LakesideOnLanierFebruary2012

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February 2012

3292 Thompson Bridge Road #250, Gainesville, GA 30506 Phone: (770) 287-1444 Fax: (770) 287-1445 E-mail lakesidenews@mindspring.com

Vol. 18 Issue 2

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Collegiate crews head to Lanier The University of Virginia crew brought its largest contingent ever to Lake Lanier in January for winter break practice. The 65-member squad was the first of about 15 collegiate crews heading for Lake Lanier for pre-season conditioning. Page 16

Annexation request denied The City of Oakwood will pursue other links to Lake Lanier after the Hall County Commission’s denial of its request to annex county roads leading to the lake. Commissioners on Jan. 26 unanimously voted down a proposal by the South Hall city to annex county roads that the city sought to gain lake access. Page 17

Reynolds Plantation Listening to the mellow trumpet sounds of world-renowned musician Phil Driscoll as I peered across Lake Oconee from the exclusive Reynolds Plantation in the fading light, I thought to myself, “This is the way to live!” Page 48 Also inside: Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 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 Association news . .Page Lake Lanier Olympic Venue . . .Page Lake levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page Lanier map . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page Marinas information . . . . . . . .Page Outdoor activity calendar . . . .Page Power Squadron column . . . . . .Page Sailing calendar . . . . . . . . . . .Page Shore lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page Steve Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . .Page US Coast Guard Auxiliary . . . . .Page

49 54 34 20 55 51 22 45 6 24 51 16 24 52 40 43 31 34 46 51 10

PHOTO BY JANE HARRISON

View of Longwood Cove from the lakeside walk. On a clear day, North Georgia mountains are visible. For a photographic tour of Rock Creek Greenway Trail, see page 42.

For more listings, see our ad on page 9.

2 LAKESIDE

February 2012

Norton Native Intelligence: are we thirsty yet? 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 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.

By Pamela A. Keene The eyes of North Georgia business and political leaders focused on Frank Norton Jr. in midJanuary for his annual Native Intelligence report.

With residential real estate continuing to be less than robust, the majority of Norton’s 2012 forecast focused on housing, finances and growth in the region.

However, his No. 3 Top 10 Trend will hit home for Lakeside on Lanier readers. Simply titled “Water,” the section is among the shortest in the report. With provocative sub-headline “Are We Thirsty Yet?” repeated, Norton said he was “dumbfounded with a large number of public officials and private citizens’ general lack of urgency with respect to water.

“By and large, over the last 18 months, it seems Georgia’s water czars are slow playing the dealt cards and sitting on their hands,” he said.

“The aqua clock has been hit with a snooze button, but our liq-

uid neutron bomb still ticks on.”

Norton called on elected officials to make some moves, even though Georgia’s Water Negotiations are headed for the US Supreme Court.

“The pressure valve of immediate growth has been relieved,” he said, because the number of housing permits in Atlanta for 2011 was only 5,300, compared with more than 42,000 at the housing peak. “We must have a plan, an integrated plan for providing Georgia’s economy and its thirsty demographics with sustainable, clean, fresh water sources.”

While the Lake Lanier Association is working to raise Lanier’s full pool from 1071 to 1073 to increase storage capacity, Norton has proposed digging the lake deeper.

“It makes too much sense to dig out the 15 to 20 percent of Lanier’s storage capacity filled with 50 years of silt in an existing EPA-approved reservoir versus waiting 10 to 15 years for government permission for a new reservoir,” he said.

“This restores 61 to 92 billion gallons of storage capacity. The

by-product of digging it deeper is it puts thousands of grading contractors back to work and cranks up both idle machinery and the economy.”

Norton also mentioned the options of adding two more feet to the lake’s full-pool to create another 28 billion gallons, the equivalent of 20 future reservoirs (that may be) built decades away in Middle Georgia; working at the

same time to create a network of regional reservoirs; and rewarding development and redevelopment projects that create substantial water conservation initiatives through Georgia Tax Credits.

The full report is posted at the website listed below and may be downloaded free.

MORE INFO: www.nortoncommercial.com

N E E D C A S H F O R H O L I D AY B I L L S ?

J E W E L R Y PAW N LO A N S

AT LO W 9 . 9 %

(COMPARE THAT TO OUR COMPETITORS 25%)

PARKWAY PAWN Most $ Paid for Jewelry, Silverware, Gold & Silver Coins!

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www.pawnrelief.com

334 Dahlonega St. • Cumming

February 2012

LAKESIDE 3

Please visit www.livingonlakelanier.com to view all of our listings! These are just a few!!!

INFO 24/7

Call 678-835-9331 Then enter the corresponding

5 digit ID#

POTENTIAL SHORT SALE! 3/2 w/kitchen in terrace level too! Large detached garage, sunroom, rec rm & grandfathered road to lake!

Single slip dock permit. Dolvin Lane ID#18295 REDUCED TO $339,000

Teresa Smith Lake Lanier Specialist • Lake Lanier Resident Founding member of Lake Lanier Realtors Association

770-654-4173 • 678-318-5026

FURNISHED COTTAGE ON CHESTATEE BAY! Charming 2/2 great for a weekend or a full time. Open floor plan w/vaulted ceilings in great room & wood burning stove. New windows.

Sunroom overlooking the lake as well as a fabulous deck for grilling and entertaining! Great storage and workroom in the terrace level. Grass to the water and single slip boat house. $249,900

Atlanta Partners Each Keller Williams office is independently owned and operated.

3 GORGEOUS LAKE LOTS in North Hall school district. Single slip docks. Buy now and build later. Harbour View Ct ID#12875. Priced from $139,900-$199,900. Please call for info.

4, SOLD EFT BIN L

1 CA ITH ONLY OTS W L 3 & SLIPS K C O D

NEW FORECLOSURE IN CHESTATEE GOLF CLUB ON LAKE LANIER. Covered or uncovered dock slips available.

Remarkable 4/5.5 on full basement, hardwood floors on main & tile flooring in all baths. Kitchen has oversized island w/granite countertops, wet bar & opens to fireside keeping room. Master suite on main w/ his & hers vanities & closets. Outdoor living areas include large front porch w/ fireplace. Sold 'as-is’. $469,900

4 bedroom, 2 bath log cabin on south lake. Fully furnished! Deeded boat slip in community dock.

Lots with boat slip from $69,900-$99,000. $228,900 Lake Cabins ID#12815

4/3 better than new craftsman style lake home, 3 fin flrs. Beautiful year round views and drought proof water, top quality thruout. Let Lake Lanier entertain you. 24 x 28 S/S dock w/party deck. Sunset views.

Grant Ford Road ID#16675 $499,000

R UNDE T! AC R T N CO BRAND NEW LAKE LOT FORECLOSURE. One of Lanier's last true lake lots with double slip dock permit. 1.37 acres in quiet cove. Gentle walk to lake in elite, gated community! Club house, pool, and tennis! Build your dream home on this appealing site! Cumberland on Lanier ID#12905 $111,100

LAKE LOTS AVAILABLE in fantastic gated subdivision of 18 homesites on Lake Lanier. Lot sizes range from 1.5 acres to 2.46 acres. Gorgeous 24 slip community dock: FREE deeded slip in community dock w/purchase of a lot.

Subdivision offers swimming pool/bath house and stone hot tub overlooking the lake! Fabulous community pavilion with gas grill. Owner financing available. FANTASTIC opportunity to use dock now and build later! Prices start at $149,000. Please call information line for details and updated pricing information. Watermark Cove ID#16885

R UNDE T! AC R T N CO

FORECLOSURE LISTING! 17 ACRES BEAUTIFUL, PRIVATE MINI-ESTATE W/MOUNTAIN VIEW!! Gorgeous 4BR/ 5.5BA stone home. Soaring ceiling w/timber beams in gr rm. Exquisite Master suite.

Teen/in-law suite above 3 car garage.

Fabulous exterior porch w/FP and kitchen overlooking wood, creek and Skitts Mountain. Great for horses! $629,950

R UNDE T! AC R T N CO BEST PRICE IN HARBOUR POINT! POTENTIAL SHORT SALE! Fabulous 4/4.5 with gourmet kitchen. This home is professionally decorated and shows like a model home! Boat slip option is available for additional $35K. Enjoy fantastic lake views from most every room. Enjoy your morning coffee on the screened porch overlooking the lake.

Harbour Point Parkway ID#16825 $725,000

R UNDE T! AC R T N CO NEW FORECLOSURE! 3/3.5 with interior pool.

Large great room great room and kitchen. 3 levels.

Community dock and boat ramp. Please call for info. Quiet Place in the Woods ID#18395 $169,900

R UNDE T! AC R T N CO APPROVED SHORT SALE PRICE. Biltmore on Lanier. Private 3.5 acre setting w/3 dbl slip dock permits. 7BR/7.5BAs, pool, pond. Incredible structure, one of a kind, very private w/gentle slope to water & panoramic views. Built in 2006. Needs approximately $350,000 to get back to the FABULOUS state it was once in! Priced to sell quickly. Sold 'asis.' No disclosures. Grant Ford ID#18305 $1,399,999. MUST call for appt.

4 LAKESIDE

February 2012

THE PATTI CHAMBERS TEAM THE LAKE PROPERTY YOU’VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF MAY NOW BE AFFORDABLE ... CALL

Heritage Real Estate • The Chambers Team

US!

675 EE Butler Pkwy. • Gainesville, GA 30501

www.PattiChambers.com • Office 770-538-4000

$515,000

$625,000

$1,399,000 $1,199,000

$575,000 $465,000

GREAT HOME ON LANIER. Always deep water! Very private in cul-de-sac and acres of corps property on sides. Gorgeous kitchen w/granite Awesome master bath. 2fps, tall ceilings & lots of windows. Single slip dock w/party deck. Call Patti.

STUNNING CITY LAKE HOME built in 2008. Double slip covered dock, open floor plan, tall ceilings, hardwood floors, granite & stainless, plantation shutters, finished terrace level, walk in closets, 3 car garage. New to the market. Appointment only.

LAKE ESTATE home w/great views, superb plan & great architectural detail w/barrel ceilings, year round views. Huge DR, master on main, gourmet kitchen, finished terrace level, 3 FP’s, wine cellar.

Near Chattahoochee Country Club/golf course.

6BR/5.5 BA. Call Patti or Patsy.

NEW LISTING. MAGNIFICENT LAKE HOME ON "THE ISLAND". Breathtaking views, convenient city location, custom designed, tall ceilings, granite counters, large open rooms, 3 FP’s, 2 laundry rooms, community pool. Perfect for entertaining. Call Patti.

$465,000 $365,000

$900,000

$1,295,000

$995,000 $899,000

BEATIFUL CRAFTSMAN STYLE Lake home in the City. 1.14 acres, single slip covered dock w/hydrohoist lift. 4BR/3BA, living room, dining room, beautiful kitchen, finished terrace level. This home has everything! Priced Below Recent Appraisal. Call Beverly or Sally.

NEW !

G N I T S LI GREATEST LAKE HOUSE! Never been on the market before. Builder’s personal home. Quality thruout. 3 Bedrooms, 3 Baths, 2 fireplaces. Level grassed yards. Lots of privacy. Mt. Vernon/North Hall. Call Patti.

AN EXTRAORDINARY PRIVATE 4.74 ACRES on Lake Lanier. Deep water, This property is being sold as one tract yet there are 2 beautiful sites for homes and 2 docks in place. Over 1,000 feet on the water.

Very Gentle terrain with fantastic views!

ON THE BANKS OF THE CHESTATEE RIVER. Fish in your backyard year round. This stately brick home is sited on 4+ beautifully wooded acres w/awesome sounds of the shoals & breathtaking views of the river. Private & gated as it is situated at the end of the cul-de-sac. Serene pond, walking trails, cutting gardens, gorgeous native landscaping plus a granite cliff borders the other side of the river. Call Patti.

$639,000 $579,000

$389,500 $374,500

$472,900 $299,000

$849,000

D L O S

NEW !

G N I T LIS

BEAUTIFUL DEEP WATER Lake Property w/wide open views. Gentle slope. Situated in cul-de-sac.

Completely fenced. Finished terrace level. Very nice boat dock w/hydrohoist and party deck, jet ski lifts.

Call Patti.

A VERY SPECIAL HOME overflowing with custom features. Everything on one level plus unfinished partial basement. Gentle walk to single sip covered boat dock. Great Room w/fp & built-ins, updated kitchen & baths, lots of HW floors. Back porch and 2 decks. Professionally decorated and it shows.

You must see inside! Call Patti.

CITY LAKE HOME near Chattahoochee Country Club. Gentle lot & covered boat dock with party deck. Great neighborhood & great curb appeal. Culde-sac street. 4BR/2.5 BA. Call Beverly or Sally.

ENJOY ONE LEVEL LIVING in this very special lake home on 1.75 acres of complete privacy! 9' ceilings, exposed beams, 3 BR/3BAs on main, 2BRs/1BA on terrace level. 3 FPs, screened porch. Very gradual lot & always deep water. Covered boat dock. 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 • Beverly O. Filson c 678.897.9578 • Office 770.538.4002

WWW.PATTICHAMBERS.COM

February 2012

LAKESIDE 5

Sheila Davis

www.LakeLaniersFinest.com The Norton Agency 434 Green Street, Gainesville, GA 30501

Don’t Miss Out on the Best Lake Market in Years!

770.536.1250 THE POWER TO PERFORM

770-235-6907 • sdavis@nortonnorthga.com

$1,350,000 - REDUCED FROM $1,697,000

STUNNING LAKE ESTATE IN LUXURY GATED NEIGHBORHOOD WITH PRIVATE DEEP WATER TWIN SLIP DOCK! Amazing value with 6BR/6.5B with finished terrace level with custom bar, game room, wine cellar, wine bar, 2nd master, PLUS gunite pool & spa overlooking the lake! 4174 CUMBERLAND DR., GAINESVILLE

$1,299,000

$1,200,000

!

NG PENDI RESORT LIVING WITH PRIVATE DOCK IN CHESTATEE! Magnificent 5BR craftsman lakefront home. Level walk to s-slip party dock! Amazing quality and detail. Vaulted ceilings, tongue and groove, open plan with custom cabinetry. Screened porch w/FP. Finished terrace level with bar, fitness rm, guest suite. All the bells and whistles in a great lake home, and a minute from the golf course! New price. 130 HOLLY DRIVE, DAWSONVILLE FMLS#4225719

RENOVATIONS COMPLETE! IDEAL LAKE SETTING AND LOCATION ON SOUTH LAKE IN CUMMING! Huge privacy and beautiful year round south lake views! 5BR/4.5BAs. Three finished levels. 32x32 party dock on deep water area of Young Deer Creek and Pilgrim Mill Rd. 5BR/4.5BA. 3940 TAMIAMI TRAIL, CUMMING 30041 FMLS#4080051

PREMIER HARBOUR POINT MODEL HOME WITH LAKE VIEWS & BOAT SLIP OPTION! Three finished levels of luxury appointments for entertaining! Fabulous terrace level w/ inlaw suite, fitness, billiards room. Big lot. Was $1.2M, REDUCED for quick sell.

3314 HARBOUR POINT PRKY, GAINESVILLE FMLS#4043450

IMPECCABLE CRAFTSMAN LAKE HOME WITH TWIN SLIP PERMIT! SOLD FULLY FURNISHED! Forsyth County, shows brand new. Vaulted T & G ceiling, stone FP, custom kitchen, finished terrace level with gentle walk to dock! Chestatee Bay area. Excellent condition. 9925 JERNIGAN DR., GAINESVILLE (FORSYTH) FMLS#4218332

$339,000

$299,000

GREAT LAKE VIEWS AND DEEP WATER! GET-A-WAY TO THE LAKE IN THIS CHARMING 2BR COTTAGE SO CLOSE TO THE WATER WITH TWIN SLIP DOCK PERMIT! Boathouse in place, new paint in and out, and carpet. Basement for expansion! FMLS# 4267857

PICTURESQUE INCREDIBLE DEEP WATER LOT WITH FANTASTIC YEAR ROUND VIEWS! ENJOY CABIN NOW, OR BUILD! Single slip dock. DEEP water. 9335 LONG HOLLOW, GAINESVILLE, FORSYTH COUNTY 30506 FMLS# 4294965

$769,000

NORTH HALL LAKE HOME! GREAT VIEWS, GENTLE TOPO AND DEEP WATER DOCK! Fabulous 4BR/3.5B on finished terrace level w/sunroom and screened porch. 3 car garage. Tons of privacy and parking! Single slip in place, but upgradable to twin slip dock. Close to I-985, Lakeview Academy and hospitals. 3342 WILKERSON, GAINESVILLE

$599,000

$649,000

$799,000

$595,000

CHARMING LAKEFRONT HOME IN ‘CHESTATEE’ WITH PRIVATE S-SLIP DOCK! Great lake views and drought proof water.

4BR/3.5B with open plan, upgraded great room, sunroom, Finished terrace level with BR/B and game room. Private setting close to golf and GA Outlets! 120 HOLLY DR, DAWSNVILLE 30534 FMLS# 4297665

A LAKE HOUSE WITH ROOM FOR EVERYONE! GREAT SOUTH LOCATION and LAKE VIEWS! Three finished levels. Separate apartment. S-Slip DEEP water. Two kitchens & laundries, 3 screened porches. Orig price $719,000. 7BR/5B. 4709 VIRGINIA ST., OAKWOOD, 30566 FMLS# 4259974

$475,000

WIDE OPEN VIEWS AND GRASS TO WATER ON PEACEFUL NORTH END!! INCREDIBLE!! Charming and well maintained 3BR cottage with twin slip aluminum party dock! 946 LIBERTY CHURCH, DAWSONVILLE FMLS# 4305845

REDUCED! $299,000

$299,000

!

G N I D PEN COZY AND UPDATED 3/2 COTTAGE IN NORTH HALL CLARKS BRIDGE AREA! GRASS TO WATER & PRIVATE SETTING. Sslip dock and screened porch! 3569 STANCIL RD, GAINESVILLE 30506 FMLS# 4254736

CHARMING COTTAGE with 4BR/3B and private s-slip dock!

3545 MILL LANE

NOW ACCEPTING NEW LISTINGS. CALL ME TODAY!

6 LAKESIDE

February 2012

Time to map out your spring fishing strategy OK, I know that it’s still February, a lot of us have not been fishing through the winter and we’re ready to go. Things start to happen in late February and it’s time to map out your spring time strategy. This month’s article will focus on a few things you can do to be prepared and some of the patterns you’ll not want to miss out on.

If you’ve not devoted any time to tackle maintenance since last fall (or longer) now is the time to take care of business. Nearly everyone has a reel or two that isn’t working as well as it should, but does not quite warrant discarding. As a result, the reel gathers dust. This is a great time to take it to your local tackle shop for repair. In my experience, tackle repair facilities are slammed when nice spring weather breaks and it pays to be ahead of the curve. Any shop you deal with should contact you to provide a price quote before proceeding with repair. Most repairs involve cleaning and a nominal fee is typically charged for this service. Getting an older reel up to speed doesn’t cost much compared to a new purchase.

On that subject, this month is a

If your tackle storage system does not look like a system, reorganization is the order of the day.

Tommy Clean up, and get rid of old stuff.

Wilkinson Sell things you don’t use at your spring yard sale or give items to Casting kids who love to fish.

Lanier Get ready for crappie After observing behavior in a tackle shop for 16 years, I can tell great time to purchase that new you that crappie fishermen are the reel as major retailers launch first to wake up for spring with spring sale events. One local regood reason. This time of year, tailer offers a fantastic trade in the crappie section is often filled program that gives you credit for with customers selecting lead older reels in working condition. heads, miniature plastic baits, and The trade reels are donated to the everything else it takes to reel in DNR and given to kids at fishing these tasty panfish. Crappie fishrodeos all over the state. What’s ing can get hot in the middle of not to like about that? If you’ve February and should be “on” by not replaced the line on all your the end of the month. I’m referreels, go ahead and get it done. I ring to the pre-spawn phase when am a big fan of stripping half the these fish congregate in large conline off reels and splicing in new centrations under boat docks. product. This saves money and Savvy anglers target these schools that’s a good thing. But, it’s worth with tiny tube jigs. One and a half noting that most bass fishing reels inch models are the most popular. will serve double duty for These are rigged on lead heads stripers. Be sure to strip all the with typical weights of 1/32nd to line off these and replace with 1/16th ounce. Use the lightest 100 percent new product. As an weight you can get away with. A ongoing practice, it’s safe to reslow fall is the key to success. place half the spool but I recomOne way to up the weight some mend getting a fresh start every and still achieve a slower fall is to three months or so. rig two lighter baits in tandem

Call Now For: Transporting Detailing & Maintenance “the connection between boat buyers and sellers”

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with one a foot to 18 inches ahead of another. The additional plastic body provides some resistance and slows the overall rate of descent. Tried and true colors include chartreuse sparkle, black/ chartreuse, rootbeer, and of course, blue/white. There’s something about the blue body with white tail that crappie really seem to like. This can be a hard color to find; it’s often sold out.

Again, it pays to get your shopping done before it’s time to go fishing.

Ultralight rod and reel combinations are the order of the day when hitting the boat docks for crappie. Four- to six-pound test line pairs well on these rigs. It’s worth noting that you will get a slightly slower fall on six-pound test line which has a greater diameter than four-pound test. Cast your Crappie tubes around docks up in the creeks. Get your bait as close to the dock as possible and keep a tight line on the fall. This is when most strikes occur. These fish will lock in at certain depths.

Once the strike zone is established, you can quickly rule out docks that don’t have enough water under them. I’ve heard tales of anglers having great suc-

cess with side imaging depth finders cruising dock fronts with the electric motor and only stopping at the ones where schools of crappie are spotted.

Feed them a McStick For the most part, February is still a deep water game for the bass fisherman. Drop shotting, dragging jigs, and jigging spoons are all go to methods and certainly produce a large share of the action. However, things can begin to quicken in the latter half of the month. February weather is often fickle and an arctic blast is certainly not out of the question.

February weather can also be mild with pleasant and sunny afternoons. If the weather has been stable and mild, think about jerk baits. These can be very effective when presented in a methodical manner points with an abundance of rock or wood cover. Of course, I’m referring to suspending jerkbaits. The water is still cold and these neutral buoyancy lures resemble sluggish baitfish and neither sink nor float upward when paused during a retrieve. The McStick by Spro has gained a great reputation in these parts as a highly effective cold water jerk See Fishing, page 7

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February 2012

LAKESIDE 7

• Fishing

Lanier Fishing Report

Continued from Page 6 bait. You’ll find other models by Smithwitk, Rapala, and Lucky Craft. The latter company produces the Stay-See which is a super choice. Be sure to fish these with frequent and long pauses during the retrieve. In Missouri where cold water jerk bait fishing has evolved into an art form, pauses of up to a full minute are not unheard of. Into March, focus more and more attention to points in the creeks.

When the willow trees green up, you’ll find pre-spawn bass staging under boat docks. They can be caught by a variety of methods. They often suspend so it’s important to experiment with different depths until you establish a pattern. If you want to have some real fun this spring, take a week of vacation just before the full moon in April. It falls on the 21st this year. Barring a major cold front, bass will be invading their spawning areas in huge numbers all over the lake. The target depth is three to eight feet. Cover as much water as possible and you should have some memorable days and a sore thumb from lip landing lots of fish. Small plastic baits and in line spinners are both good to bring in big numbers. Medium action spinning tackle paired with eight-pound test line is a good presentation tool. This is a great time to get family members or friends hooked on fishing.

Stripers on the fly No article on early spring fishing in our

lake would be complete without a paragraph on striped bass. These gamefish are actually predators of the sea that became landlocked sometime in the ’50s era. They thrived in South Carolina impoundments where this occurred and with time were stocked in many reservoirs across the U.S. They were initially cut off from salt water during spawning runs up freshwater rivers.

Our population of linesides still tries to make the annual spawning run. The difference is that in our reservoir, they migrate up into the creeks and upper river systems.

This usually begins in early March. You’ve already guessed that this is a great time to be on the water. The false spawn is a phenomenon that takes place all over the lake.

Drifting live bait and casting artificials are both keys to success.

At this time of the year, fish will venture far up into tributaries. Lively blue back herring will draw a lot of strikes. Rig these on flat lines trailed 50 to 100 feet behind the boat depending on shoreline contours. The use of planer boards will help to get baits close in to the shoreline.

Stripers often prowl close in at this time of the year. While letting live baits work their magic, you should be casting toward the shoreline. Lures of choice include soft plastic fluke type baits. The Super Fluke

by Zoom is always a great choice in the white pearl or albino color. Bucktail jigs See Fishing, page 14

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Lake level: Approximately 1062 or nine feet below full pool.

Surface Temp: Just over 50 degrees – several degrees warmer than average for this time of year.

Clarity: Normal. Clear in main lake areas with a little color in the uppermost areas of tributaries.

Bass fishing has been good for numbers and size. Anglers have been boating quite a few spotted bass over the four-pound mark lately. At this time, you can take your pick and fish deep or shallow. Shallow patterns equate to depths of three to 20 feet of water while the deep patterns are typically targeting fish that are holding 35 feet or deeper. Yes, some fish are also being caught between 20 and 35 feet deep. Just cast a bait out there somewhere and it might get bit. Whether you’re fishing shallow or deep, have one rod rigged with a finesse style worm rigged on a lead head. Green pumpkin is always a fine color. When it comes to the lead head, 3/16th ounce is a great all around choice. Anglers having shallow success are targeting points and pockets in the creeks. The most productive areas have cover such as brush or stumps and large rock. And, don’t forget that boat docks are always good for attracting fish.

Aside from plastics, medium running crankbaits and suspending jerkbaits have been yielding good action. Remember to keep retrieves slow. On the deep end, Shakey Head Rigs, skirted jigs with Fat Albert Twin Tail trailers, and lighter spoons have been producing. At these depths, you’ll want to target submerged timber. The edges of timber lines and isolated patches or large trees are the most productive areas.

Quality electronics, good scouting skills, and a measure of patience are all necessary to pinpoint deep water honey holes that consistently produce this time of year.

Striper fishing has also been good lately. Linesides are being caught both up and down the lake. This is the time of year to think about the upper portions of creeks and pockets. Trolling lighter weight umbrella rigs armed with bucktail jigs has been a productive tactic. This holds especially true if you do not have any scoop on areas that are worth your time and effort. Live bait has been a big producer lately. Smaller trout or herring dropped to about 30 feet off points will get the right attention if gamefish are present. When you’re getting well up into the creeks, trail these baits on flat lines about a hundred feet behind the boat and cast bucktail jigs with trailers or plastic fluke type baits (with or without lead heads) all the way up to the bank.

It’s worth noting that the use of planer boards will at least double the potential for baited lines in use and facilitate getting baits closer to the bank where stripers cruise this time of year.

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8 LAKESIDE

February 2012

February 2012

LAKESIDE 9

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10 LAKESIDE

February 2012

USCGA seeks more boats, instructors and staff Now that the 2012 Atlanta Boat Show is over, and reports have it that a lot of boats were sold by local dealers, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary would like to invite the boat owners to consider joining the Auxiliary and using your boat performing safety and regatta patrols on Lakes Lanier and Allatoona, depending on where you choose to do your boating. You can become “crew” and/or “coxswain” trained, and the Coast Guard will reimburse you for fuel used performing your patrols, usually four hours in length.

Flotilla 29, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, performs routine safety and regatta patrols on Lake Lanier from mid-May through September, weekends and holidays, and other flotillas operate on other lakes throughout the state of Georgia. While we operate our own vessels, we are under Coast Guard orders while on patrol and operate as a Coast Guard vessel, showing CG Auxiliary signboards and flying the “operational facility” flag. Due to retirements, and some members experiencing job transfers out of the area, we are in need of additional power driven vessels to

have had the opportunity to lead service for our country, meet and time while doing it. discussions, etc. To become an in- work with fine people with an inRoy Crittenden is the Public structor, a member must pass the terest in boating, and have a good Affairs Officer for Flotilla 29.

Roy “Instructor” exam, for which MORE INFO: 770-393-4382 • alcrit@mindspring.com Crittenden there is a study manual.

Flotilla 29 Lake Lanier • http://a0700209.uscgaux.info The USCGA is the civilian, USCG uniformed volunteer component Auxiliary of the United States Coast Guard, NJOY AFE as well as the lead volunteer force of the Department of Homeland OATING perform our routine patrols.

Security. Founded in 1939, by the The Auxiliary also maintains Act of congress as the U.S. Coast N HE AKE an “Operations Center” at Lanier Guard Reserves and re-designated with VHF radios monitoring com- the Auxiliary in 1941. The 36,000 munications on the lake. A quali- members, men and women, doSafe boating course set for March 10 fied “radio watchstander” mans nate thousands of hours in supFlotilla 29 of the U.S. Coast until 4:30 p.m. and cost is $40. the radios during patrol hours. To port of the Coast Guard and Guard Auxiliary, Lake Lanier, Discounts available for addibecome qualified as a watchMaritime Domain Awareness misannounces a one-day, seven-les- tional family members. stander, the member must stand sions, such as Search and Rescue, son “About Boating Safely” Course contents include: watch with a qualified watchPublic Education and Marine Encourse. The course is scheduled • Know your boat stander before assuming the revironmental Protection. Since for Saturday, March 10, 2012.

• Before getting underway sponsibility alone. Individuals 9/11, the Auxiliary has assumed This course also serves as a • Navigating the waterways with amateur radio experience are many of the responsibilities and PWC certified course for chil- • Operating your vessel safely a good fit for this job, but it’s not duties previously done by the dren under the age of 16. This • Boating’s legal requirements necessary.

Coast Guard, especially around course will be given at the Coast • Boating emergencies Since supporting recreational coastal areas where the Coast Guard Auxiliary Operations • Enjoying watersports boating safety is a major function Guard has a presence. The AuxilCenter, 6595 Lights Ferry Rd., • Georgia boating laws of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, iary does not perform law enFlowery Branch, Ga., on the left Successful completion of this holding safe boating courses for forcement, that’s left to the Ga. just before the entrance to Aqua- course may result in a reduction the public is a regular and year Department of Natural Resources, land Marina. in your boat’s insurance preround activity of the Auxiliary. or military activities, both of Classes run from 8:30 a.m. mium.

Many of our certified instructors which are left to the Coast Guard have had a teaching background in areas where they operate.

MORE INFO: Dave Wall, Public Education Officer, or have had experience running Auxiliary membership is an Flotilla 29 • 770 904-6340 • auxiliaryclass@bellsouth.net business meetings where they excellent way to perform a real

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February 2012

LAKESIDE 11

$775,000

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PRICE REDUCTION- Custom lake home, big view, 5 BR/ 5.5 BA on 3.71 acres, mstr suite on main, separate dining room, 2 fireplaces. Rec. room w/ wet bar, 4 car garages, lighted tennis court, covered double slip dock with party deck. Call for directions.

Ronnie Waller 678-947-7449

$64,000 Investor or owner/occupant! Great location & approx. 1.21 park like acres w/ double wide manufactured home. 3 BR/ 2 BA, LR frplc, deck, screened porch, fenced area in yard.

Sally Willison 404-375-6945

$348,000 Great Lake-Custom brick house, not lake front. 2 Stry with grt. rm w/ frplc.3 BR/ 2.5 BA, mstr on main, sunroom w/lake views.Sep. din. rm, 2 car garage & boat door Quality thru-out, close to Hwy 400- boat ramp.

Ronnie Waller 678-947-7449

$1,150,000 Feels like Yellowstone Park in North Ga. Mountains. Lodge style hm on 5 acre estate lot w/ 1700 ft. of Etowah River front. Multiple decks overlook the river, 5 car garages, 2 bdrm guest house.

Michael Neubauer 678-947-7446

$639,900 Great views! Windermere-Grandview section. Cul-de-sac, away from traffic, prof. landscaped.

Open floor plan, gourmet kitchen, full fin. basmnt w/ home theater, pub & gym.

Keith Key 770-845-6088

St. Michael's Bay - 5 BR/5.5 BA w/ 3 car garage, master on main with 2 custom closets. Huge open dream kitchen, screened porch, large secondary bedrooms. Full basement with finished bath. Many other custom features including large deck. Boat slip in deep water included.

Vicki Treadwell 678-947-7445

$575,000 TODAY'S MARKET PRICING! 35+ Acres, 5 BR/ 4 BA home w/fenced pastures, 7 stall barn w/ loft & bath, pole barn, 3 acre lake.

Western Lumpkin County. Very private location.

Sue Jones 770-654-7193

$849,900 Stunning lake home, best location near GA 400. Single slip dock, deep water, 4 BR/5 BA, Fin. Basement, level lot, pretty view, easy walk to shore. Open floor plan, 3 car garage. A Must See! Phil Baraona 678-910-5930

$424,800 Live at the lake! Enjoy a resort lifestyle in this Lake Lanier community w/golf course. 4 BR/3.5 BA with all the bells and whistles.

Courtyard fireplace, 2 bedrooms each with bath on main level.

Sally Willison 404-375-6945

$424,900 GRAND CASCADES - 5 BR/4 BA w/full daylight bsmt. Guest room & bath on main level, new paint. Huge 1.31 acre homesite w/ level rear yard. Large bedrooms, stained cabinets, 2 car garage.

Vicki Treadwell 678-947-7445

12 LAKESIDE

February 2012

February 2012

LAKESIDE 13

Touchless boat covers come to Lanier

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By Pamela A. Keene Automated touchless boat covers have come to Lake Lanier. Semi-retired Craig Grier recently launched Touchless Boat Covers as the exclusive dealer for Hall, Forsyth and Gwinnett counties.

The water always had a special appeal to Grier, who grew up in Seattle and boated on Lake Washington as youngster.

“My father co-signed for my first boat when I was 14 years old,” he said. “It was a 14-footer, but from then on I’ve had boating in my blood.”

When he moved east to Atlanta for a job in the carpet business, Grier purchased a weekend home on Lake Lanier. Two years retired from the medical division of an electronics company; he and his wife had been living on Lanier full-time for a while. He said he has owned all kinds of boats, from houseboats to jet skis. He currently owns a 27-foot Cobalt boat.

“My neighbor installed one of these Touchless Boat Covers and showed me how it works,” Grier said. “I was looking for something to do and this seemed like a good business opportunity. I have a black boat and I can’t tell you the amount of time and money I’ve spent waxing it twice a year to keep it looking good.”

Grier researched the company and found that purchasing and installing the remote-controlled weather-resistant covers on most boats costs a little less than just the installation cost of a boat lift.

Each cover is custom-made of marinegrade galvanized heavy-duty steel frame.

Covers can be made to fit boats up to 50 feet long; the covers have been tested in winds of up to 140 miles per hour. The remote operates from as far away as 400 feet. It takes less than 30 seconds to raise or lower the cover. The design is adaptable to a wide variety of dock situations. Grier has received approval from the Corps of Engineers to install them on the lake.

Grier takes measurements and works with owners to select fabric colors. Then he sends an estimate. From the time the estimate is approved, installation can be complete in two to three weeks. “If you’re protecting your boat from the water when you’re not using it, it makes sense to protect the rest of the boat from the elements,” he said. “It keeps out the rain and sunlight, plus it’s also good security.”

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14 LAKESIDE

February 2012

Atlanta Boat Show best in four years

By Pamela A. Keene Big boats, fishing for little people and fairly good weather made for a successful Atlanta Boat Show in January. More than 24,000 boat and fishing enthusiasts flocked to the Georgia World Congress Center for the four-day show that’s become a winter-time tradition in Atlanta.

“The Atlanta Boat Show celebrated its 50th year and the show turned out great,” said Larry Berryman with the National Marine Management Association, which organized the show on behalf of the Marine Trade Association of Metropolitan Atlanta.

“Hundreds of boats of all makes and sizes were sold at the show, and consumers came out once again to see the wide variety of products and services available at this year’s event.”

The 300,000-square-foot show hall was filled with 160 exhibitors. Singleton Marine Group had the largest floor space. Marine Max brought the largest boat – a 45-foot Sea Ray Sedan Bridge, which was sold during the show.

Visitors attended seminars, fishing demonstrations and information sessions. Perhaps the most popular event was the catch-andrelease trout fishing pond for youngsters.

Of course one of the most talked about events wasn’t planned: the large water pool that leaked during the first day of the show. While no one was injured and very little damage was reported, the show was delayed for five hours.

PHOTOS BY ALAN HOPE

Crowds lined the aisle almost all day long on Saturday at the Atlanta Boat Show (above). Bill Boyd, Jr., of Dayton, TN, displays his craft during North Atlanta Trade Center's Great Southern Fishing Show last month (right).

“The Powerboat Docking Challenge was really fun, and of course, visitors always enjoy seeing the big boats and taking some time to look at all the new products,” Berryman said. “We look forward to seeing everyone again next year from January 10-13, 2013.”

Fishing show a success Although it was right on the heels of the Atlanta boat Show, area anglers had a taste of both salt- and fresh-water fishing at the second annual Great Southern Fishing Show at the North Atlanta Trade Center. The event included fly-fishing, shallow-water, saltwater and fresh-water gear and seminars.

“We were amazed at the number of people who came in bringing the seminar schedules from

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Computer Diagnostics for Most Models the website,” said Rhonda Sodel with the North Atlanta Trade Center. “They came to learn about all kinds of fishing.”

The show’s 75 exhibitors focused on fishing – from salt-water to fresh.

“Our attendance was up 30 percent over last year,” Sodel said. “We expanded the show this year to include more different kinds of fishing, including saltwater, and people seemed to really like the show’s content and exhibits.”

• Fishing Continued from Page 7 weighing in at 3/8th ounce or lighter tipped with soft plastic trailers are also staple choices for casting success at this time of year. By the way, if you’ve always wanted to tangle with a striped bass using a fly rod, this is a great time to give it a try.

Choose a rod designed to handle a seven or eight weight line. The reel should have the capacity to store at least 100 yards of backing. A weight forward floating line works fine with a seven to eight foot leader. Tie on a weighted streamer that resembles a small shad or herring. During low water periods (key for the backcast), I have actually walked the banks at dawn near boat ramps and caught stripers on my

fly rod. Give it a shot. It’s great fun.

In closing, we’ve all got the itch. It’s time to get ready and get out there. Until next month, be safe out there and enjoy the lake!

Tommy Wilkinson is a veteran of the fishing industry and resides in Jefferson, GA. MORE INFO: thwilkinson6@gmail.com

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February 2012

LAKESIDE 15

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16 LAKESIDE

February 2012

LAKE LANIER OLYMPIC VENUE Collegiate crews head to Lanier LAKE LANIER OLYMPIC VENUE INFO University of Virginia crew first to get oars wet

Here's a profile and calendar for the two clubs operating at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue:

By Jane Harrison The University of Virginia crew brought its largest contingent ever to Lake Lanier in January for winter break practice. The 65-member squad was the first of about 15 collegiate crews heading for Lake Lanier for pre-season conditioning.

Crews coming in February and March hail from “from as far away as Lucan, Ontario, Canada and Maine, and many places in between, bringing over 750 rowers,” said Lake Lanier Rowing Club VicePresident John Ferriss. Collegiate crews from icy northern waters have flocked to the Georgia lake for winter and spring season training since 1996 when Olympic rowing events drew international attention to Lanier.

LLRC touts Lake Lanier and its Olympic Venue as the perfect training destination for rowing teams due to miles of rowable waters on the sprawling North Georgia lake and the facilities at the Olympic venue boathouse.

But those are not the only qualities that attract collegiate teams back to Lanier year after year. University of Virginia director of rowing and men’s head coach Frank Biller said that the “magic of an Olympic venue is key” to alluring athletes to Lanier.

“You can sense it when you enter the (boathouse),” he said. But there are other factors, including food and hospitality, that keep crews coming back.

During their January 6-15 trip to Gainesville, Biller’s staff and rowers stayed at a local hotel and dined at Brenau University. Athletes crosstrained at the Francis Meadows Aquatic Center and shopped in local stores.

“As usual we had a great time in Gainesville and training was very productive, Biller said in an email after returning to Charlottesville, Va. “Unlike in the past two years, it was quite warm and the absence of ice and snow was not missed. As usual we stayed at the Guesthouse Inn & Suites (formerly Days Inn) where the owner Jay Singh has again been an outstanding host. Jay’s hotel is also our headquarters when we roll back into town in May for our national championship regatta.”

“Of course, food is very important as you can imagine as the guys need to refuel around 4,000 calories per day. The dining hall at Brenau University has been our place of choice for years as their team does an outstanding job tending to all our needs,” he said.

He added, “Lake Lanier Rowing Club and of

Lake Lanier Rowing Club

PHOTO COURTESY OF VIRGINIA ROWING ASSOCIATION

University of Virginia rowers stroke during a misty morning practice on Lake Lanier in January.

course John Ferriss are very hospitable to us. They don’t make us feel at home, they make it our home.

The town and community are also very welcoming.

Meghan Hill the director at the Aquatic Center always makes sure we get our swimming crosstraining in. People in local stores sometimes recognize us and make us feel welcome; it’s really a great experience.”

“All these things add up to us wanting to come back every year, despite having other options and invitations, we just know what we get in Gainesville. So we play it safe,” Biller said.

Ferriss, who went out on the lake with the Virginia athletes for a practice, observed “they had a much better time this year. No ice on the water, plenty of days with little or no wind. There was one windy rough day but they took advantage of it to do some indoor activities,” he said.

Ferris reported in late January that the next crews scheduled are from Brandeis University, in Massachusetts, and the University of Western Ontario, arriving Feb. 18 and 19.

Rowing regattas in March and May are expected to draw thousands of athletes and spectators to the Olympic venue. The John Hunter Regatta, a large scholastic regatta hosted by St. Andrews Rowing Club and Georgia Tech on March 24, will show the outcome of pre-season and early season practices.

Some teams will stay over for a second day of competition in the Lanier Sprints Regatta, hosted by LLRC March 25.

The collegiate season finale, the American Collegiate Rowing Association National Championship, is set for May 26-27. The University of Virginia Varsity 8 Men’s crew will be looking to repeat their victory over last year’s favorite, the University of Michigan in the last race of the championship.

Contact: John Martiniere 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: (complete list on website) Feb.-March - Collegiate Crew Spring Training March 24 - John Hunter Regatta March 25 - Lanier Sprints Regatta May 26-27 - ACRA National Championship

Lake Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club Contact: Office Administrator Brenda Miller, LCKC President Doug Smith 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: (complete list on website) March 17 - Lula Bridge Race March 19 - BBI Spring League Parents Meeting March 26-May 12 - BBI Spring Season April 28 - BBI Spring Race 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

University of Virginia crew members prepare to launch from the boat docks at the Olympic Venue during winter practice last month.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF VIRGINIA ROWING ASSOCIATION

February 2012

LAKESIDE 17

Commission denies Oakwood annexation to lake request

By Jane Harrison The City of Oakwood will pursue other links to Lake Lanier after the Hall County Commission’s denial of its request to annex county roads leading to the lake. Commissioners on Jan. 26 unanimously voted down a proposal by the South Hall city to annex county roads that the city sought to gain lake access. Commissioner Ashley Bell was not present. The decision came in a packed meeting room at the Georgia Mountain Center where more than 75 attendees stood to demonstrate their opposition to the proposal.

“If you go out into neighborhoods, you would find tremendous opposition to this,” said Byers Road resident Charles McKinney, who likened the proposed annexation to a back stab.

“It’s an effort by government to gain people to get power without representation,” he said.

Applause followed his comments and those of six others who

voiced opposition of neighborhood associations along Flat Creek, Mountain View, and Stephens roads, three main thoroughfares sought in the annexation proposal.

Homeowners representing associations at Hidden Harbors, Pointe South and Timber Crest cited concerns about potential unwanted development, police ticketing, and big government in what they called an attempted “land grab” by the city of Oakwood.

Most said they were uninformed about Oakwood’s intentions and were apprehensive about how the city could change their communities in unincorporated Hall County.

Henry Lewis, from Pointe South, said residents’ attendance showed “the depth of animosity” caused by the annexation request.

“The city already has lake access through public ramps and beaches,” he said. Citizens in unincorporated areas are concerned about taxes, potential impact fees,

www.lakesidenews.com Lakeside on Lanier

and (Oakwood) police that are not regarded with favor” in South Hall.

Prior to citizens’ comments, Oakwood City Manager Stan Brown told commissioners he submitted the annexation proposal as part of a framework for the city to achieve its Oakwood 2030 Vision, which includes marketing Oakwood as a Lanier community and developing walking trails and passive recreation facilities on the lake. He said annexation of county roads would provide a path for logical growth and unify a city limit interspersed with unincorporated Hall County jurisdictions.

Brown drafted the annexation resolution in the aftermath of two town hall meetings in November which drew fewer than 20 people.

Information about the meetings, which focused on linking the lake to Oakwood, was advertised in local media advertisements and news accounts. Brown said the city sent notices to more than 1,800 South Hall addresses. No one attending the town hall meetings indicated opposition to annexation.

However, after homeowner as-

sociations spread news about potential annexation, a groundswell of opposition arose in the form of emails and phone calls to commissioners and public comment at a commissioners’ work session three nights before the board meeting.

A meeting Brown arranged with homeowners’ associations the night before the commission vote did not do enough to assuage their concerns. “It was a productive meeting providing the foundation for further collaborative discussion” toward Oakwood’s 2030 goals, said Timber Creek resident George Ordway. But, he added that residents needed to “see something much more concrete” about the city’s ultimate goals for development of lake property.

Commissioner Billy Powell, whose district includes a section of South Hall, made the motion to deny the annexation proposal.

“It’s a small city that has ambitious plans. Hats off to them for pursuing their 2030 long range plans … but I take pride in representing the wishes of constituents,” he said.

Commissioner Craig Lutz,

who seconded the motion, said that his action reflected the will of the people. But, he commented that municipalities, such as Oakwood, generally have a higher standard for developments than counties. “I am concerned that landowners could come to the commission and have something built that is way lower than (Oakwood’s) standards,” he said.

After the meeting, Oakwood Manager Brown said the city would continue to seek a link to the lake via annexation. The county’s denial of road annexation nixed Oakwood’s initial course of action, but Oakwood can take other routes, he said.

These include annexation of specific properties and annexation through community engagement.

Each would require a piecemeal approach to obtain properties connecting the city limits to the lake. Brown indicated that although the outcome of the commission meetings was not what he sought, he anticipates further “engagement with the public” about coming into the city.

“Our vision doesn’t stop. We can pursue other options,” he said.

18 LAKESIDE

February 2012

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February 2012

LAKESIDE 19

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20 LAKESIDE

February 2012

Boat show began with a splash and finished with success The boat show started with a splash, and finished with a success. The wakeboard pool had a major malfunction and about 100,000 gallons of water cascaded down the aisles of the show. After removing wet carpet and drying the floors, a few boats were damaged but there were no injuries. The show got back to normal late Thursday. I talked with many visitors and exhibitors who all thought it was a great show. Some said it was the best in the past five years. Exhibitors said a lot of boats were sold, which shows maybe our economy might be changing. We shall see.

Missed resolution My January column had New Year’s resolutions for boaters, but I find in review that I missed an important one. Keep our waters and shores clean. In other words, dispose of your trash properly, in a garbage bag that goes ashore with you to be disposed of properly and not overboard to pollute our waters and litter our shores.

Many of you might remember several years back an advertisement against littering. It showed a native American viewing a littered shore with tears going down his face. One native American proverb states “We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.”

Another says, “We do not inherit the land from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”

Keep these proverbs in mind and practice clean boating. Maybe the next lake shore clean-up will be less than the year before.

Hydra-Spyder You may remember from years ago a car you could drive down a boat ramp and use it as a boat.

Here comes the next version, only this one is definitely more powerful and performance oriented. The Hydra-Spyder is powered by a Corvette LS-2 6.0 liter V-8 rated at 400 hp and has a five-speed manual transmission. The hull part has 5052 alloy aluminum plate for lower hull construction.

The upper body is light weight fiberglass. A Berkley Marine jet with power trim package provides the marine part of the package.

The vehicle contains positive flotation foam approved by the U.S. Coast Guard for amphibious vehicles. The Spyder seats four people and can easily tow a water-skier. Base price is $155.000 with an impressive list of extras.

They also manufacture the Hydra-Terra commercial tour ve-

Mike Rudderham Captain’s Comments

hicles and motor coach models.

They look strong and impressive.

For more info call 1 888 9266563 or visit www.hydraspyder.com.

Help against pirates We have all read about the Somali pirates taking ships and boats for huge ransoms and sometimes killing the victims. Now a new device has been introduced to help prevent this from happening. It’s a non-lethal laser produced by Photonic Security Systems. The laser weapon is engineered to keep pirates away.

Shine the SMV 100 Laser at potential intruders and block their eyesight from up to 500 meters away. The weapon has an oscillating laser beam that paints a 10 foot wide target area. The pirates cannot look directly into the laser, which makes it difficult for them to fire weapons at you with any accuracy. It also tells them they have been spotted and that you will take evasive measures. There is also a remote version which can be operated from the helm.

The custom built unit is priced at $30,000. More info: www.photonicsecuritysystems.com. I wonder if we could use this on illegal immigrants crossing the border?

Going to buy a used boat?

So you’ve been to the boat show but didn’t buy a new boat.

Maybe a used one fits your pocketbook better. In this economy there are many used boats for sale, but be very cautious. Boats are the first to be neglected in a bad economy. Maintenance that should be performed never gets done. That is why you always hear me saying check the maintenance log, and have a survey.

This holds true if you are buying the boat from an individual or a dealer. Remember your bank or insurance company will probably require a survey anyway. So the best thing to do is take a sea trial and if you are satisfied then get a survey. It will save you money in the long run.

Also you might want to schedule you and your crew for the USCG Auxiliary boating classes.

Chances are you will save 10 per-

cent on insurance of the boat you purchase. They also will inspect your boat and give you a sticker.

Costa Concordia The cruise ship disaster that occurred off the Italian coast near the island of Giglio on the Tuscan Coast leaves a lot of questions.

Most cruise ships, especially the more modern ones, are equipped with loads of sophisticated electronics, probably required by the insurance companies. One of the units is forward and side scanning sonar which has an alarm system that warns of impending danger.

I’m sure you have seen systems like this advertised in boating magazines.

Every time a new story comes out in the newspaper it’s different why the captain allowed the ship to be off course, a course the ship had run on many previous cruises.

The only time cruise ships change their usual course is for bad weather or comfort of the passengers. My question is, “Who turned the sonar alarms off, or ignored them?”

There had to be many other ships officers on the bridge that had to realize the danger of changing course which would lead to a grounding on a reef that was documented by charts. Even though it appears the captain went daffy for whatever reason, certainly one of the other officers should have taken action to prevent this tragedy. Even many people on shore thought the ship would hit the reef.

So there is more blame to be shared, not just for the captain, who is far from innocent, but for those other officers on the bridge.

Stay tuned, this story isn’t over.

Laura Decker finishes trek Our 16-year-old circumnavigator has decided to end her trip on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten. If you remember, this was one of her stops on the first part of her venture. Believe it or not but her father was issued a summons in the Netherlands to appear because they thought the youngster was not giving her school studies full attention.

Since she was born on a boat off the shore of New Zealand, she’s thinking of becoming a citizen of that country. If you read her blogs, she could probably teach the school teachers a thing or two.

Laura arrived in St. Maarten on January 21, one year and one day after she started her venture.

Her parents greeted her as she entered the Port of Phillipsburg. Her

last leg from Cape Town, South Africa took 41 days. She covered more than 27,000 nautical miles with stops in the Canary Islands, Panama, the Galapagos Islands, Tonga, Fiji, Bora Bora, Australia, South Africa and finally St. Maarten. Guinness Book of World Records and the World Sailing Speed Record Council will not recognize her as the

youngest world circumnavigator.

They want to discourage dangerous attempts by younger people.

Well I for one congratulate her and I hope she writes a book.

Practice safe boating and I’ll see you on the water.

Mike Rudderham is a veteran marine surveyor with more than 40 years experience in the marine industry.

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February 2012

LAKESIDE 21

22 LAKESIDE

February 2012

Returning to Abaco Islands is just like coming home 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.

The sky was pitch black the night we anchored at Great Sale Cay with the only light being from what seemed like a million stars overhead. The blackened image of the deserted island was a welcomed sight following 12 hours of little more than the occasional fly fish prancing across the deep blue waters of the Atlantic.

We had arrived in North Palm Beach from Brunswick five weeks earlier and had been waiting for favorable conditions to make the hundred or so mile trip across the Gulfstream, and now, though a bit weary, we were excited to be back in the Bahamas and settled in for the night.

Continuing on a southerly trek across the Little Bahama Bank the following day we caught sight of local fishermen checking their lobster traps, and others diving

neighbors are glad to see that you made it back safely and there would be lots of unpacking to do.

Bob & So when we arrived at Boat HarCarolyn bour marina in Marsh Harbour Wilson some 10 hours later we had a large contingency of friends to Cruising catch our lines and help secure Wilsons the boat. The unpacking would wait.

Hurricane Irene had passed for conch which are plentiful in over the area last year leaving in these waters. Lying on the white its wake twisted docks, buckled sand 10 feet beneath us were roofs and downed palm trees, but countless star fish and coral forby the time we arrived in late Demations. We encountered sponge cember most everything was fields at one point and occasioncleaned up and it appeared that ally would spot a school of most businesses had reopened. brightly colored fish swiftly Several restaurants and marinas swimming through the crystal had been closed since September, clear waters of the Sea of Abaco. which is normally a slow tourist The sun had cast a welcomed season, giving them an opportuwarmness over Great Abaco Isnity to complete needed repairs. land by midday, while a gentle Despite the setbacks, Abaconibreeze was blowing in from the ans are a hardy lot. They endure Atlantic making it a good day for power and telephone outages, traveling. Coco, having readily which are commonplace. They adjusted to long days on the shuttle back and forth from the water, was lying on the pilothouse cays to the mainland on almost a floor gazing out the doorway just daily basis to conduct their busienjoying life. ness, or for routine shopping.

SelReturning to the islands, as we dom do they complain. have the past nine years, is akin to The warmth and hospitality of pulling into your driveway at the Bahamian people amazes us. home after being away on vacaThe local Rotary Club has made tion. It’s good to be home, the

me an honorary member, Carolyn receives hugs and cheers from her school students at Every Child Counts each year when she returns, and when we walk into town the locals that we have met throughout the years greet us with an appreciative “welcome home” or a toot of their car horn as they pass by. Others stop with a friendly “can we give you a lift?”

It has been a month since we arrived and the weather could not have been any nicer. We have already established our routine – I am up at 5 a.m. stroking the keys on the laptop, Coco is nudging my leg at 7 a.m. ready for her morning jaunt with her newly acquired canine friends, and the Admiral is mapping out her day on the beach to collect shells or planning a new project for her 19 students at ECC. With the weather being the best in several years, we have had the opportunity to visit the surrounding cays. Much of what we have experienced remains the same, but there have been some interesting developments – a new Marsh Harbour airport terminal is

A scene from the Abacos.

being constructed, a local television station is on the air, Martha Stewart and Oprah Winfrey reportedly have purchased homes at the Bakers Bay Club on Guana Cay, Bahama Telecommunications will soon be offering 4G phone service and the contents of the recently sunken mail ship have been recovered.

Now you can fly in, watch television like it used to be in the early 1960s, hob knob with the rich and famous, and lie on the beach and Facebook all of your friends. Sounds great doesn’t it?

- Until next time, Bob & Carolyn Wilson

MORE INFO: cruiswils@gmail.com or www.cruisingwilson.blogspot.com

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February 2012

LAKESIDE 23

24 LAKESIDE

February 2012

Be prepared for severe weather During the last week of January, I attended a proclamation signing by Governor Nathan Deal. It was to proclaim the week of February 6-11 Severe Weather Awareness Week for Georgia.

It is time for everyone to prepare for the onslaught of severe storms that will be very likely this spring. La Nina continues going strong as we move through spring. La Nina is cold sea surface temperatures in the eastern and central equatorial Pacific.

This cold water actually changes global wind patterns. The pattern is the same as last spring and we all know what happened then. Severe storms were relentless and the loss of life and destruction were the likes of which we had not seen in more than 40 years.

There are severe things to put on your severe storm preparedness check list. First and foremost is to have a family safety plan. Make sure everyone in your house knows exactly where to go and what to do if a tornado warning is issued for your area. Give the kids and yourself a bike or motorcycle helmet to protect your head.

Always wear shoes when going to your safe place. In case you have to evacuate or move, you will be much safer walking should there be glass or debris. Your safe place should be on the lowest floor away from windows and doors. A tornado is a vortex of wind in contact with the ground.

The ground causes winds to be slightly weaker right near the ground due to friction. The higher up you go, the stronger

the tornadic winds are because of less friction.

That is why we all need Glenn to be on the lowest floor Burns possible, or better yet, in the basement below Lanier ground.

Outlook It is suggested that you evacuate a mobile home. We saw mobile homes that were completely obliterated last season. Fortunately, the residents got in their car and left before the tornadoes hit. It is imperative you take immediate action when a warning is issued.

A big advantage you have living in north Georgia is WSB-TV. We have the most powerful weather radar on the planet.

Conventional radar takes six minutes to scan a thunderstorm. Our 1.26 million watt dual-pol Doppler radar can scan a storm in less than a minute. This means we can see the internal structure of a storm, find damaging winds, damaging hail, and tornadoes, and show you what is heading your way faster than any other station. Seconds are critical in local warnings. Our new dual-pol Doppler can also verify tornadoes because we can actually see debris being lofted in to the air.

Our severe storm season usually begins in full force in March and April. Not this year. It begins this month. The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center is for above average temperatures to continue this month. This La Nina warming means an earlier severe storm season and a longer severe storm season. Please, prepare now.

Glenn Burns is chief meteorologist for WSB-TV in Atlanta.

SOLUNAR TIMES FOR LAKE LANIER

LAKE LANIER WATER LEVELS JUN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 AVG MAX MIN

1069.22 1069.17 1069.13 1069.12 1069.13 1069.01 1068.87 1068.76 1068.62 1068.54 1068.57 1068.56 1068.49 1068.39 1068.32 1068.24 1068.13 1068.17 1068.14 1068.01 1067.90 1067.88 1067.95 1067.92 1067.91 1067.93 1067.92 1067.88 1067.82 1067.74

JUL

1067.69 1067.67 1067.66 1067.63 1067.57 1067.51 1067.46 1067.40 1067.43 1067.41 1067.32 1067.16 1067.17 1067.09 1067.11 1067.11 1067.08 1067.01 1066.99 1066.95 1066.91 1066.91 1066.90 1066.82 1066.80 1066.76 1066.71 1066.66 1066.61 1066.60 1066.61 1068.38 1067.12 1069.22 1067.69 1067.74 1066.60

AUG

SEP

1066.53 1066.51 1066.44 1066.44 1066.40 1066.38 1066.38 1066.34 1066.28 1066.23 1066.18 1066.11 1066.10 1066.04 1065.95 1065.88 1065.82 1065.80 1065.73 1065.69 1065.62 1065.54 1065.51 1065.34 1065.22 1065.10 1065.04 1065.03 1064.87 1064.72 1064.62 1065.80 1066.53 1064.62

1064.50 1064.37 1064.33 1064.28 1064.25 1064.30 1064.23 1064.14 1064.02 1063.98 1063.93 1063.88 1063.75 1063.63 1063.48 1063.28 1063.22 1063.17 1063.04 1062.86 1062.70 1062.63 1062.76 1062.75 1062.74 1062.56 1062.50 1062.36 1062.27 1062.18

OCT

1062.15 1062.07 1061.99 1061.94 1061.84 1061.67 1061.52 1061.45 1061.40 1061.28 1061.14 1060.96 1060.78 1060.61 1060.56 1060.55 1060.35 1060.21 1060.14 1060.09 1060.00 1059.97 1059.95 1059.85 1059.80 1059.73 1059.68 1059.67 1059.62 1059.60 1059.52 1063.40 1060.65 1064.50 1062.15 1062.18 1059.52

NOV

DEC

1059.41 1059.24 1059.15 1058.99 1058.99 1058.95 1058.79 1058.63 1058.44 1058.25 1058.09 1058.06 1058.03 1057.91 1057.93 1058.15 1058.18 1058.19 1058.19 1058.19 1058.13 1058.13 1058.15 1058.08 1057.95 1057.92 1057.93 1058.02 1058.24 1058.29

1058.31 1058.28 1058.33 1058.33 1058.30 1058.32 1058.50 1058.58 1058.55 1058.61 1058.65 1058.58 1058.54 1058.55 1058.54 1058.52 1058.53 1058.55 1028.51 1058.52 1058.58 1058.77 1059.02 1059.12 1059.19 1059.26 1059.57 1059.66 1059.73 1059.77 1059.83 1058.35 1058.78 1059.41 1059.83 1057.91 1058.28

SOLUNAR TIMES FOR LAKE LANIER

JAN 1059.84 1059.86 1059.84 1059.80 1059.81 1059.82 1059.88 1059.94 1060.01 1060.05 1060.17 1060.27 1060.34 1060.38 1060.41 1060.45 1060.53 1060.67 1060.77 1060.90 1061.27 1061.46 1061.74 1061.92 1062.04 1062.04 1062.28 1062.36

February 2012

LAKESIDE 25

26 LAKESIDE

February 2012

February 2012

LAKESIDE 27

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February 2012

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February 2012

LAKESIDE 29

Announcing a New Covered Premium Dock!

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30 LAKESIDE

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February 2012

LAKESIDE 31

Group offers boating classes to get ready for the season As always, the winter months means education at the Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron, Atlanta's Boating Club!

First up on February 11 is our Boat Smart class. Here you can learn the basics of boating, such as boat handling (docking and trailering), safety equipment and procedures, navigation basics (the rules of the road), and boat types

and terminology. This class is great for adults and teens, you can Lisa enjoy learning as a family!

Beers The class is approved by the State of Georgia Department of Atlanta Natural Resources (GA DNR) Sail & and by the National Association Power of the State Boating Law AdminSquadron istrators (NASBLA).

The location is at 1050 Buford Dam Rd., Buford. The class runs from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Cost is $35 and families may share. Visit our website atlantasboatingclub.com for more details and how to sign up.

Most of our advanced boating class series got under way in January, but there’s still time to join our Piloting class which begins February 20.

Piloting is the first of a two30 Years Experience part program of study of inland and coastal navigation. Focus is on the fundamentals of basic piloting – keeping track of your movements on the water, determining where you are at any given moment, and laying out a course to your planned destination.

Included are a thorough study of charts and their use, aids to navigation, mariner’s compass, variation and deviation, bearings,

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Classes are held on Monday nights from 7 until 9. in Atlanta.

See atlantasboatingclub.com for additional information, the class syllabus, and how to sign up.

Did you get a fancy new GPS for Christmas, but not sure how to use it?

The organization is holding a GPS Seminar on Saturday March 10 from 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. at West Marine in Buford. The basic seminar is a great “starter” for getting the most out of your GPS device.

February is always a special month for our squadron, as we celebrate our Change of Watch, installing a new bridge of officers and kicking off a new year. We appreciate and thank our outstanding leadership in 2011 and look forward to an outstanding 2012!

Visit our website atlantasboatingclub.com and “friend” us on Facebook (Atlanta Boating) to keep up with all the social and educational opportunities we offer throughout the year!

The club offers a special “thank you” to their 2011 Commander, Lisa Herndon.

Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron members have access to advanced boating classes, social events on and off the water year round, fun and informative monthly membership meetings, and more.

MORE INFO: www.atlantasboatingclub.com; 770 734-6412

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February 2012

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34 LAKESIDE

February 2012

Lakeside Calendar February 2012 Feb. 4 – Father/Daughter Valentine Dance presented at Lake Lanier Islands, 6-8 p.m. and 9-11 p.m. by Kiwanis of North Gwinnett and Lake Lanier Islands, The Grand Hall, 7000 Holiday Road. Admission: $40/couple, $10 additional ticket. Info: www.northgwinnettkiwanis.com.

Feb. 14-19, 21-25 – “The Grapes of Wrath,” presented by Gainesville Theater Alliance at Hosch Theater at Brenau University in Gainesville. Admission: $16-18, adults; $14-16, seniors; $10-12, students.

Info: www.gainesvilletheatrealliance.org.

Feb. 9 – “Whose Whoooo is Whose,” 5:30-7 p.m., a discussion by wildlife experts on adaptations of owls, and how to identify the native species, held at Dahlonega Gold Museum, 1 Public Square, Dahlonega. Admission: $6 adults, $5.50 seniors, $3.50 children. Info: 706864-2257.

Feb. 17-19, 20-25 – “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” 7:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. matinee, presented by Gainesville Theatre Alliance at the Ed Cabell Theatre at Gainesville State College, Oakwood. Info: 678-717-3624; www.gainesvilletheatrealliance.org.

Feb. 21 – Monet, Manet and Merlot, a social art event on Impressionism held from 5:306:30 p.m. at Gallerie 110, 224 Main St., Gainesville. Free. Info: 678-936-5153; www.gallerie110.com.

Feb. 21, 23 & 24 – 13th Daddy Daughter Dances, “Princess Ball,” presented by the Gainesville Park and Recreation, 5:30-8 p.m. at the Gainesville Civic Center, are for grades 6 & up (Feb. 21), grades 3-5 (Feb. 23) and pre-k2nd grade (Feb. 24). Admission: $20 per person; $5 discount for additional child. Info: 770-531-2680; www.gainesville.org/recreation.

Mar. 23-25 – “Alice in Wonderland,” performed by the Gainesville Ballet Co. at Pearce Auditorium at Brenau University. Info: www.gainesvilleballet.org.

Mar. 31 – Easter Bone Hunt held 11 a.m. to noon at Laurel Bark Park. Bring your dog(s) to hunt for treat-filled eggs. Admission: $5 per dog. Info: 770-535-8280.

Thru Mar. 4 – “The Color Red,” exhibits work by Harry Shulbert at Sautee Nacoochee

Community Association, 283 Ga. 255 N. Sautee Nacoochee. Info: 706-878-3300; www.snca.org.

Thru Mar. 8 – “Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War,” a traveling exhibit at the Library Technology Center at North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega. Info: libguides.northgeorgia.edu/Lincoln.

Thru April 1 – Petticoats and Slide Rules, a historical exhibit that celebrates women’s technological achievements, personal experiences and equal rights struggles at Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center, 2020 Clean Water Dr., Buford. Free. Info: www.gwinnettehc.org.

Thru May 6 – Wildlife Rescue exhibit at Fernbank Museum of Natural History shares stories of animal rescues. Through interactive elements, visitors step into rescue efforts and learn the innovative science involved. Admission: $17.50 adults, $16.50 students and seniors, $15.50 ages 3-12, free to members and ages 2 and younger. Info: 404-929-6300; www.fernbankmuseum.org.

Thru June 1 – “Abstracts” by Ferdinand Rosa displayed at Adam’s Restaurant and Piano Bar, 15. E. Main St., Buford. Info: 678-7450379; ferdinandrosa.carbonmade.com.

Cumming Playhouse Feb. 2-26 – The Dixie Swim Club presented

by Gypsy Theatre Co. Feb. 10 – The Dixie Swim Club Author’s Night

Mar. 3 – The North Georgia Barbershop Singers Mar. 4 – Peppino D’Agostino and Carlos Reyes in concert Mar. 8-11 – Ozark Jubilee Mar. 16-18 – Summerwind Mar. 24 – Mountain Music and Medicine Show Info: 770-781-9178; www.playhousecumming.com.

Elachee Nature Center 1st Saturday Hikes – Monthly except January and August, the first Saturday of the month, held 10-11:30 a.m. Learn about local native plants and animals. This monthly hike is a great way to explore the Chicopee Woods with an experienced guide. The program fee also includes admission to the museum exhibitions.

Spring and Fall – Stars Over Elachee held Fridays, Saturdays and/or Sundays at dusk.

Learn to use a telescope and star chart to view stars, planets and constellations in the night sky. Pre-registration is required. Fee: $10, adults; $5, children through age 12; free, members. Call for dates and times.

Spring and Fall – Backyard Conservation Workshops, Compost and Rainwater Collection instruct in recycling natural resources. Call for dates and times.

Info: 770 535-1976, www.elachee.org.

Gainesville State College Mar. 1-3 – 2012 Big Band Show, presented in the Ed Cabell Theatre, CE Building, at 7:30 p.m. (Mar. 1-2) and 9:30 p.m. (Mar. 3), featuring the GSC Jazz Band, Jazz Combo and Chorale directed by Dr. Andrew Santander and Bruce Sellers and accompanied by Dr. Joanna Kim Doyle.

Info: 770-717-3639; www.gsc.edu Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds Feb. 11 – Willie Nelson, 7 p.m. Tickets are $47.

Mar. 15 – Jeremy Camp, 7 p.m. Tickets start at $20.

Info: www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com Interactive Neighborhood for Kids Feb. 1-3 – Snow Craft Week, enjoy arts & crafts about snow.

Feb. 6-10 – Valentine’s Day Craft Week,

make valentines.

Feb. 13-17 – Giraffe Craft Week, learn about these tall animals and create one.

Feb. 20-24 – President’s Day Craft Week, learn about our presidents and create presidential crafts.

Feb. 27-29 – Dental Health Craft Week, arts and crafts about dental hygiene.

Mar. 5-9 – Lion Craft Week, make fun lion crafts and learn about “king of jungle.”

Mar. 12-16 – St. Patrick’s Day Craft Week, make “green” crafts to celebrate Info: Free, with admission unless otherwise noted; www.inkfun.org; 770 536-1900 North Atlanta Trade Center Feb. 18-19 – Atlanta’s Exotic Bird Fair Feb. 24 – Universal Championship Wrestling Mar. 9-11 – The Woodworking Show Mar. 18 – Georgia Beauty Supply Trade Show Info: 770-279-9899, www.northatlantatradecenter.com.

Piedmont College Feb. 3 – Athens Guitar Trio, recognized as one of the most expressive chamber ensembles, performs at 7:30 p.m. in the Piedmont College Chapel. Info: 706-778-8500.

Feb. 16-19 – “A Little Night Music,” Stephen Sondheim musical performed at 7:30 p.m., 2 p.m. matinee (Feb. 19). Admission: $10, adults; $5 for students and seniors.

Feb. 23-Mar. 31 – Scott Stephens Art Show, an exhibition of print making, at the Mason-Scharfenstein Museum of Art, across of Piedmont College in downtown Demorest. Reception held 6-7 p.m., Feb. 23. Info: 706-7788500, ext. 1307.

Info: www.piedmont.edu Quinlan Visual Arts Center Thru Feb. 19 – “A Taste,” Tannery Row Artist Colony; “Winter Juried Show,” the Georgia Art League; “Threads of Time,” Tommye Scanlin; and “Moments of Color,” Linda Dragonette.

Mar. 1, 3 – Gala Preview (Mar. 1), 34th Annual Gala Live and Silent Art Auction (Mar. 3).Quinlan Visual Arts Center Info: 770 536-2575, www.quinlanartcenter.org.

Sailing Club Events 2012 SAILING EVENTS ON LAKE LANIER Club

Event

Day

Date

FEBRUARY 2012 LLSC UYC LLSC SSC UYC LLSC LARC SSC LLSC UYC LARC LLSC

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 - BF Hosts Laser Frostbite #8

Sat Sat Sun Sun Sat Sun Sun Sat Sun Sun Sat Sun

02/04 02/04 02/05 02/05 02/11 02/12 02/12 02/18 02/19 02/19 02/25 02/26

MARCH 2012 SSC LLSC LLSC

Nippert #1 Laser Southerns Regatta Laser Southerns Regatta

Sat Sat Sun

03/03 03/03 03/04

Club BF LLSC LLSC SSC UYC BF BF UYC SSC SSC AISC AISC

Event Winter Gale #1 Atlanta Cup J24/J22 Atlanta Cup J24/J22 Nippert #2 UYC Spring 4 Around Alone Winter Gale #2 Commodore's Cup Nippert #3 Nippert #4 Dogwood Regatta Dogwood Regatta

Day

Date

Club

Event

Day

Date

Sat Sat Sun Sun Sun Sat Sun Sat Sat Sun Fri Sat

03/10 03/10 03/11 03/11 03/11 03/17 03/18 03/24 03/24 03/25 03/30 03/31

BF AISC BF SSC AISC BF UYC

Winter Gale #3 AISC Summer 1 - #1 Winter Gale #4 Nippert #5 AISC Summer 1 - #2 Celtic Crossing UYC Makeup 2

Sun Wed Sat Sun Wed Sat Sat

04/15 04/18 04/21 04/22 04/25 04/28 04/28

APRIL 2012 AISC UYC SSC LLSC LLSC

Dogwood Regatta Sun UYC Makeup 1 Sat Masters - Skippers over 50 Sat MC Rebel Rouser Regatta Sat MC Rebel Rouser Regatta Sun

04/01 04/14 04/14 04/14 04/15

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 MORE INFO: www.lakesidenews.com

February 2012

LAKESIDE 35

The M ost Sought After Marine Special ist On Lak e Lanie r!

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Call Us Today • 770-967-8495 Honest • Experienced • Dependable “We’re Happy to Answer Your Questions”

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Considering buying on the lake, but have lots of questions?

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770-889-0169 No Obligation AMAZING NEW REDUCED

! DOUBLE SLIP-DOCK!

D! SOLD! SOLD!

PRICE! MUST SEE INSIDE

SOLD! SOLD! SOLD! SOL

$895,000

$449,900

GORGEOUS OPEN WATER SUNRISE VIEWS from this Spacious Open Ranch on POINT LOT! Lakeside Owner Ste. w/Whirlpool Tub, Vaulted Screened Porch + Beautiful Finished Terrace Level with Amazing Lake Views. 2-Car Grg.-Great Arrangement for In-Laws or Guests - TWO SEPARATE COVERED SLIP-DOCKS - Can Position Anywhere on Lot!

ONE OF THE BEST DEALS ON THE LAKE! Great Location off Pilgrim Mill Rd - Beautifully Remodeled Open Ranch with Hardwood Floors + HUGE Finished Daylight Basement w/Stone FP & Full Size Bar + Apt/Office w/Separate Entrance over Garage. Open GR w/2-Sided FP & Wet-Bar, DR, Lakeside Gathering Rm., Huge Owner Ste. w/Sitting Rm, Screened Porch, Deck w/Hot-Tub, Covered Patio off Terrace Level, Updated Kitchen w/Island & Granite, 2-Car Garage + LOTS OF EXTRA PARKING! SLIPDOCK IN WATER ALWAYS! Let's Make a Deal!!!

D! SOLD! SOLD!

SOLD! SOLD! SOLD! SOL

ND THE CORNER!

E-SUMMER IS JUST AROU

IT'S TIME TO ENJOY LIF

!

ON LAKE LANIER GRASS-TO-WATER LOT

$336,000 FALL IN LOVE! Excellent Opportunity to Get on the Lake for Only $336,000 in this Upscale Lake N'hood-Off GA-400 Exit 16. Built for Lake Living with 3-Sided Wrap-Around Porch+HUGE Lakeside Screened Porch. Tile and Hardwood Floors in this Great Open Plan-Amazing Finished Room on Terrace Level has Furniture Grade Finished Pine Walls & Ceiling with Lots of Glass for Nature's Views! Slip-Dock. BUILT TO LAST!

WOW! EXCELLENT DEEP

E WATER & VIEWS ON LAK

LANIER!!!

$675,000 EXECUTIVE'S BRICK & STONE CRAFTSMAN HOME IS FILLED WITH "OLD WORLD" CHARM Featuring Designer Accents & Upgrades Throughout. Amazing Owner Suite, Gourmet Kitchen w/Granite+Vaulted Keeping Rm w/Stone FP & Breakfast Rm w/Slate Flrs Fin. Terrace Level w/2nd Kitchen, GR, DR & LR, 4+Car Garage, Workshop, Fenced Yard+Top-of-the-Line Double Slip-Dock w/Party Deck on Young Deer.

$399,000 EXCELLENT LOCATION ON LAKE LANIER! Watch the Sunrise from this Charming Home that was Built for Lake Living - with Lots of Decking + Screened Porch. 2BR on Main + 2BR Up- Gathering Room Open to Kitchen + Partially Fin. Bsmt. Cvrd Slip-Dock! You Will Love this Young Deer Area Location on Lake + Great Homes Around and Across Lake!

Perfect Full Time or Weekend Get-Away!

WE NEED MORE LAKE HOMES!

$375,000 RARE OPPORTUNITY! CHARMING COTTAGE W/GORGEOUS WATER in Upscale Lake N'hood! Enjoy as Cottage or Expand-Flowers & Gardens Welcome you to Relaxed Living - Lakeside Gathering Room w/Brick FP & Hardwood Flrs.,Bedrooms w/Pine Flrs, Open Kitch, Dining Rm., Peaceful Screened Porch to Enjoy Morning Coffee, Fin. Terrace Level w/2nd Kitchen-Patio & Fenced Area-Sunset Cove & Lakeside Restaurants a Short Boat Ride Away!

INTEREST RATES ARE DOWN - WE HAVE BUYERS!

CALL US!

36 LAKESIDE

February 2012

Rodney Hellemn ATLANTA PARTNERS

678-318-5000

770-945-9524 www.rodneyhellemnsells.com • Email: rodneyhellemn@kw.com

“Keep Smiling!”

Visit www.rodneyhellemnsells.com for information and photos about these properties and more!

WOODLAKE DR - SOUTH END OF LAKE LANIER NEAR 985 - REDUCED $400,000

Priced at $1,499,000 $1,099,000

SOUTH END OF LANIER - DEEP WATER

Priced below appraised value! Builder's personal deep water lakefront home. Double slip dock in no wake cove.

Trey, vaulted & coffered ceilings everywhere. Gourmet kitchen, marble & hardwoods thru out. Terrace level entertainment game room & 12 seat theater room. Pack your bags and wake up in Paradise every day!

NEARLY 2 ACRES, FOUR SIDED BRICK RANCH IN SUGAR HILL

Priced to Sell $164,500 $125,000

Priced at $675,000 Beautiful, deep water lake home with a very gentle walk to your covered boathouse, with vinyl decking. Home features all the upgrades, including high-end trim, wet bar, trey ceilings, granite countertops with subzero, big sunroom and screened porch, with hot tub and views to the lake. Nicely-landscaped. Great south-end location, close to the Mall of GA and I-985.

Four sides brick on nearly 2 acres, near Mall of Ga & I-985. The main level & finished terrace have two separate entrances from the exterior. The main level and the terrace cannot access each other from the inside. Upper level has 3bed/2ba. Lower level has 2beds/1ba. Gunite pool has been out of service.

Thinking of buying or selling? Give me a call!

I need your listing! All new listings come with a FREE appraisal from a certified appraiser with Lake Lanier knowledge.

February 2012

LAKESIDE 37

TOPLESS GLASS RAILINGS

BEFORE

AFTER

• Best way to maximize any beautiful interior or exterior view! Also great for docks!

• Maintenance free! All aluminum posts! No rust!

No paint!

• Safety glass/patented posts. Glass gates!

• New shorter posts available!

Contact us for a free quote!

www.atlanta-railings.com • sales@atlanta-railings.com • 404-569-4396 Stella says, “You paid for your view, why not see it?"

Falcon Railings Atlanta

38 LAKESIDE

February 2012

ONE STOP MARINE SERVICE AND REPAIR FOR INBOARD AND OUTBOARD BOATS AND JET SKIS CERTIFIED MARINE TECHNICIAN Mercruiser & Volvo Certified Your Dock or Our Shop

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STUAR T

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thoughtful design + engineered quality

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Serving Lake Lanier for over 20 years!

Call Tom direct: 678 300 3800 Office: 770 781-9621 • www.atlantadock.com • Email: tomatdock@aol.com • Fax: 770 886-7373

February 2012

LAKESIDE 39

Local Realtor offers review of 2011 lake real estate market

By Bev Knight If you follow the Lake Lanier real estate market, you know that the past few years have been rough for home sellers.

Between the reKnight cession and two devastating droughts, the news has not been good. Since the market’s peak in 2007, home prices have dropped as the number of lake home buyers has diminished.

The real estate agents who specialize in lake property generally felt that 2011 saw an improvement in the market. Well, the numbers are in, and it really was a good year. In fact, it was the best year since before the recession began. Here are some of the interesting statistics from 2011: • Number of Lake Lanier homes with docks sold – 200 (higher than 2007) • Average sales price – $459,792 (up 7 percent from the previous year – first increase since before the recession) • Average number of days on the market – 140 (3 percent improvement from 2010) • Percentage of sales price to

list price – 90 • Percentage of lake home sales considered to be distressed property – 18 As usual, Gainesville had the most lake sales with 105, over half the total. It was followed by a resurgent Dawsonville with 34 and Cumming with 29. Next came Flowery Branch with 14 sales and Buford close behind with 13. Murrayville and Oakwood rounded out the total with three and two sales respectively.

By city, the highest average price for a lake home was in Oakwood, but that number is misleading. There were only two sales

and both were in a luxury neighborhood. That average price was $927,000. The next highest average price was in Flowery Branch at $518,000. Other city averages included Buford at $497,000; Cumming, $479,000; Gainesville at $462,000; Dawsonville, $390,000; and Murrayville at $245,000.

So, what does all this data mean? Unless world events change the current trend, the bottom of the market is behind us.

Lake home prices have started to climb, and the number of buyers is definitely on the rise. Lake Lanier real estate specialists are starting to see significant competition for aggressively-priced homes in the lower ranges. On a number of occasions, those homes have sold above their list prices thanks to multiple competitive offers.

With interest rates remaining extremely low, the trend is expected to continue and expand to higher priced homes in 2012. In addition, for the first time in years, there are some institutions lending speculative money to investors for the purpose of fixing up and flipping distressed or subpar properties. This will allow the

owners of fixer-uppers to finally sell their older homes. That will help upgrade some of the shabby older properties that have brought down values in certain lake neighborhoods.

All of these trends point to a brighter future in the Lanier real estate market.

(Source used to compile data: FMLS.) Bev Knight is a Lake Lanier resident and lead agent for The Good Life Group of Keller Williams Lanier Partners. Her group specializes in property on Lake Lanier.

40 LAKESIDE

February 2012

Lake Lanier Marinas Info AQUALAND MARINA Hours of operation: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for tenants, 8 a.m. to sunset for visitors Phone: 770-967-6811 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: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week Types of fuel: Non-ethanol, 90 octane Price of fuel: (as of 1/26/12) $4.79 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 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 1/26/12)) $4.69 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; 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 1/26/12) $4.49; $4.09 diesel On-site eatery: Sandwich Market - Seasonal Menu: Grilled & cold sandwiches, pita wrap.

Restaurant description: Casual Phone: 770-889-2185 Security: 24/7 security, gated Additional amenities: Full-service department, parts department, boat body work, yacht repair & Marine Max Stovall sales dock.

GAINESVILLE MARINA Hours of operation: Office, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week Phone: 770-536-2171 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 1/26/12) $4.49 (Dock open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week; Pay-at-the-Pump, 9 a.m.- ‘til dark, 7 days a week) On-site eatery: Skogies (Seasonal Wed. thru Sun.) 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 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 1/26/12) $4.39 (Dock open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Mon.-Sat./Closed on Sun.) 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 Web Site: 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 1/26/12) $4.34 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 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 1/26/12): $4.99 premium; $4.89 unleaded; $4.49 diesel (5 percent discount with Westrec advantage membership) On-site eatery: Castaways Seafood Bar & Grill Menu: Seafood, burgers, sandwiches & salads Phone: 678-765-8300 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 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 1/26/12) $4.59 mid-grade, $4.69 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: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week Phone: 770-887-5715 Location: 9200 Lan Mar Rd., Gainesville Types of slips available: Uncovered, 20' to 8'; covered, 24' to 50' totaling 514 slips & dry stack storage (464) for up to 39' & 115 covered bay sheds to store boats on trailers.

Store: Service Store & Ship Store Store/Dock hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week Types of fuel: 90-octane Price of fuel: (as of 1/26/12) $4.49 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 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 Store/Dock hours: 9:00 a.m.-5 p.m., Wed.-Mon., closed Tues.

Types of fuel: 90 recreational, non-ethanol Price of fuel: (as of 1/26/12) $4.79 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.

February 2012

LAKESIDE 41

AMENITIES • Family Friendly • Clubhouse with Fireplace & Deck Overlooking the Lake • Fuel Dock & Ship Store • FREE Pumpouts for Sunrise Slip Holders* *Some Restrictions Apply

• Nestled in a Protected Cove • Continental Breakfast on the 1st Sunday of the Month - June thru Sept

Visit our web-site at www.sunrisecovemarina.com.

Sunrise Cove Marina The Best Kept Secret on Lake Lanier!

Sunrise Cove Marina

770-536-8599 5725 Flat Creek Road • Gainesville, GA 30504 (Less than 5 miles from Exit 16 on I-985 and at lake mile marker 3MC) A Westrec Marina

42 LAKESIDE

February 2012

OUTDOORS ON LAKE LANIER

Gainesville walk to lake follows an interesting path

The 10-foot wide concrete pedestrian overpass above Jesse Jewell Parkway is expected to open in late March. A sign marks the beginning of Rock Creek Greenway (upper left).

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY JANE HARRISON

T

A stone spring house built by the CCC in the 1930s is among the oldest structures in Ivy Terrace.

Shana Thalacker walks her dog, Hendrix, at Wilshire Trails.

Unveiled on June 7, 1909 by the Confederate States of America Longstreet Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the statue known as “Old Joe” remained in tact after double tornadoes destroyed most buildings on the downtown square.

On the southeast corner of the historic Gainesville square, walkers can embark on a scale model walking tour of the solar system, beginning with the monument to The Sun.

he planned completion of a pedestrian bridge connecting Midtown Gainesville with the Downtown Square and Rock Creek Greenway will create a two-mile walkway that traverses some of the city’s most loved parks and interesting landmarks en route to Lake Lanier. It’s a multi-million dollar trail forged by contemplation and sweat and financed through a near $1 million anonymous donation, state and federal grants, city funds, and private investment.

The pedestrian journey from the heart of the city to the shore of a treasured resource represents a 25-year vision by the City of Gainesville, Parks & Recreation Department, Friends of the Parks & Greenways, and others who cherish connectivity outdoors.

A round trip walking tour from the pedestrian bridge to a monument to the former planet Pluto near the end of the trail See Outdoors, page 43

Two war memorials at Rock Creek Park honor Hall County veterans. One is dedicated to 20th Century veterans (above). The other bears the names of 26 soldiers killed in action in Vietnam.

February 2012

LAKESIDE 43

• Outdoors Continued from Page 42 at Longwood Park takes about 2.5 hours. Add time to stop and ponder some of the following: Pedestrian Bridge – The 10-foot wide concrete pedestrian overpass above Jesse Jewell Parkway is expected to open in late March.

Originally scheduled to open last fall, completion was delayed by new standards set by the Georgia Department of Transportation after failed epoxy caused fencing to fall from an Atlanta bridge.

Barclay Fouts, pedestrian bridge project manager for the city of Gainesville, reported that the epoxy must be set in warm weather. The 263 feet span ties into city property between Gainesville City Hall and Georgia Mountains Center on its north landing. The other end extends into property owned by

Gainesville City Center, LLC., a private company with plans to build a multi-story office complex, hotel and convention center.

The $2.2 million pedestrian bridge is financed by the developer, with an agreement that the city will repay the cost when the complex is built, according to Gainesville Mayor Danny Dunagan. It will eventually connect to the one-mile Midtown Greenway, some of which is expected to open by April. Gainesville Parks and Recreation Director Melvin Cooper said a long range plan projects a 14-mile trail that would include the existing greenways and a loop between the city and Gainesville State College.

Downtown Gainesville Square – On the southeast corner of the historic Gainesville square, reno-

Outdoor Activity Calendar February 2012 See Lake Lanier Olympic Venue Calendar for canoe/kayak and rowing activities Aqua Activities North Ga. Erg Sprint & Triathrow, Gainesville. Indoor 5K erg row, 5K run, 500 yard swim, plus separate erg sprint.

Feb. 4. High School Triathrow-8-10:30 a.m., Collegiate Erg Sprints-9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Masters and Collegiate Triathrow-1-3:30 p.m. Lunch at 11. Individuals $25, teams $75. www.rownorthga.com, www.regattacentral.com, (770) 598-6180.

North Georgia Super Sprint Triathlon, Dawsonville. First race in five-event series of triathons for adults and children. All swims are in pools. Distances for ages 14 and older: 250 yard swim, 10 mile bike, 2.25 mile run; children’s distances vary by age group. 8 a.m. May 20, Veterans Memorial Park, 186 Recreation Rd. $50 adults, $45 children; $5 discount before May 15. www.fivestarntp.com, (770) 5967154.

Iron Girl Atlanta Women’s Triathlon, Buford. 1/3 mi. swim, 19 mile bike, 3 mi. run, 7 a.m. May 20, Lake Lanier Islands Resort, 7000 Lake Lanier Islands Pkwy. $127; $12 discount USAT members. www.irongirl.com.

Beast of the East Half Steelman Triathlon, Hayesville, N.C. /Hiawassee. Swim 1.2 mi, bike 53 miles, run 13 miles, 7:30 a.m. May 20, Clay County Recreation Park, Myers Chapel Rd. Individuals $115 by Feb. 20, $145 Feb. 20May 10; $155 after or day of race. Relays $150/$180/$195. www.thebeastoftheeast.net., www.active.com Summer Sizzler Triathlon, Gainesville. 500 yard swim, 15 mile bike, 5K run, 7 a.m. June 10, Lake Lanier Olympic Venue, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd. Individuals $72 by May 27, $92 after; relays $125/$145. USAT member discount. Additional on-line and mail in registration fees. www.gamultisports.com, (770) 926-2367.

Brenau Masters Swim Team, Gainesville.

Practice and competitive program for masters

vated in 2007, walkers can embark on a scale model walking tour of the solar system, beginning with the monument to The Sun. Installed in 2000 as a Millennium Project by Robert Webb and the North Georgia Astronomy Club and financed by local groups, businesses and schools, the planet walk extends through Longwood Park and features plaques etched with facts about the planets and other celestial bodies.

Rock Creek Park – The site marks the beginning of Rock Creek Greenway. The Rock Creek Greenway starts at the corner of West Academy and Northside Drive.

Ivey Terrace – Located between Adair Street and Ridgewood Terrace, the city’s oldest park was

swimmers of all levels, high school age and older. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 6-7 a.m., Brenau University Natatorium, Washington/Prior St. $60 month. (770) 5326279, bbachman@brenau.edu.

Note: Triathlons fill up quickly. Early registration is encouraged.

Grounded pursuits: Planetarium Show “No Place Like Home,” Dahlonega. Program explores possibilities of other earth worlds.

Doors open 7:30 p.m., show begins 8 p.m. Fridays (except March 16) through April 20, George E. Coleman, Sr. Planetarium, North Georgia College & State University, Room 234 Health & Natural Sciences Building, Sunset Dr. No late seating. Off-site observatory open after show, weather permitting. Free. (706) 864-1471, www.northgeorgia.edu/planetarium.

First Saturday Hike, Gainesville. Naturalist-led hike in Chicopee Woods, 10-11:30 a.m.

Feb. 4, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr. Adults $5, 2-12, $3, younger than 2 and Elachee members free. 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. Feb. 4, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2123 Elachee Dr. Call to register. www.elachee.org, (770) 535-1976.

8-50 mile bike rides, Gainesville. Easy to strenuous loop rides with Chicken City Cyclists, 10 a.m. Feb. 4 & 11, Dewberry Church, Clarks Bridge Rd. Free. (770) 534-7075, unnoldl@charter.net.

Lace Up & Live Strong 5K, Suwanee. 5K 8 a.m. and fun run, 9:30 a.m. Feb. 4, North Gwinnett Church, 4369 West Price Rd. 5K $25 by Jan. 28, $28 after; fun run $12. www.active.com, (678) 985-3921.

Lanier Running Club, Gainesville. Club meeting, 7 p.m. Feb. 6, Johnny’s Pizza, 204 Carrington Park Dr. www.lanierrunningclub.org.

ISI Cycling, Gainesville. Group bicycle rides all speeds and levels, 7:30 a.m. Saturdays; fast pace ride 7:30 a.m. Sundays, Corinth Baptist Church, Thompson Bridge/Mt. Vernon Rd;

once believed to be the site of the original Mule Camp Springs, which became the city of Gainesville in 1821. Early records list it as Gainesville’s only park in 1924. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built stone structures and trails that remain today. In 1976, the city constructed a replica of Mule Camp Springs in the park. It was removed in the early 1980s, due to

erosion and vandalism. These elements continued to blight the park until stream bank repairs, erosion control, and trail construction were phased in from 2002-2006.

Wilshire Trails – Dedicated in 1982 and reconditioned in 1997, the park between Ridgewood Terrace and Pearl Nix Parkway features overlooks, pavilions, playgrounds, and butterfly and hummingbird gardens.

2012 Events on Rock Creek Greenway • Bark in the Park – 2 p.m. March 24, Rock Creek Amphitheatre • Butterfly Release – Wilshire Trails, May 20 • Trick or Treat on the Trail – Rock Creek & Ivy Terrace Park, Oct. 27

Regular Greenway Users: • Gainesville High School tennis and cross country teams • City and County School Systems • USTA and Northeast Georgia Tennis Associations • 35,000-plus citizens

30-60 mile rides all speeds and levels, 1 p.m.

Kroger shopping center, 3630 Thompson Bridge Rd. Free. www.isicycling.com.

Triathlon Club, Gainesville. Call or email for information about group bike rides, swim clinics, runs. (770) 532-2453, www.gobaxters.com.

Chicken City Cyclists, Gainesville. Club meeting, 6 p.m. Feb. 9, Pasquales Italian Restaurant, 1011 Riverside Dr. (770) 534-7075, unnoldl@charter.net.

Spartan 5K/1-mile Sprint, Athens. 5K 9 a.m, sprint 10 a.m. Feb. 11, Athens Academy, 1281 Spartan Ln. $15 by Jan. 31, $20 after. www.runningintheusa.com, (706) 549-9225.

Hemlock Update & Winter Botany, Helen.

Progress report on treatment of wooly adelgid infestation of Eastern hemlocks; winter plant identification demonstration, noon-4 p.m. Feb. 11, Smithgall Woods State Park, 61 Tsalaki Trl. Register in advance. $10 plus $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, (706) 878-3087.

The Great Valentine Race 5K, Cumming.

8:30 a.m. Feb. 11, Forsyth Conference Center, 7544 Majors Rd. $22, $19 age 13 & under, team discounts. www.fivestarntp.com. (770) 633-5511.

Sweetheart Sprint 5K, Suwanee. 9 a.m.

Feb. 11, Suwanee Town Center, 330 Town Center Ave. $25. www.active.com, (404) 583-1595.

Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge, Buford. Participants plunge into Lake Lanier to raise pledge money for Special Olympics, 11 a.m. registration, 1 p.m. costume contest, 2 p.m. plunge Feb. 18, Lanier World at Sunset Cove, Lake Lanier Islands Resort, 7000 Lanier Islands Pkwy. www.polarplungega.com., (770) 414-9390, Ext. 119.

Frosty 5K, 11K, Trail Runs, Jefferson. Fun run 2:30 p.m., 5K 3 p.m., 11K to follow, Feb. 18, Crows Lake, 155 Crows Lake Dr. $20 by Feb.11, $25 after. Online registration by Feb. 12 www.connectrace.com. Information: tcorbett@jeffcityschools.org.

Annual Fireside Art & Craft Show, Helen.

Indoor juried showcase of Southeastern crafts, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 18-19, Unicoi State Park, 1788 Hwy 356. $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, (800) 573-9659, Ext. 305.

Overwintering Hummingbirds,

Gainesville. Hummingbird expert Rusty Trump lectures at Elachee Nature Science Center, 7-9 p.m. Feb. 23, 2125 Elachee Dr. $5, free to Elachee members. www.elachee.org (770) 5351976.

Southern Cross, Dahlonega. 50-mile cyclocross or mountain bike endurance race, 10 a.m., tandem 8 a.m., Feb. 25, Montaluce Winery, 501 Hightower Church Rd. $80, tandem $160. www.bikereg.com, (404) 432-5841.

Xterra Thrills in the Hills Trail Run, Winder. 21K, 42K trail runs, 8:30 a.m. Feb. 25, Fort Yargo State Park, Entrance B, 210 South Broad St. 21K $35 by Feb. 12, $40 after; 42K $45/$50; add $10 race day registration. www.active.com, www.dirtyspokes.com.

Orienteering Meet, Helen. Find hidden controls in woods using map and compass, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 25, Smithgall Woods State Park, 61 Tsalaki Trl. $2, plus $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, (706) 878-3087.

Falconry at Buck Shoals, Helen. Learn about art of falconry with Georgia Falconry Association, includes presentation, live hunt, 2-5 p.m. Feb. 26, Smithgall Woods State Park, 61 Tsalaki Trl. Register in advance. $20 by Feb. 10, $25 after; free for kids. $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, (706) 878-3087.

Appalachian Trail Celebration, Backpacking Clinic, Dawsonville. Tales of trail adventures, demonstrations, workshops on AT hiking, March 2-4, Amicalola Falls State Park, 418 Amicalola Falls State Park Rd. $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, (706) 265-1969.

CASA Superhero 5K/1K Run/Walk, Cumming. 8 a.m. March 3, Fowler Park, 4110 Carolene Way. $25 5K, $10 1K. www.forsythcountycasa.org, (404) 590-3278.

Challenged Child 5K, 1-Mile Run/Walk, Gainesville. 1-mile 2 p.m., 5K 2:30 p.m. March 4, Riverside Military Academy, 2001 Riverside Dr. $25 by Feb. 18, $30 after. www.runningintheusa.com, (770) 535-8372.

Mountain Biking Basics Series, Helen.

Four part skill building and ride series with Woody’s Mountain Bikes; bikes and helmets provided, 1-3 pm. Sundays March 4-25, Smithgall Woods State Park, 61 Tsalaki Trl. $100, plus $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, (706)

See Outdoor calendar, page 44

MORE INFO: Additions/corrections, email lakesidenews@mindspring.com

44 LAKESIDE

February 2012

Lanier Striper Club recognized for community service work Giving back is one of the things the Lanier Striper Club does best.

Whether organizing the fall lakewide Funfest or pitching in to repair and improve courtesy docks for better access to the lake, these guys are all about community service.

At the club’s annual meeting in December, officials from the US Army Corps of Engineers presented special awards to club members who have worked at Corps parks to revamp docks.

Those recognized included Jerry Bagwell, Tom Blackburn, Buck Cannon, Bill

Chasey, Ron Howard, Joe Kuhr, Craig Pippen, Dan Saknini, Jack Scales and Don Skinner.

The next meeting of the Lanier Striper Club will be on Tuesday, February 7, at Roanoke Baptist Church, approximately one-half mile west of the dam on Buford Dam Rd. Dinner at 6:30 p.m.; the meeting begins at 7 p.m. Guests are welcome; dinner is $10.

MORE INFO: www.lanierstriperclub.com

• Outdoor calendar

Vesper’s Marine Service “Quality and Service You Can Depend On”

Marine Repair at Your Location!

• Expert Marine Repair • Over 25 Years Experience • Factory Trained Service on: Mercruiser, Mercury, OMC and Volvo Penta • Service on Most Makes and Models

Continued from page 43

878-3087.

Wildlife Show, Winder. Demonstration with native and exotic animals, 6-7 p.m. March 10, Campground 1 Amphitheatre, Fort Yargo State Park, 210 S. Broad St. $3, plus $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, (678) 963-8891.

Basic Land Navigation, Helen. Lesson on navigation with map and compass, discussion of GPS vs. compass, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. March 10, Smithgall Woods State Park, 61 Tsalaki Trl. $15, plus $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, (706) 878-3087.

Fallen Heroes of Georgia 5K/ 10K/1K, Buford. 8 a.m. March 17, Lake Lanier Islands Resort, 7000 Lake Lanier Islands Pkwy. 1K $15, 5K $25, 10K $30. www.active.com, (678) 7946135.

Bark in the Park, Gainesville. Dog games and contests 2-4 p.m. March 24, Rock Creek Park Amphitheatre, Academy/Northside Dr. Spectators free, $5 per dog contest. www.gainesville.org/recreation, (770) 5312680.

- Compiled by Jane Harrison

Expires 3-15-2012 Please present coupon after you receive your quote.

Vesper’s Marine Service 548 Station Trail Dawsonville, GA 30534 Phone: 678-557-4468 Fax: 770-887-4468

Expires 3-15-2012 Please present coupon after you receive your quote.

February 2012

LAKESIDE 45

Lakeside’s Dining Guide Lakeview Dining Big Creek Tavern - Lunch, dinner and breakfast at 10 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 raw and steamed seafood, salads, sandwiches, baskets and entrees, such as seared tuna sashimi, Gulf Coast oysters and Cajun blackened Mahi Mahi. Seasonal seafood: crawfish, stone crabs and soft-shell crabs. Full bar service. Mon-Sat 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sun 11a.m. to 9 p.m. C-3 678-765-8300.

Dockside Grill - Offering full lake views of Lanier in a casual outdoor setting. New this year: covered deck and furniture. Featuring the famous Docker burger, sandwiches including grouper, tuna and mahi and expanded seafood and salad offerings. Aqualand Marina, Flowery Branch. C-3, 770-363-2318.

Fish Tales Lakeside Grille - Casual lakeside dining featuring grouper fingers, signature salads and much more. Full service indoor and outdoor bar with live music. Expanded patio and new TVs. Open for lunch and dinner everyday during spring & summer, weekends fall & winter. Hideaway Bay Marina.

C-3, 770-967-3775.

Pelican Pete’s - Picturesque dining right on the water at Port Royale in an open-air thatched-roof building. Selection of sandwiches, burgers, fish and more. Sun-Thu 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri-Sat 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. B2, 770 887-5715 ext. 5.

Pier 29 - Located on Lake Lanier at lake marker 29 opposite Browns Bridge. Newly renovated family friendly restaurant with a separate bar and dining patio with live music.

Open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week. Offering fish, shrimp, steak, burgers, wings, and hand-spun milkshakes. Every Monday, buy 10 wings get 10 free. Dockside delivery available at restaurant’s courtesy dock as well as delivery to Port Royal Marina. www.pier29onlanier.com, 770-781-2242.

(Former Lantern Inn location.)

Sandwich Market - Offers sandwiches, pita wraps, gyros & lahvosh. Baldridge Marina, Cumming. Seasonal. 770-889-2185.

Skogies - Specializing in seafood and American fare. Open 7 days a week. Gainesville Marina, C-1, 678-450-1310.

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 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 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, 770-844-0902.

Collegiate - Old-fashioned hamburgers, hot dogs and milk shakes served in 1940s setting.

Gainesville. C-2, 678-989-2280.

CooCoos Nest - Open for lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch offering wings, salads complimented by fresh meats hand cut daily from Fergusons Meat Market. Also featuring steaks, chops and seafood. House favorites include beer battered fries, hooch beans (a battered and fried green bean), Cuban sandwich and the Quesadilla Burger. Live entertainment weekly. Located at GA 400, Exit 16, Pilgrim Mill Rd. at Freedom Pkwy.

Cumming. A-3, 678-456-8932; www.coocoo nest.com.

Foster House - Lunch and dinner served family-style featuring casual dining at lunch and fine dining in evening. Lunch served 112:30, 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 babyback ribs with Kansas City barbecue sauce.

Cumming. Casual. A-3, 770-886-0100.

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 Southerninspired, made-from-scratch cooking from our outdoor deck, cozy dining room and loft.

Full beer and wine list. Lunch and dinner, Wed.-Sat. Open for brunch and supper on Sunday. Closed Mon./Tues. Located on S. Chestatee St., Dahlonega. 706-482-2200; www.yahoolacreekgrill.com.

Continental/Fine Dining Adam’s - Offering 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. 15 East Main St., Buford, B-3. 678 7540379.

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. B-3, 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 400. Dawsonville. 706-265-2153.

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.

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. Half-price bottles of wine on Monday nights, half-price 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. to 2 p.m. for lunch and dinner from 5 until 9:30 p.m. Located at the corner of Buford Hwy. and Hamilton Mill Rd in the Buford Village Shopping Center.

770-614-0019, Buford. B-3.

Firesalt Tavern - Fine-dining restaurant in a casual atmosphere and a café-to-go. Café features gourmet coffee, to-go items and full breakfast and lunch. Restaurant features fine steaks, shrimp and grits, fresh seafood including scallops and salmon. Open Mon-Sun. Café to go is open for breakfast and lunch; tavern is open for lunch and dinner. Corner of Buford Hwy. and Hamilton Mill Rd in the Buford Village Shopping Center. 770-9326284, Buford. B-3.

Luna’s - Continental cuisine, romantic atmosphere. Gainesville. C-2, 770-531-0848.

Oar House in Dahlonega - Specialties: handcut steaks, seafood dishes and homemade desserts. Located Hwy 52E, 4 miles east of Dahlonega. Reservations suggested. 706864-9983.

Poor Richard’s - Specializing in Prime Rib, steaks, ribs and fresh seafood. Casual dining, dinner only. Full-service bar. Gainesville. C1, 770-532-0499.

Scott’s on the Square - Upscale casual ambience with specialty sandwiches for lunch and gourmet entrees for dinner. Gainesville square. C-2. 770-536-1111.

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, Brunswick stew, ribs. Minutes from Lake Lanier. Casual. Buford. B-3, 770-945-3431.

Deli Common Grounds Coffee Shoppe - Light breakfast, lunch and dinner and desserts followed by fresh roasted coffee. Flowery Branch. C-3, 770-967-4080.

Italian BiBa's Italian Restaurant - Featuring pasta, pizzas, salads, chicken, veal and seafood specialties. Open 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. Gainesville, C-2. 678-450-1661.

Piazza - Features traditional Italian dishes, homemade raviolis, pizza, chicken, veal and seafood specialities. Open seven 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. 706-867-9881.

Mexican La Cazuela - An Atlanta area landmark that’s expanded to two locations around Lanier. Features fajitas, selection of combination platters and more. Cumming, 678947-0718, Buford, 770-614-6871.

Oriental Little Tokyo - Japanese dining - hibachi grill, sushi. Dine in, take out. Open Tues. - Fri. 10:30 am - 10:30 pm; Sat-Sun 12 pm-10 pm; Closed Mon. Buford. B-4, 770-945-3350.

46 LAKESIDE

February 2012

Artist captures scenes on canvas as vision narrows 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 Jane Harrison inda Dragonette wakes each morning wondering what she will see.

Then she decides whether she will embark on colorful visionary journeys to a country lane, wisteria draped oaks, or a complete abstraction.

The award winning artist who draws inspiration from Lake Lanier paints quickly these days and has several oil and pastel works in progress in the studio upstairs at her home on the lake.

“I feel I have to hurry up every painting,” said Dragonette, who is legally blind and gradually losing her remaining vision to retinitis pigmentosa. “I paint every day. It is very tiring, but the will is there.

My eyes are shot at the end of the day.”

As the disease has slowly deteriorated her peripheral vision, the versatile artist has adapted mediums easier on her eyes. From painstakingly applied quill and ink stippling to her nationally acclaimed work in oil and pastels, she has adjusted her mode to con-

L

tinue painting as her focus narrows into a tunnel.

In her current exhibit of oil and pastel paintings at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville, visitors can observe vivid, multi-colored strokes that burst forth with scenes from her lakeside property and renderings of people she has met.

Observers of her Quinlan paintings marvel that the bright and expressive paintings of snapdragons, poppies, a handsome wine sommelier and downtrodden guitarist are the work of a visionimpaired artist. “Knowing her background, they find her work inspirational,” said Paula Linder, Quinlan assistant director. “She captures color in a way we take for granted … (The paintings) have a calmness, a tranquility about them, almost an acceptance,” she said. Instead of a photographic realism, the brilliant colors evoke a “dream-like trance,” she said.

Dragonette paints from photographs she and Mike, her husband of 38 years, snap on their ram-

PHOTOS BY JANE HARRISON

Linda Dragonette works on a pastel painting of a waterfall in her studio. She draws inspiration from her surroundings on Lake Lanier.

blings about their six and a half acres on a northern lake cove and trips around the region. She returns from their ventures with hundreds of digital pictures, many of which she prints and studies for their composition merit on canvas.

She then attaches her chosen picture to her easel with an adjustable metal arm and puts on her magnifying goggles before stroking a quick study in pastel.

Occasionally she lowers a small circular magnifying glass over her two-layer goggles for a closer focus.

Her husband, a semi-retired builder she calls her “man of vision,” designed both the photo clamp and goggles and their Italian palazzo style home with soaring ceilings, babbling water features, and expansive windows.

PHOTO BY JANE HARRISON A magnificent tile painting of A sample of Linda Dragonette's exhibit at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center displays the versatility of the Gainesville artist, many of whose vased irises, roses and daisies, pastel and oil illustrations of guipaintings depict scenes and people from the region. tarists, and a gurgling fountain flowing from a rustic beer barrel Linda Dragonette’s Exhibits attest to their combined creativity.

Linda Dragonett’s paintings have been exhibited at regional, naThe couple moved to tional and international exhibitions. She is Member of Excellence Gainesville about 15 years ago and award winner in the Southeastern Pastel Society and Pastel Society of North Florida. She is also a member of the Degas Pastel So- from Marietta, where the 20-year ciety and Pastel Society of the West Coast and juried member of Oil professional artist had already established herself in local and naPainters of America and Landscape Artists International.

Quinlan Visual Art Center: Exhibition through Feb. 19, 514 Green tional galleries. Looking for an abode on the lake, they found the St., Gainesville. Free. www.quinlanartscenter.org. picturesque acres on a quiet cove, Other Georgia galleries: She currently has paintings at Framewhere Mike transformed an old works Gallery, 1205 Johnson Ferry, Marietta; Watson Gallery Fine barn and boathouse into its presArt & Framing, 198 14th St., Atlanta. Her collectors include the ent showcase of their talent.

Woodruff Arts Center, Bank of North Georgia in Buford, Humane “I love living here,” DragSociety of Hall County, First Baptist Church of Gainesville. onette said on a rainy late January

afternoon when every window framed a misty portrait of a faint blue cove, dripping dormant branches and an evergreen trimmed driveway.

“I have painted this property morning, noon and night in every season and all kinds of weather,” Dragonette said.

Her pastels and oils of pear and peach trees, black walnuts and pecan trees, Canada geese and snapdragons display the ethereal beauty of nature outside her windows, brought in on the photographs she views through her glasses.

Dragonette, whose mother also painted, grew up in Miami and began experiencing vision problems as a child. Undeterred, she developed her artistry through book studies and workshops. She said that although she enrolled in several colleges, she decided against an academic route.

“I was already in 11 galleries, working and selling. I had my own style and was recognized,” she said. She models her use of brilliant colors against dark backgrounds after Rembrandt’s juxtaposition of light upon dark to hone a focal point.

She anticipates her focus will change with her vision. She abandoned the tedium of stippling, which took 80 hours to complete each piece, to concentrate on oils and pastels. Although she still paints in oil, her current focus is pastel, which she said enables her to see color “in a whole new

light.” As her sight diminishes, she expects she will render more abstract paintings of the blurring world and people around her.

In late January, the petite 58year-old spoke excitedly about her dilemma over which three paintings to submit to the Southeastern Pastel Society for potential exhibit at its International Juried Exhibition at Oglethorpe University in May. She studied a pastel of a tree emblazoned with orange foliage alongside a barn and country lane in the “horse country” between Woodstock and Crabapple. She pointed out another pastel in progress depicting a frolicking splash of water cascading over rocks near Cashiers. And she pondered her “Wisteria Explosion” in the Quinlan exhibit showing lavish lavenders bursting into bloom outside her studio window.

She’s in a hurry, she said, to meet the submission deadline in early spring. And, the rush endures to capture life’s brilliance on canvas before darkness falls.

February 2012

LAKESIDE 47

Got guts and a warm heart?

Then sign up to freeze for a reason in the chilly waters of LanierWorld at Sunset Cove on February 18 in the third annual Polar Plunge to support Special Olympics Georgia.

Prizes will be awarded for the best costume, highest fundraiser, highest fundraising team, and more!

All you have to do is register and encourage your friends to donate to your fundraising page.

For those with warm hearts but don't like the polar bear habitat some warmer features are offered: heated areas and warm concessions.

ON PLUNGE DAY: 11 am - Registration & Activities Open 1 pm - ALL Plungers must be registered 1 pm -1:30 pm - Costume Contest on Beach 1:30 pm - Plunge Program, Safety Briefing & Awards 2 pm - PLUNGE TIME!

Visit www.SpecialOlympicsGA.org for more information.

48 LAKESIDE

February 2012

Reynolds Plantation is shining star of middle Georgia Listening to the mellow trumpet sounds of world-renowned musician Phil Driscoll as I peered across Lake Oconee in the fading light, I thought to myself, “This is the way to live!” At the time, I was a visitor at Phil’s house inside the exclusive Reynolds Plantation as a guest of local magazine editor and well-known socialite, Kim Jackson.

The party was a hush-hush birthday bash for Phil that was cleverly organized by his beautiful wife Lynne as a surprise. It was complete with superb cuisine, more than 100 friends that ranged from local residents and dignitaries to famous musicians like trumpet player Chuck Findley from California. Therefore, it seemed only natural that an impromptu jam session burst forth out on the manicured lawn next to the lake and included Phil playing with Chuck, and Joe Gransden and his Big Band. It was an awesome show!

During the midst of this unique gathering, I had the opportunity to drift into a conversation with the man whose vision made Reynolds Plantation a reality.

Mercer Reynolds is a quiet, dignified gentleman who could have stepped out of Tara in Gone With the Wind. His family’s roots go deep in the area around Lake Oconee and Greene County from cottonseed oil to the timber and real estate businesses.

When Lake Oconee was built in 1979, the Reynolds family already owned a large tract of land, which was the family hunting retreat. When the lake was finished, they found this acreage included

PHOTOS BY BILL VANDERFORD

Kayaking along 40 Acre Rock (above).

A Blue Heron at Reynolds Plantation.

Bill Vanderford Travel Editor

MORE INFO: 770-289-1543 JFish51@aol.com www.fishinglanier.com many miles of prime, lakefront property. So, they formed a development company and named it Linger Longer, after their grandfather’s hunting lodge on Richland Creek. Along with his cousin Jamie, Mercer began building Reynolds Plantation during the 1980s. Like other developments during our current economic downturn, Reynolds Plantation has weathered unforeseen problems, but it is still one of the most beautiful places to live in the Peach State. Located about halfway between Atlanta and Augusta and three hours from the Georgia Coast, it is the perfect location for a home.

Inside the gates of Reynolds Plantation today resides a diverse community of people who have found refuge here along the banks of placid Lake Oconee. Coming from all over the country and the world, some owners are part time residents while others have been so taken by the charm and lifestyle at Reynolds Plantation and the surrounding area that they have made this their permanent home.

PHOTOS BY BILL VANDERFORD

Cotton is still king near Reynolds Plantation.

Self-organized clubs abound that only add to the abundant activities and world-class amenities.

These include six picturesque golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Bob Cupp, Rees Jones, and Jim Engh. In addition, the Plantation has four marinas, four clubhouses, an award-winning tennis center, a fitness center, walking and biking trails, and six mouthwatering restaurants.

To top it all off, the Ritz-Carlton Lodge has 251 guest rooms and a 26,000 square foot spa, where I experienced a soothing, deep body massage on my visit.

The Lodge also provides the possibility for newcomers to learn about the Reynolds Plantation lifestyle with “Discovery Packages.” This includes deluxe rooms, two rounds of golf or a spa treatment, access to most of the facilities, and all meals.

For reservations or information about this opportunity, call tollfree (800) 800-5250 or www.ReynoldsPlantation.com.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Reynolds Plantation has 374 miles of shoreline with great fishing, boating, and nature. While I was there, I visited the Heritage and Nature Center and soaked in the knowledge of Naturalist Nick Mahlberg. We went on a kayak tour that included fascinating nature walks through lakeside forests to see historical and geological sites. It was educational, invigorating, and with the changing fall colors, extremely photographic.

One of the mornings at the Plantation, I had the opportunity to wet a line with local fishing guide Norris Edge. We caught a variety of fish and enough bass

The Ritz Carlton Lodge at Lake Oconee.

and sunfish to feed six people that night at the Plantation Clubhouse where Chef Eric prepared our catch into three different and very tasty courses.

Less than a half hour from Reynolds Plantation, visitors can meander through the eclectic shops and view the many Antebellum homes in the historic town of Madison. This is one of only two villages in Georgia that weren’t burned to the ground on General Sherman’s famous March to the Sea near the end of the Civil War. Also, close by is Eatonton, which was the birth-

place of Joel Chandler Harris.

Here you will find the Uncle Remus Museum which is worth a visit.

It’s a shame that I only had a few days to visit Reynolds Plantation to enjoy the unforgettable contrast of heritage, natural beauty, outdoor possibilities, and fantastic amenities. It is certainly a place I will remember fondly!

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

PHOTOS BY BILL VANDERFORD

Naturalist Nick Mahlberg (left) points out our location at the Rock Hawk Indian Heritage site (above) near Reynolds Plantation.

February 2012

LAKESIDE 49

50 LAKESIDE

February 2012

Breast cancer survivor travels the world with new perspective

By Pamela A. Keene Ten years ago, Braselton resident Nancy Crawford was diagnosed with breast cancer, and it changed her life – but not in the way so many breast cancer survivors are changed. Crawford, now in her early 60s, has become an athletic ambassador for breast cancer survivors around the globe.

Two years after her surgery, she joined a special group of survivors and became a member of Dragon Boat Atlanta. The 22member all-female team, now called the “Steel Magnolias,” came together in 2004 at the Lake Lanier Olympic Center to train for Atlanta’s Dragon Boat festival that September. Eight months later, she and her 21 teammates journeyed to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, for the 10th Annual International Breast Cancer Survivors Dragon Boat Festival, “10 Years Abreast.”

“That was such an incredible experience, meeting so many breast cancer survivors and traveling with my good friends from Atlanta to represent Georgia in 2005,” Crawford said. “I made so many friends on that trip and it inspired me to travel to the international breast cancer events ever since.”

Today, the accountant-turnedathlete shares memories of trips to Australia, Italy, the Philippines and Switzerland where she has paddled with “Pink Sisters,” an international dragon boat team.

Sometimes she travels with a couple of other “Steel Magnolia” paddlers; she also has ventured abroad solo.

“Even when I go by myself, I

lanta paddlers, was asked to join their team on Angels Abreast from British Columbia. The team traveled to Australia in 2007 and participated in the Venice, Italy, 34th Annual Vogalonga in 2008.

It’s an annual non-motorized boating event that features crafts from canoes to Dragon Boats.

“There were 1,600 boats paddling and rowing the canals of Venice,” she said. “The people lining the canals chanted ‘USA ...

USA … USA’ as we went by. In return, we’d hit our paddles on Nancy Crawford at the Great Wall the sides of the boat three times, of China. then raise them high and answer ‘Salute, Salute,’ – pronounced sah know people wherever we go,” she said. “I paddle internationally LU tay. It means health and well with many women from the inter- being.”

In 2009, she journeyed to national team, plus we always meet more people – breast cancer Switzerland by way of Paris, where her Pink Sisters internasurvivors and breast cancer suptional team lead the “Flower Cerporters – along the way.” emony” and then took first place Before embracing dragon in their dragon boat division. boating, Crawford had traveled overseas twice – to Israel and the Breast cancer dragon boat events Holy Land in 2001 and to Greece in 2010 (Peterborough, Ontario) with Dragon Boat Atlanta and and Turkey in 2002 – both trips with other congregation members 2011 in the Philippines with Pink from her church, Christ the King Sisters added to her adventures.

Her 2012 breast cancer dragon Lutheran in Norcross. boat competition takes place on “The trip to Turkey and the Sea of Galilee. “It’s their first Greece, “St. Paul’s Journey,” big dragon boat event,” she said. came right after my surgery, and since I didn’t need chemotherapy, “We’ll race there in mid-May and then travel to another dragon boat my doctors allowed me to go,” race in Istanbul the next week.” she said. “One of the most movNot all of Crawford’s races ing things about that trip was the healing service our pastor did on support the breast-cancer cause, the site of Greece’s first hospital. but the majority of her travels involve educating people about It was truly amazing.” breast cancer.

Crawford’s trip to Vancouver She is an active member of with Dragon Boat Atlanta in 2005 Dragon Boat Atlanta; she serves opened the door to international as the group’s financial director. travel. She met several members In addition to the Steel Magnoof the Canadian team and, along lias, there’s a breast cancer supwith two other Dragon Boat At-

Gareau joins Paddy’s Marine Service Paddy’s Marine Service has recently added certified master technician Dave Gareau to its staff.

The company is owned by Captain Dennis Dwyer, a fully licensed U.S. Coast Guard Master with years of experience around U.S. waters. Many may remember “Captain Paddy” as the one who owned and operated “Paddy’s Lanier Princess,” back in the ’90s.

Gareau has more than 35 years of experience working in all facets of boating. He has focused on service since the ’70s, running his own shop on the shores of Lake Erie for 15 years.

The company handles a variety

First at Peachtree City. Nancy Crawford - front, second from right.

port team of family and friends who often paddle and compete domestically with the Steel Magnolias.

“We’ve become a family after all these years,” she said. “Together we all work to make the boat move, and as paddlers – not rowers – we look forward both in our boats and in our lives.”

The Steel Magnolias will begin practices on the weekends at the Lanier Olympic Center in late February or early March to prepare for this year’s Atlanta Dragon Boat Festival on Lake Lanier.

“Dragon Boat Atlanta is always looking for more members,”

she said. “Right now, there are about 30 of us. We’ve just applied for our 501(c)3 status and hope to grow the organization. Anyone is welcome as long as they support the breast cancer cause.”

People she meets who learn of her breast cancer generally comment sympathetically.

“I quickly tell them that if I hadn’t had breast cancer, I never would have met all these wonderful people and traveled to so many great places,” Crawford said. “I never imagined the experiences I would have.”

For information about Dragon Boat Atlanta, e-mail Crawford at nlcrawford@bellsouth.net.

Dragon Boat teams loading up in Venice.

Lanier on the rise: Check your docks

Dennis Dwyer (left) and Dave Gareau.

of services including boat brokerage, and stern to stern service and maintenance.

MORE INFO: 404 668-8916 captpaddy@gmail.com

With the good rainfall in mid- to late January, the lake level has risen more than a foot.

Check your dock location and cables and keep an eye on them over the next few weeks.

“As a courtesy, particularly to our members who don't live on the lake full-time, the Lake Lanier Association wants to advise everyone that the lake level has changed significantly and is expected to increase further in the next few weeks,” the association said in a broadcast to members.

“Stay aware of your dock cables and anchor poles and be

sure they are adjusted adequately.”

The Lake Lanier Association sends periodic e-blasts to its membership about timely news around the lake.

If you’re not a member, consider joining. For information, visit www.lakelanier.org.

The Corps of Engineers publishes a short-term forecast online which can be viewed at: Link to lake level forecast.

Once you’re on this webpage, click “ACF Lake Elevation and 5-Week Forecast” and then, click “Lanier” to display the lake-level chart.

February 2012

LAKESIDE 51

ACF stakeholders initiative moves forward

By Wilton Rooks Vice President, LLA Forty-two months ago, in August 2008, a small group of people interested in the waters of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin met in LaGrange to explore the question: “Can a diverse group of stakeholders work together to share a common resource, the waters of the ACF Basin?”

From that beginning, the group has grown to consist of representatives from water utilities, environmental organizations, power companies, agriculture, chambers of commerce, industries, as well as recreational advocates, navigation advocates and more throughout the ACF Basin and in Georgia, Florida and Alabama. With no power base – except the power of a unified voice – the group has hammered out governance provisions, investigated issues and has voted to move forward with progressive projects to develop solutions for shared water usage that have not been addressed before.

Most recently, the organization has solicited proposals for two major undertakings for 2012: • A Sustainable Water Management Plan – Black & Veatch was selected as consultants for this project that will perform modeling tasks to assess the availability of water in the ACF Basin to meet the needs of stakeholders. Each stakeholder category, such as recreation, water supply, environmental, and more has been asked to document its needs for water during both normal weather conditions and during drought conditions. These performance criteria will be used by B&V to create computer models that can determine the adequacy of water to meet needs under various climactic conditions.

• An Instream Flow and Lake Level Assessment – Atkins Global was selected as consultants for this project that will define the flows and levels in the various rivers in the ACF Basin to support the environmental needs.

Lake Lanier Association News & Information

In addition, the ACF Stakeholders group is conducting a Best Management Practices survey, in partnership with the Carl Vinson Institute at the University of Georgia, to define ways for the waters to be used more efficiently.

All of these projects have a single goal of defining more efficient ways to use the waters of the ACF Basin so that all users can benefit. The data developed through the SWMP and IFLLA projects will help inform water policy and water management operations.

So 2012 should be a busy year.

The ACF Stakeholders organization is comprised of an eightmember executive board and a 56-member governing board.

Each of the four sub-basin groups – Upper Chattahoochee, Middle/Lower Chattahoochee, Flint and Apalachicola – has equal representation. Industries represented include water supply, farm and urban agriculture, recreation, local government, water quality, industry and manufacturing, navigation, hydro power, thermal power, business/economic development; environmental and conservation, seafood industry, historic and cultural interests. Members are from Georgia, Alabama and Florida.

Follow ACF Stakeholders on its website at www.acfstakeholders.org.

Founded in 1966, the LLA is the oldest volunteer group working to protect the high water quality as well as water levels and to preserve its valuable legacy for future generations. It is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization.

MORE INFO: 770-503-7757 www.lakelanier.org

www.lakesidenews.com Search: Lakeside on Lanier

Recent tragedy underscores need to learn ‘the basics’ The recent grounding of the cruise ship off Italy is but one example of the vital need for maritime training, especially in “the basics.” Listening to a passenger on the TV news describe how some of the ship’s crew was in a panic state and not able to help them evacuate the stricken vessel was a clear indication of the lack of proper crew member preparation.

Standards of Training, Certification, and Watch-standing (STCW) come in different levels and were developed to give critical education and experience to the professional mariners that man sea going vessels. First enacted by the International Maritime Organization in 1978, the regulation was revised and made mandatory in 1995 for all individuals working on commercial vessels that visit foreign ports or of a certain tonnage, including cruise ships. The details of the tragic event will emerge through investigation in the weeks and months to come but one thing is for certain – proper use of STCW would have made the extremely difficult situation better for some passengers and crew, possibly saving more lives or even averting the accident altogether.

The absolute best method for someone to effectively learn the basic skill sets onboard is to experience first-hand what it is like to perform firefighting, life raft sur-

Steve Johnson Boating Safety

vival, abandoning ship, and other types of emergencies.

As part of the five-day course syllabus for STCW, in addition to the classroom, students are brought to a controlled environment in a swimming pool and have to quickly don life jackets entering the water in the proper manner. Treading water without buoyant apparatus, deploying a life raft, and righting it from an upside down position before boarding also are required to be demonstrated satisfactorily with the constant observation and mentoring of an expert instructor.

In addition, marine firefighting at an actual fire academy is something most students vividly remember for many years. Correct procedures combating the fire, intense heat, and adrenaline, closely monitored by professional firefighters, serves the trainee extremely well in time of real emergency and distress.

Recreational boaters are not required to take STCW, however, receiving the training would definitely have a positive impact on

situational awareness and response to a wide variety of crisis situations. Reaction time is drastically reduced and effectiveness greatly improved with this method of learning.

A classroom or seminar gives an outline of the basic skills required to become proficient and is essential to boating safety. Actual experience in a simulated environment, given by qualified professionals is another useful aspect of instruction and the part of education that stays with you, providing long term benefit. There is also a three-day training seminar known as Basic Safety Course that offers many of the valuable skills learned in the longer STCW syllabus for increased safety and water survival at a lower cost to the trainee.

STCW and additional information detailing the international mariner safety training regulations can be found at www.stcw.org or http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/.

The best course of action and prevention is to always be prepared. Please consider this type of training to improve your boating skills and experience the substantial benefits of STCW. Steve Johnson, US Coast Guard (ret). is with CPO Johnson, Inc. MORE INFO:

stevejohnson@navteach.com

Partnership with Lanier Striper Club benefits lake community Community partnerships are important, and we at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers truly appreciate when organizations and individuals help us accomplish our mission of good environmental stewardship.

The Lake Lanier Striper Club is one of those such organizations, working with the Corps on several issues over the years. Recent accomplishments include the replacement of fishing equipment at our catfish pond, where the club also assists us with special fishing outings for youngsters throughout the year.

This past fall and winter, the club has undertaken routine maintenance of our courtesy docks lake wide. Recently I was honored to attend the annual Lanier Striper Club meeting and present awards to eight individuals who were involved in the dock repair program. (See separate story on page 44 in this issue of Lakeside.)

The work accomplished by the club represents much more than

Balus Creek each year; the park is a popular site for fishing tournaChris ments and is known as a great Lovelady middle-of-the-lake access point.

The courtesy dock was sitting US Army on dry ground during the months Corps of of October and November, so the Engineers club reached out to local company Marine Specialties, Inc. to help move the dock and provide the value of the services these in- water access. Relocation of the dividuals provided. Our dock fadock was completed in early Decilities, although important, tend cember. Now, visitors to Balus to be infrequently addressed by Creek Park will find that the courCorps staff because of more tesy dock has been placed on the pressing needs lake wide. Howwater just to the left of the boat ever, because so many of our visi- ramp, making it convenient for tors use these facilities, their boaters to load and unload their upkeep and replacement bears a boats. Stepping stones have also very positive impact all year long. been placed on the ground makAs Lanier’s water level has ing the access from ramp to the dropped during recent months, dock walkway an easy task. the majority of courtesy docks in The Corps greatly appreciates our parks have become unusable. the willingness of the Lanier The Club’s work to relocate the Striper Club – and other organizacourtesy dock at Balus Creek, one See COE, page 55 of the busiest boat ramps on the MORE INFO: 770-945-9531 lake, has been significant. More www.sam.usace.army.mil/lanier than 120,000 visitors come to

52 LAKESIDE

February 2012

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

February 2012

LAKESIDE 53

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54 LAKESIDE

February 2012

Just the latest in a string of torments from my teens When you are the only man in a house full of women, you experience many torments. I have the scars, visible and not so visible, small gifts from my teenage daughters. And they invent new torments every day.

This last one, I did not see coming. Not that I have some kind of radar that would warn me of imminent misery.

It’s easier to just take ‘em like a man – or rather, like a broken down shell of a man who just wants to be left alone as the particles of his former man-self flake away into the great nothingness that is fatherhood.

In a way, it would be easy to endure any particular torment if I could pass it off as just an accident, an unintended lack of foresight, or a one time slip of the challenged teenage mind. But it doesn’t happen that way.

For instance, I like to use the treadmill in our bonus room, and I like to watch the news while I tread. But every morning, before the sun rises, I am forced to get down on my hands and knees and search for the missing remote control. And every morning, I make the rounds asking my

early onset dementia when my socks went missing. I could not Phillip recall that I did anything with my Sartain socks other than put them on and take them off – there was no reaBreak son for them to be AWOL. from the Waiting until my daughters Lake were fully conscious sentient beings, I asked in a non-challenging fashion, “Has anyone seen my daughters where it is so I can get socks?” In response, all three of them jumped up, grabbed their on with my life. And when I do, each one of them peeks out from bags and blew out the door on the underneath their cover and looks way to school. Five minutes later, the school principal called to ask at me as if to say “What is a reif there was a problem, that all of mote control.”

And each time, my blood pres- my kids had arrived at school on sure soars to heretofore uncharted time and did they need to see a heights as I croak out a reminder, counselor.

That led me to believe that my “It turns on the television.” That’s daughters might have something when they turtle back under the to do with my socks. The thought covers and scream at me – “I puzzled me as they had always don’t know. Leave me alone.”

Rather than point out that they maintained that every article of my clothing was GROSS. Not were all in the bonus room the previous night mesmerized by the “gross” but GROSS. Why would they raid my closet? latest episode of “When Trash When I shared my thoughts Goes Trashy,” I have found that with my wife, I found her to be the torment is mitigated somecuriously evasive. “Why would what by just curling up in a ball they do that?” I wondered aloud and sucking my thumb. as she pretended to read the But their latest attack has left paper. I pressed the issue, “What me dumfounded. At first, I do you think?” thought that I was experiencing

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“I told them they could borrow some of your socks on occasion,” she said defensively. “They match their eye liner.”

In other words, my wife suddenly morphed into a modern day Ma Parker, riding herd on a notorious gang of sock thieves. “You know, they have all my socks,” I politely pointed to my naked feet.

“Don’t be so selfish,” she said, glaring at me.

So now I don’t exercise, I don’t watch TV, and I don’t wear socks unless I can borrow a pair from my daughters. It’s just a matter of time until we have our own trashy TV show.

Phillip Bond Sartain is a Gainesville, GA lawyer and freelance writer.

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February 2012

LAKESIDE 55

Georgia Women Flyfishers host fundraiser Mark your calendars for March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, at Sweetwater Brewing Company in Atlanta for the Georgia Women Flyfishers annual fundraiser. The event is scheduled from 7 to 10 p.m. and will feature free beer and food, plus flyfishing raffles, a silent auction

and other activities. The fundraiser benefits the club’s Casting for Confidence for breast cancer survivors this fall on the Chestatee River. Tickets are $25 per person in advance or $30 at the door.

MORE INFO: www.georgiawomenflyfishing.com

• COE Continued from Page 51 tions and individuals – to invest their resources into the recreation areas on Lanier. We look forward to a continued relationship with them and we hope to hear from more people who

want to participate in various programs to benefit the lake.

Contact the Corps at its Buford Dam Project Management office at 770-945-9531 for volunteer opportunities.

UCR: Safeguarding Georgia’s resources

By Pamela A. Keene Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper takes all things water seriously. Aside from being a partner with the Lake Lanier Association and other organizations in various legal actions to protect the lake, UCR is a strong public advocate for the Upper Chattahoochee, officially from the river’s headwaters in the north Georgia Mountains through Harris County below West Point Dam, an area of about 4,000 square miles.

The Chattahoochee begins with a tiny spring several hundred yards below the Appalachian Trail in the southeast corner of Union County. In addition to Lake Lanier, parts of six counties are included in the Headwaters region – White, Habersham, Lumpkin, Dawson, Forsyth and Hall counties. Lanier is one of 14 main stem reservoirs on the Chattahoochee River – the first major impoundment on the Apalachicola-ChattahoocheeFlint (ACF) river system, which is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The river flows southwesterly through Georgia to merge with the Flint River in Lake Seminole on the Florida border, where its name changes to the Apalachicola as it meanders through north Florida to the Gulf of Mexico.

The headwaters of the Chattahoochee River, which drain into Lake Lanier above Atlanta, comprise the smallest watershed, or drainage area, which provides a major portion of water supply for any metropolitan area in the

country.

“I simply love padding on the river, seeing how beautiful it is and realizing, that without this river, much of north Georgia and metro Atlanta would not exist as it does today,” said Sally Bethea, UCR’s founding director and riverkeeper since 1994.

In 2011, UCR continued its active environmental, education and legislative goals; advocating for the river in legal actions and legislation; analyzing hundreds of water samples and removing 23 tons of trash from waterways; educating nearly 4,000 students and teachers in partnership with Elachee Nature Science Center; restoring and/or protecting nearly 16,000 linear feet of streambank; and adding more than 1,000 new members to bring the organization’s membership to nearly 5,500.

Here, at a glance are a few of UCR’s major projects/goals for 2012: • Expand its successful Neighborhood Water Watch Program to the Gainesville-Hall area; training volunteers to test local waterways weekly for bacteria levels that UCR then analyzes using EPAapproved equipment.

• Bring at least 3,800 students and teachers onboard its floating classroom – the Chota Princess II – with a goal of including 800 underserved youth on these voyages of discovery.

• Continue monitoring nutrient levels in the lake during the growing season to inform the state’s cleanup lake plan and expedite its

implementation to begin this year.

• Present its appeal of Forsyth County’s sewage discharge permit to the Georgia Court of Appeals with hopes of securing sufficiently stringent pollution limits in the state permit to safeguard the river and those who use the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

• Update its Filling the Water Gap report released in March 2011 and which focuses on water conservation successes and missed opportunities in metro Atlanta.

• Oppose new reservoirs that cannot be justified, harm watersheds without adequate compensation, and whose purpose is primarily to promote new development.

• Increase the organization’s membership to 6,000, with an emphasis on diversity and people in the watershed who live outside Atlanta.

The UCR was founded in 1994

by Rutherford and Laura Turner Seydel as an environmental advocacy organization dedicated solely to protecting and restoring the Chattahoochee River Basin — drinking water source for 3.5 million people.

“We are not opposed to every reservoir but we think they are a last option,” Bethea said. “We should invest in the lower-cost, quicker options – efficiency and conservation.”

MORE INFO: www.chattahoochee.org 404-352-9828

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