Hello Aiken! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: School safety upgrades, a moth night out, and a planetarium special effects show + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Safety upgrades move forward: Aiken County Public School District approved funding for Redcliffe Elementary upgrades in a safety push, with weapons detectors installed districtwide, but 12 campuses await SROs and one-third still need vestibules -- get the full details.
New dermatology addition: Aiken physician assistant Jennifer Mooneyham joined Caroline Price Dermatology, bringing 10-plus years of experience, work with Mohs surgeons, and passion for skin cancer prevention, eczema, psoriasis, and acne care -- meet the new dermatologist.
Elevating everyday listening: Aiken’s Shayne Tenace and Absoulute Audio Plus Video offer immersive listening and theater experiences honed over 45 years, inviting listeners to rediscover music as something to feel, not background noise -- hear the sound experience.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Aiken’s easy nature fix: Slip into Hopelands Gardens for shady paths, reflecting pools, and that instant ahhh your week’s been missing. Stroll, bird-watch, clear your head, maybe snap a photo or two... it’s the rare spot that feels like a mini-vacation without leaving town.
Up your plant game: Skip the big-box shuffle and stop by Plants by Michael, a local plant nursery, to snag the greenery that makes your porch, patio, and beds look intentional this week. Quick visit now, greener vibes all summer, and neighbors wondering when you suddenly got so good at plants.
Multiball therapy, anyone? Radioactive Pinball Arcade is your plug for that perfect mix of nostalgia and noisy joy, with rows of well-loved and new machines that make time disappear. Bring a friend, a kid, or your competitive streak, then chase the high score and pretend it’s cross-training.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🧩 Play & Learn @ Aiken County Public Library | Wednesday (6/24) at 10:30 AM – Bring the littles, ages 0 to 5, for a drop-in play session that sneaks in early literacy while they stack blocks and pour pretend tea. Caregivers get tips without homework, just coffee talk. It’s not for groups, just you and your tiny tornado.
🦋 Hitchcock Woods Foundation Field Program - Moth Night Out @ Hitchcock Woods | Wednesday (6/24) at 8:30 PM – Whether you call them night butterflies or porch light party crashers, this after-hours stroll in Hitchcock Woods lets Amanda Hurst from UGA SREL ID the winged wonders flocking to light stations. Family friendly, bring a chair and flashlight, registration required, carpool appreciated, no restrooms.
🌿 Summer 2026 Seasonal Homeschool Nature Walk @ Stable on the Woods entrance | Friday (6/26) at 11:00 AM – If you have been looking for a shove to trade math worksheets for birdsong, this summer homeschool nature walk is it. Explore local trails with fellow families, sneak in learning, and let the kids run feral while you talk to adults. Registration required, obviously.
🎨 Sip & Paint for Tweens @ Aiken County Public Library | Friday (6/26) at 3:00 PM – If your tween thinks your fridge art peaked in 2007, hand them a lemonade and let pro artist Nong Von B show them up. A legit sip and paint for ages 9 to 12, with zero wine, plenty of creativity, and blessedly no glitter.
🌸 Cold Creek: Summer in Full Bloom @ Cold Creek Nurseries | Saturday (6/27) at 10:00 AM – Garden feeling a little meh? Cold Creek's Summer in Full Bloom brings peak-season eye candy to the nursery, all color, inspiration, and plant temptations. It is the midsummer boost that lets you claim the yard was always supposed to look this lush.
🌌 Planetarium: Digistar Special Effects @ The DuPont Planetarium | Saturday (6/27) at 9:00 PM – Think you know the USCA campus? See it in a whole new light as the planetarium cranks up Digistar for a showy mix of special effects, sights, and sounds, including a picture gallery of familiar spots. No 3D glasses, no plot, just comfortable wonder.
🐎 Dressage in the Summer @ Bruce's Field | Saturday (6/27) – Summer dressage returns to Bruce's Field courtesy of the Aiken Horse Park Foundation, the elegant, low-key crowd-pleaser in our horse-obsessed town. Think ballet for horses, with better posture than the rest of us and footwork so precise it makes parallel parking feel rebellious.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Aiken report Weather forecastToday — High: 90°F — Low: 68°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 90. Northeast wind 2 to 8 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. East wind around 2 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 93°F — Low: 72°F — Precip: 2%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Southeast wind 1 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. This house is wildSet on 5 acres in Aiken, this updated 3,600 sq ft brick ranch pairs everyday comfort with serious utility. It offers 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a spacious great room, a dreamy primary suite with soaking tub and tile shower, plus a 3,200 sq ft shop, 3-car garage, and endless parking.
Take a peek inside → |
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