Fall 2011 Hartselle Living

Making the grade How the railroad impacted where Hartselle is located Vol. 1, Issue 2

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ON THE COVER

A CSX train rolls through town by the old Hartselle Depot. If it wasn’t for the railroad, Hartselle would have been located just north of where it is today. Due to the steep grade at the former location of Hartselle, the depot had to be relocated and the city followed.

STAFF President and Publisher Randy Garrison Editor Brent Maze Advertising Kim Johnson Karen McAfee Pam Gray Ann Kirby

table of contents

FALL 2011

FEATURE 26. Fun for all kids The John Mark Stallings Special Needs Accessible Playground splash pad offers a way for special needs children to interact with typical children.

DEPARTMENTS 24

23

Contributors Clif Knight Lynn Garrison Bookkeeper Janet Sugg

CONTACT US Hartselle Newspapers, LLC 407 Chestnut St. NW P.O. Box 929 Hartselle, AL 35640 256-773-6566 Fax: 256-773-1953 info@hartselleliving.com Hartselle Living is published quarterly by Hartselle Enquirer, LLC. A one-year subscription to Hartselle Living is $10.

Single copies are available at select locations throughout the Hartselle area.

To advertise or to get more FREE copies, call 773-6566. www.hartselleliving.com Copyright 2011 by Hartselle Newspapers, LLC

20 FOOD:Take time to enjoy some homemade ice cream

WELLNESS: Here’s some tips for dealing with stress

11

PEOPLE: Randy Sparkman plays the fiddle.

HISTORY: Railroad’s steep grade causes Hartselle to move.

26

WAY OF LIFE: Hartselle all-in for high school football.

IN EVERY ISSUE: Letters • 6 Calendar • 8 Scene • 10 Last Word • 30 Hartselle Living • 5

LETTERS

A train runs through it A

sking if the railroad played an important role in the history of Hartselle is almost like asking if you will get wet if you walk in the rain. The town’s namesake George Hartsell (yes, no extra “e”) was one of the owners of the North and South Railroad.

(Later L&N) Hartselle, founded in 1870, came into existence due to the construction of the railroad.

The town was previously one mile north of the current location.

However, as you will find out later in this edition of the magazine, it moved down the railroad because of the railroad.

The town grew from the depot, general store and a saloon to a bustling community fulfilling a role as a shipping point for timber needed for the continued growth Randy Garrison • Letter from the Publisher of the railway lines. The growth ment, arts and crafts and others selling their goods. The of Hartselle continued as the importance of railroad continued downtown merchants have the largest customer base to pull to grow and expand. from all year long and the familiar greeting “y’all come in” Present day Hartselle has approximately 45 trains that pass can be heard. through town each day, but unlike the earlier days, the trains Several pages of this issue of Hartselle Living are dedicated speed through without stopping. In fact if asked, many citithe railroad and the role it played in our town’s beginning. zens view the trains as an inconvenience in present day The railroad reminds us daily of our existence and the role Hartselle. They bring you to a halt crossing from the west to in our hometown’s heritage. Few homes within Hartselle’s east side of town and vice versa. city limits don’t hear the familiar sound of the train whistle as When you are dining at the Freight House Restaurant, the big locomotive makes its way through town. you’re forced to stop your conversation due to the train’s Visitors many times ask, “How do you stand the noise of noise. If you’re attending a meeting at the Hartselle Area the train? Doesn’t it wake you during the night?” With a Chamber of Commerce, the speaker must pause while the smile on their face the folks of Hartselle respond, “What train passes by. noise?”

But if you’re a history buff or a train enthusiast, the sight After a few years, the sound of the train moving along the and sound of a passing train take you back to days gone by tracks almost has a calming effect through during the night and look back fondly on our history with the train. hours, like an old friend coming home and letting all know In fact, local historians decided more than 30 years ago that that all is well.

Hartselle needed a way to honor and remember our friend, We hope you enjoy the stories and pictures we are providthe railroad. Hartselle began holding “Depot Days” in 1980, a ing and continue to enjoy the life that Hartselle offers to all of celebration of the railroad that last year saw an attendance of us. over 18,000. Downtown fills with food vendors, entertain-

6 • Hartselle Living

A day in the park hen you live in Hartselle, one of the places you’ll probably spend some time visiting is Sparkman Park. If you have kids, they’ll want to go play on the playground or when they get older, they’ll be playing ball on the baseball or softball fields. If you’re a walker or a runner, the three-fourths of a mile track is a great place for you.

Spending a Saturday in the park (even if it’s not the Fourth of July) is probably one of the most interesting places to be in Hartselle. You’ll see different kinds of people there. In particular, one Saturday earlier this year showed me just how much goes on each week.

On the day before Easter, I was in Sparkman Park covering one of the more unique Easter Egg Hunts that I’ve ever attended.

It was the Easter Dog Bone Hunt, which was held near the pavilion areas.

Not only did I see have the families and their dogs participating in the dog bone hunt, but you had other families in the park just enjoying the beautiful weather. They were picnicking. Kids were playing on the playground.

Then, you also had another group who were playing Frisbee golf. It’s great to see Hartselle have this type of course. Of all of the places I’ve been, this is the only city I’ve lived in that has a Frisbee golf course, especially one that’s located in its main park where anyone can enjoy it.

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Brent Maze • Letter from the Editor Then there were others who were sitting out on the grassy areas either just taking time to relax or reading a good book.

Other activities going on the park are the usual baseball and softball games, which attracts many young families.

There was even another imaginative group who looked like they were dressed semi-Medieval style maybe playing some kind of Lord of the Rings type game. I’m not exactly sure what they were doing, but I could tell they were having a good time.

Like others, the park is probably my favorite place to unwind and reflect, whether it’s during the middle of the day or in the evening. This is one can’t miss spot in Hartselle.

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS HARTSELLE LIVING? The Ward family takes a photo with Hartselle Living while visiting a statue of Johnny Mercer, famed composer from Savannah, Ga. Pictured are, from left, Ty Ward, 12; Aden Ward, 14; Jerome Ward; Tracy Ward; and Eli Ward, 10.

Show us where Hartselle Living has visited. Take a picture holding the magazine at your vacation or business trip destination. Then send your photo to editor@hartselleliving.com. Don’t forget to include everyone’s name in the photo along with the location of where the picture was taken. We look forward to seeing your photo!

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Hartselle Living • 7

CALENDAR September 5 VFW Patriotic Celebration A patriotic celebration will be held at South Park in Falkville on Sept. 5 from 1 to 5 p.m., sponsored by VFW Post 10774 and its Auxiliary.

Featured will be live music, a 16-foot water slide, a dunking booth and food vendors. Come out and say thank you to a veteran. You’ll love the way we treat you.

September 11 10-year anniversary of 9-11-01 A 9-11 Celebration at Oak Ridge United Methodist Church. Come join Hartselle High School drum line and the Oak Ridge Volunteer Fire Department for cookout after our 11 a.m. service. Call 256-773-5210 for more information.

September 10-17 Hartselle’s 31st annual Depot Days Hartselle’s 31st annual Depot Days, once rated one of the 10 best fall events by Southern Living in

2006, will return to downtown Hartselle Sept. 10-17. The event kicks off on Sept. 10 with the second annual Miss Depot Days Pageant at the Hartselle Fine Arts Center. Down Memory Lane is scheduled for Sept.

12 at 7 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center.

The topic is Morgan, A County Divided. On Sept. 13, Depot Days will celebrate the Year of Alabama Music with a concert at East Highland Baptist Church. The street festival is all day Sept. 17. For more information, log on to www.hartsellechamber.com or call the chamber at 256-7734370.

September 17 Morgan County Night of Bands All Morgan County high schools will participate in the Morgan County Night of Bands at A.P. Brewer High School’s James Tucker Stadium. The event begins at 5 p.m. and tickets are $5 apiece. for more information, log on to http://www.mcnob.com/.

Depot Days are scheduled for Sept. 10-17 in downtown Hartselle. The street festival, shown in this photo, will be Sept. 17.

8 • Hartselle Living

September 22 Fall Fashion Fling The Decatur Women’s Chamber of Commerce presents the Fall Fashion Fling at the historic Princess Theatre on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. The fashion show features Cricket by the Creek, Grecofiore, Diva, Doodlebugs and Debutantes & Eloise & Henry and Little Feet, Tallulah’s, and the Carriage House. The event is an opportunity to preview fall fashions in a festive setting. Exciting door prizes will be given away.

September 24 Movies in the Park: How to Train Your Dragon Bring a blanket or a lawn chair and enjoy watching “How to Train Your Dragon” in the park. Movies will start at dark. Bad weather will cancel the movie. For information on all movies, please call (256) 341-4818 or visit www.decaturparks.com.

Hartselle High School’s marching band will host the Southern Hospitality Marching Band Festival Oct. 1.

October 1

October 3-7

October 7

Southern Hospitality Marching Band Festival at J.P. Cain Stadium The Hartselle High School Marching Band and Hartselle High School Band Boosters will be hosting the 16th annual Southern Hospitality Marching Festival on Saturday, Oct. 1, at J.P. Cain Stadium. This is one of the premier marching band competitions of the year and will feature more than 20 bands performing in competition. Hartselle High School Marching Band will perform in exhibition preceding the awards ceremony. And the University of North Alabama, “The Pride Of Dixie” band will perform at the conclusion of the competition in the evening. The opening ceremony will begin around 9 a.m.

Hartselle High School Homecoming Hartselle High School will celebrate its homecoming Oct. 3-7.

The students and community will be participating in numerous events throughout the week including lawn decorations, a Battle of the Classes, a Powder Puff Football on Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. and a Pep Rally Oct. 7 at 2 p.m.

The homecoming game will be Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. in J.P. Cain Stadium as the Tigers take on Curry. For more information, log on to http://hartselle.hcs.schoolinsites.com/ or call the school at 256-773-5426.

Youth Dance Sparkman Civic Center will host a youth dance for ages 11-15. The dance will be Oct. 7 from 8 until 11 p.m. In celebration of homecoming, we will crown a king and queen that will be elected by the people at the dance. Admission to the dance is $5 per person. Once the student has paid to come inside, he/she will not be allowed out without a parent/guardian. We also need volunteers to chaperone. Call the civic center to have your name added to the list. Without a sufficient number, organizers will be forced to cancel the dance.

Hartselle Living • 9

OUT AND ABOUT 1 Hartselle held its 112th Camp Meeting in June. The event attracted numerous people from the area and the state. 1.

Mary Chandler is ready to follow along in her Bible during a Hartselle Camp Meeting service. 2. Bill Williford waits for the service to start at Hartselle Camp Meeting. 3. Marty Hand, Ed Huggins and Jimmy Yarbrough, from left, relax in rocking chairs at the dining room prior to the start of the 112th encampment of Hartselle Camp Meeting. 4. Youth fill the front pews at the first service of the 112th encampment of Hartselle Camp Meeting.

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10 • Hartselle Living

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The Town of Priceville held its annual Cruise-In Car Show at Veterans Park on Alabama 67 in August. The show drew thousands of people. 1.

Several hundred cars filled the ball fields for the event, which is one of the largest car shows in Morgan County. 2. Bobby Martin makes lemonade for several attendees of the event. 3.

Nathan Lasater of Meridianville, sits in a car that his grandfather was trying to sell at the car show. He said he would like to buy it back one day to keep it in the family. 4. Numerous types of cars were on display for the show.

Hartselle Living • 11

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12 • Hartselle Living

Numerous local children participated in Camp Art’selle 2011 at the Hartselle Fine Arts Center. 1.

Jaegan Barnett asks Wesley George a question while working on her pop art. 2. Campers listen to Jaime McKelvey play a tune by ear on the piano in the music classroom. 3. Camp Art’selle students participate in the performance of “Come Together.”This performance was a culmination of the events of the annual art camp at Hartselle Fine Arts Center. 4. These four charter members of the Finis J. Self Chapter 2212 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart spearheaded the location of the Purple Heart memorial in Hartselle.

Pictured, from left, are Mark Cleek, James Shaffran, George Mann and Jerry Cleek.

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GET TO KNOW

Randy Sparkman Self-proclaimed computer nerd spends his free time playing bluegrass music COMPILED BY RANDY GARRISON

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artselle native Randy Sparkman is a busy man; from his job at Marshall Space Flight Center to his position on Hartselle City Schools Board of Education.

Sparkman, his wife, Penny, and daughter, Katie, are active members of First United Methodist Church, where he serves on various committees and is a past Chairman of the Administrative Board.

He is a graduate The University of Alabama-Huntsville with a degree in economics.

Sparkman presently serves as an information technology manager with the Marshall Center, where he runs a data center for the facility.

Something you might not know, he is also a talented musician playing both the fiddle and guitar.

Hartselle Living: When did you begin playing music?

Randy Sparkman: Began playing at 12 years of age HL: What are the names of the bands that you have or currently playing with?

RS: In the past with the Sugar Creek Bank and now on occasion with Hurricane Creek.

HL: Describe the style of music you play.: RS: Bluegrass HL: Who are your musical influences?

RS: My grandfather and father were also musicians and gave me my start. My father actually played with the Louvin Brothers on the Grand Ole Opry.

HL: What is the best concert that you have ever been to?

RS: Emily Lou Harris and Willie Nelson in 1977.

HL: What is your all-time favorite song and why?

RS: “Soldier’s Joy” because my granddaddy taught me to play it on the fiddle.

HL: When someone you work with at NASA finds out you play the fiddle, what is their reaction?

RS: Usually “you’re kidding me.” A computer nerd does not fit with a fiddle player.

HL: How do you balance music, work, church, and family?

RS: It is actually pretty easy. My family all seems to like the same things so they blend well. Also I have learned to ask permission.

HL: How do you think music has influenced your life?

RS: Immeasurably. Music is a gift that creates a community of people that stay with you. It is not just playing music that is so great but also the contacts that you make. It is also a great stress reliever.

HL: Where do you see yourself in the future with your day job and your music career?

RS: I will be happy in my job and continue to play music in my spare time. The closer I get to retirement I will be able to spend more time with my music.

Hartselle Living • 15

HISTORY

Down the tracks Hartselle moves its city center to accommodate for the railroad STORY BY CLIF KNIGHT

16 • Hartselle Living

Railroad workers work on the construction of bridges just to the north of Hartselle.

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steep grade north of town caused the original site of Hartselle to be moved a mile south after steam locomotives pulling rail cars from Decatur to Birmingham experienced difficulty stopping and starting.

Daniel S. Downs chose the ill-fated town site in 1870, five years before Hartselle was incorporated.

He probably acted on a hunch that the South and North Alabama Railroad would need a central location in Morgan County to stop for fuel and other supplies. Thus, he quickly erected a building and opened a general merchandise store and a saloon.

The railroad followed suit by choosing the same location for a depot. Unfortunately, that decision turned out to be ill conceived. Trains had to huff and puff to get over the hill and it became too demanding to continue stopping there. A solution to the problem was found when the railroad moved its depot to its present location. Quickly, buildings sprang up on both sides of the railroad track and Hartselle became a bustling pioneer town.

Local historian and bank president David Burleson doesn’t think Downs’ location for a store was such a bad idea.

“I feel it had the makings of a community,” he said. “If you follow North Railroad Street to its end, you’ll find a valley to the west. that’s about where the old Hartselle pond was located and where George Hartselle homesteaded on 40 acres. Signs of the original railroad bed are still visible at the south-

ern foot of Mountain View Subdivision.”

“The 1850-1860 U.S Census shows that a few families lived in this general area at that time,” he added. “ No doubt, Downs was looking to them as prospective customers when he started his business.”

Southbound trains heading into Hartselle still struggled with the grade as it caused them to slow down. It has been written that a favorite pastime of teenage boys at that time was to walk the tracks a mile to the north and climb aboard a rail car for a ride back to town.

Such shenanigans probably occurred until around 1913 when the South and North line corrected some of its earlier engineering shortcomings by relocating the tracks to the east of the steep grade and abandoned town site.

Two Hartselle street names--Sloss and Milner— are named for men who worked hard and untiringly to get the railroad built through Hartselle.

James W. Sloss was president of the Nashville and Decatur Railroad in 1868-1871. He was an advocate of extending a railroad from Louisville, Ky. Through Central Alabama and all the way to Gulf ports. He joined forces with Frank Gilmer to organize the Mountain Company to build the central line with TRAIN continued on page 18 Hartselle Living • 17

TRAIN, from 17 state aid. Eventually the South and North Line absorbed the Mountain Co. and went on to build the railroad through Hartselle.

John T. Milner was the engineer assigned by the Alabama legislature in 1868 to survey a practical route for the central railroad. He remained with the project until it was completed in 1872.

A complex game of cat and mouse involving three major rail companies—came within one vote of killing the proposed Decatur to Birmingham expansion, with Hartselle’s future at stake.

The Alabama & Chattanooga Railroad, headed

by John C. Stanton, fought for an expansion that would extend the Alabama main line from Birmingham to Chattanooga instead of from Birmingham to Decatur. Sloss’s financially strapped Nashville & Decatur line opposed such a move. While Stanton seemed to have the upper hand, Sloss made a move involving the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. He offered to lease the Nashville & Decatur line to L&N for 30 years in return for it taking up the company’s bonds and agreeing to complete the South and North project. The offer deadlocked at three votes for and three votes against with President H. Victor Newcomb remaining uncommitted. Later, Newcomb cast the deciding vote in favor of the Nashville & Decatur line.

The contracts were signed in May of 1871 and work between Decatur and Birmingham was completed Sept. 24, 1872.

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18 • Hartselle Living

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20 • Hartselle Living

OUR WAY OF LIFE

Friday Night Lights The whole town turns out to watch and support the Hartselle football team each Friday night during the fall STORY BY RANDY GARRISON • PHOTOS BY BRENT MAZE

Hartselle Living • 21

ights, Sound, Action Filming a motion picture? Hardly. The lights, sounds, and action are coming from J.P. Cain Stadium on any given Friday night from the last week in August until – hopefully and with a little luck – all the way through the month of November.

Friday night football in Hartselle is the highlight of the week as summer turns to fall. Newcomers to Hartselle find it hard to believe how the town’s folk support Hartselle High football. It is so engrained that no one asks what your plans are for Friday night. If the Tigers are playing in town the stadium will be full.

Now we do not mean that folks show up just in time for the 7 p.m. kickoff. In fact many of the fans show up as soon as the school traffic empties from the stadium parking lot. Smoke from the grills of tailgaters can soon be seen and smelled. Pork loin, chicken wings, hotdogs, and burgers are simmering over the coals The appetites of the fans grow as they arrive with the potato salad, chips, and dessert to accompany the contents of the grill.

While the tailgates are let down and the crowd continues to gather, the sound of the band marching in can be heard.

Shortly before 6 p.m. the Tigers walk over from the high school and parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and friends form a welcoming line to cheer them on and show their support for the team as they get ready to warm up on the field.

After the food is blessed and placed on the table everyone finds plenty to enjoy. The food and fellowship is enjoyed by all and the conversation turns to the game soon to be played.

The opponent is discussed as well as the last meeting of the two teams.

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The clock continues to count down to game time and the stands continue to fill. By kickoff, the stands are full along with areas on the home side of the track. The student section is filled and loud as they are here to cheer on their team.

Many covered in paint show their support of the Tigers and the cheerleaders are in place and working hard to keep the fans fired up. The band plays and the team runs onto the field, all in the stands are on their feet full of encouragement and support.

As each touchdown is made and the extra point is put on the scoreboard the fans support never slows down. Even if by a slim chance the scoreboard is not showing a win, the fans continue to urge the players on the field to keep on. The win is still in sight. The student section never sits, staying on their feet yelling and cheering for their team.

After the halftime show the band plays a fight song in front of the stands that even pulls men in their seventies to their feet dancing to the music. The smiles on the faces of the fans give proof to the good time being had by all and how much they enjoy Friday night football.

As the second half draws to a close and the whistle blows, fans are already making plans for next week’s game as they make their way down the steps of the stadium. The support of the team is not yet over as many of the fans wait inside the stadium to congratulate the team as they leave the locker room and make their way back to the school. Pats on the back and good game can be heard as the players move through the crowd.

Yes Friday nights are alive in Hartselle especially those that take place in the months of August, September, October and November.

The Hartselle football team runs through the helmet to signify the beginning of another home game at J.P. Cain Stadium.

20 • Hartselle Living

WELLNESS

Dealing with stress Stress is natural, but can lead to increased risk of disease over the long term STORY BY CLIF KNIGHT

one of us can escape stress.

For some of us, it occurs prior to a speaking engagement. For others, it happens before a first date. Other things that may be stressful include the loss of a loved one, a child leaving home, an illness or money problems.

Stressful feelings are caused by the body’s instinct to defend itself. This can be helpful in emergencies, such as getting out of the way of a poisonous snake ready to strike. But longterm stress can increase the risk of diseases such as depression, heart disease and a variety of other health problems.

When stress occurs, your body is working overtime and has no place to put all of the energy it is generating.

This can make you feel anxious, afraid, worried and uptight.

Some of the possible symptoms of stress are back pain, fatigue, headaches, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, insomnia. stiff neck or jaw, upset stomach and weight gain or loss.

One step you can take to deal with stress is to avoid the event or thing that leads to your stress - but often this is impossible. A second way is to change how you react to stress.

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Tips for coping with stress • Don’t worry about things you can’t control, such as the weather • Solve the little problems. This can help you gain a feeling of control • Prepare to the best of your ability for events you know may be stressful, such as a job interview • Try to look at change as a positive challenge, not a threat • Work to resolve conflicts with other people • Talk with a trusted friend, family member or counselor • Set realistic goals at home and at work. Avoid over scheduling

• Exercise on a regular basis • Eat regular, well-balanced meals and get enough sleep • Meditate • Participate in something you don’t find stressful, such as sports, social events or hobbies If you want more help treating stress symptoms, ask your family doctor for advice.

Information source: FamilyDoctor.org

Hartselle Living • 23

FOOD

Sweet frozen delights Having homemade ice cream is much easier than you might realize, you don’t even have to use an ice cream maker to do it

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aking homemade ice cream for friends and family is a sweet way to celebrate summer and it's easier than you might think.

Ingrid Hoffmann, host of the Cooking Channel's "Simply Delicioso" and "Delicioso" on Telefutura/Univision, uses Eagle Brand(r) Sweetened Condensed Milk as a fool-proof base for these easy-tomake, tropically-inspired frozen treats. You don't even need an ice cream maker - your freezer does the work.

To help you make your summer entertaining even more delightful, Ingrid has some helpful tips: • Create easy homemade artisan ice cream made fresh with new flavor combinations using berries, lemon, fresh mint, espresso, honey, fresh herbs or spices. Try the recipe for Fresh Fruit Ice Cream or Pineapple and Chipotle Ice Pops for a cool summer treat.

Fresh Fruit Ice Cream Yield: about 1 1/2 quarts Prep Time: 10 minutes 1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract 1 cup pureed or mashed fresh fruit, such as peaches, strawberries, bananas and raspberries Food coloring 2 cups (1 pint) heavy cream Combine sweetened condensed milk and vanilla in large bowl; stir in 1 cup pureed fruit and food coloring, if desired. Fold in 2 cups (1 pint) heavy cream (do not use non-dairy whipped topping). Pour into 9 x 5-inch loaf pan or a 2-quart freezer container; cover.

Freeze 6 hours or until firm.

– information from Family Features

24 • Hartselle Living

• For beautiful desserts with little prep work, try layering ice cream between prepared short bread cookies for a gourmet inspired ice cream sandwich or cake. For a real crowd pleaser, create a topping bar where guests can select the ice cream toppings of their choice. You could also serve as ice pops by freezing the ice cream mixture in molds and inserting wooden craft sticks in the center.

• Instead of serving in a traditional bowl, make a bowl out of your favorite summer fruit. Take half of a small cantaloupe, mini watermelon or pineapple, and scoop out the flesh. Then cut a flat edge off the bottom of the skin to make it stable. Fill it with your ice cream and drizzle with chocolate sauce and add other fun toppings.

Visit www.eaglebrand.com (and in Spanish at www.marcaeagle.com) for more dessert recipes, as well as helpful baking and entertaining tips.

Mini Coffee Ice Cream Sundaes Mini Coffee Ice Cream Sundaes 4 servings Prep Time: 25 minutes 2 cups Breyers Coffee ice cream salted caramel sauce* almond whipped cream** 1 shot espresso coffee 4 amaretti cookies chocolate-covered coffee beans Arrange 2 (1/4-cup) scoops ice cream in 4 demitasse coffee cups. Drizzle with salted caramel sauce, then top with almond whipped cream. Pour a little espresso into each cup, then garnish with cookies and coffee beans. *For salted caramel sauce, bring 3/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water to a boil over high heat in heavy-duty saucepan until caramel-colored. Remove from heat, then slowly stir in 1/2 cup whipping or heavy cream. Let cool, then stir in 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Let stand at room temperature until ready to use. **For almond whipped cream, whip 1/2 cup whipping or heavy cream, 1 teaspoon sugar and 2 drops almond extract in mixing bowl with electric mixer until soft peaks form. Chill until ready to serve. – information from Family Features

10 Tips for Sundae Making 1. Using store-bought ingredients makes sundae-making fast and easy. You can always doll things up, like dissolve some instant coffee in a little hot water and stir it into store-bought caramel sauce to make a coffee-caramel drizzle.

2. Using whole nuts and dried fruit for add-ins can give your sundae extra texture and a big crunch.

3. Roll scoops of ice cream in any kind of crumbs, crunched cereal or chocolate milk powder for an ice cream "truffle."

4. Use mini containers like egg cups, espresso cups and cordial glasses to make mini sundaes.

5. Make a quickie fresh-fruit topping by mashing your favorite berries with a little white or brown sugar.

6. To keep your ice cream from melting as fast, freeze your sundae bowls or dessert dishes overnight.

7. To make your scoops more perfect-looking, dip your ice cream scoop in hot water in between scoops.

8. Use two or more flavors of ice cream in a sundae to add extra flavor and flair.

9. Simply tucking a cookie next to a scoop of ice cream, standing up, can really dress it up.

10. Create an exotic-looking sundae by using a wooden skewer to thread fruit onto, and then stick it into a scoop of ice cream. Use things like berries, ripe peach wedges and banana slices.

For more tips and recipes, visit www.breyers.com or www.facebook.com/breyers.

Hartselle Living • 24

Fun for all kids SNAP helps bring excitement and joy to lives of Lovelady family STORY AND PHOTOS BY CLIF KNIGHT

26 • Hartselle Living

he mention of the word “SNAP” brings smiles to the faces of twins Carson and Conner Lovelady, both of whom are unable to run, jump and tumble like most 8-year-old boys.

That doesn’t matter at all when their parents, Chris and Stephanie Lovelady, take them to the John Mark Stallings Special Needs Assessment Playground (SNAP) in Hartselle’s Sparkman Park. There they are on a level playing field with all the other kids. And in spite of being confined to their wheelchairs, they can have just as much fun as anyone else – swinging, getting sprayed with water in the splash pad or just hanging out with their friends.

The twins were born with muscular dystrophy but their condition wasn’t diagnosed until they were a year old. Then at age 3 Conner was diagnosed with autism, a condition that affects intellectual ability and the development of social skills. Both receive occupational and physical therapy and special accommodations as third graders at Crestline Elementary School.

Carson said of all the different water features in the splash pad he likes the elephant (Alabama) and the tiger (Auburn) the best.

“I like the splash pad,” Carson volunteered. “It feels good to be with other kids and watch them have fun, too.

Looking ahead to the completion of the playground’s third and final phase, he added, “I think it will be Conner, left, and great for kids in wheelCarson Lovelady, chairs.”

9, are frequent “They love the playvisitors at Hartselle’s Special ground,” said Stephanie.

Needs Accessible “They get to see some of Playground their schoolmates and have Splash Pad. fun with them. They don’t want to leave because they’re having fun doing the things other kids are doing.”

Chris and Stephanie said they first heard about plans for SNAP from her father, retired State Farm Insurance agent Charles Howse.

“Even though it was in the talking stage at that time we were overjoyed,” said Stephanie. “We were excited and thrilled just to know that the community was

T

acknowledging the need for such a facility.”

“We were more than willing to do what we could to help,” added Chris. “We participated in a number of fundraisers and parades and will continue to be involved. We realize how beneficial SNAP is to our boys as well as many others in our community and county.”

“I think it’s great that the playground is open to all kids,” Stephanie pointed out. “This gives typical children the opportunity to learn about the disabilities other children have and enables them to interact with one another in a fun-filled play environment.

“It warms our hearts to see our boys playing with other kids and having a good time,” Chris stated. “It also makes us feel good to know we live in a community that has gone the extra mile to take care of kids with special needs.”

Fundraising continues to be an integral part of the SNAP project.

The estimated cost of the third phase of construction – the entryway and “Ramp and Play” main playground-is $321,626. It is hoped that funds will be available to build the entryway later this year and the main playground in 2010.

Donations may be mailed to SNAP, P.O. Box 512, Hartselle, AL 35640.

Hartselle Living • 27

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30 • Hartselle Living

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