B&C Gives Back:

We are firm believers in pouring back into our community and this has truly been a successful year of giving back. We take great pride in helping and servicing the CSRA; It’s our way of showing that we care. In 2021, we teamed up with local and non-profit organizations such as: United Way, Children’s Hospital of Georgia, The Golden Harvest Table, Salvation Army, and other charities to raise money. All donations were used to help fund resources for our local families in need.

Stuff the Bus

Throughout the summer, B&C collected backpacks and school supplies to help kids who need it the most in the CSRA. Our goal was to provide these children with the supplies they will need to succeed in the classroom.

Harvest Food Bank- PBJ

Can you believe it’s already the holiday season? With Christmas just a few weeks away, we’ve got some serious shopping to do! While you are out shopping and sleighin’ that Christmas wish list, be sure to shop locally! By making purchases from small independent businesses, you are making a positive impact on our community’s economy while finding unique one-of-a-kind gifts. If you are not sure where to find some of these great small businesses, don’t worry-we’ve got you covered. We asked our agents for their locally owned gift shop recommendations and their answers are listed below!

Agents Answers:

Agent: Amanda Latham

Recommendation: Vintage Southern Accents

Agent: Andrea Bryant

Recommendation: The Boardroom

Enjoy festive activities for the whole family all December right here in the CSRA.  From Christmas lightings to Santa sightings we’ve narrowed down some of the most jolliest events to attend this holiday season. 

FESTIVALS AND PARADES

Aiken Downtown Tree Lighting

Date: December 3rd

Time: 6:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.

Location: Newberry Street

Free Admission

Event Link

Christmas Light Up Spectacular

Date: December 3rd

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Location: Augusta Commons

Free Admission

Event Link

Christmas on Liberty Square

Date: December 4th

Time: 5:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.

Location: Downtown Waynesboro

Free Admission

Event Link

Grovetown Christmas Festival

Time: December 4th

Date:

Now that Thanksgiving is officially over, it’s time to drag out the wreaths, trim and decorate the Christmas tree and deck our homes for the holidays. There are so many ways to celebrate the season, but one of the best ways is to spend time with family and friends. Getting your home ready for the holidays can be fun and daunting, but don’t worry, here are 8 simple steps that can get your space ready in no time.

1. Clean and Declutter:  First things first!  Before decorating for the holidays,  a quick clean up is all it takes.  Begin with making piles of for sale items, trash, and charitable items to make room for decorations, overnight guests and new gifts.  A nice, clean, and clutter-free space is an easy way to create an inviting home. 

Thanksgiving, also known as “Turkey Day”  is a national holiday where friends and family gather around the dining room table to give thanks over a bountiful harvest of turkey, dressing and lots of delectable sides.

Most of us have our own Thanksgiving traditions which mimics the way our family did it or the way our extended family celebrated; while each family tradition may vary, it usually circles back to reflecting on what we are grateful for over a big meal shared with our loved ones.

We asked some of our agents to share what some of their Thanksgiving traditions were and their answers are below:

Agent: Diane Smith

Agent: Jason McFadden

Agent: Myra Calhoun

Agent: Pat Goodwin

Agent:

For over 29 years, The Golden Harvest Food Bank has partnered with the community to tackle hunger by providing food items and resources to families in need. In October, Blanchard and Calhoun rallied the agents, staff, family and friends to bring in Peanut Butter and Jelly to donate to the Spooky To Be Hungry campaign sponsored by The Golden Harvest Food Bank. Together, we collected over 1,239 lbs of PB&J! To make things more interesting, we held a contest to see which B&C office could bring in the most donations and then arrange those food items into a fun display.

 How did we do?

 After the weigh-in, here’s how each office performed:

• Corporate Office           347 lbs

• Evans location               160 lbs

• Augusta

Cooler temperatures bring changes to our homes and, consequently, our heating bill. Cold days are coming and you don’t want to wait until temperatures drop to prepare for winter. Now is the time to begin weatherproofing your home. And, if you are not sure where to begin, just keep reading! 

Below we have put together a comprehensive list of tasks to help you prepare and protect your home for winter. 

Inspect Your Heating Service:  Don’t wait for it to get cold to discover your heating system is not working.  Once the cold weather hits, HVAC service providers will start to book up, and it could take days before someone can come out to service your heater.  Switch your thermostat from cool to heat; wait a few minutes- then check to see if there is

Chilly days of the holiday season calls for coffee shops and pastries; of course, most of us enjoy a cup of joe anytime of the year. But, there is just something special about visiting an inviting coffee shop during the holiday season. Cafes that are filled with latte art, calming tunes, and good company simply warms the heart. Thankfully for us coffee lovers, these types of cafes are all over the CSRA, giving us plenty of options to feel cozy, meet new neighbors, and support local businesses. And while we genuinely think every coffee shop in Augusta is great, here are eight locally owned cafes coffee lovers recommend where you can grab a cup of cozy and enjoy a freshly baked good.

1. Buona Cafe: Craft coffee & espresso drinks are offered along

October brings a variety of Halloween-themed events to Augusta.  From family-friendly activities like corn mazes and pumpkin patches to more spine-tingling options like haunted houses and scary movies, the CSRA is full of fun festive ways to celebrate. Whether you are local or passing through this Halloween season, don’t miss out on all of the thrills and chills Augusta has to offer!

Load up your ghosts and ghouls and check out a few of our agents' recommendations for some family-friendly Halloween events.

AGENTS ANSWERS:

Agent: Jason McFadden   Recommendation: Steed’s Dairy Corn Maze

Agent: David Avery Recommendation: Kroc Center

Agent: Pat Goodwin  Recommendation: Marvin Methodist Church

Agent:

by Alex Griffin | Investment Associate with Beman Group

Blanchard and Calhoun Real Estate Commercial

The Covid-19 pandemic created and exacerbated many economic headwinds in 2020. Business closures forced many employers to lay off workers or reduce hours, with unemployment hitting a pandemic high of 14.8% in April 2020. The federal government responded with multiple rounds of stimulus packages, including direct payments to taxpayers designed to boost spending. The Federal Reserve also reduced their Federal Funds Rate encouraging borrowing for investment and increased bond purchases after years of tapering. All of these measures were designed to keep the economy from completely sinking. 

Fast forward to late 2020 into 2021, post