Georgia Mountain Laurel January 18 by The Laurel of Northeast Georgia

Happy New Year

Each New Year is an opportunity for a new beginning. When all of the Christmas decorations have been stored neatly in the attic and the calendar has been turned to January 2018 most people start to think about what they want to do differently in the new year. This issue offers some good information about local gyms, trainers, nutrition counselors and fitness studios who are eager to work with you to attain your goals. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner so we created a list of local businesses who can help you stay on your sweetie’s good side. Whether you plan to order flowers, take him/her out for a nice meal or buy something special we’ve done the homework for you. As we begin our fifteenth year we want to take this chance to thank the businesses who have supported us this past year and let potential advertisers know that the Laurel is a great place to put your trust. We want to see you prosper in 2018 and hope that you will give us a call to discuss how we can help you. Another big thank you goes to you, our readers. You can not know how much we appreciate you. Thank you for the notes and messages letting us know how much you enjoy the magazine, continue to call for references and info on our advertisers. We want to hear from you so drop us a line and let us know what you’d like to see in the Georgia Mountain Laurel. Thank you for another year of sharing the mountains! Thank you so much!

Tracy

Georgia Mountain Laurel

Contributing Writers:

Mailing: PO Box 2218, Clayton, Georgia 30525 Office: 2511 Highway 441, Mountain City, Georgia 30562 706-782-1600 • www.gmlaurel.com

Jean Hyatt

Publisher/Editor - Tracy McCoy Assistant Editor - Luke McCoy Art Director - Dianne VanderHorst Graphic Designer - Nikki Dunbar Office Manager/ Account Executive - Cindi Freeman Account Executive - Melissa Williams-Thomas Account Executive - Melynda Hensley Photographer/Writer - Peter McIntosh

Jan Timms Mark Holloway Kendall Rumsey Susan Brewer Steve Jarrard, MD Lisa Harris Emory Jones Lorie Thompson Josh Brown E. Lane Gresham

Copyright 2018 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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January 2018

In This Issue

Arts & Entertainment 24 26

Featured Artist - Christi Simpson North Georgia Arts Guild

A Taste 18 22

Bon Appetit The Family Table

About Town 24 28

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide Foxglove Cottilion

Faith in Christ 30 32

Blessings River Garden

Mark Your Calendar 36 38

The Sweetheart Ball PCAH - Chef Competition

Outdoors 40 44 46

Adventure Out Mountain Nature Wander North Georgia

Just Thinking... 52 55 56

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Poss Family and RE/MAX of Rabun Agents & Staff

Notes from a Southern Kitchen By the Way Lovin’ the Journey

Health & Wellness 48 57 58 61 62

YourTime Fitness Well Nouished Fit Live Healthy & Be Well Clayton Health & Fitness Studio e

Ed Poss You will be missed. 1927-2017

Your Friends at the Georgia Mountain Laurel

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January 2018

Andrea Thomason

Christi Simpson Bonnie Michaels

Snow Day Surprises Are the Best! Meet The Simpsons

Gaylon Mathews

Sometimes spur of the minute decisions turn out really well. On December 8th it began to snow and it continued to snow all night and into the next day piling nearly a foot of snow across the mountains of North Georgia. People began posting their snow pictures on Facebook and Instagram and it was so fun to see them all. It sparked an idea for our next cover, so I posted on our Georgia Mountain Laurel Facebook page asking for people to share their snow photos. I hoped I would get at least 21 so I could do a top 20 with one being chosen for the cover. Well, much like the snow surprised us, your participation surprised me! We had 360 entries into our contest, we poured over each one looking for the photo that depicted the joy of a surprise snowfall, bring back memories, touch hearts and make January a little brighter for all of you. The photo had to be vertical and high resolution to qualify for the cover. We enlisted the help of a professional to help us narrow it down and we finally made the decision on the little boy tasting the snow. The photo was submitted by Gilbert Simpson so we did a little research and got a number for Gilbertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business Squeaky Clean Energy and gave him a call. He was glad to hear from us but quickly let me know that the person behind the lens was his wife Christi and shared her number. Christi was pleasantly surprised to hear she was chosen especially since she didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even know her photo had even been entered. Gilbert is a follower of the Georgia Mountain Laurel online and he sent the photo in when he saw our post, without telling his wife.

Tracy English 8

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Brittney Ragsdale

Cavonna Holcomb

Cindy Cantrell

Casey Houck

Geri Matlock

Christi Simpson gmlaurel.com

Robert Wagner January 2018

Derita Davis

Karen Carpenter

Larry & Gay Urquhart

The Simpson family resides in Jasper, Georgia. Christi was born in Canada and the daughter of missionaries, she lived a short time in the Phillipines before landing in Pickens County, Georgia. Christi really enjoyed taking photos and so after graduation she began taking pictures for friends and family. She began an apprenticeship under a professional photographer and by the time she turned 19, she jumped in with both feet starting her own photography business called Cherished Memories. She enjoyed capturing lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s moments and is a talented photographer, so her business grew quickly. Christi then met Gilbert Simpson, a Florida boy, who stole her heart. The two married and although they were very happy together they longed for a child to complete their family. The tried for over a decade to have children without success. Christiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doctor felt that maybe less stress would be beneficial to their efforts.

Tasha Dumbaugh

Gaylon Mathews

Kyle Shook 10

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Kimberly Gowens

Nicole Webb

Shannon Webb

So Christi cut back, way back, on her business. God often works in ways we might not expect and soon news came that a little boy was coming into their lives. Christi and Gilbert were overjoyed, their prayers had been answered. Gus was born in 2014 and since his arrival, Christi has a new and very exciting profession, full-time mommy to a very active, rambunctous, delightfully playful boy. She says he never stops and his mom now takes photos of their most precious gift, little Gus. Christi enjoys painting and writing too. She doesn’t get much time to do these things, but she knows that one day she will. Right now she is more than content being a wife and mother. She did mention remodeling her house! In the short time I talked with Christi, it seems that there isn’t much she can’t do. She can and does tackle any project.

Leisa Parker

In his Carhartt jacket and jeans with toboggan on, Gus took to the snow on that Saturday. No doubt his parents were right behind him. I imagine a snowman was built, snowballs were thrown, photos were snapped and with red cheeks and cold hands this family of three enjoyed the mid December snow. We are thrilled to learn about the Simpsons and grateful that they and so many of you shared your “snow-day” with us. I wanted to print every entry but it would have filled all of our pages BUT, we will upload all of them to our website for you to enjoy. Look for them in January on www.GMLaurel. com Thank you all and keep following us on facebook, the opportunity may arise again for a pop-up photo contest! gmlaurel.com

Tanya Nalley January 2018

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Finding Art

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January 2018

North Georgia Arts Guild A Year in Review By Susan Brewer

n unexpected situation means I need to write this, the monthly article for the Georgia Mountain Laurel quickly, today. A review of the past year’s articles and my writing offers a solution. Here goes!

To each person who has given me the right, the privilege, of interviewing them, thank you. I have learned so much from all of you. This includes Tom Slavicek, Suzy Coffeen, Terry Guthrie, Betty Coffey, Mary Beth Stager, Jan Walker, Tricia Moore, Terry Barnes, Margie Minutello, and Donna Rainey. I have made mistakes (I did write that article about Betty Coffey; Jan’s husband was from Tasmania, not Transylvania; and Tricia’s name appeared several times as Trisha—forgive me, Tricia, please!). I have been privileged to write in The Clayton Tribune about recipients of the guild’s 2017 art scholarships, Heather Giovino and Kortnie Phillips, graduates of RCHS. Finally, Silke Cliatt was selected as one of twelve finalists in the “I am an Artisan” international quilt-making challenge. I missed the chance to write her story—she passed me the ball, and I dropped it. I hope to make up for that in the future. These people are incredibly talented. They are all very different, but share similarities: giving of themselves to others by way of their art is one. The drive to shape a vision is another. Most told me they could not imagine NOT being able to do art. And I believe everyone I spoke with mentioned their love of nature and the beauty found in the natural world. Several have a strong faith, including my next subject, Jerry Williamson. Others draw strength to face life’s joys and difficulties in other ways. I worked in retail banking over twenty years with different kinds of people during times of great change in the industry. But the appreciation I have for the artists I interview today comes from my investment in that diverse community of customers and coworkers. From them, I learned several important lessons: that with time, people I didn’t hit it off with could become fast, respected friends. And also, that people are capable of change. I was. I changed. For me, this change was brought about by love nurtured for those people. My job now is to consider the way others live, what they think and feel, and the rules they live by. I try to see life through their eyes, from their perspective. This process often uncovers questions. For instance, is being “right” or “correct” more important than understanding? (People need to do both.) Sometimes I lose myself finding these buried truths. But they help me make sense of our world. Thanks to Tracy and the guild for allowing me the freedom to do what I love most. The guild ended its year by decorating a Christmas tree at the Rabun County Civic Center Christmas Festival. The magic of the season filled the auditorium with the spirit of giving. The togetherness I shared with the guild members, decorating our tree, drew me to something I would have missed without them, and made me richer in the currency that counts. Enjoy the New Year, and thanks for reading.

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Experience CLAKRESVILLE, GA gmlaurel.com

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Bon Appétit You Made It! by Scarlett Cook

t is officially 2018 and other than the year changing, your family still wants to eat – some things never change. Here are some recipes to start your year off with some new dishes. We have already weathered snow, so can spring be so far away? Stay warm.

Barbecue Chili 8 servings 1 1/2 Pounds shredded barbecued pork 2 Cans pinto or kidney beans, drained 2 14.5 Ounce cans diced tomatoes with green pepper, celery & onion (Rotel or any brand) 1/2 Cup chopped onion 1 8 Ounce can tomato sauce 1 Cup barbecue sauce 1/3 Cup chili seasoning mix Toppings – cheese (any flavor), shredded lettuce, jalapeno peppers, black olives, sour cream, chopped tomatoes, tortilla chips or crumbled cornbread Stir all ingredients together in a large pot and bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir occasionally. Cover and reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes stirring occasionally. Spoon into bowls and top as desired.

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Chicken, Tomatoes & Spinach Bake 4 – 6 servings Preheat oven to 375˚. 8 Ounces cooked macaroni noodles 1 Tablespoon olive oil 1 Cup finely minced onion 1 10-Ounce package frozen spinach, thawed and WELL DRAINED 3 Cups cooked chicken – from a rotisserie chicken or leftover 1 14.5 Ounce can diced tomatoes 1 8 Ounce package of cream cheese 1/2 Teaspoon salt 1/2 Teaspoon pepper 1 Teaspoon basil 1 Teaspoon oregano 1 Teaspoon garlic powder 1 1/2 Cups shredded Mozzarella cheese

Potatoes Stuffed with Chicken 8 servings 4 Large baking potatoes 1 1/2 Teaspoon olive oil 2 Teaspoons salt 8 Bacon slices 1 Cup diced cooked chicken 1 Cup shredded Cheddar cheese 1 Cup shredded Swiss cheese 1/2 Cup mayonnaise 1/3 Cup sun dried tomatoes in oil, drained and minced 1/4 Cup chopped green onions 1 Teaspoon spicy mustard

Spread oil on bottom of 9” x 13” casserole dish and sprinkle onion over oil. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove onion from casserole dish to a large bowl. Stir noodles, spinach, chicken, cream cheese and spices into cooked onions. Mix well and spread in casserole dish. Sprinkle with cheese and cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes and uncover and bake for 15 more minutes.

Preheat oven to 425˚. Rub potatoes with oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake directly on oven rack for 55 minutes or until potatoes are tender. After baking. turn oven down to 400˚. While potatoes are baking, cook bacon until crisp, drain and crumble. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop pulp into large bowl – leaving skins intact. Stir pulp, bacon, chicken, 3/4 cup EACH of Cheddar and Swiss, mayonnaise, tomatoes, onion and mustard. Spoon mixture into potato skins and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Place in baking dish sprayed with nonstick spray and bake 25 – 30 minutes.

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January 2018

A Taste of the Mountains

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January 2018

Family Table by Lorie R. Thompson

can not believe it is 2018! How did this happen? It seems only yesterday that I was celebrating the Bicentennial of our Nation, (Yes, I am that old!) or prepping for Y2K. My life has flown by and with the coming of each new year, it seems to move even faster! January promises a little slower pace to a hard working Realtor. After the Christmas and New Years holiday pace, I long for a few January snow days at home. I love snow! I still feel child-like in my excitement over the white stuff. My thrillseeking skiing and sledding days are behind me now, but I still love to watch the snow fall! So, bring it on, January!

One of my familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s traditional snow day meals is homemade Chicken and Dumplings. This warm and rich dish is sure to drive away the cold. The smell of the chicken simmering on the stove, on a cold winter day, is a pleasure. Rinse an organic, whole chicken in cool water and remove the neck and giblets. Place all the parts and pieces in a large stockpot and cover with 6-8 quarts of cool water. Make certain that your chicken is covered and has plenty of room left for the vegetables. Add 2 T of Kosher salt, 1 Bay Leaf, 1 T of black pepper or 2-3 dried cayenne peppers, 6-8 whole garlic cloves, Roughly chop and add to the stockpot 4 scrubbed carrots, 4 celery stalks and 2 medium onions. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer, uncovered for 2-3 hours. When the chicken is falling off the bone, remove from the heat and allow the stock to cool a little. Remove the chicken and vegetables from the broth using a spider (a wide mesh strainer) or a slotted spoon. Lay the chicken on one end of a sheet pan and the veggies on the other end. Separate the meat from the skin and bones. Do not shred the chicken meat. Leave it as intact as you can. It will naturally separate as you stir it into the chicken and dumplings. At this point taste of the chicken meat to make certain it has enough salt. If it is salty enough, your broth will be too. If it needs salt, add a little. Reserve the meat until later. Pour up the broth into a plastic pitcher or bowl and allow the chicken fat to come to the top as the broth cools. Skim off all of the oil before returning the broth back to the cooking pot. While the chicken and stock cool, make your dumplings. In a

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large bowl add 2 C of self-rising flour. Add 1/2 tsp of poultry seasoning if you have it. Add 1/3 cup of Crisco shortening and cut it into the flour until the flour looks like fine crumbs. Add 3/4 cup milk and knead gently until dough is mixed. Add more milk or flour if needed to create a stiff dough. Roll out on a floured board or parchment sheet. Roll thin and cut into a square about 1x1”. Reserve until stock is ready. In the stock pot melt 1/2 stick of butter. To the butter, add 3 T of self-rising flour. Stir the flour and butter mixture continually over low heat until the roux is lightly browned. Add the reserved broth back to the stockpot along with one 12 ounce can of evaporated milk. Over medium heat, bring the broth up to a very slow boil. Stir occasionally to make sure it is not sticking on the bottom. Keep temperature right to have a little boil in the pot, but not too high. Add dumplings one a time, making certain each one submerges as it hits the broth. You may have to move them around gently, to create a hole to dunk them in. Once all of the dumplings are in the stock pot, cover with a lid. Reduce heat to low and leave on a gentle simmer for 15 minutes without taking the lid off. Watch the pot to make certain it does not boil over. If it is threatening to boil over, the heat is too high. Reduce the heat if necessary. After 15 minutes, remove the lid and stir very gently, making certain there is nothing sticking on the bottom. Add the chicken back to the pot and any of the vegetables you might like. I only add the carrots as my family does not like celery and the onions and garlic have already given their goodness to the cause. Cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, uncovered, on low heat. Serve piping hot in a beautiful bowl. This is guaranteed to give you a warm heart on a cold winter day! You can make a smaller pot of chicken and dumplings by adding only half of the broth and half of the meat back to the pot. Cut the dumpling recipe in half. Reserve the additional broth for soup or other recipes. The additional chicken makes a great chicken salad, enchilada filling or any other meal choice. You could share a bowl of the chicken and dumplings with a neighbor. It is a guaranteed way to turn a neighbor into a friend. Anyone in my family who is sick or sad gets homemade chicken and dumplings. I always tell whomever I made the food for that there is healing power in each pot! Maybe my claim of “healing power” is a little stretch, but they are made with a lot of love. I pray for my friends and family as I prepare the food for them, and while I can’t impart any healing power, I know the one who can and ask for His help for my loved one. They certainly qualify as great comfort food. Wishing you a winter day at home filled with warmth, comfort, great food, and great company! Happy New Year to you and yours! gmlaurel.com

January 2018

Valentine Gift Giving Guide W

hether you just fell in love or have been with your sweetheart for 60+ years, a Valentine’s Day gift will keep you on the right track. We have complied a list of local businesses who can contribute to your successful Valentine’s Day. We always encourage you to shop local and support small business owners. Maybe you are a traditional guy or gal who goes with flowers and candy or you are thinking more like dinner and a movie. Whatever you are thinking we have done the homework for you. Our hope is that you and yours will have the best Valentine’s Day ever and do it all right here close to home. Make someone you love feel extra special and make it a memorable Day. Happy Valentine’s Day to you all!

Dining – Take your Valentine Out... Kingwood Golf Country Club & Resort Golf, Lodging & Dining 401 Country Club Drive Clayton, Georgia 30525 706.212.4100 www.kingwoodresort.com

Mama G’s Restaurant

Italian Cuisine 777 Highway 441 S. Clayton, Georgia 30525 706.782.9565 www.loveisgoodfood.net

Mishima Asian Cuisine

Dining 112 Hwy 441 N Clayton Ga 30525 706.782.0045 Facebook/Mishima-AsianCuisine/ 24

Rabun Manor

Lodging & Dining 205 Carolina Street Dillard, Georgia 30537 706.746.2060 www.rabun-manor.com

Rumor Hazit

Key West in the Mountains 175 North Main Street Clayton, Georgia 30525 706.782.1111 www.rumorhazit.us

Universal Joint

Food, Live Music & Events 109 North Main Street Clayton, Georgia 30525 706.782.7116 www.ujclayton.com

January 2018

Florist - Send Flowers Apple Blossom

Florist & Gifts 259 N. Main Street Clayton, Ga. 30525 1-800-501-1717 706.782.6315

Buds and Blossoms Florist

Florist, Home Decor, Jewelry & Gifts 613 US-441, Suite #3 Clayton, Georgia 30525 706.782.6876 www.budsandblossomsonline.com

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Shopping â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Gifts for your Sweetheart Blackberry Market

Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Apparel, Jewelry, Gifts 76 East Main Street Franklin, North Carolina 28734 828.369.7880

Creative Framing

Framing, Fine Art, Gifts, Pottery 482 Depot Street Franklin, North Carolina 828.349.4468 www.creativeframingnc.com

Dogwoods Home

Home Furnishings & Accessories & Fine Art 41 North Main Street Clayton, Georgia 30525 706.960.9232 www.shopdogwoodshome.com

Dutchmans Designs

Home Furnishings & Accessories & Fine Art 342 Main Street Highlands, North Carolina 28741

Gilded Willow

Antiques & Gifts 71 E. Main Street Franklin, North Carolina 28734 828.369.8762 www.thegildedwillow.com

ImPRESSed

Apparel & Accessories, Custom Printing & Embroidery 621 Highway 441 S. Suite 1 Clayton, Georgia 30525 706.212.2818 www.impressed-clayton.com

Mossy Rock

Home Decor & Gifts 37 East Main Street Franklin, North Carolina 28734 828.369.1612

North Carolina Mtn Made

Local Handmade Arts 36 East Main Street Franklin, North Carolina 28734 828.524.7766 www.ncmtnmade.com

Old School Knife Works

Knives & Gifts 8285 Georgia Road Otto, North Carolina 28763 828.524.6842 www.oldschoolknifeworks.com

Old Time Country Store

Gifts, Feed and Farm Supplies 70 Old Livery Street Clayton,Georgia 30525 www.sites.google.com/site/ oldtimecountrystoreinrabun

Phoenix Jewelers

Jewelry & Repair 91 E. Savannah Street Suite 403 Clayton, Georgia 30525 706.782.0862

Reeves

Hardware, Sporting Goods, Clothing Gifts & Furniture 16 South Main Street Clayton, Georgia 30525 706.782.4253 www.reeveshardware.com

R.M. Rose Distillers

Working Distillery & Gift Store 890 Franklin Street Dillard, Georgia 30537 706.982.8115 www.rmroseco.com

Silver Threads

Yarn, Fiber Arts, Classes 41 E. Main Street Franklin, North Carolina 28734 828.349.0515 www.SilverThreadsYarn.com gmlaurel.com

January 2018

Valentine Gift Giving Guide Rabun Reflexology

Wellness & Reflexology 250 Laurel Heights Dr Clayton Georgia 30525 706.982.0999 lisa2662@gmail.com

Sacred Mountain Bodyworks

Massage, Nails, Skincare, Wellness 27 Old Fruit Stand Lane Tiger, Georgia 30576 706.970.9943 www.facebook.com/ sacredmountainbodyworks

Sole Place

Western Wear, Shoes & Boots 61 North Main Street Clayton, Georgia 30525 706.782.4975 www.soleplaceclayton.com

Soque Artworks

Art & Gifts 1440 North Washington Street Clarkesville, Georgia 30523 706.754.2449 www.SoqueArtWorks.com

Stewarts Jewelry

Jewelry & Repair Main Street Franklin, North Carolina 28734 828.369.9440

Timpson Creek Gallery Home Funishings & Accessories, Gifts 7142 Highway 76 West, Clayton, GA 30568 706.782.5164 www.timpsoncreek.com

Woods Furniture & Gift Shoppes

Home Funishings & Accessories, Gifts 1475 Washington Street Clarkesville, Georgia 30523 706.754.4144 www.woodsfurnitureinc.com

The Cutting Edge

Family Salon 899 York House Road Rabun Gap, Georgia 30568 706.746.7736

Things to See & Do – Something Different!

Services – Fire & Light Glass Studio Hair/Nails/Massage/Spa Art Supplies, Working Studio, Expectations

Family Salon 2511 Hwy. 411 Mountain City, Georgia 30562 706.746.3390

Gifts 9788 Georgia Road Otto, North Carolina 28736 828.349.4505 www.fireandlightglass.com

Hatch Camp and Art Farm

Bristles

Family Salon 91 E. Savannah Street Clayton, Georgia 30525 706.782.1679

January 2018

Fishing Adventures, Art Opportunities 1060 Joe Speed Road Clayton, Georgia 30525 706.782.3747 www.facebook.com/hatchcamp gmlaurel.com

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January 2018

Foxglove Cotillion

age Rhoad is Teaching Social Skills to the Social Media Generation

Page always laughs about how she used to paint her nails as a teenager to hide the grease under them from working on her car. And after all this time, she never lost her grounding, even as she gained a masters degree in public speaking from UNC Chapel Hill and taught ballroom dancing. That good nature and grounded approach has formed her unique approach to etiquette— one that emphasizes practical skills over snooty superiority. “Having good manners doesn’t make you better than anyone else, but it does make you better prepared,” Page assures parents. Her unique approach to teaching “Good Manners and Great Dance Steps” focuses on teaching the practical soft skills that can give you an advantage as you interview for jobs, scholarships, and colleges… or when you meet the parents for the first time! Before starting Foxglove Cotillion in Rabun county, Page taught manners and etiquette to more than a thousand students over seven years on her way to seven consecutive national awards as a Cotillion director in Atlanta. Her incredible rapport with middle school students (her kids refer to her as the children whisperer) has afforded her the opportunity to teach them how to navigate the social world outside of a smartphone. And she makes it fun. Students wear wigs and use props to simulate real world social situations and are taught formal dining etiquette and dances like the Foxtrot. This practice is priceless. It’s one thing to have head knowledge of good manners and formal etiquette. But a high school football team wouldn’t show up on Fridays without ever having practiced together—and if they did they would be embarrassed! These kids show up each week, practice what they’ve learned, interact as friends and classmates, and build an incredible foundation for the rest of their lives. Spring Classes begin soon, so poke around their beautiful website and Pre-Register your 5th-8th grade students online to join Page Rhoad and Foxglove Cotillion for 8 weeks of classes on Sundays from 2:00 - 3:30 at Rabun Manor in Dillard, GA. Visit www.foxglovecotillion.com for details on pricing and information on the Spring Class Schedule. 28

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Downtown Clayton

Let it Snow gmlaurel.com

January 2018

Blessings by Tracy McCoy

s I face a new year and go over my list of new beginnings and all I want to achieve this year, I struggle to make realistic resolutions. As I stare another birthday in the face, knowing I am half way to 104, I feel vulnerable. 50 didn’t bother me, 52 has shaken me up a bit. I am not sure how to deal with this woman I see staring back at me in the mornings. I ask, “Is there enough anti-wrinkle cream in the world to handle what I see coming?” I worry a lot about my mind, so does most everyone who knows me. I find myself unsure of names and confusing numbers. Is that age? Let’s hope so. I know that all that I am and all I’ll ever be is in God’s hands, cause I put it there. I surrendered my life to Him many years ago, but I do question if I really let go. I sometimes see white knuckle clenching on my end. I want to let go, but trust is an issue for me, a flaw of sorts. I know the One who hung the stars is in the captain’s seat of my ship, and how dare I think I can drive better or know more, but sometimes I find myself trying to sit in His lap and grab the wheel. Growing up has been a challenge for me. I don’t mean that I had a hard childhood. I mean I don’t want to and I’ve come to realize I am not terribly skilled at it. Once when I was about 10, I decided to run away from home. I was mad at my mom. For what I don’t remember, but I packed a small bag, told her I was leaving (surprisingly she didn’t try to stop me) and headed out our driveway. Once I reached the end, I wasn’t sure which direction to go and found myself second guessing if I really wanted to leave. Funny thing, my mom decided she needed to go to the IGA for a few things and found me sitting on the ground in the woods at the end of the drive. She stopped and asked if I wanted a ride and I did. We went to the store and neither said another word about me running away. I was glad to get back home. Sometimes (almost daily) I still feel like I want to run away. The most beautiful thing about this crazy life is everyday is a do-over and every new year is a chance to start over and make changes. 30

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Even now I can decide what I want to work on and how I am going to fix it, but this year I am going to go about it differently, because every year by February I throw it all out the window and remain right where I’ve been for over half a century. This year I am going to talk to my Creator. Who really knows me better? I am even thinking that maybe instead of trying to grow up I’ll just enjoy my playful side because He made me like that. I might even run away sometimes. I think that it might be a good idea for me to move to the back of the boat or even jump off of it and swim in unfamiliar waters every now and then. I would like to write a bucket list so by 104 I might have them all marked off. Oh, and just in case I live that long, I should probably take the dieting thing a bit more seriously (the struggle is real). What do I want to see happen in 2018? I want to laugh louder and more often. I want to read some of the books on my shelves (I have lots). I want to get to know more people. I want to make a bigger difference in the world. I want to breathe more outside air than inside. Unplug more. I want to know God more intimately and tell more people about the love of Christ. I want to sing out loud. I’d like to watch the birds, play with my dog, paint more pictures, and eat cleaner. I want to be a better me and enjoy every minute of every day. I think that I want to listen for God’s voice and I want to do everything He wants me to do... boldly. I want to stop on the side of the road to lay in a field and

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watch the clouds. I want to plant flowers and visit friends. I want this year to be the best year of my life. I am looking for blessings cause God said He would send more than all I could ask for or imagine. I have a child-like imagination and I have an even bigger God! God, let me be more sincere, more genuine. Please draw me close and show me Your glory. I long to know you more. Fill my heart with Jesus until that’s all my friends can see in me. I want them to know Him and allow Him to love on them like He has loved on me. I pray, God, that I will be more purposeful and more aware of all the beauty you have made for us to enjoy. Thank you for fresh air, brightly colored birds, fragrant flowers, and puffy clouds. You didn’t have to make everything so marvelous, but thank You! Please give me eyes that see past my wrinkles and flaws. Better yet, let me hide the mirrors and forget where I put them. Clear my mind of the meaningless clutter and fill it with your thoughts and desires. I ask for joy, God, and for peace. Please hold me close, yet push me in directions you want me to go. Thank you for all that you’ve done for me and all of the glorious plans you have in store for the next half of my life. Most of all, thank you God for Jesus and for eternity. I know that you have put these friends and readers in my path, let me show them just a glimpse of Your goodness and Your incredible love. You are THE best, let me give you my best! It’s gonna be a great year! Happy New Year, people!

January 2018

A place where new life springs forth out of despair, failure and death. A place where God brings physical, emotional and spiritual healing to you.

God of Another Chance There is a beautiful vision spoken of in the Bible to bring comfort and a chance to start all over again. It is found in Zechariah 3:18. Your Heavenly Father wants to retrieve you, make you clean, with clean garments and a fresh start, all with His magnificent blessings! “And he showed me Joshua, the high priest, standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke you, O Satan; even the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you. Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?” (Joshua is retrieved for God’s future purpose like you and me.) “Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spoke unto those who stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with a change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a clean turban upon his head, and clothe him with garments… And the angel of the Lord stood by, and the angel of the Lord protested unto Joshua saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, If you will walk in my ways, and if you will keep my charge, then you shall also judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you places to walk among those who stand by. Hear now, O Joshua, the high priest, thou and thou fellows who sit before you; for they are men wondered at for behold, I will bring forth my servant, The Branch. The Branch is the name for Christ, the Messiah, with whom God wants us to fellowship, but sin can separate us. All if us who are born again are priests before God. Like Joshua, our garments can easily become filthy by sin and iniquity, but your sins are not greater than God’s mercy. When a Christian sins, whether we are ministers of the gospel or not, we repent and confess our sins to the Lord. Then, the Bible tells us “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness”. I John 1:9 As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are to also forgive one another. That means to forgive everyone so that YOUR prayers may be answered. The devil doesn’t have any new material or tricks to use on us. He uses the same ones year after year. It goes like this: you have 32

“And I will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:34 made a mistake – maybe even a bad mistake, and have done something you should not have done. God calls this sin. You regret what you did and hopefully you have confessed that sin to the Lord, asking His forgiveness. However, our enemy, the devil, keeps bringing it up and will never allow you to forget what you did, so you feel guilty. This is not of God. When the Lord says you are forgiven when you confess your sins, it is done and finished. If we continue to carry that guilt trying to be righteous by self-effort, beating ourselves up, though we are forgiven, this is called being self-righteous and not receiving God’s gift of forgiveness. Now the enemy has you where he wants you, tangled up in more sin. God has told you that He gives you another chance! Believe Him and give another chance to someone else by reaching out to them in love. We are not talking about throwing money at someone’s problems, but about showing compassion, love and mercy. The Christian life is all about how I treat other people. You can go to church every time the doors open, follow the rules, do your assigned church work, but this is not it. Look at James 1:27. We need to minister to others outside the 4 walls of the church by helping hurting people. We need to come alongside others showing love and mercy. We are to be a welcome light in a dark place, and to be concerned about others. This is not the call to full time ministry, it is the call of God to EVERYONE who has been born again. The life of Jesus Christ on earth is our pattern for service to others. We are to learn how to lead someone to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation – This is a calling from God that goes out to every Christian. This is not just for the Pastor or the Priest, God has called His sheep to minister to the lost. Learn how to do this! “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit, and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” Acts 10:38. We have the same anointing RIVER GARDEN P.O. Box 112 Lakemont, GA 30552 706.782.5435 • 706.490.3063

January 2018

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Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

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January 2018

Have You Forgotten the Most Important Thing in 2018?

Zack Ford - Associate Pastor Grace Bible Church

ear. Worry. Anxiety. These are things that each of us experience and struggle with on a regular basis. Due to our fallen nature as sinners, each of us are tempted to turn our attention away from God’s good and sovereign care of us and focus on our ourselves and our situation. This is exactly what the people of God were doing in Isaiah 51:12-13. We see God’s people in these verses being “afraid of man” and “fearing continually all the day.” Why were they afraid? In a human sense, they had a pretty good reason. They were facing “the wrath of their oppressors” who were set out to destroy them. But spiritually, why were their hearts afraid? There is a key reason given in verse 13 — They had forgotten the Lord, their Maker. As I was reading and pondering these verses, I was reminded how true this is in our lives, even today. At its core, when we are worried, afraid, and anxious, it is because we have turned 34

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our hearts and minds away from God and have, in effect, “forgotten Him.” But who exactly is this God that we need to be careful not to forget? If we are going to remember Him and not forget him, we must be careful that we come to His Word (the Bible) and get an accurate picture of who He is. So I want you to think with me for a minute about just one of God’s attributes that we see in His Word, and how our fear, worry, and anxiety would begin to fade if we kept God front and center in our mind. One of the pictures of God that we see in the Bible is that He is unchanging. In the Bible, we are told that God is unchanging in His being, His perfections, His purposes, and His promises. We see the Psalmist compare creation and the Creator in Psalm 102:25-27, declaring at the end of that passage that God is the same, and His years have no end. God Himself speaks in Malachi 3:6 and declares, “I the Lord do not change.” Regarding His purposes and promises, we see in Psalm 33:11 that “the counsel of the LORD stands forever.” And in Isaiah 46:9-11, we hear God declare at the end of those verses: “I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.” Take a moment and think about what an amazing truth this is that God cannot change in His being and perfections! That means that all we read about in Scripture — that He is good, that He is loving, that He is just, that He is sovereign, that He is righteous, that He is holy — He will not and cannot change these things! God cannot get better, and He certainly will not

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get worse. What an amazing truth this is for us, that the God of the universe whom we are trusting and turning to is the ultimate, perfect God who will not change, no matter what changes happen in our life. Now take another moment and think about what an amazing truth this is that God cannot change in regard to His purposes and promises! One of the greatest promises that we have in Scripture is that, though we are dead in sin and deserve God’s righteous, holy wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3), He made a way of salvation through the perfect atonement of Jesus as our substitute (1 John 4:10). And if we will repent of our sins and turn to Jesus alone for salvation, we will have eternal life with Him (John 3:16; Acts 2:37-38, 3:19). What an amazing promise this is. And guess what — We don’t have to worry or wonder if God is going to keep this promise! He is unchanging! He has promised it, and it will come to pass! This is just one attribute of the One, true God of the universe that we see in the Bible. But imagine how transforming it would be for each of us if, as we begin this new year in 2018, we would not be like the Israelites who “forgot the Lord their maker,” but instead would be people who would constantly turn our hearts and minds to Him. Imagine if we gave our time and attention to studying about who He is in His Word. If we did this in order to remember the Lord our God, we would see our fears, worries, and anxieties begin to lessen because our hope would be in our Sovereign God and not in ourself and our situation. That is my prayer for you in this new year — Remember the Lord, your Maker.

January 2018

Shine Up your Dancing Shœs Sweetheart, It’s Time For the Ball! Both FAITH’s shelter and the Power House for Kids are funded through grants, fundraising efforts, and donations, but more help is needed. A thrift store was opened in 1995 in Dillard, Georgia and was later moved to Main Street in Clayton. It operates by selling donated clothing, home goods, and furniture, with all proceeds going to FAITH. In 1998, FAITH organized what would end up being their largest fundraiser, The Sweetheart Ball. The complete history of this organization is documented in detail on their website where you’ll find information on all of the services they provide.

Sweetheart Ball for FAITH February 10, 2018 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM Rabun County Civic Center Live Auction by Golden Memories Auction Catering by The Dillard House Music by The Bushmen

or twenty consecutive years, suits and tuxedos have been donned to escort ladies in satin and heels, to dine and dance the night away at the Sweetheart Ball. What sounds like a Valentine’s event is actually the primary fundraising event for FAITH (Fight Abuse in The Home), an organization known for offering victims of domestic abuse a hand up and way out. Men, women, and children who suffer at the hand of someone who is supposed to love and care for them have been given the support they need to change their lives. In 1993 it was determined that a domestic violence shelter was needed in Rabun County. Sadly, violence in the home has been a problem longer than any of us care to think about. Through the years since need was identified, the organization, established as a 501(c) 3 corporation, has continued to offer services to those affected by domestic violence and abuse.

So what can you do to help? Well, you can polish your dancing shoes and buy your tickets to The Sweetheart Ball for starters, then, you can take a look at the Wish List on their website (faith-inc.org) and see where and how you can help there. You can also apply to be a FAITH volunteer. All volunteers are vetted and must be approved, which is another way that they ensure the privacy and security of the victims. When you see the light in the eyes of someone who has been so badly hurt and mistreated, and through the efforts of FAITH and its staff and volunteers they have a new start, your heart will melt. You cannot imagine the good things that can and do happen to change lives through this organization. For more information we recommend you visit faith-inc.org or call FAITH office: 706.782.1003 or Power House - CAC: 706.886.2290. Donations may be sent to FAITH PO Box 1964, Clayton, GA 30525-0050.

FAITH has a shelter where victims can live while starting over; they provide counseling services, personal and legal advocacy, job and parenting training, resources for food and clothing, transportation, referrals within the community, and support groups. This is the tip of the iceberg, the good work that FAITH does. Only those who are helped fully understand. It is only through autonomy that victims can feel safe and free to share. The Power House for Kids provides free and confidential services to alleged victims of abuse. Children often witness the criminal activity in the home. They are all too often the victims themselves, of not only physical and mental abuse, but sexual as well. The Power House is equipped to handle, in a professional, caring and confidential way, each case that comes through their door. Located in an adjacent county, the Power House offers services to children and teens in Rabun, Habersham, and Stephens counties. All services are free to the children and his/her caregiver. 36

January 2018

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January 2018

Making Sure Every Child Has A Happy Childhood

PCAH’s Top Chef and Wine Tasting Competition Set For January 29 by E. Lane Gresham

nce upon a time, a few friends wondered if they could change the story of a community. Twenty-five years ago, a dream to make a positive impact for the most vulnerable sparked a local movement in a different, more positive direction for child abuse prevention and awareness efforts. Chapter by chapter, the story of this commitment to establish healthy families unfolded. Because of the dedication of its founders and a supportive community, Prevent Child Abuse Habersham became the key to writing a different life story for countless children and adults. “The generational cycle of family violence and child abuse can be altered through partnership, parenting classes, improved social connections, intervention, and emotional support,” said PCAH Executive Director Jennifer Stein. The momentum of this organization has indeed transformed a community. And it’s been because of the support of many change agents working behind the scenes to realize those early visions for the nonprofit. To celebrate the work of Prevent Child Abuse Habersham and to ensure the organization continues its vital mission of making happily ever after a possibility for the children of Northeast Georgia, the community is invited to a special fundraiser. Proceeds will make a life-saving, lifealtering difference for those threatened by abuse or to heal those whose past prevents them from leading a peaceful, successful life. The fourth annual “Northeast Georgia’s Top Chef & Wine Tasting Competition,” is set for Monday, January 29. This culinary-themed gala promises to once again delight attendees with gourmet food tastings, wine pairing, and micro-brewery samplings set among the extraordinary beauty of Yonah Mountain Vineyards. Tickets to “Northeast Georgia’s Top Chef & Wine Tasting Competition”, which 38

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begins at 6 p.m. and runs until 8:30 p.m., are $60 per person. As many as a dozen combined restaurants and wineries will participate. This evening of mingling and meeting, sampling area cuisine and wine selections in business casual attire, offers a variety of ways you can contribute to the organization, including the new 50/50 reverse raffle. With the 50/50 reverse raffle, each ticket is $100. Fifty percent of the winnings stays with PCAH and fifty percent goes to the person with the winning ticket after several elimination rounds. Tickets drawn during the elimination drawings will be ineligible for the final drawing, but ticket holders will have a chance to win great door prizes donated by local businesses and individuals. At 8 p.m., a number of awards and recognitions will cap off the evening, such as Top Chef, Top Wines, Top Décor, and Business Advocate of the Year. PCAH exists for the victims of child abuse and for those adults who might, without intervention, become abusers. Its headquarters, the Family Resource Center in downtown Clarkesville, is a hub where families have access to the tools they need to build positive parenting practices and heal from past conflict through supervised visitation and therapeutic counseling. The organization seeks to lead programs that decrease child abuse and neglect and literally change a parenting belief system to one where a caregiver understands how their actions directly affect their children’s physical and emotional health. “We invite the community to join us for this special evening, because every child deserves a chance to experience a happily ever after,” Stein added. Yonah Mountain Vineyards is located at 1717 Highway 255 Cleveland, Georgia. Tickets can be purchased online via www. pcahabersham.org. Sponsor opportunities are still available. Restaurants and wineries not already committed, who are interested in making a positive difference in child abuse prevention, should contact Jennifer Stein at 706.778.3100. For more information on the work of PCAH, visit www. pcahabersham.org.

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January 2018

Adventure Out Smithgall Woods State Park by Peter McIntosh

January 2018

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t’s a brand new year and a good time to start getting into hiking shape for the spring. With that in mind, we’re heading to a natural area with lots of nice level hiking trails and a few trails with some hills thrown in for good measure. I’m referring to Smithgall Woods State Park, located just a few miles northwest of Helen. Smithgall Woods started out as a state conservation area so many of the directional signs, pointing the way to the park, still read that way. But by any name this 5,663 acres of stunning mountain woodlands is a treasure. The primary feature of the park being beautiful Dukes Creek, which courses swiftly over rocks and shoals through the middle of the property. Smithgall Woods is a conservation park which means that only staff vehicles, hikers, and bicyclists are allowed on the road system. All that means is a little more walking, or bicycling as the case may be. There’s a lot to see and do there, but on this trip we’re focusing on a pair of loop trails, the Wetlands Loop Trail and the Martin’s Mine Trail. Both of these footpaths are interpretive trials, which means there are number markers along the way that correspond with numbers on a free pamphlet you can get at the visitor’s center. These informative brochures describe the various flora and fauna found near the trail. The Wetlands Loop Trail is located 1.2 miles down a paved road from the visitors center. There’s one moderate hill ascent gmlaurel.com

right at the beginning, but after that it’s level ground, so this an easy walk. (No need for boots here, comfy walking shoes are fine.) The Wetlands Loop is just over 1/2 mile in length, and is almost level, except for one small hill. There’s a little side trail about half way around that leads out to the edge of a beaver pond. Near the end of the loop is an observation platform that extends out into the water. In the spring, this would be a great spot for birding. Great Blue Herons, Wood Ducks, Grey Catbirds, Belted Kingfishers and Barred Owls are just some of the feathered folks that visit this area.

January 2018

The Martin’s Mine Trail is a little less than a mile further down the road, 2.1 miles from the visitor’s center. This loop is 9/10 of a mile in length. On this section of the road you’ll cross over Dukes Creek via a way cool covered bridge. This park is in White County, not Madison County, so Meryl and Clint were nowhere to be seen. And to get to this loop trail you’ll cross back over Duke’s Creek, this time on a footbridge that offers splendid views both up and down the rushing stream. After crossing the bridge and following the trail to the left, the pathway begins to ascend through a gulch that was part of the mining operation over 170 years ago. I won’t go into the history of this mine, it’s all in the pamphlet. Just over the high point on the trail is a small platform that allows you to look down into a vertical shaft. Kinda creepy! After descending, the path crosses a small stream and intersects with a side trail marked “Hydraulic Mining and Waterfall” It’s worth the short climb to see the remnants of mining done here and a very pretty little cascade. (All waterfalls are cool. That’s a rule.) Now back from the waterfall, the trail leads through a stand of healthy Hemlock Trees. This is very rare due to the infestation of the Hemlock Woolley Adelgid. These trees are healthy because they were treated in various way to protect them, and each tree has a tag as to the year it was treated. Kudos to the park workers and volunteers that did this difficult but very good work! A little farther and there you are, back at the beginning. There are plenty of picnic tables throughout the park, so bring snack to enjoy and celebrate your adventure. Happy hiking!

It’s now 2018, so let my poem begeen: A good way to keep your New Year’s Resolutional, Is to get out and go on a forest constitutional. Around wetlands and o’er bridges over water cool and clear, Visit Smithgall Woods to start your new year. There’s a lot more to see and do at Smithgall Woods and for more information, visit their website at : www.gastateparks. org/SmithgallWoods Or call: 706.878.3087 We have many great State Parks here in north Georgia so it just makes sense to purchase an annual pass. It’s convenient and the money goes to support to the parks. Getting there: From Burton Dam Road and GA 197, go south 3 miles to GA 356. Go 11 miles on GA 356 to intersection with GA 17-75 at Robertstown. Turn right and go north about 3/10 of a mile on 17-75 and turn left over Chattahoochee onto Alt 75. Go a little over 2 miles to just past the intersection with Richard Russell Scenic Highway (GA 348) on right. Smithgall Woods State Park is on the left.

To see more Peter’s photos or if you have a question or comment, visit: www.mcintoshmountains.com

January 2018

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Franklin, North Carolina

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January 2018

Mountain Nature The Cardinal’s Song by Jean Hyatt

uring last month’s 1-to-2-inches-predictedand-8-to-12-inches-accumulated snowstorm, I looked out across my black and white yard and saw one brilliant burst of color - a vibrant red cardinal. He was so bright he looked just one shade away from orange. A few days later, I heard a cardinal sing and marveled that a bird was singing so late in the year. Granted, it was in the mid-60s that day, so he must have thought it was spring. I wondered how cardinals and other birds even made those calls or sang their songs. Why couldn’t people make those noises? If you have ever asked someone to tell you what the bird they heard sounded like, you know that no one can

imitate a bird. I have heard some whistle a portion of the simpler sounds, though. Yet some birds like parrots or myna birds can imitate people to a degree that we can understand the sounds as words. So I googled it. Turns out that people and birds make vocal noises in much the same way, by forcing air from the lungs past the voice box via the windpipe, or trachea. In humans the voice box is the larynx, and in birds it is called a syrinx. A person’s larynx is located in the throat at the top of the windpipe, and as air is forced from the lungs through the windpipe, the voice originates in the larynx and out the mouth. And here’s where

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it gets interesting. A bird’s syrinx is located at the base of the windpipe where it forks into the lungs. This location enables the songbird to force a dual stream of air through its voice box before it enters the windpipe, and the voice can emerge from the beak in two different notes sung together, or the note can be switched back and forth between the two sides of the syrinx. Air sacs around the syrinx are thought to be the source of even more modulation, and can cause the sound to amplify or resonate. This is demonstrated in the little wren’s song. He is such a tiny bird, but has a very loud voice. Most bird calls (warning calls, squawks, and communication) are instinctive. Songs, on the other hand (territorial songs or courting songs) are learned. Birds in the nest listen to songs of the parents to learn them. They practice. I remember one spring several years ago, we had a baby robin who woke us up every morning very early with his song. He sounded hoarse at first and unsure of himself, but he improved every day until we could no longer tell if it was him or another robin. In one-tenth of a second, the cardinal can sing more notes than are on a piano keyboard. A wood thrush can sing rising notes and falling notes simultaneously, as heard in that final little trill at the end of his song. Mockingbirds can sound like almost any other bird and also the ring of your cell phone. And parrots can say words that sound like humans. Just a week or so before Christmas, I was looking out across the yard again, and counted eight male cardinals in the forsythia bush near the feeder. As I watched, ground movement caught my eye and I counted another ten or eleven female cardinals eating seed that had fallen from the feeder. I’m already looking forward to hearing the cardinals sing in the spring.

Jean and her husband Richard own and operate Mountain Nature in downtown Clayton. They can be reached at 706 782-0838.

** Don’t forget to turn off your outside lights at night. Use motion detector lighting, shields, and IDA-approved lighting so you don’t impose your light on those who want to see the stars. I believe God made night dark for a reason. Please help keep it that way. **

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January 2018

The Wander norTh GeorGia STory Past, Present and Future by Josh Brown

Once we moved into the small office, both families began talking about Wander and the possibilities of what it could be. At this time, Wander North Georgia was still nothing more than a blog and an Instagram page. However, whatever “it” was, people seemed to be into it, and so over coffee at White Birch Provisions one morning, we decided to make it official and try to chase the rabbit down the hole to see what was there. A few days later, we simultaneously did two things.

lex Brown and I, Josh Brown, moved to North Georgia in December of 2015 into a quiet 900 square foot cabin with no heating and air. We got some chickens, made an attempt at a garden, and started a blog, writing about all the restaurants, shops, waterfalls and trails we were discovering, along with our reflections on moving to the mountains. After visiting the area for 15 years and seeing it through the eyes of a visitor, we hoped our blog would help visitors see what it was like to be a “local” and give them a deeper appreciation for the people and places that called North Georgia home. In April of 2016, we met Jake and Courtney Scott at kid’s story time at the local library. The Scott’s also moved to the area with their 3 kids in July of 2015 from Ohio, so that they could be in the middle of the outdoors in the place that they had visited for years. After our chance meeting at the library, we decided to eat lunch at UJ downtown after story time. By the end of lunch, both families had learned that we were each looking for affordable office space for ourr day jobs. Alex and I did graphic design, photography and built websites, while Jake did distribution and marketing in the cycling world, and Courtney managed the books for other small businesses. Jake mentioned that he knew of a small cinder block building with no heating and air (notice a theme?) that was about 200 square feet and dirt cheap. So, by the time story time and lunch were over, we had decided to rent the little office space for our day jobs. In less than a few hours, the foundation for Wander and a new friendship had been set with people who had been strangers earlier in the day. 46

First, we hosted our first “meet-up” for hiking and camping at Raven Cliff Falls. We expected a half dozen people to show up, but almost 50 people ended up hanging out for the weekend. And secondly, we created an online store, printed 10 stickers and posted them on Instagram. We thought we would end up having to give them away to friends, but the stickers sold out in a couple of hours. We were blown away, so over the next few days, we got about a dozen shirts made and reprinted the stickers. Within the next few days we were down to almost nothing again. We began hosting events at our office on the lawn out front. It started with a few friends bringing a chair and having a beer while the kids ran out in the grass. Then we started throwing movies on the brick wall with a projector. We had birthday parties on the lawn, smashed piñatas on Fridays, and started grilling out after our hiking “meet-ups”. We called it “Party on the Porch” and created a Social Club. Wander North Georgia was never a brand we were trying to “make big”, but just an extension of our lifestyle wandering around the mountains. We wanted to hang out with our friends, give our kids something to do, and create a couple of shirts that we wouldn’t be embarrassed to wear ourselves. We never really had plans to start a “brand” and for a variety of reasons. We were all already going 100 miles an hour with our day jobs. Our kids were a huge part of our lives, and if we weren’t working, we were at their baseball games or recitals. And we didn’t want to be another outdoor brand that just pushed product from an office or a cubicle. We wanted whatever we did to be relational. We wanted it to be meaningful.

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So, we got a wild idea. What if we could create something that spread the wandering spirit around? What if we could do the outdoor retail thing without it being detached from our lifestyle? What if we could leverage our platform to shine a light on the people and places that mattered up here in the mountains? So we decided on a rather simple vision. Brag on people. Stimulate community. Create jobs. And put more back into our particular place than we take out. So we did it, rolled the proverbial dice, and decided to rent a space in downtown Clayton. We moved the office space for our day jobs to the back of the shop to help offset rent. We worked all the shifts ourselves, and when we weren’t helping customers, we were working “from home”, just at our new “work”. We bought a huge chunk of astro turf and created an indoor bocce ball court, bought some corn hole boards and called it a lounge. We showed outdoor movies on a projector, and when our kids were working with us at the shop, way too many Pixar movies.

something sustainable and meaningful. Not just for us, but for our entire community. So yeah. That’s our history. Past, present and future. And we hope you stick around and continue to follow our wanderings, wherever they may lead us around North Georgia. For now, please continue to visit us at our shop in Clayton. We’ll be here until the day we walk across the street in early 2018, and we’d be happy as hell to shake your hand now and then.

Wander North Georgia is located at 90 North Main Street in Downtown Clayton, Georgia. Their new location will be 33 North Main Street, just across and a short walk from their current location. You can follow them on facebook (@wandernga), instagram and visit their website www.wandernorthgeorgia. com. We will feature Wander North Georgia in our magazine in a column by the same name.

We tried to treat every customer like an old friend. We smiled and meant it. We bragged on our neighboring businesses and restaurants. We sent people into the woods looking for a good fishing spot, or a kid friendly hike, or the darkest place to view stars. We hosted sleepovers in the back during snow days and sled down empty city streets at midnight. We printed free maps, hand-drew hundreds more, told stories, and thanked people endlessly for their support that was making our world spin. That leads us to today. We’ve been tinkering around with Wander for almost 2 years now. We have evolved, adapted, and grown. We have made some new friends and welcomed folks from all over the country into our little emerging tribe of wanderers. And now . . . We need more space. We have bigger ideas about how we can leverage our little corner of the universe to be a relational and cultural hub for the thousands of visitors who come to North Georgia. We need more room to carry our friends’ art. And their pottery. And their honey. We want to carry a larger assortment of hiking and camping goods alongside the same great selection of shirts, hats, and gifts we have now. We want to have a place where people can let their kids run out without worrying about breaking something. We want to have a place where you can have ice cream on a hot day and unwind after dinner downtown. We want a place where we can plant our flag in the ground and put roots down for the long haul. We want to create gmlaurel.com

January 2018

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SERVICE Pros gmlaurel.com

January 2018

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SERVICE Pros

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January 2018

Notes from A Southern Kitchen PRIDE… It’s a Wildcat Thing by Kendall R. Rumsey NotesFromASouthernKitchen.com

n the summer of 1964 my mom and dad packed up our family station wagon and headed out on an adventure that would shape our way of life for generations to come.

With my brothers Tom (age 10), Sam (age 6), and me (3 months), we left the pecan fields of south Georgia and headed for the state’s northern most point, Rabun County. For my parents it was a return “home.” They had both grown up just thirty miles away in Stephens County and this move would bring us all closer to family. My dad had been hired as a Coach of the Rabun County Wildcat Football team and my mom would teach English at the High School. From the moment we landed in Rabun County, we became Wildcats. Both of my brothers played football and wore their red and white with pride. We loved all things Rabun, and learned a respect and pride for what this community and the legacy of Rabun County represents. Over the years, as we grew older, that feeling of pride stayed with us all. Our family is no different than others born and raised or settled in the county. Rabun County Wildcat pride is a thing: it inhabits our being and attaches to our DNA. While things have changed over the decades, one constant remains the same: PRIDE. We are proud to be Wildcats, we are proud of the legacy that is created in this tiny mountain town, we are proud of who we are and the values we hold dear. This year, that pride has taken on a new level of excitement that has not been seen in generations. It began last winter when our Lady Cats Basketball team went on an

epic run towards the State Championship. The Lady Cats, under the guidance of Coach DeeDee Dillard, dominated other teams in our region and then moved onto the play-offs and finally played at Georgia Tech for the State Championship. As the calendar turned towards summer, the 2017 Rabun County Wildcat Football team began to capture the attention of our community. At the helm, hometown boy Coach Lee Shaw, led our boys into battle week after week and climbed up the polls to be a state powerhouse. Wildcat fever enveloped us and as the play-offs approached we were on a historic run, winning the sweet 16, elite 8, final four and then finally a birth in the State Championship game. These Wildcat teams took us to places we had never been before, not only through their athletic skills, but their belief in themselves,

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their dedication to team, and the knowledge that they could compete against anyone, anywhere, and at any time. While neither team captured the final reward, what they have given our community far exceeds any championship. These Wildcats made us all believe again, their hard work proved to us all that when we believe in ourselves and our community there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome. They epitomize our pride! These Rabun County Wildcats took up the mantles of LuAnne Craft, Pat McKay, Libby Jones, Ted Law, Gail Crowe, Janice Wayne, Ken Byrd, and all the others who went before. They held high on their shoulders Jan Rogers, Randy Moore, Chris Mance, Bo James, Ed Singleton, Arvel Holmes, Doug Stockton, and Bill Hall. With their efforts they carried the hopes and dreams of generations before, they played for their legacy and they made us all stand a bit taller through their examples on and off the field.

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While we have not always had the best teams or most successful seasons, Rabun County Wildcats have always played with heart and they have lived up to the pride that is instilled in us all from childhood. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just our athletes that exemplify this pride. Every scholar, drama club member, cheerleader, band student, club participant, and teacher wear their Wildcat pride on their sleeve. We are proud of our community and we are proud that those who came before us forging a path of dignity, respect, hardwork, and unity that runs through our veins like blood. When our youth represent us in the field of battle, we never have to worry about them disrespecting the game,

January 2018

taunting their competitors or damaging the reputation of our community. These young people carry on the pride that has been instilled in them since their days playing along the sidelines as toddlers. Wildcat Pride and pride in Rabun County is always on display when our teams drape themselves in the Red and White. This year our teams showed what can be accomplished when small-town Appalachia believes in what can happen. We bleed Wildcat red, we inhale this mountain pride in every aspect of our lives, and moving forward these young men and women who have made our hearts swell will be the leaders who will carry our community forward. We are in great hands with young people like this moving to the forefront.

Thank you Wildcats, you will forever be remembered for the PRIDE you have shown and gave us all! Kendall Rumsey is a resident of Clayton, Ga. He is owner of imPRESSed, a custom imprint company and publishes the blog, Notes from a Southern Kitchen. www.impressedstyle.come www.notesfromasouthernkitchen.com

Congratulations Wildcats, you have given us memories that will last a lifetime. Your efforts on and off the field have been outstanding, and when the history of Rabun County is written you will all hold a special place because of your efforts. Rabun County Wildcat pride is infectious. It seeped into a young family with three boys who moved here in the early 60â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and will continue to pulse through the veins of those who are yet to come.

January 2018

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By the Way...

Cunningham Came Home! By Emory Jones

want to thank everyone who sent cards and sympathies about the recent disappearance of my pet pig, Cunningham. I was especially touched by the tender note from “Carl in Clayton” offering to host a roast in his honor. That roast won’t be necessary because, last week, Cunningham came home! Those of you with pet pigs know how bad they are to run off, and Cunningham is no exception. Looking back, we probably should have had him neutered as a piglet, but he’s at the age now where he feels he has a say in the matter, and he’s bad against it, to say the least. While your condolences were appreciated, I’m pleased that they were unnecessary. Judy and I were sound asleep when we heard scratching noises at the back door. It was Judy’s turn to check scratching noises, and when she did, there was good ole Cunningham, gruntin’ and grinnin’ like a long-lost pig. Judy wasn’t as tickled to see him as I was but, overall, we had quite a reunion.

zoo right now, I’m gonna give you a ticket!” Cunningham had such a good time at the zoo that I took him to a Braves game that night. We were coming out of the Chop House when Cunningham caught a fly ball in his mouth. He got so excited when they flashed his picture up on the big screen, he swallowed it. I would probably have done the same thing. Anyway, we both panicked. I dropped my BBQ plate, but Cunningham ran onto the field and around the bases squealing. If you’re a Braves fan, you’ll remember that being Turner Field’s only “inside the pork” home run. I understand that everybody doesn’t appreciate my fondness for Cunningham, but pigs have a special place in my heart. They’re the only animal that can convert vegetables into bacon, they are loyal, they won’t chase cars, and they don’t squeal on you when you come home late. Besides, I’m not the first person to keep a pig as a pet. Many historians now believe people had pet pigs as far back as the saus-age. You can google that if you don’t believe me.

Ole Cunningham had lost a couple hundred pounds, but otherwise looked fine. Still, to make sure, I took him to the hog hospital in Homer to see his pigiatrician. They found some scratches on his hams, but assured me they would cure nicely. As it turns out, Cunningham met a lady pig down at the hog auction. He’d been courting her by day and camping out under the loading docks at night. It was technically trespassing, but as I explained to Judy, you can’t bring up charges against a pig. The real reason I missed Cunningham so much is that he’s more than just a pet pig to me; he’s my exercise partner. As many of you know, I’m an avid fan and participant in the sport of pig wrestling. It’s good, clean fun, but you have to be in shape to fight a pig. As I have let myself fall behind the curve on the pickleball craze, wrestling Cunningham is about the only exercise I get. Several of you have asked how Cunningham and I met. My wife tells people we were pen pals, but that’s not so. The truth is, one day I was driving around I-285 in Atlanta and saw a pig hitchhiking. Naturally, I picked him up, but was quickly pulled over by a Cobb County deputy. “What are you doing with that pig?” he asked. “Giving him a ride,” I said. “He was hitchhiking.” Eyeing my White County license plate, the sheriff’s deputy said, “We have laws in Atlanta. If you don’t take that pig to the gmlaurel.com

January 2018

Lovin’ the Journey Ooshie and youns by Mark Holloway

ccasionally I get asked how it is that I get to write monthly for this amazing magazine. The answer is simple. The owner and publisher asked me if I would. Years ago, Tracy and I became Facebook friends and she’d noticed my status updates. She asked if I was a writer. I gladly blurted out that I’d graduated from the University of Florida’s School of Journalism. Carol and I bump into a lot of folks. Some have moved here. Some are local and use words like ooshie and youns...one syllable and it rhymes with buns. I’d never noticed the word youns until my Search and Rescue Assistant Chief Ricky McCrackin said it in a meeting. I instantly knew what it meant. I’d just never heard the word before. I’ve decided youns is mountain for y’all.

create new art, new moments, new memories. At times I feel a desperate burden not to squander time. Soon I’ll be 58. That seems young to my friends in their 80s and wrinkly-ancient to those further back on the trail. I’m not sure why I get so philosophical and pensive this time of year. What is it about fresh ink on a calendar’s page? Why does the changing of a single digit, 2017 to 2018, give me such pause? The best way to avoid regret for challenges not met, goals not reached, new friends not encountered, trails not explored is to get out and play in traffic. Flow where the action is. Sedentary is death. Complacency is my prison sentence. Mediocrity must remain my nemesis. 2018 offers me a fresh start at opportunity. My greatest personal defeat would be to waste 12 months on the sidelines, missing out on my share of abundant life. Does anyone owe me a living? Happiness? Joy? No.

Actually, my SAR family teach me a lot of things.

Entitlement is also death.

Recently we rescued three German kayakers on the Chattooga River. It was dark, no moon, and temperatures were heading towards 27 degrees. The unfortunate Deutsch lads dumped their boats, lost all their belongings to the rapids, got soaked and then lost. Our command Lieutenant Matt Wood made a brilliant tactical decision at 1am saving the whitewater tourists from hypothermia and possible death. There were a bunch of us trying to reverse the paddlers bad choices.

God’s grace visits my heart and pushes me out the door to drink up, soak up, and lift up those who may be stuck.

Tate Nichols, Isaac Williams, and Jess Watts were the rescuers who finally located the lost and cold souls. These young bucks teach me a lot. It’s January. It’s 2018. A new year has just unfolded for all of us. This year is still unscripted. We’re all given a glorious pen and brush to 56

January 2018

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Well Nourished is ALL about You!

My guess is we’ll rescue more adrenaline junkies and adventurers in 2018. I’ll meet some really amazing people who I might even feature here in this space. Just before Carol and I drove off in our honeymoon Datsun B 210, my Uncle Ronnie reached in my driver side window and gave me his gas credit card and said, “Use it as long as you need it.” His kindness was an open-ended blessing. Uncle Ronnie reminds me of Jesus. Jesus gives me an openended 2018. I cannot squander my calendar pages. I can’t get the old calendar back. I also can’t rule out getting caught saying, “Ooshie, it’s cold outside. Youns come inside and sit by the fire.” See you on the trail. Mark and his wife Carol are the owners of Fresh Start. A company dedicated to stewarding the property and homes of their clients. They aspire to be the hands, legs and feet while you are away and your resource for anything you need whether you are a full or part time resident of the area. Both care for the properties entrusted to them as if they owned them themselves. Mark can be reached by calling 706.490.7060.

ell Nourished is the brain child of Samantha Thacker. She knows that her clients have goals and they have needs. They have busy lives with family, friends, and work obligations, and Well Nourished gets it! That is why Samantha comes to you with personal training and nutrition coaching that is tailored to meet your individual needs and accommodate your hectic schedule. “After all,” she says, “the path to wellness begins at home.” Whether you want to lose weight, get in the best shape of your life, are dealing with an injury, or recovering from surgery, Well Nourished is there for you. Samantha will listen to you, inspire you to overcome plateaus, educate you with safe and effective exercise techniques, challenge you to push to your maximum potential, and hold you accountable for your nutrition and fitness goals. All while providing you with an experience that is exciting and fun. You will be introduced to exciting workouts designed to strengthen and condition with the use of free weights, calisthenics, and cardio. The Well Nourished accountability program will track your activity and nutrition efforts, ensuring you are well informed and on target to achieve your goals. The goal at Well Nourished is to see that you get there! Samantha can be reached by calling 706.982.4625. All services are by appointment only, Monday - Friday: 5:00 am - 7:00 pm.

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January 2018

Live Healthy and Be Well! “Resolutions for 2018 be the best you possible” by Stephen Jarrard, MD, FACS

he first of a new year marks a new beginning and a chance to start fresh. It is a perfect time to do things to improve your state of health and wellness – such as eating better, smart weight loss, stop smoking, more daily activity, or all the above! Much of our behavior is guided by habits we have developed over time. Although some of our bad habits may be persistent, they can be changed if we really try. By changing to more healthy versus unhealthy habits, we will all be able to live healthy and well, and research shows longer, too. If you have grown accustomed to a non-active lifestyle, you may need to make yourself get involved to get out and do more. Once you get used to this, it will become more natural. A healthy lifestyle is not just all about activity, though: attitudes, diet, social times, family life, sleep, safety, and spirituality all play their roles, as well. Let’s briefly examine 7 ways to promote healthy habits in this New Year: 1. Manage stress in your life. The amount of tension in your day can affect temperament and blood pressure, age you faster, and decrease the effectiveness of your immune system. Learn to channel tension into healthy, active pursuits, and thereby reduce stress. And while you’re at it, carrying an old grudge is a lot of work: learn to forgive and move on if someone has wronged you.

4. Adopt healthy food choices whenever possible. Aim for a diet high in colorful fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, and include some meats other than red meat. These choices will not only be good for your heart and help you lose weight (in proper portions), but also lower the risk of developing diabetes, strengthen your immune system, and improve your skin, hair, and attitude!

2. If you are heavier than you want, lose some weight in a healthy manner. This will benefit you in many ways. Starvationtype diets, diet pills, and the latest TV and internet gimmicks are NOT the way to do this. Daily exercise, portion control at mealtime, and proper hydration can help. Eating “seconds” and junk food snacks can be a habit, even if you’re not really hungry. Use of salt can also become a habit. Taste your food first, then add if needed. Remember, there is no such thing as a successful diet, only healthy, successful lifestyles!

5. Make good sleep a priority. A good night’s sleep is very good medicine. It not only promotes health, but helps you have a more positive outlook, be friendlier, think more sharply, and be more efficient in your work. If you are getting exercise and being active (see above), you should be able to sleep well at night. Avoid reliance on “sleeping pill” type medicines, as these can become habit forming and actually interfere with your ability to sleep over time.

3. Exercise regularly and often. Instead of sitting on the couch watching TV on a nice afternoon, go play golf, walk, run, do some steps at Tallulah Gorge, or even better, “go take a hike!” Right here in Rabun County are so many beautiful places to visit. Try walking a trail or visit a waterfall soon. You’ll be glad you did and better off.

6. Spend good quality time with friends and family. Many studies have shown that people who are more social live longer and have a better quality of life. Try to make friends that have healthy habits and a positive outlook, as it has also been shown that your friends as a “peer group” often have great influence on your own lifestyle choices. So, better to be involved with a group that likes to be active and do something fun outside!

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7. Use safety gear and practice safe activities. This can range from always wearing your seat belts when driving or riding, to wearing a properly fitted helmet when on a motorcycle or bicycle. Wear eye protection when using power tools, and wear ear protection when around loud noises such as power tools, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, etc. Be careful using ladders this time of the year to clean out those gutters. Always practice safe behavior with knives, while chopping wood, using chainsaws and with firearms - assume every gun is loaded, or at least treat it that way. If you begin to change your habits to be in line with a cleaner, better, safer lifestyle, you will live healthy, well, and longer with more quality along the way! Encourage those around you to do the same, and you will all feel better, look better, be stronger, think better, get more done, need less medicine, and stay younger longer! Resolve to make 2018 your best year ever, and work towards that goal. 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 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. Until next month, live healthy and be well!

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January 2018

Now Open Clayton Health & Fitness

layton Health & Fitness opened their doors in late December 2017. This all new, unique fitness club offers the finest, state-of-theart cardio equipment, turfed areas for small group training with functional movement circuit training for stretching and unique work-outs, a spacious group exercise studio, a free weights area including squat racks, benches and a variety of dumbbells, and cutting edge pin-loaded strength training equipment. The club boasts a blended smoothie bar with an impressive selection of nutritious options for everyone. Their locker rooms with saunas, floor to ceiling tiled showers and changing areas are well-appointed. Clayton Health & Fitness knows the value of a supervised KidZone with child-friendly entertainment areas. The clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s specialty LED lighting and Wi-fi access can be found throughout the 20,000 square foot facility. 55â&#x20AC;? Television screens are displayed throughout the entire club. The extensive schedule of classes include Yoga, Pilates, and Zumba, just to name a few. Aware that nutrition is key to successful weight loss, the club offers the very effective 20/30 Fast Track Weight Loss & Wellness Studio. This program offers results that are improving lives. You are invited to stop by February 1 for their Grand Opening Party! Clayton Health & Fitness is located at 69 Seed Tick Road, in the newly renovated Badcock building next to Pritchett Tire. For more information visit www. ClaytonHealthAndFitness.com, call 706.212.0001, or find them on Facebook or Instagram.

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January 2018

STUDIO

Boutique Fitness in Two Convenient Locations

tudio e is not your ordinary fitness center. It is a personal training experience. With a focus on core conditioning through calisthenics, cardio, flexibility, and strength training, owner and founder Elisa Hopkins says, “Studio e offers a unique approach to fitness.” The decision to hire a personal trainer is an empowering one. Putting a dedicated fitness expert in your corner can net you invaluable expertise and support for devising a smart workout strategy, overcoming emotional and physical roadblocks, and getting the real results you’re after. Many people are figuring out that it’s well worth the investment. A well-skilled trainer will work with you to define your goals and plan your strategy. She/he will work with you one-onone in a private setting. Your trainer will introduce you to new exercises each week to advance you towards your goals. They will become a mentor and friend who is dedicated to seeing you succeed. That is priceless and not found in every setting, but it is what they do here at Studio e. Studio e has two locations they are located at 117 History St., Tiger, GA or at 8452 Old Highway 441 in Lakemont, Georgia.

Both locations offer classes and personal training. The trainers can also come to you if that is more convenient. Studio e team members are trained to work with those who need rehabilitation or who are recovering from surgery. Cognitive therapy is beneficial to seniors facing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Balance is often a challenge for their elder clients, and they find it helped greatly through personal training. Elisa Hopkins developed a formula for a well-balanced protein-rich shake that she is proud to have the Studio e name on. The shakes are available at either location, or locally at Ingles Market in Clayton. As a meal replacement, these shakes offer excellent nutrition. Diet and food choices are also part of the offerings at Studio e. For a complete list of classes offered and a calendar for the studio, as well as more about the instructors and information about joining Studio e, visit their website at www.studioetiger. com or find them on Facebook. Give them a call at 706.982.5090. This is the time to make those changes you’ve been thinking about. It’s a new year and time for a new you! Studio e says, “Sweat with the best!”

January 2018

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Real People, Real Weight Loss – TOPS®

he TOPS® mission is to support our members as they take - and keep - off pounds sensibly.

The TOPS® philosophy is that the desire comes from within the individual and the most effective way to sustain change is to provide a supportive environment. TOPS® provides a caring, friendly environment for members. Founded more than 65 years ago, TOPS® is the only nonprofit non-commercial weight-loss organization of its kind. TOPS® promotes successful weight management with a ‘Real People, Real Weight Loss® Philosophy’ that combines support from others at weekly chapter meetings, healthy eating, regular exercise, and wellness information. TOPS® advocates two healthy eating plans - My Plate and the Food Exchange System – and provides members with a wealth of information prepared by experts in the areas of nutrition, fitness and motivation. It is easy and risk-free to find out more about TOPS®. Detailed information is available online at www.tops.org or by calling 800.932.8677. If you are interested, you are welcome to attend a free meeting before joining. The yearly membership cost for TOPS® is $32.00. For information about a chapter near you or starting a chapter in Georgia please contact Aleta Isaacs at 706.769.9571.

EVERYDAY

is an opportunity to have a fresh start.

This year Georgia is celebrating 60 years with TOPS®.

January 2018

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