March 2020 Issue

Bella Fella | Reboot: A Mike Thomas Story

The man enters the theater. Alone. Just like always. Soles smack on the sticky floor. Heavy ghosts of buttered popcorn haunt the aisles. He sits in the back corner. Just like always. It takes a certain moxie to go the movies alone. And our guy is chock-full of it. The theater is his place to be alone. It is his sanctuary — his refuge. In the dark of the theater, he is anonymous. The lights dim, and the first preview begins. The first image we see is a young man in a suit and tie. He’s wearing a name tag for a company called Global Spectrum. He’s meeting with another

March’s Photo of The Month

The healing power of horses. “This photo is from the Silent Witness Exhibition, which is on display in the Brooks Gallery of the Aiken Center for the Arts, opening March 26. It represents the remarkable healing “connections” possible between off-the-track Thoroughbreds and military veterans suffering from the unseen wounds of post-traumatic stress. It is one of my personally favorite examples of this phenomenal relationship between horse and human – relationships that I have been privileged to witness through a number of programs and organizations to which I have been devoted for years.” Shelly Marshall Schmidt

Bacon! Bacon! Bacon!

Who doesn’t like BACON? The aroma, the taste, the crunch, especially when followed by an ice cold craft beer. Well, the third annual Aiken’s Bacon and Brews Festival! The Aiken Kiwanis Club organizes this event, scheduled on Newberry Street in downtown Aiken for all you bacon and beer lovers, your palates will be satiated on March 14 during from 5 – 10 pm. It is the major fundraiser for Kiwanis children’s programs in our area. This year, seven food vendors will have mouthwatering offerings such as: Bacon Crumbled Roasted Corn, Bacon Mac and Cheese Dogs Bacon Shrimp Po’Boys, Bacon Deviled Eggs, Bacon Pretzels and Nachos Maple Bacon Sundaes, Bacon and

Cabinet of Curiosities | Aiken Bella Magazine

March Cabinet of Curiosities

The curious case of bicycle polo for Winter Colony equestrians If you live or work in Aiken County, you most likely know of the Winter Colony. Do you know the history behind this trend of going South for the winter and how the Winter Colonists brought an unusual sport to our area? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Let us enlighten you. In the late nineteenth century, the well-to-do set of Long Island was hearing talk of a beautiful Southern town. It had mild winters, fewer mosquitoes than the coastal areas, and fine, loamy soil that would be ideal for the hooves of their sporting horses. Among the first

Dr. Donald Portnoy | Aiken’s World Class Maestro & His Orchestra

So how did a fledgling symphony orchestra in a relatively small southern town begin with a symphonic conductor who has, over the course of a career spanning fifty years, conducted, taught violin, and directed some of the most celebrated orchestras in the country? Some would say that luck, unpredictable life circumstances, or other factors defying measure were at work. However, Dr. Donald Portnoy’s idea of founding a symphony orchestra in Aiken gestated within him for some time before the orchestra actually became reality. This son of Ukrainian Jewish immigrants came from humble beginnings in Philadelphia, where his parents encouraged him to take up the violin at the age of seven;

“To Be Equestrian or Not To Be”

I was one of those rare kids who loved watching movies. New movies, old movies, foreign movies… Living in New York City, a city of everything, I was introduced to cable at a young age. And this opened up my world to movies even more. You might be asking yourself, “Where is she going with this? And what does this have to do with equestrian and horses?” Simple! Two words — International Velvet! It was this film that sparked not only the love I have for horses, but the love of riding. The story is based on a young girl living in Arizona who moves to England to live with

Enthusiasm is a Must for Success

Enthusiasm is the energy, the intense zeal, the inspiration, the focus, the fervor, the excitement, or the enjoyment found in people when they are possessed by a conscious or unconscious desire to do something. If you have ever wondered what differentiates the average person from the one who has achieved stupendous success, you will realize that it may be the intensity of enthusiasm that has helped the highly successful person reach such great heights. Those who accomplished great things in their chosen fields could not have done so without enthusiasm. Enthusiasm Gives You Sustainable Power To achieve success in your endeavors, you should never be a quitter. There may be

Beyond the Barricade | SRS Ties That Shaped Our Community | Aiken Bella Magazine

Lessie Price | Beyond the Barricade | SRS Ties That Shaped Our Community

It takes remarkable achievement to have a prominent building named after you. Lessie B. Price credits her success to a philosophy she learned from her father. According to Lessie, her father would often say, “Whatever job you have, do it well and do it with swiftness.” It was this same philosophy that propelled Lessie’s career at the Savannah River Site (SRS). It has also helped form this political pioneer into one of the most respected women in South Carolina. Lessie was born in Barnwell County. As a preschooler, this sharecropper’s daughter learned to count and make change at the farmer’s market by handling her father’s produce sales. By the time

Are Our Children Losing Enthusiasm?

The subject of “digital dementia” is getting a lot of buzz these days. Although some are quick to dismiss it, digital dementia is very real and could pose a threat to a substantial portion of the population. Overuse of screen time can lead to a host of physical and mental health issues, and notably, an increased risk of suicide and depression, for teens in particular. A 2017 study by a psychology professor at San Diego State University found that US teens who spend more than three hours a day using electronic devices such as phones, tablets, and laptops are 35% more likely to have a risk factor for suicide than