We have been doing a lot of thinking lately about what we can do to improve for our customers.  And we’ve come to the conclusion the best way to do our best work for our customers, is to do our best work for our employees.  (Read about our new Health Initiative.) So when Fiat-Chrysler decided to designate the South East region as the first allowed to enroll in their partnership with Strayer University entitled “Degrees At Work,” we immediately started researching the option.

Now, after extensive time reading up on Strayer University’s program, Milton Ruben Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Augusta, GA is proud to announce that we have opted in to FCA’s idea, and are now offering fully-funded college-level courses to our full-time employees.

FCA’s Degrees At Work program offers a wide range of courses, including both online and on campus opportunities to put the best schedule to work for you, and meet a variety of learning styles’ needs.  Employees who decide to take advantage of this program can pursue a broad spectrum of degrees – from an Associate’s degree in Information Technology, to a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice, or even a Master’s degree in Business Administration.

Augusta, GA's Strayer University Campus is on Augusta West Pkwy near Television Park.

Augusta, GA’s Strayer University Campus is on Augusta West Pkwy near Television Park.

So far, we already have multiple employees beginning classes this year.  Bridget Jones, of our Chrysler Cashier office, will begin studying Health Administration on July 1st.

“I think Milton Ruben starting this program is a great opportunity for employees to advance their careers,” Bridget Jones shared. “It’s motivation for employees too – [Milton Ruben] giving back to help us go to school.”  Jones will be completing a previously started degree.

Milton Ruben Cashier Bridget Jones is planning on completing her Health Administration degree with the help of Degrees @ Work!

Milton Ruben Cashier Bridget Jones is planning on completing her Health Administration degree with the help of Degrees @ Work!

Elkin Vanegas, Service Advisor, intends on transferring from another online curriculum this fall to finish a degree in Business Management.  “There’s not that many companies willing to pay for your education – it’s a huge benefit to working here.”

The program is flexible to fit a full-time work schedule, and covers all expenses, including books.

Service Advisor Elkin Vanegas intends to enroll at Strayer University this fall to pursue a degree in Business Administration.

Service Advisor Elkin Vanegas intends to enroll at Strayer University this fall to pursue a degree in Business Administration.

Ultimately, Milton Ruben Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram is beaming with pride to be able to offer advancement opportunities to our employees.  We hope each and every one of them who wishes to further advance their career through education will take advantage of this opportunity.

If you are an employee of Milton Ruben Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, and you’d like to learn more about what this program could do for you, please see Human Resources.

To find out more about the Degrees At Work program, visit http://fca.strayeruniversity.edu/

Or if you are interested in growing with the Milton Ruben family, apply online at www.miltonruben.com. (We are currently hiring!)

 

This post was written by Milton Ruben Social Media Manager Heather Cortright.

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“I always feel better when I go the gym in the morning!,” Jeff Hennen contributed to the question of “How are you this morning?” from General Manager Chuck Easters when he arrived at work this morning.

Yep, the bug has hit Milton Ruben, and we are inhaling as much of that contagious little devil as we can – the healthy bug.

Employees all over three stores were gobbling down salads yesterday afternoon after their first weigh-in to our recently launched Lose Baby Health Initiative, and we couldn’t be more proud!

As a part of a new approach to employee development, we decided that one of the best ways to keep our customers happy, is to keep our employees happy – and healthy. This launched a voluntary ninety-day program of educating, motivating, and encouraging one another to stay focused and Lose, Baby!LoseBaby 2015

Our focus on this ninety-day round is healthy weight loss, keeping a confidential record of percentage weight lost per individual, and helping one another stay on track with weekly healthy goodies, and informative and educational materials on proper diet and fitness.  Our top priority is overall physical and mental health, being positive, supportive, and encouraging throughout, and keeping our eye on successfully working as a team to be a healthier company. (If you are an employee participating in the program, check your e-mail for information on joining our motivational Facebook group!)

Stay focused, folks, and Lose, Baby!

 

This post was written by Milton Ruben Superstore Social Media Manager Heather Cortright.

To learn more about our company culture and see if you’d like to join the Milton Ruben Team, click here.

 

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You bought your new car from Milton Ruben – and it is everything you wanted it to be, the salesperson was informative, patient, and considerate, the finance managers worked to get you where you needed to be, the t’s are crossed, the i’s are dotted, and all that is left is the delivery.

Believe it or not, this is the best part of our entire car-buying process here at Milton Ruben.  Not only does the sales consultant get to show you all the new bells and whistles of your vehicle, but this is also the point where you get to choose whether you’d like to participate in our Sparq program, the program that could help you win all sorts of prizes – all the way up to the chance to win a car payment*!

How To Win a Car Payment at Milton Ruben Superstore in Augusta, GA

Here’s how it works:

1. You and your salesperson take a photo with your new car on their phone.

2. They input some of your info, and send a one-time only text to “claim” the photo on your smartphone.

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This is done on the Salesperson’s phone – make sure you use your cell phone number so you can get the one-time only text message!

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This is your (the customer’s) phone. This is a one time only text message containing the link you need to claim your photo and start competing for prizes!

This is the screen you will see, with your photo on it, after you click the link in the text message.

This is the screen you will see, with your photo on it, after you click the link in the text message.

You may need to log in to Facebook before completing the process of claiming your photo.

You may need to log in to Facebook before completing the process of claiming your photo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. You click on the link in the text message and follow instructions through two windows. The first confirms the photo and prompts to share on Facebook or Google+. You click Facebook.  Then, after logging in, you rate your experience and write a testimonial. Don’t forget to include instructions to guide your friends to “Sparq” your photo!

You can also click the “Autofill” button to fill in all of that information for you.

Confirm that you will allow Sparq access to your Facebook profile, and make this one time only post on your behalf.

Confirm that you will allow Sparq access to your Facebook profile, and make this one time only post on your behalf.

Just a couple more steps! Type in some details about your experience at Milton Ruben and/or working with your salesperson!  Or, you can tap that "Auto Fill" button, and we'll fill in that info for you!

Just a couple more steps! Type in some details about your experience at Milton Ruben and/or working with your salesperson! Or, you can tap that “Auto Fill” button, and we’ll fill in that info for you!

You might want to tag some friends so you can get them to help you!

You might want to tag some friends so you can get them to help you!

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That’s it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. After completing the testimonial portion, click to share the photo link on your Facebook newsfeed, and encourage your friends and family to follow the link to our Facebook page, where they can click the orange button to “Sparq” your photo.

This is how the link will look on your Facebook profile/ in your News Feed.  All your friends have to do is click on the link...

This is how the link will look on your Facebook profile/ in your News Feed. All your friends have to do is click on the link…

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And click on the orange button! You will see the trophies light up as you hit each tier of the prize structure! Good luck!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Let it ride (possibly reminding your friends by sharing your original post every once in a while) for 30 days and see what you’ve won!

 

 

The Rules/ The Extras:

– The contest only lasts 30 days.  Email socialmedia@miltonruben.com or contact your salesperson to claim your prize at the end of that 30 days.

– If you got 200 Sparqs, your name will be entered into a drawing to be held at the end of the next month.  The name drawn will be the recipient of one month’s car payment, up to $500.

– No duplicates. If you and your spouse bought a car together, only one of you may compete.

– Recipient’s participation allows Milton Ruben to use this photo in any marketing materials, including but not limited to upload to their public Facebook page.

– Facebook “likes” do not count as “Sparqs.” Participants must follow the photo link to the app on our Facebook page and click the orange “Sparq” button to be counted as a vote.

– Participants are limited to one “Sparq” per Facebook page per 30 days.  The application will not allow you to vote more than once in 30 days.

 

*The winning customer’s monthly car payment will be covered up to $500.

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Everyone does it while they’re sitting in traffic in front of a school their kids don’t even attend – carry the four, subtract from the two, divide by the equal coefficient of the previous exponent.  (Math isn’t my strong suit.) Wait, THAT is how much I’m spending on gas to get to work every morning?! That can’t be right… Let’s start over.

It’s been a battle we’ve all been fighting for about fifteen to twenty years now, watching the yo-yo of fuel tease us with a road trip across the country in a double wide RV, then sky rocket to becoming a shut-in.

The reality of the scary high gas prices is something we can’t help you bring down.

But we can help you save the gas that’s in your tank, and stretch it a bit further.  Here are a few tips to keep you out of line at the pump:

How to Save Gas and other tips to save money at the gas pump. Milton Ruben Superstore, Augusta, GA Travel Tips.

How to Save Gas and other tips to save money at the gas pump. Milton Ruben Superstore, Augusta, GA Travel Tips.

1. Stop Driving Like A Jerk. We’re not in Atlanta here guys. (No offense, ATL.) There is absolutely no need to weave through traffic, cutting off your neighbors, and challenging the blood pressure medications of your elders.  Studies have shown that slowing gradually to a stop, and slowly accelerating to speed can increase the life of your gas tank by as much as 35%.  That may be worth retiring your Road Raging ways.

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2. Think Twice Before Topping Off.  Yes, I know, that gas station’s price tag is two cents lower than the last time you filled up.  But fuel is weight, weight is resistance, and resistance is a lower MPG.  Capiche?  Depending on how far out of the way that perfect gas station is (if it’s far from home/work, consider the gas you’re using to get there as lost every time you wander to the hills for a fill up), it’s actually more efficient to fill to half or three-fourths to save on weight, then fill most of the way up again once you hit a quarter tank.

Another Plus: Not riding your tank on gas fumes could help elongate the life of your fuel pump.

3. Keep Up On Proper Maintenance.  There are a lot of things we go over in our multi-point inspections that have a huge impact on the overall health of your vehicle – that’s why we want to check them each and every time you visit. Air filters are commonly overlooked, and can be seen as an unnecessary commodity, but a dirty air filter can lower your miles to the gallon by as much as 10%.  Additionally, a poor alignment can make your engine work harder to effectively turn the wheels, which you’ll pay for at the pump.

4. Keep An Eye on Tire Pressure. Have you ever noticed how flat tires don’t roll so well? Although you may not notice it, if your tire’s air pressure is low, it’s wrecking all kinds of damage – on both your tire, and your mileage.  The lack of pressure means the wheel has to work harder to get it to turn, which means more work from the engine, and so on, until your gas pump becomes the end result. (Be aware that weather can affect your TPMS.)

5. Consider Investing in a Diesel or a Hybrid.  Although Diesel can often be a good deal pricier than conventional fuel, it would have to be a solid 25-30% more expensive to outweigh the benefits in efficiency.  Because Diesel uses heat from compression to ignite the engine, rather than sparks, they need less energy to start – and keep going.

Not only do Hybrids save at the pump by using a variety of energy sources to keep those wheels a turnin’, there are also a lot of rebate offers and tax breaks on alternative energy investments – including the Hybrid.

6. Drive Smarter. Idling for more than a minute wastes more gas than just starting up your car again. Cruise Control is a blessing on flat lands, but if you’re taking a visit to the foothills, do without.  When the light ahead of you is red, take your foot off the gas.  If you reach the light by the time it turns green, you just saved yourself a few mpg for the tank by not coming to a full stop before accelerating again.

7. Use Technology. Using contraptions like GPS can help plan out your trip on shorter distances (fewer miles, less gas), or more highways (consistent speed saves on gas).  There are also a lot of apps out now that will show you the cheapest gas in your general area. (check out CNN’s best here)

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It’s an imperfect world, and there may not be much we can do at this precise juncture to help keep you from forking over all of your hard-earned dough at the fuel pump, but we can decrease the frequency that you have to make that depressing little visit.

Do you have any tips or tricks to increase your mpg?

 

To learn more about keeping your tires in tip-top shape, make sure you’re buying the right kind.

For more helpful tips to keep your vehicle in shape, follow us on

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I’m going to start yet another one of our blogs referencing downhill skiing road trips with my family.  But this one is not nearly the fun topic that tire traction in certain weather conditions was.  This one is much less pleasant.

We did a lot of traveling when I was a kid, the majority of which were populated by the twisty-turney hairpin roads of the Carolina mountains (yes, they exist).  Sadly, I had to begin each ski trip trying desperately to part the fog of 90’s Dramamine and focus all of my energy on keeping my eyes open long enough to get to the bottom of the slope before dozing off on the chair lift.  Thanks to car sickness, the mornings of most family ski trips are an extremely vague, dreamy memory.

And now, with the school year closing down and the summer road trip plans opening up, I’m going to share what I’ve learned from copious amounts of research and experience, if only to save a few from the foggy memories of childhood vacations.

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The most popular theory as to the cause of motion sickness is a disagreement between the senses that track motion – the inner ear, and the eye.  So in the case of motion sickness caused by air travel, boat travel, or car travel, you are inside of a vehicle that leads your eye to believe you are not moving, but the fluid in your inner ear that determines balance can sense that you are moving.  On the converse, some people will experience motion sickness while watching movies or playing video games, when your eyes are perceiving motion, and your ears can’t feel a thing.

The concept follows that motion sickness is a defense mechanism, nausea being triggered by your brain interpreting the clash of sensory information as hallucinations, assuming that you have been poisoned by some variety of neurotoxin.  The brain releases transmitters to cause nausea in an effort to void the body of toxins.  (The human body is an amazing thing, isn’t it?)

Well, sort of.  Because motion sickness is incredibly unpleasant.  So here’s how you can attempt to avoid it.

 

PREVENT MOTION SICKNESS:

–  Keep your head very still.  Some believe sleeping is the best way to do this.

– Avoid alcohol and heavy or fatty meals.  Food or drink with high acidity content are more likely to upset your stomach when your brain starts sending signals to it.  Sticking to light, low-fat snacks before a long trip is best.

Eat and hydrate. Believe it or not, you’re more likely to become nauseated on an empty stomach, because there’s nothing there to combat the stomach acid.  Keep it light, but make sure it’s not empty.

Avoid anything over-stimulating to the senses. Strong odors, spicy foods, even bright light can irritate your senses, and further irritate the movement sensation, thus the nauseated feeling being caused by it.  Pretty weird, right?

Take Dramamine, or some other variety of over-the-counter antihistamine created to treat this variety of nausea.  Dramamine now makes a supposedly less-drowsy version, but it still knocks me out.  Which could very easily be a good thing in the case of kids, couldn’t it? (PS: Children’s Dramamine also works on pups who get carsick, but make sure you talk to your vet before you decide on dosage.)

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Transdermal Patches.  Also known as Scopolamine, this patch is placed directly behind your ear and releases medicine through your skin to prevent nausea.

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Buy the Wristband. There are a variety of these on the market now, with a small round object that presses directly on a specific vein in your wrist.  The idea is a concept of acupuncture to relieve nausea.  And it’s a heck of a lot cheaper than buying your own Google Glass to alter perspective.

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–  Alter Your Perspective or Block the Perception of Motion.  This is basically tricking your brain.  Supposedly, if you focus your view on the distant horizon through the front windshield of a vehicle, your eyes will then see that you are moving, now in sync with the motion detected in your inner ear, thus preventing the detection of hallucination.

 

Or, if you’ve already fallen victim to the unpleasant wooziness:

 

HOW TO TREAT MOTION SICKNESS

Meds. Of course, it would be most effective if you took it beforehand, but the transdermal patches, dramamine, and other medicines are still effective if the nausea has already hit.

Chew Gum. Preferably the minty variety.  Your guess is as good as ours as to why it works – perhaps the combination of mint to settle your stomach, jaw action to disrupt your inner ear, and simply distracting you from being aware of the nausea?

Hot Tea.  Preferably decaffeinated. Warm liquids are easier on the stomach than ice water is, and staying hydrated is vital.  Bonus points if you add one of the next two remedies to the tea.

ginger tea

Peppermints. The menthol in mints relaxes stomach muscles, making it less likely for your nausea to actually result in anything even more unpleasant.

Lemon, Green Apple, or Apple Cider Vinegar. The basic properties in all of these ingredients help fight the acidity that causes nausea.

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Ginger or Ginger Ale.  Raw and crystallized ginger has been long known to solve any malady in multiple cultures.  A little goes a long way, so be careful with it.  It has also been disputed among researchers whether traditional, Americanized ginger ale would have the same affect.  Personally, I find it does.  Particularly the Michigander Vernor’s, though I’m sure Carolina Ginger Ale would also be effective.

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– Olives contain tannins, which dry out your mouth, fighting another symptom of motion sickness, excessive saliva. Additionally, the saltiness can feel comforting to your upset tummy.

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Do you have any preventative measures or remedies to motion sickness?

To get the most out of your family road trip, make sure you have the perfect family car.

If you enjoy Road Trip tips and tricks, check out our blogposts on Preparing Your Car For a Long Trip, Travel Tips with Kids, or Vehicle Pet Safety Tips.

You can also learn how to keep the ride a bit smoother on your next car trip by buying the right tires.

This post was written by Milton Ruben Social Media Specialist Heather Cortright.

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You don’t have to compromise – you can go to a certified dealer and get quality automotive service on your beloved vehicle.  At Milton Ruben Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, we have Elkin Vanegas.  Let us allow him to tell you about us.

 

Bienvenidos a Milton Ruben Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, y Ram. Yo soy Elkin Vanegas y soy ajustadore de servico. Hoy les quiero hablar de unos servicos y la opportunida de tracr su carro a un dealer certificado con su carro. Su cambio de leite son cada 5 mil millas. Sus rotacion de ilantas son cada 10 mil millas. Con la compra de un carro nuevo nostros le damos four combio de leite gratiz nosotros houra de operacion son lunes a viernes 7:30am – 6pm y Saturday 8am – 5pm. Cuando venga para servico you les puedo contestar todos su preguntas de su carro. Al fino yo soy Elkin Vanegas y yo si hablo espanol y les puedo ajudar tengan un buen dia ye los espero aqui.

Conectate con nosotros en FacebookTwitterYoutubeInstagram,Pinterest, and Google!

 

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You’ll never meet a Toyota Tacoma owner who doesn’t absolutely love their truck. And it is perfect just the way it is. But if you do want a little more sparkle and shine, we are, as always, here with a few modifications available to you and your Tacoma, with the help of Toyota Sales Manager and Tacoma owner Jeff Hennen.

#TacomaTough Part 1: Hood Protector and LED DayTime Running Lights

With the ClearCoat paint protection available on all Toyotas these days, you may think getting a hood protector is a little over the top.  But the hood protector does so much more for your Tacoma, protecting your hood from excessive road wear like small rocks, and your windshield from potential scratches or breakage from road debris and bugs. LED lights are extremely bright for low-light situations like cloudy days, and save you battery power.

 

#TacomaTough Part 2: Lifts, Levels, Tires, & Wheels

For a higher or more aggressive appearance, the Tacoma is widely customizable with a variety of lift and leveling kits, as well as a variety of wheels and tires to choose from, including mud tires and customized wheels.

 

#TacomaTough Part 3: Running Boards

You can also step it up to your lifted Tacoma with the help of customizable Running Boards, available with perfect fit to your Tacoma year and trim to make stepping into your higher presence vehicle a little easier.  Chrome can add some flash as well to polish a little more finish on your beauty of a small truck with a big personality.

 

#TacomaTough Part 4: Camper Shells

For more protection and containment of your cargo, there are plenty of options for a Camper Shell to cover the truck bed of your Tacoma.  This one, from LEED, is insulated, with a sliding window to connect to your cab.  This particular camper shell is also lockable to secure your Tacoma’s cargo.

 

#TacomaTough Part 5: Bed Liners and Mats

Being a Taco owner himself, Jeff Hennen knows how frustrating it can be when your cargo slides around in the truck bed. This is why he’s customized his truck with the help of a Bed Liner and Weather Mat, not only securing his cargo, but also protecting his knees when he climbs into the bed to retrieve it.  The Weather Mat’s rubberized texture also assists in these points, and the water-resistant structure makes it easy to clean in the case of spills.

 

Thanks for watching our series on how to customize your Tacoma and make it even tougher! To stay up to date on other ways to make your vehicle experiences better, follow us on Facebook, Google, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

 

You may also be interested in learning about our New Owner’s Clinic, where we feature Q&As with our Service and Parts teams, as well as the newest accessories for your vehicle.

Video and post by Milton Ruben Social Media Specialist Heather Cortright.

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Every quarter, we proudly sponsor Shepeard Community Blood Center and their BloodMobile for our seasonal blood drive! This summer’s blood drive will be on Tuesday, May 12, 2015, from 11:00am-3:30pm on the pre-owned lot.  And this drive’s prize is tickets to Shepeard’s Night, a fun evening of baseball and fellowship, where employees, recipients, donors, and fans come together for a night of American traditions, free merchandise and giveaways, and a good game of baseball, watching the Augusta GreenJackets play.  We would love to see you there!

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Trained technicians will be in the blood drive ready to test and draw donated units.  They will also have cookies and orange juice or related snacks for all viable donors.  Please bring your donor card and a form of ID.

 

Did you guys know about these cool facts about blood donation?

 

If you missed this drive or are hoping to catch the next one, you can stay updated with whats going on at Milton Ruben by following us on FacebookTwitterYoutubeInstagram,Pinterest, and Google!

This post is written by Milton Ruben Social Media Specialist Heather Cortright.

 

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It took us a year of searching, voting, meeting, and debating for us to find our DriveBaby – and now that we have, he’s just too adorable not to share with you guys!  We want you to meet Gentry Allen, 3 years old, and the Milton Ruben Superstore DriveBaby of 2015!

What makes you happy? Mommy, baby brother Bryson, and daddy
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What makes you laugh? Bryson and being tickled
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What is your favorite thing to do? Drive my new Jeep

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What is your favorite toy? Beach ball

What is your favorite food? Mac n cheese

What are you really good at? Running fast

What’s your favorite place? School

What did you buy with your DriveBaby Toys-R-Us gift card? Jeep PowerWheels

What do you want to be when you grow up? Firefighter

 

Are you just melting?? What a cutie!

See Gentry close our commercials on TV or on our YouTube channel!

 

Gentry was selected by a committee at Milton Ruben from twelve DriveBabies of the Month.  He visited us a couple weeks ago with his family, parents Rachel and Cole, and baby brother Bryson, to accept his scholarship, awarded by Toyota General Manager Chuck Easters.

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To stay up to date on future contests and games, follow us on  FacebookTwitterYoutubeInstagram,Pinterest, and Google!

 

Photos of Gentry with his brother and in his Jeep are courtesy of his family. 

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Few people know just how “on the map” Augusta, GA really is, not just for Ft. Gordon’s continuing expansion, but for playing root to celebrities’ careers.  Hulk Hogan is a smile/grimace product of our little metropolitan city on the river, with some loving and some hating the taste left in Augusta’s mouth.  Of course, he was only born here, and raised in Tampa, FL, so you don’t have to claim the renown wrestler as brethren if you choose not to.  Few would argue to claim Laurence Fishborn as Augusta-grown with such glowing and well-rounded performances as in Hannibal, Boyz In Da Hood, CSI, and, of course, the red pill or the blue, the Matrix trilogy.  And of course the musicians we all hold dear, James Brown, Amy Grant, and the members of Lady Antebellum (all the sudden that amphitheater makes a lot of sense, huh?)

Maybe it’s the rise of these stars that inspire the very root of musical identity so deep into Augusta heritage and culture – we can’t be sure.  What we can be certain of is this – it is almost our favorite season, and we Southerner’s can’t be held in at a time like this.  Summer is the season to celebrate, and that’s precisely what we are going to do through the very root of our musical identity.

Here’s a few ways you can’t stop the beat in the CSRA this summer:

 

BLUES, BREWS, & BBQ:

A gem of our town, this would mark the seventh year that the Columbia County Ampitheater has played host to this easy, breezy, good time, hosting The Breaking News Band and Funky Bluester on Friday, May 1st, starting at 6:30 p.m.  In addition to the smooth grooves, guests will be able to imbibe in Vineyard Wine Market‘s craft beers and SouthBound BBQ’s famous meals.  COST: $5, kids under 12 free. MORE INFO.

 

PAPA JOE’S BANJO-B-QUE

If it’s the combo of southern tunes and pulled pork that fancies your fiddle, check out Papa Joe’s Banjo-B-Que in Evans, also known as the BBQ competition of the year, featuring up-and-coming rock and bluegrass bands from all around the region. And it doesn’t stop there.  As a premiere opportunity to camp out and veg out, this event goes all out in making the trip worth it, with Pig Racin’, a petting zoo, and craft beer to boot.  This year’s event will be at the Evans Towne Center on May 22&23.  COST: $35-$65/head. MORE INFO.

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“A DAY IN THE COUNTRY” MUSIC FESTIVAL

A tradition that ranks in at thirty years, this collection of bluegrass and country musicians kicks off with such stars as Parmalee, Mo Pitney, Michael Ray, Pat Cooper and Carey Murdock, before headlining 2011 American Idol champion Scotty McCreery. The benefit concert will open doors at the Augusta Marina at 11am on May 3rd, with music beginning at noon, and food being offered all day, with proceeds of the $35 at the door admission benefitting the Augusta SERTOMA Club.  COST: $23-$35, MORE INFO.

 

THE KINFOLKS SOUL FOOD FESTIVAL

You may have to “push it” on the treadmill for a while after this festival featuring the traditional eats of the Deep South, with Award-Winning Chefs Robert Roberts and Amadeus.  You might pick up a few Soul Food cookin’ tricks to slip up your sleeve for the next Sunday family dinner while rockin’ it out to the music of nationally-proclaimed and recently reunited Salt-N-Pepa.  This just may be an event your tastebuds can’t afford to miss at Lady Antebellum Ampitheater on Saturday, May 2nd.  COST: $25-$45, MORE INFO.

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JOHN FOGERTY OF CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL

Someone told us long ago that there was a calm before the storm, but we had no idea that this had been coming for some time.  The late 1960’s and early 1970’s rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival cranked out so many hits in such a short period of time their name alone could stand as a part of the foundation of today’s classic rock scene.  There’s no way we would have ever thought we’d have the honor of seeing John Fogerty live, but Augusta’s Bell Auditorium will be rolling out the Cajun broil for Fogerty at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 12.  Be a part of the Revival! COST: $45-95, MORE INFO.

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We’ll keep adding to this list as we come across more music events in Augusta this summer.  Do you know of any musical events coming up we should share?

 

To continue to learn more about Augusta history and events, follow us on  FacebookTwitterYoutubeInstagramPinterest, and Google.

 

Some other cool community events to put on your calendar might be Fort Gordon’s Springfest, Fort Gordon’s Independence Day Festival, or Walden Foundation’s Golf Fundraiser.

This post is written by Milton Ruben Social Media Specialist Heather Cortright.

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