Home Living North Georgia November, December Issue

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

CHRISTMAS at the mansion

ALSO INSIDE OUR HOLIDAY ISSUE: Boys & Girls Clubs Holiday Fashions Winter Gardens Winery Tours

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What’s Inside

November/December 2012

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On the Cover

Christmas at the Georgia Governor’s Mansion is an elaborate production, beginning with choosing the theme for the decorations and concluding with the baking of as many as 30,000 cookies.

Marketplace

From the Editor 6

Home for the holidays

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Cover Story: Sandra Deal Gainesville’s Sandra Deal may be hostess to the most public home in Georgia, entertaining thousands of visitors in December, but she and the governor still find time for family, as well as just each other, during the holidays.

Charity 16

Community 8 9 10 11

Boys & Girls Clubs give every child a chance to be great.

Shopping

Home & Garden

Christmas Lights, Village

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Music, theater and dance Downtowns & parades

Photo by Sarina Roth | Design by Mitch Clarke

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10 Love Light

Taste of Home 12

Poor Richards is now serving fourth generation customers, having been in business in Gainesville for 35 years.

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Ploughman’s Pub, a nod to pubs in Ireland, is a newcomer to Jackson County but has quickly developed a following.

Winter doesn’t mean the end of a colorful season in North Georgia. Learn about hardy flowers such as pansies and violas plus ornamental lettuces that will bloom despite the harshest freezes.

HOME Living In North Georgia

32 Driving School

28 Home & Garden

36 Family Holiday Recipes Sports & Recreation

Health & Fitness

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Driving school isn’t just for race car drivers – improve your own skill or take your teen to defensive driving school at Skip Barber Racing School in Braselton.

Lifestyle 33

Travel: You don’t have to go all the way to California for wine tastings at awardwinning wineries. More than 15 await you in North Georgia, complete with fine dining and lodging.

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Shopping for holiday attire is easy when you buy local.

Retailers at Lakeshore Mall share trends.

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Food: Holiday recipes from HOME staff!

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Caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s.

Calendar 42 45

November/December Save the Date

Around Town 46

Where We’ve Been

16 Boys & Girls Clubs 34 Holiday Fashions 5

From the Editor Home for the holidays There’s nothing like the sights and sounds of the holidays to take you straight back to childhood and the memories of happy, carefree magical times. Crisp fall weather sprinkled with falling leaves the color of a gold-and-red-hued rainbow tells us the smells of a turkey roasting in the oven and apple and pumpkin pies cooling on the kitchen table are just around the corner. Twinkling lights, evergreen trees strapped to the tops of cars and Christmas music in the stores let us know that Santa soon will be here.

For children, it is “the most wonderful time of the year,” as the song lyrics say. No school for a few weeks, visiting with Santa and the anticipation of all the fun and excitement of Christmas morning makes children’s eyes shine with excitement. For special occasions, little girls are radiant dressed up in red velvet, while little boys squirm in the confines of their miniature man suits.

Boys and girls began to take part in Christmas traditions, such as the selection of the tree at a tree farm or unpacking and fluffing up the artificial tree. There’s always the angel or other special tree topper that is the last decoration to go on the tree. Hay rides, candy making, going to see a production of The Nutcracker, visiting grandparents and more are among the traditions shared by many.

Families also have a way of continuing or inventing their own distinct traditions. For my family, it was the girls’ job – the girls being my mama, sister and me – to decorate the tree. But only after daddy strung the lights. It always seemed to take an eternity for him to get around to that. “Mama, is daddy ever going to get the lights on the tree?” we would ask over and over. We also always took a drive around town after the Christmas Eve service at church to see the holiday lights. And not a Christmas would pass without the ceremonial reading of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas.

We learned about an endearing new family tradition that Gov. and First Lady Deal started a few years ago, which they share in the cover story.

Families also often have a special meal, recipe or beverage they always fix for the holidays. We are excited about the recipes and stories from HOME staff who shared their traditions with readers in the Lifestyles section.

The sights and sounds of Thanksgiving and Christmas certainly do evoke warm, fond memories for many of us. Yet, these days are not so magical for all children. Thanksgiving to most means a day of feasting; for the less fortunate, it can be just another day with an empty belly.

Christmas should bring a morning of opening new toys and gifts; but for some children, it is just another day without toys.

Every year, however, more families in need are being served thanks to the help and generosity of the people who call North Georgia their home. Churches, civic groups, nonprofit organizations and individuals throughout the area open their wallets, homes and hearts to make the holidays a better time for those in need. Thousands of families are served each year thanks to those who get involved to help share the magic of Christmas.

Wishing all of you a most wonderful time of the year in the most wonderful part of Georgia,

Roxane

Roxane Rose rrose@homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com 6

Publisher Dennis Stockton General Manager/Editor Roxane Rose Advertising Director Sherrie Jones Advertising Sales Angela Cannon-Pulliam Debra Purvis Melisa Sizemore Amanda Woodall Graphic Design Mitch Clarke Katherine Hake Eddy McIlvain Roxane Rose Patty Sawyer April Seymour Contributing Photographers Sarina Roth Tom Reed Scott Rogers HOME Magazine, a division of: The Times Gainesville, GA The Paper Hoschton, GA

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www.homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com 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.

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HOME Living In North Georgia

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Holiday Shopping & More

By Roxane Rose

The holiday Marketplace in Gainesville, pictured below, will feature more than 70 vendors featuring unique gift items.

The North Georgia area is rich with holiday shopping and entertainment opportunities that begin in early November. You can find unique gifts and get an early start on your holiday list at the market events, and there is a treasure trove of dance, theater and musical performances to choose from. Santa has a tight schedule as he travels from one town to another beginning in late November, helping citizens get their community trees lit, participating in parades and visiting with children to find out what is tops on their wish lists – and if they have been naughty or nice.

Shopping

On Nov. 2-4, the Jefferson Holiday Market offers one-stop holiday shopping and features a dessert and cider reception with early shopping on Friday night, 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $8 and are good for the whole weekend. On Saturday, the market runs 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and the ticket, good also on Sunday, is $3. Sunday, the market is open noon-4 p.m. and cost is $2.

Admission proceeds will benefit Wellspring Camp, which is a camp designed for children and adults with disabilities and special needs. The Jefferson Holiday Market is held at the Jefferson Civic Center in Jefferson. For information, call 706-367-5754.

Another festive holiday shopping event where you can support a great cause while

getting some great shopping done ahead of time is the 21st Annual Marketplace, which benefits Radiation Oncology within The Cancer Center at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. Marketplace features more than 70 vendors from several states selling unique gift items. Shopping opportunities include jewelry and ladies’ accessories; art, books and antiques; home accessories and vintage items; women’s, men’s and children’s clothing; gourmet food items; holiday items; garden items; monogramming on site; and much more.

Marketplace will be held Nov. 8-10 at the Gainesville Civic Center. It is presented by premier sponsors The Medical Center Auxiliary and Willis Investment Counsel.

A preview party will be held on Thursday, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 ($20 of the cost is tax deductible). Cost for general admission to Marketplace on Friday and Saturday is $5 and hours are 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. on Friday and 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday.

To learn more about being a vendor or to purchase tickets, call 770-219-1830 or visit www.nghs.com/marketplace.

Not just for summertime!

Celebrate 20 years of twinkle, memories and tradition at Lake Lanier Islands’ Magical Nights of Lights, which begins Friday, Nov. 16, and runs through Monday, Dec. 31, 5-10 p.m. Pack your car full of family, friends and neighbors and head out to the lake for a night to remember!

Drive over the magnificent snowflake bridge, down through the 12 days of Christmas, up past the illuminated diamond wonder light, under the blanket-lit bridge, all the way 8

HOME Living In North Georgia

to the dancing Holiday House, Santa’s Workshop, Christmas Carnival and more.

The Magical Nights of Lights journey doesn’t stop with the miles of illuminated characters and millions of twinkling lights.

Holiday Village is a must-see for everyone, complete with a bonfire for roasting marshmallows, pony and amusement rides, holiday shopping and – what holiday spectacle would be complete without a visit with Jolly Old St. Nick and his elves? (Additional charges apply for some activities at Holiday Village.)

Celebrate Santa’s arrival with a special opening weekend celebration for the Magical Nights of Lights and be among the first to see the new collection of lights and attractions, mingle with the mascot Bucky Beaver and enjoy traditional carnival rides. The live nativity scene, back by popular demand, starts Dec. 1.

Each Saturday and Sunday morning in December through Christmas Eve and every morning the week before Christmas, you can enjoy breakfast with Santa at Legacy Lodge.

Admission to Magical Nights of Lights includes the light tour as well as access to the live entertainment at the Festival Stage. Cost is per vehicle and based on what the vehicle has the capacity to hold, not the number of passengers. Vehicles with capacity for up to nine people are $60, passenger vans that hold 10-19 people are $90 and buses that can hold 20 or more cost $250. Tickets may be

homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

purchased on-line at www.lakelanierislands. com/magical-nights-of-lights or at the front gate.

Stroll through “life-sized” Department 56 North Pole Series-themed houses at Funopolis Family Fun Center in the Funopolis Christmas Village, an event established to benefit nonprofit groups while bringing the festive spirit of the season to Funopolis.

Throughout November and December, Department 56 replicas built by nonprofits will be on display. They can just decorate the house, or, they can sell items from the house on the weekends. The houses will be a minimum 4’ x 4’ and 8 feet high. The public gets to buy votes for their favorite house, and $200 will be awarded to the house with the most votes.

Funopolis will also have Santa Land on site, where children can visit with Santa Claus and get their pictures taken with him. Special seasonal events are scheduled for some of the weekends. For more information, call 706-3353866, e-mail funopolis@windstream.net or visit www.funopolisfamilyfuncenter.com.

Music, Theater, Dance

To make sure the holiday season includes a live production of The Nutcracker, people in northeast Georgia can count on the Gainesville Ballet Company. This year’s public performances will be held at Pearce

Auditorium at Brenau University and are scheduled for Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 1 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. School matinees are scheduled for Nov. 29 and 30 at 10 a.m. and noon. To purchase tickets, call the box office at 770532-4241.

Also performing The Nutcracker is the Commerce School of Dance. The Senior and Junior companies will perform the annual “Christmas Spectacular “ featuring Act II of The Nutcracker in addition to Rockettes-style holiday tap and jazz selections. This elaborate

Pet Photos with Santa Claws

Bring your pets for photos with their very own Santa Claws at the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia.

Sittings with Santa Claws are available by appointment for $30 and includes six poses.

Appointments are available on Nov. 9 and 11, 1-5 p.m. and Nov. 10, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

CDs of the photo sessions are available for an additional $5. Photos are taken by award-winning professional photographer Fox Gradin, owner of Celestial Studios in Gainesville, who donates her time for photos with Santa Claws.

All proceeds benefit animals in the care of HSNEGA. To make an appointment or for more information, call 770-532-6617 or e-mail julieedwards@hsnega.org.

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production has a cast of 40 dancers and includes professional scenery, costumes, props and special effects. It is a holiday entertainment value the whole family, both young and old, will enjoy.

Catch a preview of the Christmas Spectacular Nov. 2-4 at the Jefferson Holiday Market, where the Commerce School of Dance will be performing excerpts.

The full performances are Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 23 at 3 p.m. at the East Jackson Comprehensive High School auditorium on Hoods Mill Road in Commerce. Price is $6 for general admission; $10 for reserved tickets. Call 706-335-7543 or visit www.commercedance.com for more information.

The The North Georgia Chamber Symphony has announced its fall holiday concerts, which will feature contralto Jeanne Luke singing Barber’s “Sure on this Shining Night” and “Must the Winter Come So Soon” from his opera “Vanessa.” Luke will also sing Franck’s “Panis Angelicus,” Adam’s “O Holy Night” and she will lead the singalong. The orchestra will play Vivaldi’s Guitar Concerto, with harp substituting for guitar, and Mahler’s beautiful Adagietto, which also features the harp.

The major selection for the concerts is Holst’s St. Paul Suite, with Greensleeves running through the finale.

The series begins Thursday, Nov. 29, at 7:30 p.m. at Grace Presbyterian Church in Dawsonville. The symphony will perform on Friday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. at the Old Courthouse on the Square in Blairsville. The final performances will be Saturday, Dec. 1, in Gainesville at 3 p.m. (the site is yet Top, the Gainesville Ballet; Commerce School of Dance to be determined), and at 7:30 p.m. at Dahlonega United Methodist Church. Admission is free to all concerts.

Donations to cover the expenses of the concerts are accepted.

The annual Christmas Classics show at The Cumming Playhouse is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 16, at 3 p.m. Small groups

The North Georgia Chamber Symphony’s fall concerts will feature contralto Jeanne Luke, right, singing “Sure on this Shining Night” and “Must the Winter Come so Soon” from the opera “Vanessa,” plus Franck’s “Panis Angelicus” and Adam’s “O Holy Night.” and soloists will make up the first act with the North Georgia Chamber Symphony Orchestra, including Jeanne Luke, making up the second act.

Listen to popular holiday favorites and orchestral-accompanied pieces from a variety of music styles including compositions from the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras when The Voices of North Georgia perform the annual Christmas concert at St. Paul United Methodist Church Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15, $12 for seniors/students and are available from any VNG member or at the door the evenings of the concert.

On Nov. 26, “Music: A Holiday Concert” will be presented

by Brenau University’s Spectrum Singers, Vocal Chamber Ensemble and musical guests from community. It will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the John S. Burd Center for the Performing Arts, Hosch Theatre, Brenau University, in Gainesville. The concert is free.

Downtowns

The Town of Braselton kicks off the holidays with the Lighting of the Braselton Tree at the Braselton Brothers Store on Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. The day’s festivities include a Movie Under the Stars in Braselton Park and the “Tis the Season to Run for a Reason” 5K Run/Walk for the Braselton Relay for Life at 3 p.m. Registration for the run/walk is $20; $25 the day of. The next weekend, Celebrate the Holidays in Braselton on Nov. 17 will feature a festival in the Braselton Park with the Christmas parade “Going to the Dogs” at 10:30 a.m. Come watch various dogs celebrate the Holidays in Braselton as they travel down the parade route. They will be escorting the special grand marshals and barking up a storm! Parking suggestions: Town Hall, West Jackson Primary School, Northeast Georgia Bank and the Braselton Library. That afternoon at 2 p.m. is “Cookies with Santa” in the Community Room of the Police & Municipal Court building, at 5040 Hwy. 53. Cost is $15 per child and you must reserve your ticket as seating is limited to 30 children.

Plan to arrive 15 minutes early to get ready for Santa’s arrival! Admission includes face painting, holiday crafts and refreshments. Never the Rock Photography will be documenting memories with a complimentary CD of your photo with Santa. Tickets can be purchased at the A great gift for the person who has everything is a donation in their name to a cause Braselton Town Hall. The Christmas in Braselton Car or a charity such as Love Light, which benefits Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Show will also be held that day, 2-6 p.m. at YearOne. Center. Your tax-deductible donation can also be designated in memory of a loved one.

The annual Light Up Clermont in historic Donations levels are Light, $10; Star, $100; and Angel, $500 and above. downtown will be held Friday and Saturday, Nov. 30 Love Lights can be purchased all year long, and they are celebrated at the annual and Dec. 1.

The lighting of the tree kicks off the event at tree lighting ceremony at the Auxiliary Love Light Garden, located at the north entrance 6:30 on Friday night, followed by downtown activities of Northeast Georgia Medical Center. The 33rd Annual Love Light Tree Lighting including horse-drawn carriage rides and pictures with Celebration will be held Monday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m.

Santa.

The Christmas parade is on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Visit www.nghs.com/lovelight for more information and to purchase a Love Light or during the festival.

This is Clermont’s biggest event of call The Medical Center Auxiliary at 770-219-1830. the year.

The Gift of Love Lights

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The City of Jefferson kicks off the holidays on Dec. 1 at the Crawford W. Long Museum, 1-3 p.m. with a Gingerbread There are lots of parades to enjoy in North Georgia! Pictured are Workshop (a dancers from Broadway Arts in Jefferson, who will participate in fee will apply), the Jefferson parade as well as at the Jefferson Holiday Market. followed by the parade at 4 p.m. in downtown Jefferson. Broadway Arts Center dancers are among those who will be performing in the parade – last year they had more than 100 participants including students ages 3-18, parents and staff.

Neighboring City of Commerce invites people to come and celebrate Hometown Holidays weekend Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. Enjoy an old-fashioned evening out on Friday, 5-9 p.m., with candlelit sidewalks, strolling carolers, a live nativity scene, horse-drawn carriage rides, refreshments in the park, pictures with Santa and more. Get a chance to win a downtown Commerce gift certificate or one of the many door prizes donated from the Commerce merchants by getting your Christmas Passport, available at the Commerce DDA office.

On Saturday morning, children are invited to the Commerce Civic Center for donuts and a picture with Santa. They may also finish their Christmas shopping in Santa’s workshop, where all gifts are under $10, and Santa’s elves help them select suitable gifts and even gift wrap the purchases for the shoppers. After a fun-filled morning of shopping and eating, children can enjoy a Christmas movie at the Commerce Public Library. Sunday is the highlight of the weekend with the traditional Christmas parade that travels throughout Downtown Commerce beginning at 3 p.m.

Santa himself will be making an appearance at the Flowery Branch Christmas Tree Lighting & Roll ‘n’ Stroll, which will be held Saturday, Dec. 1, 2-6 p.m. The day will include a festival, parade and silent auction, and will close with the lighting of the tree. For more information, visit www.flowerybranchga.org.

Downtown Gainesville’s holiday activities get started on Nov. 15 with the Jingle Mingle, 5-8 p.m. Mingle with Kringle, sponsored

by Main Street Market, runs Dec. 1, 8, 15 and 22, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., also in downtown Gainesville. On Dec. 2, Christmas on Green Street, sponsored by the Hall County Historical Society, is a first-rate event that kicks off the Christmas season and offers an inexpensive night out for families and children. The event, which runs 5-7:15 p.m., will begin with an antique car procession. Green Street will be closed 4-8 p.m.

The houses on Green Street will be decorated and some will open their doors to visitors. The Beta Club at North Hall Middle School and a Boy Scout Troop line the street with luminaries. The Gainesville Newcomers Club don period Victorian costumes and relate histories of the homes. The Quinlan Art Center hosts a children’s party where they make a decoration to take home. Last year the event had 19 musical groups performing from porches.

Look for the strolling magician, face painter, balloon artist, story teller, juggler, Santa Claus and miniature train ride for free fun and entertainment. There are also carriage rides for $2 per person; limit $10/family. The Gainesville Rotary Club will have its annual Christmas Tree Lighting, too. For more information, call 770 503-1319.

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Dining Out

home taste of home

at North Georgia’s Hot Restaurants Story and photos by Roxane Rose

Poor Richard’s – Gainesville

Crab cakes appetizer

Ground sirloin with mushroom and onion brown gravy

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Sunset chicken, marinated and grilled

The original dining area is now a private dining area, and includes a screen for When Richard and Bonnie LeCaine presentations. Plus, two areas provide semimoved to Gainesville from Miami, he was private space for parties or a get-together. unemployed, they had a young daughter, it was Poor Richard’s is a true American cuisine a major culture shock and neither of them had a restaurant and has a vast selection on the menu: bit of restaurant experience.

Steak, seafood, fish, ribs and prime rib, chicken, They thought it would be a good idea to veal and combo platters – 14 appetizers from open a restaurant, though, and these owners of which to choose – soups, salads, sandwiches – Poor Richard’s in Gainesville have made it for 35 specialty drinks and featured wines. And more! years and are going strong. They are still located They make all of their sauces and dressings at 1702 Parkhill Drive N.E. in Gainesville. from scratch and age their beef at least 60 days Over the years, Poor Richard’s has received for tenderness and flavor. The seafood arrives awards confirming its popularity. In 2004, the twice a week from Florida; the produce is restaurant was named the “Favorite Restaurant” delivered daily for freshness. in the Hall County Hall of Fame, and for 2005“Bonnie and I have been very fortunate 2006, Small Business of the Year by the Greater to have key employees who guarantee that the Hall Chamber of Commerce. restaurant is as consistent today as it has been “We were fortunate to find a small, friendly through the years, thanks to their dedication,” town when we got here,” said Richard, who Richard said. “Mary Boston, a 25-year veteran explained they were familiar with the area now retired, was here at 6 a.m. baking bread, because his father had a cabin on Lake Burton. cheesecakes and preparing for the night’s business.

When the LeCaines opened their doors in Gloria Charles, another 25-year veteran, is here April 1977, they could seat 60 people. Richard at nine in the mornings to take care of the office, worked in the kitchen and Bonnie was hostess. help our guests with reservations and answer “That first year we saw what a difficult questions. Trudy Bailey, a 12-year veteran, is here venture we had undertaken,” Richard said. “We to greet our guests and make sure they enjoy had thoughts that we might not make it. Our themselves and their dinner. Julio Rodriguez, a success is due to our guests – they spoke up and 12-year veteran, is here to make sure our guests’ we listened.” dinners are prepared to their satisfaction. John Just a year after opening, the LeCains Paul Puccio is a 20-year veteran and takes care of expanded into the basement area, increasing seating our guests’ beverage requests.” to 140. They continued to listen to their customers, Poor Richard’s is open six and they continued to hear it took days a week: Monday-Thursday, too long to get a table. In 1983, they 5-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday purchased the property and building 5-11 p.m. The lounge, accessible next door, jacked up the building, through the rear entrance, opens moved it 50 yards, and attached it to at 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. the original building. This increased Reservations are accepted seating to 220. The last addition was Monday through Thursday, and in 2005: a 24-seat patio. only for parties of six or more on “We are now proudly serving Friday and Saturday. fourth generation guests,” Richard “We invite you to experience said. “I am glad they can’t talk yet Poor Richard’s,” Richard said. and make suggestions, for we are P.R.’s signature drinks: Absolut “Come see the difference!” out of space to add seating!”

Cosmopolitian, Super Martini HOME Living In North Georgia

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Poor Richard’s Restaurant • 770-532-0499• www.prgainesville.com

Ploughman’s Pub • 706-367-0025 • www.ploughmanspub.com

Ploughman’s Pub – Jefferson

customers in the winter,” Matt said. They are Ploughman’s Pub opened its doors on also adding fried green beans as a side.

April 25 this year, and Jackson countians hope “We’re not doing fancy food, but we’re this restaurant will make a big splash and stick doing food good – we don’t have any foie around a while. The owners certainly have got gras or osso buco, but we do it the way most the experience – brothers Matt and Ross Sparks people don’t do it any longer – make a lot of it have about 30 years in the restaurant business ourselves,” Ross said, “We have fresh produce just between the two of them. Matt is part owner and almost nothing here is frozen or canned.” with their mom, Donna Sparks, and brother They smoke their own meats on site, and Ross is general manager and mixologist. cut their own bacon as well as slicing all of their “All I’ve ever done was restaurants – I meats for sandwiches. didn’t even do anything with my college “All of that sets us apart,” Ross said. “It degree,” Matt said. “It’s a hard line of work and costs a bit more to have the employees prepare it’s been hard here, but, so far so good. We are and cook, but customers can tell the difference.” doing well, the bills are paid and the open sign The most popular dishes, according is on door.” to how many are ordered by customers, are “There are still people who don’t know we burgers and chicken fingers. are here, but that just means there is room to “My personal favorite is the flat iron steak grow,” Ross noted. with blue cheese crumbles,” Matt said. Ross’s The name of the restaurant is a nod to the fave is the “hillbilly philly” with red sauce. pubs of Ireland and England.

Ploughman’s has a variety of activities: “We were born in Ireland, and lots of pubs Poker on Monday, trivia on Tuesday, wings would have a ‘ploughman’s lunch’ that was on Wednesday and “of course we are big, big made from last night’s bread, cheese, apples, bulldog fans so we have the games on here.” and a cup of hard cider,” Matt explained.

They are trying out music, although they need to Ploughman’s opened at 1235 Athens figure out how to overcome obstacles of the old St. in Jefferson, where the Carriage House house, namely the acoustics and small rooms. restaurant was located a few years back, and Ploughman’s also has a lot of specialty before that, the Boy Scouts’ haunted house. drinks – a dozen are on the menu – and Ross It was marvelously renovated by the previous created all of them. occupants, and also offers an outdoor seating “The Ploughman’s Peach is our best seller. area where dogs are welcome.

It’s like biting into a Lane peach,” The restaurant started with he said. “The filthy martini sells a short and simple menu. After well, too.” a few months, they added items Matt and Ross grew up in and began having Sunday brunch Gainesville, attending Lakeview specials which, if you are on Academy and, of course, having Facebook or join the text club, dinner at Poor Richard’s, they you can learn about when they said. are announced. In October, they “We remember going there were working on changing the growing up for fancy dinners!” menu for the season. they both reminisced, with Matt “We are going to add a adding that he stopped in there couple of soups plus fried chicken recently “for nostalgia.”

The Ploughman’s Peach with white gravy to warm up our Ploughman’s is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.

homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

Pimento cheese with pita points

Flat iron steak with blue cheese

Bread pudding (the real thing!)

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Wing Slingers

W

ingslinger’s Grill is the newest addition to dining and entertainment in the small, quaint town of Hoschton.

Conveniently located off of Highway 53 in Towne Center, Wingslinger’s has made a name for itself as a combination family friendly and entertaining dining experience with a hometown feel. Known for its wings, many locals frequent Wingslinger’s for the half-pound burgers, awesome service, welcoming feel and a great selection of domestic and imported beers. Wingslinger’s also offers wine and spirits, including many top shelf selections.

Wingslingers Grill opened in Commerce in 2009 in a small downtown building. After almost two years, the restaurant had outgrown its meek beginnings. In September 2011, Wingslinger’s relocated to Hoschton in order to extend the customer base with more room to service more customers.

Monday nights are “Kids Eat Free,” where a free kid’s meal is offered with each purchase of an adult meal. Tuesday nights are reserved for Poker, sponsored by Atlanta Poker Club, where you can win weekly and monthly prizes.

Most Friday nights local bands play as free entertainment. Saturday nights are reserved for karaoke.

Wingslinger’s bar and dining areas have 3 TVs - including a big screen for tailgating on Saturdays and Sundays.

706-658-0001 Hoschton, GA 30548 14

Scott’s Restaurant

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asual fine dining in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere is the best way to describe Gainesville’s premier eatery.

“We are located in downtown Gainesville and our menu offers a wide range of choices from USDA prime, hand-cut steaks, the freshest seafood and local produce with seasonally inspired weekly specials,” said owner Scott Dixon. “With a wine list of more than 100 wines, with 50 by the glass, you will certainly be able to find a perfect match for your menu selection.”

Scott’s Restaurant is the four-year winner of the “Open Tables Diners Choice” award, an on-line ratings system for seated reservations restaurants that monitors qualified, unbiased and fresh feedback from diners.

The restaurant is the “perfect collaboration of great food, wine and service,” Dixon said.

To celebrate that special occasion, couples can enjoy one of three private dining rooms for two.

Scott’s features dinner hours and live entertainment on the weekends.

For customers who already enjoy Scott’s, they will be excited to learn that The Lounge at Scott’s and The Loft at Scott’s will be opening in November. The Loft is an event facility that seats up to 500.

“Scott’s has the feel of a New York eatery in the heart of downtown Gainesville,” Dixon said. “We are Atlanta’s and North Georgia’s best-kept secret!”

770-536-1111 www.scottsonthesquare.com

Key West

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here is excitement at Key West Bar and Grill! Take the same great taste of the islands with no boat required, then add in Matt and Shad. Yes, Key West is under new management. These two gentlemen bring a combined 35 years of restaurant/hospitality experience to Key West. Matt was general manager of Pappaduex Seafood Kitchen in Atlanta, while Shad comes from management of Phillips Seafood in Baltimore, Md. “We are excited to work together and bring our combined experience to the table,” Matt said. “I want the folks that come through the door to have a great experience; I want to see them time and time again. We want you to relax, unwind and let us take care of you.”

Key West has all the same favorites on the menu, like the Shrimp and Scallop Jambalya, Panko Crusted Scallops and all-you-can-eat snow crab legs on Wednesday nights, plus additions such as the Seafood Feast (pictured).

Key West has steaks as well.

A banquet room for special events and off-site catering is available. The long bar with all the TVs including the 16-foot big screen is a great place to catch the games. Or come on down and enjoy live music on the weekends!

“We are looking forward to positive changes,” Shad said. “We are putting out great food and drink specials every week. Come in, tell us how we are doing and we will listen!”

Key West is open Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m.

706-824-0008 6750 Georgia 53 #112 , Braselton www.keywestbarandgrille.com HOME Living In North Georgia

home taste of home

Avocado’s Restaurant

Wild Wing Cafe

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nce upon a time there was a young man from Atlanta who thought the perfect day was a round of golf, a bucket of ice-cold beer and plenty of great wings. He moved to Hilton Head where the golf was great, but there were no buckets of cold beer, no great wings.

So the young man opened Wild Wing Cafe on the island paradise. Now there are 34 locations in seven states, including one in Gainesville.

Wing-lover or not, you will find something on the menu to please your palate at this casual dining restaurant.

Customers can create their own burger, hand pattied from fresh Grade A lean ground chuck, enjoy a rib and shrimp combo or select chicken fingers that are fresh tenderloins, hand dipped in homemade batter and fried to order.

Can’t decide? Create your own sampler platter.

Customers can also enjoy hand-cut onion rings dipped in a spicy batter, the popular Fajita Fiesta Wrap or Buffalo Chicken dip.

Wild Wing Cafe is the place to go to relax and enjoy good food and good times with friends and family – but the restaurant also offers catering options to bring the party to you. Need a gift idea for that hard-to-buy-for person? Purchase a Wild Wing gift card on-line.

Wild Wing Cafe opens at 11 a.m. Monday through Sunday.

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Outback Steakhouse

f you’re looking for an enjoyable time with friends, then Avocado’s is a wonderful place to dine. Avocado’s is a casual restaurant that caters to all types of palates.

The restaurant is located in downtown Gainesville on the square, where you can dine inside or alfresco with the bistro sidewalk tables. The eclectic menu offers a wide selection and everyone can find something they will enjoy at an affordable price. Fresh pastries and cakes are made daily.

Avocado’s also has a vast wine selection from which to choose.

On Friday and Saturday, enjoy live entertainment and or take part in wine tastings, available by appointment only.

Albert Lunalover, owner, worked for Luna’s Restaurant of Gainesville for 11 years before opening Avocado’s in 2011. His experienced staff is welcoming and family oriented, and they look forward to serving customers.

“Let Avocado’s help with your holiday catering needs,” encouraged Lunalover.

Lunalover and his staff at Avocado’s would like to extend an invitation to you to dine with them.

Tuesday-Thursday, Avocado’s is open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. for lunch and 5 p.m.-until closed for dinner; on Fridays and Saturdays, it is open all day 8 a.m.-close; and on Sundays, brunch is served 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

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utback Steakhouse in Commerce, is celebrating their 7th year anniversary.

Known for their bloomin onion, but who can resist the mouth-watering steaks, barbie on the grill, seafood, beef, wings and pasta. They offer a variety on the menu so that any cravings can be satisfied.

At Outback Steakhouse they constantly have specials that will suit your taste and budget in today’s economy. Beer, wine and spirits are available. They also have the space for large parties whether it be a family reunion, wedding, prom, holiday occasions, football fans or tourists. Management offers second-tonone customer service, treating each customer special so that you get the feeling that you are valued and appreciated. They take pride in serving each and every customer. Outback Steakhouse serves only fresh quality food that is made from scratch daily, not processed.

Call ahead seating is available. Need gifts for presents...why not an Outback Steakhouse Gift Card? They will be offering a special deal on gift cards this holiday season.

Outback is conveniently located off I-85 at exit 149 in the Banks Crossing Shopping Plaza (behind Zaxby’s) at 411 Pottery Factory Dr. They are open seven days a week 4-10 p.m.

Monday -Friday, Saturday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. They are looking forward to seeing you soon. Happy Holidays from all of the staff at Outback Steakhouse.

Avocado’s Resta ura nt 770.536.9177 311 Jesse Jewell Pkwy., Gainesville www.wildwingcafe.com homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com 318598 Wild Wings 11-1 kh R6.indd 1

10/29/2012 12:53:43 PM

770-532-0001 109 Bradford St., Downtown Gainesville www.avocadoseats.com

706-423-0022 411 Pottery Factory Drive, Commerce GA 30529 (behind Zaxby’s)

www.Outback.com 3418562 Outback Steakhouse HOME 11-01 ps.indd 1

10/30/2012 10:35:41 PM

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home charity

Every child deserves

a chance

to be great.

Story and photos by Roxane Rose

In addition to learning and help with homework after school, kids have exercise and play time at the Boys & Girls Clubs. Pictured is the Commerce club.

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HOME Living In North Georgia

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he perfect upbringing: Ward and June Cleaver. He works just eight hours a day; she is a stay-at-home mom who literally has freshly baked cookies waiting on the boys when they get home.

When the boys get into trouble, the man of the household delivers swift but just punishment, and of course, the boys understand the error of their misdeeds every time.

That image is so old and out of date that there are adults reading this who don’t even know who Ward and June are! Even those of us who can appreciate having been brought up with stability and loving guidance, can’t truly grasp what it is like to be a child today.

Too many children and teens do not receive the leadership and support they need to stay out of trouble, do well in school and manage the many issues with which they are faced – bullying, peer pressure, violence, drugs, obesity and the consequences of social media.

The statistics on high school drop-out rates, violence and obesity among youth are staggering.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which operates in 10 metro Atlanta counties,

has several chapters in the north Georgia area.

The clubs in Hall and Jackson counties have had a tremendous positive impact, especially Hall, which has been serving youth for almost 60 years.

“We are really fortunate to have been here for 58 years helping kids reach their full potential,” said Steve Mickens, chief professional officer in Hall. “We ultimately help the community, which is critical – the Boys & Girls Clubs create a community with well-trained, well-rounded kids who become members of the community. By teaching healthy lifestyles, we take the burden off of healthcare. Through education, we take the burden off of prisons. And there are more people better skilled for our local employers.”

Denzel Washington, Shaquille O’Neal and Jackie Joyner are just a few national examples of “club kids” who have succeeded, Mickens noted. Locally, there are business leaders, presidents of companies and directors and managers in municipalities who were club kids.

Programs are targeted toward three priority outcomes, Mickens explained.

“Academic Success” is supported through

programs that provide everything from homework help and computer learning to career counseling to ensure youth graduate from high school with a plan for their future. “Good Character and Citizenship” is encouraged by providing opportunities for members to serve their neighbors, their community and their club. “Healthy Lifestyles” are fostered through multifaceted programs designed to promote health and wellness for members and to help them take responsibility for their own well-being.

About Boys & Girls Clubs

In its 2011 Philanthropy 400 report, The Chronicle of Philanthropy placed Boys & Girls Clubs of America in the No. 1 position among youth organizations for the 18th consecutive year.

Boys & Girls Clubs annually serve nearly 4 million young people, through membership and community outreach, in some 4,000 club facilities throughout the country and BGCAaffiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide.

A Boys & Girls Club provides: A

Kids at the Hall County club at 1 Positive Place take a break from doing their homework in the reading room to pose for a picture. homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

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home charity

Hall County’s chief professional officer Steve Mickens stops to work with the kids during HOME’s tour. safe place to learn and grow, ongoing relationships with caring, adult professionals and life-enhancing programs and character development experiences.

For more than 150 years, clubs have been

The Figures 3,985 chartered Clubs facilities, including: 1,314 in schools 392 BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide 360 in public housing 199 Native American lands

helping kids reach their full potential. The first club was organized in Hartford, Conn., in 1860 when three ladies – Mary Goodwin, Alice Goodwin and Elizabeth Hammersley – believed a positive alternative should be provided to boys roaming the streets. It was almost 50 years later when several boys’ clubs decided to affiliate. Fifty-three member organizations formed the Federated Boys Clubs in Boston in 1906, marking the start of a nationwide movement and the national organization we know today as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

In 1931, the Boys Club Federation of America became Boys Clubs of America.

In 1956, Boys Clubs of America celebrated its 50th anniversary and received a U.S.

Congressional Charter. To recognize the fact that girls are a part of the cause, the national organization’s name was changed to Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 1990. Accordingly, Congress amended and renewed the charter.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America celebrated its centennial in 2006.

Character development has been the cornerstone of the Boys & Girls Club experience since the first Club opened in 1860. The first Club professional, John Collins, devised a system of informal guidance to attract boys into the Club, capture their interest, improve their behavior and increase their personal expectations and goals.

The procedures Collins used constituted a clearly planned, socially scientific system of taking boys off the street and promoting their development towards a successful, productive future. This system formed the basis of the Boys & Girls Club environment. It is still in use today with proven results.

The Cost of Success: Priceless

In Hall County, the cost of providing services to one member for a year is $1,500, but annual membership is only $40 per child. In Jackson County, the cost is $25 for membership. Thanks to private, corporate, individual and United Way funding, the cost is affordable, yet no child is turned away due to the inability to pay.

Thanks also to people like Mickens and Williams.

“It has always been a passion of mine to do this kind of work,” said Mickens, who has been working in youth development for 22 years.

He has been with Boys & Girls Clubs of Hall

The Youth Served 5% are 5 years old and under 46% are 6-10 years old 20% are 11-12 years old 19% are 13-15 years old 10% are 16 and older 56% are male 44% are female Ethnicity of Youth Served Caucasian – 33% African-American – 30% Hispanic/Latino – 23% Multi-racial – 8% Asian-American – 3% Native American – 3% Compiled by National Boys & Girls Club 18

Jackson County’s executive director Michael Williams with club kids in the game room in Jefferson.

HOME Living In North Georgia

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Golf is enjoyed by the boys, while girls enjoy basketball in Commerce.

County since 2004. He has an enthusiasm to help youth before they get into trouble – prevention versus intervention – and he is accomplishing it through his work

with the Boys & Girls Clubs.

If a child can come to the club a minimum of three days per week, they will graduate, he said. By comparison, if a child is behind in math and reading by third grade, they are 40 percent less likely to graduate from high school.

“One hundred percent of our seniors graduate,” Mickens noted.

A new program called “Be Great to Graduate” identifies kids who are struggling and at risk so they can get special help.

Like Mickens, Michael Williams, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs in Jackson County, always wanted to work with children and see them be successful.

“I saw a lot of adults being harsh on kids when I was growing up.

That hurt me as a child, because the adults I was around were positive; they were there to give me a helping hand,” he said.

Williams compared the work of the Boys & Girls Clubs to the story about teaching a man to fish.

“You can give a kid a meal, but if you can buy the seeds and teach them how to plant a garden, they won’t go hungry,” he said, using that as an analogy for helping kids learn how to become better young men and women.

The club in Hall annually serves 5,500 children, ages 6-18, at their three clubs and five club school sites. They see more than 700 members every day. In Jackson County, they see 300 kids every day.

Nonetheless, “We’re not touching as many kids in Jackson County as we could, and as we should,” Williams said. “And you’ll find this being said by Boys & Girls Clubs all over the country.”

The kids do keep coming, though, and that is the ultimate testament to the positive influence of the clubs. Mickens and Williams both say, as well as staff at the clubs, that “kids vote with their feet.”

Meaning, as long as the youth keep coming back, they know they are having fun. homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

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Christmas at the mansion

home cover story

Gainesville’s Sandra Deal is hostess to the most public home in Georgia.

Below, the mansion is decorated for Christmas; at the bottom of the opposite page, the Deals’ grandchildren, ages 6-12 years old, are impish on the staircase.

Story by Roxane Rose

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Photos on this spread by Alana Joyner, Photographer for Governor Deal

HOME Living In North Georgia

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ake holiday traditions, mix them with essences of history, fold in Southern customs, then top that with a Hall County couple and you have the recipe for a truly memorable Christmas at the mansion – the Georgia Governor’s Mansion.

“The most exciting part is the people who decorate the rooms and the ideas they put together,” the First Lady said.

The florists who help them throughout the year decorate the main level, she explained, while the Gainesville ladies, or the third Wednesday group of docents, help decorate the ballroom.

“My friends from Hall County helped with that last year and they are doing it again this year,” Mrs. Deal said. “I’m amazed they care enough about me to want to do this for me!”

The trees are all live, real trees and are donated by several groups/organizations.

Students from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta also participate.

“SCAD students put the lights on, and they help us decorate. That’s a real asset to us, because they’re young and can climb and reach, plus they have an artistic sense,” Mrs. Deal said.

“What is really special is that we invite kids in from grade school through high school to sing.

It is exciting for them, too,” she said. “I love to see what the school music programs are doing.”

Always the teacher, she added, “You know, children who are involved in performing arts do better in school.”

It truly is a magical time at the mansion.

“Everyone should see just the sheer beauty of it, and the spirit that flows throughout the home,” said Dolores Duvall,

one of the 335 docents who volunteer year-round to give tours of the Governor’s Mansion. The docents are guides for public tours that are conducted every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Some have been there more than 25 years.

“We get to see a lot of children, and I have been delighted to find that they do know their Georgia history!” added Duvall, who has been a docent for 19 years. She also was delighted when Gov. Deal showed up to welcome the docents and speak briefly at the luncheon.

“That was really special to see Gov. Deal. He’s always at the Capitol when we are here. It was really nice for him to give the invocation.”

Tours of the mansion are offered to the public three days a week for most of the year, but for a couple of weeks each December, they are held seven days a week for extended hours.

This gives visitors more opportunity to see the historic home in all of her Christmas glory.

Decorating the mansion goes back to the Maddox administration, although it has not always been themed as it is now. Last year, during the Deals’ first Christmas at the mansion, the theme was “Celebrate Georgia.”

Each room was adorned to represent a specific area in the state (see pictures to the right).

“From the islands to the highlands, we’ve got it all in Georgia!” the First Lady said of the theme, noting with a laugh that her description could be the Georgia motto.

The grand entrance hall illustrated “South Georgia,” which highlighted the agricultural areas of the state and included a tree decorated with cotton. The state dining room was “Antebellum Georgia” and featured Georgia College & State University, Mrs. Deal’s college

Sandra and Nathan Deals’ grandchildren at the mansion for Christmas 2011, L-R: Cordelia O’Bradovich, Noah Deal, Fallin Deal, Rosemily O’Bradovich, Ethan Wilder and Dawson Deal. homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

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home cover story

Photo by Alana Joyner, Photographer for Governor Deal

The lower level has support rooms and includes the ballroom, which can hold up to 175 guests.

The patio and pool are also on this level. The main level is used for official entertaining. The Governor and his family live on the upper level, which also includes the Governor’s and First Lady’s offices.

The mansion’s collection of 19th century furniture, paintings and porcelain comprise one of the finest Federal Period collections in the United States. The mansion also houses a number of valuable books, including rare first editions by Georgia authors such as Margaret Mitchell. The collection is currently being inventoried and catalogued with the help of Dr. Lamar Veatch, state librarian, Toby Graham, director of Special Collections at the University of Georgia and several other dedicated librarians.

Friends of the Mansion, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, was established in 2004 to solicit and accept charitable gifts and bequests for the restoration, maintenance and

alma mater. The family sitting room showcased the “North Georgia Mountains” with a rustic appeal. The family dining room focal point was “Coastal Georgia” and the drawing room spotlighted “Vibrant Atlanta.”

“We had a ball last year with the theme and all of the oohs and ahhs it got,” said Sandy Hasser, who has been a docent for more than 20 years. “I tell everyone they should come to the mansion at least twice. Once to see the furniture and the books and learn the history, and then again at Christmas to enjoy the decorations.”

Mrs. Deal agreed and said she tells people the same thing herself. “It is important for them to experience the historic tour and the Christmas tour,” said the First Lady, who also serves as a docent and along with nine women from Gainesville comprise the third Wednesday group. They are all friends going back to college and also have a prayer group together.

“It’s a day the First Lady takes for herself every

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month,” noted Ember Bishop, special assistant to the First Lady.

This year’s theme, “Songs of Christmas,” was unveiled to HOME magazine after the annual docents’ luncheon, an event created to say thanks to them for their volunteer work.

“We appreciate so much all of you and the time you give – this is just a small token of our gratitude for your debt of service,” said Gov. Deal at the luncheon. “You make access to the mansion meaningful for the people who come here.”

The Mansion

The official residence of the Governor and the First Lady, the Georgia Governor’s Mansion was designed by A. Thomas Bradbury, both an architect and a lawyer who was perhaps the most prominent architect of government buildings in the mid-20th century in Georgia.

The Governor’s Mansion was his most remarkable government commission – while Bradbury specialized in modern design, the mansion has a likeness to Tara, Scarlett’s home in the novel and movie Gone with the Wind. It also bears a resemblance to the first Governor’s Mansion, completed in 1839 in Milledgeville.

The fourth building to serve as governor’s mansion – and one of three official homes – the mansion was built between 1964 and 1967, and officially opened on Jan. 1, 1968, with Lester Maddox as its first governor. Gov. Deal is the eighth governor to live there. The Greek Revival-style house spans 24,000 square feet and has 30 rooms as well as 30 Doric columns.

It sits on 18 acres located on West Paces Ferry Road in northwest Atlanta. It has three levels.

Photo by Alana Joyner, Photographer for Governor Deal

These Gainesville ladies, all friends from college, comprise the third Wednesday group of docents. Front row (L-R), Kay Kunzer, Kathy Lovett, Helen Pirkle and Joan Yearwood; back row (L-R), Marty Owens, Montine McDaniel, Barbara Lawson, Sandra Deal, Elaine Childers and Susan Jessup. Photo courtesy of Alana Joyner, Photographer for Gov. Deal

preservation of the mansion and its furnishings.

This way, the generosity of citizens provides for the upkeep, instead of using state funds.

A Christmas ornament of the state seal was selected by the First Lady to be sold this year, and proceeds will benefit Friends of the Mansion.

Traditions at the Mansion

One key to the traditions for Christmas at the mansion is the executive chef to the Governor, Holly Chute, who has cooked for royalty, presidents, governors and entertainers.

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, she has served six governors since her career began at the Governor’s mansion in 1981. State dinners, public functions, docents’ luncheons and baking literally tens of thousands of cookies are all in a day’s work for Chute.

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home cover story

Christmas at the mansion,” said Mrs. Deal.

Then, there’s the tree lighting ceremony, where cookies and cider will be served to more than 1,000 people.

But that is nothing compared to the next task – over the next couple of weeks after the lighting, Chute will oversee the baking of some 25,000-30,000 cookies for tour guests this year.

They have had as many as 725 visitors in just one day during the holiday tours, noted docent Hasser.

Before the baking begins, however,

the lengthy process of decorating has been planned, implemented and completed.

The final key for Christmas traditions at the mansion is the docents, who greet all of the visitors, give them tours and answer their questions. Those who have been volunteering for 20 to 25 years or more are part of mansion tradition as well.

“We are so appreciative that you are teaching kids and adults, from other states and even other countries,” Mrs. Deal said to the docents in her remarks at the luncheon.

Mansion Tours & Events

Regular public tours of the Mansion are held Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10-11:30 a.m. Nov. 15 is the last day for these tours; tours resume Dec. 3 and will be held daily until Dec. 18.

2012 Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony: Sunday, Dec. 2, 6:30 p.m.

2012 Christmas Tour Schedule: Dec. 3-18, Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Sunday, 1-4 p.m.

Call (404) 261-1776 for information or to make a reservation.

“You are teaching them about the history of the house, the government – maybe you will inspire a child who will end up working in government one day!”

The First Lady

Born in Gainesville, Sandra Deal has given the office and home of the governor a personal touch to folks in the Hall County area. She grew up in Hall County, attending the New Holland School before graduating from East Hall High School. Long an advocate for volunteerism and community, she is known and loved by many.

Like her husband, Mrs. Deal was born to parents who both chose teaching as a profession, and she followed in their footsteps after graduating from what is now Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville.

That is also where she met the future Gov. Deal, when a friend set them up on a blind date. They were married in 1966 and have four children – Jason, Mary Emily, Carrie and Katie, all of whom are married and three of whom have

Photo by Alana Joyner, Photographer for Governor Deal

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Mrs. Deal has devoted her time to being a partner in his public service. When her husband became the 82nd governor of Georgia, her platform as First Lady was established with volunteerism, community involvement and outreach as the foundation.

While certainly a festive time of year with much entertaining, Christmas at the mansion does double duty by also providing community outreach.

“There is a real sense of service here at the mansion during Christmas,” Mrs. Deal said.

“It ties in perfectly with my platform ‘With a Servant’s Heart.’”

After working behind the scenes while Gov. Deal served in government for two decades, first as a state senator and then as U.S. House Representative, Mrs. Deal is now in the spotlight as First Lady and has the opportunity to be a public advocate for issues important to her.

“When we reach out to become involved in helping mold a new beginning for another person, we bring hope for that individual and we in turn receive joy,” she says of developing

Photo by Sarina Roth, Never the Rock Photography

given them six grandchildren, ages 6 to 12 years old.

The First Lady has dedicated her life to matters encompassing family and children through her roles as mother, grandmother, teacher and volunteer at church, First Baptist Church of Gainesville, where Gov. Deal has been both a deacon and a Sunday school teacher. Their church means so much to them, they came back every weekend until Nathan became governor. Now, they try to come back every Sunday, but that is not always a possibility.

Mrs. Deal left teaching to raise their children, and went back only after the last two entered middle school.

“I needed something to do other than stay at home and clean the house while the kids were in school!” she reminisced. So, Mrs. Deal got recertified and taught sixth grade at North Hall Middle School until she retired to care for her parents, the late George and Ida Dunagan, and Gov. Deal’s mother, Mary, in hers and Nathan’s home.

A tireless campaigner for her husband,

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Photo by Alana Joyner, Photographer for Governor Deal

her platform. “My goal is that every Georgian, no matter the background or circumstance, commit to creating awareness for the importance of volunteerism by allowing one’s actions to speak louder than words, give with a servant’s heart.”

The First Lady sets the bar high, living out her platform almost every single day. Often she is on her own, at other times she and the governor are side by side. She regularly visits preschools, elementary schools and high schools, reading to children or simply visiting; she attends a variety of functions about and benefitting education. She has helped deliver meals to the elderly. The First Lady can be found lending her support by endorsing and/ or attending events for numerous causes, including but not limited to breast cancer, child abuse, music, Girl Scouts, developmentally challenged children and adults, addiction and honoring war heroes.

It is a wonderful opportunity to be First Lady, she acknowledged, but there are some things she had to forego. The biggest thing she misses is the simplicity of the family gatherings at home; however, she is so grateful to have the opportunity to welcome family and friends at the Governor’s Mansion during the Christmas season, she said.

Christmas at the mansion brings all of the First Lady’s loves together – family, education, children, friends and giving back.

Yet for just one day, the No. 1 husband and wife in Georgia get a day alone. This is a new family tradition, born from an effort to

make Christmastime a little less hectic for their children and grandchildren, Mrs. Deal said.

“A few days before Christmas, the whole family comes and we have a meal together and open presents,” she shared. “Christmas Day, though, is a time for just us. It’s turned out to be really kind of nice for Nathan and me to be together and just get some rest.”

First Lady’s Favorite Mrs. Deal’s favorite cookie recipe is gluten-free almond cookies – one of 38 recipes featured in “Christmas Cookies and other Georgia Governor’s Mansion Favorites,” which will be sold during Christmas at the mansion with proceeds going to the Friends of the Mansion.

“This is a very specialized cookbook,” she said to the docents, who received a complimentary advance copy at their luncheon. “I’m gluten free, so we put in my favorite, the almond cookies, but they are so expensive to make – I asked them, please put some other recipes in!”

The 2012 appreciation lumcheon for the docents. Top two photos: Dolores Duvall, a docent of 19 years and Sandy Hasser, a docent of 20-plus years.

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Photos by Sarina Roth, Never the Rock Photography

Gluten Free Almond Cookies 1 pound slivered almonds 2 cups powdered sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 egg whites Grind almonds until fine, doing in 2 batches if necessary. Combine ground almonds, powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Add egg whites and mix well, using hands if necessary. Scoop or spoon onto greased or parchment lined baking sheets.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden. Makes about 4 dozen.

HOME Living In North Georgia

WHERE TO SHOP MERRILY Holiday Events: Santa Arrival

Thursday November 15th at 6pm

Pet Photo Nights With Santa Sunday November 18th at 6pm & Sunday December 9th at 6pm

Dick’s Sporting Goods Opening Fall 2013

Belk, JCPenney, Sears & Specialty Shops 150 Pearl Nix Parkway Gainesville, GA www.ShopLakeshoreMall.com

Greene Family Dentistry Welcoming New Patients

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home home & garden

Winter

Gardens

Background: Pansies, and their smaller relatives, violas, are the most popular annual flowers for bright colors in winter landscape designs.

The elegant poinsettia makes a beautiful and easy holiday gift. Be sure to pick up an extra one for yourself.

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A

Story and photography by Sarina Roth

s winter approaches North Georgia, the cooler temperatures and shorter days bring new colors to our landscapes. While we give thanks in November for all of our blessings, nature still beams brilliantly, reminding us to be grateful for these gifts as well. The gorgeous fall colors are enjoyed on our country roadsides and in neighborhoods, in flower beds and on front porches, at festivals and on our Thanksgiving tables.

Once the colorful leaves of yellows, oranges and reds begin to fall, and our playfully vibrant mums grow dormant, the cold temperatures in winter don’t mean the end of a colorful season in Georgia. We are blessed to have hardy flowers that

Herbs, ornamental cabbages and colorful annuals create a dramatic and unique display.

will bloom despite the harshest freezes.

The exotic Lenten rose (a.k.a. Helleborus orientalis), is an exceptional choice for a shady winter garden. It is a beautiful, low-growing evergreen year-round and offers an unexpected surprise with impressive blooms in shades of white, pinks, purples and yellows in the winter months.

You simply can’t think of winter color in Georgia without paying tribute to joyful pansies, lively violets and striking snapdragons, which splash winter annual beds with almost unlimited varieties and stunning colors. Pansies, and their smaller relatives, violas, are the most popular annual flowers for bright colors in winter landscape designs. Many pansies and violas are bicolored,

The exotic Lenten rose gives us beautiful whites, pinks, purples and yellows in the winter months.

Sturdy succulents can be potted with other ornamental grasses and herbs and enjoyed on window sills and in sunrooms HOME Living In North Georgia

home home & garden

A sea of snapdragons can hardly be compared to any other dramatic winter landscape. Bright pinks, yellows and whites are most stunning when planted in large solid patches.

and intricately decorated, making them striking plants for their small size. And don’t be surprised if you find a few of these organically grown flowers served in salads at high-end restaurants or formal occasions. Snapdragons, (a.k.a. Antirrhinum) are fun, perky annuals and do well in sunny areas with well-drained soil.

You can also enjoy beautiful seasonal color indoors this winter with delicate and fragrant Narcissus Paperwhites, the magnificent amaryllis, the traditionally elegant poinsettia and the showy Christmas cactus that blooms in reds, pinks or orange.

I hope you enjoy the colors of winter in Georgia and wish you a blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

The bright red berries of the numerous varieties of holly offer cheerful color and will keep birds happy this winter. homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

Not all winter lettuce grows throughout the winter, but they make a beautiful and practical addition to any garden.

Thanks to Seasonal Color Greenhouses in Athens and The Garden in Braselton for opening their greenhouses to HOME for

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home home & garden

home home & garden

Planting

Winter Appeal Story and photos by Roxane Rose

P

eople come from all over to shop for their gardening needs at Kellie and Tim Bowen’s Full Bloom Nursery in Clermont. It’s worth a visit just to see their clay pot man in his bathtub of pansies and violas! It is also a treat to experience Kellie’s contagious enthusiasm.

Noting that violas, the smaller cousin of pansies, make it through the harsh winter better than pansies, she also said they are like little people.

“They are all different, and they have little faces,” Kellie said. “Use the maroons for the holidays and pair them with yellow violas to draw out the centers.”

Another good choice for winter plantings are maples.

“The leaves of this Coral Bark Japanese Maple will drop off then the branches become fire red,” she pointed out. “Our selection of beautiful Japanese

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Maples are at their peak color right now and we have a great selection of varieties, sizes and prices. We have some rare and unusual ones, too.”

Ornamental grass such as the one below in the big pot is another good complement for winter plantings, as are winter lettuces.

The Bowens grow much of their stock right there on their 71-acre farm, about six acres of which are used for Full Bloom. The plants are displayed to help the novice, or even the experienced gardener in need of creativity, plan their own set up.

Kellie encourages people to measure the area they want to plant, figure out how much sun it gets and bring in pictures so they can help customers buy the right plants and the right amount of plants.

If you are looking to add a splash of winter color to your yard, be sure to pay Full Bloom a visit.

HOME Living In North Georgia

Now Accepting New Medicaid Patients!

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• Infertility evaluation and Comprehensive care of women of all Gregory ages Martin, MD, FACOG treatment Has Practiced Obstetrics &Gynecology Routine and High Risk Obstetric Care • Prenatal care and delivery in Hall County since 2002 Infertility evaluation and treatment - Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology • High risk obstetrics Comprehensive surgery for pelvic prolapse and incontinence • Unique prenatal program Esteves,and MD, endometriosis FACOG Evaluation and treatment of pelvic pain Daniel disorders - Has Practiced Obstetrics and Gynecology since 2003 Minimally invasive hysterectomies - Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology - Bilingual (Spanish and English) / Se habla español In-Office permanent sterilization and endometrial ablation

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Since 1979 Gainesville Neurology Group has helped patients in Northeast Georgia with neurologic problems: • Seizures • Parkinson’s Disease • Migraine

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If you need a neurologic evaluation, ask your physician for a referral to Gainesville Neurology Group or call our office at 770-534-7885 for information and appointments.

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home sports & recreation

Driving School

Your Time is Precious…

And So Is Your Money!

At Your Senior Insurance

we continually gather research on over 20 different companies to insure the best coverage to limit your out of pocket costs.

isn’t just for race car drivers Story by Roxane Rose | Photography by Sarina Roth

T

he staff at Skip Barber is excited about partnering with the U.S Department of Transportation in its new anti-distracted driving campaign.

Mazda Motorsports, Project Yellow Light, the Ad Council and the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) have just launched a new video challenge that invites teens to produce a public service announcement against distracted driving that will air on television stations nationwide. These companies are co-sponsoring a search for the best viral video with a message against distracted driving to build greater awareness among teens.

Now in its second year, the contest will expand to both high school and college students. The winning PSAs will be announced as part of Global Youth Traffic Safety Month® in May 2013 and distributed nationally by the Ad Council.

Winners will receive prizes that include college scholarships and One-Day Teen Survival Skills Classes at the Skip Barber Racing School, presented by Mazda Motorsports.

Findings from the first nationally representative telephone survey on driver distraction conducted by DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that young drivers 18 to 20 years old reported the highest level of phone use at the time of a crash or near-crash. Most alarming is that 20 percent said sending text messages or e-mails made no difference in their driving.

“Today’s teenagers make no secret about the fact that they want to stay connected to their social networks and enjoy text messaging. That’s why it’s so important that we educate young drivers of the dangers of distracted driving and help them make smart decisions that will keep them safe,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland.

The timing coincides well with the new driver program at Skip Barber, which is targeted at teens and includes a focus on the dangers of texting and driving.

To participate, drivers must have at least a permit and 20 hours of experience.

It conveys the same vehicle dynamics message made clear in the Driving School but emphasizes greater “street awareness” and a thorough review of road etiquette.

Important fundamental skills, including how to operate a manual transmission, parallel parking and reversing exercises are included in the curriculum.

Driving the Mazda MX-5, the Mazda RX-8 and Mazda3 sedan, students benefit from core driving school exercises such as braking, emergency lane change and slide recovery on the skidpad. There are three upcoming new driver classes: Nov. 10, Dec. 9 and Jan. 26. Skip Barber Racing School, the largest racing school in the world, is based in Braselton, employing 27 people locally. While the company is known for turning out successful race car drivers, many of their students are your “average Joe” who want to hone his or her skills or maybe they were given a certificate as a gift. Or, they may have even taken part in a corporate driving program as an employee who was rewarded, or a customer they wanted to close a deal with.

Skip Barber schools provide a fun, fast-paced learning environment relevant The new teen driving to any driver, regardless of experience. program is a good way to In addition to Road Atlanta, where the give your favorite teen a Braselton headquarters is located, the really cool gift that is really driving school is offered at the infield practical too – and might facilities of Lime Rock Park, Mazda even save his or her life.

Raceway Laguna Seca and Sebring International Raceway.

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home lifestyle

Wining & Dining

A Perfect Day in Georgia Compiled by Roxane Rose

F

ine wineries abound in North Georgia. Wine lovers could spend their entire vacation time visiting the many unique locations! Deciding to go is easy – selecting where to go is the hard part.

Travelers could opt for the High Country, where there are several wineries in close proximity between Jasper and Ringgold.

The Georgia Winery and Tasting Center in Ringgold has more than 20 different wines to choose from, from dry to sweet, light to fullbodied - something for every discriminating taste! At the Sharp Mountain Vineyards and Winery, wines are handcrafted in the oldworld fashion. Cartecay Vineyards, built on a turn-of-the-century farm in Ellijay, is Georgia’s newest vineyard. You can also explore DeBarge Vineyards in LaFayetta; Millstone Vineyards, a small vineyard in northwest Georgia that grows Chardonnel, Norton and Cynthiana grapes; or Cohutta Springs Winery, a family-owned-andoperated centennial farm nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains of northwest Georgia. Cohutta Springs is the state’s first meadery. Mead is wine made from honey.

If you have more time, take a trip on the Wine Highway. Note that this is a region rather than a specific roadway. In 2001, the Georgia legislature authorized the designation of roadways and signage to create the Georgia Wine Highway, a 70-mile route from Braselton to Dahlonega, Young Harris, Helen, Sautee Nacoochee Valley and on into Clayton. The burgeoning growth of wineries and vineyards at the time spurred the lawmakers to create the highway, and growth has continued since.

The Winegrowers Association of Georgia (www.georgiawine.com) also started Wine Highway Weekends that feature a “passport” to the member wineries that reduces the cost from paying at each one. Affiliate members also participate to offer discounts on lodging, restaurants and shopping.

Starting just east of Jasper, there are 15 wineries from there up to the very northwest corner of Georgia. You would first come to Montaluce Winery & Estates, one of the

homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

relative newcomers to the Georgia wine scene. northeast toward Visiting Montaluce Estates is like stepping into Clayton through the Italian countryside and features the beautiful an area that has five Le Vigne restaurant. Next up is Wolf Mountain, more wineries to set on the pastoral hillside overlooking check out: Serenity the foothills of the Southern Appalachian Cellars, a cozy Mountains. Three Sisters Vineyards is a small boutique winery; family farm in the heart of the Frogtown District Sautee-Nacoochee in historic Lumpkin County. The farm’s name Vineyards, where was inspired by the winery’s magnificent view of you can meet Cowboy, the tasting room cat; the Three Sisters Mountain.

Persimmon Creek Vineyards; a botanical At this point you would be about due gem; Stonewall Creek Vineyards; and Tiger north of Gainesville and just outside of Hall Mountain Vineyards, which creates its awardCounty in the Dahlonega area. Here you can winning, European-style wines nestled on a stop for a tasting at Cavendar Creek Vineyards, hillside in Rabun County near Clayton. where they want to charm visitors with their Whether you’re a wine lover or not, and old-fashioned approach to wine making. whether you make it a day trip, weekend get-away Frogtown Cellars, nestled in the north Georgia or a full vacation, touring the wineries in North mountains, has 20 varieties of award-winning Georgia is a sure to taste a perfect day in Georgia. wines. Next on the trail is Montaluce Winery & Estates North Georgia Wineries Blackstock Vineyards, where Dahlonega www.montaluce.com you can enjoy sweeping views of Blackstock Vineyards Dahlonega the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Persimmon Creek Vineyards www.bsvw.com panorama of opulent vineyards Clayton 706-212-7380 while experiencing some of the Cartecay Vineyards Ellijay best wines in the Southeast.

Sautee-Nacoochee Vineyards www.cartecayvineyards.com Blackstock was the first and Sautee www.sauteenacoocheevineyards.com is the biggest of the current Cavendar Creek Vineyards and Winery Dahlonega vineyards in the Dahlonega Serenity Cellars www.cavendercreekvineyards.com area. Nearby this oldest is one Cleveland www.serenitycellars.com of Northeast Georgia’s newest Cohutta Springs Winery Crandall, GA 30711 wineries, Yonah Mountain Sharp Mountain Vineyards & Winery 888-314-3961 Vineyards, which features the Jasper www.sharpmountainvineyards.com only wine cave in Georgia (for Crane Creek Vineyards Young Harris underground barrel storage).

Stonewall Creek Vineyards www.cranecreekvineyards.com When you are almost in Helen Tiger www.stonewallcreek.com Three you will find Habersham DeBarge Vineyards Sisters Vineyards LaFayetta Winery, which produces some Dahlonega 423-802-4387 of the finest, award-winning www.threesistersvineyards.com Georgia wines.

Frogtown Cellars Tiger Mountain Vineyards Dahlonega From there, you can go Tiger www.frogtownwine.com north to nearby Crane Creek www.tigerwine.com Vineyards, which sits high in Georgia Winery and Tasting Center Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery Ringgold Georgia’s Blue Ridge mountains Dahlonega www.georgiawines.com near Young Harris. The tasting www.wolfmountainvineyards.com room at Crane Creek is located Habersham Winery Yonah Mountain Vineyards Helen in the original 1886 farm Sautee-Nacoochee www.habershamwinery.com house. Or, you can keep going www.yonahmountainvineyards.com 33

home lifestyle

Holiday Fashions Many thanks to Cato, Belk, Body Central and the Shoe Room at Lakeshore Mall in Gainesville for their assistance and contributions!

Story and photos by Roxane Rose

Special thanks to our models: Megan Martin – Marketing with American Security Shredding Tamiko Jones, Store Manager at Cato Kirsten Boettcher, Marketing Manager, Lakeshore Mall

34

Megan’s outfit intertwines lace with fur by pairing the red paisley shell with a mink coat.

The mixture of the clear and black beading – the mix of earth tones with glass – in the jewelry is really classy and “in” this year for the holidays. From Cato.

Tamiko’s classy look is a gold shrug with embellished ribbon topping a lace-edged camisole.The slacks are a great multipurpose item, as they can be used for work after the holidays.The necklace has a metal/wooden texture with gold accents. From Cato.

Shoes: Fergalicious “Naples” Retail outfit cost: $150

Shoes: Annie “Engage” Living In North Georgia Retail outfitHOME cost: $135

home lifestyle

DO’s Open-toe and peek-toe shoes are in Layering is good Lace is definitely in, for casual or dressy DONT’s Don’t wear red or green – leave that to Santa, say the fashion experts!

Kirsten, in a little black lacy dress paired with a tan jacket with some bling; Megan in a high-waisted pencil skirt accessorized with a scarf and a blazer. Both wearing shoes

by Fergalicious. From Body Central. homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

Kirsten, in a sparkly party dress by R&M Richards; Megan in a black Jessica Howard outfit. Both wearing 35 shoes by Fergalicious. From Belk.

home lifestyle

Fun Holiday Recipes

Compiled by Roxane Rose | Photography by Sarina Roth

unt , their A cup s r e t is s r son, he s with a Thomp st the holiday y tt e B n: toa traditio always Family her daughter ed Run. er d Sue an ue’s Hot Butt S t of Aun

O

f the many Christmas traditions that are widely observed, seasonal food and drink are at the top of the list. Within families and circles of friends, there are The recipes for Aunt treasured Sue’s Hot Buttered Rum, traditions Holiday Strawberry Truffle that are and Artichoke Crab Dip unique to are on page 38. them.

36

Some of the HOME sales staff shared their holiday recipe traditions and stories.

Amanda, for example, says her Artichoke Crab Dip is a family recipe that they all have, but, everyone has their own secret twist to “jazz it up.” We know what Amanda’s special twist is, but we aren’t telling! Amanda also included information for a low-fat option.

Betty Thompson, the youngest of five girls, said she enjoys a very large family. Her mother’s world revolved around her family and she instilled in all of the girls the importance of family and staying close to each other.

“Mama was the ‘glue’ that held us all together, so when my mother unexpectedly passed away in 1992, we were all devastated,” Betty shared. “Mama’s sister, Aunt Sue, took on the role of our surrogate mother. The sisters and Aunt Sue, along with her daughter, Jean, started getting together once a month and we call it our Sister Lunch. Occasionally

we let others attend, but mostly it’s just us. It’s really hard to plan a day out of each month that someone isn’t busy, but since my oldest sister passed in 2001, we strive very hard to arrange schedules to get together monthly.

“Being from a large family, Christmas was such a fun time. As the years go by and our children grow and have families of their own, the sisters’ Christmases have changed, too. But one thing we all know for sure is that when we go to Aunt Sue’s house for our Sister Christmas celebration, she’s going to have Hot Buttered Rum waiting for us,” Betty added. “On that day, we quit counting calories and we laugh and remember the fun of when the whole family was together. Today, Aunt Sue is 84 years young and not in really good health. But no matter if Aunt Sue is with us or with my mama, you can all rest assured that the sisters will have Hot Buttered Rum at Christmas.”

HOME Living In North Georgia

Continued

Growth & Success in 2012

S

Moore’s Wealth Management held their Annual Client Appreciation Event themed “As Time Goes By” A Senior Prom The Event was held September 29th at the beautiful Chattahoochee Country Club.

There were almost 200 clients and guests in attendance. It was an evening of live music, dancing, great food and fabulous door prizes!

cott Moore, founder and senior advisor of Moore’s Wealth Management, has been in the financial services industry for over 20 years and has developed 100’s of clients throughout the Southeast. He has a low-risk, safe & secure philosophy toward managing his client’s retirement assets while providing a reasonable rate of return over 5-10-15 years with some of the finest Private Wealth Managers in the country.

Because of this philosophy, Moore’s Wealth Management has seen continued growth and success throughout 2012. Due to tremendous growth in the North Georgia area, Moore’s Wealth Management has recently doubled the size of their Gainesville office and increased staffing in that location.

The family owned company is growing at a rate of 75100 clients/ year and is expected to exceed this growth in 2013 with the addition of another full time Independent Fiduciary Advisor, Mark Peterson.

Mark & Liz Peterson, new additions to Moore’s Wealth Management

Scott and Carla Moore and family

Scott was a mutual fund broker with one of the largest investment firms on Wall Street for almost 17 years before becoming an Independent Fiduciary Advisor about four years ago. Having been on both sides of the profession, he can quickly analyze a client’s retirement portfolio to determine if it was designed for their best interest or the best interest of their financial professional.

As a fiduciary, Scott is held to a much higher professional standard than a typical broker. He has been nationally recognized as an “Ed Slott Master Elite IRA Advisor” where there are fewer than 260 members across the nation.

Scott was also recognized with the distinguished “Advisor of the Year” award for 2011 from one of the top Independent advisor organizations in the country.

He is a skilled financial professional who utilizes the latest estate planning and investment techniques to design and implement personalized strategies that can help reduce financial risk, lower taxes, avoid probate, and protect assets from nursing home costs.

Scott’s offices are located in Alpharetta and Gainesville, Georgia, where he and his two older sons, Chris and Brian, enjoy serving others in their growing financial family business.

Scott and his wife of 31 years, Carla, have five children ranging in age from 18 to 30 and four wonderful grandchildren. In his spare time, Scott enjoys spending time with his family and attending automotive enthusiast events as well as restoring classic cars.

Scott and his wife, Carla, also love to cruise the Georgia Mountains on their motorcycle.

For more information on how Scott may be able to serve you and your family, please call one of our offices at (770) 535-5000 or (678) 566-3590.

MOORE’S

WEALTH MANAGEMENT Locations:

210 Washington St., NW • Suite 106 Gainesville, GA 30501 12600 Deerfield Pkwy • Suite 100 Alpharetta, GA 30004 www.mooreswealthmanagement.com

“Protecting Your Future”

home lifestyle

Holiday Strawberry Truffle

Artichoke Crab Dip

Angela Cannon, New Business Development

Amanda Woodall, Account Mgr./Media Specialist

1 box Nilla Wafers 2 small boxes instant vanilla pudding 2 small boxes of strawberry Jell-O 1 large tub of Cool Whip 2 packages of frozen strawberries 3 cups of milk 8 oz. sour cream 1 dessert dish Step 1: take frozen strawberry packages, let them thaw, then place them in a pot with the two boxes of strawberry Jell-O (do not add water, just add the dry Jell-O). Stir this mixture to a boil, then set aside to cool.

Step 2: take the instant vanilla pudding, put into a mixing bowl, add the 8 oz. of sour cream, the tub of Cool Whip and 3 cups of milk, mix this well with your hand mixer.

Step 3: In your dessert dish, layer the bottom with Nilla Wafers, then layer the strawberry mixture, then layer the pudding mixture, then start again with the Nilla Wafers, doing this process until you reach the top of your dessert dish.

Step 4: Take the leftover Nilla Wafers and crush them up finely, then dust the top of your dessert with them. Now cover with wrap and place in the refrigerator to chill. Then serve!

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

If you substitute low-fat everything you can significantly reduce the calories in this dish and it still tastes pretty good.

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Aunt Sue’s Hot Buttered Rum Betty Thompson, Retail Sales Support 1 lb. softened butter 1 (16 oz.) package light brown sugar 1 (16 oz.) package powdered sugar 2 tsp. ground cinnamon 2 tsp. ground nutmeg 1 quart vanilla ice cream, softened Rum – light is best Mix butter, sugar and spices together. Add softened ice cream. Put into a 2-quart freezerproof container and freeze.

In a cup of boiling water, mix 3 tablespoons of butter mixture and 1 jigger of rum.

Enjoy!

1 package - 8 oz. low fat cream cheese softened 1 cup mayonnaise 1 clove garlic, minced 1 can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped 8 oz. of imitation crab-meat, chopped 3/4 cup of fresh grated Parmesan cheese 1/3 cup thinly sliced green onion with tops 1 lemon 1/4 tsp. of ground black pepper 1 small jar of pimentos Additional sliced green onions for garnish 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine cream cheese and mayonnaise, mix well. Mix in minced garlic.

2. Drain artichoke hearts. Using food processor chop artichoke hearts and crab-meat until blended together. Grate Parmesan, slice green onions, zest 1 teaspoon of lemon.

3. Combine artichoke and crab mixture, Parmesan, sliced green onions, lemon zest, and black pepper to mayonnaise and cream cheese blend. Mix well.

4. Spoon the mixture into baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown around edges.

5. Garnish by sprinkling the top with pimentos and additional green onions.

6. Serve with a variety of crackers or celery. * For a lower fat option, try Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese.

HOME Living In North Georgia

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home health & fitness

Alzheimer’s Disease Story by Roxane Rose

One in eight older Americans – 5.4 million people – are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

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A

lzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. There are 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease – this means one in eight older Americans has the disease.

Despite how widespread it is, there are some common misconceptions about Alzheimer’s: That it is brought on by old age, that it is treatable and that the term is interchangeable with dementia.

Dr. James Mullin, a neuropsychologist at Northeast Georgia Medical Center who does specialized testing for Alzheimer’s patients, gave HOME some answers.

“Dementia is a global term, a general term, for cognitive impairment. It can be the result of a number of different diseases and health issues, such as a stroke or Parkinson’s,” Dr. Mullin said.

The term means that a severe enough

decline in mental ability is interfering with daily life.

Alzheimer’s, while it is a form of dementia and the most common form, is a disease that attacks the brain.

As explained by the Alzheimer’s Association, the brain has 100 billion nerve cells. These all work together to provide thinking, learning, remembering, sight, hearing and smell. Scientists believe Alzheimer’s disease prevents parts of a cell’s factory from running well, although they are not sure where the trouble starts. As damage spreads, cells lose their ability to do their jobs and, eventually die, causing irreversible changes in the brain.

“Alzheimer’s involves progressive changes over time to brain tissue. The only way to 100 percent diagnose it at this time is an autopsy,” Dr. Mullin explained.

There is, however, a series of tests Dr. Mullin and his staff use to determine if a person has dementia, what is causing it and the level of severity. The testing is performance based, and a wide range of difficulty, from easy to hard, is used.

How the person responds is then measured against other people of the same age and education.

“They do have to actively participate,” Dr. Mullin said. “But it is almost impossible for someone to fake good on these tests.”

While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, there are five or six medications on the market that can help slow the progression, Dr. Mullin explained. “It’s not a treatment, but it helps them hold on to what they have.”

Another important reason for the tests is to determine the level of occupational therapy the HOME Living In North Georgia

home health & fitness

patient may need and home safety.

Alzheimer’s can also bring on depression, which can be an early sign of the disease.

“They may be a little frightened,” Dr. Mullin said. “And the loss of functional independence can be depressing.”

The overriding factor when dealing with an Alzheimer’s patient is safety – for them and the whole family. Fall risk is one aspect of safety, because anyone with cognitive impairment may not realize they are unsteady, and get up quickly without thinking about it, Dr. Mullins explained.

Improper medication management, driving and cooking are other areas that can present a safety risk.

“Are they safe at home, and what is the level of supervision they need are the questions that need to be answered,” Dr. Mullins said. “It is important to get support and information.”

Indeed, it is tough on the families, as well, to care for someone with Alzheimer’s. To address that, Dr. Mullins office also has a social worker, Donna Moss, who mainly works with the family member or caregiver.

If you or a loved one have concerns about

homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

memory loss or other symptoms of Alzheimer’s or a related dementia, it is important to be evaluated by a physician. The steps, Dr. Mullin explained, are to start with your general physician. If your loved one is unaware he or she has problems, slip a note to the doctor, Dr. Mullins recommended.

“The primary care physician can rule out B12 deficiency, thyroid problems, medication interactions or stroke,” he added.

If that doctor can’t find a reason for the memory issues, you or your loved one will be • More than 15 million Americans provide unpaid care valued at an estimated $210 billion for persons with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

• Women are more likely than men to have Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline: 800-272-3900 www.alz.org

referred to a neurologist.

Symptons that can indicate the onset of Alzheimer’s include: • Memory loss that disrupts daily life • Challenges in planning or solving problems • Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure • Confusion with time or place • Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships • New problems with words in speaking or writing • Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps • Decreased or poor judgment • Withdrawal from work or social activities • Changes in mood and personality “Any one of these things taken alone can happen to anyone at some point,” Dr. Mullins noted. “But if the symptoms are impacting their day-to-day life, then they need to see their primary care doctor. The main thing to realize is that the cognitive changes, the memory issues, are not a normal part of aging.”

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home calendar

November

Gainesville. Tickets: $20-24 adults, $18-22 seniors, $14-16 students. 7:30 p.m., Nov. 6-10 and 13-17; 2:30 p.m., Nov. 11 and 17. www.gainesvilletheatrealliance.org, 678-717-3624

Nov. 1 Crawford W. Long Birthday Cupcakes and a tour at the museum in downtown Jefferson. www.crawfordlong.org, 706-367-5307

Nov. 8 “Smokin’ Fish” Gainesville State College, 7 p.m. Part of the Tour of Independent Filmmakers. www.theartscouncil.net/independentfilms

Nov. 2 Jackson Chamber Golf Tournament At Traditions of Braselton Golf Club, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Shotgun start at 9 a.m. Cash prizes for winners, lunch by Beef O’Brady’s, lots of door prizes. Sponsored by Hometown Community Bank. www.jacksoncountyga.com, 706-387-0300, events@jacksoncountyga.com

Nov. 8-10 21st Annual Marketplace A festive holiday shopping event that benefits Radiation Oncology within The Cancer Center at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, at the Gainesville Civic Center.

More than 70 vendors. Preview party on Thursday 6:30-9:30 p.m., cost is $40.

General admission on Friday and Saturday is $5; Friday hours are 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday. www.nghs.com/marketplace, 770-219-1830

Nov. 2-4 Jefferson Holiday Market Friday night, 7-9 p.m., tickets $8 and good for the whole weekend. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., cost $3, good also on Sunday. Sunday, noon-4 p.m., cost $2. Admission proceeds benefit Wellspring Camp. At the Jefferson Civic Center in Jefferson.

706-367-5754 Nov. 3-4 HemlockFest Annual benefit music festival, Dahlonega.

Live music, primitive camping, contests, canoeing, arts and crafts demonstrations, presentations and exhibits, kid-friendly activities, silent auction, food and drink vendors. www.hemlockfest.org Nov. 5 Brenau University Gospel Choir 7:30 p.m., Brenau University’s Pearce Auditorium. Free. www.brenau.edu/music, 770-538-4764 Nov. 5-9 Penguin Week crafts 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Interactive Neighborhood for Kids, 999 Chestnut St., Gainesville. $1 with paid admission, members free. www.inkfun.org, 770-536-1900 Nov. 5-9 National Memory Screening Free Memory Screening Exams in recognition of National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, 10 a.m.-noon each day. Northridge Medical Center, 70 Medical Center Dr., Commerce.

706-335-1314 Nov. 6-17 The Producers From the Mel Brooks comedy. Follow the antics of two very different men who scheme to bilk a little old lady out of millions and end up friends. Gainesville Theatre Alliance, at Brenau University’s Hosch Theatre in the John S. Burd Center, 42

Nov. 9-11 29th annual World Crown 300 Gresham Motorsports Park, Jefferson. www.greshammotorsportspark.com Nov. 9-10 Steam, Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Expo Cumming Fairgrounds, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. $5, ages 12 and younger free. www.cummingfair.net Nov. 10 Lighting of the Braselton Tree At the Braselton Brothers Store in Braselton, 5 p.m.. Includes a Movie Under the Stars in Braselton Park and the “Tis the Season to Run for a Reason” 5K Run/Walk for the Braselton Relay for Life at 3 p.m.

Registration for the run/walk is $20; $25 the day of. For parade information, contact Amy Pinnell at amykpinnell@gmail.com. www.braselton.net Nov. 11-17 Veterans Day and Family Day Honoring Our Military and Their Families.

Exhibits of military artifacts and memorabilia, Northeast Georgia History Center, Gainesville. Nov. 11 and 13, 1-4 p.m.; Nov. 17, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. www.negahc.org, 770-297-5900 Nov. 13 A Toast to Braselton A wine tasting, dinner buffet and auction to fund the Braselton Downtown Development Authority. Tickets are $25 each or a table for 10 is $200. At the BraseltonStover House, 6:30-9:30 p.m. jdees@braselton.net, 706-654-3915 Nov. 13 HSJC Community Meeting Year-end wrap up and Part 3 of “Ask the Experts.” At the Hoschton Depot, 7 p.m. www.hsjc.com, 706-367-1111

Nov. 14 Woman of the Year Luncheon Jackson County Chamber’s 2012 Woman of the Year Luncheon will feature Captain Caitlian Hinterman, an active military soldier who will share her experiences as a female soldier. At the Braselton-Stover House in Braselton, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. www.jacksoncountyga.com, 706-387-0300 Nov. 15 Jingle Mingle Downtown Gainesville, 5-8 p.m.

Nov. 15-Dec. 9 “Annie The Musical” Cumming Playhouse, 8 p.m., 3 p.m. Sunday matinee. www.playhousecumming.com, 770-781-9178 Nov. 17 Celebrate the Holidays in Braselton Festival in Braselton Park, parade at 10:30 a.m. “Going to the Dogs” is the theme.

Cookies with Santa in the Community Room of the Police & Municipal Court building, 2 p.m.; cost is $15 per child and you must purchase a ticket. Space is limited. Car show at YearOne, 2-6 p.m. www.braselton.net Nov. 17 Forgotten Skills: Keeping Traditions Alive Wild-crafting – make Christmas gifts from nature. Northeast Georgia History Center, Brenau University, 10 a.m. Fee is $40, members; $45, non-members. Advance registration appreciated. Class limited to 12. www.negahc.org, 770-297-5900 Nov. 17 Steel String Session Concert Blue Ridge Community Theater. $20. www.blueridgecommunitytheater.com, 706632-9223 Nov. 17-18 Mistletoe Market/SugarplumTea Room North Georgia Technical College, 121 Meeks Ave., Blairsville. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. www.mtnregartscraftsguild.com, 706-896-0932 Nov. 17-18 “Christmas in Central Park” Cumming Playhouse. www.playhousecumming.com, 770-781-9178 Nov. 19 Il Portale Musicale 7:30 p.m., John S. Burd Center for the Performing Arts, Banks Recital Hall, Brenau University, Gainesville. Free. www.brenau.edu/music, 770-538-4764 Nov. 19-23 Thanksgiving Week crafts Interactive Neighborhood for Kids, Gainesville, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $1 with paid admission, members free. www.inkfun.org, 770-536-1900 HOME Living In North Georgia

Nov. 22 Christmas in Cornelia Holiday light spectacular, Cornelia City Park. Free. Dusk-11 p.m. nightly Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day. Nov. 23-25 Holiday Arts & Craft Show Brasstown Valley Resort, Young Harris. www.brasstownvalleyresort.com Nov. 23-Dec. 9 “Over The River and Through The Woods” Fridays-Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Blue Ridge Community Theater. $18, $9 students. www.blueridgecommunitytheater.com Nov. 26 Music: A Holiday Concert Brenau University’s Spectrum Singers, Vocal Chamber Ensemble and musical guests from the community. 7:30 p.m., John S. Burd Center for the Performing Arts, Hosch Theatre, Brenau University, Gainesville. Free. www. brenau.edu/music, 770-538-4764 Nov. 30 Hometown Holidays Enjoy an old-fashioned Christmas with candlelit sidewalks, carolers, a live nativity scene, carriage rides, refreshments in the park, door prizes, pictures with Santa and more. Downtown Commerce, 5-9 p.m. www.mainstreetcommercega.com Nov. 30 Downtown in December Jefferson, 5-9 p.m., photos with Santa, carriage rides. www.mainstreetjefferson.com Nov. 30-Dec. 2, 6-9 “A Christmas Story” Habersham Community Theater, Clarkesville. 7:30 p.m. evenings, 2 p.m. matinees. www.habershamtheater.org, 706-839-1315 Nov. 30-Dec. 1 Annual Christmas Concert The Voices of North Georgia at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 7:30 p.m. Holiday favorites and orchestral-accompanied pieces from a variety of styles. Tickets are $15, $12 for seniors/students; available from any VNG member or at the door. www.voicesofnorthgeorgia.com/concerts/ Nov. 30-Dec. 2 “The Nutcracker” Performed by the Gainesville Ballet Company, Brenau University’s Pearce Auditorium. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. School matinees 10 a.m. and noon Friday-Saturday. $11-30. www.gainesvilleballet.org, 770-532-4241

homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

December

Dec. 1, 8, 15 and 22 Mingle with Kringle Sponsored by Main Street Market, 10 a.m.3 p.m., downtown Gainesville.

Dec. 2 Christmas on Green Street Sponsored by the Hall County Historical Society, an inexpensive night out for families and children. 5-7:15 p.m., includes an antique car procession, strolling magician, face painter, balloon artist, story teller, juggler, Santa Claus, miniature train ride, carriage rides. The Gainesville Rotary Club will have its annual Christmas Tree Lighting.

770 503-1319 Dec. 1 Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting, “Miracle on Main Street” Habersham County, 4-7 p.m., downtown Cornelia. Decorated floats, Christmas tree lighting at Depot, visits with Santa, cocoa & cookies.

Dec. 1 Christmas Parade, Gingerbread Workshop Kick off the holidays at the Crawford W. Long Museum, 1-3 p.m. with the workshop (fee will apply), followed by the parade at 4 p.m., downtown Jefferson, 4 p.m. www.mainstreetjefferson.com

home calendar Dec. 1 North Georgia Chamber Symphony Concert Dahlonega United Methodist Church, Dahlonega, 7:30 p.m. Seasonal music, singalong with Christmas music, Vivaldi’s Guitar Concerto, Mahler’s Song of the Wayfarer Holst’s St. Paul’s Suite. www.northgeorgiachambersymphony.org Dec. 1 Marketplace Christmas Cumming, 3:30 p.m. Jingle Jog 5K, Cumming Christmas Parade, Celebration of Lights. www.marketplacechristmas.com Dec. 1-9 “Narnia” Musical version of “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe,” Buford Community Center and Theater, 2200 Buford Hwy., Buford. Production by Fifth Row Center. Performances 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets $15, $20 and $25. www.fifthrowcenter.com, 770-945-6762, info@fifthrowcenter.com Dec. 2 Children’s Holiday Arty Party Quinlan Christmas on Green Street, 5:30-7 p.m. Free. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. Children ages 5-14. Galleries and gift shop open to all. www.quinlanartscenter.org, 770-536-2575

Dec. 1 Christmas On The Square 1-6 p.m., downtown Blairsville.

Living Nativity at Mountain Life Museum and Historic Court House, pictures with Santa, parade. Free.

Dec. 1 Christmas at the Cabin African-American Heritage Site.

Sautee Nacoochee Community Association. www.snca.org, 706878-3300 Dec. 1 Deck the Halls At Unicoi State Park. Crafts, hayrides (weather permitting), a special meal in the park’s restaurant, music.

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home calendar Dec. 2 Annual Christmas Singing Banks County. www.bankscountychamber.com Dec. 2 Christmas Tour of Homes Main Street Jefferson, 2-5 p.m. www.mainstreetjefferson.com Dec. 3 Love Light Tree Lighting Celebration Love Light benefits Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center. Presentation of Love Lights at Love Light Garden, 7 p.m. www.nghs.com/lovelight, 770-219-1830 Dec. 3-7 Christmas Card Week crafts 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., INK, Gainesville. $1 with paid admission, members free. www.inkfun.org, 770-536-1900 Dec. 4 John Berry in Concert Brenau University Pearce Auditorium, 7:30 p.m. www.johnberry.com Dec. 7-8 Christmas at the Fairgrounds Cumming Fairgrounds, 4-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. www.christmasincentralpark.com

Dec. 7-8 Service of Lessons & Carols Piedmont Chorale, Brass, Sewell Organ and guests, 7:30 p.m. Piedmont College Chapel, Demorest. Free. www.piedmont.edu

On the 11th, North Georgia Barber Shop Singers, 8 p.m.; 13th, Sounds Of Sawnee Christmas Concert; 14th, Christmas Concert by the Playhouse Singers. All performances $15. www.playhousecumming.com, 770-781-9178

Dec. 7-9, 14-16 Christmas in the Park Community House & Cornelia City Park. Ice skating ($10), crafts, Santa, holiday market. www.explorecornelia.com

Dec. 15 Forgotten Skills: KeepingTraditions Alive Cooking meals outdoors using the Dutch oven and bamboo. Northeast Georgia History Center, Gainesville. $65, $60 for members. Advance registration appreciated. Ages 10 and older; class limited to 12. www.negahc.org, 770-297-5900,

Dec. 8 Christmas in the Park Lighted night parade, visits with Santa, Maysville. www.cityofmaysvillega.org/events Dec. 9 Family Day: A Nature Christmas Free photo with Santa, Enota Show Choir, Christmas crafts. Free. 1-4 p.m. at Northeast Georgia History Center, Gainesville. www.negahc.org, 770-297-5900 Dec. 10-14 Christmas Ornament Week crafts $1 with paid admission, members free. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., INK, Gainesville. www.inkfun.org, 770-536-1900 Dec. 11, 13, 14 Cumming Playhouse events

Dec. 17-21 Christmas Stocking Week crafts 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Interactive Neighborhood for Kids, Gainesville. $1 with paid admission, members free. www.inkfun.org, 770-536-1900 Dec. 17-22 Sanders Family Christmas Cumming Playhouse, $25. www.playhousecumming.com, 770-781-9178 Dec. 26-28 New Year’s Eve Crafts Week 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., INK, Gainesville. $1 with paid admission, members free. www.inkfun.org, 770-536-1900

Specialty Spine Intervention welcomes Keith Robinson, MD Dr. Keith Robinson earned his undergraduate degree from Auburn University and his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine in Augusta. He completed his residency in anesthesiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and his fellowship in pain management at The Bowman Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC. For the past 12 years, Dr. Robinson was medical director at Northside Spine and Pain Treatment Centers.

...providing targeted care to patients with pain syndromes, specifically, spinal based pain disorders.

Dr. Robinson is now accepting new patients.

Call 770-297-7277 www.scgpain.com

Guilford Clinics South Entrance | 1250 Jesse Jewell Parkway Suite 200 | Gainesville, GA & 5005 Friendship Road | Buford, GA

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HOME Living In North Georgia

home calendar Dec. 31 New Year’s Apple Drop Dance Family event in Cornelia,10 p.m.-midnight, at South Habersham Sixth Grade Academy. www.corneliageorgia.org Jan. 1 – First Day Hike All across the country, state parks are inviting families to start the New Year with a “First Day Hike” – a commitment to healthy living and an effort to get people motivated to exercise in the great outdoors. More than 620 Georgians kicked off 2012 on these guided hikes. A list of participating state parks will be available in November. www.georgiastateparks.org, 800-864-7275

homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve Dance A New Year’s Eve Dance hosted by and at the Commerce Civic Center. Tickets available at the Civic Center or Downtown Development office.

706-335-6417 or 706-335-2164

Upcoming 2013 Events Jan. 1 – Polar Bear Swim 6th annual event at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue, 2 p.m. www.lakelanier.com

www.ga

Jan. 17-20 – Brighton Beach Memoirs A productin of the Jefferson Community Theatre. www.jeffersoncommunitytheatre.com

Feb. 15 Roman Sounds Band er mid-sea Civic C www.voi

Jan. 18-20 –The 7-Shot Symphony GTA-Southern Stage, Buford community center. www.gainesvilletheatrealliance.org Feb. 22-24 – In Acting Shakespeare GTA-Southern Stage, Buford community center.

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home around town

Château Élan Vineyard Festival Aug. 26, 2012 Many national and international wines were available for tasting along with live music, wine seminars, culinary demonstrations, grape stomping, food in the local harvest tent, a handful of craft breweries to sample and more.

Photos by Roxane Rose Amanda Rios, Shawnna Greco, Kelly Cate, Amber Halper and Brandi Olive try out grape stomping.

Becky Runyan, Shonta Harper and Molleshaia Robinson sample selections from Georgia Winery.

Wynn Frith,Tami Fricks and Merideth Tomkins with Sassy Bitch.

Natalie Poteete, Joanne Grzybowski, Kristen Knispel, Amanda Wicklum and Michelle Schulte.

Buy Local Expo August 30, 2012

The Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce’s first Buy Local Expo, at the Jefferson Civic Center.

Photos by Roxane Rose

Ruth and Jim Joiner, mayor of Jefferson, Philip and Court46 Bernardi and Jefferson City Manager John Ward. ney

46

Jacquie Derrick, diAna Huckins, Phelps.

HOME LivingPatrick In North Georgia

HOME Living In North Georgia

home around town

Junior League Thrift Sale Oct. 6, 2012 Some 1,600-1,800 people attended the annual thrift sale of the Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County, held at the Georgia Mountains Center. All of the proceeds go back into the community.

Photos by Roxane Rose

Business After Hours Sept. 20, 2012

The Hall County Chamber of Commerce’s September Business After Hours was held at the Jacobs Building at Brenau University and the Northeast Georgia History Center and has lots of door prizes!

Photos by Roxane Rose

homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

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home around town

Hero’s Ball August 31, 2012

Close to 200 people attended the event, which raised approximately $15,000 for military families while honoring the Braselton Police Department, West Jackson Fire Department and the Jackson County Sheriff ’s Department.. Held at the Braselton-Stover House.

Jennifer Dees and Erma Denney

Gwinnett police officers.

Photos by Roxane Rose

Bill Stevens, Operation One Voice founder, Amber Chatham, Hero’s Ball organizer, and Billy Waugh, Green Beret.

Tony Funari.

David Bohannon received the Public Safety of the Year award, presented by Lou Solis.

Second from left is Sgt. 1st Class Joseph R. Kapacziewski, guest of honor, with Rex Gallogly’s table of retired Green Berets.

Kathy awnd Lou Solis.

Autumn McGrath and Sarah Cosey.

Newly elected Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum and Braselton police officers.

Captain Tony Harris was recognized for Public Safety of the Year for the West Jackson Fire Department, presented

by Ben Stephens, chief,West Jackson Fire Department.

Secret Santa Car Show

The Nelson Brownstone band.

Art in the Park

Oct. 8, 2012

September 15, 2012

Held at Hayes Chrysler. Proceeds from the event will be used in a “Secret Santa” program for children of Oakwood.

Annual event at Hurricane Shoals Park in Maysville.

Photos by Roxane Rose

Photos by Scott Rogers Catherine and Andrea Cook.

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Marion Mahaffey.

Living In Ingram, North Georgia Bree Bingham, Andie Ellett, HunterHOME Snow, Elizabeth HOME Savannah Short and Bailey Jones. Living In North Georgia

HOME Living In North Georgia

home home around town

Flowery Branch Fall Festival Oct. 6, 2012

A wonderful family event supported by the whole community.

Photos by Roxane Rose

HealthSmart Expo Oct. 10, 2012

Jeff Hill, a meteorologist with Fox 5 News, was the guest speaker at the Hall County Chamber of Commerce’s HealthSmart Expo, held at the Georgia Mountains Center.

Photos by Roxane Rose

homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

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home around town

Robert Schuenemann, who had the idea for the Pirate’s Ball, was presented with a certificate of appreciation by Mark Sigman during the gala event.

Pirate’s Ball October 6, 2012

A fundraiser for the Piedmont Rape Crisis Center, the inaugural ball had about 100 attendees and raised several thousand dollars to assist and support victims of rape. Held at the Jefferson Civic Center.

Photos by Roxane Rose

Jackson County Chamber BASH September 27, 2012

Funopolis Family Fun Center sponsored this Business and Social Hours, which gave business members a chance to play haunted laser tag, climb the rock wall, race go-karts and other activities not typically part of a chamber function.

Photos by Roxane Rose

Mule Camp Market October 14-16, 2012 In its 16th year, Mule Camp pays homage to Gainesville’s history and also provides an outlet for area artisans to present their wares.

Sponsored by the Gainesville Jaycees.

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Photos by Scott Rogers HOME Living In North Georgia HOME Living In North Georgia

FUNARI R E A LT Y

6323 Grand Hickory Drive 100G Braselton, GA 30517

WWW.

FUNARIREALTY.COM

from FUNARI REALTY

Office Located Across from Chateau Elan: 770-967-9889

THE T

Holidays Are Going

Dogs TO THE

November 10, 2012

Annual Lighting of the Tree in Downtown Braselton & Movie Under the Stars in the Braselton Park

November 17, 2012

Celebrate the Holidays in Braselton Festival & Parade

Visit www.BraseltonFestivals.com for more details