Features

BY ANGELA GARY

I remember standing in a long line on a riverboat in Tennessee with my parents as we waited to meet country star Toby Keith for a photo and autograph.

Did my parents want an autograph and photo? Not really. They were waiting because I wanted to meet Toby.

I remember many summers where the three of us traveled to Nashville for “Fan Fair” for a week of concerts, meet and greets with the stars and other music-related events.

Are they huge country fans? Not really but I am and they went along for me. [Full Story »] 

BY ANGELA GARY

Looking out from the balcony, you can see the indoor waterfall and greenery, as well as the boat that takes visitors on a tour of the inside of the huge hotel in Nashville, Tenn.

On the next stop, you could see the huge Arch that makes St. Louis famous from the window of our hotel.

Thanks to technology, I traveled along with my sister and her family on a road trip without ever leaving Jackson County.
With Facetime and other modern technology and social media, I felt like I was on the road with Amanda, Jacob, Jake and Grayson.

My nephews gave me daily (sometimes several times a day) updates on their week-long road trip to Illinois to visit Jacob’s grandfather and other family members.

On one Facetime chat, Grayson excitedly scanned the view from their balcony at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. He was amazed at what all you find inside this huge hotel and he wanted to share it all with me.

At their brief overnight stop in St. Louis, the phone buzzed and it was Jake on Facetime to show me the view of the Arch from their window. He scanned the city view and the room and I felt like I was right there with him in St. Louis.

As I write this column, the Mylers have made it to their destination. I’m sure I will soon be seeing what their surroundings look like there as well as Gramps and the other family members they visit.

The trip home includes stops in Kentucky and Pigeon Forge. I can’t wait to see what the boys want to share with me from those fun destinations.

The boys find it hard to believe we didn’t have cell phones when we were their age. If we wanted to share vacation photos, we had to wait until we got home to get the photos developed and then share them with everyone. They also have a hard time imaging film and getting it developed. With digital cameras and phones that are also a camera, you can immedatiately see the shots you capture.
Each summer when the Mylers take their week-long vacation, I’m in charge of their Maltese, Georgia. I always look forward to spending time with her. I’ve never had a small dog and it’s quite an experience to be in charge of one.

It must be what it is like to have a baby. I’m planning my schedule around Georgia. It’s not like having a cat, which I have always had. With a cat, you can leave the food and litter box out with no worries. It’s not quite the same with a dog.
Georgia usually wakes me up before my alarm clock does. She jumps up on the bed and dances around my head. I know it’s time to get up and take her outside to go to the bathroom.

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

BY ANGELA GARY

In the April 7, 1999, issue of this newspaper, the headline of my column was: “Welcome to the world, baby Judd.”
Eighteen years later, Judd is graduating high school and headed to Young Harris College, where he will play baseball and seek a degree in pre-med with plans to be a peditrician.
I am so proud of the young man Judd has become. He has many academic and athletic accomplishments. I am most proud of his faith and the path he takes by always putting God first.
My sister and I were Banks County High School last week where Judd, surrounded by family and friends, made a commitment to attend Young Harris as part of the baseball team. Then, Friday night, my family joined the hundreds of people at Leopard Stadium watching the seniors turn the tassel to this chapter in their life and begin another journey.
In honor of this special time, I looked up that column from 1999 when Judd was born. Here it is:
Dear Judd,
You look so precious and innocent curled up in the fetal position in your crib. You have a full head of dark hair just like your parents. I’m not sure about your eyes because they are closed every time I see you. Your mother assures me they open up plenty of times during the night.
Despite a love of children, I never wanted to have a baby of my own. But looking at your sweet face and feeling your tiny fingers as they curl around one of my fingers, I understand. I understand what makes a couple want to change their lifestyle and welcome a new arrival into the home.
Your mother has been a friend of mine for as long as I can remember. It was actually my sister who first brought Robin Fields into our family. Robin was her friend at first but now the whole family calls her our friend.
We have had lots of fun over the years from when we were teenagers and went to the beach to soak up the sun to more recent years when a trip to the mountains to shop is our idea of a vacation.
Robin and Amanda have both married now. Robin was the first to have a baby and we will all share these new experiences with her.
We have all been filled with excitement since we first heard that Robin had gone to the hospital. I had to work late the night you were born but I called the hospital. Robin’s voice was filled with excitement and pride as she talked about the delivery.
It wasn’t long before my mother, sister and I crowded around you to welcome you to the world. As Amanda and I cooed and made baby noises over you, we asked you to look up at “Aunt Angie” and “Aunt Amanda.” Robin may not have any sisters but you will have plenty of “aunts” around to spoil you.
When you get older, you will realize what a special mother you have. Robin will provide you with the guidance all children need in times that are often troubled and hard to understand. She is a special, sincere person who puts God first in her life. This is hard to find and you are lucky that your mother has these values.
I don’t know your father, Keith Roberts, as well as I do Robin, but I feel sure that he will also provide the guidance you will need as you get older (and teach you to hunt and fish). He picked Robin for his bride so he must know what he is doing. I will always remember the special look he had on his face as Robin walked down the aisle for the wedding.
You are luckier than many children because you entered the world with two very special parents who have the ability to take care of you. You also have two special sets of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins to take care of you.
Welcome to the world, Judd, I look forward to watching you grow up.
Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com

BY ANGELA GARY

Taking a trolley tour through town on “Milly,” exploring the Governor’s Mansion, which was the home of eight governors, and going on house tours are just a few of the reasons for a visit to Milledgeville.

Known as the “Antebellum Capitol of Georgia,” Milledgeville is a perfect Southern town for a weekend get-away. It offers attractions that are both fun and educational. There will be something for everyone--from the kids to the parents to the grandparents.
On a recent trip, we started out with a trolley tour with Milledgeville Historic Trolley Tour, which gave us a great overview of the area. Sara, our guide, had lots of history and interesting facts to share with us.

We also spent several hours touring the Governor’s Mansion, which was built in 1839 in the Greek Revival style for $50,000.

The Governor’s Mansion has been a house museum since 1996 and has undergone a $9.5 million restoration. 15,000 visitors a year tour the mansion, which is located within one block from downtown.

Home tours you want to include on your visit are the Brown-Stetson-Sanford House, which features a beautiful spiral staircase in the central hall, and Rose Hill and Lockerly Aboretum, a Greek Revival home.

Visitors can tour the home of Sallie Davis, an African American educator who opened her home to students from rural areas.

A highlight of my visit to Milledgeville was my stay at Soho Lofts, located in the heart of downtown at 101 South Wayne Street.

The building that houses Soho Lofts was constructed in 1890 and was originally a bank. When Kim and Joseph Martin purchased it, the building had been vacant for 10-plus years and was in pretty bad shape. The renovation of the building was complete in October 2014.
The building is zoned for mixed use, there are retailers on the first floor and Soho Lofts is located in four apartments on the second floor for guests wanting to stay downtown and for extended stays.

The Martins have an apartment in the Soho section of New York City. They named the apartments in Soho Lofts to represent the Soho area of New York due to the resemblance in architectural style.

The Martins also ownsthe Antebellum Inn, bed and breakfast located near downtown. I had friends staying there and we joined them for breakfast, which was delicious. It was a great way to start the day before heading out to explore Milledgeville.

A few great dining options we enjoyed in Milledgeville were Amici, Local Yolkal Café and The Brick.

For more information, visit www.visitmilledgeville.org.

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

With summer approaching, parents are looking at vacation destinations for the family. A perfect choice is Cartersville, Ga., where you find plenty of history and culture. The Etowah Indian Mounds and the Booth Museum are two locations the adults and children alike will enjoy exploring.

At the Etowah Indian Mounds, we looked over the artifacts in the museum before heading outside to get a closer look at the three mounds that have become a sacred place to visit. One of the most interesting artifacts in the museum is the effigy figures of a man and woman that were recovered at the edge of one of the mounds. The artifacts found here give a great glimpse into the lives of the people who once lived in the area. The items found also show an extensive network the Native Americans had with items originating as far away as California. For more information, go to www.GeorgiaStateParks.org.

Another must stop in Cartersville is the Booth Western Art Museum, which has an extensive collection of western American art. A local family donated their amazing collection to the community. The museum is a part of the Smithsonian Institution Affiliations Program.

There are some wonderful pieces on display and you can spend hours exploring the museum. In addition to the western art, you will also find a section dedicated to American presidents. There is one letter from each president on display. It’s interesting to wander around and read the letters. A fun stop for kids is Sagebrush Ranch where kids can hop on a “horse” or get in a small stage coach.

Through Aug. 27, a special exhibit, Creating Camelot, is featured at the museum. It features copies of photos from President John F. Kennedy’s personal photographer. [Full Story »] 

Was Jellybean field day a part of your elementary school days where you competed in fun activities with jelly bean candy as the prize. What about a donkey basketball game with the gym packed with everyone in the community in the bleachers to watch the game?

If any of this sounds familiar, you were probably a student at Benton Elementary School in the 1970s and 1980s.

Go back a few decades and you might have been in the Rhythm Band under the direction of Mrs. Gladys Standridge.

For 80 years, the school in Benton was the back bone of the community and tied everyone together. That was especially evident when the school building burned down in 1972. This didn’t stop the school for going on with students meeting at area churches and then the gym while until a new facility could be built. Students only missed school for one day.

We were proud to be Benton Bulldogs and had a reputation across the county for having students who excelled in academics and athletics.

I was a student at Benton from first through eighth grade, graduating in 1981. We had a graduation ceremony with caps and gowns and were all proud of our Benton diploma.

An integral part of any school is the teachers and Benton is no exception. Some that stand out in my memory are Shirley Coker White, who is still at the school as assistant principal. Miss Coker, who later married Coach David White, another special teacher from my time at Benton, loved all of her students and made us all feel special.

Shirley Peters ignited my love of reading and writing. Later, Nicky Wilbanks added to be love of writing by sparking our imagination with interesting topics to write about. We learned to look at the world around us in Carolyn Mitton’s science class with our bird journals. Charles Marlow is a teacher that quickly comes to mind from anyone who was at Benton during my school days. He made Social Studies interesting and taught us the importance of taking notes. Patty Smith also stands out in my memory as a teacher who loved the students and made learning fun. These are just a few of the special teachers during my eight years at Benton.

When I was a student at Benton, the Nicholson Daisy Festival was held on the school grounds. I remember being in the parade as a Benton Bulldog cheerleader and as a Nicholson Clogger. Those memories are tied closely to the school. I remember hours and hours of practicing cheerleading in front of the school and clogging practice in the gym on those long, hot summer days.

The doors of Benton Elementary School may be closing in a few weeks, but the memories of Benton will go on forever.

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

It’s a custard pie with a caramelized top and a creamy center. It’s sweeter than it sounds. And it’s worth the drive to Greensboro to get a slice of the delicious Buttermilk Pie from Yesterday Café, the dessert that has been featured in “Southern Living” and was reportedly served to country star Carrie Underwood’s guests when she married at the Ritz-Carlton at Lake Oconee. In fact, the story goes that Underwood ordered 300 of the Southern pies delivered to the resort for her wedding weekend.

A few years ago, I ordered one of the pies and had it shipped to my office. I didn’t plan too well because I wasn’t in town when it was delivered. My sister picked it up for me. She called to tell me she had it and she tried a bite and loved it. Then she sends a text that she ate a piece of the pie. The next message is that half of the pie is gone. Then, she tells me she saved me one piece. I think there may have been one bite left when I got home. It really is that good.

On a recent trip to Greensboro and the Lake Oconee area for the weekend, my first stop was in downtown where I had a piece of the buttermilk pie. It’s a must stop when in Greensboro. While you might go for the pie, you will find so many more reasons to visit.

Another must stop is Genuine Georgia, a shop in downtown that features Georgia made products. Jewelry, pottery and candles are just a few of the hand-crafted items offered.

For history and architecture fans, be sure and stop by the historic jail, known as “Old Gaol,” on East Green Street. The jail is built of granite from a local quarry.

Also in downtown you will find a great use of a historic property at 202 North West Street, where Oconee Brewing Company, recently opened in a 6,000 square foot former mill warehouse. It’s great when historic properties are renovated for a modern use. The back patio is a great space to gather.

We stayed at The National Village Collages, a great place for families to stay on their weekend (or longer) getaway to Greensboro and Lake Oconee. Our cottage’s balcony overlooked the golf course, a wonderful place to sit in the morning and watch the sun come up before heading out to explore or unwind at the end of the day. We had breakfast at The Landing, located on the property, where you can get omelets made to order and a buffet with southern favorites.

While in Greensboro, stop at the Lake Country Discovery Museum, located in BankSouth. It gives a great overview of the area.

You can’t leave the area without getting out on the water. We enjoyed a pontoon boat on the pristine Lake Oconee, catching it from the docks at the Ritz-Carlton. It’s a wonderful feeling to cruise along the lake, checking out the beautiful homes. It was so relaxing and peaceful being out on the water. It was definitely a highlight of our visit.

Afterwards, we stopped at Gaby’s by the Lake at the Ritz-Carlton for lunch where I found the grilled cheese lobster sandwich to be a delight. Add a side of sweet potato fries and you have a great meal.
The Ritz is a beautiful property. It’s easy to understand why Carrie Underwood rented out the entire hotel for her wedding and wedding party.

White it’s definitely worth the trip to Greensboro and Lake Oconee for the buttermilk pie, there are so many more wonderful reasons to go. The friendly folks who love sharing stories about the area they call home, the unique shopping and other special finds in the downtown area and the water activities that make Lake Oconee a destination are just a few of the reasons to visit.

For more information, go to www.downtowngreensboroga.com and www.visitlakeoconee.com.

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

It finally happened. I said it never would but it did. My doctor told me years ago that it would be happening but I just laughed at him. Well, he was right. I now have to wear reading glasses.

The doctor first started mentioning it when I was 40 years old, which was a few years ago. I’ve been wearing contacts since I was in high school but I still didn’t think reading glasses would be in my future.

One morning, I noticed that my make-up bottle was almost empty. I looked at the side of the bottle to get the shade of make-up so I could replace it. I looked again. I squinted. I finally handed the bottle to my nephew and asked him the color of the make-up.

The same thing started happening with medicine bottles. I couldn’t read the directions on the bottle. I was sure they were making the print smaller.

Then, I noticed the print in the Bible and books I was reading was getting smaller. Or was it? I got a pair of those cheap reading glasses you see on counters of stores and tried them out.

Amazingly enough, the print in the books looked much better. I grabbed the make up bottle, and yes, I could clearly read the words on the side. Same thing for those medicine bottles. They were so much clearer with reading glasses on.

I decided if I was getting reading glasses, they would have to be cool ones. No “old lady” glasses for me. I have reading glasses in red, pink and rhinestones. It’s nice to have a clearer view of the world around me. Or at least a clearer view of the small print around me.

I always wondered what was going on when my mother asked me to read the small print on menus or tickets on clothing when we were shopping. I was sure she could see the small print. Now I understand exactly what she has been talking about all these years.

I actually have a “milestone” birthday coming up this year. It’s an age that I always thought was really old but I realize it’s not really that old at all. It does technically qualify as “middle-aged” but, of course, everyone says you are as old as you feel. If that’s the case, some days I’m 100 and other days I’m 16.

While the big birthday is still a couple of months away, I’ve already started planning for it. I’ve planned a summer vacation that week so I will be celebrating for seven days. I will be in Grand Turk on my actual birthday, so I’m looking forward to that. I’ll be sure to take my new reading glasses with me so that everything is in focus.

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

BY ANGELA GARY

For me, family vacations always meant the Great Smoky Mountains. Some families headed to the beach but not us. Our vacation destination was always the mountains of east Tennessee. How fitting that “Year of the Family” is being celebrated this year at Dollywood, where the 32nd season of the park recently kicked off.
I certainly have lots of family memories of time spent at Dollywood. It has been a favorite destination for us every season of the year. I have many fond memories of attending opening weekend in the spring when Dolly Parton was on hand to greet season pass holders and guests. In the summer, the park was the highlight of our family vacation where we enjoyed all the shows, rides and harvest f. In the fall, we always enjoyed the pumpkins and special exhibits, while winter was probably my favorite time of all with all of the Christmas festivities. Every season, there is something special for families to enjoy.

This year on opening weekend, we went to Mother Africa, a musical show that highlights skillful acrobatics, live music and traditional and modern dance from across Africa’s diverse tradition. The Mother Africa cast, assembled from all across the African continent, invites guests to visit the typical township of Khayelitsha (which means “My Home”) where the people celebrate the joy of everyday life. The streets come to life through music, dance and amazing acrobatic feats as the people rise above their surroundings through their creativity, spirit and athletic skills. The show is located at Celebrity Theater and it will be featured as part of Dollywood’s Festival of Nations, which will be at the park through April 9. [Full Story »]