C H O OS E A N D C U T YO U R OW N C H R I ST M AS T R E E HOLIDAY 2022
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From the Editor’s Desk
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y the time you read this column, we’ll have welcomed our third grandchild. Since Kathryn and Christopher Riddle, our daughter-in-law and son, chose not to do an end run around Mother Nature and find out the baby’s gender, as I write this we’re anxiously awaiting his/her digits (sex, length and weight) and to see his/her sweet face. Kathryn has mothered like a champ and it has been thrilling to watch Christopher show the traits of a kind, attentive father. Our contemporaries’ (and I acknowledge here that I have a few years on Jill) children are whipping out grandbabies like crazy and we’ve been told by all for us to get ready, that when the time is right our kids will start making babies, too. It is happening in our family to our great delight. All of our sons and their mates who have given us grandchildren appear to have settled upon parenting styles that will yield engaged, kind, intelligent grandchildren. Occasionally, we have to bite our tongues, but tongue-biting is its own side brand of smart parenting. All that to say this: The place where we live is becoming the kind of place in which I want our grandchildren to be born and reared. Fall in the South means World Series baseball, college football, burnt orange leaves, homemade sausage, bonfires and barbecue. Introduce a new baby into any of these scenarios for a whole new level of fun. My strongest and happiest childhood memories almost all revolve around events like this, especially where food was involved. If you were one of the lucky ones who got to sit on a thick, folded towel atop your parents’ manual crank homemade ice cream freezer, take a moment and put down the magazine. Close your eyes and let the memory wash over you and I promise you’ll hear laughter, bits and pieces of stories being thrown about, feel the rhythmic motion and see the rotating hairy arm attached your strong 30-something father as that batch of thick boiled custard vanilla cream was being frozen. We work pretty hard here at home to try to create an environment that fosters those ice cream freezer memorable moments. These traditions are the ones our publication loves to get hold of, so our talented stable of writers can tell the masses about these people, places and things we have in our region. Folks, we’re coming up on deep fall and then the holidays, the most perfect time of the year to make new family traditions. We have great restaurants, party planners and venues by which and in which great memories can be made if you feel you don’t have just the right place at home. The magazine you’re holding is full of great ideas for the upcoming seasons. Thanks for supporting local businesses. From our family to yours, please have a safe and happy holiday season.
Mike Venable Editor
EDITORS AND PUBLISHERS Mike Venable and Jill Tigner
mike@columbusandthevalley.com jill@columbusandthevalley.com
ADVERTISING SALES Kathleen Mitchell
kathleen@columbusandthevalley.com
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margie@columbusandthevalley.com
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GRAPHIC DESIGN Sixty Two Graphic Studio CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Brad Barnes Mike Owen Brett Buckner Scott Phillips Pat Daniel Jennifer Shrader Marquette McKnight Jill Tigner PHOTOGRAPHY Allen White Ritchie White Photography ______________________ P.O. Box 229 214A 10th Street Columbus, GA 31902 706-324-6214 • fax 706-324-6216 ______________________ COLUMBUS AND THE VALLEY MAGAZINE is published bimonthly for $18 per year by Chicken Dinner News, Inc., dba COLUMBUS AND THE VALLEY MAGAZINE, P. O. Box 229, Columbus, GA 31902. The cover and contents are fully protected and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of COLUMBUS AND THE VALLEY MAGAZINE. We are not responsible for loss of unsolicited inquiries, manuscripts, photographs, or other materials. They will not be returned unless accompanied by return postage. Editorial contributions and letters should be addressed to COLUMBUS AND THE VALLEY MAGAZINE, Post Office Box 229, Columbus, GA 31902. Copyright © 2022 by Chicken Dinner News, Inc. trading as COLUMBUS AND THE VALLEY MAGAZINE. Postmaster: Please send address corrections to: Post Office Box 229, Columbus, GA 31902.
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Columbus and the Valley
HOLIDAY 2022
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2022 VOLUME 31 | NO. 6
what’s inside... FEATURES 7 Tree Season
23 Holiday Ready
11 Home for the Holidays
31 Crush
17 Holiday Gift Guide
33 ‘This could really be something’
Choose and cut your own Christmas tree at nearby farms. Eufaula opens eight homes decked in their Christmas finest. Great suggestions for those on your list
Start now to get your home decorated—inside and out. Sassicaia, the first Super Tuscan
Retired AFLAC executive secures three design patents for 3-in-1 luggage set.
Financial planners offer advice for accomplishing your New Year’s financial resolutions.
45 Columbus Chamber of Commerce Marks 175 years Black-tie gala celebrates the milestone.
On th e
Go? Read the V Columb us a alley on Yo Everyw nd here ur M Devic obile es
DEPARTMENTS 30 The Cine Files 50 Valley Scenes 56 Dining Guide 58 Attractions 59 Calendar 60 —30—
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39 Learning to Live with Less
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Tree Season BY BRAD BARNES
CHOOSE & CUT YOUR OWN CHRISTMAS TREE AT NEARBY FARMS
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hristmas trees are a wonder to behold, whether they’re decked out with elegant ribbons, glittering tinsel or syncopated glimmers of electrical color. They warm spaces and hearts, no matter if they stretch to the top of a 10-foot ceiling or droop humbly, with only Linus’s swaddling blanket to keep it upright. But for many, their most significant effect isn’t hinged on appearance at all. “The smell—that’s the reason I love it,” said Erin Trowell, of Columbus, who’s been known to name her annual tree. “The minute you walk into the room, you know it’s Christmas.” Her love of a decorated evergreen at the holidays goes back generations. Her father always wanted a live tree, in part because his own father would fetch a tree and decorate the entire house on Christmas Eve, so that the children
would awake in a completely transformed home on Christmas Day. Trowell and her husband, Josh, are now instilling that same love in their own 2-year-old daughter. Those who are after the very freshest tree often go straight to a farm where they can choose and cut their own. A tree that fresh has a number of advantages: it will last the longest, it will have traveled the least distance before arriving in your living room, and it turns getting the tree into something special. “It’s an experience. Any time you can get out with your family, spend time together, and have memories, those are memories that you’ll never forget,” said Chuck Holland, who runs Holland’s Farm in Thomaston. “The memories you get from a big box store, I’m sorry, but I just don’t think it’s going to be the same kind of memory.”
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He’s been selling Carolina Sapphires, Leyland Cypress, Murray Cypress and a handful of other varieties of Christmas trees for 24 years. As many such tree farms shut down, largely due to farmers retiring and their progeny pursuing careers outside of agriculture, Holland has been ramping up. Typically he sells around 150 trees a year, but he’ll have around 500 available in coming years. Indeed, while there used to be several places to get a fresh tannenbaum in or near Columbus, the nearest farms are now 45-60 minutes away. Because the trip is a bit more of a challenge, it may serve to make the entire experience a little more special. You’re committing to a journey. You’re going over the river and through the woods. You’re strolling rows and rows looking for the right shape, the right shade, the fullest form. You’re taking saw in hand, cutting into the bark, releasing that so-fragrant evergreen scent and sundering your tree from the ground. Sounds like fun, right? There still are places within easy strike of the Chattahoochee Valley, and we’ve added suggestions for other things to do in those
Buddy Emfinger has been growing Christmas trees since 1975. photo by Brad Barnes
hamlets while you’re there. Farms provide handsaws for felling trees—or they’ll do it for you if need be. Plan to spend anywhere from $50 to $200, depending on a tree’s variety and size. Their open hours can change, so it’s best to call or check the farms’ Facebook pages before hitting the road.
Can be found at: Barnes & Noble Columbus Museum Dinglewood Pharmacy Durham’s Pharmacy Galleria Judy Bug Books Marriott Midtown Medical Center Gift Shop Pierce Crossing Convenience Store Piggly Wiggly River Road Pharmacy Whitewater Express 8
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Emfinger Farms 5306 SCENIC HEIGHTS ROAD • MANCHESTER • 706-846-9714
About 45 minutes away from Columbus, Emfinger Farms has many varieties of choose-and-cut trees as well as some much-sought coldhardy firs from north climes as far away as Canada. “I’ve been doing this since 1975,” Buddy Emfinger said proudly, and he and wife, Janet, are still going strong. The 15-acre farm is loaded with trees, and Janet runs a “sugar shack,” making fresh wreaths and custom decorations. They set up a pen with a baby donkey for children to check out, too. > Varieties: Virginia pine, Leyland cypress, Murray cypress, Blue
ice, pre-cut Fraser firs
> Payment: Cash, credit card, check > While you’re there: For a full day of the Great Outdoors, start
with horseback riding at FDR State Park or hike to Cascade Falls on the Pine Mountain Trail—the eastern trail head is nearby. Manchester’s charming historic downtown has some fun shops and restaurants—Emfinger recommends the 1/4pound burger at Duck’s Trolley. Train aficionados, watch one of the state’s busiest lines on a viewing platform in town.
Watson’s Christmas Tree Farm 1890 STATE ROUTE 26 WEST • ELLAVILLE • 220-942-3859
Some 50 miles from Columbus, Watson’s farm boasts free wagon rides into fields planted with trees ready to cut, and there’s a gift
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shop. They typically open their gates on Thanksgiving day but are considering opening two weeks early this year, as the pandemic has led to Christmas tree early birds. “I had to shut down early last year, but typically we have enough trees,” said owner Roger Bivins. > Varieties: Leyland cypress, Virginia pine, Murray
cypress, Carolina sapphire, precut Fraser firs
> Payment: Cash, credit card > While you’re there: Main Street Grill offers a good
meal. Shop at Find & Shine Boutiques or Ellaville Market Place. The Jimmy Carter National Historic Site is in nearby Plains. Also close are attractions in Americus and Andersonville.
Holland’s Farm 2037 JEFF DAVIS ROAD • THOMASTON • 678-977-7256
Chuck Holland said his farm, 58 miles from Columbus, typically opens Thanksgiving Day. But he’s been opening two weeks early, thanks to an increase in demand through the COVID years. Why the increased interest at his place now? “It’s a combination of things,” he said, including regional farms closing and people wanting to do more in the homes, where the pandemic induced them to spend more time. “Folks want to celebrate something that’s good because of all the bad going on,” he said.
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grab something from Big Chic or Piggie Park barbecue and eat it while taking in the vistas at nearby Sprewell Bluff State Park, where kids can skip stones into the Flint River.
Klaus’ Christmas Trees 4684 HIGHWAY 83 SOUTH • CULLODEN • 478-662-3537
“Right now we’re kind of simple. Any time the sun’s up, we’re open. We’ve got handsaws hanging on the shed, an honor box to put money in, and the phone number’s there if someone needs help cutting,” said Holland. > Varieties: Leyland cypress, Murray cypress, Carolina
sapphire and a few others
> Payment: Cash or check in an honor box > While you’re there: Check out the nearby Auchumpkee Creek
covered bridge, off U.S. 19, south of town. Pack a lunch, or
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Nathan and Joyce Klaus are wildlife biologists whose farm has included Christmas trees for the past 20 years. “We both have a green thumb, and we like doing it,” said Nathan, who says he hasn’t considered changing his surname from Klaus to Claus— yet. There’s plenty of on-farm charm, like honey fresh from the hive and chickens for kids to chase. “We tell them, ‘If you catch it you get to keep it,’ and we see the look of horror on the parents’ faces,” he said. But don’t worry, no child has succeeded yet. “We’ve got some fast chickens.” There’s a porch decked out for the season, framed by a shower of yellow leaves from Genko trees. “A lot of family photos happen spontaneously on our farm,” Nathan said. > Varieties: Leyland cypress, Murray cypress, Blue ice,
Carolina sapphire, Eastern red cedar
> Payment: Cash, check and Venmo > While you’re there: Sprewell Bluff is en route. In nearby
Forsyth, find a mill converted into boutiques, and great food ranging from the uber-casual pizza parlor Jonah’s on Johnston to an unfussy destination restaurant called Grits Cafe. Grab a craft beer from Fox City Brewing. C
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Eufaula Christmas Tour of Homes 8 HOMES ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET
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BY JILL TIGNER • PHOTOS BY ALLEN WHITE
amous for its Pilgrimage Tour of Homes each spring since 1965, Eufaula, Alabama also offers a Christmas Tour, and this year it will be a two-day affair on Saturday and Sunday, December 3 and 4. Just a short drive down Highway 431 South will take you to this quaint town that has set the bar in historic preservation.
Huge live oaks provide a shady canopy over North Eufaula Avenue, which is home to the Shorter Mansion. This house museum, where the Eufaula Heritage Association is headquartered, is command central for the preservation movement and its annual tours. She will be adorned both inside and out with her best Christmas finery. The eight stops on the 2022 Christmas Tour feature some of the finest antebellum showplaces, as well as many of the city’s more modern homes. In each case, the owners have pulled out all the stops to decorate each one in holiday finery. Open for tours will be:
Shorter Mansion 340 N. EUFAULA AVE.
Built in 1884, by Eli and Wileyna Shorter, the Shorter Mansion was extensively remodeled from 1901-1906 and is a perfect example of the grand architecture of the Old South. This house-museum is one of the most opulent HOLIDAY 2022
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mansions in Eufaula and is one of the most recognizable houses in the South. While open for daytime tours, guests may also enjoy hors d'oeuvres and wine at Christmas After Hours at Shorter Mansion from 5 - 7 p.m. on Saturday. Cost is $25 and due to limited seating, reservations are required.
Old City Jail / The Dunning Home 121 RIVERSIDE DRIVE
The Old City Jail was built in the late 1800s. Originally located downtown in the city center, it was moved to a park location sitting high on the bluff overlooking beautiful Lake Eufaula. It was re-purposed as a home in 2007, but the two original jail cells remain. Brett and Martha Dunning of Panama City Beach, Florida own the jail. Both retired from the U.S. Air Force and are presently serving in the Florida Air National Guard. They enjoy coming to Eufaula for the weekend and relaxing in their jail. The property is also available on Airbnb for visitors to enjoy.
The Reeves Home 527 ST. FRANCIS ROAD
In February 2020, Adam and Lauren Reeves bought the family home which was built on St. Francis Point in 1998 by Adam’s parents, Ben and Charlotte Reeves. The home took two years to build and is nearly 9,000 square feet, including outdoor areas and verandas. Surrounded by mossy live oak trees, the property offers commanding views of Lake Eufaula from almost any vantage point. Charlotte wanted a home similar to the antebellum residences for which Eufaula is famous, yet one that offered the 12
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amenities found in modern homes. The younger Reeves have made small changes since moving in, just recently updating the spacious, sun-lit kitchen. They said they feel honored to continue
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the tradition of opening the home to friends, family and guests. In the words of Charlotte Reeves, “A house is nothing but brick and mortar. It takes people to turn it into a home.”
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The Nida / Highland View Home 1710 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
The Highland View home was built in 1871 by Eli Sims Shorter and gifted to his daughter, Anne, who married Alexander Hamilton Leftwich. The structure is a good example of the popular asymmetrical L-shaped style often called a “rural Italian villa” in the mid-19th century. It’s called Highland View because it was on the highest piece of property in Eufaula. Janey and Terry Nida purchased the property in December of 2021 and are looking forward to welcoming guests to their historic home this Christmas.
The Peak Home 1120 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
This large white mansion is one of the crown jewels of Eufaula. A young family purchased this historic home and have
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transformed it into their own elaborate interpretation of the holidays. Of note are the special decorations that are inspired by this young family.
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The Martin Cottage
The Parham Cottage
The cozy cottage was built in 1945 and purchased and renovated by the Martins in 2021. Lou Martin grew up on Eufaula Avenue and always wanted to live downtown and be close to family. Gardening is her passion and Lou has transformed the yard into a welcoming respite. Lou calls her Christmas decorating nothing fancy, just fun and festive!
This quaint cottage, built in the early 1900s, is tucked away in a private spot in the heart of downtown Eufaula. The cottage is home to local decorator Regina Parham who loves to have visitors in her home. Come see how she’s transformed it into a holiday wonderland.
119 SHORTER STREET
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107 BULLOCK CIRCLE
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The Cato / Simpson Home
823 WEST BARBOUR STREET
Arguably the most historical home in Eufaula, the Cato home was completed in 1853 and marks the site where Alabama seceded from the union upon the firing of Fort Sumter in South Carolina. President of the Confederacy Jefferson Davis not only attended the signing event, but spent the night in the bedroom to the right of the entrance. This beautiful home decorated for the holidays is an absolute must see. Tours start at 1 p.m. and continue until 5 p.m. CST. Tickets are $40 for all homes or $5 per home, if you prefer to purchase individual tickets. Military—active duty, retired and veterans—get complimentary tours, but spouses must purchase a ticket. All tickets are available at the Shorter Mansion in advance and on the day of the Tour. Visit EufaulaPilgrimage.com or call 1.888.EUFAULA (888.383.2852) to learn more. C
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Holiday Gift Guide Gift Cards to Fountain City Coffee / The Bakeshop
A gift card from Fountain City Coffee or The Bakeshop for locally roasted coffee, loose leaf teas, freshly baked cookies, pastries and great sandwiches will for sure be a crowd pleaser. $5-$100 FOUNTAIN CITY COFFEE 1007 Broadway • FountainCityCoffee.com THE BAKESHOP 1002 Bay Ave., Booth 6 • TheBakeshopColumbus.com
Women’s Barbour Vest
Perfect for those chilly morning walks. $145 CHANCELLOR'S 1108 Broadway 706.322.8819 ChancellorsMensStore.com
The Aubry Sunglasses by Krewe
Your loved one’s eyes will be protected while she looks cool with a unique pair of shades. $285 COUNCIL WARDROBE STUDIO 1141 1st Ave. • 762.524.7342 CouncilStudio.com
Tutoring Sessions
Give the gift of academic assistance with sessions for Pre-K through grade 12 and college prep. Starting at $42/hour SYLVAN LEARNING CENTER OF COLUMBUS 5256 Armour Rd. • 706.405.2304 SylvanLearning.com
Cast Iron 20.5" Cooker
This 100-percent Americanmade cast iron kamado will be an heirloom for your family. Starting at $1,699.99 GOLDEN’S CAST IRON 600 12th Street 800.328.8379 GoldensCastIron.com
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Assortment of Frasier Fir Scented Candles
You can’t have Christmas without the scent of Frasier Fir. These candles have excellent throw that last for hours. $30 DINGLEWOOD PHARMACY 1939 Wynnton Rd. • 706.322.0616 • DinglewoodPharmacy.com 17
Cotton Field Paintings Custom Made Shirts Choose from a variety of patterns and colors to suit the taste of the man in your life. Starting at $129 FRANK ROMEO'S CLOTHING 1803 Garrard Street 706.576.6601
These one-of-a-kind pieces of art will be treasured now and passed down for generations. Starting at $175 GLORIA MANI FINE ART 1809 Garrard Street 706.662.9199 GloriaManiFineArt.com
Dumbbells & Kettlebells Dumbbells and Kettlebells are solid, durable 100-percent American-made cast iron and built to last a lifetime. A great addition to a home gym. Starting at $20 GOLDEN’S CAST IRON 600 12th Street • 800.328.8379 GoldensCastIron.com
Johnnie-O Knit Jacket
Columbus and the Valley Subscription
This jacket is sure to keep you warm on those early morning tee times. $138 CHANCELLOR'S 1108 Broadway • 706.322.8819 • ChancellorsMensStore.com
For a gift that’s always the right size and color, choose a subscription to Columbus and the Valley. Your recipient will be reminded of your thoughtfulness six times in the coming year. $18 COLUMBUS AND THE VALLEY MAGAZINE 706.324.6214 ColumbusAndTheValley.com
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Charcuterie Gift Basket
A unique way to treat meat and cheese lovers or yourself, these boxes are the perfect gift for the foodies in your life. Starting at $22 HONEY AND GOAT GRAZING COMPANY 3601 Hilton Avenue, Suite 119 HoneyandGoatGrazing.com
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LAFCO Chamomile Lavender Candle
Columbus Hand Towels
This calming candle is sure to bring relaxation during those essential self-care nights. $67 PARK PLACE INTERIORS 1817 Garrard Street 706.221.5054 ParkPlaceMidtown.com
Personalize a loved one’s home with a local tea towel. $20 DAVID BENEFIELD AT HIGHLAND HALL 1504 17th Street • 706.324.4881
Millie Hoop Earrings
These elegant earrings are the perfect accessory to any outfit. Choose between 14k gold-filled or sterling silver. Available in three sizes. Starting at $70 BENT BY COURTNEY 621 2nd Ave. Suite C • 706.992.6077 BentByCourtney.com
J. Lowery Croc Bag in Green The perfect gift for a night on the town, this gorgeous bag is great for your phone, card case, AirPods, lip balm and keys. $425 COUNCIL WARDROBE STUDIO 1141 1st Ave. • 762.524.7342 • CouncilStudio.com
Glory Haus Pumpkin Tray
This festive tray could be used as decoration or to serve up some of your favorite fall treats. $58 DINGLEWOOD PHARMACY 1939 Wynnton Rd. • 706.322.0616 DinglewoodPharmacy.com
Good Manners
Give the gift of good manners this holiday season. Buy a gift certificate to hold a spot for your child or grandchild for the 20232024 season. Classes for 5th through 12th graders. $10 & up COLUMBUS COTILLION Columbusjrcotillion@gmail.com 706.681.6174
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Natural Leaf Tabletop Tree
These handmade tabletop trees will bring some sparkle to the holiday dining table. Starting at $30 GALLERIA RIVERSIDE 1658 Rollins Way • 706.653.1950 • GalleriaRiverside.com 19
Stinson Long Sleeve Shirts
Glory Haus Base and Topper
Who doesn’t love a comfortable button down? That special gentleman will feel the part when he looks the part. Starting at $85 CHANCELLOR'S 1108 Broadway • 706.322.8819 ChancellorsMensStore.com
A festive topper is sure to bring holiday cheer to your home. Available in different styles. $35 DINGLEWOOD PHARMACY 1939 Wynnton Rd. • 706.322.0616 DinglewoodPharmacy.com
Simon Pearce Holiday Trees
These beautiful hand-blown glass decorative trees are sure to wow any recipient. Starting at $85 SCHOMBURG'S JEWELERS 1640 Rollins Way 706.327.7489 Schomburgs.com
enewton Bracelets
Big Green Egg
Mix and match these cute bracelets to match any outfit. Starting at $35 GALLERIA RIVERSIDE 1658 Rollins Way • 706.653.1950 GalleriaRiverside.com
Everything tastes better cooked in an Egg. They never rust or wear out and come with a lifetime warranty. Invest in an Egg ... one of the highest quality outdoor cookers made. Starting at $400(mini), $850 (large) THE GRILL OUTLET 3121 2nd Avenue • 706.323.5117
Casseroles for the Holidays
3-in-1 Travel Set
For the travel lover, this 3-piece stylish luggage includes a garment bag, duffle and day pack that connect into one compact carry-on for stress-free, wrinkle-free travel. $349 ALLTIMATE LUGGAGE 282.885.1463 • AlltimateLuggage.com See story on page 33. 20
Give the gift of a meal with a Wynn House casserole, dessert and melt-in-your-mouth rolls or get one for yourself. Visit the website for a list of options and dates for ordering. Starting at $8 THE WYNN HOUSE 1240 Wynnton Road • 706.323.1895 TheWynnHouse.com
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Itzy Ritzy Bespoke Activity Gym
This new gym is great for moms who need their little ones to get in some tummy time or playtime. $119 MICKAYLA'S PLACE 3151 Williams Rd. Suite A 706.221.1154 MickaylasPlaceResale.com
Gabriel & Co Bracelets Who doesn’t love something shiny under the Christmas tree? These classic bracelets can be stacked or worn individually. Starting at $875 SCHOMBURG'S JEWELERS 1640 Rollins Way • 706.327.7489 Schomburgs.com
Herend Holiday Figurines
These exquisite figurines are sure to bring Christmas joy to anyone’s home. Starting at $350 SCHOMBURG'S JEWELERS 1640 Rollins Way 706.327.7489 Schomburgs.com
Cheese Straws
You know it's Christmas when the cheese straws arrive! They’re the perfect hostess gift, stocking stuffer or get some for yourself. Starting at $7 SOUTHERN STRAWS 506 Manchester Expy., Suite A12 706.507.1531 SouthernStraws.com
Beautiful Gas Logs
Enjoy the warmth and charm of a wood fire without the hassle. Vented or vent-free, gas logs are a great alternative for your fireplace and available in many unique designs. Starting at $450 THE GRILL OUTLET 3121 2nd Avenue • 706.323.5117
Cast Syrup Kettle Fire Pits
Inspired by the syrup kettles made more than 100 years ago, these quality fire pits will host generations of fireside chats. Starting at $699.99 GOLDEN’S CAST IRON 600 12th Street • 800.328.8379 • GoldensCastIron.com HOLIDAY 2022
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Holiday Ready
BY JENNIFER SHRADER
START NOW TO GET YOUR HOME DECORATED—INSIDE AND OUT
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ctober can be a time of year when Mother Nature shows all her personalities, sometimes in the same day. Morning might dawn crisp and cool, hinting at the fall season the calendar says is at hand. By afternoon, fall might give way to spring or even summer temperatures, creating a hot Friday football gridiron and stretching out lake and pool season to the delight of children, adults and recreation businesses. Soon enough though, the leaves fall. Temperatures stay cool, if not cold. And the calendar seems to kick into overdrive, racing to check off all the holidays between October and New Year’s Day.
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Before Halloween costumes are decided, though, before pumpkins and candy even begin to glance at possible expiration dates, and definitely before Thanksgiving cooking assignments are doled out like Aunt Janet’s giblet gravy, Christmas decorations begin to hit the stores. It happens even earlier in craft chains where do it yourself projects are planned out even sooner. Before you can say “weren’t we just at the beach?” it’s time to throw on a sweater, hang a wreath on the door and of course plan and decorate the main attraction: the Christmas tree. Having the perfect holiday home can be a little overwhelming for some folks, and nearly impossible for those who are older or might be facing health issues that make it difficult. But nowadays, you don’t have to wait for relatives to come to town—and they’d probably complain and ask too many questions while they did the job anyway. There are individuals and companies now that will come to your house and
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decorate it for you, but don’t wait— appointments are booking now. Decorators can’t do anything about your family’s cheap gifts and non-traditional food choices, but they can make sure your house looks good while they’re visiting. Margaret Trunck, owner of Simplify with Margaret, has a year-round business cleaning and organizing houses around the Southeast. Fall and winter though, are her busy seasons. Her year-round staff of seven expands to a staff of about 20 carpenters, contractors, designers and organizers to fulfill nearly every holiday need. She has been cleaning, organizing and decluttering homes for about 30 years but officially went into business six years ago. Trunck is based in Columbus but will travel anywhere, she said. Many of her original cleaning and organizing clients started asking for help with the holidays and a new part of her business took off. She can help clients prepare a modern,
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crafty Christmas or go a more traditional route, depending on their budgets. She and her crew can help with everything from crystal to flocked trees. “The busy season usually starts now,” she said early in October, although appointments start being made as soon as August. October is the time designers usually meet with homeowners to decide what decorations they want, how big and bold they want to go, and if they want anything different from previous years. Trunck has the process organized well enough now that when organizers come back to take decorations down, they take pictures of where and how everything was set up to remember it for the next year. Pictures are attached to the decoration boxes. Most of the decorating happens either the week before or week after Thanksgiving. The “un-decorating” can happen as soon as Christmas is over, but often depends on the superstitions of the homeowner—some observe the 12 days of Christmas, and some want the decorations down on New Year’s Day. If the homeowner has family heirloom ornaments, Trunck and her team are careful to use methods that preserve them from year to year, including things like acid-free paper. But what if you want the house in the Hallmark Christmas movie and don’t even know where to start? David Benefield at Highland Hall, a local florist and designer, is ready to provide some inspiration. He’s been in business 47 years.
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Benefield said plans for the season started this summer, attending trade shows and ordering items that would be in demand this year. Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee this summer had a huge influence on this year’s decorations. “Since it was the jubilee, we had to do it,” he said. Benefield said the items actually arrived the week of her death. An entire room in the shop is devoted to the queen—even her beloved corgis are included. The traditional Christmas in the South theme is also usually always popular, he said. Benefield’s design and floral customers actually book him from year to year, setting standing dates. Since he offers customers a lot of fresh floral arrangements, his window for decorating is slightly smaller than Trunck’s, usually the week before Thanksgiving and a day or two after. For those who might be on a budget, Benefield recommends mixing old and new ornaments, or taking a simple wreath and having it refurbished rather than buying a whole new one. “I always tell clients, whatever you have that’s your best item, put that front and center,” he said. Benefield said you should always try and have a wreath and a tree. “A wreath is welcoming,” he said. “It’s all part of that first impression.” For more inspiration, customers are always welcome at
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“A wreath is welcoming. It’s all part of that first impression.” - David Benefield Highland Hall. Benefield also observes customers’ superstitions when taking down decorations. “It really depends on the customer,“ he said. “I had a grandmother who wanted them down the day after Christmas.“ Christmas is a time to remember that no matter what’s going on in the world, we still need to celebrate, Benefield said. “Even during COVID-19 the holidays were important because people were nesting and spending time together,“ he said. C
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BY SCOTT PHILLIPS
THE
I
returned from Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas with a souvenir case of COVID that threatened to derail my final column of the year. I did manage to see 25 films in seven days before my vaccinations wore out. Thanks to the kindness (and patience) of my editors-in-chief, I’m sliding in under the wire, and past my deadline, to deliver my year-end gift suggestions for the cinephile in your family. (I’ve always wanted to yell “STOP THE PRESSES.” Is that a thing in the digital age?) Well, here goes: Cinema Speculation by Quentin Tarantino: One of the premier filmmakers of the last 25 years will be hitting bookstore shelves with his first volume of film criticism. The popular auteur examines the key films from his childhood in the 1970s that inspired his works like Pulp Fiction and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Part memoir and part film theory study,
this is certain to be one of the film events of the year. Any cinephile would love to find a copy of Cinema Speculation under the tree on Christmas morning. I’ve already pre-ordered mine from Amazon. Criterion Collection: This line of Blu-rays and DVDs is the gold standard for home video collectors. From the beautiful restorations to the fabulous special features on each release, every Criterion disc is worthy of being added to your cinephile’s collection. Every November the entire Criterion Collection is 50 percent off at Barnes & Noble to help stretch your Christmas budget. My personal Criterion highlights for 2022 include Spike Lee’s Malcolm X and Brian DePalma’s Blow Out (on 4K UHD), Drive My Car, Devil in a Blue Dress, The Infernal Affairs Trilogy and Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project No. 4. The New York Times Book of Movies: The Essential 1000 Films to See: NYT film critics Manohla Dargis and A.O. Scott compile a mustsee history of cinema in this invaluable film book. If the movie fan in your house has grown tired of the standard multi-plex fare and finds himself or herself repeatedly “paging” through screen after screen of titles on Netflix, Hulu or HBO Max with eyes glazed over, give them this volume to help find some classics they’ve undoubtedly missed over the years. Look like an insider by including a recommendation for the Just Watch app with this gift. Your cinephile can plug in the title of any film and find out where it is currently available to stream or rent. Pure Cinema Podcast Patreon Subscription: The single best cinephile podcast out there is the Pure Cinema Podcast (PCP) hosted by Brian Saur and Elric Kane. The standard episodes are available on your podcatcher of choice at no cost, but for only $ 5 per month at Patreon.com, you can subscribe to a feed of bonus content from PCP that’s only available to Patreon contributors. Think of it like the Fruit of the Month Club for the movie lover on your shopping list. Sony Pictures Classics 30th Anniversary 4K Ultra HD Collection: You can’t officially have the Christmas season without a big extravagant film box set. This release offers an eclectic batch of titles that you might not choose individually, but they combine to form an excellently curated overview of Sony Pictures Classics releases. From Guillermo del Toro’s brilliant Spanish language ghost story The Devil’s Backbone to the highest grossing foreign film in history, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to an indie German thriller, Run Lola Run, this collection offers selections for every taste, and they’ve all been remastered in stunning 4K UHD. C Scott Phillips is a Columbus resident and member of the Atlanta Film Critics Circle. His reviews and other work can be found at mscottphillips.com
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CRUSH
BY PAT DANIEL
Sassicaia:
The First Super Tuscan
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taly is a land where wine and winemaking traditions go back centuries. Because of these traditions, innovations in Italian wine-making came slowly. While there are several examples of individual winemakers who decided to make wine in a nontraditional way and create delicious wines, the most famous one created an entirely new category for Italian wines. This is the story of Sassicaia, the first Super Tuscan. Throughout history, wines have often been known by the area they came from, as particular areas had a reputation for quality. Unscrupulous people began to “counterfeit” these wines by simply putting the famous area’s label on their inferior wine and selling it to buyers who didn’t realize the difference. Some kind of protection was needed that celebrated the pride of the wine being produced, while protecting it from counterfeits. In the 1960s the Italians created a classification system (the DOC/DOCG designations), similar to France’s, based not only on the area, but on the area’s grape varietals and traditional production practices. The problem with this system was many of the wines, especially in Chianti we're at that time, terrible and everyone knew it. As the decade came to a close, certain wines which could only legally be labeled as “ordinary, low-quality table wine” were commanding higher prices than the wines with all the
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labels and stamps of certification. How did this happen? The story has its beginning in 1945 when the Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, owner of the Tenuta San Guido estate, in Tuscany, was on a tour of the famous Lafite-Rothschild estate in Pauillac, Bordeaux, France. According to some accounts of the story, he snipped off some Cabernet Sauvignon vines at the estate, stuffed them into his jacket, and took them back to his estate in Bolgheri, Tuscany. He planted the Cabernet Sauvignon vines on his estate near the eastern coast of Italy, which, at the time was considered the worst possible wine growing area in Tuscany. Here, in this story, is where the “rule breaking” began. Aside from apparently taking someone’s vines without permission, the Italians had their own reasons for their winemaking traditions: their proud history and traditions, their pride in their grape varietals and certain techniques which let the fruit flavors shine through, all so that Italian wines would not taste like wine from other regions. Still, over the years, Chianti wines had become thin and overproduced, because of the “certified way it had always been made.” Therefore, if a winemaker wanted a “certification,” they were prohibited from using “international” grape varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, which are grown everywhere.
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Further, they wanted to taste pure fruit, so if Tuscan wine was aged at all, it was aged in huge barrels, made of a neutral oak. The Marquis’ wine was aged in a much smaller barrel, made of French oak, which changes the wine’s character by adding hints of vanilla and other flavors. In doing so, the Marquis produced Sassicaia, a wine that broke all the rules. Though unpolished at first, by the 1960s both the wine and the Marquis’ techniques
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were considerably refined, and Sassacaia turned out to be a stunning wine. This wine wasn’t well known, because it was only produced in small quantities, first released in 1968. A relative of the Marquis, the much more famous Piero Antinori, owner of a very old winery in Chianti Classico, helped make Sassicaia more famous by modeling his own rule breaking wine after it, Tignanello, in 1971. This created the problem of what to call these wines. These wines couldn’t legally be called anything but “Table Wine” according to the classification system. Even so, these ordinary, low-quality table wines were commanding higher prices than the wines with all the labels and stamps of certification. The wine writer, Burt Anderson, is often credited with coining the term “Super Tuscans,” and the name caught on as the wines continued to grow in popularity. The classification system remained a bureaucratic mess until it was overhauled in 1992. Today, “Super Tuscan” is a term used to describe red wines from Tuscany that include non-indigenous grapes, especially Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc. What does Sassicaia taste like? Here are the winemakers notes from its 50th vintage, 2018: “The bouquet is especially intriguing with a very lively plummy fruit element that is enhanced by baker’s chocolate, pepper spice, iron ore, caramel and pie crust.” James Suckling describes the taste as having notes of “blue fruit and blackberries following through to a beautiful finish.” The wine is 85 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 15 pecent Cabernet Franc. How does the story end? In 1992, Giovanni Goria, Italy’s Minister of Agriculture, enacted the “Goria Law,” named after him, which revamped Italy’s archaic, broken classification system. As for Sassicaia, in 1994, the system rewarded it with its own designation, DOC Bolgheri Sassicaia—the only wine estate in Italy with its own DOC. It paid to be a rule breaker. Today, there are many, many Super Tuscan wines produced at all price points. If your wine adventure has not included them, fall is the perfect time to try one of these big reds. C HOLIDAY 2022
‘There’s got to be a better way’ BY BRETT BUCKNER
RETIRED AFLAC EXECUTIVE SECURES THREE DESIGN PATENTS FOR 3-IN-1 LUGGAGE SET
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ashmi Jain Hudson’s epiphany came in the midst of an SEC football weekend. It was 2010 and Hudson, her husband and daughter traveled to Athens to visit her son, then a freshman at the University of Georgia, for Parents Weekend. The family also attended their first football game. “Those people dress up for games,” Hudson said. “There’s no such thing as casual. And here I was … supposed to walk four blocks—in heels—just to make it to the room. It wasn’t a pretty sight.” Hudson, who’d spent 22 years working for Aflac, was a professional traveler. She knew all the tricks and all the hassles. To blend in with the throng of snazzily dressed parents and students, Hudson had to lug not only a suitcase,— for lack of a proper garment bag—but carry several dresses on hangers in order to avoid nasty wrinkles.
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“That was when I sort of looked around,” Hudson said, “and realized that there’s got to be a better way to travel.” It was in the shadow of Sanford Stadium that the first seed of inspiration was planted. Some 10 years later, in November of 2020, Hudson posted on Facebook that she was selling the Alltimate 3-in-1 “soft-side” luggage set which she had invented. She received more than 900 likes/comments. At 7:30 the next morning, she made her first sale to a “sweet, dear friend.” Alltimate luggage was up and running. “God has really guided me,” Hudson said. “He’s opened doors and closed others, but I’ve been learning all the way.”
‘What do I do now?’
Hudson, who is the youngest of five children, was born in India and came to the United States when she was seven years old. Her father, Dr. Narendra Jumar Jain, came to the United States in
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1969. Having been a radiologist in India, he intended to work with cancer patients, but instead joined the Air Force. A year later, Dr. Jain’s wife, youngest son and Hudson joined him. The following year the rest of the family made the journey. Hudson charted her own professional path with Aflac. During her 22-year career, she worked in nearly every division—save for actuary—including marketing and as a corporate trainer. She retired in 2006 to spend time with her two children. “My daughter was in fifth grade at the time,” Hudson said, “and I heard all the time, ‘Mom, why aren’t you in the pick-up line with all the other mothers?’ “So, I retired … but I was only in my 40s, and my brain wasn’t about to stop working. Then it soon became … ‘ok, what do I do now’?” What Hudson did was make a hand-sewn prototype for what would eventually become the Alltimate Luggage 3-in-1 travel set. “I grew up in a traditional Indian household,” Hudson said. “I can sew. I can knit. I can crochet. I can cook. These are all the things my generation of girls all learned to do. I’ve been able to sew since I was five years old.” First, Hudson had to patten the design. Fortunately, she had a guide through the morass that is the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office—her 97-year-old father-in-law, retired Maj. Will Hudson, who worked as an engineer for Lummus Industries in Columbus. “He helped walk me through this process,” Hudson said. “There are two kinds of patents—utility and design. A design
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“GOD HAS REALLY GUIDED ME. HE’S OPENED DOORS AND CLOSED OTHERS, BUT I’VE BEEN LEARNING ALL THE WAY.”
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patent is good for two years. A utility patten is good for 20 years, but you must prove functionality and that your product is different from anything out there.” It took five years. “Shows like Shark Tank give people a warped sense of these things, like you go from having an idea to selling a million units overnight,” Hudson said. “That’s not going to be my journey. I’m going to be the slow and steady turtle, like Aflac, which wasn’t always this huge corporation. It started small and almost went under, but it persevered. “That’s me. I don’t let go. I don’t stop, and I don’t give up.” With patent in hand—she was eventually awarded three— Hudson sought a factory to manufacture her invention. “It’s not easy finding a factory in the U.S.,” Hudson said. “But I learned from all my time with Aflac that a rejection is just a reason to come back to talk. When a factory would say no, I’d come back six months later and say, ‘Can we just meet. I’d like to understand why you said no because you haven’t even seen my product.’” Hudson eventually partnered with Ridgeway Outdoors, which manufactures the luggage overseas before having it shipped back to the U.S. The luggage is warehoused at Muscogee Mills. The Alltimate 3-in-1 luggage set officially hit the market in November 2020. “Yep”, Hudson said, “God led me to launch a luggage line in the middle of a pandemic, but He knew I needed time to learn.”
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Though the years of work and worry, Hudson stayed true to her goal of creating a multifunctional luggage. The pieces are designed to pack, organize and carry items easier while keeping clothes wrinkle free. “I am a sustainable-type person,” Hudson said. “It’s how I was raised. My mother still uses Tupperware from the ‘70s. I didn’t want planned obsolesce. You’re not going to buy my product and need to buy it again in two years. “This luggage will last you for 10 years.” Specific attention was paid to the materials, construction and functionality. For example, the Comfort Straps are the same as used on car seatbelts.
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“This will last,” Hudson said. “When was the last time your seatbelt frayed?” she asked. “You can put hundreds or thousands of miles on your car but the seatbelt is fine. That’s the kind of strength, durability and reliability we wanted for our luggage.” The set is made to fit within the carry-on measurements for most commercial airlines, And, when not in use, it self-stores neatly and compactly in the day pack. With her brand up and running, Hudson can look to the future. She hopes to earn enough through Alltimate to create charitable foundations, to inspire other women to follow their own dreams of starting a business. “I want to be able to help other people,” Hudson said. “In this journey, I will learn, and I will give back. In the end, I hope my husband and I will have enough money, so we can retire and travel the world. “And we’ve already got the luggage.” The Alltimate 3-in-1 luggage set is available at alltimateluggage.com as well as locally at Chancellor’s Men’s Store and Frank Romeo’s Clothing. C
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LEARNING TO LIVE WITH LESS Local financial planners offer advice for accomplishing your New Year’s financial resolutions
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Another New Year’s Eve has come and gone. The confetti has been vacuumed up, the champagne is flat, and those nagging opening bars of Auld Lang Syne (does anyone actually know the words) stopped ringing in our ears. Now it’s time to get serious … about money. Resting alongside old favorites like exercise more, quit smoking/vaping and spend more time with the family among the litany of familiar New Year’s resolutions is “focus on my finances.”
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BY BRETT BUCKNER
The details of this oft-muttered resolution differ pending on an individual’s financial status. But whether it’s creating and sticking to a budget, putting more into savings or planning for retirement, in these uncertain times, everyone can use some general guidance. In this spirit, Columbus and the Valley sought expert advice from three local financial advisors: “People should realize that they need a plan,” said Jeff Hudson, co-founder and
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principal of Hudson Pendleton Financial Group, “and a plan is not a 90-page, bound proposal. It looks good, feels good and is very impressive, but no one ever reads them. What those are, really, is a template to work from, a game plan. “To get there, you really need a relationship with a professional advisor.” As the calendars flip to 2023, the financial forecast appears daunting, explained Brett Walker, who works in commercial and residential lending at the Kinetic Credit Union. “All indications from leading economists/financial professionals indicate that there is a recession, and things will continue to be challenging all the way through 2023, with the battle to bring down inflation continuing during that time,” he said. “The Fed [Federal Reserve] is working to slow down activity very cautiously by raising interest rates. “ But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad time to start investing, said Tyler Townsend, managing partner with Townsend Wealth Management. “Continue putting into your retirement plan,” he said. “Remind yourself that when the market goes down, it provides you with a better buying opportunity, allowing you to buy at lower prices.”
Jeff Hudson
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Tyler Townsend
Brett Walker
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The natural response when something bad is going on is to wait until it improves. No so with the financial market. “The mathematical answer,” Townsend continued, “is to buy when it's low. That's what I would say to anybody preretirement Contribute to your retirement, whether it's through your employer’s retirement plan or an IRA.” The state of the market shouldn’t be an issue. “The market itself is irrelevant to the success or failure of a plan, whether that plan is retirement or some other financial goal,” Hudson added. “The biggest thing people need to worry about is whether they’re gonna run out of money or not, and that doesn’t have anything to do with the market.” Hence the need for a plan. “A good way to start is by assessing where you are financially, meaning what you make each month and what goes out each month—the beginning stages of a budget,” Townsend said. “A good practice is to order a free credit report from all three reporting agencies—no scores are
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attached—which will allow one to review what they think they have as liabilities and what is actually being reported.” The next logical step is creating a budget, which can be intimidating. “Most people can add up their income and figure out what they're spending,” Walker said. “So, the decision becomes what do I cut back on? That's what makes it hard. Those are the real choices we have to make.” In terms of budgeting, Townsend suggests starting at a high level. Focus on your take home pay at the year end and throughout the year. Did your savings account go up or down? Did your credit card balance go up or down? Basically, did you save money, or did you spend more than you made? “We encourage people to breakdown their spending into broad categories—like housing costs including utilities, all the stuff that costs to live in your home, and put that in one bucket,” Townsend said. “Some people will say, what about my credit card bills? That'll be a bucket because they know that can include their groceries or going-out money. The stuff that they’re making decisions about right now. “After looking at things at a high level to see
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where you are, that’s when you start digging in into the details and that’s where we find a lot of expenses.” One area Townsend suggests clients focus on is subscriptions—things like Hulu, Netflix, Apple TV, newspapers, gym memberships, all these individually priced, small things quickly add up. “There’s no end to the number of those because the revenue model has become so pervasive that almost everything is a subscription,” he said. “That's low-hanging fruit. To really move the needle, you’ve gotta find the big things. Cutting out Starbucks coffee or whatever isn’t really going to make a real difference.” A budget is only as valuable as the person willing to stick to it. “Budgets are essentially fictious,” Hudson said. “You write down your bills and your income, and there’ll be a number at the bottom of the page that says, ‘You should have $2,000 left in your account in the month, right?’ Nobody ever does because there are so many unexpected things—medical bills, family needs, car problems.” “Those things are nearly impossible to plan
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“After looking at things at a high level to see where you are, that’s when you start digging in into the details and that’s where we find a lot of expenses.” - Tyler Townsend
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for because they’re unexpected.” One of, if not the, biggest hurdle getting in the way of financial success is credit card debt, specifically which one to focus on first when making payments—is it the card with the highest balance, the lowest balance or the highest interest rate. “The reason you hear two different answers is because there’s two different motivations,” Townsend said. “There's a mathematical/financial answer—and that's to pay the highest interest rate first because that'll give you the best financial response, right? “Then there's the psychological, which is to pay the lowest one first, because you see yourself removing a whole line item of debt and that feels like a win.” Which is the better option depends on the individual A borrower with good payment discipline benefits from focusing on the card with the highest interest rate because their total payments will be the lowest. However, if the highest interest rate also has high balance, it can be harder to see progress and the borrower could become discouraged. If the borrower becomes too discouraged, they may not continue making the payments. For this type of borrower, paying the lowest balance first, regardless of interest rate, can have a psychological benefit and may keep the borrower engaged in making payments after they see this early success. “Honest introspection can be helpful when selecting the approach,” Townsend said. “If you know you will routinely make the payments with confidence, then pay the highest interest rate first. If you are the type of person that needs to see tangible progress early in the process, then pay the smallest balance off first.” That’s why Hudson suggests finding a qualified, empathetic financial planner. “People are too busy normally to handle all the planning they need to look at—income tax savings, estate planning, making sure your wills are drawn up correctly, life insurance,” he said. “It’s all about having a plan—two or three pages of an action checklist and having
someone hold you accountable. “It goes beyond money. It's about what you’re doing for your family and your community. It’s about teaching your children about money, how to save and how to look to the future.” When it comes to retirement planning, one of the smartest and safest options is investing in a 401K. “I love those because it’s a great way of saving,” Hudson said. “It’s like breathing. It just happens automatically, and you don’t really have to think about it because it comes out of your paycheck, and it’s never really missed. It’s the quickest way to accumulate wealth because it’s free money with 100 percent return on your investment.” Hudson also suggests spreading money around. “You also want after-tax accounts so that all your money coming out of retirement isn’t taxable,” Hudson said. “You want tax diversification, keeping your money in different account to allows for different tax strategies.” C
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Chamber Marks 175 Years with Gala Black Tie Gala Celebrates the Milestone BY JILL TIGNER
This pho to way it lo of the downtow oked in th n e early d Columbus stree ays of th ts e Columb cape is the us Cham ber.
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Columbus was founded in 1828 as a trading town on the banks of the Chattahoochee and it grew quickly. So quickly, in fact, that in less than 20 years it was clear that a board of trade was needed to not only advocate on behalf of the established business community’s best interest, but to also foster an economic environment that would welcome new businesses to the area. So in 1847, the Columbus Board of Trade was formed. It was the precursor of the present-day Greater Columbus GA Chamber of Commerce. Fast forward 175 years and the Chamber is planning to mark this anniversary with a gala on December 2. “Since its founding, the Chamber has been involved in almost every major project, event or economic development in this region,” said Chamber President and CEO Jerald Mitchell. “Certainly, one of the most pivotal projects was the development of Fort Benning— soon to become Fort Moore. This development continues to have a huge and very positive effect on our entire region, creating a partnership that is incredibly strong on both sides. “As much as we are looking at our past 175 years— and celebrating those successes, we're very focused on what's ahead. Bringing new industries to Columbus is fiercely competitive‚ but we are confident that our excellent partnerships create a great foundation. We are working on several fronts, from targeting specific industries that we can easily support in our region and supporting vibrant, connected ion on 6th Ave. Passenger Stat amber since neighborhoods, to expanding our transportation ion Un old e Th e Columbus Ch was home to th 0s until its move into the options and supporting new commercial districts -‘9 ar. the mid building this ye in distressed communities. We are also looking at historic YMCA a bigger presence and investment from Georgia based-companies that are headquartered outside of Columbus.” The black-tie event will be held at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center and will offer dinner, awards presentations including Small Business of the Year, followed by dancing to the DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) Band—a group of talented musicians who are also local physicians. Early bird tickets are priced at $125 and are available at ColumbusGaChamber.com. “The entire region has great potential for further success so that everyone has a chance to prosper,” said Mitchell. “Commemorating the last 175 years and looking forward to those future opportunities gives us a good reason to celebrate at the Gala. I hope the community will join us!” C Columbus and the Valley
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Valley Scenes
Columbus and the Valley will publish as many photos as quality and space permit. Black and white or color photos may be used. Please identify all subjects with a brief description of the event and the date. Mail them to: CVM, P.O. Box 229, Columbus, GA 31902. Email them to: ContactUs@ColumbusAndTheValley.com, Columbus and the Valley assumes no responsibility for care and return of photographs submitted.
Much Ado About Something...
BY MARQUETTE MCRAE MCKNIGHT
On the Greater Columbus GA Chamber of Commerce InterCity Leadership Conference in Asheville, North Carolina: (L) Crystal Shahid, Rob Landers and Toyia Tucker; Meri Sherman, Rhonda Eysel and Mellanie Vinyard; (below) Robert Watkins, Skip Henderson and David Hawkins.
Asheville, We Didn't Have Enough Time!
Twenty-seven years of InterCity Leadership Conferences (ICLC) by the Greater Columbus, GA Chamber of Commerce led the group to Asheville, North Carolina in September—and the hipster city did not disappoint! Led by ICLC Chair Ben Moser, United Way’s CEO, the group of about 90-plus community leaders from the region got some keen insight into how Asheville became one of the hottest destinations in North America. Long-known for its proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains and home to Biltmore Estates, the city has become even more famous for its restaurant scene, an awesome and huge arts district, as well as cool craft beer distilleries both large and small. Yes, we did some sampling, but mostly we talked with Asheville leaders, learning about their progress and observing how they got where they are—a most remarkable topic for attendees including Chamber Chair Rodney Close, Pace Halter, Tyson Begly, Brenda Coley, David Lewis, Scott Allen, Sean Knox, Stuart Webb, Julio Portillo, Charlotte 50
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Quirk, Haley Ramey, Tyler Townsend, Bill Tustin, Libba Dillon, Pam Romero, Wes Kelley, Rob Landers, Ty Webb, Erica Walker, Mike Welch, Belva Dorsey, Payton Linder, Greg Ellington, Henry Gross, Ralph King, Kimberly McElveen, Kaitlin Moore, Derrick Mann, Dionne Rosser-Mims, Crystal Shahid and Deron Hicks, as well as Chamber folks Jerald Mitchell, Joe Sanders, Ashley Becker and Brian Sillitto. Unrelated to anything on the trip, it was still interesting to note there were four UGA Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication alumni, including Meghan Richardson, Laura Ann Mann, Denise Wells and me. (Yeah, it’s my column, so I get to say, “Go Dawgs!”) It’s always noteworthy learning about the successes of another city but also reassuring when you realize our region has already
handled a challenge the other city still struggles with today. That was especially true of Asheville’s homeless population. They definitely took some pointers from Columbus folks including Pat Frey, Rick McKnight, Lisa Walters, Lauren Johnson, Tabetha Getz, Betsy Covington, Isaiah Hugley Shana Young, Toyia Tucker, Freddie Blackmon and Skip Henderson.
Distinguished Indeed
Bobsie Swift and her late husband Clifford Swift, devoted their lives to making the Columbus community bloom … and Bobsie continues to live a life of grand service. Their investment in Columbus State University, particularly in the Joyce and Henry Schwob School of Music, has included generous support as well
The Muscogee County School District broke ground on the new school that will replace Dawson and St. Mary’s elementary schools. District leaders, teachers, board members, parents and students turned shovels of dirt signifying the start of the project, expected to be completed in 2024.
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as scholarships for many students. A concert to celebrate the naming and endowing of the Barbara C. and Clifford J. Swift Distinguished Chair for the Director of the Schwob School of Music, was a fitting affair with a magnificent musical performance by the Schwob Philharmonic, conducted by Paul Hostetter. The first piece of the concert was an original composition “Swift Currents and Eddies” by composer Dr. Scott Harris, a professor at CSU, who is also the first holder of the endowed chair. The concert was standing-room-only with several hundred CSU supporters and fans of the Swift’s including their son Carlton Swift, Clifford’s sister Lucille Swift, Rex Whiddon, Melinda Hunter, Kayron and John Laska, Allison Owen, Elizabeth Hostetter, Susan Wirt, Bob Vardeman, Fran Carpenter, Cindy and Spencer Garrard, Libba Russell, Nick Norwood and Gail Greenblatt.
Salute to Soldiers!
For the 12th time, the National Infantry Museum Foundation hosted its 1775 Society Gala and Silent Auction with proceeds going to support the Museum and its programs. Auction chairman Billy Kendall and his committee, gathered quite a selection of art, trips, event
Piedmont Columbus Regional named Tom Shaffer, Matt Huddleston and Nick Simons with Air Methods Lifesaver the organization’s First Friday Heroes for the month of October.
Through philanthropic support from the Military Order of World Wars, (MOWW) Columbus State University announced a new endowment to establish the Lt. Gen. Robert L. Wetzel Military Student Scholarship. Wetzel devoted 34 years of his life to the U.S. Army and retired in Columbus. He died earlier this year at the age of 91. The scholarship will be awarded to honorably discharged or active duty full-time undergraduate or graduate student veterans, their spouses or their dependents attending CSU. On hand for the announcement were CSU officials, MOWW representatives and members of Wetzel’s family and friends.
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Columbus and the Valley and the Columbus Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals honored this year’s Five Under 40 and Rising Stars with a reception for family and friends at Green Island Country Club: (front row, L-R) Katie Bishop, Chelsea Arrington, Crystal Farley, Erica Walker, Keith Sims and Lauren Isom; (back row, L-R) YP Program Manager Ashley Becker, Columbus and the Valley Publisher Jill Tigner, Becca Zajac, Ashley Schley, Cameron Saunders, Jacob Greer and Columbus and the Valley Publisher Mike Venable.
tickets and more and John and Linda Shinkle, Nell and Bill Scrantom, Doug and Carol Harvey, Walter and Ann Miller, Theresa and Randy Robertson, Bill and Zada Feighner, Cindy and Kirk Ticknor, Chuck and Cathy Williams, Patty Taylor, Suzy Edge, Tracy and Beth Sayers, Kevin Harcourt and Mac and Rachel Plummer could be found perusing the offerings. The event theme of “Salute to Soldiers” illustrated all the places around the world where soldiers have served and NIM Director of Development Jane Bayer gathered volunteers to wind their way through the dinner tables carrying signs with the names of posts stateside and around the globe. And it was a long line of people and places!
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At the National Infantry. Museum 1775 Gala: (left) Jack and JoRhee Pezold and their daughter Stephanie Privette, (right) Michael and Jessica Kennedy
Goings ... and Comings
With great sadness and yet well wishes for a new adventure, the community said goodbye to Martha Robert—lovingly known as “Martha Bob” to many of us. Martha served this community well for many years as the executive director of the Chattahoochee Valley Episcopal Ministries (CVEM). Moving back to Atlanta to be closer to family, Martha Bob was feted at several gatherings honoring her work in this community by Debbie Anderson, Ruth Nichols, Mollie Morton Smith, Robin Trimarchi, Sandy and Marty McCann, Twila Kirkland, Kim Jenkins, Pat Frey, Grace Burton Edwards, April Jacobson, Vicky and John Partin, Neil Richardson, Tim Graham, Kevin Waldrup, Candy Muncy,
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Mitch Grossman, Katherine Johnson, Carole Hill and Lynne Eversman Norris. The congregation of St. Matthew’s In-the-Pines in Seale including Betsy Timmons, Karen and Johnny Rankin, Mike Venable, Donna and Alex Gafford and Jill Tigner, also honored Martha with one of their popular pot luck lunches following their Sunday service. And with this leaving, there’s exciting news for CVEM as past volunteer, board member and employee, Malinda Shamburger will take over the reins of this organization. Malinda we can’t wait to see where you’ll take CVEM next in serving our region. Welcome to Columbus State University’s interim President John M. Fuchko, wife Sherrie and their 12 toddler-to-college
Columbus and the Valley
age children. Dr. Fuchko is making the rounds, getting to know Columbus and the region while he’s serving our community. We’re delighted there will be a strong local presence on the search committee for the new CSU President including, Steve Butler, Marvin Crumbs, Jordan Allen, Victoria Buchanan, Larry Dooley, Floyd Jackson, William Keen, Troy Keller, Lydia Ray, Gwen Ruff, Teddie Ussery, Kelley Wilson, Steven Wright, Cortney Wilson, Natalia Temesgen and Jimmy Yancey.
Joy Cometh in the Morning
Columbus and the Valley publishers Jill Tigner and Mike Venable gave me a wonderful opportunity so many years ago to write this column—talking about the social and community activities that abound in our region—and more importantly, the people who make this community the grand place that it is. I love writing about those folks, and what an impact they have in a myriad of organizations and social events … and that includes writing about those people when they are no longer with us. In the midst of all this loveliness I’ve written about, there was also a season of sadness that usurped the late summer and early fall with some unexpected, unexplainable and incredibly sad passings of people who had been frequently mentioned in this column. HOLIDAY 2022
Ad Directory
Through philanthropic support from Barbara C. and Clifford J. Swift III, the Schwob School of Music Philharmonic Orchestra announced a new distinguished chair for the director of the Schwob School of Music Scott Harris (R) shown here with Bobsie Swift .
Our funny, oh-so-generous, British friend “Tall Paul” Starnes was one of those people who if he loved you, he LOVED you and he made sure you knew it. Paul’s sudden death in mid-July left so many bereft. Weeks after that unexpected—and way too-young—death, another unexplainable death, Julie Littleton. I didn’t have the honor of knowing Julie personally—her husband Mark is a work/volunteer colleague, and she was a dear friend to a couple of my friends. But her memorial service made me wish I had known her. Her husband and brother gave the kind of eulogies that make you fervently wish you’d known them—a life cut down way too early. In mid-August, Neal Pope, lawyer extraordinaire, died. A true, “man of all seasons” with a sharp wit, a towering intellect and an amazing storyteller, Neal was one of the most charming men I’ve ever met. His interest in all things was legendary. Neal survived a heart transplant nearly 30 years ago and lived to 83, still fighting the good fight. Then in early September my dear friend Tripp Wade—a good, good man—just a week before his birthday, suddenly, inexplicably gone. Even the words I found to honor him don’t seem enough to mitigate the overwhelming sadness that so many feel, most especially his adoring wife Alice and sons George, Andrew and Wesley. I don’t know why he left this world so early—long before he’d finished all he wanted to do, and all too soon for the many who loved him. Today, our world is a sadder place because Tripp isn’t in it any longer. This season of loss and sadness is not mine alone by any means, the families and friends of all these folks are grieving all that is lost, of all that was to be, of all that will never be, even though every one of them have left a tremendous legacy. Thank you, my friends for being the kind of people who made life better for all of us. C Marquette McRae McKnight is the owner of Media, Marketing. and More! Inc, a full service public relations firm. She may be reached call her at 706-660-9702 or via e-mail at marquette@mediamarketingandmore.com. HOLIDAY 2022
Columbus and the Valley
A-Com 15 Aflac 3 Alltimate Luggage 20 Bent by Courtney 19, 27 Bickerstaff Parham Mary Varner 51 Big Mama Vietnam Kitchen 56 Chancellor’s 17, 18, 20 Coldwell Banker Melissa Thomas 9 Columbus & Valley vendors 8 Columbus Body Works 35 Columbus Botanical Garden 44 Columbus Hospice 28, 44 Columbus Junior Cotillion 19 Columbus Museum 42 Columbus Tape & Video 13 Communicorp 48 Council Wardrobe Studio 17, 19 Country’s BBQ 56 Covenant Woods 24 CTV BEAM 47 CVCC 6 David Benefield at Highland Hall 19 Dinglewood Pharmacy 10, 17, 19, 20, 27 Divorce Resource Center 34 Don Chucho’s 56 Eufaula Heritage Assn. 6 Farm at Lullwater 51 First Baptist Church IF, 44 Fountain City Coffee/Bake Shop 56 Frank Romeo Clothing 18 Galleria Riverside 16, 19, 20 Girls Inc. 34 Gloria Mani Fine Art 18 Gogue Performing Arts Center 12 Golden’s Cast Iron 17, 18, 21 GPB 59 Grill Outlet 20, 21 Hallie Turner School 15 Highland Gallerie 34 Hinson Galleries 16 Historic Columbus 13 Honey and Goat Grazing Co. 18 Hudson Pendleton Financial Group 36 Kimi Farms 35 Kinetic Credit Union 36 Kysor Warren 53 Malone Office 54 McMullen Funeral Home & Crematory 22 Mellow Mushroom 56 Mickayla’s Place 21 MidTown, Inc. 52 Park Place Interiors 19 Pastoral Institute 53 PC/RC NAACP 35 Ritchie White Photography 57 RiverCenter 37, 46 Rivertown Pediatrics 10 Robinson, Grimes & Co. CPAs 47 Ruth Ann’s Family Restaurant 56 Schomburg’s Jewelers 20, 21, 41 Shred-a-way 42 Simplify With Margaret 52 Skin Cancer Specialists 8 Southern Straws 21 Spring Harbor 15, 38 Springer Opera House 59 State Farm/Bob English 25 St. Francis Hospital 62 St. Francis Orthopaedic Inst. 43 Striffler-Hamby Mortuary 5 Sylvan Learning Center 17 Synovus 29 Townsend Wealth Management 1 Triangle Wholesalers 26 TSYS 49 Two Men and a Truck 26 UPS Store 47 Uptown Vietnamese Cuisine 56 Uptown Wine and Spirits 32 Valley Fir & Redwood 16 Valley Rescue Mission 44 Wade Companies 27 Wasabi 56 WC Bradley Real Estate 61 Wedding Gallery 48 West Georgia Eye 9 West Ga. Oral and Facial Surgery 25 Westech Hearing 47 Whispering Hills 40 Wynn House 20 55
Dining Guide
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To have your restaurant featured here call 706.324.6214
The Bakeshop
The sister shop to Fountain City Coffee located in Banks Food Hall. Serving up made from scratch baked goods daily in the heart of Columbus. M-F 7AM-7PM, Sa-Su 8AM-7PM • 1007 Broadway • 706.494.6659
Big Mama Vietnam Kitchen
Big Mama’s is proud to serve you fresh, homemade food made with local ingredients that you are sure to love. Our specialty involves healthy cuisine with plenty of fresh vegetables and a variety of flavorful spices. Tu-F 11AM-3PM, 5PM-9PM, Sa-Su 11AM-9PM 5300 Sidney Simons Blvd., Unit #14 BigMamaVietnamKitchen.com
Country’s Barbecue
Real Barbecue Slow Cooked Over Hickory and Oak. Casual dress, takeout, catering, kids’ menu. Su-Sa 11AM-10PM Mercury Dr., 706.563.7604 Broadway/14th St., 706.596.8910 Veterans Pkwy., 706.660.1415
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Don Chucho’s
Dine on enchiladas, burritos, fajitas and Spanish rice everyday at Don Chucho’s. We specialize in serving authentic Mexican cuisine. Come taste the best margaritas in town. Lunch Tu-F 11AM-1:45PM, Dinner Tu-Sa 4:30PM-8PM, Su 11AM-2PM, Closed Monday. 5770 Milgen Rd. • 706.561.3040
Mellow Mushroom
The combination of a great menu, hand-tossed dough, fresh ingredients and friendly service makes the Mellow Mushroom a must when you have a taste for pizza. Bring your group for a family-friendly dinner or join your friends in our comfortable neighborhood bar. M-Th 11AM-9PM, F-Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 11AM-9PM. 6100 Veterans Pkwy. • 706.322.4602
Ruth Ann’s Restaurant
A Columbus tradition for families, friends and great food. Ruth Ann’s offers authentic Southern style lunches, and breakfast is served all day.
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W-Su 6:30AM-2PM • 940 Veterans Pkwy. 706.221.2154. Place your next take-out order at ruthannsrestaurant.com.
Uptown Vietnam Cuisine
Uptown Vietnam Cuisine offers authentic, traditional Vietnamese dishes that are both delicious and healthy, featuring fresh ingredients and a variety of flavorful spices. Dine-in, carry-out and party trays are available, as well as a 10 percent military discount. M-F 10:30AM-3PM & 5-9PM, Sa 11AM9PM • Closed Sunday. 1250 Broadway • 706.576.9922
Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar
Traditional Japanese cuisine with hibachi grill tops and fresh sushi. Come and try our flavorful and fresh ingredients. Su-Th 11AM-9PM, F-Sa 11AM-10PM 1808 Manchester Expy • 706.642.0888 Dine in or order online at wasabijapanesecolumbus.kwickmenu.com
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Area Attractions
MUSEUMS & GALLERYS
OUTDOORS
Bo Bartlett Center
Columbus Botanical Garden
An experiential learning space and cultural hub for the visual arts whose mission is to explore creativity and learning within the context of the work and studio practice of artist and Columbus native Bo Bartlett. Free admission. 921 Front Ave., 706.504.8800, BoBartlettCenter.org
The Columbus Museum
Closed due to renovation. The Museum Gift Shop and additional programming will remain active at their temporary location next door. Closed on Monday. Free admission. 1327 Wynnton Rd., 706.748.2562, ColumbusMuseum.com
Gallery on 10th
This artist cooperative features over 23 local and regional artists with over 1,000 pieces of original art on display, including the largest collection of Columbus’ Historic Landmark Art. 9 E. 10th St., 706.321.8948, GalleryOn10th.com
National Civil War Naval Museum
Experience the story of the U.S. and Confederate navies during the Civil War. This museum features two original Confederate warships recovered from the Chattahoochee River along with uniforms, weapons, models and art that tell the story of this little known aspect of the American Civil War. Admission: $9 adults, $8 seniors/military, $7 students. 706.327.9798, PortColumbus.org
National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center
Priceless artifacts and immersive experiences tell the history of the U.S. Army Infantry in this world-class museum located outside the gates of Fort Benning. Campus includes an authentic World War II Company Street, 3/4-scale replica Vietnam Wall, giant screen theater, simulator attractions and full-service restaurant. Closed Monday. $5 per person donation requested. 706.685.5800, NationalInfantryMuseum.org
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Located on 36 acres of green space in north Columbus, come enjoy four acres of developed gardens with a 10 year plan for new gardens to come. Admission: $10 adults, $5 ages 4-18. Closed Monday. 3603 Weems Rd., 706.327.8400, ColumbusBotanicalGarden.org
Dragonfly Trails
Grab your bike or just yourself to enjoy Columbus's network of off-road greenway trails for recreation, transportation & interaction. There are 34 miles of trail that include the RiverWalk, Fall Line Trace and a 1.4-mile connector. This is an ongoing project. facebook.com/dragonflytrails
Pine Mountain Trail
This 23-mile trail is located in FDR State Park in Harris County. PineMountainTrail.org
Providence Canyon
A popular state park seven miles west of Lumpkin on Ga. Highway 39. Known as the “Little Grand Canyon.” 229.838.6202, GaStateParks.org/ProvidenceCanyon
RushSouth Whitewater Park
Experience fun along the Chattahoochee River in Uptown Columbus/Phenix City. Fun includes crossing the Chattahoochee on the blue heron adventure zip line and ropes course, rafting in a kayak or guided raft on the world’s longest urban whitewater course, frisbee golf, fly fishing, paddleboard yoga, playground with splash pad and so much more for all ages. 706.321.4720, RushSouth.com
DISCOVER Coca-Cola Space Science Center
Historic District
Walking tours available by appointment only. 1440 Second Ave., 706.322.0756, HistoricColumbus.com
Historic Westville
Go back in time to the 1800s through exhibits, live interpretations, demonstrations and hands-on activities. You’ll be immersed in the history and spirit of the South and the personal experiences of those who called the Pineywoods home. Admission: $10 adults, $8 military, $5 K-12, Free under 4. 3557 S. Lumpkin Road, 706.940.0057, Westville.org
Little White House
FDR’s retreat in Warm Springs, Ga. and the only home he ever owned. He died there in 1945. 706.655.5870, GaStateParks.org/ LittleWhiteHouse
THEATRES Liberty Theatre Cultural Center Call for events and times. 813 Eighth Ave., 706.653.7566, LibertyColumbusGa.org
RiverCenter for the Performing Arts
This state-of-the-art facility includes the 2,000-seat Bill Heard Theatre, the center’s main venue and home to the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. 900 Broadway, 706.256.3612, RiverCenter.org
Springer Opera House
The State Theatre of Georgia is one of America’s most vibrant professional theatre companies with a popular Mainstage Series and an innovative second space series called Studio II. For show dates, see calendar listings. 103 10th St., 706.327.3688, SpringerOperaHouse.org
Features Omnisphere Theater, WestRock Observatory, Challenger Learning Center and Space Shuttle Odyssey Exhibit. 701 Front Av., 706.649.1470, CCSSC.org
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What's Happening? NOVEMBER November 11
Columbus State University’s College of the Arts Dance Minor Program, presents their sixth annual Broadway Ball. Each year at the Ball, the nationally coveted CSU Lifetime Achievement Award in Dance is bestowed upon individuals who have attained a distinguished level of accomplishments on the Broadway stage as an actor and dancer. Denise Pence Boockvor and her husband, Steve Boockvor, are the 2022 Broadway Ball Recipients. Bibb Mill Event Center will be the site of a night of cocktails, entertainment, dinner and dancing benefiting the CSU Dance Minor Program. Contact Jennifer.Joyner@columbusstate.edu or 706.507.8956 for more information.
November 17
The Muscogee County Library Foundation hosts Cocktails and Comedy featuring local mixologists offering a variety of new and favorite cocktails plus comedy from Lace Larrabee, a
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semi-finalist on America’s Got Talent. Tickets are $100 and may be purchased by contacting mclibraryfoundation@gmail.com or 706.243.2705
November 19
The Columbus Symphony Orchestra presents “German Baroque,” celebrating the most influential German musicians of the Baroque era with music from Handel, Bach, Telemann and Fasch featuring CSO principal violist Josiah Coe. For more information and tickets, visit CSOGA.org.
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on an epic adventure to help her find home, love and family. For information and tickets visit, RiverCenter.org.
DECEMBER December 1-23
The Springer Opera House presents White Christmas, the beloved song-and-dance Holiday spectacular featuring the music of Irving Berlin. World War II combat veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis are now a popular entertainment duo. With romance in mind, they join a pair of beautiful singing sisters at their lavish Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by their former commanding general. This joyous family musical celebrates the season with joy, love and an inspiring message of service to our nation. For tickets or information visit SpringerOperaHousse.org.
RiverCenter for the Performing Arts presents the musical, Anastasia. This dazzling show will transport you from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence December 2-28 her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex- Shine—A Celebration of Nature aristocrat. Together, they embark and Wonder at the Columbus
Columbus and the Valley
Botanical Garden allows guests to choose from nine different nights to stroll through the outdoor oasis and let the Illuminated Garden’s winter beauty be the backdrop to new cherished memories with your family and friends. Visit ColumbusBotanicalGarden.org for more information.
December 10
Uptown Columbus kicks off the holiday season with a new Holly Jolly Market Day. Shop for the holiday season, partake in festive activities and visit with Santa. On Broadway from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Visit Alwaysuptown.com for more information.
December 17
Join Wreaths Across America at Fort Benning Main Post Cemetery and Fort Mitchell National Cemetery at noon as volunteers honor the nation’s military veterans with the annual wreath-laying ceremony. For more information or to sponsor a wreath, visit WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.
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by Mike Owen
The Story of Mood Nelson's Arm
J
ud was eight years old when he stood on his tiptoes, peered into a log cabin window and watched his brother-in-law saw his best friend’s arm off. Judson Eckford Moses Sr., (Grandad to me, Jud to y’all) was born near Birmingham, Alabama, in 1888 and died in Atlanta in 1992 at 104. He was in relatively good health and quite lucid up until very near the end. One of the smartest things my father ever did was to repeatedly sit down with his father-in-law and get him to talk about his childhood, growing up in a log cabin with his parents and five siblings in Guin, Alabama, where they moved when Jud was about three. I am blessed to have custody of about 10 hours of cassette tapes of my mother and father interviewing Grandad about those times. He told many interesting stories, of course, but none quite the match of the tale of Mood Nelson’s arm. James Moody Nelson, “Mood” to his friends, was two years older than Jud, so he was about 10 when he accompanied his father to the town’s thresher, which was powered by a water wheel. “Mood was wondering what was taking place that was making the grain of the bundle that had been fed into it,” Jud recalled. “So he decided he’d feel. He stuck his hand in the machine to see what was taking place. The machine grabbed his hand and pulled it in as far as it would go. It broke his arm all the way up to above his elbow, almost to his shoulder.” Jud’s oldest sister, Joanne, had married the town doctor, Dr. Robert Burleson, who was called in to treat Mood. Dr. Burleson said from the beginning that his greatest fear was that gangrene would set in, which came to pass in a few days. Remember, there were no antibiotics back then. So they set up a makeshift operating room in the bedroom of the Nelson family’s cabin to take the boy’s arm off. The doctor went to the local blacksmith and borrowed a fine-toothed hacksaw, which would be better than a wood saw to cut through bone. “The whole community assembled and they were all looking through the window,” Jud said. “My father happened to be the one that was sitting next to the bed and held the arm as the doctor was taking it off.” Actually, not everyone had gathered to watch the spectacle. At 60
least one man was absent. “Mr. Nelson was off down in the barn lot,” Jud said. “I can recall him not sitting down, just squatting down there in the barn lot. I didn’t realize then how he was grieving. I know now that he was grieving that Mood was losing his arm.” In addition to Jud’s father, Ben, Dr. Burleson called in another doctor, probably from nearby Hamilton, to assist. Chloroform was the anesthesia of the day. It took a few minutes, but soon enough, the chemical took effect and young Mood was unconscious. “I watched the doctors make the first incisions,” Jud recalled. “I remember (Dr. Burleson) asking the other doctor, referring to the color of Mood’s skin. ‘Does it look a little off-color? You think I should move up a little higher?’ The other doctor said, ‘I believe I’d move up just a bit higher’ “Anyway, they did, and it was quite a lengthy thing. I believe it took 30 minutes or longer to get that arm off.” Jud said he recalled the doctors then trimming the skin on the remaining arm so it could be stitched and heal properly. “They cut it in kind of a V shape so that they could pull it together into a point and stitch it, and that’s the way it healed,” Jud said. But there was one more bit of business to tend to. “After it was all finished, either that afternoon or it seems like the next day, Mr. Nelson took that arm, made a little casket, put that arm in it and took it down to the graveyard, which was just a little country graveyard up in the woods on our farm,” Jud said. “They buried it up there, in line with the other graves of his family. They carved a label on the marker. ‘Mood Nelson’s Arm,’ it said, and I believe it’s still there.” It is. Mood survived the amputation and lived a long, productive life. He married Savannah Tidwell in 1906, and together they produced seven sons and three daughters. Mood died in 1956 at the age of 70 and he’s buried in the Moses Cemetery, between his wife, who died in 1972, and his arm, which still rests beneath the crude stone marker his father crafted 126 years ago. C Mike Owen was born and raised in Atlanta and came to Columbus in 1986 to work for the Ledger-Enquirer, which he did for 31 years, until his retirement. He intends to grow old, die and be buried here, hopefully no time soon.
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