Fall | 2015
Take in autumn’s glory on Lake Lanier and get set for winter.
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What’s Inside
Fall | 2015
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Don’t let the cold sneak up on you 8
36 On the Cover Fall is in the air and on the water. That doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of things to do on the lake as we head into winter.
Norton: No Lake Lanier? 11
What would North Georgia be like without Lake Lanier?
Sitting below the surface 12
Lake lovers are still on the hunt for ways to remove dangerous abandoned boats and derelict docks.
You ready for some football ... food? 18
4 Fall | 2015
Gainesville Marina tells us why it is important to winterize your boat before the chill sets in.
Former Atlanta Falcon Reggie Kelly shares his tailgating tips, recipes and reason for starting his own Soul Food line, KYVAN. Mmmm, tasty! LAKE Destination
Lanier
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8
36
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Trash talk with LLA 20
Lake Lanier Association’s Joanna Cloud tells us how the organization’s biggest event, Shore Sweep, turned out and what new technology made it easier than before.
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Time to hit the lake and catch some fish 22
Autumn is the perfect time to go after the big one. As the temperature changes, fish will be on the move. Grab a rod and get going!
Restaurateur Bill Norman’s lake home 28
His Cumming oasis is hidden from view, but once inside the gate, it is all fun and games.
Williams family celebrates a milestone 36
When they purchased Lake Lanier Islands Resort, they had big changes in mind. And they are still growing.
Maintain your sails and rigging 42
28 Inside Every Issue 6 46 50 52
From the Editor Calendar Your Guide to Lake Lanier Around Lanier
If you take care of them, they’ll take care of you.
destinationlanier.com
Fall | 2015
5
From the Editor Same feel, different size
Editor Michelle Boaen Jameson Advertising sales Melisa Sizemore LAKE Magazine, a division of: The Times Gainesville, GA A Morris Multimedia Inc. property 345 Green St. | Gainesville, GA 30501 770-718-3421
www.destinationlanier.com
This is about as much fishing as I ever do. I’m not much for baiting a hook and certainly don’t clean fish. I really just enjoy the sitting, the scenery and the serenity of nature. For me, that’s what the lake is all about. In this issue, we take a look at some serious fishing and find out where the best places to go are in Lake Lanier. We also revisit a push to rid the lake of abandoned vessels and docks that pose a danger to boaters and impact property values. And speaking of property, we tour Norman’s Landing owner Bill Norman’s entertainment château, or as he calls it, home. Also in this issue we talk about winterizing your boat and taking care of your sails. There are a few changes to point out as well. LAKE will now be a seasonal publication coming out four times a year. But wait, there’s more! You may have noticed this issue of LAKE Destination Lanier to be somewhat smaller in dimension than past copies. After much reader input, we decided to make a more compact, portable magazine (easier to roll up and pop the dog with or take to the, um, study). While we may have reduced the size, we maintained the look and feel and have added pages for more Lake enjoyment.
M
J
ichelle ameson
Michelle Boaen Jameson editor@destinationlanier.com
LAKE: Destination Lanier reserves the right to refuse advertisements for any reason. Acceptance of advertising does not mean or imply the services or product is endorsed or recommended by LAKE: Destination Lanier. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Morris Multimedia Inc. Although every precaution is taken to ensure accuracy of published materials, Morris Multimedia cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. LAKE does not currently offer subscriptions. Manuscripts, artwork, photography, inquiries and submitted materials are welcome.
6 Fall | 2015
LAKE Destination
Lanier
LAKE LANIER’S BEST ADDRESS
goNORTON.COM
ONE SITE
ONE SOURCE
1 SMART MOVE
Waiting
on winter? Experts say don’t delay; get your boat ready for the cold now Story by Pamela A. Keene Before you turn your thoughts away from boating as the weather turns cold, you have an important chore if you’re a boat owner. To ensure that your boat will be ready next spring, take the time now to winterize your vessel. Whether it’s stored in the water or on a trailer, your boat needs a bit of attention as the seasons change and the temperature drops. A little bit of time now will save you lots of headaches at the beginning of next year’s boating season. “Winterizing is an important part of preventive maintenance for boat owners,” says Philip Burton with Gainesville Marina off Dawsonville Highway. “It does not need to be complicated and most people can do it themselves, especially if you’re 8 Fall | 2015
fairly knowledgeable about your boat.” Burton says that some people procrastinate their winterizing, thinking that with North Georgia’s moderate winters, the process is not necessary. “Because our winters can be unpredictable with at least several periods of temperatures below freezing, winterizing is a must-do to protect your investment and help assure that when the boating season returns, you won’t be faced with major work to do,” he says. He says that many service centers offer winter or off-season discounts. If you want to do it yourself, here’s an easy-to-follow checklist for winterizing your boat’s outboard motor: LAKE Destination
Lanier
“Winterize your boat before the weather gets too cold.”
Different types of boats require different winterization. Some owners may opt to have their boats dry docked for the winter.
n Top off fuel tanks and add fuel stabilizer to prevent condensation in the fuel tank and lines. A partially filled tank, especially containing ethanol fuel, encourages condensation that can result in water in your fuel. Fill it to the brim. n To help prevent fuel-line and carburetor problems, crank the motor and let it warm up. Then spray a couple ounces of fogging oil into the carburetor air intake while the motor is running until the motor dies. Also remove the spark plug(s) and spray some fogging oil into each cylinder. n If your outboard is not stored indoors, cover it with a breathable cover. n If your boat is stored in the water, leave the cockpit drains open. n Top off battery cells following the manufacturer’s instructions. If it is stored on a trailer, you may want to disconnect one terminal to prevent the destinationlanier.com
Fall | 2015
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Having a covered slip is helpful to prevent ice buildup.
battery from completely discharging over the winter. However, if the boat is stored in the water, leave the battery connected if you have an automatic bilge pump. n If the motor is stored on the back of your boat, keep the motor in the down position to prevent water from freezing inside the water-circulating cooling system. The lake water will keep it from freezing. n Pump the boat’s bilge until it’s dry, using absorbent materials to get the last bit of water out. The process is a little more complicated for inboards and stern drives. Check your owner’s manual for details. You may want to hire a boat mechanic to properly protect the fuel system, the engine block and other systems. Among other things, the mechanic 10 Fall | 2015
will drain the block, manifolds and risers, and check the outdrive to assure there is no water in the gear lube. A thorough mechanic will also address the water system, heads, holding tanks, water heaters, air-conditioning units and generators. “Over the winter, visit the boat every couple of weeks to assure that the bilge is dry, the lines and fenders are still secure and everything else is OK,” Burton says. “Be mindful that in cold weather docks can be slippery or iced over. Wear your life jacket to be safe and if you go alone, be sure to tell someone about your plans and when you expect to return home.” Burton also recommends that your process include conducting a written inventory of all items on the boat, from life jackets and fire extinguishers to radios and other equipment.
“With the Atlanta Boat Show coming up in mid-January, it’s the perfect time to replace worn-out equipment or add safety gear, such as a boat hook or a new throwable,” he says. “You may even want to upgrade life jackets or shop for a new bimini.” The Atlanta Boat Show set for Jan. 1417 at the Georgia World Congress Center will feature more than 150 exhibitors, dock builders, marinas and boat accessories, plus on-the-showroom-floor houseboats, cruisers, yachts, personal watercraft and fishing boats. “Winterize your boat before the weather gets too cold,” Burton says, “then take advantage of the off-season to dream about all the fun you’ll have when the boating season begins again.”
LAKE Destination
Lanier
Imagine no Lanier
Imagine with me a moment that Lake Lanier never happened. It’s the summer of 1951, the session of Congress is in full session. Up for consideration is a budget bill that includes additional appropriation for the impoundment of the Chattahoochee River in the middle of a forested wilderness north of Atlanta. The project was first proposed during the 1930s and long delayed by war and economic conditions. During that hot summer, Atlanta Mayor William B. Hartsfield traveled to Washington numerous times pushing and pressuring Sens. Richard Russell Jr. and Walter F. George to restore funding to ensure Atlanta’s water supply during possible droughts. For historical context at this time, the population of Georgia was 3.4 million people, Atlanta was 726,000 people, Gainesville was 11,900 people, Buford was 3,812 people and Cumming was only 1,264 people. Now imagine with me the fiery political debate, powerful oratory on the house floor, heated debates and the smoke-filled back room dealings of that era. You can just hear the banter, “a water supply forever,” “puts people to work,” “saves farms downstream from flooding,” “creates navigable water ways between Alabama and Georgia and all the way to the Gulf …” Finally the vote is taken and in my imaginary narrative, the entire impoundment project is cut from the final bill. At $17.6 million total cost (at that time), it was too “risky” of a project without a substantial return on investment. “Atlanta wasn’t going to grow, they did not need the water, and there was plenty to spread around.” When the dust settled out, there would be no Lake Lanier, no 38,000-acre lake surface, no community aqua playground, no new hydro-electric source and no engine to stir community growth. Fast forward this “what if” tale to 2015 and let’s look at our region without Lake Lanier. • The area along the Chattahoochee River basin that was originally to be covered with Lake Lanier remains in 2015 largely a fertile agricultural valley, primarily crop farming owned by hundreds of small generational farmers. “The bottoms” would grow a variety of crops: corn, cotton, vegetables and pumpkins. • The giant poultry industry we see today would be but a fraction of its size. Those farms that do exist would all line up along the Flat Creek tributary in order to expense their waste directly in the creek. Lake Lanier, with its water and water quality environment charge, stimulated hundreds of millions of other destinationlanier.com
federal grants for water and industrial sewer in our region which would not have existed if it did not exist. This federal assistance helped jump start and, in some cases, paid for entire water/sewer systems in Cumming, Gainesville, Flowery Branch and Buford. • The city of Gainesville would still have its nine-hole Lake Warner Golf Course and limited other “park” recreation areas, but not the Chattahoochee Golf Course. The four counties would also not have the 60 state-, county- or corps-owned parks, campgrounds nor the 10 operating inland marinas or any specialty recreation facilities such as Ivy Watson (Hall), Lake Lanier Islands (Hall), Laurel Park (Hall) or Warhill Park (Dawson). • Without Lake Lanier, it would be doubtful to have Ga. Highway 400 or an Interstate 985. The population growth would be stagnant and little to no need for that massive transportation infrastructure, moving people toward a much smaller Atlanta. It would also be a toss-up whether we would even see our massive Atlanta airport hub without an abundant source of water. That hub would most like have defaulted to Charlotte, Jacksonville or Birmingham. • Finally the federal government paid $20 to $40 an acre for land impounded for Lake Lanier. Without the lake, Forsyth’s, Hall’s and Dawson’s tax base would be one hundredth or less than it is today. The small population and smaller economy might best be compared to rural areas of South Georgia and Alabama. Lake Lanier is a huge real estate tax base that gives every year, every year. This region in 2015 without Lake Lanier and all its glitter and sizzle, would be nothing more than Lower Appalachia: poor dirtfarming families, aging small rural townships and expansive family farms. Nothing against those characteristics, but in perspective, Lake Lanier is much more than a cool summer swim, a late evening cocktail boat ride or a wonderful back porch vista. Lake Lanier is ENERGY; its vitality is the glue that holds us together, economic, social, cultural and political. And at the same time, Lake Lanier is a spark to ignite the human spirit over decades generations and generations to come. It drives jobs, builds community and creates connectivity, Lake Lanier is life, our life. About the author Frank Norton is a seventh generation north Georgian, CEO of the region’s largest and oldest real estate insurance firm and a Lake Lanier homeowner/activist. He is a passionate market researcher, demographer and prognosticator and noted national speaker on emerging real estate issues. Fall | 2015 11
Lake Lanier Association members John Barker and Joanna Cloud take a tour of partially sunk boat docks and actual sunken vessels around Lake Lanier.
Raising
the dead Residents continue crusade to rid lake of derelict boats
12 Fall | 2015
LAKE Destination
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An abandoned houseboat sits behind a new dock under construction.
Story by Jeff Gill Photos by Scott Rogers
destinationlanier.com
Time was no big issue for retiree John Barker, who lives on the Chestatee River arm of Lake Lanier at the Hall-Lumpkin County line. Still, he didn’t expect his personal mission involving a neglected houseboat near his house would take as long as it did, tearing months off the calendar. “I’m thinking this is a no-brainer,” he said, recalling those days. But it became a brain beater — and a hand-wringer — for Barker. He eventually joined forces with the Gainesville-based Lake Lanier Association and finally got the issue resolved after lengthy red tape and meetings with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and others. The vessel was removed in February, some two years after Barker started the quest. The experience has made Barker a key player in the association’s efforts to remove abandoned vessels and docks from Lanier. And this is serious business for the association, as the lake is the 38,000-acre waterfront home to thousands of metro Atlantans and a recreation magnet for millions each year. The group’s executive director, Joanna Cloud, keeps a careful record of all vessels and docks, many of which are either sunk or sinking fast, and the progress made on each one’s removal.
Fall | 2015 13
And she also presses the corps on the matter and, along with other association members, scours the shoreline while riding in a boat on the waters. “These vessels and docks are a blight on our community,” Cloud said during a recent tour of the neglected sites in a boat piloted by Barker. “They affect water quality — the boats, especially — as they deteriorate. They’ve got batteries, oil and gasoline in them. “And this is our reservoir, our drinking water for 4 million-plus people.” Another worry is safety for recreation.
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A partially sunken boat sits just under the surface of the water. Lake Lanier Association member John Barker takes note of all the abandoned boats around the lake.
destinationlanier.com
Fall | 2015 15
“Also, as these things get into the water, they become boating hazards, or they break off and you’ve got pieces floating out. Or you hit one of those things with your (boat) propeller and you’ve got tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of damage or ... bodily injury.” As of last week, Cloud’s latest “project” count is nine docks and nine vessels that have fallen into disrepair and have become eyesores. Of the 18 total, two are in Dawson County, two are in Forsyth County and 14 are in Hall County. Of the 14 in Hall, two are south of Browns Bridge, which straddles Hall and Forsyth counties, and the rest are north of Browns Bridge, Cloud said. “In the past 18 months, we’ve closed four docks and five vessels either though property owner action or Lake Lanier Association in-
16 Fall | 2015
volvement,” she said. One of the most recent removals took place in mid-August, when a rusted, stripped boat was removed from East Bank Park in Gwinnett. That resulted after a yearlong legal process involving several agencies. “The state doesn’t title vessels, so there’s no good way of tracking ownership,” Cloud said at the time. “This boat is completely stripped — no engine, battery, steering wheel, hardware ... so we had no way of knowing where it came from or whose it was.” Travis Terry of Terry’s Auto Towing Service and Robert Estrada of TowBoatUS Lake Lanier each said they receive calls “all the time” about unsightly, unused and unkempt boats and docks, though they’re not allowed to remove them without completing a legal process that
LAKE Destination
Lanier
Abandoned dock and boats pose a major threat to the safety of Lanier, and are also costly to remove.
declares them abandoned. Part of that process includes advertising it as abandoned property. One of the most recent legal notices, published Aug. 14 in The Times, describes longitude and latitude coordinates for the location of the vessel, which “sank close to (the) shoreline.” The craft “appears to be a pontoonstyle vessel” and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources boat registration number is “not available,” states the ad, which lists the corps as the contact. Sketchy registration numbers — if destinationlanier.com
they’re visible at all — is an issue Cloud would like to see addressed in the next session of the Georgia General Assembly. A bill requiring boat titles never left the Georgia House in the last legislative session. “Georgia is one of few states in the U.S. that doesn’t title vessels,” the organization has said on its website in an appeal to members. “As a result, tracking ownership over the course of time, especially as a vessel changes owners, can be difficult.”
And owners, if they can be found, can be unwilling or unable to remove the abandoned property. “Absolutely, we will revisit this issue” with lawmakers, Cloud has said. As for the corps, tackling the problem requires funding it doesn’t have. “We hope to someday, but right now we couldn’t do this without these in-kind services,” natural resources manager Nick Baggett said, referring to Lake Lanier Association efforts.
Fall | 2015 17
Let’s get saucy! Former Atlanta Falcon Reggie Kelly shares his favorite tailgate recipes Story by LAKE staff Photos courtesy Reggie Kelly Just because summer is over doesn’t mean the party has to end. Football season is here and you don’t have to be in a parking lot to tailgate. Fire up the grill on the dock or the boat and let’s eat! Reggie Kelly is a native of Aberdeen, Mississippi, graduate of Mississippi State University and recently retired 13-year NFL player with the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals. Since retiring he has gone from the gridiron to the cast-iron. Kelly launched his own brand of hot sauce that quickly became KYVAN® Foods, a line of specialty products that are great for tailgating. Kelly tells us where he got the idea for KYVAN, which is combination of his children’s names, Kyla and Kavan. LAKE: What was your favorite food growing up? RK: Soul food ... baby back barbecue ribs, mac and cheese, baked beans, cornbread and for dessert, throw in pecan pie! LAKE: How did you go from profootball to BBQ sauce? RK: We held football camps in my hometown of Aberdeen, Mississippi. The football camps were designed to reward the kids who have excelled academically in the classroom. I also invited fellow NFL stars and coaches to volunteer and make the events special for the kids. True to form, after 18 Fall | 2015
LAKE Destination
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the camps, our family cooked for the volunteers and they raved about the flavor and goodness of the meals. Their responses were overwhelming and brought a smile to my face when they expressed their enjoyment of the meals and the difficulty of finding flavorful meals like these anywhere else. Those compliments started the wheels to churn in my mind and a light bulb flashed, prompting us to come up with a great idea… a Soul food line! LAKE: Is there a secret family recipe or is this made by trial and error?
RK: Family recipes. I gathered secret family recipes, pitched the idea to retailers, and now we have before our eyes KYVAN™ Soul Food Selections. It’s my goal to pass down to my kids and to everyone the gift passed down to me — an appreciation of good food. Kelly said his NFL peers were definitely inspirational in the birth of KYVAN™ Foods because their expressions reminded him that people have always enjoyed good food, especially the kind that touches the soul. And since people from all walks of life really enjoy “down South” cooking, Kelly thought,
why not bring a piece of the South to their homes, compliments of his family? Kelly has a few tailgating tips of his own to get you started: • Make sure your meats are properly marinated before grilling (night before). • Show up early to make sure you enjoy the true tailgating experience. Bring plenty of ice and coolers. • Always bring the proper utentils for cooking and serving. • Have fun. • Most importantly use KYVAN® Sweet BBQ Sauce.
KYVAN Rotel Dip Ingredients: 1lb. ground beef 16oz. jar KYVAN Mild Salsa 2 32oz.Velveeta cheese blocks (cubed) Directions: Cook ground beef and drain. Place ground beef in crock pot and layer cheese on top and finally pour salsa on top of cheese. Let cook in crock pot on high for 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes, occasionally stirring.
KYVAN BBQ Baby Back Ribs Ingredients: 2 Slabs of baby back ribs Gallon of apple cider or apple juice KYVAN Dry BBQ Rub KYVAN Sweet BBQ Sauce Directions: Clean ribs and remove the thin film on bottom of ribs. Season ribs with desired amounts of BBQ rub and then place ribs in a deep aluminum pan. Pour apple cider over the ribs and let marinade overnight in destinationlanier.com
refrigerator (covered). Before cooking, remove from apple cider and slightly pat ribs dry. Add more rub if desired. Let ribs become room temperature and set grill to 250275 degrees (charcoal grill is preferred). Let ribs cook for 2 hours (don’t flip ribs) and then brush BBQ sauce on ribs and let cook another 30 minutes. Remove ribs from grill and enjoy.
KYVAN has a whole line of condiments such as Honey Apple Salsa, Honey Apple Butter, Various Wing Sauces(Sweet BBQ Sauce, Sesame Garlic BBQ Sauce, Hot Wing Sauce, Original Hot Sauce), Seasonings and Jambalaya Sauce. KYVAN® is currently available in North Georgia at Walmart, Block n Blade Butcher Shoppe, Tap It/Pro Touch Living, Wilkes Meat Market and e-commerce at http://www.kyvan82.com. You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Fall | 2015 19
Taking out the trash is a community effort
Fall is always an exciting and busy time for the Lake Lanier Association when we hold our annual Shore Sweep event the last Saturday of September. This year, our 27th year for this event, shaped up to be even more interesting than in years past. We used a new online reporting system for our volunteers to report trash that needs to be collected at Shore Sweep. As of the writing of this article, we had 571 reports of trash sites on Lake Lanier. Whew! That is a lot of trash to address! I guess it is job security for those of us in the nonprofit sector working on community clean ups. With over 1,000 volunteers that help at Shore Sweep, we hoped to make a big dent in the number of those trash reports. One of our latest promotional items for the Lake Lanier Association is our very own custom-printed trash bag printed on environmentally friendly biodegradable plastic. We used these trash bags at Shore Sweep this year, and we also offered the gas dock retailers around the lake to keep a supply of bags on hand to distribute upon request to lake recreational users. They can take a bag with them as they are out and pick up trash to bring back to shore when they come across an area that needs to be cleaned up. We have expanded our focus at Shore Sweep to include abandoned and derelict docks and vessels. A partnership between the Lake Lanier Association, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has been established and we are meeting regularly to review each of the reported docks and vessels and to determine next steps toward resolution of the issue. While there are many administrative and legal issues dealing with those items that may have prevented us from handling things on the actual day of our Shore Sweep event, we have taken steps to form a process for dealing with the items, starting with communicating with the property owner if one is known. So far,
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there have been four docks and five vessels removed from the lake in recent years as part of this fledgling program. A couple of those have been removed through Lake Lanier Association involvement using donated resources and volunteer time. Several of them have been removed simply by communicating with the property owner about this issue and asking them to step up and handle the issue. Lake Lanier Association is thrilled to see our partnership with the other agencies solidify and progress in terms of defining a sustainable process for dealing with these items going forward. Lake Lanier is unique in terms of Corps-operated facilities dealing with these issues at this level, partially due to the age of the lake and partially due to the urbanization and heavy recreational use on Lake Lanier. While funding, boat titles and local/federal ordinances remain opportunities for us to review and work on, the progress we have made so far is positive and encouraging for the future of Lake Lanier. The TrashOut website shows the total number of reports associated with the Lake Lanier Association. More than 129 people registered with TrashOut affiliated with the Lake Lanier Association and submitted over 570 reports on Lake Lanier. (visit http://lakelanier.org/2015/06/trashout-app-reporting-trashsites for the app). A map shows all the reports of trash currently in TrashOut. The Lake Lanier Association uses this information to distribute to the different location captains for the Shore Sweep cleanup event to more effectively dispatch volunteers on the day of the event. About the author Joanna Cloud is the executive director of Lake Lanier Association. For more information, or to join the Lake Lanier Association and support our programs and services, visit www.lakelanier.org.
LAKE Destination
Lanier
MarinaBayGainesville.com
LakeLanierGainesville.com
Lake Living in Resort-Style Lake Lanier Community
Year-Round Views and Drought-Proof Water
Enjoy year-round lake views from the porches of this stunning home at Marina Bay on Lake Lanier. The well-equipped island kitchen with granite counters and top of the line stainless appliances open to the keeping room and is sure to be the spot where everyone gathers when entertaining, if not downstairs in the finished terrace level, with a fireplace and bar area. The luxurious master suite is guaranteed to wow even the most discriminating buyers. You’ll also enjoy the huge New England-style clubhouse and pool overlooking the lake. A boat slip is an optional purchase add on.
In the heart of Gainesville on almost an acre, this renovated brick ranch has a French Country inspired kitchen open to a keeping room with fireplace. The sunroom and breakfast room, as well as the master offer stunning, million dollar views of the water. The floorplan’s open and gracious flow make this a wonderful home for entertaining. Downstairs on the finished terrace level is a 2nd fireplace, family room and recreation room that opens to a comfortable screened porch. Located just 5 minutes from Northeast Georgia Medical Center, restaurants and Gainesville’s Downtown Square.
Offered at $625,000
Features:
•4 Bedrooms/3 Baths/ 2 Half Baths •Two story great room with wall of windows • Workshop space in terrace level • FMLS #5594593
Offered at $650,000
Features:
• 5 Bedrooms/3 ½ Baths •.90 Acre Lot • Finished Terrace Level with Screened Porch & 2nd Fireplace • FMLS #5382327
Kim Waters
Partner/Associate Broker
Selling North Georgia Since 1988 kim@kimwaters.com 770.540.3788 kimwaters.com
Ready. Set. Fish. Fall brings great fishing to North Georgia
Story by Elliot Ambrose Photos By LAKE staff There are many reasons to love fall: cooler temperatures, beautiful foliage and, of course, football. For Georgia anglers, however, autumn also brings with it a number of excellent fishing opportunities. Some of the best fall fishing can be found on the many lakes and streams throughout North Georgia. Here’s a look at some prime opportunities to get out and fish this fall. If you’re after bass — spotted, striped or largemouth — Lake
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Lanier and other select reservoirs are your best bet. As surface waters cool, these predators rise from the depths to feed on baitfish. Bass eat as much as possible in anticipation of lean winter months ahead and spread throughout the lake in search of food. But a lake full of active, hungry sportfish doesn’t necessarily equal easy fishing. According to Jeff Durniak, regional fisheries supervisor for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, anglers should be prepared to be on the move when fishing for bass in the fall. “It’s really almost like a cat-and-mouse chase,” Durniak said. “The bass will be going after the baitfish and the anglers will be going after the bass.” For site-specific fishing tips, updates and more, check out the fishing reports on DNR Wildlife Resources Division’s blog (georgiawildlife.wordpress.com). Fishermen looking to fill their coolers can also take advantage of Lanier’s healthy black crappie and walleye populations. Crappie begin schooling tighter in fall, congregating around submerged timber and other structures. Walleye will also be chasing forage species such as blueback herring as the lake cools in the fall. Durniak said anglers will find walleye just
Rocky outcrops like these can be a good place to find fish, but boaters must be careful when maneuvering around them.
destinationlanier.com
Fall | 2015 23
Fishing guide Dale Sheets uses a variety of rods depending on the kind of fish he’s after.
Show your love for Georgia fishing with a Wildlife License Plate Each purchase or annual renewal of a Trout Unlimited license plate supports trout conservation and management programs throughout North Georgia. Find out more at georgiawildlife.com/ conservation/support.
24 Fall | 2015
below the bass, hanging close to the bottom on submerged points and humps with stumps or other structure, including fish attractor materials permitted by the corps and placed by the Wildlife Resources Division and fishing clubs. He suggests fishing for this toothy species slowly with live minnows or night crawlers, closely watching your line for subtle strikes. Local fishing guide Dale Sheets suggests getting out into the open water if you’re hoping to hook striper. Sheets, who has been fishing Lanier more than 30 years, also suggests using a fish finder. The sheer number of trees below the water can make it difficult, and even hazardous, if you aren’t familiar with the lake. “The best place is to find a nice break in the trees where the fish are coming up for oxygen,” said Sheets. As temps drop, Sheets said the fish will be on the move looking for both food and oxygen. He notes that around Thanksgiving, seagulls will come in off the eastern seaboard and will be following schools of baitfish like herring as they move around the lake. Moving higher up on the lake, such as Chestatee Bay and Wahoo Creek will also help. This time of year, Sheets likes to fish the area where the Chattahoochee and Chestatee merge. “The water near Buford Dam stays pretty cold, so the fish are going to move to warmer parts of Lanier,” said Sheets. Sheets uses GPS markers to keep track of places that have been good to him in the past. “I feel pretty
Sheets’ dog Luke often joins him on outings.
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certain there’s a 70-pound striper in this lake somewhere.” If you don’t own a boat or don’t feel like fooling with equipment, hiring a guide is a good option. There are about 30 fishing charters working Lake Lanier and Sheets’ operation offers full service. He will even clean your catch while regaling you with some pretty interesting fishing stories, all true of course. There are many great opportunities for trout fishing this fall, too. Beginning Nov. 1, fishing opens on five delayed-harvest trout streams in North Georgia. These streams are managed under special catch-and-release regulations Nov. 1-May 14 and stocked monthly by DNR and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
destinationlanier.com
Sheets’ fish finder shows trees along the bottom of Lanier along with schools of fish. The other screen shows his GPS markers and navigation.
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Sheets baits a small hook with a herring before casting. Herring is his bait of choice for striper fishing. For more on Sheets and his services, visit www.facebook.com/striperfishingguideonlanier. 26 Fall | 2015
The combination of catchand-release and frequent stockings provide high catch rates, and the perfect conditions for inexperienced trout anglers to get their feet wet. “Because they’re stocked fish, they are very naive and a perfect match for naive, new trout anglers,” Durniak said. “So it’s a great chance for people to catch their first trout in their life.” The five trout streams managed under delayed-harvest regulations are Amicalola and Smith Creek and the Toccoa, Chattahoochee and Chattanooga rivers. For more information on delayed harvest trout streams, including full regulations and detailed maps, visit www.gofishgeorgia.com/ Fishing/Trout. Fishing for trout requires both a current Georgia fishing license and a trout license. Delayedharvest regulations also restrict anglers to artificial lures with a single hook. Year-round trout streams are also worth a visit this fall, particularly the Chattahoochee River below Buford Dam. As the days get shorter and water temperatures drop, brown trout in the Chattahoochee become more active and aggressive as they are struck with the urge to spawn and looking for a date. Durniak said brown trout exceeding 10 pounds have already been caught by anglers on the Chattahoochee this year. With so many great opportunities, fall is truly fishing season in North Georgia. Whether on the lake or in a stream, beautiful weather, fantastic scenery and hungry fish await. So get out and go fish Georgia this fall. LAKE Destination
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You’ll be hooked. Did you know that in buying a license, fishing equipment and other fishing items you help fund sport fish restoration programs? The federal Sport Fish Restoration Act directs money from a federal excise tax on fishing equipment and related items to states for fisheries management and other activities that benefit recreational anglers. The portion of these funds provided to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is based on several factors, including the number of paid sporting licenses. Sport Fish funds are used to manage sport fish populations, stock public waters with hatcheryraised fish, maintain and operate public fishing areas, build boat ramps and piers, and much more! Where can you get a fishing license? Buy it online, from a local license vendor (listed at www.georgiawildlife.com/ licenses-permits-passes) or by phone at 800-366-2661. For free Georgia trout stream maps, trout fishing tips and other trout fishing information, visit www.georgiawildlife. com/Fishing/Trout . Elliot Ambrose is interning with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division. Michelle Boaen Jameson contributed to this article.
A Fashion Statement by
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The lake house
that steak built Former Longhorn CEO Bill Norman designed his home around his friends Story by Savannah King Photos by LAKE staff
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Bill Norman originally intended to develop his Forsyth County lakefront property into a small neighborhood with five or six homes.
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A 163-yard par 3 golf hole is one of Bill Norman’s favorite features of his Lake Lanier home.
“When you drive up to the lake, you feel like you’re 100 miles from anywhere. You can go ‘Ah.’”
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“But driving onto the property, I got a good feel for it,” Norman said, smiling as he remembered the feeling he had almost 20 years earlier. Norman changed his mind about the development and decided “to build a big house right here.” The 10,000-square-foot lake house is indeed “big.” Nestled near the lake on the 5½-acre property, the home was built with entertaining in mind. After leaving his job in 1992 as Longhorn’s Chief Operations Officer, Norman moved from Marietta to Forsyth County and opened his own seafood restaurant, Norman’s Landing, in Cumming. Norman laughs and simply says he was “single” as he explains his rationale for building the eight-bedroom home and guest house. “When I built the house, my buddies were asking ‘hey, what about us?’” Today, he enjoys the house with his wife and teenage son, who often brings his friends over. “We use maybe one third of the house,” Norman said. “The biggest thing I like about it is that everything kind of LAKE Destination
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Norman’s basement features a full bar, pool table, pingpong, foosball, gym, steam room, fireplace and big screen television.
flows.” The home has three bars located throughout the house. An ornate, carved wooden bar with gargoyle designs is in the basement that doubles as a game room. A pool table, pingpong table, foosball, air hockey and basketball game make the room ideal for entertaining a crowd. Norman claims to be “Forest Gump” good at pingpong. His restaurant holds occasional tournaments to raise money for charity. Over the last two decades, the restaurant has donated $2 million to local nonprofits. The basement also features a gym and a steam room. Rustic details, like log support beams and stone masonry, continue throughout the home, with stones and logs purposedestinationlanier.com
fully larger on the bottom floor and getting smaller as you go up. The kitchen and master bedroom are located on the main level. The floors are made of reclaimed cherry, collected from a barn in Virginia. Fall | 2015 31
Norman credits his sister-in-law, Lesley Norman, for helping him with the home’s design. Construction on the home began in 1996 and was completed in 1998. The two-year process was the result of Norman’s attention to detail. “Every time we were building something we said ‘Oh, we’ll make this bigger,’” Norman said. The gated property has a has a volleyball court and a 163-yard par 3 golf hole in the front yard surrounded by a cart track. The pool is situated in the front of the house and features a large deck, and a tiki bar. A separate entry way from the pool opens up into the guest house. The living area features a vaulted ceiling with detailed wooden trim and stone floor. Around the corner, a staircase leads to the guest house’s master bedroom. Two smaller bedrooms are at deck level with the pool. Comical signs remind guests of Norman’s large sense of humor. Throughout the property are little reminders of the house he had in Costa Rica. Norman’s motto when it comes to landscaping is “let it grow.” Sitting in his favorite room, the screened in back porch overlooking the lake, the sounds of boat traffic and a nearby roadway are muffled through the trees. 32 Fall | 2015
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The guest house of the Norman residence is decorated with items from his former home in Costa Rica. The pool area offers a tiki bar, palm trees, hammocks and a volleyball court.
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Living on Lake Lanier has been a lifelong goal for Norman. His parents built a home on Lake Lanier in the late 1960s and he often stayed in it over the years. “When you drive up to the lake, you feel like you’re 100 miles from anywhere. You can go ‘Ah,’” Norman said, taking a deep breath. “In the back of my mind, I always wanted to move up here.” Norman said he loves living on Lake Lanier. And the older he gets, the more he enjoys the quiet life on the lake. “Lake Lanier reminds me of how Buckhead used to be,” Norman said. “People knew each other, they would wave to each other. It’s kind of like watching an episode of Andy Griffith or something.”
Betsy and Bill Norman sit with their adopted dog, Tica, on the deck of their Lake Lanier home.
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Over in closed sales for at 2012-2014 in Lake & Luxury properties. See$23 allMillion of our listings www.SheilaDavisCo.com Over $23 Million in closed sales for 2012-2014 in Lake & Luxury properties. Over $23 Million in closed sales for 2012-2014 in Lake & Luxury properties.
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A decade on Lanier Williams family celebrates resort’s growth Surviving the recession is one of Virgil Williams' proudest achievements since purchasing the Lanier Islands Resort in South Hall 10 years ago.
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Story by Jeff Gill Photos by LAKE staff Ten years after anchoring its operations at Lake Lanier Islands, the Virgil Williams family has remade the 1,100-acre South Hall resort — down to changing its name. But the silver-haired patriarch says: Stay tuned. “We’re just beginning,” Williams said in a sit-down interview at resort offices recently. “I know we’ve done a lot ... but we’ve got a long ways to go.” The resort has undergone a huge transformation since Islands Management Co., led by Williams and his son, CEO Mike Williams, assumed operations in August 2005. The work has included rebuilding roads, bridges and other infrastructure, as well as tearing down the 34-year-old PineIsle Resort in 2008 and renovating what is now known as Legacy Lodge & Conference Center. When the Williams family arrived, the islands “were in disrepair,” Mike Williams said. One of the first acts by Virgil Williams was to sit down with the Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority board and say “we’re not willing to put our capital at risk unless you are willing to reinvest in the infrastructure with us,” his son said. “And they agreed to that — LAKE Destination
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it’s in the lease,” Williams added. The resort, now known as just Lanier Islands, was publicly owned and operated between its founding in the 1960s until the mid-1990s, when the state decided to turn over management to private business. California-based KSL was the first to assume a lease of the property. The Williams family is in the midst of a 50-year lease. After setting up shop, “we immediately starting meeting with land planners and developing a vision of where we’re going to take the island.” The new company turned its attention to the 254-room PineIsle, which had gone through a series of owners. The final one, Marriott destinationlanier.com
Williams plans to keep moving for the resort to be a yearround destination.
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“I wanted to do something ... that would add longterm value to the state.”
Corp., closed the hotel on Nov. 4, 2005. “The roof was leaking,” Mike Williams said. “It was in bad shape. (Before it closed), they were having to sell their rooms real cheap and that was driving down rates at the other hotel.” Marriott asked the Williamses if the company could exit its lease and “give us the assets and the building,” Williams said. “They’d just walk away.” 38 Fall | 2015
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After a long evaluation, the family decided to tear down the old hotel rather than rebuild. Also, in the early years, “we were under mandate by the state to do some improvements to our (sewer) plant,” Williams said. “It was the original, old plant, and it didn’t meet new standards.” The authority built a new $10 million plant “that should last 50 years,” he said. LAKE Destination
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Also, there was heavy work done on one of the resort’s two golf courses. Mike Williams shook his head when asked about the widespread face-lifts on the islands. “Everything you look at, you’ve got to write a check,” he said. “It’s endless. You can keep spending money here until the cows come home.” The Williams family has had deep
pockets, though, with Virgil Williams coming into the project after years as a Gwinnett County businessman. He was a developer when Gwinnett growth was in its infancy. “Fortunately, I had the energy, creativity and the money to (make improvements),” Virgil Williams said. The 2007-09 Great Recession was a big obstacle to the family rolling out
plans for the resort, including the development of a second hotel. “It’s been a lot more difficult than I thought it would be, primarily due to the economic environment we’ve been through,” Virgil Williams said. Still, the experience has been worth the struggles. “The goal was having a chance to work with the family,” he said. “I sold all
Opposite page: Lanier Island CEO Mike Williams expects new and exciting plans for the park as the economy improves. It's been 10 years since the Williams family took over the Lanier Islands resort in South Hall.
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of my businesses and wanted ... to do something really constructive for the community, something that would add long-term value to the state.” And the state is kicking in with its own improvements. The Georgia Department of Transportation is planning to widen Ga. 347/Lanier Islands Parkway from the resort to McEver Road, finishing up what will be a Ga. 347 widening to Ga. 211/Old Winder Highway. When finished, the newly widened road will cross several major traffic arteries, including Interstate 985, and end just a few miles shy of Interstate 85.
That means more exposure to potential tourists, increasing business at the already busy resort. “I-85 access from the north to over here will be really valuable,” Mike Williams said. Overall, the family feels like it’s in a good position today, especially with the recession receding further into history. “We’re as optimistic as we’ve ever been,” Mike Williams said. “Hopefully, as the market comes back, we’ll be able to build additional lake houses and add on wings to the hotel. “Our dream would be to build a
second hotel on the property. We’d love to get there, and I think we’ll see it.” Also, the resort hopes to build up SnowWorld, a winter attraction that started last year featuring skating, carnival rides and other festive sights and sounds. “If I can drive that year-round business, it’s a really big economic difference for the property,” Mike Williams said. His father agrees, saying his family has a dream “for this property and what it can be for the state, and we’ve just barely started.”
One of the most noticeable changes made to the Lanier Isalnds resort is the change to the intersections by using roundabouts to keep heavy traffic moving past the landscaped roadsides.
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Sail with a clear mind
Take time to provide the right care for your canvas Story by Nancy Spraker Photos by LAKE staff Sails power a sailboat supported by standing rigging, a network of stationary wires and spars. Both are major investments needing proper maintenance for performance and safety. Although obsessive vigilance isn’t needed, consistent attention and seasonal checkups can go a long way toward averting unexpected disaster and expense. On Lake Lanier, The Sailing Loft in Buford repairs all brands and types of sails. They also can revive tired and worn-out sails through recutting. Mark Adams, a lifelong sailor and owner of the loft, and John Martin, a lifelong sewer and a 45-year sailor, run the show. Martin has benefited from Adams’ expertise at The Sail Loft for two years. “He knows an incredible amount,” Martin says. Martin also makes and repairs sails and mends canvas for his Cape Dory 31 Carina. He shared a few pointers on sail care with Lake: Destination Lanier Magazine recently. The biggest enemy of sails, according to Martin, is ultraviolet light deteriorating the threads of sails. Martin says The Sail Loft uses threads “generally resistant to UV.” There are specific UVresistant threads, but they are expensive and hard to work with. To prevent UV damage, cover your sails with a sacrificial material in the form of a sail cover or sock, put an ultraviolet resistant material on the exposed edge of a roller furling sail, or store them in sail bags. Roller furling
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sails should be rolled when idle. Martin mentions that the mainsail cover should be long enough. He says, “I like mine to be the full length of the boom, a couple of feet longer than the sail to make sure the sail is totally covered.” He suggests using metal fasteners or sailing industry plastic zippers on covers. Martin says, “Hook and pile fasteners such as Velcro don’t work because they degrade really fast, for some reason.” When stowing sails Martin says, “Dacron sails can be folded and never wadded up. Some folks think you can stuff sails into sail bags. Stuffing is for turkeys!” Some say sails should be folded differently each stow, avoiding permanent creases. Laminate sails should be rolled. The mainsail is fan folded or rolled on the boom. A nylon spinnaker is the only exception to the stuffing rule. Its three corners are collected before stuffing the sail into a turtle bag. By all means do not store wet sails in sail bags or covers! This creates mildew. Martin says, “We have yet to find something that will get out mildew stains. You’ve just got to live with them.” Wet sails should be removed from the boat and dried. Martin dries his in The Sail Loft or his garage. To avoid chafing, The Sail Loft attaches special material on both sides of the sail. “We patch it in advance,” says Martin. The spreaders, bow pulpit, mast, shrouds and hardware are chafing spots. Fittings, cotter pins and other sharp edges contacting sails should be taped. Spreaders should also be buffeted. North Sails mentions that flogging sails and overpowering a sail shortens lifespans as well. Motoring at full speed while hoisting sails and a fluttering leech should be avoided. Using sails within their maximum wind speed recommendation also prevents wear. How often should you check your sails? “Every time you destinationlanier.com
hoist a sail you should give it a general look” Martin says. Thoroughly inspect sails at least once a year. This can be a DIY project or a sail loft can perform the task. Attached hardware is checked during the inspection, although it generally includes scrutinizing stitching and looking for tears on sails. At The Sail Loft “we hoist them and put them under load at Fall | 2015 43
the loft to see proper sail shape,” says Martin. First he looks for wear and breakage of sail slides and/or hanks. Then he checks to see if restitching is warranted at all three corners of the sail and inspects the webbing. He runs down all edges looking for broken seams, tears and breaks. Batten pockets, he says, always wear faster than the rest of the sail. He runs his hands over the material. “Sometimes you can feel something before you see it,” he says. During the annual checkup, sails should be washed. Martin uses pressurized water at the loft and says, “If the sails
44 Fall | 2015
are really dirty we’ll use a mild detergent and a brush, rinse ’em off real good and hang ’em up to dry.” This can also be a DIY project on a large dock or grassy lawn. Whatever you do, Martin says, “Don’t use bleach!” even though it’s tempting with mildew and mud dauber stains. “Just take care of your sails,” says Martin. “Sails are expensive. It’s worth a few minutes of your time to take care of them, inspect them and, if you see an issue bring them to a sail loft. We can see things that someone else may miss.” As with sails, standing rigging should
be checked periodically throughout the year and be given a thorough onceover annually. Joey Duran is a Certified Marine Surveyor in Lake Lanier territory, an avid racing sailor and a professional rigger. He says we’re lucky Lake Lanier has fresh water, not salt, since saltwater can destroy rigs. “You don’t have so much corrosion problems on fresh water,” he says. He has known rigs to last as long as 30 to 40 years on the lake. Nonetheless certain issues do crop up. To prevent corrosion, he suggests using anti-corrosion solutions on turnbuckles and threads. For extra protection, he
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mentions using inexpensive electrical tape to cover hardware — not expensive rigging tape since it fuses, though rigging tape is good for hardware found aloft on spreaders or the mast. To prevent galling caused by contact of dissimilar metals, he suggests using Tef-Gel. Fittings like swages often crack at their bases. Mechanical fittings like Norseman and Staylocks seem to be more durable, though Duran says he doesn’t see many. He peers through a jewelers loop to see swage cracks and broken wire strands at deck level and binoculars to check above. Duran’s pet peeve is people using PVC plastic coverings over rigging such as shrouds. “All that’s doing is trapping dirt in there,” he says. Roller furlers’ halyards wrap when the sail is too small. Duran says, “It’s gonna do it when you don’t want it to.” Attaching a pendant to fill the gap or a halyard restrainer correcting the angle between the halyard and headstay solves the problem. Frequent tuning or tightening of rigs is usually only done by racing sport boats with Loos gauges that measure wire tension. Wires should be properly tensioned, however. Duran says that “when you run out of adjustment on your turnbuckles, the rig needs to be changed.” So there you have it: Sail and standing rigging care in a nutshell. If you take care of them, there’s a good chance that they’ll take care of you out on the lake.
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Calendar
Ongoing Northeast Georgia History Center Family Days 1-4 p.m. Second Sunday of each month through December. Northeast Georgia History Center, 322 Academy St. NE, Gainesville. Free. 770-297-5900, www.negahc.org. Northeast Georgia History Center Forums 7 p.m. Second Tuesday of each month through December. Northeast Georgia History Center, 322 Academy St NE, Gainesville.Theme differs each month. Admission free for members, $3 for nonmembers. 770-297-5900, www.negahc.org. Bowen Center for the Arts 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Tuesday through Friday; Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. New shows monthly. Bowen Center for the Arts, 334 Ga. 9 N, Dawsonville. Free. 706-216-2787, info@dawsonarts.org. Lake Lanier Rowing Club classes Tuesdays and Thursdays. Clarks Bridge Park, 3105 Clarks Bridge Road, Gainesville. $100. www.lakelanierrowing.org, llrc@mindspring. com, 770-287-0077, 770-540-7144. Toastmasters program, improve communication and leadership skills 6 p.m. Mondays. 611 Spring St., Gainesville. Free. 706-265-6710, 2520. toastmastersclubs.org.
American Business Women’s Association 6 p.m. fourth Tuesday each month. Recess Southern Gastro-pub, 118 Bradford St. NE, Gainesville. Dinner, speakers, meeting. 770-654-9277, abwallcc.org. The Pilot Club 5:45 p.m. every fourth Thursday. Elk’s Club, 1547 Riverside Drive, Gainesville. 770-532-2528, jlc814@yahoo. com. The Georgia Art League Noon, third Thursday each month. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. Georgiaartleague.org.
Oct. 3-31 “Georgia on My Mind” quilt show The Bowen Center for the Arts, 334 Ga. 9 N, Dawsonville. Info@dawsonarts.org. Dawsonarts.org. 706-216-2787. Oct. 3-31 Pumpkin Fest 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. North Georgia Zoo, 2912 Paradise Valley Road, Cleveland. No additional charge with zoo admission. 706348-7279. Oct. 6 “Art of Golf ” tournament 10 a.m. Innsbruck Golf Course, 664 Bahn Innsbruck, Helen. $100-$25. 850-830-8847 or Helenarts.org.
Friday sketch Club 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. first Friday of the month. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. $20. Oct. 8-11 770-536-2575, info@qvac.org, www. Giant Book Sale quinlanartscenter.org. The Next Chapter Bookstore, 111 Green St., Gainesville. $5 on Oct. 8. 770-538-7323. Cultivators’ Market 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every third Saturday Oct. 8, 15, 22 and 29 through October. Shields-Etheridge Fest-of-Ale Heritage Farm. 2355 Etheridge Road, 5-9 p.m. . Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Jefferson. Free. 706-367-8877,shieldPiedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta. $18.95-$12.95. sethridgefarminc.com. 404-876-5859. atlantabg.org. Flowery Branch Farmers Market 4-7 p.m.Thursdays.Through Oct. 29. 5305 Railroad Ave. flowerybranchga. org. Clarkesville Farmers Market 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Through October. Old Clarkesville Mill, 583 Grant St., Clarkesville. clarkesvillefarmersmarket.com.
Square dance plus classes 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays. Mulberry Creek Community Center, 4491 J.M. Turk Road, Flowery Branch. Free. 12 years old and older. 770-965-7140.
Buford Corn Maze 5-10 p.m. on Fridays, noon to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Buford Corn Maze, 4470 Bennett Road, Buford. $15 per person for the maze, $15 for haunted forest, $24 for both. 678-835-7198. bufordcornmaze.com.
Library chess club 1-5 p.m. Fridays. Gainesville Library, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville. All ages and levels welcome. 770-5323311, ext. 114.
Hall County Farmers Market 2:30-6:30 p.m.Tuesdays and 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays,Through November. 734 E. Crescent Drive, Gainesville. hallcountyfarmersmarket.org.
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October
Oct. 8-29 Elachee’s “Historical Hikes” Series 1-4 p.m. Thursdays in October, . Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville. $60 for the whole series. Call 770-535-1976 to register. www.elachee. org. Oct. 8-31 Scarecrows in the Garden 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. . Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta. $18.95$12.95. 404-876-5859. atlantabg.org. Oct. 9-11 Mule Camp Market 10 a.m. Gainesville Square. Free. 770-5335850, www.exploregainesville.org. Oct. 10-11 New Moon Kayaking 8:30-10 p.m. Don Carter State Park, 5000 N Browning Bridge Road, Gainesville. Space LAKE Destination
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Oct. 17 Harvest Balloon Festival 1-8 p.m. Sterling on the Lake, Flowery Branch.www.harvestballoonfestival.com. Oct. 17 Unmask the Darkness Masquerade 6-10 p.m. Robson Event Center, 310 Broad St SW, Gainesville. $100 per ticket. unmaskthedarkness.myevent.com. Benefits the Georgia Eye Bank. Oct. 17 “The Joy of Gardening: The Power of Plants to Change Your Point of View” 7:30-8:30 p.m. The Atlanta History Center, McElreath Hall, 130 West Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta. Free. Georgiaperennial.org. Through Jan. 3 LEGO Exhibit Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville, 1911 Sweetbay Drive, Gainesville. $8 adults, $5 children 3-12, free to children younger than 3 and Garden members. atlantabg.org/visit/ gainesville. 404-888-4760.
and rentals are limited, register in advance. Meet at boat ramp. $15 with personal canoe/kayak, $25 with rental kayak, $5 parking. 678-450-7726. Oct. 10 and 24 Beginners clay classes for adults 1-4 p.m. . Sautee Nacoochee Center, 283 Ga. 225 N., Sautee Nacoochee. $20 per three-hour session. For more information, visit SNCA.org. Oct. 10 “Touch a Truck” 9 a.m. to noon. Southeast Clarke Park, 4440 Lexington Road, Athens. Free and open to the public. 706-613-3991 or Athensclarkecounty.com/southeast. Oct. 10 Secret Santa Car Show 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. University of North Georgia Gainesville Campus, 3820 Mundy Mill Road, Gainesville. $25 for show vehicles, free for spectators. Secretsantacarshow@ gmail.com or Secretsantacarshow.com. Oct. 10 Saxton’s Cornet Band 10 a.m. Hodgson Concert Hall, Performing destinationlanier.com
Arts Center, 230 River Road, Athens. Free. Pac.uga.edu. 706-542-4400. Oct. 10 “The Crucible” Through Nov. 1. The Shakespeare Tavern, 499 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. $15-$20 for preview performances. Call 404-874-5299. Oct. 10 Georgia Mountains YMCA Mule Camp Market 5K and Fun Run 8 a.m. Downtown Gainesville. 770-2979622 or Gamountainsymca.org/mulecamp5k. Oct. 13 Art workshop for Veterans and spouses 1-3 p.m. Tuesdays through Nov. 3. Helen Arts & Heritage Center, 25 Chattahoochee Strasse, Helen. Free. Helenarts. org or 706-878-3933. Oct. 13, 20, 27 Woodcarving classes for children Ages 10 and up. 4-5:30 p.m. Sautee Nacoochee Center, 283 Ga. 225 N., Sautee Nacoochee. $60 for the series. SNCA.org.
Oct. 17 55th Annual Chicken-Q 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bethel United Methodist Church, 100 Lumpkin Campground Road, Dawsonville. $8 per plate. Oct. 17 Black Pot Cooking Festival and Cultivators’ Market 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. . Shields Ethridge Farm, 2355 Ethridge Road, Jefferson. Adults $15, children 12 and younger, $10 (One plate and a drink). Call 706-367-2949 to reserve tickets or visit Shieldsethridgefarminc.com. Oct. 17 “NightFall” at Elachee 4-8 p.m. . Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville. Adults & Children 2–12, $5. Children under 2 and Elachee members free. 770-535-1976. www.elachee.org. Oct. 17-18 Gold Rush Festival 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Downtown Dahlonega Square. Dahlonegajaycees.com. Oct. 20 “Mary Poppins.” Through Nov. 14: Brenau’s Hosch Theatre, 429 Academy St., Gainesville. $14-$26. 678717-3624, www.gainesvilletheatrealliance. org. Oct. 22 68th Annual Members’ Exhibition Through Dec. 10. Opening reception Fall | 2015 47
5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 22. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. QVAC.org.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. . Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta. $18.95$12.95. 404-876-5859. atlantabg.org.
Oct. 22 “John Zimmerman: SCAPES” Artist talk Oct. 22 in Hoag Auditorium. Bob Owens Art Gallery, University of North Georgia Dahlonega campus, 82 College Circle, Dahlonega.
Oct. 31 Halloween costume ball 8 p.m. Grant Street Music Room, 583 Grant St.,Clarkesville. $5 for advance tickets. Adults only.
Oct. 22 12th annual Mother-Son Dance 6-8:30 p.m. . Gainesville Civic Center Ballroom, 830 Green St. NE, Gainesville. $50$60 per couple. gainesville.org/recreation. 770-531-2680. Oct. 22 Faculty recital 7:30 p.m. University of North Georgia Gainesville campus, Ed Cabell Theater Lobby, 3820 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood. Free. Call 678-717-3676 or email benjamin. schoening@ung.edu for more information. October 23-25 Braselton Antique & Holiday Festival Downtown Braselton, Braselton Park, Harrison Street and Frances Street, 706-8247204 Oct. 24 Fire and Ice 200th Birthday Frolic 4-10 p.m. . Outside the Crawford Long Museum, 28 College St., Jefferson. Free. 706-367-5307. Oct. 24 Trick or Treat on the Trail 3-5 p.m. Midtown Greenway. Free. 770533-5850, www.exploregainesville.org. Oct. 24 CASAblanca Gala 7-10 p.m. Chattahoochee Country Club, 3000 Club Drive, Gainesville. All proceeds benefit CASA. $75 each or $600 for table for eight. Order tickets online at Halldawsoncasa.org. Oct. 24 “Mimosas for Mutts” fundraiser 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. . Civic Center, 110 State St., Commerce. HSJC.com. Oct. 25 Goblins in the Garden 48 Fall | 2015
October 31 Zombie 5K Run 9:30 a.m. Braselton Brothers Department Store building, 9924 Davis St., Braselton. Registration begins at 8 a.m.
November
Nov. 1 Elachee’s “Trick or Trek” Trail 2 p.m. Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville. $20 for 5K, $30 for 10K. Additional $5 on day of race. Call 770-535-1976 or visit Elachee.org/trickortrek to register. Through Nov. 1 45th Annual Oktoberfest Helen Festhalle, 1074 Edelweiss Strasse, Helen. Mon.- Fri., $8. Saturdays, $10. For more information, call Alpine Helen Chamber of Commerce at 706-878-1619. Nov. 5 Marketplace preview party 6:30-9:30 p.m. . Gainesville Civic Center, 830 Green St NE, Gainesville. $50 per person. nghs.com/marketplace Nov. 5-22 “Romeo and Juliet” Georgia Ensemble Theatre, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. $28-$39. 770-641-1260, get.org. Nov. 6-7 Marketplace 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 6. 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 7. Gainesville Civic Center, 830 Green St NE, Gainesville. $5 per person. nghs.com/marketplace Nov. 7 Chestatee Artists Holiday Show 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Community House, 111 North Park St., Dahlonega. Free admission. For more information, call 706-867-8059.
Nov. 8 “Gause” documentary showing 3 p.m. William Duncan Martin Performing Arts Center, Jefferson High School, 575 Washington St., Jefferson. $12 adults, $6 children. jeffersoncommunitytheatre.com/ tickets.html. Nov. 14 Mountain Music Medicine Show 8 p.m. Holly Theatre, 69 W. Main St., Dahlonega. $19.99-$27. 706-864-3759 Nov. 14 Lighting of the Tree 5-7 p.m. Braselton Brothers Department Store building, 9924 Davis St. in downtown. Nov. 17 University of North Georgia Choirs in Concert 7:30 p.m. . First Baptist Church, 751 Green St. NW, Gainesville. Free to the public. For more info, call 706-867-2508 or email john. broman@ung.edu. Nov. 19 Jingle Mingle 5 p.m. Downtown Gainesville square. Free. 770-297-1141 orgainesville.org. Nov. 21 Holiday Festival 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Braselton Park on Harrison St.
December
Dec. 6 “Handcrafted for the Holidays” craft market 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 6; 5-7 p.m. Dec. 7. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. Free. QVAC.org. Dec. 9 Vienna Boys Choir 7:30 p.m. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. Tickets: $59.50$19.50. Ticketmaster.com. Dec. 20 Celtic Woman: Home for Christmas 7:30 p.m. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. Tickets: $102.50$47.50. Ticketmaster.com. LAKE Destination
Lanier
OVER $325 MILLION IN CAREER SALES ON LAKE LANIER
5533 Main Sail Way
$2,950,000
Patsy Bailey Cell: 770-540-7752 PatsyBailey@gonorton.com www.PatsyBailey.com www.LakeLanierProperty.com Follow us on
Day-use Parks 1 Buford Dam 2 Lower Overlook 3 Powerhouse 4 Lower Pool 5 West Bank 6 Shoal Creek 7 Big Creek 8 Burton Mill 9 Van Pugh South 10 West Bank Overlook
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Boat Ramp
Playground
Picnic Areas
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Old Federal Balus Creek Mountain View Robinson Simpson Sardis Creek Wahoo Creek Thompson Bridge Little River Lula
State, County, City Parks 1 Lake Lanier Islands 2 Flowery Branch 3 River Forks
Swimming Areas
Campgrounds 1 2 3 4
Old Federal Duckett Mill Toto Creek Bald Ridge
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Belton Bridge Toto Creek Nix Bridge Thompson Creek War Hill Bolding Mill Little Hall Duckett Mill Keith Bridge Long Hollow
Vann’s Tavern Bethel Two Mile Six Mile Charleston Young Deer Tidwell Little Ridge Mary Alice East Bank Lanier Park Van Pugh North 7 Laurel Park 8 Clarks Bridge 9 Lumpkin
4 Lanier Point 5 Longwood Park 6 Holly Park
Marinas
5 Sawnee 6 Bolding Mill 7 Van Pugh South
1 Lanier Harbor 2 Lazy Days 3 Holiday 4 Hideaway Bay 5 Aqualand
6 Sunrise Cove 7 Gainesville 8 Port Royale 9 Bald Ridge 10 Habersham
UNIFORM STATE WATERWAY MARKING SYSTEM Keep an eye out for these signs when you are boating on Lake Lanier. They provide crucial information about what lies ahead in the water
DIVER BELOW Boaters should exercise caution when passing through area
50 Fall | 2015
OBSTRUCTION MARKER
Indicates not easily seen blockage Do not pass between shore and buoy
BOATS KEEP OUT Danger such as waterfalls, swim areas or rapids ahead may lie outside diamond shape.
DANGER!
Danger may be indicated inside diamond shape, such as rocks, reefs, dams or construction
CAUTION!
Controlled area as indicated in circle, such as speed limit, no fishing, slow-no wake or no prop boats LAKE Destination
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One short blast:
destinationlanier.com Pass to the right
Two short blast: Maintain Course
Privileged boat on right. Pass astern
One blast right. Fallleft. | 2015 51 Two blasts
Around Lanier 2015 Atlanta Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival Sept. 12, 2015
Nearly 8,000 people turned out at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue for the annual boat race and festival. The annual event featured the Lion Dance performance. The spectacle is a traditional dance of the Chinese culture in which performers mimic the animal’s movements while sporting a lion costume. Other features of the festival included a blessing of the boats by Buddhist monks; a water ribbon dance; eye dotting ceremony; and the races themselves. Hundreds of vendors peddled Chinese-themed wares as well as ethnic cuisine.
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LAKE Destination
Lanier
destinationlanier.com
Fall | 2015 53
Taste of Gainesville 2015 Sept. 26, 2015
The sound of the lake mixed with the buzz of the crowd, the smell of food and music coming from the boat house Saturday night at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue during the Taste of Gainesville. With nearly 450 people expected at Clarks Bridge Park, 16 area restaurants dished out tasty samples in the boat bays below before guests made their way to the tables upstairs. The event raised money for the Lake Lanier Rowing Club Juniors League.
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LAKE Destination
Lanier
8th annual Power of the Purse Sept. 26, 2015
Attorney Lydia Sartain was emcee for the night and joked as community heroes took the stage modeling outfits from local retailers. WDUN radio personality and former Times sports reporter Katie B. Davis donned heels on the runway. More than 300 women packed into the Chattahoochee Country Club for the eighth annual Power of the Purse fashion show, which highlights women who have made an impact in the community with their philanthropy.
destinationlanier.com
Fall | 2015 55
The Times’ Inaugural Women’s Expo Aug. 29, 2015
Hundreds of women turned out for the first-ever Times-sponsored Women’s Expo hosted at the Brenau University Downtown Center in Gainesville. Numerous vendors offering services catered toward women were on hand and several local leading ladies were interviewed by The Times Publisher Charlotte Atkins. The event was also the debut of the newest Times’ publication, Moxie Magazine. Another expo has been scheduled for March.
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Lanier
7th annual Empty Bowl Luncheon Sept. 22, 2015
The seventh annual Empty Bowl fundraiser for the Georgia Mountain Food Bank held at First Baptist Church of Gainesville. The event, held every September to coincide with national Hunger Action Month, is designed to raise funds and awareness of the need to fill bowls. Each attendee took home a hand-painted bowl donated by local artists and community members. There was also a live auction for bowls painted by celebrities, including former Governor and U.S. Sen. Zell Miller and his wife Shirley Miller, multiple Atlanta Falcons players, former University of Georgia football players, state Sen. Butch Miller, R-Gainesville, University of Georgia President Jere Morehead, Georgia Tech President Bud Peterson and Gainesville First United Methodist Church senior pastor Terry Walton.The auction alone raised enough money to provide about 70,000 meals.
destinationlanier.com
Fall | 2015 57
27th annual LLA Shore Sweep Sept. 26, 2015
Sponsored by the Lake Lanier Association, the event included 12 participating locations: Lanier Islands, Clarks Bridge, Longwood, Don Carter, Gwinnett and War Hill parks; Aqualand, Bald Ridge, Gainesville and Port Royale marinas; and Balus Creek and Big Creek boat ramps. More than 1,000 volunteers showed up despite rainy weather to help with the project.
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Lanier
Carols Of Christmas
November 14th
November 21st
LIGHTING OF THE TREE
FESTIVAL
5PM-7PM
10AM -5PM
BRASELTON BROTHERS STORE
BRASELTON PARK
MOVIE UNDER THE STARS 7:30 PM BRASELTON PARK
PARADE 10:30 AM
THRU DOWNTOWN BRASELTON
Caroling Event, Downtown Braselton on December 12th.
www.DowntownBraselton.com