About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 2020)
Shannon Casas Editor in Chief | 770-718-3426 | life@gainesvilletimes.com S'hc firms gainesvilletimes.com Midweek Edition - September 2-3, 2020 We need our local newspapers A dear friend of mine, Lori, was cleaning out her house, preparing to downsize. She sent a text that she had left some things in my mailbox. What precious things they were, too. On top of the small stack of magazines and newspapers was a small laminated baseball-like card that featured a race car driver. Tears stung my eyes as I stud ied what would always be a face of youth and thick dark hair that never had the opportunity to gray. He had been on my mind since the dawn had awoken me. Alan Kul- wicki was a good friend of mine. I even dated him off and on for a few years. Lori did not know when she left the card in my box that day that it was the anniversary of his death in a plane crash many years ago. In the stack was a Sports Illus trated, back in the days of its true greatness, which honored a fallen Dale Earnhardt on the cover. There was a copy of our local newspaper, The Times, with the full coverage of his fatal crash in Daytona. I had never seen the paper because I was in Washington, D.C., when he died. It was all powerful. The headline was bold: Intimidator Goes His Way. The story led with “Dale Earnhardt was every bit the brusque daredevil who drew mil lions to his sport.” The world was still in shock when those words were written and the power of that shock could be felt almost 20 years later as I read the stories. That’s the power of the printed word that has an urgency to it that is unbeatable. Years ago, I was on a Mississippi River cruise aboard the American Queen when we made a stop in Greenville, Mississippi, for the day. It was an excellent day as we vis ited literary places and museums. We had just stopped at our second museum when someone handed me a copy of the Delta Democrat Times. The headline in the largest point possible stopped me in my tracks: SHELBY FOOTE DIES. Not only will I remember the thunder of that moment but I brought home a copy of the paper. Foote, the noted historian who had been made into a superstar by the Ken Burns Civil War series, was a native of Greenville, so the news paper properly paid its respect. That’s one of the many things I love about newspapers. It is more emotional to pick up a paper and read the news than tune in online where you can’t read a sentence without the page continu ing to load bothersome ads and gimmicks and resetting the layout of the story. It is annoying and distracting. Peggy Anderson, a very nice reader of this column in Cumming wrote not long ago and told me how she had found a box of newspapers she had saved over the years: The end of World War II, both Kennedy assassinations, Nixon resignations, the Challenger Explosion, Charles and Diana’s wedding. When she mentioned she had coverage of Elvis’ death, I replied instantly, “Is there any way you could send me a copy?” She did not scan them. She made copies and mailed them. It was more jolting to hold them in my hands than to have seen them in an email. The story of Elvis’ death was so big that The Atlanta Consti tution did something mighty rare: They ran a story above the name of the paper. A distraught fan was collapsed in tears in front of Grace- land and the headline read: ‘I Can’t Believe He’s Gone.’ The coverage was stupendous and still riveting 43 years later. We need newspapers. Printed paper. Don’t think for a moment we don’t. You may not have a newspaper with Elvis’ or Mr. Foote’s deaths but I bet you have a family obitu ary that means a great deal. Support your local paper. Please. Ronda Rich is the best-selling author of several books, including “Let Me Tell You Something.” Sign up for her newsletter at www.rondarich.com. Her column publishes weekly. A trail leads through the corn maze at Jaemor Farms on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018. A guide to North Ga. fall festivals, pandemic edition BY KELSEY PODO kpodo@gainesvilletimes.com Let’s face it. Fall festival season won’t be the same this year. The pandemic is flowing into the approaching cooler months, causing large crowd-drawing events to shut down in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. SCOn ROGERS I The Times Dex Stanley, 3, bounces high with the help of bungees Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, during the annual Mule Camp Market in downtown Gainesville. Mule Camp Market Gainesville’s beloved Mule Camp Market is one of many festivals not coming to Northeast Georgia this year. Matt Smith, Gainesville Jay- cees executive board member, said the city of Gainesville denied the permit request for the event. “This will be the first time since 1993 that we haven’t had a Mule Camp Market in Gaines ville,” Smith said. “I think we did a pretty good job of putting enhanced safety and sanitary measures in place, but the city wasn’t comfort able permitting it.” Organized by the Gainesville Jaycees, Smith said the event uses its sponsorships and vendor fees to support the community service group’s Empty Stocking Fund, which provides Christ mas gifts each year to around 250 children in need throughout Hall County. Smith said the charity helps fulfill kids’ holi day wish-lists, which include items like jackets, shoes and socks. “We literally have kids that say they’d love to have a coat or hairbrush,” he said. “We’re trying to figure out something else to recoup those funds because for us, it’s not about mak ing money but where it’s going. We’re going to buy Christmas for kids one way or another. And it’s not just Mule Camp getting canceled. Lula Fall Festival Chris Lusink, Lula’s city clerk, said she has helped organize the Lula Fall Festival — which includes food and craft vendors, live music and a talent show — for the past eight years and has decided to cancel it for October. “I don’t want to be responsible for more COVID cases,” Lusink said. “Unfortunately, I’ve told everybody, ‘Sorry, we’re not having it.’” Oktoberfest Helen has also put the brakes on its annual Oktoberfest event, which would’ve cel ebrated its 50th anniversary this year. The alpine town plans to postpone the event to 2021. The Greater Area Helen Chamber of Com merce made the announcement Friday, July 24, in a press release, expressing that the choice was an “extremely difficult decision.” “Despite our wishes and best efforts, we do not believe we would be able to provide an appropriate 50th anniversary celebration for our visitors and still maintain required safety protocols,” the release stated. “It would not be possible for the Festhalle experience this year to come close to what we are known for or what is expected.” Gold Rush The 66th annual Gold Rush Days Festival is still up in the air for October. The event’s board of directors plans to announce its final decision by Tuesday, Sept. 15. But while many places have tapped out for the season, others have held firmly to their pumpkins and crafts to carry on their festi vals for another year. To stop you from showing up to a nonexis tent shindig, The Times has compiled a list of fall festivals and event cancelations around Northeast Georgia. Canceled ■ Atlanta Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festi val, Gainesville ■ Oktoberfest, Helen ■ Mule Camp Market, Gainesville ■ September first Friday concert, Gainesville ■ Flowery Branch Fall Festival ■ Lula Fall Festival ■ Clermont Days 2020 Festival ■ Big Red Apple Festival, Cornelia ■ Chattahoochee Mountain Fair, Clarkesville ■ Snake Day, Elachee Nature Science Center, Gainesville Still happening Times file photo Tap It will be hosting its 5th annual Brewfest on Saturday, Sept. 5. Tap It Brew Fest Tap It Gainesville Growlers is holding its fifth annual Brew Fest, which boasts a spread of craft beer on tap from over 10 brewer ies. While people sample, they’ll listen to music from The Murphs Band and Imperial Records Cooperative. The event will also have several food trucks for people to grab a snack or meal. When: 3-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5 Where: Tap It, 1850 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville How much: Tickets $15 at the door for six samples; $12 pre-order for six samples; and $75 for a private 12-person tent and one 64-ounce growler filled with choice of beer. More info: Tap It Brew Fest Facebook page Jaemor Com Maze This event also provides hayrides, farm slides, a petting zoo, pumpkin train and many other family-friendly activities. When: Oct. 5-23:10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1 -7 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, and 1 -6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8 Where: Jaemor Farms, 5340 Cornelia Highway, Alto Tickets: $14 per person More info: jaemorfarms.com/plan-your- visit/by-season/corn-maze/ Braselton Antique & Artisan Festival Running 18 years strong, Braselton Antique & Artisan Festival will showcase a plethora of items including antiques, furni ture, artwork and other handcrafted pieces. The free event will include live music and eight food trucks for people to purchase alco holic beverages, meals and desserts. When: Noon to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 Where: Braselton Park, 115 Harrison St., Braselton How much: Free More info: vintagemarkets.net Gillsville Pottery Festivals Known for its rich history of pottery, Gills ville is welcoming two clay-centric festivals this year. People can expect to see a spread of face jugs and other folk ceramic creations made by local artists for sale at both the Fer guson Family Pottery Show and Craven Fam ily Pottery’s October Fall Festival. Ferguson Family Pottery Show When: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 Where: Ferguson Family Pottery, 6468 Old Gillsville Road How much: Free Craven Family Pottery’s October Fall Festival When: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 Where: Craven Family Pottery, 6616 Ga. Highway 52, Gillsville How much: Free Braselton Concerts on the Town Green Live music will fill the open air as people lounge in lawn chairs and blankets on Brasel ton Town Green. Food trucks and drink tents will be stationed on site. The country rock group Creston Maxey Band will perform Saturday, Sept. 19, and the Vintage Vixens, a group who plays hits from the ‘60s and ‘70s, will take the stage Friday, Oct. 16. When: 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, and Friday, Oct. 16 Where: Braselton Town Green, 9924 Davis St., Braselton How much: Free Times file photo A group of ’40 Fords, well known for hauling liquor, line the streets of downtown Dawsonville every year at the Mountain Moonshine Festival. Mountain Moonshine Festival This year’s Mountain Moonshine Festival in Dawsonville is still slated for the fall; how ever, the nature of the event is still up in the air. Dawson County News, a sister publica tion of The Times, reported on Aug. 18 that the event would be held in one of three ways: a normal, full-fledged Moonshine Festival, a downsized version or a fundraiser only involving K.A.R.E. for Kids selling T-shirts and gathering donations for its organization. Dawson City Council members are expected to make a final decision on the fes tival during a special called meeting at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2. More info available at kareforkids.org/ mountain-moonshine-festival.html
