Life + Culture

Paws in the Gardens

Local dogs and their Owners Shine during a Special Hopelands Photoshoot Article by Nikita Hanif | Photography by Whitney Ray Few things capture the spirit of Aiken quite like a morning spent with dogs and their people at Hopelands Gardens. For a recent Aiken City Lifestyle photoshoot, we gathered a wonderful group of canine companions and their owners for a celebration of the four-legged friends who bring so much joy to our community. From tiny lap dogs to large breeds, every pup arrived...

Arts + Culture

Built to Move

How Burns Dance Studio Continues Shaping Dancers, Confidence and Community in Aiken Article by Nikita Hanif | Photography by Whitney Ray For more than four decades, Burns Dance Studio has been woven into the rhythm of Aiken. What began in 1987 with Corey Burns’ mother, Rhoda Burns, a gifted instructor who saw a need for dance instruction in her new hometown, has grown into one of the area’s most recognized names in performing arts. After teaching for 7 years at a large dance studio in Sumter...

Finance + Legal Services

Protecting Their Tomorrow

Estate Planning Attorney Anna Ritger’s Shares How Families Can Safeguard their Children's Future Article by Jessica Crandall Lawrence | Photography by Whitney Ray No parent enjoys imagining a future where they are no longer there to care for their children. Yet according to estate planning attorney Anna Rittgers, preparing for the unexpected is one of the greatest gifts a parent can provide.  "It’s not fun to think about," says Rittgers, co-owner of Rittgers Law Firm in Aiken with her husband...

Travel

No High-Rises In Sight

I Arrived Skeptical and Left Wondering Why it Took Me so Long to Discover North Carolina's Brunswick Islands. Article and Photography by Gayle Bryan When I was invited to explore North Carolina's Brunswick Islands for an article for the magazine, I was excited. Then I looked at a map and noticed how close they are to Myrtle Beach, just 40 miles away. I became a little less excited. I am not a Myrtle Beach kind of girl. The thought of high-rise hotels spilling crowds onto packed beaches...