Georgia Mountain Laurel April 17 by The Laurel of Northeast Georgia

From the Publisher HE lives – Spring has Sprung – We are Blessed

inter is over and spring is here. Easter is coming and it is such a time of hope and renewal. Eggs will be looked for, candy eaten, pretty dresses and hair bows and snappy suits will march their way into churches to praise God for Jesus and the hope He brings. It’s spring in the mountains and life is spectacular.

Our calendar has grown this month and we are celebrating the arts and Habersham County. We decided that this year in April and through the end of the year we would celebrate the counties where you find the Laurel. We will be coming to your town and shining the spotlight on all that makes your county great. We appreciate all of our advertisers and our readers in each of the 8 counties where we show up and this year we’ll recognize each of you. If you are a business owner you won’t want to miss your county’s issue! The end of the month is Celebrate Clayton, one of my favorite festivals. I will join the 100+ vendors and have my booth; make sure you visit the event either on Saturday, April 29th or Sunday, April 30th, rain or shine. Please pray for shine! Next month Clarkesville will host the Mountain Laurel Festival so mark your calendars and don’t miss it! The dogwoods will soon be blooming and the days will get a big longer. It’ll soon be planting time and spring break will find kids and parents enjoying the outdoors. Ahhh the joy of spring.... don’t you love it? Wait, my nose is itching.... someone hand me the Claritin! Easter Blessings, Tracy

April 2017 • Volume Fourteen • Issue Four • Copyright 2017 Publisher/Editor - Tracy McCoy Art Director - Dianne VanderHorst Assistant Art Director - Nikki Dunbar Office Manager/ Account Executive - Cindi Freeman Account Executive - Melissa Williams-Thomas Account Executive - Melynda Hensley Copy Editor/Writer - Jan Timms Photographer/Writer - Peter McIntosh Writer - Luke McCoy

Georgia Mountain Laurel Mailing: PO Box 2218, Clayton, Georgia 30525 Office: 2511 Highway 441, Mountain City, Georgia 30562 706-782-1600 • www.gmlaurel.com Contributing Writers: Jean Hyatt, Mark Holloway, Susan Brewer Steve Jarrard, MD, Lisa Harris, John Shivers, Emory Jones, Lorie Thompson

Copyright 2016 by Rabun’s Laurel Inc. All rights reserved. The Georgia Mountain Laurel Magazine is published twelve times per year. Reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publishers and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to GML magazine’s right to edit. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, photographs and drawings. Every effort has been made to assure that all information presented in this issue is accurate, and neither Laurel magazine or any of its staff is responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. The Georgia Mountain Laurel maintains a Christian focus throughout their magazine. Rabun’s Laurel, Inc. reserves the right to refuse content or advertising for any reason without explanation.

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In This Issue Arts & Entertainment

56 57 58 59

Habersham Spotlight

Health & Wellness

10 12 16 20 24 26

Cover Artist - Tim & Karen Chambers North Georgia Arts Guild Featured Artist - Tari Ramos

Exprience Habersham Habersham County Chamber Glen Ella Springs Inn

64 66 68 70

Bon Appetit The Family Table

76 78

Life is a Blessing River Garden Bless Your Heart

Wheels - Franklin Brown’s ‘57 Chevy Old Time Country Store

Life & Leisure

Affairs to Remember 45 48 52

Adventure Out Soque Watershed Mountain Nature Solar Eclipse

Yesterdays

Faith in Christ 40 42 44

Live Healthy & Be Well

Outdoors

A Taste 32 38

Toast of Toccoa Kentucky Derby Party for S.A.F.E. Chattooga Conservancy Mountain Laurel Festival

A Different Kind of Yardsale Mountain Happenings Event Calendar Celebrate Clayton

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28 30 79 80

Let the Auction Begin A Short Story - CJ & Friends By the Way Lovin’ the Journey

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April 2017

TKC - Tim and Karen Chambers and Those Kooky Chickens We love Those Kooky Chickens!

tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s funny how life takes those twists and turns that end us up in a place we never dreamed doing something we only dreamed about. For Tim and Karen Chambers this is their tale and I am pleased to share it with you.

Both Tim and Karen have deep roots going back six generations in Highlands. They have been married for 34 years, raised their son Kasey and continue to call Highlands home. Tim worked as a specialty carpenter and one day a client asked if he could build a custom screen door for an unusual door opening. Tim took on that challenge and created an unbelievable screen door. Word of mouth quickly spread and soon Tim was creating custom screen doors in the Highlands/Cashiers area and all over the Southeast. Fate stepped in when a client asked for something fun and different for the restaurant screen door that Tim was building. The restaurant theme was fish so Tim asked Karen who had always enjoyed painting if she could make a fish for a screen door. Next thing you know they are making screen doors with fish, bears, chickens, pine cones....whatever clients dreamed of!

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The couple began to explore painting and creating on more than screen doors. Gourds and screen wire became Karen’s “canvas”. Over the years she has honed in on her quirky style of mostly chicken themed folk art though they have created bears, pigs, cows, flamingos and even a giraffe or two. All just as fun and adorable as the chickens! Tim creates all the legs and bases for the chickens and frames all of Karen’s screen art paintings. Tim and Karen’s art is so fun when they began giving their chickens to family and friends as gifts they loved them so much they kept encouraging the couple to venture out and sell them. That’s just what they did! They worked up an inventory and decided to do a local art show and the chickens sold like hot cakes! The crowds loved them and the comment they heard then and continue to hear most today is “Those kooky chickens make me happy!” Karen and Tim feel when they hear this that they have achieved their job. One show led to more shows and sooner rather than later they spread their wings and took off....selling their chickens full time. For years their business was called TKC using their initials. As it turned more to art it needed a fun, memorable name but still using the original initials. So on a road trip home from a show, they brainstormed and Those Kooky Chickens was born! That was over 15 years ago. Last year the Chambers did 30 art shows throughout the Southeast. They truly enjoy Celebrate Clayton and have participated in the show for a number of years. This year you’ll find Those Kooky Chickens at the downtown festival on April 29th & 30th. Tim still creates craftsman style custom screen doors and together they make these happy little hens. A complete show schedule is available on their website www. thosekookychickens.com and a great gallery of their art. So what if you want a Those Kooky Chicken but can’t make it to one of their shows? Visit their Etsy shop online and keep up with them on their Facebook page by searching Those Kooky Chickens. You may also talk with the Chambers by calling 828.200.9327. When it comes to colorful, fun, kooky, little chickens, everyone needs at least one!! gmlaurel.com

April 2017

North Georgia Arts Guild Featured Artist Tom Slavicek by Susan Brewer and Tom Slavicek Tom Slavicek, April’s “Celebrate Clayton” featured artist, will attend our festival in downtown Clayton, Saturday and Sunday, April, 29th and 30th. He operates Black Eagle Leather in Dahlonega which offers one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted leather purses, small carrying cases and pouches. He and his wife Karen, moved to north Georgia (Dahlonega) following his 37-year career as an executive director for the Boy Scouts of America. It was part of a lifetime of work: as a Scout, earning his Leatherworking Merit Badge for his Eagle Scout Award, then as an adult, whose duties included service on 9 Scouting Councils and a 4-year tour in Germany helping US forces and their families. His reward – witnessing Boy Scouts transform into leaders and men. Tom was served by his leatherworking hobby when he “got serious” with it 6 years ago. The most popular artwork pieces are dragonflies, humming birds, moths and “exotic insects” of wide varieties. Tom’s favorite subject, however, is Paleolithic cave paintings, especially those found in Lascaux, France. “The copyright on the cave art has probably expired,” he told me, smiling. Most often he uses tanned cow hide embossed to resemble exotic skins with textures and colors carefully selected to represent the real thing – and they are lovely. Tom takes great pleasure in referring to leather that resembles alligator as “Cow-ligator” and ostrich as “Cow-strich”. Occasionally, he uses genuine python skins, difficult to tan, and real alligator hides for those with expensive tastes. His graphic designs, when featured, are inscribed free hand using a wood burning tool; then colored using Tom’s own technique: rubbing dried wax colors into leather then hot melting them into beautiful color “tattoos”.

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Tom and Karen are invited to numerous art shows throughout Georgia, but participate in fewer than 10 per year. Tom also has a full teaching schedule at about a dozen venues where eager students are taught to craft their own beautiful purse or bag. Besides the leather “hobby”, Tom serves as Deacon Chair for his Baptist Church, and is the Executive Director for the North Georgia Interfaith Ministries, a faith-based organization that serves the homeless of Lumpkin County. Asked about his talent for living, Tom is quick to acknowledge the power of God in his life. “I can say that the Lord inspires me in the art and techniques that I employ. The motivation behind my work is one of simply expressing my thanks to God for the gifts He has given me. If that brings joy and happiness to others, so much the better,” Tom says. Quietly tested early by life’s difficulties, both internationally and here in the US, Tom’s gifts may be a reward for navigating these unique challenges, too. To get a schedule of classes, arrange for a class, get pricing, or other information, contact Tom at either 570-899-6818, or tslavicek@aol. com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . On another note, Jo Mitchell, a member of the North Georgia Arts Guild and abstract oil painter, has retired from four years of writing these artists’ profiles. Thank you Jo, from the Guild. Happy painting!

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April 2017

Finding Art

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April 2017

Tari Ramos

April 2017

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Simply Cardboard is Simply Gorgeous!

by Tracy McCoy

County.

hat comes to mind when I say the words cardboard art? I guarantee you it isn’t what you are thinking! I was told about Tari Ramos’ art by her mother. I thought “Oh, you know us mothers, we always think our child’s art is special.” My mom kept things I had made that were pretty bad. So I didn’t know what to expect when I pulled in the driveway of the Ramos home in Habersham

I walked towards the door and it opened and Tari came out to greet me. I walked in and immediately thought she had a lovely home. Very beautiful décor. We exchanged small talk and I noticed some really intricate pieces on her kitchen table. A couple rabbits and a large wall hanging. “This is my art,” she gingerly said. “These things were made from CARDBOARD?”, I thought aloud. I was honestly amazed. But this was just the beginning. There was a half circle accent table with a distressed finish that had more items on it. “I made the table years ago,” Tari said. “You are kidding right??” I joked. “No, I really made it and the wall tree too,” she exclaimed as she took a seat on it. When she pointed to the corner curio cabinet full of dishes and declared it was also one of her pieces, I had to sit down too! Tari, born in Minnesota is the daughter of missionaries so living around the world and growing up on the mission field is an accurate description of her upbringing. She attended high school and college in Minnesota and then she returned to Brazil where she met and married Guy Ramos. The Ramos family makes their home in Clarkesville, Georgia. Guy is an agent at Headwaters Realty and Tari works with Prevent Child Abuse, Habersham’s First Steps program. The couple has two amazing and beautiful daughters Lanae, a student at Piedmont College and Nina, a student at the University of North Georgia. Several years ago Guy had a truck load of cardboard, really nice big sheets that he was going to take to the recycling center but got there too late. Tari saw it in his truck and saw potential in it. “I thought of all of the things that I could possibly make with it.” She asked him if she could unload it in the basement and like any respectable art and craft lover, she got on Pinterest and YouTube. She had heard of quilling a technique used with paper and she adapted it to use with her cardboard. “I would glue six or eight layers of cardboard and layers of tape and more glue and layers.” She would make a frame of cardboard in different shapes like her crosses or animals like bears or giraffes and then take smaller strips that she folded in different patterns and fit inside to create unbelievable patterns. Guy and Tari work as a team with him doing all of the cutting for her. Tari uses paint strategically to add just the right amount of color. Her art is so tasteful and beautiful that you’d never in a million years know it was cardboard. She has made furniture, home décor, ornaments and many, many gifts. She began to have quite an inventory and she began to do art and craft festivals like Clarkesville’s Mountain Laurel Festival and Taste of Clarkesville. As you’d guess her art was very well received and demand began to overwhelm this creative lady. What was her passion became like a job and she slowed down. She had some space in a shop downtown and just did a little art here and there, but admits that she sees things all the time that she knows she could make. A piece of cardboard that you or I might put in the box to take to recycle is her “canvas” and she sees it as that. The movement of up-cycling instead of tossing things is so popular and really important. Tari’s work is so unique and special and all she needed to reignite her passion was some praise and an upcoming festival. So she is working diligently to fill her booth at Celebrate Clayton on April 29th & 30th. I have already made a list of the things I want to buy for my home and my friends and I can’t wait. You just have to come and check it out, and take my advice and bring your pocketbook with you. You can follow Tari’s art and see many photos of things she has created by finding her on Facebook by searching Simply Cardboard. Tari Ramos can be reached by e-mailing teresaramos779@yahoo.com. gmlaurel.com

April 2017

Falls k e e r C r e Panth

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Taste of Clarkesville 20

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Experience Habersham Habersham County Checks All the Boxes

f you were making a list of qualities and attributes for an ideal location to visit, what would that list look like? What makes a community attractive; what qualities make it stand out as a destination?

wire artist Karl Wallenda once crossed the gorge on a cable. Guided tours to the bottom are offered at specific times, but pack your hiking shoes, water bottles and even something to replenish your starch levels. That’s one deep gorge.

While geography is certainly an important component, “location… location… location” only leads off the menu of desired options. It’s what’s contained within that locale that entices visitors not only to come, but to stay awhile. (Perhaps decide to make it their second home, or even their retirement address?)

Traveling south from Tallulah Falls, you’ll leave the four-lane highway at Hollywood – no, you haven’t strayed into California, although you will travel west, into the historic, charming town of Clarkesville. While the downtown area is contained within a few small blocks that can easily be walked and enjoyed, the town itself, actually a commercial historic district, is jam-packed with specialty shops, places to eat and art and antiques galleries. A number of historic buildings, some of them homes – The Henry Asbury House, the Baron-York Building, the Cornelius Church home, the Furr-Lambert House, the Mauldin House, Grace Church, to name a few – are just some of the 35 structures in Habersham County listed on the National Register of Historic Places. After all, the county will be 200 years old in 2018.

Habersham County, Georgia is a fantastic definition of the term “destination”. Read on… It’s the places to see and visit that can make or break the deal. The more family-oriented a community is, the wider range of attractions it has, the greater the draw will be. Some folks seek to explore preserved local history, while others get all excited about shopping. Families with children look for play and recreational options, and others want to enjoy scenic vistas, fish, hike and get back to nature, while local arts and crafts are a tremendous draw. Festivals are popular attractions as well. Once there, those guests need some place to chow down and many times they’re looking to enjoy foods different from what they can get back home. Whether home is close at hand, or on the other side of the continent, wherever they are at that moment is their world, while they’re there. They need a place to lay their heads; reasonably priced, comfortable lodging – motels, bed & breakfasts, rental cottages, campgrounds, even back-to-the-basics camping opportunities. Just check the boxes then check out Habersham…! The county was created in 1818 and was named for Colonel Joseph Habersham, whose former summer home still stands outside Clarkesville. Col. Habersham was a Georgia politician, Revolutionary War officer and was appointed by President George Washington as the country’s third Postmaster General. Begin in the north end of the county, on U.S. Highway 441, where Habersham and Rabun Counties each share claim, in the famous town of Tallulah Falls. Here you’ll find the mighty gorge, which once thundered with majestic white waters, that thunders now instead with the feet of the many visitors who come year-round. This is where high gmlaurel.com

Back on Highway 441, you’ll detour west again just a short distance into Demorest. On one side of the street is the commercial historic district, with roots that date back to the mid-1800s. On the other side of the street is Piedmont College, which was founded in 1897. Demorest was known as a “Temperance Town”, so called because it was initially a settlement planned, financed and populated by followers of the U.S. 19th Century temperance movement. This group worked to outlaw consumption of alcoholic beverages. Early advertising referred to the growing town as a “city of refuge” from the problems of urban life. Demorest today is a destination for learning and the arts, and a downtown that still retains and reflects its heritage. Just a few short miles further south is Cornelia, a thriving town established where once moonshine still churned out its special elixir, deep in a forest, that in the 1870s became the fledgling town. Most notable in the downtown area is a 22-foot red apple alongside the restored railway depot. The 5,200 pound bright red fruit is one of the world’s largest apple sculptures and pays homage to the importance of the apple in the growth of the area. Cornelia was where baseball legend Ty Cobb elected to spend his retirement years. In 1957, the town was also the base of operations for production of “The Great Locomotive Chase” that was filmed along the Tallulah

April 2017

Falls Railway. The line ran from Cornelia northward along the rim of Tallulah Gorge, all the way to Franklin, North Carolina. Visitors in that day from other parts of Georgia and the south converged on the Cornelia Depot to travel on into the mountains. The town is known as “The Home of the Big Red Apple”, and still hosts “The Big Red Apple Festival” each autumn. Not too far out from town, between Cornelia and Mount Airy, the next town to the south, is Chenocetah Mountain. Here, in 1936, during the depth of the Great Depression, workmen with the Works Progress Administration, quarried native granite and built a unique looking tower that assumed the name of the mountain. In the Cherokee language, “Chenocetah” translates “see all around”. And see all around you can. From an elevation of 1,830 feet, add 54 more feet up to the observation room and the view is something you literally have to see to appreciate. Around the tower itself grows one of the largest stands of Rhododendron minor in the country. It was in 1984 that the National Register of Historic Places accepted the structure for inclusion. It remains as part of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Chenocetah Tower is today the only stone fire tower in the state, and represents local pride, hometown history and homage to those who crafted that heritage. The town of Mount Airy itself dates from 1874. The small burg began primarily as a summer retreat for wealthy families from Atlanta and Savannah, who sought refuge from the heat and malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Over time, part-time summer visitors began to make the small hamlet their permanent home. At the extreme southern end of the county is Alto, the smallest community, which actually shares land with neighboring Banks and Hall Counties. Whether you jump onto Highway 441 at Tallulah Falls, or enter from the south at Alto, in between are 25 miles packed with all manner of opportunity for a great time. Perhaps you’ll find yourself passing through Habersham County, traveling to other destinations. Maybe you just need a day away from the rat race, or a change-of-pace weekend is on your radar. Or you might just feel like coming to stay for a few days, maybe a week. Possibly longer? Whatever your travel plans, Habersham County rolls out the welcome mat and invites you to serve yourself from their smorgasbord of opportunities. Build your visit to suit yourself. Just scroll through the menu of possibilities, check off the boxes and Habersham County will be waiting to welcome you. By John Shivers

For more information, contact the Habersham Chamber of Commerce at 706.778.4654 or habchamber@windstream.net or visit their website www.habershamchamber.com. 22

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April 2017

Habersham County Chamber of Commerce

From the Chamber President – Judy L. Taylor, Ph.D.

ut of the hills of Habersham, down the valleys of Hall. Sidney Lanier penned those words in 1877, when Habersham County was only 59 years old. Next year, 2018, Habersham will celebrate its bicentennial and plans are in the works for a great year. Habersham’s mountains and valleys echo the history of 200 years, and Habersham’s 6 museums capture some of this for posterity.

is growing. With agriculture being Habersham’s #1 industry, agritourism combines Habersham’s #1 and #2 industries for great attractions.

If Joseph Habersham, for whom the county is named, got a glimpse of Habersham today, he could not believe it. With 7 municipalities, two four-lane highways, an airport that can land jets, two colleges, and positioned for unprecedented growth, our founding fathers would be astounded. However, youngsters of today will see things that the adults could never imagine.

Five major festivals bring many visitors to Habersham each year. Starting in April with Cornelia’s Apple Blossom BBQ & Brew festival, the third Friday night and Saturday in April. This is followed by the Judy L. Taylor, Ph.D. 55-year-old-Mountain Laurel Festival the third Saturday in May. Then, the Friday after Labor Day brings the Chattahoochee Mountain Fair, one of the few remaining agricultural fairs, with the taste of Clarkesville on its heels the last Saturday in September. These are followed by the historic Big Red Apple festival the second weekend in October. Not a festival, but the Chamber’s Lake Russell 5K & Fun Run the first Saturday in November ends the standing majors until the

I often wondered why Lanier wrote that the Chattahoochee River came out of the Hills of Habersham when the headwaters are in White County. However, in 1877 the headwaters were in Habersham. As Rabun, Stephens and White Counties were founded, portions of the land for these counties were taken from Habersham. Known as the gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Habersham attracts many visitors. Only 90 minutes from Atlanta or Greenville, tourism is Habersham’s #2 industry and agritourism 24

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Christmas season starts. The first Saturday in December brings Santa Claus and the Christmas parade followed by holiday festivities through New Year’s Eve. If you don’t have a visit to Habersham on your calendar, get one on it quickly. However, Habersham is not just a tourism attraction. Habersham County is positioned for growth as never before and has a supportive framework in place for economic development. Habersham Partnership for Growth/Economic Development Council, a private/public partnership, was implemented in 2016. Tim Lee of Cobb County was hired in February of this year as the Executive Director of Economic Development. Habersham’s Airport Industrial Park and the airport itself both are expanding and undergoing improvements. Habersham -- a primary location for investments, expansions, and relocations —offers the quality of life desired by many and easy access for small and large investors. Workforce development, the #1challenge facing most businesses and industries, is a major goal of the EDC and the Chamber. Stephen Covey’s, The Leader in Me, will be implemented in Cornelia Elementary this August and followed later by other schools until all Habersham students have the opportunity to experience this training. Habersham is turning 200 but is not resting on its laurels. Its greatest years are ahead!

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April 2017

VISIT

Glen-Ella Springs

len-Ella Springs, a historic bed and breakfast and restaurant in the Northeast Georgia mountains, is a perfect destination for corporate retreats, weddings, romantic getaways, or just a weekend of relaxation. Glen and Ella Davidson acquired the land in The Great Cherokee Land give away, and the building was constructed in 1875 as part of the family’s homestead. It was expanded in 1890, and again in 1905, to accommodate paying guests. Operations ceased in the 1920’s, and the Davidson family lived there until the 1950’s. Afterward, the property went through several owners, and was eventually purchased by Bobby and Barrie Aycock in 1986. The Aycock’s kept the original heart-pine walls, floors and ceilings, and even discovered several stacked stone fireplaces during renovations. The inn reopened in 1987. In June 2008 Ed and Luci Kivett bought and updated the inn. The inn today boasts numerous modern amenities, while still providing an atmosphere rich in history and Southern charm. Guests can expect a one-of-a-kind experience at GlenElla Springs. The inn’s mission statement describes an allencompassing standard of quality: “To delight each guest and enrich their experience through a combination of an inspiring environment, outstanding food and exceptional service.” Ed and Luci have been blessed with an amazing team that embraces a spirit of superb hospitality and excellence. They are also a member of Select Registry, which includes more than 350 inns in the United States, Canada and Europe, and performs anonymous inspections for quality assurance. Guests are sure to be delighted by the quality of service and accommodations at Glen-Ella Springs; guest satisfaction is their priority. Glen-Ella Springs offers 16 rooms, each with its own set of rockers on the porch, perfect for enjoying the gorgeous views. Guests can choose one of four room types: queen rooms, which are small, intimate rooms with views of their 12 acre meadow, or king rooms, which are double the size of the queen room. They also have two three-room suites, perfect for families or groups, and they have two luxurious penthouse suites on the third floor of the inn. Each suite is equipped with a fireplace and a whirlpool tub, and all rooms have luxury sheets, spa robes and custom bath products. In-room massages are also available. Glen-Ella Springs provides an assortment of on-site activities for guests to enjoy, including a swimming pool, an outdoor

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pavilion that can host 150 people, walking trails, a fire pit, a half basketball court and a horseshoe pit. The Garden House is a hospitality area for guests with a TV, games and snacks. Their beautiful gardens are ideal for leisurely strolls, and to host weddings. For the more venturesome guest, the surrounding area is full of places to go and things to do. Tallulah Gorge is only 6 miles from Glen-Ella Springs and there are many hikes and waterfalls in the area. Scenic Lake Rabun is nearby, as is the Soque River, which is perfect for fly fishing. Surrounding towns offer wineries, antique shopping, potteries and plenty of history. After a long day of activities and exploring, you’re sure to work up an appetite. The restaurant at Glen-Ella Springs is the right place to end a perfect day. The rack of lamb, one of the signature dishes, has been nominated as one of 100 Plates Locals Love by Explore Georgia. The restaurant has also been recognized by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of Georgia’s Top Ten Dining Destinations, and more recently was recognized by OpenTable as one of the Top 10 Diner’s Choice in Atlanta/Georgia. The atmosphere in the restaurant is intimate and romantic. They have been serving classic dishes for decades, and they offer nightly specials. The Chef, Kyle “Rocky” Ardisson, uses freshly prepared ingredients including local produce when available. Ed and Luci know that the three most important things to their restaurant guests are food, service and atmosphere, and they have the right team in place to make dining in the restaurant an unforgettable experience. They offer an extensive wine list and also serve several craft beers. The restaurant is open to inn guests and for dinner to the public. In-season (April through Thanksgiving) hours are Tuesday – Saturday by reservation starting at 5:30 PM, with reservations on the half hour until 8:30 or 9 PM. During the offseason, the restaurant is open Wednesday – Saturday with the same hours. In addition to leisure guests, Glen-Ella Springs is also equipped to accommodate groups such as corporate retreats, church groups and family reunions. Groups can use the private conference facility for meetings of up to 30 people. Packages are available that include breakfast, lunch and dinner. Glen-Ella Springs is also a great place for weekend destination weddings, with accommodations for 36 guests overnight, and they also work with several local accommodations for overflow. Glen-Ella Springs is the place to go for a delightful experience in the beautiful Northeast Georgia mountains. Whether you are visiting for leisure, business or dinner, Ed, Luci and their staff want you to feel restored and inspired by having been at Glen-Ella Springs. Contact Glen-Ella Springs at 706.754.7295 or toll free at 888-455-8786. Visit them on the web at https://glenella.com, or email info@glenella.com for more information.

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April 2017

Let the Auction Begin – Tune In and Save BIG!!

REMEMBER

April 20th 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM on Your Favorite Stations

ky-96.3 & Real Country 100.3 WGHC says it’s auction time again! Twice a year the stations take to the air with deals too good to pass up. Local businesses exchange goods and services for online advertising and you, the listener are the ultimate winner!

Earth Day Saturday April 22, 2017

If you love eating out, you are in for a tasty surprise because nearly every restaurant in the area will offer dining certificates. Tires? TV? Oil changes? Appliances? Hearing Aid? Lord knows I need that one! It’s such a great opportunity to bid on some amazing items and then tweet or Facebook all of your friends about your good fortune! Station Manager Adam Wright expects to have around $15,000 worth of items to auction; up to 300 items and it’s all going at less than retail! The auction begins at 8:30 AM and ends at 2:30 PM. It is a great time and your favorite businesses together with Sky 96.3 & Real Country 100.3 WGHC are offering you a chance to save and win BIG! The auction will also be streamed online at www.sky963.com.

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April 2017

Natalie

CJ & Friends: Do You Need Help?

t was an April Monday in Rabun County, and conversation was bouncing around among four girls, life-long friends and middle-school students. From the sound of things, spring fever was about to erupt, and in epidemic proportions, at that.

No way she’s going to let us waste our last day of freedom.”

“I’m bored,” CJ informed her friends, as the girls sprawled about in CJ’s family room. “If I have to watch Leela bossing Fry once more, I’m gonna explode.” Her blue eyes sparked as she spoke, and her swinging blonde hair emphasized her displeasure. “Just look at her.” She pointed at the TV. “There she goes again.”

The young girl leapt to her feet, causing the drawings to fall onto the floor. “I hope so, Natalie, because I’d sure hate to have a club that didn’t include my three BFF’s.”

School was on break, and the friends were without their normal class schedule to keep them on target. “CJ!” thirteen year-old Scarlet protested. “Futurama” is your all-time most favorite show. You’re tired of Leela? Really?” “Uh-huh.” CJ had the presence of mind to look ashamed. “You get it, don’t you?”

Sam

Sam sat off to the side, keeping one eye on the animated cartoon. “Sure. You’re just twelve, CJ. You won’t be bored when you’re thirteen like the rest of us.” “What does age have to do with anything?” Natalie asked. “I’m thirteen and I’m bored, too.” She ran her hands through her dark hair, causing her earbuds to drop onto her shoulders. “Don’t make CJ feel bad, Sam. After all, she’s our leader.” “Yeah, our leader,” Scarlet echoed. She made her way to where CJ was seated and put her arms around her friend. “So tell us, Leader. What are we gonna do?”

Scarle t

CJ didn’t answer immediately, but instead appeared to be weighing her words. As she pondered, her hands were busy with a colored pencil that flew over the pages of a sketch book, absent-mindedly drawing their four faces. “So tell us, already,” Sam urged. She checked the clock. “We’re losing time. Tomorrow we all have to go back to school.”

“That’s it!” CJ exclaimed. “You’re exactly right, Scarlet.” “I am? Well, OK, if you say so.” “CJ, are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Natalie asked.

“A club?” Scarlet questioned. “A club! Yeah.” She began to pace the room. “We could call ourselves “CJ and Friends.” She hesitated. “But what would our club do?” “A club,” Sam fired back. “How lame can you get?” “I like the idea,” Natalie protested. “Besides, Sam, every time we do what you want, we end up in trouble.” She looked at her friend and her face showed her suspicions. “Remember when you decided we should…” “Never mind. Never mind,” Sam protested, interrupting before Natalie could complete her sentence. But she realized that all four of them knew what Natalie was about to say. “I know,” Scarlet piped up. “We’ll be CJ and Friends, and we’ll search out people who need friends, and we’ll help them.” “Now just how are we gonna do that?” Sam questioned. “CJ’ll figure it out,” Natalie announced. “After all, she’s the most creative one of us.” “And the club is named for her, too,” Sam mumbled, but everyone knew that she would fight for CJ if it ever became necessary. Everyone was quiet for a few minutes, as each girl thought about how they should proceed. “I’ve got it!” Natalie said, her face full of a grin. “I know how we can start.” Before anyone could interrupt her, her mouth began moving, words came out, and even her brown eyes were speaking. She reached for CJ’s sketch pad and waved it about. “We can make cards for each of us with our pictures on them. Then we can hand them out to people who need friends, and we can help them.” “I’ve got it,” Natalie crowed. “Celebrate Clayton’s in a few weeks. The town will be full of people needing help.” “It MIGHT work,” Sam agreed. “We’ll need cards,” CJ said. “Matching T-shirts would be great,” Scarlet suggested.

“She’ll tell us when she’s ready,” Natalie insisted. “You will tell us, won’t you CJ?”

The girls spent the remainder of the day planning and forgot all about their boredom. Spring fever never had a chance

“It’ll be good, whatever it is,” Scarlet declared. “After all, we’re CJ and Friends.

By John Shivers Illustrations by McKaylin Hensley, age 12

April 2017

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April 2017

Bon Appétit by Scarlett Cook

pring has officially arrived. But if you are like me, you didn’t need a calendar to remind you. Puffy, watering eyes and runny noses are the best indicator that the season is upon us, but the good news is that fresh foods will start appearing from the garden. I know that I am ready for a really good tomato and local strawberries. So just get those in mind when you dab your eyes or blow your nose one more time. Wash up, put on a spring apron and let’s cook. Apple Cider Roasted Pork Loins Serves 8 1 Quart apple cider 1/4 Cup salt 2 Boneless pork loins – about 1 1/2 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1 Tablespoon freshly ground black pepper 1 Teaspoon crushed dried rosemary 1 Tablespoon ground sage Combine 2 cups of the cider, the salt and 1 cup water in a saucepan and heat just until the salt dissolves. Set aside to cool. Place the pork loins in a heavy gallon sized plastic bag. Add the cooled brine and seal the bag and refrigerate overnight or 8 – 24 hours.

Boil down the remaining 2 cups of cider until it has reduced to about 2/3 cup. Place in a covered container and refrigerate. Preheat oven to 425˚. Remove the pork from the brine and discard brine. Pat the pork dry and rub with the oil. Sprinkle with the pepper, rosemary and the sage. Line a roasting pan with foil and place the pork on a rack in the pan and roast for 10 minutes. Baste the pork with the reduced cider, turning them to baste all around. Roast another 20 minutes or until a meat thermometer registers 150˚. Remove the pork from the oven and let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Scalloped Tomatoes Serves 8 2 Cans – 28 ounces each whole tomatoes, drained 6 – 8 Tablespoons dark brown sugar 1/2 Teaspoon basil 1/2 Teaspoon oregano 1/2 Teaspoon parsley 1 Teaspoon salt 1/2 Teaspoon black pepper 2 Tablespoons lemon juice 6 Cups diced, stale whole wheat, white or rye bread or a mixture of 6 cups 1 Stick unsalted butter, melted Preheat oven to 350˚. Combine the tomatoes, sugar, seasonings and lemon juice in a saucepan and simmer just until the sugar has dissolved. Toss the diced bread in the butter. Add half of the bread mixture tomatoes. Spread in a 2 – 3 quart shallow baking dish. Top with the remaining bread cubes. Bake for 30 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.

April 2017

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Baked Spinach Risotto Serves 8 2 1/2 Tablespoons olive oil 2 Cups chopped onion 4 Cloves garlic, minced 2 1/4 Cups Arborio rice 1 1/2 Cups dry white wine (or chicken stock) 4 1/2 Cups vegetable stock 1 10 Ounce bag of spinach with stems removed and chopped 1 Cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 Teaspoon salt 1/2 Teaspoon black pepper

Green Beans with Bleu Cheese Serves 6 1 Pound fresh (or frozen) green beans with ends trimmed 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar 3 Tablespoons olive oil 1 Teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/2 Pound Bleu cheese crumbles Have a bowl of ice ready. Bring a large pan of well salted water to a boil. Add the beans and cook for 6 minutes, just until they are tender. Drain and place the beans in the ice. In a large bowl beat the vinegar, oil and mustard together. Fold in the cheese.

Preheat oven to 375˚. Grease a 9”x13” baking dish with 1/2 teaspoon of the olive oil. Heat the remaining oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until soft about 5 minutes. Add the rice and stir well. Cook for 2 minutes. Add the wine (or chicken stock) and cook, stirring until the liquid is absorbed. Stir in the vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer 6 – 8 minutes. Stir in the spinach, 1/2 cup of the cheese, the salt and pepper.

Drain the cooled beans and place them on paper towels to dry completely. When they are dry add to the dressing. Set aside until ready to serve.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

Coconut Macaroons Makes about 30 14 Ounces sweetened shredded coconut 1 Can sweetened condensed milk 1 Teaspoon vanilla 2 Extra large egg whites, at room temperature 1/4 Teaspoon salt Preheat oven to 325˚. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Combine the coconut, milk and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat the egg whites and salt on high speed until the peaks are firm. Fold the egg white mixture into the coconut mixture. Using 2 spoons, form small mounds about 1 1/2” in size, 2 inches apart. Bake for 25 – 30 minutes until golden brown. Cool on racks. gmlaurel.com

April 2017

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April 2017

Food is our common ground, a universal experience.

James Beard

April 2017

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April 2017

The Family Table by Lorie Thompson

“A

pril showers bring May flowers.” I am hoping that this old saying will prove to be true this year! Our mild winter with very little snow has me hoping to see the proverbial “April Showers”. My husband has planted the spring lettuce and spinach garden. He has planted the onion beds as well as carrots and broccoli. We kept kale, broccoli and collards all winter since it was so mild this year. They have now been plowed under and will add back their goodness to the summer garden. Rain is essential to the garden’s success.

Toast 1 cup of pecans in a skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes, To do this, sprinkle pecans with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and cook over medium heat. Continually move around the pecans while cooking. I just shake them around. The toasting brings out the flavor of the nut.

The spring garden provides me with some of my favorite foods of the year! The spinach and new lettuce leaves burst with flavor and goodness. The color alone imparts a feeling of health as you enjoy them. You have been told your entire life to eat your greens and It is an easy thing to do when you can walk outside and pick them. So, try your hand this year growing your own salad greens. If you do not have a yard, grow them in a container. If you have never done this before, you will not believe how exciting it is to serve a meal that came from your own garden!

When you are ready to serve, toss the salad greens with the Lemon Poppyseed Dressing. Layer along with the green apple and red pears onto a plate or bowl. Add slices of Gruyere or Swiss cheese along with the toasted nuts. A delicious addition is paper thin slices of Prosciutto ham.

One of my favorites to prepare with our home-grown lettuce is Spring Salad with Lemon Poppyseed Dressing To make the dressing, in a blender add 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice, 1/4 of a diced sweet onion, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp Kosher salt and 2/3 cup of vegetable oil. Blend until ingredients have thickened and emulsified. Add 1 Tablespoon of poppy seeds and pulse for 2 – 3 additional seconds. This can be made in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid if you do not have a blender handy. Simply add all the ingredients, seal the jar tightly and shake vigorously until it is thoroughly blended. For the salad: clean, wash and dry tender spring greens. This salad is wonderful with spring lettuce and Arugula mixed. The sweet lemon dressing compliments the hint of bitterness in the Arugula.

Wash and core 1 green apple and 1 red pear. Slice into a bowl of water with 1 tsp of Kosher salt added. This will keep the apple and pear from turning brown. Remove from the water and allow to dry on a paper towel before adding to the salad.

It is almost Easter! Celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior brings a joy to my heart that is unsurpassed by any other feeling, but I cannot celebrate the resurrection without the acknowledgement of the death of Christ on the cross for my personal benefit. There is joy, sadness and thankfulness all rolled into the bittersweet celebration of Easter. Of course, my family celebrates all holidays by being together and enjoying a feast! (It is good to be in my family!) One of the traditional foods served at our Easter dinner table is Glazed Ham. Let me share my kicked up version with you: This ham may be cooked on a kettle grill, a gas grill, a smoker or in the oven. It is delicious any way you choose to cook it. I use a spiral sliced pre-cooked ham for easy serving. Don’t spend the money on the expensive ham. Buy the one that is on sale. You are going to ramp up the flavor! Begin by making the glaze: Pineapple and Jalapeno Ham Glaze - Dice 1 sweet onion and 3 – 4 jalapeños. (I use 4 because they are really mild this time of year. They tend to get hotter in the summer.) Sautee jalapeños and onions in 1 Tablespoon of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of Kosher salt for 3 – 5 minutes over medium heat. Mix these ingredients until there are no lumps in them: 1 cup of brown sugar, 1tablespoon

April 2017

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dry mustard and 1tablespoon of corn starch. Add the dry ingredients to onions and jalapeĂąos along with a 20 ounce can of crushed pineapple with juice and 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Bring to a slow boil and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Place ham on a heavy pan for cooking. I use a large cast iron pan on my kettle grill or a large roasting pan in the oven. Baste with 1/3 of ham glaze. If using a grill, light a full chimney of charcoal and allow to heat to a full ash cover. Buy the good charcoal; the inexpensive kind will not burn long enough to cook your ham. Place charcoal briquettes in a circle around the outside of the kettle grill. Place ham in the center of the grill and cover. Roast approximately 15 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 20 minutes per pound. Do not open the grill very often. This works like an oven with a very low source of heat. With one hour left to cook, baste the ham again with another 1/3 of the ham glaze. If you are using a gas grill cook on the lowest heat settings. In a regular oven use a 325Ë&#x161; setting. 20 minutes per pound should work for heating the pre-cooked ham completely through. Serve with reserved glaze. I wish you all a happy Easter and gentle spring rains on your garden.

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April 2017

Life is a Blessing Sharing Jesus by Tracy McCoy

“H

ey, do you know my friend Jesus?” Peter asked. “No, I have heard of Him but I do not know Him,” the man answered.

“He has healed the lame and made the blind see. I left my home and my job to follow Him. I have walked with Him for nearly three years now and I have seen Him change lives. You should come and meet him.” The man listened but maintained a skeptical eye on Peter. He had known Peter a long time, he knew him to be a fisherman, gruff, unkept and rough. He had a big mouth and was always sticking his foot in it. There had definitely been a change in Peter since he took off to follow this man they called Jesus. The difference was enough that the man wanted to know more and Peter loved to talk about his Master and Teacher. Peter and his brother Andrew were among the first called by Christ to follow Him and they went without question. I wonder what it was about Him that made these men, established fishermen - successful in their field, to just walk away. Don’t you know someone like Jesus? That guy

with the gentle spirit, the one with kind eyes, large hands, capable yet humble. He looks you in the eye every time. Has a contagious smile, loves children, has a hearty laugh and is always there to lend a hand. The guy who never complains. He is most likely a follower of Christ because you can feel something special in his life and his ways. Well imagine the Son of God walking in your door (or up beside your boat) with a “what cha doing?” look on His face, asking you to drop it all and follow Him. You may have no idea what He has planned but regardless, you’re going! Peter, once called Simon, continued talking with his friend, “One day we were walking along listening to Him speak and we came across a lame man beside the well. He had never walked a step and Jesus told him get up and walk. Peter getting excited grabbed the man’s shoulders and only inches from his face said boldly “and he did. He got up and he walked!” With disbelief Peter’s friend asked “where can I find your friend Jesus?” While Peter wasn’t always right and often spoke out of turn, he was the first to call Jesus the Son of God. “Who do you say that I am” asked Jesus of his disciples, and it was Peter who answered first, “the Christ of God.” Without hesitation here but a short time later when it wasn’t so popular to admit a relationship with Jesus, Peter denied Him three times. He felt remorse as soon as he did it. Ashamed, he couldn’t look at Jesus as they led him through the crowd after His arrest. The tough guy fisherman had not stood for his Master, he had failed His Teacher and friend Jesus. Haven’t we all been there, maybe you’ve never denied Him but haven’t there been times you acted as if you didn’t know him. I have. I have done so in my actions, my words and my behavior. I know Christ and I love Him. I love to talk with Him and about Him. I exist to share Him with all I meet and I would follow Him to the end of the earth. You can encounter Him anywhere at anytime. He is what it’s all about. He is the only begotten, the light of the world, the only way and He loved you enough to die for you. He defines love and commands us to love one another. No ifs, ands or buts added. He knows everything about you just as He did Peter and loves us in spite of ourselves. It is the broken, the imperfect that He calls. He didn’t go down to the synagogue looking for scholars to follow Him, He called the roughest, most unlovable among them and changed their lives. He still does so today and your name is on His list. He wants to know you and He wants to love you. Hey, do you know my friend Jesus? I’d love for you to meet Him, to get to know Him. He’ll change your life!

April 2017

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April 2017

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April 2017

Bless Your Heart A Wink and a Promise By Lisa Harris

ove was in the air...it always was in the spring, especially in 1953. I was walking home with my sister, Joyce and our friend Bernice. I would be lying if I said we weren’t a bit flirty back then, the spring just brings it out in young people. Slowly walking home from school this particular day, I could even feel my hips swaying just a bit more exaggerated almost in cadence with the trees limbs stirring. Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t hear a car approaching until a quick blast of the horn jolted me. Honk...honk, “Hey ladies, need a ride home?” asked a very handsome sailor decked out in uniform. Dark, thick, wavy hair peeked out from his cap; very tan almost glossy skin framed his smoky gray eyes and startling white teeth. The uniform, oh my, dare I remember the white uniform; I was so captivated by his good looks it almost overtook me. “Well, ladies,” he persisted. Bernice looked closer at his face and said, “Leonard...is that you? Why, I haven’t seen you in ages!” she gushed. I didn’t know why she was gushing because she already had a boyfriend, I think he just had that effect. Leonard smiled and my heart danced...I wondered if he could see my heart doing the twist? “I’ve been in the Navy for a year, Bernice and I’ve missed seeing everyone...so can I give you ladies a life?” “Sure,” said Bernice as she plopped herself in the front seat. Joyce and I retreated to the back. I sat directly behind Leonard just knowing he could see me breathing funny...or was I breathing? Looking back, I don’t think I was. As he put the car in gear and steered back onto the road, Leonard looked up into the rear-view mirror and winked at me while giving me a devilish grin. That was it! I was his...forever and ever, Amen. Before, he could get us home,

I had already planned our wedding, our children and our growing old years. It was his fault, he shouldn’t have winked, but he did. Later, he told me I was his ‘pick-up’ girl. I secretly etched that into my heart. We married the summer of ‘54. It was a hot steamy day. We took our vows for “better or worse” “richer or poorer” and “sickness and health till death do us part”, in the Methodist Church. My mom said it would never last because his kinfolk were from the other side of the track. But, in my mind, there is always a pearl amongst the grit and he was my pearl. The marriage went well and within a few years so did the children. We had two girls, one I named after a soap opera star...Lizzie-Rae and when my second daughter was born on Halloween, we named her Lori-Gay with an “i,” I think we set a trend, plus I like names that rhyme—it’s the writer in me. I had planned on us being richer than we were, but comfortable is what happened. We’re just fine. Everything’s paid for...we’re grateful to God for that especially since I had a stroke. Yes, our growing old years were the only ones that didn’t go as we hoped for. We had just booked a Hawaiian cruise with all the bells and whistles; our dream-come-true trip that we had wanted to take for years. Couldn’t go; doctors said no. I’m paralyzed on the left side of my body. Everything works except for my arm which quietly stays by my side, and my leg is braced, but I can walk slowly with a cane. I’m grateful, but... There are always “buts” in life. God doesn’t want “buts” he wants “praise and gratefulness” because he knows what’s best for our life...even if He chooses not to heal my stroke. So, after 55 years of marriage, three daughters (one snuck in much later, Kristi-Kay with an “I”) and eight grandchildren, we proved mother wrong. He’s still my pearl that I clasped around my heart in ‘53. Every now and then he’ll tell me I’ll always be his ‘pick-up’ girl as he picks me up from a chair or the bed or he tries to lift my spirits on a bad day. Those words are forever etched into my heart...for better or worse, in sickness and in health, I’ll always be his ‘pick-up’ girl and he’ll always be my sailor.

April 2017

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“A Different Kind of Yard Sale” at the Tiger United Methodist Church Saturday, April 29th Rev. Sammie Maxwell

n thirty plus years of ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church, I have observed many forms that grief can take. Some mourners release balloons or doves, some party and dance and others seek solitude and silence. Once, a son even asked that the Tarzan call be “performed” in the middle of the eulogy for his father. In October, 2016, when it came my turn to grieve the death of my ninety-year-old cousin Emily Norton, my grief (like that of many) took the form of cleaning out her Buford home and distributing her belongings, many of which she had carefully labeled for friends and family members. The “left-overs” (as she called them) were given to the Tiger United Methodist Church. My other cousin Rev. James Turpen, who is the pastor of that church, suggested a spring yard sale. (PLEASE NOTE: TIGER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WILL STILL HAVE THE OCTOBER YARD SALE WITH THE PROCEEDS GOING TO THE CREATIVE LEARNING CENTER SPONSORED BY THE CLAYTON FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

ANY ITEMS DONATED TO THE CHURCH OTHER THAN THOSE FROM EMILY’S HOUSE WILL BE SAVED FOR THE OCTOBER YARD SALE.) The April 29th yard sale will be different in that all the items in this sale once belonged to Emily Norton. Another reason that this sale is different is that the proceeds will go to the outreach ministry of Tiger United Methodist Church. Our hope is that the April 29th sale will be a tribute to Emily and a celebration of her love for Rabun County and her generosity towards it. Part of the proceeds from the sale of the Buford home will go to Clayton First United Methodist Church and Rabun County High School. Part of the proceeds from the sale of the Norton family farm will go to Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, Rabun County Library, Mountain Lakes Medical Center and Tallulah Falls United Methodist Church. Several of her antique musical instruments will go to Tallulah Falls School for whatever purpose the school determines.

Please come, shop, and celebrate on Saturday, April 29th: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM — “Buy a Bag” (Fill a bag of clothes with all that you can pack into it!) 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM — FREE SANDWICHES at the picnic tables 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM — “Make Your Best Offer” (Furniture included!) GREAT BUYS ALL DAY and ITEMS ADDED EVERY HOUR TO THE FREE TABLE

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April 2017

Franklin, North Carolina

April 2017

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Franklin, North Carolina

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April 2017

Mountain Happenings - April & May, 2017 March 24th – April 2nd 2017 Wine Highway Weekend 21 participating wineries throughout Northeast Georgia Info: georgiawine.com April 21st – 22nd 21st Annual Bear on the Square Dahlonega Info: www.bearonthesquare.org STEPHENS COUNTY April 6th Backyard Tours of Northeast Georgia Locations of Interest in Stephens County Leave from North Georgia College Clarkesville Info: 706.754.7716 April 8 and the second Saturday of the month Second Saturday Historic Downtown Toccoa Info: 706.886.2132 th

April 17th and the third Monday of each month Career Coach Stephens County Library parking lot Toccoa Info: www.gmrc.ga.gov/ WorkforceDevelopment April 22nd All-you-can-eat Pancake Breakfast and History Talk on the Veranda Traveler’s Rest Historic Stagecoach Inn Toccoa Info: 706.356.4362 May 6th Toast of Toccoa Downtown Toccoa Info: 706.282.3309

April 13th TENOR Info: 706-297-7121 www.negaconcerts.com May 12th Emily West Info: 706-297-7121 www.negaconcerts.com

April 1st Dancing with the Stars for Hope Habersham Central High School Mt. Airy Info: 706.776.3406 April 8th Easter Bunny Pictures Mauldin House Gardens Clarkesville Info: 706.754.2220 April 21st; May 19th Friday Night Live: Music on Main & Classic Cruise In Downtown Clarkesville Info: 706.754.2220 April 21st – 23rd, 27th – 30th “Leading Ladies” Habersham Community Theater Clarkesville Info: 706.839.1315 www.habershamtheater.org

April 22nd Tommy Joe Conner WHITE COUNTY April 4th and each Tuesday & Friday until September BINGO Helen Festhalle Helen Info: 706.878.1908 April 22nd Spring Bierfest Helen Festhalle Helen Info: 706.878.1908 April 28th – 29th Corvair Show “Springfest” City Parking Lot Helen Info: 229.291.0567 April 29th Helenback Race Series Helen Info: helenbackraceseries.com

April 29th Greater Mt. Pleasant Gospel Choir Showcase Downtown Cornelia Info: 706.778.8585

May 6th 25th Annual Winefest Habersham Winery Helen Info: www.habershamvineyards.com

May 5th Chamber Cup Golf Tournament The Orchard Golf and Country Club Clarkesville Info: 706.778.4654

May 27th Bavarianfest Helen Festhalle Helen Info: 706.878.1908

May 20th Mountain Laurel Festival 5K and Kids’ Fun Run Habersham EMC Clarkesville Info: 706.754.6575 May 27th – 28th A Day at the Fort Fort Hollingsworth Alto Info:706.244.1239 Grant Street Music Room Clarkesville Info: 706.754.3541 April 7th and each Friday Song Dragon’s Rock’n Karaoke

April 8th Honeywood

April 22nd Apple Blossom BBQ Festival Downtown Cornelia Info: 706.778.8585

May 20th 55th Annual Mountain Laurel Festival Downtown Clarkesville Info: 706.754.4216

The Ritz Theater The Schaefer Center, Toccoa Info: www.ritztheatertoccoa.com April 8th; May 6th Southern Gospel Music

HABERSHAM COUNTY

April 2017

BabyLand General Hospital Cleveland Info: 706.865.2171 www.cabagepatchkids.com April 1st Cabbage Patch Tea Party April 8th 29th Annual Cabbage Patch Kids Easter Eggstravaganza May 18th Business Expo 2017 Info: 706.865.5356 Hardman Farm State Historic Site Sautee Nacoochee 706.878.1077 April 8th Sweep the Hooch April 15th Old Fashioned Easter Egg Hunt

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April 22nd Falconry on the Farm Sautee Nacoochee Center Sautee Info: 706.878.3300 www.snca.org March 31st – April 1st and each Friday – Saturday Discovery Tours April 4 and first & third Tuesdays Learn and Dance th

April 15 3rd Annual Blue Ribbon Biscuit and Bluegrass Festival th

Yonah Mountain Vineyards Cleveland Info: 706.878.5522 www.yonahmountainvineyards.com April 1 and each Saturday Live Music Saturdays st

April 1st – 2nd and each Weekend Wine Cave Tour and Tasting April 9th and the second Sunday of the month Reserve Wine Tasting April 15th and the third Saturday of the month Masterpiece Mixers May 27th The Crusher Vineyard & Trail Race Smithgall Woods Cleveland Info: 706.878.3087 www.smithgallwoods.com April 22nd Woof in the Woods April 29th Native American Cultures and Medicinal Plants North Georgia Zoo Cleveland Info: 706.348.7279 www.northgeorgiazoo.com April 12th Sunset Tours April 16h and the third Sunday of the month Behind the Scenes Tours

RABUN COUNTY April 13th 13th Annual Easter Egg Hunt Rabun County Recreation Dept. Tiger Info: 706.782.4600 April 15th Easter Egg Hunt Hillside Orchard Farms Tiger Info: 706.782.2776; 706.782.4995 April 20th North Georgia Arts Guild Program Betty Coffey presents “Birding in Colored Pencil” The Amara Center Clayton Info: www.northgeorgiaartsguild.com April 29th A Different Kind of Yard Sale Tiger United Methodist Church Tiger Info: 706.212.0219 April 29th – 30th Celebrate Clayton Downtown Clayton Info: www.CelebrateClayton.com Hambidge Center Rabun Gap Info: 706.746.5718 www.Hambidge.org April 1st and the first Saturday of the month Grist Mill visits April 8th and the second Saturday of the month Saturday Artist Talks April 15th and most third Saturdays of the month Nature Hike Community Garden Classes Clayton City Hall Complex Clayton Info: communitygarden.org April 10 Growing Mushrooms th

April 24th Planning and Planting your Backyard Garden

April 4 – 12 Springtime Festival April 13 – 16 Easter Festival

April 1st – 2nd; 8th – 9th Whitewater Boating Weekends

April 29th – 30th Fiber, Farm & Art Festival

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April 1 – 2 ; 8 Whitewater-Watching Hike st

April 10th Full Moon Suspension Bridge Hike April 14th Sunset Easter Egg Hunt April 22nd; May 24th Sunset Hike April 26th Senior Ranger Wednesday May 9th Full Moon Lake Paddle May 14th Twilight Paddle May 20th – 21st Women’s Wilderness Weekend May 27th – 29th Gorge Floor Hike Rabun Arena Tiger Info: 706.212.0452 www.rabunarena.com

May 5th Lake Chatuge Classic Golf Tournament Brasstown Valley Resort Golf Course Young Harris Info: 706.896.4966 May 6th Chatuge Regional Hospital and Nursing Home Health Fair Chatuge Regional Hospital Hiawassee Info: 706.896.2222 Hamilton Gardens Hiawassee Info: 706.970.0011 April 15th – May 14th (weekends) A ‘Blooming’ Affair April 29th – 30th Arts & Craft Show May 20th Celebrate the Gardens Info: townscountyhomeowners.com

April 8th March of Dimes Barrel Racing

Crane Creek Vineyards Young Harris Info: 706.379.1235 www.cranecreekvineyards.com

April 15th; May 13th Junior Rodeo

April 1st and each Saturday Winery Tour / Vinekeeper’s Kitchen

April 16th; May 14th, 20th Barrel Racing

April 7th and each Friday Friday Evening Tapas & Acoustic

April 29th – 30th Tinker Moffitt

May 27th Clusterfest Music Festival

May 6th Rabun County Fair Small Tractor Pull May 27th Memorial Roping Event TOWNS COUNTY March 31st – April 1st Georgia Mountain Storytelling Festival Young Harris College Young Harris Info: www.yhc.edu/storytelling

Vino and Vibes Hightower Creek Vineyards Hiawassee Info: 706.896.8963 April 1st Rewind April 8th Monica Spears and Derek Worth April 15th Steve Baskin

April 6th and the first and third Thursdays of the Month Plein Air Painters of Hiawassee ArtWorks Gallery & Gifts Hiawassee Info: 706.896.0932

Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds Hiawassee Info: 706.896.4191 www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com

April 6 and each Tuesday Trivia Night Lobsta’s Young Harris Info: 706.896.1214

April 28th Trace Adkins

Tallulah Gorge State Park Tallulah Falls Info: 706.754.7981

April 8th – 9th; 15th – 16th; 22nd – 23rd Aesthetic Water Releases

April 22nd – 23rd North Georgia Gun Show New Recreation Center Hiawassee Info: 828.837.7771, NGAgunshow.com

April 2017

April 7th Clint Black

May 13th Sawyer Brown and Little Texas May 20th Georgia Mountain Eggfest continued

Mountain Happenings - April & May, 2017 UNION COUNTY April 22nd Corner Concert Downtown Blairsville Info: 877.745.5789 April 29th FOCUS - Festival of Christians United to Serve Union County Farmers’ Market Blairsville Info: 706.897.8881 May 5th 14th Annual Kilted Golf Classic Old Union Golf Course Blairsville Info: 706.745.7359 May 6th S.A.F.E.’s Kentucky Derby Party Union County Community Center Blairsville Info: 706.379.1901 May 13th High Heels and Hard Hats Gala North Georgia Technical College Blairsville Info: 706.379.2484; 706.439.6300 May 27th Memorial Day Parade Downtown on the Square Blairsville Info: 706.745.7341 May 27th Relay for Life Union County Farmers’ Market Blairsville Info: 706.835.8384; 770.297.1176 May 27th – 28th Spring Arts and Crafts Festival Downtown on the Square Info: 706.745.5493 Paradise Hills Resort and Spa Blairsville Info: www.paradisehillsga.com April 22nd Earth Day Wine Dinner on the Pavilion May 6th and each Saturday Live Music Series CLAY COUNTY, NC April 15th Community Easter Egg Hunt CC Park Campground Hayesville Info: 828.389.3704

April 22nd Community Yard Sale and Historic Courthouse Fundraiser Kick-Off Town Square Hayesville Info: 828.389.1862 May 20th Butts & Spuds Cook-Off On the Square Hayesville Info: 877.389.3704

MACON COUNTY, NC April 15th and the third Saturday of the month SEBA Jam Cowee School, Franklin Info: www.coweeschool.org April 27th – 29th Three Rivers Fly Fishing Tournament Highlands Info: 828.526.5298

May 26 Friday Night Summer Concert Series begins with the Homan Autry Band On the Square Hayesville Info: 877.389.3704

April 29 Beer, Bluegrass, BBQ Spring Celebration Outdoor 76 Franklin Info: 828.349.7676

Peacock Performing Arts Center Hayesville Info: 828.389.2787 peacockperformingarts.center.com

May 12th - 14th Mother’s Day Gemboree Multiple locations throughout Franklin Info: 828.349.2090

March 31st – April 1st; 7th – 9th “The Sunshine Boys”

April 15 Motown Revue May 6th Songwriters Showcase 19 John C. Campbell Folk School Brasstown Info: 800.365.5724 www.folkschool.org April 1st Fools’ Ball April 2nd Brasstown Concert Association The Celtic Company Info: 828.837.1863 April 4th and each Tuesday Beginning Contra & Square Dance Weekly Series April 8th; May 13th English Country Dance Series

May 30th – June 2nd Summer Day Camp Plants a Plenty (ages 4-6) May 31st Wednesday Inquiry Investigations Mad Scientist Helium Potion Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts Franklin Info: 866.273.4615; 828.524.1598 www.GreatMountainMusic.com April 6th The Beach Boys April 13th Movie: The Jungle Book April 21st Denver & The Mile High Orchestra April 28th Sara Evans

May 13 Airing of the Quilts Downtown Franklin Info: 828.524.7766

May 5th Senior Follies

May 18th – 21st, 25th – 28th “Don’t Cry for me Margaret Mitchell” Highlands Cashiers Players Martin Lipscomb Performing Arts Center Highlands Info: 828.526.8084 highlandscashiersplayers.org

May 26th James Gregory - The Funniest Man in America

May 29th Garden Invaders

May 6th Recipes Alive! Cooking Show

Friday Night Live Town Square Highlands Info: 828.526.2112 May 19th Tallulah River Band May 26th Silly Ridge Round Up

April 14th Fletcher Bright & the Dismembered Tennesseans

Highlands Biological Station Highlands Info: 828.526.2602 highlandsbiological.org

April 15th Easter Egg Hunt

April 22nd Earth Day Festivities

April 15th Contra & Square Dance

May 1st – 5th Wildflowers and Waterfalls

April 21st Bean Sidhe

May 5th – 6th Wildflower Whimsey

May 5th Steve and Penny Kilby

May 15th – 20th Mountains piled upon Mountains

May 27th Annual Gala & Benefit Auction

May 26th Salamander Meander

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April 2017

Celebrate Clayton S

pring has arrived in North Georgia! Fruit trees are in full glorious bloom, daffodils cover the hillsides in golden drifts. Time to put away your flannel shirt, get outdoors and enjoy the fun, family-friendly event that is just around the corner: The 18th annual Celebrate Clayton Art Festival. On April 29th and 30th, festive canopies of the Artist Market will line North and South Main Street. Booths will be filled with works from almost 100 artists and fine crafters - both new participants and old favorites. Strolling through the market you will find “the functional” – pottery, hand forged knives, cutting boards, wooden bowls and furniture; “the whimsical” – folk art, gourds, birdhouses and metal yard art; and “the personal” - hand crafted soaps, jewelry, scarves, leather purses. If you’re looking for fine art, you will be charmed by the unique paintings, drawings, photography and art glass on display. Be sure to check the booths for ribbons awarded for “Best of Show” and “Judges’ Choice”. When hunger strikes, you will be delighted with the festival food offered throughout the festival. From Hiawassee Street off North Main to Derrick off South Main, you will find your “heart’s desire”.....or more specifically, your “tummy’s desire”: breakfast biscuits, ice cream floats, kettle corn, pretzels, funnel cakes, alligator-on-a-stick, hot & spicy pork rinds.....and more. You will not leave hungry. On Saturday, Veteran’s Park will be awash in youth art. Be sure to visit the high school student art exhibit; ribbons will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. The art students have devised a unique kids’ art experience and will oversee the Kids Korner, sponsored by Mishima Express. The Face Painting booth will be close by as well as free ice cream provided by Clayton Rotary. Rest for a spell, on the Rock House lawn and enjoy a variety of musical entertainment from traditional performers and some new faces. The Information Table will also be close by for directions and questions. Purchase a souvenir 2017 Celebrate Clay52

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ton t-shirt and pick-up an event map. And most importantly, buy your $1 raffle ticket - for your chance to win one of over 40 area restaurant gift certificate. You can find volunteers selling raffle tickets throughout the festival. This free 2-day festival is produced by the North Georgia Arts Guild, a 501(c)3 non-profit group. NGAG donates proceeds to the Boy and Girl Scout troops, who help throughout the weekend and to the North Guild Art Guild Art Scholarship fund. “It is our goal to provide a family friendly community event - but we also want Celebrate Clayton to have a lasting impact on the youth of Rabun County,” stated Kathy Ford, chairperson. No event this large, attended by an estimated 7,000 visitors, can be a success without broad community support. This includes the NGAG members and a legion of volunteers. Special thanks to the many sponsors including, but not limited to, the City of Clayton, the Clayton Merchants and Business Association, The Clayton Tribune, SKY 96.3 Radio, Georgia Mountain Laurel, Reeves Hardware, Georgia Power Corporation, Harry Norman Realtors, Rabun County, Happy Jack Graphics, United Community Bank, Habersham EMC, Clayton Veterinary Hospital, Clayton Pharmacy, Day Blind Creative and Penland Association, Inc. Mark your calendars for Celebrate Clayton Art Festival, April 29th, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM and April 30th, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. For additional information including the artist line-up and the entertainment schedule, log on to www. celebrateclayton.com.

Clayton, Georgia

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April 2017

Clayton, Georgia

April 2017

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April 2017

INAUGURAL TOAST OF TOCCOA FESTIVAL SET FOR SATURDAY, MAY 6th By Keith Kozicki

ake artwork from dozens of regional artists, add live big band jazz and live bluegrass music, mix with specialty food offerings, craft beer and wine tastings from over five regional north Georgia wineries, throw in a Classic Car Show for good measure and that’s what you’ll have at the inaugural Toast of Toccoa festival on Saturday May 6th from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM. Over fifty artisans from the Currahee Artists Guild and other regional arts organizations will be on hand to display their work in historic downtown Toccoa the first Saturday in May. Craft beer from Decatur, Georgia’s 3 Taverns Brewery and Savannah’s Service Brewing Company will also be available along with wine tastings from Currahee Vineyards, Cartecay Vineyards, Sweet Acre Farms, Tiger Mountain Vineyards and Frogtown Cellars. Selected Toccoa restaurants will also have specialty food items available for purchase. Live music will be provided by Electric City Big Band at 12:30 PM followed by Nitrograss at 2:30 PM. A Classic Car Show featuring dozens of restored vintage automobiles will also be part of the day’s activities. Northeast Georgia Physicians Group is a presenting sponsor of this inaugural event. Admission to Toast of Toccoa is free. Tokens will be sold for beer and wine tastings with wine by the bottle sales available at the Star Theater. For more information visit www.mainstreettoccoa.com.

April 2017

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Kentucky Derby Party to benefit S.A.F.E.

E’RE READY FOR THE START AND...THEY’RE OFF! S.A.F.E. is in the final stretch of preparing for the 2nd Annual Kentucky Derby Party. Join us for an enthralling night and support your local family violence prevention program. The event will be held at the Union County Community Center in Blairsville on May 6th from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM. The night will begin with live entertainment by the band Rewind, delicious food from Amazing Grace Catering and a cash bar. When you enter you can buy a hat created by Debbie Vaughn if you did not bring your own. You will certainly need a hat to enter the contests for Most Beautiful Hat and Funniest Hat of the Night. As you take part in the festivities you will also be able to bid for the various silent auction items and buy raffle tickets for the 50” VIZIO SMART TV. The night will peak as together we cheer on our favorite horse and jockey teams in the Greatest Two Minutes in Sports - the Kentucky Derby Race! We top the night off by giving away the raffle prizes and announcing the silent auction winners. Let us tell you about the organization you are supporting...Support in Abusive Family Emergencies serves victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse in Towns and Union Counties. The organization provides emergency shelter, a 24-hour crisis hotline, a support group, social services referrals, medical accompaniment and other support services. As well, S.A.F.E. serves child abuse victims through the Butterfly House Child Advocacy Center, including supervised family visitations, parenting, life skills, forensic interviews and advocacy. Each program is tailored to help victims recover from trauma and become self-sufficient survivors. Training events, including Darkness to Light, and awareness presentations are available as requested. The crisis hotline is 706.379.3000. Kentucky Derby Hats made by Debbie Vaughn and raffle tickets for the television are available before the event. For hats please call Debbie Vaughn at 404.552.0616. For event tickets, raffle tickets, donations, or sponsorships please call 706.379.1901 or email info@safeservices.org. We look forward to seeing you!

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April 2017

Chattooga Conservancy “Stay Wild” Celebration & Fundraiser Friday, April 21st at Chattooga Belle Farm

ack by popular demand! The Chattooga Conservancy is hosting its second “Stay Wild” celebration and fundraiser at the fabulous Chattooga Belle Farm in Long Creek, South Carolina, on Friday, April 21st, starting at 6:00 PM . The evening of fun and fundraising will have local live music, a barbeque supper with several vegetarian options, beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages, raffles and a silent auction. Chattooga Conservancy executive director Nicole Hayler said, “We are so pleased to be having this event again at the Chattooga Belle Farm, because everybody had such a great time last year. And from the venue at the farm’s pavilion, you will see a spectacular view of the Chattooga River watershed, which is the main focus of our organization’s work.”

yards, Louie’s on the Lake, Mama G’s, Oinkers, Clark’s On Main and Cara-Lee Langston, Teaching Kitchen Coordinator at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. Excellent silent auction and raffle prizes will be available to win, such as rare perennials from Chattooga Gardens in Cashiers, NC, a beautiful wooden canoe paddle handcrafted by Jason Askew, Osprey day packs, Chaco sandals, Patagonia clothing, outdoor gear from Sunrift Adventures of Travelers Rest, SC and more.

Two live music acts are featured for the event. There will be an ensemble of well-known musicians from Rabun County who have come together under the name “Group Therapy,” that consists of Brad Barrett, Lisa LooksTwice, Filmer Kilby and Mike Hamilton. Brad has a successful solo career and Lisa formerly entertained with Mountain Hoodoo and The Ram Cats. Filmer and Mike are both longstanding members of Rabun County’s native bluegrass band The Fox Fire Boys. They will play a lively mix of Americana-style music, including a variety of select country, blues and folk tunes. In addition, Jennifer Goree will perform. Hailing from South Carolina, Jennifer is a singer-songwriter of a rare musical breed. Her soul is pure country that expresses itself in a variety of settings, from folk to bluegrass to honky-tonk to countrified pop. As a writer and singer, she expresses depth, emotion and passion cleanly and subtly, allowing her elegant and graceful lyrics to emanate from the song confidently. Food and beverages will be provided by local establishments, including Brasstown BBQ, Universal Joint, Fromage & Other Fine Foods, Chef David Sweeney of The Red Barn Cafe at Tiger Mountain Vine58

“Stay Wild” is designed to raise awareness about the enormous value of our precious National Wild and Scenic Chattooga River, and the Chattooga Conservancy’s work to protect, promote and restore this extraordinary river and its watershed. Proceeds from the event will benefit numerous projects, such as the organization’s work in cooperation with the Forest Service to restore a stand of native river cane within the wild and scenic river corridor in SC. In North Carolina, the Nantahala Forest Plan is being revised, and the Chattooga Conservancy is working to protect special areas in the headwaters of the Chattooga watershed. And in Georgia, the organization is working on a variety of projects such as improving water quality in Stekoa Creek, which is a major, polluted tributary to the wild and scenic Chattooga River. It takes funds to accomplish all of these projects, and that’s why the Chattooga Conservancy is offering a fun-filled, family-friendly evening at Chattooga Belle Farm on Friday, April 21st. The cost to attend is $20 for entry and a meal, or $5 for entry only. Guarantee your entry and meal by buying a ticket in advance! Online purchase is available at www.chattoogariver.org For more info, please contact 706.782.6097 or info@chattoogariver.org. Celebrate our local treasure, the National Wild and Scenic Chattooga River, and join the fun at Chattooga Belle Farm on Friday, April 21st!

April 2017

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55th Annual Mountain Laurel Festival

Saturday, May 20, 2017

usic, crafts, art and food. Sounds like a festival!

If you love small-town events, pack up the family and head to downtown Clarkesville on Saturday, May 20th for the 55th annual Mountain Laurel Festival. The annual arts and crafts jubilee - the oldest running festival of its type in Georgia - will commence Saturday morning, May 20th at 10:00 AM and conclude at 5:00 PM. Plans for the 2017 daytime event include: • Clarkesville Lions Club always-popular parade • Fine art and craft vendors located in and around the square • An outdoor food court • Expanded children’s activities; including rock climbing walls, hamster wheels and inflatables •The Historic Mauldin House, Millinery Shop and Big Holly Cabin will be open for guided tours • Clarkesville “History in Photographs” Photo Exhibit; Mauldin House • Live entertainment acts throughout the day on the square • Afternoon Duck Race in Soque River (sponsored by Volunteers for Literacy) The festival is a time to celebrate Clarkesville’s heritage and to extend its long tradition of hospitality. You are invited to join us at our community’s most beloved tradition - the Mountain Laurel Festival! For more information contact Mary Beth Horton, Clarkesville Main Street Manager, 706.754.2220, 706.968.4190.

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April 2017

Live Healthy and Be Well! “Obtaining medical evidence using the scientific method” by Stephen Jarrard, MD FACS

or a change, I hope to base the next few columns (after this one) on some information I have come across about some basic things that seem to confer health benefits and may even prevent disease. Much of this is based on a good book I read recently by Dr. Sanjiv Chopra titled The Big 5 - which presents “…five simple things you can do to live a longer, healthier life.” We will start to see in coming columns beneficial effects that have been attributed to drinking coffee, eating nuts, Vitamin D3, daily exercise and frequent meditation.

random assignment of subjects to prevent bias. Even then, and even with a chance probability of less than 5%, these studies are subject to criticism and debate and must be able to be replicated with reliable results to be credible. They may then be published in respected academic journals and contribute to the scientific and medical community. Sometimes, two events can be related in such a way that it seems blatantly obvious that “A” MUST cause “B” to happen. We see it all the time. It is just common sense. We have never seen that not to be the case. An example might be that “smoking causes lung cancer”. Seems obvious to us now, right? But just know that many studies were conducted and comparisons made before those conclusions were drawn.

But, before starting with some of these topics, we should outline the basics of how physicians go about figuring whether some action or event “causes” something else to happen. Before we can say that “A causes B,” proper experiments are designed to rule out the effects that random chance, or mere coincidence, is involved in the process. Until we can state there is less than a 5% probability (p) that random chance is at work (and p < 5.01% is not good enough), we cannot say that there is a significant difference between treatments. Even then, science is always careful about using the word “cause”, but often talks about things being “positively related” with strong evidence to point to a certain outcome. The best experiments are designed to be double-blind (neither experimenter nor subject knows who gets treatment or placebo), placebo controlled (the treatment is balanced with a control group getting no treatment) and have a

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Even now it is more likely to be stated that “smoking greatly increases your risk of lung cancer”, instead of using the word “cause”. We all know or have heard of cases where a person who never smoked gets lung cancer, or “…my grandpa smoked two packs a day for 75 years and never got lung cancer.” There are always exceptions to the rule and we try the best we can to rule out the effects of random chance and coincidence. It is very difficult to design a study that is controlled enough to completely rule out other factors. Such as in the lung cancer example – we cannot make people smoke, so we compare disease rates in smokers and non-smokers. But, how do we know that it is not something else that either group does, or does not do, that contributes to their condition? Let’s say that we want to find out if a new medicine can be effective in treating breast cancer. We would need to randomly assign patients with approximately the same stage and grade of breast cancer (using the same technique to stage and grade the tumors) into two groups – treatment and control. The treatment group would receive the new medicine injection on schedule, in the same location of the body, at approximately the same time of day, for the same number of days as the control group. The control group would also receive an injection of the same amount (and same color, consistency, etc.) of some inert substance (placebo) and on the same schedule and standards of the treatment group. A very important factor is that neither the person running the experiment nor the subjects get to know which group they are in – lest they be treated differently and those expectations confound the experiment. After the defined period of treatment ends, certain measures would be made which were all previously agreed on before the study began. Post treatment size, grade, and stage - all using the same standards and measuring instruments - need to be made. Preferably, if possible, the same CT scanners, MRIs and ultrasound machines – using the same technicians, would be used to make these measurements for comparisons to see if the tumors have reduced in size or grown and just gmlaurel.com

how much. If the treatment group’s results are such that there is a significant difference in tumor response, with the influence of random chance less than 5%, it may be said that this drug is effective in treating breast cancer. It can then be submitted to the medical community, be subject to criticism and review and hopefully be duplicated again by others with reliable findings. In this way, the body of evidence grows and we get new techniques in our fight against diseases. However, there are some studies that prove to be very valuable that may not conform to the above techniques, but can still greatly contribute to our knowledge. One such famous study was the Framingham Heart Study which began in 1948. It followed 5,209 people between the ages of 30 and 62 who were recruited from Framingham, Massachusetts. Since the beginning, it has followed these patients, and now their children and grandchildren (to study effects of family history and genetics) and provided much light on the effects of various behaviors on heart disease – such as smoking, obesity, diet, exercise and medicines such as aspirin. Although not a randomly assigned, double blind, placebo controlled trial – these studies help us identify risk factors that contribute to disease – although we are not scientifically permitted to draw conclusions of causation. I wanted to present this information so that in coming articles we may discuss some things that have been found to be beneficial to health and wellness, and what conclusions we may correctly draw from those findings. We really do enjoy hearing from you with any questions, concerns, or ideas for future columns and/or health and wellness related issues for the Georgia Mountain Laurel. Please send an email to rabundoctor@gmail.com, or call us at 706.-782.3572 and we will be sure to consider your input. This and previous articles can be now be found on the web at www.rabundoctor.com in an archived format. If you use Twitter, then follow us for health tips and wellness advice @ rabundoctor. Like and follow our Facebook page at facebook. com/rabundoctor. Until next month, live healthy and be well!

April 2017

Health and Wellness

April 2017

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April 2017

Adventure Out Brasstown Bald by Peter McIntosh

n this adventure we’re going to visit a stunning series of cascades, just across the state line in South Carolina. Our destination is Brasstown Falls, located just a few miles past the community of Long Creek, SC. In actuality, Brasstown isn’t a single cascade but a quartet of individual falls, each different from the next. The trailhead is located at the end of Forest Service Road 751 and from there it’s a short level trail only 2/10 mile in length, going under some power lines, to an open and heavily used camping area and the top of the Brasstown Falls. The uppermost cascade is called Little Brasstown Falls and is just upstream from the campsite. Getting to this waterfall involves either getting your feet wet, or doing a balancing act on one of the fallen trees that crosses Brasstown Creek. The lower trio of cascades is accessed via a well worn trail descending along the right side of the falls. This section of trail is very steep at times, with lots of rocks and roots to negotiate. It’s not too tough but do be careful, especially if it’s been raining and the leaf covered ground is wet. But due to the tricky trail characteristics, I strongly recommend you visit these falls with a friend.

The first fall is a tumbling cascade, flowing this way and that, dropping about 50 feet. The next fall is a beautiful vertical drop, falling about 20 feet into a pool and finally the stream sluices through a chute, down another 20 feet to a deeper pool. 64

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I imagine this bottom pool is a popular swimming hole in the summer. You might want to bring a wildflower book to identify the stunning flora that pops up this time of year. For now, take break, have a snack and soak up the scenic splendor of Brasstown Falls. Happy hiking! A poem to adore for month number four: In the springtime sun, the flowers are growing, So let’s visit a spot where the cool water’s flowing. It’s a line-up of falls, like an aquatic parade, Brasstown Falls, truly beautiful cascades. Getting there: From US 441 in Clayton, take Hwy 76 East a little over 13.5 miles, through the community of Long Creek to Brasstown Road on the right. Look for a sign reading “Brasstown Creek BBQ.” Stay on Brasstown Road for 4.2 miles (the last 1.5 miles is gravel). Where the road crosses Brasstown Creek, turn right onto FS 751 and go 1/2 mile to parking area. To see more of Peter’s photos of if you have a question or comment, visit: www.mcintoshmountains.com

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April 2017

Soque River Watershed Association by Duncan Hughes

he Soque River Watershed Association (SRWA) was founded in 1998 by a group of volunteers concerned about threats to clean water. SRWA’s mission is to work together with individuals and organizations to protect and restore the Soque River, its tributaries and watershed.

The Soque River is a critical drinking water resource locally, regionally within Georgia and for our downstream neighbors in Alabama and Florida. The watershed contributes approximately 1/6th of the inflow to Lake Lanier, Metro Atlanta’s primary drinking water supply. The Soque is also a renowned recreational fishery and is one of the southern-most cold water fisheries in the United States, containing three trout species (Rainbow, Brown and our native cold-water fish, the Southern Appalachian Brook Trout).

example, we collaborated with 40+ agricultural landowners to implement better farm management practices that optimize farm operations and achieve cleaner water for downstream property owners. A key element of the success of this funding has been the formation of the Soque Watershed Partnership, spearheaded by SRWA. This partnership engages stakeholders in local watershed protection and includes North Georgia Technical College, Habersham Cooperative Extension, our local municipalities and many others. The purpose of the partnership is to provide citizens and decision makers with the data and knowledge necessary to make informed choices about the future use and protection of our water resources.

Though connected to millions downstream who depend on the very same water, SRWA is uniquely situated to affect meaningful local change on water quality and quantity issues – the Soque River begins and ends in Habersham County. The health of our river, its tributaries and watershed tell the story of our watershed community’s stewardship of this precious resource. Like many watersheds in Georgia, the Soque has stream segments that do not meet clean water standards for fecal coliform bacteria and excessive sedimentation. To address this impaired waters status, SRWA applied for and received five Clean Water Act 319(h) grants since 2004 valuing $2.7 million dollars in projects. This funding has allowed SRWA to perform the monitoring necessary to identify causes and sources of non-point source (NPS) pollution and to prioritize and implement projects to reduce or eliminate those sources. For 66

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Collectively, these activities resulted in cleaner water and decreased fecal coliform bacteria levels in the Soque River. Through this work, it became increasingly evident that better stormwater management is also necessary to control NPS pollution. Stormwater is rainfall that becomes pollution when it hits hard surfaces, and is the delivery mechanism by which many pollutants are introduced into our waters. Additionally, stormwater volumes degrade stream channels and alter instream habitat necessary to support healthy aquatic life. Using green infrastructure (soils, vegetation and natural processes) is a cost-effective, functional and aesthetically pleasing way to reduce the detrimental effects of stormwater on our rivers and streams. Green infrastructure best management practices help break the connections between hard surfaces and streams and allow for rainfall to infiltrate into the ground, recharging groundwater and reducing pollution in our streams. SRWA also promotes a variety of sustainability projects and long-range planning. These activities include water conservation and efficiency projects, recreational trails development, local foods initiatives, and recycling, litter reduction, and educational programs. These efforts engage local residents and a growing number of organizational partners in tangible activities that protect our environment. SRWA also collaborates with municipal partners to improve local public policy and to establish long-range management goals that protect local water resources. Our vision is for our watershed community to be equipped with the knowledge, awareness, capacity and technical expertise necessary to institutionalize watershed protection across residential, commercial, municipal, and industrial scales. For more information on SRWA, please visit www.soque.org or call 706.754.9382. Duncan Hughes Executive Director soqueriver@windstream.net

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April 2017

Mountain Nature Rocks Are Just Rocks, Right? by Jean Hyatt

hen I was growing up, I hated rocks. And weeds. Both were in plentiful supply in our yard in north Arkansas. I hated them because if my mother had the slightest indication that my little brother and I were fighting, or bored or not industriously occupied, she would set us to pulling weeds or picking up rocks out of the yard, so my older brothers could mow with the old non-motorized, bladed push mower. After moving about a million rocks out of the yard, when I grew up and moved to Florida I laughed at the idea of people actually paying money to put rocks on their landscaped lawns. But somehow over the years, I’ve come to love rocks, and yes, I even have a few in my yard. Very few. Mostly the ones I like are little enough to set on my window sills. I like the feel of the round smooth ones, and the look of the granite, and the garnet- and mica-studded schist. But the biggest discovery I’ve made is that rocks are interesting. I know. Not likely. But they are. For instance, did you know that the rocks we know as diamonds can be found in Arkansas? The area was privately owned when I was growing up, but is now a state park where you can still go and dig in the dirt for a chance to find and keep your own diamond. It is the only place in the world you can do that.

These are my pretend rubies. They are heavy for their size, but I don’t know what’s inside.

still have one piece a little larger than a silver dollar. It’s pretty stable, but every so often a thin, transparent layer will peel off. I’ve also found little balls of heavy rock in the creek which are probably corundum, from whence rubies and sapphires come. One day I might get them tumbled to see what’s in them, but for now I like to think of them as rubies. They are quite heavy compared to their size, and corundum is a very heavy mineral. Gems are fascinating, but there are lots of minerals in rock that is useful, like iron and copper and zinc. And lots of rocks are just pretty or have unusual shapes and surfaces. In my windowsill collection, I have some sandstone from Arizona and pumice from Utah. I have a partial geode shell with crystals covering one face of it. I have a lava rock I found in Washington within sight of Mount Adams, which could have been thrown out

Georgia has its share of famous rock. Most people know we are rich in granite; just travel down to Elberton and you will see. And Dahlonega supported a considerable gold rush a couple of centuries ago. We know clear quartz crystals are found down around Atlanta and amethysts are present in Wilkes and Townes counties. But did you know that fairy stones (staurolite) are found over in Fannin County? A fairy stone (or fairy cross) is a couple of hard crystal shaped rocks melded together to form a cross, either at 60 degrees or 90 degrees. They are many times made into jewelry. In Macon County to the north, rubies and sapphires and garnets are found naturally. Rubies and sapphires are made up of the same mineral, scientifically, but are just different colors. We live near an old mica mine, and when my boys were little, they used to climb up the mountain and pick up large pieces of mica. Most of it has been lost over the years, but I 68

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Studded rocks. I love the color of these. gmlaurel.com

of that volcano eons ago. I have mica and smooth river rock, and red crystal rock. And I have Indian pottery pieces from a plowed field nearby which aren’t really rocks. But those pieces were made from this rich red dirt we walk on.

Sandstone. If you rub these, the sand will come off in your hand.

Jean and her husband Richard own and operate Mountain Nature in downtown Clayton. They can be reached at 706.782.0838. ** Don’t forget to turn off your outside lights at night. Use motion detector lighting, shields, and IDA-approved lighting so you don’t impose your light on those who want to see the stars. I believe God made night dark for a reason. Please help keep it that way. **

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April 2017

Mythology and Scientific Observations From Solar Eclipses by Leckie Stack Tourism Development Authority

n Monday, August 21st at 2:35 PM Rabun County will experience a rare total eclipse of the sun. On average a total solar eclipse only occurs in a particular location every 375 years. Solar eclipses have been observed and recorded throughout history. They are awe-inspiring experiences. The very word, “eclipse” is of Greek origin meaning “abandonment”. Ancient cultures attempted to explain the otherwise inexplicable natural phenomena with the creation of mythological legends. In many parts of the world the belief was that demons were attacking the sun. In Vietnam, it was a giant frog devouring the sun; in China it was a celestial dragon. The Vikings believed that wolves were responsible. The Chinese and Incas tried to frighten these monsters away. They performed religious rituals to help the sun struggle against the dragon. One of the earliest references to a solar eclipse was on October 22, 2136 B.C. when, according to Chinese tradition, the sun failed to meet the moon harmoniously. Because the eclipse had not been predicted by the royal astronomers the emperor was unable to organize teams to beat drums and shoot arrows into the air to frighten away the invisible dragon. While the sun survived to rise again the next day, the two astronomers Ho and Hi (who were reported to be drunk and therefore negligent) were beheaded. Early Mesopotamian records report that the MAY 03, 1374 B.C. Ugarit Eclipse occurred when, “On the day of the new moon, in the North of Hiyar, the Sun was put to shame, and went down in the daytime, with Mars in attendance.” This was reported on an ancient clay tablet discovered in 1948. References to eclipses are also found in sacred books, including the Bible. Many biblical scholars believe that Joel 2:31 refers to an eclipse. “The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.“ Another prominently quoted bible reference is Ezekiel 32:7, “And when I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and darken their star; I will cover the sun with a cloud and the moon will not give its light.” There have also been many attempts to associate an eclipse with historical events. Malmesbury wrote of the Aug. 02, 1133 “King Henry’s Eclipse” that, ”The elements manifested their sorrow at this great man’s departure from England. For 70

the Sun on that day at the 6th hour shrouded his glorious face, as the poets say, in hideous darkness, agitating the hearts of men by an eclipse; and on the 6th day of the week early in the morning there was so great an earthquake that the ground appeared absolutely to sink down; an horrid noise being first heard beneath the surface.” As astronomical advances have enabled astronomers to make more exact computations about both past and future eclipses we have been able to learn more about our earth and solar system. Scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory used observations of five solar eclipses to study the Earth’s axis rotation over the past 3,200 years and discovered that the day 1200 BCE was 0.47 seconds shorter than the present day. Thanks to a total solar eclipse on August 16, 1868 helium was discovered on the sun 27 years before it was discovered on Earth. French astronomer Jules Janssen and British scientist Norman Lockyer named their discovery helium after the Greek word for the sun, Helios. British astronomer Sir Arthur Eddington used the total solar eclipse of May 29, 1919 to test Einstein’s theory of general relativity. He was able to prove that gravity can bend light. In ancient times people looked at nature’s phenomena and tried to find sense in them. A friend and I recently discussed the fact that in many ways this has been an extremely challenging winter. Many are distressed about the direction both of our county and our country. She observed that, “Nature’s ritual cycles of life, death and rebirth are constant and that each day brings another opportunity to use spiritual practices to guide us as we navigate constant change.” Maybe we need to listen to the ancient Batammaliba people from Benin and Togo in West Africa. Their legends tell that during an eclipse the sun and the moon are fighting. The only way to stop the conflict, they believe, is for people on Earth to settle their differences.

For additional information about the eclipse and the “OutASight Eclipse Festival” go to the Tourism Authority website at “explorerabun.com/total –eclipse/” .

April 2017

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April 2017

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April 2017

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April 2017

Wheels

An American Icon by Tracy McCoy

ranklin Brown owns some exceptional cars. There’s the sleek black 1963 Ford Falcon Sprint or the shiny baby blue 1970 Cutlass 442; then there is the 1960 Studebaker Lark ordered for the Cobb County Fire Chief or the 1967 Jaguar XKE bought new by Franklin’s uncle who later gifted it to him. I’d be remiss not to mention the bright orange VW Thing and the 1923 Bucket T Hotrod. He has restored the majority of the sixteen cars in his collection, all nicely stored under lock and key for safe keeping. But the car that we decided had to be our featured classic for this April Wheels column is an American classic, an icon of this country’s automotive history: the 1957 Chevy Bel Air.

fender chevrons, hood and trunk script were all rendered in anodized gold. The 1957 Chevrolet’s base engine was an inline 6-cylinder called the Blue Flame Six. The engine was smoother running

The ‘57 Chevy is a car which was introduced by Chevrolet in September 1956 for the 1957 model year. It was available in three series models: the upscale Bel Air, the mid-range TwoTen and the One-Fifty. A two-door station wagon, the Nomad was produced as a Bel Air model. An upscale trim option called the “Delray” was available for two-ten 2-door sedans. This automobile is quite possibly the most popular and sought after classic car. Chief engineer for Chevrolet, Ed Cole, dictated a series of changes that significantly increased the cost of the car. Among the changes were a new dashboard, sealed cowl and the relocation of air ducts to the headlight pods, which resulted in the distinctive chrome headlight that helped make the ‘57 Chevrolet a classic. Fourteen-inch wheels replaced the fifteen-inch wheels from previous years to give the car a lower stance, and a wide grille was used to give the car a wider look from the front. The now famous ‘57 Chevrolet tailfins were designed to duplicate the wide look in the rear. Bel Air models, like Franklin’s, were given gold trim: the grille, front 76

April 2017

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than the V-8. Carburetion came from a single one-barrel carburetor. Franklin’s Bel Air has a 383 Stroker with 3 Rochester 2 barrels. The transmission is a Munci 4-Speed. This combination would put this car down the road pretty quickly! This ‘57 Chevy that originated in Arizona was purchased in Austell, Georgia in 2003. The restoration began in 2004 and was completed in 2007. The rich dark emerald green paint was not a factory shade, rather it was custom mixed by Alfred Caudell who painted the car for Mr. Brown. The custom leather on the spacious bench seat was hand dyed to match the exterior of the car. The car’s wheels and steering wheel were custom milled by Budnick, maker of custom chrome billet alloy wheels for cars, trucks, sport utilities and or street rods. While visiting Franklin and looking at some of the cars in his collection it became apparent to me that he takes pride in his work on these cars. Franklin was born and raised in Sylacauga, Alabama and when I asked him how he learned to do the work on these cars. he said, “When something went wrong with the car we didn’t take it to a shop to get it fixed we worked on it ourselves and I grew up that way.” He certainly must have been taught to do it right. Looking at his workmanship it is easy to see why in 2007 when he finished work on this Chevy he took it to the Super Chevy Show in Commerce, Georgia and won Best of the Best. He went on to enter his ‘57 in two more shows and won them both. That year was the 50th Anniversary of the 1957 Chevrolet and his car was entered into Chevrolet’s Ten Best Show and was named third in the United States. The car is outstanding for sure and we are proud to feature it this month. You are sure to see more from Franklin Brown’s collection this year.

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April 2017

An Old-Time Country Store where Your Business is Appreciated by Tracy McCoy

he Old-Time Country Store is the daddy and daughter dream coming to life. When Kenneth Carver and Amanda Carver Watts decided to open Old-Time Country Store, they had an idea of what kind of store they wanted. Their idea didn’t include all that they would stock or sell it was centered around how they’d treat their customers. Oh, they knew they wanted to offer plants, stock livestock feed and they wanted to have unique gifts and old fashioned candy but what they wrote down on the notebook when they began with a business plan was “We will treat our customers like we want to be treated.” When their current location became available, they knew it was the perfect time and they got busy and they haven’t slowed down much since. They have plants and seed for your flower or vegetable garden and the fertilizer too. They have little chicks, their food, watering systems and all you need for that backyard chicken operation you’ve been thinking about. If you don’t want to mess with that they’ve got fresh eggs. There dog food for every breed from basic feed to the higher end brands like Fromm, Nutri-Source and PureVita and they have a full line of collars, leads and leashes. You’ll find a line of vintage toys for the little ones, there’s some jams and jellies, local honey and pocket knives. There are chairs for rocking and plenty of folks to talk to. They strive for friendly customer service, you are greeted with a smile and “how are ya today, what can we help you with” followed by carrying every order out and loading it in your car. Old-Time Country Store is a family owned and operated business. If they aren’t blood kin, they are thought of that way and treated like part of the family. At the front counter, you’ll meet Kelly Simpson, Rosanna Watts or Keshia Darnell. Loading your goods, you’ll meet Kenan Watts, Jackson Nichols or Jeremy Gallagher. Farmers will find fencing supplies, bulk feed, feeders, fertilizer, seed and pretty much everything but the elbow grease to complete the task. If horses are your passion they’ve got much of what you’ll need. You’ll like the service and the pricing too! Maybe it’s the birds you enjoy you’ll find bird houses, bird feeders and bird baths. In the coming weeks, you’ll see lots of plants and pretties for the yard and before long there’ll be bushels of fresh produce for you to enjoy. Recently Kenneth and Amanda have added U-Haul Service making that big move a breeze. The Old-Time Country Store is open Monday – Friday 8 AM – 5:30 PM and Saturday 8 AM – 3 PM. They are located next to Dr. Lent (that makes it even more convenient) at 70 Old Livery Store, Clayton, Georgia. You can get more info by calling 706.782.1075. You can also follow them on Facebook. Your business will always be appreciated. 78

April 2017

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By The Way.... It’s Time to Root out Hog Fighting by Emory Jones

Stopping this menace will be hard because, believe it or not, hog fighting is legal in every state except Utah. That’s right; there’s not There I’ve said it, and it feels good. I don’t fight hogs one law against picking a fight with a pig. And don’t expect much anymore. But for those of you considering this so-called help from Washington with their pork barrel politics and all that other “sport”, either as a participant, spectator or both, I want you to know tripe. my story. I warn you; it’s sloppy. It’s too late for me, but if exposing my tail can save one person from I should have walked away the first time a pig grunted that I was wallowing in the crackling flames of hog fighting, then coming clean a runt, but I didn’t. I tried to smoke that porker, but he penned me will be worth every bacon bit. quicker than Jimmy Dean could say sausage. At the very least, it will get rid of my gilt. (If you’re not a hog farmer Determined not to be another piece of white meat, or ever let another or didn’t take 4-H, you may not get that one.) boar bust my chops, I put my Harley in hock and went to the gym. Twice. y name is Emory, and I’m a recovering hog fighter.

Before long, I didn’t just enjoy hog fighting; I was good at it. I joined a farm team in the Tenderloin League. But after I won The Sizzling Medallion three years in a row, I jumped the fence to the Larder Class. That’s as high as it gets in the pig leagues. Often, it was offal. Some of those porkers were as clumsy as a hog on ice, but other pigs could fly. I don’t know how widespread hog fighting is in Georgia, but I understand there are feeder operations all over. I told myself I could quit anytime, but that was hogwash. I was addicted to penning pigs. You might say I had swine fever. Trying to quit was as useless as…well, you know. Hog fighting’s underbelly showed itself when gamblers started appearing like the swine they are. I never understood how they knew when a hog fight was about to break out but they had their links - it was like they could smell it. I can still see the faces of the men in the crowd with their “GO HOGS” caps and the women with their silk purses. I could name names, but I’m no squealer. When I was on top, they nicknamed me The Butcher. Later, after I’d developed a potbelly and jowls, they cruelly called me The Chubby Chitlin. Hog fighting ground me up until, finally, it rendered me useless. The low point came the night I got my butt kicked in Boston. gmlaurel.com

April 2017

Bird Walk on Earth Day Saturday, April 22nd at 8:00 AM Join expert birder Jack Johnston on the Chattooga Conservancyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual bird watching expedition. Jack will lead a short hike into the woods to look and listen for neotropical migratory birds, sharing his wealth of knowledge about bird songs and distinctive markings to identify the birds heard and seen on the expedition. Jack has spent over 30 years conducting bird surveys for the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Meet at 8:00 AM sharp at the pavilion in Stekoa Creek Park (809 Hwy. 441 N in Clayton). Park in the GA Mountain Market parking lot, next to Stekoa Creek. Bring binoculars. For more info, contact info@chattoogariver.org or 706.782.6097.

Lovin’ the Journey Trails Trails Trails By Mark Holloway

pringtime is my favorite. The earth awakens. The winter rest is over and new life surrounds with blossoms small and tall. Springtime really should be when we make New Years resolutions. There are so many options to get your cardio going. Running remains my default workout. It requires nearly zero equipment. I cycle this time of year more than mountain bike. We also start back rock climbing. But lacing up and hitting the trails remains my first love. When I’m driving through busy cities and see folks forced to run on sidewalks and dodging cars, I remember how bad I used to have it. Living in these less populated mountains is perfect. And the trail choices are as numerous as mountain laurels. If you’re new to running or aren’t sure if you are getting the most out of your workout, I’m going to offer some tips. Technically I became a runner in high school when as a wrestler and soccer player, we’d run the cobblestone streets and walkways of Frankfurt Germany. Many years after, I’d continue as a recreational runner. I’d never entered an official foot race however until the New York City Marathon in 2004. I was 44. One day I’ll tell you what inspired my first 26.2! Since then I’ve devoured running magazines and books, competed in many endurance events and logged thousands of training miles. Perhaps my favorite go-to resource are the folks who know more than me. Real people who’ve done the stuff. ...folks like Stan Cottrell, a world famous ultra runner. And Margo Schneider a multi Ironman record holder and champion swimmer. I’ve spent time with them and other athletes who inspire me. I’ve gleaned some simple running and training truths from them. Another buddy, Georgia Appellate Court Judge Brian Rickman has impacted me too. He’s a young runner. He’s not new to running, he’s just young. We run trails and enter races together. He pipelines great books for me to read, including Born to Run, by Chris McDougall. Now that is a book that messes with your head. I’ve thrown out a long-preached and embraced running shoe standard which I no longer practice. More in a minute. Tip #1 Mark’s mailbox method. If leaving the couch to get a Twinkie 80

gets you winded, have no fear. Pick the neighbor’s mailbox and run to it, then walk a while. After a day, run past that mailbox and run to that big oak tree then walk awhile. Or find a comfortable trail and set out to run to the big white pine. Then two days later, ease past it until you reach your next land mark, then walk a while. Before long you’ll be running farther and farther. Simple. It’s a mind trick. Tip #2 Don’t stretch. Instead, ease into a comfortable pace. Start slow and warm up the very muscles and tendons you’ll actually be using. My guess is you aren’t an olympic sprinter. Yet, I see folks doing these elaborate, one-size-fits-all stretches they see everyone else doing. Aggressively stretching body parts you won’t actually use is a good way to injure yourself. If you feel a ‘ping’ during a run, stop and stretch. Always stretch after a run. Tip #3. Shoes. Don’t wear work boots. Wear a comfortable pair of running shoes. God uniquely made our feet and ankles to absorb the shock of a foot strike. Don’t over think and over pay for running shoes. This is a total about face from what I’ve always practiced and preached. In the book, Born to Run, the author asks, “Why do we blindly trust the very industry profiting from the advice they give us?” If you have a question, consult an orthopedist, who preferably is a runner. Tip #4. Find your trail. Sure, watch for roots and rocks, but trails are a great first choice over cars and asphalt. Get a running buddy and go easy. Tip #5. Hydrate and fuel ahead of time and have some fluids available as your runs get longer. If you’ve properly pre-hydrated, you won’t need much hydration during short runs. I now follow my mentor Stan Cottrell and hydrate with half water, half apple juice. Most sports drinks don’t accurately mimmic the fluid your body can easily absorb. Tip #6. Injuries. Practice R.I.C.E. Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate. Don’t run injured. Cross train (any cardio other than running) until you’re healed up. Tip #7. Don’t hate. Most folks who hate to run are probably just out of shape. If boredom is your deal, run with music or a friend. Let self control beat boredom. There are some powerful and natural drugs released by your brain when you reach a critical distance. A runner’s high kicks in. Until you reach whatever distance that is for you, you’ll be tempted to hate. Don’t hate. No other human activity burns as many calories as running. I’m convinced we’re made for more. We simply don’t push ourselves enough. The path of least resistance is a tempting, alluring voice. Beat it down. When your cardio is strong, you’ll feel better, think better, create better, love better, pray better, and live better. Our pipes work best when unclogged. Get unclogged. See you on the trail. Mark competes in races, marathons, triathlons, and is an Ironman. He and his wife Carol are enthusiastic outdoor adventurers. They live in Tiger.

April 2017

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