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Consumer Stories
Consumer Stories

Local business owners to provide advice at first-time homebuyer event

Local business owners and real estate investors, Ashleigh Brooks, her mother Sandra Brooks, and Porsche Bennett, are financial literacy advocates that want to help people enjoy the benefits of home ownership. They joined with a publicist, Susan Dilworth (PICTURED ABOVE) to host this free community networking event, “Taste of Success,” focused on first-time homebuyers. This event will connect buyers with other professionals, such as real estate agents and loan officers, who can help guide them through the process. Space is limited; as of Wednesday afternoon, only five spots were available.

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Josh Heath November 28, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Mental health treatment center opens in Evans

Many CSRA residents struggle with mental health problems, and it can take weeks or even months to see a psychiatrist. But waiting is no longer necessary, thanks to a new treatment center now open in Columbia County. High Focus Centers just opened a new location at 607 Ponder Place, near Tuscany Spa in Evans that currently offers adult mental health services, such as partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs, according to its Executive Director, Marlea Bodie. High Focus treats patients with a variety of diagnoses, including depression, bipolar disorder, and

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Josh Heath November 27, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Successful holiday weekend for a two-in-one Aiken boutique

Maddie P Boutique and Kels & Faith Company got a jump start on Black Friday sales by opening at 7:00 pm on Thanksgiving. The strategy paid off. Way before the doors opened, a long line of shoppers was already waiting despite the chill and rain. The two boutiques share store space at 126 Pendleton Street. The partnership has worked well for both. They moved together from Warrenville to Aiken in March of this year. Jessica Gaskins, the owner of Maddie P’s, attracts customers from 17 to 70. Kelsey Cook’s Kels

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Mitzi Oxford November 27, 2022 No Comments
Awards/Celebrations

Local gourmet nut entrepreneurs celebrate 10 years in business

If you’re looking for corporate gifts for your clients this holiday season, Brian and Kam Kyzer probably have just the items you need. The Kyzers own Watanut, a gourmet nut business, located at 3309 Washington Road in Augusta, and a second store in Amelia Island, Fla. Brian Kyzer said the business, which sells nut mixes, Georgia pecans, and shortbread cookies, will celebrate its 10th anniversary with an open house on Thursday, Dec. 1, 5-9 p.m., at the Augusta store. The Kyzers host a large open house every year, but they

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Story and photos by Josh Heath November 24, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Local baker makes Greek desserts layered with love

Making baklava is a time-consuming process that involves buttering 60 layers of filo dough, but Thalia O’Gorman loves baking the Greek dessert. O’Gorman owns Thalia’s Baklava, which recently began leasing space in OPP Kitchen located at 359 Furys Ferry Road in Martinez. She sells seven flavors of the dessert, including traditional, chocolate, blueberry, and espresso. “It’s like apple pie; everybody who makes it has their own version of it,” said O’Gorman, a native of Connecticut. “And we all swear ours is the best.” She grew up in a Greek family

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Story and photos by Josh Heath November 23, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Local race to fund cancer research looking for business sponsors

While many kids spend much of their free time playing video games, a local 9-year-old is raising funds for cancer research, thanks to help from local businesses. Last year, Asher Fairey, a third grader at Lewiston Elementary School in Evans, organized the Little Hearts for Cures 5K & Fun Run, which raised about $5,000 for Curing Kids Cancer, an Atlanta-based non-profit organization, according to his mom and local real estate agent, Ehrin. This year’s race will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10, 9-noon at Savannah Rapids Pavilion. The 5K will

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Josh Heath November 22, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Local charity supports U.S. troops stationed overseas

Burt Sappenfield has never served in the military, but every year, he helps to warm the hands and hearts of U.S. servicemembers all over the world. In 2009, Sappenfield, owner of Majestic Floor Care, established the Operation Handwarmer initiative, which has collected more than 150,000 items, including not only hand warmers but also toothpaste, nuts, protein bars, candy, and gloves, to ship to U.S. Army troops stationed overseas. “We work with chaplains, and they take them to the troops,” he said. Unlike other charities, Operation Handwarmer doesn’t accept monetary donations

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Josh Heath November 21, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Meybohm celebrates grand opening of new development division location

A major division of a local real estate company now has a new home. Meybohm Real Estate’s development division, known as CSRA Development, has relocated to a new building at 247 Camilla Ave. in Martinez. The company celebrated its grand opening, Thursday, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce. For the last 30 years, CSRA Development has been responsible for overseeing the planning and development of neighborhoods throughout the CSRA, including Riverwood in Evans, Canterbury Farms in Grovetown, and Cornerstone Creek in Harlem. The division

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Josh Heath November 21, 2022 No Comments
Awards/Celebrations

Local counseling center wins phone makeover contest

Counselors help people find peace of mind and encouragement in the worst times of their lives. A local counseling center will soon contact its clients using a nearly $7,000 phone system, thanks to a CSRA technology company. Still Waters Professional Counseling Services in Martinez won the 2022 IntelliSystems Extreme Phone Makeover Contest, which required businesses to complete an online entry form and submit a video. “Our second Extreme Phone Makeover Contest proved to be another outstanding success,” said IntelliSystems CEO, Kevin Wade. “The winning entry was chosen by a select

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Josh Heath November 20, 2022 No Comments
Awards/Celebrations

Doctors Hospital Awarded “A” Hospital Safety Grade from Leapfrog Group

Doctors Hospital of Augusta is one of the safest in the Augusta area, according to Leapfrog Group. Doctors received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group. This national distinction celebrates Doctors Hospital’s achievements in protecting hospital patients from preventable harm and errors. “This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our colleagues and physicians at Doctors Hospital,” said Joanna Conley, CEO of Doctors Hospital. “Our team is committed to providing safe, quality care to our community as exemplified by this recognition from Leapfrog.” The

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Gary Kauffman November 17, 2022 No Comments
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