Sports&Outdoors. Just a few notes to wrap up 2016 as we. And here we go again; the. Congratulations and thank you. Can our trees recover?

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1 Big Canoe Hikers enjoy Blackwell Creek Trail JANUARY 2017 SMOKE SIGNALS LIVING 17 C In November, the Big Canoe Hiking Club stayed close to home on the Blackwell Creek Trail. If you have not tried this trail recently, you are missing out. The trees were fully decked out in fall colors and the sounds of the creek are restful. We had a friendly picnic lunch after the two-mile hike. In December, the club had its annual Silent Night Hike along the Jeep Trail and enjoyed a party at the Emerson s. Jan. 20, we will be on the Kennesaw Mountain 24 Gun Trail, an easy 3.5-mile hike. If you are interested in joining the Big Canoe Hiking Club in 2017, please contact Laura Smith, lauramcsmith@gmail.com. Contributed by Laura Smith. PHOTO BY STEVE PAPKE Sports&Outdoors SMOKE SIGNALS Sports Fitness Gardening Pets JANUARY C Bone-dry soil shrinks, creating voids around the roots. Eventually, as high winds rock the trees, these gaps grow. Without a snug support system in the ground, trees may come crashing down. Congratulations and thank you Men s Golf Association JIM RICE, MGA PUBLICIST Showing yet another typical symptom of severe drought, this Florida anise s leaves are curled and dark brown. PHOTO BY JUDY KAUFMAN Can our trees recover? BY JUDY KAUFMAN Conservation Committee What a year we had: Long stretches without rain fostered conditions that led to forest fires. Smoke filled our valleys while our water system suffered a major breakdown. Outside watering was limited. We watched as our gardens and woods become more and more stressed. What can we hope for in spring? There is no simple answer to that question, but perhaps a better understanding of water s role in the plant world will explain some of the stress our trees and plants have been experiencing. Water is essential for many aspects of healthy plant life. First, the uptake of water creates pressure on leaf cells, forcing new cells or plant growth. Water also acts as a rinsing agent, so unwanted elements do not build up in the plant. Too much fertilizer is one example of a possible culprit. Bone-dry soil shrinks, creating voids around the roots. Eventually, as high winds rock the trees, these gaps grow. Without a snug support system in the ground, trees may come crashing down. Plant and tree roots have tiny root hairs extending from their feeder roots. Root hairs, found in the first 12 to 15 inches of soil, deliver the available water from ground to plant. When that first layer of soil is too dry, the root hairs eventually die. Vegetation, at that point, has lost its primary ability to take in water. During the dismal unfolding of our summer of extended drought, signs of plant and tree stress became noticeable to even the casual observer. One of the earliest and most common signs is leaf wilt. Droopy leaves call for watering cans and hoses. Early in the drought this usually perked the leaves up quickly; however, in extended drought, leaves may not respond. Perhaps those root hairs have died. Another indication the drought is serious is leaf scorch. Just like a hot iron on cloth, leaves may develop scorched spots where sufficient water was not delivered to the leaf. This condition may be followed by early leaf drop or, in the n TREES Page 19 Just a few notes to wrap up 2016 as we move into First, a big thank-you to the volunteers who make golf in Big Canoe an organized effort to create a competitive and fair environment in which to have as much fun as possible. To the officers of the MGA, past and present, good job. Thank you to Joe Finemore and Lydell Mack for all they and their staff do to improve the Big Canoe golfing experience. They and their teams go above and beyond to attend to every detail of our golfing enjoyment. Great job, guys, and thank you for another awesome season. To the Big Canoe volunteer marshals and starters who keep our golf course maintained and the pace of play moving, congratulations on a thankless job. Well done. Then one late-season congratulations is in order (and my bad for not handling this earlier in the year). To Randy May: congratulations on winning the 2016 MGA Individual Match Play Championship. This season-long tournament is grueling and takes a lot of effort, skill and maybe even a bit of luck along the way, to survive as the winner especially when your final opponent is as skillful as Keith Sievers. Great job on the win and the survivalist attitude it took to win. I think a trophy for this tournament (and maybe the team match play as well) is in order. In other sections of this edition, you ll see recruiting notices for both the MGA and the North Atlanta Senior MGA. Join in the fun now and enjoy all year long. Oh, yeah, and Happy 2017 to you all and remember our goal for this year is: 18 holes of fun and laughter with no new injuries. Golf... And Other Things Out Of Doors JIM RICE And here we go again; the NCAA college football conference championships are behind us and the only mystery remaining is who will the committee pick to be in the playoffs. You d think by now all of these highly educated committee folks would figure out a way to configure the playoffs without creating this drama and controversy over the picks. Go with major conference champions and the next best few to make a field of eight. The eight bracket would be played two weeks following the conference championships, so, around the third weekend in December. One bracket of 8/4/2/1: how hard is that? The eight, in my view, would consist of the major conference champions. This year it would be 1. SEC Champion Alabama, again. 2. Big 10 Champion (the Big 10 has 12 teams, maybe a name change?) Penn State defeated Wisconsin for the 2016 Championship in an awesome comeback, which should be this team s name: 2016 MGA Match Play Champion Randy May. PHOTO COURTESY OF PRO SHOP STAFF The Final Eight? The Comeback Kids. If the committee deems to leave Penn State out of this year s playoff, they should all be tarred, feathered and hung out to dry. Here s a team that has fought its way back from debilitating drama and controversy. How do you recruit and motivate a team through all that hoopla? The coach should be named coach of the year, or pope or something really big after all he s helped this team through. OK, enough on that topic, my blood pressure is beginning to rise. 3. Big 12 Champion (they still only have 10 teams so, per NCAA rules, they cannot hold a conference championship game, maybe a name swap with the Big 10?) No conference champion, no playoffs, right? Maybe the SEC should lend them a couple of teams since they have two to spare Texas A&M and Missouri? Makes geographic sense. 4. ACC Champion Clemson, again. 5. PAC 12 (they actually do have 12 teams, duh) Washington is the clear winner this year. 6. Beyond these major conference champions, go out and pick the best three other teams for a total of eight deserving teams that can prove their claim on the football field instead of in press conferences. Another end-of-season phenomena is that college football coaching staffs play fruit basket turnover/musical chairs. Last year, the Georgia coach, Mark Richt, after 15 years, a record of 145 wins (fifth most among active coaches), 14 bowl appearances, two SEC titles and many top 10 finishes in the polls was fired!? Richt went to Miami, Kirby Smart came to Georgia and Alabama replaced another assistant coach without missing a beat. Looking back on just these changes, how did it all work out in 2016? Alabama, with or without Kirby Smart, went 13 0; Miami went 8 4, which would have won the SEC East and Georgia ended with a 7 5 season, not horrible but not in the hunt for anything exciting in the post-season action. Guess it s the greener grass that turns athletic directors heads. Let s see how that all works out in 2017 for LSU, Houston, Texas and too many others to name. Guess coaching is like the playoffs; win or go home. Talking heads (that s mostly sports announcers, now that the election is over) n FINAL EIGHT Page 18

2 18 C SMOKE SIGNALS SMOKE SIGNALS SPORTS LIVING & OUTDOORS JANUARY 2017 Membership provides benefits for golfers Men s Golf Association GREG MORRIS, MGA PRESIDENT The Big Canoe Men s Golf Association (MGA) will open for 2017 membership, Jan. 2. The annual cost is $60, which allows you to participate in many organized golf and social events. It also includes access to our website, where you can sign up for events/tournaments, see who is playing, tournament results, MGA financials, MGA minutes, check handicaps, course conditions and many other important things for golfers. How to join If you are not currently an MGA member, all you need to do to join is go to prior to March 1, click on Apply Now, fill in the form and wait for a response from the website and/ or an officer. Your Big Canoe lot will be charged $60. If you sign up online after March 1, you will need to drop a check for $60 made payable to BCMGA at the pro shop, the MGA alpha box at the postal facility or mail to: BCMGA, Big Canoe, Big Canoe, GA MGA mission statement The Men s Golf Association is an organization of Big Canoe golfers formed to provide a balanced golfing program with appeal to the full range of golfers. It promotes the golf experience by being a positive influence on golf operations, teaching and promoting the rules of golf, and seeking to improve our golf games. We strive for maximum participation by organizing a wide range of events that appeal to the social and competitive requirements of members. Please do not be concerned about signing up for an event that involves other golfers on a team, such as Member-Member, Grinder, Scrambles, etc. You can sign up as a single (many do) and we will put you with other singles for the event a great way to get to know others. In 2016, we had 196 members, a great bunch of guys. If you have any questions about the MGA, please call me at or gregmorris@outlook.com. Please consider joining us; we have fun with both competitive and not-so competitive golf. Below is our 2017 tournament schedule MGA tournament dates March Pairing Party and Opening Day ABCD Scramble April Replay May Spring Member-Member May 31-June 3 - Member-Guest June 23 - Mid-Season ABCD Step-Aside Scramble July Club Championship Aug Four-Man Grind Sept NFL Dinner and Tournament Oct. 7 - Closing Day Choose-Your- Own-Team 3 Club Scramble Oct Big Canoe Cup Dinner and Tournament Janet Jones, left, Anita Rosen and Susan Tidwell set up the A Time to Share Boutique Sale. PHOTO BY FRAN HOLMAN Wildflower Bunch Garden Club BY JIM RICE RITA VAN FLEET Wildflower Bunch ended 2016 Wednesday, Dec. 7, at The Clubhouse at Lake Sconti with its annual A Time to Share boutique sale. A luncheon with installation of 2017 s officers followed. Janet Jones and her committee collected and arranged a magnificent showcase of plants and garden accessories, baked and handcrafted items, art selections and seasonal decorations for direct sale, silent auction and raffles. Eunice Nichols took home one of the biggest sellers of the event - Lars McKenzie s Pizza Package that included a cooking/ NASMGA is a like-minded group of senior golfers (over 50) who organize events each month at different member clubs. The current member clubs are: Alpharetta Athletic Club (Crooked Creek and Milton C.C.), Big Canoe, BridgeMill, Brookfield, Chestatee, Crystal Falls, Eagle Watch, Fairways of Canton, Indian Hills, Olde Atlanta, White Columns, Windermere and Woodmont. There are two events available each month of the golfing season: open monthly tournaments and interclub match play competitions. Open monthly tournaments Golf outings are organized by tournament directors at hosting clubs. Varying formats aimed at fun and inexpensive golf outings. Most events are held early to midweek. Team event pairings are done to meet fellow golfers from other clubs. Event fees are usually less than $60 and include a round of golf, carts, meals Wildflower Bunch 2017 officers are installed at the December luncheon. PHOTO BY ANITA ROSEN Gardening and giving serving stone and cover set, lessons and a four-course pizza dinner for four. Joanne Bertrand won the raffle of Carole English s quilt and Jean Lomax won John Mann s handcrafted table. The proceeds from the event will support the club s philanthropic activities, both inside Big Canoe and the surrounding community. Following the sale, members enjoyed a holiday luncheon planned by WFB Hospitality Chair Jennie Sheffield. The festive menu included Butternut Squash Soup, Apple Spiced Pork or Grilled Black Bean Patties, Green Beans Almandine, Whipped Maple Sweet Potatoes and assorted mini-desserts. Lauren Grant installed WFB officers after the luncheon. Officers for 2017 include Co-presidents Fran Holman McKenzie and Catherine Mann; Vice President of Programs Margie Halls; Vice President of Membership, Robin Bish; Vice President of Communication Linda Ricklef; Recording Secretary Peggy Dickey; Treasurer Ron Conley; Publicist Rita Van Fleet; and North Atlanta Senior Men s Golf Association (sometimes breakfast and lunch) and prizes a truly great deal. There are usually seven tournaments from April through October. Interclub match play Member clubs are divided into two divisions at the beginning of the year. Each of the teams play all of the other teams in its division: three home, three away. There are 11 players from each club, plus a club professional. Team captains are responsible for setting lineups. The cost of matches is set at cart fees plus $5 per player, to be added to the endof-year winners prize pool. Points in each match are accumulated throughout the season and result in division-winning teams (first and second place) going into an October playoff. A great deal of fun and a bargain to boot; these match play competitions have been best described as friendly but fierce golf at its finest. Visit for more information about NASMGA, to manage Co-parliamentarians Judy Kaufman and John Lomax. Big Canoe residents or property owners are invited to join Wildflower Bunch for an annual membership fee of $20. The next meeting and Spring Luncheon are scheduled for March 1. Landscaping and plant expert Cynthia Hendry of Woodland Gardens will address The Trials and Tribulations of Gardening in Big Canoe. For more information, visit membership.html. Wildflower Bunch Garden Club works to preserve and protect the integrity of Big Canoe s environment through education and promotion of the woodland setting using plants and flowers native to the area. For more information about WFB, contact Fran Holman McKenzie, franholman@ yahoo.com, or visit com. Memberships are accepted throughout the year, and forms are available at the postal facility. membership information and sign up for tournaments. Members will receive s from NASMGA when new tournament signups are open and from your club s match play coordinator for the match play events. The annual dues to NASMGA are a very affordable $25. The dues are used to offset some of the tournament expenses, door prizes, etc. To join NASMGA, please send an to Jim Rice, address below, and drop your dues at the pro shop in an envelope marked NASMGA. For more information on the NASMGA group, reach out to your NASMGA board members. Jim Rice: Big Canoe Director (Membership Chairman), angelsnest@ outlook.com, Joe Zamborsky: Tournament Chairman, joezamborsky@gmail.com, Joe Marushak: Assistant Tournament Chairman, joemarushak@gmail.com, Keith Sievers: Match Play Coordinator, pilot114@mac.com, Vice President Richard Stephenson, Treasurer Glenn Manning and Secretary Joe Marushak join me in looking forward to seeing you on the course. Sports & Outdoors Team Big Canoe celebrates the NASMGA win at a December gathering. PHOTO COURTESY OF JIM RICE Mountain Gardening: Hero plants of drought 19 Big Canoe Hikers...17 Men s Golf Association...17,18 Golf... And Other Things Out Of Doors...17,18 Wildflower Bunch Garden Club...18 Mountain Gardening...19 Trails Committee...20 Bocce...20 Bare Facts...20 Doggie Dialogues...21 Big Canoe Animal Rescue...22 Vet s Q&A Clinic...22 Classified...23 Final Eight n Continued from page 17 now have what to talk about? Who might win the Heisman trophy and how many of the votes were sent in by the committee members weeks before the final games were even played. What? Who might make it into the NFL playoffs (at this point, Cleveland might be the only team mathematically eliminated)? With the resurgence of the Cowboys and Raiders, it s beginning to look like the 70s again. Come on Steelers; get in the game! Can the NHL Penguins repeat as Stanley Cup Champs? Not likely. Will Tiger Woods make an historic comeback and win the Grand Slam of Golf this year? Even less likely. Oh, well, they have to talk about something to fill all that airtime, right? I have one closing, print-worthy quote and some song lyrics; the quote comes from my 7-year-old granddaughter, Ella, who during the marathon election coverage said, Mom, I don t know why everyone wants to talk about politics when they could be talking about unicorns. Out of the mouths of babes, with whom I agree, we are more likely going to conjure up a unicorn than a worthy politician. The song lyrics: In 2017, I suggest we spend our time and energy, as Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson suggested in their song written for Diana Ross: Reach out and touch Somebody s hand Make this world a better place If you can And I believe we can! Happy New Year to each and every one of you! JIM RICE Jim Rice is an Alabama boy living in North Georgia with a Pittsburgh Yankee. He markets sculptural art for money, plays golf for fun and enjoys fine wine on all such occasions. Living the dream in Big Canoe with his lovely bride for 20-plus years.

3 JANUARY 2017 SMOKE SIGNALS SMOKE SIGNALS SPORTS LIVING & OUTDOORS 19 C Mountain Gardening CYNTHIA HENDRY As Big Canoe gardeners watched rhododendron, anise, Pieris japonica, mountain laurel, magnolia and many other plants wilt, suffer, lose foliage and/or die in the past summer-through-fall drought, many began making notes on any plant standing up. Hollies, Otto Luyken laurels, nandina, cephalataxus, viburnum and boxwood seemed to take the stress, but one of the most resilient was the osmanthus. Big wilt The first to wilt and go is one of the most deer-resistant, Illicium floridanum, Florida anise tree. While it is very cold- tolerant and the deer deplore them, they cannot take drought. One of my favorite evergreen trees, Magnolia virginiana, Sweet Bay magnolia, died in the first six weeks of the drought. Three 9-year-old trees that never had been irrigated went into winter looking like potato chips on sticks. Buck deer had attacked them earlier in their life, and they had recovered several times. There is a slim chance they might sprout from the base. All the hydrangea species in our garden wilted but, with weekly watering, went into fall looking good. Of the 15 species of rhododendron we have, many lost limbs, but most survived. The Anna Rose Whitney looks best. Osmanthus If asked for a hero of the recent drought, I quickly would say osmanthus. The oldest plants in our garden from the original house foundation landscape are osmanthus, and we never have irrigated them regularly. They have been on and off the approved Big Canoe plant list. All selections of osmanthus are currently on the list, and all selections of this plant seem to be drought-tolerant and fairly deer-resistant. The genus osmanthus includes many species. We have six in our garden on Petit Ridge. Some are very slow growers and are not widely available in the trade. The oldest, biggest and most cold-hardy in this genus is Osmanthus fortunei. It is a hybrid between the Osmanthus heterophllus and Osmanthus fragrans. While Osmanthus Goshiki and Osmanthus variegatus enjoy sun, their colorful foliage lights up shade in an all-green border. Hero plants of drought Osmanthus fragrans, pictured here, is one of the parents of Osmanthus fortunei. We have an Osmanthus variegatus and an Osmanthus delavayi in an area without irrigation. Both survived without any supplemental watering. Stress rounds As eye-popping water bills came in from the extra irrigation, I began checking plants carefully at sunrise to see which had recovered during the night from the previous day s wilt. Many plants will push their root systems down following the sinking water, and the leaves will perk up during the night. Rationing the water to the most stressed and most loved became the required program. I began calling these morning surveys the stress rounds. My husband David asked, Are you referencing the plants or you? Of course, the answer was Both. We found irrigating at night achieved the best results. If an area was wilted early in the morning, we set its irrigation to cycle on in the wee hours of the following morning. Native tree outcome I asked my gardening and forester friend, Jim Smith, what he thought the outcome would be for our trees. His response was, We will not know for a few years. This was the result a few years back when our trees were stressed by a late spring frost after they had leafed out. While they leafed out a second time that May and seemed OK, some of the older ones have since died. Many ask whether the plants that seem dead now will regenerate from their roots. Some plants are inclined to regenerate. The Illicium parviflorum, Ocala anise, often does. Pieris japonica also will regenerate, if cut at the base. I suggest waiting until spring to cut any plant back to the ground. In conclusion The other reason Osmanthus fortunei is my drought hero is during my stress rounds, mentioned above, I enjoyed the sweet fragrance of this plant s late-fall flowers. They are not showy, but the fragrance is delightful and always lifts my heart like seeing an old, faithful friend every fall, no matter the weather. I suggest giving your plants a top dressing of worm castings and then a 3- to 4-inch layer of pine straw or pine bark mini-nuggets, as they come out of winter. Delay any fertilization until you see buds swelling in spring and only then if all danger of a latespring frost is over. You do not want to fertilize too early, have plants bud out and then get hit by a frost. I would not fertilize at all if spring is dry and we are not permitted to irrigate. Dealing with deer and drought, Big Canoe gardeners are a tenacious lot. Happy spring garden planning! Cynthia Hendry has lived and gardened in Big Canoe for 29 years. Her landscape design work includes Best of Show for Big Canoe Street of Dreams, as well as Big Canoe Show Homes for Southern Living and Atlanta magazines. CYNTHIA HENDRY Trees n Continued from page 17 case of conifers, needles browning and dropping. Our plants and trees head into winter severely stressed, but experts advise patience. Don t rush now to prune, dig up, discard. Some plants may send up new shoots from the ground in the spring, while others may respond to pruning and fertilization in the new growing season. On the other hand, be on the lookout for pests and cankers, both signs the specimen is still struggling from the 2016 drought and is an easy mark for insects and disease. Finally, the grim reality is we may lose some plants and trees over the next few years because they had been taxed so severely this year. While this has been a tough year for nature, we were given, against all odds, a late and glorious week or so of fall color. And the heart of the gardener is always hopeful. Ron Kujawaski, Dr. Kim D. Coder, David Holty and Jim Smith contributed to this article. In spite of drought conditions, this climbing hydrangea turns a heavenly golden yellow in fall. PHOTO BY JUDY KAUFMAN Ronald Reemsnyder A T T O R N E Y 22 Year Resident of Big Canoe I have been selected by my peers as a Super Lawyer and also serve, when needed, as the Judge for the City of Dawsonville. My practive includes: LIVING WILLS POWERS OF ATTORNEY WILLS LITIGATION Call for Free Initial Home Consultation (706)

4 20 C SMOKE SIGNALS SMOKE SIGNALS SPORTS LIVING & OUTDOORS JANUARY 2017 Ray Roth rolls with wisdom BY DALE YOUNT Even as we were looking at houses in Big Canoe, we heard about the bocce league. In August, my husband and I attended a bocce camp and joined the substitute list. As novices, we attended the Monday night informal bocce gathering where attendees randomly made up teams. It was interesting to see a can with an attached string measuring the ball closest to the pallino. Monday nights proved to be a good way to meet other homeowners in Big Canoe, plus learn more about the interesting game of bocce. On the last Monday night bocce of the season, I observed an older gentleman with an unusual knack of releasing the bocce ball with amazing accuracy. As the game went along, he coached me on guiding the ball closer to the smaller white ball, known as the pallino. We ended the game with my asking if I could interview him. Ray Roth, almost 91 years old, has been married to wife Miki for 63-plus years and has lived in Big Canoe for nearly 29 years. They came when the POA assessment was $72 and included the few amenities that were available (only nine holes of golf and no fitness center). Ray is currently a Big Canoe realtor and has set sales records with two other partners. Ray served in the Navy Air Force during World War II and the Army Air Ray Roth, a member of the Holy Rollers, displays perfect form on the bocce court. PHOTO BY STEVE PAPKE Force during the Korean War. Following his military career, Ray completed a degree in business administration at Michigan State University. Ray s insurance company was referred to Lloyd s of London because it handled risk-taking accidental insurance. He insured football teams like Alabama, Georgia and Georgia Tech; Yeager when he broke the sound barrier; race car drivers and even civilians on the Nautilus, when it ventured under the ice cap. His insurance business brought him to Georgia, where he successfully ran his own company. He and his wife have visited 35 countries and territories. Ray shared a story about watching a bocce game on the French Riviera where, within a large circle, the player used metal balls to try to knock the pallino out of the circle. Bocce is played in many countries where the courts, as well as the balls, vary. Ray, an early member of the league and the oldest bocce player in Big Canoe, credits his bocce talent to his golf game, especially putting, and his pool playing. Ray explained there are different ways to roll the ball. It can be hard or soft, high or low, straight on or banked. Whatever your delivery, he suggested to strategize and guide your ball. His team, the Holy Rollers, finished in the finals and are looking forward to next season. If you do not find Ray on the bocce court, you can see him in the fitness center several times per week. Ray explained why he enjoys playing this game: bocce is not hard and you don t sweat. Bare facts about bears BY JUDITH PERSING To live in harmony with bears, consider the following: Do you want to have bears as your guests of honor in your house, eating everything that is available? If the answer is no, Do not leave food or trash outside. Do not put pet food outside the house (garages, porches) for bears to find. Adhere to the rules for birdfeeders: Place them outside Dec. 1 and take them in by March 31. Call to make an anonymous report if you see a location created by humans where bears might like to graze, such as food containers left behind. See The Black Bear Project brochure for more information. If the answer is yes, Invite them inside by leaving open screen doors and windows to waft wonderful cooking aromas. Hang birdfeeders anytime of the year, in spite of the fines. Put garbage and leave food in an open garage or screen porch. Be sure and put out a sign saying Bears Welcome our house is your house, because they will make themselves at home, damaging your house and leaving an unwelcome mess. Kids Corner How many calories does a bear eat daily? Find the answer on page 21. Trails Committee The Big Canoe Trails Committee celebrated the holiday season at its annual Christmas party at the Canoe Lodge, with lots of new trail helpers in attendance. PHOTO BY KAY DAVIS Absolutely Custom outdoors Bear Mountain Custom Painting Residential Painting & Remodeling OUTDOOR LIVING SPECIALISTS Here are just some of our services... Maintenance Options Regular or Periodic Blowing and Weed Control Pruning, Fertilization and Pest and Disease Management of Plants Annual and Perennial Plant Care Blowing and/or Removal of Normal Leaf and Debris Fall Storm Damage Clean Up Softscape Installation Mulch and Pine Straw Installation Annual Flower Installation Installation of Hanging Baskets, Window Boxes and Planters Installation of Perennials, Shrubs and Trees Hardscape Installation Installation of Stone, Block, Boulder and Timber Walls Installation of Patios, Steps and Walkways Installation of Fire Pits and Fireplaces Installation of Water Features, Koi Ponds and Waterfalls Custom Carpentry Deck Installation and Repair Fence Installation and Repair Installation of Arbors, Trellis, Pergolas and Other Custom Carpentry Outdoor Living Spaces Outdoor Kitchens Including: Running Water, Sinks, Refrigerators, and Freezers Wine Coolers, Beer Dispensers and Even Custom Automated Spirit Mixers Outdoor Entertainment Areas Audio Video Systems, Speakers, Televisions, Projector Systems... 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5 JANUARY 2017 SMOKE SIGNALS SMOKE SIGNALS SPORTS LIVING & OUTDOORS 21 C The skinny on keeping your dog lean and mean Doggie Dialogues DORIS DRESSLER, CPDT-KA Staying fit and losing weight these were the top two New Year s resolutions in 2016, according to www. nielson.com. What about your dog? Has he put on a few pounds? Does he need to add losing weight and exercising more to his list of New Year s resolutions? Body condition system The Nestle Purina Body Condition System is a visual tool used by many canine professionals to determine whether a dog is overweight. Your dog s body condition score should be a four or five. Ideally, you should be able to easily feel your dog s ribs. If you can see them, your dog may be too thin. When looking at your dog from above, you should see a waistline. When looking at your dog from the side, the abdomen should be tucked. Advantages to being lean Studies show a dog s life expectancy is reduced if the dog is overweight. One such study, the Purina Life Span Study, followed 48 Labrador retriever puppies for 14 years. Puppies fed a restricted diet lived almost two years longer than dogs that were not. Dennis Lawler, the Purina scientist and lead study investigator noted, obesity, whether in humans or canines, is generally bad for health. What s exciting about this study is that, for the first time in a large mammal, we have shown scientifically that by simply feeding to maintain ideal body The answer to the Bare facts about bears question on page 20 is 20,000 calories. condition throughout a dog s life, we can increase the length of life while delaying the visible signs of aging. That s powerful stuff. Keeping your dog s weight in check also can prevent other health issues such as diabetes, damage to joints, bones and ligaments, heart disease, increased blood pressure, difficulty breathing, decreased stamina, heat intolerance and decreased liver function ( With weight control and regular exercise, the use of pain medications frequently can be postponed for dogs diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Less weight means less pressure on your dog s joints. Regular exercise can maintain muscle mass to help hold the joint in place. Tips to help your dog lose weight Consult your veterinarian to rule out any medical reasons your dog may be overweight. Your vet can help you determine how much to feed your dog and may recommend a low-calorie food. Weigh your pet weekly. Measure your dog s daily food allowance do not free-feed your dog. Make sure well meaning friends or family aren t sabotaging your dog s diet by sneaking food. Monitor treats. Most commercial treats are very high-calorie. Cut treats into very small pieces or consider feeding your dog carrots, apples or cucumbers. Low-salt green beans can be an excellent supplement to your dog s daily meals. If you are using treats to train your dog, consider cutting back slightly on your dog s daily food allowance or, better yet, use some of your dog s kibble as rewards. Exercise ideas for winter Many dogs love the cooler weather, so bundle up and take your dog for a walk. There are also many indoor activities you can do with your dog. Toss a toy or ball indoors for your dog to chase. Better yet, grab your dog s favorite toy and have him chase you. Play tug with your dog. Toss a ball or toy down the stairs for your dog to retrieve. Do you have a treadmill collecting dust? Many dog owners have taught their dogs to use a treadmill. A trainer can help you teach your dog to use a treadmill safely. Consider an indoor class like agility. Not only will you exercise your dog, but also you will be surprised at the energy you burn off running alongside your dog. Make your dog work for his food and DORIS DRESSLER Jimmy Cochran LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE SERVICE Cell: NATURAL COLORED HARDWOOD AND PINE MULCHES Mulch delivered or mulch delivered and installed many varieties Top soil, fill dirt, gravel, sand, stone, delivered BobCat loader and dump truck services Small jobs welcome & references available Landscapes maintained Locust split rail fencing practice the recall (come) cue at the same time. Position yourself in the middle of a large room with your dog s food bowl. Toss a piece of kibble off to the right; wait for your dog to run for and eat the food. As he turns around to face you, call him to come. When he reaches you, reward him for coming by tossing the piece of kibble off to the left. Repeat tossing a bit of kibble to the right, then to the left, using the come cue every time your dog starts to head back towards you, until you have worked through your dog s entire meal. Your dog will work off lots of energy running from one end of the room to the other, while practicing the recall cue. Happy New Year and happy training! Doris Dressler is a CPDT-KA (certified professional dog trainer, knowledge assessed) with more than 18 years experience training service dogs and family pet dogs. She also volunteers training rescued dogs at Big Canoe Animal Rescue. Holiday Promo Pricing RL75IP $ & RL94 $ (Additional $ in rebates available) Includes vent kit & install New Rinnia WIFI Control-R Module free with each purchase when you include your annual service pak maintenance plan! ($ value) The Rinnai Control-R Module and mobile app provide remote diagnostics and monitoring alerts plus faster product registration, all while enhancing the customer service experience. 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6 22 C SMOKE SIGNALS SMOKE SIGNALS SPORTS LIVING & OUTDOORS JANUARY 2017 BCAR dogs make New Year s resolutions Big Canoe Animal Rescue TOM ATTAWAY I explained to BCAR s dogs New Year s resolutions are to-do lists people make during the first week of January. They thought this was a wonderful idea and came up with their own lists. Callie: will not eat snacks between meals Callie is a black and tan German shepherd mix. She is 12 months old and weighs 37 pounds. Callie is addicted to people. When you are at BCAR, Callie is desperate to be by your side. She is very affectionate and smart. She is a gentle, sweet, playful dog found in the middle of Steve Tate Highway playing with a stick. She would be a superstar with children. Elsa: will read community bulletin boards, aka fire hydrants Elsa is a black and white lab/hound mix. She is 18 months old and weighs 45 pounds. Although just a puppy, she is the momma of Bandit and Sydney. Elsa is a very sweet and affectionate dog, who loves to cuddle and play on the soccer field. Although she has been at BCAR for a short time, I really like this girl. Bandit: will be kinder and gentler with Fat Cat, BCAR s now earless, legless toy Bandit is a black terrier mix. He is 20 weeks old and weighs 37 pounds. He is a momma s boy, very shy, and hasn t yet walked on a leash. Sydney: will recognize BCAR volunteer shortcomings Sydney is also a terrier mix. She is also 20 weeks old, brown and weighs 30 pounds. Although Bandit is shy, his sister is not. Playing with Sydney is like playing with a monkey. She is all over you, gets very excited and loves to play. However, she is surprisingly gentle. She is a loving puppy, a barrel of fun, walks well on a leash and will chase tennis balls and Frisbees in the field. She has vowed to quit asking the BCAR volunteer walking her to Come and smell this, when finding something Elsa, a lab/hound mix, writes her New Year s resolutions. PHOTO BY TINA SCHREMP Daily Walks Mail Forwarding Plant Care PAT GARLAND Volunteer at Big Canoe Animal Rescue and resident since 1994 MAKING MORTGAGES EASIER EVERY DAY. that smells fantastic while on a walk. Tessa: will be the first to say hello in every new situation Tessa is a female dachshund mix. She is about a year old, black and weighs 15 pounds. Tessa is in one of the front yards at BCAR and is the first to greet everyone who comes to the shelter BCAR s Ambassador Hound. Although she is a small dog, Tessa is confident, feisty and proud to be part of the pack. She has to lead the way in any group walk. She is a happy and friendly girl, wagging her tail constantly. She is awesome! Tinker Bell: will turn over a new leaf Tinker Bell is a French bulldog/pug mix. She is 4 years old, white, and weighs 39 pounds. I think Tinker Bell had a tough life before coming to BCAR. She takes a while to warm up to people. However, once you gain her trust, she will be your loyal BFF. It helps if you continuously tell her how beautiful she is. Then you will know the sweet and funny girl we at BCAR know. She is very special. A thank you goes to Tina Schremp for Q: Dr. Habermann, we know several people who have dogs diagnosed with Cushing s disease. Can you explain what this disease is and how it is managed? taking the photos that frequently accompany this column. We wish the BCAR dogs good luck with their New Year s resolutions. They hope each of you will resolve, on their behalf, to slow down every once in a while and enjoy the peace that comes from just sitting with your dog and watching the world go by. Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love. They depart to teach us about loss. A new dog never replaces an old dog, it merely expands the heart. ~Erica Jong Meet these dogs any Saturday at the BCAR Open House, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check our website, org, or visit our Facebook page. For more information, contact BCAR, Volunteer and help us walk these dogs each morning at 10 a.m., play with the two puppies or earn Tinker Bell s trust. I promise you, it will be worth it. Do not smell anything Sydney brings to your attention! Dogs and Cushing s disease Vet s Q&A Clinic DR. RAY HABERMANN Construction/ Permanent Loans Great Rates on Purchase or Refinance Transactions 100% Financing FHA and VA Loans Friendly Courteous Service Office Cell travis.key@regions.com TRAVIS KEY Mortgage Loan Originator Regions Bank. Member FDIC. Regions is a registered service mark of Regions Asset Company and is used under license. Subject to qualification, required documentation and credit approval. Certain exclusions may apply. Loan term and availability subject to change. The Annual Percentage Rate on all adjustable rate mortgages is subject to change after consummation period. Dachshunds are among the breeds more at risk for Cushing s disease. A: Cushing s disease more technically referred to as hyperadrenocorticism is one of the most common endocrine (hormone) diseases dealt with in veterinary medicine. It tends to be more commonly seen in middle-aged to older dogs and, in rare cases, cats. Poodles, dachshunds, Boston terriers, boxers and beagles seem to be at increased risk for the disease. The condition occurs when the body produces more cortisol than is considered normal. Approximately percent of pets with Cushing s disease have pituitarydependent disease. This means a benign tumor or overgrowth of pituitary tissue in the brain is the cause of the excessive cortisol production from the adrenal glands in the abdomen. This is the easier form of the disease to treat. Ten to 15 percent of the patients have a tumor on the adrenal gland itself. This form of the disease is more difficult to manage or treat than the pituitary type. Cushing s disease also can occur if a pet is given either via injection or orally too much cortisone over a period of time. Clinical signs of Cushing s disease are varied and mimic the signs of many other diseases. Pets may drink excessive amounts of water, urinate a lot and have an increased appetite. Their skin may become thin and prone to infections and their abdomen may swell. The patient also may be more prone to developing urinary tract infections and may pant more than normal. If your vet has reason to believe your dog (or cat) may have Cushing s disease, he will recommend several tests. A routine blood panel, known as a CBC/Chemistry, is oftentimes part of the workup. Some subtle abnormalities may occur on this test suggesting Cushing s is present, so more definite tests will be done. After a low-dose dexamethasone suppression, ACTH stimulation and/or high-dose dexamethasone suppression has been done, your vet frequently will be able to determine if your pet does, in fact, have Cushing s disease. In some patients, an ultrasound will need to be performed. There are times when this diagnostic test is required to differentiate the pituitary form of the disease from the adrenal tumor. Once the disease is diagnosed, treatment begins. For the less common form of the disease, an adrenal tumor, surgery is the treatment of choice. The surgery is quite involved and typically is performed by a specialist who is a board-certified surgeon. The more commonly seen pituitary form of the disease is managed medically. The most common medicine is Mitotane, also known as Lysodren. This medication is fairly expensive and initially is given daily until the disease is under control. Then it is given twice a week for the remainder of the pet s life. Other drugs sometimes used for this condition are ketoconazole and L-deprenyl, but these medications have been shown not as effective as Mitotane. Treated dogs show a significant improvement in most of the clinical signs they were exhibiting prior to treatment and have a much better quality of life. These patients, once diagnosed and treated, will require periodic blood tests to determine any dosing changes needed and whether control of the disease is being achieved. RAY HABERMANN Direct questions about this topic or any other you would like Dr. Habermann to address in future articles to foothillsvet@ windstream.net or

7 JANUARY 2017 SMOKE SMOKE SIGNALS SIGNALS CLASSIFIED LIVING 23 C CLASSIFIED Smoke Signals Classifieds Ad price is $20 for the first 20 words and 40 cents for each additional word. Classified ads are published in print and online. Submit Classified Ad Request on bigcanoenews.com For assistance, send to classified@bigcanoenews.com. Deadline is the 15th of the month. Smoke Signals Classifieds Neighbors talking to neighbors ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS JOIN ROTARY CLUB OF JASPER. Network with local business and professional leaders. Our motto is Service Above Self. klawrence@renasant. com. COMPUTERS/ COMPUTER SERVICES COMPUTERS / COMPUTER SERVICES COMPUTER SHACK. Owned and operated by Big Canoe resident. Full computer service, home or carry in. Visit our store next to Renasant Bank DONATIONS NEEDED DONATIONS NEEDED DONATE NO-LONGER-NEEDED, GOOD- CONDITION FURNITURE to Dawson County s Humane Society Resale Shop & Boutique. Donations 100% tax deductible. Support our no-kill shelter PLEASE HELP PICKENS ANIMAL RESCUE. P.A.R. needs household items for its Thrift Store. Furniture, decorative items anything but clothing. 100% tax deductible HOME IMPROVEMENT HOME IMPROVEMENT ANN S CUSTOM PAINTING. Specializing in small interior projects. Big Canoe resident since Call for free estimate or annscustom@gmail.com. W CRETE specializes in driveways, sidewalks, patios, slabs, pavers, sinkhole repairs, retaining walls and landscaping. Please give us a call at for a free estimate. PLUMBING. Mountainside Plumbing, Inc. Unrestricted Master Plumber - Rusty Grantham. New Construction, Service Work, Remodels. Office Cell mountainsideplumbing@hotmail.com. CORNER STONE, custom stone masonry. Walkways, outside fireplaces, walls and arches. Free estimates. 30 years experience, Big Canoe references. Contact Carl Gaertner, HOME REPAIR/SERVICES HOME REPAIR / SERVICES BJ s MOLD BUSTERS. We do mold inspections and mold and water remediation MOUNTAIN VIEW PAINTING. Experienced interior & exterior painting. Deck framing, building & staining. Free estimates. References. Call Joe, HANDYMAN SERVICES. Twenty years experience in Big Canoe. Built and remodeled more than 100 homes in Big Canoe area. Tile work, roof repair, deck repair, room additions, finish basements, siding work, painting and small plumbing jobs. Jeff Mills. Office, ; Cell, Fully insured, general liability and workers comp. HANDYMAN SERVICES. Carpentry, electrical, plumbing, drywall, tile work, deck and fence repair, pressure washing and odd jobs. Just about anything you need done. Call Randy, GUTTERS REPAIRED, REPLACED OR CLEANED. Call Georgia Gutters (www. gagutters.com), , for all your seamless gutter needs. Free estimates. GEORGIA CLOCK REPAIR announces a mail-order watch battery replacement service in conjunction with antique and new clock repair. We have been servicing clocks in Big Canoe and Bent Tree for the past 10 years. Please contact us, service@ georgiaclockrepair.com or , for additional information. SQUEAKY CLEAN WINDOWS. Give us a call at for a free estimate or check us out online, com. We also do complete painting and deck staining, hot water pressure washing, gutter cleaning and garage epoxy flooring with a lifetime warranty. APPLIANCE SERVICE AND MORE has a new local number for service. Please call us for your household appliance service, or RODRIGUEZ CONSTRUCTION. We specialize in structural repair, CO permit approvals, insurance claims, complex roof systems, unfinished construction projects, remodels. Licensed & Insured. Call Leo, FORESTER PAINTING COMPANY. Commercial/residential painting. Affordable pricing. Licensed/insured. Free estimates. No job too big or too small. Exterior/interior painting, wood repair, trim, siding, pressure washing, deck staining. Please call Kathleen, , Big Canoe referrals, satisfied customers: Mike/Charlene Ehrlich, ; Erwin/Dorian Dillard, ; Brian Roberts, HOUSE CLEANING/ ORGANIZATION HOUSE CLEANING / ORGANIZATION PROSWEEP CLEANING SERVICE has 3 openings left for new clientele. Free estimates and plenty of references in Big Canoe. Guaranteed satisfaction. Call today Ask for Vickie or Vanessa. SPOTLESS. Need a housekeeper? Need help managing your vacation rental? I offer both services. 20 years experience. References available upon request. Call Tara Mayer (N.C. cell) TWO SISTERS CLEANING SERVICE is taking new customers. Weekly, biweekly and monthly. Twenty-one years of experience with 18 years in Big Canoe. We provide oldfashioned cleaning like your mother would do. Call IT S TIME FOR A BEAUTIFUL CLEAN with Elite Cleaning. House cleaning, pressure washing, steam cleaning and windows. Bonded and insured. Call today for free estimate CRYSTAL CLEAR CLEANING. We offer residential, organizational, holiday/party prep & cleaning, move in / out, rentals, and construction cleaning. Call Christina, MIRACULOUS CLEANING company has weekly, bi-weekly. and monthly available. Very dependable. 12 years experience. Contact me for an estimate HOUSE MANAGEMENT HOUSE MANAGEMENT HOME WATCH SERVICES. We are Big Canoe s only licensed, insured and bonded Home Watch Service! We are Big Canoe s only member of the National Home Watch Association. Don t trust your home to a guy with a truck. We are professionals! 21- year Big Canoe property owners. www. GAHomeWatch.com MANAGE YOUR HOME WHILE YOU RE AWAY short- or long-term or as a vacation rental. Tara , 15+ years experience. References available upon request. LANDSCAPE SERVICES/ SUPPLIES LANDSCAPING SERVICES / SUPPLIES LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE, DESIGN AND INSTALLATION. Pruning, fertilization, mulches, pine straw. Cynthia Hendry, Woodland Gardens, LOCALLY GROWN/ FARM TO TABLE LOCALLY GROWN / FARM TO TABLE MOUNTAIN VALLEY FARM. Growing Locally Since Offering our own Grassfed Beef and Heritage Pork, fresh eggs, handmade cheeses, creamery butter, handcrafted ice cream, and lots more in our Farm Store located on our working farm in Ellijay. TripAdvisor rated #1. www. grassfedgeorgia.com. Suzy Wright, farmer / owner MOVING SERVICES MOVING SERVICES CHANGING YOUR ADDRESS? WE HANDLE THE STRESS! Packing & unpacking plus moving & shipping coordination. Help with organizing, staging, sorting, de-cluttering & estate clean-outs. Call Amanda at PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ATTORNEY JAMES H. BROWN. Big Canoe resident 29 years. Specializing in wills, probate, advance directives, corporations, general practice. House calls or HOME WATCH SERVICES. We are Big Canoe s only licensed, insured and bonded Home Watch Service! We are Big Canoe s only member of the National Home Watch Association. Don t trust your home to a guy with a truck. We are professionals! 21- year Big Canoe property owners. www. GAHomeWatch.com REAL ESTATE LEASE/RENTAL REAL ESTATE FOR LEASE / RENTAL BIG CANOE HOME FOR RENT. 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths at the top of McElroy Mountain with long-distance views of 5 mountain ridges. Hardwood floors, screened porch off master and hot tub on terrace level deck. Long-term lease of 12 months or more required. $1,600/month. Call for more information. A CUT ABOVE THE REST. Beautiful home fully furnished and stylishly decorated. 3 large bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, office, 50 porch, pool room, 4 flat screen TVs, koi pond, and more. 3 months minimum to 1 year or more. Close to amenities. Can be viewed on VRBO # Price depends on length of stay HOT TUB, MOUNTAIN VIEWS and wall of windows highlight this cozy, 1,700-square foot, 2/2 cabin in Big Canoe. End of cul-de-sac privacy. Best for couples and small families. Weekend / weekly / monthly rates. For details, see vrbo.com listing # LONG- AND SHORT-TERM LUXURY RENTAL HOMES in Big Canoe. 24-plus upscale, meticulously maintained 5-, 4-, 3-, 2-, 1-bedroom homes and condos. Call Kevin, , or , kevin@ mountainvistarentals.com. View all on our website, REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE GREAT LOTS FOR SALE BY OWNER. OWNER FINANCING AVAILABLE Woodpecker Way (lake) $75,000; 1258 Canadian Geese (lake) $45,000; 5505 Red Fox Drive $80,000; 2213 Cherokee Trail $25,000; 5023 Chipmunk Circle $32,000; 5196 Deer Run Ridge $29,000. All reasonable offers considered. Call Jacqueline BEAUTIFUL LOT FOR SALE: MOTIVATED SELLER. 709 Cherokee Trail, Lot Beautiful long-range and wooded views. 1.1 acre lot, fantastic location. Price reduced to $25,000. All reasonable offers considered. Please call owner: or SUPPORT GROUPS SUPPORT GROUPS AT HOME RECOVERING FROM SURGERY? Let us bring you a meal. Call the Wellness Collaborative at , or meals@bcwell.org. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WOMEN meets every Wednesday, noon, Holy Family Episcopal Church, Pete s Porch, 204 Griffith Road. Closed discussion. Information, or ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS meets every Saturday, 9 a.m., Broyles Center at Big Canoe Chapel, downstairs, rear outside entrance. Information: , FREE PREGNANCY TESTS. North Georgia Pregnancy Center Open Monday & Wednesday 12:30-5 p.m East Church Street. Appointments and walk-ins. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED VOLUNTEERS NEEDED BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS. You can make a difference in the life of a child! Contact volunteer@bgcng.org / CLUB (2582). HABITAT FOR HUMANITY - PICKENS COUNTY seeking volunteers. Many skill needs. Current priorities are volunteer relations, jobsite management. Contact Monique Vinelli: / pickenshfh@gmail.com / org. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for Good Samaritan Health and Wellness Center. Medical experience not required. Please call our volunteer office, , or volunteer@goodsamhwc.org. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. Do you have 4 hours to give to help others? Contact Judith Persing, , regarding volunteering at Pickens Community Thrift Store. Banner Advertising on Smoke Signals Online n Online banner ads will be set up to link directly to your choice of Website, Facebook page, or a Business Directory subscription listing on n Rates are per month. The Smoke Signals payment policy is published on bigcanoenews.com. n $50 art charge is assessed for ads which a Smoke Signals graphic designer creates or changes at your request. n Specific web page position requests may be made and will be accommodated if space available. Increase Your Reach... Increase Your Sales! PLACEMENT, SIZES & RATES HOME PAGE FOLD (360X280PIXELS) $ FOOTER (565X70P) $ STANDARD SIDE (180X150P) $ NAVIGATION (234X60P) $85.00 See for additional details on size and placement. Contact sales@bigcanoenews.com or for more information or to place an ad on

8 24 C SMOKE SIGNALS SMOKE SIGNALS SPORTS LIVING & OUTDOORS JANUARY 2017 THE NUMBERS ADD UP TO CHARLES VECCHIO! 100,000 $50,000,000 The number of appraisals Charles Vecchio completed as a certified residential/review appraiser over his 22 years in the business. Who better to accurately price your property? Total value of real estate sold and closed over the past eight years inside the gates of Big Canoe. Charles Vecchio is devoted to selling his own listings with an average annual 80% closure rate. 1st or 2nd 30 years Charles Vecchio, as an associate broker for Big Canoe Realty over the past eight years, has placed either first or second as Big Canoe s top producing resale agent. Amount of full time experience Charlie has in the real estate business including the last eight years at Big Canoe Realty. He knows the local market and he knows his business. Buying or Selling - Charlie is the logical choice for Big Canoe real estate. January s Featured Properties NEW LISTING/PRIVATE/AUDUBON/ BACKS TO RUSHING STREAM/GAR/3 NEW WATERFRONT LISTING/TOTAL REMODEL/MOUNT & LAKE VIEWS JUST REDUCED/ MINT CONDITION, BEST PRICED HOME IN WILDCAT NEW LISTING/INCREDIBLE VIEWS, LIKE NEW/RUSTIC ELEGANCE/HIGH END FINISH 191 Sconti Knoll Dr, 4 BR/4.5BA $599, Thrush Turn, 4 BR/3 BA $579, Bear Creek Drive, 4BR ALT/4BA $439, Falcon Heights 5BR/4 Full/3 Half BA, $1,399,900 JUST REDUCED/LONG RANGE VIEWS, 2 B/R S ON MAIN/3 CAR GARAGE JUST REDUCED/2 AC ESTATE LOT PRIVATE SETTING/CLOSE TO GATE JUST REDUCED/2 BR S ON MAIN, PRIVATE SETTING/WATER FEATURE 2 B/R S ON MAIN/OPEN FLOORPLAN, LONG RANGE MOUNTAIN VIEWS UNDER CONTRACT 132 S. Sanderlin Mtn Dr, 5 BR/3.5 BA $550, Redbud Pass, 5 BR/5.5 BA $529, Willow Drive, 4 BR/4 BA $519, Deer Run Ridge, 4 BR/4 BA $498,000 NEW LISTING / RUSTIC ELEGANCE, WILDCAT NBH / MOUNTAIN VIEWS NEW LISTING / WELL APPOINTED, LONG RANGE MOUNTAIN VIEWS JUST REDUCED - NEW KITCHEN & BATHS - LONG RANGE VIEWS LONG RANGE NE VIEWS, LARGE ROOMS WITH GREAT POTENTIAL 123 Blue Sage Drive, 5 BR/4 ½ BA, $679,900 NEW LISTING - OPEN FLOORPLAN/TRANQUIL SETTING 503 E. Summit Drive, 5 BR/3 Full/3 Half BA, $789,000 JUST REDUCED/LONG RANGE VIEWS, TOTALLY RENOVATED, LIKE NEW 1296 Deer Run Ridge, 3 BR/3.5 BA $379,900 NEW LISTING/ MOUNTAIN VIEWS/ OPEN FLOORPLAN/ 2 SCR PORCHES 312 N. Sanderlin Mountain Drive 4 BR/3 Full & 2 Half Baths, $439,900 JUST REDUCED/3BR s ON MAIN UPDATED RUSTIC LOG CABIN UNDER CONTRACT 458 Wake Robin Drive, 4 BR/2.5 BA $339, Sunuwa Way, 4 BR/3.5 BA Gar/2 $349, Valley View Dr., 4 BR+/3.5 BA $274, Soaring Hawk Cir, 3 BR/2 BA $229,000 NEW LISTING/ RENTAL INCOME POT/ GOLF/MTN VIEWS/ NEWLY PAINTED JUST REDUCED/RUSHING STREAM, WIDE PLANK FLOORS/PRIVATE SETTING JUST REDUCED, MOUNTAIN VIEWS, CHOCTAW VILLAGE, BACKS TO TRAILS. NEWLY RENOVATED/OPEN FLOORPLAN, FURNITURE AVAILABLE/CLOSE TO TRAILS UNDER CONTRACT 30 Chestnut Knoll Point 4 BR/3.5 BA, $264, Quail Cove Drive, 3 BR-3 BA $240, Choctaw Ridge Circle 4 BR/3.5 BA, $389, Woodland Trace, 3 BR/2.5 BA $250,000 UPDATED KITCHEN & BATHS, PRIVATE SETTING/SEASONAL VIEWS UPDATED RUSTIC CABIN, CENTRAL LOCATION, 2 SCREEN PCH S, FURN D JUST REDUCED/SEASONAL VIEWS CHARMING COTTAGE/OPEN FLOORPLAN JUST REDUCED, SEASONAL VIEWS, FRANKLIN LLOYD WRIGHT DESIGN 1150 Woodland Trace, 4 BR/2.5 BA $229, Buckskull Pt, 2 BR+Loft/2 BA $184, Mountain Mint, 2BR+Loft/2BA $214, Valley View Dr., 3 BR/2 BA $169,900 Charles Vecchio Associate Broker , off , cell charles.vecchio@bigcanoe.com Website: