Georgia Magazine - March 2023 - 4

MailBOX Comments from our readers * Compiled by Jennifer J. Hewett
Georgians AT WORK By H.M. Cauley
Meet puppeteer
Dolph Amick
A
s a kid in North Carolina during the 1970s and
'80s, Dolph Amick was taken with " Sesame
Street " and " The Muppet Show, " programs that
starred creative, wacky puppets. But he didn't ever
imagine being the guy pulling the strings.
" I never thought of it as a career path, " he says.
" Even when I took a semester of puppetry in college
at [the University of North Carolina] Greensboro, I
thought it just sounded interesting. "
Fast-forward to this year, when Amick was hired
to develop new shows at the Center for Puppetry Arts
in Atlanta, the first and largest organization in the
U.S. dedicated to the art of puppet theater.
But Amick's history with the center goes back
to the late 1990s, when he moved to town and began
working there as a contract actor and puppeteer.
" The center has a lot of people who are adept
puppeteers and willing to help and teach you how to
move a puppet around, " he says. " We share information
and watch each other, and that's taught me a lot
over the years. "
But Amick isn't always manipulating puppets
behind a black screen or above or below a show's set.
" One of the great things about working here is
that sometimes I'm performing with a puppet, but
other times I might be writing music for a show or
playing guitar in a show. I might be shooting video,
taking pictures or working on sound design. The
work is challenging and varied, and I'm always
learning new [skills], " he says.
Amick also likes that being a puppet master
gives him the chance to play a range of characters-
often more than one in a show. Among his favorite
Recalling a tradition
I enjoyed your article about the puppeteer. [See
Georgians at Work, " Meet puppeteer Dolph Amick, "
Georgians at Work, " Meet puppeteer Dolph Amick, "
November 2022, page 32; bit.ly/gm1122gaw.]
One of my favorite Christmas movies is " Rudolph
Puppeteer Dolph Amick performs
the role of Yukon Cornelius (below
left) in the Center for Puppetry Arts'
production of " Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer. "
the Red-Nosed Reindeer, " so I learned something new
tonight! My mom and I would always watch this movie
every Christmas!
roles are two that he's been playing for almost 15 years: Sam the Snowman
and Yukon Cornelius in the Center for Puppetry Arts' production of
" Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. "
" I love doing 'Rudolph' even though it's a challenging show, " he says.
" It requires stamina. Some of the puppets are heavy and fairly large. The
scenes are long for a puppet show, so you're holding them [up] for long
periods of time. All the singing and voices are done live, and we do a lot of
performances. But it's a great show. It's one of the reasons I've stayed with
the center for so long: All the shows here have been really good. "
H.M. Cauley is an Atlanta-based freelance writer.
-Heather Bearden, Rockmart
" Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer " runs Nov. 9-Dec. 31 at the Center for
Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring St. N.W., Atlanta. Rudolph and his friends brave
the Abominable Snow Monster and the even more daunting fear of not fi tting
in before discovering that it's OK to be just the way they are. (404) 873-3391.
puppet.org.
32 Georgia Magazine November 2022
32_Georgians_at_Work_B_1122.indd 32
the articles about live theater, Second Wind Dreams, live Nativity re-enactments and
Waffle House. [See bit.ly/gmg1222.]
I really enjoyed reading about the history of Waffle House restaurants; its trivia,
For more information
Center for Puppetry
Arts, 1404 Spring St.
N.W., Atlanta.
(404) 873-3391.
puppet.org.
such as the language used to call out orders and the Federal Emergency Management
Agency's " Waffle
House Index " ; and
nostalgic memories,
such as the jukebox
music and the sights,
sounds and smells
that greet you there.
Thanks for proGeorgia
Celebrating
the Georgia lifestyle
®
Heavenly hellebores
page 36
Brunch recipes
page 38
MAGAZINE
viding an interesting,
informative and entertaining
magazine!
-Debbie Kitchens,
Perry
ATTN: READERS ...
'What brings you
joy?'
Share your story and photo and let us know what
Share your story and photo and let us know what
brings you joy! We will select and publish the best
essays, photos and children's art in our August 2023 issue.
The rules:
1. 200 words or fewer.
2. One entry per person per household.
3. Photos should be 300 dpi and emailed to magazine@georgiaemc.com; one photo
per email, please.
4. Children's art can be produced in pencil, crayon or paint, no larger than 10x12
inches.
5. Include your name, mailing address, phone number, email address and the name
of your electric co-op.
6. Email stories to magazine@georgiaemc.com or mail to: Reader Stories, Georgia
Magazine, P.O. Box 1707, Tucker, GA 30085. Georgia Magazine reserves the right to
edit published stories for the purposes of space and clarity. Deadline: May 1, 2023.
Share your thoughts. Email us at magazine@georgiaemc.com. Please include your name, address
and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity and space.
4 Georgia Magazine March 2023
Georgia
Georgia
Holiday
page 16
MAGAZINE
Celebrating the Georgia lifestyle
®
Celebrating the Georgia lifestyle
traditions
®
MAGAZINE
More than waffles
page 20
www.georgiamagazine.org
Wishes fulfilled
page 24
DECEMBER 2022
Lots to appreciate in December's issue
I always look forward to reading your magazine,
but the December issue was exceptional-especially
10/12/22 4:46 PM
www.georgiamagazine.org
9
From THE EDITOR
Agriculture historically has been a
driving force in shaping Georgia's
economy. According to the University of
Georgia's College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences, food and fiber
production contributed nearly
$14.7 billion to the state's economy
in 2021. In this issue, we celebrate
Georgia's No. 1 industry and its
importance to our way of life.
Agritourism combines traditional
agriculture with tourism, which is
Georgia's second-ranked economic
generator. This combination of the two
industries encourages tourists to visit
Georgia farms and agribusinesses
throughout the state.
And what better way to do that
than by exploring the Georgia Grown
Trails? Stops along these country
roads and highways offer hands-on
experiences and an up-close glimpse of
country life. Turn to " Agritourism on the
road, " starting on page 28, to learn how
these trails offer visitors of all ages the
chance to see where and how their food
is grown.
Speaking of producing food, in this
issue we also visit White Oak Pastures,
a farm in Bluffton that's dedicated to
" radically traditional farming. " The farm
has been in Will Harris III's family since
just after the Civil War. Today he raises
cattle, hogs, chickens and more using
the same methods his great-grandfather
used a century and a half ago.
Along the way he also has
embraced agritourism, offering farm
tours, classes and workshops as well as
dining and overnight lodging. Read
" White Oak Pastures, " starting on page
24, to find out how old-style agriculture
is meeting modern tourism in southwest
Georgia.
Finally, if all this talk about food is
making you hungry, be sure to check
out the recipes from Georgia farms in
" Fresh from the farm, " starting on page
38, and savor our state's agricultural
bounty in your own home.
Enjoy!
Laurel George
Editor
Laurel George
CLAY WALKER
GEMC
GEMC
GEMC
CENTER FOR PUPPETRY ARTS
More than waffles
L
By Amber Lanier Nagle
auretta Hannon of Rome loves the
aroma of coffee wafting through Waffle
House in the morning. The clink of utensils
on plates, the sizzle of bacon frying and
the banter of the staff are music to her ears.
" [Waffle House] is definitely one of my
happy places, " the bestselling author says.
" Everyone is welcomed, everyone is
accepted, and it's an authentic place where
folks can be themselves. The food is made
right in front of you. They're not hiding
anything at Waffle House, and I love that. "
In the last 20 years, Hannon has visited
these iconic Georgia eateries two to four
times a week. Though the locations differ,
the same order rolls off her tongue: " order
over well, hold the yolk; hash browns,
scattered and smothered-grill the onions
first, but don't burn 'em; dark wheat toast;
and sweet tea. "
A decade ago, she edited her book " The Cracker Queen:
A Memoir of a Jagged, Joyful Life " at a Waffle House in
Mableton. The attentive waitstaff often began preparing
Hannon's order when they saw her car roll into the parking lot.
" Hands down, the best perk of being a regular is the
relationships you form with the staff and other regulars, " she
20 Georgia Magazine December 2022
20-22_Waffles_House_ALT_1222.indd 20
Above: Students at Kennesaw Mountain Nature
Preschool in Kennesaw are dressed to explore the
muddy banks of a local waterway.
11/11/22 2:57 PM
Waffl e Houses invite hungry folks to take seats at the counter
says. " On the acknowledgments page [of
my memoir], I recognized the waitresses
who supported me through [the editing
process], and they, too, were celebrated at
my book-launch events. "
She shares the story of a fun, fullthrottle
singalong as every person in the
diner belted out every syllable of Johnny
Cash's " Ring of Fire. " More than once, she
witnessed a server rush out to the parking
lot to help an elderly patron walk into the
restaurant. Another time, she watched a
cook cut up an elderly customer's order into
tiny pieces because the man had difficulty
swallowing and was no longer able to use a
knife. She's seen the staff care for the homeless,
give advice to the heartbroken and
extend kindness to the distressed.
" I've witnessed the best of humanity
under the Waffle House roof-everyday acts
Top: Writer Lauretta Hannon, right, of Rome chats with Waffl e House
District Manager Kerry Grier at the Waffl e House on U.S. Highway
441 in Rome. Above: Since its founding in 1955, Waffl e House has
expanded to nearly 2,000 restaurants around the country. The
company's yellow sign is recognized as a familiar landmark.
COURTESY WAFFLE HOUSE INC.
AMBER LANIER NAGLE
COURTESY WAFFLE HOUSE INC.

http://www.bit.ly/gm1122gaw http://www.bit.ly/gmg1222

Georgia Magazine - March 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - March 2023