORE | JIMPERKINSLIVE.COM
vergelive.com | community driven news | March 16, 2011 21
22 March 16, 2011 | community driven news| vergelive.com
LIVE MUSIC: SHINEDOWN’S ZACH MYERS
How (Soul)Low Can You Go When Zach Meyers Goes Acoustic?
When Zach Myers and Ingram Hill’s Chris Allen describe their tour as “acoustic,” they mean it in the truest sense: two men, one piano and two Taylor acoustic guitars: a 914 for Allen and a custom 814 style for Myers — a birthday present from Bob Taylor. Myers is best known as the guitarist for multi-platinum rock band Shinedown, one of the few groups who consistently sell out concerts, move CDs and place single after single at the top of the charts. They completed a successful acoustic tour last year and, according to Myers, are now at work on new material. Zach Myers spoke to verge about what audiences can expect on March 22 at his “souLLow” acoustic show at The Vue. VERGE: How did this tour come together? MYERS: I’ve known Chris for ten years, and it started with us kind of wanting to go out on the road. We’ve been in a band [The Fairwell] together for a long time, and in other touring bands, our drummer is in 12 Stones, everybody is in signed bands and now we’re this little supergroup by default. We had time off and decided to get in the car, drive around and play shows like we used to before we had tour buses. We wanted something kind of like being in our living room, where people can sit and be comfortable.
ZACH MYERS (FAR RIGHT) WITH HIS MAIN GIG SHINEDOWN
“The point of our band is that we believe in ourselves, our fans believe in us and we believe in our fans.” – ZACH MYERS OF SHINEDOWN
it works. We know 500 or 600 songs and we play whatever we decide, whether it’s Tom Petty or Johnny Cash. We go off on anything. There’s no schedule to the set, and the arrangements are all bare bones with no alternate tunings. The shows will go for an hour or until the place closes. VERGE: In a video interview, you mentioned having severe back trouble. This being an acoustic tour, are you seated during the performances? If so, does that offer some relief? MYERS: The back pain is always there and it has become a known thing. I’ve been touring for so long that my back is wrecked. I’m standing during the whole acoustic set. I can sing better when I’m standing. VERGE: Do you have additional plans for this project or is Shinedown at work on a new album?
VERGE: How does Chris challenge you as a guitarist and performer?
MYERS: No, not for this group. We’ve [already] written 14 songs for the next Shinedown album and we’ll write close to 40.
MYERS: Chris has kind of come into his own as a guitar player. He is a great singer, better than I am, and we help each other and accentuate each other. Playing with someone who is better than you are is always challenging. He challenges me vocally, I challenge him on guitar and our voices are nice together. We do this all the time at home and we thought it would be cool to do it on the road. It’s been different in the touring sense, but it feels great and it’s a lot of fun. It’s been a new experience and people are enjoying it. I’m glad it worked out.
VERGE: The industry is in the toilet, music is being stolen, concert tickets are not selling and most artists are feeling the effects. Shinedown, on the other hand, had six number one singles off of The Sound Of Madness, spent almost two years on the road, played 497 shows and those venues were not empty. Why you?
VERGE: You practice daily, so presumably no woodshedding was required for this tour. You also have no set list. Do you call songs onstage? Decide before the show? How do you work out the arrangements? MYERS: There was song woodshedding because we don’t know what we’re going to play, so when we go to the hotel after soundcheck — I’ve written a lot of songs for other artists, as has Chris, so it’s “What if we play this tonight?” We try it and see if
See The Show
MYERS: Because we care about what our fans think. We show up, do our jobs and interact with our fans. They know us, they love us, they come back and we remember them. And because it’s our time. We worked forever to do this and we finally honed our craft of writing and other things. It’s our time. It still is. We love what we do, and as long as you’re honest, you’ll stay. We’re honest with our fans and we don’t hide anything. The point of our band is that we believe in ourselves, our fans believe in us and we believe in our fans by ALISON RICHTER photo FILE
WHO Zach Myers and Chris Allen’s “souLLow acoustic 2011” Tour with special guests Jim Perkins, Uncrowned and Souls Harbor WHERE The Vue | 469 Highland Ave. WHEN Tuesday, March 22 | 8:30 p.m. TICKETS $10 ADV | $13 Day of Show BUY TIX Rock Bottom Music | 706.724.1172 | ROCKBOTTOMMUSIC.COM
FREE MEET & GREET Meet Zach and Chris at Rock Bottom Music’s all-ages meet & greet Tuesday, March 22 at 5:30 p.m.
MORE | iamzachmyers.tumblr.com
vergelive.com | community driven news | March 16, 2011 23
ASK DR. KARP Salt Adds More Than Flavor Suzy in Olde Town asks…
“How much salt should we eat?” Thanks for asking this question, Suzy. It turns out, in January 2011, the new dietary guidelines were finalized and released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Check out MYPYRAMID.GOV to read these guidelines and plan your own eating. This is a free and wonderful website based on science, not product endorsements. One of the major points of the new guidelines is to make Americans more aware of the sodium we are eating. First, what is the difference between sodium and salt? Salt has both sodium and chloride in it (remember seventh grade science?). However, since salt is 40% sodium, it means that the most common thing we eat that is high sodium is … salt. The new USDA guidelines urge us all to reduce daily sodium intake to less than 2300 milligrams of sodium (about 1 teaspoon of salt). In addition, for those of us who are African-American or have high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease, the recommendation for the daily intake of sodium has been lowered to 1500 mg, which is about ¾ teaspoon of salt. Believe it or not, this 1500 mg/day recommendation applies to about half of the people presently living in the United States, including children and the majority of adults. Of course, all living things need some salt, but you need very little in your diet. The sodium part of the salt is needed for muscles to contract, for nerve impulses to work normally and for the liquids in your body to be in balance. Think about the salt licks that animals seek out. The problem is that excess salt intake increases your risk for high blood pressure, heart attacks and stroke. This, along with being overweight and inactive, can have quite a big effect on your health and happiness. Americans are presently eating about two-to-four times the amount of salt that we should be eating. Where does all this salt come from? It doesn’t come from the original food, itself. Fruits and veggies contain very little salt. The salt comes from what we are adding while we are cooking, when we sprinkle salt at the table, the salt used in restaurant food (usually high in salt) and the salt used in store-bought “convenience, pre-prepared” and canned foods. In addition, foods like mustard, ketchup, pretzels, chips, pickles and luncheon meats … all of these are also high in salt. It is actually quite easy to cut down on the amount of salt you are eating each day. Here are some quick, easy suggestions for lowering salt in what you eat: 1. Do not salt food without tasting it and then add less. Take the saltshaker off the table. You can use all the pepper and spices you want. 2. Eat more meals at home and start with fresh food, not pre-prepared foods such as those frozen entrees and “TV” dinners. Follow the KIS rule. Keep It Simple. 3. When you are opening up canned foods, toss the contents of the can into a strainer and run water over it for a few seconds. This will wash away a lot of the salt (and extra sugar) used in canning. This is an easy habit to get into and it will become something you will do automatically. 4. When using salt substitutes, be aware of the sodium content. Read the nutrition label. Some spices, for example, contain salt along with the spices. Also, sea salt may be more flavorful because of the presence of other flavors in the sea which get into the salt, but, beware, you still need to read the nutrition label and understand the sodium content of the sea salt you are using. Sea salt has the same amount of sodium as table salt, but you may be able to add a little less because of the other flavors. 5. Do not eat so many chips, pretzels and pickles and do not use so much ketchup, soy sauce, marinades and mustard. Surprise, surprise! Ketchup is not a food group (tomatoes), it is an “others” … a condiment high in salt. If you think that foods have to taste like cardboard if you cut down on the salt, I have published a special herb and spice guide (Foods Can Taste Great With Less Salt, Fat and Sugar) which you can read and download, for free, at: SITES.GOOGLE.COM/SITE/KARPSALT. Great food can be both tasty and low in salt! Try it — you’ll like it! by DR. WARREN KARP Ask Dr. Karp focuses on food, diet and nutrition. Dr. Warren Karp is Professor Emeritus at The Medical College of Georgia. If you have a question you would like answered in this column, email him at DrKarp@vergelive.com or visit either his Facebook page:
facebook.com/AskDrKarpor website at sites.google.com/site/drkarpverge/.
24 March 16, 2011 | community driven news| vergelive.com
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WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
March 16 to March 30
[ FAT PIG ]
Neil LaBute is a known as a probing, piercing and often dark playwright, whose plays explore the underbelly of ordinary men’s souls, minds and experiences. This is fully evident in Fat Pig, an exploration of our cultures’ expectations of physical beauty, presented by Augusta State University Theatre and directed by Carolyn Cope. The play tells the story of Tom, a young man who falls in love with Helen, a librarian who is overweight, and therefore “doesn’t fit” the usual expectations for an attractive girlfriend of the handsome, in-shape Tom. Between the insults of Tom’s friend Carter and Tom’s own struggle between his feelings for Helen and his friends’ (not to mention his own) acceptance of her, the story takes a dramatic and bleak but not humorless prodding at the theme of how society treats people who are overweight. — SKYLER ANDREWS WHERE Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre, ASU WHEN March 24 to 26 at 8 p.m. and March 27 at 3 p.m. MORE | 706.667.4100 maxwelltheatre.aug.edu
The Daily Planner is our selective guide to what is going on in the city during the next two weeks. IF YOU WANT TO BE LISTED: Submit information by email (info@vergelive.com) or by mail (verge, P.O. Box 38, Augusta, GA 30903). Details of the event - date, time, venue address, telephone number and admission price - should be included. Listings included are accurate at press time, check with specific venues for further details.
WEDNESDAY
3.16
VARIETY Anderson Senior Follies presents Star Spangled Delight
A powerhouse of fun through song, dance and comedy honoring the stars of Broadway, main street and the women and men of our armed forces. 7 p.m., free, Fort Gordon, 706.791.4389 FORTGORDON.COM
THURSDAY
3.17
LITERARY SANDHILLS WRITERS CONFERENCE
Readings by Literary Augusta, Laurel Blossom and Karen White. 10 a.m., free, Augusta State University, 706.737.1405 SANDHILLS.AUG.EDU
FESTIVAL ST. PATRICK’S DAY Celebration
Live entertainment and children’s activities. 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., free, Augusta Common, 706.821.1754 AUGUSTAGA.GOV
FOLK POP JENNIFER DANIELS
7:30 p.m., $5, Le Chat Noir 304 8th St., 706.722.3322
LITERARY James and Mary Oswald Distinguished Writers Series
Authors: Percival Everett & Sue Monk Kidd. 8 p.m., Free, ticket required, Etherredge Center, USCA, 803.641.3305 USCA.EDU
COMEDY The Passing Zone 8 p.m., $40, URS Center for the Performing Arts Aiken, 803.643.4774
FRIDAY
3.18 LITERARY SCRIPT FRENZY
Challenge yourself to write a script in a month. 2 p.m., free, Aiken County Library, 803.642.2020 YWP.SCRIPTFRENZY.ORG
FESTIVAL Artists’ Market Reception
Meet the artists of the Gertrude Herbert Spring Artists’ Market. 6 p.m., free, 506 Telfair St., 706.722.5495 GHIA.ORG
COWBOY POPS! AT THE BELL: RIDERS IN THE SKY The legendary Riders in the Sky return to town to perform their
classic songs and offbeat, campy humor. 7:30 p.m., $25 to $45, Bell Auditorium, 706.826.4705 AUGUSTASYMPHONY.ORG
CHORAL Carol Barnett’s “The World Beloved”
A unique work which blends classical, sacred themes and the rollicking sounds of Appalachia, featuring the bluegrass sounds of Carl Purdy and Custer’s Last Band. 7:30 p.m., $10 to $15, First Baptist Church of Evans, 706.650.2311 SEE THE FULL STORY ON PAGE 11
SPORTS Augusta Riverhawks vs. Knoxville Ice Bears
GOOD CAUSE Paws in the Park
CSRA Humane Society’s Annual Pet Walk. Bring your pet or walk an adoptable shelter pet for a $5 donation. 9:30 a.m., donations, 425 Wood St., 706.261.PETS CSRAHUMANESOCIETY.ORG
LITERARY Appleby Library Book Sale
10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Free, 2260 Walton Way, 706.736.6244 ECGRL.ORG
FESTIVAL Spring Artists’ Festival Family Day
7:30 p.m., $12 to $18, James Brown Arena, 706.993.2645, AUGUSTARIVERHAWKS.COM
Artists’ market, artist demonstrations, hands-on children’s art activities and free refreshments. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Free, Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art, 706.722.5495 GHIA.ORG
COMEDY The Passing Zone
FOR KIDS Afternoon with Tina Terry
8 p.m., $40, URS Center for the Performing Arts Aiken, 803.643.4774
FILM Movies on the Lawn: Mary Poppins
Bring your blanket, lawn chairs and picnic to enjoy an evening with the family under the stars. At dark, Free, Boeckh Park, Hammond’s Ferry, 706.738.7006
SATURDAY
3.19
GOOD CAUSE WALK MS A 5k fundraising walk that benefits the National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Georgia Chapter. 9 a.m., Free, Lake Olmstead Park, 706.832.2300
The popular NBC 26 news anchor will read books and host
a full stage puppet show. 2:30 p.m., Free, Headquarters Library, 706.821.2600 ECGRL.COM
FOOD & WINE Argentine Wine Tasting Dinner
Four course Argentinean-themed dinner with wine pairings and tango performances. 6:30 p.m., $50 (pre-paid registration only), Casa Blanca Café, 706.504.3431 CASABLANCATIME.COM
CHRISTIAN KEN MEDEMA
Benefit concert for Interfaith Hospitality Network of Augusta, a program for area homeless. 7 p.m., $10, First Baptist Church of Augusta, 706.364.4462 INTERFAITH-NETWORK.COM
SPORTS Augusta Riverhawks vs. Huntsville Havoc
7:30 p.m., $12 to $18, James Brown Arena, 706.993.2645, AUGUSTARIVERHAWKS.COM
ROCK JIM PERKINS DOUBLE CD RELEASE
With Sibling String 9 p.m., $5, Sky City, 706.945.1270 ROCKBOTTOMMUSIC.COM
NATURE Full Moon Hike Search for animals such as owls, frogs, beavers and bats by nature’s brightest night light. 9 p.m., $6 to $10, Phinizy Swamp Nature Park, 706.828.2109
SUNDAY
3.20 CLASSICAL DUO INTERMEZZO
Pianist Kevin Pollock and cellist Ruth Berry present As Time Goes By, a concert that celebrates the importance of music in the cycles of our lives. 2 p.m., Free, One 10th Street, 706.724.7501 THEMORRIS.ORG
[ A WOMAN, A GUN AND A NOODLE SHOP ] Movie fans know and love the Coen brothers for their writing, directing and overall creative genius on films like Fargo, The Big Lebowski, Raising Arizona, O Brother Where Art Thou? and True Grit. Before churning out all those contemporary classics, Joel and Ethan Coen hit the Hollywood scene in 1984 with Blood Simple. The film noir-esque story about a jealous, rich man who hired a hit man to murder his wife and her lover starred Frances McDormand (who is married to Joel Coen) and Dan Hedaya. A 2009 Chinese remake of the film, A WOMAN, A GUN AND A NOODLE SHOP, will be screened as part of ASU’s Spring Film Series. The remake was directed by Yimou Zhang, who is best known for the Jet Li vehicle Hero and 2004’s House of Flying Daggers. — MARIAH GARDNER
WHERE Augusta State University Hall, Room 170 WHEN Monday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m. | Free MORE | 706.729.2417 AUG.EDU
vergelive.com | community driven news | March 16, 2011 25
THE INK WELL
SUNDAY
3.20
Stretch Your Brain Cells Papa's Gems by Myles Mellor and Sally York
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McKinnon will discuss and sign copies of Our Women in the (Civil) War, a collection of articles written by South Carolina women about their experience of the Civil War, originally printed in newspapers of the 1870’s. 3:30 p.m., Free, Aiken County Library, 803.642.2020 ABBE-LIB.ORG
TUESDAY
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LITERARY MEET THE AUTHOR: William McKinnon
3.22
CLASSICAL Tuesdays Music Live: Anglin Celtic Duo
The season finale. Noon, Free ($10 for lunch), St. Paul’s Church, 706.722.2485 TUESDAYSMUSICLIVE.COM
40. Young falcon Down 42. Lots 46. Napa Valley area1. Prig 48. Sting ROCK ZACH MYERS ALL 49. Certain inmate 2. French Sudan, today 50. Empty 3. Betting dataAGES MEET & GREET 5:30 p.m., Free, Rock Bottom 51. Kind of pool 4. Beer garnishMusic, 754 Broad St., 52. “Give It To You” rapper 5. ___ housing706.724.1172 54. Illuminated 55. Muzzle ___" 6. "Harper Valley FILM MOVIES AT MAIN: 57. Blown away THE SOCIAL NETWORK Ashes holder 7. 59. Hombre’s home 60. “Iliad” warrior 8. Logic game6:30 p.m., Free, Headquarters Library ECGRL.ORG 61. Blue books? 9. "La Scala di ___" (Rossini opera) 62. See GOOD CAUSE North 64. Go horizontal 10. Inscribed stone Augusta Idol 2011 65. Directed
11. Greek moralist Watch North Augusta’s finest
and help benefit the El 12. Artist, with perform North Augusta Arts’ Council 30. Hoodlum 13. Sinuous Arts Scholarship Program. Fuse 18. ___ degree 7 p.m., $5, North Augusta by MYLES MELLOR32. | Find the solution to this issue’s puzzle at VERGELIVE.BLOGSPOT.COM 35. Sniff out 19. "48___" High School, 803.442.7588 NAARTSCOUNCIL.ORG
DIGITAL JUKEBOX
The Songs that Inspired Us (This Issue)
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THURSDAY
3.24
HISTORY Lewis & Clark: The Journey
With Dr. Dorothy Pratt, University of South Carolina. 6:30 p.m., Free, Headquarters Library, 706.821.2600 ECGRL.ORG
THEATRE GREASE
Augusta Prep presents the rock and roll world of 1950s high school in this energetic musical love story. 7 p.m., $10 to $12, Augusta Prep, 706.863.1906 AUGUSTAPREP.ORG
FRIDAY
3.25
ART Art at Lunch: The Syntax of Objects Augusta artist Kath Girdler Engler discusses her unique sculptural creations. Paid reservations due by March 23. Noon, $10 to $14, The Morris Museum of Art, 706.724.7501 THEMORRIS.ORG
FILM Diary of A Wimpy Kid
4 p.m., Free, Nancy Carson Library, 803.279.5767 ABBE-LIB.ORG
COMEDY Schrodinger’s Cat Party Bus 4:30 p.m., $50, Meet at Le Chat Noir, 706.722.3322 LCNAUGUSTA.COM
1 2 3 4 5
‘78 by Michael Monroe
Big hair will make a comeback when Sensory Overdrive is released on March 14. — John “Stoney” Cannon
PROSELYTIZER by Hans Darkbolt
Fantasy rock is the trademark of this Athens band. From Hans Darkbolt vs. The Beginning — Dino Lull
THE KREUTZER SONATA by Ludwig van Beethoven Rediscovering
my love for classical music led me to Sonata No. 9. — Lara Plocha
Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles The Beatles
continue to inspire us. This song set the bar for psychedelic rock, while raising the image of a child’s playworld. — Christopher Selmek
26 March 16, 2011 | community driven news| vergelive.com
3.23
AMERICANA ROBERT EARL KEEN
With his latest album, The Rose Hotel (which hit #1 on the Americana charts), Keen re-confirms his place among the Lone Star State’s great storytellers, capable of painting rich, poignant landscapes worthy of Cormac McCarthy and spinning satirical yarns that would do Kinky Friedman proud. 7:30 p.m., $12 to $22, Imperial Theatre, 706.722.8341 IMPERIAL THEATRE.COM
Roll the dice for the Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta while enjoying dinner by Olive Garden and a cash bar. 7 p.m.., $35, The Boathouse, Augusta Marina, 803.441.4380
CLASSICAL Symphony Augusta: Mahler’s Titan 8 p.m., $40, Etherredge Center, USCA, 803.641.3305 USCA.EDU
COMEDY The Beards of Comedy 10 p.m., $10, Sky City, 706.945.1270 SKYCITYAUGUSTA.COM
SATURDAY
3.26
GOOD CAUSE Tri-Annual Yard Sale
Giant yard sale to support When Help Can’t Wait. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Free, 3822 Commercial Court, 706.855.0715 WHENHELPCANTWAIT.COM
LITERARY BOOKS Alive with Gary Paulson
Book fair plus carnival games, pony rides and Cowboy Mike. Book signing by Gary Paulson, author of Hatchet at 11 a.m. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Free, Columbia County Library, 706.863.1946
NATURE Discovery Walk: “Fly Away Home”
EDUCATION Black History Quiz Bowl
Watch area student teams test their knowledge on American and Black History. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Free, Lucy Craft Laney Museum, 706.724.3576
WEDNESDAY
Spektor’s anthem is “contagious.” From the (500) Days of Summer soundtrack (2009). — Mariah Gardner
GOOD CAUSE Rollin’ on the River: Casino Night
Look and listen for year-round residents and migrating birds. 10 a.m., $1 to $2, Augusta Waterworks Raw Water Pumping Station, 706.823.0440 AUGUSTACANAL.COM
ROCK ROCK SOULLOW ACOUSTIC TOUR with ZACH MYER + opener JIM PERKINS
8 p.m., $10, The Vue, 706.724.1172 ROCKBOTTOMMUSIC.COM
US by Regina Spektor
enjoying fresh, steamed, roasted and raw oysters. 7 p.m., $35 ($60 per couple), Daniel Field Airport, 706.737.4631
FESTIVAL Yellow Jessamine Festival
Live music, refreshments and games for kids. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Free, Jackson Square, North Augusta, 803.441.4300 NORTHAUGUSTA.NET
THEATRE GREASE
7 p.m., $10 to $12, Augusta Prep Day School, 706.863.1906 AUGUSTAPREP.ORG
GOOD CAUSE Cookin’ for Kids Oyster Roast
A benefit dinner for Child Enrichment – serving our area’s abused and neglected. Rock to the music of The Toasters while
FESTIVAL Colonial Dancing AND Blacksmithing
Experience demonstrations and hands-on activities of the colonial past. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Free, The Living History Park, North Augusta, 803.279.7560 COLONIALTIMES.US
FESTIVAL Yellow Jessamine Festival
Come out for a “Bloomin’ Good Time” at this annual arts and music festival. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Free, Georgia Ave., North Augusta, 803.441.4300 NORTHAUGUSTA.NET
the
night
daily planner
[ GUSTAV MAHLER + PHILIP GLASS ]
A SELECTIVE GUIDE TO NIGHTLIFE IN THE CSRA
THURSDAY MAR. 17
The Symphony Orchestra Augusta brings a trio of works in its Series #4. Inspired by such icons as Elvis Presley and pink flamingo lawn ornaments, Michael Daugherty’s Route 66 is an energetic musical journey down the famous highway. Phillip Glass – known for his soundtracks in The Truman Show, Notes on a Scandal and The Hours, highlights different small sections of the orchestra in his Concerto Grosso, showing off the many varied and wonderful textures of the symphony. Closing out the program, Maestro Z continues his Mahler cycle with the jubilant Titan. Full of childhood songs, this work evokes the sights and sounds of growing up in an Austrian forest.
SAINT PATTY’S DAY CELEBRATION @ The
Playground with Electric Voodoo | 10 p.m., free
ST. PATTY’S DAY 80’S NIGHT @ Sky City | 9 p.m., $5 ST. PATTY’S DAY MUSIC FEST @ Soul Bar with Matthew
Acosta + Funk You + Shaun Piazza Band + DJ’s Joycette & K-Flossy | Starts after the parade
WHERE First Baptist Church of Augusta WHEN Saturday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m. | $14 to $42 MORE | 706.826.4705 AUGUSTASYMPHONY.ORG
PHILIP GLASS
Come to the Sock Hop Matinee in 1950’s attire at 1 p.m. and join the actors onstage before the matinee performance. 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., $10 to $12, Augusta Prep Day School, 706.863.1906 AUGUSTAPREP.ORG
3.29
FILM MOVIES AT MAIN: Catfish (PG13)
6:30 p.m., Free, Headquarters Library, 706.821.2600 AUG.EDU
Bucktown Kickback @ Stillwater Taproom | 10 p.m., $4
WEDNESDAY, MAR. 23
DJ 3xT @ Metro Coffee & Pub
BANNED IN TWO STATES @
The Playground | 10 p.m., $4
ROMANCE LANGUAGES
[ THE AVETT BROTHERS ] Known for rowdy, energetic live shows and raw, honest lyrics, The Avett Brothers have amassed an impressive following by busting banjo and guitar strings on stage across the states. These North Carolina natives blend folk, country, bluegrass, rock and pop with occasionally hint of the brothers’ punk roots. Langhorne Slim opens.
WHERE Bell Auditorium WHEN Sunday March 27 at 8 p.m. | $35 MORE | 877.4AUGTIX SKYCITYAUGUSTA.COM LITERARY Let’s Talk About It: The Private Mary Chestnut
A book discussion with professor Maggi Morehouse. 7 p.m., Free, 803.642.2020 ABBE-LIB.ORG
CUBAN Juan de Marcos & The Afro-Cuban All Stars Juan de Marcos
González had long harboured a dream to put together a band combining the old masters and the new generation of Cuban musicians. This band became The Afro-Cuban All Stars. 7 p.m., $15, ASU Maxwell Theatre, 706.667.4100 ASU.EDU
WEDNESDAY
3.30 JAZZ USCA Jazz Band
7 p.m., Free, Etherredge Center, USCA, 803.641.3305 USCA.EDU
ONGOING
ART
ART Malaika Favorite: Retrospective of a Hardback Woman
Lucy Craft Laney Museum, ends March 30, $2 to $5, 706.724.3576
ART The Return of the Wanderer: Boyd Saunders
Nuklear Blast Suntan @ Soul Bar | 10 p.m., $5
THURSDAY, MAR. 24 SAMI.THE.GREAT @ Sky City with Matthew Buzzell 10 p.m., $5
JAZZ-TINI THURSDAY @ One
SATURDAY, MAR. 19
3 p.m., $1 to $2, Augusta Waterworks Raw Water Pumping Station, 706.823.0440 AUGUSTACANAL.COM
TUESDAY
Shreck | 6 p.m.
10 p.m.
NATURE Discovery Walk: “Fly Away Home”
Long before the world even knew what a viral video was, Jack Rebney was the star of a production that would ultimately become a YouTube sensation. An f-bomb-heavy outtake reel from a Winnebago sales video filmed in 1988 eventually racked up millions of views online, with viewers giving Rebney the unflattering title, “The Angriest Man in the World.” Filmmaker Ben Steinbauer found Rebney for a “where are they now” style documentary that opened in 2009 at SXSW. WINNEBAGO MAN is Steinbauer’s look at the viral video star some twenty years later and it found him living as a likable hermit who was not fully aware of his 21st century fame. — MARIAH GARDNER 7 p.m., Free, ASU University Hall Room 170, 706.729.2417 ASU.EDU
JAZZ @ The Willcox with Hal
$5 (ladies free)
3.27
GO Sky City on Saturday, March 26 at 10 p.m. | $5
with FUZZ & MAC | 10 p.m., $5
Pop Life @ Soul Bar | 10 p.m.,
SUNDAY
[ MY INSTANT LUNCH ]
HIP HOP NIGHT @ Sky City
Playground | 10 p.m., free
7 p.m., $25 to $45, Star “Regulus” Ballroom, 706.504.4951
FILM WINNEBAGO MAN
Coffee House & Pub with The Endalls | 10 p.m.
Lexi’s Legacy Acoustapalooza @ The
PARTY “One Night with the King” Masquerade
3.28
ST. PATTY’S DAY @ Metro
FRIDAY MAR. 18
THEATRE GREASE
MONDAY
life
THRU March 30
Hundred Laurens with Mike Frost Jazz Trio | 9 p.m. 10 p.m., Free
FRIDAY, MAR. 25
@ Soul Bar with DJ Matthew Buzzell | 10 p.m., $5
EFREN @ Stillwater Taproom 10 p.m, $4
JAZZ @ Tribeca with Anderson-
DOC CROSSHAIR @ The
Cruz-Shaw | 10 p.m.
Playground | 10 p.m., Free
JOE STEVENSON BAND @
DISCO HELL @ Soul Bar
Metro Coffee House & Pub 10 p.m.
TUESDAY, MAR. 22 ACOUSTIC DRAUGHT @ Metro Coffee House & Pub with Josh Pierce 10 p.m.
10 p.m., $5 (ladies free)
ACOUSTIC DRAUGHT @ Metro Coffee House & Pub with Jacob Beltz 10 p.m.
TUESDAY, MAR. 29 Metro Coffee House & Pub @ 1054 Broad St., 706.722.6468
FIND THE VENUE One Hundred Laurens @ 235 Richland Ave., Aiken, 803.648.4265
THE PLAYGROUND @ 978 Broad St., 706.724.2232 SKY CITY @ 1157 Broad St., 706.945.1270
SOUL BAR @ 984 Broad St., 706.724.8880
STILLWATER TAP ROOM @ 974 Broad St., 706.826.9857
TRIBECA @ 968 Broad St., 706.828.4433 THE WILLCOX @ 100 Colleton
SATURDAY, MAR. 26
Ave. SW, Aiken, 803.648.1898
DJ FUGI @ The Playground 10 p.m., Free
GET LISTED: Submit information by email (info@ vergelive.com) with complete details.
SIBLING STRING @ Metro Coffee House & Pub
THE PROFILER The Fencesitters
MEMBERS Linear North and Polyphase GENRE Electro House/Drum and Bass INFLUENCE Early 1990’s Techno/Rave culture NEXT SHOW March 18 | 8 p.m. | $5 Be Your Own Superhero Show at Sector 7G with a costume contest and glow booth.
HISTORY Since 1993. At Sector 7G for 4 years. AUDIENCE “It’s an atmosphere where people can be whatever they want to be for one night.” QUIRKS Each party has a different theme. The recent Blacklight Ultraviolence party had Linear
Morris Museum of Art, ends April 10, $3 to $5, 706.724.7501
North and Polyphase dressed as droogs from A Clockwork Orange.
ART Bea Kuhkle
the Augusta area, working with each other and playing off the quirks each brings to the table.
Sacred Heart, ends May 2, 706.826.4700
ART I Will Tell You a Place: Paintings by Brian Rutenberg
Morris Museum of Art, ends May 15, $3 to $5, 706.724.7501
HORIZON The Fence Sitters will keep the pure underground spirit of the rave culture alive in What’s next: The Fence Sitters, composed of DJ’s Linear North and Polyphase, will keep the pure underground spirit of the rave culture alive in the Augusta area, working with each other and playing off the quirks each brings to the table.
WHY AUGUSTA The current scene is like the early days “when people cared about the music. It’s a testament to the raves we throw that there has been no trouble at all.”
IF YOU LIKE techno/dance music, you will like the Fence Sitters. D.I.Y. THEFENCESITTERS.COM
vergelive.com | community driven news | March 16, 2011 27
Your Number 1 source for everything tobacco Domestic, Traditional and Non-traditional tobaccos CSRA’s Largest selection of Hand Blown Glass Glass Artist on Staff Huge collection of Exotic Smoking Accessories
28 March 16, 2011 | community driven news| vergelive.com
SOUND BITES
Lokal Music Musings Before I “drop a boot” down on the distortion pedal and tear into another blast of music news, I would like to toss out big congrats to award winning guitarist JOHN BERRET and his gal STACY MORBACH. It has not been that long since Berret popped the question and, in about a month, the happy twosome will collaborate on a marital composition en route to a lifetime of making beautiful music together. When Berret is not busy planning his upcoming nuptials, you can find him at Rock Bottom Music prepping the next generation of guitar players for Augusta stages and online via his great blog at johnberretmusic.blogspot.com. If you have been digging the onslaught of 1980’s Sunset Strip bands that have been invading Augusta lately, then get your lighters and hairspray ready (but not too close to each other) because, according to Rock Bottom Music’s Jonathan Karow, the Strip’s very own FASTER PUSSYCAT have just been confirmed for May 19 at Sky City. TAIME DOWNE and the boys look to turn the downtown venue into their very own “House of Pain.” I am curious to see how many numbers are going to be left on the “Bathroom Wall” when the show is over. Details upcoming at skycityaugusta.com.
SUGARLAND
Speaking of recently announced shows, I received word that former Soul Miner’s Daughter front-gal JENNIFER NETTLES will be returning to an Augusta stage on June 23 when she brings her award-winning band SUGARLAND to the James Brown Arena. Since her days packing in the Augusta clubs with her old band, Nettles has enjoyed mega-country stardom, even at one point adding vocals to Bon Jovi album Have a Nice Day. Get your tickets before they sell out at JAMESBROWNARENA.com. Though July seems far away, submissions are already being accepted for the 2011 edition of 12 BANDS OF CHRISTMAS. Why so early? This year organizers are shooting for an all-original compilation. Artists can go to 12bands.org for info. Deadline for submissions is April 30. It is time to fire up the turntable, slide on the big muff earphones and crank out some tunes. Until next time, check out the new verge DAILY PLANNER for great live shows. To get an earful of what is happening in Augusta music, listen to me rant with my good buddy Brian “Stak” Allen each week on CONfederation of LOUDness which can be found, ironically enough, at confederationofloudness.com and of course as always… Make it LOKAL, Keep it Loud. by JOHN “STONEY” CANNON To keep up with what’s going down in Augusta music, check out Stoney’s long-running website LOKALLOUDNESS.COM.
The next issue of VERGE hits the newstands on
MARCH 30 Look for Our Outdoor Racks or Find Your Copy At Publix | EarthFare New Moon Cafe and Over 150 Locations Throughout the CSRA
THE LAST WORD
Break Out of Your Comfort Zone Box lunch and any pastoral lesson has long been forgotten before dinner is served.
Comfort zones. We all have them — men and women, young and old. They may fluctuate from time-to-time and vary from person-to -person but, in general, they serve as a “home base” and offer a blanket of protection from fear of the unknown. Wikipedia describes a “comfort zone” as an “anxietyneutral behavior in which a person employs a limited set of behaviors for a safe and steady state of performance, usually without a sense of risk” (White, 2009). Accordingly, in order to step outside one’s comfort zone, one must modify personal behavior and explore new environments. Recently, a three-year-old prompted me to examine my own comfort zones. While it is true that “kids say the darndest things,” it was neither the humor nor vulnerability of the child’s statement that placed it on my brain and heart. Rather, it is the veracity of the toddler’s rant that has sounded alarms in my own life. Candor often creates the best comedy and here is how the lesson unfolded. While I realize that we are supposed to learn something each week at church, for me at least, that doesn’t always happen. Sometimes, simply taking the pastor’s message from the pew to the parking lot – let alone applying it to my daily life thereafter – doesn’t always happen either. Sometimes my soul and stomach unite to inform my brain where to head for
But last Sunday was different. This time the lesson came from the mouth of a babe and was in terms in which I can relate. The message was delivered long before the “official” church service began and was offered in the nursery, rather than the sanctuary. A young toddler, decidedly uncomfortable with his abandonment in the unfamiliar church nursery declared, “But I wanna’ go to Gamma’s house, not God’s house,” when he noticed that his mommy and gramma were sneaking away to go to adult service. While my heart sympathized with him, my mind told me that I was no different. For while it is mostly true that we adults do not express our feelings in heart-wrenching, yet adorable little rants, each of us has a personal comfort zone to which we long to return. Simply put, kids are more likely to tell the truth than we adults. While it is hard to admit that we knowingly place limitations on ourselves, it must indeed be a very human or natural inclination — otherwise we would have no use for slogans like “think outside the box” or “break the mold,” without comfort zones and the desire to break free from them once in a while, there would be no need for New Year Resolutions or self help books! In closing, a precious young boy taught me a valuable lesson that I would like to pass along to you: it is wise to reexamine and to challenge our comfort zones. The toddler taught me a second, equally simple yet valuable lesson – we are never too young to teach and never too old to learn. by KRIS COOK Kris Cook is a freelance writer who speaks from the heart and shoots from the hip. Clearly, she spends way too much time pondering the peculiarities of everyday life. kriscook@ymail.com
Parting Shot
Ed Turner’s Passion for the Beatles & Dogs In February 1964, fourth grad student Ed Turner was watching the Ed Sullivan Show. It was a night that would change music history and redirect the lives of countless youngsters: the Beatles performed. By the time the show aired, Turner was already familiar with the songs and what he remembers as “those beautiful harmonies.” But watching the band transfixed him. “I saw the girls screaming for these guys and it made me go, ‘I want to do that!’” he says. “Then something happened to make me like them even more: my father hated them and I thought, ‘That’s for me!’ That was all the affirmation I needed.” Fast-forward to 2011, and Ed Turner, like millions of music fans of all ages, is still enamored of “those beautiful harmonies” and recordings of the 1960’s and 1970’s. Those are the songs you will hear when his new project, Up Close and Impersonal, performs at Le Chat Noir on March 18, 19, 25 and 26. Turner, Roger Davis, Zach Swenson, Duane Wilson and Ronnie Hill will cover everything form Badfinger to Elvin Bishop, songs that were staples during Turner’s 28 years in radio. “There’s a term we have in radio called the ‘wow factor,’” he explains. “It’s that rare occasion when they play a song you haven’t heard in years and it takes you back to an old home, friend or experience. We’re going to try to recreate that onstage.” Up Close and Impersonal, like Turner’s previous band, Number 9, is performing to raise funds for the Humane Society. Number 9 raised over a quarter of a million dollars to
TURNER’S INSPIRATION
help local abused, abandoned and homeless animals during their five-year run. The concept makes perfect sense to Turner. “You can reach everybody through animals,” he says. “You hear stories about people who have not spoken a word in years but a musician plays a song from their childhood and they begin to sing. You tell me that’s not magic. Dogs are magic — real magic. They are God’s creatures and have every right to be here — as much as we do.” Therefore, Up Close and Impersonal will carry on the tradition, because for Turner, there is no other way. “I can’t say no to animals,” he says. “I live across the street from the shelter. I hear them bark. My conscience would not allow me to abandon them.” | by ALISON RICHTER EDITOR’S NOTE All four of Turner’s upcoming shows at Le Chat Noir are sold out.
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