Metro Spirit 07.04.2013 by Metro Spirit

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WHINELINE Paula Dean is simply a target of people that have nothing else to complain about anymore. Travon Martin wasn’t eating Skittles when he ran into trouble that night. He was taking them to make a concoction of codeine

and candy that he was so familiar with that he had pictures of it on his phone. Plus, he wasn’t heading home because his Mom kicked him out of the house when officers brought him home for skipping school. Maybe that’s why he was so angry.

To suggest that rioting is in order if George Zimmerman is exonerated is nothing short of a purely barbaric mindset. People like you don’t belong here.

o r t e m IRIT SP

So, exactly how much money, her happy. I guess if the did we the taxpayers fork whiner is unhappy, everyone over to Regent University of else should be too? Virginia, to settle the lawsuit for the use of a name that (continued on page 30) no one in the community, besides Dr. Azziz wanted anyway?

Your website needs a page confirming a Whine has been Such a venomous whine successfully submitted. about a columnist who simply writes about things that make

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INSIDER RUFFIN’ IT AUSTIN RHOES

Metro Spirit is a free newspaper published weekly on Thursday, 52 weeks a year. Editorial coverage includes local issues and news, arts, entertainment, people, places and events. In our paper appear views from across the political and social spectrum. The views do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Visit us at metrospirit.com.© 15 House, LLC. Owner/Publisher: Joe White. Legal: Phillip Scott Hibbard. Reproduction or use without permission is prohibited. One copy per person, please.

CONTENTS

No Sweat: Columbia County serves up its own TEE Center — without the heartburn A Little Help: Program helps civilian workers make the most out of the sequester Multiple Channels: New emergency notification system reaches the public in many ways

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INSIDER@THEMETROSPIRIT.COM Insider is an anonymous, opinion-based examination of the hidden details of Augusta politics and personalities.

SIDER

Appointed Disservice Anyone serving on a Richmond County board, authority or committee take note — your days of serving in relative obscurity are coming to an end. After Mary Davis realized that she had to technically deactivate the Augusta Public Transit Involvement Committee, which “still exists on paper,” in order to create the Transit Citizens Advisory Committee, commissioners got to talking and it was decided that they were going to effectively appoint a truancy officer to make sure the people the commissioners appoint to serve on these boards actually do. Wayne Guilfoyle mentioned how he’d received a call from a former commissioner on the Development Authority who said they couldn’t always draw enough people for a quorum, which is a little alarming, since the Development Authority is one of the city’s more effective groups. Donnie Smith, who had actually been reminded by a reporter that he had not made an appointment to the Development Authority, said that unfortunately the sheer number of boards and appointments made it easy for such things to slip through the cracks. He thought he had appointed them all shortly after his election, he said, but that was one he somehow overlooked. So Guilfoyle asked for attendance records, Donnie Smith requested an updated list of boards and appointments and Lockett made it clear that the minutes to all the board meetings had already been made available to them, should anyone want to read them, and that he, as a commissioner, actually called to check on how his appointments were doing. So there. Still, the days of unaccountable board appointments might be coming to an end, and it just might be a good thing.

METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

Municipal Sensitivity After sending emails to commissioners and the media, local businessman A.K. Hasan finally got to physically address commissioners about the unfair treatment he believes he received from Municipal Building contractor Turner Construction, though he didn’t exactly get the reception he might have expected. What he came for was an investigation into what he felt was inappropriate behavior directed toward him when he and a business partner attempted to bid for sub work on the Municipal Building. He said a Turner representative pointedly and repeatedly announced that she was under no requirement to include women or minorities in the project, which Hasan, who is black, considered an insult directed specifically at him. An email, he said, confirmed his suspicion. “She declared me incompetent, our companies incapable and our experience irrelevant,” he said. Though accusations of racial prejudice are disturbing, commissioners took up the case with care, well aware of the 2006 lawsuit by Thompson Building Wrecking Company that prompted a federal lawsuit preventing the city from using race or gender when hiring contractors, something General Council Andrew MacKenzie confirmed. Not only do the federal guidelines prohibit the city from awarding a contract on the basis of race or gender, they prohibit the city from forcing prime contractors to assign similar requirements to subcontractors. Alvin Mason, whose Mason for Mayor binder in the passenger seat of his SUV left little doubt that the District 4 commissioner has started his campaigning in earnest, made it clear that while he empathized with Hasan’s position, it was not the commission’s role to get involved in a contractor’s business, though he elaborated slightly after Bill Fennoy said that he felt such unfairness should be brought to the commission’s attention whether or not there was anything they could do about it. “I am very appreciative of the information that was brought forward — I don’t want anyone to assume that’s not the case,” Mason said. “But at the end of the day, my responsibility is to ensure that I’m operating in a manner that’s appropriate for the position I hold.” He then implied that commissioners needed to make better, more thoughtful and informed decisions when choosing their prime contractors, which, if not a threat, was at least a well-aimed piece of advice. “If we do what we’re supposed to do, then a lot of this would not follow into the situation that you find with Mr. Hasan,” he said.

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Media Wise

After six months, Sheriff Richard Roundtree made good on his word, bringing area media back to the conference room at 400 Walton Way to discuss the effectiveness of his controversial media policy. In contrast to the first meeting, which was a tense event where a defensive media, many of whom belonged to organizations that had spent considerable institutional resources pushing for Scott Peebles, feared losing access to the information they needed and a similarly defensive Roundtree sought to command respect through the appearance of being unyielding, Monday’s meeting was relaxed and cordial. In short, the two sides have gotten to know each other. Though the new policies might have made life difficult for certain vocal segments of the media, Roundtree’s administration has not only worked with the media, it’s pumped out information at an almost unimaginable clip. For his part, Roundtree appeared relaxed, well informed and in control, with one of his public affairs team taking scrupulous notes regarding the media’s questions and minor procedural complaints. In short, the meeting was a success, and Roundtree appeared just the way sheriffs across the nation strive to appear: unflappable and well grounded.

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No Easy Answers

Embrace the grey, even if you don’t like it much It’s been a fairly historic week for our country, for reasons I shouldn’t, by this point, have to delve too deeply into. So, quick recap: civil rights-wise, we’ve had a couple of doozies. First, the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, essentially nullifying any federallevel precedent that may have existed in opposition to same-sex marriage. Similarly, the court also deferred to a lower circuit court with regards to Proposition 8, the bill that infamously repealed same-sex marriage in California some years ago almost as soon as it was ratified in the first place. That lower court had ruled Prop 8 unconstitutional, so this past week’s deferment — while a roundabout, and thus lacks a bit of the courage and adamant stance that the DOMA ruling did — essentially performed the same function as a SCOTUS “unconstitutional” ruling. Meanwhile in Texas — where, like so many places, the by-and-large reasonable masses are rhetorically and politically muffled by a few diva-lung’d, wellbankrolled ideologues — Wendy Davis successfully filibustered, for 13 hours no less, a bill that would have all but defunded Planned Parenthood across the state and thus would have stripped away most health-care service for lower-income women. The bill was blocked, though Rick Perry is calling a special legislative session to try and pass the bill again, which could still totally happen. All I’m saying is this: Rick Perry goes jogging with a gun in his shorts, and someone who dares the Fates to make him the first eunuch governor in the country might not have the best judgment. I’ve been in Portland, Oregon, during most of this, staying with my wife while she attends her last MFA residency outside the city. A campus full of writers and aspiring writers is pretty much what you’d expect it to be — tattoos, notebooks in shirt pockets and a lot of drinking — but other cultural nuances begin to unfold throughout the week. During poet Dorianne Laux’ craft talk on Wednesday morning, she opened by commenting “Alright, DOMA!” gleefully referring to its defeat. The room erupted in applause and cheers; Ellen Bass, another faculty member and wonderful poet, looked on, a calm and blissful expression on her face, as marriage to her long-time partner became that much more of a reality.

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I preface with all of that to say this: writers and artists are, by and large, liberal — if not in official political affiliation, then sociologically at least. It might be a bit unnecessary and stereotypical for me to point that out; most “creative types” lean pretty markedly left, and those that don’t — actor Vincent Gallo, playwright David Mamet — are too showy about it to circumvent suspicions that they either aren’t sincere or have other motivations at heart. But the question does, I think, bear some minor investigation. Why, when nearly all humans — certainly most Americans — are brought into this world with an innate aversion to the Other, an aversion that we must, difficultly, consciously overcome, are writers seemingly that much more likely to overcome it? The answer lies, I’m pretty sure, in the sorts of characteristics being a writer requires in the first place. Namely, the desire, despite the struggle, to empathize, along with an inherent need to unknot the complexities of a given situation. This is what the best stories, novels, poems, films and visual artworks seek to accomplish; it’s a grueling, manic, sumbitch of a pursuit, which is why those books, etc., aren’t selling as well nowadays. We’re aware of this, what we have to do. In a craft talk on the last morning of the residency, Christine Sneed, leading a discussion about writing good openings to stories, touched on the human need — in life, in art — nay, the human obsession, with complete and utter closure. “The problem is,” she said, “that there are no easy answers.” And she’s absolutely correct. Life rarely provides for such reconciliation, at least as it pertains to matters of great cultural, personal, social and topographical complexity. Daniel Woodrell, for instance, writes in “Give Us a Kiss” about a woman who, rather than press charges against the man who raped her with a fireplace poker, married him soon after. This happened in a semi-fictional town deep in the Ozarks, a town entrenched in a culture characterized by misogyny, and short on opportunities for socioeconomic self-advancement. Our knee-jerk — and appropriate — outrage at the situation must, to be properly processed and contextualized, be blended with an understanding of why the woman felt as though that was the only

recourse available to her. What I’m getting at is this: life is one big, confounding grey area. It is not composed exclusively of flat, low-humming highway, but of mountain roads, flash-flooded washouts, badlands and whip-crack curves. It does not slow for us, and it does not kindly untangle its chemistry, biology or history for us. To advance as a species and as a civilization — I say advance, and not merely “exist” — we have to make difficult decisions, as individuals and as a collective, fractured consciousness. And we cannot afford, as it becomes more and more apparent that those who lean more drastically right believe, to boil each problem down to its surface, basic elements. The most well-known example, I suppose, is the array of conservative counters to the global warming epidemic: “Well then, why are some areas experiencing record cold snaps?” “The Earth goes through climate changes on its own; why should now be any different?” The debunkings should be rote by now — “global warming” indicates a wrench in the cogs of climate progression, not simply that everything is getting hotter; we so often fail to account for the human element of climate acceleration — but they are beside the point within their own context. Difficult social, economic and scientific questions will, if our flawed species continues to develop technology at the rate it is, continue to rear. And when they do, they will require thoughtfulness, scholarship, abstract consideration. Though he or she may say it, a writer never truly thinks, “I’ve finished a book.” We merely stop writing it, and this is an attitude our country, our world, must adopt if we hope to retain a modicum of sanity: closure will forever elude us, as will perfection. Writers — and most liberals, too, I think — understand that, and so do not waste time grasping at the easy answer. I’m not saying we should love the grey. I’m saying we should embrace it in spite of itself. It is, after all, all we have.

JOSHRUFFIN, a Metro Spirit alum, is a published

journalist and poet who just received his MFA from Georgia College & State University. He was once the most un-intimidating bouncer at Soul Bar.

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Augusta’s “New Media” Nails Accused Flasher There are a lot of folks who seem to have a problem with “The Jail Report,” but no one can deny the publication and its online incarnations are helping to identify and catch suspected bad guys and solve cases. Case in point, a rather odd young man named Chad Stefani. No one had much interest in catching the accused “weenie wiggler,” or even reporting his story, until Greg Rickabaugh’s publication and websites published his arrest info and picture. Then (for Chad) all Hell broke loose. From The Jail Report: An Appling man’s been arrested for public indecency for allegedly exposing himself to two women in the parking lot of T-Mobile on Wheeler Road. The women, ages 26 and 30, said a man with a bald head drove up next to them last Thursday in the T-Mobile parking lot in a blue Dodge Ram pick-up truck and asked them what they thought about his penis. “When both victims dismissed the subject, he pulled his vehicle up from the victims, got out of his truck and exposed his penis to the victims telling them to ‘look,’” according to a sheriff’s report. “The suspect got back into his vehicle and drove away from the scene.” The victims got the suspect’s tag number, which led police to identify the suspect as 24-year-old Chad Stefani of Augusta. He was arrested on Monday on two counts of public indecency and has been released on bond. When the JP ran the mugshot of Stefani you see here, the calls and emails started pouring in. He has since been connected to a number of other similar episodes in Columbia and Edgefield counties, and investigators say they expect many more complaints on the man could come in soon. They believe he may have pulled his stunt (pun intended) many different times in many different locations. Usually one such episode results in a minor amount of attention and misdemeanor charges, but did you know that Georgia law regarding these matters changed in a most serious way, and it was all because of a man whose decades-long criminal career of sexual depravity came to an end in Augusta? His name is Wayne Fredericks, and he has been a permanent fixture on the Georgia Sex Offenders List for most of its existence. An Augusta Chronicle article from 1996 gives the crux of his sordid story: Edward Wayne Fredericks, convicted in May 1995 on eight counts of public indecency in Columbia County, is seeking a ‘remold’ hearing before Judge Bernard Mulherin in an effort to have his sentence, which Judge Mulherin issued, reduced on grounds it was too severe. Mr. Fredericks was convicted at least a dozen times on charges ranging from public indecency to child molestation between 1977 and 1989, according to court records. Requests by the families of several of his Atlanta-area victims prompted a 1991 state law that makes a third conviction for public indecency a felony punishable by one to five years in prison. “It’s obvious this is a habitual violator in this type of crime,” said state Rep. Lynda Coker, R-Marietta, who sponsored the law. In a letter dated Aug. 12 and obtained by The Augusta Chronicle, Mr. Fredericks wrote to his victims and their parents, “... this problem I have been cursed with is not sexual in nature. It is, indeed, a venting avenue that surfaced under emotional stress.... “Hope for recovery is non-existent until the nightmare (of incarceration in prison) is over,” continues the letter, mailed to Augusta Judicial Circuit District Attorney Danny Craig. “...I have learned from my mistakes and assure you there will never be another victim by me.” From what I have been able to research, after some legal appeals and technical mistakes were corrected, it appears he only served a little over seven years. To his credit, Fredericks apparently has been good on his word, keeping his nose clean and his lizard locked away since he was released. Stefani may not be so lucky. Since he has more counts piling up against him, and his pattern of behavior shows he could clearly be an ongoing threat, his hometown predecessor’s legacy has guaranteed him hard time (pun intended) if convicted for what some of his friends and family members have been trying to dismiss publicly as “a misunderstanding.” Bullshizzle. Hats off to Greg Rickabaugh and his team, because of The Jail Report’s refusal to soft peddle this case (again, with the puns), the local TV stations picked up on it, and even more incriminating information on “Peter Peccadillo” has come in. Amazingly, as of this writing, our daily newspaper has run nothing on the story.

AUSTINRHODES

The views expressed are the opinions of Austin Rhodes and do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. 04JULY2013

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ERICJOHNSON

A Little Help

Program helps civilian workers at Fort Gordon make the most out of the sequester

For more than 3,100 civilian workers at Fort Gordon, the headlines are about to become personal. Starting July 8, sequestration cuts will go into effect, and for many this will require significant lifestyle changes. “Because this is peak vacation time and kids are out of school, it’s going to be tough for some of those folks to be able to do anything,” says Thom Tuckey, executive director of the CSRA Alliance for Fort Gordon. Mayor’s Assistant Karyn Nixon, a board member for Tuckey’s community support organization, agreed. “She kind of said, ‘Hey, these people are going to have a little bit of time and a little bit less money — maybe there’s something we can do for them,’” says Barry White, president and CEO of the Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau, who is also on Tuckey’s board. The result of this idea is an as-yet unnamed program geared toward helping Fort Gordon’s civilian workers and their families get a break at various area businesses and attractions. “We do a lot for service members and their families, and this was a way for us to do something for the civilian workforce,” Tuckey says. White feels the same way. “Fort Gordon is such a vital part of our community,” 8

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he says. “Economically, they’re a critical part of our community, and this is just a small symbol of our appreciation of the difficulty that they’re going through.” Randy DuTeau, director of Columbia County’s CVB, sent out an email to his members seeking partners as well. “We thought it was a great idea and wanted to join that effort and do what we could to help,” DuTeau says. “It’s not a county versus county thing,” Tuckey insists. “It’s a regional thing. We’re all trying to work together in a big, giant partnership to make it happen.” The automatic spending cuts are being expressed at Fort Gordon in furlough days — one day a week from the week of July 8 through the end of September. According to Buz Yarnell with Fort Gordon’s Public Affairs, most of the affected organizations on Fort Gordon have opted to consolidate all employee furloughs into one day each week by closing Fridays. Those that can’t will stagger employee furloughs throughout the week. “You figure one day a week — that’s a 20 percent cut in pay,” Tuckey says. “How many people do you know that at the end of the month can afford to forfeit 20 percent? Most people don’t have that much left in discretionary spending by the time they pay their mortgage and car payments and put food on the table.” All the civilian employees need to do is show their

Department of Defense ID at any of the participating businesses to receive the special discounts, which are good for the employee and three family members or guests. The offer extends to all civilian workers, including the several thousand who will not undergo furloughs because, as Tuckey says, those being furloughed are not going to have big Fs painted on their foreheads. Currently, there are 17 discounted offers, which can be found by typing DOD in the search box at the Augusta CVB website, augustaga.org. These include offers by the Augusta Canal Discovery Center, the Westobou Festival, several hotels and motels, the Soul City Sirens and the Morris Museum of Art. “I kind of floated the idea out there in front of what we call our industry partners, and they were all very enthusiastic about it,” White says. “It’s been very well received.” The website will continue to be updated as more and more business partners sign up for the program, and though the program might seem to be flying under the radar, White says those who need to know about it will be targeted in a variety of different but specific ways. “We have some direct communications via email,” Tuckey says. “And we’re working with Fort Gordon, and they’re going to be able to communicate it directly to the civilian employees out there.”

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GREGORY A. BAKER, PH.D

Innovation

It’s all about the freedom to whine It’s a short week this week as we turn our thoughts to a long holiday weekend. It’s a weekend that has its origins in the most significant social experiment in all of recorded history. Can a group of people establish a nation built upon a core value of individual liberty and create a system of government that effectively thwarts tyranny? It’s a good question and one that still remains unanswered. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m betting on liberty. As I started writing, the question occurred to me — What is the impact of liberty on innovation and technology? A quick review of American history would seem to indicate that innovation and freedom go hand-in-hand. American innovators not only created new technologies. More often than not, they created new industries. Edison, Bell, Ford, Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Morgan, Westinghouse, Carnegie, Colt, Browning, Whitney, McCormick, Deere, Lougheed, Boeing, Northrop, Hewlett, Packard, Watson, Gates, Jobs… this list is seemingly endless. But other countries with much less emphasis on liberty seem to innovate as well. What gives? A few years ago, Mark Taylor of Georgia Tech and Sean Wilson of George Washington University asked this same question. While they confirmed that societies promoting individual liberty are generally more innovative, their research provides a couple of surprising results. 1. High levels of innovation may occur in a socialist society where the national objectives are of greater concern than local-level or tribal objectives. In other words, the country fosters a high-level of patriotism. The rationale is related to risk taking. In a highly patriotic society, an individual is willing to risk personal loss for the benefit of all. Where the individual feels stronger bonds to local or tribal groups, the opposite is true, and a significant negative impact on innovation was observed. 2. The ability to produce innovators and entrepreneurs may not be the driving factor in a society’s ability to innovate. The more important factor is related to the freedom of the individual to pursue those activities that provide personal gratification. Individuals pursuing their own interests naturally create markets that demand innovation. When predicting a society’s ability to innovate, it turns out the freedom to demand innovation is more important than the freedom to innovate. So it’s easy to see why America is so good at innovation. First of all, even with all our differences, the American people always stand together and put everything on the line for our principles. Secondly, if the freedom to demand better is truly a key to innovation, I dare any other society in the world to say they can bitch, moan, gripe, complain, criticize and whine better than the folks here in the good ‘ole U. S. of A. Have a happy 4th and God Bless America! Until next time, I’m off the grid @gregory_a_baker. GREGORY A. BAKER, PH.D, is vice president and chief rocket scientist for CMA, which provides information technology services to CSRA businesses and nonprofits.

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ERICJOHNSON

Multiple Channels

New emergency notification system reaches the public in many ways

Pam Tucker, Columbia County’s Emergency and Operations director, is on top of things. As the county’s Emergency Management Agency director, it’s her job to make sure the county is prepared for everything from severe weather and chemical spills to pandemics and run of the mill accidents. And if you’ve ever talked to her, you come away with the feeling that she’s probably made some preliminary notes on stuff like the zombie apocalypse or an alien invasion. She’s that prepared. A major part of emergency planning is the accurate and efficient dissemination of information, and Tucker has found a new tool to make that component even more effective. After 10 years with 10 METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

its previous emergency notification system, the county has decided to move to another provider — FirstCall. One of the major factors in the decision was FirstCall’s ability to reach citizens in a variety of different ways. “If you’ve got a landline in the county, whether you’re registered or not, your landline is in the system,” Tucker says. “But the problem is, people are starting to get rid of their landlines and go to total cell phone usage, so we had to kind of modify how we did things. It’s really useless to have a system if you’re not reaching 75 or 80 percent of the population.” With this system, you can input a primary and secondary phone, an email address and a number to receive text messages. If you want to receive phone calls but not the text or email alerts, you can opt out of those when you register. It’s no surprise that Tucker sees the value in being

able to reach citizens at critical moments through as many avenues as possible. “In the line of work I’m in, you don’t ever put all your eggs in one basket,” she says. “We need multiple ways, so in case we miss one, we’ve got the other. We need multiple layers of ways to get information and warnings out.” Before, if you were at work and there was a natural gas leak in your neighborhood, you might not know about it unless you heard about it on a news report or received one of Tucker’s email blasts. This way, you can receive a call or text wherever you happen to be. If a water main break has affected your subdivision, say, you would have the ability to pick up bottled water on your way home. In this day and age, such timely, tailored information is almost expected. Information about a road closure at the intersection of William Few and Columbia Road doesn’t do you any good if you’ve 04JULY2013

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already headed down William Few. The messages can also target specific neighborhoods thanks to the integration of GIS information and the flexibility of the program. Three other departments have joined with Tucker’s EMA to fund the system: The Sheriff’s Office, the Engineering Division and the Water Utility. While Tucker will broadcast messages for other departments, the four primary users will split the approximately $25,000 yearly cost, which is cheaper than the less sophisticated system it’s replacing. Given the county’s 17 miles of I-20, one of the system’s most critical uses is its ability to notify the appropriate people if there’s a chemical spill. “If we have a truck overturn and we know what

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the product is, we know how far of a radius would need to be sheltered in place,” Tucker says. “We can pull out to different areas based on wind direction because we have weather information here that will help us identify who needs to be warned.” That’s where Tucker’s 35 years of emergency management experience comes into play. She’s got the information and the expertise to know the particulars of just about any disaster scenario that might pop up, and with a notification system that can be customized to specific locations, she can warn those in need without involving those who aren’t impacted. And when the danger is over, the system will initiate a follow up communication indicating an all clear.

Compared to outdoor sirens, the cost and benefits are noteworthy. “You look at what outdoor sirens cost — millions of dollars — and they confuse people and they don’t work half of the time when you need them,” she says. “This is a system you can test all the time because we’re going to be using it for these non-lifethreatening things like a water outage, which keeps us acclimated to using it very quickly, so when we have that chemical spill we know it’s working and we know we can do it with our eyes closed.” Preparedness and this system are only as effective as the number of people who participate, however. Go to https://alertregistration.com/columbiacoga/ to register.

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TWO-BY-FOURS

By Patrick Berry / Edited by Will Shortz 72 Gas in a vacuum tube 73 German-born Emmy winner of 1960s TV 75 Not just a tiff 76 Untrustworthy sort 77 Breaking developments? 78 “Regrets” and others 79 “Exactly right!” 80 Wrangler rival 81 Went (for) 82 Gulf war missile 83 Company of two? 84 Makes a go of it 86 Really impresses 87 Palmed off 88 Hold the fort, say 90 Holders of addl. thoughts 92 Existential anxiety 93 Welcome sight after a flood 94 Various things 99 Tweeters 100 Unalaska native 101 Beam from one end to the other 102 Patriarch who lived 950 years 103 Horrorful 104 Tired 105 Sideways 106 French or Italian bread Down 1 Cool, in hip-hop slang 2 English war poet Gurney 3 Hardly a slow poke 4 1942 Cary Grant comedy 5 Besieger’s bomb 6 Rink jumps 7 “Dear” one 8 What a gutter may lead to 9 Made-up alibis 10 Stops on a whistle-stop tour 11 Love 12 Subject of many a Burns ballad 13 Size up 14 Something to grow out of 15 Elocution phrase 16 Musical duo Brooks & ___ 17 They have springs 21 All ___ 23 Fruit growers 24 Setting up 28 Hold for questioning

29 Early release 30 One of the authors in the game Authors 32 Procter & Gamble soap 33 Drank to excess 34 Pressed 35 Award won by Alice Munro and Stephen King 36 Pulitzer-winning composer Ned 38 Some drafts 39 Krakauer’s “___ the Wild” 41 Zesty staple of Asian cuisine 42 Martial-arts move 45 Old Nick 46 Melodious 47 Initiates a conflict 51 Entree, often 53 Playwright O’Casey 55 Line on a map 57 Recoiled fearfully 58 Catchy parts of pop songs 59 Farm machines 60 Hard-to-reach nest 61 Classic name in crossword puzzles 62 Puerto Rican port 63 Got through difficulties 64 Get retribution for 65 Guesstimated 66 Ewoks’ home in “Star Wars” 67 Socialite’s party 68 Green ___ 69 Like some stores of years gone by 73 Erased, as a tape 74 Eggplant casserole 77 Lifts a finger? 79 Soft shade 82 Betraying nervousness, in a way 83 How utility bills are usually paid 85 Set preceder? 86 1981 comedy or its 2011 remake 87 Volume control on a soundboard 88 Small dollops 89 “Spamalot” writer Idle 90 Untidy stack 91 Out of port 94 Détente 95 State-of-the-art 96 Biblical pronoun 97 Shucked item 98 Density symbol, in physics

63 69

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Across 1 Mustard variety 5 Go beyond 9 Tired 14 Upper-tier academics 18 Rescue mission, briefly 19 Get off the highway 20 In current times 21 Put in an appearance 22 Comic strip about the Patterson family 25 Food in the Bible 26 Caspian Sea feeder 27 Des ___, Iowa 28 Repudiates 29 Checkpoint needs 31 Periodic payments 32 Star 33 Like birds of prey 34 Coffee containers 35 Give one’s address? 37 Baseball card stat 40 SeaWorld performers 41 Mortarboard tosser 42 “Really useful engine” of children’s books 43 Wilson of Hollywood 44 “What nonsense!” 45 #1 on the American Film Institute’s “Greatest Movie Musicals” list 47 Tech media Web site founded in 1994 48 John at a piano 49 Basis of some ticket discounts 50 Patient mover 51 Computer user’s shortcut 52 Viewed with contempt 54 What’s expected 55 Confers 56 Sentence unit 57 Like nougat 59 Toot one’s own horn 60 Where Arab Bank is headquartered 62 [Gone … instantly!] 63 Home of Hannibal 67 Be relevant to 68 Withdraw 70 Over the hill 71 Former Indiana senator Bayh

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FROM BEETHOVEN TO THE Elliott Sons Funeral Homes BEASTIE BOYS ELLIOTTFUNERALHOME.COM

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ERICJOHNSON

No Sweat

Columbia County serves up its own TEE Center — without the heartburn

Columbia County’s vision for the Gateway, a development area off I-20 in Grovetown that once included such things as an exotic animal display, hotels and a park, has taken on a decidedly retail flavor since the recession redrew the nation’s economic landscape. But a surviving component to that initial vision — a county-owned, countyrun exhibition hall — is poised to open to the kind of supportive fanfare Augusta’s TEE Center never experienced. No parking deck issues. No management contracts. No talk of air rights. And no suspicions about the kitchen equipment. Pretty much everyone thinks it’s a good thing For the first few years, a third of the $7.3 million, 47,000-square-foot building, which is just down the hill from the existing Walmart development and the new Center for Primary Care location, will be leased by the Steiner Branch of the Family Y, which moved in this May. The rest of the building, including 15,000 square feet of trade show space, belongs to the county The Family Y owns several acres adjacent to the building and plans to build its own facility there a 14 METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

little later. The lease — five years plus extensions — was considered a good way for the county to help finance the project while giving the Family Y a chance to slowly enter the Grovetown market, though officials suggests they’ve adopted a more aggressive approach in recent months. “They plan to put in the water park first,” says Sandy Boner, Rental Facilities and Venues manager. “They want to open that by next year.” Once the Family Y opens its own facility, the county would simply add the rest of the building to its existing exhibition space. “We would obviously have to do a renovation, but the way it’s built — the wall that separates us from the Y is designed to be removed,” she says. “All the floor outlets and everything are already in place under their space, so when we expand into that area, it will be there.” Adding that space would give the county about 22,000 square feet of exhibit space. As it’s currently configured, the exhibition center has 15,600 square feet of open trade show space, which is more than twice as big as the main level at the county’s primary venue, Savannah Rapids Pavilion. Like Augusta’s much larger TEE Center, the main space can be divided into two. One section would be 9,100 square feet, with the other at 6,500 square feet.

“The facility itself is beautiful inside,” Boner says. “We’ve got an amazing entry area and the prefunction space is gorgeous. We have three breakout spaces that are really pretty as well.” The trade show space, she says, is trade show space. “How pretty can you make a room that’s got a concrete floor?” The idea for an exhibition center was proposed and investigated for former administrator Steve Szablewski. He was in contact with an architectural firm and had some preliminary drawings and some other studies done to determine whether or not a facility that wasn’t all that large was really a good idea, especially given its proximity to Augusta. At 38,000 square feet, Augusta TEE Center’s tradeshow space is about twice as big as the Gateway hall, but according to Boner, the outside study determined that there was basically a market for mid-range to small-sized trade show events, so the hall was put on the last SPLOST list, and the voters approved it. 04JULY2013

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“It’s a handsome facility and we’re really proud of it,” says Community and Leisure Services Director Barry Smith. “We’ve had a lot of interest in the place for rental, and we’ve given a lot of tours.” And unlike the TEE Center, which was mired in controversy from the beginning and continues to be a source of frustration to many naysayers who feel the $40 million project was built more for Billy Morris’ Marriott than for the good of Augusta, the exhibition hall has moved from planning to construction touched more by aspirations than criticism: officials still hold out hope for a hotel or another major revenue-generating attraction that could be located nearby. The steady, thoughtful march forward is one of Columbia County’s hallmarks — move cautiously and learn as you go. “Columbia County does things conservatively in general,” Boner says. “We feel like at Savannah Rapids we’ve developed an idea of what it takes to develop these buildings because we’ve opened others. The performing arts center was new and we reopened the Canal Headgates area. They’re both very busy areas.” Columbia County has invested a considerable amount of money in a variety of different rental facilities, spreading them out across the county. The Savannah Rapids Pavilion, located in the 33-acre Savannah Rapids Park, is a 25,000-square-foot meeting and banquet facility that has eight rooms ranging from the 7,400-square-foot main floor to a small conference room designed for board meetings of up to 12. The Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center, located at the main library in Evans, has a 296-seat theater and four meeting rooms, while the Eubank Blanchard Center near rural Appling is a more bare bones venue, featuring a commercial kitchen and room for up to 75 people. Boner says much of the initial interest in the exhibition hall has come from existing clients who have outgrown the Savannah Rapids Pavilion. “This is a perfect opportunity to continue to satisfy their needs and keep them in Columbia County,” she says. Though in some ways that seems like more of a shifting of clients away from Savannah Rapids, Boner says moving those bigger clients to the newer,

larger facility will help open up space for smaller events at the crowed Savannah Rapids. And there’s no reason to think that the level of demand won’t continue: the Rental Facilities and Venues Department hosted 1,698 events last year. “Basically, we have around 2,200 to 2,300 calls a month here at Savannah Rapids,” Boner says. “We have a 79 percentage of repeat clientele.” As an enterprise fund, the department’s revenues have to cover expenditures, which means Boner and her small staff — basically four full timers — can’t rely on county funding for operations, so in spite of adding the new facility, she is not adding any new positions. She chose to restructure instead. “We basically did away with our administrative coordinating position,” she says. “We had a marketing position, but we’re adding a second sales position.” In fact, she is currently evaluating resumes for that position. Because of the size and scale of the facility, Boner and county officials decided to contract with an exclusive caterer, something that might have raised suspicions in Augusta. But in spite of the seemingly impressive opportunity, only one bid was received, which prompted the county to 04JULY2013

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contact several local caterers to determine why participation was so low. Several said they were unaware of the request for proposals, so the process was opened again, though again no one else bid. Therefore, the Community Emergency Services Committee recommended that Silver Palm of Evans be the exclusive caterer. In return, the county will receive 10.25 percent of the company’s gross monthly sales. Similar to the TEE Center, there’s an issue with the kitchen equipment, though it has nothing to do with duplication of use. It’s simply running late.

She’s also throwing a little show biz into the mix with Season Two of the popular Amateur Series. “We feel like the Amateur Series is getting our county and our facilities out there,” she says. “We have sponsorships for that, so we aren’t spending a ton of money out of our department for that.” The series’ finale will be hosted at the exhibition hall on July 12, bringing exposure and media while allowing for a kind of soft opening. The first contracted event isn’t until Augusta Harley Davidson’s power sports expo in February. Still, there’s interest. “We’ve got the Republican Party looking at us

Politically speaking, that allows critics lots of time to denounce the venues for being unnecessary, under utilized and a waste of taxpayers’ money. And given its central location, an empty exhibition hall will likely generate some of that negative feedback, though officials hope the benefits — as well as the Gateway’s continued growth — overshadow whatever negatives might arise. To start things off with a bang, Boner plans four days of open house activities beginning on Thursday, August 15, where there will be a ribbon cutting at 11:30, a VIP preview until 1 p.m. and

“The IT package will be done though the remainder of July and should be in place the first of August,” he says. “The kitchen won’t be in place, but it has been ordered and we should have a full kitchen by September.” And rather than hiring outside marketing, Boner is trying to use inexpensive marketing tools as much as she can, including social media, a new site-specific web page and a virtual tour similar to the ones offered for the county’s other rental venues.

for a debate in October,” she says. “We’ve got a bridal fair out of Atlanta looking at us for August, and we have Columbia County’s Christmas Crafts and Caroling in November.” Given the long advance needed by many conventions and larger meetings, trade show space like this sometimes doesn’t hit full stride for five to seven years, however, which means both the exhibition hall and Augusta’s TEE Center will not be operating at full capacity for an agonizingly long time.

then a public open house until 5 p.m. Friday is a Job Fair, Saturday is Family Fun and Fitness Day. Sunday will be devoted to area churches and their praise bands. Boner says she expects the building to be a success for any number of reasons. “The building itself is obviously architecturally appealing,” she says. And unlike Augusta’s TEE Center, it comes with 450 parking spaces that are flat and free.

MARINROSE

All In

World Tavern Poker win brings Augusta closer to the spotlight I’m not one to have a strong opinion about Paula Deen one way or another. As a noncook in the extreme, I’m not a viewer of cooking shows and Deen’s, which is infamously mayonnaise laden and chock full of folksy “y’alls” would be about the last that I’d choose to watch. But with Deen’s name all over the news lately, it’s near impossible to escape the chatter. Both fans and foes are 16 METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

forming opinions about her character and behavior, some rallying at her side and others cheering on the Food Network for having just fired her. My thoughts on the subject, vague at first, crystallized last night during a conversation with a Deen defender. While I don’t have a personal interest in Deen’s public fate — I expect that fans will remain loyal to her as a Southern success story who still seems like “one of us” and that those who were

never charmed by her down-home style or her heart attack recipes will continue to ignore her existence — I see the controversy surrounding her as a microcosm of a widespread Southern problem, one that’s persisted since the Civil War. In case you’re living in a hole — or haven’t checked Facebook this week — Deen is currently embroiled in a lawsuit brought against her by a former employee who accuses Deen and her brother Earl “Bubba” Hiers of discriminatory workplace practices. That’s not, however, what’s 04JULY2013

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got everyone taking sides. It’s the allegation that Deen used racial slurs and expressed racist attitudes that has half the public up in arms. It’s also what got her fired from her television network and dropped as a Smithfield Foods spokesperson, which has the other half of the public up in arms. In a June 2013 deposition, the full transcript of which can be found online, Deen admits to having used the “n-word,” as well as to having told “off-color jokes.” Shockingly strange is her confession to having envisioned a wedding for Bubba with a Southern plantation theme, at which elegantly attired “middle-aged black men” and women would serve guests to evoke a Civil War era scene. There’s much confusion over when and in what context Deen used the “n-word.” Many of her defenders accept her explanation that she was raised in a different time by a family that used the term, as well as her still-disputed claim that she stopped using it years ago except, possibly, in the context of a joke. I could forgive a person who grew up adopting the attitudes of her parents, particularly if she evolved as an adult. But it’s hard to believe that a woman who romanticizes the slavery era — not just the Southern prime but the actual black “servants” at that time — has any understanding of, let alone regret about, the use of that ugly, hateful word. It’s one thing to overlook the ugly habits of a woman who doesn’t yet know any better. It’s quite another to accept Deen’s idea of an apology. She insists that she “did not mean anything derogatory” by her comments. And many of her supporters claim that we can’t hold “n-word” use against people who were raised in a different generation when the term was considered acceptable. I vehemently disagree. Paula Deen is supposedly competent enough to stand trial. She and many ordinary — presumably lucid — Southern whites who take lightly the use of racial slurs, who find humor in prejudice and who romanticize the slavery era, demonstrate in such behavior the ignorant, insensitive attitudes behind it. Those who truly wish to prevent the suffering of others do not engage in such behavior — not because it’s no longer socially accepted but because they regret that suffering and empathize with its victims. When I have visited Germany, I have had a tangible sense in the cities of the weight of the country’s dark history. There has been, I feel, a deep national shame of the violence and oppression that previous generations allowed to prevail in that land and a desire to show remorse and demonstrate change. What I see in many white American Southerners — such as those who speak as Deen allegedly spoke and fly Confederate flags under the auspices of Southern pride — is an utter lack of regret. The Paula Deens of this country agree that slavery is wrong today. But they seem to stop short of agreeing that it was wrong in its day. Some seem to regard it as a necessary evil — the outmoded foundation that built the U.S. If that weren’t the case, they wouldn’t turn Southern history into a glossy “Gone With the Wind” movie poster nor cherish symbols of that shameful time in our country’s past. If such people could experience for one moment the pain and anger that those words and symbols must engender in the hearts of slave-descendants, I believe they would never again even think about invoking them. I’m not ready to convict Paula Deen. I trust that a jury of her peers will address the legal accusations against her and compel her to remedy any evident employment discrimination. And I’d be surprised if she doesn’t find a new venue to reach her loyal audience. What I hope is that Deen’s trial in the court of public opinion brings about a new level of introspection — not only in Deen but in all of us — about the damage that deep-seated attitudes toward others can cause. Perhaps we’ll re-examine our true attitudes behind the habits we excuse and choose more loving ones in the future. Marin Rose owns and operates Functional, Fashionable, a professional organizing, decorating and home staging business that also provides Masters preparation services. Marin, who moved to Augusta from Washington, D.C., is also a regular contributor to Metro Augusta Parent magazine.

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Oil painter Susan Porterfield, who’s work is shown at left, began her pursuit of the visual arts after retiring from MCG in 2000. Since then, she has studied locally and nationwide and is one of the original members of the Columbia County Artists Guild. She, along with Cathy Armstrong and Linda Hardy, will exhibit their work at Sacred Heart Cultural Center through August 30. An opening reception for the three artists is Thursday, July 11, from 5-7 p.m. Free. Call 706-826-4700 or visit sacredheartaugusta.org.

ENTERTAIN

Exhibitions

Opening reception for artists Cathy Armstrong, Linda Hardy and Susan Porterfield will be held Thursday, July 11, from 5-7 p.m. at Sacred Heart Cultural Center. The exhibit will be on display through August 30. Free. Call 706-826-4700 or visit sacredheartaugusta.org. “Capturing the Canal” Art Show will exhibit through July 30 at the Kroc Center. Reception and winner announcement will be Friday, July 12, from 6-7 p.m. (free and open to the public). The six winning photos will be unveiled as a permanent part of the décor of the Café on the Canal located inside the Kroc Center at the winning ceremony. Call 706-364KROC or visit krocaugusta.org.

Music

Augusta Bel Canto will perform “American Stories in Song” Thursday, July 4, at 1:30 p.m. at the Augusta Museum of History. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org. Kelley Family Bluegrass Concert is Saturday, July 6, at 7 p.m. at Mistletoe State Park. This award-winning family from Appling not only entertains, but teaches classical violin, bluegrass/gospel fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and piano. Donations are appreciated. $5 parking. Call 706-541-0321. Candlelight Jazz is Sunday July 7, at 8 p.m. at the river Stage at 8th and Riverwalk downtown. Funk You will perform. $6, free for children under 13. Visit gardencityjazz.com. Savannah River Bluegrass will perform Thursday, July 11, at 7 p.m. at the Verandah at the Maude Edenfield Park in North Augusta as part of the Music in the Park Series. Free. Visit naartscouncil.org. Live Country Music at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 1999 Scott Road, is every Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. Admission is $5. Call 706-790-8040.

Theater

Hardin Performing Art Center as part of the Second Annual Augusta Jewish Film Festival. Tickets required. Call 706-228-3636 or visit augustajcc.org. Financing Independent Feature Films is Wednesday, July 10, at 7 p.m. at the Headquarters Branch of the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library. Christopher Forbes, who has financed 17 feature films, presents a seminar on funding strategies and practical advice for independent filmmakers. Free. Call 706-631-7073. “The Names of Love” will show Thursday, July 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Art Center as part of the Second Annual Augusta Jewish Film Festival. Tickets required. Call 706-228-3636 or visit augustajcc.org.

Special Events

4th of July Celebration is Wednesday, July 4, beginning at 3 p.m. at Gaston Livery Stable in Aiken. It will feature Preston and Weston with Sandra Simmons, a twilight jumbo movie showing and fireworks display (weather and sponsorship permitting). Cash prizes for contests in watermelon seed spitting, costumes, pie baking, talent and cornhole tournament. Family fun activities include water slide and bounce house inflatables, colonial games and community organizations and businesses on display. Food vendors will be on hand selling food, drinks and desserts. Free and open to the public. Call 803-215-8232. Independence Day Celebration is Thursday, July 4, from 4-10 p.m. at the Augusta Common and includes live entertainment, vendors, inflatables and more. Fireworks over the river will end the evening. Free. Call 706-8211754 or visit augustaga.gov. 4th of July Celebration is Thursday, July 4, at 6 p.m. at Patriot’s Park. There will be live music, family fun, rides, children’s activities and food, drinks and Columbia County’s largest fireworks display. Free. Call 706-312-7194.

Auditions for “The Match Girl,” a musical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Match Girl,” are Thursdays through July 18 (excluding July 4) by appointment at the Kroc Center. Parts are available for men, women and children, ages 9 and up. Call 706-771-7777 or visit enopion.com.

A Star Spangled Fourth is Thursday, July 4, at 7:30 p.m. at Saint Paul’s Church at 6th and Riverwalk. This patriotic concert and barbecue will precede the fireworks display. This concert is $20; 18 and under free. Barbecue is $15. Call 706-722-3463 or visit riverwalkseries.com.

Flix

“Indie-Pen-Dance” First Friday is Friday, July 5, from 5-9 p.m. on downtown’s Broad Street and includes live entertainment, art show openings, vendors, food and more in a family friendly atmosphere. Call 706-826-4702 or visit augustaarts.com.

Boat-In Movie Night is Saturday, July 6, at dusk at Wildwood Park in Appling. “The Hobbit” will be shown. $3 by car; free by boat. Call 706-541-0586.

Steak or Shrimp Supper is Saturday, July 5, at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Club, 1999 Scott Road, from 6-8 p.m. $12 steak or shrimp, or $20 for both. A live country band begins performing at 8:30. Admission is $5 for the dance. Call 706-790-8040.

Peace Corps Information Session, led by representative Emily Whitfield, is Wednesday, July 10, at 5:30 p.m. at the Friedman Branch Library. Call 706736-6758 or visit ecgrl.org. Evans Towne Farmers Market is held on the grounds of the Columbia County Public Library each Thursday through October 24 (excluding July 4) from 4:30-7 p.m. All meats, eggs, dairy and produce will be from local and sustainable farms. There will also be cooking and fitness demos, as well as education, local artisans with handcrafted goods, live music, local food vendors and weekly events. Visit evanstownefarmersmarket.com. Weekly Wine Tastings at Vineyard Wine Market in Evans are held 4:30-6:30 p.m. Fridays, and 1-6 p.m. Saturdays. Call 706-922-9463 or visit vine11.com. Saturday Market at the River is each Saturday through November 23 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at the 8th Street Bulkhead downtown and features vendors, food, drinks, entertainment and a group run that begins at 8 a.m. Visit theaugustamarket.com. Wine Tastings are the first Friday and third Thursday of each month from 5-8 p.m. at Wine World in North Augusta. $5. Call 803-279-9522. Pet adoptions are held by CSRA Happy Tails Rescue at the Mullins Crossing Petco in Evans from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. each Sunday and from 1-4 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday at the Tractor Supply Company. Visit csrahappytails.com.

Health

Baby Care and Breastfeeding is Saturday, July 6, from 9 a.m.-noon at Trinity Hospital. This class provides information on two popular infant care topics in a morning format. Free. Call 706-481-7000 or visit trinityofaugusta.com. Yoga for Beginners is Saturday, July 6, from 10:15 a.m.-noon at the Headquarters Branch Library. Free. Call 706-724-6762 or visit ecgrl.org. Total Joint Replacement Educational Talk is Tuesday, July 9, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at Doctors Hospital, South tower, Classroom 1. Having a spine surgery? Come for an information session addressing all concerns before, during and after your surgery. Call 706-651-4343 or visit doctors-hospital.net.

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Spine Education Class is Tuesday, July 9, from at 3:30 p.m. at Doctors Hospital, South tower, Classroom 1. This talk prepares patients for joint replacement before, during and after their hospital stay. Bring any questions and concerns you would like addressed. Call 706-651-4343 or visit doctors-hospital.net.

Adapted Wii Special Populations available by appointment at the Wilson Family Y, and feature individual half-hour classes for physically and developmentally challenged individuals of all ages. Members, $10; nonmembers, $20. Call 706- 922-9662 or visit thefamilyy.org.

Mobile Mammography Screenings will be on the following dates and locations, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.: Wednesday, July 10, at Christ Community and Thursday, July 11, at University Hospital. Free through Medicare. Appointment required. Call 706-774-4149 or visit universityhealth.org.

Caregiver Support Group is Tuesday, July 9, at 3 p.m. at Doctors Hospital, Medical Office Building One, Suite 310. This support group is designed for anyone that provides care (both professional and non-professional) for another individual. Call 706-651-2283 or visit doctors-hospital.net.

Infant CPR is Wednesday, July 10, from 6-8 p.m. at Trinity Hospital. This class is designed to teach you how to respond in an emergency situation. Using infant mannequins and a simple step-by-step method, you’ll learn how to perform infant CPR. Free. Call 706-481-7000 or visit trinityofaugusta.com. Center for Women Tour is Thursday, July 11, from 7-8 p.m. at Doctors Hospital, Medical Office Building 1. The tour, designed for attendance by both partners, will help get you acquainted with the hospital and answer any questions you might have about labor and delivery or Family Centered Maternity Care. Call 706-651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.

Support

Cancer Survivor Support group is Thursday, July 11, at 6 p.m. at Augusta Oncology Associates, 3696 Wheeler Rd. This is a support group for people with all different types of cancer and their family members. Call 706-6512283 or visit doctors-hospital.net.

Alcoholics Anonymous open discussion meeting takes place every Sunday and Wednesday, 7:15 p.m. at Aurora Pavilion in Aiken. Call 806-641-5000 or visit aikenregional.com/hospital-services/behavioral-health-services.

Lupus Support Group meets at the Headquarters Branch Library. Call 706-394-6484 or 706-821-2600, or visit ecgrl.org. Narcotics Anonymous meets Fridays and Sundays at 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Hospital of Augusta. Visit na.org. Overeaters Support Group meets locally. Call 706-7850006 or visit trinityofaugusta.com. Parents of Hearing-Impaired Children meets locally. Call 706-481-7396 or visit trinityofaugusta.com.

Tai Chi for Boomers is held at 6 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. Call 706 394-0590, email sbeasley@ augustameditation.com or visit augustameditation.com/ taichi.html.

Reach for Recovery is presented locally by the American Cancer Society. Call 706-731-9900 or visit trinityofaugusta.com.

Stress Management Classes are held at the University Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute at 8:15 a.m., 9:15 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. each Wednesday. Call 706-7743278 or visit universityhealth.org.

Recovery Support Group meets 7:30 p.m. Sundays and Fridays. Call 706-855- 2419. Alzheimer’s Support Group meets the second Tuesday of each month from 11 a.m.-noon at the Cumberland Village Library in Aiken. Visit aikenregional.com.

Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease Aquatics Class meets every Monday and Friday at noon at the Wilson Family Y. Members, free; non-members, $5. Pre-registration required. Call 706-922-9664 or visit thefamilyy.org.

Education

Clipping and Clicking for Savings is Saturday, July 6, from 10 a.m.-noon at the Maxwell Branch Library. Learn how to save the most money by using print and e-coupons. Call 706-793-2020 or visit ecgrl.org.

Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention Orientation is held every Tuesday at 2 p.m. at University Hospital’s Heart & Vascular Institute (Classroom 3). Free. Call 706774-5548 or visit universityhealth.org.

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Beyond the Bars is a support group for those with incarcerated loved ones. Call 706-855-8636.

Gamblers Anonymous is a support group for those who wish to stop gambling. Call 800-313-0170.

Yoga I offered at the Weeks Center in Aiken 8:45-9:45 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays; Yoga II is offered 8:45-9:45 a.m., Fridays; Evening Yoga is offered 5:30-6:30 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays. $41 for 10 tickets. Call 803-642- 7631.

Adapted Special Populations classes offered at the Wilson Family Y. Members $11; non-members $22. Call 706-922-9664 or visit thefamilyy.org.

Alcoholics Anonymous is a support group for those who wish to stop drinking. Call 706-860-8331.

Burn Support Group meets every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at Doctors Hospital’s Lori Rogers Nursing Library, JMS Building. All burn survivors, and their families and friends are © 2013 SketchCrowd, LLC / www.sketchcrowd.com welcome. Call Tim Dorn at 706-651-6660 or visit doctors-hospital.net.

Yoga Class is offered by the Kroc Center every Saturday at The Augusta Market downtown, 10-11 a.m. Free. Bring your own mat. Call 706-364-5762 or visit krocaugusta.org.

Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation program covers topics such as coronary artery disease, heart attack and CHF at the University Hospital Heart and Vascular Institute. Program is held each Wednesday at 8:15 and 9:15 a.m., and 1:45 p.m. Call 706-774-3278 or visit universityhealth.org.

Adult Sexual Assault and Rape Support Group provides group counseling at University Hospital for those who have experienced sexual assault, incest, rape or childhood sexual abuse. Call 706-724-5200 or visit universityhealth.org.

Overeaters Anonymous meets at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 7:30 p.m., Tuesdays and at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1:30 p.m., Saturdays. Call 907-854-1509. AA meets every Sunday and Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. at Aiken Regional Medical Centers’ Aurora Pavilion, and includes an open discussion. Call 800-322-8322 or visit aikenregional.com.

Decorating with Style is Monday, July 8, from 6-7:45 p.m. at the Diamond Lakes Branch Library. Learn to decorate your home with style using basic design principles. Led by Decorator Carolyn Ellis. No registration necessary. Call 706-772-2432 or visit ecgrl.org. Brown Bag History Talk: “Growing Up Southern, Another Point of View” will be presented Wednesday, July 10, at 12:30 p.m. at the Augusta Museum of History. Dr. James E. Carter, III will give this lecture. Refreshments will be served at 11:30 a.m. Free for members, $3 for non-members. Call 706722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.

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Intermediate Spanish Language Class is each Monday from 2:30-4 p.m. at the Friedman Branch Library. Pre-registration required. Call 706-736-6758 or visit ecgrl.org. Beginnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Spanish Language Class is each Monday from 4-5 p.m. at the Friedman Branch Library. Call 706-736-6758 or visit ecgrl.org. Free Tutoring for all ages, offered by GRUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Literacy Center, is available by appointment Monday-Thursday, from 4-8 p.m., at the center at 1401 Magnolia Drive. Appointments required. Call 706-737-1625 or visit gru.edu.

The Augusta Furies Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rugby Football Club practices 6-8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Julian Smith Casino for players 18 and up. Email augusta.furies@gmail.com or visit augustafuries.org.

GED Classes are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Headquarters Branch Library. Pre-registration required. Call 706-821-2600 or visit ecgrl.org.

The Augusta Rugby Club holds weekly practice sessions at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Larry Bray Memorial Pitch in Augusta. Experienced players and newbies ages 18 and up are welcome. Bring a pair of cleats or cross trainers, a mouthguard, gym shorts and a T-shirt. Visit augustarugby.org or Facebook under the Augusta Rugby Club heading.

English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are offered every Tuesday from 6-7:30 p.m. at Headquarters Branch Library. Call 706-821-2600 or visit ecgrl.org.

Hott Shott Disc Golf is held each Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Killer B Disc Golf in downtown Augusta, and features games and prizes for all ages and skill levels. $2. Call 706-8147514 or visit killerbdiscgolf.blogspot.com/p/hott-shott.

Fort Gordon Toastmasters meets 11:30 a.m. each Wednesday in the Organizational Conference Room (Fish Bowl) on Fort Gordon Army base. Open to the public. Visit fortgordon.toastmastersclubs.org.

Thursday Night Chain Reaction Ride begins at 6 p.m. each Thursday at Patriots Park in Grovetown. For intermediate to fast-paced cyclists, who average 25-32 miles. Participants should bring their own water and helmet. Call 706-855-2024 or visit chainreactionbicycles.net.

Adult Hebrew Class is taught at Congregation Children of Israel at 10:30 a.m. every Thursday. Email office@ cciaugusta.org or visit cciaugusta.org. Computer classes are offered every Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Wallace Branch Library. Call 706-722-6275 or visit ecgrl.org. Guided tours of 1797 Ezekiel Harris House offered by appointment only Tuesday-Friday, and Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Last tours of the day begin at 4 p.m. Adults, $2; children, $1. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org. Historic Trolley Tour of Augusta aboard the Lady Libby boards at the Augusta Museum of History at 1:30 p.m., Saturdays. See historic sites and hear spooky legends, including the legend of the famous Haunted Pillar. $12, including admission to the museum. Reservations required 24 hours in advance. Call 706722-8454 or visit augustaga.org. Tours of the Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson are held regularly. Adults $5; seniors $4; kids K-12 $3; under 5 years free. Reservations required for groups of 10 or more. Call 706-722-9828.

Sports-Outdoors

Augusta GreenJackets home games are as follows: Thursday, July 4-Saturday, July 6, at 7:05 p.m. and Sunday, July 7, at 2:05 p.m. vs. the Charleston RiverDogs at GreenJackets Stadium. $1-$15. Call 706922-9467 or visit greenjacketsbaseball.com. Triple 8 Group Run meets at 8th and Reynolds, 8 a.m., every Saturday through Oct. 26. Choose your distance: 3, 6 or 8 miles. Open to everyone. Visit theaugustamarket.com. Kickball League registration is available for a new adult co-ed league at Riverview Park. Call 941-716-3163 or visit augustakickball.com. Wheelchair Tennis Clinic, presented by the Walton Foundation for Independence, meets each Monday at 6 p.m. (weather permitting) at The Club at Raeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Creek. Free and open to the public. Call 706-826-5809 or email alsalley@wrh.org. Yoga Class at Euchee Creek Library meets every Tuesday at 4 p.m. Call 706- 556-0594 or visit ecgrl.org. Weekly Group Runs include the Monday Metro Run meeting at Metro Coffeehouse at 6 p.m.; Monday Intervals meeting at the Family Y track on Wheeler 20 METROSPIRITAUGUSTAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

Road at 7 p.m.; the Tuesday Nacho Mamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Group Run at 6 p.m.; Wednesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Blanchard Woods Group Run at 6 p.m.; Wednesday Stay in Shape Group Run at 6 p.m.; Wednesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Post Office Hill Training Run at 7 p.m.; Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Homer Hustle at 6 p.m.; and Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stay in Shape Run at 8 a.m. Visit augustastriders.com.

Riverview Disc Golf League meets each Thursday at 6 p.m. at Riverview Park in North Augusta. Entry fee, $5; ace pool, $1. Call 803-215-8181 or visit augustadiscgolf.com. Road Bike Ride meets each Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Andy Jordanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bicycle Warehouse downtown for an approximately 25-mile ride at a moderate to fast pace. Front and rear lights, as well as a helmet, are required. Call 706-724-6777 or visit andyjordans.com. The Augusta Fencers Club is open five nights a week from 5:30-9 p.m. and most Saturday mornings from 10 a.m.noon. Visitors always welcome. Call 706-722- 8878. BlazeSports Swim Team, for all ages of physically challenged swimmers who want to train for competition, meets at the Wilson Family Y. Members, $35 a month; non-members, $50 a month. Pre-registration required. Visit thefamilyy.org.

Kids-Teens

Underground Movie: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Flushed Awayâ&#x20AC;? will be shown Friday, July 5, at 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the North Augusta Branch Library. Free. Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lady and the Trampâ&#x20AC;? will be shown Friday, July 5, at 1 p.m. at the Aiken Branch Library. Free. Call 803-6422020 or visit abbe-lib.org. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lady and the Tramp 2â&#x20AC;? will be shown Friday, July 5, at 2:30 p.m. at the Aiken Branch Library. Free. Call 803642-2020 or visit abbe-lib.org. Yoga for Kids is Saturday, July 6, at 9 a.m. at the Headquarters Branch Library. Free. Call 706-7246762 or visit ecgrl.org. Family Zumba is Saturday, July 6, at 10 a.m. at the Headquarters Branch Library. Free. Call 706-7246762 or visit ecgrl.org. Simply Science: Squishy Sensations will be presented Saturday, July 6, at 10 a.m. at Reed Creek Park. Come learn the steps of the scientific process as you create slimy, squishy, bouncy balls out of different materials. For ages 5 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration is required. Members are free, $2 per child for non-members. Call 706-2104027 or visit reedcreekpark.com. Artrageous! Family Sunday: World of Anansi the Spider 04JULY2013

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is Sunday, July 7, at 2 p.m. at the Morris Museum of Art. After enjoying a performance by the Columbia Marionette Theatre, create a marionette. Free. Call 706-724-7501 or visit themorris.org.

Porkchop Productions presents” The Three Goats’ Gruff” Thursday, July 11, at 10 a.m., at the Diamond Lakes Branch Library. Best for ages 2-12. Free. Call 706-772-2432 or visit ecgrl.org.

Porkchop Productions: “Special-Effects Makeup for Teens” will be presented Monday, July 8, from 2-3:30 p.m. at the Diamond Lakes Branch Library. Best for ages 11-17. Limited to 25 participants. Pre-registration required. Free. Call 706-772-2432 or visit ecgrl.org.

Cherokee in Georgia is Thursday, July 11, at 10 a.m. at the Headquarters Branch Library. Robin Turi from the 4-H Club will present this program. Free. Call 706-7246762 or visit ecgrl.org.

Teen Karaoke Night is Monday, July 8, at 6 p.m. at the Friedman Branch Library. Sing to your hearts’ content! Light snacks provided. Pre-registration preferred. Call 706-736-6758 or visit ecgrl.org. T-Shirt Tech is Monday, July 8, at 7 p.m. at the North Augusta Branch Library. Turn that old T-shirt into something fun and fashionable. Bring an old shirt that you don’t mind bleaching, coloring, or cutting up. Free. Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org. Visionary Warriors Training camp is Tuesday, July 9, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at Superior Academy Self Defense School. A free, fun, safe, confidence-bolstering event for children with visual impairment that aims to empower children by teaching them the basics of selfdefense through specially tailored martial arts classes. Intended for children ages 6-14. Call 706-364-8127 or email admin@superioracademy.com. Let’s Dig Into Gardening will be presented Tuesday, July 9, at 10 a.m. at the Diamond Lakes Branch Library. Best for ages 2-10. Free. Call 706-772-2432 or visit ecgrl.org. Movies at the Maxwell: “Ice Age: The Meltdown” will be shown Tuesday, July 9, at 3 p.m. at the Maxwell Branch Library. Free. Call 706-793-2020 or visit ecgrl.org. Steel Drum with Scott Douglas is Wednesday, July 10, at 10 a.m. at the Maxwell Branch Library. Free. Call 706-793-2020 or visit ecgrl.org. Family Movie Matinee is Wednesday, July 10, at 1 p.m. at the Evans Branch Library. “Hotel Transylvania” will be shown. Free. Call 706-312-1358 or visit columbiacountyga.gov. Steel Drum with Scott Douglas is Wednesday, July 10, at 1:30 p.m. at the Headquarters Branch Library. Free. Call 706-724-6762 or visit ecgrl.org. Pop Top Jewelry is Wednesday, July 10, from 2-3:30 p.m. at the Diamond Lakes Branch Library. All supplies provided. Best for ages 11-17. Free. Call 706-7722432 or visit ecgrl.org. Children’s Craft: Jack and the Beanstalk will be held Wednesday, July 10, at 3:30 p.m. at the Maxwell Branch Library. Free. Call 706-793-2020 or visit ecgrl.org. Wilderness Survival will be presented Wednesday, July 10, at 4:30 p.m. at Reed Creek Park. This is a fun and informative program for those who are interested in backcountry camping or anyone wanting tips in emergency survival skills. Ages 8 to 18. Free for members; non-members are $2. Pre-registration is required. Call 706-210-4027 or visit reedcreekpark.com. What’s in the Box? Paint a Story is Thursday, July 11, at 10 a.m. at the Morris Museum of Art. Look at work by folk artist William H. Clarke and create a painting that tells a story with help from a surprise in the box. Members, free; non-members $4. Registration required. Call 706-724-7501 or visit themorris.org. Mr. Bill, Singer and Storyteller, performs Thursday, July 11, at 10 a.m. at the Friedman Branch Library. Free. Call 706-736-6758 or visit ecgrl.org. 04JULY2013

Watson-Brown Foundation Junior Board needs members. Looking for high-school students to spend one evening a month learning about historic preservation, grants and philanthropy. Call 706-595-7777, email mzupan@ hickory-hill.org or visit hickory-hill.org. DuPont Planetarium shows for Saturdays in July are “Explorers of Mauna Kea” at 8 p.m. and “Digistar Laser Fantasy” at 9 p.m. Weather permitting, the observatory, housing the Bechtel Telescope, will be available for viewing after each show. General admission $4.50; seniors $3.50; 4K-12 $2.50; valid college or military I.D. gets you a 50-percent discount; USCA faculty, staff and students $1. Kids under 4 not permitted in public viewings. Reservations encouraged. Call 803-641-3654. Georgia Connections Academy, a free virtual public charter school has spots for 1,000 K-12 students in Georgia. Call 800-382-6010 or visit connectionsacademy.com/georgiaschool/enrollment/home.aspx. Ceramics Class, for ages 14 and up, meets Mondays at 9 a.m. or 6 p.m., Tuesdays at 6 p.m., and Wednesdays at 9 a.m. in the Weeks Ceramics Center. Call 803-6427631 or visit cityofaikensc.gov. Toddler Time, playtime for children ages 5 and under, is each Monday and Wednesday from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the H.O. Weeks Center in Aiken. $2 per visit; $16 per 10-visit pass. Call 803-642-7631 or visit cityofaikensc.gov. Little Friends Gym, a parent and child class for those ages 6 months-4 years, is held each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Warren Road Community Center. Call 706-860-2833 or visit augustaga.gov. Story Time is held at the Columbia County Library at 10:15 and 11 a.m. Tuesdays, for kids under 2 years old; at 10:15 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for 2-year-olds; at 11 a.m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for preschoolers; and at 4 p.m. Wednesdays for all ages. Call 706-863-1946 or visit ecgrl.org. Loud Crowd, a supervised after-school program for those ages 4-12, is Monday- Friday from 3-6 p.m. at the Warren Road Community Center. Call 706-860-

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Scavenger Hunt is Monday, July 8, at 3 p.m. at the Appleby Branch Library. Find treasures while learning about Appleby Library. Ages 11-17. Free. Call 706736-6244 or visit ecgrl.org.

Paws to Read is every Tuesday in July from 11 a.m.noon at the Aiken Branch Library. Struggling readers in grades K-5 can register to read to a trained therapy dog who loves to listen to stories. Pre-registration and a signed permission slip is required for this event. Call 803-642-7585 or visit abbe-lib.org.

2833 or visit augustaga.gov. Story Time is held at the Diamond Lakes Branch library 10 a.m. each Tuesday. Registration required for groups of six or more. Call 706-772-2432 or visit ecgrl.org. Tai Chi Panda, a Chinese martial arts program for kids ages 5-13, meets Tuesdays and Thursdays. Ages 5-7 meet at 4 p.m.; ages 8-10 meet at 5 p.m.; ages 11-13 meet at 6 p.m. Call 706-394-0590 or visit augustameditation.com/ taichi.html. Preschool Story Time is every Tuesday at Headquarters Branch Library at 10 a.m. Toddler Story Time is every Wednesday at 10 a.m. Group registration required. Call 706-821-2600 or visit ecgrl.org. Story Time is held every Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Friedman Branch Library. Groups of six or more must pre-register. Call 706-736-6758 or visit ecgrl.org. Story Time is every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at Harlem Branch Library. Call 706- 556-9795 or visit ecgrl.org. Story Time is held every Wednesday from 10-11:15 a.m. at Wallace Branch Library. Pre-registration required. Call 706-722-6275 or visit ecgrl.org. Story Time is held each Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Maxwell Branch Library. Pre-registration required for groups. Call 706-793-2020 or visit ecgrl.org. Story Time is held each Wednesday at the Appleby Branch Library from 10:05- 10:20 a.m. for toddlers age 18-35 months, and from 10:30-11:15 a.m. for preschool kids age 3 and up. An adult must remain with the child. Call 706-736- 6244 or visit ecgrl.org. Story Time is every Wednesday at 10:15 a.m. for pre-K, and either 11 or 11:30 a.m. for preschoolers at Aiken County Public Library. Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org. Story Time is every Wednesday from 10:30-11 a.m. for toddlers and 11:15-11:45 a.m. for preschoolers at North Augusta Branch Library. Call 803-279-5767 or abbe-lib.org. Story Time at the Euchee Creek Branch Library, for all ages, is held each Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. and each Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. Call 706-556-0594 or visit ecgrl.org. Mudpuppies, an arts and crafts program for ages 2-5, is held each Thursday at 10:45 a.m. at the Warren Road Community Center. Call 706-860-2833 or visit augustaga.gov. The Augusta Arsenal Soccer Club Junior Academy, for boys and girls ages 5- 8, meets each Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Augusta Soccer Park. Call 706-854- 0149 or visit augustasoccer.com. Fairy Tale Ballet is held at the Family Y of Aiken County. Offered once a week for one month for a total of four

Have you Aerated your yard?

classes. Members, $25 a month; non-members, $35 a month. Visit thefamilyy.org. Boy and Girl Scout troops are hosted by Augusta Jewish Community Center. For Boy Scouts, visit troop119bsa.com or email geoffstew@gmail.com. For Girl Scouts, email sbehrend@bellsouth.net. For Daisy/ Brownie Troop, email bdmrev@yahoo.com. Creek Freaks, a Georgia Adopt-a-Stream team of middle- and high-school students, meets regularly at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park to monitor the health of Butler Creek. Call 706-796-7707 or visit naturalscienceacademy.org. Fun-Time Fridays, for ages 2-5, is held each Friday at 10:45-11:30 a.m. at the Warren Road Community Center. Call 706-860-2833 or visit augustaga.gov. Gesher, a teen program for post b’nai mitzvah youngsters (7th-12th grade), meets every other Sunday at Adas Yeshurun Synagogue. Call 706733-9491.

Seniors

Memory, or What Are My Keys Doing in the Freezer? Will be presented Monday, July 8, from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Headquarters Branch Library. This is a lecture about normal aging and when memory loss needs to be evaluated by a doctor. Free. Call 706-821-2600 or visit ecgrl.org.

Hobbies

Bingo at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 1999 Scott Road, is at 1:30 p.m. on Sundays, and at 6 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. Call 706-790-8040. Crafters Night is each Monday from 6-8 p.m. at the Kroc Center. Call 706-364- 5762 or visit krocaugusta.org. Bingo is held every Saturday at 1 p.m. at American Legion Post 205 on Highland Avenue. Call 706495-3219.

Elsewhere

Classic City American Music Festival will be held Thursday, July 4, from 4-11 p.m. at the Melting Point in Athens. Eight bands, including headliners Dr. Ralph Stanley and the Packway Handle Band, will perform. This yearly festival brings the best of bluegrass, Americana and folk music to Athens and features some of the most established and rising talents in the American music scene. This is an all-ages, family friendly event sponsored by the Athens Folk Music and Dance Society. Call 706-524-6909 or visit meltingpointathens.com.

If you would like to see your organization’s events listed in our calendar, please email Amy Christian at amy@themetrospirit.com. The deadline for each Thursday’s issue is the previous Friday at noon.

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FEATURED

July 4 04Thursday, Live Music Mellow Mushroom (Downtown and Evans) - Live and Local Polo Tavern - Lundy & the Lucky 13 Rose Hill Estate - Preston Weston & Sandra Tavern at the Bean - Irish Music The Willcox - Live Jazz Wild Wing - Kenny George Band

Comedian Jodi White comes to Somewhere in Augusta’s Comedy Zone Wednesday, July 10, along with Kevin Kinner. Jodi, who is now on husband No. 4 and has three kids, will tell you all about it in a no-holds-barred show that is as funny as it is honest. The show starts at 8 p.m., but the audience is asked to be seated by 7:30 p.m. $8. For more information, visit somewhereinaugusta.com.

What’s Tonight? Bar on Broad - Liddle Ugleez Chevy’s Nite Club - Karaoke Cocktails Lounge - Karaoke Fishbowl Lounge - Karaoke Fox’s Lair - Trivia, Soup and Suds Helga’s Pub & Grille - Trivia The Highlander - Butt Naked Trivia Joe’s Underground - Trivia The Loft - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Downtown) - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Evans) - Karaoke The Playground - DJ Rana Shannon’s - Karaoke Surreal at Surrey - College and F&B Night Surrey Tavern - Dueling Pianos Karaoke Villa Europa - Karaoke Wooden Barrel - ’80s Night Karaoke

July 5 05Friday, Live Music Country Club - Richie Scholl Doubletree - Jazz Laura’s Backyard Tavern - Shameless Dave & the Miracle Whips PI Bar & Grille - Live Jazz Somewhere In Augusta - The Hollerers Surrey Tavern - Stereotype Wild Wing - China Bulls

What’s Tonight? Armando’s - Karaoke w/ Rockin Rob Chevy’s - DJ Dougie Club Argos - Friday Night House Party Cocktails Lounge - Grown-Up Fridays with DJ Cork and Bull Pub - Karaoke Eagle’s Nest - Free Salsa Lessons; Latin Dance Party First Round - Mix Masterson Fishbowl Lounge - Karaoke Iron Horse Bar & Grill - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Downtown) - Karaoke with Ryan Moseley Mi Rancho (Washington Road) - Karaoke with Jeff Barnes Mi Rancho (Clearwater) - Three J’s Karaoke Ms. Carolyn’s - Karaoke Palmetto Tavern - DJ Tim The Playground - DJ Rana Rebeck’s Hideaway - Open Mic Roadrunner Cafe - Karaoke with Steve Chappel Sky City - First Friday ‘80s Night and Art Show by Savanna Stephens Soul Bar - First Friday DJ Mix Wooden Barrel - Karaoke Contest 24 METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

July 6 06Saturday, Live Music The Acoustic Coffeehouse - Open Acoustic Jam Session with Eryn Eubanks and the Family Fold Country Club - Holman Autry P.I. Bar and Grill - Smooth/Vocal Jazz Surrey Tavern - Steve Cheeks Piano Sessions Wild Wing - Irritating Julie

What’s Tonight? Chevy’s - DJ Dougie Club Argos - Saturday Night Dance Party and Show Cocktails Lounge - Latin Night Fishbowl Lounge - Karaoke Helga’s Pub & Grille - Karaoke The Loft - DJ Richie Rich Mi Rancho (Downtown) - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Clearwater) - Karaoke with Danny Haywood Mi Rancho (Washington Road) - Karaoke Ms. Carolyn’s - Karaoke The Playground - DJ Rana Robbie’s - Saturday Night Dance Party Somewhere In Augusta - UFC 162 Tavern at the Bean - Karaoke w/ DJ Kenny Curtis Wooden Barrel - Kamikaze Karaoke

July 7 07Sunday, Live Music 5 O’Clock Bistro - Mike & Dave Candlelight Jazz - Funk You Malibu Jack’s - Playback The Band w/ Tutu Dy’Vine Partridge Inn - Sunday Evening Jazz w/ the Not Gaddy Jazz Trio Wild Wing - Hooker Bros. The Willcox - Live Jazz

What’s Tonight? Mi Rancho (Downtown) - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Washington Road) - Karaoke, Salsa Dancing Polo Tavern - Bingo Night Shannon’s - Karaoke with Peggy Gardner

July 8 08Monday, Live Music Hopelands Gardens (Aiken) - TBA Shannon’s - Open Mic Night

What’s Tonight? Applebee’s (Evans) - Trivia Chevy’s - Trivia Club Argos - Karaoke Joe’s Underground - Poker Malibu Jack’s - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Downtown) - Trivia The Playground - DJ Rana Robolli’s - Trivia with Mike Thomas Somewhere in Augusta - Poker Wild Wing - Trivia

July 9 09Tuesday, Live Music The Highlander - Open Mic Night Shannon’s - Karaoke Contest The Willcox - Piano jazz

What’s Tonight? Chevy’s Nite Club - Shag Night w/ Free Lessons Club Argos - Karaoke Fishbowl Lounge - Dart League Joe’s Underground - Karaoke Laura’s Backyard Tavern - Karaoke w/ David Doane Limelight Cafe - Bottom’s Up Karaoke Malibu Jack’s - Poker Mellow Mushroom (Downtown and Evans) - Trivia Mi Rancho - Cornhole Carolina Meeting The Playground - Truly Twisted Trivia with Big Troy Polo Tavern - Karaoke Shannon’s - Karaoke with Mike Johnson Somewhere In Augusta - Big Prize Trivia Surrey Tavern - Tubeday Tuesday Movie Night

July 10 10Wednesday, Live Music Joe’s Underground - County Line Malibu Jack’s - Marilyn Adcock Wild Wing - Sabo

What’s Tonight? 100 Laurens - Trivia Night with Moose Armando’s - Karaoke w/ Rockin Rob Chevy’s - Karaoke Cocktails Lounge - Augusta’s Got Talent Cotton Patch - Trivia and Tunes Hotel Aiken - Karaoke w/ Tom Mitchell Laura’s Backyard Tavern - Karaoke w/ David Doane The Loft - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Downtown) - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Washington Road) - Karaoke The Playground - Krazy Karaoke with Big Troy Polo Tavern - Karaoke w/ Tom Mitchell Somewhere in Augusta - The Comedy Zone w/ Jodi White and Kevin Kinner Surrey Tavern - Trivia with Christian and Mickey

Upcoming Savannah River Bluegrass - Maude Edenfield Park, North Augusta July 11 John Kolbeck - Polo Tavern July 11 John Karl - Country Club July 12 Bone Chilly - Joe’s Underground July 12 Josh Hilley - Polo Tavern July 12 Funk You - Sky City July 12 BlueBilly Grit - Stillwater Taproom July 12 Gavin Riley - 100 Laurens July 13 Holland Marie - Country Club July 13 Ponderosa, Yip Deceiver, Grizzly Harris - Sky City July 13 Courtland Saxon - 5 O’Clock Bistro July 14 Buzz Clifford - Candlelight Jazz July 14 Karen Gordon & Garden City Jazz - Hopelands Gardens (Aiken) July 15 Jacob Beltz - Joe’s Underground July 17 The Gilded Youth, Dirty Realists - Sky City July 18 Preston & Weston - Maude Edenfield Park, North Augusta July 18 Eric Scott Band - Country Club July 19 The Guilded Youth, Dirty Realists - Sky City July 19 Rolling Nowhere - Stillwater Taproom July 19 Michael Stacey Band - Country Club July 20 Saint Happening - Joe’s Underground July 20 Waller - Stillwater Taproom July 20 04JULY2013

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The Henrys - 5 O’Clock Bistro July 21 Edwin Hamilton Trio (Charleston) - Candlelight Jazz July 21 4 Cats in the Dog House - Hopelands Gardens July 22 Black Tusk, Chairleg - Sky City July 24 246th Army Jazz Band and Art Show - Maude Edenfield Park, North Augusta July 25 The (Joel Cruz) Method - Sky City July 26 Burning Angels - Stillwater Taproom July 26 Sibling String Farewell Show, the Kenny George Band - Sky City July 27 Funk You - 5 O’Clock Bistro July 28 Courtland Saxon & Desire - Candlelight Jazz July 28 Ken Gabriel Band - Hopelands Gardens (Aiken) July 29 Weaving the Fate, Kelen Heller, F.O.C.U.S. - Sky City August 3 Tony Williams & Blues Express - Candlelight Jazz August 4 Aiken Big Band - Hopelands Gardens (Aiken) August 5 Mindless Behavior All Around the World Tour w/ OMG Girlz & CoCo Jones - Bell Auditorium August 8 Black Iron Gathering - Stillwater Taproom August 9 Preston & Weston - Candlelight Jazz August 11 Aiken Brass - Hopelands Gardens (Aiken) August 12 Dank Sinatra - Sky City August 15 Era 9, Right to Fall, False Flag - Sky City August 16 Mississippi Kites - Stillwater Taproom August 16 The Darnell Boys, Burning Angels - Stillwater Taproom August 17 Sounds Unlimited - Candlelight Jazz August 18 Fort Gordon Band - Hopelands Gardens (Aiken) August 19 Mother’s Finest, Greg Hester - Sky City August 23 Monkeygrass Jug Band - Stillwater Taproom August 23 Will McCranie - Stillwater Taproom August 24 quietSTORM - Candlelight Jazz August 25 Aiken Concert Band - Hopelands Gardens (Aiken) August 26 The Last Bison - Sky City August 26 Labor Day Jazz Festival - Augusta Common September 1

Elsewhere Lil Wayne, T.I., Future - Aaron’s Amphitheatre at

04JULY2013

Lakewood, Atlanta July 12 Carolina Chocolate Drops, Keller Williams - Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta July 12 Beyonce - Arena at Gwinnett Center, Duluth July 12 Phish - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Alpharetta July 16-17 Robert Plant - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Alpharetta July 19 Anita Baker - Chastain Park, Atlanta July 19 Boz Scaggs - Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta July 19 Living Colour - Variety Playhouse, Atlanta July 19 The Black Crowes, Tedeschi Trucks Band, The London Souls - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Alpharetta July 20 OAR - Tabernacle, Atlanta July 20 Vans Warped Tour 2013 w/ Reel Big Fish, Wallpaper, the Story So Far, Hawthorne Heights and more - Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood, Atlanta July 25 Barenaked Ladies, Ben Folds 5, Guster, Boothby Graffoe - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Alpharetta July 26 Lyle Lovett - Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta July 26 Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Dustin Lynch - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Alpharetta July 27 The Corduroy Road, Packway Handle Band Mellow Mushroom, Macon July 27 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival w/ Rob Zombie, Machine Head, Behemoth, Amon Amarth, Children of Bodom, Mastodon and more - Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood, Atlanta July 30 Jonas Brothers - Chastain Park, Atlanta August 4 Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin - Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta August 9 Smashmouth, Sugar Ray, Gin Blossoms, Vertical Horizon, Fastball - Chastain Park, Atlanta August 10 Grand Funk Railroad, Spin Doctors - The Frederick Brown Amphitheater, Peachtree City August 10 Kansas, Toto - Chastain Park, Atlanta August 14 Bruno Mars - Philips Arena, Atlanta August 22 Steep Canyon Rangers - Terminal West, Atlanta August 23 Huey Lewis & the News - The Frederick Brown Amphitheater, Peachtree City August 23 Muse - Convention Center at Gwinnett Center, Duluth September 4

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Retreat THE

Don’t Make Me Pull the Car Over! Tips for a successful summer road trip

TAPAS BAR

Great Food! No Tie Required!

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Ah, the family road trip. I’ll admit that they’re much easier as The Boy and The Girl get older. The list of things to pack shrinks as we have outgrown diapers, bottles and sippy cups. There are some must-haves, but they change from trip to trip. This time, The Girl had to bring a certain baby doll with us because she couldn’t be left home alone. Because no one would cook her dinner. She has a backpack stuffed with animals who must come with us. She unsuccessfully tried to bring a blonde wig, her Barbie bed and a big golf umbrella. Per usual, the second we crank the car, someone asks how long it’s going to take. The Man and I reply with a solid, unified “a while.” This doesn’t stop the incessant asking and counting down. The Boy enjoys announcing the time throughout the trip. He’s even sweet enough to read the clock once per minute. Jealous? There’s the inevitable whining, too. It makes my ears hurt just to think about it. My friend Liz and I turn the tables on the kids. We start talking in the same whiny tone. Not a word comes out of our mouths that isn’t saturated with whine. After about 10.6 seconds, both kids are yelling, telling us how annoying we are. So we keep it up. They angrily request that we stop. Mission accomplished. The Girl, being five years old, is especially impatient in the car. She asks in such a sweet way, but anything that repeats itself that much loses its luster. I finally taught her that if she goes to sleep, when she wakes up we will be there. So far, we’ve had great success. I haven’t tried it on any trips longer than three hours, though. Growing up, we played games in the car. This was preDVD players. You know, when the middle seat of the van was removed so you could set up a pallet on the floor. Punch Buggy and the Alphabet Game were top choices. Last week, we played the watermelon game. The highway between Augusta and most South Carolina beaches is 26 METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

home to a town that boasts a Watermelon Festival. Most homes and businesses hang painted watermelons on everything. Counting them makes for a fun game. We played for about 30 minutes. I declared game over when I had the highest total. Fun game! The Man always drives. I actually love driving, but I want my passenger to stay awake and keep me company. The Man loves to sleep in the car. Therefore, he drives. Using a GPS has all but eliminated any arguments about asking for directions. Now we are a unified front against Delores, the angry GPS narrator. I put the GPS in the Marriage Savers file, along with DVR and double sinks. He is a great driver, but I have the world’s most ineffective air brake. I’m sure The Man would openly admit that when I brake, grab the door handle and suck air through my teeth, he wants to toss me out the window. He doesn’t talk to other cars. I have full conversations with the idiots who drive in the left lane, cut us off or brake too much. If they get mad at me, I smile and wave. Nothing makes road rage flair up like a smiling, waving enemy. They get more and more angry and look like an ass. I love it. I hope you consider these examples as tips for improving and enhancing your next adventure. Road trips don’t have to be frustrating. There are games to be played, minutes to count and whining to combat. Just be sure to use the potty before leaving the house. Don’t make me pull this car over.

JENNYWRIGHT lives in Summerville with her

husband, who she calls The Man, and two kids, who she affectionately calls The Boy and The Girl. She enjoys taking photos, cooking and playing tennis. 04JULY2013

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Michael Johnson

mejphoto.photoreflect.com

Kim Mullins, Jenny Evans and Cecil Forrest at Wild Wing.

SIGHTINGS

Rosemary Peel, Carrie Brooks and Anabel Duncan at the Bee’s Knees.

Haley Pittman, Buddy Dymeck and Susan Mobley at Bar West.

SIGHTINGS

Kirby Wilson, Corey Rhodes and Krystle Kvalheim at Robbie’s Sports Bar.

Laura Coble, Caroline Ashe and Stef Frickey at Women in Business at the Legends Club.

SIGHTINGS

Courtney Terry, September Boll and Clarissa Berry at the Country Club.

Danna Lambert, Kristina Savage and Joanne Sanders at the Country Club.

Amanda Story, Seth Davis and Kessler Davis at the Country Club.

Michael Johnson

mejphoto.photoreflect.com

Christy Godd, Cassie Fitte and Michele Newman at Wild Wing.

INJURED? 1-855-91-INJURED AugustaAutoAccidents.com 04JULY2013

AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

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THE

BOX TOPS

Mike and Sully beat “The Heat” to stay on top for a second week.

EIGHT

RANK

TITLES

WEEKEND GROSS

TOTAL GROSS

WEEK #

LAST WEEK

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY

$45,607,745

$170,433,193

THE HEAT

$39,115,043

WORLD WAR Z

$29,774,625

$123,696,919

WHITE HOUSE DOWN

$24,852,258

MAN OF STEEL

$20,737,490

$248,577,596

“The Heat”

SAMEIFLING

McCarthy is on fire; Bullock is not bad either ACTION

28 METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

Yeah, so the plot is a veritable shotgun shack (look in the front, see clear through to the back) and the script leans on some reductive stereotypes (against albinism, foremost). Screenwriter Katie Dippold has written episodes of “Mad TV” and “Parks and Recreation,” and there is almost a sketch-comedy feel to the scenes, which seem mostly designed to give McCarthy chances to dog-cuss Bullock. At least “The Heat” avoids the maudlin touches that made McCarthy’s last vehicle, the uneven but lucrative “Identity Thief,” such a simpering dud. Not that she can’t pluck a heartstring. It’s just that she’s more fun as a violent, crude mess of a human. How much of that owes to her body type, and obvious contrast to her fellow leading lady, could make for a real debate. Why should the teen-skinny Bullock, who’s pushing 50, still get cast as the brittle Ivy Leaguer while McCarthy, who’s as full-figured as any leading lady in Hollywood, yet again becomes the oafish malcontent? To its credit, “The Heat” doesn’t pick on McCarthy’s size for laughs, except as parcel to her physical comedy. A lighter actress with her talents might be just as adept at slow-hurdling a chain-link fence or clambering through the open windows of closely parked cars — but it’s hard to imagine such a performer being funnier than McCarthy, cursing like a prison guard as she careens from one humiliating fix to the next. As an actress she seems to follow the old advice, the best advice, to work it if you got it. That unique physique is but one of several bullets in her clip, and she has no shame about firing them all, usually while aiming at some dirtbag’s crotch.

FAMILY

“Despicable Me 2,” rated PG, starring the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Ken Jeong. Gru is back and, this time, he’s on the right side of the law, hired by the Anti-Villain League to stop a new super criminal. How will he manage with three young daughters to bring up? We’re sure his minions will be happy to help out.

DOCUMENTARY

“Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain,” rated R, starring Kevin Hart. The most popular comedian no one’s ever heard of does stand-up before a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden.

COMEDY

JULY 5

“The Heat” is that rare and wonderful sort of movie in which the characters haven’t the faintest notion they’re in a comedy. They all arrived locked and loaded for a police procedural about an odd-couple pairing: a Felix of an FBI agent with an Oscar of a Boston beat cop reluctantly teaming up to take down some shady drug kingpin. Except the terminally uptight fed is Sandra Bullock, who quietly packs some formidable comedic chops. And the scrub on the beat is Melissa McCarthy, who is such a physical comedy tour-deforce, such a vulgarian whirlwind, that the film lurches into the delightfully ridiculous with her every scene. With the exception of her Red Sawwwwwksloving family, no one else in “The Heat” registers much of a chuckle until they bump into McCarthy. Director Paul Feig (“Freaks and Geeks,” “Bridesmaids”) hands the heavy lifting to her, and the comedienne lugs the entire enterprise into utter delirium. What laughs don’t belong to McCarthy fall to Bullock’s special agent, a high-achieving Yalie without so much as a cat to call her own (she hijacks her neighbor’s tabby for fridge-ready snapshots). She parachutes into Boston with a promotion on her mind, hoping to stop some psycho who keeps carving his enemies into little chunks. There she runs afoul of McCarthy, a shoeleather cop whose idea of serving/ protecting involves phoning the wife when she catches a john soliciting some hanky-panky, and running down a smalltime dealer in her crapbox hooptie. But the FBI has info and the Boston officer knows the streets. The two separately unbearable women must, yes, work together to catch the bad guy.

“The Lone Ranger,” rated PG-13, starring Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, Tom Wilkinson, Helena Bonham Carter. Lawman John Reid becomes a superhero of sorts in the old west in director Gore Verbinski’s (all three “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies) retelling of the classic tale. Who knows what to expect, but we do know one thing: we love the casting of Johnny Depp as Tonto, as well as Tonto’s choice of a dead bird as headgear.

“The Way, Way Back,” rated PG-13, starring Steve Carell, AnnaSophia Robb, Toni Collette, Allison Janney. Jim Rash, Dean Pelton from TV’s “Community” and Oscar winner for writing “The Descendants,” codirects this story about a teenager coming of age during summer break.

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VALERIEEMERICK

Teaching Independence

Local filmmaker offers three-session series on film production

Breaking into the film industry and getting funding and distribution for an independent film can be a daunting and brutal process for a filmmaker. Christopher Forbes, a local filmmaker, wants to help by passing along what he has experienced during his years in the business. Forbes, of Forbesfilm, is presenting a free series on three consecutive Wednesdays in July at 7 p.m. at the main branch of the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library, in downtown Augusta. “In July, we have three Wednesdays; basically it’s three different events,” Forbes explained. The events will take place July 10, 17, and 24. “The first two, on the 10th and the 17th, are purely educational,” said Forbes. “It’s a seminar I’m giving based on my experiences having financed and distributed a whole slew of independent films.” He gets a lot of questions from people trying to break into the industry, Forbes said. “Primarily those questions focus around two subjects — The first subject is how do you get a film financed, how do you find money for your movie?” he explained. “I’ve managed to do that 17-18 times — I’ve lost count — and the other question I’m often asked is how do you get into distribution? How do you get your film out there? How do you get things done? So, I

figured I’d try to address those two issues.” So, what makes Forbes an authority on these subjects? Forbes has managed to finance 17 feature films. He currently has eight features in distribution and has just placed his third feature, his latest Western, “Vengeance Without Mercy,” with Lion’s Gate. Forbes has run the gamut from self distribution to distribution from some of the larger companies, he said. “I’d say we’ve been very lucky,” he said, “but very persistent is what we’ve really been.” In addition to the seminars, Forbes will be screening “Vengeance Without Mercy” (the cast is shown above) on the third Wednesday, July 24. “It’s the first full-length screening ever of this film, so it’s kind-of a world premiere, which is kind of cool,” Forbes said. The film, which stars mostly Augusta actors, was directed by Forbes, with a screenplay by Michael Boswell, and was filmed in Love Valley, North Carolina, and in the Augusta, Georgia, area. The cast includes Cody McCarver, Jerry Chesser, Dave Long, Jezibell Anat, Carlo Martini, William Adams, Joseph Zuchowski, Saul Brooks, Stan Fink, William Wylie, Tripp Courtney and Clarence Bernard Nalley. “Like a lot of other Westerns, it begins in the Civil War and then immediately jumps forward 10 years to the old West,” Forbes said. “It’s not really a story of the old West, it’s a story of what happens out West, and it mostly takes place in North Carolina. It has all the elements of a Western, but it takes place

in North Carolina.” The film is a dark angle on the Western revenge storyline, Forbes said. Additionally, in holding this series Forbes hopes to teach up and coming filmmakers some of the things he was never taught in film school, he said. “I don’t pretend to know everything about this business,” Forbes said. “But what I’m trying to do by doing this is to give people who are really interested in getting into the business some idea of what the business is like.” Financing Independent Feature Films Headquarters Branch Library Wednesday, July 10 | 7 p.m. | Free Swimming with Sharks: Independent Feature Film Distribution Headquarters Branch Library Wednesday, July 17 | 7 p.m. | Free “Vengeance Without Mercy” Screening Headquarters Branch Library Wednesday, July 24 | 7 p.m. | Free forbesfilm@hotmail.com

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AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

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WHINE

LINE

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WHINELINE@THEMETROSPIRIT.COM

Have something you want to get off your chest? Send your whines to whineline@themetrospirit. com. If you do so by noon on Friday, you might just see it in the next Thursday’s issue. Oh, and whines may be edited for content but will pretty much be printed exactly as you type them.

Thanks to the rain, the Southeast isn’t the hottest part of the country right now.

It never ceases to amaze that a mistake in a conservative’s past becomes total destruction in the present.... As for our liberal counterparts the bad behavior is promptly forgiven......

down

Thanks to the rain, we have an overabundance of mosquitos and snakes. Hooray!

THUMBS

Martha Stuart can cheat, lie and steal for personal monetary gain and people still love and support her. While Paula Dean says one word that hurt somebody’s feelings and her world is snatched out from under her. Kinda makes me think that some people don’t have their priorities in place.

a 17-year old was killed. Even after he was told by police to back off, the shooter, weighing over 200 pounds and armed with a 9 mm weapon, pursued a 130 pound 17-year old, who he felt looked suspicious; the 17-year old was armed with a canned drink and a bag of skittles. The shooter Wow! Did someone honestly suggest “rioting” if says the screams are his. Now which one do you Zimmerman is exonerated? If you’ve been following think was more likely to scream for help: a big guy the trial you know that it’s starting to look like with a gun or a fragile 17-year-old trying to flee and Martin was the aggressor. And you’re for rioting?! get home? You be the judge. Just another example of, as one Whiner put it, “Our country is SCREWED!” Can someone explain to me why someone who lives in Lincoln County keeps meddling into the affairs I am always amused when someone says something of Augusta-Richmond County? Who asked for your that seems to be ‘matter of fact’ about who jumped advice? Why don’t you just pay attention to what in the 2005 Mayors race first. Helen Blockeris going on in Lincoln County and stay out of our Adams was the first (May 2005) and the race was business here in Augusta? supposed to be November 2006. Things changed quickly after that and others got in the race when It seems that NOBODY knows where N.S.A. a 2005 Special Election had to be held to fill the whistle blower Edward Snowden is (as of unexpired term of the previous Mayor. Thursday night, June 27)...sort of reminds me of that 90’s PBS television show - Where In The There is a murder trial going on in Florida that World Is Carmen Sandiego? has everyone taking sides. Let’s put race aside for a moment and use some sound judgment and To all you folks complaining about the once-areasoning. So what do we have? Well, there were week trash pickup: Are you wasting and therefore two people involved and screams for help were throwing out a lot of food? (Shame on you.) Are you heard. In a confrontation, a shot was fired and

recycling as much as possible. There are so many things that can be recycled besides paper - perhaps all that styrofoam you are using with your take-outs, many plastic items, etc. Instead of whining, why not be proactive and try to reduce the amount of your trash and increase your recycling. Or, do what one of my neighbors does - throws his trash into my almost empty trash can...NOT. To the person who wrote “ And if Zinnerman is exonerated, rioting and protesting will be in order. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Peace...”- Remember the OJ trial result riots - I mean celebrations? Geoengineering corporations are spraying deadly chemicals into our atmosphere. They admit it all over the world. This is deadly for us and illegal. HBA stands for “Has Billy’s Approval”. Such hard hitting journalism! You really broke that story about the guy who makes knives. You scooped the daily as they have yet to report it! I look forward to more front-page articles about this type of thing because then I don’t have to think about Supreme Court decisions or what’s happening in Syria!

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