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Consumer Stories
Consumer Stories

New Martinez gym helps women reach fitness and weight loss goals

For many women, particularly those who haven’t exercised in years, visiting a traditional gym can be an intimidating experience. But one local gym was designed to take the fear out of fitness. PLUM Metabolic Fitness opened last month at 3830 Washington Road, Suite 16, next door to Taqueria El Rey in the West Town Shopping Center in Martinez. PLUM stands for Planned Use Management, which combines exercise, nutrition counseling, and motivation to help women lose weight and get in shape. Prior to the gym’s grand opening, another women’s gym, Pulse

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Josh Heath February 14, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

USC Aiken receives donation to support veterans and active service members

The University of South Carolina Aiken’s Office of Veteran and Military Student Success was recently presented with a $2,000 check from the North Augusta Cultural Arts Council. The donation supports the office’s mission of education and transitional support for veterans, service members, and their families. The center helps ease the transition back to civilian life for active and former service members and their families by connecting them with academic and financial resources, professional and vocational support, and a community of students with similar backgrounds and experiences. “We’re honored to receive

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Staff Report February 14, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Nurse and entrepreneur establishes scholarship in memory of her son

Lakeya Collins has found a unique way to honor her son’s memory on his birthday and help a local student at the same time. In 2022, Collins, a registered nurse and owner of Robert’s Angels Scrubs established the Robert Ballard Scholarship. Ballard was a 16-year-old football player at Greenbrier High School who drowned in Clarks Hill Lake in April 2016. The scholarship was designed to help one CSRA college student each year. Last year, the amount was $500. This year, she hopes to double that amount by raffling off a

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Josh Heath February 14, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Retired Capt. chooses Grovetown for 5th location

Retired Army Cpt. Tyler Merritt started his clothing business in his garage and now has four store locations, about 200 employees, and a 60,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Savannah. Merritt serves as CEO of Nine Line Apparel, which has store locations in not only Savannah but also Charleston and Delray Beach. He said the company is expected to open its fifth location at 284 Meridian Drive next door to Cold Stone Creamery in Grovetown on Monday, March 6. ABD previously ran a story about the company, which sells a variety of

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Josh Heath February 13, 2023 No Comments
Employment

Augusta University career fair draws more job seekers, employers than previous events

On Friday, for the first time since Feb. 2020, Augusta University hosted its annual career fair in person, according to Julie Goley. Goley, director of the university’s Career Services office, said about 400 people attended the fair, which was open to students, alumni, and community members. Attendees had the opportunity to speak with representatives from 89 organizations, including Piedmont Augusta, Sig Cox Heating and Air Conditioning, and the National Security Agency. “Employers were up about 15 percent and job seekers up 25 percent from the 2020 event,” she said. “There

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Josh Heath February 13, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Downtown business undergoes rebranding, revitalization

Tonya Boswell’s downtown business was only open for six months when she decided to close and rebrand it. Boswell is the owner of Urban K9, which was formerly called Fetch 501, located at 501 Broad St. Fetch opened in July 2022 and closed in December. Urban K9 opened its doors on Tuesday, Jan. 24. Rebranding a new business may sound unusual, but she had her reasons. Boswell opened Fetch with her cousin and business partner, Jonathon Anderson, who left to accept a job at the Savannah River Site. “The partnership

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Josh Heath February 12, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Floyd & Green Jewelers show love to local charities

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. Today and every day leading up to the holiday earmarked for sweethearts has been super busy. But owner, Tom Williams and staff stopped long enough to present a donation that is indicative of their love for the community. Last week, Floyd & Green Fine Jewelers donated a check for almost $13,000 to local charities. The money was raised in November during the 22nd annual Weekend of Giving Back, in which customers designate the charity of their choice to receive 10 percent of their purchase. “I always

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Staff Report February 12, 2023 No Comments
Awards/Celebrations

Evans entrepreneurs overcome obstacles to build successful business

Three years ago, Dan and Michelle Finn opened their business in Evans, but just five weeks later, they were forced to close it, thanks to Covid. The Finns own Sol Himalayan Salt Cave & Spa located at 7013 Evans Town Center Blvd., Suite 201 near the Columbia County Performing Arts Center. They will celebrate the business’s third anniversary on Friday, Feb. 17 with giveaways and desserts from Bottom Line Bakery & Café. That day, other local businesses, such as The Salty Beaver Fine Bath Products and Sugar and Spice Cocktail

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Josh Heath February 12, 2023 No Comments
Sports / Entertainment

CSRA businesses to promote the music industry

Walter Santiago partners with local businesses and non-profit organizations to promote and grow the CSRA music industry. Santiago is an Augusta musician, media, and project manager for Sample Augusta, an online music and arts publication founded by Rachel Goodman, another local musician, three years ago. The publication will host The Music & Nightlife Industry Roundtable on Monday, Feb. 27, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Columbia County Performing Arts Center in Evans. For this free event, Sample Augusta has partnered with local businesses, such as GetUp Productions, which

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Josh Heath February 9, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

SRP Federal Credit Union sponsors student section at USC Aiken

SRP announced this week that it would serve as the student section sponsor for the next three years at the University of South Carolina Aiken’s Convocation Center, home of the Pacers. The multi-year investment expands on SRP’s longstanding relationship with USC Aiken and its athletics programs, including a significant contribution to help fund the construction and 2007 opening of the $17 million, 100,000-square-foot Convocation Center. “USC Aiken alumni and Pacer fans have supported us across the region as we’ve expanded our reach in the market. This is a way for

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Staff Report February 9, 2023 No Comments
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