Safety guide

‘Sweep the Hooch’ lightens river by 35 tons of trash

By Pamela A. Keene

More than 1,200 volunteers came together on the last Saturday in March along the Chattahoochee River from the headwaters to LaGrange and collected more than 35 tons of trash, debris and garbage.

“We weren’t sure what this year’s Sweep the Hooch would look like, or even if people would come out,” said Tammy Bates, outings manager with Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, who coordinates the cleanup, “but the success of this movement for a trash-free river shows just how much people care about our environment, our planet, our water.”

The event covered more than 54 creeks, parks and greenspaces. This year’s number of volunteers exceeded last year’s by 200 people. For more information on how to register for upcoming cleanups or how to support CRK’s mission, visitchattahoochee.org/ cleanups.

A Sweep the Hooch kayaker paddles around debris left from recent rains at Lake Lanier Olympic Park.

PHOTO BY VICKI HOPE

• Safety

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quired to wear life jackets anytime they’re on a boat, and it’s a great idea for adults to set the example and do the same. Buckling up your life jacket and wearing it consistently while you’re on the water is one more step to prevent drowning. The simple act of putting on your life jacket can save your life.”

For more information, visit AmericasBoatingClubAtlanta.org.

Lakeside’s Safety Guide

A GUIDE TO BOATING AND SWIMMING SAFETY RESOURCES PRESENTED BY LAKESIDE ON LANIER

BOATING

Boater Education Courses with Certification Exam

Basics of Boating - America's Boating Course • Course: Meets Georgia DNR and NASBLA requirements for boater and PWC certification; covers boat handling, safety equipment/procedures, rules of the road, boat types/terminology. • Instructors: America’s Boating Club – Atlanta (formerly Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron) • When: 3-session classes begin on Wednesday, June 2, and Wednesday, June 30 • Cost: $25 per student; plus optional course textbook • Information/registration: americasboatingclubatlanta.org/ or Email - ABC@usps-atlanta.org

Boating Safely & Personal Watercraft Certification - USCGA

• Course: NASBLA certified entry level classroom-only course with test for boater education and PWC certification. Covers basic boating terminology, “rules of the road,” navigation, operation, legal requirements, emergencies, water etiquette and more. • Instructors: U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers • Minimum age: 12 • When: 2021 Schedule TBD • Where: U.S. Coast Guard Flotilla 29, 6595 Lights Ferry Rd., Flowery Branch • Cost: Individuals $34.95 • Private lessons also available for groups or organizations outside normal schedule by calling Flotilla Commander Chuck Kelemen, 770-714-0888. • Information/registration: Harry Lasher, hlasher@bellsouth.net, 404-861-4216; http://wow.uscgaux.info/peclass.php?unit=070-02-09

On-Line Courses • www.boat-ed.com and http://www.boaterexam.com/usa/georgia include study guide and Georgia Certification Exam with unlimited exam attempts; cost is $29.50 payable upon exam passage. Temporary certificate printed upon passage; permanent card mailed. • http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/Georgia.asp offers free course, exam and print your own certificate; mailed certificate $5. • Other certification courses offered at www.boatcourse.com, www.boatingbasicsonline.com, and www.pwcsafetyschool.com.

Other Boater Education Opportunities (Certification exam not included)

• Professional Tutoring: Captain’s Training, on-line or in person tutoring designed to prepare individuals for exams required for certification and licensure for maritime jobs by instructor Steve Johnson, retired US Coast Guard, experienced ship navigator, deck officer, and USCG license instructor for Sea School. www.navteach.com, stevejohnson@navteach.com, 770-3120989.

• Advanced Boating Classes in piloting, marine communications, and other boating skills offered periodically by the Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron. www.atlantasboatingclub.com.

NOTE: Please contact Lakeside on Lanier News to list additionalboating and water safety classes. lakesidenews@mindspring.com. Vessel Safety Checks • Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron offers vessel safety check-ups by appointment. http://atlantasboatingclub.com/vessel-safety-check/vessel-safety-check-signup. • Vessel Safety Checks by appointment: Both U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and United States Power Squadrons offer vessel safety check-ups at your boat by appointment. www.safetyseal.net.

Sailing Classes • Windsong Sailing Academy: Basic and advanced sailing training and certifications including engine maintenance, marine electrical systems, coastal and celestial navigation as well as marine meteorology offered by Windsong Sailing Academy through the DeKalb County Parks and Recreation Service. Public and private week evening and weekend classes available. Fees vary. www.WindsongSail.com. (770) 967-1515.

SWIMMING (Lessons/Aquatic Programs)

Frances Meadows Aquatics and Community Center

• Location: 1545 Community Way, Gainesville. • Information/registration: (770) 533-5850, www.gainesville.org/swim-lessons • Lessons: Swimming and water safety program for all ages and levels, age 6 months to masters, basic aquatics safety to skill proficiency for competitive swimmers, lifeguard training. • Splash Aquatic Club: Competitive swimming groups for Rookie (age 4) through Masters (age 18 and older to improve fitness, develop better technique, or train for competition. Cumming Aquatic Center

• Location: 201 Aquatic Circle, Cumming • Information/registration: (770) 781-1781 www.cummingaquaticcenter.com (register online) • Lessons: Swimming and water safety program ranges from toddler-age in Parent Child Aquatics Program to teens and adults in Learn to Swim and Adult Aquatics Program. Private or semiprivate lessons available. Fees and schedules vary. Competitive swimming and diving programs, Masters Swim Team also available. Lifeguard certification offered. Brenau University

• Location: Brenau Fitness Center, 500 Washington St., SE, Gainesville • Information/registration: www.brenautigers.com, Blaire Bachman, (770) 534-6279, bbachman@brenau.edu. • Lessons: Custom private swim lessons for all ages and abilities. Brenau Masters Swim Team offers practice and competitive program for swimmers of all levels, high school age and older.

University of North Georgia Gainesville Campus

• Location: 3820 Mundy Mill Rd., Oakwood • Information/registration: https://ce.ung.edu/wconnect/ace/, (678) 717-2377 • Swim lessons: For ages 3 (must be potty trained) and older range from introduction to water skills to swimming and skill proficiency. Check website for dates.

Georgia Mountain YMCA

• Location: 2455 Howard Rd., Gainesville • Information/registration: http://www.hallcountyymca.org/jawalters/programs/youth-swimming-lessons/, 770-297-9622 • Swim lessons: For all ages and levels, parent-child swim, Masters Swim Program, water fitness, water safety, life guard certification. Fees and times vary.

By Pamela A. Keene

Hoping to take friends skiing on Lake Lanier over a holiday weekend nearly a dozen years ago, Jenny Serwitz was more than disappointed when their broken ski tow rope put a damper on plans. This year, the company is celebrating 10 years of serving Lake Lanier.

“We looked everywhere to find a quality ski rope that we could just go out and buy at the last minute, but there were none to be had,” said Serwitz, now owner of Pull Watersports in Cumming. “We couldn’t believe with the number of people around the lake that no retail stores stocked them. It got us thinking.” It would be another two years before she opened the business. Even the name, Pull Watersports, has a great back-story; again it involved having fun on the lake.

“We were in a cove and as one of our friends signaled the boat driver to start his ride, he yelled, “Pull!” All of a sudden it just made sense to use pull in our name, because it was an active verb and painted a picture of doing something,” she said. “So, we named the business Pull Watersports.”

Serwitz and her husband Perry were living on the lake at the time, the parents of three small children. Perry worked for Fox Sports and two weeks before she was set to open her store in a strip plaza, he was promoted to Fox’s New York office in digital media.

“He was traveling all the time and I was mom to three kids with school, extracurricular activities and a home to maintain. He fully supported me as much as he could and he also encouraged me, so I just moved forward. And he often tells people, ‘Jen did this and I’m so proud of her.’ ”

She’d pick up the kids after school and take them to the store, which sold watersport accessories, skis, life jackets and such as a pro shop. “The kids would do their homework in the back while I waited on customers and as they got older, they’d help out.”

When she had to pick them up after school, she’d post a sign on the door where she was and when she would be back.

“The store quickly became a family place, not just because of our own family but because our customers got to know us and came here often,” she says. “And we just kept growing.”

Soon she and Perry looked for a new boat and discovered TIGE. There was not a TIGE dealer in the area in 2013 – and wakesurfing was starting to take off on Lanier – Perry and Jenny saw an opportunity to expand the business model.

“Unbeknownst to me, Perry stopped by the TIGE manufacturer while he was on a business trip to Texas and when he got back, within two weeks we had signed to be the TIGE dealer. We had three boats lined up along the road and behind the fence.”

She soon realized that she needed a separate location, not only to sell boats, but also to provide service. When a building on Bethel Road became available, she leased it in 2014 to service both boats they sold and customers they served. Three years later in 2018, a former Fountain boats dealership at 5185 Browns Bridge became available.

“It made perfect sense to move the dealership and service to this building, which gave us 15,000 square feet of space, including a 5,000-square-foot showroom and a 10,000-square-foot service area, the largest on Lake Lanier.”

She has kept the pro shop in the original location at 3040 Keith Bridge Road; sales and service are not far away.

Currently, Pull Watersports represents these manufacturers: Godfrey Pontoons, Yamaha Outboard engines, MB sport boats and Indmar engines.

Two years ago, Perry left the corporate world to join Jenny and work full time in the business. “We did a lot of praying and knew this was the right time for him to leave the corporate job,” she said. “It was meant to be.”

Serwitz has become immersed the boating and water recreation business at Lanier. In June 2020, she was elected the first female president of the Marine Trade Association of Atlanta, which presents the Atlanta Boat Show.

“Even though I’m the first female president, other women in the MTAMA have been influential in the organization,” she says. “We’re working to further promote boating and recreation on Lake Lanier as well as to grow our membership among the marine trade. And with so many new boaters on the lake, we’re also supporting boating education and safe boating for fun.”

When asked what drew her to watersports and boating in the

PHOTO PROVIDED BY PULL WATERSPORTS Jenny Serwitz at the helm on Lake Lanier.

See Pull, page 38