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December 2013
3292 Thompson Bridge Road #250, Gainesville, GA 30506 Phone: (770) 287-1444 Fax: (770) 287-1445 E-mail lakesidenews@mindspring.com
Vol. 19 Issue 12
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Water wars update The U.S. Supreme Court is allowing Georgia extra time to respond to a lawsuit filed by Florida over water rights. The court issued an order giving Georgia until Jan. 31 to file a response to the suit instigated by Florida Governor Rick Scott that alleges the Peach State is hoarding water from the Chattahoochee and Flint River systems and causing the decline of oysters in Apalachicola Bay. Page 15
Polar Bear Swim New Year’s celebrants can get both chilly and chili at the annual Polar Bear Swim at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue. Those plunging into the lake on New Year’s Day can warm their shivers with bowls of crock pot chili toted in by cook-off contestants. Page 16
St. Augustine The first streaking light beams of sunrise illuminate the beautiful panorama of America’s oldest city, St. Augustine. It has always been and still is one of the favorite places for many Georgians to visit, but unique changes have made it even better! Page 50 Also inside: Break from the lake . . . . . . . .Page Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page Captain’s comments . . . . . . . .Page Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page COE column . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page Cruising Wilsons . . . . . . . . . . .Page Dining guide . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page Fishing column . . . . . . . . . . . .Page Glenn Burns . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page Lake Lanier Olympic Venue . . .Page Lake levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page Lanier map . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page Marinas information . . . . . . . .Page Outdoor activity calendar . . . .Page Sailing calendar . . . . . . . . . . .Page Shore Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page Steve Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . .Page US Coast Guard Auxiliary . . . . .Page
54 30 20 55 51 25 48 10 22 16 22 52 46 43 34 44 51 8
PHOTO BY ALAN HOPE
Heavy equipment has been brought in to the construction site for the new bridge at Clark’s Bridge Park. Story, page 17.
For more info, see our ad on page 7.
2 LAKESIDE
December 2013
2014 Atlanta Boat Show set to be largest in four years 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 Phillip Sartain, Roy Crittenden, Tommy Wilkinson, Millie Adcox, Mike Rudderham, Glenn Burns, Bob & Carolyn Wilson, Lisa Beers, Jane Harrison Steve Johnson 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.
Georgia’s premier boating event, the Progressive Insurance Atlanta Boat Show, will be showcasing the largest variety of boats and watercraft in the Southeast at the Georgia World Congress Center Jan. 9-12, 2014. From deals on the newest boats and accessories to attractions for the whole family, the show is designed for an audience of all ages and interests. “The Atlanta Boat Show continues to grow and we’re excited to be offering an even larger selection of boats and exhibitors this year than we’ve had since 2009,” said Larry Berryman, show manager. “This growth is a great sign for the industry.” With more than 500 boats on display, ranging in length from nine feet to more than 50 feet, and more than 200 exhibitors offering the latest gear and gadgets,
rare opportunity to see the natural behaviors of a wild alligator, which has been rescued in Florida and will be retired to a no-kill pond after the show. Children are also invited to hold a baby alligathe show has something for every tor and take a picture with the taste. From fishing vessels to lux- swampmaster. ury yachts and wakeboarding Kids (and adults) will have a boats, the variety and exclusive blast trying the newest craze in discounts make it the best place to water sports – Rockin’ Rollin’ buy. Bubbles. These inflatable rollers Discover Boating’s Welcome to Water Center will offer expert advice about selecting a vessel and boating on a budget, with options available as low as $250 a month. Watch expert handler Jeff Quattrocchi catch an eight-foot alligator during his educational and thrilling Swampmaster Gator Show, with three shows scheduled each day. The demonstration is a
2014 Atlanta Boat Show When: Jan. 9-12, 2014; Thursday-Friday, Jan. 9-10, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 12, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Where: Georgia World Congress Center, Hall C, 285 Andrew Young International Blvd., NW, Atlanta, GA 30313 Ticket info: Adults 16 and older: $12 Youth 15 and under: Free (when accompanied by an adult) Buy tickets in advance online and receive $2 off through January 8, 2014. More info: www.atlantaboatshow.com
can fit two people and also proves fun for spectators watching friends and family try their best to stay standing as they roll around the pool. Fred’s Shed will be back with its interactive learning center and DIY seminars scheduled throughout the weekend. During handson sessions, experts will teach attendees how to repair motors See ABS, page 15
12 MONTH TITLE PAWNS
FROM $66 PER MONTH
BRING THIS AD! PARKWAY PAWN & GOLD
www.ParkwayGold.com 334 Dahlonega St. • Cumming
770-757-8654
LET US MAKE YOU SMILE!
December 2013
LAKESIDE 3
Please visit www.LivingOnLakeLanier.com or Call 678-835-9331 and add property code. INFO 24/7
21485
D! DUCE
RE
MOTIVATED! Gorgeous ranch on nearly acre lot. Boat house in always deep water, fantastic sunroom with great lake views. 4 bed/4 bath, big water views, easy path to dock. Grandfathered picnic pavillion at water front. $569K (South Hall)
INFO 24/7
21385
INFO 24/7
21495
12855
INFO 24/7
D! DUCE
RE Single Slip Dock, 4BD/ 3.5 BA, Updated Kitchen. Sun Room, Views to the Water, InLaw Suite on Terrace, Spa. Owner Financing, Great location. $549K (Cumming)
INFO 24/7
16675
Atlanta Partners Each Keller Williams office is independently owned and operated.
Teresa Smith
Single Slip Dock, Gated entry, professional landscaping, great views, deep water, huge entertaining patio, 3 car garage, 5/3.5, master on main, 2 master suites, close to hospital. $599K (Gainesville)
21475
INFO 24/7
Lake Lanier Specialist • Lake Lanier Resident
770-654-4173 • 678-318-5026 teresakw@live.com We sell lifestyles...not just homes.
INFO 24/7
21535
D!
Single Slip Dock, 1.36 acres, over 150 ft waterfront, Great renovation with hardwood floors, granite counters, new cabinets. Vehicle trail to dock, 3/2.5, finished terrace. SOLD FURNISHED FOR INSTANT LAKE LIVING. $389K (Gainesville-Forsyth)
Double Slip Dock on deep water, open floor plan, finished basement, easy walk to dock,4/3.5, Bring Offers! $579K (Gainesville)
INFO 24/7
18315
BEST VIEW ON THE LAKE, POINT LOT. 4 bd/3.5 bath, ranch with water views from every room of the house (Gainesville) $629K
COMING SOON!
INFO 24/7
12895
Cozy & comfortable lake cabin with seasonal lake views. 2BR/1BA on main and additional sleeping area and bath in the basement. Platform dock. Easy walk to dock down grandfathered road. Great value. $190K (Dawsonville)
INFO 24/7
21505
D!
15 steps to deep water, Double slip dock w/party deck. Newer Craftsman Style Home w/upscale cabin feel. 3BR/3BA, vaulted ceilings, hrdwds, SOLD FULLY FURNISHED FOR INSTANT LAKE LIVING. Call for details.
INFO 24/7
12875
CE REDU
Four Seasons on Lanier, 4bd/3.5 bath on full basement, cul-de-sac lot, amenities include swim/tennis, $4k carpet allowance. $228K (Flowery Branch)
INFO 24/7
21545
CE REDU
Single Slip Dock. Nature Lover's Paradise, HUGE screened porch, 2 lots combined, 5/4, 3 finished levels $795K (Flowery Branch)
21465
INFO 24/7
Single Slip Dock. Furnished bungalow, 3/2, brick & slate floors, easy walk to SS dock. $199K (Gainesville)
4/2.5, full unfinished basement, nice views, platform dock. 3 sided fireplace, vaulted greatroom, upper loft, master on main. $399K (Cumming)
JUST LISTED!
Single Slip Dock w/party deck, 3 finished levels, vaulted great room, 4 bd/3 bath, 2.15 acres $349K, (Gainesville)
16845
INFO 24/7
INFO 24/7
16665
ED!
C REDU
BEST BARGAIN on the lake, approved for Double Slip Dock, 2/2, easy walk to dock. Great water view! Golf cart and pontoon boat included $149K (Dawsonville)
INFO 24/7
21525
Lake frontage, nice lake views, no dock rights, updated kitchen & baths, south lake location, upstairs loft, finished terrace level, 5 bd/3.5 bath, $330K (Buford)
INFO 24/7
21445
ED!
C REDU 2 waterfront lots located in Oak Harbour, cul-desac location, $139K and $169K (Gainesville)
Fantastic one of a kind south lake lot. Sunset views! Only a few remain. $479K Reduced (Buford)
Fabulous views everyday in beautiful Hidden Harbour w/ Swim/Tennis. Own a special place on the lake. Owner Financing. Always deep water. $375K (Gainesville)
Double slip dock with party deck on one of the best parts of Lake Lanier. Nice building spot, buy now and build later. $275K (Gainesville)
4 LAKESIDE
December 2013
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Sheila Davis
www.LakeLaniersFinest.com
The Norton Agency 434 Green Street, Gainesville, GA 30501
770-235-6907 • sdavis@nortonnorthga.com
770.536.1250 THE POWER TO PERFORM
$1,299,000
$999,000
! D L SO
CAPTIVATING SUNSET VIEWS! LUX SOUTH LAKE LIVING IN SOUGHT AFTER “POINTE SOUTH”! EXQUISITE 5BR LAKE HOME WITH TWIN SLIP DEEP WATER DOCK IN PRIVATE SOUTH LAKE COVE! Three finished levels of luxury living on 1.69 AC spacious lot…great privacy! Video tour @www.5326PointSouthDrive.info. FMLS#5149269
ONE OF A KIND CUSTOM DESIGNED LOG HOME ON POINT LOT! WOULD MAKE A GREAT CORP RETREAT OR GET-A-WAY LODGE. Gated, spacious 5BR4B with 2 story vaulted GR, huge stone FP’s, TWIN SLIP DOCK! REDUCED FROM $1,299,000! 6438 CHESLA DR., GAINESVILLE 30506 FMLS# 5150233
$989,000
POINT LOT WITH INCREDIBLE PANORAMIC VIEWS AND NEW DEEP WATER TWIN SLIP PARTY DOCK! Built in 2002 this charming and elegant Cape Cod home has cedar shake and board and batten, two stone FP’s, finished terrace level, master suite on main, 3 screened porches, and firepit. 3991 MOUNT VERNON RD, GAINESVILLE, 30506 FMLS# 5093078
$995,000
$849,000
SPECTACULAR HOME WITH THREE LEVELS! Lake Lanier resort living & big enough for all your family and friends. 5BR/6B with three master suites.Twin slip dock in deep water! Video tour @ www.6414chesladrive.info FMLS#5170238
$549,000
! D L SO
AMAZING OPEN SUNSET VIEWS & GRASS TO WATER FROM THIS UPDATED COTTAGE WITH TWIN SLIP DOCK! 3BR/2B, with sep guest apartment, bonus rm, terrace level game room, two covered porches! 3360 LOOPER LAKE COVE, GAINESVILLE 30506 FMLS#5147768
$1,850,000
AMAZING DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY ON 9.5 ACRES! Includes a 4BR renovated home, guest house, pavilion and private dock. Approved for 18 lots and 18 boat slips. See video tour @ www.1799ClevelandHwy.info. FMLS# 7046198
$355,000
$569,000
EXQUISITE 4 SIDES BRICK RANCH ON FINISHED TERRACE LEVEL. Private lot w/ S-slip dock in year round deep water. Gated S/D in North Hall. 5BR/4.5B, Study, elevator, terrace level bar and billiards rm, sunroom, 4 FP’s. FMLS# 5207745 Video tour @ www.4436NauticalWay.info
$899,000
! G N I D PEN PICTURE PERFECT 4BR/3B RANCH ON FINISHED TERRACE LEVEL! Great views and easy walk to s-slip dock. Renovated gorgeous home! 2553 BRIDGEWATER DRIVE, GAINESVILLE 30506 FMLS# 5155438
$1,389,000
CAPTIVATING 3.5 ACRE ESTATE SITE NEAR CHATTAHOOCHEE COUNTRY CLUB AREA WITH GRASS TO WATER VIEWS & PRIVATE GRANDFATHERED BOATHOUSE. One of the last great lots on Lanier, includes two small cottages. See video tour@ www.1189AntiochCampground.com. FMLS# 5143948
PERFECT 10! SOUGHT AFTER SOUTH LAKE WATER, LOCATION AND VIEWS! Gentle and private lot with private deep water dock! 2008 Custom craftsman built ranch 4BR/4.5Bs with finished terrace level. Four car garage.Video Tour @ www.5786hiddencoveroad. info FMLS#5187259
$695,000
PREMIER TWO ACRE ESTATE LOT IN QUIET ESTABLISHED COUNTRY CLUB AREA WITH PRIVATE TWIN SLIP DEEP WATER DOCK. Adjacent to Lake Lanier estate homes and short drive to Chattahoochee Country Club and golf. 1185 ANTIOCH CAMPGROUND RD, GAINESVILLE 30506 FMLS#5156265
$450,000 $339,000
REDUCED! AFFORDABLE LAKE FRONT LIVING IN PRESTIGIOUS GAINESVILLE/ NORTH HALL N’HOOD! 5BR’s/3.5B picture perfect brick front home in sought after Mount Vernon Pointe! Finished terrace level with guest suite, ready for second kitchen. Large and private backyard with path to the lake and CORPS frontage for fishing, swimming, kayaking and more! Boat ramp within a mile. 3874 ALEXANDRIA, GAINESVILLE 30506 FMLS#5102457 VIRTUALTOUR@ www.Obeo.com/764251
NEW CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITY! Builder in place to build this charming 3BR home for you! Lot available without home for $249,000. S-slip dock included. Call me for details! 9275 LONG HOLLOW RD, GAINESVILLE 30506 (FORSYTH COUNTY)
“ON GOLDEN POND”… ROMANTIC GET-A-WAY 4BR COTTAGE ON GRASS TO WATER LOT! Gorgeous views. Single slip dock. Two screened porches. Great building lot or cottage. 7388 CHEROKEE LANE, MURRAYVILLE 30564 FMLS# 5212045
December 2013
LAKESIDE 5
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Sheila Davis The Norton Agency
www.LakeLaniersFinest.com
434 Green Street, Gainesville, GA 30501
770-235-6907 • sdavis@nortonnorthga.com
770.536.1250 THE POWER TO PERFORM
$3,499,000
$3,250,000
! D L SO INCREDIBLE PRIME LAKE ESTATE ON 6 ACRES WITH POTENTIAL 2ND HOMESITE! TWO DOCK PERMITS. Separate Apt and 6 car garage. Perfect for family compound or retreat. 3633 LOOPER LAKE POINTE, GAINESVILLE FMLS# 4213782
MAGNIFICENT GATED LAKE LANIER ESTATE WITH AMAZING PANORAMIC VIEWS … GAINESVILLE. Situated on 3.38 acres with two private twin slip docks. Three finished levels, with full in-law suite plus one BR guest house. Gunite pool with spacious pool house with outdoor kitchen and fireplace! Five car garage. Two lots and two docks included. Orig price $$4.4M. FMLS#5042958 www.mountvernonroadestate.info
$1,950,000
BREATHTAKING PRIVATE 3 ACRE GATED ESTATE WITH NANTUCKET DESIGN, GUEST HOUSE AND TWO DOCKS! AMAZING LONG RANGE VIEWS AND 380 FEET OF SHORELINE! Main house has 4BRs, high end finishes, cedar shake & stone on three finished levels with two covered porches. 5 Car garage. 9055 KNOLL DR, GAINEVILLE 30506 Forsyth county FMLS#5148615
It’s time to list your home for the Atlanta Boat Show in January! Lake sales are up 30%.
$1,199,000
PRESTIGIOUS GATED POINTE WEST WITH SOUTHLAKE SAILING WATERS! FABULOUS SOUTHLAKE VIEWS AND TWIN SLIP PRIVATE DOCK! Corps line almost to water’s edge. Spacious and grand design with main level living and finished terrace level! 4BR/4.5B with top of the line features including two story GR w/ barrel ceiling & stone FP, main level study, all hardwood floors on main, cooks kitchen open to two story keeping room, and terrace level with wet bar, family room w/FP and billiards room. 5660 POINT WEST DRIVE, OAKWOOD 30566 FMLS#5139721
$989,000 JUST LISTED! FOUR SIDES BRICK LUXURY LAKE HOME WITH THREE FINISHED LEVELS! DEEP WATER TWIN SLIP DOCK. Finished terrace level with mahogany bar, fitness room, billiards
and
family
room.
FMLS# 5199142 Video tour @ www.8585anchoronlanier.info
6 LAKESIDE
December 2013
THE PATTI CHAMBERS TEAM THE LAKE HOME YOU'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF MAY NOW BE AFFORDABLE ... CALL US! $675,000 $450,000
The Chambers Team 631 Dawsonville Hwy • Gainesville, GA 30501
www.PattiChambers.com • Office 770-503-7070
$229,000 $214,900
$549,000 $450,000
D L O S WONDERFUL CITY LAKE HOME. Truly one of the most beautiful big water lots on Lanier. 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, fireplace, family room, LR/DR, gorgeous views. Long driveway offers complete privacy. Covered boat dock. Call Patti.
$925,000
THIS NANTUCKET INSPIRED HOME is a true master piece and located only minutes from the chattahoochee country club & golf course. Unbelievably gorgeous 3.25 acres w/lake on 3 sides. Lovely porches overlook Lake Lanier & the private enclosed boat dock.
$849,500
BREATHTAKING VIEWS OF LAKE LANIER can be enjoyed from virtually every room of this home. The tranquility of this picturesque setting and natural beauty will be unmatched. Finest architectural details. Enjoy the sound of the 100' waterfalls. 2 complete apartments, 3 kitchens, 2 screened porches. Covered boat dock. One of the most beautifully landscaped lots on Lake Lanier! Situated on 1.6 acres.
LAKEFRONT LIVING AT ITS BEST. Private 4 sided brick home at end of culdesac in upscale lake S/D. 3BR/2BA on main. Fin terrace level w/2BR/2BAs, den, theatre rm, full kitc for in-law/teen ste. 4-car garage, basketball court. Pool & hot tub. Teak custom built dock w/party deck. Call for list of amenities & appt to view this fabulous lake property. 5 min. to hospital, shopping, restaurants & schools.
$395,000
UNDER T C A R T N CO
D E C U RED LUXURIOUS 7 ACRE ESTATE. All brick home w/copper roof. Finest materials, superior craftsmanship, custom throughout. Gentle slope to lake. Enclosed boat dock. 22 add'l acres and 6 docks can be purchased. Call Patti for details.
FABULOUS CITY LAKE HOME w/nice lake view. Situated on 1.448 ac of privacy. Impeccably maintained inside and out. Elevator, study, 2FPs, 5 BR's, lots of natural light, brick exterior, fin terrace level makes a perfect in-law suite w/private driveway. Gorgeous yard, gardening shed or playhouse at rear of property. Dock!
$1,399,000
$329,900
$1,900,000
VERY CLOSE TO THE WATER with 24x24 single slip dock has composite decking. Swim platform and jet ski drive on ramp. Approx 10' deck across back w/covered porch. New roof, new floor covering, hot water heater. Excellent weekender, fishing cabin or homesite.
VERY PRIVATE COVE WITH 2 ADJOINING LOTS. Quaint cedar shake lake home on beautiful, level grassed lot. Swim dock in place but a possible upgrade to covered dock. Builder's home. Pine raised panel kitchen cabinets, solid wood doors.
BEAUTIFUL VIEWS FROM ALL ROOMS! Great water and dock with party deck. You must see this completely refurbished lake home! Beautiful kitchen with granite tops and stainless appliances. Screened porch overlooking big water. Super bonus room upstairs, master on main, 2 bedrooms and bath on terrace level plus family/rec room. The perfect lake home and so affordable!
$275,000 per lot!
D L O S 2 BEAUTIFUL POINT LAKE LOTS IN NORTH HALL. Dock permit in place. Call Patti!
WE LIVE AND PLAY ON LAKE LANIER Patti Chambers c 770.287.4879 • Bobby Chambers c 770.654.0533 Sally Chambers Kirchner c 770.538.5626 • Patsy Mercer c 770.540.6507 • Office 770.538.4010
WWW.PATTICHAMBERS.COM
December 2013
LAKESIDE 7
3 BR/4.5 BA luxury home, 2 slip party dock, gourmet kitchen, master on main. $574,900
Premium point lot
To-die-for views
UCED!
RED
Water on 2 sides UNDER
Pool o'looking lake
Gated luxury, brick
T NTRAC
CO
Long-water views. 6BRs, 6 FP, SS dock, over 400' shoreline. $1.1m
Luxury at water's edge in sought-after Buford, dbl slp boathouse. $799K
2 masters, stone's throw fm deep wtr, dbl slip party dock. $725K
5BR w/ pool renovated by award-winning designer, great views. $570K
Gated, cul-de-sac lot, Forsyth County. High-end features. $569,900
Panoramic lake views
Marina Bay
Close to Cumming
South lake location
Southern charm
SOLD!
!
ISTING
NEW L
Close to wtr, scr. porch w/FP, fin. bsmt, custom playhouse. $550K
Stone gate, 2 story fireplace, artist's built-in cabinetry, upgrades. $525K
Covered SS dock, EASY walk, mstr on main, drought-proof wtr. $525K
Very flat walk to deep wtr, Buford, deep water, just renovated. $525K
Buckhead style
Forsyth lake home
Cresswind on Lanier
Mt. Vernon district UNDER
3 BR/3.5 BA, craftsman style, short walk to wtr, screen porch, 4 decks. $449,900
Cresswind on Lanier
5BR/3.5BA, covered dock, nice cove, lake views, priv. lot, fin. bsmt. $425K
Chattahoochee Lndg
SOLD!
Modern fixtures, HW floors, large sun room, master on main, 55+ n'hood. $349,900
Gated swim/tennis
CT ONTRA
C
55+ comm., tons of amenities, upgrades galore, full bsmt., like new. $399,900
Spacious 5BR/3BA, cul-de-sac lot, SS pty dock, long views. Vehicle included. $389K
3 Br/2 BA, 2 slp pty dock w/lifts, deep water, open floor plan, screened porch. $350K
Great open flr plan
2-story windows
Welcome home!
CT ONTRA
ACT CONTR
UNDER
6 BR/4 BA, nice n'hood, wet bar, HW floors, fin. bsmt, paved path to dock. $349,900
4BR, wraparound porch, workshop, easy walk to dock in bass-filled cove. $450K
C
3BR/3BA, SS party dock, HW floors, granite counters, lofted master. $295K
UNDER
Newer, covered SS dock, open floor plan, nice kitchen, like-new interior. $289,900
3BR/2BA home, gourmet kitchen, warm 2-story fam rm w/ stack stone f/p. $244
8 LAKESIDE
December 2013
Put the Atlanta Boat show on your January calendar Cold weather is on the way and boats are being winterized. Next on your agenda should be the 52th Annual Atlanta Boat Show, again being held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, January 9-12, 2014. One of the many things I really like about this boat show is the timing. It’s too cold to boat, unless you are a diehard fisherman, and football season is dwindling away. The Coast Guard Auxiliary is not performing safety patrols on area lakes unless special circumstances call for our presence. It’s a great time to gather up the family and take in a boat show, talking with the manufacturer’s representatives and the dealers, who are selling all kinds of vessels to suit the needs of anyone or any family. There are also booths where all kinds of boating gear will be offered, from electronics to life jackets. The Coast Guard Auxiliary will also have a booth which will be located at the rear of the building along with other booths. The U.S. Coast Guard will have their traveling exhibit in the front lobby as last year. By the way, it is important to choose the right
Roy Crittenden USCG Auxiliary
MORE INFO: 770-393-4382,
alcrit@mindspring.com, Flotilla 29 Lake Lanier, http://a0700209.uscgaux.info
type of boat for your needs, as we will discuss now. Another thing you should know is that over 90 percent of the registered boats in the US are trailerable boats, meaning that their length usually does not exceed 26 feet and their weight is around 5,000-6,000 pounds. Vessels larger than that usually call for special towing rigs not available to the average family. Boats come in many models, sizes, and types. Each serves a specific need. A boat developed for one purpose may serve poorly for another. Likewise, a boat that is safe in one set of conditions may not be safe for others. When
you select a boat, be sure that it will suit your needs. Let’s look at the overall types of boats available. Of course, we have sailing vessels, some even have engines! Then we have other groups of boats known as utility boats, runabouts, cruisers, pontoon boats, houseboats, personal watercraft, (yes, they are also called boats), and others. These are the types most seen on area lakes and rivers. If a family intends to host guests who are a little apprehensive about boating, a pontoon boat makes a great platform, offering room to walk around and generally slower in speed, offering a smoother ride. If you plan to spend nights under the stars, you should look at the cabin cruisers, beginning around 24 feet. They usually accommodate two adults and two children. Houseboats are “floating condos” and you can entertain the whole neighborhood! A fairly new addition to the boating line is the deck boat, which combines the space and openness of a pontoon boat with
the speed through the water of a planning hull boats like runabouts or cruisers. Generally, there is no cabin space, also common to the pontoon boat. These boats have gained in popularity over the past few years. That’s about as far as we can go with this, but for you first time boat owners, I hope this overview will help. One last thought: it’s a good idea to have a way to keep one or all of your passengers out of the sun, and sometimes out of the rain. This calls for a “hardtop” cover or a canvas top, sometimes referred to as a “Bimini” top. The latter type can be folded down when not wanted. You can also add clear vinyl enclosure to further protect you from the elements. And please visit the booths that feature equipment for your boat. This will be a great time to consider a VHF marine radio if you don’t have one. The Coast
Guard does not recommend a cell phone as your only means of communication. If you have room on your dashboard, and the location is fairly protected from rain, we recommend the mounted type. The transmitting power is 25 watts. If your boat is a smaller version with no room for a mounted radio, you may want to consider a handheld VHF radio. Transmitting power is 5-6 watts, which will get you out several miles, and usually sufficient for Lake Lanier. See you at the show, and please drop by our booth for free Georgia Boating Regulations, safe boating literature covering a multitude of marine subjects and information on safe boating courses being offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary throughout the majority of the State of Georgia. Roy Crittenden is the Public Affairs Officer for Flotilla 29.
BE SAFE ON THE LAKE THIS WINTER!
www.marysellsga.com
Charming lake cottage with covered dock on deep water ... the perfect getaway! The house is located on a peaceful part of Lake Lanier with little boat traffic, easily accessible from GA 400, close to shopping. Efficient modern kitchen, roomy dining area, great lake views and a spacious deck with hot tub. Stay warm and cozy in winter with wood-burning stove - you won’t need to run up the thermostat! Washer, dryer and all kitchen appliances remain and furnishings are available to purchase. Easy-care yard, no grass to mow - it’s wooded and natural. In addition to your dock there is easy on-off boat access right around the bend at park ramp. $325,000 See video & complete photos at www.27TotoCreekDrive.com
December 2013
LAKESIDE 9
10 LAKESIDE
December 2013
Keep catching bass, stripers on Lanier in cold weather As the Christmas holiday approaches, another year is winding down. The Thanksgiving family gathering has become another fond memory. Judging (or guessing for my part) from recent weather patterns, we could have a legitimate winter this year. While it gets cold in this part of the South, the good news is that it’s seldom too cold to go fishing! Our frequent trends of moderate winter temperatures make fishing a 12-month endeavor for avid anglers. To top this off, Lake Lanier is a great winter time fishery. Spotted and striped bass both offer excellent opportunities for anglers who venture out during this season. The pleasure boat traffic and heavier fishing pressure of the warmer months are all in the past. You’ll likely have prime locations and schools of active fish all to yourself, especially on week days. Perhaps the most pursued gamefish this time of year is the striped bass. Warm water temperatures restrict linesides to deeper haunts but winter water temperatures hold higher levels of dissolved oxygen allow activity up to the surface. You can expect to find these predators chasing bait-
Tommy Wilkinson Casting Lanier
fish to the top or cruising at any shallow to mid-range depth. During the winter, be prepared for fishing the shallows down to about 25 feet or so. Inland sea gulls are probably the striper fisherman’s best friend. Diving flocks of these transient birds are often a dead giveaway to surface feeding stripers. It definitely pays to be on the alert for gulls as they feed on crippled baitfish at the water’s surface. If you don’t notice birds diving but see a high concentration in an area it’s definitely worth checking out with your sonar. Gulls are always near the baitfish and that’s where the underwater predators lurk. Likewise for loons; these birds are fishers and many striper anglers ignore them. Sometimes their subsurface feeding will trigger gull activity with no stripers present, but one thing is constant.
They indicate the presence of forage. If you see a bunch of loons in one location (on the lake of course), check it out and you could rewarded with stripers on the line. Blind casting pays off When it comes to winter stripers, be prepared to fish live bait and cast artificials on every outing. You can purchase live trout at most bait shops and these are striper candy. Most anglers agree that the smaller sizes are most productive. So, it pays to give some instruction when ordering your bait. A best practice is to take a look in the tank yourself. Trout are most often rigged on flat lines and drifted in the upper 10 feet of the water column about 100 feet behind the boat. To keep the bait in this zone, successful anglers tie a balloon inflated to golf ball size 10 to 15 feet above the hook. After inflating the balloon tie it on the line with a simple overhand knot. This will slip when it makes contact with the tip eyelet of your rod. The novice temptation is to inflate flat line balloons to fist or even grapefruit sizes. Avoid this and you will have more hook ups. Live shad and herring are also
very productive. When fishing down lines which are weighted with up to two ounces of lead, most anglers prefer these baitfish (they work very well on flat lines also). When it comes to hook size, consider the size of the bait. Many seasoned anglers use smaller circle style hooks. When using live baits, insert the hook sideways through the nostrils. For this fishing, you’ve got to have high quality rod holders. Anything less is an invitation for disaster. Choose models machined from steel stock. The Driftmaster brand sets the standard in this product line. They’re rugged and last forever. As I’ve said like a broken record, when you’re drifting flat lines in striper territory, it always pays to blind cast artificials even if you don’t see surface feeding activity. The simple bucktail jig is without a doubt the most tried and true go to lure to pick up these bonus fish. Color combinations that are predominately white will provoke strikes. To make these more effective, add plastic curl tail or fluke type baits as trailers. Fan cast as you move and retrieve with subtle lifts of the rod tip. Swim baits can be excellent choices as well. Sim-
ply reel them in for a very natural look in the water. Although some are ready out of the package, others may require specialty hooks or weights. Be sure to ask while you’re at the tackle shop. Boat ramps lead to road beds If you’re all about catching hard fighting spotted bass, then winter on Lanier can be your cup of tea. While certain periods of the year dictate fishing shallow, deep, or both, the coldest months predicate very reliable patterns. These bass tend to bunch up in sizeable schools this time of year and locating one can result in a real bonanza of catching. While exceptions can occur, focus your attention on deep water sanctuaries of 30 to 45 feet deep. When the lake is at full pool, deeper brush piles located near pronounced depth changes can be very productive. In addition to this, stands of submerged timber and areas with high concentrations of baitfish are focus points. When you find baitfish and cover together, fish the area thoroughly and you’ll often be rewarded. The edges of old tree lines and isolated patches of submerged timber are often the most productive. See Fishing, page 11
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December 2013
LAKESIDE 11
• Fishing
Lanier Fishing Report
Continued from Page 10 Track out on points or main lake humps to where the cover begins or scout up creek channels and locate the ending tree line. Old road beds can also be bass magnets. Search out the ones that still have some definition to the side ditches. A number of the boat ramps on Lanier were constructed where country roads entered what is now the lake bed. Follow these out with an eye on your sonar. On that subject, a good depth finder is an invaluable asset when it comes to deep water structure fishing. Invest in the best your budget will allow but don’t sweat it if you don’t have the absolute top end unit. Knowing how to interpret what your screen shows is the most important factor. An old adage states that 90 percent of the fish are in 10 percent of the water. A good depth finder is a tool for eliminating the unproductive 90 percent. I highly recommend using marker buoys (another broken record comment) when scouting and fishing deep water. Some situations will call for one and other instances will call for several to clearly outline an area and help you remain oriented. It’s very easy to pinpoint a great spot and then fish 10 yards from it when you have no reference point. Toss a football head When it comes to bass lures, winter selection boils things down to the basics.
Rely on a threesome to entice strikes: spoons, worms, and jigs. Compact bodied jigging spoons certainly don’t inspire much confidence when compared to all the other attractions in the local tackle shop, but boy do they produce. Time tested favorites include the venerable Flex-It Spoon, Strata Spoon, and the Hopkins Shorty Forty Five. Pick up these in one half and three quarter ounce sizes. The Flex-It also comes in an unusual 6/10th ounce size that works very well. You may also want to try the XPS Tungsten Spoon. Some of the best spoon fishermen I’ve met use these with fantastic results which they seldom mention. These lures are super compact and imitate small baitfish. Many of these die during the winter months and all the spoons mentioned here imitate crippled or dying shad fluttering to the bottom. They’re easy pickings for gamefish that are not willing to move far or fast for a meal. Spoon jigging is a vertical method that involves short upward snaps of the rod tip allowing the lure to descend in a very controlled free fall mode. The rod tip is lowered at the rate of fall without allowing slack to develop in the line. If the line does go slack during the fall, set the hook. Sometimes you feel a slight tick and other times fish seem to strike during the lift. See Fishing, page 12
Lake level: 1070.5 or about one half foot below full pool Surface Temp: 62 degrees. This will be dropping significantly with the onset of consistently colder day and night air temperatures Clarity: Normal. Clear in main lake areas with slight color in upper tributaries Bass fishing has been good lately Fish are gravitating toward deep water and successful anglers are reaping rewards by concentrating on deep cover and structure. Points, submerged humps, and ditches are all prime real estate. Use your electronics to pinpoint brush piles. The target depth ranges from 25 to 45 feet deep. As cold weather sets in, focus your efforts on the deeper end of this range. Some areas may not have brush but are rich with lots of stumps and/or chunk rock which are not as obvious. It often pays to scout areas just by fishing them. Shakey head worm rigs and jigs are all you need this time of year. Your favorite green finesse style worm paired with a 1/4 oz. specialty lead head is great for a vertical presentation. Bass jigs in the 3/8th to 1/2 ounce sizes will put a lot of winter bass in your boat. When it comes to skirt colors, choose brown combinations or a color similar to the old rootbeer pepper green flake standby. Be sure to add a trailer such as the Fat Albert Twin Tail or a crayfish imitation. There is little news on drop shot rigs lately, but these should also be good producers. Expect the deep water pattern to hold through the month. Striper fishing has been fair. Fish are all over the place and a little bit of everything has been working. Main lake areas, creek mouths, and coves near creek mouths have all been giving up fish. Start your day out near a creek mouth drifting flat lines baited with live trout or herring and looking for surfacing fish. Be sure to have a bucktail jig and trailer combination at the ready. A good choice in size is 3/8th ounce. White with a silver flash is always a good pick. In fact, you should be casting this while drifting live bait. Don't spend too much time at any one area if you’re not seeing signs of activity on the water surface or on sonar below. The next move is checking the pockets near creek mouths and slightly up the creeks. If you’re seeing significant baitfish concentrations on your graph, park and drop down rods baited with live herring or shad. As always keep an eye out for gulls and loons which give away feeding gamefish or concentrations of baitfish in an area.
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12 LAKESIDE
December 2013
Local artists set up easels around Lanier
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Local artists set up easels around Lake Lanier for a five day oil painting workshop with Maine artist Don Demers. The fellow in the American Society of Marine Artist, acclaimed as one of the nation's top marine and landscape painters, offered the sessions through the Quinlan Visual Arts Center. Participants painted scenes at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue, Chattahoochee Country Club, Port Royale, and Vann's Tavern Park. Gainesville Marine Artist Anne Brodie Hill, far left, was among painters in the workshop.
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• Fishing Continued from Page 11 Keep the overall motion minimal. Bear in mind that you may be jigging on the bottom or in a suspended manner if sonar shows gamefish beneath a school of shad somewhere in the water column. Most sonar units are good enough to allow you to watch a spoon on the lift and drop. When you get on a good spoon bite, it can be the hottest fishing you’ve ever had. Number two in the deadly winter threesome is the finesse style plastic worm. Again, the presentation is vertical. Rigging “shakey head” style on a specialty lead head is a great way to go. Jig heads of 3/16th to 1/4th ounce are the norm paired with your favorite shade of green worm. Drop shotting continues to be a go to method most of the year and winter is no exception. Smaller finesse worms or minnow imitating plastics can be fished (vertically of course) with very enticing but subtle movement in small strike zones. Again, keep the movement minimal. Jigs are the last great bait in the cold water trio. Skirted
twin tail grubs also known as spider jigs will definitely provoke strikes. These are best cast and retrieved in the traditional manner. Be sure to keep the presentation slow and crawl the bait on the bottom with all movement imparted by the rod. You should be able to feel the jig contacting rocks and other cover. Football and rocker style lead heads are best for rigging spider jigs. Weights of 3/8th to 1/2 ounce help in maintaining good bottom contact. In closing, I hope you’ll keep
fishing through the year on Lanier. Our southern weather is often quite comfortable and you can even find yourself shedding that jacket now and then to enjoy a sandwich while the sun shines (we’ll see). Until next month, be safe, wear that life vest and enjoy the lake! Tommy Wilkinson is a veteran of the fishing industry and resides in Jefferson, GA.
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LAKESIDE 13
14 LAKESIDE
December 2013
December 2013
LAKESIDE 15
Georgia given extra time to respond to lawsuit
• ABS Continued from Page 2 and perform regular boat maintenance. The Let’s Go Fishing Center returns with hourly seminars led by professional anglers. Local fishing clubs and organizations will be available to speak with attendees, and kids can try fishing in the Catch and Release Trout Pond. Windsong Sailing Academy will host exciting seminars for sailors of all skill levels, with introductory and advanced classes offered during the show. “It’s a great place to have fun and also learn how to be a better boater,” Berryman added. “We’re happy to be offering one of our best shows yet both for families and boating enthusiasts.” Now through January 8, save $2 on admission by purchasing tickets online. Visit AtlantaBoatShow.com for more information and follow the show on Twitter or Facebook.
Still no response from Florida on ACFS request to delay legal action By Jane Harrison The U.S. Supreme Court is allowing Georgia extra time to respond to a lawsuit filed by Florida over water rights. The court issued an order giving Georgia until Jan. 31 to file a response to the suit instigated by Florida Governor Rick Scott that alleges the Peach State is hoarding water from the Chattahoochee and Flint River systems and causing the decline of oysters in Apalachicola Bay. Georgia originally was ordered to respond by Dec. 2. Officials from both states declined to comment on the extension or other questions about the lawsuit. Nor would they respond to a reporter’s inquiries about whether they were considering the request by the ACF Stakeholders to hold off on legal action until the June 2014. That’s when the organization of diverse interests in Georgia, Florida and Alabama river systems hopes to complete a tristate model to share the water. “We have not had any response
from Gov. Scott. The ACFS is currently addressing issues created by the Florida lawsuit that has raised concern about draft data and results generated by ACFS,” said Billy G. Turner, ACFS Chairman. “We hope we can stay on track to complete our Sustainable Water Management Plan in June, 2014 but the current issues concerning confidentially is a concern.” Turner described the plan as a data-driven scientific model that ACFS believes can help solve the water wars, alleviate lawsuits, and avoid the potential federal appointment of a “water czar” to settle disputes between the states. ACFS board members – local government officials, power producers, farmers and oystermen, manufacturers and conservationist – have reached consensus numerous times on issues that seem to confound agreement between the states. The week Gov. Scott filed the suit, all ACFS directors, including those from the Apalachicola region, voted to ask that Florida
delay the lawsuit and further legal action. The group’s next meeting is Dec. 11 near Lake Blackshear. In the meantime, Florida officials seem to be digging trenches for a litigious battle and, although Georgia is asking for continued negotiations, it is also beefing up its defense team. “All I can tell you is that Florida is moving forward in its fight for the future of Apalachicola Bay and its families after 20 years of failed negotiations with Georgia. Apalachicola River water levels are impacted by upstream withdraws and historically low water levels have caused oysters in Apalachicola Bay to die because of higher salinity, increased disease and predator intrusion,” said Patrick Gillespie, spokesman for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in an email to Lakeside. Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal and Attorney General Sam Olens announced the appointment of special attorneys general to defend
the state in the lawsuit. An Oct. 18 press release named Seth Waxman of WilmerHale and Chris Landau and Craig Primis of Kirkland & Ellis LLP as leaders of the litigation team, which will also include longtime Georgia water litigators Bruce Brown, Todd Silliman and John Allen. “It is time for Florida to stop playing politics and start negotiating in good faith,” said Deal. “Scarcely one year has passed since the U.S. Supreme Court ended Florida’s last unsuccessful lawsuit, which lasted more than 20 years. That lawsuit cost all three states millions of dollars and obstructed meaningful natural resource planning for decades. I call on Florida to dismiss this lawsuit and return to the negotiating table.” “We did not seek this lawsuit, but we will defend Georgia vigorously,” said Olens. “I have great faith in every member of this excellent legal team, and Georgians should be confident that their interests are being well-represented.”
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16 LAKESIDE
December 2013
LAKE LANIER OLYMPIC VENUE Dozens apply for LLOV manager position By Jane Harrison A total of 36 candidates for manager of the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue had submitted applications by mid November, barely a month after Gainesville Hall ’96 began advertising for the position. “A lot of them are from the region,” said GH ’96 Chairperson Mimi Collins. “I’m impressed with how many there are,” she added. Board members passed around a list of candidates at the GH ’96 November 15 meeting inside the venue tower. The applicants included the former manager of the Oak Ridge, Tennessee rowing venue, according to GH ’96 Vice Chairperson Phil Sutton. The organization that is guiding the former Olympic site into a new phase is accepting applications until Dec. 1 for the first venue manager. A link for the post appears on the website www.lakelanierolympicvenue.org. Candidates have responded to ads distributed through state and national parks and recreation departments, Georgia municipal and county governments, convention and visitors’ bureaus, and a national rowing publication. The board agreed to also place an advertisement in the Gainesville newspaper. The board plans to accept applications through Dec. 13 and select five to 10 people for interviews with a five-member panel. Collins said they could extend the application process if they do not get enough candidates meeting qualifications set forth in the job description. The manager could potentially be on the job in January, though not likely by the first of the month, she said. Pay for the position would come largely from
funds budgeted by Gainesville and Hall County governments, which pledged $150,000 each for Fiscal Year 2014 to help finance venue improvements. GH ’96 is finalizing a lease agreement and service contract for city and county officials to review at upcoming work sessions. Disbursement of the funds is pending upon approval of the contracts. The board may be raising funds for potential future purchase of four homes adjacent to the venue. Sutton informed board members that two homes on the tower side may be available and another property owner had indicated willingness to eventually make her home available to the venue. Sutton, a member of the Lake Lanier Rowing Club, mentioned the rowing and canoe/kayak clubs have eyed the properties for years. “This might be something worth talking about,” he said. Collins agreed. “We need to research the possibility … we know we’d have to raise the money.” Board member Morgan House suggested that the homes could possibly convert into accommodations for training camps for visiting canoe/kayak and rowing teams. “We’re always trying to find housing for people who come here. It would be helpful” to have on-site accommodations, Collins said. “We’ll keep it on the agenda and keep talking about it.” Improvements to venue security were also on the board’s agenda in the aftermath of October thefts of motors from Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club coach boats. House planned to meet with a representative from an electronic surveillance business about installing a system to address multiple security issues at the boathouse and tower areas.
Go jump in the lake ... on New Year’s Day By Jane Harrison New Year’s celebrants can get both chilly and chili at the annual Polar Bear Swim at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue. Those plunging into the lake on New Year’s Day can warm their shivers with bowls of crock pot chili toted in by cook-off contestants. The chill-filled event, a fund raiser organized by the Lake Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club, is returning with the same ingredients that have made it a holiday tradition: a cold baptism into the New Year, splash and costume contests, hot tubs on shore, and a hearty meal, topped off with scrumptious brownies or cookies! The fun begins at noon when jumpers line up near the docks on the boathouse side of the venue. The water’s deep enough this year to accommodate big splashers outside the boathouse, said event director Chris Potter. Logistically, it’s easier on the club because the docks don’t need to be moved to the tower side. It’s also easier on participants, who won’t need to cross the street for their post plunge chili. Friends, families and co-workers often make the leap together in costumes. Hefty polar bears cannon-ball in, vying for biggest splash bragging rights. The youngest and the oldest jumpers get recognized for their courage and vigor. The smiles and giggles on the docks get immersed in near 50-de-
gree water and surface with grimaces and groans. “People hurry to get out,” said Potter, who has made the jump three times. “It’s alarmingly cold.” Goose-bumped jumpers scramble back on dock and head straight for the hot tubs, where they share their stories in a steaming mist. Back in the boathouse, contestants in the chili cook-off dish up their best traditional, chicken and veggie renditions. Potter said those desiring to enter the contest just need to show up at the boathouse by 11:30 a.m. with their chili in a crock pot. “This is something everyone needs to do at least once. It’s fun and a good way to begin the year,” Potter said. Jumpers pay $25 individual and $50 for family of four to begin 2014 with a dip in Lake Lanier. The first 100 registrants get a T-shirt they’ll likely always remember.
Polar Bear Swim on Lake Lanier When: Noon, New Year’s Day Where: Lake Lanier Olympic Venue Boathouse, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd., Gainesville Registration: $25 individuals, $50 family of four Cook-off contestants: Bring crock pot of chili by 11:30 a.m. Information: www.lckc.org, 770-287-7888
LAKE LANIER OLYMPIC VENUE INFO Here's a profile and calendar for the two clubs operating at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue:
Lake Lanier Rowing Club Contact: John Ferriss Phone: 770-287-0077 Email: LLRC@mindspring.com Address: Lake Lanier Olympic Venue 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd., Gainesville, GA 30506 Website: www.LakeLanierRowing.org Club offerings: Recreational and competitive rowing for ages 13 to 80+. Beginner to elite offered through regularly scheduled practices, classes, and camps hosting of local, regional, national and international rowing regattas. Calendar of events: Jan.-March - Winter Collegiate Crew Training Jan. 25 - Mark Williams Ergatta
Lake Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club Contact: Office Administrator Brenda Miller, LCKC President Kevin Seitz Phone: 770-287-7888 Fax: 770-287-3444 Email: info@lckc.org Website: www.lckc.org Address: Lake Lanier Olympic Venue 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd., Gainesville, GA 30506 Club offerings: Recreational and competitive canoe and kayaking for ages 12 and up. Beginner to masters programs offered through regularly scheduled practices, classes, and summer camps. Also hosts local, regional, national and international competitions. Calendar of events: Dec. 8 - Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner Jan. 1 - Polar Bear Swim Venue seats about 2,000 with parking capacity of about 400 cars. The boathouse and tower are available to rent for meetings and special occasions.
CAUTION ZONE N
December 2013
LAKESIDE 17
Mural Reveal ceremony showcases dancers By Jane Harrison Contemporary dance troupe gloAtlanta performed at the Mural Reveal ceremony at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue in late October. In the hour-long performance, dancers combined ballet-like grace and puppet-ona-string disjointedness in vignettes choreographed especially for the Lake Lanier event. The dance show culminated a week of public art around Hall County that included lectures, performances in schools and the mural painting on the Olympic tower. The week’s activities were organized by The Arts Council of Gainesville.
The tower mural received mixed reviews from local paddlers and rowers observing the mirror images of a muscle bound kayaker and rower painted on the wall facing Clarks Bridge Road. Members of the Lake Lanier Rowing Club and Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club noted the form, physique and boat of the mural characters are not true to the sports. “It’s a little different than I thought, but I like it,” said LCKC member Kevin Seitz. Others remarked that the art by Living Walls international mural painter Franco Fasoli is dramatic, colorful, clever and modernistic.
PHOTO BY JANE HARRISON
Dancers with gloAtlanta performed at the Mural Reveal at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue in later October.
Clarks Bridge construction a concern for boaters By Jane Harrison Work has begun on construction of a new two lane bridge with bike-able shoulders and a pedestrian tunnel to replace the narrow 1958-built span over the Chattahoochee channel of Lake Lanier on Ga. 284 (Clarks Bridge). In mid-November contractor E.R. Snell, from Snellville, began building a temporary platform for workers to access the water to drill supports that will hold up the first state bridge built over the north Georgia lake since the early 1990s. A subcontractor from Florida is expected to start drilling 12 holes for six foundation piers in January. Until next summer, much of the work will take place on the water and may be more of a concern to boaters than to road travelers. The Georgia Department of Transportation set a completion date for the end of 2015, according to Teri Pope, GDOT Communications Officer. GDOT specified that the contractor may completely close the road 60 days while the 63.12 feet long pedestrian tunnel is being built. The 10 feet wide, eight feet high tunnel will connect the boathouse and tower/grandstand sides of the Lake Lanier Olympic
Workers begin stacking huge barges that will be used to allow the crane to “walk” out on the water during construction of the new Clarks Bridge Road bridge. PHOTO BY ALAN HOPE
Venue. Beginning after school lets out for the summer 2014, road travelers will be detoured onto Limestone Parkway, Ga. 129, and secondary routes. Until then, road lane closures will be allowed weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and overnights from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. unless an event is scheduled at the Olympic Venue. The contractor is required to maintain two lanes for boat traffic, with a minimum of 30 feet per lane, at all times. Randy Griffin, E.R. Snell vicepresident, said the crew will install floating signs and lights to alert boaters to the 80 feet by 40 feet barge that will launch drill and beam operations for about 14 weeks. Additionally, he said workers will be posted on the lake to hold up boat traffic when beams are erected and a foreman will be stationed on site at all
times. GDOT reported the U.S. Corps of Engineers was expected to set up buoys delineating the boat route. E.R. Snell officials and GDOT engineers met with Corps representatives and members of the rowing and canoe/kayak clubs to answer their questions on the day they moved in equipment. Corps officials and club members expressed concerns over boater safety during construction. Citing public safety as “paramount,” Corps Natural Resource Manager Nick Baggett planned to meet further with the contractor to question safety measures. Lake Lanier Canoe & Kayak member Doug Smith said he was concerned for the safety of 40-50 kids age 10 and older who practice out on the water on both sides of the bridge. Lake Lanier RowSee Bridge, page 43
18 LAKESIDE
December 2013
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Absolutely the most, breathtaking view, of open water on a point property. Home site is ON the water's edge. 2 mile view of open water with well groomed shoreline, beautiful rounded river rock blanket. Welcomed by large slate colored steps. Embellished by natural stone seawall that wraps around property. 3BR/2BA home or great floor plan for your new home.
Charming Renovated Lake Cottage! All the upgrades ready to Only $299K! enjoy! 85 ft of lake front w/ deep water single slip, partydock with hoist. New paint thru-out, new HVAC unit, new carpet, all new light fixtures, new fence & mailbox. Upgraded kitchen w/ Granite, brick back splash. Cabin feel with wood ceiling in living room/den. New rip rap, new stairs to dock and wheels on dock gangway. 69 N. Chestatee. $299,000
Commercial Boat Repair & Dock Business O $230K! REDUCED T
Successfully built business 26 years in service. 16 boat storage areas, boat and engine repair. Dock servicing - 51 Lake Lanier dock contracts to service, move in move out as lake changes. Fabulous boat repair and dock servicing reputation. Great location off Hwy 53 near War Hill Park, lots of boating traffic in north Lake Lanier areas.
Lake Lanier home Sellers – We are seeking Lake Lanier home sellers with open views of Lake Lanier. Many buyers are searching for open views and strong resale values. We are available to support your home selling needs and gain best values while interest rates are still extraordinary. Our teams are ready to support your home seller needs, quickly and efficiently soon. Don’t miss these selling opportunities now. Our markets continue to improve.
20 LAKESIDE
Gift ideas for boaters in your family The holiday season is upon us, and I’m sure boating families are dropping hints of what they would like under the tree on Christmas morning. Here are some suggestions I think most boating enthusiasts might like to find. • A West Marine tool kit. Chrome plated steel tools resist corrosion, $59.99 at www.westmarine.com. • A liquid image explorer midsize dive camera. Shoot what you see with this hands-free eight mega pixel dive mask and camera. $119.99 at www.amazon.com. • Terralux TT-3 underwater flashlight that works underwater for 2.5 hours. $109.99 at www.terraluxportable.com. • West Marine Tahiti binoculars plus compass. These 7x50 center-focus binoculars include a compass. $209.99 at www.westmarine.com. • Cobra MR HH 800 waterproof VHF. It floats, is water proof, and it has Bluetooth wireless. $149.95 at www.cobra.com. • West Marine inshore inflatable PFD. Protect yourself or crew with one of these lightweight automatically inflatable PFD. $109.99 at www.westmarine.com. • Zup board. This versatile tow toy provides fun for the whole family regardless of age or ability. $329.99 at www.overtons.com. • Jet Surf power board is a motorized surfboard of sorts. It has a two-stroke engine that hurdles riders over the water at speeds of 30-35 mph, depending on which model you buy. Built in carbon and Kevlar, this light weight board is easily transported. www. nationalmarinesuppliers.com. • Rave Tow Tube has the new Warrior 2 and Warrior 3 sit on top tow tubes which offer a comfortable ride as they skim across the wake. Prices range from $240 to $270 at www.ravesports.com. • High seas drama, “Rough Passage to London: A Sea Captains Tale.” The story takes readers aboard a square-rigger and into the pirate skirmishes. Available from Sheridan House for $16.95 at www.amazon.com. • A voyage to Polynesia, “Beer in the Bilges; Sailing Adventures in the South Pacific.” The sailors come to appreciate the spirituality of life and form a lifelong friendship. Visit: www.amazon.com. • If your crew trailers your boat to the Georgia coast or Gulf of Mexico you might think of having an EPIRB on board in case of an emergency. Global Fix
Mike Rudderham Captain’s Comments
broadcasts a unique registered distress signal that not only tells responders where you are, but who you are. $654.99 at www.westmarine.com. • Res Q Link personal locater beacon. This PLB will get the job done if you need to send may day or distress calls. Though not as sophisticated as an EPIRB it’s good to have aboard for an emergency. $269 at www. westmarine.com. Until you have a problem offshore you will never realize how valuable it is to have one of these on board. Believe me I’ve been on the rescue team many times in the USCG. Every boater should join Boat U.S. This would be a great present. You will also get six issues of their informative magazines. Cost is only $24.00 per year. The best $24 in boating you will ever spend. Visit: www.boatus.com. Ethanol update The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), and others that challenged the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2010 decision to allow gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol in the retail market place, have lost the fight. Fast forward to November 2013 and it turns out that the record corn crop – corn being the major ingredient to produce ethanol – has a record run off of dangerous fertilizer components. A recent AP investigation found that corn-based ethanol’s effect on the environment is far worse than the government admits. The Obama administration recently proposed to reduce the amount of ethanol in the nations fuel supply for the first time, acknowledging that the biofuel law championed by both parties in 2007 is not working as well as expected. Environmental groups opposed planting more corn for fuel because of the negative affect the runoff has on the environment. Jack Gerard, President and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, said the EPA’s move is a step in the right direction, but “ultimately, Congress must protect consumers by repealing this outdated and unworkable program once and for all.” Hopefully this will mean no 15 percent blended
December 2013
Advance Marine Services, Inc.
fuel, and hopefully 10 percent blends, will soon disappear and Member of American Marine Technicians we’ll be back to fuel only for our vehicles and boats. The only good thing ethanol created was to ex Computer Diagnostics for Most Models pand the additive industry: StaBil, Startron and Valve-Tec, Parts Repairs Maintenance which we should continue to use in our fuel thanks. Pontoon Refurbish Laura Dekker update Several years back we followed the adventures of a 14Same Location, New Address year-old that became the youngest 4760 Cap Martin Dr. • Gainesville, GA 30506 person and female to circumnavigate the Earth. When she finished she was 16 years, four months Hours: Monday - Friday 8 - 5 • Saturday 8 - 12 • Closed on Sundays old. I don’t think we will have someone who will try to beat her (770) 356-3024 Cell David Daniel in the near future. She almost did(770) 887-6942 Shop n’t make it even before she started as the Danish government was vehemently opposed to having her out of school until she was 16. She got around them and did her studies while sailing for her record. She has written a book and plans to get her dive masters certificate and also be a boat de“The Deck, Dock, Clean & Seal Specialists” livery Captain. She still has her 40’ ketch “Guppy” and has reComplete Exterior Home Cleaning Services nounced her Danish citizenship Serving Lake Lanier & Surrounding Areas Since 1995 and became a New Zealander. For more on this accomplished • Deck & Dock Cleaning & Sealing young lady: www.lauradekker.nl More on Stanley Paris • Lake Home & Cabin Cleaning & Sealing At the end of November he will depart Bermuda for his solo• Ask About Our Other Services nonstop circumnavigation of the globe. His boat, the 63’ Kiwi OFF-SEASON MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS AVAILABLE Spirit,” is as they call it “green”: solar panels, hydro generators, and wind generators to provide power for electronics and refrigLicensed/Insured eration. He also has two supplies of food, one he would prefer and a backup in powdered food for emergencies. He also has his favorite wine, liquor and two bottles of champagne, one for when Dock Moving Specialist he rounds each cape. The boat is equipped with backup after backup in case of failure in cer• Refloat, repaint, redeck tain critical gear. Sounds to me Dock moves • Pressure wash, stain or seal like he is ready to go. If you want as low as to follow him go to: www.stan• Shoreline steps $75.00! leyparis.com or www.yachting• Party decks magazine.com/nov2013. It should • General repairs be an exciting voyage as he is try- Buy one contract & • Ramp wheels, anchor poles ing to beat Dodge Morgan’s get your neighbor’s • Shoreline winches & cables record of 150 days. We wish him for 30% off. Must be a yr. contract. fair winds and following seas. New Year’s resolutions Call for “We’ll move your dock anywhere • Put fuel additive in fuel details! and will watch it all year long” tanks; Sta-Bil, Startron, ValveTec, you will be glad you did. In Jeff Thomson • Cell: 770-310-9337 the end it will save you money. Email: inandoutdocks@yahoo.com • Keep a good maintenance log. New Year where we all are cour• Get a USCG Auxiliary boat • Take the USCG Auxiliary teous and practice safe boating. inspection before the season boating class. Upon completion Mike Rudderham is a veteran mastarts. most insurance companies will rine surveyor with more than 40 years Wishing you all a very Merry give you a 10 percent premium experience in the marine industry. Christmas and a safe and Happy discount.
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December 2013
LAKESIDE 21
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22 LAKESIDE
December 2013
More artic fronts predicted this winter It is hard to believe that another year is coming to a close. Last spring’s tornado season was much quieter than normal. The Atlantic hurricane season turned out to be a non-hurricane season, despite dire predictions. However, this past fall turned out to be devastating for many people in the United States and around the globe. From Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines to the 80-plus tornadoes that slammed the Midwest in November, this past autumn brought a great deal of destruction. So far, we in Georgia have fared well this fall severe storm season. However, we all know strong and severe storms can occur any time of the year. We have seen many tornadoes in late December and January. I have been doing a great deal of research on something with the folks at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Scientists working at NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found a conclusive link between the alignment of two weather patterns in the Northern Hemisphere and the formation of an “atmospheric river” headed for California. The results were obtained in part from data provided by NASA’s 11-year-old Aqua weather satellite. Atmospheric rivers are narrow bands of wind, often a mile high that can pack the punch of a hurricane. As they move over the ocean, they become laden with water vapor and can carry with them as much water as the Mississippi River
dumps into the Gulf of Mexico in an average week! An example of Glenn the power of such an atBurns mospheric river event was seen in 1999, when Lanier a winter storm hit CaliOutlook fornia and caused 15 deaths and $570 million in damage. The two weather systems studied were the Arctic Oscillation and Pacific/North American teleconnection. The weather patterns rarely align in a certain way, but when they do the result is intense weather for California. Most troubling is that the weather events have the possibility of playing out over an extended period of time – such as the winter storms in 2010-2011. So why should we be concerned with storms on the opposite side of the country? Let’s take a look back at what has happened this past fall. Normally, we see five to six true arctic cold fronts every season. By late November, we already had three. The arctic high pressure systems have been setting up across New England for the most part. This position sets up that wedge of cold air that drains down the Appalachian Mountains into north Georgia and sits there for days on end. There has also been a very strong southern branch of the jet stream traveling from California, across Texas, and into the Southeast. So, if we have strong southern storms moving from California into the Southeast and there is a “wedge of cold air” in place, the end result could be a major ice storm. On average, north Georgia is likely to see a major ice storm once every 10 years. We
SOLUNAR TIMES FOR LAKE LANIER
are way overdue. I would like to wish you and your family and very Merry Christmas and a happy and wonderful New Year. And I will end this article with the question that everyone wants to know. What our winter weather
should be like. Unofficially, my prediction is for temperatures to be slightly below average with several more major arctic fronts with above average precipitation. The official forecast from the Climate Prediction See Burns, page 51
SOLUNAR TIMES FOR LAKE LANIER
December 2013
LAKESIDE 23
NEW NAME - SAME GREAT SERVICE! Named #1 Company in Barron's Annual Ranking of the World's 100 Most Respected Companies
IER!
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$775,000 BUILT FOR ENTERTAINING & TRUE LAKE LIVING! Open Ranch has HUGE Vltd GR w/FP & Lakeside Sunroom w/Stone FP,Kitch w/Granite, SS Appls, Dbl Island, Huge Pantry+Bright Open Eating Area, Lrg DR, Lovely Owner Ste w/Deck Access+FANTASTIC Fin Bsmt w/In-Law Ste Possible+Area for Kitch+1-Car Grg/Workshop,Wet-Bar, Media-Cvrd Patio & Deck,Hot-Tub+Cvrd Slip-Dock w/Double Permit!
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$275,000 BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME IN THIS UPSCALE N'HOOD ON LANIER! Premium Point Lot on Cul-de-sac with TOP-OF-THE-LINE Wahoo Double Slip-Dock, Rip-Rap, Shoreline Steps & Gangplank Wheels Already in Place! Find Peace & Tranquility in this Wonderful Quaint Gated Community.
WORK WITH THE TEAM THAT NOT ONLY SELLS ON LAKE LANIER, BUT LIVES ON LAKE LANIER!
Rhonda Forbes 678-438-0344 cell • rhondaforbes@kw.com www.GoLakeLanier.com CHARMING LAKEFRONT COTTAGE
Sits on the shoreline with full length screen porch o’looking Thompson Creek on Lake Lanier, one of the best coves for wakeboarding. Almost an acre level lot with , fenced yard & pole barn lg enough to hold 4 cars or 2 boats! Accents include a stone FP, loft and vaulted great room, spacious and colorful bedrooms and baths. Shady covered patio and work shop. Lake community includes tennis, pavilion and basketball court. Located just 2 minutes to Outlet Mall, shopping, movies, restaurants. Boat dock and great views. What a deal! $299,000 www.1610KiloughChurchRoad.info
HUGE OPEN WATER - TRANQUIL SETTING
Park-like setting on peninsula cul-de-sac located at end of Duckett Mill Road. Huge lake home, You will never want to leave this sanctuary. Tons of floor length windows and 1200 feet of decking, fenced yard. Will hit market 1st week of September for only $525,000. www.3725TimberlakeDrive.info
LAKE RANCH LODGE
TWO ACRE PRIVATE ESTATE LOT
Lake Ranch Lodge is an authentic, mid-century modern, lake house. Hand-built decades ago by craftsmen, it features custom-milled paneling of pecky cypress – one of the rarest and most beautiful kinds of wood – and exudes a relaxing get-away feel that will make it hard to want to leave. All Season perfect getaway or corporate retreat. $750,000 www.3184LakeRanchDrive.info
Once in a lifetime something like this comes along at this price. Lakefront w/dock in deep water cove in south end sailing waters. Creek, large pond w/fountain. Porches wrap around home. All rooms are spacious, kitch w/granite, island, SS. Steam shower & spa tub. Finished terrace level. Executive office joins grt rm. Views of Lake Lanier from everywhere. Just a stones throw from veranda to dock. $625,000 www.5918RoselightLane.info
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LAKEFRONT GORGEOUS LOT WITH DOUBLE SLIP DOCK!
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24 LAKESIDE
December 2013
December 2013
LAKESIDE 25
Back onboard again to build more memories Bob and Carolyn Wilson, aboard Sea Island Girl, continue Lakeside's long running series of cruising adventures which began in the mid-1990s. To date we've had the Johnston family, Jean and Bill Bayman, and Mechelle and Bill Cooksey all contribute to the series. Bob and Carolyn boated on Lake Lanier until leaving for their adventure in 2002. We just escaped the brunt of the cold Atlanta weather and finally moved aboard Sea Island Girl once more for another winter cruising season in the Bahamas. Although we love our home, it is always exciting to be back on the water and if the truth were told, our two canine mates, Coco and Robert, actually prefer the boating lifestyle. The first week seems to be the most confusing, trying to find where we stored everything, but it usually works out in the end. Our daughter Rebecca was a huge help this year. Rather than treating us to a special dinner for the holidays, she collected a large amount of coupons and took her mom grocery shopping. She saved over 50 percent, and com-
Bob & Carolyn Wilson Cruising Wilsons
pletely stocked the boat with provisions. Our first day on the water was a short but pleasant trip from Brunswick to Fernandina Beach. The tidal depths at Jekyll Creek forced us to leave later than normal, but we arrived in time to have dinner at the Marina Restaurant in downtown Fernandina with our good friends Kent and Vicky McKee whom we had sailed with for many years on Lake Lanier. It has been our policy in the past not to over-plan our trips. Bill Wennerstein, a former Lake Lanier sailor himself always said, “I’ve got no plan, and I’m sticking to it.” His philosophy has worked well for us because there are so many variables – new places to visit, meeting new
friends or spending a special evening with old friends, and the infamous weather. The cruising community is an interesting bunch. Because of our mutual interest in traveling by boat we pretty much think alike and enjoy the same things. Every once in a while you will find a “salty loner” aboard a boat destined for the graveyard, or the “wahoo” steaming past you with little concern for the wake he is throwing your way. For the most part, cruisers are hospitable, welcoming and always available to lend a hand when called upon. As you can imagine we have met quite a few interesting folks over the years. There was a fellow that designed a hammer for NASA and was later crucified in the press because the final cost, after the specifications were changed multiple times, came in at $4,000. Another was an 84year-old gentleman who was looking for a place to swim. As it turned out, he held the world record for the back-stroke. And we will never forget the young man rowing a sailboat from Chicago to Key West to raise
money for Habitat for Humanity. We have seen our share of celebrities as well – Eric Clapton, on board his yacht serenading his mother on deck; Bill Gates, Tiger Woods, and John Travolta. We can only aspire to own a boat like theirs. There have been a lot of unexpected, yet interesting stops along the way. There was LaBelle, FL where we stayed overnight at the Riverside Motel dock. It was just big enough for two boats, dockage was $15 including electricity, and they loaned us their Lincoln Continental to drive into town. Then there was the tornado we experienced on Grand Bahama Island having driven to the other end of the island for lunch, only to be asked by the waitress, “did you hear about the tornado that hit Port Lucaya?” That was where we were docked. As for excitement, we have ex-
perienced one dog overboard drill and several near misses. We were treated to a country music evening by the residents of a nearby Jensen Beach trailer park, dodged our share of water spouts in the Atlantic, and seen our first shrunken head in a museum in Key West. In the Bahamas we were greeted by swimming pigs and landed on a cay which was home to hundreds of fierce looking iguanas. You now have a better understanding of the people, places and situations that make our life so interesting. At first we thought it would be the white sand, the water and the blue sky that would be most appealing, but as it turns out, it is the people we meet along the way who unknowingly encourage us to keep moving. - Until next time, Bob & Carolyn Wilson
MORE INFO: cruiswils@gmail.com or www.cruisingwilson.blogspot.com
www.lakesidenews.com
NORTH GEORGIA OUTDOORS Before
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26 LAKESIDE
December 2013
DUKE ELECTRIC 49
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December 2013
LAKESIDE 27
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C 678-707-1767 E-FAX 678-609-4299 drunstadler@mindspring.com
24/7 INFO CALL 888-252-5535 & ADD PROPERTY CODE LANIER - WATER VIEWS FROM EVERY ROOM Ranch, custom built in 2008. Double-slip aluminum dock. Good water. Lightly used, like new. Finished basement, hot tub, very open plan. SS appliances, hardwood floors, FP. Level to lake. Only $467,850.
CODE 2774 www.dickrunstadler.com; Cell 678-707-1767
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CODE 2773 www.dickrunstadler.com; Cell 678-707-1767
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CODE 2771 www.dickrunstadler.com; Cell 678-707-1767
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CODE 2770 www.dickrunstadler.com; Cell 678-707-1767
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28 LAKESIDE
December 2013
Celebrating 25 Years in Business
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December 2013
Lakeside Calendar December 2013 Dec. 6-22 – “Mame” and “A Christmas Story” presented at Historic Holly Theater, 69 W. Main St., Dahlonega. Tickets: $18, adults; $12, children and students. Info: www.hollytheater.com. Dec. 6, 7 – Jefferson’s Downtown in December and Christmas Parade on Main Street. The parade held on Dec. 7. Info: 706347-5714; 706-215-3345. Dec. 6-15 – “A Christmas Carol” presented by Habersham Community Theater, 1370 Washington St., Clarkesville. Times: 7:30 p.m., Thurs.-Sat.; 2 p.m., Sun. Tickets: $18, adults, $11 children and full-time students. Info: 706839-1315; habershamtheater.org. Dec. 7 – Annual Christmas in the Mountains Festival held 3-8 p.m. in downtown Cleveland featuring carols, kids activities, arts & crafts and food vendors. Info: 706-865-5356; whitecountychamber.org. Dec. 7 – John and Nancy Kollock’s Art Show and Children’s Art Contest held at The Saturday Shop, 450 Bybrook Trl. (off New Liberty Church Rd.) in Clarkesville. Times: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Info: 770-754-9200. Dec. 7 – Breakfast with Santa, 8-11 a.m. at Rock Creek Sports Complex. Packages with breakfast start at $5. Info: www.dawsoncounty.org. Dec. 7 – Deck the Halls at Unicoi State Park from 3-5 p.m. featuring holiday crafts, hayrides, music food, pictures with Santa. Info: 800-573-9659. Dec. 8 – Christmas on Green Street in Gainesville from 4:30-7:15 p.m. Free. 770-5031319. Dec. 13-14 – Christmas in Cumming held at Cumming Fairgrounds, 235 Castleberry Rd., Cumming, featuring arts and crafts festival,
photos with Santa, hay rides. Admission: $1. Info: 770-781-3491. Thru Dec. 14 – Festival of Trees at Unicoi State Park, 1788 Ga. 356 in Helen. Info: 706878-2201; 706-878-2181. Thru Dec. 8 – Christkindlmarket and Parade held from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Fridays-Sundays in downtown Helen featuring food, events and gifts. The parade will be held Dec. 7 from 2-3 p.m. Info: 706-878-1908. Thru Dec. 22 – Old Fashioned Christmas in downtown Dahlonega square. Event features Lighting of the Square, parade with Santa and other holiday events daily through December including caroling, entertainment, wine sampling and live theater events. Info: 706-8643513; dahlonega.org. Thru Dec. 31 – Christmas In Cornelia, Holiday Light Spectacular in Cornelia City Park. Nightly until 11 p.m. Brenau College Thru Dec. 15 – “More” exhibit in Sellars Gallery in the Simmons Visual Arts Center, free. Opening reception to be held Sept. 19, 5:30-7 p.m. Thru Feb. 2 – “Passages” exhibit displayed in Leo Castelli Gallery in the John S. Burd Center for the Performing Arts. Free. Info: 770534-6263, www.brenau.edu. Cumming Playhouse Dec. 4 – The Forsyth Youth Orchestra Christmas Concert “Holiday Festivities” Dec. 17 – “Christmas Classics 2013,” 8 p.m. Dec. 19 – North Georgia Barber Shop Singers Christmas 2013, 8 p.m. Dec. 20 – Cumming Playhouse Singers Christmas Concert 2013, 8 p.m. Dec. 21 – Sounds of Sawnee Christmas
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Concert 2013, 8 p.m. Dec. 22 – The North Georgia Chamber Symphony Christmas Concert, 3 p.m. Dec. 31 – The Return, Beatles Tribute Band, 3 & 8 p.m. Thru Dec. 15 – “White Christmas,” Irving Berlin. Info/times: 770-781-9178; www.playhousecumming.com. Interactive Neighborhood for Kids Dec. 2-6 – Christmas Card Craft Week Dec. 9-13 – Christmas Ornament Craft Week Dec. 16-20 – Christmas Stocking Craft Week Dec. 23-27 – New Year’s Eve Crafts Week Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve Celebration Times are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Info: $1 with paid admission to museum; 770-536-1900; www.inkfun.org Lake Lanier Islands Resort Thru Dec. 31 – Magical Nights of Lights with Santa and his shop, amusement rides, pony rides and marshmallow roasting along with miles of illuminated characters and millions of twinkling lights. More info: www.lakelanierislands.com. North Atlanta Trade Center Dec. 7-8 – Atlanta’s Exotic Bird Fair Dec. 13-15 – Mammoth Rock Gem, Mineral, Fossil & Jewelry Shows Dec. 14-15 – Eastman’s Gun Show Info: www.northatlantatradecenter.com Northeast Georgia History Center Dec. 8 – Celebrating a Green Christmas, held 1-4 p.m. Free photo with Santa, carols, Christmas crafts. Details: www.negahc.org, (770) 297-5900 Piedmont College Dec. 6-7 – The Annual Service of Lessons and Carols, one of the region’s most popular
events celebrating the Christmas season, markets its Silver Anniversary in 2013. The Piedmont Chorale, Piedmont College Singers, Brass Choir and the Sewell organ are featured along with the Dawson County High School Chamber Singers. Thru Dec. 15 – Student Art Capstone Exhibits held in Mason Scharfenstein Museum of Art. Jan. 6-30 – Rosemary Dodd Exhibit, reception held 6 p.m., Jan. 16. Info: www.piedmont.edu Quinlan Arts Center Thru Dec. 8 – 66th annual Members’ Exhibition & Georgia’s State Art Collection Dec. 8 – Children’s Holiday Art Party held after the Christmas on Green Street parade at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 12-Feb. 15 – Quinlan’s Winter Exhibitions, opening reception 5:30-7 p.m., Dec. 12. Dec. 14 – Handmade for the Holidays showcases fine craft artists and artisans from noon to 4 p.m. Info: www.quinlanartscenter.org Tannery Row Artist Colony Thru Jan. 18 – Art Ramble/Open House in the gallery featuring holiday offerings including North Georgia Art Ramble, Dec. 7 & 8, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Info: 770-904-0572; www.tanneryrowartistcolony.com. University of North Georgia Thru Dec. 4 – “An Artistic Discovery: the Congressional Art Competition” at UNG’s Gainesville Campus, 3820 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood. Free. Dec. 5 – UNG Singers and Le Belle Voci Concert with UNG Chorale, 7 p.m., presented at First Baptist Church 751 Green St. NW, Gainesville. Free. Info: www.ung.edu.
December 2013
LAKESIDE 31
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December 2013
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34 LAKESIDE
December 2013
MSI celebrates 25 years of success on Lake Lanier By Pamela A. Keene When Tom Child sets his sights on a goal, he’s laser focused and operates with a purpose. What began for him in 1988 as a small Child operation installing boat lifts has grown into one of the most well-known businesses on Lake Lanier – Marine Specialties Inc. From those early days of installing and selling boat lifts, Child and his wife Michelle have built a successful marine business with products ranging from docks and boat houses to shoreline protection and dredging. Last month, the 32-employee firm with offices in Gainesville and Anderson, SC, celebrated its 25th anniversary. “I always wanted to create a marine construction business and be more than a two-man band,” he said recently, reflecting on his career to date. “It’s always been my goal to have a real business and be successful.” From firefighter to businessman He moved from Chicago to Atlanta in the 1980s and by 1986 Child worked as a firefighter in DeKalb County full-time and part-time for a printer. Around that time, the owner of a local boat lift business asked Tom to help him with installations. Two years later – in 1988 –
Child purchased what was then Lighthouse Distributors. He continued working for the fire department full-time, incorporating his business as Marine Specialties Inc. in 1993. “I lived off the fire department pay and put everything else – every penny – back into Marine Specialties for the first eight years,” he said. “Those were 100hour work weeks, seven days a week.” MSI became a Hydrohoist dealer in 1993 and is now the manufacturer’s largest boat lift dealer in the US. Since that time, MSI has earned 17 Dealer of the Year Awards and three Top Three Dealer of the Year Awards from Hydrohoist. MSI is also the area’s official Wahoo Docks dealer. In 1994, Carrie Kostyshyn joined MSI answering phones and greeting customers at the front desk. Today, almost 20 years later, she’s manager of the company’s boat lift division. In fact, about one-third of MSI’s employees have been with the company for five years or more. In 1996, Child hung up his fire helmet and focused full-time on building MSI. That was also the year that he and Michelle married. Together they’ve charted the path to success for MSI. Growth in product lines and employees grew through the 1990s and into the 2000s. Over the past 10 years, MSI has purchased five barges, and opened a
mirror-image location on a smaller scale in Anderson, SC. The company serves all of Georgia and South Carolina. New divisions include Dock Repair, Dock Move Program, Commercial Division and Dredging Division. The company installs rip-rap and shoreline preservation systems as well. Committed to community, family Tom and Michelle are deeply committed to community service and say they believe strongly in giving back. For years, he’s supplied logistical support for the Lake Lanier Association’s Annual Shore Sweep, providing barges and transportation for lake debris. MSI was recently honored with an award from the organization. He’s also served the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hall County for 15 years, providing the launch barge for the group’s annual Duck Derby at Clarks Bridge Park. That organization recently recognized him for 15 years of dedicated service. The company is a major sponsor for these groups’ fundraising events and also supports Angel Flight of Georgia. Earlier this year, MSI spearheaded the installation of safety lights purchased by the Lake Lanier Water Safety Task Force, designed to illuminate lake hazard markers. “When they were looking for someone to install them, we stepped up,” he said. The family is active at Lake-
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MSI
The company's original location on Brown's Bridge Road gave way to a new facility located a short distance away on the same highway.
view Academy, where the couple’s twin daughters Abigail and Maddy attend school. He coaches their soccer team. Family vacations are a must, including white-water rafting, trips to Disney World, biking on the Silver Comet Trail, visits to Texas, Chicago, Washington, DC, to visit family, and to an annual
family reunion at Bass Lake in Knox, Ind., where Tom spent summers as a kid. As for the future of the business, Tom says, “You know, we just keep reinventing ourselves. I owe my success to great employees that give 100 percent and to my wife and family who support me in all that I do.”
Sailing Club Events 2013 SAILING EVENTS ON LAKE LANIER Club Event Day Date
Club
DECEMBER 2013
FEBRUARY 2014
LARC SSC LARC
Fall #4 - LLSC Hosts Bill Sears #5 Fall #5 - (UYC 5)
Sun Sat Sun
12/01 12/07 12/08
BFSC/SSC Poker Run/Mad Hatter Wed LARC Winter #1 - LLSC Hosts Sat LLSC Laser Frostbite#1 Sun SSC Ice Breaker #1 Sun SSC Ice Breaker #2 Sat LLSC Laser Frostbite#2 Sun LARC Winter #2 - UYC Hosts Sun LARC Winter #3 - AISC Hosts Sat LLSC Laser Frostbite#3 Sun SSC Ice Breaker #3 Sat LLSC Laser Frostbite#4 Sun
01/01 01/04 01/05 01/05 01/11 01/12 01/12 01/18 01/19 01/25 01/26
JANUARY 2014
LLSC UYC LLSC SSC UYC LLSC LARC SSC LLSC UYC LARC LLSC
Event
1064 UYC Spring #2 Laser Frostbite #5 Ice Breaker #4 Hot Ruddered Bum Laser Frostbite #6 Winter #4 - SSC Hosts Ice Breaker #5 Laser Frostbite #7 UYC Spring 3 Winter #5 - BFSC Hosts Laser Frostbite #8
Day
Sat Sat Sun Sun Sat Sun Sun Sat Sun Sun Sat Sun
Date
02/01 02/01 02/02 02/02 02/08 02/09 02/09 02/15 02/16 02/16 02/22 02/23
MARCH 2014 SSC LLSC
Nippert #1 Laser Southerns Regatta
Sat 03/01 Sat/Sun 03/01-02
Club
Event
SSC UYC BFSC SSC UYC SSC LLSC UYS LLSC
Nippert #2 UYC Spring 4 Dorton 1 Nippert #3 Commodore's Cup Nipper #4 Atlanta Cup J24/J22 UYC Makeup 1 PHRF Championship
Day
Date
Sun Sun Sat Sun Sat Sat Sat/Sun Sat Sat/Sun
03/09 03/09 03/15 03/16 03/22 03/22 03/22-23 03/29 03/29
These races are open to non-club members interested in connecting with the racing scene on Lake Lanier. For more information, visit www.SailLanier.com and click on the club that's hosting the race. LARC - Lanier Auxiliary Racing Committee AISC - Atlanta Inland Sailing Club BFSC - Barefoot Sailing Club LLSC - Lake Lanier Sailing Club UYC - University Yacht Club
For the complete 2014 sailing calender, visit our website at www.lakesidenews.com/sailing-calendar.
December 2013
LAKESIDE 35
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By Jane Harrison Georgia boating laws governing right of way, navigation lights, boating under the influence, and post-crash actions were central in the trial of Paul J. Bennett, acquitted of homicide by vessel last month in Hall County Superior Court. An 11-member jury deliberated more than 12 hours to pronounce Bennett not guilty on eight felony death counts and guilty of four misdemeanors in connection with the boating collision that killed two brothers in June 2012. One juror was dismissed in the final hours of deliberation after the jury foreman reported to the judge that the juror had researched sentencing requirements on the internet in the jury room. Bennett was arrested after the June 18, 2012 collision between his fishing boat and a pontoon boat near Buford Dam on Lake Lanier. Jake Prince, 9, and Griffin Prince, 13, were killed in the crash that occurred while they were on a night outing with family members. The pontoon was piloted by their father, Michael Prince, according to court documents. The fatal crash and another lethal accident on Lake Lanier in summer 2012 caught national media attention and initiated legislative action that changed Georgia’s boating under the influence law. The law, named for the two brothers, set the
BUI blood alcohol content legal limit at .08, the same as for road drivers Judge Kathleen Gosselin sentenced Bennett to 2? years in jail and 1? years probation for the four misdemeanors. He will serve his time in Hall County Jail. Attorneys for the defense and prosecution expressed both satisfaction and disappointment at the trial’s outcome. Bennett’s attorney, Barry L. Zimmerman, described the verdict as “very acceptable.” “Getting rid of eight felony counts was certainly a major goal,” Zimmerman said. The sentence was “over the top, way too harsh,” he added. He said punishment for the misdemeanors would normally result in “maybe a day or two days in jail” and probation. “But she (Gosselin) is the judge,” he said. District Attorney Lee Darragh, who led the prosecution, stated “While the state was disappointed in the limited extent of convictions in the case, the state was quite satisfied with the significant sentence imposed by Judge Gosselin on the counts she had available on which she could sentence.” Zimmerman interpreted the acquittal of homicide charges as indicative of the jury’s focus on evidence and boaters’ rules of the road rather than on emotion See Trial, page 43
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December 2013
December 2013
LAKESIDE 37
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38 LAKESIDE
December 2013
Twinkling lights aren’t the only reason to visit Magical Nights of Lights By Pamela A. Keene Millions of sparkling lights that comprise nearly 100 animated light displays are the main attraction each Christmas at Lake Lanier Islands’ Magical Nights of Lights, but that’s not the only reason to visit the resort. The holiday food offerings, from sweets to special brunch with Santa and evening buffets, are designed to tempt the palate and offer Mom a respite from the kitchen. “We hand-make more than 90 percent of what you see in the way of sweets and candies at the Holiday Village,” said Pascal Pedaggi, director of food and beverage at Lake Lanier Islands. “We’re really keeping up with the trends by expanding new flavors of our candies and fudge.” Holiday Village, the final stop on the Magical Nights of Lights tour, is filled with Christmas gift ideas, holiday decorations and plenty of flavors of the season. The resort has always made its own chocolate fudge, but this year there are nearly a dozen flavors to choose from by the ounce, the quarter-pound, the halfpound, the pound or more. Visitors can watch the staff make
fudge in the candy shop at the village. “We have a ton of flavors this year – chocolate, dark chocolate, peanut butter, rocky road, pecan, turtle, mint chocolate and even red velvet and salted caramel flavors,” Pedaggi said. “And we’ve expanded the kinds of bark this year as well to include white chocolate, dark chocolate, M&M bark and much more.” New in Holiday Village, check out the glazed nuts, including cashews, plus kettle corn, caramel popcorn and cinnamon sugar soft pretzels. Candy and caramel apples and funnel cakes bring back the tastes of old-time carnivals. “We added pastries this year, all kinds of cakes in our pastry showcase,” he said. “Molten lava chocolate cake, pumpkin spice pound cake, turtle pound cake and all kinds that are sticky, gooey and good. And of course we have decorated gingerbread cookies and about a dozen different kinds of Christmas cookies.” Holiday Village also offers pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs, plus guests can roast marshmallows over the outdoor fire pits and enjoy hot chocolate to ward off the winter chill.
Back at Legacy Lodge, the traditions of the holidays continue with Breakfast with Santa weekends until mid-December then daily from December 14 through Christmas Eve. From fresh fruit to hand-crafted waffles and assorted omelettes, the choices also include bacon, sausage, breakfast potatoes and buttered grits. Add assorted breakfast pastries and breads to fresh-baked biscuits and sausage gravy for a good start to a healthy day. Santa will be on hand at Breakfast with Santa for the kids to share their wish lists and have their photo taken with the Jolly Old Elf. Or consider a traditional holiday meal with all the trimmings at the Magical Nights of Lights Buffet in Windows Restaurant. Open weekends until mid-December, the nightly December 20 through December 30, the buffet features hand-carved roasted honey-cure turkey breast, cranberry-glazed ham with maple mustard sauce, plus several other entrees, holiday sides including roasted butternut squash, carrots, onions and zucchini. An elaborate starters section offers cheeses, antipasto, fresh salads and winter
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF LLIR
Holiday Village, the final stop on the Magical Nights of Lights tour, offers many tempting goodies to enjoy.
ambrosia. Desserts include Yule Logs, triple chocolate torte, Southern pecan pie and assorted cookies and bars. The resort is also making big plans for welcoming in the New
Year, with live entertainment, a buffet meal and more in the Grand Ballroom. MORE INFO: www.lakelanierislands.com
December 2013
LAKESIDE 39
Local high schoolers advance to national fishing tourney
Kathline Collins 678.617.8633 or 770.718.5599 CollinsPropertyGroup.com CollinsPropertyManagementGroup.com
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Lake Homes For Sale
1707 Country Way • Gainesville, GA 30501 3/2 real log cabin w/Lake Lanier frontage. Inground pool. Close in to town. $275,000
3532 Mill Lane • Gainesville, GA 30504 1.96 acres! 3 adjoining lake lots with single slip covered dock. $100,000
4609 Park Drive • Oakwood, GA 30566 Deep water, single slip dock, easy walk to lake. 1 bedroom / 2 baths. $315,000
6150 Timberidge Road • Gainesville, GA 30506 2 BR cottage in gated Lake Lanier, swim/tennis. Community dock. $105,000
Lake Homes For Rent
6498 Deep Valley Court • Flowery Branch, GA 30542 5 / 4.5 bath with frontage on private fishing lake and a single slip dock in Lake Lanier. Lawn care included. $2500/month
8840 Bayhill Drive • Gainesville, GA 30506 4 / 3.5 on full unfin. basement with single slip dock. $2000/month
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Buford locals Noah Pescitelli and Thomas Zaczek received second place in the Georgia B.A.S.S. Nation High School Fishing State Championship along with the Wackem Open College tournament on Lake Lanier October 25-26. Noah and Thomas are sophomores at Mill Creek High School. They both have advanced to the 2014 B.A.S.S. High School National Championship. They will be competing with the top two teams in each state.
40 LAKESIDE
December 2013
Hall County to receive a portion of $39 million in state funding for Glades The Glades Reservoir Project has been selected as one of three reservoir projects in the state to receive a portion of $39 million in funding from the Governor’s Water Supply Program, according to Hall County officials. How those funds will be distributed between the three projects has yet to be determined. “I would like to sincerely thank Gov. Nathan Deal, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority for their vision and foresight in aligning and mobilizing state resources to assist local governments with developing new water supply sources to adequately meet future water needs,” said Hall County Board of Commissioners Chairman Dick Mecum. Hall County District 3 Commissioner Scott Gibbs also expressed his appreciation for the state’s willingness to support Hall County’s Glades Reservoir Project. “This award from the state will enhance and improve the Glades Reservoir Project while reducing the cost of the project to Hall County citizens and future water users,” said Gibbs. “The Governor’s Water Supply Program funds will reimburse Hall County for their land acquisition expenditures to date and will be used to purchase buffer property, easements, and other necessary property components of the Glades proj-
ect,” Mecum said. Hall County has spent more than $8 million on land acquisition for Glades so far. Those funds have primarily come from Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax revenues. Hall County has applied for state and federal permits for the proposed Glades Reservoir project to operate as part of a public water supply system to provide drinking water solely within Hall County. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reviewing the application for a federal permit pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The Corps decided in July 2011 that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) would need to be prepared to determine the effects of the proposed reservoir on the human and natural environment. The Corps began working on the EIS in February 2012, and they expect to finish it and make their permitting decision in mid-2014. Hall County’s Section 404 permit application to the Corps of Engineers specifies that the purpose of the proposed Glades Reservoir is to provide a reliable source of public water supply, capable of satisfying the projected unmet water demand in Hall County during drought conditions, for the projected population See Glades, page 49
Martin Docks, Inc. Serving Lanier ‘In the Spirit of Excellence’ Since 1956
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Georgia Vacation Rentals 678-316-2888 New Inventory Needed! We are a full service Property Management company looking to increase our inventory. We currently manage properties all over Atlanta and north Georgia. Statistics show only a small percentage of travelers utilize staying in a rental property as opposed to a hotel. Our focus is to increase that percentage and in turn, bring the homeowners a nice return on their investment. If you own any properties (residential or vacation), manage them on your own and are not getting the return you were expecting, we would love the opportunity to talk to you. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are interested, please call us at 678-316-2888 or email us at georgiavacationrentals2@gmail.com.
December 2013
LAKESIDE 41
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Holiday events light up northeast Georgia By Jane Harrison Dazzling light displays, old fashioned Christmas parades, tree lightings, and carriage rides warm up the holidays in northeast Georgia. Here’s a sample of events to get you in the spirit: • Magical Nights of Lights, Lake Lanier Islands, Buford. Drive through holiday light show features 12 Days of Christmas, Santa’s Workshop, Christmas Carnival, Holiday Village, Santa visits, ice-skating, bon fire, live nativity scene and more, 4 p.m. nightly through Dec. 31, Lake Lanier Islands Resort, 7000 Lanier Islands Pkwy. $60 per car (up to 9 people). www.lakelanierislands.com. • Festival of Trees, Helen. View beautifully decorated trees in lodge at Unicoi State Park, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. through Dec. 14, 1788 Hwy. 356. $5 parking. (706) 878-2201, Ext. 305. • Deck the Halls, Dawsonville. Visits with Santa, marshmallow roasting, caroling, and more, 5-8 p.m. Dec. 6, 7, 13, 14, 19-23, Amicalola Falls State Park, 418 Amicalola Falls State Park Rd. $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, (706) 344-1500. • Holiday Festival/Christmas Tree Lighting, Flowery Branch. Holiday market, shop with a cop, tree lighting, 2-6 p.m. Dec. 6, 5517 Main St. www.flowerybranch.org. • Oakwood Christmas Celebration. Choir performances, free hot chocolate, marshmallow toasting, ornament
making, pictures with Santa, 5:30-9 p.m. Dec. 6; Santa arrives by fire engine 6 p.m. Bring canned or non-perishable food item for pantry. www.cityofoakwood.net. • Christmas Parade, Helen. Festivities in Alpine-themed village include parade, Santa visits, holiday market, and more; parade 2-3 p.m. Dec. 7, Downtown Helen. www.helenga.org. • Roll & Stroll, Flowery Branch. Parade, hayrides, refreshments, live music, Santa visits, tree lighting 2-6 p.m. Dec. 7, parade line-up 1:30 p.m. at 5212 Spring St. www.flowerybranch.org. • Christmas in the Mountains, Cleveland. Old fashioned Christmas with carols, hot cocoa and cookies, kids’ activities, crafts, food booths and more. www.whitecountychamber.org. • Enchanted Christmas Idea House, Duluth. View Georgia’s largest nutcracker collection, hand sculpted Santas and ornate holiday decorations in each room of Strickland House and History Museum, 2956 Buford Hwy. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 21. $10. www.duluthga.net, 678-642-9486 or 404-683-4288. • Christmas at the Gorge, Tallulah Falls. Santa visits, crafts, snacks, and music, 9-11 a.m. Dec. 7, Tallulah Gorge State Park, 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Dr. www.gastateparks.org, (706) 7547981.
• Old Fashioned Christmas, Dahlonega. Month long celebration with Lighting of the Square, parade, caroling, wine sampling, theatre events, through Dec. 22, with some events continuing through New Year’s Eve, Downtown Dahlonega. www.dahlonega.org., 770-864-3513. • Buford Holiday Parade & Festival. Santa arrives in parade on Main Street Downtown 11 a.m., festival and performances 12:30- 5 p.m. Dec. 7. www.visitbuford.com. • Mingle with Kringle/Main Street Market, Gainesville. Photos with Santa, downtown shopping 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 7, 14, 21, Main Street Market, corner Spring and Main streets. www.gainesville.org. • Christmas at the Gorge, Tallulah Falls. Santa visits and photos, snacks, crafts, 9-11 a.m. Dec. 7, Tallulah Gorge State Park, 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Dr. $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706-7547981. • Christmas on Green Street, Gainesville. Antique car procession, caroling, musical performances, carriage rides, miniature train rides and strolling musicians, face painters, story tellers, Christmas tree lighting and more in annual festival on historic Green Street, 4:30-7:15 p.m. Dec. 8. www.hallcountyhistoricalsociety.org. • Winter Fest, Duluth. Live entertainment, holiday market and treats, 9
Expires 1-15-2014 Please present coupon after you receive your quote.
Christmas celebration on the Dahlonega square.
Gainesville house decorated for Christmas on Green Street celebration. a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 14, Duluth Town Green, 3678 W. Lawrenceville St. www.duluthga.net. • Christmas Tree Lighting, Blairsville. 10th annual lighting of 35-foot blue spruce, caroling, hayrides, bonfires, Santa visits, hot chocolate, cider, cookies, 4-7 p.m. Dec. 14, Vogel State Park, 405 Vogel State Park Rd. Bring toy for a child, blanket/chair for comfort. $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, (706) 7452628. • New Year’s Eve Crawl, Duluth. Winter carnival, live broadcast ChicFil-A Bowl, fireworks, 6 p.m. Dec. 31-12:30 a.m. Jan. 1., Duluth Town
Green, 3678 W. Lawrenceville St. www.duluthga.net. • Polar Bear Swim, Gainesville. Participants jump into Lake Lanier solo or in groups; costume, splash, youngest/oldest jumper contests, chili lunch, noon Jan. 1, Lake Lanier Olympic Venue, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd. $25 individuals, $50 family of 4. www.lckc.org. • Polar Bear Plunge, Helen. Participants gather on beach, plunge into lake together, 11 a.m. Jan. 1, Unicoi State Park, Hwy. 356. Register in advance. $10 individuals, $25 families, $5 parking. (706) 878-2201, Ext. 305. www.gastateparks.org.
Expires 1-15-2014 Please present coupon after you receive your quote.
December 2013
Outdoor Activity Calendar See Lake Lanier Olympic Venue Calendar for canoe/kayak and rowing activities. ISI Cycling, Gainesville. Group road cycling for all speeds and levels in North Hall area, mountain biking at Chicopee Woods, see www.isicycling.com. Brenau Masters Swim Team, Gainesville. Practice and competitive program for masters swimmers of all levels, high school age and older. Mon., Wed. & Thurs. 6-7 a.m. Brenau University Natatorium, Washington/Prior St. $60 month. (770) 534-6279, bbachman@brenau.edu. Old Fashioned Christmas, Dahlonega. Month long celebration with Lighting of the Square, parade, caroling, wine sampling, theatre events, entertainment, thru Dec. 22, with some events continuing through New Year’s Eve, Downtown Dahlonega. www.dahlonega.org., 770-864-3513. Christmas on Green Street, Gainesville. Antique car procession, caroling, musical performances, carriage rides, miniature train rides and strolling musicians, face painters, story tellers, Christmas tree lighting and more in annual festival on historic Green Street, 4:30-7:15 p.m. Dec. 8. www.hallcountyhistoricalsociety.org. Mountain Bike Night Rides, Gainesville. Rides after dark for SORBA/IMBA members in Chicopee Woods 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4 & 19; Jan. 1, 16, 28; Feb. 12 & 27, Chicopee Woods Mountain Bike Trails, Elachee Dr. Lights required. www.imba.com. www.gainesvillesorba.org. Sunday Kroger Rides, Gainesville. Base pace road bike rides averaging around 40 miles
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roll out at 1:15 p.m. Sundays from Kroger parking lot on Thompson Bridge Rd. velocraig@hotmail.com. Stomp Out Cancer 5K, Gainesville. 9 a.m. Dec. 7, Gainesville High School, 830 Century Place. $20 early, $25 late registration. www.active.com. Santa Sprint 5K/1K Fun Run, Gainesville. 5K 8 a.m., 1K 9:30 a.m. Dec. 7, Frances Meadows Aquatic Center, 1545 Community Way. $20 by Dec. 5, $25 race day. www.active.com, www.gainesville.org. Ho Ho Hustle 5K/Candy Cane Canter 1 Mile, Oakwood. 1 mile 4 p.m., 5K 4:30 p.m. Dec. 7, Oakwood City Park, Main St. 5K $25, 1 mile $15. www.active.com, www.disabilityresourcecenter.org. Frosty 5K/Fun Run, Dahlonega. 9 a.m. Dec. 7, Yahoola Creek Park, 365 Riley Rd. $20/$15. www.active.com. Jingle Jog 5K, Cumming. 8:30 a.m. Dec. 7, Cumming Town Center, 2085 Market Place Blvd. $25 by Dec. 5, $30 after. www.active.com. Midnight Rush Adventure Race, Cornelia. 7 & 14 hour biking/trekking races for teams of 2, 3 or solo, 10 a.m. Dec. 7, Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area (specific directions forwarded to participants). $50-$80. www.active.com, www.midnightrush.trailblazerar.com. First Saturday Hike, Gainesville. Join Elachee naturalist for a seasonal scavenger hunt in Chicopee Woods 10-11:30 a.m. Dec. 7,
14, Hall County Soccer Complex, 2400 Allen Creek Rd. $25. www.active.com. Reindeer Run 5K/10K & Rudolf Ride Duathlon, Dawsonville. 8: 30 a.m. Dec. 14, Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, 415 Hwy. 53. Duathlon-5K run, 16 mile bike, 5K run. 5K/10K $25 by Dec. 12, $30 after; duathlon $35/$40. www.active.com, www.fivestarntp.com. It’s a Runderful Life 5K, Dahlonega. 9 a.m. Dec. 14, Totally Running and Walking, 28 North Grove St. $25. www.active.com, www.totallyrunning.com. Who Gives a Hoot? Owl Show, Dawsonville. Feathered friends show off in lodge lobby, 1-2 p.m. Dec. 14, 1-2 p.m. Dec. 28, Amicalola Falls State Park, 418 Amicalola Falls State Park Rd. $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, (706) 344-1500. Braselton 8K/2K Run for Reading. 2K 8:30 a.m., 8K 9 a.m. Dec. 14, Braselton Park, corner Harrison & Henry St. 8K $20 early, $25 late; 2K $15/$18. www.active.com, www.runnersfit.com. Full Moon Suspension Bridge Hike, Tallulah Falls. Mile and a half night hike to suspension bridge over falls, 5-7 p.m. Dec. 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 16, Tallulah Gorge State Park, 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Dr. Register in advance. $5 plus $5 parking.www.gastateparks.org, (706) 754-7981. Embrace 2014 5K, Gainesville. 9:30 a.m. Jan. 1, Downtown Gainesville. $25 early, $30 late registration. www.active.com. - Compiled by Jane Harrison
MORE INFO: Additions/corrections, email lakesidenews@mindspring.com
Lake Lanier Melges 24s fare well at Tampa Invitational
• Trial
Continued from page 35 surrounding the deaths of two boys. The Norcross attorney also said he was grateful for vigilant security in the courtroom where he felt he was vilified for representing Bennett. Zimmerman said he sought to prove that Bennett’s boat approached on the starboard side had the legal right of way and that the pontoon pilot’s responsibility was to “take early and substantial action to keep clear.” Bennett’s boat struck the pontoon after “neither did anything,” he said. “He didn’t cause the accident … and we never said that Mr. Prince did.” Darragh commented that the state presented evidence “that the defendant in fact veered off of his course significantly and turned into the Prince boat which was traveling in a straight line course at 10 to 14 miles per hour.” He added, “The Bennett boat had a missing navigational green light (for which he was convicted of reckless operation of a vessel), and the evidence showed that had the defendant been approaching the Prince boat that Mr. Prince would not, therefore, been able to know what he should do from a navigational perspective.” Darragh said that while he respects
Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr. $5 adults, $3 children 2-12, free to Elachee members and children younger than 3. www.elachee.org, (770) 535-1976. Trail Crew Work Day, Gainesville. Bring water, lunch and gloves for trail maintenance work, tools provided, ages 18 and older, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 7, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr. Call to register. www.elachee.org, (770) 535-1976. Stars Over Elachee, Gainesville. View constellations, the moon, planets and stars, 5:157:15 p.m. Dec. 7, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr. Suggested for adults and children age 8 and older. Bring flashlight and pencil. Register in advance, reserve a telescope. $10 adults, $5 children 2-12, free to Elachee members. www.elachee.org, (770) 535-1976. Toy Trot 5K/10K/1-Mile Trail Run/Walk, Winder. 1 mile 1 p.m., 5K/10K 1:30 p.m. Dec. 7, Fort Yargo State Park, 210 S. Broad St. $15/$30/$40. www.waltonbarrowboardofrealtors.com Lanier Running Club, Gainesville. Club meeting, 7 p.m. Dec. 9, Re-cess Southern Gastro Pub, 118 Bradford St., NW. www.lanierrunningclub.org. Natureversity Lunch/Lecture, Gainesville. Brown bag lunch and lecture about honeybees, 12:30-2 p.m. Dec. 12, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr. $10 donation requested. Call to reserve seating. www.elachee.org, 770-535-1976. Holiday Hustle 5K, Gainesville. 9 a.m. Dec.
the verdict rendered, prosecutors “recognize that not all jury verdicts will reflect justice nor the facts of the case.” The other reckless boating conviction was for traveling at a speed not reasonable for conditions. The collision occurred about 10:30 p.m. The state presented evidence related to two BUI charges, one for .10 blood alcohol content and the other for less safe operation of a vessel due to BAC between .05 and .08. The verdict indicated the jury was not convinced Bennett’s level was beyond the legal limit but that he was a less safe boater due to alcohol consumption. Both BUI charges are misdemeanors. Additionally, the jury found Bennett guilty of failure to render aid for not assisting those affected in the collision or providing written identification of himself, his boat and address to the injured or to Michael Prince. The sentence included fines totaling $3,900. The judge ordered Bennett to undergo evaluation and/or treatment for substance abuse and to perform 340 hours of community service while on probation. He is also prohibited from operating a boat on Georgia waterways during probation.
By Pamela A. Keene Three Melgus sailboat crews headed to warmer seas in November and one crew came back with third place in the field of a dozen at the Melges 24 Invitational in Tampa in November. KC Shannon captained Shaka, bringing home third overall after two days of challenging racing. Shaka stayed in the top half of the fleet for all six races. Her crew included Sean O’Connor, Shaka’s former owner; Trey Sunderland; and Rene Ward. Blue Steel, captained by Dan McGraw,
included crew Jennifer Zember, David Bennett, Roger Counihan, and Roger Dold. Hermes’s skipper Tony Stanley drove while the boat was crewed by Doug Kessler, Chris Beisner and Todd Wilson. All three Melges sail out of Lake Lanier Sailing Club. Blue Steel, finishing overall in eighth place, took fourth in race 5. Hermes, which took home 11th place, posted a seventh-place finish as its highest. Lake Lanier Sailing Club has a number of Melges sailors who travel to regattas around the Southeast.
• Bridge Continued from Page 17 ing Club president John Ferriss mentioned that up to 400 collegiate rowers per week are expected to train at LLOV from January to March, plus thousands more are scheduled to race in regattas in March and May. A DOT engineer said boaters would have access to half the channel at all times. DOT stipulated that the contractor must stop work a minimum of 12 hours on the roadway and water before an event begins. The new bridge is planned to be 40 feet wide with 12 feet wide lanes and an eight feet wide bike-able shoulder in each direction. It will be the same eleva-
tion as the existing bridge, which is just under 24 feet wide, with no shoulders. The new span will be located east of the current bridge, on the grandstand/tower side. The pedestrian tunnel is planned to be lighted and will divert foot traffic under the roadway, which gets congested during major regattas and public events at the Olympic Venue. The $8,733,700 project is funded through GDOT’s funding normal formula with 80 percent of the cost paid from federal gas tax and remaining 20 percent from state gas tax, according to Pope.
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December 2013
Near-space journey ends in Lake Lanier Group of Boy Scouts in Birmingham launch capsule 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 he parachute with its bright-orange box drifted downward into Lake Lanier not far from the start line of Lake Lanier Sailing Club’s Miss Piggy J-22 Regatta on a sunny November Saturday afternoon. Curiosity got the best of race official Susan Reddaway, who corralled her fellow officials into boating over for further inspection. “At first we didn’t know what it was, and we certainly didn’t know where it came from, but as soon as the orange Styrofoam cooler spun around in the water, we could see the 205 area code and the Boy Scout emblem, so we knew it wasn’t a bomb,” Reddaway said. “Once we got it on board, we called the number and that’s when the near-space story unfolded.” The adventure began with a handful of Boy Scouts from Troop 320 in Birmingham, Ala., way before dawn that Saturday. The mission was to launch and track a weather balloon and equipment-filled capsule so that troop members could earn their Space Exploration Merit Badges. “We packed the capsule with nearly $700 worth of equipment, including a couple of GPSs, a Blackberry, and a Go-Pro camera
T
aimed outward through a hole in the side,” said Scout Leader Bill Hecker. “We launched it around 7:27 a.m. Central Time and were able to track it for several hours, but at about 10,000 feet we lost all the signals. We were devastated.” The capsule also contained the boys’ individual Space Exploration Merit Badges as well, each identified with their names and troop number. Lost in near space Using a weather balloon that was rated to remain intact until 100,000 feet, where temperatures can dip to 50 below zero, the scouts rigged the balloon, a parachute and the equipment-filled cooler for the mission. “The balloon started out eight feet in diameter, but at 100,000 feet, it expanded to 30 feet in diameter before it was supposed to explode,” said Scout John Butrus, 12. “We just hoped that it would be discovered when it landed back on earth.” The scouts were restricted to a maximum weight limit of five pounds without having to obtain clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration. They carefully packed the neon orange-painted cooler, including about a dozen hand-warming selfheating packs to protect their gear. It was sealed with bright-
A view from space: A go-pro camera mounted on the Styrofoam capsule captures sunrise above Alabama.
green duct tape. The near-space experiment was based on information from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology website. The site included descriptions of how to launch a capsule into near space using a weather balloon and a parachute. Based on wind direction, atmospheric conditions and other data calculated using the MIT site, a projected flight path led the scouts from Mountainbrook near Birmingham to Bremen, Ga. Unlikely destination “We actually lost track of the capsule outside of Anniston at about 10,000 feet,” said Scout Will Hecker, 12. “But we went ahead and drove to Bremen, where our projections said it
Scouts Will Hecker and John Paul Butrus enjoy a ride on the LLSC chase boat with Susan Reddaway and Ted Phillips (above L to R). (L to R) Scoutmaster Russell Byrne, Assistant Scoutmaster (ASM) Herb Jernigan, John Paul Butrus prepare for the early morning launch.
would be.” The boys and their leaders, including Scoutmaster Russell Byrne, drove around Bremen for several hours and had just about decided that the capsule was lost forever when Byrne’s cell phone rang with the call from Ted Phillips of the Lake Lanier Sailing Club. It was about 12:20 p.m. Eastern Time. The capsule had traveled more than 165 miles since early morning. “We went from being totally crestfallen to pure elation,” Leader Hecker said. “We headed toward Lake Lanier and could hardly contain ourselves.” By the time the scouts arrived, the LLSC race committee had conducted several races, but officials came to the club’s courtesy dock with the capsule and paused long enough for the scouts to open and inspect the package. “Some of the hand packets were still warm,” said Scout Henry Case, 11. “We just couldn’t believe that someone actually found it and called us.” Sailing club connection Meanwhile, Reddaway, Phillips, official Janet Gaito and US Sailing Judge Edith Collins speculated about the capsule’s contents and the story behind their discovery. “About the time we noticed the cooler and the parachute, a sea plane flew over the lake, at first we thought that the plane had dropped it,” Collins said. “We approached it very cautiously, in
case it was a bomb. But when we say the Boys Scout logo, we knew it was safe to retrieve it.” The race committee kept custody of the capsule until the Alabama scouts arrived a couple of hours later. When scouts opened the capsule, they were able to confirm that about an hour of the flight had been documented. The camera on the side of the box captured the sunrise in Alabama as the capsule made its way upward and eastward on the prevailing winds aloft. Most of the scouts had never been to Lake Lanier before, so race officials shuttled them out to the club’s race committee barge where they watched the next races up close. A couple of the kids said it made them want to learn how to sail. “We got to help blow the horns for the starts and finishes of the races,” Case said. The scouts spent several hours at the sailing club after the race, sharing cake with club members and visiting with race committee officials. “This was the best road trip ever in the history of Troop 320,” Case said. “And for a while we were a big thing in Bremen.” Reddaway summed up the day. “You may have been a big thing in Bremen,” she said, “but you guys were a really big thing today in Flowery Branch.” The troop leadership is working to post some of the video in the coming months.
December 2013
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HOLIDAY MARINA Visit us at www.HolidayLakeLanier.com
Home of the Westrec Advantage Program Our one of a kind program offering discounts on fuel, Ship’s Store purchases, Lake Lanier Islands, dining and much more! Call to find out more about this exclusive program designed just for you!
6900 Lanier Islands Parkway • Buford, GA 30518 • 770-945-7201
Closest Marina to Lake Lanier Islands and Sunset Cove
46 LAKESIDE
December 2013
Lake Lanier Marinas Info AQUALAND MARINA Hours of operation: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week Phone: 770-967-6811 Website: www.aqualandmarina.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 Store: Yes Store/Dock hours: Dock open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 6 days a week; Sun., noon to 5 p.m. Types of fuel: Non-ethanol, 90 octane Price of fuel: (as of 11/22/13) $4.99 On-site eatery: Dockside Grill Take-out menu: Sandwiches Restaurant description: Casual Menu: Famous “Docker Burger,” sandwiches, salads & seafood grilled & fried. Phone: 770-363-2318 Security: 24/7, gated Additional amenities: Self service work yard with deep draft well & marine travel lift, houseboat launching ramp, pump-out station, bathhouses with showers, laundry facilities, wet slips with private gated parking. Sales of new boats by Coast to Coast Yacht Sales, brokerage services by Marine Max, rental boats & cabins by Lanier Aqua Rentals. AQUAMARINA LAZY DAYS Hours of operation: : Office/Dock, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week Phone: 770-945-1991 Website: www.lazydaysmarina.com Location: 6700 Holiday Rd, Buford Types of slips available: Wet docks for 75-150 foot covered & 100-foot open slips; 554 dry stack; New 125' x 24' & 150 x 26' HB slips now available. Types of fuel: 90 Non-ethonol and ValvTect diesel marine fuel Price of fuel: (as of 11/22/13) $4.99 premium; $4.39 diesel Security: Holiday Marina security patrols marina Full Maintenance, Repair and Service: Marine Max, 770-614-6968 Additional amenities: Free pump/porti-potti station for members. Wet slips: private gated access, golf cart valet service, free dockside pumpout. New gas dock easy access for houseboats. New courtesy docks for dry stack customers. Boat sales: Marine Max. BALD RIDGE MARINA Hours of operation: Office, Mon-Fri, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., marina has 24/7 access. Phone: 770-887-5309 Website: www.baldridgemarina.com Location: 1850 Bald Ridge Marina Rd., Cumming Types of slips available: Covered & uncovered. Store: Sandwich shop; some boating supplies Store hours: Seasonal Types of fuel: 90 Non-ethanol; diesel Price of fuel: (as of 11/22/13) $4.99; $4.59 diesel (Dock open 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon., Wed. & Fri.; 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. & Sun.; Closed Tues. & Thurs.) On-site eatery: Dockside Sandwich Company Eatery hours: 11-6 M-F and 10-6 Sat/Sun - Seasonal Menu: Grilled & cold sandwiches, snack foods, drinks Restaurant description: Casual Phone: 770-889-5177 Security: 24/7 security, gated
Additional amenities: Full-service department, parts department, boat body work, yacht repair & Marine Max Stovall sales dock. Boating supplies/commissary/dry goods/retail clothing items. GAINESVILLE MARINA Hours of operation: Office, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week Phone: 770-536-2171 Website: www.gainesvillemarina.com Location: 2145 Dawsonville Hwy., Gainesville Types of slips available: 600 slips, dry stack covered up to 25', wet covered & uncovered up to 80'. Types of fuel: 90 recreational, non-ethanol Price of fuel: (as of 11/22/13) $4.89 (Dock open 9 a.m.5 p.m., 7 days a week; Pay-at-the-Pump, 9 a.m.- ‘til dusk) On-site eatery: Skogies Menu: Barbecue, seafood and American fare. Phone: 678-450-1310 Security: 7 days a week Additional amenities: Parts department, land service shop, recreational room, bath house, pumpout station. Sales of new, used and brokerage boats. Bennington Pontoon Boats, Four Winns Deck/Sport Boats and Yamaha Outboards. HABERSHAM MARINA Hours of operation: Office/Store, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week Phone: 770-887-5432 Website: www.habershammarina.com Location: 2200 Habersham Marina Rd., Cumming Types of slips available: 650 slips for dry storage up to 27’ Store: Yes Types of fuel: 90 Recreational fuel, non-ethanol Price of fuel: (as of 11/22/13) $ 4.68 (Dock open 9 a.m.5 p.m., 7 days a week) Security: Yes Additional amenities: Repair services, detailing and bottom cleaning. Also bathroom and shower facilities are available. HIDEAWAY BAY MARINA Hours of operation: Office: 8:30 a.m5:30 p.m., 7 days; Marina: 24/7 Phone: 770-967-5500 Website: www.hideawaybaymarina.com Location: 6334 Mitchell St., Flowery Branch Types of slips available: Wet (510) Dry (150) Showroom: Atlanta Marine Store/Gas Dock hours: 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., 7 days a week Types of Fuel: 90 octane, non-ethanol Price of fuel: (as of 11/22/13) $4.58 On-site eatery: Fish Tales Security: 24/7 manned security Additional amenities: Restaurant-Seasonal, complete boat/motor repair, new bathhouse w/ locked showers and AC, laundry, pump out, trailer storage. HOLIDAY MARINA Hours of operation:Office/Store/Dock, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week Phone: 770-945-7201 Website: www.holidaylakelanier.com Location: 6900 Holiday Rd., Buford Types of slips available: 22-100' Uncovered including 80,
90, and 100' Breakwater Slips; 26-85' Covered Slips totalling 1238 Slips Store: Yes; Convenience items and basic boating supplies. Types of fuel: Premium, unleaded & diesel, non-ethanol Price of fuel: (as of 11/22/13): $4.99 premium; $4.99 unleaded; $4.49 diesel (5 percent discount with Westrec advantage membership) On-site eatery: Castaways Seafood Bar & Grill Menu: Fish, chicken and burger baskets Phone: 678 765-0424 Security: 24/7 Additional amenities: Boat rentals, repair service, pumpout station, boat sales, TowBoat US LANIER HARBOR MARINA Hours of operation: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days; Gas dock: 24 hours. Phone: 770-945-2884 Website: www.lanierharbor.com Location: 2066 Pinetree Dr., Buford Types of slips available: 40’x16’ & 50’x18’, with power, water, satellite hook-up Store: Yes Store hours: 24/7 gas dock & store Types of fuel: 89 octane, 93 octane Price of fuel: (as of 11/22/13) $4.89 mid-grade, $4.99 premium, with 10 cents off a gallon, both mid-grade and premium, for Boat US members. Security: 24/7 Additional amenities: 24/7 towing service PORT ROYALE MARINA Hours of operation: Office, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week Phone: 770-887-5715 Website: www.bestinboating.com/port_royale Location: 9200 Lan Mar Rd., Gainesville Types of slips available: Uncovered, 20' to 80'; covered, 24' to 80' totaling 514 slips & dry stack storage (470) for up to 39'. Store/Dock hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week Store: Service Store & Ship Store Types of fuel: 90-octane Price of fuel: (as of 11/22/13) $4.84 On-site eatery: Pelican Pete's Bar and Grill Security: Night security Additional amenities: Climate controlled bath house with showers, 24/7 self-service pump out, rental boats, Courtesy dock for dry stack, two ship stores, full-service center, largest floating gas dock in Ga., 16 gas pumps. SUNRISE COVE MARINA Hours of operation: Office/Store/Dock, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Wed.-Mon.; Closed Tues. Phone: 770-536-8599 Website: www.sunrisecovermarina.com Location: 5725 Flat Creek Rd., Gainesville Types of slips available: Uncovered-20-70'; Covered24-50'; to include an exclusive 44' Sailboat Breakwater Dock. Total Wet Slips 688 and nine (9) Dry Storage Spaces (boats on trailer). Store: Yes Types of fuel: 90 recreational, non-ethanol Price of fuel: (as of 11/22/13) $4.95 with 5 percent off with Westrec Advantage Membership Security: 24/7 Additional amenities: Club House, bath house, laundry facility and pump-out open 24/7.
December 2013
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Classic mid-century modern, this property is one of a kind. Situated on 2.15 acres with unobstructed views over open water and 164 feet of lake frontage, it is located in the desirable country club area of Gainesville, two minutes from Chattahoochee Golf Course. The large 4-side brick home features 4 bedrooms, 4 full baths and a terrace level in-law suite with full kitchen.Water views from most rooms. Driveway down to rare enclosed single slip dock. Great home for entertaining. Storage galore! Spectacular sunsets add an additional WOW factor. $1,490,000 See video & complete photos at www.2445ClubDrive.com
Join Us For The
17th Annual Polar Bear Swim January 1, 2014 • Noon Lake Lanier Olympic Venue Boathouse 3105 Clarks Bridge Road • Gainesville, GA $25 Individuals • $50 Family of Four • No pre-registration required
Benefitting the Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club
For more information: www.lckc.org or 770-287-7888
48 LAKESIDE
December 2013
Lakeside’s Dining Guide Lakeview Dining Big Creek Tavern – Lunch, dinner and breakfast at 11:30 a.m. on Sundays. Open year around. Featuring the “Best” Angus Beef, a step up from old-fashioned American food. Billiards, video games, beer, wine, liquor. Buford. B-3, 678-482-1662. Bullfrogs Bar & Grille – Located at Legacy Lodge & Conference Center at Lake Lanier Islands Resort. Open for lunch and dinner daily. Dine poolside or indoors. Selections include salads, sandwiches, entrees, desserts and a variety of drink options from full-service bar. Guests may arrive by boat or car. Buford. B-3, 770-945-8787. Castaways – Holiday Marina. Offering fish, chicken and burger baskets; hand-cut potato chips with special toppings; casual dining. Full bar service, tropical and frozen drinks. Call for hours. C-3 678 765-0424. Seasonal. Dockside Grill Café – Offering full lake views of Lanier in a casual outdoor café setting. Featuring the famous Docker burger, sandwiches including grouper, tuna and mahi. Call for operating hours. Aqualand Marina, Flowery Branch. C-3, 770-363-2318. Dockside Sandwich Company – Offering sandwiches, lahvosh, salads, chips and snacks. Baldridge Marina, Cumming. Seasonal. 770889-2185. Fish Tales Lakeside Grille – Casual lakeside dining featuring grouper fingers, signature salads and much more. Full service indoor and outdoor bar with live music. Open Thur-Sun, 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Hideaway Bay Marina. C-3, 770-967-3775. Pelican Pete’s – Picturesque dining right on the water at Port Royale in an open-air thatchedroof building. Selection of sandwiches, burgers, fish and more. Call for hours. B-2, 770-887-5715 ext 5. Pier 29 – Located on Lake Lanier at lake marker 29 opposite Browns Bridge. Family friendly restaurant with a separate bar and dining patio with live music. Dockside delivery available at restaurant’s courtesy dock as well as delivery to Port Royal Marina. Cumming. www.pier29onlanier.com, 770-781-2242. Skogies – Made from scratch seafood, BBQ and American fare with a great view served in a laid back pet friendly environment. We serve the best breakfast on Lake Lanier! Menu items include eggs benedict served five ways, Omelettes, shrimp & grits, cathead biscuits & gravy, breakfast sandwiches & more. Call from your boat & they will pick you up. Winter hours: Wed /Thurs11 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri 11 a.m.9 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sun 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. C-1 678 450-1310; www.skogies.net. Sunset Cove Beach Club – An open-air eatery on a quiet stretch of beach near Chattahoochee Rapids at Lake Lanier Islands Resort. Open for lunch and dinner. Views of the lake during the day or dine under the stars in the glow of firelight from the fireplace. Come by car or by boat. Also at Sunset Cove, Dog and Draft features 12 beers on draft, plus hot dogs, brats and sausage in pretzel buns. Fire and Ice kiosk offers smoked barbecue and burgers. On the waterpark side, Gianni’s Italian Bistro serves pizza, subs and pasta. By water, Sunset Cove is between buoys 7SC and 5SC. www.lakelanierislands.com. Buford. B-3, 770-945-8787. Windows Restaurant – Located at Legacy Lodge & Conference Center at Lake Lanier Islands Resort and overlooks Lake Lanier. Provides breakfast buffet and menu options daily,
and special dining events every Saturday night throughout the season. Guests may arrive by boat or car. Buford. B-3, www.lakelanierislands.com, 770-945-8787. American Antebellum – Southern contemporary cuisine including fried catfish with pimento dumplings, grilled wild salmon, thyme roasted pork chop, ribeye with buttermilk mashed potatoes and more. Weekend brunch features biscuits and gravy, ham steak and eggs, buttermilk pancakes, shrimp and grits, and more. Downtown Flowery Branch, C-3, 770-965-8100. www.antebellumrestaurant.com. Austin’s Steak and Seafood – Specialties include seafood, premium aged steaks and chops, baby-back ribs, chicken and pasta. Open daily, lunch and dinner. Full bar. Cumming. A-3, 770844-0902. Braise – Open for lunch and dinner, Tues.-Sun. Also features fried green tomatoes, BBQ shrimp, oyster po’boys, braised short ribs and pot roast. Dessert for two features apple cobbler and brownie a la mode. Comfort food redefined. Live weekly entertainment downstairs at Coo-Coo’s Nest with an extended bar menu and drink specials. Located at 1920 Freedom Pkwy., just off Ga. Hwy. 400. A-3, Cumming, 678-456-8932. Branch House Tavern - The ultimate sports restaurant in Hall County offers a selection of hamburgers, wings, hearty salads, southwestern grill fare, and a huge selection of appetizers and desserts. Big screen sports action on 50 HD TVs, and live entertainment. Also featuring a full bar and dancing all night long. 678-8288345 5466 McEver Rd. C-3 Flowery Branch, GA. 30542. Take Out Available Coastal Breeze Seafood Grill – Offering seafood, steaks, ribs, oysters on the half shell, salads, burgers and more. Lunch and dinner, full bar. Sun.-Thur 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Fri-Sat 11 a.m.-midnight. 5390 Lanier Island Parkway. C-3, www.coastalbreezega.com, 770-945-9181. Collegiate – Old-fashioned hamburgers, hot dogs and milk shakes served in 1940s setting. Gainesville. C-2, 678-989-2280. Foster House – Lunch and dinner served family-style featuring casual dining at lunch and fine dining in evening. Lunch served 11 a.m.2:30 p.m., Mon.-Fri. Dinner served 5-8:30 p.m., Thurs.; 5-9:30 p.m., Fri./Sat. Cumming. A-3, 770-887-9905. Norman’s Landing – Specializing in fresh seafood, hand-cut steaks, Canadian baby-back ribs with Kansas City barbecue sauce. Cumming. Casual. A-3, 770-886-0100. Silver Bay Seafood – Specializing in seafood dishes like fried grouper, snapper, baby shrimp, oysters, scallops, broiled swordfish, mahi, and much more. Located at 2415 Browns Bridge Rd., Gainesville, C-2. 678 450-4900. Two Dog Café – Classic small town diner with an emphasis on fresh food and fast service for lunch and dinner. Located at 317 Spring St. Gainesville. C-2, 770-287-8384. Wild Wing Café – Offers casual dining, live music, special Monday Trivia Night and 2 Fer Tuesday nights (buy a dozen, get a dozen wings free). Located at 311 Jesse Jewell Pkwy., Gainesville. C-2, 770-536-9177. Yahoola Creek Grill – Features Southern-inspired, made-from-scratch cooking from our outdoor deck, cozy dining room and loft. Full beer and wine list. Open for lunch and dinner, Wed.-Sat. Open for brunch and supper on Sunday. Closed Mon./Tues. Located on S. Chesta-
tee St., Dahlonega. 706-482-2200; www.yahoolacreekgrill.com.
Brunswick stew, ribs. Minutes from Lake Lanier. Casual. Buford. B-3, 770-945-3431.
Continental/Fine Dining Adam’s – American Mediterranean cuisine including Rack of Lamb, Calf’s Liver Anglaise, Mediterranean Chicken Penne, Oysters Rockefeller and Seafood Pastilla Rolls. Full bar. Dinner Mon.-Sat., 5-10:30 p.m. Located at 15 East Main St., Buford. B-3, 678 754-0379. Aqua Terra Bistro – European fusion cuisine served daily. Open for lunch, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Mon.-Fri.; noon-2:30 p.m., Sat.; dinner hours are 5-10 p.m., Mon.-Sun. Located on Buford’s historic Main Street. No reservations. B3, 770-271-3000. Blue Bicycle – a bistro touting “great food in a place not to feel rushed.” Open for lunch Thurs./Fri.; open for dinner Tues.-Sat. Reservations are suggested. Located at 671 Lumpkin Campground Road, behind the Outlet Mall on GA. Hwy. 400. Dawsonville, B-1. 706-2652153. Corkscrew Café – Fine dining featuring varied menu choices, open lunch and dinner. Hours: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Tues.-Thurs.; 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri./Sat.; noon-9 p.m., Sun. Reservations suggested. Located on 51 West Main St., Dahlonega. 706-867-8551. Luna’s – Continental cuisine, romantic atmosphere. Gainesville. C-2, 770-531-0848. Oar House in Dahlonega – Specialties: handcut steaks, seafood dishes and homemade desserts, “everything homemade from the bread to the pickles.” Located Hwy 52E, 4 miles east of Dahlonega. D-1. Reservations suggested. 706-864-9983. Poor Richard’s – Specializing in Prime Rib, steaks, ribs and fresh seafood. Casual dining, dinner only. Full-service bar. Gainesville. C-1, 770-532-0499. Scott’s Downtown – Upscale casual ambience with specialty sandwiches for lunch and gourmet entrees for dinner. Gainesville. C-2. 770536-1111.
Deli Common Grounds Coffee Shoppe – Light breakfast, lunch and dinner and desserts followed by fresh roasted coffee. Flowery Branch. C-3, 770-967-4080.
Barbecue/Country/Home Cooking Johnny’s BBQ – Real Pit BBQ pork, chicken & ribs. Brunswick stew. Minutes from Clark’s Bridge rowing venue. Gainesville. Casual. D1, 770-536-2100. Old McDonald’s BBQ – Real Pit BBQ,
Italian Dominick’s Italian Restaurant – Features cuisine from the north of Italy, with veal, chicken and seafood dishes. Favorites include chicken saltimbocca and garlic bread appetizer. Halfprice bottles of wine on Monday nights, halfprice appetizers from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and endless pasta and salad on Wednesdays. Dominick’s is open Monday thru Sunday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for lunch and dinner from 59:30 p.m. Located at the corner of Buford Hwy. and Hamilton Mill Rd in the Buford Village Shopping Center., Buford. B-3, 770-614-0019. Piazza – Features traditional Italian dishes, homemade raviolis, pizza, chicken, veal and seafood specialities. Open 7 days a week: 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun.-Thurs.; 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri./Sat. Located on 24 East Main St., Dahlonega. B-1. 706-867-9881. Vinny’s New York Pizza & Italian Grill – New York-style pizzeria known for generous portions and reasonable pricing. Specialties include Philly Chicken and Cheese sub, New York Pizza, Chicken Caesar Salad, Sausage & Pepper plate, baked pasta and Lasagna. Desserts include Cannoli, Tiramisu, Italian Funnel Cakes or cheesecake. Wine and beer available. Hours: Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sat., noon-10 p.m.; Sun, 5-10 p.m. Located at 4977 Lanier Island Pkwy, Buford. C-4, 678482-9966. Mexican La Cazuela – An Atlanta area landmark that’s expanded to two locations around Lanier. Features fajitas, selection of combination platters and more. Cumming, 678-947-0718, Buford, 770-614-6871. Oriental Little Tokyo – Japanese dining - hibachi grill, sushi. Dine in, take out. Open Tues.-Fri., 10:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., noon-10 p.m.; Closed Mon. Buford. B-4, 770-945-3350.
December 2013
LAKESIDE 49
Hot-pink Crazy Chicken nets another world championship By Pamela A. Keene After taking a year off from super boat racing, Dee Early and his Crazy Chicken offshore race team raked in another World Championship last month. Early and his new throttleman Tony Silveira of Baltimore topped the charts in their hot-pink P4-22 super performance bullet at the event in Key West. It was the fourth World Championship for Early, who began racing 13 years ago, who has also netted a national championship. The last time he took worlds was in 2008. Crazy Chicken, an extreme
hull 30-foot boat came out of the gate hot pink this year, in tribute to the team’s new sponsor – InTone by InControl Medical. “It was really rough on the boat this year,” Early said. “There were 5- and 6-foot waves and it was like going over speed bump after speed bump. We’re restricted to a top speed of 80 miles per hour – it keeps the playing field level – and the field was hotly contested. It was anybody’s race to win on Sunday.” The team clinched the title by crossing the finish line 17 seconds ahead of the next boat. When Early’s not racing, he’s
harbormaster at Lake Lanier Islands Resort. He got into racing when he bought a houseboat at Holiday Marina near another racer. “Bob Mazikowski has been a real mentor to me,” Early said. “He got me started and taught me everything I know, especially how to drive in rough water.” Early’s already making plans for the 2014 season, which will include eight races around the country. Dee Early, right, and Tony Silveria pose with their trophy. The Crazy Chicken, below, in action!
• Glades
Continued from page 40 growth through the year 2060. According to officials with the Governor’s Water Supply Program, the state is now shifting state direct investment to focus on two strategic objectives: acquiring storage in strategically located reservoirs to augment flow in key river basins and developing pilot projects that address the state’s
most challenging water supply issues, such as alternate water storage in the Flint River basin or coastal saltwater intrusion. The Glades Reservoir Project is one of four water supply projects across the state to receive the award from the Governor's Water Supply Program during its second round of funding.
RENT TO OWN NO CREDIT CHECK!
Graceland Portable Buildings • 678-989-9882 3536 Atlanta Hwy • Flowery Branch, GA 30542
50 LAKESIDE
December 2013
Seeing America’s oldest city in a new way
The first streaking light beams of sunrise illuminate the beautiful panorama of America’s oldest city, St. Augustine. It has always been and still is one of the favorite places for many Georgians to visit, but unique changes have made it even better! One of the most notable is the complete, modern restoration of the old Bridge of Lions going to the lighthouse and beach. In the past, it would have taken nearly a half hour to let a boat through the harbor area, but the state-of-the-art drawbridge now opens and closes in less than 10 minutes. Thank goodness some things never change, and one of those is the immaculate St. Francis Inn Bed and Breakfast, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and less than a block from the certified “Oldest House in St. Augustine.” The St. Frances is certainly the oldest inn in the city and the structure dates back to 1791 when it was built as the home place of Spanish soldier, Gaspar Garcia. Though the building had quite a few owners, it wasn’t until 1845 that the house was converted into a lodging place. For nearly 30 years, the St. Frances Inn has been owned and operated by the Finnegan family and is always considered one of the finest B&Bs in the nation. It is located at the juncture of two narrow, ancient brick streets ... St. Frances and St. George and boasts a cozy tree-shrouded garden courtyard just inside the entrance gate. Visitors find a plethora of collectable items, great service, quaint rooms, gourmet breakfasts, and even a famous ghost at the inn.
Bill Vanderford Travel Editor
MORE INFO: 770-289-1543 JFish51@aol.com www.fishinglanier.com A room on the third floor has become known as “Lily’s Room” because of many strange happenings associated with it over the years. The story goes that a young nephew of the owner in the 19th century fell in love with a servant girl who worked at the inn. One day when the lovers were discovered by the uncle, he dismissed the girl and forbade the boy from ever seeing her again, so the young man committed suicide. According to many former guests and staff members, Lily has been seen in the room, around the inn or passing in the hallway dressed in white ... apparently looking for her lover. More about Lily and the inn is available on their website: www.stfrancisinn.com. Tasting the marvelous creations of French Chef Jean Stephane Poinard at the Bistro de Leon (www.Bistrodeleon.com) was the highlight of my first day in St. Augustine. His culinary invention of a thin-crusted brioche, which he labeled the iBun and filled with pulled pork, is mouthwatering. This magical iBun has the capability of keeping any filling warm for more than two hours, and unlike wraps or other
PHOTOS BY BILL VANDERFORD
Interaction at the Colonial Quarter, above. The pedistrian part of St. George Street, left.
PHOTOS BY BILL VANDERFORD
The Castillo de Marcos Fort, above. Morning sunburst over the water.
types of buns, it is never messy to eat. No matter what filling is used, the brioche part of the iBun tantalizes your taste buds. One of the most recent additions to St. Augustine is the Colonial Quarter which consists of two acres sandwiched between the main street across from the old fort and the pedestrian only part of St. George Street. This exhibit gives the whole family a fun, hands-on glimpse of St. Augustine’s history from a Spanish settlement of the 16th century through the time of the British during the 18th century. It also includes a tower that allows anyone to climb up to get the best view of the harbor and the Castillo de San Marcos fort. I found that one of the best parts inside Colonial Quarter complex is the Spanish tavern called Taberna del Caballo as a lunch stop. If the weather is great, sampling their Cuban sandwich, tapas and flatbreads with an interesting assortment of fillings is the perfect culinary break during a busy day of touring. For more information, check their website: www.colonialquarter.com. An evening spent tasting a variety of the best Irish whiskey in St. Augustine with the owner of the relatively new Meehan’s Irish Pub and Seafood House (www.meehansirishpub.com) forced me to hang onto a friend while walking back to the St. Frances Inn. Nevertheless, the beverages were outstanding, the atmosphere was entertaining, and the seafood and real Irish dishes were superb. Almost across the street from
the famous Flagler College is a unique place that has pictures all over the walls of people with strange facial expressions. These victims have all earned their 15 minutes of fame at the Hot Shot Bakery and Cafe (www.hotshotbakery.com) by biting into one of Chef Sherry Stoppelbein’s chocolate-dipped datil peppers. These mild-looking little peppers will burn your mouth like you had sipped gasoline and lit a match! However, I found that hot tea with lots of sugar would bring your mouth and taste buds back to life enough to savor Sherry’s famous pumpkin/pecan waffles with syrup for breakfast. On the historic side of eating places in St. Augustine is the world-renowned O.C. White’s Restaurant (www.ocwhitesrestaurant.com) that began in 1790. It boasts both inside and outside dining from a fabulous seafood menu with live entertainment along the waterfront. An excellent way to have an eclectic taste of many local eateries is to take a food and wine tasting tour with St. Augustine City Walks (www.staugustinecitywalks.com). Cost is quite reasonable and allows sampling of chef’s specials at several restaurants over a couple of hours dur-
For more photos, visit www.lakesidenews.com/vanderfords-travel-column
ing the middle of the day. For the most part, you will find that the historic section of St. Augustine is a very small town that is easily covered on foot. Just to learn your way around when you first arrive, I would suggest taking the Old Town Trolley Tour (www.historictours.com) or a more personal trip in a stately car with the St. Augustine Vintage Car Tours (www.staugustinevintagecartours.com). Few places in the Americas command the historical respect and significance of St. Augustine. Its narrow, brick streets, ancient buildings, and Mediterranean atmosphere appear much as they did during the 17th century. Because of this construction, most of the building boom in Florida bypassed St. Augustine and allowed a thoughtful restoration program to proceed. The result is a historical showcase of old and new that draws vacationers from all over the globe. For Americans, St. Augustine is one of those special places that must be seen and experienced at least once in a lifetime! 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.
December 2013
• Burns Continued from Page 22 Center is for equal chances for above or below average temperatures. That being said, the CPC is predicting above average temperatures from Alabama westward through the desert Southwest. Being in such close proximity to the warmer than average temperature prediction, I would think we are going to have temperatures near normal to slightly above normal. The forecast for precipitation is for below average precipitation from December through February. Glenn Burns is chief meteorologist for WSB-TV in Atlanta.
LAKESIDE 51
Corps says ‘Thanks’ with appreciation luncheon By Jane Harrison Public safety workers and volunteers from five counties surrounding Lake Lanier dined lakeside at Buford Dam Park in the annual Partners in Public Service Appreciation Luncheon put on by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nov. 14. The event drew about 250 attendees for the barbecue lunch and music on a sparkling fall day. “We lucked out” with the weather, said Nick Baggett, Natural Resource Manager for Lake Lanier. The event, held last year in October, was postponed due to the federal government shutdown. The luncheon expressed the Corps’ appreciation “to all the people that make Lake Lanier
Corps continues enforcement of timber trespass, tree removal Did you know that it is illegal to remove trees from public lands surrounding Lake Lanier? It’s just like going on your neighbor’s property and cutting down trees. The US Army Corps of Engineers is continuing its dedicated program to enforce timber trespass on public lands to protect the shoreline. In some cases, selected trees have been removed from Corps property. In others, the land has been clear cut. And while it may be difficult to determine exactly how many and what types of trees have been removed, the US Army Corps of Engineers South Atlantic District has retained the services of an attorney to assist in resolving these situations. When it is obvious that trees have been removed from Corps’ property, rangers will come out and talk with the homeowners adjacent to the public lands. The Corps will make every effort to determine when the trees were removed and who was responsible for removing them before taking any action. Fines and replanting The penalty for removing trees from public lands can be a combination of fines and a requirement to replace trees as much as a two-to-one ratio, depending on the size of the trees that were removed. If there is a dock permit associated with the property, the permit will be tagged noting the encroachment and may also be voided. If it is voided, all dock facilities will be required to be removed.
Ernest Noe US Army Corps of Engineers
MORE INFO: 770-945-9531 www.sam.usace.army.mil/ Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/ LakeSidneyLanier.aspx
The standard for replacement is 2-inch caliper for overstory trees and a one-inch caliper for understory trees. The Corps requires the use of native trees, available at area nurseries. The Corps can provide a list of the acceptable tree species. As part of the enforcement process, the Corps provides a replanting plan for property owners which includes the number, size and types of trees that must be planted on the public land. There are several reasons for continuing to have trees on Corps’ property. They establish and maintain natural habitat for wildlife; they help reduce soil erosion; and they keep the shoreline natural to reduce the noise levels. Lake Lanier has a very limited natural environment on its shorelines and the Corps is working hard to maintain and protect what is there. For more information about the timber trespass program, contact the Lake Lanier Shoreline Help desk at 770-945-9531.
work,” said Lanier Operations Project Manager Tim Rainey. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, Coast Guard Auxiliary members, and representatives from boating and safety organizations were among those attending. Six-year volunteers Carolyn and Bruce Zimmerle lunched with a group from the Volunteer Village who serve about 20 hours a week doing various tasks assigned by the Corps. “We’re not ready to sit down and do nothing,” said Carolyn Zimmerle, who assists in the Corps office. The couple keeps a home in Florida, but like others in the Volunteer Village, dwells in a RV camper while helping out on Lake Lanier. Corps rangers dished up the
PHOTO BY JANE HARRISON
About 250 people attended the Public Service Appreciation Luncheon hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Buford Dam Park.
barbecue plates, provided by Sonny’s Barbecue, while local singer/guitarist Brian Jarrett played country rock tunes. The event was sponsored by the
Gwinnett, Dawson, Cumming/Forsyth chambers of commerce, Lake Lanier Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, and the Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron.
It’s almost the ‘real thing’ Outbound from Norfolk, VA near Thimble Shoal on a 378’ Hamilton Class Coast Guard Cutter. The sun was nearing twilight, setting to the west with a clear night approaching, winds out of the NE producing moderate swells indicating an even larger sea outside the channel in the Atlantic. On this voyage I was assigned the duties as pilot and navigator, along with my navigation crew to safely transit to open sea. Off in the distance near green buoy #19 marking the turn at Thimble Shoals I could clearly see a very large and loaded container ship, the M.V. Vermass, slightly to the right, inbound. Our situation would be meeting, passing port to port, both vessels keeping to the appropriate side of the channel, a standard maneuver required by the Rules of the Road. Observing my Electronic Charting Display Information System (ECDIS), the new requirement of the international maritime law for commercial vessels, there was a possibility of passing this monster right in the middle of a turn which is not good seamanship and extremely dangerous. Backing off the throttle, I slowed my ship to five knots, making her above bare steerageway and able to quickly apply power to maneuver when needed. As the distance between our ships swiftly diminished, the anticipated bearing drift to the left indicating a safe passage, did not appear, and the Vermass was now showing Not Under Command lights. Instead, a steady bearing and now rapidly decreas-
riod of time that will never be forgotten. Steve No news channels will cover Johnson this story, nor will the USCG investigate as this was all made Boating possible with virtual reality proSafety duced in an advanced high tech simulator. Sea School Mobile (www.seaschool.com) has just completed installation of the latest technology for navigation sim MORE INFO: ulation VSTEP Nautis stevejohnson@navteach.com (www.nautissim.com) and will be offering training assessments to ing range was developing exmariners. tremis and eventually collision Every detailed aspect of the without immediate action! My vessels, the weather, time of day, first order to the helm was come type of ship or boat, body of hard about to starboard and ahead water, navigation electronics, full on the port engine and all charting, and other important sysback full on the starboard. That tems can be controlled and would produce a twisting to the recorded for training and assessright motion and reduce the broad ment. This is the educational conangle of impact. Seconds felt like nection critically needed to an eternity as the enormous uncontrolled ship neared our vessel, master the skill by adding emotions and creating the need for collision imminent, bracing for quick response. Total immersion impact. The view from the large windows of my navigation bridge enabled the feeling of actually being there and added the compowere totally filled with a black nent of evaluation to correct any and rusty mass of the Vermass hull and I suddenly heard a scrap- problems. What would you do if ing noise, not the anticipated hard faced with an emergency situation jolt and sound of crunching steel. while underway that required an The cutter had twisted around, the immediate decision and action? There are only two ways to find very pointed end of the bow barely touching the still fast mov- out and I am confident everyone ing container ship. Quick inspec- that enjoys boating would much prefer the simulation to the incition of all the controls and dent. Contact me for more inforengines of my ship were permation on how virtual reality formed and we then came about simulation can greatly improve to provide rescue and aid to the boating safety. It’s almost the real stricken container vessel, now thing. grounded outside the channel. Steve Johnson, US Coast Exhausted and emotionally Guard (ret). is with CPO Johndrained, and the whole evolution son, Inc. only lasted 25 minutes, a brief pe-
52 LAKESIDE
December 2013
EXIT 17 EXIT 16
General U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ........770 945-9531 Water Release Schedules................770 945-1466 Recreation/Water level Info .............770 945-1467 DNR, Law Enforcement Division .....800 241-4113 Lake Lanier Association Inc. ...........770 503-7757 Boating Safety Courses US Coast Guard Aux. Flotilla 29 ......770 891-6362 Atlanta Sail & Power Squadron .......770 734-6412 Marinas 1. Aqualand...................................770 967-6811 2. Bald Ridge ................................770 887-5309 3. Gainesville ................................770 536-2171 4. Habersham ...............................770 887-5432 5. Holiday .....................................770 945-7201 6. Port Royale...............................770 887-5715 7. Lanier Harbor............................770 945-2884 8. Aquamarina Lazy Days .............770 945-1991 9. Hideaway Bay ...........................770 967-5500 10. Sunrise Cove ............................770 536-8599
December 2013
LAKESIDE 53
REPRESENTING BUYERS AND SELLERS IN ALL 5 LAKE LANIER COUNTIES CALL US TO BUY OR SELL ON LAKE LANIER!
www.georgiahomegroup.com SUSAN MOSS 770-654-6661 Cell • 770-718-5217 Office susan@georgiahomegroup.com
NORMAN MOOLENAAR 770-539-1994 Cell • 770-718-5226 Office nmoolenaar@nortonnorthga.com
770 536-1250
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THE ATLANTA BOAT SHOW WORLD CONGRESS CENTER
JANUARY 9-12, 2014 BOOTH 203 RECEIVE THE LATEST LAKE REPORT! View...View...and More View! Situated so close to water’s edge, this 3BR/2BA cozy “turn key” cottage offers, up close, awesome water views; deep water access; cov dock w/party deck, boat lift & electricity; detached 2 car garage; wrap around deck; vaulted great room w/skylight and home furnishings. Start enjoying a genuine “lake themed’ cottage w/all the simple luxuries, needed necessities & many conveniences of a “priceless” Lake Lanier property. In Forsyth County close to GA. 400. FMLS#5208091
All Brick, 4BR,3.5BA, Classic Georgia Lake Lanier Home w/soft shaded views of lake & private cov dock in deep 'drought proof' south sailing waters! Open, spacious and bright interior features big windows, extensive wood trim, hrdwd flrs, trey ceilings, crown moldings, designer lighting, gourmet kitchen and finished terrace level that offers an optional in-law suite or studio. Dine or relax on the screened porch overlooking the lake. FMLS#5167892
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$499,9 A grand Lake Lanier, 4BR/3.5BA, home custom built & uniquely designed to attract the most discriminating lake buyer. Home features 3 levels of finished living & entertaining spaces. Spectacular wrap wall of windows overlooking big water views, garden areas & running pond w/waterfall and SS dock w/party deck in deep drought proof water that has stood the test of time! FMLS#5182999
Incredible 'buy' on Lake Lanier! Salt water pool, covered dock w/hoist & party deck on 1.9 acres. 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms (includes 2 master suites); 2 FP’s w/gas logs; granite counters in kitchen; formal dining room; den/office; wood decking overlooking pool and soft shaded trail to private dock in deep water. FMLS#5219484
Fixer Upper with Million Dollar Views!!! Home sits 3 steps to waters edge & dock! Desirable south lake location only 2 miles to Market Place shopping & dining. Cozy a-frame home, with oversized 2 car detached garage with attic storage. Offers 3 bedrooms & 2 baths over partial basement, rock fireplace & screened porch showcasing a surround big water view!
54 LAKESIDE
December 2013
Issuing a call out to all my supporters (restrictions apply) OK, so here is where I am on the whole column writing thing – I have finally run out of anything to say. (Please hold your applause until I have finished my entire written statement). I know that this will be a crushing blow to all six of you that count the days until the next masterpiece is published. Get over it. It’s a Humor Column for crying out loud, it’s not the end of Western Civilization (that happened long before hilarity was invented). In an effort to make this transition (read: my release from involuntary servitude and abject poverty) as painless for me as possible, I am opening the door to my generally ungrateful column groupies to submit my last column idea for me. There are, of course, rules to be followed. Nothing written on toilet paper will be considered unless the paper is 27 ply, or, carefully stuffed with $100 bills.
dogs with bladder problems; heart warming stories about cats born Phillip and raised without a brain, i.e., all Sartain of them; appetizer recipes using fresh goldfish and chipmunk dip, Break or both; any combination of hand from the creams, three way bulbs, or auLake thentic monocles; the mystical properties of gravel excavated from the side of the road or in a MORE INFO: Email: gully; or simultaneously ordering attypbs@mindspring.com a pizza while giving birth. All contestants must submit to Further, any idea that is psychological evaluations perdeemed by the Judge (Me) to be formed by two certified psycholofunnier than anything that the au- gists, and one uncertified thor, (Me again) has ever written, psychopath. And no, if you are a will be automatically disqualified. psychologist or psychopath, you Also, certain topics will be off cannot perform your own mental limits, and any use of same will exam, or dental exam, for that result in the transgressor being matter. forcibly removed to Alabama in The NSA has agreed to safe perpetuity (Meaning, for those of guard the results of all evaluations you who were lucky enough to for future use in the event that have escaped from law school, they can pin something on you FOREVER AND EVER). before you die. A sympathy card The following off limits topics will be provided gratis. include, but are not limited to: Tattoos are not required in heart warming tails of cute “toy” order to participate, but full body
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM LAKESIDE! L.E. Landscaping & Tree Removal, LLC BEFORE
tattoos are apparently welcome at the parlor where the Judge (Me) will announce the results. Urine and blood screens will not be required, but may be used in the event of a tie. And finally, in the event that I am able to come up with a worthy idea for a suitable column, and I somehow manage to pull together a satisfactory result before the draconian deadline, and assuming that said column is timely submitted and published, and payment received in unmarked bills, then all of the parts and subparts of these agreements are hereby rescinded.
Thus, and as it seems to be that I have, once again, silenced my detractors, and given that I knew you people would not be up to the task anyway, we will adjure. However, inasmuch as it appears that I am willing to stay, same is nonetheless contingent upon my fan base calling, en mass, the owner of this rag to make him apologize to me for this entire unnecessary upheaval. And just so that everyone knows, I was just making up that stuff about the chipmunk dip. Phillip Bond Sartain is a Gainesville, GA lawyer and freelance writer.
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December 2013
LAKESIDE 55
CLASSIFIEDS t ! ea as Gr Ide
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LONG SLEEVE LAKE LANIER MAP T-SHIRTS $19.99 LAKE LANIER MAP SWEATSHIRTS CREW $24.99 LAKE LANIER MAP HOODED SWEATSHIRTS $29.99 Available colors: NAVY/RED/SPORT GRAY Special Order Colors Are Available
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S HIPWRIGHT’S
DOCK MATERIAL
BOATS 1998 Hurricane 20 ft deck boat, 200 hp Yamaha Elec trolling motor tandem trailer $8300. Sea Doo 2000 new seat comes with powered dock side lift & trailer. $2700. Moving sale. Cumming 770-886-4143 2008 Crownline 180 w/Heritage trailer, 4.3L, Mercruiser (75 hrs), custom cover, Monster Tower w/ speakers, life jackets, skis, rope, tube, anchor, fenders included. $19,000. Lake ready. Call Derek, 720-280-8888.
Decking sale: Composite decking for docks. Half off store prices. Many sizes and colors available. Call AA Docks Supply, 678 8077777.
PROPELLERS Boat propellers, buy direct, from manufacturer, the best prices. Repairs also done. Propco Marine Propellers, 770 267-9425.
BUSINESS FOR SALE
BOAT LIFTS New and used boat and PWC lifts for sale. Call AA Dock Supply, 678 807-7777.
BOAT REBUILD/REPAIR Pontoon rebuild and repair. Boat Rot Doc Marine Services. Custom woodwork, vinyl & carpet flooring, interiors, wood deck repair. Canvas and cover repair available. Pick up, delivery avail. Call 678-227-8833.
DOCKS Electrical: Lake Lanier boat dock permits, renewals, electrical certification, Georgia licensed electrical contractor. Call 678-595-9669. Used boat docks. Check out our news page on our web site at www.amaysingdocks.com or call 678 450-4212.
Downsize? Want a career? Full training; lake based service business. Wood care and pressure washing. Well established since 1995. Call ONLY 7-8 p.m. Mon-Sat. $26k-$35k. Serious interest only. 770 844-6852.
HOUSES/PROPERTY Lake house for sale, 166 feet on water, no dock. 1.75 acres, 5BR/4.5 BA, stainless appliances, granite, master on main, jacuzzi, detached garage, two miles from mall. $283,500. 706 318-7565, 706 865-7134.
SERVICES Dock and deck cleaning, staining, metal painting. Since 1995. Lanier Pressure Washing, 770 368-2955.
LIST YOUR CLASSIFIED IN LAKESIDE ON LANIER: Only $15 per Month! Up to 20 words, then only 25 cents per word after that! Call 770-287-1444 or online at www.lakesidenews.com.
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2999 Beards Rd. off Holiday Road
Omega2009@bellsouth.net
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MEMBER
56 LAKESIDE
December 2013
PATSY BAILEY
Vice President/Partner
770 540-7752 www.patsybailey.com pbailey@nortonnorthga.com
Your premier agent for Lake Lanier’s finest properties
Merry Christmas
770 532-0022
434 Green Street Gainesville, GA 30501
May the Joy of Christmas fill your Heart with Love Charming Custom Rustic Craftsman Design
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