In a sense, Scott Phillips has been prepping for this role his whole life. The esteemed local film critic, recognized to most by his columns (The Local, Columbus & the Valley), WRBL series “The Screen Scene”—in addition to moderating Way Down FIlm Festival panels and serving as the Film Society’s president. Next, he’ll judge entries into the Pop Up Video Film Festival in November. “I...
A Columbus-based Registered Nurse shares their observations from the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19. Due to the sensitive nature of their job—and to speak without the filter of administrators and attorneys—this established local RN was granted anonymity for our interview. What have you personally encountered while working at the hospital during the pandemic?“In my six years as a nurse...
At a time when the pain of life during pandemic brings a spike in suicide and substance abuse, Georgia this month slashed state funding for the mental-health programs that combat “the epidemic within the pandemic.”From the Georgia Mental Health Consumers Network, Roslyn Hayes and Chris Johnson sound off on the coming consequences of these budget cuts ahead of hosting on Thursday the Mental Health...
Director, Chattahoochee Valley Libraries Why the decision to become a ‘fines free’ public-library system?“Nationally, a lot of other library systems have done that. Not everybody has been paying as much attention to it as much as we could have in this profession—I’ve been doing this for 30-something years. Fines are not a deterrent for people to bring materials back. When you realize there’s no...
Community Leader / Businessman / Philanthropist Do you feel that the city’s official MLK Day celebration, The Dream Lives, was hijacked by white people?“Yes. I sure do. A friend of mine started that, Wayne Hailes [Publisher, The Courier / Eco Latino]. That’s one thing I can say about getting to know each other in this city. It’s not that my community doesn’t try to get things or do things. But...
Director of Communications, National Civil War Naval MuseumFounder of Fountain City Slam Poet / Writer / Actor In your role as Director of Communications for the National Civil War Naval Museum, what’s it like when you have to deliver a message like the Water Witch has to come down? “Well, it was particularly interesting with the Water Witch. We knew internally it was not a safe structure...
Executive Director of the Liberty Theatre & Culture Center / Writer / Publisher What does the Liberty Theatre mean to you?“The Liberty is like one of my children—it has become that. I have history here before I actually started working here. My dad [Robert Lamar Anderson] and Rep. [Calvin] Smyre were integral in the 1990s in the Liberty’s renovation and expansion. My dad also served as the...
Insurance Broker, Financial Consultant, Veteran, Community Leader Why is finding and buying an individual health insurance plan so confusing and frustrating? “One of the main reasons is that, after the Affordable Care Act was incorporated, so many companies had to decide if they wanted to actually participate in it. So you had companies going in, companies going out. That forced a lot of...
Columbus native and New Orleans resident Seth Howard III reflects back on the retrospective exhibition “Thirty two / Fifty two” he curated of works by his late father, beloved CSU art professor Jamie Howard, which was on display in October in the Illges Gallery at CSU’s Corn Center for the Visual Arts. Your father really traded a painting for his house at 530 Broadway? “The reason he was...
* President, Columbus Jaycees* Preacher, Warm Springs Road Church of Christ* Owner, Lee Snow Design & Marketing What happened to the annual Jaycees’ Haunted House? It was such a big Halloween tradition here for such a long time. “It was part of the old chapter, which disbanded in 2015. I was not here during that time, but from what I understand, it became so expensive because of the...