Serenity Cellars Releases 2009 New Vogh

Serenity Cellars, in conjunction with Yonah Mountain Vineyards, is proud to announce
the release of the very first wine of the 2009 harvest, 2009 Serenity Cellars New Vogh.
The 2009 New Vogh, a limited release of 60 cases, is a medium bodied, deep, dark red
that is the perfect compliment to coming holiday festivities.
The 2009 Serenity Cellars New Vogh will be released at a party held November
28 at the Yonah Mountain Vineyards Tasting Room in Sautee-Nacoochee. Jazz crooner
Monica Spears of Cornelia will be performing from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Appetizers will be
served, and customers will be offered a pour of 4 wines at no charge or a full tasting,
which includes a pour of 8 wines and the Yonah Mountain Vineyards glass, for $10.00.
The 2009 Serenity Cellars New Vogh is the first in the Artist Series of wines, the
labels of which will feature the work of local artists done in the style of Vincent Van
Gogh. The 2009 New Vogh label is the artwork of James Williams and depicts the
Serenity Cellars Vineyards near Cleveland.
The Yonah Mountain Vineyards Tasting Room, located at 2454-B Highway 17,
will be open Wednesday, November 25 from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and closed
Thanksgiving Day, November 26. Regular hours of operation are Monday, Thursday,
Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, 12:30 - 6:00 p.m. For
more information and directions, call the tasting room at 706/878-5522 or visit the
Yonah Mountain Vineyards website, www.yonahmountainvineyards.com.

Music Concert and Visiting Artist at Unicoi State Park and Lodge

Plan to visit Unicoi State Park and Lodge on Saturday, September 26, to take in a concert at 8:00 p.m. featuring Lisa Baldwin and Dave Haney. The Possum Knockers of Northeast Georgia have five members in their band including guitarist and bass player Ginny Loveland and her husband Keith, an Oklahoma fiddler now living in Nacoochee Valley. Also in the group are Tish and Chip Arnold play the banjo and guitar. This programwill be a “pass-the-hat” donation for the entertainers, as they have volunteered their time to visit Unicoi. Concert will take place in Unicoi Lodge.
Woodworker Robert Hakes will also be in Unicoi Lodge on Saturday, September 26, between 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., and from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. Robert is a woodworker making natural wood objects such as vases, urns and platters that are functional and beautiful.
Unicoi State Park & Lodge is located 2 miles north of Helen, GA on Hwy. 356. For any further information about the weekend activities, call Programming Department at (800) 573-9659, ext. 305.

Happenings in Towns County

Towns County Tourism Association is hosting the Georgia Mountain Moonshine
Cruiz-In which will be held at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, 1311 Music
Hall Road in Hiawassee, GA on August 13, 14 & 15, 2009. Hundreds of Hot
Rods will be featured, in addition to Live Mountain Music Shows, Swap Meet,
A Moonshine Run for Cash, Folk Show Exhibits and Mountain Crafts in the
Pioneer Village, Automotive Vendors and lots of Cash & Prizes. Visit
www.gammoonshinecruizin.com

The Northeast Georgia Board of Realtors & Bank of Hiawassee,
Blairsville & Blue Ridge proudly presents the 1st Annual Cruiz-In Classic
Softball Tournament on Saturday, August 15 starting at 9:00 AM at the Towns
County Recreation Fields. Registration fee - $10.00 with all proceeds going
to the local Towns County Food Pantry. Call 706-896-3132 or 706-896-2243
for information.

Dance to the music of Jim Woods and the Georgia Mountain Fair Band on
Friday, August 14 – ticket price is $5.00. Show starts at 7:30 PM. Little
River Band will provide the musical entertainment on Saturday, August 15 in
the Anderson Music Hall. Show starts at 7:30 PM. Level 1 - $30.00, Level 2
- $20.00. Call 706-896-4191 for tickets.

Free Square Dancing and Clogging

The Towns County Historical Society sponsors free square dance and clogging every Monday in Hiawassee at 7 p.m. at the Senior Center. This is the old traditional "Big Circle" calls our great grandpas and grandmas used in our Appalachian Smokey Mountains.
The Senior Center is located 2 blocks behind the town square Main St. Hwy. 76 beside the Towns County Courthouse, 48 River Street, 706-896-1060

Folk Life Traditions Weekend at Unicoi State Park

Helen, GA., July 27, 2009- Unicoi State Park & Lodge will host the
"Folk Life Traditions"from Friday, July 31 - Saturday, August 1,
2009. Folk Life Traditions will begin with a special music concert on Friday,
July 31st at 8:00 p.m. with Mulligan Stew. The free concert will take
place in Logo Rooms A, B, & C on Level 2 of Unicoi Lodge.
The concert and dance will begin at 8:00 p.m. Following the concert there will be an Appalachian style community dance with live music.
Visiting jewelry artist Terrie Allen will be available on Saturday, Aug 1st from 11am - 7pm and Sunday, Aug 2nd from 10am - 2pm. Terrie's artistic journey began with weaving baskets, which soon turned into weaving beads, which evolved inot weaving wire, which has now progressed to working with sheet metal.
Unicoi State Park & Lodge is located 2 miles north of Helen, GA
on Hwy. 356. For any further information about the weekend activities,
call Programming Department at
(800) 573-9659, ext. 305
http://www.unicoistatepark.org/

Music Concert and Visiting Artist at Unicoi State Park and Lodge

Helen, GA., July 18, 2009- Unicoi State Park and Lodge will have a
concert at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, July25, 2009, featuring Joanne Steele.
Watercolor artist, Jeanne Mack will also be in Unicoi Lodge on
Saturday, July25, 2009 and Sunday, July 26, 2009. This program will be a "pass-the-hat" donation for the entertainers, as they have volunteered their time to visit Unicoi. Concert will take place in Unicoi Lodge. Jeanne Mack, a watercolor artist from Elberton, Georgia will be showing her work Saturday between 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., and from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. Unicoi State Park & Lodge is located 2 miles north of Helen, GA on Hwy. 356. For any further information about the weekend activities, call Programming Department at
(800) 573-9659, ext. 305.
http://www.unicoistatepark.org/

Wine, Water, and Fun at Montaluce Winery

DAHLONEGA, GEORGIA--July 13, 2009--Montaluce Winery & Estates is pleased to announce a special partnership with Huck Finn's River Trips for an afternoon of wine tasting, river rafting on the Chestatee River and fine dining. Space is limited and this package will only be offered on Sunday, July 26th, August 9th and August 30th.

Begin the afternoon at 1:30 p.m. with a tour and special tasting in the wine cellar with Montaluce's charming Winery Manager Oliver Asberger. Guests will then be picked up and delivered to the raft launch site, just a short ride from the winery. Each guest will have his or her own Catamaran raft for approximately six miles of floating on the calm, winding river. Guests will then be returned to the winery for a special three-course Sunday Supper in the dining room at Le Vigne. Dinner includes choice of a glass of one of Montaluce's own white wines. Huck Finn Expeditions owner Nicklos Meisberger and Asberger will join the group for rafting and Sunday Supper. The rafting portion of the trip is expected to take about three hours.

Space is very limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. Package is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather. Price for the day is $125 per person (including tax and gratuity). Pre-paid reservations are required. Please contact Montaluce at 706-867-4060 for reservations and additional information.

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ABOUT MONTALUCE
Located on 400 rolling acres situated at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains and adjacent to the Chattahoochee National Forest and the Etowah River, Montaluce is a community based on the Italian ideal of "La Vita Bella," or the beautiful life--centered around community, food, wine and sharing. At the heart of the Estate, and at its highest point, the property boasts a state-of-the-art winery that harvested its first grapes in fall 2008.

On the winery's main floor, the handsome tasting room and beautiful restaurant Le Vigne offer a place to unwind and enjoy seasonally inspired dishes alongside a thoughtful wine list that includes selections from the United States as well as Italy. Primary and secondary homes and home sites are now available.

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Montaluce Estates and Vineyard is located at 501 Hightower Church Road, Dahlonega, Georgia 30533. Telephone: 866.991.VINO (8466) or 706. 867.4060. http://www.montaluce.com

Music Concert and Visiting Artist at Unicoi State Park and Lodge

Unicoi State Park and Lodge will have aconcert at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, July18, featuring Good News Trio. Jewelers Roy and Dottie Meade will also be in Unicoi Lodge on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19.
Max New, Marcelene New, and Tanya Kirby are the Good News Trio. Tanya Kirby is the sister-in-law of Steve “Rabbit” Easter, well-known Gospel musician and vocalist. They began singing together since 1996 and have played on television and radio many times. This program will be a “pass-the-hat” donation for the entertainers, as they have volunteered their time to visit Unicoi. Concert will take place in Unicoi Lodge.
Roy and Dottie Meade, owners of their jewelry company R & D Traders, INC, are from Georgia. They both make wire wrapped-lapidary jewelry and have done so for over 20 years. The jewelry includes rings, pendants, earrings, bracelets, pins and necklaces. They will be showing their work Saturday between 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., and from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Unicoi State Park & Lodge is located 2 miles north of Helen, GA on Hwy. 356. For any further information about the weekend activities, call Programming Department at (800) 573-9659, ext. 305.

Headwaters: Birth, Death and Places In-Between

Headwaters: Birth, Death and Places In-Between, the remarkable community story performance at the Sautee Nacoochee Center, opens next Thursday, July 9.

Performances of this home-grown folklife play about the people and places and creatures of our Goodly Portion of Beautiful Northeast Georgia will run Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 and Sundays at 5 pm through July 26. That’s only three weekends, and this show has sold out for the past two years. Dinner is available before each show for only $8. Very affordable tickets and more info at www.snca.org

This year’s Headwaters tells stories of the connections people make with one another, and the families we’re born into or create. The play, written by Jo Carson and Jerry Grillo and directed by Gerard Stropnicky, is animated by original and traditional music, gorgeous movement created by Celeste Miller, and amazing puppets (shadow and 3D) created by Lynn Jeffries, who also designed the set. A cast of 33 local performers and a SNOrchestra of 11 local musicians have worked with these and other professional artists to create a performance of startling authenticity and delicious humor.

We’re guided through the production by the three Fates – the Spinner, who spins the thread of life; the Weaver, who combines those threads in a beautiful tapestry (or sometimes just a tattered blanket, you know?); and the Cutter, who severs our individual threads from the warp and woof of all those we know and relate to.

Angels walk among us saving lives and a mid-wife tells of bringing babies into this world. A man past the end of his life spends some time in Purgatory trying to decide if he was bad, or just stupid (he gets some help from his horse, Cowboy). A woman who has moved to the mountains tells us how she learned to be a "been-here" instead of a "come-here." And a family of moonshiners draws straws to see who among them is going to surrender their still and spend six months in jail, in a concession to the new economic realities of 1959.

For tickets and more information, please visit www.snca.org or call 706 878 3300. For a glimpse behind the scenes, there’s a production journal at www.ArtisticLogistics.org/resources – including video clips from recent rehearsals.

Exciting Events at Unicoi State Park and Lodge

Music Concert and Visiting Artist at Unicoi State Park and Lodge
Unicoi State Park and Lodge will have a concert at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2009 featuring Joanne Steele.
David Little, who carves wooden bowls will also be in Unicoi Lodge on Saturday, June 27, 2009 and Sunday, June 28, 2009.
Joanne is from the Nacoochee Valley. She sings Original and traditional folk songs. In her music she encourages all to Come and join us now and lend a hand," a voice, an ear. This program will be a "pass-the-hat" donation for the musicians, as they have volunteered their time to visit Unicoi.
Starting with a simple tree, David is able to carve out the most magnificent bowls using hand held carving tools and he has the instincts of a true artist. He will be showing his work Saturday between 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., and from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Unicoi State Park & Lodge is located 2 miles north of Helen, GA
on Hwy. 356. For any further information about the weekend activities,
call Programming Department at
(800) 573-9659, ext. 305.


Unicoi State Park celebrates July 4th Mountain Style
Unicoi State Park and Lodge will celebrate the July 4th weekend with several events.
The weekend will include activities as live music, relays, visiting artist, and a hoedown.
Beginning Friday, July 3, 2009 Unicoi will celebrate the
weekend with a campfire and Smores at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, July 4, there
will be relays at the beach house beginning at 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
come join in on Field Day Activities and Relay races! Some of the
events will include a Water Balloon Toss, Tug-A-War, Watermelon Eating
and Seed Spitting Contests, Sack races, and Three-Legged Races.
Spend the evening enjoying a concert at 8:00 p.m. featuring Bob
Thomason. Gene Harrison stain glass artist will also be in Unicoi Lodge
on Saturday, July 4, 2009 and Sunday, July 25, 2009.
On Sunday July 5, 2009 enjoy another day at the beach competing
in relays from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. As the weekend comes to a
close, we need lots of willing participants to come join in on a good
Œol mountain hoedown. We will do some fun dances that the whole
family will enjoy. Bring a partner or we will find one for you. The
hoedown will take place at the Trading Post/Visitors Center at 8:00
p.m..
The Thomasons are well-known regional musicians who perform a blend
of traditional songs from the Appalachian Mountains and the British
Isles using guitar, banjo, and mountain dulcimer. Bob is also a
spirited storyteller, so this concert promises fun for the entire
family. Bob began playing at Unicoi over twenty years ago around the
campfire and is now a feature musician. This program will be a
"pass-the-hat" donation for the musicians, as they have
volunteered their time to visit Unicoi.
Gene Harrison has been a stained glass craftsman since 1973. His
leaded glass creations consist of autonomous window panels, lampshades,
mirrors, standup sports figurines and sun catcher. He will be showing
his work Saturday between 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., and from 10:00 a.m.
until 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Unicoi State Park & Lodge is located 2 miles north of Helen, GA
on Hwy. 356. For any further information about the weekend activities,
call Programming Department at
(800) 573-9659, ext. 305.