45 minute read
ALL IN THE FAMILY
After Clay Hornsby grew up at a beach next to his grandparents' Lake Martin cabin, he built a home with his wife, Nancy, right next door
All in the Family at the Lake
Eclectic couple builds a beach house next door to their grandparents' cabin
STORY BY LONNA UPTON & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
CClay and Nancy Hornsby bought their cabin in Eclectic based on Clay’s years of experience playing on the beach next door. His grandparents owned the 1960s cabin he grew up loving, and they actually did the work themselves to cultivate the beach that holds so many memories. When Clay found out that half the beach actually belonged to the lot next door, he was on a mission to buy it, and in 2012, the dream became reality. “When the lot was finally ours, and we walked into the cabin, we realized the view was something special. We kept the little cabin until we began building a new house in 2018, and we moved in full-time into the new house in 2019. We had a long time to plan all that we wanted in a lake house, and we really did manage to work in all the ideas we had,” Nancy Hornsby said.
The Hornsbys hired David Smelcer Design and Construction to design their home and HendersonCoker to build it. Denise Booth was their project manager, and Hornsby is grateful to her for guidance throughout the building process. Decorators Jeannette Remaley, Jamie Dark and Jeffrey Long assisted Hornsby with fabrics, furniture, artwork, rugs, paint colors and other details.
“We both have family on the lake, and we knew the importance of living spaces, indoor and out. We knew we wanted lots of outdoor living and for the rooms to easily flow outside. We love our porches. We also wanted views of the lake from everywhere possible. David designed the house exactly the way we wanted it, concentrating more space in the rooms where people gather and having smaller bedrooms,” Hornsby
Lighted glass cabinets display antique china in the large kitchen The study offers a quiet place to work or read
said.
An elegant stone front porch and porte-cochere greet visitors. Shiplap walls, painted Gray Mist, set the stage for the main living areas and the stairwell. The floors are a lightly stained white oak, while the ceiling is unstained white oak, creating a subtle contrast.
In the foyer, a display of antique transferware china in a large yellow cabinet with a hutch – old wood made new, she commented – begins Hornsby’s use of yellow, her favorite color, as an accent in the main living areas. The foyer leads to the vaulted living room and a spectacular view of the lake through an arched window. A neutral upholstered sofa and four club chairs allow yellow patterned ottomans and pillows and pops of blue in the lamps and rug to complete the picture. French doors frame the stone fireplace – one set leading outside and the other into a study. In the connected dining area, chair cushions match the pillow fabric to carry the color through the rooms.
“I really believe rugs should be taken from home to home and be forever purchases. I bought the rug in the living room in 2002 for our home in Birmingham; then, it was in our home in Tuscaloosa. Here, it set the color scheme for the whole room,” Hornsby said.
The Hornsbys also have forever purchases in artwork, featuring local art from Sarah Carlisle Towery and Lila Graves. Years ago, Graves painted portraits of the Hornsbys’ children, and those portraits now hang in the foyer. Graves’ “Happy Coffee Cup,” among other bright pieces, adds color and whimsy to the kitchen and hallways. Among Hornsby’s favorites
An upstairs sleeping porch includes two full-sized beds and two sets of bunk beds
An elegant master offers a spectacular view of the lake
– her first Graves purchase, which depicts children playing marbles, and a larger Graves piece entitled “Things with Wings” in the stairwell. Their nephew, Will Azar, an engineer and painter, has one of his paintings featured in the upstairs hall.
The Hornsbys’ spacious kitchen, perfect for entertaining a crowd, centers on a White Haze quartzite island, 9-feet by 6-feet, which contains the gas stove to make buffet style serving easier. The butler’s pantry houses a microwave, a sink, and a designated coffee area. The pantry shelves were organized and labeled for ease and effectiveness by Yellow Cottage Living. Cabinets, custom-made by Roger Hyde, are painted Designer White and feature glass doors and lights in one wall of upper cabinets for displaying her antique china and other special pieces. Custom panels create a seamless look between cabinets and the appliances.
Just off the kitchen, a hallway serves as a mudroom and just one of many exits to the Hornsbys’ nostalgic beach area. The hall contains a half-bath, cubbies for collecting towels and shoes and the laundry room, secluded behind a barn door.
An expansive screened porch offers a seating area and dining area with room to spare. Furniture is from Summer Classics. A grill porch is just beyond one screen door with easy access to the kitchen inside and the diners outside. Three fans keep the lake breezes moving in the summer to provide a pleasant place to relax.
A covered flagstone porch just off the living area includes additional seating and dining space. Wide stairs lead to a patio and on down to the lawn and dock. Lighted flagstone paths, created by R and R Landscaping, lead to the water from different entrances in the back of the home. R and R Landscaping designed and installed the landscape.
The home features five bedrooms and five and onehalf baths. Downstairs, a guest room located just off the foyer offers a private bath. Soft navy and cream linens create a welcoming and comfortable space for guests. The master bedroom, appointed in creams and grays and accented with yellow, provides a respite for the couple. Hornsby attributes her well-organized walk-in closet to Yellow Cottage Living. Three additional bedrooms are upstairs, accessed via a back staircase behind the kitchen.
“This is our forever home, so I decided to have specific bedrooms assigned to our two grown children. I had bookcases built-in around their beds, including the side tables, so I could display some of their special items from childhood. We call the bedroom built over the garage our sleeping porch,” Hornsby said.
The sleeping porch features the only television in the house, a play area for grandchildren and built-in
A lakeside porch offers comfortable seating in the shade
The screened porch is the perfect place to entertain a crowd LAKE 67
beds to sleep eight. Tierce Williams with Gray Barn Cabinets, built-in full-sized beds with bookcases on either end in both wings with dormer windows. Large drawers under the beds provide storage space. Behind a barn door at the end of the room, two sets of bunk beds with storage underneath were built in.
A cream and navy bedroom contains memorabilia from their son’s childhood, and a bedroom with different shades of pink contains their daughter’s keepsakes. Both have lake views and private baths. The walk-in closet in the pink room provides access to what would have been attic storage space.
“We had the storage space finished just like the rest of the house. It has a small room just off the closet, but the room beyond it could be another rec room. Having that space already finished really allows us room to grow as the family grows,” Hornsby said.
Creating the vision of their house based on experiences visiting and growing up on the lake allowed the Hornsbys to plan the details of their forever home carefully. Now living in the home they envisioned next door to his grandparents’ cabin, they are continuing the traditions of year-round fun with family and friends on Lake Martin – with two family lots joined by one special beach.
The stairwell features paintings by Lake Martin artist Lila Graves
The back hallway offers easy access to the beach and serves as a mud room
Custom bookcases around a headboard create a place for memorabilia
Hornsby grew up playing on the beach on the lot next to his grandparents' cabin
Not even in a sea of sameness would you expect any kindred qualities between the homonyms – flair and flare. Yet, in life, they often collide unbeknownst to the naked eye.
The word “flair” is defined in the Merriam Webster Dictionary as “a special or instinctive aptitude; ability to do something well; stylishness and originality.” The list of synonyms could read as “skill, talent, style, panache.” If you related flair to design or artistry, it could bring to mind words like “mastery, distinctiveness, custom-made.”
Conversely, the word “flare” is described as “a sudden brief burst of bright flame or light; burn with a sudden intensity.” And the synonym list could be dissimilar in much the same manner: “blaze, flash, sparkle, scintillate.” In design, it would relate to trends and fads, something that fizzles out as fast as it lit up.
Housing is a great example of how these word worlds collide, and most often, no one notices it. Flair has seemingly become a lost art, while flare appears to be replacing it. If you took a ride through most neighborhoods built after 1990, you would find that the starter home and the move-up home have the same issues. Both are drowning in the same boat of obscurity inside and outside while people continuously choose the same trendy facades and interiors.
The buyers have lost their sense of individualism as much as the builder has lost the idea of standing out as uncommon. From the soul-satisfying do-it-yourself projects turning into kits of parts with different color options to mass produced lower priced products being used in more expensive homes, the shift feels overwhelmingly erroneous. The prices of homes keep climbing; yet, the exchange in value to cost is truly start-
Where's the flair? ing to flatten. Not that many years ago, it meant a lot to be able to move from your starter home to a larger one and put your personal flair into the planning and furnishing of your step-up in life; however, nowadays, you will find the same finishes in a basic home as you will in a move-up home. Who made that okay? The answer is: all of us, as our expectations are lowered with and without our consent. The world has always had highs and lows when it comes to how people are influenced, but with the advent of television, increases in mass production and dependent internet use, everything seems to have plateaued from passivity in how we live in our homes, among other relaxed thought patterns. These questions beg for answers: n Has HGTV and related entertainment removed our desire to be different? n After hundreds of years of glorious innovation, has everyone’s style nearly melded into one now? n Have we given up on making our homes our homes? There is a trickle-up effect that is supported by these influLAKE PROPERTY ences. One such effect is the formulas for replicated housing BY STEPHANIE COLEY design over custom or customized homes, which has caused builders to set aside what makes them unique for what makes them competitive. Not a bad thing if the basic builder is escalating details to match the higher-end builder while raising the asking price to match the work and so on with the next level builder. What seems to be a saddening part of this effect is that it feels like lower level is disproportionately affecting the higher level with buyers feeling squeezed out of the benefits. n Can net profit and net value ever find balance again in the extremely competitive housing market? n New and upscale home demands are at an all-time high, and interest rates are helping to fuel the frenzy. But are location and fitting-in causing a suburban lifestyle to filter in and drown personal sensibilities in specialty and upscale communities? n What happens if the buyers reject builder grade basics and
restrictive cookie cutter floor plans? n Is there any room for individuality?
At a higher level of influence, design and manufacturing are in a constant state of mimicry as well. It feels as if, more and more, the only true difference is the price tag, making flair fizzle like a flare. If only the consumers knew that they were the real influencers. n What if they decided not to worry about what is in style or popular? n Would builders offer more color options if people left all the products in a particular colorway on the shelves or chose builders who still innovate?
When a person takes a serious look at what they prefer over what they are repetitiously offered in commercials or in a builder’s limited materials palette, an opportunity is presented to represent self. Algorithms and being offered limited options are a result of passivity and avoiding the work of life. The repetition makes many people think that what they see and find to be attractive is an example of their personal style preferences. But is it too late to change this progression into imitation of lifestyle?
Of course not. We arrive in this world as individuals, including twins. There is always a way to exercise individuality. Sometimes, all it takes is a desire to see the options in a different way.
For example, subway tile can be installed in a myriad of ways with pattern changes, grout color substitution (or no noticeable grout lines), increase in size, two sizes, two colors of subway in the same or different size.
This example is one of several thousand simple solutions right at hand if people were more confident about standing out in a crowd. If unsure about what to do and how to do it, there are myriad images online (yes, back to the internet) and myriad professionals who could hold your hand or make the selections for you based upon your style. One pause to research, a professional consultation or a full hire could save you time, money and, most of all, your sense of individuality.
~ Stephanie Coley is a certified design and construction professional with more than 22 years of multidisciplinary experience. She can be contacted by email at ssimon@scenarchdesign.com. Follow her on Instagram @scenariodesigninc.
Lake Martin’s deBeer Representative
• QUARTZ • QUARTZITE • GRANITE • SOAPSTONE
Denise Booth
256-749-6177 debooth.al@gmail.com homeologylakemartin.com
Thanks to those who respond when 'Somebody needs to ...'
As president of Lake Martin Resource Association, I have received many messages and calls from individuals who are part of the Lake Martin community as either fulltime or part-time residents. The most frequent messages usually begin with something like: “Someone needs to …” or “I would like to …”
I certainly prefer talking with those who want to get more involved in protecting the Lake Martin community for future generations. Volunteers who are willing to step up and get involved are the ones who are making a difference and deserve a great deal of credit for making this community so very attractive to new homeowners and business investors. There are so many opportunities for all our residents to get involved and work or support others that are working for the betterment and protection of our community.
Volunteer Fire Departments
We are so blessed to have these departments throughout the community, with trained personnel who are willing to be on call around the clock and respond to situations that can be dangerous and most always stressful. There have been many times in recent years when storm damage has left lakeside roads blocked, and the first person on the scene is a volunteer firefighter with a chainsaw on his back. Day and night, these men and women are the first on the scene responding to 911 calls. Please support them by volunteering or donating – or both.
LMRA Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association BY JOHN THOMPSON Volunteers can assist CRATA by helping with trail maintenance and keeping the trails clear of dead trees, clearly marked and litter free. Visit crata.org for information regarding great hiking trails with beautiful views of Lake Martin.
Lake Watch Lake Martin
This organization has been very active on Lake Martin for many years and plays a valuable role in monitoring the water quality we are so blessed to have on Lake Martin.
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For those who are not aware, the exceptional water quality in our beautiful lake is not found on another lake of equal size in the South. Lake Watch offers training to volunteers who are willing to play a big role in protecting Lake Martin for future generations by being a part of this valuable organization. Visit lakewatch.org for more information.
Lake Martin Homeowners and Boat Owners
This organization has helped establish Neighborhood Watches in various areas around the lake. It is reassuring, especially for part-time residents, to know that our neighbors are alert to suspicious activities going on around our homes. Learn more about HOBOs at lakemartinhobos. com.
Lake Martin Resource Association
LMRA has been working for the betterment of Lake Martin for more than 50 years. Volunteers are always needed and play a huge role in supporting the major objectives of LMRA: boating safety, litter free roadsides and shoreline, environmental education and membership advocacy. In addition to organizing a community-wide shoreline and roadside cleanup annually on the first Friday and Saturday of November, LMRA supports monthly area roadside cleanups, which are held in Dadeville on the first Saturday of each month and in the Alexander City area on the third Saturday of each month. More information can be found in the community calendar listings in Lake magazine, Lake Martin Living and The Alexander City Outlook.
Visit our website at lmra.info.
These are just a few of the groups that depend on volunteers for success in their efforts to make the Lake Martin community safe and clean for future generations. Take a few minutes to learn more about what they do and how you also can be more involved.
You may not ever again have to say, “Somebody needs to…”
Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation Services • Physical Therapy • Occupational Therapy • Speech Therapy
Cecily Lee, Administrator Angela Pitts, Director of Nursing Candi Tate, Clinical Liaison
~ John Thompson is president of Lake Martin Resource Association. Email him at 1942jthompson420@gmail.com and visit lmra.info to learn more.
Under Construction
South Ridge Harbor, Breakwater • $2,095,000 Builder: Legacy New Homes Beds: 5 • Baths: 4.5 • SQFT: 3,825 Russell Lands Rhonda Watson, Anna Speaks 256.215.7011 RussellLands.com
90 Redwood Circle, Jackson’s Gap • $775,000 Beds: 5 • Baths: 4 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Cindy Scroggins 256.794.3372 LakeMartinRealty.com
120 Old Harmony Circle, Eclectic • $3,395,000 Beds: 6 • Baths: 10 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Becky Haynie 334.312.0928 LakeMartinRealty.com
94 Driftwood Road, Tallassee • $399,000 Beds: 3 • Baths: 2.5 • 3+/- acre Lake Martin Realty Rhonda Jaye 256.749.8681 LakeMartinRealty.com Russell Cabins at The Willows, Portico • $910,000 Builder: Classic Homes Beds: 4 • Baths: 4.5 • SQFT: 2,396 Water-Access w/ dedicated boat slip Anna Speaks, Rhonda Watson 256.215.7011 RussellLands.com
160 Ridge Crest, Alexander City • $2,750,000 Beds: 5 • Baths: 5.5 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty David Mitchell 256.212.3511 LakeMartinRealty.com
208 Wind Crest, Alexander City • $2,990,000 Beds: 6 • Baths: 7.5 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Becky Haynie 334.312.0928 LakeMartinRealty.com
496 North Ridge, Alexander City • $480,000 Beds: 4 • Baths: 3 • Lake Access Lake Martin Realty Rhonda Jaye 256.749.8681 LakeMartinRealty.com
Ridge Run, Crestview • $1,450,000 Builder: Lake Martin Signature Construction Beds: 4 • Baths: 4.5 • SQFT: 3,027 Russell Lands Rhonda Watson, Anna Speaks 256.215.7011 RussellLands.com
1248 Willow Way East, Alexander City • $8,450,000 Beds: 7 • Baths: 6 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty India Davis 256.749.7592 LakeMartinRealty.com
25 Shady Cove, Dadeville • $689,500 Beds: 3 • Baths: 2.5 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Adam Yager 205.914.0830 LakeMartinRealty.com 119 Hideaway Drive, Dadeville • $1,079,000 Beds: 4 • Baths: 4.5 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Jeff & Denise Cochran 256.786.0099 LakeMartinRealty.com
33 Pointwood Place, Dadeville • $950,000 Beds: 3 • Baths: 3.5 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Rhonda Jaye 256.749.8681 LakeMartinRealty.com 1470 Willows End, Alexander City • $7,900,000 Beds: 10 • Baths: 10 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty India Davis 256.749.7592 LakeMartinRealty.com
100 Harbor Place Unit 302, Dadeville • $269,000 Beds: 1 • Baths: 1 • Waterfront Condo Lake Martin Realty Lindsay Kane 256.675.6792 LakeMartinRealty.com
DID YOU KNOW? When Realtors advertise in Lake magazine they recieve FREE fab finds. Call 256-234-4281 to find out how. LAKEMAGAZINE.LIFE
A Delicious Summer Meal
Grilled Chicken Thighs with Ancho-Tequila Glaze
Summer 2021 will probably go down in the books as a summer of freedom. What an enormous sense of relief it has been to spend time with friends and family, revisit favorite restaurants, attend weddings and gatherings with more than six people, listen to live music, view fireworks in person and travel by air. As we continue into the dog days of summer, August reminds me that change is going to happen. Daily routines will tighten up, and I need to re-evaluate my forgotten to-do list and commitments. Schools will reopen; summer will culminate with Labor Day weekend, and football season will begin. As summer comes to a close and the community continues to navigate the new normal, stay grounded in good things. As temperatures and humidity increase, it is always nice to take the heat out of the kitchen by cooking on the grill. This month, I am excited to share my favorite summer meal. I encourage you to make enough for leftovers because the flavors only get better with time.
HEALTHY LIVING BY JULIE HUDSON
Grilled Chicken Thighs with Ancho-Tequilla Glaze
1 1/2 cups hickory wood chips 1 tablespoon ancho chili powder 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated garlic or 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper 3/4 teaspoons kosher salt 12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil 6 tablespoons amber agave syrup 3 tablespoons tequila 1 1/2 tablespoons hot sauce 1 1/2 tablespoons butter 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Grilled Corn, Poblano and Black Bean Salad Mexican Street Corn
Soak wood chips in water for 30 minutes; drain. Preheat grill to medium high heat using both burners. After preheating, turn off the left burner, leaving the right burner on. Pierce the bottom of a disposable aluminum pan several times. Place pan on the heating element on the heated side of grill; add wood chips to the pan. Let the chips stand for 15 minutes or until smoking. Note: If using a charcoal grill, skip the foil pan and add the chips to the coals.
Combine chili powder, sugar, granulated garlic or garlic powder, cumin, black pepper and salt in medium bowl. Add chicken to the bowl and toss well. Add oil to the bowl; toss well. Place syrup, tequila, hot sauce, butter, lime juice and red pepper in a small sauce pan. Bring to a boil. Cook until mixture reduces to 1/2 cup and begins to thicken (about 3 minutes). Reserve syrup mixture.
Place chicken on grill rack on indirect heat. Brush chicken with 2 tablespoons syrup mixture; grill 10 minutes. Turn chicken over and brush with syrup mixture; grill 10 minutes. Turn chicken over and move to indirect heat; grill until chicken is done. Garnish with cilantro and lime wedges. Note: You can substitute Mexican chili powder in place of ancho chili powder.
Grilled Corn, Poblano and Black Bean Salad
2 ears shucked corn 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 green onions 1 avocado, peeled, halved, pitted 1 large red bell pepper 1 large poblano chile 1/2 cup fresh cilantro 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 1 can (15-ounce) no-salt-added black beans, drained and rinsed
Preheat grill to high heat. Brush corn with 2 tablespoons oil. Place green onions, avocado, bell pepper, poblano and corn on a grill rack coated with cooking spray. Grill onions 2 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Grill avocado 2 minutes on each side until well-marked. Grill bell pepper 6 minutes on each side or until blackened; peel. Grill poblano 9 minutes on each side or until blackened; peel. Grill corn, turning occasionally, 12 minutes or until beginning to brown on all sides. Cut kernels from ears of corn; place in large bowl. Chop onion, bell pepper and poblano; add to bowl. Add remaining 4 teaspoons oil, cilantro, juice, cumin, salt, pepper and beans to bowl; toss well. Cut avocado into thin slices; place on top of salad. Note: This side dish is a great accompaniment with any grilled meat or fish.
Mexican Street Corn
4 ears of fresh corn, shucked 1/4 cup Cacique Crema Mexican Sour Cream or your favorite sour cream 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup Cotija cheese, crumbled 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt Juice and zest of 1 lime 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped (optional) 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder or Mexican chili powder
Grill corn on indirect heat, turning occasionally, until well-marked. Cut the kernels off the cob; place in bowl. Mix together sour cream, mayonnaise, cheese, garlic, salt, lime zest and juice, cilantro and chili powder. Add to corn while hot; stir until cheese melts.
~ Julie Hudson is a registered dietician at Lake Martin Wellness Center.
Szechuan Roasted Broccoli
Ingredients
1/4 cup soy sauce 4 cups broccoli florets 3 tablespoons brown sugar 1 or 2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce (sriracha) 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated garlic (micro-planer) 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger (micro-planer_ 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onion, divided in half 3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
Directions
Mix together all ingredients except broccoli and half of the green onions. Check for spice level. You can add more sriracha, garlic or ginger if you like more of a kick.
Cut broccoli into bite-sized pieces. Toss in 1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil. Roast broccoli on top rack at 450 degrees. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes, checking periodically. Cook just until tops of broccoli start to darken. Turn oven to broil and cook for another 1 to 3 minutes. This could go fast, depending on your oven, check often to reach the desired char level.
Remove broccoli to a mixing bowl and pour Szechuan sauce over to coat. Toss to combine and garnish with remaining green onions.
CHEF'S TABLE
BY PETE MCKENNY
Pete McKenny, executive chef at SpringHouse Restaurant, trained at fourstar restaurants and Ford 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.
Recipes that stand on their own
Four Roses needs little introduction to bourbon lovers; however, the story behind the Four Roses Single Barrel is unique. Four Roses is the only bourbon distillery that combines five proprietary yeast strains with two separate mash bills to handcraft 10 distinct bourbon recipes, each with its own unique character, spiciness and rich fruity flavors. Up to all 10 recipes are mingled by hand to create Four Roses Bourbon. Six recipes are mingled for Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon, and four are mingled for Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon.
Yet, one recipe stands on its own so well that, from that one recipe, barrels are hand selected for Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon. Those barrels are allowed to age for a minimum of seven – and up to 10 – years. Each bottle is hand marked with the warehouse and exact barrel aging location. The result is a consistently award-winning 100 proof bourbon that is amazingly smooth and mellow.
For those who also happen to enjoy a good cigar, it is difficult not to lose focus imagining the perfect cigar to complement this bourbon. It only makes sense to select another name that needs little introduction to cigar aficionados: Macanudo.
Macanudo has earned the reputation of being a consistently good cigar. Macanudo utilizes a six-step process that begins before the first seed is ever planted. The same process is followed for all Macanudos and has been followed ever since the first Macanudo was handcrafted in 1968 with consistent excellence being the goal. Multiple cigar awards over a relatively short time for a brand in this industry have proven that goal was achieved. And a Macanudo is a perfect match for a glass of Four Roses Single Barrel; how-
CHEERS! ever, specifically give the M Bourbon by BY MARK GILLILAND Macanudo smoke a try with this bourbon. M Bourbon by Macanudo is a balanced blend of Ecuadorian tobacco and flavors inspired by the iconic Old Fashioned cocktail with notes of bourbon, cherry sweetness and aromatic bitters. M Bourbon is an ideal indulgence paired with Four Roses Single Barrel for a unique departure from the ordinary. ~ Mark Gilliland is the owner of Grain & Leaf located at 6068 state Route 63, Suite 1, in Alexander City.
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Chuckwalla’s Pizza 256-825-7733 Chuck’s Marina 256-825-6871
Fish Finder Evolution
Who still remembers the flasher? The flasher was a type of sonar that sent signals down into the water, and when the sonar signal bounced back, it showed up as a small circular pattern on an analog type monitor. The one I remember on our boat had a unique humming sound to it. I’m guessing that’s where the company name Humminbird came from. It was revolutionary at its time, I’m sure.
On first appearance, the image the user saw looked like a bunch of lines in scattered patterns within the circle, but the flasher was the most real time view of what was going on under the water. Until it came along, there really was no way of knowing what was under the boat without looking over the side.
In deeper or stained water where visibility is limited to less than 1 or 2 feet, it was impossible to know what was under the boat. With the flasher, suddenly, anglers could ride around watching that circle spin as they looked for things like hard bottom, cover, fish and bait. It was difficult to understand, but many of the hardcore anglers were able to translate all from that spinning circular image.
The flasher opened up a whole new world to anglers that wanted to seek out fish away from the bank. The flasher was their eye beneath the water, and many, many fish were caught as a result. The better anglers were at setting up and reading the flasher, the more fish they oftentimes put in the boat. Not just bass, but all species.
Now, fast forward past paper graphs, digital sonar, digital mapping, side imaging sonar, down imaging sonar and 360-degree sonar. Each of these was a revolutionary development in the fishing industry, and most of it happened within about a 10-year span. Having depended on most of these while trying to make it in the pro bass fishing world, I got pretty good at using most of them. Different lakes around the country and stiff competition required it to survive. Early versions would come out and be great; but then, fishing electronics manufacturers kept raising the bar of sensitivity and image quality.
About five few years ago, Garmin introduced a totally new game-changing technology to the fishing world. It was called Panoptix, and it was a real-time, forwardfacing sonar that was easily interpreted on a monitor. The
transducer mounted on the shaft of the trolling motor instead of below the head or the bottom of the boat. As the trolling motor turned, the sonar provided a realtime image of the direction the trolling motor pointed. I had seen a lot of sonar technology in my day when this came out, but I knew it would have a profound impact on the sport in the first 10 minutes of seeing it. No longer did I have to wait until fish or cover passed beneath the boat to know it was there. The ah-ha moment came when I caught a 3-pound BIG CATCHES largemouth cruising 40 feet from the boat within BY GREG VINSON the first 30 minutes of trying it out. As with other sonar technology, within a couple of years, Garmin introduced a newer version called Livescope. It was more powerful, meaning it could look farther out into the water. The image was so detailed that, at times, an angler could see the whole fish – head/tail moving and everything. Not only could an angler see individual fish but also cover so detailed that individual limbs on a sunken tree and the fish moving around them were visible. As if that weren’t enough, an angler could point the trolling motor with precision and even see the bait as it fell to the fish. Again, I use the term game changer. In the past two years, forward-facing sonar has become mainstream. Expensive, yes, but so is most of the equipment used to chase fish, including a boat, motor and trolling motor. As in the past, other companies have introduced their versions of forward-facing sonar. Lowrance has Active Target, and Humminbird has Mega Live. Each empowers the user to see a real-time image of what’s going on around the boat at all times by simply pointing the trolling motor. To me, forward-facing sonar is an extreme adaptation of what the flasher once was. A real-time view of the world beneath, but now around the boat. With the flasher,
In the last 10 years, technology has had a profound impact on anglers' abilities to locate fish
the angler had to watch closely at all times for the blips on the circle and try to interpret them. It was real time; so looking away risked missing something important. With forward-facing sonar that’s often the case as well; however, the range has expanded from just a small area directly beneath the boat to essentially a 100-foot radius around the boat at any given time. High-resolution monitors make the image much easier to interpret. Fish look more like fish; trees look more like trees; bait balls look more like bait balls and so on.
The most exciting thing I enjoy when using forwardfacing sonar is observing how fish relate to cover, baitfish, my boat and the bait and presentation. The way they react at times is not at all how I had envisioned it. They have certain formations they use to be more efficient at ambushing prey. Sometimes, they move rapidly in search of food, and at other times, they sit idle waiting on something to come to them. Sometimes, I cast the bait I think they like the best only to see they couldn’t care less; and then, when I change baits, they attack it. Sometimes, I try several things, and they still don’t care – hah hah.
I’ve always wanted to learn to dive. To be able to be beneath the water and watch what the fish are doing from one minute to the next. As an angler, I frequently try to envision what is going on down there. Forward-facing sonar has put me one huge step closer to that.
Occasionally, I hear the comment that it’s not fair. “To whom?” I might respond.
Forward-facing sonar is not helpful if an angler doesn’t choose the right area to look. Sometimes, anglers fish for fish that are uncatchable where they might have just made a cast and kept moving without knowing otherwise. Forward-facing sonar simply helps anglers to be more efficient with their time on the water; and therefore, it helps them catch more fish.
So in the end, forward-facing sonar, like the Garmin Livescope that I use, is just another amazing tool that is available to help catch more fish. I have had so much fun fishing Lake Martin with this technology. I like to catch a lot of fish when I go, and this new forward-facing sonar technology has allowed me, and many other anglers, to do that more often. The industry has taken a giant leap since the days of the flasher. Who knows what could be next?
~ Greg Vinson is a fulltime professional angler on the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour. He lives in Wetumpka and grew up on Lake Martin.
Learning the ropes
My name is Savannah Hughes, and I am an intern at Willow Point Golf and Country Club. I have been blessed to be able to spend my summer working at such a wonderful place. My love of golf started at the age of 3 years old when my grandfather purchased my very first set of clubs and took me to the range. As I got older and became serious about golf, I started playing in local golf tournaments. Once I got into high school, I knew I wanted to play in college but had no specific direction on my career path. I started at Wallace State Community College on a golf scholarship in the fall of 2019. This was the beginning of where the Lord has led me in pursuing golf management.
While I was at Wallace State, I met my swing coach, Steven DeBoer, PGA. I had heard amazing things about him from teammates, so I decided to get a lesson from him. At this point in my life, my dad was very sick and was hospitalized for most of my freshman year. While he was sick, my dad hoped and prayed that I would be surrounded by good people. I strongly believe his prayers were answered with Steven.
Not only is Steven a great instructor and golfer, but also, he is a fantastic mentor. I mentioned to him one day that I would love to do what he did. I had not met a female instructor, and it never really crossed my mind that I could go to school to be a golf professional. Steven was able to point me to the Professional Golf Management Program at Mississippi State University. Once I did my research, I was assured this was the right decision. So I moved to Starkville, Mississippi, in 2020 to begin working toward my degree. The fact that I will earn a degree and pursue a career in the golf industry is unreal.
I am learning that internships are an exciting part of this degree and are where students like me can learn hands-on. This summer has given me many opportunities to expand my knowledge and provide experience in this career. I have been able to help organize tournaments, give lessons and aid in daily golf operations. Giving lessons has grown into one of my most favorite and rewarding things. I feel a sense of gratification when students connect with the lesson and become excited about golf. I am still learning and will continue to improve on my instructing beyond Willow Point. This
internship has prepared me to encounter future situations in the field of golf. Each experience of this internship has fully surpassed my expectations. The greatest aspect of Willow Point is the community. The warm welcome that the members have shown me has truly blown me away. I experienced the privilege to play golf with many of the members and have had the pleasure to build new relationships in doing so. This part of the position helped me serve them better as their internoving community. I could not have asked for a better place or better people to learn from. As my time here at Willow Point comes to a close, I will forever remember and be grateful for it. I am honored to have been a part of the team at Willow Point. I am immensely grateful to have spent time under the leadership of Matt Sheppard, PGA, Savannah who has allowed me to learn Hughes much during my first internpassed her ship and has been a huge help Playing Ability to me. He encouraged me to Test with 5 points to spare learn from my mistakes and attempt things even when I felt unqualified. Also, this experience would not have been as beneficial or enjoyable had it not been for the incredible staff, who have guided me through this time. They are the backbone of the club and deserve great praise for the job that they are doing. I am thankful for the family I now have in the staff at Willow Point. This summer has provided me with all the tools necessarwy to continue my education. I am saddened by the fact that this summer has been short, but I am excited that this is only the beginning of my career in golf.
~ Matt Sheppard is the PGA Director of Golf at Willow Point Golf and Country Club. PAR for the COURSE
WITH MATT SHEPPARD
Legend
Public Boat Ramps 9 Churches
Camps & Parks Power lines
U.S. Highways County Roads
9
COOSA COUNTY
To Sylacauga
20 24
4 11
Alexander City
280
Flint Hill Church
22
259
20 11 Wind Creek State Park
Piney Woods Landing
Liberty Church Mt. Zion Church Alex City Boat Ramp
Russell Farms Baptist Church
128
18
63 Friendship Church
New Hope Church
12
Willow Point
Equality
Seman
9
Central
24
55
7
5
Camp Kiwanis
80
ELMORE COUNTY
63
13
14
Kowaliga Boat Landing
23
63
1 15
Church in The Pines
Children’s Harbor
Trillium
19 25
The Amp
28
Kowaliga Bay The Ridge
2
Red Hill
Eclectic
21
229
Tallassee
3
Camp ASCCA
Pleasant Grove Church
10
Paces Point Boat Ramp
Camp Alamisco
90
Union Church
Jaybird Landing
TALLAPOOSA COUNTY
Jacksons Gap
49
Bethel Church
57
Pleasant Ridge Church
16
Lake Martin Baptist Church 49
Church of the Living Waters Stillwaters
8 9 6
17
Walnut Hill
27
49 Horseshoe Bend National Park
Lake Martin Alabama
22
Dadeville
280
26
Camp Hill
50
Marinas
1. Kowaliga Marina1 256-397-1210 255 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
2. The Ridge Marina2 256-397-1300 450 Ridge Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
3. River North Marina3 256-397-1500 250 River North Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
2. Russell Marine Boating & Outdoors4 256-397-1700 19 Russell Marine Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
2. Real Island Marina5 256-397-1200 2700 Real Island Rd., Equality, AL 36026
3. Blue Creek Marina6 256-825-8888 7280 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853
2. Parker Creek Marina 7 256-329-8550 486 Parker Creek Marina Rd., Equality, AL 36026
3. Harbor Pointe Marina8 256-825-0600 397 Marina Point Rd., Dadeville, AL 36853 www.harborpointe.net
2. Lakeside Marina 9 256-825-9286 7361 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853
2. Lakeside Marina at Bay Pines10 256-825-0999 3455 Bay Pine Rd., Jackson's Gap, AL 36861
2. Alex City Marine11 256-215-FISH(3474) 2190 Cherokee Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
Smith Marina12 256-444-8793 smithmarinaonlakemartin@yahoo.com
Restaurants & Venues
6. SpringHouse 13 256-215-7080 12 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 6. Catherine’s Market 256-215-7070 17 Russell Farms Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
14
Kowaliga Restaurant15 256-215-7035 295 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
Lake Martin Pizza16 256-373-3337 5042 Hwy 49, Dadeville, AL 36853
The Burritos Corner Mexican Grill17 256-307-1887 8605 AL HWY 50, Dadeville, AL 36853
Business & Shopping
Lake Martin Storm Shelters18 256-794-8075 970 Hwy. 63 South, Alex City, AL 35010
19
Lake Martin Mini Mall 334.857.3900 7995 Kowaliga Rd, Eclectic, AL 36024
4. Russell Do It Center (Alex City)20 256-234-2567 1750 Alabama 22, Alex City, AL 35010 4. Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 334-541-2132 1969 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024 4. Russell Building Supply 256-825-4256 350 Fulton Street, Dadeville, AL 36853 4. The Stables at Russell Crossroads 256-794-1333 288 Stables Loop, Alex City, AL 35010 4. Dark Insurance 256-234-5026 410 Hillabee Street, Alex City, AL 35010 www.darkinsuranceagency.com
21
22
23
24
. Kowaliga Whole Health Pet Care & Resort25 334-857-1816 8610 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024 . Off the Beaton Path 205-994-0847 21322 Hwy. 280, Dadeville, AL 36853
26
Churches
Lake Pointe Baptist Church27 256-373-3293 8352 Hwy. 50, Dadeville, AL 36853
Dock Builders
28
Lake Martin Dock Company, Inc Marine Contractor License #49146 334-857-2443 180 Birmingham Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024
Advertise your business on our Lake Martin Region Map for as little as $25. Contact our Marketing Department at 256-234-4281 or marketing@alexcityoutlook.com for more information.
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 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 and 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 on Lake Martin 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
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 magazine delivered to your mailbox for just $50 per year. To start your subscription, call Linda Ewing at 256-234-4281.
Alabama Power...........................................................27
Alex City Guide Service............................................. 8
Alex City Marine........................................................90
Beyond Home Care ..................................................91
Blue Creek Iron Works ............................................91
Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation ...................................... 75
Childersburg Primary Care .....................................44
Chuck's Marina...........................................................83
Coach Kraft Upholstery...........................................91
Comfort Home Services..........................................52
Custom Docks............................................................20
Davco............................................................................91
Docks Unlimited .......................................................... 5
Electronic Technology Group..................................91
First Methodist Dadeville/New Water Farms ....... 8
George Hardy D.M.D.................................................. 8
Gilbert Welding & Design ........................................26
Harbor Pointe Marina...............................................52
Heritage South Credit Union .................................93
Hinson Galleries.........................................................40 Homeology..................................................................73
Insight Securities ........................................................19
Internal Medicine Associates, P.C............................74
Kowaliga Whole Health............................................91
Lake Martin Dock......................................................23
Lake Martin Mortgage...............................................77
Lake Martin Pecan Company .................................... 8
Lake Martin Realty.....................................................71
Lake Martin Signature Construction.....................57
Lamberth & Lamberth ........................................26, 53
Larson & McGowin Properties, LLC.....................20
Mark King's Furniture ...............................................21
Moore Wealth Management ....................................95
National Village ...........................................................36
Odd Jobs ........................................................................ 6
Off the Beaton Path .................................................... 8
Oskars ..........................................................................74
Phil Interior Design ...................................................75
Precise Pressure Washing.........................................91
Prime Management...................................................... 6 Rhonda Gaskins, Century 21 Lake Area Realty ...... 3
Rhonda Jaye, Lake Martin Realty ............................13
Russell Lands On Lake Martin..........................86, 96
Russell Medical ............................................................. 2
Satterfield....................................................................... 5
Security Pest Control .............................................6, 8
Singleton Marine.........................................................56
Sparkle..........................................................................92
St. James Episcopal Church......................................66
Sunrise Dock...............................................................13
Tallapoosa Board of Education ...............................14
Temple Medical Center .............................................. 8
TowBoat US ................................................................70
UAB Heart & Vascular ..............................................47
Video Vision Media Marketing.................................90
Walmart .......................................................................91
Wedowee Marine ......................................................76
m.plata@charter.net
Parting Shot
Photo by Kenneth Boone
The July 4 concert and fireworks display at Lake Martin Amphitheater is a highlight of summer that creates memores to last a lifetime.
~ Susan Branch
