Connecting downtown to Lake Lanier, the Rock Creek Greenway is experiencing further improvements this winter and into spring at the popular Longwood Park. Page 14
Crowds sing Christmas Carols during the lighting of the new version of the Big Chicken in downtown Gainesville last
The event, Jingle Mingle, signaled the unofficial start
is published by
Lanier Publishing, Inc.,
3292 Thompson Bridge Rd. #250, Gainesville, GA 30506 (770) 287-1444
Publisher/Editor
Alan Hope
Production
Susan Nish
Susan Daniel Creative, Inc.
Senior Writer
Pamela A. Keene
Contributing Writers
Jane Harrison, Vicki Hope
Columnists
Glenn Burns, Bill Crane, Tammy Doyle, Frank Taylor
Travel Editor
Bill Vanderford
Lakeside is published monthly by Lanier Publishing, Inc. based in Gainesville, GA, with distribution in some 300 locations around Lake Lanier and other areas. Opinions expressed by contributing writers are not necessarily those of Lakeside, its staff or its advertisers. Manuscripts and photographs submitted will be considered for publication. Lakeside cannot be held responsible for such materials in case of damage or loss.
Lanier area lights up during the holiday season
From Gainesville to Buford this holiday season is a bit brighter with a new feature at a botanical garden and the bringing back of a “magical” experience at a Lake Lanier venue.
Gainesville Glows: Lanterns & Lights is open on select nights through January 4 and features displays of lighted woodland animals and other décor designed especially for the Gainesville Garden.
The holiday lights show closes out the Gainesville Garden’s 10th anniversary celebration.
Imagine a 45- to 60-minute stroll through romantic luminarialined pathways surrounded by colorful uplit trees. Look for tall metal lanterns that cast intricate shadows on meandering walkways. Take pics in a tunnel of light, roast s’mores on the event lawn and more.
For tickets and more info visit www.atlantabg.org.
Magical Nights of Lights at Lanier Islands, Buford, is the return of a drive-through lights spectacle with six miles of animated festive scenes. The event runs from 5-10 p.m. through Jan. 4.
For tickets and more info visit www.lanierislands.com.
License to Chill Snow Island, also at Lanier Islands, Buford, features snow tubing, ice skating, carnival rides, s’more making and more. Event runs from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. through Dec. 31.
For ticket info and more visit www.margaritavilleresorts.com.
Wilshire Wonderland of Lights, Gainesville. For a free holiday experience check out the
enjoys making
extended stroll through beloved Wilshire Trail and Ivey Terrace Park to Rock Creek Veterans Park
The park chain is decorated with holiday lights, plus Santa
visits/photos, 5-10 p.m. through Jan. 1, Wilshire Trails Park, 849 Wilshire Trials Rd., Gainesville. See website for Santa’s schedule. www.gainesville.org.
Merry Christmas from Lakeside on Lanier!
PHOTO: ABG
A family
s'mores at Gainesville Glows.
• teresasmith@kw.com
• michelekaplan@kw.com
• mackenziescott@kw.com
3593 Duckett Mill Road, Gainesville
3143 White Magnolia Chase SW, Gainesville
Watermark Cove, Gainesville
518 Overlook Drive, Dawsonville
Land, lake, barn, and a beautiful home! The long, beautiful tree lined driveway leads you to your private gated estate on 7.93 acres with seasonal views of Lake Lanier. Relax at your very own sanctuary of rolling pastures in solitude. $1,999,999 (Dawson)
4940 Sunrise Lane, Cumming
South lake contemporary gem! Super-unique, multilevel home w/panoramic, breathtaking views of Lake Lanier. Great outdoor spaces. The single slip dock, always
6370 Cortland Walk, Alpharetta
BEST VALUE in Halcyon! This like-new townhome, lovingly maintained by its original owners, features 3 spacious
6255 Lakeview Drive, Buford
5415 Bay Circle, Cumming
Rowing program offered for oncology community
The Lake Lanier Rowing Club is once again offering a free 12week indoor learn-to-row program created specifically for members of the Northeast Georgia oncology community.
Beginning in mid-January 2026, the program will build on the success of its 2025 inaugural class, which graduated 29 participants representing a diverse group of patients, survivors, family supporters, and medical professionals.
“Our entire club is excited to introduce the many physical and mental benefits of rowing to individuals and families in our community impacted by cancer,” said Howell Buot, Executive Director of the Lake Lanier Rowing Club. “The overwhelming success of our first year brought new energy and inspiration to the boathouse each week and fostered friendships that continue well beyond our April graduation.”
The program, called SURVIVErg, blends the words Survive and Erg (the shortened form of ergom-
eter, the indoor rowing machine that replicates on-water rowing).
Weekly sessions are led by LLRC volunteers under the guidance of Buot and 63-year-old program lead Dan Lynch, a former indoor rowing world-record holder and cancer survivor.
“As someone who depended on indoor rowing to stay strong and motivated during and after treatment for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, I wanted to help others experience the benefits rowing can offer,” said Lynch. “It’s not just about managing fatigue and other physical side-effects – it’s also about the mental and social lift that comes from joining others in something fun, positive, challenging, and engaging.”
Based on participant feedback, the program features 90-minute sessions offered at least twice per week. Participants may attend one or both sessions, and no prior experience is required. The program is open to anyone affected by cancer: patients, survivors, care-
givers, family members, and medical professionals. LLRC will also provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with special needs.
While SURVIVErg remains free for 2026, space is limited. A signed waiver and a one-time $5 registration fee are required to se-
cure a reservation, and enrollment is first-come, first-served. Participants currently undergoing treatment are encouraged to consult their physician or oncologist. Online registration is now open. Classes begin Tuesday, January 13, 2026, and Thursday, January 15, 2026, from 4-5:30,
running continuously through the first week of April. Additional open-row opportunities will be offered throughout the three-month program.
For more information email surviverg@lakelanierrowing.org or visit www.LakeLanierRowing.org.
Participants in last year's oncology rowing program.
When the sign says ‘Sold Out,’
By Pamela A. Keene
Flowery Branch’s newest eatery – Whistle Q – is open for business. Featuring fresh-smoked meats by the pound or the plate, the menu includes beef brisket, pulled pork, turkey breast, pork ribs and jalapeno cheddar sausage.
Hand-crafted sides from golden mac-and-cheese, collards, baked beans, fried okra, potater salad – yes, the Southern spelling – Cole slaw and beef-tallow fries are also sold by the serving or the pound.
The newest restaurant project in Hall County developed by Nick St. Clair, Gus Godinez and Roland Stanley anchors the south end of Main Street. Head chef Craig Tabor is the mastermind behind the menu, drawing on his extensive success in national barbecue competitions over the past dozen or so years.
“It all started with my love of backyard barbecue about 16 years ago,” said Tabor, who hails from Evansville, IN, but now lives in
Buford. “One day my wife Elise told me she was just tired of cooking, so I took over at home. Then I started entering competitions all over the country and now here I am.”
In his second year of competition, he snagged first place at the Stone Mountain “Egg-ToberFest I 2015 and 2016.
“More than 5,000 people were there and this put me on the map; since that time I’ve probably done more than 100 competitions across the country.”
St. Clair and his wife Alison discovered Tabor when he started selling barbecue at retail pop-ups in Hall. “Craig’s brisket had us hooked,” St. Clair said. “Let’s do a restaurant.”
The result is Whistle Q, which sits within earshot of the Flowery Branch tracks. With eat-in, patio and take-out dining, the restaurant caters as well.
The menu offers sandwiches and a “Caboose,” a baked potato served with pork or brisket that’s pretty loaded. Appetizers/starters include BBQ pork rinds, jalapeno popper fritters, golden rings/fried banana peppers and smoked wings with Alabama white sauce or hot mustard sauce.
Tabor has carefully developed his rubs, sauces and accompaniments to enhance the flavors of the food. Three distinct sauces cater to sweet, spicy and mustard aficionados. House-made pickles and pickled onions accompany
the entrees.
“As for desserts, there’s only one when it comes to barbecue –banana puddin’ – and we create ours using shortbread and my own recipe,” he said. WhistleQ opened in early November at 5509 Main St., Flowery Branch. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or “until we sell out,” according to the website. To order call 678 960-6950.
The website is whistleq.com
Practice Safe Boating
Use life jackets, stay sober and monitor the weather to try and prevent boating accidents!
HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR! FROM ALL THE LAKESIDE STAFF
“Clark’s Bridge Christmas” - available as a notecard Gallery on the Square, 118 Main Street, Gainesville, GA Other Fine Artists at Gallery (www.gallerysq.com)
Lake Sidney Lanier & Gainesville prints, Postcards, Notecards Original Oil, Acrylic, and Watercolor Paintings
Ann Alexander, Pam Kohler-Camp, Patricia Fabian, Lydia Ferguson, Ann Goble, Jane Hemmer, Paula Hoffman, Shannon Hughs, Joyce Hornor, Leigh-Anne O’Brien, Connie Lynn Reilly and Shirley Seguin Prints, postcards, notecards also available at: Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green Street, Gainesville, GA
Frame-Tastic, 565-B Shallowford Road, Gainesville, GA NE GA History Center, 322 Academy St. NE, Gainesville, GA
PHOTO BY WHISTLEQ WhistleQ brisket plate with all the trimmings.
Lake level: Down 6.3 feet
Temperature: 60s
Clarity: Main lake clear, creeks stained
Bass fishing Bass fishing is good with many true quality bass being caught. The bass are set up in their fall patterns right now with the fish scattered from two feet to 40 feet.
Over recent days we have been working mainly four baits, a spinnerbait, a crankbait, an underspin and a spoon to catch them.
The main keys for the spinnerbait and the crankbait have been wind and rock either on or off the main.
For the spinnerbait it has been a white and chartreuses with either silver or white willow leaf blades worked steady at about five feet of depth.
The Rapala DT10 and the Spro 55 RKCrawler have both been productive when thrown to the bank and banged through the rocks. The key for both of these baits is to find the wind blowing on the chunky rock.
The shad are staging in balls right now in the creeks and you may see them from 10 to 40 feet deep and the underspin and spoon are great choices to catch them. For
the underspin, a three eights Spot Choker with a two eight paddle tail swimbait will work either down the middle of the 30-foot ditches or around the depth of the shad that are up off the bottom. For the suspended shad FFS is a necessity to not only see the bait and fish but to get your Spot Choker to the correct depth. Look for structure in the ditches around the 35- to 40-foot range with bait around it. You can either target it with the underspin or get directly over it with a Georgia Blade spoon to draw strikes. With the spoon, a subtle two-foot lift and a free fall drop will trigger the bites around the structure. It’s important to keep the spoon directly under you and not drag it in order to not stay hung up.
It’s not complicated right now if you just follow the wind, you can catch fish. As the lake continues to drop, be sure to watch your electronics for depth as a lot of snags are just under the surface. It’s fun fall time so Go Catch 'Em!
This bass fishing report is by Phil Johnson; pjohnson15@hotmail.com, 770 366-8845.
Striper fishing
Stripers have been caught using a variety of techniques but live bait seems to work better than trolling. Trout, shiners,
blue backs and gizzards are available at most local bait shops.
Down lines over 40- to 60-foot depths and locate the fish and put your bait just above them.
Weighted flat lines as well as naked free lines with your bait will help you land a fish or two. Always have your favorite lure ready to pitch at any moment the top water bite is heating up. Not all ramps are useable so check with your local bait shop for more information. Mid lake is a good place to start. Remember to wear your life jacket.
This striper report is by Buck Cannon;
BuckTales, 404 510-1778.
News
The 2026 Atlanta Boat Show is Thursday, January 8-11, 2026 at the Georgia World Congress Center, Building B. See story in this month’s Lakeside for details.
This fishing report was compiled by Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing, www.southernfishing.com.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Holiday celebration at Gallery on the Square
By Pamela A. Keene
Gallery on the Square, which held its annual holiday celebration last month, features a dozen North Georgia artists whose works range from sculpture and pottery to paint in oil, pastels, acrylic and multimedia. In addition to the art on display, artists are available for commissions.
Subject matter includes Lake Lanier scenes, still life, portraits of pets and people, botanicals, abstracts, birds and nature.
For more than two decades the gallery has been showcasing art by regional and nationally acclaimed artists. It is open for holiday hours through Christmas week.
Hours are Tuesday-Saturday – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the Gallery is closed on Sundays.
The address is 118 Main Street Market, Gainesville. For more info, visit www.gallerysq.com.
Artists chat during the gallery’s recent holiday reception inside Main Street Market. Shirley Seguin, left, visits with ceramicist and potter Pam Kohler-Camp. Seguin specializes in painting in oil, creating still life, florals, landscape and cityscapes.
Happy Holidays
From All The Lakeside Staff!
Time for the Holiday Boat Light Parade – emphasis on toy drive
By Pamela A. Keene
Toys, toys, toys. It’s time for the annual Holiday Boat Light Parade at Lake Lanier. Scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13, organizers have stepped up the event with new sponsors and an enhanced event. There is a raffle for a brand-new golf cart.
This year a special emphasis is being placed on the Toy Drive with designated drop-off locations at four marinas – Port Royale, Aqualand’s Pig Tails, Holiday Marina and Margaritaville LandShark Landing Bar & Grill – can be dropped off by boat or car on the day of the parade.
To benefit the Georgia K9 Search & Recovery Team and the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association Youth Home, the event features multiple on-shore locations and family activities.
“In addition to the toy drive, we have a live auction, an animal petting zoo, a dog fashion show, photo booths and a golf cart parade with activities taking place either at Margaritaville’s Landshark Bar & Grill or at Aqualand,” said Jeff Schetter, CEO of GAK9, who is heading
up the event this year. “Members of our Georgia K9 Search and Rescue Team will be on hand at LandShark Landing to meet the public.”
The parade begins north of Port Royale at 5 p.m. and proceeds down the lake to conclude at Margaritaville at Lake Lanier.
Call 706 809-7242 for more details. Or visit the group’s website –gak9sar.com/2025-boat-parade – for details, the route, how to register to participate and associated events for the evening.
PHOTO BY PAMELA A. KEENE
CREDIT: SAVANNAH HUNTER PHOTOGRAPHY Colorful scene from a previous parade.
Gainesville’s Longwood Park project moves forward in time for recreation season
Shore Lines
From the fascinating to the remarkable, Lake Lanier harbors many personalities and places along its shores. Lakeside presents “Shore Lines” – stories about people who live, work and play around the lake and the places that make the area special.
By Pamela A. Keene
Connecting downtown to Lake Lanier, the Rock Creek Greenway is experiencing further improvements this winter and into spring. The renovations and improvements of popular Longwood Park, a vital amenity of the greenway, will be ready sometime this spring.
Within walking distance of downtown Gainesville, Longwood Park along the shorelines of the lake, Longwood Park has long been the most-booked and -used recreation facility in the city of Gainesville. Eight tennis courts, two pavilions, a kitchen/restroom building, two playgrounds, nature trails, lake access and paved parking have drawn an average of more than 1 million residents and visitors annually who use the facilities of Gainesville Parks & Recreation.
In November, work began on extensive renovations and improvements. Perhaps most significant was razing the park’s 40-year-old pavilion, one of the most rented in the park’s system. In its place, the city is rebuilding a new 5,000-square-foot Dogwood Pavilion, expected to open this spring.
“The reconstruction and redesign of Dogwood pavilion is perhaps one of the most visible of the amazing improvements at Longwood Park,” said Kate Mattison, director of Gainesville Parks & Recreation. “During the summer the pavilion was leveled; since then it is being completely rebuilt, including new restrooms, outdoor grills, an adjacent modernized kitchen building, seat walls and
an outdoor fireplace.”
In addition to the pavilion, new walking paths will bring visitors directly to the pavilion from the parking lot. ADA parking has been improved with a spacious turnaround. A new playground will be added, and the parking lot will be repaved. The existing tennis courts continue to be open and will not be part of the renovations.
Wide concrete pathways will lead directly to the fishing pier, a courtesy boat dock and canoekayak rentals. A shed dedicated to maintenance equipment is being built – equipment was previously stored in a closet in Dogwood Pavillion – to provide tools and supplies to assignments maintenance workers along the Rock Creek Greenway section of the trail.
With two miles of forested trails that connect downtown Gainesville to the shores of the lake, Rock Creek Greenway incorporates four Gainesville parks – Rock Creek Veterans Park, Ivey Terrace Park, Wilshire Trails Park and Longwood Park.
It’s all part of the 35-mile Highlands to Islands pedestrianand bicycle-friendly trail that connects the Midland Greenway to Rock Creek Greenway with access from the Gainesville Square to the lake. Eventually the Highlands to Islands Trail will include pathways along Friendship Road and Lanier Islands Parkway near Flowery Branch.
The Highlands to Islands Trail was conceived in 2005 by Vision 2030 as a forward-looking plan created by the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce. Citizens were surveyed and the findings outlined what the community prioritized for a community they’d like to live, work and raise families with a common vision.
Additionally,
Gainesville Parks & Recreation is continuing the implementation of the 2030 Master Plan that focuses on preparing for the recent and future growth of the community. The agency intends to upgrade and add amenities and facilities at every park, while also acquiring and developing new parkland.
For more than four decades, the 36-acre Longwood Park has been managed by the city through a lease with the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps maintains ownership of the federal lands adjacent to Lake Lanier and the city provides management and upkeep services. Funding was
Longwood Park Pavilion
Projects include: New Pavilion, Restrooms, Playground, Fishing Pier and More!
awarded to Gainesville Parks & Recreation from a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant to help fund the replacement of Dogwood Pavilion.
“We’re as eager as the public to reopen the park just in time for the spring and summer recreation season,” Mattison said. “This is a fantastic upgrade that I’m sure will attract even more visitors to this beautiful part of Gainesville and Lake Lanier. Direct lake access for residents is always top of mind for our agency, and we are excited to provide this beautiful new amenity. Longwood Cove even has views of the North Georgia Mountains on a clear day.”
Nature working in tandem for beautification: Bring on the goats
By Pamela A. Keene
More than 40 years ago, thenOperations Project Manager at Lake Lanier the late Erwin Topper initiated a new way to keep the grass cut along the saddle dike embankments of Buford Dam. He brought in goats – yes, goats – to feed on the tall grasses and alleviate the need for power mowers and human labor to keep the area groomed.
About 15 months ago, the City of Gainesville adopted the practice in and around Ivey Terrace Park on the Rock Creek Greenway. For several weeks, a 22-goat
herd from Kinder Family Farm –which offers goat-rentals –cleared the area of the park of invasive plants and overgrowth. The goats returned in August
to tidy up and remove kudzu, ivy, knotweed, privet and other invasive plants.
Why use goats? “It's economical and environmentally friendly,” said Mattison. “It would require massive manpower to hand pull the invasive plants or use chemicals to stop the spreading, whereas goats can do this naturally.”
When the goats are on duty, the city maintains a Goat-cam and temporary fence to keep an eye on them. The goats also have a covered area to stay cool and plenty of water.
Dogwood Pavilion before demolition.
Artist's rendering of new pavilion. PHOTOS/GRAPHICS PROVIDED BY GPR
Goats "trimming up" Ivey Terrace Park.
Lake Lanier Association Lake Lanier Association ‘Tis the Season for Giving!
For as little as $100 a year, your Household Membership supports these on-lake initiatives...
Removing over 128 tons of trash annually at Shore Sweep
Light-up 300 hazard markers with Solar Lights
Stock and maintain 12 life jacket loaner stations
Project Armor - 3 miles and counting of shoreline protected with Rip Rap
Monthly Water Quality Testing , all 12 months of the year
Remove Abandoned and Derelict Docks & Vessels (ADDV) from the waters of Lanier
LLA is made up of boaters, fisherman, property owners, drinking water users, area businesses and anyone passionate about Lake Lanier. Our on-lake initiatives are not possible without memberships li ke yours!
Scan the QR code above to join or renew your LLA Membership or visit: lakelanier.org
CLEAN LAKE
Shore Sweep, Adopt-a-Lake Water Quality Testing, Clean Lake Pledge & Mini Clean-Ups FULL LAKE
Rip Rap, Erosion and Sedimentation, Island Protection through municipal funding, USACE Basin Management SAFE LAKE Life Jacket Loaner Stations, Solar Lights, Channel Markers, Safety Course & Education
TOGETHER
Through education and advocacy, we work to keep you informed about important matters.
Stay safe while under canvas during winter boating season
It’s that time of year again. This past weekend, I put the canvas on my boat – always a bit of a sad day for me. It marks the end of the traditional boating season.
We’re lucky, though. Living here, we still get those occasional warm winter days that make for perfect surprise outings on the lake. Even when it’s only 50 degrees outside, the greenhouse effect inside the enclosure can make it feel like a comfortable 70 degrees on deck. Sometimes even warmer.
But there’s one thing you have to be careful about. These enclosures can trap exhaust fumes from the boat’s engine or generator. It’s a phenomenon often called the
Frank Taylor
The Careful Captain
“station wagon effect” or “backdraft effect.” When a boat is moving, or when the wind blows from the stern, a low-pressure zone can form behind it, drawing exhaust fumes back into the cockpit or cabin, including under a canvas top.
These fumes contain carbon monoxide (CO), which is ex-
tremely dangerous. CO exposure can cause dizziness, nausea, confusion, loss of consciousness, brain damage, and even death.
Whether this becomes an issue depends on your boat’s design, where the exhaust exits, and even your cruising speed. It’s entirely possible that you’ll have no problem at 3 knots but start pulling fumes into the enclosure at 7 knots. Wind direction and temperature can make a difference too. The point is, don’t assume it can’t happen to you or that running at a certain speed makes you safe.
So what can you do? Here are a few simple steps to stay safe while cruising through the cooler months:
• Install and maintain a carbon monoxide detector.
If your boat has an enclosed cabin or living space, this is a must. Year-round. CO detectors save lives. Test them regularly and replace them as needed.
• Keep fresh air flowing. Make sure there’s always ven-
tilation when an engine or generator is running. Open a forward hatch or port to bring in fresh air, whether you’re underway or at anchor.
• Maintain the exhaust system.
Check for and repair any leaks. A small exhaust leak can quickly turn into a big problem in an enclosed area.
• Pay attention to symptoms.
If anyone on board feels dizzy, sleepy, nauseous, or develops a headache, get them fresh air immediately. Carbon monoxide is
odorless, but your body will give you warning signs. Don’t ignore them.
Being able to take your boat out for a winter cruise is a real blessing — something many boaters up north don’t get to enjoy. Just make sure you take the right precautions so you and your crew stay safe and make it to next season ready for more adventures.
Frank is past commander of America’s Boating Club Atlanta and is currently a content creator at the YouTube channel “The Ships Logg.”
Practice Safe Boating
WINTER’S HERE!
The wacky weather of December
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Our November weather was sure interesting. Cold arctic air and snow flurries and light snow! A week later we were setting record high temperatures! That gives us a pretty good clue as to what our winter will be like. Ma Nature is about to spin a meteorological roulette wheel this December. We can have anything from crippling ice storms to record-breaking warmth and even late-season tornadoes, December has repeatedly delivered some of the area’s most unforgettable – and unpredictable – weather events, so buckle up!
break of freezing rain glazed highways and interstates from the mountains through the Atlanta metro area. Temperatures never rose above freezing, and sheets of invisible “black ice” led to more than a thousand accidents across the state. Roads shut down, commuters abandoned cars, and emergency crews worked through the night. It became one of the most notorious winter events of the decade and a reminder that even minor ice accumulations can cause major damage in the Southeast.
Glenn Burns Lanier Outlook
LAKE
WATER
One of the most striking examples came on December 15, 2010, when a sudden out-
Also in 2010, we had an extremely rare event. A white Christmas! Rain began on Christmas Eve, changing to all snow that night. Arctic air, kept us quite cold, with highs that were sub-freezing. North Georgia residents old enough to remember Christmas Day 1962 often talk about the devastating ice storm that hit Gainesville and surrounding counties. Trees snapped under the weight of thick glaze, power lines fell, and many families spent more than a day without lights or heat. Just weeks earlier, on December 13, 1962, a brutal Arctic outbreak plunged mountain communities to subzero temperatures – including a remarkable -9 degrees in Blairs-
See Burns, page 25
SOLUNAR TIMES FOR LAKE LANIER SOLUNAR TIMES FOR LAKE LANIER
Lazy Days is the legendary, full-service marina located just a short drive north of Atlanta on I-985, off the Lake Lanier Islands Parkway exit. Lazy Days can dry stack boats up to 36 feet and offers wet slips up to 125 feet. Lazy Days has an on-site service department by Singleton Marine. With more than 690 miles of shoreline, the lake is well known for its aqua-blue colored water, spectacular scenery and unique recreational activities.
BLAIRSVILLE, UNION COUNTY
o Dec 6 – Blairsville annual Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting – 6-7 pm, 1 Town Square.
o Thru Dec 23 (Thr, Fri, Sat thru 11th, every night 11th-23rd) – Mountain Country Christmas in Lights – Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Hiawassee, $9 admission.
o Dec 31 – New Year’s Eve Fireworks – Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds – 6-10 pm, parking lot and food trucks open at 6 pm, Fireworks begin at 8 pm. Free admission.
Vogel State Park - 405 Vogel State Park Rd, Blairsville - 706-745-2628
o Jan 1 – First Day Hike – 9-11:30 am – Celebrate the New Year with a healthy and moderate hike on the beautiful “Reece Farm Trail.” Dress for the weather. $5 parking.
BRASELTON
Historic Downtown Braselton – Civic Center/Town Green, 9924 Davis St. - 706921-4016, 706-654-1944 (Civic Center)
o Dec 12-14 – Annie The Musical – Braselton Civic Center, 27 E Lake Dr., 6 pm; Sun Dec 14, 2 pm, doors open 1 hour before show.
o Dec 13 – Exotics Sunrise Saturdays (2nd Saturdays of month) – Northeast Georgia Bank, 5045 Hwy 53, 9 am-noon.
o Thru Dec 25 – Bonbon Trail 2025 – Braselton area stores – a shopping trail for gifts and treats.
charity event – $25 gate fee or bring a new unwrapped toy worth at least $25.
BUFORD
Buford Community Center, 2200 Buford Hwy, Buford – 770-945-6762
o Dec 4 – Mike Farris Sings the Soul of Christmas – 8 pm, $35-$45
o Dec 5 – Marley Jayne’s 4th Annual Holiday Celebration – Sylvia Beard Theatre, 8 pm, $20
o Dec 6, 7 – Christmas Traditions – Sylvia Beard Theatre, multiple times, $10.
o Dec 13 – What a Wonderful World – Sylvia Beard Theatre, 8 pm, $35-$45.
o Dec 20 – Timothy Miller with Julio Barreto –Sylvia Beard Theatre, 8 pm, $35-$45. Lake Lanier Islands Resort 770-945-8787
o Every Tuesday – Trivia Tuesdays at Game Changer – 7 pm-9 pm
o Every Wednesday – Music Bingo at Game Changer – 7 pm-9 pm
o Every Thursday – Classic Bingo Night at Game Changer – 7 pm-9 pm
o Dec 31 – New Year’s Eve Fireworks – Landshark Landing
Tannery Row Artist Colony - 554 W Main St. 470-326-6656 Thur-Sat, noon-4 pm
Open Thur – Sat, noon to 4 pm
o Dec 6-Dec 31 – Holiday Show and Sale – artists show their best holiday spirit.
o Dec 13 – 2nd Saturdays – noon-4 pm
CLARKESVILLE
HABERSHAM COUNTY
(Alto, Baldwin, Clarkesville, Cornelia, Demorest, Mt. Airy and Tallulah Falls)
Clarkesville’s Historic Habersham Community
Theater – 1370 N Washington St. 706-839-1315
o Feb 11-22 – Something Rotten! – a musical comedy, 7:30 pm, 2 pm on Sunday.
Piedmont University - 1021 Central Ave, Demorest -706-776-0116, 800-277-7020
o Dec 5 – 37th Annual Lesson and Carols – The Piedmont Chorale, 7:30-8:30 pm, Chapel, 992 Central Ave.
o Thru Dec 10 – Christmas at the Museum: Jan Walker and the Kingdom of Neep, MasonScharfenstein Museum of Art, 567 Georgia St., Demorest
o Thru May 2026 – Conserving America’s Wildlands: The Vision of Ted Turner by Rhett Turner, Mason-Scharfenstein Museum of Art, 567 Georgia St., Demorest
Tallulah Gorge State Park - 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Dr. - 706-754-7981
o Dec 4 – Full Moon Hike - 310 stairs to the suspension bridge to watch the moon rise above the gorge. 8:15-9:45 pm $10 per person $5 parking.
o Dec 6 – Christmas at the Gorge – music, crafts, Santa, hay ride, 1-3 pm, $5 parking.
o Dec 13 – Sunset Candy Cane Hunt – hunt candy canes, holiday movie, enjoy s’mores, hot chocolate. 5-7 pm, sign up, $5 parking.
o Dec 20 – Beginner Archery – Must be able to draw 20-lb bow, Meet at Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center, 9 am-10:30 am, Call to register, $15 plus $5 parking.
CUMMING/FORSYTH COUNTY
Cumming Community Center - 770-781-2010, cummingcitycenter.com
o Dec 6 – Snow Day at Cumming Civic Center –10 am-5 pm
o Dec 13 – Freed Performance Holiday Car Show – 11 am-3 pm.
FoCAL Center - Forsyth County Arts and Learning Center, 1150 Dahlonega Highway Cumming. 470-695-7826
o Dec 6-14 – The Nutcracker – Sawnee Ballet Theatre 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2 pm School Street Playhouse - 101 School St, Cumming - 770-781-9178
o Dec 3-21 – A Christmas Carol – Th,F,S at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2:30 pm
o Dec 5-21 – A 1940s Radio Christmas Carol – Thr-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm, $15-$35. Historic Downtown Dahlonega - Hancock Park, North Park & Warwick St. - 706-8643711
o Dec 5, 7, 12 – Christmas Historic Home Tour – Jeremiah’s Place, 74 N Grove St., tickets required, from $33.85.
o Thru Jan 2 – Christmas in a Small Town Walking Tour – weekly Fri/Sat – 6-8 pm, $30.
o Dec 6 – Christmas Market at Public House – Gifts, food, 1108 N Grove St., 11 am-5 pm. University of North Georgia - see website, there are multiple campuses - 678-717-3930
DAWSONVILLE/DAWSON COUNTY
Amicalola Falls State Park, 280 Amicalola Falls State Park Rd., 706-344-1515
o Dec 5, 7, 12 – Storytime with Naturalist –Visitor’s Center Arch room, 10 am-11 am o Dec 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 – Creek Wading with a See Calendar, page 38
Sunrise Cove Marina is named for the stunning views and surroundings, especially against the morning sunrise. A quiet cove tucked away on Lake Lanier, the Marina rests on 62 sprawling acres of beautiful timberland countryside, with an abundance of wildlife presence.
• Covered & Uncovered Slips
• Jet Ski Docks
• Ship Store
• Clean Restrooms
• Bathhouses
• Laundry Facilities
• Fuel Dock
Pump-Out (Free to Sunrise Cove Slip Members) • Security
Private Launch Ramp
Clubhouse for Banquets and Parties • Electrical & Water Services
With BHHS Georgia Properties and KSS Partners, your lake home receives powerful local, national, and global exposure.
• Burns
Continued from Page 18
ville. For a region accustomed to mild winters, the cold wave caused widespread damage to pipes, agriculture, and infrastructure.
December doesn’t only bring cold surprises. The month has also produced violent weather more typical of spring than of Christmas. On December 5, 1954, a tornado outbreak swept across eastern Alabama and western Georgia, generating numerous F2 and F3 twisters. The storms led to fatalities, dozens of injuries, and heavy structural damage – an unusual sight for early winter. More recently, in December 2011, a multi-day severe weather episode spawned 15 tornadoes across the Southeast, including a powerful EF3 in Floyd and Gordon counties of northwest Georgia.
Yet perhaps the most striking extremes have come not from cold or storms, but from the opposite direction – heat. Several recent Decembers have smashed high-temperature records across Georgia, with many occurring in North Georgia or nearby. In December 2015, Georgia experienced its warmest December ever recorded. Atlanta’s average December temperature reached 57.6°F, more than 12 degrees above normal. Many climate stations reported similar anomalies, driven by a strong high-pressure ridge that blocked cold air from moving south. The result felt more like early October than the beginning of winter. Then came December 2021, when Athens hit 80°F on December 3, breaking its daily record. Just a year later, in December 2022, Atlanta hit 78°F, once again shattering a December temperature record. Warm, moist airflow from the Gulf of Mexico combined with persistent ridging created conditions more reminiscent of late spring than the holiday season. These swings – icy chaos one decade, near-summer warmth the next – highlight a defining characteristic of December weather in North Georgia: volatility. The region sits at the crossroads of warm Gulf moisture, cold Arctic air masses, and shifting jet stream patterns. When any of these features drift slightly north or south, dramatic changes can follow.
As climate patterns continue to evolve, residents may see more frequent temperature extremes, both warm and cold. But if the past is any indication, one thing is certain: in North Georgia, December will always keep you guessing.
This December and all of winter, may be one for the books. We have a polar vortex weakening and La Nina! When we talk about a weakening polar vortex and La Niña occurring at the same time, we’re
really talking about two different – but interacting – pieces of the atmosphere:
The polar vortex is a cold, fast-moving ring of winds circling the Arctic in the stratosphere (about 10–30 miles up).
La Niña is a cooling of the equatorial Pacific Ocean that shifts tropical rainfall patterns and alters the jet stream.
They each influence the jet stream differently, and when they overlap, their effects can reinforce or compete with each other. Here’s how the interaction generally works. When the polar vortex weakens –or even undergoes a sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) – the effect is:
• The vortex slows, wobbles, or breaks apart.
• Cold Arctic air is more likely to spill southward.
• The jet stream becomes more wavy, producing:
• Cold outbreaks in eastern North America and Europe
• Warm spells in western North America
• More blocking patterns (Greenland block, Aleutian ridges).
A weak vortex increases the odds of cold snaps for the Eastern U.S., including north Georgia.
La Niña tends to produce very different conditions:
• The Pacific jet stream shifts northward.
• The Southeast becomes warmer and drier than average.
• The northern tier of the U.S. becomes colder and stormier.
• The subtropical jet weakens, reducing Gulf moisture transport.
So by itself, La Niña reduces the chance of persistent cold in Georgia and the Southeast. A weakened polar vortex and La Niña don’t always line up, but when they do, the interaction can be very “interesting.”
Meaning:
• Cold outbreaks pushing deeper into the Southeast.
• Increased potential for snow/ice events in the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians.
• More high-latitude blocking, increasing storm tracks toward the Southeast.
All this being said, here is what l expect for December and our 2025-2026 winter: La Niña meeting a weakened polar vortex, which lets Artic air spill southward.
Temperatures should be warmer than normal but with sharp cold snaps and precipitation should be near to slightly wetter than normal.
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Glenn Burns is chief meteorologist emeritus for WSB-TV in Atlanta.
See separate listing for New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day outdoor events.
o Full Moon Suspension Bridge Hike, Tallulah Falls. Mile-and- a-half night hike down 310 stairs to suspension bridge over falls, 5:15-6:45 p.m. Dec. 4, Tallulah Gorge State Park, 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Dr. $10, $5 parking; pre-register. www.gastateparks.org, 706-7547981.
o Snow Day, Cumming. Inflatable fun for children, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 6, Cumming City Center, Vision Drive. $10 or donate a new, unopened toy of equal value. www.cummingcitycenter.com.
o Chriskindlmarkt, Helen. Handmade gifts, decorations, candied and savory treats, plus additional food vendors, Dec. 6 & 7, Market Plaza & Union Hill Park, Downtown Helen. www.helenga.org.
o Christmas in the Mountains Festival & Lighted Parade, Cleveland. Parade, open houses, photos with Santa, market on downtown square, Cleveland County Courthouse, 6-8 p.m. Dec. 6, market begins at noon, intersection Ga. 129/115. www.whitecountychamber.org.
o Run Santa Run Toys for Tots 5K/Fun Run, Cumming. 8:30/9:30a.m. Dec. 6, Cumming Fairgrounds, 235 Castleberry Rd. Bring a new unwrapped toy valued at $25 to register. www.active.com.
o Christmas at the Gorge, Tallulah Falls. Holiday snacks, crafts, and hayrides, 1-3 p.m. Dec. 6, Tallulah Gorge State Park, 338 Jane Hurt Yard Dr. $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706-754-7981.
o Green Street Santa Sprint, Gainesville. 1mile point-to-point run before Christmas parade on Green Street by participants wearing green Santa suits, 3:55 p.m. Dec. 7, 781 Green Street (corner of Holly/Green St.). $35$40. www.runsignup.com.
o Christmas on Green Street, Gainesville. Annual celebration on Historic Green Street with antique car parade, marching bands, and floats, plus food trucks, mini-train rides,activities and performances at historic homes, 3-7 p.m. Dec. 7. www.exploregainesville.org.
o Holly Jolly Market, Gainesville. Shop local artists, vendors and businesses during Christmas on Green Street, 1-4 p.m. Dec. 7, Gainesville Times, 345 Green St. www.exploregainesville.com.
o Christmas Market, Flowery Branch. Food trucks, craft vendors, local produce, holiday treats, carriage rides, live music, Santa visit, 3:30-7 p.m. Dec. 11, Downtown Flowery Branch, 5310 Railroad Ave. www.flowerybranchfarmersmarket.com.
o Home School Day, Gainesville. Homeschool students ages K-6th grade learn about the slowing cycles of winter, 1-3 p.m. Dec. 11, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr. $10 per child, free to members. Registration encouraged. www.elachee.org, 770-535-1976.
o Holiday Drive-In Movie, Dawsonville. Watch a Christmas classic from your vehicle, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 12, Rock Creek Sports Com-
Outdoor Calendar December 2025
plex, 445 Martin Rd. Parking begins at 4:45 p.m., ends at 5:20 p.m. No concessions. www.dawsoncountyga.
o State Park After Dark, Helen. Unique guided night hike through park, 7-8:30 p.m. Dec. 12, Unicoi State Park, 1788 Hwy. 356. $10, $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706878-2201.
o Christmas Parade, Helen. Fire trucks, horses, dirt-buggies, floats, candy, Santa, 6 p.m. Dec. 13, Downtown Helen. www.helenga.org.
o Conservation Lecture, Gainesville. Conservation nursery manager Tanner Biggers talks about conservation work at the garden and around the world, 10-11 a.m. Dec. 13, Gainesville Garden of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1911 Sweet Bay Dr. $30-$35. www.atlantabg.org, 404-888-4760.
o Christmas at the Inn, Toccoa. Hot apple cider, teacakes & dulcimer music at 19th century stagecoach inn decorated with greenery and handmade ornaments, noon-4 p.m. Dec. 13 & 20, Traveler’s Rest Historic Site, 4339 Riverdale Rd. www.gastateparks.org, 706886-2256.
o Holiday Boat Parade, Lake Lanier. Festival of lights on the water with decorated boat; parade begins at 6 p.m. Dec. 13, Port Royale and floats toward Aqualand Marina for judges’ review before heading to University Yacht Club, Lazy Days and Holiday Marina, then returns to Port Royale for live music and awards. See website for entry fees. www.marinemax.com.
o Cumming Christmas Parade. Holiday floats, antique cars, bands and more parade to Cumming Fairgrounds via from North Forsyth High School via Tribble Gap/Castleberry Rd., 5-6 p.m. Dec. 13. https://cummingfair.squarespace.com/
o Sunset Candy Cane Hunt, Tallulah Falls. Hunt candy canes, watch holiday movie, enjoy s’mores and hot cocoa, 5-7 p.m. Dec. 13, Tallulah Gorge State Park, 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Dr. $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706-754-7981.
o Cumming Christmas Jingle Jog 5K/Fun Run. 8:30/9:30 a.m. Dec. 20, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd. $25-$40. www.runsignup.com.
o Double Feature Movie Night, Gainesville. Winter movie magic at group shelter, doors open 5 p.m. for animated holiday movie, 7:30
p.m. for winter-themed action movie, Dec. 20, Don Carter State Park, 5000 N. Browning Bridge Rd. Bring chairs and blankets. $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 678-4507726.
o Reindeer Run 5K/10K/Fun Run, Buford. 5K/10K 8:30 a.m., fun run 9:30 a.m. Dec. 20, 301 E. Main St. $10-$45. www.fivestarntp.com.
o Santa Shuffle 5K/Fun Run Ugly Sweater Edition, Cumming. 8:30/90:30 a.m. Dec. 24, Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd. $25$40. www.runsignup.com.
o Movie Night at the Park, Gainesville. Animated PG movie to end winter break, doors open 5 p.m. Jan. 3, group shelter, Don Carter State Park, 5000 N. Browning Bridge Rd. Bring chairs & blankets. $5 parking.www.gastateparks.org, 678-450-7726.
o Full Moon Suspension Bridge Hike, Tallulah Falls. Mile-and- a-half night hike down 310 stairs to suspension bridge over falls, 6:15-7:45 p.m. Jan. 3, Tallulah Gorge State Park, 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Dr. $10, plus $5 parking. Pre-register. www.gastateparks.org, 706-754-7981.
On-Going
o Magical Nights of Lights, Buford. Return of drive-through lights spectacle with six miles of animated festive scenes, 5-10 p.m. through Jan. 4, Lanier Islands, 7000 Lanier Islands Pkwy. $25 standard vehicle ( up to 10 passengers) in advance online; $35 at the gate; vans & shuttles 11-20 passengers starting at $100; buses over 21 passengers starting at $250. www.lanierislands.com.
o License to Chill Snow Island, Buford. Snow tubing, ice skating, carnival rides, s’more making, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. through Dec. 31; see website calendar for possible extended dates, Margaritaville at Lanier Islands, 7650 Lanier Islands Pkwy. Various prices. www.margaritavilleresorts.com.
o Gainesville Glows: Lanterns & Lights Holiday show closes out Gainesville Garden’s 10th anniversary with lighted woodland animals, romantic luminaries, enchanting lanterns, light tunnel, plus s’more pits, 5-10 p.m. Dec. 4-7, 11-14, & Dec. 18-Jan. 4, Gainesville Garden of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1911 Sweet Bay Dr. $16.95-$34.95. www.atlantabg.org, 404-888-4760.
o Wilshire Wonderland of Lights, Gaines-
ville. Extended stroll through beloved Gainesville park to Rock Creek Veterans Park decorated with holiday lights, plus Santa visits/photos, 5-10 p.m. through Jan. 1, Wilshire Trails Park, 849 Wilshire Trials Rd. See website for Santa’s schedule. www.gainesville.org.
o Mountain Country Christmas in Lights, Hiawassee. See Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in holiday lights, plus music, arts vendors, food, Santa visits and Cowtown exhibit with cow milking, butter ice-cream making, 6-9 p.m. Thurs.-Sat. through Dec. 6, nightly Dec. 11-23, 1311 Music Hall Rd. $9, free to children 12 & younger. Closed Dec. 24 & 25. www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com.
o Victorian Christmas at Hardman Farm, Sautee Nacoochee. See Mansion at West End decorated in period décor, learn about Victorian holiday traditions from re-enactors, plus live music, s’mores around a bon fire, 4-7 p.m. Friday and Saturdays Dec. 5-20, Hardman Farm, 143 Hwy. 17. $30 adults, $22 ages 6-17, free to children 5 and younger. Registration required. www.gastateparks.org. 706-8781077.
o Wildlife of Unicoi, Helen. Learn about variety of wildlife, meet critters up close, 2nd/4th Saturdays, Visitor Center, Unicoi State Park, 1788 Hwy. 356. $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706-878-2201.
o Trail Crew Treks, Gainesville. Explore trails in Chicopee Woods, learn about ecosystems and how to perform trail maintenance, 911 a.m. second Saturdays thru December & March-May, meet at gravel trailhead, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr. Free. www.elachee.org, 770-535-1976.
o Women of the Woods Club, Gainesville. Monthly gathering to empower women to explore outdoors with knowledge, safety & confidence, includes hiking and learning new skills, 3-5 p.m. first Fridays through May, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr. Free. www.elachee.org, 770-535-1976.
o Friday Night Drift, Braselton. Beginnerfriendly performance car maneuvering on race track, participants and spectators welcome, 6 p.m. Fridays, Caffeine and Octane Lanier Raceway, 5301 Winder Hwy. $10-$199. www.caffeineandoctane.com.
o Behind the Scenes Animal Care, Gainesville. See what it takes to care for nature center’s animal ambassadors and assist with real animal care tasks, noon-1 p.m. Thursdays thru May 28, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr. $10, free to non-members. www.elachee.org, 770-535-1976.
o Forest Fridays, Gainesville. Unwind and reconnect with nature after work week, relax on patio, explore exhibits, or join guided forest hike, 2-5 p.m. Fridays, hike at 3 p.m., thru May 29, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr. www.elachee.org, 770-535-1976.
o Sprouts, Gainesville. Monthly programs for ages 18 months-3 years to learn about animals, plants and insects, 2nd Thursdays through May 14, with guided programs 9:30-
Green-suited Santas to ‘sprint’ at annual Green Street Christmas
By Jane Harrison
A holiday fantasy steeped in local history and sweetened by family memories will bound down Green Street in Gainesville Dec. 7 when a throng of greensuited Santas kicks off an annual holiday celebration. Thousands of spectators awaiting the traditional Christmas on Greet Street parade will see history in the making when costumed white-bearded runners and walkers spread green from sidewalk-to-sidewalk in the first Green Street Santa Sprint.
The idea for a one-mile sprint on the parade route sprung from home towner Abby Loggins’s childhood memories of her grandmother’s commitment to the city’s Memorial Day tribute on Green Street. “She always helped with planning and I think she was a grand marshal,” Loggins recalled.
The excitement about parades that stirred when she was a little girl took a fast track after she married a Hall County runner who started a race timing business, Runners Fit, in his college dorm room. Zach and Abby Loggins now co-own the new Big Peach Running Co. franchise in Braselton/Flowery Branch and organize races from Atlanta to North Georgia.
“I got the inside scoop on run-
• Outdoor Calendar
Continued from Page 26
10 a.m., Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr. $10, free to members. www.elachee.org, 770535-1976.
o Sci Art Saturdays, Gainesville. Themed 3-hour hands-on sessions in natural science illustration, plus guided hike with observational sketching, for 6th -9th graders, Nov. 16, Jan. 10, March 14, May 9, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr. $12 students, free to members. www.elachee.org, 770535-1976.
o Saturday Walking Club, Cumming. 8 a.m. Saturdays, Big Peach Running Co., Vision Drive (in front of fountain), Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Rd. www.bigpeachrunningco.com.
o Hikes, Archery, Bats of Georgia, Tree Identification, Dawsonville. Various free and fee programs available by reservation at Amicalola Falls State Park, 280 Amicalola Falls State Park Rd. naturalist@amicalolafallslodge.com , 706-344-1515.
o Group Run/Walk, Led by Big Peach Running Co., Gainesville. 7 p.m. Tuesdays, NoFo Brewing Company, 434 High St.; 8 a.m. Saturdays, Farm House Coffee, 118 SE Jesse Jewell Pkwy. www.bigpeachrunningco.com.
o Beginner Archery, Tallulah Falls. Learn to shoot an arrow or
ning … and thought, why not do a run before a parade?” Abby Loggins said. She aimed to trot out her idea in the “biggest-attended parade in Gainesville.” She described the jolly juxtaposition of a Green Street parade and sprinting or strolling green Santas as a “passion project” that’s finally nearing the starting line. She ordered 1,000 green Santa suits that come with a hat, beard, jacket, pants and belt after the city gave her the green light.
improve your skills, 11 a.m.12:30 p.m. third Saturdays through February 2026, Tallulah Gorge State Park, 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Dr. Must be strong enough to pull 20- pound bow. Register in advance. $15, $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706-7547981.
o Group Runs, Oakwood/Gainesville. Runs with Lanier Running Club, starters to elites, 6 p.m. Tuesdays, College Square Park, 3640 Mundy Mill Rd.,Oakwood; 6 p.m. Thursdays NoFo Brewing Company 434 High St., Gainesville; 7:30 a.m. Saturdays, Riverside Preparatory Academy, 2001 Riverside Dr. Check website, Facebook & Instagram for updates.www.lanierrunningclub.org.
o Sunday North Hall Rides, Gainesville. Bicycling on rural roads averaging 17-18 mph at steady pace, 30-45 miles, roll out noon Sundays from Haynes Rd. velocraig@hotmail.com
o Turning Leaf Book Club, Gainesville. Monthly discussions of nature-themed books, 11 a.m. first Wednesdays Jan.-May, Sept.Nov., Linwood Ecology Center, Linwood Nature Preserve, 118 Springview Dr. mastergardener@hallcounty.org. – compiled by Jane Harrison
She first pitched the idea to Gainesville Tourism Director Robyn Lynch, who envisioned the sprint as “a fun way to enhance the holiday spirit” of a Gainesville tradition that has drawn regional visitors for decades. “The parade committee which consists of city personnel from tourism, parks and recreation, police, fire and public works heard a presentation from the event organizers and were immediately in support of the race,” Lynch said. “Council was also supportive of this fun new addition to our holiday festivities.”
Loggins said that the one-mile distance on the parade route between Holly Street and the Brenau University lawn would be comfortable enough for families with toddlers in tow or babies in strollers. Couples might jog handin-hand. Competitive sprinters on a Christmas rush might set a 1mile personal record they can Ho! Ho! Ho! about. No one needs to fret about getting swept up in the parade, which follows the sprint.
Ladies dressed in Victorian attire will set the parade pace as they saunter slowly behind the Santas. Everyone gets a finish medal and an official race time.
Participants can register in advance and pick up their Santa suits from the Junior League Lodge on Riverside Drive on Dec. 6. “If participants cannot get to packet pick-up on Dec. 6, they can pick up on Dec. 7 at the start line on the corner of Thompson Bridge Road and Holly Road starting at 2 p.m. Participants can walk over to the Civic Center if they need to change or there will be lots of porta-potties at the start line” where Santa imposters can throw their outfits over their running clothes and go, Loggins said.
The suits come in all sizes to fit chubby elves, skinny Santas, or even kid Santas. “There’s no
Expect lively evening at Christmas on Green Street
The annual holiday event draws thousands of spectators who line the sidewalks of Gainesville’s beloved historic thoroughfare to watch a parade, tour Victorian-era homes, sing carols, and ride in carriages before the lighting of the Rotary Tree at the intersection of Green Street and West Academy Street. Green Street will be closed to traffic before the Santa Sprint takes off. Arrive early. Plan to park off-site and walk to the festivities. Here’s the rundown:
• Christmas on Green Street: Antique car parade, marching bands, floats, food trucks, mini-train rides, activities, performances at historic homes, lighting of Rotary Tree, 3-7 p.m. p.m. Dec. 7. www.exploregainesville.org.
• Green Street Santa Sprint: 1-mile point-to-point run/walk, 3:55 p.m. Dec. 7, 781 Green Street (corner of Holly/Green St.). $35-$40. https://runsignup.com/greenstreetsantasprint.
• Holly Jolly Market, Gainesville. Local holiday market, 1-4 p.m. Dec. 7, Gainesville Times, 345 Green Street. www.exploregainesville.com.
stuffing, but we encourage it,” Loggins said. She also encouraged participants get their outfits the day before the sprint, in case they need “pinning or tucking.” She emphasized that regardless of the fit, the green suits are lightweight and should be worn over athletic clothing to avoid blushing or freezing Santas.
“We expect a big turnout. Some people are going to have to see it to believe it. Once people see Santas coming down Green Street, they’re going to want to do it next year,” Loggins said.
“I would be thrilled to see it become a part of the celebration for years to come,” said Lynch, Gainesville’s tourism director.
Proceeds from the sprint go to the Diaper Bank of North Georgia, a community outreach program supported by the Junior League of Hall County-Gainesville. A lot of families struggle to provide these essentials, said Loggins, who is also Junior League president this year. Through their registration fee, Santas footing it down Green Street will be giving to those in need.
The Santa Sprint is among several silly holiday foot races taking off around Lake Lanier this month. Check the Lakeside Outdoor Calendar for information about the Dec. 6 Santa Run Toys for Tots and Dec. 20 Christmas Jingle Jog, both in Cumming; Dec. 20 Reindeer Run in Buford; and the Santa Shuffle Ugly Sweater Edition in Cumming on Christmas Eve.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Modern eclectic nature and public park in Suwanee
Sometimes we travel a long way looking for something interesting that can often be found very near to home. The City of Suwanee now features such an interesting place. It is comprised of Town Center on Main and DeLay Nature Park. The 25-acre site at the corner of Suwanee Dam Road and Main Street was purchased in 2002 as an early acquisition of the community-driven comprehensive park and open space initiative. These two parks have been years in the making; the Suwanee City Council unanimously approved a master plan for a future city park in 2016 stemming from the community’s desire for more public green spaces.
Town Center on Main is a roughly 13-acre urban park that expands upon the popular Town Center Park, providing even more opportunities for residents to enjoy outdoor activities and connect with nature. This development has been thoughtfully planned and designed to offer a
Bill Vanderford
Travel Editor
n MORE INFO: JFish51@aol.com www.georgiafishing.com
vibrant mix of recreation, relaxation and entertainment options. The space is for everyone from families enjoying picnics to athletes on volleyball courts.
The centerpiece of the design is a 1,200-foot pedestrian bridge that serves as both a striking visual anchor and a vital conduit between the key community fixtures. Built from eco-friendly materials, it seamlessly blends with its surroundings while linking the Town Center to the park’s hilltop gathering space. Walkers traversing the 1,200 foot long park-spanning bridge have a great view of the entire park area – including the new library and the Veterans Memorial.
DeLay Nature Park is roughly 15-acres of wooded nature along Brushy Creek. Containing the half mile Brushy Creek Greenway, the park extends from Stonecypher Road to Suwanee Dam Road adjacent to Town Center on Main. The third park is the ever popular, and recently reconstructed, PlayTown Suwanee. This children’s super-duper playground is almost an acre of swings, slides, sand-
boxes and other fun opportunities.
During the warmer months, an exciting addition to Town Center on Main is the Suwanee Circle, a vibrant Food Truck Park. It is complete with a large outdoor bar, seating areas with tables and chairs, a small stage for live acoustic music, twinkling lights and plenty of greenery.
The Playtown Suwanee playground, walking trails and sand volleyball courts energize the athletically inclined, while water features, a hardscape plaza, a veterans’ memorial and a serene reading “grotto” adjacent to the library offer tranquil spots for relaxation.
To improve safety, a tunnel provides passage to Station Park and the Town Center beneath active railroad tracks, eliminating the need for visitors to cross busy roadways. ADA-compliant ramps further ensure accessibility.
This thoughtful modern but complex design doubles as a peaceful everyday retreat that combines the values of connectivity, inclusivity and sustainability. By blending recreational amenities, reflective spaces and accessible pathways, this sanctuary has become a vibrant extension of Suwanee’s cultural identity, poised to enrich quality of life for generations to come. It is a beautiful new destination that is certainly worth a visit for anyone!
The park is located at 421 Main Street, Suwanee.
Bill Vanderford has won numerous awards for his writing and photography, and has been inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Guide.
PHOTOS BY BILL VANDERFORD
The childrens playground at the park.
Metalic woman at the park.
Linda Lee and Yogi Junior at the waterfall pool.
Looking south toward the library across the park.
A mother and child visit a metalic warrior at the park.
The curved walking bridge spans the park.
The elevated eating area at the park.
A family enjoys a picnic in the park.
The Veterans Memorial at the park.
Important reasons why we still need newspapers
Growing up in a newspaper family and running a newspaper route with a neighborhood buddy for the AJC as one of my first jobs, I will admit that I have a sentimental as well as logical attachment to the need for local newspapers and their importance in communities large and small.
A longtime friend and colleague in this industry, Dick Williams, an opinion columnist for The Atlanta Journal, owner/editor and publisher of The Crier of Dunwoody and decades long host of The Georgia Gang on Fox 5 Atlanta, often said that the best newspapers must be their community’s biggest cheerleader and when needed, harshest critic. He was right, though that is admittedly a tough balancing act.
Though newspapers may survive online, in email newsletters and other platforms, this is not as simple as saying goodbye to the buggy whip or moving to a superior platform like email or text over the fax machine.
I already feel bad for the Generation Z members who may
Bill Crane
One Man’s Opinion
n SHARE WITH BILL: bill.csicrane@gmail.com
never see their picture from the local newspaper sports section of a big game win, or their wedding/engagement photos, or a detailed obituary of a leading citizen and the contributions they made pinned by a magnet to the kitchen refrigerator.
The family pouring over the different sections of a fat Sunday paper is also soon gone with the wind. But most of all, this declining view of the importance of shared community news also allows us to drift further apart.
I don’t absolve or excuse any of the bias or incomplete reporting by larger legacy news outlets.
Leaning in favor or either party or skewing facts to match an agenda, or approaching a story with a predetermined angle, hero and villain are all wrong. Reporters also make mistakes, just as people in every other profession do.
But I don't have enough words in my column to list the thousands of instances where solid reporting has uncovered corporate greed or larceny, government waste or embezzlement, resulted in the correction of errors or the making whole of a consumer or enterprise earlier treated wrongly by an errant individual or business.
Those numbers are decidedly higher than the instances of “Fake News” which in and of itself tends to be overstated.
Graduating with a degree in broadcast journalism from the Grady College of Journalism at UGA, generally one of the better regarded journalism schools in the country, I have worked in and around journalists for more than four decades.
The majority are underpaid, often overworked and generally
skeptical of authority. Part of the jobs of the Fourth and Fifth Estates are to question and bring truth to power.
But asking a tough question is still not illegal and often illuminating in simply watching the reaction of seemingly increasingly thin-skinned corporate and public government officials, uncomfortable with having to be accountable.
If they are available in print, I will have several papers hitting my driveway and front porch each week. Some, like the AJC, will only exist online by the end of this year. I will still subscribe but hope that improvements are made to most websites to make them more intuitive or user friendly. Let’s start with having search engines that actually work.
But losing that common source of community news and outlooks, calendar of events, coverage of the good and bad decisions by local government officials, highlights of Friday Night Lights and big events and festivals ... is hard to replace with Facebook, Insta-
gram and other social media outlets.
Times have changed and many advertisers have migrated elsewhere, but like public radio at present, reeling from the loss of support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and federal/congressional funding, is expanding its corporate partnerships and listener memberships.
Big city dailies, except for The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, may be gone soon as we know them, though most will continue in existence online. I applaud the AJC for announcing its plans to carry a PDF version, as if still printing the paper, largely as a convenience for generations of readers still used to consuming their product in that fashion. It still isn’t too late for your local paper, and so if you feel even to a small degree as I do ... subscribe, occasionally advertise, or give the gift of a subscription to a neighbor, older family member or your local school liSee Crane, page 38
Atlanta Boat Show set for early January at World Congress Center
Shortly after the New Year at The 2026 Discover Boating Atlanta Boat Show, in partnership with Progressive, docks January 8–11, at the Georgia World Congress Center. The show is the ultimate destination for everyone, from seasoned captains to aspiring first-timers, featuring hundreds of new boats for sale, activities for the whole family, safety seminars and the latest innovations that make getting on the water easier than ever.
For more than 60 years, the event has inspired generations to embrace the boating lifestyle.
This year, the event invites newcomers to find their “Launching Point” – a welcoming space to explore the world of boating and shop deals on entry-level boats.
Show Manager Courtney Erhardt says, “We’re seeing more first-time buyers and young families taking an interest in boating, and this year’s show will help everyone get ready for life on the water – from learning the basics and finding the right boat, to shopping the best deals and connecting with peers who are also diving into the boat life.”
From entry-level boats and
personal watercraft to luxury wake sport boats and cruisers, alongside marine accessories, electronics, and gear, showgoers can expect to shop show-only specials and board hundreds of new vessels. The show will also feature education and demos designed to make boating simpler, safer and more fun, including
“Boating 101” sessions, tech tutorials and live fishing demos. Highlights include:
• Interactive education: Hands-on sessions to build confidence for first-time boaters.
• Tech and innovation displays: Explore cutting-edge features that make boating easier and more connected.
• Lake Life Lounge: A designated space to relax and stay awhile, featuring live music and a laidback atmosphere that captures the spirit of lake life year-round.
• Family fun: Activities for all ages, including the Kids’ Zone
Lakeside’s Safety Guide
and on-the-water simulators.
• Show-only specials: Limitedtime offers and value bundles designed to help attendees take the next step toward ownership. To learn more and sign up for event updates, visit www.AtlantaBoatShow.com.
• When: Thursday, January 8 –Sunday, January 11, 2026
• Where: Georgia World Congress Center, Hall B, 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta.
• Tickets: Tickets are $17 for adults and children over 12. Kids under 12 attend free.
A GUIDE TO BOATING AND SWIMMING SAFETY RESOURCES PRESENTED BY LAKESIDE ON LANIER
BOATING
Boater Education Courses with Certification Exam
Basics of Boating - America's Boating Course
• Course: Meets Georgia DNR and NASBLA requirements for boater and PWC certification; covers boat handling, safety equipment/procedures, rules of the road, boat types/terminology.
• Instructors: America’s Boating Club – Atlanta (formerly Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron
• When: Classes resume in 2026
• Cost: $25 per student; Optional: $28 reference text available from instructor
• Information/registration: americasboatingclubatlanta.org/ or Email - ABC@usps-atlanta.org
Boating Safely & Personal Watercraft Certification - USCGA
• Course: NASBLA certified entry level classroom-only course with test for boater education and PWC certification. Covers basic boating terminology, “rules of the road,” navigation, operation, legal requirements, emergencies, water etiquette and more.
• Instructors: U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers
• Information/registration: Joseph Edwards; jedwardsmaine0387@gmail.com; 404-775-2608 http://wow.uscgaux.info/peclass.php?unit=070-02-09
Other Boater Education Opportunities (Certification exam not included)
• Advanced Boating Classes in piloting, marine communications, and other boating skills offered periodically by the America’s Boating Club – Atlanta. americasboatingclubatlanta.org.
Vessel Safety Checks
• Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron offers vessel safety check-ups by appointment; americasboatingclubatlanta.org/vessel-safety-check.
• Vessel Safety Checks by appointment: Both U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and United States Power Squadrons offer vessel safety check-ups at your boat by appointment. www.safetyseal.net.
Sailing Classes
• Windsong Sailing Academy: Basic and advanced sailing training and certifications including engine maintenance, marine electrical systems, coastal and celestial navigation, marine meteorology and emergency planning. Public and private week evening and weekend classes available. Fees vary. www.WindsongSail.com. (770) 967-1515.
• Lessons: Swimming and water safety program for all ages and levels, age 6 months to masters, basic aquatics safety to skill proficiency for competitive swimmers, lifeguard training.
• Lanier Aquatics Swim Team: Competitive swimming groups for Rookie (age 4) through Masters (age 18 and older); www.gainesville.org/753/Lanier-Aquatics-Swim-Team
• Swim lessons: For all ages and levels, parent-child swim, Masters Swim Program, water fitness, water safety, life guard certification. Fees and times vary.
• Lessons: Swimming and water safety program ranges from toddler-age in Parent Child Aquatics Program to teens and adults in Learn to Swim and Adult Aquatics Program. Private or semi-private lessons available. Fees and schedules vary. Competitive swimming and diving programs, Masters Swim Team also available. Lifeguard certification offered.
• Swim lessons: For children of all abilities from four months to 12 years. Fees and times vary.
NOTE: Please contact Lakeside on Lanier News to list additional boating and water safety classes. lakesidenews@mindspring.com.
BONUS TRAVEL COLUMN
Bucket list: Remembering and honoring those who served
By Pamela A. Keene
In the hot summer of June 1944, the most decisive event of WWII began on the shores of Northern France. It was the turning point of the war in the European theater: D-Day.
My father served in the Pacific as a Naval aviator on a torpedo Bomber/TBM, flying off the USS Hancock from October 1944 until early 1945. He only talked about his WWII experiences once, but he wrote a journal while stationed on the Hancock, filled with details of those dangerous and trying days.
My generation – I’m in my early 70s and a proud Baby Boomer – grew up knowing about WWII, and in my extensive travel I have been alert to ways around the globe to learn more: in Europe, Morocco, India, Japan and South America. But nothing can tell the story like standing on the beaches of Normandy, seeing the concrete gunners’ pillboxes, the steep cliffs and the hundreds and hundreds of white crosses and Stars of David that fill sloping green hills.
Long on my “bucket list,” a visit to these hallowed places finally happened in August. Rick and I headed to France for much more than I expected. The images still fill my head.
Flying into Paris a couple of days early for our Grand Circle Travel riverboat cruise, we visited the highlights of the City of Lights, including the recently reopened Notre Dame Cathedral –
we outfoxed the long lines! – Jim Morrison’s grave in Pere Lachaise Cemetery, my favorite Ste. Chapelle Chapel in the Department of Justice Complex and other familiar and not-so-familiar sites.
Paris was not our objective, except for seeing Notre Dame in all its restored glory. We were ready to begin our real adventure: The Beaches of Normandy on our 140-passenger riverboat.
The journey took us down the Seine toward the coast with stops along the way, including Giverny, the home of Claude Monet, and Rouen, where the martyr Joan of Arc is extensively honored with statues and a modern church.
As we drew closer to the coast my excitement increased. We would be walking on the ground where nearly 30,000 US soldiers died during the three-month campaign that began with D-Day and continued to late August.
We learned about the physical challenges that complicated the landings and approaches inland: the rough seas that restricted landing craft and troops from their missions and the high winds that foiled planned parachute landing behind the lines scaling the 330foot-tall cliffs to scale after traversing about 300 yards of beach under attack in full combat gear, and hacking through hedgerow after hedgerow of tall thick thorny bushes that had served as fences for farmlands.
High tide on Omaha Beach –one of the five beaches where allied troops, including Canadians,
British and smaller groups of troops made their assaults – prevented us for having the full effect of the shear distance across the sand and seas. The massive modern stainless-steel monument stood with at least a foot of water at its base.
None the less, I was there. But there was more.
Nowhere did the impact of the D-Day Invasion and the subsequent Battle of Normandy feel more heart wrenching and sobering than at the Normandy American Military Cemetery. Located on 172.5 acres
Flags mark a soldier's grave and nearby a Jewish grave bears a Star
along the shoreline of the sea, it contains the graves of 9,389 American military dead. White crosses and those with Stars of David mark each grave for almost as far as you could see. Each bore the name of a soldier. Occasional American flags or small bunches of flowers punctuated the green grass spaces between the stark white markers.
As I wandered along the paved walkways and down to the ocean overlook, my surroundings looked peaceful and serene, the white crosses behind me a grim reminder of the tragedy that brought these solders to their final resting places.
In the Normandy region, there are nearly 25 museums to commemorate aspects of D-Day and WWII. Our 2-day stay there provided a birds-eye overview with the addition of a visit to the Peace Museum in Caen where we spent several hours exploring on our
own, viewing film footage and photographs of the battles and attacks, hearing the voices of those who were there, and digging into the campaign maps and other artifacts. A comprehensive immersive 19-minute 360-degree film cap-
See Bucket List, page 33
of David.
A mosaic map at the cemetery's memorial shows the campaigns waged, 1944-1945.
PHOTOS BY PAMELA A. KEENE
Large memorial on the Normandy beach.
A U.S. flag stands watch of a soldier's burial site in the Normandy American Cemetery.
A view down the beach from the stainless-steel memorial.
tures the tensions leading up to WWI and WWII from the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo in 1914 through the rise to power of the Nazis and into WWII.
As we returned home, my mind was filled with satisfied expectations, many more questions and the desire to return on my own. My 13-day trip was merely a toe dipped in the water of all that can be explored in this part of France.
However, we Americans have one of the largest and most comprehensive WWII museums in the world: The National WWII Museum in New Orleans. My visit there five years ago further
opened my eyes to the stories, challenges and triumphs of war. Built on six city blocks in the Arts/Warehouse District in six modern buildings, it tells the story of the war from the American/Homefront point of view with insights from everyday people, how the country eventually rallied and how our allies contributed.
Go there. Plan to spend at least three days there so that you can visit it in at your own pace and intersperse some typical New Orleans sites as well. If a trip to Normandy isn’t in your future, consider The National World War II Museum: www.nationalww2museum.org.
PHOTOS BY PAMELA A. KEENE
Massive modern stained-glass windows and a wood-ribbed ceiling highlight the Joan of Arc Church's interior.
The names of each soldier are inscribed on white marble walls.
Exterior construction is ongoing to complete the restoration of Our Lady Cathedral, aka Notre Dame.
Left: Proudly she waves.
Floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows in the top floor of Ste. Chappelle.
A closeup of a high-relief panel in the restored Notre Dame.
Statue of Joan of Arc outside a church dedicated to her in Rouen.
Remnants of German bunkers on the cliffs overlooking the sea, above left. WWII Ameican soldiers often encountered tall hedges as they traversed the landscape, above right.
Today the landscape of northern France is serene but it keeps its secrets of WWII.
The Doors' Jim Morrison's grave is always bedecked with flowers, balloons, guitar picks and other items.
Types of slips available: Uncovered, 20' to 80'; covered, 24' to 106' totaling 815 slips & dry stack storage (521) for up to 39'.
Types of fuel: 90 non-ethanol
Price of fuel: (as of 11/20/25) $5.39 regular (Dock/Ship Store open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., daily) (Pay at the pump closes same time as restaurant.)
On-site eatery: Pelican Pete's Bar and Grill
SAFE HARBOR AQUALAND
Hours: Office/Leasing, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., daily
Info: 770-967-6811 • shmarinas.com
Location: 6800 Lights Ferry Rd., Flowery Branch
Types of slips available: Houseboats, covered cruisers, & all types of open slips plus covered & open dry slips, totaling 1,725 wet docks and 460 dry docks
Types of fuel: Non-ethanol, 90 octane
Price of fuel: (as of 11/20/25) $5.24, non-members; $3.84, members (Dock open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., daily)
On-site eatery: Pig Tales
SAFE HARBOR HIDEAWAY BAY
Hours: Office/Store/Dock open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., daily.
Info: 770-967-5500 • shmarinas.com
Location: 6334 Mitchell St., Flowery Branch
Types of slips available: Wet (510) Dry (150)
Type of Fuel: 90 octane, non-ethanol
Price of fuel: (as of 11/20/25) $4.55, non-members; $3.55, members
Types of slips available: Uncovered-20-70'; Covered-24-50'; to include an exclusive 44' Sailboat Breakwater Dock. Total Wet Slips 688 and nine (9) Dry Storage Spaces (boats on trailer).
Types of fuel: 90 recreational, non-ethanol
Price of fuel: (as of 11/20/25) $5.29 unleaded Ethanol Free
The Corps of Engineers welcomes you to beautiful Lake Sidney Lanier. Located just 35 miles northeast of Atlanta, the lake offers some of the finest camping opportunities in the South. The Corps operates 7 campgrounds at Lake Lanier. Bolding Mill, Duckett Mill and Old Federal Campgrounds are managed by Hall County Parks and Leisure Services. Toto Creek Multipurpose Park, plus Thompson Creek and Nix Bridge Day-Use parks are managed by Dawson County.
Camping enthusiasts may enjoy the luxuries of fully developed areas with water and electrical hookups or “rough it” at designated primitive areas. Camping in undesignated areas such as on the lake’s shoreline and islands is prohibited.
All campgrounds have beach areas, boat ramps and restrooms. Most of our campgrounds also have showers, playgrounds, accessible sites and manned entry stations. To make reservations, download maps, check out campsite photos and see site availability visit Recreation.Gov.
All Army Corps campgrounds on Lake Sidney Lanier recognize the America The Beautiful (ATB) and Golden Passport cards. The ATB Annual and Lifetime Senior Pass, Access Pass, Golden Age and Golden Access passes will grant 50% off all campsite reservation fees.
Day Use Parks
The Corps operates 37 day use parks at Lake Lanier. Facilities range from parks with boat ramps to those with designated swimming areas, picnic tables, shelters and playgrounds. All day use parks close daily at 10 p.m. Boat launching is allowed at all hours unless otherwise posted. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in all parks.
Picnic Shelters
Picnic shelters are available at several Corps’ parks around the lake. They can be reserved for a fee. Call the Lake Lanier Management Office at 770-945-9531.
Day Use Fees
Day use fees are charged at some park areas which have boat ramps or beach areas. Fees (per day):
Boat launching $8
State and County Parks
Lake Lanier has 18 state and county parks that are available for use.
Rules, Regulations and More
Guidelines are not intended as restraints to the enjoyment of park visitors, but as aids for orderly operation, visitor safety and for the protection of the environment and public property. Complete rules and regulations are posted at the entrances to all campgrounds and copies are available at entry stations. To view annual opening and closing dates and rates for campgrounds and picnic shelters, visit www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/Lake-SidneyLanier/Schedules.
For more camping info you can also visit: lakesidenews.com/explore-lake-lanier/camping.
Practice Safe Boating
Use life jackets, stay sober and monitor the weather to try and prevent boating accidents!
Inside and out, winter color brightens beyond the holiday season
Instant color from plants comes in all shapes and forms for the holidays.
Indoors, people turn to cheery poinsettias, amaryllis and “Christmas” cactuses. I put “Christmas” in quotes because in reality there are three major varieties of these liberally blooming succulents; most people use the term “Christmas cactus” as a catch-all.
Mystery solved: Thanksgiving cactuses are the first to bloom and their leaves/segments have notched pointed edges, sometimes called “teeth.” The true Christmas cactuses burst into bloom in early winter. With more rounded edges, their leaves are also smoother than Thanksgiving cactuses. Both Thanksgiving and Christmas plants have tubular blossoms so it’s best to trust leaf shapes for identification.
By the spring, Easter cactuses make a show. With shorter segments than their cousins, the edges of the leaves are slightly scalloped and have tiny bristles along the sides. The multi-petaled star-shaped blooms come right out of the end of the branches and
Pamela A. Keene
Appeal
have no “tube.”
As for amaryllis, these large bulbs can produce four to five stems with clusters of stunning large flowers, sometimes as many as five to a stalk. Purchasing them from reputable growers, such as Longfield Gardens, assures delivery of large bulbs that can be planted outside in the spring to grow cut flowers after 18 months. Traditional red poinsettias have been dressed up by hybridizers that now sell pink and white, plus multi-colored bracts that top lush green potted plants. People often call the colored bracts blooms, but the true blossom is the cluster of small round yellow
buttons in the center.
Most people consider poinsettias one and done plants, tossing them at the end of the holidays. However, these tropical beauties can be made to bloom year after year. The process is complicated, involving monitoring the number of hours of daylight and dark they receive in the fall and winter. If you really want to know how, Mr. Google has many experts to provide the details.
Color outside your windows
I’m addicted to my favorite fall-winter blooming plant: camellias. With more than 3,000 named cultivars in three main groups – sasanqua, japonica and the lesser-known reticulata varieties – camellias deliver blossoms from late October all the way into April.
Dark green glossy leaves set the backdrop for blooms ranging from tiny solid colors to biggerthan-your-hand fully ruffled flowers that combine pinks, whites and reds in a single blossom.
Sasanquas are the first to bloom on shrubs that can grow
from 6 to 14 feet tall and 5 to 7 feet wide. They require full sun to partial shade and can be used for privacy fences or as large specimen shrubs.
Blooming from late November until early spring, japonicas have the most showy blooms. Flower shapes from single formal to semidouble, anemone and peony reward those how have them in their landscape with blossoms to bring
indoors and float in shallow bowls.
Camellia Reticulata can grow to more than 25 feet, making it the tallest group of camellias. Its blossoms can also become large.
Camellias can be low-maintenance easy-to-grow as long as they are planted properly when the weather is cooler or even cold and watered regularly to encourage root development before the warm weather returns.
If you’ve never owned a camellia, try it. Beautiful specimens are available at area nurseries, box retailers and online. One of my favorite sources is Wilson Brothers in South Atlanta; they only accept online orders and shipping is free.
Once you start with camellias, it’s like eating potato chips. This winter I’m adding about 30 to my wooded landscape. And that doesn’t include the half-dozen plants I purchased in South Georgia in November.
Busting a rumor
The Old Farmer’s Almanac is alive and well, despite being reSee Curb page 38
PHOTO BY PAMELA A. KEENE
Daikagura Camellia Japonica bloom
End 2025 with fireworks and champaign, start 2026 with a hike in the mountains. These are among the ways to bid farewell to old year and start anew around Lake Lanier and its small town headwaters. Here’s a sample:
o New Year’s Eve Party, Flowery Branch. Family fun with countdown at noon instead of midnight with DJ, games, snacks, kiddie train rides, balloons, confetti drop, 11 a.m.2 p.m., Pavilion, 5210 Railroad Ave. www.flowerybranchga.com.
o New Years Eve Fireworks, Buford. Landshark Landing, Margaritaville at Lanier Islands, 7640 Lanier Islands Pkwy. www.margaritavilleresorts.com.
o Dropping of the Edelweiss, Helen. Music, dancing, party favors, hors d’ouevres, champagne toast, 8 p.m.-midnight Dec. 31, Helen Festhalle, 1074 Edelweiss Strasse. $30 adults, $15 ages 6-12, free to children younger than 6. www.helenga.org.
o Polar Bear Paddle/Plunge, Gainesville. Paddle on Lake Lanier, 10 a.m., beach run into lake, noon, New Year’s Day, plus hot cocoa, goodies and Polar Bear t-shirt, Lake Lanier Olympic Park, 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd. $20. See website to get sign up information: www.lckc.org, www.exploregainesville.org.
o New Year’s Day 5K/Half Marathon,
Cumming. 9 a.m. New Year’s Day, North Forsyth Middle School, 3645 Coal Mountain Dr. $26-$40. www.fivestarntp.com.
o First Day Hike Amicalola, Dawsonville. Two Jan. 1 guided hikes: 9:30 a.m. and noon 1.5 mile round trip on Appalachian Approach Trail, plus 11 a.m. Birds of Prey show at Visitors Center Arch Room, Amicalola Falls State Park, 280 Amicalola Falls State Park Rd. $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706-344-1515.
o Finding Your First Bird First Day Hike, Gainesville. Ranger-led .7-mile hike for first bird watchers to participate in annual tradition, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Jan. 1, Don Carter State Park, 5000 N. Browning Bridge Rd. Register in advance. $3, plus $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 678-4507726.
o Celebrate America’s 250th, Gainesville. First Day hike on Huckleberry Trail
to celebrate America’s 250th year, 2-3 p.m. Jan. 1, Don Carter State Park, 5000 N. Browning Bridge Rd. Register in advance. $3, plus $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 678-450-7726.
o Falls to Farm First Day Hike, Sautee Nacoochee. 11-mile one-way hike from Anna Ruby Falls to Hardman Farm Historic Site, includes shuttle from Hardman Farm, support stops, swag bag, post-hike meal, tour of Hardman Farm and t-shirt, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 1, Hardman Farm Historic Site, 143 Hwy. 17. $40. www.gastateparks.org, 706-878-1077.
o First Day Nature Trail Hike, Clarkesville. Ranger-led 1-mile hike along creek, 10-11 a.m. Jan. 1, Moccasin Creek State Park, 2655 Hwy 197. www.gastateparks.org, 706-947-4194.
o First Day Hike Duke’s Creek Falls, Helen. 1.3 mile hike to primitive cabin for
warm-up by toasty fire, optional added 1.2 mile hike to falls, 1-3 p.m. Jan. 1, Smithgall Woods State Park, 61 Tsalaki Trl. $5 parking. Register in advance. www.gastateparks.org, 706-878-3087.
o Polar Bear Plunge, Tallulah Falls. First annual dip at beach/day-use area, 1-2 p.m. Jan. 1, Tallulah Gorge State Park, 338 Jan Hurt Yarn Dr. $20, includes warm drink, tshirt, and parking fee. Register in advance. www.gastateparks.org, 706-754-7981.
o Inspiration Loop & Sunset Burden Burn, Tallulah Falls. Ranger-led 1-mile hike to highest point in the gorge to watch sun set with s’mores, hot cocoa and campfire; bring pencil/paper to write down 2025 burdens to burn, 4-5 p.m. Jan. 1, Tallulah Gorge State Park, 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Dr. Register in advance. $7, plus $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706-754-7981.
o First Day Hike Unicoi, Helen. Guided 2.5 lake loop hike, 10 a.m.-noon Jan. 1, Unicoi State Park, 1788 Hwy 356. Register in advance. $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706-878-2201.
o First Day Hike at Vogel, Blairsville. Hike on Reece Farm Trail, 9-11:30 a.m. Jan. 1, Vogel State Park, 405 Vogel State Park Rd. $5 parking. www.gastateparks.org, 706-745-2628. – compiled by Jane Harrison
Winter project seeks monarch sightings in Southeast
Monarch butterfly enthusiasts, a monitoring group needs your help again.
Volunteers from the Southeast and Gulf states have provided more than 6,300 observations of monarchs during winter since 2020. This coming winter, the partnership of universities, agencies and other organizations called Monarchs Overwintering in the Southeastern States, or MOVERS, is requesting the public’s continued involvement in reporting sightings.
Dr. Sonia Altizer, a University of Georgia ecology professor and director of Project Monarch Health, said the information can help scientists determine if these iconic but declining butterflies “can overwinter as non-breeding adults in the southern U.S. and how this might affect future population numbers.” The monitoring can also shed light on whether winter-breeding activity affects their annual migration to Mexico. Understanding migration and overwintering behavior is crucial to conserving monarchs, a candi-
date for listing under the Endangered Species Act.
Thousands of monarch butterflies stream across the South each fall to wintering grounds in central Mexico. In the spring, members of this eastern population of the butterfly return to the U.S. and Canada to breed.
But not all monarchs migrate to Mexico. Volunteer observations over the past two decades have helped scientists better understand how and why some monarchs breed throughout the winter in the southern U.S. Scattered reports suggest that some monarchs can overwinter in coastal regions in a non-breeding state, similar to their wintering behavior in Mexico.
Gabriela Garrison of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission noted that the monarch is a species of greatest conservation need in North Carolina’s Wildlife Action Plan, as it is in the wildlife action plans of Georgia and many other states. “So monitoring overwintering populations and learning more about their be-
havior is critical,” Garrison said.
Dr. Michael Kendrick, an associate scientist with South Carolina DNR, agrees. “Our research shows that monarchs in the Southeast don’t always follow the same behavior patterns of other monarchs,” Kendrick said. “Additional monitoring will help us better understand monarchs in our region and guide future conservation and management strategies.”
The public is encouraged to report all monarch sightings (including adults, eggs, larvae and pupae) from November to March in Georgia, the Carolinas, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Photographs and details about what the monarchs are doing – such as resting, flying, laying eggs or drinking nectar or water – can help scientists determine their migratory status and habitat needs. Another tip is to check milkweed plants for eggs and caterpillars throughout winter: This data can reveal where winter breeding is occurring.
Observations can be submitted
either through the Journey North online data portal or by using the iNaturalist app or website.
Susan Meyers, a volunteer with Monarchs Across Georgia, emphasized that volunteers are vital to this effort. “If you enjoy being outdoors and exploring your local ecosystem, this is an easy activity that can be done alone or with friends or your family,” Meyers said.
Project partners are grateful for the nearly 850 sightings reported last winter, said Anna Yellin, a
wildlife biologist with Georgia DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division. “When we come together as a community as we have here, we stand a better chance of protecting the monarch butterfly for future generations.”
How to take part
Use either of these methods.
• Visit: www.journeynorth.org. Create a free account.
• Visit: www.inaturalist.org. Create a free account. Submit monarch observations using your web browser or phone app.
Monarch during winter on Georgia's coast.
PHOTO: CHRISTA F. HAYES_SPECIAL TO DNR
Some senior-friendly options for bathroom remodeling projects
When it comes to starting a remodeling project, most of us stay busy visualizing the possibilities that will enable us to move beyond the limitations of our existing spaces. For a certain segment of the population, the limitations are very real, especially as they age. Other groups of people see the value in age-in-place features but may be hesitant to sacrifice design and aesthetics for needs that may be years down the road.
But what if we told you there’s a way to accomplish your design goals while building in functionality and accessibility, whether it’s useful today or a decade from now?
There are ways to design your space for your family’s current needs, as well as the needs of relatives, guests and even the future owners of your home, years from now.
Universal design, also known as age-in-place remodeling, is an ideal way to add value and functionality to your home. One of the most popular areas for this design trend? Bathrooms.
Remodeling a bathroom with senior-friendly features can enhance safety, accessibility, and comfort for older individuals. And if you don’t need the most robust age-in-place features in this moment, there are still opportunities to incorporate accessibilityfriendly features without sacrificing what you are trying to achieve with the design of your new space.
Here are some senior-friendly ideas for bathroom remodeling: Walk-in/curbless showers
One of the biggest bathroom design trends, regardless of aging
needs, is to replace a traditional bathtub with a walk-in shower. This update eliminates the need to step over a high bathtub edge, reducing the risk of tripping and falling. Many homeowners also are opting to go curbless with their new walk-in showers, a feature that’s both aesthetically pleasing but also adaptably should you ever need to accommodate a wheelchair.
Additional ideas: ensure the shower floor is slip-resistant and consider adding a built-in bench or fold-down seat for added convenience.
Wider doorways
If possible, consider widening the bathroom doorways to accommodate wheelchairs or walkers. This enhances overall accessibility, even if it may not seem like a current need. The growing number of options when it comes to pocket or barn-style sliding doors mean you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics either.
Grab bars
Install grab bars near the toilet, shower, and/or bathtub. These
provide support and stability for seniors when moving around the bathroom but can also prevent you and guests from accidentally falling if you happen to slip on slick surfaces.
Keep in mind that many effective grab bar options are more visually pleasing than what you’re used to seeing in public-facing restrooms. Keep an open mind and ask your design or remodeling contractor for options.
Non-slip flooring
As mentioned, non-slip flooring benefits everyone, regardless of age. Choose non-slip flooring materials to reduce the risk of slipping, especially when the floor is wet. Textured tiles or nonslip vinyl flooring are reliable options.
Comfort-height toilets
Replacing your toilet? There’s more to think about than quietclosing lids. Consider installing a comfort-height toilet, which is higher than standard toilets. This makes it easier for seniors to sit down and stand up without straining their joints. A lot of modern construction already includes these taller toilets, but you may not notice it until you are visiting a home or business with an older, standard-height toilet. If you’ve encountered this recently, you’ll
Curbless showers
• Calendar
Continued from Page 22
Naturalist – 11:30 am-12:30 pm
o Dec 13 – Nature Journaling Activity – 11 am
Bowen Center for the Arts - 334 Hwy 9N, Dawsonville - 706-216-2787, melinda@RainbowChildrensHome.org
o Thru Dec 6 – Annual Fall Arts & Crafts Indoor Market – 10 am-4 pm
o Thru Dec 6 – The Creative Hands of Women Juried Exhibit – 10 am-4 pm.
FLOWERY BRANCH
Downtown Flowery Branch - 404491-9601
o Dec 11 – Christmas Market – 3:306:30 pm
o Dec 18 – Santa’s Market Stroll –3:30-6:30 pm
o Dec 31 – Noon Years Eve Party – 11 am-2 pm
GAINESVILLE/HALL COUNTY
The Hall at Bourbon Brothers – 213 Jesse Jewell Pkwy, Gainesville – 678434-0475. Shows at 7:30 pm
o Dec 3 – Thunderstruck: America’s AC/DC Tribute
o Dec 8 – Wheel of Fortune Live! –Night One, 7 pm
o Dec 9 – Wheel of Fortune Live! –Night Two, 7 pm
o Dec 11 – The Wizards of Winter | A Holiday Rock Spectacular
o Dec 18 – Nashville Noel: A Country Christmas Spectacular
o Dec 19 – An Evening with the Irish Tenors
o Dec 20 – Sinatra Experience: Christmas Celebration
o Dec 27 – Departure: Journey Tribute Band
o Dec 31 – New Year’s Eve Bash featuring Fly Betty, 8 pm
Don Carter State Park - 5000 N. Browning Bridge Rd., Gainesville678-450-7726
o Dec 5 – Become a Campfire Chef: Pizza! – 4:30-5:30 pm, $5, plus $5 parking
o Dec 6 – Evergreens are Mighty Keen Hike – 10:30-11:30 am-$3, plus $5 parking
o Dec 6 – Pet a Pelt – noon-12:45 pm, $1, plus $5 parking
o Dec 6 – Make a Bird Feeder! – 2-3 pm, $3, plus $5 parking
o Dec 12, 22 – Name that Christmas Tune – 6-7 pm, $2, plus $5 park
o Dec 20, 22 – Camouflaged Critters
– 12-12: 45 pm, $1, $4 park
o Dec 20 – Winter Weaving: Christmas String Art – 2-4 pm
o Dec 20 – Movie Night at the Park: Double Feature: animated PG 5:30 pm; action PG 7:30 pm
o Dec 22 – To Sleep or Not to Sleep: Georgia’s Hibernating Animals –1:30-2:30 pm
o Dec 24 – Christmas Eve Carols –4:45-6 pm, $5 parking
o Jan 1 – Finding your “First Bird” First Day Hike – 8:30-9:30 am, $3, plus $5 parking
o Jan 1 – Celebrating the Start of America’s 250th Year! 2-3 pm
o Jan 1 – A Cup of New Year Cheer –
5-6 pm, $3, plus $5 parking
Elachee Nature Science Center - 2125 Elachee Dr. Gainesville - 770-5351976
o Dec 2 – (First Tues each month)Pages & Pines Silent Book Club –Bring a book to read on nature center patio, 12:30-2:30 pm.
o Dec 6 – A Morning in Whoville –
$20
o Dec 13 – Elachee Eras Tour – celebrate Taylor Swift’s Birthday, get tickets, $15-$20
o Dec 31 – Glow Wild: Glow in the dark Nature Party, get tickets, $15$20
Gainesville Garden of the Atlanta Botanical Garden -1911 Sweetbay Dr, Gainesville - 404-888-4760
o Thru Jan 4 (select nights) – Gainesville Glows: Lanterns and Lights
o Dec 13 – Conservation Lecture with Tanner Biggers – 10-11 am
Gainesville Theatre Alliance - 678717-3624
o Feb 13-21 – The Play that Goes Wrong – Brenau University’s Hosch Theatre
Hall County Farmers Market - 734 E Crescent Drive, Gainesville
o Thru Nov 29 – Saturdays 10 am-2 pm, locally grown fruits, vegetables, flowers
Hall County Library - 770-532-3311, X4011, hallcountylibrary.org
Blackshear Place – 770-532-3311, ext. 151
o Dec 4 – Drop in Craft: Reindeer – 37 pm, baby/preschool
o Dec 16 – Jan Austen Tea Party – 34 pm, adults
o Dec 30 – Elementary Big Games –noon-1 pm, elementary Gainesville Branch – 770-532-3311, ext. 3000
o Dec 4 – Adult Winter Jigsaw Puzzle – all day, adults
o Dec 15 – Teen Writer’s workshop –6-7 pm, middle/high school age
o Dec 30 – Winter Read-In Pajama Party – 10 am-4 pm, baby/preschool Murrayville Branch – 770-532-3311, ext. 171
o Dec 5 – Chess Club – 3-4:30 pm, adults
o Dec 10 – Read Rover Storytime –3:30-4:30 pm, elementary
o Dec 29 – Snowmen Galore – 3-4 pm, elementary North Hall Tech Center - 770-5323311, ext.
o Dec 3 – Paper Quilling for Beginners – 3:30-4:30 pm, family/all ages
o Dec 15 – Chair Yoga – 1-2 pm, adults
o Dec 20 – Sew Cool! – 2:30-4:30 pm, middle/high school
Spout Springs Branch – 770-5323311, ext 191
o Dec 3 – Special Needs Social Hour –10:30-11:30 am, adults
o Dec 16 – Homemade Holiday: Gift making event, 4:30-5:30 pm, family/all ages
o Dec 30 – Gatorade Taste Test: Tier
Ranking for Teens – 4-5 pm, middle/high school
Historic Downtown Gainesville - 112 Main St., SW
o Dec 7 – Christmas on Green Street., noon-7 pm
Lake Lanier Olympic Park - 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd., Gainesville - 855536-1996
o Canoe/Kayak/SUP Rentals – Canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard rentals –Lake-Fun.com.
o Lake Lanier Rowing Club – Adult Learn to Row classes, ages 18+, www.lakelanierrowing.sportngin .com. Northeast Georgia History Center322 Academy St NE, Gainesville770-297-5900
o Dec 9 – Santa’s Fashion through the Ages, 7 pm
The Arts Council - 331 Spring St., SW, Gainesville – 770-534-2787, Email: Kaytiea@theartscouncil.net
o Thru Feb 20 – Deeply Rooted: An Intimate Portrait of Place – Tues-Fri 10 am-4 pm, free
o 2026 Evenings of Intimate Jazz –gate open 7 pm, shows at 8 pm: Jan 16, 17 - Roman Street; Feb 13, 14 – Ashleigh Elizabeth Smith; Mar 20, 21 –Sammy Hanson Quartet; Apr 17, 18 –Jazz at the Movies; May 16 – Joe Gransden Ensemble
GWINNETT COUNTY
Players Guild/EagleTheatre – The Bowl at Sugar Hill, 5039 W Broad St, Sugar Hill - 770-945-6929, 770-9456716
o Feb 6-15 – A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder
HIAWASSEE-TOWNS COUNTY
Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds –1311 Music Hall Rd, Hiawassee – 706896-4191
o Dec 5 – The Oak Ridge Boys Christmas Celebration Tour, 7-11 pm
o Dec 31 – New Year Fireworks! – 610 pm (fireworks at 8 pm)
o Thru Dec 23 – Mountain Country Christmas in Lights – $9/person, WHITE COUNTY
Smithgall Woods State Park - 61 Tsalaki Trl, Helen - 706-878-3087, 706878-4308, ext 7
o Jan 1 – First Day Hike: Duke’s Creek Falls – 1-3 pm, $5 parking
Helen Arts & Heritage Center – 25 Chattahoochee Strasse – unicoilodge.com, 706-878-3933, Art Gallery
– open noon to 5 pm
City of Cleveland
o Dec 6 – Christmas in the Mountains – a holiday market on the Cleveland Courthouse Square and lighted Christmas parade through downtown. noon-7 pm
City of Helen
o Dec 6,7 – Helen’s Christmas Market – Marktplatz and Unicoi Hill
Park
o Dec 13 – Annual Christmas Parade, downtown 6 pm
o Dec 31 – New Year’s Eve Celebration – Helen Festhalle
- compiled by Vicki Hope
• Curb
ported otherwise by various national media outlets.
Continued from Page 35 tinue to publish our annual edition, while educating and entertaining readers online at Almanac.com.”
The confusion came when Farmer’s Almanac, also a publication that’s been printing for more than two centuries, announced it was closing next year.
“Here’s the statement from The Old Farmer’s Almanac:
“To our Friends and Fans: You may have heard that the Farmer’s Almanac, based out of Lewiston, ME, is ceasing publication after an incredible 200+ year run. Over the years, there has been some confusion between different almanacs, so to be clear: The OLD Farmer’s Almanac isn’t going anywhere. As we have since 1792, during George Washington’s presidency, we will con-
• Design
understand how noticeable the extra inches are!
Easy-to-reach storage
When designing your bathroom remodel, remember to create storage that places frequently used items at a convenient height to avoid the need for excessive bending or stretching. Consider installing pull-out shelves and drawers for easier access. Remember, if you can’t reach it when fully mobile, it’s going to be almost impossible to access for those with limited mobility.
Accessible sink and countertop
I’ve been a subscriber for the past decade and enjoy the print copy as well as the daily Almanac emails that include gardening tips, recipes, news of astronomy happenings, weather information and just good old-fashioned, but pertinent today, information for living life.
Pamela A. Keene is senior writer for Lakeside News and a Hall County Master Gardener. She writes for more than a dozen publications across the country, covering features, travel and gardening.
Continued from Page 37 which are easier for seniors with limited hand strength, including arthritis, to use. Good lighting Adequate lighting is critical when it comes to age-inplace remodeling. Ensure you’re your bathroom is welllit to reduce the risk of tripping and to help seniors see clearly. Nightlights are a great idea for added visibility during nighttime trips to the bathroom. Lighting may seem like an afterthought for some when you’re busy planning a bathroom footprint or choosing flooring and finishes. But it can go a long way toward preventing costly, even deadly, falls for those at risk.
While sinks and countertops can seem fairly standard, installing a wall-mounted or floating sink isn’t just a visually appealing design trend – it allows wheelchair access that ensures enough knee clearance beneath the sink.
Opt for lever-style faucets,
• Crane
Continued from Page 30
brary. I can assure you that each of those gift recipients will appreciate that gift, even if you don’t anymore.
Bill Crane is a writer and true son of the South. A longtime col-
Tammy Doyle is the Executive Vice President for Tracy Tesmer Design/Remodeling in Gainesville.
umnist and political analyst, he is now spending a good part of his time living the lake life and loving North Georgia. He will share his thoughts and travels here.
Lakeside Dining Guide
Bullfrogs Restaurant – Located at Legacy Lodge & Conference Center at Lake Lanier Islands Resort. Open for lunch and dinner daily year round. This Southern Gastro Pub features re-imagined traditional Southern fare and variety of drink options from fullservice bar. Guests may arrive by boat or car. Buford. 770-945-8787.
Fish Tales Lakeside Grille – Casual lakeside dining featuring grouper fingers, signature salads and much more. Full service indoor and outdoor bar with live music. Open year round. Hideaway Bay Marina. 770-967-3775, www.fishtaleslakelanier.com.
La Cazuela – An Atlanta area landmark with two locations around Lanier. Open daily year round. Features fajitas, selection of combination platters and more. 4965 Lanier Islands Pkwy., Buford, 770-614-6871.
Pelican Pete’s – Picturesque dining on the water at Port Royale in open-air thatchedroof building. Selection of sandwiches, burgers, fish and more. Live music on weekends Open daily. 70-887-5715 ext 5., www.pelicanpetes.com
Pig Tales - Casual lakeside dining featuring BBQ, burgers, wings and more. Great customer service, full service bar with draft beer,
wine & mixed drinks, live music on weekends. Open Friday-Sunday. Aqualand Marina, Flowery Branch. 678-828-7676, www.PigTalesLakeLanier. com.
Sidney’s Restaurant – Located at Legacy Lodge & Conference Center at Lake Lanier Islands Resort and overlooks Lake Lanier. Serving breakfast daily and dinner Monday - Saturday year round. Guests may arrive by boat or car. Buford. 770-945-8787, www.lanierislands.com.
Skogies – Made from scratch seafood, BBQ and American fare with a great view served in a laid back pet friendly environment. A full Sunday breakfast menu includes eggs benedict served five ways, Omelettes, shrimp & grits, cathead biscuits & gravy, breakfast sandwiches & more. Live music on weekends. Open Tues. - Sunday. Closed on Monday. Call from your boat & they will pick you up. Gainesville Marina. 678 450-1310; www.skogieslakefrontrestaurant.us.
The Twisted Oar - Holiday Marina. Offering fresh seafood to savory chicken and steak; casual dining. Full bar service, tropical and frozen drinks. Live entertainment, trivia, indoor/outdoor flat screen TVs. Open daily year round. www.thetwistedoar.com, 678 714-7572.
