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Consumer Stories
Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Roughing it at Outback Steakhouse

Editor’s Note: Wes Hennings never met a meal he walked away from and is an opinionated eater! Each Thursday he shares the results of a business lunch he’s had with a colleague as a way to advise our business community on the good, bad, and tasty across the CSRA. He doesn’t let ABD or the restaurant know where he is going and his opinions are his own. He grades the restaurants he visits on a 1-5 scale with “5” being outstanding. We call this our “Real Business Lunch Review”. Food

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Wes Hennings March 24, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Augusta Airport prepares for the major travel rush

Thanks to covid, Masters travel numbers at the Augusta Regional Airport have been significantly lower than usual for the last two years. But that won’t be the case this year. The airport is preparing for a normal tournament week April 4-11 by instituting a new parking policy, introducing a new baggage claim area, and temporarily adding some direct flight options. “As the primary gateway to Augusta, we are diligently preparing for the 2022 Masters and are excited for the prospects of a full event,” said airport Executive Director Herbert L.

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Josh Heath March 23, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Local golfers tee off for two causes

A week before the legendary golf tournament descends on Augusta, there’s another tournament that raises funds to support two local nonprofits. The 26th annual Triple Crown Golf Classic will be held on Monday, March 28 at Woodside Country Club in Aiken. Proceeds from the private event will be split between Helping Hands and Tri-Development Center of Aiken County, Inc. Helping Hands provides services for abused, neglected, and abandoned children, while Tri-Development serves adults with a variety of disabilities, such as brain injuries and autism. Heather Waddell, Executive Director of Tri-Development

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Josh Heath March 23, 2022 No Comments
B2B Stories

Local entrepreneur to make trash cans sparkle

You probably don’t think much about your outdoor trash cans until the stench of three-day-old meatloaf hits you in the face and pesky flies swarm around your head. But Drayton Oswald wants you to leave the chore of cleaning your dirty cans to him. Next month, Oswald plans to launch Spic & Span Georgialina Cans, which will specialize in washing, disinfecting, and deodorizing cans. The home-based business will primarily serve Columbia County residents. Spic & Span will use a simple process that can clean two trash cans at the same

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Josh Heath March 23, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

AU Health finally gets the green light to build Columbia County hospital

Between 2010 and 2020, Columbia County’s population grew by more than 25 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Despite this growth, the county still doesn’t have its hospital. The closest hospital is Doctor’s Hospital, which depending on where you live in the county could mean a half-hour drive. But that won’t be the case much longer. Augusta University Health System CEO, Katrina Keefer said she and her staff are currently in the design phase for a new five-floor, 100-bed hospital in Grovetown. It will be located just off Exit

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Josh Heath March 22, 2022 1 Comment
B2B Stories

Big career changes are icing on the cake for the See family

Susan See was a practicing attorney with Fletcher, Harley, and Fletcher for 25 years. Her husband, James, worked for Rainbow Homes for 35 years. They gave it all up to bake cakes. Two years ago, they opened Nothing Bundt Cakes in Evans. Just over a week ago the doors opened at their second franchise in Aiken. It’s been a sweet transition for both, and cakes are flying off the shelves at both locations. “A friend told me about Nothing Bundt Cakes because she knew of my love for entertaining,” Susan

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Mitzi Oxford March 22, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

New business spreads Aloha in the CSRA

The translation of aloha is “the breath of life.” That’s really what Stacey Bulfinch-Idica’s business is all about. Bulfinch-Idica recently opened the doors of Aloha Aesthetics but her company is way more than Botox and beauty. Aloha can mean hello or goodbye, but it also means spreading love and fellowship. “I fell in love with helping people feel better about themselves,” she said. “My business is not about plastics. I believe angels sent me to make a difference.” Aloha Aesthetics offers Botox, micro-needling, PDO thread lifts, and IV hydration. Big,

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Mitzi Oxford March 18, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Faith Friday: ‘Faith Over Fear’ more than a saying for a local dentist

Reclined in the dentist’s chair, bib and safety glasses in place, and the sound of Christian music playing above might drown out the noise of a drill in your mouth. If you’re a patient at North Augusta Dental Care, then Brooke Usry, DMD, might also hum along, singing a lyric or two while she works. Her dental practice unashamedly boasts Christian values and vibes from the time you enter to the time you exit. “My mission is to influence patients through Christ and dentistry,” said Usry, who purchased the practice,

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Monique Williams March 18, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Real Talk Real Estate: Selling a Home with Pets

I hope that we all share the love of a beloved pet or two. I can admit I am fully pet-crazed and love my fur babies like they are my children. My friends affectionately refer to me as the crazy cat lady! When I am helping buyers and sellers, pets often take center stage with needs. Those who have pets want to buy a home with a fenced yard for the dogs or a screened porch for the cats. If you are a seller, you are concerned with what you

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Shawna Woodward, Re/Max Reinvented Evans March 18, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Masks are coming off at local businesses

To mask or not to mask – that is the question. Because the number of COVID-19 cases has declined in recent weeks, ABD contacted local business leaders to find out if they have relaxed or even eliminated their mask policies. When the pandemic officially hit the United States in March 2020, most grocery stores, retail shops, and restaurants required everyone, including employees, to wear a mask. While some national businesses haven’t changed their policies yet, many local businesses have. Robyn Kelley, the owner of Trendz Salon located on Riverwatch Parkway

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Josh Heath March 17, 2022 No Comments
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