Clayton, GA

March 2009 Rabun County Events

2 Monday ANTIQUE AUCTION

Golden Memories Auction Company, 5 p.m.

www.goldenmemoriesauctions.com

10 Tuesday FULL MOON SUSPENSION HIKE AT TALLULAH GORGE

Tallulah Gorge State Park, 7 p.m.

www.gastateparks.org/info/tallulah

12 Thursday CLAYTON MUSIC, LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS CLUB

Clayton Rock House, 2 pm

Guests and visitors welcome. For more info, please call Ron Arden, 706.212.0230.

14 Saturday CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK'S AT TIGER MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS

with Irish cheeses paired with six award-winning wines and Irish fiddling by Marie Dunkle and Kelly Smith.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: $10 The winery is located at 2592 Old Highway 441, Tiger.

See www.tigerwine.com or call 706-782-4777 for more details.

14 Saturday PRE ST.PATRICK'S DAY GREEN WINE DINNER

The Beechwood Inn

www.beechwoodinn.ws

14-15 Saturday & Sunday SOUTHERN LITERARY TRAIL "TRAILFEST '09"

Rearden Theater-Rabun Gap Nacoochee School, Lillian E. Smith Center, Rabun County

Historical Society. This tri-state festival celebrating internationally renowned writers and

playwrights of the twentieth century who were inspired by their communities kicks off in March.

The Lillian E. Smith home in Clayton is one of seven sites in Georgia selected for the Southern

Literary Trail. TRAILFEST 09 EVENTS: Talks and panels by Lillian Smith scholars including Rose

Gladney, editor of How Am I to Be Heard, a volume of Smith's letters and Will Brantley, author of

FEMININE SENSE in SOUTHERN MEMOIR (winner of the Eudora Welty Prize); tours of the Lillian

Smith homesite, gravesite, and house museum; tours of the surviving cottages of Smith's Laurel

Falls Camp; and screenings of documentaries about Smith. Festival organizers in Alabama,

Mississippi and Georgia invite you to join an unforgettable experience.

www.southernliterarytrail.org, www.lillianesmith.org

15 Sunday OPENING OF WHITE WATER SEASON ON THE CHATTOOGA RIVER

The Wild and Scenic Chattooga is the first river to offer whitewater paddling trips each spring and

boasts the longest white water paddling season in the US.

16 Monday - ANTIQUE AUCTION

Golden Memories Auction Company, 5 p.m.

www.goldenmemoriesauctions.com 706.746.6924

17 Tuesday - ST. PATRICK'S DAY BEER DINNER

Lake Rabun Hotel

Great Irish cuisine with beer pairings and lively Irish music. www.lakerabunhotel.com

17 Tuesday ST. PATRICK'S DAY CONCERT

Center on Warwoman

Featuring Marie Dunkle on Fiddle. 7 p.m. $5.00 Admission

21-22 Saturday & Sunday ANNUAL GEORGIA WINE HIGHWAY WEEKEND

Hosted by the Winegrowers Association of Georgia. Wineries and affiliate members each have

their own unique open-house, with many offering food and wine pairings, music, barrel and library

wine tastings, discounts, drawings and other special attractions. Ten member Georgia wineries -

including Tiger Mountain and Persimmon Creek in Rabun County. www.georgiawine.org

21 Saturday GEORGIA WINE HIGHWAY CELEBRATION DINNER

The Beechwood Inn

www.beechwoodinn.ws

21 Saturday HISTORIC ROCK HIKE AT TALLULAH GORGE

Tallulah Gorge State Park, 10 a.m., sign up in advance

www.gastateparks.org/info/tallulah

24 Tuesday GIGANTIC BOOKS ARE FUN SALE

Mountain Lakes Medical Center, 9 am - 4 pm

A fundraising benefit for Mountain Lakes Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary. For more info, please

call Ron Arden, 706.212.0230.

27-29 Friday, Saturday, Sunday "CRIMES OF THE HEART"

Dillard Playhouse Theatre

Presented by the North Georgia Community Players. A comedy play set in a small southern town,

Hazelhurst, Mississippi, written by Beth Henley. Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7:00 and

Sunday matinees are at 3:00 PM. Adults/$10, children under 12/$5. Continues April 3 - 5. Ticket

line: 706.212.2500. www.ngcommunityplayers.com

27-29 Friday, Saturday, Sunday UPPER SCHOOL SPRING PRODUCTION: MUSICAL REVIEW

Rearden Theater, Rabun Gap Nacoochee School, Rabun Gap

28 Saturday "A TASTE OF BRAZIL"

Glen Ella Springs Inn & Meeting Place, 5:30 pm

Third in a series of "foods from around the world." Innkeeper Luciiana (Luci) Kivett celebrates her

Brazilian heritage with a festive menu sure to excite your palate. www.glenella.com

28 Saturday WINE DINNER - GUEST VINTNER TBA

Lake Rabun Hotel

www.lakerabunhotel.com

28 Saturday CALIFORNIA-MEDITERRANEAN DINNER

The Beechwood Inn

www.beechwoodinn.ws

28 & 30 Saturday & Monday ANTIQUE AUCTION

Golden Memories Auction Company

www.goldenmemoriesauctions.com

Ongoing:

• Exhibit at the Rabun County Historical Society: "Lillian Smith: Miss Lil and her Rabun County Neighbors" continuing through the month of March, in honor of the Southern Literary Trail.
• Exhibit at the Georgia Heritage Center for the Arts: Three Woman Show by friends Kiki Williamson, Kerri Hirsch and Samantha Vinke
• Classes at the Globe Gallery
• Classes at the Center on Warwoman
• Classes with Libby Matthews at Brushdance Studio

The sun is shining.

The sky is blue.

We're in the mountains.

Wish you were here,too!

Seriously, this is a great weekend to hop in the car and ride up to Georgia's Mountain Lakes. The leaves aren't yet on the trees and you can see forever!

If you would like to ride through and see Waterfall at Lake Burton - let me know. I'll be here all weekend.

Take 985 toward Gainesville and keep on coming to Clayton. Take a left onto Ga Highway 76 and head west for 10 miles. You'll cross over a bridge over Lake Burton and then Waterfall will be on your right.

Hope to see you!

Spring Comes To The Mountains of NE Georgia

My first spring spent in Rabun County was heralded with the blooming of one tree in particular that I'd never seen before. Covered in small white blossoms, the trees were obviously native because they were sprinkled all over the faces of the mountains. Since no other trees yet had any leaves and nothing else was yet blooming, I began to ask my newly made acquaintances about the tree.The first lady I asked told me it was a wild plum. Now, I've seen wild plums before and know that they tend to be more bushy, but I thanked her and went on my way.

The next fellow told me that trees covered in white blossoms were dogwoods. Now, I definitely knew better than that. Having lived in the south all my life, not only do I know a dogwood when it is blooming, I can tell a dogwood tree from the others in the forest even when it is as bare as a new born baby's bottom. I can also relate to you the story of how Jesus toted a cross made of wood from a dogwood tree and show you the flowers with the marks of the stigmata and the crown of thorns in the middle to prove it!

So, I knew it wasn't a dogwood tree.

Then, the fellow at the nursery told me it was a wild cherry. That made a little better sense, but it still didn't look like any wild cherry or derivative thereof that I'd ever seen and I pride myself on knowing my blooming trees!

A few days later, I was visiting with the owner of a local business. We were sitting outside admiring the fine spring weather and I looked across the cove to see a wonderful specimen of the blooming tree standing starkly amidst the still bare trucks and branches of the rest of the forest.

I told her of my travails in trying to learn the identity of the tree. She looked at me and said clearly, "Why, that's a Sarvis tree."

"A 'Sarvis' Tree?", I repeated.

"Yes, a Sarvis Tree."

You see, years ago, before the days of telephones, there was very little way of getting the news out to all the mountain folks. Many of them would have spent the entire winter in or around their cabins with no way to get news of the local community. Some may have even lost track of the exact date. Easter being so mecurial and moving from date to date from year to year, was a difficult Sunday to keep track of, but the folks who wanted to start off the year 'right', definitely did not want to miss the Easter service.

So, the 'Sarvis' tree acted as a sign to all the mountain residents that it was time to attend the Easter service (pronounced 'sarvis' here in the mountains).

When the Sarvis tree blooms, put on your Easter bonnet and get to church 'cause Spring is here and Easter can't be far away!

Waterfall at Lake Burton is a private golf community with gated access. It is situated on a mountain top overlooking the pristine waters of Lake Burton and layers of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains.

Below you will find facts and information about the club and the development. If you would like more information or if you are going to be visiting the area and would like to see Waterfall, please contact Lynda Hester at 770-480-5161 or by email at lynda@lyndahester.com.

WATERFALL AT LAKE BURTON

Development Size: 450 +/- Acres (Approximately 198 individual home sites)

Location: Clayton, Georgia (Rabun County) - the most north-eastern county in the state. Approximately 76% of Rabun County is protected from further development by being either a part of the U.S. National Forrest or Georgia Power owned land.

Elevation: Approximately 3000 feet above sea level at the top of Burton Ridge.

Developer: Lake Burton Development, LLC, owned by Killearn, Inc.

Security: Gated community with guard during daylight hours, year round. (The Woods at Waterfall is gated only.)

Homeowners' Dues: Currently $1,200 per year for single-family home sites. ($800 for The Woods at Waterfall)

Utilities: Central water and sewer operated by Waterfall Water and Sewer, Inc. in Waterfall at Lake Burton. Electricity is provided by Habersham EMC and telephone/internet offered by Windstream. Television by Direct TV or Dish TV includes Atlanta TV Stations.

WATERFALL COUNTRY CLUB

Golf: 18-hole championship course designed by Scott Pool. The cumulative elevation difference between tees and greens is a drop of 700 feet. Named as one of the five "Best of the Best" private golf courses in Georgia by Georgia Golf News joining such prestigious golf courses as Augusta National and Ocean Forest Club on Sea Island.

Mountain Lodge: The Mountain Lodge (dining clubhouse) opened in spring of 2007. Located on top of Waterfall Mountain, members enjoy fabulous views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Lake Burton during fine and casual dining. The Lodge also offers private meeting rooms, private dining rooms, club lounge, covered outside dining, a theatre and children's activity and dining area.

Golf Clubhouse and Sports Center: Casual dining in the '19th Hole' with fabulous views of the mountains & holes 1 and 18. Pro-shop, lounge.

The Midway Cafe is located on the golf course after holes 9, 14 and 16.

Sports Center: 50,000 square feet of activities includes card rooms, elegant lockers, indoor swimming pool, indoor tennis court, basketball, volleyball, walking track, golf driving cages, sunbathing, deck, whirlpool, steam room, sauna, fitness center and European spa offering a multitude of spa services by appointment. An Activities Director oversees many seasonal activities for members, their families and guests, such as Easter Egg hunt, Halloween party, Summer Camp program, crafts and hobby time, tennis, golf and swimming clinics and other fun times for kids while parents relax in the spa, golf, shop or just visit with friends!

Lake Access: Waterfall property owners and club members have boat docking and swimming access on Lake Burton off Vickers Road. No boats are allowed to remain docked overnight.

Initiation Fee: In February 2009 the initiation fee for Waterfall Country Club was $55,000* for a golf membership and $26,000* for a Sports/Social membership. There are two types of membership - equity and non-equity. The purchase of many of the home sites and homes provides the Buyer with the choice of a non-equity golf or social membership at no additional cost to the Buyer. When a home or home site is re-sold, the membership can be transferred to the new purchaser upon payment of a transfer fee.

Dues: Dues are billed in February and are payable in March. Members who join during the year pay dues based on a 9-month pro-ration.

*Every effort is made to furnish current information about the initiation and dues structure; however the initiation fees and the dues are subject to change without notice. Please check with our office for the most current information- 706-212-7503.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Fire Protection: Served by a department of Rabun County, most firefighters are volunteers and all are state certified. All equipment and trucks are funded by Rabun County. One fire station is less than two miles from Waterfall and two more are only 10 minutes away.

Medical Services: Mountain Lakes Medical Center is 8 miles from our entrance and has 24 hour emergency room services with a doctor present at all times. The staff is well trained and equipped to stabilize patients. The hospital has agreements with hospitals in Atlanta and other sites for preferential admittance for patients who require their services. The hospital has county ambulance services and arrangements with helicopters when necessary for quick transfers to the other hospitals. In addition to a number of full-time family practice physicians, the County enjoys the services of prominent specialists form Atlanta, most of whom come one day a week for the benefit of Rabun County residents and visitors.

NEARBY ACTIVITIES

Lake Burton: Offers 62 miles of shoreline and 2,775 acres of crystal clear water. Lake Burton is ranked among the top 10 most pristine lakes in the United States. Anchorage Marina and LaPrade's Marina each offer rental boats, boat sales, boat slips and storage services.

Fishing: Renowned mountain stream trout fishing is located less than a ten minute drive from Waterfall in either the Tallulah River, Coleman Creek or Wildcat Creek. Numerous other trout fishing streams are located within a 30-minute drive. The hatchery at Lake Burton gives kids under 12 and their grandparents an opportunity to fish in a mountain stream stocked with thousands of rainbow trout each season.

Hiking: There are a number of hiking trails open to visitors in the U.S. National Forest. They vary in degrees of difficulty to accommodate the youngest and oldest while offering challenging hiking for the more experienced hiker.

Shopping: Clayton and nearby towns like Dillard, Hiawassee, Helen, Franklin and Highlands offer a variety of specialty shops.

Whitewater Rafting: The Chattooga River is a favorite site of rafters and offers numerous degrees of difficulty including the only level 4 rapids found east of the Mississippi River.

Other Activities: Information on fly- fishing guides, horseback riding, cultural events, wine tastings, native plant sales, cooking classes, gardening classes, bridge and other card games, festivals, etc. are available through the Activities Director at the Club. The Cherokee, NC casinos are only an hour away

Lake Burton Facts

• Lake Burton covers 2,775 acres and has 62 miles of shoreline
• It is the highest Georgia Power Lake in Georgia
• Elevation is 1,866,5 feet above sea level
• Of the total 1,172 lake lots, 328 are fee simple lots and 844 are Georgia Power lease lots.... 72% of the total lots are Georgia Power lease lots.

Lake Burton History

In the early 1800's until the time of its removal in 1917, the town of Burton was the largest community in Rabun County with a population of approx 200. The Tallulah River supplied power for number businesses in and near the city. Commerce grew and by the time the town was bought by the Georgia Railway and Electric Company in 1917 it boasted three general stores. One of the purchasing agents for the railroad was John LaPrade, whose land on what now is now the shore of Lake Burton on Georgia 197 would serve as a Civilian Conservation Corps camp and today is the site of LaPrade's Marina and Water's Edge Restaurant. The lake was built in a deep valley located along a ten mile stretch of the Tallulah River. The Lake Burton dam (128 ft in height with a span of 1,100 ft and capable of holding 5 billion cubic feet of water) was closed on December 22, 1919 and the river rose to form Lake Burton. The lake was completely filled by August 18, 1925 and has maintained a full pool ever since. The water is normally lowered in November and raised in March of each year to allow property owners to build and make repairs to their boathouses, dock sand sea walls.