Dan Marlow

The Lake Burton Civic Association (LBCA) hosted its Fourth Annual Wooden Boat Parade and Show on Sunday, May 28, 2023. Rabun County is known as the “Wooden Boat Capital of Georgia” due to its impressive history of wooden boat ownership dating back to the early 1900s. Although the boats are impressive, the loyal boat owners and participants make this event remarkable. 

Chase Fulbright, chairman of the wooden boat parade committee, headed this special event. Fulbright has owned his wooden boat named “Dawg Days” for eight years. He has participated in the parade all four years, this year being his first as chairman. 

“My first year as chairman was a great experience,” said Fulbright. “We have a good group of boat owners who have been a lot of fun to work with.”

Ryan and Chandler Houser have participated in the parade on Ryan’s great-grandmother’s wooden boat all four years. The boat has been on Lake Burton since 1956. Olin Houser, Ryan and Chandler’s son, has participated in the parade for three years, one being before he was born. Olin is a fifth-generation wooden boat passenger. 
Fran Rogers grew up on Lake Burton. She is the proud owner of a 21-foot utility boat crafted in 1939. Rogers has participated in the parade all four years.

Doug and Patricia Jones, LBCA members, have participated in the parade for three years in their boat “Early Times.” This boat was purchased in 1957 by Doug Jones’ great uncle, Captain Charles Lipham, USN. The wooden vessel spent 62 years on Lake Rabun before moving to Lake Burton in 2019. 

Trae Sharpe and his family participated in the parade for the first time this year in a 1946 wooden boat owned by his aunt, Susan Dickens. 

Each wooden boat has its own story, yet, they all find a home on Lake Burton. This unique tradition brings together a community of wooden boat enthusiasts, new and old, to recognize the generations of wooden boats that have coasted the waters of Lake Burton. 
 

Hi everyone! My name is Cassidy Gruber, and I am the Lake Burton Civic Association’s newest Summer Social Media Intern! I was born and raised in the small town of Reevesville, South Carolina. I am currently a junior at Clemson University majoring in Communication with an emphasis in Strategic Communication and minoring in Social Sciences. I am the Assistant Communications Manager for The Tiger Newspaper and a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America. In my free time, I enjoy reading, yoga, spending time outdoors, and attending Clemson Football games. I am very excited and grateful for the opportunity to spend my summer with you, Lake Burton!

During the fall and winter months, your dedicated LBCA Board has been actively addressing your top concern: lake safety. We’ve been working, planning, and implementing improvements to ensure a secure environment for everyone. Our commitment to your well-being stems from the valuable feedback we received through our member survey. We genuinely listened to your concerns.

Lake Safety Strides

In a significant stride towards enhancing safety, Governor Kemp signed HB121 into law on May 2, 2023. This legislation establishes a 200-foot buffer on all wake surfing and wakeboarding activities across all public lakes in Georgia. The law will go into effect on July 1, 2023. To help you understand the implications of this new law on our beloved lake, we are diligently working on an educational video and an informative map. Stay tuned for these valuable resources on our website and social media channels!

We Like to Have Fun, Too!

We are excited to announce an array of thrilling events and activities that await you at Lake Burton. Be sure to check out our LBCA website and this newsletter for more details, but here’s a sneak peek:

• Five concerts on the lake.  
• The 4th Annual Wooden Boat Parade on Sun, May 28
• LBCA Annual Member Dinner & Meeting at Camp High Harbour on Sat, July 15
• 34th Annual LBCA Golf Tournament at Waterfall–Fri, Oct 20
• LBCA Burton Bash at the new Burton Grill at LaPrades–Sat, Oct 21

Make sure to mark your calendars for these incredible LBCA-sponsored events! We also have various volunteering opportunities available, and we would love to have you “plug in” wherever you can contribute.

I look forward to seeing you on the lake!

Elizabeth Gill
President, LBCA

The Lake Burton Civic Association (LBCA) hosted a Cleanup the Lake Day on Friday, May 12, 2023. The event was a success, with 39 LBCA members and volunteers, a Rabun Search and Rescue crew, plus a Georgia Power crew helping to remove a dumpster of trash from the lake.

Georgia Power also generously provided a barge and essential equipment to aid in removing debris from the lake. In addition to their valuable resources, Georgia Power also extended their hospitality by treating all the volunteers to delicious donuts in the morning and a satisfying Chick-fil-A lunch later in the day.

The event garnered an overwhelming response from the community, showcasing the deep commitment of Lake Burton residents to maintaining the natural beauty of their beloved lake. This remarkable achievement not only revitalizes the lake’s natural splendor but also ensures the safety and well-being of the local wildlife and the recreational activities enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who participated in our Cleanup the Lake Day,” said Yolanda Adrean, LBCA Water Safety Chair. “Their enthusiasm and hard work have made a significant difference in preserving the beauty and ecological balance of Lake Burton. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Georgia Power for their remarkable support and dedication to our cause. Through collaborative efforts like these, we can continue to protect our precious natural resources for generations to come.”

The LBCA wishes to express its sincere gratitude to all the volunteers, including LBCA members, Search and Rescue, and Georgia Power representatives, for their unwavering commitment to the betterment of Lake Burton. Their collective efforts exemplify the power of community and underscore the importance of environmental stewardship.
 

A resident of Lake Burton recently donated to Save Georgia’s Hemlocks (SGH) to save the hemlocks on Billy Goat Island. However, upon investigation, it was discovered that there were no hemlocks on the island. After consulting with Georgia Power, SGH could plant hemlocks on the island using the donated funds.

On Saturday, April 29, the project came to life. Volunteers from the Lake Burton Civic Association and SGH planted fifty trees in three separate coves on the island. Special thanks to Andrew Hunt for generously donating the use of his barge and workers to transport the saplings and planting materials to the island.

Hemlocks are critically endangered species, and this project is essential for their preservation. Buz Stone, the SGH leader for this project, said, “Talking about ‘Endangered Species,’ put hemlocks near the top of the list.” Most people who live in or visit the north Georgia mountains know the impact of the hemlock woolly adelgid, an invasive species from Asia that exclusively attacks hemlocks. However, many need to be made aware that there are methods of treatment that can save hemlocks. Treating them with a chemical soil injection, which is safe for the environment when appropriately applied, protects hemlocks from invasive insects. Spring is the best time to treat hemlocks for two reasons: white egg sacks are visible, indicating an infestation, and the tree is actively pulling up soil ingredients.

Save Georgia’s Hemlocks is a 501c3 non-profit organization that works towards protecting hemlocks in Georgia. For more information, their Hemlock Help Line is 706-429-8010.

 

L-R: State Senator John F Kennedy, Kim Anderson, State Representative Victor Anderson, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, First Lady of Georgia Marty Kemp, President LRA, Connie Thompson, VP LRA,  Pat Hickey, LBCA President, Elizabeth Gill. 

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Your help is needed to keep our lake clean! The focus for the day is to retrieve any debris on the water. Lunch will be provided to the volunteers after serving, please read more to register.

Read more

Join us on Sunday, May 28, for the 4th Annual LBCA Wooden Boat Parade and Show. It’s a great opportunity to show off your wooden boat, learn about wooden boats, and meet people on the lake.

 The wooden flotilla will leave Timpson Creek around 11 am, led by the Burton One Fireboat, and end at LaPrades Marina around noon. Boats will be available for viewing from noon till 2 pm at LaPrades. 

If you recently purchased a wooden boat and want to join the parade, please get in touch with the  Parade Chair, Chase Fulbright, for more information.

See map here