Lake Magazine April 2024

Russell Medical Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine

Awarded for Excellence

Dr. Regina Phillips recognized with National President’s Circle Award for Clinical Excellence in Patient Satisfaction and Clinical Outcomes. Dr. Phillips is the is the only physician in the country to receive this top honor from Healogics for 2023!

Russell Medical Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine achieved outstanding clinical outcomes for twelve consecutive months, including a patient satisfaction rate higher than 92 percent!

Letter from the Editor

Welcome to the annual Builders & Buyers issue of Lake magazine! In this year’s special edition, we’re highlighting innovation, featuring new neighborhoods, reviewing the latest decorating trends, putting fire prevention on your radar screen and showcasing an exciting reveal at The Heritage. And while these are all essential topics when building or buying a home at Lake Martin, we’ve also done some extensive research on legislative issues that will shape your lake life.

Technology has changed every aspect of life, and especially the homebuilding industry. HGTV’s three-dimensional view becomes reality in the cabinet shop, where the push of a few buttons lets you see what different styles and colors look best in your space. Turn to page 32 for a look at this technology in action at a lake area cabinet shop.

Amenities and quality of life rule the day when choosing your lake lifestyle. If you’re still looking for a place to build that fabulous lake home, turn to page 48 for a glimpse of what’s new in every price range.

Then on page 26, Erin Chesnutt offers the latest trends, colors and comforts in making the space your own. From the pieces themselves to where to find them locally.

Few events are so devastating as getting a call in the middle of night to learn your dream home at the lake has burned to the ground. Ben Smith lends his family’s history in firefighting to the article on page 38 to help you incorporate the latest equipment and materials that could prevent that phone call. Don’t miss this article, especially if you are building at the lake.

We’re very excited to showcase for you one of the first homes built at Russell Lands’ The Heritage. We’ve waited patiently for this glimpse at the spectacular living now available at Lake Martin. Lonna Upton is your tour guide on page 58.

If Lake Martin is your place, Alabama House bills 208 and 209 will affect the way you live, work and play here. In recent years, we’ve watched a series of proximity bills fail through the legislature, but HB209 looks promising. Addressing activities rather than types of boats, this bill offers a compromise that all interests at the lake might accept.

HB208 has birthed significant controversy. The bill attempts to correct a boat measurement loophole, but might open a window to longer boats on the lake. Perceived safety and traffic concerns have been raised by local residents, but the issues may not be as simple as a cursory glance at the proposed law might provide.

Don’t miss the upcoming May issue of Lake magazine, which highlights lake area events from May 1 to Labor Day. The Summer Calendar edition stays on coffee tables around the lake all season long, so if you have an upcoming event, be sure to send details to editor@lakemagazine.life by mid-April to be included.

Betsy Iler, Editor-in-Chief

Chairman

KENNETH BOONE editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

General Manager

TIPPY HUNTER editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Editor in Chief

BETSY ILER editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Art Director

AUDRA SPEARS audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com

Business & Digital Development Director

ANGELA MULLINS angela.mullins@alexcityoutlook.com

Marketing

RENEE TRICE renee.trice@alexcityoutlook.com

DOW HARRIS dow.harris@ alexcityoutlook.com

HALEY INGRAM haley.ingram@ alexcityoutlook.com

HIDEY ARRINGTON hidey.arrington@alexcityoutlook.com

Staff Contributors

KENNETH BOONE

BEN SMITH

JULIE HUDSON

GREG VINSON

CLIFF WILLIAMS

PETE MCKENNY

LIZI GWIN

HENRY ZIMMER

ABIGAIL MURPHY

DAVE JENNINGS

MATT CAMPBELL

JOHN COLEY

MELODY RATHEL

HENRY FOY

are copyright of: Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011 256-234-4281 | lakemagazine.life

On the Cover

From cabinets and transoms to counter tops and curtains, the Builders and Buyers edition of Lake magazine is sure to keep you in the loop of lake house decor. Pictured in this photo is Howard and Becky Haynie's 4,700 squarefoot lake house.

Photo by Kenneth Boone

Best Nursing Home & Assisted Living

We Touch the Lives of the People You Love

Assisted Living & SCALF

Short Term Rehab

Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy

Long Term Skilled Nursing Care

20. IN-WATER BOAT SHOWS

Preview new boats both on and off the water at The Ridge Marina

24. REUBEN THORNTON CLEANUP

What began with one man picking up litter became an areawide event involving hundreds of people

27. ON TREND

Keep up with the newest in curtains, cabinets and house decorations

32. FINE CABINETRY

Technology has changed the way homeowners make decisions

38. DON'T LET THIS BE YOUR LAKE HOUSE

A local fire chief shares tips for preventing house fires

42. A TOUCH OF LOCAL STYLE

Check out local furniture stores for specialty finds and unique designs

48. NEW DEVELOPMENTS

There are plenty of options to choose from when deciding on a lake home

52. NEWS YOU NEED Proposed legislation could lead to big changes on the lake

58. A DESIGN FOR LIVING

The Haynies' house is a dream come true for both them and their grandchild

Lake’s Quick Guide to the Lake

Lake Martin Area Real Estate Indicators

Sales Month

February 2024

February 2021

February 2018

The above numbers are derived from raw sales data from the Lake Martin Area Association of Realtors MLS. The sales noted above are for Lake Martin waterfront residential (single-family and condominium) sales only. This information is provided courtesy of Lake Martin Realty, LLC (a Russell Lands, Inc., affiliated company).

'Think Smart' before hitting the water this summer

Keep everyone on the boat safe this summer by reviewing a few safety tips before each outing on the lake

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency last month launched its annual 'Think Smart Before You Start' spring safety campaign, and while the effort applies to travel on roads, some of the tips are poignant for boaters as well.

Safety first!

Review the law and discuss safety before your teens make plans for the summer break, prom or graduation;

Weather Outlook for April

April 2024 Forecast

be sure you are aware of the routes they will take, estimated arrival times, etc.

Cell phones down.

Avoid all distractions and focus on driving. Conditions can change quickly on the water, especially in high traffic areas.

Obey the law.

Know the rules of navigation before you take the wheel. Follow wake limits (see page 52 for new changes to the laws). Make sure children age 8 and younger wear approved personal flotation devices. Above all, be courteous. No BUI!

Hand over the keys if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. (Over the counter and prescription drugs can have the same effect as alcoholic beverages, especially in hot sun and on the water). If you feel different, you drive different.

Have the conversation.

Parents should take an opportunity to share with their children how the consequences of their decisions can affect not only their lives, but also the lives of others. Make sure children understand the rules of navigation before they take off in the personal watercraft. Monitor the presence of alcohol.

Remind teens not to accept rides from anyone who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Discuss a Plan B should this occur, whether it is to call home for a tow or a ride another safe option.

Historically, the Lake Martin area experiences average high temperatures in the mid 70s with average lows in the upper 40s and about 4 and 1/2 inches of precipitation in the month of April.The National Weather Service has predicted that temperatures will be average and rainfall will be slightly above average this month.

Year-to-Date

Precipitation: 26.35 inches

Avg. high temp.: 55.2

Avg. low temp.: 30.1

Avg. temp.: 42.6

Information from the National Weather Service.

Our Normal April

Precipitation: 4.64 inches

Avg. high temp.: 75.3

Avg. low temp.: 48.4

Avg. temp.: 61.8

Last Month's Lake Levels

Summer: 491 MSL

Winter: 481 MSL

Highest: 489.08

Lowest: 483.77

Lake depth is measured in reference to mean sea level. For up-to-date water levels at the lake, visit lakes.alabamapower.com.

Lake elevations are subject to change. Individuals who recreate below Martin Dam and those with boats and waterrelated equipment on the lake should always stay alert to changing conditions.

READER SUBMISSIONS

(1) Karson Smith enjoys an uncrowded beach at Piney Woods Island on Lake Martin. (2) Fall colors frame a home on the Lake Martin shoreline. (3) Beth Miller and her twin sister Leigh Ceci dress up for their birthday every year at the lake. Beth said they turn 60 this year, so they'll be doing it up big. (4) A firey sunset at Smith Mountain turned clouds over the lake purple. (5) Kyle Thornton caught this rare fallstreak hole appearance over Lake Martin at Russell Crossroads.

READER SUBMISSIONS

(1) Mike McKay caught the sunrise while fishing from his kayak on Lake Martin. (2) Henry Walters is just happy to be at Lake Martin. (3) Beth Miller jumps from an iconic Lake Martin landmark. (4) Gina Murray spied this patriotic bluebird on her morning walk. (5) Fall water at the lake is smooth as glass in this photo by Andy Caputi. (6) The setting sun sends out a plethora of colors in this photo sent by Marsha Hanks.

March 30

Easter Egg Dash

Pennington Park, 3 Hilltop Acts and BChill Entertainment will host Dadeville’s 4th Annual Easter Egg Dash in Pennington Park, on Saturday, March 30, at 11 a.m. The free event will feature a visit/photo with the Easter Bunny, a “Golden Egg” hunt, the Annual Easter Egg Dash and more. Free snacks and drinks will be provided. The event is designed for children 14 years old and younger. For additional information or to volunteer, call Kurt Pfitzner at 334-233-9852 or Bobby Hill at 334-332-2971.

March 30 and 31

Naturalist

Presentation

Join Russell Lands Naturalist Marianne as she educates on bunnies, chicks and more at the Russell Lands naturalist cabin from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn what these unassuming animals symbolize on this holiest of Christian holidays. Bring your camera and your children or grandchildren to interact with these cute animals. The event is appropriate for all ages, and free of charge. If you have questions for Marianne, she can be contacted at 256.496.2710 or Naturalist@Russelllands.com.

April 4, 11, 18 & 25

Music in the Air

Teens help the Dadeville Beautification Board plant trees at Keebler Park

April 13

Dadeville Memorial Dedication

The Dadeville Beautification Board will host a monument dedication for the victims of last April's shooting at 3 p.m. in Keebler Park. The dedication will feature Bucky Heard’s We Stand, speakers and a presentation of the monument’s rendering. With funding courtesey of Alabama Power Foundation, Dr. Eric Tyler, Hellas, LMAAR, and others, the Dadeville Beautification Board has created a reflection space in the city park to memorialize the lives lost last April’s tragedy.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

WHAT’S HAPPENING ON LAKE MARTIN

April 13

April 13

J.R. Southerland Memorial Ride Street legal motorcycle riders are invited to take part in this annual scholarship fundraiser. Register between 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. at Elmore County High School in Eclectic. A $5 donation per vehicle is requested. The event will include T-shirt sales, a silent auction and barbecue. Sponsorships are available with benefits on a variety of levels. For sponsorship forms and details, email jr3ss@yahoo.com with Memorial Ride in the subject line. All proceeds go to the scholarship fund.

Meet your friends in the Listening Room at Zazu’s Verandah in Dadeville at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays for music and merriment. Admission is free, and patrons over 21 are welcome. Beverages for sale. A food truck will be available. Doors open at 6 p.m. Mallory Johnson will entertain on April 4; Randy and the Rangers on April 11; Webster’s Wheel on April 18; and The Secret Sounds April 25. Please tip the musicians.

April 6

Alabama Troubadours

Rick Carter, Stan Foster, Donna Hall, and William “Moose” Harrell come together as the Alabama Troubadours to present the music of the great John Prine at the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center at 7 p.m. Tickets are $21 and can be purchased at alexcityarts.org.

Open Jam Session

Dadeville Performing Arts Center will host a morning jam of acoustic string instruments from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come to play, sing or listen. For more details, email office@dadevilleperformingartscenter.com

April 13

The Southwind Stage 2024 Music Series

Clay Edwards and his band, American Soul, will perform on the Southwind Stage at the Destination Glamping resort on Saturday, April 13. The band plays a mix of blues, soul, jazz, pop and country. General admission tickets can be purchased for $10 at thedestinationglampingresort.com. VIP tickets, which include table seating on the viewing deck, are $15. Bring your lawn chairs and coolers. The Sum'in Dif'rent Food Truck will be on site offering food for purchase. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. For additional info, call 615-477-9813.

April 13

Boating Safety Course

Need your Alabama boating license or just want to review the latest rules and regulations? Alabama Marine Police will conduct a Boating Safety course at The Ridge Marina, April 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help all levels of boaters. This course is NASBLA and Alabama Boating Safety certified. Contact Chase Maynard at 256-397-1300 or email cmaynard@russelllands.com for more information.

April 18

Tommy G. Saxophone

Join celebrated local musician Tommy G. in a curated review of 20th century songs and styles at Dadeville Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10 in advance at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com.

April 19

Russell Marine In-Water Boat Show

Make plans to attend the Russell Marine In-Water Boat Show at The Ridge Marina on Lake Martin April 19 through 21. See and demo 2024 boat models from Godfrey Pontoon boats, Nautique ski and wake boats, Sea Ray, Key West, Chris-Craft, Bass Cat and Sea Ark. Shop our pro shop for gear from Hyperlite, Billabong, Life is Good, Costa sunglassses, Yeti, Hook & Tackle, Huk and more. For more information, call 256-397-1300

April 20

Author Kathy McCoy

Dadeville Public Library will host author Kathy McCoy at 10 a.m. at Dadeville Performing Arts Center. McCoy has written numerous books, including Monroeville: The Search for Harper Lee’s Maycomb. For more details, visit dadevilleperformingartscenter.com.

April 26

Disney: The Movies the Music

Local children will perform this Disney review at 6 p.m. at Dadeville Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10 in advance, available at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com.

Season Long Events

LMYP Game Night

Every third Thursday of the month, grab your crew and meet at The Local at 41 Main in downtown Alexander City from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. for games, laughs and exclusive LMYP drink specials. It’s free to play the games, like trivia and bingo and more, and the grand prize is always $50. Visit the Lake Martin Young Professionals Facebook page for more information.

Painting Class

Join local painter Kay Fincher for a painting class from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at The Grand Bakery on Broadnax Street in Dadeville. All materials will be provided to complete a canvas picture. No previ-

ous painting experience in necessary; however, reservations are required. The class is $30 for each person and is limited to 10 participants. Make a reservation by calling Pam at The Grand Bakery at 256-307-1332 or Kay Fincher at 256-825-2506.

Elementary Musical Theatre

Now through Dec. 15, Dadeville Performing Arts will host after-school singing, dancing and acting workshops from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for third through sixth grade students every Monday. Text or email Elaine Balint Forbus at 256-749-7932 or elaine.balint@gmail.com. Enroll at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com/Classes. No fees for Tallapoosa County children.

Stillwaters Dog Fight Golf

Join golfers of all ages and abilities at Stillwaters Golf Club at 10 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday for an open golf event. In addition to regular golf fees, players pay a small entry fee of $7 or $15, depending on the day. For details, call the golf shop at 256-825-1353.

Lake Martin Civitan Club

The Lake Martin Civitan Club meets at noon in the private room at JR’s Grill, 145 Alabama St., Alexander City, on the second Thursday of each month. For more information, call Audrey Moore at 256-786-0465.

Everything’s Art Classes

From 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on alternate Tuesdays, children in grade three through five will learn the elements of art as they complete projects in class with Everything’s Art teachers. Enroll at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com/Classes. No fees for Tallapoosa County children. Email Delaine Hanson at delaine.hanson@gmail.com for details.

Artists Association of Central Alabama

AACA artists meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Senior Center on the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex grounds with a general meeting followed by open studio. Club dues are $20 for the year.

Wellborn Musclecar Museum

The Wellborn Musclecar Museum collection of great American automobiles of the 1960s and 1970s is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The inventory on display changes frequently, so every visit includes something new and exciting. Admission for adults is $11; children ages 7 to 17 admitted for $7, and children ages 6 and under are admitted for free. To arrange discounted group tours or private tours, email wellbornmusclecarmuseum@gmail.com or call 256-329-8474.

Clean Community Partnership Cleanups

Volunteers in Alexander City are encouraged to participate in community partnership cleanups on the second Saturday of every month. Meet at Strand Park at 8:30 a.m. to pick up supplies and area assignments and help clean up the roads within Alexander City. For more information,

contact John Thompson at 334-399-3289 or Michelle West at 256-786-0584. In Dadeville, the monthly cleanup is held on the second Saturday of the month, and volunteers can pick up sanitized pickers and bags at 8 a.m. at Dadeville City Hall. There also will be a trash bag drop-off on site. Contact Mickey Forbus at 334-329-0905.

Lake Martin Creativity

This group meets every Monday at 1 p.m. in the downstairs community room at the StillWaters Residential Building. Anyone interested in arts and crafts is encouraged to join. Bring something to work on or come see what others are doing. A monthly fee of $5 is charged to help pay for the use of the space. For more information, contact Kay Fincher at 256-825-2506.

Fiber Fridays

Bring your knitting, crochet, needlepoint, embroidery and other fiber art projects to The Yarn Shop Around the Corner in Dadeville from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Fridays to meet fellow fiber artisans, share tips and techniques and talk with others who share your interests. Call 334-444-1038 for more information.

Millerville Trade Day

Bibb Graves School on state Route 9 hosts this trade day on the third Saturday of every month from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m with free outside setup for vendors, yard sale, flea market and swap meet items (no food vendors). Donations from sales to BGHS Alumni and Friends Association would be appreciated. There will be a designated area to bring vehicles for sale with $20 donation to BGHSAFA upon sale. For information, contact Bruce Lowery at 205-522-5794.

Library Storytimes

Storytime for children ages 5 and younger is held at the Dadeville Public Library every Tuesday at 10 a.m. Mamie’s Place Children’s Library in Alexander City holds themed storytimes every Wednesday at 10 a.m. for preschool-aged and younger children.

Children’s Harbor Treasures and Thrift Store

Located on state Route 63 just south of Lake Martin Amphitheater, the Children’s Harbor Thrift Store is open Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You never know what gems you might find – from clothes and household items to boats. Proceeds are used to help fund the activities at the Lake Martin campus of Children’s Harbor and the Family Center at Children’s Hospital. Call 334-857-2008 for more information.

Amateur Radio Club

The Lake Martin Area Amateur Radio Club meets the second Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. at the Senior Activity Center at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex in Alexander City, with dinner and fellowship following at a local area restaurant. For more information, contact Michael Courtney at 256-825-7766 or Mike Smith at 256-750-5710.

Fourth Fridays at EPAC

The Equality Performing Arts Center hosts music and other events on the fourth Friday nights of each month at 6:30 p.m. on state Route 9 in Equality. Visit the Equality Performing Arts Center Facebook page for a schedule of upcoming artists.

Second Friday Open Mic Night

The Equality Performing Arts Center invites all musicians to its monthly jam sessions on the second Friday of each month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. There is no cover, but donations are greatly appreciated. There will be an intermission for snacks, and people are encouraged to bring a dish to share. The EPAC is located at 560 state Route 9 in Equality. For more information, visit the EPAC Facebook page.

Tallassee Lions Club

The Tallassee Lions Club meets every Tuesday at Cozumel Restaurant, across from the football stadium in Tallassee, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. The public is welcome to join for an hour of humor, information, civic pride and patriotism. For more information, call Marilyn Speake at 334-283-6864 or email marilyn.speake@tcschools.com.

Equality VFD Cookout and Bake Sale

On the first Saturday of each month, except January and February, the Equality Volunteer Fire Department hosts a bake sale, starting at 8 a.m. and lunch is served starting at 10:30 a.m. at the old Masonic Lodge in downtown Equality. For more information, email Richard Penton at drichardpenton@gmail.com.

Equality Neighborhood Watch

The Equality Neighborhood Watch Association meets on the second Tuesday of each month at the old Masonic Lodge at 6:30 p.m. During the colder months, it meets at Equality Methodist Church on state Route 259. Email Richard Penton at drichardpenton@gmail.com for more information.

Dulcimer Club

All levels of mountain dulcimer and blending traditional instruments are invited to gather at Dadeville Performing Arts Center from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday to rehearse for performances at a variety of community events. Club fee is $25 annually. Performer memberships, patron memberships or quarterly memberships are $30. Email kim.walls@dadevilleperformingartscenter.com for more information.

Naturalist Presentations and Guided Nature Tours

Come see naturalist Marianne and her lively nature presentations at the Naturalist Cabin at Russell Crossroads. There is never a dull moment with this wildlife biologist as she educates on the beauty of nature. Check the calendar at RussellLands.com/blog/events for the scheduled subject matter, dates and times.

Lake Martin News

Pivotal anti-trust settlement to abolish 6-percent realtor commission fee

The National Association of Realtors reached a settlement on March 15 that, if confirmed, would end a decadeslong industry standard of requiring home sellers to pay a 6-percent commission fee upon the sale of all homes.

The NAR agreed to pay $418 million over the next four years as the result of a class action lawsuit which accused the association of artificially inflating their agents’ commissions at the expenses of home buyers and home sellers. The settlement comes in the shadow of an antitrust lawsuit in November of last year, which found the NAR and two other real estate brokerages liable for $1.8 billion in damages.

“NAR has worked hard for years to resolve this litigation in a manner that benefits our members and American consumers,” said Nykia Wright, interim CEO of NAR in a statement. “It has always been our goal to preserve consumer choice and protect our members to the greatest extent possible. This settlement achieves both of those goals.”

The settlement did not require the NAR to admit to any wrongdoing. The settlement terms await a judge’s approval. If approved, changes would take place in July.

Currrently, a 5 to 6-percent commission fee is required to be paid by the seller of a home. The fee was largely nonnegotiable. Critics of the practice argued the fee unfairly drove up the prices of buying and selling a home.

If the settlement terms are confirmed, home sellers will be able to negotiate commission fees, and home buyers will be able to shop around for realtors. In effect, the change could lead to a cheaper home buying and selling process. On the other end, there could be a significant number of realtors pushed out by competitive pricing.

Other terms of the settlement prohibit real estate agents from including their compensation on the MLS, as well as ending the practice of requiring brokers to subscribe to the MLS. Further, the settlement will require buyers and brokers to enter into written agreements prior to doing business.

~Ben Smith

Cowart granted Community Spirit award by Alexander City Chamber

In a tight-knit community, most people are willing to lend a helping hand to whoever needs it. Ken Cowart, however, has spent the last five decades dedicating his life to helping others, both inside and outside the community.

At the annual Alexander City Chamber of Commerce meeting and awards banquet, Cowart received the Community Spirit Award for his unwavering commitment to helping the citizens of Alex City.

On the night of the dinner, Cowart was not aware he was going to receive the award.

“I didn’t know until halfway through Diane Lemmond’s speech,” Cowart said. “She talked about cutting trees down during the tornado, but it was when she mentioned her next door neighbor’s house that really gave it away.”

Once Cowart realized he won the award, he was very excited. However, winning the award was not the only surprise Cowart had that night.

“My family was there, which I didn’t know about,” Cowart said. “My sister, my daughter and son, my brother-inlaw and my nieces they all snuck in. They’re all from out of town, but my wife snuck around and got everyone together.”

Cowart began his career as a fire medic in 1975. His passion for helping others along with his faith led him to pursue a career in rescue and recovery.

Though Cowart is a retired fire medic, he is currently the president of the Alex City Rescue Squad. He has extended his efforts through many organizations such as Lake Martin Area United Way, Red Cross and several others.

Throughout his career as a fire medic, he has been on hundreds of missions in which he has recovered bodies from natural disasters, and brought closure to many families. He said he has recovered more than 75 victims throughout his lifetime.

~Melody Rathel

The process of buying and selling a lake home is subject to change July.

Ken Cowart, right, is presented the Community Spirit Award by Diane Lemmond at the Alexander City Chamber annual awards dinner and meeting.

Check out the season’s new boating options this month as local marinas put on shows and demo days to whet your appetite for summer.

The action starts at Singleton Blue Creek Marina on Friday, April 12. Get behind the wheel of the 2024 Barletta, Harris, Cobalt, Malibu and Axis models and start dreaming of those hot summer days on the water. There will be significant discounts on the inventory of 2023 models, as well. Food and drinks will be available, so you don’t even have to take a break to go get lunch.

Then, April 19, cruise into Lake Martin for a weekend filled with in-water boat shows all around the lake. See what’s new this season for maxing out your summer fun on the water.

Russell Marine kicks off boat show weekend at The Ridge Marina with a three-day event. There will be more than 90 boats off the water and another 90 boats in the water. Demo the 2024 Nautique ski and wake boats, Godfrey pontoon boats and the latest models from Sea Ray, Key West, ChrisCraft, Bass Cat and Sea Ark. Check out the Sea Doo demo course. Take one for a spin and fall in love. Discounts of as much as 20 percent will be offered.

Under the big tent, Panama Jack will show off their new merchandise. Radio Alabama will be on site for a live spot and giveaways. TowBoat Lake Martin will have a booth, as will Lake Martin Resource Association. And when your stomach growls, go for the fresh seafood at Cousins Maine Lobster food truck, serving on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Russell Marine In-Water Boat Show will be open all day, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. all three days.

On Saturday, April 20, Harbor Pointe Marina’s in-water boat show will feature more than 40 options for Bennington and Regal boats. Sales Manager Kevin Drumwright said sales discounts will be phenomenal on all 2023 and 2024 models.

“We have a lot of remaining 2023 Benningtons, so we will be having a blowout sale on those – 30 percent discounts,” Drumwright said.

Bennington L, R and Q 2024 models will go at 20 percent discount with 2024 SV Series Benningtons at 15 percent off. Regal’s 2024 LS4, LS6 and LS9 models could be purchased at 22 percent off.

Herb Winches’ The Landing will open a second Lake Martin location this summer at Harbor Pointe, and he’ll tease customers with an on-site food truck from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Harbor Pointe in-water boat show, Drumwright said. The marina also will host live music during the event.

The fun and the savings will continue to into Sunday. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

“We’re looking forward to seeing folks here,” Drumwright said.

Alex City Marine will host an in-water boat show on the east side of the 280 bridge from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Kowaliga Country radio station will be broadcasting on site, and food will be catered on Saturday. Stop by and check out the new Landau and Excursion models.

With boat shows in the water, summer isn’t far away.

Brands like Godfrey, Sea Ray and Chris Craft will be featured at the boat show, among others

In-Water Boat Shows

STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE

Reuben Thornton Cleanup

OOn April 6, volunteers will take to the highways and shorelines of Lake Martin to remove trash and debris. The Reuben Thornton Memorial Spring Cleanup is organized by the Lake Martin Resource Association, and aided by plenty of county, business and nonprofit organizations from around the lake area.

The event will begin at the Red Hill Community Center at 7 a.m. sharp, where pickers, vests and trash bags will be distributed to volunteers. Breakfast will be served before volunteers are scattered throughout various areas of the community to clean up roadsides and shorelines. At noon, volunteers will reconvene at the Lake Martin Mini Mall on Kowaliga Road for lunch and live music.

clean up Elkahatchee Road from state Route 63 to U.S. Route 280.”

Andy Steele, chair of LMRA’s environmental committee, is hopeful for a showing of up to 250 volunteers. He believes it’s important to clean the area before recreational season starts up at the lake.

“We live in a beautiful place, and we need to maintain it,” Steele said. “Just please show up. Let’s leave the lake better than we found it.”

No registration is required prior to the event.

Collected trash can be deposited at dumpsters at both the Lake Martin Mini Mall and Red Hill Community Center. Trash that is too large or heavy to be bagged can be left on the side of the road, where additional volunteers will load it onto trucks and trailers for proper disposal.

“We do have a third location on Elkahatchee Road in Alexander City,” said Steele. “Commissioner Steve Robinson and his crew will use

The Reuben Thornton Memorial Spring Cleanup originated in the Red Hill community, where the event’s namesake first began picking up trash and litter. Thornton and his wife, Jackie, started small, by the space surrounding their diner. Soon, others joined, and the cleanup expanded to other areas of Lake Martin. Before too long, it became an annual event involving over 200 volunteers.

“I was talking with them at church one day and said I’d like to come out and help them,” said LMRA President Jody McGirt. “Then more people joined in. So, Jackie fixed a whole big breakfast to start the day, and she did hot dogs for everybody at the end of the cleanup.”

The breakfast, the lunch, the live music and the showing of hundreds of volunteers all began with two people: Reuben and Jackie Thornton. It goes to show how deeply the actions of a single person can resonate, even after their life has ended.

For more information, text or call Andy Steele at 832-431-2309.

On Trend

STORY BY ERIN CHESNUTT

AAnother cherished lake season is on the horizon. Homeowners around the lake are sprucing up their homes, ready to invite friends and family over to enjoy a slice of heaven at Lake Martin. This is also the time of year when homeowners take a look around and evaluate their spaces. Is it time for a new home? Or maybe just an update of their existing lake house? Some area designers and decorators weighed in on the latest trends to help keep beloved lake homes fashionable and up to date.

“Lake homes are all about memories,” said Nan Jackson of Nan Jackson Interiors. “Many families just want to update their existing house and make subtle changes to keep it looking fresh and new. With so few homes on the market right now, this may be the best option for many homeowners.”

Jackson explained that pops of color are a big trend right now.

“Don’t be afraid of color,” she said. “Pillows are one of the best ways to update a space with color. They are inexpensive and fun. Changing pillows for every season will keep your house interesting and fresh.”

Phil Spraggins of Phil Interior Design is also seeing color become an important detail to keep homes up to date.

“Greens and blues are very popular right now,” said Spraggins. “Accent chairs are a great way to add a little more warmth and color to a room, Navy Blue will compliment any of the blue or green tones. Keeping everything white is no longer the trend.”

“I’m seeing a lot of families who want to change their homes to fit their current lifestyle. As children become adults and grandchildren are part of the future, many people want to rethink how they use their spaces. What was once a child’s room, now needs to be updated to accommodate a couple,” he added. “The family room that was once furnished more affordably as a kid’s space, is now time to be transformed into a sophisticated adult space.”

Ashley Chancellor of Legacy New Homes & Interiors assists clients in building their dream homes from the ground up.

“Neutral tones will always be in style, but we’re seeing homeowners add bold, dark colors to add some drama to a space. Black or dark colors on some walls can make a statement.” Chancellor said. “Everything doesn’t have to be matchy-matchy; consider using mixed metals throughout the house on cabinet hardware and lighting fixtures.”

Jackson is also adding new trends to update existing homes or to consider when building.

“Wallpaper is back in a big way,” Jackson There are more than a few ways to add a touch of character to the design of a home

Clockwise from Top Left: Outdoors spaces and indoor spaces should compliment one another, says Jackson; Display cabinets are popular among homeowners;Wallpapers can be used in a variety of ways to add color and shade to a living space; Different kinds of faboric will allow for various levels of light; Pillows are an easy way to add color and character to a home.

said. “Using wallpaper on an accent wall or in a powder room is a great way to add interest to a space. I have even added a patterned wallpaper to a ceiling for a fun change.”

Jackson also suggests adding surprise touches throughout the home.

“Add a bookshelf to an unexpected area, in a hallway or under the stairs. It adds interest and is a great way to display family memories or cherished artwork from children or grandchildren,” she said.

She also suggests changing cabinet knobs to keep things fresh.

“Find some interesting hardware and don’t be afraid to experiment with shapes and fun details. Changing hardware to the new brushed metals can be a great way to update existing areas,” she said.

Another way to update a space is with new window treatments.

“Beautiful fabric on the windows is a great way to draw attention to the outdoor space at the lake. Soft fabric for windows and accent chairs adds interest. Velvet is much more durable now and can make a room cozy,” Spraggins said. “Track rods for drapery are great. They come in many different metals. Champagne gold and brushed gold are very popular right now. These track systems can also be used in the bathroom to conceal the tub, with a custom shower curtain to add a design touch to a simple bathroom.”

Jackson has found fabric accent trim that can be

added to simple linen drapery.

“Adding a beautiful piece of trim to the end of drapery is another way to incorporate color into a room. It’s also easy and a less expensive way to change as color trends evolve. Keep the drapes neutral and just add an interesting pattern with some color,” said Jackson. “Shades are also an easy way to add a window treatment without taking away from the view, there are many different styles and colors available.”

Of course, at the lake, the outdoor space is just as important as indoor living, maybe even more important.

“Make your outdoor space an extension of the indoor living area. The two areas should complement each other and flow from one to the other.” Jackson said.

“Often, the outdoor porch and patio are used a great deal of the time. Make these areas fun and comfortable with porch swings, benches, colorful pottery and plants. Remember that the outdoor features are an important part of the home at the lake,” Spraggins added.

Chancellor sees outdoor living as a top feature in the home.

“From Big Green Eggs, to pellet grills, propane grills and griddles, the outdoor kitchens are a big focus. Outdoor kitchens are here to stay. Don’t be afraid to go big outdoors,” she said.

Whether building a new lake home or just refreshing your current home, these special places are loved by all.

“Make your home reflect yourself, and don’t be afraid to have fun with color,” Jackson said.

Track rods can be a subtle yet effective means of adding color to a room

Fine Cabinetry

STORY BY BETSY ILER

COURTESY OF LAKE MARTIN CABINETRY

PHOTOS

Kitchen islands have grown in popularity in recent years

TTechnology helps today’s custom cabinet makers create better kitchens and baths faster, with less waste and more room in the budget for amenities. Upgrades maximize the use of space and make room for innovations that accommodate life’s priorities, like aging in place and sustainable living, wrapping it all up with a generous nod to enduring style and current décor trends.

Mike Autrey at Lake Martin Cabinetry in Alexander City said more customers are opting for conveniences that accommodate ease of use, especially as homeowners design to age in place.

“We’re putting in more blind corner pullouts instead of the traditional lazy Susans,” said Autrey, who has built true custom cabinets in the area for more than 30 years. “Those can swing out in different ways. Some people do drawers; others want trays that swing out. It’s much handier for reaching things in the back.”

Deep, wide drawers are growing in popularity for pan storage, he said.

“A lot of people were putting in a lower cupboard with a pullout drawer for pots and pans. But using just a drawer is the same principle but cutting out a step. The drawer gains some in the budget, too, because it cuts out adding another door front,” he said.

Double trash cans, compost and recycling stations and more space for reusable food storage containers are some other options that have grown in popularity in recent years. Soft close doors and drawers continue to be requested regularly, Autrey said.

Islands are a feature in high demand, he said.

“People want us to do them with X patterns, door panels, different woods or colors, so it’s a real show piece,” he said.

The big surprise is that, even as other areas of construction have gone smaller – bathrooms and closets, for example – kitchens remain large.

“It’s the most important room to any home, usually,” he said. “It’s where families gather, so people spend more money on the kitchen than any other room.”

Drop zones – small built-in desks with computer and filing space – have generally moved into the laundry room, Autrey said, along with mudrooms.

“If there’s space for it, a lot of people are putting an island in the laundry room for folding clothes or doing crafts,” he said. “Cabinets above the washer and dryer are easy to reach for cleaning supplies, but a lot of people also use the laundry as a lake room to hang towels and store clothes and shoes in cubbies for coming in off the lake.”

Bars or full kitchens in daylight basements are

Display upper cabinets are a frequent request

Shaker style cabinets remain a popular choice among homeowners

very handy at the lake, making entertainment seamless and keeping the main kitchen upstairs clear for meal preparation.

Instead of cutting corners in the main kitchen, customers have opted for smaller bathrooms, substituting linen towers for bathroom closets.

“They take up less space, and it’s a nice look,” Autrey said.

A linen tower could be built-in or a piece of furniture, designed to blend with the décor.

“The one thing that is most requested in bathrooms is fancy feet on the vanity,” he said. “Also, they want electrical plugs in the middle of the vanity center, or they want to have a vanity pullout that has room for accessories and a plug in that.”

Combinations with electrical outlets and USB charging stations also are popular in kitchens and bathrooms, he said.

While white Shaker style remains the dominant kitchen choice for cabinets, homeowners are beginning to request variations on the clean Shaker lines, as well as accent colors on lower cabinets, islands and hoods. Beadboard is often requested as a panel on Shaker cabinets, as well as an ogee inside-edge of the Shaker trim pieces, he said. Many new homeowners request glass in transom cabinets to display special dish and glass collections.

Rough cedar and pecky cypress are popular for hoods.

Autrey’s company builds true custom cabinets,

designed for the space.

“We don’t come in with boxes that fit together on the wall,” he said. “We build a long shelf with custom doors that’s open inside.”

The company recently installed a computer numerical control machine, which creates a CAD image of the kitchen based on the dimensions entered in the program.

“It’s like they show on the TV shows, where you can see what the whole kitchen will look like before you even start the job,” he said. “We can rotate it for different views. It gives you a much better idea of what the room is going to be like.”

The CNC technology also calculates the material needs and the most efficient cuts, to minimize waste and get the most economical use from each board.

“It even prints out labels, so as each piece comes out, the sticker comes out, too, and we can label each piece and know exactly where each one goes,” he said. “It’s amazing. It used to be just me and a sheet of graph paper. It’s changed so much. We can do a lot more now.”

Custom closets store shoes and clothing more efficiently

CNC Technology saves time and money in the workshop

All 9 locations carry a complete assortment of lumber, building materials, doors, windows, specialty millwork, hardware, tools, plumbing, electrical, paint, lawn & garden, and many other products for contractors and DIYers alike.

DON'T LET THIS BE YOUR LAKE HOUSE

STORY BY BEN SMITH

HHouse fires may not occur daily around Lake Martin. But, on occasion, they do happen and can prove devastating, stripping people of their homes, possessions and valuables if they are lucky, and their lives of they are not.

“There’s a house fire every 88 seconds in the United States,” said Dadeville Fire Department Chief Scott Atkins. “And as a result of that, 3,400 deaths occur every year.”

New materials used in modern furniture and decorations mean the fires of today burn hotter and faster, giving firefighters an even smaller window of opportunity to locate, travel to and extinguish the flames before they cause unsalvageable damage.

Many Lake Martin houses are out of the typical ranges of local firefighting forces, and thus valuable minutes are added to response times. Couple this with the fact that most fire departments in the area are staffed by volunteers, and it begins to become clear that it is necessary for homeowners to take preventative measures to protect their homes and their safeties.

Raging housefires are not an everyday encounter for local firefighters, but homes around the lake are likely to be heavily damaged when they do catch fire

“One common cause is cooking,” said Atkins. “A lot of people will start cooking and get distracted. Walk out of the room doing something else and forget about it. And something that’s too close to the stove catches on fire.”

Atkins said that along with cooking, space heaters, unattended candles and curious children are other catalysts of house fires. But many of these causes boil down to a single commonality: inattentiveness. Atkins stressed the importance of being cognizant of heating and electrical sources, whether that means blowing out candles when you leave a room, or double-checking to make sure the stove eyes are turned off when finished cooking.

“Candles can be especially dangerous, being an open flame,” said Atkins. “You got to keep stuff away from it if you are going to use them, and they need to be on a good, flat firm surface that’s clean all the way around. Make sure it isn’t close to any draperies. Candles can be dangerous, and just like cooking, they need to be tended to. You don’t leave the room when you’re cooking, and you don’t need to leave a candle burning.”

Atkins noticed an uptick in fires occurring around the winter season, when space heaters are being used more often, and recommends there be at least a cleared area of 3 feet surrounding space heaters.

Extension cords can be another culprit of electrical fires. Atkins advised homeowners to use them only temporarily and make sure they are not overloaded by too many plugs.

Other preventative measures include making sure smoke detectors are operational, and that there is at least one for each floor of a house.

“Half of all homes do not have a working smoke detector,” said Atkins. “Now, the smoke detectors themselves only have a 10-year life. So, after the detector is 10 years old, the whole thing needs to be replaced, not just the battery.”

For when a fire does occur, Atkins recommended having a fire escape plan in place, especially in households with children.

“When there’s no plan, kids get in stressful situations, and lot of times, they don’t know what to do,” said Atkins. “So, you have to practice something with them ahead of time. And they’re pretty smart. They’ll remember it, but you have to show them how to do it. So, it’s pretty important to do that.”

Atkins said a plan should identify options for exits, such as windows or balconies, in case one area of the house is blocked or a door cannot be opened. Other practices, such as checking a door to see if it is hot before opening it, can prove to be valuable skills in the event a fire does occur.

Overloading extension cords can lead to fires

Having a fire extinguisher can help prevent some fires from spreading

Cooking is the number one cause of house fires

Up to fifty percent of all homes do not have a working smoke detector, Atkins says

The Trails is the newest waterfront enclave in The Village at Lake Martin. With HOA-managed perks like lawn care and on-site trash disposal, residents can spend their time enjoying the other amenities like swimming pools, nature trails, a fitness center and community boat ramp. Dedicated boat slips are available for purchase.

A Touch of Local Style

STORY BY BETSY ILER

TThe dream of a lake home becomes reality when it at last is filled with furniture; when friends and family have settled comfortably into the picture-perfect setting where, previously, only the imagination could venture. Whether furnishing a whole house or choosing a splendid side table for the lakeside porch, Lake Martin’s furniture outlets have you covered. From downtown showrooms to outlying storefront displays, the choices are endless. A sampling is offered below, but it might be well worth your time to explore the many possibilities available locally.

Jes & Gray Living in downtown Alexander City came on the scene with a splash of coastal design a couple of years ago and found an audience that was hungry for the look and the impeccable service the store offers. Founded by the minds behind Stock & Trade and Beyond Borders, Jes & Gray Living incorporates recent trends into fresh coastal tones that promise respite, relaxation and retreat.

“Easy living is always in,” said Keith Little, ____. “We’re seeing more cottons and washable silks. “Textured fabric, like Boucle, is something we’re seeing a lot of, and plaids are becoming popular again. Touches of gold for accessories can add a lot to updating a room.”

Natural tones and fabrics help to layer a room with dimension, especially when paired with more coarse fabrics.

“Around the lake, the neutral palette is still huge, but pulling it together with bolder accent colors and textures. Linen lampshades, pillows and burlap. Grays are still huge, but we’re also seeing warmer colors,” he said.

Furniture with softer, curved lines has been popular recently, he said, and caning has come back in style.

“Caning has made a huge comeback. It is incorporated into headboards, chair backings and whole pieces of furniture,” he said.

“The trend we’re seeing is that homes are being sold furnished. The great rooms and masters are getting more of the attention,” he said.

Jeanie Bross at Hinson Galleries in Columbus, Georgia’s, MidTown sees a regular stream of Lake Martin shoppers choosing rustic, distressed woods.

“No necessarily painted,” Bross said. “They might add a couple of painted pieces to mix it up. We sell lots of leather. It wears so well, which means you won’t be back to see us as soon as you would with fabric.”

Rather choosing whole rooms in one line of furniture, her clients tend toward an eclectic mix of styles.

Local furniture stores are well equipped to outfit your lake home in a variety of styles

“We enjoy adding pieces to clients’ existing furniture. It doesn’t have to be matchy matchy,” she said. “But we have clients doing the whole house and clients focused on just a few rooms. Some clients bring in their house plans and choose the big pieces and others come in to see a certain piece, like a sofa. We have a 30,000 square foot showroom loaded with everything to a house from floor to ceiling.”

The family-owned business has carried high-end furniture since opening in 1951 and offers a complimentary design service and delivery.

“We love Lake Martin,” Bross said.

Of course, furnishing Lake Martin means setting up the outdoor living spaces with the style and comfort of a home’s coziest corners, and creating beautiful outdoor spaces is something Mark King’s Furniture in Alexander City does best. The summer classics of bamboo sofas and chairs, with bold cobalt blue and white accents in the pil-

Clients are encouraged to mix and match different styles when decorating

A touch of gold can go a long way in updating a room

low and rugs, transitions a lake home from indoor views to lakeside living.

In addition to helping you create the outdoor oasis, Mark King’s Furniture also carries high-end furnishings for every room in the home.

For furniture that withstands Lake Martin’s worst weather, visit Lake Martin Mini Mall in Eclectic. The

Heavy Line is designed and constructed to handle the elements and high winds with style. Compressed molded composite materials with stainless steel fasteners make these craftsman and Adirondack styles as durable as they are fashionable. The Breezesta line carries a residential lifetime warranty against cracking, splintering, chipping, peeling, rotting and insect infestation – and it’s available in a variety of colors.

Fawnbrook Home Market on state Route 49 in Dadeville pairs large living pieces with the details, showcasing dining and side tables and shelves with table settings, vases and accent pieces that lend a fresh, inviting atmosphere to the home. From wall décor to pillows and throws, furniture and rugs and the special touches of seasonal décor that add pops of color, Rhonda Cobb can help you carefully curate a collection and accessories that will help you and your guests unwind at the lake.

Presley Furniture is new name with years of experience in Alexander City. Mike Presley, along with his brother Steve and nephew Trevor, is the new owner at the former Tapley Appliance location. With Mike and Steve’s sister, Cindy Osborne, as store manager, the family is working on plans to expand the physical showroom space. Last year, they added furniture to the appliance offerings. In stock, they have outdoor patio furniture, a six-place dining room suite and a several sofas, loveseats and recliners, but they use a 42-inch iPad to showcase a full line of furnishings and accent pieces that can be ordered from Ashley and Legends.

Presley worked with the Tom and Louise Tapley for 17 years in the appliance store and found he loved being able to help people be comfortable in their homes.

That’s really what furnishing a home at Lake Martin is all about – being comfortable in a setting designed for carefree living.

Pillows can add vibrance and color to a room

New Developments

STORY BY BETSY ILER

The Trails at the Village offers both waterfront and water view homes

HLots at The Village are largely wateraccessible

Homebuyers have options. Homes in resortstyle neighborhoods lead the housing market with a wide variety of amenities and price points all around the lake this season. Choose from the exclusivity of Alabama’s only Coore & Crenshaw course at Wicker Point Golf Club in The Heritage, set to launch Phase 3 this spring. Or, adopt a retreat lifestyle at Stillwood, a camp attitude at The Village at Lake Martin or the family and dog-friendly atmosphere at Magnolia Cove as Lake Martin Land Co. prepares to launch the project’s second phase.

Slightly north of Russell Lands’ The Ridge and east of Willow Point, just off state Route 63, The Heritage has grown much faster than originally expected, and crews spent their winter months winding roads through this picturesque forest in the project’s Phase 3. With large lots – more than an acre – and an average of 250 feet of shoreline, Russell Lands has designed a neighborhood that preserves homeowners’ wooded privacy but offers spacious living for every stage of Lake Martin life.

The Heritage has much to offer, from The Benjamin Lake Club now under construction to the neighborhood’s proximity to the spectacular private Wicker Point Golf Club designed by the renowned architectural team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.

Homes

The Benjamin Lake Club, which is scheduled to open in June of 2025, will feature a resort pool complex, community docks, a beach, tennis and pickleball courts, walking paths and event lawns. Inside, the two-story clubhouse will offer event space, an owners’ bar, fitness center and aerobics rooms.

The master-planned community encompasses 1,500 acres of land and some 12 miles of pristine shoreline with gorgeous views of Lake Martin. Lot pricing for estate-sized waterfront homesites averages around $1 million. Call 256-215-7011 for more information.

Close to Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association’s Overlook and Deadening trails, The Village at Lake Martin offers some of the best water access and water view living at the Village North trail sector, said Lake Martin Realty’s Kira Woodall.

“This is reasonably-priced lake living, like condo living, but you have your own home,” Woodall said. “It’s the simple life, centrally located to Lake Martin hotspots with a boat ramp, two pools, boat trailer and RV parking and a walking trail that goes around the neighborhood.”

This dog-friendly neighborhood features thoughtful homes built by Slate Barganier.

“There are seven plans to choose from, and you can see The Cumberland, which is the model home,” she added.

The home plans, named after U.S. walking trails, range from 1,288 square feet to 2,526 square feet and feature a variety of lifestyle options. Of the 31 lots still available, five are waterfront and 12 are water view.

Check out the simple life options at The Village at Lake Martin, where water access and view lots start in the mid-$400,000s. Email kirawoodall@aol.com for more information.

Lake Martin Land Co. offers three options for lake living, including Phase 2 of Magnolia Cove. Lots will be available at the end of this month. Every homeowner gets an assigned boat slip in this water view and water access neighborhood of spec and custom designed.

“You’re not just buying a house,” said Lake Martin Realty’s Judith Jager.

The amenities include a dog park and resort style pool, which will be complete this summer and will feature zero entry and a hot tub. Commercial space at the neighborhood’s entrance will meet the community’s needs without having to make a long drive into town. The company is now entertaining proposals from restaurants, boutique groceries

This mock-up features the planned Magnolia Cove pool area

Waterfront and water access homes are a primary desire of lake homeowners

at The Cottages at Stillwood stand out in front of a vibrant blue sky

and other businesses that could contribute to the community atmosphere.

With prices starting in the mid-$600,000s, this Blue Creek neighborhood is convenient by boat and car to local restaurants and entertainment venues, as well as Auburn University for football and basketball game days.

This summer, Lake Martin Land Co. also will launch presales for Longleaf Ridge off county Road 34 in the Wildwood area.

“These 10 lots will feature million dollar views and a very cool house plan with different variations,” Jager said. “Nothing like I’ve ever seen on Lake Martin. They are working on the docks now.”

And if you’re looking for the lake’s quiet side of life in a gated, private community, check out The Cottages at Stillwood. Only four cottages remain in this tranquil neighborhood where families and friends gather around a community lakeside firepit to enjoy cool evenings. The amenities include a boat ramp within the community and dedicated storage for boat trailers. Pricing starts in the $800,000s.

“The allure here is quiet and peaceful. It is not the hustle and bustle of lake life. Very much more the retreat lifestyle,” Jager said.

Contact Jager at judith@ lakemartinlocations.com for these Lake Martin Land Co. offerings.

So many options are available, but don’t wait to check them out. While the choices are enticing, they also move quickly at the lake.

LLength measurement changes could mean longer pontoons and open console boats on Lake Martin, but current speed and houseboat restrictions would remain in place if House Bill 208 is passed during the current Alabama legislative session. In addition, proximity limits for wake activities would be implemented if separate legislation, HB209, is passed. Reaction to the two Lake Martin specific bills, sponsored by Alabama Rep. Ed Oliver (R, Dist. 81), had kept ALEA Marine Patrol and government affairs officers on a communications focus for several weeks, but as of Lake magazine’s presstime, the bills had not yet come to the floor for vote.

HB208 was written at the request of the Alabama

Law Enforcement Association in an effort to standardize the system for measuring boat length at lakes Martin, Weiss and Wedowee. The current method at Lake Martin differs from the federal measurement requirement and from requirements on water bodies elsewhere in the state. If adopted, statutory length would be determined by the straight line distance between the ends of the boat, from bow to stern on the upper transom, using the boat manufacturer’s original specification as the rule. Currently, boats on these lakes are measured from the bow to the lowest part of the transom, which results in a significant difference on some boat models.

Because the lowest part of the transom is farther

Idle speed and large wakes will be closely monitored if the proposed proximity law passes

News You Need

Pending legislation could affect your boating experience at Lake Martin

STORY BY BETSY ILER PHOTOS BY AUDRA SPEARS & KENNETH BOONE

forward on some boats, the current law has the consequence of allowing a length greater than the 30-foot 6-inch maximum length presently allowed. At the same time, Oliver said, the bill is written to allow those large boats to remain at the lake by matching the overall length of 39 feet 11 inches that is the standard for federal and other state regulations.

“It depends on the way the transom is shaped,” Oliver explained. “For some of the boats here, their transom is only two-thirds of the way down the boat, but center console boats tend to have a vertical transom. Those big runabouts are already on the lake. We don’t want to throw them off. We just want to give marine patrol a way to measure boat length.”

Manufacturers’ specs would be used to determine boat length during a stop on the water by marine patrol officers, said Sam Adams, ALEA director of governmental affairs.

“We have boats on the lake now that are as long as 37 feet. It is not the case that those would be longer. In actuality, boats of that type could be at most 2 or 3 feet longer than they are now,” Adams said. “Our folks (marine patrol officers) are not writing citations for length because they can’t measure a boat in the water with the language the way it is now. We don’t want to kick anyone off the lake. We just want a standard.”

That standard would be established by the published boat length in the manufacturers’ original specifica-

tions, even if a boat has been altered for length, said Oliver.

“With the current law, some registrations have been incorrect. We have 36-foot boats on the lake that are registered as 27 feet,” Adams said.

“If a boat is mis-registered, the owner will have to go in with the manufacturer’s certificate and re-register,” Oliver said.

In such cases, the registration fees, which are based on boat length, could be slightly higher.

Jennifer Shockley, business manager at Singleton Marine in Jacksons Gap, cautioned boat owners against using model numbers as length references.

“A Harris 250 Grand Mariner is not a 25-foot boat. It’s 28 feet 3 inches, so you need to look at what the manufacturer says the length is,” Shockley said.

The bill makes no change to existing restrictions on houseboats or boats longer than 26 feet 11 inches that are capable of speeds over 60 miles per hour. These will continue to be prohibited if the bill passes into law. Sailboats that are dependent on wind for propulsion in the normal course of operation also would be excluded from the restrictions.

“We’re trying to stay within the same classes,” Adams said.

Singleton Marine’s Blue Creek Sales Manager Josh Foster said he doubts the regulation will have much of an impact on local business.

“I don’t see the day that we’ll have a fleet of 40-foot pontoon boats on Lake Martin. A 30-foot pon-

toon is already huge,” Foster said. “There will some outliers, yes. There will be some people who just have to have a boat as big as the law will allow, but I think we’ll see very little of that.”

Lake Martin Resource Association President Jodie McGirt said the nonprofit advocacy organization has no concerns or opposition to HB208.

“We don’t take an official stance on legislation. Our role is to preserve, protect and promote. If it helps ALEA to enforce laws for safety on our lake, we want them to have that,” she said. “We did meet with ALEA on this back in February. They explained their thoughts on why it was needed and what they were looking for by doing it. We’re not opposed to it. We have no concerns.”

Lake Martin Homeowners and Boat Owners Association President Harry DeNegre said the organization will take an official stance on the bill when its final version comes out of legislative committee discussions.

“We talked with Rep. Oliver and Mr. Adams, and we trust they are going to take our concerns into consideration,” DeNegre said. “We’re waiting to see what other amendments or changes they make.”

DeNegre said the advocacy organization’s greatest concern with HB208 is the increase in length.

“Why does it have to increase to nearly 40 feet? It was set at 30 feet 11 inches. If a boat is longer than that, it shouldn’t be allowed on Lake Martin,” he said.

The other bill, HB209, would apply to Lake Martin

ALEA's Sam Adams stated that personal watercrafts are included in the proposed restrictions

Wake activity locations would be restricted by the passage of HB209

the same wake proximity provisions as those on Smith and Wedowee lakes, restricting speed and wake activities near docks, piers and shorelines. Large wakes in residential areas have been known to cause damage to boats and other property. Shoreline erosion in some areas of Lake Martin also has been attributed to large wake action.

This legislation applies to any motorboat, not just wake boats. The bill would prohibit any motorboat from operating above idle speed within 100 feet of any shoreline, dock, pier, boathouse or other structure. Personal watercraft – Jet Skis, Wave Runners and Sea Doos, are included in the legislation, Adams said.

If enacted, HB209 would prohibit wakeboarding and wakesurfing within 200 feet of any shoreline, dock, pier, boathouse or other structure on the lake. Wakeboarding is outlined in the bill as the use of a motorboat to tow a rider on a board in a manner that creates a wake. The language of the wakesurfing definition removes the term “board” from the language. Wake boats are not mentioned in the bill.

Additional provisions of the wakeboarding and wakesurfing of the bill prohibit the activities between sunset and sunrise or on any portion of the lake less than 400 feet wide.

“The measurement of 200 feet was used because there is data to support that number. At 200 feet, a wake extinguishes significantly,” Oliver said.

Marine events for which an application has been submitted and approved by ALEA Marine Patrol – for example, regattas, races, trial runs, parades, tournaments or exhibitions – would be excepted from the rule.

“Making it a culture is the best way to combat that issue,” Foster said. “There’s a lot of abuse on both sides. Some people will call wolf and get upset when wakeboarders are very far away, and then there’s others who don’t know how destructive a large wake can be. Someone who is new to the lake, who just dropped a lot of money on a dream house and got this great boat. The kids are learning to wakeboard, and it’s a rush because they only have Friday, Saturday and Sunday to be out there. At the same time, they have to be courteous, too. We try to teach that here. Sometimes, it sticks; sometimes, it doesn’t.”

“It’s all about education and being a courteous boat driver,” McGirt said. “It’s about taking personal responsibility and being mindful of how what you do impacts others.”

ALEA Marine Patrol hope the legislation will allow them to regulate boat length while on the lake

Shoreline erosion in some areas of the lake has been attributed to wake activity

Elaine Bodine Carroll hails om Montgomery Alabama. She has been drawing and painting for over 60 years. At a young age Elaine began creating unique pieces mostly focusing on animals with a concentration on horses. In the early 70’s she began painting almost exclusively on canvas with a broad array of wildlife subjects. rough the years her passion grew for recreating memories for her clients. Today, Elaine’s ability to capture the essence of their treasured pets both living and deceased thru her paintings is what motivates Elaine. Nothing pleases her more than the look on her clients faces when they see what she has created for them. Elaine

STORY BY LONNA UPTON & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

HLiving A Design for

Howard and Becky Haynie built their first weekend cabin in The Harbor on Lake Martin in 2001. They built another weekend cabin in The Ridge, then moved into a full-time home in the same neighborhood in 2006, both leaving their Montgomery jobs to pursue lake living and real estate. Now in 2024, they have moved into their dream house.

“We used to walk The Heritage in the wintertime, and we knew we had found our next home place. Our children enjoyed growing up at the lake, bringing friends to the lake, and now our first grandchild has visited us at the lake,” she said.

The Haynies’ is one of the first completed homes in Russell Lands’ newest community, and they could not be happier with their decision. With 4,700-square-feet, a three-car garage, five bedrooms and five and a half baths and plenty of space indoors and lakeside. The house was designed by David Smelcer of David Smelcer Designs in Birmingham. They chose Wade Wilmeth of Wilmeth Construction, LLC in Alexander City to build the home.

“We really had a wonderful team that collaborated to make such a beautiful home. Becky and I shopped together – at Tippy Canoe and Longleaf here in Alexander City, at Christopher Collection in Homewood, Pottery Barn, Arhaus, Willow Creek Gallery in Knoxville – and so many more. She and Howard shopped every time they went anywhere, and it all came together perfectly,” said Missy Kohls of MKM Interiors.

The foyer opens into a great room filled with natural light under vaulted ceilings, which are 24 feet high. The shiplap walls and ceiling are painted Aesthetic White by Sherwin Williams, the paint brand of choice for the entire home. The floors are European white oak with a custom stain. Kohls selected performance fabric with a linen look and chenille texture for two full-sized sofas in front of the stone fireplace, while the Haynies made sure their favorite Seibels leather recliners were a part of the comfortable décor. Small stools found at Scott’s Antiques serve as end tables, and the large rectangular coffee table is from Christopher Collection.

The kitchen cabinets are painted Aesthetic White, as are the walls and ceiling. Monte Blanc quartzite covers the countertops and the specially designed backsplash. The island pops in

The great room optimizes space, comfort and amazing lake views.

A custom copper hood and quartzite backsplash have a dramatic effect on the kitchen

The dining area offers easy access to both the kitchen and the porch.

Porpoise, and the copper hood over the Wolff range adds another splash of color. The scullery, painted Adaptive Shade with a soapstone countertop and backsplash, has its own niche and contains the built-in ovens, a Sub Zero wine refrigerator and plenty of cabinets with Living Finish hardware from Brandino Brass. A large French mirror the couple found in Fairhope is a perfect fit over the bar sink. Pantry access is through a reclaimed wood door from Preservation Company.

“The kitchen is one of our favorite places. We enjoy cooking and hanging out with guests and the family. The open space accommodates that wonderfully,” Becky Haynie said.

Leather stools are along one edge of the island, and a dining table and chairs from Restoration Hardware complete the dining area. From the vaulted ceiling, a heavy chain with a more delicate chandelier hangs above the table. Light fixtures and fans are from Visual Comfort and Currey

and Company.

Just down the hall, the mudroom entrance from the garage and the laundry room are easily accessible. Another reclaimed door from Preservation Company with glass panels was installed as a barn door into the laundry room area. The laundry room floors are black slate tile, and the cabinets are painted Revere Pewter. In the hallway, a hidden door reveals a large area used as a Christmas storage closet.

Between the mudroom area and the front foyer, stairs lead to the second floor. The powder room makes a bold statement with blue-green wallpaper and trim. The long wall of the foyer is papered in grass cloth and stands ready for a special presentation of paintings under art display lights.

“Our son has been taking art lessons from Bonnie Lucky in Alexander City since he was 10 years old. We are very excited to hang several of his paintings. We are very conscious of using local art, and

The Haynies were able to have a deep water dock and a beach area on their lot.

I love to shop the art shows on the lake at Russell Crossroads and Red Hill Gallery,” Becky Haynie said.

Among the local artists, the Haynies have purchased three paintings by Catie Radney, a heron by Vaughan Pursell Spanjer and a pheasant by Nell Koopman. Paintings by Christen Colvert, Nancy Cooper and Donna Martin are other favorites.

Entrance to the master suite is through double reclaimed doors. The Haynies selected a bed from Johnson Furniture in Eclectic and paired it with side tables from Christopher Collection in Homewood. The antique rugs in this room and other rooms in the house are from Hazel House, also in Homewood. Heated marble floors, a heated towel rack and a soaker tub create a spa-like environment in the master bath. The marble countertops are complemented by brushed nickel hardware. In addition, mirrors from Ballard’s Designs complete the space. California Closets created the his-and-her space, which includes a mirrored floor length jewelry cabinet from Frontgate and a hidden door connecting the closet to the laundry area.

One guest room, known to the couple as the green room, and a private bath are on the main floor. Three additional bedrooms with baths are upstairs, one of which is currently used as an office. Extra space in

The upstairs den features a wet bar, coffee station, and a mini-refrigerator for guests

The cover photo was taken from this upstairs window

Heated marble floors add to the beauty of the spa-like master bath

The entrance to the master bedroom is through reclaimed French doors

A flagstone floor and a fireplace make the porch a year-round outdoor living space

the hallway allowed the couple to add a set of bunkbeds near a reading nook with comfortable adult chairs, a small chair and table for children. A dresser that belonged to her grandmother was repurposed for use as a desk in the nook. The couple added a pocket gate to the top of the stairs to keep dogs and grandchildren safe.

Also upstairs, the fish room has become a favorite hangout for games of all sorts. Fish caught in Lake Martin by Howard and their two children have been mounted over the sectional. Built-in cabinets and shelves have a hidden space with a bar sink on one side and a coffee maker on the other. Haynie’s childhood toy box, built by an uncle for her and her sister, stands ready for a third generation.

The large, covered porch with a wrought iron railing looks over the landscape, designed and installed by father-and-son team Brian and Cole Fuller at Hilltop Landscaping in Alexander City. Credit for the beautiful stonework outside, and the fireplace inside, goes to Will Fuller and Cody Long at Premier Stone and Construction, also in Alexander City.

“Brian and Cole did an outstanding job on the entire yard, and I really love my putting green – 42 feet. We were happy to find a lot that has deep water for the dock and a beach that I know we will really enjoy in the summer,” Howard said.

The porch has a large sitting area in front of a fireplace and a separate dining area – both with teak furniture from Frontgate. The lanterns were made-to-order at Bevelo Lamps and Lighting in New Orleans. A flagstone path leads to a grilling and firepit area, then on toward the dock.

“We are just across the water from the sailing club, and when the sailboats are out on the lake, it is a true pleasure to watch them from the porch,” Haynie said.

Lake Martin Dock Company built the dock, and included all the bells and whistles – a set of stairs that fold out into the water for easier entrance and exit, two large storage containers, a boat lift, a Sea-Doo lift and a kayak rack.

“My favorite time of day in our new house is daybreak. From our bedroom, or anywhere on the lake side, we can watch the morning colors play on the water and see the stillness of the lake. We are definitely here to stay,” Haynie said.

A set of bunk beds was tucked into a hallway for extra sleeping space upstairs

A favorite addition, the putting green is 42 feet long

The downstairs guest room is appointed with luxurious linens and furnishings to complement the deep green walls

The scullery, including a wine refrigerator and pantry access, is contained in a niche just off the kitchen

Dear Lake Martin Community,

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news with you! Momentum Marine has joined your neighborhood with the recent acquisition of LakeSide Marina. Last fall, Andrew Campbell and Josh Russom, renowned for their successful boat dealerships in Georgia and Florida, chose to bring their expertise to our beautiful Lake Martin.

What’s New at Momentum’s LakeSide Marina?

. Les Webb, a familiar face and long-time Lake Martin resident, is leading our operations. Known for his deep community ties and exceptional service, Les is ready to bring his expertise to our marina.

. Upholding Momentum Marine’s legacy of transparency and unparalleled customer service, our Lake Martin team is committed to providing you with the best boating experience.

. We’ve spent the winter rejuvenating the marina! Enjoy our 25 new rental boats, enhanced facilities, and a diverse range of new manufacturer lines.

. We believe in strong community bonds. Stop by, say hello to Les and the team, and see the new face of Momentum’s Marine Lake Martin!

Join us for our Full Pool Party Saturday, April 20th to celebrate Lake Martin’s Seasonal filling! We will have Live music, BBQ, craft beer, acoustic music, boat demonstrations, and chance to meet Les and the team!

Come experience the new LakeSide Marina by Momentum Marine. Your friends at Momentum Marine Lake Martin.

THE HERITAGE FROM RUSSELL LANDS. HOME TO WICKER POINT GOLF CLUB.

Firepits and birthdays. Starry nights and laughter. There’s no life more wonderful than The Heritage on Lake Martin. Set among Lake Martin’s nearly 900 miles of shoreline surrounding over 40,000 acres of pristine water, The Heritage is a 1,500-acre waterfront development along 12 miles of sparkling shoreline—all from Russell Lands, one of the South’s most respected land companies. The stunning community features spectacular waterfront and luxury interior homesites, as well as a flagship resident-owned lake club and private Coore & Crenshaw golf course. Don’t miss your chance to start your own cherished traditions.

Opportunities to rewrite your Heritage are now open. Contact us today.

BY KENNETH BOONE

The Red Imported Fire Ant first came to the U.S. in the early twentieth century

NATURE OF THE LAKE

The Invasion of the Fire Ants

AAlabama was ground zero for the Red Imported Fire Ant invasion.

The plentiful, painful red ant is thought to have arrived from Brazil on a ship that landed in Mobile Bay in the late 1930s. It began a march that spread across the state and now blankets more than 350 million acres of the southern U.S. The Red Imported Fire Ant can now be found in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. They are also marching on a separate front up the coast of California, where they are thought to have arrived by truck from the Southeast. These red pests are now found in areas of Australia, New Zealand, many Caribbean islands, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and China, all by hitchhiking along international trade routes.

E. O. Wilson, Alabama’s most famous biologist – a 46-year Harvard professor, the winner of two Pulitzer Prizes and a National Medal of Science recipient – was the first person to discover Red Imported Fire Ants in the U.S. He discovered them in a vacant lot in Mobile as a high school student.

There are two other Imported Fire Ants now living in Alabama. Like its cousin, the Black Imported Fire Ant also arrived from South America, sometime around 1918. It not as invasive or as problematic as the Red Imported Fire Ant, but the two have bred and produced the Hybrid Imported Fire Ant, which can also be found in Alabama.

There are many species of ants that evolved to live in the Lake Martin area, including several native fire ants, but Red Imported Fire Ants cause the bulk of ant problems here. That’s because when they hitched a ride from South America, their natural preda-

tors didn’t follow. So here in the Southeast, there are roughly five times as many fire ant mounds per acre as there are in South America.

Red Imported Fire Ants are known to scientists as Solenopsis invicta. The second word, Invicta, is derived from Latin, meaning “invincible” or “unconquered.” Anybody who has tried to keep fire ants out of an Alabama lawn knows it is a well-deserved name.

Most Alabamians who have mistakenly stepped

There are more fire ant hills in the Southeast United States than in South America, where the ants originated

A fire ant hill can tell you what type of soil is below ground based on the color

on a fire ant bed know how aggressively these tiny insects attack. Their method of defense is to overwhelm anything that disturbs their mounds. In the blink of an eye, fire ants will swarm aggressively up out of their mound and climb anything nearby – grass, sticks, feet and legs. The worker ants that make up the bulk of every colony can sting repeatedly and painfully. Usually, by the time you feel one sting there are many – sometimes hundreds – of other ants already on your leg preparing to add to your severe discomfort.

Identifying fire ants can be difficult. The individual ants of a fire ant colony vary in size, from 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch. Both male and female fire ants can have wings, but most do not. They are red to dark reddish-brown in color, with darker abdomens. On the narrow segment between their bodies and large abdomens, there are two bumps or nodes. The abdomen of a red ant is black, and that of a black or hybrid ant is partially red.

The fire ant’s mound is also an identifier. It begins as only a few inches of fluffy, granulated soil, but can grow up to 2 feet tall and more than 18 inches in diameter with no opening in the center. The mound itself is made up of soil that the worker ants bring up to the surface as they tunnel underground. Tunnels extend in all directions away from the mound, with random tunnels sprouting up to the surface for foraging. These tunnels can stretch up to 300 feet long. Fire ants typically build their mounds in clear, sunny areas in almost any type of soil. As a result, you can tell what type of soil is beneath the surface by the color of the mound – red or yellow indicates clay; lighter colors indicate sandy soil; and gray indicates a deeper topsoil.

Fire ant stings are painful and cause both burning and itching sensations. When a fire ant attacks, it uses its mandibles to bite the flesh, and then injects venom with a stinger on the end of its abdomen. So, when people say they were bitten by a fire ant, they are technically correct. But the sting is what causes most of the irritation.

The red welt left from each sting often blisters and produces a pustule that can last for a week or more. For most people, fire ant stings are merely annoying. But for those few who are hypersensitive

to the sting, they can be much worse. While rare, fire ant venom can cause an anaphylactic reaction in certain individuals that can result in chest pains, nausea, coma or even death. More than 80 people have died in the U.S. from fire ant stings, according to the National Library of Medicine.

The life cycle of a fire ant is complex and similar to that of honey bees. There are three sizes of workers: the minor workers live 30 to 60 days, the media workers live 60 to 90 days and the major workers can live anywhere from 90 to 180 days. The queen of a colony lives up to six years.

After a colony has been established for about a year, it produces hundreds or even thousands of alates, or winged males and females. These winged fire ants fly up into the sky to mate, usually after a rainy day when it is warm and sunny. The ants fly high – almost 400 feet for females and more than twice that for males. The males die after mating, but the young queens fly up to a mile before coming back to earth and clustering together to form a new colony. They use their legs to break off their wings and seek shelter under some sort of protective cover, such as the edge of a sidewalk or a rock or leaves. Within a day, the queen will lay 10 to 15 eggs, beginning a new colony. As the colony grows, usually all but the strongest queen is killed. Within six months, the colony will be thousands of ants strong.

The queen’s job is to lay eggs – up to 1,500 per day – while the workers forage food and build the mounds. A single colony can eventually contain as many as 240,000 ants, though most have fewer than 100,000. A colony with multiple queens can contain up to 400,000 ants.

Fire ants are omnivores and eat dead animals, like insects and worms, as well as honeydew from plants. The imported ants are strong competitors and can push many native ant species out of the area.

These ants can cause a number of problems for people, besides inflicting painful bites. They can harm pets, damage crops and cause structural problems under pavement and walls or potholes in roads. After a heavy rain, they may seek shelter in buildings. For that matter, these ants are known to join together by the thousands to form floating rafts in flood-

ed areas, which can make walking through flooded water dangerous. Fire ants damage electric equipment by chewing through wiring insulation, causing shorts in electric motors, transformers, pumps, air conditioners and other equipment.

There is no easy way to eliminate fire ants without chemicals. Three gallons of boiling water poured into a fire ant mound will kill the colony about 60 percent of the time. There are a number of insecticides –both liquid and granules – that will kill a colony, but there is a good chance that fire a nts will return as a nearby colony sends out newly mated queens.

Some information for this article came from the University of Florida Entomology & Nematology, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Oklahoma State University Extension, Texas A&M Agrilife, The National Library of Medicine, Orkin and The United States Department of Agriculture.

A colony's queen can live up to six years long

Fire ants are a notoriously difficult pest to eliminate

Man vs. Machine

Artificial intelligence and the internet cannot replace the value of a good realtor

WWhen I was 19, I spent the summer working in Yellowstone National Park with my friend (and fellow Alexander City native) Jim Bankston. Jim graduated from Benjamin Russell High School one week, and we drove across the country the next.

It took us three days, and our only guide was a Rand McNally Road Atlas that was about 100 pages long. It was spiral bound, so when we flopped it open, it had two pages per state. We thought we were informed enough for a cross-country jaunt. This was way, way before the internet obviously. We had heard of SkyNet from The Terminator movie, but beyond that, computers weren’t a factor. We didn’t even have cell phones.

Although we were practically Amish by today’s standards, back then, we felt like we had enough information to tackle the journey. But these days, there is a much higher expectation for the quality and availability of information.

This is as true for GPS as it is for buying or selling a home. Believe it or not, some crucial bits of data are still difficult to find when searching for or selling real estate on the internet, even in a relatively affluent market like Lake Martin. This month, I thought I would highlight three such challenges: Determining 1) when a home was built; 2) the quality of the view; and 3) how much acreage comes with the home.

When was this home was built?

It seems like it should be relatively easy to figure out the year a home was built. After all, shouldn’t that be listed in free public resources like the county tax assessor’s website? Why can’t real estate agents just copy that over to the Multiple Listing Service and be done with it?

What if the home has been recently renovated? Many homes on Lake Martin were originally built in the 1960s as two bedroom fish shacks. If the home has had significant work done, should the original date be used? Buyers could be left in the dark about whether a home has undergone recent updates. Sellers risk their homes’ new features not being apparent to potential buyers.

So, we just use the date it was renovated, right? But, how much of the home needs to be updated in order to use a new date? There’s only one spot in the MLS for that date. Plus, there are plenty of homes that have been renovated multiple times. Last year, I sold a home that was originally built in the 1960s, had a complete interior renovation in the 1990s, and had three bedrooms added in 2009. Which date should I have used? It’s easy to see why the reality of home renovation makes it a little difficult to use an internet search to learn when a house was originally built.

How is the water view?

Back in 2019, I put forth my opinion that perhaps that year might come to be known as the year of the off-water home. I noted the growing segment of homes that were not on the water, but were close enough to have a decent view of the lake. Since then, several neighborhoods have incorporated homes just like that. In fact, it has become so popular that the Lake Martin Association has even included a field in the MLS that designates a home as water view.

It sounds like it would be easy for someone to search online, select “water view” and check out the results. Alas, it is not.

What may be considered a clear lake view by one person might not meet another’s expectations. Factors such as the elevation of the property, surrounding vegetation, time of the year and proximity to the water all influence the perceived value of the view. One would hope that a real estate agent would go the extra mile to document the view from various angles and in various seasons. The reality, though, is sometimes different.

How many acres are included?

Of the three challenges, this one seems the most easily remedied to me, which is why it is the most baffling.

Recently, I was helping a buyer that wanted a home with a relatively large lot. She decided that she wanted at least 2-1/2 acres. I performed a quick MLS search and found only a few prospective homes. I knew that wasn’t the whole story, so I searched by her price range and found a lot more potential homes. When I looked in the “Acreage” field to see how large the lots were, many of them were left blank.

The puzzling thing about this is that public sources like tax assessor websites are usually pretty accurate. And the most accurate way to measure land is to hire a licensed surveyor to survey the property. But by and large, the tax sites are “close enough for government work,” as they say. If a listing real estate agent doesn’t have a survey, why

can’t the tax assessor information be used?

The answer lies not in the home, but in the courtroom. The truth is that real estate professionals are scared of getting things wrong. They fear that if they publish incorrect data, they will be sued by the eventual buyer for fraud. Can’t they just publish what the tax assessor says, disclose that, and advise the buyers get their own survey? That way, they could put something in the blank to give a ball park value for the acreage. Something is better than nothing, right? I think so, but many disagree.

LAKE PROPERTY

BY JOHN COLEY

So, what is a buyer to do? How can they make sure that they are accurately searching for their next home? How can sellers ensure that their properties are being advertised with the correct information?

The answer for all three of these factors points back to the need for local, knowledgeable real estate professionals. As much as some online sites want to wipe us out of the process, and as much as each new technology promises to make us obsolete, there still is a need.

I am sure we are only a few years away from SkyNet becoming self-aware, but there are still several reasons like this why you might need a real human to help you out.

John Coley grew up in the area, and has sold real etate at the lake since 2005.

269 Pitchford Way North, Alexander City • $2,750,000

Beds:

Lake Martin Realty

India Davis 256.749.7592

LakeMartinRealty.com

Lake Martin Realty

Becky Haynie 334.312.0928

LakeMartinRealty.com

541

Lake Martin Realty

Damon Story 205.789.9526

LakeMartinRealty.com

224

Ridge Run, Bywater • $1,700,000

Beds: 4 • Baths: 4.5 • Sq Ft: 2,612

Russell Lands

Rhonda Watson, Anna Speaks, Thomas Lamberth 256.215.7011 • russelllands.com

242 Williams Road, Alexander City • $899,000

Lake Martin Realty

Judith Jager 205.789.0698

LakeMartinRealty.com

Beds:

Lake

Rhonda

LakeMartinRealty.com

73 Pine Point Circle, Eclectic • $2,800,000

Lake Martin Realty

Jan Hall 256.329.6313

LakeMartinRealty.com

9

Hugh Neighbors 256.750.5071

LakeMartinRealty.com

Lake

Cindy

LakeMartinRealty.com

Lake Martin Realty

Adam Yager 205.914.0830

LakeMartinRealty.com

Lake

Rhonda Jaye

LakeMartinRealty.com

Lake

Becky Haynie 334.312.0928

LakeMartinRealty.com

Beds:

108 Ridge Point, Alexander City

107 Curry Point, Dadeville

146 Pine Drive, Eclectic

1140 Willow Way East, Alexander City

255 Windy Wood, Alexander City • $1,980,000

The secret to longevity

IIncorporating lifestyle interventions to maintain health regain health dates back thousands of years. Certain cultures have always relied on lifestyle habits to stay healthy and fight off disease. Areas of the world with the highest concentrations of centenarians are called Blue Zones. These people credit longevity to adhering to lifestyle pillars. These pillars include strong social connections, daily physical activity and most recently, the therapeutic benefits of food. Lifestyle medicine may seem like a trend; however, its long history and strong scientific evidence demonstrate that it is here to stay.

HEALTHY LIVING

BY JULIE HUDSON

Lifestyle medicine, as defined by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, is a medical specialty that uses therapeutic lifestyle interventions as the starting point to treat chronic medical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and obesity. Healthcare providers use evidence based, prescriptive lifestyle interventions to include nutrition, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, social connection and avoidance of risky substances to address the prevention, risk or treatment of our nations devastating chronic diseases.

Obviously, there is overlap between lifestyle medicine and other fields of medicine, but lifestyle medicine is unique. Lifestyle medicine incorporates changes as the baseline for treatment of disease. After lifestyle habits have been addressed and changes have

been made, it still may be necessary to incorporate other interventions, such as medication or procedures.

Changing one’s lifestyle first to prevent, lower risk or improve an existing disease makes sense. If this is not enough, moving forward to a procedure or medication could be the next step. Lifestyle medicine is used for prevention of disease; however, it does primarily focus on treatment, reducing disease severity or reversal of an existing disease. The goal of lifestyle medicine is to help the healthy get healthier, focusing on improving disease markers and quality of life for patients who need it.

Lifestyle medicine addresses the leading causes of mortality in the United States: tobacco and alcohol use, poor diet and physical inactivity.

Studies have shown that when participants make intensive changes to their lifestyles, significant improvements to heart disease and diabetes markers are made. The Nurses’ Health Study resulted in huge improvements with lifestyle changes in women, resulting in 80 percent reduction in heart disease and 91 percent reduction of diabetes. The ability and success of establishing lifestyle changes shows improvement to cardiovascular and Type 2 diabetes outcomes, as well as cancer risk reduction.

The six pillars of lifestyle medicine can be used to improve health outcomes: nutrition; physical activity; restorative sleep; stress management; social connection; and avoidance of risky substances.

Nutrition

Nutrition is the most important pillar, as food directly impacts health. For prevention, treatment and reversal of lifestyle related chronic disease, it is recommended to eat a variety of minimally processed food, vegetables and fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.

Make fruit and vegetables half of your plate at meals. Be smart about protein, focusing on lean protein like chicken, fish and turkey. Minimize your consumption of high fat red or processed meats. Incorporate meatless meals with legumes, beans, peas and lentils. Sweets, cookies and cakes should be eaten sparingly. Try to avoid soda, any foods with trans fats and especially fried foods. Choose healthy monounsaturated fats, including olive, safflower, canola, peanut and avocado oils. Always select whole grains over refined carbohydrates.

Physical Activity

Living an active lifestyle could positively impact seven of the 10 most common chronic diseases. The Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines recommend 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week, along with two or more strength training sessions that incorporate all major muscle groups.

Stress Management

The American Psychological Association issued a report in 2020 that the United States is experiencing a stress-related mental health epidemic that bleeds into all other areas of health. Stress is a contributing factor to coronary artery disease, heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis and mental illnesses, such as anxiety. A small amount of stress could be beneficial, and moderate amounts of stress could improve performance. But chronic, high levels of stress could negatively impact a person’s health.

Stress management techniques could be used to target chronic stress. Spending time in nature, meditation and mindfulness, as well as improved sleep, nutrition and exercise could all help to reduce stress.

If self-help routines do not improve stress management, it is recommended to seek professional help. For more advanced mental health related conditions, referrals can be made to appropriate professionals.

Restorative Sleep

Interestingly, poor sleep is linked to increased incidences of chronic disease, morbidity and mortality. Eight hours of sleep is the best overall average recommendation; however, the amount of sleep needed varies from person to person. Lack of sleep is like a domino effect. Lifestyle medicine emphasizes that inadequate sleep makes it difficult to build a foundation of other lifestyle pillars, such as good nutrition and exercise. Improving sleep quality usually includes taking a good look at eating habits, caffeine intake, physical activity, substance use and stress levels. Improving those pillars could lead to better sleep. Sleep strategies, like reducing screen time and setting up the bedroom to promote sleep, is beneficial.

Social Connection

The COVID-19 pandemic brought so much isolation and loneliness to society. A 2020 report issued by the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine states that loneliness and isolation are associated with a higher incidence of premature mortality, and conversely, greater health outcomes occur with positive social connections. Positive social connections lead to improvements in all lifestyle pillars.

Avoidance of Risky Substances

The sixth pillar addresses the use of tobacco, alcohol and recreational drugs. The use of these has direct effects on health, as well as indirect effects on food choices, sleep and stress management. The lifestyle approach could identify people with abuse issues and refer those to resources for cessation or support for use in a balanced way.

Though lifestyle medicine isn’t new on the healthy lifestyle scene, it might offer a new perspective to how you approach your own health.

Julie Hudson is a dietician at Lake Martin Wellness Center in Dadeville.

Fried Feta with Pear Marmalade

BY PETE MCKENNY

Pete McKenny, General Manager and Executive Chef at SpringHouse Restaurant, trained at four-star restaurants and Forbes fourstar resorts in Ohio,Washington, Arizona and Vermont before returning to Russell Lands on Lake Martin, where he began his career as chef de cuisine at Willow Point Golf & Country Club 12 years ago.

CHEF'S TABLE

Ingredients:

Cubed feta cheese

Extra virgin olive oil (you will need enough to cover the cheese, but keep separate)

10 to 20 cloves of garlic, roasted

1 to 2 tablespoons red chili flake 1 bay leaf

2 tablespoons dried oregano

1 to 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary

Canola oil to fry

2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour with salt and pepper

3 to 4 eggs, whisked with a small splash of water

2 to 3 cups Panko breadcrumbs, or seasoned bread crumbs, depending on preference

Directions:

Cover garlic cloves with vegetable oil and wrap in foil. Place in the oven at 325 degrees. Cook for about 20 to 30 minutes. Check after the first 20 minutes, and roast until they are golden brown. Remove the foil and let cool down to room temperature.

While the garlic is cooling, cube the feta cheese and place in a container with some room to submerge in the flavored oil. Remove the garlic cloves once cool enough to handle. Smash with a rubber spatula to form a paste. Add the red chili flake, dried oregano and mix well.

Slowly add the garlic oil and extra virgin olive oil and whisk together. Give the rosemary a slight smack with the back side of a knife to release the natural oils and add to the oil. Pour over the feta cheese and mix well. Place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. The longer you marinate the cheese, the more the flavor will develop.

Remove the cheese when ready to fry and place them in the seasoned flour. Add a dust of extra flour and submerge in the egg wash. Pick up carefully and cover completely in the breadcrumbs. Fry at 350 degrees until golden brown, about 3 minutes.

Pear Marmalade

Ingredients:

4 to 6 pears, peeled, cored and chopped

1 cup sugar

1 lime, zested and juiced

1 tablespoon white balsamic

1 to 2 teaspoon cayenne, depending on preference

1/4 cup water

Salt to taste

Directions:

Place everything in a pot and bring to a boil. Stir and reduce heat to medium to medium low, achieving a light simmer. Stir occasionally, and adjust heat lower if you notice browning. Adjust the seasoning and cook until thick and most liquid has evaporated. Blend carefully and cool.

Grapes and Velvet

My love of wine goes back to a time when wine in Alabama was either homemade sweet muscadine or a smattering of inexpensive “fine” wines. Now that I think about it, my yearning for anything grape probably goes farther back than that.

At my grandmother’s house, Welch’s grape juice was a staple. I think that’s where it all started. We did not drink a lot of sodas as kids, but when I could, I was drawn to Grapico, Nehi Grape and eventually Fanta Grape, though it never measured up to the first two. Grape chewing gum, grape jawbreakers, anything purple (except eggplant – pretty to look at but never cultivated a taste for it).You might say I was a “grapaholic” at an early age, or a budding oenophile.

recently read that the formal dining room is coming back in vogue. What better place to share a good bottle of wine without the TV and the distraction of balancing a plate on your knees. Communal, casual and open concepts are great for some occasions, but a dining room immediately signals that this is a special event to be savored. It is an atmosphere that is more conducive to a celebration of food, wine and conversation beyond the everyday.

FROM THE CELLAR

BY HENRY FOY

Suffice to say, by the time I was old enough to buy wine in Alabama, the selection was unspectacular. That has improved tremendously. The domestic wine industry has come a long way since the early ’70s, when the quality of some California wines was excellent but overshadowed by the prominence of French wine. That changed at The Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, a blind tasting in which 11 experts (nine French, one British and one American) compared California wines to French wines.

Often called The Judgment of Paris, the scores of the American and British judges were not included in the final tally, leaving an all-French jury. How do you suppose that turned out? A 2008 film, Bottle Shock, dramatized the event very well and recounts how the California wines came out on top. In pitting California Chardonnays against Burgundy Chardonnays, California placed three wines in the top five with Chateau Montelena from Napa Valley in first place. In the competition between California Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux, the ’73 vintage from Napa’s Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars took the top honor. The French were not amused.

As the wine industry continues to improve and flourish, it also is evolving to meet the needs and tastes of the consumer. Some of the trends are driven by marketing, and for many, health concerns are substantial.

The popularity of beverages with less alcohol and drinking less in general influence how and where adult beverages are enjoyed and shared. There is an economic factor, as well, and drinking less allows some consumers the luxury of experiencing better wines.

Another trend that intrigues me might also have a positive effect on how we partake of the grape. I

So, if you wondered what’s up with the cake and candles here, we are celebrating. Well, we will be soon. Memorial Day weekend marks our 20th anniversary in the wine business in downtown Alexander City. We opened our door at 15 Main in 2004 as Cellar on Main; in 2009, we moved to Calhoun Street and became Emporium Wine. Boy, this has been fun.

zWas there a need for a wine store in downtown Alexander City in 2004? Maybe; it seemed like a good idea at the time. I had a little background in wine but mostly wanted access to better wines than what was available in the grocery stores. And I wanted to learn more about wine.

And wow! I do know a lot more than I did, but after 20 years, I find that I am still learning. I love that, too, and look forward to continued growth for our business and downtown. There is nowhere I would rather be.

The wines I selected to go with the Red Velvet cake are a French Sparkling Wine and a California Pinot Noir. This bubbly is a staff favorite, and though it is French, it is not a true Champagne. It is made in the traditional method but not with the traditional blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. A Loire Valley wine from Jean-Francois Merieau, it is a vibrant and crisp blend of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay. And in this case, the label actually foreshadows what is in the bottle.

Selecting a red wine was a little more difficult because there are so many excellent choices for a red wine. Pinot Noir is a perfect accompaniment for the chocolate flavors of the Red Velvet cake, which narrowed the search considerably. The Calling is an exceptional wine with slight acidity, great body and elegant balance.

Henry Foy is the owner of Emporium Wine and Spirits at 128 Calhoun Street in downtown Alexander.Email emporiumwine128@gmail.com or call 256-212-WINE for access to regular notices of wine specials and other events.

The Advent of FacingForwardSonar

TSeeing this pattern prevail despite all past history and knowledge saying otherwise is eye opening for sure. And, it leaves us with more questions than answers. One of the old sayings is that there are always some fish around the

money invested in their graphs and transducers as their boats and motors.

For various reasons, some anglers and spectators are not fans at all of this technology. In some cases, it’s as simple

Now, we cast to a spot and often are seeing that there is in fact a fish there (sometimes a group of fish) and in a perfect world, they would bite. All too often, they follow or

ignore the bait. What do we do next with our time if they

FFS has shown the number of fish that follow our baits from time to time is way more than we ever could have realized. It can be discouraging to realize that we are presenting to so many fish, and only getting a tiny percentage of them to actually bite. Before, we moved on to the next opportunistic location. Now, we leave with a feeling of defeat, because our bait got rejected. Or, we continue to cast and cast to different fish with different options. It can be difficult to discern whether the issue lies with our offering or with the fish, which may not bite no matter what.

The big takeaway is that perhaps the bulk of the bass population is not where we assumed it was all this time. Cover was, and still is for many, the predictable, high percentage target for a potential fish. The larger percentage of the population seems to roam much of the time like catfish, stripers, crappie and other species. Because the location of roaming fish is more unpredictable, we are, in a sense, at the mercy of sonar capabilities that will allow

The calls to eliminate FFS would quickly push the sport of bass fishing back to the traditional means and thought processes that have proved successful over the past 50 years. But it would essentially eliminate access to what appears to be a large portion, if not most, of the fish we seek. Catching more fish should always be a good thing, but there’s a reason this topic is hot for debate.

At this time, techniques for catching these fish have simplified the setups to primarily jighead and minnow imitations, and the need for 20 different baits is dropping rapidly. Fishing trends catch on, fast. The lack of diversity in fishing styles and approaches is challenging the interest level of anglers participating in the sport: an unintended consequence of such a revolutionary technology.

Where we go from here remains to be seen. As a seasoned angler, I don’t want to lose the fun of traditional angling styles. There’s something to be said about the excitement of the unknown and the surprise of an occasional bite. Yet, I’m also amazed to have the opportunity to observe bass as they relate to their underwater environment and how they react to my baits and presentations. It’s exciting to watch a fish attack the bait while viewing it live on a screen, almost as much as a surface topwater bite.

Because of an amazing development in technology, the sport of bass fishing is caught at a crossroads between the new and the old. I believe the fish have changed little in their overall behavior, but the sport of fishing is changing at a speed that challenges our ability to adapt as anglers and fans of the sport. Hopefully, the great attributes of fishing, like fun, relaxation, competition and engagement, continue to grow as this rapid change occurs.

Greg Vinson is a full-time professional angler on the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour. He lives in Wetumpka and grew up fishing on Lake Martin.

Lake Watch

Swim Alert

Lake Watch monitors are back on the water this April providing water quality testing at Swim Alert sites across Lake Martin. The purpose of the Swim Alert program is twofold: 1) to identify bacterial contamination on the lake and at swim/recreation areas in lake tributaries, and 2) to post bacterial test results in a timely fashion for the benefit of the public.

Results of our bacteriological testings are posted to the Lake Watch Swim Alert web page at Lakewatch.org/swim-alert and to the Alabama Water Watch statewide database at aaes.auburn.edu/alabamawaterwatch. Our testing this 2024 swim season is expected to confirm excellent water quality throughout the area of Lake Martin, as befits our “Treasured Alabama Lake” status.

Mike Kensler, Director of Sustainability at Auburn University, addressed sustainability as a core value and strategic imperative at the annual Lake Watch meeting.

BY MATT CAMPBELL

Bacteriological Monitoring on the Tallapoosa Tributary Streams:

Lake Watch science officer Dr. John Clements explained that Lake Watch volunteers play an important role in identifying trends in microbial pollution that can potentially impact the health and safety of the Lake Martin waterways. Over the past year, Lake Watch volunteers examined 1,146 samples taken from 53 sample sites, including areas across Lake Martin itself and the tributaries that flow into it.

Volunteers tested for the presence of E. coli, a bacterium commonly associated with human and animal fecal contamination. E. Coli are “indicator” bacteria, unlikely to be harmful themselves, but high levels indicate possible contamination of harmful bacteria, viruses or parasites, making the water potentially unsafe for drinking or recreation. This pollution occurs when sewerage or septic systems fail, or when storm water runoff carries surface applied waste and pollutants into waterways. When pollution was indicated, it occurred primarily in tributary creeks and streams that flow into the Tallapoosa River or Lake Martin, but rarely in the lake itself.

In those tributaries, the pattern found elevated levels of E. coli present after heavy rainfalls and falling back to safe levels within one to two days. These transient rain-associated spikes likely resulted from surface runoff, and not from human waste treatment facilities or septic systems. Lake Watch volunteers will continue to monitor these and other Lake Martin waterways as a first alert system for the overall health and safety of Lake Martin waterways.

Sustainability

Environmental sustainability is the responsibility to conserve natural resources and protect global ecosystems to support health and well-being, both now and in the future. Soil and water conservation and effective water policies are imperative to sustaining clean water in Lake Martin and throughout the world.

“Sustainability is a way of seeing the world, seeing how everything is connected,” Kensler explained. “To get better outcomes, we have to think and do things differently.”

Auburn University signed the Climate Leadership Network’s Carbon Commitment to reduce climate disturbance and greenhouse gas emissions. The commitment outlines that “campuses that address the climate challenge by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and by integrating resilience into their curriculum, research, and campus operations will better serve their students and meet their social mandate to help create a vital, ethical, and prosperous civil society.” Auburn University considers sustainability a core value and aims to be a national leader in sustainability teaching, research, outreach, and practice.

Dr. Stuart R. Bell, President of The University of Alabama, states that, “The University of Alabama is committed to having a positive and lasting impact on the lives of Alabama residents through its mission of teaching, research, and service. Our commitment to creating and supporting a sustainable environment is a significant component of that commitment. Working with faculty, staff and student leaders, we have launched educational programs and community service projects designed to raise awareness and change behavior. Research projects and centers focus on a variety of topics that impact the environment, ranging from alternative fuels and vehicles of the future to wetland ecosystems to green manufacturing, and provide UA with significant opportunities to make a difference, now and in the future.”

We all look to our universities to help us understand what we should do, what our priorities should be, and how we can improve. Lake Watch urges all citizens to embrace sustainability and support its environmental and social policies and practices. Whether or not positive changes actually take place is up to us. By advocating for public policy that protects the environment and protects the public interest, we citizens support the good stewardship of our environment and the future well-beings of all.

Lake Lovers are urged to get involved in clean water advocacy. Join Lake Watch as a member, or monitor or partner. Visit the Lake Watch website at lakewatch.org. Above all, get out on the waters of Lake Martin or the Tallapoosa River. It will make your heart happy!

Matt Campbell is president of Lake Watch of Lake Martin, Inc., a non-profit, all volunteer, 501(c)(3) environmental organization working to protect the clean water of Lake Martin and the Tallapoosa watershed through water quality testing, public advocacy for water policy and environmental education. Learn more at info@lakewatch.org.

LAKE WATCH

Lake Martin

Kowaliga Marina 334-397-1210

The Ridge Marina 256-397-1300

River North Marina 256-397-1500

Russell Marine Boating & Outdoors 256-397-1700

Real Island Marina 256-397-1200

Blue Creek Marina 256-825-8888

Parker Creek Marina 256-329-8550

Harbor Pointe Marina 256-825-0600

Alex City Marine 256-215-FISH

Smith's Marina - Shipwreck Sam's 256-444-8793

SpringHouse 256-215-7080

Catherine’s Market 256-215-7070

Kowaliga Restaurant 256-215-7035

Lake Martin Pizza 256-373-3337

The Burritos Corner Mexican Grill 256-307-1887

Lake Martin Storm Shelters 256-794-8075

Russell Do It Center (Alex City) 256-234-2567

Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 334-541-2132

Russell Building Supply 256-825-4256

The Stables at Russell Crossroads 256-794-1333

Kowaliga Whole Health 334-857-1816

Off the Beaton Path 205-994-0847

Hwy 50 Blue Creek Boat & RV Storage 334-391-0717

Lake Pointe Baptist Church 256-373-3293

Red Ridge UMC 256-825-9820

Lake Martin Dock Company, Inc 334-857-2443

First Baptist Church Dadeville 256-825-6232

Lakeshore Pharmacy 256-825-0063

Momentum Marine at Lake Martin 256-825-9286

Lake Magazine Distribution

ALEXANDER CITY

Robinson Iron

A & M Plumbing

Carlos

The Body Shop

Walgreens

Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.

Jake's

Moore Wealth Management

Carlisle's

Emporium Wine

Cloud Nine

Downtown Girl

Shay Aesthetics

JR'S

Hillabee Towers

Senior Nutrition Center

George Hardy

First Realty

Dark Insurance

Warren Appliance

MainStreet Family Care

Grace's Flowers

Koon's Korner

Larry's General Merchandise

Alfa

Valley Bank - 280

Pricare

Temple Medical

AllState

BB&T Bank

Hometown Pharmacy

Lake Martin Home Health

Allen's Food Mart (Exxon)

Karen Channell - State Farm

Insurance

North Lake Condo

River Bend Store

River North Marina

Lake Martin Building Supply

Petro

Sho'Nuff BBQ

Mark King's Lake Martin Furniture

Longleaf Antique Mall

Playhouse Cinemas

Chamber of Commerce

Winn Dixie

Re/Max Around the Lake

City Hall

A&E Metal

Regions Bank

Marathon - 280

Russell Medical Center

Russell Marine Boating and Outdoors

Koon's II

Tallapoosa Ford

Jackson's Drugs

Selling Lake Martin - Amy Clark

The Sure Shot

Shell - 280

Big B Bar-B-Que

Russell Do It Center

Russell Home Decor

Holman Floor

Satterfield Inc.

Wind Creek Gate

Wind Creek Store

Willow Point Office

Willow Point Country Club

Nails

Kowaliga Marina

Kowaliga Restaurant

Children's Harbor

Catherine's Market

Russell Lands Corporate Office

Russell Lands Real Estate Sales

Center

SpringHouse Restaurant

Ridge Club

Ridge Marina

Queen's Attic

Alex City Courthouse

Alex City Marine

Super 8

Citgo

Bone & Joint Specialist

Hampton Inn

Days Inn

Timberline Glamping

Comfort Inn

Sunrise Docks

Dr. Sublett

Picket Fence

River Bank & Trust Scent Wizard

DADEVILLE

Chamber of Commerce

Raining Dogs Studio & Gallery

Fusion Grill

Dadeville Library

At the Beauty Shop

Dadeville Courthouse

Payne's Furniture

Valley Bank

McKelvey Chevrolet

Renfroe's Market

Foshee's Boat Doc

Lakeshore Pharmacy

Russell Building Supply

Lakay's

Sweet Pickins

Farmers & Merchants Bank

Jim's Pharmacy

Poplar Dawgs

Still Waters Country Club

Still Waters Home Association

Russell Lands Realty

Fuller Realty

Harbor Pointe

Oskar's

Creekside Lodge

Blue Creek Marina

Lakeside Marina

Niffers

Millstone Japanese Maple Nursery

Lakeside Mercantile

Walnut Hill Eagle

Chuck's Marina

Deep Water Docks

Lake Martin Pizza

Bay Pine Marina

City Hall

Dadeville Wellness Center

Lake Martin Realty

Shell

EQUALITY

Equality Food Mart

Southern Star

Parker Creek Marina

Charles Borden

ECLECTIC

Lake Breeze Realty

Offshore Marina

Lake Martin Mini Mall

Cotton's Alabama Barbecue

Russell Do It Center

Johnson Furniture

Eclectic Library

Real Island Marina

Anchor Bay Marina

First Community Bank

WETUMPKA

Wetumpka Herald Office

TALLASSEE

Marathon

Tallassee Eagle

Tallassee Chamber

Red Hill Gallery

Get Lake magazine delivered to your mailbox for just $50 per year. To start your subscription, call Linda Ewing at 256-234-4281.

Parting Shot

"It is life, I think, to watch the water. A man can learn so many things."

~ Nicholas Sparks

Photo by Kenneth Boone