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Pickleball, Y’all

Sports

Columbia County is now home to the area’s first indoor pickleball center.

Dink, drink or dine — come for one, or come for all three. Bringing a new sports and restaurant concept to the county, owners Nancy and Troy Akers have opened Dink’d, an indoor pickleball facility in Petersburg Shoppes on Furys Ferry Road.

“Pickleball has exploded nationwide, and it’s no different here,” says Joe Clemente, chief operating officer. “There is no facility of this kind anywhere in the area. We want Dink’d to be a destination in the community.”

Troy Akers agrees. “We know the area is ready for this,” he adds.

The 27,000-square-foot, climate-controlled facility offers extended hours seven days a week, and Dink’d features nine championship pro-surface courts for tournaments, leagues, clinics, lessons and open play. Other activities include glow-in-the-dark pickleball and themed nights.

“If it’s really hot or really cold or it’s raining, people can play pickleball,” Clemente says. “Pickleball is addictive. It’s easy to learn, and people enjoy the camaraderie. A place like Dink’d caters to different generations of pickleball players.”

Dink’d is not just for pickleball, however. Additional amenities include a pro shop, full kitchen with a chef-inspired menu and full service bar with beer on tap, cocktails and mocktails.

Packages for parties, corporate outings and other events include court space, catering options and multimedia.

“The food and beverage component is a big part of this, and it makes us different from other pickleball facilities,” says Clemente.

Vu Nguyen, a pro-level pickleball player, will serve as head of pickleball operations. Memberships, which give people earlier access to courts than the general public, include pro and social levels.

“We’re a member-based model, but the public is welcome,” Clemente says. “If you reserve a court or just want to hang out, we’re open to everyone.”

For tournaments, Akers says they plan to work with the county to offer play at Dink’d and nearby Columbia County Racquet Club.

“This is an Augusta-based business. It’s not a chain. When you come to Dink’d, you’re supporting a local business,” says Akers. “It’s going to be a best-in-class facility that will make the community proud.”

For more information, visit dinkdpickleball.com.

Arts Awards Winners

Buzz

The Greater Augusta Arts Council has announced the winners of its 2024 Augusta Arts Awards. Honorees are:

Karen Heid — Artist Award

Drake White — Arts Professional Award

Pax Bobrow — Kath Girdler Engler for Public Art Award

Augusta Good News — Media Award

Herc Rentals — Sponsor Award

Alexis Foust — Volunteer Award

Artists of the 5th Street Mural Project — Spirit of Collaboration Award

Brenda Durant — President’s Award.

The winners were honored in June at the annual Augusta Arts Awards dinner. The evening also included a special tribute to Brenda Durant, who is retiring in October after serving for almost three decades as the Greater Augusta Arts Council executive director.

During her tenure, Durant has been instrumental in elevating the arts in Augusta, developing Arts in the Heart into a nationally recognized festival and creating programs that help grow and retain local artists.

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Sports

Harlem High local high school baseball team recently won back-to-back state championship titles.

Photos courtesy of Harlem High School and Augusta Christian Schools

A local high school baseball team recently won back-to-back state championship titles.

The words bear repeating. After all, not one, but two, Columbia County teams – Harlem High and Augusta Christian – successfully defended their state championships this year.

To capture its latest Georgia Class-AAA crown, Harlem swept Calvary Day School this spring by scores of 13-5 in game one and 7-0 in the second game.

Last year the Bulldogs also swept their opponent for the title, defeating Ringgold High School 5-3 and 2-1 with come-from-behind victories in both games.

The 2023 and 2024 state championships were the sixth and seventh titles for Head Coach Jimmie Lewis, who has led the program for the last 46 years of his 48-year career on the Harlem baseball staff.

“It means a whole lot when you’re 71 years old,” he says. “They were a team. They were not a bunch of individuals.”

With last year’s title, the Bulldogs ended a 37-year drought by winning their first state championship since 1986. They finished as runners-up in 1992 and 1999 when Lewis coached his four sons.

He also led the team to state championships in 1979, his first year as head coach, and pulled off a three-peat in 1981, 1982 and 1983.

In addition, MaxPreps ranked Harlem as high as No. 9 in the nation and No. 1 out of all classifications in Georgia this year.

Augusta Christian shut out Cardinal Newman High School, 8-0, in the third game of the best-of-three series to win this year’s South Carolina Independent School Association’s Class-AAAA baseball championship. The team also won the first game, 3-1, after dropping game two in extra innings.

A year ago, the Lions won the school’s first state title since 2007 by defeating Hammond High School, 9-3, in the decisive third game.

With this season’s title, Austin Robinson, a 2013 Greenbrier High grad who pitched in back-to-back state championships for the Wolfpack, won his second crown in three years as Augusta Christian’s head coach.

“It means everything, especially to the boys who put in all the work and the time. They’ve dedicated their lives to baseball,” he says. “I wish I could take credit, but the credit goes to those boys and what they’ve done the last four years.”

Senior Moments

Both coaches say they had great leadership from the seniors on their teams the last two years, and the state championships were special to the players.

“The seniors have been playing together since we were real little,” says Harlem’s Amerson Guy, the grandson of Oakland Raiders punter and Pro Football Hall of Famer Ray Guy. “We’ve always dreamed about winning a state championship, but to do it back-to-back was truly incredible.”

He says the 2023 state championship was more exciting because it was the first one Harlem had won in years, but teammate Caiden Coile favors 2024.

“The second one was different because it was the last game that the seniors played together,” he says.

Augusta Christian’s Wilson Donnelly shared that sentiment. “We won the first one for last year’s seniors. The second one felt different because it was my last one,” he says. “I’m glad I got to share it with my teammates and friends. I’ll get to tell my kids that I won back-to-back state championships in high school.”

His teammate, Khaleel Pratt, believes there is no feeling like winning back-to-back championships. “Not many people get to experience that,” he adds. “It was a lot of fun to do it with my guys.”

Along with their back-to-back titles, the seniors on both teams amassed some impressive numbers during their playing days as well.

The Harlem seniors went 128-18 during their four-year high school careers, 73-2 the last two seasons, 10-0 in the 2023 playoffs and 10-0 in the 2024 playoffs. They also set a Bulldogs record with a 37-game win streak that dates back to last season.

Of the eight seniors on this year’s Harlem team, six wanted to keep playing baseball and earned college scholarships.

Jake Fulmer will play at Toccoa Falls College; Tyler Simmons, the Region 4-AAA Player of the Year; is headed to USC-Aiken; and Shane Wheeless will suit up for East Georgia State College.

Jeremiah Hamilton, Guy and Coile will be teammates again at Andrew Junior College, and Hamilton is excited about bringing everything they learned from Coach Lewis to the next level.

“It’s more than just baseball at Harlem. He teaches young kids how to be men,” he says. “We have great chemistry, and we can’t wait to gel with the other players and have a great season.”

The Augusta Christian seniors had a 40-15 record the last two seasons, and all six of them earned scholarships to play collegiate baseball.

Pratt will play for the University of Kentucky, and Luca Perriello is a Virginia Tech signee.

“Playing for Augusta Christian and Coach Robinson taught me how to be a teammate,” Perriello says. We learned to work together, not just on individual goals.”

Eric Doyon is bound for Columbia International University; Santiago Pacheco will play for Southern Union State Community College; Jonah Shipes is going to Gordon State College and

Donnelly signed with the University of West Georgia.

The Meaning of Team

Both teams had to overcome injuries throughout the season. In addition, Robinson says, “We knew we had a target on our backs after last year.”

Lewis, the 2024 Region 4-AAA Coach of the Year, agrees.

“We faced everybody’s best pitcher. My crowd stepped up to the plate. We battled, and we beat them,” he says. “I think if I had told them they were going to play the Atlanta Braves, they would expect to beat them.”

To reach their goals, the players pulled together as a team.

“No one man can win a game. It takes a team, and ‘team’ means ‘together everyone achieves more,’’’ says Lewis. “When we work as a team, we have a chance to win.”

Lewis also says he wouldn’t be successful without assistant coaches Chris Waters, Rusty James, Hunter McBride and Lonnie Morris; trainer Robert Leslie; athletic director Rodney Holder, and his wife of 50 years, Nancy. He even got to share last year’s title with his grandson, Landen Lewis, who was a senior on the 2023 team.

Robinson’s wife, Molly, came to every game with their 1-year-old daughter, Lilly, on her hip, and the players acknowledged their fans as well.

“All the support we had from the people of Harlem, you’ll never find anywhere else,” says Will Holder, a rising HHS senior who has committed to Georgia Southern. “They traveled everywhere with us.”

History of Success

Of course, Columbia County has a long history of baseball success.

Robinson credits the pedigree to head coaches like Lewis, Terry Holder (grandfather of Will and father of Rodney, who won back-to-back 4A state championships at Greenbrier in 2006 and 2007) and Gerald Barnes.

“Augusta is a great stomping ground for baseball because of these three men,” he says.

Terry Holder won eight state baseball championships at Evans (five) and Greenbrier (three) high schools. At Westside High in Augusta, Barnes won more than 900 games and two state titles.

“When you play and coach around people like Terry Holder and Gerald Barnes, you tend to learn. Sometimes they beat your brains out, but that’s how you learn,” Lewis says.

The future also is bright for Columbia County baseball, and HHS and Augusta Christian are eyeing a three-peat next year.

“It’s doable,” says Lewis. “We need to practice hard, work hard, set goals, take one game at a time and go after it.”

The 2025 Bulldogs also will play on the newly christened Jimmie Lewis Field, which will be dedicated at the start of the season.

Ethan Duckworth, a rising senior for Augusta Christian, says winning the first two state championships was hard. As for a three-peat, he adds, “We’re going to try to find a way to get it done.”

By Todd Beck

Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand

Literary Loop

When rich strangers move to Nantucket, social mayhem and a possible murder follow. Can the island’s best locals save the day and their way of life?

Chief of Police Ed Kapenash is about to retire. Blond Sharon, the notorious island gossip, is going through a divorce. But when a $22 million summer home is purchased by the mysterious Richardsons (how did they make their money, exactly?) Ed, Sharon and everyone in the community are swept up in high drama.

The Richardsons throw lavish parties, flirt with multiple locals, flaunt their wealth with not one but two yachts and raise impossible hopes of everyone they meet. When their house burns to the ground and their most essential employee goes missing, the entire island is up in arms.

The last of Elin Hilderbrand’s bestselling Nantucket novels, this is a propulsive medley of glittering gatherings, sun-soaked drama, wisdom and heart, featuring the return of some of her most popular characters and the timeless island of Nantucket.

“Hilderbrand’s final Nantucket novel will draw old and new readers out of the woodwork,” says Booklist. “This is aspirational escapism at its finest.”

The Avett Brothers

Listen To This

As summer brings the heat with exciting excursions, backyard soirees and ice cream truck marathons, there’s magic in finding the perfect soundtrack to accompany every moment. With their latest self-titled album, The Avett Brothers offer not just a collection of songs, but a journey for the ride.

From the crisp melodies of the album opener “Never Apart” to the cosmic harmonies of “Orion’s Belt,” The Avett Brothers capture the essence of life’s seasons with an effortless grace. It’s as if they’ve distilled the very fragrance of scattered rain, warm breezes and every sense trigger in between to build a thunderhead crescendo of awesome.

But it’s not just the lyrical content that evokes the sense-fueled season; it’s the intentional craftsmanship of melodic arrangements and spatial genius that carve a profound emotional connection that ebbs and flows like the tides, shifting and changing with the passing of time.

Tracks like “Love of a Girl” and “Forever Now” showcase the band’s versatility, seamlessly blending folk, rock and Americana influences into a sound that feels both timeless and fresh.

And with their trademark blend of gritty, heartfelt lyrics and soulful instrumentation, they craft a crustless sonic sandwich that satisfies the hunger for more.

So, as the sun moves up the mercury, let The Avett Brothers be your SPF for the adult swim of life.

Chris Rucker

The Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides

Literary Loop

In the course of three epic voyages — the last one unfinished — Captain James Cook mapped the east coast of Australia, circumnavigated New Zealand, made the first documented crossing of the Antarctic Circle, “discovered” the Hawaiian Islands and paid the first known visit to South Georgia Island.

His admirers believed he deserved the “gratitude of posterity.” Posterity, however, has a mind of its own.

On July 12, 1776, Cook, already lionized as the greatest explorer in British history, set off on his third voyage in his ship the HMS Resolution. Two-and-a-half years later, on a beach on the island of Hawaii, he was dead. How did Cook, who was unique among captains for his respect for indigenous peoples and cultures, come to that fatal moment?

In this new biography, Hampton Sides undertakes the hazardous enterprise of revisiting the life of Captain James Cook, who, at the time of his death in 1779 was Britain’s most celebrated explorer.

Sides’ hair-raising saga is a “thrilling and superbly crafted” account of the most momentous voyage of the Age of Exploration, says The Wall Street Journal.

It “will delight readers new to the topic as well as those versed in earlier looks at James Cook and his milieu,” Booklist says.

A La Sala by Khruangbin

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As the sun feels closer and the heat feels hotter, summer makes a collect call from sweet destinations. Whether it’s a backyard sprinkler or a sandy shore, we are invited to soak up the vibe. And whether you are on the road or lounging around, A La Sala (translation: To the Room), the latest cosmic creation by the smooth-groove Houston funk-rock trio Khruangbin, is a must-have in the sonic solstice cooler.

Pouring an auditory cocktail into a universe where groove and gravity skip hand in hand, Khruangbin’s trademark blend of blues, funk, surf and lo-fi rock delivers a variety of flavors that are as cool as they are clever. From the moment the needle drops, you’re whisked away on a journey that defies both time and space.

Tracks like the colorful sunset-jam “Fifteen Forty-Three” or the cabana-clopping “Hold Me Up (Thank You)” bring rhythms braided in a Duane Eddy twang that are equal parts intricate and irresistible. The album’s simplistic yet exotically complex layers drop a refreshing loop of fruity-sweet gems that reflect like sun on the water and crash with soothing waves of expanding reverberations.

This is an all-inclusive acoustical resort, where you can lose yourself and float down the lazy river of auditory delight. So put on your shades, turn up the volume, toss your cares in a cooler of Khruangbin and let the vibes take you away.

– Chris Rucker

The Women by Kristin Hannah

Literary Loop

Women can be heroes. When 20-year-old nursing student Frankie McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing.

But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal.

But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.

The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, it is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.

Says Booklist, “It is a moving, gripping tale that pays tribute to the under-appreciated skill and courage of combat nurses.”

Old School The New Mastersounds

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It’s nearly halftime 2024 with a steady bloom and boom into hotter days. The anticipation of sultry destinations and backyard traditions drops the boogie into the yearly smorgasbord of fun, and there is nothing finer than a boppin’ soundtrack to usher in the good times.

An essential sonic treat to throw into the road trip duffle bag is Old School, by Britain’s own The New Mastersounds. Old School is a peanut butter and soul-jam sandwich slathered in the golden age of soul and funk, proving that sometimes the best way forward is to rewind in order to unwind.

The group drops a Slip-n-Slide groove to the classic sounds of the ’60s and ’70s with a cannonball splash of funky homage to the past while providing an ice cream truck full of astro-poppin’ futuristic cool.

The album is a stacked 10-pack of refreshing jams that melt into a box fan ice bowl of breezy soul sounds that bounce like a raft through rocky riffs and rolling torrents of sound – the perfect album to press repeat, get down and let the loop create the whoop.

As the May mood finds the day groove, grab a popsicle and some sweatbands, fill up the kiddie pool and crank up the hi-fi with this assorted cooler-than-cool flavors that bring the heat.

– Chris Rucker

Magnet Factory — Pylon Reenactment Society

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A concoction of sonic fizz and Southern mystique always is brewing in the music laboratories of Athens, Georgia – a scene that has pioneered legends like R.E.M., Widespread Panic, the B-52s and Pylon Reenactment Society.

Pylon’s latest album, Magnet Factory, is a testament to the awesomeness that bridges past and present with a kaleidoscope of sound and emotion. Original member Vanessa Briscoe Hay is the vocal thunder and driving creative force behind its undeniable energy and appeal.

Her lyrics are at once poetic and deeply introspective, inviting listeners to reflect on their own experiences and drawing them into a world where boundaries between reality and imagination blur.

Tracks like “3X3” and “Flowers Everywhere” showcase the band’s ability to create atmosphere and tension, while “Spiral” and “I’ll Let You Know” offer moments of intimacy and mystery.

But perhaps the true genius of Magnet Factory lies in its ability to surprise and delight at every turn. Just when you think you have the band figured out, they throw a curveball like “No Worries” or the uber catchy “Fix It,” which features the equally legendary Kate Pierson of the B52’s leaving you breathless and hungry for more.

Pylon dares to be different and has created a masterpiece that defies easy categorization. Let yourself be swept away this spring by the magnetic pull of Southern charm and creative energy — and, of course, pimento cheese sandwiches.

– Chris Rucker

Face Time

People

Photos courtesy of Michelle Scarborough Johnson

From fairies to potheads (literally), this yard art is an expression of personality and playfulness.

There’s no rest for makers like Michelle Scarborough Johnson, who has been creating yard art and garden sculptures for the past 10 years.

Her creative juices never stop flowing – even in her sleep.

“I’ll wake up in the morning with an idea and think, ‘I could do this,’” Michelle says.

The retired critical care nurse makes her pieces out of hypertufa, which is a lightweight, porous, manmade rock consisting of Portland cement and aggregates such as vermiculite, perlite, peat moss or sand. She mixes up the cement-based substance, which is a substitute for a porous type of limestone called tufa, herself using a recipe she found online.

“I honestly don’t remember where I saw it, but I taught myself,” Michelle says.

Recycled and Refurbished

Yard art is just the latest creative endeavor for this self-taught artist.

“I sew a lot. I paint. I quilt,” Michelle says. “I always wanted to make pottery, but you need a kiln. I love gardening.”

When Michelle was 10 years old, her grandmother taught her how to sew. Otherwise, however, she taught herself the other crafts.

“It’s very fulfilling for me to be making something all the time,” says Michelle, a mother of six who earned her nursing degree at age 42.

She makes hats out of refurbished materials, and for every hat she sells, she donates one to someone in need.

She also incorporates discarded and recyclable materials such as wine bottles, plastics, metal hardware, balloons, ice cream containers, milk jugs and strips of fabric into her hypertufa projects.

“I wrap the bottles in old clothes that can’t be donated,” says Michelle. “I dip the fabric in cement. As it dries, I build it on top of the mixture.”

Her tools include old screwdrivers, picks, a drill and paintbrushes. “I just make do with what I have,” she says.

Fairies and Potheads

Michelle hand-molds her pieces, and she works in her outdoor studio on her 2-acre property in Blythe. Some of her favorite things to make are fairies and “potheads,” which are head-shaped planters.

“I talk to them while I’m making them,” Michelle says. “Some of them are kind of flirtatious. They have smoochy lips. The snarky ones have sly smiles. They develop a personality as I’m making them. I feel like people want to buy them when they see something in them. I don’t make their personality. I just let it evolve.”

Although each fairy and pothead has its own personality, they have a lot of similarities in their faces because of the way Michelle molds them. In addition, they generally have one characteristic in common. Most of them have their eyes closed.

“They look peaceful to me,” Michelle says. “I’ve done them with their eyes open, but they don’t look as happy.”

She rarely names her creations, either. “I let everybody choose what they want to call their pothead,” she says.

One of her fairies, which has rosy cheeks and wings, a blue dress and hair made of bed springs, has been selected for inclusion in the Greater Augusta Arts Council’s WetPaint Party & Art Sale on Friday, March 8.

To make fairy wings, she casts elephant ears or various leaves that she finds in her garden. “I use old jewelry on the fairies,” Michelle says. “I used to make jewelry, so I have a lot of jewelry supplies.”

To make a pothead, she starts with a balloon that she wraps in strips of cement-dipped fabric. Once it dries, she turns it upside down to drill a hole in the bottom.

While Michelle can shape a piece in an hour or two, it can take a few days to finish the yard art because the work has to be done in stages. However, she says she can spend a month making a garden fairy.

Texture and Color

Michelle also paints her hypertufa pieces with acrylics, and after drying and curing them, she seals them with concrete so they can withstand the elements.

“I love texture and color,” she says. “They’re just so natural and pretty.”

She likes secondary colors such as purple, teal and orange, and she highlights textures with off-white paint. However, she tries to make her pieces look natural in their outdoor setting.

“I want them to look like they belong there, but I also want them to stand out,” Michelle says.

She paints the elephant ears, which she also uses to make yard art such as birdbaths, a different color from the grass to make them stand out. In addition, she makes totem poles by putting a piece of rebar in the ground and stacking it with hypertufa pieces that she makes one at a time.

Six years ago, she spent the entire summer building a pathway with pavers she made out of cement to connect the greenhouses in her garden.

Although she doesn’t use her nursing skills in her craft, she has found that it takes a combination of art and science to create a piece.

She needs to use the correct proportions of aggregates when she mixes the hypertufa so it doesn’t crumble. Anatomy also comes into play when she makes fairies and potheads because “the ears need to be equal with the eyes.”

In addition, she says, “My pieces are not anatomically correct, but that’s part of the fun of it.”

Creativity and Connection

Michelle started a Facebook page called Hypertufa Heffas, which is named after the heifers that graze in a field behind her property. She sells most of her work on various Facebook sites or by word-of-mouth.

“It’s fun when somebody really loves a face and they connect with it somehow,” Michelle says. “Sometimes the personality speaks to them. I love that somebody loves a piece.”

She teaches group and private classes and hosts parties at her outdoor studio when the weather is warm. She also loves the creative process and the ability to bring joy to others with her work.

“Being able to create something frees up your mind. You can get lost in it. When you’re gone, you have something to leave behind. Something you make by hand is more important than a piece of furniture,” says Michelle. “It’s good for my spirit to be creative. I think artists just have this need to always be making something.”

By Leigh Howard

Isn’t That Sweet — Big Sleep

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As the fickle remnants of winter thaw, we march into a hibernation-free season of anticipation. The madness of shaking off chilly brrrs spurs all the right vibes for a soundtrack of warm, lush, good-mood food for the soul. The perfect pub-a-licious feast for the ears comes from the Dublin-based four-leafed fantastical band, Big Sleep.

Big Sleep’s latest album, Isn’t That Sweet, is a sugary symphony of blarney bliss that chases the indie rock rainbow for a pot of sonic gold. Bursting with infectious flavors, melodies, heartfelt lyrics and irresistible hooks, it brews a unique and contagious charm for an instant buzz of tabletop taps and soul claps.

From the start, it’s crystal clear that Big Sleep is banging and mashing on all cylinders with its buttery rhythm and frothy riffs that make you want to lock arms and raise a glass.

With the waltzy wonder of the album’s opener “Easy,” the tone flows into an ever-green river of sweet glides and punchy strides. Songs like the jazzy swing jam “Fingerlickin’ Goodness,” the brawny stomp of “Maccy Ds” and the dreamy-gaze of “All the Pretty Things” make for a magically delicious bowl of tunes.

With leprechauns, parades and Irish celebrations on tap, Big Sleep is a grand marshal that delivers an Irish spring of awesome. Isn’t that sweet?

– Chris Rucker

Kick — INXS

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The beauty and mysterious allure of music is often discovered and rediscovered through a sonic vortex that stirs emotions, preserves time and evokes a passionate connection to personal experiences. Memories are forever time capsuled and new ones created. As we float through the tunnel of winter, a pitstop in the music vault of love is the perfect remedy for thawing the soul.

In 1987, the Aussie quintette INXS dropped their love boat-sized iconic album, Kick. While this may not be your typical Valentine’s Day spin, Kick is a magnetic rhythm machine with sensual undertones that makes it the perfect soundtrack for stringing the bow for Cupid’s arrows.

From the jump, it is an energetic and somewhat rebellious record with the punchy “Guns in the Sky,” but the mood swerves swiftly to the sultry and seductive classic, “Need You Tonight,” and the electric bouquet of rock, “Never Tear Us Apart.” An assorted box of funk, pop and orchestral-waltz vibes ignites the flames of desire.

The late, great pop-poet Michael Hutchence croons with warm charismatic swagger to make Kick an unforgettable soundtrack for this season of love, romance and ear-candy. The rolling love sonic-coaster delivers the perfect loops, hooks and speed to make the heart race, emotions jump and head spin.

Let INXS Kick-start the jams and “Mystify” your love journey with a stirring “New Sensation.”

– Chris Rucker

The Thrill of Victory

Beyond the Peach State

Watch — or dare to compete in — the zaniest new athletic competition this side of the Everglades.

We’ve all seen the headlines, and the competition to determine which one is the most absurd is fierce:

Florida man tries to evade arrest by cartwheeling away from cops.

Florida man arrested while trying to get into a police car to threaten someone.

Florida man drives stolen truck to Space Force base to warn of a battle between aliens and dragons.

Florida man learns hard way he stole laxatives, not opioids.

Florida man trapped in an unlocked closet for two days.

Florida man Googles self to find out which Florida man he is.

Now’s your chance, however, to see these guys in action for yourself at the inaugural Florida Man Games.

The event was inspired by the Sunshine State’s reputation for its offbeat news stories that typically feature wild police chases, guns, drugs, reptiles – or some combination of the aforementioned instruments of chaos and commotion.

According to the website, “The Florida Man Games is where the bizarre meets brawn and sanity is optional. This isn’t just a competition; it’s a one-of-a-kind Floridian spectacle.”

No wonder organizers call the event “the most insane athletic showdown on Earth.”

Florida-Style Obstacle Courses
Truthfully, athletic prowess also may be optional for the competition that was dreamed up by St. Augustine resident and media outlet owner Pete Melfi. As if hurricane season has blown into Florida early this year, however, the games are bound to take the state by storm.

After all, with the Florida-style obstacle courses that the contestants must master, the games will resemble a veritable sanctioned crime spree as competitors vie for the coveted gator head trophy.

The event includes the Weaponized Pool Noodle Mud Duel, where adversaries test their strength inside a massive above-ground pool called the Florida Man Games Colosseum.

In the Evading Arrest Obstacle Course, “escapees” jump over fences and run through yards with actual sheriff’s deputies hot on their heels.

With the Category 5 Cash Grab, Florida men can scoop up easy money as they battle hurricane-level gusts in a wind-blowing booth while they scramble to catch as much real cash as they can.

Wannabe wrestlers will try to blast their opponent out of the ring in the Beer Belly Florida Sumo.

In another opportunity to live a day in the life of a Florida man headline, rivals square off head-to-head in a race with two bikes and a handful of copper pipes in the Race Against Time with a Catalytic Converter.

Two former stars of the 1990s TV show American Gladiators, Dan “Nitro” Clark and Lori “Ice” Fetrick, who also appeared in Netflix’s Muscles & Mayhem, will judge the events.

Fun For All
For those who aren’t part of a team on the main events field, Florida Man Games activities will be available all day long for spectators to challenge each other in their own competitions.

They can try to best each other in contests such as the Mechanical Gator Ride, Florida Sumo, Weaponized Pool Noodles and Obstacle Course. Of course, snapping selfies with alligators will be all but mandatory as well.

Spectators also can soak up Florida culture with alligator shows, datil pepper (Florida’s hot pepper) vendors, SWAT vehicles and more.

Other entertainment – as if any more is required – includes a Mullet Contest, the Florida Ma’am Pinup competition and Chicken Coop Bingo.

Don’t worry if all these fun and games give you a gator-sized appetite. Award-winning pit masters will be on hand to dish out mouthwatering BBQ throughout the day.

The competition will draw to a close with the 911 Fight Night: Brawl of the Badges between police officers and firefighters. In this epic showdown, these public safety heroes clash in an intense battle to prove who’s the toughest behind the badge.

Get ready to rumble, and let the games begin.

If You Go:

What: Florida Man Games

When: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Saturday, February 24, gates open 10 a.m.

Where: Francis Field, 25 West Castillo Drive, St. Augustine, Florida

How Much: $45 – $145

More Info: thefloridamangames.com

By Morgan Davis

On the Beaten Path

Travel

Jekyll Island tradition Island Treasures

Photos courtesy of Jekyll Island Authority

Search for treasures in plain sight during this inventive Jekyll Island tradition.

A day at the beach can bring out anyone’s inner child, and Jekyll Island has found a way to captivate the young at heart with Island Treasures.

In this hide-and-seek-style activity that runs all day every day during January and February, people can search for plastic globes that volunteers called Beach Buddies “hide” around the island. Lucky island combers who find one can redeem it for a real glass-blown globe.

“It’s an annual tradition that people really enjoy,” says Kathryn Hearn, the Jekyll Island Authority marketing communications manager. “It’s a good way for them to get out and explore parts of Jekyll Island that they have never seen before. Most people go to the beach or the Historic District when they visit, but Island Treasures creates excitement around the entire island. People really get into the treasure hunt aspect of it.”

The event is a great way to create memories, and since the globes also are available for purchase to those who don’t find one, no one has to go home empty-handed. They sell for $85 at the Jekyll Island Guest Information Center or online.

‘Accessible to All’

While Island Treasures started more than 22 years ago, the colorful, coveted orbs date back to the early 1900s when East Coast fishermen used hollow glass balls, or floats, on their nets as markers.

Occasionally, the floats would break loose and wash ashore for beachcombers to find and keep. In the 1950s, collecting these rare, highly sought-after glass floats became a hobby.

Jekyll Island selects two or three artisans from across the country to create the one-of-a-kind glass-blown objects every year. This year Seattle-based Mark Elllinger and Loretta Eby of Georgia made the globes.

Each Island Treasure, which is about half the size of a soccer ball, has a distinct abstract design with varying colorations.

Beach Buddies place them around the island any time of the day or night. They typically hide about 200 plastic globes during the two months, putting out two or three on weekdays and about five on weekends.

The volunteers receive special training before the annual event, and their identity is kept secret. Globe seekers are asked to refrain from following Beach Buddies – or anyone they think is a Beach Buddy – for safety reasons and to ensure that the hunt is fair for everyone.

“The globes are accessible to all. They’re hidden in plain sight on a bench or by a bike rack or on a nature trail,” says Hearn.

Timing is Everything

The best places to look for the plastic globes are in common areas such as Great Dunes Beach Park, Driftwood Beach, St. Andrews Beach Park, Horton House, the Historic District and the Beach Village.

While the 20-acre Great Dunes Beach Park, which features multiple recreation areas, is Jekyll Island’s most popular family beach, Driftwood Beach is made up of sun-bleached trees worn down by storms and erosion over time.

Located on the southern-most tip of the island, St. Andrews Beach Park is a great place to see wildlife such as migratory birds and pods of dolphins.

St. Andrews also is home to the Wanderer Memory Trail, which tells the story of one of America’s last known slave ships, the Wanderer.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 1743 Horton House is one of the oldest tabby buildings in Georgia.

Although the Historic District offers a selection of gift shops and Jekyll Island collectibles, the Beach Village is the epicenter of the island with its shops, restaurants and hotels.

When searching for globes, however, it’s just as important to know where not to look. Island Treasures will never be placed in beach dunes, marsh areas, residential properties or golf courses. In fact, entering these areas can be illegal and unsafe.

Some treasure hunters develop strategies about when and where to search for the plastic globes, but Island Treasures is really about being at the right place at the right time.

Each plastic globe has a numbered tag inside, and people who find one can redeem it for the corresponding glass-blown globe at the Guest Information Center. The center is open 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Sunday.

People must complete a claim form and provide a photo ID to receive their prize. Only one Island Treasure can be claimed per household per year so as many people as possible can enjoy the hunt.

Off-Season Vibes

Island Treasures is a great reason to plan a wintertime family vacation or girls’ weekend.

“The off-season and shoulder-season are wonderful times to visit Jekyll Island,” Hearn says. “There are not as many people on the island, and everything moves at a slower pace. There’s more of a community feel in the off-season.”

Shops and restaurants remain open during non-peak seasons, when average temperatures are in the mid-60s and lodging rates are reduced.

As Jekyll Island is about a three- to four-hour drive from Columbia County, local adventure seekers might want to turn the outing into a multi-day trip. Accommodations range from luxury resorts and boutique hotels to chain-hotel lodging and Jekyll Island Campground.

An overnight stay also provides more time to explore the island. After all, whether visitors find a globe or not, the real treasure is discovering all that Jekyll Island has to offer.

If You Go:

What: Island Treasures

When: January 1 – February 29; all day

Where: Jekyll Island, Georgia

How Much: $10 island parking; event is free

More Info: jekyllisland.com

By Morgan Davis