I hope this letter finds you laying by the pool or lake and soaking in some much-needed Vitamin D.
As the days grow longer and the weather gets warmer, I find myself eagerly anticipating the arrival of summer. There's just something about this season that brings about a sense of excitement and adventure.
Sure, fall has my favorite flavors and scents, winter has its cozy charms and I can't deny the beauty of spring. But when the summer solstice rolls around, I’m more than ready for the long, languid days sitting by the pool or floating on a boat.
Even if summer doesn't mean three months of summer vacation for us, we can still look forward to an adventure by crossing things off your summer bucket list, like curling up with a new favorite beach read.
July 2023
PUBLISHER
Jana Morris | jana.morris@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Bailey Hall | bailey.hall@citylifestyle.com
ACCOUNT MANAGERS
Stephanie Lewis | stephanie.lewis@citylifestyle.com
Sandra Martin | Sandra.Martin@citylifestyle.com
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Collin Beasley | Collin.Beasley@citylifestyle.com
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR
Daniel Morris
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Bailey Hall, Michelle W. Parnell
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Jarius Smith, Meredeth Hoskinson, Secelia Brown Photography
JANA MORRIS, PUBLISHER @EVANS.LIFESTYLECHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer
ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson
WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell
AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain
Want to be seen in the magazine? Tag your Instagram photos with @evans.lifestyle
Henry and Tom, owners of TBonz Steakhouse Augusta & Evans, received the Spirit of Service Award from The Salvation Army of the CSRA! Congratulations on this award! TBonz has two locations in the CSRA, TBonz Steakhouse Evans is located at 601 N Belair Square and TBonz Steakhouse Augusta is located at 2856 Washington Road.
A galore of toys were donated by Baker Place Elementary School to the dogs at the Columbia County Animal Services. Thank you for your kindness and thoughtfulness, Baker Place Elementary School!
Sol Himalayan Salt Cave and Spa shares exciting updates! They are expanding their location to now have larger, and quieter, massage and facial rooms, two biomats, a bioacoustic therapy, and one of the massage rooms will now be a salt room! They also announced that Sol Himalayan Salt Cave and Spa is now a franchise and they plan to open more locations starting with the East Coast! Congratulations on these wonderful achievements!
Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Evans
“I am a 24-year retired Army veteran. While serving, I participated in numerous efforts here in our homeland and abroad,” says Andran. “I have two adult daughters and three adult grandchildren.”
“I initially chose to go into foster care because I felt it was my way to give back to my community,” she explains. “When I was approached about possibly adopting, the Counselor said three kids. THREE KIDS! Of course, I contemplated because of my age at the time… I didn't know what kind of parent I would be. So, I decided to give it a go. After spending time with the sibling group and experiencing the enjoyment, love, and happiness that was formed, I chose to adopt. I am 62 years old with three young children. They are three beautiful kids, and all three have special needs. I love them, I enjoy them, and they are a blessing in my life.”
Mad Hatter Farm is a 501 (c)3 animal rescue that started as two parents wanting to bring some joy to their kids and help horses in need. Francois and Jill Marier are foster parents to medically fragile and special needs kids and they originally rescued a horse for their kids to take care of. After rescuing the first horse, they noticed the need there was for horse and farm animal rescues.
In honor of their daughter Cassie, who passed away in July of 2022, Francois and Jill decided to open Cassie’s Care Farm. “We’re working to make it handicap accessible so that kids like Cassie can take part in it. Basically, they get to come and visit whenever they want to during open hours,” says Jill.
Cassie’s Care Farm is expected to open later this month. If you would like to volunteer at Mad Hatter Farm, follow their page on Facebook where you can also read updates about animals they are caring for.
Thirteen years ago, Augusta Locally Grown started as an online farmers market with two women owned farms. Now, they have over sixty predominantly women owned farms, an online farmers market, three in-person farmers markets, and multiple wellness programs. “We accept EBT dollars to make it affordable for everyone and we also have a lot of educational programs that go on to connect the community to local agriculture,” says Rebecca Van Loenen, Executive Director of Augusta Locally Grown.
“Every year, we take a group of participants who have diet related diseases. It’s a six month program with monthly clinic visits where your biometrics are taken and you have a one-on-one consultation with a dietitian,” says Rebecca. Participants are given a personalized meal plan and leave the appointment with a dollar amount to purchase healthy foods for them and their family.
For more information or to volunteer with Augusta Locally Grown, please visit augustalocallygrown.org. You can find Augusta Locally Grown on Facebook and Instagram at @augustalocallygrown.
Kari
“Since 1978, our mission has been to provide a voice and a path forward for children who have experienced abuse and neglect. We do this through two programs,” explains Kari. “Our CASA program, Court Appointed Special Advocates, where we recruit and train community volunteers to advocate for children in foster care. Children paired with a CASA volunteer, who is a dedicated advocate, will spend half as long as they normally would in foster care and reach permanency quicker. We also have our Child Advocacy Center where we do forensic interviews. When there is an allegation of abuse, whether that's sexual abuse, physical abuse, witness to violent crime, or child sex trafficking, we are the ones who interview the children.”
As a nonprofit organization, Child Enrichment relies on community support and offers several different ways for community involvement. These options include becoming a CASA volunteer, seeking education by completing one of the center’s free trainings on how to recognize signs of abuse and how to understand how adverse childhood experiences impact kids and adults, and donating money or supplies.
For more information, visit www.childenrichment.org .
Don’t think for another minute that you are stuck with this. What we do is help you cancel your timeshare along with all of the debt and fees associated with it. I guarantee that if we take you on as a client and we don’t cancel your timeshare, you’ll pay nothing!
-Chuck McDowell, Founder & CEO
Many people believe their timeshares cannot be canceled, but they often can be.
Our founder and CEO, Chuck McDowell, has successfully fought in federal court for the right to help timeshare owners — like you — out of their “binding” agreements. Whether you were misled or pressured, you may have an easy exit.
We are able to help most timeshare holders that contact us. You could be one phone call away from complete peace of mind.
Susan Salisbury shares eight reasons why Evans is a great place to call home
ARTICLE BY MICHELLE W. PARNELL
With over twenty years of experience in the real estate industry, Susan Salisbury, top selling agent and Vice President with Blanchard and Calhoun Real Estate Co., knows what makes a community a great place to live. Although she serves clients throughout the CSRA, Susan makes her home in Evans and believes this area has much to offer residents and visitors. “Evans has so many enjoyable amenities, including first class dining and cultural experiences, while at the same time, it has small town charm for those who don’t want to be in the heart of the city,” shares Susan. “It is also a short drive to the city of Augusta, a place rich in history and full of opportunities.”
This month, Susan shares her top eight reasons why Evans is a great place to call home.
EDUCATION:
Columbia County is known for its strong commitment to education and has some of the finest, top-rated schools in Georgia. For further education, Augusta University, Augusta Technical College, and other opportunities are a short drive away.
RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:
Evans boasts excellent parks and outdoor recreation areas including Evans Towne Center Park, Lakeside Park, Blanchard Woods Park, Savannah Rapids, multiple access areas to the Savannah River, and Clarks Hill Lake is just a short distance away.
ENTERTAINMENT VENUES:
There are a variety of cultural entertainment venues such as the Lady A Amphitheatre, the Columbia County Performing Arts Center, The Jabez Sanford Hardin Auditorium inside the library, and the Columbia County Amphitheater located behind the library for hosting special events and concerts.
EVENTS:
Evans is home to many outdoor events like the Evans Market, Screen on the Green, concerts, and Susan’s personal favorite, the Fourth of July Boom in the Park. Indoor events offered include Broadway shows,
international performers, and local talent presenting plays and musicals.
DINING:
Evans is home to many locally owned restaurants ranging from fine to casual dining. There is also a large variety of ethnic foods available, giving the Evans community access to a world of flavors.
QUALITY OF LIFE & COST OF LIVING:
In October 2020, Money Magazine named Evans the best place to live in America for its quality of life and cost of living… that’s a great combination!
HEALTH CARE:
World-class health care and rehabilitation practitioners can be found in Evans and the surrounding area. It’s also exciting that the new Wellstar (Augusta University Health) Hospital will be breaking ground in Grovetown, which will create many local jobs and further healthcare to the area.
REAL ESTATE:
In Evans, there is something for buyers and renters in every price range. There are gated communities, apartments and townhomes, patio homes, farms, and homes with values which range from first-time home buyer affordable to multi-million-dollar properties. Additionally, new high-end apartments are opening soon right in the heart of, and within walking distance to, Evans Towne Center.
“Evans is a delightful gem of the South that deserves recognition,” says Susan. “With a great sense of community, excellent schools, affordable custom living, and proximity to Augusta, it’s an ideal place to call home. Evans has something for everyone.”
Susan prides herself on providing first-class concierge service to all her clients with the goal of having a smooth transaction that closes on time. For more information on how Susan can assist you, email SSalisbury@ blanchardandcalhoun.com or call 317-847-7216 or 706-868-1000.
Jacob Bailey, a recent graduate of Lakeside High School, is making a name for himself in the music world. He has always had a love for music but his passion began in 8th grade. “It was the Bohemian Rhapsody movie that got me into Queen and just opened up the whole door for music,” says Jacob. Other artists that he finds inspiration from are The Beatles, Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers, The 1975, and Hippo Campus.
As part of his senior project, Jacob decided to create his own song, Where Do I Go Now. He wrote and individually recorded each aspect of the song and uploaded it online to be available on all streaming platforms. “I’ve described Where Do I Go Now as a love song to feelings. There was a period last year where I didn’t feel any feelings and it was really weird. So, it’s mainly about missing feelings and learning how to live like this. So many of the human experiences are based on our feelings and it was just me trying to figure that out,” says Jacob.
He has also hosted live concerts at his home for friends and family. Popularity grew as people started bringing their friends. Now, Jacob plans to play live at local venues this summer before he leaves for college. “I really like performing live and being able to tell my thoughts in a way that people can relate to. It’s kind of cinematic, like making a movie, having all of these creative ideas that I can put into music,” says Jacob. He is currently working on an album that will be released soon. When sharing about his upcoming album, he tells us that the theme is related to trains. “The idea is being on a train and listening to music on the way. You start listening when you get on the train and then the end is when you get off the train,” says Jacob.
Jacob will attend Georgia Southern University where he will major in Music Production and Engineering. Follow his Instagram account, @thejabail, to keep an eye out for new songs, updates on his album, and live concert schedules.
ARTICLE BY BAILEY HALL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JARIUS SMITH
“I really like performing live and being able to tell my thoughts in a way that people can relate to. It’s kind of cinematic, like making a movie, having all of these creative ideas that I can put into music.”
GOLF COURSE
At Rocky Branch Golf Course you will enjoy the pace of play, the strategic layout, a friendly staff, and a spectacular clubhouse. On the front nine, you'll find friendlier fairways. Make the turn to the back nine and you'll see more trees that define the holes, making the fairways tighter, and the holes harder. The creek that goes through Rocky Branch invites you to hit over it five different times.
For additional information please contact Al Holloway: 706-359-4303
4711 Double Branches Road, Lincolnton, Georgia 30817 rockybranchgolf.com
RICHARD AND HAENG CHA HALSTED CELEBRATED 50 YEARS OF MARRIAGE WITH A SPECIAL CEREMONY
Fifty years ago, a young Army soldier specializing as a Korean linguists walked into a music shop in Seoul, Korea, looking for a folk music album. That day, he met a beautiful young woman who told him he would be better off in the classical music section…. and the rest is history!
At the time, Haeng Cha was an aspiring opera singer and served as manager of the music store where Richard sought out what she thought was an odd music selection. “We started an argument that day and we liked it so much that we kept on and we’ve been arguing for 50 years,” shares Richard.
Richard Michael Halsted and Kim Haeng Cha were married in an American ceremony on March 21, 1973, at Yongsan Main Post Chapel in Seoul, Korea. Over the next thirty years, they would travel the globe and live in the United States, Korea, and Europe before settling in Evans in 2003.
In May, the Halsteds held their fiftieth wedding anniversary celebration at First Baptist Church of Augusta, which included ninety guests and was steeped in Korean tradition that can be traced
"Two hundred and forty years ago, one of the kings started the ceremony and we used it for our fifty-year anniversary." CONTINUED >
“Above all, if we had not been really leaning on God, I don’t think we would have come this far.”
back to King Yong Jo in the late 1700’s. “Two hundred and forty years ago, one of the kings started the ceremony and we used it for our fifty-year anniversary. We are Christians so we put in a little bit of our Christian culture such as communion and the message of Jesus Christ,” shares Haeng Cha. “I started planning this a year ago and created all the designs and everything.”
For the ceremony, both Richard and Haeng Cha wore bright, colorful traditional Korean garments; Richard in blue and Haeng Cha in red, representing male and female respectively. The groom entered the ceremony holding wooden birds (bong-hwang-sae), which he presented to Senior Pastor Will Dyer in lieu of the bride’s birth parents as is customary, as a symbol of his no longer looking for a mate. The bride and groom entered to a musical rendition of the Lord’s prayer, which Haeng Cha recorded herself twenty years ago.
The ceremony also included one very special Korean tradition. “We did a full formal bow to one another, down on our knees and foreheads to the ground, as a sign of respect for each other,” shares Richard. “We did that to our spiritual parents (Kim Eui Won and Kim Yong Ok) also as a way of saying thank you for supporting us all these many years. Then we did a half-bow, or semi-formal bow, to our pastor for conducting the ceremony and to our guests at the end of the ceremony.”
Haeng Cha and Richard agree that one of the secrets to a long and happy marriage includes working together. “I have to lean on him in some areas and he has to lean on me in some areas - we have to help each other,” shares Haeng Cha. “Above all, if we had not been really leaning on God, I don’t think we would have come this far.”
A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.
Happy 4th of July from the Evans City Lifestyle team! We hope you have an amazing summer!
HARDIN AUDITORIUM
Guitar lessons are back at the Hardin Auditorium on July 4th at 3pm! At this class, you can sharpen your skills or get started from scratch! These are group lessons, but the instructor can work with all skill levels. You must be 16 years or older to attend the class.
EVANS TOWNE CENTER PARK
BOOM! In The Park will be held at Evans Towne Center Park on Tuesday, July 4th. There will be live music by Keven Mack Band and Whiskey Run, along with food trucks and fireworks! Admission is free gates open at 5pm.
MILLER THEATER
Bring your family for a free showing of Hook at the Miller Theater! Admission is free but you will need a ticket to enter, tickets are available at the Miller Theater box office. Movie starts at 4pm.
EVANS TOWNE CENTER PARK
Food Truck Friday will be at the Evans Towne Center Park on July 28th. There will be a large variety of food and beverage vendors and live music. Admission is free and live music starts at 7pm.
Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Evans
