Update on Park Improvements

By Valerie Sliker, courtesy Wagener Monthly

Roy Warner Park, under the supervision of Carolyn Rushton, Recreation Supervisor, and Willie Stroman, Park Supervisor, and under the leadership of Aiken County Parks, Recreation and Tourism (PRT), is undergoing Phase I of an extensive park improvement plan.  Upon the completion of Phase I, in the Spring of 2017, Roy Warner Park will gain additional parking, a new concession stand and maintenance shed, and a new football field built in the former Wagener Salley Mud Run arena. 

According to Rushton and Stroman, the current Wagener volunteer youth football league will merge with Aiken County PRT by becoming a part of Roy Warner Park.  The Wagener youth football team, originated in the mid-1990s by Eric Gleaton, Steve Carver, Curtis Schofield and Tom Sliker, has been completely run by volunteers and has grown large enough to achieve county park status and its own football field.  Congratulations to the many volunteers that have continued this youth sport for over twenty years.

Phase I of the Roy Warner Park expansion project is under the cooperative efforts of Mark van der Linden, Director, and Jim Buckalew, Coordinator Special Projects, Aiken County PRT, Jarwin Sadsad and Joe Berry with Aiken County Engineering, Gene Herron, Buildings and Grounds with Aiken County Public Works, Daryl Larrymore with SCE&G, Zack Davis, Landscape Architect with Johnson, Laschober & Associates, P.C. (JLA) out of Augusta, and George Raborn, John Henderson and Roger Williams with J. E. Stewart Builders, Inc. out of Aiken.

Future Phases of Roy Warner Park’s expansion will include a soccer field, new basketball courts and a gymnasium.  Volleyball courts are also under consideration.  Recreation Supervisor Carolyn Rushton hopes to offer athletic youth programs that will prepare our youth for high school athletics and will make our schools more competitive. 

Blackwater Festival at Aiken State Park

By Valerie Sliker, courtesy Wagener Monthly
Photo:  Palmetto Blue Band, warming up

The Friends of the Edisto (FRED) held their third annual Blackwater Festival at Aiken State Park on Saturday, June 18, 2016.  The festival was designed to educate the public about endangered rivers, specifically the Edisto, upon which the Aiken State Park sits.  The festival is also designed to celebrate the recreational activities the river provides and finally, the festival is a FRED fundraiser that benefits the Edisto River.

The Edisto River was named the 5th Most Endangered River in the Nation by American Rivers (AmericanRivers.org) in 2014 and 2015 due to excessive and unregulated water withdrawals.  It is the longest free-flowing blackwater river in the U.S, running a beautiful 250 miles from its spring-fed headwaters in Central SC, through the Coastal Plain and down into the Ashepoo/Combahee/Edisto (ACE) Basin.  Migratory fish rely on this river to flow freely from the ocean to the headwaters.

During the festival, many people enjoyed the canoe and kayak trail on the river as well as some fishing.  Music included Tom Coolidge and Leftovers, Palmetto Blue, and Don Merckle & The Blacksmiths.  Educational activities included wildlife demonstrations from Carolina Wildlife Care and updates on the status of our rivers from SCDNR.  There were plenty of kids about enjoying the bounce house and face painting and everyone enjoyed the BBQ lunch.

Southern Starz Performing Arts Studio

By Valerie Sliker, courtesty Wagener Monthly

Southern Starz Performing Arts Studio, 132 Lee Street North, had a soft opening in May, offering free shag dance lessons in preparation for the shag dance contest that was held at the Wagons to Wagener Festival on May 21, 2016.  Owner Melissa Berry plans to have an official grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony later this summer.

Southern Starz will offer a variety of classes, private lessons and instruction for shag, ballroom, tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, and line dancing, lyrical and musical theater, pageant, fashion modeling and etiquette, and adult fitness classes.  With its mission statement, Southern Starz strives to be a place where children can learn to be successful leaders and everyone will “be inspired to reach for the stars no matter what challenges life brings.”

Melissa Berry has over 35 years in the entertainment industry.  She has been in several national television commercials, performed with the Rockettes and several Off Broadway productions.  She has held many prestigious pageant titles on the local, state, and national level.  Melissa is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and has continued her training under numerous famous instructors including:  Mia Michaels, Anne Reinking, and Mikhael Barishynokov.   She is currently the Resident Choreographer at Onstage Productions.  Her dancers have been SC State Dance Champions, featured performers at Walt Disney World and were chosen to dance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Girls in Grace at Saron Baptist Church

Saron Baptist Church is holding their annual Girls in Grace Classes for Summer 2016.  Sessions include:  zumba, sewing, painting, baking, fashion and life skills, hair styling technique and much more.  Registration is required.  For more information or to register, contact Nytia Kitchings at 803.315.1501.

For girls ages 8 - 16
$15 fee per Monday (includes breakfast, lunch and gift bag)

9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

June 13, 20 & 27
July 18 & 25

 

Wagener Clock Bell Tower

By Valerie Sliker, courtesy Wagener Monthly

Wagener’s new clock bell tower was installed this past month on the green park and town parking located on Main Street across from First Baptist Church on land donated by the Ingram brothers when they closed the Kent’s Korner that was originally located on that lot.

Christoph Paccard Bell Foundry, Charleston, SC, producers of bell and clock towers, cast bells, musical sculptures and more, created and established the tower.  The Paccard family has been casting and tuning bronze bells worldwide since 1796.

The town council will determine when the bells will chime.  The chimes will play the classic Westminster Chimes and can be played as often or as little as scheduled.  The chimes come with a remote control as well and a celebratory and funereal chime.

Let your councilman or councilwoman know when you would like to hear the bells and don’t forget to request a celebratory chime for the upcoming Wagons to Wagener Festival on May 20 and 21, 2016.

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