400 Edition W h a t ’s
u p
i n
N o r t h
JUN/JUL 2009
G e o r g i a
We the People
Barbecue
The Music Man at the Holly Great Fun for the Whole Family
FREE
June/July 2009 Volume 6, Issue 4
Contents
We the People
Columns continued
10 The Fourth of July 2009
6 Your Vision Source
20 America’s Independence
9 Through a Woman’s Eyes
23 Who You Gonna Call? 24 Preamble to the Constitution
Barbecue 12 Barbecue Wood 22 Barbecue—Where the Flavor Comes From 30 Cooking Barbecue—the Science
Columns
5 Captain Clay’s Fishing Report
11 Mind & Heart 14 Fun by 400 14 Comma Momma 15 Gardening 18 Leibel on the Law 21 Historic Forsyth 24 To Your Health 30 Knowing Wine 31 Good Eating—Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q 31 Real Men Cook—Sweet Potato Cheesecake
A list of major distribution points in North Georgia can be found online at www.400edition.com.
June/July 2009 Carole Lee, Founder/Creative Design Linda Merritt, Founder/Sales/Executive Editor Beth Snider, Founder/Sales/Creative Design Rhonda Bailey, Associate Editor/Sales Will Dunne, Sales/Distribution Kim Maples, Inside Sales Bob Merritt, Sales/Distribution Brooke Morris, Creative Design Cindy Proctor, Sales/Distribution Nancy Wright, Proofing
Contributing Writers: Anne Amerson
Steven Leibel
Charles Cook
Dr. Joyce Nations
Clay Cunningham
Donald Pruitt
Dr. Mark Feinsilber
John Roberts
Nancy Forrest
O’Connell & Sanders
Robin Toms Grier
Linda Ragland
Martha Hynson
Patrick Snider
Sharon Keating
Staff Writers: Rhonda Bailey
Bob Merritt
Carole Lee
Linda Merritt
Jim Leeds
Beth Snider
Nancy Wright
400 Edition is published monthly in Dahlonega, Georgia, with distribution in seven 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 by the 28th 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 866-867-7557. 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 20th 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...
S
ummer has come to Georgia in the blink of an eye. When we thought the cool weather would never end—it got hot. We have had some good rain that has made Bob’s garden grow by leaps and bounds. I can hardly wait for the tomatoes to get ripe. How about our front cover? The Holly Theatre and Beth Snider can really take pride in that shot. And the streets of Dahlonega make a beautiful setting. Make plans to attend one of the performances of The Music Man. For an added treat, the Cumming Playhouse is in the centerfold, inviting us to come see Smoke on the Mountain. If you have not seen that show, you must do so this year. You will enjoy every song and funny line in it. And there is more in this issue. Karen Peck and New River have a show right here in Lumpkin County. There will be lots of good Christian music, plus Mark Lowry, who always puts on a good performance. See all the details on page two. We will celebrate Father’s Day on June 21. I’m sure you are already making plans to show your dad how important he is to you. I looked up some information about Father’s Day and found this quote: “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I
was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years” (Mark Twain). I had a different opinion of my dad. I always thought he knew everything, and I really believe he did. He did not attend school very long but he had a good dose of common sense. He could do most everything without formal training. Best of all, he loved his family and raised us to believe in ourselves. Wish he were still here so I could tell him once again what a great dad he was and how much I love him—but I think he knows. Hope you have a fun July 4th. Most towns have their own firework displays. Call your local Chamber of Commerce and they will be able to tell you where these are located. This is also a good time for family get-togethers for a barbeque or a picnic. Reflect on why we celebrate this holiday, and remember to pray for our country, our freedom, and our troops. Until next month…stay happy!
On the Cover W
e hope this cover inspires you to find yourself humming Seventy-Six Trombones, Lida Rose, and Gary, Indiana, and to order your tickets to the beloved musical The Music Man from the Historic Holly Theatre’s site, www.HollyTheater.com, while they last. The Holly finds herself under new leadership, and the joint team of Michael Arens and David Rothel are set to prove their value to the Holly with this venture. Set in 1912 in the heart of the midwestern U.S.A., The Music Man offers the timeless story of hopeful parents at the mercy of a slick salesman whose heart…well, we don’t want to spoil the fun. Our feet started tapping the minute we met the leading characters of the show: Michael Arens as Harold Hill, Heatherly Nelson as Marian the Librarian, and young Max Roberts in the role of Winthrop. Their performances promise to be as polished as that trumpet! Suffice it to say that this classic period piece is right at home on the streets of Dahlonega, which required no set design to fit the era. Shopkeepers on the Historic Square like Tom Lloyd of Quigley’s Rare Books, and others at Hall Block, were eager to help and already had their flags flying. It’s one of the things we love about this town. Learn more about the show and what’s in store at the Historic Holly Theatre on page 13. This issue is dedicated to the celebration of Independence Day in the United States at a time when a reflection on the plans, efforts, and sacrifices of our forefathers seems just the right medicine for what ails our nation. Today we, like the many generations before us, wonder what is in store for our homeland. We hope this issue will be a call to action for those of us who have been busy living in the moment, to remember those premises upon which our country was founded and has thrived. It’s a time to recall the words of our country’s founders; to renew our commitment to liberty and the sacrifice required to maintain it. Being 400 Edition, we also can’t resist the opportunity to sprinkle in a lot of fun events, the return of some of your favorite columnists, and some interesting pointers on the truly American tradition of barbecue. So this Fourth of July, fly your flag, stoke up the grill, and mark your calendars. 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.
Captain Clay’s Fishing Report Lake Lanier - June 2009 Water Temperature: 69 degrees Lake Level: Approx. 1065.49 and rising
Picture of the Month
Marshall Pruitt, May 22, 2009 Stripers: The lake looks great and the striper fishing has really turned on the last few weeks. The topwater bite has been strong and the average size of the fish has been excellent. Look for the topwater bite to disappear once the water temperature hits seventy-four degrees for the stripers. With the increase in water temperature, the stripers will head deep and set up on the points that have access to deep water. Look for the stripers to be twenty to thirty feet deep on these deep-water points. The north end will be the most consistent fishing. A downline will be the primary technique to catch these fish deep on the points. A downline is basically a Carolina rig with a live bait hook on the end instead of a worm hook. Blueback herring will be the primary baitfish on the downline. Use a one and a half ounce sinker for the weight and use a four foot twelve pound P-line fluorocarbon leader. Be sure to match the size of the bait hook to the bait, not to the size of the fish you want to catch. A 1/0 Mustad Octopus hook is usually sufficient for herring. If you pull into a point and you do not get bit in the first ten minutes, head to the next point.
Bass: June is a great month for the spotted bass on Lake Lanier. The topwater bite has been strong and will continue to be a good pattern until late in the month. As the water temperature rises, look for topwater baits that will “pull up” the fish from the deeper water. Baits with a loud rattle like the Heddon Super Spook and Reaction Innovation Vixen will be the better baits. Once these fish move to the deeper brush, the spottail minnow on a dropshot rig or small Carolina rig will be very effective. Catch the spottail minnows on a sandy beach with a 3/16 mesh cast net and you are ready to go catch some fish. Drop the minnows around the edges of the deeper brush and hold on to the rod. This is a great pattern to take the kids. The action is fast and furious. Captain Clay Cunningham Catching Not Fishing Lake Lanier Guide Service 770-630-2673 | www. catchingnotfishing.com U.S.C.G Licensed Captain
June/July 2009 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition
Your Vision Source! Floaters
D
o you see spots or floaters in your vision? Ever wonder what they are? These spots are called vitreous floaters. Vitreous floaters are small semitransparent specks or particles within the fluid inside the eye. They are small, dark shadows that can appear as spots, strands, or squiggly lines in your vision. As your eye moves, they move with it and then seem to float away when you try to look at them directly. The inner part of the eye is filled with a clear jelly-like fluid known as the vitreous. Most of the eye’s interior is filled with the vitreous and this helps to maintain the eye’s round shape. Floaters occur when the vitreous slowly shrinks or liquefies and becomes somewhat stringy and the strands can cast tiny shadows on the retina (the light-sensitive part that lines the back of the eye). They occur more often in people who have diabetes, who are very myopic (near-sighted), or who have had a cataract surgery. Floaters are part of the natural aging process. They can be annoying and distracting at first, but then tend to settle in the bottom part of the eye and become less noticeable. They do not go away completely, but over time you learn to ignore them. Floaters are also more noticeable when you look at a light colored background or a blue sky. Many people have floaters. This happens in over 70% of the population as part of the normal aging process. Most spots and floaters are normal and are not a serious problem. Occasionally spots and floaters can be indications of more serious problems. These more serious problems usually are a result of infection, inflammation, retinal tears, hemorrhaging, or an injury to the eye. A vitreous detachment can also occur, when the vitreous pulls away from the retina all at once, rather than gradually, and causes many new floaters to be visible at once. A vitreous detachment is not sightthreatening, but when it occurs
400 Edition
June/July 2009 • www.400edition.com
by Dr. Joyce M. Nations
it can be very disturbing to the vision. If you see any sudden increase in floaters accompanied by flashes of light in your vision, it could be indicative of a retinal detachment. A retinal detachment occurs when the retina of the eye is pulled away from its normal position at the back of the eye. This is a serious condition and should be treated immediately. If left untreated it can lead to permanent vision loss. If you notice an increase in the number of your floaters, flashes of light in your peripheral vision, or loss of vision, you should see your optometrist right away for an examination. In a comprehensive eye examination, your optometrist will use special instruments to examine the health of the inside of the eyes. This is usually done after drops are put in your eyes to dilate the pupils. There are no eye drops, herbs, vitamins, medicine, or diet that are beneficial to patients with floaters. For most people floaters are just annoying, but no treatment is recommended. Remember to have your eyes checked yearly! 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.
Antiques
North Georgia 3
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Fred’s Beds & Furniture With a great mix of new, used, and consignment furniture, Fred’s Beds & Furniture offers bargain hunters amazing deals on just about anything you can think of! Fred’s also offers many choices of Simmons, Golden and RestMaster bed sets at well below suggested retail prices and backs up its claim to have “The Best Mattress Prices!” It’s worth the trip! Open Monday thru Friday 10:00am to 6:00pm and Saturdays 10:00am to 5:00pm. Closed Sundays. Located in the Old Matt Schoolhouse at Hwy 369 & Bannister Road in North Forsyth County – 5 miles West of Hwy 400. 5710 Namon Wallace Road, Cumming, GA 30040 Phone – 678-455-1190 FAX – 678-455-1191 www.freds-beds.com *See our ad on page 15.
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Cottonwood Village Antiques 10,000 square feet of merchandise: collectible firearms and militaria, fine art, period estate furniture, glassware, china, tools, pottery and linens. Visit the Country Store for handmade herbal soaps and lotions, soy candles, homemade jams, jellies and vegetables, Nora Mill whole grains and fresh local produce. Buy-Sell-Trade. 4300 Dawsonville Highway
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(Highway 53) 770-205-7800 www.cottonwoodvillage.net *See our ad on page 9. Fran-Tiques Located less than 2 hours from Atlanta, in scenic Union County. Something for everyone—fabulous, unique finds in every nook and cranny. True antiques to collectibles, including furniture, glassware, silver, china, books, vintage clothing, jewelry, linens, and lace. Open 7 days a week. 505 Cleveland Street, Blairsville, GA 1/2 mile from the Square on Highway 129. 706-745-1705
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Yonah Mountain Treasures One of North Georgia’s most unique stores, Yonah Mountain Treasures features the work of more than 75 area artists, potters, woodworkers, and others. This store is a museum, art gallery, book nook, and country store all in one. In addition, Yonah Mountain Treasures has wonderfully unique items that will add to the décor of any mountain home or cabin. Here, you’ll find original paintings by Judy Bynum George, Susan Hage, Cornbread, Jack DeLoney, and John Kollock. They have wooden creations, custom picture framing,
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June/July 2009 • www.400edition.com
imported jewelry, and even old photo restoration. And at Yonah Mountain Treasures, candy is always “A Dollar A Dip!” Highway 75, two miles north of Cleveland, GA, next to the Yonah Burger. 706-348-8236. *See our ad on this page. Iron Accents Owner Valerie Kirves & designer Terri Winans (previously of Endless Treasures) have merged the worlds of iron, architecturals, antiques & design to create a wonderfully eclectic mix of old and new. Shoppers are sure to enjoy browsing the various vignettes throughout the store that feature unique handcrafted pieces including new & vintage furniture, home décor, garden accessories, architecturals, seasonal florals, and gift items. Located in Clermont, Georgia, on the corner of highway 129 and Oxford Road just 8 miles south of Cleveland and north of Gainesville. 6415 Cleveland Highway Open Monday - Saturday 10:00am to 6:00pm and Sunday 12:00pm to 5:00pm. 770-539-9093 www.ironaccents.com
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Through a Woman’s Eyes by Martha Hynson
The Best Laid Plans…
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t was going to be a wonderful experience! I’d read that Callaway Gardens would be having “movie on the beach” nights every week during the summer and I just knew it would be a perfect day trip for my then ten-year-old daughter and me. Her response was lukewarm but, at my urging, we looked at the schedule of movies and chose a date toward the end of the summer. As I thought about our plans, it occurred to me that our trip would be great as the subject for an article on kid-friendly destinations. It had everything. It would be inexpensive. Ally could even invite friends since visitors were charged by the carload. It would be educational. There was the butterfly house and a birds-of-prey show. We’d get lots of exercise riding bikes all around the garden. And, best of all, it would be loads of fun! We’d pack a picnic lunch, swim in the lake and, of course, watch a movie on the beach. I decided to begin the fun early with a little mother-daughter cooking activity—great addition to my article. On our picnic menu was a recipe for baked chicken that was supposed to taste like KFC. It was quite involved, but it would be worth the trouble. I decided to prepare it the evening before so we could get an early start the morning of our outing. “Ally,” I called to my daughter. “Get the bikes ready to load while I pull out the ingredients for the chicken.” “Mom,” Ally called from the garage a few minutes later. “My bike has a flat tire.” Oh well. Shouldn’t take long to fix. This was usually my husband’s department, but he was out of town. How hard could it be? An hour later I had my answer. We’d have to rent one bike. This was not in my budget, but it couldn’t be helped. (No need to mention this in my article.) By the time I got back to my chicken, it was later than expected and I decided Ally needed rest
more than the fun of cooking with mom. I stayed up late cooking and was not so well rested when morning rolled around. I rolled out of bed anyway, ready to begin our “perfect” day. We picked up two of Ally’s friends and headed south. A little over an hour later we arrived at our destination all set for a day of fun. After renting a bike, we hit the trails. It was hot. As it turned out, the only activity hotter than pedaling around the park was visiting the butterfly house. Maybe the birds-of-prey show would provide a welcome rest along with some entertainment. The show garnered a 1-star rating from the girls (too much like school) and, since the seating was not in the shade, it didn’t even give us a chance to cool off. Although I’d planned to save swimming for the afternoon, around mid-morning we headed over to the lake. Swimming was a hit. Unfortunately my pocketbook also took a hit since the big attraction was climbing on and jumping off a huge inflatable at a cost of five dollars per girl, per hour. I sat on the man-made beach and pulled out a notebook. I had pictured myself relaxing in the sun while doing some writing. I thought about the article I’d planned to write and realized that reality was not cooperating. How could this trip, which sounded so good on paper, be turning out so wrong? The day did not improve. Ally developed a headache and wanted to go home. The girls began to squabble. And it was so hot nobody had much of an appetite, even for cold imitation KFC. At least we still had the movie to look forward to. I told Ally I was sure she’d feel better once the sun went down and things cooled off a bit. She didn’t. When she threw up halfway through the show, I finally decided to throw in the towel. I loaded the girls into the car and began driving back
through the park toward the entrance. It was quite a distance and the drive was a little spooky because no one else was in the park. I arrived at the gate only to find it locked. I turned around and drove back toward the beach, worrying that the movie would be over by the time we got there and everyone would be gone. My cell phone did not get reception and I tried to think of how I would explain to the girls that we would be spending the night in our car trapped in Callaway Gardens. I decided it might make a pretty interesting article. (There’s always a bright side!) We arrived back at the beach just as the movie ended and I followed a line of cars out an exit I hadn’t known about. Now, several years later, I’m finally writing an article about our trip. It’s not at all what I had
June/July 2009 • www.400edition.com
planned. That’s okay, though, because I’ve learned that the unplanned things might just be the best of all. Our misadventure taught me not to put too much emphasis on a single event, but instead to enjoy the normal activities that happen each day. Come to think of it, I guess this article is about kid-friendly destinations. Only there isn’t a list of places and it has nothing to do with the activities that are available when you get there. Whenever you’re spending quality time with your kids, the best destination is always exactly where you are! Martha Hynson is a wife, mom, teacher, and freelance writer from Watkinsville, Georgia.
400 Edition
The Fourth of July 2009
Artists Get Ready to Meet and Greet
by the Numbers
by Sharon Mahon
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rt has always been a part of the culture in the northeast Georgia mountains. The natural splendor of the surroundings has long inspired and attracted artists as diverse as the art offered here. Painting, pottery, glass, wood carving, fabric art, metal art, and jewelry are just a small sampling of the kinds of work available and created in the area. Over a hundred northeast Georgia artists will emerge from their studios and workshops to meet the public and to showcase their work in the nathy r e b making A Brad a Potter ow to throw during h the shows fifth annual pot. Northeast Georgia Arts Tour the weekend of June 19-21 in Habersham, Rabun, White, and Stephens counties. Hours for the Open House Weekend: Friday 1pm to 5pm, Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday 1pm to 5pm, at over 35 premier shops, galleries, and artist studios. Other artrelated special events are also planned for the weekend. The tour takes the visitor through some of North Georgia’s most spectacular scenery, including Tallulah Gorge and the surrounding lakes, Scenic 197, and the Sautee Nacoochee valley. There is much to see, so prepare to stay overnight in a cozy mountain getaway, dine at local eateries, then head out for another full day with many miles of creative ground to cover. Choose your favorite routes, or find new scenic roads in the northeast Georgia mountains. Detailed tour information for the June weekend will be available on the web at www.ArtsTour.org. The site has an email address for specific questions regarding your interests or other inquiries. Most venues are open year-round, and the online site allows you to plot a self-driving tour to suit a day trip or weekend escape at any time of year. Restaurants, lodging, and local wineries are also listed on the web site. The tour map brochure is available at participating businesses and at visitor centers in northeast Georgia. With so much to do and see, this is one event not to be missed.
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O
n this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.
2.5 million
In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation.
307 million
The nation’s population on this July Fourth.
Fourth of July Cookouts More than 1 in 4
The chance that the hot dogs and pork sausages consumed on the Fourth of July originated in Iowa. The Hawkeye State was home to 19.3 million hogs and pigs on March 1, 2009. This represents more than one-fourth of the nation’s total. North Carolina (9.4 million) and Minnesota (7.3 million) were the runners-up.
6.8 billion pounds
Total production of cattle and calves in Texas in 2007. Chances are good that the beef hot dogs, steaks and burgers on your backyard grill came from the Lone Star State, which accounted for about one-sixth of the nation’s total production. And if the beef did not come from Texas, it very well may have come from Nebraska (4.7 billion pounds) or Kansas (4.1 billion pounds).
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Number of states in which the revenue from broiler chickens was $1 billion or greater between December 2006 and November 2007. There is a good chance that one of these states — Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi or Texas — is the source of your barbecued chicken.
About 4 in 10
The odds that your side dish of baked beans originated from North Dakota, which produced 39 percent of the nation’s dry, edible beans in 2008. Another popular Fourth of July side dish is corn on the cob. Florida, California, Georgia and New York together accounted for 61 percent of the sweet corn produced nationally in 2008.
Please Pass the Potato Salad
Potato salad and potato chips are popular food items at Fourth of July barbecues. Half of the nation’s spuds were produced in Idaho or Washington state in 2008.
More than three-fourths
Amount of the nation’s head lettuce production in 2008 that came from California. This lettuce may end up in your salad or on your burger.
More than 7 in 10
The chances that the fresh tomatoes in your salad came from California or Florida, which combined accounted for 71 percent of U.S. tomato production last year. The ketchup on your burger or hot dog probably came from California, which accounted for 96 percent of forecasted processed tomato production in 2008.
Florida
The state that led the nation in watermelon production last year (861 million pounds). Other leading producers of this popular fruit included California, Texas and Georgia, each with more than 500 million pounds.
78 million
Number of Americans who said they have taken part in a barbecue during the previous year. It’s probably safe to assume a lot of these events took place on Independence Day.
Fireworks $193 million
The value of fireworks imported from China in 2008, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($202 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $28.1 million in 2008, with Australia purchasing more than any other country ($5.8 million).
$17.3 billion
The value of U.S. manufacturers’ shipments of fireworks in 2002.
Flags
customer, purchasing $186,400 worth.
$349.2 million
Annual dollar value of shipments of fabricated flags, banners and similar emblems by the nation’s manufacturers, according to the latest published economic census data.
PatrioticSounding Names 31
Number of places nationwide with “liberty” in their name. The most populous one as of July 1, 2007, is Liberty, Mo. (29,993). Iowa, with four, has more of these places than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty. Thirty-one places have “eagle” in their name — after the majestic bird that serves as our national symbol. (Places include cities, towns, villages and census-designated places.) The most populous such place is Eagle Pass, Texas, with 26,285 residents. Eleven places have “independence” in their name. The most populous of these is Independence, Mo., with 110,704 residents. Five places adopted the name “freedom.” Freedom, Calif., with 6,000 residents, has the largest population among these. There is one place named “patriot” — Patriot, Ind., with a population of 190. And what could be more fitting than spending the Fourth of July in a place called “America”? There are five such places in the country, with the most populous being American Fork, Utah, population 26,472.
The British are Coming! $112.4 billion
$3.4 million
Dollar value of trade last year between the United States and the United Kingdom, making the British, our adversary in 1776, our sixthleading trading partner today.
$569,400
From www.census.gov/Press-Release/ www/releases/archives/facts_for_ features_special_editions/011920. html. See site for individual statistic sources.
In 2008, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags. The vast majority of this amount ($3.0 million) was for U.S. flags made in China.
Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2008. Belgium was the leading
June/July 2009 • www.400edition.com
Middle-Aged Divorce, Baggage, and Responsible Dating
Mind and heart mind & heart
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s divorce rates in the U.S. continue to hover in the 40-50% range, many adults of all ages are often finding themselves facing the difficult, unpleasant, and often scary process of divorce recovery and eventual re-entry into the world of dating. Like most therapists, I tend to encourage my clients to allow themselves adequate time to heal emotionally, and to cognitively process what has happened, before attempting to establish any new romantic relationships. This typically involves making a conscious choice to keep new relationships with the opposite sex primarily on a “friendship” basis for a period of time, usually about six to twelve months at a minimum. In general, the longer the duration of the former marriage, the more time that might be recommended to be put aside for this emotional recovery and self-examination process. There are usually valuable life lessons and personal insights to be realized following the breakup of a marriage that often become obscured when one becomes prematurely distracted by a new romantic relationship (although, at times, that is the initial intention!). The above considerations notwithstanding, eventually most divorced people ultimately begin meeting new potential partners through friends, Internet dating services, interest-based groups, church singles groups, and other sources. The challenges that this process poses for those over the age of 40 can be considerable: for example, one will typically be facing fewer eligible choices; dealing with individuals (like oneself) who are more
“settled” or “set in their ways”; often reckoning with the presence of children or teenagers (custodial or non-custodial); and trying hard to avoid choosing a new partner encumbered with that most clichéd but complex of commodities: “baggage.” As much as we may tend to deny it, by the time one reaches the age of 40 and beyond, it is virtually impossible not to have accrued at least some emotional baggage by that time of life that just couldn’t be left curbside. This baggage may be in the obvious form of ongoing life responsibilities (work, children, interests/community commitments, eldercare, etc.), or in the more subtle form of whatever emotional residue that previous marriages or other relationships may have formed within that person. This residue in turn shapes the attitudes, preferences, postures, and intentions that become part of the mid-life partnering selection process. Naturally, when we first meet new prospective partners, most of us tend to “put our best foot forward” and only disclose the nature or magnitude of our own particular baggage at some later time, which is a healthy choice for the most part. In fact, measured self-disclosure and the ability to function effectively amidst the presence of emotional baggage are usually considered to be signs of good ego strength by most mental health professionals. It is my belief that oftentimes the critical issue is more related to what one does to address one’s specific baggage than with the amount of it. If we accept the previous premise that as we age we all develop some emotional issues in one form or another, then
June/July 2009 • www.400edition.com
Mark P. Feinsilber, Ph.D.
it would therefore be illogical and unrealistic to expect to find a mid-life romantic partner with a pristine, squeaky-clean emotional dossier. What may be a more realistic and productive dating posture, as our potential partners gradually disclose their life issues to us over time, would be to watch and listen for signs of how they are dealing and coping with these issues. It has been my experience that the quest for emotional perfection in a partner often, ironically, blinds us to those real issues of theirs that may need to be taken note of and evaluated as far as determining the viability of the relationship. To paraphrase an old Jackson Browne song from the ’70s “…you look for the perfect lover and end up with the perfect fool.”
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.
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Barbecue Wood There are many “flavors” of barbecue wood to choose from. And, depending on your smoker, there are several different methods to create that smoke. You can use whole logs of barbecue wood in a traditional offset smoker or you can just throw chunks or chips of barbecue wood on top of your fire source—wood, charcoal, lump charcoal, gas, or even electric. When using barbecue wood chips, you can either soak them in water or just use
them dry. And when using barbecue wood chips, you can also use a foil pack or what they call a smoker box. A foil pack is just a tightly sealed foil pack with barbecue wood chips inside and holes poked in the top. And a smoker box is a similar device except it is made out of steel. You can buy one at any good store that sells barbecue accessories or grills. Whatever method you use to create your smoke, just be sure that your
smoke is a light blue, almost clear in color, and not a billowing white smoke. You do not want to oversmoke your meats. Your barbecue wood should be between 1 and 6 months old. You do not want to use too green barbecue wood and you also do not want to use barbecue wood that is too dry. If you are throwing chips or chunks directly onto charcoal, I would soak them first for about an hour. If you are using a foil pack or smoker box, don’t soak the
chips first, as they will just steam and smolder instead of smoke. Bark – Some people feel bark will impart a bitter taste to your meat. I say, you’ll probably get a better smoke if you remove it first, so it’s safer to remove it if you can. If it comes off easily, take it off. If it does not come off easily, leave it on. If it is rotten or moldy, definitely take it off or do not use that wood. Here is a list of some of the more popular barbecue woods...
Wood
Flavor
Used for
Mesquite
This is that classic TexMex and Southwestern flavor. It has a strong, biting, zesty flavor.
Use sparingly, as this is the strongest smoking wood. A little goes a long way. I like it on brisket and ribs. Good on chicken too.
Hickory
Hickory is more of a sweet, smoky flavor than mesquite. It is the most popular smoking wood and is what most people would associate with the “classic” American barbecue.
Can be used with any meat, especially brisket and pork. Sometimes used in combination with oak for a milder flavor.
Red oak
Most people describe red oak as a sweeter version of white oak but overall, oak is not as strong as hickory. Most people would describe oak as a neutral or mellow flavor.
Can be used with any meat and in combination with other woods like hickory and/or fruitwoods. I often think of oak as a heat source rather than a smoke flavor because the other woods are so much more distinct.
White oak
Similar to red oak, but not quite as sweet a flavor. Can also be found in the form of wine or whiskey barrel chunks. In which case, you would gain the extra aroma of the wine or whiskey.
Same as red oak.
Oak wine barrel blocks
A great oaky smoke with a surprisingly strong wine aroma in the smoke. Great with ribs and chicken but can be used with butts or brisket too.
Pecan
A sweeter, nuttier flavor similar to hickory but not as strong.
Can be used with any meat similar to oak and makes a good standalone source of heat and flavor.
Maple
A gentle, sweet aroma and flavor.
Great for chicken and pork.
Fruitwoods: apple, cherry, peach, pear, apricot.
These fruitwoods impart a mild, sweet, fruity hint of smoke flavor to your Usually used with chicken and ribs and can be mixed with oak to meats. add just a touch of the fruity flavor.
Alder
Similar to maple and the fruitwoods. It imparts a subtle, sweet aroma. Some say it has a hint of cedar and that its syrup smells like bananas.
Popular in the Pacific Northwest, it is used a lot to smoke salmon. It can be used for chicken and pork too.
Grapevine
A rich and fruity aroma, as you would expect from a fruitwood.
Mostly used for chicken, wild game, or fish. Popular in the wine regions of the world.
Cedar (planks)
DO NOT burn this in your firebox; rather, use it for planking inside your Mainly used with fish. cooking chamber. A sharp, unique, acidic citrus-y flavor.
Beech
A hardwood similar to oak in flavor.
Use like oak if you have this wood available in your area.
Birch
A softer wood with a flavor similar to maple.
Good for pork and chicken.
Corncob
Usually ground into a powder and used in a foil pack or smoke box. It is strong, so use sparingly as an added flavor combined with other woods. It imparts a sweet flavor.
Good for chicken and fish.
Walnut
Strong, bitter flavor, so use sparingly and in combination with other woods.
Used mostly with heavy game.
Used with permission, www.go2barbecue.com
12 400 Edition
June/July 2009 • www.400edition.com
Cover story— The Holly Theatre Presents The Music Man The New York Times got it right back in December of 1957 when Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man opened on Broadway: “As American as apple pie and a Fourth of July oration. . . a marvelous show, rooted in wholesome and comic tradition.” If you haven’t seen it before, it contains all of the requisite charm, music, and excitement of a great hit. If you have seen it, be ready for a really exciting cast, a bevy of songs you know and can sing along with, and scenes from an earlier, gentler time. All of these qualities make The Music Man the perfect show for Dahlonega’s Holly Theatre to present as its summer production. The show will open at the Historic Holly Theatre in Dahlonega on July 9 and run each Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through August 2. Performances are at 8pm except for Sunday matinees at 2pm. Tickets can now be purchased online or by calling the Holly Box Office at 706-864-3759. One of the biggest hits ever on Broadway, The Music Man ran for 1,375 performances and originally starred Robert Preston and Barbara Cook in the roles of lovable con man Harold Hill and Marian the librarian. Preston reprised his role in the classic 1962 movie version, which co-starred Shirley Jones and a very young Ronnie Howard as ten-year-old Winthrop. The show was rife with hit songs, including “Seventy-Six Trombones,” “Ya Got Trouble (right here in River City),” and the beautiful love song, “Till There Was You.” An affectionate tip of the hat to Smalltown U.S.A. of a bygone era, Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man follows fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill as he cons the people of River City, Iowa, into buying band instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band he vows to organize—this despite the fact he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain’s fall. The show marks the return of several veteran Holly Theatre performers. Michael Arens, who played Harold Hill in the original Holly production of The Music Man in 2001, is again playing the spell-binding con man. Michael has a long history with the Holly, appearing in such roles as Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and directing Camelot. At the Black Bear Dinner Theatre he starred as Fagin in Oliver, and the Beast in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. He has performed with the Atlanta Opera Company and Capitol
City Opera Company and is a member of the Atlanta Symphony Chorus and The Atlanta Singers. Leading lady Heatherly Nelson returns to the Holly as Marian the librarian. Heatherly most recently played Velma in Chicago at the Holly, and she is remembered for her roles as Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, Milly in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and other shows at the Holly. A member of the Screen Actors Guild, she also recently performed in Lend Me an Ear in Atlanta. Bruce Pilgrim, Lumpkin County High School drama director, returns to the Holly stage in the hilarious role of the pompous Mayor Shinn. His performance as Luther Billis in South Pacific is fondly remembered by Holly patrons. Bruce was Horace Vandergelder (who could almost be a first cousin to The Music Man’s Mayor Shinn) in the Black Bear Dinner Theatre production of Hello Dolly. Other major roles in the show feature Gloria Szokoly as Mrs. Paroo, Judson Wright as Marcellus, and Dyann Beaty as Eulalie Shinn. The Music Man has a supporting cast that includes a barbershop quartet, a teen chorus of ten singers and dancers, an adult chorus featuring the “Pickalittle Ladies,” and a youngster who is already a veteran of the Holly Children’s Theatre program taking on the role of Winthrop, eight-year-old Max Roberts. Altogether there are over fifty people performing as cast and crew for The Music Man. The show also signals the return of artistic director David Rothel, who directed such earlier Holly shows as South Pacific, Carousel, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. More recently he was the executive and artistic director for the Black Bear Dinner Theatre. Jeff Daniel, who was the musical director for the Holly’s original production of The Music Man, returns in that same capacity. Jim Fambrough, who will be remembered by Holly patrons for his imaginative set designs for shows such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Carousel, also returns to the Holly to create the turn-of-the-century world of River City, Iowa. Choreography for the show is by Krista Tritt; show accompanist is Zeke Farley, performing on the orchestrated Clavinova; and the stage manager is Clair Williamson. Other upcoming Holly Theatre activities include a very ambitious summer program by the award-winning Holly Children’s Theatre led by education director Blake Smith, the Banks & Shane Concert June 18, the Summerwind June/July 2009 • www.400edition.com
show June 19 and 20, the Dear Edwina Junior children’s production June 26 and 27, the annual Holly Gala on August 15, the Mountain Music & Medicine Show September 5, an October comedy production, and the Christmas musical special, A Holly Jolly Christmas Carol, featuring a cast ranging from the Holly’s youngest performers (some may be still in diapers) to a white-bearded Holly Jolly Santa.
The Holly Theatre Announces a Personnel Change
J
ay Constantz, executive director of the Holly Theatre, informed the board of directors in late May that he was resigning his position for family reasons that would cause him to relocate to the Maryland area. Acting upon Mr. Constantz’s recommendation, the Holly Board has appointed Michael Arens and David Rothel to be interim directors of the theatre. Arens and Rothel have agreed to volunteer their services and will receive no salary during the period they serve as interim directors. Michael Arens is a longtime performer, former board member, and benefactor to the theatre. David Rothel has also been active with the Holly Theatre as an artistic director, performer, and board member since he and his wife retired to Dahlonega in 2000. Both men will share responsibilities during this interim period; however, Michael will focus his activities more on theatre management and organization, while David will oversee the theatrical production aspects. David is also currently directing the Holly summer production of The Music Man, and Michael is playing the leading character of Harold Hill. Michael and David stated that this is a good time for all Holly performers, volunteers, and patrons to remember that the Holly is a community theatre, and that it takes a bevy of willing and wonderful volunteers to keep our community theatre alive and buzzing and ongoing. Being a part of the Holly Theatre excitement is fun, whether you perform on stage, volunteer to be an usher, work on set construction and painting, assist with costumes, find props, run lights, create a graphic design for a poster, or work on the marketing and promotion of a play. Whatever the area of your talent and expertise, the Holly can benefit greatly from your participation. Give the theatre a call (706-8643759) and offer your services; they will be greatly appreciated. The Holly Theatre is your theater and needs your help to continue to serve our community as the valuable resource that it is.
400 Edition 13
Fun 400 by
Courtesy of ActivityConnection.com. Answers on page 29.
4th of July Word Unscramble Word Search
Words can be found horizontally, vertically, diagonally, backwards, and forwards.
C O L D G L O R Y R Z E
N O I T A R B E L E C Y
F Z N E D A R A P N E P
I C W S D X C C E N A M
AMERICA CELEBRATION CONGRESS CONSTITUTION FIREWORKS
R P O V T I A D K T U O
E Y R N R I N Q R V N D
W I T E G E T I Y S I E
O F M R P R O U T F T E
R A L E E T E A T L E R
FLAG FREEDOM INDEPENDENCE JULY LIBERTY
K J D A I B T S Q I D F
S N E S G E I V S F O E
I S M Q S J U L Y B E N
OLD GLORY PARADE PATRIOTISM STATES UNITED
Unscramble the following words associated with July 4th.
1. KLRPSRSEA 2. LJUY
3. LUBE
4. PEDCENEDNIEN 5. EDR
6. CLUNE MSA
7. WERRKFISO 8. HTWIE
9. LAGF
10. TEYSB SOSR 11. TEIRBYL 12. RPADESA
13. CRATEDILONA 14. RDEEMOF
15. CRABEESUB
16. DUENIT TESSAT
Comma Momma Are bad spellers bad people?
S
ome years back, I was hired as a documentation writer by a friend who was a software developer. My friend—we’ll call him Hank—was an astute businessman, a creative and careful programmer, and an all-round fine fellow. But he was a terrible speller. One day I was checking a documentation detail on a piece of software we were developing and noticed that Hank had added some text to one of the screens. The new text included the word tommorrow, spelled with two m’s. I was aghast. But it was an easy fix to make, and he made it as soon as I pointed it out. On another occasion he came into my cubicle to ask me how to spell hierarchy. He’d tried to type it in Microsoft Word, but he was so far off—highraky or something similar, as I recall—that Word’s spellchecker was totally flummoxed and unable to offer any of the usual helpful suggestions. If some stranger had committed these heinous crimes, I’d have immediately mounted my grammatical high horse and hauled out my illiterate-bozo label. But this was not a stranger. This was Hank. And in my heart I knew that illiterate bozo would not be an accurate
14 400 Edition
by Nancy Wright
assessment. Hank was not illiterate. He was not uneducated. And he was certainly not stupid— he made lots of money writing clever little software utilities that lots of large companies bought. I was born with the gene for word stuff. Hank was not. He could write brilliant computer programs but couldn’t spell what most people would consider to be the commonest of words. I, on the other hand, don’t know how to braise a roast or diaper a baby, but I know that Joyce Kilmer is not a she and George Eliot is, and I know how to pronounce Duquesne. Guess which one of us is more likely to live long and prosper in today’s world? It’s far too easy to judge another person’s capabilities against our own skill set. And that’s wrong. Everybody is born with different wiring, different gifts, a different capacity to learn, and it’s unkind, at the very least, for those of us who were born knowing how use words to sneer at those who weren’t. Yes, in life you will be judged in large part by your use of the language. And yes, I do make those kinds of arrogant judgments about other people all the time. June/July 2009 • www.400edition.com
But no, mastery of language is actually not a valid criterion for judging the fundamental worth of a person’s life, the depth of their character, or the value of their contribution to society. In the business world, the linguistically challenged just need to be sure to surround themselves with minions who can spell. And in their private relationships, they need to find friends and companions who are a bit more open-minded, or at least more close-mouthed, about other people’s language failings than I am. One reader said of her husband, who often gets off course with his word choices, “Bless his heart, he has many fine qualities that offset his often comical confusion of words. I plan to keep him.” I can only pray that my friends and family hold a similarly charitable view about me. Nancy Wright does occasional editing and proofreading, and formats technical books for a specialty publishing house in California. She and her husband live in White County; you can contact her at adairmill@windstream.net.
G G
Gardening by Linda Ragland, Master Gardener
Who Are North Georgia Gardeners?
ardeners everywhere are as diverse as the soil in which they grow their flowers or crops. This especially holds true for North Georgia gardeners. The more fortunate among us grow fantastic flowers and vegetables along the numerous rivers and branches, blessed with rich soil that has washed down from the mountains. That leaves the intrepid highland gardeners scraping among rocks and boulders for remaining bits of soil wrested from endless masses of roots that they must enrich and create raised beds. Tons of topsoil and compost have been hauled up winding mountain roads to create beautiful gardens framed by hemlocks and stunning blue skies. Many are newcomers looking for a respite from big-city, high-stress careers and big-city problems. They gladly sacrifice fine restaurants, endless shopping venues, and fine arts for incomparable food raised in their own or neighboring gardens or purchased at the busy Saturday morning farmers’ markets. It doesn’t take long to discover that shopping doesn’t compare to the tranquility of a pristine woodland environment with little need of excess. Many newcomers to the area join local garden clubs such as The Garden Club of Ellijay, Blairsville, Hiawassee, Gainesville, and many other garden clubs, to learn how to garden in this area from members who have gardened here all their lives. Monthly programs are presented by experts in native plants, specific flowers, vegetables, wildlife habitats, herbs, and numerous other subjects. Many of these supposed “black thumb” types later take the Georgia County Extension Offices’ Master Gardener program and find themselves offering the advice they once sought. North Georgia garden clubs focus their efforts on the National Garden Club and the Garden Club of Georgia’s objectives of “Conservation, Education and Beautification.” This is increasingly apparent as the area’s community landscapes, historic sites, and private gardens become more beautiful year after year. Members hope that beautification will bring renewed pride in their communities
and result in less litter soiling and detracting from the natural beauty. There have been more than a few of us who have chased the messy culprits down and shamed them into picking up their trash. Those of us afraid of confrontation just get the tag numbers. Thankfully, there are a few of the old-time North Georgia farmers still working their fields and producing money crops such as grain and vegetables. This is a good life but a hard one, dependent primarily on good weather. A year’s income can be quickly lost after a serious drought, hailstorm, disease, or invasion of pests. There are no “days off” during farming season, as constant vigilance is vital to preventing a sudden and total loss. Farmers’ trucks bearing fresh dew-kissed produce freshly picked— usually before daylight from local fields—can be seen making their way to grocery stores, roadside stands, and the farmers’ market every Saturday morning during the summer. Who are North Georgia gardeners? They are the multigeneration farmers earning their living from this rocky soil; those whose gardening days are behind them save a beautiful potted plant lovingly passed down through the generations. They are people like me, used to sandy soil, who jarred their teeth the first time they tried to stick a shovel in the ground; who didn’t have a clue what they were doing but did it anyway. They are specialty farmers who grow trees, vegetables, bulbs, or flowers for resale; expert gardeners who collect new cultivars of plants to add to already burgeoning flower beds; homeowners discovering new ways to add color to a shady garden and keep the deer away; retirees who finally have time to create their dream gardens and those who do their part to help children experience the awe of creating living
beauty. These are people who love, appreciate, and respect this land and who know they are blessed to be here.
June/July 2009 • www.400edition.com
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16 400 Edition
June/July 2009 • www.400edition.com
The Cumming 1923 Historic School & The Cumming Playhouse est. 2004 A Property of The City of Cumming
T
he Cumming Public School was first erected in 1923 at 101 School Street to serve grades 1-11, offering for the first time a High School Diploma in Cumming, Forsyth County, Georgia. Shortly thereafter it burned, and was rebuilt within its same brick walls and reopened in 1927. Over the years, the school transformed itself as needs arose, and served as a primary grade school, a middle grade school, and in its final operative years, the headquarters of the Forsyth County Board of Education. The City of Cumming acquired the school in 1999 from the Forsyth County BOE and through the efforts of the Historical Society of Forsyth County, Annette Bramblett in particular, the old school was named to The National Register of Historic Places in 2000. The Historic Marker was dedicated in April 2006. Funding for restoration was provided by Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax monies earmarked for Historic Preservation. During this process beautiful tongue and groove pine flooring and a vaulted ceiling with exposed beams were uncovered in the school auditorium. This area was restored to its original architectural beauty and
converted to the 184-seat Cumming Playhouse with state-of-the-art lighting and sound. Since its opening in July 2004, playhouse patrons have enjoyed many main stage plays as well as various concerts representing an array of music styles— blues and jazz, classical, bluegrass and country/ western, classic southern rock, Big Band, and more. The school also provides an historic tour of Old Cumming via photographs, annuals, historic artifacts, and authentically restored classrooms. It is home to the Bell Center for Southern Genealogical Research and The Historical Society of Forsyth County. Putting a finishing touch to your experience at the Cumming Playhouse and Historic School is “Tam’s Backstage Restaurant.” Surrounded by the exciting atmosphere of a Broadway pub, you
will be offered the finest of entrees and beverages to make for a most memorable visit. Open-air dining in the Historic Garden, an area adjacent to the main serving area filled with the old flowers and shrubs from days gone by, and two additional catering rooms on the main level of the Historic School are also available. The Historic School has emerged as Cumming’s most exciting place to be, and we invite you to come soon and see the many treasures to be discovered at 101 School Street. Box office operations: 101 School Street, 770-781-9178 Administrative Offices: City Hall, 100 Main Street, 770-781-2010 Online ticket purchase: www.playhousecumming.com Tam’s Backstage Food and Spirits dining reservations: 678-455-8310
Smoke On The Mountain Returns To Cumming Playhouse For Fourth Year by Renee B. Davis The annual PlayRight Productions presentation of Smoke On The Mountain is a highlight of the summer. This always-endearing bluegrass gospel hit returns on July 8 for the fourth year to the Cumming Playhouse. The Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe is a bundle of nerves at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church’s first ever Saturday Night Sing. He’s invited the Sanders Family Singers to the event, introducing modern instruments such as guitar and fiddle to the small sanctuary, and he knows some members might not approve of this move towards progress. With the entry of Miss Maude and Miss Myrtle, the audience members quickly take on the role of congregation, thus transforming the theater into this rural North Carolina church in 1938. This transformation is so authentic that when matriarch Vera Sanders says, “Let’s pray,” you may just find yourself fighting the urge to bow your head and close your eyes. But don’t take your eyes off the stage or you’ll risk missing some of the hilarity this cast so brilliantly brings to life.
Davis (Dennis), Susanna Smith (Denise), and David Payton (Stanley) are all original cast members who have been in the roles since the troupe began. Each of them has mastered the
The story, conceived by Alan Bailey and written by Connie Ray, comes across as more than a concert of old-time Christian hymns. The characters are well developed and relatable, their stories inspiring and deeply personal, yet never preachy. PlayRight has assembled an exceptionally strong cast for this production. Barry Piacente (Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe), Doug Allen (Burl), Jen Carrozza (Vera), Jared
craft of storytelling that keeps you hungry for the next twist or turn. Kelly Fletcher reprises the crowd favorite June Sanders role she originated in 2006 and brings with her a collection of oddball percussion items such as washboard, tin can, and bean jar. But the addition of amazingly gifted musicians Mike Shetler, Jay Moore, and Tiffany Watson as the virtuoso ‘Sanders Cousins’ who play multiple instruments including mandolin, fiddle, guitar, and bass, makes this presentation second to none. Smoke on the Mountain musical
June/July 2009 • www.400edition.com
selections consist of almost thirty gospel tunes, all of which could have been performed in the 1930s by such a group. There is a pleasant mix of energetic uplifting numbers, plaintive hymns, and soulful praise melodies. The songs vary from the well-known “Amazing Grace” and “I’ll Fly Away” to others such as “Church in the Wildwood,” “Filling Station,” and “Christian Cowboy.” Smoke On the Mountain is a comedic jewel—a true must-see. The show opens Wednesday, July 8, and continues through Sunday, August 2. Showtime for Wednesday through Saturday is 8pm; Sunday matinees are at 3pm. Tickets can be ordered online at www.playhousecumming.com or by phone at 770-781-9178.
Photo captions, clockwise from top left: The Sanders Family—David Payton (Stanley), Doug Allen (Burl), Jen Carrozza (Vera), Susanna Smith (Denise), and Jared Davis (Dennis) reprise their roles as the lovable Sanders Family; Miss Maude and Miss Myrtle struggle to keep things under control; Kelly Fletcher returns to portray June Sanders.
400 Edition 17
2009 Season Lineup May 21 – June 28
Forever Plaid
Thursday Special Prices - $15.00 TFS 8pm; Sunday mat 3pm July 4
Independence Day
Hank Williams by Jason Petty 8pm
July 8 – August 2
Smoke on The Mountain
A PlayRight Production Co. Presentation 8pm WTFS; Sunday mat 3pm August 7 – 22
WIT
An Old Alabama Road Theatre Co. Presentation 8pm TFS; Sunday mat 3pm
Firecracker Jazz Band
8pm
November 21
Sentimental Journey “Big Band” Show 8pm
November 28
The Cumming Playhouse Singers with Forsyth Winds 8pm
November 29
Sounds of Sawnee Holiday Concert
2 shows: 3pm, 8pm
December 1 – 13 Weekly Tues – Sunday mat
Sanders Family Christmas
8pm; Sunday mat 3pm December 15 & 16
(Beatles Revival Band) 8pm
Classical/Contemporary Holiday Musical Presentation 8pm
September 5 (Labor Day Weekend) The Elvis Tribute Show 8pm September 10 – 27
The Odd Couple
Christmas Classics
December 19
Christmas Around the World 8pm
December 22
A Gypsy Theatre Co. Presentation 8pm TFS; Saturday mat 9/19 and 9/26; Sunday mat 3pm
The Cumming Playhouse Singers Christmas Concert
October 8 – Nov 1
December 31 New Year’s Eve
Cotton Patch Gospel
A PlayRight Production Co. Presentation 8pm TFS; Sunday mat 3pm November 5 – 15
The Mood Swingers 8pm TFS; Sunday mat 3pm
Getting Back to Basics by Steven K. Leibel
November 20
August 28 and 29 Friday & Saturday night
The Return
Leibel on the Law
8pm
Russo and Noe
Thursday 8 – 10
Check the website for programming updates: www.playhousecumming. com
T
he great recession has made us mindful of reviewing our assets and liabilities. As we take a review of our relative financial strengths and weaknesses it may become evident that a financial plan may be in order to help guide us through these times. Many times clients come to an attorney for a will or other will-related issues. However, financial planning may be required in order to create a coherent and well-organized will. The drafting of a will frequently calls upon the expertise of one with a background in financial planning. Thus the most important function of the attorney who prepares an estate plan is the gathering of accurate information about the client’s family, property ownership, and family values and needs. It is only after a careful review of this information that an attorney can carry out the wishes of the client in the most efficient manner, by counseling with them and then drafting the appropriate documents. It is our practice to have a client fill out a questionnaire essentially covering two major areas, one of which deals with ownership of property; the other deals with special areas of consideration. With regard to the ownership of property it is imperative to know how title to that property is held. The reason is that, depending upon how the property is titled, or owned, it may not be covered as a bequest under a will. For example, if property is held as joint tenants with right of survivorship, then the survivor on the deed keeps the property after the death of the other owner on title regardless of what the will states. If the property is held in a retirement plan with a named beneficiary other than the client’s estate, or an annuity with a named beneficiary other than an estate, then that property passes outside of the will. Additionally, if there is a life insurance policy with a named beneficiary other than the estate, then it too will pass outside of the will. Clearly, the way property is titled or held affects the way that an estate must be viewed. Depending upon the circumstances, a client’s failure to consider how property is held can create havoc for a family. Consider, for example, the situation with a blended family. The husband and wife have been previously divorced or widowed and have children from a prior marriage. If the new husband and wife hold their property as joint tenants with right of survivorship, upon the death of the first spouse the property will pass to the surviving spouse. If the surviving spouse bequeaths that property to his or her children, the children from the first spouse to die will, in effect, be disinherited. A good lawyer planning an estate can avoid this problem. An example of a way to avoid this issue is to properly
divide the property interests and have each spouse convey their interest to a trust that provides life income to the survivor. Upon the death of the survivor the interest in each trust passes to the respective children of the husband and wife. Obviously regardless of the type of family issues—blended or not—family consideration has to be given to possible income and estate taxes upon the death of the benefactor. In the case of annuities, if the beneficiary designation is to an estate rather than an individual, there may be a large income tax on a lump sum of money; this could have been avoided simply by the correct beneficiary designation. Finally, some other areas of consideration: What happens if one of the clients becomes disabled or incapacitated? How will their affairs be handled? Do we look at Financial Powers of Attorney or transfer property to trusts? What if both parents were to pass away? Who would be the guardian of the person of the children? Who would look after their property? Who has the financial acumen to handle their finances? Assuming the children are not minors, other areas for consideration include these: Should one make an outright gift? Should it be given over a period of time based on their ages? Should the property be held in a trust so that we can consider things such as creditor protection? Estate planning, especially for those who have been able to acquire substantial assets throughout their lifetime, is especially important as the specter of rising taxes looms. Good planning can avoid so many problems. Good money planning makes for happier beneficiaries, and less family strife. However, at the end of the day it is the client who directs the creation of the plan. The lawyer should offer to play the role of a coach making sure that the best play is called. Steven Leibel is a Georgia personal injury Superlawyer 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.
Father’s Day June 21 The idea of Father’s Day was conceived by Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Washington, while she listened to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart, a widowed Civil War veteran who was left to raise his six children by himself on a rural farm. June was chosen for the first Father’s Day celebration (proclaimed for June 19, 1910, by Spokane’s mayor) because it was the month of William Smart’s birth. The first presidential proclamation honoring fathers was issued in 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson designated the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. Father’s Day has been celebrated annually since 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed the public law that made it permanent.
How Many Fathers?
66.3 million - Estimated number of fathers across the nation today. (From unpublished data.) 26.5 million - Number of fathers who are part of married-couple families with their own children under the age of 18.
Among these —
21 percent are raising three or more of their own children under 18 years old.
11 percent are under 30. 5 percent are 55 and older. 2 percent live in the home of a relative or a non-relative. 65 percent have an annual family income of $50,000 or more.
percent of child-support providers are men, who provide median payments of $3,600
Remembering Dad
2.3 million
Number of single fathers, up from 393,000 in 1970. Currently, among single parents living with their children, 18 percent are men.
Among these fathers —
10 percent are raising three or more of their own children under 18 years old. 42 percent are divorced; 38 percent have never married; 15 percent are separated; and 5 percent are widowed. (The percentages of those divorced and those never married are not significantly different from one another.) 15 percent live in the home of a relative or a non-relative. 21 percent have an annual family income of $50,000 or more.
Mr. Mom
98,000 - Estimated number of “stayat-home” dads. These are married fathers with children under 15 years old who have remained out of the labor force for more than one year primarily so they can care for the family while their wives work outside the home.
Among these stay-at-home dads: 29 percent had their own children under 3 years old living with them.
63 percent had two or more children. 40 percent had an annual family income of $50,000 or more.
Child-Support
4.6 million - Number of fathers who provide child support. All in all, 84
Neckties lead the list of Father’s Day gifts. A good place to buy dad a tie or a shirt might be one of 10,416 men’s clothing stores around the country. Other items high on the list of Father’s Day gifts include those you may find in Dad’s toolbox, such as hammers, wrenches, and screwdrivers. You could buy some of these items for Dad at one of the nation’s 14,755 hardware stores or 5,280 home centers. 23,018 - Number of sporting goods stores. These stores are good places to purchase traditional gifts for Dad, such as fishing rods and golf clubs. Since nearly 69 million Americans have participated in a barbecue in the last year, it’s probably safe to assume many of these barbecues took place on Father’s Day. Nearly 95 million - Number of Father’s Day cards expected to be given this year in the United States, making Father’s Day the fourth-largest card-sending occasion. (Source: Hallmark research) Fifty percent of all Father’s Day cards are purchased for dads. Nearly 20 percent are purchased for husbands, with the remaining bought for grandfathers, sons, brothers, uncles, and “someone special,” among other categories. (Source: Hallmark research) Information provided by U.S. Census Bureau
Father’s Day Speaker at Pleasant Grove
L
umpkin County businessman, developer, and steel guitarist Todd Cannon will deliver the Father’s Day message at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church on Sunday, June 21, during the 11:00am worship service. He is a Georgia native and the youngest of six children of the late Grover and Alice Cannon (Marietta, GA). Todd’s message will bear witness not only to his personal faith in Jesus Christ, but his father’s faith as well. “Dad always loved God and his family, but it was his willingness to take risks that fueled the development of his extraordinary faith.” Todd graduated from Osborne High School (Marietta, GA); and from Belmont University in Nashville, TN, with a degree in Music Engineering. He and his wife Wanda and their three children Taylor, Sarah, and Daniel reside in Gainesville, GA. “We are particularly excited about this year’s Father’s Day celebration,” says Pastor Jim Garvin. “Fathers have such a pivotal role to play in the spiritual
formation and moral development of their children. Recent statistics show that 40% of all babies are now born into homes without a father’s presence. Garvin, whose own father passed away when he was nine, knows firsthand that children need to grow up in homes with both a mom and a dad.” “All year, we focus on Our Father, who art in heaven, but once a year, on Father’s Day, we take time to think about earthly fathers…the ones from the past, the ones in the present, and those that are destined for the future.” Located just five miles south of the historic Lumpkin County Courthouse in Dahlonega, Georgia, the church sits up on a small knoll on Highway 52, about three-tenths of a mile west of Highway 9. More information is available by calling the church office (706-864-5648) or visiting www.PGroveUMC.org.
June/July 2009 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition 19
America’s Independence For over a decade the colonists had been protesting England’s heavy-handed influence. On April 19, 1775, the protests became the Revolutionary War as the Minutemen and redcoats clashed at Lexington and Concord—the shot that was heard ’round the world. On July 4, 1776, Congress adopted “The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,” a document whose first draft was written only weeks before and whose revisions were discussed and made by Congress only days before. These united states of America will be free and independent! The war lasted eight years and cost millions of dollars—and thousands of lives. In 1783, with the Treaty of Paris, the war was over, and it was time to prepare the new nation for a long and prosperous future by setting some ground rules—a constitution. We Americans have been blessed with forefathers who possessed both insight and foresight. Insight in that they understood history and the nature of man; and foresight to address issues that have been discussed from time immemorial,
The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite. – Thomas Jefferson Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government. – James Madison The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government – lest it come to dominate our lives and interests. – Patrick Henry I consider the foundation of the Constitution as laid on this ground: That “all powers not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States or to the people.” To take a single step beyond the boundaries thus specially drawn around the powers of Congress, is to take possession of a boundless field of power, no longer susceptible of any definition. – Thomas Jefferson To maintain the ascendancy of the Constitution over the lawmaking majority is the great and essential point on which the success of the [American] system must depend; unless that ascendancy can be preserved, the necessary consequence must be that the laws will supersede the Constitution; and, finally, the will of the Executive, by influence of its patronage, will supersede the laws ... – John C. Calhoun I cannot undertake to lay my finger upon an article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on the objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents. – James Madison The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases. – Thomas Jefferson I believe the states can best govern our home concerns and the federal government our foreign ones. – Thomas Jefferson The policy of the American government is to leave their citizens free, neither restraining nor aiding them in their pursuits. – Thomas Jefferson If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government that is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must
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either within every great government, or by those governed. Many grievances against government were listed in our Declaration of Independence. Though we had the Articles of Confederation, in 1787 Congress adopted a plan by which to ensure that our freedom and independence remained, the laws of the land—The Constitution of the United States of America. Below you’ll find quotes from American forefathers such as James Madison, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, Daniel Webster, Patrick Henry, John C. Calhoun, Benjamin Franklin, and John Quincy Adams. It’s interesting to see the varying views in some of the quotes, specifically regarding foreign policy and war. As you read these quotes, ponder the state of our government today, the path it has taken over the last century and the path it’s on today, and know that these men possibly expected us to be where we are. That’s why we have their warning words in our Constitution and recorded history—to remind us of our duties toward our government, and our government’s duties toward its people and nation.
first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. – James Madison The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. – Thomas Jefferson America does not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She well knows that by enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standards of freedom. – John Quincy Adams An Avidity to punish is always dangerous to liberty. It leads men to stretch, to misinterpret, and to misapply even the best of laws. He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself. – Thomas Paine Of all the enemies to public liberty, war is perhaps the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few … No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare. – James Madison
sudden usurpation. – James Madison If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. – James Madison It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood, if they be repealed or revised before they are promulgated, or undergo such incessant changes that no man, who knows what the law is today, can guess what it will be like tomorrow. – James Madison Laws are made for men of ordinary understanding and should, therefore, be construed by the ordinary rules of common sense. Their meaning is not to be sought for in metaphysical subtleties which may make anything mean everything or nothing at pleasure. – Thomas Jefferson If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny. – Thomas Jefferson They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. – Benjamin Franklin It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country from its government. – Thomas Paine
To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude...I place economy among the first and most important of republican virtues, and public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared. – Thomas Jefferson
Those who expect to reap the benefits of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. – Thomas Paine
It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people one tenth part. – Benjamin Franklin
The ground of liberty is to be gained by inches, and we must be contented to secure what we can get from time to time and eternally press forward for what is yet to get. It takes time to persuade men to do even what is for their own good. – Thomas Jefferson
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add “within the law,” because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual. – Thomas Jefferson There are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by the gradual and silent encroachment of those in power, than by violent and
June/July 2009 • www.400edition.com
The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself. – Benjamin Franklin
I shall exert every faculty I possess in aiding to prevent the Constitution from being nullified, destroyed, or impaired; and even though I should see it fail, I will still, with a voice feeble, perhaps, but earnest as ever issued from human lips, and with fidelity and zeal which nothing shall extinguish, call on the people to come to its rescue. – Daniel Webster
destined to arise as the stately Cumming Playhouse almost a half century later. Nevertheless, a production “almost worthy” of Broadway was performed, with much ad-libbing, in the old Cumming Gym, thanks to the expert directing team of Otwell & Barrett. Most agreed that the acting by Donald Pruitt ability of Robert Ingram was the highlight of the evening! Of course, the most memorable benchmark of the senior year in that era was the Senior Class trip to New York City and Washington, DC, by train. These two class sponsors kept most of us on track to raise enough money so that our parents did not bear the total burden of paying for the trip. Mrs. Barrett, Mrs. Otwell, Mr. Carroll, and our principal, Mr. Lambert, chaperones all, faced a daunting task. While in New York, we visited Coney Island Amusement Park (some male FCHS male students flaunting our Southern heritage were menaced by a motorcycle gang); the Bowery (a homeless person did not appreciate having his picture taken); and Times Square (a few male students were propositioned by “ladies of the night”). The historical sites, monuments, museums, and Arlington National Cemetery proved safer for us; however, our socialization with “Yankee” classes from the North did produce a certain angst in some of the chaperones. It should be mentioned that after the 1959 Senior Class trip, the tradition was suddenly halted, probably much to the relief of Mrs. Otwell and Mrs. Barrett and others. After my college years, I eventually lost touch with both Mrs. Otwell and Mrs. Barrett. I did
Historic Forsyth Two Outstanding Teachers
I
n the May/June issue I referred to Mrs. Gladys Barrett, who was a very influential teacher during my high school years. Mrs. Barrett teamed with Mrs. Clydine Otwell to serve as Senior Sponsors at CHS/FCHS from the late ’40s well into the ’60s. Mrs. Barrett was the bubbly, fun-loving social studies teacher, while Mrs. Otwell was the more serious, introspective high school librarian. Together, they made a perfect team working with each of those senior classes. The students were all the better for their time spent with these two outstanding teachers. The Class of 1958 was the third to graduate from the new FCHS campus, now Forsyth Central. One major project of the Senior Class was to produce the senior play. Mrs. Otwell and Mrs. Barrett had an unusual knack for selecting just the right student for each character in the play. The 1958 production was “Mr. Quigley’s Ghost.” Was that the name of the play? (I had an original script but could not find it.) By the way, who played Mr. Quigley, all bedecked in a red night shirt? In those days the plays were performed in the old Cumming Gym without any sound equipment. Oh, if we could have had the Old Cumming School Auditorium
11th Annual Butternut Creek Festival T his year the Southeast Tourism Society has designated the Butternut Creek Festival in Blairsville, Georgia, as one of its top 20 Events in the Southeast. This is one of the truly exceptional arts and crafts show in the state. Want to get out of the city for a delightful and relaxing weekend? Located only 80 miles north of Atlanta, the 11th Annual Butternut Creek Festival Arts & Crafts Show on July 18 and 19 offers a wonderful excuse for a summer weekend getaway to enjoy the beautiful north Georgia mountains. Blairsville, “Land of Lakes, Mountains, Scenic Beauty & Friendly People,” is located in the heart of these mountains. From the Atlanta area, take either GA400 and US 129 or I-595 and Hwy 515. The scenery is exceptional at this time of the year, the driving is easy and non-congested, and at the Festival, shopping opportunities are beyond description. Sixty-five artists, artisans, and craftsmen will be assembled in Meeks Park at the Union County Recreation Department Complex in Blairsville. The park is located on the south side of Highway 76 / 515, just 0.7 mile west of Blairsville, across the highway from the North GA Technical College campus. Festival hours are 10:00am to 5:00pm both days. Plenty of parking is readily available in the Park. Festival parking and admission are free. Special shuttles will be running both days between the parking areas and the exhibitor booths.
The Festival is a juried show, limited to a selection of the finest artists and hand craftsmen from throughout the mountain area of north Georgia, western North Carolina, and eastern Tennessee. Through the jurying process, the show strives to feature a balanced presentation of unique and original art and hand crafted works. In addition to these exhibitors, there will be five mountain arts demonstrators: woodturning, soap making, broom making/weaving, chair caning, and pottery turning. Also part of the Festival: four community service booths, annual bake sale of the Union Hospital Auxiliary, quilting demo and quilt raffle of the Misty Mountain Quilt Guild, Plant Rescue Program and activities of the Georgia Mountain Research & Education Center, and the Union County Senior Center Art Class. Over 8,000 visitors attended the Festival in 2008. The exhibitor booths are located under the trees along the banks of the Butternut Creek near where it flows into the Nottely River. The Park setting includes playgrounds, walking trails, and picnic facilities. A fine variety of festival foods will be available. Throughout both days, several special craft demonstrations are scheduled.
June/July 2009 • www.400edition.com
always remember what Mrs. Otwell wrote in my sophomore year annual. “May your love life always be as sublimely happy as it is now.” She had observed me and a certain junior girl making googoo eyes at one another when we were supposed to be studying in study hall. The desire to write these articles appearing in this publication was probably planted by Mrs. Barrett during my high school years. She was such a jovial and kind person, but one who could be serious when it was needed. Those of us who were able to attend the 40th Class Reunion in 1998 got to see both these teachers as well as Mr. Lambert, our principal in ’58. Unfortunately, Mrs. Barrett was succumbing to Alzheimer’s and both she and Mr. Lambert passed away shortly thereafter. As of this writing, Mrs. Clydine Otwell Welch (she subsequently married George Welch) is in her 99th year, though in declining health. All were memorable teachers. Donald (Don) Pruitt is a 1958 graduate of FCHS and a 1963 UGA graduate. While Don and his wife, Sula Echols Pruitt, have lived outside of Forsyth County since 1963, he has a love of Forsyth County history and genealogy. He still has family here and tries to return “home” from North Carolina, where he has lived for 39 years. Donald is a long-time member of the Historical Society of Forsyth County. He can be contacted by email at sazabylex@ windstream.net.
Exceptionally talented musical performers are being selected to entertain you both days. There will be bluegrass, country, folk, gospel, spiritual, Celtic, and popular Civil War tunes. Each of these musical presentations will be in the new Entertainment Gazebo that was constructed three years ago with proceeds from the previous six Butternut Creek Festivals. The Festival is presented by the High Country Artisans, Inc., a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. For additional information, call 706-781-1221 or see www.butternutcreekfestival. com.
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Barbecue—Where the Flavor Comes From Wood smoke adds the most flavor to your barbecue. But rubs, marinades, and mops are used to affect the flavors of the dark outside meat and help form the bark characteristic of barbecue. The taste of the interior meat may be changed by applying a finishing or table sauce. Excellent results can be achieved with some, all or none of these.
Rubs
A rub is a combination of spices that is “rubbed” onto the surface of the meat. The rub seals in the flavor of the meat, and help form a tasty crust. The rub pulls moisture from the air, and draws the
juices from inside the meat. This reaction causes the meat to literally marinate itself. The best way to apply the rub is to sprinkle the rub onto the meat, wrap in plastic wrap, and store in a refrigerator overnight. Of course, this, like most things relating to good barbecue, comes from experimenting and experience. Try different techniques for applying the rub, and experiment with how long to let it sit. After sitting overnight, the rub will have become almost pasty from all the juices. We like to rub this back into the meat. I also usually apply some more rub just before the meat goes onto the smoker. What kind of spices make up a
rub? Most recipes have two ingredients in common: salt and sugar. These are also the two most controversial ingredients. Salt draws moisture out of the meat, and sugars will burn or caramelize on the surface. Moderation is the key. Some of both ingredients are good, but don’t overdo it. Other common ingredients are onion powder, garlic powder, pepper, cumin, sage, thyme, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Learn the flavor of all the seasonings and herbs, and once again— experiment.
Marinades
Marinades are used to tenderize and flavor meat. There are as many marinades as there are rubs. They all have several ingredients in common: acid, oil, and spices. The acid is to help break the meat down, the oil is to add moisture to the meat, and spices add flavor. The most common types of acid are fruit juices, vinegar, milk, wine, and beer. The oil is commonly vegetable oil, but other oils can be used. Avoid using bacon drippings and butter in marinades that are to be used in the refrigerator; they will coagulate and be of little use. The spices are usually very strong, or assertive, since they grow weaker the longer they sit. Care must be taken with tenderizers, vinegars and citrus juices, which can make meat mushy if left in too long. An interesting addition to marinades is ginger ale for chicken, and cola, 7 Up, or Dr Pepper for red meats. Do not use aluminum pans to marinate; the acids will react with the aluminum. Since most all pans are alloys these days, I prefer to use a glass baking dish or a large plastic bag to marinate in. CAUTION: Do not re-use a marinade. There is a very good chance that bacteria will be present from the raw meat. If you wish to use the marinade in a baste, mop, or sauce, boil vigorously to kill the bacteria.
Brines
Brining is submerging meat in a salt water bath. Enzymes and bacteria cause the meat to decompose. The higher the temperatures, the faster this occurs. Brining kills the bacteria and weakens the enzymes. Brining is only necessary with fish and poultry. Fish especially will become very mushy if not brined first. Poultry will get mushy also, but it takes longer, and red meats longer still. Brining a turkey will greatly improve the final taste and texture. To make a brine for poultry, use about 2/3 cup kosher salt per 1 gallon of water. Add other spices as you wish; pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, and hot sauce are some of the most popular additions.
Koshering
This process is very similar to brining, but the salt is put on the meat instead of in the water. I like to think of it as a kosher rub. Koshering is based on Jewish dietary regulations. Prior to eating meats, all blood must be removed from the meat.
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June/July 2009 • www.400edition.com
Another name for koshering is salting. The process is very simple. Put kosher salt on the meat, let it sit, then rinse it off. Most boxes of kosher salt have the complete directions on the side. Simply follow the directions on the side of the box
Mops or bastes
Mops or bastes are applied during cooking. They help create a flavorful bark and preserve moisture. They may contain vinegar, beer, soft drinks, fruit juices, water, and seasonings. The addition of oils help hold moisture in meat. Do not baste too often. It will not enhance the flavor that much more, and it will let heat out of your smoker and increase your cooking times. I like to place apple juice or a watered-down version of my marinade in a spray bottle to spray the baste on when I add fuel or water. The most popular way is to mop the meat. You can find a brush that looks like a miniature floor mop to use. When mopping, most people keep the mop on the pit and just slop the mop over the meat. Keeping it on the pit will concentrate the flavors, plus it will pick up the flavors of the smoke, and the fat from the meat when you put it back into the mop.
Sauces
There are different sauces for different uses. Finishing sauce is thin and may be added to pulled or chopped (pork) prior to serving. Dipping or table sauces should be served on the side or in a separate container so that folks can season to taste. Barbecue flavors are subtle, so the sauce should complement rather than dominate. If all you taste is sauce, then you might as well cook your barbecue in the oven—but that’s not REAL barbecue.
Regional Styles of Barbecue
Like most things when it comes to barbecue, there are different preferences in different regions:
Alabama: White sauce or sauces similar to the Georgia sauces. Central South Carolina: A thin mustard vinegar sauce. Southern South Carolina & N. Georgia: Thinnish vinegar/ketchup/brown sugar Eastern NC: A very thin vinegar & red/ black pepper mixture. Western NC: A thin vinegar & catsup sauce. Kansas City: A thick sweet tomato-based sauce. Kentucky: Black sauce made from Worcestershire sauce and vinegar. Tennessee: A tomato-based sauce that is on the sweet side. Texas: If used, spicy tomato-based sauce. From Mr. Happy, www.happysauce.com/ saucexstyles.html.
Who You Gonna Call? O
ne way for each of us to fulfull our patriotic duty is to be wellinformed about decisions being made by our government. Keeping up with what Congress is considering and passing is easy at Thomas.Loc.gov. Some of the issues on the table include pay caps for private company CEOs, government bailouts, global warming, stimulus packages, and universal healthcare. These are issues that by rights ought to be left to the people to decide, or that may even be non-issues fabricated to create a platform—often to obscure a real issue. Frequently something that seems like a good idea or benefit may, in the long run, restrict our liberty. What are the restrictions on carbon emissions really going to look like when you’re old? Ask someone in Canada how the universal healthcare system is working for them? If we allow the government to dictate how much a company can pay its CEO, what’s next? Are these issues our forefathers believed to be the responsibility of the government? After reviewing the issues on the table, if you have questions or want to express your opinion, contact your elected officials. Let your voice be heard and help mold how those representatives vote on specific issues
That’s what they do; they represent our collective voice. So are you ready to get informed and get involved? Here are some helpful numbers and web addresses for the elected federal representatives in our area: Governor George ‘Sonny’ Perdue Office of the Governor 203 State Capitol Atlanta, GA 30334 (404) 656-1776 Web site: gov.georgia.gov Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle Office of the Lieutenant Governor Administrative Staff 240 State Capitol Atlanta, GA 30334 (404) 656-5030 Web site: ltgov.georgia.gov
U.S. Senate
Senator C. Saxby Chambliss Senior Seat 416 Russell Senate Office Building District of Columbia 20510-1005 (202) 224-3521 100 Galleria, Suite 1340 Atlanta, Georgia 30339 (770) 763-9090
Senator John H. ‘Johnny’ Isakson Junior Seat 120 Russell Senate Office Building District of Columbia 20510-1006 (202) 224-3643 3625 Cumberland Blvd, Suite 970 Atlanta, Georgia 30339 (770) 661-0999
U.S. House
Tom Price, 6th District 424 Cannon House Office Building District of Columbia 20515-1006 (202) 225-4501 3730 Roswell Road, Suite 50 Marietta, Georgia 30062 (770) 565-4990 John Linder, 7th District 1026 Longworth House Office Building District of Columbia 20515-1007 (202) 225-4272 75 Langley Drive Lawrenceville, Georgia 30045 (770) 232-3005 Nathan Deal, 9th District 2133 Rayburn House Office Building District of Columbia 20515-1010 (202) 225-5211
June/July 2009 • www.400edition.com
500 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Suite 301 Gainesville, Georgia 30503 (770) 535-2592 Paul C. Broun, 10th District 325 Cannon House Office Building District of Columbia 20515-1009 (202) 225-4101 4246 Washington Road, Suite 6 Evans, Georgia 30809 (706) 447-3857 Don’t forget your Georgia House and Senate members, you can find them at www.Legis.State.GA.US by entering your zip code, city, or county. If you’re looking for a representative not found on this list, here are the sites we found most helpful in locating an elected official: www.congress.org/congressorg/ home/ www.votesmart.org/index.htm www.senate.gov/index.htm writerep.house.gov/writerep/ welcome.shtml www.legis.state.ga.us/
400 Edition 23
Northside Hospital
To Your Health
by Alison Wiebe, RN, Director of Emergency Services, Northside Hospital
When An Emergency Happens—How To Plan Ahead And What To Expect On Your Next Trip To The Emergency Department It’s the moment you hope never happens—a fall off a bike, tightness in the chest, an asthma attack or a burn—a few things that may require a trip to the emergency department (ED). Understanding your options and having a plan of action before that emergency occurs can reduce the amount of time it takes to get help. Do your homework—locate the hospital nearest you and call to ask questions…
Who is on staff in the ED?
Are staff specially trained for emergency situations? At Northside Hospital-Atlanta, Northside HospitalForsyth, and Northside HospitalCherokee, the EDs are staffed with physicians who are board certified in emergency medicine, and PALS (pediatric advanced life support) certified nurses. In 2008/09, Atlanta consumers ranked Northside #1 in
Emergency Services in the National Research Corporation’s annual Healthcare Market Guide study.
How long will the wait be?
Ask if patients are seen in the order of the severity of their situation, or if the hospital offers a service similar to Northside’s HealthExpress. With this service, patients with less severe injuries (once triaged) are seen by a registered nurse, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, making the visit easier and faster.
What about insurance?
Call your insurance company to find out which hospital emergency departments are covered under your plan. Alert your insurance company when you are making a trip to an ED. Northside Hospital contracts with all major insurance providers.
Set your route. How accessible is the hospital from major highways or roads? Figure out multiple driving routes based on time of day (which influences traffic congestion), and determine your route ahead of time. Don’t wait for an emergency to figure out where to go and how to get there.
Bring a copy of your medical information.
It’s important to share with your ED physician your medical history, prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Keep an up-to-date medical information card handy for each family member and bring the cards with you on your next trip to the ED.
Take notes.
In an emergency, it’s sometimes difficult to remember the procedures or instructions you are given. It’s important to have some documentation to refer to later. Bring pen and paper with you. Northside provides an emergency card on which you can take some notes, and enter the names of the staff that treat you and the name of your patient relations representative.
Bring something to read.
If your injury is non-life-threatening, sometimes you may experience a bit of a wait before being seen. Bring something to read. It will help to relieve the anxiety and make time pass more quickly. If you have a child with you, bring a book or toys.
At Northside, the waiting areas are divided into sections to allow for some privacy. Courtesy phones and wireless internet connections also are available for use and, at Northside Hospital-Forsyth, there is a special play area with an aquarium for children. Each day, Northside HospitalAtlanta, Northside Hospital-Forsyth, and Northside Hospital-Cherokee, your community hospitals, offer you access to more than 2,000 physicians, delivering comprehensive compassionate care in more than 20 medical specialties. The hospital offers everything you’d expect from a community hospital… and some things you would never imagine. For more information, call the EDs at: Northside Hospital-Atlanta: 404-851-8937 Northside Hospital-Forsyth: 770-844-3305 Northside Hospital-Cherokee: 770-720-5100 Or visit www.northside.com. In case of an emergency, call 911!
We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Preamble to the Consitution of the United States of America
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Events! Events!
Tip: Keep in mind that 400 Edition is released on or about the 15th of each month. That means your event needs to be submitted via our web site 30-45 days prior to your event date, and no later than the 1st 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.
Father’s Day - June 21 Independence Day - July 4
Alpharetta
Friends of the Library Book Sale
First Saturday of every month, beginning at 10:00am at 138 Canton Street. This is the Friends principal source of income to support library programs and purchase books and capital improvements. See website to donate books! Call 770-475-9214 or email statham@mindspring.com for information.
Blairsville
Mountain Fling
June 27 beginning at 9:00am and June 28 beginning at 11:00am at North Georgia Technical College. Annual arts and crafts show featuring the work of the areas best regional artists and crafters. Delicious homemade food served cafeteria style in a casual dining area. No charge. For more information go to our web site, mtnregartscraftsguild.org or call 877-745-5789.
Cruise-Ins at the Square
First Saturdays from April-October, 4:00pm until dark. Cruisers invite any classic vehicle owner to participate, registration is free. All free to the public. Vendors welcomed, and so are volunteers. See us on-line at blairsvillecruisers.com for more information and contacts.
Canton
Diabetes Support Group
Every fourth Tuesday of every month from 6:00pm-7:00pm at Northside Hospital-Cherokee’s Education Building, 201 Hospital Road. The meetings will provide all attendees with moral support, clinical information, guidance and advice about living with diabetes. For more information about joining the diabetes support group, contact Jean Elliott at 678-493-1503 or email jean.elliott@northside.com.
Drop-in Breast Cancer Support Group
Independence Day
July 4 at 8:00pm, Cumming Playhouse House, Hank Williams by Jason Petty. See our ad in this issue.
Smoke on the Mountain
July 8-August 2, WTFS at 8:00pm and Sundays at 3:00pm at the Cumming Playhouse, a PlayRight Production
Company. presentation. See our ad in this issue.
Church Services at the Lake
Sundays, through September 6 at 9:00am at Bald Ridge Marina Chapel. Cumming United Methodist Church. For information call 770-887-2900 or go to cfumcga.com.
First Thursday of each month from 10:00am-Noon at Northside Hospital, Diabetes Classroom, Educational Center. Meet with other people who have or have had breast cancer and together examine the emotional and psychological effects and changes, in addition to sharing ideas and information. There is no charge. Call 404-843-1880 for information.
Cleveland
Northeast Georgia Arts Tour
June 19-21 in Habersham, Rabun, White and Stephens Counties. Open House weekend featuries over 100 demonstrating artists at more than 35 venues. Travel scenic routes to meet painters, potters, glass blowers, jewelry makers and more. Visit ArtsTour.org for maps, venues, demonstration schedule, special art events, dinning and lodging options. Brochure available at tour locations.
Cumming
Stress Reduction Classes
June 20 at 10:00am Reiki classes and June 19 and 22 at 11:00am Yoga classes at Northside in either Classroom A or B in Building 1400. Practitioners work with the meridians of the body and help you get in a relaxed state so that your body will respond with this healing energy.
Cancer Fatigue
June 24 at 11:30am at Northside Forsyth Hospital, Building 1400, Administrative Boardroom. Barbara Harn, RN, BSN of the Breast Care Program will provide fundamental information about the clinical reasons behind fatigue, how this condition can affect your overall quality of life, and ways to decrease the physical, psychological, and emotional effects. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to 404-843-1880. Free event.
Forever Plaid
Through June 28, Cumming Playhouse, TFS 8:00pm and Sunday 3:00pm. Thursday special price $15.00. See our ad in this issue.
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400 Edition 25
Events,
Barbershop Singers
Tuesday evenings from 7:30pm-9:30pm at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1125 Bettis Tribble Gap Road. Forsyth County Barbershop Singers invite men ages 18-105 to visit our rehearsals. Men, if you like to sing, this is for you. No experience required. For information call Jerry Frank at 770-886-8670 or email Jerry_frank@bellsouth.net.
Asthma Education
Third Wednesday of each month from 6:30pm-8:00pm at Northside Hospital, Bennett Education Center, Classroom A, 1400 Northside Forsyth Drive. Topics covered include What is Asthma, Trigger Control, Medications and Proper inhaler and peak flow meter techniques. Free Peak Flow Meters also are provided to all attendees. A one-time fee of $15.00 is required. To register for the class, call 770-844-3822. For more information call Sandy Gandee at 404-851-6309 or visit northside.com.
Counseling for Senior Adults
Monthly, second and fourth Wednesday from 9:00am-12:30pm, free individual counseling, by a qualified therapist, at the Forsyth County Senior Center, 595 Dahlonega Highway. Please call Mary Johnson to schedule an appointment at 770-781-2178.
Dahlonega
Appalachian Storytelling
June 16 and June 23 from 6:00pm7:30pm. Storytelling is as much a part of Appalachia as the mountains themselves. Learn about this tradition by listening to recordings and performances of renowned Appalachian tellers. Discover more about the Appalachian dialect and Jack tales. Find out what makes the spoken word different from any other medium. Experience the power of storytelling for yourself as we share stories from our own lives. Call 706-864-1918 to register.
A Guaranteed Blessing
Due to the increased volume of meals for senior adults, a new South route is needed in the Lumpkin County area. If you have a couple of hours to share each week, along with a vehicle, we need you! Call Rhonda at 706-864-2358 for more information.
A 4th of July Celebration to Remember
July 4 beginning at 8:30am, starting with a pet show in Hancock Park, at 9:30am the Dahlonega Baptist Church
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Choir will sing patriotic music from the courthouse lawn, followed at 10:00am with a ceremony officiated by May McCullough on the west lawn of the Gold Museum. The public will then take the lead at the next scheduled event at 11 am with the second annual public reading of the US Constitution from the courthouse steps. You are invited to sign-up that day as a volunteer reader. The Cub Scouts will host a watermelon cutting at 1:15pm in Hancock Park. The Gold City Classic Car Club will feature 200+ hot rods, muscle cars, and other American favorites from Noon6:00pm at North Georgia College and State University’s Lot #16, off South Chestatee Street. Musicians will fill the square all day with diverse sounds of bluegrass, folk, and country. At 5:00pm The Independence Day Parade will start through the square. Festivities will culminate in the evening with a stunning fireworks display over the college drill field at 9:15pm.
History of Gold Mining
July 7 and July 8 from 1:00pm-2:30pm. Go beyond the Georgia Gold Rush of 1829 and learn the full story of the rise and fall of Dahlonega’s gold mining industry. Instructor, Chris Worick, Lumpkin County Historical Society. Call 706-864-1918 to register.
The Music Man
July 9 –11, 16-18, 23-25, 30 - Aug. 1 at 8pm and July 12, 19, 26, Aug 2 at 2pm at the Holly Theatre. See our ad in this issue.
Oral History Recording
July 13 and July 20 from 9:00am-Noon. Learn techniques and ideas for collecting personal and family stories. This class is also appropriate for volunteers who would like to interview local residents for the Saving Appalachian Gardens and Seeds project at the Georgia Appalachian Studies Center. Call 706-864-1918 to register. Instructor, Heavenly Littleton, Documentarian.
Book Discussion
July 14 at 1:00pm at the Lumpkin County Senior Center. The book, ““Body and Soul” by Frank Conroy” by available from the library. Email rhonda@3By400.com for information or call 706-864-2358 for directions to the center.
Art Appreciation Show
Through August 13 beginning at 8:00am at Hoag Student Center, NGCSU. Artwork by faculty of NGCSU on
Events! display. For more information, contact Marilyn McKinnon at 706-864-1423 or email mamckinnon@ngcsu.edu.
Affordable Travel
If you are interested in traveling to New York City, Pennsylvania, or Branson, Missouri, please contact Gail Monroe at 706-864-2358 for information.
Dawsonville
Independence Day at Amicalola
July 3-5, Amicalola Falls State Park. Spend the weekend playing games, making patriotic crafts, and enjoying contests designed for the entire family. Programs are free. $3.00 park pass required. For more information contact call 706-265-1969.
Thunder in the Sky Fireworks Extravaganza
July 3 at Rock Creek Park. Gates open at 5:00pm; live music starts at 6:00pm. Fireworks will begin at dark. No coolers, please.
Ellijay
Poetry of Flowers
June 26 from 2:00pm-5:30pm and June 27 from 10:00am-3:00pm at GAHA Gallery, 72 Dalton St. Flower show is presented in conjunction with the GAHA Regional Juried Art Show, also titled “Poetry of Flowers.” For more information, contact Mary Blohm at 706-636-1514 or marymom51@gmail.com.
Flowery Branch
Large Dog Adoption
August 1 from 10:00am-4:00pm at PetSmart, 5873 Spout Springs Rd. Come and see a selection of large dogs who desperately need a loving home. Choose your new furry friend and get the unconditional love you both deserve. If you have any questions on this event or would like to help volunteering, please call Education Dept at 770-532-6617 or email info@humanesocietyhallcounty.com.
Gainesville
Rabies Clinic and Flea Dip
July 11 from 8:30am-Noon at Sam’s Wholesale Club, 3839 Mundy Mill Rd. This is a chance for the community to protect their animals with a low cost $10.00 rabies shot. Puppies and kittens must be 3 months old for rabies inoculations. We will also have a
$5.00 flea dip during the same hours for dogs over the age of 6 months. If you have questions, please visit our website at humanesocietyhallcounty. com or email Gwen at gwentrimmer@ humanesocietyhallcounty.com or call 770-532-6617.
2nd Annual “Ride for Paws” Motorcycle Ride
July 25, beginning at 9:00am for registration at Motorsports, 2750 Browns Bridge Rd. Ride starts around 10:30am to about Noon. $25.00 entry fee per biker. Extra riders also welcome at $10.00 per rider. Both entry fees include a free custom designed t-shirt. Vendors, silent auctions, a 50/50 raffle, and a raffle for a 2009 Yamaha V-Star 950 motorcycle. Tickets are $25.00. Drawing will be held at 1:30pm on July 25, need not be present to win. For more information go to humanesocietyhallcounty. com, email Gwen at gwentrimmer@ humanesocietyhallcounty.com or call 770 532-6617.
Helen
July 4th Celebration
July 4 at 4:00pm at Helen Festhalle. Join us for live music and BBQ. For more information, contact Jane Sims at 706-865-1908 or office@helenchamber.com.
Fireworks at Dusk
July 4 at 9:00pm at south end of Helen behind Alpine Village Shoppes. See the brilliant display of fireworks beginning at dusk. For more information, contact Connie Disher at 706-878-2181 or email info@helenga.org.
Hiawassee
Fireworks
July 4 at 9:45pm at Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. This is sure to be a show that will light up the mountain sky and end your day with a bang.. For more information, call 706-896-4191 or email gamtfair@windstream.net.
Georgia Mountain Fair
July 15-25 beginning at 10:00am at Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. First class musical performances, fun carnival rides, unique attractions and a glimpse into North Georgia’s rich history and culture, the Fair provides something for every member of the family. For more information, call 706-896-4191 or email gamtfair@windstream.net.
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Events!
Jasper
Watercolor Workshop
June 15 at 10:00am at Pickens County Library. A local artist will introduce students ages 8-12 to the world of watercolor. Spaces are limited for this workshop and we ask that you reserve your slot by registering in advance. For more information, call 706-692-5411 or sequoyahregionallibrary.org.
Master the Arts Scavenger Hunt
June 15 at 3:00pm at Pickens County Library. Explore the library with an exciting scavenger hunt. This program is designed for middle and high school students. For more information, call 706-692-5411 or pickenscountylibrary@gmail.com.
Family Storytime
June 16 at 2:30pm at Pickens County Library. The theme is Ham it Up. Family story-time is designed for families with children of all ages, accompanied by a participating adult. For more information, call 706-692-5411 or email pickenscountylibrary@gmail.com.
Pinch A Pot Workshop
June 17 at 10:00am at Pickens County Library. Bring the family to create and decorate a clay pot using the same techniques used by Native Americans long ago. This family event is for all ages. For more information, call 706-692-5411 or pickenscountylibrary@gmail.com.
The Living Labyrinth: Amazing Greek Myths
June 18 at 2:00pm at Pickens County Library. Professional storyteller and actor, Barry Stewart Mann, brings classic stories to life with his theatrical style of storytelling enhanced with puppetry, masks, improvisational enactment and audience participation. For all ages. For more information, call 706-692-5411 or pickenscountylibrary@gmail.com.
Puppets are We!!
June 19 at 10:00am at Pickens County Library. Come explore different ways of making puppets. Each child will create a puppet to use and take home. This program is for school-age children. For more information, call 706-692-5411 or pickenscountylibrary@gmail.com.
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Photography Show
June 22 at 6:00pm at Pickens County Library. Teens-submit your photos electronically by June 15 and we will print them in an 8X10 format. Come in on June 22 to mat and display your photos. All photos will be displayed at 7:00pm. Even if you don’t submit any photos, come anyway and enjoy browsing during the opening night gala. For more information, call 706-692-5411 or pickenscountylibrary@gmail.com.
Family Storytime
June 24 at 2:30pm at Pickens County Library. The theme is I’ve Got Rhythm. Family story-time is designed for families with children of all ages, accompanied by a participating adult. For more information, call 706-692-5411 or email pickenscountylibrary@gmail.com.
Jug Band Music
June 25 at 2:00pm at Pickens County Library. Professional local musician, Mike Robertson, will lead a jug band starring you. This program is suitable for all ages. For more information, call 706-692-5411 or email pickenscountylibrary@gmail.com.
Genealogy Explorers
June 27 at 10:00am at Pickens County Library. Discussion led by Janice Sly will continue the April and May programs with further exploration of Social Networking websites. For more information, call 706-692-5411 or pklibcir@seqlib.org.
Family Storytime
July 1 at 2:30pm at Pickens County Library. The theme is Puppets and More Puppets. Family storytime is designed for families with children of all ages, accompanied by a participating adult. For more information, call 706-692-5411 or email pickenscountylibrary@gmail.com.
Toddler Movement
July 8 at 10:00am at Pickens County Library. Bring your toddler, up to age five, and have fun dancing and tumbling. For more information, call 706-692-5411 or email pickenscountylibrary@gmail.com.
Family Storytime
July 8 at 2:30pm at Pickens County Library. The theme is Cool Collages. Family story-time is designed for families with children of all ages,
Events! accompanied by a participating adult. For more information, call 706-692-5411 or email pickenscountylibrary@gmail.com.
Fancy Nancy Fashion Extravaganza
information, call Ken Mitteldorf at 678-559-6796 or ken1061@charter.net.
Trail of Tears Association Meeting
July 14 at 2:00pm at Pickens County Library. Children who have completed Kindergarten through Third grade are cordially invited to a fashion show and tea. Dress in your fanciest outfit and strut down the pink carpet with Nancy. Please register in advance as spaces are limited. For more information, call 706-692-5411 or email pickenscountylibrary@gmail.com.
July 11 at 10:30am at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. The speakers will be Lisa Simpson and Kris Barkley: TOTA members, Cobb County teachers and long-time docents at the Nature Center. The topic will be “The Hightower Indian Trail in Cobb County, Georgia.” Following their talk, they will lead us on a short tour along the trail. The GA TOTA business meeting will follow. The Center will be open that day until 5:00pm.
Family Storytime
Volunteer at Barrington Hall
July 15 at 2:30pm at Pickens County Library. The theme is Snapshot. Family story-time is designed for families with children of all ages, accompanied by a participating adult. For more information, call 706-692-5411 or email pickenscountylibrary@gmail.com.
Jasper Farmers Market
Through October 31 from 7:30am12:00pm at Lee Newton Park. Opening day and tenth year of operation. Vendors will sell fresh vegetables and fruits in season, crafts and arts, and much more. For more information, call 706-253-8840 or visit pickensmg.com.
Roswell
U. S. Scottish Fiddle Champion in Concert
June 27 at 7:00pm at house concert in Roswell (directions given with your reservation). Jamie Laval will be performing accompanied by contra dance guitarist Roger Gold. An Irish session (open to all players) and dancing to follow after the concert. For more
by
Fun 400
If you love history, if you love interacting with people, if you love beautiful architecture and decorative arts, if you love antiques or if you love historic gardens, Barrington Hall may have a volunteer opportunity for you. After you sign up to volunteer, you will be given training. The hours are very flexible and based on your availability. For more information call 770-640-3855.
Young Harris
4th of July Celebration
July 3-5 beginning at 9:00am at Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa. BBQ Cookout, Fireworks, Pie Eating Contest, Bingo, Bounce Houses, arts and crafts, Trip to Crane Creek Wine Vineyard, Parents Night Out. Pool Party, Face Painting, Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest, Southern Rock Concert by the Band “Rubber Band,” Hayrides. For more information, call 706-379-9900 or krogers@brasstownvalley.com.
4th of July Word Search
Answers from page 14.
4th of July Word Scramble SPARKLERS JULY BLUE INDEPENDENCE RED UNCLE SAM FIREWORKS WHITE FLAG
BETSY ROSS LIBERTY PARADES DECLARATION FREEDOM BARBECUES UNITED STATES
Courtesy of ActivityConnection.com.
June/July 2009 • www.400edition.com
400 Edition 29
400 Edition Wining & Dining
Knowing Wine by Nancy Forrest
When you stop drinking wine you cease to dream, and when you cease to dream you cease to live. —Unknown
Wine Picks for 2008 I had the opportunity to taste some great wines in 2008. Amaicha, Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina, 2005. Light and
fruity with cherries and strawberries, and black pepper. Soft tannins. Reasonable everyday table wine.
Brutocao Estate Bottled Zinfandel, Mendocino, CA, 2004. Blackberry
and dark cherry with chocolate and smoky oak. Leathery.
Sebastiani, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County, CA, 2005. Dark garnet color
with black tea and black cherry aromas, Full-bodied with silky tannins. Well balanced with flavors of cedar, raspberry, and cocoa. Long finish.
Château St. Jean, Fume Blanc, Sonoma County, CA, 2006. Crisp
Gran Familia, Rioja, Red Wine, Spain. Deep cherry
with aromas of green tea, lemon zest. Flavors of grapefruit and spice. Wonderful.
La Crema, Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, CA, 2005.
Flavors of pear and citrus. Citrus, butterscotch, and lemon aromas. Long finish.
Paso Creek, Merlot, Paso Robles, CA, 2006. Deep red.
Blackberry aromas backed by soft vanilla. Jammy flavors of blackberry and fruit, spice and vanilla. Firm tannins and a long finish.
red color. Ripe fruit with spicy tone and vanilla from the oak.
Red Skye, Syrah, Central Coast, CA, 2004. Flavors
of dark fruit, and aromas of smoke and coffee. Medium-bodied. Oak, pepper, and spice
Brander, Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Ynez Valley, CA, 2007. Crisp
and dry, with floral aromas. Full mouth feel. Good value.
Garnacha de Fuego, Old Vines, Spain, 2006. Raspberry with
cherry mixed in. White pepper and spice. Light/ medium weight with long finish.
Wine of the Month
Vietti Barbera d’Asti Tre Vigne 2005, Italy Dry and medium bodied with oak notes. Ruby color. Red cherry aromas with mineral and vanilla.
Available at: The Wine Store
8455 Holcomb Bridge Road Alpharetta, GA 30022 (770) 641-1900 www.thewinestoreinc.com Visit BIN 75, The Wine Store’s own tasting room next door. Store Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-9pm
Cooking Barbecue—the Science Just exactly what happens when you are cooking barbecue? And when I say “cooking barbecue,” I mean slow smoking barbecue—not grilling directly over high heat. First of all, meat is made up of mostly protein muscle fibers held together with collagen strands along with a little bit of fat. Three things happen when you apply too much heat to meat... Some of the collagen liquefies and turns into gelatin. This process
starts when the meat temperature is around 140 degrees F.
Some of the fat also starts to melt at around 140 degrees F.
Note: Melting collagen and fat is a slow process, so applying too much heat for short times will only melt some of the collagen and fat.
Too much heat will cause the muscle proteins to contract, curl,
and squeeze out the natural juices mixed with the liquefied collagen and fat. The result is dry, tough meat. Just think about what happens when you slap a steak on a hot grill; it firms up and the juices start to flow out. Cook it “well done” and you basically get shoe leather.
Cooking barbecue (slow smoking) is different because of the lower
heat involved. Here’s what happens when meat is cooked at a lower temperature for a long time. The process of liquefying collagen and turning it into gelatin
is a slow process. It does not happen instantly when the meat temperature hits 140 degrees F. It takes time—low and slow. So the longer you hold the meat temperature above 140 degrees F, the more collagen will turn into gelatin.
Same thing with the melting of the fat—it takes time. The protein muscle fibers start to relax and the juices are absorbed
rather than squeezed out. Cooking barbecue in this low and slow fashion results in tender, succulent meats.
If you are experienced at cooking barbecue, you know about the “barbecue plateau” where your meat tends to get stuck at a certain temperature (around 165 degrees F) and stay there. An experienced pit master knows this is when all the “good stuff” is happening: your collagen strands are unwinding, your fat is melting, and your muscle proteins are slowly relaxing instead of seizing up. Used with permission, www.cooking-barbecue.com/
June/July 2009 • www.400edition.com
by Linda Merritt
Restaurant Reviews for the GA 400 Corridor Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q
Southern Barbeque, 3130 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Cumming, GA 30041 678-845-1565 | www.jimnnicks.com Fare: Barbecue | Price: Moderate, Smiles Free | Atmosphere: Casual and friendly
I
n the spirit of our feature this month, we decided to do our Good Eating at a barbecue restaurant. In case you haven’t looked recently, there are over 100 places from Atlanta to Dahlonega that serve barbecue. Some are chains and some are just good places to go when you are hungry. After going through the list and looking at some of their web sites we decided to go down GA400 to Jim ‘N Nick’s BarB-Q in Cumming. They are located at Exit 13 off 400 on the Ronald Reagan Blvd. side of The Avenue. We knew we had come to right place when we saw the parking lot almost full at 11:30am. The hostess’ happy smile greeted us as we came in the door and the smell of barbecue made us glad we had stopped here. Christine, our wait person, took our drink order— they serve Arnold Palmers in case you are interested. If you don’t know what that is, it is tea and lemonade mixed together. Makes for a refreshing drink on a hot day. While we waited for our food we pigged out on the hot cheese bread. I’m a bread lover and that was the best bread I’ve ever eaten. A word of caution: Don’t fill up on the bread before your meal arrives. In a short time, our food was served. Bob, my husband, had ordered the Reunion Dog (spicy hot
Real Men Cook— Sweet Potato Cheesecake
dog with green peppers and onions) and made-fromscratch French fries. Aaron, my grandson, got the chicken fried chicken, mac with cheese, and French fries. If you thought you couldn’t get a good slice of brisket this side of Texas—order the brisket plate. I got fried green tomatoes and cooked apples as my two sides. The brisket was tender enough to cut with a fork, and seasoned to perfection. We couldn’t resist the desserts. Aaron got a piece of Chocolate Cream Pie and I got the Coconut Cream Pie. Oh, my, they were so good. Just like my mama used to make. The manager, Brian Lyman, stopped by to say hello. I had noticed that he stopped by several tables to speak to his customers. He told us that everything is made from scratch and they start early in the morning to get everything ready for the day. You could certainly tell that the bread and pie crust had been made fresh and was not out of a freezer. This year, fourteen of the nation’s most respected barbecue restaurants were invited to showcase their talents and traditions on a world stage in New York City at the Snapple Big Apple Barbecue Block Party. Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q was featured in this very select group, and they chose Drew Robinson to represent
them as official pit master. The Snapple Big Apple Barbecue Block Party was held June 13-14 and attracted more than 120,000 barbecue aficionados to New York’s Madison Square Park. Jim ‘N Nick’s showcased their smoked pork hot links paired with another icon of the Southern picnic, fresh-made pimento cheese. Keep Jim ‘N Nick’s in mind if you are planning a barbecue over the Fourth of July. They sell picnic portions by the pound—meat and all the side dishes. If you are having a large gathering they can accommodate that also. Call them at 678-845-1565 or check their web site at www.jimnnicks.com. Their menu is on line and they do takeout orders. The next time your taste buds call for good barbecue, go to Jim ‘N Nick’s. The food is outstanding and the service is the best. Relax and enjoy. Take time to talk to Brian and/or Christine and tell them you heard about them in 400 Edition.
Sweet Potato Cheesecake
by Patrick Snider
Graham Cracker-Pecan Crust
2 cups finely crushed graham cracker crumbs 1/4 cup white sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 cup butter, melted 1/2 cup finely chopped or crushed pecans
Filling
2 pounds sweet potatoes 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 3/4 cup white sugar 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 2 teaspoons vanilla 1/3 cup sour cream 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream 3 eggs
Topping
3/4 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup butter 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream 1 cup chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix together graham cracker crumbs, pecans, sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter or margarine. Press mixture into the bottom of a 10-inch springform pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool. Don’t turn the oven off. Place potatoes in a baking dish. Bake until a knife inserted in center goes through easily, about 1 hour. Don’t turn oven off. Cool sweet potatoes enough to handle; peel and puree.
Transfer 2 cups of sweet potato puree to a large bowl. Add cream cheese, sugars, sour cream, whipping cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and vanilla; beat until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, blending well after each. Pour filling into crust. Bake until tester inserted in center comes out clean, about 1 hour 30 minutes. If you put a shallow pan of water on the rack below the cake while
June/July 2009 • www.400edition.com
baking, you’ll have a flawless cheesecake without cracks every time. Turn off the oven. Let cake stand 1 hour in oven with door ajar. Combine 3/4 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup butter or margarine in a small heavy saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat, and bring to a boil. Mix in 1/4 cup cream, then nuts. Pour hot topping over cheesecake. Refrigerate.
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