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B2B Stories

Passport backlog jeopardizing travel plans for business and leisure

Summertime is traveling time and if you are venturing abroad, be aware there could be a big hitch in your plans. Whether traveling for business, pleasure, for students involved in international studies, or for church groups visiting other countries for ministry work, the new rules will apply. The standard passport renewal process, which typically takes a few weeks, can now take up to 13 weeks, not counting mail time which could add two or three more weeks. Even expedited service could take up to nine weeks. For a couple of

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Mitzi Oxford June 27, 2023 No Comments
B2B Stories

Military rallies around restaurant grand opening

For 25-year veteran, Kelly O’Neal (pictured above) and his retired Naval vet wife, Tiffany, a new mission begins this morning with a ribbon cutting and this afternoon with a radio remote. Their new “mission” is to rally thousands of military men and women from the CSRA and “regular folks” who enjoy good food and drinks at their Rally Point Grille restaurant. “I retired with top secret clearance at Fort Gordon,” said Kelly O’Neal. Now, he must re-earn the trust of people following a decorated military career. They are “accidental restaurateurs,”

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Neil Gordon June 26, 2023 No Comments
ABD Extra

Hitting the road with Georgia’s film industry

Georgia Entertainment News has scheduled the Georgia Unscripted Roadshow to crisscross the state and highlight the impact the entertainment industry has on the Peach State. The organization advocates for Georgia’s entertainment industry and kicked off the road trip on June 22 in Athens. It will continue on its nine-city journey through the state, which includes a planned stop in Augusta on August 23. “We’re advocacy media, we’re a publication that covers the industry,” said Randy Davidson, President of Georgia Entertainment News. “Our editorial pages are pro the state investing further

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Dana Lynn McIntyre June 26, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Local restaurant owners request community support to stay afloat

In June 2022, Georgia Alexander opened a vegan restaurant in Augusta, but just one year later, she and her mother and co-owner, Diane Francis are struggling to keep the business afloat, thanks to mounting debts and rising food costs. Alexander and Francis own Soca Vegan Kitchen, which serves a variety of Trinidad-inspired dishes and is located at 630 Crane Creek Drive, Suite 103, near Sprouts Farmers Market. Alexander recently started a GoFundMe with a goal of raising $500,000. As of Friday, she had received 10 donations totaling $735. “We are

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Josh Heath June 25, 2023 No Comments
B2B Stories

Entrepreneur creates a different kind of Amen Corner

Amen Corner at Augusta National sports one of the more challenging, but beautiful three holes in golf. With a stone bridge across Rae’s Creek, it provides iconic “beauty shots” during the Masters. Augusta National has trademarked the name, “Amen Corner.” That Amen Corner was born in 1958. Ethan Hammond wasn’t even a glimmer in his parents’ eyes back then. His business, Amen Corner Ponds, while a nod to his community, stems more from his church upbringing and honoring his faith, because to be successful in business and life, we all

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Mitzi Oxford June 22, 2023 No Comments
B2B Stories

Mobile mechanic puts the brakes on high car repair costs

Austin Cravey understands many can’t afford to wait days or even weeks for costly car repairs, which is why he helps his customers save both time and money. About two months ago, Cravey launched Cravey’s Car Care, a local mobile mechanic business in Martinez that offers a variety of services, ranging from oil changes to engine rebuilds. “We also do light and heavy diesel work,” he said. “We work on foreign and domestic vehicles.” Cravey said some of his customers have already spent thousands of dollars at other repair shops,

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Josh Heath June 20, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Takosushi founder starts another specialty restaurant

Kevin Goldsmith is at it again. He started Takosushi more than a decade ago and it’s become a local and regional success. The European native is celebrating 50 years in the food and beverage industry. Trattoria Polipo is an ode to his childhood, when he enjoyed the understated, affordable neighborhood restaurants that were gathering, eating and drinking spots for family and friends. Most meals are $18.50, plus a little more for meat or shrimp, which includes a house salad and freshly baked bread. The restaurant is open for dinners beginning

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Neil Gordon June 19, 2023 No Comments
ABD Extra

Doing some homework on new school coming to the area

Students in Aiken County have just started enjoying their summer vacation; however, school district leaders are working this summer to prepare to open a new school for the 2023-2024 school year. Highland Springs Middle School is under construction just off Belvedere-Clearwater Road and is phase one of a two-part project. Phase two will be the construction of an elementary school. The middle school will be two stories, 134,000 square feet, and able to accept 750 students. Once built, the elementary school will add 61,500 square feet, also two stories, with

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Dana Lynn McIntyre June 19, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Huge hiring event coming this week

If you want to reach the summit of job opportunities, this is your chance. Almost 100 employers will be looking for thousands of employees this week at the annual Fort Gordon Career Summit. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Fort Gordon Transition Assistance Program (TAP) are the hosts for the Hiring Our Heroes event on Thursday, June 22, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Gordon Catering and Conference Center. While the hiring fair is primarily intended for military members transitioning out of the service and military spouses,

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Mitzi Oxford June 18, 2023 No Comments
Awards/Celebrations

Leaders in business and family: Father’s Day tribute

Editor’s note: I grew up in Tennessee. My Daddy was a horse trainer and farrier with four daughters. He instilled in his girls a strong work ethic and helped us believe that there was nothing we couldn’t accomplish. One went into drafting, one became a seamstress, another followed in his footsteps as a trainer, and I worked in television. He was proud of each of his girls, just as ABD is proud to salute all the dads this weekend who set examples for their children to follow. Successful business owners

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Mitzi Oxford June 15, 2023 No Comments
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