Ciao Bella | A New Beginning for Bella
I am happy to announce that Bella has officially changed hands. It will be published in the future by Ladonna Armstrong and Tad Jones! For those of you who asked about the status of the magazine during the past few weeks, April 26 was the magic day when the contract was signed, followed by a celebratory luncheon with the new owners at The Willcox. Ladonna and Tad are partners in a new business called A Tad Creative Production, and Bella will be part of that new enterprise. It’s exciting to listen to their plans for the future! Ladonna Armstrong Born in Ft. Lauderdale and raised in Destin, Florida, Ladonna lived […]
The Story of …You Shall Know Me By My Earrings
I wore my mother’s earrings to a party not long ago. They are clip-on earrings – heavy with twisted gold chain, fabricated pearls, and memories. Halfway through the evening, I found myself slipping these pieces of vintage jewelry off for a moment and rubbing my earlobes. They always pinch and keep me terribly aware of their presence. And I suspect that this was not unlike much of being a woman in the 1950s, when these earrings were made and first worn. A time when women were terribly aware of their womanhood and its attendant discomforts – from fashions to societal expectations and restraints. I wondered if the weight of it […]
MEMORIAL DAY PARADE
Preparations are underway for the 2019 Memorial Day Parade, scheduled for Saturday, May 25, at 11 a.m., on Park Avenue and Laurens Street, downtown Aiken. Spectators are encouraged to wear red, white, and blue to watch the parade. Veterans and military service organizations; area businesses; civic, community and youth organizations; schools; churches; and local bands are encouraged to be part of the parade honoring the sacrifices and service of military members and their families. Participation is free, but participants must register. For more information or to register, visit www.aikenmemorialdayparade.com, or email aikenmemorialdayparade@gmail.com. Aiken is one of only three cities in the state of South Carolina where Memorial Day parades are still held to honor […]
Springtime in the Gardens of Aiken: The Aiken Garden Show
Banksia, home to The Aiken County Historical Museum, is the setting for this year’s Aiken Garden Show, May 17 and 18. There are two featured speakers, a host of vendors, members of plant societies to answer your gardening questions, and nine beautiful private gardens to tour. Plan your day Begin your day at 8:30 a.m., and stroll the grounds of Banksia for a bit, in search of that one plant you’ve been searching for or the tool you need. There are garden furnishings, accents and home accessories as well. While you’re at it, have a look at the small garden toward the back of the Museum grounds. It is dedicated […]
Joye In Aiken Showcased At National Endowment For The Arts
As anyone who attended this year’s Performing Arts Festival knows, Joye in Aiken continues to get bigger and better. And increasingly, the nonprofit organization is achieving national recognition. On March 27-28, Joye in Aiken Executive Director Janice Jennings was invited to Washington, D.C., to speak to the National Council on the Arts, an 18-member group appointed by the President that advises the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts on its funding decisions. Joye in Aiken has received grants from the NEA for the past three years. Jennings explained that the invitation to address the Council was a significant honor. “Joye in Aiken was the only local arts organization […]
Not Just Any Day in the Woods | A Writer Observes a Prescribed Burn
Slowly bouncing down Devil’s Backbone trail on a gorgeous late winter’s morning in a four-wheel drive F-250 Ford loaded to the brim with water and firefighting apparatus, I quickly realized that I was in for a brand new perspective of The Hitchcock Woods and operations there. The height of the truck afforded me a different view and perspective from my usual trekking vantage point on foot. My driver, tour guide, and professor for the day, Woods’ Superintendent Bennett Tucker, pointed out points of historical significance and interest not listed on the paper maps free to the public at every Woods entrance. I knew from the start it was going to […]
The Aiken Charity Horse Show Fulfills Bruce’s Dream at Bruce’s Field
If you had to pick one event that best reflects the history and character of Aiken, the Aiken Charity Horse Show at Bruce’s Field would surely be at the top of your list. A traditional horse show held at a premier facility located in Aiken’s storied historic equestrian district, the horse show is an event with wide community support and involvement; one that provides exciting opportunities for equestrians of all ages and skill levels to compete for ribbons and trophies; and one that is held to benefit select local charities. In short, the Aiken Charity Horse Show (ACHS) is an event where history, horses, sport, community, and the tradition of […]
“Your House Is HOW Small?” | Diving Into The Trendiest New Housing Craze, Tiny Houses
Though tiny houses have essentially always existed in some form or another, they have become an extremely trendy housing choice in the past few years. Popularized by everything from Instagram accounts to major network television shows, “going tiny” has become a phenomenon. I’ll admit it; I was drawn into the movement by seeing photos online of chic, cozy little houses and watching my fair share of HGTV shows. But the deeper I dug, the more connection I felt to the less glitzy ideas behind the movement. I was attracted to the concept of building my first house with my own hands and empowered by the idea of shrinking my environmental […]
The Wonder of GIS
There is a love of technology that some human beings possess, a love of technology for its own sake. I will confide in you. I am that person. I am drawn to glittering new tools, devices, and software like a moth to flame. Occasionally, we technophiles can be burned by badly designed, unfriendly – or worse – useless technology that generates more pain than pleasure. GIS, or Geographic Information Systems, is not one of those. It is a thing of beauty and wonder; it has the ability to reinvent one’s understanding of the world around us, whether that world is natural, manmade, or social. As an example of the social […]
2019 Holistic Wellness Fair Offers Wide Range of Providers
The 2019 Holistic Wellness Fair will be held at the Odell Weeks Center June 1, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Gyms 1 & 2. This free event is open to the public and aims to connect local residents to holistic wellness providers in a fun and interactive way. Fair attendees will have the opportunity to meet energy healing/Reiki practitioners, chiropractors, and nutritional consultants from the Aiken, North Augusta, and Augusta areas. Also available will be chair massages, chiropractic assessments, and mini-Reiki sessions, as well as consultations with physicians, nutritionists, exercise counselors, energy healing practitioners, hypotherapists, psychotherapists, and financial advisors. In addition to information and consultations, the fair […]
