Lake Martin Living June 2023

From the Editor’s Desk Lake Martin Living

You’ll find a healthy dose of passion in this month’s issue of Lake Martin Living magazine, and rightly so, as we have a lot to be passionate about here, from our children to food, freedom, fun and fellowship.

We kick off the summer with a cover story featuring Alexander City’s Glynn Price and the memorabilia collection he has nurtured since he was a teenager. Glynn gave Breanna Manley and Audra Spears a guided tour, and the result on page 32 resembles an Antiques Roadshow excursion as Glynn tells us what he looks for and where he finds it.

And since we’re talking summer, let’s talk food. Summer picnics are under way with all of their scrumptious traditional dishes, including barbecued baked beans. My mama used to make the most delicious baked beans, loaded with brown sugar and molasses. My mouth waters just thinking about that bubbling skillet. But I think Gina Abernathy could give her a run for the prize. Gina is nothing if not passionate about good food. Check out the recipe on page 26 and visit the Lake Martin Living Facebook page to let us know your favorite picnic side dish.

Summer shifts into high gear this month and next with all manner of celebrations. The Black Business Council of Alexander City will take the Juneteenth holiday up a notch from last year with a libation ceremony, praise dancing, spoken word and all-day activities at Cooper Rec Center. Get details on page 16; and then, get in the spirit of the event with Afrocentric attire for a lively cultural celebration.

For the 19th year, Marshall Street Church will host the annual concert and fireworks display on the band practice field July 3rd at Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City. They’ll bring in some of the top names in Christian music for this show that reminds us of what freedom really means, but that’s just the start. There are lots more Independence Day events throughout the area, from the Blue Creek golf cart parade to Russell Marine’s annual boat parade, Arti Gras and a spectacular show at Lake Martin Amphitheater. Turn to page 28 for dates and times and make your plans now.

Then, read Breanna Manley’s story about Alexander City’s Woman of the Year, Mary Perry, whose passion is bringing the arts to the community. I’ve known Mary for more than a few years now, and it’s truly been an honor to work with her in furthering the arts. Get to know Mary and her mission on page 14.

Perhaps saving the best for last in this issue, we feature plans for the new Imagination Station playground at Charles E. Baily Sportplex. A fundraising campaign is under way to build back the heavenly playground we recently lost to age, so our children will have a safe, clean play place that will help spark their imaginations and develop lifelong habits for physical activity and seeking adventure. Turn to page 18 to learn how you can help.

Share your passion with us, too, on the Lake Martin Living Facebook page. Maybe we’ll write a story about it!

Chairman

Kenneth Boone

General Manager

Tippy Hunter

Editor-in-Chief

Betsy Iler

Creative Services

Audra Spears

Business & Digital Development Director

Angela Mullins

Contributors

Kenneth Boone

Breanna Manley

Lacey Howell

Chip East

Lee Williams

Gina Abernathy

Audra Spears

Cliff Williams

Abigail Murphy

Henry Zimmer

William Marlow

Lizi Arbogast Gwin

George Miranda

Audience Development Director

Erin Burton

Marketing/Advertising Sales

Renee Trice

Craig Howard

Emily Gregg

Sheryl Jennings

Hidey Arrington

Lake Martin Living P.O. Box 999 Alexander City, AL 35011 256-234-4281

www.lakemagazine.life/lakemartinliving

Lake Martin Living is published monthly by Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. All contents are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. Reader correspondence and submissions are welcome. Please address all correspondence, including story ideas, letters, pictures and requests, to: Editor, Lake Martin Living, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011 or email editor@lakemartinmagazine.com. Advertising inquiries may be made by calling 256-234-4281. A limited number of free copies are available at local businesses and subscriptions are $25 annually.

Betsy Iler, Editor-in-Chief

Alexander City native Glynn Price started collecting old signs and other historic memorabilia early in life and remains passionate about great finds and the friends he’s made in the world of collecting. In this issue, he shares some of his favorite pieces and collecting stories.

by Audra Spears

Photo

9.

10.

FEATURES

14. MARY PERRY

A dedicated advocate for the arts receives the community's highest honor.

16. JUNETEENTH PREVIEW

This year's celebration of freedom includes all-day activities, cultural events and more.

18. A BRAND NEW IMAGINATION STATION

Alexander City Parks & Rec hopes to raise $400,000 for a playground beyond the imagination.

28. CELEBRATE FREEDOM

Make plans now to include some of these annual events in your Independence Day celebrations.

32. COLLECTOR GLYNN PRICE

An Alexander City native spends a lifetime collecting historic memorabilia.

Short Term Rehab

Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy

Long Term Skilled Nursing Care

Main Street proposes downtown arts center

Main Street Alexander City board members during a work session last month asked the Alexander City City Council to replace the old city hall and police station with a performing arts center. Michelle West, the organization’s executive director, said a beneficial alternative for the two empty dilapidated buildings could be something new – a performing arts center.

Main Street board president JoAnna Banks said the land occupying the two old buildings could be converted into an asset as a performing arts center that could promote a positive economic impact for downtown and the community.

Main Street expects such a venue would increase downtown foot traffic, which benefits merchants and restaurants.

Shooting fund hits

$136,000

A fund to benefit victims of the April 15 mass shooting and their families now has collected $136,000 after the Kiwanis Club and First Presbyterian Church presented checks during a Kiwanis meeting last month, said Dr. Ben Hayes, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dadeville. Dadeville Kiwanis Club president Lesia Woody explained the organization donated $1,000 to go toward Dadeville First Baptist Church’s fund for victims.

The church is working with the Community Foundation of East Alabama, Lake Martin Area United Way, Dadeville Mayor Frank Goodman and additional community leaders on how to best distribute the funds. The first priority with the funds is aiding affected families with funeral costs and medical bills.

“Our desire is to do the best we can to make a difference in these families’ lives,” Hayes said.

~ Abigail Murphy

To that end, Banks requested the city’s historic preservation commission approve demolition of the buildings.

“Main Street is a proponent of historic preservation,” Banks said. “That is one of our founding cornerstones, but unfortunately, sometimes you cannot save a building. We feel like it’s time to address the issue and then we can really start to move on proposals of ideas and developments for that property.”

According to Banks, a group composed of city and community members dedicated the prior year and a half to exploring the venture.   Council members listened to the proposal during the work session, but announced no resolution regarding the proposal during a subsequent regular council meeting.

~ William Marlow

~ Abigail Murphy

Looking to the Future of Downtown Alexander City Main Street Alexander City's JoAnna Banks explains the attributes of building a performing arts center.

Reeltown Student Wins First Place in Statewide Farmer's Cooperative Poster Contest First place in the Kindergarten-to-Third Grade division of the Alabama Farmers Cooperative's Farm-City Committee Poster Contest went to Kaitlyn Williams, a budding artist who was inspired to use a crop rotation theme after watching her father rotate the crops in his garden.

Fawn Brook Home Market

Once Griffin, Georgia, native Rhonda Cobb and her husband, Tonja, made the decision in March to open a home market on State Route 49 near Dadeville, the ball rolled quickly toward their opening last month.

In those few short months, Cobb left a medical career that spanned more than 25 years. She moved fulltime to the StillWaters condominium the couple bought five years ago and filled a 1,700-square-foot display space just outside of StillWaters with homey, comfortable lake furnishings and accessories. And she named the new endeavor after the Georgia street where she grew up.

“Fawn Brook is the street I grew up on in Griffin. My best childhood memories happened on that street, and here, I feel like I’m playing every day,” Cobb said.

She filled Fawn Brook Home Market with casual furniture – simple cabinetry that she loves and cream colored sofas with lots of pillows and cozy throws in the muted tones that area homeowners love.

“These hues make me feel good. They’re comfort colors,” Cobb said.

She added a soothing variety of blue accents in the table settings, vases and accents that she loves to change out on the dining tables to keep the displays fresh. She also offers an array of faux greens, beads and garden statuettes to draw on the lake penchant for bringing the outside in. And she has plans to expand.

“I’d like to double the size of the store. With a bigger footprint, I want to add outdoor furniture and carry dishes. We started small to put it together quickly, but we want to do more,” she said.

With her exuberant smile and all of 4-foot 11-inch height, Cobb feels like she’s landed in a beautiful space that is poised for growth.

Casual Comfort

Rhonda Cobb opened her home market store near StillWaters to make homey styles more accessible.

“The location is very visible, and that’s only going to get better as more businesses take up residence. We have an Italian restaurant

STORY & PHOTOS BY BETSY ILER

coming in and a car wash,” she said. “It’s wonderful what the developer has planned here.”

Those two businesses alone will be unique in the Dadeville business market. In addition to Fawn Brook Home Market, severak other businesses opened in the shopping complex at the end of May.

The Cobbs and their two daughters discovered Lake Martin some 20 years ago after they bought their first boat.

“We put the boat on this very small lake near our home and thought that was fine, but some friends kept wanting us to come here. We resisted. Why in the world would we want to travel that far when we had the little lake only 2 miles away?” she laughed. “When we finally came here with our boat, we never took it anywhere else. Our girls grew up coming to this lake.”

The Dadeville community also was a big draw for Cobb.

“I like the smallness of the town. It’s friendly. Everybody knows everybody, and they’re so nice. They’re genuinely happy we’re here,” she said.

It’s a welcome change for the registered nurse who started in orthodontics and later moved to a position as an ICU nurse at a Griffin hospital. Later, she became director of a nursing home facility with 197 beds.

“I can tell you that there definitely is a nursing shortage,” she said.

All the while, she was buying furniture and accessories in Georgia for the weekend place in Alabama because there were no home stores in the StillWaters area.

“Tonja and I kept saying we should open a store in Dadeville,” she said.

When the couple decided they’d had enough of the long hours and late nights, they did just that. Cobb said they signed the lease for the Fawn Brook space the first week of March, and she put in her notice at work the following week.

“From there, it just snowballed,” she said.

The business is a natural for the location, Cobb added, and while it isn’t something she’s always dreamed of doing, it is something she loves.

“I always loved doing my own house, and friends would ask my opinion for their houses. I loved this line, the homey style. It fits a lake house,” she said. “A friend in Griffin has a store where he carries the same line, and he guided me.”

Since the opening, Cobb’s life hasn’t slowed down. The store has been busy with visitors and wellwishers, and the new merchant is delighted with the response.

The Fawn Brook Story Top: Rhonda and Tonja Cobb are transitioning to fulltime life at Lake Martin; Middle: The store features casual, comfortable furnishings in creamy hues; Pops of color in the inventory add interest.

“We’ve met so many people, and I feel like we’re becoming part of the community,” she said. “I love that.”

An Advocate for the Arts Mary Perry

STORY BY BREANNA MANLEY & PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE

Mary Perry first fell in love with the arts when she was young and exploring music. Since then, Alexander City’s 2023 Woman of the Year has worked diligently to promote all forms of art, but especially the performing arts, throughout the area.

“I’ve been involved with music most of my life. I started out here with piano lessons with Ms. Rebecca White. Following my lessons with her, I was involved with the church choir, and I also participated in the school band throughout junior high and high school,” Perry explained.

Perry’s love for music ran deep, and she contemplated it as a major at Birmingham Southern, but when her plans changed, she continued to stay involved in the arts.

Life and work whisked her away for several years, but after returning to the area in 2001 to care for her mother, Perry’s leap into community involvement escalated. She’s been dedicated to continuing her involvement for more than 20 years.

“Community involvement gives me a sense of purpose and the feeling that I’m accomplishing something. Involving myself in the community is something I’m passionate about. I really want this area to have a wonderful opportunity to participate and enjoy the arts,” Perry said.

With this in mind, Perry has dedicated years to several organizations in the community, urging others to embrace the arts and the good they can do for the area.

She serves as president of the Alex City Arts Council and has been active in this role since 2018. This 501(c)3 volunteer-based organization has brought a wide variety of entertaining performances to Alexander City and the surrounding area.

Along with this demanding position, Perry also serves on other local boards, including Alexander City Theatre II – the local community theatre. She is the Flint Hill Church council

chair and music director and sits on the board of the Veritas Christian School.

Perry’s love of the arts, combined with the love of her community, prompted her community service and involvement, and she’s eager to continue her work as the art scene here continues to grow.

“Alex City is home, and I love it. It just has that small town camaraderie and charm. You can really get to know people here, and I believe this community has a lot of potential yet,” Perry explained.

Though she has dedicated herself to several boards and volunteer positions over the years, Perry was shocked when she was called on stage to receive the Woman of the Year designation at the 10th Annual Lead Forward Women’s Conference and Business Expo held this spring at the Central Alabama Community College Betty Carol Graham Technology Center.

“I did not expect it, and I was totally surprised. I just felt so honored. I’ve never strived to be outstanding in any area, I’m just doing what I’ve always done. To be recognized for doing things has just been a great honor and a true blessing,” Perry said.

Little did Perry know, there was another surprise in store for her as she made her way to the stage. Friends and family from South Carolina, Kentucky and Georgia made their way to CACC to show their support for Perry and celebrate the milestone.

“They all kept it a secret from me,” Perry explained. “After I went out with my friends and family, I was exhausted. I went home and read the letters. They gave me copies of the letters of nomination and cards that people had given them, and I read through them all,” Perry said.

For those who are eager to get involved with their community, Perry recommends finding something you’re interested in doing and something that fulfills a desire you may have.

“Find something you can be passionate about,” Perry said.

Juneteenth Preview

STORY BY BETSY ILER

An Afrocentric cultural experience, this year’s Juneteenth event in Alexander City will focus on a libation ceremony with Spoken Word, prayers for healing, drums and praise dancers led by Nature’s Garden for Victory & Peace and Peace Sister Circle Collective. The 10 a.m. function on Monday, June 19, will take place outside the Cooper Recreation Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, said Stephanie Coley with the city’s Black Business Council.

Following the ceremony, the event will move inside with praise dancers from The Studio Arts and Education, Regeneration Praisers and Mahogany Masterpiece; a group dance class; history presentations; music; shopping with vendors; food trucks and more until 4 p.m.

“Last year’s event was small and non-ceremonial with just conversation, but this year, we wanted to make it more meaningful,” Coley said.

Attendees will stand in a circle outside the center for a libation ceremony that will honor the ground. Water usually is used for the ritual, Coley said, but rice is used on occasion, as well. The exercise is symbolic of returning to the earth.

“The circle is a prominent feature that permeates all departments of life. In essence, the circle represents completeness, fullness. The circle is thus an image of what represents God, that which is the source of all things and continues to give birth to new possibilities, thereby offering hope,” she explained. “The association of God with the circle, or vice versa, explains why many life forms, ceremonies, rituals and buildings in traditional African culture follow the shape of a circle.”

The presenting guests will pray for healing in the community, for victims and perpetrators, engaging the crowd and flowing in the direction the gathering chooses, she added. The Spoken Word will be delivered by Jonathon Avant of Montgomery.

“The prayers will be a kind of chanting using a different language,

and people are encouraged to wear Afrocentric clothing,” Coley said. “The Spoken Word is kind of like poetry with a beat.

“It’s not Voodoo. We are not exiting your traditional Christian methodology; it is being culturally enhanced. Almost all cultures have ceremonies and rituals, including those that practice faith. These chants often carry stories, reflections of an individual’s family, community and regional affiliations.”

The celebration is sponsored by Tallapoosa County Commissioner T.C. Coley Jr. (Dist. 1), Anderson Headstones & Memorials and Scenario Design, Inc.

Juneteenth celebrates June 19, 1865, as the day that the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 became enforceable in Texas, the last slaveholding Confederate state. In 2012, Alabama became the 40th U.S. state to adopt holiday status of the date. The holiday potentially draws attention to the struggle of all Americans for freedom from discrimination, violence and economic deprivation.

The event is a project of the Black Business Council of Alexander City, an initiative of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce. The nonprofit organization was founded in November 2021 in conjunction with the chamber to elevate the Black professional presence in the community.

“We are more than just a few Blackowned businesses,” said Coley, who along with her husband, Commissioner T.C. Coley, was key in the council’s founding. “Our goal is to help them network in a way that they could culturally receive it.”

In August 2022, a formal board of 11 members was established. To learn more about this year’s Juneteenth event in Alexander City or the Black Business Council of Alexander City, visit the Black Business Council (Alex City) Facebook page or email bbcalexcity@gmail.com.

“Hey folks call or come see us today. We are located at 1965 Eastern Blvd. in Montgomery just across the street from Lowe’s. We have a huge inventory of carpet, vinyl, hardwood, laminate, luxury vinyl plank, ceramic and porcelain tile. We also do custom area rugs, countertops, blinds, and a variety of window coverings. We offer a “Low Price Promise” and professionally install everything we sell. Don’t pay too much or miss out on the great service at Georgia Floors Direct. We’ve been Flooring the River Region for Over 50 Years.”

Jeff Mallinson, Owner

A Brand New Imagination Station

STORY BY BREANNA MANLEY

This summer Imagination Station committee members will be hard at work raising $400,000 for the revival of the grand playground at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex in Alexander City. With renderings and plans in place, their goal of creating a safe and fun environment for kids of all ages is closer to becoming a reality.

According to Kasey Kaschak, director of parks and recreation, the committee has already secured over $16,000 in donations, and they hope to increase that amount as the summer wears on.

“Funding is still very much so ongoing for the project. Right now, we have around $16,000 with probably another $10,000 verbally committed. Now we’re moving into the fundraising part, which is hitting the businesses up and talking to individuals who want to donate,” Kaschak explained.

To spark interest in donations among businesses and individuals throughout the surrounding communities, Kaschak and the rest of the Imagination Station committee are exploring incentives for both businesses and individuals alike.

“Our goal is to offer incentives. We’re thinking about selling bricks along with doing another handprint wall that mimics the one that’s still here. We’re going to have T-shirts for sale, too,” Kaschak said.

According to Kaschak, when plans to rebuild the Imagination Station came about, they went through several revisions in building materials, layout and features to be included.

“We were given options. When we had our first committee meeting, we had two options that we narrowed it down to, and we took the best out of those two options and combined them into the one that the public has come across online,” Kaschak explained.

The committee, made up of community leaders at the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce, Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance, city council and school board members, noted the importance of the playground and its compliance with ADA requirements and wanted to create a plan based on inclusivity for all children. Taking into consideration Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, along with safety and longevity, the plan for a reinvented Imagination Station includes a variety of structures and kid-friendly elements for all ages.

“The old Imagination Station was all wood, and over time,

On The Way

The Imagination Station committee already has raised $16,000 toward the $400,000 playground project at the Sportplex in Alexander City.

wood structures deteriorate. With this new design, what we aim to do is set out something that is safe. We want to have something that is ADA compliant, so individuals with mobility impairments can have access to the same equipment and structures that other kids have,” Kaschak said.

One of the first steps in the design process considers surfacing and choosing materials.

According to Kaschak, a couple of materials have been thoroughly examined for the surfacing of the park.

“The first design that we had and probably the biggest point of contention for all of us was the surfacing, which is a large and important part of this project. We were initially looking at engineered wood fiber, which is essentially fancy mulch. It’s easier to move around on that typical mulch, and it’s ADA complaint.

have different sections. The old wood structures will be replaced by metal and plastic structures, and there will be designated areas for all age groups, including a portion that the committee has decided to call Toddler Town, as well as a sensory station.

According to Kaschak, the layout will be about the same. A few trees might need to be cut down when construction begins, and the committee is also planning to make the entrance to the playground more accessible.

Ready and Waiting

The new playground will be constructed at the site where the original Imagination Station was built more than 30 years ago.

“When we really dug into it, we concluded that the wood fiber would deteriorate quickly over time, and it could potentially lose its absorbency. We then pivoted to artificial turf. It lasts longer; it’s safer; and it’s going to require way less maintenance,” Kaschak explained.

Like the original Imagination Station, the playground will

“The City is going to take on most of that work in house, as much as we possibly can. There’s a lot of side prep that goes into building a playground,” Kaschak said.

Pet and Playground Products out of Eclectic is working with the committee and will be constructing the project once all the costs are covered.

“On the original Imagination Station, most of the work was done by the average citizen. It’s incredible to look back on photos and see that sense of community. It’s fun to have a place where kids can come and just be kids. The parents are going to enjoy it along with the kids. Everybody can come. Making a top tier place for everyone is really the goal,” Kaschak explained.

Lightning Bugs

Childlike magic on a warm summer night

Whether you call them lightning bugs or fireflies, you must admit these light-producing insects are fascinating, though they are neither true flies nor true bugs. These insects actually are beetles in the family Lampyridae. There are about 2,200 species found worldwide, and about 171 species in North America. Eighteen of those species in North America are listed as endangered. There are about 75 species of fireflies in the southeastern United States, and about 50 different species found in Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Fireflies are found worldwide in temperate and tropical areas on every continent except Antarctica. They thrive around standing water and marshes in wooded areas.

GARDEN TALK

Based on adult courtship behavior, fireflies are categorized into three groups: flashing fireflies; daytime dark fireflies; and glowworms. The eggs can glow as well, but the intensity is very low. The light serves another purpose for the firefly, too: These insects taste bitter to predators. The glowing identifies them to predators, and the predators avoid eating them.

In 2021, researchers completed a risk assessment of fireflies and found that 14 percent of the firefly species are threatened by extinction. Several factors contribute to the decline of firefly populations, including habitat loss due to urban development, light pollution, drought, incorrect use of pesticides and the use of lawn fertilizer.

Like all beetles, the firefly has a complete lifecycle consisting of four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The adult female lays eggs in moist places near the ground around mid-summer. The eggs hatch into firefly larvae in about two or three weeks. The firefly will spend most of its life as a larva in the soil or under tree bark, which could last well over a year. The adult stage of the firefly will only last a few weeks.

Fireflies are considered beneficial insects, and it is the larval stage that is the most beneficial. The firefly larvae are predators of snails, slugs and other soft-bodied insects; however, firefly adults are not carnivorous at all. Some species eat the nectar or pollen of flowers, others eat smaller fireflies, and some do not eat anything at all.

There are several things we can do in our landscapes to help firefly populations.

n Decrease light pollution by turning off exterior lights during the firefly mating season.

n Allow low-hanging branches to remain on trees and shrubs.

n If possible, allow some natural areas to remain with leaf litter and tall grasses.

n Adding a water garden to the landscape may encourage fireflies because the firefly larva likes damp soil.

n Reduce the use of lawn fertilizer and pesticide, if possible.

n Try to avoid using broad spectrum pesticides and broadcasting them over large areas.

Understanding and managing the desired habitat for fireflies is important as we help encourage these beneficial insects.

The larvae of all firefly species are bioluminescent, but not all adults produce light. The light is a chemical reaction. Larvae use their light as warning displays to ward off potential predators, and adults use the light to signal each other and attract mates. Scientists also use the flashing pattern and color to distinguish between different species.

Multi-tasking Tails

Previous Pages: Fireflies use light flashes as mating signals. The blinking lights that you see in your yard are generally from males looking for females. Above: In addition, the lower abdomen of a firefly makes it bitter tasting to predators.

For additional help with home and garden information, contact your local county Extension office or visit aces.edu.

~ Dr. Chip East is a regional agent for commercial horticulture for Alabama Cooperative Extension.

Chip East

Everyday Grandeur

DISCOVER A LUXURIOUS GOLF LIFESTYLE LIVING ALONG GRAND NATIONAL GOLF COURSE

Tucked away on the outskirts of Auburn University at the world-class Grand National Golf Course, the award winning National Village offers everything you’ll ever need for the way you want to live. The thoughtfully crafted master planned community features georgeous homes designed by national award winner Larry Garnett and built by Ab and Don Conner at Conner Bros. Construction Co., Inc., a local company with more than 100 years of experience. With the Marriott at Grand National on site, residents enjoy championship golf, miles of picturesque nature trails and lakes for fishing, spa and pool. National Village is truly an unbelievable place to live – inside or out. Plus, thanks to the high speed fiber optic network of Opelika (Alabama’s first Gig City), our homeowners enjoy some of the Nation’s fastest internet for any work- or learn-from-home requirements.

Southern BBQ Baked Beans

Gathering with family and friends for the 4th of July is a cherished tradition combining the best elements of summer activities, breathtaking fireworks, aromas from the grill, celebrations, treasured memories and a heartfelt display of patriotism.

No grand celebration is complete without food, and while the grilled meats often steal the show, I find myself drawn to the tasty side dishes that accompany them. The side dishes bring balance to the table and complement the main dish.

GOOD EATS

Gina Abernathy

Southern BBQ Baked Beans are a staple at many backyard barbecues during the summer months. They are perfect with grilled meats such as hamburgers, hot dogs or barbecued ribs. These baked beans combine a sweet and savory flavor, providing a comforting and tasty side dish to the cookout menu.

This classic recipe can be made ahead of time and kept warm in a slow cooker, allowing

you more time to socialize with your guests and host a great dinner.

Many recipes call for placing strips of bacon across the top of the beans before cooking; however, I’ve found that the bacon is hard to cut with a serving spoon once cooked, and only 6 people get bacon. How fair is that? So, I now cut my bacon into pieces and place them evenly over the top to ensure everyone gets bacon with every serving.

These baked beans are full of flavor and satisfying, so whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue or a casual dinner, include these classic and delicious baked beans as a delightful side dish. Then, watch as they become a part of your summertime cookout tradition.

~ Gina Abernathy is the author and recipe creator behind the blog, Home at Cedar Springs Farm.

Ingredients

2 28-ounce cans pork and beans

1 pound ground beef

1 large onion, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

2 jalapenos, seeded and finely chopped

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup barbecue sauce

1/2 cup ketchup

2 tablespoons yellow mustard

6 slices thick-cut bacon (cut into 1-inch pieces)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drain and discard liquid from pork and beans. Pour beans into a large bowl and set aside. In a large skillet, add ground beef, onions, jalapenos and bell pepper. Cook until meat is no longer pink. Remove from heat. Drain grease. Add beef mixture to the bowl with the pork and beans. Stir in chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, ketchup and mustard. Mix well. Pour baked beans into a 13-inch x 9-inch baking dish. Place uncooked bacon pieces evenly on top of the beans in a single layer. Bake uncovered for one hour until bacon is cooked and slightly crisp.

Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Celebrate Freedom

STORY BY BETSY ILER

PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE & COURTESY OF Q MANAGEMENT GROUP

Pray for fair weather and make plans to meet friends and family at the BRHS band practice field July 3 for the annual Celebrate Freedom event hosted by Marshall Street Church. This year’s celebration will return two acts that were interrupted during last year’s show, headliner Colton Dixon and family-friendly comedian Mickey Bell. Jason Crabb, one of the biggest names in gospel music, will kick off the event at 6 p.m. Kentucky native Crabb is known for his energetic performances and strong vocals. A Two-time Grammy-award winner, Crabb also has received 21 Dove

Awards and was named the Gospel Music Association’s Male Vocalist of the Year. Crabb also is the author of a children’s book series that helps children comprehend the goodness and love of God. His recent hit, Good Morning Mercy, with Dylan Scott skyrocketed on the Christian radio charts and has garnered in the millions on streaming platforms.

The mid-stage portion of the show will highlight the humor of Christian comedian Mickey Bell, who will share funny stories from his life experiences. More than just a deliverer of corny church jokes, Bell has a quick wit and high energy that entertains audiences across the country.

His show was interrupted by a strong thunderstorm last year, and Marshall Street Church emcee Steve “Cubby” Culbertson said they are excited to bring him back this year.

Another returning act, Colton Dixon was scheduled to headline last year, but most of his performance was canceled due to the inclement weather.

Dixon was voted fan favorite on Season 11 of American Idol He has appeared on the Today Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and endeavors to feature faith-based music without alienating a wider audience.

“He is a good entertainer. Really good,” Culberson said. “Young people will really enjoy him.”

Following Dixon’s performance, the fireworks will blast off after dark set to patriotic music, which will be broadcast on Kowaliga Country 97.5 FM radio.

Times to Remember

Previous Pages: Thousands of locals and visitors turn out for the concert and fireworks on the BRHS grounds; Above: Christian music's Colton Dixon will headline this year's show in town.

Food trucks will be parked on site, and patrons will be able to purchase other items – such as baked goods and ice cream. No smoking or alcohol is allowed. No coolers are allowed in accordance with school property rules but bring lawn chairs and blankets for the lawn. The event is free and open to the public.

In Dadeville, the Blue Creek golf cart parade is set for 11 a.m. on Olana Drive at the north end of Ponder Camp Road. Park anywhere along Ponder Camp Road to collect candy and trinkets thrown by parade entrants. To join the fun, meet at 10 a.m. at Olana Drive. For more information, contact Mickey Forbus at 334-329-0905.

Russell Lands will open the weekend celebration with Jonathan Bloom at Friday On The Green, a free family-

friendly concert at 6:30 p.m. on June 30th on the Town Green at Russell Crossroads. Bring lawn chairs, blankets for the grass, picnics and the pup on a leash to get the weekend’s relaxation vibe started.

Return to the Town Green on Saturday morning for the 12th annual Arti Gras juried art show. Artisans from across the Southeast will display their handmade goods for sale, from jewelry to soaps, paintings, pottery, woodwork and more. The show will be open Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Be sure to turn out for the Fourth of July Boat Parade, presented by Russell Marine, at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 4. The parade starts at Kowaliga Marina and makes a loop to the Children’s Harbor lighthouse and back as entrants vie for cash and prizes for the tallest flag, largest flag, most patriotic crew, most creative theme and best overall boat and crew.

The weekend wraps up at Lake Martin Amphitheater with the annual concert and one of the Southeast’s largest fireworks displays. While patrons often park alongside the road outside the amphitheater or in boats offshore, the real show is on the ground at The AMP. Admission is a bargain at $10. Bring lawn chairs, blankets for the grassy hillside, coolers and picnics, but please leave the pup safely at home for this event.

Andrew Jannakos will headline the concert again this year, after his show was interrupted by a storm last year. He will follow local favorite, The Bank Walkers, who will open the show at 6:30 p.m. Jannakos will perform two sets – the first one at 8 p.m. before the spectacular fireworks show and the second at 9:30 p.m. after the fireworks.

A Georgia native, Jannakos has garnered a following in the many millions on streaming platforms. Three years ago, his popularity rose sharply after his wife posted a video of him cooking dinner while singing the breakout single, Gone Too Soon, which he co-wrote with Jason Afable and Josh Bricker. The clip went viral with more than 10 million views within just a few months and since then has hit 36 million views on Spotify.

Jannakos comes from music. His grandfather played in a bluegrass band, and in 2019, he built a global fan base on Season 16 of The Voice.

It’s a fun and exciting series of events across the area on July 4th, and most of these events are free. Don’t miss a minute of it.

STORY BY BREANNA MANLEY

PHOTOS BY AUDRA SPEARS

COLLECTOR Glynn Price

Alarge white house with a bright red door is nestled on South Central Avenue in Alexander City, and behind that eye-catching red door lives Glynn Price who has collected old signs, clocks, thermometers and other timeless memorabilia, since his teenage years.

Born in Alexander City, schooled in Hackneyville and raised in the Red Barn community, Price moved to Sylacauga for a short time but returned to the area in 2012 to display his collection in a restored house with his wife, Patsy.

“When I was living in Sylacauga, I had all this stuff in boxes, sheds and buildings. I sold the house there and moved here just to display this collection. It’s the reason I bought this old house,” Price explained.

South Central Avenue is a main thoroughfare and was the perfect location for passersby to spot a few of the signs and memorabilia Price has collected, including an old Shell gas station sign.

The covered front porch offers a mere glimpse of the collection, most of which is tucked away inside the house, giving each room a unique blend of old, treasured items he holds dear. Though Price has never

One Item at a Time

Previous Pages: Signs, clocks and thermometers are among Price's favorite items to collect; Top: He displays most of the memorabilia at his home in Alexander City; Above: He has collected Russell Brands memorabilia, too; Facing Page: Clockwise from top left: CocaCola items can be found throughout the home; The bottle collection came from the attic of the Cozy Corner Drug Store before it became Carlisle's; Price found these gears, which came from old textile mills; The Colonial Bread clock is a prized possession; He has a large collection of old threads; He had Charles Forbus restore the vibrant colors of this iconic sign.

kept up with the number of pieces in his collection, he estimates it to be around 3,500 pieces.

“I love finding vintage, antique thermometers. Clocks are my second passion. You can find a lot of old bread signs, too. Bread is a good one. But I have no rhyme or reason as to why I do like these things,” Price said.

He adds to the collection through a number of different avenues. Trade shows and interaction with other collectors are the main ways he comes across additions to his collection. He also finds attentiongrabbing items by browsing through the aisles of antique shops.

One of the most treasured items in his collection is a Colonial Bread clock that hangs on the wall in the couple’s kitchen. It’s an original clock from the 1930s, and it still runs to this day. He stumbled across this find at an antique dealer in Woodbury, Georgia.

One of his recent exciting finds is an original Frosty Root Beer clock for which he searched five years.

“I found it a few weeks ago. The Frosty items are very collectible, too. The price has just gotten crazy over the .years. Sometimes ,you’ll see an item and just can’t afford to get it,” Price explained.

Though his collection has been growing since his teens, Price believes it’s getting harder and harder to find the truly rare items, as the market has grown over the last decade.

“This market has just exploded. It started rising 10 years ago, but it exploded in the last five years. There are items in my collection that I bought at antique stores, pawn shops that you can’t go out and buy now,” Price explained.

With more collectors emerging in the market, Price said he is always excited when he finds another item worthy of his expansive collection. He doesn’t typically like to sell items from his collection, but every now and then, he makes a trade among his collector friends.

“We swap and trade among ourselves. I do not like to sell; I rarely ever sell anything. I will trade something, especially if I have a duplicate. It’s hard to find a duplicate of an original item. My collection is probably 95 percent original. I’m not a fan of reproductions. The reproductions I do have, I like them, and if I were to get the original, it would be far too expensive,” Price said.

He doesn’t limit his searches to Alabama but has traveled to Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky several times to find items.

“A lot of my collection comes out of Tennessee. My wife and I love going there and doing the Longest Yard Sale every year through Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky,” Price explained.

Though he is willing to travel to nearby states to find something he likes, Price also loves finding local pieces.

“I love local pieces. I did a bit of remodeling on this house when I bought it to put it back to the original house that it was when it was built in 1910. The previous owners had updated it, and I didn’t like the update, so I found a contractor, Steve Busby, who put it back as close to original as he could, including cast iron sinks and clawfoot tubs,” Price said.

With a close resemblance to the original house, the timeless features mesh perfectly with Price’s collection.

Price retired from the convenience store industry in 2019 after 25 years of service. He enjoyed the work, but now that he’s settled in a house that fits his style and his ever-growing collection, he spends his time searching for treasures to add to his collection.

Whenever you’re passing by on South Central Avenue, look to your left and search for the red door. You might be able to spot a few pieces of his collection leaning against the white siding. And if you ever get the chance to meet Price, you’ll find the collector is as interesting as the collection itself.

Memorabilia Everywhere Left: Price's wife, Patsy, loves Betty Boop; Above: Even the guestroom doubles as display space.

Part I

Spring is in the air. The flowers are blooming; the breezes are blowing; and we’re all starting to get headaches and feeling pressure. No, not from allergies but from Medicare Advantage advisors. I’m talking about the incessant phone calls, emails and – yes – even text messages from your friendly neighborhood health insurance salesman, or as they like to refer to themselves (inaccurately, I might add) as Medicare counselors.

for-service or FFS).

When you turn 65, you automatically qualify for Medicare A, provided you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. If you don’t meet the 10-year requirement, you can purchase Medicare A, but the premiums are as much as $506 per month in 2023.

In addition, you pay a monthly premium for Medicare B, which for most people in 2023 is $164.90. The federal government typically deducts that premium from your monthly Social Security check.

MEDICAL NEWS

Maybe you’re not 65 yet. Maybe your incessant phone calls are still about your car warranty that expired. But if you’re of that certain age when you are entitled to Medicare, or about to qualify, you are inundated with spam in your inbox and junk mail in your post office box, letting you know that you have options when it comes to Medicare.

The options these insurance agents want to tell you about are Medicare Advantage plans, commercial insurance plans offered as alternatives to traditional Medicare. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services officially refer to these plans collectively as “Medicare C,” but marketers find the plans easier to sell by calling them

“Medicare Advantage.”

George Miranda

For the first time since its inception in 2003, Medicare Advantage enrollment surpassed numbers enrolled in traditional Medicare. And it’s easy to understand why. As the program has matured, the premiums for MA plans have decreased while the additional benefits have increased.

Medicare C differs from traditional Medicare

In order to understand Medicare Advantage, you first have to understand traditional Medicare (Medicare fee-

Medicare FFS is like the quote attributed variously to Mark Twain and to Sir Alec Issigonis (designer of the Austin Mini): “A camel is a horse designed by committee.’’ This time, however, the committee is the federal government. Anyone who has attempted to navigate a federal website understands that the Feds have a penchant for taking the simplest concept and making it tortuous. For example, in the real world, a benefit period is one year, but in the world of Medicare A, a benefit period for inpatient care is however long it takes to be discharged from the hospital, or from the nursing facility if that occurs pursuant to the hospital stay plus 60 more days. Medicare B has a more typical 12-month benefit period.

The deductible for Medicare A is $1,600 for an inpatient admission in 2023. For the first 60 days of an inpatient stay, your copay is $0. For days 61 through 90, your copayment is $400 a day. If your hospital stay extends beyond 90 days, you start using up your lifetime reserve days. There are 60 of those, and like matches, once they’re burned, they’re gone. The copay for lifetime reserve days is $800 per day.

In addition to inpatient hospitalization, Medicare A covers skilled nursing facility stays, home health and hospice care. The nursing home benefit covers up to 100 days in a benefit period (see above for Medicare A’s crazy definition of a benefit period). The first 20 days are free, with a $200 copay for days 21 through 100.

Medicare B covers outpatient care: physician office visits, outpatient physical therapy, outpatient surgery,

No-brainer or 'No way'?

etc. The Medicare B deductible is $226 in 2023. Once you meet the deductible you are liable for 20 percent co-insurance. There is no out-of-pocket maximum for Medicare B. The only silver lining is that your coinsurance for any one outpatient service is limited to the inpatient deductible of $1,600.

Making up for Medicare’s shortcomings

Because Medicare is like trying to stretch a fitted twin sheet onto a queen-sized bed, two patch-up programs have been devised to fill the gaps. The first is Medicare supplemental insurance (MediGap), a series of standardized commercial insurance products that will cover some or all of what Medicare FFS doesn’t. For instance, most plans will pay the inpatient deductible, as well as the outpatient co-insurance amounts, but be aware that, on the outpatient side, most plans do not kick in until you have paid the $226 deductible from your own pocket.

To learn more about Medigap policies available in our neighborhood, and pricing for these plans, visit medicare.gov/medigap-supplemental-insurance-plans/#/ m?year=2023&lang=en.

The other patch to traditional Medicare is Medicare Part D – the prescription drug benefit. Created during the George W. Bush administration, it was the mother of all crazy federal government machinations, with the infamous “donut hole,” where Medicare ceased paying for

your drugs until you were basically bankrupt. Thankfully, through the years, the prescription drug benefit has become more logical and affordable.

Both patches – MediGap and Medicare D – require that you pay additional premiums, making Medicare FFS ostensibly more expensive than Medicare Advantage plans. For example, a person well known to me has traditional Medicare, an AARP Medigap policy, for which she pays around $170 a month and a Walgreen’s/AARP drug plan, which is approximately $30 a month. The cost of plugging the holes in Medicare coverage is about $2,400 a year for her.

In contrast to FFS, most Medicare Advantage plans provide prescription drug coverage at no additional charge. As for MediGap, you can’t have a supplemental policy if you sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan. CMS claims, however, that you don’t need a supplemental policy if you have managed care Medicare.

If the decision between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage sounds like a no-brainer, it is – for certain Medicare beneficiaries; however, for others, the siren song of lower premiums wrecks them on the rocks of taxing out of pocket costs for their care.

I’ll explain what I mean in next month’s column.

~ George Miranda is the Director of the UAB MedicineRussell Medical Cancer Center.

Buffet and Munger's May Meeting

May is one of my favorite months of the year, with it meaning cold weather is officially over and warmer weather has arrived. Also, May happens to be the month when Berkshire Hathaway holds its annual meeting. As an avid follower of Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger, who run Berkshire Hathaway, I always look forward to hearing them speak on a wide range of topics. This year, the meeting was held on Saturday, May 6. This month’s article is about some of my takeaways from that meeting.

Berkshire Hathaway, under Warren Buffett, has been going strong since April 1965. Over this period, the S&P 500, including dividends, has grown 24,708 percent versus Berkshire’s share price growth of 3,787,464 percent on an aggregate basis. Yes, this does require a double take, and yes, it’s true.

n Our government has always looked like a mess throughout history. Today is no different.

MONEY MATTERS

n Buffett said if he could pick any time in history to be born, it would be today and in the U.S.

n Munger, in true Munger fashion, said he is slightly less optimistic than Buffett and to expect less going forward.

Buffett always talks about investing in yourself. This year was no different. An audience member asked a question that led Buffett to giving his thoughts.

n Your best earning power is yourself. You want to be the best teacher, lawyer, etc., in town.

n The best investment you can make is always in yourself.

Most people would look at this record of outperformance and think Buffett/Munger must have made many great investments over the years to have such an impressive record. At this year’s meeting, Buffett said their record has really been the beneficiary of 12 great investment decisions. The person who most believe to be the best investor in the world is saying that over 60 years, their record was driven by just a handful of great decisions.

The point is to amass a great fortune; you don’t have to get it right all the time. You just have to get it right some of the time, and when you do, let the winners run. Over this time period, they have made many investment decisions that didn’t work out or were just average at best; however, they happened to make a few key decisions and had the fortitude to let them run and compound. The compounding of these great decisions is what has led to the outperformance of Berkshire.

These two older men have something most investors don’t have: patience.

One question asked had to do with the U.S. and what it needs to do to remain strong. Below are key points Buffett and Munger made in answer to this question:

n In the grand scheme of things, our country is young at only a little over 200 years old.

n The U.S. is a miracle. On net, the U.S. is a better place to live than many years ago. It has worked.

My favorite discussion point of this year’s meeting was Munger’s obituary way of life. He said if you want to figure out how to live your life, reverse engineer it. Write your obituary backwards. This is such a great point. If you know what you want to be read about you and said about you after death, write it down; and then, live it out.

This is in line with something else Munger frequently says about making decisions. He believes the best way to decide is to invert it. By inverting, you are thinking about the worst thing that can happen, and if you know the worst thing that can happen, getting to what you should do becomes much easier.

These two men have been a gift to the investing world for many years. Given their ages, 92 (Buffett) and 99 (Munger), seeing them on stage together at Berkshire’s annual meeting for several more years is unlikely. Munger says to let him know where he will die, so he will never go there. Hopefully, he doesn’t find this place for several more years.

These two have given us their thoughts on how to invest since the mid-1960s through their Letters to Shareholders, found on the Berkshire Hathaway website. If you want to learn something about investing, read the annual letters. Many great investors who have been through the top business schools in the country say these letters will educate you more than an MBA. Even more, they are free.

~ Blalock Williams, LLC (Blalock Williams) is a registered investment advisor. Advisory services are only offered to clients

Lee Williams

or prospective clients where Blalock Williams and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.

The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, and it should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security. It does not take into account any investor’s particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status or investment horizon. Consult your attorney or tax advisor.

The views expressed in this commentary are subject to change based on market and other conditions. These documents may contain certain statements that may be deemed forward looking statements. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. Any projections, market outlooks or estimates are based upon certain assumptions and should not be construed as indicative of actual events that will occur.

All information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. There is no representation or warranty as to the current accuracy, reliability or completeness of, nor liability for, decisions based on such information, and it should not be relied on as such.

Russell Crossroads

Art on the Lake

Saturday, May 27, 2023

1. Brian Barton, Shana Clark and Sam

2. Brady and James Strain and Peggy McDuffie

3. Collie and Ashton Powers

4. Tammy Evans

5. Sally and Rosie Lamberth

6. David and Karen Coleman

Chuck's Marina Adoption Event

Saturday, May 27, 2023

Chuck's Marina

1. Heather Lowe, Lilian and Lucas Pyrlik

2. Kimberly and Scott Futch

3. Brittany, Sarah Michael and Elle Christoph

4. Allison and Arden Head

5. Janet Smith and Chloe

6. Amanda Chandler, Regina Windham and Snoopy

Strand Sessions

Strand Park, Alexander

Thursday, June 1, 2023

City

1. Suzanne Scholz and Dan Adams

2. Susan Hardy, Darlene Yarbrough, Jennifer Morris and Autumn McManus

3. Scott and Jessica Coats

4. Scott, Hines and KK Hardy

5. Sarah Humphries, McRae Thornell, Bridgete Thornell, Amanda Sherum, Michelle Machado and Jason Alford

McWane Center at Dadeville Library

Wednesday, June 1, 2023

Dadeville Library

1. Grayson and Aniez Hartley

2. Jennifer and Lawson Hodge

3. Don and Payton Thurlow

4. Lynda and Pearson Thurlow

5. Zelenka Boyd and Marley, Ireland and Ayden Smith

6. Wanda Ryals and Cole Daniel

Sun Festival Tykes in Trucks

Main Street, Alexander City

Saturday, June 3, 2023

1. Summer and Michael Cooley and Jennifer Parker

2. Jose, Felix, Megan and Gracie Flores

3. Amanda, Jeffrey, Mason and Riggs Hardy

4. Scott, Karley, Grayson and Langston Rodman

5. Andrew and Henry Walters

6. Kathy and John Reeme and Ari Tapia

Who's Your Crawdaddy?

Sunday, June 4, 2023

Downtown Dadeville

1. Joey and Katherine Fuller

2. Siriya Hart and Brandon Kelly

3. Jeremy and Stacey Jeffcoat

4. Brianna Pike and Kristina and Jacob Lucas

5. Patty and Jim Hildreth

6. Penny, Mike and Laura Daniel

THE LAKE REGION

Calendar

FEATURED EVENT

Time for Action with LMAUW

STORY BY BETSY ILER

Lake Martin Area United Way is calling for all hands on deck June 23 and July 14 to help spruce up classrooms and grounds at local schools before classes resume in August. LMAUW Executive Director Courtney Layfield said the projects vary among the three schools that will benefit this year.

“We’ll be doing some touch-up painting, trimming landscaping, pressure washing, scrubbing walls where all those little hands touch,” Layfield said.

At Reeltown High School, volunteers also will help teachers move into new classrooms. At Benjamin Russell High School, they will paint lockers and spread pine straw, as well as clean walls, floors and windows.

At Central Elementary School in Coosa County, the playground will get some tender loving care, Layfield said. In addition to painting equipment, volunteers will spread pea gravel in the playground area and pressure wash.

Some 60 to 70 volunteers usually turn out for the annual project day in Tallapoosa County, and Coosa County sees between 40 and 50 volunteers every year.

Volunteers work from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on both dates and

should wear work clothes. Tools and supplies will be provided unless those are specifically requested in advance of the work dates, Layfield said.

Working for Schools

Volunteers gather to spruce up local schools during the annual Day of Action.

“We are working with local businesses and individuals about sponsorships and donations to help us with supplies. We’re very fortunate; these Day of Action events are well supported by the community,” she added.

Volunteers receive a T-shirt for their efforts, and the camaraderie of working together for the betterment of education in the community can’t be beat, Layfield noted. In addition, students who volunteer earn community service hours.

To sign up, visit unitedwaylakemartin.org. To donate or become a sponsor of one or both of these events, email Layfield at Courtney.layfield@unitedwaylakemartin.org or call her at 256-329-3600.

“Or just show up,” Layfield said. “We have jobs for everybody.”

June 14

Games & Puzzles

Bring the kids to Mamie’s Place Children’s Library in Alexander City at 10 a.m. to make new friends, have fun and explore the wonderful world of books in this summer reading program on the theme of All Together Now. New games this year include Operation, Dancing Challenge and more.

June 15 McWane Center

Bring the kids to Mamie’s Place Children’s Library in Alexander City at 10 a.m. for a wild morning of science about things that stay together – or apart – in keeping with this year’s summer reading theme, All Together Now. Free program.

June 17

LMRA Annual Meeting

Join the Lake Martin Resource Association Board of Directors for the annual breakfast meeting at Kowaliga Restaurant. Breakfast offered from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. followed by the meeting, which will include updates on membership, boating safety, advocacy and environmental issues pertaining to Lake Martin. Visit lmra.info.

June 19

Juneteenth Celebration

The Black Business Council will present a Juneteenth Celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cooper Rec Center, including an African Libation Ceremony, Drums and Spoken Word; food, clothing and crafts vendors; a DJ; and dance performances by Regeneration Praisers and Mahogany Masterpiece. Sponsored by Tallapoosa County Commissioner T.C. Coley Jr., Anderson Headstones & Memorials and Scenario Design, Inc. Visit bbcalexcity.eventbrite.com or the Facebook pages for Black Business Council (Alex City) and BBC Juneteenth.

June 20

Animal Tales

Join the fun at Mamie’s Place Children’s Library at 10 a.m. for an Animal Tales program in conjunction with the summer reading program, All Together Now

June 20-23

Youth Sailing Camp

Dixie Sailing Club will conduct a youth sailing camp for ages 7 to 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., covering basic sailing skills,

LAKE REGION EVENTS

water safety and STEM sessions. Fee is $125 with a discount available for siblings. Eemail dscypmail@gmail.com for more information.

June 21

Games & Puzzles

Bring the kids to Mamie’s Place

Children’s Library in Alexander City at 10 a.m. to make new friends, have fun and explore the wonderful world of books in this summer reading program on the theme of All Together Now

June 21

Lake Martin Auburn University Club Annual Banquet

Alumni and friends will meet at 6 p.m. at Willow Point Country Club. Speakers will be coaches Hugh Freeze and Bruce Pearl. Tickets are $50. Visit lakemartinauburnclub.com or the Facebook page.

June 22

Craft-a-Noon

Spend the afternoon getting creative at Mamie’s Place Children’s Library in Alexander City as children make crafts to go with this year’s summer reading program theme, All Together Now. Meet at 2 p.m. at 284 Church St.

June 23

Stories for Strong Communities

Storyteller Barry Mann will share a collection of stories that encompass the summer reading program theme, All Together Now. The presentation will begin at 2:30 p.m. at Dadeville Public Library.

June 25

Pennington Park Farmers Market

Visit Pennington Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to get freshly picked produce and home-baked goods at the farmers market.

June 26-29

Summer Music and Related Arts Camp

Dadeville Performing Arts Center and associated organizations will offer a four-day integrated music/art/dance/ drama camp from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for children in grades one through five in Tallapoosa County. This is a free program for local children. A limited number of spaces are available at $80 for children visiting the area. Program registration information will be available

at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com/ classes.

June 27

Starshine Faces

Mamie’s Place Children’s Library at 318 Church St. in Alexander City will host a storytelling and face painting presentation at 10 a.m. in conjunction with the All Togeher Now summer reading program. It’s not too late to sign up.

June 28

Didgeridoo Down Under

Mamie’s Place Children’s Library at 318 Church St. in Alexander City will present the DDU Show, a unique fusion of Australian music, culture, puppetry, comedy, storytelling and audience participation in conjunction with the summer reading program at 10 a.m.

June 2

Craft-a-Noon

Spend the afternoon getting creative at Mamie’s Place Children’s Library in Alexander City as children make crafts to go with this year’s summer reading program theme, All Together Now. Meet at 2 p.m. at 284 Church St.

June

30 & July 1

VCCA Bazaar

Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama will hold its annual bazaar from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Find Christmas items, furniture, lamps, dishes, books, plants, baked goods and more. VCCA office is located in the back of Karen Channell’s StateFarm Insurance office on U.S. Route 280.

July 1-2

Arti Gras

Artisans and patrons from across the Southeast will gather under the big tents on the Town Green at Russell Crossroads from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. once again for this annual juried art show. You’ll find jewelry, soaps, paintings, pottery, woodwork, lotions, furniture and more. Call Sydnee Riley at 256-212-1431 or email her at sriley@russelllands.com for more information.

July 4

4th of July Boat Parade

Gather early for this long-standing tradition at Lake Martin. Boats line the parade route and the shoreline from Kowaliga Marina to Children’s Harbor

LAKE REGION EVENTS

to watch the boats troll by in patriotic regalia. Prizes are awarded for the tallest flag, largest flag, most creative theme, most patriotic crew and best overall boat and crew. For details, call Kowaliga Marina at 256-397-1210.

July 4

July 12

Games & Puzzles

Yoga on the Green

July

4th Concert and Fireworks at The AMP

Bring lawn chairs, blankets and coolers to the grassy hillside at The AMP from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. for the spectacular fireworks display and concert. Gates open at 5 p.m. The Bank Walkers will start the show this year, and Andrew Jannakos will perform from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. and again from 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. with fireworks between the sets. “When he sings The Star-Spangled Banner, the hair will stand up on your neck,” said Russell Lands Director of Events and Marketing Operations Robert Gunn. Admission is $10. Visit russelllands.com/blog/event for details.

July 9

Pennington Park Farmers Market

Visit Pennington Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to get freshly picked produce and home-baked goods at the farmers market.

July10-13

Summer Music and Related Arts Camp

Dadeville Performing Arts Center and associated organizations will offer a four-day integrated music/art/dance/ drama camp from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for children in grades one through five in Tallapoosa County. This is a free program for local children. A limited number of spaces are available at $80 for children visiting the area. Program registration information will be available at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com/ classes.

July 11 Gene Cordova

Mamie’s Place Children’s Library will host ventriloquist Gene Cordova at 10 a.m. at the library at 318 Church St. in Alexander City, continuing the summer reading program theme, All Together

Now

Bring the kids to Mamie’s Place Children’s Library in Alexander City at 10 a.m. to make new friends, have fun and explore the wonderful world of books in this summer reading program on the theme of All Together Now.

July 13

Science Lady

Kids will love the Science Lady program at 10 a.m. at Mamie’s Place Children’s Library in Alexander City.

July 15

20th Annual Lions

Lake Martin Poker Run

This event might just be the most fun you have at the lake all summer. Gather friends, family and/or coworkers and pick a theme to decorate your boat. Then, start this day of boating fun at 8 a.m. at Kowaliga Marina to pick up your first card. Throughout the day, you’ll visit five marinas on the lake to draw your best poker hand and pick up T-shirts, koozies and other giveaways. The event ends with food and prizes at The Ridge Marina. Prizes total $5,800 for highest hand, worst hand and best-dressed crew. Register your boat and crew for $175 at Kowaliga Marina from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Purchase an extra card at The Ridge Marina to better your hand. Call 256-794-1397.

July 18

Zoo2Go

Montgomery Zoo will entertain children at 10 a.m. at Mamie’s Place Children’s Library for the summer reading program, All Together Now. Bring the kids to meet snakes, birds and cuddly animals and learn how animals live together every day.

Season-long Events

Friday On The Green

There’s free music on the Town Green at Russell Crossroads every Friday night this summer, except during Jazz Fest. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, pups on the leash and coolers. There will be food trucks and lawn games. Friday On The Green is a great way to kickstart your weekend at the lake.

Russell Lands will host yoga on the Town Green at Russell Crossroads at 7 a.m. on Saturday mornings from Memorial Day weekend to the end of September. Bring a mat, water bottle and towel and start your weekend at Lake Martin with yoga in the open air.

Driving & Docking Clinics

Boost your confidence and learn to operate and dock your boat during these free clinics at Singleton Marine. Sessions are held at 9:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Reserve your free spot at 256-825-8888 or email lnowling@singletonmarine.com.

n First Wednesday of each month through August – Pontoons

n Second Wednesday of each month through August – Sterndrives

n Third Wednesday of each month through August – Tow Boats

Lake Martin Strand Sessions

Lake Martin Young Professionals invite you to bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnic baskets, coolers and family and friends to Strand Park in downtown Alexander City from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month through August for free music in the park. Watch the kids play, meet friends old and new and enjoy a pleasant evening. Visit the Strand Sessions Facebook page for details.

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.

Alexander City Lions Club

Serving 27 local charities in Tallapoosa County, the Alexander City Lions Club meets at 6 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Lake Martin Area United Way office on Main Street. A meal is provided at the second meeting of the month, which features an engaging speaker. For more information, contact Mae Lynn O’Neil at 256-750-7404.

Naturalist Presentations and Guided Nature Tours

Naturalist Marianne fills the Naturalist Cabin at Russell Crossroads with children

and adults to see and listen to her lively nature presentations with critters, insects, snakes and fowl, just to mention a few. There is never a dull moment with this wildlife biologist as she educates on the beauty of nature in the wild and the outdoor classroom. Check the calendar at RussellLands.com/blog/events for the scheduled subject matter, dates and times.

Main Street Farmers Market

Main Street Alexander City will open the Farmers Market from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Saturday through September. Pick up fresh fruits and vegetables, jellies, jams, breads, baked goods, handmade items and more at the market’s location in the old City Hall parking lot on Main Street.

Music in the Air

Zazu’s Verandah hosts live music from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the beautiful courthouse square in downtown Dadeville every Thursday evening. In case of inclement weather, the event moves inside. Beverages are available for sale. Please tip the musicians.

The Waverly Local Music

The Waverly Local features live music every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., as well as Saturday in the courtyard from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and for Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For lineup, visit The Waverly Local on Facebook.

Clean Community Partnership Cleanups

Volunteers are encouraged to participate in community partnership cleanups. In Alexander City, the cleanups are held on the third Saturday of the month. Meet at Broad Street Plaza at 8:30 a.m. to pick up supplies and area assignments. For more information, contact John Thompson at 334-399-3289. 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. Call Mickey Forbus at 334-329-0905.

SUMMERTIME IS A SPECIAL TIME, IS YOUR HEART HEALTHY?

Summertime

•

•

•

•

Lake Martin

Kowaliga Marina 334-857-2111

The Ridge Marina 256-397-1300

River North Marina 256-397-1500

Russell Marine Boating & Outdoors 256-397-1700

Real Island Marina 334-857-2741

Blue Creek Marina 256-825-8888

Parker Creek Marina 256-329-8550

Harbor Pointe Marina 256-825-0600

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

SpringHouse 256-215-7080

Catherine’s Market 256-215-7070

Kowaliga Restaurant 256-215-7035

Acapulco Mexican Gril 334-283-2725

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

Aronov Realty Lake Martin 256-825-4133

Off the Beaton Path 205-994-0847 Hwy 50 Blue Creek Boat & RV Storage 334-391-0717

Your Lake Martin Sightseeing Pass. Scan me! Get

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

Noel Boone

George Hardy

First Realty

Dark Insurance

Warren Appliance

MainStreet Family Care

Grace's Flowers

Koon's Korner

Larry's General Merchandise

Daylight Donuts

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

DON'T MISS A SINGLE ISSUE!

Sho'Nuff BBQ

Hair Design

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

Renfroe's Market

Russell Medical Center

Russell Marine Boating & Outdoors

Koon's II

Tallapoosa Ford

Dylan Johnson - Country Financial

Holley's Home Furniture

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.

Grain & Leaf, Bottles & Cigars

Tippy Canoe

Love Lake Martin Real Estate Office

Wind Creek Gate

Wind Creek Store

Willow Point Office

Willow Point Country Club

Smith Marina

Nails

Kowaliga Marina

Children's Harbor

Catherine's Market

Russell Lands Corporate Office

Russell Lands Real Estate

Sales Center

SpringHouse

Ridge Club

Ridge Marina

HACKNEYVILLE

Hackneyville Water Authority

NEW SITE

Piggly Wiggly - New Site Foodland

DADEVILLE

Chamber of Commerce

Raining Dogs Studio & Gallery

Root 49 Salon

Ellaby Boutique, LLC

Alabama Power

Siggers

Siggers Barbershop

Fusion Cafe

Dadeville Library

At the Beauty Shop

Dadeville Courthouse

Payne's Furniture

PNC Bank

Valley Bank

McKelvey Chevrolet

Renfroe's Market

Foshee's Boat Doc

Lakeshore Pharmacy

Russell Building Supply

Lakay's

Tallapoosa Nutrition

Sweet Pickins

Century 21 - Rhonda Gaskins

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

Aronov Realty Lake Martin

Creekside Lodge

Blue Creek Marina

Lakeside Marina

Niffers

Hwy 50 Eagle

Millstone Japanese Maple Nursery

Lakeside Mercantile

Walnut Hill

Chuck's Marina

Deep Water Docks

Lake Martin Pizza

CAMP HILL

Link Gas Station

EQUALITY

Five Star Plantation

Equality Food Mart

Southern Star

Parker Creek Marina

Charles Borden

ECLECTIC

Lake Breeze Realty

Offshore Marina

Lake Martin Mini Mall

Corner Stone Coffee Co.

Lake Martin Dock Company

Cotton's Alabama Barbecue

Russell Do It Center

Johnson Furniture

WOW Catering LLC

Eclectic Library

Real Island Marina

Anchor Bay Marina

Wetumpka

Wetumpka Herald Office

Tallassee

Marathon

Tallassee Eagle

Tallassee Chamber

Parris Mullins Jr. O.D.

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

The Birds

This could be the summer of winged wonder

Ihave lived in my cabin on Point Windy in Jacksons Gap for 10 years this month. As I reflect on countless stories, one thing I realize is that Lake Martin living is really about learning to live with the birds. There’s a bird for everyone, and everyone has bird stories.

Geese are the most annoying. The first week at the cabin in 2013, John and I were blasted awake by loud honking. After living in the city, this was a new noise. I peeked out the window, and there were at least 15 geese in the side yard. This was an issue for years because our Great Dane, Mona, was incredibly lazy.

Culture Shock

Ducks are always willing to put on an X-rated show. I was sitting on the dock one afternoon and watched two ducks try to drown another duck. I thought they were being mean. Quite the opposite. Feel free to go ahead and YouTube that to get a science lesson. I’m sure it inspired the design of a wine opener.

Blue herons are my favorite. Long legged and regal, they pace the seawalls, methodically planning their aerial attacks. You learn a lot about patience by watching them fish and about how long you are willing to sit there and watch them. I consider it a good omen when the blue heron is in my yard or flying by.

Eagle sightings will forever be the most exciting and American thing that happens. It never gets old. As your vision begins to fade, you will increasingly debate whether you are looking at an osprey or an eagle.

The white pelican flyovers are a true sight to behold. The Blue Angels have nothing on that. Speaking of beach birds, there was a great seagull migration. They are still friendly and not giving Alfred Hitchcock vibes currently, so please don’t start throwing chips or French fries at them.

The oddest bird that ended up in our yard was a massive owl one morning, not night. I was not present for that, but he was apparently quite ferocious.

Birds will inevitably get inside your house because someone will leave open a door. If you do not live in a gated community, there’s a strong possibility your neighbor has chickens. Which you will not mind because who doesn’t love fresh eggs? You might even have a neighbor named Rooster.

I rarely see crows at our house. John said that’s because all the crows are at Willow Point. It is their hangout, and over the years, the crow calls are indistinguishable from golfers. The hawks hunt from the powerlines at the river bridge; the kingfishers skirt across the water the way a smooth stone skips; and the loons dive deep into the water again and again. The martin eats its weight in mosquitoes, and the happy hummingbirds visit if you put out a feeder.

Last but not least are the Lake Martin buzzards. The thankless servants who help keep the roads clean from possums and such.

As your summer kicks off, keep a pair of binoculars by the window and always be looking up. You will be amazed at how many bird stories you will have by September.

Lacey Howell

cancer

YOU’D TRAVEL FAR AND WIDE TO FIGHT CANCER. FORTUNATELY, YOU DON’T HAVE TO.

In partnership with UAB, we continue to invest in new talent, new technology, and new support structures so that, in the unfortunate event you are diagnosed with cancer, you can fight it right here at home.