It’s here: Live on Lanier monthly podcasts debuted in June. Sponsored by the LLA and hosted by Board Member Kirby Cay Scheimann, the informative, educational and entertaining video showcases issues, personalities and news about Lake Lanier. Page 2
Lanier Dragon Boat teams
The colorful 42-foot boats may look intimidating, but in reality, Dragon Boat Breast Cancer paddlers are finding comfort and hope when they join other dragon boat paddlers who have survived breast cancer. Page 14
Magnolia Springs State Park
Magnolia Springs State Park near Millen, Ga. is the perfect location for a wildlife photographer, bird watcher, history buff or someone simply looking for a place that the family would enjoy. Page 33
Also inside: Calendar
Page 26
Classifieds Page 47
Dining guide Page 47
Fishing news Page 10
Lanier map
Lake levels
Marinas information
Outdoor activity calendar
Recreation guide
Page 45
Page 18
Page 44
Page 30
Page 44 Safety guide
Page 34 Columns:
The Careful Captain Page 13
Curb Appeal
Page 38
Design & Remodel Page 43
Glenn Burns Page 18
O’Neill Outside Page 20
One Man’s Opinion
On the Water
Vanderford’s travel
Page 21
Page 12
Page 33
is published by Lanier Publishing, Inc.,
3292 Thompson Bridge Rd. #250, Gainesville, GA 30506 (770) 287-1444
Publisher/Editor
Alan Hope
Production
Susan Nish
Susan Daniel Creative, Inc.
Senior Writer
Pamela A. Keene
Contributing writers
Jane Harrison, Millie Adcox
Columnists
Glenn Burns, Vinnie Mendes, Bianca Bryant, O’Neill Williams, Frank Taylor, Bill Crane
Travel Editor
Bill Vanderford
Lakeside is published monthly by Lanier Publishing, Inc. based in Gainesville, GA, with distribution in some 300 locations around Lake Lanier and other areas. Opinions expressed by contributing writers are not necessarily those of Lakeside, its staff or its advertisers. Manuscripts and photographs submitted will be considered for publication. Lakeside cannot be held responsible for such materials in case of damage or loss.
LLA Presents: Live on Lanier monthly podcasts
By Pamela A. Keene
It’s here: Live on Lanier monthly podcasts debuted in June. Sponsored by the Lake Lanier Association and hosted by LLA Board Member Kirby Cay Scheimann, the informative, educational and entertaining video showcases issues, personalities and news about Lake Lanier.
“Our plans are to do a variety of programming,” said Scheimann, former general manager of Aqualand Marina and southeast regional manager for Flagship Marinas. “From podcasts to webinars, our availability of digital resources will help keep the community and our members informed about issues and interesting people connected with Lake Lanier.”
The first Live at Lanier was released in mid-June and featured LLA President Todd Baxter, Executive Director Victoria Clevenger, Dan Vaccaro of the USCGA and Tim Rainey, Corps of Engineers project operations manager of Lake Lanier, focusing on boating safety.
The July episode highlighted safe boating and water quality with Tim Butler of the DNR Law Enforcement Division and LLA board member Bev Nicholls, who manages the association’s Adopta-Lake water-sampling program.
“We are looking for interesting topics and people to include in our Live on Lanier podcasts, which we record monthly,” Scheimann said. “This series is intended to educate and bring awareness to all who love Lake Lanier as well as talking with interesting guests from all around Lake Lanier.”
Scheimann has an extensive background in news media, working for a number of years in radio and eventually becoming general manager of a radio station in Marathon in the Florida Keys.
“One of the most memorable and fun assignments I had in radio was covering both Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and Hurricane Georges in 1998,” he said. He received Broadcaster of the Year awards several times in Florida.
He left broadcasting to become
executive director of the Marathon Economic Development Council, which developed the Marathon Marina and Marathon Community Park. He served as manager of the Marathon Marina and oversaw both projects, now part of the City of Marathon.
in 2004.
He was brought to Lake Lanier in 2000 as general manager of Aqualand Marina and was later made regional manager of Flagship Marinas in the Southeast. He also served as founding president of the Marina Operators of Lake Lanier that won several National Marina Day National awards including National event of the Year
Scheimann served as a board member and officer of the Metro Atlanta Marine Trade Association, on the faculty of the International Marina Institute, presenter for the Association of Marina Industries, and as a committee member and chairperson of the National Marina Day Committee.
In addition to serving on the board of the Lake Lanier Associa-
Kirby Cay Scheimann, right, interviews LLA President Todd Baxter.
PHOTO BY LLA
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WE'RE ON TV!
We recently completed our next episode on a lifestyle centered TV show, American Dream TV. We featured 3 local businesses & organizations on this episode - The Lake Lanier Association, WaterSports Central & Pig Tales. Stay tuned on our social media pages!
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Lanier Tiki sails the lake for social events and private charters
By Pamela A. Keene
Lifelong boater David Schauer is turning his boat dream into reality.
“I’ve always wanted to have a charter boating business and since April, that’s just what I’ve been doing,” said Schauer, who opened Lanier Tiki boat charters last spring. “From barbeque picnic cruises to private parties, our custom-built 40-foot Sanibel Cat provides an open and inviting setting, a stable and smooth ride and a chance to just relax while enjoying the lake.”
Headquartered at Aqualand Marina, Lanier Tiki’s boat sits atop a catamaran hull and travels via two 60-HP Honda motors.
“It’s whisper quiet with wide open sides so that people can feel the breeze and look around a full 360-degrees,” he said. “We can take 24 people at a time, plus we provide music and a really fun time on the water.”
Lanier Tiki offers Friday and Saturday evening picnic cruises, catered by Pig Tales. Leaving from Dock Q at Aqualand by
6:30, the two-hour trip includes dinner and music. Alcoholic beverages are BYO.
“These Friday and Saturday evening barbecue picnics are by reservation only at a per-person rate,” he said. “It’s fun to put a group of friends together for a cruise on the lake, or just come as a couple and meet new people.”
Guests can also hire the boat and captain for special occasions – birthday parties, wedding anniversaries, family reunions and bachelor or bachelorette celebrations. The base price for a private charter includes eight passengers; additional passengers are charged per person, up to a total of 24. They are available in 2-, 3- and 4hour charters.
“With our private charters, you can bring all your food and beverages and the boat is just for your event,” he said. “We’ve also part-
nered with a couple of local breweries for periodic beer-tastings. Check out our website for dates and costs.”
The Lanier Tiki is captained by Wade Hoffman, who has boated on the lake for more than 45 years and holds an Master Inland license.
Growing up in Hawley, Pennsylvania, he skied, sailed and boated on Lake Wallenpaupack. After living in Florida for several years, he moved to Cumming and works for Lowe’s.
Schauer also owns Sanibel Cats, a catamaran hull-building business. The company makes both 22- and 40-foot fiberglass catamaran hulls like the ones used on Lanier Tiki.
“We can build catamaran hulls for houseboats, and outdoor floating cabanas,” he said. “We’ve even got an order in process for a floating helicopter pad in South Florida.
He envisions expanding the business in North Georgia over the next few years, providing other Tiki boats to be used for
“Fire on the Water II” ICF Dragon Boat World Championship 2018, Lake Lanier 24”x36” - Acrylic on canvas by Anne Brodie Hill
charter businesses or privately owned.
“I’ve started my first charter business, but it will be handful of years before I do this fulltime,” he said. “I’m right where I want to be – boating, enjoying the lake
and creating a great social setting for people who want to have fun on the water.”
For more information or to schedule a cruise, visit laniertiki.com or call 470-4571302.
Lake Sidney Lanier & Gainesville prints, Postcards, Notecards Original Oil, Acrylic, and Watercolor Paintings
on
Other Fine Artists at Gallery (www.gallerysq.com)
Ann Alexander, Pam Kohler-Camp, Patricia Fabian, Lydia Ferguson, Ann Goble, Jane Hemmer, Paula Hoffman, Shannon Hughs, Joyce Hornor, Connie Lynn Reilly and Shirley Seguin
Prints, postcards, notecards also available at: Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green Street, Gainesville, GA Frame-Tastic, 565-B Shallowford Road, Gainesville, GA
Lanier Tiki’s boat can hold up to 24 passengers.
PHOTO BY LANIER TIKI
Lanier Fishing Report
Lake level: Near full pool
Temperature: 80s
Clarity: Mostly clear Bass fishing
Bass fishing on Lake Lanier is good. We have been running pretty much a top or drop pattern for the last week. There has been a decent top water bite particularly if there is some wind and sun with the Gunfish, Skimmer and Slick Stick. These have worked best over and around brush on humps, long points and ledges in the 30- to 35-foot range. On sunny days the chrome has worked the best while white is the color for overcast days. If they don’t want to play with the top water baits we have been working the same areas of brush with a drop shot set up. Fifteen pound braid, eight pond fluorocarbon leader, number one hook and a quarter ounce weight has been the set up for recent days. The Lanier Baits Fruity worms have produced all of the fish on either the Epic Flash, Blue Lily or Sweet Rosy colors. The fish may be directly in the brush but they have seemed to more likely to be scattered around it so look in the area not just at the target brush. Finding these fish is not that hard but the challenge is to find a school that will bite so you need to have a number of places to
check. For the most part the structure we have been working has been off shore but there are still fish to be caught in the shade on deeper docks with a three sixteenths spot sticker and a green pumpkin trick worm. Look for the fish to stay in the areas now till fall. It’s still a great time to have fun on Lanier so Go Catch ‘Em!
This bass fishing report is by Phil Johnson. pjohnson15@hotmail.com, 770 366-8845.
Striper fishing
Stripers are below Browns Bridge in large numbers but there are still some stragglers up lake. Down lines and weighted flat lines are still working with blue backs in the 30- to 40-foot range over open waters. Trolling lead core 240 to 280 feet back at 2.5 to 3.5 mph is the best option when locating fish. Once you mark the fish using the electronics mark it and bring your trolling equipment in and go back and drop live bait or a big spoon. The umbrella rigs are another option trolling 110 to 130 feet behind the boat at 2.5 to 3.5 mph. Remember to watch your electronics and stay out of the danger zones. Remember to wear your life jackets.
This striper report is by Buck Cannon, Buck Tails Guide Service, 404 510-1778.
News: The Discover North Georgia Outdoor Expo is August 10, 2024 at the North Georgia Hall of Fame, 415 Hwy 53 East, Dawsonville, GA 30534. Info: contact Grace Reed, event manager, 770 535 6371, gracereed@gainesvilletimes.com.
The First Annual Lake Country Fishing Expo will be held August 17th, 2024 at the Rock Eagle Conference Center, 350 Rock Eagle Rd, Eatonton, GA 31024. This will be a multi species event featuring seminars about bass, catfish, crappie and stripers. Admission is $5 or a family for $25. Call
Jim Lumpkin, Jlumpkin@lakecountryfishing.com (478) 718 4113 for more information.
There is a benefit bass tournament on October 12, 2024 at Little Hall Park, 6:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. The tournament is to benefit the Cherney’s Journeys and proceeds benefit veteran’s outdoor activities. Contact Captain Josh Thornton 770 5306493 or Adam Cherney’s 470 209-5656.
This fishing report was compiled by Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing, www.southernfishing.com.
Reminiscing - thoughts on an old soldier and the
In high school I was a sort of a nerd, reading science fiction and building liquid-fueled rockets. Let’s face it, I was a real nerd. But I was also one of the “Rocket Boys” before it was fashionable. When I graduated in 1960, boys had a choice: Army or Navy. If you were really lucky you were able to get into the Air Force. And if you had a screw loose, you joined the Marines! (But if you ever got onto a fight in a bar, and guys from your own ship wouldn’t help you, if there was just one marine in the place, he’d be there in the middle of things, swinging right beside you!)
Since I’d spent all my life around and on the water, I naturally picked the Navy. After passing a test at the recruiting office, I was guaranteed Guided Missile School, which was exciting because I could be around real rockets and actually get paid for it!
On the train enroute to boot camp in Great Lakes, IL, I found out that in the Navy, a “guarantee” was more like a “suggestion” and I was actually headed for Nu-
Vinnie Mendes
On the Water
clear Weapons School. Not my choice but sounded OK. The “Nuclear Weaponsman” insignia you wore on your arm was a bomb dropping through an atom, which was also cool. Before I graduated the name of the rating was changed to “Gunner’s Mate, Technician” for security reasons and the insignia was a simple pair of crossed cannons. Bummer!
At any rate, for the next several years I was up close and personal with a lot of atomic bombs and knew more than anyone ever wanted to know about what they were capable of doing. Thank goodness no one has ever used one in wartime since World War II!
I think about it this time of year because on August 8th we
are coming up on the anniversary of when the first bomb was dropped. There are still a lot of different opinions as to whether we should have used the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at all. I’m not offering an opinion, but just putting out some statistics, and they are only approximations, since every source you look at has a different set of numbers.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki were both prime military targets, one with a torpedo plant and the other a major shipyard. The total loss of life was approximately 500,000 combined for both targets. This compares to 250,000 casualties per night due to the firebombing of Japanese cities. If we had to invade the Japanese main islands, storming the beaches as we did in Normandy, it would have likely cost one million American lives and 10 million Japanese, not to mention devastating the civilian population of Japan. These stats are what led to the dilemma that was dropped into Harry Truman’s lap when he unexpectedly became president upon FDR’s death in 1945. I’m glad it wasn’t my decision.
Fast forward 50 years and 10,000 miles east: When I moved up to Lake Lanier, my next-door neighbor was the original homeowner on our street. When he moved here, there was a goat farm right down Gaines Ferry Road, and one farmer still plowed his land with mules!
My neighbor’s house was a modern log cabin, and the inside looked like a cross between a museum and antique shop, and every artifact had a story behind it. As far as neighbors go, you couldn’t have asked for one better. Whenever I needed a hand on anything he was right there. Each year when the lake went down, we would move our docks out to the end of the cove together, then move them back when the lake came up in the spring.
Over the years, we had plenty of time to swap stories back and forth. He passed away this spring and the one story that I remember best is that he was a World War II veteran. He had graduated from high school in 1945 and immediately enlisted in the Army. In July of that year, he was at an Army
The original “Nuclear Weaponsman” insignia, which was later changed.
base in the state of Washington waiting to get on a ship to take him to Japan. He was to be part of the Second Wave to storm the beaches on the big island of Honshu. He said, “When Harry Truman dropped that bomb, he saved my life.”
In memory of Robert Kopp, 1927-2024.
Mendes has been sailing all his life and on Lake Lanier for over 30 years. His family owns a marina/ bar/restaurant so he has plenty of real life experiences to draw from. His favorite line: “You can’t make this stuff up.”
PHOTO BY VINNIE MENDES
Questions to ask yourself before riding a PWC
Riding a personal watercraft (PWC) can be a lot of fun. Trust me, I know – I do it a lot. But just because it’s fun doesn’t mean there isn’t some responsibility that comes along with it.
I’m not talking about basics like having a life jacket or a working fire extinguisher (though those are important). I want you to consider some additional things.
Whether you’re planning on taking one out for a ride or buying one, here are some questions you should ask yourself beforehand: Do you know your local boating laws?
Yes, a PWC is a boat. It’s small, but it’s still a boat, and local and federal boating laws
Frank Taylor
The
Careful Captain
apply. Ignoring them may, at best, lead to a ticket or, at worst, serious injury. Do you know how to operate a PWC?
For some reason, people sometimes think that operating a PWC is simple: you just sit on the seat, pull the throttle, and off you go. But did you know that for most
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PWCs, steering doesn’t work when the throttle is fully released? Or that in reverse (for those equipped with it), the steering works opposite of what you’re used to in a car?
Controls differ from PWC to PWC, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with the one you’re riding before taking off.
Many of us have seen videos on social media where someone on a PWC hits a boat or a dock. These accidents happen when someone doesn’t have an intimate knowledge of how the machine works. You need to know how to operate the machine BEFORE an emergency arises.
Do you know what to do if you come off your PWC?
Have you ever thought about what you would do if you fell off your PWC? What if it flipped over? Do you know how to turn it back over, and can you get back on?
A smaller ski will undoubtedly be easier to flip back over but
more difficult to climb back on due to stability issues.
Larger units are more stable and easier to mount while in the water, and many have boarding steps. They are, however, harder to flip over if they land upside down. Several factors, including your physical fitness level, determine how easy this will be for you.
Don’t forget that this also applies to your passenger. If you own a PWC, don’t wonder – jump in the water and see how easily you can get back on.
Can you handle basic troubleshooting on the water?
Obviously, you’re not going to perform major repairs on your PWC while on the water, but some things commonly happen that require a little troubleshooting skill.
It’s not uncommon for PWC rider to go through debris like grass or a rope, which then gets tangled or clogged in the intake, disabling the machine in seconds.
If this happens, do you know how to deal with it?
Another common issue is when the constant vibration of riding causes battery terminals to loosen. This prevents the machine from starting and can even cause it to shut down if it’s already running. These are not difficult fixes, but you need to know how to recognize and handle them.
I have personally experienced both of these issues while riding. Knowing how to quickly recognize and correct them made the difference between safely riding home and being stuck.
Imagine yourself or a loved one being unprepared for one of these issues and having the unexpected happen. Don’t let that happen. Preparation is key. Once you've got this part down, just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Frank is past commander of America’s Boating Club Atlanta and is currently a content creator at the YouTube channel “The Ships Logg.”
Coming together: Dragon Boats set the stage for breast cancer survivors
By Pamela A. Keene
When Jayne Berry was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2019, she had no idea where her journey would take her. Five years later the breast cancer survivor has been around the world competing in dragon boats to raise awareness for breast cancer, including competitions in New Zealand and Ireland. She’s also an avid rower and kayaker.
Berry moved to Georgia from Massachusetts in 1999 and soon joined the Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club team to learn a new sport and meet people.
“I’ve always had a relationship with water and boats and joining LCKC was just what I needed as a new resident of Hall County,” she said. “For five years, I paddled in K-1, K-2 and K-4s eventually competing in the 2005 World Masters Games in Edmonton, Canada.” At that event she earned nine individual medals –three gold, three silver and three bronze.
Berry is quick to admit that she’s competitive and that she thrives on challenges, so shortly after the Edmonton competition, she took a learn-to-row class at the Lake Lanier Rowing Club.
“Rowing just felt right and soon I joined the Lake Lanier Rowing Club Race Team,” she said. “Both the LLRC and the LCKC fielded teams for the 2009 World Masters Games in Sydney, Australia. I went and competed in both sports.”
She received one gold, one
silver and two bronze medals in the kayak events.
She continued to participate in both sports and occasionally sailed and raced with friends on Lake Lanier. In 2005 she met her future husband Joe Garcia who was a sailing enthusiast.
“We met at the Barefoot Open Sailing Regatta in October 2005. We both loved the water and were active in sports, so we had many things in common, plus our circle of friends were all boaters.”
The two married in 2012 and began their lives together, but late in 2019, things changed.
“On my 70th birthday, just two months after getting an all-clear mammogram, I had an itch on my left breast and felt something that shouldn’t have been there, so I called my physician and said ‘I’m coming to the office now, and I’m not going to leave until you see me,’” she said. “I sat there most of the day, but once I was examined, they had me in surgery in less than two weeks.”
Just before the pandemic began, she had her reconstruction surgery in February 2020.
“When my treatment was finished, I had one question for my medical team ‘Will I be able to row again?’ The next day, Joe bought me a rowing single so that I could row on the lake, through the pandemic. It was my lifesaver, a place where I could exercise and be alone and reflect on life.”
I had been aware of dragon boating and a LLRC friend suggested I join the Breast Cancer Dragon Boat Team. Developed in 1995 by a Canadian sports medicine doctor, he found that dragon boat racing and upper-body exercise helped breast cancer patients
post-cancer, both with physical and mental healing.
“I had seen dragon boat competitions at the Olympic Venue, but it wasn’t until I joined the Dragon Boat Atlanta team in 2020 that it all began to make sense. Here we are in a 43-foot-long boat with 22 people all pulling together and relying on each other.”
The team competed locally, regionally, nationally and internationally, sometimes with a full team of cancer survivors, and sometimes needing to add family or friends to fill a boat. In several competitions, they would merge with Dragon Boat paddlers from other states to have a full boat of breast cancer survivors.
dling. Berry also has joined the LCKC Dragon Boat team for more competitive coaching.
This year in late June, the LCKC team won the Dragon Boat Race Day 2024 event in Beaufort, SC, besting more than 30 teams from around the country. The 22person team included breast cancer survivors, Dragon Boat World Champions and LCKC athletes. Jim Odell was coach and drummer.
Berry splits her time between rowing, dragon boating and canoe/kayak practicing multiple times each week. “I do this for fun, exercise and the camaraderie,” she said with a smile. “In fact, just for fun, later this month I’m going to Greece to ocean row with a group of good friends.”
In the Beaufort competition, eight women were in the LCKC boat; for of them are breast cancer survivors, designated by (BC), (l-r) Lilly Kiley, Linda Spencer, Becky Treff (BC), Nancy Crawford (BC), Jayne Berry (BC), Esther Wallace, Nancy Dalman, Terri Kemmerer (BC).
In 2022, Berry traveled to Venice, Italy, for a 30K athletic rowing competition on the Venice Lagoon. The next year New Zealand hosted the International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission, where 4,000 cancer survivors from around the world met, including Berry.
That same year, Berry was asked to be an “International Pink Sister,” global ambassadors for Breast Cancer Dragon Boat events globally. They promote breast cancer survivors getting healthy through pad-
As the Dragon Boat team prepares for the Atlanta Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival September 7 at Lake Lanier Olympic Park, it’s a time for reflection for the members, some of whom have been on the Breast Cancer team since its inception in 2004.
“This is a special group of people who have all been through similar cir-
cumstances and come out the other side,” she said. “Not only did we share the history of having had cancer, being part of the Dragon Boat team has brought us together to look forward to a healthy tomorrow. We paddle as one and create such a rhythm that we truly are a team accomplishing much together that we couldn’t do alone.”
Lanier Dragon Boat teams give breast cancer survivors hope
By Pamela A. Keene
The colorful 42-foot boats may look intimidating, but in reality, Dragon Boat Breast Cancer paddlers are finding comfort and hope when they join other dragon boat paddlers who have survived breast cancer.
Dominated by a large openmouthed dragon head at the bow and a spiky tail at the stern, the boats have a long history, but it wasn’t until 1995 that a Canadian sports medicine physician found that upper-body exercise, particularly paddling a boat, benefits recovering breast cancer patients. Enter the sport of Dragon Boat
Paddling.
Fast-forward almost 30 years: More than 260 Breast Cancer Paddler teams exist in 33 countries around the world, becoming an international movement not only for exercise and competition but also a special support system for those who know breast cancer. Twenty years at Lanier In 2004, a group of breast cancer survivors from Atlanta and north Georgia met at the Lake Lanier Olympic Park to form Dragon Boat Atlanta. They met once or twice a week and paddled in a borrowed dragon boat. And
Leading the pack: The LCKC Dragon Boat, top, leads the way to victory at the recent Dragon Boat event in Beaufort, SC.
Berry
CREDIT NATALIE MARTIN
CREDIT NATALIE MARTIN
The LCKC Dragon Boat heads out to the course on the June 29, race in Beaufort, SC; Jim Odell is at the drum in the bow of the boat.
Lake Lanier Association
Ready to jump in?
What's stopping you?
Support LLA, become a member today!
For as little as $100 a year, your Household Membership supports these on-lake intiatives...
Removing over 90 tons of trash annually at Shore Sweep Light-up 289 hazard markers with Solar Lights Stock and maintain 10 life jacket loaner stations 2 miles and counting of shoreline protected with Rip Rap Monthly Water Quality Testing , all 12 months of the year
Remove Abandoned and Derelict Docks & Vessels (ADDV) from the waters of Lanier
LLA is made up of boaters, fisherman, property owners, drinking water users, area businesses and anyone passionate about Lake Lanier. As a non-profit, we are 80% funde d by memberships and tax deductible donations. Our on-lake initiatives are not possible without memberships li ke yours!
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Scan the QR code above to join or renew your LLA Membership or visit: members.lakelanier.org/join
CLEAN LAKE
Shore Sweep, Adopt-a-Lake Water Quality Testing, Clean Lake Pledge & Mini Clean-Ups
FULL LAKE
Rip Rap, Erosion and Sedimentation, Island Protection through municipal funding, USACE Basin Management
SAFE LAKE
Life Jacket Loaner Stations, Solar Lights, Channel Markers, Safety Course & Education
TOGETHER
Through education and advocacy, we work to keep you informed about important matters. LLA works closely with local authorities to protect Lanier.
Artist Patricia Fabian joins Gallery on the Square; Open house set for August 13
By Pamela A. Keene
Patricia Fabian began painting to satisfy a requirement in graduate school at the University of Tulsa. Little did she know that it would lead her to a career as an artist.
“I thought of myself as a writer – poetry and short stories – as I studied humanities in college,” she said. “But because of my major, I had to take painting, and frankly when my professor com-
• LLA
Continued from Page 2
tion, Scheimann spends time with his three grandchildren, who call him “Papa.” He’s also returning to another of his loves – music – and he’s again playing the guitar, writing and recording music.
Scheimann and his wife Laura live on the lake.
“Hosting the podcasts for Live on Lanier is more than fun, it’s a way to share everything good about lake living, Lake Lanier and North Geor-
plimented me and suggested I take more painting lessons, I thought he was joking.”
Not so. Specializing in contemporary landscapes and figures in oil and acrylic, she is the most recent addition to the roster at Gallery on the Square in downtown Gainesville.
The cooperative art gallery features 12 artists who work in oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, mixed media, sculpture, jewelry
and pottery.
Throughout her career, Fabian has spent time in New Mexico, the Washington, DC area, and North Atlanta where she and her husband John raised their two now-adult daughters. They’ve also lived in Texas and New Jersey.
gia,” he said. “I’m truly blessed to have this opportunity.”
Live on Lanier is available through lakelanier.org under Get Involved tab and clicking on Newsletters and Webinars. It’s also streaming on the organization’s YouTube channel: @lakelanierassociation/playlists.
To suggest guests, contact Scheimann at info@lakelanier.org. The podcasts are available at lakelanier.org.
Her work career included fundraising and communications for the American Heart Association in Tulsa and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Washington, DC. She was also director of development at the Atlanta History Center. “At one point, before I married, I took a year off to focus on my painting and went to New Mexico to study the desert,” Fabian said. “As I traveled my subject matter seemed to take on the flavor of the area. And I began to understand color for the first time”
She expanded her paintings of figures, including numerous images of tennis players, including casual settings and portraits. One of her works hangs in the national offices of the United States Tennis Association in Atlanta.
• Covered & Uncovered Slips up to 80’
• Dry Stack Storage up to 26’/pontoons also
• Easy access to docks
Her award-winning works have been displayed in numerous galleries and private collections across the country. She received a grant to paint at Chateau Orquevaux, France, with its residency program; the resulting works were exhibited at Beauregard Fine Art, Rumson, NJ, and Reinike Gallery in Miami Circle in Atlanta. In addition to Gallery on the Square, her works are shown in Georgia, including Quinlan Visual Arts Center and at Brenau University for the Presidents Summer Series in Gainesville. Her coastal art including shrimp boats is displayed
• Security seven days a week/Video surveillance
• Service Shop & Fiberglass repair
• Skogies’s Waterfront Eatery
• Gas Dock & Pump-out Stations • Courtesy Dock
• Covered Pavilion
at The Studio Gallery, Darien. In addition to Fabian, other artists at Gallery on the Square are Joyce Hornor, pure silver jewelry; Ann Goble, oil, watercolor, wildlife, water birds, horses and figures; Connie Reilly, oil, pastel, watercolor, portraits, figures, pets, wildlife, floral, landscape; Anne Brodie Hill, oil, watercolor, boats, birds, landscapes, water scenes, Lake Lanier; Paula Hoffman, oil, water scenes, landscapes, cityscapes, still life, wildlife, pets; Ann Alexander, oil, still life, floral, water scenes, landscapes; Lydia Ferguson, oil, acrylic, still life, floral, animals, landscapes; Shirley Seguin, oil, still life, floral, landscape, cityscapes; Pam Kohler Camp, pottery; Jane Hemmer, sculpture, bronze; and Shannon Hughs, abstract multi media.
The gallery is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located in Main Street Market, 118 Main Street SW, Gainesville.
For more information, visit wwwgallerysq.com or call 770 718-7632.
Artist Patricia Fabian is joining the Gallery on the Square in Gainesville.
PHOTO BY ANNE BRODIE HILL
The life and death of a thunderstorm
Glenn Burns is on vacation. Here is a column from early last year:
As the sun rises on a typical July morning the ground will begin to warm up. The air above the ground is also being heated by the ground. This process is creating “lift” in the atmosphere. As “bubbles” of warm air being to rise across north Georgia, large cumulus clouds begin to develop. Hot air is much less dense than cold air so it tends to rise in altitude.
When we send up weather balloons we get a nice thermal profile and can see how quickly the temperature decreases with height. The faster the temperature drop, the more unstable the atmosphere becomes. When the environment is ripe, the warm, humid air rises rapidly and to great heights. As the moisture in the air condenses, sometimes very quickly, hail will form.
If the updrafts of air are strong, a hail pellet being pulled to the ground by gravity will often be forced back up into the top of the cloud, refreezing as it collides with raindrops. This process can happen over and over again until the hail becomes heavy enough to overcome the storm updraft. If you are the curious type, you can cut a hail stone open and see rings. Each ring will tell you how many times the
Glenn Burns Lanier Outlook
stone was forced back up into the cloud. When you see a large hail stone in your yard, you know you have a powerful updraft. If hail that is 3/4-inch in diameter occurs, that is considered severe hail and a severe thunderstorm warning will be issued by the National Weather Service.
Hail, as we all know, can cause quite a bit of damage to our homes, cars, and gardens. However, it is not responsible for what kills more people every year than tornadoes. That is lightning. A billion watts of electricity with 300,000 volts. It is about an inch in diameter and is 50,000 degrees hot, five times hotter than the surface of the sun. This is what worries me most about everyone out on the lake during a hot summer afternoon. You can estimate how far a storm is from you by counting the number of seconds from the time you saw the bolt until you hear the thunder. For every 5 seconds you count, that equals a distance of one mile.
Our summer storms don’t last too long. Their average lifespan is about 30-60 minutes. They are dangerous from beginning to end. At the end of the storm’s life, cold air will eventually overcome the warm updrafts of air that started the storm. This
See Burns, page 34
SOLUNAR TIMES FOR LAKE LANIER
SOLUNAR TIMES FOR LAKE LANIER
• Dragon
Continued from Page 14
when they didn’t have access to a boat on the water, they lined up 20 folding chairs to mimic sitting in a boat and practiced their strokes, timing and coordination.
“We’ve come a long way since then,” said Marilou Frizzell of Braselton, president of Dragon Boat Atlanta. “Thanks to the help and support of other paddlers and our access to the lake through Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club, we’ve been able to grow the sport, help numerous cancer survivors heal more quickly and find unconditional support and friendships with other survivors.”
Members of the Dragon Boat Atlanta team get ready for a moonlight paddle last month
Three of the team’s founding paddlers continue to participate with the team: Sharon Beckman, Cumming; Nancy Crawford, Buford; and Kathy Cunningham, Cumming.
Frizzell began her breast cancer journey in June 2015. “I found Dragon Boat Atlanta in October and was welcomed by the team,” she said. “I paddled twice with them and I was hooked. I met women and men –breast cancer survivors – who have become my most stalwart supporters, confidantes and close friends. We look forward to seeing each other at practices, Dragon Boat events and other cancer-related activities.”
Post-pandemic rebuilding
For practical reasons, practices and events shut down during the pandemic. “At one time we had around 60 women survivors participating with us,” she said. “The pandemic changed many things, but cancer survivors still need the support and caring of others.”
Dragon Boat Atlanta expanded its mission beyond breast cancer survivors after the pandemic to include survivors of any kind of cancer. Some races are breast cancer survivors only and some are all cancer survivors.
“That’s not to diminish the seriousness of breast cancer, but for anyone who’s been on a cancer journey, shared experiences can be extremely powerful.”
Meanwhile, Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club Dragon Boat team includes cancer survivors. Depending on the event, the boats may have an all-breast-cancer team or one that includes all types of cancer survivors.
“If you’re interested and a survivor, we’ll find a place for you in a boat,” Frizzell said. “The most important thing is the mental support dragon boat brings and there’s really nothing that replaces it.”
She explained that no boating or paddling experience is necessary.
Both groups go beyond the water to spread the word about breast cancer and dragon boat events. They have information tables at other area cancer-related events, they speak to groups about their journeys and, of course, paddle in events like the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival next month.
For more information about Dragon Boat Atlanta, visit dragonboatatlanta.us. To learn more about the LCKC paddling program, visit www.exploregainesville.org.
Support or join 2026 Breast Cancer Dragon Boat Festival in France
The Breast Cancer Dragon Boat team plans to compete in the 2026 International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission Dragon Boat Festival in Aix-les-Bains/Lake Bourget, France, August 24-30, 2026. You can be a part of it.
“As we continue to rebuild our Breast Cancer Dragon Boat team, please consider joining us as a paddler,” said Marilou Frizzell. “If you’re a breast cancer survivor – female or male – you are eligible to paddle with us as we prepare for this important global event.”
The event is not a competition. It includes demonstrations, workshops, social events and opportunities for awareness and dialog.
“Breast cancer is the leading cancer among women, so this will be an excellent opportunity to help raise awareness about the disease and experience the amazing hope and lasting friendships from around the world,” said Jayne Berry. “These events are incredible. To see thousands of breast cancer survivors in dragon boats on the water is life changing, even if you’re not paddling.”
For more information about the 2026 France trip, to make a donation or join the Breast Cancer Atlanta Dragon Boat Team, contact dragonboatatl@gmail.com.
CREDIT DRAGON BOAT ATALTNA
Summertime fishing tips, tricks and more
Before I get into this list of miscellaneous tips and tricks to increase your catch during the hot summer months please note that these aren’t or haven’t been invented or “figured out” by O’Neill but by and large learned by O’Neill. That’s because over my career featuring tournament fishing and soliciting expert guests to team up for television shows, I let them do the talking as they respond to my questions.
These are “random” suggestions to expand your knowledge and capabilities so that you can catch a few more – not 50 more –but just a few.
No 1: To quote Bill Dance, a guy I’m sure you’ve heard of ... he says that if you’re fishing for largemouth bass and casting to the bank, 95 percent of the bass are behind you.
No. 2: If you’re out in deep water fishing over a standing tree or large brush pile, congratulations, you’re on the right track. But, just in case, be sure that the sun is in your face and the shadows of you, your hand and
rod motions and your boat is behind you. If the sun is at your back, more comfortable I’m sure, the shadows are over your target and your catchable bass. Will it keep you from catching your best and most? Don’t know, but it will help.
No. 3: Sounds like a contradiction, I know, but during the very early light of dawn, use the first 30-minutes to cast a buzz-bait. Any color is fine as long as it’s Chartreuse. It’s your one chance of catching a truly biggun’. Further, use a trailer hook on the buzz but take the tip further by flattening the barb on the trailer
hook at turn it down. If a bass bites at the skirt, you’ve got him. You’ll get better hook penetration with the flattened barb and finally, if you want to take it to another level, use a large treble hook as a trailer instead.
No. 4: Depart from the lake and go up one of the rivers. If the oncoming river reaches the lake from above and you get to fish at the dam, you just hit a home run. In the churning waters at the dam, it’s loaded with spawning bait and thousands of bass. Telephone the dam operator and find out the water release times and coordinate accordingly. Water releases means catches for you.
No. 5: Want to expand your targets that are in the reservoirs across the southern part of the Appalachians and the coastal plain? Pick a reservoir and hire a guide.
No 6: Read what O’Neill has to say. You might get some ideas.
O’Neill Williams has been a television, radio and print personality for more than 40 years and more recently has added podcasts and video on demand to his repertoire.
Freedom Waters Foundation boating weekend seeks volunteers for Sept. 7-8
By Pamela A. Keene
For the past three years, children with disabilities and veterans have been able to experience boating on Lake Lanier. Organized by the Freedom Waters Foundation, this year’s event will take place at Port Royale Marina the weekend of September 7-8.
“Our Weller Day Boat outings on Lake Lanier are always so rewarding, not only for the families of people with disabilities and veterans, but because of the abundant support and participation of our many boat owners and volunteers,” said Debra Frenkel, founder and executive director of the organization based in Naples. “I continue to be overwhelmed by the kindness and willingness of the boaters on Lake Lanier for giving their time to help others enjoy an experience on the water.”
Frenkel is asking for additional volunteers and boat
A young person with special needs enjoyed his boat ride.
owners to sign up in anticipation of a larger group than last year. Although attendance was slightly down in 2023, previous years have seen more than 640 people take part in the two-day event.
“Because of a conflicting event on Lake Lanier last year, we changed our date and that affected our participation,” she said. “We fully expect to have
See Freedom, page 42
Georgia loses the best governor it never had
“Abit Massey was the very best Governor that Georgia never had,” said close friend and longtime Gainesville, Georgia neighbor, former Georgia Governor Nathan Deal.
And Abit Massey also was for decades a key leader for so many organizations, the people he mentored and so much more. Always kind, always encouraging, always smiling ... and as he recently left us at age 96, still with a youthful headful of dark, wavy hair. Abit Massey was the epitome of a southern gentleman.
Fresh out of Emory University with a law degree in 1959, Governor Ernest Vandiver hired Massey to run the Georgia Office of Commerce, yes, it was Abit Massey who helped launch Georgia into the job creation business. Abit established the department of tourism and opened Georgia’s first Visitor’s Center. In less than a year, he was being wooed away from state government and was hired by the Georgia Poultry Federation, his young fiancée, then
Bill Crane
One Man’s Opinion
Kayanne Shoffer, a recent Miss Georgia, teased Massey about his lack of knowledge of farming and the chicken business.
Hard to believe from those humble beginnings, but poultry is now Georgia’s No. 1 export and cash crop. The Peach State may be better known for that fruit, peanuts and even cotton ... but in every corner of the world, most every day, Georgia eggs, chicken wings and breasts are being consumed. The move to the federation also brought Abit and soon Kayanne Massey to Gainesville which remains the center of Georgia’s poultry industry, and which they have since called home.
Massey served the federation incredibly well, under Georgia’s Gold Dome and elsewhere for 48 years, retiring in 2009, while still sharp as a tack at 81. Anyone in D.C. taking notes?
Chicken is now America’s top dining protein choice, and Georgia is the top poultry producer in the nation. When run off from chicken farms became an environmental concern, Massey and his federation helped create markets for chicken manure. Atlanta and Georgia’s second largest industry after agri-business and farming is tourism. And one of the largest conventions in the food business in the world, the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), with nearly 1,500 exhibitors annually brings nearly 100,000 visitors into our capital city. Though the less enlightened often refer to the IPPE as, The Chicken Pluckers, the bucks they spend from the clucks they hatch and grow rival the economic impact of a college bowl game weekend like the Peach Bowl.
And perhaps second only to his family, Abit Massey loved the University of Georgia, serving as President of the UGA Alumni Association, trustee of the UGA Foundation and as an Executive Committee member of the UGA Research Foundation. At home in Gainesville, he was also a trustee of Brenau University and an inductee into both the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame and the American Poultry Historical Society.
Abit Massey’s life by every measure was incredibly well-lived. By now, I imagine that Abit has found a nice porch seat up there, and while smiling and making new friends, he is preparing a comfortable spot for when Kayanne joins him. Thank you, sir, for giving UGA, your community, your family and our state your all. And for the many whose lives Abit Massey touched or made better ... I have
just three more words, Be Like Abit.
Bill Crane is a writer and true son of the South. A longtime columnist and political analyst, he is now spending a good part of his time living the lake life and loving North Georgia. He will share his thoughts and travels here, and you can share yours with him: bill.csicrane@gmail.com.
Abit and Kayanne Massey
PHOTO PROVIDED BY BILL CRANE
New Customers signing an annual contract agreement will get a choice of:
One month FREE storage, $250 fuel credit OR a FREE wash & wax. *Restrictions apply
Lazy Days is the legendary, full-service marina located just a short drive north of Atlanta on I-985, off the Lake Lanier Islands Parkway exit. Lazy Days can dry stack boats up to 36 feet and offers wet slips up to 125 feet. Lazy Days has an on-site service department by Singleton Marine. With more than 690 miles of shoreline, the lake is well known for its aqua-blue colored water, spectacular scenery and unique recreational activities.
D INTO MARINA OFFICE
Brand new covered slips from 24’ to 106’
Dry Stack up to 36’ with 200+ new courtesy slips
Minimum 8’ wide easy-access walkways and ramps
PWC Ports, private patios, and boat hoists
available
Abundance of convenient, well-lit parking
Lake Lanier’s largest in-house Boat Service & Repairs
24/7 gated security with guardhouse
Lake Lanier’s largest floating Gas Island with 26 pumps
Heated & A/C bath-house with laundry & fitness center
Two Ship Stores with everything from beer & ice to cleaning supplies
In-House & On-Site Boat Sales & Brokerage
(Yamaha, Crownline, G3, Tracker)
Fresh water, GFCI power & wifi available at all docks
♫ denotes musical event On & Around the Lake
♫ Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 – Trivia, Hall & Hound Brewing Co., Cumming. Info: 470-239-8423.
♫ Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 – Music Bingo, NoFo Brewing Co., Gainesville. Info: topher@nofobrew.co
♫ Aug. 2, Sept. 6 – First Friday Concert Series, 7 p.m., Historic Gainesville Square, Gainesville.
Info: exploregainesville.org
♫ Aug. 4, Sept. 1, Oct. 6 – Music in the Branch, Amphitheater, Flowery Branch. Info: flowerybranchga.org
o Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27 – Trivia, NoFo Brewing Co., Gainesville.
Info: topher@nofobrew.co
♫ Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28 – Music Bingo, Hall & Hound Brewing Co., Cumming. Info: 470-239-8423.
♫ Aug. 9 – Caleb Wilkie and The Privateers, Locos Grill & Pub, Gainesville. Info: 770-534-5771.
♫ Aug. 10 – Aunt Betty, Branch House Tavern, Flowery Branch.
Info: 678-828-8345.
o Aug. 14, Sept. 11, Oct. 9, Nov. 13 – Wine Tasting, Hall & Hound Brewing Co., Cumming. Info: 470-239-8423
o Aug. 15-18, 22-25 – Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Forsyth County Arts and Learning Center, Cumming. Info: 470-695-7826.
♫ Aug. 16 – Ben Bostick, Twisted Oar, Buford. Info: 678-714-7572.
Lakeside Calendar August 2024
o Aug. 18 – From Place To Place: Book Signing & Lecture by Bernardo Szwarcbart, 2-4 p.m., Gainesville Civic Center. Info: 770-906-4970.
♫ Sept. 6 – Taj Motel Trio/Great Wide Nothing/Vayne
♫ Sept. 28 – NecroPromicon: Prime Mover, Guillotine A.D, Blue Ridge Death Cult
♫ Oct. 26 – Spooky Hearse Show Info: 678-696-8285; blackstraprockhall.com
Boot Barn Hall
♫ Aug 2 – Listen to Her Heart, Tom Petty tribute
♫ Aug. 3 – Chi-Town Transit Authority, Chicago tribute
♫ Aug. 9 – Silver Stallion,Highwaymen tribute
♫ Aug. 16 – All My Rowdy Friends, Hank Williams Sr. tribute
♫ Aug. 17 – Rumours, Fleetwood Mac tribute
♫ Aug. 23 – The Ultimate King of Pop, Michael
Jackson tribute
♫ Aug. 24 – To The Limit, Eagles experience
♫ Aug. 30 – Mainstreet, Bob Seger tribute
♫ Aug. 31 –A1A, Jimmy Buffett tribute Info: bootbarnhallga.com
Buford Community Center
♫ Aug. 16 – Electric Avenue
♫ Aug. 23 – Karen Mills Info: 770-904-2740; bufordcommunitycenter.com
Clarkesville’s Habersham Community Theater
o Aug. 1-4 – The Voyage of The Dawn Trader Info: 706-839-1315; habershamcommunitytheater.com
Cumming City Center
♫ Aug. 2 – SkynFolks, Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute
♫ Aug. 3 – Elevation, U2 tribute
♫ Aug. 9 – The Mad Hatters, Tom Petty tribute
♫ Aug. 10 – Reckless, Bryan Adams tribute
♫ Aug. 16 – A1A, Jimmy Buffett tribute
♫ Aug. 17 – Radio ‘80s
♫ Aug. 18, Sept. 22, Nov. 17 – Madison Kay ♫
Myth & Legend Coffee House
♫ Aug. 23 – Dave Matthews tribute
♫ Aug. 24 – Use Your Illusion, Guns N’ Roses tribute
Info: 770-781-2010; cummingcitycenter.com
Dahlonega’s Historic Holly Theater o Aug. 2-18 – The Wizard of Oz
♫ Aug. 24 – End of the Line, Allman Brothers tribute
♫ Aug. 31 – The Crowded Streets, Dave Matthews Band tribute Info: 706-530-5162; hollytheater.com
Gainesville Theatre Alliance
o Oct. 5-12
– The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
o Nov. 8-16 – A Monster Calls
o Feb. 14-22 – Macbeth
o Apr. 11-19 – Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein Info: 678-717-3624; gainesvilletheatrealliance.org
Georgia Art League
o Aug. 12 – Judged Community Show, art to be submitted 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., lower level Quinlan Visual Arts Center. Info: melanievaughan133@gmail.com
Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds
o Aug. 16-24 – Georgia Mountain Fair Info: 706-896-4191; georgiamountainfairgrounds.com
Hall County Library
o Thru Aug. 23 – Master Craftswoman Agatha Christie – A Reading Group Info: 770-532-3311, X4011
Interactive Neighborhood Kids
o Aug. 1-4 – Tiger Craft Week
o Aug. 5-11
– Dog Craft Week See Calendar, page 46
8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Gainesville Parks & Recreation to celebrate 100 years
By Jane Harrison
Next month fireworks, live music, and a party at Gainesville’s newest outdoor gathering spot will celebrate a century of fun, games, fitness, nature preservation and camaraderie in a city that early on recognized parks as more than simply amenities. Gainesville Parks & Recreation Department’s 100th Anniversary celebration Sept. 13 at the new Midland Greenway Amphitheater honors one of Georgia’s first accredited parks departments. Nationally, it was also among an early progressive throng of agencies establishing neighborhood parks in urban environments in the first half of the 1900s.
“It just shows the vision, the forethought (of Gainesville citizens) to protect outdoor spaces and make them accessible for all” said Parks & Recreation Department Director Kate Mattison. She discovered through research into department history that the young city’s population valued public parks enough to put their money into them. The recognition of parks’ contribution to quality of life and economic development motivated 402 Gainesville citizens to vote “yes” in a Dec. 6, 1924 poll to form and fund a parks agency.
“To date, there are over 10,000 P&R agencies in the country, but in 1924 we were among the few. Boston Common Park was established in 1634, by 1800 there were only 16 public parks in the
100th Anniversary celebration Gainesville Parks & Recreation
• When: 7-10 p.m. Sept. 13
• Where: Midland Greenway Amphitheater, 682 Grove St.
• Party Plan: Live music by TAPE (The After Party Experience), a 10-piece energetic ensemble big on brass and top 40 hits in diverse genres followed by fireworks. Seating on grass, blankets or folding chairs in amphitheater or on nearby grounds. Food and beverage trucks on site.
country. By 1886 City Park was established in Gainesville. New York City established a recreation bureau in 1910 and just 14 years later Gainesville did the same,” Mattison said.
Throughout the century, neighborhood parks have sprouted all over Gainesville, offering secluded hiking trails, tennis courts, shady urban sidewalks, ball fields, lakeside pavilions, and swimming pools. Currently the department “operates and maintains eight major facilities, 21 parks and over 547 or more acres of park land,” according to the agency website. Park patrons can learn to swim, bat a baseball, swat a whiffle ball, strike a yoga pose, paddle a kayak, or hit their stride in more than 2,500 programs offered annually for all ages.
The culture of recreation in Gainesville has evolved from the years when public parks were best known for children’s playgrounds into today’s demands that parks encompass a broad array of outdoor interests, from dirt hiking trails to paved greenways, disc golf courses to pickleball courts. Mattison’s collection of “fun
facts” about Gainesville parks includes the 1963 rule that banned horses in parks. The city banned smoking in public parks about 20 years ago, one of the first Georgia cities to do so.
In fiscal year 2024, the park system operated on a near $11 million budget, according to the city financial report. It is funded through fees and charges, property taxes, impact fees, SPLOST funds and grants. The parks director said it gets a boost by a “strong arm of support” from the Gainesville Parks & Recreation Foundation, formerly Friends of the Parks, a non-profit organization that raises funds, offers programs like the Butterfly Release at Wilshire Park, and helps maintain and beautify parks and greenways.
Mattison, who was hired as director in May 2019, succeeded 47-year Gainesville parks icon Melvin Cooper, who started as an intern in 1972 and was appointed director in 1989. Under his 30year leadership, the department earned National Accreditation from the standard-setting U.S. commission. He told Lakeside News in an email that he is “most proud” of that accomplishment that required “an 8-year journey” amassing documentations of policies and procedures to meet 153 standards. “(We) became only the third agency in the state of Georgia to be accredited and the first to meet all 153 standards,” he said.
He said another most meaningful accomplishment was “the establishment of the Children at Play Fund that provides scholarships to children who may need our services the most, but can’t afford them.”
He believes Gainesville parks’ next century will continue the legacy begun in 1924. “The future of the agency, under the direction of Kate Mattison, is well positioned
to enter the next 100 years of service to the Gainesville community inspiring a passion for parks and recreation and providing quality programs and new and expanded state of the art facilities.”
In July, Mattison provided an update on several parks projects under way this summer, beginning with the anniversary celebration site:
• The Midland Greenway amphitheater, originally scheduled for completion in May, was expected to come together by party day. Mattison said difficulty fitting a prefabricated “band shell” for the stage delayed the opening. The venue is expected to feature a covered stage, 16’ by 9’ video wall, restrooms, and terraced grass seating to accommodate about 1,000 people on blankets or folding chairs. An additional 2,000-plus people will have viewing access in nearby greenspace along the path. Food trucks can pull up to three outlets to feed attendees.
Mattison expects the venue to be a popular rental property on the greenway. “We’re trying to make it become a festival destination,” she said, adding that Mule Camp Festival and Latino Festival have already made the Midland Greenway their home. The parks department is also involved with other expansions on the Highlands to Islands Trail. See related story.
• “The Coop”: The near 90-
acre J. Melvin Cooper Youth Athletic Complex on Old Cornelia Highway is expected to open between November and early 2025. It includes five ball fields, a multi-purpose field, batting cages, concession stands, restrooms, and loop trail.
• Martha Hope Cabin: The historic log cabin behind the Civic Center is close to restoration with a new roof, fresh chinking between the logs, and leveled lawn and parking area.
• Wessell Park: The park on Holly Drive, recently outfitted with four pickleball courts and disc golf course, is getting more parking spaces, restrooms, and lighting.
• Roper Park: Located on Virginia Circle off Thompson Bridge Road, this park added pickleball courts and will soon get a sand volleyball court, updated restrooms and additional parking.
• Frances Meadows Aquatic Center: The facility, which is much more than an aquatic venue, is replacing all fitness and cardio equipment. Pool resurfacing is on the near agenda.
• Wilshire Trails Park: Plans started last month to expand the “Wilshire Wonderland” holiday lights display at the park on Pearl Nix Parkway.
Guiding Gainesville Parks & Recreation into its next century is “a lot of work, but a lot of fun,” Mattison said. “There are no two days alike, there’s always something different.”
The UNG/Tumbling Creek connector trail is one of the most recently completed segments of the Highlands to Islands Trails. It extends from the tunnel under Atlanta Highway on the Chicopee Trail to the Health Services building on the University of North Georgia Gainesville campus.
PHOTO BY JANE HARRISON
Update on Highlands to Islands Trail, Page 31.
The Midland Greenway Amphitheater appeared not quite ready to open in July. The inset photo shows a covered stage similar to what's planned at the Midland amphitheater. The Gainesville stage will have a wall, rocked columns and permanent speakers.
PHOTO BY JANE HARRISON
♫ Skynfolks Concert, Cumming. Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute, 8 p.m. Aug. 2, Lou Sobh Amphitheater, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd. Free. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
o Bluff & Branch 5K Trail Run /1-Mile Fun Run, Flowery Branch. 8/8:45 a.m. Aug. 3, Cherokee Bluff High School, 6603 Spouts Spring Rd. 5K $30-$35, fun run free. www.active.com.
♫ Elevation Concert, Cumming. Tribute to U2, 8 p.m. Aug. 3, Lou Sobh Amphitheater, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd. Free. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
o Sunflowers & Selfies, Helen. Hayrides, games, native plant sale, photo ops in blooming field of sunflowers, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 3, Smithgall Woods State Park, 61 Tsalaki Trl. $5, plus $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706878-3087.
o Cruise In, Clermont. Classic cars, food trucks, vendors, DJ music, 4-8 p.m. Aug. 3, Clermont Chattahoochee Park, 639 Main St. www.clermontga.com.
o National Play Outside Day, Gainesville. Family friendly water play and outdoor game, drop in 11 a.m.-noon, Aug. 3, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr. $10, members free. www.elachee.org, 770-5351975.
o Button Down Dash 5K, Suwanee. 7:45 p.m. Aug. 3, Suwanee Town Center, 330 Town Center Ave. $30. www.runnersfit.com.
o Headwaters Paddle on the Chestatee, Dahlonega. 6-mile paddle trip on gentle rapids with Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, 9 a.m. Aug. 4, Appalachian Outfitters, 4898 S. Chestatee St. $25. Additional boat rental fee. Register in advance. For ages 15 and older. www.chattahoochee.org.
o American Canoe Association National Championships, Gainesville. Sprint canoe/kayak and paracanoe championships with events in multiple age groups and distances, Aug. 6-9, Lake Lanier Olympic Park, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd. www.exploregainesville.org.
♫ Mad Hatters Concert, Cumming. Tribute to Tom Petty, 8 p.m. Aug. 9, Lou Sobh Amphitheater, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd. Free. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
♫ Reckless Concert, Cumming. Tribute to Bryan Adams, 8 p.m. Aug. 10, Lou Sobh Amphitheater, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd. Free. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
o Blackstrap Ghost Tours, Gainesville. Walking ghost tour to historic sites near Blackstrap Rock Hall and Midland Greenway hosted by Blackstrap Rock Hall and The Longstreet Society, 8 p.m. Aug. 10, Blackstrap Rock Hall, 852 Main St. SW. $20 adults, $10 children ages 612. www.blackstraprockhall.com.
o Hollywood at Hardman Farm, Sautee Nacoochee. Enjoy evening at the historic farm with old fashioned yard games, watch movie at dusk, 7:30-10:30 p.m. Aug. 10, Hardman Farm Historic Site, 143 Hwy 17. $7 plus tax. www.gastateparks.org, 706-878-1077.
♫ Kings of Queen Concert, Gainesville. Queen tribute band, gates open 7 p.m., music starts 8 p.m. Aug. 10, The Lawn at Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St. SW. $35 individual tickets, tables of 8 $45 per ticket. www.theart-
Outdoor Calendar August 2024
scouncil.net.
o Birdfeeder Wreath Making, Gainesville. Create garden decoration that attracts birds, 10 a.m.-noon Aug. 10, Gainesville Garden of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1911 Sweet Bay Dr. $69, $64 members. Register in advance. www.atlantabg.org, 404-888-4760.
o Food Truck Friday, Gainesville. Food trucks, beer/wine tents, live music, retail vendors 5-9 p.m. Aug. 16, Lake Lanier Olympic Park, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd. Free admission; table rentals available. www.exploregainesville.org.
♫ A1A Concert, Cumming. Jimmy Buffett tribute, 8 p.m. Aug. 16, Lou Sobh Amphitheater, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd. Free. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
o Summer Container Gardening, Gainesville. Explore container gardening plant selection, soil types, and containers, 10 a.m.-noon Aug. 17, Gainesville Garden of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1911 Sweet Bay Dr. $34, members $30. www.atlantabg.org, 404-8884760.
o O Lula. Help Chattahoochee Riverkeeper clean up flatwater section on northern end of Lake Lanier at Lula Bridge Park. Bring boat, paddle and safety gear, 9 a.m. Aug. 17, exact location to be announced. For ages 15 and older. Register in advance. www.chattahoochee.org.
o Sturgeon Moon Paddle, Gainesville. Guided group paddle on peaceful section of Lake Lanier, boat rental available, 7-9 p.m. Aug. 17, Lake Lanier Olympic Park, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd. $40. www.exploregainesville.org, 770-287-7888.
o Fall Market, Cumming. Local businesses and artisans sell home wares, décor, fashions & more, plus live music, kids’ activities, 10 a.m. Aug. 17, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
♫ Radio 80s, Cumming. Live band plays 80s music & more, 8 p.m. Aug. 17, Lou Sobh Amphitheater, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd. Free. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
o Full Moon Suspension Bridge Hike, Tallulah Falls. Mile and a half night hike down 310 stairs to suspension bridge over falls, 8:15-9:45 p.m. Aug. 18, Tallulah Gorge State Park, 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Dr. $10 cash, plus $5 parking. Register in advance. www.gastateparks.org, 706-754-7981.
♫ Dave Matthews Tribute Band, Cumming. 7 p.m. Aug. 23, Lou Sobh Amphitheater, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd. Free. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
♫ Use Your Illusion, Cumming. Guns N’ Roses tribute, 8 p.m. Aug. 24, Lou Sobh Amphitheater, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd. Free. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
o Art-Tiques Summer Market, Braselton. Home décor, vintage furniture, pottery, local crafts, plus food trucks, live music, noon-6 p.m. Aug. 23, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 24, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 25, Braselton historic gym, 4853 Hwy. 53. www.explorebraselton.org.
♫ Back in Time Concert, Gainesville. Rock, soul & east coast beach band, gates open 7 p.m., music starts 8 p.m. Aug. 24, The Lawn at Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St. SW. $25 individual tickets, tables of 8 $35 per ticket. www.theartscouncil.net.
o Harvest Festival, Sautee Nacoochee. Harvest pesticide-free corn, play old-fashioned games, pet farm animals, enjoy music and treats, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 24, Hardman Farm Historic Site, 143 Hwy. 17. $8, free to children 5 and younger. www.gastateparks.org, 706-8781077.
o Funky Fungi, Sautee Nacoochee. Mycologist Brian Hale shares mushrooms’ historic, current and future uses, leads short hike to identify mushrooms, 10 a.m.-noon Aug. 24, Smithgall Woods State Park, 61 Tsalaki Trl. $5, plus $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706878-3087.
o Help the Hooch in Hall. Trash clean-up along Chattahoochee River/Lake Lanier in Hall County for boaters, paddlers and walkers, at location(s) to be announced, 8 a.m. Aug. 24. Certain age restrictions apply. Register in advance. www.chattahoochee.org.
o Movies Alfresco, Cumming. Movie under the stars, 8 p.m. Aug. 30, Lou Sobh Amphitheater, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd. Free. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
o Game Day Watch Party, Cumming. Big screen football all day starting at 11 a.m. Aug. 31, Lou Sobh Amphitheater, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd. Free. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
o Return to the Castle Day, Gainesville. Harry Potter-themed planetarium and telescope program for ages 8 and older, 6-9 p.m. Aug. 31, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr. $9-$10. Register in advance. www.elachee.org, 770-535-1976.
o National Wildlife Day Celebration, Mountain City. Identify wildlife signs, feel animal pelts, make a craft, 3-4:30 p.m. Aug. 31, Black Rock Mountain State Park, 3805 Black Rock Mountain Pkwy. Register in advance. www.gastateparks.org, 706-746-2141.
o Labor Day Donut Dash 5K/Munchkin Run, Cumming. 8/9 a.m. Sept 2, Halcyon, 6365 Halcyon Way. $22-$37. www.runnersfit.com.
On-Going
o Guided Waterfall Hike, Dawsonville. Join park naturalist for 1.5 mile round trip hike on Appalachian Approach Trail to waterfall, 9:3011a.m. daily through Dec. 31. Register in advance. $12, plus $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706-344-1515.
o Pages & Pines Silent Bookclub, Gainesville. Bring a book to enjoy reading on nature center patio, 12-:30-2:30 p.m. first Tuesdays beginning Aug. 6, Elachee Nature Science Center. 2125 Elachee Dr. Free. www.elachee.org, 770-535-1976.
♫ First Friday Concerts, Gainesville. Concerts on downtown square 7-10 p.m. first Fridays through September, preceded by 4-6 p.m. solo artist near Main St. Concert lineup: August-Fly Betty Band; September-Steve Bryson Band. www.exploregainesville.org.
o Iconic Trees of Amicalola Falls, Dawsonville. Naturalist-guided hike to identify amazing trees along on Appalachian Approach Trail from Visitor Center to Reflection Pond, 11 a.m. 2nd & 4th Saturdays through November, Amicalola Falls State Park, 280 Amicalola Falls State Park Rd. Guidebook, pencil, and paper provided. $5. www.gastateparks.org, 706-3441515.
o Fundamentals of Nature Identification, Dawsonville. Introduction to iNaturalist forestry app, plus walk around Visitor Center to identify plants, 2-3 p.m. 2nd & 4th Saturdays through September, Amicalola Falls State Park, 280 Amicalola Falls State Park Rd. $5. www.gastateparks.org, 706-344-1515.
o Sunday Shred Workouts, Cumming. 45-minute high intensity workout, 11 a.m. Sundays, Lou Sobh Amphitheater, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd. Free. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
o Curious Saturdays, Gainesville. Mobile Curiosity Cart offers families insights into garden/ecosystem, 10 a.m.-noon first Saturdays through September, Gainesville Garden of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1911 Sweet Bay Dr. Garden admission. www.atlantabg.org, 404888-4760.
o Storybook & Sensory Bin Time, Gainesville. Children ages 1-4 enjoy nature-inspired story time, 10-10:15 a.m., then explore sensory bin station in children’s garden until noon, Wednesdays through September, Gainesville Garden of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1911 Sweet Bay Dr. Garden admission. www.atlantabg.org, 404-888-4760.
♫ Music in the Park, Dahlonega. Live music 6:30-8:30 p.m. first Fridays through October, Hancock Park, one block north of downtown square. www.dahlonega.org/events.
♫ Music in the Branch, Flowery Branch. Free concert, food trucks, 6:30 p.m. first Sundays through October, Flowery Branch Amphitheater, 55603 Mitchell St. www.flowerybranchga.org.
o Monthly Farmers Market, Braselton. See Outdoor Calendar, page 41
Kids have fun, learning on and about Lake Lanier at Park Explorer event
By Vicki Hope
A River
Forks Park Explorer
event was held in mid-July and featured a combination of fun on the lake and learning about water safety, local wildlife, erecting tents, and meeting some special K-9s that help keep our community safe.
After a brief check-in, children and their parents made their way around the park visiting each of
the learning stations, then earning their “Explorer pin.”
Captain John McCalpin and Headwaters Watershed Specialist Becca Risser from Chattahoochee River Keeper, provided attendees with the opportunity to cruise the lake and learn about the importance of water conservation and keeping its waters clean. Leaving from shore near the new Lake Lanier floating Aquatics Learning Center, the group took a 30-mi-
nute cruise.
At another booth, Park Ranger Cahn of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Rangers Locke and Thompson of the Department of Natural Resources, and Elaina Lee of Safe Kids of Northeast Georgia came together to provide life jacket tutorials and water safety tips. Fun games, frisbees and balls were available for those who visited the booth.
Hall County Fire Department and Hall County Sheriff’s office provided tips on putting up tents,
fire safety and leading some “yummy” fun making s’mores.
Elachee Nature Science Center’s Naturalist, Emily Jennings provided a hands-on talk about the wildlife around Lake Lanier. Families could touch animal pelts, see turtle shells, and taxidermy of foxes and owls. A scavenger hunt was provided as well.
A deputy with the Hall County
Sheriff’s K-9 unit introduced two of their canines to participants and answered questions visitors had about them. Jolene, a Bloodhound, that helps find people was eager to interact with the families and Timo, a Belgian Malinois, who helps sniff out illegal substances was also well-behaved and friendly with all those who visited. The event was sponsored by Hall County Parks and Leisure.
Update on Highlands to Islands Trail; progress made on airport connector
By Jane Harrison
The opening of the new Midland Greenway Amphitheater will mark the latest development along the Highlands to Islands Trail, a planned 30-mile pedestrian- and bike- friendly paved trail. From its inception more than 25 years ago, the trail between a Lake Lanier cove in Gainesville to Margaritaville at Lanier Islands has inched forward through a collaboration of government and planning agencies.
It currently consists of disjointed segments, including Gainesville’s booming Midland Greenway and the Chicopee-University of North Georgia segment popular with cyclists, runners and walkers. Progress is under way on an important link between those two sections: the Airport Connector. The city of Gainesville is acquiring rights-of-way to fill the 2½-mile gap, said Christina Santee-Moss, city public relations director. The city plans to start accepting construction bids after it obtains rights-of-way.
Santee-Moss described the
route in an email: From end of the current Midland trail at Industrial Boulevard, the trail will follow Georgia Avenue, then a utility easement under the Queen City Bridge to Aviation Boulevard. It will cross Aviation Boulevard and continue along Queen City Parkway to Palmour Drive. It turns at Palmour Drive into the wood line behind Ace Hardware, coming out directly across from the Chicopee section. It then rises above Queen City Parkway naturally on a high ridge. Because of its location on the perimeter of the Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport perimeter and nearby industrial outlets, the Airport Connector presents a unique perspective.
Santee-Moss does not foresee bustling development, such as what is taking place on the Midland Greenway and at both ends of the UNG section. “It will have limitations on the type of development that will occur here,” she said. “However, this section of the trail provides unique and interesting views of the airport – and a chance to see the planes take-off
and land up close. Plus, this section will have more natural beauty than you would expect. When we originally walked the path, we were surprised by how much we felt like we escaped the urban world around us. There are streams, wetlands, woodlands to enjoy along this path. There will also be a large bridge to cross over floodplains.”
The connector will complete nine continuous miles of trail between historic Longwood Park and the UNG campus.
Gainesville has allotted $5.3 million in local option sales tax money to the Airport Connector. Pilgrim’s Pride, located on Industrial Boulevard, has contributed $785,000. The city is also working on an east/west spur connecting Grove Street near the corner of Engine 209 Park on the Midland trail to Athens Street along an old railroad bed, according to Kate Mattison, Gainesville Parks & Recreation Director.
Joseph Boyd, Transportation Planning Director for the Gainesville-Hall Metropolitan Planning
Organization, provided Lakeside News an update on other Highlands to Islands sections:
• Spout Sprint Sidepath Phase 1: This section is complete and open to the public. It contains a 10-foot sidepath on the southern side of the newly widened Spout Springs Road between Hog Mountain Road and Union Circle.
This path connects Sterling on the Lake, Spout Springs Library, Spout Springs Elementary, and
Cherokee Bluff High School.
• Oakwood/Thurmon Tanner: No updates at this time – still planned.
• Hog Mountain: No updates at this time – still planned.
• Flowery Branch Downtown: Flowery Branch is planning a trail expansion between downtown and Radford Road along the Railroad line. Timing is not set yet.
• Blackjack/Swansey: No updates at this time.
New apartments are under construction at both ends of the UNG/Tumbling Creek Connector Trail. Above are units being built on Frontage Road.
PHOTO BY JANE HARRISON
Members of the GA Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Safe Kids Northeast Georgia came together to provide life jacket demonstrations and water safety tips.
PHOTOS BY VICKI HOPE
Deputy Murray of the Hall County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit describes how their friendly Bloodhound Jolene, uses her strong sense of smell to help find people.
Naturalist Emily Jennings of Elachee shares information about the many animals that live around Lake Lanier.
Chattahoochee River Keeper led 30-minute boat rides for families.
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Magnolia Springs State Park is a pleasant surprise
Magnolia Springs State Park near Millen, Ga. is the perfect location for a wildlife photographer, bird watcher, history buff or someone simply looking for a place that the family would enjoy. Spanish Moss dancing with the wind in the tall pines, a lake lined with colorful lily pads, a few alligators, turtles and lots of wading birds make great photos. The family can utilize the nice campsites, a splash pad for the kids and many trails.
The park also has a lot of War Between the States history due to its location on an old rail line. It was home to Camp Lawton, which once served as the largest Confederate prisoner-of-war camp … much like Andersonville. The on-site museum offers a glimpse into the past with its artifacts and stories of the soldiers who lived and perished here. It’s a bit depressing, but also extremely interesting.
This prison was built to alleviate the overcrowding and dysentery at Andersonville, because Lawton didn’t have that worry with the natural spring providing plenty of clean drinking water. This prison was only in operation for six weeks due to the knowledge that General Sherman was on his way to Millen, so they evacuated everyone days before he arrived. When he got there, Sherman burned the prison down but some remnants remained.
Nevertheless, Magnolia Springs State Park is mostly known for its crystal springs that flow an estimated 7 million gallons of water each day. The spring pool is circular with an obvious boil near the center, and the water
Bill Vanderford Travel Editor
n MORE INFO: JFish51@aol.com www.georgiafishing.com
in and around the spring is crystal clear with bluish-green tint. A boardwalk is available around the spring pool, which is 18 feet in the middle, but appears much shallower. Several species of fish are found in the pool, as well as turtles and alligators at different times.
A small lake is available for the fishing crowd with rental options of kayaks, canoes and paddleboats to enjoy the water. Overnight guests can choose between rental cottages and a campground.
Though it is located in Middle Georgia, Magnolia Springs State Park has all the unique scenery of
South Georgia, such as live oaks draped in Spanish moss, vibrant wildflowers and expansive, sandy green spaces. Despite being around 1,000 acres, it does not draw in the same numbers of visitors as Amicalola or Unicoi State Parks. Magnolia Springs State Park is a relatively quiet park and certainly one of the more underrated parks in the Georgia State Parks system. It might lack the mountain beauty and huge forests of the northern part of Georgia, but for most who visit here, they will find it to be a very pleasant surprise!
Bill Vanderford has won numerous awards for his writing and photography, and has been inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Guide.
The actual Magnolia Springs.
Left: A young alligator and the entrance sign at at Magnolia Springs.
Fishing pier at Magnolia Springs.
Camping at Magnolia Springs.
Rental cottage at Magnolia Springs.
Pedal boats for rent at Magnolia Springs.
A beautiful view near the springs.
A heron catches a sunfish.
Colorful lily pads.
Lakeside’s Safety Guide
A GUIDE TO BOATING AND SWIMMING SAFETY RESOURCES PRESENTED BY LAKESIDE ON LANIER
BOATING
Boater Education Courses with Certification Exam
Basics of Boating - America's Boating Course
• Course: Meets Georgia DNR and NASBLA requirements for boater and PWC certification; covers boat handling, safety equipment/procedures, rules of the road, boat types/terminology.
• Instructors: America’s Boating Club – Atlanta (formerly Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron
• When: Classes resume in 2025
• Cost: $25 per student; Optional: $28 reference text available from instructor
• Information/registration: americasboatingclubatlanta.org/ or Email - ABC@usps-atlanta.org
Boating Safely & Personal Watercraft Certification - USCGA
• Course: NASBLA certified entry level classroom-only course with test for boater education and PWC certification. Covers basic boating terminology, “rules of the road,” navigation, operation, legal requirements, emergencies, water etiquette and more.
• Instructors: U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers
• Information/registration: Perry Hidalgo; uscgaux29@gmail.com; 470-310-3336/404-447-4599 http://wow.uscgaux.info/peclass.php?unit=070-02-09
On-Line Courses
• www.boat-ed.com and www.boaterexam.com/usa/georgia include study guide and Georgia Certification Exam with unlimited exam attempts; cost is $34.95 payable upon exam passage. Temporary certificate printed upon passage; permanent card mailed.
• www.boatus.org/free offers free course, exam and print your own certificate; mailed certificate $5.
Other Boater Education Opportunities (Certification exam not included)
• Advanced Boating Classes in piloting, marine communications, and other boating skills offered periodically by the America’s Boating Club – Atlanta. americasboatingclubatlanta.org.
Vessel Safety Checks
• Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron offers vessel safety check-ups by appointment; americasboatingclubatlanta.org/vessel-safety-check.
• Vessel Safety Checks by appointment: Both U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and United States Power Squadrons offer vessel safety check-ups at your boat by appointment. www.safetyseal.net.
• Burns
Continued from Page 18
cold air is thick and dense and falls from the cloud at great speeds and slams into the ground, fanning out in all directions. If the speed of the wind exceeds 58 mph, the weather service will once again issue a severe thunderstorm warning.
From beginning to end, these guys can pack a punch. Be careful out there this summer. Our storms continue to get more powerful. Download an app, like the WSB Severe Weather Team 2 app. It’s free and you will always be alerted to approaching storms. Glenn Burns is chief meteorologist emeritus for WSB-TV in Atlanta.
Practice Safe Boating
Use life jackets, stay sober and monitor the weather to try and prevent boating accidents!
Sailing Classes
• Windsong Sailing Academy: Basic and advanced sailing training and certifications including engine maintenance, marine electrical systems, coastal and celestial navigation, marine meteorology and emergency planning. Public and private week evening and weekend classes available. Fees vary. www.WindsongSail.com. (770) 967-1515.
• Lessons: Swimming and water safety program for all ages and levels, age 6 months to masters, basic aquatics safety to skill proficiency for competitive swimmers, lifeguard training.
• Lanier Aquatics Swim Team: Competitive swimming groups for Rookie (age 4) through Masters (age 18 and older); www.gainesville.org/753/Lanier-Aquatics-Swim-Team
• Swim lessons: For all ages and levels, parent-child swim, Masters Swim Program, water fitness, water safety, life guard certification. Fees and times vary.
• Lessons: Swimming and water safety program ranges from toddler-age in Parent Child Aquatics Program to teens and adults in Learn to Swim and Adult Aquatics Program. Private or semi-private lessons available. Fees and schedules vary. Competitive swimming and diving programs, Masters Swim Team also available. Lifeguard certification offered.
• Swim lessons: For children of all abilities from four months to 12 years. Fees and times vary.
NOTE: Please contact Lakeside on Lanier News to list additional boating and water safety classes. lakesidenews@mindspring.com.
BONUS TRAVEL COLUMN
From ice angels to the Ice Man: Northern Italy reveals her colors
Earlier this year, Lakeside New Senior Reporter ventured into uncharted territory with her first adventure to Northern Italy. In the July edition, she shared her discoveries of her Overseas Adventure Travel “Northern Italy and the Dolomites” during the first eight days of her 16-day journey with 15 other travelers from the U.S. This is “the rest of the story,” picking up where she and other adventurers had just enjoyed a home-hosted meal with a young local family with two young children.
By Pamela A. Keene
Viewing Leonardo’s “The Last Summer” and a trip on the UNESCO Bernini Train through a snowstorm to a ski lodge were the highlights of our first week in Northern Italy, but the best was still ahead of us. As we bid arrivederci to Tirano, Lake Iseo awaited.
Our trip leader Amy told us we’d find surprise at the Iseolago Hotel, a resort compound with private beaches on the lake. We never would have guessed that she brought her parents (Rosanna and Giuseppe) and an aunt and uncle (Santuzza and Beppe) to meet us. What an unexpected treat.
It’s rare to meet the families of our trip leaders. Often they work far from their family homes and stay on the road for two to three weeks for each trip. Sometimes they lead two trips back to back, but at other times, they have breaks between journeys. Some trip leaders lead as many as 8 to 12 trips per year; that’s a lot of time away from family.
It was her mom’s birthday, so we all learned the Italian words to “Happy Birthday” and sang to her. Her mom almost teared up.
The following day, another surprise: Because it was her husband Matteo’s birthday – and he’s a photographer. He joined us for the day to explore several small villages and the large island on Lake Iseo called Monte Isola. We also explored a nearby nature park through wetlands and marshes. Of course, we sang the Italian version of “Happy Birthday” to Matteo as well.
On our way to our next hotel in Trento, more culinary experiences took us to an olive oil farm. Tastings – yes, not all olive oil is the same – exposed us to samples that were grassy, peppery, apple-like and nutty. It was hard to choose my favorite, so I brought home several different bottles. I also discovered rose balsamic vinegar, a delicately sweet pale pink liquid that I use on my salads here at home.
While traveling between cities, we typically go by bus, so “coffee breaks” (code word) come about every two hours. We’ll stretch our legs and usually spend time in a picturesque place learning about its specialties and a chance to take photos. A 45minute stop in Desenzano on the shores of Lake Gardo, with a short climb to a castle overlooking the harbor for spectacular views. Our itinerary didn’t include an overnight stay in this trendy –read expensive – town, but Trento proved to be perfect –walkable, friendly with excellent restaurants and plenty of history. The city square is built over ancient Roman ruins that we toured, and the
13th- century fortress Castello del Buonconsiglio housed the city’s bishop-princes from the 13th century until 1801.
Next stop: Bressanone, also called Brixen, in the Alto Adige/South Tyrol region, with stunning views of wildflowercovered hillsides and homes that look more like they belong in Bavaria or Austria than in Italy. The residents speak German in this area, also called South Tyrol and most of the food is German influenced, such as ravioli stuffed with sour cabbage or jam and deep fried.
Our days based in Bressanone allowed us to easily travel by train to nearby Bolzano for the day where we’d meet several interesting people.
First, the push-me/pull-me cultures of Austria and Italy in this area made for good conversations with Gerte and Thomas. She’s German and is married to an American; he’s Italian and his wife is Austrian. While both are from the South Tyrol region, Thomas’ mom is German speak-
Castles in the region including Trentos Buonconsiglio doubled as fortesses and monestaries, above.
Our trip leader Amy introduced us to her mom and dad, and her aunt and uncle (second row), left.
ing while his dad’s family speaks Italian. They explained the clouded identity and culture of the area, part of the Austrian Empire and the Hapsburgs for more than 400 years. After WWI a small part was given to Austria and two thirds of the land came under Italian rule. Mussolini forced everyone to speak Italian and the Germans to abandon their ancestral roots and customs. Native Germans were forced to fight for Hitler and families lost their farms and homes. When Italy joined the Allies the Germans living in South Tyrol were ostracized and tensions began.
Our speakers explained that it has taken nearly 100 years for the
two cultures to live together. Every family now eats spaghetti, but there are still 85 different types of bread available that satisfy each of the cultures.
I’d never heard of the Otzi the Iceman but I was soon to make his acquaintance in his own museum in Bolzano. The story goes that a couple hiking in the high mountains in South Tyrol discovered his mummified remains on September 19, 1991. The find set off a series of events, including determining that he lived between 3350 and 3105 BC, during the Copper Age.
Scientists came together to determine his age, lifestyle, cause of death and to better preserve his body for study. They have pre-
See Italy, page 39
On Lake Iseo, ferries transport residents and tourists between marinas.
PHOTOS BY PAMELA A. KEENE
Around every corner another scenic and idyllic photograph appeared.
served the personal items, including a coat, shoes, a bearskin cap, a copper axe blade and some tools. Displays, interpretive signage and videos in the three-story South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology go into great depth about the discovery. Scientists have created a lifesized figure of Otzi that’s on display. Interesting, to say the least.
Nearing the end of our trip, the real star of the show was just ahead: The Dolomites. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, these dramatic vertical mountains in the Alps are a combination of volcanic and dolomitic rocks that turn pink or orange at sunset and sunrise. Nineteen peaks are more than 10,000 feet high. The winding switchbacks and deep valleys are like being on a roller coaster. It’s common for motorcyclists and
sports-car enthusiasts to spend a day cruising there, just for the thrill.
In the summer, hikers and cyclists are common. In the winter it’s a snow-skier’s paradise.
Aside from their beauty, the Dolomites’ cultural mix of Austrian/German, Italian and a third called Ladin. This language, not like German or Italian, is an ancient Romance language spoken centuries ago and still used by natives today. Road signs are written in all three languages, the food is a combination of the three cultures: think ham, called speck, wursts, polenta, dumplings, hearty soups and pancakes filled with spinach.
All too soon, it was time to head home. Our last night – with our tradition farewell dinner –
See Italy, page 41
BONUS TRAVEL COLUMN
PHOTOS BY PAMELA A. KEENE
A man and his dog look over the rows of vegetables he just finished hand-weeding.
Four. Count them, four, Samoyeds walk their owner on the streets of Trento.
A hiker takes a break in the shade of the Santa Maddelena Monastery near a national park.
A Lake Garda inner harbor scene.
Thinking about driving in Northern Italy? Don’t! (above)
The tile roof of a church in Bolzano is more Austrian in style, typcal of towns to the far north, left.
The private island mansion of the Beretta family, yes that Beretta, above.
Street art in Bressanone reflects the areas sense of humor, right.
Residents love their espresso and morning newspapers, enjoying both in neighborhood cafes.
Hot chocolate that stands up to a spoon its so thick is best topped with real whipped cream.
Our lunch visit to an olive oil farm included bruschetta with three different toppings.
Do you know who’s pollinating your plants?
You can help keep track of pollinators this month. It only takes 15 minutes and one plant. You’ll be providing vital information to protect the bees and insects that help produce more than 75 percent of the food we eat directly or indirectly.
Through the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, people can become citizen scientists for two days, August 23-24, collecting information that will used to spot trends for taking action that may help reduce the decline in habitats.
“Many pollinators, such as bees, are in decline because their habitats are disappearing,” said Becky Griffin, University of Georgia Extension Pollinator Health Associate and Coordinator of the Great Southeast Pollinator Census. “By participating in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, you can help by watching just one plant in your garden for 15 minutes and counting the number and types of pollinators that visit it. Then upload your results to our website.”
Pamela A. Keene
Appeal
Begun in 2019 after a two-year pilot program through the University of Georgia, the initiative now encompasses four states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia.
“The project has three goals: to increase the number of sustainable habitats for pollinators, to broaden the entomological literacy of our citizens and to generate data about our pollinator populations,” Griffin said. “It’s geared toward home gardeners, garden groups and schools. Really, anyone can participate.”
Griffin encouraged people to create their own pollinator gar-
dens so that they will have more food sources, shelter and places to nest.
“Native flowering shrubs, perennials, annuals encourage pollinator visits throughout the growing season,” she said. “Select a variety of different plants with distinct characteristics, such as flower shape, color, morphology and bloom times. Group similar plants together to make it easier for the insects to find them, think bunches of three to five
plants of one type. This will attract a nice diversity of insects.”
Adding colorful blooms to vegetable gardens can ensure higher production. Intersperse bright marigolds, tall zinnias and even sunflowers to attract more pollinators to
Pollinators count, and you can too
The Great Southeast Pollinator Census takes place this year on August 23-24. For pollinator plant lists and more information about the program, visit gsepc.org.
Additional Resources:
• How to create a pollinator garden – Georgia Pollinator Partnership, gapp.org
• Recommended plants -- Georgia Pollinator Plants of the Year, botgarden.uga.edu
PS – Tell us what you think. Email Pam at pam@pamelakeene.com about your Great Pollinator Census experience or tell her how you’re supporting pollinators in your landscape. Photos are encouraged.
food gardens and make them prettier. The bees, butterflies and other insects will help pollinate blossoms that will become the tomatoes, squash, beans and peppers to harvest.
Summer perennials, such as purple coneflower, cosmos, Shasta daisies, bee balm, catmint, liatris and various herbs like thyme, oregano and lavender add color to the garden.
Blooming shrubs like chaste trees, panicle hydrangeas and butterfly bushes nearby will encourSee Curb, page 46
Two bumble bees in flight on a coneflower.
CREDIT BECKY GRIFFIN/UGA
• Italy
Continued from Page 39
was spent at a resort in the Venetian countryside. Leaving before dawn for the Venice Marco Polo Airport, it was still hard to say goodbye to my latest Italian experience. As I reflected on the previous two weeks I realized the appeal of global travel: learning about other people who are different than we are, putting real places and faces onto the history of the world, and just plain relaxing to enjoy a brand-new experience.
What will your next adventure be?
What’s on your bucket list? On mine? You’ll need to stay tuned.
PHOTOS BY PAMELA A. KEENE
Reaching toward the heavens, part of the rocky and regal Dolomites beckoned with alpine homes in the valley, below.
• Outdoor Calendar
Continued from Page 30
Farmers, bakers and food makers sell fresh local goods, 4-7 p.m. Fridays, Town Green, 9924 Davis St. www.explorebraselton.com.
♫ Appalachian Jam, Dahlonega. Traditional mountain music players, singers and listeners gather outside the Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site to enjoy tunes, 2-4:30 p.m. Saturdays through October, downtown Dahlonega. www.dahlonega.org/events.
o Clermont Segment Ride. 5 high-effort bike ride segments for total of about 25 miles, average speed 17-18 mph, roll out 5:45 p.m. Tuesdays, Clermont Park, 639 Main St. velocraig@hotmail.com.
o Birds of Prey, Dawsonville. Blue Ridge Raptors bring birds of prey for educational, up close program, 1-2 p.m. Aug. 3, 1-2:30 p.m. Sept. 7 & 21, Visitor Center Arch Room, Amicalola Falls State Park, 280 Amicalola Falls State Park Rd. $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706-344-1515.
o Bats of Georgia, Dawsonville. Short presentation and easy walk with bat-detecting gear to participate in citizen-science, 8 p.m. 2nd & 4th Saturdays through Aug. 24; 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 & 28, 7 p.m. Oct. 12, Amicalola Falls State Park, 280 Amicalola Falls State Park Rd. $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706-344-1515.
o Beginner Archery, Tallulah Falls. Learn to shoot an arrow or improve your skills, 9-10:30 a.m. third Saturdays through December, Tallu-
lah Gorge State Park, 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Dr. Must be strong enough to pull 20-pound bow. Register in advance. $10, $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706-754-7981.
o Sunset Campfire, Dawsonville. Professional storytellers spin tales of Appalachian folklore, local history and more at campfire pit, bring flashlight and chair, 1st and 3rd Saturdays through October, Amicalola Falls State Park, 280 Amicalola Falls State Park Rd. Event moves to lodge lobby if 75% chance of rain is forecast. $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706-344-1515.
o Glass in Flight, Gainesville. Exhibition of glass sculptures catches essence of flight, through Oct. 13, Gainesville Garden of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1911 Sweet Bay Dr. Garden admission. www.atlantabg.org, 404888-4760.
o Outdoor Jazzercise, Cumming. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Fridays through Oct. 25, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton St. Free. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
o Yoga on the Lawn, Cumming. Outdoor yoga class, 6-7 p.m. Mondays through Oct. 28, Lou Sobh Amphitheater, 423 Canton Rd. Free. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
o Tin Cup Cruise In, Cumming. Classic car show, 6-8 p.m. first Thursdays, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton St. Free. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
Scientists have created a life-sized figure of Otzi the Iceman, a remarkably preserved mummified figure that now has his own exhibit in the Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, left. Serene simplicity of a small church with the Dolomites in the background, right.
Not just any street musicians, this quartet of music students performed classical music in Trento.
o Jazzercise, Cumming. Outdoor dancedbased cardio exercises, 10:30 -11:30 a.m. Fridays through Oct. 25, Lou Sobh Amphitheater, Cumming City Center, 424 Canton St. Free. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
o Summer Cornhole League, Cumming. Six sessions and a tournament, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdays beginning June 20, Lou Sobh Amphitheater, 423 Canton Rd. $55 per person. For age 21 and older. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
o Discovery Saturdays, Gainesville. Wild animal showcase, exhibits, crafts and hike, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr. $10 ages 3 and older, free to children younger than 3 and Elachee members. www.elachee.org, 770-535-1976.
o Hall County Farmers Market, Gainesville. Locally grown fruits, vegetables, flowers, 2:306:30 p.m. Tuesdays, 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through September. www.hallcountyfarmersmarket.org.
o Farmers Market, Flowery Branch. Local produce, plus live music, cooking demonstrations, and special events, 3:30-7 p.m. Thursdays through September, Flowery Branch Market Pavilion, 5310 Railroad Ave. www.flowerybranchga.org.
o Group Run Riverside, Gainesville. Run with Lanier Running Club, starters to elites, 8:30 a.m. Saturdays, Riverside Preparatory
Academy, 2001 Riverside Dr. See website/Facebook for updates. www.lanierrunningclub.org.
o Group Run NoFo, Gainesville. Run with Lanier Running Club, starters to elites, 5:30 p.m. Thursdays, NoFo Brewing Company, 434 High St. SE. See website/Facebook for updates. www.lanierrunningclub.org.
o Group Run Former LNB, Gainesville. Run with Lanier Running Club, starters to elites, 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, parking lot of former brewery, 2100 Atlanta Hwy. See website/Facebook for updates. www.lanierrunningclub.org.
o Sunday North Hall Rides, Gainesville. Bicycling on rural roads averaging 17-18 mph at steady pace, 30-45 miles, roll out 11:30 a.m. Sundays from Haynes Rd. velocraig@hotmail.com.
o Canoe/Kayak/SUP Rentals, Gainesville. Canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard rentals 4-8 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, 2-6 p.m. Sundays. Lake Lanier Olympic Park, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd. $30 per person/2 hours. info@lckc.org.
o Turning Leaf Book Club, Gainesville. Monthly discussions of nature-themed books, 11 a.m. first Wednesdays Jan.-May, Sept.-Nov., Linwood Ecology Center, Linwood Nature Preserve, 118 Springview Dr. mastergardener@hallcounty.org.
– compiled by Jane Harrison
The Dolomites are part of the Alps mountain range, above and below.
• Freedom
Continued from Page 20
more than 600 people participating and for that we will need more captains, boats and volunteers.”
Saturday’s boating day will focus on veterans and their spouses; on Sunday, children with serious illnesses/special needs and their families will be hosted for boat rides. On both days, Port Royale Marina and various sponsors will provide lunch and entertainment for the participants, guests, boat owners and volunteers.
“This event on Lake Lanier would not be possible without our generous volunteers,” she said.
“And I continue to be overwhelmed and so grateful for the generosity of Doug Traina, owner of Port Royale, and his entire staff and all the boat owners and volunteers who show up to share freedom and joy on and off the water for so many who might not otherwise have such an opportunity.”
The organization’s mission is to enhance the well-being of children and adults with disabilities and veterans through therapeutic boating participation.
In 2023 the group provided more than 4,600 on-the-water
experiences in South Florida, the weekend event at Lake Lanier /Port Royale Marina and a weekend event at Lake Monroe/Fourwinds Lakeside Inn and Marina in Bloomington, Indiana.
Freedom Waters Foundation work is supported by more than 300 volunteers across its events. And, all of this coordination happens with just three full-time and two part-time staff members.
To volunteer a boat or your time, or to provide sponsorship support, or for questions about the Port Royale Mariana/Freedom Waters Foundation’s event, visit www.freedomwatersfoundation. org or call 239 263-2377.
CREDIT FREEDOM WATERS FOUNDATION
Each year volunteers gladly give their time to the event; some even dress in costume.
Home remodeling trends and preferences for 2024
Home remodeling has evolved significantly in recent years, influenced by national trends and regional preferences. Remodeling in northeast Georgia is no exception to these changes. Homeowners in cities like Gainesville, Flowery Branch, Braselton, and surrounding towns increasingly are blending modern conveniences with the natural beauty and historical charm that characterize this part of the state. So here we will cover 10 of the top trends shaping home remodeling in our area in 2024.
Open concept living spaces
One of the most popular remodeling trends isn’t exactly new. The move toward open concept living spaces became a dominant feature of floor plans in new residential construction by the early 1990s. When it comes to remodeling existing homes, an open concept involves removing walls to create expansive, open areas that combine the kitchen, dining and living rooms. This design enhances the flow of the home but also makes it feel larger and more
connected. The open floor plan is particularly appealing to families who enjoy entertaining at home.
Farmhouse aesthetics
The “Farmhouse Chic” remodeling trend didn’t end when “Fixer Upper” aired its last episode on HGTV. In fact, farmhouse and more rustic aesthetics continue to dominate many home remodeling projects in the region.
Elements such as reclaimed wood, shiplap walls, barn doors and exposed beams often are incorporated into remodeling designs. These features can provide a warm, inviting feel that aligns
with the area’s historical and rural character. The blending of modern amenities with rustic charm helps create a unique yet comfortable living space.
Outdoor living enhancements
Northeast Georgia’s beautiful landscapes and largely temperate climate make outdoor living spaces a significant focus of many home remodeling projects. Homeowners are investing in high-quality decks (many choosing composite materials), patios, and even outdoor kitchens. Features such as outdoor fireplaces and built-in grilling stations remain popular. Enhancing the outdoor living space of your home and providing a perfect setting for enjoying the milder weather and scenic views of nearby lakes and mountains.
Kitchen and bathrooms
Kitchens and bathrooms remain top priorities for homeowners looking to remodel. Popular kitchen features include large islands with seating, custom cabinetry, and unique backsplashes. For bathrooms, spa-like
features such as walkin showers, freestanding tubs, double vanities and heated floors are in high demand. Both kitchens and baths are of course functional but also can serve as personal retreats, adding to their popularity when it comes to remodeling projects.
Multifunctional spaces
(Home Offices & More)
We are seeing the pandemic’s influence on home design through multifunctional spaces becoming more essential to homeowners than ever. Home offices, gyms and even learning areas for children have become key components of many home remodeling projects. This trend is driven by the increased need for flexibility in the home to accommodate remote work, fitness routines and virtual learning.
Aging-in-place modifications
As our population ages, the trend toward making homes more
accessible and accommodating for older adults has accelerated. Remodeling projects often include features such as wider doorways, walk-in and curbless showers and lower countertops to ensure the home is safe and functional for seniors. Home elevators have become more popular in the past five years, too. Whether it’s needed now for older family members and visitors or incorporated into remodeling plans with an eye toward being prepared for the future, age-in-place remodeling (sometimes called universal design) helps older residents re-
Location: 7650 Lanier Islands Pkwy., Buford Types of slips: Houseboats only. 18x60, 22x80 Types of fuel: Diesel, non ethanol Price of fuel: (as of 7/12/24) $5.59 non-ethanol; NA diesel (Gas is not sold after 4:30 due to volume return of boats.) On-site eatery: Various restaurants.
Types of slips available: 14x32, 14x36, (254 units, up to 40’), cov.
Types of fuel: non ethanol
Price of fuel: (as of 7/12/24) $5.59 non-ethanol
On-site eatery: Various restaurants.
PORT ROYALE MARINA
totaling 815 slips & dry stack storage (521) for up to 39'.
Types of fuel: 90 non-ethanol
Price of fuel: (as of 7/12/24) $5.49 regular (Dock/Ship Store open 8 a.m.-7 p.m., daily.) (Pay at the pump closes same time as restaurant.)
On-site eatery: Pelican Pete's Bar and Grill
SAFE HARBOR AQUALAND
Hours: Office/Leasing, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., daily
Info: 770-967-6811 • shmarinas.com
Location: 6800 Lights Ferry Rd., Flowery Branch
Types of slips available: Houseboats, covered cruisers, & all types of open slips plus covered & open dry slips, totaling 1,725 wet docks and 460 dry docks
Types of fuel: Non-ethanol, 90 octane
Price of fuel: (as of 7/12/24) $5.39, non-members; $4.01, members (Dock open 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun.-Thurs.; 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Fri./Sat.)
On-site eatery: Pig Tales
SAFE HARBOR HIDEAWAY BAY
Hours: Office/Store/Dock open 9 a.m.7 p.m., daily.
Info: 770-967-5500 • shmarinas.com
Location: 6334 Mitchell St., Flowery Branch
Types of slips available: Wet (510) Dry (150)
Type of Fuel: 90 octane, non-ethanol
Price of fuel: (as of 7/12/24) $5.21, non-members; $4.02, members
Hours: Office/Leasing, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week; Service, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., M-F.; 9 a.m.-2 p.m., S. Closed Sundays. Info:770-887-5715 • bestinboating.com/port_royale
Location: 8800 Port Royale Dr., Gainesville
Types of slips available: Uncovered, 20' to 80'; covered, 24' to 106'
Lakeside’s Recreation Guide
Info: 770-536-8599 • sunrisecovermarina.com
Location: 5725 Flat Creek Rd., Gainesville
Types of slips available: Uncovered-20-70'; Covered-24-50'; to include an exclusive 44' Sailboat Breakwater Dock. Total Wet Slips 688 and nine (9) Dry Storage Spaces (boats on trailer).
Types of fuel: 90 recreational, non-ethanol
Price of fuel: (as of 7/12/24) $5.59 unleaded Ethanol Free
The Corps of Engineers welcomes you to beautiful Lake Sidney Lanier. Located just 35 miles northeast of Atlanta, the lake offers some of the finest camping opportunities in the South. The Corps operates 7 campgrounds at Lake Lanier. Bolding Mill, Duckett Mill and Old Federal Campgrounds are managed by Hall County Parks and Leisure Services. Toto Creek Multipurpose Park, plus Thompson Creek and Nix Bridge Day-Use parks are managed by Dawson County.
Camping enthusiasts may enjoy the luxuries of fully developed areas with water and electrical hookups or “rough it” at designated primitive areas. Camping in undesignated areas such as on the lake’s shoreline and islands is prohibited.
All campgrounds have beach areas, boat ramps and restrooms. Most of our campgrounds also have showers, playgrounds, accessible sites and manned entry stations. To make reservations, download maps, check out campsite photos and see site availability visit Recreation.Gov.
All Army Corps campgrounds on Lake Sidney Lanier recognize the America The Beautiful (ATB) and Golden Passport cards. The ATB Annual and Lifetime Senior Pass, Access Pass, Golden Age and Golden Access passes will grant 50% off all campsite reservation fees.
Day Use Parks
The Corps operates 35 day use parks at Lake Lanier. Facilities range from parks with boat ramps to those with designated swimming areas, picnic tables, shelters and playgrounds. All day use parks close daily at 10 p.m. Boat launching is allowed at all hours unless otherwise posted. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in all parks.
Picnic Shelters
Picnic shelters are available at several Corps’ parks around the lake. They can be reserved for a fee. Call the Lake Lanier Management Office at 770-945-9531.
Day Use Fees
Day use fees are charged at some park areas which have boat ramps or beach areas. Fees (per day):
Boat launching $5
State and County Parks
Lake Lanier has 18 state and county parks that are available for use.
Rules, Regulations and More
Guidelines are not intended as restraints to the enjoyment of park visitors, but as aids for orderly operation, visitor safety and for the protection of the environment and public property. Complete rules and regulations are posted at the entrances to all campgrounds and copies are available at entry stations. To view annual opening and closing dates and rates for campgrounds and picnic shelters, visit www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/Lake-SidneyLanier/Schedules.
For more camping info you can also visit: lakesidenews.com/explore-lake-lanier/camping.
Practice Safe Boating
Use life jackets, stay sober and monitor the weather to try and prevent boating accidents!
This summer, the Lake Lanier Association has amped up its water safety projects.
The organization installed its latest life-jacket loaner station at Shoal Creek Campground. It is the result of a partnership with Margaritaville and the Lake Lanier Islands Development Au-
Important telephone numbers:
General
thority to assist the Army Corps of Engineers in assuring accessibility to visitors to the day-use parks and campgrounds.
Here are the other stations supported by the association: Charleston Park Boat Ramp, Laurel Park Boat Ramp, Mary Alice Park Beach and Boat Ramp, Lake Lanier Olympic Park Boat Ramp,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 770 945-9531
Water Release Schedules 770 945-1466
Recreation/Water level Info 770 945-1467
DNR, Law Enforcement Division 800 241-4113 Lake Lanier Association Inc. 770 503-7757
Boating Safety Courses
US Coast Guard Aux. Flotilla 29 770 891-6362
Atlanta Sail & Power Squadron 770 734-6412
Marinas
1. Safe Harbor Aqualand 770 967-6811
2. Bald Ridge 770 887-5309
3. Gainesville 770 536-2171
4. Habersham 770 887-5432
5. Holiday 770 945-7201
6. Port Royale 770 887-5715
7. Lanier Harbor CLOSED AS OF 2/4/14
8. Lazy Days at Holiday 770-945-1991
9. Safe Harbor Hideaway Bay 770 967-5500
10. Sunrise Cove 770 536-8599
11. Sunset Cove 678 304-3157
River Forks Park Boat Ramp, Shady Grove Park Campground and Beach, Shoal Creek Campground, Wahoo Park Boat Ramp and Young Deer Park Beach.
The group’s solar lights project undergoes regular monitoring to ensure that each of the 289 lights positioned on tops of hazard markers around the lake are oper-
ating properly. Conducted at night last May, the inspection identified damaged, missing or inoperable lights. Funds from the association were used to repair and replace any that were needed.
Since 2000, the group’s AdoptA-Lake initiative has conducted regular water sampling at 27 locations around the lake. The pro-
gram, managed by association board member Bev Nicholls, tests and records water clarity and temperature. Samples collected are tested for chlorophyll, which can lead to the creation of algae blooms.
The monthly reports, available for viewing, are posted at lakelanier.org.
Lakeside Lakeside
• Curb
Continued from Page 40
In the fall, goldenrod, asters and bee balm provide color and plenty of nectar and pollen for insects.
It’s easy and important to participate in the annual Great Southeast Pollinator Census. Take just a few minutes a couple of days before the census weekend to famil-
• Design
Continued from Page 43
main in their homes longer and maintain their independence.
Sustainable/energy-efficient upgrades
Sustainability is a growing concern among homeowners nationwide, including across northeast Georgia. Many residents are opting for eco-friendly remodeling solutions such as installing energy-efficient windows and doors, adding insulation and some have even incorporated solar panels. Lowflow fixtures, energy-efficient appliances, and smart home technology (more on that below) also play crucial roles in reducing a home’s environmental footprint. Bonus: They also help lower utility bills.
Smart home technology
Integrating smart home technology is quickly becoming the standard in remodeling projects. Homeowners are adding
iarize yourself with how to report, review the 2024 counting and identification guise and sign up for the newsletter at gsepc.org.
Pamela A. Keene is senior writer for Lakeside News and a Hall County Master Gardener. She writes for more than a dozen publications across the country, covering features, travel and gardening.
• Calendar
Continued from Page 26
o Aug. 12-18 – Back to School Craft Week
o Aug. 19-25 – Camera Craft Week
o Aug. 26-Sept. 1 – Rainbow Craft Wee
Info: 770-536-1900; inkfun.org
Lake Lanier Islands Resort
o Aug. 1-Sept. 2, 7-8, 14-15, 21-22 – Water Park open.
Info: 770-945-8787; lanierislands.com
smart thermostats, lighting and home automation systems to enhance convenience, safety, and energy efficiency. Voice-controlled assistants and connected appliances also are increasingly popular, providing greater control and customization of the home.
Basement and attic conversions
Maximizing existing space within the home is another popular remodeling trend here. Unfinished basements and attics are being converted into livable areas such as guest suites, home theaters, playrooms, craft areas and much more. Not only do these conversions provide extra functional living space, they add value without the need for an expensive addition.
Bianca Bryant is a designer for Tracy Tesmer Design/Remodeling in Gainesville.
o Thru Aug. 25 – Ceramics and Textiles, Mason-Scharfenstein Museum of Art Info: 800-277-7020; piedmont.edu
Quinlan Arts Center
o Thru Aug. 10 – Summer Exhibition
o Aug. 15-Oct. 5 – Fall Exhibition Info: 770-536-2575; quinlanartscenter.org
School Street Playhouse
♫ Aug. 17 – GlowBand, Eagles and Friends
♫ Aug. 24 – Rock the House IV, Junior’s Farm Band Info: 770-781-9178; schoolstreetplayhouse.com
Tannery Row Artist Colony
o Aug. 10-Sept. 6 – Flourish Info: 470-326-6656; tanneryrowartistcolony.net
♫ Aug. 3 – Double Take/‘80s Music Experience
♫ Aug. 10 – Excitable/Def Leppard tribute
♫ Aug. 16 – Undertow/Tool tribute
♫ Aug. 17 – The Reservoir Dogs/Southern & Classic Rock
♫ Aug. 21 – Bad Marriage/Kickin Valentina
♫ Aug. 23 – SMAC, ‘70s Classic Rock to ‘90s Grunge
♫ Aug. 24 – Lovesong/The Cure w/First Wave, tribute
♫ Aug. 30 – Departure/Journey, tribute Info: 678-288-2030; buford.37main.com
University of North Georgia
o Aug. 17 – Starlight Celebration and Fireworks, Gainesville Campus Amphitheater
Info: 678-717-3930; www.ung.edu
Classifieds
Driveways, walkways replaced or repaired, concrete, masonry, grading, foundations repaired, waterproofing, and retaining walls. Joe Sullivan, 770 616-0576.
Effective mold remediation without demolition – Perfect for homes and boats! Discover a revolutionary solution to mold problems with our demolition-free remediation services. 470 380-7315, info@themoldassassins.com.
To submit a classified, visit www.lakesidenews.com/classifieds or call 770-287-1444.
Lakeside Dining Guide
Bullfrogs Restaurant – Located at Legacy Lodge & Conference Center at Lake Lanier Islands Resort. Open for lunch and dinner daily. This Southern Gastro Pub features reimagined traditional Southern fare and variety of drink options from full-service bar. Guests may arrive by boat or car. Buford. 770-9458787.
Fish Tales Lakeside Grille – Casual lakeside dining featuring grouper fingers, signature salads and much more. Full service indoor and outdoor bar with live music. Hideaway Bay Marina. 770-967-3775, www.fishtaleslakelanier.com.
La Cazuela – An Atlanta area landmark with two locations around Lanier. Features fajitas, selection of combination platters and more. 4965 Lanier Islands Pkwy., Buford, 770-6146871.
Pelican Pete’s – Picturesque dining on the water at Port Royale in open-air thatched-roof building. Selection of sandwiches, burgers, fish and more. 70-887-5715 ext 5., www.pelicanpetes.com
Pig Tales - Casual lakeside dining featuring BBQ, burgers, wings and more. Great customer service, full service bar with draft beer, wine & mixed drinks, live music on weekends. Aqualand Marina, Flowery Branch. 678-
828-7676, www.PigTalesLakeLanier.com.
Sidney’s Restaurant – Located at Legacy Lodge & Conference Center at Lake Lanier Islands Resort and overlooks Lake Lanier. Only serving breakfast. Guests may arrive by boat or car. Buford. 770-945-8787, www.lanierislands.com.
Skogies – Made from scratch seafood, BBQ and American fare with a great view served in a laid back pet friendly environment. A full Sunday breakfast menu includes eggs benedict served five ways, Omelettes, shrimp & grits, cathead biscuits & gravy, breakfast sandwiches & more. Call from your boat & they will pick you up. Gainesville Marina. 678 450-1310; www.skogieslakefrontrestaurant. us.
Smokey Q BBQ - Pulled Pork and Chicken Sandwiches, Philly Cheesesteaks, Pork and Chicken Tacos and more! Seasonal. Bald Ridge Marina, 1850 Bald Ridge Marina Road, Cumming. 770 910-4961.
The Twisted Oar - Holiday Marina. Offering fresh seafood to savory chicken and steak; casual dining. Full bar service, tropical and frozen drinks. Live entertainment, trivia, indoor/outdoor flat screen TVs. Open year round. www.thetwistedoar.com, 678 7147572.
