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Table of Contents September 29, 2016 Whine Line Augusta Tek Ruffin It Kris Fisher
6 8 10 12
Insider 14 Feature 18
THE MISERY OF REGENCY MALL
18
EDIT
CREATIVE
Amy Christian
Joshua Bailey
Joe White
amy@themetrospirit.com
joshua@themetrospirit.com
joe@themetrospirit.com 706-373-3636
Stacey Eidson
COVER DESIGN: Kruhu
Arts Editor/Production Director
Lead Designer
Staff Writer
stacey@themetrospirit.com
Molly Swift Staff Writer
molly@themetrospirit.com
Contributors Jenny Wright, Greg Baker, Austin Rhodes, Josh Ruffin, Kris Fisher, Michael Johnson, Tyler Strong
SALES Jim Christian Account Executive
jim@themetrospirit.com 706-414-4059
Paige Wilhelm Account Executive
paige@themetrospirit.com 706-833-1904
What’s Up Metroweek Food Stuff Calendar Nightlife Sightings NYT Crossword The Eight Austin Rhodes
25 26 27 28 38 40 42 44 46
BUSINESS Publisher
Johnny Beckworth circulation manager
johnny@themetrospirit.com
Metro Spirit is a free newspaper published weekly on Thursday, 52 weeks a year. Editorial coverage includes local issues and news, arts, entertainment, people, places and events. In our paper appear views from across the political and social spectrum. The views do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Visit us at metrospirit.com.Š 15 House, LLC. Owner/Publisher: Joe White. Legal: Phillip Scott Hibbard. Reproduction or use without permission is prohibited. One copy per person, please.
Want to advertise in the Metro Spirit? Call or email Joe at 706.373.3636 joe@themetrospirit.com
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OPINION
Augusta Tek: 8 | Ruffin It: 10 | Kris Fisher: 12
The Whine Line Black Lives Matter should be at Paine College protesting the sorry administrators and Trustees. Obviously, the black lives do not matter to the leaders who have betrayed the students. Only in Disgusta would you cram all of the festivals into 3 weeks in September and leave the rest of the calendar empty. There’s not even anything happening downtown during Masters Week. Why not spread the love throughout the entire year instead of cramming everything into one month?
How could Paine College have the audacity to offer a degree in Business Administration when they cannot administrate their own business affairs? They should call it a degree in Do as I say, Not as I do in Business Administration.
Bruce Springsteen supported Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. He stated Hillary Clinton would be a very good president. Obviously, when it comes to politics, “The Boss” is a moron.
Facebook has turned into cutesy animal videos, recipe posts, my children’s pictures posts, and Clinton versus Trump posts. Aye-karumba... ENOUGH OF THIS CRAP! STOP IT!
Oh... Ok... I get it now. Thank you all for your insightful information, I think I will go somewhere and drink liquor until I puke to try to make sense of it all.
The Augusta Coliseum Authority gets half of the hotel-motel tax and a beer tax even if the doors to the James Brown Arena are not open. Yet, the arena has operated at a lost and been carried by Richmond County taxpayers for the last 36 years. Why should we vote to approve giving the coliseum authority $115 million dollars in the next SPLOST so they can built a bigger white elephant in the same downtown area?
Ted Cruz just endorsed Donald Trump for president. Donald Trump insinuated Ted Cruz’s wife was ugly compared to Melania Trump, AND associated Ted Cruz’s father with the Oswald-Kennedy assassination. Ted Cruz is softer than an under-inflated Tom Brady football!
Are we fighting for the right to be ignorant?
Trump is running for president & making promises he can’t keep about walls & jobs. If he & Ivanka care so much about American manufacturing why are all their clothing lines made overseas?? Read the reviews of the med Trump Hotel in DC with French linens and furniture manufactured overseas. I would love to see the papers of the housekeeping staff & kitchen line cooks & dishwashers. He HAD his chance to create American jobs & blew it.
Great Job everyone. If you thought dumping gasoline in Alabama’s water’s bad, Savannah River is ranked 6th in our state as most polluted water and no I can’t just “plant things to soak it up” or “just grab a net” or “vacuum” and get it out. Water leaching is a huge problem on both of our downtowns, both from homeowners and business. I am all for business but now you want Project Jackson instead of cleaning things up so we don’t become like Flint.
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.
6 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
METROSPIRIT 7
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The Scourge of IT Support AH, YES… here we are well into the 21st century. The Information Age and the Age of Mobile Computing are in our rearview mirror. We are quickly approaching the next set of grand challenges of technology — automation and cyber security, as examples. As the waves come in, we rise up in an effort to seize our destiny! That is, all of us except for the guys on the service desk. I’ll bet anyone a can of Diet Coke that one of their top three problems will be something like… Help me! I can’t get my document to print! Printers. A black hole of tech hours, and the scourge of IT support. If a well-managed system is going to break, it’s a good bet that a printer will be involved. To make manners worse, otherwise timid users develop superhero bravado when faced with a printer issue. Under most circumstances, users are hesitant to press the Return key for fear of causing damage. These same users don’t seem to have any problem tweaking print settings. And the bigger the printer, the better. This problem begs the question: Why do printers continue to exist??? My friends, we are long past the time where a hardcopy is useful. All of our applications and communications are electronic, and everything is eternally online and searchable. We’re 50 years past landing a man on the moon, 35 years beyond the desktop computer and 10 years past the iPhone. Yet, there it is. “File-Print” is still a required part of our vocabulary. At least scanners have some redeeming value. Entering data into a computer is a horrible experience. Manual entry is never a fun exercise, and the age of Big Data brings big problems. If we have a large amount of data to put into a computer, scanners are one of the few tools that make any sense. That said, I would venture to say that most scanning is almost assuredly useless. I think about all the Exabytes of old business records scanned into management systems or the cloud over the last 5-10 years. All the truly important data was already entered into the database, most likely manually. The remainder of the records was scanned into archives, typically a write-once, read-never operation. By contrast, the various types of barcode and QR code scanning are entirely useful. With a scanner in hand, the user becomes part of the information system — a cyborg robot moving around in the environment and collecting information for use by the larger system. It begs that question — has the user stopped being a user and stepped across the chasm to become part of the machine? If you ponder upon the question for a while, you’ll begin to see this entire column is simply an analysis of the pros and cons between different instantiations of the human-machine interface. Printers act as anthropomorphic peripherals, adapting the computer to operate in a human capacity. Conversely, scanners act as cybernetic peripherals, adapting the human to operate as a part of the technology system. Scholarly individuals will likely utilize various approaches to examine this problem. Deductive logic and machine learning could provide insight into this human-cyborg relationship. Nonlinear optimization techniques may even help approximate a solution. However, when all the analyses are completed, I have no doubt that my original thesis will emerge as the universal constant that spans all the theoretical HMI domains. Printers suck. @gregory_a_baker
GREGORY BAKER PH.D.
is vice president of CMA Technology and, yes, is actually a rocket scientist who used his doctorate in aerospace engineering at Lockheed Martin. In addition to working at CMA, he also serves the community, sitting on several boards in the area.
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102871 - Sand Hills Ad 4.875 x 5.375 copy OUTLINED TEXT.pdf
1
9/23/16
10:19 AM
Monday, October 3, 2016 2:30 p.m. JSAC Coffeehouse Admission is free. Contact jminick@augusta.edu or call 706-737-1500 for more information.
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Debate Fallout I DIDN’T WATCH THE DEBATE LAST NIGHT — not in real time, anyway. And I questioned whether or not I was going to watch it at all. I’m very reluctant to dedicate any moment of my life to anything involving Donald Trump — unless it pays me; hence, whatever the hell this is that I do — because he’s a Nazi monkfish, easily 40 percent of this country is going to still vote for him, and that depresses and enrages me on both an epistemological and primal level. A colleague of mine countered with, “Well, what about dedicating that time to Hillary?” Well, what about it? I’m voting for her and, despite what pundits say, everyone who is going to vote for her has already decided to. Nothing will change that. On top of that, she’s got something like 264 electoral votes all but wrapped up; with those kinds of numbers, all she needs is a single battleground win before the giant red FINISH HIM sign lights up. At this point, it’s all about ratings and entertainment, possibly at the expense of this nation’s soul. But yeah, I eventually watched it. I watched it straight through once, then re-watched the clips of Trump being rhetorically smashed by Hillary. That means that, out of this 90-minute debate, I re-watched about 87 minutes. I drank cabernet and ate tortilla chips while giggling helplessly. Anyway, here are a few takeaways: 1. EXPECT THE EXPECTED Hillary did the smart thing in preparing for several different versions of Trump. He’s tried, in recent weeks, to swing, not to the middle, but maybe just a little bit to the left of “My followers should assassinate Hillary Clinton, but not until I rub her husband’s infidelities in her face.” It was far too little, far too late, but Clinton’s team understood —because they are actual seasoned political professionals and not a group of lobotomized honey badgers — that if a calmer, leaner, more soft-spoken version of Trump appeared on that debate stage, they needed to be ready for it. But holy hell did that not happen. Trump was rattled from the beginning, and didn’t respond with any kind of grace, calm or knowledge about any of Clinton’s accusations, from his stiffing of laborers on his property — “maybe I wasn’t satisfied with the work” — to his outright admittance that he hasn’t paid income taxes in God knows how long — “that makes me smart” — and so on. It was like watching the climactic scene in “Inherit the Wind,” if Spencer Tracy instead had to cross-examine a giant tumor wearing a suit. There has been so much talk of presidential “appearance” and “temperament” from both camps. Only one candidate came out looking presidential last night, and it wasn’t the rabid sack of meat parts that the GOP nominated. 2. LESTER HOLT. LESTER HOLT. It should give you some idea of how good a job Lester Holt did that Trump, his camp and every Twitter troll that supports him were already accusing Holt of lobbing softballs at Clinton, of taking bribes, etc. #LesterFailed is trending on Twitter just about as much as #LesterforPresident is. He’s being accused of bias, of not bringing up questions on Clinton’s email scandal, the Clinton Foundation or Benghazi. And it’s true that he didn’t. I have two thoughts on this: first, these have been literally the only lines of attack that the Trump camp has been able to lean on, and they’ve run them into the ground. A congressional hearing exonerated Clinton of wrongdoing in the Benghazi case. Sure, Republicans are still pursuing it, because they’re a bunch of house cats that think that toy mouse is real. An FBI investigation exonerated her of blame in the email scandal.
10 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Second, I dare any moderator, or Trump himself, to bring up the Clinton Foundation and its “controversies,” which rest solely on “conflicts of interest” regarding Clinton’s term as Secretary of State and a single employee who was working for the foundation and as a private consultant at the same time. Boo hoo. This is an organization that has received the highest ratings by multiple charity watchdog groups, and makes AIDS medication more available and affordable in less-developed countries. Trump, meanwhile, used his foundation to buy a portrait of himself and pay off personal debts. I DARE YOU. 3. HE’S DOUBLING DOWN ON EVERYTHING The morning after the debates, Trump appeared on “Fox & Friends,” ostensibly to do a little bit of disaster management on the most softball of softball forums. Instead, coming on the heels of a debate where, like most of the general election season, he’s been hammered for blatant misogyny and speaking of women in derogatory manners, he said this of a former Ms. Universe: “She gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real problem.” If you look real close, you can see the “Fox & Friends” hosts’ souls leaking out of their various orifices, flipping the bird and floating away.
JOSH RUFFIN is a long way from home, having moved from Augusta to Middleton, Wisconsin, with his wife, Michelle. He is a selfdescribed beer guru, so most of his Twitter posts are about what he’s drinking. While drinking, he enjoys writing poetry and watching MMA fights or writing poetry about MMA fights.
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Homecoming?
OCTOBER 13TH - 16TH @ HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
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.
FREE ADMISSION!
Greek Food & Pastries Thursday 4pm - 9pm
We just experienced a significant moment in the Fisher household: Homecoming weekend. It was No. 2’s first big high school dance. While my wife was beside herself with excitement, I didn’t understand the severity of it. I don’t ever remember going to a homecoming dance. As she does with most of our different points of view, she chalked it up to a north vs. south thing. Y’see, she’s from Ohio, so she’s accustomed to doing things a bit differently than we do ‘round hemph. For example, she says “picon” rather than “pecan,” she prefers sweetened Malt-O-Meal over delicious golden buttery grits, she drinks her tea unsweetened (EWW!) and she’s used to winter temperatures below the 80s. Weird, right? Anyway, we helped our oldest son ask his date in the most creative way possible. And when I say “we” I really mean “she” because I was absolutely no help. Details shmetails. No. 2 asked her to be his date by throwing her a softball that said “Homecoming?” after her softball game one day. It was far cooler than I just explained. She said yes and, in true pubescent form, panic ensued. My son always wants things to go exactly as planned, so he was a nervous wreck for the following week. The poor kid probably gave himself an ulcer making sure he had the perfect outfit, perfect shoes, perfect everything. Upon shopping for said perfect outfit, my no-help-at-allness was at an alltime high. I just grabbed any shirt, pants and tie. As a matter of fact, I believe it was one of those “I can tell you bought this in a pre-packaged set” sets. Luckily, more fashionable minds prevailed and we got him all set up. When all was said and done, he looked great and his date looked beautiful. They had an awesome time and we got some great pics, which is what we all hope for, right? Although I wasn’t much help, I’m glad he got this experience. I even forgot to order the corsage! In the end, I guess some milestones are better left to Mom. If we approach it as a team, I think he’ll be okay. Mom always makes sure he’s presenting the best version of himself when it comes to women and dating. I’ll be there for when he screws up. As I’ve told my son over and over: In my 38 years I have yet to figure out the right things to do when it comes to women. But I am a seasoned expert in what not to do.
Greek Bazaar
Fri & Sat 11am - 10pm
Corner of 10th & Greene Street
Music & Dancing
Sunday 11am - 6pm
Downtown Augusta www.holytrinityaugusta.org
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NEWS
Insider: 14 | The Misery of Regency Mall: 18
Does Augusta Really Need a “Solidarity Walk?” THE RELATIONSHIP between law enforcement and some communities across this nation have never been more strained. The recent fatal police shootings of two African-American men in Tulsa, Okla., and Charlotte, N.C., have shaken many people to their core. Not only is the public noticing, but so are law enforcement agencies across this country. Law enforcement officers across America are closely watching the actions of police departments in both Tulsa and Charlotte. They are also observing the actions of the demonstrators. Some critics will quickly say there is a right way and a wrong way to handle such controversial issues facing a city. But the honest truth is, it totally depends on the city. It depends on the history of that city’s relationship with its citizens. Whether there have been past racial tensions. Whether the communities have suffered from segregation. Whether law enforcement embraces transparency or if the department hides from its mistakes. Tulsa is very different from Charlotte. The South is very different than the North. But more importantly, a community needs to trust its law enforcement. Let’s just say it: Augusta is different from everywhere else in this country. It has a history of racial violence and segregation. It has a history of rioting. It has a history of racial tensions. However, it also has a history of respecting its law enforcement. This week, Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree and Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis have decided to do something pretty bold. Many will say it is just a public relations stunt. Others will criticize it as political correctness gone astray. But this Thursday, Sept. 29, at 5:30 p.m. the sheriff and the mayor have planned a “solidification and solidarity walk” from the sheriff ’s headquarters at 400 Walton Way to the John Ruffin Judicial Center on James Brown Boulevard. Why? Well, according to a press release from Richmond County Lt. Allan Rollins, it is meant to show the strong bond between the sheriff ’s office and the community. “The Richmond County Sheriff ’s Office feels that it has a history of involvement and a strong bond with our community,” the press release stated. “To further strengthen that bond, the Richmond County Sheriff ’s Office with the assistance of the Mayor’s office is planning a solidification & solidarity walk from the Sheriff ’s Headquarters at 400 Walton Way to The John Ruffin Judicial Center at 735 James Brown Blvd. This will be on Thursday, September 29, 2016 and start at 5:30 p.m.” Now, according to the press release, this has nothing to do with the recent violence in either Charlotte or Tulsa. “The event will be a walking excursion through the streets of Augusta and we will walk to the judicial center where brief remarks will be made and then back to the Sheriff ’s Headquarters,” Rollins wrote in the press release. “Based on the number of participants, traffic will be monitored by patrol vehicles. The sheriff, the mayor, other elected officials as well as many uniformed and non-uniformed members of the sheriff ’s office will be participating and we are encouraging the public to join us.” Rollins insists this has nothing to do with the recent national tensions relating to law enforcement and some communities across this nation. “This is not a protest or a rally to debate what is occurring nationally but an opportunity to hear from your law enforcement officials and city leaders and for this city to show that we can be united regardless of our individual beliefs,” the press release stated. Well, honestly, that’s a little hard to believe. Of course, Augusta is having this “solidarity walk” as a result of some of the tensions witnessed across this country between communities and law enforcement. And that’s not a bad thing. It is good that the sheriff and the mayor see a need to connect to the entire community, prior to any bad tensions that may arise in the future. However, there is, of course, a flip side. If there is ever a fatal police shooting of any citizen, of any race, that is in question, the sheriff and the mayor need to be front and center. 14 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
You can’t have solidarity walks when things are good within a community and hide from the public when matters take a turn for the worse. Just as long as both Roundtree and Davis understand that fact, Augusta should welcome the solidarity walk with open arms.
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Paine College Shouldn’t Get Augusta Tax Dollars OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS, the Augusta community has watched Paine College go from losing its accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to suddenly having that decision temporarily reversed by a federal judge. The 135-year-old university is facing a tough reality. Currently, the college is still on probation and it has an uphill battle to keep its accreditation. The honest truth is, the college needs money, major dough, to prove to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges that it is financially stable. So, the obvious question is: Where will that money come from? Dr. Samuel Sullivan, president of Paine College, told the community last week that he was extremely proud of the fact that the university had raised more than $4.1 million over the past year. But, in the eyes of the SACSCOC, it still wasn’t enough. The commission saw that $4 million boost this year as “one point on a graph,” and “a trend that does not make,” Sullivan explained. “We are saying, ‘Give us a break. Give us a chance. Let us continue to show that this community supports this school to the extent that we would have money year after year,’” Sullivan said. All right, folks. It’s time to read between the lines. Sullivan is publicly saying this community needs to support Paine to the extent that the college will have money “year after year.” Chances are, Sullivan is not talking about only private dollars. Paine College, a private university affiliated with the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church, is looking for the city’s financial support, a.k.a. taxpayer money. At the beginning of this year, Sullivan and representatives from Paine College met with City Administrator Janice Allen Jackson to discuss the fact that the university needed to raise about $3 million to help get its finances in order. But the Augusta Commission hasn’t been anxious to address the issue. Some commissioners such as former Paine College alum, Bill Fennoy, strongly support financially helping out the university. In fact, Fennoy was very vocal in the fact that he wanted Paine College to receive money through the city’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds last year. But many other commissioners insisted that Paine College is a private institution that needs to stand on its own two feet. Now, if you ask Sullivan how he feels about the city’s support, he’ll say he is “satisfied” with it thus far. But the only man in the audience during Paine College’s public meeting this past week who was straight-up honest about the university’s needs from the city was former Paine College professor Dr. Mallory Millender. He wasn’t shy and spoke frankly during the meeting. In last week’s feature story, “Tough Road Ahead for Paine College” in the Metro Spirit, Millender said he was disheartened by the fact that only one of the Augusta commissioners had attended the meeting at Paine College this past week. Only Commissioner Dennis Williams was present in the audience. The other nine commissioners and Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis weren’t in attendance. Millender said he knew every single one of the commissioners, as well as the mayor, and he was highly disappointed that they haven’t taken a more vocal stand on the future of Paine College. “It takes six votes to do anything in Augusta,” Millender said. “We have six black commissioners. They can do anything they want to do. I have said this before, they can save Paine College or they can allow Paine to die.” You can’t get more blunt than that, folks. Millender is telling the six African-American commissioners in Augusta to step up to the plate and fork over some serious dollars for Paine College. Talk about political pressure. Basically, Millender is saying: If you are black, you need to vote to give Paine College money. Well, this shouldn’t be news to Millender, but the Insider needs to throw it out there just to make sure everyone is on the same page: The City of Augusta is not an affluent community. It does not have tons of money to spend at its leisure to support private institutions. Frankly, this city is so poor it can’t jump over a nickel to save a dime. Now, the city isn’t going bankrupt. It has one of the best directors of all time handling its money with Finance Director Donna Williams. But she’ll be the first one to tell you that the city can’t afford to donate millions and millions of dollars to a private cause, no matter how historically significant Paine College is to Augusta. Of course, Millender is correct on one fact. 16 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Six votes can do “anything” in Augusta. Even bankrupt the city if it wants to. But Millender didn’t stop there. He insisted that Paine College deserves the City of Augusta’s support. “That’s our money,” Millender said. “We need our money.” While that is a very dramatic statement, it’s not accurate. Many of the students, faculty and even alum at Paine College do not contribute a tremendous amount of money to the city’s tax base. The majority of the money comes from downtown businesses and residents in the Hill area and west Augusta. That’s just a fact. That’s not to say that Paine College doesn’t need help. There needs to be a continued, concerted effort by community leaders to help raise private dollars for the historic college. But to say, that the city’s tax dollars are “our money” to a small group of Paine College students and alumni is misleading. Here’s the harsh truth: Paine College needs money. But Paine College doesn’t deserve taxpayer dollars. Augusta needs to come up with a different method to save Paine College. Otherwise, the university will die.
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The Misery of Regency Mall From shopping nirvana to south Augusta’s never-ending nightmare by Stacey Eidson
Long concrete barriers now block the wide and once-welcoming entrances into south Augusta’s former Regency Mall. The more than 800,000-square-foot facility off Gordon Highway and Deans Bridge Road is now literally a shell of its former self. The towering light poles surrounding the mall have long ago rusted. Many of the letters from the former Montgomery Ward sign have fallen off the side of the building. The “N” and “E” are still desperately holding on, but it’s clearly a futile attempt. After all, it has been more than 15 years since Montgomery Ward closed it doors in 2001, following the company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. That was the final nail in Regency Mall’s coffin. Regency Mall’s steady decline began back in 1993 with the sudden departure of the Upton’s department store. But soon after, the mall began suffering more serious financial blows such as the closures of Belk in 1996, which had already converted to an outlet a few years earlier, and the departures of J.B. White and Piccadilly Cafeteria in 1998. Once the commercial retail businesses left, a small section of Regency Mall was oddly transformed into office space for a few government agencies such as the Richmond County Health Department and the Richmond County Marshal’s Office. But in 2004, Richmond County Marshal Steve Smith was the final tenant to move out of the mall. Even though the marshal’s office had the cheapest rent in town with a bill of $1,000 a month for 5,000 square feet of space, the conditions in the building were quickly becoming undesirable and uninhabitable for his employees. Since that time, the doors have been shut and the vacant mall has remained dark. These days, weeds are now poking through the mall’s asphalt parking lot and have grown up all around the shopping center’s perimeter.
“Regency Mall is an eyesore. It has stymied the growth in my community for years.” — Bill Lockett 18 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
The facade windows — so modern in appearance when the mall first opened — were long ago reduced to shattered glass and now stand boarded up. For many local residents, it’s almost laughable to describe Regency Mall as once the “largest shopping mall in Georgia.” All of that glory is ancient history. Constructed in July 1978 by renowned developer Edward DeBartolo, Regency Mall was the former home of more than 70 retail store. Of course, that was almost 40 years ago. For more than a quarter of its existence, Regency Mall has sat completely empty. As the trees grow taller around the enormous property, many newcomers to the Augusta area aren’t even aware of Regency Mall’s existence. But for some in this community, it is the white elephant that simply won’t go away. 29SEPTEMBER2016
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“Having a defunct property such as that is like having a cancer. If you don’t take care of it right away, it is going to spread.” — Bill Lockett
“Regency Mall is an eyesore. It has stymied the growth in my community for years,” said Augusta Commissioner Bill Lockett, whose district includes the defunct Regency Mall. “All we can get now in that area are title pawns, Family Dollars and liquor stores. And when you go to a city, you know when you see the title pawns, the Family Dollars and the liquor stores, you are in the poor part of town.” The entire city has turned a blind eye to the former mall which was once an anchor in this community, Lockett said. “Having a defunct property such as that is like having a cancer,” he said. “If you don’t take care of it right away, it is going to spread. And that is what has happened there. I mean, it is not only Regency Mall. It has spread to the adjacent residential communities and it’s gotten bad. It is mind-boggling to me. I can’t understand why something wasn’t done years ago.” Even prior to being elected to the Augusta Commission in 2009, Lockett tried to help promote the redevelopment of the
former Regency Mall site, but nothing ever materialized, he said. “I was working with a committee way before I was elected in 2009 trying to come up with uses for Regency Mall,” he said. “There are so many big-box malls in this country. Some have been torn down, but some have been converted since that time. But we haven’t done anything.” Lockett says he gets extremely frustrated when he sees neighboring communities capitalize on their empty storefronts and redevelop them into viable businesses. “Aiken, S.C., had a mall and their primary store shut down, but before they could take the sign down, they had somebody else in,” Lockett said. “With that Kmart in North Augusta, that same thing happened. But, for some reason or another, we can’t emulate that in south Augusta. We have a Kroger that closed. We have a Kmart that is closing down. However, in south Augusta, it seems like the stores close and we don’t ever
do anything with them except let them sit there and deteriorate.” But no one can say local leaders haven’t tried to redevelop Regency Mall over the years, Lockett said. For almost two decades, there have been myriad proposals for the property. More than 10 years ago, the city considered it for the site of the future judicial center. Then, there were plans to convert the property into mixed-use residential/office space. Those plans only got as far as the drawing board. Finally, The Augusta Chronicle Publisher William S. Morris III proposed an $80 million sports arena, nicknamed the “Billy Barn,” to be built on the 70-acre site in 2004. But none of those plans ever panned out. All the while, the mall’s current owner, New York-based Cardinale Holdings LLC, has kept the property in complete limbo with an asking price that has been as high as more than $50 million. With that kind of price tag, there will never be any potential buyers for the former mall, Lockett said. “As far as the $50 million asking price, the owners know good and well that nobody is going to pay them three times the market value for that property,” Lockett said. “That is what they’ve been saying for years and years and years, but they haven’t done anything with it except let it sit there. The owners obviously have made no attempt whatsoever to try and sell the property or to upgrade the property.”
“The owners know good and well that nobody is going to pay them three times the market value for that property.” — Bill Lockett 29SEPTEMBER2016
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“We have got some buildings, not just that building, but buildings all over this county that have been boarded up 15 to 20 years.” — Marion Williams Lockett said the owners have used every excuse in the book not to redevelop the land. “Each time we get a call from the owners saying that the Chinese are interested in it,” Lockett said, chuckling at that notion. For the past several years, Lockett has suggested that the city explore all of its options regarding the property, including the possible use of eminent domain. But eminent domain would still mean the county would have to shell out millions of dollars for the vacant mall and surrounding land. “Of course, a fair market value would have to be paid for it,” Lockett said. “But I’ve said eminent domain should be considered; however, it should be utilized as a last resort.” Just last year, Richmond County Chief Appraiser Alveno Ross told commissioners that the former Regency Mall site consists of three different parcels: the main mall building, the former Montgomery Ward building and the former J.B. White building. “The principal parcel that you are referring to as the mall currently has a valuation of $2.5 million,” Ross told commissioners last year, adding the former Montgomery Ward building is assessed at $800,000 and the former J.B. White building is assessed at $900,000. “The total value is $4.2 million.” Ross explained that the tax assessor’s office did adjust the 20 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
price of the Regency Mall’s main parcel to $11.3 million back in 2009, but the owners objected. “In 2009, the ownership filed an appeal against that evaluation change,” Ross said, adding that when the appeal went before the Board of Equalization, the value was again set at $2.5 million. As far as Augusta Commissioner Marion Williams is concerned, he doesn’t believe the city should spend a dime on the former Regency Mall building. “We had an opportunity here to get that building years ago, but because of the conversation that we kept having week after week after week about it, somebody saw our interest and went and bought the facility,” Williams said. “They had the money to do it and now they are letting it just sit there.” That is simply the unfortunate reality the city is facing, Williams said. “We could have bought that building for $5 million, but we chose not to,” Williams said, explaining that the city once considered it for the site of the judicial center.
Now, the city must live with that decision, he said. “The owners are following the guidelines,” Williams told the Augusta Commission during a recent discussion of the current state of Regency Mall. “They are doing what we asked them to do. The only issue I can see is we have an ordinance about keeping a building boarded up. I think our ordinance says a building can be boarded up for a year.” Clearly, Regency Mall has far exceeded that timeframe, but Williams warned that the mall’s owners aren’t alone in violating that city ordinance. “We have got some buildings, not just that building, but buildings all over this county that have been boarded up
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15 to 20 years,” Williams said. “So if we are going to do something, we might need to address that issue with all of our buildings and let people know we are getting aggressive about that. But you can’t just pick on Regency Mall.” Augusta Commissioner Ben Hasan agreed, adding there were three major problems that he sees facing the future of Regency Mall. “Number one, we don’t own it, so there is little we can do,” Hasan said. “Number two, we are not necessarily considering, at this point, a public-private partnership. And, number three, we are not ready to probably move into the area of eminent domain. So, those three things concern me in terms of trying to have a full-blown public conversation on this.” For years, Williams said he had also heard people suggest that the former 22 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
Regency Mall location would be an ideal spot for a future outlet mall. That myth needs to finally be put to rest, he said. “We have not grown to the capacity that we need to have two malls,” Williams said. “Most developers don’t put major outlet stores in an area unless there is 500,000 plus people there. They don’t build an outlet mall in a city with 250,000 people because we can’t support both malls. So, an outlet mall won’t work because 80 percent of your people are going to shop at the outlet mall and that is going to put the other mall out of business.” Commissioners were told that fact more than a decade ago by George Patty, then the executive director of the county’s planning and zoning department.
“Number one, we don’t own it, so there is little we can do. Number two, we are not necessarily considering, at this point, a public-private partnership. And, number three, we are not ready to probably move into the area of eminent domain.” — Ben Hasan 29SEPTEMBER2016
“Can you say white elephant?” Patty told the Metro Spirit back in 2003, expressing his own frustration over the quickly deteriorating Regency Mall. “It will never be a retail mall again, I can tell you that. Retail mall developers won’t look at it unless it’s on an interstate system — unless it’s just stronger than green onions, like in downtown Atlanta or something.” Patty believed any future development of the site would have to involve tearing down the mall structure and pumping serious cash into the property. “I would think you would have to tear that building down to do anything with it,” Patty said. “It’s going to take a big infusion of cash and some big ideas to get anything going there. Someone with some really deep pockets is going to have to step in because it was a poor location from the get-go and it hasn’t gotten any better.” More than a decade ago, politicians from south Augusta were already seeing the writing on the wall. “Just based on my observations, I don’t think the owners are ever going to do anything with it,” former Augusta Commissioner Andy Cheek predicted back in 2003. “It pretty much seems like the owners have just locked the doors and walked away from it, leaving Regency Mall a very sad situation.” Ever since the mall closed its retail doors, it has been a political hot potato for almost every elected official from south Augusta. Everyone from former Mayor Larry Sconyers to Augusta commissioners J.B. Powell, Ulmer Bridges, Moses Todd, Jimmy Smith, Bobby Hankerson, Andy Cheek, Richard Colclough and now Lockett have been unable to transform the former Regency Mall location, often referred to as “the center of the county,” into anything beneficial. Lockett, who has about three months left in his final term on the Augusta Commission, said he can’t help but feel the deep frustration regarding the entire situation. “That’s what gets me. It is just to the point now that I really want to throw my hands up in the air and scream,” Lockett said, adding that Regency Mall has become the symbol of a struggling south Augusta. “But, no. I refuse to quit.” Instead, less than two months ago, he requested Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis and his office explore potential options for the redevelopment of Regency Mall. “I think I have jumped into it already,”
Davis told the commission in late July. Meanwhile, Augusta Commissioner Sammie Sias, along with state Sen. Harold Jones II and Richmond County Tax Commissioner Steven Kendrick, also asked the commission to approve creating a south Augusta development authority specifically designated to revive retail in south Augusta. But that’s not all the recent news regarding Regency Mall. In addition, Augusta Commissioner Sean Frantom said that The Augusta Film Office was also talking to potential investors about possibly turning the former mall into studio space. “The Augusta Film Office has had direct conversations with the owners and possible investors about having production companies using that facility,” Frantom told the commission a few months ago. “So there have been discussions about that facility.” While such efforts may sound good, Williams is still extremely skeptical about any future development of the Regency Mall property. He insists that he’s heard it all before. “Now, that is a huge facility,” Williams said of Regency Mall.
“If the film industry can come in here and use it, so be it. I think that would be great. I don’t know if that would work or not, but if they’ve got some people that they are talking to who are willing to invest and get with the owners and rent, buy, sell or whatever, I’m all for that.” But when it comes to the Regency Mall property, Williams said he will believe it when he sees it. “Sure. Something needs to be done with it, but I haven’t seen anything yet,” Williams said, adding that he hasn’t heard any updates regarding the property from the mayor’s office. “Anybody can do it. If the mayor can do it, that’s good. But I think he would have done it by now though if he could have done it.” Williams also knows whenever the spotlight is on the mall, the price tag always changes. “I know one thing for sure: the more conversation we have, the more the price goes up,” Williams said. “It is as simple as that.”
“I know one thing for sure: the more conversation we have, the more the price goes up.” — Marion Williams
whaT’s up
Calendar: 28 | Music Listings: 38 If you have any questions, or would like to submit an event to our calendar, please email Amy Christian at amy@themetrospirit.com.
Good deal! It’s been almost two months since Barberito’s opened a location in Evans in the Publix shopping center and, unfortunately for them, road construction has been a bit of an issue. Have patience, though, and don’t let traffic keep you away, because what you’ll find when you get there is a clean, cozy space with an enclosed patio-type area, friendly employees and great food. Barberito’s is known for their burritos, but a recent salad with grilled chicken, veggies, mango salsa, corn salsa, sour cream and guac on a bed of spinach and romaine hit the spot. It, of course, came with a bag full of their light and salty tortilla chips that are absolutely addictive. Barberito’s offers great deals and, now, with orderspoon.com, you can even choose your food and pay before you even get there. What’s not to love? Barberito’s Evans 4272 Washington Road, Suite 8A 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 706-426-8371 barberitos.com orderspoon.com/barberitosevans
This week
Friday
Kick your weekend off right and get into the fall season as well with a visit to the Indian Queen. The best place on the Hill for a cocktail, their seasonal drinks are now changing to include ingredients like cinnamon and lemon instead of summer’s berry offerings. Rest assured that everything included in your drink is made in house with the freshest ingredients and, best of all, the weather’s still mild enough that you can sip whatever you choose out on their expansive patio.
saTurday
If your kids want to be the next Dr. Dre or Ice Cube, then send them to the Ronald McDonald House today where, from 1-4 p.m., middle- and high-school students will take lyric writing classes, participate in studio sessions and more. And all it takes is a donation from the Ronald McDonald House’s wish list, available on the group’s website, and preregistration. Call 706-524-4670 or visit suprememcsrule.com.
sunday
Just as quickly as it began, the Westobou Festival is over after today. Don’t let is pass you by. Instead, visit Westobou Central at the Augusta Common for a family friendly festival from 1-5 p.m. Then, after a break for dinner perhaps, head to the Imperial Theatre at 8 p.m. for Some of a Thousand Words featuring dancers Wendy Whelan and Brian Brooks, as well as music by Brooklyn Rider. $35-$55. Visit westoboufestival.com.
Thursday
It may be a week away, but you’ll want to go ahead and make reservations to hear author Cheryl Strayed at the Columbia County Library on October 6 at 7 p.m. Strayed will talk about her work, including the New York Times bestselling memoir “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail,” the movie version of which garnered Oscar nominations for both Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern playing Strayed and her mother. She’ll also sign copies. Visit cherylstrayed. eventbrite.com.
For more information on these events, see our calendar of events on page 28. 29SEPTEMBER2016
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It’s finally here — today is National Coffee Day. The one day of the year we freaks can publically and collectively lose our nervous, overlycaffeinated minds over the only thing that allows us to function — a good cup of joe. Free coffee is really no longer a thing. Even the big chains — think Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts — are avoiding giving out freebies today, and instead are donating a portion of their sales to charities. But truly, the chains are not where the magic happens. That is reserved for local gems, such as Inner Bean Café, Metro, A Coffeehouse, New Moon Café on Broad, and Buona Caffe on Central Avenue. You know, the good guys. Heading over to the café Thursday will yield more than their exquisite quiches and cakes (though it is still highly recommended that you go there and eat all the things.) Rather than give away coffee, Buona Caffe has decided to turn National Coffee Day into a day to celebrate the Garden City with its Happily Caffeinated Heroes competition. The competition, publicized on social media, asked that customers nominate a local person who not only loves their coffee, but loves their community, too. Nominations flew in and Owner Pat Curry says she has enjoyed reading the stories people have told about their heroes. “We’ve heard about people from all areas and industries — business, healthcare and academia,” Curry said, “It’s been humbling and amazing.” The cafe will choose five winners, all of whom will receive a gallon of coffee and a Happily Caffeinated Hero certificate. “We’re going to be 26 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
driving all over the place Thursday!” said Pat, laughing at the thought. The messages accompanying the nominations will be shared via Facebook for their followers to read. But, that’s not the only thing Pat and husband John will be sharing on Thursday. At noon, John will be on WJBF with Barclay Bishop to talk about National Coffee Day while, at 3 p.m., Very Vera will livestream pour overs and latte art demos from inside the cafe. Also as of Thursday, customers will get a chance to buy one of 27 bags of Bali Vintage, a microlot coffee from the Kintamani Highlands region of Bali. You won’t find anything else quite like it in Augusta. Buona Caffe is also taking part in Augusta University’s Eat for Augusta initiative. Part of the iGive program, Eat for Augusta encourages locals to dine out at participating locations today, September 29, as a way to give back. A percentage of the proceeds from every meal or drink bought today will be donated back to the university. One last little sweet treat. Buona has a secret menu. That’s right — there are a few drinks that aren’t on the menu and you can only get them if you ask the barista for them by name. The Study Buddy — hot or iced coffee and a couple of shots of espresso — is a buy-one-getone offer, the idea being you bring a study buddy with you and both get one of these pick-me-ups. Buona Caffe also offers The Superman and The Wonder Woman, both of which are strong, creamy and powerful energizers. So, what are you waiting for? Go get your caffeine on at one of Augusta’s best locally owned cafés — after all, it’s your day. 29SEPTEMBER2016
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Food StuFF It’s been 12 years since Tricie Scholer and her family opened Wild Wing Café in a busy stretch of Washington Road. Some thought that, like its brew pub predecessor, it wouldn’t last much longer than a year. Tricie and company proved the doubters wrong, however, and diners still fill up its massive parking lot several days a week to enjoy great food at a reasonable price while enjoying either a game on television or live music. Despite their continuing success, Tricie said it was time to shake things up a little bit. “Last year was kind of a slow year for us,” she admitted. “There was a lot of things happening in Augusta and we were sort of old. You don’t want to be old.” How could they freshen up a restaurant so landlocked? “We originally thought about putting something on the roof, but then we’d have to reinforce the ceilings and the whole structure,” she said. “So we decided to go out the front with an overhang just to keep it shady in the summertime. We wanted to build a nice structure and make it fun and appealing from the road as well as for the people who already know about it.” What they ended up with is a massive front patio with a full bar, dining tables and eight televisions, as well as seating areas filled with outdoor sofas and chairs. Giant pots of plants turn what could have been a very sterile atmosphere into one with an inviting feel. “We wanted it to have a tropical look, which I think it does,” Tricie said. “It just doesn’t go overboard. It’s just a relaxing atmosphere that kind of goes with the rest of the building.” The idea for the new deck didn’t come from out of the blue; after all, Wild Wing has fenced in and used that space for additional seating and a second stage each year during Masters Week. And they will continue to do that come the first week in April. “Having a porch is a really nice thing,” she explained. “We have that side porch, but it’s kind of closed in and we can’t make it any bigger because of where it is, so we just though it would be nice to make this more like what we do for Masters and use it year-round. We’re still going to have a stage out here. It’ll be in the same
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place. We’ve made the fencing so we can pull out the two center areas and we’ll still fence in the outside temporarily so we’ll be able to use the whole area (during Masters Week). But it looks a whole lot more festive and inviting now.” And it’s still family and children friendly. That’s one aspect of running the restaurant that’s always been very important to Tricie. Wild Wing is, of course, known for its bar, its coverage of sports (especially football), its live music and, of course, its bar food. Seriously: Can you imagine a trip to Wild Wing without a beer and wings slathered in one of their 33 sauces? Families, though, make up a good bit of their business. It’s for good reason, too. Their Wild Child Menu is extensive, containing 10 items where other places only offer two or three. And while Wild Wing has always welcomed the chaos that can come with tiny diners, the addition of the patio area offers parents even more freedom. “We wanted it to be a place where people could bring their kids,” she said. “You have to allow smoking outside, but we try to keep it on the far sides so that people don’t have to worry if they sit over here with their kids.
And the kids have enjoyed it. They love it when we have music out here, too. Even when the football games are going on you can have somebody with a guitar playing over there; Mom and Dad can watch the game and the kids can watch the band. It’s pretty awesome.” The construction of the new patio has taken a little bit longer than expected and, while it’s been open a couple of weeks, Tricie says they’re still not quite done. Patrons may notice an off-duty firefighter stationed on the deck while they’re eating, and one will be there until the new sprinkler system is up and running, hopefully in the next week. Despite delays, Tricie says they’re happy to be able to have something new to offer their customers at the perfect time to enjoy a football game outside. “It was worth the wait, I think.” Wild Wing Cafe 3035 Washington Road Open seven days a week, lunch and dinner 706-364-9453 wildwingcafe.com
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“Miss Sharon Jones!” Imperial Theatre Friday, September 30 8 p.m. A documentary showing that is part of the Westobou Festival’s lineup of events. $20 westoboufestival.com
Wallace Branch Library Call 706-722-6275 or visit arcpls.org.
Sat Oct 1
8:30am - 1pm EdCamp Augusta Tutt Middle School An event for area educators that includes a number of sessions on everything from student engagement and differentiation, refreshments, door prizes and more. Free, but pre-registration required. Visit edcampaugusta.weebly.com.
Mon Oct 3
Aiken Public Library Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
ELSEWHERE
3:30pm - 5pm Intermediate Spanish
7pm The Drifters
Friedman Branch Library An adult class led by Edwin Perez of the Asociacion Cultural Hispanoamericana. Call 706-736-6758 or visit arcpls.org.
Tue Oct 4
10am - noon Foster Parent Orientation Necco Augusta A free weekly session. Pre-registration suggested. Call 706-210-3435 or visit necco.org.
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. $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.
Thu Oct 6
Thu Sept 29
4:30pm - 7pm LivingBrush Demonstration and Art Now Artist Talk
Tippy Cakes Bakery and Gift Shop, Harlem A two-session Harlem Arts Council class. $55. Call 706-556-6656, 706-513-2634 or email blalocka@hotmail.com.
Morris Museum of Art Featuring body painters Scott Fray and Madelyn Greco and sculptor Greg Carter. Event also includes music, cocktails and more. Free. Call 706-724-7501 or visit themorris.org.
Fri Sept 30
DANCE
10am - 12:30pm Oil Painting
10am - 12:30pm Oil Painting Tippy Cakes Bakery and Gift Shop, Harlem A two-session Harlem Arts Council class. $55. Call 706-556-6656, 706-513-2634 or email blalocka@hotmail.com.
1pm - 3pm Halloween Wreath Tippy Cakes Bakery and Gift Shop, Harlem A Harlem Arts Council class. $28. Call 706-556-6656, 706-513-2634 or email blalocka@hotmail.com.
Sun Oct 2
8pm Some of a Thousand Words Imperial Theatre Featuring dancers Wendy Whelan and Brian Brooks, as well as music by Brooklyn Rider. Part of the Westobou Festival lineup of events. $35-$55. Visit westoboufestival.com.
EDUCATION Thu Sept 29
10am - noon Computer Help Lab 28 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
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.
2pm - 3:30pm ABBE Digital Branch Help
ARTS
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.
Guided Tours 1797 Ezekiel Harris House Offered by appointment only MondayFriday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Last tours of the day begin at 4 p.m. Adults, $2; children, $1. Call 706-722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
North Augusta Driving Tour Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta Offered by appointment and includes a 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
Mon Oct 3
Burke County High School Auditorium Part of the Waynesboro-Burke Concert Series. $15, adults in advance; $20, door; $5, children. Call 706-437-0070 or visit burkeconcert.org.
Ongoing
“Toulouse-Lautrec Works on Paper Featuring the Robbie Barnett and Kathy Olson Collection” Columbia Museum of Art An exhibition of eight works on paper from 19th-century artist Henri de ToulouseLautrec, as well as lithographs from lender Dr. Anna Griswold and the CMA collection. On display through December 4. Call 803799-2810 or visit columbiamuseum.org.
EXHIBITIONS Sat Oct 1
9:30am - 4pm Save Mother Trinity Exhibition and Reception Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History Chicks That Click Photography Club tells the story of St. John Methodist Episcopal Church through pictures during this event. The exhibit will be on display throughout the month of October. Call 706-724-3576 or visit lucycraftlaneymuseum.com.
Noon - 3pm Gallery Hop Part of the Westobou Festival lineup of events. Visit westoboufestival.com.
Noon - 5pm Sum Exhibition Opening Jessye Norman School of the Arts An exhibition of works by local artists Baruti Tucker, Jay Jacobs, Jason Lutz, Jacki Mayo Van Dyke and Joey Hart in which each added elements to six large, 40’ x 40” paintings. Each painting begins and ends with a different artist. The exhibit is part of the Westobou Festival Gallery Hop from noon-3 p.m., and is followed by an opening reception from 3-5 p.m. with curators and artists in attendance. The exhibit will be 29SEPTEMBER2016
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on display throughout October and gallery hours are noon-3 p.m. each Thursday, Friday and Saturday during the month. Call 706828-7768 or visit jessyenormanschool.org.
and Courage”; “A Quilt Journey”; and “Canteens to Combat Boots”. Call 706-7228454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
Ongoing
Fri Sept 30
Unseen Patterns: Jowita Wyszomirska Westobou Gallery A large-scale, site-specific installation stretching throughout the Westobou Gallery that reflects the effects of climate change and is based on aerial maps of the Savannah River and satellite imagery of weather patterns of the Chesapeake Bay. It will be on display through November 18. Call 706-7552878 or visit westoboufestival.com.
Troy Campbell: Soju Sake Moonshine JB Whites Building A Westobou Festival thematic exhibition by Augusta artist Troy Campbell. It will be on display through October 2. Call 706-7552878 or visit westoboufestival.com.
Transformative Processes: The Sculptural Work of Matt Tool AU’s Mary S. Byrd Gallery A Westobou Festival exhibition that shows through November 4. Visit westoboufestival.com.
Sum Exhibition Jessye Norman School of the Arts An exhibition of works by local artists Baruti Tucker, Jay Jacobs, Jason Lutz, Jacki Mayo Van Dyke and Joey Hart in which each added elements to six large, 40’ x 40” paintings. Each painting begins and ends with a different artist. The exhibit is part of the Westobou Festival Gallery Hop Saturday, October 1, from noon-3 p.m., and is followed by an opening reception from 3-5 p.m. with curators and artists in attendance. The exhibit will be on display throughout October and gallery hours are noon-3 p.m. each Thursday, Friday and Saturday during the month. Call 706-828-7768 or visit jessyenormanschool.org.
Civil Rights and the Arts Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History An exhibit that features paintings, books, film, music, photos, historic document and more, both of the civil rights era and those that were affected by it. The exhibit shows through the end of September. Call 706-7243576 or visit lucycraftlaneymuseum.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 29SEPTEMBER2016
FLIX 8pm “Miss Sharon Jones!” Imperial Theatre A documentary showing that is part of the Westobou Festival’s lineup of events. $20. Visit westoboufestival.com.
Sat Oct 1
3pm “Captain America: Civil War” Aiken Public Library Call 803-642-2023 or visit abbe-lib.org.
Sun Oct 2
2pm Star Wars Reads Day Movie Series Headquarters Branch Library Featuring “Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.” Call 706-821-2604 or visit arcpls.org.
Ongoing
Call for Entries Cause + Effect Georgia Progressive Film Competition The festival will accept, through October 2, short films 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 Sept 29
6:30pm - 9:30pm Breastfeeding Class Doctors Hospital Pre-registration required. Call 706-651-2229 or visit doctors-hospital.net.
Mon Oct 3
7pm - 9:30pm Childbirth Preparation University Hospital A four-session class that continues on Mondays through October 24. Free, but preregistration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
Tue Oct 4
6pm Weight Loss Surgery and You University Hospital Free, but pre-registration required. Call 706774-8931 or visit universityhealth.org.
7pm - 9:30pm Childbirth Preparation University Hospital A four-session class that continues on Tuesdays through October 25. Free, but preregistration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
Wed Oct 5
7pm - 9:30pm Childbirth Preparation University Health A four-week class meeting Wednesdays through October 26. Pre-registration required. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org.
11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and last about one hour. For ages 18 and up, or 12 and up with parental supervision. $15, members; $20, non-members; $25, at the door. Call 706722-8454 or visit augustamuseum.org.
Tue Oct 4
10am Genealogy 101
Thu Oct 6
7am - 7pm Free Depression Screenings Kroc Center A Mental Health America event that is open to all adults and children. Call 706-736-6858.
5:30pm - 8pm Cribs for Kids
Headquarters Branch Library’s Georgia Heritage Room Participants will learn how to start a family history project, as well as discuss resources and strategies. Call 706-826-1511 or visit arcpls.org.
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.
Wed Oct 5
HOBBIES
Aiken Public Library Call 803-642-2020 or visit abbe-lib.org.
Sat Oct 1
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.
Thu Oct 6
1pm - 3pm Cool Coloring for Grownups
11am - 4pm Museum Escape
3pm Augusta Genealogical Society
Augusta Museum of History Coinciding with the museum’s new exhibit, Augusta 1875-1900, this murder-mystery game in an escape room will be available for up to 8 people per session. Sessions are at
Augusta Museum of History A meeting featuring Historic Augusta and AGS Vice President Erick Montgomery, who will speak on the great fire of 1916. Free and open to the public. Call 706-722-4073 or AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989 METROSPIRIT 29
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SEED USC Aiken Saturday, October 1 10 a.m.-3 p.m. This free Science Education Enrichment Day will feature more than 50 hands-on exhibits and activities following the theme Explore, Discover, Imagine. 803-641-3313 rpsec.usca.edu/SEED/ visit augustagensociety.org.
KIDS-TEENS Fri Sept 30
4:30pm Lego Club North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library For those in grades K-5. Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.
Sat Oct 1
10am - 3pm SEED USC Aiken This free Science Education Enrichment Day will feature more than 50 hands-on exhibits and activities following the theme Explore, Discover, Imagine. Call 803-641-3313 or visit rpsec.usca.edu/SEED/.
11am - 2pm Fall Festival Westminster Schools of Augusta Children will enjoy attractions such as the human hamster ball, rock climbing, bungee jumping, an inflatable obstacle course, an inflatable slide, face painting, sack races, pumpkin bowling and more. $25 armbands allow children access to all attractions; free, children 3 and under. Concessions will be available for purchase. Visit wsa.net.
11am Highlights Magazine Story Time Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
1pm - 4pm Supreme MCs Rule Hip-Hop Expression Class and Donation Drive
A class open to all middle- and high-school students that includes lyric writing classes, studio sessions and more. Participants should bring a donation from the Ronald McDonald House’s wish list, available on the group’s website. Pre-registration required. Call 706-524-4670 or visit suprememcsrule.com.
4pm Lego Star Wars Rogue One Build Barnes & Noble For those ages 8 and up. Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
Sun Oct 2
1pm - 4pm 25th Annual Instrument Petting Zoo Morris Museum of Art Part of the Artrageous! Family Sunday series, this free family event will include hands-on experiences with instruments, art projects and a performance featuring local youth musicians. Call 706-724-7501 or visit themorris.org.
2pm Author Signing Barnes & Noble Featuring Nathan Weathington, author of “Invasion of the Bastard Cannibals: And Other True Stories from a Southerner Beyond the Mason-Dixon.” Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
Tue Oct 4
4pm Storytime in the Gardens Hopelands Gardens, Aiken Local senior adults will read to participants and each family in attendance will receive a free book. Blankets, chairs, drinks and snacks are welcome. Call 803-642-7631.
Wed Oct 5
10am Wacky Wednesday Story Time Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
10:30am Super Awesome Story Time The Book Tavern Cookies and juice provided. Call 706-826-1940 or email superawesomestorytime@booktavern.com.
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.
4:30pm Monster High Party North Augusta’s Nancy Carson Library An early release day party that will include crafts, games, snacks and more. Call 803-279-5767 or visit abbe-lib.org.
Thu Oct 6
10am Autumn Is Here! Morris Museum of Art Part of the Mommy and Me series for children and parents in which participants will view works in the Southern Landscape Gallery, learn about the seasons and create an autumn tree. Free, members; $4 per participants, nonmembers. Pre-registration required. Call 706-828-3867 or visit themorris.org.
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Ongoing
706-737-1500 or visit augusta.edu.
Augusta University Middle school students who are interested in assuming the perspective of a diplomat from a United Nations Member State and representing their position can register for the day-long simulation at Augusta University. Early registration ends October 15; January 16 is registration deadline; February 15 is the late registration deadline. Email Dr. Craig Albert at calbert@augusta. edu or visit augusta.edu/pamplin/pols/ juniormodelun.php.
Wed Oct 5
Junior Model UN Registration
LITERARY Thu Sept 29
10am - noon Morning Book Club Maxwell Branch Library Discussion will be on “Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions” by Edwin A. Abbott. Call 706-793-2020 or visit ecgrl.org.
Mon Oct 3
2:30pm - 4pm Sand Hills Writer Series AU’s Jaguar Student Activities Center Coffeehouse Authors Crystal Wilkinson and Darnell Arnoult will read from their works and then conduct and informal talk with those attending. Call
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6pm Page Turners Book Club Barnes & Noble Call 706-737-0012 or visit bn.com.
Thu Oct 6
7pm Author Talk-Autograph Signing Columbia County Library Part of the All About Author Series, this one featuring Cheryl Strayed, author of the New York Times bestselling memoir “Wild,” which was made into an Oscar-nominated film. Reservations can be made at cherylstrayed. eventbrite.com. Call 706-863-1946 or visit gchrl.org.
MUSIC Thu Sept 29
Noon-2pm 1,2,3,4,5,6 Hands St. Mary on the Hill Part of the Westobou Festival’s Chamber Music Series. Free. Visit westoboufestival.com.
7:30pm An Evening with Esperanza Spalding Bell Auditorium Appearing as part of the Westobou Festival lineup of events, this event also
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Oktoberfest Fort Gordon’s Barton Field Friday, September 30, 5-10 p.m. Saturday, October 1, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. A free event that’s open to the public and includes live entertainment, shopping, food, beverages, a carnival and more. Saturday’s events include a fall flea market from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. 706-791-8878 fortgordon.com features the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. $35-$1,000. Visit westoboufestival.com.
Fri Sept 30
Noon Summit Piano Trio St. John United Methodist Church Part of the Westobou Festival lineup of events. Visit westoboufestival.com.
6:30pm Moonlight Music Cruise Savannah Rapids Park Featuring Roger Enevoldsen, this event features live music aboard a 1 1/2-hour Petersburg boat tour. Participants are invited to bring aboard snacks and beverages. $25; preregistration required. Call 706-823-0440, ext. 4, or visit augustacanal.com.
7:30pm Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto
Jens Korndorfer. Visit westoboufestival.com.
SENIORS
7:30pm Intersection
Thu Oct 6
AU’s Maxwell Theatre A piano trio who performs classical, jazz and popular styles. $25, general; $5, students and children; free, AU students, faculty and staff. Call 706-729-2310 or visit augusta.edu.
Sun Oct 2
3pm Mozart Comes Alive Church of the Good Shepherd Part of the Westobou Festival lineup of events. Visit westoboufestival.com.
6pm Nature and Passion: USCA Faculty Artist Recital St. Paul Lutheran Church, Aiken Free; donations welcome. Visit etherredge.usca.edu.
First Baptist Church of Augusta Part of Symphony Orchestra Augusta’s Symphony Series. $20.37-$43.52. Call 706-826-4705 or visit soaugusta.org.
Thu Oct 6
Sat Oct 1
Sky City Featuring Yonder Mountain String Band with Fruition. $30. Visit theriverwalkrevival.com.
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.
2pm Organ Concert St. Mary on the Hill Part of the Westobou Festival lineup of events featuring 32 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
6pm The Riverwalk Revival
7:30pm Gala Concert Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre Presented by Augusta University’s orchestra, choral, wind, opera and jazz ensembles. $15; $5, children and students. Call 706-667-4100 or visit gru.edu/maxwelltheatre.
10am - 10:30am Got 30 Minutes? Kroc Center Conducted by the Area Agency on Aging, this workshop provides an overview of services available to caregivers, the aging, and those with disabilities. Call 706-922-0171 or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org.
Ongoing
Senior Citizens Club Smith-Hazel Recreation Center Meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m.-noon. Call 803642-7634.
Silversneakers H.O. Weeks Center Silversneakers Classic Classes offered Mondays and Wednesdays at 9 a.m. and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 11:15 a.m., while Silversneakers Yoga is offered Mondays and Wednesdays at 11:15 a.m. at the Weeks Center in Aiken. $27, members; $52, nonmembers. Call 803-642-7631 or visit cityofaikensc.gov.
Games for Seniors H.O. Weeks Center Include Mahjong each Thursday from 1-4 p.m., Bridge each Friday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Bingo each Tuesday 9-10 a.m., Pinochle each Tuesday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Canasta on Tuesdays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and on Fridays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; and board games on Thursdays from 5-9 p.m. Call 803642-7631 or visit cityofaikensc.gov. 29SEPTEMBER2016
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Senior Basketball H.O. Weeks Center Leagues for those ages 50 and up. Practice is held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. Call 803-642-7631 or visit cityofaikensc.gov.
SPECIAL EVENTS Thu Sept 29
11am Thursday Game Mania Diamond Lakes Branch Library An event that includes classic games like Bingo, Checkers, Chess and more. Preregistration required. Call 706-772-2432 or visit arcpls.org.
Noon Inhale Westobou: Yoga Nidra Imperial Theatre Part of the Westobou Festival’s lineup of events that will be held on the theatre’s stage and led by Space Yoga Studio. $20. Visit westoboufestival.com.
6pm Dinner at Dusk Whitney Polo Pavilion, Aiken A farm-to-table dining experience with local, seasonal foods prepared by chef instructors and culinary students at Goodwill’s Helms College. Proceeds from this event, which will also feature live music, silent auctions and more, will support education and training programs of Goodwill and Helms College in Aiken. $100. Call 706-650-5760 or visit goodwillworks.org/dinneratdusk.
6:30pm Bounty, Bottles and Barrels River Island Clubhouse A fundraiser for the Augusta Training Shop that includes small batch tastings for bourbon and more, along with food and live music. $100. Call 706-738-1358 or visit augustatrainingshop.com.
7pm South Africa Seminar Tasting Wine World, North Augusta Led by Ntsiki, Biyela, South Africa’s Woman Winemaker of the Year in 2009, this event will feature nine wines. $20, pre-paid reservation; $25, door (if space available). Call 803-279-9522 or visit wineworldsc.com.
Fri Sept 30
10am Children’s Week Kick-Off Celebration Jessye Norman Amphitheatre This event will begin at 10:15 a.m. and will kick off a week of events by the Augusta Partnership for Children that will continue until October 6. Call 706-721-1040 or visit augustapartnership.org/specialevents/ to find out about other events during the week.
5pm - 8pm Wine Not It’s Friday Whole Foods A $5 wine tasting in which participants get five 3-ounce samples of featured 34 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
wines. Call 762-333-0259 or visit wholefoodsmarket.com.
5pm - 10pm Oktoberfest Fort Gordon’s Barton Field A free event that’s open to the public and includes live entertainment, shopping, food, beverages, a carnival and more. Call 706791-8878 or visit fortgordon.com.
6:30pm - 10pm Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? Newberry Hall, Aiken A fundraiser for the Aiken Technical College Foundation that includes dinner, a live auction, entertainment and more. $80, individual; $800, table of 8. Call 803-5087413 or visit atc.edu.
Sat Oct 1
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.
8:30am - 3:30pm Yard Sale and Dinner Sale Fellowship Churches United HQ (old Hornsby School) The yard sale will be from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and sales of fish and ribs dinners will be from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Call 706-951-7661.
9am - 10pm Oktoberfest Fort Gordon’s Barton Field A free event that’s open to the public and includes live entertainment, shopping, food, beverages, a carnival and more. Hours are noon-10 p.m., with a fall flea market from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Call 706-791-8878 or visit fortgordon.com.
9am - 5pm Oliver Hardy Festival Downtown Harlem The 27th annual event will feature food and craft vendors, tables for local organizations such as the Harlem Arts Council, inflatables, live entertainment and Laurel and Hardy impersonators. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. Visit harlemga.org.
10am - 3pm Chocolate Festival
All proceeds benefit the nursing home program of When Help Can’t Wait. Call 706650-9467 or visit whenhelpcantwait.com.
10am - 2pm Pagan Pride Day New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam A family friendly event that includes workshops, vendors, raffles, kids corner, food and entertainment. Free with the donation of a non-perishable food item. Visit facebook.com/augustapaganpride.
10am - 2pm Pink Pumpkin Party Augusta University’s J. Harold Harrison MD Education Commons A breast cancer awareness event that will include a pink pumpkin decorating contest for adults and children, a Best Dressed in Pink contest, a pumpkin carving competition, music, dancing, face painting, information and more. Call 706-721-8353 or visit augusta.edu.
11am - 4pm Cats vs. Dogs Fundraiser and Bake Sale Petco, Evans A Kitty Konnection event that will include animals for adoption, a bake sale and gifts for humans and pets. Visit facebook.com/ kittykonnection.org/.
Sun Oct 2
1pm - 5pm Family Festival Augusta Common Held in conjunction with the Westobou festival and featuring music, performers, games, the Westobou ferris wheel and more. Call 706-721-1040 or visit augustapartnership.org/special-events/.
Tue Oct 4
4:30pm - 7pm Veggie Truck Farmers Market AL Williams Park This weekly event, held through the end of October in the park across from the Kroc Center, features all local farmers and doubles EBT. Visit growharrisburg.org.
Wed Oct 5
11am - 1pm Season Sneak Peak Luncheon
St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, Aiken This event features rides, games, vendors, a pie eating contest, used book sale, silent auction, international foods and more. Call 803-649-2071.
The Snelling Center A Symphony Orchestra Augusta event that will include an update on the Miller Theatre project. RSVP by October 2. Call 706-7387527 or 706-733-9755.
10am - 2pm First Saturday Sale
5pm - 8pm First Thursday
When Help Can’t Wait The Classy Closet Boutique will offer women’s designer label clothing and accessories at bargain prices, along with some men’s clothing and home decor items.
Thu Oct 6
Shops of Midtown, Kings Way at Central Ave. This event features discounts in the shops, hors d’oeuvres and more. Call 706-733-1788.
Ongoing
Westobou Festival Various Locations Westobou Central at the Augusta Common will also be open throughout the festival, which began October 28 and ends Sunday, October 2. For complete listings and ticket prices, visit westoboufestival.com.
The Maize at Steed’s Dairy Steed’s Dairy, Grovetown A real working dairy farm that has activities that include a corn maize, a petting zoo, a jumping pillow and giant tube slide, rubber duckie races, a preschool play area, hayrides, a pumpkin patch, cow milking demonstrations and more. Open through November 13 and hours are Fridays in October from 5-10 p. m., Saturdays from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sundays from 1-7 p.m. The Haunted Maize is available Fridays and Saturdays in October from dark-10 p.m. $11; $8, seniors, military and groups; $5 for Haunted Maize; free, ages 2 and under. Visit steedsdairy.com.
Marvin Corner Pumpkin Patch Marvin United Methodist Church The church will have pumpkins, gourds, mums and straw for sale to support missions and community outreach. Families are invited to bring their cameras and take pictures. Open through October 31 and hours are 2-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and noon-7 p.m. Sundays. Call 706863-0510 or visit eddboothe@yahoo.com.
SPIRITUAL Sun Oct 2
5pm The Swanee Quintet 77 Year Anniversary Celebration Bell Auditorium Featuring John P. Kee and includes Lee Williams & The Spiritual O’s, The Canton Spirituals, Doc McKenzie& The Hi-Lites, Bishop Darrel McFadden & DMD, Spencer Taylor & The Highway OC’s, The Gospel Legends, The Legendary Singing Stars, Prodigy, June & The Sionettes, and more. $35, advance; $45, door. Call 877-4AUGTIX or visit georgialinatix.com.
Thu Oct 6
7pm Lifting the Veil on Islam Islamic Society of Augusta Part of a monthly program to enlighten newcomers about Islam, this one on the subject of Islam and Democracy. This series, held the first Thursday of each month, is open to the public and refreshments will be served. Visit openhouse.isaugusta.com.
SPORTS-OUTDOORS Sat Oct 1
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North Augusta Greeneway $20-$45. Visit active.com.
8am USEA/USEF Recognized Horse Trials Stableview Farms, Aiken Up to $15,000 in prize money awarded Beginner NovicePreliminary, plus an additional $60,000 in prize money for advanced. Vendors and food truck will be on property, and tailgaters and spectators encouraged. Event also includes an Antique Car Show with Aiken Horsepower, two-hour Happy Hour with Carolina Moon Distillery, Course Walk with Olympian Boyd Martin and more. Presentation of prizes with photos will be held each day after stadium jumping. Call 803-648-1222 or visit stableviewfarm.com.
9am - noon POP (People of Parkinson’s) Walk First Baptist Church of Augusta The 17th annual fundraising walk for the CSRA Parkinson Support Group will begin with registration at 9 and the walk from 10-noon. The festivities will include interactive exercises, entertainment, refreshments, children’s activities and a raffle. There is no charge for the walk but donations are accepted. Proceeds from the event are used to fund research grants, educational materials and events, a respite program for caregivers and exercise and swim classes. For more information, to form a team or to make donations, call 706364-1662, email info@parkinsoncsra.org or visit popwalk. dojiggy.com.
9am Waterside Yoga Augusta Canal’s Lake Olmstead Trailhead A class open to those of all ages and abilities. Participants should bring a mat or towel. Free, but donations to the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area accepted. Call 706823-0440, ext. 2, or visit augustacanal.com.
9:30am - 11:30am Swamp Saturday Hike Phinizy Swamp Nature Park A free, guided, 2.5-mile hike. This month’s event features the Walk Your Pet Hike, in which pets can participate. Dogs should be on a leash and participants should bring pet waste disposal bags with them. Pre-registration required. Call 706-828-2109 or visit phinizycenter.org.
10am - 12:30pm Hike and Craft Mistletoe State Park A naturalist-led hike of about one hour, followed by a craft time. $2, craft; $5, parking. Call 706-541-0321 or visit gastateparks.org/mistletoe.
Olympian Boyd Martin and more. Presentation of prizes with photos will be held each day after stadium jumping. Call 803-648-1222 or visit stableviewfarm.com.
Mon Oct 3
6:30pm - 9:30pm Roller Derby Recruitment Night Red Wing Rollerway The Soul City Sirens are looking for skaters, referees, non-skating officials and volunteers. Skaters should bring mouthguard and appropriate workout clothes. Visit soulcitysirens.com.
Tue Oct 4
7pm - 9pm Evening Canoe Mistletoe State Park Pre-registration required. $10 plus $5 parking. Call 706-5410321 or visit gastateparks.org/mistletoe.
Wed Oct 5
3pm - 9pm Under the Stars Jumper Night Stable View Farm Call 803-648-1222 or visit stableviewfarm.com.
Sun Oct 2
8am USEA/USEF Recognized Horse Trials Stableview Farms, Aiken Up to $15,000 in prize money awarded Beginner NovicePreliminary, plus an additional $60,000 in prize money for advanced. Vendors and food truck will be on property, and tailgaters and spectators encouraged. Event also includes an Antique Car Show with Aiken Horsepower, two-hour Happy Hour with Carolina Moon Distillery, Course Walk with
SUPPORT Mon Oct 3
6:30pm Pink Pistols Meeting A group for women in their 20s and 30s dealing with breast cancer. Call for location. Call 706-774-4141 or visit universityhealth.org.
L I V E M U SI C | FRI D AY N I G H TS
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Dinner at Dusk Whitney Polo Pavilion, Aiken Thursday, September 29 6 p.m. A farm-to-table dining experience with local, seasonal foods prepared by chef instructors and culinary students at Goodwill’s Helms College. Proceeds from this event, which will also feature live music, silent auctions and more, will support education and training programs of Goodwill and Helms College in Aiken. $100 706-650-5760 goodwillworks.org/dinneratdusk
Adult Sexual Assault and Rape Support Group Provides group counseling at University Hospital for those who have experienced sexual assault, incest, rape or childhood sexual abuse. Call 706-724-5200 or visit universityhealth.org.
Alcoholics Anonymous Holds several meetings locally. For a current schedule, visit augustaaa.org/meetings.pdf.
Narcotics Anonymous Trinity Hospital of Augusta Meets Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. Visit na.org.
Beyond the Bars A support group for those with incarcerated loved ones. Call 706-855-8636.
Families Who Have Lost a Baby Support Group For more information, call 706-721-8299 or visit grhealth.org.
THEATER Thu Sept 29
7:30pm Experimental Relief
Tue Oct 4
Ongoing
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.
St. Alban’s Episcopal Church fellowship hall The group meets Mondays, with weigh-in beginning at 5:15 p.m. and the meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. Call 706-7900391 or visit tops.org.
10:20am Moms Connection
5:30pm Weight Loss Support Group 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.
Wed Oct 5
Noon General Cancer Support Group AU Cancer Center Call 706-721-1634 or visit augusta.edu.
1pm - 3pm The Lactation Club
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) GA, 110 Augusta
7:30pm Experimental Relief
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.
La Leche League
Sat Oct 1
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly)
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.
Diabetes Youth Support Group
6pm Mental Health Support Group
Overeaters Anonymous
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Fri Sept 30
Etherredge Center, Aiken A series of plays written, directed, acted and produced by University Theatre Players students. Free; patrons are asked to bring an item to donate to a local nonprofit organization. Call 803-641-3305 or visit etherredge.usca.edu.
University Hospital A breastfeeding support group for mothers of NICU babies. Call 706-774-2825 or visit universityhealth.org. Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta A group for teens and up that follows the methods of Recovery International. Call 630-605-6913 or visit recoveryinternational.org.
Etherredge Center, Aiken A series of plays written, directed, acted and produced by University Theatre Players students. Free; patrons are asked to bring an item to donate to a local nonprofit organization. Call 803-641-3305 or visit etherredge. usca.edu.
Meets quarterly. Call for more information. Call 706-868-3241. 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.
2pm and 7:30pm Experimental Relief Etherredge Center, Aiken A series of plays written, directed, acted and produced by University Theatre Players students. Free; patrons are asked to bring an item to donate to a local nonprofit organization. Call 803-641-3305 or visit etherredge.usca.edu.
Sun Oct 2
2pm Experimental Relief Etherredge Center, Aiken A series of plays written, directed, acted and produced by University Theatre Players students. Free; patrons are asked to bring an item to donate to a local nonprofit organization. Call 803-641-3305 or visit etherredge.usca.edu.
29SEPTEMBER2016
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Joe’s Underground - Poker Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Somewhere in Augusta - World Tavern Poker Wild Wing - Trivia Wing Place (Aiken) - Trivia
Tuesday, October 4 Live Music
Fox’s Lair - Irish Music with Dr. Fisher and the Undefeated Army 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
An Evening with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Esperanza Spalding Bell Auditorium Thursday, September 29 7:30 p.m. Regular seating: $35-$55; VIP seating and tables: $55-$1,000 westoboufestival.com Thursday, September 29 Live Music
Bell Auditorium - Esperanza Spalding, Preservation Hall Jazz Band Fox’s Lair - Authentic Blues w/ Billy McKnight Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Live Music on the Patio Stillwater Taproom - Bethany and the Southside Boys Wild Wing - Brandon Reeves The Willcox (Aiken) - Thursday Night Jazz w/ 4 Cats in the Dog House
What’s Tonight?
Andrew’s - Karaoke w/ April Bar West - Open Mic Night w/ Jonathon Flowers Carolina Ale House - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper (9 p.m.) Chevy’s - Karaoke Cotton Patch - Old School Thursday w/ DJ Groove Coyotes - Karaoke with Bam Helga’s Pub & Grille - Trivia The Highlander - Butt Naked Trivia Joe’s Underground - Trivia Knight’s Lounge - Karaoke w/ Cheryl Bryant The Loft - Karaoke MAD Studios - Open Mic, Spoken Word Pizza Joint (Downtown) - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper (7 p.m.) Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane Somewhere in Augusta - Poker for Fun
Friday, September 30 Live Music
Andrew’s - Atomic Road Back Yard Tavern - Mark & Ken Bar West - Live Music Cotton Patch - Live Jazz & Blues Country Club - Logan Brill Eli’s American - Friday Night Live w/ Donna Jo Fox’s Lair - Judge Shawn Woods, aka Happy Bones The Iron Heights - BullMoose, Not Important, Birdperson, Mo Amor Playoffs (Aiken) - Anybody’s Guess Savannah Rapids Park - Moonlight Music Cruise w/ Roger Enevoldsen
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Shannon’s - Soul Play Sky City - Westobou Festival Late Night Series w/ Drivin’ N Cryin’ Somewhere in Augusta - The Unmentionables Stillwater Taproom - Blackwater Deep Whole Foods - Music @ the Turn Wild Wing - Daddy Grace The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
and Lauren Meccia The Willcox (Aiken) - John Vaughn
What’s Tonight?
Metro Coffeehouse & Pub - Blues Monday w/ Famous Last Words
Vera Cruz Mexican Restaurant - Karaoke
Saturday, October 1 Live Music
What’s Tonight?
Shannon’s - Karaoke w/ David Doane
Monday, October 3 Live Music What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke
Wednesday, October 5 Live Music
Fox’s Lair - Beats Downunder Open Mic Hosted by Happy Bones The Highlander - Open Mic Night Shannon’s - Mike and Walter Soul Bar - Angwish
What’s Tonight?
The Backyard Tavern - Karaoke Bar West - Karaoke Chevy’s - Karaoke Cotton Patch - Trivia and Tunes Knight’s Lounge - Game Night The Loft - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Downtown) - Karaoke Mi Rancho (Washington Road) - Karaoke Pizza Joint (Evans) - Trivia w/ Mike Sleeper The Playground - Krazy Karaoke w/ Big Troy Polo Tavern (Aiken) - Karaoke w/ Tom Mitchell Sky City - Wednesday Night Conspiracy w/ DJ Knightmare
Andrew’s - Anita Shot Cotton Patch - Live Jazz & Blues Country Club - Larry Frick Coyotes - Bad Boys of Rock Topur w/ Silversel Eighth Street Plaza - Saturday Morning Swing at the Augusta Market on the River Fox’s Lair - Silvertown Shannon’s - The Unmentionables Sky City - The Outkast Musical Tribute w/ The Art Dealer, Mac X Slim, Muknee, Dizzle F, Art, Token Black Stillwater Taproom - The Mason Jars 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 Fox’s Lair - Karaoke Vera Cruz Mexican Restaurant - Karaoke
Sunday, October 2 Live Music
Aiken Speakeasy and Eats (Aiken) - Live Jazz Bell Auditorium - Swanee Quintet Mellow Mushroom (Aiken) - Brunch w/ Mike Frost
Yonder Mountain String Band with Fruition Sky City Thursday, October 6 6:30 p.m. $25, advance; $30, day of show fwbpro.com 29SEPTEMBER2016
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Somewhere in Augusta - The Comedy Zone w/ Grandma Lee and Bob Lauver Southbound Smokehouse - Trivia Stillwater Taproom - Pub Quiz Surrey Tavern - Trivia w/ Christian and Mickey
Upcoming 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 Yonder Mountain String Band, Fruition
- Sky City October 6 The Kenny George Band
- Stillwater Taproom October 7 An Intimate Concert with Jake Owen
- Imperial Theatre October 7 Megan and the Driftless
- Stillwater Taproom October 8 Blues Traveler, the Marcus King Band, Cranford Hollow
- Evans Towne Center Park October 14 Mountain Faith
- Imperial Theatre October 14 Michael Baideme and Phillip Lee Jr.
- Stillwater Taproom October 15 Vilai Harrington
- Stillwater Taproom October 20 Jucifer
Gin Blossoms, Tonic
- Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee, North Augusta October 29 Big & Rich w/ Cowboy Troy and DJ Sinister
- Evans Towne Center Park November 4
Elsewhere Stryper
- Center Stage, Atlanta September 29 Cedric the Entertainer, Eddie Griffin, D.L. Hughley, George Lopez, Charlie Murphy
- Philips Arena, Atlanta September 30 Colin Quinn
- Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta October 1 The Growlers
- Terminal West, Atlanta October 3 Prophets of Rage, Awolnation
- Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Alpharetta October 4 Coheed and Cambria
- Georgia Theatre, Athens October 5 Slayer, Anthrax
- The Tabernacle, Atlanta October 5 Blitzen Trapper
- City Winery, Atlanta October 5 George Thorogood and the Destroyers
- Symphony Hall, Atlanta October 5
Try FREE: 706-434-0108
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The Charlie Daniels Band
ZZ Top
- Lucas Theatre for the Arts, Savannah October 6
- Bell Auditorium October 26
The Dandy Warhols
- Sky City October 25
REAL PEOPLE REAL DESIRE REAL FUN.
Moon Taxi, Big Something
- Terminal West, Atlanta October 6
- Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee, North Augusta October 28
Lettuce
- Music Farm, Columbia S.C. October 6
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706-434-0112
V27|NO39
SIGHTINGS
Michael Johnson | mejphoto.photoreflect.com
Allison Cunningham, Jason Craig and Veronica Mulkey at Mellow Mushroom.
Caroline Carrier, McKenzie Elmer, Michelle Eklund and Dillon Howlett at the CSRA Food Truck Fest at the Columbia County Amphitheater.
Jayla Lowson with Darius and Alexia Lowson at the CSRA Food Truck Fest at the Columbia County Amphitheater.
Charles and Wennie Squires with Colleen and Westley Stewart at the CSRA Food Truck Fest at the Columbia County Amphitheater.
Rynishia Ivey, Ciara Gordon and Sherry Gordon at the CSRA Food Truck Fest at the Columbia County Amphitheater.
Jake Gower, Kendel Dove, Leigh Porterfield and Molly Rhodes at Wild Wing.
Jenny Fleming, Matt Weber and Taylor Fleming at Whiskey Bar (Kitchen).
Kevin Kelley and Megan Williams with Christy and Ryan Brookes at Wild Wing.
Zack Shepard, Jesse Regain and Megan Auge at The Hive.
40 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
29SEPTEMBER2016
MAKE A DASH FOR IT By Jeremy Newton/Edited by Will Shortz ACROSS 1 Pranks with a roll, briefly 4 Casualties of streaming services 7 Updated one’s blog 13 Swap (out) 16 Navajo hogan, e.g. 17 Part of NATO 20 Forgo 21 Question from an owl? 22 Austin-to-Houston dir. 23 Chief 24 Actor Joaquin’s complete bio? 26 Start of a legalese paragraph 28 Figs. in an author’s acknowledgments section 30 “____ Wiedersehen!” 31 Hughes poem that mentions “the darker brother” 32 Troupe of lesser-known actors? 35 Reef-dwelling snapper 38 Unattractive fruit 39 2016 Olympics site 40 What swish shots miss 42 Word repeated in the postal creed 43 W.W. I battle locale 44 Schmaltz in kids’ films? 50 “The meaning of life” once sold on it for $3.26 51 Throw together 53 Certainly not wish to repeat 54 Get by 56 “I don’t mean to ____ …” 57 Like bibs and aprons 58 Sermon topics 59 Muhammad had 13 60 Birthplace of multiple saints 62 Slowly disengages (from) 64 Department store department 65 An airline now serves a Minute Maid beverage? 69 Whined like a baby 72 End of many a toast 73 Touch 76 Popular sans-serif font 77 Schools of thought 78 “Onward!,” in Italy 81 Unfiltered 83 U.S. detainment site in Cuba, informally 84 Question posed with feigned shock 85 Ushers in 86 Joint action
87 Some apartments for scaredy-cats? 90 Drank to excess 91 R.V. camper’s org. 92 [I’m devastated!] 93 Deli supply 95 Marauding group in Tolkien’s “The Two Towers” 96 Game of tag, basically 100 Record half that stirs emotions? 104 Exerciser’s target 105 “Shame on you!” 107 Dark force 108 European country slightly larger than Malta 109 Sandwich for a dieter? 113 Appear that way 115 Share 116 Volcano output 117 Slippery sort 118 Size up 119 Letters on some baggage to N.Y.C. 120 Word with sweet or sugar 121 Made damp 122 “Gangnam Style” singer 123 Winter D.C. hrs. DOWN 1 Channel that aired “Felicity” and “Smallville” 2 Curve-enhancing undergarment 3 Metallic shades 4 Certain Balkanite 5 Not as bright 6 ____ fly 7 Oomph 8 Factory watchdog grp. 9 Search far and wide 10 Home run territory, in lingo 11 Dark time, in poetry 12 Something that gets MADD mad 13 Smacks hard 14 “That is … not looking good” 15 Numbskull 17 Argument you may start in school 18 Cops, in slang 19 Sage swamp-dweller of film 25 The witching hour 27 Pat ____, three-time N.B.A. Coach of the Year 29 Discard 33 Inflexible 34 Handy take-along
1
36 Play-____ 37 Modern airport amenity 41 Soft wool source 43 “Sure thing” 45 Parts of airports and fashion shows 46 Actress Kirsten 47 Display clearly 48 Goalie’s goal 49 Locale painted on the Sistine Chapel ceiling 51 Caught on, with “up” 52 Junior, often 55 Something starting something? 57 Devices preventing off-hour openings of vaults 58 Image on the Arizona license plate 61 Deli supply 63 Brian of ambient music 64 Offerings to hitchhikers 66 “Challenge accepted!” 67 Common newspaper feature not seen in The New York Times 68 Chill, with “out” 69 E.W. or S.I. 70 One of the Trumps 71 “I’m ____ Her,” 2016 political slogan 74 Work of extraterrestrials? — not! 75 Pops some pills, say 77 “No joke!” 79 Shortcuts into clubs 80 Actor Williams of “Happy Days” 82 Put together 85 Guy into hip-hop 86 Where the heart is 88 Colorful pond swimmer 89 ____-pah 90 Kerfuffles 94 Event for snocrossers 96 “You’re almost there” 97 “So funny!” 98 “World News Tonight” airer 99 Talk show interviewee 101 Aid for one going places? 102 On edge 103 Worry 104 Kerfuffle 106 Olive or avocado 110 “How precious is that!” 111 Actor ____ J. Cobb of “12 Angry Men” 112 So last month 114 You thinking what I’m thinking?
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A S O N E
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95 102
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PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWERS R E V U E
B E E R P U P E L A X L R P E O W B R I A T S C E E K R A C C A R A M E P U E S S R E F S S O
E R E I T B R S T O E E L B L A F O E O L O Y S L A D D E D S D E U P M T W O S D U A N S T N E O D O W N I N E A G E P A P A S Y N
L O R E N G E T A
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90 94
107 112
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93 100
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105 110
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15
59
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92
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47 54
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96
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31 35
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65 70
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K A S Y P A N O K E T A S Y E P O O T H W L O
O N S T P O I N S T B U T V A L I N S H V O T E A D A C E T E H
T H I R S T
V E G E T N A E R N I E
E S S E E P L L O W M R I T A T E O I S T U N E E R L M I X S R U A L R Y E E R S N Y Y T E M U A K E T S I D S D S O T E C A R D R
H E L M O N E R T A L K M A I M E N T O L D E R A P I S S A R I S S E T E T A S I D O C Y D A H O O S E U M A W H A T H A K E O B E D L L E D E A M Y
V27|NO39
THE EIGHT
BOX TOPS “Seven” is a luck number, at least at the box office this week. RANK TITLES
WEEKEND GROSS TOTAL GROSS WEEK # LAST WEEK
1
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
$34,703,397
$34,703,397
1
-
2
STORKS
$21,311,407
$21,311,407
1
-
3
SULLY
$13,537,270
$92,100,717
3
1
4
BRIDGET JONES’S BABY
$4,656,690
$16,594,365
2
3
5
SNOWDEN
$4,056,229
$15,050,455
2
4
In Theaters September 30
ACTION DRAMA “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,” “Deepwater Horizon,”
COMEDY “Masterminds,” rated PG-13, starring Jason Sudeikis,
rated PG-13, starring Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Samuel L. Jackson, Judi Dench, Allison Janney, Ella Purnell. Director Tim Burton has already angered fans by saying he didn’t read the Ransom Riggs novel upon which his movie is based and by switching a couple of characters’ special powers to better suit his vision. Will readers still visit the theatre to see the story of Jake, a hero whose own peculiarity can save his friends? We’re guessing yes, if for no other reason than to be able to pick apart the cinematic version.
Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Owen Wilson, Zach Galifianakis, Leslie Jones. As difficult as it might be to believe, this movie is actually based on the true story of a bank robbery that netted the largest amount of cash ever: $17 million. In reality, however, it just looks like a bunch of SNL cast members and hosts wearing silly clothes and sporting ridiculous accents. Which, you know, is fine with us, especially since Leslie Jones is involved.
44 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
rated PG-13, starring Mark Wahlberg, Kate Hudson, Kurt Russell, John Malkovich. For those who don’t remember, Deepwater Horizon is the name of the offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico that exploded in 2010, killing 11 of the 126 workers aboard and producing the worst oil spill in U.S. history. Don’t go into this one thinking you’re going to see a “based on the true story…” movie, though; apparently the writers took a lot of liberties with the account of this disaster.
29SEPTEMBER2016
Killed by a Cop? What Are the Odds? AS NEWS CAME OUT all day Tuesday detailing the hideous legal record and pattern of threatening and illegal behavior by Charlotte felon Keith Scott, still the claims rolled in that he was targeted by the (black) officer that shot him, simply because he was a black man. The truth has been told, retold, documented and cemented. I will repeat it plainly. Scott was observed rolling a marijuana blunt, which is illegal. He was spotted with a handgun, which is also highly illegal in the presence of the marijuana. Before any knowledge of Scott’s felonious background was known, he was already visibly breaking two laws, and refusing to follow the lawful orders of lawmen to drop his gun. So that is three crimes he is committing right in front of numerous officers. Had Scott dropped his gun when told, he would likely be alive and well and safely behind bars for the next 10 years. He did not do that. He chose to defy lawmen, and he reaped the total benefit. Sucks to be him. How often do these things happen? Let’s start with the last five years, 2011-2015. Total civilian deaths at the hands of American police: 2,217. Total number of cases either legitimately protested, questioned or charged as “illegal” by law enforcement: Estimated at roughly 10 percent of total, or approximately 223. Estimated number of total interactions between police and civilians 2011-2015: 17,500,000. Approximate occurrence of a citizen’s “contested” death at the hands of a police officer during an interaction, 2011-2015: Roughly 1 in 80,000. Lesson here folks: If you obey the legal orders of a police officer, there is such little chance you are going to be killed in the process of interacting with that police officer that Las Vegas won’t even offer odds that high. While there are some critics who claim black folks are being specifically targeted for such killings at the hands of police, almost eight years with President Barack Obama’s Justice Department in charge of investigating such urban myths (pun intended) have shown no clear-cut trend, and certainly no evidence to suggest a conspiracy. So just behave yourdamnself, especially if the cops catch you breaking the law, and it is the safest of safe bets that you will live to call Johnnie Cochran (or his appointed local successor) personally to get you off the hook in court. Push back against the legal authority of the government to take suspected lawbreakers into custody, you get the answer to life’s greatest mystery before the rest of us do. Much to the chagrin of your survivors. 46 METROSPIRIT AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989
I asked Jail Report Publisher Greg Rickabaugh to send me a picture of everyone arrested in the CSRA this year who managed to get booked, without being illegally shot by police. He said, “That would be all of them.” And I said, “I know.” He didn’t have enough time to gather those thousands and thousands of mugshots, so you will have to be satisfied with this small sample. All these people got arrested; none of them got shot. And yes, there are even some black folks in there.
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. 29SEPTEMBER2016