Table of Contents October 6, 2016
Whine Line Augusta Tek Ruffin It Kris Fisher
4 6 8 10
Insider 12 Feature 16 Metroweek What’s Up Calendar Nightlife Sightings The Eight Austin Rhodes
23 25 26 32 34 36 38
TURNED UPSIDE DOWN
16
EDIT
CREATIVE
Amy Christian
Joshua Bailey
Joe White
amy@themetrospirit.com
joshua@themetrospirit.com
joe@themetrospirit.com 706-373-3636
Stacey Eidson
COVER DESIGN: Kruhu
Arts Editor/Production Director
Lead Designer
Staff Writer
stacey@themetrospirit.com
Molly Swift Staff Writer
molly@themetrospirit.com
Contributors Jenny Wright, Greg Baker, Austin Rhodes, Josh Ruffin, Kris Fisher, Michael Johnson, Tyler Strong
SALES Jim Christian Account Executive
jim@themetrospirit.com 706-414-4059
Paige Wilhelm Account Executive
paige@themetrospirit.com 706-833-1904
BUSINESS Publisher
Johnny Beckworth circulation manager
johnny@themetrospirit.com
Metro Spirit is a free newspaper published weekly on Thursday, 52 weeks a year. Editorial coverage includes local issues and news, arts, entertainment, people, places and events. In our paper appear views from across the political and social spectrum. The views do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Visit us at metrospirit.com.Š 15 House, LLC. Owner/Publisher: Joe White. Legal: Phillip Scott Hibbard. Reproduction or use without permission is prohibited. One copy per person, please.
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OPINION
Augusta Tek: 6 | Ruffin It: 8 | Kris Fisher: 10
The Whine Line Maybe if some of you Trump Republicans would pay your taxes Col. Co could fix a little bridge sometime in the next couple of years! Why not build the new sports arena on the Paine College campus?
Just wondering why DSS would question the culture of the Irish Travelers, but not that of the thousands of Muslims being brought into this country who have the same customs. Rant to the mail carrier(female) who delivers mail to OakLake and Oaklake West Subdivision. You have lied for years about mailboxes being blocked. Many residents have complained about not getting their mail, at the post office, to deaf ears. What happened to service? Deliver mail, storm, sleet or snow; maybe, but in these neighborhoods if a vehicle is 12 ft from your mailbox, forget it!! I love Arts in the Heart but I wish we had something that awesome more than once a year! Where does all the money the Arts Council gets go? They make a ton on Arts in the Heart plus they get grants and there are lots of other fundraisers that benefit the Arts Council I would just like to know where it all goes it seems like they could do more than one event with all that money. Austin Rhodes is racially biased and should not be a contributor to an “independent voice.” I’ve read many articles that obtain not even an ounce of journalistic integrity. His ignorant stereotypes are deafening. Build the new arena in the riverwatch area near Costco then you will have easy access from the Interstate and folks don’t have to fear going downtown at night, which should increase attendance.
Donald, I may be fat but you’re ugly. I can lose weight but you can’t lose ugly. I see Vogtle 3 & 4 are in trouble for not paying employees. This just happened to all their security like two years ago and they got slapped on the hand and back at it. Now I hear their security is being given a hard time trying to unionize like everyone else out there. Dig deeper you’ll find out lots.
How many articles have to be written regarding the extinct Regency Mall? The excuses for leaders in Richmond County should exercise the eminent domain rule, confiscate it, tear down the eyesore and utilize the land to build something useful on the site. Why is Richmond County’s government allowing some out of town owner to hold it hostage? Tear it down already! Trump is crafty. When the press (Newsweek & Washington Post) publishes exposes on his illegal dealings with Cuba in the 1990’s and the monkey business with his “charity” he gets the public to ignore it by tweeting inflammatory drivel in the wee hours of the morning. Con artist extraordinaire! We should not fall for his ploys but instead really question his taxes, not honoring Federal Law by ignoring the Cuba Embargo, or the issues with his Foundation. He either did break laws here, or is incapable of managing his employees so that the laws are followed. Either scenario is disastrous for the leader of the free world.
They can’t fire high school coaches like they can in college and the NFL right? Because 48-0 was sad, Augusta Christian. Let me guess it’s another building year. We had 2005 but that’s it. Before I start let me say that I love this town...I have been a spectator and a participant in the Ironman, most recently a spectator. I was embarrassed that we could not empty the trash along the street...it was overflowing. How hard is that???? Also, to the Richmond County police officer sitting in his car at the corner of Reynolds and Ninth...really? You couldn’t even get out of your air conditioned car to help us turn left onto Reynolds? Thanks for your wisdom (make sure you give the runners the right-of-way...duh) before you wound up your window. Guy who key scratched my car for “blocking you in”, Please tell your friends to park elsewhere in the correct parking, not in my handicap spots which by the way I became handicapped because of having to clean up after you’re disgusting cigs/ nicotine filters, dirty diapers, throwing you beer cans down storm drains into our beautiful river, exposed to downtown asbestos and other harmful oldbuilding materials so you could even have that concrete slab club......that you just walked from to scratch my car.
WHINELINE@THEMETROSPIRIT.COM Have something you want to get off your chest? Send your whines to whineline@themetrospirit.com. The Metro Spirit reserves the right to edit submitted whines for content, but we will otherwise print them pretty much exactly as you type them… spelling errors and all. 4 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
6OCTOBER2016
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Call In The Backup
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AH, BACKUPS! Everywhere I turn, some system is needing, wanting or performing a backup. Some systems take them once an hour. Other systems are needier — they want a backup every 15 minutes. Others require less — once a day will do them just fine. But no matter how you slice it, my life is consumed with backups. To be honest, why wouldn’t it be? Our data and intellectual property is the most valuable asset of any individual or organization. Our data is the tangible result of our continuing efforts to learn, grow and prosper. It’s the embodiment of everyone we know and love. Our data contains a lifetime of memories. A commonly underestimated asset, the value of our data is not truly known until it is lost. Yes, it’s probably worth investing our time and our money to ensure that our data is safe and secure. So what makes a good backup program? I’ve written about them before, but the 3-2-1s of backups are worth repeating. 3 — Different copies of backup data (not including the original) 2 — Different media types (e.g. disk and tape) 1 — Offsite location
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While these rules may seem overkill to some, I attest that this is the minimum level of desired protection. The entire purpose of a backup is to provide protection in the unlikely event of a failure or attack. Hold on… did I say “unlikely?” That just seems to give the wrong impression. In reality, something will happen. You just don’t know what. Or when. It is best to be prepared. A few misconceptions exist regarding backups and the different techniques used to perform backups. A good backup system needs a solid architecture. A poor design or the misuse of different backup techniques can lead to a world of hurt. For example, let’s talk about replication for a minute. Replication is simply the automatic copying of data from one storage system to another. Two copies of the data. That’s twice as good, right? Not so fast. What happens if your data become corrupted, for example, by something like cryptolocker? The replication system will dutifully copy that corrupt data to secondary storage. Now, you have two copies of completely useless data. Remember — replication is not a backup. Folks also tend to abuse the use of snapshots. Snapshots are a feature of storage systems that create system checkpoints in case a quick recovery is needed. For example, you might want to take a snapshot before performing an upgrade just in case something goes wrong. Some folks get snapshot happy. Snapshots are intended to be temporary checkpoints never lasting more than a day or so. Using snapshots to maintain six months of rollbacks is going eat up your storage. And it’s probably going to lead to data corruption issues. Finally, we have to talk about tapes. Many believe that current technology has left tape behind. But don’t scoff at the almighty tape. The price per terabyte is still significantly less than disk. More importantly, while disk arrays must remain always online, tapes can be taken offline and transported to another location. When it comes to protecting data, air gaps provide an awesome defense. So if you ever find yourself frustrated that your IT life is consumed with backups, don’t fret. It’s a significant and extremely important part of our profession. No, it’s not as sexy as software development, virtualization or any of the other buzz-worthy specialties. But if you’re responsible for somebody’s IT, it’s the one system that can never fail. @gregory_a_baker
GREGORY BAKER PH.D.
is vice president of CMA Technology and, yes, is actually a rocket scientist who used his doctorate in aerospace engineering at Lockheed Martin. In addition to working at CMA, he also serves the community, sitting on several boards in the area.
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Fear the Pence WITH A LITTLE OVER A MONTH TO GO, we’re mercifully entering the home stretch of an election season that could be considered farcical if it didn’t potentially portend the actual, Biblical apocalypse. And while it’s clear that most of America doesn’t want Donald Trump to be president, a bafflingly similar number of Americans don’t want Hillary Clinton to be president; they’re going to vote for her anyway, I think, because, despite the moaning, groaning and truly legitimate gripes they may have about Clinton and the way the Democratic Party seemed to favor her throughout the primary process, the idea of an honest-to-God white nationalist rising to the highest office in the land scares them stupidly straight. By the time this goes to press, the vice presidential debate between Tim Kaine and Mike Pence will be over, most of the think pieces and spin room flotsam will have been released, and Donald Trump will probably have alienated the remainder of his supporters by calling Hitler fat. But it got me thinking about how this election could have turned out differently and, in some ways, so much worse. I don’t mean the election season, per se; I sincerely hope that, now that we as a nation have — though a depressingly large minority — chosen to coddle and court an unhinged, unqualified demagogue, we have nowhere to go but up, and that we will indeed begin the long, slow trudge to higher ground instead of digging ourselves straight to hell. No, I mean the results. For whatever reason, the country that elected Barack Obama, by fairly large margins, to two straight terms seemed primed for a rightward swing; I’m sure it had nothing to do with latent resentment at having a black man in charge. Whatever the case, Hillary Clinton, though she is literally the most qualified candidate for the presidency, comes with a metric ton of baggage, and would have been ripe for the picking by someone who knew what the hell they were doing. She may still have won, but it would have been by much narrower margins; and she may have lost. Which brings me to Mike Pence. Usually the role of the vice president, or vice presidential nominee, has been to act as a sort of attack dog surrogate to the president. The VP nominee is held under less scrutiny than the president, and so is typically able to get away with a little more. But since Trump is a sack of primordial goo with hair, teeth and an inferiority complex, he’s got no need for such a surrogate. Hence, Mike Pence has been relegated to using his well-honed political manner to try and deflect Trump’s gaffes and outbursts; it’s usually pretty ineffectual, but he’s giving it a shot. But Pence — a long-tenured politician — is almost more worrying than Donald Trump. Whereas Trump is both a horrible politician and a horrible person, Pence is a lethal combination of savvy politician and horrible person. I’m not just spitballing here, either. Here are some of Pence’s greatest hits: • During a 1990 congressional campaign, Pence used political donations to pay off his mortgage, car payments and golfing fees. The spending was not illegal at the time, but still, Pence should have known it was ethically tenuous at
8 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
best, and that it would undermine the legitimacy of his campaign. Something else that undermined his campaign? Running a television ad that parodied and racially stereotyped those of Arab descent. • In 2007, Pence began introducing legislation to defund Planned Parenthood, trying to pass a bill that would bar any organization that performed abortions from receiving Title X funding. It bears repeating here that most of Planned Parenthood’s services revolve around reproductive health and cancer screenings for those hovering around the poverty line, but those lives don’t matter to a monster like Pence. • In 2009, he opposed birthright citizenship, a law set in place by the 14th Amendment way back in 1868 that guaranteed citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States. Essentially, Pence’s bill would demote many American-born minorities to second-class citizens. • He opposed the raising of the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour back in 2009, stating that it would “hurt the working poor.” I’ve got nothing funny to say in response to this, because it’s completely hateful and stupid. • Pence also believes that global warming is a myth, that the theory of intelligent design is the only logical explanation for existence, and has voted against regulating tobacco products, even though Indiana has one of the worst smoking problems of any state, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He has opposed sex education, advocating instead for the proven-to-be-ineffectual abstinence education, and opposes all forms and representations of homosexuality, including the practice itself, lawful marriage and civil unions. Despite all of this — or, rather, perhaps because of the combination of all of this and his being a generally polite dude to his GOP colleagues — Pence is a muchrespected politician within party circles. So while we’re all wringing our hands over Donald Trump, keep this in mind: if Trump is elected, Pence would likely be the one truly running the show while Trump’s army of handlers spend their every waking hour keeping his phone away from him.
JOSH RUFFIN is a long way from home, having moved from Augusta to Middleton, Wisconsin, with his wife, Michelle. He is a selfdescribed beer guru, so most of his Twitter posts are about what he’s drinking. While drinking, he enjoys writing poetry and watching MMA fights or writing poetry about MMA fights.
6OCTOBER2016
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Any Given Every Day I HAVE ALREADY SEEN more football this season than most people will see all season. Aside from the Falcons and the ‘Dawgs, I have two kids playing football at different levels. No. 2 is playing high school ball. He’s a freshman that dresses for both JV and Varsity, which means he’s got two games every week. Of course I know that he’s very unlikely to get any snaps at quarterback in a varsity game. But I also know that the one game I don’t go to, by some strange turn of events, that will be the game that my oldest son gets put into the game. So, I go to every game. Well, I try. To add to the football madness, No. 4 has started his season with his 8-year-old recreation department league. By a cruel twist of fate, his team is called “the Gators.” Yuck. But, he has a few friends on the team and he’s really enjoying his role on the team. So I tolerate the team name. But I refuse to wear anything with that God-awful logo on it. I’m sure the coach gets a kick out of making this life-long Gator hater cheer for the Gators twice a week. I know I would love every second of it if the tables were turned. So, if you’re keeping count, that’s four games per week. I’ve noticed a number of things with all my football spectating this season. The first being: The sun is always in my eyes. No matter if my kid is on the home or away team, our team is always on the side of the stadium facing the sun. It’s like I’m being interrogated by God. Meanwhile, the other team’s fans are sitting comfortable in the shade, free and clear of any direct UV ray to cornea penetration. Another thing I’ve noticed is that smaller towns don’t like to have their stadiums near the high school. I’m only mildly experienced here, having only visited Lincoln County and Thomson High School. So, I guess it could just be a coincidence. However, in neither case was their any sign at the high school notifying visiting parents that their stadium is completely across town. That could be something to look into. I did learn that Thomson’s stadium, “The Brickyard,” was built from bricks from the high school that burned down. It’s a beautiful stadium. These people take their football very seriously. It’s worth noting that I had the sun in my eyes the whole game. Which leads me to my final observation (for now): Some people take this football a little too seriously. Blasphemy, I know. I’m a big fan and all but some people seem to have trouble remembering that these are kids. Last week, I saw a guy heckling a kid that was laying hurt on the field. Let me repeat: A kid was laying hurt on the field and a grown-ass man was yelling insults from the stands. Dude, really? It’s a JV game. A ninth grader JV game at that. I also saw, on two separate occasions, a visiting coach take a time-out near the end of a game their team was winning when they had the ball. I’ve seen this done in college games to prolong the sting of a loss. I thought it was quite the classy move. (Note: That last line should be read with heavy sarcasm.) Despite all my judgmental observations, I really enjoy watching my boys play ball, even more than I like the teams that I grew up watching. A few more years of this and I’ll no doubt have no trouble finding each and every stadium. And who knows, maybe I’ll be the guy yelling inappropriate things at the hurt kids on the field.
KRIS FISHER,Kris Fisher is the midday host and program director for HD98.3 and an Augusta radio staple. He is a husband, father of three and lover of all things adventurous, as well as activities most people would have outgrown years ago. djkfish.com.
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NEWS
Turned Upside Down: 16
The Disbarment of Chris Nicholson FOR MANY LAWYERS IN AUGUSTA, the question was never if local attorney Chris Nicholson was going to be disbarred. It was more just a matter of when. Finally, the other shoe has dropped. This week, the Georgia Supreme Court justices unanimously concurred that Chris Nicholson should be disbarred and no longer be allowed to practice law in Georgia. “Considering the nature of Nicholson’s misconduct, his prior disciplinary history, the absence of remorse, his indifference to restitution, and his repeated and contemptuous efforts to obstruct the disciplinary process, we conclude that the appropriate sanction in this case is disbarment,” the justices wrote in an opinion released on Monday, Oct. 3. One of the scariest aspects of this entire situation was Nicholson actually campaigned to unseat Superior Court Judge Carl Brown Jr. this year. Even scarier is the fact that Nicholson actually received 4,038 votes in the May election. That was only 16 percent of the votes cast, but that’s still quite a few votes considering he was facing possible disbarment during the election. One of judges’ main criticisms of Nicholson was his “outrageous conduct throughout the disciplinary process” and his treatment of the special master overseeing his hearing regarding a grievance filed against him with the State Bar of Georgia by Superior Court Judge David Roper. Even prior to the hearing before part-time judge Jo Carol Nesset-Sale last September, Chris Nicholson exchanged a number of disrespectful e-mails with the special master and counsel for the State Bar. The judges specifically outlined their concerns about Nicholson’s behavior. “Among other things, Nicholson referred to his disciplinary proceeding as ‘a Star Chamber proceeding,’ claimed to ‘know [that the] fix is in,’ referred to the special master as the ‘High Executioner,’ and accused the special master of ‘making up the law and rules as you go to preclude me from having a fair and impartial hearing,’” the court stated. “Nicholson asked the special master if she had ‘any more homemade rules for me,’ adding that ‘[t]his hearing should be a blast.’” Nicholson went on to “variously questioned the qualifications and impartiality of the special master, alleging that the special master and State Bar counsel were ‘joined at [t]he hip,’ accusing the special master of ruling against him without reading his filings, and writing to the special master: ‘U r hopeless.’” All of this occurred even before Nicholson began his disciplinary hearing. “In a few e-mails, Nicholson revealed his failure to appreciate the seriousness of the proceeding and the gravity of the violations with which he was charged, referring to the proceeding as ‘nonsense,’ stating that ‘[the] whole proceeding is about nothing,’ and sarcastically suggesting that the hearing be held at the Varsity restaurant in Athens,” the judges wrote. “He accused the special master and State 12 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Bar counsel of lacking ‘professional courtesy [and] common decency.’ He questioned why the State Bar was working with a ‘rogue judge’ in his home circuit, and he claimed that the special master had improper ex parte communications with another judge in his home circuit. He disrespectfully referred
to the special master as ‘Ms. Hyphenated,’ and he claimed that the special master wanted only ‘to show me who has [the] biggest member in the group.’” What was Nicholson thinking? “In one e-mail, he inquired whether the special master ever had been married, noting that he wanted to know the name of her husband so as to ‘get him [the] Congressional Medal of Honor and/or sainthood,’ and adding that ‘[y]ou are one mean[-]spirited and arbitrary woman. You are one of many that are that way,’” the judges wrote. On the day of Nicholson’s hearing, it is clear that tensions ran extremely high, particularly in the first hour of the proceedings. It got so bad that Nesset-Sale had to warn Nicholson about badgering her during the hearing. She told Nicholson that she would have him removed from the hearing if he didn’t calm down. “I think you need to have a time out until you can come back and allow this matter to proceed orderly,” Nesset-Sale told Nicholson. “Can you sit down? Because I will have the bailiff remove you if you cannot conduct yourself with dignity.” “It won’t be the first time,” Nicholson quipped. Jonathan Hewett, an attorney representing the State Bar of Georgia, even addressed the court about Nicholson’s behavior during the hearing.
“I have witnessed in the past 30 minutes the most extraordinary series of outbursts by the Respondent (Nicholson), and I don’t think that it helps his case one bit. So I can sit back and relish him arguing with you, making snide remarks to you or to me or to the witness, and it would build my case,” Hewett said. “But I think it’s improper in any courtroom, and least of all in a courtroom where he stands accused of disciplinary violations… I just think it’s a travesty if he’s allowed to continue.” Nesset-Sale gave Nicholson one final warning to take the hearing more seriously. “There’s a variety of recommendations at stake, including disbarment,” she said. “I know this is a serious matter. I know you have strong feelings. But you are presenting yourself in a way today as a person who is unable to appropriately practice law. That’s how you are presenting yourself.” It was only after some his colleagues began speaking on his behalf did Nicholson’s mood begin to change. Just when it finally appeared the hearing was turning around for Nicholson, he surprised Nesset-Sale by saying that he was not going to testify on his own behalf and he was going to leave the hearing. “I don’t want to listen to you another 10 minutes, I assure you,” Nicholson told Nesset-Sale, as he packed up his belongings and headed out of the courtroom. Considering Nicholson’s initial hostility during the hearing, Nesset-Sale said she was troubled by Nicholson’s behavior. “We had several bailiffs in the courtroom who stood near him, and he seemed to be unable and unwilling to conform his behavior this morning to the minimum requirement of a professional in the practice of law,” she stated. “He was extraordinarily rude, disrespectful to me as I tried to preside in a humane way over this.” Following the hearing, the Georgia Supreme Court judges stated that Nicholson offered “nothing of substance” in his brief to the court. “He identifies no legal error by the special master, he points to no deficiency in the evidence, and he comes forward with no theory of mitigation,” the opinion stated. “He shows no remorse, and he expressly disavows any mental illness. Instead, consistent with his conduct throughout this disciplinary proceeding, he attempts to minimize the wrongfulness of his signing a false affidavit, he questions the qualifications and integrity of various judges in his home circuit, he refers to State Bar counsel as a ‘dishonest devil,’ he speaks of a ‘hatchet job’ undertaken by ‘[t]his lady special master,’ and he compares the disciplinary process to the infamous McCarthy hearings, as well as proceedings in ‘Nazi Germany and other Communist countries.’” In addition, he told the judges that he “has too many cases pending to be suspended.” Needless to say, Nicholson was wrong. He’s not only suspended, but now he finds himself disbarred. 6OCTOBER2016
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O Brother, Where Art Thou’s Brain? SO, reigning Masters champion Danny Willett had the unpleasant task this past week of having to apologize for an article written by his brother prior to the Ryder Cup, where his brother basically trashed American golf fans. And, let’s be honest, “trashed” is actually putting it mildly considering what Danny Willett’s brother, Pete, wrote in his piece in the National Club Golfer. Just in case you missed it, here are some of the highlights from Pete Willett’s story, called “Pete Willett: I ain’t partisan, he’s my brother...”: “The Ryder Cup is my favorite event on the golfing calendar. It is three days of relentless distraction from the usual toil of planning lessons, marking work, and weeping silently,” Pete Willett wrote. “From the first tee to the final putt, it all matters. It matters so much that an uncomfortable, anti-American sentiment has started to bubble deep inside.” For him to say that it has “started to bubble deep from inside” is somewhat disingenuous. Clearly his anti-American sentiment is on full display. In his piece, Pete Willett describes several “types” of golfers such as “The Beautiful,” “The Brilliant,” “The Bland,” “The Brainless” and “The Boisterous.” But he also describes “The Bastards.” “You don’t want them to do anything; the type of student that will plan maliciously and destroy indiscriminately — the type of golfer that is a vice-captain for Team USA,” Pete Willett wrote. “Everyone is a combination of two of these categories, with one usually being prevalent. For (European Ryder Cup Captain) Darren Clarke to have the biggest influence on Friday and Saturday, he must select the most mutually beneficial partnerships from the plethora of possibilities. That is no easy task.” Pete Willett then turns his attention to golf fans and their impact on the sport. “The team that is victorious on Sunday will be able to attribute their success to three factors: the influence the captains will have on their players, the influence the players will have on each other, and the influence the crowd will have on everyone,” he wrote. “Team USA have only won five of the last 16 Ryder Cups. Four of those five victories have come on home soil. For the Americans to stand a chance of winning, they need their baying mob of imbeciles to caress their egos every step of the way.” Now, that’s insulting, but that’s nothing compared to where Pete Willett is headed. “Like one of those brainless bastards from your childhood, the one that pulled down your shorts during the school’s Christmas assembly (f**k you, Paul Jennings), they only have the courage to keg you if they’re backed up by a giggling group of reprobates,” Peter 14 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Willett wrote. “Team Europe needs to shut those groupies up. They need to silence the pudgy, basement-dwelling, irritants, stuffed on cookie dough and pissy beer, pausing between mouthfuls of hotdog so they can scream ‘Baba booey’ until their jelly faces turn red.” Wow. Don’t hold anything back, Pete. “They need to stun the angry, unwashed, Make America Great Again swarm, desperately gripping their concealed-carry compensators and belting out a mini-erection inducing ‘mashed potato,’ hoping to impress their cousin,” Peter Willett wrote. “They need to smash the obnoxious dads, with their shiny teeth, Lego man hair, medicated exwives, and resentful children. Squeezed into their cargo shorts and boating shoes, they’ll bellow ‘get in the hole’ whilst high-fiving all the other members of the Dentists’ Big Game Hunt Society.” Bam. Pete is definitely not pulling any punches. “Team Europe need to silence these cretins quickly,” Pete Willett wrote. “Whether it is the captain, the players, or the crowd, it is the influence they exert that will decide the outcome. During my 33 years as an avid sports watcher, I have never cared more about the result of a single event. I am desperate for a win. Such desperation can
lead to puerile outbursts. A more immature mind than mine might resort to petty insults or unflattering generalizations. I’m realistic enough to admit that I will struggle to resist the occasional capitalized tweet (I’ll keep the syllable count low for the sake of the dim Yanks). But it will be far more effective if it is the European players that do all the talking. Darren Clarke needs to pick his pairs carefully, they need to support each other intelligently, and the crowd needs to be dealt with swiftly.” In other words, the Europeans need to put a lid on American golf fans. “If these things happen, Europe will win, and I’ll try to support gracefully by embracing the same sense of fair-mindedness that has permeated this unbiased article,” Pete Willett wrote. “If not, the Americans will claim their second victory this century… those fat, stupid, greedy, classless, bastards.” So, what was Danny Willett’s reaction to his brother’s comments? Soon after the article was published, Danny Willett told the international media that he had spoken to his brother and was “obviously disappointed in what was said and what was written about the American fans, that obviously took me under their wing fantastically (at The Masters) back in April.” In addition, European captain Darren
Clarke stated that “it is not what Danny thinks. It is not what I think. It is not what Team Europe stands for.” However, Pete Willett didn’t back down. He insisted that his article was a tonguein-cheek rant at the U.S. golf public and later tweeted, “Sorry to any American followers... but I mean every word. COME ON.” No matter how American golf fans my feel about Pete Willett and his outlandish comments, his words shouldn’t be used to punish golfer Danny Willett. After all, we’ve all had relatives that have embarrassed us. Just ask former President Jimmy Carter about his younger brother, Billy Carter. Many will remember Billy Carter and his need to promote his own image, along with his brew, Billy Beer, while his brother was president. “I got a red neck, white socks, and Blue Ribbon beer,” Billy Carter told the press when reporters came visiting Georgia back in the 1970s. When asked about his family, Billy Carter said, “My mother went into the Peace Corps when she was 68. My one sister is a motorcycle freak, my other sister is a Holy Roller evangelist and my brother is running for president. I’m the only sane one in the family.” After being elected, President Jimmy 6OCTOBER2016
Carter had no choice but to describe Billy Carter as “something of a country philosopher,” and that “he took advantage of the chance to present the other side of the Carter family — not so serious, full of fun and laughter.” And then, of course, there is Bill Clinton’s half brother, Roger Clinton, Jr., who was allegedly given the codename “Headache” by the U.S. Secret Service because of his controversial behavior So, Americans aren’t oblivious to brothers behaving badly. It’s just a shame that such behavior would get center stage during the same week that many American golfers were mourning the loss of one of this country’s greatest golfers, “The King” Arnold Palmer. If nothing else, Pete Willett should have respected Palmer’s legacy enough not to publicize his hatred of American golf fans this past week. But, regardless of his brother’s actions, Danny Willett should not be criticized. After all, we all know that you can’t choose your family.
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With about 20 residents facing federal charges and the recent removal of five children by the South Carolina Department of Social Services from their parents’ custody, Murphy Village’s future is uncertain By Metro Spirit Staff For decades, local residents driving down Edgefield Road in North Augusta knew exactly what to expect. Less than a mile past Exit 5 off Interstate 20, motorists couldn’t help but gawk at the enormous brick mansions that suddenly line both sides of Highway 25. But these are not your average stately homes. Motorists will quickly notice that the windows to the houses are often covered with aluminum foil or butcher paper. There are new, full-sized pickup trucks in most every driveway and the front yards proudly display statues of the Virgin Mary. This is Murphy Village, the home of about 3,000 Irish Travellers in North Augusta. But Murphy Village is looking very different these days. In August, 22 people were indicted in a federal fraud case involving local Irish Travellers living in Murphy Village. The individuals were charged under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) for allegedly committing crimes of fraud including schemes to obtain life insurance benefits, food stamps and Medicaid funds and providing false information involving vehicle financing. The 45-count indictment states that several of the defendants are also accused of mail fraud, wire fraud, structuring monetary transactions to evade tax reporting requirements and interstate transportation of stolen items. If found guilty, some of these Irish Travellers could face up to 20 years in prison. The federal government has already seized about 25 vehicles, and it is currently seeking five properties all located around North Augusta’s Murphy Village.
“Because everyone in the village is related, marriages are arranged by parents when the children are still babies in an attempt to prevent first or second cousins from falling in love.” — Jon Nordheimer 16 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
While these federal charges have clearly shaken up Murphy Village, recent actions by the South Carolina Department of Social Services have truly enraged this close-knit community. Just last month, the South Carolina Department of Social Services removed six young girls, ages ranging from 6 to 13, from their parents’ custody. One of the girls have been returned to her parents, but the other five remain in state custody. The children were allegedly removed during the middle of the school day from Our Lady of Peace Catholic School by DSS. While DSS says it cannot publicly comment on the case involving the children, many local residents believe that the agency is looking into allegations that these young girls were already being groomed for the Irish Travellers’ custom of arranged marriages. Some have gone further to suggest that the state is looking into allegations of sexual abuse. The Irish Travellers insist such allegations are completely untrue. After receiving several questions from the local media regarding the children of Irish Travellers being taken into state custody, Karen Wingo, a spokeswoman with DSS, released a prepared statement defining the general procedures DSS follows in child protective services case. “After receiving a report of child abuse or neglect, (DSS) looks at all the available information and decides whether the report meets the state law’s definition of child abuse and/or neglect,” Wingo wrote. “If it does, it is forwarded to investigations so the family can be assessed. At the assessment and investigation stage, there are two ways a child can brought into the custody and care of the Department of Social Services: through law enforcement taking the child into emergency protective custody or through an ex parte order obtained by a family court.” 6OCTOBER2016
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DSS has a maximum of 60 days to complete its investigation, she stated. “Without law enforcement taking the children into emergency protective custody or a court signing an ex parte order, DSS cannot take children into care,” the statement read. “Once DSS begins an investigation, by law it must be completed within 45 days unless an exception is granted of up to 60 days.” Whatever the exact reasons for DSS’s actions, the Irish Travellers in Murphy Village, who are generally extremely reclusive, are now speaking out. While many Irish Travellers did not want to be interviewed about the case, they are desperately trying to make sure their voices are heard by posting dozens of yard signs along Highway 25 demanding that their children be returned. The red and white yard signs boldly state messages such as, “Free Our Kids,” and “Legal Kidnapping.” There are also several signs that are asking the public to “Please Help Our Kids” by calling the office of South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. Other signs read, “D.S.S. Stole Our Daughters” and “D.S.S. Out of Control.” A large group of mothers, friends and neighbors from Murphy Village held a candlelight vigil last week at St. Edward the Confessor, the Catholic church built by the Irish Travellers back in 1964 in North Augusta. St. Edward Parish is believed to be the church of more than 560 families in Murphy Village. During the vigil, the women lit candles and prayed for the girls safe return. “We beg over and over for everybody to please pray for our kids,” Mary O’Hara reportedly told the group gathered at the church last week. Now, with the looming fear of DSS possibly removing additional children from Murphy Village, several local Irish Travellers are believed to have left town. 6OCTOBER2016
More families may soon follow. Many local residents are now asking: Will these charges against the Irish Travellers be the end of Murphy Village? When a Metro Spirit reporter recently visited Murphy Village, several of the residents did not wish to be quoted. While taking photos of some of the homes, the reporter quickly noticed several full-sized pickup trucks circling the neighborhood. Less than five minutes later, the street was lined with about six trucks and cars observing the reporter’s actions. While the Irish Travellers apparently want public sympathy for their children’s predicament, they still clearly prefer to be left alone. Whether people want to call describe the Irish Travellers as standing united or simply using forms of intimidation to keep themselves separated from the rest of the world, the spotlight is now directly focused on Murphy Village. This community in North Augusta is believed to be the largest, collective village of Irish Travellers in the country. Overall, it is estimated that approximately 10,000 Irish Travellers currently live in the United States, mainly in South Carolina, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi. There is another large Irish Traveller community in White Settlement, Texas, near Fort Worth, according to The Washington Post. “Those Texas Travelers are known as the Greenhorns,” a 2010 article stated. “Another Irish Traveler group is settled outside Memphis and is known as the Mississippi Travelers, after the river. There also are scattered and smaller settlements of Irish Travelers — say, six or eight families — in northeastern states such as New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, especially in trailer parks.” Another odd fact that should be pointed out, simply to avoid confusion, is there appears to be two different spellings of the name, “Irish Traveller.” Much of the local media spell it “Irish Traveler,” while the historic spelling from Ireland is “Traveller.”
Just last month, the South Carolina Department of Social Services removed six young girls, ages ranging from 6 to 13, from their parents’ custody. One of the girls have been returned to her parents, but the other five remain in state custody. Even St. Edward Catholic Church’s website goes back and forth on spelling of the group’s name. In its description of the Parrish called a “Short History of Irish Travellers,” it begins by stating, “Irish Travelers are celts, fairskinned, often blonde and blue-eyed people. It is believed that the Travellers were originally small land owners or laborers in Ireland. But, after the military campaign of Oliver Cromwell over Ireland in 1649, their land was confiscated and hence they were forced to leave their farming and ranching way of life. So the clans got banded together and formed itinerant groups of families and traveled across Ireland.” To make a living, the Travellers mended pots, pans, and farm equipment, the Parrish’s website states. “Thus, they were called ‘Tinkers’ in Ireland,” the website states. “Due to the great misery and financial distress created by the Potato Famine in Ireland (1845-1852) some of them seriously thought of migrating to the U.S. The first Irish Traveler came to the U.S. AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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The red and white yard signs boldly state messages such as, “Free Our Kids,” and “Legal Kidnapping.” There are also several signs that are asking the public to “Please Help Our Kids” by calling the office of South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. Other signs read, “D.S.S. Stole Our Daughters” and “D.S.S. Out of Control.” was one Mr. Tom Carroll.” Apparently, just before the Civil War, the Travellers slowly began moving to the South, living in Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. “As the town of North Augusta began to grow, many Catholics relocated there from the Northeast,” the Parrish’s website states. “Due to this large influx of Catholics to this area, the Catholic Parish of Our Lady of Peace was established in North Augusta, S.C. in 1948. Rev. Fr. (Joseph) Murphy, an Irish immigrant himself, was made its pastor. He greatly helped the Travellers in their spiritual needs. He encouraged the Travellers to buy land a few miles north of the town. As a result of this, the community of Murphy Village was born bearing the name of this kind and enthusiastic priest who ministered them for over 20 years.” Over the years, Murphy Village has been received a great deal of national media attention. Probably one of the very first articles written about the Irish Travellers came from The New York Times back in 1970. In a story entitled, “Colony of Nomadic Irish Catholics Clings to a Strange Life in South,” reporter Jon Nordheimer visited Murphy Village back when it was nothing more than a sandy trailer park. “For more than a century a colony of Irish Catholics has roamed across the Southern landscape, keeping the faith and searching for a home in an alien culture,” Nordheimer wrote. “They call themselves Irish Travellers, and for the last several years the colony has settled in self-imposed segregation in a sandy trailer park 15 miles north of Augusta, Ga. The piney woods and palmetto hammocks there are as resistant to change as the 1,500 residents of Murphy Village.” The article was shocking to many who had never heard of the Irish Travellers of the South. “Generations of cultural isolation have produced a mini society with a strange blend of customs and rituals that 18 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
have led to arranged marriages, a cant derived from Gaelic, problems with inbreeding and a history of functional illiteracy that has restricted the men to a nomadic life of peddling,” the 1970 article stated. “Only two occupations are known to the men who, from the age of 14, travel from state to state working as contract painters or floor covering salesmen. Never, as far as anyone can remember, has a Traveller entered manhood as a carpenter, a ballplayer or an insurance salesman. The only choice in careers a teen-age boy makes is between painting barns or laying down linoleum on a kitchen floor.” Back in 1970, Nordheimer wrote that the men frequently travelled in groups of four or five for periods of two to three weeks to states as far west as Wisconsin and New York. “It is only during the World Series, Christmas and Easter that all the men are in the village at the same time, a practice that has led to matriarchal society, although the women defer to the men during their brief visits at home,” he wrote. “Easter is a time for religious observance and for the burial of all the villagers who have died during the last year. Christmas is for the children, who are treated throughout their early years with an indulgence not even approached in affluent Middle America. The World Series has be come the social event of the year, a time for the men to gather to gamble and arrange the marriages of their children.” It was clear in the story that Nordheimer was fascinated with Murphy Village. “After the game, dances begin in a community center. A stereo blares popular music —only a few in the entire village can play a musical instrument — and everyone dances,” he wrote. “The males favor snappy suits of gold and orchid colors. The females— even the girls of 10 and under —arrive in an array of lacquered wigs, party dresses heavy with shimmering sequins, and elaborate facial make-up.” But he also touched on very controversial issues facing the Irish Travellers in the 1970s.
“In many superficial ways the Travellers have been compared to the gypsy bands of Eastern European stock who rove the Eastern Sea board from Canada to Florida,” he wrote. “Local farmers refer in private conversations to the residents of Murphy Village as ‘gypsies.’ It is a disparaging epithet that outrages the Irishmen.” Nordheimer also wrote about the Travellers’ lack of education through the years. “When I was a boy, once in a while I was handed a bluebacked speller and given a number of words to get,”” John O’Hara, who was 69 in 1970, told Nordheimer. “Oh and by God if I didn’t get them quick some big Irishman would hit me with his bowler, which was as hard as a rock.” When Nordheimer visited Murphy Village in 1970, only seven surnames had survived over the generations and there were literally hundreds of Jim Shurlocks and Pat O’Haras in Murphy Village. “To avoid confusion, a child’s legal name is used only four times in his life — on certificates of birth, confirmation, wedding and death,” Nordheimer wrote. “The child is given a nickname early in life, and it be comes his de facto name. Hence the village abounds with names like Popeye, Jabbers, Crackerjack and High Pockets.” In fact, Nordheimer met a 19-year-old boy who had been called Double 0 since the mid-1960s because of the popularity of James Bond films. “When he is married his wife will be called Mrs. Double 0 and their children will be referred to as Tom Double 0 or Mary Double 0,” Nordheimer wrote. “Because everyone in the village is related, marriages are arranged by parents when the children are still babies in an attempt to prevent first or second cousins from falling in love.” According to Nordheimer’s article, children weren’t forced into arranged marriages, even back in 1970. “When a bad match has been made that cannot be tolerated 6OCTOBER2016
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by either partner, the parents arrange an ‘elopement’ with a more acceptable mate,” he wrote. “But this practice commonly invites the enmity of the jilted bride or groom and has led to ‘bad blood’ between family subgroups. It is considered taboo to marry outside the community.” But, apparently, Murphy Village wasn’t without controversy even back then. “At times, couples fall in love and marry without the blessings of the church, which will not give dispensation to marriages between first and second cousins or those involving a child,” Nordheimer wrote. “Last summer, a stir was created when a 21-yearold male married his first cousin, an 11-yearold girl.” Clearly, it was time for Murphy Village to change, Nordheimer wrote. “The Roman Catholic Church in the last two decades has attempted to break the cycle of tradition and get the Travellers to end their social exile,” he wrote. “A church mission has been established at Murphy Village, and the priest there, the Rev. Gabriel Stupasky, who is of Slovakian ancestry, serves also as an ex-officio Mayor and administrator of justice. The Travellers, accustomed to the fierce independence of the open road, have accepted no other vestiges of government and live only by the laws of custom and tradition.” “I think we’ve made some progress with the community,” Rev. Creston Tawes, then the parish priest in North Augusta told The New York Times reporter. “We have four teen-agers in high school this year, and one boy, the first in his bloodline, actually spent one semester in college last spring. But I think it will take another generation before the Travellers are forced out of their shell.” The priest paused for a moment in front of the community center and looked inside at the people dancing—all ages together, enjoying them selves, Nordheimer wrote. “The people here have what most Americans don’t have,” the priest reflected. “Strong family ties, no divorce, mutual devotion and a strong faith in God. Wouldn’t it be a shame, if education ended it all?” It wasn’t until almost 20 years later, that Murphy Village once again drew a great deal of national coverage. And, once again, it was based on controversies and allegations regarding arranged marriages. Most longtime residents of the Augusta area will remember the much-talked-about investigation by NBC’s “Dateline” in the mid1990s about Murphy Village and the Irish Travellers. The news broadcast focused on the fact that children as young as 10 were getting married in Murphy Village. The public was outraged that such behavior was occurring in Augusta’s own backyard and, not long after the “Dateline” story aired, then-S.C. Attorney General Charlie Condon authorized a task force to 20 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
raid Murphy Village and arrest several Travellers. In addition, Condon demanded that the South Carolina Legislature pass a law establishing a minimum age for marriage. In 1997, the minimum age was set at 14 for girls and in 2000 it was updated to 16, according to The State newspaper. A few years later, Murphy Village once again got national attention when an Irish Traveller named Madelyne Toogood — who was not from North Augusta, but lived in Texas — was caught on camera beating her 4-year-old daughter at a South Bend, Ind. shopping center. The national press immediately began reexamining the culture of the Irish Travellers. In 2002, Washington Post reporter Lynne Duke convinced Murphy Village resident Rose Kathy Sherlock to, literally, open the front door of her double-wide trailer and speak to the national press. Sherlock agreed to be interviewed to clear the name of Travellers from Murphy Village, she said. “We’re like any other community, and in any other neighborhood there’s good and bad,” Sherlock said. “We’re a close-knit society. We don’t like to speak out. . . . We stay to ourselves.” She told The Washington Post that the reason the Irish Travellers keep the outside world at bay was to protect their archaic culture. But as Sherlock began telling her story, things quickly became clear how different her life was from the rest of the world. “She left school in the eighth grade, as is the fate of most Traveler girls,” the article stated. “When she was 15, her parents arranged for her to marry a boy from their village not far from the Savannah River. At 17, she wed. Her husband took to the road doing home improvement jobs and other work, as Traveler men have done for generations. And her three children, now grown, were reared in the Traveler tradition.” Even though the village contains roughly 3,000 people, there are only a dozen surnames such as Carroll, O’Hara and Sherlock. She told the Washington Post since many of the men have the same names, they go by nicknames such as “Black Pete,” “White Man,” “Peekaboo” and “Mikey Boy.” “Murphy Villagers are generally related,” the article stated. “Cousins
“If you can detain them and stop them for a little while, you have done the ultimate to the Traveller — you have limited his freedom to travel, his ability to travel. It’s their nature to travel. They don’t feel comfortable sitting still.” — Joe Livingston marry cousins, whether first or second, and always in arrangements that include a substantial dowry.” Around the same time, The Chicago Tribune also came knocking on Murphy Village’s doors. In a story called, “The Highway Is Their Home,” Chicago Tribune reporter Patrick Reardon spoke to Daniel Casey, an expert on Irish literature who once spent a good deal of time in the North Augusta area getting to know the Irish Travellers. Casey told The Chicago Tribune that the Irish Travellers were simply misunderstood. 6OCTOBER2016
While the Irish Travellers apparently want public sympathy for their children’s predicament, they still clearly prefer to be left alone. “The Travellers have been really blacked with a big brush,” he said. “They seem to be really hated.” He insisted that reporters, taking their lead from law enforcement, have unfairly described the Irish Travellers as “some of the smoothest, most relentless con men in America,” while others portrayed the group near North Augusta as “an insular South Carolina crime family.” While Casey insisted that some Irish Travellers have skirted the law, he said “the vast majority of these people are not criminals.” However, Senior Agent Joe Livingston with South Carolina’s State Law Enforcement Division disagrees. He has studied the Irish Travelers for more than 30 years and he frequently warns the public about the actions of the Irish Travellers. Livingston told The Charlotte Observer in 2014 that he estimated about 10 percent of the residents in Murphy Village are involved in illegal activities. “But what 10 percent? That’s been the problem over the years,” Livingston told the newspaper. Livingston said the public should be careful of Irish Travellers, especially the ones that they encounter on the road. “Travelers are masters of illusion and confusion,” Livingston told The Charlotte Observer in 2014. “You think you’re getting something you’re not.” The only way to successfully slow the Irish Travellers down, is to limit their freedom to travel, Livingston said. “If you can detain them and stop them for a little while, you have done the ultimate to the Traveller — you have limited his freedom to travel, his ability to travel,” Livingston reportedly said. “It’s their nature to travel. They don’t feel comfortable sitting still.”
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Matthew Morrison describes himself as a song and dance man, and, given his resume, it’s difficult to argue with that characterization. Best known as Mr. Schuester on “Glee,” which showed on Fox from 2009-2015, Morrison was already performing in musicals in high school, and dropped out of college to join the Broadway production of “Footloose.” He followed that up with “The Rocky Horror Show” and “Hairspray” before being nominated for a Tony Award for “The Light in the Piazza.” The awards — Screen Actors Guild, Teen Choice, Golden Globes, Emmys and Grammys — seem to keep coming for Morrison, and he’ll bring his enormous talent to the Bell Auditorium stage next Thursday, joining Symphony Orchestra Augusta for their Pops! at the Bell series. While he’s in town, Morrison will also be the keynote speaker for Take the Stage, the 52nd annual convention of the Georgia Theatre Conference, which will be held Wednesday-Saturday, October 12-15, at various venues around the city. Matthew Morrison Bell Auditorium Thursday, October 13 7:30 p.m. $10.19-$40.74. 706-826-4705 soaugusta.org
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whAT’s up
Calendar: 26 | Music Listings: 32 If you have any questions, or would like to submit an event to our calendar, please email Amy Christian at amy@themetrospirit.com.
sAve moTher TriniTy AugusTA is home to some of the country’s oldest African-American churches, including Trinity Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Founded in 1840, the church at the corner of 8th and Tayler streets is still standing, but just barely. The Chicks That Click Photography Club decided to raise awareness for the church’s plight by doing what they do best: taking pictures. The resulting exhibition is on display through October 29 at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History. See it on Friday, October 7, during a reception after a State Marker Installation Ceremony at 11 a.m. at the church, which will feature appearances from state and local officials and to which the public is invited. Pamela Cook and Judy Holmes, co-founders of the club, will also speak at the museum’s Senior Luncheon on October 19. Pre-registration is required for that event. sAve moTher TriniTy exhibiTion •Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History • 706-724-3576 •lucycraftlaneymuseum.com
This week
ThursdAy
When people are hungry, oftentimes so are their pets. Vineyard Community Church and Brass Knuckles Pin Ups Rescue want to do something about that, so they’ve set up the only pet food pantry in the CSRA. They’re now accepting donations of wet and dry pet food at Graced Kennel and Allegiance Ink Tattoo during October’s Spooky to Be Hungry Pet Food Drive, which they’ll begin distributing in November. So buy some food and help paw it forward!
sATurdAy
Turntables and albums are far from a thing of the past, especially if you visit Sky City tonight at 9 p.m. for I Heart Vinyl. There you’ll find vendors selling vinyl records and 45s, live beat making, recording studio demos, a live performance by Hello Tomorrow and a full bar. All for only $5.
sundAy
Did you know that the state-run North Augusta dispensary sold more liquor than any other store in the state during Prohibition? Find out more fascinating facts like this when Michael Lewis, author of “The Coming of Southern Prohibition,” speaks today at 2:30 p.m. at the Arts & Heritage Center in North Augusta, not far from where that very dispensary was located. Free, members; $5, non-members. Pre-registration required.
wednesdAy
The Augusta Museum of History’s monthly Brown Bag History Series lecture often reveals fascinating facts about our area, and this month is no different. At 11:30 a.m. today, Alexandra McClain from Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church will talk about the Greek experience in the area. Sadly, McClain won’t bring any food with her; you’ll have to bring your own. Don’t worry, though: The Greek Festival begins the next day at 4 p.m., so you won’t have to wait long for a gyro and some delicious cookies. Free, members; $3, nonmembers.
For more information on these events, see our calendar of events on page 26. 6OCTOBER2016
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program. Call 803-642-2020, ext. 1141, or visit abbe-lib.org.
Wed Oct 12
11:30am Brown Bag History Series Augusta Museum of History Featuring The Greek Experience in the CSRA, led by Alexandra McClain from Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Participants should bring their own lunch and the museum will provide beverages. A Q&A session follows the lecture. Free, members; $3, nonmembers. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
Noon Brown Bag Lunch ‘N Learn TheClubhou.se An event featuring consultants and other experts who will provide information to budding entrepreneurs. Visit theclubhou.se.
7pm Intermediate Sign Language Summerville Professional Building An eight-week class that meets Wednesdays through December 7. Preregistration required. Call 800-414-7441 or visit trinityofaugusta.com.
Ongoing Mule Day Southern Heritage Festival Callaway Plantation, Washington Saturday, October 8 10 a.m.-4 p.m. An event that includes mule contests, primitive demonstrations, food, an arts and crafts show, family activities and more. washingtonwilkes.org
ARTS Thu Oct 6
4:30pm - 7pm LivingBrush Demonstration and Art Now Artist Talk Morris Museum of Art Featuring body painters Scott Fray and Madelyn Greco and sculptor Greg Carter. Event also includes music, cocktails and more. Free. Call 706-724-7501 or visit themorris.org.
Sat Oct 8
10am - 1pm Gourd Painting Tippy Cakes Bakery and Gift Shop, Harlem A class for those ages 8 and up. $20. Call 706-556-6656, 706-513-2634 or email blalocka@hotmail.com.
Sum Exhibition Jessye Norman School of the Arts An exhibition of works by local artists Baruti Tucker, Jay Jacobs, Jason Lutz, Jacki Mayo Van Dyke and Joey Hart in which each added elements to six large, 40’ x 40” paintings. Each painting begins and ends with a different artist. The exhibit will be on display throughout October and gallery hours are noon-3 p.m. each Thursday, Friday and Saturday during the month. Call 706828-7768 or visit jessyenormanschool.org.
Augusta Photo Festival and Gail Wheeler/Mike Adams Exhibits Arts & Heritage Center, North Augusta Both exhibitions show October 7-November 4. Call 803-441-4380 or visit artsandheritagecenter.com.
Nature Essence 600 Broad Building An exhibition of nature photographs by David Foster that will be on display October 7-30. Visit augustaphotofestival.org.
Augusta Museum of History Available each Saturday at 11 a.m. and lasting approximately two hours, this bus tour includes Brown’s elementary school, his childhood home, his statue and more. $15 fee, includes admission to the museum, which houses the largest collection of James Brown memorabilia. Reservations 24 hours in advance required. Call 803-6402090 or visit jamesbrownfamilyfdn.org.
Images of Historic Trinity CME Church
Mon Oct 10
ELSEWHERE
Fri Oct 7
Tippy Cakes Bakery and Gift Shop, Harlem A three-session Harlem Arts Council class. $20 per class. Call 706-556-6656, 706-5132634 or email blalocka@hotmail.com.
Mule Day Southern Heritage Festival
10am - noon Oil Painting
EDUCATION Sat Oct 8
11:30am, 12:30pm and 1:30pm A Petersburg Boat Pilot Augusta Museum of History Part of the Voices of the Past series of character monologues. Free with museum admission. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
1pm - 4pm Artist Workshop: Whimsical Puppets with Greg Carter
Tue Oct 11
Morris Museum of Art For all ages and skill levels. $20, members; $30, nonmembers. Pre-registration required. Call 706-724-7501 or visit themorris.org.
Aiken Public Library An information session for homeschooling parents that will include services, tips and more. Participants are invited to bring lunch and hang out with other homeschooling families in the park after the
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James Brown Family Historical Tour
A Westobou Festival exhibition that shows through November 4. Visit westoboufestival.com.
11am Homeschool Hub
Sat Oct 8
Callaway Plantation, Washington An event that includes mule contests, primitive demonstrations, food, an arts and crafts show, family activities and more. Visit washingtonwilkes.org.
EXHIBITIONS Ongoing
Unseen Patterns: Jowita Wyszomirska
Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History An exhibit that features photographs taken by the Chicks that Click Photography Club. The exhibition will show throughout the month of October Tuesday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 706-724-3576 or visit lucycraftlaneymuseum.com.
FLIX Noon “The Best Man” Morris Museum of Art Part of the Films on Friday series that includes a discussion afterwards. Participants are invited to bring lunch. Free. Call 706-724-7501 or visit themorris.org.
Sat Oct 8
2:30pm Family Fun Movies Appleby Branch Library Call 706-736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.
Westobou Gallery A large-scale, site-specific installation stretching throughout the Westobou Gallery that reflects the effects of climate change and is based on aerial maps of the Savannah River and satellite imagery of weather patterns of the Chesapeake Bay. It will be on display through November 18. Call 706-7552878 or visit westoboufestival.com.
Mon Oct 10
Transformative Processes: The Sculptural Work of Matt Tool
HEALTH
AU’s Mary S. Byrd Gallery
1pm and 7pm “Homo Sapiens” AU’s Maxwell Theatre Part of the Cinema Series at Augusta University. Assistant Professor Matthew Buzzell of the Department of Communication and Professor Brian Rust of the Department of Art will lead discussions following each screening. Free. Call 706-667-4100 or visit augusta.edu.
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7am - 7pm Free Depression Screenings Kroc Center A Mental Health America event that is open to all adults and children. Call 706-736-6858.
5:30pm - 8pm Cribs for Kids Safe Kids Office This class will teach caregivers how to provide a safe sleep environment by showing what dangers to watch out for. Families who demonstrate a financial need will receive a portable crib, fitted sheet, sleep sac and a pacifier for a fee of $10 per registered child. Call 706-721-7606 or visit grhealth.org/safekids.
3pm Augusta Genealogical Society Meeting Augusta Museum of History Featuring Historic Augusta and AGS Vice President Erick Montgomery, who will speak on the great fire of 1916. Free and open to the public. Call 706-722-4073 or visit augustagensociety.org.
Sat Oct 8
11am, 1pm and 3pm Museum Escape
Safe Kids Office Appointment required. Call 706-721-7606 or visit grhealth.org.
Augusta Museum of History Coinciding with the museum’s new exhibit, Augusta 1875-1900, this murder-mystery game in an escape room will be available for up to 8 people per session. Sessions last about one hour. For ages 18 and up, or 12 and up with parental supervision. $15, members; $20, non-members; $25, at the door. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
Sat Oct 8
Tue Oct 11
AUHealth Call 706-721-2273 or visit augustahealth.org.
Headquarters Branch Library Participants will learn how to start a family history project, as well as discuss resources and strategies. Call 706-826-1511 or visit arcpls.org.
Fri Oct 7
Child Safety Seat Inspections
10:30am Childbirth Tour
Mon Oct 10
4pm Breast Self-Exam Class University’s Breast Health Center Pre-registration required. Call 706-774-4141 or visit universityhealth.org.
Tue Oct 11
7pm - 9:30pm Ready and Able Doctors Hospital A five-session Lamaze class that continues Tuesdays through November 8. Preregistration required. Call 706-651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.
7:30pm Childbirth Tour AUHealth Call 706-721-2273 or visit augustahealth.org.
Wed Oct 12
Child Safety Seat Inspections Columbia County Sheriff’s Substation Appointment required. Call 706-541-3970 or visit grhealth.org.
1:30pm - 3:30pm Look Good Feel Better Augusta University Cancer Center An American Cancer Society program that aims to help women in cancer treatment combat the appearance-related side effects of chemo and radiation. Pre-registration required. Call 706-721-0466 or visit augustahealth.org.
HOBBIES
10am Genealogy 101
Wed Oct 12
Noon Georgia-Carolina Toastmasters Fat Man’s Mill Cafe Those interested are invited to learn speech and leadership skills in a fun and supportive atmosphere. Call 706-627-2134.
KIDS-TEENS Thu Oct 6
10am Autumn Is Here! Morris Museum of Art Part of the Mommy and Me series for children and parents in which participants will view works in the Southern Landscape Gallery, learn about the seasons and create an autumn tree. Free, members; $4 per participants, non-members. Pre-registration required. Call 706-828-3867 or visit themorris.org.
Fri Oct 7
4pm - 5:30pm Teen Advisory Group Aiken Public Library Participants ages 13-18 will help plan teen programs, choose new material and earn volunteer hours. Call 803-642-2020, ext. 1141, or visit abbe-lib.org.
Sat Oct 8
9:30am - 11am Children’s Hike with Story Time
1pm - 3pm Cool Coloring for Grownups
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park Pre-registration required. Call 706-396-1424 or visit phinizycenter.org.
Aiken Public Library Call 803-642-2020 or visit abbe-lib.org.
9:30am - noon Growing Boys
Thu Oct 6
6OCTOBER2016
Trinity Hospital A class for boys ages 9-12, accompanied by their father, male relative or friend, in which participants will learn what to expect in the pre-adolescent years. $10; pre-registration required. Call 706-481-7604 or visit trinityofaugusta.com.
10am - 10:30am Family Story Time Aiken Public Library Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
11am - 3pm Star Wars Reads Day 2016 Headquarters Branch Library An event that will include trivia and costume contests, music, story times, a Q&A with Julie Dolan, the voice of Princess Leia in the Star Wars Rebel series, and more. Call 706-821-2600 or visit arcpls.org.
11am Tek: The Modern Caveboy Story Time Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
11:30am - 3:30pm Youth Wing Workshops Aiken Community Playhouse Those in grades 4-7 meet from 11:30 a.m.1:15 p.m. and those in grades 8-12 meet from 1-3:30 p.m. Classes are designed to teach basic theatre stage skills, such as stage movement, finding your character, improvisation and script analysis in a fun
environment. Call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.
Mon Oct 10
9:30am - 2pm Junior Rangers: Explorers Mistletoe State Park A program for those ages 8-14, who will celebrate Columbus Day by practicing skills like trip planning, map reading and navigation with a compass before practicing archery and preparing lunch. $25; preregistration required. Call 706-541-0321 or visit gastateparks.org/mistletoe.
10am Monday at the Museum: Spooky Augusta Augusta Museum of History This is program for preschool-aged children will include ghost stories and painting pumpkins. $2, members; $4, non-members. Pre-registration required. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
Tue Oct 11
10am - 11:30am Puddle Ducks: Kids & Caregivers Club Phinizy Swamp Nature Park Stories and hands-on fun. Free, members; $5, nonmembers. Call 706-396-1424 or email info@phinizycenter.org.
4pm Storytime in the Gardens AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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Hispanic Festival Augusta Common Friday, October 7, 6-11 p.m. Saturday, October 8, noon-11 p.m. An event that includes authentic food stands from several different countries, entertainment from folkloric and musical groups, arts and crafts, activities for children and families and more. $5; free, children 12 and under ACHA members, active-duty military, and those dressed in authentic costume of their country. elcervantino.org. Hopelands Gardens, Aiken Local senior adults will read to participants and each family in attendance will receive a free book. Blankets, chairs, drinks and snacks are welcome. Call 803-642-7631.
Wed Oct 12
10am Wacky Wednesday Story Time Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
10:30am - noon Super Awesome Story Time The Book Tavern Featuring Kristi Kinlaw of the Bee’s Knees and The Hive, who will read “Pancakes, Pancakes!” by Eric Carle and will make pancakes. Call 706-826-1940 or email superawesomestorytime@booktavern.com.
LITERARY Thu Oct 6
7pm Author Talk-Autograph Signing Columbia County Library Part of the All About Author Series, this one featuring Cheryl Strayed, author of the New York Times bestselling memoir “Wild,” which was made into an Oscar-nominated film. Reservations can be made at cherylstrayed.eventbrite. com. Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.
Sat Oct 8
10am - 6pm Indie Author Day Aiken Public Library Independent authors will learn information and network with other members of the local literary community. Call 803-642-2020, ext. 1131, or visit abbe-lib.org. 28 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
10am - 3pm Star Wars Reads Day Big Saturday Book Sale Headquarters Branch Library Featuring science fiction books and more. From 2-3 p.m., books will be $5 per bag full. Call 706-821-2600 or visit arcpls.org.
11am - 1pm The 2016 Novel Writers Series Headquarters Branch Library A five-session lunch and learn series that began in June. October’s session will deal with outlining for clarity, and participants should bring a lunch. Free. Call 706-821-2600 or visit augustaliteraryfestival.org.
Sun Oct 9
2:30pm Author Talk/Book Signing Arts & Heritage Center, North Augusta Featuring Michael Lewis, author of “The Coming of Southern Prohibition.” Free, members; $5, non-members. Pre-registration required. Call 803-441-4380 or visit artsandheritagecenter.com.
Mon Oct 10
7pm - 9pm Pub Fiction Book Club Pizza Central Hosted by Columbia County Library staff. October’s selection is “The Girl with No Past” by Katheryn Croft. Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.
MUSIC Thu Oct 6
6pm - 11:30pm The Riverwalk Revival Sky City Featuring Yonder Mountain String Band with Fruition. $30.
Visit theriverwalkrevival.com.
7:30pm Gala Concert Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre Presented by Augusta University’s orchestra, choral, wind, opera and jazz ensembles. $15; $5, children and students. Call 706-667-4100 or visit gru.edu/maxwelltheatre.
Fri Oct 7
6:30pm Moonlight Music Cruise Savannah Rapids Park Featuring Carey Murdock, this event features live music aboard a 1 1/2-hour Petersburg boat tour. Participants are invited to bring aboard snacks and beverages. $25; pre-registration required. Call 706-823-0440, ext. 4, or visit augustacanal.com.
7:30pm Fall Classics Concert AU’s Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre A Columbia County Orchestra presentation which includes musical guests Suzuki Strings of Augusta and AU music professor Dr. Christine Crookall. Free, but donations accepted. Visit columbiacco.org.
8pm The Nearly Normal String Band Mistletoe State Park Campground Assembly Shelter $5 parking. Call 706-541-0321 or visit gastateparks.org/mistletoe.
Sat Oct 8
11am - 2pm Saturday Morning Swing Eighth Street Plaza Live music from local jazz artists and performing arts groups during the Augusta Market. Call 706-627-0128 or visit theaugustamarket.com. 6OCTOBER2016
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Sun Oct 9
7pm Aiken Concert Band
St. John’s United Methodist Church Presented by Saint John Church and Concerts with a Cause. Free, but an offering will be taken for When Help Can’t Wait. Visit stjohnaugusta.org.
SPECIAL EVENTS
3pm WindSync
Tue Oct 11
Noon Tuesday’s Music Live Saint Paul’s Church Features a free concert at noon by pianist Ang Li. Lunch afterwards is $12 a person and requires reservation. Call 706-722-3463 or visit tuesdaysmusiclive.com.
Etherredge Center, Aiken Call 803-641-3305 or visit etherredge.usca.edu.
Thu Oct 6
5pm - 8pm First Thursday Shops of Midtown, Kings Way at Central Ave. This event features discounts in the shops, hors d’oeuvres and more. Call 706-733-1788.
Fri Oct 7
11am State Marker Installation and Reception
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Monday at the Museum: Spooky Augusta Augusta Museum of History Monday, October 10 10 a.m. This is program for preschool-aged children will include ghost stories and painting pumpkins. $2, members; $4, nonmembers. Pre-registration required. 706-722-8454 augustamuseum.org
Trinity CME Church The installation, featuring state and local officials, will take place at the church, with a reception to follow at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History. The museum is the home of an exhibition on Trinity CME Church by the Chicks That Click Photography Club. Call 706-724-3576 or visit lucycraftlaneymuseum.com.
4pm Border Bash Augusta University Golf and Gardens Featuring the UGA and USC cheerleaders and mascots, as well as live music from Donna Jo, the Joe Stevenson Band and the Velcro Pygmies. $15, advance; $20, gate; $75, VIP; $20, VIP child; $500, VIP table; $10, parking pass. Visit borderbash.net.
5pm - 9pm First Friday Downtown Augusta A family friendly arts event that includes musicians, dancers, artists and other vendors. Visit artistsrowaugusta.com.
5pm - 9pm Live From Downtown 600 Broad Street A monthly First Friday event presented by the Augusta Regional Collaboration that features live music, art, food and more. Visit facebook.com/600Broad.
5pm - 8pm Wine Not It’s Friday Whole Foods A $5 wine tasting in which participants get five 3-ounce samples of featured wines. Call 762-333-0259 or visit wholefoodsmarket.com.
5pm - 8pm Wine Tasting 30 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Wine World A drop-in First Friday event. $5; $3 rebate upon purchase of a bottle of one of the featured wines. Call 803-279-9522 or visit wineworldsc.com.
6pm - 10pm First Friday Augusta Common A family event that includes a car show, fun zone, vendors and live local entertainment. Call 706-821-1754 or visit augustaga.gov.
6pm - 11pm Hispanic Festival Augusta Common An event that includes authentic food stands from several different countries, entertainment from folkloric and musical groups, arts and crafts, activities for children and families and more. $5; free, children 12 and under ACHA members, active-duty military, and those dressed in authentic costume of their country. Visit elcervantino.org.
Sat Oct 8
8am - 2pm Augusta Market at the River 8th Street Plaza, Reynolds Street The event features vendors of all kinds, activities, live entertainment and more. Visit theaugustamarket.com.
8am - 1pm Semi-Annual Yard Sale When Help Can’t Wait A benefit for the organization, which provides services to those in nursing homes, this sale will include a variety of inventory including a vintage ladies bike, furniture, comforters and bedding, kitchen appliances and more. Call
706-650-9467 or visit whenhelpcantwait.com.
11am - 3pm Star Wars Reads Day Headquarters Branch Library Call 706-821-2604 or visit arcpls.org.
Noon - 11pm Game Day at the Lady A Evans Towne Center Park A tailgating, football and music event that includes a kids area and vendors. Free; $50, the ultimate tailgate experience. Visit gamedayladya.com.
Noon - 11pm Hispanic Festival Augusta Common An event that includes authentic food stands from several different countries, entertainment from folkloric and musical groups, arts and crafts, activities for children and families and more. $5; free, children 12 and under ACHA members, active-duty military, and those dressed in authentic costume of their country. Visit elcervantino.org.
9pm - 11:30pm I Heart Vinyl Sky City An event featuring vendors selling vinyl records and 45, live beat making, recording studio demos, a live performance by Hello Tomorrow and a full bar. $5. Visit skycityaugusta.com.
Sun Oct 9
2pm 15th Annual Alumni & Friends Chefs’ Showcase Belair Conference Center A fundraiser for the Augusta Mini Theatre featuring food from 25 area chefs, caterers and restaurants. $41, adults; 6OCTOBER2016
$16, ages 2-18. Call 706-722-0598 or visit augustaminitheatre.com.
captain. Free. Call 706-823-0440, ext. 2, or visit augustacanal.com.
Tue Oct 11
Tue Oct 11
4:30pm - 7pm Veggie Truck Farmers Market AL Williams Park This weekly event, held through the end of October in the park across from the Kroc Center, features all local farmers and doubles EBT. Visit growharrisburg.org.
SPIRITUAL Thu Oct 6
7pm Lifting the Veil on Islam Islamic Society of Augusta Part of a monthly program to enlighten newcomers about Islam, this one on the subject of Islam and Democracy. This series, held the first Thursday of each month, is open to the public and refreshments will be served. Visit openhouse.isaugusta.com.
SPORTS-OUTDOORS Sat Oct 8
8am Lexie’s Legacy Freaky 5K/10K/ Fun Walk Augusta Canal at Lake Olmstead $20-$35. Email lokalloudness@yahoo.com.
9am Waterside Yoga
The First Tee of Augusta A free event for both beginner and longtime golfers ages 15 and older who have faced life-changing or acute illnesses or injuries. Visit waltonfoundation.net.
Wed Oct 12
Noon Under the Stars Dressage Stableview Farms, Aiken A USEF/USDF Recognized Level Two Championship Qualifier Dressage show. Call 803-648-1222 or visit stableviewfarm.com.
SUPPORT Thu Oct 6
Noon Active-Duty Parent Support Fort Gordon’s Family Outreach Center Meets the first Thursday of each month. Call 706-792-5220 or visit fortgordon.com.
Mon Oct 10
6pm Pink Magnolias Breast Cancer Support Group University’s Breast Health Center Call 706-774-4141 or visit universityhealth.org.
6:30pm Men’s Breast Cancer Support Group
3:30pm - 9pm Family Fall Fest
10:20am Moms Connection
University’s Breast Health Center Call 706-774-4141 or visit universityhealth.org.
Tue Oct 11
Mistletoe State Park An event that will include a pumpkin scavenger hunt, apple bobbing, marshmallow roasting, games, making corn husk dolls, music, a snake program and storytelling. Hayrides, $2, are not covered by the $10 per vehicle entry fee. Call 706541-0321 or visit gastateparks.org.
Augusta University Medical Center This free weekly support group for new mothers meets in the Terrace Dining Dogwood Room on the second floor. All new moms and their babies are welcome and an international board certified lactation consultant/educator/perinatal nurse will answer questions and offer resources. Call 706-721-8283 or visit augustahealth.org.
5pm Dash of the Dead: 2016 Swamp Stomp Fun Run
7pm Alzheimer’s Support Group
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park A 5K fun run to celebrate World Zombie Day, that includes food, beer, activities and more afterwards. $25. Call 706-828-2109 or visit phinizycenter.org.
Alzheimer’s Association Chapter Building Call 706-731-9060.
6pm The Mad Cow Zombie Run
Wed Oct 12
7pm OB/GYN Cancer Support Group Call 706-821-2944.
6pm Mental Health Support Group Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta A group for teens and up that follows the methods of Recovery International. Call 630605-6913 or visit recoveryinternational.org.
Sun Oct 9
THEATER
Kill Mill parking lot This discussion of the King Mill will be led by Dean Gustafson, engineer and canal boat
3:45pm and 7pm Double Feature
3pm Trail Talk: Turning the Turbines
upcoming production of “Steel Magnolias,” season subscription sales, refreshments, swag and more. Call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.
Fri Oct 7
Sun Oct 9
7pm Double Feature
3pm “A Few Good Men” Auditions
Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School Featuring the Musical Theatre Ensemble’s original musical “I Think I Might Want to Remember Today” and Acting 3/4’s “The Crucible.” $8, advance; $10, door. Visit davidson. rcboe.org.
Aiken Community Playhouse The play will show in January. For more information, call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.
Mon Oct 10
10am - noon Adaptive Golf Clinic
Augusta Canal’s Lake Olmstead Trailhead A class open to those of all ages and abilities. Participants should bring a mat or towel. Free, but donations to the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area accepted. Call 706823-0440, ext. 2, or visit augustacanal.com.
The Maize at Steed’s Dairy A 5K trail run with some obstacles in which each runner will carry three flags that zombies will try and steal. $35. Visit steedsdairy.com.
original musical “I Think I Might Want to Remember Today” and Acting 3/4’s “The Crucible.” $8, advance; $10, door. Visit davidson.rcboe.org.
Thu Oct 6
Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School Featuring the Musical Theatre Ensemble’s
8pm xTreme Theatre Games W Le Chat Noir First Friday improv comedy by Schrodinger’s Cat. $10, advance; $12, door (if available). Call 706-722-3322 or visit lcnaugusta.com.
10pm Sloppy Seconds Le Chat Noir First Friday improv comedy by Schrodinger’s Cat. $5. Call 706-722-3322 or visit lcnaugusta.com.
Sat Oct 8
11am - 2pm Open House Aiken Community Playhouse A drop-in event featuring tours of the playhouse, a behind the scenes look at the
7pm “A Few Good Men” Auditions Aiken Community Playhouse The production shows in January. Call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.
Wed Oct 12 - Sat Oct 15 Take the Stage
The 52nd annual convention of the Georgia Theatre Conference, which will include workshops, seminars, sessions, performances and keynote speaker Matthew Morrison, will be held at venues across Augusta, including Davidson Fine Arts School and AU’s Maxwell Theatre. For more information and to register, email exdir4gtc@gmail.com or lewisro@boe. richmond.k12.ga.us.
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What’s Tonight?
Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane
Monday, October 10 Live Music
Metro Coffeehouse & Pub - Blues Monday w/ Famous Last Words
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Joe’s Underground - Poker Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Somewhere in Augusta - World Tavern Poker Wild Wing - Trivia Wing Place (Aiken) - Trivia
I Love the ‘90s Tour w/ Salt N Pepa, Vanilla Ice, Coolio, Kid N Play, Rob Base, Tone Loc, Color Me Badd Bell Auditorium Thursday, October 6 7 p.m. $28.50-$88.50 877-4AUGTIX georgialinatix.com Thursday, October 6 Live Music
Bell Auditorium - I Love the ‘90s Tour w/ Salt N Pepa, Vanilla Ice, Coolio, Kid N Play, Rob Base, Tone Loc, Color Me Badd Fox’s Lair - Authentic Blues w/ Billy McKnight Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Live Music on the Patio Sky City - Yonder Mountain String Band, Fruition Wild Wing - Jobe Fortner The Willcox (Aiken) - Thursday Night Jazz w/ 4 Cats in the Dog House
What’s Tonight?
Andrew’s - Karaoke w/ April Bar West - Open Mic Night w/ Jonathon Flowers Carolina Ale House - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper (9 p.m.) Chevy’s - Karaoke Cotton Patch - Old School Thursday w/ DJ Groove Coyotes - Karaoke with Bam Helga’s Pub & Grille - Trivia The Highlander - Butt Naked Trivia Joe’s Underground - Trivia Knight’s Lounge - Karaoke w/ Cheryl Bryant The Loft - Karaoke MAD Studios - Open Mic, Spoken Word Pizza Joint (Downtown) - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper (7 p.m.) Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Somewhere in Augusta - Poker for Fun
Friday, October 7 Live Music
Andrew’s - Hugh Hession Augusta University Golf and Gardens - Border Bash w/ Velcro Pygmies, Joe Stevenson Band, Donna Jo, DJ Werdlife Back Yard Tavern - Third Time Charmers Bar West - Live Music Bird Dog Grille - Angwish Cotton Patch - Live Jazz & Blues Country Club - Salazar Coyotes - Southern Meltdown Eli’s American - Friday Night Live w/ Old Man Crazy Fox’s Lair - Roger Enevoldsen Imperial Theatre - An Intimate Concert with
32 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Tuesday, October 11 Live Music
Fox’s Lair - Irish Music with Dr. Fisher and the Undefeated Army Joe’s Underground - Open Mic Soul Bar - Sick Sick Sick, The Cryptics The Willcox (Aiken) - Hal Shreck
What’s Tonight?
Jake Owen Joe’s Underground - Dendera Bloodbath, Gloom Cocoon, Snitch & Dan, Legion of Calamity, Dr. Von H. Savannah Rapids Park - Moonlight Music Cruise w/ Carey Murdock Shannon’s - Preston and Weston Sky City - Futurebirds, The High Divers Somewhere in Augusta - Live Music The Stables at Rose Hill Estate (Aiken) - Celtic Pub Night w/ Gavin Winship Stillwater Taproom - The Kenny George Band Whole Foods - Music @ the Turn Wild Wing - Tokyo Joe The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
Vera Cruz Mexican Restaurant - Karaoke
Saturday, October 8 Live Music
Andrew’s - Obraskai Cork & Bull (Aiken) - Sir Edward Phillips and the Psychedelic Blue Cotton Patch - Live Jazz & Blues Country Club - Matt Rogers Coyotes - Joe Olds Band Eighth Street Plaza - Saturday Morning Swing at the Augusta Market on the River Fox’s Lair - Old Man Crazy Polo Tavern (Aiken) - Johnny Brewer Shannon’s - Shinebox Sky City - I Heart Vinyl w/ Live Music from Hello Tomorrow Stillwater Taproom - Megan and the Driftless That Place Coffee - John Stoney Cannon, Adam Harris Thompson, Douglas Oxford, Jaycie Ward Wild Wing - Sequence 8 The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
The Highlander - Karaoke Joe’s Underground - Ladies Night, Singles Night Fox’s Lair - Karaoke Vera Cruz Mexican Restaurant - Karaoke
Sunday, October 9 Live Music
Aiken Speakeasy and Eats (Aiken) - Live Jazz Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Brunch w/ Mike Frost and Lauren Meccia Wild Wing - Sabo & Dave The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
Bar West - Trivia The Cotton Patch - Trivia Limelite Cafe - Bottom’s Up Trivia Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Trivia Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Somewhere in Augusta - Big Prize Trivia Twisted Burrito - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper
Wednesday, October 12 Live Music
Fox’s Lair - Beats Downunder Open Mic Hosted by Happy Bones The Highlander - Open Mic Night Shannon’s - Mike and Walter Wild Wing - Patterson & Nate
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke
An Intimate Concert with Jake Owen Imperial Theatre Friday, October 7 7:30 p.m. $50-$95 706-722-8341 imperialtheatre.com
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Bar West - DJ Fugi Chevy’s - DJ Nicky B Helga’s Pub & Grille - Bluegrass Brunch (11 a.m.-3 p.m.); Trivia, nights 6OCTOBER2016
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Bar West - Karaoke Chevy’s - Karaoke Cotton Patch - Trivia and Tunes Knight’s Lounge - Game Night The Loft - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Downtown) - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Washington Road) - Karaoke Pizza Joint (Evans) - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper The Playground - Krazy Karaoke w/ Big Troy Polo Tavern (Aiken) - Karaoke w/ Tom Mitchell Sky City - Wednesday Night Conspiracy w/ DJ Knightmare Somewhere in Augusta - The Comedy Zone w/ Mutzie and Brian Bates Southbound Smokehouse - Trivia Stillwater Taproom - Pub Quiz Surrey Tavern - Trivia w/ Christian and Mickey
Upcoming Blues Traveler, the Marcus King Band, Cranford Hollow
- Evans Towne Center Park October 14 Mountain Faith
- Imperial Theatre October 14 Michael Baideme and Phillip Lee Jr.
- Stillwater Taproom October 15 Vilai Harrington
- Stillwater Taproom October 20 Jucifer
- Sky City October 25 ZZ Top
- Bell Auditorium October 26 Moon Taxi, Big Something
- Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee, North Augusta October 28
Gin Blossoms, Tonic
- Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee, North Augusta October 29 Big & Rich w/ Cowboy Troy and DJ Sinister
- Evans Towne Center Park November 4
Elsewhere The Charlie Daniels Band
- Lucas Theatre for the Arts, Savannah October 6 The Dandy Warhols
- Terminal West, Atlanta October 6 Lettuce
- Music Farm, Columbia S.C. October 6 Kansas
- Symphony Hall, Atlanta October 7 The Wood Brothers
- Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta October 7 Lady Antebellum, Jennifer Nettles
- Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Alpharetta October 8 The Band Perry
- Reaves Arena, Perry October 8 Keith Sweat
- Johnny Mercer Theatre, Savannah October 8 Chance the Rapper
- Fox Theatre, Atlanta October 8
REAL PEOPLE REAL DESIRE REAL FUN.
Try FREE: 706-434-0108 More Local Numbers: 1-800-926-6000
Ahora español Livelinks.com 18+
Peter Frampton
- Lucas Theatre for the Arts, Savannah October 11 Henry Rollins
- Variety Playhouse, Atlanta October 11
Meet sexy new friends
FREE TRIAL
706-434-0112
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SIGHTINGS
Michael Johnson | mejphoto.photoreflect.com
Shell Berry with Jim and Amy Bernstein at Westobou’s Unelectable You: The Second City’s Completely Unbiased Political Revue at the Imperial Theatre.
Ed and Brenda Durant with Katherine Dunbar and Billy Badger at Westobou’s Unelectable You: The Second City’s Completely Unbiased Political Revue at the Imperial Theatre.
Suzette and Mark Verbeck with Troy Campbell at Westobou’s Troy Campbell Exhibit: Soju Sake Moonshine at the JB White Building Gallery.
Eve Yves, Erin Wessling and Darrell Lane at Westobou’s Troy Campbell Exhibit: Soju Sake Moonshine at the JB White Building Gallery.
Nancy and Bill Karp with Terri and Matt Flynn at Westobou’s An Evening with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Esperanza Spalding at the Bell Auditorium.
Allison Westerfield with curator Susan Laney and Matt Tedesco at Westobou’s Unseen Patterns at the Westobou Gallery.
Emmie Ward, Adaire Pennington and Cammie Jones at Westobou’s An Evening with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Esperanza Spalding at the Bell Auditorium.
Amy Christian, Elizabeth Hundt, Brett Gorrell and Whitney Warlick at Westobou’s An Evening with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Esperanza Spalding at the Bell Auditorium.
Bethany Davis, Mike Tanksley, Jessica Hernandez and Karen Gordon at Westobou’s An Evening with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Esperanza Spalding at the Bell Auditorium.
34 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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SIGHTINGS
Michael Johnson | mejphoto.photoreflect.com
Summer Bell, Bethany Smith and Mary Margaret Hunter at Westobou Central.
Deena Gilbert, Kiko Salazar, Moniqua Acosta and Marjorie Williams at Westobou Central.
Tricia and Pete Hughes with Brian McGrath at Westobou Central.
Paul Rush, Katelyn Gibbs, Katie Robertson and Trip Brown at the Westobou Festival premiere of “Miss Sharon Jones!” at the Imperial Theatre.
Rosie Berry, Alfreda Turner and Shelia Stuberfield at the Westobou Festival premiere of “Miss Sharon Jones!” at the Imperial Theatre.
Dee and Karen Brucker with Adele and Paul King at the Westobou Festival premiere of “Miss Sharon Jones!” at the Imperial Theatre.
Jason and Elisa Porporino and Sharaz Hanif at Westobou’s Late Night Series featuring Drivin’ N Cryin’ at Sky City.
Keefe Giles, Jamie Goodman and Tony Brinson at Westobou’s Late Night Series featuring Drivin’ N Cryin’ at Sky City.
Christi King, Dustin Hughes and Katie Anderson at Westobou’s Late Night Series featuring Drivin’ N Cryin’ at Sky City.
6OCTOBER2016
AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 35
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THE EIGHT
BOX TOPS Moviegoers love Tim Burton’s brand of “Peculiar” RANK TITLES
WEEKEND GROSS TOTAL GROSS WEEK # LAST WEEK
1
MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME...
$28,871,140
$28,871,140
1
-
2
DEEPWATER HORIZON
$20,223,544
$20,223,544
1
-
3
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
$15,626,883
$61,532,784
2
1
4
STORKS
$13,476,141
$38,487,415
2
2
5
SULLY
$8,272,713
$105,260,176
4
3
In Theaters October 7
DRAMA THRILLER COMEDY “The Birth of a Nation,” rated R, starring Nate “The Girl on the Train,” rated R, starring Emily “Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life,” rated PG, Parker, Armie Hammer, Mark Boon Junior, Colman Domingo, Aja Naomi King, Gabrielle Union. This movie centers on literate slave and preacher Nat Turner, who agrees to help his owner but then decides to incite his fellow slaves because of their terrible treatment. This movie would probably be an Oscar shoe-in (and may still be), except for questions about director at star Nate Parker’s role in a 1999 rape, a charge he was acquitted of in 2001. Still, the rape scene in the movie, along with the fact that Parker and another charged in the case were able to move on, while the young woman eventually killed herself, has made a lot of people uncomfortable. Uncomfortable enough to stay away from Parker’s movie has yet to be seen. 36 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Blunt, Justin Theroux, Haley Bennett, Laura Prepon, Allison Janney. Based on a best-selling book by Paula Hawkins, the setting for the movie has changed from England to America, but the tension and dread you’ll feel watching Rachel Watson’s story is still present. Watson, depressed and often drunk after a divorce, finds herself in the middle of another couple’s drama, as well as a suspect in the wife’s disappearance. It was a great book; hopefully, the movie can live up to the hype.
starring Lauren Graham, Griffin, Gluck, Rob Riggle. Almost all kids want to break the rules, especially when they have a principal with absolutely no sense of humor or regard for creativity and imagination. Will middle-schooler Rafe make his principal pay for making everyone miserable? You bet he will!
6OCTOBER2016
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Trump Plays by Their Rules, Still Gets Blasted BEFORE ANY ONE SINGLE PERSON can offer one single word of attack regarding Donald Trump’s reported federal income tax status, they should be required to prove they have paid their legal tax requirements, and then taken it upon themselves to pay the IRS more than the established rules say they owe. I am not a multi-millionaire, but I guaran-damn-tee you if I were, I would use every single possible deduction and credit that the screwed up, messed up, crapped up federal income tax code offered me. If you say that you would not, about the only way you can prove it is to show the world on paper that you did. If you think Trump is alone in the way he used his complicated business dealings to reduce his tax bill, simply put, you ain’t real bright. Just one of about a thousand articles you can look up on the topic of “legal and unique” income tax rules for the super rich sums it up quite nicely, from the New York Times, 12-15-2015: “With inequality at its highest levels in nearly a century and public debate rising over whether the government should respond to it through higher taxes on the wealthy, the very richest Americans have financed a sophisticated and astonishingly effective apparatus for shielding their fortunes. Some call it the “income defense industry,” consisting of a high-priced phalanx of lawyers, estate planners, lobbyists and anti-tax activists who exploit and defend a dizzying array of tax maneuvers, virtually none of them available to taxpayers of more modest means. In recent years, this apparatus has become one of the most powerful avenues of influence for wealthy Americans of all political stripes, including Daniel Loeb and Steven Cohen, who give heavily to Republicans, and the liberal billionaire George Soros, who has called for higher levies on the rich while at the same time using tax loopholes to bolster his own fortune.” That’s right folks, America’s upper crust gets all kinds of cool tax breaks and loopholes thrown their way that us “peons” down here on Main Street can only dream about. That rat bastard Trump! Only a man as slimy and greedy and nasty and egotistical and mean as Trump could ever be responsible for such hideous rules. Um... no. Actually, when it comes to presidential candidates, Trump has less responsibility for the U.S. tax code and all the hideous and indefensible BS hidden within it than Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Barack Obama, Joe Biden or any of the elected Republicans he beat in the primary. The complexities and virtually indecipherable language and philosophies in play are beyond the comprehension of the average taxpayer, much less the far less sharp mind (comparatively speaking) of the average taxpayer. That is an undeniable fact that those attacking Trump for his lack of taxable income for the last 18 years hope and pray that most won’t understand. It is much better for their political agenda that blind bigotry and jealousy be allowed to overshadow the truth. American elected officials are the sole authors and enablers of the ridiculous morass known as the U.S. tax code, and if anyone tells you different, they are lying to you. Here’s to hoping Trump’s tax returns inspire the politicians and the people who elect them to look inward for solutions and question why it has taken the “exposure” of a very poorly kept secret to start a national dialogue about serious tax reform. I have long been an advocate of a national consumption tax, also known as The Fair Tax, which is clearly superior to the nightmare we have in place now. A flat tax would also be far better to stomach. But get rid of this silly notion that Donald Trump is doing anything other than following the same rules that are available to anyone who qualifies. Those are not Trump rules, those are millionaire rules, and they were in place long before Trump needed to use them, being utilized by very rich families named Kennedy, Bush, Rockefeller and Roosevelt.
38 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Trump may play the game, but he didn’t invent it, and he could well be the best suited to end it!
AUSTIN RHODES
A long-time radio talk show host who can be heard weekdays on WGAC from 3-6 p.m. The views expressed are the opinions of Austin Rhodes and do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher.
6OCTOBER2016
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