Tracy McCoy Publisher/Editor
Cindi Freeman
Office Manager Marketing Executive
Dianne VanderHorst
Art Director/ Designer
Melissa Williams-Thomas Marketing Exec/Writer
Not Pictured: Louis Dunbar, Jr. Marketing Executive
From the Publisher
Never before has fresh and local, farm to table, and handmade been more popular. What used to be done out of necessity is now all the rage. Makes me think of that old Barbara Mandrell song about putting peanuts in her Coke. Some of the area’s finest dining options demand the freshest locally grown food in every recipe and that is great for the farmers who grow it. The patrons at these restaurants and the mothers who are feeding their families this homegrown and organic food feel good knowing where their vegetables or meat come from and that it is the healthiest possible. On the handmade front there is a resurgence of interest in quilting, knitting and sewing, wood crafting, metalwork, basket making and fine art. There is definitely an appeal to fill one’s home with local artwork from paintings to sculptures and handcrafted furniture to metal yard/garden art. The mountain region is rich with all of these things and some funky art made from kudzu, soda cans or crazy socks! If you have not already discovered the art community in North Georgia we recommend it. We will provide a list of galleries with links and art websites where you can experience regional art on our website (www.gmlaurel.com). You cannot talk about locally produced products without a mention of the local vineyards and wineries, whiskey, bourbon and fruit brandies and craft beer distilleries. These businesses dot the landscape in lush valleys and in mountain top communities across North Georgia. The wine community partnerships with local chefs and farmers offering farm to table dinners in their vineyards allow guests to experience the reason why Rabun county has been named the Farm to Table Capital of Georgia. For a fresh and local directory we invite you to visit our website where you’ll find so many incredible places to visit you’ll be busy into next year! Enjoy! Tracy
August 2016 • Volume Thirteen • Issue Eight • Copyright 2016 Also on board...
Georgia Mountain Laurel
Assitant Editor - Nikki McCall Copy Editor/Writer - Jan Timms Photographer/Writer - Peter McIntosh
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, Jo Mitchell, Steve Jarrard, MD, Lisa Harris, Kitty Stratton, John Shivers, David Daraugh, Lee Parnham, Natalie Wood, Emory Jones 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
46 51
Arts & Entertainment
Yesterdays
10 12 14 16 18
Let me introduce Bessie Barnes Timpson Creek Art Classes North Georgia Arts Guild Rabun Co. Music Festival Book Review - Distant Voices
54 56 58
64 66 70
Lovin’ the Journey Good Work Sid Weber Fun Foursome Golf Tournament Lanier Islands Tracy Celebrates a Decade Welcome Louis Dunbar
72 74 78 80
86 90 92
Live Healthy & Be Well NGPG Welcomes New Doctor The Incredible Iris Davis
In Closing
His Last Days
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Bon Appetit The Family Table Smitty’s Spirits The Restaurants of Rhapsody
Health & Wellness
Rabun County Fair Event Calendar Franklin NC Folk Festival Scaly Mountain Summer Festival
Faith in Christ 44
Adventure Out Mountain Nature Local Harvest
A Taste
Affairs to Remember 34 36 42 43
Foxfire Exploring NE Georgia Wheels - Ted’s VW GTI
Outdoors
Life & Leisure 22 24 25 28 32 33
Bless Your Heart River Garden
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By The Way
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Let me Introduce You
Bessie Dryman Barnes by Tracy Mccoy
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essie walked to work from her Scaly Mountain home where she raised her children with her husband Albert Barnes. Many folks walked wherever they went during Bessie’s growing up and raising children years but Bessie worked at the Highlands’ Laundry eight miles from her home. UPHILL could be an understatement. This delightful lady agreed to talk with me about quilting but once I sat down with her I wanted to know all about her, so please allow me introduce you to Mrs. Bessie Dryman Barnes. She was born in December 1911, she is 104 years old, but you’d never know it. One might meet Bessie and think she was in her late 80s. She was the daughter of Ray and Mamie McConnell Dryman also of the Scaly Mountain community. She was the oldest of seven children and is the only one still living. Her parents were hardworking and godly folks; she remembers traveling from their home in the flats to Rabun Gap and even Tiger to go to church. She remembers visiting some of the families in the Persimmon community naming the Kilbys, Colemans, Howards and the Justus families. Her father was a farmer. He rented land and farmed his own land raising two main crops: cabbage which Scaly Mountain is known for and corn and green
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beans. Her mother taught her to can vegetables and to make the things she needed. That is where quilting came in. “I made quilts to keep me and the family warm. More out of necessity than anything,” Bessie told me. I looked at her hands which lay folded in her lap and imagined all of the stitches those hands had made in her lifetime. When I asked, she estimated that she had made 80 or more quilts, giving most away. Bessie can’t quilt today because Macular Degeneration has stolen her eyesight. “I wish I could still read my Bible; that’s what I miss most about not being able to see.” she said. Bessie is mother to ten children. Ten children have made her grandmother to 26 and those grandchildren have made her great-grandmother to 46 and those great-grandchildren have made her great-great grandmother to 16! Imagine that family reunion! She told me about a conversation she had recently with one of her grandsons, “I told him I thought sure I’d get a preacher out of 26 grandchildren but I don’t have one yet.” With 98 descendents in her direct line it could still happen. When she lived in Scaly Bessie attended the Scaly Mountain Church of God. “I didn’t get to go much on the count of we had to walk and with ten children it’s hard to go.” she said, but Bessie taught her children about Jesus and the love of God and she read His word to them. Bessie sang at church. “I love to sing. Now I can’t as well but when I was younger I sang.” She told me that Amazing Grace was probably her favorite but she loved all the old hymns. Albert and Bessie were sharecroppers moving she said she didn’t know how many times during their life together. “We would move onto someone’s farm and plant and work their crops. Come harvest time we’d gather the food and the farm owner would split it with us. That’s how we survived,” she remembered. “I learned a lot from my Grandma Dryman, she had a loom and would weave cloth. She had my daddy and three other sons and she’d make them suits of clothes. One uncle made a preacher so before he went off she made him a couple of suits.” Her grandmother helped teach her to sew. All of her quilts have been hand-stitched. She didn’t like to use a machine because it was hard to thread the needle. She has created many of her own patterns and some she would see in a magazine and copy. Bessie also crochets and has made all of her children an afghan and quilts. She also made everyone of her grandchildren a quilt. This is how I heard about Bessie. Her granddaughter-in-law Leeann English was featured earlier this year for her quilting. Leeann learned from Bessie and when she told me that she was 104 I knew I had to meet her. Funny how God puts us together. I have been told that Bessie Barnes is best known for her hams and almost famous for her strawberry jam. “I passed the jam recipe down to my girls; I don’t make it anymore,” Bessie told me. She is one incredible lady. She was dressed in the prettiest blue dress for our interview and she posed for a photo with one of her quilts. “I made a lot of quilts for sick people. To raise money for them at benefits. I made one for a man with cancer and they sold tickets on it. I don’t know how much they were maybe a dollar a ticket but they made over $400 for that man. I was sure glad I could help.” she said smiling. Bessie told me her son Fred tried to buy every quilt she made. She told me, “I don’t reckon I’ve ever wanted for a thing. All my children have been awful good to me. I lived up in Scaly Mountain until I was 98 and my eyes got so bad I just couldn’t stay by myself at all.” Her family moved her to Clayton to live with one of her daughters. I wondered to myself if she knew how incredible she is and I know she doesn’t. She is a very humble, gentle soul. When I thanked her for allowing me to come, she thanked me for coming and invited me back. I hope that I can make it back to visit with Mrs. Barnes again and I promised to bring my Bible and read it to her. “OH, I’d love that!” she said. Publisher’s note: The quilt on our cover was made by Leeann English. Leeanne is married to Bessie’s grandson Brent and credits Bessie with teaching her to quilt. The photo was shot by me on Persimmon Creek Road in Clayton.
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Timpson Creek Studio Announces Art Workshops To sign up - email the teacher questions email mathewslibby@gmail.com Saturday July 23 1:00-3:00 Painting Demonstration by Clara Dodd Blalock no charge* Atlanta artist Clara Dodd Blalock, a master painter, will paint and talk about her creative process. Clara’s large scale abstract paintings are filled with energy and expression.“Letting go of control of the painting and trusting the process - being open to what happens with the colors and marks.” The inspiration for her art comes from deep inside and reflects her feeling and her being. To reserve a space please email mathewslibby@gmail.com Friday July 29, Saturday July 30 1:00-4:00 Oil Painting Class - Still Life by Libby Mathews mathewslibby@gmail.com $200 for both days Nationally known painter, Libby Mathews will be teaching her last traditional method class.She is spreading her wings and flying in a new direction. Still painting, nature but with a different dynamic and without so many rules…. Participants are invited to bring paintings that need help (!) and for critique as well as images they would like to paint. Saturday August 13 & Saturday August 20 1:00 - 4:00 “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird” By Libby Mathews mathewslibby@gmail.com $150 per class This is a lesson that David Parks taught at Berkley in the 60’s. Sumi Ink and Rice Paper .Participants will make their own CHOP. All supplies will be provided. Saturday September 17 1:00 - 4:00 Ink Dyed Silk Scarves by Deb Goatcher debgoatcher@windstream.net $50 Deb Goatcher, an amazing multimedia artist who refuses to color within the lines will be facilitating participants in creating their own wearable art. Whether your style is sophisticated, bohemian or funky you will be sure to have fun creating silk scarves to wear or gift to someone special. Be prepared to get messy. All materials included to create two scarves. Additional blanks will be available for purchase. Saturday September 24 1:00-3:00 Painting Demonstration by Susan Burns no charge* Timpson Creek Artist and the Official Artist of the Kentucky Derby, Susan Easton Burns’ spontaneity and intuition are the most important concepts that she conveys in her art. Her energetic seemingly random, chaotic beginnings create rich under paintings for the images that come to life in her art. Come see Susan demonstrate how she begins her paintings and watch the magic that happens…to reserve a space email mathewslibby@gmail.com
October Classes to be announced in the next issue.. *made possible by the St. Anton Foundation and The Hambidge Center for the Arts and Sciences 12
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Towncreek Road Farm by Joyce Clair
Pottery by Laura Loveless
NORTH GEORGIA ARTS GUILD Sautee-Nacoochee Center to Host the North Georgia Arts Guild
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he North Georgia Arts Guild will be featured at the Sautee-Nacoochee Center Gallery Hallway Invitational Exhibition in Sautee, Georgia from August 5th through September 11th. An opportunity for North Georgia arts organizations to display their members’ works on a rotating basis is the focus of the Center’s Hallway Invitational. The public is invited to meet the Guild’s participating members and view their wide variety of art works including paintings, pottery, basketry, fiber arts and jewelry, at the Opening Reception on Sunday, August 7th from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM at the Sautee-Nacoochee Center. Founded in 1994, the North Georgia Arts Guild has grown from twenty founding members to its present day membership of over a hundred. The Guild’s mission is to promote interest and appreciation of the arts in North Georgia by bringing together artists, artisans and those with an interest in the arts to share knowledge, expertise and fellowship. Partnering with the Georgia Mountain Laurel Magazine, the Gershon Benjamin Foundation, Oconee Federal Bank and Joel Wise, CPA, the Guild has sponsored numerous art activities and exhibitions since its inception. Its most recent festivals, the 2nd Annual Painted Fern Festival at Rabun County’s Civic Center and Celebrate Clayton 2016 on Main Street provided the local community with an opportunity to not only view a wide variety of creative works, but also to purchase special treasures. Funds raised from these festivals enabled the Guild to award generous scholarships to three graduating seniors from Rabun County High School and one senior from Rabun Gap School. Beginning in September, guild members invite you to join them at their meeting on the third Thursday of the month at 9:30 AM at the Rabun County UGA Extension Conference Room in Clayton. For more information, visit the Guild website at www.northgeorgiaartsguild.com. Mary Beth’s Flowers by Patricia Short Holmes
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Summer Concert Series
O
Finale
Constantina Barile, a Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School graduate, is the daughter of Tamara Barile of Franklin, North Carolina. She will attend Elon University in North Carolina in the fall where she plans to pursue Theatre Design and Production.
n August 14, for the final concert of the season, the Rabun County Music Festival will host a perennial favorite Emile Pandolfi. An accomplished pianist and entertainer with an enthusiastic following of fans in our region, Mr. Pandolfi never fails to draw a large audience.
Madeline Benitez, a Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School graduate, is the daughter of Cheryl and Michael Benitez of Cashiers, North Carolina. She will attend Marymount Manhattan College in New York City in the fall and plans to pursue Musical Theatre and Performance Art.
EMILE PANDOLFI Pianist and Entertainer Sunday, August 14, 4:00 PM Rearden Theater Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School Tickets - $25 In addition to hosting the summer concert series, the Rabun County Music Festival Association provides scholarships to deserving seniors at Rabun County High School and Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School. Scholarships are awarded only to students whose intent is to pursue an education in visual or performing arts. This year three scholarships were awarded to seniors at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School and one to a Rabun County High School graduate. The Rabun County Music Festival Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Anyone wishing to make a donation can visit www.rabunmusicfestival.com and click on “Donate�. Concert tickets may be purchased online at www. rabunmusicfestival.com, at the Rabun County Welcome Center, the Macon County (NC) Chamber of Commerce or at the theater door on the day of the performance.
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Bailey Baker, a Rabun GapNacoochee School graduate, is the daughter of Rebecca and Scott Baker of Highlands, North Carolina. She will attend Shenandoah University in Virginia in the fall to pursue Musical Theatre.
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The recipient of the H ay wo o d - H o p p e s - B e l l scholarship is Cylvie Patterson, daughter of Breck and Lisa Patterson of Rabun Gap. She is a graduate of Rabun County High School and is headed to Armstrong State College in Savannah to major in Music Education. She is pictured here with Will Gurley, chair of the Music Festival Scholarship Committee.
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Listen to the Voices; Hear the Legend Distant Voices Tell the Story
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longside Georgia Highway 17 in the heart of White County’s Nacoochee Valley, a lacy Victorian Folly reigns majestically atop a spacious green knoll. Its beauty and the air of mystery it exudes simply reaches out and grabs your soul. Whether it’s raining or the sun is bright, or the mists are playing peek-a-boo, the appearance is never the same. Sunrises and sunsets paint exquisite backdrops for this small red-roofed, alfresco faux-chapel and the beautiful but tragic legend it protects. This delicate and precious summer house is actually a later addition to another story almost as old as time itself. The eight-sided, gingerbread-laced temple is the cherry on the sundae of a story guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye, and a knot to your throat. It’s a tale -- who knows for certain if it’s true -totally in keeping with the Northeast Georgia hills that lie at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains. It’s the story Northeast Georgia writer Emory Jones commits to paper within the pages of Distant Voices. At first glance, this would obviously be considered a coffee table book. However, it won’t stay on your coffee table long enough to earn that distinction. The urge to repeatedly pick it up is contagious and understandable. From the cover photo of a new day dawning out of the mists in the White County meadow, more and more details emerge. Inside, the vivid color photographs of the gazebo itself, shot from many different angles and the original artwork of a number of area artists, bring the image to life from so many unique perspectives.
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It’s that variety of impression and image that Emory captured to document a story that so closely echoes the works of that Shakespeare guy across the big pond in the 1590’s. Only in this case, it’s the story of Sautee and Nacoochee, two star-crossed Indian lovers. But there are several variations of the same story, so which one do you believe? Distant Voices contains so many beautiful but slightly different images of the gazebo that supposedly marks the burial location of the two lovers; much like the different versions of their story. As a boy growing up in the area, Emory found himself totally fascinated by the gazebo, the mound and the stories. As an adult, he decided the entire package deserved a coffee table book, but at his wife’s urging, he included narrative with the many photos. It made a better book, he confesses. His cousin Dr. Max White, Professor of Anthropology at Piedmont College, was pulled into the matrix, and the content now found in Distant Voices emerged. Emory explains that some people dislike the gazebo, but points out that the structure’s presence has actually protected the mound from being leveled. Other artists, writers and photographers including poet Mildred Greear and the late John Kollock, Becky Threlkeld, now Becky Pebbles, Nona Stephens, Judy Bynum George, Jack Deloney and Paul Brown contributed their memories and the fruits of their talents. An eclectic collection of the talents of so many Northeast Georgia individuals literally makes the book. It was Nona Stephens’ off-the-cuff remark that named the book. “Every time I come into the valley, it’s almost like I can hear the sound of distant voices,” she said. Her words grew on Emory. “It was perfect,” he admits, bestowing credit where it belongs. He does find it ironic that after all his gnashing of teeth over the perfect title, most people just refer to it as “The Indian Mound Book”. Whatever you call it, Emory acknowledges the three years of off-and-on work that went into the writing and design. That he was writing about his own back yard was also a mandate to make it as accurate and beautiful as possible. While he spent 32 years in Atlanta, his homeland was never far from his mind and heart. He came home as often as possible. Even so, he still can’t believe he’s the first person to write an in-depth book about the old mound.
When you meet the farmers and go to the farms, you see that they treat their animals like they’re family. It makes a big difference. David Chang
The book may be purchased at the Hardman Farm Gift Shop just south of Helen and at numerous other stores in the area. Response has been fantastic, and Distant Voices is already considered an authority. Emory was in a group where an individual consulted his book to answer a question about the Nacoochee Valley. That person didn’t realize Emory was the author. “That made me feel pretty darn good,” he admits. Since the book’s publication, additional photos and information have emerged, and an hour-long video was produced. It features the complete contents of the book, the new information, and features the voices of over two dozen locals as the distant voices in the narration. The voices of the past may indeed be distant, but then you need look no farther than your coffee table to hear them. As John Kollock said, “Sometimes the memories flutter by so close you can almost feel their wings.” By John Shivers
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RUTH CAMP 706.499.4702
ruth@ruthcamp.com www.ruthcamp.com
PO Box 519 - 132 E Waters Street Clarkesville, GA 30523 706.754.5940
VIRTUAL TOURS AVAILABLE
PERFECT COUNTRY ESTATE! On 20 Acres! For a Car Collector or Horse lover. 5 Stall Barn., Private and gated. Outbuilding can house 20 cars. $1,250,000 (7602862)
WELL MAINTAINED! 3BR/3.5BA traditional brick ranch home. 7 acre estate with beautiful views. Finished rooms on terrace level. $489,000 (7436232)
1890'S FARM HOUSE! Offering 3-4BRs, 3BAs, 5FPs, parlor, office, keeping room and mostly original heart pine flooring. In downtown Clarkesville. One year home warranty provided. $299,000 (8026729)
GATHER AROUND! French & English house inspired this charming Stephen Fuller home. End of Cul-de-sac on 4+ acres. Bubbling Creek. 3+ BR , finished terrace. $349,900 (7617151)
BILL CAMP 706.499.4720
bill@billcamp.net www.billcamp.net
MASTERPIECE IN DESIGN! 58+ ACRES, Craftsman Style Farm House. Lake with dock, Barn and fencing. Separate 1200 sq ft caretakers cottage! $899,000 (7611571)
NO HEMMED IN FEELING HERE!! Refreshing country Estate on 17+ acres. EXCELLENT RETREAT!! 4BR, 3.5BA home Overlooking the 3rd hole and 2 lakes. Brick with guest quarters over the garage, in 3BR, 2.5BA with Formal DR, eat-in and Stone construction with finished bonus ground pool in the back with pool house, kitchen. Approx 10 acres of pasture, cross fenced & has 4 hay storage & room room over the 3 car garage. In The Orchard bath & small kitchenette. 4 sided brick for 4-5 horse stalls. $449,500 (8003891) Golf Community. $525,000 (7500921) construction. $325,000 (8003070)
DISTINGUISHED STEPHEN FULLER This southern Oldie flaunting timbers of TREASURE!! Perfect for the growing family. yesteryear circa 1895, is definitely an heir to 24/7 gated golf community with pool, tenhistory! As you relax on the 1700 ft. of nis and mountain lakes. Home sits on covered porches. Original carriage house with 2 lots for privacy. $599,000 (7615106) hay storage still intact. $299,900 (8007901)
SUPERIOR CONSTRUCTION! Custom home on one acre. Lovely gardens and fenced backyard. Picturesque neighborhood great for walking. Chef's Gourmet Kitchen. $299,000 (8027434)
EXCEPTIONAL LOG HOME! PAMPERED PERFECTION! 4BR/3.2BA SOQUE RIVER FRONT! Country On picturesque Lake Nora. 4BR/3.5BA, home, formal DR, eat-in kitchen w/custom Rustic Home on North end of river, bonus room, office and loft. Incredible cabinets, warming drawer, granite c-tops, newer home with 5,000 SQ FT, 5 BR, lake. Full finished apartment on terrace 2 rock/stone FP, 3 car garage and 4.5BA stacked stone and cedar shake level. $669,000 (7575217) Hardi-plank siding. $455,500 (8026541) exterior. $995,000 (7617613)
SO NICE TO COME HOME TO! 3BR, 4BA home. GARDNER'S DELIGHT! AUTHENTIC LOG HOME! Sautee-Nacoochee WHEN ONLY THE BEST WILL DO! Finished bonus room, wood floors throughout, 9' Valley in White County. Custom built , 2020 3BR/2.5BA Brick Home, FP, built-ins, Custom Southern Living Plan, 6BR, 5BA Ceilings, build-in's, Kitchen w/breakfast bar, formal sq ft of finished space on 3 levels. 3/4BR/3BAs, sun room w/plantation shutters, split Master and additional BR on main, truly DR, 12x30 Sun porch, saltwater in ground pool. bedroom plan, unfinished bonus professionally landscaped with year round gourmet kitchen Close to Piedmont Trailwaves high-speed Internet. $459,000 (8015687) room. $239,500 (8027543) mountain views. $339,000 (7634969) College. $594,900 (8019259)
Clarkesville Georgia
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Lovin’ the Journey A live broadcast R. Mark Holloway
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My challenge is getting quiet enough to simply tune in and listen. One of the definitions of crazy is hearing voices inside your head. But what if the voice is the Lord’s? God will never tell you anything that contradicts His character, nature or principles found in His word.
remember traveling across Texas at night when I was a little boy. The glow of the AM radio dial and the distant city lights kept me company. Texas is flat. You can see a long ways. I remember hearing my dad say l, “Find us a station, son.” We traveled a lot as a military family, crisscrossing the country and the globe. A few years ago I found an AM/FM transistor radio in its small leather case. A store clerk had just it put out on display. The $2.99 price tag was irresistible. We were in Orlando visiting family. I could hardly wait to get home and put a battery in this old relic. Because of the amazing Internet, I learned the radio was made in Japan in 1962. I explained to my kids that this portable device I now held my hands was the iPhone or iPod of its day. You could stick an ear piece into either ear and listen. About that time, I got chills down my spine. I’d put a battery in and...it still worked. I’d thought about the sounds that had perhaps come from its small speaker. Maybe its owner heard the news of John F. Kennedy’s assassination through this small marvel. Or maybe they’d sat on the beach listening to a new band from England singing “I wanna hold your hand.” Perhaps they’d listened to Neil Armstrong speaking live from the moon. Maybe the radio never left central Florida and they’d tuned in to hear of a man named Disney who’d just bought a lot of land nearby. Pondering this radio’s past caused me to wonder what if I could get the radio to tune in to the future? How would that change my life? I believe the voice of the Lord is always broadcasting. His heart and will are always for us and never against us. I believe hearing his voice is as simple as dialing into the right station. He is ever communicating, ever reaching out, ever transmitting His love towards us.
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The ability to hear prophetically and communicate prophetically is available to all of us. Maybe we just need to be more available. Over the years I have decided that defining the word prophetic is quite simple: communicating the heart of the God. Whether you’re in a tough place or everything is going really great, both are good times to hear from God. There once was a time where it seemed I could hear God more clearly when I was at my most desperate. But as we develop a friendship with God, we can listen for His voice even when all is great. You’re really not crazy if you talk with God. You’re crazy if you don’t. His love is perfect. He never lies. He’s for you...always. He longs to bless what you’re up to. But it’s far better for me to align myself with what He’s blessing than expect Him to bless beyond His character. Walk with Him. Talk with Him. Find Him on a trail, at a waterfall, along a river... on a mountain top. Turn down the noise. John, who wrote Revelation, said the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy. God’s heart is always aimed at repairing and restoring our relationship with Him. Sometimes the Lord speaks His encouragement to us through others. Allow Him to guide the best adventure of all....your life. See you on the trail. gmlaurel.com
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Sid Weber
Makes a Difference for Cancer Patients By John Shivers
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hances are you’ve been on the receiving end of the medical diagnosis called “Cancer.” Or, you’re friends with or related to someone who has received that gutcrushing announcement. The National Cancer Institute estimates 1,685,210 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2016. Sadly, despite the natural beauty of the Rabun County area, and the wonderfully-eclectic assortment of people who live here, it doesn’t deter the relentlessness of this disease that stalks without discrimination. But for cancer patients and their families living in Rabun County, one tool exists in their fight for life and normalcy, that isn’t available to anyone, anywhere else in the world. Since 2006, the Sid Weber Memorial Cancer Fund has been on the front line in this county to meet cancer patients with assistance for everyday needs… the little things that matter so much. A cancer diagnosis sidetracks normal life in a big way. Priorities shift overnight. Suddenly, paying the utility bill takes a back seat to deciding which course of treatment holds the most promise. Holding on with both hands to the life you treasure suddenly has to compete with the demands of your job. But life goes on, meaning you’re suddenly both blind-sided and overloaded. Never mind that you have cancer, the utility bill has to be paid. Employers have a right to expect you to be at your post. And your oncologists and support medical providers set you up for treatment on a schedule other than your own, usually at locations miles away. What’s a cancer patient struggling to find a cure and hang on to some degree of normalcy to do? How are family members supposed to help their loved one, when they have obligations commitments and obstacles of their own?
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Look no farther than the friendly folks with the Sid Weber Fund. While they don’t provide financial assistance for medicallyrelated costs, they do provide transportation and / or gasoline for those out of county medical appointments. And they do so much more. If you’re losing income because you have to be away from your job, Sid Weber can help you pay those utility bills, your rent or mortgage. Help with the car payment ensures you can continue to get to work and medical appointments. Gasoline cards are available for fuel. And if you’re not able to drive yourself, the Foundation’s “Road to Recovery” program offers medical chauffeuring by volunteer drivers using their personal automobiles to drive patients to appointments. What’s more, access to Sid Weber’s services is accomplished without red tape or hassle. One simple visit with Patient Coordinator Tammy Whitmire allows her to complete a brief informational 2-page form, and get consent to communicate with the patient’s doctor. You’re good to go. A file is opened, and $2,000.00 is credited to that patient. After that, the patient or the patient’s family member decides what to spend that money on, when to spend it, and over what period of time. Tammy explains that many times patients have tried to go it on their own, and have gotten behind on their obligations. They may spend much of their allocation initially to catch up. Others will access funds over time, as their needs dictate. In all cases, the Fund cuts checks and mails directly to the identified recipient, also removing that burden from the patient. Sid Weber was a retired commercial pilot and long-time Sky Valley retiree who lost his battle with leukemia in 2005. Charitable donations made in his memory were channeled into an assistance fund for Rabun County cancer patients, through the Sid Weber Memorial Cancer Fund. They started with $4,000.00 and awards of $500.00 per patient. As they were able, the amount was increased to $2,000.00 per patient. Since then, $540,000.00 has been paid out to 336 patients. And while the perception still exists that the Fund is a Sky Valley “thing,” nothing could be
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farther from accurate. While it was established by Sid Weber’s widow and his Sky Valley friends, only two of those assisted since 2006 were from Sky Valley. Board member Milt Gillespie, who’s been a part of the Sid Weber operation since the beginning, explains that they actually had to look for patients who would accept that initial assistance. He points out that the program’s “Road to Recovery” has transported many patients thousands of miles to appointments at absolutely no cost to the Fund. The volunteer drivers absorb all the expense. Everything is accomplished by volunteers except for the patient coordinator who receives a small stipend, and the administrative expenses are minimal. The Sid Weber Fund has been on the Rabun County scene for 10 years now. A nucleus of volunteer individuals laid the groundwork and launched this critical organization. They’ve raised funds in a variety of ways and continue to do so. They will always be looking for additional funds to allow them to keep meeting the needs. But after 10 years, there are volunteers who have had to step down and those who need to step down. Sid Weber needs new warm bodies to help keep the momentum moving. If you’re a cancer patient or a family member, and you haven’t availed yourself of what Sid Weber can do, you need to correct that today. If you have funds you’d like to invest in a great 501-c-3 non-profit cause, look no farther than the Sid Weber Fund. And if you have time and energies to invest in a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-work job, in exchange for a real feeling of satisfaction, then Sid Weber needs you. It’s as simple as calling 706-746-3305. Won’t you make that call today?
Fun Foursome Golf Tournament to Benefit Sid Weber Memorial Cancer Fund
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he 2016 Annual Sid Weber Memorial Cancer Fund fundraiser and Fun Foursomes Golf Tournament will begin on Saturday August 6th with a Putting Contest and continue on Sunday August 7th with a Four person golf tournament scramble at the Sky Valley Country Club golf course. Registration for the tournament and warm-up begins at noon on Sunday and the event will begin with a shotgun start promptly at 1 PM. Hole sponsorships exist and can be purchased and golfers can register until August 3rd. Cost per player is $125 (includes balls, cart, bag lunch, water, snacks, prizes and dinner). The cost for an additional dinner guest is $25. Single golfers and groups that are less than four will be teamed together to create a foursome. There is no age limit! Mulligans and other “fun” golf tricks will be available for purchase at registration. “Foursome Scramble” Each foursome tees off from an assigned tee. The best tee shot is selected and the second shot is made from that spot by ALL members of the foursome. This format continues until the ball is holed. There will be a Hole-in- One Challenge and other contests for all golfers. You are sure to enjoy yourself and the impact of the monies raised is far reaching and life changing. For more information contact Milt Gillespie at 706.746.3595
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Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability. Sam Keen
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Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it. Russell Baker
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Lanier Islands: More than Just A Water Park! by Nikki Dunbar
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ust a little over an hour south of Rabun County is one of North Georgia’s best leisure destinations, Lanier Islands. As a long-time resident of Rabun County, I have heard of Lanier Islands many times, but I always had the idea that it was just a water park. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Lanier Islands has so much more to offer than just a water park! They have something for everyone and offer a wide variety of activities geared toward different recreational interests. This summer I had the pleasure of visiting Lanier Islands Resort, and was pleasantly surprised at what they do.
The drive into the resort is beautiful with views of the lake, the golf course, an event shelter and a floating pavilion. The resort has accommodations for private events, as well as sponsored events and the scenery is charming. Some of the attractions that Lanier Islands offers are LanierWorld, the water park, a beach area, overnight and camping accommodations, several dining options, boating, horseback riding, trails and biking, zip lining, golf and Tranquility, the spa. If you’re in the mood to play in the water, visit LanierWorld and try their water attractions. The CAT4 is a water slide that splashes directly into Lake Lanier. Nearby are the floating obstacle course and the Intimidator and Triple Threat As you continue walking, the path opens up and the beach area is on the left. There are chairs and umbrellas on the beach to relax and watch the Spectacular Screen. The 5-story screen shows featured presentations or live sporting events and offers a place for rest and relaxation. They also have Full Moon Parties on select Saturdays at Sunset Cove, including stilt-walkers, firebreathers, jugglers, balloon artists and more. The water park offers several dining locations, as well as some beach shops: Breezy’s at Sunset Cove and Bucky’s by the Wave Pool. Here you can buy all the essentials, like swim suits and sunscreen, as well as souvenir items to remember your trip. 28
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Past the beach is the wave pool, which also features a big screen, and the Raging River, a slide that is tamer than the Triple Threat slides, but still a thrilling and fun slide. If the water park is not what you are looking for, Lanier Islands also offers a variety of leisure activities. Play 12 holes of Golf at Legacy Golf Course (lanierislands.com/golf), schedule a horseback ride around the resort (678.318.7886), visit Tranquility the Spa for a couple’s massage, hot stone therapy, facials and salt scrubs (678.318.7887) or take a relaxing dip in the saltwater lounging pool. After enjoying all the activities that the resort has to offer, you’re sure to have worked up an appetite. Lanier Islands Resort features several dining options: Gianni’s Italian Bistro, The Boardwalk, Sidney’s Restaurant and BullFrog’s Bar and Grille. There is definitely something for any taste, from a quick snack to a full sit-down dining experience. When you are looking for something different and exciting to do for the weekend or just for the day, check out Lanier Islands! Everyone in the family will have fun, and the location is perfect, on beautiful Lake Lanier, just a short drive from almost anywhere in Northeast Georgia! Check out LanierIslands.com for more information and for a schedule of events, or call 1.800.840.LAKE (5253).
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Downtown Clayton, Georgia SHOP - DINE - PLAY A Great Place to Spend the Day!
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Tracy Celebrates A Decade!
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eginning in April 2003, Rabun’s Laurel became for Rabun County what The Laurel Magazine was for Highlands and Cashiers, North Carolina. Area business owner Tracy McCoy joined the staff of Rabun’s Laurel in June 2004 and became the Publisher/Owner two years later, with her first issue coming out in August 2006. While Rabun County has always been the main focus and home to the magazine, it became apparent that the residents of neighboring counties were enjoying the magazine as well. Tracy decided it was beneficial to advertisers and readers to include the surrounding areas, so the magazine could further their reach and continue their mission to share the mountains. Therefore Rabun’s Laurel remained the company name but the magazine became the Georgia Mountain Laurel. The magazine is currently distributed and enjoyed in Rabun, Habersham, Towns, Union, Stephens and White counties in Georgia and Macon and Clay Counties in North Carolina. Georgia Mountain Laurel has plans to include Hall County in the near future. In spite of a down economy and the economic recession in recent years the Georgia Mountain Laurel has continued to be a mainstay in the Northeast Georgia Mountains. “Our amazing staff, talented writers, local artists and photographers all combine to create an amazing magazine, but what truly makes the Laurel great is the wonderful area and its remarkable people, we never lack quality content,” Tracy remarked. Over the years, the Georgia Mountain Laurel has suffered great loss in the deaths of Jean Emhart, Janie P. Taylor and Tony Wheeler. Each of them brought something very special and unique to Laurel readers and they are dearly missed. Throughout the years, the magazine has also gained many new and exciting additions: new writers, new articles and new features. Today, the core team consists of Tracy McCoy as Publisher/Editor. Dianne Vanderhorst is the Art Director and has been part of the Laurel team almost from the beginning. Dianne works diligently to create beautiful ads for advertisers and has always had her hand in the design and layout aspect of the magazine. Managing the office, taking care of clients and also part of layout and design is Cindi Freeman. Melissa Williams-Thomas, Marketing Executive, consistently helps business professionals increase their bottom line through advertising and takes great care of longtime advertisers. Recently coming aboard in sales is Louis Dunbar, who brings to the table a wealth of marketing and advertising experience ranging from the corporate level to community publications. Returning to the Laurel and assuming the position of Assistant Editor is Nikki Dunbar, who creates engaging advertisements and writes interesting articles. A special thanks to Jan Timms, for always dotting our i’s, crossing our t’s and adding or removing commas where needed.
In 2012, Tracy added Cabin & Cove magazine; an annual guide for residents living on Lakes Burton, Seed and Rabun, which will soon be delivered to their mailboxes with additional copies available at the Georgia Mountain Laurel office and the Rabun County Chamber of Commerce. 32
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“We have many new exciting things coming up in our future and we are always growing, changing and expanding to meet the needs of our advertisers and readers. While we have truly enjoyed the authentic log cabin office, formerly Traves Real Estate, the Georgia Mountain Laurel is moving the office to Mountain City, effective August 1,” Tracy said. The new address is 2511 Highway 441, Mountain City, Georgia. The log cabin office space is available for purchase and interested parties can contact Carolyn Traves Horton at 706.782.5435. “We love what we do. Sharing the mountains has been the magazine’s mission and my pleasure for 10 years. We look forward to a bright future.” Tracy McCoy, publisher of the Georgia Mountain Laurel Magazine.
Welcome Louis Dunbar!
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he Georgia Mountain Laurel welcomes Louis Dunbar, our newest Marketing Executive. Louis was born and grew up in Jacksonville, FL. He attended the University of Florida and began a career with General Motors. He brings to the Laurel extensive training and knowledge in sales and marketing, from his career with General Motors and Heartland Publications. After visiting Rabun County over Christmas, he immediately fell in love with the area. Shortly after, he was introduced to the Georgia Mountain Laurel. He believed so strongly in the Laurel’s mission of sharing the mountains that he wanted to be a part of it. He began working for the magazine at the beginning of July, and hopes to help in expanding the Georgia Mountain Laurel’s service area to Hall and other surrounding counties. Louis is very excited to get to know the area and its people, and to help local business owners take advantage of what the Laurel has to offer. Help us welcome Louis to the Laurel family. Contact him at 678.630.3794 or louisdunbar.gml@gmail.com.
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4th Annual Rabun County Fair at the Rabun Arena
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he fourth annual Rabun County Fair is scheduled for August 25th – 27th at the Rabun Arena on East Boggs Mountain Road in Tiger, Georgia. This special three day event will host hog, cattle and goat shows; exhibits include local sewing, crafts, art, photography and flower arranging. You will not want to miss the truck and tractor pulls on Saturday. Fair goers will enjoy things like a donut eating contest, a Jello slurp, hot wing eating contest or a contest for the biggest pumpkin. There are a lot of fun activities for the kids and so much that families can enjoy. From exhibits to contests and the shows the Rabun County Fair offers all a great time. The Rabun County Fair Association’s purpose is to provide the leading venue for agriculture, exhibits, entertainment and education for Rabun County. Their mission is to provide a place where people of all ages can gather and enjoy the fruits of our labor, while promoting our best resources - our youth, our agriculture and our communities. Admission is free, so come on out and show your support for Rabun’s youth. Any revenues will be used to provide for camp, club activities and scholarships for Rabun County students - private, public and homeschooled. For additional information call Rhonda Williams 706.490.3265, Steve Cabe 706.982.0792, and please visit www.rabuncountyfair.net for a full schedule of events, registration forms and directions. Hope we see you at the fair!
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Summer Happenings - August & September, 2016 STEPHENS COUNTY August 3rd and each Wednesday and Saturday through October Stephens County Farmers’ Market Corner of Pond and Tugalo Toccoa Info: 706.282.3309 August 13th and the second Saturday of the month through October Sage Market Corner of Pond and Tugalo Toccoa Info: 706.282.3309 August 13th and the second Saturday of the month Second Saturday Historic Downtown Toccoa Info: 706.886.2132 August 15 and the third Monday of each month Career Coach Stephens County Library parking lot Toccoa Info: www.gmrc.ga.gov/ WorkforceDevelopment th
September 30th – October 2nd Currahee Military Weekend Toccoa Info: 706.282.5055? HABERSHAM COUNTY August 6th and each Saturday Clarkesville Farmers’ Market Old Clarkesville Mill Clarkesville Info: 706.778.9374 August 12th Cornelia Summer Concert Series Historic Train Depot Cornelia Info: 706.778.4654 August 19th and the third Friday of the month Friday Night Live Downtown Clarkesville Info: 706.754.2220 August 19 Friday Night Flicks: “Cinderella” Pitts Park Clarkesville Info: 706.754.2220 th
September 9th – 17th Chattahoochee Mountain Fair Toccoa Highway Clarkesville Info: 706.778.4654
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September 17th Gospel Choir Showcase Historic Train Depot Cornelia Info: 706.778.4654 September 24th 7th Annual Taste of Clarkesville Downtown Clarkesville Info: www.tasteofclarkesville.com Habersham Community Theatre Clarkesville Info: www.habershamtheater.org August 5th “A Broadway Revue” August 6th Movies on Main: “Raiders of the Lost Ark” August 13th Concert: “Drunk on the Wind” Grant Street Music Room Old Clarkesville Mill Clarkesville Info: 706.754.3541 August 13 Chase Thomas Band th
August 27th Twisted Whiskey with special guest Korbin Towe WHITE COUNTY August 2 and each Tuesday and Friday through August Bingo Helen Festhalle, Helen Info: 706.878.1908 nd
August 5th and the first Friday of the month First Friday Music Pickin’ Sautee Village Sautee Info: 706.878.0144 September 1st Labor Day Celebration Unicoi State Park Helen Info: 706.878.2201 September 8th – 11th, 15th – 18th September 22nd – October 31st 46th Annual Oktoberfest Helen Info: 706.878.1908
September 8th 2016 Judged Art Competition & Reception Helen Arts & Heritage Center Helen Info: 706.878.3933 September 10th Oktoberfest Parade Main Street Helen Info: 706.878.1908 September 17th Georgia’s Spirit of Appalachia Food, Wine & Art Festival Hardman Farm Historic Site Sautee Nacoochee Info: 706.865.5356 September 24th 9th Annual Agri-Fest & the 5th Annual Pottery Comes to Town Event Freedom Park Cleveland Info: 706.865.5356 Yonah Mountain Vineyards Cleveland Info: 706.878.5522 August 1st Signature Vineyard Tour and Tasting August 14th and the second Sunday of the month Reserve Wine Tasting September 3rd Crush Fest Sautee Nacoochee Center Sautee Info: 706.878.3300 August 5th – 7th and each Friday – Sunday Discovery Tours September 3rd Folk Pottery Show & Sale and 10th Anniversary Celebration BabyLand General Cleveland Info: 706.865.2171 August 13th Cabbage Patch Tea Party September 10th Fall Fest
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Smithgall Woods Cleveland Info: 706.878.3087 www.smithgallwoods.com August 6th and each Saturday First Visit Tours
August 21st and the third Sunday of the Month Behind the Scenes Tour
Hambidge Center Rabun Gap Info: 706.746.5718
September 3rd – 5th Labor Day Weekenday
August 6th and the First Saturday of the month Grist Mill Visits
August 20th Youth Fish Day at Buck Shoals
September 24th – 25th and weekends in October Scarecrow Trail
August 20th Gold Fever
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Saturday Evening Concert Series Unicoi State Park & Lodge Helen Info: 706.878.2201
August 5th – 6th; 26th – 27th Haunted York House Inn York house Rabun Gap Info: 706.746.2068
August 6th Cane Creek August 13 Women of the Heart August 20th Wallace Band September 3rd Happy Wanders German Band September 17th; October 15th Mars Pickers
Visiting Artist Series Unicoi State Park & Lodge Helen Info: 706.878.2201
August 13th – 14th Junior Rodeo August 20th – 21st Wateree Cutting Horse Show
August 6th and each Saturday Simply Homegrown Farmers’ Market Clayton City Hall Complex Clayton Info: www.RabunMarket.com
August 14th Rabun County Music Festival Emile Pandolfi Rearden Theater, Rabun Gap Info: www.RabunMusicFestival.com
August 6 – 7 Sheryl Osbourne th
September 2nd – 5th Labor Day Celebration River Vista RV Park Dillard Info: 706.746.2722
August 13th – 14th Nancy Sutton August 20th – 21st Robin Weinrich August 27th – 28th Kay Smith
September 3rd – 4th “His Last Days” Passion Drama Tallulah Falls School Tallulah Falls Info: 706.476.7939; 706.769.5271
September 1st – 3rd Will and Kay Lake September 10th – 11th Joan and Jim Burke
September 14th Harvest Stomp Stonewall Creek Vineyards Clayton Info: 706.212.0584
North Georgia Zoo & Farm Cleveland Info: 706.348.7279
September 17 – 18 WannaGoFast 1/2 Mile Shootout Heavens Landing Airstrip Clayton Info: www.wannagofast.com th
August 3rd – 6th Girls’ Overnight Teen Camp August 5th; 12th Family Night Friday August 9th; September 13th Mommy and Me at the Zoo August 13 ; September 3 – 4 Sunset Tours
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August 6th NBHA Barrel Racing
August 6th Birthday Bash Goats on the Roof Tiger Info: 706.782.2784
September 24th; October 8th Evergreen
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Rabun Arena Tiger Info: 706.212.0452
August 5th – 6th Dillard Bluegrass & BBQ Festival Dillard City Hall Dillard Info: www.DillardBBQ.com
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September 12th Rhapsody in Rabun Rabun County Civic Center Clayton Info: 706.490.1494 rhapsodyinrabun.com
August 25th – 27th Rabun County Fair September 5 Wendy Reed Barrel Racing th
Tallulah Gorge State Park Tallulah Falls Info: 706.754.7981
August 11th; September 8th Awake America Prayer Meeting Hiawassee Civic Center Hiawassee Info: 706.994.8962 September 22nd – 24th HOG Rally Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds Hiawassee Info: 706.896.4191 www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com August 27th Vintage Trailer and Car Show Riverbend Campground Hiawassee Info: 706.896.1415 Vino and Vibes Hightower Creek Vineyards Hiawassee Info: 706.896.8963 August 6th Chris & Crystal Clinton August 13th Mike Brookshire
August 3rd; 17th; 31st Slackline 101
Music on the Square Town Square Hiawassee Info: 706.896.4966, 800.984.1543
August 7th; September 11th Sunrise Hike
August 6th Dixie Tornados
August 13th; September 10th Hidden Gem Hiking Series
August 13th Whiskey, Stills & Mash
August 18th; September 15th; 17th Full Moon Suspension Bridge Hike
August 20th Sharptones / Don Byers
August 19th; September 16th Full Moon Paddle
August 27th Ron Schott Saxophone
August 20th; September 3rd – 5th Gorge Floor Hike
September 3rd Leather and Lace
August 24th; September 16th Family Paddle August 28th Witches Head Hike September 10th – 11th; 17th – 18th September 24th – 25th Aesthetic Water Releases TOWNS COUNTY August 6 US Coast Guard Auxiliary Safe Boating Classes Old 911 Center Young Harris Info: 706.896.3167; 407.304.7068 th
August 6th Kids’ Fishing Rodeo Towns County Pond Young Harris Info: 706.896.4966
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Crane Creek Vineyards Young Harris Info: 706.379.1235 August 5th and each Friday Friday Evening Tapas & Acoustic August 6th and each Saturday Winery Tour August 20th Annual Tomato Festival August 27th Dash to the Vineyards 5K September 1st End of Summer Wine Tasting & Lakes Celebration
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Summer Happenings - August & September, 2016 UNION COUNTY August 1st and each Monday (Excluding Federal Holidays) Guided Garden Tour Georgia Mountain Research & Education Center Blairsville Info: 706.745.2655 August 3rd and each Wednesday BINGO Haralson Memorial Civic Center Blairsville Info: 678.630.0452 August 4th and each Thursday Trivia at the View View Grill at the Butternut Creek Golf Course Blairsville Info: 706.439.6054 August 7 Tim Zimmerman and the King’s Brass First Baptist Church of Blairsville Blairsville Info: 877.745.5789 th
August 12th and the second Friday of the month Writers’ Night Out Union County Community Center Blairsville Info: 877.745.5789 August 20th and the third Saturday of the month through October Cruise-In on the Square Downtown Courthouse Square Blairsville Info: 706.745.5789 September 3rd – 4th Mountain Heritage Festival Mountain Life Museum Blairsville Info: 706.745.5493 September 10 Mountain Music & Arts & Crafts Festival Vogel State Park Blairsville Info: 706.745.2628 th
September 17th – 18th 4th Annual Celebrate Autumn Arts & Crafts Show North Georgia Technical College Blairsville Info: 706.896.0932 September 17th Comedy Dinner Theater & Live Auction House of Prayer Family Life Center Blairsville Info: 706.745.5925, www.hopb.org
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September 30th – October 2nd St. Francis of Assisi Fall Festival St. Francis of Assisi Church Blairsville Info: 706.745.6400
Copperhead Lodge Blairsville Info: 706.835.7433
Union County Farmers’ Market Old Smokey Road, Blairsville Info: 706.439.6043
September 2nd Michael Hulett
August 2nd and each Tuesday and Saturday Farmers’ Market August 2nd and each Tuesday and Thursday through October 13th Canning Plant August 5th and each Friday Trash and Treasure Sale August 5th and the first Friday of the month through October Cruise In to the Farmers’ Market Paradise Hills Winery, Resort & Spa Blairsville Info: 877.745.7483 August 6th and each Saturday through October Paradise Hills Concert Series September 3rd Grape Stomp Fest Friday Night Concert Series Historic Courthouse Blairsville Info: 706.745.5493 August 5th The Pressley Girls August 12th Alan Kendall August 19th The Dona Bopp Band August 26th Mountain Music Ensemble September 2nd Nearly Normal String Band September 9th Cartecay River Band September 16th Raven and Red September 23rd Mars Hill Porch Pickers September 30th The Wilson Family
August 12th Reservoir Dogs
September 30th Paul Constantine CLAY COUNTY, NC August 1st – 7th Outdoor Gear Thrift Store On the Square Hayesville Info: 828.837.5414 August 3rd and each Wednesday through October Brasstown Farmers’ Market Old Highway 64 Brasstown Info: 828.360.2498 August 5th and each Friday Music Night Eagle Fork Vineyards Hayesville Info: 828.389.8466 August 6th and each Saturday through October Hayesville Saturday Market Old Courthouse Square Hayesville Info: 863.287.4482 August 6th Benefit Auction Friends of the Historic Courthouse Truett Baptist Church Hayesville Info: 828.389.2121 August 6th; September 24th Hot Summer Nights Goldhagen Art Studio Hayesville Info: www.goldhagenartglass.com September 2nd – 4th, 9th – 11th “The Odd Couple” Licklog Players 34 Creekside Circle Hayesville Info: 828.389.8632 September 10th 5th Annual Pet Celebration Town Square Hayesville Info: 828.389.3704
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September 17th Cherokee Heritage Festival Cherokee Heritage Village Hayesville Info: 828.389.2121 September 23rd Lake Chatuge Classic Golf Tournament The Ridges Golf Course Hayesville Info: 706.896.4966 Friday Night Concert Series Hayesville Square Hayesville Info: 828.389.2121 August 5th Paradise 56 August 19th Irons in the Fire August 26th Modern Vinyl September 2nd Gnarly Fingers Peacock Performing Arts Center Hayesville Info: 828.389.2787 August 12th – 14th, 19th – 21st “Doublewide, TX”
August 8th Fundraising Concert for Black Mountain Home for Children, Youth and Families First Presbyterian Church 26 Church Street, Franklin Info: 828.524.4755
August 27th Full Moon Rising
August 12th – 13th 8th Annual Mountain High BBQ Festival and Car Show Franklin Info: 828.524.3161 www.MountainHighBBQFestival.com
Pickin’ on the Square Downtown Franklin Info: 828.524.2516
August 13th 20th Annual Shrimp Boil Holly Springs Baptist Church Church Road Franklin Info: 828.524.5564 August 14 Land of the Sky Barbershop Chorus & Ice Cream Social Tartan Hall - First Presbyterian Church Franklin Info: 828.524.2787 August 20th Rotary Club of Highlands Twilight 5K Kelsey Hitchinson Park Highlands Info: 828.526.2112
September 10th Songwriters Showcase 16 John C. Campbell Folk School Brasstown Info: 828.837.2775; 800.FOLKSCH www.folkschool.org
August 21st; September 18th Horse Show Macon County Fairgrounds Franklin Info: 828.524.3267
August 27th Sentimental Journey Orchestra
August 5th Hamilton County Ramblers Concert August 12th Dulcimer Celebration Concert August 13th Contra & Square Dance with Clinton Ross & Windmill August 26th ETSU Country Pride Band September 2nd Billy Jackson MACON COUNTY, NC August 4th Rotary Club of Highlands Bingo Night Highlands Community Building Highlands Info: 828.526.2112 August 5th Relay For Life Highlands Recreation Park Highlands Info: 828.421.0129
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August 6th To Be Announced August 13th Elderly Bros (Beach, Oldies, etc.) August 20th Michael Reno Harrell (Songwriter, Storyteller)
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August 20th – 21st Highlands Village Square Arts and Crafts Show Highlands Plaza Highlands Info: 828.787.2021
September 17th Malpass Brothers
August 27th Tugelo Holler (Progressive Bluegrass) September 3rd Charley Horse (Country, Country Swing) September 10th Gear Brothers (Bluegrass) September 17 Blackwell & Dixie Bluegrass Boys (Bluegrass) th
September 24th Remenents (Great Rock and Roll) Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts Franklin Info: 866.273.4615; 828.524.1598 www.GreatMountainMusic.com August 5th – 6th The Isaacs’ Musication Nation Festival August 12th Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers
August 27th BOOTS & BLING Bloemsma Barn Franklin Info: 828.349.9194
August 5th Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival Concert August 7th Final Gala Concert HighlandsCashiers Chamber Music Festival Info: 828.526.9060 September 17th Balsam Range September 24th Capital Company – A Political Comedy Company Friday Night Live Town Square, Highlands Info: 828.526.2112 August 5th; September 9th, 30th Mountain Dulcimer Group August 12th; September 2nd Southern Highlands August 19th Randy Flack August 26th; September 16th Johnny Webb Band September 23rd Cross Creek Highlands Playhouse Highlands Info: 828.526.2695 August 4th – 20th “Steel Magnolias”
August 20th Tim Hawkins
August 25th – September 4th “Piano Man”
August 27th Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
September 14 – 17 Macon County Fair Macon County Fairgrounds Franklin Info: 828.369.3523 www.themaconcofair.com
September 10th Overlook Theatre Company’s 20th Anniversary Celebration
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Martin Lipscomb Performing Arts Center Highlands Info: 828.526.9047
August 13th Stars of Center Stage 2016
September 10th Highlands Historical Society’s Dazzling Dahlia Festival Highlands Recreation & Civic Center Highlands Info: 828.526.2112 th
August 13th Bascom Barn Dance
September 3rd A Tribute to John Denver starring Jim Curry
September 24th Bill Anderson’s Country’s Family Reunion
Cowee School Franklin Info: www.coweeschool.org
The Bascom Highlands Info: 828.526.4949
August 20th 12th Annual Franklin Area Folk Festival Info: www.franklinfolkfestival.com
August 12th – 13th The Dave Drake Studio Barn Annual Pottery Sale
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Saturdays on Pine Kelsey-Hutchinson Park, Highlands Info: 828.526.2112 August 6th Nitrograss August 13th The Broadcast August 20th Grandpa’s Cough Medicine August 27th Porch 40 September 3rd The Freeway Revival
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The 12th Annual Franklin Area Folk Festival “A Celebration of Appalachian Heritage
LOCATION CHANGE! 12TH ANNUAL FRANKLIN AREA FOLK FESTIVAL TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 20th AT COWEE! Article by Theresa Ramsey, FHAMC Executive Board Member & Festival Committee www.franklinfolkfestival.com / 800.932.5294
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he 12th Annual Franklin Area Folk Festival “A Celebration of Appalachian Heritage” is returning this year on August 20, 2016 at a new location - historic Cowee School, Arts & Heritage Center located at 51 Cowee School Drive, Franklin, NC. The FHAMC (Folk Heritage Association of Macon County) decided to take a one-year break in 2015 in order find another organization to help us co-sponsor our festival which had grown every year since being originally launched in 2004 in the downtown area, proving more than our volunteer board could manage alone. It was important for FHAMC to secure a partnership to help us maintain the integrity of our festival known for providing living history experiences through hands-on activities that preserved and shared the culture/folkways of our Appalachian Mountains (particularly Macon County). It is with great pleasure that we announce Cowee School, Arts & Heritage Center will join together with us to bring back the 12th Annual Franklin Area Folk Festival, “A Celebration of Appalachian Heritage” on August 20, 2016 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Nestled in the Cowee West’s Mill Historic District, the Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center adds another layer of historical validity to the festival; a unique showcase for demonstrating the everyday skills, crafts and music of our ancestors. A FREE event, this family-friendly festival features live heritage demonstrations, Appalachian crafts, old-time mountain music & SEBA (SouthEastern Bluegrass Association) jammin’ sessions, Civil War Re-enactors, antique car show/engines, kids’ activities, food, textiles, tours & more! Artisans inside Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center will exhibit Macon County’s rich heritage by teaching about pottery, textiles, painting and local history. By linking our future to our past, the Franklin Area Folk Festival sponsors hands-on activities to allow visitors to experience what mountain life was like way back when. These folks learned at their parents’ knee woodcarving, moonshinin’, basket making, weaving and all the many other heritage skills they’ll be demonstrating. Some highlights include quilts on display like the famous Cabarras Quilt, The Celebrate America Quilt, the village blacksmith, woodworking/woodcarving, Border Collies’ demonstrations, Front Porch storytelling, one-room school and old-time music. Performances of mountain music, gospel and bluegrass tunes exemplify a very important cultural heritage of the Appalachian region. The early settlers understood that life was not just hard 42
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Scaly Mountain Summer Festival
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hat does being a Scaly Mountain resident mean? Are we that little community you pass through going up or down the hill? Heck no! Ask anyone from Scaly Mountain what it means to live in that great community and he or she will burst with pride.
work. They relied on music and dance, community and church gatherings and family time together on the porch to lift their spirits. An evening spent pickin’, singing and toe tapping could help them forget for a while the challenging rigor of life they faced each day. In addition to performances on two stages at the event, we are partnering with SEBA (Southeast Bluegrass Association) to provide jammin’ sessions. Festival-goers are encouraged to bring their instruments and join in! We are also partnering with the NC Humanities Council-Road Scholars to bring a program to the site – “Touching the Face of History: The Story of the Plott Hound, North Carolina’s Official State Dog.” Once known as the Quilting Capital of the World, displays from The Smoky Mountain Quilter’s Guild including kids’ make-it / take-it project and the Cowee Quilters will help showcase this important heritage. Come learn about the culture and folkways of our Southern Appalachian Mountains by engaging in one of the many living history experiences, a trademark of the Franklin Area Folk Festival, “A Celebration of Appalachian Heritage.” This event is co-sponsored by the Folk Heritage Association of Macon County (www.folkheritageassociation.org) and the Cowee School, Arts & Heritage Center (www. coweeschool.org) and support from Cowee Community Development Organization, the Scottish Tartan Museum, Macon County Historical Society, Macon County Arts Council, Franklin/Nantahala Chamber of Commerce, Blue Ridge Heritage Music Trail and others. Financial support provided by Franklin/ Nantahala TDC and the Franklin TDA. gmlaurel.com
Y’all are invited to take part in our annual Summer Festival on Saturday, August 13, 2016. The Scaly Mountain Community Association (SMCA) is holding this fun-filled event at the Scaly Mountain Fire Station just off Highlands Road – 169 Hale Ridge Road, Scaly Mountain, NC. This is a great time where all neighboring communities gather to eat, drink and get to know each other better. There is something for everyone. Festivities begin at 9:00 AM and last until 3:00 PM. Enjoy food, beverages, entertainment and music all day. Kids can participate in games with prizes and can experience touring the firehouse and getting a fire truck ride between Noon – 2:00 PM. Vendors are invited to bring your arts, crafts, tools and household items. There will be both indoor as well as outdoor spaces available for $18. Indoor spaces are limited, so reserve yours early. 6’x10’ spaces with tables are available and set-up is open Friday from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM and Saturday from 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM. Who’s the BEST Scaly Mountain Baker…? There will be a Cake Baking contest with 2 divisions: 17 & under and Adult. There will also be a Pie Baking Contest, again with 2 divisions. Entry fee is $10 for adults and $5 for juniors for each cake or pie entered. Bragging rights (PLUS CASH) for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in both divisions. Adults: 1st – $50.00; 2nd - $20.00; 3rd - $10.00 Juniors: 1st - $25.00; 2nd - $10.00; 3rd - $5.00 Join the fun and experience small town living at its best. Event sponsored by the SMCA. Contact Chairperson Grace Crouch at 850.251.7355, with any questions. The Scaly Mountain Community Association (SMCA) is a volunteer membership 501(c)(4) organization to benefit residents and property owners in the Sky Valley, Georgia/ Scaly Mountain and the NC Volunteer Fire Department district.
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HIS LAST DAYS PASSION DRAMA – 33rd Season EXPERIENCING THE STORY
The disciple John (Darren Volk) leads Mary, Jesus’ mother, (Janine Bethel) toward the cross.
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lthough His Last Days is called a passion “drama” it is purposely not a practiced or overly rehearsed presentation. This outdoor pageant and reenactment of the last days of Jesus is designed to encourage those taking a part in the cast to reflect their own experience of what it would have been like to live in those days. There are scenes, like that above, that the congregation or audience actually never even see. Yet, those recreating the scenes leading up to the crucifixion; live their part, even as they move away from the audience after the trials of Jesus. Here the stunned disciple John leads a brokenhearted Mary along the way to the cross. Faithful women followers trail behind the jaded soldiers, who are caught up in just doing their job. In the background a Pharisee smiles and Herod remains at a distance, detached. This one picture shows how much the volunteer cast become absorbed in this experience as an act of worship – not an acted role – and invites the audience to also be caught up in their own experiences in this reflection on Jesus’ last days. This realism of experience is what many say draw them to come see His Last Days year after year. Now in its 33rd year His Last Days will be performed on Labor Day weekend - at 7:00 PM on Saturday, September 3rd and 7:00 PM on Sunday, September 4th - in Tallulah Falls on Scenic Rt. 15 just off Hwy. 441. Beginning at 5:30 PM a hotdog and hamburger supper will be available at a modest cost. Those attending are asked to bring a lawn chair or blanket and items for outdoor comfort. The drama continues after any rain delays. His Last Days is supported by voluntary contributions (gifts at the level of $10 for adults and $5 for school age children help to cover expenses) - BUT EVERYONE is urged to come regardless of ability to contribute – for it is truly a shared worship experience. For additional information check our website www.brokenvesselsministries.org or call 1.706.476.7939 or 1.706.769.5271.
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Bless Your Heart Finding Treasures
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here…she said the word out loud. The word that would wreak havoc on her life, the word that would shake her faith and fill her head with fears. That word was cancer. What a tough, relentless word to attach to yourself. But, it was there, and would lurk in the background of her mind, remind- ing her that her days may be numbered. But, on the other hand, everyone’s days were numbered and only God knew how many each person had. Violet rolled off her sofa a bit awkwardly and made herself stand up. She had many things to do before surgery next week. Cleaning was on top of her list, preparing a small proportion of food for the freezer and making sure the guest room was clean and fresh in case she needed help overnight. This was definitely one time she preferred not to be alone. At 32, she was single, fairly successful and definitely scared. She wanted her sister Lily with her but she lived too far away to ask. However, that didn’t keep Violet from saying a quick prayer for a miracle. Violet sighed as she went to get her basket of cleaning supplies. She looked rather dowdy in her sweats, and her honey colored hair still in the bed-head stage. But nothing, according to friends, could change her incredible green eyes. Even the smeared mascara didn’t detract from their beauty. Violet searched for a hair band, tossed her head over gathering everything but the short wispy pieces and made a ponytail. Then grabbing a tissue removed her mascara and dabbed a little gloss on her lips. Giggling to herself she remembered her sister’s motto, “Toss, gloss & go,” words they both lived by. Just thinking about that made her long for Lily even more. Why did Wiley have to move her? Colorado was quite the journey from the quaint North Georgia town of Oakleaf where she helped run a small decorating business called, Shiplap Sisters. But love intervened and Lily and Wiley married leaving her to run the store alone. It was just like Lily to get the man and she got the cancer. Violet moaned as she lamented over that statement then quickly asked for forgiveness. Life was a bit challenging at times and she needed to stay positive. So, after her cleaning she got herself mentally together and made her plans. Today was her catch up day…cleaning, ordering store supplies and her favorite part, hunting treasures for the store. She had a few leads and it was the perfect antidote for keeping her mind busy and off the “C” word. In the midst of her thoughts, she heard the song, “Sweet Home Alabama,” playing; it was her phone ringtone. Scram-
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bling to find it she tossed some magazines off the bed where it was embedded in the sheets. “Hello,” she said. “Violet, it’s me!” “Lily, I miss you!” “I miss you too and guess what?” “What?” “I’m coming tomorrow to be with you through surgery and stay as long as you want me to.” Violet’s eyes filled with tears. “Really? You’re really coming?” “Of course I’m coming…and I’m not going to let you have a pity party, because I have total peace that God is going to heal you of this.” Tears were flowing at this point and all she could say was thank you. Violet hung up the phone relieved. Truly, thankfully relieved. ‘God does answer prayers,” she murmured grateful. *** Several days later surgery day arrived. She had not eaten since 7:00 PM the night before and now she laid there hooked up to IV’s awaiting her turn to be wheeled in to surgery. Lily looked at her sister and smiled. “It’s all going to be good Violet; you just continue to pray for complete healing as I am.” Lily held her hand until they came in with a sedative. Violet relaxed as they rolled her down the hall. Several hours later the doctor came out to Lily. “Your sister had the best scenario possible,” he said with a smile. “Her cancer was contained, and I am thinking no chemo will be needed, but we will wait for the test results before making that final decision.” Lily thanked the doctor and sat down relieved and thankful. It was going to be a happy visit for sure; she just wished it was a permanent one. Lily picked up her cell phone to call Wiley and share the news. “Honey, Violet did fabulous. It was contained and hopefully no chemo will be needed.” Wily was relieved. He knew how close these two were and how they missed each other. It pained him terribly to have moved her away to Colorado but he felt like his choices were slim. She was a trooper about it, but still felt horrible about it. “Great news Lily! How long are you going to stay? I miss you.”
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“I know and I miss you to, but she needs me and I want to stay at least 2 more weeks.” Wiley thought for a second before saying, “Okay sweetheart, I’ll call you tomorrow.” But a thought was brewing in his head and it needed some sorting out. He walked out of his office with a slight grin on his face. As the days passed, Violet felt better and better. Her recovery was amazing and by the end of the second week, she was working part time at the store with Lily’s help. Her results had come in and no chemo was needed. That was good news but it also made her nervous not to have chemo. But, Dr. Norman assured her that the bloodwork indicated no cancer and to go celebrate. And celebrate they did! They both dressed up in cute dresses and wore their cowgirl boots. Dinner and music at the Rustic Inn on the outdoor deck was just the prescription. The girls had just ordered a glass of wine and were reminiscing their younger years when they heard a voice say, “Excuse me ladies are these other two seats taken?” Lily and Violet both turned quickly to see Wiley with a dark headed handsome man of about 35 with bluish gray eyes that swooped over Violet…slowly. Wiley grabbed Lily and gave her a kiss before he made introductions. ‘Lily and Violet this is my cousin Gatlin who I convinced to come with me. He lives in Georgia just more the southern part. Gatlin reached over and hugged Lily and then shook the hand Violet offered. “Hmmm, a bit reserved,” he surmised, “but beautiful.” Gatlin relaxed and became quite the entertainer with his stories and escapades of his and Wiley’s youth. Then he turned his attention to Violet and said, “I have just got to ask the obvious, did your mom have a thing for flowers?” Both girls died laughing. Violet explained, “I think it was more tradition starting with our great-grandmother whose name was Iris, then she named our grandmother, Hyacinth and she in turn named our mother Rose. Then we came along as Violet and Lily. Gatlin stared at Violet until she became a bit self-conscience before darting his eyes. “Very well chosen names, but it does make me wonder what you’ll name any future daughters.” The girls laughed. Violet said, “Possibly Lavender, Holly or Lily’s favorite, Petunia,” she couldn’t even say that without laughing. Lily swatted at her sister’s shoulder, “Never Petunia, but I do love Holly if she were born around Christmas.” “So y’all have thought about future names,” he exclaimed. “Doesn’t every woman?” Violet said. Gatlin gazed at this lovely woman who had just been through a challenging health scare. She was strong, beautiful, insightful and he’d heard quite talented. But, Wiley never said how incredible her eyes were especially against her honey colored hair. Bewitching was the word that came to him and unknown to him that would be the word that stayed.
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As the evening ended, Gatlin stood up and announced he would get a room at the hotel nearby but Lily interrupted and said Violet had an extra room with a bath attached. He should stay there. Gatlin looked at Violet for confirmation and she was a bit stunned at Lily’s statement. She really didn’t mind him staying but she didn’t know him and wasn’t quite sure how she felt about him. But, what could she say? “Absolutely, I insist you stay at my home as long as you’re here.” Gatlin smiled. Round one was over; now, to see if she felt the same sizzle between them as he did. The girls got home and Lily and Wiley excused themselves for an early turn in. After all, it had been well over three weeks since they’d see each other. Violet waved goodnight and got towels out for Gatlin’s bathroom. “Here you go, and if you need anything else just let me know,” she said as she turned to head to her bedroom. “How about a cup of coffee with me?” Violet turned around and said, “Now?” He nodded his head yes. “Alright.” He followed her into the kitchen and watched as she poured the water into a percolator and plugged it in. “It will take a few minutes.” Gatlin was stunned, “You use a percolator…like back in the 60’s? Why?” “Well, everything in life seems to be instant. We live in such a microwave world where nothing is done slow and delicious. It’s always fast and tasteless. I prefer slow and delicious, it makes me happy.” Gatlin leaned back in his chair loving how she surprises him. “I don’t think I’ve ever thought of things that way, but I must say, I like your thinking.” Violet just grinned and sat down. “So what brought you to Colorado?” “I own a business that builds strictly farm homes. I wanted to take a trip towards the west to view old farm homes for inspiration. At Wiley’s invitation, I included a stop-over to visit him.” “So you own your own business also?” “Also? You have your own?” “Yes, Lily and I have a decorating business called, ‘Shiplap Sisters,’ except one sister left. But, she still helps with the books by computer.” “With the word, ‘shiplap’ I’m assuming farmhouse decorating is your style?” Violet laughed, “Is there any other? We can do other styles but farmhouse is by far our favorite and area of expertise.” Noticing the percolator stopped perking she said, “Coffee’s ready, doesn’t that aroma smell heavenly?” “Yes,” he said, “heavenly,” he repeated as he looked at her. They talked into the night until Violet finished her second cup of coffee and declared she needed to turn in.
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Bless Your Heart - Finding Treasures
Gatlin was embarrassed that he kept her up so long, “Yes Violet go to bed and rest, I’m sorry I forgot about your recovery.” “Oh no worries, I’m fine, I promise,” she said with a smile. Gatlin put their cups in the sink and turned back around too quick bumping into her. Violet lost her footing and fell forward onto Gatlin. He caught her before she hit the hard plank floor. “Are you okay?” “Just a bit embarrassed.” “Don’t be, I bumped you,” he whispered. Violet looked into his eyes and melted like ice cream in the sun. He leaned in and kissed her…and she let him. When she pulled back, Gatlin said, “You feel it don’t you? I’m not crazy am I?” Violet nodded her head yes and kissed him again. “Have dinner with me tomorrow night?” Violet nodded her head again yes. She couldn’t even speak. What was she to do? She didn’t even know him? And how would she tell him her fears? Gatlin walked her to her bedroom and said goodnight with a kiss on the cheek. All she could think was, “Oh my goodness, I’ve never done anything this fast, what is wrong with me?” Violet was up half the night going over her feelings. There
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was just no way she could start a relationship with someone. She was damaged…cancer had taken care of that. No way would she get involved with the fear of it returning. And, if it returned, what if it spread? How could she ask someone to take care of her? The next day Violet got up, showered, fixed her hair, did her make-up and put on her tromping amongst dusty antiques outfit. This trip was planned before the guys surprise visit. She went into the kitchen and plugged in the percolator, pulled out her waffle maker and went to work. The smell of warm syrup, and hot coffee woke everyone up and soon the kitchen was full of talk and laughter. Violet however was quiet. Gatlin went over and helped to get things on the table. He noticed the change and decided to just tread softly. Lily savored each bite of the waffle insisting that Violet was the best cook ever! “Hey Violet, are we still tramping around for treasures today? I can’t wait to do this with you again, it’s been so long.” “Of course we are!” Lily looked at Wiley with a sad pout and said, “Sorry Honey, but you and Gatlin will have to find something else to do.” Wiley just grinned, “Well, I think we might just play a round of golf.” “Perfect!” Gatlin leaned back in his chair like he had the night before and looked at the crew. “How about we drive you ladies
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around and we’ll be there to put any of your heavy possessions into the truck?” Lily squealed yes, but Violet was quiet. “Violet, are you good with that?” she asked hopefully. “Sure Lily.” Gatlin was not convinced and when he caught Violet alone for just a moment he asked what was wrong. She seemed distant. Violet looked at Gatlin and teared up. “It just won’t work Gatlin, I’m damaged.” “Damaged? What in the world do you mean?” Violet turned and walked away, with Gatlin following her. “Violet stop!” he called out. She kept going, down the driveway onto the street. What was she doing she thought? She heard Gatlin walking fast, then he grabbed her arm and said, “Please Violet tell me why you feel you’re damaged?” Violet busted out crying, and couldn’t stop until it went into the ugly cry where mascara was running down her cheeks and she couldn’t talk. “Violet, please stop crying, I can’t understand you.” Frustrated, Gatlin brought her to his chest and tightened his arms about her. He stroked her hair, and rubbed her back until she was able to calm down. Finally, Violet looked up and said, “I can’t get involved because I’ve had cancer, I’m damaged. It may return and I can’t ask anyone to stay with me or take care of me.” Gatlin truly had an incredulous look on his face. “You think you’re damaged because you had cancer? Seriously?” Violet shook her head yes. Gatlin took her mascara ruined face into his hands and said, “We are all damaged one way or another, and besides I could get sick tomorrow. I want to be with you Violet, do you feel this pull between us? “Yes,” she nodded her head. He hugged her again and walked her back to the house so she could wash her face. A few minutes later, the four of them were off on the treasure hunt for the store. Inside the truck, Gatlin pulled Violet closer to him, and caressed her hair. Violet snuggled in and looked up at her new found passion. Frankly, she thought, there was no need to look for more treasures…she had found hers. *** One year later. Shiplap Sisters went gang busters after Wiley and Lily moved back to Oakleaf. Wiley decided after little prompting from Gatlin to go into business with him. He was talented in carpentry and construction and he became Gatlin’s right hand man. Gatlin and Violet married six months after their first meeting and he moved his business to Oakleaf. Life is about messy, damaged, wonderful people who fall in love and continue their messy, damaged wonderful lives. It’s just what we do.
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“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.� Bil Keane
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Franklin and Surrounding Areas of
Main Street - Franklin
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NORTH CAROLINA
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Foxfire
s Foxfire celebrates its 50th Anniversary, The Foxfire Fund celebrates 40 years of providing scholarships to deserving Foxfire alumni. Through the years of the Julia Fleet/Foxfire Scholarship Program, 331 students have received recognition for their above-and-beyond service to the Foxfire organization. Their combined efforts have been paired with over $1,000,000 of awards, almost $48,000 of which was awarded just this year.
with the interests of the students. The students find contacts who are involved with the subject the students’ articles are interested in. In the next step, students reach out to their contacts and set up interviews. Students will sometimes take photographs during the interview to supplement their article. Each interview is digitally recorded and transcribed so that no details are lost from any meeting. The editing initiates once the interview audio has been transcribed. One feature of every article is that they are all in the words of the contact interviewed. This avoids important aspects of the accounting of the trades and heritage from being “lost in translation”.
Forty years ago in 1976, The Foxfire Fund, Inc. developed a scholarship program to reward Foxfire students for their hard work and dedication to the program. Thirteen years later, in 1989, an individual by the name of Julia B. Fleet approached the Foxfire organization in her search to contribute something to the region in which she had grown so fond. She donated funds to cover the costs of the scholarships to give back to the students that assisted in the preservation of the Appalachian heritage. Unfortunately, in December of 2005, Ms. Fleet passed away. She wanted to continue to contribute to the higher education of Foxfire students after she passed so she established an endowment for the Julia Fleet/Foxfire Scholarship program. Her legacy lives on as four Rabun County High School seniors were added to the scholarship recipient list.
The editing process is when the article starts to take its first strides to completion. Each article is edited in such a way that it is formatted properly, but does not change the words that the contact said. The infant article is well on its way to maturity after the final edits are done by the class senior editors. These final edits make sure that the article is clear, organized, and, most importantly, still in the words of the person interviewed. The article is then placed in the publishing software where the layout begins to form. Pictures, captions and pull-quotes all are introduced in the article at this point. The final layout draft is proof read and adjusted and then handed in to the advisor, Mr. Blackstock. The final layout is checked once more for accuracy and then turned over to the Foxfire office for the production process to begin.
Eli Bundrick, Stephanie Jones, Bradley Pruitt and Allison Wall were the Class of 2016 students to receive the Julia Fleet/Foxfire Scholarship. Nine former Foxfire students received a renewal of their scholarships. These students are: Breanna Finley, Corey Lovell, Katie Lunsford, Ross Lunsford, John Lyle Moore, Kayla Mullen, John Taylor Mumford, Jesse Owens and Ethan Phillips. The Scholarship Committee this year was comprised of Community Board members Danny Flory, Jennifer Mitcham, Nicole Queen, Samantha Ramey and Bruce Russell, Jr. (Serving as Chair).
The Foxfire program celebrates the milestone of hitting 50 years of preserving Appalachian heritage this year. This is matched with the newest addition to The Foxfire Book family. The Foxfire Book of Simple Living will hit the shelves late August of this year. The production of the book was fueled by The Foxfire Magazine class, the editing staff, contributors and, most importantly, the men and women of Appalachia who are dedicated to preserving the culture that lives on in the region. The book contains many different how-to guides, stories from the elders that remember the good old days and artists describing the history of their crafts.
A Million Dollar Education
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Article by Eric Dyer
The Scholarship Committee bases their decisions on four core criteria—participation in Foxfire events, the student’s potential for success, demonstrated need for financial assistance and academic achievement. A student must have participated in The Foxfire Magazine class at Rabun County High School or provided at least 80 volunteer hours to the Foxfire organization within the past year. The Foxfire Magazine is currently produced by the Foxfire class, advised by Jonathan Blackstock, at Rabun County High School. The process of creating an article all starts 54
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As Foxfire is “Celebrating Fifty Years of Listenin’, Laughin’, and Learnin’” the scholarship recipients are preparing for the next step in their education, and the Foxfire program is setting up goals for the future of the organization. The Foxfire organization, over the 50 years since its upbringing, has strived to link education with community. Through this connection, The Foxfire Fund, Inc. has developed an educator’s program, a heritage center and a widespread publication series. gmlaurel.com
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Exploring Northeast Georgia The Chestatee River Diving Bell By Kitty Stratton
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ometimes life can surprise us by placing us in exactly the right place at the right time. The morning of July 4th this year I decided to drive over to Dahlonega and take a look at the Chestatee River Diving Bell. Walking around Hancock Park in Dahlonega to view this restored submersible craft and taking photographs for this article I somehow found myself in conversation with a couple. Henry Preston Wilkerson Jr., and his wife were not just tourists in Dahlonega for the holiday, in fact Henry was in a photo on one of the displays! Henry and his wife generously took time to explain to me the part he had played in rescuing and restoring this amazing part of North Georgia history. In 1981 Henry Wilkerson Jr. and John Weingard, described as local gold prospectors on the display board, worked in cooperation with the landowner to lift the bell from the bed of the river. For years people had wondered what the iron cylinder protruding from the Chestatee River belonged to. It
was thought to be the smokestack of an old mining ship but the top of the supposed smokestack was sealed. It was not until the bell was lifted from the river bed that they realized the sealed tube was indeed an airlock cylinder attached to the diving bell. The 1981 photograph on the display board shows Wilkerson and Weingard with short-handled shovels found in the diving bell. In 1833 articles in the Auraria, Georgia newspaper “The Western Herald” mention a boat being launched in the Chestatee River with a machine for “raising” grit from the bed of the river. So, who came up with this idea of mining gold from the river using a diving bell? Apparently it was a Judge Jacob Peck from Tennessee, described as a man of science and ingenuity. There is no further recorded information about the 1833 attempt to mine gold from the river. However, in 1875 Philologous Hawkins Loud began building a steam powered “Monster Boat”. The 50 x 17 foot Chestatee was built to raise and lower the diving bell from a 56
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well in the center of the ship’s deck. The diving bell was 14 feet long and six feet wide and eight feet tall, with an airlock eight feet tall. Mr. Loud was the first to descend in the diving bell to ensure that everything was in working order.
It is not known if the Chestatee River Diving Bell ever successfully mined much gold. During the winter of 18751876 shortly after the bell was put into operation, flooding occurred closing mining operations along Yahoola Creek. There were attempts to repair the boat but the boat had been idle too long. The miners had not been getting paid and there was no evidence of gold being mined by the bell.
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In October 1876 the diving bell was intentionally and mysteriously sunk. The bell lay abandoned and forgotten on the sands of the Chestatee river bed for over 125 years until by tremendous effort on the part of the Chestatee River Diving Bell Fund Raising Committee enough funds were raised to preserve the bell for future generations.
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WHEELS
Ted’s Hot Hatchback Hero
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ed Freitag flew fighter jets for 30 years. He flew for the United States Air Force to protect our freedom. I am thankful.
Today Ted still moves fast in his 2009 Volkswagen GTI. Oh, there are faster cars but at 83 Ted is content to zip up the mountain to his Sky Valley home in this one. The GTI was called a “Hot hatchback hero” by Car and Driver magazine. Pretty fitting for this Air Force Veteran. Ted has owned several classic and muscle cars in fact he sold a ‘71 Buick Riviera to purchase his GTI. Ted is the Chairman and Host , along with his team, putting together a Car Show for this years Sky Valley Fall Fest, October 22. This year’s car show will honor the service and sacrifices of Vietnam era veterans and their families as part of the National 50th Commemoration program. Ted’s ‘09 GTI will be one of the shows 100+ cars so make plans to attend. 58
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Ted’s GTI is black with the signature red accent on the front grill. It is sporty and in Ted’s own words, “It goes like hell up the mountain.” JD Power gave the ‘09 GTI five stars for performance and design. Volkswagen’s robust 2.0-liter turbo four provides ample power. Ted says he uses caution to avoid blue lights in the rear view mirror. With 180 on the speedometer I am sure that can be a challenge. Ted’s car has what he calls the best transmission he has ever driven, a paddle shifted automatic designated DRL by Volkswagen. One reason this hatchback is so peppy in the mountains is because the GTI employs two separate 3-speed gearboxes linked by a clutch. This allows the transmission to pre-select the next likely gear on the alternate gearbox and then uses the clutch to switch between the two for near ingmlaurel.com
stant gear change, thus eliminating any lag or loss of power. It always seems to select the correct gear in any driving condition. Volkswagen didn’t skimp on the extras like: power windows, locks and mirrors; remote key less entry; trip computer; 10-speaker stereo with 6-disc CD changer; Xenon headlights; alloy wheels and cruise control. Add ons can include summer tires, iPod adapter and an Autobahn package including leather sport seats, leather door trim insets, premium sound system and heated washer nozzles. They packed a lot into this one! Ted and his wife Jackie have four daughters and two sons and enjoy seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild. When they are not cruising around the mountains, they are riding along the coast in Palm Harbor, Florida. I inquired about Ted’s dream car and he shared it would be a Ferrari 488. He has quite an impressive collection of Ferrari models for now but who knows what the future holds. Ted’s GTI offers practicality and fun in a small-scale, sporty German hatchback. It doesn’t get much better. So when traveling Highway 246 if a sporty little black GTI passes you it’s likely Ted Freitag enjoying life!
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Services Give our Service Professionals a Call You’ll be glad you did!
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Adventure Out
Coleman River Trail - Denton Branch Falls by Peter McIntosh
his has been one hot summer to be sure. With that in mind, and this month’s theme is “keeping it local,” we’re visiting two of the “coolest” spots in Rabun County. When I say coolest, I mean temperature wise. Our destinations, the Coleman River Trail and Denton Branch Falls. The Coleman River Trail, about 1 mile in length, is located on the Tallulah River Road, at a bridge where the road turns from asphalt to gravel. The trail ascends a bit steeply at first but soon levels out high above the stream on your left. After a few minutes you’ll come to a small cascade and just past this bit of whitewater, look for a side trail on the left leading out to a large rock that protrudes over the water offering nice views both upstream and downstream. (This is where you’ll start to feel the temperature drop a few degrees.) Continuing along, the trail again ascends, a little less steeply this time.
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You’ll pass a well worn camping area (This is a good wading spot.) as the trail now becomes almost level. As the trail begins to ascend once again you’ll come to some footbridges, some with railings, others without. And one with a few boards missing from the deck; be careful here. After climbing some primitive steps, the trail becomes more level and there’s a great swimming/wading pool on the left. There will be a small camping area with a fire ring near the trail’s terminus. After stepping over a big rock in the middle of the trail, that’s about it. It looks like the trail goes on a bit further but that’s just some Rhododendron cleared away by trout fishermen. One mile in, one mile out, now up the road to cool off in the mist of a waterfall.
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From the confluence of the Tallulah and Coleman Rivers, we head up the Tallulah River Road (a single track road with turnouts) crossing back and forth over the river. This is one of the most beautiful drives in the North Georgia Mountains. Take your time, pull over and get out of your car. Take it all in, there’s many a spot overlooking noisy rapids rushing into deep clear pools. And please slow down if you’re passing a fisherman or someone out for a walk; nobody likes breathing dust. After passing a couple of forest service campgrounds you’ll come to a magical hamlet called Tate City. Tate City is a small community located in a serene valley surrounded by high mountain peaks. People do live here so drive slowly and be respectful. Near the far end of Tate City and across from a green plastic street sign on the left that reads “River Run,” turn right on a small dirt road. You can drive the 2/10 mile until the road dead ends at Denton Branch or pull over and walk up the (not maintained, sometimes very muddy) road. The trail, less than a half mile in length, begins at the stream, crossing a few stepping stones just upstream from where the old road crossed, and ascends gently past some well worn berms. The trail first leads away from the creek and then turns back toward it, slowly ascending. You’ll come to a small waterfall but this isn’t it. Take a break, enjoy it and then continue on. The pathway comes to an end with the Denton Branch Falls visible through the Rhododendrons. Cross over the creek and carefully make your way to an open area offering a spectacular close up view of this small but lovely cascade. There is a fallen tree you can sit on at the base of the falls and get bathed in a refreshing mist. Happy hiking!
And when you get back out to civilization (Highway 76 W.) celebrate your adventure at the Lake Burton Bar, 1/2 mile back towards Clayton, with a tasty burger, pizza or wings and frosty beverage. And often you’ll hear some great local live music. It’s a great roadside honkytonk. https://www.facebook.com/lakeburtonbar/ When you stop in ask for Irene or Marvin and tell them I sent you. At summertime’s end, let my poem begin: When it gets so hot, the dogs are drooling, Let’s head to the forest for some natural cooling. With some cold wading pools and a waterfall’s mist, These two local “cool” spots are hard to resist. Getting there: From Clayton go 8 miles on Hwy 76W to Persimmon Road, then 4.1 miles to the Tallulah River Road on left. It’s 1.5 miles to Coleman River trailhead on right. From Coleman River go 4.8 miles to old road on right leading to Denton Branch Falls. If you cross a small bridge and go into the deep forest, you’ve gone just a bit too far. To see more of Peter’s photos or if you have a question or comment visit: www.mcintoshmountains.com.
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Mountain Nature
Roadrunner! Beep, Beep! by Jean Hyatt
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lot of you grew up watching the old Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote cartoons on TV. And as “wile e” as the coyote was, he just never seemed to be able to outsmart the roadrunner.
dry areas searching for food. As they run, they elongate their bodies until they are horizontal to the ground, and use their tail as a rudder. And, just saying from experience, they never run toward you - it’s always away from you.
A recent trip home to Arkansas where I grew up reminded me of that old cartoon, and of the mass migrations which take place over the years resulting in birds and animals moving into new territories where they now make their homes. Typically found in the deserts and dry shrubby areas of the west, the roadrunner now inhabits north central Arkansas, almost as far east as the Mississippi River, as well as Missouri and Louisiana. We never saw them when I was growing up there, but now almost every time I go back, I see one.
In the cartoons, the roadrunner always outran the coyote, but as a matter of fact, coyotes can run about 40 miles an hour, and roadrunners about 20. So they can outrun you, but not a coyote. We here in North Georgia are unlikely to ever see a race between the two. While coyotes have migrated here and now live here, those roadrunners are going to have to run across the Mississippi River bridge and across a couple of states to get here.
The Greater Roadrunner is a member of the cuckoo family of birds, but you almost never see them perched in a tree. They live on the ground and feed on the ground, but their nest is built in a tree, usually about 3 to 10 feet above ground in a shaded crotch or horizontal branch. The male brings the female sticks and twigs while she builds the nest. If the male takes too long in his duties, the female reminds him he has a job to do by a whining call from the nest site. The finished result is a sturdy structure about 15” in diameter and up to 8” deep. The female will lay 2 to 6 eggs, and have 1 or 2 clutches per year.
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. **
Roadrunners grow to about 20” long beak to tail, and have a wingspan of about 18 or 19”. Their footprint makes an X with two toes pointing forward, and two backward. This was used by the Pueblo Indians as a sacred symbol to ward off evil. They thought that since the direction the roadrunner was traveling could not be determined by its tracks, evil spirits could not follow. For food, roadrunners eat lizards, bugs, snakes and just about anything else they can catch. They can jump straight up to catch flying insects and even low flying hummingbirds. They eat poisonous reptiles, and work in tandem to kill rattlesnakes - one distracts the snake while the other sneaks up behind it and kills it. They run along roads, trails and
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Hiawassee, Georgia
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Local Harvest
Wauka Meadows Farm by Natalie White
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t started innocently enough. Starting a farm had been their collective dream. After almost ten years raising livestock and selling meat as Double B Farms, young owneroperators Nick and Tova Ball finally have land of their own and a storefront to boot.
products to families that couldn’t afford it. We couldn’t have afforded to buy a whole cow, or even half a cow,” Tova said.
These entrepreneurs are a growing demographic of young, first generation farmers — farmers by choice, not by heritage — who have committed themselves to small-scale agriculture.
With only three months of property ownership under their belts, Nick and Tova have big plans for the former McMahan Nursery. Located just north of Quillian’s corner on Highway 129, the Ball’s have a clear vision of what their community needs. “We want to give other small farms an outlet and offer our store to those who farm the way we do,” Nick said.
Adding to the narrative aspect of the local food movement, the Ball family began with a desire to provide a locally sourced option at an affordable price. “Our purpose is to feed healthy
With a dedicated local following for their Berkshire pork and grass-fed beef, the new store is currently stocked with a fresh batch of blackberries from the Cook Family Farm, pimento
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with over 600 hens, all known as “Mary” around the farm, he and the only rooster Gus have their work cut out for them. “He keeps losing count,” Nick laughed but clearly Chase is serving his purpose. “We have not lost one chicken to coyote or hawk,” Tova said. The laying hens are all Cinnamon Queens, a mix between a Rhode Island Red and White Delaware. “They are bred to produce more eggs throughout the year, and are hearty in the wintertime,” Tova added.
cheese from Cleveland cooking legend Nadine Wardenga, and products from Cornelia’s own Pure & Simple.
That farm also raises “meat chickens,” turkeys, seven cattle on property, and an assortment of hives, some caught wild with Nick’s own “Bee Vac” inspired from a YouTube video and engineered from a ShopVac.
These self-taught purveyors prove the power of passion. With Nick’s background in construction and Tova’s in mortgage lending, it has all been trial and error. “A lot of this is experimental. Now we know. We’ve might never have grown those, but we’ll try them out,” Nick said. With five-year-old daughter Tallulah picking tomatoes right beside her mom, and older brother Kelan driving by on the four-wheeler, it’s clearly a multigenerational affair. The Ball’s are not just raising crops, but awareness. “Our motto is right on the back of our shirts. Know the farmer. Know the food,” Nick said.
All vegetables are planted directly from heirloom seed. All animals serve multiuse and are rewarded with chemical-free, non-GMO, and soy-free foods. The “Egg mobile” as the family has coined their movable laying house, rotates every five days to fertilize the farm. Not only are the hens happy and free-range, they are affectionate with their stately guard dog Chase, a Great Pyrenees and Anatolian Shepherd mix. And
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If you want to meet the Ball family yourself, you can. The shop is now open in front of ten acres on Fridays and Saturdays. The address is 5761 Cleveland Highway, Clermont. You can purchase their products at farmers markets around Hall County, at Jaemor Farms, or IGA in Cleveland. Items can also be purchased through the Northeast Georgia Locally Grown network at northeastgeorgia.locallygrown.net.
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Bon Appétit
One Last Summer Get Together by Scarlett Cook t’s been a nice hot summer and you have time for one more shot at entertaining before the craziness of school starting, music lesson beginning, athletic practices getting underway and everything else that comes with the first school bell. So take a deep breath, have a glass of ice tea, get your grocery list ready and let’s have one last dinner get together. The menu has some recipes that can be prepared early in the day and the few last minute ones won’t keep you from your guests.
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Cauliflower Salad Serves 8 – 10 2 Large heads cauliflower 1 Bunch green onions, sliced 1/2 Cup shredded Parmesan cheese Red leaf lettuce Dressing 1 Cup sour cream 1 Cup mayonnaise 1 Package Hidden Valley Dill dip mix Cut cauliflower into bite sized pieces. Add green onions, Parmesan cheese and salt & pepper to taste.
Mushroom Bleu Cheese Appetizer Serves 8 – 12 1/2 Stick margarine 1 Pound sliced fresh mushrooms Pinch each of: nutmeg, garlic powder & black pepper 1 – 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard White wine to taste 1 8 – Ounce package cream cheese 1 3 – Ounce package cream cheese with chives 4 – 5 Tablespoons bleu cheese Chopped fresh parsley Assorted crackers or party breads
Sauté mushrooms in butter until tender. Add spices, mustard and wine to taste. With heat on low, add cream cheeses and blend until soft. Crumble in the bleu cheese a little at a time – you can add more or less depending on your love of bleu cheese. Add more wine or seasonings if needed. Put mixture into serving bowl, top with parsley and chill until one hour before serving.
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Combine the dressing ingredients at least 4 hours before serving. Place cauliflower salad on bed of lettuce and top with dressing. Easy One Pot Chicken Serves 4 – 6 6 Pieces skinned chicken 1/4 Teaspoon black pepper 1 Teaspoon salt 1 Large can crushed tomatoes 1/2 Cup chopped onions 1 Bay leaf 2 Teaspoons dried basil 2 Medium zucchini, cut into 2” pieces 1 Bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips Cooked brown rice Put chicken in crockpot. Add other ingredients. Cook on low 8 – 10 hours. When done serve chicken with sauce over rice.
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Best Carrots Ever Serves 4 – 6
Preheat oven to 425˚. Place butter and oil in 9” baking dish in preheated oven.
4 Tablespoons margarine 1 Medium onion, finely chopped 1 Bell pepper, finely chopped 2 Pounds carrots, cooked and mashed 8 Ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, grated 1/2 Teaspoon salt 1/8 Teaspoon black pepper 2 Tablespoons margarine, melted 1 Cup herb stuffing mix, crumbled
Mix remaining ingredients together and pour into hot baking dish. Bake 30 minutes. Ice Cream Pie Serves 6
Preheat oven to 350˚ and butter a 1 quart casserole dish. Melt 4 tablespoons butter in skillet and sauté onion and bell pepper until tender. Combine onion and green pepper with carrots; add cheese salt and pepper. Pour into prepared dish. Combine melted butter and stuffing mix and mix well. Sprinkle over top of carrots. Bake 20 – 30 minutes or until bubbly.
6 Tablespoons melted margarine 3/4 Cup flour 3 Tablespoons packed brown sugar 3/4 Cup finely chopped pecans 1 Quart vanilla ice cream, slightly softened Ice cream topping, any flavor Combine margarine, flour brown sugar and half of the pecans; stir to mix well. Pat mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9” glass pie pan. Microwave 2 1/2 minutes; allow to cool. Spoon ice cream into shell and sprinkle with remaining nuts. Drizzle with caramel or desired topping. Freeze. Remove from freezer 15 minutes before serving.
Onion-Yogurt Cornbread Serves 4 1 Tablespoon margarine 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil 3/4 Cup cornmeal 1 Egg 1/2 Teaspoon baking soda 1 Teaspoon salt 1/2 Cup chopped onion 1 1/2 Cups plain yogurt gmlaurel.com
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Family Table by Lorie Thompson
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abor Day is just around the corner. I always think of it as being summer’s last hurrah! I am sure you will be grilling some hot dogs, hamburgers or my wonderful brined chicken from last month’s Family Table article, so I want to share some of my favorite side dishes with you. Sour Cream Red Potato Salad is creamy and delicious. It will make you re-think potato salad. This is my own recipe and besides being tasty, it is a hostess’ dream dish, since it is best made 2-3 days before serving.
doneness. This will really depend on the salt in your broth. You may need very little additional salt or you may need a lot. Potatoes are done when they are tender. Drain the potatoes and catch the broth in a bowl. Reserve 1-2 cups for adding back in to potatoes. Add 3/4 cup mayonnaise. (Any kind will do as long as it is Blue Plate. Haha). Add 1
The secret to this recipe is adding lots of flavor while you are cooking the potatoes. This recipe is for 5 pounds of potatoes. You can double or even triple the recipe for large crowds. This stores beautifully in the refrigerator so make a big batch! Red potatoes are perfect because they hold their shape after being cooked. You can use other varieties, such as Yukon Gold, but my favorite are the small red potatoes. Scrub potatoes with a vegetable brush and rinse in water. Cut into bite sized cubes, keeping each cube as uniform in size as possible. Rinse potatoes after cubing with cold water. This will take off a lot of the starch. Put cubes in a large pot and add chicken or vegetable stock to reach just below the surface of the potatoes. Homemade stock is wonderful but if you do not have any, store-bought is okay. Quarter one whole onion and place in pot. I add a couple of dried red pepper pods, too. You can add black pepper if you prefer. Add 3-4 garlic cloves and 2 tablespoons of Kosher salt. Bring potatoes to a slow boil. Simmer until potatoes are getting tender. Take a potato out and taste it for salt and for
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cup of sour cream. Add 1 nice big bundle of finely chopped fresh dill. In the summer when my herbs are abundant, I love to add fresh parsley and chives, too. In the winter, I add 2-3 tablespoons of dried dill and an equal amount of dried parsley. Make it your own. Here’s the secret: Add approximately 1 - 2 cups of the warm broth back into your potato salad. It should be a little soupy.
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Let this cool and refrigerate. After 1-2 days it will be perfect. The potatoes take in the extra moisture and this just gets really creamy! Try it! Side number two is my sister Nan’s Fourth of July Beans. Yes, I know I am one holiday late, but you will love this recipe for Labor Day, too. It is a requirement for Nan to bring these beans to every family meal. Everyone LOVES them! They really are that good. Nan found this recipe somewhere, but she has a few tips that make it better than the original and she is allowing me to share those with you! Cut 1/2 pound of good bacon into “lardons”. Render in a medium size Dutch oven. When bacon is beginning to crisp, add 1 cup of diced onion and 1/2 pound of ground chuck beef and 1 tablespoon of Kosher salt. Cook until ground meat is done and onions are tender. To this add, 1 - 28 ounce can of pork and beans, 1- 17 ounce can of lima beans and 1- 15 ounce can of red kidney beans.
Tip #1: Buy light red kidney beans and small limas or butter beans. The bigger beans are tough. Drain and rinse the kidney beans before adding them to the pot. Add 1/2 cup of the following to the pot: Barbecue sauce ketchup, white sugar and brown sugar Tip #2: Only use KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce for this recipe. (I don’t know why, but it is better.) Add 2 tablespoons prepared mustard, 2 tablespoons of molasses and 1/2 teaspoon chili powder. Stir until combined.
Cook in a 350˚ oven, covered for 45 minutes. Uncover and cook for an additional 15 minutes. Tip #3: We love these beans cooked on the smoker or the kettle grill. Adding the smoke flavor just sets them off. Try a combination of oven time and grill or smoker time. I hope these beans will be the best Fourth of July dish you ever served for Labor day! gmlaurel.com
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Last, but not least is Grilled or Roasted Okra. It is simple and definitely Southern! Pick small, tender okra pods. Wash and let dry. Sprinkle lightly with salt and garlic powder. Put in a plastic bag or bowl. Add 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar and 1/4 cup of good olive oil. Allow okra to marinate for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Roast in 400˚ oven for 15 – 20 minutes or grill until tender.
As a side note: August and September are the months that I make old fashioned pickled corn, pickled beans and sauerkraut. If you would like to know how to do that, please feel free to email me or call me and I will share that with you. It was handed down to me by the generation before me and I love to share! rabungirl@gmail.com. I hope that you will enjoy these recipes at your own family table with people you love! Lorie Thimpson is a native of Rabun County and has spent many years in the Real Estate business in Northeast Georgia. She presently works at RE/Max, of Rabun County, Georgia. Lorie is well known for her expertise in the kitchen and we are pleased that she agreed to share some of her knowledge with us. 76
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Smitty’s Spirits Celebrates 25 years!!
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mitty’s Spirits was opened in 1991 by Greg Smith and has been family owned and operated ever since. With a background in hotel and restaurant management and wholesale alcohol sales, his vision was to create a store that catered to the needs of his customers. He involved his wife Susan, and sons Gregory and Blake in the behind-the-scenes management. They moved to their current location in January of 1999, only a few months prior to Greg’s death in March 1999. At that time, his wife, Susan, continued the business and is currently celebrating 25 years of serving Rabun and surrounding areas. Her goal has been to continue Greg’s vision of a friendly environment that people want to return to again and again. A loyal and friendly staff is there to meet the needs of customers. All customers can expect a friendly greeting when entering the store and an offer to provide whatever assistance they might need. The staff can help plan beverages for your special event, wine pairings, quantities needed or specialty drinks. Smitty’s has so much to offer: a drive-thru window, great prices, case price discounts, gift certificates and a local wine selection. They are located at 681 Highway 441 South Clayton, GA, and they are open 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM Monday – Thursday; 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM Friday and Saturday and closed on Sunday. Call 706.782.7593 or visit them today for all of your spirit needs at and as always, remember to drink responsibly!
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Rhapsody in Rabun 2016 Area Restaurants “Rally for the Red”
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et ready to celebrate at this year’s Rhapsody in Rabun annual fundraising gala event on Monday, September 12, 2016. The theme this year is “Rally for the Red” with proceeds from the evening benefitting the athletic programs at Rabun County High School (RCHS) and Rabun County Middle School (RCMS). Funds raised by the Rhapsody event will allow the athletic program to update all sports teams with new uniforms, replacing old, damaged uniforms and to purchase new equipment for games and practices, thus ensuring the safety of the young athletes. The Rhapsody funding will also allow for recognition of student athletes with championship banners to be displayed in the gyms and on the fields, provide team achievement patches for letterman jackets and acknowledge graduating high school seniors with appreciation plaques. This event will help ensure athletes who travel to away games will have warm meals, giving them the energy they need to compete and represent Rabun County. Fifty-five percent of the RCHS student population and sixty-five percent of the middle school’s students participate in the Free and Reduced Lunch Program and often don’t have the means to purchase food at away events. With many of the students not having eaten since lunch, having a warm meal makes a big difference in their well being and ability to compete as the games and associated travel stretch into the evening hours.
Participating in the Rhapsody in Rabun event allows the compassionate, caring people of Rabun County to make a difference in many young lives. The restaurants taking part in this year’s gala show their support for the student athletes by donating delicious local dishes for the occasion. Many of the restaurants participating in this year’s event do so every year. They all believe in giving back to the community and helping ensure a successful future for our students. We are grateful that these chefs, owners and managers care about our community and want to make a difference. They’ve enthusiastically jumped in to support this cause. We hope you, too, will join us in this worthwhile effort. The gala will begin at 5:00 PM on September 12th with appetizers served in the downstairs café of the Rabun County Civic Center. During the opening, patrons will be able to place bids on silent auction items. At 6:00 PM guests will dine upstairs on food donated by some of the area’s finest restaurants, dance to the music of The Headliners and enjoy the excitement of bidding on live auction items. Show your Wildcat spirit and come enjoy an evening of friendship and fun. Make reservations now at www. rhapsodyinrabun.com or by contacting rhapsodyinrabun@ gmail.com for a reservation form that can be mailed. Make memories while making a difference - Rally for the Red!
The Chophouse at LaPrade’s At Lake Burton 25 Shoreline Trail Clarkesville, Georgia 30523 706.747.8777 www.lapradesmarina.com Welcome to a little piece of heaven on earth! LaPrade’s Marina and Restaurant was first opened as a fish camp in 1925 and became famous for its family-style restaurant and rustic cabins. In the spring of 2011, renowned Chef James Reaux opened the Chophouse at LaPrade’s on Lake Burton with both casual and elegant lakeside dining inside and outside, as well as the Lakeside Grill and Bar located dockside at the marina. The dining room exemplifies an upscale atmosphere. Comfortable seating is available in the main dining room, bar, outside terrace and banquet facility. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and provides attentive service that caters to every guest’s wants and needs in an organized and timely fashion. Please visit our website at www.lapradesmarina.com for hours of operation, special events, catering and banquets. 80
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Chef Reaux provides premium grade products with an emphasis on fresh seafood, prime rib, hand-cut steaks and chops, and be sure to save room for your choice of delicious handmade desserts! The Chophouse has an extensive international wine list, crafted beers and a full bar service (in the restaurant and dockside). LaPrade’s Marina is the “oldest” (since 1925) and the “newest” (since rebuilding in 2008) full-service marina on Lake Burton. Visit The Chophouse and enjoy live music and fine American cuisine with regional accents.
The Dillard House 768 Franklin Street Dillard, Georgia 30537 706.746.5348 / 800.541.0671 Located less than two hours from Atlanta, Asheville or Greenville, The Dillard House invites you to come experience this famous establishment. Nationally recognized, The Dillard House has been building its reputation as a great restaurant since 1917, and has been listed in countless publications as a “must” when visiting the North Georgia Mountains. Among the countless awards and recognitions, the restaurant has received the Southern Living Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Award for Southern Favorite Restaurant (2007-2009) and Southern Living Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Award for Best Breakfast/Brunch Restaurant (2009). It was also featured on the Fox 5 Atlanta Morning Show for serving one of the Top 5 Best Fried Chicken dishes in the State (2007). Georgia Public Broadcast’s Georgia Traveler Show featured the restaurant, and USA Today (19962007) designated the restaurant Favorite Family Restaurant/Country Style Cooking, while in 2000, the newspaper listed it as one of the 50 Great Plates of America for its peach cobbler. The Dillard House is family-owned and operated and prides itself in providing a home-style atmosphere and dining experience. Enjoy famous Southern cuisine in a beautiful and tranquil mountain setting. Have a seat at one of the tables and enjoy a selection of Southern-style dishes brought to your table by the bowl full. Stay overnight in one of the rooms, suites, cottages or chalets and then relax in a rocking chair with your morning cup of coffee. You might want to take a leisurely stroll around the property and enjoy the lush green foliage. Take time to enjoy life with your friends and family in the mountains memories like these are priceless. Spending time in the mountains is a memorable way to enjoy life. Be sure to visit The Dillard House table at Rhapsody in Rabun.
Fortify Kitchen & Bar 69 North Main Street Clayton, Georgia 30525 706.782.0050 www.fortifyclayton.com Chef Jamie Allred and Jack Nolan proudly present Fortify Kitchen & Bar where you can expect great food, signature cocktails and impeccable service in a comfortable environment. Chef Jamie Allred, selected in 2013 and 2014 for inclusion in Best Chefs America, is recognized by his peers as one of the most influential chefs in the nation. Jamie considers his greatest reward to be working with local farmers to offer a special taste of mountain earth to all who have the opportunity to savor his dishes. Jamie is a chef who gives back to his local community by actively promoting Farm-to-School initiatives throughout the region. Jamie has also been influential in the establishment of the Northeast Georgia Food Bank’s Whole Community Food Network.
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Jack Nolan has a strong passion for great food and exceptional customer service, a passion which stems from more than twentyfive years in the food service industry. He has worked in nearly every position in a restaurant, from dishwasher to general manager. Jack’s favorite part of working in the industry is the opportunity to meet and serve people, and he takes great pleasure in creating an atmosphere and dining experience that is not just a meal but an event that “wows” his guests. Fortify Kitchen & Bar supports sustainability in the Clayton area by using produce sourced from local small farms and growers. Always using all natural, hormone-antibiotic-free meats and proteins and sustainable seafood sources, they want to give back to the great community they call home!
Hawg Wild BBQ and Catfish House 515 Grant Street Clarkesville, Georgia 30523 706.754.4323 www.hawgwildbbq.com
Chef James Reaux, owner of The Chophouse at LaPrade’s on Lake Burton, also owns Hawg Wild BBQ and Catfish House in Clarkesville. Chef Reaux maintains the signature items which made Hawg Wild what it is today - smoked meats, fresh catfish, barbecue sauces and seasoning rubs. Menus include light summer salads, sandwiches and entrees and offer lower prices and a “great value at lunch and dinner,” said Reaux. The lunch menu has been a big hit, and weeknight specials draw lots of attention. Those specials include fifty-cent wings on Mondays, all-you-can-eat catfish on Tuesdays, babyback ribs on Wednesdays and unlimited crab legs on Thursdays. The restaurant also offers wonderful catering services for parties at homes or offices. Hawg Wild BBQ and Catfish House provides the finest event catering and support. Whether large or small, on-site or off-site, a variety of services are available to make your event successful and memorable. From boxed lunches to gourmet buffets, the professional staff has the capability to create and serve meals to satisfy every palate. Save room for mouth-watering fudge (seasonal flavors available), pies and a variety of desserts prepared daily. Hawg Wild BBQ and Catfish House is again happy to participate in the 2016 Rhapsody in Rabun gala event.
Kingwood Country Club and Resort 401 Country Club Drive Clayton, Georgia 30525 706.212.4116 www.kingwoodresort.com The location of Kingwood Country Club and Resort will inspire the nature lover in you. The resort is surrounded by over 148,600 acres of protected National Forest at the foot of the idyllic Blue Ridge Mountains. Five lakes grace the area, as well as the roaring waterfalls of Tallulah Falls and the celebrated Chattooga River. The resort features an indoor and outdoor pool, free Wi-Fi and 18 holes of golf and is located 8.5 miles from Black Rock Mountain State Park. No matter what kind of dining options you desire, Kingwood has the atmosphere and food you require with three dining options. With a comforting fireplace and big-screen television, The Fireside Lounge offers a
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relaxing atmosphere for diners as well as golfers; it is just the place to unwind after a long day of work or play. Overlooking the ninth putting green, The Lodge is an elegant dining room featuring a variety of seasonal menus, with specials for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Back Porch, Kingwood’s newest addition, is an all-season dining room that boasts hardwood floors and panoramic mountain views. Its casual and relaxing atmosphere is a perfect dining experience. Not only can guests find delicious food at The Back Porch, many find it the perfect place to gather and watch a beautiful sunrise over the Blue Ridge Mountains. Richard Nasser the resort’s general manager assures visitors of the special atmosphere of this site - from the elegant ambiance of The Lodge to the casual comfort of The Fireside Lounge or the relaxing rhythms of The Back Porch, Kingwood offers a variety of venues for enjoying a high-quality meal while soaking in the beautiful mountain vistas.
Lake Rabun Hotel and Restaurant 35 Andrea Lane Lakemont, Georgia 30552 706.782.4946 / 800.398.5134 www.lakerabunhotel.com Since 1922, memorable experiences have been a daily fare at the historic Lake Rabun Hotel and Restaurant in the small arts village of Lakemont, Georgia. The hotel is a unique mountain lodge that captures spectacular views of Lake Rabun in the Blue Ridge Mountains, while the sun plays on the water, dazzling and inviting. The beautiful mountain architecture and rustic flavor have inspired past and present owners to preserve the magical atmosphere that so many have come to love. Upon arrival, guests will enter a world of incredible natural beauty - the lake, nearby mountain waterfalls rivers, and worldclass hiking. Do as much or as little as you like while you experience the true flavor of the mountains and relax in a completely natural setting and enjoy what many call “the best food in Georgia”. Wake in the mornings to a gourmet breakfast served in the dining room or al fresco on the deck under a canopy of pines and hemlocks. Guests will experience foods brushed by world influences that range from French and Middle Eastern to down-home Southern. Featured Farmer Thursdays brings a selected farmer into the restaurant with his or her produce to acquaint guests with uses and growing practices, while the chef prepares small plates featuring delicious recipes that use a variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as other produce supplied by the farmer. Breathe deeply the sweet mountain air while you sip a glass of wine from a local vineyard or a cocktail and wait for specially prepared entrees and light fare in the farm-to-table tradition.
Valley Café and Catering 7099 Highway 441 North Dillard, Georgia 30537 706.746.3321 www.valleycafedillard.com Since 2001, Valley Café and Catering has been providing Dillard, Georgia, and the surrounding area with great food and great service. The café’s menu offers a broad array of choices for your dining pleasure. You will find anything from tender, juicy steaks; Maryland crab cakes and grilled salmon, to delicious sandwich platters - the towering club, the Reuben or the Philly steak. Don’t forget the best burgers and chicken tenders in North Georgia are here, also! Valley Café and Catering prepares breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, with delicious food, a broad wine selection and an expansive selection gmlaurel.com
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of beer - bottled or on-tap. Choose from a tempting list of appetizers, crisp, fresh salads and mouth-watering entrees. Make sure to save room for dessert. Carrot Cake, Tuxedo Cake, and the Chocolate Extreme Cake are made from Valley Café’s secret recipes—they are so BIG you can have your cake and eat it too! Choose one of those or try delicious pies, the Chocolate Bowl Sundae or the featured Cake of the Month special. For three consecutive years Valley Café has been voted “Best Desserts” by the readers of The Clayton Tribune. Valley Café & Catering invites you and your family to join them for excellent food at reasonable prices in a relaxing and upscale family-friendly atmosphere. If you’re hosting an event of your own, let Valley Café & Catering help you plan it. Whether you live in the valley or you’re visiting our area, you’re FAMILY at Valley Café.
Mama G’s Italian Restaurant 777 Highway 441 North Clayton, Georgia 30525 706.782.9565 www.loveisgoodfood.net Mama G’s is a family-owned restaurant that has been carrying on the tradition of serving delicious home-made pizzas and entrees to the Rabun County community and its visitors for over twenty years. The Gaglio family hopes you enjoy their Sicilianinfluenced cooking. They take pride in preparing most of the menu items daily, never adding preservatives and always using 100% real cheese. Mama G’s is a full-service restaurant offering steaks, seafood, and, of course, great pasta. Using the very best ingredients, cooks make the pizza dough and garlic rolls from scratch daily, and for those with flour allergies, the restaurant offers personal-sized gluten-free pizzas upon request. Furthermore, Mama G’s can easily accommodate private parties of up to fifty people in the back room or seventy-five plus on the outdoor patio. Mama G’s Italian Restaurant in Clayton carries on the tradition of serving delicious home-made pizzas and entrees to the Rabun County community and its visitors and offers live entertainment throughout the summer. Mama G’s is proud to support Rhapsody in Rabun each year by contributing its famous garlic rolls, tortellini Alfredo, baked ziti, meatballs and Papa G’s Italian sausage with peppers and onions. The Gaglio family and the staff of Mama G’s are incredibly thankful for our wonderful community and love showing their support for a good cause through good food. They believe that love is good food. Check out their website at www.loveisgoodfood.net and “like” them on Facebook at MamaGsItalianRestaurant/ facebook.com where you can view the live music dates on the patio, daily specials and menu options. Rumor Hazit 173 North Main Street Clayton, Georgia 30525 706.782.1111 www.rumorhazit.us Jim and Jeff Laufer, father and son, opened Rumor Hazit in 2007 with a collaborative effort designed to take guests on a mini vacation. The moment you step through the door, jazzy music, colorful murals and Southern-style hospitality greet you as you are transported to the beach! Rumor Hazit brings the taste and flair of Key West to the North Georgia Mountains. Let your nose guide you through a tasty fare of fresh seafood and steak, along with entrée-sized salads that take eating to new heights. Test your knowledge while having fun with friends during the summer fun trivia challenges. Enjoy allyou-can-eat wings on Tuesday nights and attend special wine tasting events. Check our website for details. 84
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Come and experience a wide variety of seafood dishes; enjoy our famous Grouper Reuben, specialty salads and soups or dessert, while admiring the mountains from the open deck. Put the daily grind on hold for awhile and let Rumor Hazit take you to the beach. Open seven days a week, Rumor Hazit serves lunch from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM and dinner from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Stop by the restaurant to purchase gift cards, available in any denomination, and t-shirts to keep the memories alive. Be sure to visit the Rumor Hazit table at the Rhapsody in Rabun 2016 event where the restaurant will be serving crawfish etouffee. Rumor Hazit is also providing supplies for the bar.
The White Birch Inn and Laurel Bar 28 East Savannah Street Clayton, Georgia 30525 706.782.4444 www.whitebirchinn.com Nestled in the heart of historic downtown Clayton, Georgia, The White Birch Inn and Laurel Bar housed in a two story 100 year old brick building, is a boutique bed and breakfast and tapas bar. The inn boasts six uniquely decorated guest rooms and suites, named after indigenous trees, each with their own ensuite bath. At the White Birch Inn, the upstairs level includes a comfortable lounge offering early morning coffee and tea, before guests head downstairs for a full a la carte breakfast, which is included in the room rates. Guests have their choice of eating breakfast in the sunny dining room or al fresco on the private patio. Each evening, guests are treated to complimentary wine and cheese in the guest lounge, then later, nightly turn down service completes the luxury experience. The Laurel Bar menu changes seasonally and all of the tapas are made from scratch, prepared from locally grown ingredients, with many gluten free items on the menu. In addition to dining, The Laurel Bar has a full bar, featuring an extensive list of single malt scotches and single barrel bourbons. It also features craft beers and a diverse wine list, both by the bottle and by the glass. Owners/Innkeepers, Chuck and Brenda Patterson are fulfilling a lifelong dream and invite you to join them for a meal or a weekend. Visitors enjoy regular local and regional live entertainment and special dinners and events. Follow them on Facebook and check their website often for updates. Tiger Mountain Vineyards & Red Barn Cafe 2592 Old Highway 441, Tiger, Georgia 30576 • 706.782.4777 www.tigerwine.com Tiger Mountain Vineyards, a boutique North Georgia winery, cultivates all of its grapes and produces all of its handcraftd wines right here in the mountains of Rabun County. Started by Dr. John and Martha Ezzard in 1995 on a 100-acre five generation old family farm, the award-winning-farm winery has become a destination for metro Atlanta, Georgia, Flroida and South and North Carolina wine lovers. However, the Ezzards and their Atlanta counterparts John and Marilyn McMullan , say Rabun County patrons are the winery’s heart and soul! Tiger Mountain grows and makes wines uniquely suited to the area’s soils and climate: Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Mourvedre, Petit Manseng, Tannat and Viogner, as well as the Portuguese Touriga Nacional. In addition to the European varieties, John also planted the American Norton Grape, native to Virginia. John the winemaker is best known for introducing the Petit Manseng to the state of Georgia, a tangy white wine from southwest France that seems to love Tiger Mountain. The Petit Manseng won a gold medal in the 2015 San Francisco International and more recently another gold in the 2016 International Eastern competition. The wines have racked up some important reviews and more than 230 awards since 2001, putting Rabun County-grown wines on par with Napa’s best! The refurbished 78- yearold barn where John grew up milking cows is now the Red Barn Cafe, featuring Chef David Sweeney’s creative fresh and local dishes; Sweeney is one of the Best Chefs America. The Red Barn Cafe is a 2016 nominee by USA TODAY for one of the top ten winery restaurants in the country! . The tasting room and vineyards are open to the public seven days a week. See www.tigerwine.com for events and wine descriptions. A special thank you to all who work so diligently to make this event a reality. It is a very special night! Reservations can be made at www.rhapsodyinrabun.com or by contacting rhapsodyinrabun@gmail.com. gmlaurel.com
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Live Healthy and Be Well! “The High Points about Low Blood Sugar” Stephen Jarrard, MD, FACS
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ne of the biggest causes of altered mental status, “passing out” or people being found unresponsive by friends, family or EMS personnel is very easily diagnosed, and very easily fixed and corrected. If someone presents this way, medical personnel know one of the first things they should do is check the blood sugar level. High blood sugar can cause diabetic coma, but more common is low blood sugar for one reason or another. Hypoglycemia literally means “low sugar blood”. The glucose level in the blood has dropped below normal levels, causing symptoms – but especially sensitive to this situation is the brain, which depends on a steady stream of glucose as fuel for all the operations it is constantly performing (even when you sleep). It can produce a variety of symptoms and effects but the principal problems arise from an inadequate supply of glucose to the brain, resulting in impairment of function – a condition called neuroglycopenia. The effects of mild hypoglycemia can range from mild confusion and sweating to moderate dysphoria, and a lessening of consciousness. Severe hypoglycemia is a medical emergency because it can result in seizures, coma and can eventually be fatal or cause permanent brain damage if not treated quickly. There is a three prong test known as “Whipple’s Triad” 86
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which is used to verify and diagnose true hypoglycemia. 1. Symptoms known to be caused by hypoglycemia (confusion, altered mental status) 2. Low glucose at the time the symptoms occur (verified) 3. Reversal or improvement of symptoms or problems when the glucose is restored to normal, or by ingesting glucose. Many people feel shaky and lightheaded if they haven’t eaten in a while, and may self-diagnose hypoglycemia. This condition is usually helped by changing your eating patterns and remembering, like our mothers told us, not to skip meals! Diabetics are very familiar with the opposite condition, or hyperglycemia (high sugar blood). For that reason, they adjust their diet, take medicines and even sometimes inject insulin to keep their blood sugar controlled. The preferred range of blood glucose is 70ish to 110ish. As with anything else, “normal” is different for different people, so if you see glucose of 120 on your lab, don’t worry too much. If you are consistently high, you may be “pre-diabetic” and need to be seen and treated. However, it is these medicines to control blood sugar that are often the culprit leading to hypoglycemia. On the other hand, if your glucose is often much below the 50 to 60 range, you may feel some of the symptoms of low blood sugar. The most common forms of hypoglycemia occur as a complication of treatment of diabetes with insulin or medicines taken by mouth. Hypoglycemia is much less common in non-diabetic persons, but it can occur, and at any age. Among the causes in non-diabetics are excessive insulin produced in gmlaurel.com
the body – also known as hyperinsulinemia. This can result from such things as in insulin secreting tumor (usually in the pancreas) called an insulinoma. There are some natural genetic conditions that can lead to too much insulin, as well as medications, poisons, alcohol, hormone deficiencies, prolonged starvation, some infections and organ failure. If you are interested in a very detailed list of the causes of hypoglycemia, I would refer you to look up this topic at http://www. enwikiepedia.org/wiki/hypoglycemia where they have an exhaustive list of causes in alphabetical order. The treatment of hypoglycemia is, obviously, to restore the normal glucose level in the blood. Patients given sugar after passing out from hypoglycemia tend to respond and return to normal almost immediately. If you are not a diabetic, have consistently low blood sugar, meet the criteria of Whipple’s Triad, or have ever had any of the symptoms talked about above, you should see your health care provider for a workup to determine the cause. If you are diabetic, take oral meds and/or insulin and have similar issues, you should keep some form of sugar nearby you at all times (candy or juice) in case you feel these symptoms. And, you should also see your provider to have your diabetic medicines or insulin adjusted – because this should NOT be a common occurrence for either situation. 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!
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Health and Wellness
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DR. CAROL PRYBY JOINS
NORTHEAST GEORGIA PHYSICIANS GROUP CLAYTON
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ail Weaver, FNP-C, and the staff of Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Clayton welcome Carol Pryby, MD, to the practice. “My husband and I love North Georgia, so, when the opportunity arose with such a fine multi-specialty group like NGPG, I jumped at the chance,” says Dr. Pryby. “I’m also thrilled that NGPG Clayton is part of Northeast Georgia Health System, so my patients will have a direct connection to Georgia’s #1 Hospital, Northeast Georgia Medical Center.” Ever since Dr. Pryby can remember, she was involved in medicine. Her mother was a registered nurse trained at Georgia Baptist Hospital during a World War II initiative. “I can remember my mom stopping at every traffic accident and having me run to a nearby home to get help calling an ambulance,” says Dr. Pryby. Dr. Pryby prides herself in being a native of South Georgia, where her family’s roots date back to the 1600s, before her dad was transferred north to work for the Pentagon. “I was raised in the North by Southerners,” says Dr. Pryby. “My dad made sure all of his children went to college in the South – so I went to UGA, met a handsome man and married young. We’ve been married for over 35 years.”
patients’ relationship with their primary care provider. The Patient-Centered Medical Home philosophy puts the patient at the center of the healthcare team and replaces occasional appointments with coordinated care and lifelong healing. NGPG Clayton is conveniently located at 536 Highway 441 South, Clayton, GA 30525. The practice is open Monday – Friday. Call 706.782.7968 to schedule an appointment, or visit ngpg.org/Clayton to get driving directions and learn more. NGPG Clayton is an affiliate of Northeast Georgia Health System. ABOUT NORTHEAST GEORGIA PHYSICIANS GROUP Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) is a multispecialty group that brings together more than 250 talented physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, midwives and other clinical staff at more than 80 locations across North Georgia. Learn more at ngpg.org. NGPG is affiliated with Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS), which serves more than 800,000 people in more than 13 counties across the region. As part of NGHS, patients of NGPG have a direct connection to Northeast Georgia Medical Center – Georgia’s #1 Hospital (CareChex®) and one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals (Truven Health Analytics®). Learn more at nghs.com.
Dr. Pryby also attended Mercer University School of Medicine and graduated with honors in 1997. She’s practiced medicine for 15 years and most recently held a position as assistant professor and director of Curriculum at Memorial Health in Savannah. “I’m very excited about getting back into an office setting and taking care of patients in Rabun County,” says Dr. Pryby. NGPG Clayton is a primary care practice providing routine and preventive health evaluations; immunizations; sameday appointments; care for all ages; EKG; x-rays; physicals; minor procedures and laboratory services. The practice is also a recognized Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home, which means it provides a model of care that strengthens 90
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The Incredible Iris Davis by David Daraugh
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ris Davis is five feet tall, 100 pounds of sinew and muscle.....and has a smile that will melt a person’s heart. She is also an incredible physical trainer. Everyone is glad Iris made her way to the North Georgia Mountains where she now trains many Rabun County residents at the new YOUR TIME FITNESS CENTER in Clayton. This is her story and it is indeed remarkable. Iris was born in Ireland, one of 14 children, the family was not well off and Iris found her way to England where she married at the young age of 17. She gave birth to her first son John, who died of crib death that same year aged 2 months. It was such a tragedy - she became distraught and started walking to help cope with an extended depression. She walked for hours up and down the streets of London seeking solace. None could be found, just debilitating sadness, there were no grief counselors or antidepressants available to help her break free from the darkness. Eventually, she found the inner strength to restart her life. At age 22, she had another child and four months later tragedy again struck her life. Her husband John was found dead in a hotel room of natural causes while on a business trip. Now she had a 4 month old son and no means of support. She was still in London and felt the despair and hopelessness in her situation. She looked to other women in her predicament - all of them appeared sad and consumed with self pity. Seeing no future for her or her child in England she decided “I must pick myself up, I need to get out of here”. She applied for a job in Massachusetts as a nanny, and left England with her son. The day she landed in Boston her son was 6 months old and she had $10.00 in her pocket. She went to work for a widowed doctor with 3 young children in a rural area and continued to exercise. She had never lost the need to walk and exercise as a means of coping with depression which she continued to suffer from. Five years later Iris accepted a job with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a co-coordinator. The new job provided a badly needed fresh start for Iris. Students were invited to dinners with alumni and Iris then interviewed them and wrote an article about their experience for Technology Review. 92
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By age 27 and living in her own apartment she joined her first gym, she said, “I always wanted to stay in shape, ...but I had no role model. Most of the time I was the only woman in the gym. I made many mistakes by following the men. Eventually I learned on my own what was best for me.” Next she decided to accept a job in San Francisco working for a large bank and at age 40 decided to return to London. She was now married to Robert whom she had met in San Francisco and working for an investment bank, it was extremely stressful, working long hours, many days working 24 hours when once again a new tragedy challenged her willingness to keep going. After 8 years she woke up one morning and did not know who she was. She could not remember her name. Somehow she made it to work but was totally unable to recognize her own work on her computer. She left work and was too confused to drive, somehow the sequence to insert the key. start the engine and drive was wiped from her memory She walked home and every step was torture. Her vision became blurry and her speech was slurred. It took doctors 5 months to diagnose her with “encephalitis”. The disease can be caused by overwork and constant stress. The body and brain gives up and says stop. At one time she was told she would never walk again. After two and a half years in her sick bed she finally recovered enough to go back to the gym. Every muscle had atrophied and all her muscles were like Jelly. Her first day at the gym she needed help just to open the door. After living a life of health and fitness she knew it was time to gain it all back. She would not accept that she would never recover and started on her climb to fitness. She clawed her way back to health and recovered quickly using the power of her mind. She was determined to be as good if not better than before her illness. One year later Iris entered her first bodybuilding competition, she was now 50 and competing against 20 -30 year olds and was stunned when she won first place. Winning a body building contest takes an incredible amount of commitment and energy. Iris said from the beginning her focus was on winning - not just competing! Soon after winning her first contest, she moved back to the United States, this time to Florida, where she met a man at the gym who told her he was looking for a female bodybuilder to enter a contest as a mixed pair. She was now 57 and had no interest in competing again. He asked if she was interested and she told him no. But she thought about it over the weekend and decided she could do it again. She trained as hard as she could and the following May of 2001, competed in the NPC Space Coast Classic and was awarded first place in the women over 45 category and also awarded first place in the mixed gmlaurel.com
pairs. She went on to win first place in seven more championships that year. In 2002 and 2003 she placed first in NPC Florida State Championships; in 2005 she was awarded first place in the Debbie Cruck Classic in Daytona Beach Florida and in 2010 at age 66, she took second place in the Florida State Championships. She is the holder of 11 championship titles. Every year the Nintendo Corporation awards people who excel in their chosen sport and Iris won the award in 2006 for being the fittest senior in the USA. Another small fact worth mentioning, Iris captured an armed robber in 2006 and won world wide acclaim, being on TV in a host of countries, making a documentary for Canadian TV and she still gets letters from all over the world. Iris says, “My husband Robert is an avid outdoors man who dreamed of living in the North Georgia Mountains so when friends moved up here we followed and built our own house. After living here for several years I love it. The people are wonderful, and my biggest thrill is that I have not had to work for the past 6 years, (I don’t consider being in the gym work). It is a major miracle what Iris has overcome, at the age of 72, she is an example that if you set your goals high, never give up and work hard, you can overcome life’s adversities...... including serious illness - and you can become a true champion. Her life’s journey is an inspiration for all of us. I have played adult league soccer, softball, basketball and volleyball. My earlier athletics were nothing compared to a work-out under the supervision of Iris. She is a champion, will always be a champion and her goal in every work-out is getting us to deliver our personal best. Iris can be reached at YOUR TIME FITNESS CENTER in Clayton at 706.782.6016 or at slimris@aol.com.
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Parting Shot
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By The Way
Never Take a Sunburned Pig to the Fair by Emory Jones
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’ve been thinking a lot about livestock lately. And when I think about livestock, my mind wanders back to the time our White County FFA show pigs got sunburned. The whole think caused quite a ruckus, really. You see, every year, the White County Future Farmers of America would haul a number of girl pigs (called gilts) and some boy pigs (called boy pigs) to the Georgia Mountain Fair in Hiwassee. We spent weeks preparing the pigs by washing, grooming, waxing (that’s an entirely different thing with pigs) and getting them ready for the show. When the big day came, we loaded the hogs onto the big blue truck with an FFA decal on the side and headed for Hiwassee. As I recall, Johnny Sutton had a pig named Pork Ryan. Arnold Dyer’s hog was Piggy Sue and the ever-creative Walter Reed called his two gilts Porkchop and Pookie. Other hogs on board that day included Hamlet, Oscar, Meyer, Groucho, Smokey, Rumpled Pigskin and Bacon Bit. Jeff Hunt’s hog was suitably named Slim. Jeff didn’t have great hopes for Slim, but since the little feller didn’t take up much room, we took him anyway. A dozen boys riding in the back of a big blue truck with a load of hogs wasn’t thought to be dangerous back then. Our job was to keep the pigs lying on their sides in the straw. The sky was clear, but we didn’t notice the sun beating down on the freshly bathed Yorkshires until it was too late. But, by the time we got to Hiawassee, all our white hogs were down right red, but only on one side. Thinking the judges might not be impressed with red and white sunburned swine in a blue truck, we stopped in town to buy some talcum powder. We always sprinkled a little talcum on the pigs before a show just to freshen things up, but this time we doused them in the stuff. The talcum did an acceptable job of covering the redness, but didn’t do much for the discomfort it caused the pigs. Looking back on it, you’d think the FFA manual would have warned its members that sunburned pigs get cranky. But, it simply read, “While in the ring with your pig, move about in a natural manner. Keep your animal 15 feet from the judge and maintain as much eye contact with the judge as possible. Try to keep your pig relaxed.” 96
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That sounds great on paper, but until you’ve tapped a sunburned hog on the hock with a show stick, the idea of all heck breaking lose is just theory. When Arnold gently tried to steer Piggy Sue to the right to maintain the 15-foot rule, she squealed and charged the judge who turned tail, jumped over the top rail and rolled under our big blue truck. Bacon Bit showed all 44 of his pig teeth and begin encouraging Pookie and Hamlet to out-squeal Piggy Sue, who was already squealing 11 decibels higher than a jet engine on takeoff. It’s impossible to maintain any kind of eye contact with a judge hiding under a truck, so that went out the door, too. Other than Jeff’s pig, Slim, who won the best behaved pig award, we didn’t take home any ribbons that year. But, as our agriculture teacher Mr. Fitzpatrick pointed out, the FFA manual also says, “No matter what happens, there’s always another show, another judge and another year.” As I recall, the fair did have a different judge after that. But the most important thing is that we learned our lesson and took sheep to the fair after that. All except Arnold, who joined the 4-H Club and started showing rabbits.
Emory Jones is a gifted writer, husband, author of The Valley Where They Danced, Distant Voices, The Story of the Nacoochee Valley Indian Mound and several other books and looks a little like Santa Claus. His humor is extraordinary and we are pleased to share it with you, Emory’s books are available on Amazon and at www. yonahtreasures.com.
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