Grants and Apple Festival preparations in financial approvals

Featured Stories, News
Financial

EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – Several financial approvals came from the Board of Education this week with letters for grants, memorandums, bonds, and the Financial Report for the month.

With October weeks away, the board approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Gilmer Chamber utilizing its buses again this year. With an increase in the hourly rate for drivers of the buses, the $56,000 agreement was approved during their regular meeting. The largest event of the year in Gilmer County, the buses typically run between several locations including the downtown area for Apple Arts, the joining event for the Apple Festival, the school’s parking lot for visitors to the festival, and the festival grounds themselves.

The board moved on to grant applications for the College and Career Academy at the Larry Walker Education Center. In support of a $3 million grant for the College and Career Academy, a requirement came up to include a Letter of Support from the Board of Education. The board recently approved the transferring of instructional units in July to bring it into state compliance with  the transfer and phase out of buildings in order to put the state credit earnings in there proper place.

The 2022 bond bus approval and September’s monthly financial report rounded out the meeting’s financial approvals alongside purchasing policy information including additional weights for GHS. Board member Joe Pflueger asked about the purchase after the board spent $40,000 in June on new weights for the high school. The purchase came for replacing broken weights as well as 3 additional weight stations due to high volume of students using and waiting on the original stations. With the three additional stations, nine total are now in use at the high school.

Purchases also include $12,000 in inspections for the school system as the board looks to recover from a recent lightning strike that damaged the main administration building and shining a light on a need for an additional or replacement to generators in the system.

 

Apple Festival first weekend sets records for vendors

Community, News
Apple Festival

ELLIJAY, Ga. – Looking at record setting festivals like 2016, a single weekend reaching about 26,000 people visiting the Apple Festival, according to the Gilmer Chamber,  may not seem like a record setting weekend. But the record comes from spending according to vendor reports that Chamber President and CEO Jennifer Grimmer shared with FYN.

Friday saw the Apple Festival Parade kick off the grand return to the annual event with its Golden Year theme to celebrate this being the 50th Annual Georgia Apple Festival. A somewhat shorter parade than usual was held in downtown Ellijay, at 6:00 p.m., as the parade followed its usual path up River Street, around the square, and down North Main Street. However, Grimmer said the quality of many of the floats have hit a high point this year, making the decisions for awards even harder.

Apple Festival

First place winners in the parade floats, the Girl Scouts of America.

Those winners included the Girl Scouts in First Place, Artful Provisions in Second Place, and the Gilmer Animal Shelter in Third Place.

Grimmer also said that the Chamber may look to changing the day and time of the parade again next year, but will be looking for input from citizens and vendors on what day and time they feel would be better.

The festival commenced the day after the parade as vendors opened up to a very foggy morning on Saturday to officially open the gate for the return to festival days.

With many other surrounding county’s festivals like the Marble Festival in Pickens County cancelled again this year, thoughts were that attendance could increase this year. But within the first two days of the festival, the Chambers records report roughly 26,000 attendees came through the festivals fairgrounds. While many of these also visited downtown, many more attend the festival’s extension and secondary location called Apple Arts. With no gate or counter, there isn’t an estimate for how many attended Apple Arts that did not attend the festival on the fairgrounds. Grimmer noted that the Chamber is happy with the 26,000 attendees. Though it is not a record setting attendance weekend.

“We had an absolutely amazing weekend,” said Grimmer as she shared the attendance numbers. She explained her excitement as she also shared a report from the festival vendors. Many vendors reported sales not only increased over recent years, but exploded into unforeseen numbers. Many vendors sold out of their entire stock of merchandise in just two days or less. What they brought with them to last for two weekends did not even survive two days of this year’s festival.

Apple Festival

Officially kicking off the 50th Annual Apple Festival, the Apple Festival Parade took place on Friday, October 8, 2021, at 6:00 p.m.

Even the local apple houses were feeling the demand as Grimmer reported one of the apple houses had to go mid-day to resupply and bring more apples to the fairground.

When asked, Grimmer said that yes, a few vendors said they would be unable to return next weekend because they simply don’t have or cannot get enough stock by then. Many others reported that they would be spending five days in full production mode and searching for supplies to return this Saturday to continue providing for demand. Many vendors reported this has been either their best or among their best weekends ever. The fairgrounds were not exclusive to this either as Apple Arts in Downtown shared similar stories from all of its vendors.

Grimmer surveyed as many vendors as she could to garner the response and experiences of this return to the event. Sharing the report of one vendor who has been at the festival for 20 years, Grimmer said, “He usually doesn’t make a sale until after lunch and he had people at his booth at 9:02 buying.”

Grimmer also explained how this translates to locals. In addition to sales for vendors, many of which are local artisans, local organizations and non-profits are feeling the increase with donations and things like parking lots and exposure through the festival. From the Lion’s Club to Boys and Girls Club and Boy Scouts, all are benefitting from the return of the festival. Of course the businesses are benefitting from the overflow through restaurants and local merchants. Grimmer shared a report from Misty Hollow experiencing “the third highest day ever.”

Apple Festival

Third Place in the Apple Festival Parade, the Gilmer Animal Shelter.

So much business was being done that the Chamber experienced its own issues from trying to maintain the ATMs and refilling the machines and even had a short time when they ran out of $20 bills from most of the machines.

Surveying the vast majority of the vendors, she said that not one single vendor said they were disappointed or experiencing a down time.

Grimmer said their was some overwhelming feelings, but said that thanks to the staff helping out, volunteers running smoothly, and the return of former President Paige Hutto returning as a consultant, the festival has run smoothly and addressed issues to allow the success that it has seen. She even noted and said she’s been very thankful to how the community is working together. Vendors willingness to spread out in aid of social distancing and volunteers stepping to fill needs were just some of the things. Grimmer also said she has been really thankful that a couple vendors called ahead and though they had to cancel last minute, she said she was very proud of vendors saying they could have had a positive exposure and probably shouldn’t attend.

Even the house from the movie “UP” finds its way into Ellijay for the 50th Annual Apple Festival’s parade in downtown Ellijay.

But local community is a part of the efforts, too. Some locals are still staying at home to avoid the traffic and crowds, but many have been seen at both the fairgrounds and downtown, attending the parades, signing up to volunteer, signing up for the car show, participating in the 5k, dealing with the traffic, and continuing to support the Chamber and the annual event in all of its forms and outside programs.

The Chamber isn’t sitting on the success though. Grimmer noted that most of the Chamber staff don’t have a single day off between October 4 and October 22. What may seem strange is that while most of the time is spent continuing to deal with and prepare for the second weekend, some of this time is already preparing for next year. Taking notes and sharing ideas, Grimmer said that the Chamber is already looking at things that could be better done and are looking for public input like the parade times and working alongside the school system, the county, and its people.

 

Apple Festival sets final preparations for returning celebrations

Community, News
Festival

ELLIJAY, Ga. – Whether its a time when you stock up and stay home or a time when you meet the coming crowds to tour the grounds, two weekends in October undoubtedly change the face of Gilmer County every year with the Georgia Apple Festival.

Except, that wasn’t true last year. Amid the pandemic, the Gilmer Chamber has had to cancel several festivals and events over the last two years including the Apple Blossom Festival, Taste of Ellijay, and the most popular event, the Georgia Apple Festival. Even as recent as Spring of this year, pressure from the outbreak has been felt as the Chamber cancelled the 2021 Apple Blossom Festival.

Despite its popularity and efforts to hold the event in some form adhering to restrictions, the Georgia Apple Festival was cancelled in 2020 as the Board of Directors stated, “The difficult decision was made following the guidance of the local healthcare community, after consultation with local officials, and with extensive feedback from vendors, volunteers, and local citizens.”

Festival

Preparing for next week’s event, The Lion’s Club sign at their fairgrounds is heralding the return of the 50th Georgia Apple Festival.

Chamber President and CEO Jennifer Grimmer told FYN earlier this year that the Chamber and those involved were working with former Chamber President Paige Hutto on the major event as she continues along her first year with the Chamber. In a statement in February, Grimmer said, “I am happy to confirm that we are on track for the Apple Festival” However, rising COVID numbers in positive cases over the summer months had some doubting whether the event could happen if it continued.

However, recent weeks have seen the preparations spike. And this week even saw the sign at the fairgrounds posted with the official details for the event.

Additionally, a theme has fallen on the Festival. This year is not just a return to the annual event, but a “Golden Year” theme marks the return with the 50th Georgia Apple Festival.

FYN’s current understanding is that some details of the festival could be very different this year including more space among the vendors. Those vendors have been among main concerns of the Chamber with cancellations as they have reached out for feedback and suggestions for future events and planning. Vendors that rely on festivals like this have been specifically hurt in the last two years as the Apple Festival is not the only cancellation they have suffered.

The Chamber even noted last year that they were working with some to potentially rollover certain fees to this year in efforts to help and support the vendors that make up such a large part of the festival.

The event’s return is right around the corner this year as it moves back into its usual dates on the second and third weekends of October. As this Friday is first of October, that means the event starts next weekend. The official dates are October 9, 10, 16, and 17. The festival begins at 9 a.m. every day and ends at 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 5 p.m. on Sundays.

With the return of the festival also comes the return of events all over Gilmer County including Apple Arts on the downtown square and the Apple Festival Parade, as well as other supporting events like the 5k Road Race and the annual car show. The Apple Festival Parade will be held on October 8 this year, at 6 p.m. However, the Chamber said it still needs more participants for the event.

The parade hosts the theme “The Golden Year” in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Georgia Apple Festival and prizes will be awarded to the best, most original participants according to the Chamber.

The supporting events can all be found on the Georgia Apple Festival Website including the Annual Apple Classic Auto Show on October 9 and the Apple Festival 5k Road Race at the Ellijay Elementary School on October 9 at 8 a.m. Unfortunately, the 2021 Ellijay Apple Queen Pageant will not rejoin the events this year.

Additionally, the Gilmer Chamber is still in need of volunteers to help with the operations and are asking people to contact them to volunteer.

Chamber says Taste of Ellijay will happen

Community, News
Taste of Ellijay

ELLIJAY, Ga. – An official permit has been submitted to the City of Ellijay, according to Jennifer Grimmer, President and CEO of the Gilmer Chamber, who said today that the Taste of Ellijay is happening this year.

New Chamber President and CEO, Taste of Ellijay

Jennifer Grimmer is the new Gilmer Chamber of Commerce President and CEO

The Chamber has been plagued by cancellations of their major events over the past year since the first cases and the beginnings of the COVID-19 pandemic early last year, 2020. They cancelled the Apple Blossom Festival, Taste of Ellijay, and the Apple Festival in 2020 as well as cancelling the Apple Blossom Festival again this year, 2021. Usually held in early May, the decision  had already been made over the festival, the Taste of Ellijay event, typically in late May, has now been confirmed as happening.

Grimmer has only been under the CEO mantle for two months, dealing with getting up to speed in the position while also planning and preparing the early stages of this event, she has dealt with updating the Chamber’s website, branding, signage, and even storm damage from late March on the Chamber’s roof in East Ellijay.

As reports continue of dwindling cases and issues with COVID, the news comes as a positive to many citizens who say they are happy to return to these long held annual events. Grimmer has indicated that the Chamber will be moving forward with plans to return the annual Apple Festival in October this year, as well.

In addition to the news of the Taste of Ellijay event, Grimmer announced a new challenge with the street festival. In honor of the county and its 50th Anniversary of the Apple Festival, the Chamber will be hosting a challenge amongst the restaurants participating for the “most original apple dish.” Grimmer said there was a surprise for the winner, but did not comment on what it is.

The Taste of Ellijay event is scheduled for May 27, 2021. The first return to annual events will also be the first one under the leadership of Grimmer as the new President.

Chamber cancels Apple Blossom but looks to later festivals with hope

Community, News
President, Blossom

EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – With new President/CEO Jennifer Grimmer guiding the Gilmer Chamber, an official announce came today regarding three major Chamber events in 2021, including the upcoming Apple Blossom Festival.

Through email and social media, the Chamber has officially announced the cancellation of the 2021 Apple Blossom Festival. The festival was cancelled last year in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak. This year also looks to be the cause as a statement from the Chamber said, “Out of an abundance of caution and desire to keep our public safe, the decision has been made to cancel the 2021 Georgia Apple Blossom Festival.”

BlossomThe cancellation is already drawing comments from the community in droves with many saying they understand or it is the right decision. Others question the reasoning and compared the event with other businesses and their decisions. According to Grimmer, citizens have been asking about the events this year and their status. Grimmer released a statement today in the Chamber’s email saying, “I am happy to confirm that we are on track for the Apple Festival and Taste of Ellijay! While we are disappointed that the Apple Blossom Festival will not happen in 2021, we are very excited for 2022 and already planning some new features that we believe everyone will enjoy.”

The Apple Blossom Festival’s social media is echoing the sentiment with updates on their efforts on the 2022 Georgia Apple Blossom Festival and saying the have “full intent to make next year’s Apple Blossom Festival the best one yet!”

With encouragement and hope settling in for Taste of Ellijay and the Apple Festival this year, citizens can only wait and watch for updates as the county continues navigating county, state, and federal responses to the virus. As the Chamber and events coordinators speak with vendors and make plans, FYN will update the events’ status as details become available.

Gilmer will cancel the 2020 Apple Festival

Community, News
Festival

EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – An email has gone out today with an official statement from the Georgia Apple Festival Board of Directors cancelling the October event for this year, 2020.

Confirming that they will allow vendor fees to rollover to next year’s event or offer refunds upon request, the Festival will be skipped in light of CDC Guidelines and rising numbers in Coronavirus cases. Though they do say they had considered holding the event under those guidelines, the extra costs and restrictions would be too much.

Read the Board of Directors’ full statement as follows:

It is with a heavy heart that the Georgia Apple Festival board of directors announces that the 49th annual Georgia Apple Festival Arts & Crafts show has been cancelled for October 2020. The difficult decision was made following the guidance of the local healthcare community, after consultation with local officials, and with extensive feedback from vendors, volunteers, and local citizens.

The health and well being of all concerned including our volunteers, vendors, and guests was paramount in the decision process. The board also weighed the additional costs and undertaking of trying to produce the event under the current CDC guidelines. It is our belief that the integrity and spirit of the event would suffer and not be profitable for vendors nor provide the type of experience that our guests have come to expect.

All vendors and other stakeholders will receive direct communication from the festival management in the coming days. We ask your patience and understanding as we proceed. Moving forward the board will explore various opportunities to celebrate the fall apple season and that safely enhance and promote Georgia’s apple capital.

We understand the far-reaching impact that this decision will have on the economic well being of our artists, our local businesses and community at large. The impact will also be felt by the two sponsoring agencies, the Ellijay Lions Club and the Gilmer Chamber. The Georgia Apple Festival is the largest fundraiser for both entities and the loss of revenue will be felt deeply by both in their effort to meet the charitable needs of the community supported by the Ellijay Lions Club and the needs of the Gilmer County business community supported by the Gilmer Chamber.

It is our deepest desire that the current health crisis facing our county, state, nation and world will be behind us and that you will make plans to join us October 2021 as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary Georgia Apple Festival.

Annual Apple Classic Auto Show

Community

EAST, ELLIJAY – On Saturday, October 14, the Apple Country Auto club hosted an open car show to all vehicles and bikes. With around 130 entries, the cars ranged from 1 to 94 years old.  These cars are very well maintained, with very few miles on them. Additionally, Ellijay saw high turnout at the Apple Festival Car show despite a relocation for the 2017 Festival.

I had the pleasure of interviewing two of the winners about their cars. Each of them was pleased to walk away with a trophy and had a different story to tell. The people that enter cars into any car show put a lot of time, money, and effort into trying their best to have the best car of their kind.

The first participant spoke with was showing his ‘72 Chevrolet C10. He has been attending car shows for 20 years. He chose this truck because “Chevrolet is all they make” and he likes that it has a sleek design, along with driving and riding really smoothly.

The other winner I spoke with was showing his 1923 Studebaker Touring.  His wife inherited this car from her father, and he found it in a broke down barn in Virginia. The car is 95 years old, and it has not been restored, parts have only  been repaired and maintained to keep the car running. When asked to take a picture of him with his car he replied, “if anyone with an old car tells you, that you can’t take their picture with there car, you need to ask them why they even have it. Us car people are very proud of what we do, these cars are our pride and joy.”

 

 

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Gates Close on Record Setting Apple Festival

Community

As we arrive in late October, Gilmer is feeling the aftermath of the ever popular Apple Festival held over our last two weekends.

dscn5464The annual event often brings in much of Gilmer County’s tourism and is widely held to be among the largest events in North Georgia. This year however brought in a few more visitors than expected along with local people visiting the fairgrounds. In fact, the first day of the festival, Saturday October 8, ended as the second largest Apple Festival day in its history according to Gilmer Chamber Director Paige Green.

Though the crowds and traffic poured into Ellijay to visit the festival, the Gilmer Chamber was a part of the coordination efforts along with the Gilmer County Charter School Systems, several members of local law enforcement and medical services, and even volunteers from local Boy Scout Troops to help with both foot traffic and vehicle traffic to maintain the status as Investigator Greg Arp said, “It’s gone very smoothly this year.”

It wasn’t just the first weekend, however, as the Apple Festival overall attracted over 60,000 people through both weekends. According to Green, this festival also boasted the largest gate admission since the 2010 Apple Festival.

dscn5471With 267 booths just at the fairgrounds, the Festival utilized twelve school buses contracted the the Board of Education to further facilitate access to Ellijay’s square for more vendors and our own local shops downtown and back to the Festival grounds for one of the roughly twenty entertainment acts held on the stage over the two weekends.

Green also repeated Investigator Arp’s sentiments saying the Festival was “One of the smoothest running we’ve had.”

Over 50 ways to “Eat Your Apple” Delicious Recipes

Community, Gilmer County Chamber

Gilmer County is known as the  “Apple Capital of Georgia” and holds an annual Georgia Apple Festival.  August through November is Apple Season in Gilmer County! Enjoy our many apple houses, where you can pick your own apples.

1pic In October visit the Georgia Apple Festival and Apple Arts on the Square.  FYNTV.com will be broadcasting LIVE from the Georgia Apple Festival!

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Please enjoy a variety of ways to “Eat Your Apple”  Recipe links can be found underneath the slideshow.  Enjoy!

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Click on the links for the recipe!

Brown Butter Apple Tart Recipe,   Apple Rhubarb Crumble Recipe,   Baked Vanilla Bourbon Applesauce Recipe,

Flatbread with Castelfranco, Burrata, Apples, and Olives Recipe,  Crown Roast of Pork with Lady Apples and Shallots Recipe,

Apple Salad with Toasted Mustard Seeds and Herbs Recipe,  Apple Caramels Recipe,  Hard Cider Spritz Recipe,  Apple-Almond Turnover Recipe,

Whole Wheat–Apple Crisp Recipe,  Chicory-Apple Salad with Brown Butter Dressing Recipe,   D.I.Y. Apple Mille-Feuille Recipe,

Dale Talde’s Mickey D’s–Style Fried Apple Pies Recipe,  Savory Porridge with Pickled Radicchio and Roasted Apples Recipe,

Apple and Peach Compote Recipe,  Apple–Brown Sugar Pie Recipe,  Apple-Fennel Chicken Salad Recipe,  Apple Raspberry Crumb Bars Recipe,

Apple and Fontina Grilled Cheese Recipe,  Vanilla Bean Tarte Tatin Recipe,  Salted-Butter Apple Galette with Maple Whipped Cream Recipe,

Crunchy Turnip, Apple, and Brussels Sprout Slaw Recipe,  Arugula, Apple, and Parsnip with Buttermilk Dressing Recipe,

Shaved Kohlrabi with Apple and Hazelnuts RecipeCrispy Apple-Oat Fritters Recipe,   Roasted Cabbage and Apples with Italian Sausage Recipe,

Pan-Seared Sausage with Lady Apples and Watercress Recipe,  Apple Pie with Spiced Apple-Caramel Sauce Recipe,  Green Apple Sangria Recipe

Cornbread with Caramelized Apples and Onions Recipe,  Grilled Flatbreads with Apples, Bacon, and Onion RecipeApple Dutch Baby Recipe,

Apple Croustades with Brown Sugar–Bourbon Ice Cream RecipeKohlrabi and Apple Salad with Caraway Recipe,  Cabbage and Apple Salad Recipe

Scallops with Apple Pan Sauce Recipe,  Apple Salad with Walnuts and Lime Recipe,  Chaussons aux Pommes (French Apple Turnovers) Recipe,

Apple-Molasses Upside-Down Cake RecipePork Shoulder Braised with Apples RecipeColeslaw with Apple and Yogurt Dressing Recipe,

Radicchio and Apple Salad with Parmesan Crisps RecipeGâteau Breton aux Pommes RecipeApple, Goat Cheese, and Honey Tartlets Recipe,

Classic Double-Crust Apple Pie Recipe,  Country Apple Tart with Spiced Brown Butter Recipe,  Apple and Pomegranate Tarte Tatin Recipe,

Cranberry-Ribbon Apple Pie Recipe,  Apple Galette Recipe,  Five-Spice Apple Pie Recipe,  Apple Pie with Cheddar Crust Recipe

 

Recipes Courtesy of

bon appétit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall Plans Set for October in BOE

News
closings

Requirements have been met and the Gilmer County Board of Education has approved submission of their application to be recognized as an Exemplary Board by the GSBA (Georgia School Boards Association). Recognition involves extensive training and involvement by the Board to better it’s community including incorporation of at least fifteen of the Georgia Vision Project‘s recommendations into it’s Strategic Plan.

The approval for this application was made at Thursday’s, September 22, Meeting. If accepted, the Board’s recognition will happen in December according to the GSBA.

Also in their meeting, the Board has approved an increase in lunch prices for adults. The $0.50 increase will affect prices for both staff, going to $3.50 now, and visitors to the school, going to $4.50 now. According to the Director of School Nutrition, Kim McBurnett, “USDA requires adult meal prices to cover the cost of the meal and commodity food at a minimum. The current rate of $3.00 does not.” This increase will be enacted to cover this year’s government reimbursement rate of $3.24.

Also in Nutrition, the Board of Education was approved to receive a grant to begin offering an alternative breakfast in the mornings. Sometime in October, Gilmer Middle School, Clear Creek Middle School, and Gilmer High School will begin offering “Grab and Go” style breakfasts. McBurnett states, “There are a total of 26 mini grant winners nationwide and Gilmer is one of those.”

The Grant is offered by the AASA, American Association of School Administrators, which is an separate entity from the Georgia Department of Education. When asked how the new breakfast would work, McBurnett stated, “The students will pick up their breakfast and take to the classroom to eat, rather than eating in the cafeteria. The children still are required to pay as normal, if they are a paying or reduced paying student.”

October will also see a change in the annual Apple Festival. A contract has been made between the Gilmer County Charter School System and the Gilmer Chamber to utilize school buses for transportation from parking lots during the coming Apple Festival in October. This contract will not only save money as the Chamber has been utilizing outside services for the recent years, but will also keep that money in our county as the agreement will also utilize local bus drivers to run the buses. The School System is set to provide both for the Chamber’s use during the two weekends of the Festival.

As the Board of Education considered the contract during their monthly Work Session in September, Board Member James Waters suggested an option to also staff the buses with one Chamber Employee to talk about our County and other places for visitors to go see after the Festivals. These “Guides” to our county were suggested as an additional information source to support our local businesses commerce. Though the Board talked about the idea and Superintendent Dr. Shanna Wilkes said she would offer the suggestion to the Chamber, when FYN asked her about the option, she stated that such an idea would not be a part of the contract. Rather, that option would be for the Chamber to consider on their own.

For more information on this month’s meeting check out the Finance Statement, 2010 ESPLOST, and 2015 ESPLOST reports made during the meeting below.

2010-esplost 2015-esplost apple-festival-contract-1 finance-report

Elly May Visits Ellijay

Featured Stories, Festivals, Gilmer County Chamber

Ellijay welcomed Donna Douglas aka Elly May Clampett to Ellijay with a dinner at JJ’s On The River. (more…)

Red Apple Barn Prepares

Business

The quaint Red Apple Barn is busy preparing for the 41st annual Apple Festival. (more…)

Penland’s Has Double Preparations

Business

While each apple house is busy preparing for the upcoming Apple Festival, Penland’s Apple House has double the preparation with two locations on their hands. (more…)

Hillcrest Orchard Continues Preparations

Business

Since Apple Festival is just a few short days away, FYN visited with Janice Hale, owner of Hillcrest Orchard to see what they were doing to get ready for the festivities. (more…)

Reece’s Orchard Prepares

Business

Fall is, indeed, in the air, which means one things for Gilmer County’s apple farmers. Apple Festival is just around the corner and it seemed to be already affecting BJ Reece Orchards when FYN stopped by to get the scoop on their preparation for the upcoming festival. (more…)

Mack Aaron’s Apple House Gears Up for Apple Fest

Business

The apple festival is just around the corner and Bill and Gina at Mack Aaron’s Apple House are in full swing of their preparation motions. FYN managed to get them to sit down just long enough to see what they were doing to get ready. (more…)

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