Lake Destination Lanier

A lake home with artistic flair PLUS Swiftwater rescue team suits up for dangerous training

June | July 2015

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What’s Inside

June | July 2015

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Service with a beautiful smile

On the Cover Pam Hilton wanted to use local artisans and craftsmen to make her Lake Lanier home unique while being a reflection of her own artistic flair.

PAGE 14 Photo Michelle Boaen Jameson

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BGW Dental opens a Gainesville office with full service, a friendly staff and a relaxing atmosphere.

Lanier real estate questions answered 12

Frank Norton advises those thinking about buying around Lanier to do their research.

LLA sees membership increase 24

Joanna Cloud thanks members at annual meeting and talks about events to come.

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More than just a fishing trip 26

Local veteran Sean Adams get fly fishing tips from Bill Oyster as he prepares for the trip of a lifetime.

Lanier Islands Stables welcomes ACTHA 28

American Competitive Trail Horse Association comes to Lake Lanier for its national riding circuit.

DNR reminds boaters to obey the law this summer 32

Following the Big 3 will keep boaters safe during the busy season on Lake Lanier.

Firefighters take to the water 34

Gwinnett County’s Swiftwater Rescue Team stays on top of its skills in order to be ready when fun on the water turns into trouble.

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Inside Every Issue 6 38 42 44

From the Editor Calendar Your Guide to Lake Lanier Around Lanier

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From the Editor The magic of summer

Finally, it has arrived. Memorial Day has come and gone and now we can start doing all those things that summer allows: swimming, grilling outdoors and enjoying longer days.

Let’s get outside and partake in the splendor that Lake Lanier offers all of us, but let’s do it safely. The Department of Natural Resources reminds us that the lake is entering its busy season and there many things we can do to stay safe on the water.

And should we get into trouble, there are great teams of emergency responders at the ready. Check out page 34 to find out about how the Gwinnett County Swiftwater Rescue Team operates both on Lanier and the Chattahoochee.

Summer also brings the opportunity to join up with the Lake Lanier Association and help keep our beautiful lake looking its best.

If you aren’t much for being on or in the water, then be sure to check out the new Smithgall Woodland Legacy that just opened in Hall County. As an arm of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, it has garden trails, a visitor center, amphitheater and water features (like the one pictured behind me at left). Sometimes just the sound of water can soothe the soul.

And while we are on the topic of soothing souls, read about Gainesville’s own Sean Adams, a wounded veteran who is soothing his soul with a little fly fishing courtesy of Bill Oyster himself (page 26). Hopefully something in this issue of LAKE will inspire you to take advantage of summer and soothe your own soul on Lanier.

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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

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ichelle ameson

Michelle Boaen Jameson editor@destinationlanier.com

From the readers I read Nancy Spraker’s article, Pinpointing Peril, about the use of cell phones to report a lake emergency. While using a cell phone in an emergency is great, it only goes to the one party that is called.

Nancy briefly mentioned the VHF radio. It only works if someone is listening. If you can afford a boat, surely you can afford a hand-held radio for about $200 or less. If boaters kept their VHF radios on all the time, including all DNR, Coast Guard Auxiliary and others patrolling boats on the lake, you would have instant access to all those boaters. A fellow boater might respond

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to distress much faster than a 911 response (but not to include a 911 call) for any emergency. You might get a good samaritan response in a few minutes and also remember physicians, nurses, etc., are also recreational boaters who might help. You could also report reckless boating behavior to patrol boats if they have their radios on.

You could also use the radio to speak to other boaters (not on channel 16) for other issues of interest such as good restaurants, docking questions, fuel prices and so on.

I would love to see a campaign to promote the use of the VHF radios on Lake Lanier. Remember, cell phones do not always get good reception and don’t work if they get soaked.

Arnold Zweig, M.D. Concerned boater

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.

LAKE Destination

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LAKE LANIER’S BEST ADDRESS

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Lake Lanier all smiles, all year long

Dr. Matthew Vaughn proves that no matter the reason for your dental visit, BGW Dental Group provides an excellent patient experience every time for patients of all ages.

BGW Dental keeps our mouths happy and healthy When people think about living near Lake Lanier, they often think about breezy boat rides, fishing off the dock and watching the sun set over smooth waters, all the while with a big smiles across their faces.

Many forget to consider that quality of life around Lake Lanier extends far beyond just the

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boat’s wake. Thanks to top-notch dental groups like BGW Dental Group in Gainesville, dental care is another aspect of the area that makes North Georgia an attractive place to work, play and live.

Offering comprehensive dental care for more than 40 years, BGW Dental Group has a

reputation of treating people, not just teeth — and in a community like this one, that extra care goes a long way. With a team of experienced dentists and staff, patients can expect a professional and comfortable experience every time they visit the practice.

As the population continues to grow around Lake Lanier, more and more people are in need of a dental practice to call home. BGW Dental Group has remained committed to treating patients of all ages with comprehensive care.

In fact, even their tagline touts “caring for families from three to 103.” Whether the dentists are seeing a toddler, or an older patient in need of a root canal, all dentists and staff at BGW Dental

LAKE Destination

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BGW Dental Group’s team of experienced dentists are proud to care for families from ages three to 103. Pictured L to R: Dr. Richard Bennett Jr., Dr. Cindy Fulenwider Greene (seated), Dr. Ryan Wood, Dr. Matthew Vaughn Group have the ability, training and skill to treat all patients, no matter the stage of life.

“One of the most difficult things is to make a dentist office a welcoming and warm, yet professional environment, but BGW Dental Group hits the ball out of the park,” says patient and operator of Chickfil-A Gainesville Bobby Shoemaker. “As a kid, the dentist was the last place I wanted to go, but since moving to Gainesville and being a patient of BGW Dental Group, I never dread the experience and neither do my children. In fact, my youngest daughter is five and loves going to the dentist. She’s fascinated by the equipment and the process and sees the staff and dentists as friends. I feel the same way.”

BGW Dental Group is deeply rooted in the North Georgia community and has grown tremendously over the years since former owners, Dr. Bennett Sr. and Dr.

Rear Exterior of BGW Dental Group’s new building on Vine Street faces Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville’s North Patient Tower.The new location has 16 patient exam rooms, two sedation suites, four private consultation room, two sterilization suites, private recovery area and a spacious lobby for a pleasant patient experience, every time.

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Kimsey, started the practice in 1974 under the name Bennett Family Dentistry.

Today, the practice goes by the name BGW Dental Group and has evolved to include four dentists: Drs. Richard Bennett, Jr., Cindy Fulenwider Greene, Ryan Wood and Matthew Vaughn. The most recent and exciting development for the practice however, is that BGW Dental Group has combined their two former locations so they can now see patients under one roof in a custom-built dental office at 1215 Vine Street in Gainesville.

“Our practice has grown tremendously over the years, and we’ve been very blessed by that,” says BGW Dental Group dentist Dr. Richard Bennett. “Expansion at our old locations was not structurally possible or feasible, so we began planning for a new space that would allow us to grow and accommodate all of our patients under one roof. It is our goal to provide our patients and community the highest level of dental care, and we feel like our new location and facility allow for that kind of quality experience.”

BGW Dental Group’s new location involved years of planning, research and preparation. Every detail from the building layout, to the interior design, was meticulously planned to specifically benefit a dental practice and enhance the patient experience. The new two-story building includes 16 patient rooms, four private consultation rooms, two sedation suites, two private recovery areas, two sterilization labs, a covered drop-off area, a balcony view of Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s North Patient Tower, a conference room that seats 30 guests and a spacious reception area.

The new location houses new technology throughout, including television monitors, digital radiography and intraoral cameras found in each

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BGW Dental Group’s new location houses two state-of-the-art sterilization suites that allow for absolute sanitation and sterilization of all dental equipment used by the BGW Dental Group team.

BGW Dental Group’s new location houses a spacious waiting room area with flat screen tvs, real stone fireplaces, docking/charging station for wireless devices, and a complimentary beverage station, all while giving a relaxed, rustic feel.

patient room. BGW Dental Group is committed to patient comfort, offering nitrous Oxide, oral and IV sedation for all types of dentistry from cleanings and fillings to root canals and oral surgeries.

No matter the type of sedation, the suites are fully equipped to monitor and measure body responses throughout operations and patient sedations. The building’s design even incorporated private recovery rooms for patients to comfortably recoup after oral surgeries and review post-op care with their families.

“Technology has been the biggest change I’ve noticed over the years,” says patient and state Sen. Butch Miller.

“There’s so much more that they are equipped to offer and treatment options they can provide. The level of care has always been tremendous, but due to their willingness to stay on top of new technologies, the level of care has increased tenfold.”

Additionally, BGW Dental Group is a strong believer in continuing education across a variety of general and cosmetic procedures. The team of dentists at BGW Dental Group offers many types of procedures including, but not limited to, sedations, laser whitening, cosmetic dentistry, children’s dentistry, wisdom teeth removal, root canals, implant placement, filling restorations and even oral cancer care.

“Our priority has always been our patients,” adds Dr. Bennett. “The new building is just an extension of that patientcentered care that we’ve always tried to provide. The additional space allows us to offer more appointment times for patients to choose from, same-day appointment availability, access to the latest technology and even more privacy during patient consults and visits.”

BGW Dental Group did not overlook quality or any aspect of the patient experience, making sure to include amenities such as comfortable waiting room seating, large flat-screen televisions in the lobby, gas logs in real stone fireplaces in the seating area, docking/ charging station for wireless devices, complimentary beverage station and free Wi-Fi connection.

LAKE Destination

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“Our current patients seem really excited about our growth,” continues Dr. Greene. “Some of our patients have been with us for more than 30 years and are proud of our progress throughout that time. They know the building is for their benefit and was designed with them in mind. We hope our facility will serve as a landmark in our community for both patient-centered care and the direction that dentistry is going.”

While BGW Dental Group provides thorough dental treatments, the practice seems to be equally established through relationships with patients.

“We truly have become like a great big extended family,” continues Dr. Greene. “We’ve watched kids grow up, graduate and get married, and we’ve experienced the hardships of our patients passing away or losing loved ones. Dentistry is a pretty personal field, and it’s nice to know that our patients celebrate our milestones, just as much as we celebrate theirs.”

Whether you’re new to town, looking for a way to brighten your smile, or seeking a way to improve your overall oral health and quality of life, the team at BGW Dental Group is dedicated to ensuring the Lake Lanier community is all smiles, all year long.

BGW Dental Group’s Office Manager, Lori Shubert, has been a staple of the practice for several years and is known by patients as the friendly face that greets them when they walk in the doors for their appointments.

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June | July 2015

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Ask great questions Well, it’s about time to write about Lake Lanier real estate. I’ve enjoyed my bimonthly dissertations on everything from Lake Lanier ghost stories to our community’s parched thirst for water. However it’s time to write at least one treatise on Lake Lanier real estate. After all, that’s really our family’s business and the roots of our North Georgia growth.

We were active farm brokers when the lake was merely a glimmer in some Washington, D.C., engineer’s eyes and we watched land in the valleys of Forsyth, Hall, Dawson and Lumpkin counties sell for $20 to $50 per acre. We were lakefront lot brokers as the lake was filling up and we watched lots sell for $400 and $500 an acre and the mass merchandisers created communities on paper and sold lots by lottery.

Collectively, we have sold more Lake Lanier real estate than any other firm … ever! We’ve been predictors of lake market conditions before there was a “lake market.” In these 60 short years, we have watched the lake morph from a “wilderness speculative” market to an inaccessible second home cabin community (pre Ga. 400 and Interstate 985) to today’s Millionaire Row luxury lake enclave.

With more than 10,000 lakefront properties with access to a boat dock, approximately 4,000 dockless lakefront homes and another 7,000 (give or take a thousand) “lakeview” homes, how do you go about buying the right property at the right price? And is this the right time? While circumstances vary, some constants do exist.

The maximum capacity of private boat dock permits on Lanier has been reached and there is a finite amount of lake shoreline. They aren’t making any more of Lake Lanier.

Atlanta’s demographic march is north, its business growth is north and Lake Lanier is in the way. Expect prices to continue an upward march. Within 25 years, Lake Lanier will be in the heart of metro Atlanta demographics.

However, buying lake property can be confusing. Today’s buyer needs to be armed with lots of information, have a professional realtor by their side, a lake expert as their advocate and ask lots and lots of questions. My top 20 include: 1. What are the major differences in north and south lake properties?

2. Why should you live on the lake based on your lifestyle?

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3. Is this lake community a good area for resale?

4. What role does the Corps of Engineers have to do with Lake Lanier? What are the corps’ rules? How do I find out more about the Corps of Engineers and its Shore Management Plan?

5. What is the waterfront footage for this property?

6. What is the water depth under the dock and in the cove, now and at low pool?

7. Is this area commutable to my job? How far is the airport?

8. Should we buy a home with a private dock or in a club community with a homeowners association, covenants and a marina-style slip?

9. What improvements has the seller made to this property? Were they permitted? Up to code?

10. How close is the nearest boat ramp and marina for gas?

11. Is this property on septic or a well? What are the utilities on this property?

12. Does this property have a dock or dock permit?

13. How close is this home to the water?

14. Can I cut down trees and underbrush to open up this view?

15. If I build, how close can I build to the corps line?

16. How do I know where the corps line is? What does “1085 line” mean?

17. What is full pool on Lake Lanier?

18. Do dock permits transfer? Who applies for new dock permits, the seller or the buyer?

19. Tell me about the local restaurants, marinas and shopping in this area?

20. Am I working with a seasoned lake agent that knows all the ends and outs of owning on Lake Lanier?

There you go: Ask great questions, get great answers and live enjoying Georgia’s Great Lake.

P.S. Personal thanks to Norton’s lake experts who helped develop these important questions.

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.

LAKE Destination

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All in the details What could have been an average lake house became several works of art Photos by Michelle Boaen Jameson

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LAKE Destination

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Homeowner Pam Hilton, center, with builder Richard Padgham and artisans Pat Ebersole, left, and Lisa Pirkle.

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When Pam Hilton decided a little over a year ago to build a home on Lake Lanier, she could have stuck with a basic plan, turned it over to builders and come back when the keys were ready.

But Hilton didn’t want basic, or ordinary. So she went out of her way to find a group of craftsmen to turn her home into an extension of her personality.

Hilton bought a lot on Whiporwill Lane with an existing home, but the home was too old and derelict to save, said Hilton. So she found a builder willing to raze the old and build the new, all while Hilton looked over every detail of the project.

“I worked with Natural Element Homes to design the house, and then we researched builders and selected Richard to build it,” said Hilton.

Richard Padgham of RPI Homes has built numerous houses on Lanier, but this was the first time he had ever worked with an owner so closely.

“She must have called 20 times a day,” Padgham said jokingly. “She really knew what she wanted.”

And what she wanted was something that reflected her and her family’s sense of humor, love for the outdoors and a feeling of warmth.

The three-story, five-bedroom home has an amazing view of Lanier, a large screened porch, fireplaces indoors and out, a full bar with a place to watch University of Georgia football, pool table, “hidden” man cave for Hilton’s college-age son and plenty of room to spread out with family.

“I really wanted to create a home that involved the local community as much as possible. There are no nicer people than those I have found in the Gainesville, Hall Country area, and I wanted to give back to the community as much as I could. It just makes the house that much more special,” said Hilton of choosing local artisans.

The deck and screened porch are boarded with tempered glass so as not to obstruct the view of Lake Lanier.

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“I used to have an art gallery in Gainesville named Bonefish.

Customers came to me for fish,” said Pirkle. “I have been creating concrete backsplashes since 2007. Depending on the size of the space, it takes about three weeks from start to installation. I also incorporate birds into my backsplashes.”

Lisa Pirkle with Create-A-Scene, Inc., created a custom backsplash out of copper and concrete for Hilton’s kitchen.

“She created a fish scene representing each one of my family members, and also made a concrete bowl for the half bath. Her work is also featured for sale in Frontage magazine, and she does many custom pieces for people in the Lake Burton and Lake Rabun area lake homes.”

Pirkle also created an oil lamp for the porch that carries the concrete and copper fish motif. Hilton has fish throughout the house in various forms from lamps to wall ornaments. She even created a stained glass piece for the ground floor bath depicting a large mouth bass (opposite page).

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LAKE Destination

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Hilton got the idea from Etsy to use pennies as a backsplash for the kitchen counter top.The pennies complement the copper in the fish and the oven’s hood vent, which Hilton also did herself out of copper plates. She used pennies on the sink and floor of the bathroom off the kitchen.

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Artist Pat Ebersole, with Founders Kitchen and Bath, married light and dark cabinetry with a light green trim work brought out by the patina on the copperwork. She then chose drawer pulls and handles featuring various fish and woodsy elements.

Ebersole also built a custom china cabinet to match, and used the same green in the custom pantry doors.

“I wanted someone who could think outside the box and give me a Montana or Wyoming feel to my cabinetry,” said Hilton. “I met (Pat) through a reference at Home Depot where she used to work, and we clicked immediately.”

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LAKE Destination

Lanier

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“My favorite aspect, said Padgham, is the stone wall going up the staircase. Padgham said building the stairs were the hardest part. “They are open riser and that’s tricky, then we had to tie in the stone with it!”

“It’s always a challenge (working with artists). Most artists like to work on only their part, and very few have knowledge of how it ties in with the construction process, so they have to be taught to integrate their talent with others.”

Padgham said building this home was different in that “the degree of detail while not really unique to my homes, is more than I typically would do.”

The barn-style doors in the master bedroom look heavy, but are actually light and glide with ease.

Alan Morales with G&S Flooring spent countless hours with Hilton on the floors and in stores going over the best tile, grout and designs for each room, such as this “river” of stone in the master bath that extends all the way into the shower.

Hilton did a little stonework of her own in one of the bathrooms, mimicking the “river” in the master bath.

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LAKE Destination

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“I was driving in Hiawassee looking for a craftsman and came upon Bearwassee Forest Store,” said Hilton.

“In the store were beautiful works of art in wood. I showed them what I wanted to accomplish, and David Jones made it happen and even transported it from the mountains of Hiawassee.”

Many pieces of furniture and the cabinetry in the guest bedrooms were done by Bearwassee.The custom pieces complete the rustic, woodsy feel of the Hilton home.

The mantel above was hand-carved by Garrett Pigott from Blue Ridge and includes a bulldog in the woodland scene as a nod to Hilton’s love of UGA.

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Dan Quinn, also known as “Twig Man,” with Nature's Design met Hilton by chance outside of Scott's Antique Market in Atlanta.

“He is originally from Vermont, and his work had that adirondack feel I had been looking for,” said Hilton.

“He made so many of the beds, cornices, canoe chairs and vanity console after talking with me about exactly what I wanted. He also made the balcony railing which I think is exceptional!”

Below, Quinn added fly ties to a mirror in the upstairs bathroom.

Opposite page: Padgham used a chevron pattern for the wood walls in the upstairs bedrooms and on a wall in the home’s entryway.

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LAKE Destination

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Richard Padgham Fine Custom Homes, 770503-1999, rpihomes.com Alan Morales, G&S Flooring, 678-776-3032 Lisa Pirkle, Create-AScene, Inc. 770-366-3980, createascene.biz Bearwassee Forest Store. 706-896-1211, bearwassee.com Pat Ebersole, Founders Kitchen and Bath. 706974-9395, www.akitchen todiefor.com Dan Quinn, Nature’s Design, 423-899-7919 Garrett Pigott, Mantels of Yesteryear, 706-4554647, Mantelsof Yester year.com destinationlanier.com

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Annual meeting brings in new membership The Lake Lanier Association’s annual Member Meeting was held on Saturday, April 18, 2015 at Port Royale Marina. The event was a huge success!

We had one of the largest turnout of attendees ever for the annual meeting with close to 400 people in attendance. Being on the water at the Pelican Pete’s restaurant area of the marina certainly helped give the event a beautiful lake setting. We also had the Lanier Crappie Anglers fishing club do a fish fry for us as heavy hor d’oeuvres. Those people know how to catch some fish, and how to fry them up! We are fortunate to have such a great club in our community that is willing to donate their time, expertise and equipment for our event.

Retired metro Atlanta meteorologist, and long-time Lake Lanier resident Ken Cook was the keynote speaker for our event. Ken gave a talk about his experience working in Atlanta media for 30+ years and had us all laughing at some of the crazy rain/sleet/snow events that he has witnessed, and reported on, over the years. Ken also talked about some of his personal experiences living on Lake Lanier and discussed some of his observations regarding lake levels and lake management.

LLA President Val Perry gave an overview of LLA’s current financial standings as well as an update on our ongoing programs and services in the community such as Adopt-A-Lake, Shore Sweep, Solar Lights, Rip Rap, and Abandoned/Derelict Docks and Vessels.

Volunteer of the Year Awards were given to Lu Treadway for her tireless efforts on lake cleanup initiatives and John Barker for his significant contributions in establishing a partnership agreement with the DNR and Corps of Engineers to help identify and resolve issues surrounding

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abandoned and derelict docks and vessels on Lake Lanier. Thanks to both Lu and John, the lake is a cleaner place for all of us to enjoy.

Several lake-based businesses represented at the meeting for a vendor expo which was a great opportunity for LLA members to interact with and get information from dock companies, boat dealers and various service companies in a casual, one-on-one setting.

LLA is looking forward to seeing lake stakeholders at various promotional events over the summer. Be sure to “like” us on Facebook at Lake Lanier Association, or follow us on Twitter @LakeLanierAssoc, or, of course, check out our website at www.lakelanier.org to get updates on current events or initiatives we have going on in the community. We’ve recently posted several interesting media articles regarding water quality issues, boat fuel, and water management that Lake Lanier stakeholders will be interested in seeing.

Be sure to mark your calendar, our next big community event will be Shore Sweep — our annual lake shoreline cleanup event — which will take place on Saturday, Sept.26, 2015. More details will follow soon in the various media outlets. As always, the more the merrier when it comes to cleaning up the lake! We will need volunteers the day of the event, as well as advance shoreline scouts to go out and help identify trash areas that need attention. We especially need boat enthusiasts to help reach the water accessible only locations, whether that be pontoon, runabout, personal water craft, canoe or kayak.

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.

LAKE Destination

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LakeLanierGainesvilleGa.com

LakeLanierGainesville.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.

In the heart of Gainesville on almost an acre, this renovated brick ranch has a French Country inspired kitchen open to a keeping room with fireplace. The sunroom and breakfast room, as well as the master offer stunning, million dollar views of the water. The floorplan’s open and gracious flow make this a wonderful home for entertaining.

Downstairs on the finished terrace level is a 2nd fireplace, family room and recreation room that opens to a comfortable screened porch. Located just 5 minutes from Northeast Georgia Medical Center, restaurants and Gainesville’s Downtown Square.

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Confidence with every cast For wounded veteran Sean Adams, a day spent fly fishing is merely preparation for the trip of a lifetime Story and photos by Frank Reddy Two men stand at the edge of a pond, the hulking silhouettes of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the horizon.

The younger man holds a fly fishing rod.

He is in a wheelchair. There are stickers on the spokes, oval decals that say “Afghanistan” and “Veteran.”

The older man gives instruction,

Bill Oyster shows Sean Adams the proper technique for casting a fly rod.They met in Blue Ridge, where Oyster’s fly rod business is located, so that Adams could practice before a planned trip to Alaska.

gesturing with his hands. The younger man listens, nodding. He whips the rod, drawing monofilament calligraphy against a blue sky.

Gently, he lays line down on the water surface.

“Good,” the instructor says.

This is practice for Gainesville’s Sean Adams, a rehearsal for the real thing. In a matter of weeks, he hopes to be on his way to Alaska with girlfriend Callie Baize, where he’ll use the lessons learned today to try and catch a king salmon.

“It’s going to be a new experience,” Adams said. “I’ve done a lot of fishing, but there’s more technique to this. I may still need some time to get it down, but I’m liking it.”

Funded through the support of friends, family and generous donors, the excursion for retired Lance Cpl. Adams, a 22-year-old U.S. Marine, who was wounded three years ago in Afghanistan, was the brainchild of Rick Jones, a fellow military veteran who also suffered serious injuries serving his country.

Jones created a crowdfunding page in March devoted to the cause of sending Adams fishing in Alaska. An outdoor enthusiast, Adams has fished and hunted all over Georgia, but his experience has been limited.

And, it’s limitations, both physical and financial, that Jones hopes to help Adams overcome. He learned of Adams after asking around, looking for a deserving veteran for this idea he and his friends had been kicking around.

“Some friends of mine, we decided we wanted to do something like this,” Jones said.

“I’ll find a good candidate and get the money, you guys handle the rest. That was our plan. I found out about Sean. I read articles about him.

I learned what he’d been through,” Jones said.

“Right now, he’s feeling a lot of the same stuff I went through years ago, and I don’t remember how I came through it but it wasn’t easy.”

LAKE Destination

Lanier

In 1983, Jones was injured during a training exercise while stationed with the 902d Military Intelligence Unit at Fort Meade, Md. “When I was 18, I broke my neck and had to learn to walk again,” Jones said. “I got messed up real bad, but not to the degree that (Adams) is dealing with.”

On Feb. 10, 2012, Adams, a 2011 graduate of Chestatee High School, stepped on an improvised explosive device while serving in the Helmand province of Afghanistan. He lost his legs, and his hands were damaged.

“We want Sean to have an opportunity to see how this fly rod will work for him,” said Jones, who watched Adams and his instructor practice casting line on the pond. “We want to see if there’s any modification needed for the fly rod. If there is, we can do it now. We can get him set up with a fly rod that he can use.”

Jones paused, watching Adams throw long, graceful loops of fishing line into the air.

“But, I don’t think he’s going to need any modifications. Looks like he’s got it figured out.”

Instructor Bill Oyster agreed. “(Adams) has never held a fly rod before, so we wanted to get him familiar with it. Learn how to cast a little bit and get ready for Alaska,” Oyster said. “It’s going great. He’s a super fast learner. He’s going to have no problems with it.

He’s already casting as well as it’s going to take to catch fish.”

As far as teachers go, Adams could do worse than having Oyster show him the ropes. The world famous fly fisherman makes and sells destinationlanier.com

Sean Adams, middle, poses for a photo with Bill Oyster, left, Rick Jones, middle, and Riley Gudakunst, right, who works with Oyster at his fly rod business in downtown Blue Ridge.

custom bamboo rods at his business, Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods, in downtown Blue Ridge. His rods are “works of art,” Jones said. Each sells for thousands of dollars.

When asked if he would work with Adams, to teach him how to cast a fly rod, Oyster said “sure.”

“It’s the sort of thing you don’t say no to,” Oyster said. “Why wouldn’t you want to help with something like this?”

Jones hopes others will feel the same way.

Halfway to the fundraising goal of $20,000 (which includes a 10-day trip to Alaska with a professional fishing guide, lodging and sightseeing for Adams and girlfriend Callie), Jones said a lot of people have been very generous.

As part of the efforts, an upcoming car show is planned from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 20 on Main Street in Gainesville.

Why a car show?

“Sean is really big into automobiles,” Jones said.

Adams has a restored 1970 Chevelle he spends time working on. His other hobbies are

mostly of the outdoor variety, but this fly fishing expedition will be a novel adventure.

In fact, when Adams first learned of the plan to send him to Alaska, he thought Jones was off his rocker.

“I thought Rick was a madman, calling me up on my phone. I was like, ‘man, how did you get my number?’” Adams said, laughing. “I told Callie, ‘I’m going to let this guy either fall on his face or come through shining.’ And, he’s doing it.

He’s doing the work. It’s amazing, but we might really be going to Alaska.”

Jones, who took a trip to Alaska many years ago, thought it a shame that a young man and outdoorsman like Adams had never had the chance to land a king salmon.

“We’re hoping it’s something he’ll never forget,” Jones said. “This kid’s been through a lot, and we hope we can give him the gift of a lifetime here.”

Adams is beyond grateful that Jones and others have taken an interest. He said it’s not always been easy adjusting to the surprises life has dealt him.

The past three years, he said, have been an “uphill fight.”

“There’s a lot that’s happened to me, but you just have to keep going,” Adams said. “You learn to adapt and overcome. And, you keep going.

You live.”

Visit http://www.gofundme.com/ sendseanfishing to help.

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R

oping in

iders

New equestrian program brings national recognition to Lanier Islands Stables Story by Pamela A. Keene Photos courtesy Corporate Exposures, LLC

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The lakeside trails under tall pines and hardwoods at Lanier Islands are the perfect setting for horse-lovers seeking a relaxing and fun trail ride. And the resort’s equestrian center has recently become an official destination for a national competitive riding circuit sponsored by the American Competitive Trail Horse Association, known as ACTHA. And even for those who don’t have their own horse, the islands offers year-round trail riding.

Beth Pedaggi, director of the Stables at Lanier Islands, has competed in ACTHA events for several years, and last year became a host for the group’s competitive trail rides. In March, she and Lanier Islands hosted Legacy on the Lake, the island’s first activity for the organization. She plans a second ACTHA trail-ride event this fall.

“We had more than 80 riders in March for our six-mile, six-obstacle ride on our trails, along the shoreline and on the old Pine Isle golf course to raise money for Driving Magic in Hoschton,” Pedaggi says. “All of us are committed to supporting horse rescues and charities that involve horses, so this was a wonderful way to launch these ACTHA trail rides at the islands.”

Local ACTHA ride events select different charities for each ride and that many of the riders and volunteers in March had worked closely with Driving Magic, a non-profit therapeutic and recreational organization that uses equine-assisted programs to help adults and children with developmental and/or physical disabilities. “It was the perfect way to begin our relationship as a host for ACTHA rides and benefit a local group at the same time.”

The competitive rides feature a series of obstacles for the riders and their horses to experience. For the March ride, Pedaggi’s obstacles reflected various aspects of the resort. One featured a modified slalom course between kayaks and paddleboards; another included a life-saving exercise in shallow water, with riders throwing a life vest and guiding their horses through the drill.

At these events, each horse and rider team is judged on their ability destinationlanier.com

to maneuver through or around 6 to 8 miles of trails with obstacles along the way. These could include going through water, crossing a bridge or opening a gate within a designated time period, all while mounted. The obstacles replicate different scenarios that may be encountered on a trail. Each team receives two scores – one for the horse’s performance and another for the rider – and these are combined for a team total. Prizes are awarded at the end of the event.

“This is competitive and we earn points toward a national title,” she says. “But although we’re competing, we also have a really good time and know that we’re helping a worthwhile charity.”

The riders bring their own horses to these trail rides. Pedaggi trailers

SunTrustMV - ATName: LANTA BOTAN;

concerts Grand Opening of the Ivester Amphitheater featuring EmmyLou Harris & Rodney Crowell at the new Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville, June 13

The Temptations July 11

concertsinthegarden.org

Scotty McCreery July 17

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her 19-year-old rescue thoroughbred Tilt the Lite.

“He’s been my lifelong equestrian partner, and he’ll probably die in my arms one day, but I am so grateful that I was able to rescue him 15 years ago. Actually, it’s really much more like he rescued me than I rescued him.”

Pedaggi’s life has been about all things equestrian.

She’s been riding and competing since she was a child in South Florida. During college she attended a prestigious riding school in Virginia. She landed her dream job as director of the Lanier Islands Stables 11 years ago and spends her work days directing the center’s staff, overseeing riding lessons and programs, and ovrseeing the island’s nearly 20 horses and ponies.

“We teach and educate people who have never ridden before or who say they have a fear of horses, and work with people who want to kick-start their riding habit or simply cross another item off their bucket list,” she says. “Horseback riding is such a relaxing way to spend time outdoors and we have one of the best places around to ride.”

The riding is open to the public and to resort guests. Additionally, Pedaggi is beginning a new program for area horse-owners to bring their own horses to the islands for the weekend to ride. “We can stable their horses for them at the center and their owners can make use of our campground, which is right next to our facility,” she says. “It’s a perfect way to have a new place to ride that’s close to Atlanta.

And they can use all the amenities here at the islands, including LanierWorld, great dining at Sunset Cove or at the lodge in Sidneys, and everything else that’s here.”

Riders can bring their horses to the resort seven days a week, but Pedaggi asks that owners call ahead so that the equestrian center staff is alerted. Guests with horse trailers coming to the center are admitted to drive to the center, where they pay a $15 ranch fee and then $10 per horse per day to ride the trails.

Programs at the Stables at Lanier Islands include trail rides for children and adults ages 7 and up, pony rides for youngsters ages 2 to 6, weeklong horse day camps in the summer and fall for ages 7 to 14, plus ride and romance packages for couples.

“The resort has so much to offer and we want people to know and experience our wonderful equestrian center, trails and campground,” she says. “And if you ride, be sure to join us on Sunday, October 4, for our next ACTHA event – Legacy on the Lake II. It’s going to be another really great time and by then, the leaves will be changing. You couldn’t ask for a more beautiful place to ride.”

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DNR: Remember the Big 3 for safe boating As you probably already know, Lake Lanier is one of the busiest lakes in the nation during the summer months. This also means the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Law Enforcement Division rangers must work very hard to enforce the laws of the state, but to also inform and educate on the best ways to be a safe boater.

So to make it simple, our division is teaming up with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and other marine law enforcement officers across the nation to promote three rules that, if followed, will greatly reduce the probability of a tragic day at the lake for you and your loved ones. We call them The Big 3.

1. Wear your life jacket Whether you’re going out for a day of boating with family and friends or just swimming with the kids in a quiet cove, wear a U.S. Coast Guardapproved life jacket. And, parents please set the example for your kids.

Life jackets have come a long way in the last 20 years. There are many choices that are comfortable and easy to move around in, unlike those of our childhood. Show your kids that safety is a high priority for the whole family.

National statistics show that more than three-fourths of all fatal boating incident victims drowned, and of those, 84 percent were not wearing life jackets.

On Lake Lanier in 2014, there were 10 drowning victims. None were wearing life jackets.

2. Obey and follow navigation (and other) rules and laws There are no yellow lines on the lake but there are still “rules of the road” to follow to ensure safety. Many boat operators don’t know or understand the basics or what the law says about safe boat operation.

Things like: lDetermining if you are the stand-on or give-way vessel when approaching other boats. lYou must turn on navigation lights after sunset. lThe 100-foot law, which mandates idle speed within 100 feet of a person or any other object in the water, and the shoreline of residences or public-use areas. This applies to personal watercraft. Jumping the wake of another vessel within 100 feet is also illegal.

Our rangers worked 34 boat incidents on Lanier last year that resulted in 31 injuries and one fatality. The lack of knowledge in how to safely operate a vessel was a common factor in most of them.

Our division worked for many years for mandatory boater education.

We now have the “Kile Glover Boat Education Law.” It requires all boat operators born on or after Jan. 1, 1998, to complete a DNR-approved boater safety course before operating a motorized vessel on Georgia 32

June | July 2015

waters. It went into effect on July 1, 2014.

The law specifies an age requirement but we encourage everyone, regardless of age, to take a boater education course.

3. Don’t drink and boat Unfortunately, there is still the mentality of many boaters that drinking and boating go together. We recorded 60 boating under the influence arrests on Lake Lanier just last year, 17 more than in 2013.

In 2014, there were 12 fatal boating incidents statewide and nine involved alcohol. The statistics don’t lie.

So please, designate an operator or just avoid alcohol use while out on the water.

The blood alcohol content for BUI is 0.08, just like Georgia’s DUI law.

But impairment actually begins with the first alcoholic drink and increases with each subsequent drink. So you may not be legally drunk, but if you have consumed any alcohol, you have some degree of impairment.

It’s not just your life on the line. You endanger your passengers and other boaters as well. A couple of drinks can negatively change your life forever. It’s just not worth it.

One of the most difficult duties our rangers have is to notify family when they have lost someone to a drowning or boating incident. It is even more difficult when they have to explain that it could have been prevented if the operator had not been drinking.

So there are three simple rules for you to follow for a safe day at the lake. The key word in that sentence is “you.” It’s up to you.

We can educate on safety. We can enforce the laws. We can provide tips and guidance on boat operation and courtesy. These are all good tools that encourage good decision-making.

But we can’t make choices for you. It is a personal decision to either practice safe boating or to take unnecessary risks that may put you or others in harm’s way.

Choose to follow the Big 3. Again they are: 1. Wear your life jacket; 2.

Obey and follow navigation (and other) rules and laws; 3. Don’t drink and boat.

The Lake Lanier rangers really like to see people enjoying the lake with family and friends and doing it safely. Why? Those people will return another day to do it again.

This summer: Boat safe, boat sober and remember The Big 3!

For more on boating education, laws, and statistics visit the Georgia DNR Law Enforcement web site: http://www.gadnrle.org/ . Click on “Boating.” Visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ gadnrle?ref=hl . NASBLA also has some great safe boating resources at http://www.nasbla.org.

About the author Mark McKinnon is the public affairs officer for the Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Division.

LAKE Destination

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Ready for the

rescue Gwinnett County Swiftwater Rescue Team stays in shape for whatever the water may bring

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June | July 2015

Story by Savannah King Photos by Michelle Boaen Jameson

LAKE Destination

Lanier

Members of the Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services Swiftwater Rescue Team gear up for training. The team often is called to water emergencies both in Lake Lanier and in the Chattahoochee River. Members are from left, Mike Jones, Cody Corbin, Brandon Peevy, Aaron Kilnect and Jody Random.The team practices various manuevers for rescuing victims.

A fisherman waded into the middle of the river and cast his line.

A goose and its goslings paddled along the shores of the ankle-deep Chattahoochee River near the Buford Dam. Meanwhile, amid that peaceful scene, a group of firefighters fastened helmets on the shore a short distance away, preparing for less tranquil outings on the lake as they began their weekly training session.

The Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services Swiftwater Rescue Team often is called to surface water emergencies both in Lake Lanier and in the Chattahoochee River.

The seven-man crew practiced a shallowwater drill before the scheduled dam water release that afternoon. The drill involved one team member pretending to be a stranded

destinationlanier.com

swimmer.

Though each was wearing a wetsuit, they commented on how cold the water is as they waded through the water for the mock rescue.

The water that comes through Buford Dam is pulled from the bottom of Lake Lanier and is usually about 50 degrees. Thus, hypothermia is one of the top concerns when dealing with an emergency call on the river.

As the siren broke the idyllic landscape’s peace, a park ranger announced the dam was moments away from releasing its water and warned those in the river to get out quickly.

Instead, the crew lined up side by side in the still-shallow river.

“Last one standing is the winner,” they teased each other, bracing for the oncoming surge.

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The rising water was slow at first, inching up their legs until it reached their hips.

One of the firemen turned his head to watch the fisherman still standing in in the water downriver.

“He just cast his line again,” he said, concern in his voice.

The others turned to watch the fisherman as well.

White rapids formed up the river and a goose moved swiftly down the river, twirling in the current as it floated away.

The fisherman slowly made his way to the shore and got out of the

water before the rising water reached him.

“Some of these old-timers know the river so well they can time it out to the last minute,” one of the crew explained. “But that’s exactly the kind of calls we get all the time.”

One by one, the men fell away in the current and swam to the shore.

As well-trained as the firemen are, their struggle to reach the shoreline made it easy to see how someone with less experience could get into trouble on the river.

It’s for this reason, Cpt. David Jugenheimer explained, the team is dedicated to training for every situation and circumstance that could happen on the water.

“There’s a lot of training as far as what have I done (before), what do I know about the area,” Jugenheimer said. “Training and experience are key things and most of my crew on my shift have a lot of that experience.”

After practicing a few rescue drills from the shoreline, the crew unloaded their rescue boat into the swift river.

They took turns diving into the water and floating downstream while the firemen put the boat’s speed and maneuverability to the test.

As the current carried the “victim” toward the boat, a fireman reached out to catch him and pull him onboard.

“If you’re trying to catch someone before they get to

Above: Mike Jones tosses a rescue rope to the “victim” in a training scenario. Right: Members of the team grab hold of a “victim” and pull him in to the boat. Below: Members of the team attempt to see who can maintain footing the longest during a release from Buford Dam.

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Brandon Peevy leaps from the side of the SRT boat into the Chattahoochee to be the “victim” in need of rescuing for training purposes. Mike Jones and Jody Random guide the boat toward the turbulent area (below) known as “Drowning Rock.” something that’s dangerous, you can kind of speed up and hook the boat around and try to catch them,” firefighter Jody Random said, as the boat spun around in just enough time to catch the next floating fireman.

As the crew warmed up after leaving the water, they practiced driving the rescue boat. The key to driving the boat on the river is to keep it moving fast so it will sit higher on the water and avoid any branches or rocks that might be under the surface.

Random pointed out a few locations where they have been called to the river in the past: an island in the middle of the river and a large bolder nicknamed “Drowning Rock.”

The crew was called for 17 water-related emergencies in 2014, 14 of which happened on the river.

“When you call 911 and you have a water-related emergency they’re going to send us first,” Jugenheimer said.

“We don’t only respond to the lake or the river. Last year we had two calls where we were responding to two cars that had left the roadway. One was in a swollen creek after a rain storm. The car hydroplaned and ended up being swept down river. ... Then we had the one where the lady exited the roadway and immediately sank to the bottom.”

Jugenheimer said both of those calls ended up being body recoveries.

The crew is always hopeful to save lives but sometimes the best they can do is find a victim’s body. Those cases are the most difficult to deal with, but the crew is able to lean on one another when they need to, Jugenheimer said. destinationlanier.com

“We have a good support group of people in the county if there’s those bad calls,” Jugenheimer said. “They affect us in different ways. For me I ask, ‘Did we do the right thing? Did I give the victim the best possible chances?’ If I can say ‘yes’ to that question, I think I’ve done my job. That’s why training is so important because we want to give the victims the best chance of survival.”

Jugenheimer said he hopes people will take safety precautions seriously and always wear a personal flotation device while on the river or the lake.

“If we didn’t run a swiftwater call, would that hurt my feelings?”

Jugenheimer said. “No. That would mean people are being safe. I enjoy doing this but if we never got another call, it’d be a good thing.”

As the crew backed the ambulance down the boat ramp, its boat trailer slipping sideways into the swollen river, a woman jumped out of her car and ran over to Jugenheimer.

“I just wanted to say I think what you’re doing is really cool,” she said as she and a small crowd of onlookers watched the crew maneuver the boat onto the trailer as if it was second nature.

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Calendar

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

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

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

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

Lake Lanier Rowing Club 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.

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

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.

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, 38

June | July 2015

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.

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

Friday sketch Club 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. first Friday of the month. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. $20. 770536-2575, info@qvac.org, www.quinlanartscenter.org.

June June 1, 8, 15, and 22 Drawing class IV 9 a.m. to noon and 6-9 p.m. Helen Arts & Heritage Center, 25 Chattahoochee Strasse, Helen.

Four-week session $80; per class $25. Helenarts. org, helenartshc@gmail.com.

June 1 through July 24 Folk art funky town summer camp Multiple sessions. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. Members 1 week $100; members 2 weeks $195; nonmembers 1 week $125; nonmembers 2 weeks $245.

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

June 5 and 12, July 3 and 10 Family night Friday and jam at the zoo 4:30-7:30 p.m. North Georgia Zoo and Farm, 2912 Paradise Valley Road, Cleveland. Adults $18; children $15. 706-348-7279, www.myfavoritezoo.com.

June 5 through Oct. 16 Braselton Farmers Market 4-7 p.m. each Friday. Harrison St., Braselton. www.downtownbraselton.com.

June 5-25 Chestatee Artists art show Bowen Center For the Arts, 334 Ga. 9 N, Daw-

sonville. Free. 706-216-2787, info@dawsonarts. org.

June 6 Quilts in the Garden 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 150 Hemlock Lane, Sautee Nacoochee. $8.

June 6 Garden Walk 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. . Hall County Extension Office, 734 E. Crescent Drive, Gainesville. Advanced tickets $10; day of walk $15. 770-535-8293, www.hallmastergardeners.com, mastergardener@hallcounty.org.

June 6, 13, 20, 27 and July 11 Foundations of wheel thrown ceramics 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Helen Arts & Heritage Center, 25 Chattahoochee Strasse, Helen. Class $150; supplies $25. Helenarts.org, helenartshc@gmail. com.

June 8-12 Cook Camp, summer camp 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ages 6-12. Sautee Nacoochee Center, 283 Ga. 255 N., Sautee Nacoochee.

Nonmembers $150; members $140.

June 11 through Aug. 15 Homefolk Art Show Opening reception 5:30-7 p.m. June 11. Quinlan Visual Arts, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville.

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

June 13 Juneteenth, a celebration of freedom 4-8 p.m. Midtown Greenway Space and Park, 682 Grove St., Gainesville. Free. 404-732-3954, 678-858-0305.

June 13 Superhero meet and greet 2-4 p.m. Lakeshore Mall, 150 Pearl Nix Parkway, Gainesville. First 100 kids younger than 12, free.

770-535-8877.

June 13-21 “The Wizard of Oz” The Historic Holly Theater, 69 W. Main St., Gainesville. Adults $10; children $10. 706-8643759, www.hollytheater.com.

June 15-19 “Let’s have a Broadway ball” camp Academies of Discovery, 3215 Poplar Springs Road, Gainesville. $170. www.dreamboxtheatre. com.

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June 15-18 Kids summer art camp 1-4 p.m. . Helen Arts & Heritage Center, 25 Chattahoochee Strasse, Helen. One child $85; more than one child $65 a child. Helenarts.org, helenartshc@gmail.com.

June 15-19; July 13-17; July 27-31 Art camp 9-11 a.m. First grade and up. House of Clay, 5117 Ga. 53, Braselton. $85 each week. 770519-8900.

June 19 The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra 8 p.m. Arts Center Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St., Gainesville. Adult $35, senior $32, student $28. 770-534-2787, www.theartscouncil. net.

June 19 The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra 8 p.m. Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St., Gainesville. Adult $35; senior $32; student $28.

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

June 20 Josh Turner 8 p.m. Atlanta Botanical Gardens, 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta. Members $49.5; nonmembers $51.50. Concertsinthegarden.org.

June 20 Movies Under the Stars Dusk, Braselton Park, www.braseltonevents.com June 20 Author Ray Chandler 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Frames You-Nique, 104 Main St., Gainesville. Free. 770-532-7074, www. framesyounique.com.

June 22-26 Theater boot camp, summer camp 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ages 6-18. Sautee Nacoochee Center, 283 Ga. 255 N., Sautee Nacoochee.

Nonmembers $150; members $140.

July 4 Fourth of July Festival and parade 4-9 p.m. Downtown Braselton. www.braselton.net/local-festivals.html.

Chattahoochee Strasse, Helen. $25. Helenarts. org, helenartshc@gmail.com.

June 27-28 Georgia Mountains Farm Tour 1-6 p.m. Multiple locations, visit eatwellbuylocal.org for addresses. Carload $35; Carload purchased before June 17 $30; One-day pass $20. 503-758-8488, gmfnfarmtour@gmail.com, eatwellbuylocal.org.

July

June 22-26 “Pirates and Mermaids, Oh my!” camp Academies of Discovery, 3215 Poplar Springs Road, Gainesville. $170. www.dreamboxtheatre. com.

July 3 Northwinds Symphonic Band 8 p.m. The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center Lawn, 331 Spring St. SW, Gainesville. Adults $18; seniors and students $15. 770-534-2787, www. theartscouncil.net.

June 25 Set up and sell on Etsy class 1-4 p.m. Helen Arts & Heritage Center, 25

July 4 Fourth of July Festival and parade 4-9 p.m. Downtown Braselton. www.braselton.

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June | July 2015

net/local-festivals.html.

July 4 Star Spangled Fourth of July 5K Fun Run 8 a.m. Braselton Park, 50 Harrison St., Braselton.

Register before June 19, $25; after $30. Aimee@ operationonevoice.org, www.operationonevoice.org..

July 10-26 “Footloose” The Historic Holly Theater, 69 W. Main St., Gainesville. $12-$19.99. 706-864-3759, www. hollytheater.com.

July 11; 6:15-8:45 p.m. Aug. 5 and 6 Sunset tours at the zoo 7-9 p.m. North Georgia Zoo and Farm, 2912 Paradise Valley Road, Cleveland. Adults $50; children $47. 706-348-7279, www.myfavoritezoo. com.

July 14, 21, 28 and Aug. 4, 11, 18 Art therapy for Veterans 1-3:30 p.m. Helen Arts & Heritage Center, 25 Chattahoochee Strasse, Helen. Free for qualified LAKE Destination

Lanier

veterans. Helenarts.org, helenartshc@gmail.com.

July 17-19 Lanier Pirate Poker Run Lanier Partners of North Georgia, lanierpartners.org July 18 Trial Gardens open house 9 a.m. to noon. Trial Gardens, 220 W. Green St., Athens. $5. trial-gardens@uga.edu, www.facebook.com/trialgardens.uga.

July 20-22 and 25-27 Zookeeper Day Camp Full day 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; half day 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ages 8 and up. North Georgia Zoo and Farm, 2912 Paradise Valley Road, Cleveland. Full day $85/day; half day $50/day. 706-348-7279, www.northgeorgiazoo.com.

July 22 Creations Encounter Teen Overnight Camp Boys July 22-25; girls July 29 through Aug. 1. North Georgia Zoo and Farm, 2912 Paradise Valley Road, Cleveland. $325. 706-348-7279, www. northgeorgiazoo.com.

July 25 ADA Memorial 5K 8 a.m. . Downtown Square, Gainesville. $25. www.adamemorial.org/ index.cfm.

August Through Aug. 1 Summer art show Lyndon House Arts Center, 293 Hoyt St., Athens. 706-613-3623, www. athensclarkecounty.com/lyndonhouse.

Aug. 1 Hall County Sheriff ’s Office car, truck and motorcycle show 10 a.m. Laurel Park, 3100 Old Cleveland Highway, Gainesville. Register a car, truck or motorcycle $25. 770-531-6900.

Aug. 1 Elvis Tribute Artists Competition Doors open at noon. Grant Reeves Veteran of Foreign Affairs, 423 Vfw Road, Cornelia. $10. 706-499-1370.

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Aug. 8 The Back In Time Band 8 p.m. . The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center Lawn, 331 Spring St. SW, Gainesville. Adults $20; seniors and students $18. 770-534-2787, www. theartscouncil.net.

Aug. 28 Mike Farris 8 p.m. The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center Lawn, 331 Spring St. SW, Gainesville. Adults $35; seniors $32; students $28. 770-534-2787, www. theartscouncil.net. destinationlanier.com

1215 Vine Street Gainesville, GA 30501

RICHARD BENNETT, DMD; CINDY FULENWIDER GREENE, DMD; RYAN WOOD, DMD; AND MATTHEW VAUGHN, DMD

Mon., Tues., Wed: 7:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Thurs: 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Fri: 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

770-532-4555 | bgwdentalgroup.com June | July 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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June | July 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.

June | July 2015

43

Around Lanier Lake Lanier Association’s annual Member Meeting April 18, 2015

The Lake Lanier Association’s annual Member Meeting was held at Port Royale Marina at Pelican Pete’s. Retired metro Atlanta meteorologist, and long-time Lake Lanier resident Ken Cook was the keynote speaker and several awards were given out to volunteers.

44

June | July 2015

LAKE Destination

Lanier

destinationlanier.com

June | July 2015

45

Gateway to Hope annual gala April 24, 2015

Gateway Domestic Violence Center fundraiser at the Chattahoochee Country Club featured cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres and an extensive silent auction. The center is a nonprofit organization that provides emergency shelter and transitional housing for battered women and children, classes and support groups, programs for children, occupational therapy and legal advocacy.

46

June | July 2015

LAKE Destination

Lanier

What a grand idea it is ... live as independently as you want in an assisted living environment ...

Come see the new alternative living arrangements for your elderly loved one today ...

OF WINDER Assisted Living • Personal Care Independent Living FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1989

Danny & Denise Rampey

Magnolia Estates blends a home like atmosphere with the ultimate in Personal Service.

We provide the security and peace of mind that comes with a family owned and operated business.

We truly believe this is the best place for your loved one.

624 Gainesville Highway, Winder, GA 30680

770-867-4256

www.magnoliaestates.com destinationlanier.com

June | July 2015

47

107th Annual Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce Gala March 14., 2015

The organization welcomed hundreds who came together at Chattahoochee Country Club in Gainesville to celebrate its award-winning businesses, tireless volunteers and community leaders. Among the honors at the 107th Annual Meeting & Gala were small business of the year, family business of the year, the community service award, distinguished citizen award and the W.G. Mealor Award. The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce also handed out these annual awards: Community Service Award: Mimi Collins; Distinguished Citizen Award: Jim Mathis; Family Business of the Year: Georgia Chair and Duncan Exterminating; Small Business of the Year: Caldwell Electrical Contractor and The Little Ladybug; Silver Shovel Award: Kathy Amos, Perry Barnett, Cheryl Christian, Katie Dubnik, John Gireaudeau, Morgan House, Jay Kelly, Michael Lancaster, Terry Merck, Frank Norton Jr., LeTrell Simpson, Phil Sutton, Mike Williams, William Bagwell and David Miller.

W.G. Mealor Award (volunteer who goes beyond call of duty): Randall Frost

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June | July 2015

LAKE Destination

Lanier

destinationlanier.com

June | July 2015

49

2015 American Collegiate Rowing Association national championship May 23, 2015

A group of 70 teams attended the American Collegiate Rowing Association national championship at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue in Gainesville. The weekend’s competition brought to Gainesville more than 1,300 athletes from colleges and universities around the country, which is one of the largest turnouts in the event’s history.

50

June | July 2015

LAKE Destination

Lanier

Open 7 days a week.

Open 7 days a week.

SICK?

INJURED? Extended hours, 7 days a week On-site pharmacy Urgent care and walk-ins welcome

SICK?

The Longstreet Clinic, P.C.

725 Jesse Jewell Parkway SE, Gainesvil e Specialists available

Third Floor • Internal Medicine • Family Medicine Imaging and laboratory services

longstreetclinic.com/care

Monday-Friday: 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. ● Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. ● Sunday: 12:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

You do not have to be a TLC patient to access our Comprehensive Care Services.

678-207-HERE (4373) The Longstreet Clinic, P.C.

725 Jesse Jewell Parkway SE, Gainesville

Third Floor • Internal Medicine • Family Medicine

longstreetclinic.com/care

678-207-HERE (4373)

Festival Festival 4:00-9:00pm 4:00-9:00pm

Parade Parade 6:00pm 6:00pm

Fireworks Fireworks After AfterDark Dark

www.braseltonevents.com www.braseltonevents.com