Life + Culture

Where Family Grows First

Adam’s Garden Center Blends Landscaping Expertise, Heartfelt Service and a Gift Shop worth the drive from Aiken Article by Nikita Hanif | Photography by Rebecca Judy There’s a special kind of magic that happens when dreams get rooted in family soil, and at Adam’s Garden Center and Gift Shop in Barnwell, South Carolina, that magic grows in plain view just off Ellenton Street. Long before the lush greenery, the eclectic gift shelves and the meticulous landscape designs that now define this...

Health + Wellness

A Sound Investment in Hearing

Leslie Johnston Brings Compassionate, Comprehensive Hearing Care to the Aiken Community She Proudly Calls Home Article by Nikita Hanif | Photography by Rebecca Judy In 2025, Advanced Hearing Health of Aiken opened its doors with a mission rooted in love, legacy and the belief that everyone deserves the gift of hearing. For owner Leslie Johnston, this business is more than a professional milestone. It is a promise fulfilled. Johnston was born and raised in Aiken, and she often jokes that Aiken...

Home + Design

The Art of the Timeless Pool

Aiken Swimming Pool is Creating Spaces Where Backyard Dreams Converge Article by Jessica Crandall Lawrence | Photography by Rebecca Judy For more than five decades, Aiken Swimming Pool Company has quietly influenced the landscapes where life unfolds at home. Founded in 1975 by Ronnie Hines, the company has matured alongside Aiken itself, earning distinction as one of South Carolina’s oldest and most established pool builders. Today, under the second-generation leadership of his sons – Billy...

Travel

Investing in Personal Restoration

At the Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa, the Dividends Come in Deep breaths, Mountain Views and Meaningful Sister Time Article by Gayle Bryan | Photography by Gayle Bryan & Provided Listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural significance and storied past, the Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa in Asheville, North Carolina, was built in 1913 by Edwin Wiley Grove who made his fortune selling Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic. Constructed from massive granite boulders hauled up Sunset...

Life + Culture

Built on Faith and Service

Childhood Friends Serving Aiken with Integrity and Purpose Article by Nikita Hanif | Photography by Rebecca Judy In a town like Aiken where reputation travels even faster than advertising, character still matters. For childhood friends Tyler Stuart and Brent Batton, character is the very foundation of Freedom House Wash. Born and raised right here in Aiken, the two built their business on something far deeper than clean siding and sparkling driveways. They built it on faith, family and a...

Home + Design

A Legacy Worth the Investment

Fifty Years of Family, Craftsmanship and Trusted Service Across the CSRA Article by Michelle Parnell | Photography by Provided When Jack Sheppard founded his garage door company in 1975, he may not have fully understood what it would grow into and how it would become a legacy for his entire family. Now over fifty years strong, the imprint of the Overhead Door Company of Augusta-Aiken can be found all over the CSRA, and customers keep coming back for more.   “We have many returning clients and...

Local Services

Lasting Landscapes

A Thoughtful Approach to a Designer Yard by Rock Creek Irrigation & Landscapes Article by Jessica Lawrence | Photography by Provided In an industry where surface-level solutions are all too common, Rock Creek Irrigation & Landscapes is built on a simple philosophy: do it right the first time and make it last. What sprouted from a small operation established in landscaping, irrigation and land development has grown into one of the CSRA’s most trusted, full-service landscaping companies. Rock...

Life + Culture

Faith, Family and Traditional Values

How Robbie Breland is Building REFT Equipment in Aiken Article by Nikita Hanif | Photography by Rebecca Judy It becomes clear immediately at REFT Equipment that this isn’t just another place to buy or rent equipment; it’s a place built on relationships. The atmosphere feels genuine and unhurried–the kind of space where people are greeted with a smile and conversation, not a sales pitch. That feeling is intentional, and it reflects the heart of the man behind the business, owner Robbie...

Arts + Culture

Aiken’s Stage for Excellence

Joye Celebrates Talent, Education and Artistic Wonder Article by Nikita Hanif | Photography by Joye in Aiken Joye in Aiken has become one of the city’s most cherished cultural traditions, bringing world class music, dance and performance to a community that celebrates creativity. Sitting down with Mary Fran Crook, the Executive Director of Joye in Aiken, reveals the heart and dedication behind this beloved program. Crook has been with Joye in Aiken since 2020, beginning as the Senior...

Local Services

Framing the Light

The Art of Sunroom Design by Bates & Sons Article by Nikita Hanif | Photography by Rebecca Judy In the 1960s, long before Bates & Sons became a trusted name in Aiken home design, two brothers pedaled through Crosland Park with lawnmowers tied behind a two-seater bicycle. Johnnie and Ronny Bates were just boys then. They worked diligently, saying yes to small jobs neighbors requested. Grass cutting soon turned into odd repairs which then grew into more substantial tasks. When it came time to...