400 Edition W h a t ’s
u p
i n
N o r t h
April 2010
G e o r g i a
Spring Festivals
Gardening
Fine Performing & Visual Arts at the CFUMC 2010 Festival of Arts
FREE
April 2010 Carole Lee, Founder/Creative Design Tim Herrel, Sales Linda Merritt, Founder/Sales/Executive Editor Bob Merritt, Director of Sales Beth Snider, Founder/Sales/Creative Design Nancy Wright, Proofing
Contributing Writers: Anne Amerson
Sharon Keating
Clay Cunningham
Steven Leibel
Dr. Mark Feinsilber
Dr. Joyce Nations
Nancy Forrest
Donald Pruitt
Robin Toms Grier
Linda Ragland
Martha Hynson
Patrick Snider
Staff Writers: Rhonda Bailey
Linda Merritt
Carole Lee
Beth Snider
Bob Merritt
Nancy Wright
400 Edition is published monthly in Dahlonega, Georgia, with distribution in three counties. Viewpoints expressed by contributing writers are not necessarily those of the publishers, staff or advertisers. 400 Edition is not liable for inaccurate or erroneous information posted in advertising or event submissions. Ads must be submitted and paid in full by the 20th of every month, unless arrangements have been made in advance. Content and presentation of advertisements is subject to editorial review and modification. Ad dimensions and pricing may be obtained by calling 706-867-6455 or 866867-7557. These specs may also be viewed at www.400edition.com. Writers may submit material to editor@400edition. com. Submissions are subject to approval by the editor and may be edited for space, requirements, and style. The deadline for submissions is the 15th of each month. Contents of this publication become the property of 400 Edition and the original author and cannot be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. This publication is printed by Walton Press in Monroe, GA.
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From the Editor... I
’ve just returned from spending a long weekend with Nicholas, one of my grandsons, who attends school in St. Clairsville, Ohio. He is studying Historic Renovation. Ohio has been quite a change for a young man who has lived in Houston, Texas, all of his life. Thankfully, the weather while I was there was warm and sunny— more than it has been in many months. Nicholas had been telling me how people had been feeling down because of the long, cold winter—much like we have been feeling here in North Georgia. But spring is right around the corner. Some flowers are blooming and the robins are hopping around in the rapidly changing green grass. It’s time to start packing away winter clothes and pulling out the spring/summer things. Be sure you read about all the spring festivals in this issue. From Alpharetta to Clayton, there are fun-filled events for you to attend. Once again, our Events section is packed full of good things to do and places to go. We will celebrate Easter in a few days. Remember, the true reason for this holiday is
to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. We do an Easter Cantata every year at our church in Dawsonville. This year has touched my heart more than any we have done. The words of the songs took me back in time. I could also hear the mobs and felt the sadness when Jesus was crucified—but what a day when he arose. As one of the songs says, “One holy morning He gave up the grave. It’s true that He was buried. The fact remains He died. But one holy morning He came out alive.” Until next month…stay happy!
On the Cover Painting Title: “Gratitude” Painting Medium: Oil
We thank John Hutchinson, Organist and Director of Music, Worship & Arts at the Cumming First United Methodist Church, for supplying the beautiful painting that graces our cover this month. This is a sample of what you will find at the Festival of Arts being held April 18-25 at the church, located at 770 Canton Highway. The Festival of Arts was established in 2008 with the goal of presenting professional and student visual artists in gallery displays. The professional visual artists are juried, and cash awards are given. See more about this event on page 16. The work on the cover is by Connie Lynn Reilly of Buford, GA. She is an Atlanta native, a true southern belle. Connie has studied with various artists over the years: Irving Lawhon, Morgan Weistling, George Carlson, Nelson Shanks, Richard Whitney, and Tony Couch, to name a few. The master artists of old who have influenced her work include the French master Bouguereau, Ingres, Carl Bloch, and John Singer Sargent. She has been painting portraits professionally for 38 years, and has won national and international awards; her paintings are in numerous private, public, and museum collections. Connie is a Master Instructor of classical drawing and painting portraits and figurative art, and now teaches an adult classical drawing course at the Johns Creek Art Center. She is founder, president emeritus, and Member of Excellence of the Southeastern Pastel Society, and a member of Oil Painters of America and the Portrait Society of America. Currently she is working on illustrations for a children’s book. Thank you, Connie, for sharing your beautiful painting with our readers. 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
April 2010 Volume 6, Issue 11
2010 Gold Medal Plant Winners, page 28 (Diamond Frost® Euphorbia)
Spring Festivals
Columns
11 Dawsonville’s Spring Fling Festival
4 Reflections
13 2nd Annual Historic Moonshine Mile
5 Comma Momma
15 Bear on the Square Mountain Festival
8 Leibel on the Law
16 The Festival of Arts
9 Your Vision Source
20 Alpharetta’s Juried Fine Arts Festival
14 Mind & Heart
23 Celebrate Clayton
17 To Your Health
31 Cork and Keg Festival
19 Through a Woman’s Eyes 22 Fun by 400
Gardening
6 Gardening Tasks: April
12 Spring Planting is for the Birds and the Butterflies
30 Knowing Wine 30 Real Men Cook – Seafood Spaetzle 31 Good Eating – Lanier Diner
21 Companion Plants 28 2010 Gold Medal Plant Winners
A list of major distribution pointsApril in North can be found online at www.400edition.com. 2010 Georgia • www.400edition.com
400 Edition
green
from the ground up.
Life is a mirror. We look forward, that’s the future. We look back, remember and learn—that’s a reflection.
Every Man Deserves a Tractor (Once in His Life) by Bob Merritt
T
designed to respect your site and the environment.
planned to harmonize your lifestyle and budget.
fabricated of enduring products with a lifetime structural warranty.
Read our 17 Green Principles at lindal.com/ green17 Independently Distributed by:
Blue Ridge Cedar Homes Dawsonville, GA
706-216-2511
www.lindal.com/blueridge
400 Edition
here are those men who
would prefer a set of new golf clubs, a new bass boat, or a big-screen television. A tractor sounds like too much work to them. This article is not aimed at them. Let me talk a few minutes to the wives and daughters of men who like to play in the dirt. During his lifetime, a man strains to do a job that a tractor could do with ease. It may seem like it is a good idea for your man to move that pile of dirt using a shovel and a wheelbarrow, but it isn’t. At the end of the day he has aches and pains that prevent him from taking you out dancing, to the movies, or out to eat. The reason I address this subject to you ladies is that your man is too proud, or macho, to suggest that making you a flower garden or a vegetable patch is hard work. L-O-V-E does a man that way. If you really want to see that man show his love for you, suggest he rent or buy a tractor. At first, he may give a lot of reasons why he doesn’t need a tractor, when he is really trying to figure you out. It may take a space of time for him to bring the subject up, but he will. If he jumps on the suggestion real quick, he was ready and will not hesitate to search out the dealers in the area. Tractors are hard to wear out, so if he starts looking at used tractors don’t panic. When a man climbs into the driver’s seat and starts the engine, he goes into a different world. Maybe he is taken back to his boyhood days on the farm, or maybe it’s a new experience. There are so many attachments that he could have and so many that he won’t need. Whether he is plowing, bush hogging (cutting brush or grass), or spreading dirt, he is going to be in his own element, his own world. To you he will look like a kid with a new toy. If he stays in the garden, pasture, or mowing grass too long, forgive him because he will express his thanks for your understanding by doing something in your favor. Suggest something. I write this article from experience, since I am a new owner of an old tractor. After many years of gardening using a front end tiller, I have to admit I was getting mighty weary. One day as I was visiting my brother Bill in Texas, he told me they were going to move to the city and he might take up golf and sell his tractor. He made me a price I couldn’t refuse, and the rest is history. The Allis-Chalmers is not quite as old as me but almost. We both have a few things in common. We both start real easy when our switch is turned on, we both don’t know when to quit, and most of all, we both like to play in the dirt. Where does this love of tractors come from? It must be a man thing and the tractor usually outlasts the man. Consider it an investment in his life style. My wife has mixed emotions
April 2010 • www.400edition.com
over our buying this tractor. I really do believe she is happy that I am happy moving dirt, spreading gravel, and plowing my ever-growing garden. She doesn’t laugh when she tells a friend that she is going to bury me on the spot where I have an accident, and that tractor with me, and I laughingly say, “That’s all right.” Between my 5th and 6th year, I remember my grandpa on my mother’s side plowing his fields. He made me stand on the porch with Grandma while she shelled peas. A road ran between the house and the field, and from my vantage point I watched Grandpa work his horse or mule from one row end to the other. The horse never got out of the row but the mule did, and from time to time Grandpa would walk up in front of the mule and hit him in the head with a 2 by 4. That would straighten him out for a few days. Grandpa said it didn’t hurt much but it sure got his attention. Sometimes early in the morning, Grandpa would take me by the hand, and we would cross the road. I remember that his hands weren’t very big, yet they were tough as nails. I hung onto his hand until we reached the garden’s edge, where he kneeled down and said a short prayer and dug up a handful of the loamy dirt. I still remember to this day how he moved the dirt back and forth between his fingers, and after a few seconds he took a whiff of the dirt as it lay in his hand; then after touching his tongue to the dirt, he gently threw the loosened dirt into the air. Standing back up, he would take my hand and say, “Nope, it’s not time to plow yet.” Maybe it’s the witnessing of Grandpa’s hard labor walking behind that plow and urging the mule on that caused the yearning for a tractor. I really wish Grandpa could have had a tractor; but remembering him, he probably would have stuck with his plow horse and mule Every evening as I park my tractor in the barn, I remember how Grandpa unhitched his horse or mule from the plow and, with harness in hand, headed for the barn behind the house. He was tired, real tired, but he had other chores to do before he could call it quits. Yes, I wish Grandpa could have had a tractor. And if there is one thing more I would like for Grandpa to have had, it would be me plowing while he sat in the shade listening to the tractor’s powerful engine. We all have our own way of doing things in our own time. Ladies, it’s your choice whether you bring up the subject. Maybe he would settle for a riding mower. No doubt that would make his life easier. He is going to love you anyway. It was just a thought I had. Have a blessed spring.
Comma Momma S
uppose you encountered a patch of black ice on your way to work this morning. Let’s look at a few of the ways you might describe the experience, and the differences in clarity among them. (1) On my way to work, I slid on a patch of ice. Perfectly grammatical, perfectly clear. Oh, wait; were you walking, or driving? Hmmm. It would require additional words to remove that ambiguity, wouldn’t it? (2) As I was driving to work, my car slid on a patch of ice. That’s better. Perfectly grammatical, perfectly clear, and now unambiguous. (3) Driving to work, I slid on a patch of ice. Also perfectly grammatical, and perfectly clear. (4) Driving to work, my car slid on a patch of ice. Oops. Based on conventional language wisdom, you’ve also hit a grammatical pothole. A phrase like “Driving to work” is supposed to modify the nearest noun, in this case the noun that’s the subject of the sentence. That noun being “car,” your English instructor Dr. Boring will ask you to explain how your car could be driving to work. Then Dr. Boring will likely seize upon this teachable moment to discuss participial phrases. Let’s do that, shall we? And let’s not let our eyes glaze over, OK? A participle is an adjective formed from a verb; it usually ends in -ing or -ed. In the third and fourth examples above, driving is a participle. It’s formed from the verb drive, and the phrase “driving to
Misplaced Modifiers
work” is a participial phrase. Got that? The whole phrase is an adjective depicting an action that some noun is taking. But which noun? Car, the subject of the sentence and the normal candidate, isn’t doing the action (driving to work). Maybe another noun in the sentence? Well, clearly, the patch isn’t doing the action. And the ice isn’t doing the action. Oh dear. We have an adjective—that participial phrase “driving to work”—that’s been left dangling, with no clearly identifiable noun to modify. Ah hah. So that’s what a dangling participle is. (Dangling modifier or misplaced modifier are the more generic terms for language transgressions like this; the usages don’t always involve participles.) Here’s a classic dangling participle seen in the wild: “Covered with sheep bones, ashes, and a dark substance believed to be blood, Professor Benjamin Mazar said there was no doubt about the holiness and antiquity of the excavation.” According to the principles of grammatical usage, the sentence is saying that Professor Benjamin Mazar is covered with sheep bones, ashes, and a dark substance believed to be blood. He is, after all, the noun nearest to the participial phrase; but that reading of the sentence would obviously be laughable. Could the participial phrase perhaps be modifying one of the other nouns in the sentence? Not likely; doubt, holiness,
April 2010 • www.400edition.com
by Nancy Wright
and antiquity wouldn’t be covered with sheep bones, ashes, and a dark substance believed to be blood. Excavation might be a candidate, but we’ll see in a moment that it’s not what we’re looking for either. Conclusion: We have a participle with nothing in the sentence to modify. The odd thing about this and many other dangling participles is that the intended meaning is in fact communicated. It just takes extra effort on the part of the reader. In this case the reader has to go back to the preceding sentence (“Zartal said his group found the altar on Mount Ebal and that the 27-foot-by-21-foot altar fit the one described in the Book of Joshua 8:30-35 exactly”) to find the noun being modified: altar. Most readers will do this bit of mental research so automatically that they won’t even be aware that a grammatical principle has been violated. Others—and you know who you are—will invariably spot these misplaced modifiers, and will snerk at the unintended humor. Of course, some of us are more snerk-prone than others… 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. You can visit the forums at www.400edition.com to read some earlier columns.
400 Edition
Gardening Tasks:
April First Week
• Divide over-wintered baskets of Boston fern into four sections. Plant new hanging baskets using two sections of fern in each. • Green grass in a Bermuda lawn is probably Poa annua (annual bluegrass). You can try digging it out but, better yet, make a mental note to put out weed preventer next September. • Plant dahlias, elephant ear, gladiolus, and caladiums now. • Prepare spots where you intend to sod by first killing all weeds present. Use glyphosate (Roundup) or glufosinate (Finale). • Examine the backside of euonymous and holly leaves for the white crust that signifies scale insects. Thoroughly spray leaves with horticultural oil.
Second Week • It is safe to plant tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant in your garden now that the soil is warm. • Remove withered flowers from florist’s azaleas you receive for Easter to prolong their blooming. • Move houseplants outdoors gradually. Never place them in full sunshine; filtered shade is best. • It’s never the wrong time to lime your lawn. Forty pounds per 1000 square feet is approximately enough but a soil test can tell you exactly what you need. • Spray azaleas with insecticidal soap if you have had azalea lace bug problems in the past.
Third Week • Remove guy wires from your fall-planted trees. Trees that move with the wind grow stronger than those supported
400 Edition
April 2010 • www.400edition.com
by Walter Reeves for more than a few months. • Plant Easter lilies outdoors after removing their faded blooms. • Mulch tomatoes immediately after planting to prevent early blight fungus from splashing from the soil onto the leaves. • “Flowering Annuals for Georgia Gardens” is a free booklet available at your local Extension Service office. Call 1-800-ASKUGA-1 to get local office phone numbers. • Water houseplants more frequently with the onset of more hours of sunshine and new green leaves. Begin monthly feedings with houseplant fertilizer.
Fourth Week • Plant the seeds of annual flowers such as marigold, cosmos, zinnia and celosia. Mix lots of soil conditioner in beds to help them be drought tolerant. • Hang garden chimes on a tree branch so the wind keeps them constantly tinkling. • Plant corn, bean, and pea seeds now. Use a soaker hose to water vegetable rows—you’ll prevent disease and weeds, plus save water. • Sharpen or replace your mower blade now that lawn grass has begun growing rapidly. Check the mowing height on a flat surface. • Look for aphids clustered at the tips of fast-growing crape myrtle branches. Blast them off with a water hose and give a ground-dwelling spider a nice lunch. 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.
Hike or Climb Into Spring
S
pring starts soon, and Forsyth County Parks and Recreation’s Outdoor Division encourages all ages to go outdoors and enjoy some springtime fun. In April the Outdoor Division will offer activities for children, adults and families.
Introduction to Tree Climbing
Activity 261520-C: Saturday, April 3, 2:00pm to 5:00pm; ages 8 and up; $30 for county residents, $35 for non-county residents. Climbing a tree can provide fun and a great workout for the entire family. Climbers will be given instruction and guidance while climbing trees at the Sawnee Mountain Preserve Visitor Center (SMPVC).
Tree Top Canopy Walk
Activity 265820-B: Saturday, April 3, 10:00am to noon; ages 10 and up; $25 for county residents, $30 for non-county residents. Using ropes and harnesses, participants will access the suspension bridge, trolley, and platforms of the canopy walk at the SMPVC.
Family Hike
Activity 266920-A: Saturday, April 3, 10:00am to 11:00am; $6 for county residents, $7.20 for non-county residents. Join a naturalist on a guided hike focusing on Native American history. Children ages 12 and under must be accompanied by a paying adult. Meet at the Sawnee
Mountain Preserve entrance at 2500 Bettis-Tribble Gap Road. Activity 267520-A: Saturday, April 10, 8:30am to 9:30am; ages 6 and up. Activity 267520-B: Saturday, April 24, 8:30am to 9:30am; ages 6 and up. $3 for county residents, $3.60 for noncounty residents. View spring songbirds from the comfort of a rocking chair on the relaxing porch at the SMPVC. Coffee and donuts will be provided. Bring binoculars and field guides if you have them; a limited supply of binoculars and field guides will be available to borrow. Children ages 12 and under must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Nature Night for Kids at the SMPVC
Activity 264520-A: Saturday, April 17, 5:00 to 10:00pm; ages 6 and up; $25 for county residents, $30 for non-county residents. Children will participate in an evening of nature and science activities, eat pizza, and watch a movie. The SMPVC is located at 4075 Spot Road in Cumming. Preregistration is required for all programs. An activity registration form can be found on the Parks and Recreation Department page at www.forsythco.com. Online registration is also available. To receive additional program information, call the Outdoor Division at 770-781-2217.
Free Skin Cancer Screenings
D
id you know that skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer? More than one million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed this year. As with many other cancers, early detection is key. Northside Hospital would like to help you get ready for the sun with free skin cancer screenings in April and May. Licensed medical staff and physicians will provide participants with full or partial body assessments, conducted in private settings. The community is invited to attend. Appointments are required. Pre-registration is required. To schedule an appointment, call 404845-5555 and press “0.” For more information about skin cancer, visit www.northside.com.
Leibel on the Law
Breakfast with the Birds
Three locations available: Thursday, April 29 6:00pm to 8:00pm Northside Hospital-Cherokee Outpatient Rehabilitation Svcs Bldg 211 Hospital Road, Canton Tuesday, May 4 6:00pm to8:00pm Northside Hospital Cancer Center 1000 Johnson Ferry Road, Atlanta Wednesday, May 12 6:00pm to 8:00pm Northside Hospital-Forsyth 1100 Northside Forsyth Drive, Suite 100, Cumming
Spring Has Sprung by Steven K. Leibel
S
pring has sprung. What a welcome relief from the cold bitter winter we all experienced this year. During that cold and bitter winter, many people had car wrecks that have caused them a myriad of problems. Besides determining who pays for their medical bills, settling property damage, and seeking funds for time out of work, injured people are now faced with the prospects of dealing with new federal rules that can affect them now, and into the future. With the new health care bill, and with Congress scrambling to meet its obligations to fund Medicare and Medicaid, there has been a great push to pick the pockets of those people injured in an accident. These new mandates provide that the federal government has to get money from those injured in an accident, even though it was the fault of the other driver. The federal government is now in the business of collecting money where Medicaid or Medicare funds are used. When a mature driver who is receiving Medicare is injured in an accident, there are special rules that apply to those people who are hurt. These rules may cause those persons to have great responsibility to pay the federal government even where they settle for very little. Indeed, the federal government is requiring special forms to be filled out by those injured, in an effort to “track” the federal government’s claims for reimbursement. More frightening are new requirements called Medicare set-aside agreements, which require injured persons to set aside money from settlements to pay for future care. These changes mean it is more important than ever to pay attention to your automobile insurance policies and examine your coverage. As many know, I have consistently encouraged people to visit me to examine their insurance policies. Many times there are coverages that people miss, and their agents don’t tell them about. The emphasis seems to always be on cost, rather than whether the coverage will perform when you need it. Saving a few bucks on the front end can cost you much more. I advocate that everyone have $50,000 worth of medical pay coverage to use instead of Medicare or Medicaid, along with good underinsured/uninsured motorist insurance coverage. The limits of coverage preferred are at least 300/300/50. Today, policies renewing for policy periods after January 1, 2009, give
drivers a chance for more options on uninsured motorist. Make sure you get the “add on” Uninsured limit, and make sure your limits of coverage equal the higher limits of the Bodily Injury Liability of 300/300. I also tell people that full coverage is not a legal term, but a selling point to provide a policy that only covers liability and property damage. These policies that supposedly provide “full coverage” often do not supply medical pay coverage, or uninsured motorist protection. These full-coverage polices typically do not provide for lost wages, or for towing coverage. Additionally, most of these full-coverage agents don’t advise you to seek expanded uninsured motorist protection by easily electing that all uninsured motorist policies be combined and not offset by the atfault person’s insurance policy. If your agent cannot explain the function of each of your coverages and how they perform in the event of an accident, change agents. Only an attorney, however, can coordinate the use of this coverage at the time of an accident to help you maximize your recovery and navigate the claims procedures the claims adjuster won’t share with you. Although we can feel the warmth of spring, we can still feel the cold chill of government regulation of health care, and the consequences of such legislation in the area of personal injury. These changes make it more important for those injured in an auto accident to seek counsel from a qualified lawyer in helping them through the process. Steven Leibel is a Georgia personal injury lawyer with offices in Dawson County and in Dahlonega. He currently serves as a member of the Georgia Bar Board of Governors for the Enotah Circuit. He is a Commission member of the Georgia Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission. He is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell for his legal ability and ethical conduct. He can be reached at 706-867-7575 or 404-892-0700. Questions about his column can be sent to his email at steven@leibel.com. Nothing in this column can be construed as the giving of legal advice. Legal advice can only be made through an attorney-client relationship. The statements made in this column are for general education purposes only.
Your Vision Source! T
he cornea is the clear tissue covering the front part of the eye. This dome-shaped surface transmits light and is the main focusing portion of the eye. This area can be greatly affected by eye disease, injury, or infection. When the cornea becomes damaged, it can become cloudy or scarred, making it very difficult for the person to see. There are five layers to the cornea, and corneal disease can affect any of these layers. In order to restore vision, sometimes a corneal transplant, also known as keratoplasty, may need to be performed. A corneal transplant can restore vision, reduce pain, and/or improve the overall appearance of the cornea. It is the most commonly performed transplant procedure in the United States. Approximately 40,000 transplant procedures are performed each year. Over 90% of these procedures successfully restore the patient’s vision. During a transplant procedure the doctor only removes the central damaged layers of tissue, and sutures the new healthy tissue in its place. Many conditions can cause the cornea to scar or degenerate. Some of the more common conditions that affect the cornea are corneal dystrophies such as keratoconus or Fuchs dystrophy, as well as injuries and infections of the eye. Keratoconus is a progressive thinning of the cornea. It is the most common corneal dystrophy, affecting one in 2000 Americans. It occurs when the cornea thins and bulges forward, causing a cone shape. This causes a change in the prescription, resulting in moderate to severe astigmatism. Early stages of keratoconus can generally
be corrected with eyeglasses or rigid contact lenses. Advanced stages may cause scarring and decreased vision and the patient may eventually need a corneal transplant to restore vision. Corneal transplants for these patients may only involve removing the damaged surface layers, but sometimes the deeper layers need to be removed as well. Fuchs dystrophy occurs when the endothelium, or the bottom layer of the cornea, begins to degenerate. This layer of tissue helps pump out water from the cornea, and prevents it from swelling. Over time if this tissue is damaged, these pumps no longer work efficiently, and this causes swelling and decreased vision. If there is too much swelling, this can cause pain and severe visual impairment. In these cases, just the endothelium tissue needs to be replaced, not the entire cornea. Corneal transplants are an outpatient procedure and are relatively safe. However, as with any surgery, complications can occur. Some of these include infection, increased pressure, swelling of the tissue, or rejection of the tissue. Healing after a transplant procedure may take several months, perhaps years. Eye medications are given after the procedure to help with inflammation and to prevent infection. After several months some of the sutures can be removed to help with vision. Corneal tissue comes from individuals who have donated their organs after death. The eye tissue needs to be recovered 12-24 hours after the death of the donor. The tissue then needs to be used within
by Dr. Joyce M. Nations seven days of removal. The tissue is screened very carefully to make sure that it is very healthy and in excellent condition. There is a nationwide eye bank that facilitates the distribution of the tissue. If you would like to become an organ donor in the state of Georgia, please visit www.donatelifegeorgia. org/register/ to sign up. 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.
Benefit for PAWS
T
he students of Dr. Izzo’s Event Marketing class at North Georgia College and State University are contributing to The Pet Adoption and Welfare Society (PAWS) Inc. by hosting a benefit event, a performing arts show at the Holly Theatre in Dahlonega. The event will benefit the PAWS animal shelter in Dawsonville. PAWS educates the general public about animal maintenance and helps animals find loving homes. The production Damn Yankees,
a musical comedy, will be on April 15. Community involvement that supports the health and safety of local pets demonstrates our willingness to support a good cause. Tickets will be sold prior to the performance. Tickets that are purchased through students involved in the experiential marketing class will support PAWS. Students have also set up a donation box at the Dahlonega J & J to collect dog and cat food for the PAWS shelter. April 2010 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition
My Favorite First Date
M
y favorite first date occurred on March
13, 2000, with my now husband Michael. I worked as a waitress at The Jasper Family Steakhouse and we first met when he sat at one of my tables. I remember the first time I saw him and even though I never believed in love at first sight, it was the closest thing to it that I’ve ever experienced. I always had a picture in my mind, even as a little girl, of what my husband would look like and when our eyes met, that image came to life. After he sat down, he overheard a conversation I was having with a customer at the table beside his and found his opportunity to butt in. We talked briefly, then I sprinted off to serve other customers. I thought he was very friendly but wasn’t sure if he was normally that friendly to everyone or if it was because he liked me. I realized that he liked me when he returned the following weekend and specifically asked to sit in my section. Clumsy me, I dropped a glass bottle of ketchup right in front him and watched in humiliation as the ketchup shot across the floor. I was relieved when, in spite of that, he invited me to sit with him at his table to have a quick break and talk. We instantly connected and he asked me for my phone number. Trying to keep from appearing too desperate, he waited a couple of days to call and ask me out on a date. When he did, I paused for a moment as if I had to think about it (also trying not to appear too desperate), then said yes. We made plans for that Friday night and he showed up right on time. He met my parents, whom I had forewarned not to embarrass me, and we left in his big “single guy” truck. On the phone, he had just asked if I wanted to go to dinner, so I was kind of shocked when he asked if I wanted to go to dinner at his favorite restaurant—in Florida! This was something I was not quite ready for, so we went to a local steak and seafood restaurant instead. We talked about everything from where we went to school and what we wanted to do in life, to what our favorite color was. We laughed at each other’s jokes and the conversation was
10 400 Edition
steady flowing. After dinner, we went to a movie at an IMAX theater and saw “Fantasia.” We agreed that it beautifully represented nature and I remember thinking how it was so amazing to have found someone who saw life in the same light as I did. He asked me if I wanted to go to his house so he could show me what was in his kitchen cabinets. I didn’t think it was a good idea for a first date, but curiosity got the better of me—plus he promised we wouldn’t go past the kitchen! When we entered the kitchen, he opened his cabinets to reveal eleven boxes of Hamburger Helper that he had, representing every variety. I laughed and asked if that was all that he could cook. He said that he was a great cook but had
April 2010 • www.400edition.com
by Vanessa McBrayer no one special to cook for. Like the true gentleman that he was, he led me back to the door and we continued along our way back to my house. As we got closer, he pretended to stop so that we could talk but I knew what he was up to. He asked me for a kiss and even though I tried to be traditional I couldn’t resist. He asked if I wanted to go out with him again the following Friday night and this time I said yes more quickly. The next day, I was waiting tables as usual when in came a huge bouquet of red roses just for me. The card simply read “Michael.” I called him to let him know he had made me the happiest girl in the world for that moment in time and he claimed to be a hopeless romantic at heart. This was something I had always wanted to hear a man say. Our next date was even better because there was no need to pretend or play games, since it was clear to both of us that we liked each other. He continued to sweep me off my feet with small tokens of his affection, and poems that he had written while thinking of me at work. He did eventually take me to his favorite restaurant in Florida, which is where he told me for the first time that he loved me; and later, while on a trip to the mountains, he proposed to me next to a river. Of course, I said yes and ten years later we continue to have date night every Friday night. Vanessa McBrayer, her husband, three cats, a dog, and five fish make their home in Dawsonville. She is the Salon Director of Lava Hair Studio. Her hobbies are writing, hiking, gardening, and traveling. Life Philosophy: Appreciate the simple things in life.
Dawsonville’s Spring Fling Festival
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he Dawson County Arts Council knows how to throw a party. On May 1 and 2, the Council will hold its annual Spring Fling in downtown Dawsonville and at the Dawson County Middle School. The event, a perfect blending of gardening and art, will have vendors and many free activities. The Georgia Watercolor Show is an outstanding national exhibition, presented this year at the Bowen Center for the Arts at 344 Highway 9 North. This free show, featuring 70 paintings from watercolor artists from across the United States, showcases colorful abstracts, gorgeous portraits, and awe-inspiring landscapes. (The Bowen Center for the Arts is also known as the Old Rock School House.) Free musical entertainment includes the Sawnee Community Band and the Dawson Community Chorale, comprised of more than 40 singers from members of Dawson County church choirs. The band and the chorale will be performing on Sunday afternoon. Other musical performances will take place on Saturday, May 1. The Mountain Art Bike Ride, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Dawsonville, begins at the festival site and is routed for 25, 50, and 100 miles around the Dawson area. Mountain bikers from all over Georgia and the South have signed up for this event. To join in on this ride, contact Warren King at kingwj100@aol.com. The bike event starts and finishes at the Spring Fling. For car buffs, the festival offers an antique car show at Thunder Road/ City Hall on Highway 53. For those who enjoy running, there’s the Kiwanis Club’s 5K and 10K Fun Run. Contact Becky Holbrook at Holbrook.becky@ yahoo.com to join this event.
by Jeanne Tomkins
Children’s free activities include face painting, weird hair designing, and potting plants for Mother’s Day, as well as the bouncy jump, moonwalk, and train rides. The vendors carry garden-themed art and/or plants, gardening equipment, furniture, and supplies. One returning vendor is Master Gardener Dave Rusk, offering painted benches, windows, gates, and watering cans. This year he will include lovely plants he has grown. Other vendors will feature handmade jewelry, photography, wood-turned bowls, bird feeders, garden and porch furniture, and pottery. There will be food vendors throughout the festival, and drawings for prizes, so plan for a day’s stay. The Spring Fling is a major fundraising event for the Dawson County Arts Council. It is located at the Dawson County Middle School at 332 Highway 9, Dawsonville, and will take place rain or shine. The festival is free, and so is the parking. For more information, visit www.dawsonarts.org/ festival.htm or contact the Art Center at info@dawsonarts.org. The Spring Fling is sponsored by Food Lion (major sponsor), John Megel Chevrolet, Troncalli Subaru, United Community Bank, Dawson Co. Rotary Club, Dawson Co. Woman’s Club, Dawson Co. Chamber of Commerce, Dawson News and Advertiser, Dawson Community News
April 2010 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition
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Spring Planting Is For the Birds And Butterflies Agardeners and landscapers begin s spring arrives, backyard
the yearly task of beautifying their outdoor environments. The Georgia Wildlife Resources Division recommends that amateur and professional gardeners, regardless of their yard’s size, consider building a place for wildlife while planning for spring gardens. “When planting or landscaping for spring, utilize plants beneficial to wildlife and keep in mind the
following tips,” said Jim Ozier, a program manager with the division’s Nongame Conservation Section. “These helpful hints are sure to enhance the beauty of yards and gardens and attract a variety of wildlife for viewing enjoyment.”
orioles, brown thrashers, and mockingbirds, plant in clumps, clusters, or islands. Cover provides nesting areas for birds and small mammals, as well as shelter from predators and inclement weather.
• Plant fruit-producing shrubs like native crabapple, serviceberry, blueberries, blackberries, dogwoods, and wax myrtle. To attract songbirds including cardinals, robins, bluebirds,
• Use primarily native plants. These are adapted to surviving under local conditions with little need for extra fertilizer or water, and native wildlife species are adapted to using them for food and cover. • Create a pool as a birdbath and gathering place for wildlife. A pool can vary from a small pond to an elaborate reservoir with waterfalls. Shallow birdbaths also make excellent landscaping focal points. • Use caution when applying pesticides and fertilizers. Overuse or misuse can harm wildlife. Contact a local Cooperative Extension Service with questions about amounts and types of chemicals to use. • Don’t forget the butterflies! Cultivate nectar-producing plants such as salvia, milkweeds, blazing star, impatiens, and verbena
to provide butterfly-viewing opportunities and add color to backyard habitats. Non-invasive exotic plants such as lantana and butterfly bush are also attractive nectar sources. Butterfly larval host plants like hollyhock, fennel, violets, pawpaw, and asters will also encourage butterflies to visit. • Remember the field guide and binoculars. Watching wildlife can be fun for the entire family, especially considering Georgia’s rich diversity of wild animals and plants. Close-focusing (6 feet or less) binoculars allow you to observe butterflies up close. Field guides are great resources in helping identify species. With proper planning, any yard can feature trees, shrubs, and other plants that will provide food, shelter, and habitat for wildlife. For more information on spring planting for birds and butterflies, visit Wildlife Resources’ web site, www.georgiawildlife.com, click “Conservation,” then “GA Animals & Plants.” www.gadnr.org
Spruce Up With Chipper’s
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he newest member of Dawsonville’s business community is Chipper’s Landscape Supply. The timing is perfect, the location is convenient, the prices are right, and they deliver. No doubt you will see their big blue truck traveling the roads of Dawson and surrounding counties delivering all kinds of landscaping materials. Now is the time to get back to those landscaping plans you have been thinking about. You can pick up materials by the bag, or have it delivered on site in bulk. As you and your family make plans to add your personal touches to your home or business, make plans to stop by the new location of Chipper Landscaping Supply near old downtown Dawsonville at 31 Jack Heard Road. The big green signs are hard to miss, and knowing that it is just west of the Perimeter stop light on Highway 53 might make finding it a little easier. Since this is a new business with low prices, it’s a good time to stop by and welcome owner Chip
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April 2010 • www.400edition.com
Green to the area and see how he can help you. Chipper’s is visible from the street, where you can see the dirt, mulch, rock, sand, and gravel. If you need railroad ties or landscape timbers, you will find them here also. You are invited to walk around and make your own list. You have this spring to design and make your yard just the way you have always wanted. Make your dreams come true and have everything delivered to you. Stop on your way home or give them a call at 706-216-1220. Chipper’s hours are Monday thru Friday 7:30am until 6:30pm, and Saturday 8:00am until 3:00pm. There is no order too small or too large. Put your green thumb and the family togetherness to work today and let Chipper help with your landscaping needs. He can also build your fish pond, or supply materials and advice. Plan on calling or stopping by real soon. See their ad in this issue.
2nd Annual Historic Moonshine Mile
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f this ribbon of highway from Lake Burton to Clarkesville could talk, it would tell a tale of high-octane high jinks, fire and fermentation, swagger and shadows. Once a dusty dragway for illegal corn liquor, the Moonshine Highway now welcomes visitors to its galleries, restaurants, studios and antique stores—but the legacy lingers on a clear, dark night. The merchants of the Scenic Highway 197 Association invite you to downshift and enjoy the 2nd Annual Historic Moonshine Mile event beginning April 1. Purchase $10 or more during the month of April at any of the participating Scenic 197 merchants along Northeast Georgia’s most beautiful and storied drive, and receive the equivalent in “distillery dollars” that may be redeemed for outstanding gift items at the Revenuer’s Auction at LaPrade’s Marina on Saturday, May 1. Shoppers can earn their “still bills” at the Batesville Restaurant,
Paradise Properties, Soque Artworks, Burton Gallery and Emporium, Cottage Garden, Hickory Flat Pottery, Serendipity Stained Glass, Mark of the Potter, Once Upon A Time Antiques, and LaPrade’s Marina. Putting your pedal to the metal has never been so rewarding. Bring your accumulated moonshine money to LaPrade’s Marina at 4:00pm on Saturday, May 1, sample wine and appetizers from Water’s Edge, and bid on outstanding gift items provided by the Scenic Highway 197 merchants. It’s a horsepower happy hour with no limits on speed or spending. Further information, maps, and special links may be found at www.scenic197.com.
Registering Your Boat? What You Need To Know
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oating season is just around the corner and The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, would like to remind boat owners to make sure that their vessels have a current registration. Renewal registrations and duplicate vessel registrations can be done online, by phone, or by mail. New boat registrations and transfers must be completed with the mail-in application, due to required supporting documents. “The most current information on how to register a boat and what method you need to use, whether it is online, by phone, or by mail, is available on our Division website at goboatgeorgia.com,” says Captain Mike England of the Division License
and Boat Registration Unit. Users looking for boat registration information should access www. goboatgeorgia.com, select “Boating” and “Vessel Registration.” Once a registration is complete, the customer should receive the decal within seven days. Registrations have an $8.00 transaction fee for Internet transactions and applications submitted by mail, and $10.00 for telephone transactions. Boat registrations and sales of hunting and fishing licenses provide key financial support for fish and wildlife conservation. To renew by phone, or for more information, call 1-800-366-2661. For online and duplicate registrations, application forms, or more information, visit www.georgiawildlife.com.
April 2010 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition 13
Residential Treatment for Teens: When Is It Appropriate?
Mind and heart mind & heart
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eaders who have followed this column over time will probably have noted that most of the mental health issues and treatments discussed have been largely confined to outpatient interventions; i.e., those implemented in the community; in weekly or bi-weekly visits to therapists’ and/or physicians’ offices; at times in group formats; and with the voluntary participation of the client. However, there are times and situations where one must look further along the continuum of care to properly address more serious and chronic conditions, especially with adolescents. Perhaps the most familiar example of more intensive mental health treatment is the acute inpatient hospitalization, now almost exclusively done for patients who pose an imminent risk of harm to self or others. These inpatient “stabilization” stays now typically last only a few days; then the patient is often stepped down to partial hospitalization (PHP; also known as “day treatment”). This usually involves consecutive full days of treatment with no overnight stay; usually runs MondayFriday; lasts anywhere from one to four weeks; then ultimately returns the patient back to the outpatient therapists and psychiatrists in the community. In many if not most situations, patients needing more intensive acute care are admitted straight into PHP with no inpatient phase at all. For many patients, moving through this continuum of care is successful in helping them address their issues (depression, addictions, etc.) sufficiently to resume productive and functional living again. What about those troubled teens who have taken several or all of the above treatment steps
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already, with little or no success? For example, a severely oppositional, acting-out teenager; possibly also depressed and perhaps using drugs or alcohol and doing poorly in school; essentially non-compliant with outpatient counseling and/or medication…. this teen can pose serious management challenges to even the most dedicated parents. A teenager with this array and degree of behavioral and emotional issues can, literally, demand and deplete nearly all of a family’s energies, leaving little left over for siblings. As a parent of one such patient of mine recently described it, “We’re all walking on pins and needles waiting to see what he’ll do next.” It is often at these times that parents are made aware that there is another—albeit more severe—treatment option to consider: residential treatment. Residential treatment centers offer troubled teens and their families an opportunity to address chronic and long-standing emotional, behavioral, and addictive issues in an intensive, live-away environment for the teen. Age ranges served typically span the years between 13-17, but some centers serve pre-adolescents as well, and most prefer to treat early- to mid-teens rather than older teens. Educational needs are normally incorporated into the programs, which usually last from a minimum of six months to a maximum of two years, with the average residence usually lasting about 12 months. It is this longer-term, highly structured, systemic approach that can make inroads with teens whose issues are too resistant to be affected by the more sporadic nature of outpatient treatment contacts. Family counseling is normally built into the programming as well, as there has April 2010 • www.400edition.com
Mark P. Feinsilber, Ph.D.
long been an awareness that the family system needs to be treated along with the adolescent if the environment he or she is to one day return to will be healthier. In essence, it makes little sense to return an adolescent after such intensive treatment to a family environment whose own dysfunctional dynamics were a big factor in his or her issues to begin with. To be sure, residential treatment is a huge emotional and financial sacrifice for parents to make, and not one that should be taken lightly. However, if most other outpatient and shortterm inpatient mental health treatment options have been exhausted to no avail, it does offer the potential to effect deeper changes in an adolescent, and provides the family with respite and healing time while that process takes place. 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.
Dahlonega’s Annual Bear on the Square Mountain Festival Family-friendly April event brings music and arts to the North Georgia mountains
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Teddy Bear Picnic, live music, folk dancers, and a juried artists’ market are just some of the highlights of the 14th annual Bear on the Square Mountain Festival, April 16-18, in Dahlonega. A favorite spring celebration, the festival brings together a variety of talented local, regional, and national musicians, performers, and artists for three days of concerts, workshops, auctions, and shopping in the historic Public Square and the adjacent Hancock Park. The festivities begin on Friday, April 16, when bluegrass musicians will gather in the historic Public Square late afternoon for street jam sessions. Visitors are encouraged to bring their instruments and join in on the fun. On Saturday and Sunday, the Main Stage Tent in Hancock Park is where the action is, with performances by headlining acts Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Jesse McReynolds & the Virginia Boys, and Ginny Hawkers & Tracy Schwarz with Kari Sickenberger. Tickets to the performances are $15 (except Sunday morning, which is free of charge), and include a wristband that will allow visitors to come and go throughout the day. All tickets are sold at the festival. VIP seating in the front rows is available for $50 per day and can be purchased by contacting Dobbin Buck at 404-9759215. Shoppers will be able to purchase one-of-a-kind, handmade items directly from some of the mountain region’s best artists at the Mountain Marketplace, which is sponsored by the John C. Campbell Folk School. Booths will feature traditional craft exhibits; artists demonstrating skills in blacksmithing, basketry, and more; and a wide selection of work from painters, furniture makers, musical instrument makers, potters, and quilt makers. Additional highlights of the festival:
evening will feature works by area folk artist Billy Roper, along with works by other local and juried artists taking part in Bear on the Square’s Mountain Marketplace. Live music will be provided by premier bluegrass band BlueBilly Grit. • Friday Master Class Workshops are returning to the Bear on the Square Mountain Festival. These in-depth, two-hour-long workshops will feature some of the music industry’s top bluegrass and old-time musicians and instructors, and are designed to be very hands-on and informative. • On Saturday, the folk dancers from the John C. Campbell Folk School will be performing in the square. • Extensive music workshops will take place on Saturday and Sunday in the Workshop and Demonstration Tent and the Hummingbird Gallery. • The Sunday morning Gospel Jam • Children’s activities include an original play, “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” a “Little Pickers” hands-on musical tent complete with banjos, fiddles, and other folk instruments, and a Teddy Bear Picnic. • Delicious dining options complete the offerings during the festival. For additional information on the Bear on the Square Mountain Festival, including a full listing of times and performances, please visit www.bearonthesquare.org. © 2008, Jeffr ey Franks P
hotography
• The Live Country Auction on Friday
April 2010 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition 15
Cover story — The Festival of Arts I
magine a world without Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, without Bach’s B Minor Mass, without the breathtaking rose window and sculptures of Notre Dame Cathedral. For centuries, the church has been at the forefront of promoting the arts. Cumming First United Methodist Church is recapturing and continuing that great tradition through its Festival of Arts held for an entire week each April. This year’s festival is set for April 18-25. The Festival of Arts is the brainchild of the church’s Director of Music, Worship & Arts, John Hutchinson, who joined the staff in 2003. After sharing with the members of the church his vision of a Festival of Arts presenting professional and student visual artists in gallery displays, his vision became a reality in 2008. The visual artists are juried, and cash awards are given. The first year saw the work of 30 visual artists in the professional gallery. The number jumped
Festival of Arts Schedule April 18 - 24 – Galleries open to the general public – 1:00 to 8:00pm. April 18 – The Queen of Instruments – Featuring the church’s newly restored 21-stop Estey Reed Organ built in 1879.
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to 140 in 2009 and will pass 160 in 2010. The student divisions showcase hundreds of students from Forsyth County Public Schools. Altogether, over 700 artists will be featured. Galleries are open daily from noon to 8:00pm and are free. The Festival of Arts also promotes professional performance artists such as
April 21 – Student Reception and Awards 6:00pm – 7:00pm. April 21 – Classic City Jazz from the University of Georgia – 7:15pm. April 24 – You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown – Full scale Broadway production. 7:15pm. Professional awards will be announced during the show.
musicians and dancers. Throughout the course of the 2010 festival, free daily Bach’s Lunch concerts are scheduled, featuring The KSU Dance Company, the David Bros. Jazz Combo, a string quartet from Chamber Music Atlanta, an organ/trumpet duet, and a duet of classical guitars. Each concert is followed by a light lunch in the Art Café for $5. Principal concerts during the week include a 3:00pm concert on Sunday, April 18, featuring the church’s newly restored Estey Reed Organ, built in 1879. On Wednesday, April 21, at 7:00pm the Festival showcases Classic City Jazz from the University of Georgia. Both of these concerts are free. The Festival culminates with the full-scale Broadway production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, with performances at 7:30pm, Saturday, April 24, and 2:00pm, Sunday, April 25. Tickets are $10 general admission, available through the church office or at the door. Cumming First United Methodist is pleased to offer this gift of beauty to the city of Cumming, Forsyth County, and the surrounding area. For more complete information, contact John Hutchinson at the church at 770-8872900, or visit the church on the web at www.music.cummingfirstmethodist.com.
April 25 – You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown – Full scale Broadway production matinee performance. 2:00pm. Galleries will close to the general public at 6:00pm.
Bach’s Lunch Concert Schedule
All Bach’s Lunch Concert Series concerts are held at noon. A light lunch is served afterward in the Art Café for $5. Reservations for lunch
April 2010 • www.400edition.com
are encouraged but not required. April 19 – Kennesaw State University Dance Company April 20 – Chamber Music Atlanta String Quartet April 21 – David Bros. Jazz Quartet April 22 – Hearn/ Plato Classical Guitar Duo April 23 – Organ/ Trumpet Duo
NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL New Start, Weight Smart… How To Win The Battle Of The Bulge
To Your Health
by Roshan Khaki, R.D., L.D., C.D.E., coordinator, Northside Hospital Diabetes and Nutrition Education Program
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early 28 percent of Georgians are obese. It is estimated that more than 65 percent of Americans are overweight, with approximately 34 percent considered to be obese. The expanding waistline of our society is linked with life-threatening diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. Losing weight and keeping it off—it’s easier said than done, right? The statistics tell us that nine out of ten people regain the weight they lost. But that means ten percent successfully keep it off. So how do they do it? Northside Hospital’s New Start, Weight Smart program teaches participants how to meet their weight loss goals successfully and keep the weight off permanently. They offer the following tips:
• Walk (or cycle or do aerobic dance), several miles a day or 200 minutes a week. • Have a support network that sustains you—for dayto-day living and for weight maintenance. • Eat healthy foods, and practice variety, balance, and moderation. Cook with little or no fat and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, nonfat dairy products, and lean entrees. • Limit portion sizes. Know that too much (even of a good thing) isn’t so good. Calories (not just fat grams) count. • Stay in tune with your emotions. Weight-loss winners know how to distinguish true hunger from feelings of anger, loneliness, and fatigue. When you’re hungry, eat; but to sort through emotions, call friends, breathe deeply, read books, or start new projects. • Examine underlying issues and get counseling (if necessary). Family and personal
issues can sabotage success. Counselors can help you develop effective, non-caloric coping strategies. • Use behavioral strategies. Develop strategies to change behavior. Plan meals. Shop with lists and on a full stomach, to avoid impulsive buying. Chew slowly and put your fork down between bites. Store foods out of sight and package leftovers immediately. • Recognize that weight management lasts a lifetime. Continue your strategies, exercise, eat nutritiously, and think positively for the rest of your life. • Live in the present. Go to the beach, wear shorts, exercise, dance, and participate in other enjoyable activities right now. Don’t wait to have the perfect shape to do the things you love to do. The New Start, Weight Smart program at Northside is designed to teach participants how to make lifestyle changes through their attitude, nutrition, and activity. The 12-week program includes weekly classes about diet modification and exercise, and weekly weight checks. Led by a registered dietitian, exercise physiologist, and behavior therapist, class participants: • Learn nutrition basics • Discuss smart grocery shopping ideas • Learn to plan balanced meals • Modify dining-out habits • Set goals for exercise and behavior change For more information or to schedule your appointment, call 404-851-6023.
April 2010 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition 17
Working for a Good Cause
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by Marcia Englefield
n this time of economic uncertainty, there is no shortage of need in our community. If you are one of the more fortunate out there who has not been affected, or only minimally affected, you may be looking for ways to share some of your good will with others around you. As a member of the Leadership Forsyth Class of 2010, I can say that I have had my eyes opened to the needs of our community through this local program. If you are not familiar with Leadership Forsyth (or any of the other county and state Leadership programs), the program is designed to foster the development of community leaders through a formal training program. As part of the ninemonth program, we also do a community project to help us learn about the needs of our community and give back in any way we can. For the Class of 2010 project, we are working with a local organization called SAFFT—Supporting Adoption and Foster Families Together. This is a group that supports and promotes fostering and adoption in Forsyth County. The group was started by local foster parents who know all too well the challenges faced by children in the child welfare system. We will be opening a community center that will provide these children with a safe haven where they can visit with their biological families, as well as participate in other activities, such as counseling, tutoring, and other support functions. Forsyth County is one of the few counties that do not already have this type of facility, and the result is that family meetings are not always in a safe yet private environment. Forsyth County has donated property in the city of Cumming for this facility, but it needs a lot of work. We are currently raising funds and working on the property with the goal of opening the center later this spring. We are urgently looking for monetary donations to help with our project. Your donation may be tax deductible (check with your accountant for rules about deducting charitable donations). For more information on donating to the Leadership Forsyth 2010 class project, please visit our web site at leadershipforsyth2010.info. For information on Leadership Forsyth and how you can participate, please go to http://www.leadershipforsyth.org.
To Honor Fallen Vietnam Heroes
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wenty-seven men who attended North Georgia College and State University (NGCSU), and who gave their lives in service to their country while serving in the Republic of Vietnam, will be honored on April 17 in a special memorial ceremony at the college. The ceremony will feature music from the Golden Eagle Band and the Patriot Choir; military aircraft fly-overs; honors rendered to the fallen soldiers and Marines; and remarks by college president Dr. David Potter, Mr. Bruce Holroyd, Chairman of the Board of the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association (AVVBA), and Mr. Alan Gravel, President of AVVBA. The guest speaker will be Major General James E. Livingston, USMC (Ret.), who served with distinction in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Medal of Honor; he is a native of Towns, Georgia. The public is invited to attend the ceremony, to be held at Livsey Field on the NGCSU campus on Saturday, April 17. The program will begin at 10:30am with music from the Golden Eagle Band, and the memorial ceremony will start at 11:00am. Following the ceremony, a reception will be held for those in attendance. For further information about this memorial ceremony, contact AVVBA Public Relations representative Ron James (706-974-4844) or Ms. Kate Maine, Director of University Relations (706-864-1950). Please join the AVVBA, NGCSU, and its professional Corps of Cadets on this very special occasion.
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Bluegrass for Breakfast
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ho would have ever thought you could walk into McDonald’s and expect to hear great live music? But at the Dawsonville McDonald’s on most Fridays, every seat is taken and occasionally it’s standing room only. Many of the regulars who attend every Friday are from Dawson County; but people come from all the surrounding counties, including Forsyth, Hall, Lumpkin, Pickens, and even from Atlanta. The audience can become Pictured left to right: Keith Davis, Jimmy Loudermilk, Sharon as entertaining Wenson, Doyle Butler, Teddy Max Bevins as the band with hands clapping, feet competition, all in great fun, of course! stomping, and even Recently a fellow came up to the table before a few cloggers. It’s really fun when you notice the music started playing and pulled an orange the reactions of first-timers walking through the out of his pocket and handed it to Sharon. She door; expressions of surprise are followed by cell looked at him bewildered, until he explained. The phones coming out, either for taking pictures or week before, he had requested a song, “Orange calling a friend so that they can listen too. Blossom Special.” Well, as you might expect, It all started 3½ years ago when a couple of Sharon does a bang-up job with that song. The musicians decided to bring their instruments to orange was a thank-you. “It’s such a blessing,” McDonald’s to “pick” a few tunes. Mike Wenson Sharon says, “to look around at the crowd and tells the story about how he and his wife, Sharon, see so many smiling faces when we are playing; used to stop at McDonald’s at Highway 53 and that’s our pay!” Georgia 400 in Dawson County on Fridays to pick up a breakfast sandwich to take to work. “It was a way to celebrate making it through another Note from Orin Sampson, pastor at Bethel United week of work,” explains Wenson. “When we Methodist Church in Dawson County. retired we decided to continue the tradition with I go to McDonald’s for a little music and one change: we’d stay at McDonald’s, enjoy our pancakes. On Friday mornings, there is a “blue breakfast and fellowship with the regulars. Sharon grass/gospel” group that plays live music. It is suggested to a local guitar player that the next really sort of an odd but very nice thing. Just think week they should bring their instruments and for a moment: How many McDonald’s do you play for the regulars at breakfast.” McDonald’s know that have a live concert? management was more than receptive to the When I arrived this morning the place was idea and so the Friday morning Breakfast with full of people. I saw some of our dear church Bluegrass was born. The restaurant being members and waved at them. They waved back. decorated in bluegrass memorabilia just The music was going strong. I got my usual enhances the atmosphere. pancakes with sausage, and tea. I sat with one In addition to Sharon Wenson fiddlin’ and of our church members, and had been invited singing, the other musicians are Keith Davis on to sit with others as well. A few more songs were bass, Doyle Butler pickin’ the mandolin, Teddy performed. Then came the finale. Max Bevins strummin’ the banjo and vocals, There, standing in McDonald’s, the group Ted Bearden on guitar and vocals, and Jimmy (both musicians and customers) sang “Amazing Loudermilk on guitar. Although each musician Grace.” What a magnificent thing! We were has a primary instrument, they frequently switch witnessing the Gospel to each other (some who instruments because this group is multi-talented. were strangers to one another) and to those Many are members of the local groups Sunnyside McDonald’s customers who had just walked in. and Little Mountain. Both Jimmy and Sharon also For me, it was a real spiritual moment. It was truly teach students on several instruments, and I would a “gathering” of kindred spirits. As we departed, be remiss not to mention Keith’s talent for telling I could feel the sweet spirit moving across the great stories and jokes that keep the crowd in group. We would all go our separate ways for the stitches. You’ll also recognize Teddy Max as the day. But as we did so, we would be tied together leader of the summer jam sessions on the square by the grace of God eternally. Life just doesn’t get in Dahlonega. any better than this. The typical music menu will include bluegrass, This coming Sunday, we will do the same in old-time country and gospel. You might even our Worship Center. We will sing a few songs hear a little blues or some show tunes. The menu and share in the sweetness of fellowship. Then also includes sing-a-longs, and regularly the we will go our separate ways, tied together by the restaurant is divided into two groups for a singing everlasting “amazing grace” of our Father.
April 2010 • www.400edition.com
Through a Woman’s Eyes
by Martha Hynson
A Wife of Noble Character
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wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. This verse, from Proverbs, chapter 31, is followed by a series of verses describing exactly what “a wife of noble character” is and does. Through the years, I’ve managed to avoid spending too much time on this particular passage, as the superwoman it seems to describe does not live at my house. This year, however, I’ve decided to bravely face these verses and, hopefully, tap into some superpowers I didn’t know I had. At first glance, a wife of noble character seems to have it all together. Like Mary Poppins, she’s “practically perfect in every way.” While I do not aspire to be Mary Poppins, it would be nice to always show up with a song and an umbrella at just the right time. Although I sing around my house (okay, not quite like Julie Andrews) I tend to forget the words to songs. I seldom remember to bring an umbrella if it looks like rain, and I’ve even been known to forget to pick up my child from school. Things of this sort do not seem to characterize the life of the woman described in Proverbs 31, but they all too
often characterize my life. A perfect example occurred recently when I decided to make a family keepsake involving my grandkids’ handprints—definitely a “Proverbs 31 type activity,” if you ask me! We had fun and, other than my grandbaby having a little green paint in her hair, everything went as planned. Or so I thought until I looked at my rug the next morning and realized I had forgotten to put anything under our project as we worked. I now have two adorable little handprints on my rug—one red and one green. Oh well, at least those are two of my favorite colors. In fact, maybe it wasn’t a mistake after all, because looking at this unintentional work of art reminds me that the people I love are as individual as their handprints. This thought has caused me to question the accuracy of my assumptions about Proverbs 31. Since God made us all unique, could it be that there is more to this scripture than simply a list of qualities every woman should aspire to? As I read on in Proverbs 31, verse 12 says, [a wife of noble character] will bring [her husband] good, not harm, all the days of her life. Since Luke 18:19 tells me that only
April 2010 • www.400edition.com
God is good, and 1 John 4:8 says that God is love, then that must mean that a wife of noble character brings her husband love all the days of her life. As I look at the handprints, it occurs to me that my approach to Proverbs 31 has been all wrong. In order to bring my husband love, I need to be less concerned about who I am (or feel I should be) and more focused on who my husband is. What unique qualities did God create in him and how can I show him love accordingly? What a relief to discover that, not only does this passage of scripture not require me to be a superwoman; it isn’t really about me at all! Like every other word in the Bible, it’s all about God. Isaiah 28:29 says God is a wonderful teacher. If I spend time with Him, I believe He will teach me how to use the gifts and characteristics He has placed in me to bring good to my husband, that special individual that He has created and given me to love, all the days of my life Martha Hynson is a wife, mom, teacher, and freelance writer from Watkinsville, Georgia.
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Alpharetta’s Juried Fine Arts Festival
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rtists from throughout the U.S. hone their craft, preparing for the Alpharetta Arts Streetfest. This colorful festival will take place from 10:00am to 6:00pm Saturday and Sunday, April 24-25, on Milton Avenue in the Alpharetta Historic District. Admission and parking are free to the public. Festival lovers and arts enthusiasts can look forward to two days of strolling through outdoor galleries filled with fine paintings, mixed media, photography, pottery, and jewelry, as well as textile, glass, wood, metal, and paper art. “It is my pleasure to welcome artists from across the country to the City of Alpharetta,” said Mayor Arthur Letchas. “Each year this event brings something new to the table, with unique art, incredible performances, and kidfriendly activities. Whether you have attended every year or never experienced this event,
the Streetfest has something new for everyone to experience.” The 80 artists to be featured in the 6th Annual Alpharetta Arts
Streetfest were selected by a jury comprised of art professionals from the Alpharetta community. Selected artists will be traveling to Alpharetta from Maryland, Ohio, and Texas, and local artists from Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas will be in attendance as well. The children’s area will feature Going Green crafts and activities. City of Alpharetta Environmental Coordinator will show the young at heart how to make a variety of environmental crafts, including your own Chia
Pet from old socks. “Out of the Box Art Studio” will use texture tiles and glazes to help little artists create spring sensations in clay hand building. They will also showcase a potter’s wheel demonstration. More opportunities for creative exploration include balloon art, ceramic art, face painting, and wacky hair designs. Arts Streetfest music will include live jazz, Americana, folk, and classic rock. In addition, the main stage will feature cultural dancing, including salsa and Irish dancing. Festival cuisine will include barbecue from Smokejack: A Southern Grill, Italian favorites from Carmine’s Restaurant & Pizzeria, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, and additional street fare such as Italian ice, fresh squeezed lemonade, and dessert specialties by Fudgie Wudgie. Alpharetta Arts Streetfest will take place on Milton Avenue between Main Street (SR 9) and Roswell-Canton Street in the Historic Downtown area. Free parking is available for festival-goers at City Hall, Milton Center (the old Milton High School), and City of Alpharetta downtown parking lots. Downtown shops and restaurants will offer specials and extended business hours during the festival. For more event information or to catch a visual preview of the Alpharetta Arts Streetfest artists, visit www.alpharetta.ga.us.
Fun Places in North Georgia
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he seasons change quickly in the North Georgia mountains. Spring brings folks out in droves. A long winter of being closed up in tight quarters makes everyone happy to be able to run in the wide open spaces, play in the creek, and go horseback riding in the mountains. The smoke from campfires sets the stage, as the burning wood gives warmth and cooks food or warms coffee. Everyone is drawn to a family campfire, where for once the kids enjoy stories told by the adults. Most of this has been replaced by the stoves and microwaves in a RV. If you aren’t into RVs, there are many cabins to rent. If you are looking for a place to get away, for a weekend or for a week, we suggest Cavender Creek Cabins in Dahlonega. Make it romantic and take just your mate, or take the entire family. But couples need to get away by themselves to enjoy each other. The beautifully decorated cabins are very comfortable, with everything
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you need, including hot tubs, great places to walk, a porch to sit on to enjoy the scenery, and a creek to play in. The owners, Paul and Mary Hanson, will make sure your stay is enjoyable. If you do want to go out, you are just a short drive from Historic Dahlonega. There are many good places to dine, shops that have everything you may want, museums, and a theater. Take a virtual tour at www.cavendercreek.com. For more information and to make a reservation, call 706-869-7221 or 1-866-373-6307. This is one getaway you will keep coming back to. Surprise your husband or wife with a well-deserved retreat. We have had some of our best weekend business meetings at these spacious, comfortable cabins, and have gone there just to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet. For those of you who do RV, we strongly recommend Trackrock Campground in Blairsville. Many fulltime RVers have elected to stay at Trackrock, and many have their
RVs parked there for a weekend retreat. We had our RV there for a couple of years and really enjoyed being able to get away from it all and spend time there. The Alexanders, who own and operate this facility, are wonderful hosts and try to accommodate your every need. This is a great place to take your family. There is a sandy-beach lake for fishing and swimming, trails to walk on, hayrides, horseback riding, large play areas, and some of the prettiest mountain views you have ever seen. The campsites are large, there are new bathhouses, everything is clean, the
April 2010 • www.400edition.com
grounds and roads are well kept. There is also an area for tent camping, a bed and breakfast, and some cabins for rent. Blairsville is a short drive away for dining out and shopping. Start your family on a camping tradition. Call the campground (706-745-2420) and/or the riding stable (706-745-5252) for more information and to make your reservations. Visit www.trackrock. com for a complete description of this facility. See ads for Cavender Creek Cabins and Trackrock Campground in this issue. Tell them you saw them in 400 Edition.
Companion Plants
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here are some plants that are mutually beneficial when planted close together, and there are certain combinations of plants that will inhibit the growth of one or both types of plants. Here are a few combinations to avoid: • Potatoes – inhibit growth of tomatoes and squash • Beans – inhibit growth of onions • Broccoli – inhibits growth of tomatoes
• Carrots – inhibit growth of dill This isn’t to say that you can’t grow these plants together in the same garden; just don’t grow them right next to each other. Below is a chart of plants that do well when planted next to each other. Used with permission, thevegetablegarden.info/companionplants.
Plant
Good Companions
Bad Companions
Basil
Pepper, tomato, marigold
Bush beans
Beets, cabbage, carrots, celery, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, pea, radish, strawberry, savory, tansy, marigold
Onion
Pole beans
Carrots, corn cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, pea, radish, savory, tansy
Beets, onion
Beets
Bush beans, cabbage, onion, sage
Cabbage family
Bush beans, beets, celery, onions, tomato, all strong herbs, marigold, nasturtium
Strawberry
Carrots
Bush beans, pole beans, lettuce, onion, peas, radish, tomato, sage
Dill
Celery
Bush beans, cabbage, onion, spinach, tomato
Corn
Bush beans, pole beans, cucumber, melons, peas, squash
Tomato
Cucumbers
Bush beans, pole beans, corn, lettuce, onions, peas, radish, marigold, nasturtium, savory
No strong herbs
Eggplant
Bush beans, pole beans, spinach
Lettuce
Bush beans, pole beans, carrots, cucumbers, onion, radish, strawberries
Melons
Corn, nasturtium, radish
Onion
Beets, cabbage, carrots, celery, cucumber, lettuce, pepper, squash, strawberries, tomato, savory
Parsley
Tomato
Peas
Bush beans, pole beans, carrots, corn cucumber, radish, turnips
Pepper
Onion
Radish
Bush beans, pole beans, carrots, cucumber, lettuce, melons, peas, squash
Spinach
Celery, eggplant, cauliflower
Squash
Corn, onion, radish
Strawberry
Bush beans, lettuce, onion, spinach
Cabbage
Tomato
Cabbage, carrots, celery, onion, mint
Corn, fennel
Bush beans, pole beans, peas
Onion
Hyssop
April 2010 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition 21
Fun 400 by
Courtesy of ActivityConnection.com. Answers on page 26.
Easter Clues
Use the clues to find a new word. (The number after each clue indicates the number of letters in the new word.) Then, search for the new words.
Hamper ________ (6) Hat ________ (6)
A C W B B S X K B F E F P Z S
Y J M M Y U P O M G M L E E D
B A S K E T N R G U F O D D R
L P G Y N N N N I H F W I A E
F I L S E A G Y Y N C E H R S
D Y E T R E T S A E G R Y A S
N D Q T Q N K O A V X A U P C
N W C A N D Y C G B D E X H G
Y I T N U H J N U N L D I E C
O D U L I H C G U D A C J R K
H M Z X P E C S F Z K P I Y S
X G Y Q E Q Z K L Q S J M E L
I K G A I G L E K C V I D K K
I G Z L J B G F W Q P Q R J D
C M U U Q K L T L J U I Y G C
Sudoku
Fill in the grid so that all nine columns down, all nine rows across, and all nine 3-by-3 boxes contain the numbers 1 through 9, each number used only once. That’s all there is to it. There’s no math involved.
Rabbit ________ (5) Confectionery ________ (5) A young bird ________ (5) Building for worship ________ (6) Gown ________ (5) Waterfowl ________ (4) Color ________ (3) April holiday ________ (6) Oval object ________ (3) Blossom ________ (6) Conceal ________ (4) Pursue ________ (4) A young sheep ________ (4) A public procession ________ (6) Easter season ________ (6) Day of rest ________ (6)
Wally Questions Wally questions are trick questions that don’t take any special knowledge to answer. Think literally and you can figure them out.
1. What do you get when you cross a stream and a brook? ____________________ 2. What do reindeer have that no other animals have? __________________________
3. What kind of book can a writer never finish? _________________________________
4. What is made dirty by washing? _______ ______________________________________ 5. Can you spell hard water with just three letters? _________________________
6. How many times can you take 3 from 25? _______________________________________
7. Take two apples from five apples. How many do you have? ______________________
8. Write this down as one number: 15 thousand, 15 hundred, and 15. _______________________________________
9. What could you be sure to find right in the middle of Toronto? _________________
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10. If you have an important message to write, is it better to write it on a full stomach or an empty stomach? ____________ _________________________________
April 2010 • www.400edition.com
Celebrate Clayton T
wo hundred years ago the Cherokee called this area Dividings—we call it Clayton, Georgia. The mountains surrounding us are still beautiful, and the natives are still friendly. Come Celebrate Clayton with us on April 24 and 25 and see for yourself. Promising to be the biggest and best yet, Celebrate Clayton, Rabun County’s 11th annual music and art fest, runs from 10:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday and from 10:00am to 4:00pm on Sunday. More than a hundred artists in all media will vie for prizes in this juried show. Of course, our mountains are filled with artists and you’ll see a lot of their work; but we also have artists coming from Florida, Arkansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, and every corner of Georgia. Just a few of our unique artisans: Paul and Sue Bergstrom from Blairsville, GA (musical instruments made from gourds, coconuts, and various woods); Tami Fisher from Marietta, GA (handblown fish, chickens, frogs); Daryl Freed from Harrison, AR (driftwood waterfowl and fish); Chuck Gardner from Clayton (American flags on barnwood); Cynthia Norman from Winder, GA (demonstrating how she creates her beautiful fused glass); and David Little from Cleveland, GA (demonstrating his techniques for creating hand-carved bowls). In our Gardening Section, we have two nurseries exhibiting live plants: Cold Mountain Nursery from Canton, NC, and Waypoint Nursery from Dahlonega, GA. The artist booths are back to back down the center of Main Street, leaving the sidewalks open for you to enjoy our great variety of unique shops. You’ll find galleries, gift shops, clothing, antiques, books, furniture, a wine tasting room, and a super Christmas shop. You know you’re in a small town when the bridal registry
is in the local hardware store…yep, that’s us. Most of the shops are owner-operated and they love to welcome visitors. Moby of Moby in the Morning will once again be on stage to entertain and to introduce the terrific line-up of performers throughout both days. You can enjoy a wonderfully eclectic mix of music, beginning with Curtis Blackwell and the Dixie Bluegrass Boys; they’ll be followed by The Plainsmen, a Native American drum and dance troupe, and, back by popular demand, Zydeco T. You’ll never hear the end of it if you leave the kids at home. In addition to jugglers and Butterfly the Clown, kids can enjoy doing a group mural, face painting all day, and growing a garden with IncredibleFoam. Art activities during the day include making hand puppets, flower pot frames, bowl bugs, tissue flowers, sand bracelets, suncatchers, and giant butterflies. Delectable aromas wafting on the breeze are sure to lure you
to our Food Court for a wonderful assortment of edibles. From mouthwatering Tomlin’s Barbeque to the delicious Thai cuisine everyone has raved about for the last two years, you’ll find something to please any appetite. Of course, we’ll have hamburgers, hot dogs, and funnel cakes too. In these (or any) economic times, it’s wonderful to find beautiful art and terrific entertainment for young and old alike in a breathtaking setting— all free. That’s right; there is NO admission charge. Come Celebrate Clayton with us; you’ll be glad you did. Check out our website at celebrateclayton.org for more information and great photos from prior years.
April 2010 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition 23
Events, Events,
Tip: Keep in mind that 400 Edition is now released on or about the 1st of each month. Your event needs to be submitted via our web site 30-45 days prior to your event date and no later than the 20th of the month. We have to have all the information requested on the submission form, so be sure your form is complete. Just go to 400edition.com and click “Submit an Event” on the home page.
April 1 April Fool’s Day April 2 Good Friday April 4 Easter April 28 Administrative Professionals Day
Alpharetta Made in the Shade
April 10 from 10:30am to 11:30am at Scottsdale Farms. Shannon Pable - Georgia Native Plant Society. No charge. For more information, contact Monica at 770-777-5875 or scottsdalefarms@bellsouth.net.
Container Gardening with Mr. Excitement
April 17 from 10:00am to 11:00am at Scottsdale Farms. Wayne Juers, Garden Specialist, Plant Doctor. No charge. For more information, contact Monica at 770-777-5875 or scottsdalefarms@bellsouth.net.
Walter Reeves - TV & Radio Personality
April 24 from noon to 1:00pm at Scottsdale Farms. Walter Reeves presents Tips for Spring Landscapes, and Stump the Guru. No charge. For more information, contact Monica at 770-777-5875 or scottsdalefarms@bellsouth.net
12th Annual Touch a Truck
April 24, from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Lots of cool vehicles, “Touch a Truck” T-shirts, and concessions.
May 1 from 10:00am to 11:00am at Scottsdale Farms. Bringing Birds to Your Garden. Bird Experts Bob & Lee of Workshop Creations. No charge. For more information, contact Monica at 770-777-5875 or scottsdalefarms@bellsouth.net.
Atlanta
Casino Night for Cancer Patients
Free. Alpharetta’s North Park, 13450 Cogburn Road.
Alpharetta Arts Streetfest
April 24-25 from 10:00am to 6:00pm at Milton Avenue and Main Street (SR 9) in the Alpharetta Historic District. The arts are alive this spring on the Northside with nearly 100 artists from throughout the U.S. showcased at the 6th Annual Alpharetta Arts Streetfest. Enjoy a spring weekend strolling through outdoor galleries filled with fine art in 14 medium expressions. Create children’s art and make your own Chia Pet; experience live jazz, roots rock, and Celtic music, as well as cultural dancing and more. Admission and parking are free, with parking at City Hall and Milton Center. For more information: www.alpharetta.ga.us or 678-297-6000 x1008.
Flower Show
Bringing Birds to Your Garden
April 27 from 10:00am to noon at the Roswell Area Park, 10495 Woodstock Road in Roswell. The Roswell Garden Club will be exhibiting in a flower show. Free. For more information: www.roswellgardenclub.com or 770-650-4607.
April 30, 6:30pm to 8:30pm. The Wellness Community – Atlanta Northside, 5775 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Bldg. C, Suite 225. RSVP 404843-1880. Cost: Free. Vegas may have a few things on The Wellness Community, but we’re going to have a good time. Join your friends for an evening of chance here at the community. You can play your game of choice and at the end of the night we’ll figure out who our big winners are. We’ll provide drinks and light snacks, so eat before you come. Space is limited, so RSVP now. For more information about The Wellness Community’s cancer support programs, visit www.thewellnesscommunityatlanta.org.
Blairsville
Spring Horse Camp
April 5 thru 9. If you have kids or grandkids who want to attend the horse camp at Trackrock Stables, make arrangements now. You can find application materials and information on the website at www.trackrock. com/stables-special.html. The camp is located at 4887 Trackrock Camp Road. 706-745-5252.
Southern Appalachian Landscaping Seminar & Garden Club Plant Sale
April 24, 8:00am to 4:00pm. First United Methodist Church Activity Center, 938 Highway 515. Blairsville Garden Club Plant Sale begins at 8:00am. At 9:30am, the “Gardening with Heart & Soil” seminar has dynamic speakers and a panel of experts to answer questions. Fee $30; includes light breakfast and box lunch. Door prizes, including garden wheelbarrow full of plants. For more information: Barbara Baumgardner, bertnbarb@aol.com
Buckhead
Peachtree Road Farmers Market
April in Buckhead is all the sweeter with the opening of the Peachtree
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April 2010 • www.400edition.com
Road Farmers Market on April 10. A festival atmosphere reigns at this openair market on Saturdays, 8:30am to noon, when southeastern small farmers and growers, regional producers, purveyors of traditional foods, and local craftspeople gather with their goods. Cathedral of St. Philip (parking lot), 2744 Peachtree Rd., NW; www. peachtreeroadfarmersmarket.com.
Cornelia
Shredder Event
April 17, 9:00am to noon. As part of the Great American Clean Up held in Cornelia, the Better Hometown Program will sponsor a free shredder event for local residents at the historic depot in Downtown Cornelia.
Cumming Senior Follies
April 15-25. 8:00pm Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; 3:00pm Sunday matinee. Cumming Playhouse. Complete with Broadway Beacons on opening weekend, Senior Follies will feature a variety of talent, with dancers, singers, comedians, a magician, star impersonators, a barbershop quartet, show girls, and a salute to our men and women in the armed forces—and all performers are over the age of 55. Make your reservations early; this show was a complete sell-out in 2009, and has established itself as an annual spring event for the Cumming Playhouse. Tickets are already moving, so gather your group, your friends, and head our way. For more information: www.playhousecumming.com or 770-781-9178.
The Festival of Arts
April 18-25. This free festival features visual artists in gallery displays, and professional musicians in concert venues. Hours: noon to 8:00pm daily. Cumming First United Methodist Church, 770 Canton Highway. For more information: www.music. cummingfirstmethodist.com.
“Driving Miss Daisy”
April 30-May 23. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 8:00pm; Sunday matinee 3:00pm. Cumming Playhouse. This show is the Winner of the 1988 Pulitzer Prize and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Play. A warm-hearted, humorous, and affecting study of the unlikely relationship between an aging, crotchety white Southern lady, and a proud, softspoken black man. It’s a long-run Off-
Events!
Broadway success and an Academy Award-winning film, and Gypsy Theatre Company is pleased and privileged to bring this heartwarming story to Cumming. For more information: www.playhousecumming.com or 770-781-9l78.
Springtime in Cumming Arts and Crafts Show
May 1-2. 10:00am to 6:00pm on Saturday; noon to 5:00pm on Sunday. This show gathers local arts and crafts under the covered arena at the Cumming Fairgrounds. Enjoy multimedia displays, food, and fun activities for the children. For more information: www.cummingfair.net.
Forsyth Master Gardener Plant Sale
May 1, 10:00am to 4:00pm. The Forsyth County Master Gardeners will hold their Annual Spring Plant Sale, offering highquality garden plants grown expressly for the sale. Look for heirloom tomatoes, perennials with colorful foliage, a wide assortment of culinary herbs, blooming annual baskets for Mother’s Day, assorted vegetable plants, daylilies, and more. Location: The Avenue Forsyth, in the lot between Furniture Express and Hwy. 141. Exit 13 off GA 400, Bethelview Road and Hwy. 141. The Master Gardeners will also be standing by to answer your gardening questions. Funds from the sale are used to provide the educational programs offered throughout the year and to maintain the gardens at the Forsyth County Public Library’s three branches (Cumming, Sharon Forks and Hampton), and the Louise Mashburn Native Plant Garden at Sawnee Mountain Preserve, among others.
health screens, including vision, blood pressure, glucose, BMI, ankle brachial index, and fitness assessments, will be available, with no fasting necessary. Admission is free. Door prizes and refreshments will be available, along with an Easter Egg Hunt beginning at 11:30am and a photo with the Easter Bunny for the children. For more information: 706-864-2358 or lcseniorcenter@windstream.net.
Bear on the Square Mountain Festival
April 16-18 from noon to 7:00pm at the Downtown Square in Dahlonega. An incredible weekend of music and art, complete with a night street dance, a live country auction, family activities, food, and more. For more information, contact Jimmy Booth at 706-864-9007 or jimmy@bearonthesquare.org, or visit www.bearonthesquare.org.
Corey Crowder at The Crimson Moon
April 30, 8:00pm to 11:00pm at The Crimson Moon. Myspace. com/CoreyCrowder $12 for tickets. For more information, contact Lindsey Epperly at 706-888-7711 or lindseyepperly@gmail.com.
Annual Spring Gala
May 8, 6:00pm. Join NOA on the Red Carpet for a Night of Classic Hollywood at the North Georgia College and State University Dining Hall. Dinner, entertainment, and a silent and live auction. Tickets are $65 each, or a table of eight for $500. Be a star against domestic violence. For more information or to purchase tickets: www.noonealone.org or 706-864-1306, ext. 6.
Dahlonega
Dawsonville
April 15, 8:00pm, Holly Theater. Tickets are $20.00, proceeds benefit PAWs Humane Society. Contact Jackie Kicker to purchase benefit tickets. jsedwa3022@northgeorgia.edu
April 17-18, 10:00am to 5:00pm. Enjoy a wildflower identification hike and learn about edible and medicinal plants. Join a variety of activities in celebration of spring’s arrival. Admission: $5 parking. Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge, 418 Amicalola Falls State Park Road; www.amicalolafalls.com.
PAWs Night at “Damn Yankees”
Community Lifestyle And Wellness Expo
April 3, 10:00am to 1:00pm. The first annual Lumpkin County Community Lifestyle and Wellness Expo will be held at the Lumpkin County Park and Recreation Center, 365 Riley Road in Dahlonega. Everyone is invited to learn more about services and products available in our community. Free
Spring Wildflower Festival
Dawsonville Spring Fling Festival
May 1-2, 9:00am to 5:00pm. Dawson Rotary Bike Race, Kiwanis 5K, 10K, and a fun run, children’s activities, food booths, entertainment, Georgia Watercolor National Show, and
April 2010 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition 25
Events, Events
Chamber of Commerce hospitality tent. Free. Downtown Dawsonville and the Dawsonville Middle School. For more information: www.dawsonarts.org or www.dawson.org.
Turning Thirty, a Musical by Tom Willner
May 3, 7:00pm, Lakeview Center, 2057 Dawson Forest Rd E, Dawsonville. An uplifting and inspirational story of a man’s journey through diagnosis, treatment, and survival of cancer. This is definitely not a downer, but a must-
see. All profits will benefit the Relay for Life of Dawson County. Tickets are $15 each or two for $25; available at the two Appalachian Banks in Dawsonville and at the door, or by emailing Cindyjre@windstream.net. Sponsored by the Dawson County Woman’s Club. For more information about the musical: www.turningthirty.org.
southeasternrailwaymuseum.org.
Golf Fundraising - Children Without A Voice USA
Duluth
Caboose Days
Buford Highway. Activities included free with admission: Cookies and juice on the Caboose, Caboose-themed arts and crafts, temporary caboose tattoos, a caboose hunt, caboose fun facts, and a caboose slide show. For maps, photos, and more information: www.
April 10 and 11, 10:00am to 5:00pm, Southeastern Train Museum, 3595
April 19. Tee it up against child abuse to raise awareness and funds. Help Children Without a Voice USA (www.
childrenwithoutavoiceusa.org) prevent crimes against children, child abuse, and neglect through advocacy and education. This non-profit organization needs your help to offer adults and children the right tools to reduce/ alleviate the problem of abuse. All golfers will enjoy pictures with local and international celebrities, lunch, a caddie, give-aways, dinner and awards, entertainment, and silent auction. Dinner and auction tickets also available. Individual golf: $175. Foursome: $600. Dinner and
by
Fun 400 Answers from page 22.
Easter Clues
Hamper (BASKET) Hat (BONNET) Rabbit (BUNNY) Confectionery (CANDY) A young bird (CHICK) Building for worship (CHURCH) Gown (DRESS) Waterfowl (DUCK) Color (DYE)
April holiday (EASTER) Oval object (EGG) Blossom (FLOWER) Conceal (HIDE) Pursue (HUNT) A young sheep (LAMB) A public procession (PARADE) Easter season (SPRING) Day of rest (SUNDAY)
Wally Questions 1. What do you get when you cross a stream and a brook? (Wet feet) 2. What do reindeer have that no other animals have? (Baby reindeer) 3. What kind of book can a writer never finish? (His/her autobiography)
Sudoku
4. What is made dirty by washing? (The wash water) 5. Can you spell hard water with just three letters? (ICE) 6. How many times can you take 3 from 25? (Once. When you take 3 from 25 you don’t have 25 anymore.) 7. Take two apples from five apples. How many do you have? (You took two so you have two apples.) 8. Write this down as one number: 15 thousand, 15 hundred, and 15. (16,515) 9. What could you be sure to find right in the middle of Toronto? (The letter “o”) 10. If you have an important message to write, is it better to write it on a full stomach or an empty stomach? (It’s better to write it on paper!)
Courtesy of ActivityConnection.com.
26 400 Edition
April 2010 • www.400edition.com
Events!
auction starts at 6:00pm and cost $30. For more information, contact Tony Rissley at 770-380-2304 or tonyr@heritagegolfshots.com.
Flowery Branch
Soccer exhibition game
April 9. Kick-off at 7:00pm. England National U18 vs. Georgia XI allstar team at the Flowery Branch High School Stadium. For more information or to purchase tickets: Kim Jarrett, Project Operations, kim@themagentacorporation. com; 404-567-4082. www.playersforpeace.org; look for the ESFA badge.
Gainesville
2010 Stray Pet Strut
April 18. The Humane Society of Northeast Georgia (HSNEGA) has announced the 19th annual Stray Pet Strut 5K, to be held at the American Legion Post, 2342 Riverside Drive. The event also includes a 1 Mile Family Fun Walk, where participants can bring their pets to walk with them as long as they are vaccinated, leashed, and in good physical condition. The 1 Mile Walk will start at 2:00pm; the 5K at 2:30pm. All proceeds benefit the HSNEGA shelter’s operations. Preregistration is $20 before April 13; day of the race registration $25. Register online at www.georgiarunner.com or www.active.com; download the race form from the HSNEGA Website (www.hsnega.org) under the Calendar section; or call 770-532-6617 to have a form emailed/mailed.
Jasper
2010 Big Canoe Tour of Homes
April 30 and May 1, 9:00am to 4:00pm at Big Canoe, GA. 22nd Annual Tour of Homes. All proceeds benefit charities in Pickens and Dawson counties. Clark Howard, national talk show host, will be one of four Big Canoe residents whose home is featured on tour. In addition to touring the four homes, visitors are urged to set aside time to visit the Tour of Homes Marketplace, located at the Broyles Center, where the Tour begins and ends. The Marketplace will feature over 30 artists and vendors from throughout the Southeast, the Bear Paw Bakery, the Book Nook with bargain-priced hardback and paperback selections, the Collectors’ Corner for gently used home décor, and the Crazy Bear Café. For more information and tickets ($20): bigcanoetour.org.
Jasper Farmers’ Market
Saturdays in April (3, 10, 17, & 24) from 7:30am to noon at Park and Ride lot, near Lee Newton Park. Come to the Jasper Farmers’ Market to purchase fresh produce and handmade crafts. For more information: Kathy Bell at 706-253-8840 or farmersmarket@ pickensmg.com.
Marietta
Annual GNPS Native Plant Sale
April 24. All-day event at McFarlane Nature Park, 280 Farm Road SE. The Georgia Native Plant Society annual native plant sale will feature hundreds of native perennials, shrubs, and trees, many of them from local rescues. Free. www.gnps.org, 770-343-6000
Roswell
A Blast From the Past
April 24, 3:00pm and 7:30pm. The Song of Atlanta Show Chorus will perform at the Blessed Trinity Performing Arts Theater. The fabulous Moxie Ladies, Julie Gribble and, for the matinee only, the Georgia Regional Girls Choir, are all guests on the show. For more information and tickets: www.songofatlanta.com.
The Roswell Cycling Festival - Alive & Rolling
April 24-25, part of Speed Week in Georgia, is bicycle fun and festivities. The Roswell Criterium with professional race teams, Kids’ Bicycle Rodeo, Mountain Bike Rides, Mayor’s Ride, and more. Roswell is Georgia’s only bicycle-friendly community. Cost: Some events are free; others have a nominal fee. Hours: Vary. Roswell’s Historic District and Big Creek Park; www.roswellcriterium.com or www.visitroswellga.com
Hear The Future!
April 25, 3:00pm, Roswell United Methodist Church. The Michael O’Neal Singers welcome talented ensembles from three local high schools for our annual High School Music Festival program aptly named Hear the Future! The Alpharetta High orchestra and Roswell High, Riverwood High, and MOS choruses will all perform individually, then will combine forces to present Vivaldi’s Gloria. For more information: www.mosingers.com.
April 2010 • www.400edition.com
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2010 Gold Medal Plant Winners Annual Winner
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Diamond Frost® Euphorbia Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ Partial Shade Diamond Frost Euphorbia is a gem of a plant and one of the brightest new stars in the horticulture industry. Home gardeners will love the nonstop color, versatility and ease of maintenance this plant offers. From spring until fall frost, Diamond Frost Euphorbia produces clouds of dainty white bracts (colored leaves) that elegantly complement other plants in containers or landscape beds. It grows 6 to 12 inches tall and 20plus inches wide, and its sprawling growth habit cascades over the sides of containers or fills in spaces within landscape beds. It also gives a dramatic solo performance in hanging baskets, engulfing them with spherical mounds of color that look like snowballs in the summer landscape. The true leaves of Diamond Frost Euphorbia are tiny, gray-green, and masked by the colorful bracts. They tend to fade into the background and are strictly a supporting actor in the color show. Diamond Frost Euphorbia prefers morning sun, afternoon shade, and moist, well-drained soil. It is self-grooming in that the old flowering bracts will wither and drop off, so they don’t have to be removed by hand to maintain a neat appearance. The plant is a member of the Poinsettia family and produces a sticky latex-like sap when cut, so people with skin allergies may want to wear long sleeves and gloves when working with it. However, the milky sap also makes the plant deer tolerant, an important merit in many residential neighborhoods. Although Diamond Frost Euphorbia is a summer annual, containerized plants can be overwintered indoors in a bright, sunny location and then taken outside again after the last spring frost. Diamond Frost Euphorbia is a patented plant and can only be propagated for commercial sale by licensed growers. However, home gardeners can propagate the plants from cuttings for use on their own properties. Seed is not available.
Perennial Winner
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Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa Herbaceous Perennial Full Sun to Partial Shade Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa, is one weed you will want in your landscape – because it is a butterfly magnet! Its leaves are the preferred
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food source for the larvae of several species of butterflies, including Monarchs; and the flowers provide nectar for both butterflies and hummingbirds. The brilliant orange flowers brighten a perennial border and provide a striking contrast to purple coneflower, blue salvia, Persian shield, and other summer favorites. Butterfly Weed is a native wildflower that has naturalized throughout much of eastern North America, from Ontario to New Hampshire, west to South Dakota, south to Arizona into Mexico, and east to Georgia and Florida. It likes dry, sunny areas and can be found in small colonies in open meadows, rights-of-ways, and roadsides. Butterfly Weed is a member of the milkweed family. Although it’s called a weed, it is not aggressive, invasive, or weedy, and it will not take over the landscape. Butterfly Weed grows 1 to 3 feet tall and has narrow, lance-shaped leaves on stout, hairy stems that do not require staking. From June to September, flat-top clusters of bright orange to yellow-orange flowers are borne on terminal stems. They hold up well in cut flower arrangements. Flowers are followed by spindleshaped seed pods, 1 to 3 inches long. When mature, they split open to release seeds with long-silky hairs that float in the breezes. Gardeners concerned about the potential spread of the plant to unwanted areas can easily clip off the seed pods before they ripen to prevent seed dispersal. Don’t be alarmed if caterpillars suddenly attack the plant and destroy its foliage. The culprits are likely butterfly larvae that depend on the plant to complete their life cycle. Defoliation does not kill the plant. Butterfly Weed can be grown from seed or root cuttings. Patience is a virtue when propagating the plant from seed because it may take 2 to 3 years to produce a flowering plant. It may be best to purchase plants from a nursery.
Shrub Winner
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Limelight Panicle Hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ Full Sun to Partial Shade Light up your landscape with Limelight Panicle Hydrangea. Its large, chartreuse flower clusters set the summer landscape aglow and are sure to be the envy of neighbors and friends. Limelight Panicle Hydrangea is a large deciduous shrub, growing 6 to 8 feet tall with an equal spread. Plant it in groups of three to five in the
April 2010 • www.400edition.com
background of a perennial border for a spectacular summer show. It also looks nice in a large pot as the focal point on a patio or deck. This hydrangea prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil. In central and south Georgia, a site with morning sun and afternoon shade would be ideal. Be prepared to provide irrigation during periods of limited rainfall. In July, creamy white flower clusters, up to 8 inches across, emerge on strong, upright stems. As flower clusters mature, their color changes from creamy white to chartreuse in summer, rosy pink in fall, and beige in winter. They can be harvested fresh, or dried and used in floral arrangements. If left on the plant, they will persist all winter on the tips of naked stems. Leaves are oval in shape, up to 4 inches long, and have toothed margins. Fall color is attractive shades of red. Unlike some other shrub-form hydrangeas, such as oakleaf and bigleaf hydrangeas that bloom on old wood and are pruned right after flowering, Limelight Hydrangea blooms on new growth, so it can be pruned in late winter or early spring. Cutting back the stems to within 6 to 8 inches of ground level will encourage compact growth and strong new shoots. Limelight hydrangea can be propagated from root or stem cuttings in the summer. However, the plant is patented, so only licensed growers can propagate it for sale.
Tree Winner
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Ogon Dawn Redwood, Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Ogon’ Full Sun For a dazzling focal point in large public spaces, plant Ogon Dawn Redwood. Its brilliant goldenyellow foliage glows in the sunlight, attracting the attention of passing motorists and pedestrians, and drawing them into the landscape. Ogon Dawn Redwood is a large, deciduous conifer reaching 70 to 100 feet tall and 25 feet wide at maturity, so it may not be the best tree for residential landscapes. However, it is stunning when planted in groups of two or three along ponds or lakes where its golden foliage is reflected by the water. It also is a great plant for framing golf course fairways or for creating a focal point in large scenic vistas within public parks. At first glance, Ogon Dawn Redwood looks a lot like our native bald cypress. However, the needlelike leaflets are larger than those of bald cypress. Also, the leaflets of
dawn redwood are arranged opposite each other on the stem, while those of bald cypress alternate along the stem. The foliage of Ogon Dawn Redwood is golden yellow throughout the growing season, eventually fading to orange-brown in the fall. Like other dawn redwoods, Ogon Dawn Redwood produces separate male and female flowers on the same tree. Male flowers are borne on long panicles up to 12 inches long, while female flowers are solitary, becoming pendulous cones, 1 to 2 inches long by the end of the growing season. The bark is reddish brown on young trees. It becomes chocolatebrown with age and exfoliates into narrow strips that peel back from the trunk and appear to be flaking off. Ogon Dawn Redwood is a moderately fast grower when provided with moist, well-drained soils. It
reaches 50 feet in 25 years. It has a natural pyramidal form, so little to no pruning is required. Ogon Dawn Redwood is a seedling selection from Japan. In the nursery trade, the plant is also sold as Gold Rush Dawn Redwood. Most growers agree that Gold Rush and Ogon are the same plant.
Vine/Groundcover Winner
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Angelina ® Stonecrop Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’ Full Sun to Partial Shade Stonecrops (also called Sedums) are among the most popular plants on the market today due to their drought tolerance, heat tolerance, pest tolerance, and ability to thrive with minimal care. Angelina Stonecrop offers these qualities and more. In addition to bright yellow flowers
in summer, Angelina Stonecrop has colorful foliage that changes with the seasons. It is chartreuse in spring, bright golden-yellow in summer, and orange-red in fall. Growing just 6 inches tall and spreading 2 to 3 feet, Angelina Stonecrop is a tough, vigorous groundcover that does well in the front of dry, sunny landscape beds. It looks particularly nice in rock gardens or along the edges of containers where it can spill over the sides. The succulent colorful foliage combines well with plants having dark contrasting foliage, like purple passion, ajuga, black mondograss, or purple fountain grass. Clusters of tiny bright-yellow flowers add pizzazz to the already dazzling foliar display. The flowers arise on short stems above the foliage from June to July. They are a nectar source for hoverflies, whose larvae
Health Matters: Speaking from the Heart Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, was born on the Greek island of Cos approximately 460 years before the birth of Christ. Legend tells that Hippocrates taught medicine under a tree that still stands today. Certainly his students recognized their good fortune and honor in having such a mentor. I too have been blessed to have experienced the great fortune of having had true mentors during my professional training and career. One such mentor to countless student physicians is Dr. J. Willis Hurst of
Emory University. Dr. Hurst embodies the belief that physicians should never lose sight of their medical heritage, forever honor their mentors, and totally dedicate themselves to the betterment and wellbeing of their patients. I myself strive to be a “student” of these enduring concepts and beliefs. The Tree of Hippocrates possesses many limbs. Metaphorically, one may consider three limbs to be of most importance: the limbs of Knowledge, Teaching, and Service.
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ost of us recently participated in the annual celebration of Saint Valentine’s Day. Although the truth behind the legends of Valentine is much debated, all accounts certainly emphasize an individual possessing a sympathetic, heroic, and most importantly, a romantic spirit. Additionally, with February now representing American Heart Month, it seems only natural that we expand our concepts from the romantic into the area of exploring the heart from a health care perspective. Despite remarkable advances in the field, heart disease in the United States is of epidemic proportions and growing. Significant amounts of information continue to illustrate that there is still much to be done in regards to public awareness, education, and a better understanding of the unique aspects of coronary artery disease in women. Identifying the epidemic of heart disease is well defined by the numbers. This year an estimated 13 million Americans will have been diagnosed as having heart disease. One million Americans will have a heart attack, and over 500,000 women will die from their heart disease. Stated in a more profound way, one woman will die from heart disease every minute during the coming year.
It is recognized that significant differences exist between men and women regarding the signs and symptoms associated with the clinical presentation of coronary artery disease. Common in men and women Chest pain Fatigue Weakness Shortness of breath Symptoms more common in women Loss of appetite Back pain Nausea and/or vomiting Indigestion It is well established that even though women may complain of chest pain, the descriptive nature of the pain is often atypical. The pain may not
Georgia Gold Medal Winners are selected each year by the Georgia Plant Selection Committee, comprised of Green Industry professionals and faculty from The University of Georgia. The Committee promotes the production, sale and use of superior ornamental plants in Georgia. For information on other Georgia Gold Medal Winners visit www.georgiagoldmedalplants.org.
by John P. Vansant, MD, FACC Over the coming months, I would like to share with you various medical conditions, concepts, and philosophies. In so doing, may I provide you with knowledge for better understanding of health and wellness. May we teach one another in order to grow in our understanding of the treatments and preventive practices that may improve and enrich your health. In so doing, may our efforts provide a service that will guide you towards a healthier and happier life experience.
be characterized as the more commonly described heavy pressure “…like and elephant sitting on my chest…” A recent study by the American Heart Association surveyed over 2,300 women 25 and older to evaluate their understanding and perception of heart disease in women. Perception: Depending upon the age group surveyed, 62% to 72% believe cancer to be the greatest health risk, while only 4% to 8% believed heart disease presented the greatest risk to a woman’s health. Reality: Heart disease is the leading cause of death of women in the United States, accounting for 42% of all deaths. Cancer accounts for approximately 22% of deaths. A dramatic illustration regarding heart disease and mortality in women compared to men is well defined by the accompanying graph, as presented by the American Heart Association. Although death rates for both women and men are trending downwards over the past decade, deaths in women in 2004 were essentially equal to the death rates of men in 1988. Why are women currently dying from heart disease at a rate approximating the death rate of men over 20 years ago? We have presented here some serious issues and questions to
April 2010 • www.400edition.com
feed on aphids. Angelina Stonecrop is easy to propagate from summer stem cuttings or by dividing the plants in spring. Individual leaflets will root when broadcast over a flat of well-drained growing media and then covered lightly to assure good soil contact. The plant is patented, so only licensed growers can propagate the plant for re-sale.
ponder as we further explore the status of heart disease in the United States. Next month we will visit some old and some new issues regarding risk factors for developing heart disease, look at other epidemics which may be contributing to this critical health hazard, and examine some of the mysteries surrounding heart disease in women. The facts are clear: “women are special.” And the medical community must continue its research and development in the critical area of women’s health.
John Vansant, M.D., FACC, nationally recognized for his academic and clinical achievements, currently practices at Chestatee Regional Hospital in Dahlonega.
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400 Edition Wining & Dining
Knowing Wine
Wine in a Can? A
previous Knowing Wine article discussed the topic of wine stoppers and the neverending debate over cork, plastic corks, composites, and screw caps. We may not have to worry about this in the future, as the can may replace the bottle and we will have a new debate about bottle versus the aluminum “pop” can. Several companies distribute wine in boxes, but this trend has not caught on, as it is often associated with cheaper wines, and the size and weight of large boxes inhibit convenience. Australia and Chile produce and use a “juice box” size. Europe and Canada are also introducing various other packaging. Other specialty packaging is also being tested, such as for the airlines. Efforts initiated to invent and market wine in these “new” packages stem from the scientific preservation of the wine, along with an attempt to improve shelf life and make shipping and handling easier and more convenient. Cans offer the benefit of smaller containers, single servings, less wine waste,
by Nancy Forrest
Wine of the Month
Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA
Aromas of fruit. Fine tannins on the finish. Flavors of vanilla and toffee. and convenience, and because they can be recycled, cans are more environmentally friendly. Imagine being able to take a can of wine on a picnic instead of lugging a heavy bottle and needing a corkscrew to open it. Instead you can just crack a good old cabernet open. Cans are also unbreakable, can be resealed, and block out light and air, the two worst enemies of wine. Think about the shipping costs of glass across land and water. Glass is definitely
not lightweight or convenient. It’s heavy and hard to store. Heaven forbid if you drop a glass bottle and it breaks; not only messy but heartbreaking too if it was one of your favorites! Cans can be shaped to look like a glass wine bottle too. Champagne in a can? Not a bad idea. If you can’t drink a whole bottle of champagne before it goes flat, just pop open a Sofia Coppola’s Mini sparkling wine in a can. Unfortunately, there are disadvantages to cans as well. They are said to produce a tinny taste, although that fades after the wine is poured. Undoubtedly, multiple alternatives are being developed, along with studies by wineries and marketing companies conducted to roll out these ideas for testing in the marketplace. Alternative packaging for future wine drinkers may include a heavy-duty darkcolored plastic bottle shaped like a regular glass wine bottle. This would be much lighter and could be made in many sizes. Lower transportation costs may make wine as affordable as beer Still, there are those who will never abandon the glass bottle and cork. At any rate, remember it’s what’s inside that matters, not the container.
Quickly bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may whet my mind and say something clever. —Aristophanes
Seafood Spaetzle
Real Men Cook— Seafood Spaetzle
by Patrick Snider
6 tablespoons butter 1 small garlic clove, cut in half 16 ounces fresh sliced mushrooms 1 pound cleaned bay scallops 1 pound peeled cleaned medium shrimp 1 box (10.5 ounces) Spaetzle (Publix) 1 1/2 cups whipping cream 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese Salt Pepper 3 to 4 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat with the halved garlic clove. Add mushrooms and cook until mushrooms are lightly browned. Remove garlic pieces. Add scallops and shrimp to the mushroom mixture; cook, stirring, for about 6 minutes, until cooked through. In a large pot, cook the Spaetzle according to package directions. Drain and return to the cooking pot. Add cream and Parmesan cheese to the pasta and toss well. Add mushroom and seafood mixture, with juices; toss well and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve March 2010 • www.400edition.com garnished with parsley. Serves 6.
by Bob Merritt
Restaurant Reviews for the GA 400 Corridor Lanier Diner 1310 Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville, GA 30501 770-287-3000
Fare: Home Cooking | Price: Moderate | Atmosphere: Casual
Have I got a treat for you this month! Load up your car with friends, family, and business associates—not necessarily all at the same time—and head to Gainesville’s Lanier Diner. After my first meal I was impressed. I had the biggest hamburger—the kind loaded with all the trimmings and a patty that hung out the bun. The extras included my choice of three styles of potatoes and crisp slices of bacon. But my favorite is very simple: it is breakfast. You haven’t had breakfast until you have tried their deluxe breakfast. Lanier Diner has a wide choice of menu items, ranging from their specialty Greek dishes to Italian, Mexican, American, and Philly. If you like chicken, you want to be sure and try the Athenian Chicken and the Chicken Princess. Their menu offers too many selections to mention here. They do have a Kid’s Corner that offers a huge variety of choices for the kids in your family.
My grandson is partial to the chicken wings and the ribs, while Linda chooses shrimp and other seafood delicacies. On Sunday they have an Extra Special Manager’s Breakfast, which include Eggs Benedict, Bagel Deluxe, and Shrimp Omelet, just to name a few. Manager Chris has a special greeting: “Today I am your host and you are my special guest. Thank you for coming to see me.” Chris guarantees all meats and produce to be fresh. Have your meal cooked to order. Here you can have it your way. They also cater, so let them cater your next event. I am impressed with the cleanliness, the service, and the huge, heaping helpings. My compliments to the chef. Tell them you saw
them in 400 Edition. See their ad in this issue and take advantage of the coupon. It will save you a lot of money, maybe enough for dessert. The drive is a short one and well worth the trip. For additional information, call 770-287-3000. Remember, the address is 1310 Dawsonville Highway (Highway 53) in Gainesville.
Cork and Keg Festival
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ickets sales have been brisk for the upcoming beer and wine tasting in Helen on April 10. This new spring festival features tastes of craftbrewed beers from some of the nation’s best independent brewers (including Georgia’s own Sweetwater Brewing and Terrapin Beer) and award-winning wines from local Georgia vintners, as well as samples from area restaurants, all to the sounds of the Kip Dockery Trio, popular local jazz artists and veterans of the North Georgia festival circuit. Attendees will have a choice of either a free beer-tasting glass, courtesy of Sweetwater Brewing, or a free wine-tasting glass, courtesy of the Winegrowers of White County, plus a meal ticket. Additional food items will be available for purchase. Winemakers and brewers will be on hand to enlighten festival participants on the unique aspects of each product. The event runs from 2:00pm through 6:00pm and will be at the Helen Festhalle, on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. It is a short walk from hotels, shops, restaurants, and all of Helen’s attractions. Some hotels in the area are offering the early-bird price of $25 right on through April 10. Admission is limited to the first
400 ticket buyers. Information about hotels, hiking trails, and other local attractions is posted at www.snca.org/ performingarts/cork&keg.html. Call 706-878-3300 or visit the website for more information or to purchase tickets. The Cork & Keg festival is a fundraiser for the Sautee Nacoochee Community Association (SNCA), a non-profit organization committed to preserving and protecting the natural and historical resources of the area, and dedicated to nurturing creativity. SNCA maintains the Sautee Nacoochee Center, a thriving cultural and community center housed in a restored rural schoolhouse. The Center offers a folk pottery museum, theatre, gallery, art studio, dance studio, history museum, heritage site, nature preserve, environmental studies room, and conference facilities. SNCA has established Sautee Nacoochee as an official Historic District and one of “The 100 Best Small Arts Towns in America.” In addition to SNCA, sponsors include Sweetwater Brewing, Winegrowers of White County, Terrapin Beer, the Helen Chamber of Commerce, Alpine Helen/White County Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the White County Chamber of Commerce.
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