Metro Spirit - 06.30.16 by Metro Spirit

Table of Contents

EDIT

June 30, 2016

Amy Christian

Arts Editor/Production Director

Whine Line Ruffin It Augusta Tek Kris Fisher

amy@themetrospirit.com

Stacey Eidson Staff Writer

stacey@themetrospirit.com

Molly Swift

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Staff Writer

molly@themetrospirit.com

Insider 10 Feature 12

CREATIVE Joshua Bailey

ATTORNEYS QUESTION WHAT FIRE RESCUE DID, AND DIDN’T, DO AT MARSHALL SQUARE

Lead Designer

joshua@themetrospirit.com

COVER DESIGN: KRUHU

SALES Jim Christian Account Executive

jim@themetrospirit.com 706-414-4059

Paige Wilhelm Account Executive

paige@themetrospirit.com 706-833-1904

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BUSINESS

Metroweek Food Stuff What’s Up Calendar Nightlife Sightings NYT Crossword The Eight Austin Rhodes

19 20 21 24 32 34 35 36 38

Joe White Publisher

joe@themetrospirit.com 706-373-3636

Johnny Beckworth circulation manager

johnny@themetrospirit.com

THIS WEEK

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.© 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

This past week, River Watch Parkway between downtown and I-20 went from a borderline dangerous place to drive in the dark to a place that “burns with the lights of a thousand suns,” at least according to one meme making the rounds on Facebook. Is it necessary? Is it overkill? And who paid for all those lights?

Newcomer Stanleo’s downtown seems to have plenty going for it. Serving breakfast, espresso, coffee and tea drinks, freshly made subs and chocolate truffles, it also has a much-needed drive thru for mornings when you need that extra jolt of caffeine. Augusta may fall in love with this concept; we know we already are.

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Ever since they sold their ﬁrst batch of beer in April, aﬁcionados have been singing the praises of Riverwatch Brewery. It hasn’t been an easy journey for mother and daughter Brey and Anne Sloan, and now the public can learn all about their operations during weekend tours and tastings. Do yourself a favor and try the Cautionary Tale. Even if you don’t care for IPAs, this one may change your mind. page 21

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OPINION

The Whine Line

Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis should “do the right thing” and order an independent, forensic audit of all monies belonging to the A-RC government. It’s the ONLY way to ensure that proper controls on public money are in place. Shame on you Lee Anderson!!! Stop leading everyone to believe you have a college degree. Lying is a sin! If Hillary Clinton gets elected President in November, does that mean hubby Bill becomes The First Lady? Interesting.

I keep saying it: The Spirit has the best political analysis of any news organization in the two-state. If you don’t include Austin Rhodes’ column, that is.

Ruffin It Augusta Tek Kris Fisher

Augusta may not be the ugliest, most dysfunctional or even the most corrupt city in the nation, but I think it has to win the award for the city with the most squandered potential. The city hosts one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world every year and Washington Road is still a tacky mess. Augusta has a riverfront that has not been maintained or developed to its full potential because of a levee that is no longer necessary with 3 dams upstream. Reelecting incompetent leaders who spend money on useless studies and on boneheaded urban renewal projects that fail time after time. An overall lack of reliable public transit. Seemingly no code enforcement or penalties for people who do not maintain their properties. Augusta could be one of the premier cities in The South, instead it is stuck in mediocrity. Global & US stock markets in turmoil after the Brexit vote, and Donald Trump’s reaction is that it is good for business for his Scottish golf resort. Really!?! Is this who we want as leader of the Free World??? Augusta-Richmond County: A city where it pays to leave; especially if you’re a property owner. Picture this: I was at a popular Mexican restaurant just a few days ago trying to enjoy my carne asada platter and was subjected to a woman in tight spandex shorts 5 sizes too small slithering in front of the tables warbling Britney Spears’ “Oops, I did it Again.” Well someone needs to tell

her she has done it one too many times and needs to stop. I’d rather have a mariachi band than this awful karaoke. Well I made it back from vacation to see that you clowns are still whining about the same-ole things, this is depressing. Augusta is creating a new position called “compliance director.” It will deal with minority issues and affirmative action programs. Seems to me these programs divide us rather than unite. I wonder if whites can take advantage of the programs now that they are in the minority. This new position fits right in with Fire Dept. spokesperson as a wasteful, silly job. God bless America! I have the freedom to criticize the Metro Spirit. And, the Metro Spirit has the freedom to print my criticism. PUT THAT STUPID SMART PHONE DOWN AND GET OFF OF DUMBBOOK for longer than 2 seconds and you might notice that there is a whole big wide world around you that has plenty in life to offer and you might figure out that the only one to blame for your shortcomings, your lack of ambition, your zero motivation and your general sorriness is yourself and STOP LOOKING FOR A HANDOUT life is not free even though you think it is. Fed Up! I want to know when Trump wins exactly when are Al Sharpton & Whooping Goldberg leaving the country? I want a definitive date & PO Box to send a donation. You mention the Columbia County News that Morris has butchered. Please look at the other small papers that have also been decimated. Several local, beloved, Georgia and South Carolina papers are in danger of going under because Morris demands so much from them to save their own tail. I’d be interested in a story about more than just Columbia County. At the food court there was a young woman wearing a head scarf sitting with a toddler and a baby. Two young men were at a table behind her talking loudly. She got up and moved near me, and so did they, so I could hear what they were saying. It was pure hateful filth. Then this big guy --retired military, I’ve seen him there often-- walked over and leaned over their table putting his knuckles in front of them and in the same loud voice said, “you know why we hate terrorists? Because they only f--- with the helpless. What’s that make you two a-holes?” When he stood up, they left. I’m surprised they didn’t leave skid marks.

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.

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I’m totally lost: how exactly is Obama responsible for ISIS? I spend 25 + years in the military and I fail to see how any president is responsible for a lunatic attack on our homeland. We live under a rule of law; something called ‘checks and balances’ exist in our government. NO one person is responsible for anything in our government; ONE person cannot and does not RULE here; yes, I understand executive orders/dictates and the Obama precedent for singular direction BUT they too have serious limits. I personally hold “the individual” responsible for the tragic loss of life this past week! HE and he alone did the deed and is the “monster” 100% responsible. Let’s try and understand that and KNOW that this is not the end – terrorist have no conscience nor do they have any compassion for life as we know it. They feel unless they are ruling that the world is WRONG

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(they did the judging) and unless you’re with them you WILL and ARE going to face the death penalty; make no mistake – DEATH to America is alive and well in these twisted humans thoughts and actions. Pray for peace and pray often! One cannot protect all people all the time from terrorist because they lie in wait – if not today, they will strike tomorrow or next week or next month BUT they WILL attack and succeed because NO ONE in government or outside it can stop it! That’s reality and it needs to be faced by all of us. Lastly and for the record, TRUMP can’t stop it either! I don’t advocate violence however, the ONLY way to stop these types of people is giving them the same as they dish out: death!

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Of Course He’s From Florida I WAS PREPARED to sit down and write a column about the general limpdickedness of the GOP-led Congress that just voted down a series of gun control measures in the wake of the deadliest mass shooting in United States history. And I still could. I could point out that one of the measures sought to prevent the sale of firearms to suspected terrorists, language that already seems like a massive concession to GOP lawmakers. I could point out that, to date, the National Rifle Association has gifted $36 million to the 56 senators that were instrumental in blocking the measure. I could further point out that, according to recent polling, 90 percent of Americans support these gun limitations, as do 80 percent of actual gun owners. And, if I were so inclined, I could even point out that, in the last three years, we’ve suffered mass shootings at an elementary school, a military base, a nightclub, a movie theater and many, many more places, yet lawmakers and the NRA’s response seems to be a resounding “Meh, whatevs.” But I’d like to focus on a smaller story. An intimate nugget. A tiny, twinkling jewel of opportunism, douchebaggery and tragedy-profiteering. Florida State Senator Greg Evers — who will hopefully be eaten by an alligator or carried away by a swarm of B52-sized Everglades mosquitoes — recently announced, with barely just enough time for the ink on the Orlando shooting victims’ death certificates to dry, that his campaign would sponsor an AR15 giveaway, a contest for the residents of his Florida district, located in the Panhandle, to win one of the assault rifles. The same model of assault rifle that was, again, just used to gun down almost 50 people in a nightclub in the same city Disney World is in. It will not surprise you to learn that Senator Evers — who will no doubt eventually be outed as a swarm of scarab beetles inside a human husk — is running for a Congressional seat in a very conservative district, and his campaign has made the calculated decision that this can only help him, even as it makes liberals and actual, sane conservative voters shake so hard with anger that their cells audibly hum. Senator Evers also enjoys an A+ rating from the NRA. Here’s why: He has repeatedly tried to pass a law allowing concealed carry on college campuses for lawful permit holders. He passed the “Pop Tart Law,” which bars educators from reprimanding children for playing with make-believe weapons in schools. He blocked lawmakers from using trust fund money to regulated lawful weapons permits. He passed the legislation known as “Docs and Glocks,” which discourages physicians from inquiring about the presence of firearms in the homes of their patients. Of these, by far the least insane is the Pop Tart Law; the name came about because a kid ate a Pop Tart into the shape of a gun, and then went “Pew pew pew!” Children are functionally retarded until they’re about 26, sometimes even after, but this is probably not cause for concern. Of course, Evers offers as justification the same old tired argument that

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the recent Orlando tragedy simply highlights the lurking danger of terrorism, and that we should all be armed and ready to defend ourselves. Never mind that report upon report upon report indicates that gun ownership statistically makes the owner less safe. Also, why are we still arguing over whether or not your average United States citizen actually needs an assault rifle? All it does is shorten your life span and let your neighbors know you’ve never loved or been loved. The actual gun itself isn’t the worst part of this. No, the worst part is that there is a sitting state senator, who could very well be elected into a position of national authority in Congress, who is attempting to piggyback off the deadliest mass shooting in the short history of our nation. He is standing atop the lifeless bodies of 49 American citizens, waving the gun that was used to kill them, selling himself. He is spitting on their graves and making a mockery of their lives. I have no solution to the problem that is Senator Greg Evers. But he is a piece of human garbage, a waste of oxygen and a sociopath that is incapable of empathy or love. And he can go to hell.

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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Unpredictable IN 2002, the movie “Minority Report” challenged our view of free will. In this movie, three mutated humans possessed the ability to foretell the future and identify crimes before they were committed. A new PreCrime police unit intervened and put the murderers away before they had a chance to act. A great juxtaposition of determinism and free will, “Minority Report” successfully brings us into a world where the future is knowable. Like all outstanding science fiction, this story begs us to ask the question, “What if?” And of course, some time later, the disappointment brought by outstanding science fiction will occur. The disappointment that occurs when you realize that mutated humans don’t exist in this timeline and that we won’t know anything about the future until we actually get there. Well, it turns out that might not be entirely the case. Artificial Intelligence researchers at MIT are experimenting with a system that predicts human behavior. Their thesis postulates that with the proper training, an AI can predict how people will interact. Armed with over 600 hours of sitcoms including “Office Space” and “The Big Bang Theory” (I’m not making this up), these researchers taught an AI to predict an interaction between two individuals based on a single image. The result? The AI was correct 43 percent of the time. In contrast, real people got the correct result 71 percent of the time. Okay, so not the best… …but not altogether bad, either. Maybe it’s not so farfetched that an AI could predict human behavior. To be effective, however, the AI probably needs better examples than “Office Space.” While humorous, I’m not sure that’s the kind of behavior we want to predict. Fortunately, a ready source of video to capture our behavior already exists. Since surveillance cameras cover virtually every public space in America, wouldn’t it be straightforward to route all this traffic directly to our friends at MIT? The AI could observe our actions during our most candid public moments. All those times that no one thought anyone was watching would become training material for an AI Oracle. In retrospect, this may not be such a great idea. With the full breadth of human personality on display, it’s hard to gauge what an AI would learn. And even if it did work, I’m not sure we are ready to know that 17 percent of our future involves picking our nose. From the “When Heck Freezes Over” category, this week Microsoft announced the release of .NET Core 1.0 available on Windows and… wait for it… OS X and Linux! With this release, OS X and Linux become fully supported platforms within Microsoft’s development environment. Microsoft also released an update to Visual Studio — Visual Studio 2015 Update 3. This update is required to develop .Net Core applications within Visual Studio. This release is a big step for Microsoft and, hopefully, for the development community at large. Visual Studio has always been regarded as a great development environment. However, Microsoft’s refusal to support nonMicrosoft platforms drove developers to open source packages such as Linux and Java. By releasing an open source and cross platform version of .NET, Microsoft is attempting to bring developers back to the Microsoft environment. Can’t wait to get started? Go to https://dot.net/core now and download the framework. Have fun! GREGORY BAKER PH.D.

@gregory_a_baker

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is vice president of CMA Technology and, yes, is actually a rocket scientist who used his doctorate in aerospace engineering at Lockheed Martin. In addition to working at CMA, he also serves the community, sitting on several boards in the area.

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A Reminder

My wife likes to call me “Kirk.” Not because it’s some weird role-playing thing that she’s into. It’s because I’m slowly turning into my father. In case you haven’t picked up on it, his name is Kirk. I’m not mad that she says that. My dad has always been my biggest hero. However, sometimes I catch myself being “Kirk” more than I want to. I got my work ethic from my dad. It’s a gift and a curse. He, along with my other dad (my stepfather) and my pa-pa, taught me the importance of hard work and being proud of the work I do. But it didn’t stop there. My dad worked a lot: long nights, Saturdays, Sundays, whenever there was work to be done and money to be made, he worked. This is the life of a father who runs his own business and wants to ensure that his family is properly provided for. This is the example I grew up with. This is still the work ethic of my father today. This is also my work ethic. I, like my dad, have gotten to a place in my life where I don’t quite know what to do with myself if I’m not working. Last week, I worked my day job, got off on Friday, worked Friday night, got up early to work on Saturday. When I was done working Saturday I came home, showered and went back to work. By the time Sunday rolled around I was ready for a day of rest and relaxation. I just wanted to kick back on the couch and veg out in front of the TV. I made it half-way through a movie before I got up and found something to do around the house. Hi, my name is Kris and I’m a workaholic. This is my struggle. I no longer know how to just sit and do nothing. I try and I fail. I have visions of kicking back with a cold beverage and perhaps a snack, but I just can’t follow through. I end up obsessing over the things that need to be done around the house or at work. Imagine my stress level heading into a holiday weekend. Three days off? Just think of all the activities I can do that have nothing to do with relaxing and everything to do with working! Every year when my dad’s birthday and/or Father’s Day rolls around I get frustrated because I have no idea what to get for my dad. The only thing he really does is work. I’m not going to buy him work clothes or tools or anything. I thought I was a genius when I came up with the idea of just giving him money this year. Everybody likes money, right? Well, yeah, but it’s still a cop-out. Much like trying to come up with an idea for a column and thinking: “Hmm, what’s going on in my life that’s interesting to read about? Ooh, I know, I can write a column about working too much! People will love that!” I’m not complaining. There are people who are not working at all but would love to. I’m thankful to be employed and grateful that I love what I do. But every now and then I have to remind myself that there has to be a balance. I’m sure there are many others who could use the same reminder. Loving what you do and wanting to do it more than the average person isn’t so bad, but we have to take some time out to enjoy life. I recently had to remind myself that I do actually enjoy doing things that aren’t work related. I have hobbies? I had no idea! “Slow down to smell the roses,” “Live for today as tomorrow is promised to no one,” “Live as if you were dying.” There are hundreds of quotes about taking time out to enjoy life. But, I think Ferris Bueller said it best: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Amen, Ferris!

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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This Is Not a Drill

Insider

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NEWS

I Wear My Sunglasses at Night MANY AUGUSTA RESIDENTS are blinding mad over the spanking new 200 lights lining River Watch Parkway that are burning holes in drivers’ retinas. “Soooooooo many lights! It is like a baseball field!” one woman posted on Facebook this week about the River Watch project that includes towering lights with 150-watt fixtures. “Bless the people in those neighborhoods, because I’m pretty sure you can see those lights from space!” another citizen posted. Basically, the 200 lights placed on the seven-mile stretch of River Watch Parkway is just one aspect of the $9.6 million project along the roadway. But thousands of residents all across the CSRA are asking the obvious question, “Isn’t this total overkill?” Augusta Commissioner Sean Frantom has tried to reach out to members of the public and provide them with the Georgia DOT’s explanation for the excessive lighting. Apparently, the light poles match the look of the ones on Berckmans Road/downtown and are supposed to be placed every 100 feet through the corridor. “The city of Augusta requested decorative lights to provide a gateway into downtown and to match the current lighting in the downtown area. Photometric calculations are done to determine the spacing of the lights,” a recent GDOT press release stated. “On a technical level, the lights are single-headed 150-watt fixtures, as compared to those on other Augusta area projects which double-headed 250 watt fixtures, so it requires a higher quantity to get the same light level and reduce hot spots under the fixtures.” The GDOT wants Augustans to know it was a “collaborative” effort between the state and the city of Augusta. “The rationale behind the choice to place the lights in the median, rather than on the shoulders, use a lower-wattage fixture, and limit light trespass past the shoulder of the road was to adhere to a request to limit ambient lighting as much as possible since the corridor runs through a historic district,” the press release stated. “These lights are a prime example of how GDOT works closely with local entities to ensure that TIA projects respect the desires of the local communities with careful solutions to their unique needs.” And, as an added bonus, GDOT wanted to brag that the bid came in under budget, so “we are still looking good.” Of course, many locals are arguing the lights aren’t looking good. Not very good at all. And some are concerned about whether the excess lighting will also disrupt the natural surroundings along the Augusta Canal. “River Watch looks like a car dealership now,” one woman posted. “I’m sure the animals along the canal are loving their ignorant human neighbors here in Augusta.” So, how will the lights be turned on-off? “The lights are on sensors that will come on automatically when sunlight begins to dissipate for the day,” the GDOT stated, adding the lights are high-pressure sodium. One of the main reasons for the lighting project is to make the roadway safer, according to the GDOT. And guess who will handle the ongoing maintenance of the lights once the project is complete?

You’ve got it. The city of Augusta. Citizens will soon find out exactly how much these 150watt bulbs will cost taxpayers. And the changes don’t stop there. Plans are that residents will soon see similar lots along the Calhoun Expressway. Get ready, Harrisburg! You better start preparing for a much brighter neighborhood in the very near future. Blindingly brighter. Maybe the city’s newest slogan should be, “I wear my sunglasses at night.”

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Attorneys question what the Columbia County Fire Rescue department did, and didn’t, do while ﬁghting the Marshall Square blaze

By Stacey Eidson

The Metro Spirit has been following the Marshall Square fire case for the past year. These depositions in the case were just released and shed more light on what happened on June 2, 2015. MORE THAN A YEAR after the devastating fire at the Marshall Square retirement community, the highest ranking officials in the Columbia County Fire Rescue department are having to testify about the events of June 2, 2015. Until now, many of the county officials and personnel did not want to discuss the enormous fire in Evans that resulted in the displacement of more than 80 senior residents and the death of 91-year-old resident Dorothy Carpenter. But over the past several months, local attorneys have taken depositions in the civil cases against the owners and some of the employees of the former $27 million Marshall Square retirement community, as well as, mostly recently, some depositions involving employees of Columbia County Fire Rescue. And what these top fire officials are saying is truly jarring. “It was probably one of the most devastating fires that we’ve seen,” said Columbia County Fire Rescue Chief Doug Cooper, who testified he has served as fire chief for the past 18 years. 12 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

According to Cooper’s deposition, he arrived at the three-story building along Ronald Reagan Drive around 4:07 a.m. on June 2, 2015, about an hour after the first fire alarm sounded at the retirement community. The Marshall Square staff actually waited 17 minutes after the initial fire alarm sounded to call 911 and alert the fire department. Once Columbia County Fire Rescue arrived on the scene around 3:30 a.m., the sprinklers inside Marshall Square were also manually shut off by Marshall Square’s property manager, Chris Bryde. However, Bryde has testified that Columbia County fire personnel told him to shut off the sprinklers as soon as they arrived on the scene around 3:30 a.m. While being questioned by Aiken attorney Robin Braithwaite, who is representing the Nebraska-based company Resort Lifestyle Communities that owns Marshall Square, Cooper insisted that no one from his department would shut off the sprinklers. “We never turn off sprinklers in any building that’s got live smoke in it until we have that completely under control,” Cooper said. “That’s just an unwritten law.” Braithwaite asked the chief if he ever discussed the sprinkler system with his firefighters following the Marshall Square fire. “I did,” Cooper said. “I just said, ‘If anybody cut that sprinkler system off, they better 30JUNE2016

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“We never turn off sprinklers in any building that’s got live smoke in it until we have that completely under control. That’s just an unwritten law.” — Doug Cooper own up and let me know.’” “And nobody owned up; is that right?” Braithwaite asked. “That’s correct,” Cooper replied. Braithwaite’s line of questioning then began to be more specific. “Let me ask you this, have you made any kind of an assessment or determination what role the shutting down of that sprinkler system played in the spread of this fire?” Braithwaite asked. “I think it was detrimental,” Cooper replied. The fire chief insisted that, while the sprinkler system may not have been able to totally extinguish the fire, it definitely would have helped suppress it. “It can usually hold it in check, and we go in there and we knock it down,” Cooper said. “And what is normal practice for us to do, instead of shutting the sprinkler system down, we plug the sprinkler head that’s going off that’s not needed.” But Cooper said his firefighters know better than to turn off the sprinkler system. “I don’t think any individual fireman would cut a sprinkler off,” he said. “I know my firefighters responded appropriately. I know they did. That thing could have been a lot worse than it was.” Cooper said the fire personnel understand the consequences of any such actions. “Let me ask you this, would that be dereliction of duty on the part of any fireman who would tell Mr. Bryde to turn that off?” Braithwaite asked. “It would probably end their career,” Cooper bluntly said. Braithwaite then went back to Cooper’s conversation with the firefighters regarding the sprinkler system. “So everybody was just deadly silent 30JUNE2016

when you said, ‘If any of y’all did this, you tell me now?’” Braithwaite asked. Cooper said there was some discussion, but it involved more general comments such as, “You know we wouldn’t turn off a sprinkler system with smoke in a building.” The fire chief appeared extremely confident about his firefighters’ actions until Braithwaite announced he was going to play an audio recording of radio communications between the firefighters during the early morning hours of June 2, 2015. “Chief Cooper, what I’d like to do now is to play for you a recording that was — that we received from counsel, and I’d ask that you listen to it very carefully,” Braithwaite said, as he began to play the audio file. On the recording, a male voice can be heard saying, “All right. Let’s shut off the sprinkler system as soon as we can.” After the audio file ends, Braithwaite asked Cooper if he was able to hear the recorded conversation. “Sounded like something... about shutting down the sprinkler system,” Cooper replied. “‘As soon as we can,’ did you hear that?” Braithwaite asked. Cooper said he did hear that part of the audio file. “All right, sir. And if I were to tell you that that transmission was made at 3:43, you would agree that’s within 13 minutes of the arrival of your personnel at the scene of the fire; is that correct?” Braithwaite asked. “That’s correct,” Cooper said. “And do you recognize the voice on there?” Braithwaite asked. “Sounded like Danny Kuhlmann,” Cooper said, referring to the operations chief for Columbia County Fire Rescue. Braithwaite asked Cooper to listen to another audio file that

occurred almost one minute later at 3:44 a.m. inside the Marshall Square retirement community. On the recording, a male voice can be heard saying, “I’ve got Engine 3 on their way. We’re by the sprinkler system control valve.” Again, Braithwaite asked Cooper if he was able to hear the voice on the recording. “That was Danny,” Cooper replied. “All right, sir. So if Chief Kuhlmann is saying we need to shut down the sprinkler system as soon as we can, why would he be saying that?” Braithwaite asked. “Do you have any idea?” Cooper said he didn’t know. “The only idea I would have is he thinks he’s got the fire put out,” Cooper said. Braithwaite asked if hearing the recording changed Cooper’s mind about the actions of the fire department. “It does if he shut that sprinkler system down,” Cooper said.

“I just said, ‘If anybody cut that sprinkler system off, they better own up and let me know.’” — Doug Cooper AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

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“Once the collapse happened, it was all hell broke loose.” — Danny Kuhlmann

“That’s a career-ending move right there.” — Doug Cooper “Like I said, that’s a career-ending move right there.” Cooper was also asked about the evacuation of the building. Around 3:55 a.m., Cooper said he heard on the radio that part of the upper floor of the Marshall Square retirement community was “collapsing.” “I was thinking, this thing’s getting bad,” Cooper said. “I immediately put on my clothes and got in my Yukon ... I got over to the dispatcher and told him to call in another shift. I think it took me about 12 minutes to get down there.” By 3:30 a.m., Cooper said about a dozen firefighters were on the scene. Capt. Gary Griffith of Columbia County Fire Rescue’s Engine Company 3 was the first to become the incident commander at the Marshall Square fire, Cooper said. Kuhlmann was also on the scene and already attempting to help put out the fire when 14 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

Cooper arrived, he said. “He didn’t have much to say because I told him, next time you get to a fire, don’t you go in there and start fighting the fire,” Cooper said of Kuhlmann. “You stand outside out there and you be chief officer.” Instead, Kuhlmann was attempting to help carry a three-inch hose up to the third floor of Marshall Square. “You’ve got to understand, this hose has got to go up three flights of stairs in this building,” Cooper said, adding it is not an easy task. “Well, sectioning that hose is probably 50 pounds, and a section is 50-foot long, so it’s not going to be something that’s going to happen when you snap your fingers. I would think it would take probably 15 or 20 minutes.” But the hose never made it up to the third floor to help combat the fire, Cooper said. “Actually the hose was trapped in the building when the steeple fell,” he said, adding that the residents of Marshall Square needed to be evacuated as soon as the fire was discovered in the building. “Once they figured that they had fire in there, those people should have been gotten out of there.” Cooper testified that proper procedure is to evacuate those apartments that are closest to the fire and then expand outwards from there because it is the firefighters’ top priority to save lives, he said. “You can’t get another life, but you can get another building,” Cooper said. Then, Braithwaite specifically asked about resident Dorothy Carpenter, who was killed in the fire, and Rhetta Cadle, who survived after being trapped in her third-floor apartment for almost seven hours. Their apartments were located right next to the third-floor billiard room, where the fire is believed to have originated. “Do you know whether Dot Carpenter or Rhetta Cadle’s apartments were ever accessed by the fire department in the first hour of that fire?” Braithwaite asked. “I don’t think they were,” Cooper answered. “I believe I was told there was debris in the hallway there, that they couldn’t get by.” But Cooper quickly stated that he felt everyone inside Marshall Square should have been evacuated as soon as the first fire alarm sounded. “Normally when we go somewhere and there’s a fire alarm going off, the people are out. But we do a preliminary search,” Cooper said, adding that he would have thought the firefighters would have evacuated both Cadle and Carpenter. “I would think that they should have got those people out, you know, but I can’t sit here and second guess them when I don’t know what kind of conditions there were up there.” However, Braithwaite continued to press the fact that the firefighters failed to evacuate both Carpenter and Cadle in a timely manner. “Would you agree that their apartments would have been the first locations that should have been checked and evacuated?” he asked Cooper. “I would,” Cooper replied. About two months ago, Danny Kuhlmann, the operations chief and former training chief for Columbia County Fire Rescue, testified about his actions during the fire in the early morning hours of June 2, 2015. Kuhlmann told Augusta attorney Staten Bitting Jr., who is representing Marshall Square, that he arrived at the fire around 3:30 a.m. and found the crew of Engine 2 and Capt. Gary Griffith already on the scene. Within minutes, Engine 5 and 3, along with an aerial ladder truck, arrived at the fire, he said. Griffith was initially the incident commander, in charge of assigning tasks to the firefighters who were arriving, Kuhlmann said. “I had a choice to take command or be the operations officer, which I chose to be the operations officer,” he said. “When I pulled up... on Side A of the building, which is the front side, there was just a small amount of smoke at the roof line and probably a 20inch dark — what looked like a burn spot on the exterior wall above the air conditioning unit on the third floor.” Griffith sent the crew from Engine 2 to the third floor, Engine 3 to the rear of the building and Engine 5 to the front of the building, Kuhlmann said. Soon after arriving at Marshall Square, Kuhlmann said he noticed a lot of water coming 30JUNE2016

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“You can’t get another life, but you can get another building.” — Doug Cooper down like a “waterfall” from the third floor. “Do you know what was causing that?” Bitting asked. “Sprinkler activation,” Kuhlmann responded. Kuhlmann said he was concerned about the amount of water flowing down into the lobby. “There were residents lingering around all this water. It was approximately 3 inches deep in the — on the floor on the first level, first floor, and in a building that size, there’s a tremendous amount of power going to this building,” Kuhlmann said. “And the first concern was people getting shocked or electrocuted, so I advised all those residents and people that were standing around all this water to get out, get away from it, ‘cause once it hits a wall socket or a big transformer or something, panel box, it can throw electricity everywhere.” Kuhlmann said he was then approached by firefighter Doug Lord who had keys from a “Knox Box,” which are keys that firefighters use to open any door in the building. “It’s keys to everything,” Kuhlmann said, adding that they were master keys to every apartment in Marshall Square. “There’s only two sets in that box,” Kuhlmann said. “We gave one set to Engine 5, and I think either Doug Lord or Capt. Griffith 16 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

had the other set to be issued to whoever needed them next... I assume they were never issued because of the developing conditions.” Kuhlmann said he went back outside and the crew from Engine 3 pointed to smoke coming out the back of the building. “We realized we had a working fire,” he said. “We communicated with Griffith that we needed to start evacuating. I went back into the building and went to the third floor, and when I got to the third floor, I walked down to the billiard room, and you couldn’t see three feet into the room, it was that full of smoke.” “Did you have on any personal protective devices at that time?” Bitting asked. “Just my helmet,” Kuhlmann said, adding he wasn’t wearing a respirator or any protective equipment. He then saw Lt. Jamie Champion from Engine 5. “I said, ‘Y’all need to go ahead and start evacuating this third floor,’” Kuhlmann said. Bitting asked if Champion responded to Kuhlmann’s order to evacuate the third floor. “Yes,” Kuhlmann said, but explained he could not remember Champion’s exact response. “I don’t recall. These guys, when they have their gear on, it’s hard to hear and communicate with them sometimes. But he understood me. I just couldn’t understand him as far as talking back.” By that time, Kuhlmann said he returned back downstairs to help bring a hose up to the third floor to fight the fire. “Firefighter Thomas Knight and myself started loading hose up on our shoulder, and I asked the deputy to help feed the hose to us,” Kuhlmann said. “We would carry hose on our shoulder, but he needed to feed it — the hose off the truck to us.” Kuhlmann said he and Knight made it through the front door and into the stairwell, but then suddenly the ceiling of the third floor collapsed.

“Once the collapse happened, it was all hell broke loose,” Kuhlmann said. “And that would have been the first time a hose was taken up into the building?” Bitting asked. “Correct,” Kuhlmann said. “Were you able to get it on up to the third floor?” Bitting asked. “Negative,” Kuhlmann responded. Bitting then asked about whether the firefighters were well equipped to begin evacuating the building. “When you were on the third floor, you saw Champion. Do you know what sort of equipment he had with him?” Bitting asked. Kuhlmann said Champion was wearing his full protective clothing. “Did he have any devices that would allow him to try to make a forceful entry?” Bitting asked. “I don’t remember, but they’re usually required to carry a tool,” he said. Bitting then asked if Champion or the other firefighter were given the master key to unlock the apartments and evacuate the residents. “Yeah, he was given one down on the ground floor,” Kuhlmann said. “I’m almost positive Engine 5’s crew was given the key. Now, it could have been lost in the mayhem, but...” “He didn’t ask you for one at the time when you said, ‘We gotta get these people out?’” Bitting asked. “No, not at that time,” Kuhlmann replied. Bitting asked at what point was water actually applied with a hose to the building during the fire. “Just after the fire broke out of the attic, AT1 (Aerial Truck 1) got set up, they started flowing water from the front side of the building to try to slow the spread of the fire,” he said. “As soon as the Aerial Truck 7 got there, we positioned them in the rear of the building to do the same.

“In a poker game, you want to win all the money. We only won $84. I would have liked to have won 85.” — Danny Kuhlmann 30JUNE2016

“I would think that they should have got those people out, you know, but I can’t sit here and second guess them when I don’t know what kind of conditions there were up there.” — Doug Cooper And so you’re looking at 25 minutes at least before water started being applied... I mean, it takes time to set those trucks up, get them hooked up and get water flowing.” Kuhlmann also explained that one of the aerial ladder trucks experienced some difficulties with sufficient water pressure at the scene, so the county’s waterworks department had to “boost the pressure in the system.” As to whether he ever turned off the building’s sprinkler system, Kuhlmann denied any such actions. Kuhlmann explained that not long after he arrived at the fire, Marshall Square’s property manager, Chris Bryde, took him to the alarm panel. As soon as Bryde opened the door, Kuhlmann said Bryde reset the alarm panel. “We don’t like that, because anytime you reset an alarm, a lot of times, it will clear the display for a few minutes,” Kuhlmann said. “Until the alarm reactivates, that tells you where the trouble is within the building.” However, Kuhlmann decided not to “fuss” at Bryde. “No need. I mean, I knew the problem was water was flowing in the building,” he said. “We just needed to pinpoint where and why.” That was important for a number of reasons, Kuhlmann said. “Number one, the water flows for two reasons, a pipe break or a fire. We had smoke, so we knew we had a fire,” he said. “And nine out of ten times, the sprinkler system puts the fire out, no problem at all, so our next concern was water damage. And this is a big beautiful building and we wanted to get the water stopped as soon as possible. So we were waiting on the crews to tell us whether or not the fire was out or in check or if they needed help, so they could plug the heads and get the water stopped.” But at no time did he tell Bryde to shutdown the sprinkler system, Kuhlmann insisted. “Well, he asked me if I wanted him to shut down the system, and I told him, ‘No. Not until we find out exactly what we got,’” Kuhlmann said. By the time the firefighters discovered the fire, it was “all hands” on deck to evacuate the building, Kuhlmann said. “When you went up on the third floor, were the sprinklers still flowing?” Bitting asked. “Absolutely,” Kuhlmann said. “They didn’t stop till after 10:00 o’clock that morning.” Thomas Mazziotti, who is an attorney representing Goodman Company, which manufactured the packaged terminal air conditioner that was located in Marshall Square’s billiard room where the fire initiated, specifically asked Kuhlmann about the sprinkler system. “If someone said that they were advised to turn off the sprinkler system by one of the firemen, do you have any information to disagree with that?” Mazziotti asked. “None of our people would have told anybody to shut a system down,” Kuhlmann said. “They wouldn’t have done that. You’re not gonna turn off the sprinkler system.” And only the incident commander can make the decision to turn off the sprinkler system, Kuhlmann said. “I was the highest ranking officer there,” Kuhlmann said. “I was the only one that had authorization to shut that system down.” “And you never gave that authorization?” Mazziotti asked. “No,” Kuhlmann testified. Mazziotti then asked Kuhlmann’s opinion regarding the evacuation of Rhetta Cadle and the death of Dorothy Carpenter. “During that morning, did anyone ask about whether Ms. Cadle had been notified about the fire?” Mazziotti asked. “I’m just trying to figure out if Ms. Cadle’s name came up as one of the residents that was missing and ... do you know if any of the firefighters 30JUNE2016

specifically went up there to check her unit to see if she was still in there?” Kuhlmann said, once the fire was brought under control, a team was sent back into the building to check on those apartments. “A head count was constantly being conducted, and I don’t know at what point, but Carpenter and Cadle ended up being the only two we were missing,” Kuhlmann said. “And when they realized what area they were in, they knew that that area was too dangerous to send anybody in until the fire was brought under control.” Augusta attorney Jamie Weston, who represents Chris Bryde, Marshall Square’s property manager, asked whether Kuhlmann thought the firefighters should have been able to save Carpenter. “In a poker game, you want to win all the money. We only won $84,” Kuhlmann said, referring to the number of Marshall Square residents who were evacuated from the building. “I would have liked to have won 85.” But Weston did not let Kuhlmann off that easily. “Should Columbia County Fire Rescue personnel, when they conducted their search of the rooms around the core — or around the billiard room, should they have found Rhetta Cadle?” Weston directly asked. “Yes,” Kuhlmann admitted. “Same question for Dot Carpenter?” Weston asked. “Yes,” Kuhlmann responded. AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

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Aiken-based artist Staci Swider is no stranger to the Augusta art scene. If you’ve been downtown during Arts in the Heart of Augusta each September, you’ve probably seen her, along with about a dozen other artists, painting non-stop at Artzilla. Her works are ethereal: her natural scenes in muted yet somehow vibrant colors contain layer after layer, happily forcing viewers to stop, study and continue discovering elements they missed upon first seeing the work. Tomorrow, Swider opens a new show at the Westobou Gallery on Broad Street. Miru: Hope Full Soul is a collection of new artwork featuring the eponymous creature and his adventures at the edge of his pond. The organization, which holds an annual festival at the end of each September, will hold an opening reception with the artist July 1, and Swider will hold a book signing for her “Acrylic Expressions: Painting Authentic Themes and Creating Your Visual Vocabulary” September 2. The exhibition shows July 1-September 2 and the gallery is open weekdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. MIRU: HOPE FULL SOUL

Westobou Gallery Opening Reception: Friday, July 1, from 5-8 p.m. Book Signing: Friday, September 2, from 5-8 p.m. 706-755-2878 westoboufestival.com 30JUNE2016

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Yes, Please! Newcomer Stanleo’s offers breakfast, subs, coffee drinks, chocolate truffles and more Located on the fringe of downtown, on Walton Way at 11th, Stanleo’s serves breakfast foods, espresso and coffee drinks, as well as freshly made subs. A relative newcomer to Augusta, the new food place is buffering our already impressive sandwich shop tally, while providing a hugely convenient (some might say essential) service — a drive-thru for coffee. If I’m remembering correctly we’ve lived without the ease of a drive-thru for a number of years now, so Stanleo’s has already scored points for helping espresso lovers everywhere. The drive-thru is also used for food items, but mostly it’s a caffeinated blessing to those in transit throughout the heart of Augusta. The location is crucial. Just two blocks down from the medical district — and close to the courthouse and other large organizations — Stanleo’s occupies space in a strip mall next to the new Diablo’s, just a five-minute drive from Broad Street. Parking is available in front and in an even larger fenced-in parking lot in back, while the drive-thru snakes around the side. Stanleo’s is a reincarnation of another sub shop of a similar name — Stanlieo’s in Huntsville, Alabama. Laura Whitehead, owner of Augusta’s Stanleo’s, worked in the Huntsville sub shop when she was a teenager and loved their food. During a return visit to Huntsville, Laura and her husband, Jeff, negotiated with the owner of the original Stanlieo’s to allow them to alter the name and sell the delicious subs in other locations around the country. The Stanleo’s in Augusta is different from its parent shop. The menu offers greater variety, both in terms of types of sandwiches sold, and in terms of other products, such as coffees and teas, breakfast and chocolate truffles. However, it carries some of the original location’s signature sandwiches as the “Kitchen Sink” — a beast of a sub featuring seven different meats and three types of cheese. Traditional sub fillings are of course on offer, too, including tuna, roast beef, chicken, pepperoni and more. Stanleo’s also caters to vegetarians with both a veggie sub and a veggie meat sub. The veggie meat sub contains the customer’s choice of meat-substitute, and as with all sandwiches can be topped with the in-house creation, “triple chop.” The “triple chop” is a blend of diced onions, chopped tomatoes and cubed dill pickles seasoned with salt, pepper and oregano. A spicier blend containing minced peppers — known as the “hot chop” — is also available. Breakfast is available from 6.30 a.m. until 10.30 a.m. Breakfast items include bagels, scrambled egg bowls, muffins, biscuits, hash browns, breakfast sandwiches and fresh orange juice. For convenience and to further enhance the customer experience, Stanleo’s also provides an option for online orders, which can be made for everything from drinks to catering. Customers are also welcome to dine in. The shop itself is bright and clean; it contains a sterile white interior, spacious enough for a good-sized lunch crowd but small enough to feel comfortable. Ordering is simple. Walk in, head to the counter and choose from the menu posted on the wall. Although making a choice is sometimes challenging, simply because there are plenty of options, the folks taking the orders are friendly and helpful. Tell them what you’re hungry for, and they’ll give you some sound suggestions, one of which is bound to appeal to you. I opted for the Italian, because honestly, who doesn’t love a tasty Italian? It’s stuffed with Genoa and Cotto salami, Capacolla, provolone cheese and a homemade Italian dressing. Topped with the triple chop, the sub was bursting with Italian inspired goodness, but it was the bread that was the real star of the show. Baked fresh inhouse, the sandwich bread is light without being too airy, firm but not hard, and flavorful without overpowering the featured ingredients. My date had the Kitchen Sink topped with the triple chop, and talk about a huge sandwich. Although I thought seven types of deli meat seemed a bit excessive, the end result is fairly impressive and every flavor contributes to the cheese/meat tapestry. If you have a large appetite, or some kind of protein deficiency, this sandwich is for you. If you want to avoid the otherwise inevitable meat sweats, you could order your sub as a “mini,” or half a sandwich, for around $5. Smaller portions of menu items are available for children, and Stanleo’s features drinks designed with kids in mind. Regardless of the size of sub you choose, each sandwich can be combined with a drink and chips. What is even more remarkable is the drink selection. As a firm believer in the kindness of caffeine, Stanleo’s now occupies a part of my heart simply for serving espresso and a range of coffee and tea drinks. Stanleo’s drinks menu is ample and wide-ranging. Espresso, lattes, chai teas, frozen and iced coffees, flavored syrups, Italian sodas, and smoothies are all available — and it is a huge selection so rather than listing the 20 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

By Molly Swift

numerous variations, I’ll have to point you to the website: stanleos.com. To cleanse the palate, or just to treat yourself, grab a bag of truffles. Stanleo’s offers three chocolate truffles for $1.25 and they are absolutely gorgeous. I loved these delicate, diminutive coco-dusted balls of ganache that melt in your mouth. Good chocolate is often all the incentive I need to head somewhere, and I will gladly go to Stanleo’s just to treat myself to truffles, no problemo. Overall, Stanleo’s seems to have plenty going for it — delicious subs, pricing to suit all and the expedience factor. It’s also unpretentious, welcoming and full of reasonably priced foods and drinks I’m more than happy to buy. As it settles into its new spot, it will be interesting to see if Augusta falls in love with its simple but satisfying menu, or even takes advantage of its convenient drive-thru. I hope so. Stanleo’s is open six days a week, Monday-Saturday, from 6.30 a.m. until 7 p.m. and offers catering services in addition to its daily menu. Find them at 1022 Walton Way. For more information, call 706-496-8910 or visit stanleos.com.

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What’s Up

Calendar A Bang Up Time Music Listings

BreWing FUn

If you have any questions, or would like to submit an event to our calendar, please email Amy Christian at amy@themetrospirit.com.

riverWatch BreWery can claim a lot of superlatives. They are the first brewery to open in Augusta since the Prohibition era and have the only mother-daughter beer brewing team in the United States. Since they sold their first batch of beer to local growler shops and bars in mid-April, they’ve received nothing but praise for the four styles they brew: The Scenic Overlook blonde ale, the Route 104 pale ale, the Nearest Point of Relief wheat beer and the Cautionary Tale IPA. And even in the summer heat of Augusta, mom Brey, daughter Anne and son James Sloan have been packing people in to their location in the State Farmer’s Market off Laney Walker Boulevard for the tours and tastings they offer each Friday and Saturday. Sound like smooth sailing for the Sloans? Well, not quite.

this Week

thUrsday

Friday

satUrday

sUnday

If you’re tired of beating all your friends online and miss the feel of those Scrabble tiles as you plunk down a bingo, then check out the competition tonight, June 30, at 7 p.m. at North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library during Scrabble Night. Those suckers will never know what hit them.

Claire Storm, Miss Augusta Pride 2016 herself, leads Pablo Bravo and Brint Lollar of Chainsaw Masscara on a trip to Wonderland when they bring their Through the Looking Glass performance art piece to Joe’s Underground tonight. Dress in your finest Alice regalia or you will definitely stand out… in a bad way.

Being a vegan doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite foods. Prove it, you say? The CSRA Vegetarian and Vegan Society will gladly accept your challenge at 5:30 p.m. today at Mellow Mushroom downtown, where they’ll not only talk about but indulge in vegan pizza, cheese and sandwiches.

Atlanta’s first urban winery, City Winery is also a restaurant and an intimate music venue that is quickly making a name for itself. In July Cracker and Matthew Sweet will visit. August brings Rickie Lee Jones and the Bacon Brothers (yes, Kevin Bacon). In the meantime, check out Don McLean tonight and don’t worry about finding dinner beforehand: your ticket serves as your dinner reservation.

For more information on these events, see our calendar of events on page 24. 30JUNE2016

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“We got one set of tours in on Memorial Day weekend and then the state attorney general shut us down,” Brey laughed. “So we had one really good weekend and then we had to tell people they could only come if they’d already signed up.” The problem, it seems, was that the lawyer for the Department of Agriculture, under which the family’s operation falls, became overly cautious about liability since the brewery was on state property. “It was in the third week of that particular problem that I lost my temper because they were just messing around with us at that point,” Brey said. “It moved very quickly once I lost my temper. I kind of went Army on them.” Now back open for tours, that “particular problem,” as Brey put it, was the latest in many obstacles the brewery has had to overcome between deciding to base their operations and make their home in Augusta in 2013 and being cleared by state and federal agencies to begin brewing in March of 2016. During that time, they’ve had difficulty finding a place to put the brewery because of zoning restrictions and space requirements and have experienced delays in federal and state licensing and brand registration. While admitting that it’s been a frustrating process, largely due to Georgia’s draconian laws regarding craft beer production, Brey says that she doesn’t mind navigating the maze of rules and regulations if it will allow her to continue doing what she loves. And she does love brewing beer, and has since she discovered it while in the Army. “A long, long time ago the Army sent me off to Fort Leavenworth for a school and one of the first things they had all of us do was teach a process,” she said.

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“Most people chose Army processes, but one guy stood up and gave us a presentation on how to make beer. He brought all his stuff and we made a beer. It was a horrible beer, but I was hooked and so, when I came back from the school, this is when we were up at Fort Jackson, as a matter of fact, I taught my

husband how to do it and we started home brewing ever since.” The Army sent Brey and her husband all over the world, but it was when she was a defense attaché at the American embassy in Burma that she and her husband really became known for their beer. Burma, when the Sloans were there, was a military dictatorship and under international sanctions, which meant there was no beer from other countries coming in. “The only beer you could get was the locally brewed beer, which was actually a good beer. It was every bit as good as Budweiser,” she said. “I couldn’t import beer but I could import ingredients, so we did a lot of home brewing. I did a lot of entertaining over there, and we made a lot of different kinds of beer and become well known as having the best beer in Rangoon.” By the time the Sloans were to leave Burma for Tokyo, the country was becoming a democracy, sanctions were being lifted and businesses were coming in from other countries. A group of businessmen approached the couple and asked them if they would stay and open a microbrewery. “The Army wouldn’t let me retire at the time, so off we went to Tokyo,” Brey said. “But that’s what gave us the idea of doing it commercially.” The idea blossomed, so as Brey’s Army career wound down, she began to prepare for a new career by studying in Chicago, at a German brewery near Mount Fuji in Japan and in Munich, Germany. It was then that the newly formed business idea met its first and most tragic setback. “Part of the story is that my husband and I had planned for this entire endeavor and were going to be doing it together,” Brey said. “Unfortunately, 30JUNE2016

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while I was in Munich finishing up my education, he passed away. So after a couple of months of trying to get back on our feet, we sat down and decided to go ahead with this enterprise, but Anne said she would step in to do what her father was going to be doing.” It was a pretty big jump for Anne, who admits that, up until about four years ago, she didn’t even like beer. Now, she’s a Certified Cicerone, which is to beer what a sommelier is to wine. At the brewery, her official title is director of sales and marketing, but she describes herself another way. “I’m kind of a jack of all trades,” she laughed. “I am supposed to be the director of sales and marketing, and I do do that, but I’ve also taken up assistant brewing, so I help with all the brewing. I usually do all the keg filling and cleaning too. I don’t have much time to drink our creations. I’m either making it or sleeping these days.” You’ll oftentimes find both mother and daughter at the weekend brewery tours, sometimes behind the bar and sometimes leading the facilities tour. Son James also helps out, although he’s set to move out of state soon. The brewery also has two part-time bartenders and an intern who will stay on as an employee once his internship ends. And what can visitors expect from a tour? It’s pretty laid back. Once you come in and pay, you’ll receive a glass and six tickets, each ticket being good for six ounces of whatever beer you choose. There’s no set time for the facility tours although they are given fairly regularly. “We show them the equipment and explain the process in fairly decent detail so they get a good idea of how beer is made and all the steps that go into it,” Brey said. “Then we answer their questions and bring them back in the tasting room and they can stay as long as they want to.”

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The tasting room always has the brewery’s four core styles, although Brey said the Nearest Point of Relief is a summertime beer that will be replaced with something more seasonal in the fall and winter. To keep locals coming back, however, they will offer a brew that customers can’t get at growler shops or bars. “We also do smaller batches,” Brey said, explaining that the most recent weekend featured the Keep Your Powder Dry brown ale that was very popular the previous time they featured it. “We had two kegs of it two weekends ago and I expected to have one on Friday and one on Saturday and it was all gone on Friday. Like, within two hours it was gone.” Currently brewing is Queen Maeve Irish red ale, which they hope will be ready for the coming weekend. “There will always be something available here that you can’t get downtown,” she said, “which hopefully will keep people coming over here to try something different.” RiveRwatch BReweRy touRs Fridays, 5-8:30 p.m. Saturdays, 1-4 p.m. and 5-8:30 p.m. $15, including take-home tulip glass; $13, military or first responders with ID Private parties available Tuesdays-Thursdays by advanced reservations 706-421-7177 riverwatchbrewery.com

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Historic Trolley Tours of Augusta 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.

EXHIBITIONS Fri July 1

5pm - 8pm Miru: Hope Full Soul Opening Reception

Yappy Hour SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare Wednesday, July 6 6-9 p.m. An event that includes live music, a cash bar (for humans only — sorry, pups!), open dog park and food. letlovelive.org

Westobou Gallery An opening reception with artist Staci Swider about her collection of new artwork featuring Miru’s adventures at the edge of his pond. Call 706-755-2878 or visit westoboufestival.com.

Thu July 7

5pm - 7pm Opening Reception: Vicki Greene and Joan Vanover Exhibit Sacred Heart Cultural Center The exhibit remains on display until August 26. The reception is free and open to the public. Call 706-826-4700 or visit sacredheartaugusta.org.

Ongoing

Miru: Hope Full Soul

CAMPS Tue July 5 - Fri July 8

7am - 5pm Youth Horse Camp Hilltop Riding Stables, Fort Gordon For those ages 7-13, who will learn riding, grooming, care and tack, as well as participate in other camp activities. $250, sponsored; $275, unsponsored. Call 706-7914864 or visit fortgordon.com.

8am - 5pm Summer Adventures Camp Weeks Activities Center, Aiken For those ages 5-12. Early drop off at 7:30 a.m. and late pick up until 5:30 p.m. available. $70 per week. Call 803-642-7631 or visit visitaikensc.com.

8am - 5pm Summer Fun Day Camp Smith-Hazel Recreation Center, Aiken For those ages 5-14. Early drop off at 7:45 a.m. available. $60 per week. Call 803-6427761 or visit visitaikensc.com.

9am - 4pm Camp Kroc Summer Camp Kroc Center For those ages 5-12. Extended care available. $100 a week, members; $125, nonmembers; $5 a day, extended care; $30 a week, swim lessons. Call 706-922-1533 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org.

EDUCATION Fri July 1 24 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

New Moon Cafe Sponsored by the Augusta Advertising Federation. Visit facebook.com/aafaugusta/.

$15 fee, includes admission to the museum, which houses the largest collection of James Brown memorabilia. Reservations 24 hours in advance required. Call 803-6402090 or visit jamesbrownfamilyfdn.org.

7pm Harlem: Independence Day memories of Our Founding Fathers

Guided Tours

8am - 10am Creative Roundtable

Tippy Cakes, Harlem The ﬁrst of a series of coffeehouse historical events sponsored by the Harlem Arts Council featuring Mary Campbell and Laurie Sargent. Call 706-692-2119.

Tue July 5

7pm NAACP General Membership Meeting Smith Hazel Recreation Center, Aiken Hosted by Rev. Dr. Albert James. Call 803502-0170 or email aikennaacp@att.net.

Wed July 6

6pm - 7:30pm Spanish Conversation Headquarters Branch Library For those at beginner and intermediate levels. Call 317-695-4748.

Ongoing

James Brown Family Historical Tour Augusta Museum of History Available each Saturday at 11 a.m. and lasting approximately two hours, this bus tour includes Brown’s elementary school, his childhood home, his statue and more.

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 30-45-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 803-441-4380 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.

Westobou Gallery A collection of new artwork by Staci Swider. An opening reception will be held July 1 and a book signing will take place September 2 for Swider’s new book “Acrylic Expressions: Painting Authentic Themes and Creating Your Visual Vocabulary.” The exhibition will show Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. July 1-September 2. Call 706-755-2878 or visit westoboufestival.com.

Out of Africa Arts & Heritage Center of North Augusta A show featuring more than 80 pieces of African art from the locally owned corporate collection of Tibi Winston Ltd. Will show through August 19 in the main gallery. A reception will be held July 13 from 7-9 p.m. Call 803-441-4380 or visit artsandheritagecenter.com.

Exhibits Augusta Museum of History Includes the following: “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 706-7228454 or visit augustamuseum.org. 30JUNE2016

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FLIX

Fri July 1

Thu Jun 30

Child Safety Seat Inspections

Appleby Branch Library Featuring “The Blind Side.” Participants are invited to bring their own snacks. Call 706736-6244 or visit arcpls.org.

Sat July 2

10:30am - 12:30pm Retro Teen Morning Movie

Mon July 4

Safe Kids Office Appointment required. Call 706-721-7606 or visit grhealth.org.

5:30pm CSRA Veg Meet Up Mellow Mushroom downtown Visit meetup.com/csravs/.

6pm - 10pm Southern Nights Outdoor Movie Series: “Independence Day”

Mon July 4

The Village at Woodside Plantation Event also features food trucks, live music and games. $5, advance; $7, day of. Visit southerncity.org/southern-nights/.

6:30pm Refit

Headquarters Branch Library A free cardio dance class. Call 706-8212600 or visit arcpls.org.

Tue July 5

10:30am - 12:30pm and 3pm - 5pm Super Awesome Sports Movie Week North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library Children’s sports movies will show each day on a big screen. Participants are invited to bring their own snacks. Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.

Wed July 6

Thu July 7

Ongoing

Call for Entries Cause + Effect Georgia Progressive Film Competition The festival will accept through October 2 short film with a focus on social, political, environment or economic issues facing Georgia or a community in Georgia. Open to all Georgia filmmakers. No entry fees. Semifinalist films will screen at Cine in Athens in November. Visit causeandeffectfilm.org.

HEALTH Thu Jun 30

6:30pm - 9:30pm Breastfeeding Class Doctors Hospital Pre-registration required. Call 706-651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.

30JUNE2016

6pm Weight Loss Surgery and You University Hospital Free, but pre-registration required. Call 706774-8931 or visit universityhealth.org.

7pm - 9pm Breastfeeding Class AugustaHealth Medical Center Pre-registration required. Call 706-721-0211 or visit augusta.edu.

7pm - 9:30pm Ready and Able Doctors Hospital A five-session Lamaze class that continues Tuesdays through August 2. Preregistration required. Call 706-651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.

Thu July 7

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.

7pm Center for Women Tour Doctors Hospital Pre-registration required. Call 706-651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.

KIDS-TEENS Thu Jun 30

10:30am Chia Pet Science Diamond Lakes Branch Library A teen program in which pre-registration is required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.

2pm Teen Trivia Headquarters Branch Library Play for prizes. Call 706-821-2600 or visit arcpls.org.

2:30pm - 5pm Get in the (Video) Game Columbia County Library A teen program featuring gaming on a big screen with surround sound. Call 706-8631946 or visit gchrl.org.

4pm Death by Chocolate

7pm Scrabble Night

Aiken Public Library A program for those in grades 6-12 featuring chocolate games. Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.

North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.

Fri July 1

HOBBIES Thu Jun 30

10:15am - 11:30am Friday Story Times

Wed July 6

Noon Georgia-Carolina Toastmasters Fat Man’s Mill Cafe Those interested are invited to learn speech and leadership skills in a fun and supportive atmosphere. Call 706-627-2134.

Aiken Public Library Story time are at 10:15 for those ages 0-23 months, at 11 a.m. for those ages 2-3 years and at 11:45 a.m. for those ages 4-5 years. Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.

2:30pm - 5pm Friday Afternoon Movie

Columbia County Library A teen program featuring popcorn and a new movie each week. Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.

6pm - 10pm Kids Night Out Kroc Center A drop-off program for kids that will include swimming, gym play, inflatables, arts and crafts projects and more. Swimsuit and towel required. Children 4 and younger will not swim. $15, members; $20, nonmembers. Call 706-922-1533 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org.

Sat July 2

11am Hello, My Name Is Octicorn Story Time Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.

Mon July 4

10am - noon Maker Mondays Columbia County Library A teen event in which participants will work on a group project or one of their own using the library’s equipment. Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.

10am Monday at the Museum: Independence Day Celebration Augusta Museum of History This is program for preschool-aged children will include an American flag puzzle. $2, members; AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989 METROSPIRIT 25

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$4, non-members. Pre-registration required. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.

Wed July 6

10am Story Time in the Park Osbon Park, Aiken A free event for children ages 8 and under in which each family receives a book. Call 803-642-7631.

10am Wacky Wednesday Story Time Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.

10:30am Paws to Read Aiken Public Library A program for those in grades K-5 who can read to a therapy dog for 15 minutes. Pre-registration required. Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.

2pm Chia Pets Headquarters Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-821-2623 or visit arcpls. org.

2pm Kumihimo Bracelets, Part II Harlem Branch Library Pre-registration required. Call 706-556-9795 or visit gchrl. org.

4:30pm - 6pm Alley Cats Strikehouse Bowl, Aiken Part of the Aiken Recreation Department’s Buddy Sports program for those with physical and/or intellectual disabilities, this class is for those of all bowling abilities. $12 a month; pre-registration required. Call 803-426-1284 or visit therecingcrew.com.

Thu July 7

10am Folk Art Frenzy Morris Museum of Art Part of the Mommy and Me series for children and parents in which participants will learn what it means to be a folk artist and create their own found-object piece. Free, members; $4 per participants, non-members. Preregistration required. Call 706-828-3867 or visit themorris. org.

2:30pm Bunny Trail, Meet Reggie Reader Harlem Branch Library Call 706-556-9795 or visit gchrl.org.

2:30pm - 5pm Get in the (Video) Game Columbia County Library A teen program featuring gaming on a big screen with surround sound. Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.

4pm DIY Retro Gaming Aiken Public Library A teen summer reading program in which participants in grades 6-12 will make their own mini tabletop games and play the library’s giant games. Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.

Ongoing

Asthma Day Camps Camp Tanglewood, Columbia County 26 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

Augusta University is sponsoring this camp, for children ages 6-13 with asthma, July 11-16. Activities include asthma management sessions, swimming and hiking. Volunteer lifeguards, physicians and respiratory experts will be on hand to ensure illness or injury does not hinder the fun. However, a parent or guardian must attend a brief orientation and education session. Free, but pre-registration required. For more information, contact Kitty Hernlen: 706721-3554 or khernlen@augusta.edu.

LITERARY

7:30pm Star Spangled Fourth Concert Saint Paul’s Church features Broadway star Russell Joel Brown, the Lucia Ensemble, bagpiper Carl Purdy and the 100-member Independence Day Chorus and Orchestra under the direction of Keith Shafer. Following the concert an After Glow Party will be held in the River and Berlin Rooms on the church campus, where fireworks can be enjoyed inside. Concert: $20; party, $15. Call 706-722-3463 or visit riverwalkseries.com.

Thu Jun 30

SPECIAL EVENTS

Maxwell Branch Library Discussion will be on “Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity” by Katherine Boo. Call 706-793-2020 or visit ecgrl.org.

5pm - 7:30pm Farmers Market in the Alley

10am - noon Morning Book Club

Wed July 6

6pm Page Turners Book Club Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.

Thu July 7

6pm Book Talk and Signing Headquarters Branch Library Featuring Lillian Powell Benson, author of “Savannah River Meanderings.” Call 706-821-2600 or visit arcpls.org.

MUSIC Thu Jun 30

7pm Music in the Park Maude Edenfield Park, North Augusta Featuring The Hinson Girls. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be held in the community center. Free. Visit naartscouncil.org.

Sat July 2

11am - 2pm Saturday Morning Swing Eighth Street Plaza Live music from local jazz artists and performing arts groups during the Augusta Market. Call 706-627-0128 or visit theaugustamarket.com.

1:30pm American Stories in Song Augusta Museum of History’s Rotunda A concert by Augusta Bel Canto celebrating America’s birthday. Free. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum. org.

Sun July 3

7:30pm - 9:30pm Candlelight Jazz Augusta Common Attendees are invited to bring their own lawn chairs, blankets and picnics for this live jazz concert. $6. Call 706821-1754 or visit augustaga.gov.

Mon July 4

7pm Hopelands Summer Concert Series Hopelands Gardens, Aiken Featuring Preston & Weston. Attendees can bring blankets, lawn chairs, picnics and well-behaved pets on leashes, but no alcohol. Free. Call 803-642-7631 or visit facebook.com/ experienceaiken. The rain-out hotline is 803-643-4661.

Thu Jun 30

Downtown Aiken This weekly event includes fresh goods, food vendors, artisans, flowers and live music. Call 803-293-2214.

5pm - 11pm Independence Day Celebration Fort Gordon’s Barton Field An event that includes a carnival, vendors, a performance by Cole Swindell and fireworks. Free and open to the public. Call 706-793-4300 or visit fortgordon.com.

Fri July 1

5pm - 9pm First Friday Downtown Augusta A family friendly arts event that includes musicians, dancers, artists and other vendors. Visit artistsrowaugusta. com.

5pm - 9pm Live From Downtown 600 Broad Street A monthly First Friday event presented by the Augusta Regional Collaboration that features live music, art, food and more. Visit facebook.com/600Broad.

5pm - 8pm Wine Tasting Wine World A drop-in First Friday event. $5; $3 rebate upon purchase of a bottle of one of the featured wines. Call 803279-9522 or visit wineworldsc.com.

6pm - 10pm First Friday Augusta Common A family event that includes a car show, fun zone, vendors and live local entertainment. Call 706-821-1754 or visit augustaga.gov.

Sat July 2

8am - 2pm Augusta Market at the River 8th Street Plaza, Reynolds Street The event features vendors of all kinds, activities, live entertainment and more. Visit theaugustamarket.com.

8pm “Engineering the International Space Station” Dupont Planetarium, Aiken Weather permitting, the observatory, housing the Bechtel Telescope, will be available for viewing after each show. $1$5.50. Call 803-641-3654 or visit rpsec.usca.edu.

9pm “Digistar Laser Fantasy” Dupont Planetarium, Aiken Weather permitting, the observatory, housing the Bechtel Telescope, will be available for viewing after each show. $1$5.50. Call 803-641-3654 or visit rpsec.usca.edu. 30JUNE2016

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A Bang Up Time There is a lot going on this Fourth of July weekend, and we mean a lot. And this list doesn’t even take the First Friday events occurring July 1 or upcoming library events into account. They’re sure to have a patriotic theme as well, but here the ones who are going all out to celebrate our country’s birthday. For more information on these events, see their calendar entries.

ThUrsdAy, JUne 30 Independence day Celebration Fort Gordon’s Barton Field 5-11 p.m. Call 706-793-4300 or visit fortgordon.com

FrIdAy, JUly 1 Fourth of July Family Trivia night Mistletoe State Park 8-10 p.m. Call 706-541-0321 or visit gastateparks.org/mistletoe

sATUrdAy, JUly 2 American stories in song Augusta Museum of History’s Rotunda 1:30 p.m. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org

MondAy, JUly 4 yankee doodle dash 5K and 10K Savannah Rapids Pavilion 8 a.m. Visit augustastriders.com 4th of July Barbecue Liberty Park, Grovetown 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Call 706-860-7691 or visit cityofgrovetown.com

30JUNE2016

Bicycle and Golf Cart Parade Mistletoe State Park 10 a.m. Call 706-541-0321 or visit gastateparks.org/mistletoe Independence day Celebration Augusta Common 4-10 p.m. Call 706-821-1754 or visit augustaga.gov Boom in the Park Evans Towne Center Park 4-11 p.m. Visit boominthepark.com 4th of July Celebration Partridge Inn 5-10 p.m. Visit curiocollection3.hilton.com/en/hotels/georgia/thecurio-collection-by-hilton-AGSCUQQ/index.html

partridge-inn-augusta-

southern nights outdoor Movie series: “Independence day” The Village at Woodside Plantation 6 p.m. Visit southerncity.org/southern-nights/ Augusta GreenJackets vs. hickory Crawdads Lake Olmstead Stadium 7:05 p.m. Call 706-922-9467 or visit greenjacketsbaseball.com star spangled Fourth Concert and After Glow Fireworks Party Saint Paul’s Church 7:30 p.m. Call 706-722-3463 or visit riverwalkseries.com AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

METROSPIRIT 27

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Mon July 4

Sat July 2

Liberty Park, Grovetown Featuring barbecue, vendors, kids fun zone, raffles and more. Call 706-860-7691 or visit cityofgrovetown.com.

Phinizy Swamp Nature Park A guided, 2.5-mile hike. Free, members; $2, non-members. Pre-registration required. Call 706-828-2109 or visit phinizycenter.org.

10am - 4pm 4th of July Barbecue

4pm - 11pm Boom in the Park Evans Towne Center Park Columbia County’s Fourth of July celebration will feature live music from The Remedy, Justin Dukes and Black Dawg, rides including a ferris wheel, hamster balls, stunt jumpz, water slides, rock walls and more, vendors and fireworks at dusk. Admission is free; $15 for unlimited rides. Visit boominthepark.com.

4pm - 10pm Independence Day Celebration Augusta Common An event that includes live entertainment, vendors, a children’s area with inflatables and fireworks at dark. Call 706-821-1754 or visit augustaga.gov.

5pm - 10pm 4th of July Celebration Partridge Inn Happy hour specials begin at 5 p.m. and participants can watch the fireworks at dusk from the hotel’s rooftop bar. Visit curiocollection3.hilton.com/en/hotels/georgia/ the- partridge-inn-augusta-curio-collection-by-hiltonAGSCUQQ/index.html.

Wed July 6

9:30am - 11:30am Swamp Saturday Hike

10am - 12:30pm Hike & Craft Mistletoe State Park A naturalist-led one-hour hike followed by a take-home craft. $2, plus $5 parking. Call 706-541-0321 or visit gastateparks.org/ mistletoe.

Mon July 4

8am - 10am Yankee Doodle Dash 5K and 10K Savannah Rapids Pavilion A bare bones race with no T-shirt and limited race categories that is $15. Visit augustastriders.com.

10am - 11:30am Bicycle and Golf Cart Parade Mistletoe State Park Decorations required and lineup begins at 9:30 a.m. $2-$5, plus $5 parking. Call 706-541-0321 or visit gastateparks.org/ mistletoe.

7:05pm Augusta GreenJackets vs. Hickory Crawdads Lake Olmstead Stadium $8-$12. Call 706-922-9467 or visit greenjacketsbaseball. com.

6pm - 9pm Yappy Hour SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare An event that includes live music, a cash bar, open dog park and food. Visit letlovelive.org.

Thu July 7

5pm - 7:30pm Farmers Market in the Alley Downtown Aiken This weekly event includes fresh goods, food vendors, artisans, flowers and live music. Call 803-293-2214.

5pm - 8pm First Thursday Shops of Midtown, Kings Way at Central Ave. This event features discounts in the shops, hors d’oeuvres and more. Call 706-733-1788.

SPIRITUAL Thu Jun 30 - Sun July 3

Fellowship Churches United Convention Cathedral of Atonement, 415 Laney Walker Blvd. Ext. Visit fcucitybuilders.info.

Tue July 5

7pm - 8pm Augusta GreenJackets vs. Hickory Crawdads Lake Olmstead Stadium Starts at 7:05 p.m. $8-$12. Call 706-922-9467 or visit greenjacketsbaseball.com.

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 Tours Mondays-Saturdays at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.; the Civil War Boat Tour is daily at 1:30 p.m.; music cruises are Friday evenings at 7 p.m. in June; and sunset cruises are the third Saturdays, in June at 6 p.m. Tickets are $13.75 for adults and $11.75 for seniors, military and students for Heritage Boat Tours and Civil War Boat Tours. They are $25 for adults and $23 for seniors, students or military for the music and sunset cruises. 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 706-823-0440, 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 Wednesday-Friday at 11 a.m. with reservations 24 hours in advance. All trail rides are on a first-come, first-served basis, and participants should arrive 30 minutes prior to the trail ride starting for sign in procedures. Call 706-791-4864 or visit fortgordon.com.

Zumba Classes

Wed July 6

Patriots Park Held Sundays at 3:30 p.m. and Monday at 8:30 a.m. in the Bobby Waters Gymnasium. Taught by Alex Stampher. First class is free; $5 for each after that. Call 831-521-6439 or visit alexandrastampher.zumba.com.

Lake Olmstead Stadium $8-$12. Call 706-922-9467 or visit greenjacketsbaseball. com.

South Atlantic Recreation Club

Thu July 7

Weekly Group Runs

Lake Olmstead Stadium $8-$12. Call 706-922-9467 or visit greenjacketsbaseball. com.

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.

7:05pm Augusta GreenJackets vs. Hickory Crawdads

7:05pm Augusta GreenJackets vs. Columbia Fireflies

Offers kickball, flag football and bowling leagues. For more information, visit sarcaugusta.com.

SPORTS-OUTDOORS

Ongoing

Fri July 1

Fencing Classes

The Augusta Furies Women’s Rugby Football Club

Augusta Fencers Club Classes for children as young as six, as well as teens and adults, meet five nights a week. New 10-week Introduction to Foil Fencing classes for adults and kids as young as 13 start Monday, June 27, at 7 p.m. $180 includes all competitive equipment. Call 706-722-8878 or visit augustafencersclub.com.

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.

10am - noon Friday Summer Fun Mistletoe State Park Kid-friendly activities in the park led by a Naturalist. $5 plus $5, parking. Call 706-541-0321 or visit gastateparks.org/ mistletoe.

8pm - 10pm Fourth of July Family Trivia Night Mistletoe State Park Call 706-541-0321 or visit gastateparks.org/mistletoe. 28 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

Chain Reaction Group Rides

Augusta Sports Leagues

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.

This organization offers adult sports leagues and social events, including kickball, soccer, flag football, softball,

Augusta Disc Golf Association Leagues 30JUNE2016

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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 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 Sun July 3

p.m. and the meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. Call 706-7900391 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 706-8680539 or visit tops.org.

10pm Sloppy Seconds

La Leche League

Sat July 2

A breastfeeding support group. For more information on meeting dates, times and locations, visit them on Facebook under La Leche League of Augusta or at lllaugusta. wordpress.com.

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.

AU Professional Building 1 Free, but pre-registration required. Call 706-721-2609 or visit augustahealth.org/weightloss.

6:30pm CSRA Huntington’s Disease Support Group GRU Movement Disorders Clinic Call 706-721-2798 or 706-231-2775.

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.

AU Cancer Center Call 706-721-1634 or visit augusta.edu.

THEATER

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church fellowship hall The group meets Mondays, with weigh-in beginning at 5:15 30 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

Child Enrichment Inc. Those wishing to be an advocate for abused children by becoming a CASA volunteer can attend training that runs July 18-28. For more information, call 706-737-4631 or visit childenrichment.org.

Senior Companions Needed Senior Citizens Council The council is seeking those ages 55 and older who can serve 20 hours a week with a special needs adult. Benefits include stipend, travel reimbursement and annual physical. For more information, call 706-868-0120.

A support group for those with incarcerated loved ones. Call 706-855-8636. For more information, call 706-721-8299 or visit grhealth.org.

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) GA, 110 Augusta

CASA Volunteer Training

Beyond the Bars

Families Who Have Lost a Baby Support Group

Ongoing

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

Noon General Cancer Support Group

University Hospital A breastfeeding support group for mothers of NICU babies. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.

“Creation” Auditions

Narcotics Anonymous

Wed July 6

1pm The Lactation Club

Ongoing

VOLUNTEER

Adult Sexual Assault and Rape Support Group

5:30pm Weight Loss Support Group

Aiken Community Playhouse An Aiken Community Playhouse production. $20; $17, seniors; $12, students and $7, children 12 and under. Call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.

Overeaters Anonymous

Tue July 5

Augusta University Medical Center This free weekly support group for new mothers meets in the Terrace Dining Dogwood Room on the second floor. All new moms and their babies are welcome and an international board certified lactation consultant/educator/ perinatal nurse will answer questions and offer resources. Call 706-721-8283 or visit augustahealth.org.

7:30pm “Kiss the Moon, Kiss the Sun”

Meets quarterly. Call for more information. Call 706-8683241.

Diabetes Youth Support Group

Ronald McDonald House An open support group for those in crisis or experiencing loss. Call 706-721-2929 or visit augusta.edu.

10:20am Moms Connection

Le Chat Noir First Friday improv comedy by Schrodinger’s Cat. $5. Call 706-722-3322 or visit lcnaugusta.com.

Enopion Theatre Company Casting by appointment those 18 and older for this musical that will show October 28-29 and November 3-5 at the Kroc Center. Rehearsals begin in June. Call 706-771-7777 or visit enopion.com.

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.

11am Meditation Moments

First Friday improv comedy by Schrodinger’s Cat. $10, advance; $12, door (if available). Call 706-722-3322 or visit lcnaugusta.com.

Fri July 1

7:30pm “Kiss the Moon, Kiss the Sun” Aiken Community Playhouse An Aiken Community Playhouse production. $20; $17, seniors; $12, students and $7, children 12 and under. Call 803-648-1438 or visit aikencommunityplayhouse.com.

8pm xTreme Theatre Games Le Chat Noir 30JUNE2016

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Independence Day Celebration Fort Gordon’s Barton Field Thursday, June 30 5-11 p.m. An event that includes a carnival, vendors, a performance by Cole Swindell and fireworks. Free and open to the public. 706-793-4300 fortgordon.com Thursday, June 30 Live Music

Fort Gordon - Independence Day Celebration w/ Cole Swindell Maude Edenﬁeld Park - (North Augusta) Music in the Park w/ The Hinson Girls Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Live Music on the Patio Red Pepper (Aiken) - Mike Frost Band That Place - John Stoney Cannon Tin Lizzy’s - Spencer Rush Wild Wing - The Fustics The Willcox (Aiken) - Thursday Night Jazz w/ 4 Cats in the Dog House

What’s Tonight?

Bar West - Open Mic Night w/ Jonathon Flowers Carolina Ale House - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper (9 p.m.) Chevy’s - Karaoke Cotton Patch - Old School Thursday w/ DJ Groove 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 Pizza Joint (Downtown) - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper (7 p.m.) Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Somewhere in Augusta - Poker for Fun Soul Bar - DJ Jeff Edwards

Friday, July 1 Live Music

Bar West - Live Music Cotton Patch - Live Jazz & Blues Country Club - Daniel Johnson The Highlander - Happy Bones

32 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

Joe’s Underground - Through the Looking Glass w/ Chainsaw Masscara Shannon’s - Mike and Walter Somewhere in Augusta - Jason White The Stables Restaurant (Aiken) - Celtic Pub Night w/ Gavin Winship Whole Foods - Music @ the Turn Wild Wing - Rick Monroe Band The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn World of Beer - Time Pirates

What’s Tonight?

Back Yard Tavern - DJ and Karaoke Chevy’s - DJ Nicky B Soul Bar - First Friday DJ Mix Vera Cruz Mexican Restaurant - Karaoke

Vera Cruz Mexican Restaurant - Karaoke

Sunday, July 3 Live Music

Aiken Speakeasy and Eats (Aiken) - Live Jazz Augusta Common - Candlelight Jazz Concert Series Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Brunch w/ Mike Frost and Lauren Meccia Wild Wing - RB Stone The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn

What’s Tonight?

Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane

Monday, July 4 Live Music

Augusta Common - Independence Day Celebration w/ Live Music Evans Towne Center Park - Boom in the Park w/ Black Dawg, Justin Dukes, The Remedy Hopelands Gardens (Aiken) - Hopelands Summer Concert Series w/ Preston and Weston Saint Paul’s Church - Star-Spangled Fourth Concert w/ Russell Joel Brown, the Lucia

Saturday, July 2 Live Music

Cotton Patch - Live Jazz & Blues Country Club - Justin Dukes Eighth Street Plaza - Saturday Morning Swing at the Augusta Market on the River Shannon’s - Preston and Weston Somewhere in Augusta - All Bets R Off Sky City - Bob Marley Tribute w/ Lady D, Passionate, Black Mango, DJ Spudd Tin Lizzy’s - Dylan Swinson Wild Wing - Adam Harris Thompson The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn

What’s Tonight?

The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Bar West - DJ Fugi Chevy’s - DJ Nicky B Helga’s Pub & Grille - Bluegrass Brunch (11 a.m.3 p.m.); Trivia, nights The Highlander - Karaoke Joe’s Underground - Ladies Night, Singles Night

Bob Marley Tribute w/ Lady D, Passionate, Black Mango, DJ Spudd Sky City Saturday, July 2 Doors, 8 p.m.; music, 9:30 p.m. $10 skycityaugusta.com 30JUNE2016

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Ensemble and more Metro Coffeehouse & Pub - Blues Monday w/ Famous Last Words

What’s Tonight?

Joe’s Underground - Poker Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Soul Bar - Pub Crawl and Dance Party Wild Wing - Trivia Wing Place (Aiken) - Trivia

Tuesday, July 5 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 Trivia Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Trivia Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Somewhere in Augusta - Big Prize Trivia Twisted Burrito - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper

Wednesday, July 6 Live Music

The Highlander - Open Mic Night Shannon’s - Mike and Walter Soul Bar - Que Lastima, Greg Humphrey’s Electric Trio, Zoo Peculiar Wild Wing - Brendan Roberts

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 Pizza Joint (Evans) - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper The Playground - Krazy Karaoke w/ Big Troy Polo Tavern (Aiken) - Karaoke w/ Tom Mitchell Sky City - Wednesday Night Conspiracy w/ DJ Knightmare Somewhere in Augusta - World Tavern Poker

I Love the ‘90s Tour w/ Salt N Pepa, Vanilla Ice, Coolio, Kid N Play, Rob Base, Tone Loc, Color Me Badd

- Bell Auditorium October 6 ZZ Top

- Bell Auditorium October 26

Elsewhere Vans Warped Tour

- Lakewood Amphitheatre, Atlanta June 30 Bad Company, Joe Walsh

- Chastain Park, Atlanta July 1 Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds

Stillwater Taproom - Pub Quiz Surrey Tavern - Trivia w/ Christian and Mickey

- The Tabernacle, Atlanta July 1 Dru Hill, En Vogue, Tony Toni Tone, Troop

- Wold Creek Amphitheater, Atlanta July 2

Upcoming

String Cheese Incident

The Josh Daniel and Mark Schimick Project

- Chastain Park, Atlanta July 3-4

- Stillwater Taproom July 8

Don McLean

False Flag, Lost Boy

- City Winery, Atlanta July 3

- Sky City July 9

Leon Russell

Laura Blackley and the Wildflowers

- City Winery, Atlanta July 7-8

- Stillwater Taproom July 15 David Lee, The Ultimate Elvis

Doug E Fresh, Juvenile, Bog Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, Whodini, Rob Base

- Jabez S. Hardin PAC July 16

- Wolf Crrek Amphitheater, Atlanta July 9

Steve Miller Band

Modest Mouse, Brand New

- Bell Auditorium July 19

- Chastain Park, Atlanta July 10

Chris Robinson Brotherhood

Flight of the Conchords

- Sky City July 22

- Chastain Park, Atlanta July 12

Megan and the Driftless

Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo, Melissa Etheridge

- Stillwater Taproom July 22

- Chastain Park, Atlanta July 16

The Monkees

Indigo Girls

- Bell Auditorium July 24 Maxwell

- Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville July 16

- Bell Auditorium August 6

Josh Groban, Sarah McLachlan

- Chastain Park, Atlanta July 17

REAL PEOPLE REAL DESIRE REAL FUN.

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V27|NO26

SIGHTINGS

Michael Johnson | mejphoto.photoreflect.com

Walter Ramsey, Alex Hagan and Jeremy Godsell at the Pizza Joint downtown.

Ashley Jackson, Emily Lacey and Dylen Smeak at Fuse Creative Cuisine & Craft Beer.

Greg and Ashley Poteet with Janna and Hank Crane at Craft & Vine.

Sandi and Lee Barron with Chris O’Kelley at Tin Lizzy’s.

Emily Newberry, singer/songwriter Chris Lane and Kristy Klingenmeier at Tin Lizzy’s.

Joe and Caitlyn Rodriguez with Lacy and Lance Pace at World of Beer.

Kennedy Nine, David Sammons and Elisa Dietz at the Bee’s Knees.

Sean and Randi Mitchell with Jen and Tyler Creasy at Stillwater Taproom.

Lindsay, Jacqueline and Jessica Somos at Hive Growler Bar.

34 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

30JUNE2016

ARTFUL THINKING By Tracy Bennett /Edited by Will Shortz ACROSS 1 Whammy 5 Where les enfants might play 9 Rendered speechless 15 Female lobsters 19 Every which way 20 Subject for a mariachi band 21 Insubstantial 22 Like Voldemort 23 Artist’s favorite spiritual? 26 Ablution, e.g. 27 Firefighter’s need, maybe 28 Summer Olympics host after London 29 ___ vu 30 Food item a cook might flip 32 Prescription pain medication 35 Nos. in a directory 37 Look for 38 Several, in Seville 40 Cool with what others are doing 42 Go (for) 43 Christmas song line from an artist? 47 Batman villain 51 What Mississippi cheerleaders ask for a lot 52 How you might do something gross 53 Cagney or Lacey: Abbr. 54 Daughter of James II 55 Where there’s Wi-Fi availability 57 Get ready to drive 60 Former six-term senator from Indiana 61 More yang than yin: Abbr. 62 Monetary bribes, in slang 64 What a star probably has 65 N.R.A. piece?: Abbr. 68 Artist’s favorite Broadway musical? 70 Revival meeting miracles 71 ___ Zulu (warrior dubbed Africa’s Napoleon) 72 Atlantean superhero of DC Comics 73 ___ Field 75 Defrocked villain on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” 76 Vista opener? 77 Roman of film 81 Michigan college 82 ___ generis 83 Part of an umpire’s count 86 Put in writing 87 Parts of an orrery

89 Artist’s expression for “Such is life”? 38 Home of Kings Peak 92 Easter purchase 39 Little muchacho 93 Worth all the hype, as a film 41 What the tipsy artist had at the bar? 94 Snorkeling aids 42 Liz of “Garfield,” e.g. 95 “Tsk!” 44 Pay to cross town, maybe 98 Finger 45 First chimp to orbit Earth 99 Cuts some slack 46 Pay to cross town, maybe 103 “Zero Dark Thirty” locale 47 Pop icon? 105 Castaway’s construction 48 “The Odd Couple” role 107 Rough position? 49 Daft 108 Sedona maker 50 “Phooey!” 111 The Roman way 53 Gauntlet thrower’s challenge 112 How the expert artist passed her 56 What the artist confused people exam? with? 116 “The Cosby Show” boy 58 Norse source for Loki lore 117 Last word in the Torah 59 Dash 118 Rain man? 60 Dairy consumer’s enzyme 119 Inclination 62 Erotic 120 ___ Club 63 Good wife in “The Good Earth” 121 River that “sweats oil and tar” in 65 Org. protecting music copyrights T. S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land” 66 “Congress ___ make no law …” 122 Predoctoral tests, for short 67 Actress Hayek 123 Approximately 69 Prefix with poise 74 Pain and suffering DOWN 77 “Gay” capital 1 Tatooine race in the “Star Wars” saga 78 Summer lawn sight 2 What’s big at the movies? 79 New Jersey’s ___ University 3 Like old unrecyclable bottles 80 QB mistakes: Abbr. 4 Certain Jaguar 82 Holy mlle. 5 Pre-exam feeling, maybe 84 Turn to bone 6 Playground retort 85 Apiarist’s woe 7 South Korea’s ___ Tae Woo 88 Watchful ones? 8 Buffet cabinet 89 Holy city of Iran 9 Key of Schubert’s “Trout” Quintet: 90 Access charge, of a sort Abbr. 91 Debatable sighting 10 Bronze 93 Words to live by 11 Topper 95 Blurts (out) 12 Ancient 96 ___ yoga 13 Patchwork quilts have lots of them 97 Arabic name meaning “wise” 14 “Good point” 98 J. Carrol ___, Oscar nominee for 15 Artist’s line of weary resignation? “Sahara” 16 “On This Night of a Thousand Stars” 100 Phycologist’s study musical 101 Some templegoers 17 Capone’s top henchman 102 Pro vote 18 Wintry mix 104 Birdbrain 24 Flawed, as mdse. 106 “___ fair …” 25 Party host’s convenience 109 Discoveries of Michael Faraday 31 Reposed 110 Regarding 33 “Laborare ___ orare” (Freemasons’ 113 Easter purchase motto) 114 ___’easter 34 What Morehouse College lacks 115 “Boardwalk Empire” network 36 Before, poetically

19 23

28 32

68 72

76 84

85 91

94 99

100 101 102

105 106

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114

108 109 110

111

112 117

118

119

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B D R O I I B E

116

S O R T A

104

A D D U P

103

48 54

29 34

115

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWERS S U P E R B O W L M V P

G R O M E H S A B D O G O O I N H F L O S Y O

U B E R

M T P O C O O O N H O S G A N R E M I S S S E D R G O A S R E S S

E S P E T P A R S E S Y S E E N S O P N O T L A A T N O O T E T S E T

A P R E S

C O X E D

B O S E

P O U T

R A R C H E Y S T H A M T T N

A C K M P O M P R A Y S L O M B A B Y E A S L A L J A R D A D D S M A Y P O T J C R E W L S H A C H O W I Z A R T A L L G E R E R M D A G M E H E D O C A V A J O M A Y O R

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

H U G I T O U T

S A N F R A N C I S C O

I S N T H O M E

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T A B R O O Z T I C I E R

G E N R E

V27|NO26

THE EIGHT

BOX TOPS There were four new releases this week, but none of them could top the forgetful Dory. RANK TITLES

WEEKEND GROSS TOTAL GROSS WEEK # LAST WEEK

FINDING DORY

$72,959,954

$286,277,856

INDEPENDENCE DAY 2

$41,039,944

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE

$18,241,416

$69,173,874

THE SHALLOWS

$16,800,868

THE CONJURING 2

$7,702,194

$86,903,628

In Theaters July 1

FAMILY

“The BFG,” rated PG, starring Rebecca Hall, Mark Rylance, Bill Hader, Jermaine Clement. Let’s go ahead and get this out of the way ﬁrst: The “F” in the title doesn’t stand for what you think it does. Instead, this Steven Spielberg-directed movie is about a big friendly giant. In this world, created by Roald Dahl, that’s apparently unusual, since most giants eat children.

36 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

HORROR

“The Purge: Election Year,” rated R, starring Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell. A presidential candidate vows to eliminate the Purge, an annual ritual in which people can indulge in any crime and not be prosecuted, and is therefore Prime Target No. 1 during the next purge. Can she stay alive until morning? Not if producers want another installment of this series, she can’t.

ACTION

“The Legend of Tarzan,” rated PG-13, starring Alexander Skarsgard, Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson, Christoph Waltz. This telling of the Edgar Rice Burroughs tale picks up years after Tarzan returns to London with Jane, turning in his loincloth for the fancy duds of a viscount. However, Waltz, who always plays such a fantastic bad guy, tricks him into returning to the Congo for nefarious reasons, where he and Jane ﬁnd themselves in danger. And without nearly as many clothes, which is great news for the women in the audience. 30JUNE2016

Bourne Again

By Tyler Strong

THE YEAR IS 2002. The action movie landscape has shifted from the Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone heyday of the ‘80s and the Lethal Weapon and Die Hard occupation of the ‘90s to an entirely new breed of ﬁlms at the century’s turn. We see “The Matrix,” “Minority Report” and the birth of the Mission Impossible series all in the span of five years. These are genre-shattering films. The straightahead, blockbuster action movie has made way for an entirely new breed altogether. Mixing and matching aspects of past action flicks and incorporating new ideas has become the standard, and this variety and freshness in the action genre is a welcome change of pace. However, one of these new wave heroes stands out above all the rest: Jason Bourne. The film adaptation of Robert Ludlum’s novel ”The Bourne Identity” hit the screen in 2002 and, boy, did it have a lasting impact. The fact that people are already buying advance tickets for the Bourne series’ fifth installment, “Jason Bourne,” nearly 15 years after “Identity” released will tell you everything you need to know about the popularity and cultural impact of this actionspy-thriller hybrid. Fresh off his Oscar-nominated performance in 2015’s “The Martian,” Matt Damon is returning to the series that made him a household name as an action star. Much of the series’ initial success can be credited to Damon’s convincing and nuanced performance as the lethal superspy with amnesia, criss-crossing all over the world in his relentless pursuit for answers about his past. Without spoiling too much about the details of the plot, new viewers of the Bourne series just need to know that the story begins with Jason Bourne floating unconscious in the churning waters of the Mediterranean Sea. After being rescued by a passing fishing boat, a crewman discovers two bullets in Bourne’s back and a strange laser projector wedged into his hip. When Bourne comes to, he has no memory of who he is or how he ended up in the ocean with two gunshot wounds. The first step in uncovering the mystery of his past begins when the laser projector directs him to a safety deposit box in Zurich, where he finds international passports, money from several different countries and a gun. In a rough encounter with the local Zurich police, Bourne also learns, rather inexplicably, that he is a master of hand-to-hand combat. More and more clues are revealed to Bourne as he runs, guns and outsmarts police all across Europe. However, the more he learns, the more he realizes he doesn’t know about the true origin of his government-ordered superspy training. This mystery winds its way throughout the entire series, but the pulse-pounding action sequences peppered in every few scenes keep audiences engaged at all times. Another reason for the series’ success is Paul Greengrass, who directed the second and third installments of the franchise and will be returning to the director’s chair for “Jason Bourne.” His eye for spectacular action sequences and familiarity with the tone of the series will be a boon for the latest installment’s popularity with critics and audiences alike. The first trailers for “Jason Bourne” share with viewers tightly-cut shots of exciting chase scenes and glimpses of the hand-to-hand combat the series is known for, as well as providing a refresher of where Bourne has been for the past few years. However, the trailer is careful not to reveal any crucial plot points, and serves as simply a tantalizing teaser. All we learn from the dialogue in the trailer is that even though Bourne may finally remember the events of his past, there is even more he doesn’t know about the organization behind his brain-washing in the first place. With the Damon and Greengrass reunion, promising footage from the trailers and Oscar-winners Alicia Vikander and Tommy Lee Jones coming aboard to join the powerhouse duo of series vets Matt Damon and Julia Stiles, “Jason Bourne” looks to be an exciting return to form for the superspy series. “Jason Bourne” opens in theatres nationwide July 29.

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It’s Ashley Wright’s Gavel If She Wants It AuGuStA SuperIor Court JudGe David Roper surprised more than a few folks this week when he announced his pending retirement. Though the judge has more than six months until he makes his official exit in February 2017, the fact that it is coming in the middle of his term means that Governor Nathan Deal will be appointing his successor. The conventional wisdom and just about every judicial insider I know agrees that nine-year veteran Augusta District Attorney Ashley Wright has the appointment locked up tight in her purse if she wants it. When I spoke to Ashley, she had just gotten the official news about Roper’s departure and she was not ready to commit one way or the other about the possibility of moving up. When the retirement of Chief Judge Carlisle Overstreet was announced last January, there were some who believed Ashley would make the move then and declare her intentions to run for the seat. But the combination of leaving her own department in the hands of an unknown successor, and the knowledge that her good friend and capable colleague John Flythe (the eventual winner) was also interested in the position kept her in place as Augusta’s chief criminal prosecutor. Even though we are just six months removed from Overstreet’s announcement, we have a whole new ball game with the gubernatorial appointment to the bench that accompanies Roper’s departure. Such a scenario allows Wright to assume the position without a costly and perhaps controversial political campaign, as well as guide the DA’s office into a planned and quiet transition with her own chief assistant (Hank Syms) taking over in the interim. More on that in a moment. Other names mentioned as considering seeking the gubernatorial appointment, or being pushed that way, include former appointed Richmond County Solicitor Chuck Evans, former Richmond County GOP chair Sherry Barnes, Associate Columbia County Magistrate Judge Bobby Christine and current State Representative Barry Fleming. Barnes would definitely be the dark horse here. While her “political pedigree” is solid, there is no inherent advantage to have a “placeholder” put into office, as she told listeners to my radio show she was happy to become. Barnes’ intention was to serve as a limited time appointment until the people could vote as to who they wanted to carry on, without giving any candidate the benefit of incumbency. A noble notion to be sure, but as a life-long conservative, I did not live 35 years watching the Democrats in Georgia use such a system to their advantage just to “give it up on principle” as my team (the GOP) finally gained the advantage. At least not in the next 30 years. When Republicans have dominated Georgia state politics as long as the Democrats did, then feel free to bring up such charitable designs. We can have that conversation again in 2040. Chuck Evans was appointed as the interim Richmond County solicitor general a few years ago when Harold Jones decided to run for the State Senate. As a white Republican, Evans was ousted the instant the county’s (majority Democrat) voters had the chance to cast a ballot in the very next election. While Chuck is a great guy, I really wish he would have stepped up and been a much more visible and vocal critic of the woman who beat him in that race, Kellie McIntyre. Since she took over as solicitor, I have been told she has quite simply run the office into the ground. Unlike Evans, who was visible not only running the office, but prosecuting cases as needed, McIntyre has been quite the lazy solicitor since she won the election. To her credit, she did reportedly pick up the pace a bit when she decided to attempt to trade up for a higher perch on the legal totem pole. No doubt the lack of an obvious, educated critique of McIntyre’s dismal record helped propel her into the runoff for the state court judge position she is pursuing. Damn shame, but she will likely win that runoff against Bo Hunter. I want my conservative judicial officers to be more aggressive, and Chuck Evans really missed a great chance to be the kind of “insider watchdog” the criminal justice system needs. 38 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989

Former Columbia County Chief Magistrate (and current associate under Chief Jason Troiano) Bobby Christine is always suggested as a slam dunk choice when it comes to any Superior Court judgeship, and rightfully so. His resume speaks for itself: a great public servant, a decorated war veteran and a dedicated family man. Unfortunately for us, Bobby’s military career continues in the Reserves, and that commitment pre-empts his ability at the moment to become a full time Superior Court judge. His day in that position will come if he wants it, and I can think of few better that ascended before him. When it comes to 10-year veteran State Representative Barry Fleming, we are really losing a treasure in Atlanta if he decides to make the move. Barry is by far the most valuable legislator in the CSRA right now. His tenure and Republican roots have put him squarely in the “tower of power” when it comes to state politics, and with the retirements of both State Senator Bill Jackson and State Representative Barbara Sims, we need his connections and seniority more than ever before. Barry’s stock in Atlanta will rise exponentially in the next four years with the turnover that will come as Nathan Deal is term limited out, and while he would make an excellent Superior Court judge, he would be one of eight. There is only one Barry Fleming on our local legislative delegations, and the combination of his intellect, experience and political allies makes him by far the most valuable member of our legislative teams in 2017 and beyond. All that said, it appears clearly the best choice for Roper’s position is Ashley Wright. Eventually, the DA position would be filled permanently by an election that I believe Hank Syms may very likely want to sit out. I have been told by numerous people who have known and worked with Syms for years that while a very able prosecutor, he seems to not be at all interested in the administrative or political duties which also come with being district attorney. As chief assistant he would be named the interim by statute, at least that was what appeared to be the case at press time. When directed to the proper spot in the Georgia Code to look up the time frame for the election to replace the interim DA, I was surprised to discover that the interim remains in place for the duration of the former DA’s elected term. In this case, that would be one month less than four years. If Syms truly does not want the job, he may have to take a temporary leave as chief assistant to facilitate another’s ascension. But then, there is this: A special election would be triggered only if Ashley Wright resigns and withdraws before officially winning the November election. (Or perhaps before she is sworn in, if she never begins a new term officially, her replacement cannot be appointed for the remainder of a term that never began.) I stumped several elections officials with these questions, so stay tuned. We may have an interesting subplot brewing. Ain’t politics grand?

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.

30JUNE2016