Buzz On Biz

WRDW 1630AM 12-2PM OR STREAMING LIVE AT WWW.WRDWAM.COM

12:20pm – - Ali Saifi, president of Subway restaurants in South Carolina, including the CSRA, will join us over the phone to chat about the Subway W8 2 TXT campaign aimed at getting high school students to pledge against texting while driving.  For more info about this campaign, please log on to www.w82txtpledge.com.

12:45pm – - Darren Scheyer, co-owner and operating officer of Partners In Achievement,  joins us for a weekly educational segment aimed to help working parents get help for their children who are having learning struggles. They use the PACE method and a free initial screening that measures a student’s processing system. Please visit www.pialearningcenters.com for more information.

1:20pm – - Lisa Mahaffey,Vice-President, Augusta Credit Union Chapter, will join us over the phone to chat about the member education seminars for the Augusta Credit Union Chapter coming up on Feb 11.

1:45pm – - Jeff Asselin, from PowerServe International, joins us each Wednesday to do a website, branding, and social media check-up on area businesses.  For more info, please visit their website at www.powerserve.net

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Courtesy: Morris News Service

The brown paper covering the windows indicates the closing of three Food Lion grocery stores in Columbia County, a week before their intended closing date.

In mid-January, the grocery chain’s parent company, Delhaize America, announced the closing of 113 of its underperforming Food Lion stores. Three of those were in Columbia County: 526 N. Belair Road, 3851 Evans to Locks Road and 4087 Old Petersburg Road.

Parking lots were empty, windows were covered and doors were locked Tuesday afternoon at all three locations. Food Lion corporate officials said the stores would all close Feb. 15 at the latest.

About 100 employees were affected by the closures.

The store closings are part of a corporate strategy by Delhaize America to strengthen its U.S. portfolio, which includes shutting down a Tennessee distribution center, eliminating the Food Lion name from Florida, and rebranding other stores into Food Lions in Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia.

Two of the three stores were less than 3 years old. The Evans To Locks Road store opened in October 2009. The Evans Exchange store opened in January 2009.

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Courtesy: The Augusta Chronicle

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is investigating allegations that a city fire inspector was stealing inspection fees, authorities said.

The investigation stems from an internal audit of fire inspection fees, according to sheriff’s Investigator Dan Ferrel.

Brenda Carroll, of accounting firm Baird and Co., told police that Lt. Lenston Melvin Harris is suspected of taking at least $1,360 from businesses in payment for fire inspections between January and December 2011, according to a sheriff’s report filed Monday.

Ferrel said the businesses paid Harris in cash, and he failed to turn in the money. He said it was fire department policy to accept only checks or money orders for fire inspections.

“They do not accept cash at the Fire Marshal’s Office,” Ferrel said.

Ferrel said there have been no allegations that Harris took cash to expedite inspections or overlook violations. Harris was placed on administrative leave Jan. 30 and an internal investigation was launched following allegations of professional misconduct, according to a statement issued Monday by Augusta staff attorney Jody Smitherman.

Augusta-Richmond County Fire Chief Chris James said Harris resigned four days later on Friday, but would not comment further.

“This is still an open investigation,” James said Monday.

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WRDW 1630AM 12-2PM OR STREAMING LIVE AT WWW.WRDWAM.COM

12:20pm – - Kay Benitez, Development Team Coordinator for Golden Harvest Food Bank, will join us over the phone to chat about the recent  North Aiken Elementary School’s Student BackPack program.  For more information on how you can help end hunger in our community, visit www.goldenharvest.org. You can also find Golden Harvest on Facebook and Twitter.

12:45pm – - Carrie Lokey, East Central Georgia Workforce Investment, Job Development Specialist will join you in the studio to chat about the National Emergency Grant for On-The-Job-Training and how it can benefit your business. For more info, please log on to: www.ecgwdc.org

1:20pm – - Charles Scavullo, Executive Director for The Imperial Theatre, will join us in the studio to chat about the Save the Imperial Campaign, as well upcoming acts coming to the Imperial including The Amazing Kreskin!  For more info, please visit the Theatre online at www.imperialtheatre.com

1:45pm – - We welcome a different member of the Augusta Technical College staff to help our listeners look for some new training options or to plan a new future with studies that will yield a new career.  Today’s guest to be announced. For more information, log on to www.augustatech.edu

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The National Emergency Grant for On-The-Job Training or NEG OJT is just what it sounds like.   t is a training program designed to help businesses of all sizes find and train new employees. This grant was given to East Central Georgia Consortium (ECGC) – One Stop due to the high unemployment in the 12 county region that we serve. This is your tax dollars being returned to help your business.

How can your business qualify?

· If your business is a private for profit business

· You haven’t had any layoffs in the last 16 weeks or 4 months

· You currently have or will have, before the end of the training period, an open position

· And there is a reasonable expectation that the person hired will remain employed with you for a period of at least one year.

How do potential employees qualify?

· The candidate was laid off and has been out of work a minimum of 16 weeks

· They are receiving or have received and exhausted their unemployment

· An individual is considered a Displaced Home Maker*

*A Displaced Home Maker is someone who has been a stay at home parent/spouse and due to the layoff of the head of house hold is having to go back to work to support the family

How much money can my company be reimbursed?

· Reimbursements are based on the amount paid to the employee

· Individuals enrolled in the training program should make the same as someone in the same position with the same experience

· Reimbursements rates are as follows:

· Businesses with 50 or less employees receive 90% of the wages

· Businesses with 51-250 employees receive 75% of the wages

· Businesses with 251 or more employees receive 50% of the wages

How long can I receive the training funds?

· Training length is based on the total hours, as determined by the Department of Labor, that it should take an employee to learn the position, provided they have no previous experience in the field.

· Position will receive 200-480 hours

Please keep in mind we can work with any Georgia business but all the employees who go through the training program must be a resident of one of the above counties.

For more information please contact either:

Carrie Lokey – (706) 595-8941 ext. 125 or clokey@classicsouth.net

Pecola Wiley – (706) 595-8941 ext. 122 or pwiley@classicsouth.net

P.O. Box 179, 674 Washington Road ▪ Thomson, GA 30824 ▪ (706) 595-8941

www.ecgwdc.org ▪ www.facebook.com/ECGCONESTOP

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Courtesy: The Imperial Theatre

World-famous mentalist The Amazing Kreskin to perform at Augusta’s historic Imperial Theatre – Kreskin promises to find his hidden check or forfeit his fee

The world’s most famous mentalist, The Amazing Kreskin will perform on Saturday, February 11th, 2012 at 8 p.m. at Augusta’s historic Imperial Theatre. The Imperial Theatre recently announced discounts for Seniors, Military and Students.

With a showman’s flair, a comedian’s wit, and the capacities of a bona fide Mentalist or thought reader, The Amazing Kreskin has, for 5 decades, dramatized the unique facets of the human mind, his own! His very name has become an integral part of pop culture throughout the world, invoked in comedy clubs, comic strips, print stories, and TV shows.

In 2008, Tom Hanks produced and co-starred with John Malkovich in “The Great Buck Howard” which was fashioned after the Amazing Kreskin’s life. After over 50 years of performing, Kreskin has a new cult following. To quote David Letterman, Kreskin should sue the producers of the TV show, “The Mentalist” for stealing his act. He’s the best mentalist in the world and he’s not acting!” Kreskin can tell people things about themselves that only a close family member or friend would know!

For his performance in Augusta, Amazing Kreskin has asked that his check be hidden somewhere in the theatre during the show. He will attempt find it and if he fails, he will forfeit his fee. In addition Kreskin will offer $1,000,000.00 to anybody that can prove that he employs paid secret assistants or confederates in any phase of his program to help him perform his mentalist “effects.”

Tickets are on sale now and are available at www.ImperialTheatre.com, by selecting “Purchase Tickets” and then the event or by visiting or calling the Box-office at 706-722-8341, Tuesday thru Friday 10am to 4PM. Ask about Senior, Military and Student ticket prices for this show! For more information visit www.ImperialTheatre.com.

The Imperial Theatre is the only historic theatre operating in Augusta, Georgia. Beautifully restored, the Imperial features 800 seats that all provide a unique and extraordinary experience for each patron. The Imperial is an intimate venue where the audience can enjoy the performer, Up Close & Personal. Visit us on line at www.imperialtheatre.com

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A husband and wife team originally from Maine has re-started “No Baloney Pony” after a 20 year run in Maine and a three year hiatus in Aiken. They go right to the customer’s house with pony in hand for hand led pony rides. They always have 2 people with the pony…. one to lead, the other assists and stays alongside the rider for a fun, safe and friendly ride. Rates start @ $75.00 per hour for a single pony.

For their wagon rides, they have a team of Belgian draft horses “Duke and Trigger” and they can bring them to parties/special occasions as well. The wagon seats approximately 10-15 people. It’s not a fancy wagon, just a fun one! Wagon ride rates start @ 100.00 per hour. Pricing for either depends on how far they are traveling and the length of the event.

They currently have 3 draft horses, 2 ponies and donkey. Yes…. even the donkey insists on his turn @ birthday parties. He absolutely loves the attention!

For more info, please contact Trish and Jim Mulcahy at 803-266-2450

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Courtesy: Augusta GreenJackets

Last week, while the groundhogs were busy trying to figure out how quickly spring is or isn’t coming, Auggie was busy making a prediction of his own.  After chasing dreams of honey, Auggie awoke with an idea that would stir the senses!  A ticket package that included the best promotional nights, food and soft drinks at every game and a free* gift card to P.F. Changs!! Now that would be the biggest steal of the season!

Auggie’s Steal of a Deal was created with Auggie in mind!  Six GreenJackets General Admission Tickets, Six Food Vouchers valid for a hot dog or cheeseburger, chips and a soft drink and a Free* $20 gift card to P.F. Changs!!  That is a $129 value for only $72 per package! Since this is such a steal, quantities are limited!  Make sure to call the GreenJackets at (706) 736-7889 and reserve your Auggie’s Steal of a Deal today!  Click here for more information on Auggie’s Steal of a Deal!

And guys, what better Valentine’s Day present then a dinner to P.F. Changs for her and baseball tickets for you!!  Shh, we won’t tell her!!

GreenJackets Opening Day is April 12th, don’t be left on the outside!!

*P.F. Changs gift card is only free with purchase of Auggie’s Steal of a Deal.  Quantities are limited.

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Courtesy: Augusta State University

Note:Both fairs are open to ASU students, alumni and members of the community.  Professional attire is required for admittance.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16 – K-12 EDUCATOR EXPO will feature ~ 20 K-12 school systems and educational programs recruiting for current and anticipated hiring needs for the next academic year.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17 – EMPLOYER EXPO will feature ~ 50 organizations recruiting for part-time, full-time, internship, Co-op, volunteer and seasonal hiring needs. Graduate and professional schools will also attend.

· JOB FAIRS @ ASU’s Christenberry Fieldhouse, 3109 Wrightsboro Road from 11am-2pm each day

· Details of employers participating at www.aug.edu/career_center

MEDIA CONTACT: Julie Goley, Director Augusta State University Career Center – jgoley@aug.edu

JULIE GOLEY

Director, Career Center – Augusta State University

Main: 706-737-1604 Fax: 706-731-7097

www.aug.edu/career_center

Mailing Address: 2500 Walton Way, Augusta GA 30904-2200

Office is located behind the main campus in Boykin Wright Hall, 2nd Floor – 1015 Johns Road

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February is here! Which means spring is near, Daylight Savings Time is even closer, and the bike riding season will be in full tilt before you know it…although we have been blessed with a mild winter thus far. Being that prime riding weather is around the corner, now is the perfect time to show your bike some love. Here are a couple of things to look at when getting your bike road, or trail, worthy.

If your bike has sat dormant for the past few months, chances are your inner tubes will need to be inflated. Check the side of the tires for recommended pressure range and if you’re not sure what pressure to run, go for the middle ground – typically 50psi for fat tire bikes and 100psi for thin tire bikes. While you’re looking at the tires you also want to check them for cracks from dry rot, large cuts, flat spots, and lumps or bulges. If you come across any of these you need to put some new rubber on your ride. And if you’re going to have new tires installed, it’s also a good idea to go ahead and replace the inner tubes. As they say, there’s a lot riding on your tires.

The next thing to check out is your bike’s chain. If your bike has been stored indoors or in a garage things shouldn’t be too bad. But if your only option is to store it in an outdoor shed or underneath a carport, things can go South quick. Inspect your chain for rust and stiff links. A rusty chain will create resistance when pedaling, a lot of squeaking, and poor gear shifting. The other issue is a stiff link that will not bend around the sprockets. This will cause the chain to skip over the teeth of the sprockets while pedaling. Not only is this annoying, but it can be very dangerous if you’re pedaling with some intensity. That said this may be a good time to replace your chain. If the rust on your chain is mild, you can apply a good coat of bicycle specific lube. Stay away from lithium grease, WD-40, 3-in-1, motor oil, motorcycle lube, and cooking oil (all bad things I’ve seen folks use). Bicycle specific lubes are formulated for the demands of bicycling. They run cleaner and lighter, shed dirt and water better, all while enhancing gear shifting and performance.

While the tires and drive-train are two important pieces of the puzzle, they are not the only pieces. So if you want to play it safe, take your bike to a local bicycle shop and get a professional’s advice on what it will take to bring your bike up to speed. There are a lot of things on a bike that can be overlooked by the untrained eye. So give your bike a little TLC and get it ready to ride!

Drew Jordan is an ASU grad, an avid bicyclist, and has worked with his father for 18 years to run Andy Jordan’s Bicycle Warehouse. Reach him at 706.724.6777 or djordan@andyjordans.com or take a spin at their shop on 13th Street in Augusta. This is a sponsored article.

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