Within hours of the first earthquake near Buford and Lake Lanier last month, various social media apps were practically smoking with comments, questions, rumors and supposition. Page 2
Invasive snail
discovered
An invasive snail has been discovered in Lake Lanier and state officials are urgently working to prevent further spread. The invasive species was found while WRD officials were conducting routine sampling of the lake. Page 21
Hamburg State Park
If peace and solitude are part of your summer plan, no place could be better than the quiet, hidden jewel, known as Hamburg State Park located just outside of the village of Mitchell, Georgia. Page 33
Also inside:
Calendar
Classifieds
Page 26
Page 47
Dining guide Page 47
Fishing news Page 10
Lanier map Page 45
Lake levels Page 18
Marinas information
Outdoor activity calendar
Recreation guide
Safety guide
Shore Lines
Page 44
Page 30
Page 44
Page 34
Page 14
Columns:
The Careful Captain Page 13
Curb Appeal
Design & Remodel
Page 38
Page 43
Glenn Burns Page 18
O’Neill Outside Page 20
On the Water Page 12
Vanderford’s travel Page 33
Kayaks, including this one in the foreground, await their new docks being built by Boat Dock Works for The Boathouse at Lake Lanier Olympic Park. Story, page 14.
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
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.
Low-magnitude quakes felt in Buford, Sugar Hill near Lake Lanier in June
By Pamela A. Keene
Within hours of the first earthquake near Buford and Lake Lanier in early June, various social media apps were practically smoking with comments, questions, rumors and supposition.
The first quake, on June 6, registered a magnitude of 2.5. Less than 12 hours later, a second tremor of 2.1 magnitude was felt in Gwinnett County/Sugar Hill. According to official reports from the US Geological Survey, two more tremors were reported: June 9 at 2.0 in the Richter Scale and June 13 registering 2.2.
While no injures or damage was reported in the four quakes, the activity caused plenty of speculation about the safety of Buford Dam and Lake Lanier.
The US Army Corps of Engineers Buford Dam office issued a statement to assure the public that it was aware of the tremors and that the integrity of Buford Dam was not affected.
“Following the recent earthquakes in the Lake Lanier area, comprehensive inspections were conducted on all relevant infras-
tructure, including piezometers, seeps and weirs, (instruments used to measure core water pressure for leaks or flow),” said Tim Rainey, operations project manager at the Buford Dam off. The powerhouse instruments successfully detected the seismic activity.
“We are pleased to report that both the instrumentation and visual observations show no irregularities,” he said. “Therefore, there are no concerns regarding the structural integrity or safety of the Lake Lanier facilities.”
The Center for Earthquake Research and Information at the University of Memphis in Tennessee responded to an inquiry from Lakeside News.
“As you know there were four events in June on the south side of Lake Lanier, ranging in magnitude from 2.1 to 2.5 on June 6, 7, 9, and 13,” said Mitch Withers, associate research professor at the university of Memphis “It isn’t unusual for small short-lived groups of earthquakes anywhere in the East. Nevertheless two Georgia Tech researchers are deploying a few sensors to investi-
the incidents into perspective.
The mainstream news media reported the tremors and cited sources from the US Geological Survey from professors at Georgia Tech to local law enforcement and experts from Virginia Tech.
Here’s what geophysicist and duty seismologist Yaareb Altaweel of the U.S. Geological Survey, which constantly monitors and reports earthquakes around the globe, said by way of putting
“Earthquakes are very common all around the world, but the public only hears about either major devasting events or if the quake affects them,” he said. “Our office tracks every earthquake event 24 hours a day seven days a week, and we encourage people to go to our website to report “felts,” when they have experienced a tremor or shake. If you feel it, report See Quakes, page 17
Locations of the 4 earthquakes near Buford and Lake Lanier in June.
SOURCE: USGS.GOV gate.”
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There are ‘new’ reasons to visit Lanier Islands and Margaritaville this summer
By Pamela A. Keene
Approval of a new wedding venue, the expansion of Lanier Islands’ Game Changer and the 50year extension of the Lanier Islands lease with the US Army Corps of Engineers highlighted the agenda of the most recent meeting of the Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority in mid-June.
“Lanier Islands is having an excellent year,” said Virgil Williams, chairman of Lanier Islands Management Company, which operates Lanier Islands. “From our continuing successful partner-
ship with Go Outdoors and Margaritaville to the renewal of our lease with the Corps of Engineers through 2073, we are more than optimistic that our growth will continue.”
Williams cited the addition of a fourth restaurant at the family fun center Game Changer, along with an expansion and increased group business there, as another positive for the resort.
He announced that groundbreaking has taken place for the Sara Williams Wedding Venue, named in memory of his late wife, who passed away on February 14, 2021, She and Williams were married for 61 years.
The venue and adjacent garden will be located near the flag round-about at the entrance of the resort.
Margaritaville news
At the resort’s Fins Up Water Park, the newest attraction is the 480-foot Apocalypso waterslide, the centerpiece of a four-slide tower. Three other slides offer a downward spiraling slide called Serpentine Storm, a ride named Dreamsicle Dive with open and
closed tubes and Mango Mania special section for youngsters.
“Our guests love the new slides,” said Bucky Perry, vice president of operations at Margaritaville. “We’ve doubled the size of the Aquatic Adventure for even more ways to enjoy the water, and our new floating lake buffer has received numerous positive comments.
“New food and beverage choices and the availability of premium cabanas give guests even more options for ways to enjoy their time at Margaritaville,” he said.
For more information about Lanier Islands, visit lanierislands.com or call 770 945-8787.
To learn more about Margaritaville at Lanier Islands, visit margaritavilleresorts.com or call 470 323-3440.
LLIDA honors former chair Terri Jondahl
By Pamela A. Keene
After 10 years of service on the Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority board, Terri Jondahl has retired from the organization’s leadership. LLIDA is the state authority that oversees the operation of Lanier Islands. Steve Syfan has been ap-
Lake Sidney Lanier & Gainesville prints, Postcards, Notecards Original Oil, Acrylic, and Watercolor Paintings
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pointed chair of LLIDA by Gov. Brian Kemp. To honor her time on the board, including six years as chair, Jondahl was presented with a resolution from the LLIDA board of directors summarizing her contributions to the authority and its mission.
Here is a partial list of those accomplishments during her service:
• Lake Lanier Islands successfully completed the design of a $215 million state-of-the-art resort hotel and one-of-a-kind conference center.
The "floating lake buffer” (foreground) at Margaritaville.
PHOTO: MARGARITAVILLE
Sara Williams Wedding Venue at Lanier Islands.
PHOTO: LANIER ISLANDS
Lanier Fishing Report
Lake level: Full
Temperature: 80s
Clarity: Mostly clear
Bass fishing
Bass fishing is good on Lake Lanier. It’s the time of year where a little bit of everything is working at the right time. There is still a top water bite going on over brush in 25 to 30 feet of water, long points and humps. The fish are often not directly on the brush so scan the area to find their location for the day.
Chrome Gunfish, Chrome Slick Sticks, flukes and Chug bugs have been the best producers for the top water bite recently. If the top water activity isn’t happening then the Spot Choker or the drop shot will produce fish. Use a quarter ounce Spotchoker with a three-inch paddle tail swimbait to work the fish around and over the brush. It’s important to stay off the brush far enough to be able to cast 10 to 15 feet past the brush. Utilize your forward facing or count the bait down to the depth of the fish and slowly retrieve this bait back. The drop shot is used either directly in the brush or around the edges.
On windy days a quarter ounce weight is good and on calm days a three sixteenth
is fine. I’m using a 10-foot leader of eight pound fluorocarbon backed by 15 pound braid on a seven-foot six medium action rod. I prefer the size one drop shot hook with the built in swivels to prevent the line from twisting.
As the water temperatures continues to climb it will be necessary to work a little harder for them but they are still biting so Go Catch Em!
This bass fishing report is by Phil Johnson, pjohnson15@hotmail.com, 770 366-8845.
Striper fishing
Stripers are hitting the flat lines with weights and without on planer boards 30 feet behind the boards. Flat lines 80 to 100 feet back. Blue backs are the bait of choice. Using your electronics locate the bait and put your spread out.
Be sure to check your bait often as the water temperature is 82 degrees below Browns Bridge so they are very susceptible to the heat. Take some freeze sleeves and make sure they are lively.
I always have a down line just in case. Remember to wear your life jackets.
This striper report is by Buck Cannon, Buck Tails Guide Service 404 510-1778.
Crappie fishing
Crappie are in the summer pattern suspended 10- to 15-feet deep over a 30- to 40-foot bottom.
I have been having good luck with minnows on blow downs and under docks with structure.
For jig selection I am using green and
black colored combination (ATX D2D) with a slow retrieval.
The gear I recommend for crappie fishing is a Acc crappie stix one piece rod and reel with a 4 to 6 pound test K9 line, along with Garmin Live Scope and Power Pole.
This crappie report is by Captain Josh Thornton, 770 530- 6493.
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The United States Coast Guard – ‘Semper Paratus ...
The Twinlights Lighthouse was erected in 1862 on the highest point on the Atlantic Coast for a thousand miles each way. It replaced several earlier structures whose purpose was to guide mariners safely into New York Harbor. Growing up on the Jersey shore in its shadow, I heard a lot of stories about shipwrecks in the area going back hundreds of years. Before modern navigation equipment, ships coming from Europe to New York would have to cross 3,000 miles of open ocean before they caught sight of land. With only a compass and a sextant to tell them where they were – and a lot of times during foul weather or at night – they stood the chance of running aground before they could see the shore. There were lighthouses at various points along the coast, but it was quite possible to mistake one for another and to be many miles off course. In addition, back in the 1700 and 1800s, there were gangs of pirates known as “wreckers” who would deliberately lure ships aground so they could rob passengers and steal cargo. One of
Vinnie Mendes
On the Water
their tricks was to hang a lantern on an oxcart and walk it along the beach. A ship out at sea would mistake it for another ship making a safe passage through a channel, and following it, would possibly be wrecked.
The government finally formed the US Life Saving Service, with stations every few miles along the shore. These were manned by hearty seamen and equipped with such lifesaving gear as lifeboats that could be launched through the surf, and canons that could fire a line out to a stranded ship where they would rig a “britches buoy” to take passengers and crew ashore. During the day, a watch was kept on the shore from a tower located atop the station. At night and in foul
weather a man would patrol along the shore toward the next station. Halfway there he would meet up with the man coming the other way from the next station. The two would exchange numbered tokens to prove to the watch captain that they had patrolled the entire section of shoreline.
The Life Saving Service worked heroically for many years saving thousands of lives. In the period from 1871 to 1914 alone, they assisted 28,121 vessels and rescued or aided 178,741 people. Their unofficial motto was “You must put out. You don’t necessarily have to come back.”
In 1915, the US Lifesaving Service merged with the US Revenue Cutter Service to become the US Coast Guard. At the Twinlights Museum, in Highlands, NJ there is an excellent exhibit dedicated to the early days of this service. It contains examples of the equipment they used as well as a pictorial history.
Most Americans don’t realize that during World War II, the Coast Guard protected our shores from the threat of German subma-
rines, and also escorted our convoys of Liberty Ships across the Atlantic to supply England, and up into the Arctic Ocean to northern Russia. Though we did lose many of our ships from the convoys, the saying went that “We could build Liberty Ships faster than the Germans could sink them.” Conversely, the US Navy and Coast Guard could sink German submarines faster than they could build them. By the end of the war, the submarine threat had all but disappeared.
I was stationed on a ship out of Boston as a Navy seaman. When we were in port, the most convenient place to go on liberty was the Enlisted Men’s Club at the Boston Army Base, which was adjacent to the South Boston Annex, Boston Naval Shipyard. There would always be a bunch of Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guardsmen at the bar and the jokes would fly fast and heavy. Two that I remember are as follows:
Why do you have to be over six feet tall to join the Coast Guard? So you can walk ashore if your ship sinks.
Coast Guard station at Stone Harbor, NJ as it is today. Note the watch tower with windows looking out to sea as well as both directions up and down the shore. The double garage doors to the right are where the surf boats were housed.
The second one is the story of an aircraft carrier heading north that spots a light way off in the distance ahead of them. Then the bridge receives a radio message: “Ship approaching from the
See Mendes, page 14
CREDIT: AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE
New docks at LLOP the crowning touch for venue Shore Lines
From the fascinating to the remarkable, Lake Lanier harbors many personalities and places along its shores. Lakeside presents “Shore Lines” – stories about people who live, work and play around the lake and the places that make the area special.
By Pamela A. Keene
The installation of the boat docks on both sides of Lake Lanier Olympic Park is the crowning touch for the newly revamped and renovated rowing and canoe/kayaking site that hosted the 1996 Summer Games almost 20 years ago. The brand-new Boathouse at Lake Lanier Olympic Park opened in early May and the docks installation was completed in late May.
Built and installed by Boat Dock Works, the new steel-frame and Ipe docks on the Boathouse side of the venue cut an impressive sight from the water and the shoreline. It replaced the updated docks that were built for the 1996 Olympic Games.
“This was a chance to provide the latest in design and technology for the venue, which is still in continuous use by rowing and canoe/kayak teams who come here to train from around the globe,” said Robyn Lynch, Direc-
tor of Tourism for the city of Gainesville. “Over the years, many of the visiting coaches have told us that our venue on Lake Lanier is very popular with their teams because of the facility and the placement of the course on a long straight-away in a relatively calm part of the lake.
“And now that the Boathouse is complete and they’re seeing the new facility for themselves, interest has significantly increased,” she said. “We expect even more teams to come to Gainesville to train because of the physical attributes of the Boathouse and the milder weather.”
Boat Dock Works’ owner Brad Wiegand worked with the city to develop the design of the docks, engineering the low profile required for rowing and canoe/kayak participants.
“The intent was to create something modern and environmentally sound, and by the design and the materials used, it is in-
tended to last a long time,” said Weigand, who founded Boat Dock Works in Gainesville in 1999.
Weigand had his first taste of dock-building when he was asked by a neighbor on Lake Lanier to help build a new dock. He was hooked.
“I was still in college working on my bachelor’s degree in business (which he achieved) then decided to go to North Georgia Tech and become a certified welder in the late 1990s,” he said. “From there I learned more about design and engineering and started my business.”
Boat Dock Works handles residential and commercial dock building, as well as marine construction. The company also handles erosion control, rip-rap, shoreline steps, pathways and new commercial marina construction. It works throughout the Southeast.
Recent projects include the new docks at Margaritaville, the wave break at Chattahoochee Country Club, the new Dock Y at Aqualand and new docks for Suntex marinas on Allatoona Lake.
“By using heavy-duty materials and components in all our
projects, we’re creating a more durable product that can withstand a large amount of boat traffic,” he said. “Ipe for the decking and hot-dipped galvanized steel, along with PVC composite decking assure a strong and sturdy product. We manufacture all components in our Gainesville shop.”
The company also builds dock accessories: boat lifts, jet ski ports and swim platforms.
“I grew up in Gainesville and Lake Lanier and this is my home,” he said. “I’m very proud that our office is located in the oldest home in the city, part of the
• Mendes
Continued from Page 12
south, alter your course 10 degrees to starboard.” The carrier replies “No, you alter your course 10 degrees to starboard.”
This went back and forth a few times until the Officer of the Deck gets on the radio and says:
“This is John Jones, and I am a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy, and this is the USS Ronald Reagan, the most powerful aircraft carrier in the world. Alter your course 10
Longstreet District Hotel. To me, it’s important to be connected to that history.”
Boat Dock Works has 35 employees who are busy year-round.
“My first employee, Frank Randall, still works with me,” Wiegand said. “And business is good. Our residential projects keep us busy during the warmer months, and when it’s cooler we’re busy with commercial projects. When the lake is down we do shoreline work and when it’s up, we’re building docks.”
For more info, visit boatdockworks.com or call 770 532-3421.
degrees to starboard.” The reply comes back “This is Harry Smith, and I am a Seaman Apprentice in the United States Coast Guard, and this is a lighthouse. Alter your course 10 degrees to starboard.”
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 ALAN HOPE
PHOTO BY ALAN HOPE
Boat Dock Works owner Brad Wiegand, right, jokes with GM Randy Fuller as workers finish up docks at LLOP. City of Gainesville Division Manager James Watson (white cap) is also pictured.
A kayak sits in the foreground as workers finish up the new docks at LLOP.
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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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.
• Quakes
Continued from Page 2
it.
“We turn to our scientific instrumentation to look for each incident and confirm it,” he said. “As an example, a recent 3.8 magnitude tremor in Tennessee had 276 ‘felts,’ meaning that 276 people reported the occurrence. We were able to verify that the event occurred.”
Altaweel explained that most large earthquakes happen at the juncture of the edges of two or more tectonic plates. “Places such as Turkey, Africa and Japan sit above these large pieces of the Earth’s crust and uppermost mantle and when they shift significantly an earthquake can result,” he said. “The Earth’s crust is constantly under stress and pressures and numerous earthquakes happen every day around the world.”
He said that the vast majority do not result in devasting damage or destruction, injuries or death.
“Basically, social media talks too much and their expertise in most matters is near zero,” he said. “We rely on scientific information, measures by instrumentation and objective data to make our assessments and reports.
“These were small incidents and are not worrisome,” he said. “From our analysis, there’s a low probability that a large earthquake in this area (of Georgia) would occur.”
The US Geological Survey is the science arm of the US Department of the Interior.
As the science arm of that department, the USGS brings an array of earth, water, biological, and mapping data and expertise to bear in support of decisionmaking on environmental, resource, and public safety issues.
To learn more about earthquakes, volcanoes, their occurrences and to report an incident, visit usgs.gov.
• LLIDA
Continued from Page 8
• The board secured financing for critical infrastructure investments, including replacing part of the Islands’ force main (wastewater) system, shoreline stabilization and storm drain replacements.
• LLIDA worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the State of Georgia, the Williams Family, and others to extend the current Islands lease an additional 50 years to 2073.
• Jondahl bolstered the LLIDA partnership with the Williams family and their continued investments in the Islands; and
• Jondahl supported the marketing partnership with LLIMC (Lake Lanier Islands Management Company LLC) to inform the public about improvements at the Islands.
“Under Terri’s leadership, LLIDA has accomplished so much, including several projects that will further the direction and success of Lanier Islands and Margaritaville,” said Charles Bur-
ton, executive director of LLIDA.
“The board praised her for her outstanding service and for her unfaltering leadership over her entire time on the board, both as a member and as chair.”
She continues to serve as CEO of CAB Worldwide LLC operations in the U.S., Canada, China, India and Italy.
For more about LLIDA, visit llida.gov.
Terri Jondahl is honored for her work at LLIDA. (L-R) Charles Burton, Jondahl, Virgil Williams, and Steve Syfan.
PHOTO BY PAMELA A. KEENE
Not all lightning strikes are the same
It is mid-summer.
The July heat will be relentless with that thick summer humidity, the “air you can wear” so to speak. Perfect conditions for pop-up afternoon thunderstorms … and lightning. While Florida remains the “lightning capital” of the country with more than 2,000 lightning injuries over the past 50 years, Georgia is in the top 10.
On a typical July day, when the air is thick with humidity, towering cumulus clouds begin building in the afternoon heat. Within these clouds we have water, supercooled water (water that is still liquid below 32 degrees) and ice. Updrafts and downdrafts within the storm cloud force these water and ice particles to collide, creating an electrical charge. Once the electrical potential becomes great enough, a spark emerges, and lighting flashes.
Cloud to cloud or intercloud lighting is
Glenn Burns Lanier Outlook
the most common type of lighting. It occurs between two or more clouds with opposite charges. Intercloud lighting happens about 10 times more often than the negatively charged lightning.
Negatively charged lightning, as its name would suggest, is when a strike originates in the NEGATIVELY charged base of the cloud, down to the POSITIVELY charged ground. Negative lightning is about 300 million volts with about 30,000 amps. It’s also about 50,000 degrees hot and explodes the air around it, which we hear as thunder. A typical bolt is about as big around as a piece of chalk.
We have intercloud lightning, negative lightning, and one kind I am all too familiar with: POSITIVE LIGHTNING.
Many years ago, when I was at the beach in south Florida, a man who was wading the waves next to the shore, just dropped. People rushed to help him, thinking he may have had a heart attack. Paramedics arrived and rushed him to the hospital, however he did not survive. The sun was shining brightly that day but there were several storms on the horizon, about 15 miles from the beach. It was later determined the man was killed by lightning. It
SOLUNAR TIMES FOR LAKE LANIER
SOLUNAR TIMES FOR LAKE LANIER
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Here’s a list of fishing tips for late spring, early summer
It’s time for you to prepare for fishing in warm, hot weather. I have lots of recommendations, many you’ve heard from or read by me before, many you already know about and apply so this is a prepared update for this time period. Not in any particular order, just random. Get ready.
No. 1: Change the line on all your reels and check guides for rough spots and cracks. The line you use and its condition is your connection to whatever fish you are trying to catch so it’s the most important bit of your tackle.
No. 2: Check the hooks on all your rigs you’ll be using for plastic worming. Often a hook will get bent to a curl and it may cost you the biggest fish of the year.
No. 3: If you’re fishing with children, flatten the barb on the hooks they’ll be using. If the barb is flattened, the hook is removed easily if it gets in someone’s finger. Once, many years ago, I was fishing with Travis when he was about 8 years old. He hooked me in the chin with a barbed hook on a Road Runner and we had to
cut it off and push it through and cut it off to get it out. Very undesirable experience. Without a barb it could have been removed easily. After all, the barb was originally engineered on the hook to keep bait on, not someone’s finger.
No. 4: Do you own a pier, covered dock or boat house? Buy a few bails of straw, not pine straw, cow and horse feed straw. Stuff big rocks inside or attach with wire and sink them around your dock. I know some guys use bricks or concrete blocks and that’s OK but attach them to your dock with wire or rope so when
the bail of straw fades way next Fall and falls apart, you can retrieve whatever you used to sink the straw.
Your boat dock will become a veritable multilevel fish attractant whether it’s day or night. The whole food chain will be camped there. Put a night light out also and it’ll be an aquarium for all sorts of fish. Be sure this is OK with your neighbors because the “night time” bass guys will discover it pretty soon and will visit for a bass or striper addition. Clearing winter downed brush from your property? Don’t throw it away somewhere, put it under your dock. Same result as the straw bales.
No 5: Are you a river guy? The rivers flowing to the big reservoir or not, buy some dog food and put it upstream in the water flow. Believe me, when you’re fishing downstream from that area, catfish, Gar, carp and even bass and stripers will congregate in the fertility created and you’ll know exactly where to catch ’em. Dump it in a curve of the river and it’ll last
longer.
No. 6: Keep a log book with your notes and even maps. It’ll prove valuable as your head get older and brain shrinks.
• Burns
Continued from Page 18
was not any ordinary type of lighting. It was a POSITIVE lightning strike, sometimes called, “a bolt from the blue.”
A positive lightning strike originates on the positively charged region in the top of a storm. It also packs a wallop! It can have a billion volts, much higher than the 300 million volts of a negative strike, with 300,000 amp! It can also leap 20 miles out from its parent storm cloud. So even though it was sunny that day at the beach with storms well off in the distance, that man was just unlucky enough to be hit.
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.
July is THE worst month for lightning and according to the National Weather Service, an average of 50 people are killed by it every year.
Finally, the outlook for July is for continued hotter than normal with above normal rainfall. Our average July rainfall is 4.75”, which makes this month the wettest of the year. Our average high temperature is 90 degrees with an average low temperature of 72.
Glenn Burns is chief meteorologist emeritus for WSB-TV in Atlanta.
‘Pack it in, Pack it out’ at lake parks
By Pamela A. Keene
Parks around Lake Lanier are experiencing plenty of activity as the temperatures soar and people seek ways to cool off. As a result, officials are asking visitors do their part to help keep the parks clean for all visitors.
“Lake Sidney Lanier and its parks generate no trash,” said Tim Rainey, operations project manager for the US Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Lanier. “Every piece of trash is brought to the lake and its parks by people.
“ ‘Pack it in, Pack it out’ and ‘Leave
No Trace’ are common themes for outdoor recreation,” he said. “The Corps asks for the public’s help by practicing these themes and removing the trash they bring.”
Recreation budgets have remained flat for a decade or more resulting in reduced service levels, including reduced staff.
“Lake Lanier parks have seen an uptick in visitation, while the maintenance contracts have been reduced,” said Travis England, public affairs specialist for the Mobile District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, based at Lake Lanier. “There’s simply no budget for more maintenance, and there’s also a shortage in the Park Ranger staff.”
Rainey explained that debris/trash removal is also part of the reduced-service levels. Trash is not being collected as frequently as it was in the past. Other maintenance work has been cut back.
“Mowing acreage and frequencies have been reduced as well, not only in Sardis Creek Park but in all Corps-managed recreation areas,” Rainey said. “This was part of reduced service levels implemented in 2023.”
Specifically, Old Federal Day-Use and
Invasive snail discovered by officials in Lake Lanier
An invasive snail has been discovered in Lake Lanier and state officials are urgently working to prevent further spread. “While we initially hoped that this was an individual specimen found on Lanier, further investigation indicated that this is a viable, reproducing population of snails,” said Jim Page, Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division.
A member of the genus Cipangopaludina, Chinese/Japanese Mystery Snails have been found in multiple waterbodies within Georgia.
The snails were discovered by WRD staff conducting research involving fish in Lanier. Page said staffers found a snail attached to equipment they were using in the research. Once they identified the mystery snail WRD staff returned to the area, located in Squirrel Creek on the north end of the lake, and found “an established population (of the snails) where they were reproducing.”
“While we cannot say with absolute certainty how this invasive snail was introduced into Lake Lanier, its presence in various food markets within the U.S. and its popularity as a pet for some aquarium owners are at least two possible sources,” said Page. “It should be noted, however, that recent regulatory changes prohibit individuals from possessing live mystery snails
within the state of Georgia, regardless of their intended use.”
Invasive aquatic species can cause significant ecological and economic impacts across the state, from damaging vessels and other boating equipment, to impeding access to waterbodies to disrupting the natural ecosystem by displacing and out-competing native species. Concerns associated with the mystery snail species include its potential to negatively impact native snails and being a possible health risk (ex: can host intestinal parasites) if consumed raw or undercooked. Introduction is preventable
Prevention is the first and most important step to reducing risk of invasive species populating in Georgia waters.
“Prevention continues to be our best tool in fighting the war on invasive species, and
Mystery snails have been found in Lake Lanier.
See Snails, page 41
PHOTO BY VICKI HOPE
As the Corps and Hall County attempt to finalize the agreement to allow the county to operate
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
♫ July 7, Aug. 4, Sept. 1, Oct. 6 – Music in the Branch, 6:30-8 p.m., at Amphitheater, 5603 Mitchell St., Flowery Branch. Info: 770-9676371.
o July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 – Trivia Night, 7 p.m. at NoFo Brew Co., Gainesville. Info: topher@nofobrew.co.
♫ July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 – Music Bingo, 7 p.m. at Hall & Hound Brewing Co., Cumming. Info: 470-239-8423.
o July 4, 11, 18, 25 – Trivia Night, 7 p.m. at Hall & Hound Brewing Co., Cumming. Info: 470-239-8423.
♫ July 4, 11, 18, 25 – Music Bingo, 7 p.m. at NoFo Brew Co., Gainesville. Info: topher@nofobrew.co.
♫ July 5, Aug. 2, Sept. 6 – First Friday Concert Series, 7 p.m. in Historic Gainesville Square, Gainesville.
♫ July 7 –Mary Kate Farmer, 6:30 p.m. at Music in the Branch Amphitheater, Flowery Branch. Info: flowerybranchga.org.
o July 10 – Wine Tasting, 7 p.m. at Hall & Hound Brewing Co., Cumming. Info: 470-239-8423.
♫ July 12 – Manorism Official, 9 p.m. at Wild Wing Café, Gainesville. Info: 770-536-9177. July 18 – Flowery Branch Tomato Sandwich party, 3:30 p.m. at Market Pavilion, Flowery Branch. Info: flowerybranchga.org.
♫ July 20 – Manorism Official, 7 p.m. at NoFo Brew Co., Gainesville. Info: topher@nofobrew.co.
Lakeside Calendar July 2024
Blackstrap Rock Hall
♫ July 5 – Neon Warlords/Die 985/Far From Sober
♫ July 6 – Marred Up Fest VI
♫ July 7 – The Blackstrap Psychic Fair
♫ July 13 –Crossbreed/Cultus
Black/The Casket Creatures
♫ July 14 – Pop-up Market
♫ July 19 –Cyberdelics/Kasei/Nobody’s Darling
♫ July 27 – Living Dead Girl/Ashes to Omens/Vayne Info: 678-696-8285; blackstraprockhall.com
Boot Barn Hall
♫ July 5 – Lonestar/Boot Barn Hall’s Birthday Bash
♫ July 6 – ’84, Van Halen Tribute
♫ July 11 – Dueling Pianos
♫ July 12 – Guardians of the Jukebox, Ultimate ’80s Experience
♫ July 13 – Mock of Ages, Def Leppard Tribute
♫ July 19 – The Lacs
♫ July 20 – Don McLean
♫ July 26 – Departure, Journey Tribute
♫ July 27 – Funky Like Sunday, James Brown Tribute Info: bootbarnhallga.com
Buford Community Center
♫ July 27 – Mr. Speed, KISS tribute, Shyanne (special guest)
Info: 770-904-2740; bufordcommunitycenter.com
Clarkesville’s Habersham Community Theater
o July 18-21, 25-28, Aug. 1-4
– The Voyage of The Dawn Trader Info: 706-839-1315; habershamcommunitytheater.com
Cumming City Center
♫ July 3 – Jacob Harshman Project
♫ July 5 – Landslide, Fleetwood Mac Tribute
♫ July 6 – Departure, Journey Tribute
♫ July 10 – Hughes Taylor
♫ July 12 – The Bourbon Brothers Band
♫ July 13 – R&B Inc
♫ July 17 – Canon Tylor
♫ July 19 – G Clef & The Playlist
♫ July 20 – Dukes of Country
♫ July 24 – Taylor Harlow
♫ July 26 – Can’t Hardly Wait
♫ July 27 – Pandora’s Box, Aerosmith Tribute
♫ July 31 – Jason Gardner 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
Georgia Art League
o July 18 – Tour of Cumming Arts Center Info: 470-272-3010; melanievaughan133@gmail.com
Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds
o July 4 – July 4th Fireworks Festivities/Vintage Vixens
♫ July 20 – Electric Avenue, The ’80s MTV Experience
o July 27 – Laser Light Show Info: 706-896-4191; georgiamountainfairgrounds.com
Hall County Library
o July 26, Aug. 23 – Master Craftswoman
Agatha Christie – A Reading Group Info: 770-532-3311, X4011
Interactive Neighborhood Kids
o July 1-7 – 4th of July Craft Week (Closed on July 4th)
o July 1, 15, 29 – The BASICS Story Time
o July 8-14
– Cow Craft Week
o July 11, 18, 25 – Thriller Thursday visits: (July 11) Snow White; (July 18) Mario; (July 18); Batman
o July 15-21 – Moon Craft Week
o July 22-28 – Ice Cream Craft Week
See Calendar, page 46
8:00 AM to 11:00
The tradition continues at the UYC Junior Sailing Program
By Pamela A. Keene
Each year for three weeks in June, young aspiring sailors learn the ropes during the UYC Maritime Foundation’s Junior Sailing Program. Those ropes including tying common knots used in sailing and the lines – called sheets – that help trim the sails.
In three separate multi-day sessions youngsters ages 6 to 16 take to the water, not only to learn about how to make a sailboat go, but also to build their confidence, work as teams and develop skills that will last them a lifetime.
Current instructors came up the learning ladder, starting as young students in the program. As they learned to sail, they expanded their knowledge and experience working with others. These aspiring instructors have all passed the rigorous standards set by US Sailing, the governing body for the sport across the country. More than half of these instructors are Level I US Sailing Certified; the others are working as assistant leads or as coaches in training.
Many of the students are repeats, building their expertise from summer to summer. They provide support to newer, younger students and cheer on those a little hesitant to tackle their first boat-handling experiences at the beginning of each week.
By the end of each session, young lives have changed, students have learned teamwork and confidence, and they return to the next school year with a set of accomplishments to be proud of.
In the 2024 program, more than 45 students participated in at least one of the sessions.
In the third week, a separate program for youth from Eagle Ranch for the third week was developed by the UYC Mari-
time Foundation, members of America’s Boating Club Atlanta and from University Yacht Club. These activities have strengthened the strong community support of Eagle Ranch.
The UYC Foundation sponsors a weekly Sunscreen Series every other Sunday in July and August as well.
Here are glimpses into the days on the docks, in the water, in the classroom and on the boats from last month. Enjoy!
Students learn to use their weight to maximize speed.
Big boats with little sailors at the wheel.
Bics with happy sailors.
Important lessons include righting a boat that capsizes.
Even when the winds are light, there’s always something to learn on the water.
PHOTOS BY BILLY EARLE, RICK SMITH AND THE UYC MARITIME FOUNDATION
o Family Frolics, Gainesville. Explore aquatic animals, make a craft, 10:30-11:30 a.m. July 3 & July 17, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr. www.elachee.org, 770-535-1976.
o Patriotic Pops Concert, Gainesville. Northwind Symphonic Band performs annual patriotic concert on the lawn, gates open 7 p.m., music starts 8 p.m. July 3, Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Sprint St. SW. Bring lawn chairs, picnic; food truck available. $25 individual, $35 per ticket reserve table for 8. www.theartscouncil.net.
o Laurel Park Celebration, Gainesville. American Legion - Paul E. Bolding Post 7 presents an all-day Fourth of July celebration. Gates open at 9 a.m. with food vendors, kid’s activities, music, splash pad, and more; fireworks at dark visible from numerous points around the north end of Lake Lanier, 3100 Old Cleveland Hwy. $10 per car. Rain date Aug. 3.
o 67th annual Thomas Mashburn Steam Engine Parade/Independence Day Celebration, Cumming. Parade with sports teams, dance academies, antique cars, tractors and steam engines on Tribble Gap Road from Forsyth Central High School to Cumming Fairgrounds. 10 a.m.-noon July 4; Independence Day Celebration with children’s activities, food, vendors, live music, adult beverages, and more 4-10 p.m., fireworks 9:30 p.m. Cumming Fairgrounds, 235 Castleberry Rd. www.cummingfair.net.
o Celebrate the 4th, Braselton. Food, music, parade, fireworks; food trucks/family activities, 5 p.m., parade on Ga. 53 begins at 6 p.m., live music 6:30-9:30 p.m.; fireworks between 9-9:30 p.m., July 4, Town Green, 9924 Davis St. www.explorebraselton.com.
o Run,White & Blue 10K/Fun Run/5K, Cumming. 7:45/8/8:30 a.m. July 4, Halcyon, 6365 Halcyon Way. $25-$45. www.runnersfit.com.
o Red, White & Blairsville. Food trucks, bounce houses, and fireworks, 7:30-10 p.m. July 4, Meeks Park, 11 Pool Lane. www.visitblairsvillega.com.
o Fireworks at the Fairgrounds, Hiawassee. Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds annual blast in the mountains with live ’60s-’70s music with Vintage Vixens, 6-8 p.m., fireworks 9:45 p.m. July 4, 1311 Music Hall Rd. www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com.
o Parade and Celebration, Dahlonega. Firecracker 5K, car show, patriotic parade, free concerts in Hancock Park, food trucks, reading of Declaration of Independence, DJ and fireworks show on University of North Georgia drill field at dusk, July 4. For schedule see www.dahlonegadda.org.
o Old Fashioned Celebration, Blairsville. 7 a.m. 5K/1-mile fun run, 9:30 a.m. flag raising ceremony, followed by bicycle parade, pedal boat races, greased pole climbing, watermelon eating contest and other family activities at one of the nation’s oldest state parks, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. July 4, Vogel State Park, 405 Vogel State Park Rd. 5K/fun run $20, $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706-745-2628.
o Annual Fireworks at Dusk, Helen. Bring lawn chairs and blankets, view fireworks from Alpine Village Shoppes and Helen Welcome Center. Arrive before 9 p.m. July 4, 1074 Edelweiss Strasse. 706 878-2181, www.helenga.org.
o Bear-ly Triathlon, Tallulah Falls. Family fun on Shortline-Benton MacKay Trail with big
Outdoor Calendar July 2024
wheels, bikes, scooters, jog/run, wade across shallow spot on Tallulah River, plus a prize, 9 a.m.;-noon July 5, Tallulah Gorge State Park, 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Dr. Register in advance. Bring towels and helmets. $15, plus $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706-754-7981.
o Red, White & Boat, Gainesville. Celebration at marina for tenants only, July 6; 9 p.m. fireworks visible from various points on the lake, Gainesville Marina, 2145 Dawsonville Hwy.
o July Evening of Fun, Mountain City. Line dancing, snacks & old fashioned games to celebrate Independence Day, 4-6 p.m. July 6, Black Rock Mountain State Park, 3085 Black Rock Mountain Pkwy. $5 parking. 706-745-2141, www.gastateparks.org.
o Beach Bash, Gainesville. Live music, hula hoop contest, kids’ activities, food trucks, plus 100 tons of sand for fun on Olympic Plaza, activities 5-9 p.m. July 12, Lake Lanier Olympic Park, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd. Free admission. Reserve table for 6, $60. www.exploregainesville.org.
o Fairy Tale Friday, Gainesville. Children dress as favorite fairytale characters, listen to Mother Nature read stories, 11 a.m. July 12, Gainesville Garden of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1911 Sweet Bay Dr. Free with garden admission. www.abg.org, 404-888-4760.
o Gangstagrass Concert, Gainesville. Multiracial collective of musicians perform, gates open 7 p.m., concert begins 8 p.m. July 13, The Lawn at Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St. SW. $30 individual tickets, $40 per ticket. www.theartscouncil.net.
o Bob Ross Paint & Sip, Gainesville. Complete a landscape painting in one class, enjoy a beverage of choice, supplies and one beverage provided, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. July 13, Gainesville Garden of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1911 Sweet Bay Dr. $110, $100 members. www.atlantagb.org, 404-888-4760.
o Pack it Up, Helen. Learn basics of backpacking, including safety, finding trails, camping and gear necessities, 10 a.m.-noon July 20, Smithgall Woods State Park, 61 Tsalaki Trl. $5, plus $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 708-878-3087.
o Full Moon Suspension Bridge Hike, Tallulah Falls. Mile and a half night hike down 310 stairs to suspension bridge over falls, 9-10:30 p.m. July 20, Tallulah Gorge State Park, 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Dr. $10 cash, plus $5 parking. Register in advance. www.gastateparks.org, 706754-7981.
o Riverstreet Concert, Gainesville. Classic rock band formed in Gainesville performs, gates open 7 p.m., music starts 8 p.m. July 20, The Lawn at Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St.
SW. $27, tables of 8 $37 per ticket. www.theartscouncil.net.
o Buck Moon Paddle, Gainesville. Guided group paddle on peaceful section of Lake Lanier, boat rental available, 7-9 p.m. July 20, Lake Lanier Olympic Park, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd. $40. www.exploregainesville.org.
o Movie Under the Stars, Braselton. Bring lawn chairs & blankets for family friendly movie, concessions for purchase 7 p.m., movie at dark, July 20, Braselton Town Green, 9924 Davis St. Free. www.explorebraselton.com.
o Georgia Peach Women’s Triathlon, Gainesville. 400-yard swim, 15-mile bike, 5K run for individuals and relays, 7:30 a.m. July 21, Lake Lanier Olympic Park, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd. $95-$170. www.gamultisports.com.
♫ Rush of Fools Concert, Gainesville. Christian contemporary rock band performs, gates open 6 p.m., music starts 7 p.m. July 26, The4 Lawn at Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St. SW. Tickets $35, table for 8 $45 per ticket. www.theartscouncil.net.
o Syfan Supports Rally 5K/Fun Run, Gainesville. 6:15 p.m. July 26, Midland Greenway, 682 Grove St. $35. www.runsignup.com.
o Edible Garden Tour, Gainesville. Tour new edible garden, enjoy a little harvest, 10 a.m.noon July 27, Gainesville Garden of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1911 Sweet Bay Dr. $34, $29 members. www.abg.org, 404-888-4760.
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. July 27, Blackstrap Rock Hall, 852 Main St. SW. $20 adults, $10 children ages 612. www.blackstraprockhall.com.
o Braselton Police 5K. 7:30 a.m. July 27, Braselton Brothers Department Store, 9924 Davis St. $30. www.runnersfit.com.
o Jeep Day, Cumming. All breed Jeep show, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. July 28, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd. Free. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
o Blane Dixon Fallen Heroes Golf Tournament, Gainesville. Annual tournament in honor of Hall County deputy killed in the line of duty, July 29, Chicopee Woods Golf Course, 2515 Atlanta Hwy. www.exploregainesville.org.
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, 770-535-1975.
o Button Down Dash 5K, Suwanee. 7:45 p.m. Aug. 3, Suwanee Town Center, 330 Town Center Ave. $30. www.runnersfit.com.
o Master Naturalist, Helen. 8-week adult environmental education program with classroom lectures and hands on-activities led by local and state experts, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays thru July 22, Smithgall Woods State Park, 61 Tsalaki Trl. $285, $5 parking. Registration required. www.gastateparks.org, 706-878-4707.
On-Going
♫ 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: July-The Soul Purpose Band; August-Fly Betty Band; September-Steve Bryson Band. www.exploregainesville.org.
♫ Evening Concerts/Movie, Cumming. Outdoor concerts 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays, 8-10 p.m. Saturdays: Jacob Harshman’s Project, July 3; Departure a Tribute to Journey, July 6; Hughes Taylor, July 10; The Bourbon Brothers Band, July 12; Canon Tyler July 17; G Clef & The Playlist, July 19; Taylor Harlow, July 24; Jason Garder, July 31; Skynfolks, Aug. 2, Lou Sobh Amphitheater, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd. Free. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
♫ Hot Summer Nights Concerts, Gainesville. Concerts on Gainesville Square, 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays in July. www.exploregainesville.com.
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, 706-344-1515.
o Fundamentals of Plant 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, 404-8884760.
o Junior Ranger Camps, Ga. State Parks. Day camps for children in July at numerous Georgia State Parks focus on outdoor fun and adventure, includes Smithgall Woods, Tallulah Gorge, Victoria Bryant, and others. www.gastateparks.org.
♫ Music in the Park, Dahlonega. Live music
See Outdoor Calendar, page 41
It’s July already; make the most of summer before it’s gone
By Jane Harrison
Here it is July, already. Folks who notice these things have observed the daylight fading earlier each evening. Before the summer gets away, there’s still time to dive into several “must do” activities around Lake Lanier and the headwaters. Here are some ideas for fun on the lake, on the town, or in the mountains to help make the most of the season before it’s gone:
On the lake
Moonlight Paddles: The Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club guides participants in canoes, kayaks or stand-up paddle boards into quiet coves under each month’s full moon. For a new twist this summer, the club dipped into Native American heritage to label each outing with the full moon name given it by early inhabitants who paddled the waters long before Lake Lanier was formed.
LCKC Executive Director Kim Martin, who leads some of the night ventures, described them as peaceful glides into a protected, wake-free waterscape. “Sometimes we might go out to Gilligan’s Island or stay in the coves behind the boathouse or under (Clarks) bridge to the right,” she said. In the twilight, paddlers might see herons and other lake birds swooping down for their evening meal, fish jumping to catch bugs near the sur-
face, or deer running on shore. “There’s always something to see,” Martin said, including a bald eagle that occasionally drops by.
A range of participants – from grandparents, teens, singles, and families – sign up for the twohour tours each month. Each can choose their vessel from LCKC’s fleet or bring their own. The price is the same. Martin invited participants to also tour The Boathouse at Lake Lanier Olympic Park, LCKC headquarters and community gathering place. Sign up for the Buck Moon paddle, 7-9 p.m. July 20, at www.exploregainesville.org. Look for new paddling rental opportunities this summer by visiting the website. Fins Up Water Park: If your summer needs more excitement than serenity, slide into this water
extravaganza at Margaritaville at Lanier Islands. Cool off and scream on Apocalypso, Georgia’s first “water coaster” and twist down Serpentine Storm, ride through Dreamsicle Dive or whoosh down any of the 18 water slides at the lakeside park. See www.margaritavilleresorts.com.
On the town
First Friday/Hot Summer Night Concerts: The music scene has heated up in Downtown Gainesville along with the boom in entertainment, restaurant and living options. Summer concert nights around the Gainesville Square bring in hundreds of folks who dine, dance, and socialize to the beat of local bands performing a variety of music genres. Main Street Gainesville has hosted the First Friday Concerts several years and is expanding the music offerings to Wednesdays this month with Hot Summer Nights. The midweek July-only concerts will be much smaller than First Fridays, said Main Street Manager Nicole Parham. “No roads will be closed and the entire event will be inside the park portion of the square,” she said. “The music will be a little different for these, as well. A local musician, David Cramer, has crafted a Micro Music Festival event where local artists can play a 15-20 minute set during the event. So, instead of one musician playing for two hours, multiple musicians will play throughout the evening.”
Other live music options: Near the south end of the lake, groove to Music in the Branch, 6:30-8:30 p.m. first Sundays at the Flowery Branch Amphitheater. Live bands and food trucks greet visitors on summer evenings at the Mitchell Street venue. See www.flowerybranchga.org.
Near the lake’s southwestern shore, The Lou Sobh Amphitheater at Cumming City Center stages live bands most Wednesday and Saturday nights. The unique gathering place offers several dining options, shops, and a walking trail. See www.cummingcitycenter.com.
To the north, step into mountain heritage 2-4:30 p.m. Saturdays for impromptu performances by fiddlers, guitar pickers and singers outside the Gold Museum Historic Site. A wider genre of tunes perks up Hancock Park 6:30-8:30 p.m. first Fridays. Visit www.dahlonegadda.org.
In the mountains Harvest Festival, Hardman Farm Historic Site: This bucolic setting at a former Georgia governor’s farm and site of the iconic gazebo-topped Indian mound in Sautee Nacoochee offers a step back in time. The pastoral site resonates with a different cultural experience from the lively, popular Bavarian-styled tourist town of Helen, just north of the park. Park assistant manager and event planner Sarah Summers described the harvest as a staff and visitor favorite. In the Aug. 24 gathering, pickers can harvest their own sweet and/or tri-color corn from stalks planted in June on land Gov. Hardman originally tilled more than a century ago. Families enjoy old fashioned sack racing, horseshoe tossing, and corn hole games. Guests can visit with horses, sheep, goats and chickens in the historic barn behind the mansion, which will be open for tours. Strains from a live blue grass band and food truck fare beckon visitors to linger after harvest. See www.gastateparks.org/
hardmanfarm.
Birds, bats, and storytelling at Amicalola Falls State Park: There’s more to do at one of Georgia’s most visited state parks than scale the steps to see the famous waterfall. Park staff and naturalists have teamed up with the Blue Ridge Raptors organization and professional storytellers to widen opportunities for family fun, traditional entertainment, and up-close encounters with hawks, owls, and vultures. There’s even a short jaunt with bat-detecting gear to seek the nocturnal creatures as they swoop down to consume insects. Many events take place in or near the relatively new visitor center, a fitting tribute to the park’s location on the approach to the Appalachian Trail and the region’s roots in moonshine and fast cars. See www.amicalolafallslodge.com.
Find more activities for summer fun each month in Lakeside’s Outdoor Calendar.
First Friday concert crowd in Gainesville.
PHOTOS BY JANE HARRISON
Harvest Festival at Hardman Farm.
PHOTOS: HARDMAN FARM
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Get lost at the quiet, hidden jewel, Hamburg State Park
If peace and solitude are part of your summer plan, no place could be better than the quiet, hidden jewel, known as Hamburg State Park. The site has more than 700 acres, including a picturesque 225 acre lake, which is fed by the winding waters of the Little Ogeechee River.
This is one of the most remote state parks in Georgia located just outside of the village of Mitchell, and a special place that blends history with a multitude of outdoor adventure possibilities. The old gristmill by itself would be enough to send anyone back in time, but this park also has a corn sheller from the 1920s and an Eli Whitney original cotton gin. It’s definitely one of the best state parks in Georgia, and certainly one of the most underrated!
Soon after the American Revolutionary War, Richard Warthen built one of the first mills in this area at the site of the current Hamburg Mill. During the 1820s, the town of Warthen was built by the Warthen family … therefore, the Hamburg State Park is deeply entwined with this family.
Modern-day facilities are mixed with reminders of the past offering an eclectic view of history and outdoor recreation. The campground has shaded sites along the edge of the serene Hamburg Lake providing hot showers, water, electric hookups and a dump station. The park has aquacycles, canoes and kayaks for rent so that anglers can enjoy fishing for largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and bream on the water or land lovers can use the fishing pier. The lake is beautiful and fishing is great, but don’t swim in
Bill Vanderford
Travel
Editor
n MORE INFO: JFish51@aol.com www.georgiafishing.com
the waters because alligators are always present!
Wildlife enthusiasts might look for turtles, alligators, raccoons, deer, birds and numerous other animals that live within the park.
Hamburg State Park also boasts more than three miles of walking trails to explore.
This is a great place to escape for camping, fishing, hiking, history or simply serenity and nature. The camp sites are kept very clean and the staff is friendly. There are brick and mortar bathrooms with showers, each campsite has water and electricity for RV hookups and there is a small country store for some needed items. Memories made at Ham-
burg State Park will never be forgotten!
For more information or reservations, go to their website at: gastateparks.org/hamburg.
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.
PHOTOS BY BILL VANDERFORD
The dock and boat rentals at Hamburg State Park.
A camper and picnic shelter at Hamburg State Park.
An osprey, above left, and a waiting gator, above, at Hamburg State Park.
Looking down Hamburg Lake.
A trail near Hamburg Lake.
The country store at Hamburg State Park.
Rock crusher used to build the dam for Hamburg Lake.
The old grist mill at Hamburg State Park.
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: In-person Full-day Class OR Virtual 3-session classes: In person - Saturday, July 13
Virtual/Online 3 sessions - July 31 plus August 7 & 10
• 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
• Minimum age: 12
• When: 9 am - 5 pm: July 20, Aug. 17, Sept. 21, Oct. 19
• 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.
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
Beyond pasta and wine: An eye-opening look at Northern Italy
By Pamela A. Keene
The Boot. Need I say more?
Truth be told, Italy always draws me back. With more than a dozen trips to various parts of this enchanting and classical country, my venture in late spring introduced me a new area: Northern Italy.
And what an introduction it was. My 16-day journey with 15 other travelers curated by Overseas Adventure Travel (oattravel.com) took us to two lakes, the Alps, the Dolomites and nearly a dozen charming small villages. Temperatures ranged from below freezing – at 10,000 feet in the snowy Alps – to the mid-80s.
The scenery was diverse –mountainous and flat with straight stretches of highway and rural roads to the agricultural plains near Venice.
After a flight non-stop from Atlanta to Milan, our adventure began in Lake Como and the lakeside town of Lecco. Breathtaking views, very walkable lakeside promenades and quaint restaurants lined the harbor at the lower end of Como.
No, we didn’t meet George Clooney; supposedly people can be fined for seeking him out and interrupting him and his family. Rumor has it that his lovely Villa L'Oleandra is for sale, which in the media he vehemently denied in 2023. Oh, well. It was way under my available budget anyway.
Ferries took us on several excursions to the lakeside villages, just beginning to fill up with tour-
ists for the summer season. We were lucky; most places were not yet crowded.
Gelato became an early and often necessity and we sought out gelaterie for fresh new flavors like melon, mixed berry and even rose, to complement standbys of Cioccolato fondente (really dark chocolate), amarena (wild cherry) and cioddo-menta (my favorite!).
Spoiler alert: Our visit to Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” in Milan came early in the trip. The Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie is a heavily visited UNESCO World Heritage Site. Timed reservations made in advance helped manage the crowds eager to see what remains of da Vinci’s acclaimed masterpiece. After multiple restorations to attempt to preserve his work – not a fresco, but tempera on dry plaster – the latest in 1977 has been acclaimed.
However the painting is fragile, the colors continue to chip and fade and the painting we saw was not as vibrant as the many copies, most altered in composition from the original work, that we see in books and on the internet.
Visitors are allowed to view the work in its original location for only 15 minutes in groups of less than 30 people.
Nonetheless, to see Da Vinci’s masterpiece took my breath away. The emotions captured on each face, the body language of each character and the first use of perspective in a painting cannot be described. Da Vinci included a self-portrait in the work to say,
“This is my creation.”
As we headed toward Tirano, we prepared for our customary “Day in the Life,” a time to visit a village or farm, learn about their daily life, help with chores and enjoy a meal.
Our destination? Baruffini, a town of 200 residents, was a hot spot for smugglers in the early to mid 20th century. Within a few miles of the border of Switzerland, it was ideal for smuggling cigarettes and coffee and during WWII as well as Jews hoping to escape the ravages of Hitler and the concentration camps.
Town leader Fulvio introduced us to a woodworker who turned bowls and created household items in his second-floor shop in an historic building. We met Celesta, now in her 80s, who actively smuggled people and
tobacco for decades before giving it up for winemaking.
Fulvio took us to an ancient house with a basement that was used as smugglers’ headquarters and later as a church, owned by the community. When funds to maintain it ran out, it was to be sold. Instead, the Grand Circle Foundation and Overseas Adventure Travel have provided funding to save the structure and its history.
Tirano was our home base for three days. The town in a valley near both Switzerland and Austria has less than 10,000 residents and is home to another UNESCO World Heritage project, The Bernina Express rail system that
crosses the Swiss Alps via 196 bridges through 55 tunnels and ascending to nearly 7,400 feet above sea level. It takes people from Tirano to Switzerland’s Chur or St. Moritz with stops along the way.
Train rides are always a treat and we in the US rarely chose this mode of transportation. It’s fun, very comfortable and provides much more up-close scenery than driving or flying. Our intermediate destination is the world’s highest Alpine crossing, but an incredible surprise was waiting.
Our pre-trip information suggested bringing a couple of coldweather layers because we would
See Italy, page 39
Small boats provide transportation around northern Italy lakes like these on the shore of Abbadia Lariana.
Our host introduced us to one of his favorite after-dinner liquors, left.
Al fresco dining in the village of Varenna. Outdoor dining is common throughout all of Italy.
PHOTOS BY PAMELA A. KEENE
Traffic in Milan is impossible with double-decker busses cars and pedestrians rushing past historic buildings always under renovation.
be in the Alps, but even our local guide was not prepared for what happened on our train ride.
At the end of May, many natives expect snow in the high Alps, but when we saw the first flakes at 5,000 feet through the large windows of our train car, the excitement among us travelers surged. For a Florida native like me, I was ready for what awaited another 5,000 feet above us in Swiss Alps.
At 6,900 feet we transferred to a cable car that would deliver us to Diavolezza Ski Resort, up another 3,000 feet higher. By then the snow was blowing, sometimes so hard that it was difficult to see much farther than a yard ahead.
A few of us ventured outside the lodge to experience the wind and cold, but I turned into a little kid to make the lone snow angel
of the day in about 20 inches of snow.
Our visit included lunch and extra time to peer out the windows before heading back down in the cable car and taking the Bernina Express back to Tirano. That evening we split into several groups for another of Overseas Adventure Travels’ signature experiences: a home-hosted meal with a local family. Our host escorted five of us to his family’s home, a short walk from our hotel. The four-course homecooked Italian meal included pumpkin soup, Italian quiche, pasta and tiramisu, along with a local wine – Franciacorta –Northern Italy’s answer to champagne. Our host, a 30-something IT engineer, introduced us to Erba Cedrina, an after-dinner liquor
See Italy, page 41
BONUS TRAVEL COLUMN
PHOTOS BY PAMELA A. KEENE
Up 460 steps to the top of the bell tower of St. Nicolo in Lecco was worth the climb.
Milan Catherdral is an imposing presence on the Duomo Square.
Tiranos cathedral dome is ornamented with frescos, left. The church of the Madonna in the small village of Tirano is stunning, above.
Left: A portion of Da Vincis The Last Supper featuring the artist's self-portrait (center). Our trip leader Amy explains the posters on a neighborhood sign – obituaries and funeral notices.
A teenager finds a quiet place to rest under grafitti that says it all.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II near Milan's Duomo Square is the largest active shopping gallery in Italy.
‘Tomato jail’ and other gardening hacks to simplify things
There’s nothing like a homegrown tomato, fresh off the vine. Hybrid tomatoes like Early Girl, Better Boy, Celebrity, Whopper and some varieties of Beefsteak taste good, but once you’ve tasted an Heirloom Cherokee Purple, Mortgage Lifter, Black Krim, Pineapple or Yellow Pear, you won’t ever purchase tomatoes or eat from the grocery store.
Whether you start seeds yourself or purchase seedlings, tomatoes are fairly easy to grow.
However, they often suffer from insect attacks, caterpillar munching, diseases and funguses, but those problems are not insurmountable.
The main solution is to stay on top of tomatoes’ progress every few days. If there’s a sign of disease, such as spots on the leaves, yellowing or turning brown, it’s most likely signs of a fungus. Remove the discolored leaves, start watering directly at the base of the plants, apply mulch to keep funguses and diseases from splashing up from the soil and use a product such as Neem oil ac-
Keene Curb Appeal
cording to the package directions. For insects, including bugs and caterpillars, your best defense is a good offense. If you see damage look closely on the tops and bottoms of the foliage as well as the stems where you will see what’s doing the damage, then Google for the appropriate solution. Sometimes it’s as simple as applying insecticidal soap. Or you may need to pick off those tomato hornworms – those big hard-tospot caterpillars that can strip a plant in an afternoon – and, of course those pesky Japanese beetles. Japanese beetles are the adults that have developed from
grubs. They’re hard to kill, and don’t use an attractor trap because it will just bring more of them to your garden. Be patient. They’ll come and go in 5-6 weeks. To make yourself feel better about controlling them, fill a bucket with water and ¼ cup of dishwashing liquid, then pick them off one at a time. Really.
Rose Lane’s tomato jail
This year we have more than 80 tomato plants growing in raised beds, containers and growbags everywhere we could fit them. There are more than 20 varieties from Cherokee Purple and Pineapple heirlooms to Midnight Snack cherry tomatoes and Solar Flare hybrids. Needless to say our garden produce will be colorful.
To make more space and to rotate our nightshade crops – tomatoes, peppers and potatoes – we turned to mostly growbag and container gardening. So our driveway is lined with 6- and 7foot-tall tomato plants.
Rick has built a wonderful system to keep them watered and standing tall without much dis-
traction by tomato cages. We call it tomato jail.
Using tall metal fence stakes and sections of cattle gate he has created a system of support that’s simple to keep the plants from falling over because of the weight of the fruit. Then he installed a drip watering system to water directly into the soil without splashing dirt or disease on the leaves.
It also has a temporary roof structure that will hold shade cloth when the temperatures soar into the 90s this month. In case you didn’t know, the ripening process slows to a stop if the temperatures are too high.
Other simple tomato hacks
Make a tomato trellis from string hanging from a frame made of boards or pipes, especially good for indeterminate tomatoes that bear fruit in succession.
Pinching side branches to focus more fruiting on the main stem will also yield bigger tomatoes.
Give your tomatoes a growth boost by watering once or twice a season with a mixture of 1/8-cup of Epsom salts in a gallon on
water. You can also sparingly scatter Epsom salts around each plant before watering; do not overapply.
Regularly inspect the plants to find insect culprits and signs of disease and fungus. Then treat
See Curb, page 46
Pamela A.
"Tomato jail" includes the fence and drip irrigation.
PHOTO BY PAMELA A. KEENE
• Italy
Continued from Page 39
made of citron grass, alcohol, lemon peel, sugar and water. It was difficult to bid arrivederci to our host, his wife and their two young sons but it was time to prepare for Part II of our Northern Italian adventure.
Even more highlights lay ahead including visits to Lake Iseo, underground Roman ruins, Otzi the Iceman and the Dolomites.
• Parks
Continued from Page 21
Sardis Park have seen an increase in debris and trash as visitation has increased.
As a way to help better manage resources around Lake Lanier, the Corps of Engineers has been working with area municipalities and other entities to create a partnership agreement for shifting park management to these organizations. At least one such agreement is pending.
• Snails
Continued from Page 21
prevention is only achieved with the help of the public,” said Page. “Whether it’s taking time to thoroughly wash down your boat, trailer, and fishing gear after each outing on the water; choosing to not dump aquariums; or simply not intentionally releasing non-native
species into waterbodies where they did not previously occur are just a few ways you can help.”
For more info on invasive species and how to report sightings, visit www.GeorgiaWildlife.com/ans. - from staff reports
• Outdoor Calendar
Continued from Page 30
6:30-8:30 p.m. first Fridays May-October, Hancock Park, one block north of downtown square. www.dahlonega.org.
♫ 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. 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. July 6 & 20, Aug. 3, 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
On our way to a ski lodge in the Alps by train. Snowfall began at 5,000 feet, above. A river of melted snow runs right through the middle of the town of TiranoI, right.
& 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, Tallulah 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 July, 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 Movie Under the Stars, Braselton. Bring lawn chairs & blankets for family friendly move, concessions for purchase 7 p.m., movie at dark, third Saturdays in July, Braselton Town Green, 9924 Davis St. Free. www.explorebraselton.com.
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, 404-8884760.
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.
o Jazzercise, Cumming. Outdoor dance-based 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 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 page 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 page 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 page 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 12:30 p.m. Sundays from Haynes Rd. velocraig@hotmail.com.
o Canoe/Kayak/SUP Rentals, Gainesville. Canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard rentals, see https://www.exploregainesville.org/canoekayak-rentals/ for new opportunities this summer, Lake Lanier Olympic Park, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd. info@lckc.org.
o Turning Leaf Book Club, Gainesville. Monthly discussions of nature-themed books, 11 a.m. first Wednesdays, Sept.-Nov., Linwood Ecology Center, Linwood Nature Preserve, 118 Springview Dr. mastergardener@hallcounty.org. – compiled by Jane Harrison
PHOTOS BY PAMELA A. KEENE
There was only one who made a snow angel – me!
A scene from 10,000 feet above sea level at an Alpine Ski lodge as a late storm provided slippery roads and plenty of snow.
As we all now finally have a chance to catch our breath, we can look back at the last several years and realize: We’ve been through a lot. We’ve dealt with COVID, inflation, remote working, gas prices, immigration, economic migration, interest rates, cost of living, politics and the like. It’s been a ride.
One thing is certain: For a variety of reasons, we spend more time at home than ever before.
Imagine, back in the “normal” world, we’d all leave for work or school somewhere around 7 a.m. With Atlanta traffic cooperating (which was rare) we might be home by 6:30 p.m. Assuming 7-8 hours of sleep, we were awake in our homes about 5 to 6 hours a day. Build in chores, meals, homework, lawncare, etc., our time to “enjoy” the space we bought and paid for is parsed down to a surprisingly low number.
Today, many of the above referenced hours transitioned to time spent in our homes. Uber Eats, deliveries, Amazon, work-from-
home options, TV and streaming entertainment choices as well as many other changes in our lives have allowed us all to enjoy more hours at home.
This raises an interesting question: In the place we now spend more of our waking hours than ever before, shouldn’t the space in which we live be everything we want it to be?
Most of us love our homes, and yet almost all of us wish there were a few changes, some minor, some more dramatic. Particularly, home office space that serves real needs (we’ve all seen the embar-
rassing video call bloopers on TV or online), a kitchen that we use far more than we used to, the dining and living spaces that have supplanted restaurants for our primary meal and entertainment spaces all bear the weight of our new lifestyles.
Home improvements, renovations and additions are daunting thoughts and tasks. Budgets, schedules, selections, designs … . The process can seem overwhelming. Many, many people choose to live as-is, bypassing a chance to change their home into their dream home. Don’t be one of those people. Rather, find the team that delivers for you, so that you can anticipate the creation of your new dream home. It actually can be designed and built fully within your expectations and budget, without the burdens of attempting to do it on your own.
The real question then becomes: How? As we all know, this renovation/construction world can get complicated and confusing … FAST!
There are very, very few or-
ganizations with the staff, team, expertise and wherewithal to champion this process for you. There are even fewer that perform their services within one fully integrated design and build company.
The initial questions are generally the same: What do we want, and can we afford it?
The answer: An established process of proven performance and evidence, that not only answers the initial questions, but also leads the entire project team, guided by the goals and priorities of the homeowner.
Most simply put: You need a team that understands how this all works. Consultation leads to concept. Concept leads to design so-
lutions. Solutions lead to details that lead to a budget. Solution and budget give us a permit and a schedule. A schedule drives performance. Performance delivers results. Collaboration, integration and track record produce the desired outcome.
The process starts with a feasibility study. Can the goal be reasonably accomplished? Is the anticipated budget reasonable and realistic? Can the home accommodate any structural or systems changes that would be necessary?
Bianca Bryant
Choosing the right team can lead to really enjoying "home sweet home."
Location: 7650 Lanier Islands Pkwy., Buford Types of slips: Houseboats only. 18x60, 22x80 Types of fuel: Diesel, non ethanol Price of fuel: (as of 6/8/24) $5.99 non-ethanol; $6.29 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 6/8/24) $5.89 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 6/8/24) $5.29 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 6/8/24) $5.39, non-members; $3.87, 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 6/8/24) $5.07, non-members; $4, 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 6/8/24) $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!
appropriately always following the label instructions.
Remember that only 5 percent of insects in the garden are harmful; the other 95 percent are beneficial as pollinators or predictors on the destructive bugs.
Disease and fungus are easier to spot because the leaves may wilt, turn yellow or brown, develop spots and other signs. The best approach to these signs is to defoliate affected foliage and toss it into the garbage. Do not compost it.
Clean your pruners in between with either isopropyl alcohol or a weak solution of bleach, and thoroughly wash your hands when you’re finished.
Take time to ‘eat’ the tomatoes
Gardening doesn’t have to be compli-
• Bianca
Continued from Page 43
Are there ancillary spaces or issues not previously considered that would be best handled within the scope of the perceived work? Are there great ideas the homeowner never considered? Can the desired outcome be produced for even less than the initial assumption?
One paragraph, and only seven questions
cated or expensive. They key is to do a little at a time, work in the mornings when it’s cooler and pay attention to what’s happening in your landscape.
Your best source for all things tomato is joegardener.com. He’s Joe Lamp’l, the joe in joegardener.com and the garden guru behind
“Growing a Greener World,” which is now available on his YouTube channel of the same name. He lives in North Atlanta but he’s known in all 50 states. His podcasts and YouTube programs will make you a smarter and happier gardener. Check it out.
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 July 29-Aug. 4 – Tiger Craft Week Info: 770-536-1900; inkfun.org
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
♫ July 27 – The Invaders, British Invasion Tribute
♫ 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 Thru July 26 – Show Some Red, Tannery Row Invitational Art Show
o Aug. 10-Sept. 6 – Flourish Info: 470-326-6656; tanneryrowartistcolony.net
of the dozens that need to be asked and answered. Your chosen team should know these questions; and they should help you determine your best answers.
Comfort and trust are always essential to this process. Find that trust. Find your team.
Bianca Bryant is a designer for Tracy Tesmer Design/Remodeling in Gainesville.
Docks, Inc.
37 Rock Cafe
♫ July 5, 6 – DJ Party
♫ July 11, 18, 25 – The Andrews Brothers Dueling Pianos
♫ July 12 – RadioStar/Smac2Pac
♫ July 13 – Beyond Recall/Austin Bolen
♫ July 19 – Nashville Night at Cumming Fairgrounds
♫ July 19 – Love Wizard/The Arena Rock Spectacular
♫ July 20 – 7 Summers, The Morgan Wallen Experience
♫ July 20 – 7th Annual City of Cumming Music Fest at Cumming Fairgrounds
♫ July 26 –Tri-City Saviors/Lynnay Della Lucé Acoustic
♫ July 27 – Shotgun Orchestra
♫ July 28 – Metalsome Tribute Info: 678-288-2030; buford.37main.com
The Well
♫ July 6 – Radio ‘80s
The Arts Council
♫ July 3 – Northwinds Symphonic Band presents Patriotic Pops Concert
♫ July 13 – Gangstagrass
♫ July 20 – Riverstreet
♫ July 26 – Rush of Fools Info: Julie Garner, julie@theartscouncil.net; 770-534-2787.
♫ July 12 – Jimmy Cav Project
♫ July 13 – Back N Black
♫ July 19 – Slippery When Wet, Bon Jovi tribute
♫ July 26 – ’84, Van Halen tribute
♫ July 27 – Cheap Trick/Icebreaker, Pat Benatar tribute Info: 404-271-3178; gigs@thewellga.com
CONCRETE/MASONRY
Driveways, walkways replaced or repaired, concrete, masonry, grading, foundations repaired, waterproofing, and retaining walls. Joe Sullivan, 770 616-0576.
EMPLOYMENT
Atlanta Marine Service has multiple positions open. Technicians with experience in the Marine Industry. Lot Porter with knowledge of hauling boats and operating a tractor. Top pay,401K,insur-
Classifieds “Best BoatLift in the Industry” “Best Customer Service”
ance.Contact Greg at 678-482-6499 or greg@atlantamarine.com.
SERVICE
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.
- Pleasure Boaters - Fox Sports Network
To find a dealer near you, call 864-467-1806 or go online. 4G Square Tank Technology, Doesn’t Cut Corners!
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.
