Georgia Mountain Laurel October 19

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A Note From Tracy

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t seems every year I speak of pumpkin spice, fall leaves and Autumn, as I write to you this month it is 90 degrees and I am not quite there yet, although I did just buy Meyer’s Acorn Spice handsoap at Reeves’ Hardware Co. It might ignite that fall spirit and get me craving spiced cider and pumpkin something... I do love Autumn it is one of my favorite seasons! I’ll soon be dragging out sweatshirts and wearing socks and saying Ooshie!

Last month we had so many compliments on our magazine I couldn’t count them. I think that our look back at Rabun County History was well received... so it continues. I have been spending time with some of Rabun’s greatest historians at the Rabun County Civic Center and have treasured every moment! In fact we will meet every other Thursday around 11:30 for around the table reminising and we invite you to join us anytime you’d like.

On our cover is the photography of Peter McIntosh, a beautiful image of Martin’s Creek. Peter has accomplished many accoladesin his career and we thought that deserved mentioning!

Don’t forget about the upcoming Veterans’ Dinner hosted by the Rabun County Chamber of Commerce and we must mention that Julep Farms officially opens this month. We’d like to welcome them to the mountains and we will be exploring their 22 acre modern farm resort and sharing with you! Until then... Welcome Autumn!

October 2019 • Volume Sixteen • Issue Ten Publisher/Editor - Tracy McCoy Assistant Editor - D’Anna Coleman Art Director - Dianne VanderHorst Graphic Designer - Lucas McCoy Office Manager/ Account Executive - Cindi Freeman Account Executive - Melynda Hensley Photographer/Writer - Peter McIntosh Contributing Writers: Dr. Stephen Arbitter, DVM, Joel Hitt, Mark Holloway, Susan Brewer, Jeff Norman, Steve Glichowski, Shannon Alley Steve Jarrard, MD, Carla Jacobs, Rebecka Peterson John Shivers, Emory Jones, Lorie Thompson, Irene Bynum Faith

Georgia Mountain Laurel Mailing: PO Box 2218, Clayton, Georgia 30525 Office: 2511 Highway 441, Mountain City, Georgia 30562 706-782-1600 • www.gmlaurel.com Copyright 2019 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 Outdoors 12 16 18 20

Adventure Out Peter McIntosh Always Gets The Picture Hitt the Outdoors Paws 4 Life

Arts & Entertainment 22 24 26 28 29 32

North Georgia Arts Guild Franklin Picture Framing Sky Lake Galleries Young Artist Spotlight - Adeline Miller Phoenix Jewelers Blue Ridge Toys

Affairs to Remember 34 38

Mountain Happenings Event Calendar Twin Rivers Challenge Bluegrass in Long Creek

Mountain Homes

40, 46 Poss Featured Properties 50, 54 Harry Norman Realtors Featured Properties

Faith in Christ 56 58 60

R4G - Rabun For the Gospel - Zack Ford Grandma’s Prayer Journal River Garden

A Taste 62 66 68 69

Bon Appetit The Family Table R.M. Rose Co. - Quality Whiskey Food Bank of Northeast Georgia

Health & Wellness 70 74

Live Healthy & Be Well The Gift of Life

Life & Leisure 80 82 84 86 88 91 92

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Of These Mountains Downtown Clayton 1950 By the Way Rabun County Historical Society History of Education Turpin’s Jewelry The Veterans’ Dinner Rabun Co, Chamber of Commerce

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Adventure Out - Autumn Leaf Overlooks

by Peter McIntosh

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eaf season is neigh upon us and with that in mind we’re gong to visit three easy to get to overlooks with some hiking opportunities if you want to get some exercise. Our fist overlook is Popcorn Overlook on Hwy 76 W. You may have seen it a zillion times but I want you to check it out in the early morning light, the overlook faces east so it’s a great spot to catch a sunrise. It’s pretty late in the day as well.

Now we back on Hwy 76, heading west towards Hiawassee. Our next stop is Bell Mountain Park on Shake Rag Road, just this side of Hiawassee. There’s now a stunning observation platform offering a 360 degree view of the surrounding mountains. From the top of the mountan, off to the southwest, you can see Georgia’s highest mountain, Brasstown Bald, the third and final stop on our overlook adventure. You can also see Trey Mountain to the southeast and Hightower Bald to the Northeast. But the view overlooking the lake is the real payoff. But do keep in mind this place is probably crazy popular on weekends so I highly recommend visiting this spot during the week. This would be a great spot to stay and watch a sunset and the lights of Hiawassee slowly emerge in the twilight. Be prepared, bring a headlamp or two, some snacks but leave the adult beverages at home since alcohol is not permitted in the park.

Now we head back down the mountain to Hwy 76. We backtrack a little, heading east for 1.3 miles on Hwy 76 to the intersection with state highway 75. We go south on 75 for 6.2 miles to the intersection with state road 180 on the right. There will be signs directing you to Brasstown Bald. Follow Hwy 180 a little over 5 miles to Brasstown Bald Parkway also called 180 Spur. From the parking area, it’s a 1/2 mile steep trail to the observation tower, but they also have a shuttle if you’d rather ride. That is a picnic area at the south end of the parking lot and view to the west for here is spectacular. Coming back down to Hwy 180, you can return towards Clayton or go west to the road’s end at the Richard Russell Scenic Highway. If you turn left here you’ll go up over Hogpen Gap and then down towards Helen and Robertstown. Happy Leaf Peeping!

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ADVENTURE OUT continued...

And now here’s a rhyme for leaf looking time: When the cool autumn winds blow gently through the trees, Let’s get on the road to see colors sure to please.

To mountain overlooks that before you will render, Ridgeline upon ridgeline of autumnal splendor.

Getting there: Popcorn Overlook is about 12 miles west of Clayton on the right.

Bell Mountain is accessed via Shake Rag Road which is off of Hwy 76 W just east of Hiawassee. It’s 25 miles from Hwy 441 in Clayton. If you’re coming from Helen or thereabouts, Shake Rag Road is 1.3 miles east of the intersection of GA Hwy 75 and Hwy 76. There is a convenience store at the intersection called the Lake View Store and a power substation, just across the road. Shake Rag Road is a single track paved road leading all the way to the top, 3 miles from Hwy 76. Stay on the paved road as there is a sign, about 2.5 miles in, where Shake Rag Road bears off to the left. Stay on main paved road. This is a very steep road so make sure you have good brakes. It’s steep coming down as well!

Brasstown Bald: We backtrack a little, heading east for 1.3 miles on Hwy 76 to the intersection with state highway 75. We go south on 75 for 6.2 miles to the intersection with state road 180 on the right. There will be signs directing you to Brasstown Bald.

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

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Peter McIntosh: He Always Gets the Picture

By John Shivers

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eter McIntosh never met a breathtaking sunset that he wasn’t mesmerized by. Or a sunrise, hinting at the day to come, that he couldn’t capture. Ditto for waterfalls, majestic mountain ranges, and hiking trails through these mountains. This could be one reason why his extensive portfolio of photographs has garnered so much of the popular vote: It’s difficult to separate the soul of the photographer from his work. That Peter could be called a “photographer’s photographer” is an indication of how much of himself Peter invests in his art.

Around Rabun County, where Peter first planted his roots about twenty years, this personable capturer of images is known simply as “one of the locals”. But to others, especially those in the “outside” world, his reputation as a master photographer has preceded him to the accompaniment of rousing accolades from collectors as close as Atlanta, Palm Beach and New York and as far away as Qatar and Great Britain.

He’s been recognized in the United States Congress and has delivered his photography in places of honor in the Georgia Governor’s Mansion, invited by Governor Nathan Deal three different times. His photo made the cover of the “Forest Watch” Book, and several of his photos were used in the movie “A Walk in the Woods,” where they helped to tell the story of British hiker Bill Bryson’s 1968 trek on the Appalachian Trail.

Closer to home, Peter’s work hangs at Fortify Kitchen and Bar in downtown Clayton, Fortify owner Jack Nolan had this to say, “We teamed up with Peter last year as one of our featured local artists which raises money for RCHS scholarships. The overwhelming response to Peter’s work

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hanging on our walls was so great, we decided to make his work a permanent installation at Fortify! We are lucky to have him!” Peter writes a hiking column entitled “Adventure Out” in the Georgia Mountain Laurel magazine and illustrates with his own photos. To date, he’s written more than 150 columns, and there’s nothing that pleases him more than for someone say they hiked a particular trail because he made it sound so enticing and achievable. Plus, in observance of the lucky thirteenth anniversary of that column this month, he’s the featured artist on this October 2019 cover, the latest of four covers.

Not too shabby for a guy who cut his photographic teeth in the U.S. Navy, and later completed a residency at the Hambidge Center, Rabun County’s oldest and most prestigious artist enclave. He’s worked at Turner Classic Movies, and his work has been published in Travel AJC, National Geographic Traveler, Wall Street Journal, Budget Travel Magazine, and AT Journeys. He’s also been featured in Southern Living, Points North and Oxford American, and is an avid supporter of conservation organizations such as the Chattooga Conservancy, Georgia ForestWatch and Chattahoochee Riverkeepers.

Laurel publisher Tracy McCoy and Peter first met at an artists’ event at Timpson Creek Gallery in 2006, and a comfortable working partnership was born to include Peter’s “Adventure Out,” as well as special photography projects for the publisher. Today, she counts Peter among her dearest friends.

“Peter has every right to feel good about his many accomplishments,” she said. “What is so amazing is that he doesn’t even realize how talented and highly esteemed he

truly is, in his mind he is just one of us. We’re honored to have so many of his fingerprints on the Laurel story.”

Recently, Peter’s been adventuring out to European soil, from where he’s tantalized his many fans with Facebook postings of the scenery from across the pond as only Peter can capture it. What’s next, Peter? We can’t wait! This month he is taking us on an Autumn Joy Ride to breathtaking overlooks as only he can do!

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Hitt The Outdoors Nature as Teacher and Healer

by Joel Hitt

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n the 80’s and 90’s when I had a psychotherapy practice in the Atlanta metro, I already had a firm grasp on the natural world as my avocation and my passion. I was active in the Audubon Society and made birding trips into whole vacations, while my passion for native plant gardening helped my wife and I get our home landscape up to snuff, botanically speaking.

Silver Spotted Skipper on a Buttonbush

Too, I was so aware of how the natural world calmed and relaxed me that I recommended my clients have some form of nature awareness built into their lives as well as their family’s, even if it was just a weekly walk around Stone Mountain.

Regarding my own awareness, I really enjoyed looking for as many kinds of relationships as I could locate in the natural world. The obvious ones came first. Springtime courtships among paired birds is trite but a good example. Then watching the care and feeding of newborn clutch would follow. (By the way, in case you are curious, I remove my binoculars at bedtime because it hurts to roll over on them, wakes me up, and I have trouble getting back to sleep! But I digress.)

Then retirement arrived, and I had even more time to study the natural world, and a pretty good setting to do it in known as Rabun County and the whole Blue Ridge! I have continued to use natural settings both as a source of learning but also as a place of healing and recovery.

And I still am learning how to observe relationships between animals and plants. I mean, it’s not rocket science, but it does require a little equipment…very little to be exact. I turned in those binoculars for a better pair, and a pen and paper or thumbing my cell phone help me recall activity, and that’s about it.

Late Summer Sycamore Bark

“I have continued to use natural settings both as a source of learning but also as a place of healing and recovery.“

Just remember, if you’re like me you will have to remember that you’re not out there just to learn, though that’s a part of it. Being out there to participate actively in nature is the better way of describing it. You are not a detached observer about to write up a paper for a grade, but an engaged participant who is really an extension of nature. After all, our ancestors came from nature as our first home. Returning there is healing and renewing.

So, you see a butterfly hovering at a nectaring site on a native plant? Start watching! Think of how these two living things came together. Has the butterfly arrived from some other point of origin or did it emerge from a larval stage nearby? What is the life span of the butterfly? What should it accomplish before it dies?

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Nature is a give-and-take enterprise, so you might ask what service does the butterfly perform for the plant? (One answer you already understand is crosspollination, taking seeds from one plant and depositing them on another plant.)

Does this species of butterfly nectar solely on this one species of flower, or others as well (usually just one)? Does the native plant providing the nectar have other ecosystem services it performs, or is this one its sole contribution? (Usually there are other services.) Whether anyone is present to shed light on your questions is not the point. The important thing is that you are curious and will search for the answers later if no one can address it now! (Hello, World Wide Web!) Notice any other features you can identify about the event.

When you pull away you are aware of feeling more informed, or at least knowing the right questions. Just keep in mind that you have witnessed an occurrence that goes on every day at this season, yet one seldom noticed by your average Jane or Joe out there.

I have chosen this example of a moment in nature randomly.

You can experience the same effect in a hundred other ways, such as a walk along a trail. I encourage your going out with your children as well. They will find lots of things you might overlook (and raise questions you might not know answers to!). That’s only good, of course. It encourages a dialogue later at home, and a return to nature later!

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Vaccinations & Your Pet

by Stephen Mark Arbitter DVM Rabun Animal Hospital

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s summer fades to fall in Rabun County, many of us think of football, foliage and lots of folks coming to visit our mountains.

In addition, for me as a Veterinarian and volunteer for Rabun Paws 4 life, I always have in mind the ever eventful vaccination clinic at the Rabun Arena. If you have never been to one of these spectacles as a pet owner or one of the many volunteers, it is to turn a phrase the Wild Wild West.

Likewise, for our dogs and cats, Rabun county is the Wild Wild West for many infectious diseases routinely seen in our local Veterinary hospitals. Herein, is the reason so many people volunteer their time twice a year to make sure protection is available and affordable for all. Rabies vaccine for dogs and cats is mandated by the state of Georgia.

For boarding and grooming facilities the Georgia department of Agriculture inspects vaccination records to make sure our furry friends are in compliance.

So for both health and legal reasons, here is the rationale to make a big production to have vaccine clinics and to vaccinate our dogs and cats.

5 reasons to vaccinate your pet

1. Vaccinations prevent many pet illnesses that are endemic, or ever present in our county.

2. Vaccinations can help avoid costly treatments for diseases that can be prevented. Truly an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

3. Vaccinations prevent diseases that can be passed between animals and also from animals to people. I have always stated that while I love animals, I love their people more. Healthy pets are a must.

4. Diseases prevalent in wildlife, such as rabies, leptospirosis, influenza and distemper, can infect unvaccinated pets. We certainly have those species including raccoons, coyotes, skunks, bats and foxes.

5. In our GEORGIA specifically state ordinances require certain vaccinations of household pets.

Some Answers to Common Questions

Q. Do vaccinations ensure protection?

A. For most pets, vaccination is effective in preventing future disease and only rarely will a vaccinated pet have insufficient immunity to fight off the disease. It is important to follow the vaccination schedule provided by your veterinarian to reduce the possibility of a gap in protection.

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Q. Are there risks to vaccinating my pet?

A. Any type of medical treatment has associated risks, but the risk should be weighed against the benefits of protecting your pet, your family and your community from potentially fatal diseases. The majority of pets respond well to vaccines.

The most common adverse responses to vaccination are mild and short-term. Serious reactions are rare. An uncommon but serious adverse reaction that can occur in cats is tumor growth (sarcomas), which can develop weeks, months, or even years after a vaccination.

Improvements in vaccination technology and technique have greatly reduced the occurrence of sarcomas.

Q. Why do puppies and kittens require a series of vaccinations?

A. Very young animals are highly susceptible to infectious disease because their immune system is not yet fully mature. They receive protection through antibodies in their mother’s milk, but the protection is not long-lasting and there may be gaps in protection as the milk antibodies decrease and their immune system is still maturing.

In many instances, the first dose of a vaccine serves to prime the animal’s immune system against the virus or bacteria while subsequent doses help further stimulate the immune system to produce the important antibodies needed to protect an animal from diseases.

Q. Do we have to finish the series A. An incomplete series of vaccinations may lead to incomplete protection, making puppies and kittens vulnerable to infection.

To provide optimal protection against disease in the first few months of life, a series of vaccinations are scheduled, usually 3-4 weeks apart. For most puppies and kittens, the final vaccination in the series is administered at about 4 months of age; however, a veterinarian may alter the schedule based on an individual animal’s risk factors.

Q. Which vaccinations should my pet receive?

A. “Core” vaccines are recommended for most pets in a particular area or geographical location because they protect from diseases most common in that area. “Non-core” vaccinations are for individual pets with unique needs. Your veterinarian will consider your pet’s risk of exposure to a variety of preventable diseases in order to customize a vaccination program for optimal protection throughout your pet’s life.

Talk with your veterinarian about your pet’s lifestyle, including any expected travel to other geographical locations and/or contact with other animals, since these factors impact your pet’s risk of exposure to certain diseases.

All these are the reasons why we will have cats stretching from the Rabun Arena to 441. Many friends will be catching up in a tailgate atmosphere. And my Vaccination team will again keep “score” for a clinic winner. Getting urinated on is worth 1 point. Getting pooped on is worth 2 points. And getting a little nip is worth 5 points. Like golf, low score wins. Come have fun and catch up with friends, and mostly, let’s rid Rabun county of preventable infectious diseases.

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North Georgia Arts Guild

The Art of Mixed-Metal Jewelry

by Sue Markulics

by Susan Brewer

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ntroduction: Artist and jeweler Sue Markulics has earned an unusual nickname, “gypsesu.” Sue is a gypsy, a unique spirit, a traveler off beaten paths, one who craves freedom from traditional experience. Her travels began with husband, Jim, after he suffered a disabling back injury. They left their home state of Pennsylvania years ago and rambled down roads and highways in an RV across country. Prior to leaving, everything had been sold—home was the “past.” Almost two years later they rooted themselves in southeast Arizona close to Tombstone near the Mexican border. About an hour away was Tucson and the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation. Sue had arrived at the place and space she was meant to be. It just felt right.

Arizona is the land of forests, sky, deserts, of high dry air . . . and of ancient geologic memory that includes sheer cliff dwellings, Indian mounds and ruins.

Prehistoric petroglyphs appear chiseled there on rocks in the shape of humans, animals and lined drawings based on geometry. The state also is home to the Grand Canyon, a time machine in weathered stone with brilliant striations of color.

Now look at Sue’s jewelry: much seems reminiscent of the geologic and human history of this area and its peoples – of old ways – the imagery, the symbols, the lines, and material. They recollect forces shaping an earlier time by bringing evidence of those forces to the present. Colors are earthen, vibrant, living, rich. The materials, the workmanship, and the crafting ring out a basic tune her admirers turn to in relief from strains of modernity, the “worldly” voices and images that dominate the environment today.

Sue “travels” each time she creates jewelry. There is a beginning that transitions into a move, a thought, a memory, then to another, and to the next, and finally, to an end. She dives deeply in these journeys. The gypsy within her is traversing a landscape that is within herself. Experience is transformed through this process into the creations she shares with others.

Description of work: She works with copper, brass and nickel, leather, stones and polymer clay. She enjoys texturizing the surfaces of metals using a pricklypear cactus which grows all over Arizona. When the plant dies, it leaves a hard boney skeleton. She takes pieces of it and cuts them into slivers. These are sandwiched over metal that is run through a rolling mill to imprint the pattern onto the surface. She makes bracelets of leather ornamented in metal. She has several series of designs: hearts; single, rippled edged leaves; and landscapes under starry nights. She also wire wraps layers of metal together to make earrings and necklaces.

“You can buy texturized metals,” she told me. Her statement leaves unsaid that doing so represents design opportunities wasted. She’s drawn to use sandpaper, lace, leaves, even window screen – and the prickly pear cactus shavings – to treat her surfaces. These become for her words in a language the eyes are called to feel putting the fingertips to work.

Insight into Sue: Soft music plays in the background always. Her space is beautiful, partitioned into sections, ordered. Quiet. Calm. It’s multi-functional,

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stylish, warm, uplifting and organized around creating the things she loves. At work, she is deliberate, sure. She says, “I don’t have nice, nail polished hands—that’s not me. How I’m dressed might be important, but I have working hands.” Her voice is tender, warm, and soft—it contrasts her edgy style.

She describes what it’s like to be a ‘‘what if’’-er. What if I use this size tip on an acetylene torch instead of that one? Oh, that’s a neat effect. Is it more appealing? Where does that take her on her journey?

In addition, she likes following rules—and breaking them.

One good rule to know: metal on metal moves metal. Rawhide or plastic or rubber, on the other hand, won’t change the shape, but it will work-harden it. All tools have a place, and she has a lot of tools….

She tests conventions, pushing them. For instance, firescale is a burn mark on metal that shows up in red and black. Tradition says jewelers never leave firescale on a finished piece.

It shows poor workmanship. Sue has fashioned this, though, into another way to add variety to colors that appear on her surfaces.

Her art journey began only four years ago. After spending time with her, it is hard to believe—very difficult, in fact—that she hasn’t always been an artist. At first, she made jewelry for herself, then she began sharing it with others at church before she left Arizona. After moving to Mountain City two years ago she continued making jewelry and has branched out lately into paintings and pastels. Though those media are unfamiliar, her ability is evident. She has been surprised to find her works pleasing both to do and behold.

Purchasing: Sue’s jewelry is available to purchase at the Local Art Gallery + Frame Shop adjacent to the Rabun Flea Market in Rabun Gap on Highway 441. And finally, curious how to pronounce Sue’s last name? It’s mar-coo-licks, like a guitar player’s “cool ‘licks.’”

Susan Brewer has been writing articles featuring North Georgia Arts Guild members since April 2017. Email your comments/questions to her at sbrewer991@gmail.com.

Oil Painting Workshop for all levels Come join us for two days of Art & Inspiration “If you hear a voice within you say, ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” - Vincent Van Gogh

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f these words speak to you and wake up a desire to paint, then join us for a two-day oil painting workshop with internationally-acclaimed plein-air artist from Provence, France, Jill Steenhuis. Join Jill for a workshop where the creative process will be taught in such a way that painting becomes the expression of your soul in nature.

The workshop will begin with a talk entitled “Van Gogh Seen through the Artist’s Eyes”. The focus of the workshop will be on color: how to mix a harmonious palette in oil paint, then put it to use in the landscape or still life and/or interiors if weather does not permit. Experience the true creative pro-

cess of taking in nature through the senses to activate one’s unique inner poetry. Jill’s workshop is more about climbing to a higher level, stretching oneself to experience the link with nature in a deeper way than just copying nature superficially.

Sponsored by the North Georgia Arts Guild and Stonewall Creek Vineyards, the workshop will be held at Stonewall Creek Vineyards on October 25-26, 2019, 9am - 4pm, with an artist reception October 26 from 6pm-9pm. For information visit www.artinprovence.com or contact Stonewall Creek Vineyards at 706.212.0584, www.stonewallcreek.com

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CERTIFIED PICTURE FRAMER

by Jeff Norman - Franklin Picture Framing “Accept no substitutes – with its Certified Picture Framer on the premises, Franklin Picture Framing is the choice of artists and wise homeowners.” certification is important when items of value must be preserved and displayed properly. For example, I recently framed several artifacts that had gone to the moon and back on an Apollo mission, a project that required a framer with a CPF designation.

Secondly, when entering the showroom, we display about 500 framing samples which is about average for many shops. It is only when you step through another door that we anticipate the “WOW” moment where an additional 2500+ frames are waiting to greet you. As one customer said, “If they don’t have it, it doesn’t exist!” The same is true of our glass, mats and backing samples, as well.

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fter a moment’s glace around the showroom, Sarah said, “This is a REAL frame shop!” “Indeed, it is,” I replied. I am always delighted to see and hear those expressions of pleasant surprise about our little hidden gem of a shop. Off the beaten path, I knew that when co-owner Scott Watkins and I decided to open our doors as a home-based business, that we would need to exceed all expectations of those who sought us out. How do we exceed expectations?

First, I am the only Certified Picture Framer (CPF) in the area, a certification that represents over 20 years of experience and extensive testing and training of conservation and preservation techniques. Awarded by the international Professional Picture Framers Association (PPFA), this

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Thirdly, we are one of the few shops that own a Computerized Mat Cutter (CMC). This machine allows us to reach levels of creativity and precision that simply cannot be achieved any other way.

Our services also include frame and photo restoration, frame repairs, glass replacement, photo collage, large-format printing on paper or canvas (giclee), and canvas stretching.

Please visit our website, FranklinPictureFraming.com to read reviews, view our work, and find directions to the shop. We are located at 90 Prentiss View Dr, Franklin, NC. Open Monday – Friday, 10–5 and Saturday by appointment 828.524.9525.

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Sky Lake Galleries A Stunning Collaboration of Talent & Gifts

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ky Lake Galleries is located at the entrance to Sky Lake, a residential nature preserve in the beautiful Sautee-Nacoochee valley. This fine art gallery is owned by Charles and Nona Stephens. A retired attorney, Charles is a very gifted photographer and his wife, Nona, an accomplished oil painter. Both have work on display at Sky Lake Galleries in the company of some other exceptional artisans.

The creative work of Jane Hemmer, a forensic artist turned sculptor, will leave you in awe, Jane’s husband, Dr. John Hemmer, a retired Orthopedic Surgeon whose work on the lathe results in amazing wooden vessels. The same attention to detail that the Hemmers used in their work is demonstrated in their art.

Wes Jones was a Fiber Optic Engineer and he says he learned during his career that if he didn’t have a tool or method to achieve his vision, he simply created it. This ability has led him to create masterful pieces of hollow-form wooden art. Wes is also an instructor at John C. Campbell Folk School. He has truly made a name for himself in the world of wood-craft.

Now add to this impressive array of artists: quality antiques, handmade pottery and home accessories in a museum like setting and you have brushed the surface of Sky Lake Galleries.

You will find them located at 122 Sautee Trail in SauteeNacoochee, Georgia. Their website offers a deeper glance (skylakegalleries.com) but truly a visit is in order to fully appreciate this treasure in the mountains. Information can be gained by calling 706-878-7470.

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ADELINE MILLER Young Artist Spotlight

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rtistic talent in youth should be cultivated and all too often funds limit a child’s exposure to art within the public school setting.

Fortunately in our area children are encouraged and the arts are supported. This month we will take a look at an outstanding young lady and her accomplished teacher. Her family has certainly invested in her abilities and in the best possible way!

Fine Artist Libby Mathews is a landscape artist who continues to grow and expand. She is talented beyond measure and the only thing more beautiful than her work is her soul and her smile. Her current series explores women in nature.

Libby teaches one on one and recently we had the pleasure of meeting with one of her students, Adeline Miller. We met her in Libby’s studio at Timpson Creek Gallery near Lake Burton. Adeline wrote her own story about her art and her teacher.

In Her Own Words…

My name is Adeline Miller, and I am eleven years old. I am in the sixth grade here at Rabun County Elementary School. I love to paint and draw. I take art lessons from my art teacher, Ms. Libby Matthews at her studio. I have been taking lessons for almost two years now. Ms. Libby is an awesome teacher and one of my best friends!

Other than art, I enjoy band class, reading books, and writing my own stories. I really want to become a great artist and a great author someday. I dream to make a career out of the two things I love most. I plan to follow my dreams!

I am sharing some of the paintings I have made. My favorite painting is the elephant.

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hat started as a summer job has turned into an impressive career spanning 46 years. When Richard Neller got his first job at John Robert’s Class Rings in Texas. Richard’s plans included a welding degree and heading to Alaska for work. He found that he liked the work but still had no plans to stay. A year passed and he was promoted to diamond setter. He remembers the day that some men in suits were following the process of a ring through the factory. By the time the ring reached Richard he knew he was setting the diamond in Richard Nixon’s Presidential Seal Ring.

At 18 years old Richard demonstrated such talent that he could literally name his price.

The owners of Carl Mayer Jewelers paid his price and he left Austin to work in Wichita Falls. Over the coming years Richard made a series of career decisions that would allow him to learn from some of the country’s top jewelers. He has worked in some of the finest stores and created exceptional jewelry creations. Richard admits that his gift does not lie in design rather it is found in fabricating jewelry. The list of professional associations in his portfolio is more than impressive. Each experience building on the last. He moved from production to retail and back to production during his career. He has created, restored and repaired billions of dollars in fine jewelry. He has worked in Austin, Wichita Falls, Charleston, all around Atlanta, Athens, Gainesville and today he works for himself.

Richard has been married twice, fathered a set of twin boys and has had amazing life. He suffered a massive stroke a decade ago that left doctors convinced he would not recover much less return to the detail work required. He defied the odds and was back to 100%.

Richard was working in Gainesville when he remembered passing through Rabun County with his first wife on his way to a better job.

He remembers commenting to her, “wouldn’t it be nice to live in this beautiful place?”. He had a friend living in the mountains and he expressed to Richard that there was a need for a Master Jeweler.

He came to Clayton and checked around. He did some repair work, sizing and creating at a store on Main Street for a short time. Then

found a small location and tested the waters before finding a permanent location for his own fine jewelry store, Phoenix Jewelers. Savannah Place Shoppes offered the ideal setting for Richard to do his work while also offering options for local residents seeking quality jewelry. Phoenix Jewelers offers high end fine jewelry, estate pieces, unique silver pieces, and watches. Richard enjoys the custom work and recently created a ring from the photo the customer brought in.

From the wax casting that is computer generated to the rough casting to the selection of the stones, the finishing and polishing, stone setting and final detail checks. It is an incredible process and the finished product was an exact replica of the photo. A customer recently told me “Richard Neller can make anything you want, he is a genius when it comes to creating jewelry! If you can dream it he can materialize it and exceed your expectations.”

This year Richard hired GIA Certified Diamonologist Zach Crow, a Marine Veteran from Montana, who married Mariah Cousineau, a Rabun County native. Zach previously worked for Helzberg Diamonds where he earned his GIA certification. Zach has the eye for beautiful jewelry and is gifted in working with the customer on what they are looking for and he sets Richard’s wheels in motion.

These gentlemen work well together. On the retail side, they have some gorgeous jewelry, valuable estate pieces, Bora silver, and watches. Twinkles, a designer, sterling silver collection, with Swarovski crystals using technology that enables for center stone move ever so slightly creating shimmer and shine. Twinkles are on sale up to 50% just in time for Christmas shopping. Richard prides himself on the fact that he can accommodate nearly any budget and he offers a layaway program. From October 1 – November 30th you can stop in to Phoenix Jewelry at 91 East Savannah Street, in Suite 403 in Clayton, Georgia and register to win a $100 dollar gift certificate. No purchase is necessary, although if you find something you can’t live without you will get an additional entry. We are fortunate to have a jeweler with Richard’s level of expertise and years of experience right here at home. For information we invite you to call 706.782.0862 or follow Phoenix Jewelers on Facebook.

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Walking in the Shadows of Giants: The View From a Tiny Retail Store

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By Steve Glichowski

n a retail marketplace dominated by enormous companies like Amazon, Wal-Mart and Target, it can be extremely intimidating to open a small store. At Blue Ridge Toys, we realized it seemed unlikely that two people with no retail experience whatsoever could find success in a market, where even the venerable ToysR-Us was shutting its doors. As we reflect upon our 2 years in business, we realize that, with the right amount of effort, it’s entirely possible to be successful in the shadows of these giant companies if you know what makes you special.

At our toy store, we’ve recognized the value we can bring to our customers. We can never beat Amazon or WalMart on quantity of items, but we can certainly ensure that we carry a carefully curated collection of toys, books and games that we test personally. We spend countless hours scouring the globe for fun and unique items that are unheard of to most people. Amazon can be very convenient if you know what you want, but it can’t help you find something special that you don’t even know to look for. A picture on a screen and customer reviews do not give shoppers the chance to try out toys and games to make sure they are the right fit for their needs before buying. Moreover, the big stores don’t bother with independent artists and crafters that can be showcased in a tiny store like ours, where we can put our local talent in the spotlight.

All of these advantages make it possible for a small, independent store like Blue Ridge Toys to continue serving a community that has, time and again, shown its willingness and enthusiasm to support local business. We dedicate each space with careful selection of unique, yet interesting toys, that are not in main brand name stores to set up a competitive edge in this Amazon-loving world. As a small store, we take the time to build relationships with all of our customers to be sure they are being heard and give that person-to-person touch that online does not give you. We are proud to represent local artists like Mr. Les Barnet with his panjos, and we proudly carry his product to demonstrate the uniqueness of our culture and the beauty of this one of kind instrument of North Georgia. We display local works of art via stickers for people to discover Lizzy Falcon, another local artist. We carry Valerie Lindahl books, one of the illustrators of Dungeon and Dragons, to bring the awareness of our talent in town. Thanks to the support and the collaboration among artists, we have been able to bring programs, like the summer reading for the the Rabun County Library, cool prizes for kids to win. We look closely at the community needs to bring sensory and motor skill toys as we have partnered with Fundamental Therapy to be able to facilitate our community with those needs. As a small store owners, we always have customer’s interest in mind. We dedicate time on weekly basis to bring in the hottest trends and unique toys for everyone in North Georgia to enjoy!

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Mountain Happenings November 8th - 10th North Georgia Arts Tour Galleries in Habersham, Rabun, Towns, Union & White Counties, GA and Clay County, NC Info: artstour.org STEPHENS COUNTY October 4th - 6th Currahee Military Weekend Toccoa Info: 706.886.2132 October 12th Pioneer Day Traveler’s Rest State Historic Site Toccoa Info: 706.356.4362 October 26th - 27th Harvest Festival Downtown Toccoa Info: 706.898.5777 October 31st Costume Parade Downtown Toccoa Info: 706.898.5777 The Ritz Theater Toccoa Info: www.ritztheatretoccoa.com

October 31st Trick or Treat on the Square Downtown Clarkesville Info: 706.754.2220 WHITE COUNTY September 26th - October 27th 49th Annual Oktoberfest Helen Info: 706.878.1908 November 29th Annual Lighting of the Village Downtown Helen Info: 706.878.2181 November 30th - December 1st 12th Annual Christkindlmarkt Downtown Marketplatz Helen Info: 706.878.1908 Helen Arts & Heritage Center Helen Info: 706.878.3933, helenarts.org October 25th - 27th Art-Oberfest Arts & Crafts Festival

November 9th Farm Animal Fun Day November 29th - 30th A Victorian Christmas in Nacoochee RABUN COUNTY October 5th and each Saturday Bluegrass on the Square Tallulah Falls Opera House Tallulah Falls Info: 706.212.0241 October 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th Clayton Farmers’ Market October 26th - Fall Festival Food Bank of NE Georgia Clayton Info: 706.782.0780 October 5th Rabun County Gospel Singing Convention Tiger Baptist Church, Tiger Info: 706.490.1896 October 14th, November 11th Junior Chef After School Northeast Georgia FoodBank Clayton Info: 706.212.0241

November 29th - 30th Mistletoe Market

October 19th Bluegrass Music Festival Rabun Arena, Tiger Info: rabunarena.com

October 12th Southern Gospel Music The Chuck Wagon Gang

Unicoi State Park & Lodge Helen Info: 706.878.3985

Rabun County Civic Center Clayton Info: 706.782.5271

October 18th “The Wizard of Oz”

October 5th and each Saturday Evening through November 9th Music Concert Series

October 5th Mountaineer Festival Info: foxfire.org

November 13th - December 7th Festival of Trees Info: 706-878-2201

October 18th - 20th Georgia Bigfoot Conference

October 3rd Night at the Ritz - Joe Gransden

October 24th Night at the Ritz - The Headless Hessian of Sleepy Hollow: Live from WVL Radio Theatre November 9th Southern Gospel Music Debra Perry & Jayden’s Call November 14th Night at the Ritz - Truett-McConnell University Orchestra Ensemble October 16th Bennie Wheels & Walkin’ the Line HABERSHAM COUNTY September 19th -22nd, 26th - 29th October 4th - 6th “Sound of Music” Habersham Community Theatre Clarkesville Info: 706.839.1315 habershamtheater.org

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October 24th Sip & Stroll Downtown Clarkesville Info: 706.754.2220

SNCA Sautee Nacoochee Info: 706.878.3300 www.snca.org October 5th and the first Saturday of each month Blacksmithing Demonstration November 16th - 17th Lilies of the Valley Hardman Farm Historic Site Sautee Nacoochee Info: 706.878.1077

October 31st Trunk or Treat at the Pavilions November 7th Veterans’ Dinner November 24th Photos with Santa November 29th - 30th Holiday Shopping Expo & Festival of Trees Tallulah Gorge State Park Tallulah Falls Info: 706.754.7981

October 19th Fall Celebration

October 2nd, 4th, 9th, 11th October 18th, 26th, 27th Aesthetic Water Release

October 26th, November 9th Emory Jones Book Signing

October 13th, November 12th Full Moon Suspension Bridge Hike

October 31st Trunk or Treat for Halloween

November 9th Tommy James & The Shondells

November 2nd - 3rd, 9th - 10th, November 16th - 17th Whitewater Release

November 28th - 30th and each weekend through December Mountain Country Christmas

November 2nd, 10th, 16th Whitewater - Watching Hike TOWNS COUNTY October 5th Puttin’ on the Dog Towns County Rec Center Young Harris Info: 770.335.5996 October 18th - 19th Lake Chatuge Chainsaw Draw Hiawassee Park Retirement Center Hiawassee Info: 762.500.2021 November 29th - December 1st Holiday Arts & Crafts Show Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa Young Harris Info: 800.201.3205 Mountain Home Music Theatre Hiawassee Info: 706.896.3624 October 5th Special Show with the Outpost Opry Variety Show from Nashville October 12th, November 9th, 30th Mountain Home Music Band October 19th Dr. Michael Gottsman & the Varmits October 26th Roy Perren (Elvis) Live November 2nd John Cochran & the Cowboy Band November 16th Barry Evans with South Wind Band Crane Creek Vineyards Young Harris Info: 706.379.1236 October 4th and each Friday Friday Evening Tapas & Acoustic October 19th - Harvest Festival Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds Hiawassee Info: 706.896.4191 georgiamountainfairgrounds.com October 11th - 19th Georgia Mountain Fair October 12th - Jamey Johnson October 26th Appalachian Brew, Stew & Que Festival Atlanta Rhythm Section & Pure Prairie League

UNION COUNTY October 1st and each Tuesday and Saturday through October Union County Farmers’ Market Old Smokey Road, Blairsville Info: 706.439.6043 October 4th - 5th Fall Pumpkin & Paca Fest Lasso the Moon Alpaca Farm Blairsville Info: 706.835.1837 October 5th Cruise-In at the Farmers’ Market Old Smokey Road, Blairsville Info: 863.414.5276 October 5th Indian Summer Festival Suches Info: 706.747.2401 October 12th - 13th, 19th - 20th 50th Blairsville Sorghum Festival Meeks Park, Blairsville Info: 706.745.5789 blairsvillesorghumfestival.com October 19th and the third Saturday of the month Cruise-In On The Square Downtown Blairsville Info: 863.414.5276 October 26th - Fall Festival Vogal State Park Blairsville Info: 706.745.2628 October 26th Dancing with North GA Stars 2019 Union County Fine Arts Center Blairsville Info: 706.896.4966 October 31st Hometown Halloween on the Square Downtown Blairsville Info: 706.347.3503 November 23rd - 24th Mistletoe Market North Georgia Technical College Blairsville Info: 706.896.0932 Paradise Hills Resort and Spa Blairsville Info: 706.745.7483 October 5th and each Saturday Live Music October 26th Hallo-Wine Celebration November 29th - Sip and Shop

CLAY COUNTY, NC October 5th Steins and Wine Around the Square The Square, Hayesville Info: 828.389.3704

November 11th Veterans’ Day Parade & Ceremony Downtown Franklin Info: 828.524.2516

October 19th - 20th Punkin’ Chunkin’ Festival Hayesville Info: 828.389.3704

November 30th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony Kelsey-Hutchinson Park Highlands Info: 828.526.5841

John C. Campbell Folk School Brasstown Info: 828.837.2775

November 30th, December 7th Winter Wonderland Nights Downtown Franklin Info: 828.524.2516

October 5th - 6th 45th Annual Fall Festival October 5th, 25th November 9th, 23rd Contra & Square Dance October 11th - Blue Eyed Girl November 2nd Blacksmith and Fine Craft Auction November 3rd - 9 String Theory

Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts Franklin Info: 866.273.4615; 828.524.1598 GreatMountainMusic.com October 4th - Rhonda Vincent October 12th - Tim Hawkins October 13th Hometown Gospel Celebration

November 30th - Fireside Sale

October 19th Departure: The Journey Tribute Band

Peacock Performing Arts Center Hayesville Info: 828.389.2787 thepeacocknc.org

October 26th The National Dance Co. of Siberia

October 11th - 13th, 18th - 20th “Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime”

November 8th - 9th, 15th - 16th The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Musical November 22nd Petra Ballet Company: REBORN

November 3rd - The Return MACON COUNTY, NC October 5th, 12th Pickin’ on the Square Downtown, Franklin Info: 828.524.2516 October 19th 23rd Annual PumpkinFest Downtown Franklin Info: 828.524.2516 October 25th - 27th Leaf Lookers Gemboree Macon County Community Building Franklin Info: 828.524.3161 October 31st All Hallows Eve Downtown Halloween Fest Downtown Highlands Info: 828.526.5841 November 8th - 10th Highlands Food & Wine Festival Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, Highlands Info: 828.526.5841 highlandsfoodandwine.com

Cowee School - Arts & Heritage Ctr. Franklin Info: 828.349.1945 October 19th Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road October 19th, November 16th SEBA Jam Highlands Performing Arts Center Highlands Info: 828.526.9047 October 4th - GAOS: Tintoretto October 5th - “Kinky Boots” October 12th - MET: Turandot October 19th NTL: The Lehman Trilogy October 26th - MET: Manon November 1st - GAOS: Guaguin November 2nd - 42nd Street November 9th MET: Madama Butterfly November 23rd - MET: Akhnaten November 29th Maureen McGovern “Christmas Concert”

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Come Ride with Us

by E. Lane Gresham

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egister for Twin Rivers Challenge on active.com

A premier cycling event returns to Northeast Georgia this fall.

Hosted by Tallulah Falls School, the Twin Rivers Challenge is set for Oct. 26.

With the leaves at peak color on the final weekend of October, this is the perfect time to visit the region known for its scenery and hospitality.

TFS extends a warm invitation to cyclists across the southeast to experience the Twin Rivers Challenge. The event begins and ends on the campus of the school. All riders are treated to a post-ride meal and a T-shirt is guaranteed with registrations received through Oct. 15.

Because of the steadfast support of sponsors and an ever-increasing numbers of riders, this key fundraiser has generated more than $150,000, with proceeds benefiting student scholarships. With more than 70% of TFS students receiving some portion of financial aid, it is clear this special event makes a difference.

Sign up today to ride or share this link with cycling friends. www.active.com Come ride with us. Experience TFS hospitality. Help a motivated student.

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Bluegrass in Long Creek

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n October 12 the apple orchards of South Carolina will resound with the melody of bluegrass featuring West End String Band.

From 12pm - 5pm at the Community Park at 12351 Long Creek Hwy., Long Creek, South Carolina there will be music, art and craft vendors, an antique car and tractor show, a cake walk and baked goods for sale. Admission is free, but donations are welcome and will support the Long Creek Community Club who will also be selling Barbeque, hot dogs and hamburgers, and drinks. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy an afternoon of music, fun and friendship. For more information call 480.540.8021

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Call Retreat “ ”and Call Paradise Home W

by John Shivers

ebster’s Dictionary defines the word “retreat” as both a verb and a noun. It can mean to withdraw or pull back or it can refer to a location of peace and safety. In the case of the home at 231 W. Middle Creek in Otto, North Carolina, both definitions definitely apply.

Nestled up against the mountains, snuggled by the forests that both surround and protect, this 6,500± square foot home offers both the location and the opportunity for you to leave the rat race behind.

You’ll find solace on the 27± acres that surround this one-of-a-kind residence that you must to see to fully appreciate.

But it’s the best of both worlds, located just inside North Carolina.

This house that was lovingly designed by its owners, with many custom touches, is within easy driving of Clayton, Franklin and Highlands. Take advantage of all the shopping opportunities, select from abundant, taste-tempting dining opportunities, or just enjoy the sights. Then retreat to your retreat, and lose yourself in the almost 360 degree four season view that awaits.

To describe this home as spacious simply doesn’t do justice to the many creative ways that space has been allocated and utilized to deliver the ultimate in comfortable living.

The great room on the main level is indeed that: a great room in which to chill out, entertain, enjoy your favorite TV shows, or gather warmth from the massive stone fireplace on icy Macon County winter nights. The vaulted ceiling in this area, supported by authentic log beams, is a wood-lover’s dream. The adjacent country kitchen was designed for some serious cooking with a convection oven, dishwasher, double oven, indoor grill, restaurant-style range, and refrigerator. The walk-in pantry and island make serving a snap at the breakfast bar or the adjacent formal dining table.

An oversize master bedroom on the main level that opens to a year round hot tub is but one of five bedrooms in the home, and each room offers large walk-in closets. In addition, there are four

full baths and one half bath. Other rooms in this phenomenal residence include a den/study, living room, sun room, an exercise room and a loft. Several rooms feature coffered ceilings. A laundry room is conveniently placed near the kitchen. Outside, an enticing fountain fed swimming pool surrounded by covered porches beckons, and the four-car garage will house all your toys.

This house is a great place to call home, where the many oversize windows flood the house with natural light. You’ll never feel boxed in when you live here.

But how are you gonna keep yourself in the house, when you see spreading out before you one of the most memorable mountain vistas in these mountains? With plenty of room to ramble and roam, you’ll never lack for space and privacy. And when you’re tired of walking, wade into the 1,200 feet of Middle Creek trout stream that belongs to you, and catch supper. It doesn’t get much better.

In addition, there’s a fully-contained guest house that employs the design and creativity mimics the main house, a dog run, a gazebo, and in the yard, the unlikely statue of a pig surveying his kingdom with a most regal air. There’s a saying in the south about someone being happy as a pig in the sunshine. You can be as happy as that pig when you park your life in this one-of-a-kind home. Definitely no cookie cutter designs here!

Prepare to retreat to nature at MLS #8631646 by contacting Poss Realty agents Joanna Radford at 706-490-2724 / rabunrealtor.com, or Greg Peters at 706-490-2676 / gregpeters.possrealty.com. The Poss Realty office number is 706-782-2121.

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This Tract of Land is a Different Choice

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by John Shivers

ometimes, it’s just simpler to start from scratch. If you’ve searched for the perfect home in Georgia’s mountains and can’t find anything that dovetails with the dream home clearly fixed in your mind, it’s time to go to “Plan B.” Let’s face it: it’s a bummer to find the house that makes you feel warm and fuzzy, but the lot or the location leaves you feeling like you settled. That’s when you need to think about putting the cart before the horse, the land before the house.

That’s when you go in a different direction.

Meet “Plan B” that goes in the direction of a bright red gate off Hwy. 246 northeast of Dillard, Georgia. Swing open that gate

to discover 32+ acres of unspoiled beauty adjoining U.S. Forest Service lands, and you’ll never want to leave. What’s more, you’ll find too many reasons not to put your roots down in one of the more picturesque areas of Rabun County.

This tract is located between Dillard and Sky Valley, on the road to Highlands, N.C., only about 15 miles away. Ample opportunities for dining, shopping and recreation are only a few minutes away in several directions. Whether it’s the long range forest vistas that snag your attention, or the pristine white laurel blooms in the spring, or the many hues of red, gold and orange during the autumn months, you’re in for a feast for your eyes.

What’s more, the musical rushing creek that flows throughout the tract provide the background melody for an adventure that ranks right up there with a paradise lifestyle. But there’s more here than initially meets the eye. Surrounding the stream are wooded areas and rolling, open pasture land, posed against a backdrop of breathtaking mountain views. Unlike the typical building lot, where there are often constraints that dictate the style and layout of your home, this dream acreage offers several different home site possibilities. Take your pick.

Build your dream home here and spend each day and night in privacy, enjoying everything Mother Nature has to offer. This multi-versatile acreage offers a single home opportunity and the possibility of multiple homes for your children or parents. Craft you own family compound, or if your dream is for a retreat / conference facility, take another look at this listing. Priced at $450,000.00, this tract would also lend itself to subdivision into smaller parcels.

For a chance to swing open the red gate to see MLS #8579181 for yourself, contact Poss Realty Agent Marsha Ramey at 706212-2116, at the office at 706-782-2121 or at marsharamey@ windstream.net.

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This Home Takes the First Place Award

by John Shivers

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lue ribbon quality! That’s the only way to describe this exceptional home located at 1305 New Liberty Road, outside Clarkesville, Georgia. Whether you’re talking about the pristine natural beauty of the rolling lands, the private trout fishing, the spaciousness of the manor that crowns a knoll with views in every direction, or the lifestyle all these attributes create, this property would win a blue ribbon hands down.

At any time of day, as you approach the main house on the tree-lined curving drive that leads from the gates at the main road, first impressions are always over the top. From comfortable rockers on the wide and welcoming front veranda, to the privacy of the rear terrace level with walk-out patio, you can watch the sun make its first appearance of the day, or luxuriate in the waning glows of sunlight at the end of the day. After dark, the warm and welcoming light spilling from the home’s many windows, accented by stra-

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tegically placed landscape illumination, creates an oasis of brightness that you and your guests will find so welcoming.

Is a casual day indoors your idea of an enjoyable time? With four bedrooms, three of them master suite comfortable, spacious covered galleries and other private niches, your options are numerous. If the great outdoors is more your speed, this great property sits on 40 rolling acres with sweeping views of the river valley and manicured pasture land. Take your choice. Walk and enjoy, fish in your own stretch of private trout waters, ride the tractor, make a garden or work in the flower beds. Remember, this is a blue ribbon quality home for more reasons than you can count.

The highly-sought-after amenities of this graceful, stately columned mansion include oversize public and private rooms.

Four full baths and two half baths, four-sided natural light through generous size windows and doors, a neutral background palette accented with custom woodwork and trim reminiscent of aged honey, set the stage. A gourmet kitchen sure to inspire even the novice cook to plan a dinner party, the finished basement with additional living space, a floor plan that flows the guests and formal, grand dining space, make it so easy to entertain.

And that’s just inside!

Located on the grounds is an adjacent two-story carriage house that copies the antebellum architecture of the main house. It can accommodate up to six vehicles downstairs and two bedrooms and bath are upstairs in the fully-contained living quarters. Elsewhere is the barn that’s a cut above the ordinary, canopy buildings, John Deere farming equipment, and many other possibilities.

One of the factors that gives this property award-winning status is its two thousand feet of Soque Riverfront bordering one of the most exclusive Blue Ribbon Trout streams on the east coast. An operating fish hatchery that boasts of trout exceeding thirty inches in length just makes the angling better.

If fishing is one of your passions, there’s no better place to scratch that itch than in this one-of-a-kind home that proudly proclaims its intricate craftsmanship along with many more unexpected quality touches.

From the moment you enter the two-story foyer and glimpse the open staircase leading to the upper level, you also glimpse a clue to the life waiting on this enchanted piece of land.

This is the chance to acquire a blue ribbon quality home and more. Winner take all at the home on New Liberty Road.

Listing agent for this exceptional property, GAMLS#: 8502981, is Meghann Brackett, with Harry Norman, REALTORS® Luxury Lake and Mountain at (cell) 706-968-1870, (office) 706-212-0228, or at meghann.brackett@harrynorman.com.

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Service Pros

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You Go"a Check Out This Condo Home!

by John Shivers

W

hen searching for the perfect home, there’s always a check list. A location convenient to shopping, dining and medical care, distinctive architecture, a floor plan that fits your daily living needs today and tomorrow, freedom from ongoing maintenance. Perhaps you’re looking for the feel and atmosphere of a private home, but don’t want too much square footage.

That usually means you have to prioritize and jettison some of your wants. Unless you check out the townhouse, now on the market, at 199 Stornoway Drive.

Perhaps… just perhaps, this 1,868± square foot home originally built in 1982, will satisfy all those criteria.

Construction quality prevalent in that day, and the modern, comfortable living that 2019 buyers seek are hallmarks of this home.

Located less than five minutes outside Clayton, the Stornoway neighborhood was one of the first condo residences in Rabun County. With references to landmarks in Scotland that identify each building, and the fact that clusters of housing units are scattered among the natural setting, up and down the mountain, Stornoway is a neighborhood traditionally in great demand.

With three bedrooms and two baths, this unit delivers oversize rooms, generous closet and storage space, and two large bathrooms. With a master bedroom on the main level, just off the large, combination living-

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dining room, a jack-and-jill bath serves both the bedroom and visitors. Two large bedrooms upstairs with generous natural light give more sleeping options and additional storage space.

The staircase that rises out of the foyer features a chair lift that could come in handy down the road, if you don’t need it now. A neutral wall color palette sets the backdrop for the nine foot main level rooms, while the bedrooms have employed hues of blue and grey and white. Wallpaper is found in the master bathroom.

Elegant is the best word to describe this traditionallystyled condo home. In keeping with the architectural integrity are the beautiful crown moldings and other decorative trim. Hardwood and carpet cover much of the floor on both levels, while the kitchen and both baths have hard surface tile.

A large fireplace surround in keeping with the architectural style of the home is the focal point of the living room. Gas logs provide both warmth on chilly Rabun winter evenings and the pleasure of not having to chop firewood. The spacious bay window in this room further reinforces the cozy, comfortable feel of the room.

The large kitchen with double oven, built-in microwave/vent hood combo, surface unit, oversize refrigerator and sink, and a dishwasher in pristine white cabinets, make the room bright and attractive. Generous cabinets and counter top work space make meal prep a snap.

A sunroom on the back side of the unit, next to the kitchen, opens into the private back yard, where a storage building is tucked into the hillside. Use this room as a casual dining area, den or a home office.

A laundry area is nearby on the main level, and the washer and dryer go with the unit.

Outside, near the covered front entrance, is a freestanding carport just steps from the front door protected by a roof supported by rustic posts. The exterior of the building, clad in vinyl and aluminum, requires little maintenance. The unit is one of only two in this building, and features a brick walled patio with an outdoor kitchen. Access to the unit is by paved roads and there is no HOA fee.

Listing agent for this exceptional property, GAMLS#: 8630065, is Cheryl Justus, with Harry Norman, REALTORSÂŽ Luxury Lake and Mountain. Contact her at (cell) 706-982-9329, (office) 706-212-0228, or at cheryl.justus@harrynorman.com.

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What Is The Best News You’ve Ever Heard?

by Zack Ford - Associate Pastor - Grace Bible Church

W

hat is the best news that you’ve ever heard? Maybe it was the news that you were going to have a baby. Maybe it was your acceptance into your dream college, or the news that you got your dream job. When you heard this news, how hard was it for you to keep it to yourself? Almost impossible, wasn’t it? Our natural response to life-changing news is to shout it from the rooftop, post it on every form of social media, call or text everyone we know and want them, also, to share in the joy and excitement that we ourselves are currently experiencing.

As I’ve been studying and preaching through the Book of Philippians recently, there is something that has struck me afresh regarding the Apostle Paul — He was a man that was incredibly joyful because of and supremely committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

You see, for Paul, there was no greater news in the world than the fact that Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners like himself. And not only was this the greatest news for him personally, he also knew that it was the greatest news that anyone could ever hear, and so he devoted his life to the spreading of this Good News and helping brothers and sisters in Christ further contemplate and comprehend its impact into every aspect of their lives.

As we enter into this Fall season and the holidays that will quickly be upon us — a season filled with giving, joy, and thankfulness — I want you to think with me for a moment about the love, joy, and thankfulness that Paul has for the Gospel in the book of Philippians.

Every aspect of Paul’s life was lived in light of and because of the Good News of what God has done to reconcile sinners with Himself. In Philippians 2:5-11 we see the epitome of the humility shown by Jesus and the sacrifice He made on behalf of sinners.

And why was it that Jesus had to go through such a sacrificial, substitutionary death? It was because all men, ever since Adam and Eve, are born in sin — we are all sinners both by nature and by choice. And our sin is not just against each other, though it is that. Our sin is not merely against some arbitrary laws or some made up morality of right and wrong. Rather, our sin is against a holy and righteous God — the one, true God of the universe that has created every single one of us for His glory. Yet each of us have committed acts of divine treason through our sin, and because of that, we stand guilty before God and fully deserving of His wrath to be poured out upon our sin.

But here’s the Good News — the Good News that sustained and ignited Paul throughout his life. God himself made a

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way of salvation by sending the eternal second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, to take on the form of a man in the incarnation, to live a perfect life that we could never live, to die the death that we should have died, to take the sins of His people upon Himself as their substitute, to satisfy the wrath of God on their behalf as a propitiation, to rise from the dead and defeat sin, death and Satan, and to ascend to the right hand of the Father, where He now rules and reigns and intercedes for His people until He comes again.

What INCREDIBLE news that is! We all have excellent and exciting things that we experience in this life — good gifts given to us by our good and gracious God. But every single one of them pales in comparison with the good news of what Jesus has done to save sinners! Paul knew this. Paul lived his life for this. Paul ended up giving his life for this. Paul’s love for the Gospel was such that he could say in Philippians 1:21: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” In this passage, Paul is contemplating the possible outcomes of his current imprisonment. He may be set free. He may be put to death. Whichever happens, he’s confident that Christ will be honored in his body, whether by life or by death. What does he mean that for him to live is Christ? Charles Spurgeon, the great 19th century British preacher, summarized it by saying that Paul’s life is characterized by this fourfold pursuit — to know Christ more, to imitate Christ more, to preach Christ more, and to enjoy Christ more.

We see a more detailed picture of what this looked like in Paul’s life in Philippians 3:7-8, when he says: “7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”

For Paul, the Good News of what Jesus has done to save sinners was the best news he had ever heard — so good that he gave his life to share it, teach it, and proclaim it to all who would listen.

What about you? What is the best news that you have ever heard? May we, like Paul, be thankful for the good gifts that God gives us in this life. But may we, also like Paul, see the supreme and preeminent value of Christ and the Gospel over all things. If you would like to learn more about this Good News and what it means for your life, I would like to encourage you to contact any of our R4G Churches. Any of our Pastors would be thrilled to talk with you.

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Grandma’s Prayer Journal Community Comes Through in a Crisis In the South we love on each other with food. It’s in our DNA.

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by Karla Jacobs

n times of trouble, having neighbors you can count on can make all the difference. From my grandmother’s prayer journal:

1929 In the winter of 1929, Dad decided he needed to raise his family on the farm. Dad and Mother became sharecroppers.

We moved to a cotton farm about seven or eight miles from the nearest town. Dad and my older brothers, ages 10 and fourteen plowed the fields and got them ready to plant the crops. Our landlord furnished the stock, and the tools and land and the house we lived in. Dad furnished the seed and fertilizer and the work for half of the crops in the fall. We children were carefree and loved the farm…

In August of that year Bryon took sick. Dad called the Dr. and he said Bryon had diphtheria and the Dr. quarantined our house. Three days later Bryon died. The neighbors brought food to us, but they only came as far as the gate. One of us had to go down to the road, about a hundred yards below the house, and bring the food to the house to eat. Poor Dad blamed himself for moving us out to the country. Again, Mom took over, she led the way in planning the funeral and the church near us dug the grave and helped with the funeral.

After Bryon’s death we were all so sad. Again, Mom and Dad’s faith brought us through. After a few weeks we could talk together about the cute little things Bryon had said that use to make us laugh. –Claudine Cantrell I heard this family story many times growing up.The part everyone gravitated to was the neighbors bringing food to my grandmother’s quarantined family. Whoever was telling it would wrap up by saying, “And the neighbors brought them food, but they couldn’t come any closer to the house than the gate. One of the kids would have to walk down to get it.”

Bryon’s death was hard on the family, and more than a half century later, Granny Cantrell still spoke of his death with sadness. He was the heart of the family, a beautiful child with golden curls and big brown eyes. Her mom kept a picture of him on the wall in their house for the rest of her life. I’m guessing he was three or four years old when he died.

The isolation from their friends and neighbors during this frightening time must have been terrible. Community is community, however, and the neighbors made sure the family was cared for from afar.

This is how we do things. I have never lived anywhere but the South, so I can only speak to our customs. We are no-

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torious here for loving on each other with food. Through births, deaths, and sicknesses we shower each other with casseroles, potpies, vats of soup, and all the cakes and pies you can eat.

I have been the recipient of this hospitality many times.

When both of my children were born, between the grandmothers’ visits and the Baptist Casserole Brigade (my Bible study group), I didn’t have to worry my little head about dinner for more than six weeks each time. Between 5:00 and 6:00 pm every other day, a different friend came to our door with enough food to last for two or three meals, and Stephen and I tucked into each feast with gusto.

A couple of years ago, my son spent several days in Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital with a nasty staph infection. It was a traumatic time for us. The ER doctor suspected MRSA (thankfully it was “just” plain old staph), and we were scared as we watched his little body get sicker and sicker. When we were finally able to bring him home—minus a fingernail—our Sunday school teacher called and said she was bringing dinner. An hour after we got home and settled in, she showed up with a giant pot of vegetable soup, a pan of cornbread, and two dozen chocolate chip cookies. It was the best soup I’ve ever eaten, and I was grateful not to have to worry about meals for a couple of days while I tended to my sick boy.

Communities look different today than they did in my grandmother’s childhood. In the small farming communities that dotted the southern Appalachians in the early 20th century, everybody knew everybody else. People usually went to either the Baptist Church, the Methodist Church, or the Presbyterian Church and you would know the mayor and city council members because you sat in the pews with them on Sundays and Wednesday nights. Communities were small, so it was easy to know your neighbors.

Most of our communities are much bigger now, and sometimes we can barely name the people who live in the homes nearest ours. With our busy schedules and long commutes, it is difficult to find the time to make personal connections to the people we wave to on the street each day. The internet has connected us in ways that have redefined our concepts of community and often the people we feel closest to live a country or even a continent away while those in our general orbit are strangers.

We have more ways to connect, but more and more people seem to feel isolated from the communities around them. We need to bridge that gap. I need to bridge that gap.

Isn’t it interesting how many times that gap gets bridged with food? Whether it is welcoming a new neighbor with a fresh baked pie or sharing a holiday table with friends who live far away from their families, a gift of food or a meal shared has a way of making people feel connected. All it takes is someone paying attention and following through with reaching out to friends and neighbors who are going through a time of isolation.

I want to be that thoughtful person, but I can be a slave to my to-do list and quickly forget to look up and pay attention to the people around me. I know I’m not alone in this, and I’m going to work to get better at paying attention and following through. The fact that the kindness of neighbors reaching out to a family in need—my family in need—has echoed down through the years is proof of how powerful these connections are to those feeling alone. A gift of food or an invitation to dinner might seem like a small way to make an impact, but for those on the receiving end it feels a lot like love. That is what we are truly called to do, right?

So, the first thing I will do is take my own advice. I have a new neighbor across the street. I need to get busy baking a pie.

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Bon Appétit N

A Fill You Up Dinner

By Scarlett Cook

othing is more comforting in the fall than the smell of apples baking. It is a comfort food that most of us have grown up eating. This recipe takes apples to a new level when they are paired with pork chops. And nobody can every say no to a delicious chocolate dessert. Hope you enjoy this dinner as the weather cools and the days get shorter.

Spinach Onion Casserole Serves 8 – 12 10 Ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed and thoroughly drained 5 Eggs, slightly beaten 1 Cup grated Cheddar cheese 1 Cup grated Swiss cheese 1/2 Cup plain flour 1 Cup milk 4 Ounces chopped mushrooms 1 Small jar diced pimentos, drained well 1/2 Teaspoon basil 1/2 Teaspoon salt 1/4 Teaspoon pepper Preheat oven to 350˚.

Grease a 9” x 13” baking dish.

Combine all ingredients and spread into prepared pan.

Bake 30 minutes or until firm.

Autumn Pork Chops Serves 4

4 – 2” Boneless pork chops 6 Tablespoons margarine 2 Red Delicious apples, peeled, cored and sliced into 1/2” slices 1/2 Teaspoon cinnamon 1 Tablespoon brown sugar 2 Tablespoons cider vinegar Salt & pepper Preheat oven to 350˚.

Sprinkle chops with salt and pepper.

In a cast iron skillet (or other oven proof skillet) brown chops in 3 tablespoons of margarine and transfer to a plate.

Add remaining margarine to the skillet and add the apple slices. Saute the apples for 3 minutes on each side and sprinkle with the cinnamon.

Return the chops to the skillet, placing them on top of the apples.

Combine the sugar and vinegar and pour over the chops.

Cover the skillet with aluminum foil and cook in the preheated oven for 50 minutes.

Transfer the chops and apples to a serving platter and pour the pan juices over them.

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Brown Rice with Carrots Serves 4 2 1/4 Cups chicken broth 1 Cup brown rice 1/2 Pound chopped carrots 2 Medium onions, chopped 1 Tablespoon butter 1/2 Teaspoon salt Preheat oven to 350˚.

Bring broth to a boil in a large sauce pan.

Add rice, carrots, onions, butter and salt; stir.

Pour into a 2 quart greased baking dish.

Bake covered for 30 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed.

Bleu Cheese Biscuits Serves 6 1 – 10 Count canned biscuits 3 Tablespoons bleu cheese, crumbled 1/2 Cup margarine Preheat oven to 400˚.

Grease a 12-count muffin pan.

Cut each biscuit into quarters and place in muffin pan.

Melt margarine and cheese; pour mixture over biscuits.

Bake 10 – 15 minutes or until golden brown.

The Best Chocolate Bars Makes 20 bars 2 Sticks unsalted butter 1 Cup brown sugar 1 Egg yolk 2 Cups plain flour 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract 1 12-Ounce package semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 Cup chopped pecans Preheat oven to 350˚.

Cream butter and sugar together; add egg yolk and beat well.

Sift in flour; stir in vanilla. Mix well.

Spread mixture into prepared pan and bake 25 minutes.

Remove from the oven and top bars with chocolate chips and return to the oven for 4 – 5 minutes additional.

Remove from the oven and smooth chocolate evenly; sprinkle with nuts.

Cool in pan before cutting into bars.

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Family Table

by Lorie Thompson

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ctober is the best month of the year! October brings evenings around the fire-pit, deer season and cuddle-up, blanket weather! I try to spend all of the October days possible outside, knowing that winter is coming and comfortable days outdoors will become limited. One of my favorite things to do in Fall is outdoor Dutch oven cooking.

My husband is so fortunate to have several of his Great Granny’s (maybe Great, Great’s) Dutch ovens. They are very old. The cast iron is a lot thinner and lighter than today’s Dutch Ovens. I love to cook in them because of the sentiment and because they are lighter and cook great! Each year, on the weekend near his birthday, I load up my outdoor cooking kit and head to deer camp to cook him a birthday supper. A few years ago, I planned a gourmet meal of beef tenderloin with a port wine reduction, pan-roasted potatoes, and other sides, all prepared and served on top of Tallow Hill in Northern Elbert County. I packed carefully making sure I had all the tools and equipment and each component of the meal.

We keep the Dutch ovens on top of my kitchen cabinets. Standing on the top of the step-ladder, I reached to get one of the beautiful “Granny” Dutch ovens. I extended a little too far and wobbled. The Dutch oven leaned a little, and the lid hit the floor. A 2” piece of the rim broke! A treasured family piece and I had broken it! I lovingly cleaned it and packed it in my car, while dreading telling my husband what had happened.

The hilltop overlooking most of Madison and Franklin County, was a beautiful backdrop as I prepared my husband’s birthday meal. Mountain Man came in early to help me finish the meal and get the fire started before our family and friends arrived. I met him at his truck, telling him about the broken pot.

I cried. He laughed and told me to quit crying. He said our children would argue over who got the particular pot that Mama broke when she dropped it cooking dinner on top of Tallow Hill for Daddy’s birthday. He turned my mistake into a story for our family. Just like that, it was okay. One of the many reasons I love him. Both children know the story, and I hope they will love that old Dutch oven as I have and recall the memory when they use it.

A suitable Dutch Oven is essential if you are cooking outdoors. The raised bottom with legs below and the rimmed lid allow you to place charcoal bricks or coals, both top, and bottom to create an oven. Any recipe for your home oven can be cooked in a Dutch oven using charcoal or wood coals.

To bake at 350 degrees, use twice the number of charcoal briquettes as the size of your oven with 3/4 of the bricks on top and 1/4 underneath. For a 12 inch oven, six bricks underneath and 18 on top give you a 350-degree oven.

Once you know this number, you can increase the bricks to cook hotter or decrease for a lower temp oven. If you are preparing a roast or other longcooking food, you will need to replenish the bricks after a while. Each time you remove the lid you will lose your heat, Keep peeking to a minimum.

In our early married years, Mountain Man would bring home huge Chuck Roast from the Shooting Matches that held on Saturdays. They make a great meal, and the leftover’s make fantastic Roast Beef Sandwiches.

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To make Dutch Oven Chuck Roast, start with vegetable prep. Peel and cut into large chunks, carrots, parsnips, and celery. Scrub potatoes and allow to dry. In a large plastic bag, place 1 C of self-rising flour, 1 tsp of granulated garlic, 1 tsp salt, and pepper, When you are ready to cook, melt 1/2 C of Crisco or lard in the Dutch oven, getting it hot enough to sizzle. Place the Chuck Roast in the gallon bag with the flour mix inside and shake to coat the roast. Move the flour-coated roast to the pan and brown on both sides. Move the roast to the side of the pan and add 3 T of the flour mix and brown while stirring. Add in all prepped vegetables, and large pieces of potatoes and onions. Add 2 cups of water.

Salt the vegetables and place roast on top. Cover with the lid and set an appropriate number of bricks on top to reach a 350-degree oven. Let it cook 3+ hours.

For the Chocolate Cobbler, in a plastic quart bag add 1-1/2C of self-rising flour, 1-1/4C sugar. In another plastic quart bag add 6T of cocoa powder and 1C sugar. Label each bag. In a pint mason jar add 1 C whole milk), 1 tsp vanilla and 1 tsp of Espresso powder, or instant coffee.

When you are ready to bake the cobbler bring 2 C of water to a boil.

Underneath a 10” Dutch oven, place five briquettes. Melt 2 sticks of butter.

Mix the milk mixture with the flour and sugar mixture. Pour the batter on top of the melted butter. Do not stir! Sprinkle the sugar and cocoa mix on top.

Pour the boiling water on top of the cobbler and cover with the lid. Place 15 bricks on top of the lid and cook for 45 minutes. The batter should be set with runny chocolate underneath.

Make some home-made whipped cream and take with you in a mason jar — 1c of cold, heavy whipping cream mixed with 1tsp vanilla and 2T of powdered sugar. Using a mixer, beat until thick.

This Fall, get outside and do a little outdoor cooking. Food tastes better when you are outdoors with the people you love!

May you have many beautiful moments creating memories with your family.

Lorie Thompson is a local REALTOR® with Re/Max Of Rabun. Lorie and her husband Anthony, (Peanut) live on a family homestead here in Rabun County. Lorie loves to cook and share great food with family and friends.

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R.M. Rose Co. Quality Whiskey A Tradition of Integrity A Trailblazing Spirit

by Tracy McCoy

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r. Rufus M (R.M.) Rose is a name synonymous with the best whiskeys made in Georgia. You see there is a rich history here, a process that is proven and has been perfected. It all began in 1865 after the Civil War had hit the south hard, especially Atlanta. Dr. Rose, a man from Connecticut who had enlisted as a doctor for the Confederate Army, wanted to produce safe quality spirits. He was known for his expertise in judging great whiskey so he opened the doors of R.M. Rose Company and without a doubt Rufus set the standard for the finest liquors made.

The base is an all natural limestone water, no chemicals, chlorine or iron, simply the perfect water for making whiskey, next they use a copper pot still. This takes the impurities and sulfites out. R.M. Rose makes a smooth sour mash whiskey.

After each run the left over mash is stored in a vat near the cooker and each run a bit of the left over mash is added which creates the sour mash. Lastly they have discovered that Cypress Wood Fermenters season the mash as it ferments for the required four days. The fermenters get better with every run much like a good iron skillet, they get seasoned.

The process is as close to the original as possible ensuring the are carrying on the tradition of quality set by Dr. Rose. R.M. Rose is one of the biggest names in the whiskey business. They stand behind what they make and it’s the trailblazing spirit of the R.M. Rose Company and their good old-fashioned know how that sets them apart. They invite you to stop in for a tour, a tasting and a visit to their gift shop. When you step through the door you will feel as if it’s 1865 and you’ll swear Rufus is somewhere on the property.

R.M. Rose Company is located at 890 Franklin St, in Dillard, Georgia. They are open Mon – Fri 10 am – 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10 am – 6 pm. For additional information call 706-982-8115 or visit www.rmroseco.com Product List

The best way to produce good quality corn whiskey has always been the old way and that is a fact that Mr. Rose was fully aware of. In the course of perfecting his process he was the first to age corn whiskey in charred oak barrels. Unfortunately Rufus passed away in July 1910, his son Randolph Rose had taken over the company in 1905 and he ran it until prohibition closed the doors in 1917.

Fast forward to 2016 and the revival of what Rufus started so long ago. R.M. Rose reopened in an old cannery next door to the famous Dillard House in historic Dillard, Georgia. The process is much the same as the way Rufus and Randolph done it back in the day, the only difference is, these are many more options available. With new products always in the works, the company today offers a dozen products to their customers. (See product list)

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Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey Georgia Corn Whiskey George Sudderth Whiskey NEW Blackberry Whiskey NEW Rabun Co. Bicentennial Keener Corn Whiskey Peach & Lemon Whiskey Apple Whiskey Fire on the Mountain Cinnamon Whiskey Cinnamon Cherries Muscadine Juice (non-alcohol) R.M. Rose Coffee (non-alcohol) R.M. Rose apparel

Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, Mountain Branch…

Get to know your local food bank

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he Food Bank of Northeast Georgia was founded in 1992 in an effort to end hunger in fourteen counties. In 2016, the Food Bank added a second location in Rabun County. This distribution center is housed in what the locals know to be the old Bi-Lo shopping center on Hwy 441 in Clayton. The facility enables the organization to better serve the counties of Georgia’s mountain region – Rabun, Habersham, Stephens, Hart, and White. The mountain branch includes a state of the art facility, unlike any other in the nation, complete with a teaching kitchen, commercial kitchen, and a flashfreeze production line.

Our commercial kitchen has provided a pathway for small producers and entrepreneurs to develop value-added products for market in a manner that meets all food-safety regulations and food health requirements. In turn, the economic activity in the community is spurred with the production of locally produced food products that travel fewer miles to be placed on shelves for sale. This year the kitchen has been used to develop maple syrup, barbecue sauces, veggie burgers, granola bars, salsas, and a variety of other products.

Did you know that we have an Instant Quick Freeze (IQF) production line at our facility? Freezing food when we receive it locks in key nutrients and reduces waste. With a longer shelf-life, this nutrient-dense, flash-frozen food becomes more accessible to people living in the mountain region. This year we processed 46,772 pounds of blackberries and 39,228 pounds of peaches through our IQF production line. We also distributed 3,717 pounds of IQF product to two school systems and various restaurants.

Beyond providing fresh and nutritious food to the needy, the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia wants to empower people to make healthy choices and learn new skills. Our Teaching Kitchen programs include hands-on cooking classes, nutrition lessons, chef demonstrations, farmer’s market activities, and farm-to-table dinners. Proceeds from ticketed classes and events support the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. We also offer free nutrition lessons and cooking classes for eligible residents.

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Live Healthy and be Well “Hearing loss and modern treatments” Dr. Stephen Jarrard

H

earing loss over time, or hearing impairment, is something very familiar to many people. It exists when someone cannot hear sounds that are normally heard – especially sounds in the speech frequencies. Most of us have some personal degree of being “hard of hearing,” or have a loved one or family member that is noticeably impaired in this area. The loss of hearing can impact one from a social and professional standpoint.

In young children, it affects how they hear sounds and learn speech, and will likely interfere with their education, or require special measures. In adults, it may present challenges to social relationships, or professional interactions at work. In the elderly, it may lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and possibly result in depression.

Hearing loss may be caused by several external and internal factors. These may include, but not limited to family history and genetics, just getting older, exposure to noise throughout life, certain infections, birth complications, trauma to the ear, and even certain “ototoxic” medicines are known to sometimes result in hearing loss. A common condition that results in hearing loss is chronic ear infections. Hearing loss can be categorized as mild (25 to 40 dB), moderate (41 to 55 dB), moderate-severe (56 to 70 dB), severe (71 to 90 dB), or profound (greater than 90 dB). There are three main types of hearing loss: conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, and mixed hearing loss.

Conductive hearing loss occurs when the “conduction system” is flawed, and the sound is not reaching the inner ear. This can be due to external ear canal malformation, dysfunction of the eardrum or malfunction of the bones of the middle ear. The eardrum may show physical defects from small to total resulting in hearing loss of different degrees. Scar tissue after ear recurrent infections may also make the eardrum dysfunction as well as when it is retracted and adherent to the medial part of the middle ear. Also, dysfunction, loss, or trauma to the three small bones of the middle ear – malleus, incus, and stapes – may cause conductive hearing loss.

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Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by dysfunction of the inner ear or the auditory nerve that transmits the impulses from the inner ear to the hearing center in the brain. The most common reason for sensorineural hearing loss is damage to the hair cells in the cochlea. This is usually the result of longstanding exposure to loud noise. Depending on the definition, it could be estimated that more than 50% of the population over the age of 70 has impaired hearing, especially given the current nature and sources present in our “noisy” society.

Mixed hearing loss, of course, is a combination of the above two problems, of which one may be more dominant.

Human hearing occurs in the spectrum from 20 to 20,000 Hertz (cycles per second). Not all ears hear all sounds the same. Most people hear optimally in the 3000 Hertz range – which happens to represent the frequency of human speech.

Someone who is experiencing and affected by hearing impairment might manifest some of the following signs and symptoms, and these usually worsen over time.

• difficulty using the telephone • loss of ability to determine direction of sound • difficulty understanding speech, especially of children and women whose voices may be of a higher frequency • difficulty understanding speech in the presence of background noise aka the “cocktail party effect” • sounds or speech becoming dull, muffled or attenuated • need for increased volume on television, radio, music and other audio sources Although hearing loss is a sensory phenomenon, it may have accompanying physical symptoms such as pain or pressure in the ears, a “blocked” feeling, vertigo and unsteadiness, and/or tinnitus – which is a ringing or buzzing sound perceived in the ears when no noise is actually present (usually noticed more

in the quietness of the night or when other normal distractions are not present).

If you or someone you know seems to experience the above issues, I would recommend a thorough evaluation by an audiologist, or hearing specialist, so that the problem can be defined and measured to see how severe it might be. The degree of loss will impact the treatment, of which there are now many modalities now compared to the “hearing tube” we see in old western movies. Most people with hearing loss have arrived that point gradually over time and may not realize just how “bad” the situation is until they can hear more normally again.

A case in point is my Lakemont neighbor Dick Huseman. He knew his hearing was “not what it used to be,” but was recently involved in a car accident that seemed to make the problem worse. He was told it should get better in time, but it did not seem to be resolving after several weeks. He was referred to another good friend who is a hearing improvement specialist – Chris Adams in downtown Clayton. After Dick was fitted with some modern (and barely noticeable) hearing aids, and they were properly tuned to his needs – he was amazed at the overall improvement in not only day to day hearing ability, but also his quality of life in general!

A better approach, of course, is to protect your hearing while you are younger. Ear protection when using power tools, around noisy machinery, and aircraft is a must. Also, limit the noise you feed your ears through earbuds, headphones or just loud sound in general. An ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure later in life.

at 706-782-3572, and we will be sure to consider your input.

This and previous articles can 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, and on Facebook see the page rabundoctor. Until next month, live healthy and be well!

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

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The Gift of Life

by Tracy McCoy

T

hink for a moment about all of the things that you took for granted today. I talked this month with four people who don’t take much for granted, you see these people faced or are facing dire circumstances, they are in great need of a most valuable asset, one we rarely think about… human organs.

Meet Charley Beck Charley is a native of Rabun County and a father to four children. He and his wife Kim live in a modest home west of Clayton. Up until four years ago they both worked, now Kim is the only one able to work. Charley is on disability at 38 years old. You see when Charley was sixteen he was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called IgA Nepheopathy or otherwise known as Berger’s Disease. Essentially the body begins to attack itself, in Charley’s case his kidneys are the target and scarring and inflammation have rendered them unable to function as they should. In fact at this point his kidney function is at 7%.

Four years ago Charley was put on the list to receive a new kidney through Piedmont Hospital. After talking to Charley and Kim, I made a call to Piedmont and talked with his patient coordinator about the status of his place on “the list”. What I learned was alarming.

list. There are criteria that must be met for a kidney to be the one for Charley. First off the blood and tissue type must be a match. Then there is the age of the donor and the size of their body. Ms. Collado explained that you can’t put a large person’s kidney into a small person’s body without complications. If tissue is not compatible then there could be antibodies that could potentially cause rejection of the organ. A 75 year old man’s kidney placed in a 38 year old man won’t last him the rest of his life due to the difference in age. The “list” is extensive and a patient can expent to spend 8-10 years waiting on a kidney. In the state of Georgia, hospitals combine their patients into one database so Piedmont Hospital, Emory University Hospital and Athens Regional Hospital have a combined “list”.

With so many patients waiting on a match through one portal, it can be a lengthy process. Charley’s best option is through the Living Donor Program.

A living donor is one who voluntarily offers an organ for transplantation into a person in need. A living donor who is a match and who is determined to be healthy enough to safely undergo surgery can give this gift of life to a patient like Charley Beck. A healthy person can live a long healthy life with one kidney, the remaining kidney takes over the work for both kidneys. There are however risks for the donor, as with any surgery. Nationally, the risk of death from donor surgery is

Charlie and Kim Ms. Collado helped me understand how it works for Charley and the other people in what is more like a database than a list. If it were as simple as being on a list one could expect that when they reached the first spot all of their worries would be over, not the case. It is more of an exact science than a waiting

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Charlie and Kim’s children

1 in 3200, about the same as dying in a car accident. Research shows that kidney donation does not damage the donor’s long term health. In most cases the expense of the surgery is covered by the recipients insurance. The procedure is usually minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery with or without robotic assistance. The hospital stay is 1-3 days and recovery is up to 6 weeks.

So, what if someone is willing to be tested but they don’t match, well the good news is that there is a National database of patients in need, so for instance there may be a donor in New York that would match Charley and your kidney may be a match to a patient in Utah and another donor in Texas matches the patient in New York… surgeries would be planned and organs would be flown to each hospital. Ms. Collato told me that they can do up to five surgeries at one time. So even if your kidney didn’t directly help Charley it could save a life and that patients donor may save Charley’s.

It used to be a case of someone had to die for someone to get an organ but that is not the case in many instances today.

Meanwhile, Charley Beck travels to Habersham three times a week to have dialysis treatments to keep his kidney’s functioning at all. His parents Victor or Lynn Beck, brothers Corey or Andy Beck or wife Kim transport him to his treatments. His health is poor. He tries to maintain a positive attitude for his family but he is tired and frankly Charley knows that without a kidney he will die. Even with insurance the expenses are great and his family struggles to keep food on the table and the lights on.

A Go Fund Me page has been established for the Beck family and an account has been set up at Rabun County Bank for anyone who would like to offer support to ease their burden.

But ultimately what is needed is a viable living donor. If you are willing to be tested to offer this lifesaving gift you may contact Leanne Whitehead, RN at Piedmont Hospital. She is Charley’s contact for the living donor program. She can instruct you on what your next step would be. There are also two websites that offer an abundance of information www.piedmonttransplant. org/livingdonor and www.lkdn.org.

Meet Diana Cook You’ve heard the term “tougher than a pine knot” well let me introduce you to one such lady. Diana Cook. A native of Ohio, Diana was a single mother with two children to raise.

She worked at the prestigious Golden Lamb in Lebanon, Ohio as a waitress. She met and served many US Presidents in her time there. Looking sharp was a job requirement, and a clean apron was a must. Her apron had some stubborn stains that she could not get out. So someone suggested she use Iron-Out to remove those stains. She thought washing it by hand and applying the product straight to the fabric and scrubbing it was her best chance of getting it out. So she put the apron in the bathtub and applied the chemical to it and began to scrub.

Diana and her family She got a call from her daughter and told her “I have to get this apron scrubbed and on the line to dry before work, I’ll call you back.” The fumes from the cleaner overtook her and she passed out, her children found her and thought she needed to go to the hospital but after regaining consciousness she said “I can’t go, I can’t afford another bill.” When she realized that she had to see a doctor, the news was not good, the Iron-Out had literally destroyed 80% of the lining of her lungs. The damage was irreversible and told she was told she would need a double lung transplant. Diana’s life has never been the same.

She was left unable to work, because she was basically unable to breathe.

Diana’s sister lived in the Atlanta area and had a home in Rabun County too. She and Trina convinced Diana to come to Emory University Hospital to see if she was a candidate for their transplant program.

She was but two things had to happen.

One she had to get sicker and she had to be within 150 miles of the hospital at all times. A recipient has a three hour window to get to the hospital in the event organs become available. So Trina, her mother and her little boy Bryce made the move to Georgia. The year was 2003. In 2006 she was

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sick enough and in 2009 she was down to 7% lung capacity, she was wheelchair bound because she struggled to breath.

Diana was told that most double lung transplants live 3-5 years. She told her doctor a story, her “why” for wanting to live. She told him of the relationship that her children had with their grandmother. How many great memories they had with her. She had a grandson Bryce at the time and he was a baby.

Diana told her doctor, “I want enough time to make memories with my grandson so when he grows up he will remember me and know how much I loved him. If 3-5 years is all I get, I’ll gladly take it.”

In 2009 Trina was traveling on her motorcycle and she got a text from her mom, it simply said “Lungs!!!!” She called and her mom was preparing bags for the hospital. “All of this time I had struggled on how to pray, I someone to die so my mom could live. That is impossible to pray for without guilt. So I simply put it in His hands. When I got that text the emotions were mixed.” Trina told me. They rushed down to Emory and Diana was in surgery 14 hours. “The key to organ transplant is this, you gotta be sick enough to need it, but strong enough to survive it, and that’s a fine line.” she said. Her mom was there.

“I knew I wasn’t going to die. I knew God was going to take care of me.” Diana said. “I was so sure of it.” The road of a recipient and their family is not an easy one. There is a lot of travel and Diana and her daughter Trina spent a lot of time on the road and staying near the hospital. Was it worth it? Did she get five years? No, she didn’t, she is TEN years post transplant. She has played with Bryce, been there for every big day, celebrated his special moments and he will never forget her.

Today, because of the medication called Prograf that Diana had to take after her transplant to keep her body from rejecting her new lungs, her kidneys are failing. She has just been told that she will need to start dialysis before this article even comes out. She has been cleared and approved through Emory Hospital and added to “the list” again. Her son, Josh, has been tested and he is not a match for his mom, but still hopes to donate to help someone else. Her daughter Trina is going to be tested to see if she is a match for her mom. She is Diana’s primary caregiver so there is a concern of who will take care of them both if Trina is a match and can give her mom a kidney, but they will cross that road when they come to it. We ask that you keep all of these people in your prayers and we beg you to consider organ donation, it is the greatest gift you can give.

Stephen and Lisa After high school Stephen married Lisa Taylor (McCall) and the couple had two children, a son Weston and a daughter Haleigh. Stephen and Lisa are now the proud grandparents of a sweet little girl, Madeline and an adorable little boy named Elliot.

Driving a school bus was a great option for Stephen McCall, he could get the kids to school and then work building cabinets from his home till time to pick them back up and drive them home. His cabinetry business is called Stamp Creek Woodworks.

Meet Stephen McCall

About a year ago Lisa noticed that her husband’s color was not good, she feared he looked jaundiced. Stephen’s grandmother and two of her brothers and one sister all died with Cirrhosis.

He seemed lethargic and just didn’t have any energy at all.

They decided they should get him checked out. Cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver does not function properly due to long-term damage. This damage is characterized by the replacement of normal liver tissue by scar tissue. Typically, the disease develops slowly over months or years. Early on, there are often no symptoms.

If you have ever listened to The Foxfire Boys you’ve heard Stephen McCall play the guitar. Stephen is also a Rabun County native and graduate of Rabun County High School. In 1980 he signed up for the Foxfire class and out of that experience grew a band called The Foxfire Boys under the direction of George Reynolds. He is an exceptional musician.

Cirrhosis of the liver is caused by many forms of liver diseases and conditions, such as hepatitis and chronic alcoholism. Each time your liver is injured — whether by disease, excessive alcohol consumption or another cause — it tries to repair itself.

In the process, scar tissue forms. As cirrhosis progresses, more and more scar tissue forms, making it difficult for the liver to

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function. Advanced cirrhosis is life-threatening. Stephen is not a drinker nor does he have hepatitis. He is however diabetic and has fatty liver disease, both causes of cirrhosis.

Once damage is done to the liver it does not improve so the only option for Stephen McCall is a liver. The only organ that regenerates is the liver and a donor can give a piece of their liver and it will grow in the recipient and regenerate in the donor. Donors can be live donors or livers can come from someone who has lost their life. Living donation is generally a quicker process as long as a blood and tissue is a match and the donor is healthy.

For now Stephen is still waiting to be added to the list. Those in need of an organ are required to pass a series of tests proving they are a viable candidate for organ replacement. He has four more steps to be eligible to be added to “the list”. One of the biggest obstacles he faces is dental work that is needed before he can qualify. The dental work needed will set the McCalls back about $4500 out of their pocket. That is a large expense that will likely delay the process.

In February when Stephen was diagnosed with Cirrhosis his MELD score was 15, in July is was rechecked and it was 24.

MELD stands for “model for end-stage liver disease.” The MELD score range is 6 – 40, the higher the number the more urgent your case is. There are a series of tests that determine what your score is. Once Stephen’s score reaches 25 his name will be added to “the list” for an organ once all other criteria is met. “I never dreamed the process was as difficult as it is”, Lisa said. “Stephen and I are organ donors but never gave a thought to what those in need go through.” I agree with her, I am amazed at the suffering a patient endures to even be added to the program.

As we all know the wait time can be years, so Stephen’s best option is a living donor. He is aware that Cirrhosis is a progressive disease that leads to death, he knows this first hand having lost family members to the disease, This 56 year old husband, father and grandfather is fighting for his life. I know that he and Lisa would be so grateful for your prayers and we will keep you updated on Stephen. If you are not an organ donor please think about becoming one. If you could save lives, why wouldn’t you donate?

Meet Dede Long Fourteen years ago Dede Long was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Hypertension, better known as high blood pressure of the lungs. Pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in your lungs and the right side of your heart. This makes it harder for blood to flow through your lungs, and raises pressure within your lungs’ arteries. As

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a rare antibody that put her in another category causing her to be taken off the list again and again.

Dede and her family the pressure builds, your heart’s lower right chamber (right ventricle) must work harder to pump blood through your lungs, eventually causing your heart muscle to weaken and fail. Some forms of pulmonary hypertension are serious conditions that become progressively worse and are sometimes fatal. Dede suffered with this disease for twelve years before reaching a point in her illness that she could be placed on “the list” for new lungs. The process of qualifying is hard and it’s even harder to stay on the list. Patients must re-qualify each year. Dede had

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She spent two and a half years on the list before becoming so ill that her heart could no longer function without new lungs.

She was sent to Emory where she spent 96 days. They worked to keep her heart functioning. In the 96 days that she was in Emory she never spoke to her surgeon. Her family made the decision to try to get Dede to Duke University, her daughter in law fought tooth and nail to get insurance obstacles taken care of and to get her accepted into the program at Duke. Dede was so very sick and many times she was on the brink of not making it. More than once they called her family in. Once when a severe infection invaded her body she was in danger of being taken off the list and losing her life. She was very weak. Her family and her sister Libbi were by her side, “I was so tired of fighting, and I told Libby I didn’t think I could keep going. Libbi said, ‘Ok I’ll go tell them and we’ll stop all of this’, I told her ‘No, I’ll try a few more days’.The next day I got the news I had lungs. I remember I had so much peace as I was headed down the hall to surgery. I knew I was a winner either way.” Dede said.

The surgery was 21 hours long. The weeks and months that followed were incredibly hard. Dede was in a coma for five weeks, she had a stroke and couldn’t talk. “It was awful. But I

know that Duke saved my life.” she told me. She spent a total of 246 days in the hospital but she never gave up and the team at Duke University Hospital never gave up on her. Her doctor told her family “She didn’t give up, so we won’t either.” She is one year past her transplant. We talked about the fact that in Georgia there are not enough donors. Dede said it best, “I don’t know why people don’t donate, you aren’t going to need them in Heaven and you sure aren’t going to need them in Hell.”

The anti-rejection medication Prograf, which is necessary to keep a recipients body from rejecting the organ affects the kidneys so Dede was told that she would likely need a kidney at some point before her life is over. She knows that is a real possibility.

When I asked her if it was worth it, her reply was instant, “Yes, it was.” She has four grandchildren that she adores and who adore her. Her family treasures her more than ever and she values life more than she ever has. She told me with sadness about Brandon, the young man who lost his life but was an organ donor and his lungs saved Dede’s life. His mother wrote her a letter through the donor program and she told her how her son was full of life, very outgoing and kind.” She recognized the gift that Brandon gave her with deep gratitude. She grieves for his mother and she plans to write a letter back to her. She wishes to thank everyone who prayed for her while she was in the hospital, “I could feel every one of them.” she said.

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Life Just Keeps on Changing

by Kendall R. Rumsey

I

’m one of those people that doesn’t do well with predictable.

I have never been one who could do the same thing for long periods of time, I respect people who have that ability, I just don’t.

In the late 90’s I picked up my life, and everything that was familiar to me and moved to south Florida. I didn’t know anyone and didn’t have a job; I just knew I needed a change.

Second only to moving back home five years ago, it was the best move I ever made.

A year after moving back home, I left a very successful career that provided financial security and benefits to start a new venture, it was a life change that brought me tremendous satisfaction.

Just over a year ago, with a team of talented designers and production professionals, I started a lifestyle brand, Of These Mountains. The brand is a love-letter to the mountains that we call home, t-shirts, hoodies, caps, stickers all things designed to celebrate our homeland and the amazing resources we enjoy in our backyard.

A few months ago, I started exploring another major change in my life, selling my business. After speaking with several potential buyers, I was fortunate to find a local guy to purchase the business and keep the good work of Impressed moving forward.

The sell of Impressed was both exciting and terrifying. As I sold Impressed, I kept Of These Mountains with the goal of continuing to grow the brand. We have been fortunate to meet a lot of success with the brand and are now carried in several stores in Georgia and North Carolina.

I thrive on change; I think it keeps life exciting.

I have friends and family who seem to enjoy the same traits.

One friend started doing CrossFit a few years back, now close to 60 he is in the best shape of his life. Another friend picked up a paint brush one day and started expressing herself on canvas, today she is known for her awesome painting of landscapes and animals. My brother and sister-in-law always seem to be finding new things to challenge them, they recently

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bought a large piece of land in the north end of the county and built an RV Park, a life change that is paying off for them in ways they never imagined.

To me there is nothing like the excitement of trying something new, I would never have made a good assembly line worker.

I also think change is good for your soul. It doesn’t have to be as drastic as the changes I make, but just a simple change in normal life helps keep us young and excited about life.

When I moved to Florida, I had no idea if it was going to be a good move or not, it was. I made friends who enriched my life beyond measure, I had career opportunities that I never imagined and found opportunities to serve my community that I would have never experienced if it had not been for the move.

As frightening as the move to Florida was, the move back home was even more intense. I hadn’t lived in God’s Country since 1982, I had changed, Rabun had changed, and I wasn’t sure that I would be happy.

My move back to Rabun County was another great success. I reconnected with childhood friends, I made new friends and been able to grow closer to family.

I now find myself at a crossroad in life, with new changes and challenges before me. I am excited to see where Of These Mountains can go, I want to devote more time to my writing in hopes that one day “that book” I want to write will be a reality and I look forward to finding new ways to serve my community.

Change is a good thing; some may say it keeps us young. I don’t know about keeping me young, but it certainly does give me a sense of accomplishment, excitement and joy. And when I put in the work, rely on my faith and do what I know best, it seems like the changes add to my life’s experience in a positive way.

I hope I never outgrow my sense of adventure, my desire to try new things and my ability to change.

Kendall Rumsey is a resident of Clayton, Ga. He is owner of the lifestyle brand Of These Mountains and author of the blog, Notes from a Southern Kitchen. www.ofthesemountains.com www.notesfromasouthernkitchen.com

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.�

Eleanor Roosevelt

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Looking Back, Clayton in the 50’s

by Shannon Alley

A

s I drove through Clayton at 7 p.m. last Saturday, the town looked so empty and deserted, I felt like the only person in the world. While I waited at the traffic light, I felt a nostalgic yearning to go back in time to other Saturday nights on Main Street – back to those fabulous late 1950s when we still thought all was right in the world. By 7 on a Saturday night, the town was filled with people and alive with activity.

Across the street, on the next corner, was Effie Lord’s Cafe, an ideal place for adults who looked forward to dining out. What a comparison this quiet cafe was to the next door Pic Ric, a teenager’s haven. The room was long and narrow, with only two tables, two booths and a long narrow counter with stools. The size didn’t matter though – the juke box had all the latest hits and was turned up extra loud.

Many adults seemed to enjoy sitting in their parked cars watching teenagers cruise through town time after time. I wonder what they thought and said about us back then?

Next was Kermit Brown’s, famous for his Claude Pitts hot dogs. Mr. Kermit stood outside tending his neatly arranged baskets of fruit and produce. Through the large window of Cannon’s Department Store you might see Mr. Horace waiting on customers and Ms. Annie at the cash register. As people strolled up the street, they always stopped and chatted with Mr. Jadie Cannon who loved people and was usually out front of Cannon’s Furniture. Next, was the two story building of the Belk department store with immaculate Mrs. Lou Cooper greeting customers at the door and explaining their marvelous lay-away plan, especially for blankets, whatever the season.

Where the Old Clayton Inn is today was Green’s Hotel, where guests sat out front in rocking chairs and chatted and people watched. Beside it was the modern Walgreen’s Drug Store. I can almost taste their sweet, syrupy cherry Cokes. The Bank of Clayton was next, a small building and the only one closed for the day.

At Dover and White’s Drug Store, a cone could barely hold the weight of the two huge dips of ice cream you bought for a dime.

Next, the bright lights of the Rabun Theater illuminated the night. There was such an air of excitement about the theater with its Technicolored posters of “Coming Soon” events and knowing any certain someone you wanted to see would be there. Next door was Louie Young’s Grocery and through the window you could see their son, Mike, hurriedly bagging groceries, anticipating his Saturday night date with Jane Hill.

The Clayton Post Office was dimly lit compared to Lovell’s Five and Ten, where children slowly and carefully chose candy from large glass cases. Reeves, on the corner, would still be busy with late shoppers going in and out.

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J.H. Dickerson’s Grocery was next. When I was a child, Mama bought groceries there and I aways chose a bar of cream cheese instead of an ice cream cone. The original Deal’s Drugs – in the back was “Doc” Deal and the pharmacy and the rest of the store – overflowed with fancy candies, knickknacks, and what nots. On the corner was Stovall’s Five and Ten that sold a little bit of everything. My younger brother, Wayne, once bought our mother a funeral wreath on a stand there for Christmas because she loved flowers and he didn’t know the difference.

A small parking lot was next and then Dickerson’s Hardware. I went all through school with their daughter, Patricia. Then there was Roy Jones’ Service Station – his daughters, Pat and Marcia,

always kept a full tank of gas for cruising around with their car packed with teenagears.

On down the street were two private homes and at the end was the original Mize Florist. Across the street, on the other side, was the famous Snack Shack, another teenage “hangout.” The blare of the juke box floated and blended in the air with the one from Pic Ric. On up the street was the stately home of Dr. J.C. Dover, who along with Dr. Green delivered most of us into the world.

Next was the landmark, The Clayton Tribune, managed by a glamourous and “cool” couple, Shirley and Eddy Barker. Eddy introduced hip-hanging blue jeans, turned up shirt collars and just slightly long hair to Clayton boys.

At Marchman’s Appliance Store, some people sat in parked cars and watched TV on the set they displayed in the window.

Edwards Studio was owned by the sweetest and most gracious couple. Their son, Bobby, was our age, a mischevious boy with an angelic expression. Next came Yo Yo’s Barber Shop, named so because between hair cuts Mr. Parker always twirled a yo-yo.

Next door was Kinney’s Pool Room, a hangout for older boys and men. I was very familiar with the story of how my older brother, Roy, in his time, accidentally drove his ‘47 Ford up on the street and shattered the huge glass window. Daddy had to pay for it and never let Roy forget it.

On up the street was Russell Ivey’s, a car dealer and service station. He never complained that people in a hurry circled around his gas pumps to turn around. Ramey’s Shops were next, a men’s and ladies’ store where Ms. Carrie let several of us girls have charge accounts. Their son Horace, was our classmate and was killed in a car wreck. He remains forever in our memories, a handsome, carefree boy who never grows older.

Cagle’s Cafe was next door. I worked there one summer and learned so much that remains with me today. Fred and Son Derrick’s car dealership was next. They were faithful coffee club members that met at Cagle’s every morning.

Beside them was The Rock House where all community meetings were held and many of us attended Girl Scouts there. The water fountain and rock benches served as the police station.

“Preacher” Morton stood on the street dressed in his chief of police uniform, watching and waiting for the sound of squealing tires. This meant some daring teenager was “laying donuts” as they turned around at the Snack Shack. The chief’s assisant sat on the rock bench waiting for orders. Across the street was the park, used for the Mountaineer Festival, fund-raisers and just loafing around.

On the corner was Moon Smith’s Taxi Service. Mr. Moon was available day or night and made a good living. Next to the Methodist Church was Green’s boarding house, a white prominent extension of Green’s Hotel. In the summer, annual guests sat on the porch in large green rocking chairs watching over the town and its people.

This was Main Street, the cruising zone. The other streets were occupied with stores and activity also.

Though I’m thankful I grew up in Rabun County in the 1950s, I suppose the time or place really doesn’t matter. It’s those few mystical years when you dream of the future but live joyously in the present.

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By The Way...

It’s time to legalize pig racing in Georgia

by Emory Jones

L

ooking back on it, I may have made a mistake taking my pet pig, Cunningham, to the horse races last month. It seemed like a good idea at the time, although my wife, Judy, was bad against it. But then, she’s against any road trip involving pigs. That may just bet a woman thing.

I thought “mainly” was a stretch, but I let it go. “But you let horses in there, and pigs are smarter than horses.”

Anyway, Cunningham was so excited about going that I just couldn’t say no. You see, he has racing in his blood. He won’t brag about it, but as a young shoat, he won the NASPIG Triple Crown. That means he came in first in the Sue Wee Stakes, The Running Ham Handicap and the grueling Bacon Crisp Classic. He would have topped even that by winning the Swine Breeders Cup, but the track was muddy that day, and he got distracted.

I was on the fast track to bribing my way back in, but I didn’t have any singles on me, and since Cunningham sometimes gets in trouble by himself, I bolted after him. It was a good thing, too; when I caught up, he’d already rooted a hole under the fence and had inadvertently wandered onto the track.

Of course, those events are held in Arkansas, what with pig racing still considered illegal in Georgia, and all.

When I yelled at Cunningham to run, he heard the herd coming too, and lit a shuck for the finish line with a dozen horses bearing down on him at a fast pace. The crowd and I both roared as Cunningham finished first by a snout in what the evening news called the most exciting race since a horse named Sotally Tober ran around the track backward in ‘42.

In the end, Judy agreed to let Cunningham tag along as long as we drove to Louisville in separate vehicles and on different weekends. That was fine with Cunningham—he doesn’t like the same kind of radio music Judy does anyway.

Now if you’ve ever been to Churchill Downs, home of the famous Kentucky Derby, then you know how strict they are about bringing food and such through the gate. Turns out, they have the same policy about pigs.

“Whoa there,” said the gate agent, keeping in his horse racing character. “Is that a pig?”

“You bet your jockey strap,” I said, keeping his racing theme going.

“He can’t come in,” said the gate person, a bit rudely I thought.

“Why not?” I asked with unbridled curiosity. “He has a ticket.”

“Mainly because he’s a pig,” he said.

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When he reached for his starting pistol, Cunningham, not wanting to buck the system, sprinted towards the stables.

His timing couldn’t have been worse either because the starting gate for the first race had just swung open.

By the time I reached the winner’s circle, Cunningham, not understanding the refinements between horse and pig racing, had eaten half the roses they’d graciously hung around his neck.

But it didn’t matter much, because, as we shortly discovered, pig racing is considered illegal in Kentucky, too. In fact, one of the racing stewards and two stewardesses took back the halfeaten roses and ordered us off the premises.

We got the last laugh, though. On the way out, Cunningham ran over to one of the horses sunning himself between races and planted a little sign that read, “Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t giddyap!”

He laughed about that all the way home.

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Rabun County Historical Society Mountain City: Crime Scene

by Beck Peterson

O

n the Friday after Labor Day in 1995, there was a tragic murder in Rabun County committed by a very popular former Georgia Tech football star who ran a boys’ camp in Mountain City. The Georgia Tech alum was David Irenus Barron who was known as Red Barron. He was good looking, popular with women, athletic, respected, and friends with the governor of Georgia. His actions that one night in September would cause him to lose it all.

for Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta and became a star player.

Red was no stranger to the North Georgia mountains as he was born in the next county, Habersham, in Clarkesville, Georgia on June 21, 1900. Little has been written about his childhood or his life in Clarkesville. He must have had some talent for football because in 1918 he left this small village

Red played minor league baseball and broke into the major leagues in 1929 with the Boston Braves. Unfortunately, his career with the Braves only lasted one month. The next two years he played for and managed the Atlanta Crackers. After this, he took a job as coach at Monroe A&M, a vocational and prep school in Walton County. Later he would become president of the school; it closed in 1942.

At Georgia Tech he excelled in sports, lettering in three sportsfootball, baseball, and track. He was a running back in football and during his four years of playing, each year the team was either the league champions or co-champions. Twice he was named an All American and three times recognized on the All Southern Conference team. During his baseball career at Tech, he set the record for the number of stolen bases. Red left Georgia Tech in 1922 without finishing his degree. Life was good and he set off to find a career in professional sports.

While still working at Monroe A&M, Barron opened a recreation and athletic summer camp for boys in Mountain City in 1935. The camp included activities of swimming, baseball, football, basketball, track and many other sports. On September 5, 1952 the camping season was over. The campers had packed their bags, said their goodbyes and left for home to start a new school year.

Red was fifty-two and this was his seventeenth year of his summer camps. That Friday night Red and his second wife Helen (his first wife divorced him) were relaxing and enjoying a few cases of beer.

A night of heavy drinking proved fatal for Helen. In the morning, Red knocked on a neighbor’s door and stated that he thought Helen was dead. A doctor was summoned and Red and Helen her death was confirmed. The doctor called an undertaker and the body was embalmed. The funeral was scheduled for the next day. Helen was dead at age fortytwo.

What really happened that night of drinking is speculative. In one scenario, Red admits that he and Helen were drinking.

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He said he woke during the night and found Helen unconscious on the bathroom floor; she was breathing and he carried her to her bed. The other scenario, according to Red, is that he struck her with his hand and then put her to bed. He said he did not know she was dead until the next morning.

After serving his “jail time”, he married for the third time to Dorothy Lyle, fourteen years his junior. She had been a student at Monroe A&M when he was its president. At age sixty, he was working as a chicken farmer near Lilburn when Carson Britt, a school principal in Dracula, Georgia offered him a job as a teacher and coach. Red created the foundation of Dracula’s first football team. The football field was named Barron Field in his honor.

It appears that Red Barron learned from his mistakes. He was no longer seen drinking and was a kind and doting husband.

He died in 1982 at the age of eighty-two and was buried in his hometown of Clarkesville.

Helen’s funeral was postponed because her brother, Earl Denny of College Park was suspicious of the bruises on Helen’s face.

He described Red as “…never a nicer fellow than Red at camp, but off season and at home, he was a drunken wife beater.” Denny demanded an autopsy and investigation.

When the law officers investigated Barron’s home, they found a trail of blood from the kitchen to the bedroom and to the bathroom.

The autopsy revealed that Helen died as a result of head injuries inflicted externally from some type of blunt instrument. She also had a black eye and scalded feet. The local coroner’s inquest charged Barron with manslaughter. The Grand Jury later changed the charge to murder.

Red went on trial for murder in Clarkesville and in December, 1952 the jury convicted him of a lesser sentence, involuntary manslaughter. The Mountain Circuit Judge John E. Frankum, from Red’s hometown, Clarkesville, sentenced Barron to three to five years in prison. His sentence was fulfilled by serving as a coach at a boys’ reformatory in Alto. It was said that while he was serving his time, he was never put in a locked cell.

After 20 months, Barron was released on parole and in 1955 he was pardoned, which wiped away his conviction. He was now a free man, but had lost his camp, his money and his good name. His stellar reputation as an athlete remained and he was inducted into Georgia Tech’s Hall of Fame in 1959.

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Lakemont Consolidated High School 1930-1931 photos submitted by Rabun County Historical Society

The History of Education in Rabun and Lakemont Consolidated School

G

eorgia’s statewide system of tuition free public schools dates from the late nineteenth century according to the New Georgia Encyclopedia. In 1870 the state Board of Education was established and the level of assistance to public schools increased over previous years, when it was minimal. Public schools in Georgia were first authorized in the Georgia Constitution of 1777, which said that schools should be established in each county at state expense. The decades between the end of the American Revolution and the beginning of the Civil War saw a system of chartered academies partially funded by the state but dependent on tuition paid by parents. These schools were unfortunately available only to the children of free citizens.

It was unlawful for the education of slaves at this time. A part of history I find appalling. Wealthier families were entitled to better education because they could pay tuition. In 1822, Georgia legislature provided modest funding to pay the tuition of children whose parents could not afford to pay. There was a “poor school fund” established that entitled a child to no more than three years of basic reading, writing and arithmetic at public expense. There is an abundance of information beyond this on the history of public education at www.georgiaencyclopedia.org.

The 1914 Educational Survey of Rabun County, Georgia was an inventory of the condition of the rural schools in the northeastern most county of Georgia. The survey done by Mr. M.L. Duggan, a rural school agent for the state, was a 48 page document produced

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under the direction of the Department of Education and Mr. M.L. Brittain, the State Superintendent of Schools. In reviewing this document I found as did Mr. Duggan that the primary obstacle to good education for the children of Rabun County was adequate teachers. Most of the “teachers” were grossly undereducated, and while doing their best this fact left many children unable to read and comprehend written word. Most did not know their

Clayton High School - Early 1900’s

owned transportation did not begin in Rabun until 1945. Once transportation was possible it made sense to consolidate some of the smaller community classrooms into one school. This is exactly what happened in Lakemont, Georgia.

L to R - Front row: Mary Elizabeth Law, Marilyn Ballew, Beverly Mason, Back Row: Jack Smith, Jane Thomason, Peggy Thrasher (not pictured here) Albert Thrasher and Wesley Taylor

multiplication tables and were lacking in basic skills. There was one college educated teacher in Rabun County in 1914 and she taught at Well’s Chapel School one of the two “colored” schools.

Her name was Gertrude Lipscomb and students were far above all of the rest. Mr. Duggan reported the following, “Pupils here read remarkably well and with thorough understanding. All 4th, 5th, and 6th grades knew the multiplication table thoroughly. Children could write well and answer intelligently all of the questions they were asked. The methods of teaching were far above the average.”

This reiterated the desperate need for quality educators in all of Rabun’s schools.

At the time there were 33 schools in the 344 square miles of land that made up our county. (See sidebar for a complete list)

I was honored to visit with Jack Smith, Jane Thomason, Mary Elizabeth Law, Albert and Peggy Thrasher, Marilyn Ballew and her twin sister Beverly Mason along with Wesley Taylor to talk about the Lakemont Consolidated School. The Lakemont School opened in 1931, the same year that Jack Smith was born. His father, D.J. Smith was on the board of the school. The consolidation of the following schools: Lakemont, Camp Creek, Wolf Creek and Flat Creek, created the NEW Lakemont Consolidated School. In 1937 Boggs Mountain School was added and in 1947 Cherchero was added. Lakemont High School was closed in 1952.

Once the need for teachers was established, teachers were hired to come to Rabun County to work. They traveled here and stayed in the homes of local residents, traveling home on weekends where possible. Mr. D.J. Smith moved his family from Wolf Creek to Lakemont opening a boarding house and renting rooms to teachers.

More teachers were male than female, and most unmarried. At this time in Rabun and many other counties money was non-existent.

To have cash in hand was rare and valued like gold. Many families existed only because of the barter system. Those who had jobs that produced cash or check were the more fortunate. During the depression, the promise of pay was often more than most could count on. Lakemont School records and documents that Mr. Jack Smith shared at our meeting indicated that more often than not the

Most schools were held in churches and children walked to school as there were no buses during this time period, those came much later. Prior to 1910 the school year was dictated by the planting season and harvest, children attended after crops were harvested until planting season in the spring. Generally four months. In 1910 the State Board of Education began a five month school year. Later on, in 1937 the state went to a seven month school year. By 1940 all schools were required to go a full nine months.

The first transportation for school children was when Miss Ola Nicholson carried them to school in her Model T Ford in 1927.

She was paid $30 a month to do so. She was actually working as an independent contractor for the school system and after she started others with vehicles followed suit. If they had the money to buy a bus they could contract with the school board to work.

Sam Tyler was a student with a bus route! In fact transportation was one of the greatest expenses the schools incurred. County 1914 Rabun County Schools Timson School , Plum Orchard School, Liberty School, Rocky Grove School, Germany School, Burton School, Betty’s Creek School, Chechero School, Dillard School, Bald Mountain School, Powell’s Gap School, Camp Creek School, Wolf Creek School, Three Forks School, Warwoman School, Persimmon School, Old Tiger School, Rabun Gap School, Hamby School, Pleasant Ridge School, Tiger School, Glades School, Wolf Fork School, Boiling, Springs School, Mt. Pleasant School, Mountain City School, Flat Creek School, Ivy Hill School , Well’s Chapel School, Clayton High School, The Rabun Gap Industrial School, The Logan E. Bleckley Memorial Institute, The Tallulah Falls Industrial School

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school faced a deficit and struggled to pay the teachers they had contracted with.

The wages seem absurdly low but for the time were average for the locale and economic situation.

School lunches were brought by the students and heated on a wood cookstove by teachers.

These students I spoke with remember having hot chocolate when it was cold. In 1937 the WPA and Woman’s Club began the operation of a school lunch program. The federal government agreed to pay 7 cents per child to feed them. Student’s families paid the difference if they could. Some students who lived nearby could walk home for lunch but most ate at school and they fondly remembered soup on Fridays. Charlie McKay planted a garden near Lakemont School and some local ladies canned and put up the food for school lunches. Mary Elizabeth remembers when the Clayton School built their lunchroom it was across from the school in what is the parking lot for the Rabun County Civic Center today. The WPA was also involved in building lunchrooms when the government took over the lunch program.

We all remember that teacher who challenged us, one such teacher discussed around the table at the Rabun County Senior Center when I met with these folks was Mrs. Irene Norton Maxwell. She took over teaching history while her husband was away at war. She told students if they would go to the movies and watch a film about the war and write an essay she would give them an automatic A. Most of the Math teachers were male so Mary Elizabeth said she and Janie P. both felt as if they did not adequately learn math because most of the men had gone to WW II. While the Clayton school had one teacher for every classroom, many of the others had grades 1-7 in one classroom and at Lakemont School grades 8-11 had teachers who rotated throughout the day.

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One of the things that I was amazed by was the spirit of the children and the fond memories of these “senior” students I spoke with. They smiled as they remembered their school days. All agreed it was very hard times but they were grateful for the opportunity Mr. Jack Smith’s letter to learn, happy with their from his jacket lives, as most didn’t know there was anyone living differently from them. The senior class of 1937/1938 is pictured here and these students all were dressed in their best, the girls were wearing their lipstick and they all had genuine smiles. These students had hope in spite of having been raised during the Great Depression. They knew none of the luxuries of today’s students yet they excelled and went on to do great things. One of the documents that we found in Mr. Smith’s box of treasures was a Teacher’s contract and it contained a final sentence before being signed that read, “As you have the opportunity, impress upon patrons and pupils the importance of regular attendance, hearty home cooperation, and of establishing and using school libraries.” Good advice for teachers, even today.

There is so much more history and I feel we have just scratched the surface. We certainly might revisit education in the coming months.

Publisher’s note: I so enjoyed talking history with the seniors at the Rabun County Senior Center that we (GML) have decided to invite the public to join us. This is a “round table’ type setting with different topics each time we meet. We will meet every two weeks on Thursday at the Senior Center beginning around 11:45. This is a cordial gathering of likeminded folks who love Rabun County history. We realize the value of the memories in the minds and hearts of our seniors and we wish to do our part to preserve them.

Sessions may be recorded or videoed for later use.

Graduating class at Lakemont Consolidated School 1937/1938 school year.

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August 2019 - 91

NEVER FORGET………

by Irene Bynum-Faith, Veteran’s Dinner Chair ~ Director, Rabun County Chamber of Commerce

A

fter re-living the 18th anniversary of 9/11, like most Americans, I was heartsick all over again. I cried and mourned the loss of innocent life and then reveled in the wave of patriotism that swept the country again, even if it was just for a brief moment. I do remember what it was like to be an American that dark day in 2001 and the many weeks afterwards. Our country was united in such a way, all politics were set aside and our flag was flying EVERYWHERE. We were united in a common cause. Our country had been attacked and we were not going to stand for it!

I can only imagine what it would be like to be the men and women in the military who serve our country. Many of them have witnessed attacks and fought in battles that we can’t even comprehend. They may have fought on foreign soil, but they were fighting for a cause.

Some were brought home without their bodies intact and some came home with their minds altered from the trauma of what they had lived through. Some were hailed as heroes, and some were not even acknowledged. And then of course, some just didn’t come home.

We must never forget these men and women and their call of duty to serve their country.

Our Veteran’s Dinner is such a small gesture in the scheme of things, but it is a way for our community to show these brave men and women how much we appreciate their service.

We always have a good turn out from our WWII, Korean and Vietnam war veterans, but we want to be able to thank those brave men and women who served during the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan combats as well and we graciously invite them to join us as we need our “younger” veterans involvement in order to continue this tribute on an annual basis. If you know of a veteran who served during that era, please encourage them to come and allow our community to show its appreciation. We must never forget any of them.

The Rabun County Chamber of Commerce sees this event as the most important project we take on every year, but we can’t do it alone. It takes a community to put this event on and we always ask for help through sponsorships and volunteerism. If you would like to contribute as an individual or business sponsor or just want to give us your manpower, contact the Chamber at 706/782-4812 or email

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ibynum1063@gmail.com and we will be sure not to forget you!

This year’s 21st Annual Veteran’s Dinner will be held on November 7th at the Rabun County Civic Center and will be catered by The Dillard House. We look forward to this year’s event as we have a unique program furnished by the Clayton United Methodist Church.

Come help us honor our veterans the Rabun County way…..and remember, we must never forget!