discover aiken 2012

Proudly Sponsored By:

www.aikenregional.com Chancellor Sandra Jordan of USC Aiken

2 Discover Aiken County 2012-13

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Discover Aiken County 2012-13 3

Aiken is a welcoming place to call home and a picturesque destination for visitors.

From live oak-lined streets to rolling pastures in the country, Aiken is known for its varied

topography as well as the multi-faceted lifestyles of its residents.

In the pages of Discover Aiken, we invite you to get to know this corner of paradise and discover why people come here from all over the country to live, work, play or just spend a relaxing weekend in Southern comfort.

As you scan these pages, get to know some of the many faces that Aiken shows residents and visitors alike.

Discover Aiken!

inside

Publisher & editorScott B. Hunter

executive editorTim O’Briant

Advertising directorDee Taylor

content editorJeff Wallace

lAyoutMatt Socha

contributorsBen BaughPhyllis BrittNoah Feit

Linden HammettMelanie Herbold

Haley HughesTeddy Kulmala

Rob Novit

326 Rutland Drive • Aiken, S.C. 29801(803) 648-2311 • aikenstandard.com

Aiken Standard

cover Photo: Dr. Sandra Jordan is the new chancellor of the University of South Carolina Aiken. She is the fourth chancellor in the university’s 51 years.

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Area BusinessesBusiness is thriving and prosperous in Aiken County from the busy streets of Aiken to the riverfront community of North Augusta and including the small towns that dot the county’s landscape

industryAiken County’s industries provide jobs to thousands of residents and products that go around the world

AcademicsA top-rated university, a highly regarded technical college as well as a quality public school system and complementing private schools provide learning opportunities for Aiken County

equestrianAiken has had a long love affair with horses, a relationship that continues today

HealthTouted as a health resort since the 19th century, Aiken now boasts all the latest in healthcare technology

HistoryFrom railroads to nuclear reactors, Aiken’s history has revolved around cutting-edge technology

FunFamilies and friends gather together to celebrate life and laughter in many places throughout Aiken

north AugustaAiken County’s second largest city lies on the banks of the Savannah River

our Business sideDiscover


One of the first things people see when they arrive in Aiken is the business side of the community. Whether it is a restaurant, a clothing shop, an interior design store or one of

the hundreds of other stores or offices, the business side of Aiken is evident almost everywhere.

As with most vibrant cities, Aiken’s lifeblood is its business community. When businesses thrive, the entire community prospers. And for Aiken and the surrounding county, the business side of life is well indeed.

Retailers of all varieties fill the main streets of Aiken as well as the arteries leading into the city. This strong business community is evident throughout the county with a combination of national businesses and an eclectic mix of locally owned shops that add a distinctive Aiken appeal to any shopping excursion.

As visitors explore Aiken’s business side, they will be delighted with the look of downtown with its historic charm and thrilled by the variety available on the city’s southside. A trip to explore the warmth of North Augusta’s downtown is also worth the 20-minute drive.

What one comes away with in discovering the business side of Aiken is that this is a community with a strong and diverse business base that accentuates the Aiken experience.

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When you discover Aiken’s downtown, you will find a charming, exciting Southern city full of energy and full of

businesses that are full of customers.While boarded up buildings and empty

streets plague many mid-sized Southern cities, Aiken’s historic downtown remains a vibrant and vital part of the city. The Aiken spirit of working together has created a downtown atmosphere that is the envy of cities many times larger.

Aiken’s downtown has block after block of businesses that encourage shoppers to flock to the heart of the city where others are seeing buyers flee to outlying malls and shopping centers.

In Aiken the downtown is an appealing mix of merchants, restaurants, banks, realtors and the arts. If you are into buying quality clothing, downtown Aiken has what you need. If you want jewelry, gifts, shoes, home furnishings, photographic equipment, goods from the British Isles or bird feeders, downtown is the place to go.

If you have hunger for fine steaks, Southern cuisine, a taste of Cuba, Italian cuisine, a bit of sushi, deli selections, pizza or burgers and fries, downtown Aiken has those and more.

If you are into a bit of night action with live music, downtown offers that as well.

The successful downtown of today is no accident. It was created through collaborative efforts of the Aiken Downtown Development Association and the many merchants who took a chance on setting up shop along the streets of downtown. The gamble has paid off for the merchants and for the city as Aiken’s downtown is active from early morning until late at night.


downtown AikenDiscover

Several new businesses opened in Aiken in 2012, including the ever-popular Cracker Barrel with its home-cooked, comfort food-

centered menu.Cracker Barrel opened on Whiskey Road

in January and has been serving a steady stream of customers since. A total of 185 people were hired to work there. The Aiken location is the 24th in South Carolina, and is one of fewer than 100 Cracker Barrel restaurants that are not located near a major interstate.

Betsy’s on the Corner in downtown Aiken opened in June with the menu and atmosphere of an old-fashioned soda parlor. The menu includes burgers, sandwiches, salads, and the obligatory ice cream, milkshakes and floats.

Businesses that have been announced for Aiken, but have not yet opened include The Fresh Market, Sam’s Club and Academy Sports. The Fresh Market will be located in the South Park Shopping Center, Sam’s Club at the corner of the Robert M. Bell Bypass and Aiken-Augusta Highway, and Academy Sports in Hitchcock Plaza.


new BusinessesDiscover

Cracker Barrel ribbon cutting.

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The industrial side of Aiken is large and varied, and discovering what is made within the county’s borders is an explorer’s delight. There are products made in plants and factories throughout

Aiken County that find their way around the country and even to distant shores.

Kimberly-Clark’s paper products made in the Beech Island plant help families around the country with useful items from paper towels to diapers to facial tissue.

Breads baked in the ovens of Pepperidge Farm in the City of Aiken-Verenes Industrial Park are turned into sandwiches all over the U.S.

Tognum America produces diesel engines for industrial equipment and pleasure crafts used around the globe.

Aiken County’s Bridgestone facility makes or turns out thousands of tires a day to safely carry families on the roads of America.

Carlisle Transportation Products produces belts and tires for recreational, agricultural as well as home and garden equipment.

The headquarters for R.E. Phelon Company, a manufacturer of ignition systems and engine electronics, is located in Aiken.

BAE Systems makes components for armored vehicles for the military at its Aiken facility.

Among the other industrial names that make their home in Aiken are GlaxoSmithKline, Hubbell Power Systems, ASCO Valve Manufacturing, Savannah River Remediation, Halocarbon Products, Zeus Industrial Products, Newman Technology, Owens Corning, Advanced Glassfiber Yarns, Autoneum North America, CYTEC Industries and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions.

There are many other companies, large and small, that provide jobs for workers across Aiken County.

our industriAl sideDiscover

715 E. Pine Log Rd.Aiken, SC 29803641-4401

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Shellhouse-Rivers Funeral Home, Inc.

924 Hayne Ave.Aiken, SC 29801642-3456

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COMPLETE FUNERAL SERVICEOn-Site Crematory Pine Log Road Location • Affiliated with Bethany Cemetery

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ROBERT W.SHELLHOUSEFuneral Director

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A company with one of the largest manufacturing facilities in Aiken County is working on getting even larger.

In September 2011, Bridgestone Americas announced plans for construction of a new 1.5 million-square-foot off-road radial tire manufacturing facility in Aiken County.

The $1.2 billion initial capital investment is the largest by any company in South Carolina’s history and will include expansion of the existing Bridgestone factory in Graniteville.

Bridgestone/Firestone has had a presence in Aiken County since building that first plant here in 1997 with an initial investment of $435 million in a 1.5 million square foot facility. The plant has undergone a number of expansions and upgrades. The current expansion will increase overall operating space to 2.7 million square feet.

More than 900 people are directly employed by Bridgestone. The expansion at the existing facility is expected to be completed in 2015 and will add over 300 new full-time and contract jobs. Production will increase to 13.4 million tires annually.

The capacity expansion is intended to meet growing demand in key market segments, including ultra-high performance and light truck/SUV tires. New, advanced tire-making machines will give the plant versatility, flexibility and speed when responding to shifts in market demands.

Bridgestone’s announcement of a second plant in Aiken County was met with enthusiasm by members of the Aiken County Council, Gov. Nikki Haley and the South Carolina

Secretary of Commerce, Bobby Hitt.“Bridgestone Americas is a world-class manufacturer, and

this investment will be a real game-changer,” Hitt said. “The company’s new plant will further strengthen South Carolina’s manufacturing sector, and shows that our business-friendly environment and top-notch talent continue to keep us competitive with locations across the globe.”

The new facility will be located in the Sage Mill Industrial Park in Aiken County, and will be Bridgestone’s first American plant to produce large and ultra-large off-road radial tires. The company previously produced such large tires only in Japan, and will bring its state-of-the-art technology to the U.S.

The plant will be built with a focus on the environment, and the company plans to achieve LEED Construction Certification

When completed in 2020, the new plant is expected to add more than 850 full-time and contract positions. The tires to be produced are some of the world’s largest, and they will be used in mining. Bridgestone believes demand for these large ORR tires will increase proportional to the demand for new mineral resources. Adding a U.S. plant will allow Bridgestone to effectively respond to customer needs.

Gary Stooksbury, Chairman of the Board of the Economic Development Partnership of Aiken and Edgefield Counties, said, “We are very appreciative that Aiken County was chosen for this new investment. This historic announcement reflects on the strong partnership that exists between Aiken County and Bridgestone Americas. The strength of our community lies with our manufacturing base.”


BridgeStone

Audrey Ford, business assistant at Bridgestone,

signs the 100 millionth tire.


While the 2011 announcement of Bridgestone’s $1.2 billion investment carries the distinction of being the single largest capital investment in South Carolina’s

history, other important economic announcements were made in 2012.

Tognum (formerly MTU Detroit Diesel) is investing $40 million at its Graniteville plant for two new research and

development centers. Twenty new jobs will be created.Pactiv, a maker of food service and food packaging, is

investing $5.5 million to expand its existing operations in Beech Island. Twenty-five new jobs will be created.

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions has announced a $3 million expenditure to expand laboratory space at the Center for Hydrogen Research. Savannah River Nuclear Solutions is responsible for the management and operation of SRS.

inveStmentS AnnoUnCed

Congressman Joe Wilson, middle, gets details on the engines mtU

produces for mining applications.

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First PresbyterianChurch

224 Barnwell Ave. NW, Aiken(803) 648-2662

www.aikenpresbyterian.org

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St ThaddeusEpiscopal Church

125 Pendleton St. SW • Downtown Aiken803.648.5497

www.stthaddeus.org

AS04-819456

125 Pendleton Street SW, Downtown Aiken

803.6458.5497www.stthaddeus.org

St. Mary Help of ChristiansCatholic Church

Corner of Park Ave. and York St.Downtown Aiken • (803) 649-4777

www.stmarys-aiken.org

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St. Mary Help of ChristiansCatholic Church

Corner of Park Ave. and York St.Downtown Aiken • (803) 649-4777

www.stmarys-aiken.org

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Millbrook Baptist Church223 South Aiken Blvd., SE • 803.648.4167

www.millbrook.cc • Dr. Eddie LeopardAS14-824200

Millbrook Baptist Church223 South Aiken Blvd., SE • 803.648.4167

www.millbrook.cc • Dr. Eddie LeopardAS14-824200

St. John’s United MethodistChurch

Corners of Richland and Newberry StreetsDowntown Aiken, SC 29801 • 648-6891

www.stjohns-umc.org • 8:30am, 9:02am and 11am

AS04-819443

Corners of Richland & NewberryDowntown Aiken, SC 29801

803.648.6891 www.stjohns-umc.org8:30 am, 9:02 am & 11am

St. John’s United MethodistChurch

Corners of Richland and Newberry StreetsDowntown Aiken, SC 29801 • 648-6891

www.stjohns-umc.org • 8:30am, 9:02am and 11am

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250 Town Creek Road • Aiken, SC803.649.9792

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HeightsChurchHeightsChurch

South Aiken Presbyterian Church1711 Whiskey Road, Aiken

803.648.9574AS02-818300

Aiken’s First Baptist Church120 Chesterfield Street NE

803.648.5476 • www.fbcaiken.org AS35-817761

Worship in Aiken County

1711 Whiskey Road, Aiken803.648.9574

www.southaiken.org

120 Chesterfield Street NE803.648.5476

www.fbcaiken.org

Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church2429 Augusta Road, Gloverville

593-2241 • www.ourladyofthevalleyparish.org

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2429 Augusta Road, Gloverville803.593.2241

www.ourladyofthevalleyparish.org

Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church

St. James Lutheran Church200 Laurel Drive, Graniteville

2.5 miles from USCA • (803) 663-6809www.stjameslutherangraniteville.org A

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200 Laurel Drive, Graniteville2.5 miles from USCA • 803.663.6809www.stjameslutherangraniteville.org

St. James Lutheran ChurchAiken’s First Baptist Church


The academic side of life is all about discovery, and the discovery of Aiken’s academic side will uncover an abundance of opportunity. Students of all ages from early learners in preschools to seniors who take part

in the University of South Carolina Aiken’s Academy of Lifelong Learning have options to pursue their educations at every level.

The Aiken County School District educates some 24,000 students each year in grades 4K-12 within a geographic area larger than the state of Rhode Island. In addition to the quality

educational opportunities available in the public school setting, there are also charter, private and faith-based schools in the area.

Two institutions of higher learning extend their arms to graduates. Aiken Technical College is a two-year college celebrating its 40th anniversary of service to Aiken and surrounding counties. The University of South Carolina Aiken is a four-year university that also offers graduate degrees in some disciplines.

our AcAdemic sideDiscover

Discover Aiken and you’ll also discover the University of South Carolina Aiken.

USC Aiken opened its doors in 1961 in a downtown Winter Colony mansion, and it

has been an integral part of the community from the very beginning. After 50 years, the community ties have only grown stronger.

From Kids in College summer camps to programs geared to mature adults such as the Academy of Lifelong Learning and SeniorNet, USC Aiken stays connected with the citizens of Aiken.

USC Aiken offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees to its more than 3,200 students, with 49 degrees and programs available.

The quality of the institution is nationally known as well.

USC Aiken is ranked the #1 public regional college in the South by U.S. News and World Report’s guide “America’s Best Colleges.” The 2012 guide marks USC Aiken’s 14th consecutive ranking among the top three in this category and its 8th time in first place.

USC Aiken also offers the full student experience. The USC Aiken Pacer athletic teams consistently receive national rankings in sports including golf, basketball, tennis, and baseball. There are more than 90 student organization programs. From a stellar athletic department to cultural events, the University has much to offer students and Aiken residents alike.

Throughout the year, the Etherredge Center offers plays, musicals and other events for students and the community to enjoy. The University brings many visitors to campus

USC Aiken

new USC Aiken Chancellor dr. Sandra Jordan and other

department heads and executives welcome about 500 freshmen

to the university during a convocation ceremony.

for entertainment and cultural events through Pacer Athletics, the Etherredge Center, and the USC Aiken Convocation Center.

Partnerships are important to USC Aiken, and those with alumni and supporters of the University are developed and enhanced by the efforts of the Alumni Relations and Development.

USC Aiken has partnerships with businesses in the community such as the Cardiac Rehabilitation program at Aiken Regional Medical Centers, the Small Business Development Center, the Economic Development Partnership and the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center, to name a few. It is through these partnerships the University impacts the community in positive ways.

Having celebrated its golden anniversary during the past year, the University is looking to the future. Dr. Sandra Jordan was named the school’s fourth chancellor in 2012, and is the University’s first female chancellor. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and is also a graduate of the University of Georgia, where she earned both her master’s degree and doctorate. Jordan completed leadership and management development programs at both Harvard and Vanderbilt universities.

With Dr. Jordan’s leadership and direction, USC Aiken looks forward to many more years of growth, bettering both students’ lives and the Aiken community.

“While in comparison with other universities we may be a relatively young institution, but we are an important economic, educational, and cultural force in our region,” Dr. Jordan said. “I look forward with enthusiasm to working with our faculty and staff to help our beloved University of South Carolina Aiken move to its next level of development and excellence.”


One cannot claim to discover the soul of Aiken’s academic side without learning about Aiken Technical College that is celebrating its 40th year of service to the community this year.

Aiken Technical College is a public, open-door, two year institution established to provide Aiken County citizens opportunities for educational, economic, professional, social and personal development.

The college, located on U.S. 1 between Aiken and Augusta, educates and trains students to provide an effective workforce to support economic growth and community development through its focus on teaching and service.

ATC has an enrollment of 3,000 students pursuing associate’s degrees and certificates in a variety of high-demand fields. In its history more than 217,000 students have attended ATC, and the college has provided non-credit training to thousands more.

Over 80 programs are offered in business, education, engineering, finance, health sciences, information technology, manufacturing, marketing, nuclear, public safety, technology and university transfer.

Through hands-on training both on-campus and through internships at area manufacturing facilities such as Bridgestone Americas, Tognum and Kimberly-Clark, students learn the skills needed to be successful in the field and then take those skills directly to work.

With the resurgence of the nuclear industry in the area, the college developed a radiation protection technology program in 2008 and began a nuclear quality systems

program in 2012, training students for careers in nuclear quality control and nuclear quality assurance.

At the college’s state-of-the-art Health and Science building, a dozen health sciences credentials in fields including nursing, medical coding, medical assisting, dental assisting, pharmacy technician, surgical technology, radiological technology and paramedic are offered.

In addition to its academic programs, ATC is engaged in numerous community initiatives to empower students through life-changing education. The college offers dual enrollment programs for high school students to gain college credit while completing high school academic requirements.

This year, Aiken Technical College celebrates its 40th anniversary of providing an educated, highly-skilled workforce for the greater Aiken community. In the coming years, the college will continue to help students “start here, succeed anywhere.”

Aiken teChniCAlCollege


Students in the Practical nursing program at Aiken technical College.

Earlier this summer, two historic private schools in Aiken completed a merger when Mead Hall Episcopal School obtained Aiken Preparatory School.

Aiken Prep originated in 1916 as a residential and day facility for boys through 9th grade. Over the past 25 years, the school became a co-ed day program, adding the remaining high school grades in 1999.

Established by St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church in 1957, Mead Hall has served students through grade 8 in recent years and is located on Pendleton Street, just a few blocks from Aiken Prep on Barnwell Avenue.

The combined campuses, which opened for the 2012-13 school year in August, will now be known as Mead Hall Episcopal School. Elementary grades remain on Pendleton Street and the newly-named St. Thaddeus campus. The other campus is now called the Aiken Prep campus, providing grades 6-12.

Kitty Gordon, the Mead Hall head of school, retains that title with the merger. “Mead Hall and Aiken Prep have a wonderful history and are linked by our love for children and a commitment to education,” Gordon said this summer.


The Aiken County School District welcomed about 24,800 students for the 2012-13 school year in August.

More than 1,000 people also will participate in the district’s adult education program this year, seeking high school

diplomas or GEDs.The school system offers Advanced Placement and honors classes at the

county high schools, as well as Gifted and Talented programs for younger students. Many students are now taking concurrent and dual enrollment college courses, getting college credits while still in high school.

Students in several career fields at the Aiken County Career and Technology Center also can earn credits during high school that are accepted by Aiken Technical College.

public schools

Mead hall

coMpass acadeMyTracy Brooks, founder of Compass Academy, Aiken’s newest

private school, is fulfilling her vision of well-rounded education for students in Aiken. What began as a mere glimmer of an idea in December 2011 has bloomed, and the first academic school

year will begin in August 2013. The 53,000 square foot facility, located on Toolebeck Road, will be completed in May 2013, and will include a full-sized gym.

Compass Academy will be home to a high school, middle school and elementary school. The maximum size of a class will be limited to 16 students, with two classes per grade. The student body capacity will not exceed 416 students. The K-12 school will place an emphasis on college preparatory academics, leadership and character development. Brooks has hired veteran educator Bonnie Culbertson as the Head of School.

There will be a full choice of enrichment classes such as art, drama, foreign language, band and chorus. Along with the enrichment education, Brooks hopes to have a choice of sports available for students including basketball, baseball and softball, volleyball, golf tennis, and soccer.

More information about the new institution can be found at compassacademyaiken.com.

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Matthew T. Clark, MD, MPH, FAAP, FACAAI

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Some of the conditions Dr. Clark evaluates & treats:

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1810 Knox Avenue • Suite B(in office next to Dr. Havird)

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the Aiken liFestyleDiscover

The lifestyles of Aiken are as numerous as the people who live here. There is a little bit of everything, and there is not a right or wrong way of life here.

The Aiken lifestyle is a retiree living in Woodside Plantation and playing golf on one of that community’s courses.

The Aiken lifestyle is a young couple enjoying a free summer concert at Hopelands Gardens and visiting the Aiken County Historical Museum.

The Aiken lifestyle is a family spending an evening at Citizens Park watching their children play baseball, softball or soccer on one of the many fields that make up that complex.

The Aiken lifestyle consists of men and women working hard at their jobs, enjoying their time at play and giving back to the community to which they belong.

Volunteerism is a way of life in Aiken. For many residents, part of that lifestyle is volunteering time on a regular basis for one of the many agencies that provide help to those in

need. Helping Hands, ACTS, Children’s Place, the Cumbee Center and many other organizations allow Aiken residents numerous opportunities to discover ways of helping others.

For some, the Aiken lifestyle centers around horses and the many aspects of equestrian life that are found here. Others enjoy jogging along the city’s tree-lined streets or walking in the 2,000 acre urban forest called Hitchcock Woods.

Aiken’s lifestyle also consists of cultural events, including performances at the downtown Aiken Community Playhouse facility, events at the Etherredge Center and the Convocation Center, both on the campus of USC Aiken, and the Juilliard in Aiken performances in the spring as well as art exhibitions at the Aiken Center for the Arts.

Aiken’s many fine restaurants are a draw that provides part of a lifestyle of excellent cuisine. And who doesn’t enjoy a great meal?

Those who come to Aiken will discover that if they like to work, like to play, enjoy the arts and like to be part of a community that cares for others, this is a great place to be.


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our equestriAn sideDiscover

Aiken during its Winter Colony days was referred to as a Sportsman’s Paradise and much of that distinction was earned through its association with equestrian sport. The city has a rich history

with horses and equestrian pursuits.Many horsemen who come to Aiken marvel at the

Hitchcock Woods, a 2,200-acre urban forest, frequented by those on horseback, as well as those in carriages and on foot, who admire the pristine beauty and endless trails that have made the protected area one of Aiken’s treasures.

The Hitchcock Woods is home to the nation’s oldest drag hunt, the Aiken Hounds, and one of the nation’s most beautiful and timeless traditions is held each year at Memorial Gate as hundreds of people gather on Thanksgiving Day to welcome the holiday season by celebrating the Blessing of the Hounds. The annual Aiken Horse Show in the Woods in early April allows participants and spectators to go back in time to see a horse show evocative of a previous era in one of the nation’s most

aesthetically pleasing settings.What could be more fun than attending a polo game on a

Sunday afternoon at the Aiken Polo Club’s historic Whitney Field? For the past 130 years “The Game of Kings” has been played regularly there. Aiken is also home to a series of United States Polo Association tournaments that are part of the annual Aiken Polo Club, 302 Polo and New Bridge Polo and Country Club calendar.

The Aiken Training Track was established in 1941, and the facility has served as a way of getting young horses prepared for their career in Thoroughbred racing and as a way of getting older horses ready to return to the racetrack. A total of 39 national champions have trained over the one-mile track. The Aiken Training Track is the site for the first jewel of the Aiken Triple Crown, the Aiken Trials.

The Aiken Triple Crown, held each March, consists of the Aiken Trials (flat racing); the Aiken Spring Steeplechase at Ford Conger Field (racing over national fences) which is part of the National Steeplechase Association annual


calendar; and Pacers and Polo at the Powderhouse Fields.Many of the nation’s leading three-day event riders make

Aiken their winter base, and amateurs get the opportunity to compete against Olympians at the horse trials at Full Gallop Farm, Paradise Farm, Sporting Days Farm and Jumping Branch Farm.

Aiken is also home to a strong show hunter/show jumper community. The Progressive Show Jumping circuit hosts shows on a routine basis at Highfields Event Center, where a number of the nation’s leading professionals, adult amateur, junior and children’s riders exhibit. The PSJ Aiken Spring Classic and Equus Events Aiken Fall Festival are two of the most eagerly awaited shows during the year.

The Aiken Driving community is among the nation’s best, and the area is home to a strong contingent of both competitive and pleasure drivers. The Aiken Driving Club boasts a growing membership, and the nationally recognized Katydid Combined Driving Event in November attracts many of the nation’s outstanding combined drivers.

The sport of dressage, the equestrian discipline that is the foundation of all equestrian sport, continues to have a large presence in Aiken. The area is home to a number of outstanding riders, trainers and clinicians.

The timeless sport of foxhunting also has a strong representation in the area with the Aiken Hounds, Whiskey Road Hounds, Why Worry Hounds, Edisto Hounds, and the Belle Meade Hounds based in Thomson, Ga.


Visit www.thewillcox.com to join ourE-mail Club and receive exclusive benefits

The Living Room ofthe community

100 Colleton Avenue SW, Aiken, SC [email protected] • 803-648-1898

Rates starting at $185.00Spa and Restaurant open daily

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24 Discover Aiken County 2012-13AS09-810695

our HeAltHy sideDiscover

Aiken was discovered as a health resort more than a century ago. Today health remains of vital importance to residents and guests alike.

The Aiken of 2012 has an exceptional network of health care providers. A comprehensive hospital complex, Aiken Regional Medical Centers, provides diagnoses and treatments for virtually all healthcare issues.

Among the hospital’s notable features is the Women’s Center and, in a separate building on the ARMC campus, the Cancer Center.

The list of physicians who practice in Aiken is impressive, with specialists in almost all fields as well as family practitioners to serve the community.

In addition to the hospital, a fully functioning surgery center supports the medical needs of the people of Aiken.

Aiken also has the latest in medical technology, allowing patients to remain in their hometown without having to travel long distances for most of their healthcare requirements.


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Shopping InNearby AugustaShopping InNearby Augusta

February 2012 was the beginning of something very special for women throughout Aiken and surrounding counties.

Aiken Regional Medical Centers introduced the first and only free comprehensive women’s health program, WE: Women Enlightened for Better Health. Since the kickoff, the membership numbers have skyrocketed as women are making it a priority to put their health first and a “sisterhood” has been formed like no other.

benefits of the program include:– Free support from a Women’s Health Nurse

Navigator– Free and reduced fees for Aiken Regional’s education

classes, support programs and events year-round– Free and low-cost health screenings– Access to online health information– Quarterly newsletter– Weekly e-blast– Social interaction through Facebook and WE events“The support from the community has been

outstanding and our WE ladies are excited,” said Lauree Caldwell, RN, Women’s Health Nurse Navigator. “Together WE provide support for each other, support for local foundations such as the Savannah River Cancer Foundation through the Pearl Program, and the Best Chance Network. WE will continue to encourage, enlighten and educate as our program moves forward into its second year. We are Women Enlightened for Better Health!”

To join visit www.aikenregional.com/we.


Aiken regionAl’s we progrAmDiscover

our HistoricAl sideDiscover

Those who get to know Aiken may be surprised to discover its rich history.

From its very beginning, Aiken’s story has been one of romance, beauty and cutting-edge

technology.There is a romantic story about Aiken’s beginnings and

the loving way its downtown parkways were created. The railroad – a brand new form of transportation – was the reason for the city getting established in the first place. Legend has it that a young man’s love for a local girl led him to put the tracks through what is now Aiken.

The railroad from Charleston to Hamburg was at that time the longest railway in the world, and the name for the town, Aiken, came from the company’s president, William Aiken.

The history of Aiken includes a downtown battle during the Civil War. The Battle of Aiken is commemorated each winter with a weekend event attended by thousands.

Aiken became famous as a destination for wealthy

Northerners at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. They discovered a winter playground perfectly suited for their pursuit of equestrian activities. The list of visitors and winter residents was a veritable Who’s Who of America at the time. Their legacy can be found in Hitchcock Woods, Whitney Polo Field, Hopelands Gardens, the equine industry and Palmetto Golf Club.

An historical announcement in 1950 led the way to a dramatic change in Aiken. The Atomic Energy Commission announced that a major nuclear weapons production facility would be built here. Tens of thousands of construction workers built the Savannah River Plant, now the Savannah River Site. The facility led the way in cutting-edge technology of the nuclear industry and has provided jobs for thousands upon thousands over the past six decades.

Aiken’s history can be seen at the Aiken County Historical Museum, the Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum as well as along the streets of the city and byways in the county.



WilliAm Aiken

Aiken trAin dePot


deAdly exPloSion Aiken liBrAry

PArAde oF CArriAgeS


the WillCox

One of Aiken’s most iconic buildings is the Willcox, a hotel that dates back to the days of Aiken’s Winter Colony.

The hotel on Colleton Avenue has hosted the famous and the not-so-famous from around the world and continues to do so today under the ownership of Shannon and Geoff Ellis.

Travel and Leisure magazine recently named the Aiken hotel No. 32 on its list of the Top 50 Hotels in the World.

In its citation about The Willcox, the magazine wrote, “Thanks to that special Southern hospitality, The Willcox feels more like a home than a hotel. Flanked by grand white pillars and big oak trees, it oozes Southern charm. The rooms look like you’ve just stepped into Scarlett O’Hara’s house—four-poster beds, fireplaces, and stitched floral pillows. The main activity for Willcox guests is typically horse-related; for more than 100 years, Aiken has served as the training-ground for all things equestrian. After steeplechasing or harness racing, dine on applewood smoked bacon creamed corn and locally grown greens at The Restaurant at The Willcox. Would we like to stay at the Willcox? Yes ma’am!”

Shepeard CommunityBlood Center

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our Fun sideDiscover

When you discover Aiken’s hidden gems, you will certainly find Sage Valley Golf Club.

It is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful, picturesque settings

for a golf course. Not just in South Carolina, or even the Southeast but perhaps in all of the world. The course owned by Weldon and Tom Wyatt is a jewel in an area with a rich tradition of prestigious golf courses.

It’s fitting that Sage Valley, routinely ranked among the top golf courses and retreats in the U.S., is now the home

to what’s considered the best junior golf tournament in the world. Each of the past two years, the 7,344-yard golf course – designed with help from Tom Fazio – played host to the Junior Invitational – an invitation-only annual event for the top 54 junior golfers from around the globe.

“There’s no other tournament in the world like this. It’s the first of its kind,” said Paul Simon, the tournament chairman. “Our goal is to put on the most prestigious junior golf tournament in the world.”

After the first year of the tournament in 2011,


SAge vAlley And the JUnior invitAtionAl


GolfWeek named the Junior Invitational, the No. 1 junior golf tournament in the world. It certainly helped that the event got the endorsement of PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem.

Former President George W. Bush was on hand this year to address the players during an opening banquet. The former president spoke to the players, in part, because of his capacity as the honorary chairman of The First Tee initiative, an organization that benefits from the three-day tournament. The donation made to The First Tee following the inaugural tournament was substantial, a gift of $200,000.

But what really separates the Junior Invitational from every other junior tournament is the field itself. Each year, dozens of players from around the world have descended on the Graniteville club to join the best of the best from the U.S.

“We believe this is a major championship of junior golf,” said committee chairman Russ Krueger, who boasted that any player in the field of 54 has a legitimate chance to win. “This is the best field and best tournament a junior player can go to.”

The reaction of the players is almost universally similar. They seem to love playing at Sage Valley as much as the organizers appreciate having them.

“This is the best junior golf tournament I’ve played in,” said Zachary Olsen, winner of the 2012 Junior Invitational, who, like nearly all of the participants, has played in most of the significant junior tournaments around the world. “They do it right here.”

nicholas reach, center, holds a silver platter and wears a gold jacket after winning the

Junior invitational at Sage valley golf Club.

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One of the discoveries found in Aiken is that of collaboration. There are a number of combined efforts to attain common goals in this community, including the URS-Playhouse collaboration that sees

the URS company sharing a building with the Aiken Community Playhouse.

Another is the just-completed Family Y. The Family Y of Aiken County opened its doors in January 2012 at a state-of-the-art facility on Trolley Line Road.

The facility, which the Family Y shares with Cedar Creek Church’s West Campus, is the first Family Y in the country to be built in collaboration with a church. The arrangement works well for the faith-based nonprofit organization.

Built on 16 acres, the Family Y includes a wellness center with cardiovascular machines, weight machines and free weight equipment, a full-court volleyball and basketball gym and childcare area. The pool and water park opened in May 2012, and have been a large draw for the community. The park features a 20,000 square foot pool deck, pool-house, restrooms, concession stand, a double slide with plunge pool, a competition-size swimming pool and a children’s bubble pool.

Executive Director Catie McCauley said, “We’re very family-oriented. That’s the biggest thing that makes us stand out from other gyms.” Members are eligible for two hours of free childcare with each visit to the Family Y. Children from 8 weeks to 12 years of age are able to enjoy a Kid Watch zone and a Clubhouse with a Lego wall and Xbox video game systems.

Members are also provided with a 12-week exercise support program at the beginning of their membership. On a first visit,

members are given an orientation and health survey and are encouraged to set goals. After that, the member meets with his or her trainer every two or three weeks to revisit goals and keep their exercise plan on track.

The Family Y fitness facility also offers a variety of scheduled classes for all ages and levels of endurance. Classes are held daily and include: Zumba, Chair Aerobics, Cycling, Pilates, Yoga, Step and Kickboxing. There are even cardio classes for kids to help children get active.

The outdoor water park offers swim lessons for children and adults, as well as water fitness classes.

In addition to group classes and swim lessons, the Family Y has many planned events and activities for individuals and families throughout the year. They host marathons and bicycle races, family movie nights, summer camps for kids, flag football, summer baseball, soccer and adult basketball.

The Family Y is open each day, though fitness activities do not take place before 1 p.m. on Sunday. Cedar Creek Church holds weekly worship services in the gym on Sunday mornings.

Memberships are available for all age and family groups, and fees are different depending on each family’s situation. Assistance with fees is available for those who need it. McCauley said she finds it interesting that people don’t realize the Family Y is a nonprofit organization. She said that their goal is for no one to be turned away because of inability to pay. “We offer financial assistance to anyone who can’t afford to pay for the Family Y.”

The Aiken County Family Y is located at 621 Trolley Line Road, Graniteville, and is open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.


tHe FAmily yDiscover


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care, as well as short and/or long term therapy, to return residents to the community at their prior level of

functioning. Give us a call today!

At Shadow Oaks Assisted Living daily life is full of extras. Our goal is to enable our residents to enjoy their freedom while providing assisted living services when needed. Not only are residents provided a safe secure atmosphere but they can receive assistance with all activities of living, including medication management, bathing, dressing, meals, laundry and transportation.

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In discovering Aiken, one discovers character.Since 1999 the City of Aiken has been recognized as

a City of Character. In an initiative begun by Mayor Fred Cavanaugh and later approved by the City Council, citizens

are encouraged to focus on positive aspects of the community. This focus is believed to build successful lives, strengthen families, increase productivity in business and reduce crime rates.

Each month focuses on a particular positive trait, such as gratitude, kindness or patience. During the month city employees may attend character training sessions and school children are encouraged to embody the traits. In May the annual Celebration of Character recognizes students who display good qualities. The celebration is sponsored by the Joint Women’s Clubs of Aiken.

The Joint Women’s Clubs were instrumental in expanding the Character First initiative. They raised funds to purchase the first bright banners listing the year’s 12 character traits. The original banners have been moved from downtown to the H.O. Weeks

Activity Center and other Aiken parks. Funds are currently being raised to purchase a new series of seasonal banners created by local designer Linda Hunley and Schofield Middle School English teacher Sally Jenkins.

Every season has a banner and three traits. “Fall in love with Aiken,” is displayed in autumn with the traits of gratitude, responsibility and kindness. Winter features the “Joy of Aiken” banner, with the traits of generosity, patience and courage. In spring, the character traits of wonder, creativity and respect fly alongside a “Bloom in Aiken” banner. Summer invites people to “Chill in Aiken” and emphasizes honesty, forgiveness and humor. No matter what time of year people are discovering Aiken, the rotating seasonal banners will bring new focus to the City of Character.

The monthly character trait is listed on the city website, and can also be found on City of Aiken water bills. There is work in progress to combine the Character First initiative into the local literacy program by selecting books to coincide with each characteristic.

Aiken’s cHArActer bannersDiscover

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Ground was broken in August for Aiken County’s new 134,000-square-foot office complex.

Located on University Parkway, just minutes from downtown Aiken, the new complex will replace the existing building on Richland Avenue W. where

County government has housed its offices since the 1970s. That structure is the old Aiken Hospital which has portions of the building dating back to 1934.

The new home for County offices is expected to be complete in February 2014 at a projected cost of $37.5 million. The project is being funded with a mixture of Capital Projects Sales Tax money and general obligation bonds.

All County offices will be consolidated into the new building, including Planning and Development, which is in leased space at the Kalmia Mall.

For a community that prides itself on maintaining public green space the disposition of the current building is appropriate. The current office structure will be demolished once the staff moves into the new building, and the land will be returned to a greenfield site.

Aiken county complex

County Complex is to be completed in 2014.

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Bridgestone Americas,Aiken County

©2006 Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.

At 310 square miles – or 198,344 acres – and 12,000 employees, the Savannah River Site is the largest employer in Aiken County in size and workforce.

The site, operated by the U.S. Department of Energy, encompasses parts of Aiken, Barnwell and Allendale counties and borders the Savannah River.

Its mission is to process and store nuclear materials in support of national defense and U.S. nuclear non-proliferation efforts.

From its inception in the 1950s, the site produced materials used in nuclear weapons, primarily tritium and plutonium-239. Five reactors and support facilities were built to produce nuclear materials. From 1953 to 1988, the site produced about 36 metric tons of plutonium. All of the

reactors have since been decommissioned.Irradiated materials were moved from the reactors to one

of the two chemical separations plants, where they were refined. The materials were then shipped to other DOE sites for application.

The site’s overall mission has been modified since the end of the Cold War, now concentrating on the cleanup of legacy materials and wastes.

Focus is now on the storage of spent nuclear fuel; conversion of weapons-grade plutonium into fuel for use in commercial nuclear reactors; recycling and reloading of tritium from nuclear weapons reservoirs returned from service; processing radioactive waste into stable storage forms; and the cleanup and restoration of the environment at the site.


sAvAnnAH river siteDiscover


The site was managed by E.I. DuPont until 1989, when Westinghouse Savannah River Company took over. In 2006, DOE decided to split the WSRC contract. The management and operating contract was awarded to Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLC, and the liquid waste contract to Savannah River Remediation.

The other major SRS contractors are Wackenhut Services Inc., which provides security for the site; Shaw AREVA MOX Services; Parsons; and the University of Georgia, which performs environmental studies.

Tritium is one of the ongoing missions at the site. With a half-life of only 12.3 years, tritium must be replenished. SRS is the nation’s only facility for extracting, recycling, purifying and reloading tritium so that nuclear weapons reservoirs can be returned to service.

Another mission at SRS is the disposition of surplus weapons-grade materials consistent with the U.S.-Russian agreement on non-proliferation. DOE chose SRS to be the location for the department’s plutonium Pit Disassembly and Conversation operations and Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility. These missions will convert surplus weapons-grade plutonium to a form that can be used in commercial power reactors.

Construction on the $4.8 billion MOX facility, which will be operated by Shaw AREVA MOX Services, began in August 2007. PDCF is still in its design phases.

SRS’ F-Canyon and H-Canyon are where nuclear materials historically have been chemically recovered and purified. H-Canyon supports the DOE Enriched Uranium and Plutonium Disposition programs by reducing the quantity of fissile materials in storage throughout the U.S.

Savannah River National Laboratory has become a center of focus as the vision for SRS continues to look forward. The laboratory’s approximately 900-person staff works to develop solutions to the technological challenges facing the site and the nation in three areas: national and homeland security, energy security and environmental management. The lab in 2004 unveiled two prototype bomb disposal robots that were deployed for military use in Iraq.

Cleanup at the site is a major ongoing mission. Since 2003, extensive cleanup and closure work has been done at SRS under a concept known as Area Completion, which focuses on cleaning up contamination in the environment by treating the source of contamination to mitigate transport through soil and groundwater and clean up or slow the movement of contamination that is already migrated.

The remediation process is being executed in a way that completes environmental cleanup and facility decommissioning, area by area, until all areas at the site are completed by 2031.

The site, along with DOE, is also heavily involved with education. DOE and SRS provide a variety of science and literacy outreach programs at the site through funding and coordinating the efforts of several organizations, including the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Natural Resources Management and Research Institute and SRNS.

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CSRA Businesses

To advertise in Discover Aiken County

next year, please call 803.644.2371

North Augusta is South Carolina’s riverfront community in the CSRA. The second-largest city in Aiken County sits just across the Savannah River from Augusta, Ga.

Founded by James U. Jackson and chartered in 1906, North Augusta’s rich history includes the Hampton Terrace Inn, the largest wooden structure in the world prior to its destruction by fire in 1916 and a gathering place for the rich and powerful of the time.

The city has seen extensive growth since the 1950s, due at first to a huge influx of residents with the construction of the Savannah River Site, and continuing today with carefully planned expansion, designed to attract families as well as retirees.

Included in the City of North Augusta’s development over the

last two decades have been several important projects, such as the North Augusta Industrial Park (which includes companies such as Halocarbon and AmbioPharm), an iconic Municipal Center in a proposed Town Center near the river, Hammond’s Ferry (a traditional neighborhood project on the riverfront), Brick Pond Park (a natural habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, constructed from pits left over from the brick- and pottery-making industry that once graced the riverfront)) and the Greeneway (a walking and biking trail that eventually will extend from below the Fifth Street Bridge on the southern limits of town along the Savannah to beyond I-20 to the North).

The combination of vision and careful planning have resulted in a city with the convenience of big-city amenities combined with small town charm and an unequalled sense of community.


nortH AugustADiscover

Brick Pond Park.


roSemAry hAll

mUniCiPAl BUilding

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our eventsDiscover

JAnuAryAiken Historic TourThe Living History Park, North AugustaAiken Camellia Show

FeBruAryAiken Historic TourBattle of Aiken ReenactmentEquestrian Show JumpingHeart Board Show

mArcHAiken Historic TourSunday PoloTriple Crown Road RaceJuilliard in AikenAiken TrialsAiken Spring SteeplechaseAiken Triple Crown PoloAiken Young Professionals 5th Friday

AprilThe Masters Golf Tournament, Augusta, Ga.Sunday PoloAiken Horse ShowAiken Historic TourArtisans’ FairHighland Games and Celtic FestivalEarth Day CelebrationPrep FestJunior InvitationalYellow Jessamine Festival, North Augusta

mAyStorytime in HopelandsAiken Standard Taste of Home Cooking SchoolLobster RaceAiken Historic TourHerb FaireSunday Polo

Hopelands Summer Concert SeriesAiken Bluegrass FestivalStrawberry FestivalAiken Young Professionals 5th FridayMental Health America

JuneAiken Historic TourUnder the Crown, North AugustaAiken’s Cooking with Celebrity ChefsSunday PoloHopelands Summer Concert SeriesRidge Peach FestivalHighway 23 Yard SalePalmetto Amateur, Palmetto Golf ClubSouth Carolina Outdoor Expo

JulyHopelands Summer Concert SeriesAiken Historic TourArts and Heritage Day CelebrationTouch a Truck DayThe Living History ParkPeach Jam, North Augusta

AugustAiken Historic TourHopelands Summer Concert SeriesThe Living History ParkArt Rocks at Aiken Center for the ArtsLabor Day Weekend Sidewalk SaleAiken Soccer CupAiken Young Professionals 5th Friday

septemBerLabor Day Weekend Sidewalk SaleCity of Aiken’s Day of Hard Labor BBQ Cook-offAiken Historic TourAiken’s Makin’Aiken Senior ExtravaganzaMini Fest - Aiken Bluegrass Festival

octoBerStorytime in HopelandsAiken Historic TourSassafras FestivalSt. Mary’s Chocolate FestivalAiken Standard Home ShowWhiskey Road RaceWestern Carolina State FairSweet Potato FestivalTrunk or Treat on Newberry StreetAiken Fall SteeplechaseHalloween Hoopla

novemBerAiken Historic TourSt. John’s Apple FestWoofstock Mutts and Music Festival The African-American ExperienceOne TableBlessing of the HoundsDancing with the Aiken StarsS.H.O.P. - Aiken Junior Woman’s ClubA Chef’s Extravaganza, Helping HandsAiken Young Professionals 5th FridaySalley Chitlin’ StrutThe Living History ParkTree Lighting CeremonyAiken Christmas Craft Show

decemBerAiken Historic TourAiken Christmas Craft ShowHolly DaysChristmas ParadeWagener’s Hometown HolidayChristmas in HopelandsAiken Choral Society Tour of HomesUSCA Festival of Carols


memoriAl dAy PArAde

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Aiken

53 miles from Columbia

150 miles from Charlotte

115 miles from greenville

120 miles from Athens

20 miles from Augusta

130 miles from Savannah

140 miles from Charleston

170 miles from Atlanta

160,099Aiken county polulAtion

29,524city oF Aiken polulAtion

1,071.03lAnd AreA in squAre miles

20.7city oF Aiken squAre mileAge

3.28HitcHcock woods squAre mileAge

6,500Horse populAtion (2008)

46.35”AnnuAl AverAge rAinFAll

72,249Housing units

73.3%HomeownersHip rAte

75˚meAn HigH temperAture

52˚meAn low temperAture

$174,000city oF Aiken mediAn vAlue oF

owner-occupied Housing units

* Aiken County facts and figures according to U.S. Census Bureau, 2010.

welcome to Aiken

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