The next meeting of the Georgia Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association will take place on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 10:30 AM at McIntosh Reserve Park in Carroll County, Georgia. The speaker is yet to be announced.

In 1978, Carroll County acquired 527 acres of land adjacent to the Chattahoochee River. Included in this parkland is the site of Chief William McIntosh’s plantation, known as Lochau Talofau, or Acorn Bluff. McIntosh was the son of a Scottish captain in the British Tory Army and a full-blooded Creek Indian woman belonging to the influential Wind Clan of the Creek Nation. He ultimately became a chief aligned with the Lower Creek faction and operated a backwoods plantation, tavern and ferry on the Chattahoochee River. During the Creek Indian War of 1813-14, McIntosh distinguished himself under the command of future president Andrew Jackson at the pivotal battle of Horseshoe Bend in what is now Alabama. Ironically, near the end of his life, his paternal cousin George Troup was elected governor of the state of Georgia on the platform of removing all Native Americans from the state. On the morning of May 1, 1825 Upper Creek Indian warriors, under the command of Menawa, a Redstick who had fought against McIntosh and Jackson at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, carried out the Creek National Council’s orders to kill McIntosh and another chief, burn the plantation and destroy what stock they could not carry off. The controversy surrounding the death of McIntosh during the period of removal of the Creeks and Cherokees from Georgia created a crisis between the federal government and the state of Georgia.

McIntosh Reserve was developed as parkland by Carroll County in order to provide for the public enjoyment of this site’s natural and cultural resources, while at the same time ensuring the preservation of these resources. Today, visitors to the site can camp, hike and picnic on the ground where two diverse cultures collided, causing the death of an important historic figure. Displays and signs within the park help the public understand this violent period in our history.

The Trail of Tears Association was created to support the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail established by an act of Congress in 1987. The TOTA is dedicated to identifying and preserving sites associated with the removal of Native Americans from the Southeast. The Association consists of nine state chapters representing the nine states that the Cherokee and other tribes traveled through on their way to Indian Territory.

Our meetings are free and open to the public. You need not have Native American ancestry to attend our meetings, just an interest and desire to learn more about this fascinating and tragic period in our country’s history. For more information about the TOTA, visit the National TOTA website at www.nationaltota.org and the Georgia Chapter website at www.gatrailoftears.org. For more information about the May meeting, contact Leslie Thomas at aeriehollow@ellijay.com or by phone at 770-757-0931.

For more information about McIntosh Reserve Park, contact the park at 770-830-5879 or the park ranger at dljohnson@carrollcountyga.com. More information and directions can be found at http://www.carrollcountyga.com/pages/mcintosh_reserve_park/

This year marks the quilt show’s thirtieth year and it is just as wonderful as always. Each year, the show has a theme, used to decorate the rooms of this historic house with fabulous textile art. This year’s theme is “Pearls of Wisdom” and will include well over a hundred quilts made by local artists.

Hosted each year by the Bulloch Hall Quilt Guild, the Great American Cover-Up Quilt Show will also inclue a special exhibit curated by Guild Member, Holly Anderson, and entitled “Trip Around the World: A Quilt Block Travelog: which will display a selection of quilt blocks to be published in an upcoming book of the same title.
The quilt show hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children. Additional information about the Guild is at www.bhqg.org.

Owners Karen Bennett and Lisa Whelty have outdone themselves in providing a great shopping experience in the new location. The front and sides of the permanent market are made up of tiny “shops” on a row of delightful “storefront” designed to look like a variety of adorable stores, each filled with things to delight the most discriminating shopper.

From fabulous antiques to handmade soaps, the 60,000 square feet of the new market is jam-packed with treasures.

The new market is located in the old Hobby Lobby just inside of Acworth, and convenient as can be. The Market is still hosting their regular monthly show, still on the first weekend of every month. The hours for the outdoor show are Friday and Saturday 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. During these shows, the number of dealers and items to buy grows, so these are great days to visit the market, too.

The Market itself is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm and on Sunday from noon to 6 pm.

Make a date to see the new Woodstock Market soon, though. It is fantastic!

For more: http://woodstockmarket.homestead.com/

Some people might wish to put such a horrible part of our past behind us, but one group in Georgia makes certain that this period in our history is not forgotten and those who were – the Georgia Trail of Tears Association.

The Georgia Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association (TOTA) is one of nine state chapters of the National TOTA. The Trail of Tears Association (TOTA) is a non-profit, membership organization formed to support the creation, development, and interpretation of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. In 1987, Congress designated a national historic trail commemorate the forced removal of the Cherokee people from their homelands in the southeastern United States to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) in 1838 – 1839.

Each chapter has its own board of directors, including officers. This body organizes the chapter for meetings, research, and activities.

The Georgia Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association offers bi-monthly meetings at historic sites that host interesting speakers on related subjects.

The next meeting of the Georgia Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association will be on March 10th at the New Echota Historic Site near Calhoun. For more information on the Georgia Chapter of TOTA, visit them online at http://www.gatrailoftears.org/.

That day, at Smithgall Woods State Park in Helen, you can join Bob Thomason (also known as “Dulcimer Bob”) as you learn how to assemble and finish an all-wood Appalachian dulcimer. All materials and tools will be provided and –best of all- no prior woodworking experience is required!

Cost for the class is $95 with an additional $5 to purchase a Georgia State Park parking pass. The class is completed in a single day, from 9 am to 5 pm.

Bob Thomason has been making dulcimers-and teaching about them-since 1981. He has performed all over the Southeast and taught dulcimer-building all over the eastern seaboard.

Bob is an accomplish dulcimer musician, with four albums to his credit. He has also performed at folk music festivals and folk music gatherings all over the Southeast. In 1992 he won the Southern Regional Dulcimer Competition in Mountain View, Arkansas.

Bob has worked as an Elderhostel Instructor in Appalachian music and culture at Dalton State College and University since 1992. He is also a co-founder of the North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association and is credited by many with keeping the dulcimer tradition alive in Georgia and the Southeast in general.

Bob has created over 1000 custom dulcimers and countless kits. He regularly teaches workshops through schools, universities and other venues.

For more information on the dulcimer workshop, visit www.gastateparks.org or visit Bob Thomason’s site at www.dulcimerbob.com

This lecture is part of the Chattahoochee Nature Center’s monthly All About Nature Social Club. The club meets on the fourth Thursday of every month with a potluck dinner at 7 pm and the program at 7:30 pm. (The meeting is usually finished by 9:30 pm.) Members can meet old friends with a shared interest in nature (or find new ones!) The topic is different each month and is designed to enhance the members’ knowledge of the natural world.

Cost to attend is $10 for non-members at the CNC, $5 for CNC members and free for CNC docents, volunteers, and Master Naturalist Students and Graduates.

Everyone attending should bring a vegetarian dish to share for their first visit. After that, if you sign up for the mailing list you will receive a category of food to bring. The club is open for ages 16 and up. Advance registration is not required.

This month, Mark Warren will bring his fascinating approach to nature to the CNC. Medicine Bow, which Warren owns, is a thirty-five acre wilderness school within the Chattahoochee National Forest near Dahlonega. At Medicine Bow Warren teaches his students about Native Americans’ unique relationship with their environment.

If you would like more information about Medicine Bow, you can visit http://www.medicinebow.net/ or call Mark Warren at 706-864-5928. You can also email medbow@windstream.net.

For more information about the Chattahoochee Nature Center, visit http://www.chattnaturecenter.org.

Where can you find some runners who are really committed to their sport? That’s easy.

On January 21st, at the 33rd Annual 17K Hogpen Hill Climb in Helen. Sponsored by Georgia Runners Magazine and Habitat for Humanity of Northeast Georgia, the Hogpen is considered to be “one of the toughest races in North America.” The 17K Hogpen Hill Climb starts at Unicoi State Park at noon on Saturday and travels over 2500 feet in elevation! There is also a 5K Piglet Run at 10 am This race is one of the ‘Run and See Georgia” Grand Prix Events.

For more information visit: http://www.runthehogpen.org/

What do you get when you mix up a fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar, upright slap bass, lots of glittering costumes, comedy and great country and bluegrass music? You get “Branson on the Road-Christmas Style” to welcome your New Year!

There will be five performances of this fun and funny review: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and two on Saturday.

Branson on the Road has over twenty years of combined performing experience at Branson’s famous theatres. If you have never had the opportunity to visit and be entertained in Branson, here’s your chance!

Visit http://www.playhousecumming.com/Events/Shows/tabid/60/EventID/43/Default.aspx for more information.

On the first, you can start the New Year off right by taking a walk through North Georgia’s (ok, all of Georgia’s!) beautiful scenery, guided by the park rangers who know those areas best.

Here are just a few of the First Day Hikes you can take. The phone numbers for each are listed or you can check http://www.gastateparks.org/FirstDayHikes for availability and more information. For most of the parks, there is a $5 parking fee per vehicle.

Amicalola Falls near Dawsonville: Join in a brisk hike to the top of one of the prettiest waterfalls in North Georgia! Meet at the West Ridge Falls Access Trailhead for a 0.6 of a mile roundtrip. 706-265-1969

Smithgall Woods near Helen: Smithgall Woods is one of the least discovered jewels of Georgia’s State Parks. Start of the New Year by hiking with Smithgalls’ Manager and Interpretive Ranger to their beautiful cottage facility where hot cider will be waiting! 706-878-3087

Unicoi State Park and Lodge near Helen: Enjoy a guided hike on our 2.5 mile Lake Trail with a park naturalist. Hikers can also learn about our “Tons of Fun” Fitness Challenge in Georgia State Parks. Afterwards, participants can sign up for the challenge on site. 706-878-2201 ext. 305

Tallulah Gorge State Park in Tallulah Falls: Join a ranger on a moderate 3.5-mile hike along the rim and through the woods. Bring water and snacks. $5 fee per participant. 706-754-7981

That isn’t all, of course! There are more First Day Hikes in our state parks all over Georgia! Visit http://www.gastateparks.org/FirstDayHikes for more information.

2 large cans peach halves in heavy syrup, drained, syrup reserved
Whole cloves
1/2 c. vinegar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 cinnamon stick

Put one of the whole cloves in middle of each peach half. Pour the reserved liquid into a small sauce pan and add vinegar, sugar and cinnamon stick. Bring to a rolling boil and pour over the peach halves.

Cool, then refrigerate.