Television

Looks like the rain is moving out and mild temperatures for most of the Empire State of the South this weekend. Here are a few ways you could explore Georgia:

First, we'd be remiss if we didn't remind you about the ongoing Oktoberfest festivities in Alpine Helen. For more information about events for this weekend, check out the Greater Helen Area Chamber of Commerce website. Georgia Traveler's Gerald Bryant and Phil Proctor visited the festivities of Oktoberfest in our first season. To see that segment, click here.

The folks up at Rocky City Gardens urge you to get in touch with Rock City’s German heritage at Rocktoberfest. Rock City Square will be transformed for a celebration of harvests and fall foliage. Visitors can stroll through an atmosphere of German music and food, enjoy a Bratwurst, Knackwurst or Polish Sausage along with German Sauerkraut. Specialty beer will be on tap in the Beer Garden. Work off dinner with a “chicken dance” at the polka stage. The event is free with Rock City admission: $15.95 adults/$8.95 child. You can find out more by visiting the Rock City website. To watch the Georgia Traveler segment about Rock City, which was featured in the first season, click here.


Organizers of the Okefenokee Festival in Folkston tell us 5000 to 10,000 people attend this event annually. People from Southeast Georgia and parts all around travel to the Festival to enjoy the arts, crafts, food, the parade, live entertainment, and activities. In our first season, Keely Muse visited the festival during a segment about the Okefenokee Swamp. Click here to watch that segment online! The festival is from 9AM-5PM this Saturday, October 11. For more information, check out the City of Folkston's website. Folkston is also well known for the Folkston Funnel where train watchers from across the country come to spend some time. Find out more about train watching in Folkston by watching our Georgia Traveler segment. Click here to watch that segment online!

And in the Capitol city, it's Taste of Atlanta. This 2-day outdoor food festival held in the streets of Atlantic Station on Saturday, October 11 & Sunday, October 12, 2008. The event will feature more than 70 of the city's best restaurants, live cooking demonstrations from national and local celebrity chefs and live entertainment. But just a heads up, general admission tickets are $25. There are also VIP tickets available for $75. For tickets or more information, visit the Taste of Atlanta website.

And those are just a few of this weekend's highlights. For more information, check out the new
www.exploregeorgia.org website!

Chiggers, also known as red bugs, are the teeny-tiny larvae of harvest mites. If you spend time in weedy areas, you may get these arachnids on your body, resulting in itchy bumps. Contrary to popular belief, chiggers do not burrow into your skin and die. Rather, using specialized mouthparts, they attach themselves to thin skin ~ often around ankles, the backs of knees, belt lines, and armpits. Although the chigger’s bite often goes undetected, its saliva causes much discomfort. Digestive enzymes in the saliva liquefy cells, which the chigger then sucks up. Once full, the chigger falls off and continues its life cycle towards an adult mite.

WILD Fact is a regular feature written by Linda May, a wildlife interpretive specialist with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division based at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield, Georgia.

On this episode of Georgia Traveler, its off to Georgia's beautiful southern coast. St. Simons Island is the destination city where we explore mysterious tree spirits, historic Christ Church, colonial foundations at Fort Frederica and a lighthouse that dates to 1872. David Zelski shows us how millionaires once vacationed on Jekyll Island. Discover Georgia's first British outpost at Fort King George in Darien and follow Phil Proctor as he invades Brunswick's annual Stewbilee.

GeorgiaTraveler Episode 101- Coast South (St. Simons) airs this Friday, October 10 at 9 PM, Saturday, October 11 at 7 PM and Wednesday, October 15 at 7:30 PM.

AND ON THE NEWLY LAUNCHED GPB KNOWLEDGE

On this episode of Georgia Traveler, its off to Georgia's Historic South. Macon is our destination city which we visit during the famous Cherry Blossom Festival. Gerald Bryant explores the Music and Sports Halls of Fame and finds the geographic center of Georgia, we think. David Zelski visits Fitzgerald and meets some interesting residents. Phil Proctor helps cook that old southern classic- chicken and dumplings- at the Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle. Keely Muse takes us on a tour of historic Milledgeville, and its off to Perry for the Georgia National Fair.

Georgia Traveler 106- Historic South (Macon) airs on GPB Knowledge this Saturday, October 11 at 8 PM and Sunday, October 12 at 8 AM.

For more information, check out our website at:
http://www.gpb.org/georgiatraveler/

Georgia Traveler is produced in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Check out the new Georgia Tourism website at http://www.exploregeorgia.org/

The house of Georgia's first woman mayor will become a museum. Greg Jarrell from the Secretary of State Archives says Alice Strickland served as mayor of Duluth in 1922 and 1923 and that she was the first female mayor in Georgia. The Duluth Historical Society and the family that owns the Strickland House have reached a tentative leasing agreement. The society will use a $50,000 grant from the Scott Hudgens Foundation to pay the first year's lease. Society president Judy Wilson says the organization is seeking donations to purchase the home and create a permanent welcome center. The home is owned by Strickland's granddaughter, Alice Ziegler.

(Associated Press and the Gwinnett Daily Post)

When the Savannah Symphony went bankrupt 5-years-ago, a number of other music organizations stepped in to fill its place. Some were new, like the Savannah Sinfonietta. Now, the sinfonietta has grown to a point where it believes it can shed its diminuitive name.

When conductor William Keith takes the baton on Sunday for one of Savannah's most beloved outdoor music events -- an annual picnic and symphony in Forsyth Park -- he won't be giving the downbeat for just another Picnic in the Park. It'll be the opening movement of the Savannah Orchestra. Keith says, "I guess we were trying to show that a professional orchestra could survive in Savannah."

He has led the Savannah Sinfonietta since its founding just after the former Savannnah Symphony's finance-related demise. As the name suggests, a Sinfonietta is a smaller orchestra, performing works on a smaller budget with fewer instruments. "We've always been flexible. If we have the funding and the need, we can put a hundred players on the stage. But, we kind of shape the programs based on trying to keep the size down."

Working with fewer musicians and performing in venues like churches that Keith can often get for free, the Sinfonietta has kept orchestral music alive in Savannah. Keith is one of only three staff members. "Our budget is roughly 2-hundred-60 thousand for the season, compared to over 2-million for the Savannah Symphony, 6-or-7 years ago. It's lean. It's a very lean, streamlined operation."

Over the past five-years, the Sinfonietta has grown. Now, Keith feels the organization has expanded to the point where it can rightly use a name suggesting the former Symphony's heft. Many of its musicians played in the former Symphony. They've even talked about merging with the former Symphony's chorus. The newly re-named Savannah Orchestra's Picnic in the Park begins Sunday at 5-P-M.

By Orlando Montoya of WSVH in Savannah.

Join us for a special hour of brand-new back-to-back episodes of Georgia Outdoors this Friday at 9 & 9:30 PM!


Georgia Outdoors: Fire Ecology Friday, October 3 at 9 PM Click here for a video preview

Over the course of human history our civilization has developed an important relationship with fire. From its beneficial use in cooking, warming our homes, and managing our land to its destructive capabilities; fire connects us to the natural world. On this episode we’ll look at the 2007 wildfire that consumed over 400,000 acres of forest, burned 22 homes and forced the evacuation of over 1000 people in and around the Okefenokee Swamp.

But fire isn't all bad, in fact, it's a necessary part of a healthy forest ecosystem. We'll also join forest managers as they employ a technique called prescribed burning at the Jones Ecological Research Center just south of Albany. The landowners here regularly perform prescribed burning for it's large amount of longleaf pine, a species of pine dependent on fire for it's survival. Other species have also adapted to this fire-dependent ecosystem including the red cockaded woodpecker and the gopher tortoise.

Georgia Outdoors: Ocmulgee River Watershed Friday, October 3 at 9:30 PM Click here for a video preview
From its headwaters in north Georgia, to its intersection with the Oconee River forming the mighty Altamaha River, the Ocmulgee River cuts across 241 miles of diverse terrain. Along the way, the Ocmulgee and its tributaries drain about 6,180 square miles across thirty-three Georgia counties. This is the Ocmulgee watershed.

From its more developed shores in the Macon area to stretches of pure wilderness, the Ocmulgee River is truly one of central Georgia’s hidden treasures. And the best way to experience the river is by paddle. Every year, the Georgia River Network sponsors Paddle Georgia, an event which draws hundreds of paddling enthusiasts from all skill levels to take on a river. In 2007 they chose the Ocmulgee River and we tagged along to experience the river with them.

Can you feel the crispness in the air? It's beginning to be a beautiful Fall in Georgia and the festivals continue!


The 20th Annual Oliver Hardy Festival takes place this Saturday, October 4 in Harlem, Georgia. Georgia Traveler featured the festival and Oliver Hardy Birthplace Museum in our first season. Click here for more information or to watch our segment. The festivities kick off at 9 AM- check out the details on Harlem, Georgia's website: http://harlemga.org/ohfest.htm


Down in Savannah, it's time for the running of the dachshunds- otherwise known as the annual Weiner Dawg Race! You can find out more about the event at the website of the Savannah Dachshund Club at http://savannahdachshundclub.com Organizers say it's one of the largest dachshund events in the world! If you have a weiner dog, he or she can enter the race for only $20. Registration starts at 9AM and the race is scheduled for 10 AM this Saturday, October 4.


Up in the Georgia Mountains, it's Currahee Military Weekend in Toccoa. You can find out more by visiting the Toccoa Chamber's website by clicking here. Events will be held on Friday-Sunday, October 3-5. Organizers invite you to come meet some of the paratroopers who trained at Camp Toccoa. Visit the Currahee Military Museum, walk through the actual stable, which housed the soldiers in Aldbourne, England. Enjoy many other activities, displays, & re-enactments. Georgia Traveler featured the Currahee Military Museum in our World War II special . Click here to visit our website and watch this segment.

And those are just a few of this weekend's highlights. For more information, check out the new
www.exploregeorgia.org website!

On this episode of Georgia Traveler, it’s off to Georgia’s picturesque northeast mountains. Dahlonega, site of America’s first gold rush is our destination city where we visit the Smith House restaurant and Wolf Mountain Vineyards. David Zelski explores Elberton, the Granite Capital of the World while Gerald Bryant meets Joni Mabe the Elvis Babe at her museum in Cornelia. Phil Proctor delights in the delicacies offered up at Helen during Oktoberfest.
Georgia Traveler 103- Mountains East: Dahlonega airs on GPB this Saturday, October 4 at 7 PM and next Wednesday, October 8 at 7:30 PM.

AND ON THE NEWLY LAUNCHED GPB KNOWLEDGE CHANNEL THIS WEEKEND:

On this episode of Georgia Traveler, it’s off to Georgia’s Historic South. Augusta is our destination city which we visit during the world-renowned Masters tournament. We’ll visit the boyhood home of America’s 28th President and the State Botanical Gardens in Athens. We discover the comedic duo Laurel and Hardy in Harlem while Phil Proctor finds healthy food for the soul in Augusta. David Zelski undertakes a search for Santa Claus.

Georgia Traveler 105- Historic South: Augusta airs on GPB Knowledge this Saturday, October 4 at 8 PM and Sunday, October 5 at 8 AM.

If you hear an ascending “wheep” whistled from the treetops, a Great Crested Flycatcher is nearby. As its name suggests, this large songbird is one of nature’s pest controllers. Flies are only one kind of insect this species catches. Other foods include beetles, wasps, bees, crickets, moths, and caterpillars as well as fruits and berries. Rarely, flycatchers eat hummingbirds too.

Great Crested Flycatchers breed in eastern North America but migrate towards Central and South America every fall. Typical nest sites are hardwood tree cavities near clearings, although they sometimes use bird boxes in suitable habitat. Twigs, leaves, hair, feathers, snake skins, and cellophane are common nest materials.

WILD Fact is a regular feature written by Linda May, a wildlife interpretive specialist with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division based at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield, Georgia.

In just a few weeks, Georgia’s forests will turn into a brilliant blanket of red, orange and gold, inspiring leaf peepers to pull out their cameras and lace up their hiking boots. To help track the changing leaves and plan autumn escapes Georgia State Parks will launch Leaf Watch 2008 beginning today on the Georgia State Parks website.

Whether traveling to the Blue Ridge Mountains for hiking and biking, or heading south for canoeing and camping, Leaf Watch 2008 will offer advice on where and when to find the best color at Georgia’s state parks. Visitors can read regular updates provided by park rangers, get safety tips for hiking and camping, and learn why leaves change color. Last-minute availability for campsites, cottages and lodge rooms at the state parks will be posted, in addition to a Webcam showcasing the rolling mountainside of Black Rock Mountain State Park near Dillard.
Typically, northern Georgia peaks in late October; however, color can be seen as early as September and as late as mid-November. Some parks in southern Georgia put on a pretty display during late autumn, particularly those with cypress trees and tea-colored swamps.

Checkout the new on-line water calculator! It helps you understand your unique water footprint and provides personalized tips with simple ways to conserve water. The calculator is fun and easy to use, and a great teaching tool for children.

It's our most requested show. Tune in and find out what it's all about!

Georgia Outdoors: Green Georgia Getaways
Tuesday, Sept 30, 7:30 PM

From the Georgia mountains to the coastal barrier islands, Georgia has a lot of opportunities to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. On this episode, we feature a few ways to get away from it all in an environmentally friendly way.

We start with the Coastal Plain Meander, an annual trip down the Savannah River from Augusta to Savannah by pontoon boat. Along the way, we'll learn about the ecology of this great river.

Next, we visit the Hike Inn, a mountain getaway that's accessible only by foot. Lastly, we stop by an environmentally friendly "green" hotel on Jekyll Island and explore some ways to enjoy this protected island.

In celebration of the passion for the outdoors that you share Georgia Outdoors encourages you to get out and participate in one of the many activities the GeorgiaDepartment of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division that will be held in honor of the 2008 National Hunting and Fishing Day, this Saturday, Sept. 27.

Events that will be offered in Georgia include SEVEN Outdoor Adventure Days (activities will differ at each event - but some highlights include birdhouse building, archery and air rifle shooting, trout fishing, hunting dog demonstrations, exhibits and more), kids’ fishing events, a “day at the range” and much more!

In addition to these events, a free fishing day is offered to all Georgia residents on that Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008. On this day, residents do not need a fishing license or a trout license to fish on any public waters in the state including lakes, streams, ponds and public fishing areas (PFA). In addition, residents do not need to obtain a wildlife management area (WMA) license to fish on a PFA, WMA or on Waters Creek on this day.

The U.S. Congress established National Hunting and Fishing Day 37 years ago to recognize generations of hunters and anglers for the time and money - more than a billion dollars each year - they donate to wildlife conservation programs. Conserving the state’s natural and wildlife resources is one of the most important responsibilities for this and future generations, and the conservation programs supported and financed by Georgia hunters and anglers have benefited hundreds of wildlife species, including deer, wild turkeys, bald eagles and songbirds for all Georgians to enjoy.

For more information on NHF Day in Georgia - including a complete listing of events in the state visit www.georgiawildlife.com , and then select “Get Involved.”

On this week’s episode of Georgia Traveler, it’s off to Georgia’s Historic South. Macon is our destination city which we visit during the famous Cherry Blossom Festival. Gerald Bryant explores the Music and Sports Halls of Fame and finds the geographic center of Georgia, we think. David Zelski visits Fitzgerald and meets some interesting residents. Phil Proctor helps cook that old southern classic- chicken and dumplings- at the Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle. And it’s off to Perry for the Georgia National Fair.

Georgia Traveler 106- Historic South (Macon) airs Friday, September 26 at 9:00 PM, Saturday, September 27 at 7:00 PM and Wednesday, October 1 at 7:30 PM.

For more information, check out our website at: www.gpb.org/georgiatraveler

Georgia Traveler is produced in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Check out the new Georgia Tourism website at www.exploregeorgia.org.

Attention Bicycle Enthusiasts: Saturday, September 27, 2008, will be a day of celebration for the joining of two outstanding rail-trails, Georgia’s Silver Comet Trail and Alabama’s Chief Ladiga Trail, now spanning almost 100 miles in total length. The public is invited to the celebration at the state line Gateway Park. Families are invited out to visit the trail and participate in the event-packed day, including bicycle rides, food and live entertainment. Combined, the two rail-trails will span 95.5 miles, making it the longest paved rail-trail connection in the country. For more information, check out the www.railstotrails.org website.

Right in the heart of Atlanta, you can experience the Grant Park Tour of Homes. Atlanta’s largest historic neighborhood presents 14 beautiful homes of a variety of styles from Folk Victorian to ornate Queen Anne. Tours will be conducted Saturday, September 27, 2008 from 10AM-6PM and Sunday, September 28 from 12 noon-6PM. For more information, check out the Grant Park Neighborhood Association's website at www.grantpark.org.

For the third year in a row, the city of Hiram is participating in Olde Towne Hiram Day on Saturday, September 27, 2008 from 10AM - 6PM. The event takes place in downtown Hiram where the businesses and visiting vendors will be set up to provide fun for all ages. The day starts with a 5K Run/Walk that begins at the Silver Comet Trail Hiram Trailhead. Then stay for the many craft booths and an abundance of food along with concerts, activities for children, and a car show displaying rare and classic cars and trucks. Parking and admission are free. For more information, call 770-943-3726.

The second annual Lyerly Down Home Days will be held this Saturday, September 27 at Angus McLeod Park. Just northwest of Rome, the organizers tell us that there will be entertainment, food and fun for everyone young and old. For more information, call Lyerly's City Hall at 706-895-2611.

And those are just a few of this weekend's highlights. For more information, check out the new
www.exploregeorgia.org website!

Cirque de la Symphonie brings their unique acrobatics to the symphony hall in Augusta. They join the Augusta Symphony tonight at the Bell Auditorium.

The acrobatic performances of Cirque de la Symphonie are elegant and graceful. Acrobats and aerialists fly over the heads of the audience on wires and silk ropes, while a full symphony orchestra plays stirring classical music in the background.

This “cirque” style of performing is in Alexander Strelsov’s blood. As a child in Moscow he was considered one of the top performers in the country at only 12 years old. Today he is the primary aerialist in Cirque de la Symphonie.

Strelsov says, "Imagine the guy who does the rings at the Olympic Games. On the rings you would just be staying in one place doing the tricks…..and here I have ability to move around, fly in circles, go up and down, swing."

Cirque de la Symphonie combines highly skilled performers like Strelsov with the power of a live symphony orchestra to create a unique visual and musical spectacle. To Strelsov, the experience has been the height of his career.

"You just can’t imagine having 80 people sitting behind you and all this live music going through your body into the audience. I mean, it’s such a strong adrenaline rush that you just can’t really express it. It’s a very very unforgettable feeling…that’s for sure."

Their purpose was not to be the center of attention but rather to compliment the orchestra. Bill Alan is the director of Cirque de la Symphony. He and Strelsov started the company four years ago giving concert-goers a new way to experience the symphony.

"We never had more than one or two artists out on the stage at any given time. We didn’t have laser beams going off and smoke and confetti flying everywhere. It was a much more elegant kind of a program."

Aerialists, acrobats, and strong men are among the different acts that have shared the stage with Symphonies across the country and Alan says that for audiences it’s been a winning combination.

"They’re so used to clapping they’re holding their hands up in the air the whole time. And the kids in the audience are just mesmerized. I mean, if you can imagine sitting there close to the front row and you have two strong men on stage and one of them is literally standing on top of the other one’s head, upside down doing a hand stand while Bolero is building to a crescendo in the background."

Even Alexander Stresov himself, a seasoned performer, was astonished when he caught a glimpse of the show from the audience.

"I never got a chance to be in the audience until recently. I was not doing anything in the second act so I had a chance to sneak out into the balcony and see the show live, and I was very amazed. It’s one thing to feel adrenaline running through you while you are performing on stage but another thing is to watch it from the audience. That actually gave me some chills."

But it’s the dynamic between the cirque performers and the orchestra that Strelsov says really takes things to another level.

"You get so into it that you actually start to believe that you really can fly or something!" And then Streslov laughs.

And that’s a feeling that Strelsov hopes to share with audiences….as he soars over their heads to the roaring sound of the symphony.

Cirque de la Symphonie joins the Augusta Symphony tonight at the Bell Auditorium. Tickets are available online at www.augustasymphony.org.

This story was written and produced by Noel Brown from WACG in Augusta. You can hear Noel's story as it aired on GPB Radio's news and culture show Georgia Gazette. Click here and click on the Friday, September 26th show to listen.

Native to the Southeast but stocked elsewhere, mosquitofish are also known by their genus name, Gambusia. These live bearers resemble guppies, with males and females only reaching 1½ and 2½ inches long respectively. To protect themselves from big fish, mosquitofish hide in vegetation along pond edges. In these same areas, pesky mosquitoes lay eggs that hatch out into tiny, worm-like larvae. Surviving larvae turn into flying mosquitoes, but most get gobbled up before reaching adulthood. True to its name, one mosquitofish eats hundreds of larvae each day. A decrease in mosquito numbers means fewer itchy bites and fewer West Nile Virus cases.

WILD Fact is a new regular feature written by Linda May, a wildlife interpretive specialist with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division based at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield, Georgia.

The longest continually-running ballet company in the country is getting its live orchestra back. The Atlanta Ballet has had recorded music for the last two years to save money. Three trustees have donated a $200,000 gift to pay for the orchestra, and $50,000 to sponsor a conductor. The Atlanta Ballet was founded in 1929. Its season opens Oct. 23 with Swan Lake.

Georgia Outdoors: Green Georgia Getaways
Saturday, September 27, 2008 - 9:30pm
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - 7:30pm

From the Georgia mountains to the coastal barrier islands, Georgia has a lot of opportunities to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. On this episode, we feature a few ways to get away from it all in an environmentally friendly way.

We start with the Coastal Plain Meander, an annual trip down the Savannah River from Augusta to Savannah by pontoon boat. Along the way, we'll learn about the ecology of this great river.

Next, we visit the Hike Inn, a mountain getaway that's accessible only by foot. Finally, we stop by an environmentally friendly "green" hotel on Jekyll Island and explore some ways to enjoy this protected island.

Visit this website to learn more about the places we visited in this episode.

Opportunity for Georgia Opera and Film Fans

Georgians who love opera and and film technology (and there is a good chance those are two different groups) can find common ground when The Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD returns this fall with eleven live, high-definition transmissions scheduled for world wide distribution during the 2008-2009 season. The season opens on Monday, September 22. The Met Opera website provides the season schedule and a synopsis of the operas along with the list of participating theaters. The Met in High Definition is an exciting musical experiment that merges live performance with digital technology in a project that combines the best resources of one of America's finest cultural institutions with new media.

Sarah Zaslaw

GPB's Opera Chat
GPB Radio will air a new program, Opera Chat, around the time of the monthly opera broadcasts. Opera Chat features Midday Music Host Sarah Zaslaw, and Georgia Music Educators Choral Chair Renée Wilson-Wicker in conversation about the history, music and singers of the featured opera. After attending The Metropolitan Opera's HD simulacast of Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel in 2007-2008 season, Ms. Wilson-Wicker reports that the experience in HD is "the next best thing to being at Lincoln Center and seeing it live!"

More Opera Information
The New Georgia Encyclopedia is an excellent source of information on Opera in Georgia. Did you know that The Metropolitan Opera collaborated with the Atlanta Music Club to produce Opera Week in Atlanta from 1916-1986? The Kimball Opera House was the home of the Georgia State Legislature from 1869-1889, and the historic Springer Opera House in Columbus is the State Theater of Georgia. Georgians Mattiwilda Dobbs and Jessye Norman became international starts in the opera world.


Opera on State of the ArtsAnother must see resource is GPB's own State of the Arts program and website. Be sure to check out the following segments:

January, 2006 Opera 101: GSU's Harrower Summer Opera WorkshopJanuary, 2008 Leah Partridge: Rising Opera Star from Georgia











May, 2008 Atlanta Opera: Cold Sassy Tree
This episode of State of the Arts includes a segment on the Atlanta Opera's offering of Cold Sassy Tree based on the Olive Ann Burns novel by the same name. Ms. Burns was born in Banks County and developed her writing career in Georgia. Carlisle Floyd was the composer and librettist for this opera.


Click here for the Georgia Curriculum Standards for Fine Arts education.

The State of the Arts team welcomes your questions and comments. Please send your email to:
arts@gpb.org