Home Living in North Georgia

Fall | 2016

More reasons than ever to work, live and play in the state’s most exciting region.

Moore’s Wealth Management Investment Advisors

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“As Investment Advisor Representatives, the Advisors of Moore’s Wealth Management continue to maintain a fiduciary responsibility to put their client’s best interest first. This has not changed, even with new regulations coming from the Department of Labor. We have always held ourselves to this standard and will continue to do so.”

Mark Moore’s Wealth Management is a firm specializing in conservative investments with the goal of helping retirees protect their financial future through independent and conservative financial planning solutions.

Gainesville

Alpharetta

A FINANCIAL ADVISORY FIRM HELPING RETIREES MAKE WISE INVESTMENT CHOICES

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Office Phone 770-535-5000

210 Washington St. NW, Suite # 106 • Gainesville, GA 30501 • 770-535-5000 • 12600 Deerfield Parkway, Suite # 100 • Alpharetta, Georgia 30004 • 678-566-3590

Investment advisory services are offered through PCM Advisory, LLC dba Precision Capital Management, an SEC registered investment advisor. The firm only transacts business in states where it is properly registered, or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. SEC registration is not an endorsement of the firm by the commission and does not mean that the advisor has attained a specific level of skill or ability.

What’s Inside 34

Inside Every Issue 6 43 46

From the Editor Calendar Around Town

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8 Monika Vintrlikova recently launched a new venture called Fresh Designs, which brings a unique European style of contemporary lamps to the U.S.

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In North Georgia, the chances to dote on pets are plentiful, from doggie boarding with play dates to horses that get brushed, exercised and fed carrot treats when they’re boarded.

On the Cover This gorgeous shot of Three Sisters Vineyard is indicative of the North Georgia region. Soon, vineyards will be harvesting grapes and we can let the stomping begin!

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Jillian Kibler and Timothy Collins represented their short film “Kiss of Death” at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

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Do you know what kind of risk your investment is taking? Scott Moore tells us how to mitigate it.

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The Goodwin family had a laundry list of must-haves for their new home; Cook Residential checked them all.

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The economic impact of Hall County’s tourism industry reached a record high

Photo by Scott Rogers

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in 2014 and ranks 12th out of Georgia’s 159 counties in visitor spending.

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Vision 2030 was born in 2005 after a leadership summit introduced the concept of a community vision to more than 100 area leaders. The goal was to get a large group of residents “thinking about and planning their community’s future.”

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Popular in the late 1950s through the early 1980s, flotation therapy is making a comeback at Infinity Floating in Braselton.

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Learn the right way to light your home with some basic knowledge courtesy of AHT Interiors.

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Two local filmmakers recently decided to dedicate

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10 their efforts to telling the tale of what is arguably the Southeast’s most beloved (albeit beleaguered) railroad.

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In the past year, slightly more than 34,000 people have visited Atlanta Botanical Garden: Smithgall Woodland Legacy.. What’s next for the garden?

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From the Editor

Fun by the bunches

Editor/Designer Michelle Boaen Jameson General Manager Norman Baggs Advertising Sales Melisa Sizemore HOME Magazine, a division of: The Times Gainesville, GA A Morris Multimedia Inc. property 345 Green St. | Gainesville, GA 30501 | 770-718-3421

www.homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com July| August 2015

Vineyards across North Georgia will soon be ready for the annual harvest as fall moves in. That means it will be time to crush grapes and sip wine! (see page 40). And if wine isn’t your cup, er ... glass, there are no shortage of ways to have fun. From places to play with your pet to farm tours and concerts, we are lucky to have so many forms of recreation.

This issue is full of information about Hall County, Gainesville and North Georgia. We look back at Atlanta Botanical Garden: Smithgall Legacy one year later to see what the garden has in store for the future. Read about a local duo whose short film made it all the way to Cannes and a local entrepreneur who is also the vice president of the Czech School of Atlanta.

History comes to life on page 34 with a documentary about the Tallulah Falls Railroad that ran through Rabun County and the people who counted on it.

Also in this issue is a story about a family who wanted a home that fit all of their needs and a few extras. Find out how they went from ideas to paper to brick and mortar and how you can,too.

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ichelle ameson

Michelle Boaen Jameson editor@homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com 6

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| 2016 Spring

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HOME: Living in North Georgia reserves the right to refuse advertisements for any reason. Acceptance of advertising does not mean or imply the services or product is endorsed or recommended by HOME: Living in North Georgia. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Morris Multimedia Inc. Although every precaution is taken to ensure accuracy of published materials, Morris Multimedia cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors.

Manuscripts, artwork, photography, inquiries and submitted materials are welcome.

bright ideas

Monika Vintrlikova sheds light on innovation Story by Savannah King | Photography by Scott Rogers The first time Monika Vintrlikova visited America was in 1995 when she flew into Cincinnati to become an exchange student for a year.

“At that time I could not even imagine that one day ‘living in America’ will become part of my life,” the Czechnative said with a thick accent.

“Of course, being an exchange student here gave me the feeling that everything is possible in the U.S.,” she said.

“Just create an idea and go after it.”

After she graduated, she moved to Madrid to get her bachelor's degree at Schiller International University where she made friends with several business-minded Americans, who would later help her get her business established.

“Back then I was already creating an idea of export/import between Europe and the U.S.,” Vintrlikova said.

She and a classmate from Dallas created a project where she would bring herrings in from overseas and sell them.

It wasn’t a new idea per se, but it was just the beginning of her entrepreneurial career.

While there aren’t any fish involved in any of Vintrlikova’s businesses today, she’s still 8

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In North Georgia

looking for new opportunities.

Vintrlikova, her husband, Jan Vintrlik, and their two daughters Nela and Lena, spend half of the year in the states and the other half in Europe.

She and her husband serve as the vice president and president of AlbaForm in Flowery Branch, a company that makes custom metal components for automotive companies like BMW, Daimler and Tesla.

Currently, her company, AlabaForm, employs about 40 Americans and 10 relocated Czechs.

She’s also recently launched a new venture called Fresh Designs, which brings a unique European style of contemporary lamps to the U.S. (freshdesignproducts.com).

Fresh Designs works with German designer Felix Mack to market his “Fraumaier” designs in the U.S. “The face of his company is a dog called FrauMaier (Mrs. Maier),” Vintrlikova said, smiling. “Fraumaier actually works every day with Felix and also travels with him everywhere. She attends our meetings as well.”

In addition to her businesses, she serves as the vice president of the Czech School of Atlanta, which teaches children with Czech-origins about culture, history, geography and language.

Bridging the gap between Europe and the U.S. is something of a goal for the businesswoman.

She said it can be easy for her to forget how difficult it was to get her family’s business off the ground, but it’s a process she’s confident she can help others replicate — the right way.

“I am constantly studying another business possibilities,” Vintrlikova explained.

She said she wants to show other European small businesses and family businesses how to be prosperous in this market.

“The United States is very business friendly,” Vintrlikova said. “And of course, I see opportunities everywhere I look — not only herrings.”

Monika Vintrlikova recently launched a new venture called Fresh Designs, which brings a unique European brand of contemporary lamps to the U.S.

homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

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Purrfect pets ... and their people North Georgia offers many ways to enjoy our furry friends Story by Pamela A. Keene | Photography for Home Magazine You know the sayings: Dogs have owners; cats have staff. A dog is the only thing on earth that will love you more than you love yourself. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.

Our pets become our constant companions who love us unconditionally.

They let us pet them when we’re sad, they urge us to come play when we’re tired, 10

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and they stand by us no matter what — well, at least most of the time. In return, as pet owners, we dote on our furry friends at every opportunity.

In North Georgia, the chances to dote are plentiful, from doggie boarding with play dates to horses that get brushed, exercised and fed carrot treats when they’re boarded. Even cats, with their aloofness,

can snuggle themselves into our hearts and silently coerce us into buying cat towers, fluffy feather toys and yummy treats.

Pet partnerships are growing around the world. According to the America Pet Product Association, more than 74 million households in the country have at least one pet. However, the numbers may surprise you. Did you know that the HOME Living

In North Georgia

No. 1 most popular pet is freshwater fish?

Or that cats as pets outrank dogs? Or that nearly half of all pet-owning households have more than one pet?

Statistically, Americans spent more than $58 billion on their pets in 2014 on food, toys, training, boarding, health care expenses and related costs. There are pet car seats, pet life jackets, pet clothing, fancy carriers and just about anything you can imagine.

Gourmet treats Pet Pleasers Bakery in Westbrook Plaza on Dawsonville Highway specialized in creating fresh-baked treats for dogs and cats. From personalized birthday cakes, muffins and liver brownies to snacks that include bacon and cheese twists, chicken stars and oatmeal soft bites, items are baked fresh on site daily using human-grade ingredients. No sugar or preservatives are added. The store also sells high-quality pet foods for dogs and cats.

Celebrating Over

Years of Service 1983-2015

Take Your Pet ... ... out to dinner, shopping, to a local park or on a drive. Northeast Georgia is catching on to being pet-friendly. Some restaurants on the Gainesville square and those with outdoor seating around Lake Lanier often will allow leashed, wellbehaved pets to accompany their owners at meals.

PetsMart and other pet retailers started the trend of allowing non-service dogs, and other pets, several decades ago and a handful of retailers have followed suit. But be mindful of any retail outlet, restaurant or shopping mall’s policy before showing up with Fido or Fluffy. If in doubt, call the particular store and speak with a manager for a pet policy clarification.

Across Georgia, communities are developing dog parks that encourage owners to bring their pooches out for a romp.

Check out Mulberry Creek Dog Park in Flowery Branch, Laurel Bark Park on Old Cleveland Highway and Don Carter State Park on Browning Road in North Hall.

Some outdoor festivals and other events, such as plant sales or concerts, will allow leashed pets, but again check with event organizers for the specific policy about bringing animals other than service or assistance dogs.

The healing power of pets Playing with pets has been shown to aid in healing and a positive outlook.

Now patients who are hospitalized at Northeast Georgia Medical Center have a way to stay connected to their family pets with the opening last year of its outdoor pet park, made possible through a gift by Murray and Daphne David.

The 3,200-square-foot fenced park, located outside the hospital’s South Tower features a garden-like setting with an access gate, handicap access, fresh-water station and plenty of seating for patients, families and their pets. The patio area is decorated with colorful plantings.

NGHS also supports an active inpatient pet therapy program. In that

program certified pet therapists, including dogs and cats, are brought into the hospital to visit patients in rooms.

Play dates, slumber parties, sleepovers North Georgia has a good selection of overnight, play day and boarding choices. Policies vary from facility to facility.

Reputable facilities require proof of good health and current vaccinations. They may also require a temperament evaluation before accepting the pet. Many people think of their local veterinarian as the go-to for boarding; after all, the pet is familiar with the staff and vice versa. Plus, if your pet requires medical attention of any kind, he’s already in the same place as his records.

Gypsy Paws on Browns Bridge Road is a doggie day care, grooming and boarding facility that offers all-day play for dogs, overnight suites with futons, armchairs and television, and even rooms with large beds.

“We have three different exercise yards and dogs are separated by size,” says Krystina Kelley, manager of Gypsy Paws. The organization has received multiple positive ratings on Yelp.

Mountain Pet Resort in Alto offers little extras when boarding animals, such as central heat and air conditioning, individual exercise yards for dogs and a limited number of cat condos for their clients who already board dogs with them.

“Our dogs go into the exercise yards at least four times a day, including at 10:30 each night,” says Paula Lush, owner of Mountain Pet Resort. “Our staff all love animals so they take the time to love on them and pet them, and they’ll play catch and other games with them.”

Lush’s home is on the property and there are 14 video camera 12

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throughout the facility that provide 24-hour surveillance, smoke detectors and alarms. Mountain Pet Resort also offers obedience training.

Lush is also a certified evaluator through the American Kennel Club for the Canine Good Citizen certification and she can assist owners with the process of certifying their dogs. After pet owners sign the AKC’s Responsible Dog Owner Pledge, their dogs can be evaluated for certain socialization and behaviors that will not be aggressive or dangerous in various public situations. complete information about the Canine Good Citizen certification is available at www.akc.org/dog-owners/training/canine-goodcitizen/training-testing/.

Good health and common sense Good health should be top of mind for pet owners. Keep all vaccinations current.

“Hall County has already had six rabies alerts since the beginning of this year,” says David Jones, assistant director of Hall County Animal Services. “even if your pet is kept indoors, it should have annual rabies vaccinations.”

Ordinances related to pets and other animals vary by jurisdiction; many are based on common sense and courtesy. Here’s a brief overview of pet laws in Hall: Barking dogs can be a nuisance, but enforcement verification is on the complainant.

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“We ask the person complaining to help us by providing evidence of an ongoing issue by documenting the problem with video and audio,” Jones says. “The rules regarding restraints on dogs vary as well. For instance, in the county dogs must be restrained to your property by a chain, a cable or a fence, but within the city limits of Gainesville, residents can use an invisible fence to keep their dogs on their property.”

Jones also said that in Hall, there is no limit to the number of domestic animals per household.

“We do require that they are adequately taken care of,” he says.

He also says that dogs should not be allowed to run loose, be well-behaved and respond to voice commands.

“It is the owner’s responsibility to have control over their animal and to be considerate of other people who may not love their pets the same way they do.”

Boarding and riding horses North Georgia is equestrian-friendly. From the Stables at homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

Lanier Islands, where all ages can go on trail rides or take lessons, to Hillmar Farm in North Forsyth County between Dawsonville and Gainesville, which offers boarding, training and lessons, there’s a wide choice of ways to join the “horsey set.”

“We’ll be having our one-week summer camps for the 12th year this summer,” says Beth Pedaggi with the Stables at Lanier Islands. “It’s a great way to introduce children ages 7 to 14 to the joys of horseback riding or to help them improve their comfort and skills.” Additionally, the islands offers various trail ride packages, including group rides, pony rides for youngsters and romantic outings for couples.

Hillmar Farm offers boarding, lessons and training, along with summer camps.

“We can begin teaching kids at 5 to 6 years of age,” says Margaux Nodvin, owner of Hillmar. “Riding is fun for all ages, it’s great exercise and an excellent stress reliever. Come riding for a slice of paradise, plus we’re pet friendly, so you can bring your dog.”

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Taking the world by storm Local filmmakers’ piece accepted into prestigious Cannes Film Festival Story by Jennifer Linn Photography for Home Magazine When Jillian Kibler and Timothy Collins made their short film “Kiss of Death” they had no idea it would go anywhere.

But go somewhere it did. It went from being viewed in the class it was made for at the Art Institute of Atlanta all the way to France where it was shown at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

The film, a neo-noir, has been shown at several film festivals domestically as well, including several in Los Angeles.

Kibler, a Cumming native, and Collins, of Atlanta, met in class in October 2014 during their first semester at the Art Institute of Atlanta and have worked on several projects together since then. They are now seniors at the school.

Last December they were wrapping up their 11-week semester where they made three short films and one commercial,

Jillian Kibler and Timothy Collins represented their short film “Kiss of Death” at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

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Kibler and Collins got to experience the film festival and a little bit of life in France.

when they realized one of their classes wanted another short film. “‘Kiss of Death’ was literally written on set of some of the other ones and then we shot it within two days and it was edited two days later,” Kibler said.

In all, it took about two weeks to make the 10-minute-long movie, which was the most rushed film they made that semester.

The film is about a young thief and his wife preparing to flee town by sunrise, until the arrival of a mysterious stranger halts their plans. “‘Kiss of Death’ is a film noir and it’s a homage or tip of the hat to classic film noir,” Kibler homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

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said. “Now it’s considered neo-noir but it’s basically a 30s 40s crime drama.”

Collins said they wanted to take elements of film noir, such as black and white photography and femme fatale, as well as crime elements and add a modern twist to it.

“We wanted to take something classic and make it feel like it was filmed back in the 30s and 40s and bring it back into a more modern element because we don’t usually see black and white movies made now that have that 30s and 40s feel.”

The film was shown in class and then posted on Vimeo, a video hosting, sharing and streaming website. After that, people started to take note.

“We literally were like, ‘oh I’m proud of this, this is a good class project that got us an A-plus,’ we got an A on our final proj16

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ect and then just put it up on Vimeo and the L.A. Neo Noir Film Festival contacted us,” Kibler said.

Collins agreed.

“There were no expectations beyond just getting a good grade and then all of this came and it was just really a surprise,” he said.

The organizers with the Los Angeles Neo Noir Novel, Film & Script Festival asked them to submit the film to their festival, where they ended up receiving a silver award for Best Short Film. When applying for that festival, they were told about a site that would allow them to submit to other festivals at the same time. Collins went ahead and submitted the film to other festivals, not telling Kibler specifically which ones he submitted to.

Soon the young filmmakers received an opportunity to go to HOME Living

In North Georgia

Los Angeles in March for another film festival: the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival. Kibler, Collins and the three actors in the film flew out to Los Angeles where the film won another award, this time for Best Student Directors.

“It was pretty cool to touch down and be like ‘we’re in L.A.’ for the first time and it’s for one of our films,” Kibler said.

It was in Los Angeles they received word their film had been accepted to the Cannes Film Festival.

“He (Collins) didn’t even tell me he was putting it in that one,” Kibler said. “When he told us it was the Cannes Film Festival and we actually made it in, we were freaking out.”

In May the filmmakers packed their bags and headed to Europe to experience what is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world.

“It was like if the biggest film conference in the world was at a 5-star beach resort in Europe,” Collins said. “It was just like a dream especially for aspiring filmmakers to be around so many hundreds of people that are all there and passionate about the same thing you are in this really beautiful place.”

Kibler said the energy at the festival was inspiring.

“It’s cool to feed off of other’s creative energy and talk about all this crazy stuff that you love,” she said. “Film nerd stuff, which is our language.”

homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

While there they attended the premiere of “Neion Demons” — a film directed by Nicholas Winding Reffins — as fillers, people who sit in the audience to make it look like it’s a full house.

“It was definitely really cool to see somebody’s work that you love or aspire ... it’s just so beautiful,” Kibler said, adding that it was interesting to get to see the stars’ reactions to their own films as they watched it.

As for “Kiss of Death,” the film was shown in the short film corner at Cannes. The short film corner allows viewers to watch films in this area at their convenience, there isn’t one larger screening of the film.

“Kiss of Death” was shown at the American Youth Film Festival in July, as well as other festivals, including the Newfilmmakers New York festival in New York City in September and the World Film Festival in San Franciso.

“Every time we make a film we want it to be better than the last,” Kibler said. “We definitely did not expect it to start in a festival circulation.”

Collins said the film was made with the intent of showing friends, parents and classmates.

“We do try to put everything we have into everything we do, even if it’s just going to be a class project.”

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Is understanding risk important? You bet!

Donny is a good guy. Sixty years old and a retired school teacher, he is married and has a sprinkling of grandkids. He hopes to have a long and healthy retirement. But his pension from the school system does not cover his expenses, so he is taking income from his investments at a rate of 4 to 5 percent per year. His biggest concern is running out of money.

The first thing Donny said to me was, “Before you even look at my investment plan, I know what you are going to tell me.”

Donny went on to explain that he does not like risk and believes that he is risk free with his current investments. He told me that he previously had a buy-and-hold strategy and got killed in 2002 and 2008. I looked at Donny’s statements and saw that he now has his $500,000 in CDs at the local bank.

Houston, we have a problem!

Donny’s income strategy comprises two components, his pension and his investments.

But his pension has come under attack since the cost of living increase has been somewhere around 1.5 to 2 percent per year. I gave him a recent article from Forbes magazine explaining the real cost of inflation to a senior is two to three times that. So, what does that mean for Donny? It puts more pressure on his investment plan. Folks, there has never been more pressure on a senior’s investment plan than there is now.

Since pensions and Social Security are not keeping up with inflation, we need to grow our investable assets so they produce an inflation-hedged income stream to supplement our shrinking fixed benefits.

Many financial advisors will have people think that to achieve that growth, they should invest in the market and they are safe with a broad stock market index fund, such as the S&P 500 index. Historically, the market has had a major correction every five to six years.

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In fact, if you were to look at the S&P 500 from January 2000 to the end of December 2010, it actually lost ground by about 12 percent or so, thanks to the corrections in 2001, 2002 and 2008. Unfortunately, folks are taught that to build wealth over time, investors need to accept a significant amount of risk.

You see, no investment is without some type of risk, but it does not need to be significant. I explained to Donny the different types of risk and designed a solution to help him mitigate some of that risk.

One type of investment risk is Sequence of Returns Risk, also called Sequence Risk.

Timing is everything, right? Investopedia defines Sequence Risk as “the risk of receiving lower or negative returns early in a period when taking distributions from the underlying investments.” It is not just the long-term average returns that impact financial health, but it is the timing of returns. For example, let’s say you have a $100,000 investment and you lose 50 percent in year one but in subsequent years you gain 25, 25, 25 and then 10 percent respectively. If you are drawing income from that investment, the loss in year one is much more damaging than if the loss was sustained in year five. Managing this risk becomes critical to one’s retirement system.

Another risk is market risk. Market risk is the potential for losses due to broader economic conditions, both domestically and internationally. A market crash can crush an investment’s performance, even if the quality of that investment remains the same.

On the other hand, default risk is risk related to the quality of an investment. This risk gets magnified if we are investing in a single company, whether it be stocks or bonds. Think of General Motors in 2008 and 2009. No one ever thought that the bellwether of the car industry would go under.

But that is exactly what happened. GM filed for bankruptcy on June 1, 2009, and all the existing equity owners and bond holders got crushed.

Inflation Risk is Donny’s biggest risk.

Inflation Risk is the risk that inflation will erode purchasing power of an investment if

the nominal return of that investment does not at least equal the inflation rate. Inflation runs somewhere between 3 to 5 percent a year over time. So leaving money in investments such as CDs or high yield savings accounts that pay virtually no interest really is not “risk-free.” In fact, this strategy practically guarantees a loss in purchasing power over the long term due to the rising cost of goods. The math works like this, if inflation is at 3 percent and you are earning 1 percent, then your loss is 2 percent per year.

But what is even more troubling than the Inflation Risk that Donny is absorbing, is the rate at which he is withdrawing. As mentioned above, he has $500,000 earning virtually no interest and he is pulling out $25,000 a year. If Donny lives more than 20 years, he is out of money. He will only be 80 years old when that happens, pretty young by today’s standards.

So, what should Donny do? Reduce his inflation risk and take on slightly more market risk with limited drawdown. I explained to Donny that drawdown, the amount by which a portfolio declines from its peak to its lowest value, before attaining a new peak, is one of the truer measures of risk related to an investment strategy.

I went on to show Donny investment strategies that focus on minimizing drawdowns, which subsequently lowers volatility. By focusing on strategies that use fund managers to lower volatility, he likely will experience higher rates of return than he would with all of his money in CDs. At the same time, he should experience less drawdown than he would with a buy-andhold strategy.

Donny now understands risk. He also now understands how to manage it, which should allow him a much greater probability of financial success in retirement.

About the author: Scott Moore is the founder of Moore’s Wealth Management and has decades of experience in finance and investment banking.

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Home: From ground up

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What started as a list, became reality for one Oakwood family when they decided to build their forever home Story and photography for Home Magazine For anyone who has ever searched for the perfect home, finding one that has everything your heart desires can be really difficult. Just watch a few episodes of “House Hunters” on HGTV. The must-have list may include a fireplace, pool, five bedrooms with a three-car garage on a sunny lot with mature trees. And that’s just “his” must-haves. Hers may be a walk-in closet, garden tub and granite counter tops.

Getting all of the above at the right price could leave some buyers searching for months on end.

But if a buyer is willing to start from the ground up, they can get a totally customized home on the lot they want.

That’s what the Goodwins of Oakwood recently did.

“My wife Jennifer and I decided we needed more space with a 6-year-old and 11-year-old.

We grew out of our ranch style house,” said Russ Goodwin.

One of the things they really wanted was to live on the lake, south of Browns Bridge Road.

“We put together a laundry list of the ultimate house for us: flooring, kitchen arrangements, room requirements, screened porch, basement and those types of things.”

Their customized home built by Cook Residential has all the essentials plus plenty of must-haves.

“We have four parents that are approaching 70 and all are in good health, but we expect at some point to be able to take care of somebody.”

The bottom floor of the house is completely handicap accessible and all of the doorways were built three feet wide.

There is also a complete guest suite above homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

the garage for a caretaker or the Goodwin offspring who decides to someday move back in with mom and dad.

“We do a lot of entertaining so we wanted to be able to see clear through to the other side of the house. We wanted to be able to have a conversation whether we were in the kitchen, the living room, dining room or wherever.”

The plan called for a home office, a far cry from the sitting area in the bedroom that served as his old office.

To start the process, he and his wife looked through magazines, floor plans and even drove through other subdivisions looking for ideas.

Russ, a structural engineer, said looking at building plans and envisioning the outcome was easy. But his wife is “three-dimensionally challenged,” he said with a chuckle. It was a little harder for her.

“She couldn’t find what she was looking for so I said we were going to go to every subdivision in our price range and point out ‘we like this, not that’ and so forth.”

Once they decided on the perfect home, he said Geoff Cook and the team were great to work with.

“I would drop my son off at school in the morning and then head over to the house and find out what the plan was for the day. Later that afternoon, I would bring my son and check in to see how it turned out. It allowed me to work close with Geoff and make sure it was how we wanted it. I might say ‘This isn’t quite what we were thinking’ or ‘hey, that’s a great idea, I love what you did there.’”

“They worked with us and made designs work within our budget.”

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The Goodwins built their home on a lot with lake access, a dream they have long had.

Some of the finishing touches are still going up around the custom-built home.

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An example is the flooring for the main floor of the house. Russ wanted to replicate the ceramic tiles in his father-in-law’s office, a very textured wood grain look.

Goeff pointed them to a natural textured, laser printed tile that replicates wood but would withstand kids, a dog and lake water as well as hold up a long time.

Geoff has been in the residential construction business for more than 10 years. He partnered with his brother Keith Cook to combine his construction expertise with Keith’s real estate knowledge to found Cook Residential. (www. cook-residential.com) There can be some surprises along the way Geoff remarked. He said most clients have no idea or haven’t even thought about the process of selections for their home.

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With many details yet to be unpacked, the Goodwin family is excited to be in their custom-built home.

“It is quite overwhelming for most people to go through all the choices for flooring, wall colors, appliances, fixtures, etc. With the popularity of online sites like Pinterest and Houzz.com, it is easy to find things you like but not be exactly sure how to achieve those looks,” said Geoff.

The second thing people aren’t aware of is how easy it is to build a new construction or custom home.

“People assume it is just easier to buy an existing home, but as long as you have the ability to wait through the construction process you can build just as easily. Not only is it easier than you think to buy a new construction home, it is not as complicated as you think to build a custom home on your own land. Buyers just need to consult with someone who understands the differences in the home loan process for each one of these building avenues.”

But there can be some challenges working with clients. Patience is a virtue.

“Our biggest challenge is usually getting our clients to finalize their selections for different features of the house. Someone might pick interior paint colors and then two weeks later go a completely different route. We base our time frames on final selections, so when the selections aren’t final, it is more difficult for us to give our clients a closing date for when they can move into the

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A large screened-in porch for entertaining was on the Goodwins’ must-have list.

finished house.”

And it isn’t just the clients.

“The governmental regulations that come with building a home vary so much from municipalities that we have to constantly educate both ourselves and some of the municipalities in the process.”

What should people look for when finding a home builder? Well, a number of things said Geoff.

“People should always consider if the builder has existing projects. It is a good idea to also walk those building projects if possible to inspect the quality of the builder’s homes. Consumers should also ask themselves if the company has a team of people who can handle the process from design consultation to construction to con-

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The kitchen has all stainless steel appliances with an island and peninsula. The Goodwins looked through magazines and design plans to find exactly what they wanted in a custom kitchen.

Cook Residential 678-207-1500 www.cook-residential.com Sales Contact: Shaun Foudy shaun@cookresidential.com

tract closings. In addition, it is also good if the builder has a design center to allow you pick your finishes so you can see the

different aspects from flooring to paint colors before finishing your selections. Finally, ask if the builder has a designer who

Growing Our Center.

Expanding to South Hall.

Hear our stories at CenterPointGa.org/SouthHall.

can guide you through the process to prevent it from becoming too overwhelming.”

Russ said when it comes to home building, he knows how bad things can get.

“This was a great process. This is our retirement home. We don’t plan to move anywhere else, this is it.”

Life Begins at the Center Family & Youth Services Counseling • Mentoring • Teen Pregnancy Programs Drug & Alcohol Prevention • Religious Studies

Taking it all in

Tourism a major draw to Northeast Georgia Story by Joshua Silavent Photography for Home Magazine

The economic impact of Hall County’s tourism industry reached a record high of $282.9 million in 2014, according to the most recent report released this year by the Georgia Department of Economic Development and U.S. Travel Association.

Hall County ranks 12th out of Georgia’s 159 counties in visitor spending.

“We are closing the gap between us and No. 11 ranked Cherokee County, with only $7.92 million more in spending needed to pull even to this other North Georgia destination,” said Stacey Dickson, president of the Lake Lanier Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Gainesville-Hall County is at the cusp of a potential hotel development boom.”

Hotel occupancy rates have also hit record highs and 90 new jobs were added in the tourism sector that year, a 3 percent increase. As a result, Gainesville’s hotel/motel tax revenue has jumped from $591.8 million in the 2013 fiscal year to $829 million in the 2015 fiscal year, which ended June 30 of last year.

And revenues are up month-over-month this fiscal year.

The pull of Gainesville and Hall County can be seen with events at the Lake Lanier Olympic Park, the opening of the new Atlanta Botanical Garden-Gainesville, and public art promotions, for example.

A $1.6 million renovation at the Olympic venue is the first step in an eventual $7.5 million to $10 million plan to remake the site at Clarks Bridge Park and turn it into more than just a sporting complex.

Hall County is also known for its great parks, whether along Lake Lanier or in the foothills. The 32-acre Linwood Nature Preserve on Linwood Drive in Gainesville, for example, is a product of a public-private partnership between Gainesville

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Visitors take a tour of Jaemor Farms in Alto.

Parks and Recreation and the Redbud Project.

Rising further up the rankings will require the development of new hotels and attractions, she added.

Macon-Bibb County is ranked No. 10 for tourist spending in Georgia, pulling in an estimated a $45.52 million more than Hall.

What’s next?

In 2015, state and local tourism agencies promoted North Georgia’s culinary and drink destinations, with an eye on the emergence of growler bars and breweries. Growlers, such as Downtown Drafts and Tap It, moved into Gainesville in 2014, and the craft beer producer Left Nut Brewing Co. opened this year.

Food- and beverage-themed destinations, such as the emergence of the county’s first farm winery in Sweet Acre Farms, offer unique escapes, as do agritourism draws such as Jaemor Farms in Alto.

“Culinary tourism is a very important part of the economic impact of travel,” Dickson said. “Where to eat and where to buy food-related souvenirs are our most frequently asked questions from visitors.”

Tourism officials also are also banking on more movie and television productions taking place in Hall. Lanier Islands has been a key location in the county for several Hollywood movies in the past few years, including “Blended,” featuring Adam Sandler, which shot for 55 days here.

Recent shoots in downtown Gainesville include scenes for the recent release of “Creed,” latest in the “Rocky” series.

“The next steps for Hall County to continue to lead in visitor spending involve further infrastructure investments by our exist-

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ing and new industry partners,” Dickson said. “Continued development and expanded programming at Lanier Islands is another boost to the economy by attracting more and more new faces to the area.”

Other movies and television productions filmed throughout the county include “Hall Pass,” starring Owen Wilson, “Sabotage,” featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the television series “The Vampire Diaries.”

Georgia provides a 20 percent tax credit for companies that spend half a million dollars or more during production and post-production in the state.

The state offers another 10 percent tax credit if a promotional logo provided by the state is included in the final cut.

About $1.7 billion was spent in the state during the filming of 248 movie and television productions between July 1, 2014, and June 30, 2015, according to the state Department of Economic Development.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development cites a 2011 study reporting that the music industry in the state is worth $3.7 billion, supporting nearly “Blended,” starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore filmed at Four Seasons on Lanier subdivision in South Hall in 2013.

homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

20,000 jobs. Advocates say tax credits for music recorded here, particularly for film, television and theater, could help the industry attract new artists, retain and nurture up-and-comers, and spur the development of new recording facilities and event spaces.

The state holds its own when it comes to the number of legacy musicians and bands that call Georgia home. From Ray Charles to REM to Outkast, there is much to be celebrated.

With events hosted by The Arts Council bringing in world-class musical performers and groups like Gainesville Theatre Alliance, “music is vibrant and flourishing in the area,” Dickson said.

Live music venues, from outdoor amphitheaters at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and Olympic venue to pubs and restaurants with acoustic, jazz and rock performances, there is a little something for everyone, she added.

Gainesville spokeswoman Catiel Felts said the city prioritizes music above nearly everything else when it comes to organizing local events like the Mutts on Main and Spring Chicken Festival, which

include concert performances.

“The first question we always ask ourselves when planning an event in Gainesville is, ‘What kind of music do we want?’” she said. “We already have more than 30 events planned with local artists performing. Music is at the core of everything we do.”

Facilitating travel and tourism in Gainesville and Hall County has been met with innovative ideas from local government officials. For example, Gainesville officials have selected a design template for new wayfinding signs in the city, a first step toward construction and installation. The three-year project includes placing welcome signs, directional markers and points of interest maps at key locations throughout Gainesville.

“Gateway” signs will be placed at three exits along Interstate 985, as well as along Dawsonville Highway, as a way to welcome people to the city.

Secondary welcome signs will be placed along Thompson Bridge Road, Cleveland Highway and Browns Bridge Road.

Families prepare to go tubing in Helen.

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Looking ahead Vision 2030’s work is deeply rooted in today, and the future Story by Jeff Gill | Photography for Home Magazine As its name implies, Vision 2030 has long-range goals and Such an effort “opens the door to new ideas and strengthens ambitions, but the group — arm of the Greater Hall Chamber of citizen support for action.”

Commerce — also is interested in what’s Also, growth at the time was so rapid happening today. that officials and many residents were This past spring, area government ofconcerned Hall might become “another ficials opened the first leg of the biking/ Gwinnett County,” where development pedestrian Highlands to Islands Trail, a would outpace the ability to keep up project being pushed by Vision 2030’s with roads and other infrastructure.

Green Space Committee.

“It was just fast and furious,” said Kit The organization’s health care comDunlap, the chamber’s president/CEO, mittee recently sponsored the Blue Zone recalling the era in a 2015 interview.

Community Summit at the Brenau Hundreds of area residents were Downtown Center in Gainesville. A asked to share ideas for how they want “blue zone” is an area of the world where to live, work and play in Gainesville-Hall Flowerground by Juan Acosta is one of several oringinal works of art to be people live measurably longer lives.

County over the next 25 years. More featured on bus shelters.

Also, Gainesville is working with Vithan 800 area residents would later sion 2030’s public arts committee and attend a dozen public meetings, where the Quinlan Visual Arts Center on an ideas and suggestions flowed. effort to put artwork either on or next to A final report was issued in June Gainesville Connection bus shelters or 2006. bike racks.

Some items, such as high-speed rail, a The committee plans to review art downtown hotel/conference center and submissions and make recommendations a “harbor town” mixed-use community to Gainesville City Council. off Lake Lanier, may still seem futuristic.

"Vision 2030 was created as a commuAnother of the plan’s original 15 nity project to help ensure that Gaines“Big Ideas,” a visitor center off Interstate Free To Go by Helene Gardelle ville and Hall County had a strategy to 985, is viewed as almost outdated, given providing an exceptional quality of life the advent of mobile devices and other by the year 2030,” said Elizabeth Higgins, technology. the group’s director.

Also, the Great Recession of 2007 put “The day-to-day steps in that strategy serious brakes on development. are our groups' work today. The overall Still, 10 years-plus into an ambitious vision is constantly in the works thanks plan for how Hall County might look to the daily contributions of our volunby 2040, Vision 2030 can check a few teers … and the support of our business things off its list, such as formation of community through the (chamber).” the “Wisdom Project,” which gets older Vision 2030 was born in 2005 after a residents involved in sharing their experleadership summit introduced the contise in the community. cept of a community vision to more than The plan “has morphed and will Huslte & Bustle by Jason Bohannon 100 area leaders. The goal was to get a continue to morph as things get accomlarge group of residents “thinking about and planning their com- plished and as other things come up,” Carl Romberg, immediate munity's future,” according to Vision 2030’s website. past chairman of Vision 2030, has said.

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Vision 2030 has touched on many aspects Hall residents are familiar with: a growing medical community, a mix of public and private schools, park and pedestrian trails, and performing arts.

Another of the goals, a Gainesville bypass, addressed a longstanding and touchy transportation issue. That issue has surfaced much over the years, including recently with a now-rejected bypass that would use Enota Avenue.

City officials are now looking at using existing state routes to connect Thompson Bridge Road to Limestone Parkway, Jesse Jewell and Interstate 985.

The project would call for widening and realigning Oak Tree Drive, which is between Thompson Bridge Road and Riverside Drive, and a traffic light at its intersection with Thompson Bridge Road.

A 2012 revision of the Big Ideas kept the ideas intact but changed wording.

“While we didn’t rewrite them, we kind of reorganized them,” Meg Nivens, former Vision 2030 executive director, has said. “In the 25 years of planning to get to 2030, this (plan) will always be changing and growing with the community.”

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Public Art Tour The Vision 2030 Public Art Committee has created an online map of public art installations in and around Gainesville. Check it out by visiting www.vision2030. org/public-art-tour A new concept plan for downtown Gainesville focuses on the area’s potential and how it can meet the desires of millennials and Generation Xers between the ages of 20 and 44.

Major proposals in the plan include the following: • New housing • Food truck events at Lake Lanier parks • Fairs and festivals in the green space across from the midtown bridge • New lighting along park trails • Improved streets and walkways downtown • Better connectivity between the square, midtown and business corridors • Night projections to advertise events on the walls of downtown buildings • Improved corner of old Hall County jail site • Public art and murals

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Floating through life A buoyant journey in the latest spa therapy Story by Pamela A. Keene | Photography for Home Magazine As the tiny bubbles traced their way along my back, my mind drifted.

Suspended in a space-age looking white pod filled with 180 gallons of water combined with 1,150 pounds of pharmaceutical-grade magnesium salts, I felt like I was cocooned away from the stressors of the week.

When I arrived, late, to Infinity Floating in Braselton, my first question — “Do I have to stay in there a whole hour?” You see, I was, as usual, squeezing in many more meetings and ap-

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pointments than a normal person’s day should allow. Owner Deborah Helms just smiled and said, “You’re here to try it. You’ll see.”

Her brief orientation in a pristine pod room that also included a rainforest shower filled me in on what to expect. I could control the soft underwater lighting, stay in the pod with the top open or closed, and if I didn’t feel like my head was floating enough, there was an air-filled pillow to help. It was all about being relaxed and letting the

magnesium salt water do its magic.

She left me alone with instructions for a quick shower and told me how to safely step into the pod, filled with about 20 inches of water: warm, comfortable water. I pulled the pod closed, did a few stretches, tried out the float pillow — to buoyant for me — turned off the underwater lighting and …

Popular in the late 1950s through the early 1980s, flotation therapy is making a comeback for people who just need a break, or those who have

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various ailments. Helm found out about the benefits of floating after 18 months of doctors’ appointments and tests didn’t relive her body pain. “A friend suggested that I try floating, and after one time, I took all the bottles of pills back to my doctors, and put myself on a three-timesa-week float,” she says. “I gradually went to twice a week, then once a week, but now that we have Infinity Floating, I’m in there every chance I get. I am amazed at the healing difference that it makes.”

Clients come in to reduce joint, muscle and back pain, relieve migraines and arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, poor digestion, fibromyalgia, stress and anxiety.

“We have clients from all walks of life, from physicians and attorneys to parents, students, the elderly and athletes.

Clients are suspended in a zero-gravity

state because of the high salt content of the water in the pod. “It’s 10 times more buoyant than the dead Sea, and you don’t need a passport to go there,” Helms says.

“It’s the magnesium salt that keeps you floating, and the magnesium that draws out your body’s toxins and cortisol –

soon?” I didn’t want to leave my pod to shower, dress and head to the rest of my hectic day.

“Deborah, surely I wasn’t in there the whole hour?” I asked. “You probably fell asleep, which is exactly what you should have done to get good benefits from your float,” she replied, smiling. “Now you see what I mean about the benefits of floating?” I asked her about the bubbles. Her answer? “They are caused by the toxins leaving your body.”

Infinity Floating, open Tuesdays through Sundays, is based on an appointment system. Plan for 90 minutes, including orientation, showers and a 60-minute float, but longer floats are offered as well.

Call 706- 654-7118 or visit infinityfloat ing.com to learn more or make an appointment.

... I seemed to forget all time and space as I floated, suspended in my pod. stress hormones – and increases your good hormones, like endorphins and dopamine. It’s a soothing, relaxing and luxurious experience to be weightless.”

Meanwhile, I seemed to forget all time and space as I floated, suspended in my pod. Gently, the still waters began to move, the signal that my hour was up. “So

The pods can be left open or shut, and the lights inside can be adjusted for color and brightness to set the mood.

homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

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Quality Lighting: A Crucial Element in Your Home’s Design Welcome to the first part of my new series, which focuses on the many reasons that quality home furnishings are a must!

This exciting new series, called “Allison’s Angle”, will be focused on the basics — from upholstered furniture to window treatments and much more! My first article is inspired by my passion for great lighting. It is also a companion article to my first video episode of Allison’s Angle, which includes my recent interview with Harvey Hollingsworth of The Natural Light Company. Since there is so much information to cover on this topic, I will be focusing on table lamps and floor lamps for this first article. I will cover chandeliers and other lighting fixtures at a later date, so stay tuned for more!

I must admit, I am a bit of a fanatic when it comes to selecting lighting for my clients’ homes; this is an area of interior design where I refuse to settle for less. Lighting is a crucial element in creating a home environment that is harmonious and balanced. Too often, lighting is improperly used … and all of the hard work that goes into designing and furnishing a home gets puts to waste (yes, it makes that big of a difference!) Beyond its practical and functional aspects, the ambience that light lends to any given room is immeasurable. Because of this, it is important to invest in highest quality light fixtures for your home.

It is a fact that quality lamps are both works of art and an integral part of a well appointed home. Perhaps the following quote from The Natural Light Company says it best: “Generating warmth and luster that immediately draw the eye, lamps are natural communicators.”

But where can you find artistic, quality lighting fixtures? Currey and Company is a fantastic company that are doing all the right things when it comes to producing interesting, creative and qualitydriven lighting. Their company’s philosophy says volumes: “The touch of the human hand, whether by the stroke of the painter’s brush, the mark of the blacksmith’s hammer or the depth of our rich multi-step finishes, is evident in each piece.”

It is obvious that both The Natural Light Company and Currey and Company treat their lighting products as works of art, yet still 32

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believe in and embrace craftsmanship.

Now that I have made my point about the importance of beautiful lighting in every home environment, let’s talk about some of the particulars you will want to consider when selecting lighting fixtures for your home.

1. Base Materials. I seek out lighting fixtures that are incorporated with natural materials such as stone, shells, wood, metal, glass, porcelain or rattan. Natural materials make the fixtures appear more sophisticated.

It is also important to ensure that the lamp base is properly aligned with the footer, harp and shade. Believe it or not, I have assembled lamps where these pieces were totally out of alignment; as a result, they were promptly returned to the vendor. I no longer work with such inferior product lines, as I have a conscience about what I recommend and place in my clients’ homes, as you should do with your home. Save yourself the frustration and select a well-made lamp.

2. Lamp Shade. Lamp shades are an obvious feature that separate good and bad quality lamps. Nothing can ruin the look and feel of a home quicker than cheap lampshades! Look for lampshade materials that will provide a warm glow to the room as opposed to an antiseptic feel. Don’t settle for hard, white, plastic-looking shades.

Personally, I prefer shades that are made from natural materials such as shantung, silk, linen, or hemp. These textures are much more interestinglooking, and the HOME Living

In North Georgia

dispersion of light is warmer and more beautiful. Tip: get rid of the old-fashioned pleated shades that do nothing but collect dust; these may have worked in your grandmother’s era, but not anymore!

3. Finial. This piece is the top decorative portion of the lamp and screws down onto the center post to hold the shade in place.

There is quite a bit of variety when it comes to finials; some are much more noticeable and detailed, whereas others are more simple and purposeful. When you pick out your finial, make sure it secures firmly and downward in a straight line. Having assembled more lamps than I care to remember, it is frustrating to unpackage

a lamp only to find that the finial does not properly affix or align. It seems like such a simple detail, but you may be surprised to find out how often this quality aspect is overlooked by less expensive lamp producers, so always double check!

These are just a few key elements to be aware of when selecting appropriate lighting for your home. Please remember that this is not an aspect of interior design that you should overlook or underestimate. Without proper lighting, the most thoughtfully planned-out interiors will not come to life.

I hope that I have helped to ‘enlighten’ you in your home decorating endeavors — stay tuned for more to come!

Love Where You Live … and Light it Right!

Allison Havill Todd is President and Director of Design of Alpharetta-based AHT Interiors, www.ahtinteriors.com.

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Tracking down history Local men make documentary about the Mountain Shortline Story by Bekah Porter | Photography for Home Magazine Flames fluttered, and sparks flew.

As the burning embers blossomed into a mature blaze, Rabun County residents rushed to keep their dreams of educating their children from disintegrating into mere ash.

While memories seem murky as to what started the fire at the Lakemont School, many recall what happened next. Against the crackles of the conflagration, those fighting the fire heard a cacophony of familiar sounds — the rumble of the tracks, the whirl of the wheels — followed by an unexpected noise.

The brakes hissed as the engine squealed to a stop, and the train’s workers clamored out of the cars, rushing to help.

On that day in 1959, the Tallulah Falls Railroad proved what many in the region already knew and would remember for decades to come.

“It was more than a railroad,” said Emory Jones. “It was a member of the community, so much so that to this day, people refer to it as their ‘friend.’”

Remembering the Shortline Two local filmmakers recently decided to dedicate their efforts to telling the tale

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David Greear of Helen and Emory Jones of Cleveland recently produced “Memories of a Mountain Shortline – A History of the Tallulah Falls Railroad.”

of what is arguably the Southeast’s most beloved (albeit beleaguered) railroad in their documentary, “Memories of a Mountain Shortline – A History of the Tallulah Falls Railroad.”

David Greear of Helen and Emory

Jones of Cleveland both found themselves captivated by the locomotion line that served the communities between Cornelia and Franklin in various stages and capacities from the late 1890s to the mid-1980s.

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“The (railroad) had so much mystique and notoriety, and I’d grown up hearing stories about it, since my families been in this area for several generations,” Greear said. “I knew enough about it that my curiosity was sparked, but I certainly wasn’t an authority.”

So the two history buffs set out to find those experts that could explain the phenomenon of the railroad that was called “friend” by some and “total failure” by others.

The end result is a 57-minute Ken Burns-style documentary that features 18 Northeast Georgians who have loved and lived with the memory of the railroad that did so much to change the area.

“We’re really proud of the way we were able to tell the story of this 58-mile shortline railroad that just had so much love thrown on it by the people because of what it did to the area,” Jones said.

Community lifeline Mere words are inadequate to explain the impact the railroad had on the communities it passed through, says Carol Turner.

As a volunteer and former board member at the Rabun County Historical Society, Turner has dedicated years to uncovering the railroad’s impact, and she has it boiled down to three words: “It was everything.”

“Truly,” she said. “It was absolutely everything to this county.”

At the time, the town’s waterfalls made the area an attractive resort town… to those who could get there.

“Everyone sees (the falls) now and think, ‘Oh, it’s so easy to get there,’ but at the time, that wasn’t the case. This was the frontier,” Turner said.

Thus, the railroad allowed travelers a beautiful new world, and practically overnight, the small resort town transformed into a national attraction that some say rivaled Niagara Falls.

“As soon as the railroad arrived, Main homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

Archival photo of the 1927 Hazel Creek train wreck in Habersham County. Below: Tallulah Gorge Trestle at Pine Pole Harvey’s Overlook.

Street was filled from north to south with hotels and boarding houses,” Turner said.

While the tourism industry eventually dwindled, the railroad found another means of redefining the area. In the early 1900s, Georgia Power chose the Tallulah River to be its new energy project. They constructed the damn at Tallulah Falls, thus creating the Tallulah Falls Lake that exists to this day.

Additionally, the corporation built several more dams and hydroelectric plants that still operate today.

“It would have been impossible to build these without the railroad existing to bring the supplies,” Turner said. “Without the railroad, Georgia Power would have found some other river.”

And finally, the rail planted a lasting legacy for Rabun County, which has more national forest than any other Georgia County. The railroad fostered a large

logging industry, and within a matter of years, the county had vast stretches devoid of their trees. When the Weeks Act of 1911 formed the United States Forest Service with the mission of restoring forests to areas that suffered from heavy Fall | 2016

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Opposite page: The Tallulah Gorge Depot was built in 1882 but later burned down in the early 1900s.

“The Great Locomotive Chase,” which starred Fess Parker and told the story of the Union soldiers who stole a Confederate train from the town that is now Kennesaw was filmed by Disney on the Shortline.

logging, Rabun County fit the goal, and forest rangers got down to the business of restoring and preserving the area’s trees.

“All of these things – opening the area to tourists, constructing the dams, the logging and the forest service – happened in approximately a 25-year time span,” Turner said. “And these are huge things that made our county what it is today, and they happened because the railroad arrived.”

Slow and steady Known for its numerous wooden trestles, the Tallulah Falls Railroad was a beautiful sight. And while the line is now credited with the overarching legacies Turner categorized, it also

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impacted individuals’ lives.

In a time when jobs were scarce, the railroad offered numerous employment opportunities. Families fed themselves on the money they earned by building the trestles and the tracks, by selling firewood to the railroad to keep the engines running, by serving the guests that came to the area, or by importing or exporting various goods carried by the trains.

“When we (were filming), folks kept stressing how this was a source of income for their families,” Jones said. “The thing that was most surprising to me about making this documentary was that when we were planning it, I thought we’d have problems finding enough people to talk about the railroad, but we had the opposite problem. We couldn’t get people to stop talking about it. Every time we thought we had wrapped up, people would say, ‘Hey, call so-and-so. They know about this or that.’ We almost couldn’t find a stopping point, because of how many people still felt connected to that train.”

Oftentimes, those on the train would toss candy and other treats to the children watching it pass.

“They’d throw that there Juicy Fruit chewing gum out to us,” long-time Rabun County resident Doris Welch says in the film.

“Back then, chewing gum was hard to get. It was a treat to get chewing gum.”

And residents bestowed their own nickname, “Total Failure Railroad,” on the line that was notoriously late.

“It was very, very slow,” Rabun County resident Barbara Taylor Woodall told the camera. “My mother… jested one time that the train was so slow that this fellow gave up on waiting for it and decided to just lay down on the track and commit suicide… (but) he starved to death before it got there.”

Lights, camera, action According to the filmmakers, the railway had its “last hurrah” when Hollywood came to town.

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KEEPING YOU IN THE GAME Walt Disney himself chose the railroad as the perfect place to film his historical drama, “The Great Locomotive Chase,” which starred Fess Parker and told the story of the Union soldiers who stole a Confederate train from the town that is now Kennesaw.

“Walt came here during the filming and wore a Confederate hat the whole time he was here,” Jones said. “They say that he just loved trains and that he considered buying the railroad. Think about how that could have changed things.

Disney World could have been here instead of where it is.”

But Disney World did not come to Rabun County, and in the end, salvation did not come for the railroad that petered out of existence.

Now, little remains of the community’s influential friend.

“It was such a big part of people’s lives, and now there’s not much of a trace,” Greear said.

Keeping history alive While the train may no longer run and the trestles may no longer stand, the filmmakers say they hope their documentary helps the railroad live a little bit longer in the county upon which it bestowed so much.

“This was important to this area of Georgia. It is important to this area of Georgia,” Greear said.

Even though it might not appear in the history books alongside more prominent periods of the past, Greear said it still deserves to be remembered.

“No, it’s not national history, but it is local history, and that’s just as important,” he said. “No, you can’t read about it in your school books, but it’s close to home, so you can do something even better. You can visualize it. You can drive down the road and see where this railroad was. It’s something you can almost touch or feel or at least get a sense of, and it’s right in your own backyard.”

Or, at the very least, in your own DVD player, as the film is now available for sale at www.yonahtreasures.com. homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

John L. Hemmer, Jr., MD Robert J. Marascalco, MD W. David Weiss, MD John G. Vachtesevanos, MD Gary Davis, III, MD Benjamin M. Puckett, MD Kris Wheeler, MD C. Cullen Scott, MD Filippo Chillemi, MD

1240 Jesse Jewell Pkwy, Suite 300 Gainesville, GA 30501

1241 Friendship Road, Suite 110 Braselton, GA 30517

770-532-7202 | www.scg-ortho.com

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Smithgall botanical garden

continues to bloom Story by Carly Sharec | Photography for Home Magazine

A

little over a year following its May 2015 opening, the Atlanta Botanical Garden Gainesville: A Smithgall Woodland Legacy has blossomed into a community mainstay.

“People are really pleasantly surprised with the garden,” said Mildred Fockele, director of the Gainesville location. “I think it’s been well received in the community and by the visitors who have come from surrounding areas, from our members in Atlanta that have come up and tourists who have stopped to see it.”

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In the past year, slightly more than 34,000 people have visited the garden, tucked away on Sweetbay Drive right off of the Cleveland Highway, near downtown Gainesville.

The 168-acre plot of land for the Smithgall Woodland Legacy was donated

by Charles and Lessie Smithgall, founders of The Times, to the Atlanta Botanical Garden in 2001, their intent being to preserve the green space.

In a previous interview, Lessie Smithgall had told The Times that her husband had trusted Atlanta Botanical Garden to preserve the land and open it to others so everyone could enjoy the woodlands.

Atlanta Botanical Garden Gainesville Where: 1911 Sweetbay Drive, Gainesville Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. TuesdaySunday through October, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. November through March Cost: $8 adults, $5 children ages 3-12, free to Garden members and children younger than 3 More info: atlantabg.org/visit/ gainesville, 404-888-4760

homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

Fourteen years later, the dream was realized when the Gainesville location opened its gates on May 2, 2015.

“The Smithgalls’ gifts to this community have been many,” said Kit Dunlap, president and CEO of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce. “This woodland garden right here in Gainesville is exceptional and enjoyed by many.

“This first year of the garden has had a positive economic impact for Gainesville (and) Hall County, and will only grow in the years to come. Thank you, Lessie and Charlie Smithgall!”

Visitors are treated to 5 acres comprised of around 1,200 different types of plants, along with two walking trails for complete immersion.

Building off of the previous year’s successes, Fockele said the garden will continue to increase its number of special events and programs into 2016.

“We’re expanding our programming a little bit,” she said. “We’ve started offering adult classes this winter, and we’ll offer more classes in the fall. “(We’re also offering) the option of adult-guided tours for adult groups … and (self-guided) backpack tours for school groups, from kindergarten through fifth grade.”

A new sculpture exhibit from artist Patrick Dougherty will interest many garden visitors.

“He’s a world-famous artist,” Fockele said with enthusiasm. “He goes out and harvests saplings … and he builds these sculptures with them.”

The “Woven Whimsy” sculpture at Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville is one of Dougherty’s signature pieces of work.

The artist worked through the beginning of April on this one-of-a-kind display, which features five cylindrical shapes made out of the saplings.

Visitors can explore the shapes by walking through and around them.

“He calls it a cloud of sticks,” Fockele said. “It’s been very exciting to watch him work.”

A popular draw from 2015 is back, with three concerts planned for the Gainesville location’s amphitheater this summer. The Four Tops played June 18, the Indigo Girls July 16 and Loretta Lynn closes the season in Gainesville on Aug. 13. Tickets are available at atlantabg.org.

While the events are a huge draw for visitors, it all comes back to the garden and land itself.

“We’re looking at the possibility of a children’s garden construction starting next year,” Fockele said. “We’re still in the design and planning phases for that.

“The garden itself continues to grow.

The plants are growing and filling in, and we’re continuing to plant along our walking trails. The garden’s never finished.”

And that ever-changing status of the garden is what keeps people coming back.

As Fockele said, there is always something new to see.

“I hope people will just continue to come out and support us,” Fockele said.

“It’s here for the community, and I think it was the Smithgalls’ intent for this to be an enjoyable place for visitors.

“Come out and enjoy your garden!”

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Get ready to CRUSH IT! Northeast Georgia residents seeking a way to spend the weekend featuring horse-drawn wagon tours across the expanse of a wine vineyard can head to Yonah Mountain Vineyards for its annual Crush Fest.

Yonah Mountain Vineyards is a 200 acre family winery located on the southeastern base of iconic Yonah Mountain.

Making world class wines and enjoying the process is their ultimate goal. Rolling hills and sandy soil are the perfect setting for the 20 planted acres of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Petit Manseng, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot.

Complete wine-stomping activities, live music and children’s area, the annual festival will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, at Yonah Mountain Vineyards, 1717 Ga. 255 S, in Cleveland.

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The event draws more than 3,500 wine appreciators along with their families from all across the South.

Adults can sip wine from a 3-ounce glass and taste up to four different wines, organizers said. And while those older than 21 sample the spirits, children may jump around in a bouncy house and participate in other kid-friendly activities in a designated area.

Both age groups, however, may lick their favorite cold dessert as a mule-drawn ice cream maker will sell the treat onsite.

But before sipping wine or eating ice cream, all ages may feel the squish of grapes between their toes as Yonah Mountain Vineyards offers wine stomping. Accompanying the foot-stomp-

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ing fun will be the Atlanta Pipe Band and the Atlanta Falcons drumline.

Patrons to the event may sit indoors and outdoors, and public restrooms are accessible ins the 10,000-square-foot main hall.

Wine as well as event T-shirts will be on sale. Parking at the vineyard is free.

General admission is $30 and includes four wine tastings and a souvenir “Crush Fest� wine glass. Nondrinkers may enter for $15 while youth 16 and younger are free.

Tickets may be bought in advance online at yonahmountainvineyards.com or purchased at the door.

For more information, visit the website or call 706-878-5522.

HOME Living

In North Georgia

home calendar

Ongoing Northeast Georgia History Center Family Days 1-4 p.m. Second Sunday of each month through December. Northeast Georgia History Center, 322 Academy St. NE, Gainesville. Free. 770-297-5900, www. negahc.org.

Northeast Georgia History Center Forums 7 p.m. Second Tuesday of each month through December. Northeast Georgia History Center, 322 Academy St NE, Gainesville.Theme differs each month.

Admission free for members, $3 for nonmembers. 770-297-5900, www.negahc. org.

Bowen Center for the Arts 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Tuesday through Friday; Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. New shows monthly. Bowen Center for the Arts, 334 Ga. 9 N, Dawsonville. Free. 706-216-2787, info@dawsonarts.org.

Lake Lanier Rowing Club classes Tuesdays and Thursdays. Clarks Bridge Park, 3105 Clarks Bridge Road, Gainesville. $100. www.lakelanierrowing.org, llrc@mindspring. com, 770-287-0077, 770-540-7144.

American Business Women’s Association 6 p.m. fourth Tuesday each month. Recess Southern Gastro-pub, 118 Bradford St. NE, Gainesville. Dinner, speakers, meeting. 770654-9277, abwallcc.org.

The Pilot Club 5:45 p.m. every fourth Thursday. Elk’s Club, 1547 Riverside Drive, Gainesville. 770-5322528, jlc814@yahoo.com.

The Georgia Art League Noon, third Thursday each month. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. Georgiaartleague.org.

Friday sketch Club 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. first Friday of the month. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. $20. homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

770-536-2575, info@qvac.org, www. quinlanartscenter.org.

August Through Aug. 13 Summer exhibitions, Gainesville. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. Free. Featuring The Southern Appalachian Artist Guild, Artists Tonya Haswell, Alex Sridej, Mary Frances Hull, Clay Sayre and Denise Schnaubelt. Free.

770-536-2575. www.qvac.org.

Aug.1-22 Senior line dance, Gainesville. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Mondays. Gainesville Civic Center, 830 Green St. NE, Gainesville. $20-$15, or $7 for drop-ins. www.gainesville.org.

770-531-2680.

open, 8 p.m. show. Atlanta Botanical Garden, A Smithgall Woodland Legacy, 1911 Sweetbay Drive, Gainesville. $8-$5. www.atlantabg.org/visit/Gainesville. 404888-4760.

Aug. 13 Ninth annual Gala for Hope and Healing, Gainesville. 7-11 p.m. Chattahoochee Country Club, 3000 Club Drive, Gainesville. $75 per person. Benefits Children’s Center for Hope and Healing.

770-532-6530. www.hopeandhealingga.org.

Aug. 18 Spine Care class, Braselton. 6:30 p.m.

Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton, 1400 River Place, Braselton.

Free. www.nghs.com/braselton-events.

Aug. 18-21 Destination Helen Motorcycle Rally, Helen Riverside Park. www.facebook.com/ gotohelenga/timeline

Aug. 9 Wellness in the Kitchen: Lighter Summer Sweets, Braselton. 6:30 p.m. Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton, 1400 River Place, Braselton. Free. www.nghs. com/braselton-events.

Aug. 18 Georgia Art Educators Association exhibit, Gainesville. Opening reception 5:30-7 p.m.

Exhibit Aug. 18 through Oct. 15. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. www.qvac.org.

Aug. 9 Northeast Georgia History Center’s Chautauqua programs, Gainesville. Doors open at 6 p.m., performances at 7 p.m.

Northeast Georgia History Center, 322 Academy St. NE, Gainesville. Free for members. $5, kids 6 and younger free.

770-297-5900.

Aug. 19 Friday Night Flicks, Clarkesville. 8:30 p.m.

Pitts Park, Clarkesville. Featuring film “Zootopia.” Free. www.clarkesvillega.com.

Aug. 12 Splash Bash, Gainesville. 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Frances Meadows Aquatic Center, 1545 Community Way, Gainesville. $50 per family, includes admission and dinner.

Benefits Gateway Domestic Violence Center.

Aug. 13 Drunk on the Wind, Clarkesville. 8 p.m.

Habersham Community Theater, 1370 Washington St., Clarkesville. $12. www. habershamtheater.org.

Aug. 13 Loretta Lynn, Gainesville. 7 p.m. gates

Aug. 19 Lyle Lovett & His Large Band, Atlanta. 7 p.m. gates open and 8 p.m. show. Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta. $12.95-$18.95. www.atlantabg. org. 404-876-5859.

Aug. 20 Mother Lode,” Sautee Nacoochee. 7:30 p.m. Sautee Nacoochee Center theater, 283 Ga. 255 N, Sautee Nacoochee. $8$10. www.snca.org.

Aug. 20 “Gold Fever” program, Helen. 9 a.m. to noon. Smithgall Woods State Park Visitors Center, 61 Tsalaki Trail, Helen. $5. www. gastateparks.org/smithgallwoods or 706878-3087.

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Aug. 20 Back in Time, Gainesville. 8 p.m. The Arts Council, 331 Spring St. SW, Gainesville. $18-$210. 770-534-2787. www. theartscouncil.net.

Center, 283 Ga. 255 N, Sautee Nacoochee. Donations accepted. www. snca.org.

Aug. 20 Braselton Centennial Celebration, Town Green, www.downtownbraselton.com and www.facebook.com/BuyLocalBraselton

Sept. 2 “You Can’t Take It With You,” Dahlonega.

Sept. 2-4, 9-11 and 16-18. The Holly Theater, 69 W. Main St., Dahlonega. $12$19.99. 706-864-3759. www.hollytheater. com.

Aug. 20 Family Day at the Quinlan, Gainesville.

Noon to 4 p.m. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville.

Free. 770-536-2575. www.qvac.org.

Sept. 6-8 “The Curious Savage,” Gainesville. 7:30 p.m. Gainesville High School, 830 Century Place, Gainesville. $5-$8. ghstheatre@ bellsouth.net.

Aug. 20-21 Wine Trail Weekend, Dahlonega. 12:30-5 p.m. Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Visitors Center, 13 S. Park St., Dahlonega. $35.

706-864-3711. www.dahlonega.org.

Sept. 7 Second annual “Day in the Park,” Helen.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Helen Arts and Heritage Center, 25 Chattahoochee Strasse, Helen.

For veterans and family. RSVP to 706-8783933. www.helenarts.org.

Aug. 22 Dawson Community Chorale rehearsals, Dawsonville. 7 p.m. Mondays. First Baptist Church, 900 Ga. 9, Dawsonville. 404-9069909.

Aug. 25 Mac Stewart exhibit, Demorest. Exhibit through Aug. 26. Artist reception 5-7 p.m. Aug. 25. Piedmont College MasonScharfenstein Museum of Art, 567 Georgia St., Demorest. Free. 706-8944201.

Sept. 10 33rd annual Fuzz Run, Covington. 8 a.m.

1143 Oak St. SE, Covington. $10-$25 before Aug. 25. 770-385-2126. www. covingtonfuzzrun.com.

Sept. 10 Aaron Lee Tasjan, Lawrenceville. 7 p.m.

Bowman House Concert Series, 323 Wilcrest Drive SW, Lawrenceville. $20.

BYOB and a dish to share. Reservations required. bowmanhouseconcerts@gmail. com. 770-979-1314.

Sept. 15 “Ghost the Musical,” Roswell. Through Oct. 2. Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. Prices vary. 770-6411260. www.get.org.

Sept. 16 Clermont Days Festival, Clermont. 4-10 p.m. Sept. 16 and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept.

17. Downtown Clermont, 639 Main St., Clermont. Free. 770-983-7568. www. clermontdays.net.

Sept. 17 Eighth annual North Hall Lions Cupcake Challenge 5K/1K road race, Clermont.

7:30 a.m. W.R. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home, 260 Main St., Clermont. $15-$25. www.runsignup.com.

Sept. 17 15th annual John Jarrard Foundation Concert, Gainesville. Brenau University front lawn, 500 Washington St., Gainesville. www.johnjarrardfoundation.com.

Aug. 27 Second annual Tug-of-Love, Jefferson.

10:30 a.m. 193 Strickland Lane, Jefferson. Free. 706-769-9333. www. extraspecialpeople.com.

Aug. 27 Paint A Brighter Tomorrow: United Way campaign kick-off, Cornelia. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cornelia Depot, 102 Clarkesville St., Cornelia. Free. 706-778-0260.

Aug. 27 Discounted yoga classes, Clarkesville.

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Antahsara Yoga, 140 La Prade St., Clarkesville. $8 per class.

706-754-8899. www.antahsara.org.

Aug. 28 Bean Creek Choir and Friends, Sautee Nacoochee. 3 p.m. Sautee Nacoochee 44

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Sept. 17 Open water swim, Buford. 8 a.m. to noon. Lanier Islands, 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford. $50 before Aug. 15 or $75 after Aug. 15. www.swimacrossamerica.org.

Sept. 17 Georgia’s Spirit festival, Sautee Nacoochee. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Historic Hardman Farm, 143 Ga. 17, Sautee Nacoochee. Free. www.whitecountychamber.org.

Sept. 17 “The World’s Largest Dinosaurs” exhibition, Atlanta.

Through Jan. 2. Fernbank Museum of Natural History, 767 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta. Included with admission. www.fernbankmuseum.org.

Sept. 20 Art of Golf tournament and art auction, Helen. 10 a.m. tournament, 6 p.m. auction Helen Arts and Heritage Center, 25 Chattahoochee Strasse, Helen. $100 per player. $25 admission. www.helenarts.org.

Sept. 20 Art workshop for veterans, Helen. Through Oct. 25.

Helen Arts and Heritage Center, 25 Chattahoochee Strasse, Helen. Six-week workshop. Free. 706-878-3933. www.helenarts.org.

Sept. 24 Hall County Garden Expo, Gainesville. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1855 Calvary Church Road, Gainesville. $2. 770535-8293. www.hallmastergardeners.com.

Sept. 24 Garden of Eden Ball, Atlanta. 6:30 p.m. Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta. $500 and higher.

404-876-5859. www.atlantabg.org.

Sept. 24 Team Maggie 5K/10K, Roswell. 7:30 a.m. start for 10K, 7:45 a.m. start for 5K. Kings Court Chapel, 9435 Willeo Road, Roswell. $35 until Sept. 1. Sponsorships starting at $250. www.teammaggieforacure.org. 678-977-5755.

Sept. 24 Jim Henson’s 80th Birthday Celebration, Atlanta. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Center for Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring St. NW, Atlanta. $14.50 per person. 404-873-3391. www.puppet. org.

Sept. 22-24 Landscape oil painting workshop, Gainesville. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. $250. 770-536-2575. www.qvac.org.

Sept. 27-29 “How to Succeed In Business,” Gainesville. Gainesville High School, 830 Century Place, Gainesville. ghstheatre@bellsouth.net. homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

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home around town GMFB Empty Bowl paint party July 19, 2016

In partnership with the Gainesville Housing Authority, the Rotary Club of Hall County, Georgia visited the Georgia Mountain Food Bank to paint decorative bowls that will be kiln fired and exchanged for donation at the 2016 Empty Bowl Luncheon food bank fundraiser to feed the North Georgia area hungry. The event will be held in September at the First Baptist Church of Gainesville, Georgia. This project is one of the North Georgia Mountain Food Bank’s most popular projects. The Georgia Mountain Food Bank’s mission is to address hunger, health and quality of life by serving those in need throughout the entire North Georgia Region.

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home around town

11th annual Mitch Farmer June Jam June 25, 2016

The 11th annual Mitch Farmer June Jam was held at The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center in downtown Gainesville. Performers include Peggie Hoskins & Vertigo, Ultra Band, Gregg Erwin and Fly Betty Band. The event is an annual fundraiser for Court Appointed Special Advocates.

homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

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home around town Independence Day Celebration July 2-4, 2016

Gainesville marked an early Fourth of July celebration with the annual fireworks show over Lake Lanier at Laurel Park.

Thousands showed up to watch fireworks light up the sky as well as enjoying cookouts and entertainment. There were a variety of activities for children to enjoy before fireworks began including the Sprayground, inflatable slides, vendor booths, music and more.

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home around town

Fifth annual Georgia Mountains Farm Tour June 25, 2016

For the fifth year, the public was invited to tour farms, including eight new locations in the region, on the Georgia Mountains Farm Tour. The tour benefits the Georgia Mountains Farmers Network, a nonprofit organization that aims to bolster local, sustainable agriculture. The tour consisted of 15 farms and four farm-to-table meal stops for guests traveling along the two-day, self-guided tour.

NO

W

OP

EN

!

The New Signature of Assisted Living & Memory Care has arrived at Hamilton Mill!

Drop in or schedule a private tour today to experience the finest senior living in the area.

2016-0114 HM

3581 Braselton Hwy, Dacula, GA 30019 (770) 999-0421 • www.at-hamiltonmill.com

home around town Harbour Point annual Military Appreciation Day June 25, 2016

For the third year in a row, the residents of Harbour Point, a sub-division on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, hosted the active duty military personnel assigned to the Armed Forces Recruiting Station in Gainesville, with a day of boating, games and good food. The 14 military families enjoyed the opportunity to cruise the Lake and, for the more adventurous, go tubing, on the hottest day of the year, to date. After they had their fill of water sports, they returned to the Harbour Point Clubhouse for a traditional dinner of hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken by the pool. The day ended with relay races for the children, raffles, and for each family, a gift bag worth more than $125 of gift certificates, coupons and merchandise. The generosity of the residents in funding the event was matched by the local Gainesville merchants who donated the gift bag items.

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In North Georgia