S.C. Bar Young Lawyers collect formal gowns for Cinderella Project

There are only a few Cinderella’s in Aiken. However, the Young Lawyers Decision of the South Carolina Bar believes that you and some friends may be able to help them so Cinderella can get to the ball at the High School Prom.

The S.C. Bar Young Lawyers Division is sponsoring its annual Cinderella Project, which provides gently worn formal, bridesmaid and prom dresses for young women who lack the financial resources to buy a gown for their high school prom.

This unique project is also being held in Anderson, Columbia, Greenville, Greenwood and Orangeburg.

Clean dresses in all sizes, as well as evening bags, jewelry, shoes and other accessories, are needed. Donations are being accepted until March 2 and can be dropped off at either of the following Maxwell Law Firm locations in 225 Chesterfield St., NW, Aiken, 516 West Ave., N. Augusta

A boutique will be held on March 17 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Maxwell Law Firm in Aiken to give the girls an opportunity to shop for dresses at no cost. Girls from all area schools are invited to attend and must bring their student ID.

For more information, visit www.scbar.org/cinderella or contact Christy Tyner at (803) 641-6700. The YLD includes all members of the S.C. Bar under age 36 and those with less than five years membership.

The South Carolina Bar, which has a membership of more than 14,000 lawyers, is dedicated to advancing justice, professionalism and understanding of the law.

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We take pictures as a way to remember. We want to remember the way that something or someone looked, acted, or achieved around Aiken. We take them to show others something that we witnessed firsthand and pass along the experience. If you want to take better pictures of your memories, then read this article and the tips contained within.

Toy around with taking pictures in nature – there are so many things in our local area. Take pictures of the landscape, sunset, landmarks, animals, anything that takes your fancy. Take interesting shots and see what photo gems you come up with. Nature provides many wonderful and beautiful scenes. Try going on a nature walk with your camera a few times, and take shots to make a portfolio.

Familiarity with your camera is important if you want to shoot the best pictures possible. Make sure that you take some time to study your particular camera. This doesn’t mean just reading the manual and snapping a few photos. You really want to become familiar with everything your camera’s capable of. I have a Canon 7d and a range of amazing lenses, but The more I learn about the camera, the better the shots I capture.

One of the things that you can do when you are taking pictures is to lean on something to achieve better balance. The more balance that you have, the less movement the camera will make, which can improve the sharpness of your shots. Multiple connection points are important too. Try a monopod or a shoulder brace, or even tighten up the strap. Anything you do to stabilize the camera is a good thing. Maintain your balance and add another stabilization point if you desire optimal photographs.

Pay attention to natural lighting. You might need to use your flash feature or install additional sources of light, but you can use natural lighting to create interesting effects with light and shadow. Position your subject accordingly. Make sure the photograph is not too dark or too bright. Learn to use the histogram feature. if you have it, to make sure there isn’t too much light, or too much dark.

Select a subject and focus on it. Point your camera towards this subject or object and use the auto focus feature if necessary. If you don’t do this, your picture will look blurry. Play with conventions and select an unusual point of focus if you want original pictures. I always check the focus of someone’s eyes – zoom right in and see if they are crisp or blurred – that is my wife’s tip.

Always be early when you’re planning on shooting a sunset or a sunrise. This will give you ample time to compose the perfect shot. You don’t want to get there and be forced to take lousy shots because you ran out of time. I am guilty of this!

In the beginning, I talked about the reasons that we take pictures and their roles in our lives. Taking great photos means you have a wonderful visual for a story that you are telling. I hope I’ve given you some useful tips to take better photos around Aiken.

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You may not know it, but your bank may be charging you a monthly fee for using your own debit card.

Bank of America has already started charging its debit card users $5 monthly fee since September while Wells Fargo & Co., J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. are also thinking of following suit.

Financial analysts explain the extra fee is designed to regain lost revenues due to new federal regulation, where it slashes half the amount of money banks gain from debit-swipe transactions.

The Dodd-Frank Financial Regulation Bill is only applicable to banks with assets exceeding $10 billion and the banks are estimated to lose $6.6 billion in revenues per year.

If you’re not too sure if you’re bank is charging hidden fees for debit card services, check with your local bank manager to find out.

If indeed your bank is charging you, analysts suggest looking for an alternative in smaller thrift banks that are not affected by the new federal regulation.  There are still smaller thrift banks that offer the services for free.

Debit cards have long been the alternative against drowning in debt with credit card usage.  But with this new scheme, it practically defeats the purpose while adding more financial burden on your part.

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Technology-savvy clients of Verizon Wireless in Aiken are now enjoying the benefits of surfing the web, downloading files and sharing music and photos 10 times faster than before.

These changes are the result of the innovative 4G LTE network which has enhanced the system of communications in primary urban hubs that include Aiken and Augusta.

This means that users of 4G LTE can now experience regular rates from 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 megabits on the uplink. Consumers from Aiken will be rewarded with the amazing speed of the world’s first extensive system in 4G technology. By the end of 2013, Verizon hopes to complete its expansion plans that will benefit more than 100 million Americans.

The company is also collaborating closely with rural communications firms to build and operate a 4G network in more remote areas making use of sophisticated equipment like the premium 700 MHz spectrum.

Some 10 rural carriers have already made known their participation in the LTE in Rural America program. These areas, which span 72,000 square miles, are home to approximately 2.1 million people.

In case customers take a trip to places beyond the 4G coverage area, the devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast.

The Verizon Wireless’ 3G system is considered the most reliable network in the country. It enables clients with laptops, tablets and smart phones to download and use cool apps, from mobile social networking platforms to GPS-enabled maps

In Aiken you can also browse the web without difficulty to keep up with news, sports, stock quotes and scoops about Hollywood celebrities. Likewise, you get fast file sharing as well as stream must-see video footage and customized radio stations.

“We are proud to help lead the Garden City into the 4G LTE wireless broadband world, helping residents, small businesses and local government connect faster and more fully with each other and those outside our community.”
– Jeff Mango, president of Verizon wireless Georgia and Alabama regions

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Boeing  has selected Leading Edge Aviation Services to paint 787 Dreamliners assembled at Boeing’s new North Charleston, S.C., final assembly and delivery facility.

Leading Edge will perform the work at its Amarillo, Texas facility where other wide-body airplanes are painted. The company, which specializes in commercial and military aircraft painting, will apply final paint and customer livery to all 787 Dreamliners delivered from the Boeing South Carolina facility.

“Leading Edge is a well-respected company when it comes to painting airplanes,” said David Palmer, director of Boeing’s South Carolina Delivery Center. “The company shares our values of quality, safety and excellence and we look forward to our relationship with them.”

“We began our search for a paint subcontractor soon after we broke ground on our facility, knowing the experience and capacity to paint large commercial airplanes didn’t currently exist geographically close by,” said Marco Cavazzoni, vice president and general manager, Boeing South Carolina Final Assembly and Delivery. “Leading Edge brought immediate capability and capacity and is located within a manageable flying distance from our new facility.”

As 787 Dreamliners complete final assembly and prepare for delivery, the airplanes will make the 1,250-mile (2,000-kilometer) flight from North Charleston to Amarillo to be painted. The airplanes will then return to South Carolina for final delivery to customers from around the world.

“This paint process is the only difference customers will experience in 787 Dreamliner deliveries from South Carolina. Airplanes built and delivered from both Everett, Wash., and North Charleston, S.C., will be identical, as both sites use common quality management and production systems and meet the same U.S. Federal Aviation Administration requirements,” said Cavazzoni.

Production in the new South Carolina 787 Dreamliner facility is on schedule to begin mid-2011, with first delivery scheduled for 2012.

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Fifty-thousand dollars is the bond of Aiken’s own 41 year old Daniel Johnson, who is charged with reckless homicide after the death of a soldier out of Fort Gordon.

He was arrested Monday and charged after U.S. Army major Dr. Matthew Burke died from injuries he sustained in the October 1 accident in which the bicycle he was riding on was hit by Johnson.

An autopsy shows that the 37 year old died of massive head trauma from the accident. He was riding with a group of cyclists based in Augusta, Georgia on Beech Island Road when a Dodge Durango barreled towards them from behind and struck the group. Four from the group sustained injuries and were taken to local hospitals. They were all wearing reflective clothing and wore safety gear, and the sun was still up, as the incident occurred at around 6:30 p.m.

Johnson was uninjured and immediately taken into custody on the scene.

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There was a laundry room fire at the Aiken SPCA Friday night, forcing the evacuation of around 100 animals and threatens to close the shelter for some time. Luckily, no animals or humans were hurt in the blaze.

The displaced animals were moved to the city annex building and to the Aiken County animal shelter by many volunteers and officers.

The laundry room set off a fire alarm at around 7 p.m. which was picked up by public safety officers and the Aiken fire department. The swift response by the officials and fire department led to the safe exit of the animals, whose only problem may be minor smoke inhalation, but no burns. A ruptured water line above the laundry room also helped douse the flames somewhat.

It is unknown at this time what caused the small blaze.

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A Graniteville man was arrested after a narcotics investigation spanning two weeks yielded a list of drug charges and crimes related to unlawful conduct toward a child.

The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office requested a search warrant for the home of 37 year old Scott White after undercover cops purchased methamphetamine multiple times during the investigation. The kids that were living in the home were placed in protective services.

The man is being held in the Aiken County jail on charges of possession of methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of methamphetamine near a school, six counts of unlawful conduct toward a child and six counts of unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine in the presence of a minor.

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The South Carolina Arts Commission has a big problem with it’s budget. The budget problem gives it an additional problem.

The budget is nowhere near what is needed to run the programs and the Governor, Nikki Haley, has asked legislators to eliminate state funding for the arts and for public television and radio broadcasting.

Ken May, the executive director of the South Carolina Arts Commission expects the Governor will not be able to eliminate their funding because there is massive support for the arts in South Carolina communities.

The PostandCourier has more on this story, including a poll conducted in fall 2009, which showed that 92 % of South Carolina adults want the state to fund the arts.

Although this is a state organization, it also affects Aiken.

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Residents with opinions on the engine noise ordinance amendment are asked to come to Aiken County’s Judicial and Public Safety Committee meeting.  Aiken County Council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at 736 Richland Ave.

The amendment would allow loud, often times annoying noises coming from a racetrack and other venues until midnight if Aiken County Schools aren’t in session the next day. If classes are in session the next day, the noises must cease by 10 p.m. Popular Carolina Dragway and their familiar cacophony of noises are primarily targeted in the ordinance.

The main complaint is inability to sleep through all of the noise emanating from the track late at night.

Also being discussed are the tax incentives that the county are offering Owens Corning. The company is going ahead with its $36 million investment to add a new production line at their facility, and Council is in the waning stages of approving a fee agreement for the company, which includes a $200,000 infrastructure credit and a payment of fee in lieu of taxes.

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