Sports / Entertainment

Consumer Stories

Working for the Weekend: Riverbanks Zoo & Garden

No matter the time of year, one of our favorite day trips is to visit Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia. This zoo is the perfect size for me. It has a ton of animals and exhibits, but it’s not so big as to be overwhelming or so you feel like you can’t see it all in a day. However, when you visit in the summertime, the heat can be overwhelming. That’s why one of our favorite parts of the zoo is the splash zone in the botanical garden section. They also

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Consumer Stories

Working for the Weekend: The Augusta Market

I love a good day trip with the kiddos, but you don’t actually have to leave the city to find a fun outing for the weekend. Just a drive downtown can provide a fun Saturday with the kids, or even the pets. I hit up the Augusta Market with two of our three girls and had a good time just discovering what’s available at the stands near the river. And let me tell you, it’s quite an eclectic offering. I think most people assume it’s a farmer’s market vibe, but

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B2B Stories

Balancing the Short-Term and the Long-Term

At this time last year, I wrote a column that discussed Major League Baseball’s “trade deadline” and how it provides some good lessons that we can apply to business decision-making. In today’s column, I will revisit one of those lessons in more detail than I provided last time.  However, before we delve into that lesson, please allow me to quickly review the trade deadline and its implications. This year’s trade deadline was last Tuesday, July 30, at 6 pm EDT, meaning that teams cannot make trades for players from other

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B2B Stories

Busby’s brings an Olympic buzz to CSRA

A unique video campaign showcasing a company mascot is creating quite a buzz on social media. Busby’s Heating and Air Conditioning has put Buzz front and center at Olympic-style competitions including basketball, pole vaulting, and skateboarding. Of course, Buzz isn’t really in Paris, but the campaign highlights many local venues as a backdrop for his athletic prowess. Some of the highlights from their 10-video campaign include: Swimming: In this video, Buzz visits the Wilson Family Y and takes viewers on a tour of their pool and gives them a glimpse

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B2B Stories

CSRA business owner going for gold in Paris

The eyes of the world are on Paris as athletes from around the globe are competing in the 2024 Olympics. Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky have already won an unprecedented number of gold medals, but an Aikenite will soon be giving her all to represent the CSRA and the USA. When the lights dim on August 11 after the Olympics closing ceremony, the spotlight will turn to the Paralympics which begins August 28 through September 8. That is when you can cheer for Ellen Geddes. She grew up in Aiken’s

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Consumer Stories

Jones Creek Golf Course to Re-Open

Publisher’s Note: ABD received the Thursday morning edition of Jones Creek News and is publishing it in its entirety. It was provided by Tripp Nanney of the Jones Creek HOA. The golf course has been closed since September 2018 due to an unresolved lawsuit against Columbia County, concerning stormwater runoff that flooded parts of the course. Bond Global of Aiken developed a relationship with Jones Creek and opened a driving range in April 2023. This relationship is continuing in a big way. Tripp’s Tidbits – Jones Creek Golf Course Update

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Sports / Entertainment

Working for the Weekend: Carowinds

I grew up in the middle of America, so instead of Disney and beaches, my family would trek to regional amusement parks and my dad and I would ride roller coasters. I’ve waited years to do the same with my girls, and we found a perfect spot just a couple of hours from home. I think most people think of Six Flags when they think of a nearby amusement park, but the real gem of our area is Carowinds, just this side of Charlotte. It quite literally sits on the

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B2B Stories

Road Construction Flips Festival Venue

Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival will be returning to Broad Street and the Augusta Common on September 20 – 22 this year. The decision to move back was made after the road construction schedule for Telfair Street was announced last week. The Telfair Street construction would have impacted the festival site. Road construction on Broad Street, which had initially prompted the relocation, will now start in 2025. The festival will feature over 150 juried Fine Arts and Crafts artists this year, with artists coming from all over the

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Consumer Stories

New leader taking over for 70th season of Augusta institution

On Monday, a marketing professional takes over the Augusta Symphony and hopes to conduct herself in a way to lead her team into the 8th decade of music in Augusta. “I was asked to apply for the position, and I can’t wait to get started. I feel like all my past experiences in marketing, business development, and being actively involved in the community will be extremely helpful,” Becky Dearden explained. She previously served for eight years as the Marketing Director of SME CPAs, an accounting firm with offices in Augusta and

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B2B Stories

Bouncing the way to major economic impact

North Augusta is preparing to welcome one of the CSRA’s most popular, and economically significant, events back to Riverview Park. The 2024 Nike EYBL Peach Jam Basketball Tournament kicks off on July 12. This marks the 28th year the city has hosted the tournament which began as the Peach Basket Classic in 1996. It began as a four-day event, expanded to a weeklong tournament and this year is growing again. “New this year is the event will last 10 days, July 12 through the 21st,” Rick Meyer, Director of Parks,

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