Augusta, GA
Needing gift ideas? Here are some of the Augusta area’s best this holiday
Allworth Advice: It might cost you to return gifts this year
Amy Wagner with Allworth Financial discusses how it might cost you to return gifts this year.
Allworth Financial
Black Friday has come and gone, but for many, this year’s holiday shopping is far from over.
There are hundreds of businesses across the Augusta area selling everything from cookware and candy to clothing and cosmetics. With so many options to choose from, there is going to be a lot of rushing around this year looking for the perfect gift.
But whether it’s for Christmas or birthdays, many would prefer to shop local so they can give something that’s more personal, unique, and helps a small business. Here’s a look at some of the most popular gifts, which local artisans are selling them and what they are offering special this holiday.
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Booze for bringing holiday cheers
Whether you’re shopping for a beer or whiskey drinker, there are multiple businesses where guests can hang out, have a glass or two, and buy a drink to take home and wrap.
Riverwatch Brewery recently released their Cattywampus milkshake IPA, their 3 under par Belgian tripel is available Saturday and their Christmas ale is tentatively scheduled for release Dec. 15. Beers are on tap and in growlers.
Savannah River Brewing Co. also sells drinks in cans and on tap. They have three seasonal small batches: A peppermint porter with a 4.5% ABV called “Cool Yule,” a Belgian tripel with a 9.8% ABV called “Miracle on 5th Street” and a saison with 6.1% ABV called “Oakland Acres.” There are also two ongoing promotions: 25% off cases, and a free beer in return for buying a $50 gift card.
Second City Beverage Co. has a line of festive cocktails selling at its bar, and while they cannot be brought home, their delicious ingredients are available. The Crooked Cow Caramel Bourbon Cream is part of the “Sugar Cookie Martini” and the “Milk n’ Cookies.” Second City Gin is in the “Yule Shrub” and Second City Bourbon is in the “Gettin’ Blitzen.’”
Coffee for Christmas morning
After a night of last-minute wrapping and preparing for Santa Claus, the smell and taste of freshly brewed coffee can be the best way to kick off Christmas morning, especially if it’s from local roasters.
Buona Caffe sells a variety of coffee roasts and blends by the beverage and by the bag. But this time of the year is the only opportunity to buy the Holiday Roast, which offers a smooth drink and a chance to give back as part of the proceeds benefit Lynndale, a local organization supporting disabled individuals and their families. Buona also sells coffee subscriptions.
Goat Kick Coffee Co. has two bagged seasonal blends: “Winter Daze,” a light roast with notes of plum, citrus, and caramel, and “Winter Solstice,” a dark roast with notes of plum, tobacco, and holiday spice. Goat Kick also has a menu of 13 Christmas-like drinks in addition to its standard menu.
Ubora Coffee Roasters also has a range of blends that are sold by the bag, K-cups or subscriptions. While there isn’t one geared towards the holidays, shoppers can get a cup of peppermint mocha, “Mint Toddy” tea,” or one of the other four thematic drinks.
Gift wrap a piece of public art
Between all of the murals and sculptures, the Augusta area is covered in well-loved works of art. These pieces have many fans, and some of the artists responsible are selling fans a piece of their own.
Leonard “Porkchop” Zimmerman is the father of the Happy and Tommy robots that appear on buttons, murals and other art across Augusta. Happy mugs are sold at Tire City Potters, and Happy ornaments and buttons are available at Art on Broad. There is also a huge variety of clothing, accessories and home décor that feature Zimmerman’s robot designs available on his page on society6.com.
Addison Niday is the mind and hand behind the giant Augusta Cup on Wrightsboro Road as well as several new and revamped murals across the area. Niday is selling many of his wall-to-wall designs on addisonniday.com as stickers, prints, t-shirts and cups. There’s a special Christmas bundle of a t-shirt, poster, and seven mural stickers for $40. Orders of more than $100 also get free shipping and a free signed Coca-Cola bottle.
A basket full of presents
Why bother with finding that one perfect gift when you can get carefully selected basket full of goodies?
Augusta Gift Baskets has a wide range of baskets that vary in size and content. Each is full of carefully-selected merchandise from small and local vendors. There are 11 different Christmas variations with items from Bubba’s Fudge and Nuts, Still Creek Kitchen, Goat Kick Coffee and more.
There are also a few gift basket options full of snacks and other treats at Ladybug’s Flowers & Gifts and Martina’s Flowers and Gifts. They also sell attractive and fragrant floral bouquets and center pieces for Christmas.
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Extra-personal gifts
While there are all kinds of wonderful presents available on the shelf, sometimes it’s nice to get something that’s truly one-of-a-kind.
CommuniGraphics offers a lot in this arena like engraved cups and pens, custom embroidered clothing, vehicles decals and more. They also have a large stock of décor, clothing and other gifts for Christmas, tailgating, and other occasions. Daily deals are rotated in and out, with a different 50% off discount every day.
Etched Memory uses laser engraving to create unique, crystal 3D images. For Christmas, they are offering their 6-inch square crystal image for $110 less than usual. There are also custom night lights, ornaments, wine stoppers, and other gifts available for purchase.
Augusta, GA
Local students prep as Georgia standardized testing returns
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Georgia Board of Regents will require students to take the ACT or SAT to get into four universities in the fall of 2026.
Those schools include Georgia State University, Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University and Augusta University.
Test requirements had already been restored for the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech and Georgia College and State University — the system’s three most selective schools.
All of this means things are starting to return to how they were pre-COVID.
Both Richmond and Columbia county schools said just because the state put the requirement on hold, preparing students for the tests never stopped.
While the state pumped the brakes on SAT and ACT testing, Richmond County pressed the gas.
“We’ve always offered opportunities to help our students kind of hone in on those skills. We have prep classes at every high school, in addition to other resources that kids can engage in, just to kind of go ahead and maximize their potential on that SAT or ACT,” said Charlie Tudor, advanced studies program administrator for Richmond County schools.
Tudor says they start prepping students in eighth grade.
“All of our eighth graders take the PSAT in October of their eighth-grade year. We look at that data and go ahead and encourage our kids. Some of them are ready to take an AP class in ninth grade, we look at that AP potential there,” said Tudor.
Every year after, the curriculum is woven into their class schedule.
“Those skills and that knowledge are built into the curriculum already. A lot of our schools have SAT and ACT plans in there. There are also Saturday study sessions for certain targeted kids that need that extra support,” said Tudor.
Tudor says they never want cost to get in the way of academics.
“College Board and ACT, ‘ve always provided fee waivers based on your income. Here in Richmond County, if we know there’s a need for one of our students at the school level, we always make sure things happen to make sure there are no barriers or challenges as far as finances go with kids,” said Tudor.
Columbia County says they have been doing things just the same as before the pandemic as well.
All the requirements for ACT and SAT testing are set to start in the fall of 2026.
If you want to sign your child up for extra study classes, leaders say the best way is to contact the school counselor.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Via Cognitive Health to open new building in Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Via Cognitive Health says it is opening a new building next month to help people with Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
This will allow them to be physically active with things like a walking track, gym area and putting green.
They also will add an art room, spa and salon, a workshop tool shed area and more.
Officials with Via Cognitive Health say most people live with dementia for about 10 years once they have been diagnosed. They also say they want to help people with the activities they provide.
“We want those 10 years to be the best 10 years that you can have. The research kind of points to that if we can keep very cognitively active and physically active, that’s going to help us through the progression better tolerate the symptoms,” said Executive Director Jennifer Pennington.
There will be a ribbon cutting on June 20 for the new building.
For more information, visit their website.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
3rd suspect arrested in November murder near Paine College
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A third suspect has been arrested in connection with the November shooting death of a 32-year-old on Verdery Street, according to authorities.
Myron Garnett, 32, of Verdery Street, was shot at least one time and pronounced dead at 9:43 p.m., according to Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen.
In March, authorities announced they were searching for Cameron Williams, 19.
On Thursday, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshal’s Southeast Fugitive Task Force arrested Williams on a grand jury arrest warrant.
MORE CSRA CRIME COVERAGE:
Williams is the third suspect connected to this case. In December, Anthony Williams, 20, was arrested and charged with murder, according to Richmond County jail records.
In November, Shakeichia Jackson, 30, was arrested and booked. She’s also charged with murder.
Copyright 2023 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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