No'Ala, November/December 2012

Riding With the Mooreland Hunt | Toys for Tots | Puppy Love | Making Knives with Harmon Hazle

NOV/DEC 2012 $3.95

Gifts you’ll love, and some that’ll love you back

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November/December 2012

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Know any good boys and girls?

Our Annual Holiday Gift Guide has 186 gift ideas—something for everyone on your list!

One of North America’s most highly respected Hunts, the Mooreland Hunt is both a sport and a way of life for its North Alabama members

BY ALLEN TOMLINSON PHOTOS BY ADRIAN JENNINGS

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For the 30th Anniversary of the Shoals Symphony, Roger Briggs has written an amazing story about the Shoals using only musical notes

BY LAURA ANDERS LEE PHOTOS BY SHANNON WELLS

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This year, Toys for Tots plans to provide Christmas for at least a thousand kids in Lauderdale, Colbert and Franklin counties—a Christmas they wouldn’t have experienced otherwise

BY LAURA ANDERS LEE

David Abramson and his family raise a litter of elite hunting dogs (with a few rescues); you’ll love them (and they will love you back!)

BY LAURA ANDERS LEE PHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL

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contents SHOALS •••••

SHARP MEN Harmon Hazle (center) crafts beautiful blades with the occasional help of his grandsons Jordan (left) and Gil Jaggers

November/December 2012 Volume 5: Issue 6 ••• C. Allen Tomlinson Editor-In-Chief David Sims Managing Editor/Design Director Contributing Writers Sarah Gaede, Laura Anders Lee, David Sims, Claire Stewart, Allen Tomlinson Contributing Photographers Patrick Hood, Adrian Jennings, Danny Mitchell, Shannon Wells Business Manager Roy Hall Marketing Coordinator/Advertising Sales Heidi King Editorial Assistant Claire Stewart Graphic Designer Rowan Finnegan Interns Sara Kachelman, Ryan Paine ••• No’Ala is published six times annually by No’Ala Press PO Box 2530, Florence, AL 35630 Phone: 256-766-4222 | Fax: 256-766-4106 Toll-free: 800-779-4222 Web: www.noalapress.com

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Standard postage paid at Florence, AL. A one-year subscription is $19.95 for delivery in the United States.

Signed articles reflect only the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors.

Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of their advertisements.

Calendar Events for November-December 2012

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Everybody’s Business Harmon Hazle Is One Sharp Man

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BY ALLEN TOMLINSON

© 2008-2012 ATSA, All rights reserved.

PHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL

Send all correspondence to Allen Tomlinson, Editor, at the postal address above, or by e-mail to atomlinson@atsa-usa.com.

Letters may be edited for space and style.

Food for Thought Not Bambi’s Mother!

BY SARAH GAEDE

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To advertise, contact us at: 256-766-4222, or sales@noalapress.com.

Back Talk How Does He Do It? Our Panel of First Graders Weigh in on Santa’s Odds for Christmas 2012

BY CLAIRE STEWART

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Bless Their Hearts A Tale of Two Christmases Past

BY DAVID SIMS

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Parting Shot

BY DANNY MITCHELL

On the Cover Though perhaps the sweetest cover model we have ever worked with, Anna (one of the Abramson’s eight beagle puppies) was not exactly the most cooperative. She wiggled more than any model we’ve ever worked with! Thank goodness, we managed to capture one perfect shot.

The editor will provide writer’s guidelines upon request. Prospective authors should not submit unsolicited manuscripts; please query the editor first.

No’Ala is printed with vegetable-based inks on 100% recycled paper.

Join us on Facebook: No’Ala Mag

editor’s letter « Allen Tomlinson « 11

Christmas treats and pie in the face.

This is the fifth Holiday issue of No’Ala, since the magazine began in 2008 with an issue that featured Carl “Santa Claus” Casiday on the cover. For this Holiday issue, we’ve worked hard to bring you lots and lots of ideas for gift giving and entertaining, but we worried that there was never anything in the Holiday issue that a man would care about. To remedy that, we’re bringing you some hunting stories—one about the Mooreland Hunt, a fox hunting group that practices America’s oldest and most fascinating sport, and another about David Abramson’s carefully bred hunting dogs. Check out Sarah Gaede’s column, which includes a recipe for venison chili, and check out Harmon Hazle’s knives. No excuses, guys— there’s something in this issue for everyone!

In our last issue, we made a mistake when we printed the recipe for Tracy Posey’s German Chocolate Pie, leaving out an entire paragraph that—no surprise—seriously affected the outcome of this delicious dessert. And boy, did you let us know about it! We started getting emails and phone calls almost immediately, and to remedy the situation, we printed a corrected recipe and mailed it to every one of our subscribers. If you read our magazine because you pick up a copy somewhere, and you want the real recipe, check out our Facebook page; this pie is incredible, easy to make, and truly delicious (if you follow the correct rules.) And we’ve learned a couple of things. First—our readers love it when we introduce them to new things, so we have to make sure we get it right; secondly, there are hundreds of people out there who seriously love some German Chocolate Pie. We can’t promise that we won’t make mistakes, but we do promise that every recipe we publish from this point forward will be tested in our own kitchens to make sure we get it right. We don’t need a pie in the face again!

As we head into the busiest season of the year, take a moment to read about Toys for Tots and consider helping, if you can. Not everyone is able to have an elaborate holiday season, but that’s not really the point; the real joy in this season is spending time with those you love. When you shop, shop locally; take advantage of all of the wonderful activities the season offers, and enjoy yourself. No matter how you say it or celebrate it—Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays—we hope this is a joyous season for you and yours, and that we all can look forward to a bright and happy New Year.

Providing Insurance and Financial Services

Myron Gardner, LUTCF 1819 Darby Drive, Florence, AL 35630 Bus 256-764-2234;Cell 256-335-6080 Email myron.gardner.b17k@statefarm.com 12 | NOALAPRESS . COM | N OVEMBER /D ECEMBER 2012

Phil Wiginton 419 Cox Boulevard, Sheffield, AL, 35660 Bus 256-383-4521; Cell 256-762-5859 Email phil@philwiginton.com

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calendar

Through November 9 Merging: Guadalupe Lanning Robinson Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 N. Water St., Tuscumbia; 9:00am–5:00pm, Monday–Friday and 1:00pm–3:00pm Sunday; Admission is $5 adults, $3 children, Sundays free, museum members free and group rates available for 15 or more people; 256-383-0533 or tvaa.net.

A show by artist Guadalupe L. Robinson, who designs and builds pots in her studio in Huntsville, where she has been working since moving from her native Mexico City in 1985. The exhibit includes both pottery and quilts.

Through November 16 World War I & II Axis and Allied posters Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 N. Water St., Tuscumbia; 9:00am–5:00pm, Monday–Friday and 1:00pm–3:00pm Sunday; Admission is $5 adults, $3 children, Sundays free, museum members free and group rates available for 15 or more people; 256-383-0533 or tvaa.net.

World War I & II Axis and Allied posters from collection of Peter Morris, of Leighton, will be on display at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art. November 1–3 David Christopher’s Holiday Open House David Christopher’s, 411 S. Montgomery Ave., Sheffield; 9:00am–5:00pm. No admission; 256-383-2274 or www.davidchristophers.com.

November 2 Apple Annie Day Locations all across the Shoals; a project of the Junior League of the Shoals.

This will mark the 71st anniversary of the annual charity performance of red stocking clad ladies selling apples to support many local nonprofit organizations.

rence; 9:00am–4:00pm, Monday-Friday. Admission free.

256-760-6379 or florenceal.org.

November 6 UNA Faculty Recital: Mr. Viljar Weimann, violin, with Dr. Yi-Min Cai, piano.

Music Building Recital Hall at UNA; 7:30pm.

November 8–11 Shoals Community Theatre Presents The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Shoals Community Theatre, 123 N. Seminary St., Florence; 7:30pm Thursday–Saturday; 2:00pm Sunday. Admission $15 adults, $10 students. 256-764-1700 or shoalstheatre.com.

November 8–11, 16-17 6 Characters in Search of an Author George S. Lindsey Theatre, University of North Alabama, November 8-10 and 16–17 at 7:30pm; November 11 at 2:00pm. $5 Students, Senior Adults, & UNA Employees; $10 General Public; 256-765-5122 or www.una.edu/music-theatre.

The University of North Alabama Department of Music and Theatre presents 6 Characters in Search of an Author, by Luigi Pirandello, Adaptation by Robert Brustein, adapted and directed by Dr. David Ruebhausen. As an acting company is starting a routine rehearsal, they are interrupted by the mysterious arrival of six people claiming to be characters, unfinished and abandoned by their author.

Though assumed by the actors to be lunatics, the characters soon lure them into their story and show the actors that the line between reality and fiction is often unclear. Written in the early 20th century by Italian playwright, Luigi Pirandello, 6 Characters in Search of an Author is considered a landmark work of world dramatic literature, asking its audience to ponder the question: “What is reality?” This play contains some language and subject matter of an adult nature.

November 9–10 Holiday Open House at Lola’s Gifts and Flowers 214 N. Montgomery Ave., Sheffield; 10:00am–6:00pm; 256-383-2299.

First Friday Downtown Florence; 5:00pm–8:00pm. No admission charged. www.firstfridaysflorence.com.

This exciting monthly event is a gathering of artists of all kinds: musicians, painters, sculptors, photographers, hand-crafted jewelry creators, and more. Local and regional artists will be selling their works along the sidewalks; live music can be heard throughout the streets; and downtown merchants will stay open late.

November 3 Rogersville First Saturday Downtown Rogersville; 3:00pm–8:00pm. No admission charged; 256-247-9449.

Live music and merchants line the streets of downtown Rogersville.

November 4 Daylight Savings Time ends November 6–December 28 Wanderings: Oil Landscapes by Paula Frizbe Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, 217 E. Tuscaloosa St., Flo-

December 9 The Shoals Symphony at UNA Presents a Celebration Concert

November 10 St. Francis Faire’s White Elephant Sale, Bake Sale and Craft Fair Trinity Episcopal Church, 410 N. Pine St., Florence; 9:00am–4:00pm. All proceeds benefit the St. Francis Project.

ChiliFest 2012 Trinity Episcopal Church Park, 9:00am–4:00pm.

Chili Cook off. Prizes and trophies for best chili and most creative showmanship. Music, football, and chili!

November 11 Veterans Day Sunday at the Center Concert: Sara Grey & Kieron Means Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, Southall-Moore building, 217 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence; 2:00pm; Admission free.

256-760-6379 or florenceal.org.

November 13 UNA presents a Woodwind Chamber Recital Music Building Recital Hall at UNA; 7:30pm.

November 14–December 14 Quilt Challenge ‘12: Works by the Shoals Piecemakers Quilt Guild Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, 217 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence; 9:00am–4:00pm, Monday–Friday; Admission free.

256-760-6379 or florenceal.org.

Members of the Shoals Piecemakers Quilt Guild follow new challenging rules each year to create innovative quilts of all sizes.

November 14 UNA presents a Collegiate Artist Solo Competition Music Building Recital Hall at UNA; Noon.

November 16 W.C. Handy Birthday Celebration W.C. Handy Home, Museum & Library, 620 W. College St., Florence; 11:00am–1:00pm; Admission free. 256-760-6434 or florenceal.org.

Live music, cake and free tours of Handy’s Home and Museum commemorate the birthday of the “Father of the Blues” and Florence native William Christopher Handy.

November 17 Dam Bridge Run Begins at Marriott Shoals Hotel, 10 Hightower Pl., Florence; contact Todd Allen at 256-627-0658.

Cross the Tennessee River on the historic Wilson Dam, and return across the Patton Island Bridge. Each river crossing is approximately 0.8 miles.

Nov. 17–18 Christmas in the Country at LaGrange 1461 LaGrange College Rd. Leighton; Saturday, 10:00am–4:00pm and Sunday, 1:00pm–4:00pm. No admission.

256-446-9324 or 256-383-0783.

Enjoy a preview of Christmas at the LaGrange College site and pioneer park. Homespun holiday decorations and activities, including wagon rides with Santa. No admission. Holiday crafts and bake sale benefit LaGrange Living Historical Association.

November 22 Thanksgiving Day Continued page 16

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calendar

November 23 Black Friday. Shop locally!

Children’s Book Reading at Coldwater Books Coldwater Books, 101 W. 6th St., Tuscumbia; 10:00am–2:00pm. No admission. 256-381-2525.

November 27 Tuscumbia Christmas Parade Main Street, downtown Tuscumbia, 6:00pm. For information call 256-386-7200.

UNA presents a Faculty Recital: Dr. Yasmin Flores, saxophone GUC Performance Hall at UNA; 7:30pm.

November 30–December 2 Sugar Plum Market North Alabama State Fairgrounds, Muscle Shoals; time TBD. Admission charged.

November 30–December 2 UNA presents Amahl and the Night Visitors Wesleyan Hall Auditorium, UNA Campus; 7:30pm.

November 30–December 24 The Trees of Christmas Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 N. Water St., Tuscumbia; 9:00am–5:00pm, Monday–Friday and 1:00pm–3:00pm Sunday; Admission is $5 adults, $3 children, Sundays free, museum members free and group rates available for 15 or more people; 256-383-0533 or tvaa.net.

Community groups and individuals create an alluring exhibition using nine 12 foot tall live spruce and fir trees to tell their stories.

Decorators use a variety of uncharacteristic techniques and materials to carry out both traditional and unexpected trees. The exhibition of decorated trees, the smell of fresh trees and special museum decorations make for a pleasurable experience that has become a part of many family traditions.

December 1 First Southern Bank presents the Downtown Florence Christmas Parade Begins at UNA and progresses through downtown Florence on Court St.. Line-up begins at 5:00pm. No admission charged.

Downtown Sheffield Christmas Parade Montgomery Avenue, Sheffield; 6:00pm. Call 256-394-1556 for information.

Rogersville First Saturday Downtown Rogersville; 3:00pm–8:00pm; no admission charged; 256-247-9449.

December 2 A Plantation Christmas at Belle Mont 1569 Cook Ln., Tuscumbia; Sunday, 1:00pm–5:00pm. $6 adults, $3 children, under 6 free; 256-383-0783 or 256-383-0783.

Visit the mansion and enjoy a Christmas celebration reminiscent of the old South, complete with vintage ballroom dancers, period music, and traditional Christmas decorations of fresh greenery and fruit. Sponsored by Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation.

December 3–7 Holly & Ivy Luncheons Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, Florence; Cup o’Cheer 11:30 am, lunch at noon; Admission $20 in advance; 256-760-6379 or florenceal.org.

December 4 UNA presents a Brass Ensemble Concert Norton Auditorium at UNA; 7:30pm.

December 6 Muscle Shoals Christmas Parade Avalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals; 7:00pm. Call 256-386-9250 for information.

December 6–7 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Ritz Theatre, Sheffield; Performances for school groups will be at 9:00am and 10:30am, with an additional public performance scheduled. Admission will be charged. 256-383-0533 or tvaa.net.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is presented by Time Out for Theatre, the children’s-programming arm of the Tennessee Valley Art Association.

December 7 First Friday Downtown Florence; 5:00pm–8:00pm. No admission charged. firstfridaysflorence.com.

The Dickens Feast—A Dickens Christmas, Y’all Tuscumbia Utilities Building, 202 E. 6th St., Tuscumbia; Friday, 7:00pm. Tickets are $25 in advance only, purchased at Fiddledee D!, Tuscumbia. For more information: 256-383-9797 or 256-383-0783.

Enjoy a scrumptious Christmas feast with Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit, Scrooge, Marley, and all the Ghosts of Christmas from A Christmas Carol. Holiday music and decorations complete the scene.

Sponsored by Tuscumbia Retail Development, Inc. December 8–16 Hanukkah December 8 Joe Wheeler Annual Boat Parade of Lights Joe Wheeler State Park, 4403 McLean Dr., Rogersville; Buffet begins at 4:00pm. Parade begins at 6:00pm The parade features many beautifully decorated boats that will circle in front of the lodge and marina area. The reflection of the lights on the water is spectacular. A special holiday buffet will be served at Daniella’s in the Park.

“Dickens Christmas, Y’all” Downtown Tuscumbia, along Main Street; begins at 10:00am and lasts all day. Arts and Crafts, Carriage Rides, and special events are scheduled to take place throughout the day, beginning at 10:00am. Most events are free, some events have nominal cost. For more information call 256-383-9797 or 256-383-0783.

Join Scrooge and all the characters from A Christmas Carol on the streets of downtown. Events include: Breakfast with Santa at Helen Keller Library, Milk and Cookies with Tiny Tim at Cold Water Books, Christmas caroling, and more.

December 9 Shoals Symphony at UNA presents a Celebration Concert Norton Auditorium, UNA; 2:00pm. Admission charged.

International composer and conductor Roger Briggs, a native of Florence, was commissioned by the Symphony to compose a piece celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Shoals Symphony at UNA. The world premiere of Symphony No. 2 “The Shoals” will be presented at the Celebration Concert. Features Conductor Viljar P. Weimann, Composer and Conductor Roger Briggs, and Guest Artists Terrance Brown, baritone, and Tiffany Bostic-Brown, soprano. Program includes Le Corsaire, Overture, Op. 21 by Berlioz; “Prologo” from Pagliacc, by Leoncavallo; “Si mi chiamano Mimi” from La Bohème, by Puccini; “O mio babbino caro” from Gianni Schicchi by Puccini; and the World Premiere of Symphony No. 2 “The Shoals,” by Briggs.

Christmas at Ivy Green 300 North Commons W., Tuscumbia; Saturday, 8:30am–4:00pm.

Admission charged. Call 256-383-4066 for more information.

The quaint home of Helen Keller is decorated for Christmas by members of the Helen Keller Garden Club, using fresh greenery and traditional appointments.

December 11 The Florence Camerata presents its Christmas Choral Concert Grace Episcopal Church, Sheffield; 7:30pm. Admission charged.

December 15 NCAA Division II Football Championship Game Braly Stadium, 521 N. Royal Ave., Florence; Time TBA; Admission charged. 256-740-4141.

Voted one of the top 20 events in the Southeast during the month of December, this is more than just a bowl game, it is a championship! Watch the most talented athletes in Division II football, as a champion is crowned.

Shoals Margarita Ball Seventh floor, SunTrust Building; 6:30pm; by invitation only; call 256-764-0112 for an invitation.

The law firm of McCutchen & Hamner hosts the Margarita Ball for the third year to collect toys for Toys for Tots and other charities.

December 17 Christmas at Ivy Green 300 North Commons W., Tuscumbia; Saturday, 8:30am–4:00pm.

Admission charged. Call 256-383-4066 for more information.

The quaint home of Helen Keller is decorated for Christmas by members of the Helen Keller Garden Club, using fresh greenery and traditional appointments.

December 25 Christmas Day December 31 The Huntsville Symphony Orchestra presents New Year’s— The American Way Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, Von Braun Center, Huntsville; 7:30pm; Admission charged. 256-539-4818 or www.hso.org.

The Symphony is joined by members of the U.S. Materiel Command Band for an evening of American music to celebrate the beginning of the New Year.

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scene

Chef Johnson Ogun UNA Culinary Students

Chef Einar Gudmundson Steve and Connie Carpenter

Donna Lefort, Jennifer Highfield, and Pierre Lefort

Michelle and Jeff Eubanks

Mike Pretes and Nita Thornell

Chef Ryan Mathews and Amy Rhuland PHOTOS BY SHANNON WELLS AND SARAH GAEDE

Above: Farm to Table to Classroom— James Beard Foundation Scholarship Fundraiser

Below: 2012 Deadwood Hollow Zombie 5K

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012  UNA EAST C AMPUS

OCTOBER 6, 2012  FLORENCE The Zombies

Heidi King, Billy Burns, and David Shields

Kieran Byrne and De Frevold Andrea Holt

The Runners

Kate Beckett,Wells Beckett, Trip Bower, and Susan Beckett

Emily Creasy, M. Fletcher Brown, Janie Tanner, and Jessie Childers

Sonja Zelada PHOTOS BY HEIDI KING

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everybody’s business

A Gift of Music TEXT BY L AURA ANDERS LEE » PHOTOS BY SHANNON WELLS

Viljar Weimann, Music Director and Conductor of the Shoals Symphony at UNA

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Here’s a challenge: You’re a symphony orchestra, located in the Muscle Shoals area, where your community’s name and music are forever linked. You’re about to celebrate your thirtieth season of performance, and you’d like to mark the occasion by giving a gift to the community to thank them for three decades of support. What do you do?

If you’re the Shoals Symphony at UNA, you find a world-renowned composer who just happens to be from the Shoals, and you commission him to write a symphony score that puts North Alabama’s heritage to music. And that’s just what they did, commissioning Dr. Roger Briggs to write the Symphony of the Shoals, which will be performed at Norton Auditorium in Florence on December 9.

FOUR MOVEMENTS THAT CHANGED OUR LANDSCAPE Without using any words—only musical notes—Dr. Roger Briggs has written an amazing story about the Shoals. The community will hear that story through the symphony’s four movements, each of which honors the area’s musical and cultural heritage. The movements are entitled Singing River, Boogie and Blues, Trail of Tears and Renaissance.

Our history begins with Native Americans, and even though it was hundreds of years ago, there are still reminders that they played a major part in the development of this area. There is an Indian Mound by the river, and on rainy days, farmers throughout the Tennessee Valley walk through freshly plowed fields and find arrowheads and flint pieces that were left behind by our ancestors. It is thought that the Tennessee River and our spot along its banks were considered sacred, and it’s not difficult to see why; the geography here is beautiful, the ground here is fertile, and the climate here is gentle.

Composer Roger Briggs Photo courtesy of Roger Briggs

“The thing I’ve spent a lot of time doing is investigating the history of the area and, you might say, the really significant turning points,” said Dr. Briggs. “I discovered a beautiful Native American tune from the Yuchis and Cherokees called ‘Corn Dance,’ and I couldn’t get it out of my head. I realized the Native American culture there referred to the Tennessee River as the ‘Singing River.’ The first movement is called Singing River and incorporates ‘Corn Dance.’ I tried hard in the 21st century to honor that tune. Of course the idea of the river that sings is very musical and brings together many images.”

As our area developed, it moved into a traditional Southern landscape, where cotton was king and plantations were the centers of commerce. For many reasons, this part of the world is considered the birthplace of the blues, and most musical scholars consider the songs sung by slaves on the plantations to contain the roots of that musical heritage. Florence’s own native son, W.C. Handy, called “Father of the Blues,” knew that the music he heard in church and among friends was the basis for something very special.

“The second movement—since W.C. Handy is from Florence—deals with that whole aspect of the blues and the boogie side,” said Briggs. “The marriage of African-American and white settler culture blends together beautifully.”

“The third movement is called Trail of Tears,” he added. “There are two huge tragedies in the history of North Alabama: the Civil War and the Trail of Tears. The Trail of Tears is very area-specific to Northern Alabama and in some ways the hardest movement to write because it’s a memorial—the removal of one great culture by another great culture.”

Dr. Briggs is referring to a mass relocation of Native Americans that happened in the early 1830s, following the passage of the Indian Removal Act. It is estimated that as many as 46,000 people were forced out of their homelands and herded to Oklahoma, and the Shoals area (specifically Waterloo) served as an

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“North Alabama, musically, was fantastic. It’s always had an atmosphere for jazz and blues and Southern Rock. It hasn’t had a name for classical music, but that’s developing, too.”

—Composer Roger Briggs

embarkment point; because it was difficult to navigate the waters of the Tennessee River, the Native Americans were made to walk to Waterloo where they were put on boats for the next leg of their journey. Some 30 years later, the nation was torn apart by the Civil War, and many battles were fought in and around the Shoals.

and play drums in the Coffee High School band. He acknowledges his high school piano teacher Walter Urben and high school directors Floyd McClure and Alan Flowers for continuing to push him musically. And by age 15, he was conducting, composing, and arranging music for school and community productions as well as private performances.

“The last movement is very hopeful and optimistic for the future, and it’s called Renaissance,” said Dr. Briggs. That’s an appropriate title, especially for Florence, which calls itself ‘The Renaissance City.’”

“Growing up in the 60s, I played in several rock bands in Florence,” said Briggs. “We had Battles of the Bands down at the Florence Recreation Center. North Alabama, musically, was fantastic. It’s always had an atmosphere for jazz and blues and Southern Rock. It hasn’t had a name for classical music, but that’s developing, too.”

While Dr. Briggs has been around the world to study and compose music, he credits his North Alabama upbringing for instilling in him a love for music early on. “I heard a woman in my church playing the piano, and I must have been seven years old then,” he recalled. “I wanted nothing more than to be able to do that. I went to my mother and father and asked if I could take piano lessons. They wouldn’t let me until I turned eight.

That year of waiting was really exciting. And I lucked out with my teacher, Norman Hill, because he lived two doors down, was an opera lover, a piano player, and was strict.”

Like any typical eight year old, young Roger was ready to quit after a year, but his parents and teacher made him stick to his commitment. He not only continued piano lessons, he went on to sing in his youth choir at Northwood Methodist Church

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Briggs went on to study music at the University of Memphis, where he met his wife, and then went to the Eastman School of Music in New York. He got his first teaching job at St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, and did his post-doctoral work at the Dartington Institute in Totnes, England.

Currently, he is the professor of composition at Western Washington University and conductor emeritus of the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra.

Having strong teachers while growing up in Florence had a big impact on Dr. Briggs’ decision to teach. “To me, it’s like a duty, an honor, to pass on a great art to kids,” he said.

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And passing along a great art is precisely what Dr. Briggs has done, sharing his talent with students, audiences, and critics across the globe. He’s received numerous accolades and awards throughout his career, and in 2005, he was awarded the coveted Goddard Leiberson Fellowship by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, given only to the best composers in the country. He has conducted and recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Czech Radio Orchestra, and the Prague Symphony Orchestra. He has written numerous works—the Symphony of the Shoals will be his second full symphony.

And writing a symphony is not an easy feat. It’s much like writing a novel for an author. “It takes a long time,” said Briggs.

“I’ve been working on this for well over a year now, spending 12 to 15 hours a day this summer. Once you’re finished sketching it out from beginning to end, you have to orchestrate it. You have to make sure the 85 instruments are in agreement…every piano, every forte, every crescendo.”

And Dr. Briggs won’t actually know how his symphony turns out until December 9, when the Shoals Symphony performs it. He has been sending conductor Viljar Puu Weimann the movements as he finishes them for the orchestra to practice, but much like a movie producer who sees a film in its entirety for the first time at the premiere, Dr. Briggs won’t hear his masterwork until the concert.

“I’m so excited to be coming home, and so is my wife,” said Briggs. “The Shoals Symphony has been so generous.

They’re going to have me down prior to the performance, working with the university and the orchestra. I came down last summer, too, and it was wonderful just to breathe the air and remember.”

The traditional gift for a thirtieth anniversary is a pearl or a diamond, and while a pearl might be a rare find and diamonds may claim they are forever, an original piece of music might just be the greatest gift the Symphony Orchestra could give our area.

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THE SHOALS SYMPHONY: A LOOK BACK This year, the Shoals Symphony turns 30, and there is much to celebrate. What began as a group of local string musicians wanting to play together has evolved into a semi-professional, regional orchestra. Throughout the last three decades, the Shoals Symphony has performed numerous concerts, brought in acclaimed guest musicians, and helped foster the talents of young student musicians through educational partnerships. In a community that celebrates its rich rockn-roll, country, and blues heritage, the Shoals Symphony has reminded us that classical music deserves to share the spotlight.

The Tennessee Valley Community Orchestra was founded in 1982 in Sheffield’s Grace Episcopal Church. Its roots date back a few years earlier when a group of string musicians started gathering to play, and the group kept getting larger.

“Gerry Byars and Betty Dardess helped start the Tennessee Valley Art Center’s string program back in the late 70s,” said Harriett Edwards, a violin player and past president of the Symphony board. “I moved here in 1978 and saw an announcement in the paper that they were forming an adult string class. I signed up for that, along with a lot of people in town who had always wanted to do it. I played with the Shoals Symphony for about 10 or 12 years. It started more like a recital for friends and family and now it’s evolved into a symphony with artistic excellence, with students of high competence and with professionals.”

In 1985, the Tennessee Valley String School and the Tennessee Valley Community Orchestra incorporated as the Shoals Symphony Orchestra. Then in 2002, the Shoals Symphony Orchestra and the University of North Alabama signed an affiliation agreement, allowing for a full-time UNA music instructor to also serve as conductor and director of the symphony, and giving the symphony a home on campus. Today, most of the brass and percussion section, as well as some woodwinds and string musicians, are UNA students on scholarship. The symphony has become a harmonious mix of professional musicians and adults playing alongside college and even high school students. The Shoals Symphony typically has 40 to 60 musicians who perform four times a year.

“We have close ties to the Florence City Schools string program, and their really strong players will play with us,” said Mary White, outgoing president of the Symphony Orchestra Board. “We sponsor the annual Hoffmeister Competition for rising high school students. It’s amazing, these kids who come to perform.

It restores your faith in young people to hear these dedicated musicians play; it’s just impressive.”

“It’s impressive what this community has done for the arts,” White added. “We wanted to commission a symphony to showcase who we’ve become and to thank all of the people in the Shoals who have supported us over the past 30 years, whether financially or by being a member of the audience. The musical heritage where we live is remarkable. Over the years, we’ve emphasized our blues, rock, and country musicians, but not our classical musicians. Roger Briggs is one of the most acclaimed classical musicians in the country and has won pretty much every award there is.”

The December performance featuring Dr. Roger Briggs is the season’s grand finale and sure to be an unforgettable celebration of how far the Shoals Symphony has come. Come and listen, and have the music transport you through our area’s rich musical history. It’s the Symphony’s gift to you!

At Riverhill School, learning is a family affair Learning doesn’t take place in a vacuum—and at Riverhill School, there are plenty of ways for parents, grandparents and siblings to get involved, to enhance the learning experience. Our families are focused on excellence in education, and it shows in the faces of our students. At Riverhill, learning is a family affair. Won’t you be a part of our family, too?

We’re registering now for our Pre-K2 through sixth grade classes.

Call 256-764-8200 or visit riverhillschool.org for more information.

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TEXT BY DAVID SIMS » PHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL PRODUCED BY CLAIRE STEWART

It’s that time of year again—the most wonderful time of the year!

This Holiday season, take the opportunity to discover all the unique, independently-owned shops in your area—and then spend some money with them. They’ll appreciate it, our local economy will benefit, and you’ll be a Holiday Hero! Just about any gift on your list can be purchased in our neck of the woods, and shopping locally creates a microclimate of positive economics. Plus, you’ll save time and gas! You might even have time to bake cookies with your family and friends.

Our annual gift guide is full of wonderful suggestions— from extravagant jewelry, to handmade furniture and designer clothing.

From the simple to the sublime, it’s everything you wanted, and some things you didn’t know you had to have. So, put down that computer and start shopping down the block and around the corner. And say hello to your local shopkeepers because—well, because you can.

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JEWELRY (opposite) A 14kt 1.03 ct Diamond Ring

by Ostbye & Anderson ($3,995) B 18kt Sterling Citrine Bangle

by Colorè ($450) Mefford’s Jewelers (256) 764-2632 C 2.7 ctw Black and White Diamond Bangle Bracelet ($1,940) D .5 ctw Open Filigree Pave Necklace ($1,150) E 1.55 ctw Cushion Cut Yellow Diamond Earrings with Pave White Diamond Halo Studs ($3,650) Jamie Hood Jewelers (256) 381-6889 F Mint Amethyst and Diamond Fashion Ring ($1,500) G Yellow Gold and Chocolate 2ct Diamond Pendant ($4,000) Grogan Jewelers (256) 764-4013 H La Fonn Bracelet ($1,549) Creative Jewelers (256) 766-7650 I Maltese Pearl Stretch Bracelet ($1,540) J Maltese 32” Chain and White Sapphire Pave Necklace ($2,750) K Pave Maltese White Pearl Earrings ($2,250) Parker Bingham Jewelers (256) 764-2032 L Vaubel Gold Chain Necklace ($2,418) M Vaubel Earrings ($620) Marigail’s (256) 764-9444

Hazel Fur Vest ($88) Melie Blanco Berry Purse ($106) Coconuts Calvary Boots ($99) Level 99 Skinny Jeans ($97) Geranium Metal Necklace ($31) Velvet Long Sleeve Tee ($71) Geranium Black Ring ($31) Audie Mescal (256) 314-6684

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JEWELRY (opposite) A Gold Four Strand Necklace ($49) B Leather Bolt Band for Men ($38) Relique (256) 767-4810 C Lonley Hunter Necklace ($48) Driftwood Home+Design (256) 349-5981 D Pearl Couture Aqua Necklace ($172) The Village Shoppe (256) 383-1133 E Michelle Rhodes Necklace ($72) Jewell’s (256) 712-5988 F Pearl and Silver Necklace ($85) Firenze (256) 760-1963

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Elan USA Poncho Sweater ($49.95) Lenny & Eva Bracelet ($58) Mudpie Necklace ($29.95) Silver Aiko Skinny Jean ($85) Market House (256) 577-5197

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Your BizHub Watchdog If you’re interested in controlling costs with office equipment solutions for almost any business challenge, call me. We’re the specialists, because we’re the watchdogs.

—J.T. Ray

(256) 464-0010 450 Production Avenue, Madison, AL 35758 32 | NOALAPRESS . COM | N OVEMBER /D ECEMBER 2012

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JEWELRY (opposite) A Pish Posh Initial Ring ($18) Polka Dots (256) 702-1612 B Gold Chain Earrings ($22) Relique (256) 767-4810 C Silver Plated Magnetic Bracelets in Rose, Rhodium, and Black Rhodium ($85 each) Jamie Hood Jewelers (256) 381-6889 D Sheerwater Earrings ($13.95) E Recycled Aluminum Ring ($19.95) Andy’s the Professionals (256) 767-2800 F Black Matte Ring ($42) Firenze (256) 760-1963 G John Wind Bracelets ($55 each) H John Wind Earrings ($35) Side Lines (256) 767-0925 I Liz P Mint Earrings ($42) Jewell’s (256) 712-5988 J Diana Warner Earrings ($89) K Seasonal Whispers Bracelets ($92 each) Market House (256) 577-5197

Donald J. Pliner Black Ville Pump ($244) Elizabeth McKay Top ($192) Elliot Lauren Skirt ($108) Vaubel Gold Chain Necklace ($2,418) Marigail’s (256) 764-9444

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A Young Colors Chicken Dress ($64) Dena Diane (256) 760-9671

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B Guitar Print Bag ($23.99) C Lamb Wishpet ($12.99) Mimi’s (256) 248-4761 D Jonathan Adler Umbrella ($29.95) E Flower Rain Poncho ($17.99) Market House (256) 577-5197 F Fancy Nancy ($17.99) Cold Water Books (256)381-2525 G Bumble Bee Growth Chart ($20.99) H Reindeer Sock Doll ($18.99) David Christopher’s (256) 383-2274 I Insulated Lunch Purse ($16.95) Goodman Sports (256) 766-5760

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J Kavu Fall Feathers Mini Keeper ($23) K Climate Block Fuchsia Morgan Jacket ($124.50) Alabama Outdoors (256) 764-1809

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L Piggy Bank ($20) Firenze (256) 760-1963

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M Fumika Tanaka Sketchbook ($6) Metallic Color Pencils ($8) Printers & Stationers, Inc. (256) 764-8061

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A Grouchy Bird Hat ($30) Polka Dots (256) 702-1612 B Mulberribush Robot Tee ($32) Dena Diane (256) 760-9671 C Little Squirts Water Bottle ($3.95) Market House (256) 577-5197 D The Book with a Hole ($14.50) E The Substitute Creacher ($16.99) Cold Water Books (256) 381-2525 F Seatbelt Snoozer ($29.99) G Elf Sock Doll ($14.99) David Christopher’s (256) 383-2274 A

H Red & White Team Scarf ($8.95) Goodman Sports (256) 766-5760

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I UNA Autograph Football ($35.95) Off Campus Bookstore (256) 764-7507 J Boys Hyvent Rain Jacket ($45.50) Alabama Outdoors (256) 764-1809

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K Domino Set ($10) Pick Up Sticks ($6) Set of Jacks ($6) L Oahaca Mechanical Creature ($11.35) Printers & Stationers, Inc. (256) 764-8061

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M Durango Brown Flag Boots ($69.95) Austin’s Shoes (256) 386-8720

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We Know How to Party!

For invitations and supplies for holiday parties — not to mention everything for birthdays, garden parties, weddings, showers and every kind of celebration — your party source is Party Works!

(256)

881-7780

News, classical music and more 88.7 FM Muscle Shoals • 100.7 FM Huntsville www.apr.org 38 | NOALAPRESS . COM | N OVEMBER /D ECEMBER 2012

Follow us!

5000 Whitesburg Drive, Suite 108 Huntsville, AL 35802

Part y Works

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A Savannah Wingtip Rust ($375) B Bowties ($126 each) Billy Reid (256) 767-4692 C Heritage Line Alabama Hat ($24) D Southern Point Heyward Sweater ($120) E Rowallan Shoe Shining Kit ($46) F Jon Hart Billfold with Initial Hot Stamp ($97) Printers & Stationers, Inc. (256) 764-8061

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G Padrón Madaro Torpedo Cigars ($386 per box) Truly Cigars (256) 275-3601 H Alabama Decanter ($149.99 with Four Matching Glasses) I Auburn Beer Stein ($23.99) The Wine Seller (256) 766-1568

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J Tortoise Costa Sunglasses ($169) K Caye Glass Costa Sunglasses ($199) L Lifeproof iPhone Case ($79.99) Alabama Outdoors (256) 764-1809

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M Vintage Cufflinks ($20) Side Lines (256) 767-0925

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N Steve McQueen LeMans Monaco with Navy Leather Strap ($5,600) Grogan’s Jewelers (256) 764-4013 O Pocket Watch ($145) Jamie Hood Jewelers (256) 381-6889

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jingle belles

Under Skies Lace Top ($45) Black and Gold Bangle ($12) Under Skies Black Dress Shorts ($33) Frolic (256) 766-6150 Madden Girl Glitter Heels ($49.95) Austin’s Shoes (256) 765-0303

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Velvet Polka Dot Dress ($148) Alice and Angie Pearl and Sphere Necklace ($38) Alice and Angie Double Stranded Pearl Necklace ($38) Cake Clutch ($145) Harper & Co. Clothing (256) 760-7115 OTBT Petaluma Boots ($189.95) Austin’s Shoes (256) 765-0303

Cluce Dress with Leather Belt ($72) OTBT Boots ($214) BCBG Leather Bag ($118) Arm Candy Side Bar Bracelet ($34) Jewell’s (256) 712-5988

Diana Warner Necklace ($142) Chinchilla Dyed Rabbit Jacket ($1,488) Miraclebody Pants ($110) Brighton Jetson Computer Bag ($340) Rose Knit Scarf ($150) Ming Wang Tank ($135) The Village Shoppe (256) 383-1133 Smoked Pearl Lucky Brand Boots ($219.95) Austin’s Shoes (256) 765-0303

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A Cowhide frame ($38) B Horse sculpture ($285) C Canister ($62) Firenze (256) 760-1963 K

D Shaker Table ($750) B.J. Kavanaugh (256) 648-6586 E Noir Zimmerman Side Table ($575) Halsey House (256) 764-9294 F Garden Java Pillow ($185) G Mink Patterned Pillow ($175) The French Basket (256) 764-1237 H Picket Fence Coat Rack ($112.99) David Christopher’s (256) 383-2274 I Oil and Vinegar Bottles (set of 2/$60) J Penguin ($45) Yellow Door (256) 766-6950

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N Aztec Printed Chair ($275) O Brown Chicken Brown Cow Pillow ($125) Driftwood Home+Design (256) 349-5981 P On A Lark Himalayan Candle ($16.95) Fiddledee D (256) 383-9797 Q Glass and Iron Decanter ($299) Village Interiors (256) 247-0990

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deck the halls…

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A Tennessee River Cheese Board ($35) B.J. Kavanaugh (256) 648-6586 B Assorted Poufs ($250) C The French Dog

by Rachael Hale ($29.95) The French Basket (256) 764-1237

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D Ambiance Alabaster Lamps (prices vary) SBS (256) 764-8481 E Anna’s Applique Grey Felt Placemat ($90) F Red Relief Applique Placemat ($310) G Custom Order Placemats (prices vary) Alabama Chanin (256) 760-1090

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A Angelica Painting ($95) B Gold Cross ($35) Halsey House (256) 764-9294 C Match Salt Shaker and Pepper Mill ($243) The French Basket (256) 764-1237

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D Measuring Spoons ($23) Yellow Door (256) 766-6950

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E Fleur-de-lis Glass Box ($28.75) Lola’s (256) 383-2299 F Plug-in Oil Warmer ($12.95) Lyda’s Delights (256) 248-4021

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G Patterned Napkins (Set of 4/$9) H Napkin Rings ($5 each) I On A Lark Himalayan Candle ($16.95) Fiddledee D (256) 383-9797

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J Forest Silver Platter ($159) Village Interiors (256) 247-0990 K Beatle ($16) L Ice Blue Wooden Tray ($125) Firenze (256) 760-1963

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Put some stuffing A Ribbon Candy ($5.50 each) B Mandy’s Peppermint Drops ($3.75) Sweet Basil Café (256) 764-5991 O

C My Drap Cotton Napkins ($28/roll of 50) D Chat Pack Conversation Starters ($12) Yellow Door (256) 766-6950

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E Crow Watch ($30) F Elephant Keychain ($20) G Lua Scarves ($45 each) Side Lines (256) 767-0925

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H Eco-friendly bags ($9.99) I Chai Vermints ($3.49) J Beeswax Hand Cream ($9) Osa’s Garden (256) 764-7663

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P Stephanie Johnson Cosmetic Pouch ($32) Q Square Gold Frame ($14) The French Basket (256) 764-1237

T See the Light Fiddleworms ($12.99) Available locally at Pegasus Records and The Sound Shoppe

R Over Under Wallet ($50) S Over Under Leash ($55) Jar & Company (256) 768-1004

U A Year in Color Jenny Ray ($10) Available locally at Rivertown Coffee, Marigail’s, Pegasus Records, and The Village Shoppe

V The Race Of My Life Alex R. Godwin ($14.95) Available locally at Cold Water Books WFabric for Stocking Thread (256) 383-2223

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scene

Julie Greenhaw, Melodie Bridges, and Jill Chambers Victoria Shin, Megan Stein, and Megan Green Kathryn Robinson and Libby Barnes Hicks

Moss Eidson Galgano, and Gwen Baker

Lauren Williamson and Sarah Minelli Mallory Baxley, Chelsea Murdock, and Sylvia Towery

Leah Beth McNutt, Casey Stewart, Kayla Francis Terry, and Brittany Willis

Sarah Daniel and Jessica Jo Harrison

Above: UNA Alpha Gamma Delta 35th Anniversary Homecoming Soirée SEPTEMBER 28, 2012  PICKETT PLACE, FLORENCE

Below: An Evening at the Buffler House SEPTEMBER 22, 2012  ST. FLORIAN

Anne Bernauer and Sandy Evers

Lee and Kevin Callaway, Anne Bernauer, and Brian Corley

Jane Gough and Anne Langstaff Allen and Cecily Wall

Susan Beckett, Claire Stewart, and Trip Bower

P.D. Bernauer

Lane and Gail Sutherland, Tiffany and Russell Daily

Tiffany Daily and Anne Martha Corley PHOTOS ANNE MARTHA CORLEY

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everybody’s business

HARMON HAZLE IS ONE SHARP MAN

TEXT BY ALLEN TOMLINSON PHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL

ARMON H AZLE CREATES WORKS OF ART, although he wouldn’t necessarily call himself an artist.

The knives he hand crafts in his workshop in Courtland, Alabama, have deer horn handles and exquisitely turned blades, and come sheathed in leather holders that he has also cut and sewn by hand. They are beautiful, and when you know the amount of work that goes into each one, at between $150 and $250, they are also a bargain.

“My dad brought me a Japanese bayonet from Korea when he came back from the Korean War,” said Harmon. “I carried that for years when I went to the woods, but one day I lost it. I was working at Monsanto at the time, and I got interested in maybe making my own knives. I made my first one with a file and put a deer horn on it with epoxy. It actually worked pretty well, so I started making more.”

It worked pretty well, for sure. People started seeing them and wanting them for themselves. Friends would bring Harmon deer horns and trade them out for knives. “I make about 40 a year now, and most are sold through word of mouth. I’ll sell one, and they will show it to someone else, and pretty soon they show up and want one,” he said.

Each and every one of these knives is crafted from scratch, usually starting with a piece of scrap tempered steel that used to be a saw blade from a local pallet company. He draws out the shape of the knife blade and begins cutting it away, using a belt sander he built himself. He still attaches the deer horns with epoxy, and different horns have different colors; Harmon picks through his stash to find the horn that will match the knife he’s making.

Harmon makes specialty knives as well. He recently made one to match an 1890 rolling block rifle, and he occassionally is asked to make a decorative knife to hang on the wall as a display. Mostly, though, he says these are used by hunters, so even though they are beautiful, they are also functional.

Harmon Hazle, above, is the very definition of a craftsman. His hand-tooled knives are made in his shop using found objects— deer horns, reclaimed steel—and many times made with machinery he has also put together from reclaimed parts.

Making knives has become a family affair. Grandsons Gil and Jordan Jaggers tell it like it is. “Our grandfather has a certain

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way to do things, and we call it “Harmon-izing,” they explained with a laugh. “We only make knives in the winter, because there is no air conditioning in the shop, and we learned early about Harmon-izing when we helped him.” It’s obvious there is pride in their eyes as they help their grandfather show us the shop, the piles of scrap steel and deer horns that will soon become knives, and the leather cases that have been hand cut and sewn but are perfectly put together. The grandsons are learning the art of knife making themselves, but just spending time with their grandfather is the most fun for them.

Harmon can create a custom knife to a customer’s design, or can design it himself. For more information or to discuss ordering these works of art, call Harmon Hazle at (256) 412-9622.

Clockwise from left: Some of Hazle’s knives and a handmade sheath; A selection of deer antlers, mostly given to him by friends, are used along with wood as handles for the knives; Hazle polishes a knife blade before it’s photographed.

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60 »

scene

Mike Smallwood and Butch Walker Tony Turnbow and Ninon Parker

Robert Perry and Leslie Yancey Bud Pride

Robert Thrower and Chris Allison

Carol Driskell Inez McWilliams and Butch Walker

Above: Oka Kapassa Festival– Return Walk to Tuscumbia Screening SEPTEMBER 7, 2012  TUSCUMBIA

Billy Don Anderson and Robert Perry

Below: Riverhill School Grandparent’s Day SEPTEMBER 14, 2012  RIVERHILL SCHOOL

Elizabeth Webb, Janette Wilkson, and Ellen Cross

Cindy Pingree, Karsen Kabel, Ridge Kabel, Avery Kabel, Alex Pingree, Thatcher Kabel

Cruz Files, Mattie Penn, Jaxon Penn Brooks Moore

Ann Jaggers, Mariela Torres, and Herman Jaggers

Philip, Maymie, and Mary Jane Fowler

Larry Hamilton, Abigail McGee, and Sherry Hamilton

Brooks Moore and Brooks Moore

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Santa Claus is coming

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to town

TEXT BY L AURA ANDERS LEE

SOMETHING CURIOUS HAPPENED AT SCHOOL, and Elizabeth didn’t quite understand it. After the students returned from Christmas break, the teacher took time during the class to allow each child to tell everyone else what Santa Claus brought. Elizabeth was thrilled to be able to share all of the wonderful gifts she had received, but she noticed that there were two or three children in the room who seemed a little uncomfortable. When it was time for them to speak, two of them had their heads on their desk, eyes closed, as if they were taking a nap; the third stammered and stumbled, and the teacher ended up passing him by.

Why would these kids be so shy about sharing? Elizabeth wondered about this, and that evening asked her mother about it. It had never occurred to her that those children didn’t get a visit from Santa at all.

He’s making a list and checking it twice; gonna find out who’s naughty and nice; Santa Claus is coming to town.

We’re bombarded by it during the holiday season. When kids are good (for goodness sake), Santa will reward them on Christmas Day with presents under the tree. But actually, that’s not the way it really works, at least not for several hundred kids in the Shoals. While those kids are making their Christmas lists, their parents are poring over their checking accounts, trying to figure out how to make it all work…and sometimes praying for a Christmas miracle.

According to a study last year by the American Research Group, consumers spent an average of $646 on Christmas gifts. For a single parent making minimum wage, that’s about two-and-a-half weeks pay toward presents, when every single paycheck they earn must go toward living expenses. So how does a family who struggles financially explain to their bright-eyed children that Santa can’t make it to their house this year?

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This year, Ashley says approximately 450 families, representing around 1,000 children in the Shoals, will apply for Toys for Tots.

There’s good news for those families this Christmas. With help from a generous Shoals community, every child can get a visit from Santa this year. Toys for Tots plans to provide Christmas for at least 1,000 kids in Lauderdale, Colbert and Franklin counties—a Christmas they wouldn’t have experienced otherwise.

“Parents want to give their children everything they can give them, even when they don’t have extra money,” says Ashley Butler, director of financial operations at United Way of Northwest Alabama, who is assisting the Marine Corps with the annual Toys for Tots campaign. “At Christmas they especially feel like they have to. Many of the families are experiencing hard times—job loss, a sickness. And being winter, the electricity bill can be higher, and it’s difficult for families who aren’t able to plan ahead.”

These families in need can apply for the Toys for Tots program or various other Christmas assistance programs, such as the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree. United Way shares a database with community organizations and area churches to ensure families are covered under one program, so that there is no duplication of services, and so that resources are allocated to as many families as possible.

For the Toys for Tots program, United Way reviews a family’s application, verifies the need, and then works with the Marine Corps through the toy drive and gift giving program. The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve founded Toys for Tots in 1991 to provide new, unwrapped toys to needy children in local communities across the country, and the United Way of Northwest Alabama administers the program here on their behalf.

“My primary job is Field Artillery Chief, but during the holidays, it’s Toys for Tots,” says Master Sergeant Keith Langford of the 2nd Battalion, 14th Marines in Huntsville, who oversees Toys for Tots in a 12-county area in North Alabama. “It definitely is my goal to make every single dollar go into the organization. I try to get outside agencies, volunteers and local companies to help out.”

Keith, with three children of his own, says Toys for Tots strikes a personal chord with him.

“A lot of people are experiencing a hardship, and that little bit of extra money for Christmas when they live paycheck to paycheck is hard to come by,” he says. “But the program assists the families who are in need a way to provide a good Christmas for their kids, and their kids are smiling at the end of the day.”

This year, Ashley says approximately 450 families, representing around 1,000 children in the Shoals, will apply for Toys for Tots, and that doesn’t include the hundreds more who will apply for other Christmas assistance programs. Various drop-off locations in the Shoals are available now to accept new toy donations for infants through 12-year-olds. And many local businesses will be offering discounts for customers who drop off items.

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New toy donations can include anything— from games and Barbies to books and balls.

Ashley suggests that families donate what their own children would enjoy.

“Our goal is to give a bike to every family this year,” says Ashley. “The bags we pack up are filled with nice, popular toys. It’s what I would give my four and five-year-old.”

Once gifts are gathered and packed by age group, the United Way distributes them to families on a scheduled date at the Army National Guard on Helton Drive. Every 60 minutes, the United Way hands out bags of toys to some 40 families. Children don’t come with them so that Christmas Day can be a surprise.

“That’s the rewarding part—when the parents and grandparents come to pick up the items, they are so happy and thrilled,” says Ashley.

Ashley can recall the tears in the eyes of a grandparent who picked up an Easy-Bake Oven for her seven-year-old and the sheer joy and gratitude on the face of a mother who picked up a Disney Princess bike for her four-year-old.

Ashley says there is not one stereotype for the parents in need—from single moms, single dads and grandparents to traditional couples down on their luck; a wide range of families in the Shoals are going through hard times, yet still want to provide for their children at Christmas.

“I think people would be surprised at some of the dads who come in,” says Ashley. “They can’t get a job they are qualified for, and at the moment they are unemployed. It’s a hard thing for a man to swallow his pride and come in and ask for help.”

“The number of grandparents is also surprising,” she adds.

“They have already raised their kids and retired from work, but they are now in the position of raising their grandchildren and just don’t have the means. Many mothers who are pregnant and expecting this fall have also signed up.”

The program is designed to help families like these get through the difficult season.

“In future years, we hope they can give back, when they get back on their feet,” says Ashley.

One such mother has done exactly that. A local resident and single mother who participated in Toys for Tots for her young children years ago now donates toys every year, paying it forward to another family in need. Now that’s the spirit of Christmas.

To find a Toys for Tots drop-off location, visit toysfortots.org or call Keith Langford at (256) 213-9683, extension 107.

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The Mooreland Hunt Kicks Off the Holiday Season With a Display of Tradition and Sport TEXT BY ALLEN TOMLINSON » PHOTOS BY ADRIAN JENNINGS

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WHEN THE AIR BEGINS TO FEEL A LITTLE CRISP and there’s a light frost on the ground in the morning, most people begin to think about sports. There’s football, of course, and deer hunting and even the sport of shopping for the holidays; but the oldest sport in America, a sport that goes back hundreds of years and carries with it a rich tradition, is not exactly the first thing that comes to mind.

This sport has deep tradition—even tailgating—but doesn’t take place in a stadium.

It has uniforms and team colors—even rules—but no scorekeeping. The sport is fox hunting, and for a large group of people across North Alabama, it’s a passion that rivals the fiercest Alabama or Auburn fan’s.

But instead of runningbacks and quarterbacks, you’re following Field Masters and hounds.

“Hunting is a sport, but it’s not just a sport,” said Evie Mauldin, one of the Masters of the Mooreland Hunt. “It’s a way of life. No…” She pauses for a moment. “It is a life.”

You might not understand exactly what she means by that until you learn more about the sport of hunting and how it encompasses almost every waking hour.

First of all, it’s important to make a distinction between fox hunting and deer hunting. “This is not shooting, this is hunting,” says Evie. “That is a distinction that was originally made in England, where the sport of hunting began. When you go shooting, you go out with a gun; when you go hunting, you go on horseback and follow the hounds. They are the ones doing all of the work.”

In other words, deer “hunting,” another popular sport in the fall, is technically deer “shooting.” Riders on a fox hunt are not armed with guns.

Secondly, hunting requires a great deal of athletic skill, and not just from the hunters.

Hunts take place on horseback, following the hounds, and it’s a rigorous course that can cover as much as 25 miles in a single event. It can be dangerous: Evie and her sisters, Martha VanSant Zuelke and Mary Marshall VanSant, tell stories of scrapes and bruises, sore muscles and broken bones; a horse could step in a hole at any moment and injure itself and its rider.

But the athletic skill that is most fascinating to watch is that of the hounds. “These animals have been bred to hunt, and they are highly trained athletes,” said Martha.

“Because hounds are pack animals, they work as a team, and it’s interesting to see each hound develop his or her unique skill. It all blends together and works, just like a highly skilled football team.”

What’s most interesting about the hounds is the fact that they rarely see the prey.

“From the back of a horse, we’re up high and can see the fox or coyote,” said Mary Marshall, who is one of the field masters for the hunt, “but the hounds hardly lift their heads. They are hunting purely on scent.”

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“Because hounds are pack animals, they work as a team, and it’s interesting to see each hound develop his or her unique skill.

It all blends together and works, just like a highly skilled football team.”

—MARTHA VANSANT ZUELKE

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Here’s another fact about hunting: it’s complicated. The hounds are led by a huntsman, who happens to be a paid employee of the hunt; his job is to train the hounds and then direct them during the hunt. He does that through signals with his horn and with his voice, and it’s his job to make sure the hounds don’t get too distracted or go off on tangents. One rule of the hunt is that you don’t get ahead of the huntsman and the hounds; another is that there is a hierarchy of hunters, with beginners at the back of the pack and more experienced hunters who have been awarded their colors nearer the front.

But let’s back up.

The sport of hunting is heavily dependent upon the hounds. Hounds are bred to give birth in the spring – this is called “whelping.” After the puppies are about a year old, right before they start hunting, hunts will have Puppy Shows, where they invite their own members to come see the year’s newest participants and they invite members of other hunts to come take a look as well. “We don’t sell our puppies, but instead we “draft” or trade them with other hunts,” said Evie. “A hunting hound is a very specific breed of animal, not found in the general house dog population. We even have our own governing body, and breeding is closely regulated. Every hound has a tattoo in his ear, to identify him, and although these dogs are very valuable, we never sell them. Instead, we share them and trade them with other hunts. It’s all very civilized and gentlemanly.”

Male dogs are called “dogs,” and females are called “bitches,” but the name “hound” applies to them both. After the puppies are whelped and weaned, they are named, and there are strict traditions that govern the way this happens. All puppies in a litter are named using the first initial or vowel of the parents’ names. For example, if

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the father is named Penn and the mother is named Windfall, the offspring will all be named with names that begin with “W-E:” “Weasel,” “Wedlock,” “Wendy,” etc. The names aren’t necessarily human names.

After the puppy shows, puppies are sent home with members of the hunt, where they are socialized. They learn their names, learn manners, and learn to be friendly to people. “It’s important to socialize a hound because during the hunt they are surrounded by people,” said Martha. “We don’t want them to be anti-social or afraid, and we don’t want them to be skittish.” This brief period of time in a member’s home is called “walking,” and a hound will be out on walk for several months.

After they have been out on walk, they return to the kennels where their training begins. The kennel is maintained by the hunt, and the huntsman and his staff are in charge of teaching the hounds their role in the sport. It will take a puppy a full year of training before entering the pack, and they are called “puppies” until they begin to hunt. During that year, they work with other, more experienced hounds, learning to work as a group, and learning to be “biddable,” which means they have to learn to respond to the huntsman’s commands. “If the huntsman tells them to stop, they have to stop, and they can’t go until the huntsman releases them,” said Evie. (The popular phrase “release the hounds” is a fox hunting term.)

Evie, Martha, and Mary Marshall are members of the Mooreland Hunt, and, in fact, Evie is one of three Masters. There are three Masters of the Mooreland Hunt, all involved because of their demonstrated commitment and understanding of hunt tradition. Leslie Rhett Crosby, Mr. Harry Rhett’s daughter, is one of them; Dr. Jack Moody is one; and Evie Mauldin is the third.

“This is not shooting, this is hunting. When you go shooting, you go out with a gun; when you go hunting, you go on horseback and follow the hounds. They are the ones doing all of the work.”

—EVIE MAULDIN

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HISTORY OF THE MOORELAND HUNT Harry Moore Rhett, Jr., a prominent community leader in Huntsville, loved to hunt. According to his daughter, Leslie, who has taken the reins as a Joint-Master of the Mooreland Hunt, he hunted so much in Virginia, with a group of hunting friends, that her mother begged her father to find a way to hunt closer to home. Because the Rhetts owned land in Limestone and Lawrence counties, and that land had fox, coyote and bobcats on it, it just made sense to start a hunt right here in Alabama.

That was in the early 1960s. The Mooreland Hunt (so named because of Mr. Rhett’s middle name) is a small to mid-sized hunt, with 60 or so members and has become one of the most highly respected in North America.

There are responsibilities for the three Masters, some of which are financial. The Hunt employs a huntsman, Rhodri JonesEvans, a Welshman who has been with the Mooreland Hunt since 2005, and it also employs a professional whipper-in, Shannon Roach. (A whipper-in assists the huntsman with control of the hounds.) Members of the Hunt are either mounted followers or social members, and there are dues associated with each type of membership; social members can ride up to three times before having to pay a “capping fee.” Regardless of your designation, you must be invited to be a member by one of the Masters, and in many cases hunting is a generational thing. (Leslie’s teenaged daughter, Hattie Crosby, is an avid hunter; Martha’s daughters, Mary Hurston and Elizabeth, have both been awarded their colors at the Mooreland Hunt.)

Mr. Rhett died in 1996, but the Hunt he loved continues. It’s not hard to believe that his spirit permeates the Mooreland Hunt, and that he would be proud of the way it’s endured.

THE HUNTING SEASON BEGINS It’s a chilly morning in early November, and members of the Mooreland Hunt have gathered for the Blessing of the Hounds.

They are all dressed in their traditional “kits,” the name for the formal clothing they wear at a hunt. Although the kits are beautiful, they are also very functional. Boots come to the knees, for protection during the ride, and women’s boots are patent leather at the top. Men wear white breeches, and women wear tan or canary; shirts have standing collars and there is a white tie at the neck that sort of looks like an ascot. “The tie is very functional,” said Martha, “because it is long and can be used as a tourniquet, a bandage, or a sling, if necessary. It’s pinned with a large pin, that can also be used in emergencies.”

Vests are usually canary or tattersall, and the coats are colored

HUNTING TERMS DRAW A BLANK To fail to find a fox.

COLORS The distinctive colors that distinguish the uniform of one hunt from another. Usually a distinctive color of collar on a coat. To be awarded or given the colors is to be given the right to wear them.

COVERT (pronounced “cover”) A patch of woods or brush where a fox might be found.

CRY The sound given by hounds when hunting. “The pack is in full cry.”

ENTER A hound is “entered” when he is first regularly used for hunting.

HUNTSMAN The man who controls the hounds in the field.

LINE The trail of the fox.

TONGUE Cry. A hound “gives tongue” when he proclaims with his voice that he is on a line.

VIEW To see the fox.

WHIPPER-IN A staff member who assists the Huntsman in the control of the hounds.

The Mooreland Hunt is a small to mid-sized Hunt, with 60 or so members and has become one of the most highly respected in North America.

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depending upon the rank in the hunt. At the end of the season, some members of the hunt will be awarded their colors, and as such granted the ability to ride closer to the hounds.

At the Blessing, the horses have been freshly bathed, manes braided. The priest invokes a traditional prayer, one written just for the Mooreland Hunt. He asks for blessings upon the hounds, the hunters, the landowners and the prey.

And then, it’s time for the hunt.

“The hounds are trained for the hunt, but so are the horses,” said Evie. “We prefer thoroughbred horses for our hunts, because a hunt can last for four or five hours and we’ll cover 20 or 25 miles. The hounds cover even more territory than that—but it’s important that a horse have the endurance to be able to withstand that sort of exercise.”

The huntsman decides which hounds to bring to each hunt, about 37 to 40

hounds. He puts together the pack based on experience, mixing those who are hunting for their first season with those who have hunted for years. He also has to take into consideration how tired the hounds might be, because there can be as many as three hunts every week throughout the season, which runs into the early spring.

The strike hound finds the scent; the hunt begins.

HUNTING SEASON Hunt season runs from late October, when the crops are out of the fields, until March, when the landowners begin to make plans to plant. Season opens with the Blessing of the Hounds and ends with Awarding of the Colors at the Closing Hunt Breakfast, a celebration in which hunt members are given traditional colors and a new position in the hunt the next season. In between, hunters have ample opportunity to participate in the

hunt and in tailgating parties which follow them; even though the season only runs during the winter months, there are opportunities to get together at puppy shows and other social events in the warmer months.

“That’s why we say it’s not just a way of life—it’s a life,” said Evie. “Some call it an obsession,” she adds with a laugh. This is not football, but with its rules, its traditions, the skills required and the ceremonies surrounding it, it is certainly a sport. It just happens to be the oldest sport in America—and it’s practiced right here in North Alabama.

This page: Mooreland’s Professional Huntsman, Rhodri Jones-Evans Opposite: Evie Mauldin, one of the Hunt’s Masters

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TEXT BY L AURA ANDERS LEE » PHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL

“Now that I’m retired, I have plenty of time, and I love [training my dogs] more than anything in the world.”

—David Abramson

David Abramson has spent nearly all his life outdoors— from growing up on a dairy farm and building bridges and roads, to hunting every minute during his off time.

David’s first love was a beagle named Doc. At just 10-years-old, David trained Doc as his hunting dog. Since then, he’s trained some hundreds of dogs to accompany him on his many hunting excursions, whether in his back yard or around the country. So when David retired 13 years ago, he and his wife Faye bought an 1830s home on a farm in Florence with plenty of room to raise hunting dogs. Today the couple, with help from their son Zac, is raising a family of beagles like Doc, including eight puppies, along with a handful of American Pointers and a few rescues.

When David and Faye got married 55 years ago, his first purchase was a $50 hunting dog, which would cost thousands of dollars today. His new bride and high school sweetheart was more understanding than most.

“I didn’t have the sense enough to get mad,” laughed Faye.

“Faye hunted a lot with me at first,” said David. “She was a good shot.”

Throughout his career as owner of Abramson and Sons, Alabama Bridge Builders and Bellew and Roberts, David squeezed in hunting trips before work or on weekends, spending as much time as possible in the woods. He and Faye even spent their vacations traveling the country to hunt. They covered a lot of territory, from North Alabama and South Texas and from Alaska to Canada, hunting everything from rabbit, quail, and doves to deer, elk, and caribou. After one hunting trip, David brought home a pet deer for Zac, who was in sixth grade at the time.

“I could never hunt after that,” recalled Zac. “But I loved being around all the animals.”

The deer was just one of hundreds of animals the Abramsons have raised. Besides dogs, the family has had a raccoon and a possum. Today they have donkeys named Obama, Michelle, and Hillary after their favorite Democrats along with some two dozen hunting dogs.

Zac, who lives in downtown Florence, comes to the farm every day to help his father take care of the dogs. David sells a hunting dog occasionally, but he really just raises them for himself as a hobby and to have company on his hunting trips.

Facing page: Abramson with one of eight beagles he’s training; Preceding page: Robin Marie Herald, friend of the family, loves spending time with the beagle puppies.

“Getting them to mind, getting them to come, you have to spend a lot of time with them,” said David. “But now that I’m retired, I have plenty of time, and I love doing it more than anything in the world.”

David, who’s 74, is still energetic and active, rising at 4:00 a.m. to drink his coffee and check on the dogs. Then he’s gone by sunrise, whether it’s to hunt in the fall and winter or to fish in the spring and summer.

One of the Abramsons’ beagles recently had eight puppies that David is busy training. They are three months old now, and at six months, they’ll be able to run rabbits.

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What was once a corncrib on the Abramson farm, now functions as both his office and as a gathering place for the family.

“About the only way you can hunt rabbits and birds is with dogs because they track or point them,” said David. “I’ll take about seven beagles out with me at a time for rabbit hunting. When one of them smells a rabbit, they bark, and the others follow. When we spot one, we say Tally-ho!”

That’s the signal the dogs have been waiting for—they know they’ve done their job.

The beagles’ mother was a hunting dog, and they come from a special bloodline with keen natural instincts, making them perfect hunting companions. But not all of the Abramsons’ dogs are from an elite bloodline.

“This dog is a rescue my son Zac picked up,” said Faye, pointing to one of the dogs in their large kennel, which overlooks open fields behind the house. “I guess he’ll be here til the end. We’re just animal lovers.”

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“Nemrod came to my house during a thunderstorm,” added Zac. “I put an ad in the paper but couldn’t find the owner.

If I take him to the pound, no one will want him—he’s old and has bad teeth.

He’s the sweetest dog in the world but not adoptable. I come out and walk him every day. Waterloo is another rescue dog we have—we call him Loo for short.”

One of the Abramsons’ short-haired American Pointers was born premature and deformed. His bones not completely developed, he looked flat, like a pancake.

But before putting him down, Zac and David waited it out.

“We didn’t think he would survive, but he did,” said Zac. Not only did Lucky survive, but he’s been one of the Abramsons’ best bird dogs.

The Abramsons have also raised Trigger, another pointer and bird dog, along with

Trigger’s parents and siblings. The pointers accompany David on quail hunts. While David and the beagles chase the rabbits merely for fun, he and the pointers bring the quails in.

“We have it for a good many meals in the winter months,” Faye said. “I sauté it, put it in a pan and bake it for about 45 minutes with a little wine over the top.”

Both David and Faye love cooking and enjoy hosting weekend hunting trips which always include plenty of food, from chicken stew and fried fish to whatever has been freshly killed. For 30 years, the Abramsons owned a 3,000acre wildlife preserve in Cullman where people came in from all over the country to hunt trophy bucks, many on the Boone and Crockett scale. Weekend guests paid a large sum of money to stay in a log cabin with luxury amenities such as a personal chef and hunt the coveted bucks that David raised himself in con-

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“I like dogs, and I love to hunt,” said Robin Marie. “When you combine both, it’s all the better.”

Not only does David share his passion for the outdoors with his family and friends, but he’s involved with various organizations in the community. He volunteers for the Florence/Lauderdale County tourism bureau, where he helps them market the area as a fishing destination.

In the early 90s, David was appointed by Governor Jim Folsom on the first board of Alabama’s Forever Wild Land Trust.

Forever Wild has purchased more than 227,000 acres of land for public use such as state parks, hiking trails and nature preserves. While Alabama is still behind other southeastern states for percentage of land designated for public conservation, Forever Wild continues to expand to make more land available for future generations, like Luke and Robin Marie.

Left: Abramson bonds with Trigger, an American Pointer he raised; Below, right: Four beagle puppies from the litter of eight vie for the camera’s attention.

While many men have a man cave with football memorabilia or a pool table, David’s man room is an upscale barn with attached kennel. Inside are dozens

junction with Auburn University. Today, the Abramsons host an annual dove hunt on a much smaller scale for close friends at their farm in Oakland, just north of Florence.

“David was a patient of my husband’s,” said Merry Ann Herald of Birmingham, whose family attends the annual dove hunt and often visits the Abramsons.

“He’s gone from patient to hunting buddy to best friend. My son Luke has been hunting with them since he was five, and my daughter Robin Marie tries to keep up. She’s a little tomboy.”

Luke, who’s now 15, is a skilled marksman, and Robin Marie, who’s 10, often

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goes out with David and her BB gun. She can call all eight beagle puppies by name and told David he better consult with her before giving any of the puppies away.

of trophies mounted on the wall, from sheep and wild boar and even a moose.

But while he loves spending time in his “office,” his favorite place to be is outside.

For David, the thrill of the hunt is only thrilling with his dogs by his side.

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At No’Ala Magazine, we believe strongly in giving back. For that reason, we’d like to offer our services for a year to a non-profit organization in the Shoals who might benefit from professional marketing advice, graphic design and a year’s worth of exposure in No’Ala.

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Our guidelines are simple. First, write us a letter explaining the mission of your non-profit, what your particular marketing needs might be, and how you might benefit from our help. Make sure that letter arrives at the No’Ala office at 250 S. Poplar Street, Florence, before the close of business on December 1st, 2012.

We may ask you and others from your organization to come in for a personal discussion, so we can better understand your needs. We’ll select one organization to “adopt” for 2013, and we’ll work with you to help you spread the word. No strings; no obligation. You’re doing great things. Can we help?

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100 »

scene

Harry Kuberg, Brian Cole, and Dan McCoy Steve and Cheryl Ferzoco, Bonnie and Wade Marshall Ed and Judy Moore

Susan Bentley, Leigh Smith, and Susan Gasque

Karl Hagler, Barry Moody, Dan Spangler, Brent Hurd, and Lee Nichols

Karen Landers and Ranel Spence

David Hollis, Chuck and Kelli Gaputis, and Bryan Lee

, Marilyn McAnally, Haley Hyde, and Donna Wilhelm

Above: ECM Hospital Fall Meet and Greet for Medical Providers

Below: Shoals Auburn Club’s 2nd Annual Golf Outing in Memory of Coach Ralph “Shug” Jordan

AUGUST 23, 2012  PICKETT PLACE, FLORENCE

AUGUST 13, 2012  ROBERT TRENT JONES

Mark Mettleman and Bill Wallace

Mike Kolan, David Campbell, Mark Mettleman, and Bill Wallace

Ralph Jordan, Jr., and Neil Caudle Kim Burkett, Terry Henley ,and Barney Wilson

Robert Smith, Jimmy Lamb, and Steve Mitchell

Sarah Newton and Regan Newton

Thad Aldridge, Tom Bryan Aldridge, Dr. Martha Alridge, and Jim Aldridge

Linda and Terry Mitchell

When it gets cold this winter, take heart. When you Fly the Shoals, you can go anywhere. Warm, sandy beaches. Big cities with bright lights. Or maybe just home for the holidays?

Fly Silver Airways from Muscle Shoals, and connect through Atlanta to anywhere you want to go. Our pledge, when you Fly the Shoals, is to give you a no-hassle travel experience right here in your own back yard. Why drive for hours and pay huge parking fees when you can connect to the world from right here at home?

Book your flight from MSL through your travel agent, Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz or www.silverairways.com. Fly the Shoals...and be amazed at where you can go!

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7HOO XV \RXU 3LH LQ WKH 6N\ 'UHDPV Without a doubt, this is the best place in the world to live. But from time to time, we travel to other places and see things we wish we had here at home. Starbucks. Entertainment districts. High speed rail and public transportation. Litter-free streets.

Why not have those things here? No’Ala Magazine wants to get a conversation started about things that would make our wonderful lives here that much better. Our March/April, 2013, issue will be our “Why Not?” issue, and we’re inviting you to weigh in.

We’re asking our readers to let us know what they dream about when they envision the future of northwest Alabama. No dream is to big; no idea is too small. We can’t promise we’ll have room for all of them, but we’d certainly like to consider them. Won’t you take a moment to sit back and dream... and then share that pie-in-the-sky dream with us?

For information about how to participate, contact Editor Allen Tomlinson at allen@noalapress.com.

Don’t worry if your dreams seem piein-the-sky. Let’s get a conversation going!

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food for thought » Sarah Gaede IT’S NO WONDER SO MANY AMERICANS ARE DUBIOUS ABOUT EATING VENISON. Bambi, the movie, has been traumatizing generations of children since 1942.

We all witnessed Bambi’s mother’s death at the hand of a villainous hunter, which caused Bambi to experience abandonment issues, and caused us to wonder, “When I eat venison, how do I know I’m not eating some innocent little fawn’s beloved mom?”

Not Bambi’s Mother!

Who knows how many children—or adults—become vegetarians after falling in love with an anthropomorphized movie character? My friend swore off eating pork after she saw the movie Babe. (She doesn’t count bacon as pork, because she’s not a fanatic, and because, as we all know, bacon is like crack cocaine.) I will eat rabbit, although I feel a bit peculiar about it, not only because of the fluffy little tail and wiggly nose, but because I have a grandbunny named Lightfoot. She lives in Charleston with my daughter, her bunny daddy, and her part-time bunny nanny.

DEER LEAD HAPPY LIVES RIGHT UNTIL THE MOMENT THEY ARE SENT TO BE WITH JESUS. AND LET’S FACE IT, IF WE DON’T DO SOME JUDICIOUS CULLING, DEER WILL TAKE OVER THE WORLD, EATING THEIR WAY THROUGH ALL OUR FLOWERS, FRUITS, AND VEGETABLES ON THEIR WAY TO WORLD DOMINATION.

People who hunt will tell you it is more ethical to hunt what you eat than to buy it cut up in the grocery store, and I think they are right. If I thought about it too much, I’d probably become a vegetarian (except for bacon, of course). Venison has onethird the fat of beef and is lower in calories. Deer lead happy lives right until the moment they are sent to be with Jesus. And let’s face it, if we don’t do some judicious culling, deer will take over the world, eating their way through all our flowers, fruits, and vegetables on their way to world domination. Without deer hunters, our country would be like India, except with deer instead of cows.

When we decided on a hunting theme for the Holiday issue of No’Ala, I thought a venison tenderloin recipe would be perfect. Unfortunately, all I know about deer hunting is what my friend Rob Brown, Episcopal priest and hunter, posts on Facebook. I found out venison tenderloin costs $70 online, my first stop for everything exotic. Lucky for me, I’m one of those southern women who will talk with anyone, anywhere, about anything. My farmers’ market vendor buddy Carl Ahonen was complaining one morning that the deer were eating his pears and muscadines. I remarked, “So, you going to be getting some venison soon?” He replied, “Why? You want some?” He turned to his crony Gerald Perrigin and asked, “Gerald, you got some venison?” “Yep,” Gerald answered. “How much you want? I’ll bring some Saturday.” I didn’t realize most hunters have a stockpile of lesser

cuts of venison in the deepfreeze. Gerald brought me steaks, sausage, and ground meat, and didn’t charge me a dime. No tenderloin, but I couldn’t argue with the price. And, as Rev. Rob points out, “So much better for you than processed cow!”

Chili is a good place to start with venison. You don’t have to tell people what’s in it, and they need never know. The following recipe uses cubed meat instead of ground, which was perfect for the half-inch-thick leg steaks Gerald gave me, although ground venison or plain old hamburger would work just as well. I threw in some canned beans because I had them in my pantry. That’s the fun of cooking; figuring out how you can use what you have on hand to make something good.

Venison Chili • 4 strips bacon (or 2 tablespoons bacon fat, or 2 tablespoons olive oil) • 1-1/2 pounds or thereabouts leg or shoulder of venison, cut in 1/2-inch cubes • 1 large onion, chopped • 1 large green bell pepper, chopped • 3 large cloves garlic, minced • 1 tablespoon chili powder (any kind—I used good old McCormick’s) • 1 teaspoon ground cumin • 1 teaspoon ground coriander • 1 teaspoon dried oregano • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper • 1 tablespoon tomato paste • 1 cup hearty red wine—I used Malbec in a box from Target • 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes with juice • 1 can beef broth • Salt and pepper to taste • 1 or 2 cans beans, such as pinto, black, or kidney beans, or a combination, optional (I used 1 can pintos with bacon, and 1 can seasoned black beans) • 1 tablespoon cornmeal or masa harina • 1 cup finely diced sweet or red onion • 1 tomato, seeded and chopped • Grated cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (I used Pepper Jack because that’s what I had) In a Dutch oven big enough to brown the meat in one layer, cook the bacon until the fat is rendered and bacon is crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and reserve.

Add the venison to the hot fat and cook until well-seared (or at least brown-ish.) Add the onion, green pepper, and garlic, and cook until onion is translucent. Stir in spices and tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Stir in the wine, tomatoes, and beef broth, and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper. Lower heat and simmer, covered, until meat is tender, stirring occasionally if you happen to pass by, for at least an hour. Add beans; simmer 20 minutes. Add bacon and stir in cornmeal; stir until thickened. Check for salt. Serve with onion, tomato, and grated cheese.

Serves 4 to 6

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scene Michelle Suttle, Hailey Crabb, Cecilia Weinert, Mike and Alice Suttle

Grace Gilchrest, Erica Sigle, Gunther Sigle, Josie Gilchrest, Lisa and Paul Wallace

Betty and Curtis Ahrens

Angel Clayton Mooneyham Dinky and Sara Holland Olin Mefford, O.T. Mefford, Pat Knox, Bill Knox, and Cornelia McIntosh

Lauren Barber, Phillip Barber, and Lisa Hill

Liz Wilcoxson and Selena Miller

Below: Sweet Magnolia Café Third Anniversary Celebration

Above: St. Bartholomew’s 50th Anniversary AUGUST 2426, 2012  FLORENCE

SEPTEMBER 24, 2012  FLORENCE

Jeff Bibbee, Chris Haeger, and Sarah Franklin Donna Lefort, Henry and Sarah Gaede

Noel and Robert Beck Michael Jordan

Ken Shepski, Brianna Pinkard, and Shaun Melton Roy and Rita Nelson

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Gary and Bonnie Barnes, and Kathrine Anderson

Chris Roach

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back talk » Claire Stewart

How does Santa deliver all the gifts—all over the world—in just one night?

“He gets everywhere in his sleigh.

He flies faster than anyone in the world.” —Brie B. Brie B.

“He goes fast, full speed. But the elf on the shelf tells him who has been good and who he should bring presents to.”—Zachary W.

Ella M.

Zachary W.

“His magic makes him disappear and reappear everywhere. But I know that when he eats all the cookies he gets fat, and it makes him slower.”—Ella M.

“Umm…. probably on a skateboard.” —Aubree B.

Avery W.

Aubree B. “Santa doesn’t do anything.

The elves make the gifts and take them everywhere.

The elves do all the work.” —Avery W.

“Fast reindeers that only eat candy.” —Landon T.

Landon T.

“He flies with his fast reindeers. He is going to bring me a new book for Christmas.” —Reese P. Reese P.

Cade D.

“His sleigh goes really fast, and he climbs through the chimneys. He always eats the cookies that we leave.

I bet he can eat more cookies than me.” —Cade D.

“I don’t know how he gets everywhere but he makes all the toys. I asked him to bring me a dinosaur, a pineapple, and a Superman costume this year…

I saw the sled before. He is real!”—Sawyer H Sawyer H.

“He drives a really fast buggy that looks like a flying car. He eats all the cookies but still makes it to all the houses. I don’t know how. He is magic.” —Erin L. Erin L.

“He runs super fast around the world. When he is all done he eats a really big breakfast.” —Annica R. Annica R.

Elijyah M.

“All I know is that when you sleep on Christmas, the presents appear. I don’t know how he does it, but he only comes to the good kids’ houses.” —Elijyah M. N OVEMBER /D ECEMBER 2012 | NOALAPRESS . COM | 109

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back talk » How does Santa deliver all of the gifts—all over the world—in just one night?

“His sleigh takes him everywhere he needs to go.

But the next day he is very tired and rests.” —Stella B. Stella B.

Isaiah S.

“His sleigh has fire coming out of it and it shoots him all over the world. He only speaks English, I know that for sure…I have never seen him, but my friend did. He saw him and jumped on his back and Santa screamed ‘Ahhh!’” —Isaiah S.

“I think he goes a certain way…China first, Jamaica(my dad went there one time), then Alabama.”—Caroline S. Caroline S.

“This is a hard question… Maybe he is a fast runner?… Or maybe he can jump very far?…

Or maybe he has a wand?…

Yea. I think that is it.” —Zach T. Zach T.

“Really fast…as fast as Sonic the Hedgehog.

But, I know that he is only two inches tall but still strong enough to pick up a house.” —Kedrick T. All children are enrolled in Ms. Murdock’s 1st grade class at Forest Hills Elementary in Florence.

Kedrick T.

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bless their hearts » David Sims I know I’m probably not alone when I say that my family’s Christmases were not exactly of the Currier & Ives variety. I grew up in Pensacola, Florida, which during late December is already hit-and-miss when it comes to wintery weather (more miss). And no matter how many times our parents tell us kids that our white sands look just like snow, sand will never be snow, and 75 to 80 degree temperatures do not encourage a steaming batch of hot chocolate nor a round of neighborhood caroling.

Holidays in the Florida panhandle were confusing to children who were subjected to televised Christmas specials featuring happy, bundled children sledding, building snowmen, or daring each other to touch their tongues to frozen flagpoles. So we made do.

A Tale of Two Christmases Past Our holiday season would usually kick off with the hunt for the perfect tree—or in the case of the Sims family—the hunt for the tree that was the “most straightest” and “least dryest.” By the time we got around to visiting our local tree lot, it was riddled with dangerous holes where the good trees had once stood. Gone were the “forests” of wonderfully scented fir trees that often became the backdrop for a game of hide-and-seek, or some other boyish adventure. All that were left were orphans and deformities, no doubt cut down in early November and trucked from places like Oregon and Colorado where they belonged—and where they were happy. Our tree always looked as though it was suffering from a severe case of scoliosis, and no matter how hard my father tried to force (and curse) its trunk into our red and green metal tree stand, it would eventually have to be tethered by a thick rope to the curtain rod in the living room. How I longed for a tree that stood proudly on its own.

Even that rope had an honored place among the Christmas ornaments.

Our ornaments were at best only pleasant—never anything special. Often purchased in bulk from the Lillian Vernon catalog, we plucked them from their original boxes year after year, with a dubious grin—the grin that’s usually reserved for similar crusty relatives you also see annually. Truthfully, the only ornaments that provoked fond memories were the ones handmade in grade school by my brothers and me, and “Little Drummer Torso” (which I will get to shortly). But all of the ornaments,

Those gatherings at my grandmother’s house were a lot like the ones portrayed on the Andy Williams Christmas special—only her roaring fire was complemented by a blaring window unit air conditioner.

whether they were hand-painted wooden, flocked glass, or the angel tree topper with gossamer wings, were just potential kindling for an already dangerously dry tree. And when you throw in the fact that the only lights on the tree were overly large and hot (and old), then you understand why my mother would only let us turn the tree on for brief, supervised viewings. The tree was always lit for company though, which was an event of which I always took full advantage. There I would be, uncomfortably seated among a group of adults, staring unblinkingly at the pretty lights—mostly embarrassed about the clumps of icicles (they should be placed individually by hand), and nervous about the tree falling into Aunt Dot’s lap, or worse—the imminent possibility of a house fire. How would Santa get to us? Would he even bother?

You get the picture. Christmases at the Sims’ were more akin to Charlie Brownish ones. But that was okay, because holidays at my grandmother’s house were magical. My grandmother was the consummate hostess. She had the space, she had what seemed like the only fireplace in Pensacola, and she sewed and bedazzled her own Christmas aprons. Those gatherings at my grandmother’s house were a lot like the ones portrayed on the Andy Williams Christmas special—only her roaring fire was complemented by a blaring window unit air conditioner, and the dainty snow fall outside of Andy’s fake living room window was replaced with the thick, white fog of five chainsmoking adults. And the food! Pâté, Triscuits with real Swiss cheese, a four layer coconut cake, sliced roast beef with spicy mustard on tiny little buns, and a glorious footed bowl of ambrosia—full of pineapple, coconut, mandarin oranges, and Maraschino cherries—made this annual event one you did not want to miss—even if you had no other choice.

But I have a choice now, how I make my holiday memories.

And I choose to combine a little of both of those Christmases.

Today my trees always have straight trunks, and they stand proudly—without assistance. The lights are smaller, but still colorful, and my ornaments are carefully chosen—except for one. The Little Drummer Torso (it truly is just a tattered foil, legless little drumming boy) has been saved by my brothers and me. We take turns keeping him, and you never know where he’ll show up. But it’s always fun, and funny. And I wouldn’t have my Christmases any other way.

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parting shot » Danny Mitchell

Half In, Half Out—Wendy at Cypress Creek

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May the spirit of the season stay with you all year long.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from everyone at Milner-Rushing—a Shoals tradition since 1853.

869 Florence Blvd.

Florence, AL 35630 256-764-4700

202 W. Avalon Ave. Muscle Shoals, AL 35661 256-386-5220 www.mrdrugs.com

2602 Hough Rd. Florence, AL 35630 256-740-5515