Home Living in North Georgia

HOME Living in North Georgia

March | 2017

Atlanta Botanical Gardens Gainesville is hopping with art PLUS: Why native azaleas should be in your landscape.

Hall County Master Gardeners Spring Expo

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March 2017 Arts & Culture 7

The Georgia Mountain Handspinners come together for more than a love of fiber.

They come for a certain camaraderie they have found nowhere else.

Home & Garden 10

Want to create your own koi pond but don’t where to start? The Atlanta Koi Club can get you headed in the right direction.

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Charles Andrews is on a crusade to know all he can about Georgia’s native azaleas and to get more people to incorporate them into their landscapes.

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Frogs will invade the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Gainesville this spring with the help of North Carolina sculptor Andy Cobb.

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The Hall County Master Gardeners Spring Expo is nearly here. Find out what’s being offered at this year’s extravaganza.

4 March 2017 HOME Living In North Georgia

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Health & Fitness

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Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center is hoping to ease the sadness of loss with the help of Find Your Center Yoga Studio in Gainesville.

Food & Drink 24

2016 saw lots of new trends in how we eat, but 2017 is pushing the boundaries with new concepts in the kitchen.

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Fan of charcuterie meats? Mouths will water when you serve up seriously good paninis at your next party.

26 On the Cover Ribbit the Exhibit will be accompanied by various frog-themed activities for children and families — from new Discovery stations to scavenger hunts.

Photo courtesy Atlanta Botanical Gardens

Travel & Leisure 28

Georgia State Parks is challenging you to get outdoors. Whether it is hiking, biking, or getting on the water, there’s a club for that.

30

Lanier Islands is hosting the 2017 In-Water Boat Show with a whole weekend planned for family fun.

Inside Every Issue 6 32 34

From the Editor In the Community Events Calendar

HOME Living

In North Georgia

March 2017 5

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

A Piedmont azalea (R. canescens) from Lumpkin County.

www.homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com

Time to spring into action A mild winter has given way to an early spring, or so it feels. Pretty soon we will don our hats and gloves and get dirty. Seeing sprouts and buds on bare branches makes me feel rejuvenated. This issue is full of reasons to get outside and start planning our gardens. And if you have never grown your own, maybe this month’s issue will give you plenty of inspiration. Plus, gardening is good for you — it’s a fact. According to recent studies, the harmless bacteria found in soil can boost our serotonin levels. And of course there’s the vitamin D from getting some sun. Calorie burning is another bonus.

Find classes at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and don’t forget the Hall County Master Gardeners Spring Expo. There will be speakers, advice and plenty of plants for sale. There’s also a sale in April by the Georgia Native Plant Society where you can find native azaleas like the one above.

Happy gardening!

M

J

ichelle ameson

Michelle Boaen Jameson editor@homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @HomeMagazine NGA

6 March 2017 HOME Living In North Georgia

July| August 2015

Little Big Town’s Kim Schlapman

Cornelia’s country star shares her new cookbook and fondest memories

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

ARTS & CULTURE

Arts & Culture

Pattie Rollins, Debbie Hightower, Joy Kemp and Cinda Heichel work on projects as they chat during the Georgia Mountain Handspinners Guild meeting, at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville.

spin city Fiber arts never felt so good Story by Jennifer Linn | Photography by Erin O. Smith HOME Living

In North Georgia

March 2017 7

T

ARTS & CULTURE

here’s a certain fiber that holds the Georgia Mountain Handspinners together.

The spinning group is more than just a friendly meetup for some of its members.

“It’s emotional therapy; it’s better than drugs,” Georgia Mountain Handspinners copresident Debbie Hightower said.

The women meet at Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville the second Saturday each month to visit, share, spin and learn from each other. Typically 30 women come to each meeting, which started in 2001.

“The fellowship is very encouraging and inspiring,” Hightower said. “You see what someone else is working on. There’s so many types of wheels and spindles, so many different ways.”

Charter member Lynn Johnson said she needs to congregate with women who enjoy doing what she does.

“These are my friends; this is my second family,” she said. “I’ve never belonged to a group of women ever who genuinely care about each other. There’s no division, no cliques.”

The group spins a variety of fiber — from sheep’s wool, to alpaca, angora rabbit and plant fibers — into yarn. They tend to stay away from spinning cotton and flax fibers.

“People can bring knitting or rug hooking or whatever they can carry to work on, but it all boils down to fiber,” said Hightower, who started spinning because she has an interest in old skills.

In fact, Hightower is concerned handspinning may be a lost art if not practiced.

“People ask me what I’m going to do with my yarn,” she said. “I’ll put it in a box and later on I’ll do something with it. My love is the spinning, the feeling of the wheel and the fiber.”

Co-president Marian Cummings also loves spinning.

“With knitting you have to keep track of where you are,” she said. “With spinning you just sit there and feel it.”

The women agreed knitting requires more attention.

Lisa Metcalf shows off a booga bag pattern that she created during a Georgia Mountain Handspinners Guild meeting at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center.

“I have never, until just recently, could I sit and follow a pattern, because I didn’t have uninterrupted time,” Johnson said. “I didn’t have time where I could just sit and look at a pattern and knit.”

For Cummings the art of creating yarns in various colors is part of the draw. She started with the group after hearing about a dye day at Johnson’s farm.

At age 74, Johnson has been dubbed the matriarch of the group. She has nine wheels at her home and spins daily while watching TV or listening to audio books. She plans to keep spinning as long as her body will let her, eventually switching to an electric spinner if she can’t use her legs for spinning.

“As long as your fingers work, you can keep spinning,” Johnson said.

For now, she needs some assistance when it comes to dying fiber. Sometimes Johnson needs help moving the pot of water from the sink to the stove.

“On cloudy days I dye bright colors,” she

”

“As long as your fingers work, you can keep spinning.”

8 March 2017 HOME Living In North Georgia

”

said. “On sunny days I go for deeper colors.

Color is very important to me.”

Instead of counting sheep if Johnson can’t sleep, she’ll often start calculating new color combinations in her head as she lays awake.

“First I’m a shepherd, taking care of the animals, No. 1,” Johnson said. “And then I’m a spinner and then a dyer and then would probably come knitting.”

Georgia Mountain Handspinners doesn’t collect dues from participants; however, each year they have a fundraiser called Surprise Ewe. Group members donate an item to be raffled off at the annual event. Ticket sales fund equipment and pays for space for the group to meet.

Johnson said group members are happy to teach anyone who wants to learn to spin.

Participants usually bring their own spinning wheel.

“Anyone is welcome to come, even if they just want to come and look and see if it’s something they’d want to do,” Johnson said.

The Georgia Mountain Handspinners meet from noon to 4 p.m. the second Saturday of each month at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville.

ARTS & CULTURE

Clockwise from left: Cinda Heichel and Paula Puckett work on projects at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville. Pattie Rollins weaves on a rigid heddle loom. Dawn Owens uses a blending board to blend fibers before spinning.

Caroline Rheinschild, 19, pulls pieces from fibers she has in her lap to create yarn. Marian Cummings, president of the Georgia Mountain Handspinners Guild, spins fibers Saturday.

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10 March 2017 HOME Living In North Georgia

a Koi

Story Carp collectors come together over a love of color, size and shape Story by Pamela A. Keene Can fish have personalities, just like dogs and cats? A resounding “yes” say the members of the Atlanta Koi Club, many of whom have created elaborate ponds for the mystical fish that originated in Asia.

“Most of us started with aquariums as kids and this is an extension of that,” says Jerry Johnson, vice president of the Atlanta Koi Club. “There’s really nothing more relaxing than sitting next to your pond and feeding the fish. I could do it for hours.”

Koi, which are distantly related to common goldfish, can grow to between 36 and 40 inches and weigh as much as 50 pounds, depending on their habitat. Koi are bred for their color and patterns, but Koi have a body type that’s similar to its carp ancestors, longer and sleeker with less elaborate fins. Goldfish have a wider variety of body shapes and fin types; Koi are also distinguished by the barbs on their lips.

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HOME & GARDEN

Natives of China, Koi were embraced by the Japanese in the 19th century to be bred for their colors and patterns. Bottom: Koi ponds have become popular additions to the home landscape in the U.S.

Courtesy Atlanta Koi Club

“Within the past couple of decades, breeders have introduced long-fin Koi with veil-like fins on their bodies and tails,” he says, “but by far the most popular are the ones continue to be the standard Koi.” Jerry says Koi have distinct personalities once you get to know them. “Some are more lively than others, and it’s fascinating to watch and study them.”

Koi need filtration and aeration in their ponds, along with room to grow. “Most of us have waterfalls in our recirculating ponds, providing natural aeration to help keep the oxygen in the ponds at the right level,” Jerry says. “And it’s important to have the right kind of filtration system to prevent bacteria, diseases and parasites.”

Natives of China, Koi were embraced by the Japanese in the 19th century to be bred for their colors and patterns. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that they became popular as pets and for collectors around the world.

“Some of the best Koi in the world still come

12 March 2017 HOME Living In North Georgia

from Japan, but now there are domestic breeders as well,” Jerry says. “Koi can cost into four figures, depending on their color, patterns and origin.”

Jerry says that design, mechanics and landscaping are crucial when setting up a Koi pond.

“Don’t rely on your commercial pond builder to know everything there is about keeping Koi. Educate yourself. Do your own research. You will have to live with the results long after the pond builder is gone. That’s one of the reasons the Atlanta Koi Club exists; we are very open with our information about raising Koi and welcome guests at our monthly meetings to learn the best practices for having Koi.” Properly cared-for Koi can live up to 50 years.

Sometimes they even outlive their owners.

“People have been known to will their Koi to their children,” Jerry says. “They are certainly lifelong pets when they’re in the right environment and properly cared for.”

The Atlanta Koi Club, with around 120 members, meets monthly. The March 19 club meeting

takes place at the Altanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Avenue in Midtown Atlanta. It is open to guests. Additionally, the club’s Pond Tour of private Koi ponds in northeast Atlanta is Saturday, May 6. It’s an opportunity to visit approximately 10 ponds on one day and interface with owners to answer questions.

The club also produces the Atlanta Koi and Goldfish Show each fall at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds. The 2017 event is slated for Friday, September 29, through Sunday, October 1, and includes a half-dozen “wet” vendors selling both Koi and goldfish, plus dealers with bonsai, home and garden materials and pond equipment.

Last year, there were more than 200 Koi and 50 goldfish competing for honors in the show. The club hosts an information booth throughout the three-day gathering.

Complete information about the club, its meetings and events is available at www.Atlanta KoiClub.org.

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HOME & GARDEN

GONE NATIVE the beauty of indigenous azaleas Story by Michelle Jameson | Photos courtesy Charles Andrews

14 March 2017 HOME Living In North Georgia

HOME & GARDEN

Charles Andrews pulled his jeweler’s loupe to his eye and peered at the tiny bud between his fingers.

“See the tiny hairs?” he asked.

The bush looked like a stand of bare twigs, but he could already see the transformation in progress. In the next month, hundreds upon hundreds of native azaleas on his Dawson County property will burst into bloom with shades of yellow, orange, reds and soft pinks painting the wooded landscape.

“Most people don’t realize there are so many varieties of native azaleas out there,” Andrews said.

He should know. Andrews is president of the azalea chapter of the American Rhododendron Society for the Southeastern United States.

The retired Air Force engineer grew up in Canton with a love of all outdoors. Hunting and fishing were a regular part of life for Andrews, and it was on an afternoon of fly fishing that he first took notice of sweet aroma wafting through the air.

“Fishing season runs from April to June, right at the bloom season for azaleas,” he said.

He went in search of the source of the honeysuckle-like aroma and found a large patch of azaleas on the side of the stream.

“There were hundreds of them,” he recalled. “You smelled them way before you could see them.”

It was then that he began his lifelong love affair. He started taking a notebook and camera with him on outings to record all he could find on native azaleas.

Unsatisfied with the lack of information he found, he began to formulate and document his own research.

“I found a lot of what I call ‘broom closet botanists’ who did their research solely going by pictures or dried cuttings instead of in the field. I wanted to know more: What grows here and what doesn’t and which ones were discovered where.”

Fast forward several decades and Andrews has amassed a substantial catalog. Not only can he usually tell you the species of a plant, he can go into a mind-boggling taxonomy lesson on propagation and chromosomes.

“Most plants in general are diploid, meaning they have two complete sets of chromosomes,” he said. “But with hybrids, you can have triploids or tetraploids. Anything above a diploid is usually sterile, so you have to take cuttings or do tissue cultures to propagate. Every so often, you will run across one that is not sterile. We try to save those gene pools.”

Some species grow near other species and hybridize with each other.

These natural hybrids have various mixtures of the characteristics of both parents.

The result? An astonishing array of colors and vibrancy.

“The most sought-after color is of the yellow-orange variety,” said Andrews.

Those happenstance hybrids can create some of the more unique bloom colors, like pink with gradient yellow centers and the flame azaleas.

He can delve into the structure of a plant and such things as the microfine hairs that run parallel to the surface of the leaf. Some have smooth stems while others have hairy stems. Unlike their evergreen kin, natives have separate buds for flowers and leaves. Some are bushy while others grow straight up.

Azaleas have tubular funnel or funnel-shaped flowers instead of the bell shaped seen with most evergreen rhododendrons. Azaleas usually have five stamens, or one per lobe, and have five lobes in a flower.

Scientifically speaking, all azaleas are rhododendrons but not all rhododendrons are azaleas. Azaleas have been reclassified and are now in the genus Rhododendron.

North America has 17 native species of azaleas. They are native to the southeastern United States, except for Rhododendron occidentale and Rhododendron canadense. All are deciduous, meaning they drop all their leaves in the fall.

Andrews said about 12 of the species do quite well in Northeast Georgia.

In fact, he said, Georgia has the most native azaleas of any state.

Most people are familiar with the evergreen type of azaleas found at the majority of big-box garden stores.

These tend to be the ones used most by landscapers. However, native azaleas are much more suited to our climate, Andrews said.

He jokingly noted he’s a low maintenance kind of person.

“If she dies, she dies,” he said of a plant. “But native azaleas do really well with minimum care and can withstand a lot of our weather conditions.”

They are hardy and can withstand drought conditions better than most, once established. With natives, the roots may go out 12 or so feet instead Charles Andrews of just at the drip line.

And they can get pretty tall, which can make them ideal for summer privacy.

Plus, they can create a cascade of color. If you choose the right ones, Andrews said, you can enjoy blooms from March to late August.

Native azaleas mix well with many other plants like camellias, hydrangeas, viburnum and hollies, so long as they have at least four hours of sun a day. They tend to bloom less in the shade.

He and his wife Mardi live in south Forsyth County and have a variety of azaleas planted in their yard.

“I have them planted in a row according to bloom time, so there are some in bloom from April through August.”

Clay, Andrews said, is not a good soil for them. Adding in several shovelsfull of organic material is a must. They prefer an above-ground planting, meaning the woody base sits just above the soil. Digging a wide hole is more important than a deep one.

Opposite page in descending order: A Mt. Cheaha AL natural hybrid, possibly from the pinxterbloom azalea and the Cumberland azalea (R. periclymenoides and R. cumberlandense). A multi-colored flame azalea (R. calendulaceum) in Lumpkin County. A yellow flame azalea (R. calendulaceum).

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HOME & GARDEN

A Gardener’s Guide to Native Azaleas Native Azaleas

Height

Bloom

Flower Color

Comments

Florida Azalea Rhododendron austrinum

6'-20'

Mar-Apr

Yellow, golden yellow; some pink tetraploid forms

Fragrant. Good for early yellow or orange. Vigorous.

Common in South Georgia and Gulf Coast. Tetraploid.

Piedmont Azalea R. canescens

6'-20'

Mar-Apr

Pink to white, often mixed

Honeysuckle fragrance. Most common azalea in SE U.S. Many beautiful forms exist. Diploid.

Pinkshell Azalea R. vaseyi

6'-15'

Apr-early May

Pale pink to purplish pink with greenish throat & orange dots

Not fragrant. Short, bell-shaped flower. Grows wild only in North Carolina. A great pink. Diploid.

Oconee Azalea R. flammeum

2'-8'

Apr-mid May

Red, orange, salmon, yellow

Not fragrant. Formerly R. speciosum. Only GA & SC. Slow growing but worth it. Diploid.

Pinxterbloom Azalea R. periclymenoides

3'-8'

mid Apr-May

Purplish pink, deep to pale pink, white

Slight to no fragrance. Formerly R. nudiflorum.

Northern counterpart to R. canescens. Diploid.

Alabama Azalea R. alabamense

3'-7'

mid Apr-mid May

White, often with yellow blotch, sometimes flushed with pink

Lemon fragrance. Uncomon in wild. Very attractive.

Good, low to medium height white. Diploid.

Coastal Azalea R. atlanticum

1'-3' +

mid Apr-May

White, often flushed with pink outside, some w. yellow blotch

Rose fragrance. Strongly stoloniferous. Good, hardy, usually low white. Blends with the tall ones. Tetraploid.

Roseshell Azalea R. prinophyllum

4'-15'

Apr-May

Clear, bright pink in various shades

Clove fragrance. Formerly R. roseum. Best at higher elevation or cooler microclimate. Diploid.

Flame Azalea R. calendulaceum

6'-15'

late Apr-late Jun

Yellow, gold, orange, red, with blotch; can have pink

Not fragrant. Larger flowers than Oconee. Can have amazing variety of color. Outstanding. Tetraploid.

Rhodora R. canadense

1'-4'

May

Purplish pink, rarely white

Not fragrant. Short, bell-shaped flower. Canada & New England species; difficult to grow in the South. Diploid.

May White Azalea R. eastmanii

3'-15'

May

White, yellow blotch, occasionally pink blush

Strong, sweet fragrance. Found only in SC. May be difficult to grow (needs magnesium?). Diploid.

Red Hills Azalea R. colemanii

8'-20'

May

White, pink, or yellow, with or without blotch

Sweet, musky, lemony fragrance. Flowers larger and with more substance than R. alabamense. Tetraploid.

Swamp Azalea R. viscosum

3'-15'

mid May-Jun

White to pinkish tinge

Strong spicy fragrance. Long, glandular, sticky tube.

Variable; many forms. Most are not tall. Diploid.

Western Azalea R. occidentale

3'-20'

May-Aug

White with yellow blotch, pink shading

Fragrant. Highly variable in habit, flowers, bloom time.

Difficult to grow in eastern U.S. Diploid.

Sweet Azalea R. aborescens

6'-15'

May-Jun; late form Jul-Aug

White, sometimes w yellow or pink; red/pink style & stamens

Strong heliotrope fragrance. A mountain stream plant.

Good forms are strikingly attractive. Diploid.

Cumberland Azalea R. cumberlandense

2'-8'

late May-early Jul

Orange to vivid red; rarely yellow

Not fragrant. Formerly R. bakeri. From Cumberland Plateau to Alabama. Good, low, late red. Diploid.

Plumleaf Azalea R. prunifolium

6'-15'

Jul-Aug (Sep)

Light orange to vivid red

Not fragrant. Needs partial shade, as do all late blooming native azaleas. Good, tall, late red. Diploid.

Hammock-sweet Azalea R. serrulatum

8'-15'

Jul-Aug (Sep)

White to creamy white, occasionally pale pink

Clove fragrance. Long, glandular, sticky tube. Diploid.

Some say variety of viscosum. rev 04/24/2015, © Charles Andrews, www.azaleachapter.com

“Don’t put a $20 plant in a 20-cent hole,” said Andrews.

And don’t use landscape fabric. They prefer a good soaking as opposed to an occasional sprinkle. Once established, they really don’t need much fertilizing.

Azaleas also have few pest problems. The biggest problem is deer eating the tender shoots. Leaf galls can be an issue, but Andrews recommends just pulling them off.

An avid history buff, Andrews is working on a book about the story behind the native azalea. The rhododendron came over from Asia millions of years ago, possibly when all continents were one known as Pangea. In 1690, the fragrant Virginia

16 March 2017 HOME Living In North Georgia

Rock Rose azalea was discovered (the source of the intoxicating aroma he smelled as a teen).

In 1775, William Bartram documented the flame azalea around the Elberton area. And in 1903 the plumleaf azalea was recorded.

“I want to know more, like why the coastal azalea wasn’t discovered as a new species until 1917 when it had been around so long,” he said.

He’s also working on a collection of azalea illustrations done before photography.

He has been a member of the American Rhododendron Society since the early ’80s, but only recently became active. Another project is a seed and plant exchange with other chapters in the U.S. and a “plants-for-members” program for varieties

not found in nurseries.

“The No. 1 threat to native azaleas is development,” said Andrews. “They come in and clear cut and bulldoze everything without taking the plants into consideration.”

The Georgia Native Plant Society is trying to combat this with a rescue program. Members petition for permission to rescue plants before the heavy equipment rolls in. They can then repurpose the plant or offer it to other members.

The other threat is poaching. “People have dug up so many off the sides of the road that you don’t see them as much as you used to,” he said.

He calls it “coincidental serendipity” that the 500 acres he purchased with his brother for

HOME & GARDEN

hunting and fishing are loaded with azaleas. He has placed the property under a conservancy so it can never be developed.

The Azalea Chapter of the ARS will hold a plant sale from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. (or until sold) April 22 at the Oak Grove United Methodist Church, 1722 Oak Grove Road, Decatur. On hand will be more than 1,200 native and evergreen azaleas, other rhododendrons, camellias, mountain laurel, pieris and other companion plants, including some herbaceous perennials. They sell fast, so patrons should come early for

A Florida azalea (R. austrinum)

A pink flame azalea (R. calendulaceum) in Lumpkin County.

the best selection.

The group’s prices are lower than anyone else, Andrews said, plus new members to the Azalea Chapter get a discount. The goal is not money but to interest people in plants (and to join the chapter).

Other places to find native azaleas in the greater Atlanta area are the plant sales of other organizations like the various counties’ Master Gardeners, Georgia Botanical Society, Georgia Native Plant Society, Atlanta Botanical Garden, and GSU Perimeter College Native Plant Botanical Garden.

Celebrating Over

Years of Service 1983-2017

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A ‘ribbiting’ display of sculpture Ribbit the Exhibit hops into the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville this spring with 23 whimsical frog sculptures sure to bring smiles to the young and young at heart.

Presented April 15 through July 15, the exhibition of copper sculptures is the creation of North Carolina artist Andy Cobb, who left the corporate world after 21 years to focus on his art, including frogs, birds and fish.

The artist hand draws each piece and then cuts it from sheets of copper. The pieces are then hammered and folded into the desired shape over a steel armature.

Finally, the sculptures are assembled utilizing a brazing process and then colored with a natural patina. It takes an average of 120 hours to create each of the pieces, which range in size from 32 inches to almost 6 feet tall.

Visitors will delight in the 19 installations of frogs taking part in a variety of everyday activities in the garden — from painting pictures to bird watching to watering plants. And each frog has its own unique personality. Take “Marvin the Lawn Mowing Frog,” which took first place in the World Nationals Lawn Mowing Competition by mowing 16 acres of grass in six hours — according to his bio! And then there’s Zenny (meditating on a lily pad) which began life in a Buddhist monastery but joined Ribbit in order to travel to beautiful botanical gardens and meditate.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ribbit because it will be an exhibit that charms and delights all ages,” said Mildred Fockele, Vice President, Horticulture and Gainesville Garden Director. “Each frog has its own unique personality, and they all fit so well in a garden setting.”

Ribbit the Exhibit will be accompanied by various frog-themed activities for children and families — from new Discovery stations to scavenger hunts. And joining the Ribbit frogs will be two frogs from the Atlanta garden’s 2014 Mosaiculture exhibition, Imaginary Worlds. Their oversized metal topiary frames are stuffed with colorful, ornamental annuals that are manicured weekly to maintain the lifelike character of the frogs.

ABG Gainesville also will host classes on gardening. Explore the basics of container gardening with a focus on plant selection and design tips. Learn how to create lush containers for any season using a few simple guidelines.

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“Container Gardening” will run 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 25 and the cost is $29 (Garden members $24). To register online: http://atlantabg. org/learn/adult-classes#gainesville. For more information on the class or the exhibit, call 404-888-4763 or visit Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville, at 1911 Sweetbay Drive.

HOME & GARDEN

The Hall County Master Gardeners Spring Garden Expo takes place on Friday, April 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday, April 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission is $2 per person. For more information, call 770-535-8293 or visit www.hallmastergardeners.com.

Spring Garden Expo: Bursting with Blooms, Trees and Great Advice Story by Pamela A. Keene The official date of the last frost of the season in North Georgia is April 15, but with our mostly milder-than-usual winter, many people have already started their spring gardening. This year, March is tricky, with warmer temperatures tempting gardeners to get outdoors to prune and plant.

Hold your horses and mark your calendars for the weekend of April 7-8, when the Hall County Master Gardeners hosts its 2-day Spring Garden Expo at the Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center.

Billed as “Georgia’s largest 2-day garden expo,” the event brings together dozens of plant growers, nurseries, garden specialists, garden tool vendors and speakers to help you grow a better garden in 2017.

“Our plant sale and garden expo is one of our major projects each year,” says Patti Lewis, chairwoman of the spring expo and president-elect of the 150-member volunteer organization. “Not only is it the sign that spring is here, but we are eager to share our knowledge with first-time and seasoned gardeners through our free seminars and speakers.”

For the past 15 years, Hall County Master Gardeners has hosted plant expos – one in the spring

and the other in the fall — to bring the best of Georgia gardening together in one location. Shoppers can purchase native plants, ferns, hard-to-find perennials and trees, shrubs and annuals, as well as buy locally grown flats of colorful annuals.

Speakers on Friday and Saturday provide free sessions to further the Master Gardeners’ mission of “Beautification through Education.” On Friday at 11 a.m., Peter Gordon of Elachee Nature Science Center will speak about “Spring Bird Migration and your Back Yard.” Linda Chafin from the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens will speak about “Georgia Wildflowers” at 1 p.m.

Chafin recently published the definitive book about Georgia Wildflowers, a full-color field guide with more than 750 photographs of wildflowers most common in the state. On Saturday Bill Lott from Thompson Arboretum speaks about “Which Tree is Right for You?” at 11 a.m. and at 1 p.m.

Donna Vincent from Vincent Gardens discusses “Native Plants and Pollinators: Bees, Butterflies and Beyond.”

The “Ask a Master Gardener” booth will be open throughout the expo for answers and advice about tough gardening questions, plant

identification, insect and pest control and general information about the specifics of landscaping in North Georgia. Bring samples of plants, insects or diseased leaves in baggies to the booth for identification, care recommendations or a diagnosis and treatment.

Other Area Garden Events

5th Annual Daffodil Festival, March 1-April 15, Gibbs Gardens, Ball Ground. More than 20 million daffodils provide large swaths of white and golden color across 50 acres as the first harbingers of spring. www.gibbsgardens.com. 770-893-1881.

Spring Atlanta Home Show, March 24-26, Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta. Georgia’s largest home show with exhibitors, speakers, new products and services. www.atlantahomeshow.com.

770-798-1997.

Plantapalooza!, April 8, various locations, Athens. Three plant sales in one day at the State Botanical Garden, the Trial Gardens at UGA, and the UGA Horticultural Club at College Station and Riverbend roads. www.plantapalooza.uga. edu. 706-542-6014.

Most of these events charge admission.

Contact each event for further details.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

Health & Fitness People who lose a loved one can experience grief in myriad ways.

Sometimes that grief manifests itself with physical discomfort: tightness in the chest, heart palpitations or pain in muscles and joints.

To help those grieving with that kind of pain, bereavement counselor Aura Morris and yoga instructor Emilie Cook have developed a Yoga for Grief class in Gainesville.

“I really enjoy yoga and think that it brings a lot of benefit to people,” Morris said. “Especially for things like depression and anxiety.”

Cook knows about the benefits of yoga, as it has had a big impact on her life. And now with just the warrior poses or downward dogs. Cook suffered from a neck injury in a car accident during college. Eventually, she discovered a book called “Back Care Basics” which incorporates yoga poses, and over time, her injury stopped bothering her. Cook later decided to pursue a career as a yoga instructor to give herself more time with family and help others make a difference in their lives.

“I love doing yoga,” she said. “It makes me feel better.

It’s taught the kids things that made them feel better.

It just generally makes me a better person, a happier person and I knew the benefit for other people and I wanted to share that benefit.” That need to share led to Cook opening her own yoga studio, Find Your Center Yoga at 118 Main St. SW in Gainesville.

Morris is one who has benefitted from Cook’s generosity. She works for Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center and wanted to start a Yoga for Grief class, but she needed a space.

Someone suggested she reach out to Cook, who had experience with hospice two years ago when she lost her father-in-law. She agreed to let Morris use her yoga studio for free. It is part of practicing karma yoga, Cook said. She explained with karma yoga “you have to give some to be able to receive.”

Find Your Center Yoga Studio Story by Jennifer Linn | Photography by Erin O. Smith

20 March 2017 HOME Living In North Georgia

HEALTH & FITNESS

Clockwise: Anna Waller does a yoga pose at Find Your Center Yoga Studio in Main Street Market in downtown Gainesville. Emilie Cook, owner, teaches a yoga class. Mark Hazel looks up at the yoga instructor to make sure he is in the right pose.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

Now the people in their Yoga for Grief class are able to do both.

The hour-and-15-minute class is designed like a beginner yoga class. However, it starts with a discussion about grief and the body.

The rest features visualization and energyreleasing exercises that relate specifically to grief.

“It’s a really gentle flow of movement,” Morris said.

She said the class is an alternative to a talk-based support groups. Some people get more out of talking, which others find difficult, and that’s where this class comes in.

Morris said moving your body can release emotions in similar ways to talking or crying. “It can also be a really powerful experience to sit in a room with other people who’ve been through a similar experience,” Morris said.

The class is open to anyone in the community struggling with grief, whether from the loss of a loved one, such as a parent, sibling or pet, or grief more existential in nature.

“We don’t ask people to meet any specific criteria or even share why they’re there,” Morris said.

Participants can go to any number of the classes, as they don’t build upon the previous one. The class was offered every other Thursday afternoon in February.

In March it will be offered 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. every other Monday, starting March 13 continuing through April 10. When considering another session, Morris and Cook said they may consider making it a donation-based evening class.

This year is the first time Morris has taught Yoga for Grief and the first time hospice has offered the program. She explained she spent a few months researching and gathering information from other programs before designing her class.

“I really enjoy yoga and think that it brings a lot of benefit to people,” she said. “Especially for things like depression and anxiety.”

Cook said yoga is a good release for stress and anxiety by helping connect the physical and emotional body.

During her regular yoga classes, Cook often asks class members if they want to focus on any specific region. Some will mention a part of their body where they’re having problems.

She then will lightly address the issue in class.

Cook said with so much tension in the world and sometimes so little to be happy about, helping others makes her feel good.

Morris said working with Cook in the Yoga for Grief class has been great.

“It’s been nice to collaborate with a business like that, that really cares about the community,” she said.

To find out more about Yoga for Grief or other workshops offered at Find Your Center, call 678-617-0313.

Top: Jo Brewer gets instruction from Emilie Cook, owner, during a yoga class. Left: Angie Roberts stretches her neck during a yoga class at Find Your Center Yoga Studio in Main Street Market in downtown Gainesville.

22 March 2017 HOME Living In North Georgia

Colon Cancer?

DID YOU KNOW that colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers for both women and men?

It is also one of the most preventable and treatable.

Regular screening starting at age 50 is important. Get screened for colorectal cancer.

Please talk with your physician about colorectal cancer today.

To learn more about colorectal cancer and the physicians at The Longstreet Clinic, please call (770) 718-1122 or visit www.longstreetclinic.com.

(770) 718-1122

www.longstreetclinic.com

FOOD & DRINK

Food & Drink

The Scene 2017 Story by Jennifer Linn

Big Jimmy's Coconut Pie From "Sunday Dinner: a Savor the South Cookbook," by Bridgette A. Lacy.

24 March 2017 HOME Living In North Georgia

FOOD & DRINK

When it comes to restaurant foods there’s some long-standing trends which have been around for years, while others are bringing new flavors to menus.

Each year, the National Restaurant Association surveys 1,300 professional chefs — members of the American Culinary Federation — to explore food and beverage trends at restaurants.

“Chefs are on an endless quest to redefine how consumers eat,” ACF National President Thomas Macrina said. “By masterfully transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary, culinary professionals are at the forefront of changing the culinary landscape.”

Nick St. Clair is a local chef who is always looking to improve his menu and restaurants.

He owns Antebellum, an award-winning contemporary Southern restaurant in Flowery Branch and Peyton’s Pie Company, which specializes in wood-fired pizza in Suwanee. A second location in Flowery Branch is expected to open later this year.

“We’re doing a few of the trends, especially at the wood-fired pizza shop,” St. Clair said.

He said Peyton’s Pie Company is a chef-driven fast-casual concept — a concept he sees on the rise.

“We offer world class pizza at fast food times,” he said “We offer a great pizza and we’re able to get them (pizzas) out of the kitchens very quickly. It’s the best of both worlds. The consumer can get it quickly and it’s also something that’s very good quality.”

St. Clair said if the concept is done right, there’s less overhead and the menu is kept small but high-quality.

“Menu trends today are beginning to shift from ingredient-based items to concept-based ideas, mirroring how consumers tend to adapt their activities to their overall lifestyle philosophies, such as environmental sustainability and nutrition,” Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of research for the National Restaurant Association said. “Also among the top trends for 2017, we’re seeing several examples of house-made food items and various global flavors, indicating that chefs and restaurateurs are further experimenting with from-scratch preparation and a broad base of flavors.”

Tim Braxton, owner and chef at Gainesvillebased Easy B’s Kitchen, said he noticed the use of ethnic ingredients and ingredients people

aren’t very familiar with creeping into menus.

Foods such as sea vegetables, seaweed are on the rise, as well as coconut, which is being used in a variety of ways. Braxton also thinks fruit soups will trend this year.

According to the survey, menu trends that will be heating up in 2017 include poke, housemade charcuterie, street food, food halls and ramen. Trends that are cooling down include quinoa, black rice, and vegetarian and vegan cuisines.

Charcuterie — the culinary art of preparing meat products such as bacon, salami, ham and sausage — is another trend St. Clair utilizes at Antebellum.

Other popular trends St. Clair sees often is the use of sustainable seafood and street foodinspired dishes.

“I definitely see that happening,” he said of street food-inspired dishes. “There’s great flavors with that.”

Braxton said sustainability is a term that’s become more well-known.

“It’s something that can be replaced without much environmental impact,” he said of the word. “I wouldn’t consider beef a good, sustainable product in the way that we’re raising it now (on large corporate farms).”

Other items on the list, while still trending have been around a few years. For example new cuts of meat have been going on awhile, St. Clair said.

Braxton said house-made condiments and other house-made foods, such as pickles, have been around for some time, too.

Locally-sourced foods that support the community is another popular trend St. Clair said he incorporates at all of his restaurants.

“Farm-to-table is kind of how chefs think nowadays,” he said. “It’s on the list every year.”

Braxton agreed. He said hyper-local sourcing is a trend that will continue. He said there’s been a big focus on locally-produced food and going to local restaurants versus going to chain restaurants.

Although many restaurants still turn to food service providers for their ingredients, Braxton said even those companies have started to clean up their act and produce better products.

“They’re starting to use the same buzz words consumers are seeking,” he said.

The National Restaurant Association was founded in 1919 and is the leading business

association for the restaurant industry. (period, new sentence). It comprises more than 1 million restaurant and food service outlets and a workforce of 14.4 million employees.

The National Restaurant Association surveyed 1,298 American Culinary Federation members in October 2016, asking them to rate 169 items as a “hot trend,” “yesterday’s news,” or “perennial favorite” on menus in 2017.

TOP 20 FOOD TRENDS 1. New cuts of meat (e.g. shoulder tender, oyster steak,Vegas Strip Steak, Merlot cut) 2. Street food-inspired dishes (e.g. tempura, kabobs, dumplings, pupusas) 3. Healthful kids’ meals 4. House-made charcuterie 5. Sustainable seafood 6. Ethnic-inspired breakfast items (e.g., chorizo scrambled eggs, coconut milk pancakes) 7. House-made condiments 8. Authentic ethnic cuisine 9. Heirloom fruit and vegetables 10. African flavors 11. Ethnic spices (e.g. harissa, curry, peri peri, ras el hanout, shichimi) 12. House-made sausage 13. House-made pickles 14. Ancient grains (e.g. kamut, spelt, amaranth, lupin) 15. House-made/artisan ice cream 16. Whole grain items in kids’ meals 17. Protein-rich grains/seeds (e.g., hemp, chia, quinoa, flax) 18. Artisan cheeses 19. Savory desserts 20. Gourmet items in kids’ meals TOP 10 CONCEPT TRENDS 1. Hyper-local sourcing (e.g. restaurant gardens, onsite beer brewing, house-made items) 2. Chef-driven fast-casual concepts 3. Natural ingredients/clean menus 4. Environmental sustainability 5. Locally sourced produce 6. Locally sourced meat and seafood 7. Food waste reduction 8. Meal kits (e.g. pre-measured/prepped raw ingredients for home preparation) 9. Simplicity/back to basics 10. Nutrition

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FOOD & DRINK

Share the charcuterie with paninis Charcuterie meats are perfect for party paninis. Serve these tantalizing crusty bread sandwiches to your guests.

Salami Panini with Tomato-Chili Jam Makes: 3 sandwiches Ingredients: 3 Italian crusty buns 1 package Black Kassel Old Forest, Picante, or Mustard Seed salami 1 1/2 cups baby arugula 4 ounces semi-soft cheese, such as gouda or Havarti, sliced 1/2 cup tomato-chili jam (purchased, or recipe follows) 2 tablespoons olive oil Directions: 1. Cut buns in half lengthwise. Layer salami slices on each bun; top with arugula and cheese slices. Spread tomato-chili jam generously on the inside of the top of each bun.

2. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Place sandwiches in pan and place another large heavy pan on top of them. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until bread is golden and cheese melted, turning sandwiches halfway through. Cut in half to serve.

Tip: For another taste, try Black Kassel Speck, which is like a smoked prosciutto.

Tomato-Chili Jam Recipe Ingredients: 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes 1 jalapeño pepper 2 teaspoons garlic, chopped 2 tablespoons ginger, chopped 2 tablespoons fish sauce 1 cup brown sugar 3/4 cup red wine vinegar Directions: 1. In a food processor, purée half the tomatoes and their juices with jalapeño, garlic and ginger. Place in a deep pot with fish sauce, sugar and vinegar and boil slowly, stirring constantly.

2. When it reaches a boil, lower heat to simmer and add remaining tomatoes. Simmer gently for 30 to 40 minutes until dark red and jam-like. Pour into a bowl, cool and refrigerate until needed. Find more recipes at www.blackkassel.com.

26 March 2017 HOME Living In North Georgia

FOOD & DRINK

Humble and traditional culinary creation: Irish soda bread A number of things are readily associated with Irish culture, especially in proximity to St. Patrick’s Day. A particular shade of green, referred to as “Kelly green,” corned beef, potatoes, parades — even enjoying a pint at the pub. One of the cherished traditions of St. Patrick’s Day, and even everyday Irish cuisine, is whipping up a family recipe for Irish soda bread.

True Irish soda bread continues today to be an international favorite.

While it is enjoyed across Ireland, it’s also widely enjoyed wherever Irish immigrants have established roots and elsewhere. Most of the ingredients necessary to prepare Irish soda bread can already be found in many homes.

Irish soda bread gets its name not from a sweetened carbonated drink, but by the leavening agent that is used in place of yeast. Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) is a common component of quick bread cooking.

When the baking soda is mixed with the flour and a soured milk (butter milk, for example), its chemical qualities produce carbon dioxide gas bubbles that help give soda bread it’s risen, airy texture. In some recipes, live yogurt, or even stout, are used as the liquid to activate the baking soda.

While the Irish adapted the science behind baking soda and have come to be associated with soda bread’s origins, the earliest reference to soda ash being used in baking bread is actually credited to the American Indians. Baking soda was not brought to nor discovered in Ireland until the middle of the 19th century. However, it is the Irish who have made

soda bread much their own. It tends to be an easy an inexpensive bread to make to feed many and is very versatile. Soda bread in some shape or form is enjoyed by cultures all around the world. From Scotland to Poland to Serbia to Australia, these countries have their own versions of soda bread and their own cooking methods.

In honor of St. Patrick and other Christian celebrations, soda bread is traditionally made with a cross shape cut into the top of the dough. Legend has it that people did it to “let the devil out” while it’s baking for good luck, and others say that this last step made it easy to divide the bread into pieces.

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s A COLONOSCOPY

BUT MANY COLON CANCER DEATHS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED WITH ROUTINE SCREENING

March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month Make the call that could save your life.

www.atlantagastro.com 1.866.GO.TO.AGA [468.6242]

AGA, LLC and its affiliates are participating providers for Medicare, Medicaid and most healthcare plans offered in Georgia. We comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn.

HOME Living

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March 2017 27

TRAVEL & LEISURE

Travel & Leisure Hiking at Amicalola Falls

5

challenges for outdoor enthusiasts Paddle through 24 miles of waterways, walk seven dog-friendly trails, mountain bike on more than 68 miles of terrain, hike and climb thousands of feet in elevation or search for treasure in more than 30 state parks.

With Georgia State Parks’ clubs, find endless opportunities to explore Georgia’s great outdoors.

Set fitness goals, check items off the list and win

28 March 2017 HOME Living In North Georgia

bragging rights by joining and completing the experiences in Georgia State Parks’ five clubs. All park club cards can be bought at participating parks or online.

Tails on Trails – Dog-Walking Club

Complete with backcountry trails and cascading waterfalls, Georgia State Parks are character-

TRAVEL & LEISURE

ized by many diverse and scenic hiking trails across the state. Dogs and their owners are always welcome at Georgia State Parks, and now the Tails on Trails club offers a way to accomplish designated hikes, making their visit not just another walk in the park. Those who would like to join can purchase a $15 membership card at any of the seven participating parks’ including Don Carter, For McAllister, Fort Mountain, F.D. Roosevelt, High Falls, Red Top Mountain and Sweetwater Creek state parks. Upon completing all seven trails, owners will receive a t-shirt with a matching bandana for their pup. GaStateParks.org/TailsOnTrails

Biking at Unicoi State Park

Park Paddlers – Paddling Club

From the tidal marshes of Fort McAllister to the serene Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia has paddling experiences for all skill levels. Canoes and kayaks may be rented seasonally at more than 20 state parks, and visitors may also bring their own boats. The Park Paddlers Club engages all skill levels to kayak, canoe or stand-up paddle board (SUP) the waterways.

With an abundance of scenic waterways to explore, both seasoned paddlers and beginners enjoy exploring the lakes and rivers at the parks.

Paddle the 24 miles of water trails at the six participating state parks including Chattahoochee Bend, Crooked River, George L. Smith, Reed Bingham, Stephen C. Foster and Sweetwater Creek State Parks. The member card is $10, and those who paddle the six water trails earn a Park Paddler t-shirt and bragging rights. GaStateParks.org/ParkPaddlers

membership card which they will get punched at the park visitor center after completing each trail. After completing all trails, mountain bikers receive a “mud-splattered” Muddy Spokes Club t-shirt. GaStateParks. org/MuddySpokes

Muddy Spokes – Mountain Biking Club

Canyon Climbers – Hiking Club

First-timers and advanced riders will find an array of trails to dirty up their tires. With gravel paths and single tracks, Georgia State Parks has options for all riders, with more than 68 miles of mountain bike trails in the Muddy Spokes Club. The club highlights designated trails at 11 state parks: Fort Mountain, Fort Yargo, Magnolia Springs, Mistletoe, Panola Mountain, Red Top Mountain, Richard B. Russell, Tallulah Gorge, Unicoi, Victoria Bryant and Watson Mill Bridge. Trails range in difficulty from easy, predominantly gravel paths to difficult, single-track technical trails. To join the Muddy Spokes Club, mountain bikers buy a $10

Scale to the top of Amicalola Falls, explore the depths of Providence Canyon, brave the swinging bridge in Tallulah Gorge and master the staircase in Cloudland Canyon in the Canyon Climbers Club. Complete with backcountry trails and cascading waterfalls, Georgia State Parks are characterized by many diverse and scenic hiking trails in the state. Join the Canyon Climbers Club by purchasing the $10 membership card.

Hike all four parks, get a card punched by rangers, and redeem it for a t-shirt and unlimited glory and self-accomplishment. GaStateParks.org/ CanyonClimbers

Geocaching – GeoTour

Paddling at Don Carter State Park

There are several geo-adventures awaiting in Georgia State Parks, so the fun can be different each time. Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites have offered the game since 2010, with more than 35,000 documented “finds” by players. Inside each hidden box – or cache – are trinkets for players to trade, as well as log books. Caches at historic sites require players to answer questions about Georgia history before they can unlock the box, making them a fun educational tool. More than 40 State Parks participate in the Parks GeoTour, and more than a dozen historic sites are on the History Trail GeoTour. The History Trail features indoor boxes with combination locks that can only be opened after learning about the site's history, solving clues and discovering the combination; it is a new twist on some of Georgia’s oldest attractions. GaStateParks.org/ Geocaching No matter the club, spend more time by staying overnight in the parks. Accommodations include campsites, cabins, lodges, even yurts, and vary by park. GaStateParks.org/Reservations

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TRAVEL & LEISURE

Come for the boats, stay for With the recent prediction from Georgia’s resident prognosticator and beloved groundhog — General Beauregard Lee — of an early Spring, all signs point to the return of one of the season’s most popular event ... the InWater Boat Show at Lanier Islands.

On Friday, April 21 through Sunday, April 23, dock slips at the Southern lakeside resort’s Sunset Cove and Big Beach will be filled with new, top-ofthe-line boats. Some will be available for a test-drive and demonstration to qualified buyers.

In addition to boats, the 2017 In-Water Boat show will feature a number of exhibitors and vendors, in addition to live music, fun in the sun and games on the sand. To give a true taste of the upcoming season at the beach, the

30 March 2017 HOME Living In North Georgia

and waterpark entertainment district known as LanierWorld at the resort, Sunset Cove Beach Café & Club will premiere its new menu for the season.

The beachfront eatery will also showcase great food and drink specials for Boat Show guests. The best part is, admission to the event is free.

All three days of the In-Water Boat Show will feature a Kids Zone at Big Beach, complete with bounce houses and a balloon artist (noon to 4 p.m.), as well as fun for the whole family with mini golf, knockerball, beach volleyball, cornhole and appearances by LanierWorld mascot, Bucky the Beaver.

Guests of the In-Water Boat Show can enjoy live music on Saturday with an appearance by Butch & the Buckheads on the Sunset Cove Stage from 3-9 p.m., and dancing in the sand to tunes spun by a deejay from 3-6 p.m. on

TRAVEL & LEISURE

Sunday.

For those who wish to arrive via boat, Lanier Islands’ Marina Manager, Barkley Geib, invites them to dock at the resort. “Our courtesy docks at Sunset Cove will be available for customers during the show. The docks have plenty of depth and will accommodate boats up to 35 to 40 feet in length. There will be no charge for the docks during the show dates”.

Dates and times for the 2017 In-Water Boat Show: noon to 8 p.m.

Friday, April 21; noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 22; noon to 5 p.m.

Sunday, April 23. To learn more about the In-Water Boat Show and other events at Lanier Islands, please visit www.lanierislands.com.

4th Annual

the beach

FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1:30-4:30 P.M. RECEPTION 4:30-5:30 p.m. Hosch Theatre, John S. Burd Center for the Performing Arts, 429 Academy Street, Gainesville, Georgia

Mary Kathryn Wells

Kelley Castlin-Gacutan

Amy Whitley

Patty Wolfe

2016 In-Water Boat Show courtesy Lanier Islands Resort

Catherine Dixon

B

renau University Women’s College hosts its fourth annual Women’s Leadership Colloquium, a public forum for conversations about the unique challenges and vast potential for women’s leadership in the world.

Meet passionate, successful women who’ve experienced both the rewards and risks in leadership roles and hear them tell their stories, offer advice and share vision with those who lead – and those who aspire to lead.

SPEAKERS Catherine Dixon, Keynote Speaker, Principal, ghSMART Mary Kathryn Wells, WC ’00, Alumni Association Endowed Guest Speaker, CEO, Wells Marketing Agency Kelley Castlin-Gacutan, BU ’95, Educational Consultant and Former Superintendent of Birmingham (Alabama) City Schools Amy Whitley, VP Human Resources and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, UPS (Retired) Patty Wolfe, BU ’87, Rear Admiral, Supply Corps, United States Navy (Retired) Host: Debra Dobkins, Ph.D., Dean of the Women’s College The event will also feature a memorable performance by the Brenau Vocal Chamber Ensemble, tea sponsored by UPS and a closing reception sponsored by the Rhodes Law Firm.

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED:

brenau.edu/about/leadershipcolloquium

This event is made possible in part by the generosity of donors to the Grace-Gaskins Women’s Studies Endowment Fund and Debbie Purcell, president of Engineered Openings, Inc. For more information about how you can support the Women’s Leadership Initiative, contact Matt Thomas at 770.718.5309 or mthomas@brenau.edu

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IN THE COMMUNITY

in the community Junior Achievement Northeast Georgia Business Hall of Fame Gala Jim Mathis, Randall Frost and Paul Maney were recognized at the annual gala for their business leadership and community involvement. The honorees were picked by a panel of past winners and chosen for their individual representation of the Junior Achievement core values. Junior Achievement will serve nearly 8,500 students in kindergarten through high school in 13 Northeast Georgia counties. The event was held Feb. 4 at the Chattahoochee Country Club.

2017 Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce Business Expo More than 60 vendors were featured Feb. 16 at the business expo put on annually by the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce. The expo included a luncheon featuring keynote speaker Derrick Case, founder of Dress Up boutiques, and wrapped up with an after hours Taste of Gainesville. The sold-out expo at the Gainesville Civic Center showcased different businesses, including attorneys, boutiques, farms, car dealerships and The Times.

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IN THE COMMUNITY

Rotary Club of Gainesville annual banquet The Man of the Year Award went to Dr. David M. Westfall, the Georgia Public Health Department District 2 director. Former Gainesville mayor Emily “Sissy” Lawson was awarded the Rotary Club of Gainesville’s Woman of the Year Award. Jeanne Hanlin received the Sidney O. Smith Fellowship Award and Blair Diaz accepted the W. Lee Arrendale Vocational Excellence Award. The event was held Feb. 13 at the Chattahoochee Country Club.

2017 HSNEGA Art with Heart Gala Art with Heart, an annual fundraiser for the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia took place at the Chattahoochee Country Club Feb. 18 in Gainesville. The organization received 350 pieces of donated art for the auction and dinner.

Local artist Amanda Lovett also created a live painting of a barn scene at the event.

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EVENTS CALENDAR

March March 14 Concert Connecting Cultures. 7:30 p.m., John S. Burd Center, Brenau University, 429 Academy St., Gainesville. Free.

770-538-4764 or http://brenau.edu/ fineartshumanities/music March 17 Jamie Laval St. Patrick’s Day concert. 8 p.m., Crimson Moon Cafe, 24 N. Park St., Dahlonega. $18 advance, $22 door. 706864-3982 or www.TheCrimsonMoon. com March 17 Women’s Leadership Colloquium. 1:30 p.m., Hosch Auditorium, 429 Academy St., Gainesville. Free. wfauscett@ brenau.edu or www.brenau.edu/about/ leadershipcolloquium March 18 Fallen Heroes of Georgia 5K. 8 a.m., Lanier Islands, 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford. $45. fallenheroesofgeorgia@gmail.com March 18 Evenings of Intimate Jazz featuring Tatiana ‘Ladymay’ Mayfield. 8 p.m., The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St. SE, Gainesville. $30. 770-534-2787 or www.theartscouncil.net March 18 The Suwanee American Craft Beer Festival. 1-5 p.m., Town Center Park, 330 Town Center Ave., Suwanee. $45-$60.

678-482-2270 or michelle@vdgatl.com March 18 Wine tasting for Hope and Healing.

4-6 p.m., Montaluce Winery, 946 Via Montaluce, Dahlonega. 4-6 p.m. March 18, www.hopeandhealingga.org or 770-5326530 March 18 Riverside Military Academy’s Attack The Castle 5K/10K. 9 a.m., Riverside Military Academy, 2001 Riverside Drive, Gainesville. $15-35. www.active.com/ gainesville-ga/running/ 34 March 2017 HOME Living In North Georgia

distance-running-races/attack-the-castle5k-10k-and-1-mile-fun-run-2017 March 18 Sixth annual Spring Foliage Fest. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jefferson City Park, 147 Athens St., Jefferson. Free. 706-201-7893 or jeffersonfoliagefest@gmail.com March 25 28th annual Helen Trout Tournament.

6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Helen Chamber of Commerce Festhalle, 1074 Edelweiss Strasse, Helen. $20. www.HelenChamber. com March 25 Run for the Roses. 6-9 p.m., The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St., Gainesville. $75. 770-297-5040 ext.

320 or charlottec@goodnewsclinics.org March 28 ‘Peter and the Starcatcher’ stage tour.

6 p.m., University of North Georgia Gainesville campus, 3820 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood. Free. 678-717-3624 or www.gainesvilletheatrealliance.org March 30 Chamber Chase 2017. 6 p.m., Riverside Military Academy, 2001 Riverside Drive, Gainesville. $30. 770-532-6206 ext. 115 or www.RunSignup.com/ChamberChase March 30 Spring Vegetable Gardening Workshop.

6:30 p.m., Gwinnett County Public Library, 2780 Five Forks Trickum Road, Lawrenceville. Free. 770-978-5154 or events@gwinnettpl.org March 31 and April 1 Spring Plant Sale. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Cumming Fairgrounds, 235 Castleberry Road, Cumming. Free. 770-887-2418

April April 8 Chipper Jones at Coolray Field. 5 p.m., Coolray Field, 2500 Buford Drive, Lawrenceville. $44-$51. 770-978-5154 or events@gwinnettpl.org

April 8 John Conlee, Gainesville. 7 p.m. Riverside Military Academy, 2001 Riverside Drive, Gainesville. www.itickets.com.

April 8 Evenings of Intimate Jazz featuring Davina and the Vagabonds. 8 p.m., The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St. SE, Gainesville. $30. 770-534-2787 or www.theartscouncil.net April 19 University of North Georgia Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band. 7:30 p.m., Riverside Military Academy, 2001 Riverside Drive, Gainesville. Free. www. ung.edu/music April 29 Blue Ridge Trout Festival. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Downtown City Park, Blue Ridge. $5. www.BlueRidgeTroutFest.com April 29-30 18th annual Celebrate Clayton, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Downtown Clayton, Georgia. Free. www.celebrateclayton.com

May May 5 Rubber Duck Derby, 5 p.m. Clarks Bridge Park, 3105 Clarks Bridge Road, Gainesville. $5 per duck. 770-532-8102 orchelsea.bgchc@gmail.com May 6 Toast of Toccoa. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Doyle Street, Downtown Toccoa. Free. 706-2823309 or scrosby@cityoftoccoa.com May 11 through Sept. 28 Cocktails in the Garden. Atlanta Botanical Gardens Gainesville, 1911 Sweetbay Drive, Gainesville. $21.95. atlantabg.org May 12 Relay for Life of Hall County, 7 p.m.

University of North Georgia Gainesville campus, 3820 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood. Free. 770-297-1176 or rena. pendley@cancer.org