Calendar

o Jan. 7, Feb. 4, Mar. 4 – Greeting Card Workshop, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m., held at the Hall County Library System, Gainesville Branch, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville. Craft greeting cards with Patricia Anderson, who will provide inspiration, expertise, tools and materials. Free. Info: 770-532-3311, ext. 4011. o Jan. 20 – Introduction to Computers, 2-4 p.m., presented at Gainesville Branch of Hall County Library System in the Meeting Room. Students will become familiar with basic parts of a computer as well as learn the parts of the Windows operating environment. Free. Info: 770-532-3311. o Jan. 27 – Tea with Jane Austen – A Reading Group, 3-4 p.m., will be held at Gainesville Branch of Hall County Library System in its Conference Room. This group will spend a year reading all novels and some Juvenilia by Jane Austen. The group will meet every fourth Friday of the month from 3-4 p.m. A different tea will be served every time along with a discussion of all of Jane Austen’s novels in the sequence they were published. The last session will be in November when a celebratory Tea Party will be held. Free. Adults 18 and up. Info: Register at 770-532-3311, ext. 4011 or gkoecher@hallcountylibrary.com. Buford Community Center o Jan. 21 – Ray On My Mind will be presented in the Sylvia Beard Theatre at 8 p.m. This concert/theater work brings the music and the story of the great Ray Charles to vivid life. Portraying Ray, master pianist/vocalist, Kenny Brawner leads his 11-piece orchestra and three sultry vocalists (a la the Raelettees) performing this American legend’s most popular hits. Tickets: $35-$45. o Jan. 27 – The Ultimate Ronna Summer Tribute starring Rainere Martin, will be presented in the Sylvia Beard Theatre at 8 p.m. Martin portrays all that was magical and musical of Donna Summer’s legendary career. Tickets: $30-$40. o Feb. 4 – Hank & My Honky Tonk Heroes will be presented at 8 p.m. in the Sylvia Beard Theatre. Jason Petty, performer/musician, brings the authentic story of Hank Williams Sr. to life. Tickets: $30-$40. Info: www.bufordcommunitycenter.com.

Dahlonega’s Historic Holly Theater o Jan. 6-8 – Ordinary Days, a story of four young New Yorkers whose lives intersect as they search for fulfillment, happiness, love and cabs, will be presented. Times: 8 p.m., Thurs./Fri./Sat.; 2 p.m., Sun. Tickets: $30, adults; $15, students/children. Military/group discounts available. Info: 706-530-5162; www.hollytheater.com Gainesville Theatre Alliance o Jan. 31 – Pygmalion free stage tour at Brenau University’s Hosch Theatre, 429 Academy St. NE, Gainesville. Hear from the designers and director of the play. Shaw’s Nobel Prizewinning dramatization of a Cockney flower girl’s metamorphosis into a lady is both a fantasy and a platform for his views on social class, money and women’s independence. The play inspired the music My Fair Lady. Info: 678-717-3624; www.gainesvilletheatreal-

liance.org Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds o Jan. 28 – Corey Smith and Travis Denning perform at 7 p.m. Gate opens at 6 p.m. Tickets: $40. Info: www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com. Interactive Neighborhood Kids o Jan. 2-8 – Bird Craft Week, create a beautiful bird this week. o Jan. 9-15 – Police Craft Week, create a craft and learn about these important community helpers. o Jan. 16-22 – Penguin Craft Week, make a cute penguin this week. o Jan. 23-29 – Snowflake Craft Week, create a beautiful snowflake craft. o Jan. 30-Feb. 5 – Puzzle Craft Week, design a puzzle this week. Time/Play Blocks: Mon.-Sat.; 10 a.m.-noon; 12:30-2:30 p.m.; 3-5 p.m.; Sun.: 12:30-2:30 p.m.; 3-5 p.m. Info: $1 with paid admission to museum; INK Members, free. 770-536-1900; www.inkfun.org. Lake Lanier Islands Resort o Thru Feb. 26 – License to Chill Snow Island. Winter Chill Season Passes start at $79.99. Pass includes unlimited Snow Tubing, Amusement Rides, Ice Skating, Gate Fee Access and more. Times: 5-10 p.m. Daily admissions: $54.99 reg.; $39.99, child (age 3-7), military, seniors and groups. Info: 770-945-8787; www.lanierislands.com. Piedmont University o Jan. 12 – Miles Cleveland Goodwin art reception held 5-7 p.m. at Mason-Scharfenstein Museum of Art, 567 Georgia St., Demorest. Georgia-based painter and sculptor Goodwin works in an expressive, dreamlike style rooted in his interest in nature and the everyday. o Jan. 29 – Piedmont Camerata, 4-5:30 p.m., the university’s professional piano quintet, will perform a variety of works from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries in the Chapel at 992 Central Avenue, Demorest. o Feb. 4 – Lux Treble Choir, an advanced treble choir born out of a need for beautiful treble music to bring light into this difficult and sometimes dark world. Emily Allison and Ashley Conway, conductors. Performance held 7:30-9 p.m. in the Chapel. Info: 800-277-7020; www.piedmont.edu. Quinlan Arts Center o Thru Feb. 11, 2023 – Winter Exhibition featuring artists Ferdinand Rosa, Karen Sturm, Frances Byrd and Jennifer Herrera and Blackberry Creek artists. o Jan. 14 – Artist Talk welcomes artist Ferdinand Rosa. Engage by learning the methods behind the artist’s specific style and creative process. Q&A follows along with muffins and mimosas for attendees. RSVP required. o Jan. 19 – An Authors Evening at 5: 30 p.m. presents authors Larry Freeland and Rebecca Ross. Tickets: $10. Info: 770-536-2575; www.quinlanartscenter.org. Voices of North Georgia o Mar. 11 – Gala: America’s Top Ten Hits concert held in the Banquet Hall of the First Baptist Church of Gainesville. Time: 6 p.m. Info: www.VoicesofNorthGeorgia.com.

• Pull Out Service • Gelcoat Restoration • Minor Repairs • Fiberglass Restoration Check out our reviews online!

By Jane Harrison

Need a supportive group to tackle your 2023 resolution to lose weight and get fit? Looking for a hobby to get you outside and active? What about that goal to make new friends and social connections? One local organization checks all the boxes: The Lanier Running Club.

The re-energized running group with roots in the 1990s (or before) made a comeback last year and is building a diverse membership. New runners, run/walkers, long time competitors, dog walkers, stroller pushers and jog along fun-seekers show up for two or three weekly jaunts in Gainesville with the club that promotes fitness and camaraderie. All ages, from late teen to post-retirement, mingle prior to taking off at whatever pace they choose. At the finish, everyone gets a congratulatory “well done!”

“It’s a great way to make friends and hold yourself accountable,” said club president April Hargis. A runner since 2008, Hargis moved into the Lake Lanier area during the pandemic shut down and struggled to make friends. “I had a new baby and was feeling out of shape and I found the Lanier Running Club Facebook page,” she said. “But there was no real activity.”

After a series of posts and meeting with long-time club officers, she discovered that the organization’s marathoners were looking for fresh torchbearers. Hargis took the opportunity and ran with it.

Now between 10-20 participants lace up for group runs at local parks, greenways and Gainesville’s pedestrian-favorite street, Riverside Drive. Routes range from three miles on park and greenway trails during the week to about six miles on Riverside or the Midland Greenway/Gainesville parks trails on Saturday mornings. “But you can choose your distance,” Hargis said, adding no one feels pressured to do more than they set out to do.

On a regular Tuesday evening outing from Liquid Nation Brewing onto the Highlands to Islands greenway last month a dedicated group strode out for exercise in the fog. Before donning headlamps and taking off into the mist, runners talked about what brought them out on such a gloomy night.

“It’s the friendships. It’s something I look forward to every week,” said Matt Douglas. The 40-year-old long time solo runner had never set foot in a running group. In the club, he found “others who understand this crazy thing I do. It was magical.”

His son, Mason Douglas, 19, joined to “follow my father’s footsteps.” The novice runner shows up with a broad grin and turns over some fast feet on the trail. He proudly announced he has worked his mileage up to more than six miles … and shed more than 30 pounds.

Johnny Garner, 59, a competitive runner for more than 30 years, recalls the original Gainesville Road Runners of the early 1990s. Formed decades before social media, the club met monthly at local restaurants, mailed out a print newsletter, organized races, competed regularly, communitycoached at local schools, ran speedwork sessions and group runs. The club pivoted directions more than a decade ago to focus on youth runners in the U.S. Junior Olympics. Many of the early members still run. Some have coached champion high school runners. Others have crossed the finish line.

Garner likes the club’s new iteration, especially its accessibility on social media. “They post weekly runs, it’s easy to access and find out where” they are running, he said. The veteran runner inhales fresh motivation from new runners. “I feed off their excitement. I love seeing new runners.”

“I’ve always run. It’s part of what I am,” said Ginger Paul, 51, a runner for 30-plus years. But running alone had become monotonous. “I was getting bored, in a rut,” she said. After finding LRC on social media, she broke new ground. She gets a mental and physical boost just getting outside and running with other people.

David Reed, 49, had long wanted to combine running with something else he liked, beer. “I was trying to get a club started at the (Liquid Nation) brewery,” he said. But Hargis beat him to it. Regular fellowship with runners keeps him consistent. “It’s motivating just knowing others will be here” for the Tuesday night runs at the brewery, he said. “And I like beer.” Occasionally runners cool down with a round of local craft brews.

Carmen Reed joined the club’s “Jingle Jog” casual in-town holiday trek in early December. “I’m not really into running,” like her husband is, she admitted. Yoga fits her better. But, her run/walk in 5-minute intervals combines aerobic exercise and conversation with others more her pace, like Elena Barberis. “I’m in it for fun,” Barberis said on the Gainesville square in her red tutu and headband strewn with holiday lights.

More serious runners like Hargis, who followed up her Gainesville jingle jog with a sub-1-hour, 40-minute half marathon in Jacksonville, credits the running club for speeding up her pace. “I improve my times when I have someone to push me,” she said.

Long time Lanier Running Club president and distance running coach Wes Wessely, 75, indicated he felt ready to hand the baton to Hargis. The multipletime national champion, finisher of more than 60 marathons, community coach of two Chestatee High School cross country state championship teams and mentor to numerous individual athletes piloted the club’s partnership with the Junior Olympics. He commended Hargis for establishing a strong social media footprint that’s pulling more adults into the club tent. He continues his run as Junior Olympics coordinator/advisor.

Goal setting is what got Hargis’s feet moving in the first place. “During college I needed a healthy habit. I had stopped doing all things physical. I decided to jump back in and do a marathon.” She trained for and completed the Disney Marathon. The group of runners she now leads waits at the starting line to help others chase their goals this year.

PHOTO BY JANE HARRISON Lanier Running Club members gather on the Gainesville Square before their jingle jog last month.

The Lanier Running Club can help folks meet their fitness goals and make new friendships.

How to join: The club opens its official membership this month through website/Facebook page: www.lanierrunningclub.org. $35 membership fee includes club singlet, workshops, and special race entries. In-person registration is available at running club events.

Group Runs: Open to runners and walkers. • Tuesdays: 5:30 p.m. at Liquid Nation Brewing, 2100 Atlanta Highway. Run on Highlands to Islands greenway to pedestrian tunnel. Approximately 3 miles round-trip. Headlamp or flashlight and reflective clothing recommended. Possible time change to 6 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time. • Saturdays: 8:30 a.m. alternating between Riverside Preparatory Academy, 2001 Riverside Dr., Wild Wings Café, 311 Jesse Jewell Pkwy., and Wilshire Trails, 849 Wilshire Rd. Approximately 6 miles; shorter routes possible.

See website/Facebook page for updated information and additional group runs.

January Race: Braselton Lifepath 8K/5K Run/Walk. 9 a.m. Jan. 7, Northeast Georgia Medical Center-Braselton, 1400 River Place. $38-$43. www.runnersfit.com. Fundraiser for Lanier Junior Olympics.

PHOTO BY LANIER RUNNING CLUB