in conjunction with vintage owl, november 8th and...

HomeTownNeighbors

November 2019

In this issue:Christmas Campaign 2019 - Don't forget to go register!

And Much More!

Banks, Jackson, Habersham and Clarke Counties

1240 Main Street • Lavonia, GA 30553706-460-5143

Adjacent to Vintage Owl, Across from the Lavonia Depot

In conjunction with Vintage Owl, November 8th and 9th

Local Music Artist, Jessica Fowler, will perform live on the patio from 4 pm until 7 pm Friday, November 8th. and Santa Arrives at 10 am Saturday morning to meet and greet the kids! Hot Chocolates and Hot Apple Cider will only be $2. So, come out and hang with your favorite Barista’s and kick off the Christmas Season!

1ST ANNUAL

Open House!

You are cordially invited to Vintage Cup’s

5721 WEST AVENUE • LAVONIA, GA • 706-356-0274

Christmas Open HouseThursday, November

7th from 4-8 PM

Take advantage of great sales, giveaways and much more

Free Gift Wrapping with $50.00 purchase

Holiday desserts will be served

PLEASE JOIN US FORSIMPLE BLESSINGS

1318 South Broad StreetCommerce, GA 30529

Find the hidden treasure chest in an advertisement in this issue for a chance to win a great prize. Send us your answer along with your name, address, and daytime phone number to: [email protected], fax it to us at: 706-356-0274, or mail it to us at: HTN Magazine, 5721 West Avenue, Lavonia, GA 30553. We will draw a winner from all of the correct answers we receive. The deadline to get your answer to us will be the 9th of each month. Only one entry per person and no phone calls, please.

Comments continue to pour into the magazine from our wonderful readers. We love to hear from you! We also appreciate you supporting the local businesses that advertise with us. Be sure to mention to them that you saw their ad in the magazine, for without their advertising support we could not continue to bring you this quality monthly publication.

SEND US YOUR COMMENTS:

By email: [email protected] postal mail: 5721 West Avenue; Lavonia, GA 30553

OCTOBER TREASURE WINNER:

Judy J. Wilson of Commerce, Georgia won a Handmade Sea Glass Bracelet from Vintage Owl

DID YOU FIND IT:

The October treasure chest was located in the Priss Ellies ad on page 6

I love your magazine; look forward to the new issue so I can find the treasure chest, me, my husband and my mom compete to see who can find it first…thanks for a fun and also informative magazine!!

- T.G., Toccoa, GA

I really enjoy your magazine!

- C.B., Hull, GA

Enjoy your magazines so much and the fun of hunting the treasure chest each month. My friends (in other counties) & I pick up your magazines for each other.

- J.C., Toccoa, GA

NOVEMBER TREASURE: $50 prize from The Purple Door

in Commerce, GA

HOMETOWN HIDDEN TREASURES

Shoppes Of Banks Crossing, Commerce, GA

706-335-0077

www.shoppurpledoorboutique.com

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 7TH, 2019

Christmas Soiree

Join us from 10-8 for sales,

door prizes & refreshments

You are cordially invited to our Southern Marsh

Over Under

Burlebo

Spanx

Simply Southern

PuraVida

Erimish

Peach State Pride

Southern Shirt Company

Old Row

Teleties

www.hometownneighbors.com | NOVEMBER 2019 | HOMETOWN NEIGHBORS MAGAZINE 1

For Photo Contest Rules, go to: www.hometownneighbors.com

Congratulations to Tina Lovell of Clarkesville, Georgia for having her

photo chosen for our cover this month.

NOVEMBER COVER PHOTO WINNER

ADDRESS: 5721 West Avenue • Lavonia, GA, 30553 | PHONE: 706-356-0273 | FAX: 706-356-0274 | EMAIL: [email protected]

PUBLISHER: Raina Troxell | BILLING: Steve Troxell | GRAPHIC DESIGN & WEBSITE: Mary Brewer www.royalforest.net

DELIVERY: Steve Troxell, Johnnie Troxell, Justin Troxell, Jessica Troxell

Missed a copy of HomeTown Neighbors? Check out WWW.HOMETOWNNEIGHBORS.COM past editions!

HomeTown Neighbors Magazine, Copyright © 2019. All Rights Reserved; No duplication without express permission of HomeTown Neighbors Magazine.

Hello, Neighbor! NOVEMBER 2019 VOLUME 14 | ISSUE 10

BANKS, JACKSON, HABERSHAM AND CLARKE COUNTIES

1 HOMETOWN HIDDEN TREASURES Can you find the treasure hidden in our pages?

3 A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER Shop local and enter to win a fantastic prize package

4 HOMETOWN HEROES

Honoring Our Heroes

5 COOKING WITH YOUR NEIGHBOR

Fabulous Fall Recipes

6 AROUND TOWN/CALENDAR

Community Events and Special Days

7 DOWNTOWN COMMERCE/JEFFERSON

Find fantastic deals at these great local merchants

8 PLOTS AND PLATS

iBuyer Insights

9 PRESERVING HISTORY

And the British Kep A -Comin!

11 MEDICALLY SPEAKING

Alzheimer's Awareness

12 CRAZY FOR ANTIQUES

"Junkin" in the South

13 FAMILY FUN Tim Lowry Returns to 211 Main Street Restaurant December 14th

14 FALL CRAFTS Adult Craft: How to Make Wax Fall Leaves

15 OUT AND ABOUT Toccoa Christmas Fest, Lighting of Tree & Courthouse Wonderland

16 HOMETOWN DECORATING Top 5 Christmas Décor Trends for 2019

Inside BackINDEX OF ADVERTISERS

Thank you to all of our wonderul advertisers

The deadline for the December issue is November 1st. Please call us at 706.356.0273 with submissions. Thank you!

November is the month we give Thanks! Even the pilgrims knew to set aside a day to give thanks to the Lord for His many blessings! 1 Thessalonians 5:18 reads,

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

It seems blaming God for this world’s misfortunes is easy, but giving Him thanks is not on the world’s radar. I remember an interview where Bryant Gumbel spoke with Billy Graham’s daughter, Ann Graham Lotz. He asked her why God didn’t stop disasters such as 911 to happen. This was her reply, “For years we have told God we didn’t want Him in our schools. We didn’t want Him in our government and we didn’t want Him in our finances and God was being a perfect gentleman in doing just what we asked Him to do. We need to make up our mind — do we want God or do we not want Him. We cannot just ask Him in when disaster strikes.”

It is not just the world that ask God why. It seems we are all guilty of this in our own lives at one time or another. We live how we want to live, and then ask God why He allowed a bad thing to happen. We ask God for His blessings, but we do not let Him have control of our lives. In verse Philippians 4:6 we find, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” We must be submissive to God’s will, and give thanks to Him for His blessings and His lessons!

Remember, sometimes the biggest things we can be thankful to God are His unanswered prayers! Trust and Thank God Daily! This is what Thanksgiving is all about!

Sincerely,

Raina C. Troxell

Purple Door - Commerce - $50 Gift Basket

Jewelry Expressions - Cornelia - Infinity Set in Sterling Silver with CZ's, Retail approximately $200

211 Main Street Restaurant & Bakery - Lavonia - $50 Gift Certificate

Spoiled Rotten Boutique - Cornelia - Jewelry Set

The Hen’s Nest - Banks Crossing - $50 Gift Certificate

Priss Ellies - Jefferson - $50 Gift Certificate

Simple Blessings - Commerce - $50 Gift Certificate

Vintage Owl - Lavonia - Prize Package worth $50 Retail

Vintage Cup - Lavonia - $50 Gift Basket

Hometown Neighbors Magazine – Lavonia- New Flat Screen TV

Artfull Barn - Clarkesville - $25 Gift Certificate

David and Katie's Amish Store - Homer - $50 Gift Basket

Ta-Dah Performing Arts - Hartwell - Vera Bradley Blanket

Hometown Interiors - Ila- $50 Gift Basket

North Georgia Credit Union - Lavonia, Toccoa or Hartwell - $50 Cash

HomeTown Neighbors Magazine - Lavonia - New Flat Screen TV

Vintage Owl - Lavonia - $50 Gift Basket

Vintage Cup - Lavonia - $50 Gift Basket

Franklin County Eye Care - Lavonia - Free Eye Exam,

$135 Value

G’s Southern Traditions - Hartwell- $50 Gift Certificate

Hometown Floral & Balloon - Lavonia - Customized Wreath

211 Mainstreet Restaurant – Lavonia - $50 Gift Certificate

Hen House - Hull – $50 prize package

Southern Alpaca Connection - Lavonia - $50 Certificate

A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER

FILL OUT AN ENTRY FORM AT THE PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES BELOW, AND HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF TWO CHRISTMAS PACKAGES!

THERE WILL BE 2 GRAND PRIZE PACKAGES - ONE FROM THE BJHC ENTRIES AND ONE FROM THE FSHME ENTRIES. TWO WINNERS WILL WIN ONE OF THE PACKAGES LISTED BELOW. THIS YEAR - THE FLAT SCREEN TV WILL BE PART OF THE GRAND PRIZE! SO, HURRY-IN TO ENTER AT PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES!

Each participating merchant will have a box placed inside their business with entry forms. Visit the participating business and enter your name, address and phone number. On December 8th, all entry boxes will be picked up and a grand prize

winner from each package will be drawn. Names of winners will be announced in January’s issue of HomeTown Neighbors Magazine. You must be at least 18 years of age and a legal resident of Georgia. You may enter numerous times,

but only ONE entry per visit.

Banks, Jackson, Habersham and Clarke Counties Package

Franklin, Stephens, Hart, Madison & Elbert Counties

Package

Contest Rules

Grand Prizes

Visit your local merchants this season, and have a Christmas to Remember!


HOMETOWN HEROES

Now seeing patients in Athens and LavoniaDr. Hurteau is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with over 37 years experience. He specializes in Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery, including Facelift, Breast Augmentation, Liposuction, Tummy Tuck, Breast Reduction, Breast Reconstruction, and Skin Cancer Removal.

Dr. Hurteau participates with most major insurance plans. Give us a call to schedule your consultation with Dr. Hurteau.

John E. Hurteau, M.D.hurteauplasticsurgery.com 1000 Hawthorne N. Ave.

Athens, GA

355 Clear Creek Parkway, Suite 1008 Located next to St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital

Lavonia, GA

706-850-4185

HURTEAU PLASTIC SURGERY

On Monday, November 11, 2019 we will observe one of our nation’s most important holidays, Veterans Day. What is Veterans Day? Veterans Day is a time for us to pay our respects to those who have served in our military. For one day, we stand united in respect for all our veterans.

It was originally called Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I. World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. However, the fighting ended about seven months before that when the Allies and Germany put into effect an armistice on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

For that reason, November 11, 1918, was largely considered the end of “the war to end all wars” and dubbed Armistice Day. In 1926, Congress officially recognized it as the end of the war, and in 1938, it became an official holiday, primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I.

But then World War II and the Korean War happened, so on June 1, 1954, at the urging of veteran’s service organizations, Congress amended the commemoration yet

Honoring Our Heroesagain by changing the word “armistice” to

“veterans” so the day would honor American veterans of all wars.

Congress signed the Uniform Holiday Bill in 1968 to ensure that a few federal holidays, such as Veterans Day would be celebrated on a Monday. Officials hoped it would spur travel and other family activities over a long weekend, which would stimulate the economy.

Within a few years, it became pretty apparent that most U.S. citizens wanted to celebrate Veterans Day on November 11th, since it was a matter of historic and patriotic significance. So, on Sept. 20, 1975, President Gerald Ford signed another law (Public Law 94-97), which returned the annual obser-vance to its original date starting in 1978.

4 QUESTIONS THAT ARE FREQUENTLY ASKED ABOUT

VETERANS DAYWhat is the difference between Veterans

Day and Memorial Day?Memorial Day: It is celebrated the last

Monday in May. Memorial Day is the holiday set aside to pay tribute to those who died serving in the military. Veterans Day: This federal holiday falls on November 11th and

is designated as a day to honor all who have served in the military.

Why is the poppy associated with Veterans Day?

Wreaths of poppies are left at the Ceno-taph, a war memorial on Whitehall, which was built after the First World War. At the Cenotaph and elsewhere in the country, a two-minute silence is observed at 11 a.m., to honor those who lost their lives in wars.Does Veterans Day honor current military?

Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memo-rial Day honors those who have died while in military service. There is another mili-tary holiday, Armed Forces Day, a minor U.S. remembrance that also occurs in May, which honors those currently serving in the U.S. military.

How do you honor veterans on Veterans Day?

You can honor a veteran by attending a Veterans Day event. You can also ask a Vet-eran about their time in the military, and re-ally listen to the answer. Also, you can show your support by hanging a flag in your yard or visiting the gravesite of a Veteran.

November 28th - January 1st

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SPECTACULAR!

FREE Drive through the light display from 6 pm until 11 pm daily!

December 12th – December 14th

CHRISTMAS IN CORNELIA AT

CORNELIA CITY PARKEnjoy the lights and scenery of Cornelia

while visiting with Santa, marshmallow roasts and hayrides!

4 HOMETOWN NEIGHBORS MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2019 | Banks, Jackson, Habersham and Clarke Counties

COOKING WITH YOUR NEIGHBOR

For ALL your HEALTHCARE NEEDS!

• Chiropractic and Physical Rehabilitation • Supartz Knee Injections for Arthritis• LSO Braces• Deep Tissue Massage Therapy

• Spinal Disc Decompression• Innovative Treatment for Peripheral Neuropathy• Laser Lipolysis for Body Sculpting• Medical Weightloss and B12 Lipotropic Injections

MOST INSURANCE PLANS ACCEPTED186 CANNON BRIDGE RD, SUITE B CORNELIA, GA 30531706-778-0077

Call our office today to schedule a FREE consultationNOW BOOKING

WEDDINGS, PARTIES & EVENTS

706-436-1594FIND US ON FACEBOOK

Connie PhillipsEmail: [email protected]

Poppyseed Cake

1 pkg yellow or white cake mix1 pkg instant vanilla pudding mix1/2 cup oil1/2 cup poppy seeds4 eggs 1 cup boiling water

Mix together first four ingredients. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat well after each. Add boiling water and beat by hand. Pour into 9x5 pans (makes two loaves). Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or a little more if needed, when cake tester/toothpick comes out clean.

Glaze:

3/4 tsp butter flavoring3/4 tsp vanilla flavoring1 1/2 cup confectioners sugarmilk to desired consistency

Drizzle glaze over bread while still in pans. Be sure some goes down inside pans. Slicing is much better after refrigerating.

Submitted by Jessica Lammon

Cheeseburger Soup

1/2-pound ground beef4 tablespoons butter, divided3/4 cup chopped onion3/4 cup shredded carrots3/4 cup diced celery1 teaspoon dried basil1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes1-3/4 pounds (about 4 cups) cubed peeled potatoes3 cups chicken broth1/4 cup all-purpose flour2 to 4 cups shredded Velveeta1-1/2 cups whole milk3/4 teaspoon salt1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pepper1/4 cup sour cream

In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook and crumble beef until no longer pink; drain and set aside. In same saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Sauté onion, carrots, celery, basil and parsley until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Add potatoes, ground beef and broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until potatoes are tender, 10-12 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, melt remaining butter. Add flour; cook and stir until bubbly, 3-5 minutes. Add to soup; bring to a boil. Cook and stir 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Stir in cheese, milk, salt and pepper; cook until cheese melts. Remove from heat; blend in sour cream.


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November 2019 Calendar

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19IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UPCOMING INSURANCE MARKETPLACE, CALL MEDLINK GEORGIA.

THEY HAVE CERTIFIED NAVIGATORS TO ASSIST YOU.

AroundTown

NOVEMBER 1 & 2, 2019 - CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE, Priss Ellies in downtown Jefferson, GA 10 am -6 pm, Door Prizes, Refreshments, 20% Off, Call 706-367-5714 for more information.NOVEMBER 2, 2019- SOUTHERN SPIRITS GREY CEMETERY TOUR, 6 pm – 10 pm, Commerce, GA. Cemetery tour depart every 30 minutes beginning at 6 pm. The last tour departs at 9 pm. Rain or Shine. No strollers please. Events Parking at check-in at the first Baptist Church located at 1345 S. Elm Street in Commerce. $15 Adults, $10 Seniors, $10 Children under 16. Tickets are available at the Commerce Public Library. Call 706-335-5946 for more information.NOVEMBER 7, 2019 - CHRISTMAS SOIREE, Purple Door in Commerce, Sales throughout the day! 10 am until 8pm, call 706-335-0077 for more information.NOVEMBER 15, 2019- BRASELTON FARMERS MARKET, 4pm to 6pm, lower patio of the Braselton

Brothers Department Store building, 9924 Davis StreetNOVEMBER 16, 2019- CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS IN BRASELTON,10:30 am- Parade through downtown. Theme is the 12 Days of Christmas, 11 am to 7 pm- Holiday Marketplace on the Town Green. Photos with Santa throughout the day - check back for times. Lower patio, Braselton Brothers Department Store building 9924 Davis Street, 5 pm to 7 pm- Lighting of the Tree ceremony on the Town Green. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy holiday performances and entertainment before the tree lights up. DECEMBER 7, 2019 - JEFFERSON HOLIDAY FESTIVAL, DOWNTOWN IN DECEMBER, 10 am – 5 pm, Family Fun in Downtown Jefferson, Children’s Activities, Food & Entertainment, Christmas Parade, Photos with Santa, Local Shopping Specials. For additional information visit www.mainstreetjefferson.com.

NOVEMBER 28, 2019 UNTIL JANUARY 1, 2020 - CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SPECTACULAR, FREE Drive through the light display at Cornelia City Park from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Open 6 p.m.-11 p.m. dailyDECEMBER 6, 2019- GRINCH MOVIE NIGHT, 6PM, Presented by the Cornelia Business Association FREE to attend! This Christmas classic will be playing in Downtown Cornelia!DECEMBER 12-14, 2019- CHRISTMAS IN CORNELIA AT CORNELIA CITY PARK,Enjoy the lights and scenery of Cornelia while visiting with Santa, marshmallow roasts and hayrides.

Cookie Monster Birthday

National Candy Day

National Nachos Day

Red Lipstick Day

National Pickle Day

National Apple Cider Day

Great American Smokeout

National Espresso Day

National Jukebox Day

Thanksgiving Day Black Friday

National Mason Jar Day


MAIN STREET COMMERCE | 706-335-2954

MAIN STREET JEFFERSON • 706.367.5714

Your hometown neighborhood drugstore...

Personal service with a smile!

Downtown Jefferson, GAwww.jeffdrug.com(706) 367-5221

Serving Jefferson and the surrounding area for over 60 years

NOBODY BEATS THE BARN! NOBODY!Located between Commerce and Jefferson

(706) 367-4128 • 1-800-350-8233

Since 1964

Jefferson

HomeTown Neighbors Magazine Full Page Ad

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Downtown Jefferson, GA SwirleesFroYo.com

SELF-SERVE FROZEN YOGURT

Your hometown neighborhood drugstore...

Personal service with a smile!

Downtown Jefferson, GAwww.jeffdrug.com(706) 367-5221

Serving Jefferson and the surrounding area for over 60 years

Cream & Shuga95 Lee St.•Jefferson

Call: 706.387.5042Join us for breakfast & lunch!www.creamandshuga.com

Please Shop

Local!

Visit our Baby Boutique for the Bundle of Joy in your life!

100 N. Public Square Jefferson • 706-367-2298Mon.- Fri. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Sat. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Closed Sundays

50 Sumner Way | Jefferson, GA 30549

706-387-7000

CHRISTMAS OPEN

HOUSE

100 N Public Square • Jefferson, GA Mon-Fri 10-6 • Sat 10-4 706-367-2298

Door Prizes, Refreshments

20% OFF!

FRIDAY & SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1ST & 2ND

10-6PM

Downtown ShoppingThursday December 5th

Commerce by Candlelight 5:30 - 8:30 pm

Civic Center FestivitiesFriday December 6th

Holiday Market 5 - 8 pm

Saturday December 7thHoliday Market 9 am - 6 pm

Donuts with Santa 10 am - 11:30 am

Sunday December 8thChristmas Parade - 3 pm

DOWNTOWN

Custom BowS100% Satisfaction

Guarantee1 Year Warranty

1318 S Broad St. Commerce, GA 30529(706) 612-6352

706-335-3189

Quality Furniture since 1913!

1697 S Elm Street Commerce, GAwww.mtsandersfurniture.com

Sanders FurnitureDelivering Quality Furniture for Generations!

DentalHome Georgia

119 Pottery Factory Drive • Commerce, GA 30529 (706) 336-8318 Hours: 8:15 am - 5:00 pm

[email protected] • www.dentalhomegeorgia.com

Dr. Chen

“Where everyone wears a smile, and we treat our patients l ike family”

New Patients Welcome • Most Insurances Accepted Major Credit Cards Accepted: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Carecredit

• Dental Implants• Invisalign• Periodontist

• White Fillings & Crowns• Family Dentistry• Dentures

• Root Canals• Veneers• Extractions

706.839.0602 Clarkesville

www.northgeorgiashutterandblind.com

All new fabrics and colors and

larger size cell

iBuying is changing the real estate landscape, offering consumers an option to cash out equity, where time is more important than milking the last dime out of a home’s value. It works a bit like a car purchaser trading their old vehicle rather than spending countless hours and monies trying to sell it online. Convenience usually has value and iBuyer programs can offer that value under the right circumstances.

Large, institutional property investors tradi-tionally focused on multi-family units. The great housing recession last decade, when the stock market was providing lack-luster returns, opened the door for big money to find its way into the single-family acquisition market. As hedge funds began buying large blocks of single family homes, rehabilitating them with primarily cosmetic face-lifts such as carpet and paint, and offering small investors shares in these behemoths, they created an investment vehicle that had the potential to beat Wall Street. If it could work in the “hold-and-rent” market, surely it could work in the “flip” market. Thus, iBuying was born to do just that.

Many fortunes have been made buying, rent-ing, trading and selling real estate. Historically, real estate values trend up, making it a smart invest-ment. So, large firms jumping into the real estate

iBuyer Insights: Greg Martin / President ERA Sunrise Realty

Submitted By Tammy Retzlaff

PLOTS AND PLATS

investment game made perfect sense. Will it make sense long term? What about the newest entrants to the iBuying fray? How long will they find this practice attractive?

Frankly, there is no reason that this approach can't co-exist along with more traditional real estate ownership. Take ERA Real Estate’s "Sellers Security Plan.” It has been in place for decades and survived both housing booms and busts. Why? Because the price that anyone will pay for a property is based on economics 101; the law of supply and demand. Not only this, but ERA is doing what many iBuyers are not, and that is keeping the real estate agent at the center of the transaction. While iBuying is certainly a buzzworthy term in real estate these days, there are many consumers across the U.S. who still don’t know what it means and are intimidated by its un-familiarity, and at the prospect of gambling with one of the biggest transactions of their lives. The components that enable iBuyer programs to cut through the clutter: simplicity, convenience and ef-ficiency.

So, as long as an institutional real estate buyer doesn't panic in the midst of a housing downturn and "dump" large blocks of homes on the market, driving prices down further, nor get too crazy when faced with a housing bubble and over-extend their financial resources, natural economic factors will

drive prices up and down, allowing these new, large buyers to benefit from changing market values.

What do traditional real estate professionals need to consider when advising their clients about iBuyer options? Here are some questions to ask:

• What is the client’s motivation? MUST they sell by a particular date in order to move forward with their plans?

• What repairs are needed to get the most mon-ey for the property? Does the client possess the financial resources to make the home marketable for top dollar?

• Are home prices trending up, making waiting to sell a better option or is waiting simply costing the Seller time with little chance of bigger gain?

If the client needs to sell in a hurry, lacks the funds necessary to make the property marketable or won’t benefit financially by holding out for a bet-ter price, it might be in the client’s best interest to take advantage of the iBuyer option.

There is no doubt that there is risk. There is in most financial transactions. But isn't that where all big money is earned? As long as iBuyer companies are well-funded, take a long-term view of this busi-ness and focus on adding a measure of value to the end-user buyer and seller, there is no reason that this practice can’t be a permanent part of the new American real estate landscape.


AND THE BRITISH

KEP A-COMIN!

Last month, we celebrated my best friend’s birthday. In her honor, my husband and I and her better half decided to take her to New Orleans. I had not been there since before Katrina, and I was interested to see what differences the hurricane had left on the city. While there, we decided to take a historical cruise upon the Creole Queen. This paddleboat has been serving the area since 1983. On the cruise, we had a special stop at the Jean Lafitte National Park which includes the Chalmette Battlefield. I had heard the song about the battle of New Orleans,

By Raina Troxell

“We fired our guns and the British kep a-comin'...There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago...We fired once more and they begin to runnin'... On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mex-ico”

I really never understood the signifi-

cance of that battle. I now understand why! This battle actually saved America from probable British control. Of course, it is now almost never taught as the real battle that saved us, because it was fought 2 weeks after the treaty was signed that ended the War of 1812. However, this is

PRESERVING HISTORY


not the only reason it is not recognized as being one of the most important bat-tles in American history. So, today let me tell you of how God helped Americans win that battle on a cold day in January. It was the last land battle ever fought on American soil between the United States and a foreign enemy, and it took place on January 8, 1815 in Chalmette just outside of New Orleans on a site now known as The Chalmette Battlefield. The Battle of New Orleans was significant in a number of ways. For one, it gave a much-needed boost to the sagging American morale

at the end of one of the most disastrous wars in American history. It also kept the British from capturing New Orleans. Had that happened, it would have given Eng-land greater leverage in negotiating the still-evolving peace terms of the Treaty of Ghent. And it made a national hero out of Andrew Jackson.

He successfully commanded an army of backwoods sharpshooters, free men of color, swashbuckling buccaneers and other non-professional soldiers, many of whom volunteered at the last minute. The victorious Jackson went on to become the seventh president of the United

States and one of the greatest chief ex-ecutives in American history.

In the battle the British lost several thousand of their troops, including their commanding officer, General Edward Pakenham. The Americans suffered only about a dozen casualties. But how did this happen? Well, God interceded and brought a dense fog upon the battlefield that morning that kept the British from seeing our troops and kept them from setting up their reinforcements. When the fog began to dissipate, the British red uniforms were like targets for our Ameri-can Soldiers.

After the civil war, since this war took place after the treaty (however not rati-fied yet), the northerners decided this battle was not really significant. Actually, they did not want a southern state with slave owners being recognized as saving our country from disaster. So today, they do not teach this battle as being one of the greatest battles in American history. As in George Orwell’s book: “1984” “Ev-ery record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is con-tinuing day by day and minute by min-ute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right.”

This is what is happening in America today. It does not matter how you feel about politics. Everyone should be con-cerned about rewriting our history. How can we ever learn from our mistakes, re-member the sacrifices of others, or ap-preciate our heritage if we do not teach it?

In closing, if we will let God back into our schools, government, and hearts, He will save us all again!

M U S E U M A S S O C I AT I O N

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION VISIT WWW.MAINSTREETJEFFERSON.COM

Children’s Activities • Food & Ente�ainmentChristmas Parade • Photos with Santa

Local Shopping Specials

Family Fun in Downtown Jefferson


MEDICALLY SPEAKING

Visit www.medlinkga.org for more information

Healthcare for the Entire Family

Medlink Georgia

NEED A DOCTOR, PHARMACIST OR DENTIST? MEDLINK IS YOUR LINK TO QUALITY MEDICAL CARE.

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MedLink BanksMedLink BowmanMedlink Commerce Family Dental CareMedLink Colbert & PharmacyMedLink Gainesville & PharmacyMedLink WhiteMedLink Habersham & PharmacyMedLink Hartwell

November has been desig-nated as Alzheimer’s Aware-ness Month in the United States. President Ronald Reagan origi-nally began this tradition in 1983.

At that time, the number of Ameri-cans diagnosed with Alzheimer’s was less than 2 million. Currently, more than 5.6 million Americans have been diag-nosed with this devastating, degenera-tive disease with a person developing Al-zheimer’s every 66 seconds in the United States with an expected 27% increase by 2025. Georgia has poorer outcomes for those with Alzheimer’s in our state than 46 other states in the nation with over 4200 deaths annually. This indicates the extreme need for improved educational efforts, prevention and treatment for these vulnerable residents of our state.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) impacts the brain’s ability to function. It is different from other forms of dementia and causes very specific changes in the brain. In Alzheimer’s, deposits of a protein called “beta amyloid” causes plaques (build ups) on key nerve cells and these neurons stop working in important parts of the brain which control thinking, learning, and memory. Additionally, disorganized masses of the beta amyloid proteins oc-cur which are called “neurofibrillary tan-gles”. These changes are visible on imag-ing of the brain but a visit with a doctor is also recommended for early recognition of Alzheimer’s.

There is no way to predict with cer-tainty who will develop Alzheimer’s but there are certain risk factors. The biggest nonmodifiable (something you cannot change) risk factor is that of age. Your risk of developing AD is significantly in-creased after age 80. People with a first degree relative (parent or sibling) that have had AD have an increased risk to develop this form of dementia espe-cially if the relative was diagnosed at a younger age. Scientists have discovered a particular gene (APOE episilon 4) that increases a person’s risk for developing Alzheimer’s. However, only half of the people with this gene end up developing

AD, so routine screening for it is not rec-ommended.

Several effective medications do ex-ist that can slow the progression of Al-zheimer’s. These medications do not cure the disease but will help with troubling symptoms including memory loss, con-fusion, and emotional lability. It may also help with “Sundowner’s syndrome” where many Alzheimer/dementia pa-tients have a severe escalation in symp-toms after dark and become combative with their caregivers or wander inside/outside the home.

YOU CAN HELP COMBAT THE RISK OF ALZHEIMER’S WITH

SEVERAL SIMPLE STEPS1. Get regular exercise. This can re-

duce your risk by up to 50 percent and can even slow further deterioration in those starting to develop cognitive prob-lems.

2. Social Engagement. Our brains do

not thrive in isolation. Make develop-ing and maintaining a strong network of friends/family a priority.

3. Eat a healthy diet. Cut down on sugars and refined carbs. Get plenty of Omega 3 fats which reduce the formation of plaque in the brain.

4. Mental Stimulation. People who continue to learn new things and chal-lenge their brains are less likely to devel-op AD. “Use it or Lose it”.

5. Get Quality Sleep. Poor sleep pat-terns may cause toxin build up in the brain.

6. Stress Management. Get a handle on persistent stress which can lead to shrinkage of a key memory area in the brain that slows nerve cell growth.

Educate yourself and your loved ones on the early signs of dementia and Al-zheimer’s disease. Intervention during initial phases of change promotes better outcomes for patients and their families.

Alzheimer’s AwarenessSubmitted By Medlink


CRAZY FOR ANTIQUES

Junkin is one of my most favorite past times. Honestly, I cannot fit another thing in my house, but I just love the hunt.

I buy “junk” like most women buy clothes, purses, and shoes. This month, I am focusing on a trip that I hope to one day do after I retire. It is a “junkin trip” worthy of anyone who loves to find

“treasure” at a great price. The best place to find these deals are flea markets. I have compiled together a few shows that happen in the Southeast that I would love to visit one day in November. Some of these are open every month, but offer special holiday shows in the month of November. The Nashville Flea Market is always open for shopping on the 4th weekend of every month. The Nashville Flea Market at The Fairgrounds Nashville is considered one of the top ten flea markets in the country. Approximately 800 to 1200 dealers and vendors from 30 states offer their wares to the buying

By Raina Troxell

"JUNKIN" IN THE SOUTH!public every month. With an average of 2000 booths and founded in 1969, the Nashville Flea Market has been in operation for almost 60 consecutive years. Items sold at the flea market represent more categories than one can list. Merchandise sold features antique furniture, dishware, knick knacks, specialty foods, boutique clothing, carpets, health and beauty items, jewelry, perfume, leather goods, paper goods, yard art and more. The selection is endless and the finds are superbly unique.

Flea Fest is held in Lake Charles, LA. It is a truly unique market and festival that features nearly 4 covered acres of anything and everything, coupled with delicious Southwest Louisiana Food and fun in a country fair-like atmosphere! A bargain hunter’s dream, the semi-an-nual show takes place each Spring and Fall. The upcoming fall show is Nov 9-10, 2019. It features over 300 vendors and more than 15,000 frenzied shoppers! Flea Fest’s offerings include antiques, retro & vintage items, handcrafted items, toys,

collectibles, unique clothing, art work, comic books, furniture, gifts, unique jewelry, plants, a farmer’s market and many other flea market style goods. In addition to the massive selection of all types of merchandise, Flea Fest also features pony rides, a petting zoo and adoptable pets seeking their new forever homes. The food vendors will treat you to everything from wonderful local dish-es to traditional fair food favorites!

Of course, if you cannot visit these this year, there are several places to

“junk” right here at home. Some of my favorites are Countryside Antiques and A Flea Antiques in Braselton, The Hen House in Hull, GA right outside of Ath-ens, The Hen’s Nest in Commerce, GA. Lavonia Antique Market, and many oth-er locally centered antique and consign-ment stores throughout our area. So, be sure to stop by one of them today. You can find some awesome deals on vintage Christmas, and other great finds. Happy Hunting!

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YOUR CHRISTMAS TOY HEADQUARTERS

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A Dickens Christmaswith Storyteller Tim Lowry

D ow n t ow n L a v o n i a706-356-2877

S p o n s o re d b y 2 1 1 Ma i n S t re e t

a n d L a v o n i a

D ow n t ow n D e v e l o p m e n t

Saturday, December 14th, 2019

6 : 00 PM

A CHR I STMAS CAROL

DINNER

BRUNCH11 : 00 AM

APPAL ACH IAN CHR I STMAS TALES

R E S E R V A T I O N S

O N L Y

Make reservations for one of the most anticipated shows of the Christmas season. Tim Lowry will again perform live

“A Christmas Carol” by Dickens at the renowned 211 Restaurant and Bakery in downtown Lavonia on Saturday, December 14th at 6pm. This has sold out early

in year’s past, so get your tickets now. New for 2019, there will be a second show during the morning. Tim will be adding a second per-formance storytelling Appalachian Christmas tales during brunch at 11am.

Tim Lowry tells sto-ries from his unique ‘seersucker perspective’ of storytel l ing which

features historical facts, regional folk tales, personal narrative, and traditional Southern folklore. Tim’s love of show business began as a six-year-old when he discovered the thrill of seeing a live circus performance. In his teen years, he formed a puppet company that pro-vided entertainment for children’s birth-day parties and toured the U.S. with a Broadway-style musical as a high school drama student. In college, Lowry studied

Shakespeare and Romantic opera, but found his true calling when he took an elective class in storytelling. He taught middle-school language arts for five years; in 2000, he left the classroom to pursue a career as a professional storyteller.

For a truly special holiday out-ing, see Storyteller Tim Lowry in his renowned one-man show, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Dressed in Victorian costume, Lowry in-vokes the spirit of Mr. Dickens with

his quick wit, rapid-fire delivery, and flair for the dramatic. The Ghosts of Christ-mases Past, Present, and Future along with Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim will return to the stage for these memorable performances, suitable for ages 10 and up.

So, hurry to be amazed with a delight-ful performance and delicious food from one of the areas greatest restaurants, 211 Mainstreet Restaurant and Bakery.

Tim Lowry Returns to 211 Main Street Restaurant December 14th

FAMILY FUN


Supplies Needed:

Fall leavesParaffin wax or beeswaxMini crock pot

Instructions:

Melt wax in mini crockpot. It takes about 30 minutes for the wax to completely melt in the crock pot. When the wax is melted you can dip the leaves. You don’t have to wait until the leaves are dried to dip them in the wax. In fact, they turn out

better if they are still “fresh”. The softer they are the better you will be able to flatten them after they are dipped in wax. Lay a piece of waxed paper on the counter where you are working and start dipping the leaves in the wax, being careful not to

touch the hot wax with your fingers. Lay the leaves on the waxed paper to dry. The leaves will dry in a minute or less. You can dip the leaves in the wax more than once, however, the more wax you put on the leaves, the more you will be able to

see the wax on them. One or two coats should be fine. Make sure to dip the stems too, it will help keep them from breaking. When the leaves are done you can use them for decoration in a number of ways. Lay them on end tables, your dining room

table, or in a pretty bowl. You can also string them onto a leaf garland. Just use a needle and thread to string the leaves together for a garland. The wax will help keep the leaves from tearing apart when you poke the needle through them.

FALL CRAFTS

Adult Craft: How to Make Wax Fall Leaves

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186D Cannon Bridge RdCornelia, Ga 30501

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at heart

Join the Magical Downtown Event WeekendStarting at 5pm

Santa Santa's Express Train Rides Horse Drawn Carriage Rides Live NativityChristmas Entertainment City Tree Lighting Festival of Trees Ice Skating

Christmas Fest 2019December 6th and 7th

www.mainstreettoccoa.com

from HomeTown Neighbors Magazine


OUT AND ABOUT

The city of Toccoa welcomes the Christmas season the first week-end of December with the annu-al Christmas Fest in the Historic Downtown area. Just in time to kick off the season, this magical event is staged from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. Friday and continues Saturday with the Toccoa Christmas Parade and is guaran-teed to ignite the Christmas spirit for all who attend.

Take in the sounds of the holiday sea-son during this special evening as carol-ers stroll the streets and stores through-out the evening, serenading the shoppers. A carriage will take you through the town’s historic district to see the beauti-fully lit streets. A live nativity allows chil-dren to enter the manger, pet the animals and experience what it may have been like on the firstChristmas.

Courthouse Wonderland is a self-guided holiday tour. Wander at your

own pace through a series of Christmas silhouettes on the historic courthouse lawn. Best of all, visit Santa for pictures at Santa’s Toy Shop on the West Side of the Courthouse.

Also for the children, Santa’s Express train will take the little riders around the town. Special entertainment will be performed at the stage located in front

of the city Christmas Tree on the court-house lawn and following a countdown led by city officials, the city tree is lit for the Christmas

December 5 – December 7, 2019 Festi-val of Trees - Historic Courthouse, Down-town Toccoa. 8 am – 5 pm Thursday, 12/5/2019. 8 am – 8 pm on Friday, 12/6/2019. 1 pm – 4 pm on Saturday, 12/7/19

TOCCOA CHRISTMAS FEST, LIGHTING OF TREE & COURTHOUSE WONDERLAND

ADVANCED TICKET PURCHASE REQUIRED

Cemetery tours depart every thirty minutesbeginning at 6:00 pm. The last tour departsat 9:00 pm. Rain or shine! (No strollers please.)

Event parking and check-in is at the First BaptistChurch located at 1345 S. Elm Street in Commerce.

Tickets are available for purchase at the Commerce Public Library duringregular business hours. Please call 706-335-5946 for more information.

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Any Senior related business advertising a 1/3rd page or larger is welcome to submit an advertorial for FREE!Deadline December 1st

January’s Senior Edition


Christmas is the most anticipated time of the year for children and adults alike. When the temperature drops, hearts warm up with the joy and excitement of the season. Christmastime is also a wonderful opportunity to unleash your creativity and express yourself through Christmas decorating. So, here are my top 5 looks for the season.

PLAIDLast year red and black plaid was all the

rage. Well, if you live in northeast Georgia, red and black can stay indefinitely. Since, Georgia fans love their bulldogs, the red and black theme fits in great with any dawg fans décor. So, continue using that red and black gingham décor and add your favorite UGA or-naments. They never go out of style. If you would like to change it up- this year’s plaid colors are black and white and forest green and white gingham. Same concept, and still fits in great with the farmhouse look.

METALLICS This year glitz is all the rage. Trimming

the tree and hanging up lights are holiday decorating staples, but there are so many more ways to create magical wintery memo-ries that will last long after Christmas has

come and gone. Want something magical and unique? Try using metallic silver and gold. Yes, the traditional colors from the famous song are back. With shining gold and silver ornaments, you can in-stantly create a timeless look that absolutely sparkles!

VINTAGEVintage will NEVER go

out of style! It’s a time of tradition passed down from generation to generation! So, don’t take that box of old Christmas stuff to the thrift store just yet! Sil-ver tinsel, retro Christmas characters, ceramic Christmas trees, and clip on candles for your tree are all the rage! Remember those ceramic trees that your mom or grandmother made in ceramics? Bring them out or find a repro-duction at many décor stores. You may even find an original one at your local vintage or antique shop.

WHIMSICALThink the Grinch Who Stole Christmas

as your inspiration. Bright colors, upside down-hanging trees, and pixies are just a few of the whimsy décor that make this Christ-

mas fun and exciting. Whimsical décor can make your holiday guest feel more comfort-

able to set foot inside your home. Other tips for whimsi-cal decorating include adding blankets, books and pillows that can be stacked up in any of the rooms in your house. Let your personality shine through.

BLUEWhen thinking of Christ-

mas, most people’s thoughts go straight to green and red.

The classic pairing has been a Christmas staple for years without much competition. However, when you are looking for some-thing dazzling and new, consider opting for blue Christmas décor this year. The world’s most popular favorite color, blue can be both warm and cool at once. It can be exciting or cozy, bright or tranquil, and it goes great with a classic wintery white. Although not a tradi-tional Christmas color, blue has always been associated with the icy frost of winter, and when you use it as décor, it is like you are bringing the chill of the softly fallen winter snow into your warm, cozy home.

HOMETOWN DECORATING

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TOP 5 CHRISTMAS DÉCOR TRENDS FOR 2019

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WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR THIS SEASON?

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Index of Advertisers

We would like to thank each of our advertisers for using HomeTown

Neighbors Magazine as their marketing choice. Please support our advertisers and mention that you saw their ad in HomeTown Neighbors Magazine, so we can

continue to bring this quality publication to Banks, Jackson,

Habersham, and Clarke Counties.

Thank You!

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211 Mainstreet 13

A Flea Antique 12

Bently Assisted Living 7

Celebrate the Holidays in Braselton

9

Commerce DDA 7

Cornelia Christmas in the Park 4

Crawford Long Pharmacy 7

Dental Home 8

Dimpled Daisy Photo Booth 5

HoBow Longbows 7

HomeTown Interiors Inside Back

Hurteau Plastic Surgery 4

Jefferson Drugs 7

Jefferson Holiday Festival 10

Jewelry Expressions 16

Medlink Georgia, Inc 11

North Georgia Shutters and Blinds 8

Priss Ellie’s 7

Sanders Furniture 7

Simple Blessings 1

Southern Spirits Cemetery Tour 15

Spectrum Healthcare 5

Spoiled Rotten Boutique 14

Sunbelt Beverage 16

Tammy Retzlaff Realtor 8

The Artfull Barn 12

The Hen House 12

The Hens Nest 12

The Purple Door 1

The Round Barn 7

Toccoa Christmas Festival 14

Vintage Cup Inside Front

Vintage Owl Back Cover

Women Center of Athens Inside Back

[email protected]

16 North Main Street • Ila, Georgia 30647 706-789-3696Thursday 10am-6pm | Friday 10-6pm | Saturday 9:30am-5pm | Sunday 12pm-4pm

ILA'S HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS Tuesday December 3rd at 6pm, Tree Lighting at 7pm

5721 WEST AVENUE • LAVONIA, GA • 706-356-0274

SANTA & SALES ARE COMING NOVEMBER

8TH & 9TH!Vintage Owl & Vintage Cup invite you to kick off the

shopping season! Friday, live music by local music artist Jessica Fowler at Vintage Owl & Cup on the patio from

4-7 pm. Saturday, Santa will arrive at Vintage Cup at 10 am. He will be at Vintage Owl at 11 am.

$2HOT CHOCOLATES & HOT APPLE CIDER

at Vintage Cup

sales THROUGHOUT VINTAGE OWL

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GIFT ROOM!Values to $29.99

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