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FALL 2017

FALL 2017 › 1

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MORNING COMMUTE. It’s more than great golf. More than a picture-perfect lake. It’s about living your best life. Come tour our new Peninsula Ridge homesites—our final release of lakefront property at Lake Keowee.

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SCHEDULE YOUR PERSONAL TOUR TODAY 877.922.LAKE | ReserveAtLakeKeowee.com Obtain the Property Report required by federal law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value if any of this property. This does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy where void by law.

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rom the moment the first computer hummed in an office, constantly evolving technology has changed mobility and accessibility with every new gadget and gizmo rolled out.

Once again, technology is re-shaping the industry, this time in real estate. The last few years have seen the rise of drones, expansive virtual tour equipment, Matterport 3-D immersive tours, virtual staging of vacant homes, demographically and income targeted mobile ads, and many more devices and services equipping real estate agents with advertising power unlike anything ever seen before.

According to the New York Times, between 81% and 85% of households in the US now regularly use the internet or a smart phone.

Data from The National Association of REALTORSŠ tells us 51% of buyers in 2016 found their home on the internet, 34% by real estate agents, 8% by yard signs/open houses, 4% from a friend and less than 1% through print.

These statistics show that realtors now have the power to deliver a listing to prospective buyers’ hands in a matter of seconds.

While internet and mobile advertising take the country by storm, the select few that remain

who rely on print marketing and delivery to door advertising are not forgotten. At C Dan Joyner, backed by Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, we strive to reach any and every prospective buyer through the extensive advertising and marketing of our luxury collection specialist program. To become a Luxury Collection Specialist Agent, there is a strict adherence to a list of qualifications and experience in top 10% market transactions that an agent must obtain to be considered for this prestigious position.

We represent luxury and unique properties including private homes, waterfront estates, equestrian properties and residences with historical significance or unique architectural detail. Our goal is to connect qualified, affluent home buyers to the luxury properties we represent through ALL types of advertising.

We will help your property stand apart from the competition by leveraging the strength of the Luxury Collection Division marketing program.

Utilizing a comprehensive list of tools and resources, we skillfully craft a compelling electronic campaign that gives your property targeted exposure. This plan includes the use of professional photography, professional virtual tours, personalized websites with online videos, social media advertising, premium website feeds, Matterport and syndication to over 300

websites, including The Wall Street Journal online.

While the success rate of print is low, we understand that print plays a large role in Luxury Properties because of magazine and newspaper exposure. We do full-color direct mail pieces, brochures, and various magazines such as DuPont, Prestige, Town, Book of Dreams, Upstate Lake Living and local real estate publications. This custom-tailored print advertising campaign reaches an extensive array of home buyers on a local, national, and international level. We also post in The Wall Street Journal Print, local newspapers and the newspapers of cities that attract Lake Keowee buyers.

C Dan Joyner, backed by Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, strives to make every story a success story. When our name goes on a real estate sign, it means something. It is a promise of integrity, professionalism, innovation and the highest possible standard of work. Berkshire Hathaway is one of the most respected in the world—especially with real estate. And we do not take that reputation lightly. That is why you will see these values reflected in every office, every agent, and every interaction. Berkshire Hathaway Home Services C Dan Joyner is the name buyers and sellers trust.

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FALL 2017

FALL 2017 Volume 12 • Issue 3

14 Begin your color tour in Blue Ridge 22 Parkway’s heart offers precious views

EDITOR Brett McLaughlin, bmclaughlin@upstatetoday.com

28 Jump off in lively Morganton 34 Farm-to-table goes to a new level

GENERAL MANAGER Hal Welch, hal@upstatetoday.com

40 Feed your history craving close to home 46 Color envelops Etowah Valley Golf

CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS EDITION Bill Bauer • Sam Boykin Phillip Gentry • Dave Kroeger Brett McLaughlin • Lauren Pierce

66 Doing their best work 72 Escape to the laid-back Hammock Coast 78 Blue Heron wins top wine honor 82 Abby of the Lake

UPSTATE LAKE LIVING™ is published quarterly by The Journal 210 W. N. 1st Street , Seneca, SC 29678, USA Ph: 864.882.2375, Fax: 864.882.2381 Mail subscription: $40 includes 4 issues Single issue: $4.95, available at The Journal office U.S. Postal Permit #18 UPSTATE LAKE LIVING™ is a trademark of Edwards Group.

Contents copyrighted.

90 CALENDAR There’s no end to fall events

98 WATERFALL Falls along the Parkway 10 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

COVER PHOTO Special thanks for the cover photo that comes from campfire photos taken at The Reserve at Lake Keowee by Andrew Cebulka.

The Journal

86 THEATRE A new season awaits

96 YOUR WATERFRONT A swimming hazard

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Sandy Peirce, sandy@upstatetoday.com 864.973.6305 ART DIRECTOR/GRAPHICS Melissa Bradley, mbradley@upstatetoday.com

52 Home takes beauty to new heights

94 FISHING Fill your fall nets

PUBLISHER Jerry Edwards, jerry@edwgroupinc.com 864.882.3272

tell us what you think!

Call or email us.

We would love to hear from you!

864.973.6305 lakeliving@upstatetoday.com

SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE Upstate Lake Living, upon receipt of a new or renewal subscription, will strive to provide first-copy delivery of Upstate Lake Living to the Postal Service for the next issue (March, June, September and December). Renewals must be received at least two weeks prior to expiration to assure continued service.

Address subscription inquiries to: UPSTATE LAKE LIVING, P.O. Box 547, Seneca, SC 29679; phone 864.882.2375; fax 864.882.2381.

Two weeks advance notice is required for address changes; please send old and new address.

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T

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he steamy days of summer will soon be behind us (we hope), and we can look forward to being greeted by cooler temperatures, just right for enjoying a sunrise cup of coffee or a glass of wine as the sun sets over the lake.

The arrival of fall also means many of us begin to contemplate new ways to enjoy nature’s fall splendor here in the foothills. To that end, we have devoted a good deal of this issue.

We begin in Blue Ridge, a quaint North BRETT MCLAUGHLIN Georgia Mountain town that is definitely Editor worth a visit. It also happens to be close to the southern tip of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the middle leg of which is featured on our pages. If you do head north for fall color, you might want to consider a stop in Rabun, GA, where local folks are taking farm-to-table dining to a whole new level. Or maybe you want to jump off the Parkway near Morganton, NC, where good food, craft beers and the arts are all coming together. If you want to stay closer to the Upstate and have an interest in history, you might want to explore the SC Revolutionary War Weekend that unfolds in early October in Gaffney, Cowpens and at Kings Mountain State Park.

If staying home is on your fall calendar, this issue of Upstate Lake Living also has one of the most extensive lists of local activities we can remember.

Bill Bauer fills us in about adventures available on the Hammock Coast of South Carolina, and he came home just in time to dine at a local eatery that recently won high praise for its wine menu.

You’ll find all this and more inside this edition of Lake Living.

We hope you enjoy the beauty of fall in the Upstate, and as usual, I welcome your comments and suggestions for upcoming editions. You can reach me at: bmclaughlin@upstatetoday.com Brett McLaughlin, editor

{from our readers} Dear Mr. McLaughlin, Up until now, Upstate Lake Living has been a most welcome addition to our home. With your summer 2017 edition, however, that has changed.

There, along with your usual fine articles highlighting the best of the Upstate, you chose to publish an essay promoting Southwind Plantation, a commercial hunting enterprise. “Stunning fields and extraordinary hospitality” aside, Southwind Plantation is in the business of recreational wildlife killing. There is no way that death for amusement is, “life at its finest on Jocassee, Keowee and Hartwell.”

We hope that this is a one-time mistake and that we can continue to enjoy this magazine in the future.

Sincerely, Tom and Denise Doyle, Salem, SC

Tickets On Sale Now!

The table is set, drinks poured and guitars tuned.

See you in September.

Get your tickets now at euphoriagreenville.com

Outdoor recreational pursuits are endless near Blue Ridge, from tubing in the gentle flowing waters of the Toccoa River to whitewater rafting on the Upper Ocoee. Off-road journeys to waterfalls and the famous 270-foot swinging bridge that spans the Toccoa are also popular. Photo courtesy of Pinterest

DISCOVER

BLUE RIDGE Where the mountains meet the river and people always say ‘hello’ story by Bill Bauer 14 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

R

oads, rivers and rails are often synonymous with small town growth … especially in remote mountain settings.

In north Georgia, Fannin County’s quaint city of Blue Ridge is one such product of all three modes of travel. Blue Ridge was founded in 1886, when the Marietta and North Georgia Railroad built a line along the nearby Toccoa River to transport cotton and other crops. Today, US Highway 76 — old and new — runs in and around what has emerged as a premier tourist destination and mountain vacation getaway.

Adventure, beauty and culture — the ABC’s of travel — begin just a short drive off the main road, whether it’s heading to Blue Ridge’s historic Main Street or disappearing into the surrounding Chattahoochee National Forest.

It is simply a tourist’s paradise.

Downtown Blue Ridge is vibrant, playing host to a wide variety of shops, galleries, theater, restaurants and even three local breweries. But the community’s charm lies in the folks who welcome you to their town.

“I’ve been on hundreds of vacations in my lifetime, but I’ve seldom experienced the friendship that Blue Ridge exudes,” said Sherri Brown, one of many transplants who lives on nearby Cherry Log Mountain and manages the bar at Harvest on Main. “I believe most people I meet are amazed by the friendliness of the people of downtown. It’s infectious!”

From one end of Main Street to the other it is hard not to find a gallery or boutique that doesn’t pique your interest, offering artwork, fashion, antiques, jewelry, collectibles, furniture and home décor. Specialty shops cater to vinyl record collectors, dog and cat lovers and those in need of clothing and gear for the outdoors.

“I’ve been on hundreds of vacations in my lifetime, but I’ve seldom experienced the friendship that Blue Ridge exudes. I believe most people I meet are amazed by the friendliness of the people of downtown. It’s infectious!”

Sherri Brown

Blue Ridge was founded in 1886, when the Marietta and North Georgia Railroad built a line along the nearby Toccoa River. Today, riding the rails is the number one attraction as hundreds of people depart every day for a 26-mile journey that affords spectacular views of the countryside and the Toccoa River. Photo courtesy of Sophia Curtis

FALL 2017 › 15

“Many of our store owners and employees are folks who visited the area, bought second homes, planned to retire here, but fell in love with Blue Ridge and came sooner rather than later,” said Jode Mull, Welcome Center Manager.

When it comes to dining, the options are more than ample.

Selecting from countless cafés, bistros, taverns or restaurants can be as exciting as choosing from the multitude of menus they offer. If your tastes run to Italian, Messeria’s homemade pasta specialties and unique atmosphere can be found among a cluster of eateries offering both indoor and outdoor seating. Harvest on Main, serving Southern food with flair, can be accessed from the street or from a courtyard below that also houses Treos, a casual yet fine dining bistro specializing in steak, seafood and pasta. The Vault, formerly a bank, and Chester Brunnenmyers Bar & Grill afford a lively sports bar atmosphere, as does the Fightingtown Tavern.

“Each restaurant is unique in what if offers,” noted Jacob Burnette, server at the popular Cantaberry. “If we don’t offer what you like, we’ll recommend

{clockwise from top left} Countless cafés, bistros, taverns and restaurants dot Main Street in Blue Ridge, including the everpopular Cantaberry. Photo by Bill Bauer • Harvest on Main serves Southern food with flair.

It can be accessed from the street or from a courtyard below.

Photo courtesy of Harvest on Main • Since 1943, Mercier Orchards has been recognized throughout the southeast as the largest U-Pick farm for a variety of seasonal fruits. The orchard also produces a wide variety of hard ciders and wines, its taps flowing with four distinct hard ciders and seasonal varieties made from strawberries, pears, blackberries and peaches. Four fruity wines are also available in the tasting room, which is manned here by Marilyn McDonald. Photo by Bill Bauer

16 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

W.E. BLACK

HOME BREW JUST TASTES BETTER IN BLUE RIDGE IF SAMPLING CRAFT BEER AND HARD CIDER, OR WINE TASTING ARE ON YOUR LIST, BLUE RIDGE CAN SATISFY YOUR TASTE BUDS. ä “If we don’t like it, we don’t drink it. If we don’t drink it, we don’t sell it,” is the simple, corporate mission of The Grumpy Old Men Brewery, one of three breweries to spring up since the sale of beer became legal in 2009.

Co-owner Shipley McNeight explains that he and his partner are a couple of old retired guys who were home brewing in an outdoor shower at one time and are still having fun, which is why they’re still open.

The Grumpy Old Men is open Thursday and Friday from 1-5 p.m., Saturday 1-6 p.m. and “most” Sundays 1-5 p.m. Learn more at: www.grumpyoldmenbrewing.com ä Tom Fennell, a former Michigan resident, chose Fannin County for his German style brewery, Fannin Brewery, for two reasons — fresh air and fresh water. The brewery is all about “keeping it local,” and Fennell strives to use ingredients grown at the many farms and orchards in Fannin County, gathering strawberries from Mercier Orchards, blackberries from JaMor Farms, sourwood honey from Shadow Wings Farm and pecans from Pearson Farms.

Fannin Brewery has tastings from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Visit: www.fanninbrewingcompany.com for more information. ä The Blue Ridge Brewery on Depot Street is a restaurant and brewpub serving lunch and dinner 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday thru Saturday. The first to tap craft beer in Blue Ridge, it rotates a combination of six house beers, eight from other breweries, and offers a fine list of cocktails and wines. Owner Patrick Walker was inspired by his grad school roommate, an avid home brewer and chef, and was quick to take advantage of the ordinance allowing beer and wine.

“All our beers are brewed onsite using a three barrel system,” The Blue Ridge Brewery on Depot Street is a restaurant and brewpub serving lunch and dinner.

It was the first to tap craft beer in Blue Ridge after alcohol was approved in 2009 and generally rotates a combination of six house beers. Photo courtesy of Sophia Curtis

Walker said. “We try our best to do ambitious things with food and beer while keeping our prices affordable.”

When it comes to food, appetizers, burgers, pizzas, salads and dinner entrees as well as daily specials make up an extensive menu. Portions are plentiful, and most selections come with two sumptuous sides, so be sure to leave room for one of the daily desserts, like the popular bourbon pecan pie!

Check Blue Ridge Brewery’s website, blueridgebrewery.com, for daily specials and live music events. Dinner reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 706.632.6611. ä Since 1943, Mercier Orchards has been recognized throughout the southeast as the largest U-Pick farm for a variety of seasonal fruits. From May through October folks come from near and far to roam the orchards picking strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and apples. Year-round, under the roof, a produce market, bakery, restaurant and gift shop attract a host of others. Mercier Orchards also produces a wide variety of hard ciders and wines. It is the only Georgia orchard that grows, presses, ferments and bottles its own natural hard cider. From the dry and tart Grumpy Granny made with Granny Smith apples, to the smooth Black Bee from the Arkansas Black variety and just a touch of local honey, Mercier’s brew master Ian Flom keeps the taps flowing with four distinct hard ciders and seasonal varieties made from strawberries, pears, blackberries and peaches. Four fruity wines are also available in Mercier’s tasting room.

Mercier Orchards mail orders just about everything it creates, from its famous fruit pies to caramel apples, but call ahead — 800.361.7731 — to confirm which states allow shipping of hard cider. View Mercier’s website at www.mercier-orchards.com.

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More than 1,200 rentals are available year-round in Blue Ridge. A vast array of cabins, cottages such as this downtown rental, luxury homes, hotels and bed and breakfasts, as well as campgrounds, are among the possible accommodations. Photo courtesy of Sophia Curtis

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another restaurant to you. We are a community where everybody gets along.”

Outdoor recreational pursuits are endless, from tubing in the gentle flowing waters of the Toccoa River to whitewater rafting through Class III and IV rapids on the Upper Ocoee.

One of Georgia’s most picturesque bodies of water, Lake Blue Ridge, contains 3,290 acres of pristine, crystal clear, aquamarine water for camping, boating and swimming. On the dry side, off-road journeys to waterfalls and the famous 270-foot swinging bridge that spans the Toccoa are great escapes into the forest. In the southernmost section of the county is Springer Mountain, the stepping off point for the infamous Appalachian Trail.

Fannin County also proudly boasts its designation as The Trout Capital of Georgia, and the Toccoa River, Rock, Cooper and Noontootla creeks are abundant fisheries. Fly Fish Blue Ridge, owned and operated by lifelong resident Gene Rutkowski, has been voted the top fly-fishing guide service in both 2015 and 2016 by advisor.com.

The number one attraction in Blue Ridge remains the railroad as hundreds of tourists board their choice of vintage, climate con-

trolled, open air or Premier class coaches that depart from the historic depot in the center of town. The 26-mile, 1-hour journey affords spectacular views of the countryside and the Toccoa River, as it winds its way to the adjacent border towns of McCaysville, GA, and Copperhill, TN, where a blue stripe on the pavement marks the state line. A two-hour layover provides just the right amount of time to grab lunch at one of many eateries and hit the shops before the return trip. Each car has a host tending to passengers’ needs, sharing railroad history and pointing out the best photo opportunities. The train runs March through December on varied schedules depending on the season. The Fall Foliage, Pumpkin Express, Santa Express and New Year’s Eve trains highlight the fall and winter seasons and often run twice a day. Schedules and ticket purchases are available online at www.brscenic.com, or by phone at 877.413.8724 or 706.632.8724.

“One of the beauties of Blue Ridge is being able to choose from among accommodations in the mountains, around the lake, on the river or right downtown,” said Mull. “We offer lodging for everybody from individuals or couples to ‘Mama and them,’ ” a reference

to large families that flock to the more than 1,200 rentals available year-round. A vast array of cabins, luxury homes, hotels and bed and breakfasts, as well as campgrounds awaits your arrival.

“We have a fantastic lodging association that can give people the opportunity to experience life in Blue Ridge, and one of my favorite things is sharing it with others and helping to fulfill someone’s need for fresh air and a change of scenery,” said Sophia Curtis, reservations and marketing coordinator for Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals. You can contact Southern Comfort at 844.4.CABINS or www. southerncomfortcabinrentals.com for your lodging needs.

Famous naturalist John Muir once said, “The mountains are calling.”

Whether it’s a day trip (Blue Ridge is under two hours from the Upstate.) or an extended stay, there is no better time than this fall to visit Blue Ridge, where, according to the 2017 Georgia Travel Guide, small town charm meets uptown shopping and dining, complete with luxury mountain cabins, breathtaking views, hiking trails, waterfalls, beautiful mountains, and friendly people. n

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y a w k r a P e g d i R e u l B s ’ a i n Virgi

D A O R THE ELED V A R T S LES If you are interested in foliage along the Parkway, you should plan on visiting early in the fall before the leaves start changing in the Upstate, because color emerges sooner along the Parkway.

22 ‚ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

T

• story by Lauren Pierce •

here’s nothing better during the fall season than casting your gaze upon the ever-changing colors of nature, whether up close or on the horizon. And, the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile national highway running through the states of North Carolina and Virginia, provides some of the most spectacular fall color viewing in the entire country. From the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the south to the northern edge of the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia the Parkway provides unparalleled fall views.

Many residents of the Upstate might be familiar with the Blue Ridge Parkway in its North Carolina territory. However, they may be less familiar with things to do and see traveling the Parkway in Virginia. There are a handful of major exits in Virginia with countless places to stop and visit, and plenty of overlooks and scenic views along the actual road.

There are a variety of ways to reach the Virginia portion of the Parkway from the Upstate without using the leisurely 45 mph Parkway in North Carolina. Perhaps the easiest is to take US-64 E or I-85 N to Boone, NC, which is about the midway point of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Bill McAbee of Pendleton, SC, enjoys the parkway specifically for the drive. He suggests that, if you are interested in the foliage of the parkway, you should plan on visiting early in the fall before the leaves start changing in the Upstate as color emerges sooner along the Parkway.

If you’re looking to gain a piece of history, look no further than planning a trip with the Blue Ridge parkway in mind.

FALL 2017 › 23

“The fall time is a good time to go because you can get out of the car and not have it be so oppressively hot like it is during the summertime,” McAbee said. “The drive really is so interesting because of all the fall colors, the cooler temperatures and tunnels through the hills. Plus, it’s definitely an easier drive in Virginia than in North Carolina, because the terrain is less rugged.”

If you’re looking to gain a piece of history, look no further than planning a trip with the Blue Ridge parkway in mind. Various towns off the parkway provide beautiful historical experiences such as Monticello, a plantation designed and built in 1772 by Thomas Jefferson. Located in Charlottesville, VA, it is just 30 minutes east of where the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive meet. Built on 5,000 acres, Monticello offers various tours and events ranging from holiday workshops, viewing of the property and apple tastings.

Another historic offering can be found in Natural Bridge, VA. At 215 feet high, the natural bridge is a limestone gorge that was formed after a cavern collapsed and has brought many people to the National Bridge State Park. Besides the bridge, the park also offers access to Cedar Creek Trail, which leads to the Monacan Indian Village and Lace Falls.

Be sure to wear the right footwear if you plan to stop and tour the caverns. The Natural Bridge Caverns are open March through November and descend more than 34 stories deep. Visitors to the caverns also get a chance to experience the Colossal Dome Room, Mirror Lake, the Well Room and more.

If you’re interested in hiking or even leisurely walks, Peaks of Otter is a must see on your Parkway itinerary. Peaks of Otter is comprised of three mountain peaks: Sharp Top, Flat Top and

At 215 feet high, the natural bridge is a limestone gorge that was formed after a cavern collapsed.

It has brought many people to the National Bridge State Park.

24 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

Harkening Hill, in the Blue Ridge Mountains overlooking the town of Bedford, VA. Frank Honeycutt of Walhalla, SC, bikes the Blue Ridge Parkway each year and has stayed at the Peaks of Otter Lodge. He suggests a lodge stay because there are many things to do and see such as visiting Apple Orchard Mountain, the highest point on the parkway in Virginia and located near Peaks of Otter.

“I’d say at Apple Orchard Mountain, at 4,000 feet, the leaves would be really good in late September or early October. In lower elevations it might be best in

mid- to late-October. Moisture and temperature affect leaf peaks. There’s some variance in it from year to year,” Honeycutt explained.

Whatever stops you have in mind for your trip, safety and staying informed on any closures or obstacles should be top priorities.

MONTICELLO

Monticello, a plantation designed and built in 1772 by Thomas Jefferson, is located in Charlottesville, VA. It is just 30 minutes east of where the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive meet, and a great place to learn history along the Parkway.

HOURS Monticello is open every day of the year, including Sundays, except Christmas. To see the hours for a particular day, go online to: www.monticello.org, pick any date and click on the calendar provided.

DIRECTIONS As the Parkway ends in Waynesboro, VA, exit on I-64 east and go approximately 25 miles to Monticello.

GPS ADDRESS 931 Thomas Jefferson Parkway Charlottesville, VA 22902

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FALL 2017 › 25

If you’re interested in hiking or even leisurely walks, Peaks of Otter is a must see on your Parkway itinerary.

Peaks of Otter is comprised of three peaks: Sharp Top, Flat Top and Harkening Hill.

It’s important to note that the parkway was designed for leisurely traveling, and you don’t have to be at an overlook to stop and enjoy the scenery. The Blue Ridge Parkway’s website also suggests to be alert for wildlife and to be extra

vigilant when driving in fog or rainy weather.

“The best advice I can give anyone trying to drive along the parkway is to treat the drive itself as a vacation, because you’re not going to be able to cover a lot of distance in a few hours

or even a day,” McAbee said. “The drive is the destination, because it’s not like any other road you’ve been on. You’ll drive slowly and won’t cover a lot of miles, but the views are incredible.” n

GET OUT YOUR CAMERAS

and share a photo of lake living, big or small in all seasons, that you’ve snapped while exploring our beautiful area.

Whether you are an amateur or professional, we welcome your photos! In addition to the overall winner being awarded $500, Upstate Lake Living will publish the top three winners and honorable mentions in next year’s spring issue.

We invite you to begin submitting your best shots now for next year at lakeliving@upstatetoday.com.

NATURE’S PLAYGROUND

28 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

Discover why Morganton has become a top destination story by Sam Boykin

{opposite page} Watermelon Goss is just one of the many craft beers created by the Pyatt brothers of Catawba Brewing Company. Started in Morganton, the brewery now has locations in Asheville and Charlotte, but remains headquartered in Morganton. {above} The husband-and-wife team of Aimee Perez and chef Brian Miller combines classic French techniques with Southern influences to create sumptuous meals at Root & Vine in downtown Morganton.

Photo by Ale Sharpton Photos, Morganton, NC

B

rothers Billy and Scott Pyatt gambled big to launch their dream. In 1999, the two avid homebrewers flew from North Carolina to Colorado, where they bought the assets of a defunct brewery. They loaded all the equipment into a U-Haul and brought it back home to North Carolina.

The duo set up shop in the windowless basement of a closed knitting mill located, ironically, in a dry part of Burke County.

“There was no electricity and no plumbing,” Billy said. “The landlord was really easy to work with. He said, ‘Whatever you boys want to do, we don’t care.’”

The brothers produced and sold their first kegs to a couple of local restaurants, which gave them the money to buy ingredients for their next batch. Slowly, momentum started to build, and in 2006 the brothers moved their business out of the old mill and opened Catawba Brewing in Morganton, where they had hung out as kids.

“Morganton always seemed to have more girls and more fun things to do,” Billy said. “We loved Morganton then, and we love it now.”

Today, Catawba Brewing Company has locations in Asheville and Charlotte, but the Pyatt brothers have kept the company’s headquarters in their beloved Morganton.

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Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Morganton, like many Southern towns, was hit hard by the decline of the textile and furniture industries. But thanks to forward-thinking planning and local leaders who have helped diversify the economy — including healthcare and education — Morganton is thriving once again. In recent years the town, already a haven for outdoor adventure, has attracted a number of new restaurants, shops, brewpubs and cultural venues.

Fonta Flora Brewmaster Todd Boera shows off a couple of craft brews. Fonta Flora strives to create totally unique North Carolina/Appalachian styles of beer by utilizing local grains and foraging the countryside for wild flora. Photo courtesy of John Payne

Interior Design & Fine Furnishings 30 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

Eat hearty Morganton has also become increasingly popular among foodies thanks to established favorites such as Wisteria Southern Gastropub. The farm-to-table restaurant is located inside a stone cottage with two bars that specialize in handcrafted cocktails.

Chef and co-owner Obie Ferguson opened the restaurant five years ago with his mother, Linda Kennedy.

The quirky, Southern-infused menu changes with the seasons, and includes favorites like chicken wing lollipops, bacon-wrapped meatloaf, chicken and waffles Benedict, and,

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of course, cane sugar Cheerwine. The charming spot features the work of local artists and a bounty of fresh, local ingredients, including vegetables from nearby Bluebird Farms.

Having trained as a chef in Italy, Ferguson worked in restaurants in Birmingham, Atlanta and Chicago before settling in Morganton.

“I live two miles from the restaurant, and on my days off I go hiking and rock climbing in Linville Gorge,” he said.

Another popular eatery is Root & Vine, owned and operated by the husband-and-wife team of Aimee Perez and chef Brian Miller.

Born in Tennessee, Brian grew up in nearby Hickory, where he met his wife while working at a cafe. During hiking trips, the two would occasionally stop in Morganton for lunch, and they were intrigued by the area’s charm and potential. When a restaurant located on a shady, tree-lined downtown street closed down, they jumped at the opportunity and, after some renovations, opened Root & Vine in 2011.

Miller, who studied at the award-winning culinary program at A-B Tech in Asheville, combines classic French techniques with Southern influences. He works with a num-

ber of local farmers to produce unique menu items, such as wood-grilled North Carolina mountain trout, lamb chops and Black Angus beef tenderloin.

More casual spots include JD’s Smokehouse, known for its hardwood-smoked, mouth-watering barbecue, as well as The Grind Café, which offers a variety of specialty coffees and numerous breakfast, lunch and dinner options.

Quench your thirst One of the newest local attractions is South Mountain Distilling Company, owned and operated by the husband-and-wife team of Don and Dawn Smith. Don grew up near Morganton in the foothills of the South Mountains along the Catawba River, where, for four generations, his family made moonshine and whiskey.

Looking to keep the family tradition alive, Don and his wife opened South Mountain Distilling Company on New Year’s Eve 2017, using old family recipes.

“I picked up where my ancestors left off,” Don said. The 5,000-square foot facility offers a variety of spirits, including the clear and smooth Table Rock Rum and the popular Jas-

per’s Shine.

Fans of innovative craft beer should check out Morganton’s Fonta Flora, where brewmaster Todd Boera uses local ingredients like beets, carrots and sweet potatoes to make seasonal, artisanal brews, which you can enjoy at the expansive wooden bar in the rustic tasting room.

Another not-to-miss destination is Brown Mountain Bottleworks. Brothers Kory and Collin Shuttles, who both grew up around Morganton, recently opened this venue for discerning craft beer enthusiasts. The laid-back spot offers a variety of drafts, including premier brands like Barrel Select Black American Wild Ale. Flourishing arts In addition to enterprising brewers and restaurateurs, Morganton is also attracting artists, including Hamilton Williams, who opened a gallery and studio in 2013. A member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, Williams is a potter and his space — a restored, 100-yearold building with exposed brick and the original tin ceiling — is filled with the creations of local and regional artists.

Among the prominent artists now doing business in Morganton is Hamilton Williams, who opened his gallery and studio in 2013.

For 15 years Hamilton’s studio was in nearby Valdese, but as Morganton continued to thrive and prosper he moved to the downtown area. He also just bought a house about a block from his studio.

“I’ve doubled down on my investment in Morganton,” Hamilton said. “It’s become clear over the past five years that this area is on an upturn.

A lot of planning that started 20 years ago is now coming to fruition, and we’re on a really good trajectory.”

Other notable art attractions include Jenluma Clayworks, West Union Art Studios and the Burke Arts Council, which hosts cultural and artistic activities, including classes, exhibitions and special events. Music lovers should stop by Drexel Barber Shop, where for nearly 50 years local musicians have had bluegrass jam sessions on Saturdays.

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Play the day away For nature lovers, Morganton is ideally situated next to outdoor destinations like Table Rock State Park, Lake James State Park and South Mountains State Park, all of which offer gorgeous scenery and opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing and boating. If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, try Thermal Valley Hang Gliding, based out of the Foothills Regional Airport.

Laura Pearson runs the operation with her husband Craig, a pilot. She explains that they specialize in aero-towing, during which Craig uses an airplane to tow hang gliders to about 2,000 feet, where they are then cut loose and soar through the air.

“You get a bird’s eye view of Grandfather Mountain, Table Rock and the South Mountains,” Laura said. “It really gives you an appreciation for just how beautiful this area is.” n

Sara Scardano and Thermal Valley Hang Gliding owner Craig Pearson enjoy the view from aloft. Pearson and his wife, Laura, specialize in aerotowing, during which customers are towed to about 2,000 feet, where they are then cut loose and soar through the air.

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W

hen you’ve been deemed the “Farm to Table Capital” of your state, you’d better bring your “A” game every day.

And, that’s exactly what the folks at Georgia’s Explore Rabun County organization did last year when they introduced Grow-Cook-Eat tours. This year the tours were expanded, showcasing the full spectrum of farm-to-table dining that earned Rabun County regional recognition.

“It’s all about getting back to cooking, eating out somewhere other than fast food and eating healthy,” said Teka Earnhardt of Explore Rabun County.

“Each tour includes a farm, a restaurant and a winery or distillery,” she said, “but, beyond that, they vary.

The October 19 tour is typical in that it will start and end at the Northeast Georgia Food Bank, which has become a hub for a bustling farm-to-table community. Not only is it the setting for packing backpacks full of healthy foods for children and families in 12 North Georgia counties, but also it offers a teaching kitchen that serves a mix of for-profit and non-profit clients.

34 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

Tour adds growing and cooking to the art of eating story by Brett McLaughlin photos courtesy of Explore Rabun County

“Growers can bring in anything under 100 pounds, and we can flash freeze it so families are able to get fresh food all year,” Earnhardt said.

Once assembled at the Food Bank, G-C-E tour members are shuttled to 4-6 locations. A local guide accompanies them, providing background on each stop. At each location there is a tasting of what that place grows or produces. A larger portion is provided at the restaurant chosen for each tour, and food is also provided at the chef’s demonstration that accompanies each tour.

“No one has ever left hungry,” Earnhardt quipped.

The step-on guide for the October 19 tour will be David Darugh, executive chef at the Beechwood Inn. Chef Cara-Lee Langston, director of

the teaching kitchen at the Food Bank, will offer the cooking demonstration.

The tour itself is scheduled to visit the following agri-businesses: The Stack Farm Leckie and Bill Stack offer pick-your-own apples, wine grapes, Asian pears and Oriental persimmons on designated days during the fall harvest season. In the summer they provide local chefs with asparagus, blackberries, blueberries, table grapes, plums, crabapples, elephant garlic and Viognier VerJus. Stack Farm produce is available at Clayton’s Simply Homegrown Saturday Farmers Market and is on the menu at local restaurants including Fortify, the Lake Rabun Hotel and the Beechwood Inn.

{above} Mill Gap Farm is a small, family vegetable farm in Tiger, GA, producing a wide variety of chemical free vegetables.

Here, owner and farmer Chuck Mashburn talk about his operation with members of an earlier tour. {below} The teaching kitchen in the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia is a spotlight program that is being used as a model for “Food Hubs” around the country.

It serves as a classroom and as a kitchen that welcomes the farmto-table offerings of local growers.

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Mill Gap Farm Mill Gap Farm is a small, family vegetable farm in Tiger, GA, producing a wide variety of chemical free vegetables. Owners and farmers are Chuck and Amy Mashburn, who also work closely with the local Farm to School Program. They grow the usual garden suspects and also champion the underappreciated ones such as Jerusalem Artichokes (or ‘Sunchokes’) and legumes.

Look for them at Simply Homegrown Farmers Market on Saturday mornings and online at www.northeastgeorgia. locallygrown.net Lake Rabun Hotel The Lake Rabun Hotel introduced the Farm to Table dining movement to the mountains of North Georgia sev{clockwise from top left} Executive Chef David Darugh of the Beechwood Inn in Clayton, GA, will serve as the step-on guide for the upcoming October tour, discussing both Rabun County’s farm-to-table offerings, but also other points of interest for visitors. • A tasting will be in order as Grow-Cook-Eat tour participants visit Tiger Mountain Vineyard, a boutique North Georgia winery that cultivates its own grapes and produces all of its handcrafted wines onsite. • On an earlier Grow-CookEat tour, participants were actually able to catch their main course at Andy’s Trout Farm. It is this kind of interactive participation that makes the Rabun County tours increasingly popular. • Participants in an earlier Grow-Cook-Eat tour got up close to the action at Goats on the Roof restaurant in Tiger, GA.

36 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

eral years ago, and still works closely with local farms and farmers to provide guests with the freshest, most nourishing and healthy ingredients possible, prepared in a way to bring out their natural flavors.

Guests at this “hidden gem” can awaken in the mornings to a gourmet breakfast in the dining room or dine al fresco on the deck.

Tiger Mountain Vineyards This boutique North Georgia winery cultivates all of its grapes and produces all of its handcrafted wines in Tiger.

Four native Georgians, Dr. John and Martha Ezzard and John and Marilyn McMullan jointly own the winery, along with its historic Red Barn Cafe.

Tiger Mountain now grows six

French vinifera varieties: Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Mourvedre, Petit Manseng, Tannat and Viognier, as well as the Portuguese Touriga Nacional. On this tour guests will be able to sample several of these wines.

Hillside Orchard Farms Nestled in the Northeast Georgia Mountains, Hillside’s 100 acres feature apples, blackberries, muscadines and more. Hillside produces over 700 jams, jellies and other items. There is a fully equipped commercial bakery, where they are always making bread, pies and fritters to enjoy. Tour participants will have a tasting of bakery items.

Foxfire Museum & Heritage Center Cooking House In 1966, a young teacher at the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School was struggling to engage the students in his high school English class. In frustration, he asked them what they thought would make the curriculum interesting. They decided to produce a magazine, honing their writing skills on stories gathered from their families and neighbors, and producing articles about the pioneer era of Southern Appalachia.

They called it Foxfire after the glowing fungus that clings to rotted wood in the local hills. This spark of an idea — and the work that followed — has turned into a phenomenon of education and living history.

And now, Foxfire is adding new and innovative methods including the creation of a ‘Cooking House’ where the ideals of Farm to Table will be demonstrated. The chef demonstration on this tour will even be held in the newly named Cooking House.

Earnhardt encourages interested visitors to purchase tickets immediately as the tour will likely sell out during the fall color season. Tickets can be purchased by calling 706.982.4754, or by email at: Teka@ExploreRabun.com n

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I

t isn’t hard to bring together fall beauty and the colorful history of the Carolinas when you live in the Upstate.

If a fall color tour is in your plans and history is in your blood, mark the weekend of October 5-8 on your calendars and point your vehicle north. You won’t need more than a tank of gas to reach Gaffney and nearby Cowpens, and for a short trip over to Kings Mountain State Park.

Despite the prominent role South Carolina played in the Civil War, the state had an even more significant role in the America Revolution. In fact, some 200 battles — more than any other state — were fought here, leading many historians to contend that America’s freedom from British tyranny was won in the rugged hills and steamy low country of the Palmetto State.

The decisive American victory at Kings Mountain was made possible as members of back country militias, such as this one, fought across rugged terrain to push back British forces.

Many South Carolina battles were between Patriots and Loyalist Carolinians and the part of the Cherokee tribe that allied with the British, whose goal it was to sandwich George Washington in the north. In the process, however, British commanders alienated some Loyalists and enraged Patriots by attacking fleeing Patriot soldiers who posed no threat.

Eventually, the Continental Army, allied with state militia forces, regained control of much of South Carolina by capturing — one-by-one — numerous British held forts until the British and Loyalists were surrounded in Charles Town and completely dependent on food supplies by sea. On Dec. 14, 1782, the British evacuated Charles Town, the army’s complete surrender

Re-enactors also find themselves engaged in close quarter fighting, a reality that men on both sides realized all too often during the Revolutionary War.

the following year virtually assured.

The purpose of South Carolina’s annual American Revolutionary War Weekend is to assure that, through a variety of activities and reenactments, this crucial period of the state’s history is remembered and celebrated.

In addition to historic battlefield re-enactments, events include music, dancing, toymaking, storytelling, cooking, weaving, woodworking, basketry, spinning and candle-dipping.

On Thursday and Friday, living history encampments will be on the muster grounds of the Cherokee County History & Arts Museum,

301 College Drive, Gaffney. Also on Thursday, the Gaffney Visitors Center & Art Gallery, 210 W. Frederick St., will be the location for the event reception; a meet and greet with artist Thomas Kelly Pauley; a book signing with author Sheila Ingle; a History of the Flags presentation by Mark Anthony and the annual March on Main parade through downtown Gaffney led by the Overmountain Men. Thursday events will conclude with A Night at the Museum featuring nighttime encampments, period music (both free), and a ghost tour through the museum and grounds (ticketed event).

In addition to downtown Gaffney, venues include Cowpens National Battlefield and Kings Mountain National Military Park.

Events are planned at the remaining venues throughout Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Explanations of significant battles, descriptions of events and directions to each location follow.

THE BATTLE OF KINGS MOUNTAIN This Oct. 7, 1780, battle was an engagement between Patriot and Loyalist militias resulting in a decisive victory for the Patriots.

British Major Patrick Ferguson had arrived in North Carolina in early September 1780, to recruit troops for the Loyalist militia and protect the flank of Lord Cornwallis’ main force. Ferguson issued a challenge to the rebel militias to lay down their arms or suffer the consequences.

In response, the Patriot militias rallied for an attack on Ferguson.

{opposite page} Battlefield re-enactments are not for the faint of heart. The bluster of dozens of muskets going off at the same time can make a deafening sound. • Sharpshooters were important and played a significant role in many Revolutionary War battles as their tactics and talents befuddled more “regimented” British troops.

FALL 2017 › 41

Revolutionary war re-enactments involve much more than simply recreating battlefield events. Throughout the South Carolina Revolutionary War Weekend, complete encampments will be open to the public, bringing to life the role women and children, farmers, pastors and slaves all played in the Colonial Period.

For youngsters involved in historic encampments, events can mean an opportunity to discover new things and even “old” new games.

42 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

Receiving intelligence on the oncoming attack, Ferguson decided to retreat to the safety of Lord Cornwallis’ army. However, the Patriots caught up with the Loyalists at Kings Mountain near the border with South Carolina. Achieving a complete surprise, the Patriot militiamen attacked and surrounded the Loyalists, inflicting heavy casualties. After an hour of battle, Ferguson was fatally shot while trying to break the rebel line, after which his men surrendered.

The battle was a pivotal moment in the Southern campaign.

The surprising victory came after a string of rebel defeats at the hands of Cornwallis, and greatly raised the Patriots’ morale. » CONTINUED ON PG. 44

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Free events to honor the battle of Kings Mountain will begin at Kings Mountain National Military Park with a wreath-laying by the Sons & Daughters of the American Revolution at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7.

» CONTINUED FROM PG. 42

With Ferguson dead and his Loyalist militia destroyed, Cornwallis was forced to abandon his plan to invade North Carolina and retreated into South Carolina.

Free events to honor the battle will begin at the Kings Mountain National Military Park with a wreath-laying by the Sons & Daughters of the American Revolution at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7. Costumed interpreters will reenact the encampment from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Visitors can learn details about the battle and watch militia drills as well as musket and rifle demonstrations. At 3 p.m., the Overland Victory Marchers will arrive at the park, followed by a special speaker. A variety of other activities are scheduled throughout the day, including a guided lantern tour at 7 p.m. Reservations are required for the tour and can be made by calling 864.936.7921.

Re-enactments and other demonstrations will continue Sunday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Directions: Kings Mountain National Military Park is located on Hwy. 216 near Blacksburg. From Greenville, travel on I-85 North to NC Exit 2. GPS units DO NOT recognize the 2625 Park Road address.

THE BATTLE OF COWPENS The Battle of Cowpens was an engagement between Patriot forces under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan and British forces under Sir Banastre Tarleton fought on Jan. 17, 1781.

A small force of the Continental Army under Morgan’s command had marched to the west of the Catawba River in order to forage for supplies and raise the morale of local Patri44 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

ot sympathizers. The British had received incorrect reports that Morgan’s army was planning to attack the fort of Ninety Six. Therefore, deemed a threat to the British left flank, Cornwallis dispatched Tarleton to defeat Morgan. Upon learning Morgan’s army was not at Ninety Six, Tarleton, bolstered by British reinforcements, set off in hot pursuit of the American detachment.

Morgan resolved to make a stand near the Broad River. He selected a position on two low hills in open woodland, with the expectation that the aggressive Tarleton would make a headlong assault without pausing to devise a more intricate plan. He deployed his army in three main lines.

Tarleton’s army, a force of 1,100, reached the field malnourished and heavily fatigued. Tarleton attacked immediately, but the 2,000 men under Morgan’s command absorbed the British attack. As the British lines lost their cohesion while hurrying after the retreating Americans, Morgan’s army went on the offensive, and wholly overwhelmed Tarleton’s force, employing the now-famous double envelopment maneuver.

Tarleton was one of around 160 British troops to escape the attack, while the Continental forces suffered only 12 dead and 61 wounded.

The battle was a turning point in the American reconquest of South Carolina from the British.

Weekend events at Cowpens will begin at 6 p.m. Friday with the Night Before Kings Mountain outdoor drama presented by the Overmountain Victory Trail Association. The production depicts the march leading up to

the Battle of Kings Mountain. It is free to the public.

Cowpens re-enactments on Saturday and Sunday will include demonstrations by the 2nd SC Regiment of the Continental Line.

More details are available at: www.nps.gov/ cowp/specialevents.htm Directions: From I-85 northbound, take exit 83. Turn left, on Hwy. 110. Drive about 8 miles. At the intersection for Hwys. 110, 221 and 11, turn right. The park is about a half mile on the right.

FESTIFALL AT WALNUT GROVE PLANTATION (ADMISSION EVENT) Each day features a re-enactment of a skirmish between Loyalist and Patriot militia.

Additionally, over 100 re-enactors will camp at Walnut Grove and demonstrate 18th century battle tactics, weapon firings, cavalry tactics and military drills as well as dozens of colonial era crafts and trades. Visitors can see a blacksmith at his forge and a cooper making barrels, as well as broom, basket and soap making, cooking, gunsmithing and woodworking.

Children can dip their own candles, try their hand at weaving and play colonial games.

Events hours are: Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Directions: Take I-26 to Exit 28 southeast of Spartanburg. Take Highway 221N toward Spartanburg. Turn at the first light onto Stillhouse Road, right onto Otts Shoals Road, then right into parking area. Signs are at each turn.

There is an admission charge, but free parking is available onsite. For more information visit: http://www.spartanburghistory.org/walnut-grove-plantation/ n

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FALL 2017 › 45

Etowah Valley Golf reaches new heights for 50th anniversary story by Bill Bauer | photos courtesy of Etowah Valley Golf & Resort

ust over the border between North and South Carolina, Highway 64 winds its way through a verdant valley, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. The region is known as Etowah, so named by the Creek Indians. Loosely translated, it means “town.”

It was here in 1914 that newcomer Bruce Drysdale found Carolina’s ever-present red clay lurking below the surface and began manufacturing bricks. In the early 1950s, the company left leaving scarred ground behind. However, Drysdale’s love for the area and the people of the Etowah Valley was not to be denied.

In 1964, he hired golf course architect Edmund Ault to design and build a golf course, restoring the landscape to its natural beauty

and rewarding local landowners who had supported his company.

Drysdale never lived to see the first tee shot at Etowah Valley Golf and Resort in July 1967.

He died as surveying was underway, but his vision transformed the disfigured landscape into a first class golf resort.

Beginning with Ault’s original 18 holes — the West and South Nines — and with the addition of the Ault-designed North Nine some 20 years later, Etowah Valley now offers three separate unique and challenging 18-hole combinations. Together they fulfill Drysdale’s dream, as well as the dreams of daughter and son-in-law, Betty and Frank Todd, who built the resort and ran it for decades, expanding it to a stay and play facility.

This year, Etowah Valley Golf and Resort proudly marks a half-century of playful existence.

“There are not a lot of clubs that have been around 50 years,” said head golf professional Rick Merrick. “We’re very proud of it and have done a lot of good things since the course first started in 1967.”

After a few rough years during the recession that began in 2008, new owners have invested nearly $2 million dollars to set the stage for another 50 years.

“Our new owners came in a few years ago and provided the capital and vision to turn things around,” Merrick continued. “They have a great plan, and it’s exciting to see what they’re doing.”

Etowah Valley Golf and Resort is proudly marking a half-century of playful existence this year. An infusion of nearly $2 million by new investors is bringing continued improvements to the entire facility, including 27 holes of golf in the midst of the Blue Ridge Foothills.

46 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

The South Nine, part of the original design, is relatively flat, but tree-lined and can be challenging as witnessed by this watery, bunker-laden approach to number 5.

Etowah’s 27 holes are spread across 246 manicured acres, which also feature 65 lodge rooms, three restaurants, a 200-seat banquet center and 200-seat outdoor pavilion. In the three years since the investment group from Asheville has come on board, a new fleet of golf carts and course maintenance equipment have been purchased, and a new irrigation system has been installed on the South Nine.

Restaurants and lodge rooms have been upgraded and renovated, and a smokehouse on the edge of the resort has become part of the complex.

“Our members and resort guests are excited about our efforts. They see our dollars being well spent. The biggest improve-

ments people will notice this 50th year involve course conditions, accommodations and top-notch service,” said Tim Rice, who heads the investment group.

Without a doubt, the main attraction at Etowah Valley is the course itself. Superintendent Steven Neulip is in the third year of a five-year plan to elevate course conditions.

Trees have been removed to promote turf growth and great strides have been made with a combination of bent and poa annua grass greens.

Many layouts built a half century ago have become outdated by modern technology that allows golfers to hit the ball much farther. However, Ault designed the original 18 holes at nearly 7,000 yards, which

remains a stout number to this day, and the third nine is a respectable 3,318 yards in length.

Playing ‘The Brickyard’ “Most people think when they come to the mountains they are going to play a real hilly golf course, but we’re in a valley here,” Merrick said. “And, we have three different nines. Our South Nine is relatively flat, but tree-lined and very challenging. Then our West Nine is kind of rolling hills, a little bit wider in the fairways and a little bit longer.

Then we have the North Nine, built in the 1980s, that is a little shorter but hillier with smaller greens and a totally different look.”

Merrick’s words hold true. Imagine

Smooth and true bent grass greens, some as large as 9,000-square feet as witnessed by this green on number 4, all afford golfers spectacular views. The clubhouse can be seen in the background.

FALL 2017 › 47

{clockwise from top} Lodge rooms, such as these along the West Nine, have been upgraded and renovated since a new investment group came on board three years ago. Course improvements are also part of recent changes. • The atmosphere at Zeke’s Greenside Tavern is casual and relaxed. The Tavern offers an extensive menu and a full bar with locally crafted beers. • An outside heated pool, hydro-clay tennis courts and grass volleyball courts are also available for golfing guests.

choosing between six Par 3s, 14 Par 4s, and seven Par 5s, all from four manicured tee positions, down closely cropped fairways, and onto smooth and true bent grass greens, some as large as 9,000-square feet, and all with spectacular views!

“Golfers feel like they are playing a different golf course each day when they pair two nines together,” Merrick noted. “They play all day and don’t even have to go anywhere for dinner or hospitality.”

Packages available All stay and play golf packages come with breakfast, range balls at the complete practice facility, 18 daily holes of golf with cart, and club storage in addition to lodging. Etowah also 48 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

offers customized packaging with catering and dining options as well as additional daily golf.

The casual and relaxed dining atmosphere at Zeke’s Greenside Tavern offers an extensive menu and a full bar with locally crafted beers as well as inside or outdoor patio seating overlooking the golf course and the mountain valley scenery.

Hydro-clay tennis courts, grass volleyball courts and an outdoor heated pool are also available for golfing guests. Chelsea’s Event Center serves an extensive country breakfast buffet seven days a week, and the partnership purchased the original BBQ Shak on the edge of the South Nine and rebranded it the Old Etowah Smokehouse. The pit-cooked barbecue is quite popular, and the pickle-brined dipped

chicken recently appeared on the cover of Garden and Gun. Etowah Valley’s Edmund Alt designed golf course has been ranked among the world’s top 50 golf destinations by Golf Digest, and with the recent improvements it is sure to move up the list.

“We have groups that have been coming here for 40 years, and there are people booked here for the next 10 to 12 years. They really enjoy it,” Merrick said. n For information about tee times or stay and play packages, call 828.891.7022 or go to www.

EtowahValley.com. For more information on the area, go to Henderson County Tourism at www.

VisitHendersonvilleNC.com.

FALL 2017 › 49

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FALL 2017 › 51

When opposites attract …

BEAUTIFUL HOMEScan happen story by Brett McLaughlin | photos by Rebecca Lehde, Inspiro 8 Studios Greenville 52 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

Perhaps the Klein home is at its regal best when the sun is setting and the home’s exterior lighting creates an almost magical silhouette against the sky.

FALL 2017 › 53

54 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

A

t the base of a twostory circular staircase in Mark and Barbara Klein’s new home a handcrafted compass is built into the tile.

Its points align with the four cardinal directions.

The compass is symbolic in that it depicts the keen sense of singular direction a couple can have despite approaching life’s many decisions from somewhat different angles.

The Kleins are opposites in some regards, but their enduring marriage is testimony to the attraction opposites can have.

Their new home is further testimony to their ability to create something beautiful together.

Even the decision to build, rather than buy, was not mutual … at least not at first.

It was 2011 and Mark’s retirement was on the horizon. They drove to the Upstate from Atlanta three times, eventually agreeing they preferred the self-contained nature of The Reserve at Lake Keowee.

“I saw a home that was furnished and all I wanted to do was hire a decorator and move in,” Barbara recalled. “Mark wanted to look at lots.”

“When we got up on this hill and saw this view,” Mark added, “I said, ‘We can do this’.”

“I said, ‘I’m not going to help’,” Barbara laughed, recalling a vow she made but never intended to keep.

With the decision to build made, the couple sat down with architect Brad Wright of Wright Design in Greenville and outlined their basic requirements.

“I didn’t want to walk into the midst of everything,” Barbara said. “We have kids and grandkids so we knew it needed to sleep 12. We wanted the master on the main level, and we wanted to have an elevator.”

“We were thinking about when we are 80,” Mark said. “That’s why we wanted the elevator and it’s why we had the carriage house built. It’s small, but it’s selfcontained; we thought a caregiver could live there.”

The screened porch on the main level provides an expansive, arched view of the lake. It also features a wood-burning fireplace, casual dining area and comfortable room for gathering.

FALL 2017 › 55

“For some reason, I wanted all the bedrooms on one side of the house,” Barbara added, “and Mark had to have his one little place … you know, for all that testosterone.”

The couple agreed on an English cottage type of architecture, right down to the pavers that simulate a cobblestone drive. The home is built completely of stone, with numerous arches inside and on the exterior and reclaimed lumber has been used throughout.

Morgan-Keefe Builder of Arden, NC, was able to obtain beams from a Mennonite farm in Ohio that were used to highlight the ceilings on the main floor. Reclaimed cypress from the Everglades was used in other parts of the home. » CONTINUED ON PG. 58

56 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

{clockwise from top} Arches are a key component in the design of the Klein home. This view from the great room shows how tiered arches provide visual separation of both the dining area and the kitchen.• The master suite features his and her baths. This view of Barbara Klein’s bath shows the spaciousness of the design as well as her view of the lake below. Her husband’s nearby bath features a steam shower with an exquisite herringbone tile design. • The English cottage styling of the home is evidenced throughout, but perhaps nowhere more clearly than in the kitchen where reclaimed timbers have been used in the ceiling and corbels enhance the range.

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This spectacular circular stair runs from the second floor to the lake level. The light fixture suspended within it was handcrafted for the home. At the base a compass is built into the floor with its points aligned with the four cardinal directions.

» CONTINUED FROM PG. 56

When it came to decorating, Barbara said she and Mark were “on the same page” … more or less.

“My rooms had to make me smile,” she said, adding that she prefers a more casually elegant design, compared to Mark’s more minimalist approach.

“I like little critters and whimsical touches,” she added, jokingly asking her husband if he knew she bought one of her favorite sofa pillows at Cracker Barrel.

In reality, however, she spent two full days at The Market in Highpoint, NC, with interior designer Kim Jackson of ID Studios Interiors in Greenville.

“Barbara likes pretty little things,” Jackson said. “It was my job to give each of them moments in their respective spaces and, because they both wanted something » CONTINUED ON PG. 60

58 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

Much of the interior design on the main level centered around the rug Barbara Klein purchased for the great room. The room itself features a floor-to-ceiling view of Lake Keowee and a magnificent fireplace.

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» CONTINUED FROM PG. 58

beautiful and peaceful, it wasn’t hard to do.

“The pub, for instance, was Mark, Mark and Mark,” she continued, referencing a large lower level room that features a magnificent bar area and an equally impressive 1860s pool table. Originally housed in a Rhode Island hotel, Mark had the antique completely restored right down to the leather laced pockets.

The main level, however, was Barbara’s space, and Jackson worked with her on a design that began with spectacular rugs that grace the quartersawn White Oak flooring in both the great room and the master suite.

From the entryway one can easily access the great room, with a ceiling that reaches some 30 feet and floor-to-ceiling windows that provide a panoramic view of northern Lake Keowee. The windows feature the metalworking craftsmanship of Charles Calhoun of Atlanta, whose work is also evident in a magnificent light fixture that plummets three levels inside the spiral staircase, as well as in a massive chandelier in the great room.

Tiered archways provide visual separation for the dining area and for the kitchen beyond. The home’s unique cabinetry has been glazed and brushed to bring out its natural grain, allowing them to blend seamlessly with earth tone granite countertops. A large island provides casual seating for three with plenty of working space left over.

Corbels highlight a large range and are duplicated on a smaller scale in the adjoining pantry area.

Beyond the kitchen the breezeway entrance leads to the carriage house and the 3-car garage beneath it. Mark somewhat reluctantly agreed to house his collection of vintage sports items in one of the finest looking garages you’ll find in the Upstate.

FROM THE ENTRYWAY ONE CAN EASILY ACCESS THE GREAT ROOM, WITH A CEILING THAT REACHES SOME 30 FEET AND FLOOR-TO-CEILING WINDOWS THAT PROVIDE A PANORAMIC VIEW OF NORTHERN LAKE KEOWEE.

» CONTINUED ON PG. 62

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Online readers click here to see a video of this month’s feature home: https://upstatetoday.com/magazine-pdf/upstate-lake-living-2/.

Print edition readers can copy and paste this link to their internet browser to view the drone video.

» CONTINUED FROM PG. 60

A screened porch, accessed from the kitchen, features a wood-burning fireplace, picnic table for dining and ample sitting area that affords a great view of the lake through a large stone arch. An exterior door leads to an upper patio that extends down to the great room.

The master suite on the opposite end of the house features his and her baths with a steam shower in Mark’s bath and a luxurious sunken tub in Barbara’s. An attached “sleeping porch” provides a cozy spot for morning coffee overlooking the lake.

In addition to Mark’s pub area, the lower

level features a wine room beneath the stairs and two guest suites, each with full baths and excellent views of the lake. One room features four bunks, complete with USB ports for grandchildren with “devices.” Each room has a door to a shared patio that features a fire ring at one end and a hot tub at the other.

A nearly complete kitchen and a full bath, accessible for those coming in off the lake, are also available, as is a small music/game room, where Barbara’s “whimsy” is evidenced by four chairs, each featuring a different card suit emblem.

Mark and Barbara Klein stayed with the desire to have an English cottage-style design, right down to finding pavers that simulated cobblestone. This picture features the carriage house over the garage to the left and the main portion of the home to the right. Photo by Shutterhouse Studio

62 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

The exterior living area is superbly landscaped with a switchback walkway leading to a tram that takes users to the dock some 150 feet below. Calhoun’s metal expertise is also evidenced here in the form of a series of chain lights. Near the hot tub are three brass canvasback ducks that Mark had commissioned as reminders of his Maryland heritage and his love of hunting.

Inside and out this Lake Keowee home is an example of how, just like in marriages, different tastes and styles can be forged into something beautiful and magnificent to behold. n

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Endless devotion Volunteers raise funds and touch countless lives story by Brett McLaughlin | photos courtesy of Oconee Memorial Hospital Foundation

S

ome of them have saved lives; others have been captains of industry and others … well, they just know how to bake the best dang cookies in three counties.

Yet, almost to a person, they will tell you the work they do today, the work for which they don’t earn a cent, is some of the best work of their lives.

They are healthcare volunteers. Some help organize events that raise hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some comfort the dying and console family members. Some work in a gift shop. Others shuttle patients and visitors from their cars, while still others man registration desks or simply point visitors in the right direction.

Some 175 to 200 volunteers serve across the GHS medical campus in Seneca. They work in the hospital, Lila Doyle Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility, GHS Hospice of the Foot-

hills, in patient homes and at the behest of the Oconee Memorial Hospital Foundation.

Volunteers are always needed. According to Volunteer Director Donna Perkins, if there isn’t an opening that can benefit from a volunteer’s specific talents, one will be created.

Volunteers, Perkins said, are essential to the health system’s successful operation. The quality of patient care determines how much reimbursement the facility receives, which has led to an increased desire to have volunteers in contact with patients.

“It’s our goal to have volunteers on all the floors with patients,” she said. “We are doing this with a comfort cart that goes from roomto-room providing anything patients may need from ChapStick® to Kleenex. We also have a courtesy cart that offers tea, coffee and magazines, and we are putting more volunteers on the floors to simply visit with patients.”

While the number of volunteers providing

daily service varies, volunteer ranks swell every holiday with those who have a penchant for artistry and design, assemblymen and women and master cookie-makers. They are the volunteers of the Foundation’s annual Christmas Tree Festival.

“Hundreds” is the only answer festival cochair Edna Rider could offer when asked how many volunteers are involved in the annual holiday event. “We have 23 committees and they are all volunteers, and that doesn’t count the people who make cookies and crafts. We sell 7,000 cookies alone.”

And, while the Christmas Tree Festival is “ground zero,” the lines of service across campus are blurred as some individuals deploy themselves in a variety of areas as needs develop and the desire for change inspires them.

Ginger Strong-Tidman, for instance, has served on the Christmas Tree Committee for a number of years, including one year as chair-

Edna Rider, right, and Mary Ann Schrecengost, center, co-chairs of the 2016 Festival, present a check to representative of GHS Hospice of the Foothills. Since 2004, the Christmas Tree Festival has raised $1.3 million for hospice facilities and services.

66 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

{clockwise from top left} Jan Liddle, who worked most of her professional life as a nurse and in hospital administration, now volunteers her time with GHS Hospice of the Foothills and, as pictured here, in the Oconee Memorial Hospital gift shop. • Volunteers Donnie Richardson and Judy Goodwill are pictured at the reception desk of Oconee Memorial Hospital. They are among some 200 volunteers who assist across the medical campus. • Volunteer of the Year Gene Turner is at his post, serving as a shuttle driver at Oconee Memorial Hospital. • Lou Leffler volunteers in the Emergency Department and surgery. He is among 175-200 volunteers who work throughout the GHS system in Oconee County.

man. However, she is also a board member and volunteer for Hospice of the Foothills.

“Most of us volunteer at our churches and with other organizations,” she said while gathered with a group of volunteers in the Foundation offices. “But, there is a special feeling that comes with hospice. It sounds strange, but the work we do with the patients and their families … how much easier that experience can be for them … it’s almost joyful.

“People give back. There is a sense of appreciation,” she continued. “I worked in corporate America for 41 years. I didn’t feel a lot of appreciation.”

As a group, the assembled volunteers agreed

that, of all the places they have lived, volunteerism in the Upstate, and Oconee County in particular, is unmatched.

“From the soup kitchen, to the homeless shelter, to Safe Harbor, look at what has been done,” Strong-Tidman said. “It’s just an incredible amount of service.”

Jan Jerome was named Volunteer of the Year in 2016. She is a former president of the OMH Auxiliary, a long-time coordinator of the Festival Cookie Walk and is serving as cochair of this year’s Christmas Tree Festival.

Her individual calling to volunteerism was sparked by having a number of medical people in her family and by her mother’s example.

Want to be a volunteer?

Volunteer applications can be filled out online at: ghs.org, or can be obtained by email by contacting Donna Perkins at: dperkins2@ghs.org, or by calling 864.885.7303.

Applicants must provide two references, have clearance to volunteer from a physician, undergo a free employee health check and participate in a 9-lesson, online orientation.

Volunteers are asked to commit to working 50 lifetime hours. They may work any number of hours or days per week they desire.

FALL 2017 › 67

Like many, her portal to volunteerism at Oconee Medical was the Newcomers Club.

“I learned about the auxiliary there and got an application,” Jerome said.

Currently, she provides support to Perkins, processing those same applications, screening would-be volunteers and arranging for training.

“A good volunteer wants patient contact,” she explained. “I think that is why we have

so many retired nurses, including pulmonary and cardiac care nurses, who volunteer.

“Training can be extensive and on-going,” she continued. “Hospice, in particular, requires a lot of training, because we go into people’s homes and there is, often, no one there. We’re on our own. We have to know what we are doing.”

Rider said her volunteerism was spawned by a desire to meet people outside of her church and to give something back to the community, an oft-mentioned motivator.

Christmas Tree Festival committee members Jan Liddle and Amy Zarra are both healthcare veterans. Zarra quips she was “roped into volunteering,” but is quick to admit it “feels good to share” and she feels “blessed” to be part of it.

“I experienced hospice services while caring for my step-father,” she said. “Those folks were wonderful.

They stepped us through it, helping us at every turn. You can just change the names and you have the same kind of staff here.”

“These folks live here,” said Liddle, who worked most of her professional life as a nurse and in hospital administration. She began volunteering locally as a nurse at Cottingham Hospice House. She also finds a few hours for gift shop duty in the hospital. “The staff knows your family. It’s like family.”

The Christmas Tree Festival coming up in late November is the largest, single fundraising event for GHS Hospice of the Foothills. Since its inception in 2004, the event has produced more than $1.3 million for hospice facilities and services. n

{at top} Heartwarmers, Inc. of Seneca, supports the Christmas Tree Festival by decorating a tree each year, some of which have been deemed among the best available for the annual auction.

• {left} Mary Ann Schrecengost and Edna Rider are pictured starting to set up for last year’s Christmas Tree Festival, an undertaking that requires dozens of volunteers.

68 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

Barbara Barron (left) and Ginger Strong-Tidman mingle at the 2016 festival’s Gala, which draws a crowd of more than 200 each year to The Club at Keowee Key.

2017 CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL Monday thru Thursday events are at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Bountyland Road, Seneca (unless otherwise indicated).

Monday, November 27 • Festival Ribbon Cutting & Sponsor/Decorator Reception (Invitation Only); 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, November 28 • Luncheon & Fashions Doors open at 11:30 a.m.; lunch served at noon; $25 • Rockin’ Around the Christmas Trees featuring elementary school children’s choirs & a visit with Santa; 6-8 p.m.; free Wednesday, November 29 • Luncheon & Fashions: Doors open at 11:30 a.m.; lunch served at noon; $25 • “Pass the Purse”; Madren Center Ballroom, Clemson; 6 p.m.; $50 Thursday, November 30 • Luncheon & Fashions: Doors open at 11:30 a.m.; lunch served at noon; $25 • Sales rooms at St. Paul close at 3 p.m.

Friday, December 1 • Dinner, Dance and Live Auction; The Club at Keowee Key; (black tie optional); 6-11 p.m.; $100/person Tuesday through Thursday • Craft sale, cookie walk, Bistro, Santa’s Surprises and free tree viewing beginning at 10 a.m. each day.

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Where memories are made for life

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or nearly two decades, the month of March meant removing snow tires, rooting closets for bathing suits and beach towels, and prepping for the annual family trek from Western New York to Myrtle Beach. Most years there was still snow on the ground, and we often drove through a storm or two before crossing the Mason Dixon Line and hitting the coast with its welcoming, warm salty air. There, we would hunker down in our mom and pop motel. Only once do I recall leaving Myrtle Beach’s Grand Strand to hastily drive to Charleston for a day, a 90-mile jaunt down a ribbon of highway, through a landscape very unlike the ones in the anchor cities at either end.

Making that trip just once was our loss, because between Myrtle Beach and Charleston is a charming series of towns that make up the Hammock Coast, an area the locals consider “halfway,” geographically and culturally.

The “Fab Five” — Garden City, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield, Pawley’s Island and Georgetown — occupy a 25-mile stretch along Highway 17 between the Atlantic Ocean and the Waccamaw River in Georgetown County. The road may be a busy fourlane, lined with beach shops, shopping plazas and restaurants, but a simple turn left or right leads to harbors, sandy beaches, golf courses, enchanting rivers and a slower, more laid-back style of life.

The Hammock Coast is unequalled in places to see and things to do and provides the perfect day trip escape from the hustle and bustle of Myrtle Beach or Charleston. It’s even better to rent a condo or home and spend a week away from it all.

Each locale has a personality all its own and something unique to offer.

Garden City White, sandy and less crowded beaches are just a few blocks over the causeway that leads to Garden City’s most famous attraction, The Pier, a massive

White, sandy and less crowded beaches are just a few blocks over the causeway that leads to Garden City and some of the finest sunsets on the East Coast. Photo by Chris King

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wooden structure extending 668 feet into the Atlantic surf. Fishing is the number one activity, but an arcade and the Pieradise Café make it the place to take the family. Serving a healthy breakfast from 7-11 a.m., the café also boasts the best hot dogs and sandwiches at the beach.

For more info call 843.651.9700 or go to www. pieratgardencity.com Murrells Inlet This place has been dubbed “The Seafood Capital of the World” for good reason. Leaving the main highway a two-lane blacktop leads you past restaurants with menus to satisfy any palate — especially if you’re looking for seafood. Longtime favorites like Drunken Jacks and Grahams Landing sandwich the infamous Marshwalk, a series of boardwalks and piers filled with a maze of eateries and pubs. It’s the “go to” place for fresh seafood and nightlife. If you need a place to stay, The Inlet Sports Lodge, just down from the Marshwalk, provides a first rate hotel and an onsite restaurant.

Murrells Inlet is also the official address of two charming and historic settings — Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park.

Brookgreen Gardens, a National Historic Landmark, opened in 1932 and was the first public sculpture garden in the U.S. It is now the largest and most comprehensive, outdoor, figurative sculpture setting in the world, featuring over 1,400 works sculpted by over 450 artists. Visitors

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can tour via the river that runs through the once flourishing rice fields, or take several walking or bus guided tours through the historic plantations and sculpture gardens. The Lowcountry Center and Trail, rich in Gullah culture, and the Enchanted Storybook Forest are other highlights.

Tickets are good for seven consecutive days.

Contact 843.235.6000 or www.brookgreen.org.

Huntington Beach State Park is across the highway from Brookgreen Gardens, and has the largest of the Hammock Coast’s beaches. Again, a causeway separates the mainland

{above} The crown jewel of Litchfield is Litchfield by the Sea, a sprawling complex built on a former rice plantation. {below} At Murrells Inlet a two-lane highway navigates you through a host of restaurants with menus to satisfy any palate — especially if you’re looking for seafood. Among the longtime favorites on the Marshwalk is Drunken Jacks.

from the ocean, but it leads to a nature trail featuring a large number of bird species. On the ocean side, visitors can tour Atalaya Castle, a Moorish design compound complete with horse stables, dog kennels and bear pens. Self-guided and in-season guided tours are available, but the highlight of the year is the September Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival where over 100 artisans show and sell their work. Contact 803.734.1700 or www.southcarolinaparks.com Litchfield The crown jewel of Litchfield is its beachside resort. A sprawling complex built on a former rice plantation, Litchfield by the Sea is centrally located along the Hammock Coast and the Waccamaw Golf Trail. A combination of homes, condos, villas and townhomes creates an option for every vacationer. Miles of sandy beaches front the ocean side of the resort, and community pools complete with Tiki Bars and clubhouses are just over the dunes. Seven miles of walking trails and lighted tennis courts are part of the package, as are health clubs and access to two of the area’s premier golf courses — True Blue and Caledonia Fish and Golf Club.

Golf course cottages with full access to all the resort’s amenities are also available. Litchfield by the Sea is the setting for a relaxed and secluded stay, just minutes from all the Hammock Coast has to offer.

Call 888.734.8228 or visit www.litchfieldbeach.com for more information.

Pawley’s Island Maybe the narrowest and definitely the quietest beach town on the Hammock Coast, Pawley’s Island is one of the oldest and most laid-back. This strip of land is lined with nothing but stilted homes overlooking the sea and an occasional store.

Beachcombers delight when they take The Rover, a 45foot covered pontoon out of Georgetown harbor and across Winyah Bay to North Island for a shelling and lighthouse tour.

Photo by Jennifer Norman

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GEAR UP FOR GAME DAY! FALL 2017 › 75

Brookgreen Gardens is the largest and most comprehensive, outdoor, figurative sculpture setting in the world, featuring over 1,400 works sculpted by over 450 artists.

Photo by Chris King

Along the highway are great restaurants like chef Adam Kirby’s Rustic Table and Bistro 217, each with distinctly different bills of fare.

However, Pawley’s is most famous for being the place to shop. Dating back to 1938, the Hammock Shops Village is home to 23 unique stores offering everything from fashion and home décor to holiday decorations. It was here the Lachicotte family wove the original Pawley’s Island Hammock that is still sold today.

Contact www.thehammockshops.com for information.

Georgetown The granddaddy of them all is Georgetown, the state’s third oldest city, and scene of the Harborwalk. Two modern bridges span the Waccamaw, Black and PeeDee rivers and deliver you to this quaint and sleepy harbor town.

The four to five block Harborwalk is lined with shops and restaurants, accompanied by peaceful and picturesque views.

Here you can board The Rover, a 45-foot covered pontoon that makes its way out of the harbor and across Winyah Bay to North Island for a shelling and lighthouse tour. Along the way, well-versed guides speak about Georgetown’s history, the importance of the estuary formed by four rivers. North Island is a 3,700-acre wildlife preserve that is home to the operational Georgetown Lighthouse, the oldest in South Carolina, originally lit by whale oil.

Reward yourself after a day of discovery by stopping in one of Georgetown’s many restaurants or cafes. From casual to upscale, waterfront and streetside dining along the Harborwalk and Front Street ensure everything from Italian specialties to Lowcountry cuisine.

Featuring some of the best grouper tacos and sandwiches you’ll find, Buzz’s Roost at the south end boasts multiple frozen cocktails and a “build your own Bloody Mary bar” on the deck with live music. For a more traditional setting and a bountiful Georgetown is a quaint and sleepy harbor town whose four to five block long Harborwalk is lined with shops and restaurants, accompanied by peaceful and picturesque views.

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seafood menu, The River Room a few blocks away can’t be beat.

There’s history connected with Georgetown as well. The waterfront features Rice and Maritime Museums and the historic Kaminsky House Museum, one of Georgetown’s many well-preserved homes typifying 18th century life in the heart of South Carolina.

Across Winyah Bay, on 16,000 acres of preserved property is Hobcaw Barony, the site Wall Street giant Bernard Baruch chose for his winter home and duck hunting retreat. Here Baruch entertained friends such as President Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, as well as Generals George Marshall and Omar Bradley. Early in the 1930s, Baruch’s eldest daughter, Belle, returned from Europe and began purchasing parcels of land until she owned the entire estate in 1956. Today it is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Guided tours of the more than 37 buildings and 18th and 19th century structures, Baruch’s mansion

on the Bay, and Belle’s home and horse farm are available daily.

For more Georgetown information, call 843.546.8436 or visit: www.historicgeorgetownsc.com; for Hobcaw Barony contact 846.546.4623 or visit www.hobcawbar-

ony.org; and for the Rover Boat Tour call 843.546.8822 or visit: www.roverboattours. com. n The Official Tourism website for Georgetown County is hammockcoastsc.com.

Thousands of visitors each year flock to Georgetown’s Front Street to enjoy shopping and dining.

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Popular local eatery claims ‘go to’ status from Wine Spectator story by Bill Bauer

The longest standing sushi bar in Clemson provides fresh tuna, farm raised salmon, Hamachi, snapper and shellfish, along with many other sushi favorites, including Angus beef and vegetable rolls.

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here’s yet another great reason to dine at Clemson’s Blue Heron Restaurant & Sushi Bar. The popular eatery was recently presented with Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence, making it the area’s “go to” restaurant for fruit of the vine, not to mention a magnificent menu, appealing ambience and superb service, all in a casual yet elegant atmosphere.

Wine Spectator has long been known as “the authority” on wine, but the much-heralded magazine also has a Restaurant Awards Program, presenting three levels of awards, based on the number of available wines.

Fifteen years ago, Central natives Tim and Shaun Chastain combined their individual talents and opened the doors at the Blue Heron Restaurant and Sushi Bar in a small plaza on Clemson’s College Avenue. {clockwise from top} A perfectly seared Halibut steak is served atop a bed of cheddar cheese grits and sautéed spinach, garnished with cherry tomatoes and a white wine sauce. • To the extent they can, Blue Heron owners, and brothers, Tim and Shaun Chastain seek to use locally sourced products in their food preparation. A good example is the cobbler featuring fruit from the Happy Berry Farm in Pickens County. • The Blue Heron’s bar and lounge on the lower level offers a more casual dining atmosphere while being able to make selections from the same menus provided in the more formal dining room and sushi bar upstairs. Photo by Bill Bauer • Among the Blue Heron’s most popular desserts is the bittersweet chocolate molten cake, typically served with peanut butter ice cream.

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{left to right} Among the most popular sushi appetizers at Blue Heron is the tuna tar tar, which features fresh tuna served atop Wonton crisps and garnished with sesame, avocado, Wasabi aioli and just the right amount of Sweet Heat. • Blue Heron’s Angus New York Strip is grilled to your specifications and served atop fresh asparagus and garnished with crisp onion strings, shrimp and a port wine demi-glace.

Today, the tandem is still together and remains just as passionate in their desire to provide customers with delicious and innovative food and fine wines as they were in 2002.

Shaun, a Johnson & Wales Culinary School disciple, takes care of the kitchen and menu, while Tim manages marketing and the wine list. Together, they have a recipe for success.

Whether you have settled on the Blue Heron’s bar and lounge on the lower level or the more formal dining room and sushi bar upstairs, you can count on finding a menu whose every course will please your palate, and a wine, cocktail or beer list to satisfy your thirst. You can also count on being greeted cordially — in our case by Manager Michael Pitts — promptly seated, and provided a host of menus only after being informed of the daily specials by welltrained servers.

Beverage service is prompt, and ample time is allotted to pore over the menus. The Blue Heron takes pride in its signature beef and seafood dishes like the chargrilled filet mignon served with garlic whipped potatoes, wild mushrooms in puff pastry and grilled asparagus in a red wine demi-glace; and the blackened Atlantic salmon, served with cheddar chees grits, sautéed spinach, fresh tomato avocado salsa and basil pesto. Not to be overlooked are assorted pasta dishes, a New Zealand rack of lamb, chargrilled veal and pan-fried grouper.

We chose Sunday evening … yes, the Blue Heron is open seven days a week … to dine for the first time. After looking over the extensive menu and wine list, we went with the recommendations of our servers, Annie and Lyndon, for each course.

My wife, had to decide between her two favorites, crisp fried calamari or fried green tomatoes, opting for the latter — four lightly breaded green tomatoes, served on a bed of balsam80 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

ic greens, and covered in feta cheese and red pepper aioli. Accompanied by a glass of Kim Crawford “Unoaked”15 Chardonnay, it did not disappoint.

I chose to start with lobster bisque, featuring jumbo lumped crab and garnished with shallots and greens. The bisque paired nicely with The Hunky Dory ’15 Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.

A breadboard of fresh baked bread with three choices of spreads — oven roasted tomato, spinach pesto and whipped butter — accompanied our first course.

With so many entrees I chose to move away from traditional dinners and selected the crispseared duck breast. Keeping with the Blue Heron’s commitment to incorporate local food sources, the duck is from Simpsonville’s Timber Rock Farms.

The restaurant strives to use locally grown ingredients whenever possible, as well as importing fresh meats and seafood from abroad.

The duck, cooked medium rare, was mouthwatering, and the carefully cut fingerling potatoes, bacon braised collard greens and marinated grilled portabello mushrooms smothered in a Marsala wine jus and covered with crisp fried onions, were the perfect addition to a wonderfully presented plate. At Annie’s suggestion a glass of Foghead Reserve ’13 Pinot Noir was the perfect wine.

The Blue Heron has daily specials in both the dining room and the downstairs lounge, and my wife abandoned her original choice of the signature salmon and selected the seafood special as her entrée. The freshly flown-in Atlantic Wahoo was chargrilled to perfection, served on a bed of lobster, tomato risotto, sautéed spinach and jumbo lump crab avocado salad. The steak-like portion of wahoo was topped with crisp fried tortilla strips and surrounded

by dollops of basil pesto and sliced orange and red grape tomatoes. It was a hearty dish to say the least and blended well with the Chardonnay.

Did I mention dessert? There was barely room after the appetizers, bread and entrees, but one look at the list of sweets made it impossible not to succumb to one of Blue Heron’s homemade classics. A vanilla bean crème brulée caught my eye as did the brown sugar bourbon cheesecake, but it was time to try homemade ice cream. We chose the bittersweet molten chocolate cake with peanut butter ice cream, and the fresh fruit cobbler with in-season peaches and vanilla ice cream. Both came freshly made and warmed to perfection.

We shared, sipped coffee and sauntered home satisfied and eager to return.

In between courses, we were joined by Tim Chastain, who spoke about the training process of his wait staff, mostly Clemson students, and the importance of their being familiar with his brother’s (Chef Shaun) culinary influences and vision of food.

Tim views both the menu and wine list to be value driven, keeping prices affordable for his clientele. The brothers strive to offer phenomenal food in a casual atmosphere, taking pride in the consistency they have offered for 15 years.

The Blue Heron Restaurant and Sushi Bar is open every day for diner at 4:30. Pizza, pasta, burgers and sandwiches are also on the menu and popular in the more casual bar downstairs. Weekly specials are offered Tuesday through Thursday. n View The Blue Heron Restaurant and Sushi Bar’s complete menu of starters, entrees, sushi, drinks and deserts online at www.blueheronfood. com, and call 864.653.3354 for reservations.

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A face no one could resist.

Abby was still wearing her Oconee Humane Society collar when this picture was taken on adoption day.

Abby of the lake: a love story story by Brett McLaughlin | photos courtesy of Ron & Charlotte Glover

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or Ron and Charlotte Glover it was love at first sight.

For Abby it was a potentially death-defying second chance that, if she could talk, she would probably say she was determined not to let slip away.

You see, Abby is a 5-year-old Border Collie mix. Since her youthful enthusiasm can’t be put into words, she lets her actions speak for her. And, a good number of folks on Lake Keowee will attest to Abby’s love for both the Glovers and the new life they have given her.

Abby’s is a rescue story.

“We had a lot of dogs over the years. We even had two Border Collie mixes,” Charlotte

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said. “But, we took 10 years ture was the first to pop off because we wanted to up. The trailer said, “This Oconee Humane Society travel. Then we were staying sweet dog won’t last for 1925 Sandifer Blvd., Seneca home more and, when those long.” The die was cast.

Adoption hours: commercials would come on The deal was practically Mon. – Fri., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. done. The Glovers drove to the television, showing all Sat., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. those poor dogs, I would acthe shelter and fell in love.

864.882.4719 tually tear-up.

Little did they know, “We talked about it (gethowever, how much joy they were about to bring ting another dog),” she said. into their lives.

“We knew we didn’t want a puppy, but we wanted a smaller dog that would be fun and “She had been surrendered by her owner in energetic.”

May,” Charlotte said. “I have no idea why anyIt was July 2016 when Charlotte went to the one would give this dog away. A vet tech took her for a month, and she even went to AnderOconee Humane Society website. Abby’s pic-

son for training. She was very well trained.”

When the Glovers decided to take Abby for her first outing on their boat, the little dog showed no fear, no apprehension.

“Her ears were up. It was like she was saying, ‘what the heck is this?’.”

They motored to a Lake Keowee Island and she played ball in the shallow water.

Also last summer, Abby met the Glover’s grandchildren and, again, it was love at first

sight. She even wanted to sleep with them. The Jet Ski came out, and it seemed like Abby wanted to jump aboard. They bought her a life jacket, and she was off on new adventures.

“She was loving it. She loves to go fast,” Charlotte said.

Since joining the family, Abby has also visited local nursing homes, treed dozens of squirrels and even made a mostly uneventful … well, there was a puddle created … return trip to the shelter.

“She’s just a great dog. I would encourage everyone to consider adopting a shelter dog,” Charlotte said. n

{left}Grandpa Ron, granddaughter Merin and Abby are ready for a Jet Ski spin on the lake. The faster the better is Abby’s motto. {right} Ron Glover cruises back toward his dock after taking grandson Drew and Abby for a ride on the Jet Ski.

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Keep Warm During The Cooler Weather!

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T. Mitchell Pollock, CRPC® Financial Advisor Mark A. Chrisenberry Financial Advisor Thomas M. Pollock Financial Advisor 864.654.0837 Two convenient lake locations: Lake Keowee 1209 Stamp Creek Road, Ste A Salem, SC 29676

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FALL INTO OCONEE COUNTY Get Outside!

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WANDER Antiques & Mountain Crafts Mountain Biking Hiking Horseback Riding Boating Culture & Museums

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EXPLORE Fishing Rafting/Paddling Canoeing/Kayaking Historical Sites 100,000+ acres of wilderness SCUBA Diving Agriculture Tours

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South Carolina’s Freshwater Coast

FALL 2017 › 85

upstate theatre The New South

The Lunney House Museum Architecture & Exhibit “Speaking in One Historic Voice”

A 1909 American Queen Anne style bungalow, carriage house and “two seater outhouse.”

Architect Charles Christian Hook Former residence of Dr. W. J. & Lilian Mason Lunney

The arts & crafts interior features art glass windows – original chandeliers – long leaf pine woodwork and quarter sawn oak mantel – English fireplace tiles – flat panel wainscot with burlap inserts – a 1866 Chickering & Sons “cocked hat” parlor grand piano – permanent exhibit Open to the Public Thursday through Sunday 1:00 - 5:00PM Other Hours by Appointment Admission by Donation For a pictorial tour & events schedule visit www.LunneyHouseMuseum.org 211 West South 1st Street, Seneca, SC 29678 info@LunneyHouseMuseum.org

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CENTRE STAGE 501 RIVER ST., GREENVILLE, SC (INSIDE THE SMITH-BARNEY BUILDING) 864.233.6733 OR TOLL FREE 877.377.1339 TUES.-SAT., 8 P.M. • SATURDAY MATINEES 2 P.M. • SUNDAY MATINEES, 3 P.M.

SEPT. 12-23 FOUR OLD BROADS Retired Burlesque queen Beatrice Shelton desperately needs a vacation, and NOT another trip up to Helen, GA, to see that “precious little German village for the umpteenth time.” A Sassy Seniors Cruise through the Caribbean may be just the ticket if she can just convince Eaddy Mae Clayton to stop praying and go with her. A mystery unfolds with laughter as the gals try to outsmart evil nurse Pat Jones and figure out why so many residents have been moved to “the dark side.”

OCT. 26 – NOV. 12 GHOST THE MUSICAL This musical version of the hit movie follows Sam and Molly, a young couple whose connection takes a shocking turn after Sam’s untimely death. Trapped between two worlds, Sam refuses to leave Molly when he learns she is in grave danger. Desperate to communicate with her, he turns to a storefront psychic, Oda Mae Brown, who helps him protect Molly and avenge his death.

CLEMSON LITTLE THEATRE 214 S. MECHANIC ST., PENDLETON, SC RESERVATIONS 864.646.8100 EVENINGS 8 P.M. • MATINEES 3 P.M.

SEPT. 8-10 & 15-17 TIL BETH DO US PART It’s marriage mayhem as career driven Suzannah Hayden hires a personal assistant to get more help on the home front than she is getting from her husband, Gibby. Enter energetic Beth Bailey.

Suzannah gives Beth carte blanche to do anything in the household to make it run more efficiently. Gibby becomes increasingly wary of the new woman as she interjects herself into more and more aspects of their lives, including Suzannah’s career. How much calamity is involved?

OCT. 20-22 & 27-29 ANNIE, JR. With equal measures of pluck and positivity, Little Orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts despite a nextto-nothing start in 1930s New York City.

upstate theatre

On Exhibit

through May 25, 2018

OCONEE COMMUNITY THEATRE 8001 UTICA ST., SENECA, SC RESERVATIONS: 864.882.7700 10 A.M. – NOON AND 2 P.M. – 4 P.M. EVENINGS 8 P.M. • SUNDAY MATINEES 2:30 P.M.

OCT. 20-22 & 27-29 THE DOG PARK Friends in the neighborhood frequently meet at the local dog park with their pets. Much conversation and activity centers around their dogs and the devotion they all have for each other. The story also deals with the difficulty a person has dealing with the loss of a pet, a true member of the family. This play is produced in partnership with local animal shelters and the Humane Society as a fundraiser to aid them in their work.

GREENVILLE LITTLE THEATRE 444 COLLEGE ST., GREENVILLE, SC 864.233.6238 OR WWW.GREENVILLELITTLETHEATRE.ORG ALL SHOWS 8 P.M. • EXCEPT SUNDAYS AT 3 P.M.

SEPT. 8 – OCT. 1 THE MOUSETRAP The longest running show in history, The Mousetrap captures five guests and their two hosts in Monkswell Manor. A local woman has been murdered, and a note left at the scene of the crime indicates that the murderer intends to visit the Manor. The snowbound guests could all be the murderer or the next victim. With a children’s song as his only clue, can Detective Trotter solve the mystery of “The Three Blind Mice” before the killer claims their final victim?

OCT. 27 – NOV. 12 OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS Nick has been offered a dream job that will take him to Seattle and away from New Jersey and his lovable, but annoying, ItalianAmerican grandparents whom he visits each Sunday.

The family begins to hatch plots and schemes to keep Nick around, even setting him up with the woman of his dreams.

Tuesday - Saturday 11:00am - 4:00pm FREE ADMISSION

The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v.

Board of Education was a pivotal event in our nation’s history. It would take almost 10 more years for South Carolina schools to comply.

SEGREGATION - INTEGRATION - ASSIMILATION explores the 100-year African American education journey in Oconee County, South Carolina, through the lens of the local history-makers.

BERTHA LEE STRICKLAND CULTURAL MUSEUM 208 West South 2nd Street Seneca, South Carolina 29678

(864) 710-9994 blscm.org facebook.com/culturalmuseum FALL 2017 › 87

upstate theatre ELECTRIC CITY PLAYHOUSE 514 NORTH MURRAY AVE., ANDERSON, SC 864.224.4248 HTTP://ECPLAYHOUSE.COM EVENINGS 8 P.M. • SUNDAY MATINEES 3 P.M.

OCT. 13-22 MURDER BY NATURAL CAUSES Suspenseful and with an ingenious plot, this mystery will keep you guessing to the very end. World famous and successful mentalist Arthur Sinclair is the target of his wife’s greed as she implements her foolproof plan for his demise.

PEACE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 300 SOUTH MAIN ST., GREENVILLE, SC 864.476.3000 OR 800.888.7768

THE MARKET THEATRE COMPANY ANDERSON ARTS CENTER 110 FEDERAL ST., ANDERSON, SC 864.729.2999 OR THEMARKETANDERSON.ORG

THRU JUNE 4 LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL Omigod, you guys! Harvard’s beloved blonde takes the stage by storm in this upbeat story of self-discovery. Legally Blonde The Musical will take you from the sorority house to the halls of justice with Broadway’s brightest new heroine (and, of course, her Chihuahua, Bruiser).

JULY 7-23 NEXT TO NORMAL The Goodmans look like a typical suburban family, but behind their picture-perfect walls, their lives are anything but normal. Diana,

SEPT. 11-17 THE BODYGUARD Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker.

Each expects to be in charge; what they don’t expect is to fall in love. A breathtakingly romantic thriller, The Bodyguard features a host of irresistible classics including “Queen of the Night,” “One Moment in Time,” “Saving All My Love,” “Run to You,” “I Have Nothing,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and one of the biggest selling songs of all time – “I Will Always Love You.”

SEPT. 26 – OCT. 1 FUN HOME Based on Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic memoir, Fun Home introduces us to Alison at three different ages as she explores and unravels the many mysteries of her childhood.

A refreshingly honest musical about seeing your parents through grown-up eyes.

OCT. 31 – NOV. 5 LES MISERABLES Featuring the beloved songs “I Dreamed A Dream,” “On My Own,” “Stars,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More” and many more, this epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history.

88 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

community of people who explore the parables of the Bible. Set in an urban tent city, the production presents a beloved score with an acoustic sound. With the well-known tunes “Day by Day,” “All for the Best” and “Turn Back, O Man,” Godspell promotes kindness, understanding, tolerance and forgiveness.

wife and mother, has been battling bipolar disorder for 16 years, and the fight is taking its toll on both her and her family. Unflinching and compassionate, Next to Normal will take you into the minds and hearts of each character, presenting their family’s story with love, sympathy and heart. Featuring an electrifying pop-rock score, Next to Normal was the winner of three 2009 Tony Awards and the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

BROOKS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 141 JERSEY LANE, CLEMSON, SC 864.656.7787 HTTP://WWW.CLEMSON.EDU/BROOKS/EVENTS/ WEEKDAY PERFORMANCES 7:30 P.M. SUNDAYS 3 P.M.

OCT. 2-6 & 8 GODSPELL From Stephen Schwartz, Godspell is a touching and playful musical that finds a

OCT. 29 THE SOUND OF MUSIC This lavish new stage production of The Sound of Music celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the most successful movie musical in history. The beloved story of Maria and the Von Trapp family will once again thrill audiences with “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” and the title song. (Special performance time of 4 p.m.)

NOV. 13-17 & 19 HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE Sometimes, to tell a secret, you first have to teach a lesson. Winner of the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, How I Learned to Drive reveals the long-term effects of ignorance, sexism, pedophilia and manipulation through the metaphor of driver’s education.

WALHALLA PLAYERS WALHALLA CIVIC AUDITORIUM 101 E.N. BROAD ST., WALHALLA 864.638.5277 OR 877.368.5318 WWW.WALHALLACIVIC.COM EVENINGS 7:30 P.M. • SUNDAYS 2:30 P.M.

SEPT. 29 – OCT. 1 & OCT. 6-8 BOX CAR CHILDREN (CHILDREN’S PLAY) Generations of readers have cherished the adventures of The Boxcar Children, and now their stories come to life on stage. Follow

upstate theatre

Janice’s Upholstery 864-868-9182

orphan siblings Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny as they run away from foster care to make a home for themselves in an abandoned railroad boxcar. Through the rewards and perils of life on the run in the Depression Era, they hold true to their motto: “We stick together like glue.” The Boxcar Children also explores the themes of personal integrity, maturity, making do with what you have and appreciating the things in life that cannot be bought, like the generosity and kindness of friends, family and strangers.

NOV. 17-19 TREASURE ISLAND (CHILDREN’S PLAY) Yo-ho-ho, come join us as we bring Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale to the stage. Jim Hawkins is 14 and looking for adventure, and he winds up in the company of none other than Long John Silver the notorious pirate. A classic tale of piracy on the high seas for children of all ages.

FOOTHILLS PLAYHOUSE 201 SOUTH 5TH ST., EASLEY, SC 864.855.1817 WWW.FHPLAYHOUSE.COM FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS 8 P.M. • SUNDAYS 3 P.M.

SEPT. 1-3 HAPPY DAYS, THE MUSICAL Goodbye gray skies, hello blue! Happy days are here again with Richie, Potsie, Ralph Malph and the unforgettable “King of cool,” Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli. The famed drive-in malt shop and number one hangout, Arnold’s, is in danger of demolition. So, the gang teams up to save it with a dance contest and a TV-worthy wrestling match. Return to the days of 1959 Milwaukee complete with varsity sweaters, Hula Hoops and jukebox sock-hoppin’ fun. This perfectly family-friendly musical will have you rockin’ and rollin’ all week long.

OCT. 13-15 & 20-22 BLITHE SPIRIT The smash comedy hit of the London and Broadway stages, this much-revived classic offers up fussy, cantankerous novelist Charles Condomine, re-married but haunted (literally) by the ghost of his late first wife, the clever and insistent Elvira who is called up by a visiting “happy medium,” one Madame Arcati. As personalities clash, Charles’ current wife Ruth is accidentally killed, “passes over,” joins Elvira and the two “blithe spirits” haunt the hapless Charles into perpetuity.

• Sunbrella Canopies • Boat Interiors: Covers|Tops|Carpet • Furniture Re-Upholstery • Over 1,000 Fabrics to choose from 1144 Jones Mill Rd. • Six Mile, SC 29682 www.janicesupholstery.com

Check the Forecast Before Hitting the Lake The biggest weather-related dangers for local boaters and swimmers are strong winds, lightning, and heat-related illnesses. Always let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back.

Strong Winds

Strong winds create large waves and make waters choppy. Boaters and swimmers must be aware that wind and wave conditions on area lakes can change rapidly and often vary greatly from place to place.

Thunderstorms

When Thunderstorms are expected, it is best to avoid large stretches of open water, as wind can pick up quickly. If you hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Be aware of the weather and be prepared to take shelter.

STAY SAFE & Have Fun! FALL 2017 › 89

calendar of events THRU SEPT. 29

Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail “Inside/Outside” Quilt Exhibit at Clemson City Hall.

SEPT. 4

5K Connecting the Green Dots road race helps prevent domestic and dating violence in Oconee County; registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and race begins at 8:15 at Norton Thompson Park, downtown Seneca; register at active.com

SEPT. 5-10

56th South Carolina Apple Festival offers something for everyone in the family. Most events are free and are planned with the entire family in mind, including live entertainment; Rotary golf tourney on Tuesday; whitewater rafting on Wednesday; rodeo on Friday and Saturday and classic car show on Saturday; rides, crafts and food vendors; annual Apple Festival Parade at 4:30 p.m. Friday. For more information visit: www.scapplefestival.com/events

SEPT. 7

Brooks Center at Clemson University hosts Balsam Range, a bluegrass and acoustic music group founded in 2007 by five friends in North Carolina; 7:30 p.m.; for ticket information, visit: www.clemson.edu/centers-institutes/ brooks/events The Arts Center of Clemson hosts a 10th anniversary roundtable discussion presenting the State of the ARTS in the area over the last decade; 6-8 p.m. The panel will include artists, arts professionals and patrons.

SEPT. 8

Westminster Music Centre presents: Music & Memories — The 50s; 7 p.m.; for ticket prices and more information visit www.westminstermusiccentre.org or call 864.648.9005.

SEPT. 12

World of Energy, 7812 Rochester Highway, Seneca, hosts Super Tuesday event, 10 a.m.; visit: www.duke-energy.com/energy-education/ energy-centers-and-programs/world-of-energyat-oconee-nuclear/upcoming-events

SEPT. 13

Open mic night at the Westminster Music Centre, 7 p.m.

SEPT. 14

Clemson Arts Center hosts a reception to open a new juried art exhibit; 6-8 p.m. in the Arts Center’s main gallery.

SEPT. 15

Wilson Banjo Co. at Westminster Music Centre, 7 p.m.; for ticket information call 864.648.9005 or visit: westminstermusiccentre.org.

90 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

Storyteller/comedian Andy Offitt Irwin at Walhalla Civic Auditorium; 8:30 p.m.; for more information or tickets call 864.638.5277 or visit: www.walhallacivic.com/events

SEPT. 16

Collin’s Home 33rd Annual Chicken BBQ, 4-7 p.m., Northside Elementary School, Seneca; dine-in or take-out; reserve $10 per plate tickets by calling 864.882.0893.

Our Daily Rest Fall Gala; 5:30-9 p.m. at Palmetto Ridge events center; food, music and silent and live auctions; music by Darby and the Peep Show. For more information, visit: oconeechambersc.com.

Some of the best fiddlers around will gather at the Hagood Mill, 138 Hagood Mill Road, Pickens, to compete for the coveted title of South Carolina Fiddling Champion; bring a lawn chair; admission is free, but parking is $5.

Guided bird walks, raptor flight shows, live bird demos and workshops are a few of the things you can enjoy at the 9th Flock to the Rock event at Chimney Rock State Park in Chimney Rock, NC; 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.; 828.625.9611 for more information.

SEPT. 19

Brooks Center at Clemson University hosts Christina and Michelle Naughton, piano duo; free event; 7:30 p.m.

SEPT. 22

Rick Wade’s Tribute to Elvis & Conway at Walhalla Civic Auditorium; 7:30 p.m.; for more information or tickets call 864.638.5277 or visit: www.walhallacivic.com/events

SEPT. 24

Music in the Air XV Carillon Concert. Bring a picnic, enjoy fresh air and unwind as university carillonneur Linda Dzuris performs on the Tillman Hall carillon. You are invited to tour the playing cabin following the 5 p.m. free performance.

SEPT. 25

Farm Oconee, A Farm to Table Dinner (previously Steak in Oconee; 5:30-7:30 p.m. at

the Heritage Fairgrounds, 178 Hayfield Road, Westminster. For more information, call the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce 864.647.5316.

SEPT. 26-30

South Carolina Foothills Heritage Fair. Family fun at the new location of the Foothills Agriculture Resource and Marketing Center on Sandifer Blvd. between Seneca and Westminster; hours of operation Tues.-Thurs: 4-10 p.m. (rides will operate until 11 p.m.), Friday: 4-11 p.m. (rides will operate until midnight), Saturday: 10 a.m.–11 p.m. (rides will operate until midnight). For more information visit http:// carolinafoothillsheritagefair.org

SEPT. 29 – OCT. 1

Opening Reception for Arts & Antiques: A Lunney House Museum free event; 6-8 p.m.; public historic venues, working artists and antiques and art for sale Sept. 30, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; closing reception and drawing for Victorian bed Oct. 1, 3-5 p.m. Tickets for drawing on sale at www.BlueRidgeArtsCenter.com., and also through BRAC at 864.710.6593 and the Seneca Woman’s Club at 864.280.3592 and at Jazz on the Alley in September.

SEPT. 30

St John’s Lutheran Church, 301 W. Main St., Walhalla; Holy Smoke BBQ; 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

BBQ featuring pulled pork plates $8.50 (includes all the fixings); live music by Carmel Ridge, bake sale, crafts, yard sale from 8 a.m.– 2 p.m. Children’s activities with the police/fire departments, face painting, and balloon animals. All proceeds go towards building repairs for St. John’s Lutheran Church. Ticket sales at church starting Sept. 14. Walk-ins welcome.

18th annual Autumn in the Mountains, British car event 9 a.m.–3 p.m.; Jackson Park, Hendersonville; free to the public.

calendar of events SEPT. 30 – OCT. 1

58th annual Art on Main Festival on downtown Hendersonville’s historic Main; 10 a.m.–5 p.m. both days.

OCT. 1

Farm To Table Dinner Tour at Chattooga Belle Farm, Long Creek, SC; 5 p.m. wine and moonshine reception, 6 p.m. farm tour and 6:30 p.m. dinner in the vineyard; for more information, visit: chattoogabellefarm.com/weddings-events/ farm-to-table

OCT. 3

Brooks Center at Clemson University hosts Orion String Quartet with flutist Tara O’Connor; 7:30 p.m.; free.

The Peace Center in Greenville presents The Simon and Garfunkel Story, a critically-acclaimed, concert-style show about two young boys from Queens, NY, who went on to become the world’s most successful music duo of all time; 7:30 p.m.; for ticket information visit: tickets.peacecenter.org

OCT. 4

Banks & Shane at Walhalla Civic Auditorium; 7:30 p.m.; for more information or tickets call 864.638.5277 or visit: www.walhallacivic.com/ events

OCT. 5

The Arts Center of Clemson presents An Evening of Art with Ellen Kochansky as she shares memories and experiences in her artful life; 6-8 p.m.

OCT. 7

Pickens County Museum of Art & History hosts 38th juried art show; opening reception 2-4 p.m.; multi-media event will fill three galleries at 307 Johnson St., Pickens; admission is free.

OCT. 10

Brooks Center at Clemson University presents Air Play, a wordless, comic spectacle. Flying umbrellas, larger-than-life balloons, giant kites floating over the audience, and the biggest snow globe you’ve ever seen will make you gasp in wonder and laugh until it hurts; 7 p.m.; for ticket information, visit: www.clemson.edu/centers-institutes/brooks/events

OCT. 11

Open mic night at Westminster Music Centre, 7 p.m.

OCT. 13-15

Road Titans 300. A three-day fully supported premiere professional-like cycling adventure and an experience like no other with a road course

in one of National Geographic’s “Destinations of a Lifetime,” Oconee County, SC.; for more information, visit www.roadtitans300.com

OCT. 14

World of Energy, 7812 Rochester Highway, Seneca, hosts Heritage, Arts and Music Festival; for more information visit: duke-energy.com/ energy-education/energy-centers

Fletcher, NC hosts Fall Harvest Days Antique Engine & Tractor Show; event features hit ‘n’ miss engines, tractors of all sizes, crafters, demonstrations, farm tools, antique engines, antique tractor pulls & swap meet; 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; rain or shine.

OCT. 20-22

Walhalla hosts Oktoberfest 2017; Friday and Saturday on Main Street, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. there will be traditional music, arts, crafts and lots of

The Arts Center of Clemson hosts a special workshop with Ellen Kochansky to create Memory Tiles. Participants will bring special objects and papers from their past to “tie up in a bundle” and “Keith is a pleasure to work with, always professional display as art. and focused on helping her clients. She provides good

OCT. 19

Brooks Center at Clemson University presents the Vienna Boys Choir. Audiences and critics worldwide praised these talented singers for their celestial voices, pure tone and wide-ranging repertoire. With a rich history spanning more than 500 years, the Vienna Boys Choir has been associated with many of the world’s great composers; 7:30 p.m.; for ticket information, visit: www. clemson.edu/centersinstitutes/brooks/events

OCT. 19-21

advice and brings excellent resources to make sure your home is presented in its best light. Plus, Keith is a kind and thoughtful person!”

- Kathy Worthington

Mary Keith Eustis

Keller Williams Seneca 455 Bypass 123, Suite A. Seneca, SC 29678 864-710-5434 Keith@KeoweeAreaHomes.com KeoweeAreaHomes.com

WNC Ag Center, 1301 Fanning Bridge Road, FALL 2017 › 91

calendar of events food. Oktoberfest on Sertoma Field will run Friday through Sunday with gates open at 6 p.m.

Friday.

OCT. 21

Some of the nation’s best old-time storytellers will be sharing tales of folks, funnies, cultures and places; Hagood Mill, 138 Hagood Mill Road, Pickens; bring a lawn chair; admission is free but parking is $5.

OCT. 24

NOV. 8

Free open mic Night at Westminster Music Centre; 7 p.m.

NOV. 10

American Pride brings one of the country’s finest Statler Brothers Tributes to the Walhalla Civic Auditorium; 7:30 p.m.; for more information or tickets, call 864.638.5277 or visit: www. walhallacivic.com/events

NOV. 14

Brooks Center at Clemson University presents Flamenco Legends by Javier Limón: The Paco de Lucia Project; 7:30 p.m.; for ticket information, visit: www.clemson.edu/centers-institutes/ brooks/events

Brooks Center at Clemson University presents the CU Symphony Orchestra; 7:30 p.m.; for ticket information, visit: www.clemson.edu/centers-institutes/brooks/events

OCT. 26

NOV. 16

Oconee Humane Society Wags and Whiskers Gala at Keowee Key; Yappy Hour 5:30 p.m.; dinner 7 p.m.; auction; entertainment by Raise the Woof — Comedy Tour; $60, Call Dianne for tickets at 864.944.8746.

Brooks Center at Clemson University presents the CU Singers; 7:30 p.m.; for ticket information, visit: www.clemson.edu/centers-institutes/ brooks/events

OCT. 27

Westminster Music Centre presents Jacob Johnson Band; 7 p.m.; for ticket prices and more information, visit www.westminstermusiccentre. org or call 864.648.9005.

OCT. 31

Halloween on the Green in downtown Seneca; visit www.seneca.sc.us for more information.

6th Dress Your Pet, Strut Your Mutt, 6 p.m., Norton Thompson Park, Seneca; proceeds benefit Oconee Humane Society; visit www.seneca. sc.us for more information.

Boo on Main, 6 p.m., downtown Westminster; free candy and goodies handed out by merchants, civic groups and churches; call 864.647.5316 for more information.

NOV. 2

Brooks Center at Clemson University presents the CU Percussion Ensemble & Drumline; 7:30 p.m.; for ticket information, visit: www.clemson. edu/centers-institutes/brooks/events

NOV. 4

Enjoy an evening of fantastic folk music with Acoustic ConnXion at the Walhalla Civic Auditorium; 7:30 p.m.; for more information or tickets, call 864.638.5277 or visit: www.walhallacivic.com/events 92 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

Brooks Center at Clemson University presents the CU Jazz Ensemble; 7:30 p.m.; for ticket information, visit: www.clemson.edu/centers-institutes/brooks/events The Arts Center of Clemson, in association with the Clemson Free Clinic, hosts TRIO, an evening of art, food and spirits; 6-9 p.m.

NOV. 17

Westminster Music Centre presents singer-songwriter Jenn Bostic; 7 p.m.; for ticket prices and more information, visit www.westminstermusiccentre.org or call 864.648.9005.

NOV. 17 – DEC. 22

The Arts Center of Clemson hosts its annual Holiday Art Show; open daily Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; opening reception will be Nov. 17, 4-7 p.m.; free.

NOV. 18

Hagood Mill, 138 Hagood Mill Road, Pickens, will be showcasing the customs, traditions, food, music and dance of many Native American tribes as part of its largest event of the year; bring a lawn chair and enjoy the day; parking is $5 but the event is free.

NOV. 20

The Peace Center in Greenville makes the spirit of the season come alive with the signature sound of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis, who has created a show that features Mannheim Steamroller Christmas classics along with a selection of compositions from the groundbreaking Fresh Aire series, which introduced the distinctive Mannheim sound to America; 7 p.m.; for ticket information visit: tickets.peacecenter.org

NOV. 27

Seneca Christmas Parade, 6 p.m.

NOV. 30

Westminster Christmas Parade, 6 p.m.

ONGOING

Thru Oct. 31 both Ashtabula and Woodburn Houses are open to the public for Sunday afternoon tours, 1-5 p.m. Admission is $6 per adult and $2 for children 10 and under. For more information, visit: pendletonhistoricfoundation. org.

Jazz on the Alley on Ram Cat Alley, Historic Downtown Seneca, every Thursday thru Oct. 26; enjoy food and great music from 6:30-9 p.m.

Music on Main in Westminster, first Friday of each month thru October; 6-9 p.m.; food trucks, classic car cruise-in and music.

Cruzin’ on Main in Downtown Seneca is the first Saturday, through October; 4-8 p.m.; 50-50 drawing and door prizes.

Rhythm & Brews Concert Series every third Thursday of each month through September; free; music starts at 5 p.m. Azalea Parking lot on the corner of Third Avenue and King Street, Hendersonville, 828.233.3216 or downtownhendersonville.org for more info.

The Lunney House Museum, 211 W. South 1st St., Seneca, is open Thursday thru Sunday, 1-5 p.m.; admission by donation.

The Bertha Lee Strickland Cultural Museum, 208 W. South 2nd St., Seneca, is open Thursday thru Saturday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; admission by donation.

Historic Ballenger House tours and rentals; Seneca Woman’s Club preserves this historic home, 212 E. South 3rd St. Call Debbie, 864.324.8417 or Ruth, 864.882.7162. Visit www.ballengerhouse.org Hagood Mill, 138 Hagood Mill Road, has monthly “First Saturday” house concerts in the Visitors Building from noon – 2 p.m. and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. to tour the grounds and pick up “mill products.” Guided tours available by appointment. The site is available every day during daylight hours to picnic or walk the nature trail. For information contact Hagood Mill at 864.898.2936 or Pickens County Museum at 864.898.5963.

Silver Dollar Music Hall in Westminster, SC, features open mic each Friday at 7 p.m. with regular pickers performing at 8 p.m.

Presented by City of Seneca

Adam Carter

Enjoy a night of music with your family and friends every Thursday, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., through October!

Follow ‘Seneca SC Events’ on Facebook for Artists updates.

Funk Factory

Magic

Oneal Township

Seneca SC Events

2017 schedule of artists and more info at www.seneca.sc.us FALL 2017 › 93

Catch bream in the fall

BY PHILLIP GENTRY

A

nglers looking to tie into a mess of fish this summer need look no farther than the closest bridge overpass, according to Lake Hartwell fishing guide Capt.

Bill Plumley.

A common misconception about crappie fishing is that the only time you can catch them is during the spawn when “crappie season” is in. The same misconception is made about bream, a Southern colloquial term used to lump together similar species like bluegills and sunfish.

Many anglers wait the entire year for the “first full moon in May” to go chase these tasty and tenacious pan fish as they go on beds to spawn. After the spawning tide has receded, most anglers put away their bream poles and chase some other fish for the remainder of the year.

Do bream simply go away, never to be heard of again until next year? Just like crappie, bream still reside in the lake. They just have to be found. Once you find them, catching bream is pretty easy.

Probably the most consistent places to find bream on Upstate lakes after the spawn is above manmade brush piles or old standing timber. Bream will back off to shallower structures to spend the summer and move to deeper structures, like wood, in the fall.

Many anglers will locate a brush pile or wooded structure using their sonar equipment and then mark it with a floating buoy.

Using a bow-mounted trolling motor, you can then maneuver the craft around the top of the brush pile and vertically present a variety of crickets, tiny jigs or one of the new synthetic worm baits made by Berkley, on a small sized four Eagle Claw gold hook.

A long flexible spinning rod combo or jig pole used to fish for crappie is a great tackle choice for fall bream fishing in deeper water. Spool the spinning reel with at least 10-pound test line. The higher test line is helpful in horsing fish out of the brush or if hung, it’s easier to pull the hook loose.

Once the water begins cooling off in late fall, bream will vacate the shallow cover in search of deeper areas over winter. There are 94 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

also days when the fish will be located out away from the structure and not necessarily in it. There will be other days when the bream are located above the structure.

Try not to anchor in a brush pile to prevent spooking fish or damaging the brush pile itself. It’s important to work the entire brush pile. Moving as little as three feet one way or the other can make a big difference in locating fish willing to bite.

As with many schooling fish, when an angler catches one from the brush pile, the competitive nature of the school will cause others to come out and feed. When using crickets for bait, anglers need to perfect a quick hookset in order to catch the fish. Oftentimes the angler will feel a little “thump,” and if he is not quick with the hookset, the bait will be gone.

Finding concentrations hand-sized or larger bream has more to do with the location of the brush pile than a specific bait or tactic.

Another characteristic of schooling fish is that bream tend to school in year classes with generally the same size fish inhabiting the same location. If your goal is to only target larger

A misconception is that bream simply disappear during the fall. Knowing where to find them is a big step in catching them year-round. Photo by Phillip Gentry

fish, you’ll need to move on if the first couple of fish you catch are not to your standards.

Many anglers also find that artificial baits seem to catch larger bream than using only live crickets for bait. One notable exception would be using larger live baits like half of a large nightcrawler or several redworms. The theory is that larger baits will attract larger fish.

It is also not uncommon to catch several species of fish — crappie, bream, bass and catfish — when using the same type of baits while fishing around wood structures in the fall. n

Phillip Gentry is the host of “Upstate Outdoors,” broadcast from noon to 2 p.m. Saturdays on 106.3 WORD FM. The show can be streamed live online at 1063word.com.

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Administrator .............................. (864) 638-4245 Animal Control ........................... (864) 888-0221 Airport ......................................... (864) 882-2959 Assessor ..................................... (864) 638-4150 Auditor ........................................ (864) 638-4158 Clerk of Court ............................ (864) 638-4280 Community Development

Magistrate Courts Walhalla .................................. (864) 638-4125 Seneca ................................... (864) 888-1460 Westminster............................ (864) 647-5998 Oconee Public Library Walhalla Branch ..................... (864) 638-4133 Parks, Recreation and Tourism .. (864) 888-1488

Addressing ............................ (864) 638-4250

Probate Court ............................. (864) 638-4275

Building Codes ...................... (864) 718-1005

Procurement ............................... (864) 638-4141

Planning & Zoning................. (864) 638-4218 SC DHEC .............................. (864) 638-4185 Coroner....................................... (864) 885-0687 County Council .......................... (864) 718-1023 Delinquent Tax Office ................. (864) 638-4147 Oconee Economic Alliance......... (864) 638-4210

Register of Deeds....................... (864) 638-4285 Roads & Bridges ........................ (864) 886-1072 Rock Quarry ............................... (864) 638-4214 Sheriff’s Office .............................(864) 638-4111 Soil & Water Conservation ......... (864) 638-2213

Emergency Management ........... (864) 638-4200

Solid Waste & Recycling Information ................. (864) 888-1440

Emergency Services .................. (864) 638-4220

Treasurer .................................... (864) 638-4162

Finance ....................................... (864) 638-4235

Vehicle Maintenance .................. (864) 888-1446

Geographic Information Systems (864) 638-4251

Veteran’s Affairs.......................... (864) 638-4231

Human Resources...................... (864) 638-4252

Voter Registration / Elections ..... (864) 638-4196

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FALL 2017 › 95

A Swimming Hazard

R

BY DAVE KROEGER

ecently there have been sevline of defense. This is very important Learn more at www.boatUS.com/;seaworthy.ESD due to the fact that there could be eral emails and articles circulated in the area on the topic voltage originating from other sourcor at SafeElectricity.org or www.abycinc.org of swimmers being exposed to potenes that could affect the area where an electrical current running through it. After tial electrical hazards near boat docks. you swim. Examples of these sources calls for help, Alan swam toward the dock and Friends of Lake Keowee Society (FOLKS) also include neighboring boat docks with improper was able to knock her free of the current. She published an article from BOATUS in its July grounding or faulty wiring, boats tied at docks was resuscitated and later released from the issue of Sentinel. Hoping that continued expowith shore power connections and boats runhospital. However, Alan died of a heart attack sure to this very dangerous and preventable hazning appliances or generators. caused by the same electrical current. ard will contribute to greater safety, I am also Even if a dock is wired properly, a floating In just four months last summer, there were writing on this subject. dock is constantly moving in the water and has seven confirmed electrical deaths and at least Following are just a few examples of swimthe potential to chafe or pull wires loose from that many near misses. In all likelihood, dozens ming deaths or close calls due to electricity. connections, creating possible shock hazards. more incidents went undetected. Every boater One year ago, Alexandra Anderson, 13, If you’re in the water and feel tingling or and every adult who swims in a freshwater lake and her brother Brayden Anderson, 8, were shocks, DO NOT follow your instinct to swim needs to understand how it happens, how to swimming near a private dock in the Lake of toward the dock! Instead, SHOUT! Drowning stop it from happening, and what to do — and the Ozarks in Missouri when they started to victims cannot speak. Let everyone know what’s not do — if they ever have to help an electrical scream. Their parents went to their aid, but by happening so they’ll understand the danger and shock drowning victim. the time the siblings were pulled from the lake react appropriately. Try to stay upright and back Swimming deaths due to electricity fall into they were unresponsive. Both children were out of the area the way you came, warn any two categories — electrocution and electric pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. About other swimmers in the area of the danger, and shock drowning (ESD). Both can be preventtwo hours later, Noah Winstead, 10, died in a then head for shore 100 yards or more from the ed the same way. Electrocution can happen in similar manner at Cherokee Lake near Knoxdock. fresh or saltwater when swimmers make conville, TN. Noah’s friend, Nate Parker Lynam, Alert the dock or marina owner and tell tact with energized metal dock fittings, boats or 11, was pulled from the water and resuscitated, them to shut the power off to the dock until other structures due to faulty AC wiring. ESD but he died early the following evening. Acthey locate the problem and correct it. occurs when AC gets into fresh water from cording to local press reports, seven other swimGo to the hospital to make sure there are no faulty wiring and passes through a swimmer, mers were injured near where Noah died. These lingering effects that could be dangerous. causing paralysis or even sudden death. Unwere not drowning victims. In each case, 120 If you have to rescue an ESD victim, shut off like electrocution, a swimmer does not need to volts leaking from nearby boats or docks electhe power to the dock at the breaker or quick be touching a boat or dock structure, and even trocuted or incapacitated these swimmers. disconnect from the dock. minute amounts of electricity can be incapaciThis July 3, my 24-year-old son was swimFight the instinct to enter the water — many tating and lead to drowning. ming under our boatlift on Lake Keowee, inrescuers have died trying to help ESD victims.

Now, what do you do to keep your swimspecting the hull because the speedometer had Instead, get the victim out of the water by ming area safe from electrical current? quit working. He happened to grab a structural reaching, throwing or rowing. This means, do The first priority should be to have your cross-member of the lift to hold himself up in not jump into water, but rather throw a flotadock inspected by a licensed electrician, who is the water. As soon as he grabbed it, he said he tion devise or reach with a paddle or boat hook familiar with boat dock wiring and marine apfelt it tingling. I told him to get out of the wato the swimmer. plications. This inspection can determine the ter immediately!

Call for help. Use 911 or VHF Channel 16 safety and working order of your ground fault He was out within 10 seconds and back on as appropriate. protectors, existing boat dock wiring and propthe dock. He never submerged or lost conIf the person is not breathing or you cannot er ground protection from your house. sciousness and had only touched the lift for 3-5 get a pulse, perform CPR until the fire departThere is also a product that has been recently seconds. However, he was in agony with sharp ment, Coast Guard or ambulance personnel developed (www.docklifeguard.com) that deabdominal pains, itching inside his chest, freezarrive. n tects electricity on your dock and in the water ing and sweating and hyperventilating. We around your dock. If electricity is present, you called EMS and ultimately went to the hospital.

Dave is President/CEO of Kroeger will be warned with a visual and audible warnToday he is fine, but it could have been tragic.

Marine Construction, which has ing.

In 1999, Colonel Alan Wheeler, a profesexcelled for decades, offering unmatched experience and quality The Dock Lifeguard, which must be installed sor at Clemson University, gave his life saving a in boat dock building, erosion control by a licensed electrician, is not a substitute for 9-year-old girl who was swimming in Lake Keand boat lift installation. correct dock wiring, but an excellent second owee. She grabbed hold of a boat dock that had

96 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

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For information or a free estimate, call 1-800-240-3400 FALL 2017 › 97

Crabtree & Setrock Creek Falls

A

fall color tour along the Blue Ridge Parkway will put you within “misting” distance of countless waterfalls. Here are a couple you may want to consider visiting.

CRABTREE FALLS Crabtree Falls is a gorgeous 70-foot waterfall at milepost 339 on the Parkway. It is near Linville Falls and can be accessed by a loop woodland hiking trail in the Crabtree Falls & Meadows Recreation Area, using either of two options: an easier 3-mile hike to and from on the same trail with a steady descent and return climb; or a more strenuous 3.5-mile loop trail that climbs a ridge above the falls. It’s a beautiful hike, complete with plenty of wildflowers.

Park at the store and look for the “Falls” hiking trail sign. Walk down the mostly level trail past the amphitheater into the campground. Just past a small information booth, you will see a small parking area on the right with a sign for the Crabtree Falls Trailhead.

Take that trail down to a ‘T’ intersection. The trail to the right is the shorter, easier hike.

A bridge over the creek in front of the falls offers great views. There are even better views on the other side of the creek, and you can walk up to the base of the falls.

98 ‹ UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

SETROCK CREEK FALLS Setrock Creek Falls is a hidden gem in the Pisgah National Forest at the base of Mount Mitchell. It’s an easy 1/2-mile hike to the 75-foot waterfall, located by the Black Mountain Campground. It’s near NC Highway 80 just a few miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway and about 10 miles from Crabtree Falls.

The multi-layered cascade falls is in a beautiful setting and a great place for a picnic. The waterfall dries to a trickle during dry periods. Nearby is Roaring Fork Creek Falls, another easy hike.

From the Blue Ridge Parkway take NC 80 North at Milepost 344, going 2.2 miles.

Turn left on South Toe River Road at the sign for Black Mountain Campground. The road to the campground is paved about half the way with a sharp right turn at about two miles. Park across from the campground entrance if you are not camping.

From the parking area, walk across the bridge into the campground and take the first road to the left. Take the second trail to the right with a “Setrock Falls” stake. Total walk is about a one-mile round-trip with little elevation change.

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FALL 2017 › 99

CHAMPION [cham-pee-uh n] a person who has defeated all opponents in a competition or series of competitions, so as to hold first place: anything that takes first place in competition: a person who fights for or defends any person or cause: a fighter or warrior.

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(864) 944-0405 | 1231 Stamp Creek Road

Keowee Town, Salem

(864) 882-0855 | 528-D ByPass 123

Seneca

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