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               Happy New Year!

Nothing warms your bones like a good cup of hot coffee, cocoa, or tea. It is a welcoming treat when you come in out of the cold. We hope you enjoy our featured recipes and use and share them for many years.

Thank you, thank you to our advertisers who make this publication possible. You are wonderful folks and we appreciate all you do. We wish you a prosperous New Year. Readers, shop with our advertisers and tell them you saw them in 400 Edition.

On February 14 we will celebrate St. Valentine’s Day. We are inviting our readers to send us a short item (about 50 words) about their favorite Valentine Day or their favorite “Valentine.” Advertisers, we encourage you to advertise your business in the next issue. February is a good month for gift certificates, visits to the spa or beauty salon, sending flowers, and jewelry. Guys, remember diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Call 706-867-6455 to talk to someone about advertising. You may also place an ad through our web site: www.400edition.com. For the month of March, we will have a historic theme. Several folks have starting writing articles on that subject, but we always have need for more. If you have knowledge about some historic events or places, please submit to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for consideration.

               Happy Valetine's Day

Ahhh, amore! Regardless of what’s going on in the world around us, people will always fall in love. And although we’re sure it happens year-round, what better time for us to celebrate love and affection than in this February issue? Be sure to note how many North Georgia advertisers are showing their love with specials, sentiments, or just showing their red and pink colors. In addition to some Valentine’s celebrations in our events, we pay tribute to Valentine’s Day on page 19 with one look at its hazy origins.

This been a really fun issue to put together—what goes better with love than rocks! There is a lot of gemstone knowledge being shared in this issue. Did you know that “semi-precious” is a term the gem industry would like to see obsolete? The term was originally used to describe any gem other than a diamond, sapphire, ruby, or emerald. But since the term implies sub-standard value, and there are so many equally beautiful clear and colored stones (such as apatite and tourmalines) as well as beautiful “rocks” (such as lapis, turquoise, jasper, and agate), the word “precious” seems to no longer apply to only a few stones. All are precious! When it comes to gems, beauty and value are truly in the eye of the beholder. We want to send a big “thank you!” to Mr. Donald Clark of the International Gem Society (www. gemsociety.org) and the International Colored Gemstone Association (www.gemstone.org) for providing such wonderful gemstone articles. We hope you will not only find these articles interesting, but will also feel more informed when you go to make your next gem purchase. If your interest is piqued, you should certainly check out their web sites, where you can find an abundance of gem information for just about any age and any experience level.

     Spring Festivals & The Arts

 We thank John Hutchinson, Organist and Director of Music, Worship & Arts at the Cumming First United Methodist Church, for supplying the beautiful painting that graces our cover this month. This is a sample of what you will find at the Festival of Arts being held April 18-25 at the church, located at 770 Canton Highway. The Festival of Arts was established in 2008 with the goal of presenting professional and student visual artists in gallery displays. The professional visual artists are juried, and cash awards are given. See more about this event on page 16.

The work on the cover is by Connie Lynn Reilly of Buford, GA. She is an Atlanta native, a true southern belle. Connie has studied with various artists over the years: Irving Lawhon, Morgan Weistling, George Carlson, Nelson Shanks, Richard Whitney, and Tony Couch, to name a few.

               Hooray for History

The town of Dahlonega is well known for its gold-rush history, and what better place to document it than the gold museum located in the 1836 Lumpkin County Courthouse, the oldest courthouse in Georgia. Housed in this beautiful building is the story of the thousands of prospectors who came to North Georgia, and the beginning of the first gold rush. In this historic structure in the center of the town square, you can view artifacts of the period, including gold nuggets, gold coins, and gold-panning equipment. There’s an educational film as well, and a gift shop. Visitors can also explore the features of the courthouse itself, including beautiful wooden chapel seats from 1889, and the judge’s chambers. Some exhibits are on the second floor and are not wheelchair accessible. Guidelines from the National Register of Historic Places prevent the addition of an elevator to this building.

Hours of operation are Monday-Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm; Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm. Take time to read all the wonderful stories of the past we’ve included in this issue; you’ll hear about the first telephones—and about a time when there was no McDonald’s in town! In April our regular columns will be back to inform and entertain you. 

     The Many Faces of a Mother

The weather forecast threatened rain on Saturday, April 17, and we had made plans to shoot this cover. Of course, it didn’t rain, it was bright and sunny and a perfect day for a photo. Vanessa McBrayer had arranged for all the ladies to meet at the Peach Brandy Cottage in Dawsonville. Vanessa even entertained the kids while their moms were posing for the pictures.

Thanks to the folks at Peach Brandy for letting us use their beautiful facility. Everything was clean and manicured. Even the swans on the lake were in rare form. If you are planning an event, you will want to check their web site (www.PeachBrandyCottage.com) and see all the things they have to offer.

Also thanks to all the mothers who gave up their Saturday morning to take part in this issue. They are (front row) Teresa Conowal, Amy Roberts, Linda Merritt, Sharon Keating, Candace Neighbours; (back row) Katie Owen, Janice Darnell, Wendy Sundgren, Dana Jones, Jessica Beck, and Lisa Bennett. Mary Otway was unable to attend the photo shoot. Thanks to Beth Snider for all the effort she put into making this a great cover. You will see all of these special ladies’ stories in this issue. I wish we could have put all our mothers on the cover; but know that we love and appreciate each one of you and wish you a Happy Mother’s Day.

     The Music Man- at the Cumming Playhouse

The Cumming Playhouse is very pleased with the new season contract with Next Stage Theatre Company. We have high expectations for the success of the musicals planned through February 2011; they include Gypsy the Musical, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (the musical version of Miracle on 34th Street), and Evita in the spring.

Summer 2010 will bring The Music Man, sure to be a favorite with families and students on summer vacation, and visitors to our town. The musical’s smalltown setting is well suited to Cumming and the surrounding communities. Jerry Harlow and Rob Hardie of Next Stage Theatre Company have some exciting and creative ideas planned for the show, which include bringing the show as near to the audience as possible. The grand finale alone will be worth the price of the ticket, so do make your plans to see The Music Man. If “Seventy-Six Trombones” is not already engraved in your memory from having seen this show in the past, this joyous grand finale by Next Stage Theatre Company is certain to secure a place in your heart for quite some time.

           Happy Birthday, America

Doesn’t this bring back good memories? I don’t think we ever get too old to enjoy a good old messy ice cream cone. This is especially true for Emerson, granddaughter of our own Carole Lee.

Everybody has a favorite flavor or brand of ice cream, and we all express our opinion about whose ice cream is the best. Each manufacturer develops its own special recipes, but the actual ice cream production is basically the same everywhere.

According to the International Dairy Association, based on ice cream consumption figures the top five individual flavors in the United States are vanilla, chocolate, cookie n’ cream, strawberry, and chocolate chip mint. They also state that ice cream and related frozen desserts are consumed by more than 90% of the households in the United States. That’s a lot of ice cream!

           Back To School

Students relax in front of Price Memorial Hall, the administration building at North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega. The iconic building, with its gold-covered steeple, is a treasured community landmark.

The fall semester at NGCSU will begin on Wednesday, August 18. Prior to that date students will be moving into their dorms and off-campus housing. Dahlonega will welcome back these young people as they start another phase of their education.

The state’s second-oldest public university, North Georgia is seeing record enrollment as it strives to meet the higher education needs of the region. The university offers more than 50 majors, as well as preprofessional, professional, master’s, and doctoral programs. Classes are available in Dahlonega, Cumming, Gainesville, and online.

           North Georgia Festivals

Doesn’t the cover picture make you want to get out and go to the fair? Well, get ready because on Thursday, October 7, the Cumming Fairgrounds will be ready and waiting for you. Dave Horton, Fairgrounds Manager, has pulled out all the stops to make sure you are entertained for almost two weeks. See the times and schedules in the Cover Story on page 10. The midway will have all the rides you could imagine, thanks to James H. Drew Exposition. Don’t miss the Seattle Wheel, the Cyclops, the Pirate Ship, and many more. The midway will also be filled with challenging games with prizes. At night, the midway comes alive with millions of computer-controlled neon lights that can be seen for miles.

If the rides aren’t your thing, enjoy the Heritage Village, petting zoo, Bear Mountain Wildlife Show, and much more. Remember, your admission into the fair also gets you into the nightly concerts. This year you can enjoy entertainers like Tanya Tucker, Little Texas, Phil Stacey, and Chris Sligh, just to name a few. No matter what kind of music you like, there will be something you like this year.

           North Georgia Festivals

Summer has ended and the first day of fall was September 22. The days have started getting shorter and shorter and the trees are getting ready for winter. Their leaves start turning glorious shades of red, gold, yellow, and rust, and our mountains turn into a virtual collection of autumn beauty. This year is going to be an exceptional year for color, per the Forestry Service. See their article on page 23. Bob Merritt captured this picture last year outside of Dahlonega.

This cover stirs up two memories. First it reminds us of going home. If you are fortunate to live out in the country, these kinds of roads are all over North Georgia. Whether you have just been away at work for the day, or are perhaps coming home after many years, that road home conjures up happy thoughts as you anticipate seeing your loved ones.

         Faith, Courage, Duty

There are many kinds of journeys we take throughout our lives. Some are short, some are long, some boring, some exciting; but they all take us from one point to another. The young man on our cover, John Wade III, is taking his second journey to Afghanistan in a few days. The Bible he holds in his hands has been on many journeys, starting back in 1918. See the story of these different journeys on page 16. Read about the men who took the Bible into battle and then brought it back home to Forsyth County.

            Old Fashioned Christmas

There is music in the air . . . are you listening? Follow the sound and enjoy an authentic hometown feel in the enchanting North Georgia mountain town of Dahlonega. Beth Snider captured that feel in our cover this month. Thank you to Beth and all the folks who came dressed in their old-fashioned attire to pose for this wonderful picture. Also thank you to Joel Cordle and the merchants on the square who readied their storefronts for the season and this photo shoot. And don’t forget Santa—he got us all into the Christmas mood.

               Wildlife

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Nothing says it’s going to be a happy day like waking in the morning to the birds singing…even on a cold winter day! As part of our focus on wildlife, our cover shows a couple of frequent North Georgia visitors, a male and female Northern Cardinal. With Project Feederwatch under way, you can help

               Interior Design

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If you are looking for a way to pick up your spirits and get into the swing of spring, the decorating tips we have included in this month’s issue will bring a breath of fresh air into your home. Don’t worry if you’re pinching pennies. Some of these ideas require more elbow grease than cash, or a fresh eye for old things you

               Appalachian Mountains

The next time you’re down in the dumps, go take a drive down Highway 52 on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and meet a talented Appalachian band and some other really nice folk at Waters Mill for a photo shoot! Our cover sports Miss Irene having a great time listening to Greybeard’s rendition of Amazing Grace, framed by one of our favorite signs of spring

               Back to the Basics

How often is it that you actually see a chef in the garden? Through Community Sponsored Agriculture (CSA), Whitestone Farm grows it and 61 Main loads it onto your plate—fresh from Russell and Kristina Cutts’ farm, with loving preparation by chef Jenna Schreiber. 400 Edition applauds their efforts to go back to the basics of fresh, local products provided in an

               Your Local Parks

Getting ready for a the end of school, Andrew Snider is practicing for summer break! Whether you’re in elementary school or spending time at the Senior Center, the local parks in North Georgia can be a place of fun, fitness, and relaxation. Andrew has gone head-over-heels for Lumpkin County’s Yahoola Creek Park, a 500-acre park on the northern border of the

               We the People

We hope this cover inspires you to find yourself humming Seventy-Six Trombones, Lida Rose, and Gary, Indiana, and to order your tickets to the beloved musical The Music Man from the Historic Holly Theatre’s site while they last. The Holly finds herself under new leadership, and the joint team of Michael Arens and David Rothel are set to prove their value to the Holly with

               Fall Festival Guide

Once again Dave Horton, Fairgrounds Manager at the Cumming Fairground, has purchased our front cover. Dave and his staff work long and hard to make all the events at the Fairground well worth attending, but they pull out all the stops for the Cumming Country Fair & Festival. This year the fair starts on October 8 and runs through October 18. See all the schedules in this issue.

               Happy Thanksgiving

Our North Georgia part of the world looks quite different from one month ago. Now the trees are in beautiful shades of red, yellow, orange, and gold. Just driving into town is a beautiful experience in color. I always think about how God just took his paint brush and totally changed the looks of the trees. Also since a month ago, some of the trees have entirely lost their leaves, indicated by the piles of leaves

               Merry Christmas

What a good time we had with this month’s front cover! Beth Snider outdid herself with her camera. It was no easy task to get this many people together, but it finally happened. We want to thank Judith Johnson and White Interiors for all their help and support in having the store decorated for this occasion. A big jolly thank you to Santa for taking time out of his busy schedule to take part in the photo shoot. Don’t you love the twinkle in his eye?

Thanks also to Neva Garrett, who directs these youngsters in Dahlonega’s Historic Holly Theater’s A Christmas Carol. She and the mothers made sure they were in costume and ready for their assignment. These delightful kids, and their roles in the play, are (top, left to right): Jack Kern (Intelligent Lad), Glenn Tucker (Young Scrooge), Jordan Garrett (Snowball Kid), and Jesse Scales (Snowball Kid); Santa with Olivia Simmons (Snowball Kid); (bottom, left to right): Wyatt Pielow (Tiny Tim) and Belle Adams (Tiny Tim). The play starts December 3 and runs through December 29; call the Holly at 706-864-3759 for more information, and tickets. White Interiors is a proud supporter of the Holly.

Released December 14, 2007

Starting a New Business, Hometown Heroes

Cover photo: Beth Snider, 400 Edition 

No matter what type of business you would like to start, the articles found within our pages this month will be of tremendous benefit. We owe special thanks to the folks at the Small Business Development Center in Gainesville for their

Released January 14, 2008

All About Pets

Cover photo: iStockPhoto

As Bob Merritt’s column on page 48 so aptly reflects, God loved us so much that He gave us animals. Throughout history, animals have sustained human life—by providing food, clothing, and labor for humans. Along the way, certain animals have also

             5th Annual HomeBuyer's Guide / Home Innovations

Cover photo: Bryan Wetzel/OneFourTwo Productions

Still wondering, “What is the big deal about Big Canoe ®?" If so, the Vann Custom home on the cover should give you at least one answer to that question. Like most North Georgia communities, Big Canoe® has grown in the last decade, but in such a way that the charm,

               Interior Design / North Georgia Vineyards

Cover photo: Beth Snider, 400 Edition, Inc.

When I think of wrought iron, my mind conjures up images of Bourbon Street lined in ancient homes with trellises and fretwork of green, black, and white swirls and curls. There is a timelessness to this material—both support and ornament.

Our cover features Iron Accents,

               Travel & Leisure / Relationships

Cover photo: unknown - provided by Dobbin Buck

 There are some who believe that those of us in North Georgia will have a festival for any reason. In fact, I first heard that comment in association with Bear on the Square, a festival that came about after a bear really was spotted on the historic Dahlonega square.

               Hobbies / History

Cover photo: Beth Snider, 400 Edition

This is the third season we’ve had the honor of photographing this talented group for the cover of 400 Edition. As PlayRight Productions’ Smoke On The Mountain players prepare to pose for us, we always get a little preview of the stage performance as we try

               Entertainment & Arts / Party Ideas

Cover photo: Beth Snider, 400 Edition

Our cover this month celebrates the upcoming Holly Theatre production Big River. Although this musical is generally light-hearted and comical, the tale of Huckleberry Finn examines social issues from which we can still draw insight. It’s a great opportunity for family

               Georgia Wildlife / Volunteering

Cover photo: New River Casual Furniture

Can you hear the birds singing, and the ripple of the water as the ducks swim by? This beautiful scene depicts one of the best ways you can view wildlife in Georgia—sitting in your favorite chair, with ample space for friends and neighbors.

               North Georgia Festivals Guide / Education

Cover photo: Beth Snider, 400 Edition

For Pickens County residents, about the time they start shopping for school supplies for their children, they also start preparing for the Georgia Marble Festival. Where on the Earth but Jasper, Georgia, would you find a jail made of marble? The historic Pickens County Jail—now a haven for visitors rather than a

               North Georgia Festivals Guide

Cover photo: Allison Reeves

Hooray! Fall is on the way! The days are cooler, football has kicked off, and the festivals are here for another issue. It’s one of the reasons this is our favorite season at 400 Edition. Along with more palatable weather, we get to enjoy the fun of festivals in virtually every North Georgia community.

               Health Care/Quaint Downtowns

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Fa-la-la-la-la…It’s not too late to get into a festive mood for Christmas. If you need a little help getting there, you can still enjoy the sights and sounds of the holidays in one of our featured Quaint Downtowns—Dahlonega. Picture-perfect for the holidays, Dahlonega Old Fashioned Christmas is in full swing in Lumpkin County. You

               Christmas/Holiday Recipes

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“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” We’ve been humming that tune for several months, thanks to a zealous music director at church who believes it is never too early to start practicing for the Cantata and the fact that the “most wonderful time” is fast approaching. The staff at 400 Edition is on that list of folks railing against the

               Family Values/Senior Care

Are you ready for the leaves to change into a brilliant palette of yellow, gold, orange, and red? North Georgia is in the process of being transformed into a warm glow that makes the already breathtaking views raise goose pimples on your arms.

Our feature, Family Values, comes at important times—Thanksgiving and the

Released December 15 

New Beginnings, Bringing Home Baby 

With the turn of another New Year, it's traditional to reflect on how our lives were spent in the past and look to the future...new goals and new beginnings. For some, that includes planning for retirement. Our cover story provides insight on one potential Great Escape to the North Georgia mountains and River Knoll in Dahlonega.

Released January 15, 2007

Motorcycle Routes, 3rd Annual Bridal Guide 

If you enjoy the wind on your face and the open road before you, motorcycling through the North Georgia mountains just can't be beat! Whether you like the challenge of the winding roads or like to see the view in full panorama, this month's issue gives you ideas on where to go and how to get there safely.

Released February 15, 2007

Homebuyer's Guide, County Information

North Georgia has proven to be the land of opportunity for Lloyd and Nancy Snyder and the owners of the houses they build. Both Lloyd and Nancy grew up in the business, with homebuilding fathers, so it was inevitable that they would carry he torch themselves. Like many in the area, Lloyd and Nancy escaped the hot, flat lands of Florida

Released March 15, 2007

Healthcare in North Georgia 

In past years, making the move to North Georgia required the conscious decision to be forty-five minutes to an hour away from high-quality healthcare options. Local hospitals were little more than x-ray shops and stitch factories—fine for some minor things, but any major treatment or procedure meant an early drive into Atlanta to beat the traffic. 

Released April 15, 2007

In the Garden, Men & Women's Guide

It’s hard to beat digging in the Georgia red clay around your new home to beautify things with your favorite flowers. Over the coming year, it’s pure joy to plan for blooms throughout the season as well as to arrange shrubs and borders that create just the right height around the features of your house. Decorating the outside is just as fun as decorating the inside! We’ve got lots of tips for gardeners this month, whether you’re planting for beauty or

Released May 15, 2007

North Georgia Vacations, Collecting

You might recognize some of the faces on this month’s cover—because Smoke on the Mountain is back in town! Join the Sanders Family for a first-time appearance at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church for an old-fashioned Saturday Night Sing. Right before your eyes, the cast members of the show turn into some of the characters

Released June 15, 2007

Good Eating, North Georgia Bicycling

“Look at her, a prisoner of the gutters. Condemned by every syllable she utters.” The tirades of Henry Higgins (Rich Grimshaw) interrupted tea at Dahlonega’s Picnic Cafe and Dessertery. Eliza Doolittle (Rebeka Williams) took it in stride as they prepared for My Fair Lady rehearsals at the Historic Holly Theatre. We shared a fabulous time—entertained to the hilt even though this stage was lit by sunshine and the audience was minimal. My Fair Lady opens on June 28 and will be showing through July 15.

Released July 15, 2007

North Georgia History, School Days

Nothing says history like the shower of a waterfall—twisting and turning, carving everything in its path. God’s low-pressure plumbing system has been delivering pure spring water to the lower regions of Georgia for longer than our history has been recorded. Spending time looking at something this ancient tends to refresh

North Georgia Fall Festivals, Where You Live

Even those of us who are not avid riders can find beauty and delight in the cover. Like all of our cover models in the past, these magnificent horses definitely showed personality during our photo shoot. Of course, most of our models don’t respond as nicely to carrots as these beasts did. Linda Magness and Rich Vigue, the human beings in the picture,

Released September 15, 2007

North Georgia Fall Festivals, The Great Outdoors

The Cumming Country Fair & Festival has been around for thirteen years, so they knowhow to entertain and do it well. This event broke all attendance records in 2006 and they are ready for another show stopper. There are so many things to see and do