Behind the Scenes--
For the last few years, Judy Toppins, Outreach Coordinator for the Fisheries Program, has been involved in an all volunteer effort to help save the Eastern and Carolina hemlock trees of North Georgia from an encroaching, devastating infestation of the non-native hemlock woolly adelgid.
Through a group called the Lumpkin Coalition, she volunteers her time to help plan a three-day music festival, with all proceeds going to benefit labs at area universities created to propogate predatory beetles which feed exclusively on invasive adelgids.
Hemlockfest takes place the first full weekend in November each year (November 6-8, 2009), and offers great live music in a beautiful outdoor venue. The festival also includes educational seminars, arts and craft vendors, primitive camping, a child's nature play village, free canoeing, and many other activities for those who love the outdoors and want to help save the remaining hemlocks.
Visit www.hemlockfest.org for more information, and come boogie with Judy on November 6-8, to help support this cause!
Submitted by Judy Toppins, Fisheries, Atlanta, Georgia
