400 LIFE AUGUST 2021
Breeding boas to perfection Erickson says patience, values of life and family key to his success
Patrolling Lake Lanier a dream job for DNR Game Warden Cool off with these great spots to take a dip Also: Leibel tells you why what you say online can be used against you | Check out what these local authors have to offer
contents from the editor
If you haven’t been to Exotic Pets and Supply by Endless Scales, you should check it out. They have some beautiful snakes, lizards and tarantulas. What you won’t see — yet — is the Desert boas owner Jay Erickson has been working for years to breed. He’s learning more and more about the animals genetics and he’s bred some beautiful snakes. Find out what his passion is all about inside and what his plans for the future are. Even though kids are headed back to school, that doesn’t mean the heat of summer is over. Inside you’ll find some great places to cool off. Take out a kayak on one of the beautiful rivers, check out all that Lake Lanier and its parks have to offer or visit Dawson’s hidden gem Devil’s Elbow. And if you’re a regular on Lake Lanier, you may have met Savannah Miller, Game Warden for the Department of Natural Resources. She helps keep patrons of the lake safe and loves every minute of her dream job. This month, local lawyer Steven Leibel warns of defamatory comments online. They can be used against you. Read the article inside to find out how. — Tracie Pike
4 Owner of Endless Scales breeding perfection Jay Erickson, owner of Endless Scales in Cumming, produced his first litter of boas in 2013. He has spent years studying the genetics of Desert boas and plans to release some of his females next year.
10 ‘Swiss Army Knife of Law Enforcement’ Meet Savannah Miller, Game Warden for the Department of Natural Resources. During the summer, she spends her workday on a boat, patrolling Lake Lanier.
contributors Publisher Stephanie Woody
Director of Revenue Leah Nelson
Managing Editor Tracie Pike
Advertising Tim Anderson Stacy Clark
Staff writers Jacob Smith Erica Schmidt Ashlyn Yule Photographer Kelly Whitmire
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17 Most are unaware of the
laws that protect us from defamatory online comments. Know the law before getting behind that keyboard.
12 Whether you’re going to a body of
water or just shooting water guns in the front yard, there is something about it that no good summer is complete without. Check out some of these spots to stay cool and have fun. August 2021 | 400 LIFE | 3
Jay Erickson, owner of Endless Scales in Cumming, breeds Desert boas. “I started with a genetic powerhouse,” Erickson sai
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‘It’s like art’ Owner of Endless Scales has been breeding boas for almost a decade Story by Ashlyn Yule | Photos by Kelly Whitmire
L
iving in Florida, a land full of slithery and scaly creatures, Jay Erickson, owner of Endless Scales in Cumming, produced his first litter of boas in 2013. He said the litter was super hypo jungle arabesque 100% het albino. Now, at first, that seems like a long string of words that may not mean anything to you. But to breeders, each of those modifiers are a category of snake coloring and patterns that are crucial to producing facinating combinations. “I started with a genetic powerhouse,” Erickson said. “I had to learn genetics right off the bat.” Luckily, Erickson had a good friend in Florida, Richard Delbono, that could help him learn the basics of how to identify certain genes just by looking at a snake. “[Delbono] used to quiz me on different things,” Erickson said. “Whenever he produced a litter [of snakes] or he saw something that was cool, he would send me a photo and ask me what it was. [Whether I got] it wrong or right, he would ask me what I saw, what characteristics I could see, and he’d tell me how to distinguish between different morphs.”
So let’s break it down According to Embora Pets, a morph is “a genetic mutation that alters the appearance of
id. “I had to learn genetics right off the bat.”
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Sunglow Jungle Motley the snake” while remaining the same breed. After the litter in 2013, Erickson traded some of his snakes with Delbono to get his first boa with the desert gene. The first desert was made by breeding a snow and hog island boa together, he said. This produced a gene that would have a “nice, creamy color.” He said the gene had some “bad blood” and was “mismanaged” by breeders, so it quickly lost popularity amongst other breeders. “Lawyers got involved, and that deaded the project for a while,” Erickson said. Being a creative, ambitious person by nature, he tackled the challenge of working with the Desert gene and last year was able to produce the first Desert T-Positive Sunglow Jungle Motley in the world, which he said was “a really big step.” “There are certain genetics where if you say you have the only one … it holds a little bit more weight,” he said. Erickson said his biggest accomplishment was when he produced what he believes to be the very first Desert Sunglow Blood boa. He said if his genetic typing is correct, he would 6 | 400 LIFE
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Jay Erickson handles some of the boas.
With the right stuff, it’s pretty easy. Snake’s gonna do what snake’s gonna do. A carpenter is only as good as his tools, but at the end of the day, everything’s up to Mother Nature and her plan. - Jay Erickson, owner of Endless Scales
price the animal around $10,000 because it carries double recessive genes along with a Hypo trait. Blood and Desert are both recessive traits, and they give snakes a red and a creamy appearance respectively. Hypo, short for hypomelanistic, is a gene that “fights against black and dark pigment,” so it keeps the snake’s coloration light. “He’s really a beautiful animal,” Erickson said. “Even when he hasn’t shed, he’s still got that neon color.” Since 2015, Erickson has produced countless Desert boas with different variations, though he’s been keeping a lot of his personal project under wraps. “It’s about the recognition for a lot of people,” Erickson said. “Some people are a little bit higher on their egos than others, but I stay away from posting on the forums and only post when something is born and when it sheds.” He said that he will post a few status updates on “the babies and then leaves them alone.” While he doesn’t do a lot of online posts, he still gets “bigname breeders” reaching out to him. “Recognition is great,” Erickson said. “But I don’t [breed] my boas for that. I do it because I love to see what comes out at the end of the road. It’s like art.”
The science dictates patience But as much of the breeding process is creating artful works on the snakes’ bodies, Erickson said that there is a lot of science and exact work that goes into producing a successful litter. Temperature, proper age, proper time of year and food all play a large part in the breeding process, and when one facet does not align, he will have to wait close to a year to try again. “I can only do so much,” Erickson said. “But with the right stuff, it’s pretty easy. Snake’s gonna do what snake’s gonna do. A carpenter is only as good as his tools, but at the end of the day, everything’s up to Mother Nature and her plan.” He said that he typically starts to breed his snakes in October and that some females can “drop babies” by January while others take until April. “It’s like a six-month period where you’re just waiting and checking and making sure the females are doing well,” Erickson said. Patience and the values of life and family have
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Desert Sunglow Blood Boa
Desert Boas
Photos courtesy Jay Erickson
August 2021 | 400 LIFE | 7
been major takeaways, Erickson said, from his Desert boa project. “I really couldn’t have done it without [my mom],” Erickson said. “She’s been a rider this whole time. I mean, when we had our first litters of boas, she was right there, and now she’s here [at the shop].”
His biggest influence Erickson said that he and his mother, Penny Erickson, have gone to reptile shows together through the years and made so many trips to Tampa for the sake of snakes. “One time we even went from here to Tampa and back in a day,” Erickson said. “Just to pick up … something. In one day.” With his mother and other family members and friends by his side, Erickson said that he’s inspired to continue working on his personal project with the Desert gene and running his exotic pet supply store, Endless Scales. “I don’t really see an end goal,” Erickson said. “I just want to keep going because there’s an endless amount of possibility in this industry. “I just have a path, and once I get to a certain place on that path, I’ll lay a new one and keep going and going and going.” In the future, Erickson said he hopes to breed the Aztec pattern gene into his Desert boas because it is one of his favorite patterns with “nice saddle shapes.” He said that he is planning to release some of his female Desert boas next year. “As I continue to build the project, I have that much more of a foundation to demand my price on what I feel like they’re worth,” Erickson said. “And the more I have to document and to highlight, the more respect people will have for the versatility of the gene. It’s a great gene.” Endless Scales is located at 432 Canton Road in Cumming. For more information about the shop, call 678-807-0481 or visit Jay Erickson with his nother, Penny. They own Exotic them on Facebook at Exotic Pets Pets and Supply by Endless Scales in Cumming. and Supply by Endless Scales. 8 | 400 LIFE
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August 2021 | 400 LIFE | 9
Savannah Miller, left, is the Forsyth County Department of Natural Resources Game Warden, keeping outdoor activities such as Lake Lanier and hunting safe for everyone involved. She is shown here with Cpl. Dan Schay.
Meet Savannah Miller Department of Natural Resources Game Warden Story and photos by Jacob Smith
There are few workdays that feel like the one before for Savannah Miller. As a Game Warden for the Department of Natural Resources, every day comes with a new adventure for Miller. During the summer, she spends her workday on a DNR boat, patrolling Lake Lanier. “It’s different every day,” Miller said. “You meet a lot of great people out here. We work closely with the sheriff’s office and the fire department. You get a lot of cool connections. Plus, you’re out on the water all day.” The DNR is known as the “Swiss Army Knife of Law Enforcement” because of all the different responsibilities expected of them. Not only do the officers go through six months of academy training but are required at least two years of college. Game Wardens have special Boat EVOC training to learn how to stop their boat on a dime. Miller graduated from Kennesaw State with a degree in 10 | 400 LIFE
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Criminal Justice. For the last three years, she has worked with the DNR, a dream she’s held from a young age. “Ever since I was a little girl, I always wanted to go into law enforcement,” Miller said. “I love the outdoors and decided that there was no better career path for me than law enforcement outside, so DNR was the one for me.” A day on the water could be exactly what you think a day would look like. Stopping kids with jet skis, checking fishing licenses and making sure life jackets are being worn. But, disaster can strike at any moment. On Lake Lanier, Miller and fellow game wardens deal with drownings on a regular basis. Miller was even on the water during a boat explosion in early June. But through all the danger and turmoil, Miller said her team of officers always have each other’s backs. “We definitely support each other no matter what,” Miller said. “We check on each other and mesh together really well. Our end
Savannah Miller, right, Forsyth County Department of Natural Resources Game Warden, talks to patrons on a jet ski during her water patrol.
goal is giving that family closure. We can’t focus on anything else right now. We just want to make it as easy of a transition as possible.” Miller works in the field, but the DNR has multiple different teams working throughout the state, including a repelling team, K-9 unit, investigative teams and undercover teams. “We get calls out here for a lot of crazy things,” Miller said. “We also do our routine stops. We like to say that we’re the state troopers of the lake. We stop a lot of boats just like they stop cars on the highway. We do safety checks to make sure everybody has the proper equipment.” Outside of the summer, Miller spends most of her time in the woods monitoring the different hunting seasons. In the Fall, deer season takes precedent and Springtime is all about the turkeys, followed by duck season. “The job changes with every season,” Miller said. “You pretty much make your own hours, which is very nice. There’s so many opportunities and things you can get into. Whatever you find is your cup of tea, we have something for.” As the days change for Miller, one constant remains: she is living out her dream job every day. “I love the job,” Miller said. “I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
Department of Natural Resources Cpl. Dan Schay patrols Lake Lanier. August 2021 | 400 LIFE | 11
If looking for adventure, look no further than the rope swings at Devil’s Elbow in Amicalola Creek. Be careful for a strong undercurrent.
‘Splish Splash!’
Water adventures in North Georgia Story by Jacob Smith and photos by Ben Hendren
There are only a handful of things better than getting friends and family together and getting in the water to cool off. Whether you’re going to a body of water or just shooting water guns in the front yard, there is something about it that no good summer is complete without. After an exceptionally tough year, take time to unwind and enjoy all the fun watery adventures that North Georgia has to offer. 12 | 400 LIFE
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With more than 690 miles of shoreline, Lake Lanier is well known for its aqua-blue colored water, spectacular scenery and unique recreational activities.
Dawson Forest Canoe & Kayaking Take Out
Lake Lanier
Located right off the Etowah River, kayakers or canoers drop off at this nine-mile stretch of river to enjoy beautiful spots all along the way. Within the borders of the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area, this frequently paddled portion of the Etowah is covered in shady spots with several shoals to explore, all rated Class 1. If kayaking is not your thing, there is a covered pavilion and several swings facing the river to watch others and hear the rush of the water against the rocky banks. Dawson Forest Canoe & Kayaking Take Out is at 5693 Kelly Bridge Road, Dawsonville. You can also launch a kayak at Eagles Beak Park, 8420 Old Federal Road, Ballground, GA 30107.
One of the biggest attractions in Forsyth County and the north Georgia area, Lake Lanier is a must see for anyone new to the county. Lake Lanier has 76 recreational areas, including 40 Corpsoperated parks and campgrounds, 10 marinas, and Lake Lanier Islands. Whether it be swimming at the beach at one of the parks, circling the lake in a boat, or enjoying a day of fishing practically anywhere, there is no end of things to do at the lake. Find out more about where and how you can visit the Lake by visiting the US Army Corps of Engineers at www.sam. usace.army.mil.
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Devil’s Elbow
Ride the Chattahoochee River The Chattahoochee River is a font of recreational opportunities for people of all ages. Make sure that you check out the river by canoe, kayak, and personal float or just by walking along the river’s edge. Like with Lake Lanier, the river is a great place for fishing, provided you have the correct licenses. Make sure that you check out the water release schedule from the US Army Corps of Engineers before setting out on your adventure. Find out more info at www.nps.gov. Launch a kayak or canoe at these locations: • Lower West Pool (near the Dam) • Chattahoochee Pointe Park • 8484 McGinnis Ferry Road
Given the name Devil’s Elbow, this spot isn’t for the faint of heart. Named for the intense undertow at the water’s bend, Devil’s Elbow can be very dangerous and should be treated with caution. But when visited responsibly, this swimming hole can be one of Dawson County’s most beautiful hidden gems. Visitors can splash around in the shallow end and enjoy a day in the wilderness. Makeshift ropes and ladders have been put up around to jump into the deeper parts of the water. “As long as everybody’s smart about it and a good swimmer, there’s no reason not to visit,” Robert Bloome said while visiting the swimming hole. “It’s a fun time to pile into the truck and come hang around.” Devil’s Elbow is at Steele Bridge Road in Amicalola Creek.
We aren’t just a daycare in Cumming, we are a premier early education and child care experience for children and Cumming Aquatic Center Located at 201 Aquatic Circle, just off Pilgrim Mill Road, is the Cumming Aquatic Center. The 50,000-square-foot facility has indoor and outdoor pools and hosts programming from swim lessons to Silver Sneakers programs for seniors. The facility is also available for private bookings. The outdoor pool will have a few openings in August for patrons to take advantage of before the end of summer. Visit cummingaquaticcenter.com for more information.
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FoCoFlavors is a weekly lifestyle email newsletter focused on food and things to do in the community. FoCoFlavors is delivered straight to inboxes every Thursday morning full of info on local activities, events and places to eat in Forsyth County. Readers will get updates about restaurant openings and things to do close to home — perfect to make a plan for your weekend. To sign up, go to forsythnews.com/newsletters.
A taste of what’s offered WINGS
Rooster’s Café Rooster’s Café in Cumming originally opened its doors in November 1989. New owners took over in June 1991 and never looked back. We believe in family fun and comfort. Rooster’s wings
have placed second at the Stone Mountain Wing Fling, won Best of Forsyth every year since 2015, and mentioned at No. 4 in the “Ultimate Finger Licking Wing Trail” which represents all of Georgia. Where: 216 Atlanta Road, Cumming, GA 30040 Contact: 770-889-6890, roosterscafe.net/cumming.
skins, Ale House, peppercorn or Mos burger, blackened mahi mahi, sirloin, new York strip steak and more. Where: 5446 Bethelview Road, Cumming, GA 30040 Contact: 770-292-9999, www.castleberryalehouse.com.
Castleberry Ale House
Wild Wing Cafe has the Best Wings in town! Plus is your home to catch a game, check out the latest Live Music, while enjoying a made from scratch meal. Where: 410 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 242, Cumming, GA 30041 Contact: 770-889-9915, www.wildwingcafe.com/cumming-ga.
Castleberry Ale House is a local favorite because the staff works hard to give the best service, quality food at reasonable prices and weekly events and/or entertainment. Try the wings, nachos, barbecue or buffalo chicken potato
Wild Wing Café
BURGERS Village Burger
Vicky Lou’s Burgers
A family-friendly restaurant that has anything from burgers to frozen custard. Try the Village Burger, veggie burger, turkey burger and more. Add the Village hand-cut fries to complete the meal. Where:101 W Courthouse Square, Cumming, GA 30040 Contact: 470-239-4502, www.villageburger.com.
Great food, great family atmosphere. Fast and friendly service. Vicky Lou’s serves burgers and shakes of all flavors. Where: 6730 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA 30506 Contact: 470-253-7935, www.vickylousburgers.com.
The Burger Stop
Grub Burger
Burger Stop offers tons of burgers from all flavors and creations to all thing’s hot dogs, philly cheesesteaks, sandwiches, wings, to salads. Burger Stop is one of a kind and a must. Where: 5535 Bannister Road, Cumming, GA 30028 Contact: 470-239-7288, www.theburgerstopga.com. 16 | 400 LIFE
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With a huge menu, burgers, sandwiches, salads, bowls, and plenty of sides, Grub also has a full bar and delicious milkshakes. Where: 410 Peachtree Pkwy Unit 204, Cumming, GA 30041 Contact: 678-341-5689, www.grubkitchenandbar.com.
400 legal
Hiding Behind the Keyboard
What you say online can be used against you In a world lacking in privacy, it always amazes me to open my Facebook application and read the snarky, awful comments people post while they believe they are safely behind a keyboard. Somehow these folks are unaware of the laws that protect us from defamatory comments. There is no such thing as free speech between private individuals, as our constitution only applies to government speech and only protects us from being sued by the government for our public remarks. In other words, if statements are made about another person, common law and causes of action are fair game. We have a confused understanding of this because the
United States Supreme Court has extended significant protection to media organizations under New York Times v. Sullivan, Steven Leibel which held that newspapers can only be liable for civil damages when they print stories about public figures if they knowingly print falsehoods with the intention of harming someone. But lawsuits between private individuals are not subject to that standard. Under Georgia law, which is codified in Chapter 5 of Title 51 of the Georgia Code, you can be sued
if you cause someone harm by spreading false rumors about someone, and they do not even have to prove they were materially harmed if the rumor alleges that they committed a crime, or had a disease, or did something unethical in their profession. The law assumes such rumors are harmful. When people post articles portraying others in what is termed a “false light,” they may be in an appropriate case be sued for these statements. This is a highly technical area of law, and obviously sometimes you are permitted to say things even if they harm others. However, it is safest to assume that false statements posted online will not be entitled to any deference under the law.
Under the eyes of the law, one should be careful about what one writes about another. In some circumstances, claims can be made against those who post, and their homeowner’s insurance policy may have to pay for those statements. As usual, it is better to listen to your grandmother’s advice, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it at all.” Steven Leibel is the principal Attorney at Leibel Law, he is a Georgia Super Lawyer in personal injury, and is rated preeminent AV by Martindale.com. If you have any questions, please feel free to email at info@leibel.com or call (404) 892-0700. — Sponsored content
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P I Z Z A / I TA L I A N Marie’s Italian Deli Opened in October of 2012, Karen and her family have been cooking her grandmother and great-grandmother’s recipes for almost a decade. Marie’s Italian Deli uses only the finest and freshest ingredients to create breakfasts, pizzas, calzones, subs, soups, salads and homemade Italian dishes. Mike’s Mighty Meaty Pie with pepperoni, homemade meatballs, sausage, smoked ham and mozzarella and Rose’s White Pie with ricotta and mozzarella cheeses and grated Parmesan are a few of the favorites. Where: 580 Atlanta Road, Suite 34, Cumming, GA 30030. Contact: 770-886-0084, www.mariesitaliandeli.com.
Pizzeria Azzurri Owners Jon and Lara Eddleman, along with their children, Madison and Davis, make terrific brick-oven pizza and other delicious dishes every day. The eatery also serves a variety of pastas, salads, sandwiches and wraps. Build your own pizza with any number of toppings including sweet sausage, beef, ham, buffalo chicken, mozzarella balls, feta, sundried tomato, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives and more. Where: 3560 Browns Bridge Road, Cumming, GA 30028 Contact: 770-887-8833, www.pizzeriaazzurri.com\
Giorgio’s Family Kitchen Giorgio’s is a family-owned and operated restaurant established in 1991. Some menu items include Four Cheese Fried Ravioli, Greek
calamari, pizza, chicken parmigiana, meatball or sausage parmigiana, fettuccine alfredo, tilapia or chicken piccata, a gyro plate and more. Where: 558 Lakeland Plaza, Cumming, GA 30040. Contact: 770-781-4525, www.eatatgiorgios. com
Rosati’s Pizza and Sports Pub The Chicago-based, family-owned restaurant knows great pizza. Having been in business for a long time, they’ve served countless customers with traditional Chicago-style pizzas cooked to perfection. Whether you’re craving a deep-dish, thin-crust, or double-dough style, they can craft a personalized pizza just for you. With a vibrant sports-pub feel and a TV at every booth, it’s a great spot to grab a slice with friends and enjoy the game. There is also a full bar with a variety of beer on tap. Where: 415 Peachtree Pkwy #200, Cumming, GA 30041. Contact: 678-513-1113, www.rosatispizzaandsportspub.com
Village Italian Village Italian opened September 2016 in Vickery Village, offering Cumming residents a contemporary and cozy destination for lunch, brunch, or dinner. The modern, comfortable decor goes hand-inhand with the classic and new Italian menu options which focuses on small and sharing plates, signature entrees, as well as innovative items coming from the restaurant. Where: 5772 North Vickery Street, Cumming, GA, 30040 Contact: 770-886-8999, www.villageitalian.com
ICE CREAM Chill Hill Ice Cream
Bruster’s
The Chill Hill offers ice cream and selfserve frozen yogurt with your choice of over 50 different toppings. Indoor seating available as well as seating on the outdoor patio or in the Village Green. Where: 5860 S Vickery, Cumming, GA 30040 Contact: 770-781-0963, facebook.com/TheChillHill.
Bruster’s has a large variety of premium flavors and artisan desserts are made right in the store where they are served, including crunchy handmade waffle cones, customized sundaes, candy-filled blasts and thick milkshakes. Where: 878 Buford Road, Cumming GA 30041 Contact: 678-455-6633, brusters.com/cumming.
Popbar Popbar is your traditional Italian gelateria with a twist of modern dessert fun. Specializing in all-natural, handcrafted gelato on a stick, the menu includes 60-plus flavors, and endless ways to customize. Where: Halcyon, 6710 Town Square, Suite 130, Alpharetta GA 30005 Contact: 470-294-2910, www.pop-bar.com. 18 | 400 LIFE
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Culver’s Culver’s only uses fresh, never frozen beef and whole, white meat chicken from America’s family farms. They only use family farm-fresh dairy for our Frozen Custard and every single Cheese Curd they have served has come from a Wisconsin dairy farm. Where: 5512 Bethelview Road, Cumming GA 30040 Contact: 470-253-8870, www.culvers.com/restaurants/cumming.
MEXICAN Los Rios Mexican Restaurant
Where: 3040 Keith Bridge Road, Cumming, GA 30041 Contact: 508-443-1116, www.lakeburrito.com.
Los Rios is a great local Mexican restaurant with a very easy-going atmosphere. The restaurant has great meals and margaritas. Where: 12 Tri-County Plaza, Cumming, GA 30040 Contact: 678-456-8892, www. losrioscummingga.com.
Tacos and Tequilas Mexican Restaurant This cantina style restaurant offers a full bar and patio with an energetic vibe. Enjoy all your familiar Mexican plates while enjoying a new atmosphere. Where: 2115 Market Place Blvd., Cumming, GA 30041 Contact: (678) 456-8237, tandtatlanta.com.
Hacienda Bar and Grill Hacienda Bar and Grill offers authentic Mexican food with a sports bar atmosphere. All of your traditional Mexican meals can be offered here. Where: 549 Lakeland Plz. Unit 549 Cumming, Ga. 30040 Contact: 678-341-9589, haciendabarr.com.
7 Tequilas Cantina
Lake Burrito Good food and good vibes is their moto. Lake Burrito has it going on here with not your typical Mexican food. Burritos, bowls, nachos, salads, tacos, and more. A family owned and run restaurant that you can’t miss.
An authentic Mexican restaurant that offers all the staples along the way. They offer chicken wings, salads, nachos, seafood plates, and tons of other Mexican specials. Where: 5063 Post Road, Cumming, GA 30040 Contact: 678-455-5965, 7tequilasmexicanrestaurant.com.
BARBECUE Socks’ Love Barbecue
Jim N Nicks
Socks’ Love Barbecue where all meats and sides are made in house. From brisket, ribs, pork, turkey, chicken, to all sides from mac n cheese, cowboys beans, and delicious collards plus more. Stop here for all your pork and beef sausage needs as well. This restaurant provides catering all over the county as well with daily specials each week. Smoked and rubbed daily in house to never disappoint your barbecue taste buds. Where: 1050 Buford Road, Unit 104. Cumming, GA 30041 Contact: 470-302-8383, www. sockslovebrands.com.
Originally founded in Alabama, Jim N Nicks has made its name known all across the south. All the southern goodness can be found here with their delicious cheese biscuits brought to you hot as soon as you sit down to anything on the menu. Baked potatoes, catfish, chicken tenders, ribs and all things barbecue. Where: 3130 Ronald Reagan Blvd Cumming, Ga 30041 Contact: 678-845-1565, www.jimnnicks.com.
‘Cue Barbecue ‘Cue Barbecue brings barbecue to a whole new environment. With an awesome hang out to dine in and enjoy some barbecue and alcoholic beverages if interested. Everything is made from scratch with local produce. Get your classic barbecue staples here plus barbecue nachos, pizza, and more. Where: 1370 Buford Hwy., Cumming, Ga 30041 Contact: 770-888-1048, www.cuebarbecue.com.
Big D’s Serving homemade country breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Big D’s has it going on. With a wide variety of foods, delicious meats throughout the day such as sausage, burnt ends, pork, ribs, you name it and they have it. Freshly smoked meat provided by the family owned restaurant every day. Burgers and wings brought you as well. Where: 212 Atlanta Road, Cumming, GA 30040 Contact: 470-695-7444, www.bigdsbbq.com. August 2021 | 400 LIFE | 19
400 reads
Five local authors to try this summer
This summer, you might be looking for a new book or two to read. There are several local authors in the north Georgia area, with several local works to enjoy. Here are five authors you should check out. — Erica Schmidt
“Killing My Cuba” by Lou and Lilli Meier Local woman Lilli Meier recently published a historical fiction book based on her experience growing up in Cuba under a repressive government. Meier was both in Havana and lived there until she was 11 and a half, from 1949 to 1961, when she moved to Miami, Florida. Now, with the help of her husband, Lou, she has written and published a book, “Killing My Cuba,” based on the first part of her life in Cuba. Meier, who lives in North Forsyth and is an active member of the Dawsonville book club, said that she always wanted to return to Cuba where she grew up but didn’t have a chance to do so until she was in her 50s. “As the years went by, I was raising a family and lived in Atlanta but I thought that by the time I was 40 I could return back to a free Cuba,” Meier said. “Years went by, and I turned 50 and I did get to go back in my 50s, but I went back to a country that was practically destroyed.” After returning to visit Cuba, Meier said that she wanted to write a book to remember past events. Meier based her novel on her own memories and those of her father, who was a doctor in Havana, and added a fiction element in her 20 | 400 LIFE
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book too. “I had conversations with my father later on growing up, he was a doctor in Havana so my husband who is a radiologist helped me to write some of the medical parts of the book,” Meier said. “But the fiction part of the novel is for the sake of entertainment, and the historical part is factually based on my growing up there and my father’s memories.” Meier and her husband took two and a half years to finish writing the book, and Meier said that the process was therapeutic for her. “It brought me a certain amount of remembering both the sad memories and the fond memories,” Meier said. “If you ask people what they remember about their first 10 or 11 years a lot of people would say it was nothing exciting, but I had a really exciting childhood.” Meier said the goal of her book is to reach members of the next generation with her story. “I want to reach the young generation with this too, because this happened and the unfortunate thing is that the communist regime is still pretty much in force down there,” Meier said. “A lot of people will say ‘I’ve been on cruises and I’ve seen Havana’ but you haven’t seen what I’ve seen; I’ve seen some things that would just break your heart.” For those interested in reading Meier’s book, “Killing My Cuba” is available to order in paperback form on Amazon at amzn.to/3kEGwCe. For more information on the book and its authors, go to www.killingmycuba.com.
nurse from Florida. Hilton is currently awaiting execution in a Florida prison. According to Cagle, Emerson’s murder is one that has always stuck with him and the other investigators who worked the case. One of the reasons it affected him so much personally was because much of the search took place in Dawson Forest, where he had worked while in high school. “I grew up in Pickens County, and when I graduated from high school, Dawson Forest had just been decommissioned and I worked a summer job out there shoveling radioactive dirt,” Cagle said. “I would kind of explore out there after I’d get off and it was spooky. So I kind of described that experience, and then 36 years later I’m out there one night looking for a body.” Cagle said that one of the main reasons he decided to write the book was as a way for himself and other officers to work through the case, and to hopefully put it behind them. “Some people are hesitant to talk about it, and that might have been one of the reasons I waited so long to write it,” Cagle said. “I’ve struggled with this case since then, as a lot of investigators have, and I thought it might be kind of therapeutic to write about it – and so far so good. And I’m getting a good response from folks; a lot of officers and some of my former agents have called me and said they felt the same way.” For those interested in reading Cagle’s book, “Those Days in January” can be purchased on Amazon at amzn. to/2TrpKLy.
“They Inspired Me: My Life Journey from Gardi to Tomahawk Mountain” by Jimmy L. Hill “Those Days in January: The Abduction and Murder of Meredith Hope Emerson” by John Cagle If you’re interested in a gripping, behind-the-scenes look into one of Georgia’s most shocking murders, then John Cagle’s book “Those Days in January: The Abduction and Murder of Meredith Hope Emerson” is a must-read. Cagle, who was the supervising agent in the investigation of Meredith Emerson’s kidnapping and murder on the Appalachian Trail, published his tell-all book over a decade after the case ended, offering a new perspective into the case. The investigation took place in January of 2008 when 24-year-old Meredith Emerson went missing from the Byron Herbert Reece Memorial Trailhead in Union County, where she had gone hiking with her dog, Ella. Authorities found and arrested 61-year-old Gary Hilton a few days after Emerson’s disappearance and later charged him for kidnapping, murdering and decapitating Emerson. Hilton pled guilty and negotiated to avoid the death penalty by showing investigators where he had hidden Emerson’s body in Dawson Forest. He was also convicted of kidnapping and killing John and Irene Bryant, a couple hiking in North Carolina, and Cheryl Dunlap, a
Jimmy Hill had always wanted to write an autobiography as a keepsake for his children and grandchildren, but he’d always been too busy to sit down and start writing until one day he realized that if he was going to write the book, he was going to have to make the time to work on it. So he sat down and started researching and remembering, and nearly two years later the Dawson County man published “They Inspired Me: My Life Journey from Gardi to Tomahawk Mountain.” Hill’s autobiography follows his story of his childhood in rural Georgia all the way through to his retirement in the Dawson County mountains. Throughout his book, Hill tells story after story from his life, from living in a tar paper shack for the first several years of his life to meeting and marrying
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his wife, his mother starting successful frozen dumpling company Mary Hill Dumplings and the tragic loss of his brother at age 14. Hill said that his time living in Dawson has made an impact on him and his life story, so he mentions the county and many of his neighbors in his book. “The last place we lived before here was Grayson, Georgia, but we always camped up in the mountains, so when I retired from Georgia Power in 1996 we came up to a friend’s house up here and fell in love with it,” Hill said. “It’s a small community, so you get to know people and interesting characters and I write about a lot of them in the book and tell some of their stories about them.” In addition to the stories and memories Hill details in his book, something that makes it especially unique is the number of photos he has included throughout each chapter. “I put 242 pictures in the book and that’s something that’s not normally done,” Hill said. “I went through all my parents’ pictures and pictures I had and was able to pull all of those together, so there’s a lot of old pictures that are in there.” For those interested in reading Hill’s book, “They Inspired Me” is available for purchase on his website at jimmy-hill. com. He also donated two copies of it to the Dawson County Public Library for community members to check out and read, and he hopes to sell copies at the Amicalola Regional Farmers Market throughout the summer.
“A Taste of Chestatee” Cookbook by Chestatee neighborhood residents If you’re interested in a different kind of summer reading and want to add some new recipes to your cooking repertoire, “A Taste of Chestatee” cookbook, written and published by Dawson County residents, is the book for you. The cookbook, which was assembled and published by a group of women from Chestatee neighborhood in Dawson County, was a project aimed at raising money for the Backpack Buddies charity. The book showcases recipes from five local chefs, which was a selling point for it, according to El Morris, one of the book’s creators. 22 | 400 LIFE
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“We ended up with five chefs who each gave us one of their recipes which was really cool,” Morris said. “So we had a professional photographer come in and take pictures of them and put them in the book on the divider pages so it has the chef’s picture and the name of the restaurant on the front and then on the back is his recipe.” The five restaurants included in the cookbook include four from Dahlonega, as well as Dawson’s own Blue Bicycle restaurant. In the first several weeks of selling the book, the team of women sold 485 copies of it and raised $5,558 for Backpack Buddies. For more information on the Chestatee cookbook and how to get one for yourself, email chestateecookbook@ gmail.com.
“Uncorked and Off the Chain” by Jameson Gregg If you’re in the mood for a laugh, then local man Jameson Gregg’s book “Uncorked and Off the Chain” is the choice for you. Gregg’s book consists of 175 sections covering a variety of topics, from sports to gambling to marriage and short anecdotal stories, all aimed at giving readers a laugh. According to Gregg, his aim is to help end the “laughter drought” in the United States by giving readers a reason to laugh. “Everybody loves to laugh,” Gregg said in a press release. “It provides instant gratification and an endorphin burst. Some pieces will resonate with every reader in a long-lasting and personal way — writings that they will not soon forget.” For readers without a ton of extra time on their hands, “Uncorked and Off the Chain” is the perfect book. Since it’s divided up into so many short sections, it’s perfect to grab and read a paragraph at a time. For those interested in Gregg’s book, “Uncorked and Off the Chain” is available for purchase at https:// amzn.to/3BnDhov. For more information or other ways to purchase the book, go to jamesongregg.com.
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