Newspaper Page Text
Page 22 — Wednesday, October 6, 2010, The True Citizen
Sarah-Ann Kelly, center, cuts the ribbon at Burke Perk’s grand opening with help from supporters, from left, Glen Ashe of the
Chmaber of Commerce, city councilman Dick Byne, parents Debbie and Greg Salter, Mikel Brantley, brotherThomas Kelly,
Joe Morris of C & H Services and Johnica Mitchell of Augusta Technical College’s Waynesboro/Burke Campus.
Burke Perk opens up for business
By Anne Marie Kyzer
annemariek@thetruecitizen.com
There’s a new brew perco
lating downtown.
Burke Perk Bake Shop &
Bistro celebrated its grand
opening Friday morning. The
standing-room only crowd on
hand for the event was wel
comed by a full menu of
coffees, cappuccinos and other
java drinks.
Owner and culinary artist
Sarah-Ann Kelly arrived for
the ribbon-cutting in a classic
red convertible and spent the
morning mingling with sup
porters and curious patrons.
Business began full-swing
with dinner Friday evening
and it hasn’t slowed down
since, she said after her first
few days of business.
“Things have been extraor
dinarily busy. We are so ex
cited because we’ve been
packed. Monday’s lunch was
insane,’’ she said during a rare
break. “We are all tired and
running on adrenaline, but
we’ve been so blessed.’’
Downtown’s newest eatery,
which occupies the historic
Palmer Hardware building,
features a full menu of Jittery
Joe coffee offerings as well as
soups, salads, sandwiches and
desserts. Many of the dishes
offer a new take on old favor
ites and several are named for
local folks and mascots, such
as the Bleu Bear burger, the
Spartan salad and the John
Teddy sandwich. The restau
rant is open seven days a
week, with breakfast, lunch
and dinner served Monday-
Saturday and brunch from 10
a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday.
Burke Perk has been packed
during meal time since open
ing, surprising Kelly a bit with
the sheer volume of business.
Though the rush has given her
and the staff little time to work
out hurdles expected when
“going live,” the new entrepre
neur finds it hard to complain
about such support.
Computer and equipment
hiccups have popped up re
sulting in some extended wait
times, but Kelly said most
folks have been patient.
“We hope people will be pa
tient and give us a chance to
get the kinks worked out,” she
said. “People have been very
understanding so far.”
Already, Kelly has a few
changes in place to help
handle the crowds, such as or
dering from menus at the
tables during dinner instead of
having patrons order from the
counter like they do during the
rest of the day. She said op
erations should be running
smoothly in the coming
weeks.
Wash & Wax Special
JONES BROTHERS
DETAIL SHOP & HAIR SALON
“A Clean Car Rides Better”
105 13th Street
between McDonalds & Best Western
554-1640
Have you
flatlined?
If so, then come and
get revived!
Midville First Baptist Church
Oct. 10-13 • 7 PM
Guest Speaker: - Dr. Mike
Williams
Live Music
Chamber Connection
SPLOST Needs Your Vote
By Ashley Roberts
Executive Director, Burke County Chamber of Commerce
On Nov. 2, Burke County voters will go to the polls to cast votes for the candidates of their
choice in a number of elections. And while there may be a difference of opinion in many of
those races, we should all be able to agree on at least one thing: the importance of voting
“yes” for the renewal of SPLOST.
The Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax - or SPLOST as it is commonly known - is a
one-cent sales tax that pays for specific projects within Burke County and its cities. SPLOST
is set to expire at the end of the year unless it is renewed by Burke County voters.
SPLOST is vitally important to Burke County and its communities, so before you head to
the polls, I’d like you to consider a few things:
1. This is a renewal - not a new tax. Voting "yes” for SPLOST will not make our current
sales tax go up. We will continue to pay the same sales tax while helping to generate millions
of dollars for local projects.
2. This is a fair tax everyone pays. SPLOST is a one-cent sales tax everyone pays on
their purchases, including out-of-towners and residents from neighboring counties who come
to shop in Burke County.
3. Construction at Plant Vogtle could generate millions in SPLOST funds. Contrac
tors working on the expansion at Plant Vogtle pay sales taxes too, and the construction costs
of the current expansion alone could result in an estimated $35 million in sales tax revenues.
This opportunity to generate millions will only be there over this next six-year period. Once
the construction is complete, we will no longer have the chance to generate these tax dollars
for our community. So, if there was ever an absolute crucial time to vote yes on SPLOST,
that time is now.
For additional information and specific details on the proposed SPLOST projects, the Cham
ber of Commerce will be hosting a SPLOST Information Open House Monday, Oct. 25, 5-7
p.m. at the Citizens Park Gymnasium. I encourage voters, and the public, to come by to learn
more about the projects and their importance to Burke County.
The goal of the Chamber is to make sure the public is as informed as possible regarding the
SPLOST renewal. This is an opportunity for all of Burke County. Please vote “yes” on Nov.
2 for SPLOST.
Bird dog tumblers for sale
From Staff Reports
Acrylic tumblers and mugs
sporting the Bird Dog Capital of
the World could be the next big
thing in Burke County.
Waynesboro Downtown Devel
opment Authority (DDA) mem
bers are taking orders for the cus
tomized Tervis Tumblers and are
hoping they’ll be big hits with
Christmas shoppers and field trial
enthusiasts.
The microwavable, scratch-
proof cups come in a variety of
sizes from 10 to 24 oz. and are
guaranteed for life. Customers
may purchase single tumblers or
boxed gift sets. Spill-proof travel
lids are also available.
According to DDA chair
Lindsai Mobley, the tumblers are
expected to arrive by Halloween
and will be available at the Nov.
21 Downtown Open House and
Dec. 3 Christmas on Liberty. Sev
eral downtown merchants are
working with DDA to stock the
tumblers on then shelves, as well.
Since quantities are limited, or
ders placed before Oct. 20 will be
given first priority and are avail
able for pick-up as soon as the
shipment arrives.
To download an order form and
view the tumblers, go to
www.downtownwaynesboroga.org
or become a DDA fan on facebook
by searching “Downtown
Waynesboro:
Main Street.”
Forms are
also available
at the DDA
office at the
Waynesboro
Fire Depart
ment and at
the Burke
County
Chamber of
Commerce.
All proceeds benefit the DDA
and its Inside-Out Grant Program,
which provides up to 50 percent
matches business owners who
want to improve downtown prop
erties.
OUR HEART JUST
GREW BIGG
ER
You already know that our Emergency Department has shorter
wait times and is closer than most. What you may not know is this:
Doctors Hospital is also an accredited Chest Pain Center—from
first diagnosis to life-saving cardiac interventions and beyond,
our caring team of professionals is specially trained to treat
patients experiencing symptoms of heart attack. In short, now
Doctors provides more than prompt, expert treatment for medical
emergencies, we also have heart!
nor, ors
H □ S P I T A L
3651 Wheeler Rd | Augusta, GA 30909 | www.doctors-hospital.net
Accredited Chest Pain Center