Put the keys back in your pocket, pick up the phone and call Zingo. A new company in Augusta is keeping people safe on the roadways by providing a solution to drunk driving.

The grand opening of Zingo, Augusta’s newest transportation service, was March 21 by owners Travis Gamble and Turner Simkins.

With locations in more than eight states, Zingo has been rising in popularity because of its personalized service.

The company provides a customer with a ride home, in their own car, should they be intoxicated, too tired to drive or just wanting to test out the services. Founders of the company, Jim Valentine and Charles Barfield, started the corporation in Atlanta in October 2005.

According to the Zingo Web site, “They founded Zingo to give people a viable option to the No.1 reason people make the bad decision to drink and drive – leaving their car behind.”

Employee David Walker of Augusta explained that some employees are stationed around town at night, making themselves accessible to people in need. You may have seen them already. Wearing orange vests and traveling on small orange motorbikes, they are a hard bunch to miss.

The motorbikes used by Zingo employees are revolutionary in themselves.

These bikes weigh approximately 65 pounds, fold up and fit into a compact case for easy carrying and storing should an employee need to assist a customer with a car-ride home.

The Di Blasi (motorbike) only reaches speeds up to 30 mph but get 90 miles to a three-quarter gallon tank. Walker said employees are trained to operate the motorbikes. All drivers are insured just in case anything should happen.

Should a customer need a pickup in a location farther than the motorbikes can travel, have no fear. Zingo also has a chase car used when traveling long distances. Prices for non-members are currently a $20 pickup fee and $3 per mile after that.

Need a chauffer? Zingo also provides this service with a minimum limit of two hours. Become a Zingo member and you can receive discounted rates.

Membership details can be found on the Zingo Web site.

Zingo’s hours of operation are 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Sunday services end at midnight. Get your safe ride home by calling 877-50-ZINGO.

Getting that first Barbie wrapped in a pink box is a right of passage.

I can remember my first Barbie all too well. She had hair all the way down to her toes, and I dressed her in black bicycling shorts with a green and pink shirt.

So much to say for my fashion sense at 9-years-old, but Barbie had so many clothes that it was hard to put one outfit with another.

Times haven’t changed too much since 1992. Barbie still comes encased in a pink box, also her favorite color, and the accessories are still aplenty. Although she is no longer dating Ken, who is now just her “friend,” Barbie still takes care of her four sisters by means of one of her numerous jobs.

This year, she has been employed as a Sea World trainer, a nursery doctor, a preschool teacher, a PetVet, a gymnastics coach and a fashion magazine intern.

In past years, she has even been a presidential candidate, non-partisan of course. Thankfully, Barbie is just a doll because with all those responsibilities, she would never look as good as she does now at the ripe age of 50.

Barbie Millicent Roberts is one of the most loved dolls ever created.

According to Mattel Inc., ninety percent of girls age 3 to 10 own at least one Barbie and girls between the ages of 3 to 6 average 12 Barbies apiece. Considering that children cannot buy dolls on their own, the incentive to buy has to come from somewhere.

I certainly bought a Barbie for my little niece, so I am plenty guilty of passing on the trend to the next generation. It is almost unheard of to have never owned a Barbie if you’re a girl. Sorry guys, G.I. Joe is another issue.

In an interview on Marketplace Public Radio, Robin Gerber, author of book “Barbie and Ruth,” talked about Barbie’s origins.

“The actual idea for having a doll came from a woman named Ruth Handler,” Gerber said. “She founded Mattel Toy Company in 1945. In the early 50′s she observed her own daughter, Barbara, playing with adult paper dolls with her friends and realized that these little girls did not have an adult three-dimensional doll to play with. They only had baby dolls. And so they (could)only pretend to be mothers. And so Ruth understood that girls (wanted) to play at being “big girls.”

And so she had this idea, but found that the men in her company, the male designers and researchers, thought it was a terrible idea. They insisted mothers would never buy their daughters a doll with breasts.”

From there, Gerber went on to explain that Handler hired a psychologist to talk to mothers about the physical assets of Barbie, and it was eventually decided to give Barbie the title of a teenage fashion model so that “mothers could feel reassured that the doll would teach their daughter good grooming.”

The rest is history.

Fifty years later, Barbie is now considered an American icon. She’s beautiful, popular and has had more than 108 jobs.

She gives young girls something to aspire to and reminds women what childhood was like. Although she is only plastic and weighs 7.25 ounces, Barbie holds a special place in America’s heart.

The original cast from “The Fast and the Furious” try to recreate the magic and surprisingly pull it off.

Sequels are seldom better than the original, and this is also true for “Fast & Furious.” The film is still good, just not as good as the first.

It picks up where the first one left off. The lapsing time span is never revealed, but judging from the characters appearance, it is years after the first film. Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) is up to the same tricks, just in a different location. If you remember, at the end of the first film, Toretto is running from the police when Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) let him go.

Toretto is told that the law is still out looking for him, so he decides to split his crew in order to keep everyone out of harms way. Little did he know his actions were going to come and bite him. Someone very dear to Toretto is murdered, and the manhunt begins to find the killer.

This film is much more intense than the others in this series. Revenge is the motivator for Toretto and O’Conner this time. In order to find the killer, they must infiltrate a drug smuggling ring, which needs the best street drivers to move heroine across the border. From here on out, the film follows these two on their quest for revenge.

Fans of the series will enjoy this installment. The film opens with Toretto and his new crew hijacking a truck cargo in a new inventive way. The cars are bigger and better, mostly consisting of “American muscle” instead of foreign imports. I have to admit that the racing scenes are very well done.

It’s not just street racing anymore. An underground tunnel only the most experienced drivers can get through adds a new dimension to the race and a danger that is very realistic. And of course, there are plenty of party scenes, loud music and half-dressed women, a signature of the “Fast and Furious” sequence.

One thing that is painfully obvious is that Diesel is not who he use to be. He is getting older and looks it in this film. But somehow it works, adding intensity to the character that was not present in the first film. The audience does get a taste of the sentimental side of Toretto early in the film. Although it is somewhat unbelievable, his soft side is appropriate provided the situation.

At times the film almost seemed slow, with the inner turmoil of Toretto being developed quite elaborately. And to polish off those moments, an almost sappy score plays in the background. But instead of enhancing the emotion of the moment, it is too overwhelming, making it cheesy and unbelievable.

Definitely not better than the first film in the series, “Fast & Furious” crosses the finish line second compared to the other two films. Fans who have seen all the other films will like this movie and will not be disappointed at the end, which is left open for more sequels to come. Judging from the last scene, the next film, if there is one, will start off with a bang.

I was not disappointed and would recommend it to anyone who likes a good tale of revenge, accompanied with amazing cars and a great cast.

French films were a mystery to me. I cannot recall ever seeing a French film before, but now that I have some understanding of what to expect, I look for foreign films at the movie store.

“La Jetee” is not what I consider a big-budget film, but it had a big-budget impact on viewers, or at least it did on me. Being told that it was made from photography stills, I believed it could be a great film and it is.

Set in the aftermath of World War III, people who survived the war travel to the past to get supplies, food and try to prevent the war from happening. The main character, “the man,” meets a woman on his trips to the past and falls in love, which proves to be fateful.

It is a mold that has been duplicated time and time again, but “La Jetee” is the original time travel film. Made in 1962, it sets the standard, and after watching this film, I finally understand why so many time-travel movies have missed the mark.

This film is extremely unique, not only because it was made from photo stills, but also the fact that it actually worked well is surprising. The photos used in this film are amazing. The shots are very candid. I assume they were staged, and staged photography can be boring and look rehearsed, but I did not see that trend in this film.

It was very natural even though it is in black and white. Because we see in color, it can be hard to accept black and white images, but I could not see this film in color. The light in each shot was used very well. Lighter photographs are used to display the past when the world was still a peaceful and pleasant place. Darker images reflected the future, which made the film very visually dynamic and emotional.

What kind of editing does one expect when a movie is comprised of still photography?

There are many editing tricks used in this film that make it fluid. The first shot of the airport reveals a section of an airport terminal and pans out to show the entire terminal. It was very fluid and almost looks like it is a moving picture. The pacing from one shot to another was also very well done. It is not a consistent pace throughout, which is great because a good film needs a variety. Sometimes the photos are flipped through quickly, and other times it is slower, with one shot staying on the screen for 10 to 15 seconds.

The editing added to the emotional drama of the film, specifically through pacing. There is one shot where the picture was manipulated and the woman opens her eyes, but her eyes were the only objects to move. It was a very stunning shot, because it was the only time in the film where you could see movement from a character.

Another great aspect of this film is the sound. Environmental sound is extremely important in this film because you cannot see where the sound is coming from when the pictures are not moving. In the airport scene, you hear all the sounds associated with it. It pulls you right into the scene. The airport is an important part of this film because it is where the story begins and where it ends. The director knew this and made those scenes stand out.

Whispers are another important sound in this film. The scenes where whispers are heard is when the main character in is present time. It is a very good time association feature. Because viewers know the future is a dark and dismal place, the whispers translate that.

I was not particularly impressed with the score in this film, but I understand why it is used. Scenes from the futuristic world were accompanied by music most associated with a monastery. I’m not particularly fond of that type of music used in film, but it did add some irony. The future seemed completely abandoned by any type of savior, religious or any other kind, which made a great contrast in what is seen and what is heard.

Narration was the only way this film could have been made. Because the characters are not moving and cannot talk visibly, a narrator is the only person who could have brought the story to life. Jean Negroni does a superb job with this. Although his voice is not particularly animated, it does not need to be. The emotional aspect of the film comes through the pictures, music and sound. The narration is telling the story, not illustrating it. He could have easily overdone it, but he doesn’t.

“La Jetee” is a great film because of its simplicity and uniqueness. Simply because films nowadays can be over the top, it is refreshing to watch a film that has everything it needs to be truly great, without being overwhelming.

There is a reason “Slumdog Millionaire” won best picture at the Oscars.

Jamal, a young teenager who grew up in the slums of Mumbai, is a contestant on the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” The film opens up with Jamal being tortured by a man asking how Jamal knew the answers to the questions on the show. Jamal reveals how he knew answers through stories from his childhood. The audience is taken back to the slums, through a series of long flashbacks, which are the highlights of the film.

Jamal’s childhood is far from what most of us would consider productive. In all actuality, he never really had a childhood. He lost his mother at a very young age, leaving Jamal and his older brother Salim to fend for themselves. During their journey, the two brothers accept a new member, Latika, into their “musketeer” hood.

Latika becomes the sole motivation for Jamal. Their love story is one that is sad, happy and dangerous. How Jamal becomes a contestant on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” is revealed toward the end of the film, when his flashbacks catch up to present time. Does Jamal become a millionaire? The only way to find out is to watch the film. But when the moment comes to find out, I am positive that you will want him to have something else much more than money.

The cast was great in this film. I’m not so much impressed with the adult actors, but the children were absolutely riveting. Young Jamal (Ayush Mahesh Khedekar) and young Salim (Azharuddin Mohammad Ismail) were fantastic. Being that the audience sees three different actors for Jamal, Salim and Latika, there is never a moment when you feel disconnected from the character. The face and ages are different, but the emotional conviction is the same.

Mumbai is the setting for this original and compelling story, but this film takes the audience to the parts of Mumbai not usually seen. The slums are a major component but not just in terms of setting. The slums have shaped the characters into who they are and what they become. For example, older Jamal’s main appeal to the “millionaire” audience is the fact that he is like them, a young man who grew up in the most horrible circumstances. This is also the reason why you will be rooting him on while watching the film.

Director Danny Boyle knew what he was doing with this film. Being that there was a language barrier between director and actors makes the film all the more enjoyable because everything was captured so well. Coming away with Best Cinematography at the 2009 Oscars, “Slumdog Millionaire” is visually dynamic. The light and colors in this film are used well, displaying an emotional visual.

I can honestly say there is nothing I disliked about this film. It is definitely one to put in the DVD collection. It is a timeless story about a young boy struggling to overcome the difficulties of life, but “Slumdog Millionaire” has taken that mold and made it original by adding the game show. The game show is important, making Jamal’s life have reason. It is almost like fate carried him there, giving him knowledge along his journey that may help in his pursuit for prosperity.

There are so many films to choose from walking through a movie store. Let this film be the next one you pick. It has all the ingredients that make a film great. Since its eight award-sweep at the 2009 Oscars, “Slumdog Millionaire” has finally received the recognition it deserves. How it was ever overlooked in the beginning is a mystery, but since its release to DVD, people are finally finding out why “Slumdog Millionaire” is such a fantastic film.

Anyone who enjoys movies will enjoy this film. From beginning to end, you will find yourself rooting for Jamal to overcome the odds, even though everything seems stacked against him. This wonderful tale of hope will not disappoint. I don’t want to give away the ending, but take my word for it, you will love it.

Competition season is in full swing with Fox and ABC in the lead. Audience favorites “American Idol” and “Dancing with the Stars” are two of the most watched shows on television, yet both are very different.

“American Idol” takes ordinary people out of their day-to-day routines and thrusts the most talented singers into a star atmosphere. The audience gets to watch the contestants’ growth or, in some cases, their lack of growth, therefore voting the least talented singer out of the competition.

This formula is a good one sometimes. But there have been letdowns, like when popular contestants Jennifer Hudson from season three and Chris Daughtry from season five were voted out earlier in the competition than initially suspected.

Considering Hudson is now an Academy Award winner and a Grammy Award winner, I would say she has done well. Not to mention, the group Daughtry has sold more than four million albums worldwide, and every time I listen to HD 98.3 FM one of the band’s songs is guaranteed to play.

To remedy the voting-out of talented contestants, a new rule has been implemented this season on “American Idol.” Judges can now save a contestant if he is voted out unjustly. They have not taken advantage of this rule yet, but it is in place for their use none the less.

Usually there are a few Idol-wannabe’s who break out and become favorites on the show, but this year there seems to be an abundance of talent. Rocker Adam Lambert has consistently received good reviews from the judges and has yet to be in the bottom three, as well as funny guy Danny Gokey. The only two girls left in the competition, Lil Rounds and Allison Iraheta, are still battling, both receiving mixed reviews every week from the judges.

Considering the man-to-woman ratio, the American idol this year will not be female.

Catering to America’s fascination with celebrities, “Dancing with the Stars” is in full swing with season eight. I’m not an avid fan of the show, but it does have its perks. This show takes celebrities and tries to put them out of their comfort zone by making them learn how to dance, with professionals no less. It is quite comical sometimes to see actors, comedians and sport figures try to dance the jive or the waltz.

Early in the season there are already some front runners to watch out for. Actor Gilles Marini and Rapper Lil Kim have been at the top of the leaderboard all season.

My prediction is that Marini will be one of the two finalists. If indeed he goes head-to-head with a woman in the finals, he is sure to win just because he is easy on the eyes. Don’t pretend that looks don’t matter. Plus, only two women have won in the eight seasons this show has been on TV.

Although ratings for “American Idol’s” 2-hour debut, which aired on Jan. 13, 2009, dropped 10 percent from the 2008 ratings to 30 million viewers, according to TV by the Numbers, there are no signs that the show will not be coming back next year. “Dancing with the Stars” had its biggest debut to date with 22.5 million viewers tuning in. So while “American Idol” has more viewers than “Dancing with the Stars,” it looks like the latter is catching up.

Dark, marbled or white, chocolate is loved by many and hated by few.

Chocolate comes from the cocoa tree; yet, that is rarely the form we find it in. The first people to harvest chocolate were ancient cultures located in South America and Mexico. It became a world favorite after Spanish explorers brought it back to Europe and expedited it to countries that were unaware of the delectable treat.

The rest is history.

It is possibly the greatest general of all time, conquering the world through many different forms. It comforts the lonely through kisses and truffles. It warms the cold and chills the hot. It is the ultimate dessert. There have even been movies (“Chocolat”) dedicated to the magical effects chocolate creates.

What would we have done without those Spanish conquistadors?

Chocolate has made crickets enjoyable, raisins a guilty pleasure and pretzels a salty-sweet distraction. And just when you think the sweet treat couldn’t get any better, it is discovered that chocolate can be a healthy part of your diet. According to the June 2004 issue of the Journal of American College of Nutrition, when taken in small quantities, dark chocolate can improve the inner lining of blood vessels.

The recommended amount is a 1.6 ounce bar of dark chocolate. It contains flavanoids, a food chemical that contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, found in plants. These health properties only apply to dark chocolate at the recommended amount. Put it in the same category as alcohol – best in moderation.

I have long since heard that chocolate is an aphrodisiac. You know, arousing or intensifying sexual desire. This is an ongoing debate between scientists, and it is yet to be solved. Perhaps this association is linked through romance. What is the gift every man gives his sweetheart for Valentine’s Day? It’s chocolate. Whether it is encased in a red heart or a gold box with Godiva written on the lid, chocolate is directly linked to romance.

The world-wide obsession with chocolate has even stretched to Augusta. La Bonbonnière, owned by chocolatier Bebette Smith and located at 229 Furys Ferry Rd., specializes in authentic Belgian recipes. La Bonbonnière’s portfolio includes specialties like pumpkin spice, crème de mint, banana cream and amaretto dark.

Smith has not always been a chocolatier. She was a teacher at Immaculate Conception in Augusta for 18 years and said she became a chocolatier on accident. Smith was visiting friends in Belgium and went to buy some chocolate from a local chocolatier and met her future.

“I went in, and it was just him and his wife,” Smith said. “He was working downstairs, and she was selling the chocolate upstairs. It was beautiful. She asked me would I like to see how chocolate is made, and I said, ‘Yeah, I would love to see that.’ So I went to the workshop, saw the machines, and I thought, man, I can do that. That was the beginning of it.”

Not long after Smith got an intimate look inside the chocolate-making business, she started studying in Belgium to become a chocolatier. She admitted that this business is not easy, and one must have “passion” to do the work. Smith said she has had to come into the shop as early as 5:30 a.m. and has stayed past 9 p.m.

She said she takes pride in her work and only uses the best ingredients for her chocolate treats.

“Everything comes from Belgium except fresh cream and butter,” Smith said. “It is known that Belgium chocolate is the best. I think it is the best chocolate, I really do. Even though, I will admit that nowadays here in the states you can find some good (American-made) chocolate. I always tell everybody ‘I know my chocolate, on a personal basis.’”

She said business is good, but she would not open any other locations because she likes the relationships she has with her customers.

“I think that is what people like when they come here (and) the fact that we recognize them,” the chocolatier explained. “Sometimes they even say, ‘You know what my husband likes,’ and we say, “Oh yeah, he’s Mr. Rum Raisin or Dark Ganache,’ and I think people like that because they feel like we know them and it’s a personal service.

“I think the personal touch is very much appreciated in a country where everything is so not personal. It’s better to be small and to be good. And the most important thing is to use the best ingredients, be the best for your customers, and that is more important than being in many places.”

La Bonbonnière has been open for four years, and Smith said business is flourishing. At present time, Smith is busy preparing for the Masters Tournament and Easter. White chocolate golf balls and milk chocolate bunny rabbits can be seen throughout the shop, along with customer favorites, like the dark ganache and the caramel crunch.

“Sometimes I ask myself, ‘Why did I not start this in my forties,’ because it gets to be hard on my body,” Smith said. “It’s heavy work. But I like it, and it’s not hard to get up in the morning. I love my job.”

From the cocoa tree to Belgium to Augusta, chocolate has traveled the world and ended up right in our own back yard. So test your chocolate IQ with a visit to La Bonbonnière where specialty chocolate is made fresh daily. Your taste buds will thank you.

Students will get the opportunity to discuss and learn about immigrants and immigration issues on March 24.

The International Affairs Committee is sponsoring the program “American Collage: Many Faces, Many Cultures,” which focuses on the issue of immigration. Under the umbrella topic of immigration, four separate sub-topics will be discussed, including health care, legal affairs, education and human rights.

Speakers for the program include some of Augusta State University’s own faculty. Emam Hoosain, associate professor of teacher education, will present on education, while Charlotte Price, professor of nursing and chair of the Department of Nursing, will speak on health care. Both L.D. Newman, director of international and postdoctoral services at MCG, and Luis Navarro will present on legal issues. Also, Jairo Alberto a graduate student from the University of Georgia, will speak on human rights.

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the immigrant population accounted for 3.5 percent of the total population in Augusta/Richmond County. In the state of Georgia, the immigrant population made up 7.1 percent of the population.

“(Augusta) might seem to be a small place or a small town in the United States, when in reality we are surrounded by lots of people from all different walks of life,” said Heather Abdelnur, assistant professor of history.

Pedro Hoyos-Salcedo, associate professor of Spanish, addressed the importance of the event and said he believes immigration issues affect everyone.

“We are all immigrants,” he explained. “It’s a part of our blood, and it’s a part of our culture. If you look back in history, this country was built from immigrants.”

The program will be a benefit students and will open their eyes to a new understanding about immigrants and immigration, according to Abdelnur.

“Maybe somebody in (a student’s) family either was an immigrant or is an immigrant, and they might get a realization like, ‘Hey, I’m not alone,’” Abdelnur said. “Other students who might have had a very negative view about immigration, (like) taking jobs for instance or affecting our social services for U.S. citizens, maybe they’ll come away with knowing that things are a little more complex than they originally imagined.

“It gives a different kind of opportunity for interaction, so that if students have a particular interest in human rights, they can talk to that expert. If they had wanted to know how a person becomes a legal immigrant they can talk to our expert on legal affairs.”

Volunteers, donations and teamwork are what made this program possible. The cafeteria is donating food; the Office of Public Relations and Publications is donating posters and fliers and the nursing department is providing volunteers. Student organization co-sponsors for this event include Kappa Delta Epsilon, Phi Chi Alpha Beta, Alpha Mu Gamma, the Anthropology Club, Los Amigos Hispaños and Amnesty International.

Instead of a panel discussion, the committee has decided to take a more creative route in presenting information to students and the public.

“The ultimate decision was to have the ballroom set up in a way where people could come in, move freely from place to place and hopefully hear something interesting and learn something in the process,” Abdelnur said. “They should look for a comfortable, laid back atmosphere and ask the questions that maybe they never had a chance to ask before.”

Food and beverages from different cultural backgrounds will be available, as well as musical entertainment. The event will be from 7 p.m. till 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24 in the JSAC Ballroom.

“Passionate” is the word that Ms. ASU said best describes herself.

Jennifer Ross, a senior early childhood education major, was crowned Ms. ASU on Feb. 21, 2009. During the ceremony, many thoughts traveled through Ross’ head before she was announced as winner of the title.

“Another girl had won first runner-up, and I knew I had tough competition so I just didn’t think I had it,” Ross explained. “I was preparing myself so that if I won I was going to be humble, and if I didn’t win, I would be congratulatory to whoever did win.”

Ross was born and raised in Augusta and graduated from Richmond Academy High School. She is the youngest of her two siblings and enjoys shopping, dining out and going to the movies.

She said there are two moments in her life, she said she considers great achievements. The first was her initiation into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. on Dec. 2, 2007. The second was breaking the habit of sucking her thumb in January 2008.

“I sucked my thumb for 21 years,” Ms. ASU said. “That may be embarrassing for someone else to say, but for me, it’s liberating. I knew it was a habit I really needed to break, and I really worked hard at it.

“I was able to overcome it. Whenever I go to a new class, they always say, ‘Tell me something about yourself that nobody else would know,’ and that’s always the first thing I say because it feels good to overcome something. Habits are hard to break.”

Ross said she aspires to be an author of children’s literature, focusing on tough issues children face everyday, such as divorce and poverty. She has already written some manuscripts, which she is in the process of sending to publishers.

Sheila Williams, Ross’ mother, and first lady Michelle Obama are Ross’ role models. She said she looks up to them in more ways than one and likes the qualities they embody. According to Ross, they have both taught her that dreams are attainable and nothing is beyond reach.

Not many people know that Ross wants to pursue ballroom dancing as one of her short-term goals. The waltz is her favorite, and after her graduation in December 2009, she said she plans to take a chance and hit the floor with a dance instructor. She does enjoy watching “Dancing with the Stars,” but rarely has time to catch the show due to her busy schedule.

Ross said she is grateful for the people who have encouraged her over the years and wants to provide someone else with the guidance she was lucky enough to receive.

“For the longest, I was always the underdog,” she said. “In school, I was not the popular kid. I was not the kid who everybody knew my name. I didn’t have all the latest fashions and different things like that, but I had love and I had true friendship and I had people around me who genuinely cared and wanted to see me do well. If you have that recipe, you can do so much. What people were for me, the positive people in my life, that’s what I want to be for somebody else.”

For the upcoming year, Ross holds the title of Ms. ASU, during which time she said she plans to set up charity fundraisers and help unify students through campus events.

“I’m an advocate for kids,” she said. “I have done some work down at the Ronald McDonald House as far as raising money, and I wanted to use that to get the school involved and try to do something for the families at the Ronald McDonald house.”
Ross admitted that Augusta State University was not her first choice for a university; however she said she is glad she stayed “close to her resources,” in the words of her father.

“I wanted to go to a big college where you can live on campus,” Ross added. “But after my first year, I loved it here because it’s small and you’re connected with your professors. I have gotten more out of this, I believe, than I would have gotten from a bigger college.”

The new and improved Richmond County Public Library is set to open June 2010.

Plans for the new library were set in motion in the late 1990s, and the ground-breaking ceremond took place September 2008. Funding for this project came from SPLOST Phase 4 (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) in the amount of $24 million. An additional $3 million was needed for furnishings and books, which sets the entire cost of the new library from $27 million to $29 million, according to Gary Swint, director of the East Central Georgia Central Library.

The site for the new building is located directly across the street from the existing library on Greene Street in downtown Augusta. A committee was formed to choose the location. Twelve possible sites were considered, all located in the downtown area, but problems soon arose once the final decision was made.

“The building that was on Greene Street was an apartment house that was under Section 8 housing, which is supplemented income housing, so we had to get it through HUD (Housing and Urban Development,” Swint said. “Although all parties wanted to approve of the transaction, there was a change in the administration in HUD, so it took over a year to complete that. But once we completed that transaction, we broke ground in September (2008).”

The new library will be 90,000 square feet, a whole 51,500 square feet larger than the existing building. The audio/visual department, which will be located in two separate areas, provides two separate services: the general public DVD checkout section and the library for the blind and handicapped.

Friends of the Library, located on the ground level will sell new and used books, gifts and drinks. The children’s service area will be located on the first floor and will feature a puppet theater for entertainment. A center for arts and crafts and storytelling will also be on the ground level overlooking a garden constructed on the Greene Street side of the building.

“Over recent years, we have put more emphasis on children services at our branches rather than here,” Swint said. “So we are trying to expand that back downtown.”

The teen section will be located on the second floor and will provide young people a place to explore recreational reading, as well as school-assigned reading materials. According to Swint, teen recreational reading has risen 4 percent in the last two years.

Also located on the second floor will be the climate controlled local history and genealogy section. The materials that will be housed in the room are currently in the basement, locked in cases due to lack of space in the existing library.

Computer labs, a theater-style meeting room that will seat 300 people, study rooms and a banquet room with a walk-out terrace overlooking Greene Street are all additions to the new library. The banquet room will seat approximately 160 people, and a partial kitchen for catered events will be available.

Once the move is complete, the old library may be the new home of the sheriff’s department, according to Swint.

“This building is owned by the city, so it is up to the city to determine,” Swint said. “Several things have been suggested. One was that the sheriff’s office might possibly move in here. If the sheriff’s department does not move in, then it may be used for city offices. We have had private individuals, before the money crunch, who were interested in buying the building. There could be a parking problem because there is limited parking in the back. So, if it is used for something that requires a large number of parking spaces, they will need to build a deck to accommodate.”

The construction project is currently on schedule and locally owned. R.W. Allen is the dead of the multi-million dollar development. Completion of the new library is more than a year away, and plans for the grand opening celebration are still a work in progress.

“Several months after we broke ground, it took a while to really sink in that the building was underway because we have been working on it for years,” Swint said. “So, I’m just glad that we finally got started.”