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February 2021

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

Vol. 27 Issue 2

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Lawsuit to be heard Feb. 22 The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a longstanding water dispute between Florida and Georgia on Feb. 22, more than two years after justices remanded the case for further consideration. Page 2

Webinar answers lake questions A list of more than 85 questions was submitted to the Lake Lanier Association for the Corps of Engineers’ Tim Rainey, operations project manager for Lake Lanier, to answer in a special 90-minute webinar. Page 43

A double dose of sadness Two friends of this paper passed away last month; baseball great Phil Niekro and Phillip Sartain, a local lawyer who wrote a column for Lakeside for 20 years. Page 32

Paradise in Alabama Finding a perfect family destination during a national pandemic has proven to be a major undertaking, but I got lucky and discovered a place less than three hours from Atlanta that has something for every family member. Page 42 Also inside: Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page Fishing news . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page Lake Lanier Olympic Park . . . . .Page Lake levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page Lanier map . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page Marinas information . . . . . . . .Page Outdoor activity calendar . . . .Page Sailing calendar . . . . . . . . . . .Page Columns: Curb Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page Design & Remodel . . . . . . . . . .Page Glenn Burns . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page On the water . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page Steve Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . .Page Vanderford’s travel . . . . . . . . .Page Wines, Vines & Brews . . . . . . .Page

Lakesidenews.com

26 10 14 20 44 38 31 39 34 41 20 16 17 42 40

PHOTO BY ALAN HOPE

The right way: Employees of Boat Dock Works remove a customer’s old dock flooring in preparation for the installation of a new platform. US Army Corps of Engineers officials reported last month during a virtual town hall meeting that unlicensed vendors have been charging customers to remove their old dock, then simply hauling it to a secluded part of the lake. For more about this issue, along with many others covered during the meeting, turn to Page 43.

2 LAKESIDE

February 2021

Supreme Court set to hear Fla. v. Ga. on Feb. 22 is published by Lanier Publishing, Inc., 3292 Thompson Bridge Rd. #250, Gainesville, GA 30506 (770) 287-1444 Publisher/Editor Alan Hope Production Susan Nish Susan Daniel Creative, Inc. Senior Writer Pamela A. Keene Contributing writers Jane Harrison, Millie Adcox Columnists Glenn Burns, Steve Johnson, Vinnie Mendes, Sara Bagwell, Don Duval 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 Jane Harrison The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a longstanding water dispute between Florida and Georgia on Feb. 22, more than two years after justices remanded the case for further consideration. The court’s decision, expected this summer, may put to rest this particular episode in the Georgia, Florida, and Alabama power play for the precious resource. Florida filed suit in October 2013, claiming Georgia consumed more than its share of water in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system, causing the collapse of oyster fisheries in Apalachicola Bay. Two court-appointed special masters have recommended the court drop the case. Voting 5-4 in 2018, justices remanded the first special master’s report and later assigned the case to another, who in Dec. 2019 also denied Florida’s claims. Florida attorneys have pled for court sympathy for Apalachicola’s oystering tradition, which they claim will be doomed without the court’s intervention. Georgia attorneys have pointed to evidence of Florida’s overharvest of oysters and the Peach State’s larger economy that

quenches its thirst from the ACF. Metro Atlanta water users and stakeholders around Lake Lanier initially feared Florida’s lawsuit would target the ACF’s largest reservoir; however, lawyers focused on south Georgia farmers on the Flint River. Georgia agriculture saps more water from the ACF than all other entities combined. The composition of the court has changed significantly since justices first heard the case. In that close decision, announced June 27, 2018, the majority indicated some sympathy for Florida’s woes and remanded the initial Special Master’s report, which denied Florida’s claims on a technicality, for further consideration. Two of that majority are no longer on the court. Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement the same day the court declared the remand and has since been replaced by Brett Cavanaugh. Amy Coney Barrett now fills the vacancy left by the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Both Kennedy and Ginsburg voted with the majority in 2018, along with Justices Stephen Breyer, John Roberts, and Sonia Sotomayor. Writing for the majority,

Breyer wrote that the first Special Master, Ralph Lancaster, held Florida to “too strict” a standard to prove its case. During the first hearing, several justices’ questions hinted a desire to help Florida get more water from the river system, but also indicated they lacked a clear quantitative measure about how much water Florida needs for meaningful improvement and how limiting Georgia’s water use could potentially harm Georgia’s economy. The second Special Master, Paul J. Kelly, sought quantitative answers and wrote in his recommendations that evidence did not show Georgia’s water use harmed Florida. He further stated that evidence demonstrated Georgia’s water use is reasonable and that evidence did not show the benefits of limiting Georgia’s water use would outweigh the potential harms to Georgia’s economy. His report offered statements similar to those of Justice Clarence Thomas, who wrote in his dissent that Georgia would suffer greater harm than Florida if its water use is cut. He contrasted a Georgia regional population of more than 5 million and an annual gross regional product of $283 billion with Florida’s re-

gional count of fewer than 100,000 people and an annual $2 billion regional product. Since the last time justices heard oral arguments in the case, Florida seems intent on propping up the oystering culture of Apalachicola Bay. Private and state entities have committed to pumping almost $50 million to help restore the bay’s oyster fisheries. Additionally, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission announced a plan to ban wild oyster harvest in Apalachicola Bay through Dec. 3, 2025 or until 300 bags per acre of adult oysters can be found on a significant number of reefs. Both states have spent in excess of $40 million on the case since 2013. How you can listen live

As of mid-January, the Supreme Court had not announced plans to hold February oral argument sessions in person at the court building. The court has heard oral arguments by telephone conference since April 2020. In keeping with public health guidance in response to COVID-19, the Justices and counsel all participate remotely. According to a January press reSee Lawsuit, page 14

February 2021

LAKESIDE 3

HOW MUCH IS YOUR HOME WORTH? CHECK YOUR VALUE AT:

TERESA SMITH

LivingOnLakeLanier.SmartHomePrice.com

Like our facebook page - www.facebook.com/LivingOnLakeLanier 6186 Lakeside Drive, Flowery Branch

JUST LISTED! 3 BR/2 full & 2

half baths. Beautiful lake views in Flowery Branch. Master on main, open concept kitchen and LR. Amazing workshop on lower level can be converted into living space. Large office/bunk room on lower level. Deep water SS dock. Additional lot and dock permit included! $825k (Hall)

5217 Driftwood Point, Gainesville

CUTE AS A BUTTON 3/2 with lake view and a single slip dock. Nice open floor plan with kitchen and living room combination and a partially finished lower level with a rec room and bedroom. This little gem is on the calm north end of Lake Lanier on Little River. 1st time on the market! REDUCED $365K (Hall)

3913 Harbour View Ct, Gainesville

JUST LISTED! ONE of a kind home with grass to water & a mowing permit. HUGE back yard on Corp property. 4/3.5 + a guest cottage with LR, kitchen, BR, office and full bath. N Hall High School. 1 additional lot with dock permit available for sale located at 3909 Harbour View Court. $729K house, $230K lot. (Hall)

Waterside Subdivision (Lots 17,18,19)

3909 Harbour View Ct, Gainesville

R U N D E T! RAC T N O C

LOW CORP LINE & great views from .59 acre building site w/121’ of shoreline! Fantastic location on Lake Lanier in Cloister Cove on Chestatee Bay. EASY boat ride to marinas/restaurants. Aluminum SS dock w/party deck in beautiful water! Soil test, survey, covenants & owner's site plan available. $260K (Forsyth)

JUST LISTED! 3 lots sold together for a total of 3+ acres on Lake Lanier that includes 2 separate covered single slip docks with permits. Developer's original road to lake on lot 17 & 18. Lot 19 has a road that goes all the way to the dock. This lake community of homes has recent sales from $500's to over $1.4M. No HOA but protected by architectural control. $299K (Gainesville, Hall)

JUST LISTED! Level cul-de-sac lot with easy walk to a single slip dock. Great building site in desired North Hall High School and Mount Vernon Elementary. Easy access to hospital, shopping, grocery stores and restaurants. Can be purchased with 3913 Harbour View Court. $729K house, $230K lot. (Hall)

Watermark Cove

3728 & 3724 Griffin Drive, Gainesville

9055 Hayes Drive, Gainesville

! D L SO FREE DEEDED SLIP in 24 Slip dock. 1.302.63 acres lots. Gated subdivision. Interior and lakefront lots. $120K - $175K Gainesville (Hall)

CORP line is close to the shoreline! 2 amazing lots (tax parceled separately) are being sold together. SS dock in place. The house to the left of the lots is a 3/2 with a beautiful lake view. (See 3732 Griffin Drive - being sold separately.) Close to the Olympic Rowing Venue. Build your DREAM home close to the lake. $299k (Hall)

3839 Mark Trail, Gainesville

3168 Alenes Drive, Gainesville

! D L SO

! D L O S

THESE SPECTACULAR waterfront lake lots have it all! Corp line close to deep water. Breathtaking, expansive, long and wide lake views, 93’ waterfront, gentle slope. Boat dock or boat dock permit. Quiet part of Lanier. Survey and level 3 soil test completed. Park like setting. 2 remaining lake lots. Build 1 large home or 2 homes for a little family compound. $148k (Hall) Lots 3839 & 3841 can be sold together for $299k

1762 Green Road, Buford

! D L O S CONTEMPORARY 4/3.5 on SOUTH end of Lake Lanier! AMAZING open floor plan with all the bells & whistles. Kitchen & great room w/ soaring ceilings. Fully finished terrace level w/ 2nd kitchenette. Master suite on main. Short, level walk to SS covered boat dock & 2 car garage. $799K (Gwinnett)

GRASS TO WATER! New kitchen, master bath and terrace level renovation! WONDERFUL lake views at a reasonable price. DEEP WATER at the dock. Movein ready. Master on main, 2 lg BRs on upper level. Additional garage on the lower level that is perfect for all of your lake toys. This location is close to the Olympic Rowing Venue! REDUCED $529k (Hall)

6602 Garrett Road, Buford

! D L SO

Lake Lanier Specialist teresasmith@kw.com 770-654-4173 LivingOnLakeLanier.com

MICHELE KAPLAN 678-677-5653 michelekaplan@kw.com 6422 Waterscape Ridge, Gainesville

JUST LISTED! Build your perfect home on this 1.26 acre lake lot with a covered single slip. Enjoy seasonal views of the lake in a community of homes with recent sales from $500's to $1.4M. No HOA but protected by architectural controls. Only 20 minutes to restaurants, shopping, outlet mall, grocery stores, etc. in Gainesville and Dawsonville. $190K (Hall)

3959 Mount Vernon Road, Gainesville

! D L SO

SOUTH LAKE LANIER! Beautiful sunset views, large grassy yard that stretches almost to SS dock, large deck with views. 5BR/4BA. Finished terrace level. Many upgrades including new concrete driveway, covered patio with aluminum under-decking, a new roof, freshly painted interior and exterior, a new Lenox high efficiency heat/AC, hardwood floors on the main level and beautiful landscaping. $819,900 (Gwinnett)

HIDDEN GEM on Lake Lanier! Priced $135,000 below recent appraisal! Zoned Highway Business. 4 BR/3.5 BA, 3-level home with INCREDIBLE lake views from most every room. Grass to the water with a mowing permit on the dock permit. Sunroom overlooking the pool and lake. The HUGE detached garage is perfect for a car collector, RV storage or an AMAZING workshop. $1,050,000 (Hall)

6346 Loco Vare Road, Gainesville

3732 Griffin Drive, Gainesville

! D L O S 2.6 ACRES of rustic elegance! This is the ultimate resort style and private home that many are looking for. 5/6.5 with room for family or entertaining guests. The tongue and groove ceilings makes you feel like you are in a mountain lodge yet on Lake Lanier with a double slip dock. AMAZING salt water pool with a poolside Tiki bar and outdoor kitchen. $1,100,000 (Hall)

! D L O S IMMACULATE Lanier home w/ AMAZING views and a concrete drive to the dock & Corp line at the shoreline! Double slip dock. 2 viewing decks overlook the lake. Open kitchen and living room. 2BR/1BA on main; lower level w/rec room & LARGE BR. 2 additional lots next door w/ an acre+ with a low Corp line and a dock that the sellers are selling separately. $539k (Hall)

2536 Club Drive, Gainesville

8910 Beaver Trail, Gainesville

5745 Harbor N, Gainesville

! D L O S

! D L SO

! D L O S

ONE OF THE BEST homes on Lake Lanier featured in Architectural Digest in 2008! Amazing wall of windows overlooks pool & lake! 1.95 acres of privacy & garages for 7 cars! This home has it ALL w/ new kitchen, plumbing, HVAC, roof, whole house generator, river rock rip rap, dbl slip dock...the list goes on. The master bedroom opens to a private covered patio, pool & hot tub. Partial terrace lvl has workout/rec rm, full bath & more. REDUCED $1,425,000 (Forsyth)

IMPECCABLE 3 BR/3.5 BA South Lake home with gorgeous lake views from most every room! Very low COE line & easy walk/golf cart ride to single slip dock in DEEP water. Enjoy sunset views on AMAZING covered deck. Master on main + office/4th BR. Gourmet kitch w/sitting rm, HUGE gr rm w/FP & dining rm! 2 BR & baths on terrace level plus living rm, office & workout rm. REDUCED $875,000 (Hall)

AMAZING 2 years young CUSTOM ESTATE home in Chattachoochee Country Club. This UNBELIEVABLE home is a 4/3.5 and is grass to the water with a S/S dock w party deck. 1st time on the market. Open concept with master and 2nd bedroom on the main level. You must see this home to appreciate all of the custom and handcrafted details. Please call for a private viewing. $1,650,000 (Hall)

4 LAKESIDE

February 2021

Bev Knight 770-536-4416

4+acre lux compound

Agent on Lake Lanier since 2012

770-503-7070

(cumulative sales)

Buckhead-style luxury

Gainesville $1.585m

Flowery Branch $3.5m

Summer Crest

New lux construction

Dani Burns

Darlene Plavcan

706-455-3076

678-300-1275

Million-dollar vistas

Gainesville $1.2m

Fantastic updates LD! LD! SO O S ! D SOL

Gainesville $874k

Gainesville $975k

Forsyth, outdoor kitchen ISTING! NEWâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;L

Gainesville $625k

Forsyth fixer-upper

Gainesville $750k

Views, ultra private

SOLD! SOLD! SOLD!

Cumming $600k

Lula $585k

Now serving MORE north Georgia lakes! Visit us at GoodLifeGroupRE.com

l e l . . r n g e n . e o u i u w t t e t r Lan Bu Rab Mor Cha Har w w w. H o u s e s O n L a n i e r. n e t

February 2021

LAKESIDE 5 NEW

NEW

Donilyn Hodge

Angie Smart

Justin Sheffield

Jamie Bishop

Kevin Hall

Debbie Krenzer

404-271-4479

404-368-8880

352-262-0389

404-803-3231

941-441-7170

678-347-5774

Please give a warm welcome to our two new agents, Kevin Hall and Debbie Krenzer! *** Build Your Dream Lake Home *** Summer Crest lots, luxury in North Hall ONLY 1 LOT LEFT!

770-503-7070

*** Featured Agent *** Debbie Krenzer Lake Hartwell Specialist, Listing & Buyer Specialist

Experience & specialty: A vivacious agent who coordinates the Lake Hartwell Good Life Group. Over 25 years in real estate, a top sales agent, flipped 40+ homes across seven states & has extensive management experience. Debbie is known for her boundless energy & infectious positivity. You will never find a more organized, detailfocused agent than Debbie. She works relentlessly for her clients, & it shows in her production. She is the mother of eight children, a youth minister & happily married.

Gainesville - One lot, 2+ acres. $400k

Sgl slip, deep water

Private lot, sgl slip SOLD! SOLD! ! D L O S

UNDER

A CONTR

Gainesville $195k

Gainesville $285k

1.01 acres, deeded slip, big water views

Gainesville $225k

â&#x20AC;Śwhen youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready for the good life!

6 LAKESIDE

February 2021

Sheila Davis 770-235-6907 sdavis@gonorton.com

#1 in Lake Lanier Sales in 2020

770.536.1250

Over $70 million SOLD! LE ESVIL GAIN

LE ESVIL GAIN

UNDER T AC R T N O C $1,450,000 • EXQUISITE EXECUTIVE LAKE ESTATE – 1ST TIME ON THE MARKET. Surrounded by Estate-sized residential tracts, mesmerizing lake views, and peaceful, wooded Corp property with walking trails, this custom designed home, was built by Lee Wagner. 260 ft. of shore line, with 160 ft. of protected rip rap. 32 x 32 double slip dock in DEEP water with two jet ski lifts. Virtual tour: https://tinyturls.com/734510. FMLS# 6787776 3986 Hidden Hill Drive Sheila Davis 770-235-6907 or Linda Thompson 770-313-5446

ING CUMM

$1,436,693 • SIDNEY ON LANIER, prime waterfront lot on deep, beautiful open water with rip rap shoreline, engineered sea wall, dock steps lead to 32' x 32' max sized dock. The Cambridge Plan, a “to be built” custom designed Arthur Ruttenburg Home by Lee Wagner. Build at the street or water's edge. Offering quality upgrades and luxury features. Pictured in French Country, also available in American Farmhouse and Traditional. Open concept kitchen, great room and casual dining, fireplace with walls of glass showcasing open water views bringing outdoors in from the covered porch. Master suite and guest room on the main level, plus a den (library). Upstairs features 2 BR/BA's plus large bonus room. Full daylight terrace level. Model home available for qualified buyers. FMLS# 6705205 2273A Sidney Drive Sheila Davis 770-235-6907

Thinking about Selling?

UNDER T AC CONTR $925,000 • SOUTH LAKE LANIER JUST OFF GA 400, 6 BEDROOMS, 4.5 BATH CRAFTSMAN STYLE HOME, PRIVATE SINGLE-SLIP OVERSIZED DOCK WITH A SUN PORCH LOCATED IN A DEEP WATER COVE NEAR BALD RIDGE MARINA. Vaulted ceilings, stone fireplace, walls of windows, Finished Terrace level with a huge family room, workout room & large workshop. Fresh NEW interior paint, 2016 roof & decks. No HOA. Plenty of parking, no garage but room to build one, recently rezoned to new East Forsyth High school. FMLS# 6781498 5455 Linger Longer Road, Jennifer 770-356-2629

LE ESVIL GAIN

E NVILL O S W A D

There has never been a better time 1. Home inventory is low! 2. We have qualified buyers waiting. 3. Interest Rates at an all-time low! Give us a call today to find out more! 770-235-6907

Sheila Davis Group

LE ESVIL GAIN

$890,000 • 4BR| 3.5BA, NEW HOME IN THE RESERVE CLUB & MARINA - a gated Lake Lanier neighborhood. The Havenridge is a Frank Betz Modern Farmhouse plan with a charming covered front porch & 3 car garage. S/b completed Spring 2021. FMLS# 6822194 7560 Crestline Drive Michelle 404-379-5798

E NVILL DAWSO

UNDER T AC CONTR $699,000 • TURN KEY 5BR| 4BA LAKE LANIER HOME with private dock! Priced to sell mostly furnished with a stocked kitchen, lake toys and more! North Hall brick and stone w/3 finished levels, Elegant rustic design, hardwoods, open floor plan, 2 story great room featuring a beamed ceiling and floor to ceiling stone fireplace, finished terrace level. Deep water cove, private single slip dock with party deck & 2 jet ski ports. Quiet lake area with seasonal views of the water! FMLS# 6757127 4810 Amal Lane Stephanie 770-654-4161

$675,000 • RUSTIC LAKE COTTAGE WITH GRASS TO WATER AND HUGE OPEN VIEWS. 2 BR /1 BA on main level and a finished game room on the terrace level, separate apartment for guests or kids. Bonus room above 2 car garage. Huge porches overlooking the lake for relaxing. Deep water twin slip dock. Corp line 30 feet to the water’s edge. Virtual Tour: https://tinyturls.com/158641 3660 Looper Lake Sheila 770-235-6907

$627,900 • BEAUTIFUL NEW 4BR| 3BA home in The Reserve Club & Marina. Embry Hills plan by Frank Betz is a craftsman design with defining features such a covered front porch, shed dormer and steep gables. FMLS# 6753665 7550 Crestline Drive Stephanie 770-654-4161

Lake Lots UNDER T AC R T N O C $450,000 • BEAUTIFUL BUILDING LOT in Pointe West on Lanier. Enjoy sunset views and gorgeous 40' deep water at the over-sized single slip dock, protected by waves and wind + a natural rock shoreline. Permitted for the largest allowable 32 x 32 twin slip dock. FMLS# 6755024 5685 Point West Dr Oakwood, Sheila 770-235-6907

$399,000 • SIDNEY ON LANIER Dream lake lot, wide open views and a portion of the property line in the water! Ready for your new build, deepest drought proof water, permitted for a 32'x32' twin slip dock FMLS# 6609607 2273 Sidney Drive, Gainesville Sheila 770-235-6907

$375,000 ESTATE SIZE LOT, 2.27 acres with a private dock to build your Lake Lanier dream home! Seasonal views of the water and a gentle cart path to the dock.. FMLS# 6772758 3342 Banks Mountain Drive, Gainesville Stephanie 770-654-4161

$295,000 • 1 ACRE BUILDING LOT ON LAKE LANIER! Enclosed dock with party deck in deep water cove. Build your dream home. FMLS# 677059 3501 Monroe Circle, Gainesville Michelle Sparks 404-379-5798

$160,000 • ROGERS BAY ON LAKE LANIER S/D Great location in North Hall school district.Deeded covered slip included in the deep water community dock. 324’ of water frontage, 1.06 acres, FMLS# 5896811 Lot #10, 4244 Bayridge Dr, Gainesville Stephanie Gillespie 770-6544161

L o c a l • G l o b a l • We l l C o n n e c t e d • P r o v e n R e s u l t s

February 2021

LAKESIDE 7

Nicole Columbo 678-858-0265

Stephanie Gillespie 770-654-4161

Michelle Sparks 404-379-5798

Linda Thompson 770-313-5446

Jennifer Anderson 770-356-2629

Miranda Brooks Assistant 706-781-9410

Vicki Holland Marketing

770-235-6907

#1 in Lake Lanier Sales! Let Us Help You Sell or Buy! SOLD 5610 Point West Drive $1,995,000 • Sheila/Linda

SOLD 3502 Lake Breeze Lane $1,427,500 • Sheila

SOLD 5885 Nix Bridge Road $1,124,000 • Michelle

SOLD 5274 Forest Cove $950,000 • Sheila

SOLD 7020 Cherokee Trace $750,000 • Sheila

SOLD

SOLD 2519 Club Drive $1,970,000 • Sheila

SOLD 3317 Duckett Mill Road $1,350,000 • Sheila

SOLD 4016 Chapman Drive $1,100,000 • Stephanie/Sheila

SOLD 3466 Westhampton Way $895,900 • Sheila

SOLD 2074 Poplar Lane $745,000 • Nicole

SOLD

5989 Nachoochee Trail $699,000 • Nicole/Stephanie

6445 Waterscape Ridge $699,000 • Nicole

NG PENDI

SOLD

4155 Cherokee Trail $614,000 • Nicole

1416 Chandlers Ferry Road $580,000 • Sheila

SOLD 6544 Yacht Club Road $1,885,999 • Nicole

SOLD 6723 Summer Crest Court $1,275,000 • Nicole

SOLD 5161 Highland Road $1,100,000 • Sheila

SOLD 2736 High Vista Point $885,000 • Stephanie

SOLD 4002 Oak Harbour Court $745,000 • Sheila

SOLD 6320 Crestline Drive $690,162 • Stephanie

SOLD 9410 Chestatee Court $578,500 • Sheila

SOLD

3514 Maritime Glen $499,000 • Jennifer

5040 Mckenzie Lane $487,500 • Jennifer

2371 Stephens Circle $445,000 • Linda

SOLD 5730 Point West Drive $1,879,000 • Sheila

SOLD 2532 Pemmican Run $1,250,0000 • Michelle

SOLD 5680 Chestatee Landing Drive $1,050,000 • Sheila/Stephanie

SOLD

5185 Young Deer Drive $1,775,000 • Sheila

288 Thompson Place $1,615,000 • Stephanie

3655 Cameron Circle $1,430,000 • Jennifer

SOLD 5954 Nachoochee Trail $1,250,0000 • Stephanie

SOLD 5130 Laurel Drive $990,000 • Nicole

SOLD

6215 Grand Marina Circle $849,500 • Sheila/Michelle

4858 Habersham Court $849,000 • Sheila

SOLD

5567 Mallard Walk $737,000 • Nicole

5215 Indian Circle $735,000 • Stephanie

SOLD

6310 Crestline Drive $683,625 • Michelle

5824 N Cove Road $675,000 • Jennifer

SOLD

260 Lake Circle $576,500 • Michelle

336 Toto Drive $545,000 • Michelle

SOLD 2554 Vaughandale Circle $419,000 • Jennifer

SOLD 2100 Habersham Marina Rd, 101A $405,000 • Michelle

NG PENDI 5998 Overby Road $1,200,000 • Jennifer

SOLD 3520 Fleming Drive $975,000 • Nicole/Stephanie

SOLD 3176 Alenes Drive $846,845 • Sheila

SOLD

SOLD 4345 Mceachern Drive $1,170,600 • Sheila

SOLD 4249 Tall Hickory Trail $950,000 • Stephanie

SOLD 9520 Lisa Circle $800,000 • Michelle

SOLD

2565 Wahoo Place $710,000 • Stephanie

4205 Perry Drive $700,000 • Linda

SOLD

7365 Crestline Drive $649,000 • Nicole

168 Overlook Circle $619,900 • Michelle

SOLD

1005 Timber Lake Trail $520,000 • Sheila

2020 Riverwood Drive $510,000 • Sheila

SOLD

3339 Little Circle $375,000 • Linda

3762 Harbour Landing Drive $340,000 • Stephanie

Call us to discuss how our Expertise & Marketing can best serve you!

8 LAKESIDE

February 2021

Corps, Georgia finally formalize water withdrawal agreement By Pamela A. Keene It was a long time coming, but on January 20, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state of Georgia formalized its agreement for several municipalities to withdraw drinking water from Lake Lanier. “Frankly, we’ve been withdrawing water from the lake ever since it was built – and the river before it – for drinking water,” said Linda MacGregor, director of Gainesville Water Resources. “This agreement authorizes and formalizes what had been outlined in the 2017 Water Control Manual.” The City of Gainesville has been withdrawing water pursuant to a Relocation Agreement entered into with the Corps of Engineers in exchange for relocating the

Riverside Water Treatment Plant when the lake was constructed in the 1950s. Gainesville is one of several municipalities granted formal access for drinking water. The others are Gwinnett and Forsyth counties, and the cities of Buford and Cumming. Riverside and lakeside treatment plants withdraw water from Lanier and treat it before distributing it to customers. The city also maintains two waste-water treatment plants at Flat Creek and Linwood; water from these facilities is treated and returned to the lake. “The agreement removed uncertainty about our ability to remove water from the lake to be used as drinking water,” she said. “It gives the State of Georgia permanent rights for these withdrawals.”

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"Browns Bridge, Lake Lanier" by Anne Brodie Hill

Anne Brodie Hill, ASMA, GWS Lake Lanier Artist

www.annebrodiehill.com • 770-886-6126 Lake Sidney Lanier & Gainesville prints, Postcards, Notecards Original Oil, Acrylic, and Watercolor Paintings

Gallery on the Square, 118 Main Street, Gainesville, GA Other Fine Artists at Gallery (www.gallerysq.com) Ann Alexander, Pam Kohler-Camp, Lydia Ferguson, Ann Goble, Fran Hazel,Jane Hemmer, Paula Hoffman, Joyce Hornor, Debra Nadelhoffer, and Connie Lynn Reilly

Prints, postcards, notecards also available at: Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green Street, Gainesville, GA Frame-Tastic, 565-B Shallowford Road, Gainesville, GA

February 2021

LAKESIDE 9

The Chambers Team

Experience isn't expensive, it's priceless!

631 Dawsonville Hwy • Gainesville, GA 30501

www.PattiChambers.com • Office 770-503-7070

THE LAKE HOME YOU'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF MAY NOW BE AFFORDABLE ... CALL US! $549,900

$14,000,000 LAKEFRONT ACREAGE - approximately 40 acres in Gainesville with 42 slip boat dock permit approved by USACE. Adjacent to Creswinds community. 19 acre tract zoned PUD- proposed 540 condo units approved by city (case 89-23) in 1989. 23 individual lots included. Proposed 540 unit blank cost is approx $26,000/raw unit. Sally Kirchner 770-538-5626.

GRACIOUS 4- sided brick home in Chattahoochee Country Club. Large open floor plan, 2 story foyer, 2 story great room, gourmet kitchen w/huge granite island, SS appliances, 5 full bedrooms, 3 car garage, full finished basement w/ 2nd kitchen.... a wonderful in law suite. Nice stream in rear that flows into Lake Knickerboker. Only 1/2 mile to golf course and Chattahoochee Country club. Current owner has added many updates. A beautiful home!

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The lake house you've been waiting for near Chattahoochee Country Club and Golf Course. Big water views! Nice double slip dock. This 4 sided custom home has a true gourmet kitchen which opens to family room. A large master suite + 2 add'l BRs on main plus 3 BRs and exercise room on terrace level. You'll love the beautiful bar or 2nd kitchen opening to handsome /billiard area. Bonus or craft room upstairs, 2 fireplaces, 2 very lg covered porches and expansive decks. Very private lot.

SOLD

$1,200,000 180 DEGREE VIEW OF THE

D L O S

LAKE on a private lot facing west with a wall of glass and 2 story kitchen. Renovated in 2017 with too many upgrades to list.

BAY POINTE SUBDIVISION LAKE LISTINGS SOLD LOT#: 101 SOLD 103 SOLD 108 SOLD 109 SOLD 110 SOLD 111 SOLD

113 114 116 117 118 120

SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD

201 SOLD 207 SOLD 206 SOLD 208 SOLD 213 SOLD 214 SOLD

216 217 104 105 119 202

SOLD SOLD PENDING PENDING PENDING PENDING

203 205 209 210

PENDING PENDING PENDING PENDING

ONLY 9 LOTS REMAINING - ALL WITH DEEDED BOAT SLIPS!

WE LIVE AND PLAY ON LAKE LANIER • WWW.PATTICHAMBERS.COM Patti Chambers c 770.287.4879 • Bobby Chambers c 770.654.0533 • Office 770.538.4010 • Sally Chambers Kirchner 770.538.5626 Patsy Mercer 770.540.6507 • Renae Ackerman 678.316.8596 • Laurie Weber 678.617.8357 • LeAnne Richardson 770.561.1446

10 LAKESIDE

February 2021

Lake Lanier Fishing Report

A sampling of fishing information and tips from area experts Lake level: Down 1 foot Clarity: Main lake clear, creeks stained Temperature: 50s Bass fishing is barely fair. It’s a tough deep bite for most of the lake. Bass are on the deep docks mid lake. The fish are very fat as they have been gorging on tiny shad. And the fish are under the deeper docks, ditches and in the deep to 35 feet man made and natural brush piles. Find them with the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology as they are barely moving. They seem to be waiting for a warm up to try and move shallow. Use the small spoons, small jigs and small worms but we have had little success. Try and scale down baits to the 2 inch Bass Pro Shop Squirt jigs in multiple colors. Use a small 1/8 ounce Bass Pro Shops jig head in a lead color and add some Jack’s Juice to the bag of baits. Fishing these baits is a real chore in any wind so pick some creeks down lake with larger docks to try this. Large marina docks are also holding some really big fish. We have been on

three marinas on the main lake and the fish are anywhere from 20 to as deep as 45 feet. Without the Lowrance it is hard to see these fish. They are up under the docks and Structure Scan is the way to see them. Use small 6 pound test Sufix line on a medium action spinning reel and drop baits straight down. Recently the road beds, humps and deep ledges were almost barren of fish until we hit the right place. There were no fish in the docks in the backs of the creeks if the water was dirty. It’s still very cold down deep and it looks like it may be another 10 days or so before any warm up. Take some small spoons in sizes no larger than half an ounce or smaller and use 8 Sufix Siege pound line on a medium heavy spinning reel. Find the fish on the Lowrance Down Scan technology with the Fish Reveal and use it on the DOWN Scan so the fish appear like on regular sonar. Use the vertical jig in a 1/2 to 3/4 ounce spoon. This bass report filed by Phil Johnson. Pjohnson15@hotmail. com or call 770 366-8845.

Crappie fishing is good. The hot bite target zone is 15 to 20 feet. The bite is super soft so keep your pole in your hands and feel for the slightest bump. When using jigs try putting two different colors on one line about 16 inches apart to see what color they are hitting. Then concentrate on what they want. There’s no need throwing all jigs if they only want minnows that day. Recently it has been 80 percent minnows and 20 percent jigs. I have had the best luck with a clear to milky jig and a red and black hair jig.

Look for open water deep brush piles in 30 to 45 feet of water. Use a heavy jig head to get you down there quickly. Also look under docks that are in 20 to 40 feet of water and have brush or structure. Use your electronic charts to locate these areas. Try down lining crappie minnows with a sinker or set up a slip bobber. I’m using ATX lure company’s jigs on five pound test, high visibility yellow K9 braid for my line (unless I am using a bobber) and a Piscifun reel on a light action six foot B&M rod.

Use scanning type sonar (down and side imaging) to locate schooling fish, and complement this with the latest in live scanning sonar technology like Garmin’s LiveScope, Humminbird 360 or Lowrance’s LiveSight. Set waypoints on your electronic charts so that you can quickly return to productive locations. You can do this on a smartphone using the Navionics Boating app. This crappie report was filed by Captain Josh Thornton, 770 530-6493.

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12 LAKESIDE

February 2021

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February 2021

LAKESIDE 13

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14 LAKESIDE

February 2021

Gainesville Marina hosts boat /RV show By Pamela A. Keene If people can’t go to the Atlanta Boat Show this year, let the boat shows come to them. Gainesville Marina is hosting a combination boat and recreational vehicles show February 19-21 at its location off Dawsonville Highway. “Our show will appeal to just about anyone interested in recreation – from boaters to campers and outdoor participants,” said Philip Burton, managing partner

of Gainesville Marina. “New and used boats – with an emphasis on used vessels – plus RVs, campers, and travel trailers will all be on display.” Gainesville Marina is partnering with Tuggle RV and other local dealers for the show. Inventory will include pontoons, fishing boats, ski boats, center consoles and deck boats new and used. Recreational vehicles new and used as well. The show will feature vendors ex-

hibiting all things boat and outdoor recreation. Vendor booths include Lake Lanier Association, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Dock IQ, Skogie’s Food truck, Tantrum Brewing and Custom Silhouettes. “There will be plenty for people to see and do, plus we’re having drawings for pontoon rental certificates and camping vacations to highlight local businesses,” Burton said. “And we’re excited for people to come out and see what’s available.”

LAKE LANIER OLYMPIC PARK ‘Polar Bears’ ran away from 2020 at LLOP

MarineMax Boat Show a hit last month By Pamela A. Keene MarineMax hosted its first onthe-water boat show for 2021 in mid-January and organizers reported that it was a success. Held at the dealer’s store and docks at Bald Ridge Marina, the show drew a good crowd during the sunny weather of the four-day weekend. More than 3,000 people attended the show. “Attendance rivaled weekday attendance at the Atlanta Boat Show,” said Richard Hunter, who works in sales at the dealership. “And our boat sales on the first day at least equaled what we traditionally do on opening day at the Atlanta Boat Show. Boat sales continue to be strong the week after the boat show, with MarineMax selling as many boats after the sale as they did during the event.”

PHOTO BY JANE HARRISON

Chillin’ on New Years: “Polar Bears” run in and out of the lake to start off 2021 at the Lake Lanier Olympic Park beach. The Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club offered a new version of the annual New Year’s Day ritual. Instead of jumping into the lake from the docks, participants “ran away” from the past year on the beach. LCKC Program Director Jim 0’Dell counted 52 participants on the rainy first morning of the year. He said this exceeded small turnouts from the past few years. Participants also got to hit away at 2020 and Covid-19 modeled pinatas.

LAKE LANIER OLYMPIC PARK INFO PHOTO BY PAMELA A KEENE

Attendees check out boats during the in-the-water boat show at MarineMax last month.

The show included two large, heated tents with vendors selling boating, marine and recreational items from suspended chairs to floating motorized miniature drink bars.

Hunter predicts a busy start to the 2021 boating season. “Recreational sales continue to be brisk as people are looking for ways to spend time with their families outside their homes.”

tional Law Journal Litigator of the Week and U.S. Solicitor General, has argued 41 cases before the Supreme Court. Georgia: Craig Primis, of Kirkland & Ellis, Feb. 2018 “Litigator of the Week” in National Law Journal, which declared him as “winning the water war.” Both are based in Washington, D.C. The hearing: The court usually allots one hour of argument time for each case, with each side speaking for 30 minutes. Much of the hearing time is actually dominated by responses to justices’ inquiries. Attorneys generally reserve time from their presentation to rebut arguments from the opposing side. The vote: Justices vote on how to decide the case in private conference later in the hearing week. The senior justice in the majority appoints a justice to write the majority opinion; the

minority opinion is composed by the senior justice voting on the minority side. Justices writing opinions then share written opinions among themselves, summarizing their reasons. The decision: The justices are expected to announce their ruling in open court in June or July. Live streams/hearing transcripts/oral argument recordings: The court will provide a live audio feed of the arguments to CBS News, the Associated Press, and C-SPAN, and they will in turn provide a simultaneous feed for the oral arguments to livestream on various media platforms for public access. Written oral argument transcripts will be available on the same day the argument is heard. The oral argument audio and a transcript of the oral arguments will also be posted on the court’s website following oral argument each day.

•Lawsuit Continued from Page 2 lease, the “court building remains open for official business only and closed to the public until further notice. The court will continue to closely monitor public health guidance in determining plans for the February argument session.” Schedule: Florida v. Georgia is the second case scheduled for the day, after Trump v. Sierra Club. The day’s arguments are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. There will be a three minute pause before the second case begins. Any exceptions to the norm, such as extra time allotted by the court for a particular argument, will be indicated on the argument calendar, available approximately one month prior to an argument session. The argument calendars are on the court’s website. The attorneys Florida: Gregory G. Garre, of Lathem & Watkins, former Na-

Lake Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club Contact: Jim O'Dell, program director Phone: 770-287-7888 Email: info@lckc.org Website: www.lckc.org Address: Lake Lanier Olympic Park 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd., Gainesville, GA 30506 Club offerings: Recreational and competitive canoe and kayaking for ages 9 and up. Beginner to masters programs offered through regularly scheduled practices, classes, and summer camps. Also hosts local, regional, national and international competitions and is the training center for Team USA Canoe, Kayak and Dragon Boat Racing. Calendar of events March 30 - BRL Informational Meeting Apr. 4-10 - Sprint Spring Break Camps

Lake Lanier Rowing Club Contact: April Blair Phone: 770-287-0077 Email: office@lakelanierrowing.org Address: Lake Lanier Olympic Park 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: May - August - Learn To Row Sessions May 4-22 - Learn to Row Session 1

Other LLOP Events March 12 - Food Truck Friday March 27 - Sweep the Hooch April 9 - Food Truck Friday Venue seats +/-2,000; parking capacity +/- 400 cars. The boathouse and tower are available to rent for meetings and special occasions. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, please contact clubs to make sure events are still scheduled.

February 2021

LAKESIDE 15

YOUR LLA 2021!

LakeLanier.org

JOIN NOW - WE NEED YOU! Your personal or business membership helps support our programs.

Join or renew today at LakeLanier.org. Help Keep Lake Lanier Clean, Full and Safe!

This year, in addition to our current initiatives, we have planned some new ways to be involved. Be a part of webinars, in-person socially distanced events and volunteer opportunities. We also have some great expansions and improvements to our On Lake Initiatives planned.

Virtual and In-Person Events March: Lawn Care for a Healthy Lanier - Virtual Webinar April 17: Annual Member Celebration - In-person April 24: Kayak and Paddleboard Safety Course In-person May: Sip n’ See Boating Etiquette Discussion In-person

June: Navigating Lake Lanier August: All About Dock Maintenance Virtual Webinar September 25: Shore Sweep 2021 October: Just for Fun Halloween Themed Sip n’ See - In-person

New Volunteer Activities • • • • •

See Something, Say Something: Water Watch Network rolling out this Spring. Mini Targeted Shore Sweeps throughout the year. Opportunities to help maintain and inspect life jackets at the Life Jacket Loaner Stations. Office support opportunities for “Bag and Gab” with fellow LLA members. Event planning and day of support for volunteer opportunities.

On Lake Initiative Additions • • • • •

Two more Life Jacket Loaner Stations Start of a New Round of Island Erosion and Sedimentation Protections New Boating Etiquette Campaign Water Quality Preservation Initiatives New Tracking and Reporting Capabilites for ADDV and Solar Lights

and more... Join Today • www.LakeLanier.org • 770-503-7757 • Follow us:

16 LAKESIDE

February 2021

Mug Race woes: win or lose, but always smiling One of the many things I love about the South is we have yearround sailing. Up north we had to haul the boats out each fall, unstep the masts, winterize the engines, and freeze our tails off until spring when we painted the bottoms, launched and re rigged everything before we could go sailing for the next six months. One of the fun things about sailing is racing. Whenever there are two sailboats within sight of each other there is a race. Not only here on Lake Lanier, but throughout the South there are many organized races each weekend, mostly run by volunteers who give up a day of sailing to allow others to go out and compete. The first race is the Barefoot Sailing Club New Year’s Day Poker Run, which is just an excuse to get out of the house into the fresh air and away from the TV for a few hours, not to mention a good party afterward. The next big event is the annual “Mug Race” down the St John’s River from Palatka to Jacksonville Fla. It’s sponsored by the Rudder Club of Jacksonville and goes in one direction for 38 nautical miles. The “rac-

bought a new mainsail, which wasn’t delivered until the day beVinnie fore we left. Unfortunately, it didMendes n’t have a sail number so as soon as we launched the boat into the On the St Johns we applied sticky back Water numbers as the sail was spread out on the grass in front of the Holiday Inn. A month before the race I got a ing” runs with the current, and the chart of St Johns and cut it up, winds are traditionally behind putting each section of the race you at eight to 10 knots so it’s a course into a plastic sleeve of a lovely reach or a run the whole three-ring binder (this was long way. The St John’s is a beautiful before GPS and other electronic scenic river and is one of the navigational gear was available). longest northern flowing rivers in Although the river channel is well the western hemisphere. Put this marked with buoys, they are for all together and you get a fairly the convenience of the deep draft relaxing day of sailing vs. the commercial traffic and there are wild scramble we are used to many short cuts where shallow going back and forth around the draft sailboats can go. What we buoys here on Lanier. planned to do was have the binder When some of our friends took in the cockpit and turn each page possession of a new Elliot 25, We as we got into that part of the decided to tow the boat down to river, hoping that would give us Florida and give it a try. The Elan edge over the other out of liot is a perfect boat for this race. town competitors and make us It’s light and fast and flies an more equal to the local boys. asymmetrical spinnaker off a reEven so, the river is constantly tractable bow sprit when on a shifting with sand bars building reach or run and goes like a “bat up and eroding away with each out of hell.” storm, so there is nothing like We prepped the boat as well as local knowledge. we could and the skipper even Race morning dawned cool

and blustery with the wind blowing 12 to 15 and gusts to 20, but out of the north! This was not what we had signed up for! Our wives were all about to mutiny, but we convinced them that we needed their help (weight) to “balance” the boat. So what was going to be a pleasant day sail promised to be a 38-mile beat into the wind! Evidently the rest of the racers had a similar reaction and tempers seemed to be a bit short. Soon after the start another competitor accused us of coming too close to him on a port/starboard situation and the other skipper started cursing at us and waving his winch handle in the air! Our skipper picked up our winch handle and started yelling back and I told him “Yell as much as you want, but whatever you do, hang on to that winch handle.” This went back and forth for awhile and sure enough, the other skipper actually threw his winch handle at us! His throw fell several yards short and the winch handle dropped into the river with a satisfying “plop.” Evidently it was the only one he had on board because with every tack he fell farther and farther behind, having to

luff up each time he wanted to sheet home his jib. The next couple of hours were uneventful. The strategy of sailing by the local chart rather than the buoys was working quite well, and we were not the only ones doing it. At one point we came to a questionable area where it “looked” as if there would be deep enough water for us and another boat similar to ours was doing quite well in front of us so we decided to chance it. We were both going full speed, hard over on a port tack when all of a sudden, the boat in front of us came to a full stop! About two seconds later so did we with a sickening “crunch”! That was the end of the race for us. We got the main down and heeled the boat over enough to sail off the sand bar under jib alone, then sailed back to the start where we withdrew from the race and put the boat back on her trailer to have her thoroughly checked out for damages. I like all my stories to have a happy, or at least a funny ending, but that’s not reality. However, this setback did not stop us from having a great time and a party See Mendes, page 46

February 2021

LAKESIDE 17

Storage, campground updates at Margaritaville in time for spring By Pamela A. Keene People will have even more reasons to visit Margaritaville at Lanier Islands this spring and summer. From completing a 250spot dry storage facility plus an expansion of in-water boat slips to renovating the Blue Ridge campgrounds, Margaritaville is getting ready for spring. “We’ll be leasing spaces starting this month in our new dry storage facility and the slips will be ready for occupancy around the end of March,” said Bucky Perry, vice president of operations at Margaritaville. “We can dry

Campgrounds, located near the Margaritaville RV Resort. “We’re paving the roads and refurbishing 50 of the campsites, in this first phase,” Perry said. “We’re also stack ski boats, cruisers, pontoons leaving all the wooded landscape and tritoons between 18 and 36 to create a natural setting for RVs, feet long.” campers and motorhomes, so that To keep up with demand for campsites will have a natural larger in-the-water slips, the Port landscape with shaded areas. of Indecision marina is putting in The campgrounds will have 28 40-foot covered slips. They are WiFi, Direct TV, sewer connecaccepting new leases now and tions and utilities. It will be ready tenants will be able to move in as for its first campers in late spring. soon as late March. For more information about The adventure destination has Margaritaville, visit www.margarbegun upgrading its Blue Ridge itavilleresorts.com.

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except in no-wake zones. What was once guided in paved traffic Steve patterns, signs, and lights, now Johnson becomes a domain of all different directions and situations. Boating The secret to absorbing this inSafety formation is learning the fine art of situational awareness, which should always be present in collision avoidance. Knowing how to recognize situations, before they n MORE INFO: happen is one of the keys to sucSteve@CPOJohnson.com, cess in boating safety. www.cpojohnson.com Observing your surroundings distraction may sound without prime time for on the water activin reality it is far from but simple ities when the weather is perfect way to develop this only The it. and the crowds are large. You can study practice. is mindset That’s not the only hazard subject, the on books countless when operating on the water. The that exexamination every take whole perception of risk assessadenot would still it and ists, ment, the very same thing you do may what for you prepare quately when driving your vehicle, abThe water. the on out come changes in this aquamarine envisolute best way to gain that experonment. rience is either witness by Underway on your boat, the demonstration or do it yourself, pathways are not normally restricted to route, and speed is sel- with simulation or hands-on. Opdom controlled by signage or law, erating your vessel safely and having a proper lookout at all times are fundamental. Sometimes the beginning of the learning process, the origins of the proficiency, is the study of Dock Moving Specialist previous incidents. Application of that knowledge is an excellent method to eliminate or reduce • Refloat, repaint, redeck dangers. Swim Docks • Pressure wash, stain or seal On the water there is always 16x16 w 20ft ramp. • Shoreline steps the chance for conditions to rapNew decking, idly change, causing priorities to • Party decks shift. The primary focus of the winches, cables, • General repairs boat operator should be to always shore stakes and • Ramp wheels, anchor poles safely move the vessel through set up - $8,000 • Shoreline winches & cables any situation, at the appropriate (Doesn't include speed, and completely aware of removal of their surroundings without any “We’ll move your dock anywhere old dock.) distractions. and will watch it all year long” Expect the unexpected … and nothing becomes a surprise. Jeff Thomson • Cell: 770-310-9337 Steve Johnson, US Coast Guard Email: inandoutdocks1@gmail.com (ret). is with CPO Johnson, Inc.

So this is not a breaking news topic for drivers on the road, with motor vehicle laws in place and enforced to address this behavior. We all know from the media, or even personal experience, what the negative results of this type of driving hazard presents with texting (a classic example of loss of situational awareness). This form of risk also applies to other modes of transportation, in particular: boating. The Navigation Rules of the Road are primarily designed for one purpose and that is: collision avoidance. Managing the helm position has a lot of responsibility attached to it. Other passengers on your boat are counting on you to get them to the destination safely. That specific objective cannot be accomplished if you are distracted when operating the vessel, especially at high speeds in congested or rough waters. Sounds just like a description of the lake during the busy season, a

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ENJOY SAFE BOATING ON THE LAKE!

18 LAKESIDE

February 2021

Need to renovate to sell? Start with the kitchen By Bev Knight Due to a number of factors, we are enjoying one of the best sellers’ market of this millennium. Interest rates are still at historic lows, and the world is changing significantly due to COVID-19. People who are working at home and sharing their space with kids who are doing remote school have a compelling reason to rethink where they live. There is a notable exodus from crowded cities, and vacations have become staycations. It’s a great time to move to the lake; therefore, it’s a great time to sell your lake house, especially since there is a shortage of available homes. You have very little competition. For a lot of lake homeowners, once they decide to sell, panic sets in. Many of the homes built in the housing boom of the ’80s are now outdated. The thought of renovating an entire home is quite overwhelming, so experts agree that you should probably start with the kitchen. That’s great, but what are the latest trends? Here are some guidelines on renovating kitchens in 2021. Let’s start with the good news. Homes that are more than 20

PHOTO BY FRAN HOGAN ON UNSPLASH

Today’s most popular countertops are lighter with more of a marble look.

years old had enclosed rooms with doors. For several decades, open floor plans have been the trend and these “chopped up” homes have fallen out of fashion. Now, picture mom and dad working on their laptops while the kids are doing their remote schooling in the same room. The noise and chaos of that situation have reignited the need for doors that shut. There are still people who

prefer open floor plans, but others are now seeing the value in rooms with walls. Until recently, the latest fad in kitchen décor was cold colors and monotones. For a while, every kitchen cabinet was bright white. Then, every kitchen had light gray cabinets with a darker gray island. Some even had three tones of gray. The stress of the pandemic seems to have changed the

preference to softer tones. Light, creamy beige or the ever popular greige (grayish beige) are more common. Counter tops have evolved, too. For years, very dark Uba Tuba granite was in almost every house. Today’s most popular counter tops are lighter with more of a marble look. In addition, granite is no longer the market leader. Quartz counters, which have come down in price, are more common. Granite counters are carved out of quarries, whereas quartz counters are manmade by mixing crushed rock with resin. While granite is better for hot pots, it does need to be sealed and can stain. Quartz counters, because they have resin in the mix, are not good for hot pots. However they do not stain easily and do not need to be sealed. If you need help deciding, the top selling quartz counter at Home Depot is Calacatta Gold. According to their rep, it goes with everything. The top-selling granite is White Springs. Keep an eye out for the next big trend which will be Ultra-compact counters. These do not have resin and are extremely durable counter

tops. Unlike other counters that yellow and wear in the sun, Ultracompact is ideal for outdoors. You’d be surprised to see what a difference a refreshed coat of paint on cabinets and new counters can do for an older home. The average counter replacement job is in the range of $2,000$3,000, much less than you might expect. You’ll probably want an expert to paint your cabinets, so that price will vary with the number of cabinets in your kitchen. It’s worth the effort because this is one update that you will get back with the sale of your home. Good luck, and have fun renovating. Bev Knight is lead agent for The Good Life Group, lake specialists with Keller Williams Lanier Partners. They sold over $70 million in 2020, mostly on the lake. Questions? Email Bev at bev@housesonlanier.net. Many Knight thanks to Emily Knight, merchandiser for Home Depot counter tops, who contributed to this article.

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LAKESIDE 19

20 LAKESIDE

February 2021

Anything can happen during February I hope you are enjoying your February. I also hope you had a wonderful Ground Hog Day ... again. I love the month of February. It’s a month where anything can, and will, happen. We see everything from bitterly cold temperatures and a howling wind. There can be storms like the February 2014 nor’easter that produced a damaging snow and ice storm that affected the southern and east coast of the United States, bringing with it up to a foot of snow and crippling ice across parts of the South. I can remember the news reports of hundreds of thousands of people that were left in the dark for a couple of weeks. Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines canceled over 2,000 flights, and as many as 6,500 flights originating in or destined for the U.S. had been canceled. On that day 70 percent of flights were canceled at airports in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Charlotte. As of February 14, 22 people had died from the storm. Approximately 1.2 million homes and businesses lost power as the storm moved from the South through the Northeast. By the evening of Thursday, February 13, about 550,000 customers remained in the dark, mostly in South Carolina and right here in Georgia. We had some fairly decent snow in 2020, too. A nice dusting coated the north-

ern suburbs with as much as 4-6 inches in our northern counties. Glenn On the other end of the Burns spectrum, February 5–7, 2020 was a multi-day severe weather event Lanier across the Southeastern Outlook and Mid-Atlantic United States. An approaching cold front produced a damaging squall line across the Southeast on February 5-6. I can remember tracking massive supercell thunderstorms ahead of this line, which also produced numerous tornadoes. We had 10 tornado warnings in north Georgia from that system. In case you are wondering, in Atlanta, during February the average high temperature is 59 degrees. The hottest day on record was February 16, 1989 when the temperature hit 80. Also, on February 7th the city blew past the record high for the day of 72 degrees by lunchtime and topped out at 80 degrees, which is more than a week earlier than Atlanta has ever reached that temperature! By contrast, we can go back to 1996 when the temperature dropped to 6 degrees on February 5, 1996. There are also “those” days when it’s just perfect. No humidity, sunshine, a blue sky, and a temperature in low to mid 70s. My advice this month: Be ready for anything and everything.

LAKE LANIER WATER LEVELS JUN 1 1071.33 2 1071.30 3 1071.28 4 1071.36 5 1071.39 6 1071.41 7 1071.42 8 1071.36 9 1071.38 10 1071.39 11 1071.36 12 1071.29 13 1071.29 14 1071.28 15 1071.37 16 1071.35 17 1071.34 18 1071.34 19 1071.35 20 1071.35 21 1071.41 22 1071.49 23 1071.50 24 1071.47 25 1071.41 26 1071.33 27 1071.38 28 1071.40 29 1071.37 30 1071.34 31 AV 1071.37 MAX 1071.50 MI 1071.28

JUL

AUG

SEPT

1071.31 1071.31 1071.27 1071.24 1071.22 1071.28 1071.28 1071.29 1071.30 1071.31 1071.30 1071.27 1071.24 1071.22 1071.20 1071.17 1071.17 1071.16 1071.18 1071.16 1071.12 1071.20 1071.18 1071.15 1071.17 1071.14 1071.15 1071.11 1071.09 1071.08 1071.10 1071.22 1071.60 1071.08

1071.10 1071.11 1071.22 1071.24 1071.24 1071.25 1071.26 1071.23 1071.22 1071.32 1071.32 1071.31 1071.29 1071.27 1071.33 1071.37 1071.31 1071.25 1071.25 1071.20 1071.27 1071.27 1071.25 1071.24 1071.21 1071.17 1071.15 1071.12 1071.09 1071.11 1071.15 1071.23 1071.37 1071.09

1071.15 1071.12 1071.07 1071.04 1071.02 1070.98 1070.99 1070.96 1070.92 1070.86 1070.85 1070.87 1070.87 1070.85 1070.81 1070.84 1071.47 1071.61 1071.66 1071.69 1071.59 1071.51 1071.46 1071.44 1071.46 1071.46 1071.52 1071.49 1071.46 1071.40

OCT

1071.31 1071.21 1071.17 1071.09 1071.03 1070.91 1070.82 1070.74 1070.69 1071.56 1073.80 1074.09 1073.98 1073.71 1073.39 1073.04 1072.73 1072.44 1072.14 1071.91 1071.60 1071.36 1071.21 1071.37 1071.49 1071.54 1071.45 1071.58 1072.36 1072.36 1072.22 1071.21 1071.95 1071.69 1074.09 1070.81 1070.69

NOV 1072.03 1071.82 1071.61 1071.41 1071.20 1071.04 1070.88 1070.70 1070.52 1070.40 1070.40 1070.52 1070.48 1070.48 1070.44 1070.39 1070.34 1070.34 1070.31 1070.26 1070.22 1070.16 1070.16 1070.11 1070.15 1070.18 1070.20 1070.18 1070.28 1070.35

DEC

1070.35 1070.37 1070.35 1070.37 1070.42 1070.42 1070.39 1070.37 1070.35 1070.36 1070.34 1070.32 1070.35 1070.50 1070.55 1070.57 1070.58 1070.59 1070.58 1070.56 1070.54 1070.56 1070.55 1070.79 1070.90 1070.94 1070.96 1070.84 1070.75 1070.63 1070.53 1070.59 1070.54 1072.03 1070.96 1070.11 1070.32

JAN 1070.86 1071.06 1071.12 1070.96 1070.77 1070.62 1070.53 1070.38 1070.38 1070.38 1070.37 1070.32 1070.28 1070.26 1070.21 1070.21 1070.18 1070.13 1070.08 1070.04 1070.03 1070.01 1070.03 1070.02 1070.05

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

View the online edition at www.lakesidenews.com.

February 2021

LAKESIDE 21

22 LAKESIDE

February 2021

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February 2021

Lakeside Calendar February 2021 Please note: Some events may be postponed or canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please call or visit website prior to your trip. n Feb. 6-May 29 – Live Animal Showcase at Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr., Gainesville. 45-minute showcases at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tour the Live Animal Exhibit (indoors) after the program. Admission: $5/adult; $3/child (ages 2-12); free/Elachee members. Info: 770-535-1976. n Thru Feb. 21 – Bowen Member Exhibit displayed at Bowen Art Center, 334 Highway 9 N, Dawsonville. Free. Info: 706-216-2787; bowenarts.org. Buford Community Center n Mar. 6 – Remember When Rock Was Young featuring Craig Meyer at 8 p.m. in Sylvia Beard Theatre. Throughout Meyer’s career, he was repeatedly approached about his striking resemblance to Elton John and his uncanny ability to sound like the rock and roll legend. Meyer was eventually persuaded to expand his repertoire and began impersonating Sir Elton John. Today, he is considered to be the best Elton John tribute artist in the market, whose strong vocals, striking resemblance and amazing talent on the piano has audiences everywhere remembering when rock was young. This musical journey celebrates the decades of chart-topping hits by Elton John, including: “Benny and the Jets,” “Philadelphia Freedom,” “Crocodile Rock,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” and “Candle in the Wind.” Admission: $30-35. n Mar. 12 – The Platters at 8 p.m. in Sylvia Beard Theatre. With classics such as “The

Great Pretender,” “Only You” and their rendition of “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” The Platters became one of the greatest vocal groups of the early rock and roll era. The Platters vocal evolution continues through the crisp, vocal stylings of members Wayne Miller, Adele “DD” Galinda Martin, Kenny Williams, Lance Bernard Bryant all under the direction of Michael Larson. The vocalists who comprise today’s touring group continue to open the hearts and minds of new generations of music consumers to the rich tradition that is The Platters. Info: www.bufordcommunitycenter.com. Dahlonega’s Historic Holly Theater n Feb. 19-21 – Ordinary Days, a musical, is presented at Lumpkin County High School, 2001 Indian Dr., Dahlonega. Ordinary Days tells the story of four young New Yorkers whose lives intersect as they search for fulfillment, happiness, love and cabs. Performances: 8 p.m., Fri./Sat.; 2 p.m., Sun. Masks required. Info: www.hollytheater.com. Northeast Georgia History Center n Each Wednesday, at 2 p.m., The Northeast Georgia History Center presents a livestream for the general public to enjoy via Facebook or YouTube Live. Each Friday, the facility presents special member livestreams for local and digital members. Digital membership is $3/month or $35/year for member livestreams and more. Check negahc.org for the upcoming February digital event calendar.

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30 LAKESIDE

February 2021

Winter hikes rewarding, but extra caution advised By Jane Harrison Evergreen needles glisten with hoarfrost or droop under powdered flakes. Tree trunks rise stark, dormant and naked without their foliage. Snatches of color in the neutral backdrop of gray and brown emerge with vibrancy. Beds of velvety green moss soak up sun. Partridge berries and hollies flaunt flecks of red. Views of valleys, ridges, waterfalls and lakes offer foot travelers an awesome perspective usually masked by leaves in summer. The beauty of winter beckons hikers to the foothills around Lake Lanier and the mountains in the headwaters. The spectacle of winter also creates particular hiking conditions that require more vigilance to stay safe and ensure a positive experience. “In winter, because it’s cold and it gets dark earlier, it’s a little riskier,” said Ken Cissna, president of the Benton MacKaye Trail Association. The club, named for an American forester and conservationist who pioneered long trails in the Appalachian Mountains, organizes several hikes a week, mainly in North Georgia. Hikes include sections of the 285-mile Benton

said Cissna, whose recent BMTA column lists his general tips (see sidebar). For one thing, hikers dress differently for the cold. Cissna recommends layers of wicking synthetic fabrics that won’t hold moisture if a hiker sweats or gets wet. If a hiker gets warm with exertion or milder conditions, they can always take off a layer and store it in their pack. “But you can’t add a layer” if you don’t have it, Cissna said. He added that if cotton clothing CREDIT: BMTA gets wet, it stays wet. “If it’s wet, Ken Cissna, Benton Mackaye Trail cold and windy, you’re at risk” Association president, and his dog, with cotton. Artie, along the BMT. But long before hikers begin MacKaye Trail and other trails in donning base layers and pulling the Georgia mountains, including on warm socks, Cissna advises treks up Yonah Mountain and they check the weather for the Blood Mountain in Northeast vicinity they plan to walk. Georgia. “What’s the temperature? The “The normal precautions are temperature at home will not be more important” on trails in win- the same at the top of Blood ter, Cissna said. Ill-preparation or Mountain. But you don’t have to a foray off-trail can expose hikers go (4,459 feet) to the top of to hours in cold and darkness or Blood Mountain to experience injury on slippery terrain. “Partic- different weather than your own ularly in winter, you can get in backyard,” Cissna said. Is it icy, trouble more quickly,” Cissna windy, foggy, storming? Some said. trails are accessible only by un“Winter hiking is a little bit paved Forest Service roads. Are different, but a lot is the same,” the roads treacherous with ice?

Are they closed due to poor conditions or downed trees? Forest Service websites, such as the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest site, www.fs.usda.gov/ conf, provide alerts and warnings, but may not post the details travelers need to decide whether to make a trip. Hike preparation also includes being aware of sunset time. Shadows creep into the woods a half hour or more before the sun sets,

making it difficult to see trail blazes or the trail itself. Plan to start a hike in plenty of time to complete it before dark. Cissna advises hikers to avoid icy trails. “Most people don’t have the equipment (or the experience) to handle them,” he said. If hikers come upon icy spots, Cissna recommends walking around them. He said BMTA hikes rarely involve water crossSee Hikes, page 31

Tips before you go hiking Ken Cissna, president of the Benton MacKaye Trail Association tells hikers that advance planning may prevent problems or lessen their severity when they do occur. Appropriate planning is especially important in winter, when cold and early darkness may exacerbate troubles on the trail. Before you pack, know the answers to the following questions: • How long is the hike and are you in shape for it? • Are there any Forest Service advisories about the particular section of the trail? • Do you know what type of blaze or sign marks the trail to guide you on your journey? • What is the weather forecast of the trail’s location? • Do you have enough time to complete the hike before dark? • Who knows where you will be and when you should return? • If you plan to bring your loyal, four-footed companion, what are the regulations for dogs on the trail and is your dog in shape for this hike?

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Outdoor Activity Calendar n Trilliums of Georgia, Gainesville. Virtual program on Zoom by botanist Tom Govus on native trilliums, 7-8 p.m. Feb. 2. Register in advance. 770-535-1976, www.elachee.org. n Blood Mountain Hike, Blairsville. 4.2 mile moderate to strenuous hike with Benton MacKaye Trail Association from Byron Herbert Reece Trail parking lot up Blood Mountain, Feb. 2. Contact hike leader Mike Pilvinsky for details: hikeleaderMP@bmtamail.org. n Live Animal Showcase, Gainesville. Meet nature center’s live animal residents, 11-11:45 a.m., 1-1:45 p.m., 3-3:45 p.m. Feb. 6, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr. $5 adults, $3 children 2-12, free to Elachee members. Register in advance. 770-535-1976, www.elachee.org. n Downtown Braselton Chocolate Walk. Stroll downtown Braselton to checkpoints at local shops to collect chocolate treats, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 6, check in 10:45 a.m.-1 p.m. at Community Room, Braselton Police and Municipal Court Bldg., 5040 Hwy. 53. $15. www.braselton.net. n Super Sunday 5K, Dawsonville. 9 a.m. Feb. 7, Veterans Park, 186 Recreation Rd. $25-$35. www.fivestarntp.com. n Guided Adult Birding Hike, Gainesville. Help collect data for great Backyard Bird Count in hike at Chicopee Lake, 8-11 a.m. Feb. 13, Elachee Chicopee Woods Aquatic Studies Center, 2100 Calvary Church Rd. $10. Free to Elachee members. Register in advance. www.elachee.org. n Capturing the Birds of Winter, Gainesville. Watercolor graphite ink wash class focuses on painting winter birds, 9 a.m.-noon Feb. 13, Gainesville Garden of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1911 Sweet Bay Dr. Register

by Feb. 8. $69, $64 members. www.atlantabg.org, 404-888-4760. n Arbor Day, Georgia. Day set aside for schools, civic clubs and other organizations to reflect on the importance of trees, Feb. 19. Held annually on 3rd Friday in February because it is ideal time to plant trees in Georgia. See proclamations and activities: www.gatrees.org. n Yonah Mountain Hike, Cleveland. 5-mile moderate to strenuous hike with Benton MacKaye Trail Association up and down Yonah Mountain, Feb. 19. Email hike leader Steve Dennison for details: hikeleaderSD@bmtamail.org. n Discovery Hike, Gainesville. 2-hour guided hike in Chicopee Woods to learn about ever-

green and deciduous trees,10 a.m. & 1 p.m. Feb. 20, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr. $5 adults, $3 children 2-12, free to Elachee members. $5 parking. Register in advance. 770-535-1976, www.elachee.org n Stars Over Elachee, Gainesville. Learn how to use a telescope, view the first quarter moon, stars and constellations, 6-8 p.m. Feb. 20, Chicopee Woods Aquatic Studies Center at Chicopee Lake, 2100 Calvary Church Rd. For adults and children age 8 and older. Bring flashlight and pencil. Telescope fee $30 for up to five family members or friend group. Free to Elachee members. Register in advance. 770535-1976, www.elachee.org. n Casa Superhero 5K/Fun Run, Cumming.

8:30/9:30 a.m. Feb. 20, Academy Sports, 320 Peachtree Pkwy. $25-$35. www.fivestarntp.com. n Chasing Away Winter Tot Trot/Fun Run/5K, Dahlonega. 8:15/8:25/8:45 a.m. Feb. 20, Lumpkin County High School, 2001 Indian Dr. $10-$35. www.fivestarnmtp.com. n Let’s Glow Crazy 5K, Dawsonville. 6:30 p.m. Feb. 20, Rock Creek Park, 445 Martin Rd. $25-$35. www.fivestarntp.com. - Compiled by Jane Harrison See Don Carter State Park Facebook page for park activities. Please note: Some events may be postponed or canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please call or visit website prior to your trip.

• Hikes Continued from Page 30 ings in winter. Occasionally a hike might cross a small creek, but BMTA hikers mainly take to the ridges in winter and avoid river crossings, where icy rocks and near-freezing water can put a hiker in serious danger miles from help. “Most people with bad outcomes are normally people who got off the trail,” Cissna said. He instructs hikers to stay on trail, don’t hike alone, and stay together. Following these guidelines enhance safety in winter. The uniqueness of winter hiking is rewarding. “The trails look different in winter,” Cissna said. “You have fall color

and spring wildflowers … winter beauty has views, everything looks different.” The long-time Floridian who moved to North Georgia in retirement relishes what mountain winters offer those who venture out. “I love to hike in the snow,” he said, especially up on Springer Mountain where on the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail and Benton MacKaye Trail every branch and pine bough might be coated with snow. A trail in winter, with or without snow, offers a fresh, exhilarating experience to those who rePHOTO BY JANE HARRISON spect the season and heed its Hikers hit the BMT during a January event. temperament.

32 LAKESIDE

February 2021

Phil Niekro leaves legacy Friends, colleagues remember Phillip Sartain By Pamela A. Keene Although the world knew him as Knucksie, the baseball legend that spent 21 years as an MLB pitcher for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves, to people in Gainesville, Hall County and Lake Lanier he was Phil. After he retired from the Braves with a franchise record of pitching in 740 games, he and his wife Nancy settled down on Lake Lanier, where they became part of the fabric of the community. From supporting children’s charities to spending days fishing on Lake Lanier, Niekro was lowkey. “If you didn’t recognize his face, you’d just think he was a regular guy who loved to fish, tell jokes and stories,” said Dillan Greeson, owner of Oakwood Bait and Tackle. “He’d just come by the shop to sit and visit or play cards sometimes. He was just happy being with the guys. He wasn’t Phil Niekro the baseball legend; he was just another fisherman.” Greeson said Niekro would light up the room when he came in. “He loved to tell jokes and he always had a big smile on his face. Usually he was here around 6:30 in the morning, grab his coffee and he would stay maybe 20 minutes, or even an hour or so.” Greeson wasn’t even born when Niekro retired at age 48 in 1987. “I remember my grandmother talking about him playing baseball,” he said. “He was one of her favorite players. And even as famous as he was, he was just Phil.” His personable style carried over into community work. He was the celebrity face of the Edmondson Telford Child Advocacy Center. “Phil was involved with us from the beginning,” said Jane Carpenter, who heads up the committee that hosts the Phil Niekro Golf Tournament, which was founded in 1997. “Lydia Sartain

PHOTO BY ALAN HOPE

Phil Niekro’s statue outside Truist Park in Atlanta.

PHOTO BY ALAN HOPE

Phil Niekro on the afternoon before his golf tournament in 2019.

was on our board and asked him to help with our golf tournament. He agreed, and from that time on, it was the Phil Niekro Golf Tournament. He helped us organize it and worked on all aspects. Last year was the 24th annual tournament.” But Niekro’s involvement went way beyond the golf tournament. “He did a video for us, was a celebrity server at our Mellow Mushroom event every year, and always helped with our Giving Tree at the holidays,” Carpenter said. “I remember how proud he was when we came up with signs in the shape of children with a name and age that we put up at events. He loved those because he knew that each one represented a real child who deserved to have an advocate.” Carpenter explained that Niekro’s birthday was on April Fool’s Day. “I guess that explains why he was always happy, joking and pulling pranks,” “I can’t even begin to say how much he will be missed by so many of us. He touched so many lives. He often told us at the center that he loved us, and we loved him. We have had such an outpouring from people all over the world,” she said. “One man wrote that he had met him on a plane and was so genuine and he wanted to honor him with a donation.” Phil Niekro died in his sleep on December 26, after a battle with cancer. He was 81. The family asked that donations be made to the Edmonson-Telford Child Advocacy Center, 603 Washington Street SW, Gainesville, GA 30501, www.etcac.org or 770 54-5151.

By Pamela A. Keene Sometimes his dry sense of humor would catch people off guard. If you didn’t know Phillip Sartain well, you might think he was being flippant. “That’s just the way he was, always cracking jokes and keeping people on their toes,” said Joyce Wilson, chief development officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Lanier. The pair first met in the early 2000s, when Wilson joined the staff of the clubs. Sartain was a long-time board member. “When we first met, I believe it was at a Duck Derby meeting, I wasn’t quite sure how to take him, but soon his endearingly dry sense of humor and funny personality won me over. It is such a loss that he’s gone.” Sartain, a Gainesville native and attorney, grew up in the Boys Clubs of Hall County. He knew first-hand how important it was for the youngsters there to interact with adults. Sartain “As busy as Phillip was in his law practice, with his family or in the community, he always had time to be here for the kids,” Wilson said. “He would just come by and spend a couple of hours with them, encouraging them and listening to them. His passion was to help the kids. It was important to him as a kid, and he never forgot it.” Abb Hayes, attorney with Hulsey, Oliver & Mahar, got to know Sartain through the Boys & Girls Clubs. “I was serving on the board of Girls Inc. back when the two clubs merged, and Phillip was very active with the Boys Clubs,” Hayes said. “One day during the transition he asked to meet with me as our

boards of the two organizations were being combined, so we did. After we sat down, he got very serious, telling me that he needed my help. I told him I would certainly be serving on the new board. Then he said, “Abb, I mean I REALLY need your help in a huge way.” Needless to say he got my attention. From then on, I upped my game and my involvement with Boys & Girls Clubs. That was 20 or so years ago and Boys & Girls Clubs has been a major part of my life ever since. I credit Phillip Sartain for that.” Kay Blackstock, founder and executive director of the Georgia Mountain Food Bank, has known Sartain for more than 30 years. When she worked for the North Georgia Community Foundation, Sartain was a leader with Lanier 1996, the committee that championed hosting the Summer Olympics canoe, kayak and rowing events at the lake. They worked with Jim Mathis, the foundation’s first president and CEO. “My first impression of Phillip was that he was incredibly hilarious,” Blackstock said. “And he had a real gift for wrapping up a situation so cleverly, putting it into just the right words.” When Blackstock considered starting the Georgia Mountain Food Bank, Sartain was one of the first people she turned to. “He was a founding member of my board and worked in every capacity in the six years he served,” she said. “Phillip was always so supportive; I knew he had my back, even when he got that poker-face look. I could see that sparkle in his eyes.” She relayed a story about Sartain showing up for the first Empty Bowl fundraiser for the food bank. “It was pouring down rain and here he came, with all the food from the restaurants,”

Phillip’s book about his girls.

she said. “He was dressed in a yellow raincoat and was soaking wet. He was always so determined and committed.” Several years ago, the Georgia Mountain Food Bank presented Sartain with the “Mike Banks Reflections of the Heart” award, at the September 2017 Empty Bowl Lunch. “This award is given to an individual who, like Mike Banks, gave heart and soul to his faith, family, friends and causes related to helping others,” Blackstock said. “My dear friend, Jim Mathis, gave the introduction and announced Phillip as the recipient. Phillip’s daughter attended and presented the award to her dad.” All three – Wilson, Hayes and Blackstock – had nothing but praise for Sartain. “He was genuine, down to earth and passionate about everything he did,” Wilson said. “I had total respect for Phillip’s intelligence, commitment and devotion to this community,” Hayes said. “I lost a true friend,” Blackstock said. “He was a joy to know and my life was so enhanced by having him in it. He is already sorely missed by this community and the people who knew and loved him. He made wherever he was a better place.”

A double dose of sadness on a Sunday afternoon By Alan Hope Lakeside publisher Within an hour on a Sunday afternoon last month, I learned that one friend had died and another was at death’s door. Both were friends of this paper. And both were heroes to me. Knucksie Phil Niekro, Lake Lanier resident, avid fisherman, and, oh, by the way, a member of the Major

League Baseball’s Hall of Fame, lost his battle with cancer. I met the former longtime Atlanta Braves pitcher and fan favorite for an interview at a Gainesville restaurant some 25 years ago. We talked about everything: baseball, living on the lake, fishing, managing the Colorado Silver Bullets (a female baseball team in the 1990s), family, and more. The interview lasted nearly two hours. He kept coming back

to one topic: his golf tournament benefitting Edmondson-Telford Child Advocacy Center in Gainesville. I left the meeting thinking about how lucky this community was to have such a beloved Atlanta Braves player living here. I also remember thinking about how genuine he was. There was no pretense. During our meeting people approached our table to See Sadness, page 39

February 2021

LAKESIDE 33

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34 LAKESIDE

February 2021

Count birds to make a difference and find some fine feathered friends You can make a real difference in the bird populations in and around Lake Lanier. And February 12-15 is prime time to be part of a national program to track birds and report details. Presidents’ Day weekend is the Great Backyard Bird Count, (www.birdcount.org), a chance for people to become citizen-scientists and help gather information about bird populations and migration in their local area. This year’s GBBC, as it’s known in the birding world, takes place across the globe. Take notice of birds for as little as 15 minutes, then report what you’re seeing on a bird checklist of your area and you’ll be helping with research. Begun in 1998 as an initiative of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, the four-day event is designed to be easy and fun. Supported by the birdcount.org website, instructions, checklists and help identifying birds is available. The annual count helps track bird populations and their habitats. It also factors into identifying the rise and fall of various species.

Pamela A. Keene Curb Appeal

n MORE INFO: Email: pam@pamelakeene.com With a combination of water fowl and land-based birds here in Northeast Georgia, weekend birdwatchers have the possibility of spotting more than 50 types of birds, depending on how much time you spend counting. Cosponsored by the National Audubon Society and Cornell University, the event is now in its 24th year. Designed to learn more about birds, the health of their populations, and their environment, the success of the event depends on regular folks to keep their eyes open and report what they see. Signing up is free and straightforward. Visit www.birdcount.org and follow the steps to register as a new user. Then you’ll be able to

access lists of birds most prevalent in your area grouped by ZIP Code. Decide where you’d like to watch – from a park, your own back yard, or as part of a family day-trip and take the locator list with you. You can count for as little as 15 minutes or as long as you like; you can count just one day for 15 minutes, or every day. It might be fun to count at the same time a couple of days in a row to see if the bird populations change. Don’t worry if you can’t identify a bird right away. Take a photo with your phone and then search the internet by color, size, type of beak and other distinguishing features. Here are some great resources to use that can help you watch Lanier’s many species of birds all year: Binoculars – Wide range of prices from $100 to $3,000, but good durable pairs start around $250. For more detail, check out Audubon’s article: www.audubon.org. Birding guide – download Merlin Bird ID, www.merlin.allaboutbirds.org, or get the Audubon app that gives a short list of birds with pictures, de-

CREDIT: SCOTT BIRDSALL

Eastern Bluebird, above. Tufted Titmouse, left. CREDIT: LAURIE GROSS

scriptions and song playback for each; available for iPhone or Android. A regional printed field guide can also be handy. Keeping track – open a free account on www.ebird.org, log sightings and print out a bird list for anywhere you visit. Georgia has more than a dozen geographically specific Audubon chapters and birding clubs. Check out the Georgia Audubon Society at www.georgiaaudubon.org. To learn more about the Great Backyard Bird Count, to register

and download official checklists for your ZIP Code, or to submit an entry for this year’s photography contest visit www.gbbc.birdcount.org. You can also apply to have your backyard certified as a Wildlife Habitat. Pamela A. Keene is senior writer for Lakeside News and a Hall County Master Gardener. She also writes for more than a dozen publications across the country, covering features, travel and gardening.

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Lake Lanier Marinas Info

n BALD RIDGE MARINA Hours of operation: Office, Mon-Fri, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., marina has 24/7 access. Phone: 770-887-5309 Website: www.baldridgemarina.com Location: 1850 Bald Ridge Marina Rd., Cumming Types of slips available: Covered & uncovered. Store: Sandwich shop; some boating supplies. Store hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat./Sun. Types of fuel: 90 Non-ethanol; diesel Price of fuel: (as of 1/16/21) $3.19; $2.99 diesel (Dock open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs.-Mon.; Closed Tues./Wed.) Security: 24/7 security, gated Additional amenities: Full-service department, parts department, boat body work and yacht repair.Boating supplies/commissary/dry goods/retail clothing.

n HOLIDAY MARINA Hours of operation: Office/Store/Dock, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week. Phone: 770-945-7201 Website: www.holidaylakelanier.com Location: 6900 Holiday Rd., Buford Types of slips available: 22-100' Uncovered including 80, 90, and 100' Breakwater Slips; 26-85' Covered Slips totalling 1238 Slips Store: Yes; Convenience items and basic boating supplies. Types of fuel: Premium, unleaded & diesel, non-ethanol Price of fuel: (as of 1/16/21): $3.59 premium; $3.39 unleaded; $2.99 diesel (5 percent discount with Westrec advantage membership) On-site eatery: The Twisted Oar Menu: Fresh seafood to savory chicken and steak Phone: 678 714-7572 Security: 24/7 Additional amenities: Boat rentals, repair service, pumpout station, boat sales, TowBoat US

LAZY DAYS at Holiday on Lake Lanier

n GAINESVILLE MARINA Hours of operation: Office, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week; Phone: 770-536-2171 Website: www.gainesvillemarina.com Location: 2145 Dawsonville Hwy., Gainesville Types of slips available: 600 slips, dry stack covered up to 25', wet covered & uncovered up to 80'. Types of fuel: 90 recreational, non-ethanol Price of fuel: (as of 1/16/21) $3.29 (Dock open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week; pay at pump until dark.) On-site eatery: Skogies Menu: BBQ, seafood and American fare. Phone: 678-450-1310 Security: 7 days a week Additional amenities: Parts department, land service shop, climate-controlled bath houses, pump-out stations, security 7 days a week/video surveillance. Sales of new, used and brokerage boats.

n HABERSHAM MARINA Hours of operation: Office/Store/Dock, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Mon.Sat. Closed Sun. Phone: 770-887-5432 Website: www.habershammarina.com Location: 2200 Habersham Marina Rd., Cumming Types of slips available: 600 slips for dry storage up to 28’ Store: Yes Types of fuel: 90 Recreational fuel, non-ethanol Price of fuel: (as of 1/16/21) $3.15 Security: Yes Additional amenities: Repair services, detailing and bottom cleaning. Also bathroom and shower facilities are available.

n HARBOR LANDING Hours of operation: Office/Dock, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Thurs.; 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Fri.-Sun. Phone: 470 323-3465 Website: www.margaritavilleatlanierislands.com Location: 7650 Lanier Islands Pkwy. Types of slips: Houseboats only. 18x60, 22x80 Types of fuel: Diesel, non ethanol Price of fuel: (as of 1/16/21) $3.49 non-ethanol; $2.75 diesel (Gas is not sold after 4:30 due to volume return of boats.) On-site eatery: Various restaurants including Landshark, Cantina, Tiki Bar Security: 24/7 Additional amenities: Margaritaville, daily pontoon boat rentals (no overnights). Luxury houseboat program. Call for details.

n LAZY DAYS (at Holiday on Lake Lanier) Hours of operation: Office/Dock, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week. Phone: 770-945-1991 Location: 6700 Lanier Islands Pkwy, Buford Types of slips available: Concrete Wet Slips from 50 - 125 foot covered & 100 foot open slips; 554 covered dry stack spaces up to 36 feet Types of fuel: 90 Non-ethanol marine fuel treated with ValvTect; diesel Price of fuel: (as of 1/16/21) $3.29 regular; $3.49 diesel Security: 24/7 surveillance monitoring Full Service Department: Barefoot Boating, 770-820-5949 Boat Club: Carefree Boat Club, 678-725-0730 Additional Amenities: Bath house facility with individual private units. Trailer storage, dock carts, ice available, boat detailing service, free pump out for customers; Dry Stack-Boat Cloud smartphone app to control launch/retrieval of boat. PreFueling service, wash racks; Wet Slips-gated/private parking, golf cart valet service, in-slip pump out,

n PORT OF INDECISION MARINA Hours of operation: Closed due to repairs Phone: 470 323-3465 Website: www.margaritavilleatlanierislands.com Location: 7650 Lanier Islands Pkwy. Store: Yes; only open on weekends. Types of slips available: 14x32, 14x36, (spring 2020, 254 units, up to 40’), all covered Types of fuel: non ethanol. Price of fuel: (as of 1/16/21) N/A (Closed due to repairs) On-site eatery: Various restaurants including Landshark, Cantina, Tiki Bar Security: 24/7 Additional amenities: Margaritaville

n PORT ROYALE MARINA Hours of operation: Office/Store/Dock, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week. Will be closed Jan. 1-4, 2021 for holidays. Phone: 770-887-5715 Website: www.bestinboating.com/port_royale Location: 8800 Port Royale Dr., Gainesville Types of slips available: Uncovered, 20' to 80'; covered, 24' to 106' totaling 815 slips & dry stack storage (521) for up to 39'.

Store: Service Store & Ship Store Types of fuel: 90 non-ethanol Price of fuel: (as of 1/16/21) N/A (Pay at the pump closes same time as restaurant.) On-site eatery: Pelican Pete's Bar and Grill Menu: Burgers, sandwiches, salads, wings and more Security: Gated, 24/7 Additional amenities: Climate controlled bath house with showers, 24/7 self-service pump out, rental boats, courtesy dock for dry stack, two ship stores, full-service center, largest floating gas dock in Ga., 16 gas pumps, houseboat rentals.

n SAFE HARBOR AQUALAND MARINA Hours of operation: Office/Store/Dock, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week Phone: 770-967-6811 Website: www.aqualandmarina.com Location: 6800 Lights Ferry Rd., Flowery Branch Types of slips available: Houseboats, covered cruisers, & all types of open slips plus covered & open dry slips, totaling 1,725 wet docks and 460 dry docks Store: Yes Types of fuel: Non-ethanol, 90 octane Price of fuel: (as of 1/16/21) $3.09, members; $3.49 non-members (Dock open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Wed.-Mon.; closed on Tuesday’s due to Covid-19) On-site eatery: Pig Tales Menu: BBQ, burgers, wings and more Security: 24/7, gated Additional amenities: Self service work yard with deep draft well & marine travel lift, houseboat launching ramp, pump-out station, bathhouses with showers, laundry facilities, wet slips with private gated parking.

n SAFE HARBOR HIDEAWAY BAY MARINA Hours of operation: Office/Store/Dock - 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week Phone: 770-967-5500 Website: www.hideawaybaymarina.com Location: 6334 Mitchell St., Flowery Branch Types of slips available: Wet (510) Dry (150) Type of Fuel: 90 octane, non-ethanol Price of fuel: (as of 1/16/21) $3.19 On-site eatery: Fish Tales Lakeside Grille Menu: Grouper fingers, sandwiches, salads and more Security: 24/7 manned security Showroom: Atlanta Marine Additional amenities: Full Maintenance, Repair and Service on site: Harbor Marine & Associates. Bathhouse w/ locked showers and AC, laundry, pump out, trailer storage.

n SUNRISE COVE MARINA Hours of operation: Office/Store/Dock, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Wed.Mon. Closed Tuesday. Phone: 770-536-8599 Website: www.sunrisecovermarina.com Location: 5725 Flat Creek Rd., Gainesville Types of slips available: Uncovered-20-70'; Covered-24-50'; to include an exclusive 44' Sailboat Breakwater Dock. Total Wet Slips 688 and nine (9) Dry Storage Spaces (boats on trailer). Store: Yes (Sandwiches and wraps only available in summer) Types of fuel: 90 recreational, non-ethanol Price of fuel: (as of 1/16/21) $3.49 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 2021

LAKESIDE 39

• Sadness

SAILING EVENTS ON LANIER

Continued from Page 32 shake “Knucksie’s” hand. (The moniker came from the unusual pitch he threw known as the knuckleball.) Some asked for autographs. Phil politely obliged. He treated them like neighbors. A short time later I joined his golf tournament committee. The group, led by Phil, met every couple of months to work on the event. Committee members worked hard to put on a quality golf tournament. However, no one worked harder than Phil. He was invited to play in golf tournaments across the country. He would gather collectibles from those events so they could be raffled at his tournament. His annual pilgrimage to Cooperstown, NY, for the baseball Hall of Fame inductees’ ceremony always included time spent getting signed items for prizes at his tournament. One of those items was a glove signed by several dozen Hall of Fame players. It took a lot of time, effort, and cajoling to get that many autographs. The glove raised $8,000. I’ll miss Phil and his ever-present smile. And I’ll miss his opening of meetings with jokes, even when the punchlines weren’t very

punchy. Mostly, though, I’ll miss the character of our Flowery Branch neighbor. Duane Well, his real name was Phillip Bond Sartain. High school buddies nicknamed him Duane because his shoulder-length hair reminded them of Duane Allman of The Allman Brothers Band. Phil kept the long locks until losing a long battle last month with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s disease. Readers may recall the column he wrote for this paper, “Break from the Lake,” for 20 years. The column usually focused on him being outnumbered and out-witted at home by his wife, Lydia, and his three girls, Callie, Carey, and, Susanna. A few years ago he self-published a book containing the columns entitled, “Pony Tales. Stories from My Life with Four Women.” He, of course, donated all proceeds to charity. Phil was a successful attorney by trade. He was a partner in the family law firm Sartain Law Offices in Gainesville. Phil was a philanthropist. He served his community through his involvement with Red Cross, the

Gainesville Symphony, United Way, the Arts Council, and as the chairman of the Organizing Committee for the 2003 Flatwater Canoe/Kayak World Championship held on Lake Lanier. Closest to his heart were the Boys and Girls Club of Lanier and the Georgia Mountain Food Bank. Phil was the chair and a founding member of the food bank, from whom he received its highest honor, the “Reflections of the Heart” award. Additionally, he served as president of the Boys and Girls Club of Lanier. A few years ago he was presented with the club’s newly renamed “Phillip Sartain Helping Hands Award,” in honor of his extensive service. More than 20 years ago Phil asked me to join the club’s board of directors. Paraphrasing his argument for my involvement: “We can help the children now or deal with the problems created later. And the community will be better off if we do the former.” I served on the board for 16 years. Phil left this community a better place. It’s just heartbreaking that he left it so early. Yes, that Sunday afternoon last month was a tough one.

Club

Event

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FEBRUARY 2021 UYC Hot Ruddered Bum LLSC Laser Frostbite #6 LARC Winter #3 SSC Hosts LLSC Laser Frostbite #7 LLSC Laser Frostbite #8 UYC UYC Winter #4 LARC Winter #4 LLSC Hosts LLSC Laser Frostbite #9

2/6/2021 2/7/2021 2/13/2021 2/14/2021 2/21/2021 2/21/2021 2/27/2021 2/28/2021

MARCH 2021 LLSC Laser Southerns LLSC Atlanta Cup- One Design Regatta LLSC Ga Tech Collegiate Regatta SSC Lormand Cup UYC UYC Winter #5/Com. Cup BFSC BFSC Spring #1 LLSC Gov Cup/LLSC commissioning LLSC Dogwood Regatta LLSC Ga Tech Open Regatta

3/6/2021 3/13/2021 3/13/2021 3/13/2021 3/13/2021 3/14/2021 3/20/2021 3/26/2021 3/27/2021

For more information, visit www.SailLanier.com and click on the club that's hosting the race. LARC - Lanier Auxiliary Racing Committee • BFSC - Barefoot Sailing Club • LLSC - Lake Lanier Sailing Club • UYC - University Yacht Club For entire 2021 Sailing calendar, visit www.lakesidenews.com/sailing-calendar

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February 2021

A notable wine cellar in Clayton checks all the boxes Noble Wine Cellar checks all the boxes: wine, mead, and craft beer. The charming tasting room also offers locally crafted products such as my wife’s favorite, Bee Happy Honey Lotion. Everyone can find a warm welcome and something great to drink at Noble. Noble offers dry to sweet wines, mead, and a good selection of craft beers. Recently, I talked to Jabe Hilson, the winemaker and owner of Noble Wine Cellar. His vision for Noble is to offer high-quality wines made from grapes grown in the region. Customers who typically ask for a familiar wine such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay are pleasantly surprised when Jabe exposes them to an excellent local wine based on their preferences. When tasting new wines, he recommends putting aside any inhibiting factors or preconceived notions about regional wines. Jabe works with a few local vineyards to produce select grapes each year. Local wines from Noble are unique based on the local grapes and Jabe’s wine making experience and craft. Jabe views himself as a craftsman. He studied as an artist in

time work at Tiger Mountain Vineyards. After a summer at Don Duval Tiger Mountain, Jabe moved to a different full-time job. However, Wines, three years later Tiger Mountain Vines & Vineyards’ owner, John Ezzard, Brews asked Jabe to join them in a fulltime, multi-faceted position as the “Manager.” Jabe chuckled during our conversation that the manager duties were multi-faceted indeed, in that sometimes toilet cleaning was one of the facets. Opportunity presented itself when the winemaker left, and Jabe took over that role. He found he had a lot of freedom in his new winemaking position. When I asked about his biggest “take away” from Tiger Mountain Vineyards, he shared that at that time the wine region of northeast Georgia and western North Carolina was in its infancy, and he learned to “work on what grows well.” Over the years, his knowledge and uncollege and made a slight switch derstanding of what grows well to graphic design shortly after. He has increased, as has his experilater moved with his delightful ence and that it takes about 10-15 wife, Barbara, to teach English in years for a new vineyard to make Japan. Upon their return to the a profit growing grapes. In light U.S., they decided to live in a of one of their greatest challenges small town in Rabun County, Ga. in 2020, four different frosts, in Barbara continued her vocation as which Franklin, N.C. vineyards a teacher, and Jabe found partlost 50- to 70 percent of their

Georgia and designated around 2015. It includes three north Georgia counties, and two western North Carolina counties. Grapes which do well in the Upper Hiawassee AVA have thicker skins and break bud later in the year. Cab Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Petit Manseng and Traminette grapes grow well in this region. The hybrid grape, Marquette also has a good fruit quality and was developed for colder climates. The St. Vincent grape also interests Jabe since it has a good yielding, loose-cluster fruit and a nice fruit profile, like a CREDIT: NOBLE WINE CELLAR Jabe Hilson of Noble Wine Cellar. chianti. Jabe says he strives for the best quality grapes in the regrapes, Jabe was able to adjust gion when making his wines. and did not have to purchase A unique feature of Noble grapes from other regions to Wine Cellar is they offer Meadmake his wine. honey wine. Mead is considered Jabe uses grapes from the to be the oldest alcoholic beverUpper Hiawassee Highlands AVA age in recorded history, with ori(American Viticultural Area) gins in European, African, and which is a federal designation and Asian societies dating back 6,000 a clearly defined area. An AVA is years. Mead is created by fera delimited grape-growing region menting honey with water and with specific geographic or clisometimes with various fruits, matic features that distinguish it spices, grains, or hops. The definfrom surrounding regions and af- ing characteristic of mead is that fect how grapes are grown. The the majority of the beverage’s ferUpper Hiawassee Highlands AVA mentable sugar is derived from was the first to be adopted in See Wine, page 46

February 2021

LAKESIDE 41

‘Aging in Place’ trend continues as population matures As the population ages, trends in remodeling and design are adapting. “Aging in Place” design or adaptable design are becoming more and more popular and manufacturers are making products to accommodate. Currently, about 15 percent of the U.S. population is age 65 and older, but that number is predicted to rise to 22 percent by 2050. Here in Hall County, the 65-plus population is predicted to outpace the national average and rise to 30 percent by 2030. We have been seeing many active adult or assisted living communities pop up in Hall County lately. The alternative, when feasible, is aging in place. Aging in place design is centered around the idea that a home can be built or modified to accommodate someone who is aging so that they can continue to live comfortably in their own home. This could be as simple as adding ramps and grab bars to more complicated changes like adding an elevator or remodeling a kitchen or bathroom to make it completely accessible for a wheelchair. Small changes can make a big difference when it comes to designing for aging in place.

flooring. There should be at least one step-less, covered entry. If a Sara step-less entry is not an option, Bagwell then at least one of the following should be added: sturdy handrail, Design & ramp or chair lift. When it is an Remodel option, the main living areas and master suite should be on the main level. If your home was not originally built this way, that may mean reconfiguring your existing nMORE INFO: tracytesmerremodeling.com space or building an addition. Bathrooms are important areas Things that you hadn’t thought to consider when accommodating about before, like the style of for aging in place. In bathrooms, knobs on doors and cabinets, can entries should be 36 inches wide, make it more difficult to access with plenty of clear space to turn what you need. Instead, replace in front of sinks, commodes, and knobs with levers or pulls for eas- showers. Showers should be barier accessibility. This is also true rier free, meaning a low curb or for faucets or other fixtures, curb-less entry, and incorporate choose options with lever handles grab bars, a built-in or fold-down versus knobs. Door width is anbench, and a hand-held shower other consideration when you’re fixture. The current trend in maslooking for better accessibility. ter bathroom design is to remove Door widths should be 36 inches large jetted or garden tubs in the (both interior and exterior) to master bathroom to create space allow for a minimum of 32 inches for a larger, accessible shower. of clearance. Hallways should be This change makes the space a minimum of 36 inches wide and more comfortable and functional well lit. for those that do not use a bathtub Regarding the exterior and lay- but is also a way to plan ahead for out of a home designed for aging wheelchair or walker accessibilin place, materials should be low ity. Another standard that we inmaintenance, including siding corporate into all our bathroom materials, windows, doors, and remodels are comfort height toi-

lets and comfort height vanities. The comfort height toilets are a few inches above the old standard height and comfort height vanities are 34-36 inches versus the old 31-inch height. The height difference doesn’t change the look much but makes a big difference for comfort. In kitchens, aging in place design is also very important. Installing pull-out shelves in a pantry or in base cabinets makes items more accessible and easier to organize. We also recommend incorporating more base cabinets with drawers. A comfortable distance between cabinet areas or between cabinets and appliances is also a necessity, ideally 42-48 inches, or slightly more if you are designing for wheelchair clearance and turnaround. Along the same lines, it’s important to round corners of countertops so there are no sharp edges to bump into, and you can also incorporate pull out countertops or cutting boards for work space at a more comfortable height for someone in a

PHOTO: TRACY TESMER DESIGN/REMODELING

Roomy, walk in showers are replacing garden tubs.

wheelchair. Also, keeping the main sink close to the stove keeps the distance necessary to carry pots full of water as short as possible. Other things we recommend are counter-depth appliances, non-slip floors options, and good lighting. When it comes to aging in place design, it’s not just for seniors. It’s important for anyone to make sure their home is comfortable and functional. Your home environment should not be stressful or unsafe, but rather, relaxing and one of the best ways to make it that way is through better design. Sara Bagwell is a designer for Tracy Tesmer Design/Remodeling in Gainesville.

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February 2021

Paradise found in Alabama during the pandemic Finding a perfect family destination during a national pandemic has proven to be a major undertaking, but I got lucky and discovered a place less than three hours from Atlanta that has something for every family member – especially those who play golf! The Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National (marriottgrandnational.com) offers immediate Southern hospitality and a warm ambiance before you can park your car. Just the scenic drive into this picturesque complex will keep your head on a swivel with the beautiful forest and wild animals that pop out from time to time. A huge number of visitors come here for the magnificent golfing opportunities at the Robert Trent Jones Grand National which is a part of the RTJ Golf Trail. Three interesting, challenging and unforgettable … but very different courses are available through the same clubhouse. Built around 600-acre Lake Sougahatchee, 32 of the 54 holes follow alongside the richly forested shoreline. Both the Links Course and the Lake Course were in the top 10 of Golf Digest’s list of “America’s Top 50 Affordable Courses” and all three courses at Grand National are listed among the nation’s 40 Super Value courses by Golf Digest’s “Places to Play.” These courses begin with the quite difficult Short Course, which is an 18-hole par 3 venue that would easily rank in the best of this type anywhere in our country. It flows through a quickly changing landscape of rolling hills, sand traps and over water shots along the shores of Lake Sougahatchee. The Scottishstyle Links Course follows a challenging but picturesque path through a minefield of natural obstacles and sand traps that tests even the best skills. The most sce-

Bill Vanderford Travel Editor

n MORE INFO: JFish51@aol.com www.georgiafishing.com PHOTOS BY BILL VANDERFORD

nic of the courses is the Lake Course which has 12 holes on Lake Sougahatchee and four absolutely unforgettable par 3 holes. Playing through this gorgeous scenery with so much water around can be very distracting to the senses. However, the most difficult part of this course are the fast, undulating greens that make putting an exact science. While playing these courses, nature lovers will be astounded by the very large and colorful fox squirrels and great number of deer. Though quite a few fox squirrels were encountered (for the first time) I saw one that was completely black and another that was almost orange. Other than the outstanding golf venues, the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National offers its guests two outdoor swimming pools, a waterslide, an array of fantastic tennis courts and an indoor pool. Three restaurants, including the signature Southern Oak, offer diners many choices of enticing American classics, succulent steaks and fresh seafood. You can enjoy a drink at one of the bars, including a poolside bar and a bar/lounge. A computer station is on site and both wifi and wired internet are free in public spaces – plus a 24-hour business center. Ladies will love enjoying

A group of deer on the Grand National.

The Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National (above), pool area (right), and a room with a view (below).

Truck which is topped with bacon, pepper jack cheese, pico de gallo, jalapenos, buffalo and chipotle sauces. The Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National consists of 2,000 pristine acres that embrace every aspect of nature and modern leisure along the famous and award-winning Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama. Few times in my travels as a writer have I found such personal attention to every aspect

of my needs. Staff and management here have literally replaced the word “no” with the words “how can we help.” Like one former visitor wrote on the internet about the Grand National, “Where the pavement ends ... heaven begins!” 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.

soothing treatments, massages and salon services at the Spa at Grand National that thoughtfully incorporates modern techniques with the natural elements of Alabama. The spa is a serene oasis tucked beneath lush trees that even the men will need after a day on the golf course. Offerings include: body scrub, couple’s massage, eye treatments, facials, hair and scalp treatments, makeup services, manicures/pedicures, and more. A short drive into the university town of Auburn can be very interesting as well for visitors … especially if you would like a different culinary experience! Niffer’s Place (www.niffersplace. com) has become a mecca for Auburn University students and offers a very eclectic menu. Their Inside Niffer's Restaurant in Auburn. specialty is a huge menu of unique hamburgers and I found the most tasty one to be The Fire

Audaciously colored Fox Squirrel seen on the grounds.

One of the golf courses at Grand National at sunrise.

February 2021

LAKESIDE 43

Ask the Corps ‘Town Hall’ answers stakeholders’ questions By Pamela A. Keene What’s going on with the Shoreline Management Plan update? Why is permitting taking so long? What’s the future of water levels at Lake Lanier? The list of questions was long – more than 85 – submitted to the Lake Lanier Association for the Corps of Engineers’ Tim Rainey, operations project manager for Lake Lanier in a special 90minute webinar. Hosted by the association, the event had nearly 240 participants online to hear what Rainey had to say. “I’ve been wanting to address constituents and stakeholders for a good while, then the pandemic hit,” he said at the start of the call. “I am so grateful that the Lake Lanier Association has the technology to make this happen.” Rainey used the first portion of the webinar to provide an overview of the lake and its purposes, how the lake’s operations relate to the rest of the Apalachicola Chattahoochee Flint water basin, and the process of changes and approvals to lake management. “Lake Lanier is truly a project, not just the lake itself, but it’s part of a system that’s diverse and multifaceted,” he said at the start of the call. “We are charged with considering the entire system of the ACF and balancing what we do here with the other parts of the system. Plus we have various approvals from the Mobile District and the South Atlantic Division to consider, which can be complex.” Lake levels Over the past few years, the lakes levels have been either near or over full pool – 1070 in the winter and 1071 in the summer. “However, increased rainfall, the recent microburst, tropical storms and hurricanes have adversely affected the lake,” he said. “With the new Water Control Manual, we now have some flexibility if the lake begins to exceed two feet above full pool. At that point, we can increase water releases from the dam, provided the system downstream can accommodate them.” Explaining that the lake is ideally operated at full pool, any significant increase in water levels can be detrimental. “Marinas, campgrounds and parks are not designed to handle higher water levels. Increased shoreline erosion and other issues occur.” COVID-19 and the lake Lanier saw record visitation in 2020. “Outdoor recreation was

Old Federal opening delayed The opening of Old Federal Campgrounds may be delayed until 2022. “Because of additional damage from the storms this summer and fall even more erosion occurred, making Old Federal unsafe to open as planned,” said Tim Rainey, operations project manager. “We are still hoping to open the campground sometime this summer, but at this point we want to ensure that it is completely safe to open.” For more information, call the Corps’ Office at 770 945-9531. one of the few things that people could do during the pandemic and Lake Lanier had 12.8 million visitors as of September 30, the end of the federal fiscal year,” Rainey said. “We don’t see any signs of this slowing significantly into 2021.” With increased visitation, Rainey said that trash dumping, unruly behavior and vandalism rose significantly. “These situations caused further demands on our already-reduced staff, who did as much as possible to help remedy these conditions. But these acts translate into needing more money to take care of these issues.” Rainey said he had not yet received any directive from the Department of Defense and the Department of the Army, which includes oversight of the Corps of Engineers, regarding President Biden’s executive order to wear masks in outdoor settings. “We will need to wait for that guidance,” he said. “Then we will follow the guidelines.” Currently, the Corps’ offices on Buford Dam Road remain closed, although staff is still working remotely or in the field. Phones are also being manned as well, and phone calls are being returned as quickly as possible. “We are working through phone messages and emails in addition to our field work and other duties,” he said. “We urge callers to not leave duplicate voicemails, and to respond to messages left by rangers. But if you haven’t heard from someone in a week, please call us again.” The goal is to improve response times and to reopen the office. “We will be doing some renovations to the office to reopen to the public as well.” Economic impact The 2020 figure of 12.8 million visitors at Lanier exceeded all but two National Park Service sites, according to statistics. According to Corps figures, visitation resulted in: almost $700 million in visitor spending within 30 miles of Lanier; almost 5,000

jobs within 30 miles of Lake Lanier; and $176 million in labor income within 30 miles of Lake Lanier. “That’s the good news,” he said. “However, increased visitation led to more vandalism and we had to divert some of our funds from other projects to make repairs. For instance, the restrooms at Vann’s Tavern were destroyed, plus storm damage at Van Pugh and other parks is basically being handled right now as clean-up.” The work targeted on Old Federal Park will not be completed in time for the spring season. (See separate box.) Master Plan The Master Plan for Lanier is nearing completion. As a strategic land-use management plan, it guides the management and development of the project’s recreation, natural and cultural resources. From the website: “Key topics to be addressed in the revised Master Plan include revised land classifications, new natural and recreational resource management objectives, recreation facility needs and special topics such as invasive species management and threatened and endangered species habitat.” It also addresses Lanier’s carrying capacity and density, limiting lake access through marinas, launch ramps and private docks. “The lake is crowded and to be

good environmental stewards, the plan will be limiting water access,” Rainey said. “That means there will be no more marinas built on the lake.” He explained, however, that adding docks and slips at marinas is dependent on each marina’s Master Plan that has already been approved by the Corps. “If the marina’s approved master plan includes expansion of docks and other boat storage, they can certainly build out within that plan.” Abandoned docks/ derelict vessels Working in partnership with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Lake Lanier Association, the Corps has been able to address abandoned and derelict docks and vessels, removing them from the lake and shoreline. “The program, which began six years ago, has made great strides,” he said. “(The association) is to be commended for the countless hours of work in securing grants and funding, partners to assist with this issue and to get most of these boats off the lake.” He asked that if people see what they think may be an abandoned vessel or a derelict dock to please notify the Corps or the association so that it can be investigated. Commercial activity Anyone doing business on Lanier is required to have a permit and authorization to do so from the Corps of Engineers. “This is especially important with people saying they work on docks,” he said. ‘There are three approved areas that our permitted dock builders can use to build on the lake: Highway 53, Latham Creek and Beaver Ruin. We hope to soon post the names of businesses who are authorized to

work on the lake on our website.” Recently, unauthorized vendors have been removing docks for residents. “If you see someone towing a dock across the lake, please take a photo and send it to either us or the Lake Lanier Association. We’re trying to avoid some of the fraud from people advertising on social media that they remove docks. In some cases, they will take your money, then simply haul the dock away and drop it on Corps property. If they do, the original dock owner is still liable for removing it and may be fined.” Shoreline management Rainey acknowledged that he is working with the staff to improve the amount of time required to approve shoreline modifications and dock permitting for changes of ownership and other procedures. “For the past two to three years, we’ve been operating at about 60 percent of our full staff. We are all aware of the need to improve our processes,” he said. “In all honesty, right now the permitting process is taking between three and six months. Ideally, we want to handle the process in six to eight weeks. We’ve been working through the backlog. And my No. 1 priority is improving our communications.” A regulatory change in the process requires involvement from the Corps Real Estate office. “Issues that involved public lands, management by the Corps, such as pathways to docks or anchoring docks to the Shoreline have been shifted to the Real Estate office for additional review,” he said. “Once that’s done, then we can issue the permit.” The Lake Lanier Association plans other webinars in 2021. (See separate article.)

2021’s activities for Lake Lanier Association By Pamela A. Keene The new year brings new opportunities for Lake Lanier residents and stakeholders to participate in lake issues. The Lake Lanier Association has released its 2021 volunteer involvement programs and its 2021 See LLA, page 47 Lake Lanier Association member Sheila Davis, left, and Executive Director Jennifer Flowers speak with a visitor during last month’s MarineMax boat show, right.

44 LAKESIDE

February 2021

EXIT 14

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 .............CLOSED AS OF 2/4/14 8. Lazy Days at Holiday ...............770-945-1991 9.Hideaway Bay ...........................770 967-5500 10.Sunrise Cove ............................770 536-8599 11.Sunset Cove .............................678 304-3157

February 2021

LAKESIDE 45 FORSYTH COUNTY

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46 LAKESIDE

February 2021

• Wine Continued from Page 40 honey. I asked Jabe how he became interested in mead, and he said again, opportunity presented itself, so that when he and his wife Barbara opened the Noble tasting room/store, the idea of selling their own wine was a priority. To attract customers to their downtown location in Clayton, Ga., they also made the decision to include products made in Georgia in addition to wine. In the process, they found a good match in Blue Haven Bee Company of Canon, Ga. When Jabe contacted them about selling their highquality honey and skin care products in the store, the owners at Blue Haven asked Jabe to make mead with their honey based on his winemaking skills. The first batch was a huge hit! It quickly sold out. My wife and I found Noble’s mead wine a surprising new favorite since our taste for wine is pretty traditional. Jabe’s mead can be found at the Noble Wine Cellars tasting room, Blue Haven Bee Company, and Savannah Bee Company. The Southern Origin Meadery is located at the Blue Haven Bee Company. So, what is new for 2021 at

Noble Wine Cellar? A small batch of a newly released red blend with grapes from SenAmore Vineyard and Farms (not open to the public). Also, try Noble Red – a medium bodied Sangiovese, Marquette (accent grape), and Chambourcin. It is hands down, one of our favorites in Georgia! For white wine drinkers, Noble has a delicious Traminette and Petit Manseng made from estate grown grapes from which to choose. You will also find other fine wines to treat your palette. Don’t forget the craft beer selection which is always a hit. Jabe is also working on a sparkling wine to be released in the near future. Take a day trip to charming downtown Clayton, Georgia, and enjoy a red, white, mead, or brew from Noble Wine Cellars. Details Noble’s tasting room: 58 North Main Street, Clayton, Ga. Phone: 706 212-0407 Hours: Mon., Thu., Fri., & Sat. 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Also available on Facebook and Instagram. Blue Haven Bee Company and Southern Origin Meadery:

2069 Bond Ave Canon, Ga. Phone: 706 245-6586 Georgia native Don Duval grew up going to Lake Lanier and keeps a boat at one of the mari-

nas. He and his wife have a passion for good wine, good food, and of course, the lake. He can be reached at lakesidenews@mindspring.com.

• Calendar Continued from Page 26 Mainstage Theatre in the Swanson Center. Performances: 7:30 p.m., Thurs.-Sat.; 2 p.m., Sun. n Feb. 25-Mar. 25 – Marie T. Cochran: Notes of an Affrilachian Daughter in the Time of Covid 19. Born in Toccoa, Cochran is an artist, curator, writer and educator. Her work highlights the historic and contemporary contributions of African Americans to Appalachian culture. In 2011, she developed the Affrilachian Art Project, using a term developed by Frank X. Walker. In conjunction with her exhibition at the MSMA, Cochran will be featured as the keynote speaker for the 2021 Lilian E. Smith Center’s bi-annual symposium on the Demorest campus. n Feb. 25 – Ensemble 4.1, repeatedly praised by critics around the world for its communicative powers and intoxicating atmosphere they have created, the German-based ensemble 4.1 performs original master-

works and rarely performed compositions for oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn and piano. Performance: 7:30 p.m. n Mar. 2 – Dr. Andrea M. Price, associate professor of music at Piedmont College, performs lieder, art song and operatic areas with Piedmont alumnus and former instructor, Dr. Benji Stegner on piano. Performance: 7:30 p.m. Info: www.piedmont.edu. Quinlan Arts Center n Thru Feb. 22 – Winter Exhibition includes Rug Show and solo artists Jan Eubanks, Debra Yaun and Simon Brittan. n Mar. 15-27 – 43rd Annual Fine Art Auction Gala 2021 Exhibit & Silent Auction (online & in-person) and on Saturday (Mar. 27) a Virtual Live Auction with Auctioneer Doug Carter. Info: www.quinlanartscenter.org.

• Mendes

Continued from Page 16

weekend and we know there are many more good stories with happy and funny endings to come! Mendes has been sailing all his life and on Lake Lanier for the past 25 years. His family owns a marina/bar/restaurant so he has plenty of real life experiences to draw from. His favorite line: “You can’t make this stuff up.”

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February 2021

LAKESIDE 47

• LLA Continued from Page 43 calendar of events. “We are planning to be even more active this year as we advocate for the lake,” said Jennifer Flowers, executive director. “From offering informative webinars of public interest to offering a paddle safety course, our goal is to maximize ways our membership can be involved.” Volunteer programs • See Something Say Something: Water Watch Network rolling out this spring. • Mini Targeted Shore Sweeps throughout the year. • Opportunities to help maintain and inspect life jackets in a LLA Life Jacket Loaner Station. • Office support opportunities “Bag and Gab” with fellow LLA members. • Event planning and volunteer day of support opportunities.

Mark your calendars Dates and locations will be posted on the association’s’ updated website launching in February at lakelanier.org. • March: Lawn Care for a Healthy Lanier-Virtual Webinar • April 17: in person Annual Member Celebration • April 24: in person Kayak and Paddleboard Safety Course • May: in person Sip n’ See Boating Etiquette Discussion • June: Navigating Lake Lanier • August: All about Dock MaintenanceVirtual Webinar • September 25: Shore Sweep 2021 • October: Just for Fun Halloween Themed Sip n’ See To be involved or for more information, call the association at 770 503 7757.

Recreation Guide for Lake Lanier Provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers The Corps of Engineers welcomes you to beautiful Lake Sidney Lanier. Located just 35 miles northeast of Atlanta, the lake offers some of the finest camping opportunities in the South. The Corps operates 7 campgrounds at Lake Lanier. Info: www.lakesidenews.com/camping.

n MORE INFO: Water release schedules - 770 945-1466 Lake information - 770 945-1467 Corps of Engineers - 770 945-9531 www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil Works/Recreation/LakeSidneyLanier.aspx

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48 LAKESIDE

February 2021

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