Critiques and Strangers

What a great weekend for North Augusta. All the visitors from the Nike Peach Jam swarming all over our city, spending money, lodging across the river, (no tax revenue there), and putting us on the map once again by holding this event at our recreation facility. We supplied security in the form of Public Safety Officers and the local churches volunteered their time and effort to provide food and refreshments. They will be back; this time for the female competitors I think. Lodging across the river but still keeping the country aware that North Augusta exist only as an appendage to Augusta.

August first is not far away and a new restaurant will be opening if all goes as planned. This will be a lunch only facility for a while with seating by reservation only due to limited capacity and, of course, take-out if you call ahead. This will not be your usual fare of fast food. They are resurrecting some old Southern Favorites such as Waldorf Salad, Three Bean Salad, Southern Cobb Salad and an assortment of sandwiches and homemade desserts. In the fall they plan to surprise everyone with other homemade goodies. This is just to whet your appetite, I’ll let you know where and hours of operation next week.

It seems as if every week brings new housing in some form to our area. Duplex apartments, sub-divisions, condos, single-family dwellings and apartment complexes. Where are all the people coming from? In the past two weeks alone I have met people from California who are planning to relocate in our area. I wondered how they heard about us and the standard answer was that they had heard of Aiken, visited there, found it to be not what they were looking for then their real estate person suggested North Augusta as an alternative. Most who have spent a few days here looking at homes or traveling the area, like what they see and like the feel of our city but the one comment out of each and every person is that there is nothing to attract people down town. Therefore, my suggestion to them was to work to change that if they chose to move here.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my loyal readers. Even those that disagree with me. I want them to know that every word they write in disagreement only serves to keep people talking and more people reading. It would, however, be even better if my detractors could think for themselves rather than resort to quotes from obscure publications, the Good Book excluded, it is not an obscure publication. I have often believed and have been taught that filling a letter or term paper or thesis with quotes only proves that the person doing the writing is too lazy to think for themselves or think that by quoting other people’s hard work somehow makes them superior in intelligence. I really do appreciate all the critiques of my writings; at least I know someone is reading them.