July/August 2025 Columbus and the Valley

$4.50

July/August 2025

Serving our SENIORS

BEYOND Our World

The Beauty in Bones

Scouting America

EX

Celebrating the Infantry PL

ORE

Make

NEW MEMORIES Every financial plan starts with a goal, what’s yours?

Our independent, fee-only firm’s firm ’s goal is to help you enjoy your retirement.

Our fiduciary level of care allows us to always act in your best interest.

Call us today for a free consultation with no obligation.

Providing Comprehensive Financial Planning and Investment Management Services

6867 Mountainbrook Drive, Suite 102 Columbus, GA 31904 • (706) 221-8200 www.townsendwm.com

— Established 1992 — P.O. Box 229 Columbus, GA 31902

214 E 10th St. Columbus, GA 31901

706-324-6214

EDITOR/PUBLISHER Jodi Saunders

jodi@columbusandthevalley.com

ADVERTISING & MARKETING Becky Kenimer Advertising Account Executive becky@columbusandthevalley.com

Margie Richardson

Advertising Account Executive margie@columbusandthevalley.com

Julie Lauzon

Sales & Marketing Manager salesassistant@columbusandthevalley.com

LAYOUT & DESIGN Rebecca DeLoach 62graphicstudio.com

FEATURE WRITERS Frank Etheridge Jodi Saunders David S. Stieghan CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Brad Barnes Tyson Begly Pat Daniel Scott Phillips PHOTOGRAPHY Eliza Daffin Margie Richardson Dustin Gibson Tyler Sierra John Pyle Charley Windham

Follow us!

Subscribe!

Read this issue and access archives digitally at ColumbusandtheValley.com.

COLUMBUS AND THE VALLEY MAGAZINE is owned by Jodi and Gerald Saunders and is published bimonthly by Valley Life Ventures, LLC, dba COLUMBUS AND THE VALLEY MAG­A­ZINE, P. O. Box 229, Columbus, GA 31902. The cov­er and contents are fully protected and may not be re­pro­duced in whole or in part without the writ­ten con­sent of the publisher. We are not responsible for loss of unsolicited inquiries, manuscripts, photographs or other materials. Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher or staff. Copyright ©2025 by Valley Life Ventures, LLC trad­ing as CO­LUM­BUS AND THE VALLEY MAGAZINE. Postmaster: Please send address corrections to: Post Office Box 229, Columbus, GA 31902.

J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

5

CONTENTS

July/August 2025

Volume 35 | No. 4

20 FEATURES

America 14 Scouting Chattahoochee Council

Champions Adventure for All

20 Astrophotographer Dustin Gibson 23

Folk Art 31 Crossroads Festival

Area Artists Showcase their Creativity and Culture

The Star Man’s Perspective

Anthony 36 Butch An Exploration of Art in Form

Apollo Astronaut David Scott

43 Marking 250 Years of the Infantry

Education as the Basis for Space Exploration

25 Resources for Seniors Savvy Seniors

31

A Major Celebration

to the Races 49 Off All Bets Were on at COMU’s Derby Party

Business Insider 19 AValley New Economic Film 49 On Great 2025 Films You Can Watch Now

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

A birds-eye view of Uptown Columbus from above the Chattahoochee River. photo by John Pyle

In Every Issue 8 Valley Life Ventures with Jodi 12 What's Happening?

55 Valley Scenes 64 Food & Drink Guide

DEPARTMENTS Development Strategy for Columbus

6

On the Cover

Sow It Grows 53 Seed Money Libations 63 Summer Inspired Cocktails 66 Conversations on the Couch Get to Know Textile Artist Cathy Fussell

Valley Life Ventures Happy Summer !

We’re going to print just ahead of the Summer Solstice.

The midpoint mark of the year where in theory, just for a moment, the world stands still. Globally, living in our current fractious atmosphere is it any wonder the phrase was coined, ”Stop the world, I want to get off!” While the overwhelm can bring a desire for a break, it is highly recommended that the TV is turned off, the phone is set aside and muted, and with a sweaty glass of sweet tea in hand you peruse these pages.

Summer’s must-see exhibitions are on view are at the Bo Bartlett Center. In partnership with Columbus State University’s Coca-Cola Space Science Center the 27 never-before-seen photos from astronaut Dave Scott’s career spanning space missions are on view. In contrast the Butch Anthony exhibition, The Persistence of Form in Life’s Remains, is art grounded in salvaged finds and bones. All to be seen in their awe and wonder under one roof.

Adventure and scouting go hand in hand and with the newly branded Scouting America launch in Columbus with Chris Woodruff’s support both boys and girls can look forward to establishing their own memories on future ventures.

Alabama native, Dustin Gibson Starfront Observatories was born from his own life taking a major turn-one that

Chatting with artist Butch Anthony at his exhibit at the Bo Bartlett Cente r

had him looking up! Exploring the universe from earth is a passion that has grown into a star-studded business.

This year’s 250th year celebrations of the Infantry and the U.S. Army has been recognized nationally and locally.

A Salute to the Army celebration was held at the awardwinning National Infantry Museum in June.

The Crossroads Festival highlighted the rich pool of folk artists at the Columbus Collective Museums. And so much fun was had at The Columbus Museum’s major fundraising party to celebrate the running of the 151st Derby and honor long-time, devoted patrons Mason and Mary Lu Lampton.

Explore museums and galleries right here in the Chattahoochee Valley. I hope to see you out and about.

Jodi Saunders

Publisher/Editor

Chris Alabama State Rep. guest e th as w Blackshear t Alabama speaker at the Eas ip graduation.

Chamber Leadersh 8

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

At the Ar m at the Mu y’s 250 Night seum with Lieutenant G Moore’s so eneral Hal n, David

At Choose Columbus’ kickoff event with CEO Missy Kendrick

Proud to be a local, independent small business in the Valley area for 30+ years.

Our Team

We want to hear from you!

Share your stories and ideas with us.

Our region is rich in its heritage, arts and culture scene, entrepreneurial endeavors and big business corporations. Everything is happening right here in the Chattahoochee Valley.

Connect at contactus@columbusandthevalley.com.

Becky Kenimer Advertising Account Executive 706-289-8338

Margie Richardson Advertising Account Executive 706-575-7825

Julie Lauzon

Sales & Marketing Manager 706-324-6214

We are happy to provide our publications for your events.

Gift a great read showcasing the best of our region.

Digital options available by request.

Request at contactus@columbusandthevalley.com.

Please give 6 weeks advance notice

10

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

PROUD PARTNERS OF June/July

8

2025

Fun Crafts for Summer

Scavenger Hunt Ideas Build an

Enchanted Fairy Dwelling

FRE E A Date with Dad

RE VOTE IN OU CHADER R Co O IC S' nt E es

t

Baby Show er GIFT GUIDE

Contact your chamber regarding benefits of membership

J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

11

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

Columbus Clingstones Home Series at Synovus Park

Ongoing

July

JULY 8 - 13

NOW - JULY 20

JULY 4 - 5

Clingstones.com

Quieting the World Exhibit at Pasaquan Following its California premiere, the installation travels to Pasaquan, where it will incorporate eight dawn recordings from the Marin Headlands.

This innovative project represents a significant collaboration between Columbus State University, stewards of Pasaquan and Headlands Center for the Arts, made possible through the visionary support of Ruth Arts.

ColumbusState.edu/pasaquan

Uptown Market Days NOW - NOVEMBER

Each Saturday, four blocks along Broadway host over 200 local and regional vendors. Visitors can expect to find fresh and organic produce, home goods, jewelry, unique crafts and delicious baked goods. Market Days is the perfect Saturday activity for family, friends and visitors. Don’t forget to bring your furry pals to get in on the fun.

AlwaysUptown.com

Beyond Go Figure at Bo Bartlett Center NOW - AUGUST 2

Beyond Go Figure was originally created to showcase and honor the many Board Members and Friends of the Center who are artists. This exhibition features works created by them as well as pieces produced by our local talent.

ColumbusState.edu/bartlett-center

Callaway Gardens’ Star Spangled Beach Party This annual kickoff to summer brings the return the world-renowned Master’s Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament. While watching the competitors, enjoy the sun, sand and activities at the reopening of Robin Lake Beach. Enjoy live concerts followed by fireworks each night.

CallawayGardens.org

Columbus Clingstones Home Series at Synovus Park JULY 4 - 6

ColumbusMuseum.com

East Alabama Chamber of Commerce– Breakfast & Business JULY 9

Step into a morning of inspiration and collaboration.

This interactive event is designed to spark meaningful discussions on what it takes to be a great leader.

Troy University’s Riverfront Campus. 7 a.m. Coffee and Networking 7:30 a.m. Breakfast and Program. $11 Chamber members $20 for non/prospective members.

Registration required.

Get your tickets to see the Braves Double-A affiliate baseball team play during this three game series against the Montgomery Biscuits. Visit the website for tickets and the full season schedule.

EALCC.com

Clingstones.com

JULY 9

Columbus Chamber of Commerce’s Builder Business Series

Columbus business owners: You’ve built something special—but how do you keep your best employees from looking elsewhere, and how do you make sure all your hard work translates into real financial JULY 5 security for your future? Join Matt and Garrett from Get your tickets to see Columbus United FC take on Montgomery United FC at their final home game of the Momentum Wealth for a candid, down-to-earth talk.

ColumbusChamber.com season at 7:30pm.

Columbus United FC Home Game at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium

ColumbusUnitedFC.com

Kintsugi: Healing Trauma Through Creative Transformation at the Pastoral Institute MONDAYS IN JULY

Pain can leave us feeling fractured—emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. But healing doesn’t mean hiding the cracks. In this group we’ll explore kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, as a powerful metaphor for emotional healing.

NOW - AUGUST 10 Together, we’ll use art to process pain, honor loss, and This exhibition celebrates Jewish creatives' gently reassemble the pieces of our stories. For ages contributions to American art, drawing from the 18 and up. *session fees apply. Some insurance plans Columbus Museum’s collection. Inspired by a biblical and EAP (Employee Assistance Program) benefits may reference to priestly garments, the exhibition features cover this cost. prints, drawings and objects exploring Jewish life, PastoralInstitute.org portraiture, landscapes and abstraction.

Bells & Pomegranates: Jewish American Art from The Columbus Museum

Get your tickets to see the Braves Double-A affiliate baseball team play during this six game series against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Visit the website for tickets and the full season schedule.

Volunteer Work Day at COMU JULY 10

Come enjoy a day of gardening in the beautiful and historic Bradley Olmsted Garden the second Thursday of every month from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Join in anytime during the morning.

ColumbusMuseum.com

Christmas in July Food Truck Festival JULY 12

Join the fun at River Oak Boutique and Street Food Saturdays’ Food Truck Festival on First Avenue from 4 to 7 p.m. With a diverse range of food trucks and adult beverages available, there’s something for everyone at this free event.

Honey Harvest at Oxbow Meadows JULY 12

The Persistence of Form in Life’s Remains at Bo Bartlett Center NOW - AUGUST 15

This captivating new exhibition by local artist Butch Anthony, features seven large-scale works crafted from bones. Blending natural history with artistic imagination, Anthony transforms skeletal remains into thought-provoking compositions that challenge perceptions of life, death and transformation.

ColumbusState.edu/bartlett-center

12

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

Learn about beekeeping and about the process of extracting and bottling honey. Honey sales begin at noon or available as extracted. Admission is included with your admission ticket. At checkout you will select an extraction show time to attend.

Oxbow.ColumbusState.edu

National Civil War Naval Museum’s Summer Speaker Series JULY 17

Historian Dr. Keru Leigh Merritt, author of Masterless Men: Poor Whites and Slavery in the Antebellum South, will be the speaker for the July guest lecture at 6.00 p.m. Free to the community.

PortColumbus.org

Alice in Wonderland at The Springer JULY 19 - 27

In this vibrant, high-energy adventure adaptation, Alice dashes through the audience in pursuit of the White Rabbit, joins the most absurd tea party in history, and faces off with the fiery Queen of Hearts.

Along the way, she meets familiar faces like cheeky cats, talking eggs and mad hatters.

SpringerOperaHouse.org

August

First Saturday Concert Series Featuring James Koan III AUGUST 2

Get your tickets to see the Braves Double-A affiliate baseball team play during this six game series against the Chattanooga Lookouts. Visit the website for tickets and the full season schedule.

Clingstones.com

Family Movie NightSummer at the Rialto

Dr. Bennett Parten, an author and professor, will be speaking at 6 p.m. Dr. Parten, a distinguished lecturer for the Organization of American Historians, is an assistant professor of history at Georgia Southern University specializing in the Civil War era.

HighsideMarket.com

PortColumbus.com

AUGUST 2

Somewhere Toward Freedom Guest Kickoff for a Cause at the Cunningham Center

Facebook.com/events/626237363663509

This all school football kickoff party benefits the Anne Elizabeth Shepherd Home in Columbus. Enjoy tailgate fare, beer and wine, tailgate jams by DJ Cash Flow, mascots, cheerleaders, drumlines, a silent auction and more! Get your ticket at the link below.

Street Food Saturdays is excited to announce its first Back to School Bash with an action-packed afternoon of fun, food and entertainment for all ages. School supplies will be collected to donate to a local school in the area.

East Alabama Chamber of Commerce– Breakfast & Business

The Rialto is offering a free showing of Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King. Popcorn provided, outside snacks and softdrinks welcome. 6:30 p.m., 1231 Broadway. Reservations required at link below.

AUGUST 26

Eventbrite.com/cc/summer-at-the-rialto-4370183

Friends of the Library Big Book Sale at Columbus Public Library JULY 25 - 27

CVLGA.org

Autism Awareness Resource Fair JULY 26

A community event will be held at Peachtree Mall, Macy’s Court. Along with information booths there will be sensory-friendly activities, raffle prizes and local community vendors. All ages are welcome. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

PeachtreeMall.com

AUGUST 21

TwinCedars.networkforgood.com/events/84379-kickofffor-a-cause-2025

JULY 25

Thousands of gently used books will be on sale, all priced at $2 or less. Shop from a wide selection of books including bestsellers, paperbacks and children’s books. Shop early for the best selection!

AUGUST 21

Grab your crew, enjoy live tunes and have an unforgettable time outside at Highside Market. Bring your lawn chairs out and hear James Koan II perform from 5-8 p.m.

Columbus Clingstones Home Series SFS Back to School Bash at at Synovus Park Midland Commons JULY 22 - 27

Somewhere Toward Freedom Guest Lecture on Sherman’s March at the National Civil War Naval Museum

Columbus Clingstones Home Series at Synovus Park AUGUST 5 - 10

Get your tickets to see the Braves Double-A affiliate baseball team play during this six game series against the Rocket City Trash Pandas.

Visit the website for tickets and the full season schedule.

Clingstones.com

National Frozen Custard Day AUGUST 8

Stop by Whit’s Frozen Custard at Highside Market to celebrate national Frozen Custard Day! HighsideMarket.com

It’s Tamale Time Cooking Class: Learn How to Pickle AUGUST 19

Join us from 6:30–7:30 p.m. for a hands-on cooking class all about pickling! Learn the basics, create your own jar to take home, and enjoy! $25

Unlock the secrets to successful marketing at our Marketing Magic: Strategies for Small Businesses Breakfast & Business. This event is tailored to help small business owners tackle real-world marketing challenges and discover innovative strategies to elevate their brand. Troy University’s Riverfront Campus. 7 a.m. Coffee and Networking 7:30 a.m.

Breakfast and Program. $11 Chamber members $20 for non/prospective members. Registration required.

EALCC.com

Callaway Gardens Labor Day Weekend Hot Air Balloon Show & Glow AUGUST 29 - 31

Light up your Labor Day with a three-day celebration!

Stay and play all day with garden and beach access, waterfront activities like putt putt, and endless entertainment. At night, see the beach transform as gigantic hot air balloons illuminate the night, glowing under firework-filled skies.

CallawayGardens.org

Soulfest: Dukes & Boots at Columbus Civic Center AUGUST 30

Get ready for a night of rhythm, soul, and Southern flair as Soulfest celebrates it’s 10th anniversary.

ColumbusGa.gov/civiccenter

HighsideMarket.com

Summer Mahjong at Highside Market

Columbus Clingstones Home Series at Synovus Park

Your $25 reservation includes light bites, a beautiful space to play and a relaxed, social atmosphere. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase from Ray’s Quick Stop and It’s Tamale Time. Time: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Price: $25.

Get your tickets to see the Braves Double-A affiliate baseball team play during this six game series against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Visit the website for tickets and the full season schedule.

JULY 31

HighsideMarket.com

AUGUST 19 - 24

Clingstones.com

September

First Saturday Concert Series Featuring Rick Rushing III & The Blues Strangers SEPTEMBER 6

Grab your crew, enjoy live tunes and have an unforgettable time outside at Highside Market. Bring your lawn chairs out and hear Rick Rushing & The Blues Strangers perform from 5-8 p.m.

HighsideMarket.com J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

13

Champions, Change and the

Chattahoochee Council

Adventure awaits in Scouting America programs designed to build character, develop leadership in all children.

by Frank Etheridge

T

he reason Chris Woodruff chooses to support Scouting doesn’t come as a result of his wonderful childhood memories as a Cub Scout. Rather, the decision arrives from his present-day perspective as a father and real-estate developer.

“I loved it,” Woodruff recalls of his time in Cub Scouts. “Racing down the hill in the Pinewood Derby? It was great!” Referencing the decades-long tradition of the race down 17th Street to Lakebottom Park, Woodruff, president and founder of the Cotton Companies (Highside Market, MidCity Yards) and CEO and owner of Woodruff Brokerage Company, describes Cub Scouts as “a tremendous opportunity for me as a kid.”

14

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

“I was blessed to have grown up out in the country,” the Columbus native explains, “so it wasn’t so much getting me out into the woods as to why Scouts was good for me. It was good for me because it got me into the city to socialize.”

A visionary in his field heralded for transformative, community-minded projects and investments, Woodruff admits his involvement in Scouts peaked at the Pinewood Derby and he didn’t pay much attention—outside of “putting my friends who made Eagle Scout on a pedestal, wishing I had that kind of motivation, that kind of tenacity”—until recent years.

Though he grew up hearing stories from his grandfather about how big a part Boy

Scouts played in his life, thus agreeing with his family’s financial support in J.W. and Ethel I. Woodruff Foundation grants to the organization, Woodruff explains he ramped up both investment and involvement in the Chattahoochee Council after becoming a father and rising in his role as a community leader.

“Where I’m at this point in my life personally, professionally and on my faith journey, Scouting stood out as a vital need to support,” he explains.

Woodruff stayed out of all the controversy and comments swirling around the Boy Scouts of America’s move over the past decade to admit girls into its programs, a break from tradition compounded by the

“I think it’s a good thing to include girls if it’s in the right environment and it it’s done appropriately.

The Scouts have made that a top priority, and that’s why it’s working”

-Chris Woodruff

name change to Scouting America that came on the heels of a $2.4 billion settlement for sexual-abuse claims in 2020 that forced the name change to Scouting America.

“I’m a big advocate for the inclusion of girls because now I have a daughter,” he explains.

“I remember talking to a friend who said he hated Scouts going co-ed and would never allow his daughter to go on camping trips with all those boys. I said, ‘I’d be scared too if my daughter was in that situation. But I’d be worried about the boys and how she’d step up and out-perform them all.’”

“I think it’s a good thing to include girls if it’s in the right environment and if it’s done appropriately,” Woodruff says. “The Scouts have made that a top priority, and that’s why it’s working.”

Then, in his role as head of two companies employing hundreds in the Chattahoochee Valley, there was the realization, “We, as a business community, need to invest in this incredible, and underutilized, pool of talent.”

That talent was recognized and rewarded on May 13 at Bibb Mill when the Chattahoochee Council honored Woodruff as its 2025 Champion of Change at a fundraiser dinner that featured stalwart Scout supporters, special guest Jim Morris (now a motivational speaker whose journey from high-school science teacher to majorleague baseball pitcher was chronicled in the film, The Rookie) and several freshly minted Eagle Scouts.

“I told the two Eagles I met that night, ‘Here’s my number, I want you to call me when you’re done with school and come work with me’,” Woodruff recalls of his remarks that night. “We need employees with good character and leadership abilities, who know to look someone in the eye and to call people back. You are guaranteed to get that in an Eagle Scout.”

Champions of Change

Woodruff was awarded the 2025 Champion of Change “in recognition of his significant contributions to the region’s development and quality of life” by the Chattahoochee Council, which encompasses 15 counties in West Georgia and East Alabama.

“We are very blessed to have Chris,” Tonya R. Dobbins-Williams, Chattahoochee Council Scout Executive and CEO, says in her office at its headquarters on First Avenue in downtown Columbus a week after the dinner that raised money supporting its offerings serving 1,500 youth. “Chris embodies everything that Scouting is. We are the champions of change. We want to be the change makers. We want to make big, positive impacts.”

A Florida native, Dobbins-Williams reached her one-year anniversary atop council leadership in June. Steeped in the Scouts tradition, her three sons all reached the rank of Eagle, joining their father and grandfather, and are planning to raise

Chris Woodruff with Eagle Scout Kohen Caruthers

J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

15

her three grandkids to become Eagles.

“It’s a generational thing,” says DobbinsWilliams, who came here after working with Scouting America in other states, “and I’m so appreciative of that.”

However, the preacher’s daughter knows change is a constant in life.

“Scouting’s not going to look the same as it did five years ago,” Dobbins-Williams explains, the first-ever African-American woman in her position and one of 15 female leaders among the 237 Scouting American councils. “It’s always evolving; it’s always changing. We’re adding new programs. And we’re more innovative than ever before. It’s all about learning to embrace scouting and our community together. Putting yourself in a box doesn’t work anymore.”

Though activities, available to ages five to 21, can be co-ed, the Chattahoochee Council maintains separate male troops and female troops. “Parents today want to hear about what their children are learning so we’ve learned how to talk about that with them,” says Dobbins-Williams.

“Building Pinewood Derby cars? They get so much physics education doing it. And then we build up on that, making sure that STEM-based learning continues into middle school, into high school. So we tell the moms, ‘Here’s their math. Here’s their engineering.’ But, with Scouting, we’re also able to tell them, ‘Here’s your social skills,’ as we teach, ‘This is how you interact with other people. This is how you interact with leadership. This is how you interact with a person you are working with.’ ” Explaining how Scouting leadership takes the long view toward developing youth—“We don’t want Scouting to be for a day; we want Scouting to serve you for many years, for many generations to come,” she says—Dobbins-Williams draws from her father, who would end his sermons by declaring, ‘We plant seeds.’

“If you cut open an apple, you can count how many seeds are in that apple,” she explains, but when you go to plant those seeds, you never know how many apples are coming out of that seed. So when we plant seeds of all the good things we do, all the opportunities we provide, you just never know where that’s going to fall and how that’s going to continue to help the next generation. And the next generation and the next generation after that. It starts with us planting those seeds.”

16

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

Eagle Landings

Michael Maurin sits before the Muskogee District Eagle Board of Review on his way to becoming the 100th Eagle Scout from Troop 6 in Midtown Columbus

In his role as Muskogee District Eagle Board Chairman for the past 22 years, Bill Storey has overseen the review and approval of 770 projects that earned Scouts in Columbus, Georgia, the distinct honor of reaching the tradition-rich youth organization’s highest rank.

“A lot has changed,” says Storey, 77, a Columbus native and retired long-time UPS employee. “but what remains the same is the high standard of character and leadership, plus time and commitment, necessary to become an Eagle Scout.”

Beyond the larger cultural and technological changes that have shaped society over the past few decades, the biggest (and most obvious) change for Scouts was the decision to become co-ed and accept girls into the program. While a bit controversial, and certainly a deal-breaker for the most ardent, changeresistant factions in Scouting, the move allowed Storey and his review board to evaluate hopeful female future Eagle Scouts.

The girls have impressed Storey.

“They’re all real smart cookies,” he explains of the aspiring young ladies he’s met on their way to Eagle.

He points to Sophia Rother as a prime example. “Sophia is a very accomplished Scout,” Storey says. “She earned her Eagle Scout, had the Eagle Project of the Year for Chattahoochee Council, co-emceed the Council Banquet, and earned the Gold Award, the Girl Scouts’ highest award.”

Also serving as historian for the Chattahoochee Council, which encompasses three districts serving Scouts in 15 counties in Georgia and Alabama, Storey supports the significance of Sophia’s achievement by sharing a newspaper clipping from 1922 about Elizabeth Peabody, a 15 year in Columbus, becoming the first Girl Scout in Georgia to earn the Golden Eagle (now Gold Award).

Eagle Scouts over the last 12 months: Hunter Bailey Joshua Batson Paul Bolduan Devon Brach Elijah Brooks Kohen Caruthers Skyler Cassidy Tony Coleman John Ducote Gabriella George Wyatt Gibson Ian Harkness Sage Hegadush Jared Klein Nathan Lawyer Adisen Lowell Michael Maurin Malachi McCloud Michael Mellick Gabriel Myers Tanner Newby John Randall Sophia Rother Zachary Shaw Clayton Simons Schley Smallman Jace Theriault Sawyer White Grady Young

Through the Generations

Chris Woodruff and wife, Blair, pose with the Champions of Change Award

Even though his family’s strong connections to Scouts extend deep into its storied past and reach far into the organization’s future, Chuck Hecht stands correct when he places his rank of Eagle Scout in the present tense.

“I was a Boy Scout,” Hecht says not long after the Champion of Change dinner he attended with several friends, family and Larry Schlesinger, his Temple Israel rabbi, as guests, “but I am an Eagle Scout.”

Hecht was awarded in Scouting’s Religious Emblems program in a 50-year involvement that also includes attending the National Jamboree as a boy and World Jamboree as an adult. Like his father, he served as (volunteer) president of the local council and adventuring chairman for the Southern Region, which put him on the national committee for the Scouting subset for ages 14 to 20 that offers dynamic programs that range from sailing the Caribbean to producing a play to teaching the disabled how to swim.

Hecht’s daughter, Carson, is a Scouting

professional with the Greater Alabama Council out of Birmingham. He says the move to have both girls and boys in Scouting was made in large part due to hectic modern-day family dynamics of single-parent homes or both parents working outside the home. “We have to make sure we remain in a place to offer them a chance to develop leadership and character,” he explains. “If we can offer that for both sons and daughters in the same program at the same time, then it’s certainly a lot more feasible for families today.”

“A lot in the Scouting program has changed,” Hecht says, “but what’s not changed is that it’s all about teaching character and leadership. I’ve sat on several Eagle Board of Reviews in recent years and I see both boys and girls come forward and demonstrate strong leadership and strong character. And that’s exactly what this country needs right now.”

———————————————————— Learn more about the Scouting America in our area at 91bsa.org.

J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

17

FREE Pick-Up & Delivery to Your Home or Office!

Dry-Cleaning • Shirt Laundry • Bed Sheets Lab Coats & Scrubs • Alterations Ironing/Pressing • Wash, Dry & Fold Wedding Gowns • Comforters • Tablecloths

Columbus' leading garment care professionals for over three generations.

706.323.7774 | masterkleen.net Eco friendly dry-cleaning and laundering!

18

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

Valley Business Insider

by Tyson Begly

A Clear Shift in Columbus’ Economic Development Strategy

E

conomic development can feel like a vague concept—something we know matters but don’t always know how it works. Most of us agree: having strong, well-paying jobs in our community is essential. But when it comes to who is responsible for bringing those jobs to Columbus, the answer isn’t always obvious.

This spring, two major leadership announcements marked a new chapter in how Columbus pursues growth—and the shift may not be immediately apparent unless you’re paying close attention. Let’s break down what’s changing, why it matters and how it positions our city for a stronger future.

businesses and recruiting new ones. That’s a tough balancing act. Local businesses need resources and support to grow. At the same time, recruiting outside firms takes time, relationship-building outside of Columbus and a compelling pitch.

Now, with Choose Columbus focused solely on recruitment and the Chamber focused on retention and local business support, each organization can dedicate itself to doing one thing—and doing it well.

This specialization brings clarity. It avoids duplication. It creates accountability.

And it allows both organizations to better align their work with the needs of the community.

New Faces, New Focus

The Role of Local Government

In April, Missy Kendrick was named President and CEO of Choose Columbus, a newly created organization dedicated to attracting new companies, capital investments and job opportunities to the region. Missy brings a proven record of success—helping Georgia communities land more than 1,700 jobs and over $3 billion in investment.

Then in May, Jansen Tidmore was announced as the new President and CEO of the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, bringing a fresh perspective and valuable experience from his previous roles at Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation, Spartanburg Downtown Development Partnership and Dothan Downtown Redevelopment Authority.

These are significant hires. But more importantly, their roles signal a clear shift in strategy­—one that separates the tasks of attracting new businesses and nurturing the ones already here.

What about the City government itself? While the Columbus Consolidated Government benefits directly from job creation, its role is different. While the City doesn’t typically negotiate with companies directly, it plays a vital role in creating the conditions for growth—like parks, Uptown revitalization, infrastructure, public safety, and the recent baseball stadium renovations—that help make Columbus a more attractive place to live and do business.

The City also supports economic growth through the Development Authority, whose board is appointed by City Council. When I served on the Development Authority, we

offered incentives, like tax abatements to attract new jobs, and provided funding to groups such as the Chamber—giving them the funding to support their mission of community growth.

Other Partners in the Ecosystem

Beyond these core players, groups such as Columbus 2025 are helping to shape the long-term vision of our region. While not directly focused on business recruitment, their work is essential. By telling our story to attract the talent needed to grow jobs, increase prosperity, reduce poverty and enhance quality of life, they help ensure that Columbus is the kind of place where talented people want to build careers and raise families.

What This Means for Our Area

Ultimately, the real story here is focus. By dividing responsibility between attracting new companies and supporting existing ones, Columbus is setting itself up for sustainable, balanced growth. New firms will see a city that’s organized, ready and serious about investment. Local businesses will benefit from a Chamber with more capacity to understand and meet their needs.

With Missy Kendrick leading Choose Columbus and Jansen Tidmore heading the Chamber, Columbus is not only recruiting jobs—it’s building an environment where businesses and people can thrive. These impacts not only benefit Muscogee County, but also all of the counties and communities in the Valley area, including Harris, Russell and others.

This change may not make headlines every day, but it’s one of the most important stories unfolding in our Why This Change Matters city. And if it succeeds, we’ll all In the past, like many cities, Columbus feel the difference—on paychecks, relied on the Chamber of Commerce in neighborhoods and across to manage all aspects of economic generations. development—supporting existing ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Tyson Begly has lived and worked everywhere from small towns to major cities, visited over 35 countries, and called Columbus home since 2013.

His career spans startups, Fortune 100 companies, Wall Street banks, Silicon Valley private equity, nonprofits and city government. With experience from engineering to executive roles in trading, wealth management, travel and telecom, he approaches business topics from multiple angles.

J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

19

Starfront Observatories in Lockwood, Texas

for the the STARS SHOOT for Home-grown entrepreneur Dustin Gibson ventures deep in the heart of Texas to share his ‘Perspective of Wonder’ with us all

by Frank Etheridge • photos by Dustin Gibson

A

pproaching his 40th birthday in October, Smiths Station native Dustin Gibson admits he “started pretty late” on a career path to success in the burgeoning field of astrophotography.

“I wasn’t the type of person to spend a lot of time outside when I was young,” Gibson says speaking by phone from remote, plains-swept Lockwood, Texas, where he and three friends established Starfront Observatories one year ago. “I liked tinkering with things but I never touched a telescope. Astronomy wasn’t a big part of the curriculum at Smiths Station High School.”

A self-described ‘gym rat,’ Gibson says his whole life track had been geared toward fitness. “I wanted to work in gyms,” says the fascinating, friendly entrepreneur. “I wanted to work with professional athletes.

20

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

Those were the things I started out doing.”

Everything changed when he looked into a telescope for the first time at age 28.

“It wasn’t even mine,” he jokes about the telescope during his captivating, 22-minute TEDx talk “How Looking Up Can Change Your Life” (available on YouTube) from 2023. Living in Nashville and working at a fitness center at the time, Gibson bought the telescope for his friend Jenny, an artist, who he hoped would be inspired to paint by looking at the stars. Jenny quickly grew bored and abandoned the telescope he set up in her backyard. Alone, Gibson peered through the lens, made a few adjustments, when—Eureka!—he literally and figuratively saw the light.

“A small shift in the way you look at something can change the way you look at everything,” Gibson says of the moment.

Astrophotographer and entrepreneur, Dustin Gibson

TOP: This close up of Such a profound statement regarding the moon shows the his shift in worldview reveals a deeper different colors of the truth about Gibson and the pure intention minerals of the moon’s propelling his business model. It’s a surface. personal philosophy he’s come to call the BOTTOM: The Orion Perspective of Wonder— the seismic shift in how you see yourself and your teeny-tiny Nebula is a stellar nursery located in the spot on the time-space continuum. Such Orion constellation an internal sea change only comes courtesy near Orion’s Belt. of an incurable case of curiosity and only attained after gazing out into the night sky.

“Philosophy has been an obsession of mine since I started having a full-blown existential crisis at age 18,” Gibson explains. “I was always very ambitious, but I didn’t really know where to direct all that energy. It always felt like I would find the answer on the next page so I just obsessively read and read about philosophy.

I’ve always thought the scientific process of discovery was very interesting. I love the people that explore that stuff, but it’s just not me. I was more interested in the why questions. I felt like I would find more meaning from answering the question, ‘Why?’ than I would by answering the what, where, when, and how.”

Along with activities based on the shared delights of laughter and music, Gibson says that star-gazing is something humans have always done, with the earliest traces of studying the night sky dating back 23,000 years. “Celebrating the stars is something wired into our cultural DNA,” he explains. “Just like humor and music, which, obviously, have a million different outlets today. Astronomy has always been kept behind closed doors by governments and universities. Our mission is to try and change that, to try and give astronomy back to everyone.”

Thus, Gibson’s launch of Starfront Observatories.

“I’ve come to realize that some things you love should stay hobbies while other things you love to do would work perfectly as a business opportunity,” Gibson says. “Astronomy became for me a deep-seeded passion. Once it got into my blood, it was obvious it was never getting out. And I wanted to bring that opportunity to more people; I wanted to make it accessible. I never really felt that way about fitness. Fitness, as much as I loved it, and still love it, didn’t feel like the kind of thing I needed to bring to more people as a business. Partly because it’s already saturated. Astronomy felt more open and unexplored with a lot of freedom to try new things.”

As it turns out, not having a long professional background or degrees in astronomy is a blessing in disguise for Gibson, who describes such formal training as possibly putting up barriers to what he could do in his chosen field. Today, Gibson’s resume shines with roles such as co-owner and CEO of Oceanside Photo & Telescope (once a global leader in telescope retail), consultation work with government agencies (NASA) and universities (M.I.T.) and Middle Georgia Economic Advisory Council member.

“There’s a steep learning curve to astronomy,” he says, “but there’s no threshold as to how much you can learn. It’s infinite.”

Sharing the Stars

“Dustin is a visionary leader and self-made entrepreneur,” East Alabama Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Melissa Gauntt says of Gibson.

Gauntt first met Gibson when he was back in the Chattahoochee Valley (“It’s still home,” he says) and working on his mission, a J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

21

“The opportunity of space education is so leading edge that students that study it early will be in very high demand and he has a passion for sharing these opportunities with others.”

Closer Than Ever

The Andromeda Galaxy contains over 100 billion unique stars, most of which have planets of their own.

22

brilliant modern-day Johnny Appleseed planting access to the cosmos in eager minds, and networking as part of his effort. “He was attempting to share his generosity by gifting an incredible telescope observatory to our community,” Gauntt recalls in a text exchange.

“Providing access to astrophotography for our schools and residents, it was an opportunity that even large metropolitan cities didn’t have access to at the time.”

Gauntt refers to Gibson’s initiative, which was ultimately foiled by prohibitive red-tape and logistics, to donate the three observatories he built at the home he just sold on Summerville Road in Phenix City.

Boasting three observatories—one automated dome and two domes with roll-off roofs —the property held 27 telescopes, making it once the largest privately held observatory in the country and later serving as the prototype for Starfront’s design. Another local legacy is Gibson’s partnership with faculty at Troy University to allow students the chance to create, manage (and potentially profit from, by selling prints of his astrophotography) the website DustinGibson.shop.

“Dustin has a heart for the beauty of space and enjoys sharing its splendor with those who have yet to experience it,” Gauntt says.

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

From Gibson’s perspective, it’s a great time to be alive, considering the enlightening convergence of tools and technology that make it easier than ever before for Earthlings to explore space—the final frontier.

“We’re now able to push the boundary of human knowledge from the comfort of our own backyards,” says Gibson. “We not only have access to technology that didn’t exist before but we’re able to access all the information that exists. And so we have everything working in our favor.

It’s like everything in our lifetime is conspiring for us to be successful on these new trajectories.”

Access is getting cheaper, too. In a parallel economy of scale explaining how VCRs, a hot new technologies in the 1980s, debuted at price points in the thousands but became a give-away commodity after everyone household had one, Gibson explains he’s following a business model that’s been around forever. For Starfront Observatory clients, it means a much smaller financial commitment that it did 20 years ago.

“The telescope’s obviously not a new invention,” he explains. “The idea of having people log into them remotely isn’t novel, either. But it’s been very expensive. It’s been beyond the price point that I think most people would consider affordable. And so the goal of this company, of Starfront, from the beginning, has been, ‘How do we cut that? How do we cut that cost 90%? How do we make it to where 100 bucks or 200 bucks a month actually buys you access to the universe?’”

Business is booming at Starfront Observatories. After 12 months, it has grown from two buildings capable of hosting 30 telescopes each to 11 buildings, the nine new ones built to hold 100. “The software packages allow you to see all of the targets that are up that night, maybe Andromeda Galaxy or Orion” says Gibson. “You select one, saying, ‘I want to go see the Orion nebula. On its own, the telescope finds that target and starts taking pictures and sending them to you wherever you are so you can see it live in real time.”

Waxing wise far beyond his 39 trips around the sun so far, Gibson shares some potent sage advice as he surmises: “What happens over time is we lose some of that curiosity, we lose some of that passion for exploration. You get hit from every angle in life. And it can be exhausting. You learn that failure is not always socially acceptable and that people look at you differently when you fail. But it’s just that failure is par for the course. Like, not everything is going to work out. You have to be okay with that. You have to be okay with what people are going to say. But that’s the point where you are in danger of losing that curiosity, that passion, for the things that fascinate you in life. But if you can maintain your curiosity, your passion, it makes opportunity look like it’s everywhere. Because it is everywhere. It’s just a lot harder to see when you stop being curious.”

————————————————————————————— See more photos and follow Dustin @gibsonpics.

Out of this WORLD Art, science and the history of the American space program converge for stellar show at the Bo Bartlett Center

A

t a March 2019 ceremony at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, astronaut David Scott was honored on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 9 mission, NASA’s first manned orbit of the moon and a pivotal step in America’s race to space. As celebrations marked this historic milestone, Scott was asked a question that still resonates today: “What’s next for space exploration?”

“Education,” he answered.

Recounting the story by phone from home in Clinton, South Carolina, Tom Scott, a retired businessman with deep ties to Columbus who attended the event with Dr. Shawn Cruzen, Columbus State University’s (CSU) Coca-Cola Space Science Center (CCSSC) executive director, says his older brother’s answer was short but loaded with profound, lasting impact that’s paying big dividends in the Chattahoochee Valley today.

Right on the heels of its June 3 opening of the exhibition American Legend: Images

from Space that Fire the Imagination at the Bo Bartlett Center—27 images taken by astronaut David Scott, on public view for the first time, together a visually stunning revelation of this fascinating, fateful slice of American history, most taken by Scott from his perspective in outer space—CSU announced the move of CCSSC to main campus as part of a transformative project to construct a $22 million, 36,000 sq. ft. center for advanced technologies that will also house the school’s growing roboticsengineering program.

“My brother continued that day in San Diego to make his point: ‘We are to make sure, since there is so much to learn from this, future generations study and understand it,’” explains Tom Scott, who spent 20 years working for the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce after coming here as a bed-and-breakfast consultant. Still a steadfast supporter of CSU, the younger Scott touts CCSSC’s impressive reach (40,000 visitors a year)

and proven track record for launching CSU graduates into careers at NASA, Teledyne, the Planetary Sciences Institute and Axiom, among others. So he figured CCSSC would be the perfect home for his brother’s collection of personal artifacts from his three missions (Gemini XIII in 1966, Apollo 9 in 1969, Apollo 15 in 1971), thus contributing toward his goal of educating future students of space exploration.

“This summer-long exhibition provides us the space to bring items from the Scott collection out of storage for the benefit of space enthusiasts, history buffs and budding astronauts of all ages,” Dr. Cruzen explains of the Images show at the Bo. Speaking the week before he traveled to Ponte Vedra, Florida, to celebrate David’s 93rd birthday on June 6, Tom Scott describes his brother as a true pioneer of the cosmos and heroic figure in U.S. history. He points with pride to the film Galileo’s Moon, produced by David’s daughter Dr. Tracy L. Scott of Emory

One of many David Scott photos from the Apollo 15 mission on display at the Bo Bartlett Center.

J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

23

VENDORS Get your copy at one of these Valley area locations!

Barnes & Noble Columbus Park Crossing 5555 Whittlesey Blvd.

Columbus, GA 31909 Columbus Bound Bookshop 1328 13th St. Columbus, GA 31901 Columbus Museum Gift Shop 1251 Wynnton Rd. Columbus, GA 31906

David Scott as he prepared for the Apollo 15 mission in 1971.

Dinglewood Pharmacy 939 Wynnton Rd. Columbus, GA 31906 Durham’s Pharmacy 1420 17th St. Columbus, GA 31901 Galleria Riverside 1658 Rollins Way Columbus, GA 31901 Judy Bug Books 1033 Broadway Columbus, GA 31901 Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown Gift shop 710 Center St. Columbus, GA 31901 Piggly Wiggly 5850 Moon Rd., Columbus 4916 River Rd., Columbus 1359 13th St., Columbus Stadium Plaza, Phenix City St. Francis-Emory Healthcare Nancy Saunders Gift Shop 2122 Manchester Expy.

Columbus, GA 31904 Whitewater Express 1000 Bay Ave. Columbus, GA 31901

If your business would like to be a vendor, please email ContactUs@ColumbusAndTheValley.com

24

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

University’s Center for Digital Leadership Institute. The captivating must-see (watch at film.apollo15hub.org) was created to celebrate Apollo 15’s moon mission with rare, archival footage amid modern flourishes.

One of 12 humans who have walked on the moon, David Scott is remembered as part of the first-ever space walk and the “Genesis Rock,” a lunar anorthosite excavated on Apollo 15 calculated to be four billion years old.

After a career in which he logged 546 hours and 54 minutes in space, David Scott retired in 2024 as a brigadier general. Also in 2024, the Scotts made their most recent gift to CCSSC, where they have loaned and donated items since 2011 (many appraised at $25,000-plus), adding to the center’s 300-plus NASA artifacts—making it home to one of the most extensive collections of space artifacts in the South.

A New Home for CCSSC Such diligent stewardship and strategic partnerships have been key to CCSSC’s sustained success since opening in 1996.

Having outgrown its original home along the Riverwalk, where it will remain open

until its new one is complete, the expanded, re-imagined CCSSC is envisioned as a cornerstone for the new facility, to be located across the parking lot from the Elizabeth Bradley Turner Center on CSU’s main campus.

The project is funded by a combination of federal, state, local and private dollars and seeks to establish a regional hub for robotics engineering, space science and STEM education offerings through partnerships with Ft. Benning and the Muscogee County School District.

“This is the first state-funded new academic building at Columbus State University in over 20 years,” CSU President Dr. Stuart Rayfield states in a prepared release. “This will be a multi-use facility—a hub for advanced technology and a pipeline for cultivating technologically literate students from kindergarten through college.”

Mission complete.

————————————————————— View Fire the Imagination: Photographs from the Missions of Astronaut David R. Scott now through August 2 at the Bo Bartlett Center.

Learn more at ColumbusState.edu/ bartlett-center.

SAVVY SENIORS

Joannah Neal, Southern Life Insurance Education First

I

n 2013, Joannah Neal received a call that would change not only her life but countless senior adults around Columbus. Her best friend’s husband, who’d been a long-time insurance agent, grew concerned by watching new agents being taught bad habits. He decided to leave and start his own agency in order to do things the right way. That agency became the Southern Life Insurance Company based in LaGrange.

At the time, Neal was an eighth-grade teacher when her friend told her, “Go get your license,” Neal remembers, “And I did.”

Neal would become one of the first agents for Southern Life, covering the Columbus area.

While she may have left teaching, she’s still very much a teacher when it comes to her clients who have come to appreciate her collection of catchphrases.

“I’m going to make Medicare eighth-grade easy,” she will say. “I also tell them, ‘Well, I’m a former school teacher, so you’re probably going to learn something, and I might give you homework.’”

The reasons Neal chose to leave teaching to become an insurance agent were numerous, but it was largely driven by the people she’d be helping.

“I love seniors,” she said. “And they really seem to love me. I’m very patient. I’ve learned a lot from being a teacher. And I just fell in love with it.

Plus, I could talk about things I couldn’t talk about in the classroom … like Jesus. And I get to go to church at least once every day.”

Too often agents from national companies come in trying to sell plans without taking the time to explain what they’re selling. They don’t explain anything. But with Neal as their agent, education is always the starting point.

“I’m going to teach you what all this stuff means so that you understand it,” she said. “And if there’s a need there, we’ll fill that need. But I’m not here to sell to you. I’m here to educate you on the different products that I represent and teach you about how Medicare works, how Medicaid works, how the income levels work.

“I educate first.”

Another benefit of being with a smaller agency

is that Neal gets to spend more time with her clients, time spent tailoring plans to meet their needs.

“If you go to your big shops, they only have one product,” she said. “I have 40 companies and over 100 products. I do field underwriting and really get into their medical background and find a plan that’s going to offer them day-one coverage.”

On the Medicare side, Neal locates their doctors and makes sure those doctors are in-network, gets a list of prescriptions and finds out what their drug costs are going to be, and she helps to pick out and compare Medicare plans.

Medicare is a something of a specialty for Neal, who, once again relying on that teacher mentality, is comfortable in simplifying complex.

“It is very confusing,” she said. “[Clients] are sent this big thick book every year that’s over 200 pages long and are basically told, ‘Read this and make decisions.’ It’s so confusing, but because of my teaching experience, I can break it down and make it easier to take in. That’s the reason I do this. I have a good heart and truly want to help people.”

One of the most popular products that Neal helps with is risk free Retirement Income Protection, which, she explains, protects her clients’ accounts from the stock market and stockbrokers. “I don’t charge fees,” she said.

“This grows accounts at 5 percent, providing a lifetime of guaranteed income. Even if they spend all the money in the account, when they turn their income on and they’re a 100 years old, the company still has to give them their monthly payments.”

Once clients fully understand their options, Neal will make suggestions as to what would work best for their needs. It’s all low pressure. She’s not pushy because unlike most agents, she’s not worried about making a commission.

“God’s been so good to me,” she said. “He just blesses me as long as I do the right thing and do what’s right by the client. I tell other agents, when they ask me how I’m so successful. It’s because I put God first, my client second and myself last.” Adv. ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Learn More

For an appointment, call or text Joannah at 706-527-9132 Columbus, Georgia JoannahHart@yahoo.com

J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

25

SAVVY SENIORS

Spring Harbor at Green Island Where Friends Become Family

A

s it celebrates 20 years of serving Columbus seniors, Spring Harbor at Green Island’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Tricia Jeffcoat, is taking the opportunity to reflect on its role as the regions only not-for-profit Life Plan Community for seniors.

“Since opening our doors in 2005, we’ve remained committed to helping older adults live vibrant, purposeful lives—surrounded by care, comfort and community,” Jeffcoat said. “With wellness at the core of everything we do, our beautiful 40-acre campus is more than a place to live—it’s a place to thrive.”

Over those two decades, Spring Harbor’s mission has remained unchanged – “to offer more of everything that makes life meaningful, with the peace of mind that comes from knowing support is always close at hand,” she said, adding that “Spring Harbor is where vitality, purpose and peace of mind come together.”

Spring Harbor offers its residents the best of both worlds—an active, independent lifestyle paired with the security of a full continuum of care. From independent living to assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing, its residents have the comfort of knowing they can continue living in the community they know and love, even as their needs evolve.

Resort-Style Amenities “What truly sets Spring Harbor apart is our vibrant lifestyle, resort-style amenities and the authentic relationships formed here,” Jeffcoat said. “It’s not just a place to live, it’s a place to thrive, where seniors come to experience more— more wellness, more connection and more of what matters most.”

Given the value of building relationships in order to make their residents feel at home, Spring Harbor makes a concerted effort to help new people feel welcome “At Spring Harbor, we believe connection is the key to well-being,” she said. “That’s why we take an intentional approach to welcoming new residents into our close-knit community.” From resident ambassadors who guide newcomers, to neighborhood mixers and events, community meals and wellness classes, Spring Harbor has numerous options in place designed to bring

26

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

people together and make sure no one remains a stranger for long.

“Our team and residents alike are warm and inclusive, and the culture we’ve built is one where neighbors become friends—and friends become like family.”

Jeffcoat is especially proud of the Spring Harbor amenities that support what she calls “wholeperson wellness,” which balances body, mind and spirit. Its residents enjoy access to a heated indoor pool, a fully equipped fitness center, an on-site wellness clinic, spa services and scenic walking trails—all of which are designed to promote physical health and vitality.

“But at Spring Harbor, wellness goes beyond physical health,” Jeffcoat said “We nurture the spiritual well-being.” Residents have opportunities including Little Church at the End of the Hall, daily devotions, Women of Faith gatherings, and residentled Bible studies. “Seasonal holiday celebrations and faith-based programs are thoughtfully planned to foster a deep sense of connection, belonging and shared purpose across our community.”

Resident dining experiences offer variety and nutrition, with chef-prepared meals in multiple venues. Residents also enjoy our access to a library, movie theater, creative arts spaces, lifelong learning opportunities and beautifully appointed homes.

“Everything we offer is designed to enrich life and support the independence of our residents.”

The heart of Spring Harbor its team members,

many of whom have been with the organization for years, all going above and beyond to make sure every resident feels seen, valued and supported.

“Whether it’s sharing a laugh over lunch, remembering a favorite hobby or just taking the time to listen, our staff build real relationships,” Jeffcoat said. “It’s those everyday moments of kindness and consistency that help make Spring Harbor feel like family.”

For new residents, Spring Harbor’s staff appreciates the challenges that can come with changing environments, leaving the known for the unknown. They understand that moving to a new home is a big step. But it’s a step that no one will be taking alone. “Our team is here every step of the way to answer questions, ease worries and ensure a smooth transition,” Jeffcoat said.

“What many of our residents discover is that life at Spring Harbor gives them more—more time, more support and more opportunities to do what they love. With maintenance-free living, wellness-centered programming and a welcoming community, you can step into this next chapter with confidence and joy.

Brunch is on us! Call to schedule a tour and see what Spring Harbor has to offer. Adv. ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Learn More

706-365-0815 100 Spring Harbor Drive SpringHarborSeniorLiving.org

SAVVY SENIORS

Columbus Hospice

Columbus Hospice care is available to those with life-limiting, serious illnesses. Basically, when the physician says, “There is nothing more we can do,” Columbus Hospice comes in and do all that is to establishing relationships with the person and possible. their family in order to personalize the care.

“At that time cure may no longer be a realistic The team are all skilled and educated professionals, highly qualified and certified to meet goal, yet being pain-free, living without distressing symptoms, and having the security of Columbus the highest level of care needs with each bring a Hospice care just a telephone call away is a different gift of care. Registered nurses, certified welcome reality,” Morgan said. nursing assistants, chaplains, social workers, Care is provided wherever a person calls home physicians, nurse practitioners, and volunteers all -private residence, personal care home, assisted work as one. “In the end, we all feel like family,” Morgan said. “And when it’s time, the bereavement living, nursing home, the Columbus Hospice Inpatient Facility, and Columbus Hospice provides team provides support for coping with loss.” the full scope of care regardless of insurance, and no one receives a bill for its routine hospice care.

“There are other hospices,” Morgan said.

“But there is only one Columbus Hospice.” Adv. ————————————————————————————

Where One’s Final Days Are Spent with Dignity

A

s CEO for Columbus Hospice, the most gratifying thing that Donna Morgan hears from family speaks volumes for the challenging service she and her staff provide: “You did what you said you were going to do.”

It’s a heart-felt compliment, she hears often.

As the only non-profit and local hospice in the area, Georgia and Alabama, Columbus Hospice have served this community since 1979. It is the only hospice in the area that is accredited by The Joint Commission, an organization that affirms the highest standards of healthcare quality and safety for all.

“It’s our belief that all people are entitled to spend their final days with dignity, a high quality of life, and surrounded by the care and support they need,” Morgan said. “Our goal is to comfort people physically, emotionally, and spiritually, with expert, compassionate care and support.”

Entering hospice care is a challenging experience both for the patient and their loved ones because the end-of-life is a precious time, where people focus on what matters most to them.

The team at Columbus Hospice are committed

Learn More

706-569-7992 7020 Moon Road ColumbusHospice.com

Moves and More Blending Compassion with Action

M

oves and More is a locally owned and female-operated business focusing on estate sales and senior relocation. But that is an extreme oversimplification of what Moves and More truly does, explains owner Susan Haycock.

“Moves and More isn’t just a business,” she said.

“It’s a group of people who genuinely care about helping others navigate difficult changes with dignity and ease.”

Being Columbus-based provides Moves and More with a special connection to the client’s situation.

“We live here, work here and understand the unique needs of our community,” Haycock said. “That means every sale and move gets the personal attention it deserves. Having helped countless families over the years with estate sales and senior relocation, we understand the unique challenges and are here to guide you every step of the way.”

When a client reaches out to Moves and More, Haycock and her staff understand that this likely means they’re going through a big life change. “So the first thing we do is listen,” Haycock said. “We start with a simple conversation to understand

what’s going on, what matters most to them and what they need help with.”

From there, they build a custom plan.

Some clients want fullservice, while others need certain pieces handled. Moves and More handle everything from organizing, sorting and packing to coordinating movers or managing the move day. They will even unpack and set up the client’s new home to feel familiar and comforting.

The secret to Moves and More’s success is empathy.

“We walk into every situation knowing that, for our clients, this isn’t just a sale or a move, it’s a life transition,” Haycock said. “Our role is to slow down, listen closely and give people the space to feel what they’re feeling. Whether they’re grieving, overwhelmed, or just uncertain, we’re not there to rush them. We’re there to walk beside them.”

Whether it’s helping clients downsize to a new home or families after a loved one’s death, Haycock founded Move and More to support those facing challenging times. “I wanted to offer a service that goes beyond just logistics,” she said. “I wanted to offer something that honors the memories, respects the process and makes it easier on everyone involved. That’s the heart behind Moves and More.” Adv. ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Learn More

706-442-0973 MovesAndMoreGA.com susan@movesandmorega.com

J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

27

SAVVY SENIORS

Thrive at Green Island Where Aging Is to Be Embraced

F

rom the moment they arrive, residents notice that Thrive at Green Island feels different. It’s vibrant assisted living and memory care community is thoughtfully designed to feel warm and welcoming—just like home.

“Here,” explained Kara VinZant, President of Thrive at Green Island, “residents are not just cared for—they’re celebrated.”

Residents enjoy beautifully appointed spaces filled with natural light, inviting common areas where neighbors become friends and a team of compassionate people who love what they do.

“Whether it’s sharing a meal, joining in an activity or relaxing in the courtyard, everything at Thrive is centered around building strong relationships and supporting each person’s well-being—mind, body and spirit,” VinZant said. “We believe aging is something to be embraced with joy, purpose and dignity.”

Moving to Thrive promises the beginning of a new, vibrant relationship. “Belonging begins on day one at Thrive at Green Island,” VinZant said.

“Tucked away in the quiet beauty of Green Island

Hills, Thrive offers assisted living and memory care with a very intentional approach to helping new residents feel like they belong from the moment they arrive.”

Thrive brings people together. This includes shared meals served restaurant-style, lively social events, small group gatherings and a calendar of activities that offer something for everyone.

“Whether it’s a morning exercise class, an afternoon painting session or live music during happy hour,” VinZant said, “these shared experiences are designed not just to entertain—but to connect.”

It’s secret, though, may be the people. “Thrive’s team leads with compassion, empathy and genuine interest in the individuals they serve,” VinZant said.

“It’s not unusual for staff to remember the name of a resident’s grandchild or to know just when someone needs a quiet moment or a good laugh.”

“You won’t be a stranger here,” VinZant said, “you’ll be part of a community where people look out for each other, where laughter is shared daily and where dignity, joy and purpose are at the heart of everything we do.”

LIFE DOESN’T SLOW DOWN, WHY SHOULD YOU? We’ll help you increase energy, defy your age and be your absolute best utilizing IV Therapy.

Tell us what you want to achieve, and our licensed board certified/state licensed medical healthcare professionals will guide you to the proper treatment or treatments, customized especially for you.

• • • •

Lifestyle & Community Amenities • Restaurant-style dining • Beautifully landscaped outdoor spaces • Spacious, light-filled common areas • Full-service salon and barber shop • Wellness and fitness programs • A full calendar of events and activities Adv. ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Learn More

706-383-0590 6896 River Road ThriveSL.com/greenisland

WE INCREASE YOUR RANGE OF MOTION, GRADUALLY Proper stretching slows down the aging process. You can feel younger by improving posture, circulation, and increasing range of motion.

IV Therapy • IV Cocktails Cryotherapy • Weight Loss Therapy Compression Therapy • HRT Vitamin Injections SCAN TO BOOK YOUR

FREE 30 min.

STRETCH

3501 Massee Ln Suite D | Columbus, GA 31909 hydralivetherapy.com/columbus 28

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

3500 Massee Lane, Unit B Columbus, GA, 31909

Crossroads Folk Art Festival

by Frank Etheridge

Columbus Collective Museums casts a fresh ray of light on folk art & culture.

“G

uess I’ll have to make some more snakes,” is how Charles Fowler responds, hitting a tone of gleeful determination, upon being told the first-ever Crossroads Folk Art Festival held on May 10 will now be an annual affair.

Fowler’s snakes—beautiful, hand-crafted wooden creations rich in detail and vibrant in color—sold out quickly at his Crossroads booth in a reinvigorated Rose Hill Park off Hamilton Road, where the local artist (and Columbus State University’s caretaker of Pasaquan’s sacred, surreal grounds in Marion County) showcased his work along with 20 fellow artists in the outsider/self-taught styles who came to Columbus from all across Georgia and Alabama. Nearly all artists reported solid sales, providing for a profitable Saturday that, paired with live music, good food and great vibes, is a yummy recipe for success that has Crossroads coming back in 2026, on the Saturday before Mother’s Day once again.

“I thought it went really well—very unique and put together very well,” says renowned ceramics artist/folk potter Ned Berry, who at 85 years old is a veteran of area art festivals dating back to Salisbury Fair, which started in the median of Broadway in the Historic District in 1976. Berry points out positives such as young local folk artist Jarrod Turner developing an eager following and the simple fact that a firstyear festival attracted on a dark, stormy day “a steady stream of people who came through and seemed to enjoy it.”

“Even though we had some rain, the support was really good, from both the local community and curiosity-seekers from out-of-state,” explains Berry. “Columbus needed that.”

Berry, Turner and Fowler all have original works on display at Folk Art Junction. The remarkable gallery/mini-museum is one of the eclectic and eccentric, yet world-class collections—from classic cars to RC Cola to golder-era Georgia FM radio memorabilia to J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

31

priceless works in the Southern Pottery display crafted in the 19th century by formerly enslaved African Americans—housed inside the Columbus Collective Museums (CCM), organizers of the Crossroads Folk Art Festival, located across 33rd Street from Rose Hill Park and known to most as “Home of the World-Famous Lunchbox Museum.”

The CCM campus at 3218 Hamilton Road is often recognized by the metal dinosaur created by Butch Anthony on the roof holding a “Me and My RC” sign over a parking lot that’s home to a hearse painted by Anthony as well as the red, yellow and blue Squire station wagon that belonged to the late Eddie Owens Martin, aka St. EOM, creator of the intergalactic playground for telepathic empathy that is Pasaquan. During the festival, Fowler stood next to the car and shared with a dozen fest-goers insight and anecdotes on Martin and the sevenacre site the late visionary inherited from his family outside Buena Vista.

The festival was a flash of inspiration CCM Director Kaitlynn Etheridge shared with her grandfather, CCM Founder and CEO Allen Woodall. Over the last five years, Etheridge has worked with Woodall, a widely respected collector, to transform his River Market Antiques business, which since the 1990s housed his thousands and thousands of lunch boxes, a pop-culture spectacle that has earned global media attention from the likes of CBS Sunday Morning, developed collaborations with the Smithsonian Institute drawing on Woodall’s expertise to help build its collection and pen encyclopedic volumes on lunch boxes, and displayed for many years in glass cases in the Atlanta airport’s international terminal.

Today, the CCM is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and member of the Columbus Cultural Arts Alliance (CCAA), which administers the grant which provided the funds to help make Crossroads possible.

32

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

“We felt there was a real void to fill,” Etheridge says of their initial idea, “with a lot of people looking for this type of art and this type of festival.”

With the grant funds derived from the city’s hotel/motel tax revenue, it stipulates that CCAAsupported events attract out-of-town visitors.

Crossroads—the festival’s name coming from CCM’s home at the intersection of Veterans Parkway, River Road and Hamilton Road—checked that box, drawing on a network of kindred spirits to bring outsider/folk artists such as archetype-surrealist Dow Haris (Wetumpka, Alabama), folk luminary Charlie Dingler (Dinglerfest, Dillard, Georgia), wood-cut wonder Unkle Tu Tu (Atlanta) to join the aforementioned locals and others from the Chattahoochee Valley such as Dominique Lumpkin’s

TOP: Columbus Collective Museums’ Kaitlynn Etheridge, Ryn Welch, and Bonnie and Allen Woodall LEFT: Jerry Presley with his Grateful Dead inspired art RIGHT: Charles and Lauren Fowler talk to attendees about Pasaquan.

“We felt that there was a real void to fill with a lot of people looking for this type of art and this type of festival.”

-Kaitlynn Etheridge

(“Niqo Sama”)and Jacqueline Grant Brown (“Hippie Chic”). Crossroads capped off the day inside CCM (due to rain) with a blistering jam session by musical acts, cosmic-country crooner BB Palmer from South Alabama and Neil Lucas’ real-deal, red-clay Talbot County blues, followed by readings from local scribe David Turner and acclaimed poet Dan Veach—who moved here from Atlanta after being sent by his publisher to the Lunch Box Museum for the cover for his book, the sublime Lunchboxes.

“We wanted to bring some light to a park and a community that’d been sitting gray for a while,” Etheridge says of the neighborhood surrounding Rose Hill Park, which the city’s Parks and Recreation department spruced up and added signage prior to Crossroads. “And we wanted to create something new and different from all the talented local artists as well as bring some fresh talent to town for the first time.”

————————————————————— For information about the Columbus Collective Museums and next year’s Crossroads Folk Art Festival, visit columbuscollectivemuseums.com.

J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

33

Confused About Medicare and Life Insurance Options?

Southern Life Insurance Group is here to help!

• Medicare parts A, B, C, D • Free review of your current plans and tailored plans to meet your needs • Medicare supplement plans and drug plans • Guaranteed lowest carrier rates • Whole Life Plan rates never increase and policy never expires • Whole Life, Term Life and Universal Life policy options • Over 40 top-rated carriers • Retirement Income Protection • No exams, no questions, no worries!

For an appointment, call or text Joannah Neal 706.527.9132

JoannahHart@yahoo.com

34

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

On Film

by Scott Phillips

5 New Films to Add to Your Watch List

A

s this issue hits mailboxes and newsstands, the first half of 2025 is in our rearview mirrors. More summer blockbusters and a new fall crop of Oscar hopefuls await us. So, it’s a good time to discuss some of the better films from the first half of the year you may have missed in theaters that have made their way to home video. Here are five films to put on your personal watch list:

Becoming Led Zeppelin

Available on Netflix This powerful documentary about these British hard rock gods blends modern-day interviews with Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones with stunning archival concert footage.

I saw the film in its IMAX format in February, and the music thundered throughout the theater. The filmmakers take the fascinating approach of showing interview footage from the 1960’s and 70’s to their subjects as a basis for their discussions, creating a palpable sense of nostalgia as they watch and listen to the words and actions of their youthful selves. If you’re a fan of the band or classic rock in general, this is must-see viewing.

Materialists

Available soon on VOD The newest film from writer-director Celine Song is set in the world of New York City matchmakers where Lucy (Dakota Johnson) pairs single men and women with their soulmates (or at least a partner for their social-climbing ambitions). Lucy spends so much time playing Cupid that she has no love life of her own. Enter wealthy, handsome, suave bachelor Harry (Pedro Pascal) who appears just as Lucy’s ex, John (a de-glammed Chris Evans), resurfaces. A compelling love triangle ensues. Materialists is a smart, witty film that wisely avoids all the cliches of a standard rom-com. Song’s previous film, Past Lives, was nominated for Best Picture in 2024. Materialists proves she’s no one-hit wonder.

Black Bag

Available on VOD and DVD/Blu-ray/4K Combine the espionage world of Slow Horses with the parlor room mystery of the Knives Out films, and you have the vibe of this new thriller from director Steven Soderbergh. Someone inside British intelligence is telling tales out of school, and George (Michael Fassbender) is tasked with finding the mole. His mission is complicated by the fact his wife, Kathryn (Cate Blanchett), is on the list of suspects. An all-star cast, working from a brilliant screenplay, results in one of the best films of the year. Don’t miss this one.

Companion

Available on Max and VOD Iris (Sophie Thatcher in a powerhouse performance) goes away for a weekend with her boyfriend, Josh (Jack Quaid).

His posh friends look down their noses at her. As the weekend grows increasingly hostile, Iris seems more and more capable of violent retaliation, and we soon learn she’s not who she seems. Companion is a fun little thrill ride for the non-squeamish viewers out there.

The Count of Monte Cristo

Available on Hoopla, Kanopy and VOD A beautiful French language adaptation of the classic 1846 novel by Alexandre Dumas from writer-directors Alexandre de La Patelliere and Matthieu Delaporte.

The tone of the film is perfect, largely avoiding the melodrama you often find with adaptations of 19th century novels.

This is no dry costume drama. The cinematography is stunning, seamlessly incorporating drone shots and modern editing techniques. It’s a masterfully made film that brings new life to an old story.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Scott Phillips is a Columbus resident and serves as the President of the Southeastern Film Critics Association. His reviews and other work can be found at Forbes.com.

J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

35

Them Bones Butch Anthony’s World of Wonder

by Frank Etheridge • photos by Tyler Sierra and Charley Windham

36

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

W

hile humble by nature and a country boy at heart, Butch Anthony’s trajectory into international fame and acclaim for his blissfully bizarre, utterly unique art is propelled by so much magic and mystery, it can be confusing to discern man from myth, truth from legend, whether his creative genius comes courtesy of divine vision or by just taking a nice long look at the world around you.

“What inspires me? Oh, just whatever I find on the side of the road or dumpster diving or in a junk store,” Anthony explains while taking a quick break inside the Bo Bartlett Center, where he’s busy setting up his exhibition, The Persistence of Form in Life’s Remains, a sublime, surreal and sprawling show on view through August 15.

“Whatever I find,” he continues, “I just pile it up in piles at the house. If you come to my house, I got huge piles of stuff. And I’ll go out there and dig in it and find my art material.”

A dazzling display ideal for the wide open spaces and pristine lighting in the Bo Bartlett Center, The Persistence of Form in Life’s Remains may not be the largest installation Anthony’s ever done, but it’s certainly the hardest, he says.

“Weaving all those bones together, sticking all that wire in your fingers, is hard on your hands,” he explains. “And just finding that many bones.”

To create the show, Anthony used two miles of wire, 55 gallons of Sherwin-Williams Westhighland White paint, and 200 chicken wishbones. Total number of bones? He’s not sure.

“It’s piles and piles, though,” he says. “If I find a dead deer on the side of the road, or any kind of carcass, I got these cages out in the woods and I throw them in the cages. Then the buzzards and the beetles and the fire ants and the sun and the rain do their thing. It takes three years to get them

ABOVE: Found objects and bones are signature elements in Anthony’s art pieces BELOW: Anthony’s workshop at his Woods of Wonder in Seale

“I just pile it up in piles at the house.

If you come to my house, I got huge piles of stuff. And I’ll go out there and dig in it and find my art material.”

-Butch Anthony

J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

37

perfectly clean. And then I put five coats of paint on them.”

The Persistence of Form in Life’s Remains consists of seven works in total. There’s skeletons playing basketball, an homage to the Russell County legend of hoop snakes, plus a wedding dress made of bones.

Two oil paintings, early 18th century portraits formal to the point of being comical, are adorned with painted-on bones, a trademark technique of Anthony since he started years ago, on scores of the mass-produced Pinkie and BlueBoy portraits. Baby shoes are all over the show, symbolic of all the people who have traveled along the Old Federal Road, the Deep South’s first highway, built after the Louisiana Purchase and used on the Trail of Tears, that runs right through Anthony’s property. Two Smell-o-Rama jars stand in 38

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

tribute to his close friend, the late, great filmmaker Les Blank, who Anthony built a deck for at his California home before returning decades later to build his burial casket.

“Back in the ‘70s, when I was growing up in Seale, all we had to do was go walking in the woods all day,” recalls Anthony, who lives on the farm his grandfather bought for a dollar an acre in 1939. “A big thing back then was hunting arrowheads on the creek. We’d go out there and find bones and build forts and make stuff out of what we found in the woods. So I’ve been making things out of bones all my life.”

Anthony was 14 when he found a bone, a big one, that made national news and shaped his future. “The whole town of Seale would camp on Watermelon Creek every weekend,” he recalls, “and somebody

stubbed their toe on something sticking out of the creekbank. I went down there with a pocket knife and popped out a 65 million-year-old dinosaur bone. Folks from Auburn University came over to study it. They talked me into taking them around and we found five dinosaurs in Russell County. And then they talked me into going to Auburn University. I studied dinosaurs over there, and all over the country, digging up dinosaur bones with them.”

Born in Hurtsboro to a family that’s lived in Russell County since 1830, Anthony studied science—anatomy, zoology, biology—at Auburn but did not graduate.

He’ll turn 62 on Christmas Eve. “I could get Social Security,” he says. “I don’t want to quit working, though. They probably wouldn’t give me anything anyway. I never

FAR LEFT: Ossuary, inspired by the Golden Chamber of St. Ursula in Cologne, France LEFT: Butch Anthony BELOW: The Legend of the Hoop Snake

had a job, so I ain’t paid them nothing.”

Such is life in art—which, in this case, exists so far outside the ordinary, way beyond the bounds of the easily understood, it requires its own classification.

Enter Intertwangleism.

“Everybody’s got their own ism,” says Anthony. “Like back in the day, Picasso and Braque had Cubism. All these isms, everybody was calling me a folk artist back when I was like, ‘I don’t want to be in that category.’ So I just made up my own ism. I was playing around one day and came up with that word, Intertwangleism. Inter means to mix and twang is a distinct way of speaking.

I didn’t do a whole lot of talking when I was little, so I just talked with my paintings.”

J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

39

LEFT: Folk artist and Anthony’s friend, John Henry Toney, was a major inspiration for his art.

ABOVE: A photo of Toney selling art at Frank Turner’s store

The Collectors

Including a portrait of his musician son, Jake, painted on ribbons of vivid fabric cut from a discarded circus tent he found, Fussell estimates he has about 10 of Anthony’s works. The largest collector of Anthony’s work is a Columbus dentist, Dr. Joe Largeman.

“I first met Butch at the Folk Life Village they had at Riverfest in 1996,” Largeman recalls. “I saw his art and had this primal attraction to it. Plus, he’s a character and so likable. So my wife and I fell in love with him and his art right away. We then commissioned him to do a couple of chairs and a table for our front porch. Over the years, every new type of art that Butch would create, I wanted a piece of it.”

The two antique oil paintings in the Persistence show came from Largeman, Anthony explains, noting they came from a junk store on Talbotton Road. “He found those old paintings and I traded him something for them,” Anthony says. “Every time I need a filling or get a tooth pulled, I go up and see my friend Joe Largeman and trade him a painting.”

Not a native Southerner, Largeman says going to visit Anthony at his Alabama home was a revelation. “He’s the OG of authentic Southern folk art,” Largeman says, “and required study for anybody taking a deep dive into Southern culture.”

heard about it and that inspired him to start making stuff and putting it in Frank’s shop there on the highway to sell. That’s when I first heard of Butch. Frank called “It’s a heck of a lot of bones,” folklorist and artist Fred C. Fussell says of his friend’s me up at the Museum, asking me how to deal with this, as he had no experience show at the Bo. “I know Butch has been collecting bones but wanted to do right by Butch and John Henry. So we discussed what the usual deal for years and years so I’m not surprised was between gallery and artist and how to by the number of bones used in the show artwork and that’s when they really show,” Fussell continues. “I am astounded, got into it.” however, by the amount of all the stuff At the time, Anthony was cooking hot and how he put it all together in such an dogs and selling them to workers outside incredible way with the touch of a true Mead’s paper mill in Russell County, craftsman.”

Fussell explains, adding Anthony switched Fussell was a curator at the Columbus to just doing art in the ‘90s.

Museum in the 1980s when he first heard “When you learn a little bit more detail of Anthony. As the story goes, Anthony’s about Butch’s personal history, how he friend and fellow artist, the late John Henry collected fossils and Indian artifacts and all Toney, was plowing up his garden when kinds of things in the woods when he was his plow sliced open a giant turnip. Toney not even yet a teenager, ” Fussell says, “you picked up the turnip and could see a face realize since childhood he was building a in it. Inspired, he drew a picture of the face reputation as somebody who was a little and took the picture to Frank Turner, who bit different, who was able to go out and owned a store and gas station in Pittsview. do things that most people had no thought Turner put the picture up in his store Art in Life window as a joke with a sign that read, “For of ever doing. I admire Butch’s energy, his spirit and his imagination, and I think what Sale $50.”

For years, Anthony hosted the Doo he’s doing is well worth people’s time and “To their amazement, somebody came Nanny, a weekend-long art and music in and paid $50 for it,” Fussell says. “Butch attention.” festival, on his property. It started out

Intertwangleism Inspiration

40

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

TOP: Anthony gets help from Jarrod Turner to paint the bones white after waiting months for nature to prepare them.

BOTTOM: The Drive-Thru Museum of Wonder on Highway 431 in Seale

small, just him and John Henry Toney and some friends, and after the New York Times published a feature on the party, its popularity soared. “Finally it got to be around 4,000 people,” Anthony says. “I was like, ‘Get these people away from me.’

Thirteen years of it was all I could take.”

Still wanting to have a sort of open-door policy for fans on a pilgrimage to Russell County to see his art, Anthony created the freaky fabulous Museum of Wonder across Highway 431 from his property. Open 24/7/365 with free admission, it attracts an estimated 100 cars a day.

“I get all kinds of notes people stick in a mail slot I stuck out there,” Anthony says of the attraction. His favorite note? “What kind of drugs are you on? Text me.”

Anthony wakes up every morning at 3:57 a.m. Strange and sacred digits in numerology to some, but for him 3-5-7 and simply lucky numbers he once played on a scratch-off lottery ticket he bought on Victory Drive and won $2. He likes waking up at the pre-dawn hour: “It’s dark and quiet, the frogs are croaking and the birds are singing. It’s a lot of fun.”

Outside of his passion for listening to books on Audible—lately, it’s been music biographies on Tom Petty, Muddy Waters, and R.E.M.—Anthony absorbs mostly what he experiences in the world surrounding him. And there’s a lesson to

learn from that discipline.

“You don’t know what you’re going to hear these days with AI,” Anthony says. “I’m going to convert back to the old days and start the School of BAI. Kids today don’t even know what a clothesline is. They need to enroll at BAI. Night classes at the Museum

of Wonder. They can come camp out, build a fire, and even cook a fish over it.”

————————————————————— Learn more about Butch Anthony and his art at MuseumOfWonder.com, and see his artist talk at the Bo Bartlett Center on August 14 at 5:30 p.m.

Read Online!

Read this issue and access our archives at

ColumbusAndTheValley.com/issues J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

41

42

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

The 250 Anniversary of the Infantry and the th

United States Army

by Dr. David S. Stieghan, U.S. Army Branch Historian

During 2025, the United States Army Infantry Branch celebrates 250 years since its creation by the 2nd Continental Congress. Several events commemorating the anniversary are planned throughout the year at Fort Benning and around the world by Infantry units.

U

pon receiving the news that New England militia resisted British regular troops at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, on April 19, 1775, the 2nd Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia decided that the rebels required a formal military organization. On June 14, 1775, an act passed creating a “Corps of Riflemen” of foot Soldiers to act as skirmishers and light infantry to scout and screen in front of the main army in the field. The next day, the representatives appointed George Washington the Commander-in-Chief and directed all Patriot efforts to support the American forces surrounding British

troops in Boston, Massachusetts. These riflemen served as the first formal unit of the Revolutionary Army and ensured that the first troops in the American army were Infantry.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1775 The resolutions being read, were adopted as follows: “Resolved, That six companies of expert rifflemen, be immediately raised in Pensylvania, two in Maryland, and two in Virginia; that each company consist of a captain, three lieutenants, four serjeants, four J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

43

corporals, a drummer or trumpeter, and sixty-eight privates. That each company, as soon as compleated, shall march and join the army near Boston, to be there employed as light infantry, under the command of the chief Officer in that army. That the pay of the Officers and privates be as follows, viz, a captain @ 20 dollars per month; a lieutenant @ 13 1/3 dollars; a serjeant @ 8 dollars; a corporal @ 7 1/3 dollars; drummer or [trumpeter] @ 7 1/3 doll.; privates @ dollars; to find their own arms and cloaths.”

That the form of the enlistment be in the following words: “I have, this day, voluntarily enlisted myself, as a soldier, in the American continental army, for one year, unless sooner discharged: And I do bind myself to conform, in all instances, to such rules and regulations, as are, or shall be, established for the government of the said Army.”

Originally, the Congress specified that the Rifle Regiment comprise six companies from Pennsylvania, and two each from Maryland and Virginia. The desire to march north by American riflemen resulted in a total of thirteen companies of around 100 Soldiers apiece by the time the longhunters arrived around Boston.

The applicants for the new command applied to join the rifle units in a unique manner. Those appearing to join brought their own rifles and ammunition, wearing their own hunting “Cloaths.” Their weapons were handmade by community riflesmiths and each required a custom bullet molds to cast lead bullets in calibers from .40” to .80”. In a variation of the local “rifle folic” matches held along the frontier, communities held shooting competitions to select the best of the regional shots. To gain acceptance, each rifleman fired at a human-sized target at 100 yards standing and the best of 100 local shooters gained acceptance in the companies. Many frontier Americans easily performed this feat, and many companies marched with more that the 100 Soldiers specified.

On the outskirts of many towns on the route to Massachusetts, the recruits held 44

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

Each candidate for the Continental Corps of Riflemen brought his own rifle, “possibles bag” for bullets and bullet molds and his own linen or deerskin hunting frock to the muster location. This same “rifleman’s frock” became the temporary uniform for the entire Patriot Army by order of General George Washington. [Image] The Scout by David Wright.

rifle demonstrations to show their marksmanship skills to the locals. The feats of accuracy and long range firing impressed the citizens providing food and drink to the new Whig warriors as they marched to join the volunteers surrounding the British Regulars in Boston.

After marching north to join the patriot forces in the Siege of Boston, Massachusetts, the new Commander, General George Washington welcomed the frontiersman and planned to use them as sharpshooters and to patrol and raid around the enemy. Within months, the Pennsylvania companies combined to create a full regiment of almost 1,000 Soldiers and other volunteer rifle companies from other states took their place. The

regiment grew as states raised additional companies and the long-term unit commander Daniel Morgan marched a battalion of these marksmen into Canada to add that colony to the United States in Fall 1775. One of the young riflemen, Private Joseph Henry of Pennsylvania, described the arms and dress of his comrades. “The principal distinction between us, was in our dialects, our arms, and our dress. Each man of the three companies, bore a rifle-barreled gun, a tomehawk, or small axe, and a long knife, usually called a ‘scalping-knife,’ which served for all purposes, in the woods. His under-dress, by no means in a military style, was covered by a deep ash-colored hunting-shirt, leggins and mockasins, if the latter could be procured. It was the silly fashion of those times, for riflemen to ape the manners of savages.”

The seventeen-year-old wife of one of the Pennsylvania riflemen, Jemima Warner, followed the Patriot force to support her husband as a camp follower.

Burying her husband Private James Warner on the side of the road when he died of smallpox, Jemima caught up with his

unit and handed his rifle to the company commander. Struck by a fragment from an exploding British shell during the Siege of Quebec a few weeks later, Jemima Warner became the first American woman killed in combat. Though the Patriots failed to win over the largely-French colonists in the north and defeat the British garrisons around Quebec, the force returned and joined the rest of the Continental Army facing British and Hessian mercenary troops of the Crown around New York City in 1776.

Around the time that Washington’s Army fought the Battles of Long Island, Brooklyn Heights, Fort Washington, and more, the troops listened as leaders read a draft of the Declaration of Independence.

These Soldiers realized that they no longer struggled only for their rights as British citizens- they fought for the independence of a new nation. Their strengthened resolve kept the Patriots in the army through a series of defeats from New York, across New Jersey, and around the capital of Philadelphia. Just as the Soldier’s enlistments approached their end, Washington ordered the Army

to cross the ice-choked Delaware River in the dark to capture a Hessian detachment at Trenton, New Jersey. Returning across the river a few days later by another route, Washington led the rejuvenated troops to capture the British supply depot at Princeton, New Jersey. While many of the victorious troops returned to their homes after valorous service, others reenlisted to stay and fight and joined new recruits to continue the struggle to free America from British rule.

The Rifle Regiment fought in battles for independence from Saratoga, New York, through Cowpens, South Carolina, to the last major battle at Yorktown, Virginia.

Used as scouts and skirmishers in front of the battle line, the riflemen served to patrol and raid performing the role as the first United States Rangers. While June 14th is proudly recognized as the birthday of the Army, the Corps of Riflemen set the precedent of the Infantry serving as the first branch of the United States Army.

————————————————————— For a list of the events to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Infantry and U.S. Army, visit Army.mil.

J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

45

Salute to the Army 250

I

n a special preview event, Night at the Museum, over 30 reenactors took their places throughout the galleries at the National Infantry Museum (NIM) to entertain guests in honor of the Army’s 250th birthday celebration on June 14th. Special guest speakers included Museum Foundation

46

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

President BG (RET) Pete Jones, Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson, Fort Benning MCoE Major General Colin Tuley, and General George Washington. Each great leader provided their personal reflections on the Army’s legacy, it’s future and it’s place in the Tri-City community.

Reenactors from the 1775-1898 era gallery

Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson, General George Washington and NIM Foundation President BG (Ret) Pete Jones.

J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

47

Betting on COMU LOCAL SUPPORTERS OF THE COLUMBUS MUSEUM RAISE FUNDS AT KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY

by Jodi Saunders • photos by Eliza Daffin

T

he Columbus Museum’s annual fundraiser was held in May with a Kentucky Derby party. Guests gathered to watch the 151st running of the race on large screen televisions in the main gallery. A southern staple on the calendar, guests were in full regalia with flora, seersucker, pastel hues and a myriad of stylish fascinators and hats galore.

Pre-race activities set the mood for an

48

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

exciting evening consisting of Betting on COMU—the theme of the evening. Live music followed the race and speciality bourbons, and the traditional drink of the Kentucky Derby--mint juleps were served along with a gourmet menu crafted by renowned local chef, Jamie Keating.

The event was co-chaired by Elizabeth Cliatt and Landy Cartledge owners of Highland Galerie who brought their passion

for the arts to this exciting fundraiser.

Long time, devoted patrons, Mason and Mary Lu Lampton, were honored for their dedication to the arts in our community.

Mason founded Steeplechase at Callaway and Mary Lu has been a long-term member of the museum’s board. Support from this event ensures the exhibitions, educational programs and admission to the museum remains free for the community.

(L-R) Edie and Kee Evans with Tiffany and Robert Wilson

(L-R) Edgar Hughston, Michele Mastrean and Brad Bickerstaff

Event chairs Landy Cartledge and Elizabeth Cliatt

(L-R) Eliza Brewer, Page Flournoy and Mary Lovett Beck J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

49

(L-R) Molly Horiuchi, Amanda Bishop, Caroline O’Connor, Delia Postell and Rhonda Eysel

(L-R) Mary Lou Swift, Kent Butler and Wynne Stephenson

Horseracing & the Arts in Columbus Since 1984, Mason Houghland Lampton has hosted the largest and most unique social event in our area. Many patrons see the Steeplechase at Callaway as just that, a social event, but for Mason and his family it is much more.

Steeped in tradition, Lampton is carrying on a family legacy. His grandfather, Mason Houghland, an avid foxhunter, founded the Hillsboro Foxhounds in 1932. Being competitive led him to steeplechasing which is a competition that grew out of the hunting field. Like foxhunting, steeplechase races are usually conducted over natural fences, fields and streams.

Not only did Houghland take part in steeplechasing as a jockey, in 1941, he inaugurated the Iroquois Memorial Steeplechase which is held in Nashville, Tennessee. The first winning jockey and horse combination of the Iroquois Steeplechase was none other than the father of Mason Lampton, Dinwiddie Lampton, Jr. and “Rockmayne.”

Mason Lampton and his father Dinwiddie Lampton founded the Hardscuffle Steeplechase in 1974. Often referred to as the “Kentucky Derby of Steeplechasing,” this has been called “glamorous, picturesque, and prestigious.”

Fortunately, for Columbus and the valley area, 50

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

Mason Houghland Lampton married a Columbus native, Mary Lu Hardaway. Mary Lu brought Mason back to our area where he took a vested interest in supporting our community. Since joining the Hardaway family, Lampton has had the honor of learning from a foxhunting legend, the late Ben Hardaway. Hardaway was well known around the world for his famous cross-bred hound.

Lampton has taken over the reins from Hardaway and is currently the Master of the Mary Lu and Mason Lampton Midland Foxhounds.

Starting Steeplechase events is in his blood—growing the community is invest in the arts reap the benefits of more job his passion. These traits led him to host the first availability; economic growth and a diverse group horseracing event in the area, The Steeplechase of talented people are drawn to the area. The at Callaway Gardens. A strong believer in the arts, arts play a vital role in the community, and the Mason annually donates the event’s profits to the Hardaway/Lampton families are proud to support local arts community. He believes that a strong that effort 110%. cultural community improves quality of life.

————————————————————— Reproduced with permission of Steeplechase at Callaway It has been proven that communities that

Place your bets!

Alayne and Jason Gamache

(L-R) Justin Clark, Jack and Emily Moody, Kathelen Amos, Erin Clark, Dan Amos and Keith and Melissa Farley J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

51

52

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

Sow It Grows

by Brad Barnes

Seed Money

G

ardening can be a sneaky brand of fun. There are tactile joys in poking holes in black soil and tucking seeds in them. Even trellising plants can be satisfying, in bringing a semblance of order to nature’s chaos by tucking away grabbyhanded branches to create paths through the bed. And that’s to say nothing of the satisfaction of plucking an elephantine cucumber from the vine or a pound-heavy tomato from a plant.

Those joys are enough reason to garden.

The thrift of the operation is an even better reason. You can grow your own food for a fraction of the cost of buying it.

When my wife and I started our little farm, the biggest expense was the organic compost we trucked in. But that was a onetime cost, given our sustainable farming practices. We were sort of astounded, though, at how much money we had to budget for an annual expense: seeds.

Thankfully, there’s a way to turn that into a one-time expense, too. And the answer was as simple as saving some of the seeds from our harvest.

“The basics are easy to learn, and some seed-saving tasks, such as collecting and cleaning seeds, are pleasant, lightweight pastimes,” said Fern Marshall Bradley, a senior editor at the sustainable living publishing house Chelsea Green Publishing.

That’s from Saving Vegetable Seeds, her lovely little 90-page tome, available for around $9 online (though Russell County library card holders can check out a digital copy for free using the Phenix City public library’s Overdrive service). She continues: “After all, harvesting seeds is a lot easier on the back than digging potatoes or hauling a tub of squash!”

There are many viable reasons to save seeds. You’ll be taking another step toward self-sufficiency. You’ll gain a greater understanding of the life-cycle of a plant from its very earliest stage, when it’s just a little hint of potential surrounded in a cocoon of “baby food” in its casing.

You may choose to preserve seeds of plants that are more unusual, since large

seed companies tend to focus on limited varieties that appeal to the masses.

Significantly, you’re also future-proofing your crops, says Jordan Charbonneau, a writer for Southern Exposure Seed Exchange. “When you save seeds from your best plants each year you’re gradually making improvements. Future seeds will be more adapted to grow in your particular climatic and soil conditions.”

Give ‘em Some Space

There’s no single formula for saving seeds. The process varies depending on the type of fruit or vegetable. But some are remarkably simple. Most folks recommend starting with easier crops, like beans or tomatoes.

I can attest that beans are simple and, even for me, hard to screw up.

Beans are the bomb. The end product for a dry bean (think black beans or pintos) is, in fact, the seed. The way you dry the beans for storage is exactly the same as the way you’d dry them for planting as seeds next year. You space ’em out, let them dry for a couple of weeks, throw them in a jar.

Be sure to pull out enough beans to serve as seeds for next year, though, if only so that you don’t accidentally eat them. It’s a tragedy to realize that you’ve held nothing back to plant next year only after your Instant Pot is bubbling away as it hydrates and cooks your last scoop of pintos.

Tomato seeds aren’t hard to preserve, but there’s an important caveat. Unless you’ve deliberately sought out heirloom tomato seeds, what’s in your packets are likely hybrid seeds. These come from crossbreeding two types of tomatoes so that the plants that grow will have desirable traits—like drought tolerance, heavy fruit, disease resistance and on and on. This means that, prepare to be mind-blown, the seeds from hybrid tomatoes might grow a different tomato. It’s like your grandparent’s distinctive nose that skipped your mom or dad but still landed on your face. Those genes are still in there and passed down the line.

Seeds from heirloom tomatoes, though,

will produce the same tomato. Usually.

They are typically self-pollinating, but they can be pollinated by critters, too. So to be safe, if you’re planning on saving the seeds, keep your heirloom tomatoes at least 10 feet from other varieties.

As you start saving seeds for trickier vegetables, you’ll learn that giving all of them space between varieties is important for the next generation to, as we say, “grow true.” Many have learned the hard way that planting a habañero pepper plant next to a banana pepper can make that banana pepper’s mild characteristic merely theoretical (if you’re curious, the safe distance is 160 feet). Some crops need as much as 1,600 feet, which makes it more feasible to alternate varieties between years, or just stick to one variety you like.

Seed Savers Exchange has a PDF chart available online at seedsavers.org with recommended spacings for most of your common backyard crops.

Seed Swapsies

If you’re starting from scratch, you’ll need to buy your first seeds.

Unless you don’t. Many who save seeds will gladly share a few with new gardeners just stretching their rakes. The Chattahoochee Valley Libraries held a “seed swap” in June and is planning one for the fall as well. These are great places to meet other seed preservationists, glean some tips and maybe even eke out a few seeds for free.

Once you’ve produced your own vegetables and saved some seeds, you’ll have plenty to swap for interesting new stuff you can grow.

To learn more about how to save seeds for your favorite vegetables, how to assess when they’re ready to store and then how to store them (to which the answer is almost always “in those little paper envelopes”), turn to our reliable friends at the University of Georgia Extension. Search for Circular 1242, titled “Seed Saving in Georgia Gardens,” which covers everything you’ll need to get going.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Brad Barnes was a journalist for 17 years and a marketing expert for 9 years before he and his wife, Jenn, started Dew Point Farm in MidTown Columbus in 2019. You can email him at info@dewpoint.farm, and he’ll get back to you after he’s washed his hands.

J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

53

Valley Scenes Send us photos of your community event or achievement! We will publish as many photos as quality and space permit. Please identify all subjects with a brief description of the event and the date and the photographers name. Email them to: ContactUs@ColumbusAndTheValley.com,

East Alabama Chamber Truck-tacular photos courtesy of East Alabama Chamber of Commerce Aubie was a special guest at the Truck-tacular event.

He enjoyed exploring the wide array of vehicles that were at the event as well as greeting attendees of all ages.

Saunders Receives Pro Bono Champion Award photo courtesy of Georgia Legal Services Program Cameron Saunders of Page, Scrantom, Sprouse, Tucker & Ford P.C. accepted Georgia Legal Services Program (GLSP)’s Pro Bono Champion award at the Columbus Bar Association’s Annual Law Day Luncheon on May 1, 2025, in honor of his pro bono service to low-income clients in the community.

(L-R) Judge David Ranieri (Columbus Bar Association President), Monica Whatley (GLSP), Cameron Saunders (Award Recipient), Sally Haskins (GLSP) and Brandon Wilkins (Pro Bono Champion Paralegal)

Columbus Museum Welcomes 2,000,000 Visitor photo courtesy of Columbus Museum

Congratulations to the 2,000,000th visitor to The Columbus Museum John Harkey and son Ephraim pictured with COMU staff. The museum has been tracking attendance since it underwent a major renovation in 1989.

J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

55

Columbus High 60th Reunion photos by Margie Richardson The Columbus High School Class of 1965 celebrated its 60th Reunion the weekend of May 30 and 31st. The festivities began on Friday night at the Columbus Naval Museum.

On Saturday, a luncheon was held at the Columbus High School Cafeteria with catering by Country’s Barbecue. Following the luncheon and mixing and mingling with classmates a tour of the school was an option for those who wanted to see how the school looks now. That night, a delicious buffet dinner was held at Green Island Country Club and a world-renowned DJ played all the oldies tunes, and the dance floor was full!

Serving on the 60th Reunion Committee were, (L-R), Sue Gaither, Leslie Cohn, Danny Sellers, Suzy Edge, Cathy Bickerstaff, Forrest Allen, Kathy Riley, Beth Stanton, Betsy Slade, Ken Coolick, and Patty Taylor served as the chairman.

(L-R) Otis and Sandy Scarborough with Sue and Larry Gaither

(L-R) Kathy Riley, Suzy Edge, and Betsy Slade

Going Postal photos by Zack Collins The premier of local movie, Going Postal, was viewed by a sell out crowd at the National Infantry Museum. The showing was followed by a Q&A with local film critic Scott Phillips.

(L-R) Producers Paul Rowe and Zack Collins and Director of Photography Trey Walker 56

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

2025 East Alabama Leadership Class photo courtesy East Alabama Chamber Recent graduates of The East Alabama Chamber’s Leadership class were Demeka Daniels, Jackie Elder, Ashley Forsythe, Angela Gallops, Cameron Good, James Hall, Soleil Long, Merry Mahone, Dwayne McClenton, Victor Nguyen, Kay Oswalt, John Persons, Jermaine Phillips, Assad Raza and Jodi Saunders. Far left is Melissa Gauntt, President and CEO of the East Alabama Chamber of Commerce.

CASA Red Shoe Party photos by Haley Borin ASA’s annual Red Shoe Party fundraiser was a huge success with attendees dancing the night away to the music of the 10:30 band.

Roger Stinson playing with the 10:30 band

(L-R) Shelby Fountain, Kenya Patterson, Keagan Clark, Tifany Manning-Hunter, Anna Norris

(L-R) NaEisha Owens, Jessica Bankston, Erica Hall

Gary and Emily Byrd, Marlysann Kreiensieck, and Debra Clark J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

57

Choose Columbus Launch photos by Frank Etheridge Choose Columbus, a new economic development organization focused on job creation, capital investment and business expansion for our region, was launched in May. The press conference introduced the new team lead by President & CEO Missy Kendrick.

2025 Miss Georgia and Miss Georgia Teen photo courtesy of Miss Georgia Scholarship Competition Congratulations to recently crowned Miss Georgia 2025 Audrey Kittila and Miss Georgia Teen 2025, Reagan Moore. Both competitions were held at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts.

Columbus Chamber Names New Leader photo courtesy of Columbus Chamber of Commerce The Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the hiring of Jansen Tidmore as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. With more than a decade of proven success in collaborative business leadership and private sector growth strategies, Tidmore steps into the role as the Chamber marks its 180th year serving the Columbus business community.

The Do Good Gallery presents The Seventh Bardo photo by Jodi Saunders

58

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

The Do Good Fund Salon with Beth Lilly the artist of their current exhibit, The Seventh Bardo was held on June 12. Beth Lilly discussed her photos, photography techniques and style. The exhibition will be on display through August 23rd.

Three Union Reunion photos by Margie Richardson The 2025 Three Union Reunion for the Classes of 1974, 1975, and 1976 for Brookstone School, Columbus High School and Hardaway High School had a wonderful dinner at the Country Club of Columbus. Many danced away the night to the great 10:30 Band in the ballroom.

(L-R) Brookstone attendees included Leonara Hatch, John Knight, Tom Mills, Deane Fritzer, Laura Mashburn, Martha Miller, Bonnie Parker, Kathelen and Dan Amos and Betsy Fortson

(L-R) Mark and Toni Morrison, Shirley and Johnny Cargil

2025 Leadership Columbus Graduates photo by Ashley Becker Recent graduates of Leadership Columbus were Pete Bagarella, Jessie Brown, Lauren Chambers, Vickie Clark, Clay Comer, Sylvia Dansby, Leslie Dunn, Wanda Ebright, Tony Fortson, Chemitra Glenn, Yvonne Hart, Lakeita Judkins, Shannon Lawson, Jerica McCrary, Van Montesclaros, Yutaka Nakamura, Alissa Neal, Meg Olive-Allison, Kenya Patterson, Brittany Perkins, Addison Reagan, Haley Roberts, James Robinson, Tamara Saunders, Matt Smith, Melinda Tolbert, Katie Underwood, Shivank Vyas, Ty Webb, Kelly Williams.

Front left is Ashley Becker, Program Coordinator and front right Reggie Lewis, Leadership Columbus Chair.

J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

59

Wynn House Heritage Ball photos by Margie Richardson Twenty-one Debutantes were presented at the 2025 Wynn House Heritage Ball on May 10. The Wynn House is delighted to continue this Columbus tradition and it is an honor to be able to continue the presentation of the Cotillion Club Debutantes at such an event.

(L-R), Caroline Calhoun, LeAnn Copelan, Jake Copelan, Ethelyn Riley andJohn Calhoun

2025 WHHB Debutantes are, (L-R), Carolina McEachern Sheffield, Vivian Cade Rayfield, Ruth Ellington Haygood, Kirkland Ann Mize, Jessica Lucille Scarborough, Julia Caroline Alexander, Ashley Catherine Coppedge, Elizabeth Addison Knox, Riley Elaine Alexander, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Shaw, Caroline Mitchell Calhoun, Lille Burns White, Avery Louise Ellis, Nancy Susan Laughbaum, Caroline Flournoy Pease, Susan Chapman Middlebrooks, Mary Harp McMillen, Anna Caroline Foster, Rosemary Bailey Gross, Zoe Caitlyn Zwickey, and Margaret Crockett Miller.

(L-R) Lloyd Pease, Jason Pease and Kathleen Whitley

(L-R) Madden Dismuke, Riley Alexander and Lonnie and Merett Alexander 60

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

(L-R), 2025 WHHB Chairman Catherine Weaver, Presentation Chair Mary Ashby Gaskins, Alice Douglas and Wynn House President Melinda Ward

Nancy Burgin and Dr. Stuart Rayfield

Piedmont Classic photos by Sid Saber Featured cancer survivor, Jay Pease, inspired local golf, tennis and pickleball players with his story as they competed in a fun-filled day of events that included both instruction and competition. The annual fundraiser was held at the Country Club of Columbus and benefited the John B. Amos Cancer Center.

2025 Columbus Women of Distinction photos by Sid Saber Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia held their 2025 Women of Distinction in May at CSU’s Cunningham Center. This year’s awardees are Brooke Peak, Dr. Stuart Rayfield, Brittany Haines and Patricia Eldrige. Also in attendance at the event were former Women of Distinction Awardees. Teresa Whitaker was the Mistress of ceremonies and Sue Else, the GSHG Chief Executive Officer presented the awards.

Past Women of Distinction honorees J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

61

SAVE

4 WAYS TO % SUBSCRIBE

UP TO

38 SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 1 Year for $22 (6 issues) 2 Years for $33 (12 issues) 1 Year ($22)

2 Years ($33)

Payment Method: Credit Card Check Enclosed Bill Me Subscription Type: My Subscription My Subscription + Gift Gift Subscription 62

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

1. Scan the QR Code.

2. Visit ColumbusAndTheValley.com.

3. Call our office at 706-324-6214.

4. Send completed form and payment to: Columbus and the Valley P.O. Box 229 Columbus, GA 31902

THIS SUBSCRIPTION GOES TO: Name ________________________________________________________________ Address ______________________________________________________________ City __________________________ State _____________ Zip ____________ BILL TO: Address ______________________________________________________________ City __________________________ State _____________ Zip ____________ Name on Card __________________________________ Exp. Date ____________ Card# ______________________________ Sign. _____________________________

Libations

by Pat Daniel

Cool Wine Cocktails to Beat the Heat

I

t’s summer! Time to put away the heavy red wines and opt for something cool and refreshing. But what shall we drink? Of course, we always turn to chilled white wines and rosé in the summer, but wine cocktails can be a perfect answer.

Whether you’re winding down solo or celebrating with friends, here are some great options to try.

brut Champagne. vodka and a scoop of birthday cake ice • Sangria: Mix two bottles of dry Spanish cream. Top the drink with sparkling rosé wine (such as Grenache or Tempranillo) and garnish with a pastel-colored rock with one cup of brandy, half-cup sugar, candy swizzler. two sliced oranges, three sliced lemons, • Tinto de Verano: This Spanish favorite three sliced limes, two sliced peaches and translates to “red wine of summer.” one pint sliced strawberries. Pour into Combine red wine and lemon soda over glasses over ice and top with club soda. ice in a glass. Garnish with a slice of Garnish with a slice of orange. orange or lemon.

• Kalimotxo: Also known as a Rioja Libre, • Blushing Mimosa: Mix two ounces The Classics this cocktail from the Basque Country in orange juice and one ounce of pineapple • Mimosa: It doesn’t get any easier northern Spain combines four ounces of juice in a Champagne flute. Top than this. Start with two ounces of red wine and four ounces of Coca-Cola. with brut Champagne, then add two orange juice and top with four ounces Garnish with a slice of lemon. tablespoons of grenadine. Garnish with of Champagne, prosecco or cava, orange or pineapple. depending on your taste. Serve in a Something New Under the Sun • Bubble Bouquet: In a shaker, combine Champagne flute and garnish with a slice • Pink Flirtini: In a cocktail shaker filled four ounces of club soda, two ounces of of orange. with ice, combine one ounce of raspberry peach purée and one and a half oz peach • Bellini: This drink originated in Venice, vodka, half ounce of triple sec, half vodka. Stir and pour into a glass with Italy. Start with two ounces of peach ounce of pineapple juice, half ounce of three scoops of ice cream. Drizzle with purée and top with four ounces of cranberry juice and a dash of lime. Shake basil olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt and garnish with a peach slice and fresh basil. prosecco. Serve in a Champagne flute vigorously and pour into a glass. Top • and garnish with a slice of fresh peach. with Champagne and garnish the drink Saint Florent Cocktail: In a shaker, • French 75: Combine two ounces of with a strawberry. combine six tablespoons of gin, three London dry gin, three-fourth ounces • Call Me a Cab: In a cocktail shaker tablespoons of fresh lime juice, one tablespoon of Aperol, one teaspoon of of fresh lemon juice and three-fourth filled with ice, combine one ounce of honey and two dashes of Angostura ounces of simple syrup in a cocktail vodka, six ounces of lemonade and three shaker. Fill the shaker with ice, shake ounces of cabernet sauvignon. Shake bitters. Fill with ice and shake for 30 vigorously, strain into a large flute and vigorously, strain into a glass and garnish seconds. Strain into two chilled coupe top with Champagne. Garnish with a with a lemon twist. glasses and top each with Champagne. lemon twist.

• Frosé: This is the best cocktail to cool Garnish with a lime slice.

• Kir: Pour one ounce of crème de cassis you off. Pour one bottle of a hearty, • Wine Port and Tonic: This is a lighter, in a champagne flute and top with four bold rosé into ice cube trays and freeze slightly sweeter alternative to a gin and ounces of Chablis. overnight. Blend 10 ounces of fresh tonic. Pour equal parts white port and Variations: strawberries (about two cups, sliced) tonic into an Old Fashioned glass over > Kir Royale: Substitute Champagne with one tablespoon sugar and let sit for large ice cubes. Add a dash of orange for the Chablis.

10 minutes. Add a fourth cup vodka, two bitters and garnish with an orange twist. > Kir Imperial: Substitute Chambord tablespoons of grenadine and the rosé • Peach Champagne Punch: In a punch for the Crème de Cassis and top with cubes. Blend until smooth. Pour into bowl, combine one tablespoon of simple Champagne. glasses and garnish with strawberries. syrup, a half cup of lemon juice, one cup • Champagne Cocktail: Place a sugar • Cherry Wine Spritzer: Fill a glass with of orange juice, five ounces of orange cube in a chilled Champagne flute, add ice. Add three ounces of white wine (like liqueur, five ounces of iced tea and one two or three dashes of aromatic bitters, sauvignon blanc), one ounce of cherry bottle of Moët & Chandon Ice Impérial fill with brut Champagne and garnish juice and one ounce of club soda. Stir Champagne. and garnish with a skewer of fresh, pitted Tag @columbusandthevalley with with a lemon twist. cherries. your concoction and let us know your • Ernest Hemingway’s Death in the Afternoon: Pour one and a half • Birthday Cake Mimosa: Dip the rim of favorite. ounces of absinthe into a Champagne a Champagne glass in icing and coat with ————————————————————— Pat Daniel is the owner of Uptown Wine flute, and then add four ounces of sprinkles. Add one and a half ounces of & Spirits in Uptown Columbus.

J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

63

FOOD & DRINK GUIDE

WASABI JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI BAR Traditional Japanese cuisine with hibachi grill tops and fresh sushi.

Come and try our flavorful and fresh ingredients.

WasabiJapaneseColumbus.kwickmenu.com Su-Th 11AM-9PM, F-Sa 11AM-10PM 1080 Manchester Expy. • 706.642.0888

MELLOW MUSHROOM

The combination of a great menu, hand-tossed dough, fresh ingredients and friendly service makes Mellow Mushroom a must when you have a taste for pizza. Come for a family-friendly dinner or join your friends in our comfortable neighborhood bar.

MellowMushroom.com M-Th 11AM-9PM, F-Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 11AM-9PM 6100 Veterans Pkwy. • 706.322.4602

RUTH ANN’S RESTAURANT

A Columbus tradition for families, friends and great food. Ruth Ann’s offers authentic Southern style lunches, and breakfast is served all day.

RuthAnnsRestaurant.com W-Su 6:30AM-2PM 940 Veterans Pkwy., 706.221.2154

64

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

BIG MAMA VIETNAM KITCHEN

Big Mama’s is proud to serve you fresh, homemade food made with local ingredients that you are sure to love. Our specialty involves healthy cuisine with plenty of fresh vegetables and a variety of flavorful spices.

BigMamaVietnamKitchen.com Tu-F 11AM-3PM, 5PM-9PM, Sa-Su 11AM-9PM, Closed Monday 5300 Sidney Simons Blvd., Unit 14

COUNTRY’S BARBECUE

Real barbecue slow cooked over hickory and oak. Casual dress, takeout, catering, kids’ menu, three Columbus locations.

CountrysBarbecue.com Open 7 days a week 11AM-10PM The Original: 3137 Mercury Dr., 706.563.7604 Country’s on Broad: 1329 Broadway, 706.596.8910 Country’s North: 6298 Veterans Pkwy., 706.660.1415

FOUNTAIN CITY COFFEE

If you’re in the mood for anything from drip coffee to an iced Libbarace, come to Fountain City Coffee to support some locally roasted excellence.

FountainCityCoffee.com M-F 7AM-7PM, Sa-Su 8AM-7PM 1007 Broadway, 706.494.6659

UPTOWN VIETNAM CUISINE

Our authentic, traditional Vietnamese dishes are both delicious and healthy and feature fresh ingredients and a variety of flavorful spices.

Dine-in, carry-out and party trays available, and a 10% military discount.

UptownVietnamCuisine.com M-F 10:30AM-3PM & 5-9PM, Sa 11AM-9PM, Closed Sunday 1250 Broadway, 706.576.9922

THE SPEAKEASY

A local favorite sering great, homemade food and drinks in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Home of the Camel Rider.

SpeakeasyColumbus.com Su-Th 11AM-8PM, F-Sa 11AM-9PM 3132 Mercury Dr., 706.561.0411

CLEAN EATZ

Clean Eatz is heart-driven to change lives through clean, balanced food, thought-provoking education and motivational support that inspires results. We know personal wellness is not one-size-fits-all, so we craft nutritional products and fitness opportunities that meet the needs of every type of lifestyle.

CleanEatz.com M-F 11AM-7PM, Sa. 11AM-3PM, Closed Sunday 3500 Massee Lane • 762.583.6170

J U LY / AU G U S T 2 0 2 5

65

Conversations on the Couch

with Cathy

Fussell

FIBER ARTIST & RETIRED TEACHER We visited Fussell on a warm Saturday afternoon at her studio that she shares with husband, Fred, at the Lofts at Swift Mill.

We learned about her path from being an English teacher to creating her highly detailed quilts of art after retirement.

Tell us about your early life.

I was born in Louisiana and grew up in Buena Vista, Georgia. I went to the University of Georgia and then transferred to Georgia State because I wanted to study folklore with John Burson. I majored in English and education with a focus in folklore. I didn’t want to teach right then so I got a job at Westville in Lumpkin in Stewart County.

I come from a long line of women who sewed and took great pride and pleasure in their sewing. In Buena Vista, the women in the community made clothing and swapped patterns and materials and ideas. My mother was just really into that. She started me sewing when I was four years old. I really started sewing in earnest in high school. I graduated from high school in ‘67, so I caughted that wave of the crafts revival and the back to the earth movement. It was great fun. My girlfriends and l in college were just so into crocheting and knitting and all that stuff.

What were some highlights of being a school teacher? Did you yearn to be in a more creative, tactile career back then?

I loved certain aspects of teaching. I loved the fact that I met so many people—my students, their parents, and other teachers. I would have not been so connected to the community had I not taught. I loved the subject matter. I couldn’t live without a dose of literature every day and teaching gave me that. And the kids gave me energy.

After I got home from teaching and play practice and dealt with our own children, I would plop down in front of Court TV and quilt for about an hour. That was my thing. I yearned for quilting. I wanted to be home with my children and I wanted to quilt but we just couldn’t afford that. The time was not right for quilting to make money. Back then, quilts were considered virtually worthless.

66

CO LU M B U S A N DT H E VA L L E Y.CO M

As the former director of the Carson McCullers Center, what have you learned about her literature?

I love her work and I relate on a deeply personal level to it. The question I’ve thought about a great deal over the years is, “How in the world did such a young person, a 20-year-old, write with such depth and insight about issues of race, class, gender?” How did a teenager from Columbus create that character of Dr. Copeland in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter? Nobody else has done anything like that. It can only be explained by Carson’s genius.

Your children Jake and Coulter are both successful artists. Do you think any particular parenting technique or style contributed to their creativity?

They were exposed in an organic way because of Fred’s work in folklore. It was nothing unusual for a master woodcarver to be visiting or the Georgia Sea Island Singers to be at our breakfast table or Yuchi Indians would at our supper table. As daughter Coulter says, “traditional art and culture were as natural a part of the household as the saltshaker.“ We went to all kinds of events that most people don’t take their kids to. We went to music festivals, folk art When did you realize that quilting was festivals and church services that were not necessarily your next career? ‘our’ church services. Plus lots of freedom to do what As I was nearing retirement, I knew that I would they wanted to do. The main thing we did is we bought jump right into quilting, because that’s what I did every them supplies and equipment. Coulter wanted art time I got a break all my years working. But one thing supplies all the time and Jake just wanted musical that happened and started me quilting like crazy, long instruments and tapes and CDs, so we bought them all hours every day, is we moved into our loft at the Swift that stuff and just let them go with it. We gave them Mill. Bo Bartlett and Betsy Eby have studios here. They opportunities, but we did not push them. were having a holiday open house art sale and they asked my husband Fred and me if we would like to join What inspires you? him in this sale. I’ve only sold one other quilt my entire I collaborate with Fred to make the map quilts. They life, but I did well that day. Then I had a big break with get lots of attention, commissions, and are my biggest the Michelle Obama quilt and it hasn’t slowed down sale item. I have a whole series devoted to Southern since. literature. We’ll read a literary piece we find interesting People in the community have been so supportive. and Fred draws the pictures, and I pull the fabric and Henry McCoy with the Columbus Public Library invited the making of the quilt. I’ve got a relatively new series me to have a huge exhibit there a couple of years ago of outer space quilts. I’ve been inspired by images and that brought a ton of local interest. And it’s a big coming back from the Webb and Hubble telescopes. I time for fiber. Several years ago, you never saw a quilt just started making the other-space pieces because I hanging on a museum wall. But quilts have helped to wanted to make them and they’ve been popular.

————————————————————— bring an awareness of fibrous art and this year, there are major textile shows at the Met and MoMA and all Learn more about Cathy and see over at the big art museums. her quilts at CathyFussellQuilts.com.