EDIT Amy Christian
Arts Editor/Production Director
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Molly Swift Staff Writer
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TableJanuary of Contents 28, 2016
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The Silence Surrounding Marshall Square Page 15
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Contributors Jenny Wright, Greg Baker, Austin Rhodes, Josh Ruffin, Kris Fisher, Michael Johnson 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.
Want to advertise in the Metro Spirit? Call or email Joe at 706.373.3636 joe@themetrospirit.com
Whine Line
4
Krog Street Market
24
Ruffin It
6
TEDxAugusta 2016
25
Kris Fisher
8
Calendar
26
Jenny Is Wright
9
Nightlife
32
Augusta Tek
10
Sightings
34
Insider
12
NYT Crossword
35
Patrick Davis...
21
The Eight
36
Food Stuff
23
Austin Rhodes
38
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OPINION
The Whine Line
10
9
8
6
Why are your cartoonists always unfunny left-wingers who don’t draw very well? If four Augusta Commissioners are allowed to spend $27,000 of last year’s travel budget and five others spent $8,000, who is dumber – the commissioners who got the bulk of the money or the commissioners who let them get away with it?
ed Donald s r o d n e n li a P h a r a Soum, pS for President. Isn’t that liker Tr Cutlery o o g a ic h C g in s r o d n O.J. Simpson e g gasoline? fire endorsin Sarah Palin??? Come on Trump, I tought you was serious.
Ruffin’ It Kris Fisher Jenny is Wright Augusta Tek
Last week at the North Augusta Publix parking lot an older Ford F150 came down the WRONG way in one of the parking lanes ( clearly marked by arrows and cars parked a certain way). Then the rude driver BACKED into a parking space. The driver got out of the truck in a RICHMOND COUNTY SHERIFF’S department uniform. Apparently in today’s world people are too stupid to negotiate parking lots and parking spaces, and they are led by the people who are supposed to police such situations. Yes, this is private property, but come on, a Richmond Sheriff’s department employee, in a UNIFORM? How about for the sake of St. Valentine’s Day, The Spirit offer a Love Line for those who wish to say positive things. I mean there are some mean-spirited folks on the Whine Line. As for minding my own business when seeing child abuse or any abuse, silence is acceptance, and you shouldn’t accept abuse, of any kind, ever. Augusta may not be the best place to live, but doggone, you got here somehow, so enjoy it and make it a better place while you are here! And if Austin Rhodes irritates you, turn the radio channel. How gullible are people? Why become a cop and have no special privileges? Drive fast, disregard road safety, talk on cell phone , carry gun, beat up people , shoot people, make immediate life altering judgements based on personal bias, extra side pay , access to drugs, access to prostitutes,,,,,and
paid by the public too. What a deal. I really like my doctor, but I just got a letter saying that he is changing his practice to MDVIP. I will have to pay an annual fee, not covered by insurance, just for the privilege of being his patient. Per the MDVIP website annual fee/ membership averages $1,800 per year dependent on location. Is this looney or what? Anybody else losing their doctor? We keep hearing that Paine College is viable, but broke. Why not incorporate it into Augusta University as “Paine College” at AU. It might bring in grants for a Black History program, and would keep the endangered college from disappearing. We know why the Columbia County News Times covered up the Bartram Trail fiasco and who they are protecting, but why does the Metro Spirit play along like nothing happened? Grow some ‘nads and let the Columbia County residents know how they have been had. They have a right to know the true story! You are all a bunch of little, tiny, helpless cry babies. If we are serious about fixing our government, government officials who are corrupt and or accept bribes, should receive the death penalty. I am dead serious.
Reelect Harold Jon
es, II for the cares about cGoenovricgia State House. He really felons. Pothead liv ted marijuana es matter. To the car dealership whose latest commercial continously mentions “taking care of butts/buts” in their commercial. Ugh. Pull that trash. I work in an office and have to race to the radio we play as filler to turn it down when it comes on. I can not tell you the numerous times it has been discussed by our clients waiting in the lobby, and not in a positive light. It is just tacky. Everyone expects annoying car commercials, and we’d happily accept them in comparison to this garbage. Be better than that.
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
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AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 5
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Facing Our History I recently spent a long weekend visiting some family in South Carolina. The circumstances are a little convoluted; you’d think this would be my blood, my roots we visited. Aside from myself, as far as I know, my entire family resides, and has resided, in the southeast United States pretty much ever since they came over here in the 17th century. But we actually visited my wife’s family, a brother and sister-in-law who recently moved to Charleston from Boston for work. Despite my own insistence to the contrary, I realized shortly into the trip that I’d never been to Charleston. It’s a weird place. If you’ve been to Savannah, think of a cleaner, less buggy, but no less antebellum-focused city. This is due to a few factors, all of them, I think, having to do with circumstances surrounding the state’s role in the Civil War: 1. South Carolina was the first state to officially secede from the Union, shortly after the election of Abraham Lincoln. Many states followed suit, but South Carolina pulled the trigger, in more ways than one. 2. Somewhat symmetrically, South Carolina played host to the first major individual conflict of the Civil War, when a gaggle of state militia captured Fort Sumter from Yankee troops. This will become important in another way pretty soon here. 3. The fairly symbolic retaking of Fort Sumter occurred on the morning of President Lincoln’s assassination. This seems, predictably but depressingly, to lend credence to South Carolina’s role in the war in the minds of current residents. On our second full day in town, we took a ferry out to Fort Sumter, now an interactive museum and historic site. There were shades of the personal in this for me, as an ancestors of mine, a great-uncle named Edmund Ruffin, played a key role in the initial assault on the fort. Though he did not fire the very first shot (that honor went to a commander who fired a signal mortar), he gave the order to fire the first offensive volley at Sumter. In a very real sense, then, a member of my family “started” the Civil War. This fact has been much less a source of anything resembling pride in my immediate family than it has been, I think fairly, a source of some morbid curiosity. We have a slim folder on the man somewhere in our family history-related papers. The bullet point version is this: an agricultural genius, he pioneered several techniques that laid the foundation for modern farming. He was also a secessionist and firebrand, apparent from his role at Sumter.
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At the end of the Civil War, after the Confederacy capitulated, Edmund wrapped himself in a rebel flag, went out into the woods and shot himself in the head, leaving behind a suicide note saying that he would not live his life “under foreign rule.” A museum is, maybe, the wrong place to try and get a sense of the population’s relationship with its own history. Museums can’t, or at least shouldn’t, be biased; they are there as monuments, as bastions of history and information, a still-life presentation. So when information cards alongside sepia-toned photographs tell us about all the slave labor that was used to build and staff the fort, or when they describe in detail how the victorious militia raised the palmetto-andcrescent-moon flag, it may not be difficult to know how to feel, but it is difficult to know how the state itself feels about, and copes with, its own bloody history. The line between pride in our own dubious history and stubborn, blind clinging to it, is not a thin one; it is a chasm, a markedly clear divide. Or at least it would be, in a perfect world. That same world would, as well, relegate the Confederate flag to museums and historic sites, banning it
from all government facilities, be they federal, state, or local. We can’t do much to ban them from local residences, but we as a country should know better in the first place. There is nothing wrong with appreciating the rebel flag, former plantation homes, minstrel shows and the like, as long as we are aware of their proper historical context and role in shaping our country. But embracing them in such a way as to try and force them into a modern context, as if they have the same place now that they did then, is irresponsible at best, hateful at worst. No single major event sparked this column. Rather, it’s an appeal to lifelong Southerners — still, truly, my people — who still retain these ideas. I have no way of knowing if they bear any active ill will by that, but it isn’t the point. Instead, there is a willful ignorance of the implications of such choices. We have to face our history, each other and ourselves simultaneously.
JOsH rUFFIn is a long way from home, having moved from
Augusta to Middleton, Wisconsin, with his wife, Michelle. He is a self-described 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.
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Man’s Best Traitor I’m a dog person. I don’t hate cats, but I’ve always loved dogs and I’ve had a good run with the canine breed. My first dog of my own, Roy, was my best friend in the world. We went through so much together: Eleven jobs, five different states, nine girlfriends, a wife, three kids, the entirety of my 20s and more. He was more than just my best friend; he was like my first-born son. It’s why we call our oldest child “No. 2,” because Roy was “No. 1.” When Roy passed away, it killed me. I never wanted another dog. We eventually welcomed another dog to our home. He was a Christmas gift to my wife: a Boston Terrier named “Griswold” after the family in our favorite Christmas movie. Soon after Griswold, we rescued a mixed-breed dog that was to be shipped to an animal shelter. Keeping with the “Christmas Vacation” theme of names, we lovingly call him “Snotz.” We lost Griswold last year to a speeding car on Oakley Pirkle Rd. Since that devastating night, Snotz and I formed a new bond. We are fairly certain that Snotz saw Griswold get hit by the car and I was the one who found him lying on the side of the road. We shared an exceptionally long grieving process together because of our close connection with that tragedy. I like to think that Snotz and I helped each other through it all. We seemed to have a new, closer friendship because of it. I now realize that I have completely overanalyzed my relationship with my dog. This past weekend we entertained a guest from Ohio, a friend who came to visit for a few days. After the first night, our friend woke up laughing about Snotz hogging the bed all night. We laughed too. He is the biggest bed hog ever. Later that day, our friend caught a lazy, comfy Sunday snooze on the couch with Snotz by his side the entire time, something Snotz has never done with me. I’ll admit it bothered me a little. The next day I thought Snotz had snapped out of it. He came to sit by me on the couch. I urged him to lie down and get comfortable, but he wouldn’t. He seemed almost uneasy. Then I noticed it. Snotz kept looking out the side of his eye at our house guest, wanting to go lay by him. He eventually made his way over to the other chair, slowly, as if I wouldn’t notice. Oh, but I noticed. I noticed that my dog, the one I had formed this so-called bond with, has the loyalty of a cat. Now, here I am, a man without the loyalty of his dog. I’m a country song in the making. All I need is an old truck and a beer.
My dog, the one I had formed this so-called bond with, has the loyalty of a cat.
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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Manners, Do You Mind? WE LIVE IN THE SOUTH. Southerners love manners. Women pride themselves on raising the most proper children, what with their yes ma’ams and yes sirs. I’ve lived in the South most of my life, only spending about three years above the Mason-Dixon Line. My parents, hailing from Altoona, Pennsylvania (Mom), and Burbank, California (Dad), raised us to say please and thank you, but we weren’t ever asked to say, “yes ma’am” when addressing a lady. I appreciate it, though. In 1987, when we moved to Atlanta, I met my friend Casey. She was the most polite person I knew, using yes ma’am without thinking every time she spoke to an adult. I was in awe of her manners. As we raise our children, hoping they’ll become courteous, polite adults, we aren’t strict, per se, but we expect good manners. Please and thank you when getting out of someone else’s car is a must. We’ve taught them to pay attention to the situation, and if it seems the adult to which they’re speaking prefers “yes ma’am,” then use it. When in doubt, use it anyway. It can’t hurt. There are several schools of thought on what children should call adults. New friends, strangers and older adults are always Mrs. Last Name and Mr. Last Name. Our good friends are Mrs. First Name and Mr. First Name. The Mrs. First Name and Mr. First Name thing wasn’t a thing when I was little. Adults were either First Name or Mrs/Mr. Last Name. One of my favorite jobs I’ve had, working at Fat Man’s, taught me something. It’s that no matter your age, anyone older than you might like to be called Mrs./Mr. First Name. Just ask Mr. Brad (Usry). I call him Brad now, but it took a long time for that to feel comfortable. With every passing year, more and more people are calling me Mrs. Wright. I don’t feel old enough for all that, but I appreciate the gesture. Mrs. Wright is my mother in law’s name. I’m Jenny. Hearing “yes ma’am” from a 20-year-old still throws me off. I’ve
Um, what? Sweetheart? She couldn’t have been more than 19 years old!
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earned it, though. I understand the demand for respect. What once seemed stiff and maybe a little silly now feels well-deserved. Yesterday, I was picking up takeout, and, after I placed my order, the girl said, “It’ll be just a minute, sweetheart.” Um, what? Sweetheart? She couldn’t have been more than 19 years old! I don’t require much, but this seemed awfully silly. I still thanked her, thinking maybe I’d misheard. And then she did it again. I grabbed my order, thanking her again and dropping $2 in the tip jar. “Thanks, sweetheart. Enjoy your food! Have a nice day!” See the problem? She was being nice, so I can’t complain. She was doing her best to treat me, the old lady, with respect. Bless her heart. My husband calls me Dear. My kids occasionally say “yes ma’am” in casual conversation but always when they’re in trouble. I’ve earned the respect, but there’s no need to go overboard. Too much, and a money request usually follows. There’s a fine line between using good manners and general butt-kissing with my two. I hope they Mrs./Mr. First Name or Last Name with you, depending on your preference. Feel free to correct them if they don’t get it right the first time. They’re learning. I can promise you this: They won’t call you Sweetheart.
JENNY WRIGHT’S humorous observations on marriage, motherhood and living in Augusta have earned her a devoted following, both in print and on Facebook. When she’s not spying on other parents in the carpool line at school, you’ll probably find her with either a camera, tennis racquet or wine glass in her hand.
AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 9
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This Week In Science
IT’S SNOW MORE— This morning on the way to school, my daughter asked a very interesting and insightful question. “Daddy, why is the snowman still there when the snow is all gone?” Significant snowfalls only occur in Augusta every once in a while, and the snow usually doesn’t last long. The warm ground coupled with a bright sun quickly restores our green winters. Under certain conditions, however, traces of the snowfall will linger. Those conditions are worth a discussion, especially if we get into the science of snowmelt. “Well, when you pack the snow all together, it sort of concentrates the cold and makes it harder to melt.” Okay, so that’s not the most scientific explanation. However, going straight from zero knowledge into Newton’s Law of Cooling would be counterproductive. The typical sixth grader just doesn’t understand the concept of heat transfer coefficients. I let the explanation sink in for a moment. “Does that make sense to you? Or should I try to explain it more?” Of course, that’s just a nudge to continue the conversation. With the right prompting, I can steer my daughters into conversations regarding STEM topics. In this case, thermodynamics is not my best area, but I’m sure we could spend a halfhour discussing the impact of surface area on heat transfer and the physical state changes between ice, water and water vapor. I take a quick look at her as she taps on her phone. “Well, do you want me to try again?” Without taking her eyes off the phone, she responds. “Nope. I’m good.” Darn. ALL IN ONE PLACE — For those who couldn’t get enough of the full moon this past weekend (wasn’t it just awesome!!!), another astronomical treat is occurring during the next few weeks. Just before sunrise, the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are all visible in the eastern sky. The last time that six planets were visible at the same time was 11 years ago. In order to see the planets, look in the eastern sky just before twilight. Low in the sky, Venus and Saturn are easily visible, as they are the brightest lights in the region, Venus being the brightest. Moving higher in the sky and closer to the Moon, Mars will be discernable by its reddish hue. Continuing in a line, Jupiter will appear as a bright object, almost as bright as Venus. Mercury is the most difficult to see. This planet appears above the horizon just a few minutes before the sunrise becomes too bright. Mercury never gets more than 10 degrees above the horizon, so any nearby pine trees will block your view. There’s one more planet visible in the same field of view. If you guessed Pluto, that’s a good guess. Pluto is almost directly behind Venus, albeit much further away. Unfortunately, Pluto is no longer considered a real planet, and it’s not visible without a really big telescope. Do you need another hint? Okay, but this is the last one… GREGORY BAKER PH.D. is vice president of CMA Technology you’re standing on it. @gregory_a_baker
10 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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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15
Insider The Silence Surrounding Marshall Square
12
NEWS
12 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Clarification IN LAST WEEK’S STORY “Here Comes the Bride,” we inadvertently left out the names of the two photographers who provided pictures, April Ranew and Lauren Carnes. To contact April about photographing your next event, call 706-284-6114 or email aranewphotography@gmail.com. Contact Lauren by email at laurencarnesphotography@gmail.com. The Metro Spirit regrets the omission.
Moving Out? EVERYONE REMEMBERS several years ago when WJBF News Channel 6 and NBC 26 (otherwise known as WAGT) announced they were joining forces and moving into their brand new super station along Augusta West Parkway. At the time, it was a big to-do. The new location was actually the former Barnes & Noble bookstore, but Media General decided to pump some serious cash into the new facility and heavily promote the joint building known here locally as Television Park. Let’s just say, the brand new station was ridiculously enormous, and yet pretty impressive considering the former locations of the two stations. The new facility replaced WAGT’s former station on Broad Street and WJBF’s 10th and Reynolds streets location that had housed the station for more than 50 years. The new 28,000-square-foot facility located at Augusta West Shopping Center was fully renovated by none other than R.W. Allen, and the company boasted about the new redesign. “The state-of-the-art broadcast center features one of the largest newsrooms in the Southeast,” R.W. Allen announced in 2010, adding that the new facility would include three separate studios/sets, production rooms, three conference rooms, a break room, control rooms, a large lobby, and the most powerful weather center and tracking system in Augusta. This new building was meant to bring both stations fully into the 21st century. “WJBF is using the hi-tech facility, located at Television Park in the Augusta West Shopping Center, to operate WJBF and provide services to WAGT, allowing for the broadcasting of its newscasts in High Definition,” R.W. Allen announced Television Park was supposed to be the future home of both stations for many years to come. Back then, it seemed like a match made in heaven. Well, apparently, the honeymoon is officially over. This past fall, WRDW News 12’s parent company, Atlanta-based Gray Television Inc., announced it had acquired Schurz Communication, Inc. which has owned WAGT here in the Augusta area since 1980. So all of a sudden, the local news stations have completely switched partners. WRDW News 12 will now join forces with NBC 26 (WAGT) and the CW affiliate. Word on the street is that the general manager of WRDW wants to consolidate both stations at Channel 12’s current building on Georgia Avenue in North Augusta. However, even though they are moving into one building, the two news stations will remain separate. It will definitely be a bit of a change for the folks at NBC 26. Moving from Broad Street a few years ago to west Augusta and then to North Augusta really changes employees’ daily commute and their daily perspective. But the real shocker will be for WJBF News Channel 6 if WAGT officially moves out of Television Park. Talk about a gigantic building for only a few anchors, reporters,
meteorologists, camera people and production crews. There will be a lot of leftover space and who will move in? It’s not like you can ask an accounting firm or a doctor’s office if they want to rent half of Television Park. So, WJBF could get stuck with too much space and a great deal of overhead. Too bad the station already sold its former WJBF location on Reynolds Street and the building has already been torn down. The former, well-known, yellow, 15,000-square-foot building, also known as Television Park, that was once located at 10th and Reynolds streets in downtown Augusta was purchased in 2011 for $700,000 by TelPark Partners LLC, according to The Augusta Chronicle. To the dismay of some long-time Augustans, the Reynolds Street news station was eventually demolished. It was a unique building that was constructed just for television by former Augustan and financier J.B. Fuqua back in the 1950s. Que sera, sera, right? Whatever will be, will be with the location of news stations, eh? Well, WJBF may soon discover that newer doesn’t always mean better, especially when your partner packs its bags and leaves you high and dry. Television Park may soon be a very lonely building with one heck of an echo. Insiders say the next few weeks will soon decide the future of both stations and their new homes. Stay tuned.
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Politics is the Name of the Game for the State Court Seat The race for the Richmond County State Court judgeship is about to get interesting. The state court seat, which is being vacated by Judge John Flythe so that he can run for the Superior Court bench, has some well known and highly political folks running in the race. Do the last names Walker, McIntyre and Hunter ring a bell? If they don’t, you haven’t lived in Augusta very long. Kellie McIntyre, who is the current Richmond County State Court solicitor general, is the daughter-in-law of former Augusta Mayor Ed McIntyre. Monique Walker, who is the current chief operating officer and general counsel for Global Personnel Solutions, is the daughter of former state Sen. Charles Walker. And local attorney Robert “Bo” Hunter III, who served as the former solicitor general of Richmond County State Court for almost 10 years starting back in 1988, is also known for his former ties with the once very powerful political group known as the “Southside Mafia.” All three of these attorneys have declared their intent to run for the Richmond County State Court judgeship. For those who might be new to the Garden City, there is a long legacy of mixed feelings between former Sen. Charles Walker and the late Mayor Ed McIntyre. Being a fourth generation Georgian and a native Augustan, McIntyre was known throughout the community as a powerful political player. He was the first black candidate elected to the Richmond County Board of Commissioners back in 1970. Ten years later, McIntyre became the city’s first black mayor in 1981 and was highly respected throughout Augusta. McIntyre was often described as a visionary, a statesman and a builder of bridges with the ultimate goal of economically strengthening the city. Of course, by December of 1983, McIntyre’s legacy hit a brick wall. He was arrested by the FBI and charged with
conspiring and attempting to extort money from a local real estate developer. By spring of 1984, McIntyre was forced to resign as mayor and ended up serving about 14 months in prison. So, what does all of this have to do with Kellie McIntyre’s run for state court judge? Absolutely nothing. She is the daughter-in-law of Ed McIntyre. She’s not even blood related. Her service to the community as solicitor general stands on its own. But as soon as some folks hear the McIntyre name, the former mayor will immediately come to mind. Then there is Monique Walker, daughter of former state Sen. Charles Walker. Most Augustans won’t soon forget that summer day back in 2005 when the once highly powerful state senator was found guilty of 127 felony counts of conspiracy, mail fraud and filing false tax returns. Walker was eventually sentenced to a decade in federal prison and ordered to pay a $150,000 fine and $698,000 in restitution. The man who many thought would one day become the first black governor of the state of Georgia was all of a sudden sent to the Federal Correctional Institution in Estill, S.C., to face 10 years in a medium-security prison. Again, many people will ask, what does that have to do with Monique Walker and her race for state court judge? Well, this example gets a little more complicated. When the federal government went after the former Sen. Walker, it didn’t spare his daughter. Initially, Monique Walker also was indicted with him on several criminal counts in 2005. Fortunately for Monique Walker, all of the charges against her were dismissed after she pleaded guilty to a single
misdemeanor count of filing a false tax return and was forced to serve probation. But because she has decided to run for state court judge, some people are already bringing up her past. Of course, many people throughout Augusta believe that Monique Walker would likely have a completely clean record had she not been related to one of the most powerful political figures in Georgia. Just sayin’. And then there is Bo Hunter. Legend has it that when Hunter was young man, he was extremely close to the founder of the Southside Mafia, Roy V. Harris. Harris, who was also an outstanding lawyer and powerful local politician, was very protective of Hunter. Hunter once told The Augusta Chronicle back in 1998 about the powerful Saturday morning meetings of the Southside Mafia. “We’d stop at the liquor store and buy Jim Beam, grapefruit juice and ice,” Hunter told the Chronicle. “And we’d sit back there, and different people would come in, and let’s say there were two people who had a disagreement on the way to handle something. And they’d basically sit there and talk about it and talk about it and then he’d say, ‘OK fellows, this is what we’re going to do.’ And everybody abided by that decision.” What better way to make a decision about the county’s future than enjoying a few glasses of Jim Bean and grapefruit juice on ice? Come on, folks. This is the South. That just makes Hunter a “colorful” character. Needless to say, whoever wins the election for state court will definitely make an interesting judge.
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FIRST MASSAGE
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When Word spread last week that 28-year-old Isabel Mallar of Martinez had been arrested in Nebraska after authorities discovered her and two other men transporting more than 1,500 pounds of marijuana across the state, many local residents were floored. Those who know Isabel Mallar say that she’s one of the sweetest people you’d ever meet. She’s energetic, beautiful, outgoing and extremely friendly to everyone she encounters. She comes from a good, hardworking family who is now devastated by the charges their daughter is facing. She was involved with a local church and actually went on at least two mission trips to the Dominican Republic and Haiti, as well as a Honduras, over the past few years. She also loves to dance and can tear up a dance floor better than most anyone around. Whether it was the salsa, the mambo or the cha cha, she knew every step and is a magnificent dancer. And, somewhat surprisingly, Mallar was actually heavily involved with the local legal community. She’d been a paralegal for more than four years and had worked for several local attorneys, including Joe Neal Jr. and Chris Hudson. She worked for Joe Neal Jr. for the past six months in his Atlanta office since this past July. Of course, Neal is the local attorney who received three years of probation and 100 hours of community service in 2012 as part of a plea bargain that reduced a felony rape charge to two misdemeanors. But that doesn’t have anything to do with Mallar’s performance there or her qualifications. She was also a paralegal for Chris Hudson from April 2007 until July 2010 in his Martinez office. Ironically, Mallar also worked as campaign treasurer for local attorney and former Republican candidate for Chief Magistrate of Columbia County, Jason Hasty, in 2012. Hasty, who has a degree in political science from Duke University, and is a graduate from the University of Georgia School of Law, has worked as the assistant public defender in the Augusta Judicial Circuit, the Office of Indigent Defense in Augusta, as well as Cobb and Blue Ridge indigent defense. Obviously, Mallar knows a little bit about the law. So, the question is: How did she ever become involved in a $7.5 million drug bust in Nebraska? It is believed to be one of the biggest drug busts in Nebraska’s history. While those who know Mallar say she is super sweet, they also say she can be easily distracted, which leads to her sometimes considering businesses that can turn a quick buck. Mallar, who was officially charged with manufacturing and distributing a controlled substance and with intent to deliver a controlled substance in Nebraska, was arrested with two other men facing similar charges: Rahman Nabavi, 28, and Abbas Hajianbarzi, 51, both from the Atlanta area. According to news reports out of Nebraska, Mallar was driving a rented 2015 Ford E-350 RV near Lincoln, Nebraska, with the passenger, Nabavi, who is believed to be her boyfriend, when she was arrested. The RV had California license plates and was pulled over for a simple traffic infraction, according to Nebraska authorities. Not long after being pulled over, a K-9 unit from the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office was summoned to the scene, according to the Omaha World-Herald. “The K-9, Sacha, alerted officers to the presence of drugs,” the newspaper reported. “A search resulted in the discovery of 39 duffel bags filled with pot. Each duffel bag was filled with multiple 1-pound packages of marijuana.” In all, deputies discovered more than 1,500 pounds of marijuana inside large duffel bags. “We think that, as far as we can tell, this is the largest one-time seizure of marijuana ever by the sheriff’s office,” Chief Deputy Jeff Bliemeister told the Omaha World-Herald. “It appears the suspects were headed from Oregon to Georgia.” So, how did Mallar get involved with drug dealing and meet her boyfriend, Nabavi, from Alpharetta, Ga.? Well, one look at her Facebook page shows that she was apparently in love with Nabavi. “It’s true, your biggest mistakes teach you the hardest lessons, and you don’t realize what you have until it’s gone,” Mallar wrote on May 8, 2015. “We are all just trying to make the best decisions for ourselves, but I was a fool to think I had to leave this man behind to have the life I thought I wanted....when in reality, the things I truly value most, I already had. Life lesson (among all the others I’ve learned): stop caring so much about the destination and just enjoy the present. Beyond words, I am so incredibly grateful to have my best friend back in my life. — with Rahman Nabavi.” Unfortunately, Mallar may now realize that hooking up with Nabavi and deciding to transport more than 1,500 pounds of pot across the country was the biggest mistake she could ever make. Sometimes you do have to worry about the “destination.” Especially if that destination is prison.
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The Silence Surrounding Marshall Square Chaos, confusion and misdirection all led to the tragedy of the Marshall Square fire
Caryl Pender can’t help but wonder what would have happened if she hadn’t spent the night with her parents, Charles and Margaret Moye, that fateful day last June. That one simple decision likely saved her parents’ lives. Pender was having a typical evening at home, when her 94-year-old father called to say that he was feeling a little under the weather. “Daddy said, ‘Caryl, can you come over and spend the night? I’m sick and if I had to go to the hospital or something, I would need you to take me,’” Pender said. “So, I said, ‘Sure. I’ll be on over soon.’ And I grabbed my things and went.” Pender drove to her parents’ two-bedroom apartment on the third floor of Marshall Square retirement community in Evans on the evening of June 1. Since her father was feeling ill, Pender decided she would stay up all night, just in case she needed to check on him. 28JANUARY2016
She was relaxing in her parent’s spare bedroom, fiddling around on her computer, when suddenly a piercing alarm began to sound just after 3 a.m. Only a few seconds later, the alarm suddenly cut off. “It was very, very loud and I knew something was not right,” Pender recalled. “So I immediately jumped up and ran into to my father’s room and said, ‘Daddy! Daddy! Get up! It’s a fire! That’s the fire alarm!’” But her father urged her not to be concerned. “He said, ‘No. It’s not a fire alarm,’” Pender said. “But, just about that time, it came on again. And, just as quickly, it went back off.” Pender looked up at the sprinkler heads in her parents’ apartment, but they weren’t going off. Regardless, she urged her parents to get up and they all walked into living room. “I said, ‘That’s the fire alarm, Daddy. We have got to get
By Stacey Eidson out of this building!’” Pender said, but her father was still reluctant. “He said, ‘No. They have instructed us, in the case of a fire, to stay in the room.’” Pender could hardly believe what she was hearing. “I said, ‘They said, what? No. We are not staying in the room! We are getting out of here!’” Pender told her parents. But her father insisted that everything was fine and the building was safe. “He said, ‘No. We’ve had false alarms before and, even if it was a real fire, they told us that they had state-of-theart equipment and we are to stay in our rooms,’” Pender recalled her father saying. “He told me it might not be a real fire.” Instead of continuing to debate what to do with her father, Pender decided to call down to the front desk to find out whether there was an actual emergency in the building. AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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“So, I phoned downstairs and a man named Chris answered the phone,” Pender said, referring to Chris Bryde, the property manager of Marshall Square at the time. “I asked, ‘Is this a real fire?’” Instead of immediately answering her question, Pender said that Bryde had the audacity to ask, “Who is this?” At that point, Pender began to fully realize the seriousness of the situation. “I said, ‘This is Caryl Pender in Charles and Margaret Moye’s room. Is this a real fire?’ Pender asked. “And he said, ‘Yes. It is a real fire. Stay in your room until further notice.’”
To this day, Pender still can’t believe those were the instructions she was given by the manager of the retirement community. “I told him, ‘I might be crazy, but I’m not stupid!’” Pender said. “I hung the phone up and I told my mother and father to get dressed because they were in their nightclothes.” Both of her parents are in their 90s, so Pender said it took several minutes for them to get dressed and prepare to evacuate the building. “I told Mother to grab her handbag and for Daddy to grab his wallet,” Pender said,
“Yes. It is a real fire. Stay in your room until further notice.”
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adding that she quickly grabbed her purse as well. “Both of them had walkers that had the four wheels and a seat, so I had to fold those walkers up and fling both of them over my shoulder.” While the walkers were heavy, Pender knew her parents would need them in order to evacuate the building. They hurried out of her parents’ apartment and noticed the double doors down the hallway were closed. She immediately feared for their lives. “I remembered that Daddy one time told me that in the case of a fire, those double doors would close. I looked and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, the double doors are closed! It is a real fire!’” Pender said. “I was wondering whether the fire was on the other side of those doors, but I didn’t know any other way to get out. So I opened the double doors and told my parents that we couldn’t take the elevator.” Instead, Pender and her elderly parents were forced to use the stairs. “It was three flights down,” Pender remembers, shaking her head. “I carried the walkers and helped them get down those steps. It was no easy task.” Finally, when they reached the first floor, Pender opened a side door that residents can use with their keycards to exit the building and helped her parents to the far end of the sidewalk. As she began unfolding the walkers so her parents could sit down, Pender looked over her right shoulder and saw heavy smoke coming out of the billiard room on the third floor. She knew it was the billiard room because the windows were different from the rest of the building. “I pointed up at the building and said, ‘Oh my God, Daddy! Look! The fire is in the billiard room!’” Pender said. “And my father, who has a very good mind, said, ‘Yes! It is the billiard room!’” Pender immediately told her parents not to move, that she would return as quickly as possible. “I said, ‘Daddy, I’ve got to go back in and get those people. You stay right here! You and Mother, do not move an inch! I will be right back!’” Pender said. “I realized that if the staff at Marshall Square told those residents the same thing they told me and Daddy, those poor people would still be waiting in their rooms and the building was on fire.” Pender knew she had to get as many people out of the building as possible. There was no time to waste. “So I ran back in and started yelling, ‘Fire! Fire! Get out of the building! Get out of the building!’” she said. “I encountered a group of people that were standing in the hall and discussing whether they should get out or not, because they had been told to stay in the building. And so I told them, ‘Get out of the building! It is a real fire!’” But Pender quickly realized that many of the Marshall Square residents had difficulty walking. “I started gently nudging them out the door and then one lady told me that she left her walker and couldn’t walk, so I put her arm over my shoulder and kind of carried her out,” Pender said. “I found a chair on somebody’s patio and grabbed it and sat her in that.” As Pender began trying to gather the group of residents at the end of the sidewalk next to her parents, she saw the first fire truck pull up. “I watched them as they stabilized the truck as more residents exited the building,” Pender said. “By that time, I don’t know how many of us were on the sidewalk. It was a good many by then, but I noticed nobody was counting. Nobody was checking to see who made it out.” 28JANUARY2016
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Columbia County Battalion Chief Jeremy Wallen told the Metro Spirit following the fire on June 2 that a resident living on the third floor of Marshall Square was the first to notify Columbia County’s 9-1-1 Communications Center of the fire around 3:20 a.m. “The fire was larger than it appeared on arrival because it was throughout the attic already,” Wallen explained. “It takes time for that to come out and be actually visible. But there was much more fire from the very beginning than it appeared from the outside.” Upon arrival, Wallen said the fire department immediately began assisting with the evacuation of the Marshall Square residents with the help of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Gold Cross EMS. “The first alarm (at about 3:22 a.m.) brought three pumps and one aerial truck and some
“It was like watching me try to put my house out with a garden hose.” support vehicles,” Wallen said. “When they discovered the fire, they pulled the second alarm that sent two additional pumps and the next ladder truck. That was approximately 25 minutes later after the initial arrival.” Wallen explained that the department also began taking a headcount of those residents who had evacuated the building. “We also began staging an accountability system, to determine how many persons had come out of the building,” he said. “I believe most of the residents were out within the first hour.” As the Marshall Square residents watched the firefighters continue to search the building, Pender said a sheriff’s deputy asked the group of elderly residents to move further away from the fire. With their walkers and wheelchairs, Pender said the residents slowly moved into the parking lot, facing the center of the building. “When we got over there, it was evident to me that these people had never been through a fire drill because nobody knew where to meet,” she said. “Usually you are told a central meeting spot. Nobody knew where to meet. So you had a little group of people over here and a little group of people over there. It was very disorganized.” Finally, she noticed a woman attempting to count the number of residents who had escaped the building. “I noticed the lady, who I believed worked there, and she had a list of the residents and their apartment numbers,” Pender said. “I walked up to her and told her I was Caryl Pender and that I had gotten out safely. She started looking for my name on the list and I told her, ‘No. No. I’m not a resident. I’m a visitor. I’m Charles and Margaret Moye’s daughter. And they are both out safely.’” While the woman checked her parents’ names off the list, Pender said she couldn’t help but notice the woman was clearly unnerved. “Her hands were visibly shaking,” Pender said. “I hate to say this, but it was like she was kind of losing it.” As a retired state probation officer, Pender knew the importance of trying to stay calm and think 28JANUARY2016
clearly in an emergency situation, so she attempted to assist the woman. “I looked at the list and I looked at some of the people standing outside,” Pender said. “I knew some of the residents and I could tell her the ones that I saw who made it out and the ones that I didn’t see.” In the meantime, Pender said the residents wouldn’t stay all together in one group. Instead, they kept walking off to see what was going on with the fire. Tension began to mount as the fire increased and the residents began to realize that their apartments were becoming engulfed in flames. “I was in utter disbelief,” she said. “The fire was getting out of hand and these poor people were watching all of their worldly possessions burning up. They were crying and extremely distraught.” Once again, a deputy approached the group and told them to move further away from the building and onto the roadway. Pender will never forget trying to help this huge group of elderly residents maneuver over the curbs, in between the shrubs and through the thick grass. “It was June and the grass was so soggy,” Pender said. “You could barely get the walkers and wheelchairs through it.” As she helped push the residents through the grass, she began to fully realize that the Nebraska-based company, Resort Lifestyle
But, in the back of her mind, Pender knew not everyone had managed to make it out safely. “I realized there were some people not accounted for, but I didn’t tell the residents who were sitting there watching the fire intensify,” Pender said. “That would have been too much for them to handle.” The fire continued to spread and it quickly became clear that the firefighters at the scene were losing the battle, she said. “I immediately knew that the fire was too big for the firefighters to handle,” Pender said. “Clearly, they needed more aerial trucks and more firefighters during the first hour of the fire.” While Pender says she appreciated the firefighters’ efforts during the early morning hours of the Marshall Square fire, they clearly did not have enough equipment and manpower to handle the situation. “It was like watching me try to put my house out with a garden hose,” she said. “I was in total disbelief. I just don’t know why they didn’t call in Richmond County to come to the fire itself with everything that they had. To me, that was a five-alarm fire and Columbia County was simply overwhelmed by it.” Columbia County could have had another aerial ladder truck on the scene shortly after the fire started if officials had
Columbia County Fire Chief Doug Cooper told the Metro Spirit after the fire that he completely stood by the actions of his department. Communities, which owned Marshall Square, perhaps created a false image of its “all-inclusive, resort-style community.” The company marketed Marshall Square as a luxury community for “adults 55 and over.” “All of these people are in their 70s, 80s and 90s. I did not know of a single one there that was in their 60s, much less their 50s,” Pender said. “These people are elderly. They are not able-bodied individuals, by any stretch of the imagination.” When the group finally moved to the new designated location, the residents turned to see huge flames leaping from the building. The residents were devastated, Pender said. “I tried to console them, but a lot of them I didn’t even know,” she said. “There wasn’t much I could do except gently pat their arm and say, ‘We are out alive.’”
contacted Richmond County, the city of Hephzibah or Fort Gordon and requested mutual aid. According to Cathy Plaster, the assistant director for Richmond County’s 9-1-1 Emergency Services, Richmond County received the mutual aid call from Columbia County at 6:13 a.m. on the day of the fire. That’s about three full hours after Columbia County was first made aware of the fire at Marshall Square. By 5 a.m., the fire had destroyed most of the central part of the three-story building valued at more than $25 million and was rapidly spreading to the eastern wing. Wallen said Columbia County requested Richmond County’s assistance around 6:15 a.m. to cover some of the fire stations that were unmanned due to the fact that those crews were sent to the Marshall Square fire. “Our incident commanders felt like where we needed Richmond County’s assistance AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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was to run the normal day-to-day calls that we weren’t potentially able to cover from our fire stations,” Wallen told the Metro Spirit last year. “That is where the incident commanders felt that they needed them.” Columbia County Fire Chief Doug Cooper told the Metro Spirit after the fire that he completely stood by the actions of his department. “At the fire, I had six pumps and two ladder trucks and 104 firefighters. I had about everything that I needed over there,” Cooper said. “I needed those stations covered because we knew that (the Marshall Square fire) was going to be a long, drawn out thing and there were still going to be other emergencies. We had to account for that.” As far as any concerns over whether the department could have used another aerial firetruck at the Marshall Square fire, Cooper said he felt that his department had all the equipment and manpower it needed. “It was pretty much on fire all over the attic when we got there,” Cooper said. “And, actually, we had every available water source in the area utilized.” Pender simply doesn’t understand the fire chief’s logic in that situation. “By the time they called Richmond County, the whole building was gone,” she said. “I saw when the fire first broke through that roof. I’ve never seen flames that high. They should have gone ahead and called for help realizing that there were people still inside the building and, if you were 18 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
going to even try to save the structure, you were going to need some assistance.” She also said she never saw 100 firefighters battling the fire when she was at the scene. “When they took me off in an ambulance after 6 a.m., I did not see 100 firefighters,” she said. “Now, I wasn’t counting. But I know 100 when I see it.”
“They should have gone ahead and called for help realizing that there were people still inside the building.” Pender’s father also couldn’t help but comment on what he saw that day. “After the people were brought out by the fire department, the firefighters might as well have gone home and saved the water because they didn’t have enough manpower or equipment,” Charles Moye said.
The entire incident was both heartbreaking and infuriating to watch, Pender said. “Everything was going wrong,” she said. “They were absolutely unable to contain the fire. And you should have seen the look on the residents’ faces. These people all moved into Marshall Square thinking that this was the last place they would live in their lifetime. So they had pared down everything to their most valuable, most precious, most meaningful items. There it was burning up. They were left with the clothes on their backs.” That would tough for anyone, but for elderly residents in their 80s and 90s, it was tragic, she said. “Those are their memories,” Pender said. “If you are younger, you have more lifetime to make more memories. They don’t have time to recover.” Of course, nothing was more devastating for the residents of Marshall Square than when they learned 91-year-old Dorothy Carpenter had lost her life in the fire. Everyone knew she shouldn’t have died that morning, Pender said. The residents feared they had lost another friend after hearing that 82-year-old Rhetta Cadle was still missing and presumed dead. Her family had already begun mourning the fact that they probably lost their beloved mother, but something miraculous happened. Cadle somehow managed to survived. 28JANUARY2016
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“That was a gift from God,” Pender said. “I’m a religious person and I truly believe only God saved Mrs. Cadle because when you look at those flames, you have to ask: How in the world did that woman survive? Everybody couldn’t believe it.” For seven hours, Cadle had been trapped in her bathroom because she followed the Marshall Square employees’ instructions to “shelter in place” and not evacuate the building, according to her lawsuit filed by local attorney Sam Nicholson last month. “As the fire continued to rage, and circumstances became more dire, (Cadle) attempted to escape,” the lawsuit states. “When she opened the door, she found blistering flames that prevented her safe passage and escape.” Cadle felt she had no other choice but to lock herself in the bathroom as the building
For seven hours, (Rhetta) Cadle had been trapped in her bathroom because she followed the Marshall Square employees’ instructions to “shelter in place.” burned around her. “Over that period, she covered herself in wet towels to counter the effects of the extreme heat and smoke caused by the fire,” the lawsuit states. “As she lay helpless in the bathroom, water began gushing into the bathroom through a hole in the ceiling caused by the fire. The gushing water would rise, recede, and then pour in again.” Cadle’s life was being threatened by both fire and water. Then, the fire caused the ceiling to collapse and the HVAC units came crashing down around her. It wasn’t until firefighters heard Cadle’s cries for help that she was finally rescued. “If you are not a believer in God, and you saw Mrs. Cadle come out of that building, 28JANUARY2016
you’re a believer now,” Pender said. It’s now been eight months since the devastating fire that destroyed the Marshall Square retirement community and Pender says she is tired of waiting around for an explanation as to what went wrong and what needs to be changed. Over the past few weeks, she has begun contacting both state and local officials suggesting ways to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again in this area. She has sent letters to Georgia House representatives Jodi Lott, Barry Fleming and Barbara Sims, as well as state senators Bill Jackson and Jesse Stone, asking them to introduce legislation that would strengthen the state’s building codes for structures marketed to agerestricted residents. Pender has great concerns about the fact that the Marshall Square facility was approved as basically an apartment
more questions. “When the fire marshal told the management that they couldn’t tell the people to stay in the rooms, did they ever follow up on it?” Pender asked. “Did they get an actual plan for a fire and see what the management changed it to?” These are the exact questions that Pender believes Columbia County commissioners should be asking and making sure they get answers. “I am shocked that the Columbia County commissioners have not looked into this more,” Pender said. “They at least need to tell the public that they may need more aerial trucks, more firefighters and tighten up the building codes because it is only a matter of time before something tragic will happen again.” As a result of the fire, her parents have filed a class action lawsuit against the owners of Marshall Square and some
complex under the county’s current building codes. “The owners of Marshall Square kept saying the building had state-of-the-art fire protection, but, in actuality, I think they built it to the normal building codes for any apartment complex,” Pender said. “I feel like, in the future, Columbia County needs to tighten up its codes if a company is going to market to people 55 and older. I believe the building should be built to the codes of an assisted living facility.” When Pender also learned that Columbia County Deputy Fire Marshal Jerry Baldwin had instructed Chris Bryde, the manager of Marshall Square, last January that the complex’s “shelter in place” policy violated the state fire code, that brought about
of its staff — including the property manager, Chris Bryde, and the night concierge, Zack Freehof. The lawsuit, filed by local attorney Jack Long, also includes Cameron General Contractors Inc. and Goodman Company L.P. “After the fire, the Marshall Square Defendants made no effort to recover personal property of a sentimental value, some of which was located in safes,” the lawsuit states, “but allowed the clean-up crews to take items that were irreplaceable, including jewelry that (the Moyes) had in their own safe.” Earlier this month, Superior Court Judge Carl Brown appointed local attorney Freddie Sanders to help recover property
of former Marshall Square residents, Pender said. Sanders was also given the authority to investigate the disposition of any of the residents’ property, she said. “Freddie Sanders is going to be
“I am shocked that the Columbia County commissioners have not looked into this more.” investigating all the missing items and I think he’ll do a good job. He used to be the police chief,” Pender said. “But the fact that people took items from these residents like jewelry and furniture is just another nightmare.” Ever since the fire, Pender said her parents are still struggling to find comfort in their new home. “I definitely think that it has had an impact on my mother,” Pender said, adding that her mother suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. “She has not done as well since the fire because, of course, when you move, things are unknown to you again.” However, Pender’s mother is extremely grateful that she survived the fire and her daughter was there to help evacuate some of the residents from the building. “My mother says that I saved them,” Pender quietly said, smiling. “I’m just glad I was there.” As for her father, Pender said he is still trying to keep his sense of humor about the whole, terrible ordeal. “My dad says, ‘It has aged me 10 years!’” Pender said, chuckling. “Of course, he is 94 years old.” But regardless of the stress that the fire has caused her and her parents, Pender is committed to demanding answers for all the residents of Marshall Square so such a tragedy will never happen again. “For these residents to have to fight to get the Columbia County commissioners to change some of their ways, it is just too much for these elderly people,” Pender said. “So I’m going to get these elected officials to step up to the plate now. It has been long enough. These residents want answers and they need them sooner rather than later.”
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Sandwiches That’ll Knock You Out Real Good Eats Calendar Music Listings
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WHAT’S UP
If you have any questions, or would like to submit an event to our calendar, please email Amy Christian at amy@themetrospirit.com. 28JANUARY2016
SAFE BET
Last summer, singer/songwriter Patrick Davis decided it was time to start making his live shows sound exactly as he heard them in his head. How? By bringing his horn section, background singers and the “normal” suspects led by his dad Rusty on the road with him. The South Carolina native, who now lives in Nashville, decided to call them “His Midnight Choir” after some of his favorite lyrics from Leonard Cohen’s “Bird on a Wire.” Since then, the acclaimed musician — who’s written songs for everyone from Darius Rucker to Jewel — has traveled the country performing benefit concerts to packed houses. They’ve raised money for everyone from flood victims to the families and congregation of those who died in the massacre at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. This Friday, January 29, Davis and his merry band will add Augusta, playing Enterprise Mill in a benefit for SafeHomes of Augusta. Don’t miss it.
PATRICK DAVIS AND HIS MIDNIGHT CHOIR Enterprise Mill Friday, January 29 Doors, 7:30 p.m.; show, 8:30 p.m. $20, advance; $25, door patrickdavismusic.com
THIS WEEK
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Coloring has been proven to lower stress in adults, so just think how much more relaxed you’ll be if you add martinis to the mix. Find out how this combination works for you January 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Somewhere in Augusta. Visit somewhereinaugusta.com.
See the legendary Art Garfunkel in the intimate setting of Atlanta’s Buckhead Theatre January 29 at 8 p.m. Tickets are pricy, but well worth it. Visit thebuckheadtheatre.com.
Hounds, and all other breeds, are welcome runners at the Dog Gone Cold 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run, a fundraiser for Hopeful Hounds this Saturday that begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Julian Smith BBQ Pit. Visit active.com to register.
Rev. Rick Rhen-Sosbe is pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Our Redeemer downtown, a congregation in which all are welcome. Find out what he has to say on the topic of Gays and God at 5:30 p.m. at the Maxwell Branch Library.
Multiple choice? Colin and Jeff are not going to let you get off that easily at Stillwater Taproom’s Pub Quiz, held Wednesday beginning around 8 p.m. It may be difficult, but with lots of questions about music and “filum,” it’ll be a lot of fun.
For more information on these events, see our calendar of events on page 28.
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Sandwiches That’ll Knock You Out It’s been fIve years since Knuckle Sandwiches opened its doors on Broad Street. The bare-bones sandwich shop can be found at 1149 Broad, identifiable by the logo on the window — a bare-knuckle boxer with fists full of sandwiches. Central to the most populated blocks downtown, Knuckle Sandwiches used to just capture the latenight crowds as they empty from the bars, but they’re now open Wednesday through Saturday from an 4 p.m. until… whenever. And it’s not surprising that they attracted the kind of attention that propelled them through their first five years in business; the aroma of damn fine food hits you from about a half-block away. With a few beers down your neck, that smell will have you fumbling for your wallet. My husband and I went on a Friday evening, and downtown was packed. After a tiny three-block hike, following the beautiful smell of beef and pork was quite exciting. I’d never been to Knuckle Sandwiches before, though it had been on my list of musts for a while. Reading the online reviews, I saw rave after rave for the PBR-B-Q and found plenty of Knuckle Sandwiches fans. First impressions? The restaurant is tiny. As in it’s not really a sit-down spot. Not to say you can’t grab one of the bigger tables outside when the weather’s amenable, but inside it’s a tight squeeze. Fine for couples and small groups, but not if you have kids, are thinking of sprawling across a massive table, or in need of elbow room. And this place is laid back. The interior’s low-lighting and reddish walls gives off some cozy vibes. The whole place is low-key; completely absent of any bells and whistles. The drinks are on display in a couple of halffridges, and the menu items are listed on separate
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wood signs on the wall. As are the directions on how to order. Customers can grab some paper towels and condiments from below the signs. Low-maintenance but totally effective business solutions. The menu consists of eight choices. A cheese steak, a veggie burger, a bacon cheeseburger, chicken, the PBR-B-Q, wings, a grilled cheese and a hot dog. On occasion Knuckle Sandwiches throws a special dish on the menu, such as Tacos Rosados or Chili Cream Dogs, usually announced on Facebook. Since it was early Friday evening and we had other plans, we got our food to go. We ordered, paid the $19 for our meal and then we waited/looked around/stared at each other for maybe five minutes until the food was ready. Simple and fast. I opted for the Uppercut Cheese Steak — sliced ribeye, peppers, onions, mushrooms and all of it smothered with cheddar on toasted French bread with a side of chili ranch dip that I put on everything. My husband went with the PBR-B-Q — shaved beer-braised shoulder topped with cheese — and holy crap it smelled so good I was jealous. No need! Turns out the most amazeballs food coming from Knuckle Sandwiches are the fries! My sandwich was really very tasty, and I can’t complain — it was everything I hoped it would be. It certainly wasn’t a gastronomic revelation, but I’m down with absolutely everything thrown in it and yes I’ll happily eat it again. More likely to happen after a few drinks with friends than if I were to have to make a special trip.
by Molly Swift
But those fries. Yes, they are divine. Crispy and perfectly seasoned, they took only about three minutes for me to inhale. A few remained in my sandwich just to add another layer of awesome. It does say a lot, though, when the fries are the most incredible part of your dinner. But who cares? It’s great that there’s a place opened late for folks who have a (night) life downtown. They aren’t setting out to be a high-end fine dining experience. Knuckle Sandwiches is a convenient spot for some late-night munchies — delicious (not healthy) food to help soak up the brews. Don’t mistake it for anything else; just enjoy it for what it is. KnucKle sandwIches 1149 Broad Street Wednesday-Saturday, 4 p.m.-until 706-828-4700
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Real Good Eats THERE’S A SIGN behind the counter at Fred’s Meat & Bread proclaiming their cheesesteaks are better than ones you can find in Philly. Those may be fightin’ words to some, but they come from no less than Bon Appetit magazine, people you figure should know what they’re talking about. Located in Krog Street Market near Georgia Tech in Atlanta, the Philadelphia comparisons shouldn’t surprise anyone. Like the Reading Terminal Market in that historic city, Krog is a foodie paradise of retail and dining vendors who sell everything from vintage clothing to small-batch ice cream. Its warehouse environs attract a lot of hipsters, no doubt, but the quality of the food here is undeniable. And even among these high standards, Fred’s is a standout and is worth finding… and waiting for. And if you manage to find a seat at the counter, run as if you’re very life depended on it. KROG STREET MARKET 99 Krog Street, Atlanta Open all day every day krogstreetmarket.com
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TED talks are designed to be innovative. Ever since the conferences began 32 years ago, organizers have been dedicated to “ideas worth sharing,” and, almost as important, ideas worth sharing succinctly. Participants, even those like Bill Gates and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, are only given 18 minutes to give the talk of their lives. The TEDx initiative grew out of the TED conference, giving local communities the freedom to organize their own events. It’s fitting, then, that TEDx Augusta 2016, the third such event the city has hosted, has as its theme Autonomy What is autonomy? It’s freedom all dressed up in a pretty word. Or, thought of another way, autonomous means you (or your community) govern yourself. See? Perfect. TEDx Augusta is Friday, January 29, at the Imperial Theatre, and the day-long event will feature local and national speakers. Some of the locals gracing the stage are optometrist Ben Casella, Augusta Prep senior Elizabeth Chandler and Harrisburg community activist Christopher Shelley. “Even though autonomy means ‘independent,’ it cannot be learned independently,” Shelley said of his TEDx talk, which will focus on providing positive male role models to the kids in tough neighborhoods like Harrisburg. In between the speakers will be breaks, so visitors can check out an innovation gallery or hear spoken word artist Nathan Ivey (N-8) or band Stink Bamboo. Tickets are still available for what is sure to be a fascinating day. TEDXAUGUSTA 2016
Imperial Theatre Friday, January 29 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. $85; $100, VIP; $250, VIP patron; $65, students, seniors and military tedxaugusta.com
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ARTS Fri Jan 29, 2016 Noon Art at Lunch The Dance Theatre of Harlem was founded shortly after the assassination of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook, and they’ve been showcasing African-American and other racially diverse artists ever since. Their upcoming performance at the Bell, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, will consist of four pieces from the company’s contemporary repertoire, including one featuring the music of the Augusta’s own James Brown. On Friday beginning at 4:30 p.m. representatives of the company will hold a master class at the Augusta Ballet School. For more information, visit augustaballet.org or georgialinatix.com.
Morris Museum of Art Artist Beth Bolgia, an Augusta native who now lives in New York, discusses her ceramic pieces and paintings. $10, members; $15, non-members. Catered lunch included. Pre-registration required. Call 706-724-7501 or visit themorris.org.
Sat Jan 30, 2016
10am - 2pm Make It, Bake It, Take It: Part I Kroc Center A pottery class for those ages 15 and up. No previous experience necessary and all supplies are included. $50; pre-registration required. Call 706-922-0171 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org.
Mon Feb 1, 2016
1:30pm - 4:30pm Oil Painting Attic Treasures, Harlem A class led by Minette Hatcher for those ages 10 to adults. There are three sessions of this class; session 2 is January 25, while session 3 is February 1. $30, one class; $55, two classes; $80, all three classes plus supply fee. Call 706-394-4682 or email harlemartscouncil@gmail.com.
Thu Feb 4, 2016
11am - 1pm Hand-Building Pottery Attic Treasures, Harlem A two-session Harlem Arts Council class for adults that continues Thursday, February 25. $50. Call 706-394-4682 or email harlemartscouncil@gmail.com.
DANCE Fri Jan 29, 2016
4:30pm - 8pm Master Class Augusta Ballet School Featuring Artistic Director Virginia Johnson and Ballet Master Keith Saunders of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Intermediate class for those with five or more years of experience is from 4:30-6 p.m. and the advanced class is from 6:30-8 p.m. Classes are for those ages 12 and older. $15. Visit augustaballet.org.
Sat Jan 30, 2016
7:30pm The Dance Theatre of Harlem Bell Auditorium Presented by the Augusta Ballet. $29-$73. Call 877-428-4849 or visit georgialinatix.com.
EDUCATION Thu Jan 28, 2016 5:30pm PowerPoint
Columbia County Library
If you have any questions, or would like to submit an event to our calendar, please email Amy Christian at amy@themetrospirit.com. 26 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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Pre-registration required. Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.
Fri Jan 29, 2016
10am - 3:30pm Computer Boot Camp Columbia County Library A two-session class that concludes Friday, February 5. Pre-registration required. Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.
Noon - 2pm How to Survive the Coming Times Headquarters Branch Library A systematic study of life-changing world events, including the future of America, global financial collapse, new world order, one world religion and more. The first class provides the framework for this weekly teaching series. Call 706-751-9152.
Sat Jan 30, 2016
10:30am - 12:30pm Grant Workshop Headquarters Branch Library Participants will learn how to find grants and the basics of grant writing. $30 for class materials. Pre-registration required. Call 706-210-2547 or email jljresources@aol.com.
11am - 2pm Exorcism: Christianity’s Dark Rite Maxwell Branch Library Exorcist Bishop Bryan D. Ouellette of the Sacred Order of St. Michael the Archangel (Order of Exorcists) and Presiding Bishop of the autocephalous Holy Nicholean Catholic Church presents on the nature of demonic possession and how the church deals with authentic cases of demonic infestation. Pre-registration Required. Call 706-793-2020 or visit arcpls.org.
3:30pm - 5pm The Evolution of the Modern Bible Maxwell Branch Library A look at how the different translations of the Bible. Pre-registration required. Call 706-793-2020 or visit arcpls.org.
Mon Feb 1, 2016
3:30pm - 5pm Intermediate Spanish Friedman Branch Library An adult class led by Edwin Perez of the Asociacion Cultural Hispanoamericana. Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.
Tue Feb 2, 2016
3:30pm The Immortal 600: Surviving the Civil War in Charleston and Savannah North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.
5:30pm Gays and God: Setting the Record Straight Maxwell Branch Library Presented by Reverend Rick Rhen-Sosbe, pastor at the Metropolitan Community Church of Our Redeemer. Pre-registration required. 28JANUARY2016
Call 706-793-2020 or visit arcpls.org.
Wed Feb 3, 2016
11:30am - 1:30pm Open Job Lab Diamond Lakes Branch Library Participants can complete job applications, resumes or conduct job searches with staff available for one-on-one help if needed. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
3pm Beginner Spanish Aiken Public Library A class for adults. Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
Ongoing GED Class
The Kroc Center A class for those ages 18 and older that meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m.-noon. The class is free, but there is a charge for taking the GED exit exam. Preregistration required. Call 706-771-4131 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org.
Guided Tours 1797 Ezekiel Harris House Offered by appointment only MondayFriday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Last tours of the day begin at 4 p.m. Adults, $2; children, $1. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
North Augusta Driving Tour Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta Offered by appointment and includes a 3045 minute guided tour and admission to the center. Self-guided tours are also available through an iPhone downloadable audio tour or a Google Maps-based tour. Guided tours: $5, adults; $3, students K-12. Call 803-4414380 or visit artsandheritagecenter.com.
Tours Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson Guided tours, approximately 45 minutes long, are offered Thursday-Saturday on the hour from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Group tours are available by advanced reservation. Adults, $5; seniors, $4; kids K-12, $3; under 5 years, free. Call 706-724-0436 or visit wilsonboyhoodhome.org.
reception hall that begins with happy hour at 6 p.m. $28, members; $35, non-members; $5, students. Call 803-799-2810 or visit columbiamuseum.org.
Sun Jan 31, 2016
2pm Gallery Tour: Highlights of the CMA Collection Columbia Museum of Art Free with admission. Call 803-799-2810 or visit columbiamuseum.org.
Wed Feb 3, 2016
10am Gladys’ Gang: Head in the Clouds
EXHIBITIONS Ongoing
The Winter Exhibition Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta Featuring the work of Carrie Brooks and Hyunsuk Erickson, this exhibit shows through February 26. Call 803-441-4380 or visit artsandheritagecenter.com.
History of African-American Nursing Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History The exhibit shows through February 26. Call 706724-3576 or visit lucycraftlaneymuseum.com.
Columbia Museum of Art A free early childhood arts and literacy program for those ages 2-5 that includes story time in the galleries and hands-on art projects. Pre-registration required. Call 803799- 2810 or visit columbiamuseum.org.
Ajibola Exhibition
Augusta Visitors Center Tours aboard the Lady Libby available at the Augusta Visitors Center with 24-hour advanced reservations. Tickets include admission to the Augusta Museum of History. Call 706-724-4067 or visit visitaugusta.org.
Ongoing
Nico Gozal Exhibition
ELSEWHERE
Interpretive Paintings of Elaine Thillen LithaMoonGallery, Greensboro These paintings of Elaine Thillen will show through February 13. Visit lithamoon.com.
Historic Trolley Tours of Augusta
Fri Jan 29, 2016
6pm - 9pm Chamber Music on Main Columbia Museum of Art A chamber concert in the museum’s
Free Admission Days Columbia Museum of Art Held January 18-29. Call 803-799-2810 or visit columbiamuseum.org.
Life After Life: Representational and
Sacred Heart Cultural Center Also known as Daphne Taylor, this local artist will exhibit her original paintings through February 26. Call 706-826-4700 or visit sacredheartaugusta.org. Hire Grounds Cafe The Indonesian artist brings his multicultural heritage to life in his silk paintings, on display throughout the month of January. Call 706650-5760 or visit goodwillworks.org.
SEEDS Exhibition Westobou Gallery An exhibition of works in a variety of mediums from local and regional artists that are $300 or less. The exhibition will show until January 29. Call 706-755-2878 or visit AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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who have low vision from eye diseases. Call 706-721-3443 or visit guides.gru.edu/ healthliteracyseries.
6pm Weight Loss Surgery and You University Hospital Free, but pre-registration required. Call 706774-8931 or visit universityhealth.org.
7pm - 9pm Breastfeeding Augusta University Health Free, but pre-registration required. Call 706721-2273 or visit augustahealth.org.
7pm - 9:30pm Childbirth Preparation University Hospital A four-session class that continues on Tuesdays through February 23. Free, but pre-registration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
Wed Feb 3, 2016
7pm - 9:30pm Childbirth Preparation Reading is fun, but it’s even more enjoyable when there’s a dog involved. Find that out for yourself on Tuesday, February 2, at 3:30 p.m., when the Maxwell Branch Library hosts Paws for Literacy featuring therapy dogs. Call 706-793-2020 or visit ecgrl.org.
westoboufestival.com.
Exhibits Augusta Museum of History Includes the following: “Augusta, 1864” (through January 2016); “The Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown; “Celebrating a Grand Tradition, the Sport of Golf”; “Augusta’s Story”; “A Community That Heals”; “Into the Interior: A History of the Georgia Railroad and Banking Company”; “Local Legends”; “One Man, Two Ships: Lessons in History and Courage”; “A Quilt Journey”; and “Canteens to Combat Boots”. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
FLIX Thu Jan 28, 2016
An infant care and sleep class for new parents. Pre-registration required. Call 706651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.
7pm Healthcare Marketplace Information North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.
7pm - 8:30pm Infant CPR Class University Hospital Pre-registration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
Fri Jan 29, 2016
6:30pm - 9:30pm Weekend Childbirth Education Class
Morris Museum of Art Free. Call 706-724-7501 or visit themorris.org.
University Hospital Class continues Saturday, January 30, from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Pre-registration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
Sat Jan 30, 2016
Mon Feb 1, 2016
Aiken Public Library Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
University Hospital A four-session class that continues on Mondays through February 22. Free, but pre-registration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
4:30pm “Motivated by Color: The Life & Art of Phillip Morsberger”
3pm “The Man From UNCLE”
Wed Feb 3, 2016 4pm “Minions”
North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.
HEALTH Thu Jan 28, 2016
7pm Happiest Baby on the Block Doctors Hospital 28 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
7pm - 9:30pm Childbirth Preparation
Tue Feb 2, 2016
5pm Beyond the Doctors Office: Living with Low Vision Headquarters Branch Library Led by Mallory Lanier, MHS, OTR/L, participants in this seminar will learn about rehabilitation services that can help people
University Health A four-week class meeting Wednesdays through February 24. Pre-registration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
Thu Feb 4, 2016
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.
6:30pm - 9pm Your Amazing Baby Georgia Regents Medical Center Pre-registration is required for this baby care class. Call 706-721-9351 or visit augustahealth.org.
HOBBIES Thu Jan 28, 2016
11am Thursday Game Mania Diamond Lakes Branch Library An event for adults that includes classic games such as bingo, checkers, chess and more. Pre-registration required. Call 706772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
2pm Cool Coloring & Hot Chocolate for Grownups Aiken Public Library Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
KIDS-TEENS Thu Jan 28, 2016
4:30pm, 5:30pm, 6:30pm Princess Party Barnes & Noble A meet and greet with Anna and Elsa that
will include songs, stories, milk and cookies. Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
Fri Jan 29, 2016
11am STEM Class: Skittles Guessing Game Euchee Creek Branch Library For children in grades 1-4. Call 706-5560594 or visit gchrl.org.
4pm Lego Club North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library For those in grades K-5. Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.
Sat Jan 30, 2016
10:30am Family Story Time Aiken Public Library Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
11am Wilderness Survival Reed Creek Park A program for anyone ages 8 and up interested in backcountry camping or emergency survival skills. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration required. Free, members; $2 per child, nonmembers. Call 706-210-4027 or email kbyne@columbiacountyga.gov.
Mon Feb 1, 2016 4pm Makerspace
Columbia County Library Teens will have the opportunity to work on their own projects under staff guidance while using library equipment including CAD software, development software, a 3D scanner, a 3D printer, soldering equipment, and general electronics tools. Call 706-8681946 or visit gchrl.org.
5:30pm Super Novas Club: Weather Experiments Euchee Creek Branch Library A club for those in second-fourth grades. Pre-registration required. Call 706-5560594 or visit gchrl.org.
5:30pm YA Craft Night Euchee Creek Branch Library For those ages 6-12, this event features an exploding box craft. Pre-registration required. Call 706-556-0594 or visit gchrl.org.
Tue Feb 2, 2016
11am Kristen Canada’s Story Time and Craft Imagination Station Free for members; included with $10 admission for up to 3 kids for nonmembers. Email imagine.augusta@gmail.com or visit imagineaugusta.org.
3:30pm Paws for Literacy Maxwell Branch Library 28JANUARY2016
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An event in which members of the community can read to therapy dogs. Call 706-793-2020 or visit ecgrl.org.
Wed Feb 3, 2016
10am Wacky Wednesday Story Time Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
Thu Feb 4, 2016
10am Birds & Butterflies Morris Museum of Art Part of the Mommy and Me series for children and parents, participants will view the artwork of Hunt Slonem, then create bird and butterfly light catchers. Free, members; $4 per participants, nonmembers. Pre-registration required. Call 706-828-3867 or visit themorris.org.
6pm - 7:30pm Big Brother/Big Sister Doctors Hospital An educational and interactive class for children who will soon be welcoming a new baby into the home. Pre-registration required. Call 706-651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.
Ongoing
Library Lovers Month Contest Diamond Lakes Branch Library Participants ages 12-17 can share what they love about the library during the month of February for a chance to win a prize. Call
706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
A group for women with children who are age 35 years or older. Call 706-394-1293 or email hoopnhollar2@yahoo.com.
Creek Freaks Phinizy Center A Georgia Adopt-a-Stream team of middle-and high-school students that meets regularly to monitor the health of Butler Creek. Call 706-796-7707 or visit naturalscienceacademy.org.
Homeschool PE Time
Loud Crowd A supervised after-school program for those ages 4-12, is Monday Friday from 3-6 p.m. at the following community centers: Warren Road, Blythe, Garrett, Diamond Lakes and McBean. The program follows the Richmond County school calendar. $85, monthly; $25, weekly; $10, drop-in. Visit augustaga.gov.
Moms Club of Augusta A nonprofit group that has weekly playgroups and other activities for stayat-home moms. For more information, visit momsclubaugusta.org.
Moms Club of Grovetown A group that accepts any mom who stays at home with her children regardless of parenting style, religion or ethnicity. The group meets for a variety of activities and dues are $20 a year. Visit momsclubofgrovetown.weebly.com.
Mothers of Advanced Maternal Age
The Kroc Center For kids ages 5-12 and meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:30 a.m. Members, free; nonmembers, $2 per visit. Activity follows the Richmond County school calendar. Call 706-364-5762 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org/kroc-center/.
LITERARY
Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.
Sun Jan 31, 2016
Friends of the Library Book Sale Columbia County Library Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.
Wed Feb 3, 2016
6pm Page Turners Book Club Barnes & Noble Call the store for more information on the book of the month. Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
Thu Jan 28, 2016
Ongoing
Maxwell Branch Library Discussion will be on “Go Set a Watchman” by Harper Lee. Call 706-793-2020 or visit ecgrl.org.
Diamond Lakes Branch Library Participants can choose a book from the library’s display, read it and rate it. The winner will be announced March 7. Call 706772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
10am - noon Morning Book Club
10:30am On the Same Page Book Club Euchee Creek Branch Library Book to be announced. Call 706-556-0594 or visit gchrl.org.
Fri Jan 29, 2016
Blind Date with a Book Contest
MUSIC Thu Jan 28, 2016
7:30pm Polish Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra
Columbia County Library Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.
USC Aiken’s Etherredge Center $40, general; $15, students at box office. Call 803-641-3305 or visit etherredge.usca.edu.
Sat Jan 30, 2016
Fri Jan 29, 2016
Columbia County Library
Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta A collaboration between the UU churches in Augusta and Aiken that will kick off with folk artist Cathy Benedetto and Sam Dack, along with John “Stoney” Cannon, Doug Oxford and Michael James. Concessions will be available. For ticket information, call 706733-7939 or visit uuaugusta.org.
Friends of the Library Book Sale
Friends of the Library Book Sale
Wilderness Survival is about more than just slinging a backpack filled with some matches and an extra pair of socks over your shoulder. So if you and your kids (ages 8 and older) are interested in learning more about backcountry camping and emergency survival skills, sign up for Wilderness Survival at Reed Creek Park on Saturday, January 30, at 11 a.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Free, members; $2 per child, nonmembers. Call 706-210-4027 or email kbyne@columbiacountyga.gov.
7pm The Acoustic Cafe
Wed Feb 3, 2016
7:30pm An Evening of Traditional Irish Music Fat Man’s Mill Cafe Featuring vocalists Tommy and Saundra O’Sullivan, owners of O’Sullivan’s Courthouse Pub in County Kerry Ireland. $20, advance; $25, door. Call 706-267-5416.
SENIORS Tue Feb 2, 2016
2pm Senior Tech Help Diamond Lakes Branch Library Participants can bring devices and receive one-on-one assistance from library staff. Pre-registration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
Thu Feb 4, 2016
2pm - 3:30pm Intermediate Senior Computer Class
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is Augusta Warrior Project, Dr. Tom Swift is the artist of the month and Margaret Brown will sign copies of her book, “A Florist’s Walk Down Magnolia Lane.” Call 706-733-1788.
6:30pm - 9pm Cocktails and Collectors Aiken Center for the Arts A preview party for Antiques in the Heart of Aiken. The 2016 show and sale is February 5-7. $50, party; $60, includes admission to show and sale. Call 803-641-9094 or visit aikencenterforthearts.org.
SPORTS-OUTDOORS Sat Jan 30, 2016
9:30am Dog Gone Cold 5K and Fun Run It’s perfect chili weather and Augusta Harley-Davidson is the perfect place to find out if you have the perfect chili recipe. On Saturday, January 30, with registration beginning at 9:30 a.m., they’ll host a Chili Cook Off at the store. Those entering should bring one crock pot-sized container of chili, and they’ll provide the fixins. Of course, if you don’t want to go through all that work, you can just come to sample after the winners are announced at noon. $5 donation to eat. Visit augustahd.com. and older; pre-registration required. Call 706922-0171 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org.
Ongoing
AARP Tax Aide Kroc Center Helping for seniors in filing out tax returns will be available Tuesdays and Saturdays, February 2-April 12, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., as well as Thursday, April 14, and Friday, April 15, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Call 706-364-5762 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org/kroc-center/.
SPECIAL EVENTS Fri Jan 29, 2016
9:30am - 4:30pm TEDxAugusta 2016 Imperial Theatre A series of talks by local and regional community members on the theme of Autonomy. The event also features an innovation gallery and creative breaks with music and spoken word poetry. Lunch included. $85; $100, VIP; $250, VIP patron; $65, students, seniors and military. Visit tedxaugusta.com.
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.
7pm The Wines of Jed Steele and Quincy Steele Wine World This seminar and tasting, led by Quincy Steele, is $20 with pre-registration. Call 803279-9522 or visit wineworldsc.com.
Sat Jan 30, 2016
9:30am - 2pm Chili Cook Off 30 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Augusta Harley-Davidson Registration lasts until 11 a.m. and judging starts at 11:30 a.m. Those entering should bring one crock pot-sized container of chili; fixins provided. After the winners are announced, the public can try each entry. Free; $5 donation to eat. Visit augustahd.com.
Julian Smith BBQ Pit A Fundraiser for Hopeful Hounds in which the one-mile fun run will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the 5K will begin at 10 a.m. Dogs on leashes are welcome to run as well. $30, with T-shirt; $25, without. Visit active.com.
1pm Don’t Be a Victim Firearm Safety Cabela’s Free. Call 762-444-6500 or visit cabelas. com/augusta.
Mon Feb 1, 2016
6:30pm - 9:30pm Roller Derby Recruitment Night
Hire Grounds Cafe, Washington Road Shelby Breitmann will put together a fashion show using items for Goodwill as part of her senior project. Visit goodwillworks.org.
Red Wing Rollerway The Soul City Sirens are looking for skaters, referees, non-skating officials and volunteers. Skaters should bring mouthguard and appropriate workout clothes. Visit soulcitysirens.com.
7pm “Ancient Sky Lore”
Tue Feb 2, 2016
Dupont Planetarium, Aiken Weather permitting, the observatory, housing the Bechtel Telescope, will be available for viewing after each show. $1-$5.50. Call 803641-3654 or visit rpsec.usca.edu.
6:30pm Home Defense Shotguns and Pistols Cabela’s Free. Call 762-444-6500 or visit cabelas. com/augusta.
8pm “Digistar Laser Fantasy”
Ongoing
2pm Goodwill Fashion Show
Dupont Planetarium, Aiken Weather permitting, the observatory, housing the Bechtel Telescope, will be available for viewing after each show. $1-$5.50. Call 803641-3654 or visit rpsec.usca.edu.
Sun Jan 31, 2016
1pm - 4pm Bridal Expo Julian Smith Casino Featuring vendors, workshops, giveaways and more. $8, advance; $10, door. Visit eventbrite.com.
Thu Feb 4, 2016
5pm - 8pm First Thursday Shops of Midtown, Kings Way at Central Avenue This event features discounts in the shops, hors d’oeuvres and more. The featured organization
Fencing Classes Augusta Fencers Club Classes for children as young as six, as well as teens and adults, meet five nights a week. Call 706-722-8878.
Augusta Sports Leagues This organization offers adult sports leagues and social events, including kickball, soccer, flag football, softball, basketball, indoor and sand volleyball, cornhole, and more for coed and men’s leagues. For more information, visit augustasportsleagues.com.
Guided Tours Phinizy Swamp Nature Park Call to schedule custom tours of the park for organizations, kids groups or private parties. Tours included hiking, bicycle or
golf cart tours and more. Call 706-828-2109 or email info@phinizycenter.org.
Daily Canal Tours Augusta Canal Winter Season hours, through March, include Heritage Boat Tours at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. The Civil War boat tour is daily at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $13.75 for adults and $11.75 for seniors, military and students. All tickets include admission to the Canal Discovery Center, which costs $6 for adults and $4 for seniors, military and students without a boat tour. Pre-registration encouraged. Call 706-8230440, ext. 4, or visit augustacanal.com.
Guided Trail Rides Hilltop Riding Stables Available Saturdays at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.; Sundays at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and noon; and WednesdayFriday at 11 a.m. with reservations 24 hours in advance. All trail rides are on a first-come, first-served basis, and participants should arrive 30 minutes prior to the trail ride starting for sign in procedures. Call 706-7914864 or visit fortgordon.com.
South Atlantic Recreation Club Offers kickball, flag football and bowling leagues. For more information, visit sarcaugusta.com.
Weekly Group Runs Include the Monday Run meeting at Stillwater Taproom at 6 p.m.; Monday Intervals meeting at the Family Y track on Wheeler Road at 7 p.m.; the Tuesday Nacho Mama’s Group Run at 5:30 and 6 p.m.; Wednesday’s Hill Training Run at the Family Y track on Wheeler Road at 7 p.m.; and Thursday’s Homer Hustle at 6 p.m. Visit augustastriders.com.
The Augusta Furies Women’s Rugby Football Club Club practices 6-8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Julian Smith Casino for players 18 and up. Email augusta.furies@ gmail.com or visit augustafuries.org.
Chain Reaction Group Rides Rides include Tuesdays at 6 p.m.; Thursdays at 6 p.m.; Saturdays at 8 a.m.; and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. Participants should bring their own water and helmet. Call 706-855-2024 or visit chainreactionbicycles.net.
Augusta Disc Golf Association Leagues Meet Thursdays at 6 p.m. at Riverview Park in North Augusta and Mondays at 6 p.m. at Lake Olmstead. Entry fee for each, $5; ace pool, $1. Call 803-215-8181 (North Augusta), 706-833-4263 (Lake Olmstead) or visit augustadiscgolf.com.
Andy Jordan’s Group Rides 28JANUARY2016
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Rides include Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m., road bike ride; Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., mountain bike ride; Thursdays at 6:30 p.m., road bike ride; Saturdays at 9 a.m., road bike ride. Front and rear lights, as well as a helmet, are required. Call 706-724-6777 or visit andyjordans.com.
Outspokin’ Bicycles Group Rides Rides include Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 6 p.m., as well as Saturdays and Sundays at 9 a.m. Water and helmet required. Call 706-736-2486 or visit outspokinaugusta.com.
BlazeSports Swim team Wilson Family Y’s Katie’s Pool For all ages of physically challenged swimmers who want to train for competition. Members, $30 a month; non-members, $40 a month. Call 706-922-9664 or visit thefamilyy.org.
SUPPORT Mon Feb 1, 2016
6:30pm Pink Pistols Meeting A group for women in their 20s and 30s dealing with breast cancer. Call for location. Call 706-774-4141 or visit universityhealth.org.
Tue Feb 2, 2016
6:30pm CSRA Huntington’s Disease Support Group GRU Movement Disorders Clinic Call 706-721-2798 or 706-231-2775.
Wed Feb 3, 2016
1pm The Lactation Club University Hospital A breastfeeding support group for mothers of NICU babies. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
Thu Feb 4, 2016
10am Alzheimer’s Association Support Group Kroc Center Pre-registration required. Call 706-860-5233.
Ongoing
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) GA, 110 Augusta St. Alban’s Episcopal Church fellowship hall The group meets Mondays, with weighin beginning at 5:15 p.m. and the meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. Call 706-790-0391 or visit tops.org.
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Pine View Baptist Church The group meets Tuesdays, with weigh-in beginning at 4:45 p.m. and the meeting beginning at 5:15 p.m. Call 706-868-0539 or visit tops.org.
La Leche League A breastfeeding support group. For more 28JANUARY2016
information on meeting dates, times and locations, visit them on Facebook under La Leche League of Augusta or at lllaugusta. wordpress.com.
Blood Cancer/BMT Support Group GRU Cancer Center Meets the third Wednesday of each month. Call 706-721-1634 or visit grhealth.org
Celebrate Recovery Journey Community Church This Christ-centered recovery program meets every Monday night at 7 p.m. The meetings last two hours and childcare is provided. Pre-registration suggested. Visit cr@journeycommunity.net.
Write to Heal Creative Writing Children’s Hospital of Georgia For patients, family members and caregivers, this program meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. Preregistration required. Call 706-721-5160 or email nawilliams@gru.edu.
Diabetes Youth Support Group Meets quarterly. Call for more information. Call 706-868-3241.
Overeaters Anonymous Meets at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, at 7 p.m. Thursdays at Unity Church, and at Covenant Presbyterian Church at 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Call 706-863-9534 or email oa.augusta.recovery@gmail.com.
Adult Sexual Assault and Rape Support Group Provides group counseling at University Hospital for those who have experienced sexual assault, incest, rape or childhood sexual abuse. Call 706-724-5200 or visit universityhealth.org.
Alcoholics Anonymous Holds several meetings locally. For a current schedule, visit augustaaa.org/meetings.pdf.
Narcotics Anonymous
7pm “Bang Bang You’re Dead”
Augusta Players production that will show in May. For more information, visit augustaplayers.org/auditions-casting/.
Aiken Community Playhouse A revival of the ACP Youth Wing’s 2015 production. $5. Call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.
3pm “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot”
Fri Jan 29, 2016
Le Chat Noir A Le Chatons Noir youth theatre production. $15. Call 706-722-3322 or visit lcnaugusta.com.
Le Chat Noir A Le Chatons Noir youth theatre production. $15. Call 706-722-3322 or visit lcnaugusta.com.
7:30pm “Cabaret”
8pm “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot”
Sat Jan 30, 2016
3pm “The Nightingale” Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre A Storyland Theatre family matinee. The box office opens at 2:15 p.m. and theatergoers are invited to stay afterwards to meet the cast. $6; free, for active-duty military personnel and their families. Call 706-736-3455.
5pm “Mary Poppins” Auditions Crossbridge Baptist Church Auditions for those 16 and up for the Augusta Players production that will show in May. For more information, visit augustaplayers.org/auditions-casting/.
7:30pm “Cabaret” Etherredge Center, Aiken A University Theatre Players production that they will be performing at the upcoming. Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Charleston. Admission by donation ($5 minimum). Call 803-641-3305 or visit etherredge.usca.edu.
8pm “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot” Le Chat Noir A Le Chatons Noir youth theatre production. $15. Call 706-722-3322 or visit lcnaugusta.com.
Sun Jan 31, 2016
3pm “Mary Poppins” Auditions
Etherredge Center, Aiken Admission by donation ($5 minimum). Call 803-641-3305 or visit etherredge.usca.edu.
Thu Feb 4, 2016 2pm “In the Mood”
Imperial Theatre A 1940s musical revue. $25-$49. Call 706722-8341 or visit imperialtheatre.com.
7:30pm “In the Mood” Imperial Theatre A 1940s musical revue. $25-$49. Call 706722-8341 or visit imperialtheatre.com.
Ongoing
“At the Last Supper” Auditions Kroc Center Auditions for this Enopion Theatre Company production that shows at the Kroc Center in March will be held by appointment only in January. Call 706-771-7777 or visit enopion.com.
VOLUNTEER Ongoing RSVP
Senior Citizens Council The Retired Volunteer Program (RSVP) is seeking those ages 55 and older who would like to work with disaster preparedness, school literacy, ushering and fundraising for nonprofits. Call 706-868-0120 or visit seniorcitizenscouncil.org.
Crossbridge Baptist Church Auditions for those 16 and up for the
MARKETPLACE
Trinity Hospital of Augusta Meets Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. Visit na.org.
Beyond the Bars A support group for those with incarcerated loved ones. Call 706-855-8636.
Families Who Have Lost a Baby Support Group For more information, call 706-721-8299 or visit grhealth.org.
THEATER Thu Jan 28, 2016
$40 PER WEEK. EMAIL JOE@THEMETROSPIRIT.COM OR CALL (706)373-3636 ALL CLASSIFIED ADS ARE
AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 31
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The Hornitz was founded in May 2006 as a horn-section-for-hire in and around Boston. The group worked with many notable artists such as George Clinton, Guster and State Radio, but, in 2008, they began producing original music as a duo. After a few years of experimenting and fine-tuning, Friendship and Stoo (Stoobaka Dashiki) now create a show that is one of the most dynamic spectacles ever produced by two people. Using human beatbox, bass trombone, tenor saxophone, keyboards and live-looping equipment, they create the biggest, baddest partyfunk experience you’ll ever encounter, and you can see them live at Metro Coffeehouse & Pub Saturday, January 30. To check them out before the show, visit thehornitz.com.
Thursday, January 28 Live Music
Red Pepper (Aiken) - Mike Frost, Lauren Meccia Sky City - The Avant Guardians Stillwater Taproom - Michael Baideme Wild Wing - Jason Shepard Duo The Willcox (Aiken) - Jazz
What’s Tonight?
Andrew’s Place - Karaoke with April Powell Bar West - Open Mic Night w/ Jonathon Flowers Chevy’s - Karaoke Cotton Patch - Old School Thursday w/ DJ Groove Fox’s Lair - Trivia, Soup and Suds Helga’s Pub & Grille - Trivia The Highlander - Butt Naked Trivia Joe’s Underground - Trivia The Loft - Karaoke MAD Studios - Open Mic, Spoken Word Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Somewhere in Augusta - Karaoke; Coloring and Martinis
Friday, January 29 Live Music
The Backyard Tavern - Thick As Thieves Cotton Patch - CJ Jazz Duo Country Club - Walker McGuire Coyotes - The Joe Olds Band Enterprise Mill - Patrick Davis & His Midnight Choir Partridge Inn - Will McCranie
32 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Rose Hill Estate (Aiken) - Jazz w/ Jimmy “Doc” Easton Shannon’s - Mike and Walter Sky City - Sick Sick Sick, Ganges Phalanges, Spray Tan, Gloom Cocoon, Jaws the Musical Somewhere in Augusta - Chris Ndeti Stillwater Taproom - Underhill Rose Tin Lizzy’s - BoJack Dawson Wild Wing - Kindlin
What’s Tonight?
Chevy’s - DJ Nicky B Somewhere in Augusta - Speed Dating Soul Bar - Disco Hell Vera Cruz Mexican Restaurant - Karaoke w/ Denny van Valkenburgh
Saturday, January 30 Live Music
Cotton Patch - Live Jazz Country Club - Outshyne Coyotes - The Joe Olds Band Metro Coffeehouse & Pub - The Hornitz, Will McCranie Shannon’s - TX Clergy Sky City - Metropolitan Community Church of Our Redeemer Benefit Concert w/ She N She, Allison Foster, Palmetto Playboys Somewhere in Augusta - Tim Arbisi Stillwater Taproom - Taylor and the Swans Tin Lizzy’s - Barefoot Reggie Starrett Wild Wing - Center Lane The Willcox (Aiken) - Jon Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Chevy’s - DJ Nicky B Helga’s Pub & Grille - Bluegrass Brunch (11 a.m.3 p.m.); Trivia, nights Joe’s Underground - Comedy Show/Open Mic Night Laura’s Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Somewhere in Augusta - Cards vs. Humanity and Game Night Soul Bar - Boom Box Saturdays Vera Cruz Mexican Restaurant - Karaoke w/ Denny van Valkenburgh
Sunday, January 31 Live Music
Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Brunch w/ Mike Frost and Lauren Meccia Wild Wing - Dave Love The Willcox (Aiken) - Jon Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane
Monday, February 1 Live Music
Metro Coffeehouse & Pub - Blues Monday w/ Famous Last Words
What’s Tonight?
Joe’s Underground - Poker Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane
Somewhere in Augusta - World Tavern Poker Wild Wing - Trivia
Tuesday, February 2 Live Music
Joe’s Underground - Open Mic The Willcox (Aiken) - Hal Shreck
What’s Tonight?
Bar West - Trivia The Cotton Patch - Trivia Limelite Cafe - Bottom’s Up Karaoke Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Somewhere in Augusta - Big Prize Trivia; Poker for Fun
Wednesday, February 3 Live Music
The Highlander - Open Mic Night Shannon’s - Mike and Walter Wild Wing - Live Music
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Bar West - Karaoke Chevy’s - Karaoke Cotton Patch - Trivia and Tunes The Loft - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Downtown) - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Washington Road) - Karaoke The Playground - Krazy Karaoke w/ Big Troy Polo Tavern (Aiken) - Karaoke w/ Tom Mitchell 28JANUARY2016
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Somewhere in Augusta - The Comedy Zone Stillwater Taproom - Pub Quiz Surrey Tavern - Trivia w/ Christian and Mickey Three Dollar Lounge - World Poker Tournament
Upcoming Brantley Gilbert
- James Brown Arena February 4 Bain Mattox & Shot From Guns, Parker Gispert
- Sky City February 4 Katt Williams
- James Brown Arena February 5 Chasing Savannah
R5
- Bell Auditorium February 16
Graham Nash
Lee Brice, Tyler Farr
- Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta February 5
- James Brown Arena February 19
Colin Hay
Colonel Bruce Hampton
- Variety Playhouse, Atlanta February 5
- Sky City February 20
Diana Ross
Patti LaBelle
- Johnny Mercer Theatre, Savannah February 6
- Bell Auditorium February 26 Copious Jones
- Sky City March 3 Lecrae
- Bell Auditorium March 4 Boyz II Men
- Bell Auditorium March 13
Willie Nelson
- UGA Tifton Conference Center, Tifton February 8 Widespread Panic
- Classic Center, Athens February 9-10 Wilco
- The Backyard Tavern Arena February 5
The Major Rager w/ Umphrey’s McGee, the Revivalists, Earphunk and Tauk
- The Tabernacle, Atlanta February 10-11
The Kenny George Band
- Augusta Common April 7
- Johnny Mercer Theatre, Savannah February 11
- Stillwater Taproom February 5
Widespread Panic
Chainsaw Masscara, DJ Codec (David Bowie, Marilyn Manson, ‘80s Vampire Glam Theme)
- James Brown Arena April 19
- Le Chat Noir February 6
- Bell Auditorium May 17
Winter Jam 2016 w/ King & Country, Matthew West, Crowder, RED, Sidewalk Prophets, NewSong and more
- James Brown Arena February 11 Chris Ndeti and Friends
- Stillwater Taproom February 11 The Fairfield Four and the McCrary Sisters
- Imperial Theatre February 12 Snapdragon, Jennifer Daniels
- Sky City February 12 Sinners and Saints
- Stillwater Taproom February 12 Tony Howard’s Motown/Elvis Revue
- Imperial Theatre February 13
28JANUARY2016
Merle Haggard, Jason Isbell Alabama, The Charlie Daniels Band
- James Brown Arena June 3
Elsewhere Art Garfunkel
- Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta January 29 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
- Fox Theatre, Atlanta January 29 Carrie Underwood, Easton Corbin, The Swon Brothers
Jerry Seinfeld
REAL PEOPLE REAL DESIRE REAL FUN.
Jerry Seinfeld
- Classic Center, Athens February 12 Todd Rundgren
- Center Stage, Atlanta February 12 Chris Brown
- Columbus Civic Center, Columbus February 13 Fool’s Paradise w/ Lettuce, Griz, Chris Robinson’s Soul Revue, Vulfpeck, The Nth Power, Goldfish
Try FREE: 706-434-0108 More Local Numbers: 1-800-926-6000 Ahora español Livelinks.com 18+
- St. Augustine Amphitheatre, St. Augustine, Fla., April 1-2
- Infinite Energy Arena, Duluth February 1 Lupe Fiasco
- Georgia Theatre, Athens February 2
Meet sexy new friends
FREE TRIAL
706-434-0112
AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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SIGHTINGS
Michael Johnson | mejphoto.photoreflect.com
George-Ann Knox, artist Janice Williams Whiting and Pat Knox-Hudson in the main gallery at the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art.
Cheryl Goldsleger with Marsh and Michael Sclear in the main gallery at the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art.
Weylin Traugott, artist April Traugott and Mindi Heffner in the Creel-Harison Community Gallery at the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art.
Kim Writer, Cathy Goldman and Aimee Hall at Fake It to Make It at the Imperial Theatre.
Lenny Birt and Laure Leger with Amandine and Arnaud Queyron Hall at Fake It to Make It at the Imperial Theatre.
Felecia Broadwater, Michelle Jones and Ramone Lamkin at Fake It to Make It at the Imperial Theatre.
Ashley Linen and Leonard “Porkchop” Zimmerman with Kelly and Sean Mooney at Fake It to Make It at the Imperial Theatre.
Don Duarte, Eryn Eubanks and Greg Miller at the Glenn Miller Orchestra concert at the Jabez Hardin Performing Arts Center.
Danielle Collins, Ashlyn Thomas, Sarah Meyer and Jessica Smith at Wild Wing.
34 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
28JANUARY2016
TWISTING ONE’S WORDS By Jeff Chen / Edited by Will Shortz ACROSS 1 World-champion figure skater Thomas 5 “He did not just say that!” 11 Email letters 14 Nothing but 18 “If only …” 19 Idahoan’s pride 20 ____ Lubovitch Dance Company 21 Funnies drawing 22 Luge or figure skating 24 Basic 26 Advanced degree in math? 27 ____ army, group that marches across the earth in Revelation 28 Hesitate in speech 29 Loses juice? 30 Round of four 32 Mao’s successor 33 Thickets 35 Dr. J’s do, once 36 Trespass 37 Big swig 38 Daily Planet photographer 39 Pop singer ____ Marie 41 Solidify 43 Newspaper desk 45 Motocross racers, for short 47 Clatter 48 Fall apart 52 The king of Egypt has a part in it 54 Furnace work 56 Advancing 57 Like villains, often 58 Blundering 59 1.5 in a jigger: Abbr. 60 Waters who sang “Am I Blue?” 62 Some HDTVs 64 Application info 65 89-Down nickname, with “the” 67 Origin of “pooh-bah” 70 Pronoun with an apostrophe 74 Toss in 77 Suckers 78 “Lean Forward” sloganeer 81 ____-cow 82 Castle-breaching explosive 85 Some bank jobs, for short 87 Shamans, e.g. 89 Pepsi employee 90 Bela Lugosi’s role in “Son of Frankenstein” 91 Highly rated issues
92 Journalist Nellie who went around the world 93 Dutch export 95 19 things on a classical guitar 97 The “N” of NGO 98 Accord competitor 100 “The food of love,” per Shakespeare 102 Relieves (of) 104 PC key 107 Data-storage acronym 108 Snitch 109 Symbol of strength 110 “To repeat …” 112 Rush 114 Third X or O 115 Word with party or pail 117 Tony-winning role for Robert Morse 118 Nickname for the only man to play in a Super Bowl and a World Series 120 Wrongdoing 122 Some family histories 123 Single 124 Seedlets 125 Fictitious 126 Benzene derivative, for one 127 Sen. Gillibrand’s home: Abbr. 128 Obsolescence 129 Anticipatory times DOWN 1 Anticipatory times 2 A-teamers 3 Vietnamese sandwich 4 Question asked while tapping a microphone 5 ____ vez (again: Sp.) 6 Experiences fame 7 State capital in a mailing address 8 New baby 9 Column on a flight board: Abbr. 10 Hrs. for eBay listings 11 Censors 12 It makes for smooth sailing 13 Drink for Hercule Poirot 14 Spreading belief? 15 Typed, as data 16 Logician’s strong point 17 Building add-on 21 According to 23 Super G shape 25 M.R.I. readers 28 “Star Trek” virtual reality room 31 — 33 What causes storms to swirl in opposite directions in the Northern
1
and Southern Hemispheres 34 — 37 To the point … or not pointed 39 Russian line 40 Lee who directed “Life of Pi” 42 War of 1812 battle site 44 Confucian doctrine 46 ____ libre (poetry form) 48 Semiliquid lump 49 Exude 50 Shock, in a way 51 — 53 Family name of old TV 55 — 57 Like eyes after an all-nighter 61 Expressions of doubt 63 New Left org. 66 Plus or minus thing 68 What a film may be emailed as 69 Crawling, say 71 Last word of grace 72 Next-to-last word of grace, often 73 Bereavement 75 Big name in Chicago politics 76 1856 antislavery novel 79 “You don’t know ____” 80 ____ San Lucas, Mexico 82 Klondike bar symbol 83 Information often set in brackets 84 [This is how it might have happened] 86 Fury 88 Texas 89 Big media inits. 91 Malady caused by H2N2 94 Tasting like lamb 96 Shakespearean title role 99 — 101 They’re the pits 103 — 105 GPS, e.g. 106 Group of friends 108 Philosopher Lao-____ 110 Org. with a hotline 111 Lightsaber battles 113 Some recap highlights 115 Actor Robert of “Licence to Kill” and “The Goonies” 116 Facility 118 Intel org. officially formed by Truman 119 — 120 Up-to-date 121 -—
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A B A S E D R I L L I A M E L N W I S C O O R E O F T E T O M I L N E O N E N T D E C W S H U L A S O M Y C A Y E C L O S I U T S I N A P N E A M I S G O T A L T S E N S S S E T
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H A T E
E M E R I O L U S S T T D B E O N A I R S
P I P E D A C R O T T O R H S
I D I O M S
L S D
R M I D O S T A A C D T R A D G N A L C A A B P L E E R T R
S A I N T N I C K
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A N D S
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THE EIGHT
BOX TOPS The blizzard doesn’t stop moviegoers from checking out Leo in a little storm of his own. RANK
TITLES
WEEKEND GROSS
TOTAL GROSS
WEEK #
LAST WEEK
1
THE REVENANT
$16,009,718
$119,202,240
5
2
2
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
$14,078,648
$879,110,994
6
3
3
RIDE ALONG 2
$12,456,050
$58,606,090
2
1
4
DIRTY GRANDPA
$11,111,875
$11,111,875
1
-
5
THE BOY
$10,778,392
$10,778,392
1
-
In Theaters January 29
FAMILY
“Kung Fu Panda 3,” rated PG, starring Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan. One clumsy panda has to train a bunch more in the art of kung fu? If the first movie was any indication, they should pick it up in no time flat, right?
36 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
ACTION
“The Finest Hours,” rated PG-13, starring Chris Pine, Casey Affleck. This “Perfect Storm” type movie actually tells two survival tales: one of the crew of an oil tanker who, in 1952 off the coast of Cape Cod, try to endure after their ship is ripped in two during a storm. The other is of the Coast Guard crew sent to rescue them. Hope it turns out better for these guys than it did for George Clooney.
COMEDY
“Fifty Shades of Black,” rated R, starring Kali Hawk, Marlon Wayans, Jane Seymour. Wait: “Fifty Shades of Grey” wasn’t a comedy?
WESTERN
“Jane Got a Gun,” rated R, starring Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton, Ewan McGregor. A woman has to enlist the help of an ex to rescue her husband from a ruthless gang of outlaws. This movie has run into a lot of problems and endured a lot of cast changes, so there’s no telling how it turned out. Still, they ended up with McGregor as the bad guy, and that can’t be all bad.
28JANUARY2016
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| cmaaugusta.com
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Ricardo Azziz Augusta… Ricardo Azziz Augusta… Ricardo Azziz Augusta… “The biggest mistake of my tenure” Former Richmond County Board of Education Trustee Kenny Echols says the “demolition by neglect” of the old Davidson Fine Arts building in downtown Augusta is likely the biggest mistake made during his time on the board. I would argue that allowing Dr. Charles Larke to serve as superintendent for as long as he did qualifies as a frontrunner in that contest, but since Larke was the “captain of the ship” during the Davidson debacle, the issues are tied together. In perhaps the most scathing public statement ever issued by Historic Augusta, they condemned the series of bad decisions and utter neglect as some of the worst property management ever seen in this area.
No, I am Not repeatINg myself. I am doing my eeny-weeny part in making sure that any prospective employer of GRU’s own “Dr. Frankenstein,” Ricardo Azziz, knows full well that what happened to him in Augusta was not the result of any witch hunt or misguided public protest. Dr. Azziz was run out of our fair city because he was, in my opinion, a lying con man, a charlatan and a coward to boot. The way most internet search engines work these days, headlines get special attention in published works, so here’s to hoping this little diatribe ranks at the top of what shows up in a routine search. I won’t bore the local audience with a rehash, but I do need to inform those of you who stumbled across this column when doing a background check on Dr. Azziz that you need to do everything in your power to keep him out of power in your own hometowns and institutions of higher learning. There is an incredible amount of intelligence that has been gathered concerning the professional fitness and maturity, or lack thereof, of Dr. Azziz, and it has been documented in articles and reports by virtually every media outlet of note in Augusta, Georgia. Keep looking for those stories; you will find them in spades. One of our former mayors once gave a stellar recommendation to the city of Washington, D.C., when they were looking to hire Augusta’s (then) embattled fire chief, simply to get him out of town. That was wrong. I cannot, and will not, contribute to any effort to see Azziz hired by another university just so the State of Georgia can get out of paying the man his undeserved severance package. We were stupid enough to hire him, which means we should have to bear the burden of paying him. We know better when it comes to Azziz, and we should do everything in our power to warn others. This week we learned the university system of North Dakota passed on hiring him, even though he tried to use all kinds of weaselly excuses for why his time here was so controversial. Don’t buy it. The man is a total d-bag, and he deserves to have “GRU” hung around his neck like the rotting albatross it truly was. It was a mess that he made, and when challenged by a well-meaning community, he doubled down with an attitude that was unprecedented in its arrogance and audacity. When I heard that North Dakota was a possible destination, I was immediately reminded of the final assignment given to the pain-in-the-ass commander of the ragtag Army unit in “Stripes.” It would have been fun to imagine Azziz frozen to a desk in the arctic like environs, but alas, the Dakota leadership was far smarter than Georgia’s Board of Regents was a few years back and, ultimately, far more fortunate.
38 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Per Historic Augusta: “The Old Davidson School was named by Historic Augusta to its inaugural Endangered Properties List for 2007 and over the years efforts have been made to direct qualified buyers to the school board. But the organization received little encouragement and no serious cooperation to find a buyer. Over the past 18 years of vacancy, no maintenance was done to the building other than erecting a fence, and boarding up the windows after several years of abandonment. This demolition by neglect on the part of the Board of Education allowed the condition of the building to eventually decline to its present deplorable state of repair with the roof caving in, flooring rotted and beams falling through two stories. Even so, the handsome property, well located between Augusta’s resurgent central business district and its huge downtown medical complex, was an excellent prospect for redevelopment with its solid masonry walls. Nationwide, historic schools have been reused for many purposes including apartments, condominiums, office space, medical facilities and even charter schools. Furthermore, if the building had been sold, qualified rehabilitation would have provided the buyer substantial historic tax credits and other benefits that could have cut rehab costs by as much as half.” I say what the BOE did in this situation amounts to political malpractice, and the theft of tax dollars through malfeasance. I strongly urge citizens around the county to stand guard against similar “demolition by neglect” on the properties in their own neighborhoods. We cannot trust the board as a whole to do it, as we see through the demise of Davidson.
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.
28JANUARY2016
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