Consumer Stories

Consumer Stories

Chick-fil-A tests CSRA patrons on their appetite for a new product

Chick-fil-A is seeing if the appetites of people in the CSRA will give them the go-ahead to try a new breakfast treat nationwide. Beginning this week, Chick-fil-A launched its new breakfast, Chorizo Cheddar Egg Bites in several test markets. The test markets include nine stores in the Augusta-Aiken areas. “We’ve sold more than we expected to,” said Adam Knight, operating partner of the Aiken Chick-fil-A in the Eastgate shopping center. Chick-fil-A’s goal is to sell about 60 of the four-bite orders per day. Bobby Mussucco, the managing partner of the

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Consumer Stories

CSRA paint and body shop helps to provide car for local single mother

A local single mother is back on the road, thanks to help from a CSRA paint and body shop. Kendrick Paint & Body has partnered with the National Auto Body Council and GEICO to give Carla Paschal a 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan, an SUV with less than 25,000 miles, according to its Operations and Marketing Specialist, Carson McLaughlin. McLaughlin said the car was donated by GEICO as part of the NABC’s Recycled Rides program, which partners with body shops across the United States to repair cars and provide them to those

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Consumer Stories

AU Health one of the few hospitals complying with the price transparency law

Augusta University Health was one of only eight Georgia hospitals found to be compliant with a national price transparency law in a survey reported by PatientRightsAdvocate.org. A national law enacted on Jan. 1, 2021, requires hospitals to list prices as a single machine-readable standard charges file and to include a standard charges display with actual prices or a price estimator tool for the 300 most common shoppable services. The rule is intended to provide consumers and employers broad access to pricing information, empowering them to benefit from competition and drive

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Consumer Stories

Aiken Tech Nursing Program receives donations at the right time

If you’ve ever been to a doctor or been hospitalized, you understand the need for a good nurse. Someone who checks your vital signs, performs lab work, or maybe holds your hand and tells you everything will be all right. Aiken Technical College trains students to provide those skills and much more. A recent $4,000 donation from the Aiken Chapter of Mended Hearts will provide equipment including teaching stethoscopes and an EKG simulator for hands-on training. This is not the first time the group, consisting of former heart patients, has

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Consumer Stories

Soap company to open Columbia County location

A national handmade soap company will soon open a new location in Columbia County. Buff City Soap will be located near Target and Kohl’s in the Mullins Crossing shopping center at 4225-3 Washington Road in Evans. The company makes and sells a variety of plant-based products, including hand, bath, and laundry soaps, as well as bath bombs, beard oils, and lotions. Accessories include soap dishes, loofahs, and body brushes. Founded in Tennessee in 2013, Buff City Soap has locations throughout the U.S., including Florida, South Carolina, and Texas. For more

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Consumer Stories

Local baker launches 1950’s-inspired dessert business

Corry D’Alessandro wasn’t alive in the 1950’s, but she’s still inspired by the decade, which she refers to as a simpler time. That’s why D’Alessandro, a New Jersey native and owner of a local home-based dessert business called Mother Truckin Eatz, LLC, has given many of her treats 50’s-inspired names, such as June Cleaver and Susie Q. She offers a variety of American and Italian desserts, such as cookies, cakes, and biscotti. D’Alessandro’s passion for baking can be traced back to her Italian grandmother, who will soon turn 100. Her

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Consumer Stories

United Way kicks off 2022 campaign, sets a big goal

For the first time in three years, United Way of the CSRA held an in-person campaign kickoff event this past Friday. Part of the event included the United Way’s annual Project Serve day. This year’s goal is to raise $2.4 million to help meet the continued demands of the CSRA. Last year, United Way of the CSRA used the funds to help support 38 programs at 25 different non-profits throughout the CSRA that impacted more than 253,000 people. “Our community needs United Way, our strong partnerships, and ability to mobilize

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Consumer Stories

Local business lets customers smash stress one breakable at a time

While business ownership comes with its share of perks, it often comes with more than its share of stresses. But, so does writing about businesses. Before ABD publisher, Neil Gordon offered me the job of business reporter, I was well acquainted with stress. For many years, I juggled various full-time jobs in higher education and freelance writing gigs that consumed much of my spare time. Writing is now my full-time profession, and, while I still love storytelling, I often feel stressed out. And I’ve discovered I’m not alone. According to

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Consumer Stories

Frontier adds air routes to vacation spots, offers low rates

If you just need to get away, Frontier Airlines is offering some new destinations from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. In November and December, Frontier will start flying to San Jose, Costa Rica; Liberia, Costa Rica; Nassau, Bahamas; San Salvador, El Salvador; and Kingston, Jamaica. Less than a year ago, Frontier had also added routes to Cancun, Mexico; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. To celebrate, Frontier is offering some special introductory fares. Flights to Nassau and San Salvador have an introductory rate of $69; to Kingston and Liberia,

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Consumer Stories

New leadership for two CSRA hospitals

Doctor’s Hospital in Augusta has tapped Joanna Conley as the CEO of the HCA-owned facility. Conley has served in healthcare and leadership roles with HCA in Nashville and Kissimmee, Fla., prior to assuming her role in Augusta. She holds a B.S. Degree in Public Health, Health Policy and Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management. Conley is also a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She assumes the role following the retirement of CEO,

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