Augusta, GA August 2023

Letter from the Editor

I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits.

This issue is always one of my favorites. I suppose because of the immense joy that children bring to their families and the significant impact they make on their communities.

Children are not merely the hope for a brighter tomorrow; they are the foundation upon which our society stands. Their innocence, curiosity, and boundless potential have the power to shape the world in ways we can only imagine. Kids represent our hardest work and greatest investment and we are happy to highlight the best for Augusta kids in this issue.

Secondarily, who could forget pets? The special kind of companionship can be a transformative experience for children and adults alike. Pets provide us with unconditional love, the opportunity to learn, grow and develop essential life skills in a nurturing environment. And who could ignore the bond between kids and their furry or feathery friends? The bond is often deep and meaningful, fostering qualities like empathy, responsibility, and companionship.

Although children are of infinitely more value, what children and pets share in common is that they need us. Our care, attention and intention shapes how they are raised and who they become. We hope this issue inspires you to pour a little extra into the children and pets in your life this month.

August 2023

PUBLISHER

Jana Morris | jana.morris@citylifestyle.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Bailey Hall | bailey.hall@citylifestyle.com

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Collin Beasley | collin.beasley@citylifestyle.com

ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR

Daniel Morris

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Bailey Hall, Jonah Miller, Michelle W. Parnell

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Bailey Hall, Danielle Franklin Photography

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Tiffany Slowinski

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

DIRECTOR OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS Jennifer Robinson

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Josh Klein

CONTROLLER Gary Johnson

AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain

city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen.

Want to be seen in the magazine? Tag your Instagram photos with @citylifestyleaugusta

business monthly

A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

Soca Vegan Kitchen Celebrates 1st Anniversary

Soca Vegan Kitchen is a Trinidadian style vegan restaurant run by mother daughter duo, Diane and Georgia. They recently celebrated the first anniversary of their storefront location! Soca Vegan Kitchen is located at 630 Crane Creek Drive. Follow them on Facebook to see their menu and learn more information about the food they serve.

Truck Tip from All About Trucks and Autos

Daniel Morris, owner of All About Trucks and Autos, wants to share a friendly reminder to have your brake pads checked on your vehicle before it’s too late. Waiting too long to replace old brake pads can cause damage to your rotors which will cost more to replace. If you are noticing a noise when you brake, it might be time to replace your brake pads. Daniel and his crew would love to help you! All About Trucks is a family-owned business and you can call them at (706)855-8768.

Host Families Needed

Amanda Strausser from Education Travel & Culture is searching for families to host super excited, English speaking exchange students! Students are arriving for the new school year and can't wait to meet their American families! If you would like more information about hosting an exchange student, contact Amanda at 803-292-5903.

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Augusta

Making History

The Aquinas High School varsity girls soccer team brought home the State Championship title following a remarkable undefeated season

The varsity girl’s soccer team from Aquinas High School experienced an exceptional 2023 season! Under the leadership of team captains Landry Minton (senior), Caroline Jackson (senior), and Landry Washington (junior), the team won the Georgia High School Association 1A Division II State Championship, the first in Aquinas school history. The title came on the heels of an undefeated season (14-0), which included beating cross-town rivals Richmond Academy and Westminster. On its own, the season was spectacular, but what made it even sweeter is the fact that the girls did it all after not winning one game the previous season.

“At the end of the season last year for our last game at our home field, we had a chance to win it with a header that just barely missed,” shares Coach Sean Brandes. “Then, they scored a late goal to beat us 2-1. The girls were angry; they wanted to win and to show that they were better

than that… and I think that carried over to this year. They were out from the first practice and ready to get going this season. In fact, almost all the girls that were on the team last year came back out this year, which says a lot about their perseverance and togetherness.”

Melissa Minton, coach and mom to team captain Landry Minton, agrees that the girls had something they wanted to prove this year. “This year’s seniors were freshmen COVID year,” explains Melissa. “That season got cut short because of COVID and they had a really good team that year. So I think the energy and motivation that the seniors had with feeling cheated their first year stayed with them throughout high school. After they won their first game this year, they knew they could go far this season and that was a driving force in the conversations that they would have with the rest of the team… to redeem the COVID year and finish their high school soccer career strong.”

As the team transitioned from a losing season to a winning season, the coaching staff, which includes Sean and Melissa and also Riley Washington and Andres Jarvis, continued to focus on fundamentals. “We had the same core principles as

last year: respect, knowing the game, thinking and hustling,” says Sean. They did, however, make adjustments when it came to team building. “We went to Top Golf and had a family spaghetti dinner - all before the first game so that the girls could get to know one another better away from the sport, which is a big momentum-building aspect of why it was different this year,” adds Sean.

Growing support from fans also energized and encouraged the team to finish the season strong. “When we were getting to the semifinals, more and more of the students and their families were coming out and watching our games, which all ended up being at home because we kept winning,” shares Melissa. “Such great fan following and also support from our Booster Club made a huge difference because the girls loved having a crowd so much. Then, to win that championship game and have two chartered buses full of fans, in addition to individual people who drove separately, come and support us in Powder Springs… that was monumental and just a lot of fun.”

Congratulations to the Aquinas girl’s soccer team on a phenomenal season!

Hometown Heroes

Do you know someone who has done something amazing in the community? Nominate them by emailing bailey.hall@citylifestyle.com.

James Allen, Organizer

Dungeons & Dragons Adventurers League of Augusta/CSRA

“We're not an official nonprofit organization… we're just a bunch of guys and gals who get together and have fun rolling dice and occasionally give back into the community,” shares James Allen, organizer of the Dungeons & Dragons Adventurers League of Augusta/CSRA. “We meet every week, but about once a quarter we come together and set a goal to be able to raise money for a local nonprofit.”

The organization, which has over three hundred local members and often gathers at Cardboard Castle Games, raised over $20,000 in monetary and in-kind donations during 2022 to benefit three local charitable organizations: Child Enrichment, RISE Augusta, and Fort Gordon’s Christmas House. This year, the group has already raised $5,000 to benefit Child Enrichment.

For more information on opportunities for adults and students (middle school through college aged) or updates on the next fundraising opportunity, visit the group’s Facebook page @D&D Adventurers League Augusta / CSRA.

Shonta Bradley, Founder & CEO

Because, Butterflies R Blue

As a local non-profit organization, Because, Butterflies R Blue serves at-risk girls across the CSRA through programs that focus on building self-esteem, education, and mentoring. Each year, the program sponsors a three-day retreat. “It's an opportunity to be in an intimate setting where we're having fun with the girls but we’re also sowing those seeds of affirmations, of loving themselves, and giving them an opportunity to have a safe space,” shares Shonta. “We talk about everything from self-esteem and self-worth to the dangers of social media and the internet. We do vision boards, etiquette, table setting, conversations over cooking, financial training, and more.” Shonta emphasizes this truth with the girls, “the comma in the name is significant because it gives you an opportunity to think… butterflies can do anything because butterflies can transform, so we can do anything and we can transform into anyone.”

For more information on the programs offered and how you can provide community support, visit becausebutterfliesrblue.com .

Robin Guerrero

Katherine’s Way

Offered through 143 Ministries, Katherine’s Way serves women battling addictions. The outreach includes an intensive 90-day recovery program followed by the opportunity for women to live in a transitional home for six to nine months. However, many women cannot afford the cost of the program on their own.  “What we find is when women are ready to come to treatment, there are no funds to send them,” shares Robin. “Families are often willing to help, but usually they can't because they're left with taking care of the woman’s children.”

A scholarship fund, supported by community donations and the annual Miles of Miracles 5K Color Run fundraiser, helps meet this need. “It's a way for the community to sow into these women because during the program, we equip them to go into the community as functioning people of society,” says Robin. “The very women that they may be sowing into could potentially be an employee or neighbor in their future.”

The Miles of Miracles 5K Color Run is scheduled for August 19, 2023. To register visit active.com or to become a sponsor of the event, visit 143ministries.org

Bob Courtwright

Feathered Friends Forever

Feathered Friends Forever, a Veteran founded nonprofit organization, is a companion bird rescue and sanctuary that currently cares for around 300 tropical parrots that have been abused, abandoned, lost, or surrendered. Some of the birds at Feathered Friends Forever are available for adoption, while some have special needs that require care for the rest of their lives. Over the past 22 years, they have found loving homes for over 1,000 feathered friends.

Bob Courtwright tells us that running the sanctuary and making sure there’s food and all the supplies needed to care for the birds is very expensive. Donations are always needed to help cover these costs.

Feathered Friends Forever is located at 612 Byrd Road in Harlem and they are open to the public every Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 4pm. Admission to tour the sanctuary is by donation. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, adopting a bird, or wanting to learn more information about the sanctuary, visit their website featheredfriendsforever.org .

TAJI'S TENTS

Taji Johnson, a nine year old boy from Trenton, has a heart of compassion and loves helping others in need. He started Taji’s Tents after he volunteered and served food to the homeless two years ago. “I could see that he was heartbroken and I always tell my children that if you see something you don’t like, we do something about it. If we can’t do anything about it, we try to find the resources to help them,” says Chemikia Johnson, Taji’s mom. “I’m a real estate broker and he thought it would be easy for me and my friends to all get together and just buy them all houses. I told him that wasn’t possible, so let’s come up with something else,” says Chemikia.

“I thought, and thought, and thought, and then I came up with tents to protect them from stuff like fires, floods and rain,” says Taji. The next morning, Taji made a video telling everyone what he wanted to do and asked if anyone wanted to make a donation. So many people came together

TAJI JOHNSON IS CHANGING THE WORLD ONE TENT AT A TIME

to support him and now he has purchased over $13,000 worth of tents and has received donations from as far as Korea. Another way that Taji earns money for tents is by selling the fruits and vegetables he grows in his garden every year.

Follow Taji’s Tents on Facebook or Instagram @tajis_ tents to learn more and to buy fruits and vegetables. Taji has been recognized multiple times for his hard work and has won The Jo-Nathan Foundation Emerging Leader Award, is the youngest recipient ever to receive the Giving Your Best Award, and numerous other awards for his sacrifice and compassion. Each tent costs $25. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so through CashApp: $TajisTents, GoFundMe: Taji’s Tents, Venmo: @Tajis-Tents, Zelle, Amazon, or ApplePay: (803)293-8154, or by mail to Taji Johnson, P.O. Box 112, Trenton, SC. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to helping those in need Taji!

Hope for Hooves

PROVIDING A PLACE OF HEALING FOR ANIMALS AND HUMANS

What began with a cancer diagnosis and a donkey has blossomed into an organization that ministers to both animals and humans in need. Michelle Derrick was first diagnosed with cancer in 2013. During her cancer journey, she felt the Lord leading her to buy a donkey, which seemed odd, but she followed the prompting anyway. “One day I was sitting on my front porch and I realized that I had

all this land that I could utilize,” shares Michelle. “So, we had the land cleared, put up a fence, my husband and son built a run-in, and we were able to bring the donkey home in January of 2019.”

A few months later, when Michelle was given the news that she had only three months to live, being with and caring for the donkey brought her peace. Not long after, Michelle knew she was being called to open an equine rescue and in 2020, she opened Hope for Hooves. “The problem was, I didn’t know anything about horses,” says Michelle, who was declared cancer free in 2021. “God brought me some ladies to come alongside me and help me with my vision. They taught me everything that I needed to know and they're still teaching me today.” Hope for Hooves is home to horses, donkeys, and a fun collection of other animals such as ducks, chickens, pigs, and sheep.

“Once I had the rescue up and running, the Lord began giving me ideas of how to raise money to support the rescue and one of those was the Resonating with the Rescues program,” she explains. “It is a ninety-minute one-on-one mentorship program that provides a safe place for children to bond with the animals and with one of our facilitators. When it first began, the program was more about older children and young adults with autism. Now, we have children who not only have autism, but who have also been abused. We also have children who have been rescued from trafficking.”

Based on the application questionnaire, Michelle ensures that each child has what they need to relax and enjoy the session. “If they like to paint, I make sure to have plenty of paint. If they like to read,

they can read to the animals. Then they get to walk around, pick their favorite animal, and they get to brush the animal and potentially ride them depending on the case. Brushing a horse is therapeutic… even mucking a stall can be therapeutic,” Michelle adds with a laugh. Whether the children are brushing the animals or reading to them, the attention makes the animals feel cared for, which provides for their needs as a rescued animal as well.

Currently, all the sessions take place outside which can cause difficulties when the weather is poor. So, Michelle’s next project is to turn part of the pole barn into an indoor sensory area, which would be available to children all the time but especially if the weather makes outside activities inaccessible.

Hope for Hooves also offers field trips for families and large groups, birthday parties, horseback riding lessons, farm tours, and a location to host community events. “It's a happy place. It's a place where you can find peace and hope in these horses because they really are amazing creatures,” says Michelle. “I also love to see families connect during their visits – seeing the children out here with their parents or grandparents, it brings us happiness and joy.”

For more information on programs offered, volunteer opportunities, and details on supporting the rescue, visit hopeforhooves.org or follow Hope for Hooves Rescue on Facebook.

“If they like to paint, I make sure to have plenty of paint. If they like to read, they can read to the animals. Then they get to walk around, pick their favorite animal, and they get to brush the animal and potentially ride them depending on the case.”

STAY CONNECTED TO YOUR COMMUNITY

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM

Inspiration for your best local life.

Exclusive giveaways.

Hidden gem alert!

Good news happening right in your neighborhood.

AUGUSTA CITY LIFESTYLE

SCAN TO CONNECT

DNA Extraction

FROM STRAWBERRIES

MAKE THIS FUN SCIENCE EXPERIMENT PROVIDED BY FORT STEM

MATERIALS NEEDED

• Ziplock bag

• 2 Clear plastic cups

• Water

• Salt (1/4 teaspoon)

• Dishwashing detergent (1/4 teaspoon)

• Coffee filter or cheesecloth

• Isopropyl alcohol (chilled in the freezer)

• Tweezers

• Fresh strawberries (2-3)

DIRECTIONS

Step 1: Prepare the Strawberries

Gently rinse the strawberries under cold water to remove any dirt or debris. Remove the green leafy tops and cut the strawberries into small pieces. Place the strawberry pieces into a ziplock bag and seal it, ensuring there is no air trapped inside.

Step 2: Mash the Strawberries

Using your hands, gently mash and squeeze the strawberry pieces inside the sealed bag. The goal is to break down the cell walls and release the DNA. Continue mashing for about 2-3 minutes until the strawberries are thoroughly mashed.

Step 3: Create the Extraction Mixture

In a plastic cup, mix 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of dishwashing detergent, and 50 mL of water. Stir the mixture gently to dissolve the salt and detergent.

Step 4: Add the Mashed Strawberries

Open the ziplock bag and pour the mashed strawberries into the extraction mixture. Stir the contents gently for about 5 minutes to ensure thorough mixing.

Step 5: Filter the Mixture

Place a coffee filter or cheesecloth over another cup or beaker. Carefully pour the strawberry mixture through the filter, allowing the liquid to pass through while trapping the pulp and debris. Squeeze the filter to extract as much liquid as possible.

Step 6: Precipitate the DNA

Pour the filtered strawberry liquid into a test tube or small glass container, filling it about one-third full. Slowly add the chilled isopropyl alcohol to the cup, pouring it down the side. You should see a clear layer of liquid form at the top with a cloudy white layer below. This white layer contains the extracted DNA.

Step 7: Collect the DNA

Take a pair of tweezers and gently insert them into the cloudy white layer of DNA where you can see the stringy DNA strands forming. Carefully pinch with your tweezers and lift the stringy material to collect the DNA.

Congratulations! You have successfully extracted DNA from strawberries. You can observe and marvel at the extracted DNA or even store it in a small container for further exploration or experimentation.

events

A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.

AUGUST

2ND, 9TH, 16TH, 23RD, 30TH AUGUST 5TH-6TH

Wacky Wednesday Storytime

BARNES AND NOBLE

Kids of all ages are invited to attend weekly "Wacky" storytime at Barnes and Noble.

Gun Show

COLUMBIA COUNTY EXHIBITION CENTER

If you are a gun collector, or are a hunting enthusiast, the gun show at the Columbia County Exhibition Center is a great place to spend some time. There will be a variety of vendors displaying guns, hunting supplies, military surplus and outdoor gear. Hours on the 5th are 9am to 5pm and on the 6th it's 10am to 4pm.

AUGUST 5TH

Summer Pop-Up!

PENDLETON KING PARK | 4:00 PM

Join this end of summer celebration on August 5th from 4pm to 8pm at Pendleton King Park! Shop local vendors and support nonprofits! Food trucks and concessions will be available. Bring your chairs and enjoy an afternoon in the park.

AUGUST 12TH

9th Annual Augusta Beerfest

JAMES BROWN ARENA

Hosting over 100 beers from some of the best breweries in the country, Augusta Beerfest No. 9 will take place on Saturday, August 12, 2023, at James Brown Arena from 3PM to 6PM. General Admission tickets are $40 in advance, $50 the day of, and can be purchased at AECTix.com and at the SRP Box Office at James Brown Arena.

AUGUST 13TH

2023 Candlelight Music Series

AUGUSTA COMMON

The Candlelight Music Series is back and better than ever! Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and enjoy listening to the area's most popular local and regional artists. Admission is $10, children 12 and under are free. Event starts at 7:30pm.

AUGUST 24TH

CSRA Business Networking Event

THE ELKS LODGE | 5:30 PM

Business owners are invited to the CSRA Business Networking Event at the Elks Lodge on August 24th at 5:30pm. There will be food, a cash bar, and lots of local business owners to mingle with. Don’t forget to bring lots of business cards!