Lake Destination Lanier

April | May 2015

Buford Dam turns 65 PLUS

Breeze along with Windsong

Moore’s Wealth Management Advisors Recognized for Outstanding Achievement in 2014

Mark Peterson

Chris Moore

Brian Moore

These awards were presented by Gary Reed, President of 3-Mentors, a nationally recognized Field Marketing Organization for Independent Financial Advisors. The awards recognized the advisors for Excellence in Client Development and Satisfaction during 2014.

“We help our clients protect their financial future through a fiduciary standard of care that puts their interests first”

Recently seen in as one of the Financial Leaders of Georgia

“Protecting Your Future”

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

www.MooresWealthManagement.com Investment advice is offered by Horter Investment Management, LLC a Registered Investment Adviser: Insurance and annuity products are sold separately through Moore’s Wealth Management.

Securities transactions for Horter Investment Management clients are placed through Pershing Advisor Solutions, Trust Company of America, Jefferson National Monument Advisor, Fidelity, Security Benefit Life, ED&F Man Capital Markets, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

What’s Inside

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20

8 32

Getting beach beautiful 8

36

34

Where does all the water go?

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On the Cover 65 years ago, ground broke to make way for Buford Dam and what would eventually become Lake Lanier. While some where excited about the changes, others had to pick up their lives and relocate. PAGE 20 Photo courtesy Windsong Sailing Academy

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Start now if you want to have a little cosmentic surgery before swimsuit season.

Frank Norton looks at Lake Lanier as a drinking source and which states should benefit.

Set sail with Windsong 12

Windsong Sailing Academy prepares students for the realities of piloting a boat.

LLA: Boat bill an improvement 30

New legislation would revamp an outdated boat title system.

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12 36

38

DNR: Getting along with wildlife 32

Spring means the arrival of flowers, warm weather and ... nuissance animals.

Jim O’Dell: LCKC performance coach 34

2014 Dragon Boat champ embraces his new coaching position.

Wilson family is all smiles 36

Gainesville’s Dr. Ron Wilson explains why he loves perfecting the smiles of others.

911 on Lanier 38

How multiple counties tackle emergencies on the water.

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Inside Every Issue 6 42 44 46

From the Editor Calendar Your Guide to Lake Lanier Around Lanier

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From the Editor Sailing, takes me away

OK, so Christopher Cross is a little cheesy but the song really does sum up a nice day on the waters of Lanier. And I especially enjoyed the hospitality of the folks at Windsong Sailing Academy (see page 12) for putting up with such a land lubber. Even if you dont get out on the water much, check out our cover story on Buford Dam for some interesting facts and stories about the birth of the lake (page 20).

And you will notice something new (below) I feel important to include, and that’s input from you the reader. Let us know when we are doing a great job, but always feel free to let us know when we have an error or oversight. Or if you are just plain tired of seeing my face in random places around Lake Lanier. I am more than happy to replace it with more interesting subjects ... like water fowl, bait, anchors, docks, beer ...

M

Editor Michelle Boaen Jameson Advertising sales Melisa Sizemore LAKE Magazine, a division of: The Times Gainesville, GA A Morris Multimedia Inc. property 345 Green St. | Gainesville, GA 30501 770-718-3421

www.destinationlanier.com

J

ichelle ameson

Michelle Boaen Jameson editor@destinationlanier.com

From the readers

I just received my Feb/March issue of "Lake - Destination Lanier".On page 34, the guy in a brown jacket and black shorts, looking into the cockpit of the Miss Geico racing boat, is ME. Hey I'm famous, except that you can't see my face, so I may be the only person to know it's me. I'm enjoying the magazine, thanks.

Bruce Hansen I just read the Dec/Jan edition of your Lake magazine and wanted to say thank you for bringing some attention to the abandoned boat issue on Lake Lanier. I am currently working with the LLA, the CoE and the DNR on a project to develop a sustainable process for dealing with this critical issue. Hopefully, we will develop a plan going forward to hold the responsible owners accountable and to remove these eyesores and safety hazards from our lake. Thanks again for your initiative and I will keep you apprised of our progress.

John L. Barker This was the first time reading LAKE and I found it quite enjoyable plus educational. I believe that is your purpose, however I found an error in … coverage of the boat show. Page 32 wrote that "the U.S. Coast Guard . . .". It was the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, a huge difference. There is NO Coast Guard presence on Lake Lanier and the Auxiliary has NO authority to stop any vessel for any reason, they are strictly educational. My credentials; teaching sailing on Lake Lanier, teaching OUPV, and I hold a 50

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GTN Master License. Thank you for listening. Cheers.

Capt. Marla Keith Math errors (typos) on page 14: 1 cubic foot equals 7.4805 gallons (not 74,805 gallons) 43560 square feet 1" deep equals 3630 cubic feet (left out the 1" deep) Received issue in Feb 12, 2015 (missed some of the events) Overall enjoy the publication.

Norman McGinnis I saw the article on art collecting in LAKE and it is wonderful!

A good read, and very informative. Thank you for letting Brenau University Galleries and I be a part of it! I did want to point out one minor incorrect fact regarding the Manhattan Gallery — there aren't actually any works by Picasso included in that Gallery. There are some wonderful works by Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, and more!

Nichole Rawlings Congratulations on your Feb/March edition. I enjoyed everything about it from the articles and photography to the layout. It reminded me of a local version of “Garden and Gun.” Robert Webb Thanks for another great edition of LAKE and abundant kudos to Tommy Bagwell for spearheading the erosion prevention project to save islands with a fiscal contribution and lining up partners to do this good work!

Rick McCully, President Safe Boating Lake Lanier, Inc. Former Commander, Coast Guard Auxiliary

LAKE: Destination Lanier 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 LAKE: Destination Lanier. 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. LAKE does not currently offer subscriptions.

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

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Why is Melisa Sizemore Smiling?

Melisa is smiling because she knows how well her clients are doing after entrusting her with their message in Lake Magazine.

She gets positively happy when she is told how well the magazine marketing works for her up-scale clientele especially when these ads result in more customers.

In fact, we bet her customers are smiling too.

Contact Melisa today.

Magazine Sales Manager 770.535.6344 msizemore@gainesvilletimes.com

20+ years sales experience Born & raised in Hall county with a passion for helping customers brand their business.

345 Green Street Gainesville, GA 30501 770.532.1234

Beach body got you down?

Could be time for a little lift Story by Brandee A.Thomas As summer on the lake approaches, many ladies — and gentleman — can hear the ominous tune from “Jaws” playing louder and louder in their ears as they think about shedding layers and laying out in swimsuits for all the world to see.

If diet and exercise alone haven’t given you the summer-time fine body that you’re after, a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon may give you the results you’re craving.

“Now is the perfect time to get ready for summer,” says Dr. Puya Davoodi, a board certified plastic surgeon with the Aesthetic Center of Gainesville.

“Most people consider the summer season starting with Memorial Day. If you had your procedure done now, depending on the type of surgery, you could potentially be ready way before then.”

If a nip or tuck is on your radar, now is the ideal time for surgery if you want to minimize potential scarring.

“Scarring really depends on the quality of your skin and skin type, but if a scar gets (too much) sun, it can create a really dark line,” Davoodi says.

“So a person with very fair skin can have a thin scar turn into a big dark line because of sun exposure, so that would be very noticeable.

“With all surgeries, we like to stay on the side of caution, so we encourage our patients to limit sun exposure for the first 2-3 months during the initial healing process, but then we also say it’s good to get into the habit of using plenty of sunblock for the first, full year after your procedure. Sun block is especially important when you’re out on the lake.”

If you’ve ever observed your bathing suit-clad body in a mirror and wished for the ability to reposition fat from one area of your body to another, your dream is a very tangible reality with liposuction-aided body contouring.

“With lipo-contouring, you take a person’s own fat and use that to contour a variety of body parts. Most people are familiar with that (procedure to improve) the gluteal region, but you can also use some of that fat if there’s a little breast asymmetry if you don’t want to do full breast implants,” Davoodi says.

“We use this a lot for breast reconstruction patients to create better symmetry and upper breast fullness.”

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Whether it’s liposuction or lipo-contouring, Davoodi warns against patients treating cosmetic surgery as an “abracadabra” body image cure-all or build-abody workshop.

“If someone is largely overweight, I always tell them to try to lose some weight first. We try to give (clients) realistic options, which is why it is so important to come into your consultation with an open mind,” Davoodi says.

“I want to make sure we’re on the same page before we enter the operating room. Sometimes people will bring pictures and point out features they like on others. Pictures are great, but we can’t always recreate what they see because of differing bone structures and body shapes.

“We don’t mind when you bring in pictures, but one of the best resources you have available to you is a consultation with a board certified surgeon to get a realistic idea of what can be done.”

Realistic goals and a stable body weight is especially important when it comes to lipocontouring because an increase in your weight could cause your re-deposited fat to disperse to undesired areas.

Now is also the time to take care of those worrisome spider and varicose veins in your legs, says Dr. Michael Lebow.

Dr. Puya Davoodi, of Aesthetic “Varicose veins are the kinda bumpy ones Center of Gainesville and the spider veins are the blue lines you see in your legs,” says Lebow, a board certified vascular surgeon with of University Surgical Vascular in Gainesville.

“Both are easily treated with different techniques. Both are office based treatments with no real recovery times, but spider veins are best treated in the winter or early spring.

To get rid of those, we do a little injection into the vein and sometimes the blood in those clots.

“Because the vein is so close to the surface of the skin, it can get a dark spot for a period of time and then get reabsorbed like a scab. If there is a lot of sun exposure to the area during this time, it can cause the skin to pigment, so it is best to not sunbathe during your recovery.”

Unlike varicose veins, which are largely a cosmetic issue, it can take about a month for spider veins to heal following your procedure.

“If really want to be out on your boat in June and you have spider veins, take care of them now,” Lebow says.

“If you wait until summer time, it’s not good for cosmetic reasons. The procedure would work fine, but it wouldn’t get you the (visual) results you want.”

destinationlanier.com

Whether it’s body contouring, spider viens or just filling out that new swimsuit, now is the time to get cosmetic surgery for summer.

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Are you thirsty yet?

With all of the noise lately about water and the potential draining of our water resources by that upstart state Alabama or her half-sister Florida, I thought I would take my bully pulpit and talk about water. You know that liquid refresher that’s the basis of life and the real secret ingredient to our precious Coca Cola. Without water, it would just be caramel dust and flavoring.

But I digress. Here are some key facts about water: • Water covers 71 percent of the earth’s surface. It’s vital for all known forms of life: 95.5 percent of earth’s water is found in seas and oceans, 1.7 percent in ground water, 1.7 percent in glaciers and the ice caps of Antarctica and Greenland. The balance is in other large water bodies; air, vapor, precipitation and clouds.

• Only 2.5 percent of the earth’s water is fresh water and 98 percent of that is in ice and groundwater. A minuscule 0.3 percent of all fresh water is in lakes and the atmosphere. Approximately 70 percent of the fresh water used by humans goes to agriculture.

• The human body contains from 55 percent to 78 percent water, depending on size. To function properly, the body requires between 1 and 7 liters of water per day to avoid dehydration. The amount depends on the level of activity, temperature, humidity and other factors. Most health experts agree that approximately 2 liters (six to seven glasses) of water daily is the minimum to maintain proper hydration. A person can live almost a month without food but only a week without water.

• Locally, we get our water from Lake Lanier, a 39,000-acre freshwater lake created by the U.S. Corp of Engineers and owned by the states of Alabama and Florida. The Lanier watershed is 1,040 square miles and is part of a larger watershed, Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint Basin or 20,000 square miles. Lake Lanier provides water storage for 5 percent of the ACF basin but it holds 65 percent of the basin’s entire system storage capacity.

• Lake Lanier cost approximately $45 million, including buying 50,000 acres at an average cost of $50 per acre, with groundbreaking in 1950. Original surveys were conducted as a WPA project. The funding was to insure Atlanta’s water supply during droughts. Lake Lanier began filling in 1956 and reached full pool in 1957.

• Estimates vary but each person uses about 80-100 gallons of water per day. The largest use of household water is flushing the toilet; after that,

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showers/baths, then food prep. The average cost for water supplied to a home in the US is about $2 per 1,000 gallons, or 5 gallons for a penny.

• Lake Lanier’s 15,752 miles of shore line and at normal levels covers 39,038 acres at elevation of 1,071 feet providing for storage of 1957.000 acre feet of water. One acre foot is equal to 325 gallons of water so Lake Lanier is the equivalent of 5.557 trillion 16-ounce bottles of Dasani.

• Adding an additional 2 feet of water to Lake Lanier would increase Lanier’s storage capacity by 25 billion gallons of water, or enough water to provide Atlanta’s 6 million people with 83 days of fresh water without any additional rainfall or ground water additions to the Lanier pool.

• One inch of rain falling on one acre of ground is equal to about 27,154 gallons and weighs 115 tons.

• Approximately 400 billion gallons of water is used in the United States per day; 6,800 gallons of water is required to grow a day’s food for a family of four. To create one pint of beer, it takes 20 gallons of water.

Smart, simple, conservation could save billions of gallons of water. A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. If everyone in the U.S. used just one less gallon of water per shower every day, we could save some 85 billion gallons per year. If everyone just flushed the toilet one less time per day, we could save a lake full of water about 1 mile long, 1 mile wide and 5 feet deep.

So with water everywhere and not a drop to drink (call our own), it’s important to raise the consciousness of the average water drinker -- that’s you and me. We need to reconcile our personal water consumption; be frugal, respectful and mindful of our water resources. We need to balance our water usage with environmental stewardship, water conservation and remain vigilant about our fight over the acre feet of water in Georgia’s Lake Lanier.

The wars of the future will not be fought over politics or religion but over food and water.

Are you thirsty yet?

About the author Frank Norton is a seventh generation north Georgian, CEO of the regions largest and oldest real estate insurance firm and a Lake Lanier homeowner/ activist. He is a passionate market researcher demographer and prognosticator and noted national speaker on emerging real estate issues.

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LAKE LANIER’S BEST ADDRESS

goNORTON.COM

ONE SITE

ONE SOURCE

1 SMART MOVE

The call of the

open water

Windsong Sailing Academy makes learning the ropes fun Story by Hunter Ledger Photography by Michelle Boaen Jameson

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At first glance, Capt. Dave Crumbley doesn’t seem like the man you would expect to open a sailing school. A computer entrepreneur, Crumbley founded the Windsong Sailing Academy in 1987, hoping to make a difference in the lives of others through teaching people to sail the local waters and coastal oceans.

When founding Windsong Academy, it wasn’t about the profits.

“At that point, it was sharing my passion for sailing,” Crumbley said.

While the school offers multiple classroom programs, the staff also seeks to teach students how to sail out on the waters of Lake Lanier.

“On the water, we show them what to do. In the classroom we show them why it works the way it does,” Crumbley said.

“Not every sailing (outfit) offers classroom training, nor as much as we do, but it’s a critical step in the overall approach to full comprehension,” Crumbley said.

Crumbley and his wife, Patti Price, teach most of the classes offered at the school, and the other instructors and office staff are seen as members of their extended sailing family.

“We all take great pride in the dreams that we make possible for others,” Price said. destinationlanier.com

On land, the students have a variety of classes to choose ranging from Basic Sailing Theory, Celestial Navigation, Marine Meteorology, Engine Maintenance, 12 Volt Electronics, as well as various others. On the lake, students can learn sailing skills including points of sail and proper sail trim, docking and departing, anchoring, maneuvering, “rules of the road,” and safety.

Even though the school strives to make learning an easy process, Crumbley admits that the hardest part is the retention of knowledge.

“Learning to sail is actually quite easy.

Retaining what one learns is the challenge.

Our business model was designed to address that specific challenge,” Crumbley said. “Our

business model was designed to provide the hands on and mental comprehension opportunities to address that specific challenge.”

The Windsong Sailing Academy seeks to break free from the previous models used by typical sailing schools. Crumbley feels it’s important that students are able to learn at their own pace, and not in the confines of the time limits of traditional approaches.

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One of Windsong Sailing Academy’s strategies is to partner students of different skill levels on outings. Crumbley says this helps prepare sailors for reality. “You may have a crew on a boat of varying skill and I want my students to be prepared for that, to be able to tell them what to do.”

It also helps the less skilled retain direction and operations. Crumbley has been a captain since he was 19 and has sailed both power boats and sail boats all around the world. He has experienced the unexpected and aims to make sure his students are ready. But most importantly, he wants them to enjoy themselves. “You’re having so much fun, you don’t realize you’re learning so much.”

“... if folks can learn to play golf and tennis in one to two hour intervals, ... learning to sail should not be any different. “ 14

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“All schools across the country teach essentially the same concepts,” Crumbley said. “The actual instructional process, opportunities for practice and the reinforcement while learning can differ greatly.”

Windsong offers flexible hours, different locations for classes, and systematic on-the-water training individualized for each student.

“What we offer is a very different and unorthodox approach when compared to other typical sailing instructional formats,” Crumbley said.

Realizing that the trouble with other sailing schools is knowledge retention, Windsong developed a new means of helping students.

“Once you take a ground class, if you’d find value in auditing it again, you can come back and take it as often as your require to keep your current knowledge,” Crumbley said.

“No charge.”

Jason Parker, a student of the Windsong Sailing Academy, has had an overall pleasant experience at the school.

“I’ve been very happy with the instruction,” Parker said. “I mostly do outings, like the practical experience better.”

Outings out on the waves of Lake Lanier are popular for the school, and seen as helpful by some of the students.

“I go on outings as much as I can. (I) Need experience more than a class right now,” Parker said.

LAKE Destination

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Photo courtesy Windsong destinationlanier.com

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Photo courtesy Windsong

Student engagement and easy access to courses are a top priority for Crumbley.

“We feel that if folks can learn to play golf and tennis in one to two hour intervals, that learning to sail should not be any different. If you can escape for two hours, you can learn to sail,” Crumbley said.

At the Windsong Sailing Academy, everyone has the opportunity to become a sailor.

“Sailing is often viewed as a ‘guy’ thing. Quite often the opposite is true.

Our ladies enjoy the independence and satisfaction they get from sailing just as much as the guys; probably more,” Crumbley said.

The learning process in sailing isn’t always just about what you learn in the classroom or on the water. Many of the lessons a new sailor learns come from the mistakes made on the water.

While the Windsong Sailing Academy offers a large variety of sailing courses, it also hosts various events for corporate and recreational use.

The corporate activities offered seek to increase communication skills within a group, as well as strengthening a team mentality overall. The program itself was created in part with the help of psychologist Gloria Wright.

On the recreational side, Windsong offers various outings for Father’s and Mother’s Day, as well as murder mysteries, ghost story sailing and others. There are also private captained charters available for those who wish to personalize their sailing outing experience.

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Windsong Sailing Academy 6800 Lights Ferry Road Flowery Branch, GA 770-967-1515 http://www.windsongsail.com

Sunset Cruises, a special series of cruises, are offered during the summer months. These cruises offer passengers the opportunity to sail the waters of Lake Lanier in a relaxing atmosphere. Special entertainment is provided by entertainers and musicians such as magician Joe Turner, guitarists Mark Wolfe and Bill Kahler, as well as others.

With an extensive catalog of courses, activities and outings for corporate and recreational groups, it’s not hard to see why Windsong is admired by its students.

“We’re the best kept secret on the lake,” Crumbley said.

At Windsong, people can learn not just the process of sailing, but also about themselves. Crumbley believes that sailing isn’t just therapeutic for an individual, it’s great for couples too.

“Couples that sail together stay together,” Crumbley said.

With friends or significant others, sailing is an activity that everyone can take part in, walking away with more than they went in with.

As the Windsong Sailing Academy continues to bring people closer to the lake and each other, Crumbley insists, “A life without sailing is a terrible thing to waste!”

destinationlanier.com

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LakeLanier.Estate

This custom, lakeside craftsman-styled home is loaded with WOW. Inside, you’ll find dramatic vaults with tongue/groove wood and exposed beams. The open floor plan makes entertaining a delight. The island kitchen is open to the keeping room and the dining room which opens to a covered veranda where you can warm by the outdoor fireplace overlooking the backyard and lake. Downstairs is just as beautiful as the main floor with another stone fireplace and a second kitchen area that’s open to a recreation area. The driveway would be easy to gate; board fencing surrounds the property and the driveway extends to a terrace level garage door that opens to a workshop. It’s an easy walk to the double slip dock with lift and party deck. And you’re just around the cove from the US Olympic Rowing Venue. Close to 985, Northeast Georgia Hospital and Gainesville.

Offered at $750,000 Features:

• 5 Bedrooms/3 ½ Baths • Double-Slip Dock with lift and party deck • Luxurious main level master • Whole house music system, speakers and camera monitoring system • FMLS #5359728

Kim Waters

Partner/Associate Broker

Selling North Georgia since 1988 kim@kimwaters.com 770.540.3788 kimwaters.com

LakeLanierGainesvilleGa.com

LakeLanierLogCabin.com

Enjoy the Pool and a Dock on Lake Lanier this Summer

Year-Round Views and Drought-Proof Water

Estate Sale - Custom built, this home has great space and flow. With only some updating, this home would be stunning with its two story entry foyer, solid hardwood floors and doors. The screened porch opens to a sun deck and overlooks a great flat back yard and gunite pool. It’s a short, easy walk to the dock, a covered single slip dock. Great neighborhood; Dead-end street close to park.

Authentic log home with post and beam construction has long range lake views and a double-slip dock in drought-proof water. Drive to water’s edge. Dramatic vaults in great room that’s open to bar area. Loft is perfect spot for an office or sitting area.

Enjoy the lake view from the luxurious master suite with whirlpool tub and private deck. Great for a getaway or a primary home. Unfinished basement for additional expansion; .97 acre lot.

Offered at $465,000

Offered at $425,000

Features:

• 3 Bedrooms/2 1/2 Baths • 2 Huge Bonus Rooms • Spacious Master Suite has 2nd Fireplace • FMLS #5509944

Features:

• 3 Bedrooms/3 Baths • Easy Access to Water via Concrete Path • FMLS #5382327

Kim Waters

Partner/Associate Broker

Selling North Georgia Since 1988 kim@kimwaters.com 770.540.3788 kimwaters.com

Buford Dam:

Looking Back on 65 Years Lanier's rising waters were trouble for some, exciting for others

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Story by Frank Reddy

It

was 65 years ago when government officials and dignitaries gathered for the ceremonial groundbreaking of Buford Dam. On March 1, 1950, more than 3,500 showed up at the future site to mark the occasion.

A direct result of the River and Harbor Act approved by Congress in 1946, the dam’s construction aimed to fulfill the purposes of navigation, flood control and power and water supply.

Once the dam was constructed, it took several years for Lake Lanier to reach full pool. During this time (in the mid to late ‘50s), people who lived in the proposed floodplains would have to sell their property to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. LAKE Destination Lanier talked with the Corps of Engineers about the state of Buford Dam as well as those whose lives were changed forever by its construction and the rising waters that followed.

On March 1, 1950, more than 3,500 showed up at the future site to mark what would soon become one of the largest lakes in Georgia, and the center of a yearslong battle over its waters. Dignitaries and state officials were on hand to “throw the switch” at Buford Dam upon its completion, including the late Gainesville architect Carl Lawson, who kept the original switch. A dedication ceremony was held on Oct. 9, 1957.

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The family farm Four-year-old Betty Raines picked cotton in an expansive field near Six Mile Creek in Forsyth County, the early autumn breeze chilling her

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When Buford Dam was built and the waters of Lake Lanier began to fill the land, people in the floodplain had to sell their homes to make way for the body of water. The family of Betty Raines (now Betty Bowen), however, drove their house — located off of Ga. 369 in Forsyth County — to higher land.

Four-year-old Betty Raines poses for a photo, while her black-and-white bird dog plays alongside her.The picture was taken in the mid1950s.The swing set and buildings behind are all under the lake now.

sunburned skin. Working with her mother, she pinched the fluff from each plant, avoiding prickly burrs that stabbed at her fingers. She stuffed handfuls of harvest into her tiny pick sack. It was hard work, and it sure was hot for October, but she liked helping mom.

Dad, too. Whether it meant gathering walnuts (at age 4, she called them “coconuts”) from beneath rows of trees or sitting beside the home’s rock chimney, cracking the stubborn shells.

And there was fun to be had. She’d spend hours on the swing set, pumping her legs to go higher. Skipping through the yard, her little black-and-white bird dog puppy trailing. Daily, she checked in on a litter of kittens that had made a home in the smokehouse. Sometimes she’d visit neighbors, walking barefoot down the red clay road, its surface slick and gooey from recent rain.

On one occasion, she wandered too close to an ornery rooster. It chased her, nipping at her ankles until her father intervened, yanking up the offending fowl. The following day, they ate the bird for supper.

It was 1955 on the family farm, and to Betty it was the universe.

But just as many parents so often do, her mother and father spared the child from

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worrisome matters. Namely, that much of their beloved land would soon be underwater.

Blacktop beaches Much like Betty Raines, brothers Boyd and Everett Parks would come to hear the news: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was buying up low-lying farmland to make way for Lake Lanier.

Like the farm that belonged to the Raines, the Parks family’s Forsyth County property was directly in the path of rising waters.

Born in 1935 and 1938 respectively, Everett and Boyd were in their 20s by the time Lanier really started swallowing land. Their father had sold the family’s 78-acre lot off Old Keith Bridge Road in 1954 as part of the corps’ first round of buyouts.

Yes, Everett said, their folks sold their land. No, they didn’t have any choice. “But in return, everybody got a beautiful lake in their backyard.”

In the late 1950s, before it was fully formed, Lake Lanier spread watery fingers in strange patterns, gobbling up the lowest lying swaths of Hall, Forsyth, Dawson, Gwinnett and Lumpkin counties. Residents would sometimes discover

whole sections of paved road immersed. These quickly became impromptu hangouts.

Everett recalls many an afternoon leaving work to head to one of these half-submerged blacktop beaches, where several dozen people would unfold beach towels, stretch out on lawn chairs and “stay out all night.”

Some people would pull their vehicles up to the edge and wash their cars. “It was easy to do. You just drive over and throw water on your car with a bucket,” Everett recalled. “That was when the lake wasn’t full yet, and there wasn’t no Atlanta people then, because you couldn’t build a house yet on the lake. And, there wasn’t hardly any boats.”

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When the lake finally did reach its full pool of 1,070 feet in May 1959, the Parks brothers discovered a love for water skiing.

“Nobody around here had ever skied before,” Everett said. “It was a completely new thing to everybody.

It was a big deal.”

They bought a boat with a 35-horsepower Johnson engine.

Years later, they upgraded to an 80-horsepower motorboat.

“Back then at that particular time,” Everett said, “80 horsepower was hard to beat. That sounds silly now I suppose. Folks now, they have the personal watercraft. The SeaDoos and all that. They’ve got all kinds of wild stuff they take out on the lake these days.”

People love that lake On that point, Chris Lovelady would agree wholeheartedly. As current assistant operations project manager “and resident historian” at Buford Dam, Lovelady said he’s been seeing some pretty wild contraptions on Lake Lanier these days.

“Some of the new recreation technology would just blow your mind,” Lovelady said. “There’s things people bring to Lake Lanier that I’ve never seen before.”

Having worked at Buford Dam for more than 30 years, he can lend perspective to the rapid rise of new gadgets on the lake.

“It started with jet skis. When those came out, everybody wondered if they were safe for Lanier,” he said. “Now, people strap on these backpacks (water jetpacks) that shoot them out of the water like a missile. It will be interesting to see what’s next.”

And what’s next for Buford Dam? Lovelady said it’s all about preventive maintenance and repair.

All in all, it’s holding up pretty well

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after 65 years.

“You’re always fighting age,” he said. “You’re always having to upgrade your electronics and computers to keep ahead of the curve and stay efficient. We’re always striving to remain a state of the art type facility.”

After three decades of experience working at the dam and watching the area around Lake Lanier evolve, he said there are some things that never change. For one: “People love that lake.”

“There’s generations of users. Young people on the lake who came with their parents. It’s more than six decades of family fun, and that’s thanks to Buford Dam,” he said.

Shadows underwater He was merely a teenager, but Everett Parks recalls quite vividly the Buford Dam groundbreaking 65 years ago.

“We went down there to that ceremony in Buford on a school

Opposite page: A view of the water from inside the Lower Pool East Buford Powerhouse at the Buford Dam. Above:The control room inside the Lower Pool East Buford Powerhouse at Buford Dam.Top:The water at the dam stays at a temperature that is a perfect trout habitat.

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Above: This structure is the Lower Pool East Buford Powerhouse at the Buford Dam. Opposite page bottom: The two 60-megawatt generators. These are the main generators at the dam. Top: Heavy machinery moves the earthen to build dthe dam during the 1950s.

Work on the main earthen dam, as well as three saddle dikes, powerhouse and road improvements, took five years to complete.

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bus. It was a sort of field trip. I remember it was hot out, and there was nothing to drink. There was a bunch of old men out there talking in the hot sun,” he laughed. “It was boring.”

Despite his boredom, he’d come to love the dam that birthed this aquatic playground for he and his brother. These days, the Parks Brothers are less likely to strap on the old water skis, but they’ve got their memories.

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And lake trivia: “People used to drink out of Lanier. Just get down on their hands and knees and lap up the water,” Everett said. “Wasn’t no big deal.”

“Hard to believe how much things have changed. Just 60 years ago that lake wasn’t even there. Everywhere you looked: farmland.”

Smiles

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$3.9 million Bedrooms: 6 Bathrooms: 6 full, 2 half Location: South Hall Special features: Seven-car, temperature-controlled parking, workout facility with sauna and steam room, saltwater pool, tornado shelter, cedar greenhouse $8.5 million Bedrooms: 6 Bathrooms: 8 full, 4 half Location:West Hall Special features: Space to land a helicopter, elevator, two-story foyer with double wrought iron staircase, terrace level with state-of-the-art theater, pool with spa and slide, two-story guest house, tennis court, 13 acres

Top 7 priciest homes on Lanier

From saunas to in-law suites, these homes — still on the market as of March — will make you swoon, Robin Leach-style.

$3.9 million Bedrooms: 7 Bathrooms: 6 full, 3 half Location: South Hall Special features: Elevator, nine fireplaces, 186 feet of shoreline, 100-foot ramp and boat launch, beveled-glass hall of mirrors leading to master suite

$3.5 million Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 5 full, 2 half Location: Northwest Hall Special features: Six-car garage, 6 acres, private gravel road to lake

$3.3 million Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 5 full, 4 half Location:West Hall Special features: Martha's Vineyard Nantucket-inspired design by noted Atlanta architectural firm, 600 feet of shoreline, pool with waterfall, three-car garage with carriage porch, guest house

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LAKE Destination

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$2.1 million Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 5 full, 2 half Location:West Hall Special features: 350 feet of shoreline, heated gunite pool, spa, outdoor fireplace, home theater, second-floor family suite

$2.2 million Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 5 full, 2 half Location: Northwest Hall Special features: Four levels with elevator, master suite spans upper floor with multiple fireplaces and walk-in cedar closet room, home theater, multiple wet bars, gym with shower, whirlpool tub and sauna, two two-car garages with courtyard entry dramatic sunset lake views

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Looking at the specifics of proposed legislation Some of you may have seen the emails or media articles recently about the proposal in the Georgia State House of Representatives, sponsored

by Representative Carl Rogers of Gainesville regarding boat titles.

The Lake Lanier Association is supportive of this proposal. Georgia is one of few states in the US that doesn’t title vessels. As a result, tracking ownership over the course of time, especially as a vessel changes owners, can be difficult.

Georgia ranks in the top 5 percent of states in the nation in boat theft, partially due to the non-title issue. Some of the abandoned vessel problems we have been faced with on Lake Lanier is attributable to not having boat titles and not being able to trace the legal owner.

Some lenders are less willing to finance boat sales in a non-title state.

That leaves fewer lenders willing to finance, which translates into less competition in this market, and higher interest rates charged on boat loans to consumers. Our insurance rates are also higher being in a non-title state.

A couple important details about this proposed legislation.

1) This is not a new tax, this is restructuring our current tax and our DNR registration system. The current DNR system is antiquated and not effective at tracking ownership. Yes, the tax rate could change over time — but we have that risk already with the current system we are under in terms of sales tax and ad valorem tax — they can change over time, too.

This legislation does not increase, or decrease, the risk of the tax rate changing. It changes the system for collecting those taxes and for tracking ownership.

2) If the legislation goes through, NEW boat sales after that effective date will be subject to a one-time tax currently proposed at 4 percent.

There would not be a reoccurring annual tax for new boat sales.

There would also be a recurring $20 annual registration fee for all vessels — new or existing. This is how the system works now for new auto purchases. For EXISTING vessel ownership after the effective date of this legislation, there still would be the annual ad-valorem tax we currently pay.

3) Realize, this is NOT something the politicians or the Georgia Department of Revenue dreamed up. This is something we ASKED for.

We being the Marine Trade Association of Metro Atlanta and the Lake Lanier Association, among other parties. The Marine Trade Association represents a large portion of the boat dealers.

Neither the Marine Trade Association nor the Lake Lanier Association

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receive any of the tax revenue associated with this legislation. We are just trying to fix a broken registration system and going to an existing title system that we already have infrastructure for, and everyone is familiar with, is the most obvious way to address the problem.

CURRENT SYSTEM • I purchase a boat and pay a one-time sales tax at the time of purchase.

Depends on the county, but for the county I live in, I pay a 7 percent sales tax rate.

• In addition to that tax, I also pay annually an ad-valorem tax on that personal property. Depends on the value of my boat, and the county where the boat is located, but for me, it works out to about $150 per year.

• In addition to those two taxes, I also pay a registration fee to the Georgia DNR once every three years to register my boat. For me, that registration fee is about $50 every three years.

PROPOSED HB 356 — boat purchases after the legislation goes into effect • I purchase a boat and pay a one-time 4 percent sales tax at the time of purchase.

• I do NOT pay annual ad-valorem tax on that personal property.

• I DO register the boat annually with my county tax assessor’s office for my boat title. There is a $20 annual registration fee for that.

• I do NOT register the boat with the Georgia DNR — that process goes away.

PROPOSED HB 356 — boats owned prior to when the legislation goes into effect • No additional sales tax is applied.

• I continue to pay annual ad-valorem tax on that personal property to my county tax commissioner’s office for as long as I own the vessel.

• I DO register the boat annually with my county tax commissioner’s office for my boat title. There is a $20 annual registration fee for that so this system works out to about $10 more over the course of three years for existing boat owners. For new boat purchases, there is actually a savings with the lower sales tax rate on this legislation.

• I do NOT register the boat with the Georgia DNR — that process goes away.

About the author Joanna Cloud is the executive director of Lake Lanier Association. For more information, or to join the Lake Lanier Association and support our programs and services, visit www.lakelanier.org.

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Gourmet fare on Lanier Islands opens up Sidney’s for finer dining

19th Century poet Sidney Lanier was well-known for his ability to turn a phrase and evoke an emotion. Sidney’s – a new fine dining concept imagined by the talented food and beverage team at Georgia lakeside resort, Lanier Islands – is soon to become well-known for its ability to turn heads and evoke emotions as farm-to-table creations make their way from the kitchen to eagerly awaiting patrons. Named after the literary legend –for whom Lake Sidney Lanier is also named, Sidney’s is the latest addition to this Southern destination that beckons guests to “Discover the Difference.”

Poised on the main level of the resort’s flagship hotel, Legacy Lodge, Sidney’s most striking physical feature is the incredible view of the water from a wall of windows. Just as appealing is the ever-revolving menu of thoughtfully crafted, seasonally inspired dishes that include everything from set-the-tone appetizers and salads to unforgettable entrees and desserts that will no doubt have guests coming back for more. Signature dishes – many with an undeniable Southern flair – include: • Sidney’s BLT Salad – Shaved iceberg and arugula are perfectly paired with white cheddar hoop cheese and vine ripe tomatoes, drizzled with roasted garlic buttermilk herb dressing.

• Crab Cake – A generous serving of melt-in-your-mouth crab meat is pan-fried to perfection before being paired with roasted garlic bruschetta, baby watercress salad and a sublime chipotle mango beurre blanc.

• Duroc Pork Chop – Served alongside a generous portion of spiced pecan sweet potato soufflé, this cider brined pork chop is flawlessly

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chargrilled and crowned with bourbon apple pan gravy.

• S’mores Crème Brulee – Decadence meets childhood reminiscence in this classic baked custard served with honey graham, chocolate morsels and maple-charred marshmallows.

This newest restaurant on the lakeside landscape is the combined vision of Lanier Islands Director of Food & Beverage, Einar B. Guðmundsson, Executive Chef Michael Klein, and Sidney’s Chef du Cuisine, Richard Sykes. With previous turns as Executive Chef for Quanto Basta in Cumming, Chef Roundsman at The Standard Club in Duluth, and Sous Chef at the Georgian Terrace in Atlanta, Sykes is perfectly suited to lead Sidney’s team of chefs and create distinctive dining experiences for Lanier Islands’ guests.

“Just last year, Lanier Islands’ Legacy Lodge was designated a member of the Southern Living Hotel Collection,” explains Chef Klein. “While we have always endeavored to provide our guests with the very best in every aspect of the resort, we knew this new distinction meant we’d have the opportunity to bring a new level of refinement to our dining options. Just as Sidney Lanier often celebrated nature’s beauty in his poetry, Sidney’s will celebrate nature through food. Its menu is the marriage of joyful Southern cooking and farm-to-table cuisine as we seek to bring about the very best flavor from every ingredient. What is perhaps most exciting about a dining experience like Sidney’s — for both the chefs who create the dishes and the patrons who enjoy them — is that the menu is driven by the season and the availability of certain farm-fresh vegetables, meats and cheeses, so every visit could offer something entirely new and different.”

To view the menu online and make a reservation to be among the first to experience Sidney’s at Lanier Islands, bona fide foodies and lovers of a truly great meal are invited to visit www.lanierislands.com or call 770-945-8787.

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DNR: Getting along with wildlife Most Georgians would probably agree that the natural places we enjoy throughout our state are enriched by the wildlife with which we share them. Lake Lanier is no exception. From the fish that swim the lake’s depths to the waterfowl that touch down gracefully on the surface, wildlife adds beauty to this already picturesque setting.

However, not all animals make for great neighbors. In fact, the behavior and destructive habits of some animals can even make them unwelcome pests. In these situations, these animals are known as “nuisance wildlife,” and they can pose a real problem for homeowners and other residents.

Georgia’s most common nuisance animals include deer, coyotes, raccoons, foxes and skunks. While these animals are typically elusive and prefer to avoid encounters with humans, they are also opportunistic eaters whose motivation to seek out their next meal sometimes brings them into neighborhoods and yards. This is particularly an issue in suburban areas where the boundary between the natural landscape and residential property is often very thin.

One species that has made local headlines in recent years is the black bear. Bear nuisance problems include property damage, crop damage, campsite disruptions and the potential threat of attack, as well as the general disturbance that results when there’s a bear in the neighborhood. Again, black bears are curious animals and scavengers often simply looking for food, particularly in the early spring as the seasons are beginning to change and natural food sources are still scarce. Human food, found around homes or brought into the woods by campers, is especially alluring to black bears. Seasonal territory disputes between older and younger bears may also push the younger ones into more populated areas, where their search for food brings them into conflict with people.

Fortunately, homeowners can take a number of simple precautions to limit attractive food sources on their property, removing a reason for bears to come calling. Keeping items such as grills and pet food or bird feeders and trash cans out of reach or indoors when not in use eliminates many of the easy food opportunities that attract bears and other nuisance wildlife.

Campers and backpackers are encouraged to use bear-resistant canisters to store all food and personal garbage while in the wilderness.

Another potential nuisance animal that may show up on area lawns — but won’t be visiting your bird feeders — is the Canada goose. Protected by state and federal law, Canada geese are adaptable, grass-eating birds that can live in a variety of locations and habitats, ranging from farmland and rural reservoirs to near apartment complexes and office buildings.

Populations have grown tremendously in Georgia, resulting in an increase 32

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in damage to crops, yards, parks and golf courses, and an increase in droppings. These geese commonly take up residence in places that include a body of water, making Lake Lanier and the surrounding area an attractive and suitable nesting place for these birds.

Canada geese nest in March and April. Landowners who are experiencing problems with geese on their property, especially during the summer molting season, may be able to reduce the potential for nuisance problems later this year by using prevention methods early.

Landowners should first try a variety of proven harassment techniques to reduce the number of geese on their property.

Options include chemical repellents, mylar balloons, wire/string barriers and noise makers. These methods have been shown to work, but they require consistency from the property owner and may not be 100 percent effective. These techniques are most effective now, when the geese are just beginning to select their nesting sites.

To further help in addressing nuisance goose problems, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a regulation allowing landowners to reduce goose reproduction through nest and egg destruction or egg addling or oiling, which prevents the eggs from hatching. The permits are particularly useful for homeowners who have geese nesting close to their home.

Application for a 2015 permit is open through June. Permits are available through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at https://epermits. fws.gov/eRCGR/geSI.aspx .

Of course, the most effective and cost-efficient method for controlling nuisance wildlife is hunting. This form of game management provides outdoor recreation and a means by which to keep animal populations in check and in balance with the available habitat.

However, the reality is that human-animal conflicts are a part of life in Georgia. As land use and development continue to bring humans and animals closer together, there will inevitably be a need to continue learning the best ways in which to coexist.

Learn more about coping with nuisance wildlife at www. georgiawildlife.com/nuisancewildlife.

About the author Elliot Ambrose is a University of Georgia graduate interning with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division.

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JimLanier O’Dell: Canoe and Kayak Club’s High Performance 1 Coach Story and photos by LAKE staff

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Fresh off practice one Monday night, Jim O’Dell had a vivid reminder of why he enjoys his new job so much.

The Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club’s High Performance 1 coach had just put his team through cardio and a 20-minute core workout, then a boot camp workout at the YMCA. That flexibility by the teenagers on a cold, windy day impressed O’Dell.

“There’s so much to enjoy: The enthusiasm of these teenagers, their thirst to want to do better and better and willingness to try new things,” O’Dell said.

O’Dell has been a member of LCKC since 2002, when he began as a Masters paddler. He has gone on to win gold at the 2014 Dragon Boat World Championship after being part of winning multiple USA Canoe/ Kayak Masters National Championships.

His wife, Cathy, coaches a Hall County Special Olympics kayak program that is part of LCKC. Though this latest job is something he certainly welcomed, O’Dell didn’t realize the process unfolding around him.

After being laid off from his occupational safety and health job in June and doing some part-time consulting, he considered taking a job that would have required relocation or an 80-minute one-way commute.

Through praying about it, O’Dell decided to turn down that job in November.

Meanwhile, Lake Lanier Olympic Venue manager Morgan House had been speaking with incoming LCKC president Terry Baker while coming up with lists of possible coaches. Both wanted to approach O’Dell about coaching the group of mostly kids ages 12-17 that also includes some who are 18-20. House had been the High Performance 1 coach but was giving up those duties to focus on managing the venue and still having some time with family.

“He’s been involved with the sport for a long time and is great with athletes, especially the younger athletes that he’ll be working with,” House said.

The timing was perfect for O’Dell, who learned he was their pick in December.

“I feel like God has placed me here at the right time to do this. I feel like it’s something I’ve been in training for since 2002,” he said.

“I was extremely humbled when they approached me. It’s a really big deal having the trust of parents and the board of directors to place these youth under my watch.”

O’Dell said he plans to take the same intensity and discipline that helped him lead an 11-person group from North Georgia as part of the national team at the Dragon Boat World Championships to his latest assignment. He has been a regional coach for Dragon Boat USA since February 2014.

“Him having that kind of experience is definitely very beneficial,” House said. “He can destinationlanier.com

prepare the kids for those type of events. He knows what it takes.”

O’Dell’s experience in occupational safety and health should come in handy while trying to keep growing boys and girls from injuries while training at a high level.

He said one of his main challenges will be convincing his paddlers to make the most of training on days where the weather isn’t pleasant.

O’Dell likes to point out to them that their counterparts in Hawaii are likely experiencing 75-degree days and that training on the rough days can set his paddlers apart.

“I’m looking forward to seeing each of these paddlers get personalbests and each time celebrating those successes,” O’Dell said.

He said he is excited about building on what House did with this dynamic group of kids.

“He really did a fantastic job with these boys and girls,” O’Dell said.

As much as he’s enjoying the start of this coaching gig, O’Dell hopes to be in it for a while to come.

“I’m really looking forward to this year and beyond,” he said.

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A family full of smiles

Ron Wilson continues hometown practice Gainesville-born orthodontist, Dr. Ron Wilson, took the needs of his patients and families into consideration when developing his orthodontic practice, Wilson Orthodontics.

He and his wife, Bonnie-Lynne have two daughters, Lilly-Kate and Hartley, and a son Baylor. With a young family, Dr. Wilson knows the importance of making the most of any experience involving his family. The key components that make the Wilson Orthodontic experience unforgettable include their friendly team, fun entertainment for the kids, orthodontic education for patients and their

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parents, and top-of-the-line technology.

When entering any one of the Wilson Orthodontic locations, patients are greeted by an inviting atmosphere filled with beautiful dĂŠcor and the smell of fresh baked cookies.

Automatically, the comforts of home and Southern hospitality are present and hide the fact that you are visiting a doctor’s office. Wilson Orthodontics has three convenient locations, Gainesville, Flowery Branch and Cleveland, to serve the local community.

Other unique features of Wilson Orthodontics include a game room for children,

a Charity Spa where 100 percent of the proceeds go to local nonprofits and complimentary Wi-Fi. For the working parents with long to-do lists, Wilson Orthodontics helps ease their schedules with their Brace Bus Service.

Patients are picked up from participating schools and brought to their orthodontic appointments by the Wilson Orthodontics trusted driver, George Munion. He has 3 years experience as a Hall County school system bus driver and has an enthusiastic personality.

Patients ride to their appointments in style in the H2 Hummer which is equipped with an LAKE Destination

Lanier

Xbox, PlayStation, and a four camera DVR video system for parents to monitor their child’s ride from a secure account. Should a patient miss their lunch break, Mr. Munion will gladly make a stop at a drive-thru to ensure they do not go back to school on an empty stomach.

“Our vision is to create an environment that is fun and friendly for the whole family and utilizes the latest in orthodontic technology to deliver the utmost care in orthodontics and create beautiful smiles that last a lifetime,” Wilson says. “I enjoy seeing the inner beauty that’s often revealed during orthodontic treatment-the change in one’s self-esteem and self-confidence that comes with a beautiful smile!”

Dr. Ron Wilson graduated from Gainesville High School where he was active in varsity sports and went on to graduate from the University of North Georgia majoring in Chemistry and minoring in Biology. He later attended the Medical College of Georgia’s School of Dentistry. But home is where his heart is, so he came back to Gainesville to shadow Dr. Thomas C. Field. Dr. Wilson knew he found his calling because of the positive environment and exciting results orthodontics has to offer. He was then selected for a position at the Medical College

of Georgia’s Orthodontic Residency Program, which he completed in 2006. Dr. Wilson holds membership with the Georgia Dental Association, the Hinman Society, American Dental Association, Southern Association of Orthodontists and the American Association of Orthodontists. He is also a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics as well as a member of the Shulman Group, an honor only the top 1 percent of North American orthodontists receive.

“I’ve never seen someone who loves his career as much as Ron does,” says Bonnie-Lynne.

“I may be partial, but I believe he is truly the best in his field all while managing to be a wonderful father and husband.”

When he’s not working, Dr. Wilson enjoys spending time with his family, being outdoors, and attending Lakewood Baptist Church. He also donates his time to Good News Dental Clinic and provides 12 free orthodontic scholarships a year through the Smile for a Lifetime Foundation.

The Wilson Orthodontic team has more than 100 years combined experience in orthodontic care and is proud to offer the Damon Smile System and Invisalign. These two

advanced systems in orthodontics minimize the visual appearance of orthodontic treatment.

Extended office hours are available from 7:40 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., making it convenient for patients to schedule their appointments around already busy schedules.

Wilson Orthodontics keeps the community and their patients connected through many facets of social media which include: Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Through social media and their recently updated website they can communicate, educate, and entertain their Wilson Orthodontic family and friends.

“We want our patients and their parents to have easy access to the world of orthodontics and our practice,” Wilson says. “We can reach each patient in the manner that they interact with best, and it keeps our community, colleges, friends and families with up-to-date information on our Wilson family.”

If you’re interested in learning more about Wilson Orthodontics' which include being a Preferred Premier provider of the Damon Smile System and Elite Provider of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen, visit their website at www.

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Pinpointing Peril Finding boaters in trouble isn’t as easy at calling 911

Story by Nancy E. Spraker Photos by LAKE staff

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It’s a lovely night on Lake Lanier. The reflection of a full moon shimmers on the water as your boat skims its surface. Then disaster strikes.

The boat crashes onto a reef with a sudden jolt. Water fills the salon swiftly and the realization that you’re sinking sets you into emergency mode. As luck would have it, the VHF’s battery is too low to call on Channel 16. But your cell phone battery has plenty of bars, so you call 9-1-1. Hopefully you can remember the last mark you passed and relay that information. If you’re like most people though, you have no clue as to where you are on the lake.

Marty Nix, Hall County Public Safety Director says “it can be a challenge to locate callers who identify ‘Lake Lanier’ as the site of their emergency.” The lake encompasses 58 square miles of water, five counties

LAKE Destination

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and its shoreline meanders for roughly 700 miles.

But what happens to your call when you call on the lake? 911 centers often cannot see a phone’s location using GPS, so they rely on the cellphone towers quite a distance away on shore to determine location. Nix infers that the phone’s location is found only 50 to 60 percent of the time.

Boaters on the lake are lucky in that the 911 system for mobile phones originally was intended for the first cell phones mostly used outdoors. It’s easier to locate a cell phone outdoors in that there is less interference than a call made within a building. However, since the system was designed 20 years ago, a landline is even more reliable for quick location. The system uses analog, not digital like the satellite communication used in most smart phones.

Boaters on Lake Lanier are lucky also in that all the five counties of Lake Lanier cooperate with one another when a 911 call is received in a county other than where the emergency occurs, which happens often due to cell tower locations.

All counties share a detailed chart of Lake Lanier

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that contains overlays with all buoys and dock numbers. There is no county line on the chart. As Nix mentions, “There are no boundaries on the lake.” All five counties also switch over to VHF Channel 16 in the event of an emergency.

On land, Geographic Information System (GIS) maps have overlays that include nearest fire trucks, hydrants, power poles and underground utilities, but all maps stop at the county line. Interaction amongst the counties is somewhat unusual and saves lives. Although some counties do cooperate, there is no state agency that coordinates 911 Service Centers in Georgia.

In December of last year, county coordination and satellite communication could have saved the life of Shanell Anderson. She was delivering newspapers in the dark in Cherokee County when she accidently drove her car into a retention pond. She called 911, giving a dispatcher her exact intersection address and the area’s zip code as her car filled with water.

Although her phone was in Cherokee County, the dispatcher who received her call was in

Fulton County and only had a Fulton County map. Dispatchers aren’t permitted to use Google Maps, which may have located her immediately.

Her 38-second call was not long enough for the cell phone carrier to locate her phone using “pings.” After twenty minutes of searching, emergency rescue workers located her and restarted her heart, but she went into a coma and later died.

In 1996 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that regulates 911 service centers required 96 percent of GPS enabled phones to report their location. Although data is not available in Georgia, in 2013 fewer than half of cell phones in California did so.

Now it is 2015 and the FCC has delayed regulations by assorted FCC actions and waivers so that they won’t be fully operational until 2019.

Recently, however, the FCC updated rules for carriers to locate a cell phone during a 911 call to within 30 seconds, but only outdoors — a definite advantage to distressed boaters on Lake Lanier.

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Turning out

for trout The season has started, and streams are stocked!

It's a crisp morning and Carl Riggs has hiked three miles into the Appalachian Mountains near Blue Ridge, Georgia to fly fish in a spring-fed stream. He wades into the rushing water, scans the surface, selects a fly and delivers the first cast of the day. It's not yet 8 a.m. Why is he knee deep in 50 degree water when most folks are sleeping?

Vice Chairman for the Georgia Council of Trout Unlimited, Riggs is recapturing a rare commodity in our techno-charged society. It's something he finds while fly fishing the rivers and streams of rural Fannin County. "I focus on the beauty and sounds of nature. I've seen wild turkeys, coyote and once, a bear. Deer sometimes drink from the streams when I'm fishing. Being involved with nature teaches me the importance of solitude and patience. Of all the types of fishing I've tried, fly fishing is the most relaxing," Riggs said.

“The four trout hatcheries in Georgia are full of high quality fish this year. A small amount of stocking has already taken place, but it will pale in comparison to the amount of fish scheduled for stocking to celebrate Opening Day for seasonal streams,” says John Lee Thomson, trout stocking coordinator for the Wildlife Resources Division. “Almost every water body, with very few exceptions, that is stocked by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources or our partners at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be stocked by March 28. ” Some popular seasonal streams include Cooper Creek in Union County, Wildcat Creek in Rabun County, Dicks Creek in Lumpkin County and Johns Creek in Floyd County. “One of the best opportunities for fishing success will be this spring when stream flows are high and the water is cool,” says Thomson.

There are few places finer than North 40

April | May 2015

Georgia for the sport. Designated the Trout Capital of Georgia, Fannin County has 535 miles of designated trout waters (more than any other Georgia county) as well as the Toccoa River, recognized in Trout Unlimited's Guide to America's 100 Best Trout Streams. Sports fisherman may catch and release rainbows and browns in the Toccoa tailwaters, where consistent temperatures allow year-round access.

Kids can learn the sport in stocked ponds before progressing to open water. Even non-fishermen will appreciate the connection between conservation and fly fishing on the Trout Adventure Trail in the Chattahoochee National Forest. The educational trail was the first of its kind.

The daily limit is eight trout on general regulation trout waters. Anglers are reminded to respect private property rights along streams flowing through private lands and to obtain permission before fishing on private property.

Anglers must possess a current Georgia fishing license and a trout license to fish in designated trout waters and to fish for or possess trout. Anglers must also possess a wildlife management area license or Georgia Outdoor Recreation Pass in order to fish on certain WMAs. Find a list of designated areas at www.georgiawildlife.com/Georgia-OutdoorRecreational-Pass .

How can you get a license? It’s easy! Buy it online, find a list of retail license vendors at www. georgiawildlife.com/licenses-permits-passes or buy it by phone at 1-800-366-2661.

Purchasing a Trout Unlimited license plate supports Georgia’s trout conservation and management programs. These efforts impact trout production, stocking and stream restoration throughout north Georgia. Purchase

Fast Fact:The Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery raises over one million rainbow trout per year for distribution in North Georgia streams and rivers. or find out more at your county tag office.

For the list of stocked trout streams, online versions of the Georgia trout stream map, and other trout fishing tips, visit www.georgiawildlife. com/Fishing/Trout or call 770-535-5498.

Anglers eager to fly fish Fannin County will find no better place to begin than the county seat of Blue Ridge. Blue Ridge is home to Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods and Bill Oyster, worldrenowned for his fly rod artistry and rod making workshops. Local companies offer experienced guides, including Sharper Bites, run by Natalie Sharp.

Sharp’s guide services are sought after by women, couples and anglers who appreciate her knack for teaching and cooking - outings include gourmet riverside lunches.

Fisherman needing accommodations will appreciate the variety of vacation rentals — from palatial homes to cozy cabins — offered by Escape to Blue Ridge. Tucked into the mountain landscape, several of these cabin rentals are near trout streams, and that's a good thing. As Riggs said, "I've fished all over the country. The number and quality of fish here are as good as anywhere."

LAKE Destination

Lanier

Over $300 Million in Career Sales on Lake Lanier

Nantucket Inspired Custom Design Home in Beautiful Harbour Point Yacht Club Miles & Miles of Stunning Views of Lake Lanier from all rooms! Very Spacious Open Floor Plan flows comfortably from Foyer to Grand Room, Kitchen and Dining Room. This home features 6 Bedrooms, 5 ½ Baths, regal two story Foyer, Grand Room with 20’ Floor to Ceiling Windows, warm architectural lighting throughout, large elegant Master Suite & sitting area overlooking the lake, Master bath with deluxe double walk-in shower, jetted spa tub, double vanities and granite counters. Also, Breakfast Room, formal Dining Room, Wine Cellar, finished Terrace level and full custom Bar. Other features are oversized 3 car Garage, Circular Driveway, 1 Acre Lot that adjoins Corps property and beautifully landscaped grounds. Premier covered boat slip is available at the deep water marina.

Being Offered at $1,095,000

Patsy Bailey

Lake Lanier Specialist

Selling property on Lake Lanier for over 30 years... pbailey@nortonnorthga.com 770.540.7752 lakelanierproperty.com patsybailey.com

Calendar

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

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

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

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

“Girl Power” All day, every second Tuesday. Girls 11 to 13 only. Lay Park, 297 Hoyt St., Athens.

Free. 706-613-3596.

Toastmasters program, improve communication and leadership skills 6 p.m. Mondays. 611 Spring St., Gainesville. Free. 706-265-6710, 2520.toastmastersclubs.org.

April 4 Meaders’ Pottery Fest 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 6008 Hulsey Road, Clermont.

Free for visitors; vendors $30. 770-540-5505.

Square dance plus classes 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays. Mulberry Creek Community Center, 4491 J.M.Turk Road, Flowery Branch. Free. 12 years old and older. 770-965-7140.

April 4 Blue Ribbon Biscuit and Bluegrass Festival Noon to 6 p.m. . Sautee Nacoochee Community Campus, 283 Ga. 255 N, Sautee Nacoochee.

Adults $10; children younger than 16 free. 706878-3300, www.snca.org.

Library chess club 1-5 p.m. Fridays. Gainesville Library, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville. All ages and levels welcome. 770-532-3311, ext. 114.

American Business Women’s Association 6 p.m. fourth Tuesday each month. Recess Southern Gastro-pub, 118 Bradford St. NE, Gainesville. Dinner, speakers, meeting. 770-654-9277, abwallcc.org.

The Pilot Club 5:45 p.m. every fourth Thursday. Elk’s Club, 1547 Riverside Drive, Gainesville.

770-532-2528, jlc814@yahoo.com.

Phoenix Rising Veterans’ Drum Circle 6-8 p.m. every other Wednesday. American Legion Post No. 7, 2343 Riverside Drive, Gainesville. Drums available to borrow. Bring a lawn chair. Free. 770561-7070.

April April 2 Flowery Branch Spring Festival Downtown Flowery Branch. Free. 678-8254228, festivals@troop228.info.

April 3-4 Hall County Master Gardener Spring Garden Expo 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 3; 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

April 4. Chicopee Woods Agriculture Center, 1855 Calvary Church Road, Gainesville. Adults $2; children free. 770-535-8293, www.hallmastergardeners.com.

April 6-12 North Georgia Zoo and Farm’s springtime festival April 6-12; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. North Georgia Zoo and Farm, 2912 Paradise Valley Road, Cleveland. Adults $8; children $6. 706348-7279, www.myfavoritezoo.com.

April 11 Spokes for speech 6:30 a.m. North Hall High School, 4885 Mount Vernon Road, Gainesville. $35. Www.northeastgeorgiaspeechcenter.com.

April 11 Sweep the Hooch 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Don Carter State Park, 5000 N. Browning Bridge Road, Gainesville; multiple other locations. Free. Must register. Www. sweepthehooch.org.

April 18-19 Bear on the Square Mountain Festival Downtown Dahlonega. Free. www.bearonthesquare.org.

April 18 Pet Fest 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. . Crows Lake, 155 Crows Lake Drive, Jefferson. Free. 706-367-1111, www.hsjc. com, traci@hsjc.com.

April 24 Annie Sellick 8 p.m. Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St.,Gainesville. $30. 770-534-2787, info@ theartscouncil.net, www.theartscouncil.net.

Through April 12 Orchid Daze: Pop Art! The annual exhibition through April 12, highlights thousands of blooms in the Garden’s nationally renowned collection of species orchids. This year’s theme celebrates fun iconic images from the Pop Art movement by artists such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Keith Haring, complementing them with bold, playful Cattleya orchids. atlantabotanicalgarden.org.

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April | May 2015

LAKE Destination

Lanier

April 25 Spring Chicken Festival 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. . Gainesville Square. Free. 770-531-2664, www.exploregainesville.org.

April 26 Sprint and Super Sprint Triathlon 7 a.m. Frances Meadows Center, 1545 Community Way, Gainesville.

Adults $45-$55; children $40-50. 770-535-3066, www.gainesville.org/tri.

May

May 2 The Doobie Brothers 7:30 p.m. . Verizon Wireless Amphitheater at Encore Park, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta. $19.50-$99.50, 800-745-3000, www.vzwamp.com.

May 10 The Damnwells at Shaky Knees Festival 12 p.m. Central Park, 400 Merritts Ave. NE, Atlanta. Three-day pass $206.70. Www.thedamnwells.com.

May 16 Virginia Schenck Quartet 8 p.m. Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St.,Gainesville. $30.

770-534-2787, info@theartscouncil.net, www.theartscouncil.net.

May 2-3 Gainesville Botanical Garden opening weekend 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Gainesville Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1911 Sweetbay Drive, Gainesville. Adults $8; children $5. 404-876-5859, www.atlantabg. org/visit/gainesville.

May 2 Light in the Garden 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta. Adults $22.95; children $15.95; children younger than 3 free.

404-876-5859, www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org.

May 9-10 Gardens for connoisseurs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta. Adults $18.95; children $12.95; children younger than 3 free.

404-876-5859, www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org.

May 16 Virginia Schenck Quartet 8 p.m. .Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St.,Gainesville. $30.

770-534-2787, info@theartscouncil.net, www.theartscouncil.net.

May 16 Needtobreathe 7 p.m. . Verizon Wireless Amphitheater at Encore Park, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta. $19.50-$69.50. 800-745-3000, www.vzamp.com.

May 21 Darius Rucker 7 p.m. Verizon Wireless Amphitheater at Encore Park, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta. $24.50-$69.50, 800-745-3000, www.vzwamp.com.

destinationlanier.com

April | May 2015

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Day-use Parks 1 Buford Dam 2 Lower Overlook 3 Powerhouse 4 Lower Pool 5 West Bank 6 Shoal Creek 7 Big Creek 8 Burton Mill 9 Van Pugh South 10 West Bank Overlook

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Boat Ramp

Playground

Picnic Areas

Swimming Areas

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Old Federal Balus Creek Mountain View Robinson Simpson Sardis Creek Wahoo Creek Thompson Bridge Little River Lula

State, County, City Parks 1 Lake Lanier Islands 2 Flowery Branch 3 River Forks

Campgrounds 1 2 3 4 5

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

Belton Bridge Toto Creek Nix Bridge Thompson Creek War Hill Bolding Mill Little Hall Duckett Mill Keith Bridge Long Hollow

6 Shady Grove Shoal Creek 7 Bald Ridge Creek Old Federal 8 Sawnee Duckett Mill 9 River Forks (Hall) War Hill Toto Creek 10 Bolding Mill 11Van Pugh South

Vann’s Tavern Bethel Two Mile Six Mile Charleston Young Deer Tidwell Little Ridge Mary Alice East Bank Lanier Park Van Pugh North 7 Laurel Park 8 Clarks Bridge 9 Lumpkin

4 Lanier Point 5 Longwood Park 6 Holly Park

Marinas 1 Lanier Harbor 2 Lazy Days 3 Holiday 4 Hideaway Bay 5 Aqualand

6 Sunrise Cove 7 Gainesville 8 Port Royale 9 Bald Ridge 10 Habersham

UNIFORM STATE WATERWAY MARKING SYSTEM Keep an eye out for these signs when you are boating on Lake Lanier. They provide crucial information about what lies ahead in the water

DIVER BELOW Boaters should exercise caution when passing through area

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April | May 2015

OBSTRUCTION MARKER

Indicates not easily seen blockage Do not pass between shore and buoy

BOATS KEEP OUT Danger such as waterfalls, swim areas or rapids ahead may lie outside diamond shape.

DANGER!

Danger may be indicated inside diamond shape, such as rocks, reefs, dams or construction

CAUTION!

Controlled area as indicated in circle, such as speed limit, no fishing, slow-no wake orDestination no prop boats LAKE Lanier

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One short blast: Pass to the right

destinationlanier.com

Two short blast: Maintain Course

Privileged boat on right.

Pass astern

One blast right.

Two blasts left.

April | May 2015

45

Around Lanier 70th annual Gainesville Jaycees Young Woman, Man of the Year March 6, 2015

A woman who has battled breast cancer three times and an active community servant were named as the Gainesville Jaycees’ 2015 Young Man and Young Woman of the Year recipients.

The 70th annual awards were presented at the Chattahoochee Country Club in Gainesville to Heidi Ferguson and Trey Wood.

Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours March 12, 2015

Local business owners and leaders gathered at Scott’s on the Square for the March business after hours and a little food and beverage as they mingled and networked.

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April | May 2015

LAKE Destination

Lanier

2015 Quinlan Visual Arts Center annual Gala March 7., 2015

Steve Penley, one of America’s most celebrated artists emerging from the South, was the featured guest at the 2015 Quinlan Visual Arts Center Fine Art Auction Gala. The gala auction raised funds for the center to use for community art education.

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April | May 2015

LAKE Destination

Lanier

Eighth annual Chamber Chase 5K March 26, 2015

The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce hosted the eighth annual Chamber Chase 5-kilometer race at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville.

Kenneth Slavik of Flowery Branch was the race winner. Race coordinator Megan Martin estimated more than 1,100 runners participated in the race, which marks an increase from last year’s 1,000.

Mutts on Main March 28, 2015

Dog lovers brought their best friends to downtown Gainesville for the annual Mutts on Main, raising funds for the Hall County Animal Shelter and its adoption programs.

destinationlanier.com

April | May 2015

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29th annual John Hunter Regatta March 28, 2015

Multiple college and youth rowing teams took part in the event held at the Lake Lanier Olympic course.

Lake Lanier Rowing Club earned first place in the men’s junior 4X event.

For full results, go to www.johnhunterregatta.com/results/2015.

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April | May 2015

LAKE Destination

Lanier