Lee Magazine - April / May 2013 by Lee Magazine

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FAT CATS & PUDGY PUPS WHY THEIR WEIGHT MATTERS

PEPPERS Spice UpYour Garden

JUDY VAN DYKE

VOLUME 6 • NUMBER 2

The Rebuilt Life of

APRIL/MAY 2013 FREE

The Place to Find

Your Healthy Balance

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Publisher: Beth Snipes Editor: Mary Wood Littleton Design and Photography: Beth Snipes Marketing Consultants: Regina Lynn Duck Kolayah KeeVan Web Designer: Brock Burgess Distribution: John Snipes

HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY

eople are searching for a hormone replacement therapy regimen that provides a resurgence of energy. You don’t have to have headaches, hot flashes, and a decreased sex drive. You can say farewell to mood swings and insomnia. With the results of a one-day saliva test, June Adams, a compounding pharmacist and bio-identical hormone counselor, will provide the natural human-identical hormones that your body needs. June’s problemsolving pharmacy provides natural progesterone cream, DHEA, estrogen, and testosterone. For some, it will mean an enzyme to reduce stress, or a glandular complex to support your thyroid. Both men and women can benefit from this simple test for a personal hormone profile. Accelerated aging, fat gain, mental fogginess, and general fatigue are not natural. They can be symptoms of a hormone imbalance for which there is a natural treatment. Find the right dose without the concerns of side effects from synthetic products.

Contributors Food: Health: Brawn: Garden: Home: Pets

Heida Olin Dr. Lee Sharma Lisa Gallagher Patti Householder Jacquelyn Dixon Dr. Glen Puckett

334-332-2961

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contents

April/May 2013

Food Rehearsing for Dinner

10 Garden Peppers, Peppers, Peppers

12 Health Understanding PMS

14 Brawn When Shoulders Hurt

16 Lambert Transfer Carlton Hunley III on the Move

18 Home

Spring Projects

20 Pets Battle of the Belly Bulge

22 Cover Story Judy Van Dyke Builds Her Life One Step at a Time

28 Calendar Plenty to Do in Lee County

12 4 LEE MAGAZINE

COVER PHOTO BY BETH SNIPES

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

am so excited to be working with Beth Snipes and all of the contributors at Lee Magazine. I’ve written a few articles for the publication over the last couple of years, and I am really looking forward to getting involved in the editorial content as we try to bring you, our readers, more of what you want. Lee Magazine, in case you didn’t know, was named for the county in which we live, here in East Alabama. I am native to Auburn, so I know the area well. After working in Atlanta, Miami, New York and the Research Triangle in North Carolina, I came back home to raise my children in the same idyllic community. Wherever a person may venture in this world, it’s nice to have a place like East Alabama to call home. This area has grown and developed tremendously since my childhood, and I think most of the change has been positive. We will keep bringing you great stories about the unique people and places that make Lee County like nowhere else. Cheers,

MARY WOOD LITTLETON Editor

LEE MAGAZINE 5

Rehearsal Dinner Plan From Salad to Dessert, Serve a Well Practiced Menu By Heida Olin

y son’s getting married! Chaos has reigned at my house since before Christmas, and the excitement has escalated to unbelievable proportions. I get to host — for me, that means cook — the rehearsal dinner. And as my kids would say, I’m pumped. Planning the menu has been pretty easy. The bride frequently requests my spicy pork tenderloin for Sunday dinner, so that was a no-brainer. Smashed new potatoes with Asiago came to mind immediately, because these crispy little potatoes are soft on the inside, topped with savory Asiago cheese and make a sumptuous complement to the pork. One of the delights of living in Lee County is having fresh vegetables in abundance at the end of May. An appropriate vegetable for this event will be steamed fresh green beans, tossed with a little vinaigrette made with bacon drippings and white wine vinegar, then topped with crispy fresh bacon bits and chopped parsley. 6 LEE MAGAZINE

The salad may be a bit of a challenge, but I plan to start with a Caprese salad using sliced heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella. Instead of using the usual basil leaves, I plan to dollop each mozzarella slice with fresh basil pesto. My second salad needs to be crunchy, crisp, colorful and maybe a little sweet. I love the fresh taste of broccoli slaw, so I’ve added a tart apple, grapes and sweet mandarin oranges, finished with a poppy seed dressing. I’ll serve the slaw in bowls of Boston Bibb lettuce (also known as Butterhead) and sprinkle each serving with toasted pecans. I’m calling this Wedding Salad. I’m stumped on dessert. My son loves carrot cake and oatmeal cookies; the bride loves red velvet cake, chocolate chip cookies and pecan pie. I can’t do cake, because that’s the jewel of the wedding reception, so I think I’ll make pie. Peach and pecan pie are both so southern and yummy, they’ll make a nice finish to this dinner, which is part of a new beginning.

F O O D GARLIC PEPPERCORN PORK TENDERLOIN

Pork tenderloin makes a great choice for a rehearsal dinner, because it’s moist and cooks so fast. 2 pounds, pork tenderloin Olive oil 1 large onion, sliced

Peppercorn Dry Rub

I’ve experimented with several different rubs, but I always come back to this one for its pleasing results.

Stir together the following ingredients: 2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons dry minced garlic

3-pound bag of small new red (or white) potatoes Olive Oil Garlic pepper 1/2 cup Asiago cheese, finely grated

Preheat oven to 425 F. Wash and steam the potatoes until just tender, allow them to cool. Place the potatoes in a large bowl, then drizzle them with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic pepper. Carefully stir to coat the potatoes. Spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray. Place the potatoes on the baking sheet, about 1 inch apart. Then using a heavy glass or the end of a meat mallet, smash the potatoes gently enough that they remain intact. Drizzle a little more olive oil on each potato after it is smashed, then sprinkle each with about a teaspoon of the Asiago cheese. Bake for 15 minutes, or until edges are crispy brown. Serve immediately.

2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves 2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves 2 teaspoons sweet paprika 2 teaspoons course ground black pepper 1 teaspoon ground white pepper ¼ teaspoon ground red pepper

Preheat oven to 375 F. Trim any fat, and pat the pork tenderloins dry. Rub each tenderloin with olive oil, so the dry rub will adhere to the meat. Generously sprinkle the peppercorn dry rub over the pork, coating each tenderloin thoroughly. Place the sliced onion in the bottom of a shallow baking dish, then lay the tenderloins side by side, about an inch apart, on top of the onion slices. Roast at 375 F for 35 to 40 minutes, until the center temperature registers 150 F. Remove from oven, and allow the tenderloins to sit in the pan untouched for 10 minutes before removing to a platter and slicing.

Onion Peppercorn Sauce The tenderloin is moist, so it stands well on its own. But the onions in the pan, with their great flavorful drippings, make a perfect simple sauce. Pan drippings

WEDDING SALAD

I’m excited about this salad. I made it for my husband to be sure the flavors would marry well, and he thought it was great. The following recipe made enough to feed four of us, and I’ll probably make four times this much for the rehearsal dinner. This can be made ahead and refrigerated. 2 1/2 cups (1/2 16-ounce bag) broccoli slaw mix 1 Granny Smith apple, cored and chopped 1/2 cup each red and green grapes, halved 1 15-ounce can Mandarin oranges, drained 1/2 cup poppy seed dressing Boston Bibb lettuce leaves, washed and dried 1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

Toss together the broccoli slaw, chopped apple and sliced grapes. Gently stir in the oranges and poppy seed dressing. When ready to serve, place each lettuce leaf on a salad plate, fill with about 1/2 cup of salad. Sprinkle with chopped pecans. POPPY SEED DRESSING

A bottled dressing is okay. I just prefer the flavor of the fresh dressing and enjoy making my own.

1/2 cup heavy cream Salt and pepper, to taste

1/4 cup Champagne vinegar

Green onions, sliced for garnish

1 tablespoon fresh lemon or lime juice

On a medium burner, pour the cream into the drippings, stirring constantly. Heat the sauce through, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle over the sliced pork, sprinkle with green onions and serve immediately. SMASHED NEW POTATOES WITH ASIAGO

These potatoes are similar to baked potatoes and French fries, all in one. We love to top them with different cheeses or crispy bacon. They are just delicious!

1 heaping tablespoon sugar 2/3 teaspoon dry mustard 2/3 teaspoon fine sea salt 2/3 cup extra light olive oil 2 tablespoons poppy seeds (toasted is optional)

Whisk together the vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, mustard and sea salt, while adding in the olive oil until the mixture is emulsified. Stir in the poppy seeds. Continued next page LEE MAGAZINE 7

SLAB PEACH PIE TO FEED A CROWD

This seems like a lot of work, but if you’re feeding a crowd, it takes less time than making several peach pies. The slab pie is really delightful! I plan to serve it with scoops of vanilla ice cream that have been rolled in chopped pecans. Crust: 4 1/2 cups flour 4 sticks cold butter, cubed 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 egg Cold whole milk, see directions

Pulse the flour, butter and salt in the food processor for about 25 pulses (1 second each). Empty mixture into a large bowl. Using a wet measure cup, break the egg into the cup and beat it lightly, adding milk to equal 1 cup of liquid. Using your hands, gradually add the milk-egg mixture to the flour mixture. You may not need all the liquid, but use enough for the dough to come together. Divide dough in half, and make each half into a ball. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Filling: 18–20 peaches, each with stone removed, peeled and cut into 8 slices 6 tablespoons flour 1 1/2 cups sugar

Mix the flour and sugar, set aside. Toss peaches with the flour mixture and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray an 18x13-inch jelly roll pan with cooking spray, then line the pan with parchment paper. Lightly spray the paper. Gently roll one of the balls of pastry dough, just enough to loosen it up and make it easier to press into the pan. It should be carefully pressed to about 1/4 inches thick, tamping the pastry into the sides and corners of the pan. Pour the peaches into the pan, making sure it doesn’t mound up, or it will overflow in the oven. Streusel: 2 cups flour 1 cup packed golden brown sugar 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon fresh nutmeg 1 1/2 sticks butter cubed at room temperature

Stir together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. 8 LEE MAGAZINE

Work the butter into the flour mixture with your hands. Drop pinches of the mixture all over the peaches to form the streusel. Bake for 45-55 minutes. Cool completely (about 4 or 5 hours) before cutting. SOUTHERN PECAN PIE

Southern cooks take pride in their pecan pie recipes. Mine comes from my grandmother, who insisted that the touch of molasses made her pie superior. Personally, I think it’s the butter. 1 9-inch pie shell, chilled (fresh or frozen) 1 1/2 cups pecans, roughly chopped 2 eggs 1 cup light corn syrup 1/4 cup dark brown sugar 1 tablespoon molasses 3 tablespoons melted butter 2 tablespoons flour 1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 F. Place pecans in the bottom of the pie crust. In a quart-sized container, mix together eggs, corn syrup, brown sugar, molasses, butter, flour and vanilla. Pour over the pecans in the pie shell. Bake on the oven’s middle rack for 40 minutes, or until the filling has set. The pecans will rise to the top. Cool completely before serving. -lm

Heida Olin is a local caterer and educator. You can reach her at heida@lee-magazine.com.. Please visit her blog at www.leemagazine.com

June Owens, left, Manager of Customer Support, Craig Uptagrafft, Manager of Fiber Services, and Alexis Smith, Manager of Information

Technology team for OPS

FIBER MEANS BUSINESS!

An Open Platform for creating game-changing products and services The Opelika Power Services has built an expansive and powerful, 100 percent fiber optic network. But the power isn’t in the platform. The real power is in how we use it. Our infrastructure spurs research and development of new technologies right here in the United States, preserving American jobs. This is the ultimate tool for entrepreneurs, for established companies hoping to become game changers, and for anyone needing a system that can help test and prove ideas. Instead of trying to guess what products and services the market will demand, we are inviting talented people to use our network to tackle complex challenges. We don’t offer one size fits all, but rather one platform for massinnovation, accelerated R&D, broad testing and deep creativity.

An Open Platform for creating game-changing products and services Fiber means Business!

100 percent Fiber Turns Possibilities into Potential. Opelika’s community-owned electric utility, OPS, is installing 100 percent fiber to the premises network. Built to run Alabama’s first true Smart Grid -while offering residential high-speed internet, video and telephone services -- the network was also built to empower our community in new ways. Because bandwidth is no problem, Opelika’s Fiber Optic network enables upload and download speeds 200 times faster than the current national average, and 10 times faster than the FCC’S National Broadband Plan (a decade ahead of schedule). With our true Smart Grid, data is received in real time. So it can be instantly used to create a selfhealing grid with new levels in power, quality and reliability, including:

empower our community in new ways. is no problem, ~Because Greatly bandwidth reduced outage times; Opelika’s Fiber Optic network enables upload and download Security efficiency beyond anything in the speeds~200 times and faster than the measures current national average, and 10 times faster than the FCC’S National industry; Broadband Plan (a decade ahead of schedule). ~With Mitigation of Smart rising Grid, cost of energy generation; our true data is received in real time. So it can be instantly used to create a self~ New opportunities for people to manage their own energy healing grid with new levels in power quality and reliability.use, and much much more! ~ This means greatly reduced outage times. ~ Security and efficiency measures beyond anything in the industry.

G A R D E N

CRISPY COOL TO BLAZING HOT

Pick a Peck of Homegrown Peppers By Patti Householder

hen shopping in the grocery store recently, I noticed that red, yellow and green bell peppers cost $1.25 to $2 each. This inspired the following piece on growing your own peppers. I love the brightly colored bell peppers when I cook, but I also love that they provide extra vitamins. Pepper choices are numerous — from sweet to fiery hot, small to large, stocky to long and skinny. Growing peppers is easy, and most varieties mature in 60-90 days. You can find an abundance of pepper plants in local garden centers now. Peppers have similar disease problems to tomatoes, so look for resistant varieties. They will have letters and or numbers after the name: VFN, for example, indicates plants that are more resistant to Verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt and 10 LEE MAGAZINE

nematodes — all common issues to peppers. They’ll need soil with plenty of organic matter that drains well. When choosing a spot to grow your peppers, choose a place with full sun and good drainage. They can be grown in a traditional garden plot, but they do great in containers, too. When planting in the garden, take care not to plant peppers where tomatoes or eggplants grew last year, as they are all in the “nightshade” family and diseases can spread among crops from one year to the next. Once planted, peppers require moderate watering, — keeping their roots moist, but not wet. Mulching will help with moisture retention. Peppers do better with an application of 5-1010 (slow-release) fertilizer at planting. As they begin to flower, sprinkle more fertilizer around the base of the plant,

being careful to not let it touch the stem. Over fertilizing peppers can produce lots of leaves but less fruiting. Peppers have an upright growth habit and benefit from staking, especially when they are weighted down with fruit. If you opt to plant in containers, use a 5-gallon size or something with a 16- to 18-inch opening that is 14- to 16-inches deep. Using a potting mix for vegetables with a slow-release fertilizer mixed in should give your peppers a great start. Just remember that plants in containers dry out faster and will need more frequent watering than those in a garden plot. uring the heat of our summers, big bells and sweet roasting peppers wait until the nights are cooler to produce loads of peppers, from late summer until first frost. Banana peppers produce well in the heat of summer.

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Some hot peppers can take 150 days or almost four months to mature. While you will get some peppers through the summer, fall is when the plants become laden with fruit. Allowing some of the fruit to fully mature enhances the flavor. When harvesting peppers, cut the pepper off the stem using a sharp knife or shears, because it is very easy to break a limb if you pull on it. The type of peppers you plant is a personal preference. The spicy heat of peppers is rated on a scale created in 1912 by the chemist Wilbur Scoville. The Scoville Scale measures the heat of a pepper or spice from 0 SHU, which would be something like a regular bell pepper, to 16,000,000 SHU (hotter than fire in — well, you know where — on the 4th of July), which is assigned to raw capsaicin, the chemical component found in most chili peppers. Hot peppers include Poblano (1,000-2,000 SHU), Jalapeño (3,500-8,000 SHU), Cayenne, (30,000-50,000 SHU), Habanera (100,000-350,000 SHU), Super Chili, and Thai Dragon to name a few. Every year, I plant several pimento peppers (100-900 SHU). They’re so much better than a commercial jar of pimentos. I remove the seeds, cut them so they lay flat on a baking sheet skin side up, and broil them in my toaster oven until the skins turn brownish-black. Then I let them cool and peel the skin off. Finally, I cut them into smaller pieces and freeze them to use in my favorite recipes. I cut up the sweet bell peppers into small pieces and strips, spread them out on a baking sheet and place them in freezer. I keep them in seal-a-meal freezer bags or Ziploctype bags and take just what I need for any given recipe. This prevents them from clumping together. I love to use the colorful strips of bell peppers when I make fajitas. Growing your own peppers can help you save lots of money at the grocery store, especially if you use and cook with them as much as I do. -lm Master Gardener Patti Householder is a member of the state Master Gardener Association board and a past president of the Lee County Master Gardener program. She lives in Waverly.

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H E A L T H

PMS

NOT A JOKING MATTER By Dr. Lee Sharma

he internet boasts literally millions of jokes about PMS with one thing in common — they aren’t funny. By and large, they are used to insult women and detract from their intelligence and ability — a practice known as “gaslighting.” During the 2008 election, Fox News anchor Bill O’Reilly asked guest Marc Rudov what the downside would be to having a woman (Hillary Clinton) in the Oval Office.

12 LEE MAGAZINE

Rudov replied, “You mean besides the PMS and the mood swings?” Clearly, the men were gaslighting Hillary by implying that a woman is too emotionally unstable to hold the nation’s highest office. Other people claim that PMS doesn’t really exist — perhaps it is a marketing ploy to sell drugs to treat a phantom condition, or maybe it’s a handy excuse for a woman to behave badly? There’s a lot of misinformation about this

condition, which to some degree affects about 85 percent of menstruating women, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynegologists. So what is this mysterious and misunderstood menstrual malady? Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a collection of symptoms defined by when they occur during the menstrual cycle. While PMS is a fairly well known term,

the symptoms and their causes are less understood. PMS begins about 14 days into the menstrual cycle and continues until the first or second day of the menses (period). These symptoms may include bloating, fatigue, mood changes, irritability, food cravings and headaches. The menstrual cycle is regulated by the production of an ovarian follicle. At birth, a woman has approximately 200,000 potential eggs that could be ovulated, or released, during her reproductive years. The hormone estrogen, released from a woman’s egg follicle, signals the brain to produce proteins that will prompt the maturation of a single egg during the first half of the cycle. As the brain and the follicle continue to exchange positive information, the follicle releases the egg at midcycle, causing a surge in estrogen levels. After the follicle releases the egg, it begins to produce progesterone. If the egg is fertilized, this progesterone production will continue in order to support the early-stage pregnancy. However, if the egg is not fertilized, the progesterone production drops. The gradual drop in progesterone levels signals the shedding of the uterine lining, which is the menses. Other parts of the body also detect the drop in progesterone. The brain can respond to the drop in progesterone by decreasing its production of serotonin. Serotonin is a natural mood elevator. When serotonin levels drop, a woman can experience an increase in irritability, tearfulness, circular thoughts (which can lead to difficulty with sleep) and anxiety. As we age, the eggs that we ovulate also age. From month to month, there may be an inconsistent amount of progesterone produced after ovulation. If there are strong levels of progesterone, there will be less of a drop in serotonin and fewer symptoms. The opposite occurs if the progesterone levels are low. The faster the serotonin levels drop, the more premenstrual symptoms may occur. There are many effective ways to diminish premenstrual mood changes. High intensity cardiovascular exercise will increase blood flow and oxygen to the brain, enabling the brain to produce serotonin more easily. Oral contraceptives regulate progesterone levels in the second half of the cycle, stabilizing progesterone levels and diminishing the effect on serotonin levels. Medications that directly increase serotonin, such as Prozac, can also be used during the symptom interval to help significantly with mood symptoms. For a woman experiencing PMS, it is very important to discuss symptoms with her physician to ensure a correct diagnosis and determine an effective treatment option. -lm Dr. Lee Sharma is a board-certified gynecologist in private practice. Trained at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, she lives in Opelika with her husband Shash, children Sam and Rachel, and her puppy Ryker.

The Best Care for the Skin You’re in!

Whether you are struggling with skin cancer, face and leg veins, wrinkles, acne, unwanted facial hair or other concerns, you deserve clinically excellent care. John A. Stewart, M.D., has served the medical needs of Lee County and surrounding areas for the past 32 years. Four years ago, he teamed up with Rhonda Trammell, the county’s only licensed medical aesthetician. Together with the staff of Stewart Dermatology, they provide their patients the best possible medical diagnosis and treatment with state-of-the-art medical resources.

COSMETIC AND SURGICAL DERMATOLOGY CANCER OF THE SKIN SKIN SURGERY LASER HAIR REMOVAL, IPL AND MICRODERMABRASION FACE AND LEG VEIN REMOVAL SCLEROTHERAPY BOTOX AND COSMETIC FILLERS CHEMICAL PEELS AND FACIALS ACNE TREATMENT AND SKIN CARE SOLUTIONS LATISSE-RAPID LASH ENVIRON-ZO MEDICAL BY DR. ZEIN OBAGI GLO PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS VI PEEL DERMAFRAC MICRO CURRENT

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Avoid Groundhog Day Rebound

Steps to Help You Shoulder the Pain By Lisa Gallagher

he first thing Vanessa noticed was that she could no longer reach into the back seat of her car. Then, along with the limited range of motion, came an incessant burning pain in her shoulder. Any motion she attempted above her head or behind her back felt somewhere between uncomfortable and downright painful. When, due to the discomfort, she started losing sleep and asking her daughter to help her with her hair in the morning, she knew it was time for a trip to the doctor. Vanessa didn’t want to hear this — and most of us don’t — but our shoulders are markedly different by the time we’re 40 or 50 than when we were 20. As we age, our muscle tissue diminishes, the connective tissue becomes brittle where it 14 LEE MAGAZINE

once was pliable, and we don’t have our original cushion of cartilage. We start to hear terms like rotator cuff, bursitis and labrum. Dr. Nicholas DiNubile prescribes an active life to extend the warranty on our frame. In his book “Framework for the Shoulder,” he cautions that we need to adapt our workouts for different stages of life and health conditions. People with diabetes are more prone to frozen shoulders, while overweight individuals have higher than average incidents of rotator cuff tears. If you have had suffered an injury, you could be at risk of a Groundhog Day reoccurrence. To avoid reinjury, you need to rehabilitate completely, then slowly approach your previous level of recreation, being

sure to warm up well. Be sure not to camouflaging pain with medicine, as our bodies let us know when we’re overdoing. This doesn’t mean take it easy. We all need to train hard and train smart, fuel our bodies well and get adequate rest. Let’s do an exercise: Sit or stand up straight, shoulders back and shoulder blades towards your back pockets. Now slowly raise your arms forward and above your head. Next, round your shoulders forward in a slumped position, and raise your arms as before. You couldn’t raise them as high or as smoothly, could you? You probably felt a block, pinch or resistance. The position of your cervical and thoracic spine is critical to your shoulder health. We need to practice good posture, or we will lose our posture

and likely injure our shoulders. Grandma would say, “Sit up straight!” And, as it turns out, she was right. If you experience shoulder pain, here is some advice from Dr. DiNubile:

H H

• See your doctor. •Take a break from the “painful arc,” but don’t rest your shoulder for too long. Shoulders get very stiff with extended rest. • Ice for 20 minutes, several times a day, avoiding direct contact between ice and skin. • Use an elastic wrap (not too tight). Compression can make you more comfortable. • While lying down elevate your shoulder higher than your midsection to avoid swelling.

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Once pain is under control, begin exercising as directed by your doctor or physical therapist. The sooner you move your shoulder, the sooner you will heal it. As for poor Vanessa, her diagnosis was a torn labrum. The sense of instability, decreased range of motion, loss of strength and pain at night were all classic signs that her doctor spotted immediately and verified through testing. She opted for surgery, but it took 10 months of recovery before she was glad she’d done it. Now that she has fully recovered, Vanessa is doing all she can to prevent a reoccurrence. She has embraced aerobic exercise, improved her diet, lost weight, taken supplements to help her bones and prevent inflammation, and she is working hard at reducing her daily bolus of stress. In avoiding Groundhog Shoulder Day, Vanessa has also improved her health. All in all, she’s had a great result. -lm

August/September 2012 FREE

By Lisa Gallagher

atching Carlton Hunley III command the helm of his family’s 88-year-old company isn’t quite what one would expect. The President of Lambert Transfer & Storage is willing to share the power. His sons, Brian and Carlton IV, work in the business as well. But it’s Beau and Mossy -- Carlton III’s dog companions – who really run the place. We take a few breaks during our interview, while Carlton III offers his pups treats or asks them if they’d like to go outside. Clear to anyone is that these dogs have their master wrapped around their dewclaws. Carlton III, who has run the company for 40 years, was recently recognized for his outstanding business acumen. An award-winning agent with North American Van Lines for many years, Carlton III was named 2012 North American Agent of the Year – top dog out of 378 agents nationally – at a ceremony in Phoenix, Ariz., this past October. This award recognizes the agent that attains the best overall scores in such categories as quality of service, hauling growth, sales growth, safety performance and support of their fellow agents and customers. In addition, the agent must also have demonstrated a significant increase in the total number of moves and total (hauling and booking) revenue in the year. T.M. Lambert and the first truck that started his business on the road

In Business for the Long Haul Lambert Transfer & Storage: Moving Anything, Anytime “We are humbled beyond measure for being selected Agent of the Year, especially among some of the best in the business,” commented Carlton Hunley III. “Our success is directly tied to the tireless efforts of our staff, who are completely committed every day to serving the needs of our customers in Alabama and around the country.” Very few family-run businesses endure the test of time. Only 30 percent survive beyond the founder’s generation; a mere 12 percent make it a third generation; and scarcely 3 percent are operating into a fourth generation and beyond. Those fortunate enough to keep Great-Granddaddy’s business thriving have done so by adapting their business to remain relevant. Of course, it’s best if you start out with a good or service that will always be needed and never become obsolete. That’s exactly what Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Lambert did when they moved to Opelika and started the business known today as Lambert Transfer & Storage, Inc., now in its 88th year. Much like the recent excitement of the Kia plant coming to 16 LEE MAGAZINE

Carlton Hunley III

our area, it was the buzz about a new Pepperell Manufacturing plant being built in 1925 that drew the Lamberts to Opelika. With Opelika’s burgeoning industry and Auburn’s rising college population and reputation, these parts seemed a fertile ground to

start growing a family business. The Lamberts began by purchasing a used open-bed truck, which they used to haul anything anywhere for anyone at anytime. Mr. Lambert did the hauling by himself at first, carrying heavy cargo from train cars to his truck for delivery. After World War II ended, his two sons – both decorated pilots – returned to Opelika and joined the family business for a time. A good rule in a family business is that the business doesn’t owe a job to any family member, and no family member is obligated to work there. Eventually, one son became a surgeon, the other an accountant.

problems in 1973, Carlton III took over the daily management of crews, estimates and jobs. Even after his father passed away, making him the General Manager, his mother Dorris remained the top dog until she died suddenly in 1991. Running the family business was hard work, but Carlton III managed to find time to get elected to two terms on the Opelika City Council, be president of the Opelika Jaycees and serve on the board of directors for the Alabama Trucking Association. During these years, the Opelika-Auburn area continued to grow, and the company grew right along with it. They affiliated

other specialized equipment. This family business is moving families, businesses and employees around town, around the region and around the world. At their Opelika headquarters – a 60,000-squarefoot, climate-controlled facility on a 12acre site in the Fox Run Industrial Park – the Hunleys have expanded to offer fullservice logistics and warehousing. “You have to enjoy people in this business,” says Carlton III. “And I have great people working here – they get hired and never leave. You win awards when you have quality employees and great customer service.”

t was the Lamberts’ daughter, Dorris, who would eventually take over the family business with her husband, Carlton Hunley. Soon after they married in 1944, the couple began working for the company – Dorris keeping the books and answering the phones, Carlton loading and delivering furniture, giving estimates and maintaining the trucks. It would be 22 more years before Mr. Lambert officially retired, after 42 years in the business, but he still came by the office nearly every day. Carlton and Dorris had a son, Carlton Hunley III, who showed early signs of strong leadership, serving as president of his seventh-grade class. He started working for the family business in high school, and at 21 he qualified with the Interstate Commerce Commission to drive for North American Van Lines. After his rock band, The Penetrations, failed to knock the Beatles off the charts, Carlton III bought a truck, hired a friend and started his own moving company. One night in Louisiana, Carlton III and his friend, who was black, made a narrow escape from a group of Ku Klux Klan protesting courtordered busing to desegregate schools. It was soon after that he wooed and married Kathy Johnson, whose parents owned Johnson Galleries in Opelika. After his father began having health

Carlton and Beau run a meeting

with North American Van Lines. They hired their friends, their cousins, the families of friends and cousins. Even during an economic downturn in in the early 2000s, Carlton III and his son, Brian, pushed ahead with their plans for growth and expansion.

oday, with locations in Opelika, Auburn, Montgomery, Columbus, LaGrange, the Hunleys employ more than 40 employees and operate a fleet of 10 tractors, 20 trailers, five vans and

To keep any company viable, it’s important to be nimble and responsive to the changing world. This is possible for Hunley because he listens to the new ideas that his sons have, and he brings in new blood from outside the family. But for a time-honored family business, it’s also important to remember the strong mission and values of the founder. Carlton III has a work ethic that he inherited from his forebears. He sums it up in a slogan, “Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence.” -lm LEE MAGAZINE 17

H O M E

will keep you from making a mistake. After cutting the first piece of fabric using the paper pattern, place the bottom side of the cut piece against the bottom side of the other fabric, and cut the second piece to exactly match the first piece on top of it. Put the two pieces of fabric together, placing the top sides of both pieces together, and sew together the exterior edges about 80 percent of the way around. Turn your lining inward, and stuff your pillow or filling inside, making sure to fill the corners. Finally, stitch the opening closed. Super easy, right?

By Jacquelyn Dixon

Spring Into Action

The Weather's Fine if You Have the Time By Jacquelyn Dixon

ell before this spring had sprung, the great outdoors was beckoning me. Like some of you, I spent the last few weeks of winter dreaming up projects to renew my outdoor living areas. Now that the season is here, I’m thrilled that I can finally get out in the yard and blow off the winter dust. There’s so much brightness and beauty to see and soak in. While contemplating just how to freshen up my patio, I thought about rearranging the seating areas and changing out the seat cushions. I really like my cushions, so I’m going to add colorful pillows. You can buy inexpensive pillows almost anywhere these

18 LEE MAGAZINE

days, or you can buy fade-resistant fabric and re-cover your old ones. You can buy fabric at your local fabric shops, or you can order it online. Depending on the brand and material, fabric will run you $14 to $30 per yard. Decide on a color scheme before you start, because the choices can quickly overwhelm you. HOW TO RE-COVER PILLOWS First, make a pattern using your existing pillow. Place your pillow on a piece of paper, and draw an outline of it. Then draw another outline that adds a half inch all the way around. The adage says, “Measure twice, and cut once.” This

BUILDING A POTTING TABLE This year, I have several building projects in mind that I hope will enhance my outdoor living space from the patio to the garden areas — creating unique focal points, building a multi-use potting table and constructing several types of trellises. There are many plans for potting tables available online, but here’s the one I’m using: Built from standard 1”x4” and 2”x4” lumber (cedar, cypress or treated lumber), the potting table’s sturdy slatted top sits atop a pair of trestles (or sawhorses), making it easy to build, move and store.

Materials: 2 wooden sawhorses (already built) 5 – 10’ lengths of 1”x4” lumber 2 – 8’ lengths of 2”x4” lumber 1 box of 2” deck screws T Square Tape measure Pencil Saw 1 quart of stain, polyurethane or glossy enamel paint

STEP 1: Cut the 1”x4” pieces in half. This should yield 10 pieces of lumber measuring 1”x4”x5’, which will compose the top of the table.

STEP 2: Cut both pieces of the 2”x4” lumber into 35” lengths. This should yield 4 pieces of lumber measuring 2”x4”x35” (with a little scrap left over). These will compose the cross brace of the table.

STEP 3: Lay all 10 pieces of 1”x4” lumber upside-down on a flat surface. Use the square to make sure the ends of the 1”x4” sections are perfectly even. Measure and mark 12” from the ends of each 1”x4”, marking the position of the cut for the 2”x4” pieces. Do the same in the center of each 1”x4” (exactly 2.5’ from either end). STEP 4: Attach each 2”x4”x35” cross brace to the top boards using the 2” deck screws. Use three screws to secure the outermost boards and two screws for the inner boards. STEP 5: Place the top on the sawhorses, making sure that the outermost cross braces rest just outside of the sawhorses. This will add support.

construct free-standing trellises on site to accommodate the lay of the land. These add a sense of formality to a home, mimicking shapes that already exist. Wall-mounted trellises are more whimsical, using unusual materials — old wooden windows, wooden shutters,

To ensure that your creation will last for years, you should stain and seal it with an outdoor polyurethane or exterior glossy enamel. This portable potting table has many uses, serving as a buffet and even an extra table when entertaining a large crowd. TRELLISES Trellises come in many shapes, sizes and materials. They can be mounted on the wall or free standing. A free-standing trellis can create a useful privacy screen or a stately garden backdrop. You should

reclaimed iron headboards and more. If you use a window, be sure to remove any glass. Using an exterior enamel paint, transform your trellis with a bright color to contrast with the wall color. For wooden

shutters, you should remove several of the slats to allow space for the vines to weave through. Iron headboards or old iron gates are beautiful in their rustic state. When attaching trellises to your wall, place a spacer between the trellis and wall to protect the house from moisture and to allow your plants room to grow. These outdoor touches add beauty and character while creating practical places for your vines to grow. Seize this opportunity to make a design statement with your outdoor accents. It’s wonderful to be back outside, so let your creative juices flow — the sky’s the limit! -lm

Jacquelyn Dixon is a licensed contractor with fifteen years of experience, who builds custom homes and reinvents existing ones in the Auburn/Opelika area. Jacquelyn can be reached at: reallifebuilders@gmail.com LEE MAGAZINE 19

P E T S

medical advances in veterinary medicine, we are shaving years off of our pet’s lives when we overfeed them and allow them to keep getting fatter. According to APOP, 54 percent of our family pets are classified as obese or overweight by their veterinarians. This is an all-time high. The reports shows that, not only is the percentage of overweight pets increasing, but those affected are getting even fatter. Even more disturbing, many of us don’t even recognize that there’s a problem to begin with. The 2012 APOP study found that 22 percent of dog owners and 15 percent of cat owners considered their pet to be a healthy

WATCHING THEIR WEIGHT Extra Pounds Pose the Same Health Risks as Ours By Glen Puckett DVM

lmost daily, I encounter a beagle that looks more like a coffee table or a dachshund that resembles a giant loaf of bread. Perhaps your Labrador retriever just tipped the 100-pound mark on the scales or your cat can no longer groom himself because he has become a tad too pudgy. Does any of this sound familiar? 20 LEE MAGAZINE

For decades, America has been plagued by an obesity epidemic. While battling our own waistlines, we have lost sight of the health of our four-legged friends. The majority of our pets are now considered to be overweight or obese, and a recent study from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) suggests that the problem is only getting worse. Despite

weight, when in reality the pet was overweight on examination. It is no mystery why Americans, our children and our pets face this battle of the bulge. We eat too much! We don’t exercise enough, and now we are feeding our pets entirely too much. I often counsel owners on proper feeding amounts and exercise requirements for

My Mission is Your Success!

pets to lose weight. The first step is to figure out exactly how much we are feeding our pets in measured cups (not Jordan Hare Stadium cups). We can then calculate a pet’s true caloric need and see exactly how far off base we are. The difference between how much we are feeding and how much we should be feeding is often staggering and explains the weight problem. I always caution the owner of an overweight pet that treats or “calorie bombs” may be the root of our problem. These delicious goodies are the basic equivalent to our candy bar, as they are loaded with calories but lack balanced nutritional value. When we give Sparky 13 treats every day for going outside, coming inside, sitting, staying, barking, not barking and shaking — well, let’s just say, “loving him to death” comes to mind. The health risks of obesity for pets are similar to those issues posed by our own weight problems. Overweight cats and dogs are prone to diabetes, physical injury, heart disease, arthritis, kidney problems and even increased risk for certain cancers. Our latest estimates suggest that overweight pets live an average of two or three years fewer than their slimmer counterparts. This is a 20 percent reduction in life expectancy, which can be easily and inexpensively managed. When our pets become obese, in most cases, it is our fault. Pets do not have to deal with that pesky thing we refer to as will power. If they are fat, it is most likely because we have fed them too much. Therefore, it is our responsibility to rectify the situation and get them on a track toward a healthier lifestyle. If you feel that your pet is overweight, you should consult your veterinarian for advice on how to properly manage the weight loss plan. Weight loss should not be abrupt nor forced with starvation. Your vet can provide you with a diet plan and exercise regimen that will lead to gradual weight loss for your furry friend. He’ll love you for it — and he’ll love you longer. -lm Dr. Glen Puckett earned his undergraduate degree in zoology at Auburn University, graduated from Auburn's School of Veterinary Medicine in 2008, and has been in practice at Moores Mill Animal hospital ever since. He lives in Auburn with his wife Heather, two children, and three dogs.

Harold Morris Attorney at Law EXPERIENCE TO WIN! FAMILY LAW

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

• DIVORCE Contested and uncontested • CUSTODY

• CRIMINAL CASES Felony and misdemeanor • DRUG CASES Felony and misdemeanor

PERSONAL INJURY

FOR A FREE CONSULTATION Call 334.745.2440 or email hmorrisatty@yahoo.com 2304 Gateway Drive • Opelika, AL 36801 (across from the TK Davis Justice Center

Step by Step The Twisted Path of Judy Van Dyke “We plan. God laughs.” For Judy VanDyke, that statement is probably the perfect summary of her life, but she is not complaining. In fact, she has embraced that concept and is laughing right along with Him. Judy, an attorney and development partner with The Bennett Group of Auburn, Ala., is like many women these days who juggle family, work and community commitments. What sets her apart, perhaps, is that she approaches them all with a candid sense of humor and a powerful sense of faith, all of which she has developed by traveling life on a rather convoluted—she calls it “twisted”—path. Her path began with lessons she learned during her childhood in the `50s and `60s, first in Florida and then in the small Dale County community of Echo, Ala., where her family operated commercial vegetable farms. “My parents rented the land, and they were the farmers,” she said, noting that her whole family worked side-by-side with their employees doing whatever was needed to get the crops to market. “I think that early education on a vegetable farm is the basis for my success, because I saw that the financial reward (both for her family and for their employees) was directly proportionate to the amount of work you did. It was a really valuable lesson to learn,” she said. It’s a lesson she has carried with her ever since, even as her path led her in unexpected, though not unappreciated, directions. Not that the path seemed all that unusual at first. After

STORY BY KATIE JACKSON 22 LEE MAGAZINE

graduating high school in the early `70s, Judy started college, but she got married and left school before getting her degree. Through those early years, she was a busy mother who wasn’t consumed with plans for her future career. However, her life experiences—including working several years in a law office— ultimately provided Judy with incredibly valuable skills. It was not until 1989, that Judy decided to get that long-delayed degree. She had moved to Auburn with her husband, Jerry, who had taken a position with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the Auburn University College of Agriculture. The timing was good, because their children were essentially out of the nest, giving her time to tackle the books. Initially, Judy enrolled in Auburn’s pharmacy program. She soon realized that being a pharmacist was not her dream, so she changed her major to science education—an efficient use of all the pre-pharmacy biology and chemistry classes she had already taken—and in 1993 Judy graduated from Auburn with her teaching degree at the age of 40. Somewhere along the way, a friend suggested that Judy go to law school. Because of Judy’s earlier experience in a law office, the idea was appealing to her. She applied and was accepted to Jones School of Law in Montgomery, Ala., though she had planned to teach for a year before she actually dug into the law books. But the right teaching opportunity never came along. “Most of the schools wanted me to teach and coach a sports

PHOTOS BY BETH SNIPES

team or the cheerleading squad. I could barely walk around the track, so I knew I was not a coach,” she explained. Thinking it would be a while before she found a teaching job, Judy began night classes at Jones. But in another classic twist of fate, Judy was offered a job teaching only chemistry—no coaching required—at Russell County High School. Because she had already started down the law school path, Judy opted to teach and go to law school simultaneously. This was not a simple route to navigate. Judy started each day on Eastern time as a teacher in Seale, then rushed back to Central time through Auburn and on down to Montgomery to become a student three nights a week. She kept up this routine for all four years of law school. Because of her challenging schedule, Judy admits feeling little sympathy for her high school students who claimed they were too busy to finish their homework. She also understood that to maintain balance in her own life, her goal in law school should not be to graduate magna cum laude, but just to graduate. Judy not only graduated from Jones in 1997, she passed the bar exam on her first try while still teaching full time. She began carefully to make plans for the opening of her new law practice, which of course resulted in at least one little bump—and a moment of levity—in the road. “The first day I came into the office, the phone was ringing,” she recalled, which seemed like an exceptionally good sign for her nascent practice. When she answered the phone, however, the voice on the other end said, “Do you have a carburetor for a ‘77 Toyota Celica?” “I think you have the wrong number,” she told the caller. “No, seriously,” he said, “do you have a carburetor for a ‘77 Celica?” Apparently her newly assigned law office phone number had previously belonged to 24 LEE MAGAZINE

Judy's "on the ball"office chair

a mechanic. “Why that body shop went out of business, I don’t know, because I was getting 20 calls a day for them,” she said. Undaunted, Judy got a new phone number, as well as new business cards, stationery and a new Yellow Page listing. She had to laugh to herself, “All that planning was out the window.” Despite the setback, Judy’s practice grew quickly. By 2002 she had amassed quite a caseload that kept her busy. Then the old path of life took yet another twist. “I tell people that, in 2002, I had two

babies,” Judy said, explaining that her two granddaughters, both under the age of 2 at the time, came to live with her and her husband that year. “I found out that practicing law and being a mom was a little harder than I would have thought.” Judy did a lot of praying for guidance on the best way to handle this change of events, and she set her sights on a new objective, “Remove all judges, court calendars and jails from my life,” she said. The answer to her prayers (which Judy never doubted would be answered) was

right under her nose — sort of. For several years, Judy had served as attorney for the Opelika Housing Authority and had been a volunteer with Lee County Alabama Habitat for Humanity, both of which had exposed her to the dire need for high quality, affordable housing.

was serving. While Judy’ switch to The Bennett Group was not immediate, it was

in their homes, because they are part of a real and caring community. In many cases, the residents will eventually have the

Since that area of legal work didn’t require spending time in courtrooms or jails, it was the perfect fit for Judy. Plus, it was so worthwhile. “Housing is a basic need for all people,” she said. “You know—food, clothing, shelter. And while it’s probably not politically correct to say this, what I have learned and what has been my guiding focus is that even poor people want a nice place live. “ Recognizing the opportunity there, Judy began to focus her practice on affordable housing projects. It was through this effort that she crossed paths with Fred Bennett, founder of The Bennett Group.

Judy reviews blueprints for the next stage of Shepherd's Cove

“I guess she found me,” said Fred. “I was working with East Alabama Services for the Elderly to plan a renovation to their senior-housing facility (which he had first developed in 1978), when I realized Judy was competing with me by representing another developer. You’ll need to ask her why she switched.”

providential. Though she and Fred began as competitors, after working on several projects together, they became comfortable with one another and, as Judy recalls it, Fred decided “he would rather have me working with him than against him.” Since then, they have become “the best of partners and best of friends. God had to bring us together,” she said.

According to Judy, she was first attracted to The Bennett Group’s approach to affordable housing, because they were serving a different audience than other, more traditional public housing programs. “There are a lot of different levels of need, and different levels of service are needed,” she explained. For example, Habitat for Humanity is designed to help people who already own land or a house by upgrading their living conditions. But what about the many people who don’t own land or a home? That was the sector of the community that The Bennett Group

“Judy and I are both believers and want to serve the Lord in everything we do, so we share this work as a God-given mission,” agreed Fred. In fact, such faith is the foundation of their business. “We are a for-profit business,” Judy said of The Bennett Group, “but we are mission-driven. We don’t build a project and walk away.” Instead, The Bennett Group and its investors and partners commit to a project for the long-haul. Their ultimate goal is to have the residents who live in their developments become equally invested

opportunity to buy their homes outright. Fred established The Bennett Group in 2006, after years of working in various sectors of the development field, with a community-service vision in mind. They are all about partnerships and collaboration, because they understand that they can’t do it alone. “I’ve had this as a mission and learned early that these things are, by their nature, collaborative and community-focused,” Fred said, adding that Judy is a natural for that business model. “She enjoys the process of working with others engaged in community-building, and she loves prospecting for good projects,” he said. Of course, there are other talents she possesses as well. “She is highly intelligent and learns things very quickly,” he added. “This is a complicated niche-type enterprise that takes most folks years to master, but LEE MAGAZINE 25

Judy and her team completed this newly rehabbed section of Shepherd's Cove

she’s come along quickly. She’s also a natural at networking and constantly surprises us with unusual connections between needs and resources. This is how she came to be known at The Bennett Group as ‘the girl who thinks outside the box’.” In fact, in March Judy and her outsidethe-box way of thinking were invited to participate in the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials legislative conference held in Washington, D.C., where she was tapped to work on the ground floor with several housing authorities as they explore NAHRO’s own thinkingoutside-the-box initiative, the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. “The details are boring,” Judy said, “but I am very excited about being able to work with housing authorities in the Southeast as

26 LEE MAGAZINE

they evaluate their future housing needs.” Prime examples of The Bennett Group’s work here in Lee County include Jordan’s Gate, a new housing-development project in Opelika, Ala., which was built in partnership with Greater Peace Community Development Corporation; Shepherds Cove, a rebuild of an out-ofdate housing project that is currently under way in Auburn; and Solstice, a senior citizen community near Tiger Town in collaboration with the Community Housing Initiatives of Columbus, Ga., and Auburn Bank, which has been a rousing success. In the seven years since Judy joined The Bennett Group, she has been involved in at least 19 projects spanning across Alabama, Georgia and Florida. The Bennett Group is also looking at projects in South Carolina and Mississippi, and

they are always seeking new investors and partners for their projects. They also do a great deal of pro bono consulting to help others who work in the affordable-housing sector find ways to improve situations. In that role, Judy and The Bennett Group are deeply committed to providing honest, if not always welcome, opinions on potential development ideas. A case in point: Judy recently consulted with a group in Huntsville, Ala., on Lincoln Park, the housing project that gained notoriety in 2010 when its resident, Antoine Dodson, became an instant Internet celebrity, singer and actor after being interviewed by a local television news station about the attempted rape of his sister. “They wanted to redevelop the project because of bad press from the song, but the plan they had I felt we could not, in

“AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WANT A PLACE WHERE I WOULD BE HAPPY TO LIVE — WHERE I WOULD BE HAPPY FOR MY MOTHER TO LIVE, FOR MY CHILDREN TO LIVE. THAT CHANGES YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THINGS." -Judy Van Dyke

Judy and her construction team start on the next phase

good conscience, do.” Judy said. “We did not get the job,” she added. But that’s okay, because, while The Bennett Group could have done the job well, the project did not fit their very high standards. “At the end of the day, I want a place where I would be happy to live — where I would be happy for my mother to live, for my children to live. That changes your perspective on things.” The Bennett Group takes pride in its work. Judy says, “It is very rewarding when you hear people say they have never lived in a place that had carpet and a dishwasher and certainly not new dishwashers and carpets, all things we take for granted.” Important work for Judy is not limited to the workplace, either. She is deeply involved in several community projects. Among them is the Dancing Stars of East Alabama fundraiser, which just celebrated its third year of raising money for the Child Advocacy Center of East Alabama. The seed of that idea was planted in Judy’s mind by a friend from Dothan. Almost as soon as Judy began exploring the options, she met Beth Snipes, publisher of Lee Magazine, who, rumor had it, was also interested in doing just such an event to benefit area women and was seeking just

the right philanthropy for her idea. The two connected in October 2009 and, by the spring 2010, they held their first, and very successful, Dancing Stars event. Of course the success of this event is no surprise to those who know Judy well. “Judy is always looking for ways to make a difference,” said Fred, who noted that, in addition to her support of the Dancing Stars event and the Child Advocacy Center, Judy also organized “Deo Volente” (Latin for “God’s will”), a not-for-profit organization that teaches real estate developers how to build relationships with non-profit partners and also provides funding for the Food Bank of East Alabama, Young Life of East Alabama and college scholarships for young people living in affordable housing. “It’s a God thing,” says Judy of her collaboration with Beth and the success of Dancing Stars. Not only do both women believe that divine guidance brought them together, “There was no way that all the pieces of that event would have come together without His hand in the process,” said Judy. The same goes for all other aspects of Judy’s life, including her chance to raise

her granddaughters. “We are not the only grandparents raising grandchildren,” she said, noting that, in today’s society, their story is far from unusual. “But I thank God that we were available, because there are a lot of children who don’t have that.” “I am constantly amazed at how He has used me to do things that I could not have even imagined, and I see Him working in so many ways that I could not have imagined,” she continued. “As I said, it has been a very twisted path. I did not get to age 60 (which Judy will reach this year) in 10 seconds. But I am not even surprised now when God does things for me,” she said. And with that firm faith in place, Judy appears to be well prepared to take whatever new path may appear in front of her and proceed with a sense of discovery, appreciation and a healthy dose of laughter. “My story is not special in any way. I have just been blessed with good people. Heck, I’m in the construction industry, and I don’t even know any scum bags!” -lm Katie Lamar Jackson is a freelance writer based in Opelika, Ala., who has been covering everything from agriculture to the arts for more than 30 years. LEE MAGAZINE 27

WHERE

AUBURN CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY, 479 East

4154 or http://goo.gl/Osvn. Information:

Thach Avenue, Auburn. Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 2-6 p.m. Information: 501-3190.

844-4748 or theatre@auburn.edu. AUBURN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

714 East Glenn Avenue; Auburn 334-887-7011 auburnchamber.com

JAN DEMPSEY COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER OPELIKA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission: free. Information: 501-2963.

601 Avenue A, Opelika 334-745-4861 www.opelika.com

JULE COLLINS SMITH MUSEUM OF FINE ART,

EVENT CENTER DOWNTOWN 614 North Railroad Avenue, Opelika 334-705-5466 www.eventcenterdowntown.net

901 South College Street, Auburn. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 4:45 p .m. Saturday. Admission: free. Information: 844-1484.

Drive, Auburn. Adoption hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Drop offs strays or pick up found pets: Tuesday through Sunday, 8:30 to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Information: 821-3222; lchs@leecountyhumane.org. LEWIS COOPER JUNIOR MEMORIAL LIBRARY,

200 South Sixth Street, Opelika. Hours: Monday and Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Information: 705-5380 LEE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 6500

Stage Road (Highway 14), Loachapoka. Hours: Second Saturday of every month, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Information: 887-3007, webmaster@leecountyhistoricalsociety.org. LOUISE KREHER FOREST ECOLOGY PRESERVE,

3100 Highway 147 North, Auburn. Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission: free. Information: 707-6512. TELFAIR PEET THEATRE, at the corner of

Samford and Duncan avenues. Tickets: 844-

WHEN

LEE COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY, 1140 Ware

GALLERY, 222 East Drake Avenue, Auburn.

28 LEE MAGAZINE

APRIL/MAY

calendar

ONGOING: Thursdays in May—May Concert Series: SoulCo. The Soul Coalition of East Alabama, SoulCo, kicks off Auburn’s free concert series with blues-based music, 6–9 p.m., Town Creek Park. Call 5012930 for information ONGOING: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Auburn University Spring Registration. OLLI at Auburn is now registering students for the 2013 Spring Term. Courses run April 8 to May 13. Visit olliatauburn. org or call 844-5100 for more information. ONGOING: Every Tuesday All Summer— Opelika Farmer’s Market. Beginning June 4, the market will be open 2–5 p.m., rain or shine, featuring regional produce, homemade ice cream and fresh baked goods on The Courthouse Square. Call 745-0466 for information. ONGOING: Second Saturday of Each Month—Lee County Historical Society Museum in Loachapoka features history reenactors demonstrating arts and crafts, 1–3 p.m., at 6500 Stage Road. For informa-

tion, email lchs1968@hotmail.com. ONGOING: First Friday of Each Month— “Shop Late, Eat Local” in Downtown Opelika, featuring entertainment and shopping until 8 p.m. ONGOING: Wednesdays in May—Noon Tunes, free lunchtime concert 12–1 p.m. on the Courthouse Square in Opelika.. Bring a lunch or buy from a restaurant, then relax by the fountain and enjoy. ONGOING: Tuesdays—Summer Swing at Opelika’s Municipal Park. Starting May 7, Opelika Parks and Recreation will host a free outdoor concert. Show starts at 7 p.m. ONGOING: March 11–April 21—Auburn Floral Trail. The Auburn Beautification Council and the AO Tourism Bureau invite you to explore over 14 miles of spring blooms. Visit auburnalabama.org for trail directions, or call Catrina Cook at 501-3085. APRIL 13: Bike Bash 2013. The City of Auburn and the Auburn Bicycle Committee are hosting a biking event with a 3- to 30-mile trail. Register online at active.com or at the Dean Road Recreation Center. Registration begins day of event at 8 a.m. at Chewacla State Park. For information, visit www.auburnalabama.org/cycle. APRIL 13: Art Club: April Showers. Watercolors class, 10 a.m., at Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Call 844-3486 to register. APRIL 15: Auburn University Low Brass Ensemble Concert. Guest Artist Concert at Goodwin Recital Hall, 7:30–9 p.m. $10 for public, $5 for students, and tickets will be sold at the door 45 minutes prior to the performance. APRIL 16–21: Elephant’s Graveyard. This play spins a haunting tale of spectacle, vio-

lence and revenge. 7:30–10 p.m. at Telfair Peet Theatre. Admission is $15 for the public; $10 for University staff, seniors and all non-AU students; AU students free. APRIL 16: Auburn University Symphonic Band Concert. Opelika Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30–9 p.m. Admission is $10 for public, $5 for students with tickets sold at the door 45 minutes prior to the performance. APRIL 18: Bob Sneider, Jazz. Guest Artist Concert at Goodwin Recital Hall, 7:30–9 p.m. Admission is $10 for public, $5 for students, and tickets will be sold at the door 45 minutes prior to the performance. APRIL 18: Dancing Stars of East Alabama. Teams of professional dancers and local stars battle on the dance floor to benefit the Child Advocacy Center of East Alabama. Show begins at 7p.m. For information and tickets, email info@dancingstarsofalabama.com. APRIL 19: Tiger Trail of Auburn Induction Ceremony. Join the community to honor outstanding Auburn athletes, coaches and administrators, 5 p.m., Auburn University Arena. For information, call 887-7011. APRIL 19: Auburn University Jazz Band Concert. Goodwin Music Building, Band Hall Room 134, 7:30–9 p.m. Admission is $10 for public, $5 for students with tickets sold at the door 45 minutes prior to the performance. APRIL 20: 13th Annual Old 280 Boogie. Local vendors will showcase food, arts & crafts and live entertainment. Begins at 12 p.m. at 1015 Mayberry in Waverly. For information, find Old 280 Boogie on Facebook. APRIL 20: A-Day & Toomer’s Oaks. Come for the A-Day game and the last rolling of the Toomer’s Oaks as they stand now. Featuring appearances by athletes and live music. A-Day game starts at 1 p.m. at Jordan-Hare Stadium, then on to Toomer’s Corner. APRIL 22: Auburn University Indian Music Ensemble Concert. Goodwin Recital Hall, 7:30–9 p.m. Admission is $10 for public, $5 for students with tickets sold at the door 45 minutes prior to the performance. APRIL 23: Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers: Strong. Film begins at

6 p.m. at Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. APRIL 23: K-12 Art Club, April Showers. Usher in the season with watercolors and landscape paintings. Kindergarten through 12th grade. Call 844-3486 for information or to register. APRIL 24: Auburn Chamber Music Society Ebene Quartet. Goodwin Recital Hall, 7:30–9 p.m.. Admission is $10 for public, $5 for students with tickets sold at the door 45 minutes prior to the performance. APRIL 25: Learn Modern Square Dancing & Line Dancing. Sponsored by Auburn Allemanders Square Dance Club, class will be 7–9 p.m. at Jan Dempsey Community Art Center, 222 E. Drake Ave. in Auburn. No experience is required.

bird demonstrations, active military aircraft, Touch-a-Truck Kids Zone and food, and more. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Auburn University Regional Airport on Mike Hubbard Blvd. Rain date Sunday, May 12. Buy advanced tickets at the Tourism Bureau, Kroger locations, all bank locations and the Chambers of Commerce. MAY 18: 21st Annual Fishing Rodeo. Bring your fishing pole, but the bait is supplied. 8–11 a.m. at AU Tech Park – South Lake in Auburn. Entrance is $5 for each child, ages 12 and younger. Door prizes available. For information visit auburnalabama.org/parks. MAY 28–31: Summer Ecology Camp. “Our Wonderful Woods” includes tree, leaf and bark identification, wood working, forestry practices, among other studies and activities. Sessions available for grades 1–6. Registration begins April 15. Call 707-6512 for information.

APRIL 25: Quatuor Ebene. One of the most sought-after international string ensembles, their sound combines classical, jazz, improvisation and vocal harmonization. Opelika Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit eastalabamaarts.org.

MAY 30: The Del McCoury Band. Admired by artists such as Vince Gill and Elvis Costello, Del McCoury brings authentic bluegrass to the community, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Opelika Center for the Performing Arts. Visit eastalabamaarts.org to purchase tickets and for more information.

APRIL 27: Auburn 10K, 5K & 1M Finish on the 50. The race will take begin at 8 a.m. at Toomer’s Corner, continue through the streets of Auburn and end across the 50-yard-line in Jordan-Hare Stadium. Call 332-0327 for registration information.

JUNE 1 & 2 / 8 & 9: 6TH Annual East Alabama Women’s Council of Realtors Tour of Homes. Come tour the community and see what local real estate offers, with 20 area homes scheduled to be included. Call 5594005 for information.

April 27 & 28: Auburn University Singers Concert. Telfair Peet Theatre, 2:30–4 p.m. Individual and small group talent will be showcased through contemporary styles such as country, rock & roll and inspirational music. Admission is $10 for public, $5 for students with tickets sold at the door 45 minutes prior to the performance.

JUNE 14: 7th Annual Summer Night Downtown Art Walk. A self-guided art walk 5:30–9:30 p.m. in Downtown Auburn, featuring works from photography to sculpture, fine art and live music. Call 501-2947 for more information.

APRIL 27: Auburn CityFest. An arts & crafts festival known for its artists, food and entertainment. Begins at 9 a.m. at Kiesel Park in Auburn. Call 501-2936 for information. MAY 11: Auburn Opelika Air Show. Brought to the community for the first time since 1984, the show includes war

JUNE 17–21: Vacation Bible School at Lakeview Baptist Church in Auburn. Free for children entering kindergarten to 6th grade. Register online at the VBS website http:// www.lakeviewvbs.com, or church website, www.lakeviewbaptist.org or at the church office at 1600 East Glenn Ave. For more information please visit the website or call 887-7094.

Please send calendar info to: beth@lee-magazine.com

LEE MAGAZINE 29

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Alabama: Valley, Opelika, Auburn Georgia: West Point, LaGrange, Newnan, Carrollton, Peachtree City Florida: Pensacola, Pace, Milton ÂŠ EHA 2013 CBK 001203