400 Edition W h a t ’s
u p
i n
N o r t h
October 2010
G e o r g i a
North Georgia Festivals
Experts expect great color this fall; see why inside.
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October 2010 Carole Lee, Founder/Creative Design Vanessa McBrayer, Account Manager Linda Merritt, Founder/Sales/Executive Editor Bob Merritt, Director of Sales Aaron Snider, Account Manager Beth Snider, Founder/Sales/Creative Design Nancy Wright, Proofing
Contributing Writers: Anne Amerson
Steven Leibel
Dr. Mark Feinsilber
Dr. Joyce Nations
Nancy Forrest
Patrick Snider
Martha Hynson
John P. Vansant, MD
Staff Writers: Carole Lee
Aaron Snider
Vaness McBrayer
Beth Snider
Bob Merritt
Nancy Wright
Linda Merritt 400 Edition is published monthly in Dahlonega, Georgia, with distribution in six 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...
W
elcome to our second Festival Guide for the year. Once again we have the centerfold map and the descriptions of most of the festivities that occur during the month of October. North Georgia is full of more things to do and places to go. Try to attend as many of these festivals as you can. This is a good time to show your family and friends what our area is all about. The weather is getting cooler and very enjoyable, so that is a plus. Most evenings, you can actually use a light sweater. Later in the month the leaves will start changing and our mountains will be a sight to behold. I’ve read some articles that say this is going to be a beautiful fall, thanks to all the rain we had in the spring. Get out your cameras and capture those sights that God has given to us. Do you ever sit down and really think about how blessed you are? We go around moaning and groaning about how bad the economy is, how sales are down, the shape our country is in, what Mary or Jack did to us that made us mad, how we hate our job or hate the fact we don’t have one, or just about life in general. First of all, it doesn’t take long to find someone who is in worse straits than we are. Remember the old observation, “I was sad because I had no shoes until I saw a man who had no feet.” So pick yourself up
by the scruff of the neck and change your attitude. You may not be able to straighten out everything, but you can work on yourself. If you believe the worst will happen—it probably will. Sit down and count all the things you have to thank the good Lord for. You will find that the good far outweighs the bad. If the condition of our country worries you, be sure you get out and vote in November. Talk to your family and friends and get them to vote also. Thank you to our advertisers, our writers, and our staff who make this publication possible. You are a great group of folks and I am blessed to be associated with you. Until next month…stay happy.
On the Cover S
ummer has ended and the first day of fall was September 22. The days have started getting shorter and shorter and the trees are getting ready for winter. Their leaves start turning glorious shades of red, gold, yellow, and rust, and our mountains turn into a virtual collection of autumn beauty. This year is going to be an exceptional year for color, per the Forestry Service. See their article on page 23. Bob Merritt captured this picture last year outside of Dahlonega. This cover stirs up two memories. First it reminds us of going home. If you are fortunate to live out in the country, these kinds of roads are all over North Georgia. Whether you have just been away at work for the day, or are perhaps coming home after many years, that road home conjures up happy thoughts as you anticipate seeing your loved ones. The other thought brings a song to mind. If you are fifty or older, you will remember the song “Autumn Leaves.” It was originally a French song, and in 1947 Johnny Mercer wrote the English lyrics. Jo Stafford sang an early version, but the one that always comes to mind is the Nat King Cole version from the ’50s. If you read the lyrics—“The falling leaves drift by the window, The autumn leaves of red and gold”— it is a sad song about love coming to an end, and compares that to the fact that autumn is here, and winter will be here soon. Autumn also brings an end to most of the North Georgia festivals; but they will be bigger and better next year. 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.
Contents
October 2010 Volume 7, Issue 5
North Georgia Fall Festivals, page 19
Festivals
Columns
4 Tate Day: November 6
11 Comma Momma
4 Heritage Days Festival
12 Health Matters: Making the Diagnosis
continued
15 More Georgia Festivals
13 Your Vision Source
18 Woolly Worm Festival
14 Reflections
19 Fall Festivals Guide 23 Georgia Apple Festival Celebrates 39 Years
26 Historic Forsyth 28 Mind & Heart 31 Gardening Tasks: October
Columns
38 Knowing Wine
4 Through a Woman’s Eyes
38 Real Men Cook – Cheddar Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
8 To Your Health
39 Good Eating – Norman’s Landing
A list of major distribution points in North Georgia can be found online at www.400edition.com. October 2010 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition
Tate Day November 6
“Marble Valley—A Treasure Rich & Rare” characterizes Tate, GA, very well for Tate Day 2010. Tate Day is held the first Saturday in November (November 6 this year). Much like last year but adding more events to attract locals and visitors, the arts and crafts show will be extended to Sunday, November 7, and a Saturday cruise-in is taking place. The parade will again be a main attraction that will wind participants through the residential streets of Tate, with the starting location being at Cool Springs Church. At 10am, residents can come out on their front porches to watch as the parade passes by, and of course out-of-town folks are always welcome to come and see too. The arts and crafts show will be held in and around the old Allred-Jordan Drug Store building on Saturday from 9:00am to 5:00pm and on Sunday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. While those activities are going on in downtown Tate, others will be offered at the Old Tate Gym: various kinds of entertainment, an occasion for mini class reunions for those who attended Tate High School, and the opportunity to purchase a BBQ lunch. The cruise-in will also occur at the Old Tate Gym from 11-3, and is free of charge to those wishing to participate with their vintage cars or trucks. In fact, all the events are free to the public. A hamburger and hot dog plate sale will take place during the arts and crafts show on Sunday from 11:00am to 2:00pm. The second annual “Marbles Images of Pickens County” photo contest will be held, and the winner will be announced during the Hall of Fame reception. Raffle tickets will be sold before and throughout the event for a Georgia marble clock to be given away at the reception. Tickets prices are $1.00 each or six for $5.00. This year, instead of a banquet, there will be a reception at 7:00pm on Saturday at Cool Springs Church to unveil the two new inductees into the Marble Valley Friends Hall of Fame. Advance tickets are recommended for the BBQ lunch and to RSVP for the reception. For more information regarding any of the events, you can contact Jane Griffeth at 770-735-3151. Tate Day is produced by Marble Valley Friends, Inc., and all are invited to Tate Day 2010.
Heritage Days Festival
The business section of Talking Rock is ordinarily rather quiet, a nice place to browse at the antique shops and general stores. However, during the 16th Annual Heritage Days Festival on October 16-17, the little town will be filled with booths featuring a wide variety of arts, crafts, and antiques, with interesting demonstrations for the young and old. Take a trip back in time and visit the restored Talking Rock Schoolhouse Teaching Museum. And what is a festival without good old bluegrass and Southern gospel music to enjoy, along with good food? The fun begins Saturday and Sunday morning at 9:00am and goes until 5:00pm. You won’t want to miss seeing the murals and visiting the park at the edge of Talking Rock Creek. Plan to visit this year’s Heritage Days Festival for some shopping, good food, and music, and as always, admission and parking is free. For more information, call the Town Hall at 706-253-5515.
400 Edition
Through a Woman’s Eyes
by Martha Hynson
God in the Simple Things
B
rother Lawrence, a monk who lived in the 16th century, said, “Men invent means and methods of coming at God’s love, they learn rules and set up devices to remind them of that love, and it seems like a world of trouble to bring oneself into the consciousness of God’s presence. Yet it might be so simple. Is it not quicker and easier just to do our common business wholly for the love of him? We can do little things for God; I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for love of him.” As I continue my quest to better understand the 31st chapter of Proverbs and apply it to my life, I come to verses which say, “Her husband is respected at the city gate where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them and supplies the merchants with sashes.” These verses describe the everyday life of a virtuous woman. There is nothing inherently spiritual about the activities these verses depict, but the fact that they are included in scripture indicates they are important to God. As I go about my daily life, I often forget that God wants to be invited into whatever I’m doing. As I complete the most routine tasks, I don’t always remember to pray and ask God to be involved. When I do remember, though, I’m usually blown away by how He turns the most mundane activities into opportunities to know Him better. A perfect example of this occurred one summer morning as I stood at my bathroom sink looking down at a row of nearly empty containers on the counter. After years of searching, I’d finally found a line of products to help tone down the redness and flakiness of my sensitive skin, but they weren’t cheap, and I’d run out of them all at the same time. Earlier that morning, I’d been praying about how we could cut our budget in order to contribute to a fund that had been set up by a young girl named Anna who had been in my sister’s fifth grade class. After being diagnosed with cancer, Anna had created this fund to help other families in similar circumstances. As I thought about the great needs of these children, it just didn’t seem right for me to spend a lot of money on my skin. October 2010 • www.400edition.com
As I walked our dog, Ziggy, a little later, I stopped to check on our organic vegetable garden. It was exciting to see how God provided everything the garden needed and how the garden, in turn, provided a healthy diet for our family. I thought about how perfectly God provides for every need when we follow His plan. My thoughts turned again to the families I’d heard about—families who not only had children fighting for their lives, but who lacked resources for life’s basic necessities. Did part of God’s plan to provide for these families involve my family and our willingness to give? As I prayed about what to do, a thought occurred to me. Since God provides for us so abundantly, wouldn’t it make sense that he would supply something to help my skin—something even better than expensive, store-bought products?” I ran back to the house practically pulling Ziggy along. Once inside, I sat down at my computer and searched for homemade products for sensitive skin. Many of the websites I looked at recommended things I already had on hand. Everyday items such as oatmeal, honey, chamomile tea, and olive oil could be used to help my complexion and would cost only pennies a day! I began using several of these and quickly saw an improvement in my skin. Eventually, I simplified by using only olive oil on my face. Now, over a year later, the redness and flaking have disappeared. The answer had been there all along, right in my kitchen cabinet…but that’s not the end of the story. That summer morning, after planning my new skin care routine, I sat down to read my Bible. Once again I was blown away by how God cares so much about every detail of my life. Psalm 104, which “just happened” to be included in that day’s reading, extols God’s perfect provision for all His creation. Verses 14 and 15 say, “You cause plants to grow for people to use. You allow them to produce food from the earth… [and] olive oil as lotion for their skin.” Martha Hynson is a wife, mom, teacher, and freelance writer from Watkinsville, Georgia. Check out her blog at marthahynson.blogspot.com.
Dawson County Celebrates New Welcome Center
D
rop by Dawson County’s new Welcome Center, located at 292 GA400 North, during its Grand Opening Celebration that kicks off at noon on Friday, October 8, with a ribbon cutting, and lasts all weekend. The Dawson County Convention & Visitors Bureau will have free apple cider, a visit from a Cabbage Patch Kid®, displays from local attractions (including pumpkins and fall decorations from Uncle Shuck’s and Bradley’s Pumpkin Patch, souped-up race cars like those seen at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, and kayaks and horses from North Georgia Outfitters), and lots of information about local and regional attractions in the North Georgia mountains. The Welcome Center will be open 10:00am to 5:00pm on both Saturday and Sunday. “More than 30,000 cars pass our new Welcome Center every single day,” says Marty Williams, vice president of the Dawson County Convention and Visitors Bureau and board member of the Northeast Georgia Mountain Travel Association. “We want people to stop in and see what makes this area so special: the NASCAR history and cars, kangaroos, waterfalls, pumpkin farms, and outdoor adventure. We have information about all these Dawson County attractions and about all the attractions in the North Georgia mountains.” Visiting Dawson County’s new Welcome Center on GA400, the “Hospitality Highway,” is
like dropping by someone’s home; and indeed, the gorgeous house with its open floor plan was formerly a model home and offices for a custom home builder. Visitors are welcomed with comfy sofas, a fireplace, local art decorating the walls, and lots of racks stocked with brochures, flyers, maps, and festival and event information for the entire North Georgia mountain region. The center also has a homegrown/ homemade-in-Dawsonville retail area, with books by local artists, and local products like Moonshine Jelly, among other items. Area businesses are invited to stop by the Welcome Center during Friday’s ribbon cutting, enjoy the refreshments, and sign up for membership in the Chamber of Commerce. New businesses signing up during the month of October will receive a 10 percent discount off the membership fee. Existing Chamber members who renew their membership for 2011 during October will receive a 10 percent discount off their membership renewal fee. Visit www.Dawson.org to see area attractions and for more information.
October 2010 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition
Foster House Back with Gusto
A
fter a brief closing and reorganization, The Foster House, at 305 West Main in Cumming, is open once more to make your dining experience even more memorable. They are adding Friday and Saturday night dining for your pleasure and convenience.
Where To Stay In Blairsville?
S
unrise River Cabins have the answer to this question. If you are interested in renting a two- or three-bedroom cabin within earshot of flowing water, for partying or for relaxing on a rocker-filled back porch, this is the place for you. Two of the Sunrise Cabins are located on the beautiful Nottely River, and two are on a nearby mountainside. Each is fully furnished, with stone fireplace, TV and VCR, porch, and grill. The Nottely is a designated trout stream. The grounds are immaculate and there is plenty of privacy and parking. Prices start at $89 per night. For reservations and other information, contact Jason Clemmons, 7446 Gainesville Highway, Blairsville, Georgia, or 706-745-5877 (days), 706-781-1409 (nights). See their website at www.sunrisecabins.com. Visa and MasterCard accepted.
400 Edition
On those nights, their hours will be from 5:00pm to 9:00pm. Sunday brunch is from 11:00am until 2:30pm. Breakfast is served Monday through Friday from7:30am until 10:00am, and lunch from 12:00pm until 2:30pm. With this expanded schedule and great menu, you are invited to dine at your pleasure, and your favorite server will be there to make your visit an enjoyable one. See their ad on page 33 in this issue.
Northside Hospital-Forsyth Opens Specialty Boutique
N
o one understands women’s health quite like Northside Hospital. More babies are delivered and more cases of breast and gynecologic cancer are diagnosed at Northside than at any other hospital in Georgia. Whether embracing motherhood or facing cancer, women deserve a place where they can shop with dignity for health care products that make them feel better, look better, and live better. A Woman’s Place at Northside Hospital is just that place, and now the specialty boutique has opened a second location at Northside Hospital-Forsyth in Cumming. A Woman’s Place at Northside HospitalForsyth, located inside the hospital’s Women’s Center, is a boutique for women’s health care products and services. Especially created for women and staffed by women, the boutique offers a variety of products, including nursing bras/camisoles, nursing accessories, breastfeeding pillows, and prenatal abdominal/back supports. For women battling breast cancer, A Woman’s Place offers a complete selection of the most current and innovative breast forms and mastectomy bras, as well as a large selection of compression garments and lymphedema sleeves. Human and synthetic wigs, which can be customized to any style and color, also are available at the boutique’s Atlanta location. Certified fitters measure and fit each patient with fashionable post-surgical bras
October 2010 • www.400edition.com
and prosthetics, to give women back the look they want, whether they have had a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. Each product is carefully selected based on the needs of women, and A Woman’s Place will work with insurance providers to file claims on products and services. “A Woman’s Place first opened in Atlanta in 1998 and we have helped thousands of women through some of the most joyous and difficult times in their lives,” said Beth Allen, RN, manager, A Woman’s Place. “We look forward to providing the same experience, sensitivity, and care to the women of Forsyth.” In addition to A Woman’s Place, the Lactation Center has certified lactation consultants who help breastfeeding mothers choose supplies such as electric breast pumps (sales and rentals) and other nursing accessories. Please call 404303-3329 for breastfeeding advice or to schedule an outpatient appointment. A Woman’s Place at Northside HospitalForsyth is located on the first floor of the Northside Hospital-Forsyth Women’s Center, 1200 Northside Forsyth Drive, Cumming. The boutique is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 10:00am to 5:00pm. To make an appointment for a fitting, call 770-292-2029. For more information, visit www.northside.com.
NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL Screening Mammography: Who Should Have It And How Often
To Your Health by Lynn Baxter, M.D., Director of breast imaging, Northside Hospital
M
ammography is a woman’s best weapon against breast cancer. In fact, it is the only test for breast cancer proven to save lives, often detecting the disease when it is very small, long before a woman notices a problem. Over the last year, there has been much controversy and confusion over new mammography guidelines issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) in 2009. The group recommended that women only get mammograms every two years, between the ages of 50 and 74, unless they are at high risk for developing breast cancer. This recommendation directly conflicts with the longstanding position of the American Cancer Society and others in the medical community—that ALL women over 40 have yearly mammograms. In response to the controversy, the federal government recently directed federal agencies to disregard the 2009 USPSTF guidelines and follow previous recommendations. Northside Hospital agrees. As the regional leader in the fight against breast cancer, diagnosing and treating more cases of the disease than any other community hospital in the Southeast, Northside stands by the American Cancer Society and its recommendation that all women receive annual mammograms, beginning at age 40.
Early detection linked to high survival rates At Northside, we believe that every woman’s life is precious and that mammograms save lives. Simply being a woman and having breast tissue puts you at risk for breast cancer. In fact, one in eight women will develop the disease at some point during her lifetime. Mammograms often detect breast cancer years before a lump is felt. When caught early, the disease has a 98 percent likelihood of being cured. Since screening mammography became widespread around 1990, the death rate from breast cancer has decreased by 30 percent.
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October 2010 • www.400edition.com
Advancements in cancer detection Recent advances in breast cancer screening technology make mammograms more reliable than ever before. Digital mammography, which is standard at all Northside imaging facilities, makes tiny calcifications—often the earliest sign of a breast cancer—more clearly visible. Digital mammograms are read from a computer, which allows the radiologist to adjust brightness and contrast, enhance edges, and magnify areas of interest, making it easier in some cases to separate normal tissue from suspicious tissue. And because the images are available much more quickly, patients often notice shorter exam times. Digital mammography also can be combined with other technologies, such as ComputerAided Detection (CAD), which provides a “second set of eyes” to radiologists by flagging areas of potential concern on the mammogram—to make sure that the radiologists see them. CAD technology is used with every mammogram performed at Northside. Southeast leader in the fight against breast cancer Northside wants every woman to have access to high quality mammography and we remain active in removing the hurdles to screening for women. The hospital offers a caring staff, convenient appointment scheduling, and easy access to state-of-the-art outpatient imaging centers in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Canton, Cumming, Dawsonville, Holly Springs, Johns Creek, and Woodstock. In addition, our mobile mammography van makes regularly scheduled stops throughout North Metro Atlanta year round. To learn more about breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, watch indepth videos, and hear from experts and patients, visit www.northside. com/healthcast.
Shades of Scarlett
by Joyce Jordan
T
he shades of scarlet in our
lives are many. I recall the old saying, “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight; red sky at morning, sailor take warning.” The bright red of Christmas ornaments, lights, holly berries—all of which are reluctantly, or joyfully, taken down—lights up our world once a year. The sparkling red of New Year’s Eve fireworks brings a hope of a better year, even if the one we just had was pretty good. As we bite into a red apple, the juice runs down our chin, and we don’t really mind at all. The red in our flag represents the blood of those who died that we in this country might live in freedom. Many of us enjoy another kind of freedom because of the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. The red of summer strawberries, red-cheeked peaches, vine-ripe tomatoes, and even red popsicles remind us that “to everything there is a season.” However, if you noticed, I either misspelled scarlet or I’m talking about another Scarlett. Yep, you guessed it. Scarlett O’Hara came to mind when I thought of writing a column about growing up Southern. Now, this is not because I look like Vivian Leigh, but because many people all over the world (thanks to Margaret Mitchell) think if you’re a Southern girl, you are a “belle” like Scarlett was supposed to be. I beg to differ, and we’ll explore this thought and hopefully have a little fun along the way. A child of the Great Depression, I could say my parents were depressed ever after, but that is an old cheesy cliché, so I won’t say it. Besides, they weren’t, and neither was I. I grew up in a small-town atmosphere, surrounded by a large family on my mama and my daddy’s side, and brought up to be a lady. There was, in those days, a big difference between a woman and a lady, and to most people today, it doesn’t matter, even if they know what it means. What it meant was that you had good manners, were respectful not only of your elders, but of everyone, always tried to be positive and get along with everyone. Whew! Quite a chore for a little girl, especially one who was stubborn, self-willed, curious, and very talkative. That
would be me. People used to offer me a dime (a virtual fortune in those days) if I would sit still and be quiet for ten minutes. Those who know me will immediately realize that I didn’t make a dime. According to my Girl Scout leader, ladies also learned to curtsy, which I still don’t understand to this day. I never got to meet the Queen, and if I had I would have asked her lots of questions instead. This same leader also told us, “Ladies never blow their nostrils at the table.” I did understand that and have seriously tried to abide by it. Ladies wore outfits that matched. Dress, shoes, hat, pocketbook, and, of course, gloves and a handkerchief were standard attire for church, town, weddings, and funerals. Actually, everything was pretty simple back then, but there was not a whole lot of room for a free thinker, or a tomboy, which yours truly was from birth. In this column, we’ll travel through wars, peacetime, the civil rights era, new technology, the hippie generation, rock ’n’ roll, and many other places where I’ve made stops along the way. My perspective will be Southern, which is how I’ve made the journey. I invite you to join me, and let me know what you think, and most importantly, what you feel. Joyce Annette Abernathy was born at Georgia Baptist Hospital in Atlanta (at an early age). She wrote for The Forsyth County News, The Forsyth Forum, and other publications. Joyce began a radio career in the ’60s and retired in the ’90s; she worked at WSNE/AM (which later became WHNE/AM) in Cumming, and WDGR/AM in Dahlonega (both of which are now defunct, due in no way to her). Joyce is now a freelance writer living in Dawsonville (and happily married to Donnie Jordan).
October 2010 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition
Eat Good, Feel Good C
an selling BBQ provide muchneeded assistance to orphans in Kenya? Jeff Mette and James Stickles, both of Roswell, say yes it can, and they do. This can-do attitude is exactly what led these amateur BBQ cooks to create Q for a Cause, a professional BBQ operation offering good food for a good cause. Mette and Stickles love to smoke BBQ. They’re both selfproclaimed Big Green Egg “grill meisters,” as well as regional competitors at the Cherokee Pignic in Canton; but the best friends also wanted to make a difference while they enjoyed their hobby. So early in 2010, they created “Q for a Cause.” As members of Roswell United Methodist Church’s Builders Sunday School class, the pair knew all too well the story of Merciful Redeemer Children’s Home in Nairobi, Kenya. The class, along with other local efforts like Heart for Africa, had supported the orphanage for the last two years, aiding the move out of the slums and the efforts to secure land, new buildings, beds, fresh-water wells, etc. Yet there is still much more to do. “I am so excited to hear that you have purposed to continue raising money for the children. God answers prayers,” founder and director of Merciful Redeemer Children’s Home Anne Mugane wrote in an email. “Jeff and I had a real desire to combine our passion for cooking with making a real difference and we are genuinely excited that we’ve found an avenue to do just that,” Stickles said. Enter Q for a Cause. Mette and Stickles began planning in early April for a soft opening among friends and church members, offering the BBQ from a lawn tent at the Stickles’ home during a neighborhood garage sale. Thanks to word of mouth and a bit of social networking, the two not
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only sold more than 50 pounds of BBQ that day, but began gaining a reputation for quality food. “We think Jeff and James’s BBQ is some of the best we have ever tasted,” said “Q Crew” fan Shelly Eaton. “The fork-tender pork has this wonderful sweet and smoky crust that everyone loves. It is so flavorful on its own, but when paired with their wonderfully sweet yet savory sauce, it is just irresistible. We just cannot seem to get enough!” Since May, the duo have had two more Q for a Cause offerings. On Memorial Day, thanks once again to the support of friends, email networking, and even Facebook postings, the pair raised more than $1,500 for the orphanage. Most recently, this past Labor Day weekend exceeded everyone’s expectations with a phenomenal 230 pounds of BBQ sold, resulting in a donation to the Merciful Redeemer Children’s Home of more than $2,500. “I’ve been absolutely overwhelmed with the number of folks that have rallied and gotten behind this effort,” said Mette. “There are people that have purchased BBQ that are very good friends, and many that I met for the first time when they picked up. It warms the heart knowing that people really do care about such a great cause…and they actually like our BBQ, too.” Mette and Stickles are keeping their day jobs, but plan to grow Q for a Cause to operate over major holiday weekends, and possibly expand into catering for a cause. They are determined to beat previous sales records and see how much more they can sell, to continue the Q for a Cause mission of assisting Merciful Redeemer in Kenya. For more information, visit www. qforacause.com.
Comma Momma A
n abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. The shortening is done by removing letters in the middle, at the end, or both. We’re familiar enough with many common abbreviations: tsp. and mph and CPR and the like. But abbreviations come in several flavors, and there’s a lot of confusion (and little consensus) about their definitions and usage. An acronym is an abbreviation formed by combining the first letters of the words in a name or phrase. For example, the acronym for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is NASA. Like acronyms in general, it’s spelled in all caps, pronounced as a word (“NAA-suh”), doesn’t require a the in front of it, and has no internal periods. However, NASA might just as easily stand for the North Atlantic Seafood Association. So in order to prevent misinterpretation, some organizations create their acronyms out of more than just the initial letters of their name. This is frequently done in the military, and the practice gives rise to abbreviations like CINCPACFLT, for Commander-in-Chief (Pacific Fleet). Clearly this is quicker to comprehend when seen in print than just the first letters (CICPF) would be, and not likely to be confused with something else. The shorter the abbreviation, on the other hand, the more likely it is to cause confusion.
But Is IT An Acronym?
The first time I ever saw business references to “the IT Department” and “the HR Department” I wondered what an It Department and an Hour Department were. Readers familiar with corporate jargon will have recognized the abbreviations for Information Technology and Human Resources; but everyone else will have been puzzled, and also probably puzzled as to why a perfectly normal word like “It” is in allcaps in our article headline. IT and HR look like acronyms, but technically aren’t. Along with many other common abbreviations (DVD and MRI, for example), they’re spelled in all-caps, but they’re not pronounced as words. Instead, we speak each letter: eye-tee, aitch-are, dee-vee-dee, emare-eye. This kind of abbreviation is called an initialism. Unlike acronyms, most initialisms— the ones used as nouns—are preceded by the or an equivalent determinative: a DVD, my MRI, or (as in the slogan of a local computer tech) “Making Your IT a Sure Thing.” Some abbreviations are not pronounced as words (the way acronyms are), but neither are they spoken letter by letter like initialisms. Look at Dr., the abbreviation for Drive. When we say our street address, we don’t say dur for Dr., but we don’t say dee-are either. We speak the entire word: Drive. Knowing which abbreviations fall in this say-the-whole-word category is totally
October 2010 • www.400edition.com
by Nancy Wright intuitive for us, but can be tricky for a nonnative speaker. Acrostics are not abbreviations at all, but might be considered a related bit of word play. An acrostic is a poem or some other series of lines written so that the first letters of the lines spell out a word or words. There’s an old song that begins “M is for the many things she gave me.” The song is an acrostic created on a wellknown word. Extra credit if you can come up with the rest of the lyrics without looking it up online. You can think of an acrostic as sort of a reverse acronym. Whereas an acronym or initialism starts with a multi-word phrase and compresses it into a single (usually new) word, an acrostic begins with a single existing word and expands it by adding letters or words. Abbreviations of all sorts are used so often in speech and writing that we frequently run across occurrences we’ve never seen before and can’t figure out from the context. Thank goodness for Google... Nancy Wright 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.
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12 400 Edition
Health Matters: Making the Diagnosis by John P. Vansant, MD, FACC
I
t was July 1995 and, like many of my colleagues, I was preparing for a series of lectures at our Nuclear Medicine/Nuclear Cardiology update course at Emory University. The day prior to the course, I developed a severe flu-like syndrome manifested by the typical low grade fever, muscle and joint aches, and remarkable fatigue. Only by taking many Motrin tablets and retreating to the outside warmth of the sun to relieve my chills was I able to finish my presentations. None of my colleagues or other associations had suffered similar symptoms. Why, in mid July, was I getting the flu? The following day I noted mild irritation on my right lower leg and the subsequent development of what was to become a rather localized and classic rash. A visit to the dermatologist resulted in the affirmative answer of tick exposure, the diagnosis of a typical rash, all resulting in my being placed on two weeks of antibiotics. My rash and symptoms resolved without further complications. What is the diagnosis? Lyme disease. In 1977 a group of physicians from the NIH were sent to a relatively small area in Connecticut to investigate an unprecedented outbreak of children diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. It was at that time, in the town of Lyme, Connecticut, that the “new” illness subsequently to be called Lyme disease was first described. I was fortunate recently to attend a conference at Harvard University to hear a presentation and to ask specific questions of Dr. Allen Steere, the primary investigator who in 1977 was able to fully explain the cause of the disease. Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness caused by a specific spirochete in the United States called Borrelia burgdorferi. The vector (carrier) of the spirochete is the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis). This tick is most prevalent in the Northeastern United States, but has migrated into areas of the Southeast
and Midwest. treatment if The clinical infection did manifestations of occur. However, Lyme disease are for those of us typically divided living in the into three phases: Southeastern 1. Early localized United States, a disease. similar illness This occurs has been typically subsequently Above: Deer tick, Ixodes within the described. It is scapularis first or tick-borne, has Below: Lone Star tick second week associated fluof infection, like symptoms, when flu-like and has a rash symptoms much like that and a classic of Lyme disease. rash (erythema It is carried by migrans) a different tick, develops. the lone star tick (Amblyomma 2. Early disseminated americanum). disease. This illness During does not seem this phase one may to have the potential long-term develop neurological or complications of neurological, cardiac involvement. The cardiac, or joint disease even neurological manifestations if untreated. This disease is appear to be more common in referred to as the Southern tickchildren than in adults. associated rash illness (STARI). Lyme disease peaks in late 3. Late disease. This phase occurs months to years summer and early fall. It is rare after the initial infection. It outside the Northeastern United is typically associated with States, but cases have been arthritis (joint inflammation) documented in the Southeast. of one to four joints, with If you get a tick-bite, develop the knees being the most flu-like symptoms, or even frequently affected. atypical signs and symptoms, you should visit your physician Early diagnosis with antibiotic for appropriate evaluation and treatment is critical in perhaps specific blood testing. preventing the intermediate to It is a preventable and curable late phase complications of the disease. illness. A specific laboratory
test (serology testing) for the presence of antibodies against the spirochete is virtually 100% diagnostic of having had the infection. Well, did I have Lyme disease? Tick bite, rash, flulike symptoms, and complete recovery with antibiotic treatment suggest I did have the illness. However, I did not get the blood test (serology) since, at that time, it was felt to be too early to detect the antibodies, but one did not wish to hold off treatment that would prevent the long-term complications. We now know that the specific antibody test will still be present even following antibiotic
October 2010 • www.400edition.com
John P. Vansant, MD, FACC, is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Rheumatology, and Nuclear Medicine and nationally recognized for his clinical achievements in Nuclear Cardiology. He currently practices consultative Rheumatology with Chestatee Medical Group and serves as Attending Physician for Nuclear Medicine/Nuclear Cardiology Services at Chestatee Regional Hospital.
Your Vision Source! D
id you know that hypertension (high blood pressure) can not only cause problems with your heart and kidneys but can also cause problems with your eyes? Patients with uncontrolled blood pressure can experience changes in their vision, as well as loss of vision. Hypertension is pressure in the arteries, and indicates that the heart is working too hard. Arteries carry blood from the heart to all tissues and organs of the body. Normal blood pressure is 120/80. The top number (or systolic number) corresponds to pressure in the arteries as the heart pumps blood into the arteries. The bottom number (or diastolic number) is the pressure in the arteries after the heart relaxes after contraction. The American Heart Association estimates that one in three adults has hypertension; that’s approximately 73 million people in the United States alone. Often people do not know that they have elevated blood pressure; it is known as the “silent killer.” Elevated blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease, kidney failure, stroke, and eye-related problems. The eye has many small blood vessels that supply it with nutrients. The eye is also the only part of the body that can be viewed without invasive techniques; therefore hypertension can sometimes be initially diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination. Since hypertension is a disease of the blood vessels, it can cause damage to the
by Dr. Joyce M. Nations
blood vessels that supply the retina. Many times patients are unaware of any of these changes. Some symptoms of hypertensive related eye disease include headaches and blurred vision. Retinopathy is a condition in which there are changes to the retina in the back of the eye. Some signs of hypertensive retinopathy include narrowing of the blood vessels, fluid or blood leaking from the blood vessels, and swelling of the macula or optic nerve. A blockage in the blood vessel in the retina can cause a retinal artery occlusion, sometimes referred to as a stroke of the eye. If this happens, part of the retina fails to receive enough blood or oxygen. If this happens, you may lose part of your vision. Symptoms of an occlusion to the retinal arteries may last from a few seconds to a few minutes and may cause permanent vision loss. You can also have a blockage in the retinal veins, which affects the blood supply leaving the eye. This can cause bleeding or hemorrhages in the retinal tissue and can also cause permanent vision loss. Other signs of hypertensive retinopathy include swelling of the optic nerve and macula. Swelling of the optic nerve (papilledema) related to hypertension is known as malignant hypertension and is a medical emergency. It is usually a result of the blood pressure being elevated for a long time and can be associated with damage to other organs, including the kidneys, heart, and brain. Often changes in the
October 2010 • www.400edition.com
retina are a precursor to changes that can damage the kidneys, heart, and brain. Some recent studies have indicated that patients with retinal changes are more likely to have strokes, heart attacks, and heart failure. The most important way to control hypertensive related eye problems is to make sure the blood pressure is under really good control. This means blood pressure readings under 120/80. Blood pressure can be controlled through diet, exercise, and medications. It is very important to have yearly physicals to monitor changes in blood pressure, as well as yearly eye examinations to make sure there are no changes in the blood vessels supplying the eyes. So if you have high blood pressure, be sure to schedule a yearly eye examination with your optometrist. 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.
400 Edition 13
by Bob Merritt Life is a mirror. We look forward, that’s the future. We look back, remember and learn—that’s a reflection.
More Cornbread Please
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O he older I get, the more I notice that
some things are changed for the better, while some good things never change. Cornbread is one item that has stood the test of time. I am southern-born, so it shouldn’t come as any surprise to other southerners that I love cornbread. My brother Bill and I watched our grandmother as she set up her churn to make butter in the shade of a huge walnut tree. She went through a number of steps before she began to churn, and from her efforts we got butter, buttermilk, and clabber. As the big curds began to form, we licked our lips, knowing that soon Grandma would stop and dip us a bowl of clabber. The large curds resemble today’s large-curd cottage cheese. But the real proof of the pudding came that night as we all sat down to eat. The large table was covered with dishes of mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, and black-eyed peas. (By the way, they were all grown on their farm.) After we said grace, Grandpa poured himself a rather large glass of buttermilk and, after taking a few sips, sat back while Grandma set a pan of hot cornbread in front of him. Grandpa eagerly cut himself a large piece of cornbread and crumbled it into the glass of buttermilk. Grandmother cautioned him, as he filled his plate with the main dishes, “Save some room for dessert, Gus,” to which he would respond, “I’ve got mine” as he pulled his glass of buttermilk and cornbread closer. This pleased Grandma and made all her effort worthwhile. Bill and I followed Grandpa’s example and to this day carry on the ritual
every time Bill comes up from Texas. My wife, Linda, makes good cornbread, even if it is a little sweet. Eating her cornbread is like eating a dessert, while Grandma’s was a bit bland, but in a good way. Bill comes up about twice a year and we always make our annual trip to Norman’s Landing in Cumming. It is always an experience. They have been open for business for fifteen years and for most of those years, we have gotten a waitress from up north who has no idea what cornbread or buttermilk is. Most of them say, “I’m sorry, but we don’t serve that here.” This is when we tell her to ask the owner, Bill Norman, why they don’t serve it. Immediately, Bill shows up at our table and, upon seeing us, says, “I might have known. I’ll have a talk with her.” They do serve buttermilk, and very good cornbread. Ask for a large glass of buttermilk and drink about three swallows before you add the cornbread. Crumble the cornbread or cut up the squares with a fork, then eat it with a big spoon. I frequent Norman’s Landing at least once a week, and you might find a couple of my latest encounters a little humorous. On one encounter, the waitress brought us our cornbread, a glass of sweet milk—and a stick of butter. Bill Norman got a kick out of it and promised to have a talk with her. Now, even if I’m not at her table, she will serve up a big smile and ask, “You having cornbread and buttermilk today?”
Just last week, after I got through to the waitress, she served me up a basket of cornbread and what looked like a saucer of milk, which it was. As I sat there waiting for my big glass of buttermilk, Bill Norman walked up and asked, “Is everything to your liking?” “Just waiting for my glass of buttermilk,” I replied. I never would have guessed that she thought I was supposed to dip my cornbread in that saucer of milk. Bill enlightened her. Since I’ve put myself on a so-so diet, I forget the other dishes when I’m by myself and just order my grandpa’s special: cornbread and buttermilk. Bill and I delight in harassing the waitresses, but they just smile and wait for the tip, which is always a big one. In case you’re wondering what other dishes they serve at Norman’s Landing, read the write-up on them in our “Good Eating” article in this issue. Norman’s Landing is more to the community than just a good place to dine.
Misuse Of Tree Stands Creates Hazard For Hunters Though commonly used by deer hunters everywhere, tree stands often are improperly installed and, as a result, are considered the leading cause of hunting-related incidents. Different types of tree stands are available, and each type requires the user to be familiar with variations to ensure safety. Here are some recommended safety tips: • When using a non-climbing portable or ladder stand, hunters should securely fasten the stand to the tree and install ladders or steps according to the manufacturer’s directions. • Hunters should use a safety harness to secure to the tree and not to the tree 400 Edition 14themselves
stand. If the stand were to break or collapse, a harness secured to a tree should prevent a fall. • Hunters should have a plan on how to get down from the tree should the tree stand fail and leave them hanging from their harness. Harnesses should be attached in such a way as to allow 10-12 inches of slack between the tree and body. A full-body harness is recommended instead of a simple harness or safety line. • Hunters should use an equipment haul line to pull their gun or bow into or out of the stand. Firearms or bows should be unloaded before being pulled into the stand. October 2010 • www.400edition.com
• Staying awake and alert is important. Hunters should avoid taking medications that cause drowsiness prior to hunting. Also, never use alcohol or drugs before or while hunting. • Hunters should always inform someone of where they are hunting and what time they expect to return. For more information on tree stands or huntingrelated safety, contact the nearest Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement office, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com or call 770-7613010.
More Georgia Festivals There are festivals going on throughout the state of Georgia during the month of October. We have listed many of these for you to check out and attend. Support these towns and their events. Telephone numbers are provided for your convenience. October 1-4 Eatonton: Eatonton Street Painting Festival Artists transform the streets into a walkthru museum. Free family fun. Live music by Lifeforce & Ronnie Pittman. Estimated attendees: 5,000. 706-818-0648 October 2-3 Gay: Shady Days in Gay Come see some of the most fabulous exhibitors. Estimated attendees: 10,000. 706-977-8548 October 2 Warrenton: Fiddles & Vittles Live music (country and bluegrass) plus food vendors (preserves, honey, and fresh produce). Estimated attendees: 300. 706-465-9604 October 2 Winder: Faith Fest Christian bands, two stages, 75 arts & crafts booths, food vendors, and Kids Zone. Estimated attendees: 4,500. 678-425-9082 October 2 Macon: Levee Fest BBQ contest, live music, food vendors, crafts and merchandise vendors, and more. Estimated attendees: 2,000. 478-751-7270 October 2-3 Norcross: Norcross Art Fest Historic downtown Norcross festival with fine art, music, food, and entertainment. Estimated attendees: 30,000. 770-449-5133 October 2-3 Andersonville: Andersonville Historic Fair 35th Annual Andersonville Historic Fair will include living history programs, two mock Civil War battles, 90-unit parade. Estimated attendees: 10,000. 229-924-2558 October 2 Duluth: PoochFest AKC-sanctioned Pet Festival. Pet services, products, adoptions, arts, craft vendors, entertainment. Estimated attendees: 1,000. 770-232-7584
October 2 Jackson: Jackson Alive Entire town will be covered with events, from authors to car shows, yard sales to craft booths. Estimated attendees: 5,000. 770-775-4839 October 2 Lawrenceville: Georgia Race for Autism 4th annual. Family Fun Day, 9:00am to 2:00pm. Games, food, vendors, petting zoo, pony rides, 10K, and 5K. Estimated attendees: 600. 770-904-4474 October 2 Lawrenceville: Rock N’ Rib Fest 3rd Annual. Free event including BBQ, beer, Kids Zone, and shopping. Estimated attendees: 9,000. 404-732-3959 October 8-9 Covington: Sherman’s Last Burning Fall Festival Family festival, BBQ cookoff and other food, music with bands (country, lite rock, bluegrass, gospel), games, arts and crafts, Miss Hazzard Contest, pig squeal. Estimated attendees: 4,000 770-385-6697
October 15-17 Uvalda: Uvalda Ole Time Farm Festival Street dance, vendors, car/truck show, arts, crafts, live entertainment. Fun for the whole family. Estimated attendees: 2,000. 478-972-3639 October 16-17 Hogansville: Hummingbird Festival 100+ Arts & crafts, demonstrating art, art competition, antiques, food, children’s area, entertainment. Estimated attendees: 18,000. 706-637-9497 October 16-17 Auburn: Auburnfest Fall Festival with food, crafts, Christmas items, live entertainment, kids activities and more. Estimated attendees: 4,000. 770-963-4002
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October 8-10 Thomasville: Thomasville Fly-In 43rd Annual Thomasville Fly-In is fun for aviation enthusiasts and fans alike. Estimated attendees: 1,000. 229-403-1071 October 9 Sandersville: Kaolin Festival Parade, music, and arts and crafts. Loads of fun for the whole family. Estimated attendees: 4,000. 478-552-6915 October 9 Atlanta: Parent Magazine Family Block Party More than 50 different familyfriendly activities, storytelling, entertainment, exhibitors, and food. Estimated attendees: 5,000. 770-454-7599 October 15-16 Waycross: 2nd Annual Ware County BBQ Cookoff & Festival Brunswick Stew contest Friday night and cookoff judging on Saturday. Estimated attendees: 2,000. 912-283-3865
October 2010 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition 15
Pickens County Highlights
by Vanessa Jane McBrayer
The historic Tate House
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October 2010 • www.400edition.com
out of the Tate mines. Sam Tate died in 1938 and the last remaining relatives left the house in 1955. The house remained abandoned and neglected until 1974. It was during this time that my mother, who grew up nearby, remembers playing in
The Oglethorpe Monument
P
ickens County contains some of North Georgia’s most beautiful landscapes and charmingly oldfashioned communities. From rolling hills and pastures to the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, it is truly a scenic mountain community. Jasper is probably the most popular town amongst the many townships of Pickens and is known as “The First Mountain City.” Its main drag, fittingly named “Main Street,” is reminiscent of Mayberry, where people still say hello in passing as they stroll down the sidewalk. Floyd the barber would probably not like all of the competition—because unlike most towns where barber shops are a thing of the past, Pickens has six. Pickens is growing and even has a Wal-Mart now, located off Highway 515; but walking down Main Street still gives one that nostalgic feeling of days gone by, and hopefully that will never change. Pickens was created in 1853 and named after General Andrew Pickens. Jasper was named after Sergeant William Jasper. Both men were Revolutionary War heroes. Pickens County is probably best known for its marble. Marble mining in Pickens began as early as 5,000 years ago, by Native Americans. In 1917, Colonel Samuel Tate, after whom the Historic Tate House and the town of Tate are named, gained control of the marble quarries. The Historic Tate House is a huge pink marble mansion surrounded by mountain vistas and beautiful fountainadorned gardens. It is now a private residence and an events facility. It is the perfect wedding venue to fulfill every bride’s childhood dreams. The mansion was constructed by Colonel Sam Tate out of the rare pink marble referred to as “Etowah marble” that came
the overgrown courtyards with her brothers and sisters. In 1974, Ms. Ann Laird of Arizona discovered the forgotten mansion and began a restoration project that took ten years to complete. Many of Pickens’ government buildings—the Pickens County Courthouse, The Historic Old Jail, the Tate Elementary School—are made of grey Georgia marble. There are also many marble sculptures and monuments throughout Pickens, such as the large bear sculpture that rests on the front lawn of the courthouse, the amazing water sculpture located just past the old jail, and the tall Oglethorpe Monument. Marble mining is still a huge source of economic stability in Pickens. Guided tours of the world’s largest open pit marble quarry are offered during the annual Marble Festival held October 2 and 3. Pickens is more than just a place on the map for me. It holds a special place in my heart because it is where my grandmother Bettie Jane Neighbours lives. She worked at the Pickens County Courthouse for 25 years. She is the most
selfless person I have ever know and represents the true meaning of the words care and give. When traveling to Pickens, heed the call of a growling stomach by taking advantage of the many dining options Pickens has to choose from. These are my picks for Pickens: Appalachia: An American Grill is located just 30 minutes from GA 400 along a lovely mountain drive called Steve Tate Highway, which branches off of Highway 53 and heads toward the wooded resort community of Big Canoe. It is a yellow restaurant set back in the forest, with a great patio for outdoor dining. The inside features rustic yet contemporary decor. The food is unbelievably tasty. Everything from Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes to Filet of Beef Tenderloin is sure to melt in your mouth as fine dining at its best. The menu changes every few months to spice things up, but the old favorites remain. My husband and I have long
regarded Appalachia as our favorite place for date night. On up beautiful Cove Rd. (turn left on Steve Tate Highway— named after Col. Sam Tate’s father) and on into town, next to the Piggly Wiggly, you’ll find The Last Catch Seafood Restaurant, which has become a new favorite of the locals and draws many visitors as well. My husband and I visited the restaurant one weekday evening and could barely find a parking space. We had such a great experience there that I decided to write a separate article based on its wonderful food, staff, and laid-back atmosphere, which creates a relaxed feeling that begins the moment you walk in and your hostess greets you with, “Welcome aboard!” The Last Catch offers fresh fish specials every night, as well as prime rib on weekends. The last restaurant along our route into Jasper is The Crust, which is an elegant yet fun restaurant
located just off Main Street, across from the courthouse. The menu focuses on pizzas with stoneground flour crusts; pastas, such as their Five Layer Lasagna; salads, such as the Californian with sliced beef tenderloin; and sandwiches, such as their Meatball Sandwich. Also visit The Cream ice cream and dessert parlor located right next door. Next time you’re passing through, stop in for some “Crust and Cream.” Now that your stomach’s full and the day is done, don’t drive home in the dark. Stay for the weekend so you can see more of the sights. Stay in a gorgeous mountain hideaway rented through Mountain Home Rentals of Georgia. From cozy romantic retreats to spacious multi-family homes, there is something special for every special occasion or well-deserved break from reality, whether it be a weekend, a week, or longer. The luxurious mountain homes are scattered throughout Big Canoe, which is known for its tranquil mountain lakes and wooded bliss. In the morning, take in more beautiful mountain vistas driving along Burnt Mountain Rd., including the lovely and majestic
October 2010 • www.400edition.com
Sharp Top Mountain. For a little more exercise, walk the trail around the pond at Jasper City Park, or shop in the many antique and rustic-decor shops you will pass along your way from Highway 53 to Highway 515. Then head on into Ellijay to visit Carter’s Lake and the wholesomely wonderful apple houses. Whether you come for the food, the festival, the views, or the distinctly southern friendliness of strangers, make Pickens County a must-see place on your life’s map of adventures. See www.pickenschamber.com and www.tatehouse.com for more information. Vanessa Jane McBrayer is a writer and account manager for 400 Edition and Salon Director of Lava Hair Studio. She is married to Michael McBrayer and both are lifelong residents of Dawson County. Her philosophy, “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.”
400 Edition 17
Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk, NC October 16-17
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ack in the late 1970s, the editor of the now-defunct Mountain Living Magazine, Jim Morton, was preparing to include a Woolly Worm Forecast in the winter issue of the magazine. He photographed the first Woolly Worm he saw to use in formulating the prediction and illustrating his story, but the next day he saw a second worm that looked completely different from the first. “That’s when it struck me that we needed some formal procedure to use to decide which was going to be the official worm for making the winter forecast,” said Morton. So since 1978, the residents of the village of Banner Elk, NC, nestled between the Carolinas’ two largest ski resorts, have celebrated the coming of the snow season with a Woolly Worm Festival. They set aside the third weekend in October (October 16-17 this year) to determine which one worm will have the honor of predicting the severity of the coming winter; and they make that worm earn the honor by winning heat after heat of hardfought races—up a three-foot length of string. The Woolly Bear caterpillar has 13 brown and black segments; at the first Woolly Worm Festival, the late Charles Von Canon explained to the small crowd huddled together in the sub-freezing temperatures that these bands correspond to the 13 weeks of winter. The lighter brown a segment is, the milder that week of winter will be. The darker black a segment is, the colder and snowier the corresponding week will be. “If you went solely by the attendance figures, you probably wouldn’t call the first festival a success,” recalled Morton. “But WCYB-TV in Bristol sent a cameraman, and their report ended up being broadcast nationwide by NBC News. That national TV coverage was really what gave me the motivation to want to keep the event going.”
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And the 20,000 people who attended the festival last year certainly are glad that he did. Because racing Woolly Worms is a total blast. First, no person is more likely to have a winning worm than any other person. There is no homefield advantage, no preferred age for the person who sets the worm on the string (although worms raced by children do seem to win a bit more frequently). Second, selecting names for the Woolly Worms is a delightful way to learn how amazingly creative your friends and family members can be. Consider these clever monikers: Merryweather, Patsy Climb, and Dale Wormhardt. Finally, there is no other experience in life that can produce the absurd euphoria that comes from cheering for a caterpillar to climb a string. It is so indisputably ridiculous that it is completely liberating. And the $1,000 first prize that accompanies the prestige of having your worm used to pronounce the official winter forecast doesn’t hurt either. The Woolly Worm races begin around 10:00am. Each heat consists of 25 worms, and races continue all day until the grand finale around 4:00pm. The winning worm on Saturday is declared the official winter forecasting agent. The Sunday worm races are for prestige, fun, and small prizes. In addition to the Woolly Worm Races, the festival, running from 9:00am to 5:00pm both days, features crafts, food vendors, live entertainment, and much more. Last year’s festival attracted an estimated 20,000 fans, 140 vendors, and around 1,000 race entrants. The Woolly Worm Festival is sponsored by the Avery County Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk, and a portion of the proceeds go to support children’s charities throughout the county. For more information phone 828-898-5605.
We have hand-picked these 11 festivals as being some of the best ones to attend—great music, good food, the opportunity to learn more about our heritage, and support of a worthy cause. The number next to the festival description corresponds to one of the caricatures on the map. Find a few you’re interested in seeing, pack up the family, and follow our map to great fun and adventure! Please be sure to check for schedule changes before you hit the road. Special thanks to Sam Ashworth for creating our fabulous festival map.
1
Riverfest Canton, September 25-26
Saturday 10:00am to 6:00pm and Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm. Featuring more than 200 arts and crafts exhibitors, entertainers, children’s area activities, and food. The juried show exhibitors include fine art and photography, pottery, wood carving, home and garden decor, jewelry, fabric arts (including clothing), natural beauty products, and a marketplace of culinary gifts and treats. Basket weavers, blacksmiths and crafters will be demonstrating their skills. Children will enjoy inflatables, rides (including a train), pony rides, games, crafts, and costumed characters. Proceeds used by the Service League of Cherokee County to help local children in need. A full schedule of entertainment includes bluegrass, country, pop, and rock ’n’ roll bands as well as cloggers, dancers, Civil War re-enactors who camp out at the festival, and other entertainers. Riverfest is held in Boling Park. Admission is $5 for adults, and free for children. Parking is free. For more information, see riverfest.org or call 770-704-5991.
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Sandy Springs Festival Sandy Springs, September 25-26
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Sandy Springs Festival is the largest annual event in Sandy Springs. Now in its 25th year, it has grown from a small, picnic-style gathering to drawing over 20,000. This neighborhood event welcomes new families and friends. Celebrating community and tradition, there is something for everyone. Located in Sandy Springs’ Heritage Green and surrounding areas. See www.sandyspringsfestival.com or telephone 404-851-9111.
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Oktoberfest Helen, September 9-October 31
It’s the German word for fun! Well, that may not be the actual translation, but to the folks attending Helen’s Oktoberfest every year, it may as well be. Oktoberfest in Helen may have started out small in the ’70s, but over the years, it has grown into the biggest party in the Southeast. This celebration lasts two months! During the day, browse the shops, relax in a biergarten, or simply enjoy Helen’s perfect weather and beautiful scenery. At night, all paths lead to Helen’s massive Festhalle. Located within walking distance of most hotels, the Festhalle is the spot
for authentic German bands, food, beer, and fun. You can either spend the evening dancing the polka and the chicken dance, or you can relax in the adjacent biergarten and enjoy the crisp night air. Be sure to sample the fresh cooked wursts and large variety of German beers. For more information, see www.HelenChamber.com or call 706-878-1619.
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Georgia Marble Festival Jasper, October 2 & 3
Adults $5.00; students 6 and up $3.00; children 5 and under free. Free parking with shuttle in several different locations. During the first full weekend in October, Jasper, Georgia, and the entire Marble Valley of Pickens County host the annual Georgia Marble Festival. Experience the rich heritage of the area and learn about the marble industry. After the parade, head over to Lee Newton Park where the entire family will enjoy over 100 arts and crafts booths, mouthwatering food, a juried Fine Arts Competition Exhibition, live music, clogging and dancing, a business expo, and a children’s area – and don’t forget the marble industry tour! For more information, see www.pickenschamber.com or call 706-692-5600.
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Indian Summer Festival Suches, October 2 & 3
Adults $4.00; children under 6 free. Free parking. On the grounds of Woody Gap School, Georgia’s smallest public school, GA Hwy. 60 between Dahlonega and Blue Ridge. Enjoy country square dancing with a live band, crowning of King and Queen, clogging, auction, Mountain Rangers (hand-to-hand combat demo), mountain music, archery demo, Gaddistown Homemakers, beautiful quilts, lots of pies and cakes, local area history displays, old time turkey shoot, good things to eat, featuring pork BBQ plates and sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, and all the fixins’! Many vendor snacks such as funnel cakes, boiled peanuts, cotton candy, fried apple pies, homemade preserves. Tons of great vendor booths: pottery, quilts, homemade goodies, leather crafts, needlework, folk art, jewelry, furniture, photographs, stained glass, whirligigs, and more. For more information, see www.Suches.com/festival.htm or call 706-747-2401.
...Historic Downtown Dahlonega! There’s great shopping in historic downtown Dahlonega’s 50 retail shops. Enjoy delightful dining at 15 downtown restaurants. Come downtown to shop, play, and stay today. www.DahlonegaMerchants.org/Businesses www.DahlonegaDDA.org
In the mountains just one hour north of Atlanta on GA-400.
ome explore the scenic mountain village of Dahlonega and the natural beauty of Lumpkin County. This gateway to the Appalachian Mountains offers lodging to suit every taste and budget—from delightful bed and breakfasts to country inns and mountain cabins. If outdoor activities are more your style, the Chattahoochee National Forest offers exceptional opportunities for hiking, fishing, and canoeing. With the Six Gap Century Ride, the Dahlonega area is the center for bicycling in North Georgia. Don’t miss the beautiful waterfalls in the area, including Amicalola, the highest falls in the U.S. east of the Rockies. Whatever your pleasure, Dahlonega is the place to be!
www.dahlonega.org 1-800-231-5543 706-864-3711 In the mountains just one hour north of Atlanta on GA-400.
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Cumming Country Fair & Festival Cumming, October 7-17
Adults $7.00; students (5-18) $3.00; 4 and under free. Parking is $3.00. Daily Specials offer discounts on admissions and rides for children, students, and seniors. Concerts include Tanya Tucker, Little Texas, Phil Stacey, Chris Sligh, Colt Ford and Craig Morgan. Concerts are free with fair admission. Down home country fun at the Cumming Fairgrounds! Festival highlights: Midway Carnival Rides, Daily Ground Acts, Petting Zoo, Heritage Village and Indian Village, Living History exhibits featuring a 1900’s rural township reproduction, and much more. For more information, see www.CummingFair.net or call 770-781-3491.
enjoy the 39th year of the Georgia Apple Festival. There are over 300 vendors with handmade, hand-crafted items, as well as many on-site demonstrations of how selected types of crafts are made. This year promises many new crafts, as well as favorites from past festivals. There is a parade and antique car show each year. The antique car show is held at the Civic Center on October 9. The parade is on the second Saturday, October 16, and begins at 10:00am. For more information, see www.GeorgiaAppleFestival.org or call 706-635-7400.
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Gold Rush Days Dahlonega, October 16 & 17
Mountain Moonshine Festival Dawsonville, October 22-24
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Georgia Mountain Fall Festival Hiawassee, October 8-16
Tickets are $9 with $2 parking; children under 10 free; music shows are included in ticket price. Music includes performers include Janie Fricke, John Conlee, T.G. Sheppard, Crystal Gayle, The Melody Boys Quartet, Isaacs, and many more. Each October, the 9-day event features exciting musical performances, educational demonstrations, a flower show, and the ever-popular Georgia’s Official State Fiddlers’ Convention, the Cloggers Convention, and the Miss Georgia Mountain Fair. For more information, including a complete entertainment schedule, see www.GeorgiaMountainFairgrounds. com or call 706-896-4191.
Gold Rush Days are held the third weekend in October, when thousands come to see fall colors peaking and celebrate Dahlonega’s 1828 discovery of gold. Over 300 art and craft exhibitors gather around the Public Square and Historic District in support of this annual event, and it is estimated that a crowd of over 200,000 visit over the weekend to join in the fun and excitement! Gold Rush Days has been voted one of the Top 20 Events in the southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society. Included in the two-day event are a parade, children’s activities, a fashion show, gold panning contest, wheelbarrow race, King and Queen Coronation, hog calling, buck dancing contest, gospel singing and other live entertainment, wrist wrestling, and delicious food! For more information, call 706-864-7247 or see www.DahlonegaJaycees.com.
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Sorghum Festival Blairsville, October 9-10 & 16-17
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Georgia Apple Festival Ellijay, October 9-10 & 16-17
9:00am to 5:00pm each day. Celebrate the art of sorghum syrup making at Blairsville’s most famous event—Georgia’s official Sorghum Festival. Sponsored by the Blairsville Jaycees, it’s the time of year when you can congregate in town to celebrate this wonderful community and its rich heritage. Enjoy watching the parade (11:00am, first Saturday only) as bands, floats, marching units, and other crowd pleasers weave their way through town. See how sorghum is made, participate in the “Biskit Eatin” contest, Pole Climbin’, Log Sawin’, and much more. Arts, crafts, and good food are plentiful. For more information, see Sorghum.Blairsville.com.
The Ellijay Lions Club, the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce, and the cities of Ellijay and East Ellijay invite everyone to come and
Explores Dawson County’s history during the prohibition era when liquor was illegal and the Great Depression of the 1930’s when running moonshine through the foothills of the Northeast Georgia Mountains was a way of life. Thousands of tourist flock to the birthplace of NASCAR racing to hear about storied legends, Junior Johnson, Raymond Parks, and Gober Sosebee. These men loved the thrill of being chased through the mountain ridges of Northeast Georgia. Bring the family and visit an old Moonshine still; listen to stories from both “Trippers” and Revenuers. Take a look under the hood of all the cars on display in the Dawsonville Square - you’re looking at history! Meet many legendary race car drivers. See Vintage Race Cars and more Authentic Moonshine-Hauling cars than you’ll ever see gathered in one place anywhere in the US! For more information call 706-216-5273 or see www. kareforkids.us.
Park Rangers Anticipate a Vibrant Autumn F
or many people, the perfect autumn weekend includes cozy campfires, gooey s’mores, and fieryhued forests. To help leaf peepers plan their fall escapes, Georgia’s state parks will soon launch “Leaf Watch 2010” to track fall color as it moves across the Peach State and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Whether heading north for hiking and waterfalls, or south for canoeing and camping, Leaf Watch 2010 offers advice on where to find the best color at Georgia’s state parks. The information can be found during October and November at www.GeorgiaStateParks.org, where travelers can get updates on fall color, learn safe hiking tips, and make reservations for the many campsites, cottages, and lodge rooms offered at Georgia’s state parks. New this year is a partnership with Georgia Forestry Commission and a webcam at Black Rock Mountain State Park near Clayton. Expert foresters will advise travelers about overall color, specific tree species, and even the weather’s effect on leaf watching. The webcam will provide a glimpse of color progressing across the Blue Ridge Mountains. “Fortunately, there are no ‘bad’ years for fall foliage in Georgia,” said Ken Masten, Gainesville District Manager for the Georgia Forestry Commission. “With moderating temperatures and sufficient rainfall in the next weeks, sunny and cool fall
days should set the stage for the best showing of autumn color.” Typically, Georgia’s mountain parks peak in late October; however, color can be seen as early as September and throughout much of November. Some of the most popular parks for leaf watching include Amicalola Falls, Black Rock Mountain, Cloudland Canyon, Fort Mountain, Moccasin Creek, Smithgall Woods, Tallulah Gorge, Unicoi, and Vogel. Since some of these parks are crowded on the prettiest weekends, visitors may want to explore lesserknown parks, which can be equally pretty. Providence Canyon State Park, also called Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon, has hiking trails that highlight sweetgums and sassafras. Hardwoods and mossy rock gardens can be found on the 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail at F.D. Roosevelt State Park near Columbus. “We are excited to partner with Georgia Forestry Commission this year,” said Georgia State Parks Director Becky Kelley. “They can offer expertise on the most colorful trees in Georgia, and we can provide easy ways for visitors to get out and enjoy this beautiful season.” Park officials advise visitors to make overnight reservations as soon as possible. It is not uncommon for mountain cottages and yurts to be reserved nearly a year in advance, and many campgrounds fill up on pretty weekends. Amicalola Falls and
Unicoi state parks offer hotel-style lodges with restaurants. To make a reservation, call 1-800-864-7275 or log onto www. GeorgiaStateParks.org.
Safe Hiking Tips
Rangers from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources offer these tips for safe hiking: • Avoid hiking alone. • Tell someone where you are going and when you will return. Remember to let them know when you are back. • Stay on marked trails. As you hike, pay attention to trail blazes and landmarks. A double blaze indicates a change in trail direction or intersection, so be sure to follow the correct trail. • Never climb on waterfalls or wet rocks. • Always carry quality rain gear, and turn back in bad weather. • Dress in layers and avoid cotton. • All hikers should carry a whistle; it can be heard at a distance and takes less energy than yelling. • Carry plenty of drinking water and never assume stream water is safe
to drink. • Don’t count on cell phones to work in the wilderness, but if they do, be able to give details about your location. • Don’t rely on a GPS to prevent you from getting lost. Batteries can die or the equipment can become damaged or lost. Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites, Dept. of Natural Resources, 2 MLK Jr. Dr., Suite 1354E, Atlanta, GA 30334. Visit us online at www. georgiastateparks.org.
Georgia Apple Festival Celebrates 39 Years
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he Georgia Apple Festival is almost upon us (October 9-10 and 16-17), and event organizers are preparing for another season of great family fun, with more than 300 vendors on-site at the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds for what many visitors consider a traditional fall excursion to the North Georgia mountains. While the state of Georgia is well known for its peaches, Gilmer County, nestled in the Appalachian Mountains just an hour north of Atlanta, produces more than 600,000 bushels of apples annually. Officially designated the state’s “Apple Capital,” Gilmer County’s Highway 52 East, also known as Apple Alley, features more than a dozen apple houses and orchards with pick-your-own apples, pig races, hay rides, petting zoos, and great apple-based foods and products. “Our Apple Festival gets more and more entertaining each year, and the fun continues
this season with more than 300 vendors, including handmade and hand-crafted arts and crafts, great food, music, dancing, entertainment, people-watching, and of course, all things apple,” says Scott Sharp of the Georgia Apple Festival. “This is the perfect opportunity to get a jump on holiday shopping, finding a unique gift for any friend or family member,” adds Sharp. The Georgia Apple Festival is perfect for a quick day-trip, but travelers can also spend days taking advantage of the many other activities in the area, such as mountain biking, hiking, camping, kayaking, canoeing, and exploring; or check out local shops and restaurants. Other area events include the Antique Car Show on Saturday, October 9, and the Apple Festival Parade through downtown Ellijay beginning at 10:00am on Saturday, October 16. October 2010 • www.400edition.com
Paige Green, President of the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce, encourages visitors to inquire about local discounts and promotions. “Many of our cabin rental agencies offer great weekend getaway packages for travelers, and our inventory ranges from mountain-view mansions, to streamside log cabins, to quaint B&B’s,” says Green. For more festival information, visit www. georgiaapplefestival.org.
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Bobber’s Fish House
Bobber’s Fish House is where you will find the best all-youcan-eat catfish and seafood you have ever tasted. This is truly the real deal. Whether it’s the fresh rainbow trout with okra, delicious fried oyster po-boys, or the Mississippi farm-raised catfish, you are sure to get more than your money’s worth. We also have alligator, calamari, shrimp, bison, chicken, and the best seafood chowder ever served, with our very own fresh-baked French bread. Our prices are extremely affordable and the food is incredible! Bobber’s is a 100seat restaurant located just behind the historic Dahlonega Square. We have one of the largest parking lots in Dahlonega, with plenty of room for buses and motor homes. Bobber’s is located at 51 Grove Street North, Dahlonega. 706-867-9151.
Back Porch Oyster Bar
Back Porch Oyster Bar Restaurant is inspired by coastal North Carolina cuisine; our seafood is fine dining in a fun atmosphere. The menu runs the gamut from simple fried catfish to ahi tuna tartare, pan-seared Chilean sea bass in a lemon beurre blanc, and cold-water lobster tails. We also have a wide selection of cold-water oysters from the northeastern U.S. and Canada. You can find great seafood in the North Georgia mountains! We are located on the northwest side of the historic Dahlonega Square, upstairs on the back porch. Hours: Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30pm to 9:00pm, Friday and Saturday from 11:30pm to 10:00pm, and Sunday from 11:30 to 8:00pm. Closed on Monday. www.backporchoysterbar.net – 706-864-8623
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 made-from-scratch, Southern-inspired cooking on the outdoor deck (look for the blue umbrellas), in the cozy dining room with copper bar, or in the 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, daily ribeye specials, and save room for the homemade desserts! The beer and wine list is quite extensive and unique, featuring seasonal specialties from local distributors. If you need an accommodating venue for your holiday office party or family get-together, Yahoola Creek Grill has plenty of space for larger parties, and offers customized menus for any occasion. Located 3.8 miles off the end of GA 400 on the way to the Dahlonega square via GA 60. 1810 S. Chestatee Street (past Achasta golf course and over Yahoola Creek; look for the umbrellas).
All major credit cards accepted. Open Wednesday-Sunday for lunch and dinner, including Sunday brunch from 11:00am to 3:00pm. www.yahoolacreekgrill.com – 706-482-2200.
Paul Thomas Chocolates
Dahlonega is a sweeter place, thanks to Paul Thomas Chocolates at 102 Public Square North. Founders of Hoffman Chocolates in Florida, Paul and Lori Hoffman have brought the joy and complexity of making fine chocolate to the North Georgia mountains. We have also introduced two more partners to our Chocolate Family, Jeff and Barbara Weltzien. You’ll want to smell and taste the sweet delights at Paul Thomas Chocolates on 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 top-notch ingredients, a lifetime of expertise, and a true passion for candy-making can produce. Open MondayThursday 10:00am-7:00pm, Friday and Saturday 10:00am-9:00pm, and Sunday 11:00-6:00. Now you can order online! Sugar-free products also available. www.PaulThomasChocolates.com – 706-864-6333
Cavender Creek Cabins
Need a central location from which to enjoy the host of fall festivals? Or is a cozy romantic retreat more your style? 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 familysized 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
Corkscrew Café
A night on the town in Dahlonega is not complete without dinner at Corkscrew Café. Located next door to the historic Holly Theatre just off the square, Corkscrew offers a full range of lunch and dinner fare. For lighter appetites, there’s the duck salad, which features roasted duck over a mound of fresh mixed greens, topped with caramelized onions, mandarin oranges, and sugared pecans. The traditionally prepared fresh trout, rack of
Be sure to tell them you More Local events & places at
lamb, or hand-carved filet mignon please the heartier appetites. Our desserts and aperitifs offer the perfect ending to your meal or the final curtain at the Holly. Our expansive wine list honors both local and international labels. Owner Rob Rotunno is happy to suggest the right match for your meal. Wine tastings from 4:00-6:00pm on the last Sunday of each month are paired with our savory appetizers. The charming café and enclosed patio can be the perfect backdrop to your private party, or let us bring our memorable catering to you. Open Tuesday-Thursday, 11:30am-9:00pm; Friday-Saturday 11:30am10:00pm, Sunday 12:00pm-9:00pm serving Sunday Brunch from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. Reservations recommended. www.TheCorkscrewCafe.com – 706-867-8551
Crown Mountain Limo
We offer professional, timely, and safe transportation services in the Northeast Georgia mountains for winery dinners and tours, weddings, rehearsal dinners, proms, bachelor and bachelorette parties, anniversary and birthday celebrations, concerts and sporting events. Safety first: Don’t Drink & Drive, call 706-867-7372. We have been in business for 5+ years, enjoying each group that we chauffeur for its special event. We are state licensed and fully insured. We will be adding a 26-28-passenger bus to our fleet and will be able to go out of state in 2011. We are looking forward to being of service to you and your friends and family. Come visit us in the Northeast Georgia mountains. Enjoy our historic town, shops, restaurants, and wineries. We’ll look forward to hearing from you. Michael and Suzanne Monroe, “Your Driving Specialists.” www.CrownMountainLimo.com – 706-867-7372
The Fudge Factory
A landmark of the historic Dahlonega Square, The Fudge Factory offers handmade and hard-to-find confections and candies. The Fudge Factory is best known for its fresh fudge in almost every imaginable variety. Other delights include brittles, truffles, chocolate-covered pretzels and fruit, Nuggets (like “Turtles”), pralines, divinity, divine toffee, and a wide variety of sugar-free chocolate. 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. We ship FedEx nationwide. Located on the north side of the square, across Main Street from the Welcome Center. Monday-Thursday 10:00am-6:00pm, Friday-Saturday 10:00am9:00pm, Sunday 1:00pm-6:00pm. www.DahlonegaFudgeFactory.com – 706-864-2256
Georgia Girls
The best selection and variety of women’s clothing, shoes, jewelry, and collegiate apparel makes its debut in Dahlonega! Located two blocks off the historic Dahlonega Square at 28 Grove Street North, Suite 300, it’s the shopping experience you have been looking for. From our stylish shoe collection to our one-of-a-kind college game-day dresses, and jeans you can’t do without, Georgia Girls Boutique is the place for you. Locally owned and operated, we are proud to provide fashion that’s hip and stylish, yet casual and affordable, to the town we grew up in. Parking is available in Mrs. Ruby’s Corner Crossing by taking a left at the traffic light east of the square and an immediate right just past Steele Stained Glass. Open Monday-Saturday 10:30am -6:00pm, Sunday 12:00pm-5:00pm. www.georgiagirlsboutique.com – 706-867-9949
Foothill Grill
Situated just a bit off the Square and open at 7am, Foothill Grill creates a variety of “Awesome Groceries” that includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Fresh grouper and oysters are offered, along with our popular Swamp Platter (whole catfish and frog legs). You can enjoy shrimp, wings, burgers, salads, soups, sandwiches, a great N.Y. strip, and a super kids menu. Ice-cold beer is available. Foothill Grill is located just west of downtown Dahlonega at 995 Morrison Moore Parkway (Highway 9); if you need to, give us a call for directions. We’re just a bit off the Square, and a good bit off the Square prices. Foothill Grill is open Tuesday-Thursday 7:00am-8:00pm; Friday-Saturday 7:00am-9:00pm; Sunday 7:00am3:00pm. Free Wi-Fi. 706-864-0863
Extended shopping hours at participating businesses continue every Friday and Saturday until Christmas. Historic Downtown Dahlonega is the premium choice for shopping in North Georgia Visit www.Dahlonega. org today!
saw them in 400 Edition! www.Dahlonega.org or 1.800.231.5543
Historic Forsyth by Myra Reidy
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Monroe family had migrated from Scotland a child, and the local history that she had o, where does your family come to America. taught me. For this class project, I chose from? Why do you and your family As fate would have it, when I started to research the history and culture of the celebrate certain holidays? Do you have pondering about my family and their Cherokee Indians who once resided in our particular traditions and customs that origins, I also was taking a multi-cultural area of North Georgia. This project was a you have followed for as long as you can and diversity education class at one of the life-changing event for me. remember? Is there a favorite recipe that metro colleges. The instructor assigned a One question from an interested friend, has been handed down in your family from major project that required us to investigate and a college instructor’s assignment, sent generation to generation? These questions a culture other than our own. I thought about me on a journey to research my own family may have been asked by your children, the stories that my mother had told me as history. This adventure has been an exciting grandchildren, nieces, or nephews whenever quest that has at times been they have had to complete a happy and at other times deeply school project assigned by soul-moving. One story that I their teachers. would like to share with you is Yet, have you really ever about the family of my great wondered where your family grandfather, Walt Monroe. He did come from? I know had a great uncle by the name of that I have. About ten years Jacob M. Scudder. ago, I had someone ask Jacob McCartney Scudder me this very question and (1788-1870) was an influential could not answer him. This leader of his generation. He inquiry caused me to start was the possible son of Isaiah thinking about the stories Scudder and Sarah McCartney that my mother had told who married in Rowan County, me as a child; these same North Carolina, on April 15, accounts had been told to her 1785. By 1790, Isaiah and as a child by her father and Sarah Scudder had migrated to mother—tales of life on the Wilkes County, Georgia. Jacob farm and of family members McCartney Scudder was born who had long ago gone on. I on July 13, 1788, in Wilkes remember that when I was County and married Diana Jones still in elementary school, we (1795-1867) in Jackson County, had family members come Jacob M. Scudder’s pre-Civil War house as it stood at the Hightower Georgia, on May 7, 1812. Diana from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Crossroads. Purchased in 1874 by James L. Heard from Scudder’s was the daughter of John Warren and Texas in search of us. I grandsons. Shown (l-r): Eli Sherrill, Alice Heard-Hogan, Mattie GilstrapJones and Mary “Polly” Tullos, recall how excited my father Heard (holding Grace Heard), Pauline Heard-Hunt, Otto Heard (sitting), who married on September was in finding these distant George B. Hudlow, Paralee Hudlow-Heard, and Charlie Heard. 29, 1788, in Fauquier County, cousins and learning that his
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October 2010 • www.400edition.com
Virginia, before migrating to Georgia. Jacob and Diana had two children: Alfred (18131845) and Lucinda (1816-1866). Around 1831, Lucinda married John Floyd Jones. They had eight children: John A., Diana E., Mary N., Mineva C., Henry Clay, Phebe M., Eliza, Sarah, and George. On March 28, 1833, Alfred Scudder married Elizabeth Blackburn, the daughter of Lewis Blackburn and Mary Daniel. They had five children: Josephine Helen, Frances H., Jacob, Lewis Blackburn, William Henry Harrison. In 1814, Jacob M. Scudder moved his family to Cherokee Indian Territory and set up a trading post not far from the Crossroads of the Federal Road and the Upper Alabama Road. Scudder was a licensed Indian Trader and kept an inn for a number of years. During the 1830s, the United States military set up Fort Eaton (Camp Gilmer) near his inn. He acted as a supplier to the military and was appointed by the state to be an agent during the time of the Removal of the local Indians on the now-famous Trail of Tears. Jacob M. Scudder served as the first state senator of Cherokee County, which was formed from the annexed lands of the old Cherokee Nation. He brought a motion before the Georgia legislature that created ten counties from Cherokee County. In 1832, Forsyth County was formed as a result of the passage of Scudder’s motion. Jacob M. Scudder operated a grist mill in the Hightower Community. The grist mill was located on Settingdown Creek near the present-day site of Poole’s Mill Bridge in Forsyth County. George W. Welch had been the original owner of the grist mill on Settingdown Creek. In accordance with the Georgia state laws, Welch, a Cherokee, was dispossessed of his property. In the Cherokee Gold Lottery of 1832, John Maynard of Jackson County drew this property. On August 9, 1833, Scudder purchased the title to this land lot from John Maynard. Jacob Scudder owned and operated
the grist mill for a number of years, and after his death his family sold the property to Dr. M. L. Poole. The Poole family continued to run the mill until 1947. During Scudder’s lifetime, he became one of the largest landowners in Forsyth County. He served as the postmaster of the Hightower Community and supported the local forces during the Civil War. He and his family were buried in the Diana’s Chapel cemetery in Forsyth County. My own quest for my family history led to my involvement in the Historical Society of Forsyth County and the Georgia Chapter of the Trail of Tears. I have had the wonderful privilege of meeting some amazing people in these organizations. These committed volunteers work to preserve oral and written histories of families, buildings, sites, roads, and trails. Currently, the Historical Society of Forsyth County is in the process of publishing a heritage book. Residents and/or families with roots in Forsyth County are strongly encouraged to submit stories for publication in this book. This is one way of preserving family stories and histories for present and future generations. The narrative of Jacob M. Scudder is one more example of a family history that could be submitted for this publication. There are many stories that are waiting to be retold. Do not miss this opportunity to preserve your own family history. More information on how to submit articles to the heritage book can be found at the Historical Society of Forsyth County website, www.historicforsyth. com. Myra Reidy is a retired public school educator who still teaches part-time. She is a volunteer for the Historical Society of Forsyth County and the Georgia Chapter of the Trail of Tears. Contact: myrareidy@ live.com.
October 2010 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition 27
Emotional Eating and Weight Loss
Mind and heart mind & heart
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he psychological connections between “emotional eating” and weight gain/loss have been studied for decades and documented by numerous researchers. Emotional eating is, essentially, the process of eating to suppress or soothe negative emotions, such as stress, anger, fear, boredom, sadness, or loneliness. The strongest cravings for food sometimes occur when one is at his or her weakest point emotionally, and turning to food for comfort can occur at both conscious and unconscious levels. Emotional eating can sabotage weight-loss efforts and often leads to eating too much, especially an excess of high-calorie, sweet, fatty foods. Both major life events and the problems of daily life can serve to trigger negative emotions that lead to emotional eating, thereby disrupting weight-loss efforts. Common triggers include unemployment, financial pressures, health problems, relationship conflicts, work stress, bad weather, and fatigue. While some people actually eat less when struggling with strong emotions, others may turn instead to impulsive or “binge” eating, rapidly eating whatever is convenient without even really enjoying it. Emotions can become so intertwined with eating habits that one may reach for a treat while angry or depressed without stopping to consider what one is doing. Food may also serve as a distraction, allowing one to focus on eating comfort food rather than dealing with a stressful problem or event. Regardless of what particular emotions may drive one to overeat, the end result is often the same unhealthy cycle: emotions triggering overeating, beating oneself up for getting off the weight management track, feeling guilty, additional overeating.
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While negative emotions can often trigger emotional eating, steps can be taken to control cravings and renew efforts to lose weight. Here are some tips to help stop emotional eating: • Manage your stress. If stress contributes to your emotional eating, try using stress management techniques like yoga, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation. • Do a hunger reality check. Try to determine if your “hunger” is physical or emotional; if you ate just a few hours ago and don’t have a rumbling stomach, it’s likely that you are really not hungry, and you should give the craving a little time to pass. • Keep a food diary. Write down what you eat, how much you eat, when you eat, how you’re feeling when you eat, and how hungry you are. This helps reveal the connection between mood and food to oneself. • Get support. Emotional eating is more likely to occur in the absence of a good support network; seek out family and friends or consider joining a support group. • Fight boredom. Instead of snacking, distract yourself by taking a walk, playing with your pet, listening to music, surfing the web, etc. • Eliminate temptation. Avoid keeping supplies of hard-to-resist comfort foods in your home. If your emotions are not in check, postpone your trip to the supermarket until they are. • Don’t deprive yourself completely. Let yourself enjoy an occasional treat, and get plenty of variety to help curb cravings. • Snack healthy. If you feel the urge to eat between meals, choose a low-fat, low-calorie snack such as fresh fruit, vegetables, or plain popcorn.
October 2010 • www.400edition.com
Mark P. Feinsilber, Ph.D.
• Get enough sleep. Continual fatigue often leads to snacking for the purpose of acquiring an energy boost; take a nap or go to bed earlier instead. • Seek therapy. If self-help measures are insufficient to control your emotional eating, consider pursuing therapy with a professional mental health provider. Therapy can help you understand the motivations behind your emotional eating and help you learn new coping skills. In addition, it can help you discover whether you may have an actual eating disorder, which is sometimes connected to emotional eating. Above all, if you do have an episode of emotional eating, forgive yourself and start afresh the next day. Focus on the positive changes that you are already making in your eating habits, learn from the experience, and develop strategies for how you can prevent its occurrence in the future. 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.
Did You Know That More Women Die from Heart Disease Than from Breast Cancer? by Heather Westmoreland, MD
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omen are at risk for heart disease and heart attacks, just like men. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death among women over 65. American women are 4 to 6 times more likely to die of heart disease than of breast cancer. Heart disease kills more women over 65 than all cancers combined. Women develop heart problems later in life than men, typically 7 or 8 years later. However, by about age 65, a woman’s risk is almost the same as a man’s. Also, the rates of heart attack over the last 20 years have been increasing for women aged 35 to 54. It makes sense for women to pay attention to their heart health. “How can I pay attention?” you ask. ♥ Know the symptoms. ♥ Know the risk factors. ♥ Reduce your risk.
What are the symptoms of a heart attack in women?
As in men, the most common heart attack symptom for women is pain or discomfort in the chest. However, women can also have a heart attack without having any chest pain. Some of the other symptoms women might experience:
♥ Feeling out of breath ♥ Pain that runs along the neck,
jaw, or upper back
♥ Nausea, vomiting, or
indigestion
♥ Unexplained sweating ♥ Sudden or overwhelming
fatigue
♥ Dizziness ♥ Overall tiredness
What are risk factors of heart disease?
For both men and women, the biggest factors that contribute to
heart disease are the following: ♥ Smoking ♥ High blood pressure ♥ High cholesterol ♥ Family history ♥ Age
Take a moment to consider your lifestyle, family history, and general health. With this information, you and your doctor can assess your risk and make a plan to avoid potential problems. Although you can’t do much about your family history or your age, you can make lifestyle changes to avoid many other risk factors.
How can I reduce my risk of heart disease? ♥ Don’t smoke. ♥ Control your blood pressure. ♥ Control your cholesterol level. ♥ Maintain a healthy weight. ♥ Exercise regularly. ♥ Eat a low-fat diet. ♥ Take care of your diabetes. ♥ Know your family history. Women are less likely to survive heart attacks than men. No one knows why. It may be that women don’t seek or receive treatment as soon as men do, or that they don’t recognize the symptoms of a heart attack (which, as we have seen, can be different from the symptoms that men experience). It may be because women’s smaller hearts and blood vessels are more easily damaged. Research is ongoing to answer these complicated questions. But for now, one thing is clear. It makes sense to prevent heart problems before they start. Talk to your health care provider about your risk factors and ways to control them.
October 2010 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition 29
King’s Hawaiian to Locate in Oakwood
126 new jobs over two years with an expected addition of 100 jobs by 2015
G
reater Hall Chamber of Commerce officers, education leaders, and government officials voiced excitement over Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue’s announcement in early September that California-based King’s Hawaiian will locate a bakery and distribution operation in Oakwood/Hall County. Kit Dunlap, President/CEO of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, said, “We are very pleased King’s Hawaiian will be a part the business community in Gainesville-Hall County and Georgia. The jobs and investment will have a positive impact on citizens and local businesses. We are grateful for the support our economic development efforts continue to receive from the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Quick Start, Lanier Technical College, and Pattillo Industrial Real Estate.” King’s Hawaiian will complete construction on an existing 111,000-square-foot shell building constructed by Pattillo in the Oakwood South Industrial Park for its Hall County operation. Larry Callahan, CEO, Pattillo Industrial Real Estate, emphasized that King’s Hawaiian is exactly the kind of company you hope to attract when you design and build a speculative building. “They are a multi-generational, family-owned business, and
they produce a quality product in state-of-the-art facilities. They will hire and train a great team and will be strong corporate citizens of the community,” said Callahan. “The seeds of this new business were planted long ago and have been nurtured with a partnership between Oakwood, Hall County, Pattillo Industrial Real Estate, and the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce,” said Lamar Scroggs, Oakwood’s mayor. “King’s Hawaiian is a quality company, and I’ve been very impressed with their leadership and sense of family values. We are very excited to become a longterm partner for their growth.” King’s Hawaiian officials have already formed a bond with Lanier Technical College and the nationally recognized Quick Start workforce training program. “The investment in technology that King’s Hawaiian will make is top-notch,” said Russell Vandiver, President of Lanier Technical College and Chairman of the Gainesville-Hall County Economic Development Council. “This is a clean food-processing business, and they’ve invested in the latest technologies to maintain quality, minimize their impact on the environment, and optimize their production. Lanier Technical College and the Quick
Start Training Program are up to the challenge to meet their needs for training a skilled workforce. Food processing is a very stable business, and this company will help broaden our economy and job base.” “Working with King’s Hawaiian was a collaborative effort of the private and public sectors at every level of our community and state,” said Tim Evans, Vice President of Economic Development for the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce. “Our team was already in place to assist, and included existing industry, businesses, local and state government, utilities, education leadership, and our elected officials. During the process, King’s Hawaiian leadership interviewed several of Gainesville-Hall County’s existing industries one-on-one, and they learned firsthand about this community from the businesses we keep.” The company expects to begin production at its new bakery and distribution center in fall 2011. Applicants interested in employment opportunities with King’s Hawaiian should register at the Georgia Department of Labor’s Gainesville Career Center, 2756 Atlanta Highway, Gainesville, GA 30504. (770) 535-5484. www.dol.state.ga.us.
More Georgia Festivals ...continued from page 15 October 16 Watkinsville: Oconee Fall Festival Estimated attendees: 20,000. 706-769-7947 October 16 Sylvester: Georgia Peanut Festival 47th annual festival, T.C. Jeffords Park, downtown. Parade precedes the allday events of music, food, and fun. Estimated attendees: 10,000. 229-776-6657 October 16 Loganville: Autumn Heritage Festival Second annual craft festival featuring a wide variety of craft-based goods. Estimated attendees: 5,000. 770-283-9016 October 16 Porterdale: Yellow River Jam Arts & crafts, food vendors, music, and children’s activities. Estimated attendees: 4,500. 770-786-2217
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October 16 Bremen: Towne Festival Parade, poker run, motorcycle display, tractor show, fall flower sale, musical entertainment, dancers, food, and crafts. Estimated attendees: 5,000. 770-537-6570 October 23 Milan: Harvest Festival Arts and crafts, Heritage Food displays and BBQ cookoff, live band, kids entertainment. Estimated attendees: 2,000 229-425-8963 October 23 Marietta: Whole Hawg Happenin’ BBQ & Music Fest Benefitd the Boys and Girls Clubs. Fireworks, live music, kids area, fifteen BBQ vendors, arts and crafts. Estimated attendees: 15,000. 404-388-6975 October 23 -24 Atlanta: World Music & Food Festival Live artists, cultural dancers, comedians, food, and vendors. Estimated attendees: 20,000. 678-499-0277
October 30 Eatonton: Arts Show Arts & crafts from vendors all over the Southeast, food, kids area, arts, and entertainment. Estimated attendees: 1,500. 706-749-9150
November 13 Winder: Christmas in the Country Craft Fair Over 120 booths of arts and crafts from all over Georgia. Estimated attendees: 1,500. 678-425-9082
November 5-6 Butler: Countryside Festival Country Writing Contest, street dance, Jason Tyler Band, parade, Miss GA, Beauty Pageants. Estimated attendees: 2,000. 478-862-3661
November 13 Warrenton: Sportsman’s Festival Hunting & fishing vendors and exhibitors, kids carnival, food, Okefenokee Joe, classic car cruise-in. Estimated attendees: 1,000. 706-465-9604
November 6-7 Conyers: The Royal Alpaca Challenge Alpacas from across US compete. Fiber arts demonstrations. Vendors offer alpaca products. Silent Auction. Free. Estimated attendees: 5,000. 706-897-2379
November 18-19 Cumming: National BBQ Cup Huge BBQ festival with live music, kids zone, crafts vendors, food vendors, and much more. Estimated attendees: 15,000. 770-886-6290
November 11-12 Marietta: Mt. Zion Craft Show Fifty-two arts and crafts vendors, silent auction, door prize, bake sale, quilt drawing. Estimated attendees: 4,000. 770-971-1465
October 2010 • www.400edition.com
November 19 -20 Thomasville: Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival The 14th year of one of America’s premier wildlife & sporting art festivals. Estimated attendees: 8,000. 229-226-0588 Used with permission, Festivals and Events, www.festivalsandevents.com.
Gardening Tasks:
October FIRST WEEK
Fall fescue planting season officially begins. Watering restrictions are still in force in many places, so make SURE you have good soil-seed contact. Aerate before seeding, roll afterwards, water when you can. Last chance to apply a weed preventer to bermudagrass, zoysiagrass and centipedegrass lawns to thwart winter weeds like chickweed and annual bluegrass. You can still get 75% control at this point in the season.
by Walter Reeves
THIRD WEEK
Clean fallen fruit from the ground under pear and apple trees. Remove from the tree any fruit that you don’t intend to harvest. Plant spring flowering bulbs, like tulip, daffodil, and hyacinth. Old, crowded beds can be loosened and the bulbs divided and replanted now. Finish dividing daylily clumps, iris rhizomes, and peony roots. Plant them into a well-dug bed immediately.
If you want your poinsettia to turn color by Christmas, now’s the time to begin giving it 14 hours of darkness and 10 hours of bright light each day.
Raise your mower height one-half inch and enjoy a last mowing of your Bermuda, centipede, or zoysia lawn. You can now put your lawnmower to rest for the winter.
Trim back by one fourth any woody plants you’ve kept outdoors during the summer, to help them fit inside your home for the winter.
Remove faded rose blooms. Clip wayward stems back so the plant has a compact form, ready for winter wind and ice.
Fertilize newly planted fescue with a high-phosphorus starter fertilizer.
SECOND WEEK
The pansy planting season begins now. Plant “six-pack” pansies eight inches apart; larger plants can be spaced ten inches apart. Cut brown flower stems of purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, daylily, and hosta back to ground level. Move patio plants into shade for two weeks before bringing them inside. This will help prevent leaf drop. Drench newly-planted pansies with water-soluble houseplant fertilizer at the rate shown on the label. This will push them off to a fast start. Apply a weed preventer to beds of already-planted cool-season flowers to prevent weed seeds from sprouting.
FOURTH WEEK
As chrysanthemum and aster flowers fade, cut the plants back to six inches tall. Rake out and replace all of the mulch and dead leaves under roses, red tip photinia, and crabapples. You’ll prevent diseases on next year’s leaves. Review your pesticide storage procedures. Are they all labeled? In a locked cabinet? In a place where they won’t freeze this winter? Root cuttings of geranium, impatiens, begonia, and other “outside” plants to bring indoors for the winter. Fertilize pansies again with watersoluble houseplant fertilizer. Switch to a product that contains nitrate nitrogen (Osmocote, Pansy Booster, etc.) when you feed in two weeks.
Walter Reeves hosts a radio call-in show on WSB-AM every Saturday morning from 6:00 to 10:00am. He is the host of Your Southern Garden on GPB and writes a weekly column in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Get answers to your garden questions at www.walterreeves.com.
October 2010 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition 31
Pinecrest Football Player Earns Recognition
P
inecrest Academy senior Bryce Haynes is not only an exceptional student, with a GPA of 3.9, but he’s recently earned national recognition for his ability as a long snapper on special teams. The 6’4” 185-pound high school athlete has been training for months with nationally renowned long snapping instructor Chris Rubio, who describes Haynes’ snap as “very fast, smooth, and accurate, with exceptional form and superb balance.” “Bryce has proven to me that he is the best long snapper in the country,” said Rubio. “He is extremely long and athletic, and when he snaps, the ball absolutely flies into your hands. He delivers a tight spiral and can block, too. The kid has it all.”
Rubio isn’t the only one noticing Haynes’ skills. Florida, UNC, Alabama, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt have all expressed interest in the multi-talented athlete. He has been offered preferred walk-on or walkon positions at Auburn, UGA, and
Kentucky. Over the summer, Haynes proved to be the best long snapper at each college camp he attended; this included seven SEC and ACC schools. Haynes was among about 250 athletes invited to attend the “Friday Night Lights” camp, hosted by the University of Florida in late July. Friday Night Lights is an elite camp, and only the best athletes from around the country are invited to showcase their talent. As a junior at Pinecrest during the 2009-2010 school year, Haynes was
selected to the 2009 GISA 1AAA All Region Team as a defensive end. “I’ve had the pleasure of coaching Bryce for four years now, and he’s a super kid all the way around,” said Charles Wiggins, Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at Pinecrest Academy. “Besides his incredible abilities on the football field, he is committed to being number one in everything he puts his mind to. With an SAT score greater than 2000 and the notable accomplishments he’s made on the football field, Bryce exhibits what a Pinecrest student should be.” Pinecrest Academy is located at 955 Peachtree Parkway in Cumming. See www.PinecrestAcademy.org for more information.
The Best Little Seafood Shack
P
by Vanessa McBrayer
assing through the town of Jasper one evening, I spotted out of the corner of my eye a restaurant next to the Piggly Wiggly called The Last Catch seafood restaurant. Since my husband, Michael, and I are both seafood fanatics, I suggested that we stop and give it a try. We were instantly impressed by the number of cars in the parking lot, especially for a weekday. Upon entering, we were greeted by the hostess with “Welcome aboard!” The interior definitely spoke of a fishing boat coming in with its “last catch” of the day. We sat down at our table and were instantly put at ease by the Jimmy Buffett songs playing in the background, the servers who seemed genuinely happy to serve, and the fun, nautical motif. Despite its casual atmosphere, the restaurant was immaculately clean. Every table was filled, and yet there was not a crumb in sight. There was also a great dining patio outside, surrounded by lush greenery and seaside decor. Looking over the menu, I saw that all entrees can be served fried, grilled, or blackened, and that all sauces are made fresh in-house daily. There were a variety of fresh fish specials to choose from, and Michael chose the Cajun Mixed Grill. It consisted of redfish, mahi, and grouper with mango salsa, with a baked potato, hushpuppies, and coleslaw for his sides. I chose the Fried Catch Platter: jumbo shrimp, scallops, oysters, fresh fish, and deviled crab, with hushpuppies and coleslaw on the side. To start off, we were served with a delicious crab dip that is always complimentary. Then, Michael had a half dozen raw oysters on the half shell, shipped in fresh from Charleston. He said that they were great oysters and the price for them was great too: only $6.95. Being an oyster lover, he appreciates a place that not only offers them but has a reasonable price as well. I had a Caesar side salad, in what was a very generous portion for a side. My meal was superb in every way. My shrimp and scallops were huge and everything was hand-dipped
32 400 Edition
in a delicious homemade batter. With a look of solid conviction, Michael said that his fish was some of the best he had ever had. This means a lot coming from a diehard salt- and fresh-water fisherman who, like me, is also a major foodie. We love to eat out and he always gets the fresh fish special wherever it is offered. Our entire meal on this particular evening, including drinks (they serve beer and wine), was less than fifty dollars. For those not so into seafood, there were other dishes to choose from, and they serve prime rib on weekends. The owners of the restaurant, Jim and Kim Ryan, have carefully thought out every detail, from the décor, to the food, and everything in between. It is obvious that a lot of passion goes into this special place. Kim is a physical education teacher at Wildwood Christian Academy by day, and works at the restaurant in the evenings and on weekends. I asked her what made her want to open a place like this. She said that before her mother passed away a few years ago, she had expressed to Kim her regret at not having fulfilled some of her life’s ambitions. Kim decided then that she would not have the same regrets. She wanted to provide a place for people to escape from the everyday, where they could leave their cares at the door and for just one meal feel like they were on vacation at the beach. “Seaside Dining in the Mountains” is the theme at The Last Catch and it works. Jim is the head chef. With thirty years of experience in the culinary industry, specializing in seafood, he could not be better suited for the job. When the couple saw the empty building in the small mountain community of Jasper, they knew it was the perfect place to bring their dream to life. Their dream is now a reality and the reality is that, along with many others, we’re hooked! For more information, including hours and directions, visit lastcatchseafood.com.
October 2010 • www.400edition.com
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. October 11, Columbus Day (observed) October 31, Halloween
Alpharetta
Alpharetta Farmers Market
Every Saturday through October, 8:00am to12:30pm. Historic Downtown, Two Main Street. You will find farmers with fruits and vegetables, gardeners with fresh flowers and plants, and makers of all sorts of edible home goods, from yummy desserts to local raw honey and homemade sauces and jellies. For more information: www.alpharettafarmersmarket.com.
Make A Difference Tour
October 2, 7:00pm. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, 2200 Encore Parkway. The “Make A Difference Tour 2010” features Max Lucado, Michael W. Smith, Third Day, and TobyMac. The focus of the tour is to encourage people to look beyond themselves, to turn outward, and to make a difference on behalf of friends, neighbors, their community, and the world. Reserved seating $31-$76; lawn seating $23. For more information: 404-733-5010.
Crossroads at Crabapple Antique and Arts Festival
October 2, 9:00am-5:00pm. 790 Mayfield Road. A tradition since 1969, this one-day only, rain-or-shine outdoor festival features 50 local juried artists and 50 American Country Antique Dealers from six states. Thousands of antiques, accessories, and unique pieces of art in all mediums will be available. Roving musicians, food for sale benefiting the Boy and Girl Scouts, children’s activities, and trolley rides. Admission is free.
Scarecrow Harvest
October 2, 10:00am-2:00pm. Old Roswell & Old Canton Streets, Historic
Downtown Alpharetta. Historically themed scarecrows created by Alpharetta’s school children. Combined with the Alpharetta Farmer’s Market, Alpharetta’s Scarecrow Harvest celebrates the fall season with live folk music, free hayrides, face painting, fall children’s crafts, and the announcement of the winning scarecrow.
Ventures Horse Show
October 9 & 10, 8:00am; October 15 & 16, 8:00am.Wills Park Equestrian Center, 11915 Wills Road. Come join the fun, and witness either a Southeastern Hunter Jumper Series of locally rated shows or one of the Southeastern Classic Series of USEF rated shows. For more information: 678-297-6120 or www.horseshowventures.com. Free admission.
FALLfest
October 16, 10:00am-4:00pm. First United Methodist Church, 69 North Main Street. Arts and crafts from 50+ exhibitors, free children’s games, live entertainment, plenty of barbecue, other food, and fun. Free pony rides, a silent auction, health fair, car show, attic treasures, country store, and much more. This event will be held rain or shine. For more information: 770-475-5576 or www.afumc.org/fallfest.
Kiddos’ Clubhouse Foundation Race to Rally Hope
October 17, 8:00am. North Point Village Shopping Center, 7300 North Point Parkway. A 5K, 10K, and Kids 1K Fun Run benefiting Kiddos’ Clubhouse Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides scholarships to Georgia families and their children with special needs who cannot afford necessary therapy services or equipment. The course is flat and the race is a Peachtree Road Race qualifier. Kids Village will follow the Fun Run and offer entertainment while the adults are racing. Registration: $25 (5K), $30 (10K), $10 (kids 10 and under), $25 Phantom Runner. For more information: www.racetorallyhope.com or 678-527-3224.
Atlanta
Signature Art Show
October 8-10, 11:00am to 6:00pm. Opening reception October 7, 5:00pm to 9:00pm. Tula Building, 75 Bennett Street. Brushstroke’s 3rd annual show highlights the work of 15 talented local
artists; beautiful original oils, pastels, and watercolors in an interesting array of styles. For more information: Judy Clark, 404-543-8470
Georgia A-Scary-Um
October 29 through 31, 10:00am5:00pm. Georgia Aquarium. For the third year, the Georgia Aquarium will be transforming into the Georgia A-Scary-Um. Join our bat fish and spider crabs for friendly Halloween fun and safe trick-or-treating for the whole family. Kids 12 and under in costume will receive free admission when accompanied by an adult. Enjoy themed decorations throughout the galleries, Halloween music, trick-ortreat candy stations, Halloween craft tables, and costume contests throughout the day. Parents can learn about healthy and sustainable Halloween tips and easy recipes to try at home. For more information: www.georgiaaquarium. org/explore-the-aquarium/events-andprograms/ascaryum.aspx or Evan Kellner, 404-642-5273, ext.4147 or ekellner@georgiaaquarium.org.
The Atlanta Halloween Ball
October 30, 8:00pm-midnight. The Fabulous Fox Theatre. The Masquerade Ball is an upscale evening of non-stop entertainment; guests will enjoy incredible live music, comedy, magic, professional dancing, and the mystery of a masquerade all in one night. A portion of the proceeds benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. For more information: AtlantaHalloweenBall. com or 877-833-6170, or info@atlantahalloweenball.com.
Blairsville
Fall Hammer-In
October 1-3. Georgia Custom Knifemakers’ Guild at Trackrock Campgrounds, 141 Trackrock Camp Road. Bladesmithing, hawk forging, leather crafting, and forge building. Watch, meet, and talk with talented bladesmiths. See what it takes to transform old discarded steel scrap metal into functional works of art. Craftsmen from several states attend, some collectors bring their collections to display, knifemaking supply vendors participate, and others come just to look and talk knives. A family-oriented event open to all; free admission. For event information: www.georgiaknifemakersguild. com. For campground information: www.trackrock.com or 706-745-2420.
October 2010 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition 33
Events, Events,
Mistletoe Market and Sugar Plum Tearoom
November 19-21 (preview party Friday 6:00pm-9:00pm; show Saturday 9:00am-4:00pm and Sunday 11:00am-4:00pm). North Georgia Technical College, Hwy 76 (515). A festive holiday arts and craft show featuring a diverse mix of the area’s best artists and crafters. Mistletoe Market for that one-of-a-kind, unique holiday gift; Sugar Plum Tearoom for delicious homemade soups, salads and sandwiches. Free admission and parking. Preview party is $5 in advance, $7.50 at the door; enjoy a variety of desserts and beverages, shop early, talk with the artists and crafters, and participate in a silent auction. For more information: mtnregartscraftsguild.org, or Carolyn Barton, 706-896-0932, or mtnregartscraftsguild@hotmail.com.
Blue Ridge
Mountain Harvest Arts & Craft Sale
October 16, 17, 23, and 24, 9:00am to 5:00pm. Blue Ridge Farmer’s Market. Antiques, mountain art, crafts, and good food. Free admission and parking. For recorded information: 706-374-2335.
Paws in the Park
October 23, 10:00am-2:00pm. Downtown City Park. Participate in the pet parade beginning at 10:00am. Join the fun, featuring a pet costume contest, blessing of the pets, pet photographs, exhibitors, arts and crafts, food, and music. All donations go the Humane Society of Blue Ridge and other participating pet rescue organizations.
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For more information: pitp@tds.net or www.humanesocietyofblueridge.org.
Cartersville
Cowboy Festival & Symposium
October 21-24. Booth Western Art Museum and Grand Theatre, 501 Museum Drive. 8th Annual Southeastern Cowboy Festival & Symposium. More than 5,000 visitors are expected to attend scheduled events, including concerts by Riders in the Sky (celebrating 6,000 career performances), gunfight reenactments, children’s activities, living history encampments, and Native American dancing. Featured artist is sculptor John Coleman, who will present a lecture and a workshop. For more information: 770-387-1300 or www.boothmuseum.org.
Cherry Log
Cherry Log Fall Festival
October 2, 3, 9, 10, 15, 17. Cherry Log Community Clubhouse, 341 Cherry Log Street, 5 miles south of Blue Ridge on 515; follow signs. Delicious homemade breakfast and lunch; arts and crafts; homemade cakes, pies, and canned goods; bluegrass, gospel and country music. Plenty of free parking. For more information: 706-276-3217.
Cumming
“Mame”
October 1-23. Cumming Playhouse, 101 School Street. By Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. It’s the height of the 1920s and Auntie Mame becomes the guardian for her ten-year-old nephew
Patrick. Her life is turned upside down, many of her priorities change, but she still lives life to the fullest. Some of Mame’s wild, adventurous spirit is inside everyone who lives for the moment and believes that “life is a banquet!” Special songs include If He Walked into My Life and We Need a Little Christmas. For more information: www.playhousecumming.com or call 770-781-9178.
Women, Wealth and Wine
October 14, 5:30-7:30pm. Holiday Inn Express, 870 Buford Highway. Social and networking time, wine, hors d’oeuvres, and a short, interactive financial education designed for women. Reserve your seat for this free event. For more information: Robin Grier, 770-887-2772, or Kerry Capeheart, 678-617-2103.
Through The Lens
October 22, 1:00pm-8:00pm; October 23, 10:00am-5:00pm; October 24, noon-5:00pm. The Brannon-Heard House, 111 Pilgrim Mill Road (downtown Cumming). The Sawnee Artists Association presents “Through The Lens,” a juried exhibition and sale of fine art photography by some of Georgia’s most talented photographers. Selected images will express the theme: “Reflections of the Appalachian Foothills.” Admission is free. For more information: www.sawneeart.org/throughthelens or 770-664-5850.
Margaritas with a Mission
October 23, 6:30pm. Windermere Golf Club. The Forsyth Fights Cancer Committee’s fourth annual fall
October 2010 • www.400edition.com
fundraiser to benefit the American Cancer Society. A Jimmy Buffettstyle event, and your last chance at Paradise before winter arrives. Tropical buffet dinner, DJ and dancing, cash bar, silent and live auctions. Advance tickets $35. Honor a friend or family member who has battled cancer by making a tribute donation to place them on the Wall of Hope at the event. For more information: www.margaritaswithamission. org or Linda Conyers, Event Chairperson, 770-781-4706; Suzanne Hendricks, American Cancer Society, 770-297-1176.
Women’s Life Expo
October 23, 10:00am-3:00pm. Central Park. A free event open to women of all ages and walks of life, showcasing women-owned businesses as well as businesses and services dedicated to women’s well being. Currently looking for sponsors, food vendors, and exhibitors. For more information and the appropriate form: Betty Oliver, boliver@steelmagnoliasrealty. com or 678-300-1815; Sue Wilson, sue@gardenofempowerment.org or 770-815-2628.
3rd Annual Georgia Senior Follies Auditions
October 26, 7:00-10:00pm, Cumming Playhouse. November 3, 7:00pm10:00pm, Cumming Playhouse. November 6, 10:00am-3:00pm, Cumming’s City Hall. Georgia Senior Follies is looking for singers, dancers (tap, ballroom, Hawaiian, jazz, etc.), musicians, duos, trios, small vocal or dance groups, novelty acts, impersonators, comedians, jugglers,
Events, Events!
acrobats, magicians, and more. Be prepared to sing (bring tape, CD, or sheet music); an accompanist will be available. If you are dancing, wear appropriate shoes and bring your recorded music. Bring resume and headshot, if available. Show dates: April 7-17, 2011, at the historic Cumming Playhouse. Must be at least 55 by April 7, 2011, to audition. Auditions by appointment only; call 678-455-6110 for your appointment.
“To Kill a Mockingbird”
October 29, 30, 31, November 5, 6, 7. The Cumming Playhouse and OBD Productions present Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird.” Harper Lee’s book has been selected by “Forsyth Reads Together,” a program to promote reading and literacy enrichment throughout the community. We are proud to join with the Forsyth County Public Library and their community educational outreach. We encourage you to read the book and then come see the stage presentation by Off Broadway Productions, directed by Colleen Quigley Green. May not be suitable for all audiences. For more information: 770-781-9178 or see www.playhousecumming.com.
Military Appreciation Ride
November 6, registration begins 10:00am, kickstands up at 12:00pm. Golden Corral, 2025 Market Place Blvd. (next to Best Buy). All proceeds benefit the local Disabled American Veterans chapter. Registration $30; includes T-shirt and $2.00 off Golden Corral meal. For more information: 678-965-2275.
Dahlonega
Bingo at St. Luke’s
Bingo every Tuesday night. Doors open at 5:30pm; warm-up at 6:00pm and games at 7:00pm. St. Luke Roman Catholic Church Parish Center, 91 North Grove Street, across from Hancock Park. Cash prizes. Refreshments available.
Appalachian Jam
October 2, 9, 2:00pm-5:00pm. Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site on the Square. Listeners and musicians alike enjoy the acoustic bluegrass and old-time string music from North Georgia’s mountain music pickers and singers. For more information: Convention & Visitors
Bureau, 706-864-3513, or Joel Cordle, 706-864-6133.
NOA (No One Alone) 5K Run
October 2, registration 8:00am, Run/ Walk 9:00am. Awards immediately following. All participants park in Walmart parking lot (by the mailbox); shuttle service provided to/from event at 15-minute intervals. Registration/ Course: Lake Zwerner Trail. Awards to Overall and Master, and in age group categories. Preregistered participants will receive a T-shirt; limited number of shirts available on race day. Preregistration before noon on 10/1: $20. Race day: $25. Student: $15 with valid Student ID. Online registration available at www. active.com. All proceeds benefit the NOA Domestic Violence Shelter and Programs. For more information: Nicole Alvarez, 706-864-1306 x 6, or email noaoutreach@yahoo.com. 2010 Team Challenge Championship: Enter a team of four or more participants for a chance to win the Team Challenge.
2010 Gold City Classic Golf Tournament
October 18, 10:00am shotgun start. The Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting this event at Achasta Golf Club as a fundraiser for renovations that are needed in our public restrooms. An opportunity to experience the finest golf course
in North Georgia during the most impressive season of the year. For more information: www.dahlonega.org.
Music and BBQ
October 29, 10:30am-1:00pm. Lumpkin County Senior Center, 266 Mechanicsville Road. Come enjoy the music of The Sunnyside Band and
Starry Nights...Put a Twinkle in a Child’s Eye
October 7, 5:30pm-9:00pm. Achasta Golf & Country Club. 400 North Board of Realtors Annual Auction. Tickets $20. Full buffet, cash bar, live entertainment, silent auction, live auction, great networking. Benefits Lumpkin County Family Connection, Dawson County Family Connection, Angels Over Forsyth, and Forsyth County Child Advocacy Center. To be a sponsor of this event, visit www.400NorthBoardofRealtors.org for a sponsorship form, or call 706-216-5229.
“Wait Until Dark”
October 8-10, 21-24, 28-31; Thursday through Saturday, 8:00pm; Sunday, 2:00pm. Holly Theatre. A sinister con man and two ex-convicts are on the hunt for a mysterious doll. They believe it to be in the Greenwich Village apartment of Sam Hendrix and his blind wife Susy. Alone at home, Susy finds herself in a deadly game of cat and mouse, trying to stay alive while these criminals search for their prize. (Recommended for ages 14 and up). Adults $18, seniors $17, students $12. To purchase tickets: 706-864-3759 or www.hollytheater.com
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Events, Events,
eat barbecue. Tickets $5. Fundraiser for senior adult services. For more information: Monica, 706-864-2358.
Masquerade at the Castle
October 29, 7:00pm-10:00pm at Cavender Castle. Masquerade Party with a Purpose, to benefit abused children. $35 per person or $60 per
couple. Come enjoy music, dancing, food, cash bar of beer and wine, chocolate tasting bar, silent auction, and entertainment: juggler, magician, stilt walker, and live art. Buy tickets online at www.enotahcasa.org or call 706-864-0300. For more information: Susan Zealy, 706-864-0300 or director@enotahcasa.org.
Halloween in Downtown Dahlonega
October 31, 5:30pm. Dahlonega Gold Museum. Costume contest: Prizes will be awarded for 1st through 3rd place in each age group (birth to 5 years, 610, 11-14). One prize will be awarded overall for the most original. Pumpkin carving contest: Prizes will be awarded for 1st through 3rd place in each age group (6-10, 11-15, 16-20). One prize will be given overall for the “scariest” pumpkin. The Museum is accepting donations now through the second week of October and are looking for items or gift certificates to give to the 1st-3rd place finishers in three different age groups, and a grand prize for the contest. If you would be able to make a donation, you can drop it by the Museum, or the staff will be glad to come to your business to pick the items up.
Dahlonega Woman’s Club 8th Annual Spaghetti Supper
November 2, 4:30pm-7:30pm. Lumpkin County Park & Rec. Dinner includes a generous portion of spaghetti and sauce, tossed salad, garlic bread, beverage, and dessert. $8.00/adults, $5.00/students (including NGCSU). Dine-in or take-out. Tickets can be purchased now from club members (contact Lana Hootselle, 404-680-2874 or lhootselle@windstream.net), and will also be available at the door. All proceeds go towards the club’s community projects, including college scholarships.
Veterans Day Parade
November 13, 10:00am staging at Veterans Park, Courthouse Hill. 11:15am judging of floats. Judges will be looking for the following: Adherence to parade theme (“Thanks Veterans & Support Our Troops”), originality, music, costume/dress, creativity, and overall appearance. Parade starts on East Main Street at 12:00pm. Parade leaves Courthouse Hill, goes right on East Main, around the Museum Square, right on South Park, and disband. For more information: Parade Coordinator John Buckman, 706-867-7759.
Dawsonville
10th Annual Business Expo
October 5, 4:00pm-7:00pm. Lakeview Center. Event presented by the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce. Free admission, free food, great door prizes,
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and loads of fun. For more information: 706-265-6278.
Are You Smarter Than A 10Year-Old?
October 12, 6:30pm-8:30pm at the Dawson County Middle School. Tickets $3 for students; $4 for adults; $15 maximum for a family. Tickets available at the door; for advance sales, call Sandy Lipkowitz, 706-579-1771. All proceeds benefit R.E.A.D.
1st Annual Fall Bazaar
October 23, 8:00am-4:00pm. New Life Church, 1508 Highway 53 East. A community outreach fundraiser. Featuring shabby chic antiques, leather goods, handmade children’s apparel, jewelry, art, home decor, canned jellies, jams, and veggies, and much more. “Trading our Time and Talents to Serve our Community.” For more information: New Life Church of God, 706-265-3811 or www.newlife-cog.org.
Ellijay
39th Annual Georgia Apple Festival
October 9-10, 16-17, Saturdays 9:00am to 6:00pm; Sundays 9:00am to 5:00pm. Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds. $5 adults, children 10 and under free. Benefits the Ellijay Lions Club and the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce. Antique car show, Civic Center (Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds), Saturday, October 9. Apple Festival Parade, Downtown Ellijay, 10:00am, Saturday, October 16. For more information: www.georgiaapplefestival.org and www.gilmerchamber.com.
Helen
Let Them Eat Cake!
October 24, 2:00pm to 4:00pm. The 4th Annual North Georgia Wedding Cake Challenge at the Black Bear Lodge, Highway 17. Watch professionals up close as they create beautiful cakes and vie for cash prizes and bragging rights. Sponsored by Razzle Dazzle Bakery. Benefits Charles Smithgall Humane Society, Cleveland-Sautee. For tickets: 706-865-4135. Vendors and decorators, call 706-865-4410.
Jasper
Taste of Pickens
November 13, 11:00am-2:30pm. Chattahoochee Tech on Burnt Mountain Road. Your $10.00 ticket
Events, Events!
entitles you to eight samples from over 30 of the best restaurants, bakers, and caterers in Pickens County. All proceeds benefit CARES, the Pickens County Food Pantry.
Roswell
“Meet My Husbands”
October 8-November 7, Friday and Saturday 8:00pm, Sunday 3:00pm. Kudzu Playhouse, 10743 Alpharetta Highway. This comic look at advertising and the media finds Elaine Scott, an advertising executive whose position is in jeopardy, in Florida to meet the Mulgrews, European clients she must sell on adopting her agency’s campaign for their Swiss Mountain Sausages. Mulgrew insists that the campaign and all those connected with it must reflect wholesome family values. A multiple surprise ending caps this hilarious foray into the world of advertising. For more information: www.kudzuplayhouse.org or 770 594-1020.
“How I Became a Pirate”
October 9-November 7, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00pm. Special Saturday evening performance: October 9 at 7:00pm. Kudzu Playhouse, 10743 Alpharetta Highway. AAAARRR! Really, who doesn’t want to be a pirate? When young Jeremy Jacobs and his exceptional digging skills are recruited by Captain Braid Beard for treasureburying purposes, Jeremy thinks the pirate life is for him. For more information: www.kudzuplayhouse.org or 770-594-1020.
Taste of Roswell
October 16, noon-5:30pm. Historic Town Square. Sample the cuisine served by Roswell’s outstanding restaurants. Admission to the event is free; food tickets 50¢ each. Food priced from 50¢ to $3. Family fun for all ages: Great food, hula hoop contest, Twist dance contest, beanbag toss, the Hokie Pokie, Electric Slide, line dancing, and the sounds of 106.7 Atlanta’s True Oldies, played onsite by one of the station’s popular DJs. Presented by Roswell Visitors Center, Roswell Restaurant Marketing Council, and Roswell Recreation & Parks Department. For more information: www.visitroswellga.com or 770-640-3253.
Choral Gems presented by Michael O’Neal Singers
October 24, 3:00pm. Roswell United Methodist Church, 814 Mimosa Blvd. Selections from the world’s greatest choral masterworks. For ticket information: www.mosingers.com or 770-594-7974.
includes wine tasting, souvenir wine glass, lunch, and admission to all of the activities. For more information: www.cranecreekvineyards.com.
Brasstown, NC
Blacksmith Auction
November 6, 1:00pm-4:00pm at John
C. Campbell Folk School. Our annual Blacksmith Auction presents some of the finest artist blacksmith and other fine craft items for sale. Proceeds benefit the craft programs at the Folk School. Free admission. For more information: www.folkschool.org or 1800-FOLK-SCH.
Suches
Indian Summer Festival
October 2 and 3, 9:00am-5:00pm. Woody Gap School, Highway 60 between Dahlonega and Blue Ridge. Activities and family entertainment. Tons of great vendor booths: Pottery, quilts, homemade goodies, leather crafts, needlework, folk art, jewelry, furniture, photographs, stained glass, whirligigs, and much more. 8:00pm Saturday, country square dance with live band in the Suches Community Center. Free parking. For more information: 706-747-2401 or www.suches.com.
Tate
Tate Day
November 6-7, 9:00pm-4:00pm at Old Tate Drug Store and Old Tate Gym. “Marble Valley, A Treasure Rich & Rare” celebrates the heritage of Tate with arts and crafts, a parade, and entertainment. For more information: Jane Griffeth, 770-735-3151 or janegriffeth@tds.net.
Young Harris Puttin’ On The Dog
October 3, 3:00pm-6:00pm, Crane Creek Vineyards. The Humane Society Mountain Shelter’s tenth annual Puttin’ on the Dog, sponsored by United Community Bank. In addition to Crane Creek’s fabulous selection of wines, there will be great food, live music, silent and live auctions, and a raffle. The HSMS serves Towns and Union counties and is 100% supported by the community. POTD is its major fund raiser each year. For more information: www.cranecreekvineyards.com.
Annual Harvest Festival
October 23, 11:00am-6:00pm. Join the fun at the annual Harvest Festival at Crane Creek Vineyards as they celebrate the completion of the year’s harvest. Hayrides, grape stomping, tours of the winery, a kiddie tent, and fun for the whole family. Tickets sold at the door: adults $20, ages 13-20 $10, children under 12 free. Ticket price
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400 Edition Wining & Dining
Knowing Wine
by Nancy Forrest
Wine and Culture
W
hen one begins to study and find interest in wine, there is a quick realization that it is akin to learning history and studying a civilization. The cultivation of grapes and the production of wine are universal. Wine’s influence can be found in civilizations from Greece to Australia to the New World. Each country in the world has felt wine’s impact on religion, economy, health and medicine, social functions, and food. From its earliest development, we see wine intersect with special customs, reach into the daily diet, and integrate into social gatherings. Religions around the world are known to include wine in their ceremonies. Many cultures use wine in their social and ethnic celebrations. Mesopotamians were the first people to make wine. In subsequent centuries, the ancient Greeks and Romans popularized wine consumption and were the primary parties responsible for its spread to other parts of the world. Greeks were producing wine hundreds of years before Christ. Greeks spread this drink to the Etruscans and the Romans. Subsequently, Italians learned to produce better wine for economic value. They also adopted the olive oil and grain industries from the Greeks, furthering their economic power. The Romans also conquered Germany and took over their wine cultivation. Many German monasteries were seized for their high quality, carefully tended vineyards, and sold to individuals for profit. However, Christian monks
Wine of the Month
Stags’ Leap, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA 2004
Ruby red color. Aromas of black cherry, blackberries, and plum. Earthy with leather tones, chocolate, and spice.
throughout the world continued producing wine and refining the process in their monasteries. The power of wine was considerable. It was used not only for economic advantage, but also as bribes, to wield political influence, and as payment for favors. During the 16th and 17th centuries, wine production shifted from single vineyards to mass production, which satisfied supply and demand and helped shippers, traders, and the economy. Even today we can compare the restrictions imposed on shipping wine within the U.S. to the regulations and tariffs medievalists levied at borders between countries ages ago. Wine has influenced innovation in glass making (for wine bottles), the cork industry, and pottery, and caused fundamental changes in wine-related processes, such as the move from ceramic pots to wooden barrels for ease of transportation of even larger volumes of wine. More recently, commercial wine production began to be affected by developments in technology. With the advance of science and the invention of laboratories, wine production and grape growing became scientifically based. Today, wine is produced and enjoyed on all continents of the world, and few places remain untouched by the many aspects of wine’s influence on economy and on everyday life.
“What contemptible scoundrel stole the cork from my lunch?”
Real Men Cook
— W.C. Fields
by Patrick Snider
Cheddar Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
3 large sweet potatoes 2 to 3 cups half-and-half 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste Salt and pepper 1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar, divided 1 to 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into bits, plus extra for dish Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Peel potatoes and cut diagonally into 1/4-inch slices. In a saucepan, combine half-and-half, garlic, freshly grated nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil over moderate heat. Butter a 1 1/2-quart oval gratin dish; layer potatoes and cheese (reserving 1/4 cup cheese for topping), and pour cream mixture over potatoes. Sprinkle with reserved cheese and dot with butter. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until bubbling and golden. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
by Linda Merritt
Restaurant Reviews for the GA 400 Corridor Norman’s Landing
365 Peachtree Parkway (Highway 141) Cumming, GA 30041 770-886-0100 – www.normanslanding.com Fare: Seafood and more | Price: Moderate | Atmosphere: Casual and Friendly
“Let us spoil you” describes the attitude of the folks at Norman’s Landing. Our family has been going to this restaurant since it opened around 1995. Before I retired (hah), our office used to go to Norman’s for lunch and some special occasions. Bill Norman always treats you like he might if you came into his home. You can be sure he will come by your table, say hello, and ask how you are. The food is wonderful or we wouldn’t have been going there for fifteen years. They always serve the tastiest choice cut meats, tender ribs, tantalizing seafood, and freshest vegetables. The majority of meals ordered are seafood, and all are good, from the “catch of Bill Norman the day,” shrimp, scallops, lobster tail, to crab cakes. If you aren’t in the mood for seafood, try their steaks, ribs, salads, chicken, or sandwiches. Their Reuben sandwich is the best I’ve ever had. You can even get a vegetable plate if that is what your taste buds call for. There is also a children’s menu available. The service is the best around. Bill and his team have a combined one hundred years of experience, and will make sure you have a relaxing, enjoyable meal. Bob, our grandson Aaron, and I had lunch in preparation for this article. I am on a diet and ordered steak, steamed broccoli, and an Italian
tomato dish. Bob has to watch his carbs, so he ordered a beef patty, broccoli, and grilled potatoes. Aaron had the baby back ribs with the mild BBQ sauce. Everything was cooked perfectly and we were very satisfied with the food and the service. They have wonderful desserts—cobblers, Key Lime pie, ice cream with fudge—but I am usually too full to enjoy those. One thing a lot of folks don’t know about Bill Norman is how involved he is in the community. Since 1995, Norman’s Landing has contributed over $1,004,000 to organizations, agencies, and schools in Forsyth County. Recently they presented a check for $16,111 to the members of the United Way of Forsyth County. This money was raised at the 14th annual Norman’s Landing Golf Tournament held earlier in the summer. This fine restaurant is open Monday through Thursday, 11:15am to 10:00pm; Friday, 11:15am to 10:30pm; Saturday,11:30am to 10:30pm; and Sunday, 11:30am to 9:30pm. Sunday brunch is from 11:30am to 2:00pm. There are banquet facilities for your next get-together. See their web site (www.normanslanding.com) for a complete listing of their menu and services. The next time you are in Cumming, go to Norman’s Landing. Take Exit 13 (Highway 141) off GA400, take a left (a right if you’re coming from the south), and Norman’s is on the left. Tell Bill that you saw him in 400 Edition.
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