Inside Helen's heritage event

HELEN-Catherine Gay Cleiman, son Cole and mother Barbara Gay represented three generations of the Helendorf Inn's premiere family at the Helen Arts and Heritage Center's Second Tuesdays "Inside Helen's Heritage" event, held August 9 upstairs at the Inn.

Arts and Heritage Council host Jeff Ash welcomed the public for an evening filled with stories about the Helendorf, from the early days in a brand new Alpine Bavarian village up to present day.

Ms. Cleiman gave an account of the Helendorf that began in the early 1970s when her parents, Dick and Barbara, took over the running of the Inn. The entire Gay family worked hard over the years to put Helen and the Inn on the map. The Inn is now Helen's largest employer and can point with pride to the part it has played in the Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race, held for the thirty-eighth year last June. Barbara Gay was given special credit for running the Inn, helping with the balloon race and being a contact person for national media, a role that helped little Helen, GA get priceless coverage.

Balloonist Tarp Head surprised the group by introducing brand new son, Tarp III. He also shared ballooning exploits and expressed appreciation to the great part the Helendorf has played in the race and Helen's overall development.

Visitors were treated to light refreshments and invited to view many scrapbooks filled with news and events connected with Helen and the Helendorf Inn.