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Shows of Love

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Augusta Symphony will offer valentines to everyone with the concerts it has scheduled this month.

Violinist Anastasia Petrunina will join the orchestra as a guest artist for Sounds From the Heart on Saturday, February 8. The concert will include Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1, Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and Ravel’s Boléro. Tickets are $27 to $79.

In a change of pace, symphony-goers can rock to The Music of Tina Turner on Thursday, February 20. This concert will feature performances of the star’s mega hits like “Proud Mary” and “River Deep, Mountain High” sung by Broadway star and American Idol finalist LaKisha Jones as well as Matt Johnson and Nova Y. Payton. Tickets are $49 to $102.

Both shows begin at 7:30 p.m. at Miller Theater. For more information, visit augustasymphony.com.

Made in the Shade

People

A generous giveaway is helping to restore the area’s tree canopy after Hurricane Helene.

It’s amazing what can happen when people put their heads together to do something for the greater good.

As the recovery process has dragged on since Hurricane Helene struck in September, Jordan Trotter Commercial Real Estate employees decided to brainstorm about ways to help the community bounce back from the devastation of the storm. They came up with the idea to give away two trees per family in an initiative called “Rooting for Augusta: Restoring Augusta’s Tree Canopy.”

“Our two partners, Troy Jordan and Dennis Trotter, really value the community and giving back to the community,” says Riley Morris, marketing associate. The company partnered with GoBuyPlants and Four Seasons Landscaping Inc. for the giveaway.

Initially planned as a two-hour event that was scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Saturday, January 11, all of the trees – 700 in total – were distributed in an hour and 15 minutes.

People started showing up for the drive-through event in front of the Family Y track on Wheeler Road at 7:15 a.m., Riley says, but they didn’t start giving out trees until 9 a.m. as scheduled.

They loaded trees into truck beds, back seats of cars or trunks.

“People came in everything from trailers to Honda Accords,” says Morris. “It didn’t matter what kind of vehicle they had. We made it work.”

The giveaway included native tree species such as magnolias, cedars, red and white oaks, sycamores and elms.

“Our employees went car-to-car and took everyone’s tree order,” says Morris. “The magnolia and cedar trees went really fast. The red oaks and white oaks went right after them. Even though two trees won’t replace the 20 trees that people might have lost, you have to start somewhere.”

The giveaway not only was designed to help restore Augusta’s tree canopy. The event also was a community-driven effort to replant, revitalize and regrow the landscape for future generations.

“Everyone lost a lot in the storm. Some people lost their homes or cars,” Morris says. “There was so much devastation, and everyone was looking for some glimmer of hope. We all want to see the CSRA restored to what it once was.”

The real estate company also is considering holding another tree giveaway in the future.

“I think it turned out better than we ever could have imagined,” says Morris. “We’ve had great feedback, but we would like to hear from the community to see if this is something they would like for us to do again.”

Ohio Players by The Black Keys

Listen To This

The Black Keys are back, and they’ve brought more swagger than a vintage leather jacket at a Midwest thrift store.

With Ohio Players, their latest release, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney remind us why they’re the kings of gritty blues-rock while tossing in enough surprises to keep things interesting.

Think of this album as a musical casserole: hearty, comforting and with a few unexpected ingredients to spice things up. It’s the kind of record that sounds like it’s been playing on a jukebox in a roadside diner for decades, waiting for you to stumble upon it.

From the first note of “This Is Nowhere,” the album’s opening track, you’re dropped straight into the smoky dive bars and backroads of Ohio.

Auerbach’s guitar snarls like a junkyard dog, while Carney’s drumming stomps through the track like it’s wearing steel-toed boots. It’s the kind of song that makes you want to roll down your windows and drive nowhere in particular, preferably on a road with lots of potholes for added authenticity.

Tracks like “Don’t Let Me Go” and “Beautiful People” mix their signature grit with gospel-tinged backing vocals and a vibe that’s equal parts Sunday morning redemption and Saturday night chaos.

Ohio Players is a record for the dreamers, the drifters and anyone who’s ever found solace in a dusty vinyl or a crackling radio signal from the middle of nowhere.

The Keys have delivered a collection that’s equal parts nostalgia and innovation — a love letter to the music that shaped them. It’s proof they’re still capable of bringing the heat —which we could all use right now.

– Chris Rucker

Property Damage Assessment

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Columbia County’s Chief Appraiser, Morgan Aune, urges property owners affected by Hurricane Helene to report any damage to their homes to the county.

As part of the county’s annual property valuation process, Aune emphasizes the importance of residents contacting the assessor’s office to ensure accurate damage assessments.

While the county has conducted initial assessments, some homes may have been missed due to inaccessibility or unseen damage.

Property owners are encouraged to reach out if their property was affected by the storm, particularly if it has not yet been assessed. Providing estimates from contractors or insurance adjusters also will assist in determining accurate property values.

To report damage, residents can visit the tax assessor’s office at 630 Ronald Reagan Drive, Building C, First Floor; call the office at (706) 312-7474; or email assessor@columbiacountyga.gov.

The tax assessor’s office will continue to assess properties until late February or mid-March.

AU – FBI Partnership

LIFE + STYLE

Augusta University’s Career Services recently partnered with the FBI to host the FBI Collegiate Academy for students from AU, Paine College, the University of South Carolina Aiken and Augusta Tech.

Of the 50 students who enrolled in the four-week 12-hour educational program, 43 of them completed the course. Nineteen of the graduates were AU students (pictured above), and AU was the only institution with a 100% student retention rate.

The academy covered topics including forensic accounting, domestic terrorism, operations and leadership, cybercrime, violent crimes against children/human trafficking, drugs and gang activity, active shooter training and employment pathways.

House Love by Patric Richardson

Literary Loop

Discover the joy (yes, joy) of cleaning with this cheery guide to tidying up and turning your house into a home.

Patric Richardson is known as “The Laundry Evangelist,” but his love for household chores extends far beyond the laundry room. His newest book, House Love, is his sunny guide to freshening up every inch of the house — from the entryway to the attic, the backyard to the bedroom.

In it, Richardson shares his best design inspiration, DIY projects and cleaning tips so you can fall in love with your home all over again — or for the very first time.

His book also grants you permission to shake things up. Keep bath salts in a cookie jar? Sure. Display a surprising mishmash of pillows? You bet. Discover your personal design style? He helps you do that, too.

Plus, the cleaning genius shares lots of expert advice like which three cleaning tools are worth splurging on and how you can create a powerful and antibacterial cleaning spray with lemon and thyme.

Complete with playlists, recipes and step-by-step instructions for cleaning every type of room, House Love brightens up life’s most common chores. You’ll learn new ways to transform your home with Patric’s stories and humor guiding you every step of the way.

Red Kettle Generosity

LIFE + STYLE

Through the generosity of donors, the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign was able to help a number of area residents during the holiday season.

The Salvation Army served more than 62,000 meals, including 5,000 served during Hurricane Helene relief efforts; helped 125 individuals transition from homelessness to permanent housing and provided utility assistance to 340-plus families.

In addition, more than 1,300 children received gifts through the nonprofit organization’s Angel Tree donation distribution program.

Funds raised through the campaign also sustain vital programs at the Center of Hope, where individuals and families in crisis receive shelter, meals and life-changing casework.

Neighborhood Champion

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Augusta Locally Grown has been recognized by Bank of America as a Neighborhood Champion for providing access to healthy food and nutrition education.

The nonprofit organization is receiving a $50,000 grant over two years, which will support the opening of a new Agricultural Innovation and Education Center where it can expand current programming and improve services.

Augusta Locally Grown supports small farms and gardeners by making their all-natural, locally-grown, sustainably-grown fresh foods available for sale in the local community.

Pictured front row, from left: Diane Kerekanich, Augusta Locally Grown development director; Rebecca van Loenen, Augusta Locally Grown executive director; and Marissa Smith, Bank of America Aiken/Augusta senior vice president. Back row: Mick Ankrom, Bank of America Aiken/Augusta executive market sponsor and global compliance and operational risk executive; Ora Parish, Bank of America Aiken/Augusta president.

We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida

Literary Loop

This Japanese best-seller, due to be published in 17 languages and now available in English, is a set of interconnected stories that revolve around the mysterious, tucked away Kokoro Clinic for the Soul in Kyoto. Only those who are struggling and genuinely need help can find and enter the clinic to receive “treatment” in the form of cats prescribed as medication.

Patients often are puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they “take” their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound transformations in their lives.

A disheartened businessman finds unexpected joy in physical labor, a young girl navigates the complexities of school cliques, a middle-aged man struggles to stay relevant at work and home, a hardened bag designer learns to be kinder to herself, and a geisha finds herself unable to move on from the memory of her lost cat.

As the clinic’s patients navigate their inner turmoil and seek resolution, their feline companions lead them toward healing, self-discovery and newfound hope. Throughout the pages of this quirky, charming, uplifting novel that provides insight into Japanese culture, the power of the human-animal bond is revealed. Yes, a cat a day keeps the doctor away…

“A heartwarming testimony to the power of the human-animal connection, best read with your own pet (stuffed works too, in a pinch) snuggled up by your side,” says People.

Bravo!

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Augusta Symphony will continue the celebration of its 70th anniversary season with its gala, A Night at the Opera, on Saturday, January 25.

From Rossini to Puccini, librettos will be presented by acclaimed opera performers Indra Thomas, Timothi Williams, Gennard Lombardozzi, Jeremiah Sanders and Sarah Lawrence, who will serve as the master of ceremonies for the evening.

The black-tie affair begins at 6:30 p.m. with champagne, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Conducted by Maestro Dirk Meyer, the performance begins at 7:30 p.m.

Afterward, concert-goers are invited to stay for an open bar, coffee and desserts at the Encore Gala Celebration. In addition, they can dance the night away in the Knox Music Institute and continue the fun with photo opportunities and other activities in the arcade and theater.

As the sole fundraising event of the year, the gala plays a vital role in sustaining the Symphony’s mission.

All tickets, which range in price from $145 to $200, include tiered seating, light hors d’oeuvres, the Encore Gala Celebration, dessert and coffee, and a commemorative program.

A pre-concert VIP reception will feature live music, an artist meet and greet, heavy hors d’oeuvres, food stations, open bar, specialty cocktails and valet parking.

For more information, visit augustasymphony.com.

Later, Gator

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If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to get fit (and really, who doesn’t have that on their to-do list?), then a good way to get started is to run in a 5K or 10K like a gator is chasing after you.

Phinizy Swamp Nature Park will hold its Later Gator 5K/10K Race in its natural ecosystem from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, January 25. Medals and shirts will be available while the supply lasts.

Group rates are available for 10-plus runners, and ages 9 and under can run the 5K for free if they are accompanied by an adult who is registered for the race.

Costs vary per age group and race. For more information, visit phinizycenter.com.

Oh Smokey by Clem Snide

Listen To This

Stepping into a new year with a bow tied on 2024 — a year of incredible highs and literal whirlwind lows — music is the tried and true companion that ushers in hope with fuel to re-energize and revitalize.

And with perfect timing, Oh Smokey, the latest record from veteran alt-folk singer-songwriter Eef Barzelay, aka Clem Snide, has hit the shelves to be the ultimate sonic bobsled into the New Year.

Oh Smokey is Barzelay’s signature brand of melodic and melancholy genius, but this isn’t just a sad-boy strum fest. It’s a deeply human exploration of life’s messiest corners, where God, death, heartbreak and hope all bump shoulders and share a drink. If this album were a person, it’d be the guy at the party in the corner with the best stories — slightly tragic, endlessly fascinating and occasionally laugh-out-loud funny.

The album opens with “Free,” a rollicking acoustic thrum that announces its intentions with the command: “Call all the sunbeams.” This is no gloomy dirge. It’s a rallying cry, a reminder that even when you’re knee-deep in existential mud, there’s always light to chase. Swaths of electric guitar and a backup chorus seemingly plucked straight from Leonard Cohen’s imagination make this track soar.

The rest of the album balances tenderness with wit. Sure, Barzelay describes these as a dip into the emotional hot tub, but that’s only half the story.

Beneath the groove is a sly, mischievous hopefulness — a reminder that while life may be messy, uncertain and occasionally heartbreaking, there’s always room for sunbeams to break through the clouds.

So, here’s to 2025 — slow paces, tender hearts and the hope that lies just beyond.

– Chris Rucker

Culinary Chops

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Helms College has been named one of the top culinary schools in the United States in the 2025 Niche.com rankings.

Ranked No. 8 nationally, Helms College now stands as the premier culinary institution in Georgia and one of the most respected in the Southeast.

At Helms College, students experience hands-on training that transforms classroom theories into practical skills in area dining and event locations.

Radiothon Results

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The local community raised $255,612 for Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia, Children’s Miracle Network hospital, in its 24th annual iHeart Media Cares for Kids Radiothon in December.

During the event, iHeart Media donated the 72 hours of airtime to the cause while three of its radio stations – WBBQ 104.3, 96.3 Kiss FM, and 105.7 The Bull – and WRDW News 12/NBC 26 broadcast live from the hospital.

In addition, some of the patients who have been treated at the hospital shared their stories with DJs and reporters throughout the event.

“The children’s hospital could not survive without the support of the community. I’m just so grateful for everyone’s support,” says Dr. Valera Hudson, pediatrician-in-chief of Wellstar Children’s. “No children’s hospital thrives without philanthropy; 100% of the money that’s raised is used directly to help the children we take care of here. All of the funds stay right here at the Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia.”

Proceeds from Radiothon finance summer camp experiences for children. The fundraiser also allows for purchases of comfort items like Zaky Hugs, which mimics the warmth and security of a parent’s touch for babies in the NICU; red wagons to transport young patients around the hospital; and sensory toys for children with autism.

Icy Adventure

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It’s time for ice skating and light displays, fair food concessions and a fire pit.

Get ready to lace up those skates — nothing says holiday fun like spending time on the ice. Kicking off its seventh year, Evans On Ice will open this year’s season on Thursday, November 14 at Evans Towne Center Park and run daily through Monday, January 20.

“I think people are going to want to do something to bring the family together and have a little bit of normalcy this year,” says Mike Boerner, who co-owns Evans On Ice with his wife, Christine.

When school is in session, hours of operation will be 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. Friday, noon until 10 p.m. Saturday and noon until 9 p.m. Sunday. Hours will be noon until 10 p.m. every day, including holidays, when school is out.

Tickets, which include skate rentals and unlimited rink time, are $14 on weekdays and $17 on weekends and holidays. Season passes cost $140 per person, but avid skaters should get them early. “We sell out of season passes every year,” Boerner says.

In addition, Evans On Ice will hold special hours for homeschooled students from 10 a.m. until noon on Tuesday, November 19; Friday, December 6; Tuesday, December 17 and Thursday, January 9.

For those who are new to skating, Evans On Ice will offer a four-lesson package for $100. The 30-minute lessons will begin at 9 a.m. on four Saturdays – November 16 and 23 and December 7 and 14. The student to instructor ratio is 8:1, and sessions cover the fundamentals of ice skating.

A tent with seating for 24 guests also will be available to rent for private parties in two-hour time slots. Hosts must provide their own food and beverages, and ice skating tickets are not included in the tent rental.

If all the action works up your appetite, Evans On Ice will offer fair food concessions such as hamburgers, hot dogs and fries – with a twist this year.

“We will have a permanent food truck onsite, and we’re going to build the rink around it this year,” Boerner says.

A fire pit, where families can roast marshmallows, will operate on weekends and holidays.

For more information, visit evansonice.com.

Photos courtesy of Kraft Visual Productions and Christina Lieu Photography