VOLUME 05 ISSUE 04 APRIL 2017
SAYING AAYYOOO! I’M A RAINBOW
DROPPIN BEATS AND SLAMMIN JOE
YOU GOT IT (THE WRITE STUFF)
2 TABLE OF CONTENTS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 3
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OVER THE PAST FIVE ODD YEARS, SET MAGAZINE HAS BECOME A STAPLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES WE APPEAR. WHO’S WHO?, P11
LETTER
FROM THE EDITOR
CONTRIBUTORS LET’S HEAR IT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
SINGLE AND SATISFIED HOW BEING $INGLE = MORE $$$ TO MINGLE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
WRITE YOUR HEART OUT And just like that, it’s April! Writing is something that I have always done. I have shelves upon shelves of little black notebooks filled with short stories, some of my journaling, drawings, and random phrases that I feel particularly close to. The Shoals has a creator’s heart, everyone knows that. Now that the weather is warming up a bit, the streets are filling up, people are crawling out of their homes, and makers are writing, playing, crafting, and collaborating. That’s why this month’s issue of SET Magazine is celebrating creators and their work. In this issue, I check up on some of our past contributors and editors to see where life has lead them. Hopefully some of their stories will inspire you, or motivate you to pursue your own endeavors even further. I also got the details on the Duck River Writers’ Conference in Columbia, Tennessee. I never knew such a thing existed, but as you’ll see in this issue, Columbia is on the up-and-up. From the square to Columbia State, the town is booming. Speaking of the Square, I met up with some of the team at Muletown Coffee to talk about the release of their new album, Muletown & Friends, that’s sure to brighten up your spring days. Back in Florence, Derrick Flynn gets all the details on the UNA Color Run, I sit down with an art student at UNA to talk about First
PEACE OUT, AMERICA! FROM RANDOM DECISION, TO LIFETIME MEMORIES. . . . . . . . . . . 7
THE LION AND THE HARE UNA COLOR RUN TO RAISE $$$ FOR UNA ATHLETICS. . . . . . . . . . . 8
WHO’S WHO? A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF OUR MOST INTERESTING CONTRIBUTORS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
STOP, COLLABORATE AND LISTEN! MULETOWN COFFEE TO DROP NEW ALBUM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17
A DIFFERENT KIND OF STREET ART UNA CERAMICS VENTURES INTO THE STREET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
CALENDAR WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21
WASTE NO MORE! Fridays, and Mallory Kirk did the research on how to celebrate Earth Day while you eat. If you want to see your work in print, shoot me an email over at editor@getsetmag.com. I’m always looking for local voices to help put in print!
PRO-TIPS FOR ELIMINATING FOOD WASTE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
SPOTLIGHT SET READERS IN ACTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-27
WRITE TOGETHER, WRITE NOW DUCK RIVER WRITERS’ CONFERENCE ENCOURAGES CREATIVITY. . 28
FREESTYLE BY ISAAC RAY NORRIS, EDITOR
SET is a publication by and for local young people dedicated to lifestyle, finance, technology and community. It is published by Listerhill Credit Union as
part of its ongoing mission to promote the credit union philosophy of cooperation and financial literacy. It is a platform for 15-20 somethings in the community and it is free.
ONE FINAL THOUGHT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
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4 CONTRIBUTORS
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SET CONTRIBUTORS REBEKAH MILWEE Gilroy, CA
MALLORY KIRK
SAVANNAH JOHNSON
AARON BARNETT
MICHAEL MEIGS
Florence, AL
Florence, AL
Florence, AL
Addison, AL
DERRICK FLYNN Madison, AL
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goods, such as clothing and groceries. APRIL 2017
MONEY 5
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Spending $25 a day on meals totals over $9,000 a year!
The average wedding cost in the U.S. is $26,645.
SINGLE AND SATISFIED
GETTIN’ PIGGY WITH IT.
HOW BEING $INGLE = MORE $$$ TO MINGLE Whether you’ve been single your entire life or you are yearning for a marriage or long-term relationship, financial stability is more than likely a priority in your life. Before you commit to someone for the rest of your life, “in sickness and health,” and more importantly, “for richer or for poorer,” make sure you understand the financial consequences of your relationship with your significant other. Breaking up or being single may be tough, and while marriage
and relationships obviously have benefits, being single has some financial benefits that are worth the season of solitude. Time is money. When you are single, you have time to focus on yourself and spend the time you’ve got the way you want to spend it. No longer do you have to ask your significant other what they would like to do that weekend. Instead, you invest the precious time you are fortunate to have to better yourself and grow on your own without having
your time being stolen from you. Being single means one less meal to prepare. That’s right. Say “hello” to Pinterest meals for one! Another way to save more money when it comes to food is to split grocery costs with a roommate, make a copious amount of food and have leftovers for days. Also, most couples tend to eat out more than they cook together, which is more expensive than preparing food in the comfort of your own home. No longer do you have to argue about or take into consideration another person’s opinion about where to dine out, or justify any of your spending habits for that matter. In relationships, we feel obligated to exchange gifts for every holiday and every birthday. If you are relatively festive that would be an average of 10 gifts per year, and if your SO has expensive taste and their love language is “Gifts,” go
ahead and prepare for a deep, dark hole in your wallet. Usually, the money we spend on our significant other is spent on things they do not even need, so why do we put ourselves through this torture? When you’re single, you no longer have this obligation. Ultimately, money can’t buy love or happiness, but it can and does buy everything else. So, whether you are single, married or dating, be smart and work hard to maximize the money you earn. And if you’ve just gotten out of a relationship and you are heartbroken, know that things can only go up from here for you and your wallet.
STORY BY SAVANNAH JOHNSON
6 TRAVEL
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North America has over 31 million Groupon users.
About 35% of the world population drives on the left.
PEACE OUT, AMERICA! school nightmares are back and they’re European. Be sure you research how the country you are traveling to feels about public nudity to avoid finding yourself naked and afraid on foreign turf. 8. Which words should we learn in the native language? How often is English used? In our case, English is supposedly second nature to most Icelandic people. Just in case, I’m learning the Icelandic words for “hello,” “restroom,” “beer,” and “lit.”
REYKJAVIK
FROM RANDOM DECISION, TO LIFETIME MEMORIES One icy January evening before we had even begun sipping our booze, three of my friends and I impulsively bought discount tickets to Reykjavik, Iceland on Groupon because YOLO. Since then, we’ve been meticulously pinning waterfalls, glaciers and suggested itineraries, reassuring our families they won’t have to send Liam Neeson to rescue us, and watching travel bloggers give GoPro tours in anticipation of our Icelandic adventure. Luckily due to modern technology, the sheer amount of information available to obsessive travelers nowadays is endless. Therefore, I present a complete list of my search history; questions I have Googled in preparation for my first trip abroad. Things everyone will likely want to take into consideration before traveling to a foreign country. 1.Will our cell phones work? Check with your provider to find out your international plan. This can typically be found by going to the cell provider’s
website and entering your cell number and the country you plan on traveling to. If you’re traveling to a country with a decent amount of Wi-Fi, you can at least plan on being able to contact family members and friends in these locations. However, you may need to get a cheaper “track” phone in case of emergencies. If you don’t check beforehand, be prepared to pay a steep price in international fees when you return, as some providers still make a killing off phone bills the price of airplane tickets. 2. Which side of the road will we drive on? Might be a good idea to figure this one out before you get behind the wheel. In Iceland, we will be traveling the Ring Road on the right hand side of the road, reminding us of cruising county roads back in the good old dirty south. 3. What happens if we get pulled over in a foreign country?
Crossing our fingers this doesn’t happen, especially to those of us who’s driving has been dubbed “controlled reckless” by our friends. Apparently there’s such a thing as international collections though, and it’s where unpaid foreign tickets get reported to. Sigh. Hell is real. 4. Are we even supposed to be driving? If you’re planning on renting a car, be sure you check out what laws the country you will be traveling to has about international licenses and know the age restrictions for rentals. 5. Should we change our Tinder locations? Asking for a friend! 6. Are there any hand or facial gestures I should avoid that could cause my Icelandic Tinder boyfriends to think I’m rude? Nobody likes to fight on vacation! 7. Are there any differences in the culture that might shock us? For example, in Iceland, we will likely be in the minority if we refuse to get naked in front of strangers at the infamous Blue Lagoon. Therefore, I’ve been working out twice a day since discovering my middle
9. Will we be able to use our debit and credit cards? Before you go running around in a foreign land with a huge wad of cash in your fanny pack, look up if your debit or credit card is accepted in the country you are traveling to. In our case, Iceland may as well be paperless, and I won’t be switching many of my dollars to kronas after all. 10. Should we tip hospitality employees? This may seem like a given, but think again. Many countries actually pay food service and hospitality employees more than $3.23 an hour and actually do not expect you to tip them. (A truly novel concept.) Iceland is one of these countries. However, it appears that the money we would usually spend tipping American bartenders will go toward the price of my drinks as they run about $15$30 USD. 11. What if we don’t want to come back? America is looking less and less appealing these days, especially now that we’ll be traveling to the most peaceful country on planet earth….I suppose we can cross this bridge when we come to it. If I don’t return next month, someone make sure SET forward my check to the Northern Hemisphere. “If adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad.” – Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
STORY BY REBEKAH MILWEE
8 NONPROFIT
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The color powder used is non-toxic & biodegradable.
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Event starts Saturday, April 8 at noon.
THE LION AND THE HARE UNA COLOR RUN TO RAISE $$$ FOR UNA ATHLETICS Duality can be seen as the hidden focus of the University of North Alabama. Our motto, our mascots, even our primary hues peer into the idea of two halves of a mouth, both liable to the other. Each unable to survive without the alternative prospect out of the two. We’ve been told all our lives to hold on to that opposite half of the puzzle we eventually find, whatever it may be. UNA’s fourth annual color run event takes hold of that puzzle with two polar halves of fitness and fun, for the vernal month of April. Florence is home to this wonderful attraction of up to six-hundred people across the local area. From grandparents and children, to the football team and nursing school students, anyone is welcome to join in on the fun. If the color run is the heart of the event, then the woman behind it represents the life breathed into it. UNA’s head of Athletic Development Megan Lovelace lays down some perspective about her prominent brainchild. “It’s created for anybody,” said Megan. Her vision for this event is to provide a haven for everyone that is interested by crafting a unique spin on a popular activity that has swept the whole country, and placing it into the heart of Florence. “That’s the one thing I love about it, is that when you’re standing there and you watch these six-hundred people take off, you see such of variety of people out there,” she said. The primary appeal behind the UNA Color Run is that it is not timed. “Originally when we first put it together, I thought I would time it,” said Megan. This is when she saw a common theme between all of
WEAR AS MUCH WHITE AS POSSIBLE. the events. “The more I researched these color runs, I noticed people really do the color runs to get out there for fun,“ she said. The fact that everyone will get a chance to enjoy themselves while at the run is the most important part for her. “There’s no stress since it is not timed, so it’s made for anybody. We’ve had someone do it on crutches one year,” said Megan. Freedom to choose when to finish the run removes any obstacles for enjoyment and selffulfillment for the course of the five-mile run. “I want people to have fun and not feel pressured to get a certain time. I want it to be open for anybody,” she said. “While it’s the distance of a five-mile, you are not going to be timed for a five-mile. It’s a color run!” The UNA Color Run currently holds the title of one the Athletic Department’s largest events of the season, with all profits from it used to help fund student athletes. With a huge event like this, it can be hard to wonder all of the time and precaution beforehand that makes everything work. “Our student athletes and staff do a
great job of getting out there to help me, but all of the days that lead up to it can be crazy,” said Megan. To her, the true work is hidden in the smaller pieces that lead up to the event day. “It’s just making sure not to lose any tiny detail just in case,” said Megan. “The first year was really crazy, just because it was the unknown.” Megan’s knack for a creating a bond between a whole community is only outdone by her ability to stay ahead, despite the circumstances that come with her career. “There’s a lot that goes into it that people do not realize,” said Megan. “When you get in the world of special events that energy becomes part of it, and I love it,” Her initial purpose behind the color run event is more relaxed than most would think. “It’s more-so just about getting people out to a family friendly event, interact with the student athletes who work the color stations, and most of all to bring in some UNA spirit,” she said. “It’s really cool when you get out there and see six-hundred people covered from head to toe in purple and yellow. It really makes a bold statement. It’s just as much for the community as it is the school.” In the next few weeks, the city of Florence will see just how possible it is for people from all different aspects of life to meet up for one common goal; fun. Despite the sweat, everyone there will have reason to run. Whether it be to improve a life, help a friend, or spend some time with family, the end of the finish line won’t seem so hard with people to cheer each other on. Every little instance turns clearer as all of the colors bleed from the hand, an illustration of a community that will travel with one another over a cohesive two-color torrent of purple and yellow. For more info about the UNA Color Run, you can visit their official website at roarlions.com/colorun, and hit their follow or like button on the respective Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts for UNA Athletics.
STORY BY DERRICK FLYNN
APRIL 2017
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WHO's WHO? a look back AT some of our most interesting contributors BY Isaac ray norris
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FEATURE 11
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Green Eggs and Ham uses less than 50 words.
The average no. 2 pencil can draw a line 35 miles long.
ver the past five odd years, SET Magazine has become a staple within the communities we appear. Writers from all over Columbia, Tennessee, the Shoals, and central Alabama have been given a platform and a voice within our pages, and I am so fortunate to be able to garner new talent with each issue. For this month's feature, I wanted to focus on writing and reading in partnership with the 2017 Reader Riot Book Festival, an event to be held at the Florence Public Library. The miracle in all of this is that writing and reading are the keys to introspection. Writing and reading help most people discover parts of themselves that they didn't know were there. We are so lucky to have a platform like SET Magazine, and in this month's feature, I caught up with past contributors to find out how the magazine impacted their lives.
Alicia threet First, let's buy one of the most expensive plane tickets in existence and head Down Under, where former contributor Alicia Threet has been living for the last few years. Alicia Threet is a backpacking maven. A backpacking queen, even. For the past few years, she has been traversing New Zealand and Australia. When she was a contributor, she was a full time student, part time server, a marketing intern at Singin' River Brewery, singing herself here and there... "The list goes on," she said. "A couple of weeks after graduating from the University of North Alabama in 2015, I took a one-way flight to New Zealand (I have no idea what led me to NZ but I have no regrets!)," she said. "I backpacked for about four months: hitchhiked, lived out of my car, and camped. I lived the absolute dream. I need to write a book of my experiences!" "I then went flat broke and moved to the capital, Wellington, and worked two jobs for about six months. Then, being the nomad I am with the WORST travel bug ever, I hopped over to this lovely island known as Great Barrier Island in NZ," she said. "I did some work for three different, lovely hosts in exchange for housing and food over a twomonth period. I lived by the beach, in the bush atop a mountain in the absolute wilderness, and also alongside this beautiful bay filled with crystals in the sand. Words and pictures do it no justice." "I had the experience of a lifetime. That island changed my life - I will be back one day. No doubt." Alicia currently resides in Melbourne, Australia. Life has been an absolute roller coaster for her, “But I would not change any past moment for the world," she said. "I have recently started a new journey in a different country - it's time for a clean slate. I'm
broke again, go figure, but I'm slowly getting there. I have hopped around 3 different couches over a month with barely enough money to even eat, BUT, here I am with 2 jobs now and I'm moving into a sweet apartment by the beach this month," she said. "As busy as I was with my jobs and school, SET Magazine was an outlet for me to express my love for writing and creativity," she said. "I'll never forget the time SET
asked me to write an article about the time I hung out with an Amish friend from Tennessee. It was literally one of the coolest days of my life." "A lot of young people can relate to and appreciate the content that SET brings to the table. Especially in such a cool area like the Shoals, it only makes it cooler!"
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Typewriter inventors intended it to aid the blind. KALI DANIEL Moving back across the Pacific Ocean, we come to Kali Daniel. Kali is a page designer and copy editor for Gatehouse Media in Austin, Texas, The Life Music Capital of the World (all right, all right, all right). "The Center for News & Design is composed of about 300 people who work with editors to build newspapers around the country," Kali said. "It's kind of funny, actually, but the paper I build the most is The Gadsden Times in Gadsden, Alabama. I recently began designing Florence's TimesDaily." Kali was a busy bee when she was a student at UNA, "I really stretched myself thin, but looking back I have exactly zero regrets because I loved doing all of it." "When I was writing for SET Magazine, I actually had a lot of stuff going on — too much. I was a full-time student at UNA studying journalism, I was the editor of the student newspaper, The Flor-Ala, I did graphic design for UNA Student Engagement and I was a graphic design intern for the university," she said. Kali utilized the platform that SET Magazine presents to its writers as a way to further her career and deepen her portfolio. "When you're trying to work in the journalism field, it always looks good when you've written before. That's something I never understood in college — I had countless peers who were graduating with me that had never written a news story, a press release or a magazine article," she said. "Putting myself out there was one of the scariest things I felt I could ever do, but the editor at the time (Linley Mobley) gave me a chance, and later editor Andy Thigpen pushed me to do a centerpiece on Firekid. That story later won an award, and when you can put awards on your resume or stories in your portfolio, it shows potential employers you know your stuff," she said. Kali is also an artist, and with the help of SET Magazine, she was able to apply her skills in art to the magazine. "When I started, I was asked to provide art for the stories I wrote, so it really pushed me to learn how to use a camera, which is a skillset I
probably wouldn't have pursued otherwise," she said. "And I'm not a big people person, but I loved the opportunity to collaborate with other writers."
Suzanne Collins was a writer for Nickelodeon.
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"Gone With the Wind" sold more than 2 million copies.
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Thomas Jefferson added 100+ words to the English language.
catherine counts Jumping across our beloved Tennessee Valley, and up the East Coast and to The Big Apple, we meet Catherine Counts. Catherine is the store director of the West Village location of Billy Reid, named of course after the famed Shoals fashion designer and clothing creator. When Catherine began writing for SET Magazine, she was earning a degree in marketing while working as sales associate for Billy Reid in his flagship location in downtown Florence. "I had always been an active reader of SET, but never thought of being a contributor until I was hanging out in the commons area one afternoon and joined in on a meeting to see what it was about," she said. "I found it really inspiring being around a lot of young creatives like myself and hearing their ideas bounce off each other!" Catherine relocated to New York City last year to continue her career within Billy Reid as the store director in the West Village. "I'm extremely grateful to have the opportunity to grow with such an awesome company that is (truly) close to home for me," she said. "I love coming to work every day and sharing all the exciting happenings in Billy Reid & Florence, ALA with our customers." Seeing articles in print was Catherine's favorite part of being a contributor. "I found SET Magazine at a time when I was very hungry for a creative outlet that was different from the day-to-day class
projects. I loved the energy of all the contributors brainstorming, then seeing our ideas come to life into an issue." Being a contributor of SET Magazine helped Catherine understand and develop her communication and leadership skills. "SET pushed me creatively as a writer of course, but also helped me
understand how to be a successful leader in a larger scale team environment - which is very crucial to my current role." Anyone can be a writer, with practice and the right coaching. And just in time for Spring, the Reader Riot Book Festival is celebrating all sorts of writers, and of course, reading. Famous authors at this year's festival include R.L. Stine
of the Goosebumps series, Melanie Benjamin, time Crothers, Frank X Walker, and many, many more. The Reader Riot Book Festival will be April 28 and 29, 2017 at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library and starts at 10:30 a.m.
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SET isn’t just a magazine looking for people to share their 2 cents. It is entirely comprised of content provided by the 15 - 29 year olds of our community. No one else writes the articles, no one else takes the pictures and no one else decides what runs. That’s why we need you. Attend our next editorial meeting, drop us a line or send us an idea for your story. We want your photography, art and music. Get on SET’s team.
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FEATURE 15
16 MUSIC
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Mules were originally bred in Egypt or Mesopotamia.
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A mule can carry up to 30% of its weight.
STOP, COLLABORATE AND LISTEN! MULETOWN COFFEE TO DROP NEW ALBUM
CREATING MULETOWN & FRIENDS IN THE STUDIO I’ve become acquainted with Columbia, Tennessee over the past few years. Before I stopped to check out the small town, I only knew of it from a roadside sign on my way to Nashville. But there are big things happening there, and even bigger sounds coming out of it. Tucked away in a corner on the square in downtown Columbia, Tennessee, lies a coffee shop by the name of Muletown Coffee. They’ve
been steadily making a name for themselves within the community and abroad, and now they’re brewing something up for all of our ears. I got the chance to talk with Austin Jones and Kate Spears of Muletown to talk about the coffee shop’s upcoming album, Muletown and Friends, Volume One. “So, at some point we’ve all dabbled in music. Some of us are engineers, some are writers, some
have been on tour, but we all have this camaraderie. That’s how this all started, so we started doing music fests and got really good responses from it.” Jones said. “This album has been talked about for almost three years. No one really wants to tour, because we have lives and other things going on with our businesses,” he said. “But we have a following along the square and in other downtowns. So it’s nice to share
that part of who we are.” A homegrown effort, some of the songs on the album were recorded in a broom closet above the coffee shop. “It’s a full on collaborative effort. We recorded all over, but we have a studio in the roasting facility at Muletown. My song was recorded in a five by eight-foot broom closet. That’s where we recorded the most of it. I couldn’t even stand up completely but the sound was what we wanted,” Jones said. “We started recording around a year ago, I think. We started writing and getting in the studio and little by little it started to form itself. Sooner or later, friends of ours that wanted to get involved started to.” “Eventually we shifted to the recording studio at the facility, and we brought down come artists from Nashville to join us.” The album is dropping on April 1, 2017, during the annual Mule Day celebration in Columbia. “We’re actually going to have an event here in the shop during Mule Day with all the artists that are on the album,” Spears said. “They’re going to be performing their songs for the crowd in the shop and on the square.” The coolest part about this album is that not everyone on it is from Columbia. There are artists from all over the region, including a few from the Shoals. “Some of the artists on the album are from the Shoals, like Firekid. Their stage presence is amazing and we’re lucky to have them be a part of it,” Spears said. Muletown and Friends will come and go as it pleases, but there are plans for a Christmas album in the works.
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A mule is the offspring of a male donkey & a female horse.
MUSIC 17
Americans consume 400 million cups of coffee per day.
AUSTIN JONES “Matt, the owner, was thinking of creating a ‘Christmas in July’ album for the summer but, given the nature of how this album was created that’s something that still needs to be worked on,” Spears said. But for now, there are some great things happening in Columbia. Muletown and Friends is just one of them. Muletown and Friends: Volume One drops April 1, 2017, with 10 songs that feature music from the team at Muletown, along with some of their friends (hence the album title). It will be available for download and also available for in-store purchase at Muletown Coffee in Columbia, TN.
STORY BY ISAAC RAY NORRIS
PRACTISING IN THE STUDIO AT MULETOWN COFFEE
18 ART
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Kahri Member Since 2013 Abby Member Since 2013
Drew Member Since 2013
Rebecca Member Since 2013
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ART 19
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Art activities help troubled students stay in school.
Art students are 4x more likely to achieve academically.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF STREET ART UNA CERAMICS VENTURES INTO THE STREET
Florence is home to all kinds of artists, this we know. But what about the artists who are students at the University of North Alabama? To those outside our little community, there is a congregation of artists on the first Friday of each month. This event features local art, music, food, and becomes a launching pad for new business within the area. Every First Friday there are booths lined up Court Street featuring some of the newest (and oldest, at least to Florence) art in the community. I met up with Peyton Lawler, a ceramics student at UNA that I met at last month’s First Friday, to talk about how First Fridays impacts the student artists within our community. Peyton and her ceramics and artist friends hold down the fort at the UNA Art Department booth each First Friday, trying to sell their wares to the community and
PEYTON LAWLER AT MARCH’S FIRST FRIDAY passers-by. “The Art Department and Ceramics Guild started getting involved with First Fridays a year ago. First, we had to find a booth. We asked the First Fridays team if we could pay for a booth and, thankfully, the Art Department paid for that,” she said. “Right now it’s just us potters because hand builders can’t build enough work to sell in time for each First Fridays. We’re wanting to expand it to everyone in the department.” Space to have a booth isn’t something that’s easily gained. Neither is money, especially as an art student. “The art department buys the space we need at First Fridays and we, the ceramics and art students, sell our work. The student will get a certain amount of money from their
piece and the rest goes back into the ceramic guild and art department,” Lawler said. “We only get to keep a portion, but it’s a good amount. It’s more than half for the student.” Any art student that wants to participate in selling their peers and their own work is welcome to do so. It comes down to a matter of scheduling, according to Lawler. “This past First Friday, in March, I was helping another student sell his and my work. Other students, and sometimes teachers, work the booth as well. I’m trying to really push the other people in the Ceramics Guild to join us,” she said. Lawler hopes to increase involvement with First Fridays among her art department cohorts. In terms of the profit made from selling their work at the event, it becomes a circle that everyone can
benefit from. “The money that we make as students becomes ours, but the portion that goes back into the Ceramics Guild becomes the Art Department’s, which they use to buy supplies and other things to help out the students,” Lawler said. “It becomes a circle that everyone can benefit from, all while showcasing local art that is handmade and is actually worth having in your home.” Be on the lookout at each First Friday for some locally sourced handmade pottery and other art, created by the UNA Art Department!
STORY BY ISAAC RAY NORRIS
20 CALENDAR
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EVENTS
APRIL 2017
APRIL 1 - APRIL 30 CALENDAR OF EVENTS AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE YOGA AND MEDITATION @ UNITY OF BIRMINGHAM, Birmingham, AL 9:15 a.m. BACKYARD BRUNCH @ ATLANTA DOGWOOD FESTIVAL, Atlanta, GA 12:00 a.m. EST
APRIL 10
BILLIARDS @ DOLAN’S DELI AND BAR, Spring Hill, TN 7 p.m. TRIVIA NIGHT @ ODETTE, Florence, AL, 8 p.m.
APRIL 11
SHRIMP + GRITS & SPRING SALADS WORKSHOP @ THE FACTORY CAFÉ, Florence, AL 6 p.m. TRIVIA NIGHT @ LA FUENTE, Columbia, TN 7 p.m.
APRIL 12
POKER NIGHT @ DOLAN’S DELI AND BAR, Spring Hill, TN 7 p.m. WAFFLE HOUSE WEDNESDAY @ 1104 NASHVILLE HWY, Columbia, TN 10 p.m. THOMAS RHETT @ ASCEND AMPITHEATER, NASHVILLE, TN, APRIL 21, 7 P.M.
APRIL 1
APRIL FOOL’S @ 116 E MOBILE, Florence, AL 8 p.m. MARCH MADNESS FINAL FOUR CRAWFISH BOIL @ SINGIN’ RIVER BREWING COMPANY, Florence, AL 2 p.m. CRAFTY NASHVILLE’S SPRING ARTS & CRAFTS MARKET @ TRACK ONE, Nashville, TN 10 a.m. EDGEHILL ROCKS @ EDGEHILL ROCKS, Nashville, TN 10 a.m. MULE DAY @ MAURY COUNTY PARK, Columbia, TN 6 a.m. FREEBIRDS FOOD TRUCK @ ASGARD BREWING COMPANY, Columbia, TN 12 p.m. RADIOHEAD @ PHILIPS ARENA, Atlanta, GA 7:30 p.m. EST INTERNATIONAL PILLOW FIGHT DAY @ GRANT PARK Atlanta, GA 3 p.m. EST
APRIL 2
THE FLAMING LIPS @ TABERNACLE ATLANTA, Atlanta, GA 8 p.m. EST INDIE CRAFT EXPERIENCE SPRING MARKET @ YAARAB SHRINERS, Atlanta, GA 11 a.m. EST
KARAOKE @ DOLAN’S DELI AND BAR, Spring Hill, TN 8 p.m.
APRIL 7
RISING APPALACHIA @ WORKPLAY, Birmingham, AL 7:30 p.m. TRIVIA NIGHT @ LA FUENTE, Columbia, TN 7 p.m.
DOWNTOWN FLORENCE FIRST FRIDAYS @ Florence, AL 5 p.m. FIRST FRIDAY ADOPTION EVENT @ Florence, AL 5 p.m. PANIC! AT THE DISCO @ THE BJCC, Birmingham, AL 7 p.m. POKER NIGHT @ DOLAN’S DELI AND BAR, Spring Hill, TN 7 p.m. LIVE MUSIC @ DOLAN’S DELI AND BAR, Spring Hill, TN 9:30 p.m. GIFTED @ Your local theater ONE MILE TO YOU @ Your local theater
APRIL 6
APRIL 8
APRIL 3
BILLIARDS @ DOLAN’S DELI AND BAR, Spring Hill, TN 7 p.m. TRIVIA NIGHT @ ODETTE, Florence, AL 8 p.m.
APRIL 4
DRINK & DROP @ VULCAN PARK & MUSEUM, Birmingham, AL 5:30 p.m. TRIVIA NIGHT @ LA FUENTE, Columbia, TN,7 p.m.
UNA COLOR RUN @ THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA, Florence, AL 9 a.m. I MET A GHOST/THE HEAD/BOXER JOY @ UNDERGROUND ART & SOUND, Florence, AL 8:30 p.m.
10TH ANNUAL SHOALS EARTH DAY FEST @ FLORENCE-LAUDERDALE TOURISM & VISITORS CENTER, Florence, AL 11 a.m. 34TH ANNUAL SPRING FLING IT DISC GOLF @ MCFARLAND PARK, Florence, AL 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. SISTA STRUT 3K WALK NASHVILLE @ CENTENNIAL PARK, Nashville, TN 8 a.m. NASHVILLE VEGFEST @ THE FAIRGROUNDS, Nashville, TN ATLANTA COCKTAIL WARS @ FIFTH STREET BRIDGE, Atlanta, GA 1 p.m. PASSENGER @ RYMAN AUDITORIUM, Nashville, TN 8 p.m.
APRIL 9
JPKS + ADAM TORRES ACOUSTIC SHOW @ 116 E MOBILE, Florence, AL 7:30 p.m. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA @ THE BJCC, Birmingham, AL 1 p.m. BIRMINGHAM BEST IN DOUGH COOKIE CONTEST @ CAHABA BREWING COMPANY, Birmingham, AL 2 p.m.
IF YOU HAVE ANY EVENTS YOU WOULD LIKE LISTED, EMAIL CALENDAR@GETSETMAG.COM
APRIL 13
SPRING SOCIAL @ BIRMINGHAM ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, Birmingham, AL 5 p.m. TRIVIA NIGHT @ LA FUENTE, Columbia, TN 7 p.m. KARAOKE @ DOLAN’S DELI AND BAR, Spring Hill, TN 8 p.m.
APRIL 14
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS @ PHILIPS ARENA, Atlanta, GA 7 p.m. EST POKER NIGHT @ DOLAN’S DELI AND BAR, Spring Hill, TN 7 p.m. LIVE MUSIC @ DOLAN’S DELI AND BAR, Spring Hill, TN 9:30 p.m. MISSION CONTROL @ Your local theater
APRIL 15
TASTE OF INDIA @ UAB’S ALYS STEPHENS CENTER, Birmingham, AL 5 p.m. FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL @ AMUSE’UM CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, Columbia, TN 6 p.m.
APRIL 2017
APRIL 16
EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY @ RYMAN AUDITORIUM, Nashville, TN 7:30 p.m.
APRIL 17
BILLIARDS @ DOLAN’S DELI AND BAR, Spring Hill, TN,7 p.m. TRIVIA NIGHT @ ODETTE, Florence, AL 8 p.m.
APRIL 18
THE BOXMASTERS @ SHOALS COMMUNITY THEATER, Florence, AL 7 p.m. TRIVIA NIGHT @ LA FUENTE, Columbia, TN 7 p.m.
APRIL 19
CALENDAR 21
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POKER NIGHT @ DOLAN’S DELI AND BAR, Spring Hill, TN 7 p.m. WAFFLE HOUSE WEDNESDAY @ 1104 NASHVILLE HWY, Columbia, TN 10 p.m.
APRIL 20
TRIVIA NIGHT @ LA FUENTE, Columbia, TN 7 p.m. KARAOKE @ DOLAN’S DELI AND BAR, Spring Hill, TN 8 p.m.
GUMBO GALA @ SLOSS FURNACES, Birmingham, AL 11 a.m. SLIGHTLY STOOPED @ CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK, Atlanta, GA 12 p.m. EST
APRIL 21
APRIL 24
THOMAS RHETT @ ASCEND AMPITHEATER, Nashville, TN 7 p.m. SOUL2SOUL: THE WORLD TOUR @ THE BJCC, Birmingham, AL 7:30 p.m. SWEETWATER 420 FEST @ SWEETWATER BREWING COMPANY, Atlanta, GA POKER NIGHT @ DOLAN’S DELI AND BAR, Spring Hill, TN 7 p.m. LIVE MUSIC @ DOLAN’S DELI AND BAR, Spring Hill, TN 9:30 p.m. LEAP @ Your local theater NOLA CIRCUS @ Your local theater
BILLIARDS @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN 7 p.m. TRIVIA NIGHT @ Odette, Florence, AL 8 p.m.
APRIL 22
POKER NIGHT @ DOLAN’S DELI AND BAR, Spring Hill, TN 7 p.m. WAFFLE HOUSE WEDNESDAY @ 1104 NASHVILLE HWY, Columbia, TN 10 p.m. OBIT @ Your local theater
UNA PURPLE & WHITE GAME @ BRALY STADIUM, Florence, AL 10 a.m. MARCH OF SCIENCE NASHVILLE @ LEGISLATIVE PLAZA, Nashville, TN 9 a.m.
APRIL 25
TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS @ BRIDGESTONE ARENA, Nashville, TN @ 7:30 p.m. TRIVIA NIGHT @ LA FUENTE, Columbia, TN 7 p.m.
APRIL 26
APRIL 27
TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS @ PHILIPS ARENA, Atlanta, GA 7:30 p.m. EST TRIVIA NIGHT @ LA FUENTE, Columbia, TN 7 p.m. KARAOKE @ DOLAN’S DELI AND BAR, Spring Hill, TN 8 p.m.
APRIL 28
NASHVILLE MUSIC FESTIVAL @ METRO NASHVILE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM, Nashville, TN 8 p.m. BIRMINGHAM GO RED LUNCHEON @ SHERATON BIRMINGHAM HOTEL, Birmingham, AL 10 a.m. TAILS IN THE TRAILS @ BIRMINGHAM ZOO, Birmingham, AL 6:30 p.m. SIPS N STROKES @ SIPS N STROKES TOCO HILLS, Atlanta, GA 6 p.m. EST POKER NIGHT @ DOLAN’S DELI AND BAR, Spring Hill, TN 7 p.m. LIVE MUSIC @ DOLAN’S DELI AND BAR, Spring Hill, TN 9:30 p.m. THE CIRCLE @ Your local theater
IF YOU HAVE ANY EVENTS YOU WOULD LIKE LISTED, EMAIL CALENDAR@GETSETMAG.COM
R.L. STINE PRESENTATION AND BOOK SIGNING @ NORTON AUDITORIUM, Florence, AL 6 p.m.
APRIL 29
R.L. STINE PRESENTATION AND BOOK SIGNING @ FLORENCE-LAUDERDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY, Florence, AL 6 p.m.–8 p.m. NASHVILLE WICKED WINE RUN @ FONTANEL NASHVILLE, Nashville, TN 4:30 p.m. UNCORKED ATLANTA WINE FEST @ CITY WINERY, Atlanta, GA 12 p.m. EST
APRIL 30
THIRD ANNUAL NASH SPRING BASH @ CENTENNIAL PARK, Nashville, TN 11 a.m. CHRIS BROWN: THE PARTY TOUR @ BRIDGESTONE ARENA, Nashville, TN 7:30 p.m.
22 FOOD
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Americans use 2,500,000 plastic bottles every hour.
APRIL 2017
Americans’ favorite foods are hamburgers & hot dogs.
WASTE NO MORE! PRO-TIPS FOR ELIMINATING FOOD WASTE As Earth Day approaches, the looming decisions made this year to scale back the importance of climate change is in every environmentallyconscious mind – but do not fear. According to Nielson Newswire, millennials are considered the “Green Generation,” and research shows they are 75 percent more willing to pay extra for sustainable products and services. Go millennials! On the other hand, as high school students, college students, and young professionals on a budget it can be difficult to reduce the carbon footprint and use less fossil fuel because let’s be honest – balancing assignments, extracurriculars, and a social life can be overwhelming. Some people have a resistance toward the saying “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” because it implies a great amount of effort, but in reality small changes throughout the week can make a big impact and can positively affect the local economy. Here are three simple steps to stay on Mother Nature’s good side and becoming a better citizen of the planet this summer:
1. FIRST, AND MOST IMPORTANT, BUY LOCAL.
Seeing a squash the size of a small dog at the supermarket should be a red flag. According to a CNBC article, USDA’s “certified organic” labels on produce have been denounced. After testing the organic shelves, more than 40 percent came back positive for pesticides! The alternative will help local farmers, and ensure you are getting local grown, natural produce. Farmers markets encourage interaction between the producer and the consumer, where the fruit of your concern can disappear. In the Tennessee Valley, we have
more than six markets to choose from. Spring means fresh asparagus, avocados, radishes, onions and more will be abundant at the local market, so grab a basket and veg out. If your schedule will not allow this, try shopping at local mom and pop grocery stores like Big Star or Foodland.
2. CUT DOWN ON PLASTIC.
Plastic is not biodegradable and they are choking adorable penguins. Essentially everyone knows this, but plastic by the millions is being used every day. The good news is most grocery stores offer a cheap reusable bag alternative. Also, fun fact – the little plastic produce bags are optional. Reusable bags are more environmentally-friendly and will not spill your cherry tomatoes all over the concrete. Another way to cut down on plastic is water filters. Not only
will this eliminate multiple plastic water bottles, but will make room in your trash can for REAL trash, not to mention the money being saved. Most filters are under $20 and will fit right on a faucet. Shopping from the deli, skipping the straw, and not buying any BPAlined products are also great ways to cut down on plastic!
3. BUY USED.
Companies like Craigslist, eBay, and Amazon have made this task very simple, but other waste people do not often think of is clothes, furniture, and dishware. Shopping at a thrift store is a great way to be environmentally-conscious while also mixing up your closet with unique, sustainable attire. The Tennessee Valley is full of thrift stores, from corporate to local. While thinking of where to thrift, also be aware of how the store gives
back to its community. Many stores are nonprofit, giving a portion of their earnings to charity. Used furniture can range from old doors to antique lamps. Refurbishing or distressing old furniture can be ecological and trendy. Dishware might seem like an unusual thing to thrift, but vintage china and quirky coffee mugs may be just what your kitchen is missing. Buying used can help the environment and an outdated wardrobe, living room, or kitchen. These are just a few simple ways to cut down on food waste, while conserving and reusing the products that we all buy each and everyday. Happy Earth Day!
STORY BY MALLORY KIRK
APRIL 2017
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FOOD 23
24 SPOTLIGHT
SAY CHEESE! FIRST FRIDAY DOWNTOWN FLORENCE, MARCH 3, PHOTOS BY MICHAEL MEIGS
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SET READERS IN ACTION
PHOTOS BY MICHAEL MEIGS AND AARON BARNETT
APRIL 2017
APRIL 2017
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SPOTLIGHT 25
26 SPOTLIGHT
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APRIL 2017
FLUX WAREHOUSE 414, SHEFFIELD, AL, MARCH 4, PHOTOS BY AARON BARNETT
FLUX
LUKE WRIGHT, COREY KEENUM, MICHEAL BOWLING
HALEE FISHER, JEREMY WOODS
HAYDEN NICHOLS, SAWYER RUSSELL
APRIL 2017
SPOTLIGHT 27
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CHAD ETHEREDGE, HAILEY SANDLIN
NATE SLAUGHTER, TANG BUI
ALICIA POWERS, KARLY HAYES
CLAY THOMAS, MCKENZIE ARMSTRONG
28 SPECIAL FEATURE
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The word ‘colygraphia’ means ‘writer’s block’.
JOHn StEInBeCK USeD 300 PeNCIlS To WRItE EAsT Of EDeN AnD WAS KNoWn To USe UP To 60 PeNCIlS IN A DAY.
APRIL 2017
Gertrude Stein liked to write while sitting in a parked car.
WRITE TOGETHER, WRITE NOW
SCENE FROM THE LAST WRITERS’ CONFERENCE.
DUCK RIVER WRITERS’ CONFERENCE ENCOURAGES CREATIVITY If you’ve ever wanted to deepen your skills as a writer, hear constructive critiques from fellow authors, or meet accomplished writers in person, then you’re in luck! Columbia State Community College will be hosting the second annual Duck River Writers’ Conference on April 8, 2017. I had the opportunity to speak with the conference director, Judy Westley, about the conference and how it affects the writing community in Columbia, TN. The Duck River Writers’ Conference is dedicated to the writing of fiction and poetry. It is a one-day event that focuses on various aspects of the writing life. “We offer three types of sessions. The first are called craft talks, and are sort of like lectures. They are given by an established writer who offers his or her perspective on some specific technique of writing,” Westley said. “Last year we had a craft talk on the poetic line. This year
we are having a craft on the structure of short story. We have talks on other topics as well, but those are just two examples.” The second type of session is a workshop. These are discussions led by an established writer. The workshop participants each have a piece of original writing, or manuscript, which they bring to the workshop,” she said. “Everyone reads everyone else’s writing, and then they each give each other feedback on how to develop the manuscript. There are three categories of workshop: (a) poetry; (b) fiction; (c) writing by teenagers, which encompasses both poetry and prose.” “The third type of session are the readings. During a reading, an established writer will read from his or her published books.” There are many people involved with the conference, mostly students of Columbia State Community
College and high school students from the area. There are also writers who aren’t students, looking to further their talent. “The planners of the conference are all employees of the college. I am an Assistant Professor in the English department, and I am the Director of the Duck River Writers’ Conference. The co-director, Anne Reeves, is the college’s Tutor Coordinator. We both have MFA degrees in creative writing, and we have spent many, many years studying the principles behind good writing,” Westley said. All of the workshop leaders and craft talk presenters are writers who have achieved national recognition. Marilyn Kallet, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, is a full professor at the university of Tennessee, and an award winning poet with more than a dozen publications. Jeff Hardin is a full professor at Columbia State Community College who just published his fourth book. Tiana Clark is an up-and-coming Tennessee poet who won the prestigious Frost Place Poetry Chapbook competition last year. Finally, Steven Womack is a highly regarded prize winning writer of mystery with more than a dozen publications. Alongside the education workshops, the conference also features juried workshops. “Someone who wants to attend a workshop first submits a manuscript. Our planning committee reads all
the manuscripts, and then we select those who will be evaluated in the workshops. The workshops need to be kept reasonably small so that everyone there will receive a good amount of attention and feedback,” Westley said. “We focus on manuscripts that show some skill and seem like they could benefit from a workshop experience. This year, we have added an extra workshop to accommodate more people. We also have an impromptu writing session, which we call the Take Flight Café. So, attendees can do some creative writing right at the conference. At the café, we offer writing prompts and we have Columbia State Community College faculty members standing by to give people guidance as they write.” The Duck River Writers’ Conference will be hosted on the campus of Columbia State Community College in Columbia, Tennessee on April 8, 2017. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. Pre-registration is $15, to have your manuscript juried and read is $15, registration at the door is $20. Lunch is catered by Panera, for $10. Columbia State Community College students receive free registration with the showing of their student ID.
STORY BY ISAAC RAY NORRIS
APRIL 2017
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SPECIAL FEATURE 29
30 FREESTYLE
APRIL 2017
ONE FINAL THOUGHT
PHOTO BY ISAAC RAY NORRIS
FREESTYLE
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INAUGURAL SINGIN’ RIVER LIVE AT SINGIN’ RIVER BREWERY, MARCH 17
APRIL 2017
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FREESTYLE 31
KICKING OFF
Reader Riot