Metro Spirit 12.27.2012

04 06

METRONEWS CROSSWORD AUGUSTA TEK

08 19 21

EVENTS CALENDAR JENNY IS WRIGHT ART45 SIGHTINGS

22 27 28 29

SLAB MATT’S MUSIC

30 33 35

WHINE LINE

38

Contributors Greg Baker|Sam Eifling |Rhonda Jones |Austin Rhodes|Josh des|Josh es|Josh Ruffin|Matt Stone|Adam W Wa Wadding|Jenny ding|Jenny Wright

o r t e m IR P S

AUSTIN RHODES RUFFIN’ IT

THE8

Metro Spirit is a freee newspaper published publis weekly on Thursday, 52 weeks eks a year. Editorial coverage includes local ocal al issues and news, arts, arts entertainment, entert people, places and pectrum. The he views do not necessarily represent present the views of the th publisher. publish Visit us at metrospirit.com. m.© events. In our paperr appear views from across the political and social spectrum. ner/Publisher: Joe White. Legal: Phillip Scott Hibbard. Reproduction or use without permissio p person, perso please.

15 House, LLC. Owner/Publisher: permission is prohibited. One copy per

CONTENTS

COVER DESIGN: KRUHU

EricJohnson|news editor eric@themetrospirit.com

GabrielVega|lead designer gabe@themetrospirit.com

BrendaCarter|senior account executive brenda@themetrospirit.com

AmyChristian|arts editor/production director amy@themetrospirit.com

JoeWhite|publisher joe@themetrospirit.com

JohnnyBeckworth|circulation manager johnny@themetrospirit.com

Michael-RKQVRQ_VLJKWLQJV Valerie(PHULFN_ZULWHU Amy3HUNLQV_HGLWRULDO LQWHUQ LauraPerry|volunteer

WHINELINE Has anybody seen the guy that appeared in Season 1, Episode 10’s Brad Meltzers Decoded?

At the Georgia Guidestones, he showed his United States map to Buddy, Scott, and Mack (Christine) that marked areas in the U.S. that would be under water after the December 21, 2012 “apocalypse.” Where is he? Where did he go? Can the Metro Spirit go interview him?

Today is Thursday, December 27th, isn’t it...or is it April 1st?

time to enjoy a “softer” holiday without going overboard on liquors and drugs and hoards Some judge needs to assign of gifts. Look at Newtown, CT’s tasks to non-violent offenders of tragedy as a time to reflect on the law that involve taking down what’s REALLY important in all those ridiculous religious and life: the people and the care of business advertising sticks and them, not the hassle of buying signs. Don’t we have litterbugs gifts or making people buy you that have been caught and need gifts. Give time, attention and sentencing? love to the ones you really care about.

Maybe people will now take I’m amazed at the cross-eyed looks I get when I tell people

“I would rather have nepotism working for me than my smarts.”

Anyways, tonights basketball game is between well-paid Louisville Coach Rick Pitino and Florida Internationals most likely well-paid coach, Richard Pitino, his very own son. Light the dynamite - dynamite go BOOM! Saw Lori Davis at the last Augusta Commission meeting where she was with the group opposing the CADI. Of course

o r t e m IRIT SP she was with Bradfly Owens and former commissioner Andy Cheek. I hope Ms. Davis realizes that she has lost all credibility by associating with these two. (continued on page 38)

8 20

Looking Back: 2012 was filled with strange, sensational trials and even stranger political campaigns.

Here’s Part I of our look back at this interesting year.

“Taxi!”: Tips for having a safe New Years Eve

Want to advertise in the Metro Spirit?

706.496.2535 or 706.373.3636

V23|NO51

Bobby F. Brewer Jr.: Cowboy Fan, Great American Conservatives have been challenged to discuss and present solutions in the wake of yet aI cannot account for many of the Christmas Eves in the life of Bobby Brewer, but I can tell you where he was for about a half dozen of them a few decades past: The Rhodes Family Christmas Eve Parties, at 1206 Oakdale Road.

Augusta, Georgia.

From 1966 through 1994 those parties were an annual “can’t miss” event for just about everyone I really loved in the whole wide world. The memories of those nights are more vivid in my mind today than most of the Christmas mornings that followed. And while I understand it is cliché, looking back, those long past days made me understand why the Christmas season is really built around the concept of sharing time with family and friends.

Bobby was the only person that I was not related to, or dating, that I ever personally invited to attend.

He was a fixture at the Christmas Eve party just like my dad’s best friends Bob Abshire and Don Dearing, Cousin Dean’s best friend “the other Dean” Lewis, or Barnabas, the bigass white cat who allowed us all to throw a party in his house. Bobby was, for those years, one of us.

So many who enjoyed those parties, and that particular family tradition, still lament that they ever ended. Bobby did too.

One of the last times I was able to have a meaningful conversation with him was February 1, 2009. A date that I can only specifically recall because Bobby was calling me on the occasion of the Steelers’ Super Bowl appearance, set for that same

afternoon. Just calling to wish them well, he said, but only because he knew I was such a big fan. Truth be known, he hated the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had to; it was a rule. You see, Bobby was a devoted, dedicated, dyed-in-the-wool Dallas Cowboys fan. Every bit as fervent for the Blue and White as I was for the Black and Gold. It was our eternal debate, and we were as obnoxious about it as two 13-year-olds could be. We devised insults and nicknames aimed at each other’s teams the way that little girls dream about what they are going to one day name their newborn babies.

We could one-up each other from the bus ride to school, all the way to the final bell of the day, and no name was too insulting or profane. The only rule: the nasty names had to rhyme with the real names.

In the interest of family reading, virtually none of those names can be repeated here, but I can say that I believe the karma from having to endure a decade of hearing “Fairy Bradshaw” finally paid off my direction when the Cowboys drafted Tony Romo.

Too bad we weren’t playing the name game any more; timing is everything.

In that conversation almost four years ago, we talked football, the recent election of President Obama and the pending birth of my new son. He was amazed to hear that my daughter was about to graduate from high school, and he beamed as he bragged about his own beautiful daughter, not quite yet in high school. He talked of seeing family at Christmas, and how rushed it was, and then out of the blue he told how much he always enjoyed being included in our Christmas Eve

parties all those years ago. I did have a few very goodlooking female cousins and family friends he enjoyed hanging around, but for the most part, he just liked the tradition of it all. I reminded him that all that came to a sad end when my parents divorced, and he got quiet for a second and then said how sad he was when he heard that had happened. It seems we were all his family, too.

Bobby had been moving around the country a bit, but he hoped to settle down soon, for a good long while. We promised to get together, but we never really did. For that, I will have eternal remorse.

On December 22, 2010, Bobby F. Brewer Jr. was crossing an Indianapolis street to attend a Christmas party. His arms were filled with groceries, which means he probably never saw the drunk driver with no headlights that was bearing down on him going about 50 miles an hour. The bastard that hit him never even stopped.

It was something of a miracle that Bobby didn’t die that night, but the devastation the violent collision did to his body was ultimately unsurvivable. He died three months later.

When I spoke at his funeral, I told those gathered that I did not believe any young man ever has a best friend like the best friend he has when he is 12 years old. Bobby was that friend, of course. He was the only one who knew how hung up I was on Myra Pirkle. I was the only one who knew that he was Kerry Micklewright’s long time, love letter writing, secret admirer.

417 FURY’S FERRY ROAD

Tanqueray Gin $31.99 1.75L

(next to Publix Shopping Center) | 706.922.8627 | .toastbev.com Mon- Sat: 9-10

Pinnacle Vodka $15.99 1.75L Jack Daniels $35.99 1.75L Evan Williams Egg Nog $7.99

Resolution Martini This year, resolve to drink better! Why not?

This is just a taste of what we have to offer! Make sure to stop by Toast for a full-service shopping experience with a knowledgeable staff that is eager to make your holiday gathering a memorable one!

3 oz gin 1 oz apricot brandy 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice

***GIFT CARDS*** The perfect gift for the unexpected guest or “hard to shop for” relative guest or friend!

The area's largest selection of craft beer and specialty brews!

Moscato, Cava, Prosecco, Champagne...we've got it! With over 50 different bubbly wines to choose from we're sure you'll find just the one!

Korbel $8.99 (reg. $12.99) all varieties Yellow Tail "Bubbles" $6.99 (reg. $9.99) Terrapin Hopsecutioner

$7.99 6pk.

4

METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

Lamarca Prosecco $12.99 (reg. $15.99) 90pts Wine Spectator Nino Franco Prosecco $16.99 (reg. $19.99) 90pts Robert Parker 27DECEMBER2012

V23|NO51

Tutt Jr. High’s 1979 production of “Our Town,” with Austin Rhodes, Carolyn Bennett and Bobby Brewer.

Bobby always got a kick out of the fact that my many activities with the Tutt Jr. High Drama Club put me in regular, close proximity, to the school’s most beautiful and outgoing girls, and he wanted a piece of that pie. Probably the best thing I ever did for Bobby was to suggest him as the male lead for our fall 1979 production of “Our Town.” He was given the role of George Gibbs the instant he read for the part. That experience ended up being one

27DECEMBER2012

of the happiest times of his life. It gave him a new purpose, it made him a better student and he got to do a love scene with Carolyn Bennett.

George Gibbs is a character that many have called the best “all-American boy-next-door” role in all of American theater. Bobby was George Gibbs, there is no better way to describe him to strangers.

I think of Bobby almost every day. Sadly, those great memories usually end with the reminder of the horrible

way he left this world.

Bobby Brewer Jr.: Cowboy fan... great American... and too damn young to die. Celebrate responsibly.

If you choose to drink and drive, you just may kill someone’s best friend.

AUSTINRHODES

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

AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT

5

V23|NO51

Starting 2013 Off Right Three Stories to Ignore

Pieces like this one tend to start off with the phrase “by the time you read this,� and there’s a reason for that. See, there’s already a considerable chasm of time between when I write this column and when you guys read it/line your birdcages with it/use it as kindling to stoke the pitiful flame you conjured in the dark, ashy night of the postapocalyptic wasteland, muttering curses against an ambivalent god (and me for calling gun owners weenies. Foreshadowing!).

But since we’re all about to celebrate some interpretation of the winter equinox — I’m celebrating with a Bell’s Expedition Stout and about a Huckabee belly’s-worth (double foreshadowing!) of snow — I’m actually writing this a full week before it hits stands. The staff is taking the rest of the week off to plan our annual Christmas party. I’m not saying you’ll definitely get to see me face off with three former Metro Spirit payroll clerks in a bare-knuckle Saigon Death Match, but I’m also not saying you won’t.

So by the time this thing actually goes to print, these stories may have become obsolete.

Which is kind of the point of this article, yeah? God, I hate it when this thing turns meta.

1. Any Gun Lobbyist Talking About the Newtown Shooting‌ ‌or, for that matter, anyone who blames something other than the stupefyingly anemic credentials it takes to buy a handgun, shotgun or a freaking AR-15 assault rifle (used in the Newtown shootings, as well as many others) in this country. Look: Unless you have a job that issues you a firearm (police officer, soldier, Florida pest control specialist, etc.) or you’re an avid, responsible hunter or professional marksman, or you collect them, unloaded, for historical and aesthetic purposes, you don’t need a gun. You don’t. Owning a gun for any other reason is just a convenient, non-verbal way to tell the rest of the world about your own sexual inadequacy (men) or that have particularly poor judgment skills (women).

In one of his more controversial statements during election season — more specifically, the glory days of the GOP primaries — President Obama said that a certain demographic of Americans have a tendency to “cling to guns and religion.â€? The man’s not talking out of his ass, either. When he was elected, gun sales spiked, and he was assaulted with completely unfounded charges of not being a Christian. As a side note, there’s nothing wrong with not being a Christian, but the man clearly is. When he was re-elected, well‌ rinse, repeat.

After every tragedy like this, the moronic thread of logic that we should just make guns more available starts making the rounds: “Well, if only the people in that Colorado theater had been armed‌,â€? “If only the teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary had been armed‌â€?

The president of the National Gun Owners’ Association, who has a face like a used condom and about half the cognitive capability, recently took to Piers Morgan’s show to toe that same line, and I’ll tell you something: When Piers Morgan holds an intellectual, moral and rhetorical superiority over you, its time to consider chemical castration.

Predictably, a bill written by Senator Jay Rockefeller has already reached the Senate floor to investigate violence in — wait for it — video games. Not guns. Video games.

That industry generates about twice as much revenue as the gun industry, but here’s the difference: no one is ideologically, jingoistically self-chained to video games. We like ‘em, sure. But the gun control issue is a politically poisonous one because ownership resonates on a deeper, more primordial level. Plus, y’know, black president.

Like I said last week, I’m not all that surprised that gun purchases skyrocketed after the shooting. I’m not. Or that Mike Huckabee took to the air to blame the shootings on a lack of religion in the classroom, even though that’s kind of like blaming shark attacks on a lack of religion in “Finding Nemo.� It’s getting so expected, so old, that it’s just becoming the norm. And that complacency scares me more than anything.

quantum hum of our own anxiety that we are even marginally threatened by a chubby Korean in a lounge singer tux doing a horsey dance, it might just be time to quit life and go live in a hole somewhere. Not since the infamous Obama Terrorist Fist Jab of Terrorism has there been so milquetoast a panic.

For those that don’t know, Korean “rap� “sensation� “Psy� has recently come under fire for some eight-year-old lyrics and, granted, understandably so: “Kill those f***ing Yankees who have been torturing Iraqi captives and those who ordered them to torture,� and “Kill [the Yankees’] daughters, mothers, daughters-in-law and fathers/Kill them all slowly and painfully.�

So yeah, there’s that.

Never mind that they weren’t actually his lyrics (they’re from the song “Dear American� by South Korean rockers N.E.X.T.), or that in his reciting of them Psy was voicing the same rage and frustration that many nations, and many Americans, were voicing around the same time. Remember, 2004 was right around the time we were beginning to figure out we’d been bamboozled by the so-called “intelligence� that got us into the Iraq War. Never mind also that, two years before, an American military convoy struck and killed two 14-year-old South Korean girls on the Yangju highway, for which the soldiers got off scot-free.

Yeah, never mind any of that.

When I was in college, I drew a Hitler mustache on a poster of George W. Bush that was hanging on my conservative roommate’s door. I probably shouldn’t have done it, and I could be kind of a dick back then. Discontentment, though, does not necessarily sacrifice legitimacy when it is expressed inelegantly. Speaking of which‌ 3. Steven Crowder Eats a Union Left Earlier this month, Steven Crowder (a Fox New contributor and kinda-sorta comedian) was covering a union protest in Michigan against the state’s right-to-work laws. After constantly badgering the protesters about why they were against the laws — apparently, “right-to-work laws may enable non-union workers to potentially benefit from union negotiated contracts without paying dues to unions to which they do not belongâ€? only sinks in after the 17th try — Crowder was verbally and physically assaulted by union members, just before the Americans for Prosperity tent was torn down, legitimately putting several innocent people in harm’s way.

That said, I don’t feel that sorry for Crowder, because he’s an idiot. When you persist in patronizing and talking down to a large group of burly men who look like they’re made out of leather, mustaches and week-old ham, on a subject that dictates their very livelihood no less, you either have a death wish or a very bizarre, specific fetish. And he got several warning shots: one of the giant-est men present (Punch-Out fans, think King Hippo) repeatedly yells at Crowder to “Step the f*** back!� and to “Shut the f*** up!�

The crowd gets unruly, gets threatening. And Crowder doesn’t shut his mouth, thereby endangering himself and everyone associated with AFP at the event.

The point here is to not demonize a movement because of a few hotheads — hotheads at the end of their rope, to boot. Unions are a necessity in this country, and the only reason a few isolated groups are getting a little unhinged is because the state government in places like Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana decided to screw with them.

This — not tax hikes on the wealthy — is the face of true class warfare.

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.

2. The Psy Controversy Let me preface this by saying that if we as a nation have become so enamored with the

CZkZg Vc dkZgi^bZ X]Vg\Z#

706-855-0068

Augusta.MrRooter.com Locally owned and independently operated franchise A^XZchZY ™ 7dcYZY ™ >chjgZY 6

METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

HE’S AN EXPERT

HE’S PROFESSIONAL

™ 8dbeaZiZ eajbW^c\ gZeV^gh

™ ;Vhi hZgk^XZ ')$,

™ 8ad\\ZY YgV^ch$HZlZg XaZVc^c\

™ I]ZgZÉh V gZVhdc i]Zn XVaa jh Bg#Ž

™ ;VjXZih$9^hedhVah

™ @cdl i]Z eg^XZ WZ[dgZ lZ hiVgi

™ Id^aZih$LViZg ]ZViZgh

™ ;^mZY g^\]i i]Z [^ghi i^bZ

™ =nYgdhXgjWW^c\

™ 8aZVc hZgk^XZ egd[Zhh^dcVah

™ AZV` adXVi^c\

™ HX]ZYjaZY Veed^cibZci i^bZh

™ IgZcX]aZhh hZlZg lViZg a^cZ gZeaVXZbZci

™ Ldg`bVch]^e eVgih \jVgVciZZ

27DECEMBER2012

BACK

LOOKING January

1/5 INSIDER Karma’s a Bitch

Attorney finds that what goes around comes around Trial attorney and shameless self-promoter Joseph R. Neal Jr., 44, has had a pretty difficult few weeks recently. In a public Richmond County Sheriff’s Department incident report, an unnamed 18-yearold complainant and victim (identifying information redacted) alleged that Neal gave her “4 to 5 alcoholic drinks and marijuana causing her to become intoxicated” and then “had carnal knowledge of her without her consent and against her will.”

This from the guy who sued the makers of the Cabbage Patch Kids.

INSIDER

Dr. Ricardo Azziz is earning high marks from former faculty of MCG’s School of Medicine for what they view as promotions based on ability. Many of these insiders saw so many presidents come and go… and the consensus is most promoted staff based on politics, especially presidents brought in from the outside.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURE Fred Russell interview:

MS: Is your future more in jeopardy with a black majority?

FR: I don’t care. I’ll do what I think is right, and if they’re black, green or yellow and they didn’t like that, all they need to do is get six people to tell me and I’ll be happy to leave. I’m not saying that to be a smartass, but that’s the way it works.

FEATURE

From joe neal article: As president of the Summerville Neighborhood Association, Neal made a name for himself with his tough talk on crime. He bragged about arming up after word had gotten out through the email early warning system he championed that Judge Carlisle Overstreet had shot and killed an intruder in his Summerville home.

8

METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

V23|NO51

2012 was filled with strange, sensational trials and even stranger political campaigns.

Here’s Part I of our look back at this interesting year.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Clarification

interested gaze often keeps commissioners in check. But given the racial tensions that ran throughout 2011, does he expect the potential change in the racial makeup of the commission to have an effect on the way the city does business?

“I just want to see 10 people that are looking to the future thinking in a progressive fashion and willing to work together,” he says. “That’s the best case scenario for the city as a whole.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To the Metro Spirit: Please note that Joseph Neal, Jr. is not the current president of Summerville Neighborhood Association as reported in your January 5 article.

I was elected SNA president at our November meeting. Should future references to his role in the association be necessary, please identify him as a former 1/19 president.

Feel free to contact me if any further clarification is INSIDER needed or if I can be of any assistance. lady a Best regards, and best wishes for a wonderful new And while those concerts in the park won’t resume year, until spring, the county still isn’t quite sure how it wants to handle the management of the amphitheater. It could Jack Evans start an authority, make some room in Community Augusta and Leisure Services for an entertainment and tourism department or just find the right outsider to run the -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------whole thing.

1/12 Remembering how much fun Ron Cross had being point man for the inaugural concerts, it’s hard to believe INSIDER the county would take a totally hands-off approach, On Tuesday, the Board of Regents approved the however. school consolidations Chancellor Hank Huckaby -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------recommended last week, paving the way for GHSU President Dr. Ricardo Azziz to take over whatever the new institution might be called.

He obviously has experience at the whole naming thing.

Remember that grace period after he took over the helm at MCG? Nobody else does, either, because while they were sitting back preparing for a slew of meetings and maybe circling the new coffeemaker they hoped to order for the department, Azziz was out giving them all a new name and implementing all sorts of other initiatives.

Now he’s actually got a mandate rubber stamped by the Board of Regents.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURE Deke interview:

“It’s going to be an interesting year, because we’ve got five commission seats up,” he says. “I’m sure some people will be focused on running for office.”

Although an election year can sometimes lead to a lot of political posturing, Copenhaver says the voters’

FEATURE

Lockett interview Contrary to upbeat comments from the mayor, Lockett doesn’t think the New Year is starting off all that positively.

“If it continues, 2012 is not going to be any better than 2011 or 2010,” he said. “There’s no communication between one segment of the commission council and the other and there does not appear to be a great desire among some of them for that to change. And if it doesn’t change, we’re not ever going to become a cohesive group.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1/26 INSIDER Commission Roulette

It may be early, but some have already thrown their hats in the ring District 1. Matt Aitken has been considered a oneterm commissioner since election night by many insiders District 7. Jerry Brigham is termed out. Donnie Smith has tossed his trooper’s hat in the ring, and at his announcement he was surrounded by a lot of dialed-in Augustans. Insiders say this is his race to lose ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------27DECEMBER2012

V23|NO51

FEATURE Lori davis interview:

Lori Davis

Opportunity Zone, something she claims he did illegally.

“I’m going to blow them out of the water on that,” she says.

“I’m going to get an attorney and I’m going to sue “Is it a grand conspiracy?” she asks. “We think it the city, because it’s illegal and it’s got to be stopped. I is. We have proof, now.” haven’t brought it out totally before the commission — Though she’s still enthusiastic about the concept I’m waiting for the right time to do this — but George behind the CNPO, she feels let down by the Patty should be fired over it.” process, blaming the Augusta Law Department’s lack of understanding as well as the cross purposes she alleges from the Executive Director of the Planning Department George Patty, who was sitting on the CNPO committee while at the same time quietly pushing to make Harrisburg an

February 2/2 INSIDER

David Fry, who was arrested in August 2009 for trying to bribe commissioners Alvin Mason and Corey Johnson into supporting the TEE Center, will be back in court on Monday, February 6, at 9:30. On December 6, Judge Carl Brown recused himself when his daughter, DeCara Brown, was hired to represent Fry. Many consider the Brown hire as a way for Fry to avoid going before the hard-sentencing Brown.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INSIDER Aitken

Recently, [Commissioner Matt Aitken] hasn’t had a lot to say on the subject, but Monday he couldn’t have been more positive, saying that most of his concerns about the parking garage agreement had been addressed and that he hoped commissioners could check their spirits and remember to put the city first.

Most telling, however, was the fact that he specifically thanked the “motel operator” that’s working there, commending them for being faithful when no one else was investing in the community.

If that doesn’t sound like a candidate remembering how to campaign, it’s hard to say what does

Broad Street LLC, a company with ties to Billy Morris.

Plunkett, the city’s special counsel for the TEE Center and the parking deck, argued that the liens were discovered as part of the process and were not “some problem out there.”

Mason made it clear that he didn’t know about them, to which Plunkett answered that the legal team had it under control.

“I hear you saying that,” Mason said. “The only thing I’m going to say to that is this: maybe it’s the lawyer I’m uncomfortable with.”

Finance Committee Chairman Jerry Brigham stepped in and tried to move things along by asking Mason if he was finished with his line of questioning.

“Yes, sir,” he replied, grinning straight ahead. “That’s why I said there are no comments necessary.”

“But you can’t just take a swing at people and not give them the chance to respond,” Russell complained.

“I’m not swinging at you,” Mason said. “Although, I very well…”

Brigham admonished them both, which drew in Lockett, who asked Brigham to settle down.

“There was a mechanism to have those liens released,” he said. “That’s how lawyers do business.

We discover the issues with the property and we take care of those issues, ending up with the client having ownership of what they’re supposed to have.”

-------------------------------------

2/9 INSIDER Get along, little doggies…

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURE Parking Gridlock

Commissioners, administrator and attorney tee off over management agreement Specifically, Mason and Commissioners J.R. Hatney and Bill Lockett seemed suspicious of the fact that there were liens against the land, which is owned by 933 27DECEMBER2012

As far as the parking deck is concerned, Insiders surmise that little will come from all the uproar captivating the media and Facebookers. No one will be voted out of office. No one will go to jail, David Frey included --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURE Commission news story

First on the agenda was Al Gray, who started things off by listing all the issues involving the TEE Center parking deck that have contributed to the recent

divisiveness, including the air rights issue, property liens and bribery trail, and then attempted to sway the commission into action through oratory.

After his five minutes were up, Gray answered questions from several commissioners, including J.R. Hatney, who after asking a question, told Gray he liked to ask questions of experts, which prompted the mayor to ask Gray for a list of references.

“I think that prior to taking expert witness, we do need to establish that that person is an expert in the field, and I’ve just not seen any evidence to that effect,” Copenhaver said.

Joe Bowles pointed out that several cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, have built similar public buildings relying on air rights.

He later made a substitute motion that the contract be approved pending the land being donated to the Land Bank Authority without any liens and the agreement limited to five years for both parking decks.

Such a donation would basically put the land the parking deck is built on, which the city does not own, under city control while still allowing the tax savings that originally precipitated the air rights decision.

Caught off guard by the option, which Bowles said after the meeting had only been discovered earlier that morning, Lockett and Mason complained about the eagerness with which the commission was prepared to jump at the decision.

Ultimately, however, enough people jumped at the decision to pass the motion 6-3-1, with Lockett, Mason and Commissioner Corey Johnson voting no and Hatney abstaining.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2/16 Insider 12th race

What would he [Lee Anderson] like to do about the Federal Reserve?

“We must build our reserves even stronger than what it is now,” he told a forum in Statesboro.

In the old days, a candidate might plausibly complain that he misunderstood the question or was misquoted.

But in today’s camera-saturated world, it’s not quite so easy — especially when video of the forum pops up online, in this case on the Statesboro Herald’s website.

So now the plainspoken man from Grovetown is saddled with this very obvious example of how he doesn’t really understand the big issues that Republicans like to frown over.

If he’s not Atlanta material, does he really belong in Washington?

AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT

9

V23|NO51

Which isn’t to say that the other candidates for the 12th are necessarily wowing voters.

According to some on the campaign trail, Wright McLeod’s fighter jock persona is so pronounced that he sometimes seems to swagger from the backseat to the front seat of his old F-14, which isn’t necessarily a good quality for someone that starts out with enough confidence to fill just about any sized room.

And then there’s Rick Allen, who while known as a wealthy man and contractor, has yet to distinguish himself as a politician. When too many work too hard to convince you how good someone is, you start to wonder why he doesn’t just tell you himself.

Maria Sheffield might be making hay in other parts of the district, but her tentative start and lack of local name recognition have local Republicans wondering just when she’s going to show up and give it her all.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

last commission meeting’s agenda, discretion is definitely the better part of valor. By not being there while Davis and Gray did their best to dismantle the TEE Center parking deck, the TEE Center and pretty much everything else in the city that wasn’t bolted down, White

INSIDER TEE it up

Obviously, that doesn’t mean that it’s too complicated for the likes us, but it does mean that it’s too complicated for the likes of all of us, and it seems right now that all of us — or at least all of us who are obsessing over this parking deck — feel like we have something groundbreaking to say.

But here’s a thought — while everyone is queuing trying to smash this piñata, what’s really happening in INSIDER this city? And who’s getting away with it?

And yes, the city does own the deck above the first Lady A Floundering? floor, not just the air.

Word is the management and decision-making Though a lot has been made about the unhealthy apparatus have been in flux since the beginning. Before intertwining of interests, the fact of the matter is, it the park was completed, Columbia County Chairman wasn’t just the city’s bond attorneys and tax attorneys Ron Cross was initially the point man for bookings. that signed off on what everyone would agree was a Since then, the responsibilities have bounced around the complex deal.

Insiders say the city would never have Community and Leisure Services Division, headed by been able to sell the bonds if a gaggle of lawyers, the Barry Smith. With no one in charge, everyone seems to bonding company and most of all Wachovia, now Wells be.

Fargo, weren’t happy with the agreement.

The skills needed to conceive, propose, spearhead and -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------build something of such magnitude are impressive, even to the naysayers. But the skills required to operate such 2/23 a machine are very specific and require someone with FEATURE a lot of industry savvy. Let’s get some skilled hands on Foul Air that board.

When you’re Barry White and you’re sandwiched -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------between Lori Davis and Al Gray like he was on the

lived to pitch another day.

So he put himself back on the agenda and Tuesday he was back in front of the commission, getting the chance to talk about all the great things the CVB was doing to promote the TEE Center and what a great asset it was going to be for the city.

The commission, however, was less interested in that than they were in stumbling over the latest hurdle with the TEE Center itself, a $300,000 change in the smoke evacuation system that would bring the city-owned exhibition hall in compliance with the Marriott’s air quality standards.

The Marriott’s air quality standards.

The Marriott, which is connected to the exhibition space, has standards that are higher than the state standards the building was built to comply with, but without the upgrade, Administrator Fred Russell seemed to feel the Marriott would not be totally onboard and the project could slow to a halt while they quibble over the details

March 3/2 Insider

Thanks to all in the local media who have apparently made “dry humping” an acceptable parlance in news stories. Onward and upward!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURE Simon Says Let’s Play Chess

The commission even heard from Augusta Riverfront’s Paul Simon, Public Enemy No. 2, and you know what? He made sense.

First, he talked about all the benefits that being associated with the world’s No. 1 hotel provider, but that’s stuff people either already know or dismiss as PR (or BS), so pretty quickly he laid the facts on the table.

When the city voted to build the TEE Center, it had to be built to Marriott standards or Augusta Riverfront wouldn’t be able to operate it, and the commission approved Augusta Riverfront as the operator.

That paradox ceases to be an intellectual exercise real quick, though. If you run afoul of Marriott, Augusta Riverfront can’t operate the facility, and if Augusta Riverfront can’t operate the facility, the city would have to separate the TEE Center from the hotel and from the convention center it already owns, which is not only impractical, it’s basically impossible.

10 METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

And Augusta Riverfront knows it.

J.R. Hatney, though, didn’t want to hear it.

“How can they mandate what this government does?” he asked.

“They can’t to you,” Simon said. “But they can to us, because we have a contract with them.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INSIDER Operation Smoke Screen Clears the Air

Odds are that we’re going to be talking about Operation Smoke Screen the way we now talk about Augusta Ink, the undercover sting that garnered nationwide attention for the way deputies and agents used a Tobacco Road tattoo parlor to close the noose on some of Augusta’s most hardened gang members.

If one thing was clear, though, it’s that Scott Pebbles is the chosen one. That doesn’t necessarily mean now — the operation prevented Strength from announcing whether or not he is going to run (he says he’s made his mind up and will let everyone know mid-March — but it hardly takes a visionary to see that someday Pebbles will be sheriff.

Peebles was at Strength’s side on a stage that held 18 other law enforcement representatives, a literal righthand man. And Strength did his best to single him out, telling the assembled press that Operation Smoke Screen was his baby. Though Strength did most of the

on-camera work because it’s the sheriff the cameras want to film — the sheriff and all those guns — Peebles acted as unofficial host, efficiently and effectively answering questions, guiding reporters and offering his own version of the charm needed to rise to the upper levels of law enforcement.

Being personally responsible for giving all those people back there stuff — that won’t hurt, either.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3/8 INSIDER Neals Indicted

Former Summerville Neighborhood Association President Joe Neal Jr. and his wife, Caroline Caldwell Neal, have been indicted on charges that they raped their 18-year-old babysitter.

However, the motivation does not seem in doubt.

The two were described by a law enforcement official with intimate knowledge of the case as being “bat sh** crazy.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INSIDER Sentinel Faulty System

Though news leaked out Monday regarding a city investigation into time fraud at the Recreation, Parks and Facilities Department, insiders are reporting that 27DECEMBER2012

Coming Soon to Evans!

Early 2013

Our Interest is in You! 4349 Washington Road Across from Mellow Mushroom in front of Kroger www.firstbankofga.com

V23|NO51

time fraud is just the tip of a very large and very dirty iceberg.

The Insider has assembled several first-hand accounts from probationers serving out their community service at the Recreation Department. Not only does the Rec Department get free labor from Sentinel Offender Services, the company in charge of the city’s probation services, the system allows city employees unreasonable power over the offenders under their control.

It’s here where things get ugly.

The Rec Department employee has the opportunity to falsify the numbers — for a fee or for a price not

measured in cash. The employee can have the numbers show that the offender put in time he or she hasn’t, or he can derail an offender’s probation by reporting back to Sentinel that the offender refused to do the job assigned, did it poorly, was belligerent or rude or late.

12 METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

In other words, an offender’s probation is being supervised by a low paid city worker who has very little supervision himself.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

realistic chance of winning, drops out, insiders say he will be free to throw his support to Peebles.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INSIDER Strength to Announce Retirement

Columbia County, which will vote for two commission seats, is not affected by indecision, though a change in the redistricting map did claim District 2 challenger Damon Cline, who found out he was drawn out of his district after launching a forceful attack against District 2 Commissioner Trey Allen and Commission Chairman Ron Cross for their endorsement of the Magnolia Trace neighborhood, which allowed lower income renters into a Martinez neighborhood caught unaware.

According to a press release, Cline is preparing to go after the District 1 seat when it becomes available.

The Richmond County Commission races, however, are still in a state of flux.

“We are planning to campaign according to a July date,” says District 3 commission candidate Mary Fair Davis. “That’s what we’re focusing on, but if it changes, that’s fine. We’re flexible.”

Running for the seat held by Joe Bowles, who like District 7’s Jerry Brigham and Super District 9’s J.R. Hatney, is being term-limited out of office, Davis has considerable power associated with her. Her campaign manager is Clay Boardman and she was Mayor Deke Copenhaver’s campaign manager.

“I work part time, so I do have the time to commit to this,” she says. “We’ve been hard at work on this campaign since the beginning of December, and the support has been overwhelming. I’ve been humbled.”

Davis’ opponent, Ed Enoch, comes to the race from over 10 years as the Coliseum Authority’s attorney, which means he’s seen his share of bad government

Maneuvering to commence Multiple sources from both inside and outside law enforcement agree that Sheriff Ron Strength will announce his retirement on Friday. Well, not necessarily announce his retirement… just that he won’t be running again.

While many have predicted a showdown between Captain Scott Peebles and former Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Richard Roundtree, now with the Richmond County Board of Education, the sheriff’s brother-inlaw, whose ties go back to JB Powell, is also reportedly planning a run. And family ties being what they are (Strength’s wife was former Sheriff Charlie Webster’s right-hand woman), that move prevents Strength from publicly endorsing Peebles, a promise he had to make with his better half.

If Strength’s brother in law, who doesn’t stand a

FEATURE

27DECEMBER2012

V23|NO51

first hand.

With school board races, the TSPLOST, Columbia County’s alcohol sales referendum and all the curveballs that make politics so interesting, 2012 is shaping up to be an exciting election year, and the Metro Spirit promises to be with it every step of the way.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3/15 INSIDER Joe neal jr

Speculation is that the prosecution sought her (Caroline Neal’s) indictment at least in part to seek her testimony against her ex. That is powerful evidence that could put him away for 25 years to life. On the other hand, he could just as easily walk. Insiders in law enforcement as well as outside legal observers say this is one case that could easily go either way, given the facts as they are now understood.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INSIDER

Most people at the Warren Road Community Center didn’t bat an eye. Instead, they wondered about the congressional candidates speaking in front of them.

Why did Lee Anderson look so out of place? Why did Rick Allen wait so long to agree to participate? Why were people staying after to talk to Wright McLeod?

Who the hell was that Sheffield woman?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INSIDER

So how is Roundtree campaigning? By launching a Facebook broadside demanding unity in the black community.

27DECEMBER2012

“Let me first apologize not for what I am about to say but for waiting so long to say it,” he wrote. “We are in a position to change the face of Augusta, unite this community and to make history. Yet there members of our community who choose to chastise and defame us…’just because.’”

He went on complaining that “we have been and still are our own worst enemies” and finished by saying “You can either get aboard this train… or you can stand in front of it… The choice is yours…”

Not exactly the populist approach, but maybe he figures Peebles already has that wrapped up.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LETTER FROM PUBLISHER

A year ago last Friday (at 4:45 p.m., to be exact) the Metro Spirit was once again locally owned.

We’re lucky to be here, and would like to thank our supporters — readers and advertisers alike — for being a part of what we do. Thank you.

Joe White --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURE A Foundation of Mistrust

Bus property battle frustrates commissioner Though much of the rest of the city doesn’t make much of a distinction between Georgia Health Sciences University (GHSU) and the MCG Foundation, Commissioner Joe Bowles does, especially when it comes to who he would like to see as a landlord in Harrisburg.

“GHSU — yes,” he says. “The MCG Foundation — no.”

The battle of words over the city’s relationship with a proposed Walmart Neighborhood Market planned for

AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT 13

V23|NO51

a city-owned parcel off 15th Street and the lengths the foundation may have gone to sabotage that relationship has been escalating over the last few days, but Bowles doesn’t shy away from saying that the MCG Foundation and its president, James Osborne, have not been team players throughout the negotiations.

“In terms of cooperation, I would say the foundation has zero cooperation,” he says. “And I know for a fact that GHSU and President Azziz and his director of facilities are still meeting with Blanchard and Calhoun and they’re working a pretty substantial deal out.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3/22 Insider Anybody Else Want to Run?

Freddie Sanders is the fifth candidate to enter the Richmond County sheriff’s race Roundtree — one prominent member of the legal profession jokingly said that if he was elected he would be in jail in 18 months Ivey — a very nice man, but no way could he run the department.

Silas — fired by Webster, rehired by brother-in-law Strength...but many doubt his abilities.

Peebles — in for a fight --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURE

Downtown left uncleaned after parade St. Patrick knew how to drive the snakes out of Ireland, but it seems nobody in Augusta knew what to do with the garbage left by Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.

“In my mind, we blew it,” said Administrator Fred Russell.

Russell acknowledged the city’s poor response in an interview Tuesday.

The parade left the downtown area awash in debris and many downtown residents wondering if they’d been forgotten.

In a way, they had.

“I think the people have a valid complaint,” Russell said. “We sort of dropped the ball on that one.”

The Cadi crew eventually started cleaning on Monday morning and later in the day they were joined by city crews.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3/29 Insider Welcome to Augusta, y’all!

While the Augusta National has relatively friendly relations with its remaining residential neighbors, it seems to have a decidedly frosty relationship with

some of its commercial neighbors. As hospitality and the National encroach on one another, all bets are off.

There are big plans for lots more big buildings inside the gates, and that’s going to impact what happens outside the gates for locals.

It’s Masters Week, which means the fleet’s in…

For every golfer checking his lie there seems to be dozens planning their lay. Budda BING! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURE Sheriff Strength Rebuts

The Metro Spirit was called in to meet with the sheriff because last week’s Insider, the Spirit’s anonymous, opinion-based column, reported on longstanding rumors that Silas, Strength’s brother-in-law, had been fired for cowardice by former Sheriff Charlie Webster.

Strength wanted to go on record about the rumor and other inaccuracies he found in the Insider piece.

The first thing he took on was the rumor that Silas was fired by Webster.

“He was not fired,” Strength said. “I didn’t know all this until I looked at it, but when it came up, I went to Internal Affairs and said, ‘Pull his file and bring it to me.’”

April 4/5 INSIDER

Will the attacks on Rountree help or hurt him?

Will the age of both Peebles and Sanders be viewed favorably or negatively? Will John Ivey receive more votes than his current T-Mobile Friends and Family plan? Remains to be seen. But we in media are happy.

The Parking Deck/Magnolia Trace/Fred Russell chapter is finally coming to an end. It’s going to be fun to have new arguments and controversies to dissect.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4/12 INSIDER Batter Up!

Now that the Golf and Gardens is gone, here’s an idea for the new GreenJacket’s stadium: put it at the depot.

For one thing, that part of downtown could really use the traffic. And talk about infill. Build a baseball stadium beside the river at the Fifth Street Bridge and you immediately shore up lower Broad Street.

Suddenly, there’s more than just Luigi’s “down there.”

There’s parking and people and some of the crappy stuff gets replaced by shops or bars or restaurants.

And the Fifth Street Bridge, which has been slated by many to be a pedestrian bridge anyway, already plays a major role in Augusta Tomorrow’s Master Plan when it comes to unifying the Augusta and North Augusta --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INSIDER We call BS

For days, weeks, all forms of jalopies line Washington Road as large men in small chairs wave signs to passing traffic that say “Masters Tickets” and “Need Badges.”

During Masters Week, driving to the course, they are 14 METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

all over. So you pull into the Augusta National parking lot, head in to the course and all is well. On exiting, someone approaches to buy your practice round ticket for a few bucks. Sure? Everyone is selling them.

But then something unfathomable happens. You are arrested. Hauled to the jail, booked and fingerprinted.

It’s not fair, it’s not right and it should not be tolerated. There are signs everywhere for the patrons.

It’s like Disney Land, except with a green on white motif. Pleasant? Pleasant on steroids. That is why there is no warning whatsoever about selling your tickets upon exiting. It could perhaps scar the sensibilities of those attending. It may intrude on the refinement of the occasion. But if your grandfather visiting from California is handcuffed and hauled off to the jail in downtown Augusta for making an innocent mistake, you wouldn’t be so flippant about it.

Sure, there aren’t signs that tell you not to rob a bank, but people aren’t robbing banks everywhere you look and getting away with it. It is a monumental failure to not communicate the rules.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURE In the Rough

Augusta rolls up red carpet for Canadian couple caught scalping Last year, Canadian Dave Rawlings entered the Masters ticket lottery and won. This year, when he and his wife, Dianne, sold them to a stranger from Illinois as they left the course early Tuesday afternoon, they ended up spending the rest of the day in jail.

“We were walking out and this guy came over and asked if we were finished with the tickets,” Rawlings says. “I told him that we never got them scanned so he wouldn’t be able to get back in, but he said he’d take the chance. We were going to give them to him for

nothing, but he gave us $50 because he didn’t feel right taking the tickets for nothing.”

That’s when the plain-clothed officer showed his badge and asked them all to come with him.

“He took us up to a building on the side and made out all the citations and then we got driven down to the jail,” Rawlings says.

Luckily, his wife had $500 in her wallet. That was enough to bail him out of jail, albeit four hours later.

One of the guys who was in there with them took him back to the Augusta National, where he got his car and went looking for an ATM so he could withdraw another $500 and bail his wife out.

They were apprehended at 1:15 p.m. and he didn’t get her out until 7:30…..

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4/19 INSIDER Once More, With Feeling

Wednesday evening Matt Aitken announced his 27DECEMBER2012

V23|NO51

intention to run for reelection, looking to recapture the mojo of his surprise election in 2009.

Some say that he deserves to win simply by making the decision to run. He did, after all, pray about it a lot, and if he thinks he deserves a shot after getting that kind of guidance, it’s kind of tough to argue…

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INSIDER On the Inside

The kid gloves are coming off in the Richmond County Sheriff’s race. First came the rumors about Robbie Silas, his past and his rise to prominence, which hadn’t been completely buried since his return to the force decades ago. Then came the whisper campaign that all was not right in Scott Peebles’ personal closet.

Tit for tat. Par for the course.

To many on the inside, the Silas campaign is less about Silas than it is about those behind the scenes wanting to retain some control. It doesn’t seem to matter that Silas isn’t that strong anywhere outside of South Augusta, because in South Augusta among South Augustans he’s the guy. Maybe by default, but he’s the guy.

But is he the guy because he’s right for the job, or is he the guy because those in the background think they can control him? With Silas in, they’re back in the game.

The irony, of course, is that the same people who are working Silas like that are charging Roundtree supporters with the same kind of misbehavior.

Everyone, it seems, just wants to get inside.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURE The Art of Raising Money

How the Art Factory suffered from the economy, its location and its success If you blinked, you missed it.

On Wednesday, March 28, the Art Factory sent out a press release stating that after 17 years of providing arts education programming to some of Augusta’s most economically challenged children, the nonprofit could no longer continue to fund its programming and would cease operations.

“I was floored when I heard they weren’t going to be around anymore,” says James Crawford, director of Sand Hills Elementary, a school with a long history with the Art Factory. “I’m really disappointed that it’s gone.”

The Art Factory began with six women sitting around a table discussing Marsha Shlaer’s trip to New Orleans, where she was exposed to an effective arts education program that got her wondering why such a thing couldn’t happen here in Augusta.

“Clearly, there was a need for art to be taught to kids, particularly in the inner city,” says Shlaer, who would become the Art Factory’s founding board president.

Before they jumped, however, they visited the different arts groups in town to make sure they weren’t duplicating programming and found that no one was serving that particular population.

“So we looked at ourselves and said, ‘Well, if nothing else happens, maybe we’ll stimulate interest in doing this kind of programming,” says Margaret Wamsted Pickett, the founding director.

For O’Brien, who had been with the organization since the beginning, the fact that after 17 years the Art Factory departed from the Augusta landscape with such little fanfare seemed unfair.

“It’s been just kind of a ho-hum thing, and that’s kind of sad because I know it wasn’t ho-hum to the kids,” she says.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4/26 Insider Audit Part Duex

Trina Turk Dresses, Cosabella Lingerie, Shoes, Handbags & Jewelry.

Select items excluded.

Remember that audit everyone was clamoring about? The forensic one the commission finally agreed to do? Well, it’s run into a snag. It seems you don’t just say “Investigate the TEE Center parking deck” or whatever else you might want to investigate. Apparently, the companies that do the actual work, the ones that do it for 27DECEMBER2012

AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT 15

V23|NO51

a living, require a bit more direction than simple “fetch the crook.”

When the city put the job out for bid, they got back questions like “What exactly do you want” and “Why are you suspicious that something’s wrong.”

The irony is, of course, that the people the companies are asking — the staff — don’t think anything’s wrong at all. Some of the commissioners, on the other hand, do.

So a special subcommittee was established to determine the scope and the maximum budget of the forensic audit.

And if the negotiations that follow are anything like the ones before, it’s very likely the plan will lose support altogether.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INSIDER The Size of Bowling Balls

Just damn.

Attorney Jack Long’s request for a ruling to be tossed out of Juvenile Court Judge Willie Saunders’ courtroom because of the judge’s issues with the IRS is classic Long.

Quoting from the motion: “That at the time the Court entered its Order dated January 7, 2011, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit ‘A,’, the Court and the parties were unaware that Juvenile Court Judge Willie Saunders was not qualified to sit as Juvenile Court

Judge, in that he owed substantial back taxes to the United States of America, all as shown by tax liens attached hereto as Exhibit ‘B.’”…. …. Stiff-arming a man in his own courtroom is showy and effective, and political insiders are not surprised by the move. Overstreet and Long have long been simpatico, and the politically active and pugnacious Long has never been one to shy away from a fight.

Apparently, he can still bring it as well.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURE Beck Decked

Commission fires longtime recreation director for inaccurate time card Tom Beck’s 35-year career with the city ended with little fanfare Monday afternoon when commissioners voted to terminate him for approving a time card he knew was inaccurate.

Beck, however, did not go down without a fight, surprising some commissioners by withdrawing a resignation proposal he’d earlier delivered to Administrator Fred Russell.

“After much soul searching and prayer about this situation, my resignation is off the table because there’s one thing more important to me than any money or anything else in this world, and that’s my integrity,” he told commissioners before the vote.

Though Beck’s attorney was beside him, the recreation director made it clear he alone would be speaking.

“Mr. Mike Brown is with me, but Mike won’t be talking to you today,” Beck said. “That will be me.

Because today is about you and your vote and me and my career.”….

“I’ve been accused of fraudulently signing a time card for an employee that showed four days of regular work hours when in fact that employee did not work,” he said. “Well, I’m here to tell you today that’s absolutely true. Positively, absolutely true. I did sign that time card and that employee did not work.”

His reasoning?

“Because the recording of that kind of time has been standard process for our department for years and years and years.”

When Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle asked for Russell’s recommendation, the administrator was matter-of-fact.

“Based on the evidence and the testimony of people that were interviewed — the evidence in front of us — my recommendation would be termination,” he said. It was a recommendation that was swiftly carried out. All commissioners but Grady Smith voted terminate.

Commissioner Jerry Brigham was absent for medical reasons.

May 5/3 INSIDER Hot pix

Looks like things are heating up again for Sentinel Offender Services, the private probation company responsible for so much misery.

Remember the woman who filed the police report claiming her ex-boyfriend gave her boss naked photos of her? That woman was a Sentinel employee.

It matters because, if she were a state probation officer or a parole officer, she could be arrested for having a relationship with anybody who’s under sentence, and a paroled murder is pretty much the definition of someone under sentence.

But she’s not a state probation officer or a parole officer. She works for a private probation company, so the paroled murderer gets arrested instead…

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURE The Credibility Gap

Candidate tries to maneuver money into votes After the Republican candidates for the 12th Congressional District received their updated financial numbers, things changed for Wright McLeod.

“This time, when I went to D.C. to meet with the Political Action Committees (PACs) and the lobbyists, they were inviting me to come over,” he says. “The last time, I was cold calling them.”

Those numbers, which included the first quarter of 2012, have McLeod leading the pack in total money raised at $284,000. Developer Rick Allen was second with $268,000, followed by farmer Lee Anderson with $210,000 and attorney Maria Sheffield with $114,000.

16 METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

While raising money doesn’t guarantee votes, it does create a sense of presence and possibility for less established candidates needing validation.

“I’m a legitimate resume, but until we posted some strong fundraising numbers, I’m just another nice guy with a good resume,” McLeod says.

“I don’t think I’m the dark horse anymore,” he says.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5/10 FEATURE Full Circle

Bloodworth reflects on presidency and return to teaching That internal academic foundation has not always been appreciated, due to the school’s relaxed enrollment policy, a policy Bloodworth said was quite intentional.

flowering of the next generation. Campus, he said, is full of students whose parents spent a semester or two but didn’t finish.

“You’ve got people who come to schools like this who were not born to come to school, who may come from backgrounds with very little exposure to higher education,” Bloodworth said. “A lot of those people do not do well starting out. Sometimes, they come back and sometimes their children come back, but it’s still a benefit.”

Since the Board of Regents decided to consolidate its Augusta campuses, bringing ASU together with GHSU to form a new kind of comprehensive research university, some have questioned whether that mission will continue, and while remaining optimistic, Bloodworth acknowledged the worry.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5/17 Insider Dogfight

The District 12 Congressional race heated up over the last few days when Rick Allen’s campaign fired off an ethics complaint against Wright McLeod.

Allen’s camp, specifically his campaign manager Scott Paradise, filed an official complaint with the Federal Election Commission in Washington, accusing the McLeod campaign of stealing proprietary donor information from Rick W. “It’s been a place where the internal academic Allen for Congress, accepting excessive contributions standards are actually high,” he said, “but the external involving the Wright McLeod campaign office and standards for admission are not high, so it’s been a failing to properly disclose expenditures by failing to place that has created an opportunity for a lot of people itemize campaign expenses and reimbursements. to go to college or try to go to college. And it’s been While such sparring between campaigns is normal my view over the years that that is a good thing.” and shows that the election season is finally starting to One of the benefits of college, he said, is seen in the heat up, insiders point out that seldom does a campaign 27DECEMBER2012

V23|NO51

itself sign on to a complaint like this. Whether it shows desperation, inexperience or genius remains to be seen, but it seems that the complaint has been successful at establishing one thing — right now, McLeod is the candidate with the target on his back, and if you’ve got a target on your back, insiders say you’re the one out in front of everyone else.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURE Audit Process Perplexes

Subcommittee meets to give scope — and a budget — to the forensic audit Members of the Forensic Audit Subcommittee spent much of their first meeting determining the proper scope of the audit so that the firms wanting to bid on the job have some idea what they’re bidding on. They also discussed the potential expenses of the audit as well as the reasons for doing one.

Brown also tried to pin Lockett down on what he was searching for with the forensic audit.

“Honestly,” he said when discussion turned to the management contract portion of the issue. “Why is it that should be looked at? What is the suspicion?”

“My suspicion is that we’re not getting our fair share of the proceeds,” Lockett said.

“If we’re not getting our fair share from the money, why would you think that arrangement would ever be set up?” Brown asked.

“Because of what I’ve been preaching for the last six months,” Lockett said. “We need a professional contract person because we’re giving away city assets because we don’t have people versed in how to give a contract.”

“Do you think that’s bad management or do you think there’s fraud connected to that?” Brown asked.

“Do I have to answer that?”

“No, but I’m simply saying that if you think there’s fraud, you should have a forensic audit,” he said. “If you think it’s poor management, it would not be the subject matter of a forensic audit.”

“Sometimes, you know, management can be so poor that you think it has to be criminal,” Lockett said.

The committee meets next on May 29, with the pre-bid conference with the vendors moved to mid-June.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5/24 INSIDER Duck and/or Cover

The Rick Allen campaign followed up its attack on Wright McLeod by distributing an email linking to a commentary in the Savannah Morning News written by political reporter Larry Peterson claiming McLeod is ducking the Allen campaign’s claims that he broke federal election law.

Ducking the allegations or forging on. The voters will be deciding that one come July.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INSIDER Bus Stop

In a special meeting called in part to discuss the possibility of outsourcing many of the functions of the Human Resources Department, Fred Russell seemed unusually willing to throw former HR Director Rod Powell under the bus.

Now that everyone’s serious about the fact that ADP — very reliable and very expensive — could be ready to step in and handle things (commissioners were going on a field trip the to the ADP offices the next day) apparently staff has figured out that part of the system used by HR, a thing called IFAS, was never fully utilized by Powell, who was not present to either defend himself or explain why.

That explanation might end up being important, since without it, Russell sounded like he’d found an excuse to give it another shot with his own people, people who, if armed with the full power of this miracle piece of technology might be able to do what they have been consistently unable to do for some time — provide reliable and effective service to the hardworking employees of the county.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5/31

INSIDER Pulling Strings

Sources have been insisting that the black vote was gearing up to come out in record numbers long before Alvin Mason’s voter registration rally, and though the churches can help, in Roundtree’s case, the question might be whether or not they can rally everyone to make a return trip to the polls less than a month later for the all-important and nearly inevitable runoff.

27DECEMBER2012

AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT 17

V23|NO51

June 6/7 INSIDER

None came close to the one submitted by Columbia County Republican Party Chairman Brian Slowinski, who… well, the subject line of his email pretty much says it all.

“Slowinski did his duty, then Qualified for School Board.”

The email, penned by Slowinski, certainly lays out a compelling story.

“In front of God, family and flag, Brian did his duty as Republican Party Chairman to qualify 12 candidates in 20 hours for the ballot, then filed the paperwork to run for the non-partisan school board.”

While that might seem impressive, it pales in comparison to what follows.

“A Leader as: Local Chair, District Treasurer, State Committeeman, Scholar and spokesman for Republican and Conservative organizations shows I am ‘solid, tested, red white and blue conservative for the school board.’”

With all that going for him, you can almost forgive the grammatical missteps.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURE A New Calling

Rick Allen attempts to build a political career after building business Though the race seems to be between Allen and McLeod, Lee Anderson has been campaigning for

a long time and has certainly made no secret about targeting the rural, agricultural vote. His campaign sign even features a tractor.

Allen contrasts that narrow approach by touting his wide range of experience.

“The way we’re going about this race — farmers know I know farming, hospital executives know I know healthcare and the business executives know I know business,” he said. “We’re not trying to say we want this segment to vote for us or we’re going to write off this segment. We’re for all the people, and I think we can represent all the interests out there.”

“Obviously, I can’t do everything,” he said. “I’m just one voice. But I feel good about folks in this cycle and the folks we’ve got up there. Like I said, this is going to be a good time to go to Congress and get this thing turned around.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------18 METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

6/17 INSIDER Joe Neal Jr. Trial

At 7:27 the board returned, gave Roundtree back three of the four copies of his tax records, then unanimously denied Cooper’s challenge.

Roundtree sat still for several moments while his The prosecution had a tough case. All the prosecution supporters stood up and cheered and the cameras all team, the grand jury and the presiding judge are all to jockeyed for position. be applauded for the tough decisions they made. This “We’ll win this election, baby,” someone said as case should not have been swept under a rug, and it Roundtree finally stood up and smiled. “Let’s go win wasn’t. The sentence handed down, while not severe this thing.” given the sordid story and appalling actions, is entirely -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------consistent with the plea agreement and the most that FEATURE the judge could give. The defendant did not receive Taking Fire a pass. This Insider appreciates the poetic justice of McLeod tries to outmaneuver criticism while firing assigning time at the wastewater treatment plant for back at some allegations public service.

For Republican congressional candidate Wright While Joe Neal, Jr. was not convicted of the crime McLeod, the last few weeks have been like combat. Ever he was charged with, he and his very capable attorney since he came out ahead of businessman Rick Allen in admitted possession of marijuana and provision of the first quarter financial numbers, he’s been taking fire. alcohol. The public has heard much of the case and “I don’t want this to be a Wright McLeod/Rick Allen can infer what it may. grudge match, but they’re very aggressive and they’ve -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------made some very inappropriate remarks to my oldest FEATURE daughter (a rising senior at Washington and Lee in The Warrior’s Way Virginia),” he said. “Bar smack at the P.I. At least we used Joe Neal Jr. avoids rape conviction, but more than his to call it bar smack. I don’t know what they call it now.” reputation is soiled Whatever it’s called, McLeod said his daughter and Six days after accepting a plea deal that reduced a some of the campaign’s interns were at the Partridge felony rape charge to two misdemeanors, a defiant and Inn when Allen’s campaign manager started making unapologetic Joe Neal Jr. lashed out at his accuser. inappropriate comments about McLeod, not knowing “That girl was just a liar,” he told the Metro Spirit. “If that she was his daughter. Once informed, they allege you were in court you would have seen what happened, he continued. but we never got a chance to cross examine because “The hard part is not reacting in a way that you know she was a liar and she didn’t is inappropriate,” he said. “Your first tendency is to want to go through with it.” grab and ax and bludgeon back, but that doesn’t serve After giving this testimony any purpose.” in court, the victim decided “The only people that said we’ve done anything not to go on, which led wrong are Scott Paradise and Rick Allen,” he said. to Neal pleading guilty That, and maybe Savannah Morning News writer Larry to disorderly conduct, Petersen, who has been particularly harsh on McLeod. possession of marijuana “All I can think back is, did I date his daughter in and furnishing alcohol to a high school?” McLeod said, chuckling. person under the age of 21.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Some say the text messages alone are actionable enough 6/21 INSIDER to cause him trouble, while others in the legal Hard Copy community are suggesting Particularly eager to participate in this fight has been that he will be required to Savannah Morning News political writer Larry Peterson. undergo psychological testing because of the case.

In story after story he’s consistently and systematically Either way, the odds are likely that he’ll be putting taken it to Wright McLeod. For FEC violations. For some distance between himself and Augusta. campaign contributions to Democrats. For a voting -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------record that’s not partisan enough to satisfy those for

FEATURE Let’s Win This Thing

whom life is black or white, all or nothing.

When a reporter becomes a mouthpiece for a particular campaign, it throws the entire process off Roundtree gets good news at hearing kilter.

Either the reporter is lazy (you don’t think Fifteen minutes before the Board of Elections hearing Peterson really went though all those contributions that would determine whether or not he would be himself, found out who worked for who, determined allowed to continue his campaign for Richmond County how much money they made and then thought — sheriff, Richard Roundtree pulled his dark gray Kia hmm… something sounds fishy here) or he’s working to Optima into the first row of the mostly empty Municipal forward someone else’s agenda.

Building parking lot.

The Savannah Morning News is a Morris paper, as He got out of the car, deliberately slipped on his is, of course, the Augusta Chronicle, which has started black sport coat and retrieved a folder from inside linking to these stories running in its sister paper. the car. A big man with a quick smile, he seemed When things like this go on, you really can’t help unhurried and lost in thought as he made his way to the wondering what an IOU goes for these days and just front entrance of the Marble Palace. how it might be paid.

27DECEMBER2012

V23|NO51

hearing double

By Matt Ginsberg / Edited by Will Shortz 86 87 88 91 92 93

Ones with a lot of pull?

London can Alpine wind Literally, “itself” Memo opener Polar explorer, after getting religion?

95 Tagline for the biopic “Dudley” starring bandleader Brown?

98 Out at the dentist’s?

99 Freddy Krueger’s street 100 Ten Commandments no-no 101 Where Macy’s keeps the wedding dresses?

105 Wimple wearer 106 Home to the 90-Down, once 107 Nasty look 108 “___ it!”

109 Popular smartphone app 110 Dog command 111 Guitarist Duane and others 112 Makes, as one’s way

38 39 41 42 43 44

Deliberately delude Alaska’s ___ Peninsula Walk-___ (non-recruited athletes) It may be rigged Sacha Baron Cohen persona Who wrote “A bear, however hard he tries, / Grows tubby without exercise” 45 Big truck maker 46 Have ___ (bathe) 50 Willing recipients?

51 Urgently 52 Psychology pioneer Alfred 53 Trick-taking card game 54 Abdicated?

56 Photoshop command 57 Locale of a 12/7/1941 attack 58 Funny Fields 60 Just begun 63 Freckles, e.g.

65 Salad bar supply 66 Castle component 67 ___ to go Down 68 Drop 1 What one may break during 69 One of five Nicholases exercise 70 Start of a basketball game 2 André and Mia’s adoptive 71 Words from Sgt. Friday daughter 74 U.K. mil. decoration 3 Book about the writing style of the 76 Feminist Germaine Mongols?

78 Raining hard?

4 Iraq war hazard, briefly 79 Totally jazzed 5 Small, low island 80 Some scriptural passages 6 Be at one (with) 81 74-Down recipient, e.g.

7 Former San Francisco mayor 82 Fergie, for one 8 Stately home 83 Bygone bookstore chain 9 K.C.-to-Chicago direction 84 Bull session?

10 Postscript: Abbr.

87 Inspector in Elizabeth George 11 Former attorney general Gonzales mysteries 12 Kind of salad 89 Obeyed a sentry, say 13 Steve ___, 1980 Olympic track 90 See 106-Across champion 92 “___ Only One” (Melissa 14 Stinging rebuke Etheridge hit) 15 Was humbled 93 Cleared the dishes 16 Like the ring in an eclipse 94 “Antigonae” composer Carl 17 Leopard spot 96 Miss America identifier 19 Scammed 97 Allay 24 Bones next to humeri 102 Neither Dem. nor Rep. 26 Tranquilizing 103 Knock over 30 Horatian piece 104 Charlemagne’s realm: Abbr.

32 Balcony cry 33 Soundboard controls

1

2

3

4

5

6

18

19

23 27 32

9

10

11

12

29

40

42

50

35 39

43

44 48

51

52

56

59

60 66

58

67

68

62

69

70

73

81

85

83

97

100 105

106

107

109

110

111

B I L K O

F O G H O R N

O R A T O R I O

D E S E L E C T

O S C A R

S A L U T E

T R I B E S

B Y V E D T U R K C A W I L O R N C H L E E R D S O H B U O R T O G O K E S C K G A N M E A E N

A F E A R D

T E S T E E

S I D E

R I V I C O N O I N D A R R O D D Y E S A S R M P A R A C A R K V E S I D

89

90

94

98

101

A L E R O

88

93

96

T O W I T

84

87

92

95

71

77

82

86

91

63

74

76

80

54

61

75 79

53

57

72

17

30

47

49

16

26

38

41

55

15 22

34

46

65

14

25

37

64

13

21

33

36

78

8

28

31

45

7

20 24

PREVIOUSPUZZLEANSWERS

Across 1 Food that jiggles 6 “Along ___ spider …”

11 Gone, but not forgotten 15 Horizontal: Abbr.

18 Ticked by 20 First U.S. screen portrayer of Dr. Fu Manchu 21 Dangerous outpouring 22 Overly 23 Souvenir from the Petrified Forest?

25 Priests, at times 27 Two-fifths of ’N Sync?

28 Actor Edward James ___ 29 What randy bucks do?

31 Agreement from the Gipper’s coach?

34 Luth. or Presb.

35 Force 36 Crowning touch?

37 What mayo is part of 38 Tolkien trilogy, to fans 39 Measure of purity 40 Knobby 42 Plucky housekeeper?

45 Drama set at the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce ad agency 47 Nautical direction 48 Pasta suffix 49 Inquirers 50 Words before coming or made 52 Inclined 55 Some salmon 56 “Well done, Sir Lancelot,” in Franglais?

59 Python in “The Jungle Book” 60 Handel bars?

61 Wings: Lat. 62 Lightning ___ 64 Soothsayer’s shoelace problem?

70 Link up with 72 Pleasure boats 73 Affair of the heart 74 Chucklehead 75 ___ Jima 76 Stage assistant 77 Outpourings 78 Shorten a bar mitzvah by 50%?

83 Decorative pin 85 Qatari bigwig: Var.

99

102

103

104

108 112

E A G N A Y D L R I G E N S L E T O R R A I D T N I G E R T E P H O H A U O N T N E E M N E A T P A

I P O D

B I K O

E R S A B A S A G T E M H A L E X E N I N A N A E G A T E W T O O L L L E D

L O T S

S C O P E S

P E O N S

V E X J O O N

B M A C R O B N J A A I A Y N B S E I L A N A V B A A E S D I R I V O D E O E M A N A J U I A S L W A S

C H I C L E

S I N K S

S C I E N C E S

M E D D L E R

I N C A N

A G E N T

OUR COOKIE CUTTER STAYS IN THE BACK OF THE DRAWER Elliott Sons Funeral Homes ELLIOTTFUNERALHOME.COM

27DECEMBER2012

AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT 19

V23|NO51

ADAMWADDING

“Taxi!”

Tips for having a safe New Years Eve Waving one hand in the air while yelling “Taxi!” may be how it’s done in the movies, but come New Years Eve, you may want to be a little more prepared for how you’re going to find that sober driver, given the crowds of partiers for them to choose from.

With over 30 taxi services in the Augusta area, finding a cab shouldn’t be a hard task, and with the taxi business being on the slower side these days, there sometimes seems to be more drivers than riders.

“It used to be pretty good in the old days — it’s still steady, but it’s not like it used to be,” said Billy Fields, a night dispatcher for Yellow Cab of Augusta.

Planning ahead of time is your best option for making sure you make it home safely after the ball drops. It doesn’t have to be difficult — it can be as simple as picking up the phone a few hours before you take that first sip, or even put a foot inside the bar. Most services are open 24/7, leaving no excuses for why you weren’t prepared.

Pick up the phone or go online and make a reservation. This can be done anywhere, at anytime, especially in today’s society where a cell phone is always in hand. Some services also allow you to reserve online by filling out a form. Making a reservation will not only save time, but also steers you clear of any possible drunken fights over whose slurred speech called the driver over first.

Next be sure to keep in mind how many of your friends will be claiming a seat — any surprise riders could add some extra cost, depending on cab companies.

American Taxi of Augusta, for example, has a flat rate for up to four passengers. If you end up with an extra straggler — or the lying friend who said he would only have one drink so he could drive everyone home — it’s going to cost an additional $2 per passenger.

Most services will be charging you a flat rate, usually around $2.65, with additional charge per mile travelled. If planning to travel outside of Richmond County, expect another additional charge of $2.

Don’t keep your driver waiting. If you make a reservation for a certain time, make you sure you are punctual. Wait time for taxis can quickly raise your fee. Every hour you leave your driver hanging can add anywhere up to $21 in the Augusta area.

Pay attention to the meter; it can be a serious issue if you happen to come across a driver who thinks he can get away with overcharging you. On a night such as New Years, when odds are your critical thinking might be impaired, you may want a designated “more-sober-than-the-others” friend to keep an eye on the meter.

“Some people are out partying having a good time and don’t realize,” said Fields. “If they don’t use their meter, you don’t have to pay the fare.”

Although it is advised to still provide payment, you do have the option not to pay, but be sure to notify Richmond County deputies concerning the matter.

It’s also advisable to hold your liquor — at least until you make it home.

Nobody likes a mess, and that includes cab drivers. Most drivers own their taxis, and probably won’t hesitate to add on a cleanup charge — which can be up to $50 — to your already rising fee.

Although Masters Week is the busiest season for Augusta’s taxi men and women, New Years still holds promise to a good paying night.

“All of our drivers will be out on full force for New Years,” said a spokesperson for Speedy Cab of Augusta.

By the time you make it home, your fee probably rose pretty quickly, but don’t forget to leave a tip; they deserve a little extra for dealing with you and your slurry friends.

20 METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

27DECEMBER2012

V23|NO51

GREGORY A. BAKER, PH.D

News Flash

Life appears to continue in spite of what the Mayans predicted At the time of this writing, our office received repor ts that Australia successfully began December 21, 2012. While repor ts indicate that the weather is a little breezy, predictions of an extinction level event prove to be incorrect. From our vantage point, most Augustans express relief and joy over the news, although a segment of folks, aka, the Preppers, appear somewhat somber. We’re not sure if it’s because the world didn’t end, or if it’s just the thought of having to put all their Doomsday gear back in storage. Either way, all indications are that life goes on.

Some Privacy, Please — As we move into 2013, the right to privacy will continue to be one of the hottest topics in technology. For various reasons, government bureaucrats who are largely unaccountable to anyone have created systems that accumulate and mine enormous amounts of data on individuals. Lawmakers specifically authorized some of these systems. Others were enabled through regulation. Proposals were made this year to provide greater access to text messages and cell phone calls. Obamacare steers the country toward a common database of all health history. The amount of money we have and the weapons we own are already recorded. Our government probably knows more about its citizens than any other government in history, and it wants more.

The first activity we’ll see this year will be the reauthorization of the FISA Amendments Act. This act codified the method of warrantless wiretapping.

Originally started in the period after 9/11, the warrantless wiretap provides national security organizations a CYA when sucking in private electronic communications into their databases. The act is set to expire at the end of the year, and any coverage of it has been dwarfed by the fiscal cliff. Call you congressman and urge a no vote on FISA. Significant activity on updating the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act should also occur this year. The original law was passed in the good ole days of MS/ DOS and the Apple II. No one had any concept of what was coming with regards to the internet and the use of electronic documents. Under the ECPA, your email possesses greater legal protection if you print it out and file it instead of keeping it on your hard drive. An update to this bill is working its way through the Senate. Just this month, the Judiciary Committee added an amendment requiring law enforcement get a probably cause warrant before reading your email! This bill has a long way to go, but everything seems to be going in the right direction.

F L S

HUGE Christmas SALE!

Everything Every ything g Christmas is

50% OFF! www.MARTINAS.com 706.863.7172 3830 Washington Rd, Augusta, GA

Augusta… Hack Away! — The year 2012 brought something to Augusta that it hasn’t seen in quite a while… innovation. Technology clubs and groups have existed in the area for many years. Catalyzed by individuals such as Eric Parker and Tony Robinson, these groups are starting to form a critical mass of innovation. The Technology Association of Georgia has started an Augusta chapter. Meetup.com has become a common check-in location for technology events. Most importantly, all of our technology organizations — Hack Augusta, CSRA Makers, Refresh Augusta, Augusta Developers Guild, Augusta Linux Users Group and TAG-Augusta — now have a location to network, share ideas and create the future: TheClubhou.se. If you are into technology, Augusta needs you to plug in! I hope to see you at the next Hackathon!

Have a safe and happy new year. Until next year, 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.

27DECEMBER2012

AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT 21

V23|NO51

If you haven’t been to Augusta’s most historic grocery store and deli in a while, you might want to visit Luanne and the crew during Rediscover Hildebrandt’s from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 29. During those times, explore the changes they’ve made while enjoying specials and possibly winning some prizes. And, most importantly, don’t forget to have a sandwich. Call 706-722-7756.

ENTERTAIN

ME

Arts

Tying the Knot, a display of wedding dresses and accessories from the late 1800s to the 1960s, will be on exhibit at the Augusta Museum of History until May 2013. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.

Exhibitions

“Blast From the Past” is a new exhibit currently on display at Augusta Museum of History in downtown Augusta to celebrate the museum’s 75th anniversary. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.

“What’s in the Box: Block Prints Rock!” shows at the Morris Museum of Art, 10-11 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 3. Call 706-724-7501 or visit themorris.org.

Fall into Art Exhibit shows at the Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta until 4 p.m., Friday, Dec. 28. Call 803-441-4380 or visit tbredcountry.org.

“The Five,” Ester Melton and “T’is the Season” exhibitions show at the Aiken Center for the Arts through Friday, Dec. 28. Call 803-641-9094 or visit aikencenterforthearts.org.

Lillie Morris, Lucy Weigle and Judy Avrett Exhibition shows at Sacred Heart Cultural Center through Friday, Dec. 28. Call 706-826-4700 or visit sacredheartaugusta.org.

Artist Tom Supensky exhibits his work until Saturday, Dec. 29 at the Aiken Center for the Arts. Call 803-641-9094 or visit aikencenterforthearts.org.

“Local Legends,” a new permanent exhibit highlighting Augusta notables, is now on display at Augusta Museum of History. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.

“Protect and Serve,” a new exhibit highlighting the stories of CSRA law enforcement officers, is now on display at the Augusta Museum of History.

Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.

“Delightful Decanters” is a temporary exhibit on display at the Augusta Museum of History featuring colorful bottles used to sell products as late as the 1970s. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.

Dance

New Year’s Eve Party is Monday, Dec. 31, at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Post 1197 on Scott Road and includes live music, food and a champagne toast. $15. Call 706-495-3219.

New Year’s Eve dance presented by Augusta Christian Singles at the Ballroom Dance Center in Evans, 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m., Monday, Dec. 31.

Members, $15; nonmembers, $20. Call 762-233-1978.

Texas Night will be held at the Augusta Jewish Community Center from 7-11 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 12. The night will feature dance lessons and an authentic Texas dinner (kosher). Members, $25; non-members, $35. RSVP

by Jan. 2. Call 706-228-3636.

Saturday Night Dance with live music is each Saturday night at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Post 1197 from 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. $5.

Call 706-495-3219.

Karaoke is held every Friday night at the American Legion Post 205 on Highland Road. Call 706-495-3219.

Annual Doll Exhibition shows through Monday, Dec. 31, at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History. Free with museum admission. Call 706724-3576 or visit lucycraftlaneymuseum.com.

Music

Choral Concert will be presented by the South Aiken High School at St. John’s United Methodist Church 7-9 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 30. Call 706-724-9641.

Belly Dance Class is held every Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Euchee Creek Branch Library. Pre-registration required. Call 706-556-0594 or visit ecgrl.org.

Annual Quilt Exhibition shows through Monday, Dec. 31, at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History. Pre-registration required. Call 706-7243576 or visit lucycraftlaneymuseum.com.

Sunday Brunch Piano with John Vaughn will be held 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at The Willcox in Aiken. Call 803-648-1898 or visit thewillcox.com.

Augusta International Folk Dance Club meets Tuesday nights from 7:309:30 p.m. at the Augusta Ballet Studio on 2941 Walton Way. No partners needed. First visit free. Call 706-399-2477.

“Reflections on Water in American Painting” shows through Sunday, Feb. 10, at the Morris Museum of Art in downtown Augusta. Call 706-724-7501 or visit themorris.org.

Poetry Matters is accepting entries through March 23 for their annual poetry contest. Cash prizes will be given out. Categories are middle and high school, adults, and seniors. Visit poetrymatterscelebration.com.

22 METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

Literary

Theater

Submission deadline for “Quickies,” Le Chat Noir Theatre’s short play festival, is Dec. 31. The theater is seeking original scripts by CSRA authors. Email scripts and a cover sheet with contact information to info@ 27DECEMBER2012

V23|NO51

lcnaugusta.com. Visit lcnaugusta.com.

Flix

School’s Out Movies presents a double feature at the Diamond Lakes Branch Library beginning 2 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 27. Bring your own snacks. Free. Call 706-772-2432 or visit ecgrl.org.

Special Events

Christmas in Hopelands will be held in Aiken 6-9:30 p.m., Dec. 27. Free; donations accepted. Call 803-642-7631.

Rediscover Hildebrandt’s will be held at Hildebrandt’s grocery and diner 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 29.

Call 706-722-7756.

New Year’s Eve Weekend Comedy Explosion features Bruce Bruce, Earthquake, Sommore, Marvin Dixon and Arnez J. at the Bell Auditorium, 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 30. $57-$77. Call 706-724-2400 or visit augustaentertainmentcomplex.com New Year’s Eve Party will be held at the Elks Lodge in Martinez 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 31. $40 per person, $75 per couple. Advance tickets only. Call 706-869-9203.

Columbia County Board of Commissioners Meeting will be held at the Evans Government Center Auditorium 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 2. Visit columbiacountyga.gov.

Lights of the South, located off the I-20 Appling/ Harlem exit past Grovetown traveling West from Augusta (Exit 183), is open daily from 6-10 p.m., Dec. 27-30. It features more than five million lights in a 100-acre forest, as well as food, sweets, beverages, hayrides, walking trails, a Christmas train, a Christmas Tree maze and more. Call 706-825-6441 or visit lightsofthesouth.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.

Historic Trolley Tour of Augusta boards at the Augusta Museum of History at 2 p.m., Saturdays. See historic sites and hear spooky legends. $2, including admission to the museum. Reservations required 24 hours in advance. Visit augustaga.org.

Health

Mobile Mammography Screenings will be held 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27, University Hospital; Friday, Dec. 28, Edgefield Medical Center; Monday, Dec. 31, University Hospital; Wednesday, Jan. 2, Belk in North Augusta; Thursday, Jan. 3, Washington-Wilkes Primary School. Call 706-774-4149 or visit universityhealth.org.

Bariatric Seminar will be held 6-7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 27, at Doctors Hospital. Focuses on exploring options for medical weight loss. Drs. Michael Blaney and Darren Glass will speak. Free, but pre-registration required. Call 706-651-4343 or visit doctors-hospital.net.

Weight Loss Surgery Seminar will be held 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 27 at the Georgia Health Sciences Alumni Center. Call 706-721-2609 or visit mcghealth.org.

Weekend Childbirth Education classes will be held at the University Hospital Education Center, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 28 and 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 29. Free. Registration required. Call 706-7742825 or visit universityhealth.org.

“Weight Loss Surgery And You” will be held at the University Heart and Vascular Institute, 6-7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 1. Free. Reservations required. Call 706774-8931 or visit universityhealth.org.

Ready and Able, the final session of a class series for late pregnancy, covers techniques for maximizing comfort during childbirth 7-9:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 1 at Doctors Hospital. Registration required. Call 706651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.

Understanding Lipids Class will be held at University 27DECEMBER2012

Hospital’s Heart and Vascular Institute, 8:25 a.m., 9:25 a.m. and 1:55 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 2. Call 703774-3278 or visit universityhealth.org.

Total Joint Replacement Class will be held at the University Hospital Levi Hill III Auditorium 1-3 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 2. Free. Call 706-774-2760 or visit universityhealth.org.

Cribs for Kids will be presented by Safe Kids East Central at the Safe Kids office building will teach caregivers how to provide a safe sleep environment.

Families who can demonstrate a financial need with receive a portable crib and other supplies. Takes place 5:45-8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 3. Call 706-721-7606 or visit georgiahealth.org.

Tai Chi for Boomers free demo will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 3 at the Augusta Jewish Community Center for a class that will be held at 6 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday starting Jan. 10. Call 706-3940590, email sbeasley@augustameditation.com or visit augustameditation.com/taichi.html.

Center for Women tour, an opportunity for both partners to learn about labor and delivery, will be held 7-8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 3 at Doctors Hospital. Call 706-651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.

Joint Efforts, presented by Trinity Hospital of Augusta, meets from 11-11:45 a.m. every Thursday at Augusta Bone and Joint, and features a free seminar about knee and hip pain, treatments, medication, food and exercise.

Call 706-481-7604 or visit trinityofaugusta.com.

Infant CPR Anytime Learning Program is held at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday. at the first floor information desk (west entrance) of Georgia Health Sciences University.

Visit georgiahealth.edu.

Adapted Evaluation, a 30-minute initial and annual evaluation including medical history and water assessment, is offered at the Wilson Family Y. $25. Call 706-922-9664 or visit thefamilyy.org.

Adapted Special Populations classes offered at the Wilson Family Y. Members $10; non-members $20. Call 706-922-9664 or visit thefamilyy.org.

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; non-members, $20. Call 706-9229662 or visit thefamilyy.org.

Child Safety Seat Inspections and Car Seat Classes, sponsored by Safe Kids East Central, are offered by appointment at either the Safe Kids Office or MartinezColumbia Fire Rescue. Call 706-721-7606 or visit georgiahealth.org/safekids.

Support

Sleep Apnea Support Group will meet 7-9 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 27, at the Resource Library at Georgia Health Sciences Children’s Medical Center. Call 706721-0793 or visit georgiahealth.org.

Cancer Share will meet at the University Hospital Breast Health Center to provide a support group for patients diagnosed with cancer, 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 31. Call 706-722-9011 or visit universityhealth.org.

Pink Ribbonettes, a self-help group for women diagnosed with breast cancer and their caregivers, will meet at Millbrook Baptist Church, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Tuesday, Jan. 1. Registration required. Call 803-6499267 or 803-644-3902.

Huntington’s Disease Support Group meets at the MCG Movement Disorders Clinic Conference Room 6:30-8 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 1. Call 706-271-2798 or 706-2312775 or visit georgiahealth.org.

A-Team, an autism spectrum disorder support and AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT 23

V23|NO51

resource group, will meet at the Georgia Health Sciences Children’s Medical Center Family Resource Library 6-7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 1. Anyone affected by autism spectrum disorders invited to attend. Email Davina Drakely at ddrakele@georgiahealth.edu.

The Lunch Bunch Bereavement Support Group for adults will meet in the first floor cafeteria of Aiken Regional Medical Centers, noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 2. Registration required. Call 803-641-5389 or visit aikenregional.com.

Cancer Support Group will meet in the First Baptist Church parlor 3-4 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 2. Call 803-641-5000 or visit aikenregional.com.

Amputee Support Group meets at Walton Rehabilitation Hospital, noon-1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 3. Amputee clinic held from 1-2 p.m., immediately after the support group meeting. Call 706-823-8504 or visit wrh.org.

Narcotics Anonymous meets Fridays and Sundays at 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Hospital of Augusta. Visit na.org.

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.

Beyond the Bars is a support group for those with incarcerated loved ones.

For more information about meetings, call Gerry Nail at 706-855-8636.

Diabetes Youth Support Group meets quarterly. For more information, call 706-868-3241 or visit universityhealth.org.

Cardiac Support Group meets three times a year. For more information on meetings, as well as for pre-registration, call 706-774-5864 or visit universityhealth.org.

Adult Sexual Assault and Rape Support meets for group counseling. For more information, call 706-724-5200 or visit universityhealth.org.

Families Who Have Lost a Baby Support Group is offered by GHSU. Call 706-721-8299 or visit georgiahealth.org.

Education

Fort Gordon Toastmasters meets 11:30 a.m. each Wednesday in the

24 METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

Organizational Conference Room (Fish Bowl) on Fort Gordon Army base.

Open to public. Visit fortgordon.toastmastersclubs.org.

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.

Free Tutoring for all ages, offered by ASU’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 aug.edu.

Holiday Tours of the Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson are held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. each Tuesday through Saturday. Adults $5; seniors $4; kids K-12 $3; under 5 years free. Reservations required for groups of 10 or more. Call 706-722-9828.

GED Classes are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Headquarters Branch Library. Pre-registration required. Call 706-8212600 or visit ecgrl.org.

English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are offered every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Headquarters Branch Library (Third Floor Writing Lab). Preregistration required. Call Charles Garrick at 803-279-3363 or visit ecgrl.org.

The Joy of Signing meets every Thursday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Headquarters Branch Library. Call 706-821-2600 or visit ecgrl.org.

Computer classes are offered every Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Wallace Branch Library. Call 706-722-6275 or visit ecgrl.org.

Augusta Museum of History in downtown Augusta is open ThursdaySaturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m. Closed Monday-Wednesday.

Adults $4, seniors $3, kids 6-18 $2, children 5 and under free. Call 706722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.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 Tours of Augusta offered by Augusta Museum of History at 1:30 p.m. each Saturday. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.

Benefit

Grits ‘n’ Grins will meet at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 27, at O’Charley’s to create handmade baby blankets, hats and scarves to be given out as Christmas gifts to newborns up to age 12 through Salvation Army programs. Beginner materials provided for those who interested in learning to knit, crochet or loom. Call 706-434-3185 or email katebooth51@yahoo.com or cbhathcox@comcast.net.

Karma Yoga is offered at Just Breathe Studio in downtown Aiken at 10 a.m. each Friday. Participation is free with donation of a personal item to be given to the Cumbee Center to Assist Abused Persons. Call 803-648-8048 or visit justbreathestudio.com.

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.

Sports-Outdoors

The Augusta RiverHawks home games this week are as follows: The Fayetteville Fire Antz, Thursday, Dec. 27; The Knoxville Ice Bears, Friday, Dec. 28. All games begin at 7:35 p.m. at the James Brown Arena. $10-$21. Call 706-993-2645 or visit augustariverhawks.com.

First Day Hike will be offered at Mistletoe State Park 10 a.m.-noon, Tuesday, Jan. 1. Meet at the nature center. Hike is one mile and led by a ranger. $5 parking. Call 706-0321 or visit gastateparks.org/mistletoe.

First Day Hike will be offered at Aiken State Park 10-11 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 1. Meet at picnic area. Event is free, but park entrance fee applies. Call 803-649-2857 or visit southcarolinaparks.com.

Aiken Challenge Series, involving five weeks of USEF “AA” horse shows at Highfields Event Center in Aiken, begins Wednesday-Sunday, Jan. 2-6. Call 803-649-3505 or visit psjshows.com.

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 Road at 7 p.m.; the Tuesday Nacho Mama’s Group Run at 6 p.m.; Wednesday’s Blanchard Woods Group Run at 6 p.m.; Wednesday Stay in Shape Group Run at 6 p.m.; Wednesday’s Post Office Hill Training Run at 7 p.m.; Thursday’s Homer Hustle at 6 p.m.; and Saturday’s Stay in Shape Run

27DECEMBER2012

V23|NO51

at 8 a.m. Visit augustastriders.com.

Augusta Canal Interpretive Center and Petersburg boat tours winter schedule runs through March 31 and is as follows: The Center is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Hour-long Petersburg boat canal tours depart at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3 p.m. Admission to Center is $6, or free with $12.50 boat tour ticket. Seniors 65+, active military/dependent and students (age 4-grade12 or with valid college I.D.) are $2. One child under 3 per ticketed adult may get in free. Closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Call 706-823-0440, ext. 4. Groups call ext.

7. Visit augustacanal.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.

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 706-814-7514 or visit killerbdiscgolf.blogspot.com/p/ hott-shott.

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.

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 Jordan’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.

Guided Trail Rides at Hilltop Riding Stables at Fort Gordon are available Saturdays at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.; Sundays at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and noon; and Wednesday-Friday at 11 a.m. with reservations 24 hours in advance. All trail rides are on a first-come, first-served basis, and participants should arrive 30 minutes prior to the trail ride starting for sign in procedures. $23-$30. Call 706-791-4864 or visit fortgordon.com.

Zumba with Sohailla is held every Saturday from 10-11 a.m. at the Ballroom Dance Center in Evans. Call 706421-6168 or visit zumbawithsohailla.blogspot.com.

Saturday Historic Trolley Tours are Saturdays from 1:30-3:15 p.m. at the Augusta Museum of History.

Reservations required 24 hours in advance. $12. Call 706-724-4067 or visit augustamuseum.org.

Lakeside Rideouts at Hilltop Riding Stables at Fort Gordon are each Sunday beginning at 1:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. The ride, which begins at 2 p.m., is a two-hour guided ride to Wilkerson Lake. $45-$50. Call 706-791-4864 or visit fortgordon.com.

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. Preregistration required. Visit thefamilyy.org.

Kids-Teens

Winter art day camps will be held at the Aiken Center for the Arts from 8:30 a.m., Dec. 27-28 and Jan. 2-4 for ages K4 and up. Half-day, $40; full-day, $60.

Discounts and scholarships available. Call 803-6419094 or visit aikencenterforthearts.org.

LEGO Club will be held at the North Augusta Library, 4-5 p.m., Friday, Dec. 28. Call 803-642-7575 or visit abbe-lib.org.

‘Tis the Season shows at 6, 7 and 8 p.m., Saturday, 27DECEMBER2012

Dec. 29, at USC-Aiken’s DuPont Planetarium. Weather permitting, the observatory housing the Bechtel telescope will be open for viewing after each show.

Adults $4.50; seniors $3.50; grades 4K-12 $2.50; USC-A faculty, staff and students $1. Call 803-6413654 or visit rpsec.usca.edu/planetarium.

Homeschool PE Time, for elementary school aged kids, meets Monday-Friday, from 9-11 a.m. at the Kroc Center. Members free. Call 706-364-5762 for nonmember prices. Visit krocaugusta.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.

Wacky Wednesday Story Time is each Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the children’s department of Barnes and Noble in the Augusta Mall. Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.

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 Appleby Branch Library from 10:05-10:20 a.m. for toddlers 18 months-35 months, and from 10:30-11:15 a.m. for preschoolers ages 3 and up. Parent must stay with 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.

Study Hall for teens meets Wednesdays from 3-5 p.m. at the Headquarters Branch Library. Call 706-8212600 or visit ecgrl.org/teens.

Homeschool Playgroup meets each Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at Creighton Park in North Augusta. Call 803613-0484.

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.

Kroc Tots Activity Hour, for those 5 and under, meets every Friday from 9-10 a.m. at the Kroc Center. Free, members; $1, non-members. Call 706-364-5762 or visit krocaugusta.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 706-733-9491.

Registration for the next session of story times at the Columbia County Library is being offered now. Call 706-447-7657 or visit ecgrl.org.

AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT 25

V23|NO51

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.

Seniors

Tai Chi for Seniors free introductory class and demo will be held Thursday, Jan. 3, at the Augusta Jewish Community Center for a class that will be held from 11 a.m.-noon every Thursday starting Jan. 10. Call 706394-0590 visit augustameditation.com/taichi.html.

Dancin’ with the Young at Heart, an event geared toward those ages 50 and older although anyone is welcome, is each Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Aiken DAV. In addition to dancing to Yesterday’s Sounds, there will also be prize drawings, snack and drinks. $6. Call 803-292-3680.

Hobbies

Bingo is held every Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and every Monday and Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Post 1197 on Scott Road. Free admission. Call 706-495-3219.

Bingo is held every Saturday at 1 p.m. at American Legion Post 205 on Highland Avenue. Call 706-495-3219.

The Garden City Chorus, the area’s leading men’s singing group and a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society, is seeking new members. Those interested are welcome to attend Tuesday night rehearsals, held at 7 p.m. at North Augusta Church of Christ on W. Martintown Road.

Visit gardencitychorus.org.

9 p.m. $25 advance, $50 advance with dinner, $30 at the door. Call 706-678-3277.

“Where War Meets Nature” First Day Hike will be offered at Rivers Bridge historic site in Ehrhardt, S.C. 10 a.m.-noon, Tuesday, Jan. 1. Free. Call 803-2673675 or visit southcarolinaparks.com.

First Day Hike will be offered at Barnwell State Park in Blackville, S.C., 1-3 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 1. Event is free but park entrance fee applies. Call 803-284-2212 or visit southcarolinaparks.com.

Story time is held at the Warren County Library in Warrenton at 10:30 a.m., Wednesdays. Call 706-465-2656.

Thursday Nights at the High, a special event at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, offers half price tickets from 4-8 p.m. each Thursday. A guided tour is offered at 6:30 p.m. Call 404-733-4200 or visit high.org.

Story time and craft is held at the Burke County Library in Waynesboro at 10:30 a.m., Fridays, for preschoolers. Call 706-554-3277.

Story time is held at the Midville Branch Library in Midville at 4:30 p.m., Fridays. Call 478-589-7825.

Story time is held at the Sardis Branch Library in Sardis at 3:30 p.m., Fridays. Call 478-569-4866.

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.

Volunteer

Aiken Regional Medical Centers is looking for volunteers.

Call 803-641-5000 or visit aikenregional.com.

The Greater Augusta Arts Council offers volunteer opportunities for those interested in volunteering for events like Arts in the Heart, First Friday and special concerts, as well as helping in the GAAC office. Call 706-826-4702 or visit augustaarts.com.

Hospice Care of America’s Augusta office needs administrative and patient care volunteers. No experience necessary; training will be provided. Call Rich Boland at 706-447-2626 or email rboland@ msa-corp.com.

MACH Academy is looking for volunteers to provide tutoring, academic support and mentoring services during fall after-school sessions held MondayThursday from 3:30-6 p.m. Call 706-796-5046, email mparks37@comcast.net or visit machacademy.com.

Miracle League Baseball, held by the Family Y, is looking for volunteers. Call 706-922-9597 or visit thefamilyy.org.

Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services is seeking volunteer advocates for Richmond, Burke, Jefferson and McDuffie counties. Advocates answer crisis calls and respond to hospitals in their area within 30 minutes. Call 706-774-2746 or email volunteerrcsas@ uh.org.

Reed Creek Park offers opportunities to volunteers interested in collecting important data each month on the health of a local stream for the state of Georgia.

Call 706-210-4027 or visit reedcreekpark.com.

United Hospice of Aiken, which covers Aiken, Edgefield, McCormick, Barnwell and Allendale counties, needs volunteers to visit with patients or work in the office.

Training is provided. Call 803-641-0060 or email kathibault@uhs-pruitt.com.

Elsewhere

New Year’s Eve With The Tams will be presented by the Washington Jockey Club at the Pope Center in Washington, 7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 31. Music starts at 26 METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

DECLASSIFIED Rape Crisis & Sexual Assault Services

Seeking Volunteer Advocates Seeking volunteers for Richmond, Burke, Jefferson, and McDuffie counties.

Advocates answer crisis calls and respond to hospitals in their area within 30 minutes. Please contact 706.774.2746 or email volunteerrcsas@uh.org for more information.

JOB OPPORTUNITY

All Yard Work 35 Years Experience

COMMISSION ONLY.

Mow, Trim, Fertilize, Tree Work, Hauling, etc.

$600-$1000 A WEEK

Great References and Prices.

WILL TRAIN.

Call for a free quote today!

IF INTERESTED:

Andrew Jones 706.833.3060

706.877.0114

Don’t miss the Ride to the White House!

Join us to witness history once again as President Obama takes his oath of office.

The 2013 Presidential Inauguration is Monday, January 21st 2013 and you don’t want to miss the bus.

For payments, deposits and more infor please call 706.724.1508 or 706.306.5083 or 706.631.0912 Be a part of history CALL NOW! You can call Pyramid music and video at 706.724.1508

ALL DECLASSIFIED ADS ARE CASH IN ADVANCE (CREDIT CARD PAYMENT REQUIRED) AND ARE $40 PER WEEK. VISIT METROSPIRIT.COM TO PLACE YOUR AD IN MINUTES.

KRIS FISHER '- (YHQW +RVW 2YHU \HDUV RI '-LQJ UDGLR H[SHULHQFH 5HIHUHQFHV DYDLODEOH

:HGGLQJV %LUWKGD\V 3DUWLHV $QQLYHUVDULHV (WF

$Q\ *HQUH RI 0XVLF 706.399.4209 | kfish@rocketmail.com

DJKFISH.COM

UPSCALE EVANS SPA seeking a nail tech.

Booth renters only.

Very competitive rent; perfect location; elegant, professional atmosphere.

706.294.2776

1.5” X 1.9” (ACTUAL SIZE) $40 PER WEEK 27DECEMBER2012

V23|NO51

15 in 5

Because I love a list. Especially a random list. Â&#x2021; <RX SHRSOH KDYH EHHQ FUD]\ ZLWK WKHVH HOYHV 2XU (OI VLWV RQ D VKHOI $IWHU KH ZHQW WR WKH 1RUWK 3ROH HDFK QLJKW KH PRYHG WR DQRWKHU VKHOI 7KH .LGV ORYHG ORRNLQJ IRU KLP +H GLGQ·W VSHQG DQ\ RI 6DQWD·V KDUG HDUQHG PRQH\ PDNLQJ KLV YLVLWV PRUH VSHFLDO WKDQ WKH\ DOUHDG\ ZHUH +H GLG ODQG LQ D FRQWDLQHU RI FDQG\ FRUQ WKH ILUVW QLJKW KH ZDV KHUH , GLGQ·W PLQG WKDW KH UXLQHG LW , ZDV DERXW WR WKURZ LW DZD\ DQ\ZD\ Â&#x2021; 7KDW EHLQJ VDLG P\ NLGV ZRXOG EH VR MHDORXV LI WKH\ VDZ KRZ PXFK PRUH \RXU HOYHV PXVW ORYH \RXU FKLOGUHQ 7KLV LV RQH RI WKH PDQ\ UHDVRQV WKH\·OO VWD\ IDU IDU DZD\ IURP )DFHERRN Â&#x2021; 6DQWD EULQJV WKH EHVW JLIWV RI WKH \HDU ´6DQWD·V VR DZHVRPH +H EURXJKW PH WKLV µ $V D SDUHQW ELUWKGD\V DUH PRUH IXQ EHFDXVH , JHW WKH FUHGLW IRU WKH JRRG SUHVHQWV $GPLW LW \RX IHHO WKH VDPH ZD\ Â&#x2021; :H DUH VWLOO KDYLQJ SUREOHPV ZLWK RXU PDLO /DVW ZHHN IRXU GD\V SDVVHG ZLWKRXW D VLQJOH SLHFH RI PDLO 7KDW·V XQFRPPRQ IRU PRVW SHRSOH RQ PRVW GD\V 'XULQJ &KULVWPDV FDUG VHDVRQ LW·V SUDFWLFDOO\ XQKHDUG RI , FDOOHG DQG ILOHG D FRPSODLQW , JRW DQRWKHU FDVH QXPEHU , ZDV IHG HPSW\ SURPLVHV DERXW UHWXUQHG FDOOV DQG LPPHGLDWH DFWLRQ Â&#x2021; , WROG WKH VXSHUYLVRU WKDW , ZDV D OLWWOH FRQFHUQHG DERXW ILOLQJ D FRPSODLQW 7KHVH SHRSOH NQRZ ZKHUH , OLYH 1RZ WKDW , WKLQN DERXW LW , JXHVV WKH\ GRQ·W RU ZH ZRXOGQ·W EH KDYLQJ WKLV SUREOHP 6KH DVVXUHG PH WKDW , QHHGQ·W ZRUU\ DERXW DQ\ UHWDOLDWLRQ 8P SDUGRQ PH EXW WKH WHUP ´JRLQJ SRVWDOµ GLGQ·W FRPH IURP D GLVJUXQWOHG EDULVWD Â&#x2021; $IWHU PDQ\ FDOOV DQG EHLQJ WUDQVIHUUHG DURXQG KXQJ XS RQ DQG GLVPLVVHG DV D FUD]\ ODG\ D VXSHUYLVRU WROG PH WKDW , QHHGHG WR JHW LQ WRXFK ZLWK VRPH FRQVXPHU DIIDLUV DFWLRQ FRPPLWWHH 2K JRRG 6RPH KHOS $QG WKHQ VKH WROG PH KRZ WR UHDFK WKHP %\ PDLO , ZLVK WKDW ZDV D OLH 6KH VDLG , QHHGHG WR PDLO WKHP D OHWWHU DQG ZLWKLQ GD\V WKH\·G UHSO\ WR P\ OHWWHU %\ PDLO +XK" /DG\ GLGQ·W , MXVW WHOO \RX WKDW P\ PDLO LVQ·W ZRUNLQJ" :K\ ZRXOG , XVH D EURNHQ VRPHWKLQJ WR IL[ D EURNHQ VRPHWKLQJ 7KDW·V OLNH IHHGLQJ PH UDQFLG PHDW ZKLFK PDNHV PH YLROHQWO\ LOO RQO\ WR IHHG LW WR PH DJDLQ VD\LQJ ´:H WKLQN WKDW ZH PLJKW·YH PD\EH SRVVLEO\ IL[HG WKH UDQFLG PHDW SUREOHP :H KRSH WKDW \RX SRVVLEO\ PD\EH PLJKW QRW JHW VLFN WKLV WLPH µ 1R WKDQNV Â&#x2021; , JRW D FDOO IURP WKH QLFH ODG\ DW WKH WK 6WUHHW 3RVW 2IILFH 6KH VDLG P\ FDUULHU IRXQG D SDFNDJH RI PLQH :KHQ DVNHG ZKHUH LW·G EHHQ VKH VDLG ´:HOO ZH GRQ·W NQRZ WKDW EXW VKH·V JRW LW µ $ERXW DQ KRXU ODWHU D YHU\ KXPEOHG PDLO ZRPDQ VWRRG RQ P\ IURQW SRUFK KROGLQJ WZR SDFNDJHV DERXW &KULVWPDV FDUGV ILYH SLHFHV RI VRPHRQH HOVH·V PDLO RQH SLHFH RI DQRWKHU SHUVRQ·V PDLO D IHZ ELOOV DQG D FRXSOH RI PDJD]LQHV &DOO PH FUD]\ EXW WKDW VHHPV OLNH DERXW IRXU GD\V· ZRUWK RI PDLO

Â&#x2021; ,I WKH 3RVW 2IILFH ZDV D EXVLQHVV LQVWHDG RI D JRYHUQPHQW DJHQF\ ,·G KDYH JRWWHQ D UHIXQG VRPH IUHH VWDPSV RU DW WKH YHU\ OHDVW D FRXSRQ IRU P\ QH[W YLVLW 1R VXFK OXFN Â&#x2021; 0RYLQJ RQ 6LQFH ODVW ZHHN P\ PDQWUD KDV EHHQ ´$W OHDVW ZH DUH KHDOWK\ DQG DOLYH µ , VXSSRVH WKDW , VKRXOG DOZD\V WKLQN OLNH WKDW EXW WUDJHG\ XVXDOO\ VKRYHV LW LQ RXU IDFH

Â&#x2021;, KDG IRXU NLGV WZR DUH PLQH WZR DUH IULHQGV·

KHUH DOO GD\ ODVW ZHHN ,W ZDV WKH ILUVW GD\ RI &KULVWPDV EUHDN DQG ZH KDG VXQ DQG GHJUHHV 1RW EDG :LWK WKH H[FHSWLRQ RI WKH REOLJDWRU\ VKRZLQJ RI ´&KULVWPDV 9DFDWLRQ µ WKH\ ZHUH RXWVLGH DOO GD\ Â&#x2021; 7KLV ZDV WKH ILUVW \HDU , KDG VRPHRQH HOVH WDNH P\ &KULVWPDV FDUG SLFWXUH , XVXDOO\ HQMR\ GRLQJ LW DQG HYHQ KHOS IULHQGV JHW WKHLU SHUIHFW SKRWR , WRWDOO\ XQGHUVWDQG ZK\ \·DOO KLUH VRPHRQH WR KHOS 7KDQNV WR %UDQFK &DUWHU IRU FDSWXULQJ P\ NLGV VR ZHOO

Â&#x2021; 6SHDNLQJ RI KROLGD\ FDUGV LV WKDW UHDOO\ WKH EHVW SLFWXUH RI \RXU WZR NLGV IURP WKH HQWLUH ODVW \HDU" , GRQ·W PHDQ WR EH XJO\ EXW LV LW WKDW \RX IHOW SUHVVXUH WR KDYH D SLFWXUH LQ WKH VLOO\ PDWFKLQJ RXWILWV LQ IURQW RI WKH WUHH QR PDWWHU KRZ DZNZDUG WKH SKRWR LV" Â&#x2021; , GR ORYH JHWWLQJ WKH FDUGV WKRXJK 7KDW·V ZK\ WKH PDLO GLOHPPD ZDV VR IUXVWUDWLQJ , NQHZ ZKDW , ZDV PLVVLQJ DQG , VWDUWHG WR ZRQGHU LI VRPH RI P\ DGGUHVV OLVW UHJXODUV KDG JLYHQ PH WKH ERRW WKLV \HDU Â&#x2021; :KDWHYHU \RX FHOHEUDWH WKLV WLPH RI \HDU HQMR\ LW ZLWK \RXU IDPLO\ 6WRS ZRUU\LQJ ZKHWKHU WKH WXUNH\ ZLOO EH EXUQHG RU QRW FDXVH PLQH ZDV RQ 7KDQNVJLYLQJ DQG ZH VXUYLYHG LI \RX ERXJKW H[SHQVLYH HQRXJK JLIWV RU LI VKH LV ILYH PLQXWHV ODWH WR GLQQHU -XVW EH JODG VKH PDGH LW DW DOO Â&#x2021; , KRSH \RX KDG WKH KDSSLHVW RI &KULVWPDVHV 7LV WKH VHDVRQ ULJKW" ,I \RX GRQ·W FHOHEUDWH SOHDVH WHOO PH WKDW \RX DW OHDVW HQMR\HG WKH H[WUD ORQJ ZHHNHQG &KHHUV

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.

27DECEMBER2012

AUGUSTAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT 27

V23|NO51

VALERIEEMERICK

A Funky Tribute

Jazz musician departs from his usual style to honor the Godfather James Brown

Wycliffe Gordon

This year will mark the sixth anniversary of the passing of one of Augusta’s most famous residents. On Christmas Day 2006, James Brown died. A lot of folks may recall that there was much pomp and circumstance surrounding his funeral. The arena was packed; celebrities came to town to pay their respects, and thousands of loyal fans descended upon the city to show Augusta how much they loved James Brown.

A few times since then, Coco Rubio, one of the owners of Soul Bar and Sky City, has tried to hold some sort of event around this time to commemorate the Godfather of Soul. This year, on December 28, another famous and well-respected Augusta musician, Wycliffe Gordon, will play Sky City in a concert titled, “A Funky Tribute to James Brown.” The event will not feature James Brown’s music exclusively, but the performance itself will be dedicated to honoring his memory and his contributions to music.

“It’s not really a James Brown tribute,” explains Gordon. “I have a funk band there and we’ll do some James Brown, but it’s not all James Brown. I just like to get together with some of my buddies from home — and some of the guys who will be playing did play with James Brown — but we play music in that style. There is a segment of the show that will be dedicated to James Brown, but it’s not a tribute concert. So, I just want to make that clear. We will do a segment and dedicate it James, and his great contribution to music at large… probably the whole second set.”

Most people who are familiar with Wycliffe Gordon probably only know him for his prowess as a jazz musician. He won’t be playing any jazz at Sky City, but he did mention jazz as another connection to James Brown.

“I won’t be playing any jazz at this show,” says Gordon. He quickly adds, “But James Brown, most people probably don’t know it, did a jazz record, a big band record. I just found out about it six or seven years ago. Not a lot of people know that he did that and that it is also part of his legacy… the album is classic, standard jazz tunes. Very few people know that.”

So, Gordon, who is known for mostly jazz, will be playing funk and Brown, who was known for his contributions to funk and soul, once cut a jazz album.

The concert will showcase an impressive line-up of backing musicians and at a $5 cover charge, will likely be the best entertainment in town that night.

“It’ll be after the holiday, maybe people just want to come out and have a good time, dance a little,” says Gordon. “I think it will be a fun show.”

A Funky Tribute to James Brown Sky City | Friday, December 28 Doors, 8 p.m.; music, 10 p.m. | $5 skycityaugusta.com

28 METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

27DECEMBER2012

V23|NO51

Michael Johnson

mejphoto.photoreflect.com

Louise Maxwell and Jessica Bender with Thom and Bridgett Story at 1102 Downtown.

SIGHTINGS

Cindy Rutherford, Hope Key and Jessica Doherty at Bar on Broad.

Whitney Rainchuso, Amber Cheek and Alexa Cheek at the Loft.

SIGHTINGS

Singer Tim Brantley, April Henry, Jessica Magnuson and Erica Ralph at the Bee’s Knees.

Alyssa Jameson, singer-songwriter Ben Wells, Nicole Sceffanina and Stephen DeLoach at the Country Club.

SIGHTINGS

Alice and Gary Woodhurst with Callie Sadler at the Augusta Canal Holiday Drop-In at the Augusta Canal Interpretive Center.

27DECEMBER2012

Christy Newsome, Lyndsey Carpenter and Candace Reese at Firehouse.

Andrew and Nicole Poteet with Elizabeth and Mike Miller at Wild Wing.

Michael Johnson

mejphoto.photoreflect.com

Jackie Bascino, Greg Wariner and Tristan Perry at the Playground.

AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT 29

V23|NO51

30 METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

27DECEMBER2012

V23|NO51

Are you so frustrated with your computer you’ve considered tossing it out the window? Is it so slow you can barely use it? Are you having trouble getting to your favorite web page... or facebood? Are you even tempted to teake it to one of those Big Box Stores for service? Think again!

Do you really want the place that sells you envelopes or flat screen TVs working on your computer? Bring it to ComputerOne today... and our real computer guys will make it all better at a price you can afford.

We’re the opposite of a Big Box Store. We’re the little store in Fairway Square and although we have our own of computer experts, we dont really call them geeks (at least to their faces). They’re just competent, skilled computer technicians with the know-how to clean up your computer at a reasonable price and get you back on the internet fast.

And although we’re not keeping score, given the fact we’re celebrating our 25th anniversary this year, it is very likely we’ve sold and repaired more computers than any other company in Augusta... and we have thousands of satisfied customers to prove it.

THINK. NOT A BIG BOX... NOT EVEN CLOSE

27DECEMBER2012

NOTABIGBOX.COM

Professional Virus & Spyware Removal Services $69.95 Call us today at 706.667.9009

About Us | Services | Virus and Spyware Removal | Custom Built Computers | Point of Sale Systems | Driving Directions | Contact Us Copyright 2011 ComputerOne Technology, Inc., All Rights Reserved - Website developed, hosted and maintained by Southfire, Inc. 2825 Washington Rd., Fairway Square Shopping Center, Augusta, GA 30909 - 706.667.9009

AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT 31

V23|NO51

FEATURED

December 27 27Thursday, Live Music

100 Laurens - Open Mic Night w/ Wes Fox’s Lair - Mike & Scott Ritchie French Market Grille West - Doc Easton Smooth Jazz Joe’s Underground - Chris Hardy & his 4-stringed litttle friend MAD Studios - Will McCranie & Friends Mellow Mushroom (Downtown and Evans) - Live and Local Rose Hill Estate - Preston Weston & Sandra Somewhere in Augusta - Chris & Chris Duo The Willcox - Four Cats in a Doghouse Wild Wing - Jungle Road

Augusta ex-pat and New York City resident Will McCranie presents A Very Very Merry Griswold Family Christmas Party Thursday, December 27, at 7 p.m. at MAD Studios, 307.5 11th Street downtown. $7, advance; $10, eve of show. Visit madstudiosaugusta.com.

What’s Tonight?

Casa Blanca - Thursday Tango Club Argos - Karaoke Cocktails Lounge - Karaoke Fishbowl Lounge - Karaoke Fox’s Lair - Trivia, Soup and Suds Helga’s Pub & Grille - Trivia The Highlander - Butt Naked Trivia The Loft - Karaoke Malibu Jack’s - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Downtown) - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Evans) - Karaoke The Playground - Open Mic with Brandy Shannon’s - Karaoke Somewhere in Augusta - Country Line Villa Europa - Karaoke Wooden Barrel - ’80s Night Karaoke

December 28 28Friday, Live Music

100 Laurens - Jeff Johnston Country Club - Gary Ray Coyote’s - Dave Firmin, Rhes Reeves & the Coyote Band Doubletree - Classic Jazz The First Round - Cameras, Guns & Radios French Market Grille West - Doc Easton Joe’s Underground - Mama Says PI Bar & Grill - Jazz Duo Polo Tavern - JAR Shannon’s - Perfect Picture Band Sky City - Wycliffe Gordon’s Funky Tribute to James Brown Somewhere in Augusta - Sibling String Surreal at Surrey - Dave Matthews Tribute Band Surrey Tavern - Playback The Band Wild Wing - Roshambeaux

What’s Tonight?

Cocktails Lounge - Grown-Up Fridays with DJ Cork and Bull Pub - Karaoke Eagle’s Nest - Free Salsa Lessons; Latin Dance Party 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 Rebeck’s Hideaway - Open Mic Roadrunner Cafe - Karaoke with Steve Chappel Soul Bar - Disco Hell Wooden Barrel - Karaoke Contest 32 METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

December 29 29Saturday, Live Music

The Acoustic Coffeehouse - Open Acoustic Jam Session with Eryn Eubanks and the Family Fold Country Club - Black Jack Billy Coyote’s - Dave Firmin, Rhes Reeves & the Coyote Band Joe’s Underground - John Kolbeck P.I. Bar and Grill - Not Gaddy Jazz with Pam Bowman Polo Tavern - Kenny George Band Somewhere In Augusta - Daniel Johnson Band Surrey Tavern - Playback The Band Wild Wing - Mad Margritt

What’s Tonight?

Club Argos - Variety Show Cocktails Lounge - Latin Night Fishbowl Lounge - Karaoke Fox’s Lair - Karaoke with Beth Helga’s Pub & Grille - Trivia The Loft - DJ Richie Rich Mi Rancho (Downtown) - Karaoke with Rockin Rob Mi Rancho (Clearwater) - Karaoke with Danny Haywood Mi Rancho (Washington Road) - Karaoke Ms. Carolyn’s - Karaoke Robbie’s - Saturday Night Dance Party Soul Bar - DJ Matto Wooden Barrel - Kamikaze Karaoke

December 30 30Sunday, Live Music

5 O’Clock Bistro - Buzz and Candice (brunch) Cotton Patch - Keith Gregory (brunch) Malibu Jack’s - Playback The Band w/ Tutu Dy’Vine Patridge Inn - Sunday Evening Jazz w/ the Not Gaddy Jazz Trio The Willcox - Jon Vaughn (brunch; Preston & Weston, night) Wild Wing - Acosta

What’s Tonight?

Malibu Jack’s - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Downtown) - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Washington Road) - Karaoke, Salsa Dancing Shannon’s - Karaoke with Peggy Gardner

December 31 31Monday, Live Music

Country Club - John Karl Shannon’s - Open Mic Night Wild Wing - New Year’s Eve Party w/ Michael Patterson Band

What’s Tonight?

Applebee’s (Evans) - Trivia Club Argos - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Downtown) - Trivia with Mike Thomas Sky City - ‘90s Night Party Somewhere In Augusta - Poker Tournaments Soul Bar - New Year’s Eve Party

January 1 01Tuesday, Live Music Fox’s Lair - John Fisher/Irish The Highlander - Open Mic Night Joe’s Underground - Happy Bones The Willcox - Piano jazz

What’s Tonight?

Club Argos - Karaoke Fishbowl Lounge - Dart League Laura’s Backyard Tavern - Karaoke w/ David Doane Limelight Cafe - Bottom’s Up Karaoke Malibu Jack’s - DJ Ray Thompkins Mellow Mushroom (Downtown and Evans) - Trivia The Playground - Truly Twisted Trivia with Big Troy Polo Tavern - Karaoke Shannon’s - Karaoke with Mike Johnson Somewhere In Augusta - Big Prize Trivia

January 2 02Wednesday, What’s Tonight?

Club Argos - Santoni’s Satin Dolls 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 Midtown Lounge - Karaoke w/ Charles O’Byrne Mi Rancho (Downtown) - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Washington Road) - Karaoke with Rockin’ Rob The Playground - Krazy Karaoke with Big Troy Polo Tavern - Karaoke w/ Tom Mitchell Somewhere in Augusta - Comedy Zone

Surrey Tavern - Trivia with Christian and Mickey

Upcoming

Brent Lundy - 100 Laurens January 4 Richie Scholl - Country Club January 4 Bobby Ray Biddle Band - Polo Tavern January 4 Phil Vaught - Country Club January 5 Outer Banks Band - Polo Tavern January 5 My Instant Lunch Reunion Show - Sky City January 5 Keith Gregory - 100 Laurens January 11 The Welfare Liners - Stillwater Taproom January 11 Sam Bush - Imperial Theatre January 18 Camper Van Beethoven - Sky City January 23 Paleface - Stillwater Taproom January 25 Jeff Mangum, Tall Firs - Sacred Heart Cultural Center January 28 Ronnie Milsap - Bell Auditorium February 14 Mike Farris & the Roseland Rhythm Revue Imperial Theatre February 15 The Corduroy Road, Have Gun Will Travel Stillwater Taproom February 15 Fishbone - Sky City February 18 That 1 Guy - Sky City February 25 Classical Mystery Tour - Bell Auditorium March 8 Little Tybee CD Release Show w/ Colorfeels - Sky City March 8

Elsewhere

Under the Lamp Post - Symphony Hall Atlanta, Atlanta December 28 Perpetual Groove - Cox Capital Theatre, Macon December 29 Brinley Addington - Saddle Bags, Savannah December 29 CHET - Saddle Bags, Savannah December 30 New Orleans Suspects - Smiths Olde Bar, Atlanta December 31 Michelle Malone - Eddies Attic, Atlanta December 31 Little Big Town, Drake White - Wild Bills, Duluth December 31 Andrew James - The Islander, Savannah December 31 Brandon Faulkner, Mad Margritt - Wild Wing, Savannah December 31 My kingdon Red, Cailee Elise Stein, Hollowed Out, Old News, Run for Cover, Within the Shadow - Taco Abajo, Savannah December 31 Eric Culberson Band - Screamin MiMi’s Pizza & Subs, Savannah January 5 27DECEMBER2012

V23|NO51

My Best Of

You won’t want to hit next while listening to any of these

To cap off each year, I take time out to look at my music collection from the past 12 months and realize that I haven’t listened to as much new music as I should have.

Sure, you hear the singles each week, but what are the albums that you pulled out and didn’t put down, an album where you didn’t hit the “next” button, an album that you put in the CD player, or loaded up on iTunes, and actually just sat back and listened to?

For me, there weren’t many of those albums in my library. I think this is actually one of the main reasons that some artists don’t have to try as hard. As long as there are two good songs and at least one radio hit, let’s print those babies and head out on tour (i.e. Ke$ha). Luckily there are some that sit down and try to put together something that you would love as a whole.

So here is my list for best albums of the year. Let me make sure you read that right: My list for best albums of the year. Not critically acclaimed albums, not Rolling Stones’ top 100, just music I like and would recommend. These are the top four albums that I loved and would put in right now and not hit “next.”

First on my list has to be the return of one of my favorite bands of all time, Soundgarden. In all honesty, I’m not exactly sure how good “King Animal” is, but it’s just damn good to have Soundgarden back. It only took 16 years. You probably caught Chris Cornell’s solo albums or his time in Audioslave, but every time I heard something from him, my only thoughts were, “well that’s not Soundgarden.” I will have to say the luckiest guy in the band has to be drummer Matt Cameron. Matt’s been spending the last 16 years with another little band from Seattle called Pearl Jam. Pick up Soundgarden’s “King Animal” and remember what the ’90s were like.

Next on the list is a band that’s now one of the biggest and best live acts out today.

I’m referring to Muse, and their sixth album, “The 2nd Law.” The band is definitely fans of concept albums and it’s blatantly obvious with “The 2nd Law.” Hell, Muse even uses dubstep on this album and I like it; that’s a tough sell. Some of the best tracks on the album, “Save Me” and “Liquid State,” are sung by the bass player Chris Wolsternholme, not the lead singer Matt Bellamy. Muse is touring next year and, unfortunately, the only dates in the southeast are in Florida. Muse is comparing this tour to Pink Floyd’s The Wall. Should be over the top.

Coming in as my second favorite album of 2012 was Jack White’s first official solo album “Blunderbuss.” Even though I consider all of the White Stripes’ albums “Jack White solo albums,” this is the first official release. For me, Jack White is the best musician out today. I think he’s an amazing guitar player with no fear. It’s not that he’s the best guitar player; it’s that he’s doing things with a guitar that is completely unconventional. While on a road trip, I was able to stop

by Jack’s Third Man Records store in Nashville. It’s very cool to see a guy still making vinyl (Google that, kids). “Sixteen Saltines,” track two on “Blunderbuss,” would be my No. 1 song of 2012.

Now the coveted No. 1 spot has to go to the band I’ve talked about most this year. Coming off of six Grammy nominations, I’m talking about The Black Keys and “El Camino.” From start to finish, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney kick ass.

Sometimes there is just no better way to explain it. These guys are at the top of their game and are already working on a new record for 2013. Not much more I need to say about the Black Keys that I haven’t said over the past 12 months, besides buy this record!

What albums were in your top four? Who do you want to see in Augusta in 2013? How has Ke$ha hurt you? Email me at matt@ themetrospirit.com.

MATTSTONE can be heard weekdays from 2-6 p.m. on 95 Rock.

27DECEMBER2012

AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT 33

V23|NO51

SAMEIFLING

“The Guilt Trip”

A film moms will enjoy much more than the kids will

THE

There’s a reason why audiences rarely receive mother-son comedies with much gusto: Most of them rely on tension around control — all family stories do, to an extent — and most sons don’t like to return to the time (that is, childhood) when their moms ran things. Watching a grown man ward off guff from his mother, as Seth Rogen does in “The Guilt Trip,” an affable if largely unfunny comedy, crumples the viewer’s masculinity into something the cat could choke down in two bites. It’s emasculation by proxy, even if by the film’s end you wind up somewhere worthwhile.

Vaguely we want to like this son, and vaguely we see that, at heart, maybe he’s not really a condescending snot. But he’s that in spades during the first two thirds of “The Guilt Trip,” as he forces himself to adopt a front of politesse against his mother, Joyce, a doting (Jewish? It’s never made explicit) mother from New Jersey. Barbara Streisand plays Joyce, in her first movie without the word “Fockers” in the title since 1996. She’s strong and funny enough here to make 16 slow years seem like comedy’s loss.

Andy is a chemist who’s visiting big retailers to pitch a clunktasically named cleaning product he invented. His pitch is awkward, too stubbornly technical and he’s down to his last few hundred bucks when he arrives in New Jersey to see his mom, a widow in a permanent romantic funk. She’s loud, attention-hungry; only her obvious good intentions rescue her from the brink of obnoxiousness. Joyce blames herself for Andy’s lack of romantic success and confides in him that she once had a love, before Andy’s dad, with whom she lost touch. Andy does a bit of Googling on the sly, locates the fellow in California, and proposes to Joyce that she come along on his cross-country sales trip, which he says now includes a meeting in San Francisco.

So here is your odd couple, overbearing mother and reluctant son, stuffed in a rental compact for the width of the United States. Joyce eats M&Ms loudly in bed and insists on listening to “Middlesex” in the car; Andy, riding a string of rejections, gets increasingly condescending and fussy. And it’s in this first long stretch (approximately Jersey to Texas) that we come to quite dislike sitting in the

EIGHT

27DECEMBER2012

car with these folks. She is endlessly talkative and cannot ask a question without also foisting advice upon him, while he is so frustrated at being treated like a child that he begins acting like one.

Say this for “The Guilt Trip,” at least: It’s incisive. Releasing it this time of year was an act of holiday daring. Look around, if you go, and try to notice parents and grown children writhing for the first hour. Then picture them staring ahead in silence once they get onto the highway themselves.

Once an event in Texas forces the mom and son to clear the air, and begin talking to each other with honesty and kindness — well, that’s when this comedy actually starts to get funny, and even heartfelt. Director Anne Fletcher (“The Proposal”) seems to drop the reins a bit and let her stars riff. A theory: Rogen and Streisand really do like one another, and have some chemistry on-screen, but having to play enemies really didn’t suit them. (He should’ve just listened to his mother the whole time!) The bet here is that mothers will enjoy “The Guilt Trip” more than their kids, but then, that’s usually the case.

AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT 35

DECEMBER 28

V23|NO51

DRAMA

“Django Unchained,” rated R, starring Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson. In this spaghetti western from director Quentin Tarantino, a former slave (Foxx) and his bounty hunter-mentor (Waltz, who received an Oscar win for his supporting role for Tarantino’s “Inglorious Basterds”) set off to find Django’s wife, who is still a slave owned by the evil Calvin Candie (DiCaprio). This being Tarantino, look for lots of bloodshed and a great soundtrack. Also, the “D” in Django is silent.

“Promised Land,” rated R, starring Matt Damon, Frances McDormand, John Krasinski. We were going to say that this environmental drama looks awfully earnest for director Gus Van Sant, but then we remembered that he was the one who directed Damon in “Good Will Hunting,” so there does seem to be some precedent. Guess maybe he used up all his quirky charm.

MUSICAL

“Les Miserables,” rated PG-13, starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen. In theaters December 25 is this adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel and the famous Broadway musical it spawned.

COMEDY

“Parental Guidance,” rated PG, starring Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, Marisa Tomei, Tom Everett Scott. It’s unfortunate for this movie that it comes on the heels of the surely much hipper “This Is 40.” And yes, Crystal and Midler are now cast as grandparents, which is a sad day for us all.

WERECOMMEND “The Descendants”

In 2011, both the LAFCA (Los Angeles Film Critics Association) and the AFI (American Film Institute) gave the award for best picture to “The Descendants,” while the Academy Awards gave this comedy-drama and George Clooney nods with nominations in their categories for Best Film and Best Actor for 2012.

George Clooney stars as Matt King, who is thrown into sole guardianship of his two daughters, 10 and 17, after his wife has a boating accident and is in a coma. King is clearly a fish out of water in this department — he’s nearly a stranger to his own family. They must all pull together as he decides whether or not to sell his family’s ancestral lands and learns that his wife had been having an affair. Relationship rebuilding and repair are in order as 17-year-old Alexandra learns to reconnect with her father. The tragedy brings them closer together and puts them on the same team. At the same time, King has to convince himself that he’s moving forward for the right reasons. The decay in the Kings’ relationship runs tandem to the lack of concern for heritage across Hawaii, as money from development becomes the priority over ancestral land.

The comedy part of this comedy-drama comes largely from King’s relationship with 10-year-old Scottie, who’s very feisty. Matt King builds his own new team with his daughters, saves his heritage and reorganizes his priorities.

27DECEMBER2012

AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT 37

LINE

Eric Johnson has been knocking them out of the (Greenjackets’) ballpark lately. He’s a true Sentinel for the citizens of Augusta and Columbia counties. His work should spark a new phrase. Instead of “You’ve been lawyered,” or “He’s legend-wait-for-it-dary,” people should have a way to communicate, short-hand, that something big has been unleashed. How about “That is so ‘on your Johnson.’” Or “Wow, that was a ‘HUGE Johnson.” To some extent, it already exists, at least according to Urban Dictionary: “A ‘Johnson’ is a term used to describe someone who can be trusted.

The term originated in the 19th century among bums and thieves.” I think we can safely say there’s a real Johnson at the Metro Spirit.

There, I did it! I firmly put everyone off of any gift list, told them I’m giving them nothing by purchase and only the wish of Happy Holidays. There is a peace knowing that I arranged not to get into debt for things this year.

RCBOE forgot to add magnet to new Hains Elementary School sign

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.

up

THUMBS

WHINE

V23|NO51

We’re still here!

down

Which means we’re going to have to listen to a lot more talk about the fiscal cliff.

Damn you, Mayans!

The Sentinel story by Eric Johnson was excellent. Way to expose the mess that probation has become, a virtual debtor’s hole that makes it almost impossible for violators to climb out of. Looking forward to your expose on the Imperial Theatre. Stay on them, Johnson!

If you agree that we all love the Imperial Theatre, then why are you going out of your way to undermine their current capital campaign? There are totally new, very experienced, highly educated staff there with excellent track records who have made major life sacrifices to dedicate their lives to fixing this theatre. If you really had inside information, you would know that. I’m sure they would be happy to see the money returned and would put it too good use. This doesn’t show support for the Imperial, it communicates that you would rather see the place bull dozed. Your lack of pride in Augusta is disgusting.

AVIATION MAINTENANCE GIVE YOUR CAREER

LIFT!

New Program! Aviation Maintenance Technology

ǣ Ȁ ϐ ȁ ͵ͺͺ ȁ ǡ ͵ͲͺʹͶ ȁ͹Ͳ͸ǤͷͻͷǤͲͳ͸͸

Classes start soon!

A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia

38 METROSPIRITAUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

Equal Opportunity Institution

27DECEMBER2012