Laurel of Northeast Georgia April 24

From the Publisher

Art is: Better than therapy and cheaper

An outlet for creative people

An investment in your local community Brings joy to those who appreciate it Can be both functional and a treasure Ageless and priceless Everywhere!

We truly love art at the Laurel, for two decades we have been promoting, displaying and appreciating artists and their work. It is on the cover of every issue and included in our pages. We see it everywhere, there has never been a more accomplished artist than our Creator. From the details in a single dandelion to the way the river flows, it is a gift to us daily.

I bet you know an artist or have art in your home. You may have the artwork of your child or grandchild on your fridge held by a single magnet or a framed fine art piece hanging over your sofa. Perhaps you love pottery and have pieces by local potter and artist Ester Lipscomb or love the furniture crafted and designed by Dwayne Thompson. Whatever speaks to you is what you should fill your home with. Art is a gift from the heart of the giver.

This issue is dedicated in honor of our local and regional artists. You’ll still find the recipes (food art from Lorie Thompson’s kitchen), the outdoors (photography from Peter McIntosh), stories from Mark and Liz (word art), a featured home from Harry Norman Realtors (architectural art), are you following me? Art is in the eye of the beholder! Now Pablo Picasso might not see my art the same as his, but he would probably encourage me to keep painting. So we encourage you to pursue what makes your heart sing whatever that looks like. We all have something wonderful to bring to this world. Find it.

Spring has arrived, there are art festivals coming (see page 16) and the outdoors beg for us to explore them, (see Adventure Out). We were thrilled to share a local young lady’s explorations around the world and some local history from Dick Cinquina for the Rabun County Historical Society.

We are thankful for you and hope you enjoy this issue.

Hugs from here, Tracy

Tracy

Lucas McCoy Graphics | Writing 706-782-1600

Cindi Freeman Manager | Marketing 706-982-0216

Melynda Hensley Marketing | Graphics 706-970-0765

D’Anna Coleman Assistant Manager Graphics 706-782-1600

THE ART ISSUE

Contents

The Arts

10 - Cover Artist - McKaylin Hensley

14 - North Georgia Arts Guild

16 - Sassafras Artisan Market

18 - Second Chances by John Shivers

20 - Emory Jones & Cheever

A Taste

24 - Family Table

28 - Clayton Farmers’ Market to Open

Around Town

30 - My World Travels

32 - Isadora Popper - Well Made Goods

33 - Meet Lauren James-Messer

Faith in Christ

46 - R4G

48 - Tiger Global Methodist Church

50 - Who is Your King?

Healthy and Well

54 - Ask Dr. Jackson - Q-Tips

56 - Care for the Caregiver

58 - Gun Safety & Science

59 - Protecting Children

The Outdoors

60 - Rabun Paws-4-Life

64 - Firmly Rooted

Homes

68 - Harry Norman

Luxury Lake & Mountains

Just Thinking

76 - Lizzie Writes

78 - Traveling the World

82 - HeARTstrings Revisited

84 - Lovin’ the Journey

Looking Back

86 - The Anglo-Cherokee War

The Arts On Our Cover - McKaylin Hensley

Out-of-the-Box Wonderful

Tracy McCoy

Sometimes you just know a shining star when you see one. Art has been in this young lady’s wheelhouse since she could hold a crayon. She is out-of-the-box wonderful and the sparkle in her eye and sweet smile when she talks about her artistic endeavors is infectious. I have known her almost since day one. Her name is McKaylin Hensley and there are great things ahead for her.

McKaylin was born in Rabun County, has lived here her entire 19 years, and graduated from Rabun County High School in 2022. She was was active in the Drama class and President of the InternatThespian society. From the first time she saw art by the very talented Lizzy Falcon, McKaylin has been inspired to pursue a career in art. Sharing Lizzy’s flair for surrealism, McKaylin has been sketching and drawing people, animals, and just about anything else that moves her. The night sky scene with the moths on our cover was created from a look outside of her bedroom window, but there is more to it than meets the eye. The piece is multimedia and three dimensional with a mix of paint, marker, colored pencils, metal and fiber. The moths were created separately and secured to the canvas. The stars and trail of energy from the moths flights are created with metal wire. Recreating this scene into a 2’x3’ canvas, McKaylin included remarkable details.

She is never far from her sketchbook and admits she sees the world through artist’s eyes, noticing even the smallest details in the everyday. I asked McKaylin how many sketch books she has filled and she said over 20. From sketching her cats Finnagain and Missy to designing artful clothing, she is always creating. The upcycled clothing is new for this artist. She finds gently used clothing and interesting embellishments and cuts and sews until she is pleased with the outcome. Sometimes she bleaches and dyes even, using these tools with paint brushes to include art in the design. From there embellishments may or may not be needed to complete the piece. “When I sell my paintings or sketches it is hard because it is like I am giving away a piece of me. The clothing is different. I see it as a gift of art for someone else,” McKaylin told me when we visited this month. She loves to explore new ways of making art and practicing new techniques.

Currently, her day job is working at Calder’s Coffee in Highlands, North Carolina. She is young and just finding her way in this big world. We all remember those challenges of being out on our own, but McKaylin says her art helps her make it through hard days and keeps her pushing forward. I asked her where she saw herself in ten years and she shared her vision with me. “I would love to be comfortable enough to make art full-time and to be in galleries. I want to have my own collection of upcycled clothing that is unique. I hope to always be pushing myself to experience art in new ways, trying new techniques,” she said.

McKaylin has entertained the idea of dabbling in tattoo art. She has designed her own tattoos and designs for others. She currently has two of her own with more planned. For now she is enjoying her art and creating the clothing. She has so many ideas and the possibilities are endless. I was not surprised when she lifted her shoes up to show me how she had added some art to them. I can only say, “Go girl, the world is your canvas!”

You can reach McKaylin by emailing mckaylinreneart@gmail. com.

FINDING ART

Mary’s Art Jewelry

Tricia Moore

Working mostly in silver and copper, Mary Lengnick creates beautiful original jewelry from scratch. Each piece is designed and created individually. As she is constantly learning new methods and techniques, her work continues to evolve. She has plans to take classes in Silver Clay Inlay and Southwestern Jewelry this year at William Holland School of Lapidary to even further her repertoire of jewelry making skills and techniques.

Mary was born and raised in Miami, Florida. Her mother was a watercolor artist, but Mary gravitated toward fiber arts. She stated that she did a lot of sewing. She is retired from being a Senior Vice President in a bank, and she spent close to six years traveling with her husband in a ‘44 trawler. During a stop in Fort Pierce, she visited a bead shop where she “instantly became enamored with the many beautiful types of beads, crystals and stones.” She states that, “After taking one bead class and purchasing many ‘How To’ books, I taught myself to bead.” Winning a free class at William Holland School of Lapidary Arts in Young Harris, Georgia led to her taking many more classes at the school and moving to the area in 1992. She states that she “fell in love with the area and the many ways of creating jewelry.”

Now living in a beautiful home overlooking the lakes in Blairsville, Georgia, Mary has a room in her home specifically dedicated as her workshop. She made the comment that “You can’t imagine how much equipment you need to create your pieces.” The array of tools and equipment she uses in the creation of her jewelry truly is mindboggling. Just the pliers alone, which she has dozens of, are on a pegboard that takes up a large section of a wall. When asked why she had so many pliers, she said she uses each one for a different function. Other tools and equipment include a torch and soldering boards, jewelry saws, various sized tubes for molding the metal on, a doming block and punch set, a tumbler, and a rolling mill.

Mary’s worktable, located in the center of the room, is surrounded by storage cabinets and counters for the storage of her tools, equipment and the materials she uses. She keeps a sketchbook which is chock full of sketches of her ideas for designs. These drawings include many animal and bird shapes. For instance, there was several sketches of a bunny shape for earrings she was designing. She uses the drawing to make a pattern. From this pattern, she cuts the shape out of silver or copper sheet with a jewelry saw.

Mary also uses silver wire in creating intricate filigree jewelry. She talked of the different qualities of silver wire pointing out the differences between 92% silver wire and 99.999% silver wire and the different gauges of wire used. Using 20 gauge silver wire, she demonstrated how she makes the tiny silver balls that she uses in some of her jewelry. This

process includes cutting the wire to a 2” length, folding it in half with needle nose pliers, and using a torch to soften and melt the end with the fold. This, miraculously it seems, forms a ball. Then the whole piece is put into water to harden or set the ball. In addition to metal, she sometimes uses peridot and what Mary called CZs, which are a type of stone, in her designs. Nothing is ever wasted in Mary’s shop. Metal left over from cutting shapes is recycled to use in other pieces. One example of this is using her torch to melt down silver scraps on the soldering board.

The quality and beauty of Mary’s jewelry as well as the time and effort that goes into each and every piece makes her jewelry truly stand out. She sells her jewelry mainly at indoor art shows. She states she has several shows coming up this year including the two guild shows – Sassafras and Painted Fern. She has four shows scheduled for November and several other smaller shows throughout the year. In addition to the shows, Mary’s jewelry can also be seen at galleries in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.

Tricia Moore is a retired teacher, having taught both English and Art in public and private school settings. She is currently an active member of the NGAG and has held several positions on the board. With her background in both art and writing, she feels that writing the NGAG featured artist article in the Laurel of Northeast Georgia is a good fit and something that she will greatly enjoy doing.

Sassafras Artisan Market

ART Treasures Tote Raffle!

April 27 & 28

Our 2024 show once again features the ART Treasures Tote Raffle. ALL proceeds fund the North Georgia Arts Guild Art Scholarship Program, established in 2016. The Guild has awarded $29k in scholarships to talented high school seniors who wish pursue art as part of continuing their higher education. This year’s art scholarship winners will host the high school art exhibit where you can admire the art of future “Monets” and “Calders.”

Two lucky winners will receive an LL Bean, zippered canvas tote filled to brimming with Art Treasures. The totes are beautifully hand painted by our excellent NGAG artists, Cathy Jowers and Diane Rush. Each tote holds more than two dozen original art pieces for a total value over $600. All artwork is created and donated by talented NGAG painters, clay artists, jewelers, woodworkers, and more! Go to SasassafrasArtisanMarket.com for the list of artists and artisans and photos of their ART Treasures donations.

Get your tickets now! Raffle tickets are $20 each, or 3 for $50. Two winning tickets will be drawn at the Market on Sunday. You do not need to be present to win. Delivery is available to winners in Rabun and adjacent counties. Tickets are available Saturdays from 10am to 2pm in front of Butler Galleries, Main Street in Clayton; or anytime during the Market Saturday and Sunday April 27 & 28. While you’re in Clayton, stop by booth #6 in Butlers to see more members’ original art.

Once you have your coveted raffle tickets, shop the juried Artisan Market under the cover of the Rabun County Pavilions. You will meet many skilled artists and artisans offering a wide variety of original art and artisan-made crafts. You will find whimsical and functional pottery, art glass, jewelry, hand-dyed and hand-woven

clothing, leather goods, turned wood, bath & body, artisan-made foods, and much, much more! Remember, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and graduation are just around the corner. Pick up the perfect gift, or a “happy” for yourself. Visit SasassafrasArtisanMarket.com for the complete list of exhibiting artists.

See a sampling of NGAG Guild Members’ art and fine crafts in the Guild Booth in the Central Pavilion. There, you can find out more about Guild activities and opportunities, sponsored events, and the benefits of becoming a member.

Come back July 13 & 14 for our indoor NGAG members show. The Painted Fern Art Festival, also at the Rabun County Civic Center, is always the second weekend in July. Details at NorthGeorgiaArtsGuild.com/Painted-Fern

The North Georgia Arts Guild is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Proceeds from the Sassafras Artisan Market and fund our art scholarship, community outreach, and other NGAG programs. All donations are tax-deductible. Contact us at SasassafrasArtisanMarket.com, or SAM Chairman, Kathy Ford at 706-212-9958.

Second Chances From Author John Shivers Available Now

Author and friend John Shivers has released his latest book, Second Chances, which features Kathryn MacCormick’s inspiring journey to start over. With 27 books in print, John’s storytelling skills are addicting and will leave you wanting more. Second Chances follows Kathryn, who was arrested and imprisoned, and had to depend on her faith in God to get through her tough times. Upon release, she returns to her hometown where she must face the victims and their families whom she had hurt and find a way forward. It won’t be easy, and she knows she can’t do it alone. John’s previous books are still available for purchase on www. Amazon.com or www.barnesandnobel.com in paperback or Kindle format, or directly from the author. His books explore tough subjects such as domestic violence, murder, starting over, and family situations. You may even feel as if it is your own story or that of someone you care about.

John has been a close friend and contributor to the Laurel of Northeast Georgia for over a decade. If you’re interested in purchasing his books or have any questions, please email jswriter@bellsouth.net. Starting in May, a selection of John’s books will also be available for purchase at the office located at 2511 Highway 441 N., Clayton, Georgia 30525. John, his wife Elizabeth, two fur babies, one daughter and son-in-law, and two grown grandchildren reside in Gordon County but love to visit Rabun County. Order your copy of Second Chances and snap a selfie with the book cover and post it, tag John (@john. shivers.505) for a chance to win a free book of your choosing. Winner will be chosen June 1. Look for info to come on a summer book signing in Rabun County.

Emory Jones: A North Georgia Farm Boy Who Scripted His Way into Books and Plays

“Cheever is written from Emory’s heart and the soul of our mountains.”

Tracy McCoy

Emory Jones’ journey from a White County Georgia farm to the literary stages is remarkable. Now a popular speaker, author, and playwright, his narrative skills have birthed ten books, four plays (he’s pregnant with number five), two documentaries, and more magazine and newspaper articles than he can count. Of course, as Emory admits, “I was never good at math.”

Yet it’s his whimsical stories about an imaginary pig named Cunningham that have captured our hearts.

Emory’s bond with pigs dates to his first porcine pet, a gift from a Sears & Roebuck program to the Future Farmers of America (FFA), marking the beginning of a lifelong affinity with these intelligent creatures. This program allowed 4-H and FFA chapters to choose six students who would receive a purebred piglet—five females and one male. The students showed the pigs at area fairs and eventually gave the pick of the litter back to the chapter to perpetuate the program.

So, Emory knows pigs. He even wrote an article once on “equine superfecundation.” Seriously—ask him about it next time you see him. You can’t make this stuff up.

After a stint in the Air Force and his eventual graduation from UGA with a “highly coveted” Agricultural Journalism degree, Emory worked as Publications Manager with Gold Kist, Inc. and as the Southeastern Editor for Farm Journal Magazine. Through his Gold Kist job, he met his wife, Judy. “I went to the company’s New Year’s Eve party in 1977, and there she was. I already had a few other dates lined up, but after that night, I canceled those and have spent the last 45 years dating her.”

“Marrying Judy was the greatest thing I’ve ever done,” he says. “Of course, you might want to get her side of the story on that because she could have done better.”

Emory later joined the Atlanta office of a St. Joseph, Mourisi-based advertising agency called Fletcher/Mayo/Associates. This eventually led to a twenty-one-year job at Freebairn & Company, which resulted in him interviewing farmers in every state in the union. Emory had a very successful career; if you know him, you understand why.

In 1999, Emory and Judy bought a cabin in his native White County to have a place to sleep when they came up from Atlanta almost every weekend. As a six-generation hill boy, the mountains constantly called.

So, in 2001, Emory and Judy came home for good and started a store at the foot of White County’s Yonah Mountain, appropriately named Yonah Treasures. Since then, he’s written ten books about Northeast Georgia. The latest is a children’s tome titled Cunningham, Biscuit, and the Ghost of Captain Nichols, set at Hardman Farm outside Helen.

He’s also written and produced four plays, the best-known of which is probably The Valley Where The Danced, or perhaps Valley Voices, an outdoor drama set at Hardman Farm. But his favorite, he says, will always be the one about his great-uncle, Cheever Meaders, simply called Cheever

Cheever is written from Emory’s heart and the soul of our mountains. The play is based on Memories Etched in Pott’ry, and like the book, the play will tug at your heart. The play is hosted by the Clermont Historical Society and performed on April 11, 12 & 13 at 7:30 PM and April 14 at 3:30 PM. At the Chattahoochee Center, 639 Main Street, Clermont, GA 30527. Tickets are available through eventbrite.com.

Here is a little insider information for you: Later this year, Cheever will be performed as an outdoor drama on the Foxfire Fund’s

property in Mountain City, Georgia. I plan to see it in Clermont and again at Foxfire. Check out Emory’s works on his website, www. emoryjones.com, and look for his columns in our magazine. P.S. Emory’s pet pig, Cunningham, is also in Cheever. He plays the off-stage role of the rooster. Seriously. You have to see it to believe it.

Family Table

Lorie R. Thompson

It is so good to see Spring arrive in Rabun County. The older I get, the longer Winter seems to last. Winter is not my favorite season, although I love snow days. The lack of snow this year was disappointing. It was the first year that I know of without snow. Anyway, I welcome Spring! Mountain Man has the garden turned and ready for planting. Spring lettuces, greens, and herbs are peeking up in the raised beds. We will have fresh salad, broccoli, and kale soon, which is exciting! I am hoping that my pear trees do not get frostbite this Spring. Due to the late frost, it has been three years since I had a pear crop, and my supply of pear preserves has been depleted. Only the two of us are here now, and I have had to relearn how to cook. I enjoyed cooking when the house was full of my children and their friends. I would get scolded if no leftovers were in the fridge for late-night meals. Now, I cook what we can eat in one meal only. It is challenging to scale down my recipes and the quantity of food I make.

One of my go-to meals for two is pork cutlets. Andy’s Market sells packs of four pork cutlets for around $5.00. We will eat three cutlets between us and a few bites for the dog. The leftover cutlet goes on Mountain Man’s morning biscuit the following day, so one package is a perfect size for us.

To prepare the cutlets, start by setting up a dredging station—place 1/2 cup of self-rising flour in a plastic bag. In a shallow bowl, beat two eggs and 1/4 cup buttermilk or milk. In another shallow bowl, add seasoned bread crumbs or panko. (This recipe can be made using glutenfree flour and bread crumbs.) If you have plain bread crumbs, season them with a sprinkle of dill, parsley, and crushed red pepper flakes.

Prepare your pan by heating 1/4 C Avocado or light olive oil and 1/4 C butter. Thinly slice two garlic cloves. Saute the sliced garlic just until the cloves start to brown. Remove the garlic from the oil and reserve to add back into the sauce.

Bring the oil and butter to medium heat. Season each cutlet on both sides with salt and pepper. Dredge each pork cutlet in the flour. Anytime you fry, always dredge first in flour to help hold the crust. Next, dredge into the beaten eggs and finally into the bread crumbs. Cook the cutlets for 3-5 minutes on each side until crisp.

Remove the cutlets to a platter and hold in a warm oven until serving.

Add 1/4 Cup of unsalted butter, 2 T of capers, and juice

to the pan. Slice one half of a lemon as thinly as possible and squeeze the juice from the other half into the pan. Add 1/4 C water or broth. Bring butter, capers, broth, and lemon juice to medium heat. Reduce slightly and remove from heat. Add the thinly sliced lemons and pour over the cutlets. Serve immediately.

Mountain Man loves this with mashed potatoes, but it is also very good with buttered egg noodles or pasta.

I pair this with cabbage steaks. Slice a cabbage head into 1/2” thick steaks. Place on a sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil. Season with lemon pepper seasoning, salt, and red pepper flakes. Roast in a 400-degree oven until cabbage begins to soften.

Serve the cabbage with Ranch dressing or my easy horseradish sauce. Mix 1/4 cup of mayo, 1/2 cup of sour cream, 2T of prepared Horseradish, 1T of Worcestershire sauce, and 1T of apple cider vinegar. To give this basic recipe a flavor punch, add sriracha, Worcestershire, or chili sauce, as you choose. I keep this in my fridge to eat alongside roasted vegetables and add flavor punch items based on what I eat that day.

I am on a Key Lime Cake kick right now, and of course, for me to eat it, it has to be gluten-free. I will share my recipe and the substitutions for GF baking.

For the cake: Add 2C cake flour, 2C sugar, 1.5 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp soda, and mix thoroughly in one bowl. (For the GF option, in place of the cake flour, add 2C of Cup 4 Cup baking flour (or similar), 2tsp of baking powder, 1 tsp of salt, 1 tsp of soda, and 1/4 tsp of Xantham Gum)

In a large mixing bowl, add 1 C vegetable oil, three large eggs, 1 1/4 C of milk (bring eggs and milk to room temperature before baking), and 2 T of fresh lime juice. Blend with a mixer on medium speed for 2-3 minutes. Add 2 T of lime zest. Add dry ingredients and stir together.

Pour into a 9x13 pan that has been wellgreased and floured. (Use butter and GF flour if baking GF Cake) Bake at 325 degrees

until the cake tester (toothpick) comes out clean. Approx 3540 minutes.

Bring two 8-oz blocks of cream cheese and one stick (8-oz) of unsalted butter to room temperature for the icing. Beat at high speed in the mixer for 4-6 minutes. Add a pinch of kosher salt, 1T of lime zest, 1 tsp of vanilla flavoring, and 1T of lime juice, and blend. Add 5C of powdered sugar and thoroughly mix. Add more sugar if the icing needs to be thicker. I keep the sugar as low as possible while getting the icing to the right texture to prevent it from being too sweet. Spread icing on top of the completely cooled cake and enjoy this treat.

May your April be filled with days of warm sunshine, nights with warm rains, many beautiful flowers, and lime cake!

Lorie Thompson is a REALTOR at Poss Realty in Clayton, Georgia. Her expertise in her industry is second only to her culinary talents. Lorie is a dynamo in the kitchen. Honestly if she prepares it, it will likely be the best you’ve ever had! Lorie and her husband, Anthony (Peanut), make their home in the Persimmon Community. She is the proud mother of Joe Thompson and Kendall Thompson.

CLAYTON FARMERS’ MARKET

The Place to be on Saturday Mornings!

The 2024 Season of the Clayton Farmers’ Market begins April 6th and continues through October, each Saturday 9am-1pm at the Covered Bridge Shopping Center in the Northeast Georgia Food Bank Parking Lot. For over 20 years the Farmers’ Market has offered locally grown produce and flowers, homemade baked goods, and jams and jellies. Over the years different products have been added and now it is also the place to find local honey, herbs and herbal products, fresh eggs, mushrooms and microgreens and much, much more. In 2023 the market was opened to crafters so now you’ll also find art of all kinds: paintings, woodwork, crochet, pottery, photography...

Throughout the season special events are being planned: A Children’s Market, The Garlic Festival and The Jelly Jam, just to name a few. There will be days of live music and celebrations throughout the season. Check Facebook for more information as events are finalized.

So beginning April 6th make it a point to stop by on Saturday mornings to visit and see what your local growers and crafters have to offer. It is safe to say you’ll find something new each week.

My World Travels

Jonan Keeny

“When you’re curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.” - Walt Disney

If you haven’t noticed, I really enjoy doing. Generally speaking, I want to be out and about enjoying life. I don’t need to travel far to be happy, as there are plenty of awesome things to see and do right here in our locale. But I’m also a pretty big Disnerd. That is, I am a lover of all (most?) things Disney. (Want to experience the depths of my Disnerdiness? All you have to do is reach out…) And since I hadn’t had a break from work for quite some time, I scheduled a solo trip to Walt Disney World for late February. Just a few days, mind you, to get away, to take some pictures, and to decompress in a place I really enjoy.

But my wife got sick. She was quarantined from the rest of us for about a week, so I canceled my plans to stay at home as the full-time school taxi driver, meal preparer, laundry-doer, etc. Not that I don’t normally help with those things, of course! But it was an unexpected change in plans that had to be made.

So, I spent the week on my deck. Taking pictures, writing, listening to music, and just enjoying what’s here in my backyard. Just some time to relax. To rest. To think. To strum. My deck sessions were interrupted by my typical trips for groceries and such, and it was one of those trips that really got the gears in my head turning. One of the things that I might just take for granted is all of the amazing people here. And I know so few of them!

just before Valentine’s Day, when, with who knows what going on in my mind contributing extra to my general aloofness, the machine seemed to think I was trying to shoplift a card for my wife. (Yes, Ms. Karyn, I am still embarrassed...) She also really excels with Miles. Granted, she equips herself with all kinds of stickers to give out to the kiddos, and let’s face it, the boy LOVES stickers, but she also always offers her kind smile and a kind word. And you know what else? Sometimes she has candy. And since Miles’ favorite candy is candy, she tends to win in that regard, too.

Mr. Tyler and I became acquainted a few months ago when I took a minute just to thank him for always being so friendly. Having a rough day? Going through some stuff? Pass by Tyler hard at work and you’re likely to get a friendly greeting accompanied by his huge smile. If you aren’t smiling after that, pass by him again for another dose! He’ll have you right as rain in no time. Tyler and I talk music, nature, and travel in our brief interactions, and I always look forward to seeing him. But my favorite thing about him? You can hear his voice all over the store greeting other people, often by name (but at the very least “buddy”), spreading joy and promoting goodwill. No pretense, just a genuine generosity of spirit that he shares selflessly.

In one of my very first trips to Rabun County, I recall seeing an elderly couple at the grocery store. We were doing a delicate impromptu ballet as we explored the produce department. At one point, the man looked at his wife and posed the question: “Needsummaters?” I’m no linguist, but my layman’s translation of this is, “Shall we procure some tomatoes, dearest?” And I firmly believe that is the moment I realized how much I loved Rabun County. It’s the little things. It’s the beauty. It’s the people.

So fifteen or so years later, I want to shoutout two of the folks who work at our local Walmart, Ms. Karyn and Mr. Tyler. Ms. Karyn can typically be found at the self-checkout, fixing problems that a buffoon like me can’t handle on his own. She was particularly gracious

The cast of Sesame Street used to ask (and perhaps they still do; it’s been a while for me) “Who Are The People In Your Neighborhood?” That song tends to pop into my head as I walk around town or tip what I call “The Magic Finger” (mommy finger, I promise!) as I drive our country roads. This rural area is so obviously full of awesome people that I see every day, but I don’t always have time to interact with. Perhaps it’s time for me to slow down and go beyond a “good morning” and a smile.

So, “Who Are The People In Your Neighborhood?”

I’d love to meet them.

Jonan Keeny was born in Topeka, Kansas, he got older in Berwick, Pennsylvania, and then he lived a bunch of other places. A lifelong learner and a full-time dreamer, the prospect of grand new adventures gets him out of bed in the morning, with some additional assistance from his two blonde-haired, blue-eyed alarm clocks, of course! Jonan recently rediscovered his passion for photography, which keeps him quite busy tromping around the woods, stopping at random places on the side of the road, and uploading photos to his website, www.myworldpics.com, and his Insta, @dude4disney. When he isn’t wrangling two little boys, he’s likely hanging out with his wife, Mary Lauren, reading a book to learn something new, or dreaming of life’s next adventure and Walt Disney World. Regardless of the activity, he’s probably participating in it while wearing funky socks and a cool hat.

Isadora Popper – Well Made Goods

Tracy McCoy

If you have had the pleasure of visiting Isadora Popper, you know that it is a boutique filled with “well-made goods”. A collection of things owner Dana (pronounced Dan-a) Davidoff loves. The old adage “great minds think alike” applies here because I love pretty much everything in the store! She was born in New York, living a chunk of her life in Florida before falling in love with Thomasville, Georgia, and eventually Clayton, too.

She had a boss once which led to her never wanting to work for another person. She has been an entrepreneur since then and states that she really loves to work. Her resume would speak to this truth. She is a self proclaimed “serial retailer” opening her first business in 1990. Every city that has captured her heart ended up with a store every bit as incredible as Isadora Popper. The success of each business is due in part to her. Dana’s spirit is calm and inviting. She could be described as relaxing, fun, and definitely adventurous. Her store is a direct reflection of her.

Owning multiple stores in the same shopping center at one point, she decided to sell it all and buy an RV and hit the road, so she did. Traveling around for a year or so, she landed in Fort Worth, Texas. When leaving Texas she came to Waynesville, North Carolina where she opened a store and then another in Highlands, North Carolina. She reached out to a friend in Clayton and told her she was looking for a place in Clayton. When a location in Lakemont opened up, she decided that was close enough. She opened Isadora Popper in the Lakemont spot before moving it to it’s current location on Main Street.

Isadora Popper is the 18th business owned by Dana who says they were all different. She calls Greenville, South Carolina home these days. Traveling back and forth is something she doesn’t mind at all. She loves the hip culture and culinary opportunities in the city of Greenville. I would almost bet my last dollar that she is dreaming of her next venture in the Palmetto State. Isadora Popper meanwhile continues to grow and thrive! Now let me attempt to take you through the doors of this store that I love to visit.

There is not enough room here to include everything you’ll find inside these doors but I do think that I can pique your interest. Just inside you’ll find locally made Bean and Basil ice cream, turn to the right and you’ll find art prints that leads to the kitchen and pantry part of the store. Swivel to the right and you will love the stationary and card section of Isadora Popper. The art of written correspondence is making a resurgence and they have everything you need! Making your way down the right hand side you’ll see the chocolate counter filled with truffles and confections to tempt you. If you continue on you will find

treasures for yourself, a friend, your children, your pet, your significant other, or the neighbors who just moved in! Bring your wallet in because you WILL find something wonderful! Looking for a new skincare line? You’ll find it. Do you like to make art? Dana has a collection of watercolor books ready to paint and the brushes, paint, pencils, and items you’ll want to go with it. I want one of everything in this area. You will love the books and cookbooks, baby items, apparel, garden items, and yarn! In the back of the store you’ll find a table with someone knitting. A wonderful selection of Alpaca, Merino Wool, and Pima Cotton yarns with patterns, tools, and even Dana’s new line of ethically made yarn. The newest addition to the Yarn nook is Charles Gandy, known for his knitting ability and a few dozen other things… but his resume will be coming to our pages soon enough. Charles and others teach classes at Isadora Popper, if you are so inclined to learn.

Essentially there is something in Dana’s store for everyone and every budget. “I want people to enjoy coming in the store, I am not just in it for the sale. I want to hear them laugh and see them smile while they browse the store. I have brought the brands and products I love and believe in to Clayton and it makes me happy to share them with others.” The best part is she really means it. So the only thing left is to ask you, when you are going to make your way to Isadora Popper?

Can’t get to Clayton fast enough? You can shop from the comfort of your couch, just visit www.isadorapopper.com or stop in at 33 North Main Street in downtown Clayton, Georgia. You’ll find them open every day and if you have any questions, feel free to give them a call at 706.782.7029.

DOWNTOWN

C L A Y T O N

Dear Rabun County Voters,

My name is Lauren James Messer and I am running for election to be the Clerk of Superior Court. I am a lifelong resident of Rabun County. My parents are Neal James and Hollie Justice, and I am married to Matt Messer. Together, we have three children: Riley (20), Lyla (4), and Gentry (2). I was educated in Rabun County and went on to further my education by earning a Bachelor’s degree from Georgia College & State University in Political Science with a concentration in local government. After college, I knew I wanted to return to my hometown and work within my degree.

I began my career in the Clerk of Superior Court’s office of Macon County, North Carolina. As of today, I have been with the Clerk of Superior Court. In this role, I have gained knowl edge in criminal and civil filings, magistrate court, jury trials, and DSS/Juvenile Court. I spend about half of my time in the office, and the other half in the courtroom assisting the judge, attorneys, the District Attorney’s office and law enforcement. I am proud to say I have a great working relationship with all of them.

I would love to be able to bring the experience I have gained and serve the people of Rabun County as your elected Clerk of Superior Court. I have three main goals for the office should you elect me your Clerk of Court; I will be committed to the timely recording of all deeds, liens, and plats. Additionally, I am promising to make the office accessible to the public and to be a consistent presence. Finally, the passport fees that are accepted by the Clerk’s office will be placed in an account and given back to the community.

My passion is helping people, serving the public, and giving back to the community. I humbly ask for your vote in the upcoming primary on May 21st.

Thank you,

Lauren James Messer

ENew Beginnings

Avery Lawrence

very saint has a past and every sinner has a future. I love this time of year. I guess it might be my favorite season (with the exception of the time change… or at least in the beginning). Who decided to change the clock in the middle of the night on a Saturday? Why not on a Friday afternoon around 2:00 pm? Nevertheless, I love this time of year. I know that Spring is about to show out when the daffodils start blooming. As I write this, the cherry trees, Bradford Pears, and daffodils are in FULL bloom. I love springtime (with another exception of the 28 degree mornings). Short, dismal days full of barren trees and cold winter winds transform overnight to warm afternoons filled with vibrant colors and new life! Spring reminds us that after periods of much-needed rest, there is a new beginning. Dormant plants start to push up through the ground, begging for another opportunity to shine. At my house, the pine straw is down, waiting for the hydrangeas to wake up, the peonies to rise, and the rose bushes to bud. The azaleas should be in full bloom by the time you read this. Trees that have been pruned are beginning to sprout new limbs that will extend toward the sky throughout the growing season. Springtime helps me forget the bitterness of the prior season. Soon, we will be able to enjoy the evenings well into the night.

I have spent the last 23 years transforming my yard into my personal oasis. Each plant has a story. Some were gifts. Some were harvested from old homeplaces. Some were rescued from the back carts in various garden centers. If you have time, stop by. I’ll tell you their stories. I also leave room for annual plants. They are a great way to add instant pops of color. I have a bit of an obsession with plants. I get that from my granny. She could grow anything and she shared the same love and enthusiasm that I have for flowers. She taught me how to “root” plants too. I have successfully “rooted” azaleas and hydrangeas. I have some of her irises that will bloom soon. My favorite memories of her involve

walks through her flowers. She gave me my love for “thrift,” aka creeping phlox. I have an entire bank dedicated to it. Every flower and every plant needs a place to grow. I think I could preach a sermon on that. I even grew a volunteer cactus once. It was happy, until my overspray of weed killer took it out. Funeral was at high noon.

My wife however, does not share this same love for living creatures that thrive on worm castings. She says I have too many flowers. She doesn’t realize just how much ground I still have that is uncovered. She also doesn’t see all the plans that I have in my mind for future expansions. I take her recommendations for what and what not to add to our yard. I don’t do any of it, but I do take it into consideration. She reminds me on every special occasion, to NOT send her flowers. She is from Venus, and I suppose I am from Mars. She rolls her eyes when we visit every greenhouse within 150 miles of here, but deep down, she really doesn’t like all of my plants. But she tolerates me and my ideas. She likes how excited I get when I get to enjoy the fruits of my labor. I see her smiling from the corner of my eye. I have about 15 different hydrangeas, and at least that many different daylilies. Spring is definitely a highlight in my year.

I spent several years in my life preaching in our local jail. I have made a lot of friends there. My message to the inmates was always that we all make mistakes. We are all sinners. We are all in need of forgiveness. We all need new beginnings at some point in our lives. These beginnings are often following long, dormant periods in our lives that involve cold and bitterness. Sometimes, circumstances cause discord in our lives. Most times, it is our choices that lead us down paths that cause heartache, pain, sorrow, and grief. Sometimes, we have to suffer loss to be able to see what we really have; to realize what is most important in our lives. It is usually at the end of a road that we realize that we need a new beginning. We have to reach the point where we realize

Avery Lawrence is the Pastor of Persimmon Baptist Church. Avery is a native of Rabun County and has a great love for Jesus and passion to share the gospel. Avery is the assistant principal at Rabun County Middle School and is loved by all. He is married to Nawana and is step-dad to Casi Best, but more than that he is “Poppy” to Anni and Homer Liam.

that we can no longer do things on our own. Sometimes, we have to lose hope. However…

Our only real hope can be found in Jesus Christ. A relationship with Jesus will change you. I have seen it countless times. I have seen men and women surrender their lives to Christ. I have witnessed the change. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us “therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” We have the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. This is not just turning over a new leaf, or changing our ways. Jesus will change your life! David prayed in the book of Psalms, “create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Amen” (Psalm 51:10). Jesus came to earth so that all could come to repentance and receive eternal life. He gave His life, so that you and I could have a new life…a new beginning.

Now is a time for a new beginning.

Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.

Tiger Methodist Church Welcomes Pastor William F. Boone II

William F. Boone II, who goes by Frank Boone, and his wife Helena have quite a story about how God called Frank into the ministry. He first felt drawn in high school, but he said no and joined the military where he spent 12 years in Airborne Infantry and 8 years as Military Police. He then went to work as Director of Security at a private sector company. While driving to work one day he audibly heard God say, “You are mine”! He did not answer the call at that time, but did continue serving in many positions in the church where he was eventually offered a job in banking. He accepted the banking position but did not stop any of his church activities. When the District Superintendent approached him to ask if he would fill a pulpit Helena heard and adamantly said, “no”. He began praying to the Lord that if He wanted to call him to ministry to preach He’d have to call him through his wife. Several months later they were at a graduation ceremony for a Lay Speaker’s class that Frank had taught. It was there that the District Superintendent came by and said he had a church for Frank. Helena overheard his comment and enthusiastically, and without hesitation said, “Yes”! That is when Frank knew it was God’s will for him to fill a pulpit.

Frank became Pastor of, Wesley Chapel in Villa Rica, GA in 2003. He was sent there to close a financially struggling church with few members. But God said to him, “Let me show you what I can do.” In the eight years that he was behind the pulpit there they were blessed. They had everything they needed and prayed for. The church grew by leaps and bounds and were once again filled with the Holy Spirit. They even built a 2.5 million dollar Family Life Center.

At 61, Frank informed his Bishop he was ready to retire. The Bishop replied, “Frank, you need my permission to retire.” The Bishop had a church in need of a pastor. As he was driving home he was once again thinking of how he didn’t want to fill a pulpit unless God called him there. Right before Six Flags with the Atlanta Skyline in the distance he

heard, “You are mine.” God doesn’t have to speak audibly for you to hear Him. He pulled over and heard again, “You are mine”. Frank pastored Midway UMC in Douglasville, GA for five years. One Sunday in 2012 while in the middle of a sermon Frank had a stroke. One of the congregants recognized what was happening and they immediately called for an ambulance. Being stubborn and feeling like he had many more important things to do, Frank refused to go to the hospital until the following Tuesday. The stroke caused Broca Aphasia which causes speech difficulties. The doctors and therapists told him it would take at least six months to fully regain his speech. Three months later, however, he was restored and back in the pulpit. After serving as pastor for five years, the church was thriving and Frank was allowed to retire at the age of 66.

The Boone’s moved to Florida and stayed for 6 years. In 2021, Frank and Helena’s son asked his parents to move back to Georgia and live on part of the 35 acres near Elijay he had recently purchased. He said he wanted his mom closer in case something happened to Frank. Finally, after many prayers and much deliberation, they were convinced that was the best idea. They bought a camper and put it on their son’s property to live in while they built a home.

After moving to Ellijay, Frank and Helena started attending Canton First, a church that had become part of the Global Methodist Church (GMC). Frank had recently transferred his credentials to the GMC, where he is an Elder. The senior pastor of that church, Rev. Dr. Kenny Ott, was an old friend Frank had met many years ago. Kenny asked Frank if he wanted a church. He went on to tell him about a small congregation in Tiger that were also becoming a part of the GMC and were in need of a Pastor. Frank agreed to fill-in “Just for a month.” When we sat down for this interview it had been eight weeks and the Boone’s were still there. “This is the most loving congregation” Pastor Frank told me. “The Holy Spirit is here.” Helena agreed and added that this is

the reason that she decided to become a member of the church! Frank is unable to join since he is a pastor in GMC.

Every week, the couple come on Saturday and stay in the home of Gary and Melissa Elzey to be at Tiger Global Methodist Church on Sunday morning. The church is growing and thriving with Frank pastoring them. Frank and Helena love being at the little church on the hill facing Tiger Mountain. They are praying that God will use them for His purpose here and that the church will be filled with people looking for a relationship with Jesus. The Global Methodist Church states that they are making disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly. Pastor Frank, Helena and the congregation at Tiger invite you to join them for worship where they follow the GMC mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly.

Tiger Global Methodist Church is located at 64 Pleasant Place Road, Tiger, Georgia. They are active on Facebook (Tiger Methodist Church). They have services on Sunday mornings at 11 AM with Sunday School starting at 10 AM.

When There Is No One To Vote For: A Christian Perspective on Political Voting

Dr. Russell L. Huizing

With the approaching local and national elections, I thought that it would be important to consider what scripture has to say about political leaders. Matthew (1:1) immediately identifies Jesus,, the Son of David, the King. The King expected by Old Testament writers was a strong, mighty, leader. He would bring peace, justice, prosperity, and blessing. Matthew says that in Jesus, this King has come.

But then Matthew begins to give us glimpses of other kings. The first king we read of is King Herod the Great (2:1-3). He hears about the child who has been born, The King of the Jews. This is troubling to Herod because he thinks of himself as a king of the Jews. If this King has come on the scene, then that will mean Herod will need to step aside. But Herod has a plan (2:7-8). Of course, Herod has no intention of worshipping this new King – he wants to kill Him. But the plan is thwarted, and we get to see Herod’s true heart (2:1618). Herod the Great doesn’t care about the King – all he cares about are his own ambitions.

The next king we read of is the son of Herod the Great, Herod Antipas (14:1-12). John was a herald that went before King Jesus proclaiming to the people that He was coming and the only proper preparation for that coming was repentance. This did not sit well with Herod Antipas because he was living in sin with his brother’s wife and John had no qualms pointing it out to him. So, Herod Antipas had John arrested and put in prison. Since John is a representative of Jesus the coming King, whatever Herod does to John, he in essence is doing to Jesus (14:6-10). Rather than prepare himself for

the coming King by being repentant, Herod pursues deeper and deeper sinfulness. Herod Antipas doesn’t care about the King – all he cares about is his status before others.

The next king we read about appears to be Jesus but what we find is He is not the one that people actually want as king (21:8-11). Here we have the crowds all worked up because they see Jesus riding on a donkey and they immediately remember the prophecies about the king coming on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). And so, they immediately pay homage and honor to Him, calling Him the Son of David. But Jesus is not the king that they wanted. They wanted a king that was going to rule over their land, kick out the Roman foreigners, and provide for their temporal needs and aspirations. When Jesus failed to do so, they left Him by the side of the road with not even a peep from the crowd in protest as He died. As quickly as the crowd had gathered to give Jesus praise, the crowd disbursed in a denial of their own actions. The crowd doesn’t care about the King – all they care about are their own dreams of what their king should be like.

The last example of a king is presented by Jesus Himself in a parable (Matthew 22:1-6). Presented with the high honor and privilege of being invited by the King to his son’s wedding banquet, the people ignore the invitation. When pushed to make a decision, they snub the King opting to instead participate in activities that they could have done any other day of the week. In fact, some are so bold as to mistreat and kill the King’s servants who are nothing more than messengers. The invited don’t care about the King –

they foolishly believe their own lives to be more important than the King Himself.

Now before we move on from here, I want to ask us a question – who is my king; who is your king? Who do we give our allegiance to? Do we give our allegiance to ambition?

Herod the Great was the king of Israel – but an Israel that was under the rule of Rome. He wasn’t even his own king; he was the king under another king. If he wasn’t involved in the Christmas story, you would never even know his name, he is so insignificant in the course of history. Our ambitions can consume us the same way they consumed Herod the Great – to the point that we will do anything to make something more of ourselves. And what does it amount to? Barely a scratch on the surface of history.

Who is your king? Do we give our allegiance to status, always asking what do others think about me, the way I dress, the job I have, the car I drive, the things I say? Herod Antipas so blindly pursued status that he wound up doing anything in order to look good in front of others. And what do we think of Herod Antipas? He is a philandering, immoral, murderer – some status.

Who is your king? Do we give our allegiance to our dreams?

Notice how quickly the dream of the crowd evaporates. Within a week they go from a crowd ready to hail Jesus as their king to a crowd the following week that has a total apathy towards His death. Dreams are like the wind, always shifting with the whims of our life’s circumstances and therefore totally unpredictable and uncertain.

Who is your king? Do we give our allegiance to ourselves?

We don’t, of course, like to think of ourselves as being that selfish. But when The King invites us to celebrate and participate and serve in His kingdom, we find that we have other excuses – probably all good things, but excuses, nonetheless. Because we really care more about our own lives than what the King is doing.

In Matthew 25:31-46 we are introduced to the King, the Son of David. We have been blessed by a democratic republic. Because of that, our country can elect a president that we either agree or disagree with. Perhaps in one area of his administration we are in agreement. Perhaps in another we are in disagreement. But because we have been blessed with this government, we can hold opposing views with our leaders. And, so long as we stay within the law, we are able to act however we want towards that president. We can disagree and still go on with our lives pretty much however we want. Not so with this King, the Son of David. If Matthew 25 teaches us anything, it teaches us that we cannot approach this King saying, “I like what you’re doing here, so I’m going to join you here, but over there, I’m not so

sure, so I’m going to hold back.” We cannot approach this King saying, “I want to be your servant, but you know, you’re cramping my ambitions, my status, my dreams, MY life.” If this passage teaches us anything, it teaches us that the most seemingly insignificant actions of our lives, when done in service to the King, are ways to honor Him. It teaches us that the most seemingly insignificant actions of our lives, when done for any other king, is an act of treasonous rebellion. This passage teaches us that if we are not willing to give everything of ourselves to Jesus, the Son of David, then what we are showing is that He is not really our King. Now, this hurts our sensibilities. It seems so self-serving for Jesus to ask us to give everything for Him. But in the clearest of ways possible, Jesus shows the type of King that He is. He is no tyrant who demands everything out of egocentric self-consumption. He demands from His servants nothing more than He Himself has already done (Matthew 27:27-37). Jesus, the King, has given completely of Himself. He asks no less from you and I.

Who is your king? Who do you give allegiance to? The answer to that question brings us back to Matthew 2:10-12. Notice the response of the Magi. They are overjoyed at the prospect of seeing the King before the Magi even got to see Jesus face to face. Are we overjoyed at the prospect of seeing Jesus our King throughout our day?

When in the presence of the King, the Magi bow. Their own ambitions, their own status, their own dreams, their own lives, are humbly set aside so that they might give the honor and recognition to the King that He so rightly deserves. Do we bow our lives before our King Jesus?

When in the presence of the King, the Magi worship Him. Not only did they humble themselves by bowing, but they lifted Him up in worship. This is perhaps the breaking point for many followers of Jesus as we do what we have to do to give the appearance of worship but under our breath and within our hearts, we continue to worship another. Do we worship Jesus, the Son of David?

When in the presence of the King, the Magi presented Him with their gifts. These are not simply items that they picked up at the Walmart in Bethlehem, token gifts, or regifts. These are quite likely the most valuable things the Magi have to offer. We give as much as we have to and up to a point but past that point, then the cost becomes too high. Are we willing to give everything – even that which is most precious to us – to Jesus our King?

Finally, the Magi returned by another route. They returned that way because that is what they were told by God to do. They were obedient. In being disobedient to Herod they were being disobedient to Caesar. They risked bringing the full anger of Rome upon whatever nation they were from.

Perhaps, this is the most tangible means of measuring our allegiance to our King: Will we do what He tells us to do? What has Jesus your King been telling you to do? Are you doing it?

These are the questions before us this election season: Do we desire the presence of Jesus? Do we bow our lives before Him? Are we willing to worship Him? Are we willing to give everything to Him? Are we willing to obey Him in whatever He tells us to do?

Christians seem as confused as they have ever been on the choices that are before them for political leaders. I think we are confused because we have forgotten who our King is. Yes, we are citizens of America and God has blessed us in a way unique to nearly any other time in history – we get to vote. But if we have faith in Jesus our citizenship is not American –we are citizens of heaven and our responsibility and allegiance and submission is first, foremost, and always to the King of heaven (Philippians 3:20-21). There is no earthly ruler who is going to set everything right, establish justice, heal the brokenness of our land, and bring peace to us. No. Earthly. Ruler. Only Jesus, our King, can do that.

So how should Christians vote?

Educate yourself about the candidates. Learn about them. Discern them. Remember that a bad tree cannot bear good fruit and a good tree cannot bear bad fruit (Matthew 7:18-20).

But then what will your vote be? Will your vote be a statement of your own ambitions, status, dreams that you have for our country – just an extension of your own life? I want to suggest that your vote can be an act of worship – just like a piece of bread, a cup of water, a piece of clothing, welcoming someone, and visiting someone can be an act of worship. It is not an act of worship because of the person that you vote for – the person you vote for is not the point. Your vote is only an act of worship if you listen for what God is saying to you and then obediently follow what He guides you to do.

After you have educated yourself about the possible candidates, stop watching the TV, internet, and social media. Stop reading the papers and listening to the radio. Sit down with scripture. Read Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, and 1 & 2 Chronicles to see what types of leaders please and displease God. He’s given us seven whole books of the Bible to figure it out from. Read Proverbs to find out what wise rulers look like. Pray that God would give you wisdom as you vote. Be still and silent long enough for you to hear God’s voice guiding you who to vote for and then vote for that person, even if it requires you to write in the vote. Be obedient to what God tells you to do and that obedience will be a worship of God.

Will you vote for the candidate you support if God tells you to vote for that candidate? Of course, its easy to be obedient and worship God when it goes along with our expectations. But will you vote for the candidate you do not support if God tells you to vote for that candidate? Will you write in a candidate if that’s what God tells you to do? And if you are unwilling to listen for God’s voice in the pages of scripture, if you are unwilling to take time to be silent and still before God, if you find it unthinkable that God might ask you to do something that is difficult with your vote, if you are unwilling to be obedient to what He says to do, then who are you worshipping when you vote?

Jesus – from His birth to His death and ever since – has presented many people with all sorts of possible reactions. In many cases, they acted in favor of their own ambitions, status, dreams – ultimately, they acted in favor of themselves. Every look at the King of Kings presents us with the same picture of the same King – He comes and by His very presence opposes any other king that you or I have set up in our life. This election season, we are asked the same questions asked all those years ago. Who is your king? To whom do we give our allegiance?

Dr. Russell L. Huizing is the Pastor at the Sky Valley Chapel, a church for all people. Worship service information can be viewed online at skyvalleychapel.com. He is also the Professor of Pastoral Ministry at Toccoa Falls College and an adunct instructor at Regent University.

ASK DR. JACKSON

Frequently asked questions with common sense answers from a community ENT physician

Q: Dr. J, just what is wrong with Q-tips? Everyone says that you shouldn’t put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear. If you shouldn’t use cotton swabs to clean your ear canal, why do they sell them?

A: I love cotton swabs!

The reason that I love cotton swabs is because they bring in business. Q-tips keep me in BMWs.

The ear canal is the size that it is for a reason. The same way that your finger is the size that it is for a reason. You are not meant to clean your own ear canal. It is supposed to clean itself.

If a normal person cleans out a normal ear canal with a cotton swab, a normal person’s ear canal will itch, weep, and any water that goes in will not bead up and fall out as it would if you’d left the ear wax alone to do its duty. Unfortunately, if a normal person’s ear canal itches, weeps, and water won’t come out, a normal person will be tempted to use another cotton swab. We refer to this conundrum as a Catch-22.

The ear canals are warm, dark, often wet holes in both sides of your head that are lined with skin. Normal skin cells die and shed. Shed, dead skin in a warm, dark, wet place is a perfect environment for bacteria or fungus to feed and grow. Normally, a thin coating of ear wax sheds with the dead skin, serving as a protective barrier that keeps the ear canal healthy. If an infection occurs in the ear canal, the surrounding skin becomes inflamed, sheds faster, and provides more food for the offending bacteria or fungus, amplifying the problem.

Interestingly, I get a lot of negative feedback when I recommend not using swabs. My “Q-tip addicts” will give every excuse in the book to keep up the practice, desperately clinging to the hope that I won’t recommend ending their “fix”. They justify and defend the behavior. They get upset, claiming they “don’t go in that deep” and try to reason with me. They shrug off the notification ON THE PACKAGE that they SHOULD NOT USE THE PRODUCT TO CLEAN THEIR EAR CANALS. The companies sell cotton swabs because people buy them, probably laughing at their printed warning. They make a lot of money. They know their customers don’t care about issues with their product. Somebody must fill that market space.

Seriously, the ear canal does clean itself. In most people, anyway. There is a natural migration of skin from the center

of the ear drum to the medial skin of the canal and then out of the ear.

Ear wax is secreted by glands in the ear canal to mix with the shed, dead skin in its progression. Ear wax is sterile. It is also bacteriostatic, meaning bacteria can’t grow on it. It inhibits fungal overgrowth as well. Infection of the ear canal is referred as external otitis, or “swimmer’s ear”.

You can get the rate that the ear canal skin sheds to pick up speed if you merely use your forefinger or a washcloth to clean off the top layer of skin at the opening of the canal. So, if you absolutely have to “clean the ear canal”, you could clean the opening in this manner more frequently.

There are people who generate excessive ear wax, and we cater to these unfortunate few victims of bad genes and poor luck. Ear wax softening agents can help, as well as the new over-the-counter flushing apparati. Ear candles leave the coolest, interlocking diamond smoke/debris pattern for me to observe on the wall of the ear canal with my ear speculum. And they don’t really hurt to use and can help a little.

As for why our fingers can’t fit in the ear canal, I tell patients that it might be evolution. Anyone who could clean their own ears suffered complications leading to death before procreation. And if you believe God created us this way, He just doesn’t want you digging down there. That’s why it hurts so much when you do it.

So, if you want to go against God’s recommendation and clean your ear canals with a swab, go right ahead. We are all flawed, after all. A percentage of you will end up in my office requiring help because of this poor decision. My BMW X3 is 5 years old, and the new models look sharp.

Be Kinder to Yourself

Keith Jackson, MD is a graduate of Medical College of Georgia and Emory Medical School, where he completed his Residency in ENT. Dr. Jackson practiced as an ENT specialist in Atlanta at Northside, Scottish Rite, North Fulton, and Saint Joseph’s Hospitals until moving to Lake Rabun in 2020. Currently, he is in full-time ENT practice at Mountain Lakes Hospital in Clayton, Georgia. His interests include music and art. Dr. Jackson is a Rotarian and enjoys giving back to the community.

Care for the Caregiver

As of 2023, over 11 million Americans provide unpaid care to their loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Caregiving for a family member can be necessary and rewarding but can also lead to health risks for the caregiver. Poor caregiver health is one of the top reasons families seek senior living. If you are caring for an aging relative with dementia, it is essential to be aware of the physical and emotional tolls you may face. It is crucial to monitor your own health in addition to your loved one’s. You can take advantage of local caregiver support groups, financial assistance, and other resources to help alleviate any burdens.

According to a study by researchers at the University College of z, dementia caregivers report higher levels of stress, more depression and anxiety symptoms, and lower levels of subjective well-being than non-caregivers. Caregivers who feel unprepared or trapped in their role experience more significant mental health effects than those who choose or expect to provide care. Poor health and behavioral problems in elderly loved ones directly correlate with heightened caregiver stress levels.

Dementia behaviors like wandering, aggression, inappropriate actions, and sundowners syndrome can make family members feel like they’re caring for a stranger. Emotional manipulation and verbal abuse from loved ones, which can be potential late-stage signs of dementia, can be crushing to family caregivers. Caregivers who dedicate 20 hours or more per week to unpaid family caregiving experience increased depression and psychological distress, impaired self-care, and worse self-reported health. Caregiver depression increases as the elderly relative’s level of function declines. Because of this, dementia caregivers have higher instances of depression than non-dementia caregivers. The CDC estimates that about 60% of dementia caregivers suffer from high rates of emotional distress, and approximately 40% report symptoms of depression.

Spousal dementia caregiving results in a restricted social life, less personal time, and emotional distress. It can be challenging to have your life partner forget cherished memories and show aggression towards you. Additionally, a study has found an increased risk of dementia for spouses of persons with dementia.

Although there are fewer studies examining the physical health risks in those caregiving for dementia family members, nearly one in three dementia caregivers feel that their responsibilities have made their health worse. That number surges for caregivers who report loneliness - nearly half of lonely caregivers feel their health has been negatively affected. Chronic conditions, persistent caregiver stress, and disregard for personal health all contribute to the physical impact of dementia caregiving.

If you are a caregiver, it is essential to take a break from time to time. You can ask a willing family member to step in for a bit, or find respite care for your loved one as you take some time to relax. You can also find what works best for you and your loved one. It may be best for your loved one to age in place, or you may prefer them to move into your home. You can weigh the pros and cons and decide what benefits both of you. If your loved one’s needs are increasing and it’s becoming difficult to care for them at home, you may want to consider moving them to a memory care facility. Joining an online dementia-care forum or in-person caregiver support group can also help you feel less alone as you share experiences, receive advice, and encourage one another. Locally, the Dementia Support Group at Clayton Presbyterian Church offers free support to all caregivers of dementia patients. You can meet others who are in the same scenario and seek the help they offer.

If you need someone to talk to or want more information, please call 706-782-2167.

Rabun County Board of Health Talks Gun Safety

Susan T. Cookson, MD, MPH Rabun County Board of Health Physician

Many people owning guns do not know where most gun violence occurs. Families buy guns because they think they will make them safer; but does gun ownership in the home make us safer?

As a physician and medical epidemiologist, rather than look at anecdotic events or newspaper headlines, I look at the science. A recent study (in Annals of Internal Medicine) found family members were killed seven times more often by spouses or partners than by non-family persons. That same study and the larger Annals’ study both found that families owning guns had twice the homicide rate of non-gun owning homes. Another recent nationwide study (in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) showed that unintentional injuries are the TOP cause of death of our children aged 1–17 years, with firearms being a leading method.

Analyzing data from the Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH) for 2017-2022 in Rabun County, there were 21 suicides; with 2/3rd to 4/5th of the suicides caused by guns: an annual fraction higher than our Public Health District 2 or than the State as a whole. In fact, suicide was the #1 cause of premature deaths in Rabun County in 2020 and within the top 10 of premature deaths for the last 6 years of available data. And yet, homicide in the act of self-defense is nowhere to be found in the top 10 causes for premature deaths for the last 10 years in Rabun County.

The statistics on the use of guns in preventing crimes and deaths, i.e., self-defense, have been also studied at several scientific centers. One such center, Harvard School of Public Health, Injury Control Research Center, has been publishing studies on this since the last century. To summarize their findings, guns used in self-defense are ‘rare events…lead[ing] to large overestimates’, ‘firearms are used far more often to frighten and intimidate than…used in self-defense,’ and ‘guns in the home are used more often to frighted intimates [family members] than to thwart crime.’ If only the gun deaths within our American homes were such rare events rather than the over 1,000 deaths of our children and even more deaths of our other family members.

So, isn’t it time to secure guns (keep them locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition) to protect our families? Who are we protecting? Don’t we have good law enforcement? Isn’t it time to remove guns from children who are a risk to themselves and others, including their teachers? With any gun ownership there must be proper education and awareness of firearm safety. Gun ownership is a BIG responsibility that MUST be taken seriously and safely. That said, turkey season is upon us, be safe and happy hunting.

Susan Cookson, MD, MPH, FACP (retired, US Public Health Service) is an accomplished Infectious Diseases Board-certified Physician with a Master’s degree in public health. She is also an Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine Board-eligible Physician. Susan’s resume is quite impressive including a 25 year career with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 years with Dekalb Board of Health and 3 years with the Georgia Division of Public Health. Today, Susan resides in Rabun County and is working for the Rabun County Board of Health as a Preventive Medicine consultant.

Given newspaper headlines on gun violence, more people are becoming increasingly concerned with the safety of themselves and family. With any gun ownership there must also be proper education and awareness of firearm safety. Gun ownership is a BIG responsibility that MUST be taken seriously. Come join Mark Gerrells as he covers the topic of safe, responsible gun ownership in the home. He will be launching the first of the quarterly Public Health Lecture Series. It will be on April 16, 5-7pm at the lower level, below the Rabun County Health Department, at 184 S Main Street, Clayton, GA. Refreshments will be provided.

Protecting Children in a Digital Age

(Family Features) Keeping a watchful eye on your kids requires an increasing level of tech savvy many parents find intimidating. Not only are your kids vulnerable to bad actors online, but your family’s personal information could be at risk, as well.

Learn how to protect your children and family in this digital age with these tips:

Elementary-Age Children

• Encourage open communication. Have conversations about what your kids see and do online and talk with them about potential dangers. Avoid lecturing in favor of an open exchange of information.

• Make their inherent interest in privacy work in your favor. Kids in this age group, particularly toward the middle school years, understand the concept of privacy and value it immensely. Use that context to help them understand what goes online is there to stay. Talk about what kinds of information should always be kept private, including identifying details like addresses and social security numbers.

• Stay on alert. Not all apps are completely safe (even the ones you can access from trusted stores) and not all filters are foolproof. Keep close tabs on what your kids are downloading by reading comments and reviews, and regularly monitoring what kind of content they see.

Middle School and High School Kids

• Continue talking about privacy. You can never have too many conversations about privacy. What seems like harmless sharing on social media can be quite revealing. For example, frequent posts about visits to a favorite store or restaurant can allow a predator to begin tracking behavior patterns that make your child a target. It’s also important for kids to understand how their privacy settings work. For example, settings that allow exposure to friends of friends make their visibility to strangers much broader than they may realize.

• Help manage their online reputation. Behaviors that once resulted in a day or

two of hallway chatter can now live forever. Documenting mischief online is only fun until it spills over into real life and everyone sees those mistakes in full color – including prospective future employers.

• Be clear about your position on bullying. From the safe distance of a screen, it’s easier for kids (and adults) to say things they’d never say in person. Teach your kids to handle problems constructively offline and avoid engaging in attacks on others through social media, email and other platforms.

College Students

• Reinforce the risks. Once they’re on their own, kids may feel more liberated to make their own choices online. However, college students are easy prey for identity theft and worse. Remind them what’s at stake if they fail to protect their identity and private information, like where they live and what they do on a regular basis.

• Teach smart practices. With all the independence that comes with college life, this is an ideal time for your student to take personal responsibility for his or her online security, including learning about virus protection, updating software, avoiding scams and backing up data.

If you’re looking for more practical advice for everyday family matters, visit eLivingtoday.com.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Adventure Out Lake Winfield Scott Lake Trail

Peter McIntosh

For our April adventure, we’re heading over near Blairsville and taking a nice easy hike on the loop trail around Lake Winfield Scott. This is a mostly level trail with a few gentle ups and downs. It’s just under 1/2 mile around the lake, but what I like to do on these trails is do the loop twice, hiking in opposite directions. And there should be ample opportunities to see mountain wildflowers. If you are really looking for a longer hike, this location has you covered, as Jarrad Gap Trail and Slaughter Gap Trail share a common trailhead, located on the lake’s southern tip. Both of these trails connect to the Appalachian Trail so you could make those trails and the AT, 6 mile loop. (Please bring a map if you plan on doing this loop.)

Lake Winfield Scott has historical significance on two levels. Number one, this was the last project completed by the Civil Conservation Corps in Georgia and one of the last few in the country. There are placards along the main road in this recreation area giving detail information about the CCC and their work on this project. Number two is the man this lake is named after. Winfield Scott was a fabled U. S. Army general, a United States diplomat, and a presidential candidate. He

was often referred to as the “Grand Old Man of the Army” and the somewhat less flattering moniker, “Old Fuss and Feathers.” The second nickname originated from the general’s insistence on proper military bearing, courtesy, appearance, and discipline. (I kinda like this guy.)

Now back to the recreation area that bears his name. There are campsites available for both tents and RV’s. There are numerous picnic areas and pavilions, large and small. There are also rental cottages if you’re so inclined. There’s a boat ramp (no gasoline engines), and a swimming beach. And last but not least, public restrooms. Lake Winfield Scott is a great place to enjoy the coming spring and get a little exercise. Happy hiking! As we welcome the spring, my April poem I bring:

Let’s get out and get going for Heaven’s sake, And go for a walk around a cool mountain lake.

For a springtime adventure this place hits the spot, ‘Tis well worth a visit, Lake Winfield Scott.

Getting there: From Hwy 76 W in Blairsville, turn left onto the Gooch Bypass (across from Aldi’s). Turn left onto Hwy 19 S and go a little less than 10 miles to Hwy 180 on the right. (This is just before Vogel State Park.) Follow this very winding road for 6.9 miles to the wellmarked entrance on the left. You’ll pass by the lake after crossing a bridge, but the main entrance is further down the road.

For more information:

www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234469

To see more of Peter’s photos or if you have a question or comment:

www.mcintoshmountains.com

Peter McIntosh is an accomplished professional photographer. His photography is displayed in collections across the country. His passion for nature and the outdoors is what fuels his column. His work is available as fine art prints. Peter offers one on one and small group instruction on camera operation and photography. To see more of Peter’s photos, or if you have a question or comment, visit Peter’s website: www.mcintoshmountains.com

Firmly Rooted Flower Farm

Victoria (Tori) Carver

Can I have a raise of hands for those of you who have heard of feverfew? I honestly had not until I started flower farming, but since that time I have had many customers tell me their grandmothers used to grow it. I also later found out that feverfew has been used for centuries as a medicinal treatment for headaches, arthritis, and inflammation. Coincidence? Probably not. I’m convinced our grandmothers knew absolutely everything!

On the flower farming front, feverfew is my favorite filler flower. It comes in several different varieties including little miniature daisy-like flowers and white and yellow fully double blooms that look like tiny floating clouds.

The plant is native to the Balkans and part of western Asia, but is now widely grown in Europe, North America and Australia. If you google Feverfew, it will tell you that it is a perennial that blooms between July and October, but here on my farm, I think it grows better in the late spring. I have grown it in both the spring and late summer, but the mere abundance of stems and increased stem length from those grown to harvest in late May/early June have convinced me to continue to focus on it as a late spring crop. (I do have an area in my yard where it is treated like a perennial, but until I can find a larger, permanent location, I grow it as an annual). I plant the seedlings in November and cover them with frost cloth on very cold nights and in late May it explodes into a sea of tiny flowers the sight of which would make even the crankiest of curmudgeons smile. If I properly harvest at the base of the plant, I normally get a second flush a month or so later. The second flush is less spectacular than the first, but it still suits me just fine.

I have done a little side research over the years regarding its medicinal purposes and it is quite interesting. Most of the over-the-counter products you find in health food stores contain dried feverfew leaves that have been freeze-dried or lowheat dried but people actually eat fresh leaves too! Feverfew became popular in the 1980s as a treatment for migraines. Apparently eating a few fresh feverfew leaves daily treats and prevents migraines. If you are unfamiliar with feverfew, the leaves give off a strong and somewhat bitter odor. I personally think it smells fresh and clean, but the taste of the leaves? Definitely strong and bitter!! Yuck!

Now remember I am not a health food expert so please do not think that preparing a feverfew leaf salad will cure all your ailments. But certainly, if you suffer from migraines, it might be worth talking to your doctor or researching the medicinal purposes of feverfew on your own.

As for me, I will continue to grow this versatile and cheerful flower for all of my market bouquet needs but will wholeheartedly refrain from eating the daisies.

Victoria (Tori) Carver is a flower farmer. From the thousand bulbs and plants that she puts in the ground each year she creates lovely bouquets. Tori and her husband and children make their home in Clayton, where they are a treasured part of the community. If you are interested in Firmly Rooted Flower Farm please reach out by email to firmlyrootedflowerfarm@gmail.com or phone 706-490-0041. You will also enjoy their website at www.firmlyrootedflowerfarm.com

Happy Spring

Firmly Rooted Flowers

Contemporary Burton Home is Unparalleled Luxury

John Shivers

When it comes to the newly-constructed home at 1572 Parker-Hollifield Road in Tiger, it’s difficult to know which is more arresting: the striking appeal of the dramatic charcoal grey and black exterior, or Georgia’s best mountain views as seen from inside this 4,382± square foot Lake Burton property. Either way, the modern luxury that awaits the new owner of this contemporary home is unparalleled.

From its 1.1± acre site overlooking the lake, the five bedroom, five and one-half bath home offers sleek, streamlined interiors, thanks in part to the floor-to-ceiling walls of glass that unite unforgettable water and mountain vistas.

One descriptor that repeats throughout this tri-level home is the use of high-end finishes, custom architectural embellishments, and a degree of creative quality that is outstanding. The gourmet kitchen with custom cabinets topped with quartz, for example, boasts of top-tier

appliances including a 48-inch Wolf® range, a sub-zero wine tower and built-in Meile® coffee machine. Be sure to note the convenient butler’s pantry. Eight-inch character grade white oak flooring throughout, and custom white oak doors provide striking contrast throughout. This home features a two-car garage and is pre-wired for sound, security and home automation systems, and has a Navien® tankless hot water heater, and a water filtration system.

The living room with its steel-wrapped fireplace and the adjacent dining area that easily seats eight or more offer unobstructed birds-eye views of the lake, and all three levels are flooded with beautiful light.

The owners’ suite and en suite bath, complete with a shower window that embraces the marvelous views, completes the main level. The floating staircase that connects the different levels leads to a loft with stunning views and a wet bar. Use it as an office, exercise room, or quiet space to enjoy the sunset.

On the daylight terrace level, take advantage of the media

room, wet bar and built-in full-over-full bunks. Four guest bedrooms with lake views and private baths complete this level.

Covered porches off both the main and terrace level greatly expand the home’s livability footprint. On the main-level porch that enjoys a panoramic view of Burton, a second stone fireplace and a built-in grill and overhead heaters make this porch a gathering spot for much of the year. The terrace level porch provides access to a fire pit overlooking sweeping mountain, lake and sunset views, all of which afford an unparalleled degree of lake living luxury.

Harry Norman, REALTORS® Luxury Lake and Mountain agent Leigh Barnett, cell number 404-931-3636, can answer all your questions on GMLS #20162111 located 1.8 miles from the Murray Cove Road public boat ramp and 5.5 miles from Anchorage Marina. Contact her at the Harry Norman office, 706-212-0228.

Service Professionals

Just Thinking

Lizzie Writes

Big Mama and Big Daddy Snapshots

Liz Alley

Iam sitting at my kitchen table, reviewing snapshots in my mind of my last trip home to the mountains. There is one of my friend, Caroline, her mother, Nancy, and me eating fried chicken at The Clayton Café. Our heads are bent together in laughter as Caroline and I confess to Nancy some of the things we did as teenagers. Silly things like making and eating mac and cheese, then putting on her Dad’s camo and walking to the end of their long driveway. Our thinking was if Mr. West looked out the window at 2:00 am when all of this was taking place, the camo would disguise us. Nancy laughed and said, “Well, you shouldn’t have gone to the trouble; we were asleep.”

Oddly enough, since I didn’t see anyone from this side of the family, most of my snapshots from this trip are of my grandparents’ house in Wiley. I started thinking about them when I passed the road they lived on on my way out of town. My paternal grandparents were Jable and Elizabeth Alley, known to their grandkids as Big Daddy and Big Mama. When I was in college and my roommates heard I referred to my grandparents in these terms, they immediately thought of Blanche on “The Golden Girls,” who called her wealthy southern father “Big Daddy.” I told them they had the wrong idea in this case. Where my Granny’s kitchen was full of light, Big Mama’s house was a place of shadows. Where Granny’s house was at the edge of town, next to their business, Garland’s Food Store, Big Mama’s house seemed tucked into the land, surrounded by

forest with a barn and a pasture out back. A house of creaking wood floors and sleeping dogs on dirt patches outside. A house with a newly added bathroom just a stone’s throw from the previously used outhouse. A bathroom void of color except for the perpetual bar of Irish Spring soap that on the sink. A house with a flour bin in the kitchen and a beekeeper’s hat on a peg by the back door. Big Daddy was a beekeeper; more than that, he was a bee charmer. A bee charmer is someone who soothes and communicates with bees without the assistance of protective clothing and can, therefore, charm the bees while taking their honey without getting stung. I can see Big Daddy now, out by his bee hives, in what he wore every day: a pair of his bib overalls, his exposed arms covered with so many bees you couldn’t see his flesh while he took the honey. He’d walk away without a sting and line the honey jars, thick and golden with pieces of comb, on the wooden shelf above the kitchen sink. If there is anything better than a homemade biscuit with butter and honey, I don’t know what that is. I’ve wondered what motivates a man to choose to interact with a colony of bees so closely that it earns him the status of bee charmer when surely it

took many stings to achieve it. I don’t know the answer, but I think it has to do with a man’s soul, as my Big Daddy was a gentle soul, and apparently, the bees knew this.

Other snapshots at Big Mama and Big Daddy’s house include a mean bull in their back pasture and my brothers holding my sister Lynn up by her feet to show him her red sneakers to get him to charge. There were wooden tables made from sawhorses outside that were laden with food on Easter or watermelons in the summer, their red flesh lying in triangles that pointed to the sky, a box of salt nearby. There’s the tin can tied to a stick at the creek in case you want a cold drink of water, the corn cribs full of dried corn, and the hay bales in the fields that looked like oversized toasted marshmallows. There are lightning bugs in mason jars and long evenings rocking on the front porch. There is Big Daddy’s straightbacked chair, which he leaned back against the wall so much it made permanent marks on the wooden floor.

Then the snapshots change and there is Big Daddy in the hospital, in a coma, and Aunt Myrtle is coming to take Big Mama and me to see him. Why was I there without my mother? I don’t remember; I only know that it was unusual. I catch a glimpse of me, the little girl in a yellow dress and white tights on skinny legs and feet shod in patent leather. A bag of Bugle corn chips from a vending machine and myself placed in a chair in a hospital room. There is the beep of a heart monitor. Big Mama is straight and tall like she always stood, her brown purse hanging from her rigid arm as she stares at Big Daddy, willing him to wake up. He never wakes up. I see myself putting one Bugle on each finger and admiring them. I see the daisies Aunt Myrtle picked before we left in a vase amongst the ointments and creams on the window sill. And then I blink back to life, and I am sitting in Atlanta traffic. The snapshots stop as if on cue, and I am bereft at their departure.

Liz Alley was born and raised in Rabun County in the city of Tiger. She loves to write. She is an interior designer specializing in repurposing the broken, tarnished, chipped, faded, worn and weathered into pieces that are precious again. She is the mother of two daughters and has three grandchildren. She divides her time between her home in Newnan and Rabun County. Liz would love to hear from you, drop her a line at Lizziewrites0715@gmail.com. Enjoy more of Liz’s writing at Lizzie-writes.blog

“The memories we make with our family is everything.”

Candace Cameron Bure

Traveling the World in 206 Days

By Annalese Starzec

All through my childhood, all I wanted to do was live everyday as an adventure. I never thought that dream would bring me to working as a performer on a cruise ship, but life has a funny way of granting you exactly what you need, especially in ways you could never imagine.

In high school, I had big dreams of seeing as much of the world as I could. Once, someone asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, to which I replied, “I want to dance all around the world.” Not more than five years later, I have seen over thirty countries, five continents, and been away from the United States for 206 days. I did all this earning my living singing and dancing on a cruise ship. I graduated from The University of Alabama with a degree in Musical Theatre in May of 2023. Through an audition at school, I got a job working on a cruise ship as a performer. I could take you through all 206 days on the ship, but as I learned from traveling, not every day is perfect or pretty, and some places are downright awful. Having said that, the majority of my time abroad was stunning, and if I had the time, I’d write a book about it.

The overwhelming question after traveling to so many places in such a short amount of time is usually, “What place was your favorite?” It is a wildly difficult question to answer because the people I met along the way are actually what I am most thankful for in my travels. Having said that, I rang in 2024 sailing into Antarctic waters. I have never seen such a homogeneous sense of wonder and awe in a group so big. The ship I worked on held around 2,000 people if you count all the passengers and crew. On board, we were lucky enough to have five Antarctic specialists who provided educational lectures and commentary for the passengers. Just within the crew, there were over 40 different nationalities represented, and despite all the differences between us, whenever a specialist came over the public address system announcing a whale or penguin sighting, every single person ran to the window to try and catch a glimpse. One day while sailing amongst glaciers and orcas, we were due to see the largest iceberg in the world, A23a. My cabin didn’t have any windows, but my roommate and I were lucky enough to live across the hall from some outside cabins. One of the specialists came over the intercom and began to describe the mass of ice. We went into the hallway, and our gracious cabin stewards snuck us into an empty cabin with a balcony to view A23a. The iceberg filled my senses. Spanning over 1,500 square miles, I was unable to see either end of it. It is almost three times the size of New York City. I had never seen anything like it. This was day 136 of 206 on board the ship. In Antarctica, everyone was obsessed with the white, icy marvels outside the window. Not only was I fortunate enough to visit Antarctica, but I was lucky enough to make the trip twice within the span of a month. The second time below 60 degrees latitude was just as special,

if not more so than the first. There is something serene about the glass like water reflecting the unimaginable shapes of the icebergs, all the while being framed by humpback whales and Magellanic penguins porpoising through the water.

If growing up in the North Georgia Mountains didn’t give me a devout appreciation and respect for nature, visiting Antarctica absolutely has. With the specialists giving lectures for everyone on board every day, I learned just how fragile the natural wonders of Earth are. Penguin colonies are shifting and many are left with an unusable habitat due to ice melting. I know that everyone on the ship left Antarctica with a deeper sense of human’s impact on the natural world. The specialists spoke about how the ice in Antarctica is melting at a faster rate than ever before, explaining the displacement of many animal species in the region. Of course, environmental shifts happen all over the world all the time, but seeing the landscape in Antarctica wakes one up to see the importance of maintaining the wild beauty that exists in its perfect form. I feel inspired to tell everyone I can about the beauty of nature and the importance of our awareness as humans to keep an eye on our carbon footprint. If you don’t believe me, take a trip to Antarctica. Even better, watch the hit film Happy Feet. This is one of my favorite movies, and it is even more enjoyable to watch while sailing through Antarctica where you are able to see many penguin species in their natural habitat. You will see how important it is that everyone makes an effort to keep our beautiful planet clean, and even though Clayton is about 9,000 miles from Antarctica, environmental effort is felt regardless of distance.

Just a few months before the life-changing Antarctic experience, I found myself at the other end of the planet, in the Arctic circle. We docked in the small town of Longyearbyen in Svalbard, which is around 78 degrees North. You can’t get much farther North than that. The geography seemed straight out of a George Lucas film. The mountains were dusty, but the buildings were bright and colorful. Ducks played in the swamp-like water and reindeer prance up the mountainside. It was a marvel. We were told that we weren’t allowed to leave the small town without an armed escort because polar bears were not a rare sight in the area. Of course, we were there in the summer season, soaking up every bit of the 24 hour sunlight. There were some shops and restaurants that kept us entertained for a while, but after

about an hour of walking around, we realized we would need a different mode of transportation to see the edges of the city. We made our way to a local tourist information center and rented bikes for the day. We found the edges of the city without much hassle, as each boundary was clearly marked with a warning of the dangerous polar bears in the area. The Svalbard summer chill caught up to us after a few hours of riding around, so we stopped in a local cafe called Huskies. The cafe comes by its name honestly, as a few beautiful wolf-like dogs greet you as you take your shoes off and enter the coffee house. My cast mates and I played some board games while warming up our fingers enjoying the company of huskies and a good oat milk latte. This was only day 17 of 206.

One morning, my ship docked in a coastal city about 200 miles north of Lisbon in Porto, Portugal. This city is famous for its sweet wine, port wine. We decided we had to try it out. Bad news for us, the wine cellar we wanted to go to only had one more tasting available on the day we were going to be there and it was at 10:30 in the morning. The problem was not only drinking that early, but our ship did not dock until 10:00 am. It was going to be a bit tight getting to our tasting. We got ready, and ran down the gangway as soon as possible, wanting to catch our uber that had already been ordered. The terminal gate was about 100 yards from the ship, and at this point, it was already ten minutes past 10:00 am. I was certain we weren’t going to make it to our uber without them canceling on us, so we picked up our pace from a walk, to a brisk jog down the 100 yard pier. Our driver watched us the entire way, just giggling at our obvious naivety. We hopped in, explained our situation as

best we could with the challenging language barrier, and we were on our way. Even though our driver promised to get there on time, he also went out of his way to drive us by the highway that overlooks the Douro River and the magnificent Dom Luís Bridge. The bridge perfectly framed the beautiful riverfront restaurants with their orange rooftops. Miraculously, we actually made it to our tasting only five minutes late. We realized after the second glass of wine that none of us had thought to eat a hearty breakfast, so here we were accidentally feeling warm and fuzzy at 11am in Porto, Portugal. We spent the rest of the day taking in the city and all the port wine it had to offer, and let me just say, the city was generous with what it had to offer. When in Porto… right? This was beautiful day 64 of 206 on board.

I truly never thought I would get to travel as much as I have in the past seven months. My ship touched down in North America, South American, Europe, Africa, and Antarctica. If I had planned better, I would’ve even made it to Asia when we went to Istanbul, Turkey. At the end of my contract I can’t feel anything but gratitude. However, I can still say, I love Rabun County and all the natural wonders it has to offer. Tallulah Falls is stunning, Minnehaha Falls is gorgeous, and I truly think Lake Burton in the early fall is one of the most peaceful places on Earth. I am proud to have grown up in such a small town with a deep connection to nature. The abundant natural beauty of Rabun County defines much of the economy through tourism and I have always thought it to be one of the most beautiful places.

There just isn’t any place like home, but I guess you never really know that until you leave. As my dad always says after he returns from a trip, “It’s good to go. It’s great to come back.” I have an overwhelming sense of gratitude for seeing so much of the planet, but I have an even deeper sense of thankfulness for the perspective I gained from working with all different types of people from all over the world. At the end of every cruise we would have an event called “Salute.” It happened after my cast finished our last show of every cruise. The Cruise Director and General Manager of the ship would come on thanking everyone for choosing our line, and say some words about how sincerely they appreciate the hard work of all the crew members. My Cruise Director, the wonderful Peter Roberts of the U.K., would always say how we have so many nationalities on board, encompassing many different religions, nationalities, sexual orientation, and races. Yet, we all got along beautifully. He always noted that the world should be more like a cruise ship. Everyone is capable of getting along with a little effort and understanding. He’s right. I traveled to so many different places all across the world, and I truly think the world is capable of being a really beautiful place because there are so many good people out there. Daily, we seem to be faced with terrible news of illness, war, and natural disaster, but at the end of the day, we are all just people doing our best on a beautiful planet. We are such small parts of the bigger picture, but our humanity and love for one another is not small at all. I hope I live to see a day where people believe in hope and love a little more than they do now. Until then, I’ll be traveling the world trying to witness as much of it as possible and drinking plenty of oat milk lattes and port wine along the way.

RE-ELECT NICHOLS FOR SHERIFF

About Sheriff Chad Nichols

Sheriff Nichols began his public service career in law enforcement when he was only 19 years old; he worked as a jailer/ dispatcher for the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office. He has served in other capacities including patrol deputy, patrol sergeant, Clayton Police officer, Assistant Chief and Chief of the Baldwin Police Department in Habersham County, and currently as the Sheriff of Rabun County where he has served for 8 years. He will complete his second term at the close of 2024 and is eager to continue serving his home county as Sheriff.

Sheriff Nichols is married to Dr. Jamie Bleckley Nichols, a retired Rabun County educator. Their daughter, Joslan, is 12 and a student at Rabun County Elementary. Their son, Chatham (named after the county that Savannah, GA is in), is 7 and attends Rabun County Primary. Chad and Jamie will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary this June. His family gives him even more passion for bettering Rabun County.

Accomplishment Highlights

• Increased school safety

• Effective drug enforcement to include incarceration, education, and rehabilitation

• Multiple inmate support services

• Formed partnerships to offer drug rehabilitation

• Continuing to address mental health services in partnership with other agencies

• Obtained mental health grants totaling $75K

• Founding member of Rabun County Mental Health Task Force and Unite Rabun

• Secured over $500K in grant money for victims’ services, domestic violence training, mental health initiatives, and highway safety

Future Goals

• Continue making drug enforcement a top priority

• Increase initiatives towards drug enforcement

• Monitor and enhance school safety measures

• Expand the Office of Professional Standards and Training to include risk management to reduce Office liability

• Continue to seek and obtain grants to offer better services to our Office and community without adding additional financial burdens to tax payers

• Address mental health needs of inmates and the community by continuing to develop appropriate resources

• Respond to unforeseen future community needs appropriately and adequately

For expanded information and to follow up to date campaign notices, like: Re-Elect Chad K Nichols for Rabun County Sheriff on Facebook.

Why Re-Elect Sheriff Chad Nichols

Sheriff Nichols is the only candidate who:

• Is qualified in every aspect of Sheriff’s Office operations.

• Establishes measurable goals, achieves them, and sets new goals.

• Is not at or near retirement age enabling him to serve with continued stability in the future.

• Raises a young family in this community making the stakes higher.

• Seeks to make local, state, and national partnerships to be better informed at ALL levels.

• Has not given up when the job gets tough.

• Has proven dedication to serve the community in multiple areas, not limited to one division.

HeARTstrings

Jonan Keeny

It’s been a year. A year since I was somehow blessed to have one of my photos grace the cover of the Laurel of Northeast Georgia, and a year since I wrote “heARTstrings,” which appeared in the same issue. And what a year it has been!!!

I’ve continued to do more as a musician. That is, I’ve played more guitar, I’ve written more songs, and I’ve drummed more in the past twelve months than in the previous three or four years. It’s been refreshing. A revelation, you might say.

One of the things I’m most proud of in the past year is a song I recently wrote. I was laid up in bed for nearly two weeks while the rest of my family was on spring break. My illness was unclear, so I was instructed to quarantine myself for a bit. It was strange being home while ML and the boys were also around, and I could often hear them talking and laughing and doing, while I rested and coughed and wished I didn’t feel like stir-fried garbage. It was sad. It was upsetting. Given our schedules, family time is sometimes at a premium, so for me to miss out on the better part of two weeks was tough. But you know what was tougher? They went to see Numpsie and Gigi in Gastonia, and the house got very quiet for a few days. Not that I minded them going, you see, but the silence and emptiness were overwhelming. And then I got to thinking about what it will be like when they leave the nest, which will happen much sooner than I would like. And, as I drifted in and out of consciousness, I thought I could hear them. But they weren’t there. I was hearing what I wanted to hear.

GHOSTS

Two blonde-haired brothers

I’m blessed to call “son”

They taught me to let go And just to have fun.

And when they leave the nest And go out on their own I’ll embrace their ghosts

So I won’t be alone.

Ghosts of their laughter

Ghosts of their tears

Ghosts of the adventures

We shared over the years.

Gotta love those ghosts

They’re all that’s left behind

Beating inside of my heart

And easing my mind.

Those ghosts.

Gotta love those ghosts.

And when I’m gone I hope they’ll know I lived my life for them

And I did my best to show How I loved those boys

No matter what came Through all of the good And through all of the pain.

Ghosts of my laughter

Ghosts of my tears

Ghosts of the adventures

We shared over the years. I hope they’ll love those ghosts

They’re all I’ll leave behind Beating inside of their hearts And easing their minds. Those ghosts.

I hear ghosts in the silence And ghosts on the wind.

Ghosts of my triumphs And ghosts of my sins.

But I enjoy these fond memories, For they went by too fast. These ghosts don’t define me For they’re all in the past.

Ghosts of my laughter

Ghosts of my tears

Ghosts of the adventures

We shared over the years. I hope they’ll love those ghosts

They’re all I’ll leave behind Beating inside of their hearts

And easing their minds.

Those ghosts.

And what about those “two blonde-haired brothers” these days, you ask? Still artists? Yep. Miles is an avid decorator of EVERYTHING utilizing stickers of all sorts, and he’s also an avid rock painter. Wyatt still writes, most recently focused on persuasive pieces in an effort to score new video games from mom and dad.

And dad? Still making his own lines whenever possible. Yes, inside the lines is ok, but it’s more fun outside of them making it up as I go. More than anything else, I’ve been messing with something I call “Floating Flora,” with varying degrees of success. It started out as this whole electromagnetic literal flower floating in the air idea, but then I thought better of it. But it’s fun. It’s just a series of flowers and a camera, with no computer-generated tomfoolery. It’s simple. Cliche, maybe. But it feels good.

The Keeny Crew still often goes in different directions these days. Work, school, Song of Atlanta Show Chorus, church, Vivace Quartet, work. (Yes, I know I used “work” twice. I probably should have added at least a third one…) But we don’t go to these places alone. We go together, just separately, and it’s our heARTstrings that help to keep us connected. We reconvene at dinner time where we talk and laugh and reset and reconnect. Our heARTstrings stretch at times, and sometimes it seems like they might not endure the strain of being apart, but they always do. They eventually contract and bring us back together, back in tune with one another.

Jonan Keeny was born in Topeka, Kansas, he got older in Berwick, Pennsylvania, and then he lived a bunch of other places. A lifelong learner and a full-time dreamer, the prospect of grand new adventures gets him out of bed in the morning, with some additional assistance from his two blonde-haired, blue-eyed alarm clocks, of course! Jonan recently rediscovered his passion for photography, which keeps him quite busy tromping around the woods, stopping at random places on the side of the road, and uploading photos to his website, www.myworldpics.com, and his Insta, @dude4disney. When he isn’t wrangling two little boys, he’s likely hanging out with his wife, Mary Lauren, reading a book to learn something new, or dreaming of life’s next adventure and Walt Disney World. Regardless of the activity, he’s probably participating in it while wearing funky socks and a cool hat.

Lovin’ the Journey Angels, Woodstock, and Heaven

R. Mark Holloway

Technically I’m old enough to have been at Woodstock. I would have been nine years old. There were young kids there. Two kids were even born there during the four-day music festival in 1969.

I did however get to meet Neil Armstrong. That same year, 1969, the three astronauts who went to the moon took a worldwide curtain call and visited foreign embassies all over the globe. I was living in Mexico City then and my dad was an attaché at the U.S. Embassy.

My parents wouldn’t have let me go to the New York music and mayhem event anyway.

Our whole family got to attend the 1968 Olympics too.

In high school, I survived a terrorist bombing at the Officer’s Club in Frankfurt Germany.

The Bader-Meinhof gang were mean people.

I was also in attendance when an Air Force Thunderbird pilot ejected from his jet after putting on a show for

the graduating cadets. Obama spoke at the Academy, then his Secret Service drove him out into the field to check on the plane-less pilot.

Heaven is going to be something to write home about. But being a mortal is quite special. Angels have no pathway to salvation. They can only look into things of earth. Two thirds of the angels are doing their assigned duty. The other third are fallen. But we humans are more valuable than angels. There is a redemption plan for us. Animals and angels, not so much. This makes us rather special.

Being at Woodstock, or on the moon, or at Ground Zero time stamps the people in attendance. Being present at a famous or infamous event has a way of freezing you in the moment or placing your memories into a time capsule.

One day there will be a new heaven and a new earth.

I will lay down my physical body like someone returning a rented tuxedo. Then I’ll get a body that won’t decay.

That’s a fine deal.

I wonder if angels look at us mortals and the ones already in heaven, who Jesus rescued, with an odd curiosity.

I wonder if they ever hang out in the break room or go on a three-day pass and whisper about us…

“Hey Gabe, see those guys over there? They were earthlings.”

In the really big picture, human existence will actually only be a blip. Our lives here are like a toothpick in a world of trees.

So having had the opportunity to actually live on the earth is a cool gig.

You probably know someone who knows a famous person.

We are wired to marvel at people who’ve been at a historic event, or maybe even created history themselves.

Just living life can get you time stamped. I know folks here who watched Carl Walenda cross Tallulah Gorge on a thin wire.

Jesus had a younger brother who didn’t even believe in Him at first. James eventually would get it. He would later write some words which should be sobering for us: “Life is a vapor.”

So, getting to live here on earth is special. Our existence is our own personal time stamp which we won’t get to do over.

Mortals are on a one-and-done trip.

Become who you’re designed to be. Charge the hill you’re equipped to…Possess the land you’re destined for…

Never settle. Travel light. Be kind. Love big and hug often.

See you on the trail.

Mark and Carol Holloway are outdoor adventurers and love the thrills of rock climbing and hikes to waterfalls and exploring all of God’s creation. They own PropertyStewards.com and are passionate about delivering excellent care to the homes and property of their clients. For More Information call 706-949-5937

Two

The Anglo-Cherokee War

Pitched

Battles Fought in Rabun County

By Dick Cinquina

The Anglo-Cherokee War of 1759-1761 is unique in military history, since it was fought as a war within a war…the French and Indian War from 1756 to 1763. The Anglo-Cherokee War also is unique on a purely regional level. Unlike the Civil War in which no blood was spilled in northeast Georgia, two major battles of the Anglo-Cherokee War were fought on the land that ultimately became Rabun County.

The French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War, marked another chapter in the long imperial struggle between England and France. When France’s expansion into the Ohio River valley brought repeated conflict with the claims of the British colonies, particularly those of Virginia, a series of battles led to the British declaration of war in 1756

Cherokee Allied Initially with the British Native Americans took sides in the war. The Cherokee, including those in north Georgia, initially allied themselves with the British. Member tribes of the Iroquois Nation in the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes region sided with the French.

One thousand Cherokee warriors and a regiment of British troops traveled through the Rabun Gap in 1758 on their way to western Pennsylvania to attack the French at Fort Duquesne, located at present-day Pittsburgh. The attack was repulsed with heavy losses. On the return trip to Georgia, the Cherokee, having lost most of their possessions in the battle, stole horses belonging to Virginia colonists. The colonists retaliated by killing many of the Indians in a bloody

massacre. In response, Cherokee warriors began raiding settlements in North and South Carolina. The Cherokee also started fighting British troops, which led to the outbreak of the Anglo-Cherokee War in 1759.

British Send Troops to Fight Cherokee

In February 1760, the Cherokee attacked Fort Dobbs near Statesville, North Carolina. Cherokee warriors also set siege to the British garrison at Fort Loudon near Knoxville, Tennessee. These attacks prompted the governor of South Carolina to call on British General Lord Jeffrey Amherst for help.

Amherst sent Colonel Archibald Montgomerie with 700 men from his regiment, known as Montgomerie’s Highlanders, and 400 men from the Royal Scots from New York to Charleston, South Carolina in April 1760. South Carolina militia joined the British force. This formidable contingent of 1,600 soldiers marched to northwest South Carolina, burning every Cherokee village along the way.

Major Battle Fought Near Dillard

By late June, the British troops and militia crossed the Chattooga River, followed an Indian trail along Warwoman Creek, turned north at present-day Clayton and headed for the Cherokee village of Eastertoy near what is now Dillard. As Montgomerie’s troops passed through the Rabun Gap, the Cherokee attacked the British column, forcing the British to retreat. After regrouping, the British resumed their attack, and after four hours of intense fighting, the Cherokee

British General Lord Jeffrey Amherst, by Joshua Reynolds

Lt. Colonel James Grant, circa 1770, by Henry Timberlake, currently held by the State Archives of Florida

General Francis Marion

withdrew from the field. Montgomerie’s forces entered Eastertoy and burned what they could before marching back to South Carolina. The British colonel was confident the Cherokee had been pacified. He was wrong.

Two months later, the Cherokee captured Fort Loudon in Tennessee, killing 29 soldiers and taking the rest prisoner. British General Amherst ordered Lt. Colonel James Grant to lead another expedition against the Cherokee. In his orders, Amherst wrote that Grant was “not to think of coming away till you have most effectivally (sp.) punished these scoundrel Indians, as without that, it will be ever to begin again. As to treating with them, it will be time enough when they are so low that you may be sure they cannot hurt the Province again soon.”

British and Cherokee Again Fight at Dillard

Grant arrived at Charleston in the spring of 1761 with a force of more than 2,400 men, including Catawba, Chickasaw, and Mohawk warriors as well as 81 African-American slaves. Four soldiers in this army would be highly decorated in the American Revolution: Andrew Pickens, Thomas Sumter, William Moultrie, and Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox.”

Grant’s army followed Montgomerie’s earlier route to Rabun County, where it was attacked by the Cherokee near their village of Eastertoy. They fought for nearly five hours before the Cherokee retreated. British losses amounted to 10 killed and 53 wounded. Cherokee losses were estimated in the hundreds.

The British burned Eastertoy to the ground and continued into North Carolina as far as Murphy in the westernmost mountains. About the expedition, Francis Marion wrote: “We proceeded, by Col. Grant’s orders, to burn the Indian cabins. Some of the men seemed to enjoy this cruel work, laughing heartily at the curling flames, but to me appeared

a shocking sight. But when we came, according to orders, to cut down the fields of corn, I could scarcely refrain from tears. Who, without grief, could see the staff of life sink under our swords with their precious load, to wither and rot un-tasted in their mourning fields.”

15 Cherokee Settlements Destroyed

Grant wrote that his force drove the Cherokee “into recesses in the mountains, burned their granaries, laid waste to their fields and pushed the frontier 70 miles west.” All told, 15 Cherokee settlements and 15,000 acres of crops were destroyed. The ability of the Cherokee to wage war was broken.

By July 1761, the Cherokee negotiated a peace treaty, which was signed in Charleston on September 23, 1761. According to the treaty terms, the Cherokee and British colonists agreed to exchange captives. A pro-British chief, Attakullakulla, also known as Little Carpenter, was named leader of the Cherokee. All French settlers in Cherokee territory were to be expelled. Finally, a dividing line was established that separated the Cherokee from South Carolina lands. In so doing, the Cherokee lost much of their territory. The loss of valuable hunting grounds and their most important trading commodity, deerskins, had a devastating impact on the Cherokee. James Adair, a deerskin trader, recorded in his History of the American Indians (1775) that the AngloCherokee War, along with European diseases, reduced the total Cherokee population in the Southeast to about 6,900. Sixty years earlier, the Cherokee population in north Georgia, alone, was estimated at 35,000 to 50,000.

The French and Indian War continued until 1763. The British won the conflict, causing France to lose all of its possessions south of Canada. As a result, Britain claimed all the land from the east coast of North America to the Mississippi River. But possession of these lands again would change 20 years later in the aftermath of the American Revolution.

Examples

Learn more about our history by becoming a member of the Rabun County Historical Society. Membership and complete information about the Society’s museum are available at www.rabunhistory.org. The newly renovated museum at 81 N. Church St. in downtown Clayton is open Wednesday-Saturday from 11 to 3. The Society is a not-forprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, making membership dues and donations tax deductible.

Visit us on Facebook and Instagram

Dick Cinquina is the retired president of Equity Market Partners, a national financial consulting firm he founded in 1981. Holding graduate degrees in history and journalism, Dick recently published Mountains, Moonshine and a Railroad, which tells the always colorful, occasionally contentious and frequently humorous history of Rabun County and northeast Georgia. Dick also writes history articles that appear in the Laurel

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