Living - Smoke Signals

Living
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APRIL 2016
APRIL 2016 • SMOKE SIGNALS | Food & Drink • Feature Columns • Church News • Gatherings • Health
The Uber app is available for iOS and Androids. PHOTO BY PRATHAN CHORRUANGSAK / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Economics 2016
BY ANITA ROSEN
[email protected]
started by
former Amazon
employee
Apoorva Mehta,
had an investor
valuation of $2 billion by May 2015, up from
about $275 million in January 2015. Forbes
(www.forbes.com) recognized Instacart’s
growth by naming it the “Most Promising
Company in America” last year.
F
rom the first bartered exchange to
today’s computer-driven businesses,
the world’s economy has undergone
many transformations. This
century’s innovative peer-to-peer
commerce rivals the impact of the
Industrial Revolution, which transitioned
hand manufacturing to machine assembly.
These companies, known as platforms,
are overturning the established employeremployee structure. Many workers supply
their own equipment to accomplish the
job, and, for some, all that is needed
is a smartphone. By not relying on an
infrastructure provided by the employer,
these workers are considered independent
contractors, not
employees.
The poster child
of peer-to-peer
businesses, 5-yearold Uber, may be
the fastest growing
startup ever, with
a reported value
between $40 and $60 billion. Building on its
flagship’s success, Uber is experimenting in
many other fields, which it hopes will keep
venture capitalists focused on Uber amidst
fast-growing competition: UberFRESH
and UberEATS deliver food, UberRUSH
brings packages, UberESSENTIALS delivers
household items, UberPOOL creates rider/
driver matches, UberBOAT provides a
water-taxi service and UberGARAGE offers
consumers the choice between hiring an
Uber car or a licensed taxi driver.
This impressive track record has
encouraged other entrepreneurs to follow
Uber’s model. In Atlanta, Instacart delivers
groceries to the
customer’s door
from participating
stores, which
include, among
others, Costco,
Target, Petco and
Whole Foods Markets. Handy offers a 100
percent money-back satisfaction guarantee
on housecleaning and handyman services.
Deliveries from dozens of subscribing
restaurants – Tin Drum to Reuben’s Deli
– can be arranged through Try Caviar.
Zirx helps city dwellers maintain a car.
Grocery shopping and delivery services are popular platform businesses.
Airbnb offers vacation rentals with host families. PHOTO BY AMSSTUDIO / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Zirx promises to provide
everything a city dweller
needs to maintain a car,
and vacation housing
can be found through
Airbnb, which offers
accommodations with host
families, some in Big Canoe. Task Rabbit
connects service providers – from event
planners to preapproved contractors – with
consumers. In Alpharetta, Atlanta and
Marietta, Lyft arranges ridesharing.
These companies are experiencing
rapid worldwide
growth to
satisfy demand:
for example,
Instacart,
Taxi drivers protest Uber’s business practices in Toronto,
September 2015. PHOTO BY RMNOA357 / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Employee vs. independent contractor
According to a www.TIME.com poll,
most platform workers are young, male,
urban-dwelling
members of a minority.
They are concentrated
in metro areas and find
independent contractor
status attractive: while
there are no corporate
benefits or protections,
the autonomy of
working when and where they want is
appealing – at least at first. Experience,
personal interviews and most of the
traditional trappings of being hired have
disappeared.
While low labor cost is a crucial part of
the platform model, traditional companies
are claiming peer-to-peer businesses engage
in unfair practices and have called on the
government to settle the issue.
The IRS defines individuals as
independent contractors “if the payer
[employer] has the right to control or
direct only the result of the work and not
what will be done and how it will be done.”
(www.irs.gov). Uber can set rates and
dismiss drivers who get low evaluations
from consumers, which sounds more like
the IRS definition of an employee – one who
performs services the
details of which can
be controlled by an
employer.
The controversy
has resulted in a period
of flux for platforms.
The difference in
defining labor status is significant and
some platforms are restructuring the work
relationship.
At Postmates, which arranges for
purchases and deliveries from restaurants
n ECONOMICS | Page 21
Need help? A platform can provide your next
handyman or housecleaner.
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APRIL 2016
Old favorites, new vendors, classic cars and
music coming to Marketplace, May 20-21
BY WAYNE TIDWELL
[email protected]
The big spring event sponsored by
the Big Canoe Chapel Women’s Guild
is coming soon and will have some new
vendors as well as old favorites, a classic
car show and four music performances.
And it’s free!
The popular Legacy of Caring
Marketplace is May 20-21, a weekend
after the May 14 Gala and Auction. The
Marketplace and Gala are the most
successful fundraising events sponsored
by the Big Canoe Chapel Women’s Guild
and will raise thousands to benefit charities
that focus on enabling the wellbeing
of women and children in Pickens and
Dawson counties by providing life skills to
overcome the cycle of poverty, oppression
or substance abuse.
New craftwork and multimedia art
The Juried Art and Craft Show is bound
to draw a crowd again with unique items
from some of the Southeast’s most talented
artisans and craftsmen. Carefully selected
by the Legacy arts committee, the show will
offer handcrafted jewelry, clothing, artwork,
furniture, pottery and much more. The
Women’s Guild is excited to bring many
new artists and craftspeople to Big Canoe
this year.
Among the new artists will be K&R
Studios of Gainesville, featuring woodturned items created by Ron and Kat
Carrabotta. Both are self-taught, with an
occasional class at John C. Campbell Folk
School, Brasstown, N.C. and the William
Holland School for the Lapidary Arts,
Young Harris, Ga. Most of the wood-turned
objects coming out of K&R Studios lean
more to the artistic side than the utilitarian.
Also new to the Marketplace will be
the work of Kristin Replogle. Kristin’s work
is brightly colored, multimedia, Christian
art. She creates prayer mugs, prayer panels,
fine art and art prints. Her intensely colored
work is created using handmade papers,
acrylic and pastels. Many of her images
come from dreams and visions and are
accompanied by poetry or prayers. Her
prayer mugs have been featured recently in
Catholic Digest. Returning this year with his wonderful
food products, Larry Eisenberg of Olive
Affairs jokes he comes for the “best used
book sale in the world.” But previous
attendees to the Marketplace loved his
tomato bisque soup, tapenades and other
items. He uses ordinary ingredients to
create extraordinary food products. The
olive tapenades are based on the flavor of
New Orleans-style muffaletta olive spread.
Also returning this year are popular
jewelry artisans Estle and Janice Clayton
from Spoonz, handcrafted jewelry from
Mona Lisa Designs, handcrafted knives
by Jim Craig and hand-carved birds and
animals by Will and Kay Lake.
Interested vendors can apply at www.
bigcanoelegacy.org.
Classic cars and music
A classic car show has been added to
the May Legacy of Caring Marketplace
fundraiser.
The car show will be Saturday, May 21,
9 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the lower parking lot
near the live music venues and the Crazy
Bear Café, where burgers, dogs, chicken
and barbecue will be prepared and served
by Gerhard Noll and his team of seasoned
volunteers.
Marketplace visitors will have the
opportunity to vote for their favorite classic
car. The top three vote-getters will receive
trophies. Car owners will be available to
talk about their special cars.
Those interested in showing off their
classic cars can register by emailing
Living
Legacy Of Caring........................................... 2
Big Canoe Chapel Women’s Guild.................. 2
Gatherings.................................................4, 5
POA: Ricky Jordan......................................... 8
iTip Of The Month.......................................... 9
Ridgerunners............................................... 10
Around The Clubhouse................................ 12
Mountain Musings...................................... 13
Wayne On Wine.......................................... 14
Writers Corner............................................ 15
Ask The Pharmacist..................................... 17
Talk Of The Table......................................... 18
Talk Of The Table Restaurant Review............ 19
Word Of Mouth........................................... 20
Big Canoe Photography Club
announces exhibition • 6
Collectors’ Corner volunteers Patsy
Wohlwend, left, Anne Pennington, Robin
Petersen and Polly Mills. PHOTO BY VAL DOLL
Wood-turned items from K&R Studios of Gainesville. COURTESY OF K&R STUDIOS
Frank Dicus’ 1949 Ford F1 with a Chevy
suspension under it, Chevy 400cc engine,
automatic Chevy transmission, Chevy rear
end, AC, tilt wheel, electric seats and eightspeaker stereo will be on display at the
Marketplace. COURTESY OF FRANK DICUS
Richard Fonde, [email protected]. Space
for about 30 classic cars will be available.
The registration fee is $15 per car on a firstcome basis.
Music will be a big part of the two-day
Marketplace event.
Friday, May 20
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Off the Record
(Shiraz Alikhan and Frank Lozano) The
best of the Beatles, John Denver, America,
Eagles, Neil Young and more.
1:30-3:30 p.m.: Sweetwater (Vince
Ciliberto and Cynthia Cero) A warm
blend of tight harmonies accompanied by
guitar, covering multiple genres including
folk, contemporary, blues, country and pop. Saturday, May 21
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: BC Boys (Bob Newell
and Ray Massey) These Big Canoe guys
have been having fun performing for most
of their adult lives and are popular at
parties, clubs and just about anyplace where
good times roll!
1-3 p.m.: 8th of January Bluegrass
Band (Bob Knysz and group) Awardwinning banjo, guitar, fiddle and mandolin
players who have been entertaining for the
past 30-plus years in the Atlanta and North
Georgia area.
These musicians will perform on a
stage set up adjacent to the Crazy Bear Café
in the lower chapel parking lot lending a
festive air to an already great event. Folks
will have an opportunity to enjoy the music
while they have a snack or lunch at the
café and as they peruse the vintage cars on
Saturday.
Books, home items, bakery goodies
The Marketplace will also feature
popular fundraising events including the
Book Nook, Collectors’ Corner and the Bear
Paw Bakery.
The Book Nook will be showcasing
hundreds of good books for readers of every
age and literary interest.
The Book Nook has raised an average of
$6,500-$7,000 a year and has donated books
to area charitable organizations, including
the Pickens County Library, area hospital
“Pink Ladies” groups, Habitat for Humanity,
Abba House, nursing homes, mentors, tech
schools, thrift stores and mission groups.
Book donation bins are in the postal
facility and the fitness center, and donations
are accepted throughout the year.
The Collectors’ Corner, another
popular event, accepts gently used home
accessories, furnishings, linens, china, silver,
glassware and antiques from homes all over
Big Canoe, including furniture that can be
carried by one person.
Donations will be accepted at the
Brownstone Building in the Foothills
Shopping Center, Saturday, April 2 and
Wednesday, May 4, 10 a.m. to noon. The
Collectors’ Corner room is on the second
floor.
The Bear Paw Bakery again will be
offering goodies from incredible Big Canoe
cooks. Chairs Kay Lathem and Martha Mars
need volunteers to bake cookies, brownies,
breads, etc., for the sale and others to work
at the sale, package goodies and assist in
restocking the shelves.
Admission to all the Marketplace
activities, May 20-21, is free and parking will
be available inside Big Canoe.
The Big Canoe Chapel Women’s Guild
is a 501(c)3 organization. Donations and
gifts are tax deductible. Since its inception
in 1989, the Women’s Guild has raised more
than $1.4 million to support local charitable
organizations in Pickens and Dawson
counties. The guild is proud to continue this
Legacy of Caring for the 28th year.
Guild welcomes Jamie Williams
Big Canoe Chapel
Women’s Guild
JEAN LOMAX
“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not
consumed, because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning, great is Thy
faithfulness.” ~Lamentations 3:22-23
‘Trading Up’
e invite you to attend the
Women’s Guild meeting,
Thursday, April 14, 10 a.m., in
the Broyles Center, when our
speaker, Jamie Williams, will present a program entitled, “Trading Up.” Williams is an
advocate for the organ transplant community. Having been a living kidney donor to
her daughter’s kindergarten teacher in May
2005, she is keenly aware of the need to help
the 100,000-plus Americans currently awaiting a major organ transplant. As a certified financial planner, Williams has been a leader in her community,
counseling many in her 20-year career and,
at times, managing more than $90 million
in assets. She is a frequent speaker for civic
groups, church groups and women’s ministry groups and has served the local church
as a member of the finance committee, a decision encourager, greeter, group leader and
helper to a preteen girls’ ministry.
She is the wife of David and mother of
two daughters, Christina Faith and Kaylee
Hope. Williams thanks her family, friends,
longtime clients and coworkers for always
believing in her abilities and challenging her
to allow God to use her talents in a mighty
and glorious way.
Williams is the recipient of the Jean
Harris Rotary Award for her contribution
to the advancement of women in the areas
of health and education and has been recognized in the Wall Street Journal as a Women’s Choice Award recipient in Financial
Planning. She is a graduate of Oglethorpe
University, a graduate of Dave Ramsey’s
EntreLeadership Masters Series, holds the
prestigious Certified Financial Planner and is
a Certified Long-Term Care Specialist. She is
also a member of Kingdom Advisors and enjoys reading, Pilates, hiking, boating, basketball and all things that involve her daughters.
Charitable giving
At their meeting in March, the guild approved donations to the following organizations from the 2015 Legacy of Caring funds.
The Craddock Center, Inc. received a do-
W
April speaker, Jamie Williams, is an
advocate for the organ transplant
community. COURTESY OF JAMIE WILLIAMS
Jean James retires from the Women’s Guild
Board after three years as Charitable Giving
Chair. PHOTO BY LASSIE DYE
nation to support weekly music and biweekly storytelling enrichment programs for preschoolers in Pickens and Dawson counties.
The Craddock Center delivers educational
and cultural programs to children and families in southern Appalachia. Last year, more
than 1,100 students were served through this
program.
Prevent Child Abuse, Pickens, whose
mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect
in all forms through education and support,
received a donation to expand services to
families on the waiting list and for materials
used in home visits to promote school readiness.
The 4-H Club of Pickens County, whose
goal is to help youth gain a positive self-concept and to develop the social and decision
making skills necessary for a productive
life, received a donation to partially fund
summer camp experiences for fifth- and
sixth-graders.
The Big Canoe Chapel Blanket Ministry,
which provides blankets to nursing home
residents and individuals in need of comfort
and prayer, received funds to purchase fabric and thread.
Picnic at the nursing home
The Outreach Committee will be bringing the beauty of the outdoors into the Pruitt
Health Nursing Home, April 13, with a joyful
indoor picnic for the residents. The party
begins at 1:30 p.m., and you are welcome to
attend. Virginia Nickerson will send reminders to those signed up to help with refreshments.
Monthly meetings give way for the
Legacy of Caring in May
April 14 marks the final meeting for the
2015-2016 guild year, although members will
be busy throughout May with final preparations for the Legacy of Caring Gala and Auction, May 14, and the Marketplace, May 20-21.
The slate of officers for 2016-2017 was
approved at the March meeting and these
ladies, led by Co-Presidents Lyn Cates and
Barbara Fussell, will be installed as part of
the program, April 14. Thanks are extended
to the retiring board, led by Co-Presidents
Janice Yahres and Bettye Jo Isherwood, and
to the Nominating Committee of Lyn Cates,
Barbara Fussell, Jean James, Devon Collins,
Jan Cates and Polly Mills, for finding a very
talented group of leaders.
Everyone is invited to stay after the
meeting to enjoy a light sandwich lunch provided by the retiring board and members of
the Hospitality Committee.
Women’s Guild activities are posted on
the Big Canoe Chapel website, bigcanoechapel.org/women, with monthly updates and
reminders sent by email. If you wish to join
our email list, please send an email to Jean
Lomax [email protected].
The Big Canoe Women’s Guild promotes
activities that benefit the chapel and our
surrounding areas. Well over $1 million
has been donated to agencies in Dawson
and Pickens counties through the guild’s
fundraising efforts. To find out more
about the Women’s Guild, visit www.
bigcanoechapel.org.
APRIL 2016
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APRIL 2016
Local Friendship Force receives Open World
delegates from Republic of Georgia
BY CHARLENE TERRELL
The Open World Leadership Center administers the Open World programs, one of
the most effective exchange programs with post-Soviet countries. The goal is to establish
lasting professional relationships between the U.S. and rising leaders of Open World
countries.
Historically, Friendship Force International, through its network of local clubs, has
arranged hosting and itineraries for visiting Open World delegates. In 1989, the local
Friendship Force hosted a group from the Republic of Georgia in the first Friendship Force
exchange with this former Soviet country, the strategically important crossroads of Europe
and Asia. Georgia has a unique and ancient cultural heritage and is famed for its hospitality
and excellent food.
This successful exchange was followed by several outbound exchanges to the Republic
of Georgia, and, in 2014, Friendship Force of Big Canoe/North Georgia hosted visitors from
Macedonia and Serbia.
Beginning April 1, Friendship Force of Big Canoe/North Georgia, jointly with Friendship
Force of Greater Atlanta, again will host young delegates from the Republic of Georgia.
Among other subjects, these delegates are interested in how American nonprofit
organizations function and why they are not in conflict with government agencies. While
here, they will visit Joy House, Boys & Girls Clubs, Pickens County Child Abuse Center,
Pickens County Habitat for Humanity, Good Samaritan Health and Wellness Center and
the Community Thrift Store. Lunch will be served at Habitat for Humanity, courtesy of
Renasant Bank. The guests, who will be hosted in private homes, will have time for visiting
our area, perhaps even some shopping. The Atlanta club will have similar programs in its
area.
Friendship Force Big Canoe/North Georgia hosts Open World delegates starting April 1:
Eteri Tsotniashvili, left, Eka Gvalia, Archil Todua, Lana Chkhartishvili (facilitator), Nino
Tlashadze, Ketevan Chachava, Nini Panjikidze (facilitator) and Rima Garibyan. COURTESY OF
OPEN WORLD
Gatherings
BY ANITA ROSEN
[email protected]
GMAC welcomes
Coach McGriff, April 28
The Georgia Mountains Auburn Club
will kick off the 2016 season with its annual
Picnic and Scholarship Dinner, Thursday,
April 28, 6 p.m, at the Veranda at The
Clubhouse at Lake Sconti. This is a fun
event where Auburn alumni and friends
gather, share memories and celebrate the
Auburn family.
Come early to enjoy a beautiful evening
on the Veranda, sip your favorite beverage
as Chef Tulio grills a cooked-to-order
hamburger and hot dog buffet with all the
trimmings. The buffet includes beverage
and dessert, cash bar and is $25/adult and
$10/child, 12 and under. Your check is your
reservation or you can pay at the door.
Place checks in Georgia Mountains Auburn
Club alpha box or mail to GMAC, 10656 Big
Canoe, GA 30143.
Auburn’s new defensive backs coach/
defensive co-coordinator will be present
to share insight into the 2016 football
season. According to Coach Malzahn,
“Coach McGriff has a tremendous amount
of experience and success in developing
players at the college and NFL levels. He is
a true professional and a man of character
who will be a great coach and mentor for
our players.” We look forward to meeting
Coach McGriff as he joins our club and
some of the best AU fans in the country.
For more information, contact Barbara
Fussell, 706-766-3126, or David Sharp, 770843-2651. Contributed by Barbara Fussell
Sign up for Dinner for 8
What time is it? It’s Dinner for 8 time!
Join a group for fun times, great food
and lively conversation. Many groups
get together for dinner, brunch, lunch or
breakfast anywhere at any time – it’s up to
the group. Some rent a pontoon and cruise
Lake Petit or enjoy the Veranda at The
Clubhouse at Lake Sconti and watch the
sunset over Sconti Lake. There are reunion
groups that meet after the session is over
because they had so much fun the first time.
Now is the time to sign up for groups
being formed for May to August. Please
contact Susan Willson, 706-579-2640 or
[email protected], before the end of
Meet the first Walkers, a new group in Big Canoe that is an outgrowth of Healthy Living,
a Leadership Big Canoe 2016 project. The project will have components related to diet,
exercise, food preparation, weight loss and other health-related topics. Thirteen walkers had
the option of a two- or three-mile loop on the Wildcat Trail and had a great time. The group
will meet Tuesdays, 2:30 p.m., in Wildcat. For more information, contact Christine Flaherty,
[email protected]. PHOTO BY CHRISTINE FLAHERTY
n Continued on next page
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n Continued from previous page
April to sign up. Please leave your name,
telephone number and email address, if
you get voice mail. Contributed by Susan
Willson
Quilters stitch a road trip
April 5, the Pine Needle Quilters will
visit Cottontail Quilt Shop in Kennesaw
after lunch at the Trackside restaurant.
Robin Jones, owner of the shop, has
a demonstration planned and then,
of course, there will be time to shop.
Cottontail Quilts offers more than 3,000
bolts of gorgeous 100 percent cotton
quilting fabric, including flannel and
wide backs. Jones also offers one of the
largest selections of beautiful batiks in the
Atlanta area. There will be lots of samples
throughout the store that will get creative
juices flowing. Remember to bring
your Show-and-Tell projects to share.
Please email Program Coordinator Linda
Yeakel, [email protected], for more
information.
Pine Needle Quilters meet the first
Tuesday of the month, except July and
December, at McCormick Hall, lower
level of the Broyles Center. This group
inspires interested people to venture into
the wonderful world of quilting. For more
information or to attend the meeting as a
guest, contact Kay Stanley, kaybstanley@
yahoo.com. Contributed by Karlene
Spencer
Big Canoe Sanctioned
Duplicate Bridge
As February turned to March, the
leaderboard was very active for the Big
Canoe Sanctioned Duplicate Bridge Club.
Feb. 12, Joan and Joseph Lane led for
North/South and Lee and Peter Updegraf
for East/West. Feb. 19, the team of Dan
Griggs and Lois Wyche took top honors
for North/South, while Lee Pyron and
Clayton Burns led East/West. In the final
February games, Feb. 26, it was Joan
and Joseph Lane again for North/South,
leaving East/West to Lee Pyron and
Zandra Sommer.
As March started, Lee Pyron, teamed
now with Lois Wyche, led North/
South and the Lanes took the East/West
position. March 11 saw Dottie Eschen and
Annette Fibich at the top of the North/
South position, leaving East/West to John
and Sara Jo Cauble.
The group meets Fridays at The
Clubhouse at Lake Sconti. Games start at
12:30 p.m., registration at 12:15 p.m. Bob
Crouch can provide information, 706-5793375/[email protected].
Volunteers needed at
Boys & Girls Club
What? Me work with kids? You can do
it and the Boys & Girls Club can help.
As little as one hour a day, one day a
S I G N A L S
week, will make a difference in the life of
a child. Share your experience, skills and
talents with a hungry young mind. We’re
sure you’ll find a match among the many
volunteer positions available. If you have
a special skill or hobby, a program can be
built around that skill and your schedule.
Our kids want and need your help.
If you’re interested in volunteering
or need additional information, please
contact Michele Brackin, mbrackin@
bgcng.org or 678-773-1146. Or visit
during Volunteer Open House, every
Wednesday, 4 p.m., and Fridays, 2 p.m.,
in April. Schedule an appointment or just
stop by. Contributed by Michele Brackin
Women’s History Month
celebrated by the DAR
The DAR celebrated March, Women’s
History Month, with Brenda Jessel,
Georgia State DAR Recording Secretary
and member of the General Daniel
Newnan DAR Chapter, Newnan, Ga., who
presented “Heroines in the American
Revolution.” Retired U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. David G.
Jessel, who is the vice president of the
West Regent Georgia Society Sons of the
American Revolution (SAR), opened the
March meeting with an overview of the
SAR membership promotion in Georgia. Certificates of Honor and Vietnam
lapel pins were presented by Vietnam
50th Commemoration Chairman Mary
DAR Regent Beth Finley, left, honors
Barbara and David Jessel. PHOTO BY BETH FINLEY
DAR member Emily Beals, left, displays her
Quilt of Valor, with help from Pat Buss. PHOTO
BY BETH FINLEY
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The inside of Cottontail Quilts is a
wonderland for quilters. COURTESY OF ROBIN JONES
Boys & Girls Club celebrates Dr. Seuss
Day by encouraging kids to read classic
childrens’ books. COURTESY OF B&GC
Turner and Regent Beth Finley to five
Vietnam veteran husbands of DAR
members: retired U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr.
David G. Jessel, husband of guest speaker
Brenda Jessel; retired U.S. Army Brig.
Gen. Joseph W. Camp, Jr., husband of
Linda Camp; Sgt. Alfred Gordon Causey,
Jr., U.S. Marines, husband of Linda
Causey; James M. Freeman, U.S. Army
Reserves, husband of Karen Freeman;
and Douglas Johnson, U.S. Air Force,
husband of Sharon Johnson. Regent Finley
thanked the veterans for their service and
sacrifice during the Vietnam War and for
protecting the freedom we have today.
The Jessels participate in a personal
“Flags Across America” tour. They post
an American flag to honor landmarks
they visit; two unique posts were at L.L.
Bean and Hard Rock Café – to help with
the economy, as Brenda stated. Pictures
from their 2014-2016 tours were shown
on display boards and Regent Finley
presented them with their first “Flag
Certificate” for faithfully flying their flag,
properly and respectfully. They presented
Regent Finley with a flag for Sequoyah
Chapter to begin its own “Flags Across
America” tour.
Registrar and Sequoyah Chapter
master quilter Emily Beals presented a
beautiful lap quilt to Service for Veterans
Chairman Mary Turner. The mission of
the Quilts of Valor Committee (QOV) is
to cover service members and veterans
touched by war with comforting and
healing quilts. The committee has
partnered with several chapter master
quilters to provide quilts for veterans in
Pickens County nursing and personal care
homes. Our next meeting will be Thursday,
April 7, in the Mountains Grille room at
The Clubhouse at Lake Sconti, Big Canoe.
Master Gardeners Debbie Dickson and
Anita Rosen will present “Historical
gardens: an inspiration for modern
landscapes.”
Pine Needle Quilters travel to Cottontail
Quilts in April. COURTESY OF ROBIN JONES
Dinner for 8 means good times, good food
and good friends: MaryBeth Stoudenmire,
left, Stan Stoudenmire, Barbara Whatley,
Tim Pierce, Joan Pierce, Mike Whatley and
John Willson. PHOTO BY SUSAN WILLSON
Please join us if you are a female over
18 and a direct lineal descent from an
American Revolution Patriot. Contact
Emily Beals, 706-579-1094, for additional
information. Contributed by M. Beth
Finley, Regent, Sequoyah Chapter DAR
Contact Anita Rosen, arosen@
bigcanoenews.com, with club news. Check
www.bigcanoepoa.org for information on
Big Canoe clubs/organizations. Always
confirm meeting times and locations.
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APRIL 2016
Big Canoe Photography Club announces exhibition
BY KAT ALIKHAN
Big Canoe Photography Club members
are readying their best photos for an
exhibition, Saturday and Sunday, April 2324, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Clubhouse at
Lake Sconti. The photo club, just two years
old, has provided great opportunities for
experienced and beginning photographers
to develop skills and share work with the
community.
For example, members are on their
way to becoming better portrait artists
after hearing professional wedding and
commercial photographer Frank Gibson’s
presentation at the club’s March meeting.
“Traditional portraits never pushed
a button for me,” began Gibson. While
conventional portraits are often necessary
to please a
bride or a CEO,
“... members
the real magic
happens when
are readying
the photographer
their best
blends into the
background and
photos for an
the subject is
exhibition,
caught unaware.
Using a longer
Saturday and
lens is one way
Sunday, April
to put distance
23-24 ...”
between the
photographer and
the subject so
people are captured being themselves.
Good light is the key to great
photography and no less so with portraiture.
Gibson shared tips for taking advantage
of available light when using a flash might
distract the subject or cause an unnatural
reaction. He advised scoping out ambient
light sources – everything from the position
of the sun at a particular time of day to
light emitted from a chandelier or through
a window – ahead of a photo shoot because
“You may only have a few seconds to get
your shot.” On occasions when a flash is
required because other light sources are
not handy, Gibson suggested techniques
for reflecting or diffusing and softening the
light.
The club meets the second Saturday
of the month at 9:30 a.m., in the Club
Room, lower level of the clubhouse. All
photographers, beginners and experienced,
are encouraged to attend. The April
9 meeting will feature John Clemmer
speaking on the topic of architecture
photography.
Marty Reynolds drank a lot of coffee to get her ‘liquid’ shot just right.
COURTESY OF MARTY REYNOLDS
Jeannette Buffalo’s contribution to the March critique is this lovely
raindrop about to fall. COURTESY OF JEANNETTE BUFFALO
Bob Neal uses an artistic effect on his waterfall image for the Photo Club’s March critique topic of water or liquid. COURTESY OF BOB NEAL
Springtime in the mountains ... where dreams come true!
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or potential rental property. In the center of Big Canoe
within walking distance to amenities. Has been updated new
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APRIL 2016
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APRIL 2016
Shamrocks glistened when the Bears celebrated St. Patrick’s Day
Tough act to follow but
Unhappy Happy Hour,
April 15, will come close
BY MAMA BEAR ALICE EACHUS
Oh, Danny Boy, how we loved you.
The Bears came over the mountains to
raise their glasses to the patron saint of
Ireland, March 11. Sure, it was a wee bit
early, but what Irish lad or lass doesn’t
make St. Patrick’s Day a season of
celebration? Begorrah! Twenty-four hours
just isn’t enough time to do the Emerald
Isle justice.
And so the Bear Society honored St.
Pat for the fourth consecutive year. With
the one o’clock raising of the Irish flag
announcing the start of festive frolicking,
it only could get better as the day wore
on. Of course, green lager flowed at the
flag ceremony and the hefty kegs followed
the stream of duffers playing in the annual
Birdies and Bagpipes Golf Tournament.
Bear Society board member Mike Curk
led the cadre of swingers to the course.
Golfers were restricted to only three
clubs, and rumor has it that one tee took
the persona of a porcelain throne, known
to commoners as a toilet. Did those golfin’
folks have fun, or what?
At dusk real Irishmen and Irishwomen,
along with wannabes wearing buttons
ordering “Kiss Me, I’m Irish,” began to
gather at the Black Bear Pub and Veranda.
Mournful strains from a lone bagpiper
Do these folks look like they’re having fun or what? Feet tapped to tunes as Modern Vinyl
rocked the rafters.
A lone bagpiper huffs and puffs to announce
the start of the Bears’ St. Patrick’s Day party.
PHOTOS BY STEVE PAPKE
welcomed all to a night of crazy gaiety.
Squeals of “Don’t pinch me” were heard
from a few ladies wearing orange, but
remember, what happens at the Pub stays
right there.
Chef Tulio presented an Irish buffet
featuring corned beef, cabbage and
bangers galore. For many, Friday night
means loading plates at the seafood buffet,
so Chef offered that too. Folks could
wander from one to another groaning
table to enjoy the better of two worlds.
The rafters rocked when Modern Vinyl
opened its three-hour gig in front of the
fireplace. This is one amazing group of
guys. Playing a little bit of everything, folks
couldn’t stay in their seats when the beat
played on. Comments heard ranged from
“Best band ever” to “Help me, Rhonda, I
can’t dance no more!”
It was a night to remember and the
best way to welcome our new clubhouse
manager, LeRoy Korunes.
But, that’s not all
Yeah, it will be a tough act to follow for
the Bears, but they’re up to the challenge.
The annual day of doom and gloom is
fast approaching, known simply as April
15. While the IRS taketh away, the Bear
Society giveth in spades. After all, nobody
should suffer alone.
The Bears announce Unhappy Happy
Hour at the Pub, Friday, April 15, starting
around 5:30 p.m. As always, themed drinks
and appetizers will fill tables as folks
place napkins on chairs when they get up
to dance to the always popular Pioneer
Chicken Stand Band.
The Veranda will be the scene of
a “Tap Tappin’” party sponsored by
Terrapin Brewery out of Athens. Terrapin,
awarded the honor of being the Best
Brewery in Georgia in 2015, offers some
crazy libations. Terrapin will have plenty
of giveaways and prizes to add to the
décor of your own home bar.
This is one Bear Society Happy Hour
you don’t want to miss. Remember:
everybody in Big Canoe is invited to the
party. You don’t have to be a member of
the Bear Society to have a good time. See
you there.
Acoustic Jam loses
luck of the Irish
Winter wipeout
BY JOHN HERZLER
It’s mighty tough to hold a drink while trying to fiddle, right?
Irish Eyes were to be smiling, there was
plenty of “Whiskey In The Jar” and we were
prepared to tell Danny Boy how much we
loved him. There were to be kilts, a bagpipe,
haggis, green beer and a kazoo-playing leprechaun. Unfortunately, that pot of gold at
the end of the rainbow turned into an early-March snow from Mother Nature.
This hiatus from the monthly jam gives
me the opportunity to reflect upon our
growth and the excitement this monthly
collaboration offers to any resident of Big
Canoe. During the past 12 months, our followers have grown to an email contact list
of 115. We’ve found a new home at the Swim
Club, where we typically see a crowd of
60 to 70 in the audience. We offer a venue
for musicians of any skill level wishing to
perform, and they are warmly received. We
are averaging a new performer every other
month. More importantly, these new performers return.
This would not be possible without
a dedicated group of performers and an
equally dedicated group of followers who
have been there all along. Y’all know who
you are, and I thank you for making my job
easy.
Join us for the next Acoustic Jam, Thursday, April 7, 7 p.m., at the Swim Club. Come
early to get your seat. Bring your ears, your
voice and an instrument, should you wish.
Your favorite libation also helps to enhance
the experience. Just remember, you never
know who’s going to show up!
For more information, contact John Herzler, [email protected].
The next Acoustic Jam is April 7. Be there!
PHOTO BY STEVE PAPKE
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APRIL 2016
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Big Canoe Artists welcome
award-winning wildlife artist
BY BOB GLOVER
Artist Mike Brown from Canton,
Ga., presented a program on creating
landscape and wildlife paintings
using an opaque watercolor medium
known as gouache (pronounced
“gwahsh”) to the Big Canoe Artists
Club in March.
Airbrush artists use gouache to
create soft edges, whereas those
who use transparent watercolors
dilute their pigments. Mike, however,
creates hard and soft variations in his
realistic artwork with a paintbrush.
Mike’s collaborations with
organizations interested in
conservation have placed him in
the spotlight as one of the nation’s
top wildlife artists. He was named
“Ducks Unlimited Sponsor Artist
of the Year” seven times and has
designed conservation stamps
for state departments of natural
resources.
It is pointed out at www.
mikebrownstudio.com that Mike
has a goal “... to preserve the beauty
of all living things through the
precious gift of his artistic talent.”
The website also notes he has
been drawn to “... the outdoors”
since childhood. He grew up in
rural Georgia, south of Macon
(Hawkinsville). Mike stated it is a
blessing that his “... artistic creations
instill a sense of awe for the beauty
of nature in the observer.” Each of
these quotes help to explain why he
is a “realist painter.”
Mike talked about the current
market for artwork at venues such
as community festivals and juried art
shows. He also provided a handout,
listing suppliers of art materials he
uses.
The next meeting of the club
will be Thursday, April 7, 10 a.m.,
downstairs in the Broyles Center.
At the meeting, club members
will critique their March 18-20 art
show, which took place at the Big
Canoe Swim Club.
Mike Brown displays one of his award-winning wildlife
paintings. PHOTO BY KAY DAVIS
iTip of the Month
Smile: that’s an iPhone pointed at you
BY GARY CHERRY AND
DEVON COLLINS
At our recent quarterly meeting in
February, we welcomed approximately
30 members at each session. By the time
you read this, we will have selected the
two recipients of the Big Canoe iPhone
Club scholarships. We hope to be able to
introduce these deserving students at one
of our upcoming meetings.
This month, we are devoting most of the
hints to the camera/photo arena. Some say
the iPhone is a phone with a camera, but
a lot of people argue the iPhone is really a
camera that includes a phone. For sure, we
know a majority of iPhone owners use their
device regularly to take, view and send
photographs.
iPhone albums
When it comes to storing and organizing
photos, we have a number of built-in
albums in addition to the “All Photos”
album. These include such albums as
Selfies, Panoramas, Favorites, Time-Lapse,
Videos and more. When you take a special
photo, the applicable Album is created
automatically. Very cool! You also have the
option of creating an album and naming
it, say, for instance, “My Disney World
Vacation.” Placing your photos in albums is
a great way (perhaps the only way) to keep
track of your pictures.
The main photo album, the “All Photos”
album, in the Photos app can’t be renamed
or deleted. If you delete a photo from this
album, it will be permanently deleted from
your iPhone. However, the deleted photos
are not really gone, rather, they are now
in the “Recently Deleted” album. If you
change your mind, you have 30 days to
restore the image back into “All Photos.” To
see your deleted photos, tap “Albums” at
the top left to return to the list of albums,
and then tap on the “Recently Deleted”
album. You’ll see all recently deleted
photos, with the time remaining before
permanent removal.
Before experimenting with managing
your photos and creating albums, it is a
good idea to transfer any new photos from
your iPhone to your computer, or else back
them up to either external or cloud storage
using your preferred method. You wouldn’t
want to accidentally lose any photos.
Also, when you edit your photos using
aftermarket apps, an album will be created
automatically, giving easy access to those
editing images. For example, if you edit
your photos in “Snapseed,” you’ll see an
album called “Snapseed” in your Photos
app. Don’t forget, however, that all images
appearing in other albums always are
stored in the main “All Photos” album as
well.
To check how many albums you
currently have, open the Photos app on
your iPhone, and then tap “Albums” at the
bottom right of the screen.
Ever wish you could compare the
photo you’re in the process of editing to
the original image? Luckily, you can, using
a little known tip. While still editing the
photo, hold your finger on the edited photo.
This should revert the image (momentarily)
back to the unedited photo, which will
be labeled “Original” to differentiate the
two. Remove your finger to return to your
editing in progress. If you’ve accidentally over-edited an
otherwise great image in the Photos app
and then saved it or cropped it down only
to regret your decision later – no worries!
This tip will allow you to revert those
changes like they never happened.
Open the Photos app and locate the
photo you want to return to its original
state. Then, all you have to do is tap Edit
at the top right corner of the image you
want to revert. Assuming you’ve edited the
image already, the “Revert” option should
appear at the bottom right corner of the
picture. Tap “Revert.” It will ask you to
confirm, warning the changes cannot be
undone. (You can always re-edit the photo,
though.) Confirm “Revert” and your image
will go back to the original.
(Not milk and) cookies
Internet browsers allow websites to
store cookies on devices to improve web
experiences. When you visit a website and
it remembers your email and password,
that’s a cookie working. However, some
people would prefer to block them (not
have their cookies on), especially when it
comes to remembering data and tailoring
advertisements to the user. Instead of
blocking cookies altogether, you may want
to clear them every now and again.
To block cookies, go to the “Settings”
app and tap “Safari.” Scroll down and select
“Block Cookies.” Here, you’ll be given
several choices, ranging from “Always
Block” to “Always Allow.” To clear the
cookies already on your phone, select
“Clear History and Website Data” a bit
further down on the same Settings page.
The BC iDiots meet approximately
quarterly, with separate meetings held
for “New Users” and “Seasoned Users.”
Membership is free, but organizers Gary
Cherry and Devon Collins ask for a
voluntary contribution of $20 per person
per year to fund scholarships for Dawson
County and Pickens County high school
seniors who are interested in an IT,
Computer Sciences or similar field of study.
For more information, contact Devon
Collins [email protected]/706579-2456 or Gary Cherry gwcherry@
windstream.net/706-579-2070.
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Ridgerunners host Picnic with Panache
BY CHRISTINE FLAHERTY
A Book of Verse beneath the Bough,
A Loaf of Bread, a Jug of Wine, and Thou*
Beside me singing in the Wilderness –
Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow!
~Omar Khayyam, on picnics from
his 12th century “Rubaiyat”
*with a little assistance from
Hector and Gerard
Picnics have been enjoyed for
centuries – they can be small affairs
for two, grand gatherings for scores or
just about anything in between. What
they have in common is casual, easy-toeat food and a location that is typically
outdoors, preferably with a scenic setting
and cooperative weather.
With such pleasant pastimes in mind,
Ridgerunners is hosting its Picnic with
Panache, Tuesday, April 12, 11 a.m. The
setting is indoors in the soaring ballroom
at Chattahoochee Technical College in
Jasper, but everything else will be classic
picnic.
Janie Block, chair of the organizing
committee, explained, “Four picnicthemed table vignettes, offering
inexpensive and inspired decorating
ideas, will greet attendees.” Created by
Block and her committee with panache,
each tabletop will feature a different
casual dining motif designed to enchant
summer guests.
“They are sure to offer inspiration
for your upcoming warm-weather
entertaining,” Block went on. “In addition,
picnic-related ideas from Pinterest will
be showcased on a large-screen TV
with more than 200 pins that include
decorating ideas, menus, food safety,
picnic products and more – all to the
sounds of delightful summertime music.”
Hector and Gerard of Coast 2 Coast
Catering will present ideas for creative
outdoor get-togethers. Whether it is for
a private “Le déjeuner sur l’herbe” or a
traditional gathering of family and friends,
you are certain to come away with some
wonderful ideas for casual hosting in the
coming months.
The food, prepared by Hector and
Gerard, will strike a note between
delicious and delightful. Their picnic
buffet will include oven-fried chicken,
muffin-style macaroni and cheese,
Hector’s famous cornbread salad, grilled
vegetable skewers and petite strawberry
shortcakes. Refreshing white sangria will
complete this festive, indoor picnic.
Ridgerunners will provide door
prizes and a special, summer-themed
favor for each attendee. There will be
an opportunity to purchase gift and
decorative pieces selected by Hector
and Gerard. You are in for a treat when
you join fellow Ridgerunners at the main
event of the spring season: Picnic with
Panache.
Ridgerunners’ Big Canoe
Woman of the Year
An important part of this final meeting
of the season is always the presentation of
the Ridgerunners’ Big Canoe Woman of
the Year award. This year is no exception.
The woman who best exemplifies the
meaning of volunteerism in Big Canoe
once again will be honored. Her work and
dedication to others serves as an example
to all.
Do not miss this wonderful event. It
is the perfect opportunity to get out your
favorite sundress or your comfy capris
– be sure to add a festive hat and special
sandals.
Reservations for
members are needed
Members can reserve their spot
at the picnic table by placing a check
for $25 made out to Ridgerunners into
the Picnic with Panache envelope in
the Ridgerunners’ alpha box at the
postal facility. The deadline is Saturday,
April 2. As always, your check is your
confirmation. (Note: If you would like
to arrange a vegetarian option, please
mention that on your check.)
For additional information, contact
Janie Block, 706-268-1208 or janeblock10@
gmail.com. There is plenty of parking at
Chattahoochee Technical College, 100
Campus Drive, Jasper.
Donations to the community
As part of Ridgerunners’ ongoing
effort to give back to the community,
two donations were made to Big
Canoe groups at the March meeting.
Eric Lindblom accepted $2,000 on
behalf of the Big Canoe Volunteer Fire
Department and Debbie Pickett and Steve
Wilson accepted $1,000 on behalf of the
POA’s Employee Assistance Fund. The
Ridgerunners’ contributions will be used
to support these enormously worthwhile
efforts.
Trip to Milledgeville, April 7-8
Ridgerunners is pleased to announce
the overnight trip to historic Milledgeville
and Madison is fully subscribed. If you are
going, watch for more details via email.
FOREIGN & DOMESTIC
Cindy Seifert,
left, and
Judy Lacey
turn over
a check for
$2,000 from
Ridgerunners
to Eric
Lindblom for
use by the
Big Canoe
Volunteer Fire
Department.
PHOTO BY TERRI
GOLDSTEIN
Bellford Finishes
• Painted and Distressed
Cabinetry and Furniture
• Faux and Textured Wall Finishes
ANITA BELLINGER | Decorative Artisan
Email: [email protected]
706-579-2909 • 770-894-9660
PAINTING AND
HANDYMAN SERVICE
ALIGNMENTS
BRAKES • OIL CHANGES
NITROGEN
TIRE SERVICE NOW AVAILABLE
DIAGNOSTICS • TUNE-UPS
LIFETIME WARRANTY
SERVICES AVAILABLE:
• Engine and Transmission services
• Power steering sytems
• Brake systems
• Available on vehicles
with 75,000 miles or less
• Roadside Assistance plans also available
TOP QUALITY BG
PRODUCTS NOW AVAILABLE:
• Fuel Injector cleaners
• Brake Fluid flush
• Differential flush
• Engine Oil additives
• BG. Oil changes
770-893-3255
13073 GA HWY 53,
MARBLE HILL
(next to Huddle House)
WE DO IT ALL
PAINTING • STAINING • REPAIRS
INTERIORS • EXTERIORS
• Carpentry • Painting
• Staining • Pressure Washing
• Plumbing • Electrical
• Fencing • Ceiling Fans
• Flooring • Lawn Care
• Roofing • Glass Repair
• Strip & Seal Decks
• Haul Off Junk
• Storm Damage
• Clean Out Garage and
Out Buildings
• Honey Dos • Gutters
• Tile + much more!
HIGH QUALITY &
AFFORDABLE
REFERENCES
AVAILABLE
Call 770-500-5859
Serving Big Canoe & Bent Tree
for the past 10 years
Locally Owned and Operated
APRIL 2016
S M O K E
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L I V I N G
BIG CANOE COMMUNITY
®
Social Media Training series, continued
FACEBOOK
TRAINING CLASS
We get it.
Social Media can be intimidating. You’ve always wanted to try it, so
you can keep up with your kids, grandkids, friends and family. But where to even begin? This
year, conquer your curiosity and join us for a special series focusing on learning how to use
specific social media networking sites! Join us for fun, casual, interactive classes, and discover
how to showcase the beauty, activities and your Canoe Life™ at Big Canoe, and to share fun
memories with your friends and family near and far.
Sponsored by Big Canoe Company, LLC
A
fter much
success of
our Instagram
Training Class in
early February, we
are excited to offer
Facebook as the next
class for you to master
in this social media
training series.
n What is
Facebook? - the
world’s largest social
network, with more
than 1 billion users
worldwide. Facebook allows registered users
to create profiles, upload photos and video,
send messages and keep in touch with
friends, family and colleagues...all for free.
For many, having a Facebook account is now
an expected part of being online, much like
having your own email address. And since
Facebook is so popular, other websites have
worked to integrate Facebook. This means
you can use a single Facebook account to sign
in to different services across the Web.
n When: Thursday, April 21st at 10am and
7pm (same class, two different opportunities
to attend)
n Where: The Mountains Grille Meeting
Room in The Clubhouse (located at the main
entrance to The Clubhouse at Lake Sconti)
n Open to all Big Canoe residents/
guests/employees…please RSVP to Katie
Wercholuk by April 18, 2016 by emailing
[email protected] or calling:
706-268-6392
For more information contact Big Canoe Realty
770-893-2733 or 866-244-2266
www.bigcanoe.com
Connect with Big Canoe Community on these networks:
n Bring your laptop
computers, tablets
and/or mobile devices
to the class, as this will
be interactive
n Please note: we
will cover other social
media sites such as
Twitter and Pinterest
in future classes. This
particular class will
focus on Facebook.
n We hope you’ll
join us to learn more
about Facebook, and
how you can share your Canoe Life™ with your
friends and family!
**Although open to people with all levels
of experience with Facebook, including
beginners, this class will be very informative
even if you already have an active Facebook
account. We will cover a brief overview of
Facebook, followed by interactive break-out
Q/A sessions based on experience level. Drop
by and bring any questions you may have,
and we’ll go over them one-on-one with you!
11 C
12 C
S M O K E
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APRIL 2016
Around The Clubhouse
Turtles storm
clubhouse come April
BY ALICE EACHUS
Sconti Clubhouse Correspondent
Time to celebrate: Spring is finally
here! The Clubhouse at Lake Sconti is
now open on Mondays, a sure sign we’re
gearing up for plenty of action ahead. The
Veranda is the place to be when warmer
winds blow, and the panoramic view from
a patio rocking chair, well, wow!
Now’s a good time to check the new
spring menu Chef Tulio has on the board.
There are plenty of healthy options to
help slim down for the swimsuit season
ahead.
Terrapin Brewery
celebrates April at the Pub
Turtles will take over the Black
Bear Pub during the month of April,
no foolin’ about that. Athens-based
Terrapin Brewery was declared the
best hops maker in Georgia in 2015 and
will pour featured beers all month long
at the Black Bear Pub. This is not your
ordinary brewery – they serve beer
with a generous dose of fun. Known for
slapping silly names on their beers like
Hopsecutioner IPA and Liquid Bliss, the
brewers guarantee good times. Expect
giveaways and prizes during April. What
a great way to welcome springtime to the
mountains.
Learn how to build and
sustain your personal pension
Thursday, April 7, 11:45 a.m., David
Hobby, a seasoned UBS Certified
Financial Planner with more than 22 years
private wealth management experience,
will present a luncheon seminar on
financial and retirement planning. Even
for retirees, there are strategies to take to
preserve and grow income. Join David at
the clubhouse and learn how to become
financially secure. Please RSVP for the
luncheon by Friday, April 1, by contacting
Phylene Gipson, 678-441-1085 or lene.
[email protected].
BCAR woofs it up at
April’s Community Dinner
Come bark, but not beg, when Big
Canoe Animal Rescue (BCAR) sponsors
the Community Dinner, Wednesday,
April 27, at the clubhouse. Will the menu
include Poodle Pup Cups, Woofburgers,
Fido Flan or Korn Kibbles? Find out while
learning about Big Canoe’s animal shelter,
which now includes a home for cats.
spring fever as the season changes.
So much for the early birds
Sunday night Early Bird Specials have
been discontinued. But, there are plenty
of options to enjoy at the clubhouse.
Specialty buffets will be offered, along
with daily specials on the menu board.
There’s always something new to try.
Our Sunday Brunch is
egg-ceptional
What a tasty way to begin the week,
with cheery mimosas to accent the hearty
brunch. Eggs cooked to order – fluffy,
sunny-side up, or folded with fillings –
are yours to enjoy. Plenty more fills the
clubhouse brunch buffet, including fruits,
meats and browned potatoes. If you have
a hankering for Eggs Benedict, order it
from the extensive Sunday breakfast
menu. Views from the clubhouse
windows are spectacular during the
springtime, so come out and enjoy.
Stir up Wednesday
night excitement
Like to watch a tall-hatted chef shake
and rattle veggies in a pan? Then Stir
Fry Wednesdays are for you. Through
April, Chef Tulio will offer shades of stir
fry featuring chicken, beef and shrimp
smothered with peppers, bok choy,
broccoli and bean sprouts – your choice.
Why not stir up a little dinner fun when
Hump Day rolls around?
Friday Night Music
draws a crowd
It’s become a tradition: Big Canoe
welcomes the weekend with croons and
tunes that waft over the waters of Lake
Sconti. Add the ever-popular Friday
Seafood Buffet, presided over by Charlie
the Tuna no less, and it’s a fantastic way
to celebrate TGIF. Join your friends
and neighbors and succumb to a case of
Bet on a better future with
Prevent Child Abuse Pickens
Terrapin Brewery offers its prizewinning brews at the clubhouse in April.
WANTED:
Customers desiring a knowledgeable and professional
company to advise and/or supply medical and home
accessibility equipment. Medical Equipment Specialists,
has been in business for over 28 years servicing North
Georgia. We service and repair everything we sell.
Our offering includes patient lifts, stair lifts, vehicle lifts,
grab bars, scooters, urological supplies, etc.
Home modifications: make your home more
accommodating-don’t give up on it. We can help.
Prevent Child Abuse Pickens (PCAP) will hold a Casino Night fundraiser at
Bent Tree’s Tamarack Lodge, April 16, 7-10 p.m.
The night’s theme – Betting on a Better Future – speaks volumes about PCAP’s
programs, all designed to improve the lives of at-risk children and prepare them
for a better future.
“We expect a fantastic turnout,” stated Tim Brazeau, event chairman, “we are
offering so much and the cause is so great. The food alone is worth the price of
admission.”
A complete, professionally operated “Casino Royale” (James Bond attire
encouraged) will be on the lodge’s upper floor with tables for poker, blackjack,
craps and roulette. The lower level will be dedicated to a huge bingo party.
Upon entry, each patron will receive a complimentary ticket for a drink at the
bar plus $1,000 in casino money to be used to buy chips for the tables or for bingo
cards. Then it’s up to skills and the elusive Lady Luck.
To maintain patrons’ stamina, a fantastic selection of food by Chef Peter of
the 19th hole at Bent Tree will be offered throughout the evening, featuring a
Monte Cristo sandwich (turkey sandwich batter-dipped and fried). However, the
cornucopia continues with arancini (fried rice balls) with marinara sauce, Boursinstuffed dates with toasted almonds, Thai chicken satay with peanut sauce, smoked
brisket sliders, and shrimp ’n’ grits cakes. For those who cannot go home without
something sweet, there will be cherries jubilee over vanilla ice cream crepes.
At the end of the night, chips and winning cards will be turned in for tickets for
chances on a variety of prizes, including two highly sought tickets to PCAP’s gala
in October: the Long Table. Patrons can spread their winnings over many prizes or
can bet it all on one particular favorite. The more winnings the better the chance
of going home with one of the prizes.
“On behalf of Prevent Child Abuse Pickens, I wish to thank our sponsors
and patrons for supporting us for the 20 years we have been working in Pickens
County,” stated Margy Lohman, executive director and founder of PCAP.
A limited number of tickets are on sale now. A donation of $50 per person
gets you admission, $1,000 in casino money, gaming tables and bingo for the
evening, one complimentary drink, fantastic food, prizes, a tax deduction and,
most importantly, the knowledge you have contributed to preventing the abuse or
neglect of at-risk children.
Please contact the PCAP office, 706-253-6488, or any PCAP board member for
tickets.
Submitted by Prevent Child Abuse Pickens
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APRIL 2016
S M O K E
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L I V I N G
13 C
A horse’s race
own. She could run like her tail was on fire
one day and be lackluster the next, hence
Mountain
the 20-1 odds. She might be 30-1 by race
Musings
time because she was unpredictable. Even
Harry had doubts about Maresy Dotes.
There were far more consistent horses.
Harry hoped the entry fee would be worth
ANN PIKE, PH.D.
it, and his reputation as a breeder could
stand up to a bad showing.
he verdant fields of a horse farm
A week before fees were due, Harsprinted overnight to chartreuse ry was undecided about running Maresy
green after the snowmelt. Pa- Dotes. Andy put in long hours with her
rades of fluorescent fence lines and was convinced she could win. “It’s
were strung through the darkness with your decision to put her in the race, but
early morning dew.
you’ll only have yourself to kick if you
The bright green “bluegrass” never don’t,” Andy said to Harry.
can calm the mercurial moods of a horse
Maresy Dotes was restless the night
barn in early spring, in the grips of foal- before the race. She paced in the stall
ing season. Veterinarians
when Andy came in to
work through the night
check on her. “Hey gir“The day of the
to assure all goes well,
lie, we both know you
and usually it does, but
race, Maresy Dotes got it. Just run your race,
this is a new thoroughlike you know it,” he said,
was restless in the stroking her mane one
bred farm and everything is on the line.
morning but settled last time. Maresy Dotes
Whether from superstared back with bright,
into the intensity
stition or reality no one
clear eyes, intent with
sleeps well. Relief comes
of a thoroughbred, purpose.
only when a foal finds his
“When I look at you, I
with a purpose she swear
mother to nurse on four
I’m staring at ‘Carembraced. She ran pe Diem,’” he muttered.
spindly, wobbly legs.
“This’un here has all
Andy trained this majesher race and won
the makin’s” said Andy,
tic horse and witnessed
a 20-year veteran of na- by a nose in the last him being put down two
tive-born horse trainers.
years ago. Now Maresy
two seconds.”
Everyone on the farm
could run his race. She
joked about Andy’s opgave Andy a reassuring
timism. He could not see
nudge as he left her stall.
failure in a horse. The farm had known It was a mission she could own.
tragedy. Two years ago a prizewinning
The day of the race, Maresy Dotes was
horse had to be put down after an accident restless in the morning but settled into the
a week before his first race.
intensity of a thoroughbred, with a pur“We’ll see,” nodded Harry Collins, pose she embraced. She ran her race and
the farm owner. “You just can’t tell.” He won by a nose in the last two seconds.
frowned as he reflected on the memory.
She had run the race she knew how to
“I’ve seen worse,” Andy said, as his run.
training efforts faltered over the next year
Ann Pike, a nine-year
with the new foal. But Andy knew no failresident of Big Canoe,
ures, just wondrous animals who gave it
spins tales of mayhem
their all, for better or worse. “This horse
and mirth from the
just wants to please. She will, if you let her
comforts of her mountain
know you believe in her.”
home. She attributes
The next year and a half of training was
her success to generous
a difficult one for Maresy Dotes, her given
friends who support her
name in the Breeder’s Cup. She was a 20-1
with encouragement
long shot among odds-makers. Andy nevand inspiration. By day,
er looked at odds. He lost a lot of money ANN PIKE
Dr. Pike is a licensed
at the track because he didn’t look at odds.
“You never know what is in their psychologist in Jasper, appreciative of the
hearts. The odds won’t tell you that, but I opportunity to witness all those who triumph
over life’s challenges.
know what she can do,” he said.
Maresy Dotes did have a mind of her
T
MOUNTAIN HOME RENTALS
OF GEORGIA • LLC
The premier rental management company in Big Canoe
specializing in vacation rentals and long term lease properties.
We are accepting quality 4, 5 and 6 bedroom houses in our vacation
rental program and 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom quality furnished
and unfurnished houses for our long term rental program.
We have a fully staffed office in the IGA Foothills Shopping Center owned
and operated by a full time resident of Big Canoe, David Sharp, with a
Georgia Real Estate Brokerage license. All vacation rental properties
are listed on VRBO and long term lease properties are listed on FMLS.
[email protected] • Office: 770 894 4444
[email protected] • Cell: 770 843 2651
www.mountainhomerentalsofgeorgia.com
Our Mission:
For photos and detailed information about
Big Canoe, the North Georgia Mountains,
Linda Travis & Associates, these and other
listings, visit our web site at
www.dltravis.com
To meet your needs through
unequaled service and a manner that
is “right and just and fair.”
(Proverbs 1:1)
NEW LISTING
27
Summit
Dr. W.
Wow!
One-of-a-kind, spectacular
3BDR/3.5BA home priced well
below value; prime site in Audubon
Neighborhood offers panoramic views,
convenience to Gates & amenities; large rooms,
ash-wood floors, tongue & groove ceilings;
indoor wave pool and too many extras and
upgrades to list; meticulous condition!
Must see!
FMLS #5533156
$475,000
(Firm)
346
Ridgeview Dr.
Wow! Views from
3BDR/3.5BA beauty.
Charm, location, value abound
in this wonderful country-traditional
home; level circular driveway, no-step entry,
hardwood floors, windows galore; 2-story LR;
separate DR; spacious SunRoom;
Master on Main; huge Deck;
new roof, gutters,
exterior paint in 2015.
FMLS #5637025
$379,000
R CT
E
D
N TRA
U N
CO
94
Muirfield
Way
“Chestnut Hill”
True rustic elegance on the golf
course in this 4+BDR/4FB/2HB
Craftsman-Style Southern Living Idea Home;
quiet cul-de-sac close to gates.5,000+/- sq ft of
beauty, quality, and value; great flow, hardwood
floors, exposed beams; level driveway, entry;
Master on Main; multiple decks and
screened porches; so much more!
FMLS #5589194
$690,000
73
Falcon
Heights
Enjoy spectacular
panoramic lake/
mountain, long-range views from
multiple rooms, decks of this beautiful
4BDR/4.5BA home; open floorplan,
abundant windows embrace exterior; antique
wide-pine floors, beamed ceilings; Master
on Main; cedar exterior; gorgeous
gardens; upgrades, updates,
value throughout!
FMLS #5661778
$549,000
NEW LISTING
LAKEFRONT GEM!
132
Summit
Drive
Great views and privacy
from this beautiful 4BDR/3BA
home in Audubon Neighborhood - close
to gates, amenities; virtual ranch living with
LR, separate DR, updated eat-in Kitchen,
SunRoom, 2BDR on Main; 2-car Garage;
new roof, paint, carpeting;
move-in ready; estate property
priced to sell.
FMLS #5346466
$360,000
R CT
E
D
N TRA
U N
CO
419
Falcon
Heights
Lane
Beautiful
4BDR/4.5BA log home
with views into Amicalola Falls
frommultiple rooms, huge screen porch;
end of cul-de-sac privacy; recent renovations,
updates; new hardwood floors, abundant
windows; lodge-like Great Room
with s/s fireplace; DR for
12+;Master on Main;
Great value!
FMLS #5573009
$459,000
142
Woodpecker
Way
Incomparable lake/mtn views
from multiple rooms, decks, screened
porch of this beautiful 3BDR/3.5BA lakepoint home (extraordinary 360’ +/- of shoreline);
totally remodeled in 2007 (new roof in 2013);
light and flowing with perfect blend of living/entertaining
areas; Wow! Kitchen; separate DR; Master
(withSitting Rm) on Main; quality,
craftsmanship, value; A true must see!
FMLS #5661192
$789,000
409
Gadalutsee
Pass
Charming 3BDR/3BA
Country-Traditional home
on near-level .99AC +/- close
to North Gate, amenities; light and
open, with hardwood floors, high ceilings,
windows galore; two fps, separate DR,
Eat-In Kitchen, Master on Main,
Deck, Screened Porch; partially
finished 4th BDR/BA;
great value!
FMLS #5537197
$285,000
Linda Travis & Associates Realtors, Inc.
Serving Big Canoe & the North Georgia Mountains since 1994 • Member First MLS (FMLS)
Phone 706-268-3011 • Fax 706-993-3300 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.dltravis.com
Linda Travis
Information believed accurate but not warranted.
14 C
S M O K E
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APRIL 2016
Grenache: from Spain to the U.S.
DNA analysis marks its origins in Sardinia
and Spain, the latter from as early as 1513.
Both were part of the Thalassocracy or
maritime realms of the Crown of Aragon,
1162-1716. Regardless, grenache, known as
garnacha in Spanish, thrives in hot, humid
climates, but – like pinot noir – can be hard
to grow. In Spain, the Aragon region holds
the largest concentration for grenache
with the areas of Rioja, Navarra and Priorat relying on this grape, both as a single
varietal and with blends.
Across the Pyrenees in France, grenache is a key red grape in the Rhone valley, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and
Tavel. While in France in 2014, I saw grenache serving as an important blending
grape in Languedoc-Roussillon and as a
varietal and a blend in fortified vin doux
naturels (VDN) or “naturally sweet wine,”
crafted in Banyuls and Maury. Two of our
four wines “drinking well now,” while not
VDN, were produced in Maury as still
wines. Grenache is also a key grape in red
and rose wine production in Provence.
In the U.S., we owe much to the Rhone
Rangers for encouraging grenache planting in Washington and California in the
Wayne
On Wine
J
WAYNE CRAWFORD
anuary 2016: United States wine sales
total $38 billion and continue to increase, as reported by Wines & Vines.
While I subscribe to “drink what you
like” as a drinking strategy, I encourage
readers to explore new wines, particularly
with U.S. wine sales surging.
Grenache is one of those red grapes
that is not only reasonably well-priced but
also has light tannins, high sugar content
and medium acidity for a delightful red
wine to drink and pair with food. Think
strawberry, raspberry and prune with
anise and cinnamon aromas and flavors
that are smooth on the palate with a medium-to-long finish, depending on where the
grapes are grown.
Grenache is one of the most planted
red wine grapes in the world. Modern
Visit our showroom and fill your
canoe with great deals on the latest
treasures that are arriving daily
from local estates. Also, check out
our line of new gift items. Many
items can be personalized to create
a unique gift for your friends and
loved ones. Great for weddings,
anniversaries & housewarmings. Let
us help you find that perfect gift.
Coming soon!
HUGE SALE ON
Authentic
PERSIAN RUGS
at drastic price reduct
io
Inventory to suit all
Stop by for details. tastes.
ns.
ESTATE SALES & CONSIGNMENTS
ESTATE SALES • APPRAISALS • CONSIGNMENT SERVICES
Pick Up & Delivery Service Available • Mon-Fri, Sun -11 to 5:30, Sat-10 to 5:30
88 North Gate Station Dr., Marble Hill, GA 30148 • 770-893-2300
Located on Steve Tate Hwy, across from the north entrance • www.NGEstateSales.com
EXPERIENCE
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NEW PRICE
131 WATERFORD WAY
$417,900
4BR, 4BA - Beautiful home in
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Great curb appeal with extensive
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$769,000
3BR, 3.5BA - Spacious Craftsman style
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Cherokee #2. Spectacular long range
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floor to ceiling stack stone fireplace.
Sun room adjoins kitchen with
stainless steel appliances. Beautiful
master suite. Terrace level is designed
for entertaining. Desirable Audubon
Ridge neighborhood.
1960s and later. The Big Canoe Wine
Group has selected a state of Washington
wine this month.
Grenache pairs well with grilled lamb
and almost any red meat that is roasted or
barbecued. In a medium-body, low-alcohol form, it pairs well with pizza, particularly topped with sausage and wild mushrooms. Grenache is a nice complement to
grilled hamburgers with rich baked beans.
Certainly, pork and veal pair well with grenache, GSM (Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre) or Chateauneuf-du-Pape blends.
‘Wines drinking well now’
Orin Swift 2009 Grenache “D66” Vins
de Pay des Maury, Roussillon, France,
$43.99. “D66” is a project based in the south
of France in the village of Maury. The wine
is 80 percent grenache with 12 percent
syrah and 8 percent carignan. Most of the
vines are a minimum of 60 years old with
some parcels older. This excellent wine is
dark-red in color with aromas of cherry,
raspberry and strawberry with tropical
fruit on the palate. These aromas match
flavors with spice, fig and plum and complement a well-balanced wine with good
acidity and a long finish. It was an overwhelming first choice in our blind-tasting
and is available from Orin Swift at $38 for
a 2013. A collector wine that should easily
age eight to 10 years.
Alto Moncayo 2007 Garnacha, Spain,
$38. Dark-ruby red color with aromas of
blueberry, black raspberry and chocolate,
on the palate this wine offers a smooth
mouthfeel with soft tannins, mineral and
spice complementing an old vine grenache
long finish. This is a well-structured, complex wine crafted by master winemaker
Chris Ringland and is the flagship wine of
this winery. The importer for this wine is
Atlanta Improvement Company owned by
Parks Redwine. Highly Recommended. A
2012 is available.
Shatter (Trinchero) 2012-Grenache 100
percent Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes,
Maury, Roussillon, France, $18. A collaboration between Napa’s Joel Gott and Dave
Phinney, this dark-red wine offers aromas
of cherry, blackberry and spice. Aged in
oak, its vanilla flavors complement the
fruit with a smooth mouthfeel. A lingering
finish complements this grenache. Best
Buy.
aMaurice Cellars 2010-Boushey Vineyard Grenache 100 percent Yakima Valley,
Washington, $35. Deeply saturated with a
dark-red color, this wine offers fresh fruit
aromas of plum, cherry and red raspberry.
On the palate, the fruit flavors of plum and
cherry balance with herbs and minerality
that counterbalance good tannins. Highly
Recommended.
Other wines to consider: Donkey &
Goat 2014, $24; Curran 2012 Rose Grenache, $18; Bodegas Ateca 2014 Atteca Old
Vines Garnacha, $11; Scala Dei 2012 Negre
Garnacha Priorat, $18; Rafael Cambra 2012
Soplo Garnacha Tintorera (Valencia), $15;
Borsao 2013 Garnacha (Campo de Borja),
$9; Las Rocas Garnacha Vinas Viejas 2012,
$20; Tres Picos 2013, $18.99.
I am particularly fond of Australian grenache from McLaren Vale made by Clarendon Hills’ Roman Bratasiuk and d’Arenberg’s Chester Osborn. They make both
GSM and grenache varietals.
‘Drink what you like’
In my next article, the focus is on the
light-bodied red Gamay wines from 10
Beaujolais Cru areas in France. They are
highly affordable, well-crafted and not
to be confused with Beaujolais Nouveau,
which is released every year in November
for immediate consumption.
Symphony
BY ARDSLEY AMES
If I could write a symphony
a score would resound “Creation”
It would call to all who love
music, and its vibrations.
Kettle drums trill and rumble
resounding the voice of God;
beginning Divine authority
the thunder and roll of charge.
A Harp alerts the emotions
as fingers run the cords
Ears relate to senses
sounds of winds that forge
The Xylophone dances like water
waterfalls, rivers and streams
It flows along as a rhythm of mirth
All coming together it seems
Trombones signal to darkness
heralding the sun
reflecting land and waters
seeing what is yet to be done
Vibrating Cymbals announce
the land that cracks to yield
The bushes, trees and flowers
pushing up in the hills and fields.
A French horn calls all creatures
to land’s highest heights and plains;
to the sea and deepest depths
they jump and play as insane.
Flutes sing like the flutter of wings
Birds, Bees, and Butterflies
that fly and touch to say hello
fragile, so lovely we sigh
Blaring Trumpets shout to the Garden
a home for Adam and Eve
Freedom in a place of awe with
one warning He would leave
Kettle drum resounds
“you have all you need
but never touch this tree”
Temptation will come to feed.
A Bassoon sound as a snake …
gives an apple to Eve;
she takes a bite and drums roll
This evil does succeed
As Adam lies, the drums get louder
drowning out the words.
They are cast down to the world
“Go” is all they heard
As all the instruments come together
to harmonize and play
The music of this Symphony
Speaks to the world today.
Ardlsey Ames lives in Big Canoe and is
the author of “Poemscapes.”
Wayne Crawford is
a certified specialist
of Wine CSW and a
member of the Society
of Wine Educators,
American Wine Society
and The Wine Scholar
Guild.
WAYNE CRAWFORD
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$475,000
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furnishings available on separate bill
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Email: [email protected]
I am a 15-year resident of Big Canoe® and
passionate about this place that I call home.
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NMLS # 1204791
[email protected]
www.donnatorres-renasant.com
C: 678.895.7599 O: 678.454.2559
APRIL 2016
S M O K E
S I G N A L S
|
L I V I N G
15 C
“Thump, something hit the door. Inside the bark became a growl, then a frantic scratching.”
The glass factory
Writers
Corner
FRED SHAW
T
he building had been deserted for
10 years, abandoned in the financial collapse of the economy – the
Great Depression. Three stories of
idle brick and windows twiddling its thumbs
since 1931 could not be revived by the improving business outlook. Perhaps the war
economy did not need its products, or were
the entanglements of bankruptcy too difficult to unravel? Like a ghost, an all too sad
and solid ghost, it stared across the railroad
tracks at the river, doing nothing.
The Delaware River shoreline, the Philadelphia side, was a grimy, unkempt hodgepodge of docks, warehouses and coal piles.
Going north through the city, this industrial
mélange was squeezed between the main
line of the Pennsylvania Railroad – elevated
tracks and a huge catenary system – and the
river. State Road, next to the tracks on the
river side, paralleled them nearly to Trenton.
Levick Street burrowed under the tracks so
cars and trucks from thousands of homes
and businesses in Northeast Philly could access the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge and travel
to Jersey.
Between the building and the bridge
was a nearly open grass field, containing a
bathhouse – one the Roman emperors might
use. This one was run by the city for poor
kids and we called it “The Bathy,” as if there
were no other pool in the world. No fee –
a dry bathing suit allowed one hour in the
crowded waters, then there was a new group
waiting to get in. When you left you could
go to Levick Street, the entrance road to the
bridge, repeatedly throw your suit under the
wheels of trucks and go back in the bathhouse with a dry bathing suit for the next
hour’s swim.
Or you could investigate the old factory.
Three stories of empty space filled with
imagined, unknown things had to gain our
attention sooner or later, and so one day
we walked from the pool to the abandoned
building. It was surrounded by a chain link
fence. But chain link fences are made for
boys to climb over. Inside, my brother Jim,
my cousin Len, and I, a skinny, 9-year-old
fifth-grader, started for the rear of the build-
Travelers from Northeast Philly use the
Tacony-Palmyra Bridge to travel to New
Jersey.
ing, the river side – away from the road and
the bathhouse. There, a huge gate across a
railroad siding was open.
Jim, at 11 the oldest – the leader – led the
way. “Shit, we could have walked right into
the yard,” he bragged, as if he were the only
one of us to realize this.
My cousin, six months younger than my
brother but not as big, always wanted control. Their verbal battles were incessant.
“But let me tell you there’s a watchman and
he has a dog, a big, big, mean dog. Richie
Costella has a bite on his ass to prove it.”
I looked at my cousin. “You said ya were
never in here, Len.”
“I wasn’t but Richie was. It’s an old glass
fact’ry.”
We were at the rear of the building,
peering ahead into the shadows of a large,
ground-level opening with a concrete floor.
There were huge pits in the concrete. These
circular openings went back into the darkness as far as we could see.
“I’ll bet these holes were for the hydrofluoric acid. That’s how they etch glass.”
Cousin Len was taking his first chemistry
course.
Jim threw a stone into the closest pit. It
made a splashing sound. “I’ll bet it’s water.”
Len would not be bullied out of his theory. “Acid! Hydrofluoric acid.”
I could picture the tank cars being
pushed back on the siding to be unloaded,
wheels squealing as they came around the
curving tracks of the main spur. Phantoms
from the past in work clothes, caps and overalls, waiting to unload the cars.
“It looks scary.”
I wanted to leave these pits of desolation.
About 50 feet away I saw a loading dock with
a large overhead door. The door was closed
but next to it was a smaller door, also closed
but maybe unbolted. I looked at my brother
and cousin and said, “Let’s see if we can get
in.”
The three of us walked up a set of steel
stairs to the loading dock. The bolts holding
the steps to the building were loose, so they
shook with each step made. We tried the
personnel door; it was locked. A dog barked
somewhere inside the factory. We pushed
harder. All three of us gave it the “one, two,
three, shove,” but the barking continued,
closer now, and Len turned to run. Jim and
I followed.
Thump, something hit the door. Inside
the bark became a growl, then a frantic
scratching. A man yelled, “What the hell do
you think you’re doin’?” Len ran around to
the front of the building to climb over the
fence. My brother ran down the railroad
tracks, out of the gate and onto the main
spur. Of course, I followed him. The door
opened and the dog ran towards my cousin,
but lucky Len was halfway over the fence.
The dog barked, changed direction and
charged to the railroad tracks after us.
A wooden trestle carried the tracks
over a small stream. We looked down at the
cesspool gurgling 15 feet below, the water
gleaming with colors from the high end of
the visible spectrum – purples to near black.
Jim turned to me. “C’mon, hurry, let’s cross
the trestle. Be careful. The holes between the
ties are wide as the ties.”
We nearly were across when I heard
the chugging of the switching engine. It was
moving cars downriver to the Frankford Arsenal. I looked back to see the watchman’s
dog nearly at the trestle. He was running at
a full gallop and only the 25 feet of the small
bridge separated us. I tripped. Jim came back
to help me up. He was laughing.
I smiled, “’T’ain’t funny Magee,” the radio
line from “Fibber Magee and Molly” popped
into my head. The tracks were over land
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now; jumping to the ground we turned to
watch the dog. He had stopped at first but
then decided to cross the trestle. The dog’s
tongue was lolling from his mouth and saliva, no drool, ran down his muzzle. A big,
strong pit bull, he was too slow to beat the
switching engine.
We climbed to the top of the embankment waving our arms frantically at the
train. The steam engine with the tender and
a half-dozen box cars started to slow down.
Peering out his window past the boiler
and looking at us, the engineer applied the
brakes – full. The cars were empty and, from
10 miles per hour to zero, it took a mere 30
feet to stop. The engine hissed its disapproval with a blast of steam. The boxcars clashed
together as the couplers gave up their slack.
Jim ran right up to the cab. “There’s a dog
on your bridge.”
We all turned. The dog had stopped and
from the far end of the trestle the watchman,
a huge, burly man with a handlebar mustache, was calling him back. “C’mere Buddy,
atsa good boy.” The dog turned and minced
his way back over the ties. “And youse kids
stay away from ’ere or my dog ’ill get yah.”
“Hey Charley,” the engineer apparently
knew the watchman, “these kids jest saved
Buddy’s life. You should give them a tour of
your mansion – ha, ha.” But Charley, his back
to us, walked away.
From the locomotive the engineer said to
us, loud enough for Charley to hear, “The old
scum bag SOB.” The engineer looked down
at my brother. “Say, didn’t I let you drive my
engine a couple months ago? Your dad was
here. Your old man works at Frankford Junction. He’s a railroader – named Jim, a pause
– Shaw. Fine man.”
Jim shook his head from side to side and
started to back away. I already was running.
“No you got the wrong kid – and please don’t
tell ’im.”
The engineer, about my dad’s age,
30-something, well remembered his boyhood. “Don’t worry kid, I won’t.”
By the time we reached the “bathy,” my
brother caught up to me.
I knew my father wouldn’t be happy
about us crossing the trestle or being around
the factory. “Do you think he’ll tell dad, Jim?”
“Nah, he won’t.” Then he gave me a big
brother look that was a combination of pity
and scorn. “Ain’t you smart enough to tell
the good guys from the bad guys?” Looking
at me, he softened his voice and repeated,
“He won’t tell.”
16 C
S M O K E
Big Canoe’s Public Safety Training Center bears the quote:
‘Let no man’s ghost return to say his training failed him.’
S I G N A L S
L I V I N G
|
APRIL 2016
Fire Chief Ricky Jordan’s job includes administrative
work.
Ricky Jordan stands at the burn building. PHOTOS BY FRAN HOLMAN
Ricky Jordan: Big Canoe Fire Chief
BY FRAN HOLMAN
Editor’s note: This is the next in a series of
articles about Big Canoe POA staff.
Few people begin their career at the
age of 17, but Fire Chief Ricky Jordan did.
At that young age, he became a volunteer
firefighter for the City of Ball Ground.
After graduating from high school,
he was hired by Big Canoe as a full-time
security officer. He resigned this position
in 2003 to work with the Cherokee Fire
Department.
Jordan returned to Big Canoe in 2006,
after reorganization ended a contract with
Dawson County for direct services to Big
Canoe. Upon his return, he worked directly
for Director of Public Safety Bill Bates.
In December 2008, Jordan was
named Big Canoe Fire Chief. He works
at least 32 hours each week in Big Canoe,
while concomitantly holding full-time
employment as Lieutenant Paramedic
for Cherokee County Fire Station. This
arrangement is unique, but Jordan is certain
working with both increases his ability
to serve both departments better. What
he learns on one front is applicable to the
other, particularly since it is critical to be
current in a life-or-death job field.
Though Big Canoe is not a municipality,
Georgia has designated its Fire Department
as an “authority having jurisdiction,” and
both Dawson and Pickens counties have
agreements to offer reciprocal assistance
when needed.
At Big Canoe, the chief is responsible
for fire prevention and fighting, as well as
emergency response and public safety. He
is also responsible for the administration of
the department and its budget of almost $1
million dollars and a full-time staff of 18.
Two of the challenges of Jordan’s work
are the mountains and the weather. His
engine vehicles must be equipped with
four-wheel drive to maneuver the mountain
terrain, especially in snow and ice. In fact,
maintaining the vast equipment of engines
and support vehicles requires enormous
time, effort and resources.
Jordan is quick to praise those integral
to the fire team’s day-to-day operation,
noting staff is guided by three outstanding
lieutenants: Lincoln Hett, Todd Lanning
and Chip Rice, along with Access Control
Supervisor Ernie Hensley.
Indeed, the entire staff is noteworthy.
The firefighters are all current with Georgia
compliance certification. They maintain
240 or more hours of firefighting training
annually and are all medically certified at
the state level, which is indispensable when
they respond to medical emergencies or
accidents.
Even the volunteer staff typically
receives 120 hours of training each year. At
present, more than 6,000 hours of training
occur annually under the auspices of the
Big Canoe Fire Department. This is done in
several locations. Off Hubbard Road, there
is a facility, which is open to the public on
a number of occasions, including Public
Service Days, Kids’ Days and other public
safety educational events.
At this site is a burn building, which
allows firefighters to train in a real fire
environment. Here there are opportunities
to enter from below a fire, at the level of a
fire and above a fire. At this facility, there is
space for staged vehicle and propane fires
for training purposes.
In 2015, there were 14 responses to
reported fires. Among these were three
serious issues, the last reported in October.
The others were primarily maintenance
matters, such as a chimney requiring
sweeping.
With regard to safety, Big Canoe is
fortunate. Only three thefts were reported
last year. In a multiple agency seminar in
Florida, Jordan spoke of this to an audience
that included an officer who had just noted
his department had three serious thefts a
shift, not a year.
There were 58 reported vehicle
accidents on Big Canoe roads in 2015,
most related to ice and snow conditions in
January and February. A total of 42 traffic
citations were issued. The Public Safety
officers regularly monitor traffic hazard
areas with camera-mounted laser units.
Jordan stated customer service
is another arm of the department,
jumpstarting failed batteries in extreme cold
temperatures, unlocking cars and rescuing
pets.
The chief’s office is incredibly small for
the administration that takes place there.
There are family photos and mementoes of
Jordan’s career, including a silver fire engine
with a martini shaker that was given to him
by a group to which he spoke. Other fire
engines adorn small shelves and nooks.
Jordan is married to Jennifer, who is
the administrative assistant to her father
at International Society of Mine Safety
Professionals, a company that provides
safety training and certification. They live
in Ball Ground with their 3-year-old son
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Brantley.
When asked about the downside of
his job, Jordan admits it is stress. Though
the adrenalin of rushing to a fire helps in
providing the mental and physical effort
critical to solving a major problem, there
is the converse emotion that can result in
the difficulty of knowing that a family may
have lost a home in a fire or a relative in a
medical situation.
Twice a year, Jordan and his wife take
a week for a cruise or other trip, leaving
Brantley in the capable care of Grandpa, so
they have time away from the seriousness
of his work.
Jordan must prepare constantly for
Insurance Services Office (ISO) inspections.
These result in ratings used by insurance
companies as part of the determination
of the cost of homeowners’ policies.
Presently, the rating is 4. To move to a 3
would require, in part, the employment of
additional firefighters, as well as building
and equipment updates.
Jan. 13, Jordan was part of a presentation
to the POA board regarding plans for a
new building to house the fire department.
Anyone who has been in the present
building knows how necessary this is. Bunks
are no more than cots inside two closets in
a small room.
Big Canoe General Manager John
Thompson praises Jordan: “Ricky has
provided extraordinary leadership to his
Public Safety professionals. He does an
excellent job of ensuring responders are
prepared and capable of quickly reacting to
fire and emergency needs of our residents
and guests. There are scores of success
stories to be told of homes and lives saved.”
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APRIL 2016
S M O K E
S I G N A L S
|
L I V I N G
17 C
Getting old is not for sissies!
Ask The
Pharmacist
DR. BOB ANDERSON
I
t should come as no big surprise that as
we age our health generally declines.
This includes a decrease in the production of sex hormones. Women often are
prescribed estrogen replacement therapy
in the form of tablets, patches or creams to
combat the symptoms of menopause. In men,
a decrease in testosterone (called age-related
hypogonadism) may cause a decrease in sexual function, physical mobility and vitality.
Testosterone injections, patches (Androderm) and gels (Androgel, Testim) and even
an underarm roll-on (Axiron) are available,
but the benefits vs. the risks, especially for
those over the age of 65, must be considered.
In 2003, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded there was insufficient evidence of efficacy based on scientific studies to recommend testosterone replacement therapy in
men over 65.
Landmark study
Recently, the prestigious New England
Journal of Medicine published a study that
was funded by the National Institute on Aging. The investigators screened more than
51,000 men over 65 to identify 790 patients
in a double-blind (neither patients nor their
doctors knew the treatment) placebo-controlled study. To qualify, men had to have a
low testosterone blood level (less than 275
ng/dl) on two occasions and no history of
prostate cancer, serious heart disease, severe
depression or arthritis. Patients were randomly assigned a testosterone (Androgel) or
placebo gel and followed for one year.
Blood tests measured various sex hormones (including testosterone), PSA levels
and hematocrit, among others. The dose of
the gel was increased, if necessary, to a target
blood level in the midrange of males aged 19
to 40. Objective outcome measurements for
sexual function, physical mobility and vitality
were identified.
Go to the tape!
Sexual activity, desire and erectile function statistically improved with the testosterone gel compared to the placebo. Physical
mobility and vitality did not demonstrate an
improvement compared to placebo, but men
on the testosterone gel perceived an improvement in these areas.
PSA levels (a marker for prostate cancer) increased threefold in the testosterone
“In 2003, the Institute of
Medicine (IOM) concluded
there was insufficient
evidence of efficacy based
on scientific studies to
recommend testosterone
replacement therapy in
men over 65.”
vs. the placebo group. Cardiovascular and
prostate cancer risk appeared similar, but the
study was too short to assess long-term risks,
as well as efficacy. The beneficial effect of the
hormone gel appeared to wear off toward the
end of the study, so the beneficial effects on
sexual function may be limited.
Limitations
Before all you men run to the doctor’s
office for a new prescription, keep these caveats in mind:
• Only 2 percent of men over 65 qualified
to be in this study;
• Effects on increasing sexual function
were modest;
• The benefit on erectile function was less
than that of Viagra, Cialis, etc.;
• The beneficial response may have been
due to other sex hormones (estrogen?);
• Long-term benefits and risks are unknown; and
• Results are restricted to men over 65
with documented low testosterone.
All testosterone dosage forms are considered anabolic steroids and thus controlled
drugs with limitations on refills. Gels are applied to dry, clean, intact skin of the shoulders, upper arms or abdomen with a rotation
of sites (similar to insulin injections). Showering and swimming is to be avoided for five
hours after application. Avoid contact with
(grand)children and pregnant women. Such
drugs may aggravate BPH (benign prostatic
hypertrophy), a common symptom as men
age. Long-term use requires laboratory monitoring, especially of testosterone, PSA and
hematocrit levels. And the drugs generally
have high copayments.
Testosterone replacement therapy may
be an option for a select group of men with
low blood levels but long-term efficacy and
safety are unknown. I guess the take-home
point is men over 65 still have the desire to
chase after women – they just don’t have that
much time and have difficulty catching them!
Dr. Anderson is a
professor emeritus
from Mercer University
and is now a sometime
pharmacist at Northside
Pharmacy in Jasper and
a full-time resident of Big
Canoe.
DR. BOB ANDERSON
Short Trips to Asheville, Charleston/Savannah/
Nashville/Memphis planned
BY MARGO VALLONE
The 55 Big Canoe Travel Club (BCTC) members who
attended the February meeting responded enthusiastically when
Mike Ziegenbalg introduced possible itineraries for one- to fournight trips from Big Canoe to several popular southern cities.
The ideas for short trips to destinations such as Asheville,
Charleston, Savannah, Nashville and Memphis came from the
newly formed Big Canoe Travel Club Planning and Advisory
Committee, which meets quarterly. Margo Vallone explained
the purpose of the committee and introduced members Karen
Santucci, Chuck Fulton, Karen Daniels and Vee Thompson. Mike
Ziegenbalg and Vallone are also members of the committee.
The proposed tours include coach transportation to and from
Big Canoe and are all-inclusive, except for a few meals.
Asheville Candlelight Christmas, 2016, one night
Highlights include: Asheville city tour; Biltmore Estate and
Winery; Christmas Candlelight tour; Blue Ridge Parkway and
Folk Art Center; Montford Historic District and River Arts
District; Grove Park Inn to see the National Gingerbread House
Competition.
Savannah and Charleston, Spring 2017, four nights
Highlights include: Savannah Historic District tour; Angela
Beasley’s Puppet Studio; Bull River Eco-adventure cruise;
visit to the Savannah Theatre; tour of the Charleston Historic
District and Tea Plantation; Fort Sumter; Concert at the Circular
Congregational Church; tour of Magnolia Plantation and
Gardens.
Nashville and Memphis, Fall 2016, three nights
Highlights include: Country Music Hall of Fame tour,
Historic Ryman Auditorium; RCA Studio B; Johnny Cash
Museum; Backstage tour and evening performance at the Grand
Ole Opry; Jack Daniels Distillery; tour Graceland; Dinner and
Blues entertainment at Kings Palace on Beal Street; Rhythm of
Memphis tour; Sun Studio and Backbeat Music tours; Peabody
Hotel for the “March of the Peabody Ducks.”
Other suggestions from BCTC members included tours of
the Western National Parks, the Colorado Train Adventure, San
Francisco and Wine Country tour, Washington D.C. trip, and a
New York weekend with a Broadway play.
If any of these getaways sound appealing, please call Mike for
more details, 706-579-5005, and request to be added to the email
distribution list for information about these and other Big Canoe
Travel Club happenings.
The April 28 Travel Club meeting will feature final itineraries
for these trips. Flyers with pricing and dates will be available for
those interested in learning more or making reservations. Mike
will share more information about a 2018 AMA Cruise through
Spain and Portugal on the Douro River for club members and
their families and friends.
18 C
S M O K E
S I G N A L S
|
L I V I N G
APRIL 2016
Eggs: more than a breakfast food
Talk Of
The Table
DONNA DULFER
T
he humble egg has gotten a bad
rap in the past. We were told
eating egg yolks would raise
cholesterol and we should limit
consumption to not jeopardize our health.
Medical professionals have reversed
themselves and eggs are back on the
“good” food list. One egg packs a lot of
nutrients. At just 70 calories (on average),
an egg contains 6 grams of quality protein
and all nine essential amino acids, plus 13
essential vitamins and minerals, including
choline, selenium, vitamins D and B12,
phosphorus and riboflavin. Eggs are our
friends and should be enjoyed without
guilt. They make a marvelous omelet and
are delicious scrambled.
Traditionally, we think of eggs as a
breakfast food. We need to broaden our
thinking and realize eggs, in the form of
a frittata, make a quick and easy dinner,
especially when you incorporate vegetables that are sitting in the bin, begging to
be used. Partnered with a side salad and
a glass of wine, this is a light and tasty
meal.
A frittata is defined as an open-faced
omelet with ingredients, such as cheese
or vegetables, mixed into the eggs rather
than used as a filling. The combinations
are endless and limited only by your
imagination.
Frittatas are cooked slowly. My preference is to start the frittata on the stove
and finish baking in the oven. I use a castiron pan because it distributes heat well,
has straight sides and keeps the frittata
warm in case we want to go back for a
second serving. There are always leftovers and these reheat beautifully in the
microwave for a quick lunch or breakfast.
The basic components of a frittata are
eggs, seasonings, 1-to-2 cups protein, 2-to3 cups cooked vegetables, dairy and some
healthy cooking fat. Possible proteins are
cheese, ham, bacon or smoked salmon.
Use them alone or in combination. The
vegetable choices are endless. Onions and
leeks are always delicious, as are mushrooms, peppers and broccoli. Since there
are so many variations, here is one recipe
you can alter to fit your own unique taste.
The finished product makes a beautiful presentation. PHOTOS BY DONNA DULFER
This recipe is from the magazine Fine
Cooking.
MUSHROOM, LEEK AND GOAT
CHEESE FRITTATA
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, cut into
1/4-inch slices
• 2 medium leeks (white and light green
parts only), thinly sliced
• 8 large eggs
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• Freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 cup crumbled fresh goat cheese
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh mint
In a 10-inch ovenproof cast-iron, anodized aluminum or nonstick skillet, heat
1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat.
Add mushrooms and leeks and cook, stirring frequently, until leeks are tender and
mushrooms are browned. Let mixture
cool slightly (it can be warm when added
to the eggs but not piping hot).
Heat oven to 350 F. In a bowl, whisk
eggs with whole milk, flour (don’t worry if
the flour forms small lumps), salt and several grinds of pepper. Combine the mushrooms, leeks, goat cheese and mint with
egg mixture, folding them in gently.
Wipe out the skillet, add remaining 2
tablespoons olive oil, and heat over medium heat. When oil is hot, add egg mixture, spreading everything evenly. Reduce
heat to low, cover and cook until eggs are
set about 1 inch in from the sides of the
pan, eight to 12 minutes. Uncover pan and
transfer frittata to the oven. Bake until top
is puffed and completely set, 15 to 25 minutes more.
Remove pan from oven and run a rubber spatula around the sides of the pan to
loosen the frittata. Slip it out of the pan and
onto a cutting board. (Or cut it in the pan if
you, like me, are nervous about removing
it from the pan.) Let the frittata cool for
at least 10 minutes before cutting. Serve
warm or at room temperature.
This is the third article that suggests
ways to use the bits and pieces of vegetables and proteins you find in the refrigerator – not enough to make a meal but painful to throw out. Between soup, stir-frying
or a frittata, you should have no problem
putting them to good use.
Donna Dulfer and her husband John
moved to Big Canoe in March 2014 from
Houston, Texas. After completing culinary
school in 2003, Donna taught healthy
cooking classes at Williams Sonoma,
started and ran a community cooking
club for six years and provided nutritional
counseling at a local medical center.
Ingredients for the frittata include a protein, seasonings, eggs, vegetables, dairy and a
healthy fat.
A cast-iron pan is great for cooking the frittata.
APRIL 2016
S M O K E
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19 C
“Owner Paul Johnson said the pork sandwich and pork plate are the most-ordered items on the menu.
The pork and ribs are smoked on-premise, the pork for 15 hours and the ribs for three or four hours. “
Amos BBQ & Biscuits offers typical
BBQ fare and sweet dessert
Talk Of The Table
Restaurant Review
WAYNE TIDWELL
A
mos BBQ & Biscuits at the corner of Highway 369 and 372 in
Ball Ground is a typical local
barbecue restaurant, but your
visit there can end on a sweet note.
The menu at Amos includes pork, beef,
ribs, chicken plates and sandwiches plus
the usual sides of fries, baked beans, fried
okra, coleslaw, ”tater salad” and Brunswick
stew. Fountain soft drinks are available, as
is a brief kids’ menu. Amos does not serve
beer or wine.
For dessert, Amos has ice cream,
brownies and something called “fried apple stick,” described by a waitress as “a
fried apple pie made into a stick, deep-fried
and sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon.”
My reviewing buddy, Carl Deane, and
I visited Amos at lunchtime on a Wednesday. Carl had a sampler platter that included pork, brisket and ribs and sides of baked
beans and coleslaw. I had a pork sandwich,
two ribs, coleslaw and baked beans.
The pork was OK, the beans were average and the ribs were good and tender.
Amos is small and cozy with seating inside and outside.
Carl’s brisket came shredded or pulled,
unlike our experience with other barbecue
restaurants that serve brisket thinly sliced.
Carl said he thought the brisket was a little
dry.
We used the bottle of sauce on our
table to sweeten and moisten our meats.
The sauce bottle was not labeled, but it
appeared to be ketchup-based, similar to a
Memphis-style sauce.
Owner Paul Johnson said the pork
The ‘fried apple stick’ is a tasty dessert selection.
sandwich and pork plate are the most-ordered items on the menu. The pork and
ribs are smoked on-premise, the pork for 15
hours and the ribs for three or four hours.
Business is good, he said, but is affected by
the weather.
“You can estimate how busy we will
be by looking at the weather forecast,”
Johnson said. “When the weather is good,
business is good. When the weather is bad,
business falls off.”
After we ate our lunch, we ordered a
serving of fried apple sticks. There were
six sticks in a paper bowl, and they were
hot and sweet. We agreed they were
tasty and would go well with coffee or ice
cream.
The service was good. Orders are taken at a window into the kitchen, and the
food is brought to the customer.
Amos’ breakfast menu includes a plate
of two eggs, bacon, sausage, steak or hot
link and toast for only $3.20. Biscuit combinations include sausage, bacon, steak,
tenderloin, country ham, hot link and gravy, with additions that include cheese and
eggs.
Amos is in a rustic setting with characteristic nostalgic wall hangings. There
is an outside dining area, covered with
Southern articles, farm items, old signs
and Coca-Cola memorabilia.
Amos also offers event catering services and will cook onsite with its woodfired barbecue smoker or prepare the food
at the restaurant and deliver it ready to
serve, according to their website. Amos
sells firewood too at $65 for one-quarter
cord.
Amos is open Monday through Thursday, 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and
Saturday, 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is closed on
Sunday.
Amos BBQ & Biscuits is a rustic venue on Highway 369 near Amos’ ribs and brisket plate.
Highway 372.
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203 Woodpark Place,
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203 Woodpark Place,
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Woodstock
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4045 Johns
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Suite B, Johns Creek
770-814-1260
20 C
S M O K E
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L I V I N G
APRIL 2016
A spring bouquet of words and flowers
Word
Of Mouth
FRAN HOLMAN
“Now Nature hangs her mantle green
On every blooming tree,
And spreads her sheets o’ daisies white
Out o’er the grassy lea.”
T
hese lines were written by Robert Burns (1759-1796), the Scottish
poet known particularly for his gift
of song and celebration of nature.
The great Dr. Samuel Johnson notes there
is “scarce any poet of eminence, who has
not left some testimony of his fondness for
flowers … Nor has the most luxuriant imagination been able to describe the serenity and
happiness of the golden age, otherwise than
by giving a perpetual spring, as the highest
regard of uncorrupted innocence.”
April is very specifically the embodiment
of spring, a month that hosts both Earth Day
and National Arbor Day. As we greet April,
let’s gather some spring flowers.
Asclepias is the genus name for the milkweed called butterfly weed. All these designations have import. Asclepius, a son of
Apollo, was the Greek god of healing. Legend suggests the plant possessed healing
qualities, including wart removal. The plant
has a milky juice or latex sap believed to be
toxic to some insects; however, its power to
magnetically attract insects, particularly the
monarch butterfly, provides the casual moniker. During the chrysalis stage, butterflies
can consume all the leaves of the plant in a
single night. It can also attract red ants. The
flowers manifest in dense clusters most frequently in yellow or orange; others are purple or pink. One of the many newly bred is a
pink that is vanilla-scented.
Baptisia australis is a striking addition to
the landscape, whether formal or woodland.
Etymologically, the name is from the Greek
baptizo, referencing to dye or tint with color. It was used when true indigo could not
be obtained, hence its common name: false
indigo. It is a member of the pea family. The
purple-black seedpods add interest after the
blooms fade.
The beautiful perennial columbine is
named for its shape. The five-pointed,
spurred petals reminded its first beholders of
a dove in flight. Columbinus is Latin for “like
a dove.” For this reason, perhaps, it appears
often in religious paintings of Old Masters.
Daffadowndillies, as they are known in England, are a sure harbinger of spring.
It reminded others of an eagle’s claw. Shakespeare has Ophelia carrying a sprig of these
flowers. The purple ones are said to connote
resolution. Folklore holds this is the plant to
give a man to register one’s disapproval of
him. Modernity merely notes its unique attractiveness.
Though the British use daffadowndilly
rather than daffodil, the delight is the same.
Mythology paints Persephone wearing a
wreath of daffodils when Pluto abducts her.
Some of her white blooms fall to the ground
and turn to yellow. Today, daffodils come in
a wide range of colors from bright yellows
to oranges to salmon pinks. The myriad of
cultivars of these bulbs extends the bloom
season from the last frost to the first frost.
Echinacea is a member of the daisy family Asteraceae. Its name comes from ancient
Greek for hedgehog due to its spine-like center through Latin for sea urchin, which also
refers to its thick leaves. This medicinal herb
is a showy flower with a long bloom season.
It has a vast plant setting, looking equally
well in a formal border, cottage gardens,
prairies or woodlands. The petals hang from
its center cone, which provides its familiar
name of coneflower. Cultivars range in color
from white to pinks and salmons and oranges to purples.
Ferns come from Old English through the
Sanskrit parnam, meaning feathery. These
plants are reproduced by spores; they are
seedless. Most varieties are deer resistant.
They are perfect for the woodland garden.
Although they are hardy plants, ferns do appreciate moisture. Today’s cultivars offer a
variety of textures, varying leaf shapes and
shades of green.
Gaura has been reclassified recently.
Most species have been moved from Onagraceae to Oenothera, or evening primrose.
What has not changed is its beauty. The
name is from gauros, meaning splendid or
showy. This plant is unequalled in its display of flowers. Gaura lindheimeri has four
petals which grow upward and the stamens
downward, thus resembling a butterfly. Local nurseries carry other species that are
more compact, but they are just as floriferous. Flowers, in colors from white to pinks to
purples, form at the end of the spikes; if these
are groomed, the bloom season is extended.
They, too, are deer resistant.
Hemerocallis, from the Greek hemera
for day and kallos for beauty, is a vigorous
and faithful flower friend. It originated in
Asian countries and eastern Siberia. In China, young men leaving their families for war
or service often planted daylilies in their
mothers’ gardens to abate or soften the pain
of their separation. Arlow Burdette Stout is
known as the father of the modern daylily.
His work at the New York Botanical Garden
is legendary, and his book “Daylilies” still
is considered authoritative. He is credited
with the first modern hybridization, a standby named ‘Mikado,’ which he introduced
in 1929. In today’s gardens, this robust, rhizomatous perennial reigns with cultivars
of amazing color, repeat bloom, nocturnal
bloom and fragrance. Many, though not all,
are edible and are gorgeous in salads.
Impatiens capensis is a delight for gardeners, young and old. One of the common
names is touch-me-not: If the distended seed
pods are touched, the seeds will spurt out.
This is also the reason for its genus name of
impatient. Wild species of the plant are stouter than the cultivars. Another common name
for them is jewelweed, a named ascribed because early morning accumulations of dew
evoke a jewel-like appearance on the blooms
of orange-yellow with reddish-browns spots.
Folk medicine purports the liquid from the
stem can relieve the discomfort of poison ivy
or stinging nettle.
Joe Pye weed is a eupatorium. An entry in Samson Occom’s diary dated July 14,
1787, mentions Joseph Pye, a Native American named Shanqueathqueath, who lived in
western Massachusetts and used plants for
medicinal purposes. Joe Pye weed and its
cousins have a plethora of panicles of pink or
purple flowers. Serrate leaves are opposite.
These delightful plants are particularly useful in moving from garden to woodlands. The
colors are strikingly vibrant – pure whites,
neon aureolins and luminous lavenders.
There is a unique chocolate eupatorium. The
one considered native grows 4 feet tall and
produces lavender flowers. There is a new
cultivar called ‘Baby Joe,’ which has the same
wonderful blooms on shorter stems that do
not fall over.
Kalmia latifolia is the name for the magnificent mountain laurel. The plant is ericaceous, that is, it belongs to the heath or
heather family; thus, it thrives in acidic soil.
Other common names are calico bush and
spoonwood, the latter a reference to the fact
Native Americans used the wood to make
spoons. Every part of the evergreen plant is
poisonous, even to deer. A doctoral graduate of John Hopkins University, the famous
physicist Lyman J. Briggs (1874-1963), researched the unique pollen distribution of
this plant. It appears the stamens of the plant
hold tension released only when an insect
touches the stamen, catapulting the pollen
itself as far as 6 inches away.
Liatris is from the Italian liatride. It is
also known as Blazing Star and Gay Feather, names descriptive of its long narrow
spikes or wands of purple or white flowers.
It has grassy leaves and aromatic, cormous
roots. An anomaly of this plant is its blooms
start from the top and bloom downward. In
clumps it is striking; it also dries well.
Editor’s note: The remainder of Fran
Holman’s delightful, alphabetic listing of
horticultural delights can be found on Smoke
Signals Online, www.bigcanoenews.com.
Dr. Fran Holman, honored as Distinguished
Professor and Endowed Professor at
Louisiana Tech University, is the author
of two books. She and her husband live in
Big Canoe.
Big Canoe
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1990 Joe Frank Harris Parkway
Cartersville, GA 30120
770-386-6268
[email protected]
APRIL 2016
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Economics
n Continued from page 1
and stores to customers’ houses, workers are described as “family” on www.postmates.
com. In addition to providing the equipment to “work efficiently and creatively” and
paying a competitive salary, Postmates provides medical, dental and vision insurance,
free membership in One Medical and offers a “generous stock option plan” – benefits and
protections thought to travel only the employer-to-employee route.
Instacart shopper/drivers were originally independent contractors, but this year
Instacart divided the job into two classifications: shopper and driver. The shoppers, who
CEO Mehta said require special training, are employees; the drivers retain independent
contractor status.
Instacart drivers were not happy with this breakdown and have filed a case before
Judge Edward M. Chen of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Their case mirrors other class-action suits brought against Uber and Lyft, seeking
certification of workers as employees, not independent contractors. Judge Chen’s ruling
late last year in the Uber case will allow a jury to decide which classification suits some
of Uber’s drivers.
Uber is appealing the decision and has announced it is happy only a small fraction –
mostly drivers who contracted directly with Uber before June 2014 – will be allowed as
plaintiffs. But resistance continues to make inroads, bringing into question the viability
of the business model: drivers for Uber and Lyft have received permission to unionize in
Seattle, Wash.; in Utah, a law has been passed mandating drivers-for-hire be registered
with the state and meet insurance standards; and in South Carolina, Uber drivers’
vehicles must pass an annual inspection and display an Uber decal on the windshield.
Mainstream pushback
Uber has faced other legal challenges, even before one of its drivers was incarcerated
in February on the charge of randomly killing six people and wounding two others in a
shooting spree in Kalamazoo, Mich., possibly while on duty for Uber.
There have been
protests worldwide from
taxi companies against
Uber’s business practices.
Complaints range from unfair
competition to claims of
passenger endangerment by
untrained, uninsured drivers.
Among the current court
cases is a class-action suit
filed in September 2014
in the Superior Court of
Fulton County by Atlanta
taxi drivers and Certificate
of Public Necessity and
Convenience (CPNC) holders
against Uber Technologies
Inc., UberX subsidiary Raiser
LLC and all the drivers for
both companies. Plaintiffs
in this case claim Uber
avoids regulations they must
follow, giving Uber an unfair
advantage in the market, and
are asking for restitution
of all the fares collected by
defendants’ Internet apps
for trips originating within
Atlanta city limits.
Control of platforms has
proven difficult; however,
in February, in two federal
Move over pizza and Chinese food; platforms provide
cases pending approval
services to pick up and deliver a meal from favorite
from the judge hearing the
restaurants to home.
matters, Uber agreed to pay
$28.5 million to settle charges of misrepresentation of safety practices and fees. District
attorneys in San Francisco and Los Angles maintained Uber had failed to uncover
criminal records in 25 drivers in those two cities, in spite of the company’s background
checks.
Part of the settlement will reimburse customers who paid $2.30 per trip to cover the
cost of background checks that did not include the fingerprinting required of licensed
taxi drivers. While Uber’s practices include GPS tracking and the availability of viewing
the driver’s identification and license plate, it also agreed to change the wording used
in advertising from “Safe Ride Fee” to “Booking Fee.” In 2014, Lyft settled a lawsuit by
paying $250,000 and no longer claims its background checks are among the best in the
industry.
Other issues range from charges of inappropriate sharing of customers’ data, business
practices that endanger the driver and the customer, intercompany harassments and
threats of journalists.
Changing the paradigm is never easy. Just as Amazon and eBay taught consumers
to leave the mall for online shopping, peer-to-peer platforms shake the traditional
commercial model to its core. This is but the latest of business revolutions, the world
economy having navigated successfully through industrialization in the 18th century,
mass production in the 19th century and the digital transformation of the 1960s.
Inevitably, there is fallout from change this seismic, but, as Socrates suggested, the
resolution of opposing ideas creates a hybrid that is, hopefully, better than either original
model.
LIVING WELL SERVICES
n Advanced Dental Restorations
“Live your life smiling... Let us help make
your smile beautiful.”
Dentist, Dental Specialty, Prosthodontist
Dr. Emily Y. Chen, DDS, MA
1505 Stone Bridge Parkway, Suite 220
Woodstock, GA 30189
(678) 810-0881
[email protected]
www.bringbacksmiles.com
facebook.com/AdvancedDentalRestorations
n BrightStar Care
“We help families take care
of their loved ones!”
Private Pay Home Care
315 Allen Street, Cumming, GA 30040
(678) 450-1777
www.brightstarcare.com/cumming-gainesville
n Comfort Keepers
In-Home Senior Care and Health
Technology Solutions
185 West Main Street, Suite A
Canton, GA 30114
(770) 887-0499
[email protected]
www.Comfortkeepers.com/CantonGA
n Dawsonville Distinctive Dentistry
General Dentistry
754 Highway 53 W
Dawsonville, GA 30534
(706) 265-2505
[email protected]
www.dawsonvilledistinctivedentistry.com
facebook.com/
dawsonvilledistinctivedentistry
n Edward Jones / Martin Titus
“Making Sense of Investing”
Personal Investment Services
167 Fowler Street
P.O. Box 469
Ellijay, GA 30540
(706) 636-3800
[email protected]
www.edwardjones.com
n Foothills Dental Associates
General and Cosmetic Dentistry
Dr. Tom Harmon - General Dentist
25 Foothills Parkway, Suite 101
Marble Hill, GA 30148
(770) 893-2340
www.foothillsdentalassociates.com
facebook.com/foothillsdentalassociates
n Georgia Mountains Hospice
Hospice Care
70 Caring Way, Jasper GA 30143
(706) 253-4100
(800) 692-7199 (toll free)
www.georgiamountainshospice.org
facebook.com/georgiamountains.hospice
n LivHOME
“Live long. Live well. LivHOME.TM”
In-home Care / Geriatric Care
Management
Chris Foster, CSA, Gerontologist
Serving all of North Georgia
(770) 992-5820
[email protected]
www.livhome-Atlanta.com
n North Georgia Vein Institute
“Renewing the way you look and feel”
Treatment for Vein Disorders
Dr. Peter Wrobel, MD
4415 Front Nine Drive, Suite 600
Cumming, GA 30041
(678) 513-1600
[email protected]
www.NorthGeorgiaVein.com
n Northeast Georgia Health System
Medical Plaza 400
“We offer a convenient range of medical
specialties in Dawsonville.”
Healthcare
108 Prominence Court
Dawsonville, GA 30534
(706) 216-3238
www.nghs.com/medicalplaza400
n Northside Hospital – Cherokee
“A Lifetime of Care”
Healthcare
201 Hospital Road
Canton, GA 30114
(770) 720-5100
www.Northside.com
n Rock Creek Manor
Independent Living, Senior Living
50 Cagle Mill Road S.
Jasper, GA 30143
(678) 454-2600
www.rockcreekjasper.com
n Southern Foam & Coating Insulation
“Improving Indoor Air Quality
and Efficiency”
Healthier Homes
Mike Mckague
1643 Calvary Church Rd
Gainesville, GA 30507
(770) 773-0479 (mobile)
(770) 297-1881 (office)
[email protected]
n The Lodge at BridgeMill
“Senior Living for Every Lifestyle”
Senior Living Apartment Community
10451 Bells Ferry Road
Canton, GA 30114
(770) 479-4639
www.thelodgeatbridgemill.com
facebook.com/thelodgeatbridgemill
n Tuscan Sun Massage and
Wellness Center
Natural Health Consultation
Upstairs at North Gate Station
Marble Hill, GA 30148
(404) 964-1072
[email protected]
www.tuscansunwellness.com
n WellStar Health System
Healthcare
793 Sawyer Road
Marietta, GA 30062
(770) 956-STAR
www.wellstar.org
n McDonald and Son
Funeral Home & Crematory
“State inspected on site crematory
with a caring staff ”
Funeral and Cremation Services
150 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, GA 30040
(770) 886-9899
Dahlonega Funeral Home
& Cremation Services
20 Gibson Road
Dahlonega, GA 30533
(706) 864-3683
www.mcdonaldandson.com
Snow surprise in March
BY ANONYMOUS
At midday
Fluffy snowflakes from nowhere
Soon a white tablecloth over early daffodils
Cars slipping and sliding like novice skaters
Impassable roads, stranded passengers
Neighbors and strangers lending a hand
Finding sanctuary in Big Canoe homes
Warm and safe for the night New friends and laughter
Unexpected joy
n North Georgia Audiology
& Hearing Aid Center
“Your Link to Better Hearing”
Audiology Services and Hearing Devices
203 Woodpark Place, Suite B-100
Woodstock, GA 30188
(770) 726-8948
www.YourHearingLink.com
4045 Johns Creek Parkway, Suite B
Johns Creek, GA 30024
(770) 814-1260
www.YourHearingLink.com
Living Well Business Directory
on bigcanoenews.com
For information about having your business included in these Living
Well listings, contact Judy Harvey at 678-925-8511 or
send email to [email protected].
22 C
S M O K E
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L I V I N G
APRIL 2016
HARRY NORMAN, REALTORS
®
The best move you’ll ever make.
TM
STUNNING
NEWCUSTOM
PRICE HOME
CUSTOM
HOME
NEW PRICE
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CONSTRUCTION
PRICE
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VIEWS
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1313 Nimblewill Creek Rd • $1,249,000
5BR/4BA, FMLS #5601602
812 McElroy Mtn Drive • $1,200,000
6BR/6.5BA, FMLS #5560656
166 White Aster Lane • $750,000
5BR/4FB/3HB, FMLS #5530264
141 Bobcat Lane • $750,000
4BR/4.5BA, FMLS #5648729
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122 Cherokee Drive • $499,000
4BR/3.5BA, FMLS #5645977
155 Petit Ridge Drive • $498,500
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688 McElroy Mtn Drive • $419,000
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163 Muirfield Way • $360,000
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41 Chestnut Point • $275,000
4BR/3.5BA, FMLS #5636621
167 Cliff Fern Point • $275,000
4BR/3.5BA, FMLS #5528573
41 Nuthatch Circle • $269,000
4BR/2.5BA, FMLS #5608451
87 Bluebell Circle • $249,000
4BR/3BA, FMLS #5584368
CLOSE TO MAIN GATE
MOUNTAIN GETAWAY
NEW LISTING
NEW PRICE
NEW PRICE
573 Hunters Trace • $229,000
3BR/2BA, FMLS #5383522
152 Lady Slipper Lane • $229,000
#BR/2BA, FMLS #5617025
120 Petit Ridge Drive • $227,500
3BR/3BA, FMLS #5642301
113 Dogwood Lane • $220,000
3BR/2BA, FMLS #5566225
189 Trout Lily Trail • $219,000
2BR/2BA, FMLS #5528580
NEW LISTING
NEW LISTING
NEW LISTING
MOUNTAIN GETAWAY
NEW LISTING
251 Hunters Trace • $199,900
2BR/2BA, FMLS #5647389
202 Buckskull Hollow Dr • $189,000
4BR/3.5BA, FMLS #5630245
182 Sconti Ridge, Unit #438 • $164,900
3BR/2BA, FMLS #5653603
219 Crazy Bear Ridge • $149,900
2BR/2BA, FMLS #5600360
146 Sconti Ridge, Unit #425 • $139,000
2BR/2BA, FMLS #5654439
LAND & HOME SITES:
• 3340 Bluestern Drive - $215,000, FMLS #5300753
• 3337 Bluestern Drive - $215,000, FMLS #5300758
• 4816 Water Lily - $199,000, FMLS #5600217
• 8251 Cox Mountain Drive - • $169,900, FMLS #5385631
• 8254 Cox Mountain Drive, $150,000, FMLS #5622167
• 8255 Cox Mountain Drive - $150,000, FMLS #3822424
• 2528 Turnbury Lane - $149,000, FMLS #5555946
• 5048 Sanderlin Mtn Drive, $140,000, FMLS #5537479
• LL 125 Sweetwater Juno Rd, $125,000 – FMLS #5578750
• 9004 Trotters Lane - $99,500, FMLS #5521225 - DELETE
• 3274 Wood Poppy Drive - $95,000, FMLS #5580002
• 3507 Bear Creek Drive - $60,000, FMLS #5300770
• 3270 Red Trillium Ridge - $59,900, FMLS #5389361
• 3590 Blazingstar Trail - $59,900, FMLS #5502747
• 140 Tea Berry Lane - $35,000, FMLS #5589202
• 1123 Quail Cove Drive, $28,000, FMLS #5580041
• 4074 Lone Wolf Trail - $15,000, FMLS #5151931
Scan Now
©2006 Harry Norman, Realtors, A HomeServices of America,
Inc. Company. All rights reserved. Licensed in Georgia and North
Carolina. Equal Housing Opportunity. Big Canoe is a registered
service mark of Big Canoe Company, LLC. Harry Norman, Realtors
is not affiliated with the Big Canoe Company, LLC,
and no such representation is intended or implied.
Information believed to be accurate but not warranted.
LOW
COST
FINANCING
FOR
LOT
PURCHASES
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Doug
Hosmer
Maggie
Hosmer
Jay
Foster
Chris
Fries
Bert
Sellars
Pat
Thuman
Shelby
Collins
Alice
Lee
Sally
Morrow
Marty
Anderson
Helen
Carlock
Sandra
Jones
Rosemarie
Heindel
Kathleen
Ingram
Broker/Owner
Call Lisa Dillon
about low cost
financing for lot
purchases and
construction/
permanent loans.
404-680-5799 Cell,
678-597-1009 Office,
NMLS #164800
www.HarryNormanBC.com
Sam
Naff
Jill
Williams
Gwen
Warmels
Paul
Foretich
Jack
Updegraff
David
Erwin
HARRY NORMAN, REALTORS
®
200 Foothills Parkway, Marble Hill, GA 30148 • 770-893-2400