Life + Culture

Aiken Ag & Art Tour 

Connecting the Aiken Community with Local Farmers and Artisans Article by Ashley Elvis | Photography by Ag + Art Tour Spring is here! And with it comes sweet, juicy strawberries, vases of fresh cut flowers, local honey and jams, blueberries fresh off the vine and colorful salads full of garden veggies all thanks to our local farmers and artisans, many who are participating in the third annual Aiken Ag & Art Tour. Join along for a chance to visit farms and markets in the area, see where our...

Life + Culture

Mother-Daughter Duo Build Community Through Service

Vikki Crosland and Brandi Cook Give Back Beyond Real Estate Article by Nikita Hanif | Photography by Rebecca Judy In Aiken, South Carolina, the spirit of community runs deep, and no one embodies that more than Vikki Crossland and Brandi Cook, the dynamic mother-daughter duo behind Aiken Homes Team with Meybohm Real Estate. Together, they are not only top-tier REALTORS® helping clients find their dream homes but also dedicated advocates for the people, pets and programs that make Aiken such a...

Life + Culture

Celeste Almendarez Serves Aiken with Strength and Heart

A Dedicated Public Safety Officer, Protecting Her Community While Inspiring Women to Pursue the Force Article by Nikita Hanif | Photography by Rebecca Judy Celeste Almendarez is a proud public safety officer with Aiken Public Safety. She serves as both a police officer and firefighter, roles that demand strength, skill and heart. For the past three years, she’s been breaking barriers and making a difference in a field traditionally dominated by men. She does it with quiet confidence, humility...

Life + Culture

Overcoming Every Obstacle Through Faith

Ebony Dillard’s Journey Proves that Resilience, Faith and Perseverance Can Turn Trials into Triumphs Article by Nikita Hanif | Photography by Rebecca Judy Ebony Dillard’s journey is one of faith, resilience and defying the odds. From the beginning, life seemed unfair. Born in Las Vegas, her struggles started at just five months old when she contracted bacterial meningitis from a bad batch of the pertussis vaccine. Doctors warned her mother that the fever had severely damaged her brain...