From the Editor’s Desk
As I sit here, sipping on a Peach Mango Bang energy drink, I am reminded of the simplicity of life. The pleasure we can take in a sunset. The distance a smile can reach into the life of a stranger. The way 300 mg of caffeine, ultra COQ10, and L-Carentine come together to make my right eye twitch and my upper lip sweat.
The people round here never cease to amaze me.
In my short time in this industry, it is something I have come to value: the natural tendency of journalism to point you towards exceptional people.
People who care about something. People who have a story to tell, a story that should be shared with others.
I would never have spoken to these people if it weren’t for this job. I would have never held conversations with owners of animal shelters and funeral homes, winners of national awards and community awards, small business and nonprofits.
And I never would have spoken to Wes Coleman.
His story is one of pain, but from the tone he tells it in, you’d almost never guess so. Coleman suffered three strokes two years ago, and received a heart transplant that saved his life. After two years of recovery, he brought a gold medal home from the Transplant Games of America, held in Birmingham last July. Read his story on page 28.
And if I were not in journalism, I would have never discovered the passion for quality, robust education that this group of teachers – and students – have at Coosa County High School. Through a unique, groundbreaking education program, students have achieved nationally-recognized levels of success. Read more on page 21.
Our area is full of passion, resilience and vigor, and I am proud to be able to shed some light on that in these pages.
Ben Smith, Editor
Lake Martin Living
Chairman
Kenneth Boone
General Manager
Tippy Hunter
Editor-in-Chief
Betsy Iler
Editor Ben Smith
Creative Services
Audra Spears
Business & Digital Development Director
Angela Mullins
Contributors
Kenneth Boone
Lacey Howell
Shane Harris
George Miranda
Lee Williams
Gina Abernathy
Audra Spears
Cliff Williams
Abigail Murphy
Sam Higgs
Melody Rathel
Lizi Arbogast Gwin
Dalton Middleton
Erin Chesnutt
Jim Denney
Audience Development Director
Baily Terry
Marketing/Advertising Sales
Renee Trice
Sam Himes
Gena Kay Dixson
Carmen Rodgers
Lake Martin Living P.O. Box 999
Alexander City, AL 35011
256-234-4281
www.lakemartinmagazine.com
Lake Martin Living is published monthly by Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. All contents are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without publisher's written consent. 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 $50 annually.
Local coach Wes Coleman had to play hard, as it was his life he played to win. Two years ago, Coleman had a heart transplant. All through the ordeal, he refused to think he could die; instead, he pushed himself to wellness. The strategy worked, as Coleman recently won gold in the Transplant Games of America. Photo by Kenneth Boone
14 NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES
Lake Martin Living magazine launches this year's Art & Photo Contest to benefit Dadeville Performing Arts Center.
21. A PRACTICAL EDUCATION
Coosa County Career Technical Center students shine at national competition.
28. WES COLEMAN: AN EXTRAORDINARY COMEBACK
Local tennis coach brings home the gold medal at an emotional Transplant Games of America with a donor' heart.
GO LOCAL
GARDEN TALK
GOOD EATS
MONEY MATTERS
OH SNAP!
CULTURE SHOCK
to
AROUND THE AREA
Kellyton plant contracts with international company
Westwater Resources, Inc., announced the execution of a binding off-take agreement with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, a leading electric vehicle manufacturer and part of the Stellantis group of companies.
Pursuant to the terms of the offtake agreement, Westwater will supply natural graphite anode material from its Kellyton graphite plant to FCA’s battery partner plants located within the U.S.
The off-take agreement ensures that once production is up and running, FCA will purchase a certain volume of graphite each year.
This agreement will fund the rest of Phase 1 construction of the Kellyton plant. Under the terms of the off-take agreement, FCA will be obligated to purchase a quantity of product equal to a percentage of their forecasted volume on an annual basis.
“With this deal, Westwater has now secured off-take agreements for 100 percent of its Kellyton Phase 1 capacity,” Westwater Chief Commercial Officer Jon Jacobs said. “Our team has worked hard to establish itself as an industry leader in the supply of U.S. produced natural graphite, and we
Imagination Station breaks ground
The playground will be completely ADA compliant, from the benches to the turf.
The $400,000 monetary goal for the longanticipated Imagination Station at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex was surpassed by $35,000 early last July after a little over a year of fundraising. Since the money raised exceeded the original goal, there will be additional equipment and more square footage of turf, said Alexander City Parks and Recreation Director Kasey Kaschak. Kaschak said the equipment will arrive this month and installation will take roughly four to five weeks to complete. The playground will have two ADA accessible play structures. Surrounding the playground will be benches and other auxiliary play equipment. All of the equipment is sourced from Hercules Incorporated in Eclectic.
~Melody Rathel
remain focused on securing additional supply agreements for our expanded Phase 2 volume.”
According to Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance Executive Director Denise Walls, Westwater’s production will begin by the end of 2026.
Westwater Resources is an energy technology company focused on developing battery-grade natural graphite. The company’s graphite deposit is the most advanced natural flake graphite deposit in the contiguous United States, spanning 41,965 acres in Coosa County.
Stellantis N.V. is a multinational automotive manufacturing corporation formed from the 2021 merger of the Italian-American Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the French PSA Group. The company is headquartered in Amsterdam. As of 2023, Stellantis was the world’s fourth largest auto maker by sales.
~Staff Report
BRHS cheer earned multiple spirit sticks, All-American honors and Pin It Forward awards.
Benjamin Russell cheer earns top honors
The Benjamin Russell High School cheerleading team left with a number of top honors after a June camp in Tuscaloosa, where they competed against over 900 cheerleaders from around the state. BRHS’s spirit routine scored a blue superior ribbon on the second night of camp, and on the third night, the Wildcats took home a gold superior ribbon for their full, errorless routine. To close out the final day, the girls finished fourth overall in the spirit routine. The last day was not without its share of adversity, as two members of the 20-person squad went down with injury and were deemed unable to compete just minutes before competition began.
~Henry Zimmer
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Bourbon Broadway on
STORY BY ERIN CHESNUTT
PHOTOS BY BEN SMITH
Downtown Sylacauga needed some revitalization. Residents Alan and Julie Sanders hoped to drive new businesses to the area and keep the town growing, so they reached out to Clay County native Kelly Prince with the idea of opening a cocktail bar. Prince has an affection for New Orleans culture, so she wanted to inject some Bourbon Street flair into the bar.
Bourbon on Broadway opened its doors in February of 2022 and has become a favorite hangout for lake area
residents and visitors alike.
“I didn’t want this to be a typical bar,” Prince said. “We have events where customers can actually learn about bourbon, wine or other quality spirits.”
Prince enlisted the help of her friend, Angela Wilson, who has 25 years of experience as a professional mixologist.
“All of our drinks are made with fresh ingredients, never mixers,” said Prince. “Our margaritas are very popular, because they are made using only fresh lime juice.”
The bar atmosphere is comfortable
Feelin' NOLA
Clockwise from Facing Page: Bourbon on Broadway has plenty of space for visitors but remains cozy and intimate; Pick from a selection of wines; A shelf is full of IPAs in vibrant, flashy cans; Step into the courtyard for some fresh air.
and inviting. Abstract paintings by local artist Kevin Whitman decorate the walls. The bar counter is topped with Sylacauga marble. Seating includes sofas and chairs purchased from Longleaf Antiques in Alexander City and other local furniture stores. A piano is available on nights when live entertainment is offered, and sometimes, also on nights when it’s not.
“Sometimes one of our customers will start playing the piano, and we end up having a sing-along,” said Prince. Customers’ favorite gathering area
is the back courtyard. Party lights are strung across the walkway, and jasmine vines have been planted in the hopes of eventually creating a large natural shade canopy. Bistro tables around the courtyard are reminiscent of New Orleans patio seating.
“The courtyard is now becoming a popular spot for small weddings, rehearsal dinners or private parties,” said Prince.
The venue can be rented for $100 per hour, and bartending service is offered for an additional $50 per hour.
Bourbon on Broadway, or BOB as the regulars call it, also hosts game nights.
“Our murder mystery events are very popular. Customers come in and get their character in advance. We have had some very creative costumes, and everyone really plays their part,” said Prince.
Bourbon on Broadway celebrates holidays with special themed events. For Halloween last year, the murder mystery event toured the city, and included legends of haunted buildings and areas around Sylacauga. BOB itself is believed to be home to a friendly spirit that will sometimes playfully tap on the walls or rearrange pillows. Of course, his name is Bob.
During the Christmas season, Prince and her staff transform the bar so that when customers come in on Dec. 1, the decorations are on full display.
“We call it the Christmas Takeover. Everything stays decorated until January 6. Then, we get ready for Mardi Gras,” said Prince.
The holiday seasons are also accompanied by special themed cocktails.
In addition to crafted cocktails, Bourbon on Broadway offers a selection of domestic and craft beers and a variety of wines. Upcoming wine tastings will feature visits from the wine makers themselves in order to offer customers an educational experience.
“We’re especially excited to host a winemaker from France,” said Prince.
Bourbon on Broadway is open Monday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Follow the business on Facebook to keep up with upcoming events.
Now accepting entries
STORY BY BETSY ILER
PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS & KENNETH BOONE
Lake Martin Living magazine is now accepting entries for the 2024 Art & Photo Contest to benefit the Dadeville Performing Arts Center. Winners will be announced at a champagne reception and exhibit from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26.
Art For All Left: The Lake Martin Living magazine Art & Photo Contest this year will host a children's division; Above: Dawn Davis won the 2023 contest with this painting of a country cottage.
Reception tickets are $20 each and include hors d’oeuvres, champagne, live music, door prizes, a vote for the People’s Choice winner and more. Entries will be accepted in acrylics, oil, watercolor, pastels, pencil, crayon, photography and mixed media. All entries must be ready to hang and must reflect the nature, beauty or lifestyle of Alabama. The fee is $25 to enter each piece, and each entry includes one ticket to the exhibit reception. Artists are limited to three entries each. All entries must be clearly marked with the artist’s name, address, telephone number and email address. The deadline to enter is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17. Each work of art must be delivered to the office of Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., at 548 Cherokee Road in Alexander City, and the fee must be paid by the deadline to be eligible for prize consideration.
More than $1,000 in prizes will be awarded in three divisions: Art or photography by children in eighth grade and younger; artists who are in ninth grade or older; and photographers in ninth grade or older. The winner of the children’s division will receive $50. Second and third place winners in the children’s division will receive gift certificates. First place art and photography winners in the ninth-gradeand-older categories will receive $200; $150 will be awarded to second place winners in these two categories; and third place in these two categories will receive $100. The People’s Choice winner will be awarded $100.
Sponsorships are available in a variety of support levels. Call Samantha Himes at 256-234-4427 for sponsorship information. For entry questions, call magazine editorial staff at 256-234-4282. Purchase tickets at TPI’s office in Alexander City.
Green lawns don't just grow on trees
Large patch creeps into lawns during Alabama's hot, humid summers
Having a lush green lawn is a gratifying dream for most homeowners, but a lot of time and care is required to achieve it. Residents must regularly mow, apply fertilizer, scout for insects and provide adequate water for their pampered lawns. But another important, often neglected task, is preventing and controlling diseases in the lawn. Under the right conditions, a disease can appear suddenly and will quickly scar a beautiful lawn, setting you back many years of hard work.
The most damaging fungal disease of lawns in Alabama is brown patch, also known as large patch. Excessive rain, leaf wetness, high humidity, poor air movement, poorly drained soil and excessive fertilizer can create the perfect environment for this lawn disease to occur.
Brown patch usually develops rapidly on lawns during periods of wet, overcast weather in late spring, late summer and early fall. Brown patch is most severe during extended periods of hot, humid weather, and when low and high temperatures are above 70 degrees and 90 degrees. Turfgrass leaves must be continuously wet for at least 10 to 12 hours for the brown patch fungus to infect.
Symptoms of brown patch diseases may vary greatly with the type of grass and soil conditions. This disease is very common in centipede grass and occasionally found in St. Augustine and zoysia lawns. Typically, Bermuda grass is not as severely damaged as the other warm season turfgrasses due to its rapid growth and spread, which allow it to recover more quickly.
Brown patch first appears in lawns as small, circular, brown areas several inches in diameter, which quickly increase to 3 to 6 feet. These areas often grow together, forming irregular patches, thin turf up to 20 feet in diameter. The foliage of high-cut St. Augustine grass or centipede grass turf often wilts and collapses, giving the blighted patches a sunken appearance.
GARDEN TALK
Shane Harris
When diagnosing for a potential lawn disease, a yellowish border is often visible as the patch gets bigger and spreads outward. The transition from healthy green grass to sickly yellow to dead brown spots indicates an active area of disease development.
On a positive note, damaged turf from brown patch usually recovers when conditions no longer favor the spread of disease. Regrowth of the turf may start in the center of the blighted area, forming a ring or doughnut pattern. Weeds frequently invade turf areas damaged and thinned by these diseases.
Identifying Patch
Previous Pages: A lush, green lawn invites activities with the whole family: This Page, Top to Bottom: Brown patch begins as a circular discoloration in the lawn; As the disease grows, the affected circles converge; Left unchecked, this ailment could cover the entire lawn.
In addition to hot days, high humidity and excessive moisture (just like any Alabama summer), overfertilizing the lawn can also trigger diseases. Nitrogen fertility has a significant impact on brown patch development. When conditions favor disease, an excess of nitrogen
amplifies the outbreak, disease severity and/or reoccurrence of brown patch. High nitrogen levels promote the growth of soft, succulent leaves that are susceptible to attack by the fungus.
To help prevent disease outbreaks, apply a low rate of a nitrogen fertilizer at four to eight-week intervals throughout the growing season, or use a slow-release nitrogen source to maintain an even growth rate. Finally, maintain phosphorus and potash fertility levels according to soil test recommendations. Fertilizer should not be applied until the problem is under control, unless a deficiency is identified through soil testing.
Because moisture plays such an important role in disease development, good drainage is needed to remove excess water from low-lying areas. Disease damage is often worse on shaded lawns, likely due to grass staying too wet and not drying out as quickly. To speed evaporation of water from the foliage, prune nearby trees and shrubs to reduce shade and to improve air movement and sunlight penetration.
multiply and grow into a problem.
Outbreaks of brown patch are usually too sporadic, especially on home lawns, to justify a preventive fungicide spray program; however, a fungicide should be applied as soon as symptoms appear and continue until the lawn starts to recover or until weather conditions no longer favor the spread of disease. Brown patch may reoccur each year, and large portions of a lawn may be killed if it is not properly controlled.
Unchecked Growth
To minimize leaf wetness, do not irrigate the lawn daily. Lawns only need 1 inch of water per week. Set irrigation timers to go off only twice a week, applying 1/2 inch of water at each interval, and turn them off when it has already rained that week. Irrigating first thing in the morning, just prior to sunrise, is best, so the sun can dry up the water on the blades sooner. Never water the lawn in the late afternoon or at night; the moisture remains on the blades of grass throughout the night, giving fungi plenty of time to
The edges of brown patch growth are often yellowed.
There are several fungicides for preventing and controlling brown patch in home lawns. Products containing the chemicals names of myclobutanil, propiconizole and thiophanate-methyl are all recommended options. Multiple applications will be necessary, so follow the label recommendations on application rates and timing. When conditions favor disease (excessive rain), use the shortest application interval at the highest rate allowed on the manufacturer’s label. Apply the fungicide to the diseased area 1 to 2 feet beyond diseased grass to prevent further spread of the disease.
In Alabama, its hot and humid, and a summer thunderstorm could pop up at any moment. With these conditions, keep an educated eye out for diseases popping up in your lawn, and be ready to treat them.
For help on other home and garden questions, contact your local county Extension office or reach us online at aces.edu.
~ Shane Harris is the County Extension Coordinator for Tallapoosa County.
A Practical Education
Central Coosa High School students take advantage of a unique, effective job training program
STORY BY BEN SMITH PHOTOS COURTESY OF COOSA CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER
Imagine a high school education system that taught more than the classical areas of study: math, science, history, literature – but which taught students how to interview with a potential employer, how to interact amicably with coworkers or how to lead a team in toward a particular goal.
Now imagine an education system that combines these soft skills with more practical, tangible ones, such as industry certifications, technical expertise and practical knowledge, and you would be picturing something like the Coosa Country Career Technical Center.
The Career Tech Center offers various simulated work environments to students at Central Coosa
High School in a total of five different areas: agriculture, business information technology, automotive services, health sciences and education. These programs include instruction in everything from 3D printing to resume building to realigning a vehicle’s tires. Each subject is instructed by a teacher with ample experience in the area, who is able to provide expert insight into the study and the industry at large. The curriculums are influenced by an advisory board of local industry professionals, who provide insights into the skills and
National Recognition:
Above: Students have gone on to compete and win at the national level in places like Orlando, St. Louis and Atlanta
Skills for the Future
Clockwise from Above: Students in the Educators in Training program spend time teaching young children; A wide variety of skills are fostered by CTE programs; Students have travelled to St. Louis, Orlando and other areas to compete nationally; Teachers enjoy seeing a student develop as a person through the program; Hands-on education is an effective way to train students; National competitions have brought out the best in CTE students; Friendships are fostered by these programs.
competencies they value most as employers.
However, what makes the Career Tech Education program unique is the emphasis on student-led education through simulated work environments. One class may take place in an automotive facility, with a student manager checking their peers work on an oil change, while another may take place in an office-like environment, where students work together in small groups to achieve project goals. In whatever form, one thing is clear: after initial instructions from their teachers, students are left to figure out the projects on their own. And this method seems to resonate.
“The days of sitting there teaching, just talking at them… kids get bored that,” said Brett Thomas, instructor of Business information technology at the Coosa County CTE program. “You rarely walk into a CTE program – a true CTE program – and see the teacher teaching. Instead, there’s a lot of projectbased learning that’s going on, where students are taking theories from science and math and English and actually applying those theories into something tangible. That’s the unique thing about CTE, and the best thing about it, because it does give students the space to find their niche.”
Thomas’ program helps develop software proficiencies, skills in computer science, cybersecurity and 3D printing, among many others. Students can learn and earn certifications in a wide range of Office and Creative Cloud software products, or they can learn computer programming.
But that is just one program. There are five others, such as the Jobs for Alabama Graduates program, a school-to-career program for at-risk high school youths which teaches foundational workplace skills, such as resume-building, public speaking and financial literacy.
There is the Automotive Services Technology program, led by Jarrod Washington, where students are educated through work in an actual automotive shop. During class periods, students complete common automotive repairs on the vehicles of real customers. Senior students serve as shop managers and are responsible for checking the work of their employees.
“The way you want to do it is you set it up just like you would in the real world,” said Washington. “Your senior techs train your new techs. You get that generational training, and they work together as a team. So, you have a full functioning shopping
or dealership type or shop environment. You’ve got service managers, service riders, parts department, parts manager, your inventory specialist, you’ve got technicians, shop assistants.”
Washington said after speaking with a Toyota representative, he was told there was only one other place in the country educating students in this sort of setting, and it was a college.
After finishing the Automotive Services Program, Washington’s goal is for his students to be Automotive Service Excellence certified. For Thomas, he hopes his students can rack up certifications in programming languages, office software, design software and video editing software. Students who have participated in the CTE program graduate from Central Coosa High School with tangible, resume-padding skills and certifications. Whatever route they end up taking, they graduate job-ready, with the skills and
certifications employers seek. While the programs may seem extraordinarily prudent – and therefore widely avoided by high schoolers – students need no encouragement to participate. Coosa Career Tech Director Hester Hamby says that even on days when school is out, students still want to come in and work on their CTE projects.
“Sometimes we have to say, ‘No, I’m sorry, it’s the day before Thanksgiving.’” Hamby chuckled.
It’s a good indicator that something’s working, she said.
“Our kids have invested and committed to the programs, and that is the ultimate indicator of success,” she said. “That’s the secret sauce. It’s that our kids have committed to this, because they’ve seen our faculty and staff’s commitment to it, and all of
the pieces have fallen into place.”
The students don’t just enjoy the programs; they succeed in them, nationally.
Last year, Thomas took six students to the state competition for the Future Business Leaders of America, where they participated in events such as public speaking, accounting and marketing. Four students placed, and they moved on to compete nationally in Orlando.
Students in Deborah Phillips’ JAG program placed 8th at nationals last year, competing in the Creative Decision Making event in St. Louis. The year before, the team placed 10th in the financial literacy event.
Amenities
Students display a deep, internal drive to take an active role in bettering their career prospects.
Washington’s automotive services team restored and modified an old racing car throughout the school year. As the team reworked the vehicle’s electrical systems and fuel lines, the process was documented, and six students crafted a presentation that would later be given at the nationwide SkillsUSA competition. The team placed 5th out of 104 teams.
At the end of the day, these classes translate to more than medals and recognition. At the end of the day, students are learning valuable skills that apply directly to a given industry, and after graduation, employers are hiring and even competing over these students.
“They’re outperforming people who have been working in the industry full-time, according to different data reports that their supervisors are pulling,” said Hamby. “They’re being offered apprenticeships after those hiring fairs, so they’re not pumped into a pipeline like they might be [in other programs]. They have the option after they leave here to go where they want to go and use those skills.”
SUBMISSION DETAILS
Submissions accepted in acrylic, oil, watercolor, pastels, pencil, photography and mixed media. (3D works are accepted as long as they can be hung on the wall. )
No free-standing sculptures.
Entries must reflect the nature, beauty or lifestyle of Alabama. All entries must be ready to hang.
Entry fee is $25 per piece.
Clearly mark each entry with the artist’s name, address, phone number and email. Deliver entries to the Lake Martin Living magazine office on or before 5 p.m. September 17. The office is located at 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City.
First place winners receive $200; Second place winners receive $150; and third place winners receive $100. People’s Choice winner also receives $100. A children’s division is open to eighth grade and younger. Children’s division winner receives $50.
All submitting artists will be featured in the October issue of Lake Martin Living, with one of the first place works featured on the cover. Call magazine editor-in-chief Betsy Iler at 256-234-4282 with questions or email editor@lakemartinmagazine.com.
The reception will be on September 26 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Dadeville Performing Arts Center. Look for more details in the August issue of Lake magazine and in TPI newspapers, websites and on social media.
Blueberry Muffins Bakery Style
There’s nothing quite like biting into a warm, fluffy blueberry muffin fresh from the oven. These bakery-style muffins are incredibly delicious, bursting with juicy blueberries underneath a sweet brown sugar and pecan topping. With their tall, golden-brown tops and moist centers, they’ve certainly become a favorite in my home.
One of the best things about these muffins is that they use simple, easy-to-find ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. They’re perfect for breakfast, a snack on the go or a special weekend treat. Quick to
make and incredibly satisfying, these muffins are a musttry.
Starting your muffins at a high temperature helps them rise beautifully: just like those in a bakery. This ensures tall, fluffy muffins, and lowering the baking temperature allows the insides to cook without drying out. Your house will fill with a wonderful aroma as they bake, making the dish as delightful to smell as it is to eat.
Bakery-style blueberry muffins are more than just a tasty treat; they’re a way to bring a little bit of bakery magic into your home. With their perfect rise, juicy
bursts of blueberries and sweet, comforting flavor, these muffins are always a hit. So, gather your ingredients and get ready to enjoy the best homemade blueberry muffins ever. Your family will thank you!
~ Gina Abernathy is the author and recipe creator behind the blog, Home at Cedar Springs Farm.
GOOD EATS
Gina Abernathy
INGREDIENTS
Muffin Topping
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed, light or dark
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup pecans, chopped (optional)
Muffin Mix
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup salted butter, softened
1/2 cup white granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 large eggs
1/2 cup Greek yogurt, plain
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup Milk
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners and a second pan with two liners. Set aside. Mix the brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans in a small bowl. Set aside.
Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside. Using a stand mixer, beat the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar together at high speed until smooth and creamy, for about two minutes.
Slow the mixer down and add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat the yogurt and vanilla extract until combined.
With the mixer running on low speed, add the dry ingredients and milk and beat until no flour remains. Fold in the blueberries. Spoon the batter into liners, filling them to the top. Spoon brown sugar topping on each, gently pressing it into the top so it sticks. Bake for five minutes at 425 degrees, then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the muffins to cool for a few minutes in the muffin pan; then, transfer to a wire rack to continue cooling.
Keep them in a covered container at room temperature for a few days or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. To Freeze: Allow the muffins to cool completely, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, and freeze for up to three months. Thaw completely in the refrigerator.
Recipe makes about 14 muffins
Wes Coleman: An Extraordinary Comeback
STORY BY BEN SMITH
PHOTOS COURTESY OF WES COLEMAN AND BRIT HUCKABAY
It was about 97 degrees outside when Wes Coleman stepped onto the tennis court at the Hoover Met in Birmingham. The heat index was up to 106 degrees, and it felt even hotter on the hardcourt, where dark blue and green concrete absorbed the sun like a sponge.
Coleman competed in men’s singles. The 43-year-old slugged it out in the wet Birmingham heat, describing the match as more of a “last man standing” competition than one of skills. By the end, Coleman had come out on top, beating his opponent 8-2 and taking gold.
Coleman was one of more than 5,000 athletes who travelled to Birmingham last July to compete in the Transplant Games of America, a six-day series of competitions, events and conferences celebrating and raising awareness for organ donations.
‘Em poker and trivia.
Two years ago, Coleman was standing on a different tennis court when he first noticed something strange. He was a healthy man, a lifelong tennis player who had played and coached for Central Alabama Community College, who ran and did high-intensity CrossFit exercises every morning. That morning on the tennis court, something was wrong. His breath was short. His balance was off. He chalked it up to dehydration, or heat exhaustion, and went on with his day.
Coleman doesn’t remember much from the second and third strokes, which he later suffered. He describes himself as having “zoned out,” his eyes a thousand miles away, his mouth speaking gibberish.
Coleman's Game
Facing Page: Coleman competed in men's singles in tennis and took home gold; Team Alabama, as the hosting team, walked out to a flurry of cheers and applause.
The event includes deep, meaningful tributes. Transplant donors and recipients compete and are honored alongside caregivers, fans and the families of deceased donors. There is a pregame show to kick off the week’s events. There are educational programs, ranging in topics from biotechnology and entrepreneurship to the importance of exercise and nutrition post-transplant. And of course, there are the competitions, including anything from basketball, swimming and golf to a singing contest, Texas Hold
But he remembers his first stroke. He remembers lying in bed after church that same weekend, feeling his heart thump against his ribcage. He pulled up his shirt, as if to make sure the sound was indeed coming from his chest. He remembers losing control of his right arm and right leg, then in the entire right side of his body. He remembers, before losing his ability to speak, calling for his wife and hoping his two boys didn’t see him.
Coleman was taken to UAB where he stayed for five days. After X-rays and procedures and tests, his doctor told him his heart was enlarged. In fact, it was the largest heart the doctor had ever seen, filling up the entirety of Coleman’s chest cavity. He was diagnosed with nonischemic cardiomyopathy and sent home in a life vest, which would automatically defibrillate his heart if it
detected an arrhythmia.
Coleman was home from the hospital for three days when the second stroke hit. He was life-flighted to UAB, where he underwent multiple procedures and surgeries. For weeks afterwards, Coleman could not speak. He could not associate an image to a word, meaning that when a doctor asked him to point to his wife, who was in the room with him, he could not do so.
“I could hear them, but my brain couldn’t process it to speech,” said Coleman. “I knew what I wanted to say, but I could not say it.”
Coleman had his third and final stroke shortly after the second, while he was still in the hospital. It was clear at this point he would need a transplant. An intraaortic balloon pump was inserted into his heart to help improve function. Coleman remained this way for 17 days before finally undergoing heart transplant surgery.
Despite losing so much of his faculties; despite losing the ability to play the sport he loved and had built his life around; despite losing the ability to speak; despite the thousands of ways Coleman was challenged, he says he was never scared.
“Just nervous, really,” said Coleman. “Throughout this whole process, I didn’t know what was going on, but I never was scared. I thought I was gonna make it. I’m a believer, for sure. Jesus held my hand the whole time, and I knew I was gonna make it. I didn’t think anything about what could have happened.”
He didn’t think about the potential complications, of which were plenty and likely. He didn’t ask about the odds of a successful transplant surgery, because it wouldn’t have changed anything. Coleman did not think about the possibility of his cognitive function not returning, nor the sideways-glancing peer of death. He couldn’t focus on those things, he said, because at his core, he is an athlete. And when you compete at a high level, there is no room for agonizing over what could happen.
“I never really thought about death throughout this whole process,” said Coleman. “I think that’s just me being a competitor. I never think about losing the match or the game. That’s not me.”
It was this mentality that, after receiving the heart transplant, propelled Coleman toward recovery and shielded him from self-pity.
Coleman’s boys, one in third-grade and one in eighth grade, helped him pronounce syllables while he was in the hospital. That competitor’s mentality kept Coleman from feeling shame or embarrassment.
Transplant Athlete
Top Left: Coleman's family celebrates the long road that has led him here; Bottom Left: Coleman shoots a jumper from inside the paint.
His muscles had atrophied, so he and his wife, Dianne, walked the track around UAB. In the beginning, a mile a day was about all he could manage. Coleman’s mentality kept him from feeling discouraged at losing the physical prowess he had constructed and maintained his
entire life.
Team Transplant
Coleman also played with on the court, where Team Alabama took third in basketball.
Coleman’s competitive nature is what led him to compete once again in a sport he loves at the Transplant Games of America. In addition to taking home gold in men’s singles, he also took home the bronze medal in basketball for team Alabama.
“In the moment, you don’t think about it, but later I realized that, two years ago, I was about three blocks away, waiting for new heart,” Coleman said in reference to UAB.l.
Coleman was proud of pulling in the gold medal, a testament to how far he has come since being relegated to a hospital bed, unable to speak or walk, requiring 24-hour care. But he’s is quick to point out that, despite his love of competition, the most memorable moment of the week was the opening ceremony.
The Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex was jam-packed with people from around the country, those who have either donated or received vital organs. After a short pre-ceremony show, the athletes proceeded in. They were grouped in teams by geographic location, veteran
status and age. The last group to come in was the donors and donor families.
It was an unexpectedly emotional moment for Coleman.
“They have lost a loved one, but they’re also looking at someone that received life from that person,” said Coleman. “They didn’t die for no reason. They died to give someone life, someone they didn’t know.”
Seeing donor families high five and hug and cry alongside their transplant recipients made Coleman think about getting in touch with the family of the person whose death gave him a new heart.
When asked what he would include in that letter, Coleman had to stop and think for a moment.
“I don’t really know what you put in a letter like that,” he said. “I need to think about it.”
Sickle Cell Disease
About 7,500 years ago, in the florid forest of North Africa (now the Sahara Desert), a mosquito landed on a child’s arm and injected its needle-sharp proboscis into his skin. As the mosquito consumed that child’s blood, a deadly gang of single-celled parasites swam down the mosquito’s needle into the child’s bloodstream.
Other children had previously been bitten by the anopheles mosquito and infected by the Plasmodium parasite. Those children developed fevers, chills, headaches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Most of them died. But this particular child didn’t die. This child had developed a genetic mutation that protected against the parasite and its resulting disease: malaria.
The child grew up, had children of his own, and passed the genetic trait on to those children, protecting them, as well, from malaria. Through the process of natural selection, the families that inherited the trait survived malaria, while most of those that lacked the genetic protection did not.
Today, as much as a quarter of the population in sub-Saharan Africa carries that genetic mutation. And that’s a good thing, because malaria still rages there, as well as in other tropical areas of the world. As recently as 2022, malaria infected 249 million people worldwide and took the lives of 608,000.
Malaria was around long before the human race evolved, infecting primates and other mammals. The plasmodium parasite was found inside a 15 million year-old mosquito encased in amber. When humans appeared in Central Africa and began to migrate toward the Mediterranean, they also became targets for the deadly malaria parasite. This genetic mutation that may have saved the human race in its earliest days is the sickle cell trait.
The donut-shaped red blood cell gets its distinct shape from the hemoglobin molecule, which serves as rich nutrient for the malaria parasite. The singlecelled protozoan deposits its spores like sowing seeds on black soil. The spores hatch and the young parasites loot chunks of protein from the hemoglobin complex, sucking the red blood cell dry of its nutrients and eventually causing it to disintegrate as the parasitic population overwhelms it.
The sickle cell, by contrast, gets its shape from the mutated hemoglobin S molecule. It is like hard red clay to the spores, with a membrane difficult to penetrate.
MEDICAL NEWS
George Miranda
Additionally, the sickle cell’s membrane is leaky, leeching its nutrients into the bloodstream before the parasite has a chance to absorb them. Finally, the sickle cell dies much faster than a normal red blood cell, robbing the parasite of the time it needs to develop.
Outside of malaria-prone areas, the protective effects of sickle cell become only liabilities. The rigidity of sickle cells causes them to clump together in narrower blood vessels, especially capillaries. While normal red blood cells are pliable and give way to the vessel walls, the sickle cell snags in the vessel and causes a logjam, like driftwood in Hillabee creek after a rainstorm. This “dam” of sickle cells cuts off the blood flow, preventing life-sustaining oxygen from reaching the cells at the end of the capillaries.
This is called a vaso-occlusive event and causes swelling and inflammation in the hands and feet, as well as pain in the chest, back, arms and legs.
SICKLE CELL TRAIT VS SICKLE CELL DISEASE
A person inherits two copies of every gene – one from the father and one from the mother – including the gene that codes for the hemoglobin molecule. When a person inherits one regular copy of the gene (Hemoglobin A) and one aberrant copy (Hemoglobin S), that person is said to carry the sickle cell trait. A person with the sickle cell trait has both normal and sickle red blood cells. Most carriers never suffer symptoms of the disease, but they can pass it down to the next generation. Approximately 100,000 Americans carry the sickle cell trait; specifically, one in 16,000 Hispanics and one out of every 12 African Americans. When a person inherits a mutated hemoglobin gene from both parents, that person develops sickle cell disease. There are several mutations, but the most severe happen when two Hemoglobin S genes are inherited, causing sickle cell anemia. All of the red blood cells are sickle-shaped and die prematurely, causing dizziness and headaches from a lack of oxygen. About 65 percent of persons with sickle cell disease have this more severe form, while the other 35 percent have milder symptoms due to inheriting the Hemoglobin S gene from one parent and another mutated hemoglobin molecule from the other. Pain is the main symptom of sickle cell disease, caused by vaso-occlusive episodes. Anemia is the other major symptom. Less frequent, but serious symptoms include acute chest syndrome, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary emboli and stroke. These are all caused by the stickiness and rigidity of the sickle cells, causing blood to clot in the lungs, in the veins of the arms and legs and in the brain.
TREATING SICKLE CELL DISEASE
When patients have a vaso-occlusive episode, they experience terrible pain. Physicians treat the pain with fluids for hydration and pain medications. Patients with anemia are treated with exchange transfusions, where a unit of sickle cell-tainted blood is replaced with a unit of blood containing regular hemoglobin. We also have a drug, crizanlizumab, which reduces the risk of vaso-occlusive episodes. These only treat the symptoms and do not cure the disease.
The only cure for sickle cell disease is cellular therapy: either through bone marrow transplants or gene therapy. The problem with bone marrow
transplants is finding a suitable marrow donor – an especially difficult task for African American patients. The newest cellular therapy involves introducing normal hemoglobin genes into a patient’s blood stem cells by means of a viral vector. Those genetically manipulated stem cells are reinfused into the patient, whose mutated bone marrow has been ablated with chemotherapy. The new stem cells repopulate the bone marrow spaces and begin generating blood with normal hemoglobin.
In a research experiment carried out in several different hospitals, 35 patients achieved durable remissions of their sickle cell disease with this gene therapy. Two patients developed leukemia, probably from the high dose chemotherapy used to prepare their body to receive the stem cells.
The FDA recently approved the cellular therapy, LentiGlobin (trade name: Casgevy), for patients with sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (a milder form of SCD). The two closest locations offering this therapy are in Nashville and New Orleans.
While this therapy is promising, there are significant barriers to making it available to persons with SCD; especially given the largest population of SCD patients is in Africa.
~ George Miranda is the director of the UAB Medicine –Russell Medical Cancer Center.
Where politics and markets meet
Since 2024 is an election year and campaigns are ramping up, I thought it would be timely to speak about the intersection of politics and markets. Before I get into past returns under different political parties, I believe it’s important to understand what actually drives stock market returns over time.
Those of you who regularly read my articles should know by now I follow closely the teachings of Warren Buffett and the late Charlie Munger. Buffett has used his annual letter to teach his mentality on markets and investing. He also speaks regularly of his teacher, Benjamin Graham, who is famous for saying, “In the short run the stock market is a voting machine, but in the long run it is a weighing machine.”
the short run. Over time, what historically has happened is that earnings and productivity have grown immensely, translating to around 10 percent compounded returns in U.S. stocks over the past 100 years. Over this time period, we have had presidents from different political parties who all have had different ideas on the economy. Some ideas have hurt; and others have helped. The framework for America and capitalism, regardless of who is in power, has given businesses the ability to adapt, move forward, innovate and grow earnings.
MATTERS
Earnings are what drive future growth in the long term. Why else would markets go down in recessions and up in normal growth times? Earnings are financial gravity, no different from a business owner looking to sell or buy a business. The value of that business is by-and-large based on its earnings and prospects for future growth.
Lee Williams
The stock market is very similar to a business. The difference is that stocks are much more liquid and are traded daily. This means a component of emotion and subjectivity comes into daily valuations, hence why Graham in his quote says the stock market is a voting machine in
The chart below shows returns over the last 10 years and 70 years based on whether investments were made under only a Democrat president; only a Republican president; or stayed invested the entire time. The data is pretty clear: the returns are very similar for both but over time, basing investment decisions on a political party is risky.
Tying this all together, it goes back to earnings growth. What happened over these respective 10- and 70-year periods of time? Earnings as a whole grew. It didn’t matter who was the president. It’s easy to get caught up in emotions when investing money. Ultimately, what matters is answering a simple question: in 5, 10, 15, 20 years from now, will society continue to innovate? Will productivity continue to go up? Will the next generation have a better standard of living than today? If the answer is “most likely,” this means there is a strong chance earnings go up. If earnings go up, there is a high probability stock prices follow. If you think society has hit peak earnings, and we will never live a better life than today, chances are stocks will go down. Although, I think history would disagree with you.
~ Lee Williams
Blalock Williams, LLC (Blalock Williams) is a registered investment advisor. Advisory services are only offered to clients 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. You should 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.
1. Dr. Timothy Littmann and Tanya Bruce
2. Roger and Jamie Sailors
3. Tracy and John Robbins and Cheryl Bynum
4. Jamie Hall, Bridgette Thornell and Kristi Hagerty
5. Lexi Oliver and Judith Jager
6. John and Rush McKelvey 7. Kevin and Courtney Hall and Chad Harrison
Thursday, July 25, 2024
Wicker Point Golf and Country Club
1. Kayla White and Jennifer and Keith Koon
2. Joe and Sandra McInnes and Mitt Schroeder
3. Bet Wright and Marcia Davis
4. Carlotto and George Beck
5. Jim and Amanda Floyd
6. Buddy King and Leslie and José Reyes
7. Kayla White and Marianne Russell
8. Greg McElroy, Nancy and John Hodges
OH SNAP! Lake Martin Songwriter's Festival 'Under 20'
Russell Crossroads
1. Jodi Stidfole, Carolyn Rakers, Tammy Mayer, Kelly
Hazelwood and Melita Cobb
2. Brady, Mike and Carolyn Croker
3. Remy Thornton and Payton Natali
4. Kaitlin Cotton and Sandra Fuller
5. Brady and Brandi Patterson
6. Jackie Humphries and Sonia Mendez
7. Olivia, Mia and Shannon Bowlin
Friday, July 12, 2024
Red Hill Community Dance Hall
1. Doug Gorton and Diane Lowe
2. Sheryl and Donnie Beasey and Kay Harper
3. Anita Holley and Betty Coker
4. Paula Castleberry
5. Peggy Jones, Wanda Fisher, Pat Colbert and Margery Renfroe
6. MJ Thurman, Daniel and Delayney Patterson, and Shelby and Autumn Barnette
1. Kerrie Carr, Katie Waldrop, and Ava Franklin
2. Tison, Jean, and Tommy Barganier
3. Cameron Eaton and Paige Patterson
4. Bradley and Brandon Stewart
5. Kim Dunn, Liz Holland, and Bree Walton
Friday, August 2, 2024
The Standard Deluxe,
Waverly
1. Carlos Sanchez and Kyle Kraft
2. Reagen Hawkins
3. Casey Collier and Anja Winikka
4. Ian Klin and Karina Reynolds
5. Kailey Bishop, Rowan Kerr and Anthony Renza
6. Connie Lynn Petruk and Christmas Davis
Calendar
FEATURED EVENT
Dinner is served on the Dadeville Square
Make your reservations early for a new, unique dining experience in downtown Dadeville with Lake Martin Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce as your host. Dinner on the Square Aug. 20 promises a delightful evening sampling five courses from four restaurants on the beautiful courthouse square.
Start with beer and wine refreshments at Zazu’s Verandah. Then, stroll up the street to The Funky Goat for salads and selfies at the Everything’s Art butterfly mural. Painted early last year, Jim Denney’s photography of the mural for the August 2023 cover of Lake Martin Living magazine took third place in the Alabama Press Association’s Magazine Contest.
After your salads and selfies, mosey around the corner and down the block to The Camellia Café for appetizers and ambiance. This upscale casual venue serves a menu that makes lunch an event. Take some time to browse the city’s history in signs, photos and antiques on the walls.
It’s
only a few short steps from there to the main course, music at Miller’s on Broadnax, an outrageously delicious restaurant inside the renovated historic Miller Hotel building. The Miller’s dining experience is brought to you by the former owners of Fusion Grill, who closed their popular establishment on the edge of town to serve an expanded menu here.
But the evening isn’t over when you push your chair from the table at Miller’s on Broadnax. Take a short walk across the street to return to Zazu’s Verandah for dessert and dancing. It’s the perfect way to unwind with friends old and new over a fantastic meal in four beautiful settings.
There will be three seatings for this event, each limited to 50 people. Tickets are $60 online at Eventbrite.com. For menu information, contact Lake Martin Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce at 256-825-4019.
Dining in Dadeville Clockwise from Left: The Camellia Cafe; Miller's on Broadnax; The mural at The Funky Goat.
Aug. 15
Wake Clinic
Get some experienced, professional help developing that new wake trick before the water level drops by signing up for one of the last Russell Marine clinics at River North Marina. Bring your board and life jacket. Group 1 starts at 3:30 p.m. and finishes at 5 p.m. Group 2 starts at 5:30 p.m. and finishes at 7 p.m. Cost is $35 per person, which includes use of the boat and any additional equipment or accessories needed. Call 256-786-2034 or email tdonahoo@russelllands.com to get on the schedule.
Aug. 15
Cover Crops for a Home Garden
Advanced Master Gardener Carole Borowski will present a program about the varieties of cover crops at 11 a.m. at Red Ridge United Methodist Church in Dadeville. The program is free and open to the public.
Aug. 15
Back-to-School Bingo
Main Street Alexander City will host a night of fun with Back-to-School Bingo at The Square in downtown Alexander City from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eight rounds of bingo will be played before the jackpot round. Prizes will be awarded.
Aug. 16
Auburn Bluegrass Band Show
These outstanding bluegrass musicians will perform toe-tapping, soul-touching, captivating melodies of Bluegrass and New Grass music at 6:30 p.m. at Dadeville Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10 at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com.
Aug. 17
Tasjan at Standard Deluxe
Tickets are $30 for this Little House show with special guest Ricki at Standard Deluxe in Waverly. Gates and the bar open at 5 p.m. Supper with butcher paper BBQ will be ready at 5:30 p.m. All seats are general admission, and only 50 tickets will be available. Seating is provided. Purchase tickets at standarddeluxe.com and choose ‘Will Call’ in the shipping information. Event is rain or shine.
Aug. 19
LAKE REGION EVENTS
Fork & Cork Chef’s Dinner
Five-time James Beard semifinalist Chef Rob McDaniel of Helen in Birmingham will host an extraordinary culinary delight to benefit Lake Martin’s Children’s Harbor and The Harbor Family Center in Birmingham. Cocktails at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $500 per person, and dress is smart casual. Purchase tickets at childrensharbor.com/event or email franniemcbrayer@childensharbor.com.
Aug. 22 Wake Clinic
Get some experienced, professional help developing that new wake trick before the water level drops by signing up for one of the last Russell Marine clinics at River North Marina. Bring your board and life jacket. Group 1 starts at 3:30 p.m. and finishes at 5 p.m. Group 2 starts at 5:30 p.m. and finishes at 7 p.m. Cost is $35 per person, which includes use of the boat and any additional equipment or accessories needed. Call 256-786-2034 or email tdonahoo@russelllands.com to get on the schedule.
Aug. 24 & 25
Sister Act Jr.
ACT II will host the children’s version of this feel-good musical comedy at the Benjamin Russell High School Auditorium at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. The play features powerful gospel music by Alan Menken with lyrics by Glenn Slater and a moving script by Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner. No admission fee.
Aug. 30 - 31
Labor Day Music Fest
The Labor Day Music Fest is back for the third year at the Town Green at Russell Crossroads for two nights of completely free, great music. Grab the family, a cooler and a chair and blanket and join in on the fun. There will be lawn games and food trucks with food for purchase. Music begins both nights at 6:30 p.m. and will run until 9:30 p.m. The Bank Walkers and Sweet Tea Trio perform on Friday night, and the Funky Lampshades and Nik Parr & the Selfless Lovers will play Saturday. Find more information online at russelllands.com/blog/events.
Aug. 30 - Sept. 1
Alabama Open
Horseman Association State Show
The biggest horse show in the Southeast will return to Garrett Coliseum and Crawford Arena Labor Day weekend. More than 2,000 entries are expected with some 3,000 spectators throughout the weekend. Keith Dean and Jimmy Avery will coordinate the show. Contact Dean at 334-321-8796 or Avery at 256-794-6566 respectively.
Sept. 1
Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
Black Jacket Symphony will bring Jimmy Buffet’s Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes album to the Lake Martin Amphitheater on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Reserved seating tickets are $49.50, and general seating tickets are $39.50. For concert time and details, visit theamponlakemartin.com.
Sept. 16
Lunch and Learn
Danny Hayes with the Tallapoosee Museum in Dadeville will lead a discussion of Tallapoosa County history from noon to 1 p.m. at Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama, 5030 U.S. Route 280, Alexander City. Bring a sack lunch. VCCA will provide dessert and tea. Call 256-234-0347 or send an email to vcca.al@gmail.com by noon on Thursday, Sept. 12, to reserve a space.
Sept. 19
The Making of a Moon Garden
Advanced Master Gardener Dianna Fortner will review the process and selections in creating a moon garden in a free program open to the public at 11 a.m. at Red Ridge United Methodist Church.
Sept. 19
Cars & Cocktails
Wellborn Musclecar Museum will host this special event from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. to benefit Main Street Alexander City. Tickets are $50 per person and include hors d'oeuvres, raffle items, live music by Bo Jones and live painting with artist Sydne Schuler. There will be a bourbon tasting and a cash bar. Tickets are $50 per person. Visit mainstreetalexandercity.org/events for tickets and details.
LAKE REGION EVENTS
Sept. 23
Lunch and Learn
Dr. Andrew Kerley of Kerley Clinic of Chiropractic will discuss the importance of a healthy spine and a healthy body in this Lunch-and-Learn program hosted by Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama. Bring a sack lunch. VCCA will provide dessert and tea. The program begins at noon at 5030 U.S. Route 280. Call 256-234-0347 or email vcca.al@ gmail.com by Sept. 19 to reserve a space.
Sept. 26
Lake Martin Living Art & Photo Contest
Join Lake Martin Living magazine at Dadeville Performing Arts Center for a champagne reception to showcase local artists and photographers. Proceeds benefit DPAC. Tickets to the reception are $20 and are available at the Tallapoosa Publishers office at 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City. Artists and photographers may enter up to three pieces of work at $25 each. Every entry includes a ticket to the reception. More than $1,000 in prizes will be awarded. There will be food, champagne, live music and door prizes. See the article on page 14 for entry and reception details.
Sept. 26 - 29
Women’s
Wellness Weekend
Join The Destination Glamping Resort at 1474 Agricola Road in Dadeville for a women-only event encompassing wellness, pampering, self-care and fun. Lodging, meals, wellness treatments and activities are included. Visit tbsc.com or call 615-477-9813 for pricing and reservation details.
Sept. 30
Lunch and Learn
That’s Deductible!
Kathy Lewis and Barbara Willis with the Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama tax programs will discuss income tax deductibles. Participants will receive a deductible form to use when preparing their next year’s taxes. Bring a sack lunch. VCCA will provide dessert and tea. To reserve a space, email vcca.al@gmail.com or call 256-234-0347 by Sept. 26.
Season-long Events
Farmers Market
The Alexander City Farmers Market will move to Calhoun Street downtown this summer. Arrive early as the market is open only from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., and you want to be sure to have the pick of the best locally grown produce and other artisan goods offered every Saturday through September. For more information, contact Main Street Alexander City at 256-307-3949.
LMYP Game Night
Every third Thursday of the month, grab your crew and meet at The Local at 41 Main in downtown Alexander City from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. for games, laughs and exclusive LMYP drink specials. It’s free to play, and the grand prize is always $50. Visit the Lake Martin Young Professionals Facebook page for more information.
Friday On The Green
Every Friday night all summer long, Russell Lands hosts free music and lawn games on the Town Green at Russell Crossroads from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bring blankets, lawn chairs, coolers, kids and the pup on a leash to kick off your weekend.
Elementary Musical Theatre
Now through Dec. 15, Dadeville Performing Arts will host afterschool singing, dancing and acting workshops every Monday from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for third through sixth grade students. Text 256-749-7932 or email elaine.balint@gmail.com. Find enrollment and permission forms at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com/ Classes. No fees for Tallapoosa County children.
Lake Martin Civitan Club
The Lake Martin Civitan Club meets at noon in the private room at JR’s Grill, 145 Alabama Street, Alexander City, on the second Thursday of each month. For more information, call Audrey Moore at 256-786-0465.
Artists Association of Central Alabama
AACA artists meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Senior Center on the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex grounds with a general meeting followed by open studio. Club dues are $20 for the year.
Yoga on the Green
Bring your mat, water and a towel to the Town Green at Russell Crossroads at 7 a.m. every Saturday through Sept. 28 to start your day at the lake well. Certified instructors are provided by Russell Lands for this free event.
Wellborn Musclecar Museum
The Wellborn Musclecar Museum collection of great American automobiles of the 1960s and 1970s is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The inventory changes frequently, so every visit includes something new. Admission for adults is $11; children ages 7 to 17 admitted for $7, and children ages 6 and under are admitted for free. To arrange discounted group tours or private tours, email wellbornmusclecarmuseum@gmail.com or call 256-329-8474.
Music in the Air
Come out to Zazu’s Verandah on the beautiful courthouse square in Dadeville from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. every Thursday for an evening of music, meeting friends and enjoying the community. Beverages will be for sale at Zazu’s, but the music is free. Please tip the musicians.
Clean Community Partnership Cleanups
Pick up trash in Alexander City to win money for your favorite charity. Volunteers meet at Strand Park at 8:30 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month to pick up supplies and area assignments and help clean up the roads within Alexander City. Turn in your collected trash and get points for each person on your cleanup team and each bag of trash you collect. The team with the most points gets a $500 check made out to the nonprofit charity of their choice. Second place is $200, and third place is $200. For more information, contact Michelle West at 256-786-0584 or
John Thompson at 334-399-3289.
In Dadeville, a monthly cleanup is held on the second Saturday of the month, and volunteers can pick up sanitized pickers and bags at 8 a.m. at Dadeville City Hall. There also will be a trash bag drop-off on site. Contact Mickey Forbus at 334-329-0905.
Fourth Fridays at EPAC
The Equality Performing Arts Center hosts music and other events on the fourth Friday nights of each month at 6:30 p.m. on state Route 9 in Equality. Visit the Equality Performing Arts Center Facebook page for a schedule of upcoming artists.
Children’s Harbor Treasures and Thrift Store
Located on state Route 63 just south of Lake Martin Amphitheater, the Children’s Harbor Thrift Store is open Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Proceeds help to fund activities at Lake Martin’s Children’s Harbor and the Family Center at Children’s Hospital. For more information, call 334-857-2008.
Real Island Supper
The Real Island community hosts a covered dish supper every third Friday of the month at the Real Island Volunteer Fire Department and Community Room, 1495 Real Island Rd., Equality. Everyone is welcome. Admission is $3 per adult; bring a covered dish to share. Some nights are themed, so call ahead to find out if costumes or certain types of food are in order. For more information, contact Dianne Perrett at 256-329-8724.
Naturalist Presentations and Guided Nature Tours
Come see Naturalist Marianne and her lively nature presentations at the Naturalist Cabin at Russell Crossroads. There is never a dull moment with this wildlife biologist as she educates on the beauty of nature. Check the calendar at RussellLands.com/blog/events for the scheduled subject matter, dates and times.
SUMMERTIME IS A SPECIAL TIME, IS YOUR HEART HEALTHY?
Summertime means time on the water, time away from work, and more time with family and friends.
Make sure your heart is healthy and ready for the season with an appointment at the UAB Heart & Vascular Clinic at Russell Medical.
Kevin Sublett, MD, is board-certified in cardiovascular care and offers the latest in prevention, testing, and treatment for keeping your heart healthy.
Our clinic is backed by the knowledge and expertise of UAB Medicine, including:
• Advanced ultrasound testing
• Nuclear medicine imaging in fully accredited labs
• Management of cardiac rhythm disorders
• Interventional cardiology care
Our expanded clinical team is ready to serve you. Schedule a visit today by calling 256-234-2644.
Explore
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 Vet Care 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
Creekside Lodge 256-307-1440
Red Ridge UMC 256-825-9820
Lake Pointe Baptist Church 256-373-3293
Lake Martin Dock Company, Inc 334-857-2443
Docks Unlimited LLC 256-203-8400
Dixie Sailing Club
Lakeshore Pharmacy 256-825-0063
Momentum Marine at Lake Martin 256-825-9286
Spencer Heating and Air at Lake Martin 256-373-3165
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ALEXANDER CITY
Robinson Iron
A & M Plumbing
Carlos
The Body Shop
Walgreens
Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.
Jake's
Moore Wealth Management
Carlisle's
Emporium Wine
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
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
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
We're not in Kansas anymore...
Iwas 10 when the original Twister movie showed at Playhouse Cinemas. It was thrilling, scary and adventurous. Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton and their storm-chasing team captivated my mind and heart as they defied death again and again – all in the name of science. I quote from the movie all the time: “I gotta go, Julia, we got cows.”
I love our sweet little movie theater. Not much has changed about the lobby, and I love that the most. There is something about the smell of buttery popcorn that takes me back to the ’90s, and I still rush to get seated to not miss the previews. I always buy M&Ms to dump into my popcorn and try to not drink too much so I don’t have to get up to go to the bathroom, like a professional theater-goer.
Culture Shock
I have enjoyed the Olympics so much this year. Some of the moments have been truly amazing; such as when Noah Lyles won the 100m. I cried when he hugged his mom. But despite the marvels of the Olympics, the true highlight of my summer was going to Playhouse Cinema to watch Twisters the night it released.
Little-known fact about myself: I have a lifelong fascination with tornadoes. As a child, I would put on The Wizard of Oz, sit in my teal beanbag with an ice cream bar, and watch only the first 20 minutes of the movie, where the tornado picks up both Dorothy and her house and drops them in the land of Oz. I was mesmerized by the black, winding cyclone made more fierce in black-and-white film. From there, I went on to watch documentaries about storm chasers and famous storms that tore through the flat landscapes of the Great Plains.
I probably rewatch at least three times a year. It is like my security blanket. It never gets old, and it makes me feel good. There was a great article about the movie in The New York Times, and it was nice to know I’m not alone in my fandom. There are others who binge watch it as well. And how could they not? The movie is timeless. Even the 1996-era special effects still hold up.
I’m not going to give away the plot, but the newlyreleased Twisters is not a true sequel. That was probably a good move, because none of the original actors are in it. Bill Paxton and Phillip Seymour Hoffman have both sadly passed away. The only nod to the original is the red Ram truck and a glimpse of an old Dorothy, the instrument used to measure tornados. I would have loved a small Helen Hunt cameo, or even just a mention of her.
But the trick is to not get too caught up in comparing sequels to the original. Glen Powell and his cowboy hat are a solid duo, and the movie’s soundtrack is solid. My professional review is: I loved it, and Twisters really stood on its own. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and along with the original, this movie will be on my annual rewatch list.
Our area is no stranger to extreme weather. We have had more than our fair share of tornados and straight line windstorms. We may have all the weather apps in the world, but no one can control the weather. All we can do is respect and prepare for it. If you have never seen Twister and you need to beat the heat one afternoon, I hope you stream it and pop some popcorn. You won’t regret it.
~ Lacey Howell is a recovering English major from Auburn who now lives on Lake Martin, sells real estate, rides horses and loves good wine. Follow her on Instagram @LaceyHowell.
Lacey Howell
