Lakeside On Lanier December 2022

Holiday Boat Light Parade

This year the Lake Lanier Holiday Boat Light Parade on Saturday, December 10 will once again raise funds for the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes. Page 8

Atlanta Boat Show returns

Georgia’s longest-running and biggest boating event re turns this January after a twoyear hiatus due to the pandemic. The 2023 Discover Boating Atlanta Boat Show runs January 12-15. Page 2

is published by Lanier Publishing, Inc.,

3292 Thompson Bridge Rd. #250, Gainesville, GA 30506 (770) 287-1444

Publisher/Editor

Alan Hope Production Susan Nish Susan Daniel Creative, Inc. Senior Writer Pamela A. Keene

Contributing writers

Jane Harrison, Millie Adcox

Columnists

Glenn Burns, Vinnie Mendes, Sara Bagwell, O’Neill Williams, Frank Taylor

Travel Editor Bill Vanderford

Lakeside is published monthly by Lanier Publishing, Inc. based in Gainesville, GA, with distribution in some 300 locations around Lake Lanier and other areas. Opinions expressed by contributing writers are not necessarily those of Lake side, its staff or its advertisers. Manuscripts and photographs sub mitted will be considered for publi cation. Lakeside cannot be held responsible for such materials in case of damage or loss.

Atlanta Boat Show back

Georgia’s longest-running and biggest boating event returns this January after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

The 2023 Discover Boating Atlanta Boat Show, in partnership with Progressive Insurance, opens at the Georgia World Congress Center January 12-15, providing a one-stop shop and winter boat ing oasis to discover the joys of being on the water.

As always, the show will fea ture hundreds of new boats and marine products for sale, plus a variety of boating activities and education, there’s nautical fun for all ages and experience levels.

Boating industry officials say

for 2023

more than 800,000 first-time boat buyers have taken to the water in the past two years and demand for boating has never been stronger.

Hours: Thursday through Fri day, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Georgia World Con gress Center, Hall C, 285 Andrew Young International Blvd. NW, Atlanta, Ga.

Tickets: $17 for adults; chil dren 12 and under are free. Buy tickets at www.atlantaboatshow.com.

More info: www.atlantaboat show.com.

PHOTO COURTESY NMMA

The Atlanta Boat Show returns from a two-year hiatus due to the pan demic.

TERESA SMITH Lake Lanier Specialist 770-654-4173 • teresasmith@kw.com MICHELE KAPLAN 678-677-5653 • michelekaplan@kw.com MACKENZIE SCOTT 678-925-2652 • mackenziescott@kw.com LISA MITCHELL 513-383-8926

Secret Cove Court, Flowery Branch

- Scott A.

Best value of the year

Nicely renovated lakefront home with a gentle path to the lake, seasonal view from kitchen and wrap-around deck, covered single slip dock on good water and move-inready. All on one level. Positioned sideways on the lot, the front door is on the left. A rocking chair front porch, large family room with vaulted ceiling, hardwood floors and a cozy fireplace that is open to the dining area, and updated kitchen. Large pantry and laundry room off the kitchen. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths. New sunroom with many windows. Large deck with an inviting fire pit. Some of the newer features include the roof, paint, smooth ceilings, driveway, trim, landscaping & more! Close to GA400 as well as all the restaurants/shopping/theaters/wineries in Dawsonville & Dahlonega. $550K

Darlene

As we approach the end of 2022, we pause and give a sincere THANK YOU to each and every one of our clients, customers and friends. We have enjoyed working with you and we thank you for your continued TRUST in us. We always APPRECIATE your client referrals! Your trust and referrals are the BEST GIFT we can ever receive. We wish everyone a joyous Christmas season and a New Year filled with good health and prosperity.

We will be publishing our Annual Lake Report in January and as always offer complementary Home Equity Reviews all year long. Feel free to reach out anytime over the holidays! We are here to help as your trusted lake advisors. Helping people buy and sell Lake Lanier with ease in any market has been our specialty for 21 years!

-Sheila

Needy youngsters get assistance from Holiday Boat Light Parade

By Pamela A. Keene

For more than 60 years, Geor gia youngsters who have been abandoned, neglected or abused have been given a second chance at family life through the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes. Raised in a family setting in five campuses across the state, these young peo ple grow up in a safe environment to rebuild their lives.

This year the Lake Lanier Hol iday Boat Light Parade once again will raise funds for the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes.

“We’re not a temporary solu tion or a part-time placement; we are actually given custody of these young people and are re sponsible for their every need to help them realize their full poten tial,” said Mike Leathers, devel opment officer with the organization. “Our houseparent’s take them to doctors’ appoint ments, after-school activities, help them with their homework and give them all the love and support as though they were their own children.”

Through the love and support freely available at the youth homes, the children who come to live there are able to realize their dreams away from the stress,

angst and uncertainty of their early lives.

“Our former residents have gone on to successful careers and are raising families of their own. They are all good kids who were just in untenable situations before coming here,” he says. “You know, we have a 100 percent graduation rate among our resi dents and if they decide to go to college or beyond, we support them financially and otherwise just like you would your own child. Our kids who go to college graduate debt free so they can begin their adult lives without that additional burden.”

Leathers tells of one then-12year-old youngster who in his early teens dreamed of becoming a physician; he’s now in a thriv ing medical practice.

“We encouraged his dream and raised the funds to pay for med ical school,” Leathers said. “He’s just one example of how the chil dren and teens who come to us can make their aspirations real ity.”

The website at www.geor giasheriffsyouth.org is filled with testimonials by former residents who came to the youth homes where they became part of a new

lifelong family.

For the past five years, the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes has been the beneficiary of the Lake Lanier Holiday Light Boat Parade. Parade organizer Richard Pickering has a special place in his heart for the organization, and he is a program coordinator with the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes.

“What the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes do to give children and youth a second chance at life is more than amazing,” Pickering said. “They have gone from unimaginable circumstances into a loving, nurturing, positive fam ily life that helps them realize their potential and become re sponsible and caring adults.”

The Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes have five campuses in Georgia: Boys Ranch, Hahira; Cherokee Estate, Dalton; Her rington Homestead, Swainsboro; Mountainview, Chatsworth; and Pineland/Camp Pioneer, La Grange.

For more information, to regis ter for the Holiday Boat Light Pa rade or make a donation to the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes, visit the website at www.geor giasheriffsyouth.org.

Youngsters in a Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Home share a Happy Meal.

Holiday Light Boat Parade

When: Saturday, Dec. 10 (Rain date: Sunday, Dec. 11)

Route: Boats meet north of Port Royale Marina at 5:45 and progress down the channel past Pelican Pete’s then over to Aqualand’s gas docks then to Margaritaville by 7:45 or 8 p.m.

Information/Registration: Facebook – 2022 Holiday Boat Light Parade or georgiasheriffsyouth.org.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY GSY

Lake Lanier Fishing Report

A sampling of fishing information and tips from area experts

Bass fishing

Bass fishing on Lake Lanier is good. It seems that it is boom or bust right now, though, with some fisherman finding 18-pound bags and other’s struggling to catch a fish. It is definitely the transition time of the year.

The topwater/swimbait bite has been a hit or miss situation. There is some schooling activity but it tends to be one or two fish at a time that are up and gone very quickly. If you can get a Slickbait or Sebile on them quickly you may catch a good fish. Using your Panoptic’s to lo cate suspended fish around brush or on points and then using a Spotchoker with a Kietech counted down has been a produc tive method. The most consistent bite has been on the old reliable green pumpkin trick worm on a spot sticker. Rocky points, sec ondary points and around brush have been the most productive areas but be prepare to move a lot to find the hungry fish.

While the numbers have been down a little the size makes up for it with several five-pound plus fish being caught with it. The cold weather that has come in should really make a difference in the fishing as the water tempera ture drops. Look for the shad and the bass to migrate toward the backs of the creeks and pockets. Working shallow for the first hour with a quarter ounce Spotchoker or a worm can produce some very large fish.

As the day moves on look for the fish on deeper docks, on the ends of long rocky points, deeper brush and in the backs of ditches. They will be in the process of moving to the winter locations so look at all you options. It should be the start of some great winter fishing so Go Catch ‘Em!

This bass fishing report is by Phil Johnson. Email: Pjohn son15@hotmail.com, 770 3668845.

Crappie fishing

Crappie are suspended be tween 15 and 25 feet but some can still be found on 30- to 40foot deep brush. Docks with

structure, deep blow downs, and brush piles are holding fish.

If you are using jigs I would try bright colors in clear water and dark colors after rainfall. I am setting minnows 15-20 feet deep most of the time just above the suspended fish. Recently all of my catches came on minnows. Crappie love the shade so cast into the shadows or shaded areas of dock.

When dock shooting, the biggest fish are usually the first to bite. We use ATX lure company’s jigs on a lip thrashing lure jig heads. I also use 5 pound test high visibility yellow K9 braid for my line unless I am using a bobber then it’s the k9 6 pound high vis line k9fishing.com and a Acc crappie Stix.

I use Garmin Live Scope and the Navionics Boating app.

This crappie fishing report is by Captain Josh Thornton, 770 530-6493.

Atlanta Boat Show: The 2023 Atlanta Boat Show will be at the Georgia World Congress Center Building “C” January 12-15, 2023. Meet fishermen Ken Stur

divant, Captain Cefus McRae, Captain Josh Thornton, Captain Mark Smith, Erica DeLana, Gregg Showmake, Rene Hesse, and Rick Burns. We will be in the “Let’s Go Fishing” Center with the Bass Tub.

Notes: Southern Fishing Schools now offers the 2023 Best Days for Fishing from BassMas

ter magazine. For a free copy drop us an email to kensturdi vant@att.net. You can also re ceive our recommended Tackle Box List for bass, striper and crappie fishing by emailing us at: kensturdivant@att.net.

Here are next year’s basic fishing preparations

Without fanfare and with few detailed descriptions, here’s O’Neill’s seasoned (that means I’ve been doing this for a long, long time) basic fishing prepara tions, in no particular order of im portance, no matter what the species or destinations you’ve chosen.

1. Put fresh line on all your reels and supply yourself with some ‘Reel Magic’ for line main tenance during the days on the lakes and streams.

2. Check the guides on all your rods to locate possible scratches, fiberglass cracks, and damage that otherwise may cause you to break off the fish of a lifetime. Pass cotton balls through the guides to locate trouble. I know you don’t have any cotton balls, but your wife has thousands.

3. Disassemble, clean and oil your reels. You’ll be amazed at how much more smoothly they perform. Remember, they’ve been sitting around collecting dust dur ing late deer season and could stand some maintenance left over from last fall.

4. Put together a small chil dren’s tackle boxes with their name taped outside and a couple

O’Neill Williams

O’Neill Outside

MORE INFO: www.oneilloutside.com

of closed faced reels and rods fully equipped for a special spring trip and include a handwritten note of promise for a trip for the spring. Give it to a couple of children, relatives, or local neigh bors.

Do it now as it’s the most im portant activity you have. Be sure and flatten all the barbs on all the hooks in the box. When the users get hooked, the hooks can remove it easily. The barb was originally added to the hook to keep live bait on anyway.

5. Categorize and prepare your tackle according to the destina tion, species, and the anticipated actions on your most visited lake. For instance, rig a couple of rods to have readily available close by

on the deck if stripers or bass sur face beyond normal casting dis tance. Emergency rigging after witnessing the activity will take too long to be productive. Create a rod and reel combo with heavy line for when you will be fishing shallow stained rivers and ponds. During a given day, when a trip up the river is dictated, you’ll be ready.

6. Pick out spring destinations and sought out species never fished before to widen your expe rience; catfish at Santee, carp on the fly, mountain trout streams, East Tennessee’s reservoirs that, with low population close by, are delightfully under fished, and fi nally today’s target of the week end angler, inshore saltwater for reds, sea trout and other species. You will find the fish to be big and hungry and you will have plenty of space to explore.

7. Rig a half dozen buzz baits and spinner baits with the trailer hook turned down and pack them in a separate plastic bag or box so you won’t have to fashion them on site. When you’re missing sur face feeding bass, having the trailer hook down instead of up will increase your catch by 50

television, radio and print per sonality for more than 40 years and more recently has added pod casts and video on demand to his repertoire.

Search: Lakeside on Lanier www.lakesidenews.com

n

Member

American Marine Technicians

Spain to Africa: A scuba dive adventure to remember!

I joined the Navy a week after my graduation from high school. Looking back, this was the best possible thing I could have done. At age 17, I had a lot of growing up to do, and it was nice to do it in an environment where I didn’t have to worry about where I was going to sleep or eat or work. It also taught me how to get along with many different people with different backgrounds. When you’re sleeping in a room with 40 other guys, you must learn how to get along with each other quickly.

I got the opportunity to do things and see things that I never dreamed of. A great stroke of luck was my last duty station: two years shore duty in southern Spain! I was attached to the Explosive Or dinance Disposal/Underwater Demolition Team (EOD/UDT). In war time this included the “Frog men” (later replaced by Navy SEALS). If a plane crashed or a ship sank, we were the ones who were first on the scene to defuse any explosives that were on board.

At that time, scuba diving was just becoming popular. TV shows like “Sea Hunt” and “The Under sea World of Jacques Cousteau” were viewed weekly by millions. There was also a famous swimmer named Fred Baldesare who had

On the Water

accomplished unprecedented feats such as swimming the English Channel and the Hellespont under water! He had sponsors who fi nanced these escapades to market their new sports products: swim fins, scuba tanks and regulators, wet suits, etc.

Baldesare decided his next es capade would be to swim the Straits of Gibraltar entirely under water! He had convinced the Com mander of our Navy Base to loan him our dive team as support! He had also acquired the use of a pri vate, 65-foot yacht and convinced the Spanish authorities to allow us to take off from the Spanish Naval base at Punta Europa, the south ernmost point in the country. You must also note that Spain was a dictatorship, governed by Franco at the time, and this was only a few years after the Moroccans had thrown the French out of their

Bottom: Our team on the beach in Ceuta, Spanish Morocco, North Africa after successfully travers ing the Strait of Gibraltar. Baldesare is second from right in the back row.

Baldesare at press confer ence showing off his Rolex dive watch, depth gauge and compass.

Vinnie Mendes

PHOTOS COURTESY U.S. NAVY

Baldesare and team coming ashore in Africa.

Mendes relaxing with one of the crew.

Mendes suiting up one of our divers.

Special holiday memories from an old cowboy

For someone like me who has lived a full and very active life, the cold winds of fall that precede the holiday season blow more than the leaves ... they awaken special seasonal memories that warm the heart. Being more than 80 years old causes one to accept that physically some wonderful times can never be experienced again ... but, the mind can re member and share.

Partly because of my Cherokee ancestry, but mostly because my family was not rich and couldn’t afford a saddle, I fell in love with riding horses bareback in the North Georgia Mountains. There fore, horses and cows have al ways held a special place in my heart, and I have done a little “cowboying” every chance I could.

A little bit less than 10 years ago, I had what would be my last opportunity to feel the thrill of controlling the massive muscles of a big quarter horse named Gunner while working cows in the magnificent Rocky Mountains with some of the best wranglers I have ever known. Though I have ridden horses off and on since childhood, I learned more about them during my time being around Terry Wegener. He is the best cowboy I’ve ever seen, and it was an education in the manner isms and psychology of horses

Bill Vanderford Travel Editor

special about riding a horse through such spectacular beauty that rekindles the old-fashioned holiday spirit.

PHOTOS BY BILL VANDERFORD

while working with him.

It was a perfect time of year when the weather was like sum mer with midday temperatures reaching into the high 60s and falling to the 40s at night. Soon the mercury began to fall, and all the bright, golden Aspen trees changed their color in two days. During the last part of the week, we were blessed with a blanket of more than a foot of powdery snow. It was the ideal time prior to the holidays to experience the gorgeous metamorphosis that oc curs annually in the mountains and valleys of Northwestern Col orado! Much of our time was consumed riding or cowpunching in the National Forest and the wild and beautiful Mt. Zirkel Wilderness Area. The snow-cov ered Rocky Mountains glistened as the sun hit them, looking like a painting out of a winter picture book. There is just something

In my spare time, me and a true hero from the US Army’s Special Forces, Brandon Martin, caught dinner for the other wran glers. The possibilities ranged from small creeks to rivers, to still water lakes and from very simple fishing to extremely diffi cult. Rainbow, Cutthroat, Brook and Brown Trout were caught as well as Mountain Whitefish and Grayling.

Those unforgettable cowboy dinners cooked over a blazing fire complete with interesting stories told by a dying breed of men that will never be duplicated has been the basis of many fond memories. The camaraderie was genuine and unique, and I know that my heart will never know that exact feeling again. It was the most opportune moment for the best photography (which I will share) in the fall season, and I will cherish that last roundup until I die!

Bill Vanderford has won nu merous awards for his writing and photography, and has been inducted into the National Fresh water Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Guide.

n MORE INFO: JFish51@aol.com www.georgiafishing.com

Horses highlight the beauty of the Colorado Rockies in fall. Below: Cowboys working with the horses.

Vanderford and Gunner in Colorado.

Brandon lands a nice trout in the snow, above. Fishing in the snow. View from the National Park.

Cowboys at work - before and during the snow.

o Dec. 1-2, 6-9, 13-15 – Deck the Walls Wreath Festival held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Bowen Center for the Arts, 334 Hwy. 9N, Dawsonville. Info: 706-216-2787.

o Dec. 2 – Christmas with The Lanier Chamber Singers, 7:30-8:30 p.m. at Gainesville First United Methodist Church, 2780 Thompson Bridge Rd., Gainesville. Tick ets: $15 (in advance); $20 (at the door). Info: 470-228-2375.

o Dec. 3 – Buford Christmas Parade held 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Main Street, Buford, features parade, shopping and a festival. Stage perform ers from 10:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m. with Santa. Free. Info: 404-247-2449.

o Dec. 4 – Christmas on Green Street, Open House and Christmas Parade, held 4-7 p.m. on Green Street in Gainesville. Info: 770-531-2664.

o Dec. 5-10 – Adult Holiday Craft Week fea tured at Hall County Library System, Gainesville Branch, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville. Make a cardstock holiday orna ment for your tree. All materials are provided. Adults 18 and up only. Times: 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Dec. 5/8; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Dec. 6/7; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Dec. 9/10. Free. Info: 770-532-3311.

o Dec. 11 – “The Night Before Christmas” Benefit Concert featuring North Georgia Winds performing at Braselton Civic Center, 27 E. Lake Dr., Braselton. Time: 3-4 p.m. with a dessert reception to follow. Tickets: $20 per person, with proceeds benefiting the Georgia Mountains Food Bank. Info: 706-654-3915.

o Dec. 12 Sing! An Irish Christmas with the Gettys presented at 7 p.m. at Lakewood Baptist Church in Gainesville. Keith and Kristyn Getty known as modern hymn writers, having created a catalog of songs that have crossed genres of traditional, classical, folk and

contemporary compositions. Tickets: $40.

o Dec. 16-18 – Christmas Spectacular at Free Chapel, 3001 McEver Rd., Gainesville. A free live production including Christmas musical fa vorites, live animals and stunning visual ef fects. Free. Times: 7 p.m., Dec. 16; noon, 3/6 p.m., Dec. 17; 9/11 a.m., 6 p.m., Dec. 18. Info: freechapel.org/events.

o Dec. 31 – NYE in the Ville: New Year’s Eve Gainesville 2023 at The American Legion, Gainesville. Party till 2 a.m., music provided by DJ Erec and kitchen open from 9 p.m.-midnight when Money Balloon Drops and Champagne Toast. Tickets: $20 (age 25 and up), general ad mission.

Buford Community Center

o Dec. 2 – One Christmas Night in Memphis is a high energy concert held at 8 p.m. in Sylvia Beard Theatre that takes you back to Dec. 4, 1956, the night Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash gathered to gether for an impromptu jam session at the leg endary Sun Studios in Memphis. Tickets: $35-$45.

o Dec. 8 – Mike Farris Sings! The Soul of Christmas presented at 8 p.m. in the Sylvia Beard Theatre. This show delivers high energy soul, classic ballads and lots of surprises. Tick ets: $35-$45.

o Dec. 17 – Christmas with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra Ensemble featuring Chloe Agnew is offered at 8 p.m. in the Sylvia Beard Theatre. Agnew, a singer, songwriter and actress from Dublin, Ireland has gained acclaim as a mem ber of the music group, Celtic Woman. Tickets: $35-$45.

Info: www.bufordcommunitycenter.com Clarkesville’s Historic Habersham Community Theater

o Dec. 1-4, 8-11 – It’s A Wonderful Life, A

Live Radio Play brings this beloved American holiday classic to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. Times: 7:30 p.m., Dec. 1-3, 8-10; 2 p.m., Dec. 4, 11.

Info: 706-839-1315; www.habershamtheater.org

Dahlonega’s Historic Holly Theater o Dec. 2-4, 8-11, 15-18 – “She Loves Me” is a comedic Christmas romance of secret pen pals that will amuse the whole family. Times: 8 p.m., Thurs./Fri./Sat.; 2 p.m., Sun. Tickets: $35, adults; $15, students/children. Info: 706-530-5162; www.hollytheater.com

Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds o Thru Dec. 23 – Mountain Country Christ mas in Lights, a holiday treat for the entire family at the fairgrounds along the shores of Lake Chatuge in Northeast Georgia mountains. Times: 6-9 p.m., Thursday and Friday; 4-9 p.m., Saturday. Open every night from Dec. 1824 (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). Admission: $7; children under 12 free. o Dec. 2-3 – 1st Annual ChristmasFest fea turing two days of country, bluegrass, gospel and all the Christmas music one can handle from artists, such as Daily & Vincent, Sammy Kershaw, Colin Raye, Aaron Tippin, The Hop pers and The Isaacs. Times: 2-6 p.m. Admis sion: $75 (1-day); $135 (2-day).

o Dec. 31 – New Year Fireworks begins at 8:45 p.m. Food will be available for sale begin ning at 5:30 p.m. Free. Info: www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com. Interactive Neighborhood Kids

o Thru Dec. 4 – Native American Craft Wk

o Dec. 5-11 – Snowman Craft Week

o Dec. 12-18 – Gingerbread Man Craft Wk

o Dec. 19-23 – Christmas Craft Week

o Dec. 16-Jan. 1 – New Year’s Craft Week

o Dec. 30 – New Year’s Eve Crafts & Pa

rades. Time/Play Blocks: Mon.-Sat.; 10 a.m.noon; 12:30-2:30 p.m.; 3-5 p.m.; Sun.: 12:302:30 p.m.; 3-5 p.m. $1 with paid admission to museum; INK Members, free.

Info: 770-536-1900; www.inkfun.org.

Lake Lanier Islands Resort

o Thru Feb. 26 – License to Chill Snow Is land. Pass includes unlimited Snow Tubing, Amusement Rides, Ice Skating, Gate Fee Ac cess and more. Times: 5-10 p.m. Daily admis sions: $54.99 reg.; $39.99, child (age 3-7), military, seniors and groups).

o Thru Jan. 3, 2023 – Lakeside Lights Spec tacular, Lake Lanier Islands’ Margaritaville’s nights offering nostalgic wintry magical walks through a lighting extravaganza. Margari taville’s Lakeside Lights admission: $24.99 reg.; $19.99, child (age 3-7), military, senior and groups.

Info: 770-945-8787; www.lanierislands.com.

Northeast Georgia History Center

o Dec. 18 – An Appalachian Christmas, 1-4 p.m., centers around the history of Christmas traditions, a chance to make traditional Christ mas Card Craft, popcorn string for Christmas Tree, learn an 1800s dance and get a free pic ture with Santa.

Info: 770-297-5900; www.negahc.org.

Piedmont University

o Dec. 2, 3 – 34th Annual Service Lessons and Carols held 7:30-9 p.m. in Piedmont Chapel.

Info: 800-277-7020; piedmont.edu.

Quinlan Arts Center

o Thru Dec. 4 – 75th Annual Members Exhi bition showcases the work of member-artists from Gainesville and surrounding North Geor gia communities, Atlanta and the Southeast.

o Dec. 3 – Southeastern Young Artists Clas See Calendar, page 26

Keeping your boat’s bottom off the lake’s bottom

As I write this article, Lake Lanier is over 4.5 feet below full pool. If you have been around Lanier for as long as I have, you know there are times when it has been much lower than it is right now. It may be hard to believe, but this is the lowest it has been since the spring of 2018.

It’s times like these that we may want to consider being extra careful about protecting our bot tom and not running aground. This is especially important if you own a sailboat with a deep draft. Here are some things that can help you keep your boat’s bottom a safe distance from the bottom of the lake. (These ideas can be used on any body of water.):

Know Your Vessel – The first thing you need to know is how much water your vessel needs to float freely. A small boat may need only a couple of feet while a large sailboat may need six feet or more.

If you do not know the draft of your boat, it may be difficult to determine when you are ap proaching the danger zone.

Stick to Familiar Waters –The more familiar you are with the area that you a boating in, the

The Careful Captain

color changes in comparison to the deeper areas. You may also notice that the wave action changes a bit in shallow areas as waves interact with the bottom or with obstacles resting on the bot tom. A vigilant eye can go a long way in avoiding all types of water hazards.

water but have no way to verify, keep an eye on your wake. If you are in a danger zone, you will probably be kicking up mud or sand. If this happens, proceed with caution or just back out the same way you came in.

Another says that you either have run aground or will run aground. I’m not sure if either of these is true but if they are, hope fully these tips will help prolong the inevitable.

less likely you will have issues with depth. In fact, the fewer is sues you are likely to have, pe riod.

Use Your Depth Finder – It’s always a good idea to have a depth finder on your boat. An ac curate depth gauge allows you to know how much water is under your keel, regardless of condi tions. If you don’t have a depth gauge, get one. If you do have one, be sure to use it.

Check Your Charts – It is al ways a good idea to have a set of charts for the waters where you are boating. In addition to aiding in navigation from one point to another, charts can provide you with information about the depth of the water.

Be Observant – Typically, when the water gets shallow, the

Here is a good example: When I was young my dad and I were out in the Rappahannock River on our boat. He was at the helm, and we were running on plane at about 25 knots down the middle of the river. Suddenly, he pulled back on the throttle.

The boat fell off plane and eventually came to a stop. I looked at him and asked why we were stopping. He pointed to a seagull on the water about 50 yards in front of us. I didn’t un derstand. The seagull would surely fly away when we got nearby.

“Look closely,” my dad said.

I looked again and realized that the seagull was standing, not floating. Had my dad been less observant, he would have run our boat up on a shallow reef.

Watch Your Wake – If you feel that you might be in shallow

Let’s face it, running aground is not fun. There is an old adage that says you are not a real boater unless you have run aground.

Frank is past commander of America’s Boating Club Atlanta and is currently a content creator at the YouTube channel “The Ships Logg.”

Winter Fun at Margaritaville Lanier Islands

Enjoy the winter season with a visit to License to Chill Snow Island and the Lakeside Lights Spectacular at Margaritaville Lanier Islands for a time of wintry fun! Create special memories for the whole family with snow tubing, amusement rides, ice skating, and playing in the snow.

Frank Taylor

Wishing Glenn Burns the best in his retirement

I am writing this as I retire as Chief Meteorolo gist for WSB-TV. It was a good 40-year run and I thank all of you for watching over the years. We’ve all been through a lot together. From recordsetting heat waves, huge tornadoes, to a full blown blizzard, we’ve pretty much seen it all to gether.

This past month proved to be a little bizarre. Record setting heat with tempera tures in the low to mid 80s in November! Then, for the first time in 40 years, a late season hurricane impacting Florida and even us in north Georgia! That was fol lowed by an arctic cold front 24 hours later! Talk about dynamic November weather!

The outlook for December is for con tinue dry conditions with above average

temperatures. The drought is forecast to get worse.

LAKE LANIER WATER LEVELS

APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV

What we are dealing with, for the third straight year, is a La Nina. The Climate Pre diction Center is once again showing tempera tures to be above aver age. This is not to say we won’t have any more cold outbreaks like we did last month. Precipitation is likely to stay below aver age. As of this writing, our rainfall deficit was nearly 5.9 inches for the year. The drier than normal conditions will likely prevail through the month.

Glenn Burns Lanier Outlook

It will be a slow start to winter, which is on the 21st.

Have a great month and a wonderful holiday my friends!

Glenn Burns is chief meteorologist for WSB-TV in Atlanta

1 1071.17 1071.10 1071.14 1069.98 1069.14 1068.36 1067.60 1066.45

2 1071.11 1071.07 1071.03 1069.96 1069.11 1068.39 1067.56 1066.42

3 1071.05 1071.03 1070.97 1070.04 1069.09 1068.50 1067.51 1066.39

4 1071.01 1071.03 1070.92 1070.06 1069.06 1068.60 1067.46 1066.36

5 1071.33 1071.03 1070.86 1069.97 1069.04 1068.88 1067.41 1066.31

6 1071.49 1071.05 1070.84 1069.90 1069.03 1068.88 1067.37 1066.31

7 1071.54 1071.05 1070.80 1069.92 1069.00 1068.74 1067.32 1066.28

8 1071.53 1071.05 1070.74 1069.92 1068.98 1068.68 1067.27 1066.24

9 1071.49 1071.05 1070.79 1070.08 1068.97 1068.66 1067.25 1066.20

10 1071.47 1071.00 1070.79 1070.13 1069.00 1068.66 1067.22 1066.19

11 1071.40 1070.98 1070.79 1070.10 1068.99 1068.64 1067.17 1066.31

12 1071.31 1070.95 1070.78 1070.04 1068.97 1068.53 1067.12 1066.33

13 1071.26 1070.92 1070.76 1070.08 1068.89 1068.45 1067.10 1066.35

14 1071.18 1070.90 1070.76 1070.01 1068.86 1068.44 1067.07 1066.34

15 1071.16 1070.90 1070.70 1069.96 1068.80 1068.40 1067.02 1066.34

16 1071.27 1070.86 1070.69 1069.90 1068.77 1068.34 1066.98 1066.33

17 1071.31 1070.81 1070.65 1069.87 1068.72 1068.32 1066.93 1066.29

18 1071.27 1070.75 1070.66 1069.80 1068.73 1068.29 1066.86 1066.26

19 1071.20 1070.66 1070.61 1069.79 1068.69 1068.26 1066.80 1066.21

20 1071.21 1070.60 1070.58 1069.76 1068.71 1068.24 1066.76 1066.20

21 1071.24 1070.59 1070.52 1069.74 1068.73 1068.20 1066.71

22 1071.25 1070.59 1070.47 1069.67 1068.70 1068.14 1066.69 23 1071.25 1070.77 1070.42 1069.63 1068.68 1068.06 1066.64 24 1071.25 1070.84 1070.35 1069.62 1068.67 1068.00 1066.60 25 1071.17 1070.85 1070.33 1069.53 1068.68 1067.92 1066.56 26 1071.14 1071.16 1070.31 1069.45 1068.67 1067.87 1066.54

27 1071.14 1071.38 1070.30 1069.36 1068.64 1067.81 1066.53

28 1071.11 1071.39 1070.21 1069.25 1068.61 1067.78 1066.48

29 1071.11 1071.37 1070.13 1069.17 1068.56 1067.73 1066.44 30 1071.09 1071.34 1070.04 1069.17 1068.45 1067.64 1066.46

31 1071.27 1069.17 1068.42 1066.46

AV 1071.25 1070.98 1070.63 1069.78 1068.82 1068.31 1066.96

MAX 1071.54 1071.39 1071.14 1070.13 1069.14 1068.88 1067.60

MI 1071.01 1070.59 1070.04 1069.17 1068.42 1067.64 1066.44

Search: Lakeside on Lanier www.lakesidenews.com

SOLUNAR TIMES FOR LAKE LANIER

Lake Lanier Association looks ahead to ‘exciting’ 2023

By Pamela A. Keene

In the new year, the Lake Lanier Association is taking its community outreach and initia tives to a new level. From switch ing to a more secure online membership renewal system to expanding its business partner ships to support its missions, the organization has been working behind the scenes over the past six months to make some changes.

“So many exciting things are going on with the association,” said Sheila Davis, vice president of marketing for the LLA. “We’re expanding our initiatives to fur ther engage our membership with new volunteer opportunities. Our community outreach on all levels is being stepped up.”

With between 3,500 and 4,000 members, the association admin isters a variety of programs, in cluding Shore Sweep, which has continued to break records for the past five years with the amount of trash, garbage and debris col lected around the lake each Sep tember, and the annual member celebration each spring, which brings together members for so cial time to get to know each other and learn about ways they

can work together for the good of Lake Lanier.

The group’s new online mem bership system provides easy and secure steps through an auto mated system for members to join, renew and update their per sonal information

“The new secure ‘no pass word’ technology will help us with more timely renewals and improved communication with members,” said Amy McGuire, executive director. “Each member will have their own account with us that includes an email compo nent to help us inform members more quickly about activities and opportunities.”

Other initiatives include amp ing up business partnerships.

“Working with our business members in a strategic way cre ates a win-win,” McGuire said.

“When we partner with busi nesses it signals a strong support from the community for our mis sion. I call it the power of the col

lective: everyone working to gether toward a common goal, in this case good stewardship of the wonderful resource that is Lake Lanier. It makes good sense.”

In the coming year, the associ ation will be offering more volun teer opportunities for member engagement, from manning booths at boat shows and publicfacing events to assisting with projects in the office.

“Our members are our greatest assets,” said Amy McGuire.

• Calendar

Continued from Page 17

sical Chamber Concert features an evening of Brahms, Dvorak and Montgomery. Time: 7 p.m. R.S.V.P required.

o Dec. 8-Feb. 11, 2023 – Winter Exhibition featuring artists Ferdi nand Rosa, Karen Sturm, Frances Byrd and Jennifer Herrera and Blackberry Creek artists. Opening Reception held Dec. 8.

o Dec. 10 – Night at the Quinlan (Holiday Movie Sleepover for Kids) for elementary and middle school grade levels. KDrop-off is at 6 p.m. Pick-up is at noon on Sunday, Dec. 11. Fee: $50 for the first child and $35 for any additional children.

“They can be our ambassadors and tell our stories, so we want to tap into their talents. Many of these improvements and initia tives are designed to reach them and make it even easier to be come engaged with us.”

Plans are in the works to move into new offices in the coming year, perhaps as early as the first quarter, although a location has not yet been chosen.

McGuire was hired as execu tive director last summer and she

said that since coming on board, she’s been pleased with the amount of support from members and the community.

“From the beginning, there have been so many ‘yesses’ from people when we reach out,” she said. “When it benefits the lake, everyone wins and our momen tum is really growing. 2023 is going to be a great year.”

For information about the Lake Lanier Association or to join, visit www.lakelanier.org.

Info: 770-536-2575; www.quinla nartscenter.org. School Street Playhouse (formerly Cumming Playhouse) o Dec. 17 – Holiday Swing with the Joe Gransden Quartet, 3-8 p.m.

o Dec. 21 – An Operatic Christmas featuring Victoria Hill at 8 p.m. Info: 770-781-9178; schoolstreetplay house.com

University of North Georgia

o Dec. 5 – UNG Band Winter Con cert, 7:30-8:30 p.m., in Dawson County Performing Arts Center, 1665 Perimeter Rd., Dawsonville. UNG presents the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble in a winter concert.

o Dec. 8 – Chamber Orchestra Winter Concert performs 7:30-8:30 p.m. in Gainesville campus lobby.

o Dec. 8 – UNG Jazz Band Winter Concert performs 7:30-8:30 p.m. in Dahlonega campus Hoag Student Center.

o Dec. 9 – Holiday Choral Festival presented by UNG Choirs at 7:30-9 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, 422 Brenau Ave., Gainesville. Free. Info: 678-717-3930; www.ung.edu. Voices of North Georgia

o Dec. 2, 3 – O Holy Night concert held at St. Paul United Methodist Church of Gainesville. 7:30 p.m. Info: VoicesofNorthGeorgia.com.

By Jane Harrison

The holidays sparkle around Lake Lanier and the mountain headwaters with everything from snow tubing and glittering tree trails to Victorian tradi tions and dulcimer tunes. When Christmas is over, get ready for New Year’s Eve countdowns and fireworks. Start the year with a 5K, Polar Bear plunge or First Day Hike. Here’s a look at holiday highlights:

o License to Chill Snow Island/Lakeside Lights Spectacular, Buford. Snow tubing, ice skating, carnival rides, s’more making, plus walk-through holiday light extravaganza with festive music; Snow Island 11 a.m.-10 p.m. through Feb. 26, Lights Spectacular 5-9 p.m. through Jan. 16, Margaritaville at Lanier Islands, 7650 Lanier Islands Pkwy. Various prices. www.margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritavilleat-lanier-islands/

o Old Fashioned Christmas, Dahlonega. An nual holiday festival through Dec. 31 includes Festival of Trees beginning Dec. 3 at Hancock Park, Christmas Parade Dec. 10, carriage rides, Santa visits, live music and more, Downtown Dahlonega. www.dahlonegachristmas.com.

o Wilshire Wonderland of Lights, Gainesville. Walk through beloved Wilshire Trails Park deco rated with holiday lights through Dec. 31. Free. www.exploregainesville.org.

o Victorian Christmas at Hardman Farm, Sautee Nacoochee. See historic farm mansion decorated in 1877 holiday style, learn about Vic torian holiday traditions from reenactors in tradi tional holiday attire, plus live music, cookies, s’mores around the campfire, 4-7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Dec. 3-17, Hardman Farm His toric Site, 143 Hwy. 17. Registration required. $20 adults, $15 ages 6-17, free to children 5 and younger, $45 family rate 2 adults with children younger than 17. www.gastateparks.org, 706-

878-1077.

o Holiday Tree Trail, Gainesville. Local busi nesses, families and organizations decorate and display holiday trees with nature-based themes, through Jan. 1, Gainesville Gar den of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1911 Sweet Bay Dr. Garden admission. www.atlantabg.org, 404-888-4760.

o Christmas at the Gorge, Tallulah Falls. See Santa, make crafts, enjoy holi day music, eat a snack, 1-3 p.m. Dec. 3, Tallulah Falls State Park, 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Dr. $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706-7547981.

o Christmas Parade & Festival, Cumming. Pa rade on Tribble Gap Rd. from Forsyth Central High School to Cumming Fairgrounds, followed by tree lighting, vendors, crafts, Santa visits and more, parade 5 p.m., festival 6-8 p.m. Dec. 3, Cumming Fairgrounds, 235 Castleberry Rd. https://cummingfair.squarespace.com/ o Christmas in the Mountains Festival & Lighted Parade, Cleveland. Parade, open houses, market on downtown square, Cleveland County Courthouse, 5 p.m. Dec. 3, intersection Ga. 129/115. www.whitecountychamber.org.

o Christmas on Green Street, Gainesville. An nual Christmas parade, tours of historic homes, strolling magicians, Santa’s arrival, musical groups performing on front porches, food trucks, mini-train rides, and tree lighting; begins with Christmas at the Civic Center 2 p.m., 4 p.m. pa rade, tree lighting 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4. Parade on Green Street from Civic Center to West Acad emy St.; tree lighting at intersection of West Academy/Green St. www.gainesville.org.

o Holiday Jamboree on the Mountain, Clarkesville. Live music, nature crafts, Santa vis its, hayrides, Mellinger Center/campground, 3-5 p.m. Dec. 10, Black Rock Mountain State Park,

3805 Black Rock Mountain Pkwy. www.gas tateparks.org, 706-746-2141.

o Sunset Candy Cane Hunt, Tallulah Falls. Hunt candy canes, make s’mores, sip hot chocolate, 5-7:30 p.m. Dec. 10, Tallulah Gorge State Park, 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Pkwy. $5 parking. Call to register. www.gastateparks.org, 706-754-7981.

o Christmas at the Inn, Toccoa. Fes tive dulcimer music, hot apple cider and teacakes, 19th century stagecoach inn decorated with greenery and handmade orna ments, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 10 & 11, Traveler’s Rest Historic Site, 4339 Riverdale Rd. www.gas tateparks.org, 706-886-2256.

New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day

o New Year’s Eve Fireworks, Buford. Dance under the stars, enjoy outdoor firepits, order from bar and grill, see fireworks at 10 p.m., Par adise Beach, Margaritaville at Lanier Islands, 7650 Lanier Islands Pkwy. $14.99 beach fee.www.margaritavilleresorts.com/margari taville-at-lanier-islands/ o Dahlonega First Night. Indoor and outdoor entertainment around the Historic District begin ning at noon Dec. 31, Golden Nugget Drop at midnight (children’s Nugget Drop at 8:45 p.m.), Downtown Dahlonega. Check website for ticket information. www.dahlonegachristmas.com or www.dahlonegafirstnight.org.

o Dropping of the Edelweiss, Helen. Hors d’oeuvres, party favors, entertainment, dancing, midnight toast and edelweiss drop, 8 p.m. Dec. 31, Helen Festhalle, 1074 Edelweiss Strasse. $25 adults, $12 children ages 5-12. www.helencham ber.com.

o New Year’s Day 5K, Cumming. 9 a.m. Jan. 1, North Forsyth High School, 3645 Coal Mountain Rd. $24-$25. www.fivestarntp.com.

o Polar Bear Swim, Gainesville. Annual dip in Lake Lanier adds a new spin with an 11 a.m. guided 2-mile paddle trip and noon Polar Bear Plunge, Jan. 1, Lake Lanier Olympic Park beach, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd. $20 plunge or paddle, $30 for both. www.exploregainesville.org.

o Falls to Farm First Day Hike, Sautee Na coochee. 11-mile one-way hike from Anna Ruby Falls to Hardman Farm Historic Site to explore the vast estate of the farm’s historic Nichol’s family; supported hike include shuttle from farm to Anna Ruby Falls, 4 support stops, post hike meal, tour of Hardman Farm and commemora tive t-shirt, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 1, Hardman Farm Historic Site, 143 Hwy. 17. $40. fallstofarmfirst dayhike2023.eventbrite.com.

o Mountain Laurel Loop First Day Hike, Dawsonville. Guided 1-mile hike on ridge above Amicalola Creek, 9-10 a.m. Jan. 1, temporary Visitors Center, Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge, 280 Amicalola Falls State Park Rd. $5 parking. 706-265-4706, www.gastateparks.org.

o First Day Hike: Duke’s Creek, Helen. 2.5 mile hike to Duke’s Creek waterfall with halfway stop at primitive cabin fire ring, 1-3 p.m. Jan. 1, Smithgall Woods State Park, 61 Tsalaki Trl. $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706-8783087.

o First Day Hike: Tallulah Gorge, Tallulah Falls. 3-mile hike on Short Line Trail, meet at Old Jail, Tallulah Gorge State Park, Jane Hurt Yarn Pkwy. $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706-754-7981.

o Bear Hair Gap First Day Hike, Blairsville. 4.1 mile guided hike on Bear Hair Gap Trail on lower ridge of Blood Mountain, follows some steep slopes, 9 a.m.-noon Jan. 1, Vogel State Park, 405 Vogel State Park Rd. $5 parking. Reg ister in advance. 706-745-2628, www.gas tateparks.org.

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.

On-site eatery: Smokey Q BBQ Store hours: Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat./Sun.

Types of fuel: 90 Non-ethanol; diesel Price of fuel: (as of 11/17/22) $4.79; $4.79 diesel (Dock open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs.-Mon. Closed Tues./Wed.)

Security: 24/7 security, gated

Additional amenities: Full-service department, parts department, boat body work and yacht repair.Boating supplies/commissary/dry goods/retail clothing.

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 11/17/22) $5.59 (Dock open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week.)

Ship Store Seasonal: Open May-September

On-site eatery: Skogies

Menu: BBQ, seafood and American fare. Phone: 678-450-1310

Security: 7 days a week

Additional amenities: Parts department, land service shop, climate-controlled bath houses, pump-out stations, security 7 days a week/video surveillance. Sales of new, used and brokerage boats.

HABERSHAM MARINA

Hours of operation: Office/Dock/Store, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Mon.-Sat. Closed on Sundays Phone: 770-887-5432

Website: www.habershammarina.com

Location: 2200 Habersham Marina Rd., Cumming

Types of slips available: 600 slips for dry storage up to 28’

Store: Yes

Types of fuel: 90 Recreational fuel, non-ethanol Price of fuel: (as of 11/17/22) $4.69

Security: Yes

Additional amenities: Repair services, detailing and bottom cleaning. Also bathroom and shower facilities are available.

HARBOR LANDING

Hours of operation: Office/Dock, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week

Phone: 470 323-3465

Website: www.margaritavilleatlanierislands.com

Location: 7650 Lanier Islands Pkwy.

Types of slips: Houseboats only. 18x60, 22x80

Types of fuel: Diesel, non ethanol

Price of fuel: (as of 11/17/22) $6.79 non-ethanol, $6.29 diesel (Gas is not sold after 4:30 due to volume return of boats.)

On-site eatery: Various restaurants including Landshark, Cantina, Tiki Bar

Security: 24/7

Additional amenities: Margaritaville, daily pontoon boat rentals (no overnights). Luxury houseboat program. Call for details.

Lake Lanier Marinas Info

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 11/17/22) $6.49 premium; $6.59 unleaded; $6.99 diesel

On-site eatery: The Twisted Oar

Menu: Fresh seafood to savory chicken and steak

Phone: 678 714-7572

Security: 24/7

Additional amenities: Boat rentals, repair service, pumpout station, boat sales, TowBoat US

LAZY DAYS

LAZY DAYS (at Holiday on Lake Lanier)

Hours of operation: Office/Dock, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 6 days a week. Closed on Tuesdays..

Phone: 770-945-1991

Location: 6700 Lanier Islands Pkwy, Buford

Types of slips available: Concrete Wet Slips from 50 - 125 foot covered & 100 foot open slips; 554 covered dry stack spaces up to 36 feet

Types of fuel: 90 Non-ethanol marine fuel treated with ValvTect; diesel

Price of fuel: (as of 11/17/22) $6.49 regular Security: 24/7 surveillance monitoring

Full Service Department: Barefoot Boating, 770-820-5949 Boat Club: Carefree Boat Club, 678-725-0730

Additional Amenities: Bath house facility with individual private units. Trailer storage, dock carts, ice available, boat detailing service, free pump out for customers; Dry Stack-Boat Cloud smartphone app to control launch/retrieval of boat. Pre-Fueling service, wash racks; Wet Slips-gated/private parking, golf cart valet service, in-slip pump out.

Location: 8800 Port Royale Dr., Gainesville

Types of slips available: Uncovered, 20' to 80'; covered, 24' to 106' totaling 815 slips & dry stack storage (521) for up to 39'.

Types of fuel: 90 non-ethanol

Price of fuel: (as of 11/17/22) $5.49 regular (Pay at the pump closes same time as restaurant.)

On-site eatery: Pelican Pete's Bar and Grill

Menu: Burgers, sandwiches, salads, wings and more Security: Gated, 24/7

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, houseboat rentals.

SAFE HARBOR AQUALAND MARINA

Hours of operation:Office/Leasing, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Sat.; Closed Sundays 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

Types of fuel: Non-ethanol, 90 octane

Price of fuel: (as of 11/17/22) $6.49, non-members; $5.99, members (Dock/Ship Store open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 7 days a week.)

On-site eatery: Pig Tales

Menu: BBQ, burgers, wings and more

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.

SAFE HARBOR HIDEAWAY BAY MARINA

Hours of operation: Office/Store/Dock - 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week.)

Phone: 770-967-5500

Website: www.hideawaybaymarina.com

Location: 6334 Mitchell St., Flowery Branch

Types of slips available: Wet (510) Dry (150)

Type of Fuel: 90 octane, non-ethanol

Price of fuel: (as of 11/17/22) $6.49, non-members; $5.99, members On-site eatery: Fish Tales Lakeside Grille

PORT OF INDECISION MARINA

Hours of operation: Office/Dock, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week (Call 470-323-3490 prior to arrival)

Phone: 470 323-3465

Website: www.margaritavilleatlanierislands.com

Location: 7650 Lanier Islands Pkwy.

Store: Yes; only open on weekends.

Types of slips available: 14x32, 14x36, (254 units, up to 40’), all covered

Types of fuel: non ethanol.

Price of fuel: (as of 11/17/22) $6.49 regular, non-ethanol

On-site eatery: Various restaurants including Landshark, Cantina, Tiki Bar

Security: 24/7

Additional amenities: Margaritaville

PORT ROYALE MARINA

Hours of operation: Office/Leasing/Dock, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week; Service Store/Ship Store, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week (Closed Dec. 24-31)

Phone: 770-887-5715

Website: www.bestinboating.com/port_royale

Menu: Grouper fingers, sandwiches, salads and more Security: 24/7 manned security

Showroom: Atlanta Marine

Additional amenities: Full Maintenance, Repair and Service on site: Harbor Marine & Associates. Bathhouse w/ locked showers and AC, laundry, pump out, trailer storage.

SUNRISE COVE MARINA

Hours of operation: Office/Store/Dock, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Wed.Mon. Closed Tuesday.

Phone: 770-536-8599

Website: www.sunrisecovermarina.com

Location: 5725 Flat Creek Rd., Gainesville

Types of slips available: Uncovered-20-70'; Covered-24-50'; to include an exclusive 44' Sailboat Breakwater Dock. Total Wet Slips 688 and nine (9) Dry Storage Spaces (boats on trailer).

Store: Yes (Sandwiches and wraps only available in summer)

Types of fuel: 90 recreational, non-ethanol

Price of fuel: (as of 11/17/22) $6.59 with 5 percent off with Advantage Membership.

Security: 24/7

Additional amenities: Club House, bath house, laundry facility. Pump out open only during office hours.

at Holiday on Lake Lanier

Flowery Branch blossoms as Phase I redevelopment nears completion

By Pamela A. Keene

If you haven’t driven through downtown Flowery Branch lately, do it. You’ll find that the formerly single-street community has blos somed with new buildings, an airy pavilion, an amphitheater and an explosion of residential devel opment from apartments above retail space, luxury townhomes and infill housing.

The Thursday afternoon farm ers’ markets have been aug mented by weekend festivals, concerts and outdoor activities, intended to draw area residents and visitors to downtown.

“We love our charm here but we’re bringing more events and activities to the community. This has been our vi sion since 2014 when we began working on our comprehensive plan,” said Mayor Ed Asbridge, who has served on the Flowery Branch City Council since June 2019. “It’s all starting to come together and we continue to receive acco lades from people around the county.”

About a year ago, the city hired Renee Carden as downtown

director. With her long-time expe rience in tourism and marketing development she has been a driv ing force in creating downtownfocused events throughout the year, as well as coordinating with new businesses and restaurants who want to make downtown Flowery Branch home.

Several new restaurants are opening in the next few months, including El Sabor Consteno Mexican food and 4 Elephants featuring Laotian specialties. They’ll join restaurants Antebel lum, Peyton’s Pies, Beer Me tap room and Whole Bean Café.

The city’s landmark retail lo cations include Liberty Candy Company and Sample Pleasures, plus several service businesses in

clude Carpe Diem Salon, Edward Jones Investments and a child psychologist’s practice.

“The new farmers’ market pavilion and our new amphithe ater are both big draws to bring people downtown,” Carden said. “And our goal is to create more festivals and activities here. There are so many people with a Flow ery Branch mailing address who have never been to downtown. We hope to change that.”

Several years ago, the south side of Main Street was rebuilt with street-level retail and restau rant space and second-floor apart ments. “The apartments are all leased, and we’re making great progress in the retail space,” she said.

The area has attracted residen tial growth as well. The Gibson Apartments at the intersection of Phil Niekro Boulevard and I-985 have a high occupancy rate. Two rows of luxury townhomes on the west side of downtown are seeing traction with buyers.

“More than a half-dozen of the 19 row houses are under contract already,” she said. “New infill housing and remodeling of exist ing single-family homes is going on at a good pace as well.”

Carden points to the town’s proximity to Lake Lanier as a benefit for residents. “The lake is only about a half-mile from downtown, an easy walk,” she said. “Along with our access to I985, Flowery Branch is an excel

lent place to live.”

Flowery Branch’s commercial development along Thurmon Tan ner Parkway provides jobs as well as improving the tax base for the city. Retail shopping centers Vil lage Shops of Flowery Branch and Stone Bridge Village on the east side of I-985 make it possible for residents to shop local.

“Part of our vision is to help balance commercial and residen tial growth here in Flowery Branch,” he said. “This will help us keep taxes down and benefit the city and the people living here. It will take some time but getting people involved and ac tive in what we’re doing is a big part of our plan.”

Waterfowl hunting season open

By Pamela A. Keene

A signed posted at Thompson Bridge Park, aka Dunlap’s Land ing, reads, “Caution: Goose Hunt ing Season, September through January.” Yes, it’s true. Waterfowl hunting is allowed on Lake Lanier.

“Goose and waterfowl hunting has always been allowed in cer tain closed parks in accordance with state hunting regulations and laws,” said Tim Rainey, opera tions project manager at the Lake Lanier Corps of Engineers Project Management Office. “Our staff and the department of Natural Re sources Staff discuss and agree which closed areas are suitable for hunting each year.”

Dan Barnes, chief of natural resources for the Corps of Engi neers at Lake Lanier, explained further.

“Waterfowl hunting is an an nual activity on certain public lands,” Barnes said. “We work with the state to help expand hunting opportunities in accor dance with state law.”

Here is the list of Corps’ parks that allow waterfowl hunting: • Allowed in the following closed campgrounds: Duckett Mill, Old Federal, Bald Ridge,

Sawnee and Bolding Mill.

• Allowed in the closed portion of the following Day Use Recre ation Areas: Lanier Park (located in Gwinnett County), Keith’s Bridge, Mountain View, Belton Bridge, Long Hollow, Robinson Park, Nix Bridge, Old Federal, Sardis Creek, Thompson Bridge and Lumpkin County Park.

The intent, Barnes clarified, is to allow people to hunt waterfowl as a food source.

“Since additional parks were closed this year, those parks were added to the discussion,” Rainey said. “Some were identified as suitable and some were not.”

Georgia hunting seasons and limits summaries can be found at eregulations.com/georgia/hunt ing/hunting-seasons-limits-sum mary.

First Responders honored at COE appreciation lunch

By Pamela A. Keene

It has become a tradition for the U.S. Army Corps of Engi neers to host an appreciation lunch for the area’s First Re sponders.

“More than 50 First Respon ders from various agencies around Lake Lanier attended our event this year,” said Tim Baker, treasurer of Friends of Lake Lanier Inc., a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization that sup ports projects of the Corps. “It is just one way that we’re able to show the people who work tirelessly to keep the lake a fun and safe place to live and to enjoy how much they are ap preciated.”

Agencies invited to the luncheon included Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, fire department and 911 operators; Gwinnett City police, fire de partment and 911 operators; Hall County Sheriff’s Office, fire department and 911 opera tors; Gainesville City Police Department; Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, fire depart ment and 911 operators; Lump kin County Sheriff’s Office, fire department and 911 opera

tors; plus Georgia Department of Natural Resources, National Park Service and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Held at Landshark Landing at Margaritaville, the luncheon was funded by Friends of Lake Lanier and area donors.

“By virtue of our Cooperating Association Agreement, we work closely with the Corps at Lake Lanier to support initiatives that they deem essential in the areas of recreation in the campgrounds and parks, water safety, and natu ral resources,” Baker said. “Our mission aligns with theirs.”

Friends of Lake Lanier funds several events each year, includ

ing the three Water Safety Meetings with area First Re sponders in advance of major holidays. It also spearheads the annual Life Jacket

Donation/Loaner program, col lecting new and gently used life jackets that supply the Corp’s 20 Life Jacket Loaner stations located in the parks and camp grounds around the lake.

For more information or to make a donation to Friends of Lake Lanier, visit group’s Face book page. It maintains a web site at www.friendsoflakelanier. org that includes details about its initiatives and how to volun teer.

Asbridge

Thompson Bridge Park is closed for goose hunting.

PHOTO BY VICKI HOPE

Members of the Corps of Engineers’ staff chatted with First Respon ders at the recent appreciation luncheon.

CREDIT US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

Historic Downtown Flowery Branch.

Housing is becoming more available downtown.

PHOTOS BY PAMELA A KEENE

Experts share gardening tips at Hall County Master Gardeners Symposium

It’s not often you can get faceto-face with national and regional gardening experts, so when the Hall County Master Gardeners hosted its Fall Gardening Sympo sium in October, folks from across the state showed up.

Joe Lamp’l, the Joe in www.joegardener.com, headlined the symposium to talk about “Digging Deeper: Ecological Gardening for Beauty and Biodi versity.” As the creator, executive producer and host of the Emmy Award-winning PBS Series “Growing a Greener World,” he frequently shares his garden knowledge on NBC’s “Today Show” and ABC’s “Good Morn ing, America.” His newest book, “The Vegetable Gardening Book,” published by Cool Springs Press, is available on Amazon and through his website, growingagreenerworld.com.

Bart Brechter, curator of the Houston Museum of Fine Arts Gardens, spoke about camellias and azaleas. The museum’s 14acre estate and historic gardens includes 64 cultivars of camellias and 38 azalea varieties.

Hall County’s Nathan Wilson, owner of Lanier Nursery and Gardens, shared his step-by-step process for “Maximizing Your

n MORE INFO: Email: pam@pamelakeene.com

Garden in Three Easy Steps.” The nursery is located at 4195 Schu bert Rd. in Flowery Branch; the website is www.laniernurserygar dens.com.

Lamp’l’s presentation covered several topics, including how to identify “good” pests and “harm ful” garden pests. Many per ceived garden pests look similar to beneficial insects. For exam ple, he pointed out Lady Beetle larva as a beneficial pest that will eat more aphids than the adult Lade Beetle, and it’s look-alike Squash Vine Bore that targets squash at the base of the plant and can eradicate a squash plant be fore it starts producing.

“Less than 3 percent of insects are not beneficial to the garden, so it’s a good idea to know the

difference,” he said.

He recommends determining your action thresholds of how much damage you can tolerate, use manual controls and organic options like insecticidal soap, horticultural oils or diatomaceous earth to avoid killing the benefi cial insects for more sustainable gardening.

Lamp’l promoted composting for ecological gardening, pointing out that around 65 percent of waste that ends up in landfills can

be either recycled or composted.

Food waste, except meat prod ucts, plus household paper, card board and packaging can be composted to create soil that pro motes growth of good organisms, including earthworms.

Lamp’l’s “Online Gardening Academy” offers five multi-ses sion in-depth courses for garden ers of all experience levels. Learn more at https://organicgar deningacademy.com/.

Brechter, son of the late Ron Brechter who was a Hall County Master Gardener for nearly two

decades, shared information about camellias and azaleas and their appeal in the landscape. The late fall- to early spring- bloom ing camellias provide winter blos soms when almost every other plant in the garden is dormant. Although they are not native to North America, they have become synonymous with the South, with more than 30,000 named culti vars.

Like camellias, azaleas prefer slightly acidic soil, which is com mon in north Georgia. If azaleas need pruning, either for rejuvena tion or to manage their size, do so in the spring immediately after the blooms have faded. Pruning for Encore azaleas, which can have three bloom seasons, should also take place in the spring.

Feed camellias and most azal eas in the spring. Encores, how ever, prefer being fertilized in September. Use cotton-seed meal or an Espoma organic product de veloped for acid-loving plants, available at box retailers and area nurseries.

For more information about gardening in North Georgia, visit hallmastergardeners.com. To ac cess plant information from the University of Georgia extension

page 46

Pamela A. Keene Curb Appeal

CREDIT: PAMELA A KEENE

Joe Lamp’l speaks during the Hall County Master Gardeners Fall Gar dening Symposium.

CREDIT: PAMELA A KEENE

Professor Charles Sargent is a popular camellia japonica that blooms from late November until late spring. See Curb,

Renovation means one thing: options to consider

Whether you are undertaking a small DIY project or a major ren ovation or new home build, there are so many components to con sider. Arguably, the most impor tant things are planning and attention to detail. So, what are some of the mistakes I’ve seen happen when remodeling or de signing a home?

Mistake #1: Poor space plan ning

Whether you are remodeling an existing home or building a new one, space planning is key. I have gone into many homes that have too small of a kitchen, mini mal storage space or tiny closets, or just a generally poor design layout. When planning your re model or build, make a list of your top priorities and make sure they are incorporated into the final design. That means, if you love to cook, make sure you have lots of counter and storage space in your kitchen and that the lay out is conducive to moving around easily.

Or maybe you love to enter tain; then you need to make sure you have a living or family room large enough to accommodate a big group of people. You might even consider some outdoor liv

Sara Bagwell Design & Remodel

MORE INFO: tracytesmerremodeling.com

ing space for overflow. Try to minimize dead space in your home, as well. I’ve seen landing areas that never get used, bath rooms that are too big and just have tons of empty floor space or bedrooms with sitting areas that end up becoming closet overflow. Make sure to maximize the floor space in your home so it makes sense and is functional.

Mistake #2: Bad lighting

Another thing I see often is bad lighting throughout a home. The top offenders typically are kitchens and bathrooms. Maybe there is just one dim light in the center of the room, or worse, flu orescent light. When planning your new space consider the three main types of light: task, ambient, and accent lighting. Task lighting

includes undercabinet lighting, sconces, pendants, or lamps. These offer direct, brighter light in work areas. Ambient lighting, or low lighting, is used to light an entire room, like recessed lights, ceiling lights, or sometimes lamps. Finally, accent lighting is used to highlight an area such as a fireplace or gallery wall, or may be just decorative. Good design incorporates a mix of all three types of lighting.

Mistake #3: Incorrect scale

This may pertain to furniture, lighting, appliances, and so many other things. You see it often, the sofa in the living room may be too big that you can barely walk around it, or the rug may be too small and is always sliding out of place. Builders are notorious for putting in tiny pendants over an island in a kitchen. Scale is so im portant in home design, as it can have a huge impact on the feel of the home. Incorrect scale often has the effect of making your home feel smaller. When every thing is to scale, your home will feel balanced and larger. Working with an interior decorator can help a lot. But if you don’t have the budget or time for that, I al ways recommend shopping in

person, so you can truly appreciate the size of things. Ordering online can be very diffi cult to know if the size is right, and you don’t have any assistance like you do in a show room.

Mistake #4: Mismatched style

This one is es pecially true for remodeling but can also apply to new home building. If you are only remodeling one room in your home, make sure it is cohe sive with the rest of your home. No, that doesn’t mean if your home was built in 1974, that your remodeled bathroom needs to still look like 1974. But if the rest of your home is traditional, don’t go ultra modern in one room, and vice versa. The home won’t feel unified and if you decide to sell your home in a few years, might make it harder to sell. There are, however, ways to incorporate newer finishes or style in a room, that can still tie in with the rest of the home. There is something called transitional style that is a

good mix between traditional and contemporary. When it comes to a new home, this can apply to the finishes you choose. If you select more traditional cabinets in the kitchen, try to stick with that throughout the rest of the home, as well.

Remodeling or designing a home is no easy task, but you can learn from others’ mistakes so that the process and experience is smooth and you minimize regret in the end. Your designer, builder, or even friends and family who have been through the process can all help.

Sara Bagwell is a designer for Tracy Tesmer Design/Remod eling in Gainesville.

n

Kitchen lighting is just one of the many options to consider during renovation.

Lake Lanier’s premier

PHOTO: TRACY TESMER DESIGN/REMODELING

BONUS TRAVEL COLUMN

Return to Thailand: Monks, temples, markets and a renewed friendship

By Pamela A. Keene

Although I first visited Thailand seven years ago as part of a 3week Southeast Asia trip through Overseas Adventure Travel, the images I captured and the friendships I made stuck with me. I had stayed in touch with my trip leader on that original jour ney, Leky Ondej, a bit sporadi cally over those years, but I always remembered her kindness, knowledge and friendship.

When the chance to travel to the other side of the world in early October came up, it was a no-brainer to include a week in Bangkok to see my friend again. When we connected through a Facebook call last spring, it was like we’d seen each other only yesterday. And when I told her why I was calling, she was thrilled to agree to be our guide through Bangkok once again.

This time it was different: My friend and fellow journalist Chris tine Tibbetts would have Leky all to ourselves for private tours. While I was able to make many photos and reminisce about my earlier trip, Leky and Christine conversed in depth about the cul ture, the religion and the customs of this ancient country.

Memories return

Being back in Bangkok brought back memories of monks, temples, numerous corner shrines to Buddha, street food, an ancient skyline punctuated by modern skyscrapers, and very friendly

people.

Leky secured our very afford able hotel in Bangkok close to public transportation, a welcome change to stay put for consecutive nights after one-night stays in Bhutan. As we checked in, she in troduced us to Anouk, who would be the trip leader for an Overseas Adventure Travel group just ar riving from the U.S. It felt like old home week visiting with fel low travelers and knowing from my earlier Southeast Asia trip what the next three weeks would hold for them.

Leky had prepared a compre hensive but flexible itinerary. It included some of the sites I had seen the last time, but it was also filled with surprises, new people to meet and other spectacular places to see. With only three of us, we were able to journey to more places and spend more time there.

Transportation included the fa miliar tut-tuts, three-wheeled mo torized vehicles that dart in and out of traffic with much the same grace as motorcycles. They’re much quicker than taxis, and while they may cost a little more, that’s offset by the open-air ride and the fun. We rode the very modern sky train from one end of the city to the next. We took taxis a couple of times and Leky arranged for a nice roomy van for our day to visit the floating mar ket, the runaway market and a few other sites.

Venice of the East

The Chao Phraya River runs through Bangkok into the Gulf of Thailand. Al though the river was flooded as were parts of the city and the outly ing areas we rode in both larger

boats and smaller craft, depend ing on where our journey took us. We passed by barges, riverboats and private vessels. We also trav eled along the city’s canals; in some circles Bangkok is called the Venice of the East.

Our first day we visited the Jim Thompson House, residence and headquarters for the famous American silk merchant whose life is surrounded in mystery. A veteran of World War II, from the 1950s until the late 1960s, he lived in Bangkok across a canal from the many silk weavers, real izing that his business acumen and design sense could revitalize the Thai silk industry.

The story goes that on March 26, 1967, he disappeared while visiting friends outside the city. An extensive search turned up no clues. But his legend and his amazing silk creations live on in the Jim Thompson House Mu seum and the Jim Thompson Art Center. His silk was used to make the costumes in the original “The King and I” musical film, starring

Yul Brenner.

Of course, the Floating Market is a must-visit, although with re cent rains the water ran about 3-5 feet higher than usual. That didn’t stop the vendors who lined the concrete piers in the canals from hawking their wares from cloth ing to spices, souvenirs to food. Some vendors sold from their hand-hewn boats, providing co conut ice cream, noodles and typ ical Thai fare.

A moving market

The Runaway Market, set up along the train tracks ink the nearby town of Samut Songkhram was quite a surprise. Vendors selling fresh meats, pre pared meals, fruits, vegetables, clothing, shoes and souvenirs filled the spaces within inches of the track. As the train left the sta tion, vendors scrambled to move their wares 3 to 4 feet away from the track, just to put it all back in place once the train passed. This happens several times a day.

We visited the tallest stupa in Thailand in Leky’s hometown of

Nakhon Pathom. Stupas, tall tow ers that can be gold-covered, studded in porcelain and clay flowers, or plaster, can be found in many Buddhist countries. Built to hold religious relics and draw Buddhists to mediation, they can range from a couple of feet tall to the one she shared, which stands more than 395 feet tall on a base with a circumference of over 770 feet.

The Grand Palace can be over whelming with its nearly 50 buildings in the 53-acre complex. Its central attraction, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is actu ally made of jade. Nearby, the temple of the Reclining Buddha features a golden Buddha in the Nirvana position. At 148 feet long, it is one of the most famous Buddha statues in the world.

One morning, we rose before dawn for traditional almsgiving at a nearby temple. Each day, the monks who live in the temples rely on alms for their daily meals. Members of the community and other visitors provide fresh fruit, cooked rice, prepared meals and other foods that will be eaten at one of their two daily meals breakfast and lunch that must be eaten before noon. The rest of the time, the monks fast.

Later we visited another tem ple where the monks prayed and chanted each afternoon. Hearing the droning tones aids in medita tion and focus for their singular lives of service and reverence.

A Chinatown?

Leky had more in store for us, including a visit to “Hidden Bangkok,” where many tourists

The Chao Phraya River is a major shipping route. When large barges move through it, multiple tugboats come together to make the journey easier.

PHOTOS: PAMELA A KEENE

The modern architecture of Bangkok overwhelms the imagination and defies gravity.

The Temple of the Dawn on the west side of the Chao Phraya River. Right: An elaborate spire on a temple in the Reclining Buddha complex, built in the 16th century is decorated with colorful hand-crafted porcelain flowers.

never come. In the heart of the city, we were surprised to find an active Chinatown, bustling with vendors, restaurants, shops and street markets all with signs written in Chinese. For lunch, we were the only tourists in the crowded restaurant where we had typical Chinese fare of Peking Duck. As we left, I noticed a pair of roasted ducks hanging in a heated case waiting to feed the next customers.

Our time in Bangkok passed much too quickly, but Christine and I left with precious memories of this amazing city and its cul ture. Best of all, when Leky dropped us off at the airport, it was with the promise to see her again. Maybe next time, she’ll come to see me in Northeast Georgia and I can introduce her to our lives near Lake Lanier and the mountains, and of course, the rest of the South.

BONUS TRAVEL COLUMN

A souvenir selling merchant stands knee-deep in water in the flooded Floating Market.

Pure gold leaf, roof finials resem bling the beaks of birds, and spires representing crowns adorn sacred buildings.

Floating Market food vendors prepare and serve delicious meals from their boats.

Floating Market food vendors sell fresh ba nanas and street food includes saffron rice and deep-fried chicken wings.

Who doesn’t like ice cream? These young girls took a break for a cooling afternoon treat.

This colorful building along the banks of the Chao Phraya River is an over exaggeration of Thai ar chitecture.

After a morning rain, a youngster plays with a red scarf near his home in a quieter part of Bangkok.

Western culture permeates Bangkok including this man who sports a cowboy hat and colorful shirt.

A train passes through the Runaway Market, forcing ven dors to move their wares away from the tracks.

My friend Leky Ondej points out a destination on a map of the river.

The Reclining Buddha’s feet are almost 10 feet high and nearly 15 feet long from toes to heel.

Elaborately decorated statues stand guard at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, left. Monks in afternoon prayer, right.

Faces of Thailand.

The new normal, balanced real estate market

By Bev Knight

When people hear the word “recession,” they automatically assume the housing market is going to crash. Rest assured, that is NOT the case this time. In fact, real estate often stays steady dur ing a recession. The extreme housing challenges of 2008-09 were mostly due to a mortgage crisis which will not be repeated this time.

A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of a decline in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and we saw that this year. While the news outlets report the looming recession like it’s Godzilla at the city gates, many factors indicate it is likely to be

mild. Employment right now is near record highs. The two de clines in GDP were modest. There is still a shortage of inven tory, so demand still exceeds sup ply. The problem right now is with mortgage rates which follow inflation. The Fed froze these for several months while inflation was starting to rise.

Once the freeze was lifted, the rates rose quickly to catch up with the inflation. In January of 2022, the rate was around 3.5% for a 30-year fixed mortgage with 10% down. In mid-November of 2022, the rate is around 6.2%. Don’t follow the crowd and let this deter you from buying a home. It does not mean your

mortgage payments have doubled because there are other factors in play. One of Warren Buffett’s most famous quotes advises us to be, “fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.” Too many people are fearful, so now’s your chance.

During the seller’s market frenzy of the past few years, there was such a shortage of homes for sale and unprecedented demand from buyers looking to escape the crowded cities during the pan demic, almost every transaction resulted in multiple offers, no contingencies, and a sales price well above list price. Homes were purchased without inspections, fi nancing or sales contingencies were almost unheard-of, and buy ers took big risks with every transaction.

Today, we are shifting back to a normal market where sales prices are often below list, contin gencies are tolerated and most importantly, virtually all contracts include a due diligence inspection period. Consider the accompany ing chart.

As you can see, payments have not doubled, and we can all bene fit from a normalized market. First and foremost, the transac

tions are safer be cause you can now have inspections and contingencies. If you find a big problem during due diligence, you do not have to lose your earnest money to get out of the contract. These days, buyers are not required to have cash to “win the bid” on a home. Contingencies are likely to be al lowed. Unless the home is already priced below mar ket value, buyers often get a percentage off the list price as well as other considera tions. If the house has a major flaw, the current owner will prob ably have to fix it before closing which saves the buyer a world of money and headaches. For just a little more money a month, buy ers can live their dream on Lake Lanier and without losing sleep over hidden defects. Plus, there are definitely mortgage programs that can lower your rate.

Prices have come down a bit;

but especially on the lake, they may not fall much more. Sellers are not going back to pre-frenzy prices. Many of the factors that drove the prices up, including big-city crime, traffic, ability to work at home, stay-cation mental ity, etc., are still present. Yes, rates have gone up, but experts predict that they will be around 5% by the beginning of 2023, and the pent-up demand created dur ing the buying lull (caused by ris

See Knight, page 46

• Knight

Continued from Page 45

ing rates) will drive the market. If you want to kick yourself for not selling during the frenzy, consider this. Yes, you might have sold the house for a little more, but then you’d have to turn around and buy a house in the same seller’s market. What you gained as a seller, you’d likely lose as a buyer. Today, sellers probably have more equity in their homes than ever, and ap praisals are more likely to come in at the sales price. Plus, buyers are less likely to bail on the transaction if they feel like they are paying a fair market value. This was a problem during the frenzy.

A normal, balanced real estate market is better for all of us.

Most of the time, if you’re sell ing you’re probably buying, too; and buying was a chal lenge for everyone. It is best to work in a healthy market where contingencies are the norm and transactions are likely to close. Stay calm, ig nore the negative press, and enjoy living on the lake. Your investment is safe.

Mendes

Continued from Page 14

country. Also, the import tariff was 100 percent, so smuggling was a lucrative business, (if you didn’t get caught), so border security was extremely tight.

The premise was that the yacht would tow a buoy at very slow speed. A safety diver with a spare full scuba tank would be secured about 20 feet below the buoy. Baldesare would swim submerged behind the buoy.

the Naval Air Station and used a Navy truck to transport it the hun dred or so miles to the take off point. None of us were in uniform because if there was a problem, the Navy would disavow any knowledge of our involvement.

within 300 miles of the strait, but nobody mentioned that!

visit extension.uga.edu/publications.

Next month: Learn how to maximize your garden from Nathan Wilson, owner of Lanier Nursery and Gardens and speaker at the Hall County Master Gar

Bev Knight is lead agent for the Good Life Group, specializing in lake proper ties in North Georgia. Visit www.houseson lanier.net.

Knight

Every half hour a second diver would go into the water and the two of them would exchange a new air tank for the one Baldesare had been using. The first diver would come back aboard, and the new diver would assume the duty as safety man for the next half hour until the process was re peated. Baldesare would remain underwater for the entire distance. If he broke the surface at any time, the dive was finished, and the challenge would be considered a failure.

When we arrived at the Spanish Naval base, we found that the ad miral in charge did not speak Eng lish. I was the only one of our crew who was fluent in both Castilian as well as Andalusian Spanish. You can imagine how cool I felt as a lowly Third-Class Gunners Mate conversing with these commanders, captains, and admirals!

The dive went off without a hitch, and everything worked out exactly as planned. When you’re working with a bunch of guys who deal with explosives on a regular basis, you know attention to detail is impeccable. You don’t get a sec ond chance if something goes wrong.

deners Fall Symposium.

Pamela A. Keene is senior writer for Lakeside News and a Hall County Master Gardener. She also writes for more than a dozen publications across the country, covering features, travel and gardening.

Our support team consisted of about a dozen sailors, including a Navy photographer. We had all our dive gear plus a large air compres sor and battery of air storage cylin ders with a manifold to recharge our scuba tanks. We had scrounged all this equipment from

Once we had all the equipment aboard the yacht and were ready to go, Baldesare held a press confer ence. He was a consummate show man and obviously had done this before. He showed off all his ultramodern dive gear (most of it was much better than ours, since we were still using stuff left over from the Korean War)! He also had a “bang stick” for repelling sharks! This consisted of a three-foot long pole with a 12-gauge shotgun shell mounted on the end. If a shark got within range of the stick, you just poked it at its side and goodbye shark! Now, there were no sharks

Although we started directly across from French Morocco, the current swept us through the strait to Spanish Morocco. The total dis tance was about 25 miles, although Baldesare only had to swim eight miles because of the current be hind us. The entire swim lasted about eight hours.

The Spanish newspapers were delighted that he had swum from Spain to Spanish Morocco and had a field day! From my viewpoint as a 20-year-old kid, this was the thrill of a lifetime! Little did I know that there would be many more thrills to come!

Mendes has been sailing all his life and on Lake Lanier for the past 25 years. His family owns a marina/bar/restaurant so he has plenty of real life experiences to draw from. His favorite line: “You can’t make this stuff up.”

o Lantern Walk: Tinkergarden Pop-Up Trail Class, Gainesville. Families make lanterns and walk the garden, 3-4 p.m. Dec. 1, Gainesville Garden of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1911 Sweet Bay Dr. Garden admission. www.at lantabg.org, 404-888-4760.

o Cravin’ Bacon Walk, Braselton. Walk and explore downtown Braselton, stop at participat ing shops for bacon, VIP tickets for bourbon tasting. 4-9 p.m. Dec. 1, www.braselton.net.

o Dash Away 5K, Dawsonville. 8:30 a.m. Dec. 3, Veterans Memorial Park, 186 Recreation Rd. $30-$35. www.fivestarntp.com.

o Dirty Spokes Fort Yargo Cannonball Run, Winder. 3.10/8.75-mile trail running race, 8 a.m. Dec. 3, Fort Yargo State Park, 210 S. Broad St. $35-$50. www.dirtyspokes.com.

o Cumming Half Marathon/5K. 7:30/8:30 a.m. Dec. 4, Cumming Fairgrounds, 260 Castleberry Rd. $40-$75. www.runnersfit.com.

o Full Moon Suspension Bridge Hike, Tallu lah Falls. 1.5 mile night hike down 310 stairs to suspension bridge over falls, 5:15-6:45 p.m. Dec. 7, Tallulah Gorge State Park, 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Dr. $10, plus $5 parking. Register in advance. www.gastateparks.org, 706-754-7981.

o Festive Hike, Helen. Naturalist-led hike up Laurel Ridge to learn about winter flora and fauna associated with the holiday season, 1112:30 a.m. Dec. 10, Smithgall Woods State Park, 61 Tsalaki Trl. $5 parking. www.gas tateparks.org, 706-878-3087.

o Jingle Jog 5K/Kids Fun Run, Cumming. 8:30/9:30 a.m. Dec. 11, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd. $25-$35. www.runnersfit.com.

o Beginner Archery, Tallulah Falls. Learn to shoot an arrow or improve your skills, 1-2:30 p.m. Dec. 17, Tallulah Gorge State Park, 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Dr. Must be strong enough to pull 30- pound bow. $5 parking. www.gas

tateparks.org, 706-754-7981.

o Run Rudolph Fun Run/5K, Flowery Branch. 8:45/9 a.m. Dec. 17, Flowery Branch Depot, 5302 Railroad Ave. $20-$30. www.run nersfit.com.

o Reindeer Dash 5K/Fun Run, Dahlonega. 8/9 a.m. Dec. 17, Hancock Park, 55 N. Meaders St. $20-$35. www.fivestarntp.com.

o Reindeer Run 5K/10K, Buford. 8:30 a.m. Dec. 17, 301 E. Main St. $30-$40. www.fives tarntp.com.

o Santa Shuffle 5K/Kids’ Fun Run, Cum ming. 8:30/9:15 Dec. 24, Cumming City Cen ter, 423 Canton Rd. $25-$37. www.runnersfit.com.

On-Going

o Group Runs, Gainesville. Run with Lanier Running Club, starters to elites, 5:30 p.m. Tues days, Liquid Nation Brewing, 2100 Atlanta Hwy. Check website/Facebook page for up dates. www.lanierrunningclub.org.

o Canoe/Kayak/SUP Rentals, Gainesville. Canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard rentals, reserve via email 48 hours in advance for pad dling Monday, Tuesday Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings, Lake Lanier Olympic Park, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd. $20-$30 per hour, $10 for additional hours, maximum 4 hours. info@lckc.org.

o First Visit Tour, Helen. Guided van tour of Smithgall Woods State Park to see covered bridge, Duke’s Creek, park cottages and more, 10-11 a.m. first Saturdays, Smithgall Woods State Park, 61 Tsalaki Trl. $5 parking. Dona tions welcome. Reservations required. www.gastateparks.org, 706-878-3087.

o Flowery Branch Winter Farmers Market 2nd and 4th Thursdays through April 27, 5301 Railroad Ave. www.flowerybranchga.org. compiled by Jane Harrison