January A Verge

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ESTABLISHED1998

ESTABLISHED1998


….oN tHE VERGE oF CHaNGEThis Verge owner and the Verge community wishes founder Matt Plocha and his wife

Lara success in the next phase of their professional lives. Lara was very helpful on the editorial and bookkeeping fronts in the first few months of Buzz on Biz, LLC purchasing the newspaper in the spring of 2012. Matt stayed on and worked with Verge for seven months and was instrumental in helping implement several of the changes you see today: Verge now distributes 20 percent more newspapers, mails 4,000 copies to area homes and is produced in 100 percent color.

Thanks to the Plocha’s for making this transition so interesting and fun. Good luck to them both! The second big change is the strategic partnership with shopmycity.com, a consumer and business-friendly version of familiar “daily deal” sites, focusing on local businesses. You’ll notice a promo on the front page bottom strip. In the coming issues, you’ll notice a special page or pages dedicated to area business partners wanting to advertise their discounts to our readers. To learn more, call Kyle Evans at 706.288.9957.

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12,000 copies of verge are published on the 1st and 3rd wednesday of each month. copies are available fRee of charge at locations throughout the csRA including Publix, Kroger and earth fare and 140 plus other locations in the csRA. of the 12,000 total circulation---4,000 of the copies are now direct mailed.Verge is a publication of Buzz on Biz, LLC, whose offices are at 3740 Executive Center Drive, Suite 300, martinez, GA 30907. Reach us at 706.261.9981 or email staff members below in regards to story ideas, events listings, advertising inquiries or letters to the editor.

what’sinsideYoU woN’t wANt to miss A PAGe

viewsHear an inspirational story about how faith and fitness come together to change lives, catch up on technology trends for 2013 and get a glimpse at the vision of a new leader in columbia county (Hudson Hears).

vibeGet to know a world-class jazz guitarist in our one-on-one interview with frank vignola, catch up on new releases on the big screen (film Reel) and check out what’s going on around town (daily Planner and Nightlife).

vittlescelebrate healthy eating with a light, fresh New Year’s recipe (seasonal bites), read an unbiased review of a long-standing Augusta restaurant (feed a family of five), and resolve to try new beers in the new year (beers Locals Like).

valuesbe inspired to make positive changes in the new year (faith story), get to know an Acc basketball standout from the csRA (Ab sports), and laugh out loud with Nora (Life face first).

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continued on page 11

political heads snapped around in Columbia County when moments after being sworn in as Chief Magistrate, Jason Troiano appointed both his predecessor, Bobby Christine,

and his former political opponent, Christopher Hudson, to associate judgeships. To anyone with knowledge about how the magistrate’s office works, the decision was a no-brainer; however, to seasoned political observers it was a serious break with tradition and may be a sign that Columbia County politics is finally changing for the better.

For decades, Columbia County has operated as an island closed off from the rest of the state. A large county that is nearly 100 percent conservative at the polls, one would think that the county would be a powerhouse in state politics. Actually, it is the opposite in Atlanta; Columbia County is a laughingstock. Statewide politicians generally do not campaign in Columbia County, and most recently conservatives actually came out and endorsed Democrat John Barrow against the homegrown Republican challenger. The politics got heated and nasty with Anderson branded the “Honey Boo-Boo” candidate by the very people he should have counted on for support.

The reason for all of this is simple. Since there is no Democrat party operating in Columbia County, the Republicans have no ideological opposition to battle against, so they battle each other. When one gets into politics in this county, they have to choose between blocs within their own party. Those specific blocs are not just opposed to one another on small stands on issues; they personally hate anyone not of their own little tribe. What it has led to are political races that are run like wars between people who hate each other personally for really no good reason. Generally speaking, when a candidate wins office any spoils are given immediately to the people who donated money or contributed to their election.

The result has been that good men and women in the county do not want to run for public service. Once a prospective candidate becomes familiar with the art of politics in Columbia County, they sour on what they find and decide there are better ways to serve their community than get involved in the backstabbing and squabbling.

by sCott HUdsoN

These opinions are those of Scott Hudson and not necessarily those of Verge Newspaper or its staff.


around townwHAt we HeAR beHiNd cLosed dooRs

CHURCH/sCHooL ExpaNsIoNat a meeting on January 3, Rector Robert Fain,

Headmaster Ned Murray, and Board Chairman Jim Trotter, of the Church of the Good Shepherd and Episcopal Day School, announced that the church and school have purchased a 28.5 acre parcel of land on Flowing Wells Road for $1.15 million dollars.

As part of the school’s strategic plan adopted in 2006, EDS started the process of identifying and studying available property throughout the CSRA for campus expansion. Located exactly seven miles from the school, the property at Flowing Wells, easily accessible from Wheeler and Wrightsboro Roads fits the bill. The additional acreage gives the school and the church enough room to meet current and future programmatic needs.

Consulting groups are meeting with faculty, parents, parishioners and others close to the project to study the best ways to utilize the property. In addition to state-of-the-art athletic facilities, the school is exploring myriad educational possibilities such as an outdoor worship space, indoor and outdoor classrooms, art facilities, experiential and leadership education equipment and other enhancements that could be used in a variety of public/private partnerships for the community. The woodlands and wetlands on the property highlight its scientific and academic potential.“The planning and design phase will be slow and thoughtful,” according to Headmaster Murray. “We want to take our time and get this right, create a 21st century educational showcase, and ensure that this beautiful piece of property will be best utilized by the school, church, and as a community resource long into the future.”

article by jennIfer prueTT

127 12th St.Augusta, GA 30901

706.814.7393www.csra.rightathome.net


from football player Tim Tebow to fitness model and writer Jamie Eason, the connection between faith

and the world of sports is strong and influential. As more people embrace healthy lifestyles, faith comes into play in strengthening not only the spirit but also the mind.

With the New Year come new gym memberships, as men and women make a resolution to take on lifestyle changes, lose weight, get in shape and improve their health. In addition to finding the right price point, equipment, location and amenities, gym patrons also seek a place where they can feel comfortable and accepted. Local fitness centers understand and support the faith and fitness connection, whether as part of their mission statement -- for example, the Family Y -- or through some of their personal trainers’ own journeys.

At Gold’s Gym on Bobby Jones Expressway, personal trainer Danielle Patrick considers her job a part of her mission work. Since joining New Life Christian Center in December 2007, she has traveled to Peru and Nepal with John Smithwick Ministries International’s Global Ventures. “It was amazing and it pulled at my heart,” she said. “I knew on my first trip that this was my calling.”

Athletics played a part in her life since age four, when she discovered basketball. She played on school and church teams, but she credits New Life with helping her redirect her life.

“I had always gone to church and played the so-called role of a Christian,” she said. “Inside the church I was an awesome girl, but outside, I acted the fool. I came to New Life and felt the need to help out their Middle School Ministries 3:16. The pastor told me, ‘You understand that these young people look up to you. You need to make a lifestyle change or we can’t have you in leadership.’ I was in a horrible place. I was an alcoholic. I put all of my faith in God and believed that He could fix everything that was going wrong if I just gave everything to Him, and He did. I’ve been serving in ministry ever since. I chose God over the world and it totally changed my attitude. I stepped out and said, ‘I’m here on this earth to serve God, and I want to do what He has planned for me.’”

Part of her faith walk included a membership to Gold’s Gym, where she focused on physical as well as emotional changes. She became a certified personal trainer and began working for Gold’s in August 2011, quickly building a clientele -- many of whom appreciate her deep faith and share moments of prayer with her as part of their training sessions.

“I believe with my whole heart that this was from God,” she said. “I had been praying and asking God what He wanted me to do and where He wanted me to go, and this door opened.”

The Family Y, part of the international YMCA, is a 501c3 nonprofit, and “a faith-based, Christian-Judeo organization,” explained community relations director Millie Schumacher. As such, the Family Y strives to cultivate physical, emotional and spiritual fitness, with a sense of family connection.

“Part of our mission is to respect all people,” said Schumacher, “so while we are a faith-based organization, we want everyone to feel comfortable and welcome here. You’ll see Scripture on some of the fitness equipment. You’ll see what we call ‘Scripture Vitamins’ at the front desk, where you can pull Scripture verse from the bucket. The Wilson Branch has a chapel, and each of our branches has a volunteer pastor on call. We do prayer before our board meetings, we do devotional time as part of our youth sports games and we try to put faith in everything we do. For our part that means Christianity-based, but we try very hard to show for respect for all people wherever they are in their spiritual walk.”

Integral to providing spiritual health are Family Y programs such as Livestrong, which is offered in six locations. “This is a free, cancer-recovery program that addresses the physical, spiritual and emotional healing of someone going through cancer, regardless of what stage of diagnosis they’re in, or treatment, or beyond treatment,” said Schumacher. “It allows them to get the emotional support that they need while also recovering to the point that they have a new sense of wellness after this 12-week program. That’s a great example of how the spiritual part plays a role in a program. That group prays at the beginning

of their time together, they spend a lot of time talking about why they have cancer and their spiritual path, they share Scripture and inspirational stories and focus on that spiritual wellness as well.”

continued on page 9

The 54,000 square foot Evans Fitness Club opened in December with a spirit of giving back. Photo by Ashleigh Dees Photography

the Kroc Center opened in August of 2012 as part of the mission of the christian-basedsalvation Army

FaItH mEEts FItNEss


faith meets fitness

Facilities such as Evans Fitness, while not faith-based, believe in bolstering the mind, body and spirit by partnering with local charitable organizations in order to raise funds and awareness. Evans Fitness works with the American Cancer Society, Child Enrichment, the Columbia County Exchange Club and Columbia County schools.

“We are very much about giving back to our community and working with our community,” said general manager Mike Montarbo. “We’re very prideful of customer service and making sure that people know that we actually care. We donated $70,000 of equipment to Greenbrier High School for their weight room, all brand new strength and conditioning equipment. Those are things we’re going to do year in and year out for different schools in Columbia County. We’re trying to make our community better and healthier.”

For Danielle Patrick, the miracles of faith and fitness are witnessed not only in her clients’ transformations, but also in her own. She credits New Life’s associate pastors, Amy and Phillip Maxwell, with helping her on her journey and noted, “I never really spoke about it other than with them, but it is totally because of God that I got hired at Gold’s, and I thank Him every day. Before this, I felt like a loser. I had no control in my life. It was so quick of a decision for me to say, ‘God, tell me what you want me to do.’ It was that quick. I realized that I was done. I could not fall back on that. If I had not straightened up, I would not be where I am. I’m so happy that I chose a different life. I would not have the amazing man I’m going to marry, and I wouldn’t be a personal trainer. I had an ‘I don’t care’ attitude. I needed something to cope with my pain, and I drank. I was in a horrible place and I totally turned it around. I wouldn’t be where I am if I hadn’t made those changes, but I couldn’t do it by myself. It was with God.”

Patrick became emotional when asked about the impact she has on the people she trains. “You run across a lot of different people in gyms, including a lot of people who are down on themselves,” she said. “One of my clients came in very overweight. From day one, she said that she was going to turn her life around. Within two months she lost 25 pounds and 17 inches. She has done an amazing job. She thanks me all the time, and I feel like I’m a happy person because God has made me happy and put that in my heart. I feel I’m doing what God told me to do. Personal training is a mission for me and God uses me every single day. I may not see it and I may not know about it until I get to heaven, but I do know that I feel like I’m supposed to be here. Another client came in, and within five minutes she told me her whole life story. She was crying. We prayed together for about ten minutes, and she told me that she believed that God gave me to her. It was awesome. So yes, I think that personal training and being at this gym is a mission for me. You come across so many people and you never know what will help or motivate someone. Sometimes it’s just a smile, so I try to keep that uplifting spirit so that they can see that there is some good in the world. I want to be that light for them.”

article by alIson rIchTer

continued from page 7

Center ForPrimary CareYour Prevention

SPecialiStS

Evans Fitness photo by Ashleigh Dees Photography


hudson hearscoNtiNUed fRom PAGe 5

tHese oPiNioNs ARe tHose of scott HUdsoN ANd Not NecessARiLY tHose of veRGe NewsPAPeR oR its stAff.

ComE to aUGUsta oN VaCatIoN, LEaVE oN pRobatIoNWhen I moved to Augusta and began prosecuting crimes in the State Court of Richmond

County, I would joke: “Come to Augusta on vacation, leave on probation.”

Now, with all the pending lawsuits in Augusta’s and Columbia County’s private probation company Sentinel Offender Services, I don’t think the joke is as funny. Most people do not realize that a speeding ticket carries the same basic punishment as any other misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000.00 and a possible sentence of up to a year in jail. Though most individuals don’t get that punishment, the average fine on a speeding ticket in Richmond County is $200.00. And when applicable surcharges are added, that fine goes up to $280.00. With such high fines many people must opt for probation to have time to pay. It is either probation or jail, and most people choose probation.

I had a client who was recently sentenced to probation in Columbia County. He was given a First Offender sentencey, meaning that if he completes his probation and does what the Judge says, he will only have a charge on his record and not a conviction. He was a good kid who made a mistake and was trying to get re-admitted into college. He calls me up to tell me that he needs proof that he is on Misdemeanor probation rather than Felony probation as he was originally charged with a felony.

I called Sentinel up and requested the letter regarding his probation status and upon my request, I was told that Sentinel no longer monitored individuals who had been placed on probation by the Superior Courts in Richmond and Columbia Counties. My question was 1. When did that happen? and 2. Who is now supervising my client???? I was told to call the District Attorneys office and they quickly responded that they had no idea. I then called Felony probation and their response was “Sentinel, not us”.

I later determined that my client along with anyone else in Richmond and Columbia County who had been sentenced to misdemeanor probation stemming from charges out of Superior Court was now in limbo and completely unsupervised due to various lawsuits filed by Attorney Jack Long.

Great if you want to avoid probation; bad if you are trying to straighten out your life and get back into college. Luckily, with some creative begging, I was able to prove to my client’s chosen college that he had, at least, at some point, had been on misdemeanor probation and he got into college but it certainly made me look a little more closely at the lawsuit(s) filed by Jack Long.

From what I see, the media is only presenting one side of the story and I am not sure the public is getting the full picture. For instance, a simple cursory check of the Public Records for Kathleen Hucks, a plaintiff in one of the lawsuits against Sentinel, show that she has had no less than four probation warrants over the years. Did she actually complete her probation? If Sentinel is not going to supervise probation, then who will and how will those individuals or companies to be chosen and who will have influence over those individuals or companies? Who is actually going to benefit from these lawsuits or a class action lawsuit against Sentinel. I, frankly, think there is more to this story. To be continued…

pj campanaro has been practicing law since 1999, specializing in violent crime, DUI, custody and child support. She is a member of the Augusta Bar and former Chief Solicitor General. If you have comments or story ideas contact P.J at [email protected] or call 706.836.0686

crime and punishment

The race for chief magistrate was interesting from the get-go. Here was a chief magistrate (Bobby Christine) stepping down not because of scandal or term limits, but because his ticket got punched by the U.S. Military. As a reservist and an officer, Christine knew his chances of remaining stateside were good, but not set in stone. Christine could have run virtually unopposed to keep his chief magistrate job, but if he were suddenly shipped out to Afghanistan or elsewhere then the county would have to pay for a special election. Christine did the statesmanlike thing and stepped aside.

The office of chief magistrate is fairly low on the totem pole in the grand scheme of things. What makes it different is that aside from the office of Sheriff, it is one of the only races in which the candidates must choose a party and run as a partisan. That means not only does the candidate have to reach out to voters, but they have to do likewise with the members of the Columbia County Republican Party. They have to choose a bloc and stick with that group lest they find themselves in the wilderness.

After Troiano was elected, rather than stick to the guidelines of the way things were always done, he decided to place around him a solid staff and it appears political capital was thrown off the table. Along with Christine and Hudson, Troiano also chose Grady Blanchard who is another up and coming political hopeful with a solid reputation and background. Rather than pay back political favors, Troiano opened the door for others of like mind including the man who ran against him for the job.

For his part, Troiano says he doesn’t aspire to any higher office. He says he enjoys the time spent with his family too much to consider the constant cycle of having to run for office and certainly does not want to have to ferry back and forth from Atlanta. It may be that Troiano settles into the job and decides to stay right where he is at. However, his first choices as the Chief Magistrate have shown he has the vision of a leader and not a petty partisan and that is very good news for Columbia County.

scoTT hudson freelances for WGAC and is a local paralegal. Submit comments to [email protected]

Newly elected Magistrate Judge Bobby Christine at a 2012 political event prior to the election


tECHNoLoGy tRENds FoR 2013so 2013 is upon us, and it’s time to make the annual forecast of what the New Year holds

with regard to consumer technology. Although some of these trends took shape in the past year, they will likely be further defined in the new year.

While the iPad products, including the new Mini, continue to dominate the tablet market, Android tablets are finding a place in consumers’ hearts; tablets will continue to erode the role of laptop PCs. Consumers are using tablets as an alternative to laptops. There will continue to be a role for PCs because they still do certain tasks, like heavy content creation and data input better than tablets. But consumers seem, at the very least, to be replacing their laptops less often and spending discretionary funds on tablets. Windows 8 may play a part as well because of the attraction of a common operating system across the smartphone, tablet and PC platforms.

Manufacturers are rethinking television. Samsung and others already make TVs that can connect to the Internet, and stream Internet video and run tablet-type apps, without any special set-top box. The substandard “smart TV” functions haven’t taken off with consumers yet, but this may be the year they do. One heavily watched development is that Apple, which has been working hard on smart TV functionality, will finally unveil its long-rumored TV this year, with the goal of greatly simplifying the TV blending Internet and cable content. Apple has thus far ran into difficulties in negotiating with media companies for content rights, however their current $99 Apple TV box, while so far still a relatively small seller, is gaining popularity partly because the company has built into its laptops, tablets and phones a feature called AirPlay which uses an Apple TV device to wirelessly stream audio and video to a TV.

Smartphones are everywhere in the western world, but most are still relatively expensive. Smartphones cost consumers around $200, even after a carrier subsidy that requires a two-year contract, and the monthly service fees can easily approach or exceed $100 per month for heavy data users. There are already some smartphones, usually older, less capable or less popular models, available for $99 or $49 or even free with a contract. Expect to see better smartphones at lower prices in 2013, especially those running the dominant Android and Windows phone platforms. In addition, some companies are beginning to offer really cheap monthly plans, with some phones having been modified to make voice calls where possible over Wi-Fi instead of costlier wireless carrier networks.

Music lovers have never much liked the compressed music files most people store on iPods and smartphones. The quality of the original recording is lost because the song files are optimized for minimum space and download time, and because they are often made from CDs, not from the master studio tapes. In 2013, we may see more of a new kind of portable music player that can handle higher quality music. The downside is that files can be 10 to 20 times as large as typical digital songs, so fewer tracks fit in a given amount of memory.

One thing that will stay the same is that technology continues to change, and expect the unexpected.

Kevin Wade was selected as the 2012 Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce “Entrepreneur of the Year”.

kevIn Wade is the CEO and “techspert” for Intellisystems, a small business I.T department for area companies. He works with

them to prevent network failure, data loss, or backup disasters and provides technology advice to keep clients and the community

informed. Intellisystems is located in the Alley in Aiken, in Columbia at the Atrium on Stoneridge Drive, and in downtown

Augusta. For more info, email [email protected]

Tek Talk

aLL mINoR aNd maJoR pLUmbING. 24\7 sERVICE.


coco’s Q & aoNe oN oNe witH bRiAN ALLeN / PG 17 fIlm reelwHAt’s New oN tHe biG scReeN? / PG 18

daIly plannermARK YoUR cALeNdARs / PG 19

Calling Frank Vignola a virtuoso is something of an understatement. Recognized primarily as a world-class jazz guitarist, but well versed in

every genre, his resume includes work with a range of artists from Ringo Starr to Wynton Marsalis, Tommy Emmanuel and the legendary Les Paul, with whom he performed regularly for a number of years.

Vignola has recorded numerous albums, performed on countless sessions, written 18 guitar instruction books and recorded six educational DVDs. He has held hundreds of clinics and master classes and tours the world. Accompanying him is guitarist Vinny Raniolo; together, they perform between 150 and 200 shows per year. “I’m very happy and always feel good about playing for audiences,” he said. “We get them involved, we make them laugh a little bit, we dance around sometimes, and we play great melodies and songs, so it’s a lot of fun.”

Verge: Your father plays banjo. What style, and what did you learn from him?

Vignola: He plays tenor banjo with a plectrum. Tenor banjo is a four-string banjo tuned in fifths, and that was the instrument used in big bands before the guitar came into being. It’s also associated with banjo sing-alongs, as opposed to five-string banjo, which is more traditional bluegrass style. He got me a ukulele and a book and I learned the chords, and he would show me the chords to songs. About a year later he got me a guitar. I would learn songs from records he would buy me and from playing with him and his buddies. By the time I was 12 or 13, they were all hiring me to play rhythm guitar for them. I studied later, in high school, but having that upbringing, being able to take your guitar out and play songs, was probably the best training that I could have gotten at that early age.


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REd NosE RUN 5K aNd FamILy FUN RUNRonald McDonald House Charities of Augusta creates,

finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. The Ronald McDonald House is a “home-away-from-home” for families of seriously and critically ill or injured children receiving medical treatment at nearby hospitals.

On January 12, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Augusta will host the Red Nose Run 5K and Family Fun Run. Runners will lace up their big floppy clown sneakers, grab their red noses, and meet at the James Brown Arena at 601 7th Street in Augusta. This is a fun event that everyone can join. Folks are invited to run, walk or stroll through beautiful,

historic downtown Augusta while helping to support the local Ronald McDonald House.The race will begin at 8:00 a.m., Saturday, January 12. Those interested may register online or

print an online registration form and mail to: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Augusta, 938 Greene Street, Augusta, GA 30901. The entry fee is $25 if registered before January 11 and $30 the day of the race. Kid’s Fun Run is free with any adult registration and will begin at 8:45am.

Each adult participant will receive an official race t-shirt as well as a Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey red nose, running discount coupons and food and drinks. Special prizes will be awarded to age group winners.

Packet pick-up will be available at the James Brown Arena Administration Office January 10-11, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Race day registration and packet pick-up will be at the James Brown Arena from 6:45a.m. until 7:30a.m. Please call 706.722.3521 for more information.

by jennIfer prueTT

tHE FoUR HoRNsmEN oF tHE apoCaLypsE on Saturday, January 12, at 7:30 p.m., the Symphony Orchestra of Augusta will present The

Four Hornsmen of the Apocalypse at the Jabez S. Hardin Performing Arts Center at the Main Columbia County Library, as part of the Symphony Orchestra Augusta Bank of America Columbia County Music Series.

The Four Hornsmen of the Apocalypse, formed in 1997 as a student quartet at the University of Southern Mississippi, has evolved into a nationally recognized chamber group. The Hornsmen pride themselves in their ability to connect with the audience and break the traditional barrier between the musicians and the listener. In addition to the traditional staples of the horn repertoire, classical transcriptions of composers such as Bach, Mozart, and Strauss accompany the light hearted numbers and humorous pieces of PDQ Bach, Herman Jeurissen and Lowell Shaw.

Tickets for this event are $20 and can be purchased online at soaugusta.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the event box office, at 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd. one hour prior to the concert. For more information please contact 706.447.7652.

by jennIfer prueTT

featured events vibe

Ronald McDonald House Charities 938 Greene Street,

Augusta, Georgia.


coco’s q&abRIaN aLLENcOCO: Can you name all the local bands

you’ve played in?BRIAN: Dang…that’s a bit of a list…Neato Torpedo, Debt Of Nature, Smile, Mary Jane Jones, Ghostscript, Turtleneck, Josh Pierce Group, Hellblinki Sextet, American Skin, 48Volt, Joe Graves & The Dirty Left Hand and finally Jesup Dolly...I’m pretty sure I left a project or two out there.

COCO: That’s a good list; of all those do you have a favorite? Or two??BRIAN: MJJ and Turtleneck were the most fun to me, but I have to say I saw half the world in Hellblinki and of all the bands I’ve played in. That was the one that gave me the best glimpse of life on the road -- two trips to NYC in a short span of time -- that’s what it’s all about.

COCO: Some people don’t believe me when I tell them that NEATO TORPEDO played with GREEN DAY back in the day. Can you please confirm this?BRIAN: It’s the truth. We opened for GREEN DAY at a place called THE WHITEHOUSE on 9th Street. They were on their 39/Smooth tour; they had their pre-Tre Cool drummer at the time and were one of the best bands we’d seen come through in a while. They said we were the best band they’d played with the whole tour, but we had no idea what a big deal they’d eventually become. We chose up sides after the show and had a wiffle ball war. Mike Dirnt and Brian Brownlee were on my team...we won. Billy Joe got a bloody nose...best after party EVER. If you watch the VH-1 Behind the Music episode on GREEN DAY, you’ll see the flier for that very show in the intro.

COCO: What music venues which are no longer around do you miss the most?BRIAN: I miss above all SQUEAKY’S TIP TOP. I’ll never forget reading Esquire magazine and seeing New York band LOTION talking about the TIP TOP. It became that iconic. I was gonna say something about Uptown Lounge in Athens or Rockafellas in Columbia, but they pale in comparison. There will never be anything like the TIP TOP in my view.

COCO: That’s my favorite too. What about current venues? What are some of your favorites?BRIAN: Well, SKY CITY is an easy choice. I’ve had some really crazy rock star-style experiences there opening for JASON ISBELL and DRIVIN N CRYIN. The sound is superb I’ve also really enjoyed every occasion I’ve had to play THE LOFT. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention MAD STUDIOS. I’ve really enjoyed the shows I’ve seen there, but I haven’t had a chance to play there YET...JESUP DOLLY debuts there January 26, I think.

COCO: What’s up with MAD STUDIOS?BRIAN: I think it’s a pretty cool little thing. We are a listening room that seats about 50 people; folks in attendance are surrounded by very hip local art. The shows start early (7 p.m. usually), they are all ages, and they are non-smoking. We have something going on most every weekend and we have spoken work/open mic every other Thursday. You’ll find us at 307.5 11th Street. I’m proud of what we’ve done so far. We also offer full recording studio services.

COCO: What’s your take on the local music scene going into 2013?BRIAN: Wow, I gotta say I’m blown away by this music scene’s continual improvement in quality. I see more and more bands that I’m like DAYUM, and there seems to be more and more of them all of the time...exponentiation...and it’s not the same 20 guys like it was back in the day. It’s new blood all the time; it makes me proud personally, and it pushes me to do better with my projects. Y’all keep kickin’ ass, ya hear?!

COCO: Lastly, what’s the best way for people to get in touch with you?BRIAN: You can always contact me directly at [email protected], or you can always get the studio at [email protected]

coco rubIo opened The Soul Bar in 1995 and Sky City in 2008 with the intent to help revitalize downtown Augusta and to make it the entertainment center of the CSRA. When he is not working downtown, he likes to stay home and hang

out with his daughter Maya, his wife Holly and their dog Pearl.

vibecoco RUbio’s oNe oN oNe cHAt witH csRA mUsiciANs

GRammy awaRd wINNING mULtI-INstRUmENtaLIst“I’m just now starting to get somewhere.” That’s Sam Bush in reference to his seventh solo album, Circles Around Me. With so much history -- co-founder of the New Grass Revival, in-demand studio and live musician, fiddle champion, Grammy winner and much more -- was he really only feeling that way within the past few years?

“I tend to rejuvenate every so often,” he said. “I do different projects and move in different circles. I started out in high school playing my mandolin and being progressive that way, and I do feel comfortable as a singer and player, sure.”

VERGE: You’ve been making music pretty much your entire life. What has changed and what has stayed same?BUSH: Hopefully, the writing is getting better. It’s hard to know, but it’s interesting to me that some people say the last one I made is the most bluegrass I’ve done, and some say it might be the most progressive. I’ve dabbled in reggae, rock and roll, South African, jazz and rock; I played with Jean-Luc Ponty on a record. If anything has helped my growth, it’s playing with my band. We gel together so well and we can now make a sound together that’s very comfortable as players onstage.

VERGE: What are the advantages of self-production?BUSH: The producer always wins! Of course, we have to sit and listen to the lead singer -- and I’m both of them. I have to forgive myself if I don’t play and sing as well as I would like on some days. It’s tough to remain objective because I let my own performance get in the way. I have to sit back and listen to the engineer, and it’s good to have a sounding board to give me outside opinions.

VERGE: Is there is a tendency within the industry to underestimate the tastes of the general public?BUSH: I keep aware of the fact that I need an audience with open ears. I played at the Ozarks for a very young audience and they are not concerned if it’s bluegrass or what it is. We play a good variety of music within one show, so really I tend to give the audience a lot of credit that they are educated in a lot of different styles of music. Either it feels good to you and the audience, or it does not. I have a bank of tunes, and in certain situations there’s a circle of excitement, but it’s up to us to start it. If we get a good connection going with the audience, they feel that too. But sometimes it takes a whole different audience for music to get recognized. Bluegrass and acoustic music -- it was not lost on me that a film comes along like O Brother, Where Art Thou and uses that music and makes it part of the story. Bonnie and Clyde used music by Flatt and Scruggs. Deliverance had “Dueling Banjos” and that song was on the radar on rock and roll radio stations. Audiences like hearing the sounds when they can get exposed to them.

VERGE: Earlier, you credited your band as key to your musical growth. Your name is out front, but clearly they’re integral to your sound.BUSH: They are the most important part of my sound. A band is the exciting part of playing live. I have no interest in playing by myself. The joy of music is the interaction with other musicians. I play rhythm when they take solos. We’re together; they’re not a backup band. I think it starts with trusting each other musically. I respect them totally. We all want to get up there and do our best. Some days are better than others, but I’m proud that everybody always puts their best foot forward. We urge each other on. When one of us plays a phrase they hadn’t played before, or you notice how well someone is playing, it’s joyful and it makes you want to join in.

by alIson rIchTer

one on one with sam bush vibe


the film reel

january brings the expansion of some of December’s most buzz-worthy limited releases. Naomi Watts’ Golden Globe-nominated portrayal of a woman whose family of five survived 2004’s

devastating Indian Ocean tsunami is among those films. Watts and Ewan McGregor play a couple vacationing in Thailand with their three young sons when one of the most significant natural disasters of our time strikes in tHE ImpossIbLE. The film is based on the true circumstances of separation, search and survival faced by the Alvarez-Belon family and matriarch Maria Belon is credited with the story. This is director Juan Antonio Bayona’s (The Orphanage) first English language feature.

Also enjoying wider release on January 4 was a story by Dave Eggers adapted for the big screen by John Krasinski (The Office) and Matt Damon, who also star in their creation alongside Frances McDormand (Fargo) and Hal Holbrook. pRomIsEd LaNd reunites Damon with Good Will Hunting director Gus Van Sant with a moral debate over fracking -- the process of forcefully extracting natural gas or petroleum from rocks -- whose environmental impact is a source of contention between a businessman (Damon) and an environmentalist (Krasinski) in this film’s rural setting, where Damon attempts to pay farmers for the right to drill on their land.

Horror fans may be willing to check out a sequel to 1974’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre that brings back a member of the homicidal Sawyer clan. A young woman claiming the home she inherited from her grandmother becomes a player in a gory faceoff with Leatherface in tExas CHaINsaw 3d, the latest of many takes on writer-director Tobe Hooper’s screamer.

A horror parody was on the box office roster on January 11 with the Marlon Wayans penned

and fronted a HaUNtEd HoUsE. The Scary Movie franchise veteran spoofs the Paranormal Activity films with help from Cedric the Entertainer and an unorthodox crew called in to help remove demonic presences from a couple’s home. Scary Movie 5, which will feature the likes of Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan, is slated to open in April.

Sometimes good guys need to bend the rules when attempting to take down bad guys. Such was the case for a secret team on the Los Angeles Police Department circa 1949 while facing ruthless East Coast mob kingpins like Mickey Cohen. GaNGstER sQUad tells their story with an enviable ensemble cast consisting of Sean Penn (as Cohen) with Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Michael Pena and Giovanni Ribisi among the cops who faced the ruthless gangster. Nick Nolte plays the police chief and Emma Stone co-stars as the fiery femme fatale crucial to any decent gangster movie. Based on accounts fleshed out in Los Angeles Times features and a book by Paul Lieberman, the film was originally scheduled to open in September, but was pushed back in the aftermath of the Aurora theater shooting in July. A scene in the film depicting a shooting at a movie theater was cut from the film’s theatrical version.

Director Kathryn Bigelow’s ZERo daRK tHIRty opens in wider release after an awards-qualifying limited opening in December. The dramatized account of Osama bin Laden’s downfall, though widely criticized by military authority figures, earned Golden Globe nominations for Best Picture -- Drama, Best Actress (Jessica Chastain), Best Screenplay (Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker) and Best Director.

by marIah gardner, movIe guru

vibeNow PLAYiNG oN tHe biG scReeN

a HaUNtEd HoUsE

tExas CHaINsaw 3d

FRIday, JaN. 11TaTTermask @ the first Round | 8 p.m.

The erIc scoTT band @ country club | 9 p.m., $3 to $5

jar @ Hotel Aiken Polo Lounge | 9:30 p.m.

dash rIp rock @ the Loft | 10 p.m.

Welfare lIners @ stillwater taproom | 10 p.m., $5

satURday, JaN. 12maTTheW kahler @ m.A.d. studios | 7 p.m.

dead end sons + The radar cInema + sunWell @ sky city | 9:30 p.m., $3

jIm fIsher band @ Hotel Aiken Polo Lounge | 9:30 p.m.

old you @ surrey tavern10 p.m.

Thomas TIllman @ country club | 10 p.m., $3 to $5

tHURsday, JaN. 17marQuIce lashaud WIl-lIams @ m.A.d. studios 7 p.m.

FRIday, JaN. 18 preTTy peTTy @ Hotel Aiken Polo Lounge | 9:30 p.m.

souThern melTdoWn band @ Playoffs | 9:30 p.m.

jared ashley @ country club | 10 p.m., $3 to $5

satURday, JaN. 19sTeven jackson @ m.A.d. studios | 7 p.m.

preTTy peTTy @ Hotel Aiken Polo Lounge | 9:30 p.m.

ouTshyne @ country club 10 p.m.

sIblIng sTrIng @ sky city 10 p.m.,

wEEKLymoNdayssporTs nIghT @ surrey tavern | 7 p.m.

mIke frosT jaZZ @ the willcox | 8 p.m.

tUEsdaysTrIvIa nIghT @ mellow mushroom (Augusta & evans) 8 p.m.

$100 Tab bIg prIZe TrIvIa @ somewhere in Augusta 8 p.m.

TrIvIa nIghT @ the Playground bar | 10 p.m.

pIano @ the willcox | 8 p.m.

wEdNEsdaysangel broWn + aTl dreamvIsIon @ club 706 6 p.m.

karaoke @ midtown Lounge 10 p.m.

manuel’s musIc Wednesdays @ manuel’s bread café | 5:30 p.m.

TrIvIa nIghT WITh chrIsTIan & mIckey @ surrey tavern | 8 p.m.

bIke nIghT!@ the first Round | 8 P.M., The first drink is on us!

kraZy karaoke @ the Playground bar | 10 p.m.

tHURsdayslIve musIc @ mellow mushroom (Augusta & evans) | 8 p.m.

80’s nIghT WITh dj rana @ the Playground | 9 p.m.

boom boX @ soul bar8 p.m., drink specials daily during Happy Hour (4 p.m. 7 p.m., monday - friday).

sporTs TrIvIa WITh mIke Thomas @ malibu Jack’s 7 p.m.

soup, suds & conversaTIons @ the fox’s Lair | 6 p.m.

4 caTs In The dog house @ the willcox | 6 p.m.

real dance musIc @ Rose Hill estate | 6 p.m.

open mIc nIghT @ the Playground | 8 p.m.

Tango nIghT @ casa blanca café | 6 p.m.

FRIdaysall-ouT acousTIc frIday @ Hotel Aiken | 9:30 p.m.

open mIc nIghT @ the Playground bar | 8 p.m.

TrIvIa with macdaddy @ cocktails bar & Lounge 9 p.m.

lIve jaZZ frIday @ the Partridge inn | 10 p.m.

free dance lessons @ country club | 7 p.m.

lIve musIc every frIday @ the first Round | 10 p.m., free

lIve musIc every frIday @1102 bar and Grill | 10 p.m., no cover

satURdaysfree dance lessons @ country club | 7 p.m.

noW dance, baby! saTurday @ Hotel Aiken9:30 p.m., with dJ Kenny Ray, Greatwhitefunk & smurf

freshsounds dance parTy @ the Playground8 p.m.

drInk + droWn @ the Library Nightclub | 10 p.m., $10

lIve dj every saTurday @ 1102 bar and Grill | 10 p.m., no cover

sUNdays karaoke WITh peggy gardner @ shannon’s bar & Grill | 8 p.m.

beer pong @ the Playground 10 p.m.

lIve dj every sunday @ 1102 bar and Grill | 10 p.m., no cover

nIghTlIfe JANUARY 11-19 2013


hIsTory jImmIe dyess symposIum individuals will receive the Symposium’s Distinguished American Award at this third annual event--Tom Kelley, Lou Brissie and Carl Sanders. Free with a paid museum admission. Augusta Museum of History; 5 – 7 p.m.; 560 Reynolds St.; 706.722.8454 augusTamuseum.org

arT openIng recepTIon | brIan rusT Brian is a sculptor of large-scaled sculpture and temporary installations as well as doing extensive work with drawing and collage. In addition to his sculpture, Brian exhibits his collage drawings regionally and nationally. Sacred Heart Cultural Center; 5 - 7 p.m.; free; 1301 Greene St.; 706.826.4713

arT eXhIbIT recepTIon | unTITled: jurIed arTIsTs of The ahcna This exhibit is a visual collage of themes and styles celebrating the works of our juried artists. Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta; 6 p.m.; free; 100 Georgia Ave,. North Augusta; 803.441.4380

arT eXhIbITIon recepTIon & book sIgnIng The “Shadows of History” photographic exhibit by Julia J. Norrell lecture by photographic historian William Stapp. Stapp contributed an essay to the museum’s newest publication, available for sale. Morris Museum of Art; 6 - 8 p.m.; free; One Tenth St.; 706.724.7501 ThemorrIs.org

communITy “god Is one: moses, jesus, muhammad” WITh bruce feIler, omId safI & karen kIng A live simulcast from the 92nd Street Y in NYC, with Reza Aslan as moderator. Augusta Jewish Community Center; 7:30 p.m.; free; 898 Weinberger Way, Evans; 706.228.3636 augusTajcc.org

concerT jullIard In aIken | jennIfer sheehan The opening night, black tie gala for this year’s Julliard residency. All proceeds benefit Julliard in Aiken Festival performances and outreach programs. The Willcox; 6:30 p.m.; $125 to $150; 100 Colleton Ave., SW, Aiken; jullIardInaIken.com

concerT souThern soul & song serIes: sam bush Grammy Award winning, multi-instrumentalist Sam Bush. He is alternately known as the King of Telluride and the King of Newgrass, Bush has been honored by the Americana Music Association and the International Bluegrass Music Association. Imperial Theatre; 7:30 p.m.; $13 to $37; 745 Broad St.; 706.722.8341 ImperIalTheaTre.com

good cause savannah open dIsc golf TournamenT Spectators welcome. Contestants should download the entry form online. Tom Triplett Park; $30 to $65; 1335 US Highway 80 E, Pooler; 706.826.8991

good cause red nose run 5k Wear your best clown attire and compete in the Red Nose Run 5K and family fun run, benefiting the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Augusta. Register online. James Brown Arena; 8 a.m.; $20 to $30; 601 Seventh St.; 877.428.4849

concerT jullIard In aIken | jennIfer sheehan The opening night, black tie gala; includes dinner, cabaret and a champagne reception with the artists and performers. Proceeds benefit Julliard in Aiken Festival performances and outreach programs. The Willcox; 6:30 p.m.; $125 to $150; 100 Colleton Ave., SW, Aiken; jullIardInaIken.com

concerT easy pIckIn’s band All-ages jam session to follow. Appling Opry; 7 p.m.; free; 5701 White Oak Rd, Appling

fesTIval TeXas nIghT aT The ajcc Dance lessons and authentic Texas BBQ (kosher). Augusta Jewish Community Center; 7 p.m.; $25 to $35; 898 Weinberger Way, Evans; 706.228.3636 augusTajcc.org

concerT The four horsemen of The apocalypse Classical transcriptions of composers such as Bach, Mozart, and Strauss accompany the pieces of PDQ Bach, Herman Jeurissen and Lowell Shaw. Symphony Orchestra Augusta show. Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center; 7:30 p.m.; $20; 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd.; 706.447.7652 soaugusTa.org

concerT choral neWcomers’ evenIng Columbia County Choral Society as begins rehearsals for the Apr. 26 performance of Arthur Honegger’s “King David.” First Baptist Church of Evans; 6:30 p.m.; free; 515 North Belair Rd.; 706.650.2311 ccchoralsocIeTy.org

hIsTory broWn bag hIsTory Talk “Remembering the Music Scene” by Don Rhodes. Bring a lunch; Lecture runs from 12:30 - 1 p.m. Free for members. Augusta Museum of History; 11:30 a.m.; $3; 560 Reynolds St.; 706.722.8454 augusTamuseum.org

TheaTre monTy pyThon’s “spamaloT” Bell Auditorium; 7:30 p.m.; $37 to $47; 712 Telfair St.; 877.4AUGTIX

sporTs all-area fooTball banQueT Local, high school football players from the 2-state area are recognized at this event, presented by the Augusta Sports Council and The Augusta Chronicle. The Legends Club; 6 p.m.; $30; 2701 Washington Rd.; 706.722.8326

arT arT aT lunch | reflecTIons on The rIver Tonya Bonitatibus of Savannah Riverkeeper and artist Philip Juras discuss the relationship between Augusta and the Savannah River. Lunch provided. Paid reservations are due Jan. 16. Morris Museum of Art; noon; $10 to $14; One Tenth St.; 706.724.7501 ThemorrIs.org

concerT keITh gehle, guITarIsT Covenant Presbyterian Church; 7:30 p.m.; free; 3131 Walton Way; 706.733.8102

concerT love’s fareWell Presented by Symphony Orchestra Augusta. First Baptist Church of Augusta; 7:30 p.m.; $10 to $45; 3500 Walton Way; 706.447.7652 soaugusTa.org

arT eXhIbITsjacob paul Gaartdensity Art; free; 1155 Broad St.; Ends January 31.

survIval of The mayan calendar Gaartdensity Art; free; 1155 Broad St.; Ends January 31.

refecTIons on WaTer In amerIcan paInTIng Ends Feb. 10. Morris Museum of Art; $3 to $5; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501

brIan rusT Brian is a sculptor of large-scaled sculpture and temporary installations as well as doing extensive work with drawing and collage. Runs from Jan. 10 to Feb. 28. Sacred Heart Cultural Center; free; 1301 Greene St.; 706.826.4713

ashlIn eXhIbIT Tyler Ashlin is a talented local teen on the move. YA Room on the 2nd Floor through February 2013. Augusta Headquarters Library; free; 823 Telfair St.; 706.821.2600

sundaysarT sunday skeTch skeTch in the galleries with materials supplied by the museum. The Morris Museum of Art; 2 p.m.; free; 1 10th St.; 706.724.7501 ThemorrIs.org

saTurdayshIsTory aIken hIsTorIc Tour Two-hour guided tour aboard a climate-controlled trolley. Reservations highly recommended. Aiken Visitors Center & Train Museum; 10 a.m.; 406 Park Ave. SE, Aiken; 803.642.7631

ouTdoors boyd pond park Boyd Pond Park; 7 p.m.; free; 373 Boyd Pond Road, Aiken; 803.642.7559

educaTIon duponT planeTarIum More than Meets the Eye explores the mysteries of outer space. Ruth Patrick Science Education Center; 9 p.m.; $1 to $4; 471 University Parkway, Aiken; 803.641.3654 rpsec.usca.edu

The Daily Planner is our selective guide to what is going on in the city during the next two weeks. If you WanT To be lIsTed: Submit information by email ([email protected]) or by mail (verge, P.O. Box 38, Augusta, GA 30903). Details of the event - date, time, venue address, telephone number and admission price - should be included. Listings included are accurate at press time, check with specific venues for further details.

+ tHURsdAY

1.10 + tUesdAY

1.15

+ fRidAY

1.18 + sAtURdAY

1.12

+ wedNesdAY

1.16

daily planner JANUARY 10-19 2013

+ fRidAY

1.11

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1.17

+ sAtURdAY

1.19


baH! HUmbUG!let’s kick off the New Year by talking about something old…VERY old...older than anyone

who’s even still alive. What comes to mind when you hear these words: Bah! Humbug! Deader than a doornail,

He’s an old Scrooge? Of course you think of the most overdone Christmas story of all time, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. This year I possibly ran into more versions of this show than ever before. At my church, I was involved in a production where the ghosts were angels and were mostly concerned with the well-being of the miser’s soul. The Augusta Players sang their way through the story. And then of course on television there was Mickey’s version of the tale and my personal favorite by the Jim Henson Company, “A Muppet Christmas Carol”.

And so after Christmas I thought my exposure to the classic and much over produced piece

was done for a year. Until I got the chance to travel and find yet another version: “An Improvised Christmas Carol”. I laughed my way through a Seattle company telling the story everyone knows with a few audience inspired twists. Scrooge was in the business of alien forensics, Tiny Tim had shingles and Scrooge didn’t even become nice after it was over.

The story was barely recognizable, but it was still there -- because everyone knows it -- a

story almost 200 years old that still entertains millions and millions of people every year. I can’t imagine that when Mr. Dickens penned the phrase, “Bah! Humbug!” he was thinking it would become iconic for centuries. But that’s why we keep producing new works, in hopes that we find something that connects with people…something that lasts.

Dickens was paid by the word, and many of our local artists do it only for the applause, but I

think the goal is the same. We want to find something new and creative that will make people remember our contribution.

So while perhaps none of you may ever coin a generational catchphrase, my hope is that in

the new year, you will support your local artists, be it in the theater, down artists’ row, or even on a street corner listening to a local musician. You never know where you’ll find inspiration that will last beyond a lifetime.

Know something happening in the local theater scene? Send it to us, and see your favorites featured in the Verge! Contact [email protected].

Wes hennIngs has been in the performing arts since he could walk, and since moving to Augusta has been in dozens of productions

with companies such as The Augusta Players, Fort Gordon Dinner Theater, Enopion Theater Company and the Augusta Opera, both on

stage and behind the scenes. By day, Wes is a technical director and media producer. Questions? Story Ideas? [email protected]

oNE-oN-oNE wItH FRaNK VIGNoLaVerge: Your great influence was Django Reinhardt. How did he most influence you?

Vignola: Through the way he would approach playing a melody. He would use a lot of vibrato; he would really attack the notes. He had a great respect for the melody because he would listen to Louis Armstrong records over the radio, and these hit songs, and he would learn them from the radio or records. To me, Louis Armstrong is the definition of jazz. Django Reinhardt was Europe’s biggest contribution to America’s art forms of jazz and blues, there’s no doubt about it. Because he came from French music, playing guitar and banjo behind French accordion players and singers, you hear that influence, as opposed to American players whose influence is traditional American music. So that had a lot to do with why I liked his style, the way he would use that ethnic French-style music and European sound in America’s songs.

Verge: “The way he would approach playing a melody.” Guitarists often go for speed, flash and everything they can do …

Vignola: Boring! It’s important to have your shtick and to have some speed and stuff that can impress people, because that’s part of entertaining, but at the same time, I think one of the reasons why jazz has gotten a bad name -- meaning you say to someone, “Let’s buy a ticket to hear some jazz,” and immediately they’re going to think, Is it Kenny G? Is it Dixieland music? Is it bebop? Is it this? Is it that? Then they think, The last time I heard jazz, it was boring; I couldn’t follow the melody. That has been not a good thing for jazz, because again, jazz, to me, is Louis Armstrong, the ultimate in entertainment and the ultimate in respect and being able to perform the great songs that have come from that era. George Gershwin, Irving Berlin -- they’re great melodies. How would you not want to play the melody to “Always,” and why would you want to play a bunch of fast scales?

At our shows, we try to pick famous melodies that people will know, and come up with new arrangements of them. It’s been a lot of fun to perform the music all over the world and also to have the common language of going to thirteen countries and having the audience singing the words to “Killing Me Softly” and everybody knows the song. It’s fun to play these songs that people know — Beethoven’s Fifth [Symphony], Simon and Garfunkel, classics like Hoagie Charmichael’s “Stardust.” Those songs never get old. What’s amazing, too, is as soon as we play the first four notes to Beethoven’s Fifth, everybody in the world, of all ages, knows what that song is going to be. To me, that’s a timeless melody.

by aLLIsoN RICHtER

behind the curtain

frank vignola

vibe

vibe... continued from page 15


seasonal bITes Post-HoLidAY LiGHteR fARe / PG 24

ask dr. karpweiGHt Loss PitfALLs / PG 24

beers locals lIkesAmPLe tHRee New bRews /PG 25

sHaNGRI-La – The SecreT’S OuT! see beLow foR stoRY

have you ever planned on going to Outback or Bonefish on a weekend night and gotten there to find wait times that just weren’t worth the wait? Well, I have

a fantastic solution! Located just beside Outback Steakhouse and just down the side walk from Bonefish Grill is Shangri-La Chinese Cuisine. Shangri-La is locally owned and is part of the Sho-Chin Restaurant Group. Their other locations are Sho-Chin’s Asian Kitchen in Evans and Shangri-La Gourmet Buffet in Martinez.

Shangri-La has been a local favorite for Chinese dining for more than 20 years. The restaurant was begun by Sho Chin Pearce, and it is now in the hands of her son, Kuan Kuo and his wife Susie. The couple is well-traveled and always brings new recipes home from places they visit. This keeps their menu fresh and offers something for everyone.

While I am no stranger to the menu at Shangri-La, my experience has been mostly with taking out and dining at home. This time, however, I took the family for a night out. We went on a Saturday night and were seated right away (unlike the folks waiting two hours for tables at Outback Steakhouse next door). The restaurant was a bit dark but was very clean and nicely decorated with white linen tablecloths and authentic paintings and antique pieces. The servers were friendly and very attentive.

The menu offers an array of soups, appetizers, seafood and Chef Special entrées, seafood, poultry, beef, pork and vegetables. Entrees range in price from $12 to $32; however, serving sizes are large enough for two people to share, so I was able to

... continued on page 25

*Breakfast LiteOne egg served with homemade grits or hash browns with one strip of bacon or ham or sausage link and two triangles of toast 3.79

*Silver FiveFive silver dollar sizedbuttermilk pancakes withone egg and one strip of bacon or ham or sausage link 3.99

*Rooty Jr.A half sized version of our signatureRooty Tooty. One egg, one strip ofbacon, one pork sausage link and one fruit-topped buttermilk pancake 4.29

*Two Egg BreakfastTwo eggs with two buttermilk pancakes and two bacon or ham strips or two sausage links 5.49

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first of all, Ron, Happy New Year! I can see from your question that you have made some New Year’s resolutions concerning weight loss. Beware, there is a lot of quackery out

there…people just out to make a buck from your weight. If you are overweight, there is no doubt that losing weight and getting back to a reasonable BMI (weight for your height), is extremely important. So, let me give you some “no-nonsense nutrition advice” about weight loss pitfalls.

Pitfall #1: Thinking that your weight is only related to the food you eat. It isn’t! The truth is that your weight is related to the way in which you LIVE YOUR LIFE. So, it is not just your food, but it is also your activity level, the people around you, your attitude toward food and toward your health, and many more aspects of your life. What that means is that if you are truly interested in changing your weight, you need to change your life, not just your food. I often tell a person not to ask me about food and weight until he or she has gone “to the mountain top” and meditated about living a healthy life. If this is not changed, then no permanent weight loss will occur.

Pitfall #2: Thinking that the way to lose weight is to go on a DIET. I tell people to take the word, “diet,” out of their vocabulary. Weight loss is a journey involving permanent changes in what you eat or drink, how you move, and your lifestyle attitudes and behaviors. On the other hand, the word, “diet” usually signifies, to most people, a temporary change in eating patterns to achieve a certain target weight. If you view your weight loss as a diet and not as a life-altering lifetime experience, you will absolutely gain the weight back…and more.

Pitfall #3: Thinking that your weight loss is something that only involves YOU. If you are trying to lose weight and all those around you are overweight, it is most likely that you will not succeed. When your social group, whether it’s your family or your friends or both…when you share a meal in a home, when you go out to eat, when you sit around like turtles on a Savannah River log and watch too much TV…you all are creating an overweight environment. In addition, many times, friends and family try, consciously or unconsciously, to sabotage weight loss plans and throw you off-track. Why? Your success only reminds them of their failures. So, how do get around this? Get new friends? Better yet, recruit at least two or three friends or family members to join you in your weight loss program. This will increase your chances of permanent weight loss by enlisting people in your culture, and you will be helping them out, too.

Pitfall #4: Losing weight too fast. Here is the bottom line; the SLOWER you lose weight, the better. I have written about this before. Yes, I know this can be frustrating, especially when you reach plateau in your weight loss journey. Slow weight loss is most often associated with permanent changes in lifestyle behaviors. Fast weight loss is often associated with irrational thinking about weight and “quick” solutions that are usually temporary. So, losing about one-half to one pound a week is fine.

Honestly, I could go on writing about pitfalls forever. However, here is the good news. We absolutely know what is needed to have a healthy diet, a healthy activity level and a healthy lifestyle. It is not a mystery. I have posted some excellent, FREE, sources on diet and nutrition information on my “AskDrKarp” Facebook page. And, remember, February is both “Heart Month” and “Nutrition Month” and, on behalf of Verge Magazine, I would be glad to come to your club, social group, church, temple or mosque (within a 25 mile radius of Augusta, GA) and help you start this cultural change (as my schedule permits; first-come, first-served). Message me on Facebook and we’ll see what we can work out.

dr. Warren karp is a professor emeritus at Georgia Health Sciences University. If you have a question you would like

answered in this colomn visit his Facebook page, facebook.com/askdrkarp

ask dr. karp

aRE tHEIR wEIGHt Loss pItFaLLs?

Ron, fRom The Sand hillS CommuniTy, aSkS…seasonal bites

happy New Year’s everyone! I hope the New Year is treating you well. If you’re like me and many other people across the country, you celebrate with traditional New Year’s Day fare...

pork and veggies prepared in not-so-healthy manners; black-eyed peas (for luck, of course) cooked with ham hocks, and cabbage (historically eaten for its health benefits) and collard greens (to bring riches) boiled with a touch of bacon fat for flavor. In an attempt to lighten the menu a little bit, as we resolve to healthier and more conscientious eating choices, I found a way to incorporate an old favorite with a new spin. We still get the “luck” from eating our peas on New Year’s Day, but we won’t pay for the fat for days after.

article by jennIfer prueTT

tRadItIoNaL FaRE wItH a HEaLtHy FLaIR

Fresh Black-eyed Pea saladINGREDIENTS:2 (15-ounce) cans black-eyed peas, drained1 (15-ounce) can white shoepeg corn, drained1 cup small grape tomatoes, chopped 1 cup chopped red bell pepper1 cup chopped green bell pepper2 to 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro2 to 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley1/4 cup chopped yellow onion1/4 cup chopped green onionitalian dressing to taste (recipe following)corn chips, for serving

dIRECtIoNscombine all ingredients and stir to mix. Add homemade italian dressing and

mix with veggies and herbs. Allow salad to marinate overnight. serve cold or room temperature with corn chip scoops or tortilla chip scoops.

ItalIan dressIngINGREDIENTS:1/2 cup white wine vinegar1/4 teaspoon sea salt1/4 teaspoon onion powder1/4 teaspoon sweet basil1/2 teaspoon oregano1 1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced1 tablespoon sugar1 cup canola or olive oil

dIRECtIoNscombine all ingredients in a small jar and shake to mix. make sure it is well

mixed before adding to the black-eyed Pea salad. Reserve any extra dressing for your favorite green salad.

Give this salad a try. You will not be disappointed. it is a nice, light salad that can be taken to parties or just enjoyed at home for a healthy, fresh afternoon snack. Happy, healthy eating in 2013.


feed my family of five for just at $50 (with leftovers for the next day’s lunch). We started with a vegetable spring roll appetizer. I have to say, without a doubt, that these are the best vegetable spring rolls I have ever eaten. There were so good, in fact, that I convinced two of my kids they wouldn’t like them so I wouldn’t have to share as much. They are a house favorite, made with fresh vegetables and beautifully presented atop a bed of cabbage. Writing about them makes me want to go out and get some now.

We chose four entrées to share – one beef, one chicken, one shrimp and one vegetarian. Our least favorite was the sweet and sour shrimp. On the menu it is described as lightly battered and fried with a lemon orange sauce. From that description I was expecting “lightly battered”; however, the batter was more of a heavy tempura. The lemon orange sauce, which from the description sounds very light, was also a little heavy. This was the only dish I wish I would have chosen differently. The shrimp was eaten, but much of the breading was left on the plate.

Our other dishes were all fantastic. The sesame chicken, which may seem a little “safe” to some, is in the running for the best I’ve ever had. The all white meat crispy-fried chicken is coated with a tangy sauce that is hard to beat. It is served with white steamed rice, which is a perfect compliment. The wok seared beef with mushrooms, another house specialty, was tasty as well. It’s made with thinly-sliced beef with mushrooms and green onions with black pepper and a light oyster sauce. The beef was tender enough to cut with a fork, and the mushrooms were fresh and perfectly cooked. Again, the steamed white rice complimented the flavor nicely.

Because mushrooms and green onions were the only vegetables in the other dishes, I ordered a vegetarian dish to accompany. The Buddha Delight, vegetables stir fried with soy sauce, was a great accompaniment to the meat and seafood dishes. The vegetables were fresh, and unlike overcooked vegetables from other Chinese restaurants where I’ve dined, were crisp and delicious.

I definitely recommend Shangri-La to all who enjoy fine Chinese cuisine, and I hear if you go during Masters Week in Augusta, you may run into the likes of Freddie Couples, Padraig Harrington and Davis Love III. Yep, apparently the secret’s out -- this place is a hit!

by sally panInI

new beginnings, gym memberships, yoga mats, promises to others…it always makes me laugh a little when I think of the concept of a New Year’s resolution. Yes, I make

them, as well, but like others I rarely keep them. So, this year I’m doing something different. I already belong to a gym (whether or not I actually go to it is a different question). I have no intentions of picking up yoga or losing weight. So here’s my New Year’s resolution: try three new beers every month and write a column about them in a local newspaper. Sounds fun, right? Well, let’s get going…

heavy seas letter of marque 2012 -- A one-to-two finger head decays ever so slowly as this light translucent amber brew sits. The aromas hint at citrus zest, yeast, honey and alcohol. The fruity tinges of the nose definitely find their way into the taste along with an alcohol sweetness that gets a bit sweeter as the glass warms. This is a Tripel Wit style, so the yeast keeps your tongue from being overcome by the sweeter aspects. So overall I’d say this is a well-balanced approach to a wit beer and would do well in any season and with most meals. Nicely done, Heavy Seas!

Affligem Tripel -- Brewed in Belguim at the Brouwerij De Smedt (say that five times fast), this authentic brew actually goes nicely in a wine glass (or plastic Masters cup if you’re in a bind). The appearance is clean and orange with a one finger head that decays more quickly than you’d expect. The nose conveys bread, yeast, a subtle sweetness and just a hint of dried fruit. The mouthful is everything you hope for in a Belgian Tripel. There’s a touch of bitterness that offsets the sweetness just enough, and as with the nose, sourdough is present in the background throughout. Definitely try this beer!

red and White -- Another fine product from the Dogfish Head Brewery (the only thing I know of that exists in Delaware). This witbier is actually brewed with orange peel, and it is present from nose to swallow. Interestingly, it’s also fermented with the use of pinot noir juice. So it’s no surprise that slightly tart fruit is present on the tongue (along with a nice yeasty tinge, floral notes and spices). Overall, this beer has an exceptional drinkability and a remarkable savor, and I’d recommend it as an appetizer in and of itself.

These and more can be found at Aficionados on Eighth Street Downtown.

ben casella has tried the yoga program on his Nintendo Wii Fit. It hurt a little and brought him no inner peace. So, he quit.

beers locals like

soNIC dRIVE-IN FRaNCHIsEE CapItaLIZEs oN tHE bbQ CRaZE IN CsRa! the franchisee of sonic at 498 fury’s ferry Road flipped his Sonic into a new concept -- Roadhouse Rib Palace. sonic moved into the bi-Lo plaza years back after closing a pair of its long-running restaurants on washington Road at davis Road and on washington Road at Alexander drive.

Roadhouse will serve chopped pork, bbQ chicken,

brisket and big Roadhouse sandwiches in the $6 range, and dinners and samplers in the $8 to $20 range. there will be appetizers, baked potatoes, sides\salads, kids’ meals and grilled items like burgers and hot dogs.

the franchisee of sonic will take advantage of the drive-thru to add a unique touch to a bbQ restaurant. To find out more call 706.869.0084 or visit RoadhouseRibPalace.com.

by neIl gordon

feeding the family... continued from page 23

food QualITy

servIce

envIronmenT


neW year, New YoU?

here’s To your healThRAisiNG fUNds foR Good cAUses / PG 28

ab sporTsLocAL Acc bAsKetbALL stANdoUt / PG 30

lIfe face fIrsTtHe JoYs of PUPPies / PG 31

Ihad a friend ask me a couple of days ago if I had big plans for celebrating the arrival of the New Year. Truth be told, my wife and I prefer a quiet evening at home to welcome the New

Year as opposed to a rowdy public celebration.

The question however did cause me to think back over some of the New Year’s celebrations I’ve experienced. One of my favorite memories was from just after high school (yes, many years ago now). A buddy of mine and I connected with a church youth group from a rural community 15 or 20 miles from us. That New Year’s Eve we met at the church for a time of worship, “praying in” the New Year before playing games, bowling all night and wrapping things up with big breakfast.

So we’re here again, at the beginning of a new year. So what difference does it make? The reality is that we can easily stay the same for another year, or we can choose to ask God to give us the strength and wisdom to make changes that will improve our lives and the lives of those we’re in relationship with.

I heard Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life (read it or get the app if you haven’t yet), in a television interview not long ago. The words he shared that day personally challenged me, and I believe they’ll touch you as well.

Rick says there are three fundamental questions we each need to answer: 1) Intention: What is my purpose? 2) Existence: Why am I alive? 3) Significance: Does

my life matter?

These are questions that deserve careful thought and consideration. Our answers will have a profound impact on the directions we take in our lives as well as the imprint we’ll leave on those we’ve touched after our lives are done!


by stEVE swaNsoN, waFJ GENERaL maNaGER


waLtoN ExpaNsIoN CERtIFIEd UNdER ENtERpRIsE GREEN CommUNItIEs

An expansion of Walton Rehabilitation Health System’s Planer Mill Village senior apartment complex in Harlem is the first multi-family project in Columbia County to be certified under Enterprise Green Communities (EGC) -- and only the third such project to be certified in the state of Georgia.

Enterprise Green Communities is an independent program certifying green

building practices for affordable, multi-family housing developers. Similar to LEED (Leadership in Enterprise and Environmental Design) green designation, EGC is distinct in its focus on bringing the benefits of green building to affordable housing developments.

Comprehensive criteria within EGC includes integrative design, site improvement, water conservation, energy efficiency, location and neighborhood fabric, materials beneficial to the environment, healthy living environment and operations and maintenance. The Planer Mill expansion meets EGC’s criteria through: preservation of greenspace, certification under EnergyStar building standards, designated recycling area for residents and water conservation.

“As we move into the future, it will become more and more important to be ‘green’ in all aspects of life,” said Beth Miller, Vice President of Walton Community Services, part of WRHS. “The Enterprise Green Communities criteria deliver significant health, economic and environmental benefits to our families and residents.”

“We are pleased to support Enterprise Green Communities certification as a responsible and progressive approach for our residential settings,” said Dennis Skelley, President and CEO of WRHS.

Construction on the project has begun, with a target completion date of April 2013.

doNatIoN to HELp CaNCER patIENts at FUtURE LydIa pRoJECt HoUsE

While many women battling cancer are surrounded by their friends and family for support, that’s not the case for all. That’s where the Lydia Project comes in to help. Once construction is complete, The Daksha Chudgar Lydia House will be a place of refuge for women to stay who are undergoing treatment for cancer but may not have the ability to do so because of high fuel and lodging

costs, or the lack of transportation.

The Lydia Project is a non-profit charity begun by a group of Augusta businesswomen in 2003. The project was named for Lydia, who appears just briefly in the

Bible (Acts16:14-15). She was a successful businesswoman in the trade of purple cloth. Using her gifts, Lydia extended a hand to those in need.

The Lydia Project and Doctors Hospital held a special check presentation on December 19 at The Daksha Chudgar Lydia House – 1369 Interstate Parkway, Augusta, Georgia – where a check for $1,200 was presented.

The Daksha Chudgar Lydia House was named after OB/GYN, Daksha Chudgar, MD wife of Doctors Hospital physician, Bipin Chudgar, MD, also an OB/GYN. After a 20-month battle with cancer, she passed away in 2009 at the age of 57.

RadIotHoN RaIsEs RECoRd-bREaKING $227,000

In June 2010 Jeremy and Nikki Taylor’s 3-year-old daughter, Emma, was admitted to the GHS Children’s Medical Center for what appeared to be dehydration. Emma entered a semi-comatose state, and the family spent over a month at the children’s hospital. From there, Emma spent time in rehabilitation in Atlanta.

After nearly two years of examinations and tests, Emma was finally diagnosed with mitochondrial disease, which among other things, cause damage to the cells of the brain, heart, liver, skeletal muscles, kidneys and the endocrine and respiratory systems. In addition to seizures, Emma has muscle weakness that necessitates a walker. Unfortunately, the disorder has no cure,

so she will receive lifelong care at the Children’s Medical Center.

Dozens of stories like Emma’s were shared during the weekend fundraiser for the GHS Children’s Hospital.

The 12th annual Radiothon, hosted by WBBQ and KISS, is one of the hospital’s largest fundraisers, helping the not-for-profit GHS Children’s Medical Center to provide specialized care for children and families across the Southeast. The 2012 total was $226,978, $65,000 more than was raised in 2011 and the highest amount raised during Radiothon since it began. New to the Radiothon this year was the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital Race to 50K. The Taylors and three other patient families volunteered to help raise $5,000 each in the weeks leading up to Radiothon using Facebook and other social media and communication tools.

Compiled from Press Releases By jennIfer prueTT

here’s to your health valuesHeRe’s to YoUR HeALtH is PReseNted bY wALKeR cHiRoPRActic ANd RiGHt At Home. PLeAse Review tHeiR Ads beLow ANd UtiLiZe tHeiR seRvices

LIVING LoNGER? The Senior Boom is officially

upon us! In 1776, the average life expectancy was 35 years of age. In 1880, it was 45, and today it is 75-plus years and growing. In fact, projections are that by 2020 there will be more than 7 million seniors over the age of 85!

The increase in life expectancy brings with it an increased need for family caregivers. Here are some interesting facts about caregiving: 75 percent of caregivers are women with an average age of 57; 39 percent have children at home; 63 percent are employed elsewhere; and one-third has lost time from work caring for a family member.

Since the generation who’s traditionally cared for seniors is now working outside the home, families are exploring other options. When exploring these options, there are several things to consider: their lifestyle demands; their physical, mental and spiritual health); and, of course, the financial situation. It’s important to consult with an elder law attorney who specializes in wills, trusts and estates.

Options to consider include home care, assisted/independent living communities, nursing homes, adult daycare, hospice, the Alzheimer’s Association, Meals on Wheels and senior centers. One of the best ways to research options is asking friends and family for recommendations. After identifying the top three choices, it is imperative to schedule a visit to the locations or agencies to see how they are operated. Most agencies will do home visits as well.

Once the decision is made and loved ones are comfortable with it, the role as a family caregiver becomes less stressful.

kaThy crIsT is president/co-owner of Right at Home. Right at Home serves the CSRA by providing non-medical home care for seniors and adults with disabilities. To learn more about Right

at Home, call them at 803-278-0250 or visit rightathome-csra.com.

Doctors Hospital was proud to donate $1,200 to The Lydia Project for The

Dashka Chudgar Lydia House. Representatives from 104.3 WBBQ and KISS 96.3, along

with patients, families and staff of the GHS Children’s Medical Center, celebrate $226,978 in donations.

1/15/13


education connectionedUcAtioN bRoUGHt to YoU bY: PARtNeRs iN AcHievemeNt

asU HELd FINaL CommENCEmENt

Augusta State University held a fall commencement ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 20, in the Christenberry Fieldhouse. This was the final commencement held by Augusta State before consolidating with Georgia Health Sciences University in January 2013.

More than 400 candidates

for graduation participated in the ceremony.

The commencement address was be given by Judy Woodruff, a graduate of Academy of Richmond County, who served as and anchor and senior correspondent for CNN for 12 years. Woodruff, a broadcast journalist, has covered politics and other news for more than three decades at CNN, NBC and PBS. After returning to the NewsHour in 2007 as a senior correspondent, she now regularly co-anchors the newly redesigned PBS NewsHour.

For 12 years, Woodruff served as anchor and senior correspondent for CNN, anchoring the weekday political program Inside Politics. Woodruff also played a central role in the network’s political coverage and other major

news stories. She is a founding co-chair of the International Women’s Media Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting and encouraging women in communication industries worldwide.

CoNGREssmaN baRRow VIsIts paINE CoLLEGE

On December 10, 2012, Paine College President Dr. George C. Bradley welcomed Congressman John Barrow to tour the College’s new Health Education Activities Learning (HEAL) Complex. Congressman Barrow is the first elected federal official to tour the new multi-million dollar HEAL Complex.

“The HEAL Complex is a great addition to the Paine College community and our entire region,” said Congressman Barrow. “Paine College’s growth called for this new facility and I have no doubt it’ll be put to good use by the students. Folks in the area, as well, will benefit from this new facility, and I look forward to its opening in the New Year.”

This contemporary, sprawling, 43,000 sq. ft. structure is the new home for the Paine College Athletic Department and houses classrooms, laboratories, meeting and conference rooms and a health and wellness facility.

“The HEAL Complex will offer opportunities for growth, increase retention rates, facilitate beneficial partnerships with the

community, enhance the learning environment for our students,” stated Dr. Bradley.

Dr. Bradley and Congressman Barrow also discussed the impact of the U.S. Department of Energy award of nearly $3 million made to the college that is designed to support academic programs and research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

UsC aIKEN RaNKEd IN top 10 FoR CampUs saFEty

StateUniversity.com, the leading website for college information, has released its second annual list of the safest colleges and universities in the United States. The Safest School findings are based on incidents of campus crime as reported by campus safety officials. The University of South Carolina Aiken was ranked in the top ten, at number eight, in South Carolina for campus safety with a rating of 93.28 percent.

As part of the Safest School ranking, StateUniversity.com analyzed crime statistics for 450 colleges and universities, and assigned a safety ranking to each school. Safety rankings are determined based on the number of occurrences of aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, theft/larceny, motor vehicle theft, forcible rape and murder on campus, and then are weighed based on the probability of each incident happening to each student since naturally larger campuses would be expected to have a higher number of total incidents. Violent crime is given more weight in the ranking system, and it has a greater effect on the safety rating than non-violent crime such as theft.

The safety rankings are the latest in a series of ranking lists compiled by StateUniversity.com, where USC Aiken received four out of five stars for the entire school in USC Aiken’s individual school ranking.

Compiled from Press Releases By jennIfer prueTT

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ab’s sports lessons

FoRmER LaNEy staR battLING tHE bEst IN tHE aCCsimply looking at statistics doesn’t tell of the importance of

Rod Hall to the success of the Clemson Basketball Team. The 6’1”, 210 lb. Sophomore Point Guard is only averaging 6.4 points per game, but that number does little to illustrate what Hall means to the Tigers. His scoring production may shock those who followed Hall during his prep days at Laney. Hall was a four-year starter for the Wildcats, and left Augusta as one of the most highly decorated prep players in CSRA History. As a junior he averaged 21.9 points per game and was named Region 3-AA Player of the Year, the Augusta Chronicle’s Georgia Area Player of the Year and First Team All-State. That season he led Laney to a 29-3 record and a spot in the State final Four. He followed that with a

sensational senior campaign in 2010-11, as he poured in 24.7 points per contest and once again led Laney to the State Final Four. The Wildcats went 29-2 and Hall once again garnered All-State Honors. He picked up Region 3-AA Player of the Year and the Augusta Chronicle’s Georgia Player of the Year award for the second straight year. As good as he was on the hardwood many colleges wanted Hall to don a pair of shoulder pads at the next level. As a senior, he hauled in 40 passes for 1,155 yards and 12 touchdowns, and he was a First Team All-State selection. As impressive as his stats and awards were at Laney, the most important thing Hall did was win. In his four years as Laney’s Point Guard, Hall led the Wildcats to a 96-21 record, including an astonishing 58-5 record over his final two seasons. Also, during those last two years Laney was 23-0 versus CSRA competition. So it came as no surprise that Hall was offered scholarships from several high-profile programs. In the end he chose the Clemson Tigers.

Last season, Hall entered Clemson as the lesser known of a five-player recruiting class considered to be one of the finest in school history. In pre-season camp he turned heads by posting a 38 inch vertical jump and led all of the freshmen in virtually every workout category measured by the Tigers. By the end of the year it was clear the former Laney star could play at the highest level. While he only averaged four points

per game, he played in all 31 of Clemson’s games and started in nine. He also led the highly-regarded freshman class in minutes played and impressed coaches with his strength and defensive ability.

This season Hall has taken over the starting point guard job for Brad Brownell’s Tigers. While still more of a pass-first defensive-minded guard, he has shown flashes of the scorer that netted 33 points to claim MVP honors of the 2011 CSRA high School All-Star Game. On December 2 versus arch-rival South Carolina, Hall scored 15 points and led the Tigers to a 64-55 win. For the season, Hall has started all 11 games for the 7-4 Clemson squad. He is second on the team in minutes played and is averaging 6.4 points per game. He is also averaging 1.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He has only turned the ball over 17 times in 11 games, giving him an assist to turnover ratio that is fourth in the entire ACC.

What Hall has done in just a year and a half of college ball is impressive. And doing it in the ACC says a lot about the talent this former CSRA Star has. I would not be surprised if Hall is among the ACC’s, and perhaps the nation’s elite point guards before his career is over.

ashley broWn known to listeners as AB, is the Sports

Director for Beasley Broadcasting in Augusta. He’s producer of the Austin Rhodes Show and host of

CSRA Sports Hour. AB’s quick wit and encyclopedic sports knowledge have made him the leader in sports

broadcasting in the CSRA.Email [email protected]

values

Rick also made a couple of other points I personally found challenging (I hope you do too!). It’s definitely more food for thought:

“Your value as a person has nothing to do with your valuables.” “We are not a product of our past and don’t have to be a prisoner of it.” Rick went on to say, “I believe we are often envious of others and what they have and

become trapped as we try hard to get people to like us. Envy says, ‘I must be like you to be happy’. People pleasing tell us, ‘I must be like you to be happy’. These two distractions cause us to be detoured from what God intends for us to be. We are all originals.” He finished with this statement: “If you live for the approval of others you will die by their criticism and you will miss the purpose God has for your life!”The beginning of a New Year is a natural time to think about from where we’ve come, where we’re are, where we’re going and how we’re planning to get there! I’ve approached New Years in many different ways over the years. I’ve decided that instead of coming up with a long list of resolutions, I will set ONE goal, and I will seek God’s help in accomplishing that goal. My goal for 2013 can be summarized with the words of Psalm 90:12: “Teach us to use wisely all the time we have.”How about you? What ONE thing do you hope to accomplish or achieve in 2013? Yes, you can make your life all about you (That’s EASY to do!); or you can choose to live swimming against the cultural current of self-satisfaction and seek God’s plans and purposes for your life. This can be a year that far exceeds your thoughts, ideas and expectations. Let God lead the way; after all, He’s the only one who can see yesterday, today and forever right now. I’d call that real perspective.I pray you’ll make 2013 a joyous New Year!

sTeve sWanson serves as the Station Manager of Family Friendly 88.3 WAFJ. He’s invested 30+ Years in the world of radio and was named the Christian Music Broadcasters Program Director of the year 2009 and

2011. He and his wife Susie make their home in North Augusta.For comments or story ideas email [email protected]

valuesyour faithcoNtiNUed fRom PAGe 27


I stared into my laundry room aghast. Our puppy Starla spends her nights confined to the laundry room in case of accidents. I wasn’t sure what to call the scene that lay before me

but “accident” wasn’t up to the job. Piles of puppy waste covered the floor. It looked as if she’d been in there for a week rather than overnight.

“Morning,” my husband Brian shuffled past me in the hallway. Suddenly the odor hit him. He clamped a hand over his mouth and gagged.

“Holy crap,” he said staring past me.“Literally,” I replied.“They could use that as chemical warfare.” He fanned the air in front of his nose.“You could put in a call to Homeland Security.” I suggested. “They’re like puppy land mines!” he cried.“Yeah except the element of surprise is lost since you can sniff out where they are.” I said.

“I’m taking her to the vet.”“Vet?” he retorted. “You’d better take her to a priest. That’s not natural.” I ignored him and went to the bedroom to dress. “You mark my words,” he yelled after me, “this is going to require something stronger than

modern medicine.”“And the laundry room floor is going to require something stronger than that spray we

bought. You better get out the bleach.” I suggested.“I better get out a hazmat suit.” He muttered. I took Starla to the vet and returned home later with prescriptions in hand. “The good news is that she feels fine.” I

told him. “She played with all the other dogs in the waiting room even the Rottweiler that tried twice to eat her. When we went to the exam room she sniffed out the cookies and helped herself to two before I could stop her. After the vet examined her she escaped us all and dashed into the back of the clinic where only staff goes. Finding her again wasn’t a problem though; we just followed the cries of ‘Hi puppy!’ and lured her back to the exam room with a treat.”

“Sounds routine,” he said.“Yes, all very normal except of course for

the bad news. She has a bacterial infection and the vet bill was $200.” I tried to mutter the last part of the sentence but he heard me acutely.

“Why was it so expensive?” he raged.“Hey, holy water doesn’t come cheap,” I shot

back.

nora blIThe is the author of Door In Face, a humor blog about all things that lay you flat. Read more at DOORINFACE.COM.

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