TECH
ShopSavvy App
ShopSavvy Helps Shoppers Buy Better This Holiday Season With A Mobile Shopping Experience. Save money when you shop with the world’s first and best shopping assistant. ShopSavvy scans products and finds online and local stores providing those products and helps you get the best price every time.
Best Picks: Reviews and recommendations of individual products in hundreds of categories with easy search navigation.
Product scanner: A tool that allows shoppers to scan barcodes and QR codes to find price comparisons and product reviews together.
Shop by store: Online and in-store deals from more than 20,000 retailers.
Cash back: Many retailers offer cash back as a bonus for purchasing through ShopSavvy.
Southern Women: More than 100 stories of Innovators, Artists, and Icons
The editors of Garden & Gun have delivered the perfect gift just in time for Christmas.
In their newest book, the editors of G&G paint a more accurate picture of the modern Southern woman. A woman who has style, remarkable strength and grace, but pushes conventional boundaries. The collection of original interviews, essays and portraits celebrates more than 100 women (all from the South) and their triumphs, grit and determination that led to ultimate success in their respective careers.
Breaking Records
Congratulations to Meybohm Real Estate Agent Greg Oldham! Oldham was named The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s 2019 Man of the Year when he set a new fundraising record for the Augusta chapter, generating $228,755. As a result of Oldham’s fundraising efforts, he has been invited to attend a panel discussion, entitled: “2020 Vision: Transformative Advances in Blood Cancer,” in New York City in 2020. Oldham’s record-breaking campaign has also been recognized by Forbes magazine.
GETAWAYS:
Serenbe, GA
Serenbe founders Steve Nygren and Marie Lupo Nygren believe that if you want to change the world, start in your own backyard. The couple discovered the property now known as Serenbe on a weekend outing to introduce their three girls to the Georgia countryside.
The vision for the community of Serenbe was born in an effort to protect the beautiful rural land just outside of Atlanta known as Chattahoochee Hill Country.
Where to Stay
The Inn at Serenbe
Elegant and cozy accommodations in a rural, upscale inn. Nestled in the rolling countryside on the edge of Atlanta is 1,000 acres that includes preserved forestland, wildflower meadows, 15 miles of trails, waterfalls, an animal village, two pools, a cabana, hot tubs, croquet lawn and endless opportunities for relaxing and connecting with nature.
Where to Dine
The Farmhouse
Fresh food is another of Serenbe’s natural assets, with a 25-acre organic farm, the seasonal Saturday farmer’s market, features a thriving CSA program and edible landscaping, including blueberry bushes along paths and sidewalks. The Farmhouse reimagines the farm-to-table menu each month with a focus on seasonal local ingredients and sources from the Farmhouse Garden, nearby farmers and artisanal producers.
What to Do
Year-round cultural events include an outdoor theater from Serenbe Playhouse, culinary workshops, festivals, music events, films and lectures, boutique shopping, art galleries, a spa and trail riding, plus a robust Artist in Residence program featuring dinners and talks.
Each of Serenbe’s four hamlets have complementary commercial centers focused on the elements of a well-lived life: arts for inspiration, agriculture for nourishment, health for well-being and education for awareness.
Try Serenbe Trail Riding. See the rolling countryside on horseback. Whether you’re a skilled equestrian or a novice rider, each path offers an experience for you.
Photo by Amy J. Owen
Faces:
Lynn Smith
CEO, Easterseals East Georgia
Having a sibling with special needs is a reality for many children. Lynn Smith, CEO, Easterseals East Georgia, grew up with a brother with special needs and it was that real life experience which ultimately led to her desire to spread help, hope and answers through her work with Easterseals.
“I absolutely had my career path set because of my relationship with my brother, Wynne. I was first engaged as a camp counselor with Easterseals where he attended and I felt a strong desire to teach and mentor to help others become acclimated to school, work and life,” Smith says.
“I learned so much from the families and clients that I met regarding their experiences, needs and their aspirations to be accepted in society to the fullest extent. My greatest lesson from Wynne was everyone has a purpose and everyone should be helped to find that purpose.”
Each holiday season, Easterseals East Georgia has sponsored the Ornament of Hope fundraiser, which chooses a local landmark of special significance to commemorate with a beautiful handcrafted holiday ornament.
The ornament is made as an exact replica of the landmark, 14K gold-plated and packaged in a box with a numbered insert (limited number made), along with the history of the building.
This year’s ornament is of the Old Engine Company No. 7 Fire Station on Central Avenue, which played a vital role in the Great Fire of 1916. The station still houses two old engines today, which are shown on the ornament. Ornaments sell for $20 and are sold at all Cadence Bank locations, Surrey Center and many other locations.
Easterseals began the ornament program in 1997 and is always looking for suggestions.
“We get suggestions from our board members, past and present for the next editions of the ornaments,” Smith says. “This suggestion was made about two years ago and we had others take precedence because of anniversaries being celebrated. It just always seemed a perfect choice. So many people in Augusta have passed that building over time and have fond memories of visiting there as school children. It was a natural choice and the City of Augusta has been a great aid in getting the project off the ground.”
All proceeds from ornament sales directly benefit Easterseals programs in the local community and assists people with disabilities and other special needs to maximize opportunities for employment, independence and full inclusion into society.
Funds generated from the Ornament of Hope sales are used to support disabled individuals who need assistance to find jobs (training, coaching, job readiness skills) but they are not eligible for services or funding by other
agencies.
“We try to work through a process of preparation with our clients that is individualized and takes into account their training and learning needs.” Smith says. “Some disabilities make the process move rather slowly at times and we recognize the importance of shaping the training experience to ensure success and skill building that will last. This can be costly in terms of time, talent, and treasure so we look for resources to support our mission.”
To find out more, contact Easterseals at (706) 667-9695 or visit www.easterseals.com.
Appears in the November/December 2019 issue of Augusta Magazine.
