400 Edition W h a t ’s
u p
i n
N o r t h
December 2009
G e o r g i a
Merry Christmas
It’s a Woodland Christmas at White Interiors in Dawsonville
FREE
Contents
December 2009 Volume 6, Issue 7
Christmas
Columns
3 Stocking Stuffers for Outdoor Enthusiasts
5 This Is Christmas
11 Leibel On the Law
9 My Favorite Christmas
13 Comma Momma
continued
8 Historic Forsyth
14 Cover Story
18 Fun by 400
15 Turn Your Home into a Dazzling White Christmas
21 Your Vision Source
16 Old-Fashioned Christmas
22 Mind and Heart
19 Christmas Thoughts
23 To Your Health 30 Knowing Wine
Columns
31 Good Eating – The Maple Restaurant
31 Real Men Cook – Monkey Bread
6 Reflections
A list of major distribution points in North Georgia can be found online at www.400edition.com.
Stocking Stuffers for Outdoor Enthusiasts Georgia’s State Parks & Historic Sites make holiday shopping easy by providing gift ideas that are practical while helping protect Georgia’s natural and historic resources. Whether your loved ones enjoy camping, hiking, and mountain biking or just like to hit the golf course on the weekend, a gift from Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites is one that easily encompasses the outdoor adventurers on your shopping list and can be enjoyed well after the holidays are past.
Annual ParkPass
Perfect for friends who enjoy park hopping, the Annual ParkPass provides access to all 48 state parks without having to worry about paying parking fees for each visit. Normally parking fees are $5. Give your special loved one unlimited access to miles of hiking and mountain bike trails, kayaking and canoeing waterways, lakeside beaches, and breathtaking mountain vistas. The Annual ParkPass costs $50, or $25 for seniors 62 and older. To purchase, call 770-389-7401.
Membership to Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
For those “green” friends who have a serious love of protecting Georgia’s natural resources, a “Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites” membership is the perfect gift. In addition to enjoying the benefits of a free Annual ParkPass, Historic Site passes, a free night of camping or round of golf, and many additional perks, a Friends membership helps protect Georgia’s natural and historic resources. Membership levels begin at $45 for an individual and $70 per family.
Friends members support state parks and historic sites in a variety of ways, including volunteering, contributing financially, or seeking legislative support. To join, visit www. friendsofgastateparks.org or call 1-888-948-2092.
Golf Escapes
Golf lovers on your holiday list will enjoy the diversity and affordability of the eight golf courses located in Georgia Sate Parks. Packages include greens fees, carts, and accommodations in hotel-style lodge rooms or cottages. Prices begin at $65. Natural scenery and quality courses combined with affordability make Georgia State Parks golf packages a practical gift. To order packages, visit www.golfgeorgia.com or call 1800-434-0982.
Historic Site Annual Pass
Have a grandfather who loves to reminisce about days past? A Georgia Historic Site Pass is sure to offer him a year’s worth of enjoyment, with unlimited admission to all of Georgia’s state historic sites. Visit Georgia’s Civil War battlefields, picturesque plantations, ancient Indian mounds, Revolutionary War forts, and Native American and presidential homes. The pass is $35 per family, $20 per adult, and $15 per child (17 and younger). Passes can be purchased at the historic sites, which are listed on www.GeorgiaStateParks.org. For help in planning a holiday staycation, visit www. GeorgiaStateParks.org or call 1800-864-PARK (7275). Ask about lower Lodge-ical Rates starting at $59 per night. Georgia’s 63 state parks and historic sites are operated by the Department of Natural Resources.
December 2009 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition
December 2009 Carole Lee, Founder/Creative Design Tim Herrel, Sales Linda Merritt, Founder/Sales/Executive Editor Bob Merritt, Director of Sales Beth Snider, Founder/Sales/Creative Design Nancy Wright, Proofing
Contributing Writers: Anne Amerson
Sharon Keating
Clay Cunningham
Steven Leibel
Dr. Mark Feinsilber
Dr. Joyce Nations
Nancy Forrest
Donald Pruitt
Robin Toms Grier
Linda Ragland
Martha Hynson
Patrick Snider
Staff Writers: Rhonda Bailey
Linda Merritt
Carole Lee
Beth Snider
Bob Merritt
Nancy Wright
400 Edition is published monthly in Dahlonega, Georgia, with distribution in three counties. Viewpoints expressed by contributing writers are not necessarily those of the publishers, staff or advertisers. 400 Edition is not liable for inaccurate or erroneous information posted in advertising or event submissions. Ads must be submitted and paid in full by the 20th of every month, unless arrangements have been made in advance. Content and presentation of advertisements is subject to editorial review and modification. Ad dimensions and pricing may be obtained by calling 706-867-6455 or 866867-7557. These specs may also be viewed at www.400edition.com. Writers may submit material to editor@400edition. com. Submissions are subject to approval by the editor and may be edited for space, requirements, and style. The deadline for submissions is the 15th of each month. Contents of this publication become the property of 400 Edition and the original author and cannot be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. This publication is printed by Walton Press in Monroe, GA.
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From the Editor... T
his is one of my favorite issues of the year. I’m still like a kid at Christmas. Love the lights and colorful decorations, the music, how you feel when you go shopping, and the anticipation about what is in the packages under the tree. Take this opportunity and shop with our advertisers. By shopping locally and supporting the small businesses in your area, you are securing their future and that of the area you have chosen to call home. Take time to read our events this month, because there are many things to do with your family. Just going to all the Christmas tree lightings would keep you busy. There are many plays and good movies this time of the year, so check your local theaters. As exciting as this season can be, let us not forget why we celebrate Christmas and the birth of a baby boy who changed the world. Remember those who are less
fortunate than you, and share however you can. Sometimes just a smile at a stranger will make their day brighter. In the midst of all the hustle and bustle, be courteous to others and wish them a Merry Christmas from your heart. Now is the time to gather your family around and let them know how much you love them. 400 Edition wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Until next month…stay happy!
On the Cover W
hat a good time we had with this month’s front cover! Beth Snider outdid herself with her camera. It was no easy task to get this many people together, but it finally happened. We want to thank Judith Johnson and White Interiors for all their help and support in having the store decorated for this occasion. A big jolly thank-you to Santa for taking time out of his busy schedule to take part in the photo shoot. Don’t you love the twinkle in his eyes? Thanks also to Neva Garrett, who directs these youngsters in Dahlonega’s Historic Holly Theater’s “The Christmas Carol.” She and the mothers made sure they were in costume and ready for their assignment. These delightful kids, and their roles in the play, are (top, left to right): Jack Kern (Intelligent Lad), Glenn Tucker (Young Scrooge), Jordan Garrett (Snowball Kid), and Jesse Scales (Snowball Kid); Santa with Olivia Simmons (Snowball Kid); (bottom, left to right): Wyatt Pielow (Tiny Tim) and Belle Adams (Tiny Tim). The play starts December 3 and runs through December 29; call the Holly at 706-864-3759 for more information, and tickets. White Interiors is a proud supporter of the Holly. See page 14 for more pictures and information about the folks and beautiful merchandise at White Interiors. They have so many unique things that will make your Christmas shopping fun and easy to do. But most of all, they make you feel special when you walk through the front doors. If you need some assistance with a room or your entire home, Designer Lauren Salter is there to help you. Remember, they can also decorate your home for the Christmas holidays. Stop in and let them help you with your decorating needs. They are located in Dawsonville, at 278 GA400, Suite 1100, behind Ryan’s. Don’t hold back; tell us how you really feel about 400 Edition. We love receiving feedback from our readers and advertisers. Call us at 706-867-6455, toll free at 866-867-7557, or send an email to info@400edition.com.
The Perfect Gift
by Bob Merritt
A
s you search for the perfect gift this Christmas, let me suggest the Big Green Egg. Every family should have a grill like this. I will have to admit, my present grill is too big, heavy, and bulky to use as I would like to use it. A family should be able to carry their grill with them on cook-outs, camping trips, and long family outings. Once you look at the sizes of the Big Green Egg, you will surely see one of the five models that will be just right for your family’s needs. The accessories that go with the grill are optional, so let the dealer suggest what should go with the grill you select. Why do I call this the perfect gift? It will add to your family’s lifestyle and enhance the time you spend together. I’m not saying the Big Green Egg will grill more items than the big iron one; I’m just saying it will do it easier, without all that clean-up. The burgers, corn, wieners, chicken, and other grilling items will have a better taste, and each item will look, smell, and taste better. Take a trip to your local Big Green Egg dealer and surprise your family with a gift that will keep on giving happiness and good eating all year long. I am going to suggest a certain dealer because they advertise with us. Show us your support and get a Big Green Egg at Blue Mountain Shoes. They handle a
full line of Big Green Egg grills and accessories. Owner Magda Denning stands willing and able to advise you on the selection and use of your chosen grill. Don’t let the name throw you; she also handles brand name shoes for your comfort. Your uses of the Big Green Egg will grow as you understand its applications and diversification. The Big Green Egg will open up a world of tailgate parties; be it at a campground, roadside park, football parking lot, or your own deck or backyard. It can be mobile, or stationary in a setting as shown here. If you are looking for the one gift that will add to your family’s fun and pleasure, look no further than the Big Green Egg at Blue Mountain Shoes, 405 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 110 in Cumming. It is located just to the right of Norman’s Landing, Exit 11 off GA400. For more information, call 678-513-0450. Tell Magda you saw them in 400 Edition. See their ad in this issue.
This is Christmas L
ittle shepherd boys costumed in Daddy’s bathrobe; angels in white baptismal robes, wearing homemade halos; musical accompaniment provided courtesy of the local piano teacher; a handcrafted manger with real hay and a baby-doll Jesus—all crowd my mind with precious Christmas memories. I was born in the midst of the Great Depression, but didn’t know it at the time. There was no screaming, streaming media to tell us how bad off we were. Life was simple. Daddy worked; Mama stayed home with me and my sister. We never lacked for food or clothing or a roof. Mine was a Christian home, so we lacked for nothing. At Christmastime, we celebrated Jesus’ birth with joy, music, lights and chopped-down, live Christmas trees. The pungent aromas of baked hen (from someone’s yard), Mama’s prize-winning dressing (made with her own biscuit and cornbread crumbs), and sweet-potato pie (using rusty-red potatoes I hand-dug from my Great-uncle Jim’s tater hill!) permeated our little rental house. Daddy came in with our tree, and
by Joyce Jordan
we decorated with whatever we had, and proclaimed it beautiful. There was singing in my home, and we harmonized on all the sweet carols, as well as “Jingle Bells.” Mama’s side of the family was full of uncles and aunts and cousins, all of whom celebrated as we did, and we all got together on Christmas evening. Laughter; good food from all the aunts and my mama, competing, in a friendly way, of course; gifts under the tree for all the cousins; music, as we all lifted our voices to join in the celebration, and as Jesus looked down on this wacky, happy, loving crowd, surely He smiled. It was a simpler time, and the simple, sweet message of Christmas remains in my heart. Despite all the hoopla and commercialism, I haven’t become fed up with the holiday. As our choir prepares for our Christmas program, we sing: “Come on and rejoice! It’s more than a holiday! This is Christmas!” Christmas comes in the heart, wrapped in the promises of the One we celebrate.
December 2009 • www.400edition.com
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n this bleak and dreary day, I contemplate the upcoming Christmas season of 2009, and the outlook isn’t good. As I revisited a number of customers, it became clear that 2009 hasn’t been good to most of them. Many doors were closed, locked up for good, leaving someone’s investment, hopes, and dreams shattered. The more I looked, the more I realized it wasn’t just the mom-and-pop store fronts—the small stores usually owned by a couple, employing from two to six employees. It also included the chain stores. Empty stores and storefronts don’t do anybody any good. The economy has been cruel to us all. Everyone has a family member or friend who has lost their job and had their world turned upside down. Look at the foreclosures that stagger the imagination; yet many of us have seen it before. As a young kid in the early to mid-1940s, I saw a depression that had a similar effect, as I remember it. One day there were jobs, homes, and businesses; then at the end of the day, businesses and homes were locked up and families walked off into the night with no place to go. I guess I realized we were too poor for this to happen to us, and I was right; those who had nothing had nothing to fear. We rented a shack by the seawall in Little Rock, Arkansas, and were saved, while families that had a business and were achieving the American dream of owning a home lost it all overnight. We thought we had it bad back then, but it couldn’t hold a candle to what’s going on today. Back then we were at war overseas, and at the same time the civilian families were at war at home. The government did its best to correct the situation by creating jobs that started the road back to good times. In 2009 the government seems to have turned on us, the taxpayer, and is still doing all it can to bring us to our knees. Consider the jobs lost or sent overseas, the homes lost to repossessions, the banks closed or sold, and the useless rebates given. Nothing is going to spark the economy but good old American determination. I hate the idea that our grandchildren and great-grandchildren are going to be paying all their lives for the whims of our politicians of today. There can be a bright light ahead. Struggling to survive, our small businesses are coming up with ingenious ways to stay open and move ahead. Patti Martin at Free Home Traditions used to do catering, provide a wedding venue, and host many outdoor parties; but as the economic tide changed, Free Home Traditions realized they also had to change, and change they did. Keeping all their employees, they made some changes and turned their store into a gift and interior decorating shop. The
December 2009 • www.400edition.com
by Bob Merritt structure they operate out of is a big eightroom house full of gifts and holiday decorations. There is no big store in Atlanta or the immediate area with as much inventory, and the customers are flocking to the big house in Free Home, five miles outside of Cumming on Highway 20 West. Their positive approach is the attitude that is growing in small businesses today. If what brought you where you are isn’t working, don’t be afraid to change. Cedar Mountain Rustic Furniture, 3935 Canton Highway in Cumming, has long been known for the fine outdoor furniture they build. Their showroom is filled with their handiwork made in their own shop. Business was doing fine, then the economy went south. The economy was bad enough, but things got worse. An electrical short in one of the woodworking machines caused a fire that ruined the furniture building shop and caused a big lay-off. Today owners Chuck and Nancy Lauinger, and Linda Wilson, sales and master woodworker, are all that’s left to run the store. A good inventory has helped see them through. Finally the insurance settled, but the depreciation of machinery really hurt. To help overcome the rising obstacles Chuck took another job and slowly things are coming back. One thing in their favor was choosing to never give up. Chuck and Linda are both master craftsmen, so for the time being Linda is getting the shop up and running and helping in sales. I’m telling you, folks, it’s this determination permeating small American businesses that sets the example for us all to follow. Chuck, Nancy, and Linda invite you to visit them. For more information, call 770-781-8825 or visit them on their website, www.cedarmountainrustic.com. No matter how much they rebuild, their comeback will only succeed if individuals like you buy from them. This is your invitation to pay them a visit and see firsthand American determination in action. It’s looking a lot like Christmas and soon the snowflakes will be falling; just remember that as inconvenient as it is, it’s part of the season. Speaking of the season, remember the reason for the season: the birth of Jesus Christ. Say “Merry Christmas” and say it often. I saw a commercial on TV yesterday where a salesperson said, “Remember the gifts; they are the reason for the season.” This is what they are counting on; but we know better. Merry Christmas.
Historic Forsyth
by Donald Pruitt
A Shrine To Baseball recently visited an unusual location in I Forsyth County that would be a mecca
for any sports fan, but particularly for those who love baseball. This was a museum dedicated mostly to the sport of baseball and softball. It includes artifacts relating not only to baseball in Forsyth County, but also to professional teams such as the Atlanta Braves and the old Atlanta Crackers minor league teams that preceded the Braves’ move to Atlanta. Where is it? The shrine is located in the basement of Johnny Tallant’s home between Coal Mountain and Silver City. Johnny was a long-time teacher and coach in Forsyth County at Forsyth Central, North Forsyth, and South Forsyth. Johnny and I spent several hours looking at his varied collection of baseballs, baseball cards, gloves, and miniature bats, along with collectible uniforms. There were seats from the old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, and signs autographed by such Braves players as Phil Niekro and other professional athletes. There is a large baseball diamond on the concrete basement floor, painted there by some of Tallant’s ex-students and players who wanted to honor their old coach. There are pictures galore from three decades of Forsyth County girls softball competition, with a special place for the 1994 South Forsyth girls softball team who were Georgia Class AAA State Champions. Undoubtedly, this was a high point for a coach who worked with kids on the playing field and in the classroom for over three decades. While Tallant is now retired from the education and coaching profession, he continues to foster the love of baseball in others in Forsyth County and across the state. Meetings of a “Hot Stove League” have
400 Edition
been held at the museum during the winter months when no baseball is being played. He has pushed for a Forsyth County Baseball Historical Group and has teamed with the Historical Society of Forsyth County to feature a day when the Historical Society honored old baseball greats from the early years of Cumming High School baseball under Coach Almon Hill. In addition, the museum has served as a backdrop for the filming of baseball videos, again with several Atlanta Braves as well as some notable sports broadcasters such as Bob Rathbun. Several of these have appeared on PBS-TV. Much of our reminiscing revolved around Coach Almon Hill, who coached at CHS/ FCHS from 1942 to 1956. While he is best known for his outstanding coaching career in basketball, Hill started the baseball program at Cumming High School in the late ’40s. The pinnacle of Hill’s baseball coaching career was in his last year, which was, coincidentally, the first at the new Forsyth County High School facility. Yes, they were still playing on the old City Park baseball field off of Pilgrim Mill Road. A new, modern baseball facility was still five years away. That team won both region and district titles before losing in the state playoffs. Some members of that team recollect losing to Richmond Academy, which had been a state champion for seven years running; however, GHSA records show that Tucker was the Class B state champion in 1956. I remember going to at least one of the region playoff games and FCHS played like true champions. That squad was made up of Franklin Worley, D.D. Castleberry, Gary Clark, Curtis Dempsey, George Johnson, Clarence Manning, Jimmy Thompson, Jimmy December 2009 • www.400edition.com
Tate, Donald Martin, Powell Turner, Gene Holtzclaw, Maston Holtzclaw and Lawrence Holtzclaw. This was the best showing for a Forsyth County high school baseball squad until the North Forsyth Raiders won the 1998 Class A Baseball Championship. Many of those 1956 players fondly remember how Coach Hill drilled them in the basics, such as base running, sliding, and bunting, as well as serving as a father figure to many. Johnny Tallant interviewed several of them over the years and he got to know Coach Hill in his later years, accompanying him to baseball and basketball games. In fact, Tallant interviewed some of those who played for Almon Hill, such as Donald Martin, Quinby Orr, and D.D. Castleberry. All of them could relate stories of how this man instilled not just baseball skills, but life skills. I am grateful to Johnny Tallant for relating many of these incidents to me and for his true love of baseball. Donald (Don) Pruitt is a 1958 graduate of FCHS and a 1963 UGA graduate. While Don and his wife, Sula Echols Pruitt, have lived outside of Forsyth County since 1963, he has a love of Forsyth County history and genealogy. He still has family here and tries to return “home” from North Carolina, where he has lived for 39 years. Donald is a long-time member of the Historical Society of Forsyth County. He can be contacted by email at sazabylex@windstream.net.
My Favorite Christmas
M
y favorite Christmas did
not occur on December 25th. It was actually on a Tuesday in mid-January. My family and I decided to postpone Christmas so that we could celebrate with my younger brother, who was serving in Afghanistan. We had not spent Christmas, Thanksgiving, or birthdays together in a couple of years, and this year we knew we could wait when we found out he would be coming home on leave soon. After months of sleepless nights after watching the 11:00 news and many prayers answered, we arrived at the airport. As we walked into the baggage claim area, I shouted, “Whoever finds him first gets to hug him first!” My mom opposed. She said, “I get to hug him first since I gave birth to him!” We spread out in search of that face we knew so well but had not seen in six months. Ironically, he found us first and let out a yell and a big wave. We all ran to him and my mom’s request went out the window because we all compulsively hugged him at the same time. It was one huge group hug mixed with joyful, teary-eyed laughter. He had been through so much and we all expected him to look tired and dirty, but he didn’t and all I could say at the time was, “You look so handsome!” We headed home, and along the way he showed us pictures he had taken of the helicopter he was in getting fired upon as he was trying to make his way out of the wartorn region. We knew that we had to help him overcome the stress of his experiences with lots of holiday cheer. Our first stop was Walmart, because he needed a toothbrush. There was little or no running water where he had been in Afghanistan and he couldn’t wait to get cleaned up. Next, we went to Lava Hair Studio, where his longtime sweetheart worked. We could almost see their hearts pounding as they talked to each other face to face for the first time in a long time, standing outside of the salon. From there, we went to my mom and dad’s house and opened presents first thing. We took pictures of each other standing beside my brother in his uniform and then
by Vanessa McBrayer
we cleaned up all of the paper and bows. We sank into the couch and then my dad said, with a smile he couldn’t hold back, “Son, you have one more present.” My brother jumped up as fast as a jack-in-thebox and started searching for it. Just like in “A Christmas Story,” he found a long, rectangular box propped up in the corner next to the Christmas tree. Grinning from ear to ear, he ripped the wrapping off to reveal the rifle that my dad had secretly bought for him. He showed off his amazing aim to my dad and husband in the backyard while my mom and I cooked his favorite home-cooked meal: fried chicken, scalloped potatoes, pinto beans, and biscuits. I felt like all was right with the world and I was on a cloud of happiness. During his short stay we had lots of fun together. We visited the Fernbank Museum and planetarium and we went to the King Tut exhibit. We got the best sleep we had had in six months during the two weeks he was home safe and sound. On the day he had to go back, we drove to the airport in almost complete silence. We knew there was nothing we could say to make him feel better and he knew there was nothing he could say to make us feel better. We waited with him in the airport and while my mom and I sat with him at a coffee shop I finally found the right words to say to him. I said, “I truly believe that God will bless you one day for all of the good that you’ve done for this world.” He reached his hands out to my mom and me, and said, “He already has.” After we said our tearful goodbyes, knowing that he was reentering the hell that he had just come from, we watched him as he waited in line at the terminal and we occasionally shouted, “I love you,” and “Goodbye!” While standing there, we noticed how terrible his boots looked compared to all of the other soldiers’ boots. His boots told the story of what he had been through and was about to face again. Our hearts were breaking for him and we cried all the way back to our car. We found out the next day that his staff sergeant was killed trying to make
his way home while in one of the same helicopters that my brother had been on. We went through six more months of constant praying, then he came home again at the end of his tour, just as handsome as before. Only this time, he came home married, to his longtime sweetheart. They had eloped just after reuniting in Texas, where he was stationed. During the second half of his tour he fractured his leg in two places, but it healed on its own and he came home in good spirits despite all he had been through. He received the Bronze Star with Valor for one of many brave acts during his tour that saved his buddies’ lives, and the town of Dawsonville threw him a huge homecoming parade. Total strangers stood out in the hot July sun waving flags and banners as we passed by and he finally felt like the hero that he was. As adults, sometimes we feel like the joy of Christmas is left more to the children. This Christmas was special to me because on that day in January I felt like a little girl again having Christmas with my little brother. We all had a break from worrying and felt so carefree because we knew that we were all safe, warm, and together and that was the best gift of all. Through all of this we have learned to appreciate the simple things in life and that time spent together is precious, whether it is Christmas Day or just a Tuesday in January.
Vanessa McBrayer, her husband, three cats, a dog, and five fish make their home in Dawsonville. Her hobbies are writing, hiking, gardening, and traveling. Life Philosophy: Appreciate the simple things in life.
December 2009 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition
Say What? “The love of a young girl is like the morning dew; it’s as apt to fall on a rosebud as it is a cow pile.”
Library Delivery Service for the Homebound
D
id you know the Chestatee Regional Library System offers services to homebound individuals? If you are a resident of Dawson County or Lumpkin County and are physically unable to come to the library, you qualify for homebound services.
Here’s how it works: Contact the library and ask about homebound delivery services. Speak with the branch manager about the program options, what types of books you enjoy, and how often you would like to receive them. Once they have your requests, the library will check them out to you. They will then deliver them to your door and collect the books you already have. You will receive a reminder call before each delivery. You can also call the library to place particular books on hold, or you can just tell a library staff member the types of materials you enjoy reading and allow the staff member to pick selections for you. For more information about registering for this service, call the Dawson County Library (706-344-3690) or the Lumpkin County Library (706-864-3668).
T
he Georgia Buccaneers are a semiprofessional football team based in Forsyth County. We are a community-based organization that offers a second chance for football players of all ages. We also partner with local businesses, and work closely with local organizations to raise funds for their respective needs. We had a very successful first season last year and made it all the way to the championship. We look to follow up on that success starting this spring. We had our second round of tryouts on November 29. Please follow us on www.GAbuccaneers. com for more information. If you have any questions, please contact Hunter Collins at 678-571-0702. We look forward to the continuing support of the Forsyth County community. GO BUCS!
10 400 Edition
Ah, the splendor of the Southern language! That sentence is a direct quote from my Grandmother, one I remember her saying when a local girl announced she was getting hitched to a fellow who evidently didn’t have Grandmother’s approval. And like most Southerners, she had a suitable saying for just about any occasion. As Mark Twain so aptly put it, “Southerners speak music…” I wish I’d written down more of the music Grandmother spoke, but of course, being young and full of myself, I didn’t. But a lot of what she said flashes back to me these days. I’ve always thought the Southern accent and our way of talking was so beautiful that it must surely be envied by the rest of the world. But sadly, and I still can’t comprehend why, that isn’t always the case. I was warned about this early on when Mr. C.R. Franks, my 7th grade teacher, told our class not to be surprised if we heard someone snicker at us when we traveled outside the South. I thought Mr. Franks was barking up the wrong tree, until the first time I caught a cab in New York City. I still remember that cabby looking at me inquisitively and asking, “Whear youse from?” I replied proudly, “The great and wonderful state of Georgia, and more specifically, North Georgia,” speaking as phonically correct as I could. “Well, I wood nev-va, nev-va goes down dere, cus youse guys sounds soooo stew-pit. You coulda’ been in dat movie Deliverance.” I nearly went off half-cocked, but I reckon it would have been like arguing with a fence post. Anyway, I figured he was the one getting the short end of the stick, so I didn’t fly off the handle. I just said, “Well, I declare.” (Besides, he looked to me like he fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.) That was a long time ago, but even today, I still can’t get or give directions in New York City. And it isn’t much better in Boston, Baltimore, or Bakersfield. Sure, we Southerners use the language a little differently, but that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it’s a melodious, charming and, in my opinion, darn wonderful thing. Why, down here, we’ll name a dog Rooster, and a cat, well, we don’t always name cats, but when we do, it’s usually a humdinger. In fact, I think Grandmother had a cat named Humdinger. Or maybe that was a gun. Heck, we’ll name our cars if you don’t watch us. We mash elevator buttons instead of pushing them. We make your picture while other folks take it, and to us, every soft drink is a Co-Cola—even if the can says Pepsi. And we feel we can say just about anything about anybody, as long as we start or end it with “Bless his heart.” We like to dress up speech, so we describe spring water as “tooth-cracking cold” and a passed-on possum as “graveyard dead.” We’re a polite people for the most part and “Don’t sass your Mama” are the first words many of us hear. And Elvis was right; “ma’am” and “sir” really do December 2009 • www.400edition.com
by Emory Jones belong behind “yes” and “no.” By the way, we wave a lot too—even if we don’t know you, we’ll wave at you. Y’all is the word people from “from off,” and especially people from Hollywood, use when they want to imitate us. But after 50 years of counterfeit accents, the movie and television folks still don’t get that you don’t use y’all when you’re talking to just one person! I’m not sure they even want to get our dialect down. I mean, Julia Roberts is a Georgia girl, but the way they had her talking in Steel Magnolias was downright disturbing, “bless her heart.” There are actually more than one hundred different Southern dialects. I mean, Texans talk differently than the low country folks of South Carolina. Louisianans have that colorful Cajun chatter. We mountain folks have our own special twang, and while they sound quite pleasant, I think only a Virginian can truly really understand another Virginian. But no matter which Southern accent you have, it puts you in some mighty fine company. Folks like Thomas Jefferson, William Faulkner, Will Rogers, Sergeant York, Billy Graham, George Washington, Charlie Daniels, and a lot of White County folks, to name a few. Of course, our speech has undergone changes lately, and the two main reasons for that are AC and TV. The first one took us off the front porch, and the second, away from the kitchen table. But that doesn’t mean we’re sounding precisely like the rest of the country. Not yet at least. No, our thoughts tend to be reflected in our speech, and we keep referring back to our memories, hoping to recall just how it was on a lazy, still summer’s day thirty years ago. And if they don’t know, you can’t tell them. In fact, I read a study showing that in one Alabama town, the local boys had a more pronounced accent than the town’s elderly women. I think that’s great, ‘cause if there’s one thing I hate, it’s something I can’t stand! Now, don’t get me wrong. I have no axe to grind with folks who don’t sound like me or my Grandmother. In fact, I can still hear her reading to me from Gone With The Wind, as someone, and I believe it was Miss Melanie, or maybe it was Rhett who said to Scarlett, “My dear girl, the Yankees aren’t fiends. They haven’t horns and hoofs as you seem to think. They are pretty much like Southerners—except with…terrible accents.” That takes the cake, doesn’t it? Emory Jones grew up in White County, Georgia, and holds the very rare and highly coveted Agricultural Journalism degree from the University of Georgia. Emory is known for his humor, photography, knowledge of kudzu and all things Southern. He has interviewed farmers in all 50 states and has had articles and photographs published in virtually every U.S. agricultural publication. Emory resides in his native White County on Yonah Mountain near Helen, Georgia.
Leibel on the Law Legal Documents—PennyWise, Pound-Foolish by Steven K. Leibel
T
he drafting of legal agreements is a skill that is best left to lawyers. When those without legal training write agreements, they are often incomplete, or awkwardly drafted. As a result the Courts have to fill in the meaning of a document because an ill-drafted document is unclear, leaving room for interpretation. Oftentimes these poorly written documents can become the center of a lawsuit. The basic premise under law is that when a document is written by someone, that person intended for the document to have a certain meaning. However, any ambiguity in that agreement is construed against the maker. What that means is that the agreement will be interpreted in favor of the party that didn’t write that agreement. Often I am called upon to enforce legal agreements for my clients that they have drafted. Many times such agreements are unclear, with terms that are not well-defined. Last week I was in a week-long trial. One of the issues was how to interpret a contract. The definitions contained in that agreement defined whether a party breached the agreement. A great deal of time in the trial was about what the contract actually meant. Unfortunately my client had borrowed language from a form contract, which created new legal interpretations and unanticipated legal obligations If a document is important enough to be signed, then it is important enough to be reviewed by your lawyer. Some months ago I had a client complain about a former employee who was soliciting other employees to join a new company. My client proudly showed me the no-solicitation agreement he had the former employee sign. He asked me to file suit to enforce that agreement. After reviewing the agreement I told my client that I would be happy to help, but wanted to know when he got out of his business and started selling securities. He reluctantly admitted that he had “borrowed” language from a broker-dealer agreement. Clearly, his idea to file suit didn’t turn out to be practical. Another example is the drafting of a will. I have had clients ask that
their spouse’s will be enforced. The problem was that the will was not drafted properly, and did not have the proper authentication necessary for it to have a legal effect. If a contract, loan agreement, or other document is important, it should be drafted properly. There are unintended consequences from a poorly drafted legal document. These include material breaches, forgiveness of debt, unanticipated contractual obligations, and employment issues. An example of an employment contract gone bad is when an employer gives an offer letter to an employee which specifically defines that employee’s wages, hours, working duties, and term of employment. Many times this can give an employee a right to continued employment where none was really intended. Another serious problem is in the drafting of independent contractor agreements. If the agreement is problematic, then IRS and state revenue liability could also occur. A good lawyer can draft agreements, as well as review and revise them. Keep your lawyer in the loop. That lawyer may be able to save you a great deal of money by keeping you out of trouble. The best time to employ a lawyer is before there is trouble. In establishing this relationship, make sure to include your lawyer as a member of your team. Your lawyer should be a trusted advisor. Steven Leibel is a Georgia personal injury lawyer with offices in Dawson County and in Dahlonega. He currently serves a member of the Georgia Bar Board of Governors for the Enotah Circuit. He is a Commission member of the Georgia Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission. He is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell for his legal ability and ethical conduct. He can be reached at 706-867-7575 or 404-892-0700. Questions about his column can be sent to his email at steven@leibel.com. Nothing in this column can be construed as the giving of legal advice. Legal advice can only be made through an attorney-client relationship. The statements made in this column are for general education purposes only.
December 2009 • www.400edition.com
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Lava’s Boutique In this new economy, Lava Hair Studio has taken a leap of faith by adding a lovely new boutique next door to the salon. Always keeping an eye out for change on the horizon, Karen Covington, the owner of the upscale salon in Dawsonville, saw an opportunity for her guests as well as her excellent team of professionals. The idea was just a spark in Karen’s mind that soon turned into a flame. The tiny spark of an idea was to turn the less than lovely office into something special. The spark became a flame when Karen decided that it should be a boutique that would feature a dazzling array of carefully handselected eclectic accessories such as colorful scarves, dangling earrings, unique jackets and shawls, and charming home décor such as beautiful holiday wreaths adorned with birds, and colored glass vases. The flame became a blazing fire when Sandra Ossie with Blooming Angels Events became involved in the staging process of the boutique. With an imaginative eye and a professional touch, she created a beautiful place for the items to be displayed in a harmonious-looking way. Sandra has
been staging homes and boutiques as a profession for years. She has a natural flair for bringing a room to life in a unique way. Her talents range from staging parties for
the holidays to staging businesses to match the owners’ vision. Karen and Sandra worked alongside one another to bring Lava’s Boutique to life. Now, Lava is a place where you can receive hair services from true experts in the field of hair
design, enjoy relaxing rituals, and find that special gift for the holidays for your family or friends. Lava’s Boutique is a success in the hearts where the spark began. Lava’s team of professionals invite everyone to come experience the salon studio as well as the beautiful new boutique. Both are located between the North Georgia Premium Outlet Mall and The Blue Bicycle Restaurant. They would also like to invite you to join them on Tuesday, December 1, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm for their annual Holiday Blowout. Guests will enjoy wine and cheese, receive door prizes, watch hair styling demonstrations, and enjoy 20% off all products in the salon. This would be a perfect opportunity to visit Lava’s Boutique and enjoy some holiday cheer. Call 706-429-0001 or visit www.lavahairstudio.com for more information about the salon and boutique. To request more information about Blooming Angels Events, call 404-290-8395 or send an email to sandraossie@msn.com.
Christmas in Cumming Arts & Crafts Show M
ake sure you plan to attend the 13th Annual Christmas in Cumming Arts & Crafts Show on Friday and Saturday, December 11 and 12. Friday hours are 4:00pm-10:00pm; Saturday 10:00 am-5:00pm. The show attracts over 7,500 people and will be held inside the heated Cumming Livestock Barn located on the City of Cumming Fairgrounds. There will be over 100 festive booths in the show. Admission is $1.00, with children 12 and under free. While the Christmas in Cumming Arts & Crafts Show is taking place, there will be free photos with Santa on Friday from 6:00pm-9:00pm and on Saturday from 12:00-3:00pm in the barn. There will be a Christmas light show, hayrides, and caroling on Friday evening from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. Come join us to hear the sweet sounds of local fifth grade
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and church choruses starting at 7:00pm on Friday. Don’t miss this opportunity to shop for unique handmade gift item for someone special. Come and enjoy holiday cheer while shopping for hand-woven sweet grass baskets, Christmas ornaments and wreaths, fudge and nuts, piggy banks, photography, paintings, clothing, and more. For more information on the Christmas in Cumming Arts & Crafts Show, please call Bill Watson at 770-423-1330 or www. jrmmanagement.com. Directions: Take GA400 to Exit #15 (Bald Ridge Marina Road) and go west; continue straight to the third traffic light and turn left onto Castleberry Road; stay straight and the City of Cumming Fairgrounds will be a quarter mile on the right. The Arts & Crafts Show will be held in the large red barn adjacent to the arena.
Comma Momma
To the , or not to the ? by Nancy Wright
I
’m always fascinated by the peculiarities of the English language that native speakers don’t ever think twice about. For example, sometimes we use the word the (aka the definite article) with a noun, and sometimes we don’t. Look at the following pairs of sentences. If you grew up in an English-speaking environment, you’ll intuitively understand the differences in meaning in each pair. • She took her daughter to school. She took cupcakes to the school for Lucy’s birthday party. • He went to jail for shoplifting. He had to go to the jail to get his carry permit. • Emma went to church Sunday. Emma took her food pantry donations to the church.
But honestly now, how bizarre it seems that in one sentence, we say “the school” or “the jail” or “the church,” and in the other, we leave the the out. The language folks offer
numerous usage rules about the definite article, but I don’t understand one word in ten in the rules I find. I just know what sounds right and what sounds wrong. When a phrase or sentence sounds right to a native speaker, it’s described as idiomatic, meaning “peculiar to or characteristic of a given language.” Sometimes even when something is idiomatic English, it can seem weird when you actually stop to think about it. But it turns out that there is a logic to certain of the usages when you know the trick: Some nouns can be used to identify both a location (school) and an activity (school). When we use the noun to refer to the activity, we omit the the (and the indefinite articles a and an as well). It’s actually remarkable how many other nouns work with this leave-out-the-article pattern. We say “She’s in class” and it doesn’t mean the same thing as “she’s in the class.” We say “Jason’s at camp” and it doesn’t mean the same thing as “Jason’s at a camp.” We say
“Kirk’s at breakfast” and it doesn’t mean the same thing as “Kirk’s at the breakfast.” Have you noticed that in these examples, the noun we’re using without the article refers to an activity that requires certain stereotypical behavior, behavior that’s different from our normal behavior? Church, school, class, camp, jail... There are many other situations where nouns don’t require an article; while they’re no-brainers for a native speaker, they make English difficult for non-native speakers to master. In a technical book I worked on recently, for example, the author wrote, “In the Chapter 12...” A native speaker would know that you’d simply say “In Chapter 12...” The editor of that technical book scolded the author in a marginal note: “The content of this chapter looks good, but I am disappointed by the standard of English. Once again, the words a, an, and the are semi-randomly used or not used.... Please make sure you submit only
December 2009 • www.400edition.com
well-formed English. I really should not have to be saying this at such a late point in the project.” I felt truly sorry for the author, who responded: “As hard as I may, English is not my native language, and articles are its particularly difficult aspect.” Here’s your homework assignment: See how many instances of bare singular nominals you can spot this week. You say you don’t know what a bare singular nominal is? That’s what you call those singular nouns that don’t have an article. Now that you know the term, you can use it to amaze your friends at dinner. (Oh my, I just gave you a freebie.) Nancy Wright does occasional editing and proofreading, and formats technical books for a specialty publishing house in New York. She and her husband live in White County; you can contact her at adairmill@windstream.net. You can visit the forums at www.400edition. com to read some earlier columns.
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Cover story— Dreaming of a White Interiors Christmas by Tammi J. Scales
t White Interiors, we believe A that charity truly begins at home. As you may have noticed
from our cover, we are proud to support the Holly Theater as a premier entertainment and education venue in North Georgia. You will want to be sure to see these young cast members on stage during the December showing of A Christmas Carol. It’s a wonderful, family-friendly way to celebrate the holidays. This is an important time to share the spirit of giving—even with those you don’t know. In support of Dawson County families in need, bring two items of canned goods with you on your next White Interiors visit. We’ll donate these items to the Ric Rack shop and reward your generosity with a 10% discount on all furniture. On a geographically broader note, a few of our favorite charities include these two: St. Jude Hospital, for all the great work that they do for children; and the Special Operation Warrior Foundation, which helps pay for college for the children of soldiers killed in action. In support of our military, White Interiors is thankful for them and wishes them and their families a safe Merry Christmas. For those you know who are nearer to home, here are a few great gift ideas with a personal touch: A picture frame is always a great gift for any occasion, but especially at Christmas, and particularly when it is filled with a picture that captures a special memory. Even if you don’t include a picture, frames can fit on a desk, grace a wall, or even hang on your Christmas tree. White Interiors has different sized frames of many colors, handmade of everything from tin to fabric to fit any décor. How about favorite coffee or hot chocolate packs in a coffee cup—don’t forget the peppermint stick! Another choice is a pottery dish filled with someone’s favorite Christmas candy and tied with a colorful ribbon. Our pottery items make unique, treasured gifts. If it’s a special friend, add a throw to complete a really cozy
Christmas. What better way to spend an evening this winter than warming up with a colorful cozy throw in front of the fireplace, drinking hot chocolate? Our throws are beautifully crafted and can last a lifetime. Christmas ornaments are always a good gift idea. They can be plain or extravagant, rustic or traditional, varied in size, color, and material. Some of our favorites this year include tin crosses that look great hanging on the tree; rustic bells with plaid material; silver or copper hummingbirds; and the sweetest small books that have a nostalgic feel. If you are looking for that special grandparent gift, we have some precious glass ornaments that can hold a beloved family member’s picture—just the place for a grandchild’s photo. For more universal gifts, try a vintage tissue-box cover or a glass postcard holder. A vintage postcard is an interesting conversation piece, and it looks good hanging on any Christmas tree. If you’re looking for a small but special gift, we have an assortment of pretty baskets that can be filled with fudge, bath salts, or lavish soaps. Unique gift giving is our specialty! White Interiors is here to help you with any person on your list. If you have someone in your life who “has everything,” encourage them to stop by our shop to sign up for the White Interiors gift registry. Then when you come in, we can show you what they really want—it’s the perfect present with no risk! Remember that we are always here to help you decorate your house for any special occasion, including Christmas parties for your family and friends; or for every day of your life. Everything at White Interiors is hand-picked…just for you! From our White Interiors family—Judith, Mary Jane, Lauren, Tracy, Lisa, Mike, Rene, Debbie, Hunter, Susan, and Tammi—to your family, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!
How to Turn the Inside of Your Home into a Dazzling White Christmas Everyone loves a white Christmas, but the sparkle and beauty doesn’t have to be confined to the outdoors and we don’t have to wait for Mother Nature. Decorating your home using a white theme can be dazzling and sophisticated. I like to warm up the winter look with touches of red, but touches of gold also adds just the right amount of warmth to a winter wonderland. Using only white and possibly blue may leave you cold and disappointed. Let’s start with the Christmas tree. • Spray the tree with snow. The amount depends upon your own personal taste. You can give it a light dusting or make it look like a heavy snowfall. • Use clear lights. Use a combination of standard steady glowing lights along with twinkling lights. • Adorn the tree with clear, white and silver ornaments, snowflakes and glass ornament icicles. There are many beautiful Christmas ornaments available that have an elegant frosty look including fruit, berries, birdhouses and even flowers. You can use white glittery fern sprays and anything that captures the beauty and sparkle of fresh winter snow. • Use garlands or curls of white or silver ribbon nestled in the tree. A very pale aqua blue ribbon can also be used to emulate the subtle blues of a snowy landscape. • Drape the tree with clear beads. • Use sprays of red berries throughout the tree to add excitement to the winter theme. There’s nothing more beautiful than red berries peeking through the glistening snow. • As a finishing touch, place white doves, red cardinals and any other little birds and perhaps bird nests among the branches. Your White Christmas table decorations will look elegant and
classic. Here are some tips and suggestions to get your creative juices flowing. • Use a white tablecloth. • Decide on a theme. Use one to three decorations to be repeated throughout your table decoration. You could use white doves, white and silver flowers and berries, little snowmen, white glittery pinecones, snowflakes, silver bells, angels, etc. Differing shades of blue, aqua and purple Christmas ornaments can also be used. • Use white or silver candles in candelabras for a formal look or in small candleholders for a less formal look. Hurricane lamps can also be used. If hurricane lamps are used, tie white and silver ribbons around the base to dress them up. The lamps can also be sprayed with Crystal Frost, which replicates the beautiful look of frost crystals on glass. • Use greenery sprayed with snow. The greenery can be placed down the length of the table or it can be made into a candle wreath to be used in the center of the table. Decorate the greenery with your theme decorations. Add touches of elegant, white glittery ribbon to complete the look. If placed lengthwise down the center of the table, it should be placed around the candles, but beware of fire hazards. Do not let the candles burn too low or come in contact with the greenery or decorations. I hope these ideas will help you get started on creating your own winter wonderland. You don’t have to dream about a “White Christmas.” You can create your own. from www.amazing-christmas-ideas.com
Tree Trimming Tip:
Lights
Start with the lights and start at the base of the tree. Weave the strands from the inside of the tree branches to the edges, working your way to the top – voilà, the perfect light decoration. Don’t skimp on lights! For every vertical foot of tree, use a strand of 100 lights. Also, don’t be afraid to mix and match light, i.e. colored with clear, large bulb with smaller bulbs, stationary with twinkling – or all of them. There’s no rule that says you can only use one kind of light.
December 2009 • www.400edition.com
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Dahlonega Old Shop Historic Downtown Dahlonega—the premium destination for shopping and dining in North Georgia. Downtown Dahlonega holds history, charm, AND 50 retail stores featuring the very finest thoughtful and unique gifts. Enjoy your shopping in the friendly Old Fashioned Christmas atmosphere of Historic Downtown Dahlonega. www.dahlonega.org The Southern Living Idea House at Achasta is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday from 1:00pm to 5:00pm—and due to its overwhelming success, the Idea House will be staying open through December 20. The Idea House is decorated in holiday splendor and is a must see. A portion of the $5 entrance fee will go directly to support Dahlonega’s local Historic Holly Theatre, a 501 (c) 3 non profit corporation focused on spreading the arts to the Dahlonega community. The house was decorated for the holidays by Atlanta’s award-winning and nationally recognized Carithers Florist. Returning to offer expertise in the classic southern design of the house will be Atlanta-based interior designer Mallory Mathison. The extended home tour dates will add an extra spark to Dahlonega’s wonderful Old Fashioned Christmas festival. This month-long celebration is a true “Old Fashioned Christmas” with the most beautifully decorated historic downtown anywhere. The month is packed with wonderful events, in addition to the breathtaking sights. Santa Claus will be in Dahlonega visiting with all the girls and boys. Bring your family to the downtown Visitors Center to talk with Santa
from 1:00pm to 6:00pm on Saturday and 1:00pm to 5:00pm on Sunday, every weekend through December 20. The Holly Theater presents “A Christmas Carol.” Shows begin December 3, running three weekends, Thursday through Sunday. Evenings at 8:00pm and Sunday matinees at 2:00pm. Scrooge, Marley, Cratchit, Tiny Tim, and the whole crowd will be there! Friday, December 4, is the big kickoff of festivities. The downtown merchants welcome visitors to their shops for the “Holiday Open House,” staying open late to meet you. Each year the Kiwanis Club puts out hundreds of luminaries that adds extra special sparkle to downtown. Santa Claus will be walking around downtown...so think twice about being naughty this evening. Saturday, December 5, you won’t want to miss the Old Fashioned Christmas parade at 4:30pm. The parade circles around downtown Dahlonega, so any spot is good for viewing on our downtown sidewalks. Of course Santa will be with us downtown, but he will take a break from his sleigh to ride in the parade as the official grand marshal. Immediately following the parade you will want to gather around the huge tree in front of the Visitors Center to hear a holiday song and see the lighting of the tree at approximately 6:00pm. There will be holiday food served by Kiwanis Club in front of the Visitor Center...get a
cup of hot chocolate while you enjoy the festivities. The North Georgia Chamber Symphony Orchestra Concert at St Luke’s Catholic Church is Saturday, December 5, at 7:30pm, following the lighting of the tree. They will be performing Christmas music as well as five parts of the Messiah, Panis Angelicus, and sing-along. Do I hear bells? The Dahlonega Baptist Church Golden Bells Handbell Choir will perform at the Visitor Center on Saturday, December 5, at 4:00pm, performing traditional Christmas carols and hymns. A wonderful new addition this year is the live nativity scene located in the courtyard of Park Place Hotel, right next to the Visitors Center. The nativity can be viewed Friday and Saturday, December 4 and 5, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Don’t miss the Kickin’ Cloggers on Saturday, December 5, 1:00pm to 2:00pm, as they entertain you, performing to Christmas tunes in front of Dahlonega’s Visitor Center. Cindy Barnes is the instructor. “Yield” from Dahlonega Baptist Church, directed by Chuck Ireland, will perform Sunday, December 6, 2:00pm to 3:00pm, in front of the Visitors Center. Dahlonega’s Sleigh Bell Tour of B&B Inns will take place on Sunday, December 6, from 1:00pm to 6:00pm. Spend the day doing a self-
ld-Fashioned Christmas guided driving tour from one lovely bed and breakfast inn to another in the heart of North Georgia wine country. Each bed and breakfast inn will be decked out for the holidays and offering tours and refreshments at each stop. Tickets cost $12.00 per person and can be purchased at the Dahlonega Visitors Center at 13 S. Park Street in downtown Dahlonega; 706-864-3711. For more information, visit www. dahlonegalodging.com. Swing into Christmas with a jazz concert. Enjoy Count Basie’s jazz trumpeter at NGCSU’s Shott Auditorium on Sunday, December 6. North Georgia will swing into Christmas with Scotty Barnhart’s jazz trumpet and the David Brothers Quartet playing your Christmas favorites and other jazz favorites. Scotty is an internationally acclaimed musician and educator. He is the featured trumpet soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra, and Professor of the Jazz Trumpet at FSU. The concert is compliments of the Friends of Dahlonega Jazz Society. Sunday, December 6, is also Dahlonega’s Historic Gold Museum’s Holiday Open House. Enjoy cider and cookies served from 10:00am to 5:00pm, and free admission. The Cumming Playhouse Singers perform holiday favorites at the Holly. On December 7, enjoy the singers
bringing a chorale performance of holiday favorites, including Christmas carols and selections from the Hallelujah Chorus and more of Handel’s Messiah. December 15, the Noteworthy Show Band, a big-band swing orchestra, will be performing all your favorite Christmas music and a few old standards as well. This will be like an Andy Williams or Bing Crosby Christmas special from the old days. You can also enjoy the Holly Carolers on the square throughout the holiday season. This is just a sampling of the many wonderful events in Historic Dahlonega. Other events include an opportunity to create your own chocolate-peppermint stick at Paul Thomas Chocolates, Holiday Story Time and Crafts at Lumpkin County Library, a Cool Christmas Thursdays through Sundays at Hummingbird Lane Art Gallery and Frog Hollow Photography, complimentary mulled wine and cookies at Upstairs Downstairs, a Pajama Party Sale at Cranberry Corners, as well as Emerald Rose. The fun list goes on and on...for more specific details or a complete list of events, visit www.dahlonega. org or call 800-231-5543. Don’t forget to shop for your holiday gifts in Dahlonega. You will find that perfect one-of-a-kind gift for the special people on your list!
Main Events Friday, December 4th
Santa Claus Walks the Square Gallery Walk Merchants Open House - Begins at 5:00pm Kiwanis Luminaries - Dusk Live Nativity at Park Place Courtyard 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday, December 5th
Santa Claus - Visitors Center 1:00pm-4:30pm Award Presentation to Merchants for Decorations - 4:00pm Old Fashioned Christmas Parade - 4:30pm Lighting of the Tree - 6:00pm Live Nativity at Park Place Courtyard 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Sunday, December 20th
Gallery Walk - “Peace on Earth” - 5:00pm
Santa at the Visitors Center
Saturdays in December from 1:00pm-6:00pm Sundays in December from 1:00-5:00pm.
For Information call 800-231-5543 or visit www.dahlonega.org Click on “Festivals”
Fun 400 by
Courtesy of ActivityConnection.com. Answers on page 24.
Searching for an Old-Fashioned Holiday The list of words to the right of the puzzle can be found horizontally, vertically, diagonally, backwards, and forwards.
M S Q E B L R U O I D E D W E B H H Q Z J P E T E G S H L A D B Z O G I P O R I M R O S B N B X T I W Z K O G I W M R K T N N P E P P E R M I N T D N Z A E T V E I U K C A S E C E U D X E O D S M N S T N C T P O G L K A E H C N G P S A M T N I A P C A R A L C R O I T S N A D D F D A L C I R C N O E N O G O T W I E N A K E T R Y T A R A E B W L Y N W L D A R S P R I I D A C S T U N T S E H C Y L C L A E U V T N L K R E D I C M T I N R S C R R S E I M A W E A E P Y A K I P A T V F H E S X T J C H R S T U N L A W G F C A N D L E S Y T N E V D A R M K T A I S U G A R P L U M H G J V B O U G H S G
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December 2009 • www.400edition.com
ADVENT APPLES BELLS BOUGHS CANDLES CANDY CANE CAROLS CARRIAGE RIDE CHESTNUTS CIDER DATES
DECORATE DICKENS EGGNOG FRUITCAKE GARLAND GIFTS HOMEMADE NATIVITY NUTCRACKER ORNAMENTS PEPPERMINT PINE CONES POPCORN SUGARPLUM TIN TINSEL TREE WALNUTS WASSAIL WOODEN TOYS
Christmas Thoughts
W
by Aaron Snider
hen people think of Christmas, they generally think of presents, and good times with the family, and relatives visiting from far-off places. But to me, it means something more. It means that there is peace, and love, and compassion. There are many stories I could share with you about Christmas past, such as one of my favorites from World War I when, in 1914, troops ceased fire and called a truce for Christmas, possibly one of the greatest moments in history. But here is the best one, one that will go down in history forever. If we look back, about 2000 years, at the story of Christmas, you’ll see that Christmas means something more significant than the prices we put on it, or the sales we try to get to on Christmas Eve. About 2000 years ago, a young woman named Mary was traveling to Bethlehem with her husband, Joseph. Mary was expecting a baby, but she was a virgin. She didn’t know what to expect, just that she would call him Jesus, as the angel that appeared to her earlier had said. When she arrived at the local inn at Bethlehem, the owner told her that all the rooms were filled. He offered to let her stay in the stable, with the animals. She took the offer, and she and Joseph stayed there for the night. Meanwhile, a group of shepherds were watching their sheep, when another angel appeared before them and told them to travel to Bethlehem,
to witness the newborn savior. The shepherds were frightened, but they went anyway. Well, when the time came, Mary gave birth to the little boy Jesus. Even with the turmoil and the pain that was going on throughout the world, there was peace there, and these people knew that this little boy would bring new life and peace into this world. And He did, as He sacrificed Himself, poured out His blood and His love, as He died on a cross, so He could save a world in need, a world that loved Him when He was a baby, cherished Him as a teacher, and scorned Him as a savior. As I’ve said, Christmas has a different meaning to me. To me, I want to think like the shepherds, who were afraid—as I am of the things that happen in this world—but went to the stable, and came to the realization that peace will be here. They gave everything to see their savior born. If we lived like them, then we would truly understand what Christmas is really about. And if we just keep that glimmer of hope in our hearts, we’ll find that peace we’ve longed for so much. Peace on Earth is something that is possible, and we can pull it off, but only if we live as the shepherds did on that one quiet, holy night, when all was calm and all was right. That’s what I think. What about you?
Aaron Snider is a freshman at Gainesville State University.
Sponsor A Foster Child For Christmas! T
he volunteers of the non-profit “Foster Children’s Christmas Fund” are excited to begin their eighth year of successful operation serving the foster children of Towns and Union counties. With the generous support and contributions from the citizens of Towns and Union counties, each child will again have their special Christmas wishes come true. If you are willing to assist with this special project, you will be mailed a special “Christmas Angel” that will tell you about your child, their clothing sizes, and their special “Christmas Wishes.” Call to sponsor a foster child or to ask questions: Pat Elliott, 706-896-3749; Sherry Wendt, 706-253-2514; or Richard Paolillo
706-745-1190. If you prefer to make a monetary contribution, make checks payable and mail to The Foster Children’s Christmas Fund, Sherry Wendt, 240 Outback Road, Jasper, GA, 30143, or deposit directly into the fund at The Bank of Hiawassee or The Bank of Blairsville. All donations go directly to purchase Christmas gifts for the children, who will experience a wonderful Christmas due to your generosity. Thank you on behalf of all of the children. May each of you have a blessed holiday season. Towns and Union Foster Children’s Enrichment Fund Inc. Non Profit 501(c)3 Charity
December 2009 • www.400edition.com
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Cavender Creek Cabins
Check out our “Early Winter Special.” Pay for two nights and receive the third night FREE!! Our complex is North Georgia’s premier cabin resort. Cavender Creek Cabins are set in the breathtaking natural beauty of the North Georgia mountains and blend a rustic setting with luxurious accommodations to create a variety of unique atmospheres that will please even the most demanding guest. Our romantic and family size cabins are situated only four miles from the historic Dahlonega Square. Most cabins offer a hot tub located outside on a covered porch, overlooking beautiful Cavender Creek or our private pond. Visit our web site and be sure to take our virtual tours. www.CavenderCreek.com - 706-864-7221 or 1-866-373-6307
The Fudge Factory
A landmark of the historic Dahlonega Square, The Fudge Factory offers handmade and hardto-find confections and candies. The Fudge Factory is best known for their fresh fudge in almost every imaginable variety. Other delights include brittles, truffles, chocolatecovered pretzels and fruit, Nuggets (like “Turtles”), pralines, divinity, and toffee. The Fudge Factory has treats like jaw breakers, gummy anything and everything, gourmet pecans, rock candy, taffy, and other traditional candies. In addition to tasty treats to eat on a stroll around the Square, The Fudge Factory offers extraordinary custom boxes and other favors filled with your favorite treats for all types of events. Located on the north side of the square, across Main Street from the Welcome Center. MondayThursday 10:00am-6:00pm, Friday-Saturday 10:00am-9:00pm, Sunday 1:00pm-6:00pm www.DahlonegaFudgeFactory.com - 706-864-2256
Paul Thomas Chocolates
Cranberry Corners
Since 1995, Cranberry Corners, one of “North Georgia’s Most Eclectic Mercantiles,” has been a cornerstone at 44 North Park Street on Dahlonega’s Historic Square. This family-run store is where to shop for unique gifts, collectibles, antiques, handcrafted items, and custom gift baskets. The year-round Christmas section features an enormous selection. Their motto? “At Cranberry Corners, there are no strangers…Just friends we’ve yet to meet!” Open Monday through Saturday 10:30am-5:30pm and Sunday 12:00pm-5:30pm. www.cranberrycorners.com or call 706-864-6577.
Crown Mountain Limo
Planning a wedding in the North Georgia mountains? Visiting Dahlonega and want to sample the award-winning wines produced here? Well, we provide a service you’ll need. Call Crown Mountain Limo for professional, timely, and, most of all, safe transportation services. Let us chauffeur you to these events, as well as to proms, birthday and anniversary celebrations, concerts and plays, and much more. Our beautiful black Cadillac limousine will make you feel like royalty, and in our 14-passenger vans and mini party bus, you will be treated like royalty. We are your driving specialists. Call Suzanne at 706-867-7372 to reserve your special event with us. Whether you are local, or coming in from out of town, we treat you like family. We are Crown Mountain Limo & Group Transportation, Inc. Don’t drink and drive; let us keep you all safe. 706-867-7372
Dahlonega is a sweeter place, thanks to Paul Thomas Chocolates at 39 South Chestatee Street. Founder of Hoffman Chocolates in Florida, Paul and Lori Hoffman have brought the joy and complexity of making fine chocolate to the North Georgia mountains. You’ll want to smell and taste the sweet delights at Paul Thomas Chocolates, located just off the square. Specialties include milk and dark chocolate-covered pretzels, nuts, and fruit, and truffles. Take home a piece of Dahlonega with a one-of-a-kind, chunky Dahlonega Gold Bar. Stop by to see what topnotch ingredients, a lifetime of expertise, and a true passion for candymaking can produce. Open Monday-Thursday 9:30-6:00, Friday & Saturday 9:30-8:00, and Sunday 11:00-5:00. Now you can order online! www.PaulThomasChocolates.com - 706-864-6333
The Gold Shop
Custom jewelry from the site of America’s First Major Gold Rush. The Gold Shop in Dahlonega has been serving their customers since 1977. Rachel and Leonard Wilkerson had mined gold for a living and even mined over half the gold presently atop the dome of the State Capitol in downtown Atlanta. Their specialty items are rings, pendants, and earrings set with raw natural gold found in the rivers around Dahlonega. Many unique pieces of jewelry and custom work are done with diamonds and colored stones. The shop is located inside Mary’s Mini-Mall on the Dahlonega Square. Hours: Monday thru Thursday, 10:00am to 8:00pm, Friday and Saturday, 10:00am to 9:00pm. www.thegoldshoponline.com - 706-864-7227
Be sure to tell them you saw them in 400 Edition! More local events & places at www.Dahlonega.org 20 400 Edition
December 2009 • www.400edition.com
Your Vision Source! Corneal Abrasions North Georgia Hair Cutters
North Georgia Hair Cutters is a familyoriented hair salon, barber shop, and tanning salon owned by James and Vikki Condrey. Vikki has been running with scissors since 1986 and manages the shop. The shop is located at 408 West Main Street just outside the Historic Public Square of Dahlonega. They offer great service, along with the best haircut at a budget price. They feature a discounted buzz cut for all NGCSU Cadets, active military, R.O.T.C., and public service employees. Discounts are also offered to NGCSU students and senior citizens. North Georgia Hair Cutters specializes in hair cutting, styling, perms, and color, high and low lights. Their salon features a fire truck cutting station for kids, as well as a play area, TV, free Wi-Fi, and a study area for students. They take appointments as well as walk-ins. They also sell all professional name-brand hair products. Master Card, Visa, and Discover accepted. The shop operates on Monday and Tuesday 7:30am to 5:00pm, Wednesday thru Friday 7:30am to 7:00pm, Saturday 10:00am to 4:00pm, and Sunday 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Check them out on Facebook. 706-482-0541.
Studio Jewelers
Tired of the “same old thing” jewelry stores these days? Then discover Studio Jewelers on the north side of the public square in Dahlonega for interesting one-of-a-kind creations. They also specialize in fascinating Estate jewelry with the largest selection in the North Georgia area. Genuine alexandrite, natural star sapphires, rare black opals and natural colored diamonds are just a few of the exotic colored stones set in platinum or 18k gold you will find in this “gem” of a jewelry store. Come see the newest creations of Edwardian-inspired designs in hand-engraved platinum and diamond jewelry. For a unique gift of value that says “I love you” year after year, see Studio Jewelers. Her friends won’t say “Where did you get that ring?”, but “Where did you get THAT MAN?!” Open Monday thru Saturday 10:00-5:30. Sunday 12:00-5:30. 706-864-4234.
Yahoola Creek Grill
The best dining experience in Dahlonega isn’t located on the Square—it’s found 1.5 miles down S. Chestatee St. at Yahoola Creek Grill! Visitors enjoy locally-sourced, Southern-inspired cooking from their outdoor deck (look for the blue and white umbrellas!), copper bar and upstairs loft. Casual fine dining in a friendly environment. Serving comfort food done right for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch—Southern favorites, seafood, pasta, sandwiches, soups, salads and daily filet and ribeye specials. Full beer and wine list. All major credit cards accepted. Hours: Mon.-Thur. 11:00am-2:00pm (lunch), 5:00pm-9:00pm (dinner); Fri. and Sat. 11:00am-10:00pm (until 11:00 p.m. on Friday game nights); Sunday Brunch 10:00am3:00pm. Coming into Dahlonega, located 3.8 miles off the end of GA 400 on the way to the Square. 1810 S. Chestatee St. (past Achasta golf course and over Yahoola Creek; find the umbrellas). www.yahoolacreekgrill.com – 706.482.2200
or 1.800.231.5543
It’s that time of year again, a time for celebrations and gatherings. It is a time to be spent with family and friends. But with the holidays fast approaching there are some scenarios that may cause potential eye injuries. In the United States, 2.5 million people suffer from eye injuries each year. And about half of these injuries occur at home. During the holiday season, Christmas trees can be a cause of eye injuries due to branches or needles hitting the eye. Christmas toys and decorations can also cause harm if not used properly. Parents should be aware of possible eye injuries and make sure children are using toys properly. Most common injuries for children are between the ages of 6 and 14, with boys having more injuries than girls. Any toy that shoots objects or has flying parts can cause potential injuries. The most common eye injury is a corneal abrasion. A corneal abrasion is a painful scrape or scratch across the clear covering over the eye. This clear tissue covers the iris, the colored part of the eye. Any injury to this area is usually very painful due to the many nerve endings that lie within the cornea. Any injury to the eye can cause a corneal abrasion. Injuries can be from a tree branch hitting the eye, a fingernail, or any foreign object that hits the eye. Some symptoms of a corneal abrasion are a foreign body sensation, tearing of the eyes, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and pain. To diagnose a corneal abrasion you should see a Doctor of Optometry. Your doctor will put in a dye to aid in viewing the abrasion. This allows the doctor to view which part of the cornea is missing. The doctor will measure the size and the extent of the injury. Many times small abrasions do not require treatment other than artificial tears.
by Dr. Joyce M. Nations
Larger abrasions are typically treated with antibiotic drops or ointments to prevent infection. A steroid drop may be needed if there is inflammation or a potential for scarring. Sometimes for large abrasions a “bandage contact lens” needs to be placed in the eye to aid in healing. If you have a corneal abrasion, your doctor may ask you to return to the office in 2448 hours. The cornea will generally heal itself, usually within several days. If the abrasion does not heal properly, a recurrent corneal erosion may occur several months to years down the road. The symptoms are similar to the abrasion but they keep coming back. It is important that you see your doctor if you have any pain, blurred vision, foreign body sensation, or eye redness, or have had any injury to the eye. To avoid injuries, you can take the following preventative measures: Wear protective eyewear during sporting activities or where objects can fly into the eye. Also use caution when putting up and taking down holiday decorations. And keep a close check on children when they are playing with their new toys. So take care during this time and have a safe and enjoyable holiday season. Dr. Nations practices at Cherokee Eye Group at 591 East Main Street in Canton and at Dawson Eye Group at 5983 Hwy. 53 East, Suite 250, in Dawsonville. She received her Doctor of Optometry degree and her Masters of Public Health degree in 1993 from the University of Alabama. She is a member of the American Optometric Association, Georgia Optometric Association, and Vision Source.
Tree Trimming Tip:
Garland
There are no rules for how you choose to hang garland, though thin beady garlands naturally drape branch to branch, and thick paper, ribbon, or foil garlands are more easily wrapped loosely around the entire tree. Combine garland textures for fun. Try a fancy shiny, thin, glistening garland intertwined with or overlapping a plain wooden garland or wide, wired ribbon.
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Who Gets Hurt When Divorce Isn’t Really the End? (Everyone)
Mind and heart mind & heart
T
he difficulties that divorced parents often have relating to one another in functional ways concerning their children have been well documented in clinical practice. As referenced in earlier articles by this writer, some unhealthy co-parenting practices reach such levels of dysfunction and toxicity that they have even been characterized as a “syndrome,” as outlined in Dr. Richard A. Gardner’s controversial 1992 book, The Parental Alienation Syndrome. While there is considerable disagreement among mental health practitioners about whether or not there is enough evidence to warrant labeling these phenomena as constituting a true syndrome, most would agree that the effects of dysfunctional co-parenting over time can be toxic indeed. Up to this point in time, most of the literature and lore have focused on the detrimental effects such parental behaviors have had upon the children of divorce and, admittedly, it is natural to see them as the primary victims of such practices. What of the parents themselves, however, particularly among the many cases where there is one primary “perpetrator” of abuse and the other trying to be fair, reasonable, and flexible? In my work with families of divorce, I have noted one particularly insidious variant of the aforementioned alienation agenda, that of one parent continually compiling and presenting “evidence” to the other about all the ways in which he or she is behaving like a “bad father” or “bad mother.” The guilt and selfdoubt that these tactics can induce within the recipient of this abuse can be overwhelming at times. One recent example of this phenomenon from my own practice stands out: A divorced
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father of two; recently remarried and expecting a baby with his second wife; ironically, very involved overall in the lives of the two children from his first marriage; exercising regular parental visitations; being berated and taken to task by a bitter and irrational ex-wife for, among numerous other “deficits,” not going across town to every single one of his son’s baseball games… and practices! While on the one hand a very compelling case can be made that for a busy working, re-married and expectant father this is indeed an unreasonable expectation, this father nevertheless has been made to feel guilty and even inadequate because he simply cannot logistically meet this expectation (which, by the way, is much more the mother’s than it is the son’s), as much as he would like to if he could. All this pressure has created an almost impossible internal guilt bind from which there is only self-release from within, and this is a very difficult task for such a truly caring and involved parent. This individual had become tortured by self-doubt and compulsive second-guessing, always wondering whether he was really doing “enough” for his children and becoming initially driven to try to overcompensate for his alleged failings as a father by giving his children too much disciplinary leeway during their visits with him, much to the chagrin of his new wife. Symptoms had developed for him around this process: anxiety, irritability, insomnia, diminished patience, to name a few. Within this case, this is only one small example taken from a multitude of manufactured parental transgressions that he continues to be prosecuted for by the relentless ex-wife, herself as yet not re-partnered and clearly not free from December 2009 • www.400edition.com
Mark P. Feinsilber, Ph.D.
many powerful, unresolved feelings that she still harbors for her ex-husband. As he, his new wife, and I have talked through the underlying dynamics in this case, we have come to conclude that he is, in effect, being “prosecuted” by his ex- for abandonment, not of his paternal responsibilities as she so vehemently claims, but rather of her. As is the case with so many parental alienation scenarios, the children are being used as “pawns” in the service of a much larger and more sinister personal “punishment” agenda; an agenda spurred by loss, rejection, and ultimate abandonment. In the final analysis, who, then, is actually playing the role of the “bad” parent in this family drama? While the above example might be considered rather extreme by some, it clearly illustrates that children are not the only victims in cases involving parental alienation tactics; sometimes the parents are as well. Mark P. Feinsilber, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years’ experience treating adults, children, adolescents, couples, and families; and is a founding member of the Behavioral Health Association of Forsyth (BHAF). His practice is located at 6030 Bethelview Road, Suite 401, in Cumming. Appointments or other consultations can be arranged by calling the administrative office at 770-205-5760, and more detailed information can be found at www.APSDoc.com.
NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL
To Your Health
What Women Should Know About Uterine Fibroids by Deidre Dixon, Director of Radiology, Northside Hospital Approximately three out of every four American women have uterine fibroids, common benign (non-cancerous) tumors that develop within the uterine wall. While not all women with them experience symptoms, many experience symptoms so severe and debilitating that their everyday life is affected.
Symptoms not to ignore Although no one knows what causes uterine fibroids, they occur most often during high-estrogen periods such as a woman’s reproductive years, pregnancy, or oralcontraceptive use. In most cases, they are harmless. But for some, they grow and cause problems that require medical attention. Unfortunately, many women are unaware that they even have fibroids and accept their symptoms as a normal part of life. Call your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms: • Heavy, prolonged monthly periods, sometimes with clots • Anemia (fatigue due to low red blood cell count) • Pain or pressure between the hip bones or in the back of the legs • Pain during sexual intercourse • Frequent need to urinate • Constipation or bloating • An enlarged abdomen • Infertility
Finding relief
Several options are available for treatment of uterine fibroids. Myomectomy
involves surgically removing the tumors from the women’s uterus. For patients who require this treatment option, robotic technology, available at Northside Hospital, is making it much more minimally invasive than ever before. In 2008, Northside hosted the country’s first successful delivery of healthy twins following a myomectomy, and currently ranks in the top 5% of all robotic GYN programs nationwide. An alternative procedure, Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE), is a proven nonsurgical and even less invasive alternative for the treatment of fibroids. It involves the injection of tiny plastic or sponge particles into the arteries that supply blood to the fibroids, blocking blood flow; this essentially starves and therefore shrinks them. Physicians at Northside have been performing UFE for nearly 10 years. Although extensive research has proven the success and safety of treating fibroid symptoms with either procedure, many factors play into who is a candidate for robotic myomectomy vs. UFE. The decision about which procedure to choose should be made jointly by the patient, her gynecologist, and an interventional radiologist. Northside Hospital (www.northside.com) is Atlanta’s premier hospital for women’s health. For more information about robotic myomectomy at Northside, call 404-851-8200. For more information about UFE or to schedule a consultation, call 404-851-6063.
December 2009 • www.400edition.com
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Events! Events, Tip: Keep in mind that 400 Edition is now released on or about the 1st of each month. Your event needs to be submitted via our web site 30-45 days prior to your event date and no later than the 20th of the month. We have to have all the information requested on the submission form, so be sure your form is complete. Just go to 400edition.com and click “Submit an Event” on the home page.
December 7 - Pearl Harbor Day December 12 - Hanukkah begins December 21 - First day of winter December 25 - Christmas December 31 - New Year’s Eve
Alpharetta
Alzheimer’s Support Group
December 8, 2:00pm to 3:30pm at The Guest House Adult Day Care Facility. Support group for those giving care to people with dementia. Free and confidential surrounding to hear speakers, glean helpful information, and relate to others who understand. The second Tuesday of each month. Info: Jocelyn at 770-535-1487 or jocelyn@theguesthouse.org.
32nd Annual Tree Lighting
December 6 at 5:00pm in the Milton Square City Park at Milton Avenue and Main Street. Come see Alpharetta Downtown Historic District light up at the 32nd Annual Christmas Tree Lighting. Hear ’Twas the Night Before Christmas read on the main stage by Mayor Letchas and his wife Sally; enjoy live music and caroling;
performances by City of Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department Rhythm n’ Shoes Dance Program, and Alpharetta Christian Academy Children’s Chorus; and visit Santa and Mrs. Claus. There will be free buggy rides; historic site tour; strolling elves creating free balloon sculptures, bubbles, glow necklaces, and holiday crafts; free face painting; dancing candy canes, marching soldiers, and the beautiful ballerina Clara from the Metropolitan Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker will also entertain guests. Beware of the evil mice as they may make an appearance. Free to the public, with free parking available at City Hall and Milton Center (the old Milton High School). Info: www.alpharetta.ga.us or phone 678-297-6078.
Surviving Cancer
Thursday, December 3, 6:30pm to 7:30pm at The Wellness Community, 5775 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Suite C-225, RSVP: 404-843-1880. Dinner provided and cost for program is free. Come join this roundtable discussion of how to better emotionally prepare for the holiday season. Everyday life for a survivor can be very stressful. Unrealistic expectations for the holidays can raise your stress level even higher. We will talk, share, and perhaps discover new ways to approach the season that are more life-giving. Facilitated by Elaine Hoffman, LMFT, M.Div. For more information about The Wellness Community’s cancer support programs, call 404-843-1880 or visit www.thewellnesscommunity-atlanta. org.
Blairsville
Christmas Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 12, 4:30pm, Vogel State Park. Join us for a tree lighting, caroling, hayrides, Santa Claus visit, bonfires, hot chocolate, and cider. For the “Give A Gift Toy Drive” sponsored by the Union County Sheriff’s Department, bring an unwrapped gift (no toy guns, knives, or dangerous items) for kids of 0-12 years of age. 706-745-2628.
Christmas Horse Camp
Atlanta
Surviving the Holidays while
by
Fun 400 Answers from page 18.
Searching for an Old-Fashioned Holiday
For your horse lover, the greatest Christmas present of all. Once again Trackrock Stables will be hosting a Christmas Horse camp for all your young riders (ages seven and above). This year the horse camp will run a five-day (December 28 thru January 1); a three-day camp (December 28 thru December 30); and a two-day camp (December 31 thru January 1).
Courtesy of ActivityConnection.com.
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Remember, if you plan to camp, or want to stay in one of our cabins, you need to make reservations separately with the campground at 706-745-2420. To make reservations, call the stables at 706-745-5252 or check out our website at www.trackrock.com and click on Horse Camp.
Canton
The Cherokee Chorale
December 13, 3:00pm. The Cherokee Chorale will present its Christmas Concert, “An English Christmastide,” at the Canton First United Methodist Church, 930 Lower Scott Mill Road. The Chorale, conducted by John Barker, will sing John Rutter’s Magnificat and selected Christmas carols arranged by Rutter. The Etowah High School Advanced Chorus, conducted by Ann Dalton Burgess, will be special guest performers for the concert. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students, and may be purchased at the door before the concert, or in advance from any Chorale member, the Arts Council and Chamberhouse in Canton, Three Sisters Gifts in Hickory Flat, Jasper Drug in Jasper, and Fox Tale Book Shoppe in Woodstock. Info: 678-439-8625 or www.CherokeeChorale.org.
The Great American Trailer Park Musical
December 14 and 15, 7:00pm. Auditions will be held at the Historic Canton Theatre, 171 E. Main Street, in Canton, for Cherokee Theatre Company’s winter production, “The Great American Trailer Park Musical.” Auditions will consist of cold readings, singing, and dance/movement. Please bring your own sheet music or a CD for accompaniment. For rehearsal
Events! and performance schedules or other information, visit www.cherokeetheatre. org or call 770-591-0282.
Cumming
A Bluegrass Christmas
December 4 at 7:00pm at North Lanier Baptist Church. Barbecue dinner and music by Sunnyside Bluegrass Band. Cost $10 per person or $20 per family. Reservations by calling 770-781-5433. For more information, contact North Lanier Baptist Church at 770-781-5433 or kimberlysizemore@northlanier.org.
The Joy of Connecting Holiday Open House
December 15 from 6:30pm to 9:00pm at The Columns at Pilgrim Mill, Holiday Open House with fun, food, vendors, and networking. The Joy of Connecting is a relaxed dinner/ networking gathering for women business owners, entrepreneurs, other professionals. All participants have the opportunity to present their business and receive an attendance roster. Reservations and pre-payment required. Contact Annette Walden )770-887-6792 or Annette@PaintedLadyEnterprises. com) or Phyllys Ransom (678-467-2541) for more information and to make a reservation, or visit www. TheJoyofConnecting-CummingGA. com. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month.
Christmas In Cumming
December 11 (4:00pm to 10:00pm) and 12 (10:00am to 5:00pm). Plan to attend the 13th annual Christmas in Cumming Arts & Crafts Show, held inside the Cumming Livestock Barn located on the City of Cumming Fairgrounds. Admission is $1.00; children 12 and
under free. While the Christmas in Cumming Arts & Crafts Show is taking place, there will be numerous other Christmas activities going on around the Fairgrounds. Free photos with Santa on Friday and Saturday. Christmas Light Show, caroling, and poinsettias for sale. Info: 770-423-1330.
Forsyth County Newcomer and Women’s Club Luncheon Event
Thursday, December 17, 11:00am, at the Winderemere Golf Club, 5000 Davis Love Drive, Cumming. Topic: “Girls’ Trips on a Budget” presented by Alice Hughes, Travel Agent. Cost: $20; reservations by December 10. Info: www.forsythcountynewcomersclub. org or Imy Rach at 770-232-7917 or samanthasmimi@gmail.com.
Sanders Family Christmas
December 1-13, TWTFS, 8:00pm; Sun 3:00pm, Cumming Playhouse. The Sanders Family clan is back just in time for the holidays with a nostalgic evening of bluegrass music and yuletide cheer. In “Sanders Family Christmas” (the sequel to the everpopular “Smoke On The Mountain”) the Sanders family returns to Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. It’s Christmas Eve 1941 and Reverend Mervin Oglethorpe has invited them to sing and get the congregation into the down home holiday spirit. More than two dozen Christmas carols, many of them vintage hymns, and hilarious yuletide stories from the Sanders family keep the audience laughing, clapping, and singing along. Richly entertaining, this infectious musical brings cheer to audiences eager to see how their friends from Smoke On The Mountain have been getting along. As
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Events,
the family celebrates the season and welcomes the Savior, Mervin plans a surprise of his own. The Cumming Playhouse is at 101 School Street, Cumming, Georgia; 770-781-9178 or www.playhousecumming.com.
Christmas Through the Ages - Christmas Classics
December 15 and 16, 8:00pm, Cumming Playhouse. This show provides live Christmas music to the audiences and also creates a venue for local musicians to share their talent and spread good cheer among the townsfolk and visitors. Audience members, young and old, will be delighted by the wide array of musical selections. The cast includes talented adults, teenagers, and children whose prodigious talents will amaze you and make you smile. The music ranges from the most glorious classical compositions to the greatly beloved yuletide carols and the jazziest, jingling contemporary tunes; music from the medieval period right down to today’s Christmas music. The show will appeal to the whole family, and we guarantee you will go home tapping your toes and humming the music. Info: 770-781-9178 or www.playhousecumming.com.
Noteworthy Show Band of the South
December 17, 8:00pm, Cumming Playhouse. Director Bob Russell, along with 12 other highly accomplished musicians, featuring vocalists Kathy Russell and Gabe Russo, will make this an evening you won’t want to miss. A wonderful outing for a mid-December holiday occasion. Big band, show tunes, jazz. Info: 770-781-9178 or www.playhousecumming.com.
Christmas Around the World
December 19, 8:00pm, Cumming Playhouse. Christmas Around the World explores the various traditions that fall during the Christmas season observed in America. A father and daughter enjoy the thrill and excitement each country brings as it come to life before their eyes in music and dance. The program is designed to showcase the wide variety of local talent, depicting a global influence while being both entertaining and informative. Created and directed by Heavenly Expressions. Info: 770-781-9178 or www. playhousecumming.com.
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The Cumming Playhouse Singers - “Home for the Holidays”
December 22, 8:00pm. Home for the Holidays. Info: 770-781-9178 or www.playhousecumming.com.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
December 24, 5:00pm and 7:00pm at North Lanier Baptist Church. Candlelight worship services. Come as you are. Info: North Lanier Baptist Church at 770-781-5433 or northlanier@northlanier.org.
Russo and Noe - New Year’s Eve Concert
December 31, 8:00pm to10:00pm, Cumming Playhouse. Russo and Noe are professional entertainers, not an impersonation act. Based out of Atlanta, they perform all across the Southeast. Performing in tuxedos with the trademark Manhattan glass in hand, they take an audience back to the Rat Pack days of Las Vegas. Just close your eyes and you could be at the Sands Hotel in 1962. They are easy and relaxed on stage, slightly ribald with their humor, and possess voices remarkably suited to the swinging, big-band era. Info: 770-781-9178 or www.playhousecumming.com.
Sawnee Ballet Theatre
December 6, 4:00pm to 6:00pm, Nutcracker Tea at Windermere Golf and Country Club. The children will enjoy a delightful narrated mini performance of “The Nutcracker” featuring Clara, The Nutcracker, Sugar Plum Fairy, Baby Mouse, and many others. Tickets $20.00 per person available online at www.sawneeballettheatre.com or at Sawnee School of Ballet. Info: Connie Williard at 678-614-0851. All proceeds benefit Sawnee Ballet Theatre, Inc., a non-profit organization.
Dahlonega
Ribbon Cutting
December 2, noon, North Georgia Hair Cutters, 408 West Main Street. Refreshments and prizes. 706-482-0541.
Silver Sneakers
Tuesdays and Fridays 9:30am-10:30am. Silver Sneakers is a nationwide exercise program for seniors. Join us at the Lumpkin County Senior Center for muscular, strength, and range of motion exercise. Info: 706-864-2358.
Events, Events!
Cardio Class
Every Thursday, 3:00pm, at the Lumpkin County Senior Center. Info: 706-864-2358.
Old Fashioned Christmas
Friday, November 27, through December 31, with a real hometown Christmas parade set for December 5. Festival events, held at the Public Square, are free. Visits with Santa, extended shopping hours on the Square, and merchant Open House, plus entertainment, refreshments, lighting of the luminaries, and a Sleigh Bell Tour on Sunday, December 6, 1:00pm to 6:00pm.
Christmas Open House
Sunday, December 6, 9:00am to 4:00pm, Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site. Enjoy historic Dahlonega’s Old Fashion Christmas event and holiday decorations. Free museum admission, cider, and cookies. 706-864-2257.
A Christmas Carol
December 3 at 8:00pm; runs Thursday through Sunday until December 20. Charles Dickens’ timeless classic at the Holly. Scrooge, Cratchit, Marley, the Ghosts, and Tiny Tim, they’ll all be here for this fun-for-the-whole-family celebration of the spirit of Christmas giving. Don’t be a humbug; come join us! The Historic Holly Theater, 69 W Main Street, 706-864-3759.
Rented Christmas
December 3-5, 7:00pm. The Lumpkin County High School Drama Club will present the family musical Rented Christmas. Advance admission $5; door admission $7. Advanced tickets can be purchased by calling the high school at 706-864-6186. On December 6, the show will be presented at 2:00pm as a special matinee that includes dessert and coffee. Tickets for this special show are $15 and can be purchased by contacting Lumpkin Family Connection at 706-265-8389. Proceeds from this performance will benefit Lumpkin Family Connection.
The Cumming Playhouse Singers
December 7, 8:00pm at the Holly Theater. The Cumming Playhouse Singers will grace the stage with a choral performance of favorite, classic Christmas music. Want to hear what a choir of angels might sound like? Here’s your chance! Big voices singing
timeless music. Call ahead for tickets or purchase them at the door on show night. 706-864-3759.
Hannah Chapman Recital
December 5, 7:30pm, Hoag Student Center Auditorium. Senior piano recital. Reception in Great Room immediately following. Presented by the NGCSU Department of Performing Arts.
food items to support the food drive at our Dawson County Ric Rack.
Duluth
Breakfast with Santa
Saturday mornings during December (December 5-19), 9:00am to 11:00am at the Southeastern Railway Museum,
3595 Buford Highway, Duluth. Have a casual snack breakfast with Santa. The museum’s relaxed setting gives Mom and the family time to relax, while the kids enjoy special minutes with Santa. The whole family can then join Santa on a train ride, and visit the museum. Capture this special time with your own video or pictures. Reservations
The Dahlonega Jazz Society
December 6. Scotty Barnhart, internationally renowned jazz trumpet soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra, will perform a jazz concert with the David Brothers Quartet. Scotty will conduct a Jazz Master Class at 5:00 pm, and front the Quartet from 7:00pm until 9:00pm in the Gloria Schott Auditorium, NGC&SU. Info: Bill Fielder, fielderw@ yahoo.com, 706-348-8986.
The Note Worthy Show Band
December 15 at the Holly Theater. This band is THE band for people who enjoy superior musicianship and spot-on vocals. Remember the days of the great Big Bands? Ever think fondly of the old television specials with people like Bing, Andy, Frank, Judy, and Dinah? There is nothing like live big-band music, and these seventeen performers will bring a smile to your face and start your toes tapping. 706-864-3759.
Dawsonville
Christmas Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 5, annual tree lighting. Complimentary cider, hot cocoa, fresh coffee, live entertainment provided by the Dawson County High School chorus, and visits and (free) photographs with Santa Claus. That jolly old soul arrives to the crowd singing “Here Comes Santa Claus.” www.dawson.org.
Christmas Open House
Saturday, December 5, 4:00pm, Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge. Enjoy musical performances and gingerbread house creations, and then go for a winter hayride. Afterwards, warm up by the fire and visit with Santa. $5 parking. 706-265-1969.
Woodland Christmas
Come in during December to experience White Interiors’ Woodland Christmas (278 Hwy. 400 North, behind the Ryan’s Restaurant at Ga. 400 and Hwy 53). To receive 10% off your purchase from now until the end of 2009, please bring 2 non-perishable
December 2009 • www.400edition.com
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Events! are required. The breakfast price is just $3.00 more than the regular museum admission. Info or maps: www.southeasternrailwaymuseum.org.
Gainesville
Voices of North Georgia
December 4 and 5, 7:30pm at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 404 Washington Street, Gainesville. Tickets may be purchased at The Arts Council, at the door, or by calling 678-943-7255.
Helen
Deck the Halls of Unicoi
Saturday, December 5, 3:00pm to 5:00pm. Unicoi State Park and Lodge. This celebration includes making holiday crafts, hayrides (weather permitting), visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, a special meal in the park’s restaurant, and an evening of live music in the beautifully decorated lodge. $5 parking. 800-573-9659, ext. 305.
2009 Festival of Trees
December 1 through December 12, 9:00am, Unicoi State Park and Lodge. View beautifully decorated trees throughout Unicoi Lodge. This event is hosted by White County Chamber of Commerce. $5 parking. 800-573-9659, ext. 305.
Nature Photography Workshop
Saturday, December 12, Smithgall Woods Conservation Area and Lodge. Get the shot you want with guidance from nature photographer Joel Blacher. A working knowledge of your camera is required. See www.joeliblacher.com for examples of Joel’s work. Register by December 4. $55 plus $5 parking. 706- 878-3087.
Holi-Day Camp
Monday, December 21, through Wednesday, December 23, 10:00am to 3:00pm, Smithgall Woods Conservation Area and Lodge. Dip candles, make crafts, sip hot cider, and burn off lots of holiday energy at this action-packed day camp for kids ages 7-9. $20/day or $50 for all three. 706-878-3087.
Christmas in the Village
December 12 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm at Nacoochee Village. Free photos with Santa, hands-on “Touch a Truck” experience with local fire department, lighting of tree, cocoa, and cookies. Register for $1,000 gift basket.
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December 2009 • www.400edition.com
Benefits White County Christmas for Children; please bring unwrapped toy. www.nacoocheevillage.com. Info: Michelle Burgess (706-878-1234) or nacoochee1@windstream.net.
Woodstock
Holiday Art Show and Sale
December 4 and 6-24. Arts Alliance of Georgia, Inc., and the Towne Lake Art Center present the Holiday Art Show and Sale at Towne Lake Art Center, 6576 Commerce Parkway. The reception (free) is on Sunday, December 4, from 6:30pm - 9:00pm. The exhibit and sale continue December 6-24. Fridays and Saturdays, 6:30pm - 9:00pm, Sundays, 2:00 - 4:30pm; December 22-23, 6:30pm - 9:00pm; December 24, 1:00pm - 3:30pm. Fine art with a holiday flavor, including paintings, clay, handmade paper, collage, weaving, jewelry, and more. Great holiday gifts, from treasures to be worn, to home decor. Elves will be on hand to assist with gift shopping. Info: Regina Hines, 770-479-1262.
2009 Holiday Gathering Sunday, Song Critique
December 6 from 6:00pm-9:00pm at the Woodstock Coffee House, 1428 Towne Lake Parkway. Presented by the Cherokee County Music Society. At 7:00pm, after an hour of networking, CCMS members are invited to perform and test-market a new song at a song critique session, where attendees can critique new music presented to them in the singer/songwriter format. Critique ballots will be distributed, completed anonymously, and then given to the songwriter after each song performance. A vote for the best song will take place after all critiques conclude, with the best song winning a door prize. Sign up for critique sessions at the event. The general public is invited to attend. For more information about Cherokee County Music Society visit www.cherokeecountymusicsociety. org or www.myspace.com/ cherokeecountymusic.
Brasstown, NC
Fireside Sale
Sunday, December 6, 10:00am to 5:00pm at John C. Campbell Folk School. Shop for handmade items made by local and regional craftspeople as you stroll through our beautifully decorated Keith House. Free. Info: www.folkschool.org or 1-800-FOLKSCH.
Alpharetta Christmas Tree Lighting A
lpharetta Downtown Historic District will light up at the 32nd Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at 5:00pm on Sunday, December 6, 2009. The celebration will take place in the Milton Square City Park at Milton Avenue and Main Street. Creating special memories for area families for over 30 years, the celebration began in 1977 with about 100 people gathered around a 6-foot live blue spruce tree. Alpharetta’s annual holiday event has grown to approximately 3,000 people celebrating the lighting of the 45-foot tree. “The Christmas Tree Lighting has brought the Alpharetta community together for years,” said Mayor Arthur Letchas. “It is a perfect time to enjoy the simple traditions of the holiday season.” The children’s classic poem, ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, will be read on the main stage by Mayor Letchas and his wife Sally. An entertainment program will feature live music and caroling with James Casto, as well as holiday performances by City of Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department Rhythm n’ Shoes Dance Program, and Alpharetta Christian Academy Children’s Chorus. Alpharetta’s Christmas tree will come aglow with 10,000 twinkling lights at approximately 5:40pm, just before the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus on a City of Alpharetta fire truck (a local tradition since the first event thirty-two years ago). The Christmas Tree Lighting will offer the opportunity for children to talk with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the park gazebo. A North Fulton Jaycees volunteer will be on hand to help take free photos, or parents may bring their cameras to take photos. On Milton Square City Park, entertainment will consist of
strolling elves creating free balloon sculptures, bubbles, glow necklaces, and holiday crafts provided by City of Alpharetta; and free face painting provided by Milton High School’s Interact Club. Dancing candy canes, marching soldiers, and the beautiful ballerina Clara from the Metropolitan Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker will also entertain guests. Beware of the evil mice, as they may make an appearance! Black Magic Carriage horsedrawn trolley rides are free and will take you to the 1935 Future Farmers of America Log Cabin, where you will be greeted by Alpharetta Historical Society volunteers available to give a tour of the historic site. The shops and restaurants of Historic Downtown Alpharetta will also feature holiday activities, so make sure to visit the local businesses. Starbucks will warm the evening with complimentary hot chocolate and coffee drinks. Smokejack, A Southern Grill will be available for dinner fare. Philly Pretzel Factory will be providing assorted savory and sweet pretzel creations, with fifty percent of the proceeds from the evening donated to Toys for Tots. The 32nd Annual Christmas Tree Lighting is free to the public. Free parking is available at City Hall and Milton Center (the old Milton High School). The event owes its success, in part, to the generous volunteerism of Dr. James J. Awbrey IV, D.M.D., and Staff, Milton High School Interact Club, Milton High School Key Club, North Fulton Jaycees, and Hopewell Middle School Junior Beta Club. For more information, visit www.alpharetta.ga.us or phone 678-297-6078.
Tree Trimming Tip:
Ornaments
Start with your largest ornaments, spacing them evenly apart. Fill in around them with medium and small sizes, balancing the overall look. Save your specialty shapes, such as butterfly clip-ons or flowers, for last. Include a variety of shapes and sizes to add interest; and remember to put several ornaments closer to the tree trunk to add depth. December 2009 • www.400edition.com
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400 Edition Wining & Dining
Knowing Wine by Nancy Forrest
Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used. — William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Othello, II. iii. (315)
Enomatic Wine Dispensing System
T
his rather expensive wine dispensing system allows customers to purchase wine on a debit card type system, and pour and sip more wines than ever. The equipment automatically dispenses wine and preserves the remainder of the bottle for up to 24 days. Many European countries use this dispensing system and it has recently been installed in wine bars and restaurants in the U.S. It was invented by two Italians in 2002. There are currently about 5, 000 Enomatic machines around the world. The machine can hold 80 or more bottles for tasting. Consumers can readily see the bottle and read the label they are selecting. U.S. bars and restaurants are catching on to this concept. Even some grocery stores are contemplating its use to boost wine department sales, as are movie theaters. The try-before-you-buy concept has been proven to increase sales for retailers. Wine bars/stores and liquor stores use them more commonly for sampling purposes. The system also saves the vendor expense, since it pours the same amount each time and prevents wine from spoiling. Other benefits retailers can take advantage of include inventory software that can be used with the machine and that can track each customer’s tasting choices. Sellers can give points for purchases, or discounts on various wines, similar to frequent flyer programs for travelers. The system also allows optimum temperatures to be set for reds (16° to 18°C) and whites (9° to 11°C), records the number of servings, and can send alerts
Wine of the Month
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Feudo di Mezzo 2006
Dark red. Complex. Red cherry, black pepper, minerals with smoke. Fabulous finish. Outstanding Italian red.
when a bottle’s content is low. The average wine consumer often faces the unknown when choosing wine. With access to a large selection of samples in a retail store, they can learn which ones to purchase according to their tastes and which ones to avoid. The experience broadens the consumer’s knowledge and boosts the bottom line for vendors. This is also a great way for a retailer to offer vertical tasting to consumers without risking waste. Talk about customer satisfaction! It’s also a great way for wine lovers
and buyers to get to taste expensive wines without causing the retailer to bust his marketing budget. The taster purchases a plastic “debit” card in a pre-paid dollar amount. Bottles of wine are put into the vending machine, which can dispense one-ounce, two-ounce (half glass), or five-ounce (full glass) pours. The wine is priced by the ounce, and when the debit card is swiped, the system deducts the correct dollar amount and pours the amount specified. Immediately after the pour is completed, the machine injects a protective layer of preserving gas into the bottle. If you want to try several wines (especially expensive vintages), this is an economical way to do it without the risk of drinking previously opened bottles in a bar or restaurant. Just think—you can try a glass of a $100 bottle of wine for about $16, or try an ounce of an $800 bottle of wine for about $25. Because it’s self serve, there’s no waiting on a waiter. You won’t have to worry about not understanding what the server is talking about, and you’ll know that the wine you are about to buy matches your taste and your budget. Of course there are drawbacks to all things. Not only are these machines pricey (anywhere from $8,000 to $20,000) for the retailer, but they often have serving and maintenance issues, and problems with parts availability if the machines breaks. Even so, vending machine technology has improved greatly, so be looking for items like beer and wines to become increasingly available in such machines. It’s likely we’ll see a more competitively priced machine in the future.
“What is man, when you come to think upon him, but a minutely set, ingenious machine for turning, with infinite artfulness, the red wine of Shiraz into urine?”
Isak Dinesen, Danish author (1885-1962)
December 2009 • www.400edition.com
by Kim Maples
Restaurant Reviews for the GA 400 Corridor The Maple Restaurant at Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge 418 Amicalola Falls State Park Road | Dawsonville, GA 30534 706-265-8888 | www.amicalolafalls.com Fare: Southern flair | Price: Moderate | Atmosphere: Casual
O
ne of the most beautiful areas in northeast Georgia is Amicalola State Park. So when my friend Laura and I decided to go out for lunch, our natural choice was the Maple Restaurant located in the Lodge on top of the mountain. Amicalola State Park (Amicalola is Cherokee for “tumbling waters”) was first developed by the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club in 1958 as an access point for the Appalachian Trail. The Lodge was opened in 1990 and has 56 guest rooms, a conference space, and the restaurant. When you enter the Lodge you are greeted by a massive stone fireplace and a large bank of windows in the restaurant. From these windows, you have the best view of the valley. The Maple Restaurant is a relaxed space where anyone would be at ease pulling up a chair to enjoy a meal. The restaurant is open year-round and serves buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and
Real Men Cook— Monkey Bread
dinner daily. A brunch is also served on Sunday. Our lunch started with a salad. The main meal was pulled barbecued pork, whole green beans and potatoes (cooked with ham pieces), whole kernel corn, baby carrots, roasted potato quarters, and a roll. For dessert, we sampled the peach cobbler, pecan pie, and a pie of mint ice cream and chocolate pudding topped with chocolate mousse on an Oreo crust. The next time you want to get together with friends or family, take them to the Maple Restaurant in the Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge. The food is delicious, the atmosphere comfortable, and the view stunning.
Monkey Bread
by Patrick Snider
4 cans refrigerated biscuits (about 40) 1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon 1 cup white sugar 1 cup almond pieces 1 20-oz. can pineapple tidbits (drained) 11/2 cups coconut 1 cup brown sugar, packed 1/2 cup butter Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces. Pour sugar and cinnamon into a plastic bag and shake well to mix. Add biscuit pieces, several at a time; shake to coat well. Place pieces in a buttered tube or Bundt pan until all are used, sprinkling layers with almonds, pineapple, and coconut as you go. Bring brown sugar and butter to a boil in saucepan. Cool 10 minutes, and then pour over biscuits. Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes. Allow to cool 15 minutes, then carefully invert on a serving platter. December 2009 • www.400edition.com
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We thank you for your support and wish you all a blessed and very merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year. the folks at 400 Edition