Features

BY ANGELA GARY
Have you ever felt a pull to do something and you don’t know why.
It’s something that is really out of character for you. Something you have no idea why you are pulled to do but you just feel you have no choice.
So, you jump in to this new adventure with lots of fear but also some peace because you have a feeling that what you are doing is the right thing.
I’ve been a mentor with Foothills Education Charter High School for five years now.
I interviewed the two site directors when the school first opened in Jackson County for a feature for the newspaper.
I went home after that interview and looked up the school’s website to get some additional information.
There it was on the website. The school needed mentors. Each mentor would have 10 students on their caseload that they would meet with and encourage to be successful.
I was a mentor for three years, and I now coordinate the mentor program. I match students up with mentors. I train mentors and oversee all aspects of the program. I never would have thought that would happen but that is the course the path I chose led me and I’m so grateful and blessed that it did.
On Sunday, a ribbon cutting and grand opening was held at the new regional office for the Foothills School System in Athens.
In five years, I have been mentor to students who have graduated and those who were not ready to make the commitment to finish and get their diploma.
While you want everyone to be successful, you can’t let those who are not discourage you. You never know. Something you said to that student who didn’t finish may help them later on in their life.
After one of the students I mentored graduated a few years ago, she sent me a text. It’s a text I have kept and that I have read many times. If I get discouraged and think I’m not helping, it helps me see that you never know the impact you are having.
I met with this teengar every week. She was always very friendly and open with me but I had no idea of how much the meetings meant to her.
The text read, “You are the number one person that I want to thank for everything you have done for me. I’m so glad that I got the privilege to work with you as my mentor. You are an amazing person and it shows through your work. When I was going through the worst of times, you were always there for me to lift me up and you are part of the reason I stayed and kept working and fighting to finally get my diploma. I’m glad you could join me on my journey here.”
I share this to let you know that you never really know the impact you are having. Just follow your heart and those “pulls” that lead you to something new.
Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers.

Mom, my younger nephew Grayson and I went to East Jackson Middle School the night before the new school year began.
It was just the three of us in front of the school. It was very quiet as the sun began to go down.
We held hands and stood around the flag pole.
Mom prayed for Grayson as he starts middle school. She prayed for all of the students, the staff and the parents.
While we were at the middle school, my sister and brother-in-law went to the prayer walk for all of the East Jackson schools.
It was an informal gathering of friends who wanted to pray over their children and all of the students as the new school year gets under way.
The group stood around the flag pole at the high school and prayed.
They then walked over to the elementary school and prayed.
The group then walked over to the middle school and prayed.
I’m thankful for a family and a community that prays together.
It’s a big school year for both of my nephews. Grayson starts middle school, while my older nephew, Jake, is a senior this year.
Middle school is such a hard time. It’s a time when students begin to grow up. They take on more responsbility. The classes get harder. They aren’t our babies any more.
It’s so hard to believe Jake is in his last year of high school. He will be facing a time of many decisions. College, careers...What’s next in his life.
Jake will also be experiencing many “lasts.” This was his last first day of school. There will be many more “lasts” this school year, which is both emotional and exciting and even a little scary.
My prayers for Jake and Grayson are that they always put God first in their lives.
I pray they can share their love of the Lord with their friends. I pray that they make decisions that glorify the Lord.
I pray they stay strong when encountering the peer pressure and bad influences that are in our world today.
I pray that they learn all that they can in their academic classes, while enjoying the fun of the other classes they get to take.
I pray they take every opportunity and adventure that comes their way.
I pray that they enjoy these years and not wish them away. Time passes fast enough.
I pray for safety for the boys and the schools. I pray for the teachers, staff and parents.
I am thankful to be a part of Jake and Grayson’s life and I will also be their biggest cheerleader and supporter.

As I drove the winding dirt-road driveway that goes through the countryside to my home, I noticed something moving in the woods to one side.
Nothing unusual about that as rabbits, squirrels and other wildlife are often on the driveway in the early mornings and evenings.
Occasionally, I will see deer in the woods around the driveway. It’s usually three or four.
This time, it was one lone deer. I slowly stopped the car and rolled down the window. I thought he would probably run away but he was perfectly still.
As the sun set around us, we stared at each other. I was enjoying the beauty of the deer. Not sure what he was thinking as he looked at me.
Always take time to enjoy the beauty around you!
Just a few things I would have missed if I had not stopped and looked around me, soaking up the beauty and getting strength from the peace and tranquility are:
•the ducks running from the water and toward us at the park in Maysville. We stopped our photo shoot and watched the ducks hurry to us, hoping for a scrap of food. The adorable ducks and the precious look on the face of the little boy I was taking photos of were indeed sweet to see.
•the white fluffy clouds surrounded by the blue sky. I can’t tell you how many times I just stop and look at the clouds. I think clouds are so beautiful. On more than one occasion, as I looked up, my mother asked, “What are you looking at.” I reply that I’m just looking at the clouds.
•flowers are something else that catch my attention. On my trip to Bermuda in June, I literally stopped and smelled the flowers several times. I also snapped photos of some of the colorful flowers that caught my attention.
•I love to sit on the porch swing at our house and look at the lake as the sun sets. It’s a beautiful site to see the changing colors of the sky reflecting on the water.
•It’s also beautiful to sit on the porch when it’s raining or stormy to soak up the beauty that these occurrences can bring.
•There is something so peaceful about staring into the ocean. I think that’s why I enjoy going on a cruise. It is so relaxing to sit on the top deck just staring about into the vast ocean.
•Growing up, our vacation destination was usually the mountains. That is probably why I also find it very relaxing to sit and stare at the mountains. So majestic and glorious. How can it not give you a feeling of peace and tranquility?
Life can be so hectic and stressful. Take time, even if just a few minutes each day, to look around you and stop and enjoy what is around you.

Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at angela@mainstreetnews.com.

Picking blackberries in the fields at Buffalo Creek Berry Farm, a family-run farm in the country-side of Oglethorpe County. Driving through the curvy roads of Ellijay and stopping at several of the “apple houses” where we bought fruit and vegetables, ate a fruit pie and had lunch.
I have been on a quest to visit as many of the farms listed in the Georgia Farm Bureau Passport as possible. My goal is to go to at least 20 of the farms by the end of the year.
The passport guides family and friends to farms across Georgia that offer fruit, vegetables and other local food. The 60 farms listed in the passport are in the Georgia Farm Bureau’s Certified Farm Markets program. The Farm Bureau gives prizes as you visit 5, 10, 15 and 20 of the farms.
I first found out about the passport at the Banks County Farm Tour, where the participants were given one of the passports as we lunched at Jaemor Farms at Banks Crossing. Both the Banks Crossing and Alto Jaemor Farms sites are listed in the passport.
I bought some strawberries and got my first farm “stamped” in the passport at the Jaemor Farms in Banks Crossing. I looked through the booklet and thought I could visit at least 20 of the farms by the end of the year. The farms are all across the state, so some would be too far away.
My next stop was at Southern Belle Farm in McDonough in Henry County and it was certainly a delicious stop. I enjoyed strawberry shortcake and strawberry ice cream while touring the farm, and then bought some strawberry jam and fig jam to take home. I also brought home a basket of the wonderful peaches.
At Southern Belle Farm, the fifth generation of the Carter family strive to let people, including the many children who come to the farm on field trips, know where food comes from. During our visit, family matriarch, Mimi, was present and she visited with guests in the store. She makes her homemade pound cake and shortcake for the bakery. She shares that, “Farming is the heart of our family.”
The 330-acre farm has strawberries, peaches and a large variety of other fruits and vegetables offered. Visitors can pick their own strawberries and visit the on-site bakery for delicious strawberry shortcake and other treats.
Two farms in Rabun County were next on my list of places to visit. My sister, nephew and I were headed to North Carolina for some gem mining and I looked to see if we would pass any farms on our trip. Sure enough, two farms were listed in Rabun County that we would be passing by. One of the farms, Osage Farm Market in Rabun Gap, is a place that our family has stopped many times. We love their fresh fruits and vegetables and bought some of our favorites.
We also stopped at Hillside Orchard Farms in Lakemont. This was a first for us at this farm which mostly features jams, jellies and pickles. We picked out a few of our favorite jellies, as well as some blackberry juice which we love to put in tea.
I looked through the booklet listing all the farms trying to decide where to go next. Buffalo Creek Berry Farm looked to be less than an hour away, so my mother and I headed there one afternoon. We traveled on several country roads with no businesses in site, so I began to worry we were lost. No worries though as we soon saw the farm sign. It is a u-pick farm so Mom and I headed out to the fields where we filled two baskets with blackberries, which Mom later made into jelly.
In addition to getting some wonderful blackberries, we also enjoyed visiting with husband-wife owners, Cameron Phillips and Laura Pallas. Cameron pointed out the best spot to find blackberries, and Laura shared some of the history of the farm when we checked out. She says they will have okra in the fall, so we plan to return then. I love Mom’s pickled okra.
On a recent Saturday, I headed to Ellijay with Mom and Dad where we stopped at the Mack Aaron Apple House and R&A Orchards.
At the Mack Aaron Apple House, we talked with Bill, who is the third generation in his family to operate a apple house, where you receive friendly, personal service. It’s great to visit with Bill and his wife as you shop. We bought local vegetables and a few of the wonderful fruit pies and got our passport stamped.
Mack Aaron’s Apple House has a history of expertise in growing apples in Gilmer County that dates back to 1944.
Bill’s father, Mack, was only 4 years old when his parents, Otis Shafter Aaron and Reba Ellis Aaron purchased a farm of over 200 acres from Bob Ayers to produce apples for both commercial and retail sales. Popular apples of the time have included Red Delicious, Rome Beauty, Ben Davis, Shockley, Limbertwig, Detroit Reds, Arkansas Blacks, Yates, and Gilmer Pippin.
In 1977, Mack and Joyce Aaron built nearby on the current location, opening for the 1978 season. The family-oriented business continued wholesale and retail sales with emphasis on friendly service. In 2008 Mack and Joyce turned day to day operations over to their son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Gina Aaron.
In addition to apples, peaches and nectarines, they also offer several other types of produce as well as a multitude of tasty goodies ready to enjoy. Special care is given to the delicious hand-made fried pies. You are guaranteed to find at least 11 varieties to choose from.
Our last stop for the day in Ellijay was at R&A Orchards, where we bought peaches and had lunch in the diner in the back of the store. The hamburger and fries were great! Nothing like an old-fashioned burger with everything on it!
I have more farms to visit before the end of the year to make my goal of 20 and I’m looking forward to discovering more great family farms.
The Georgia Farm Passport is available at GFB county offices and at the 67 farms participating in the GFB Certified Farm Markets (CFM) program. These markets grow a majority of what they sell on their farm or they allow people to visit for a farm tour. These farms range from u-pick strawberry patches to farms that grow a variety of goods. As marked in the passport, some farms have corn mazes and farm games, offer educational opportunities, or host special events. The deadline to submit your passport for prizes is Jan. 10, 2020.
Simply mailing in a passport with at least one stamp will be entered to win a basket of favorite products from CFMs valued at $100. Collect five stamps and earn a Georgia Farm Passport T-shirt. Ten stamps gets the traveler a GFB insulated tumbler. A collection of 15 stamps will qualify for a $15 gift certificate to the Certified Farm Market of choice. Those who earn 20 stamps will receive a full access pass farm tour with a farm to table meal in the Spring 2020.

Angela Gary is editor of the Banks County News. She can be reached at angela@mainstreetnews.com.

When your eyes are closed, your other senses are heightened. You hear the waves crashing against the shore. You feel the breeze against your face. You smell the salt in the air. You open your eyes and you see the amazing turquoise-colored water and the huge rocks in the ocean. You see the pink sand along the edge of the water. Napping, reading, people-watching. Just staring into the waves as they come closer and a feeling of peace overcomes you. Walking down to the water to see the pink sand up close and to cool off by putting your feet in the water. Spending a day at the beach is a wonderful way to relax and rejuvenate, which is exactly what I did recently at Horseshoe Bay Beach in beautiful Bermuda.
I usually go on a cruise each June and enjoy all of the stops that are on most cruises.
This time, we tried something a little different. We chose a cruise that would be docked in one destination for three days. I really enjoyed it as it gave you the chance to really explore one area.
While one day was spent at the beach, another day was spent exploring every part of the small island of Bermuda. This was on our first day and we took a tour to see all of the island and decide what to do the next two days. It was a five-hour tour and we saw a lot of the beautiful island.
The guide was great and gave us lots of information on the island. Five things I found most interesting:
•The entire island is only 22 square miles with 65,000 residents.
•Bermuda is known for its pink sand beaches. However, when you see the beaches you only see white sand. The pink is underneath the water. There are 70 beaches.
•Bermuda is an English colony and they drive on the “wrong” side of the road.
•It is very expensive to live in Bermuda. One gallon of gas is $10, a loaf of bread is $6, a quart of milk is $8. A two-bedroom home is $1.2 million.
•Each family can have only one car. That is why you see so many scooters. The speed limit is 20 miles per hour.
Our last day in Bermuda was spent visiting the Royal Naval Dockyard. The Royal Naval Dockyard was used as a strategic base for more than 100 years.
It was from the Dockyard in the summer of 1814 that a British force of 5,000 troops and Royal Marines set sail for the famous attack on Washington, D. C., and Baltimore during the War of 1812.
It was from one of the British ships that a prisoner, Baltimore lawyer Francis Scott Key, penned the words to The Star Spangled Banner, after seeing the American flag still flying above Fort McHenry after a heavy bombardment.
The Royal Navy left the main Dockyard in 1951 although the naval base was not officially closed until 1995.
For the next two decades the area was largely abandoned until the National Museum of Bermuda was officially opened in the fortress and its success led government to begin to restore the Dockyard as a cultural tourism destination.
In 1982, more than $60 million was pumped into Dockyard, transforming the once-unused edifice into one of the islands’ biggest tourist attractions.
Today, the Dockyard is the most visited site in Bermuda. The National Museum in the Dockyard provides a fascinating journey through Bermuda’s often-turbulent history, from shipwrecks and whaling to the first flying boats and modern tourism.
Our day at the Royal Naval Dockyard included walking through the historic fortress where you can see cannons and other historic items.
We also shopped for local arts and crafts, found many beautiful flowers and enjoyed some wonderful hibiscus and honey sorbet before returning to the ship.

Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at angela@mainstreetnews.com.

BY ANGELA GARY
He sat on the wooden bench looking intently into the pile of sand that he was sifting. Each time he saw a stone, he grinned in excitement and pulled it out. His collection of gems quickly grew. Moonstone, emeralds and other brightly colored stones were admired as he continued to sift through the sand in the huge bucket looking for more treasures. His mother was on one side sifting through her own pile of sand and looking for stones. Other families, couples and children also sat on the long bench looking for their own treasures.
I recently ventured to Old Cardinal Gem Mine in Franklin, N.C., with my sister, Amanda, and 11-year-old nephew, Grayson. We always have a list of activities for the boys each summer. It usually consists of visits to places in Northeast Georgia, a few movies and dinner out. This year, Amanda found the gem mine in North Carolina and thought it sounded like a great adventure for Grayson.
After fueling up with a good breakfast in Dillard, we continued on our journey. We drove well into the mountains of North Carolina. Finally, we found the sign and the driveway. Our car was a little hesitant in getting down the drive but we urged her on down until we met our destination.
Franklin is known as the “Gem Mining Capital of the World” with people traveling from near by and far away to search for precious stones. Old Cardinal Gem Mine is located along a winding dirt road deep in the country-side. It’s certainly quite a scenic rural scene as you drive down to the site for gem-mining. We checked in at the small gift shop and purchased a bucket of sand. Buckets were available for $30, $50 and $100.
Grayson, along with my sister and I, got excited every time a stone was found in the sand. Isaiah and Morgan walked along the row of people gem mining and quickly identified the stones as they were pulled out of the water.
After we finished with our bucket of sand, we went into the gift shop and Darcel cleaned the stones for us and weighed some of the larger ones. She can also make the stones into jewelry for those who are interested.
We were all impressed with one of Grayson’s finds, a large emerald. Since it was such a large stone, he got to write his name on the wall of the gift shop, which was exciting for him.
For more information, check out the website, oldcardinalgemmining.com.
We’ve been planning day trips for Grayson this summer with a day at the lake and going to a farmer’s market being on the list. It’s great to explore these summer-time activities through the eyes of an 11-year-old. It makes everything as new and exciting and you even feel like a kid again for a moment.

Our cousin Abraham was visiting from New Mexico last week so we decided to take him to Cracker Barrel for some Southern cooking. He ordered a salad so he didn’t really get to experience Southern food.
As we finished up, I asked if he had tried grits before. I thought he probably had since he had visited his Georgia family before. His mother, my aunt Deborrah, grew up in Commerce. She is one of my mother’s six sisters. I thought Deborrah had probably made grits for Abraham before. Well, I was wrong.
When Abraham said he had not tried grits before, my sister, Amanda, and I gasped out loud; our eyes wide and mouths open. We couldn’t believe Cousin Abraham had not tried grit. He’s half-Southern so we couldn’t let him continue on without trying grits.
My sister headed to the grocery store and got the supplies for a few Southern dishes for Abraham to try. That night, he had cheese grits and collards, along with some pickled okra my mother had made. He also had some of Mom’s vegetable soup and a Vidalia onion. He ate it all and declared he liked everything. Of course, he’s a very polite young man, so we’re not sure if he really liked everything or not.
There really isn’t anything more southern than grits. The plain kind with just a little butter thrown in are the best. But we serve them so many other ways, including with cheese and shrimp, as Amanda did in the dish she made Abraham. Some people even sprinkle sugar over grits. I love them every way you can imagine.
Grits are a classic recipe that actually originated from porridge made with cornmeal by the Native Americans.
I did a little research and found that the word grits comes from the Middle English word gyrt, which is the outer bran of any whole grain.
A Southern Living article states, “In this case our whole grain is corn. These ground up kernels of corn have always had a place on southern tables beginning with Native Americans who would grind the corn into corn meal. And make porridge which we believe was the first pot of grits.
Early settlers learned from Native Americans how to take corn, turn it into hominy, which is the corn kernels with the hulls removed and then grind it into grits. Because corn was so readily available, and the grits making process had been perfected. Which quickly became known as the potatoes of the south, filling that starch requirement on tables all over the south.”
Grits has certainly been a part of our meals for as long as I can remember. We have grits for breakfast with mom’s homemade biscuits, eggs and bacon or sausage. Now, we also have it for supper sometimes when my sister makes shrimp and grits. I’m glad we introduced Cousin Abraham to grits.

BY ANGELA GARY
A cookie-decorating class led by the winner of a Food Network cooking show and a spin around the track where the biggest names in Nascar compete are just a few of the activities awaiting visitors to Henry County.
It was an easy two-hour drive from my home to Henry County when I went for a recent long weekend. The cookie-decorating and race track were two of the highlights of the trip for our group. A stop at a farm where we picked strawberries and enjoyed some strawberry shortcake and antique shopping were other highlights of the trip. We also ate some amazing food at the many restaurants located in the area.
At Crumbles by Nicole in Locust Grove, you can shop for fresh-baked creative desserts by Chef Nicole on Thursdays through Sundays. If you’re in town on Sunday, be sure to try one of Chef Nicole’s Monster Shakes. You can also schedule a cookie-decorating class. We had a great time decorating cookies with a “Georgia” theme. We also had a great time eating the tasty cookies.
Crumbles is located at 3988 Highway 42, Locust Grove.
At the Atlanta Motor Speedway, you can attend one of the many events offered throughout the year or, for those who love speed, sign up for the racing school. We headed to the racing school on a Friday afternoon where two ladies in our group signed up for a fast ride around the track.
The racing experience starts when you are fitted into a driver’s firesuit and helmet before climbing through the window into the passenger seat of an actual Nascar race car for three fast laps around the track. Before leaving, you can get a snapshot at the speedway’s Victory Lane.
Atlanta Motor Speedway is located at 1500 Tara Place, Hampton.
At Southern Belle Farm in McDonough, the fifth generation of the Carter family strives to let people, including the many children who come to the farm on field trips, know where food comes from.
The 330-acre farm has strawberries, peaches and a large variety of other fruits and vegetables offered. Visitors can pick their own strawberries and visit the on-site bakery for delicious strawberry shortcake and other treats.
At Southern Belle, you can also go on a hayride, play games and shop for fresh produce, jellies and jams and other items in the store. For those who like a slower pace, you can also sit on the porch in one of the rocking chairs and enjoy homemade ice cream. I can vouch for the strawberry ice cream, which was a delightful treat.
During our visit, family matriarch, Mimi, was present and she visited with guests in the store. She makes her homemade pound cake and shortcake for the bakery. She shares that, “Farming is the heart of our family.”
Southern Belle Farm is located at 1658 Turner Church Road, McDonough.
WHERE TO EAT
•Southern Fusion, is located at 656 Peeksville Road in Stockbridge in a shopping center and looks like a typical diner from the outside. Well, it’s not typical in any way. We tried several dishes and everything was wonderful. We started with some peach biscuits, which are similar to beignets. I could have made a meal of the peach biscuits. My entrée was eggs benedict fusion and pepper jack grits. Specials are offered daily with red velvet waffles on the menu during our visit. A special treat is one of the colossal peach cinnamon rolls. And, yes, it’s as amazing as it sounds.
•The French Market, located at 3840 Highway 43 in Locust Grove, offers a New Orleans-inspired menu with a Southern flair, as well as a gift shop with unique items offered. We started our lunch off with some wonderful fried green tomatoes and Cajun fried green beans as our appetizers.
•At The Farmer & The Chef, located at 100 Crystal Lake Boulevard, Hampton, you will find a farm to table experience in a golf course. The restaurant is owned and operated by local farmer Wayne Swanson, who supplies the beef, pork and lamb from his farm while sourcing the produce from local farms.
•At Bridgeview Country Cooking, located at 4727 North Henry Boulevard, Stockbridge, you can start the day with a Southern breakfast or order a “meat and three” at lunch. Breakfast is offered all day. The restaurant has been open since the 1960s. Specialities are the fried chicken, catfish, banana pudding and pineapple pudding.
•Chef Marian Minugh at Olive in a Bottle, located at 3836 Highway 42, Locust Grove, prepared a meal for us one night. After trying some of the olive oil, we gathered in the back of the shop for the delicious meal, which included salad with strawberry vinaigrette dressing, chipotle pineapple beef, green beans, roasted potatoes and chocolate peach shortcake with coconut whipped cream. Cooking classes are offered at Olive in a Bottle with the chef using locally sourced products.
Other stops from our trip that I would highly recommend include:
•a stop for coffee at Drip Thru Coffee, located at 50 Hwy. 138 West, Stockbridge. It’s only 135 square feet and owner Christy offers fresh coffee from Americus.
•shopping at the Speakeasy Bookstore, located at 26 East Main Street in Hampton, which offers a large selection of books as well as locally roasted espressos, lattes and coffee.
•listening to live music in an outdoor setting at the Jailhouse Brewing Company, located at 8 Cherry Street in Hampton. Since it’s located in the former city jail, you can also get a mugshot behind the bars.
•checking out “The Walking Dead” selfie spot in Hampton where you can take a photo at the site of the dumpster scene from season six.
WHERE TO STAY
We stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott, located at 115 Mill Road in McDonough, where our group met at the fire pit in the courtyard each night. It was a great place to unwind after a day of exploring.
The lobby area is also very large with comfy sofas and chairs for those who would rather be inside.
Behind the hotel is a large flea market that is fun to explore.
To start planning your visit, check out the website at www.visithenrycountygeorgia.com.

Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at Angieeditor@aol.com.