Lake Martin Living October 2023

Lake Martin Living People, events and culture in the Lake Region

Annual Art & Photo Contest Winners

Pinhoti Fest UAB's Four Sisters Beautiful Mums

October 2023

www.lakemagazine.life/lakemartinliving

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From the Editor’s Desk

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ongratulations to all of the entering artists in this year’s Lake Martin Living Art & Photo Contest.

This year’s live event had a phenomenal turnout with 103 submitted works of art by 60 artists and photographers.

There were over 150 people in attendance at the exhibit and reception at Dadeville Performing Arts Center on Sept. 28.

This year’s event was a fundraiser for DPAC, and all of us at TPI are thrilled with the community support and success of the contest and the reception. While we don’t have room in this issue to feature every entry, we have showcased at least one of each artist’s entries in the article on page 22, where you also can find out how much money was raised for DPAC and who won the ribbons in 2023.

Also in this issue, we wandered north to Sylacauga last month and were delighted to come across the Second Annual Pinhoti Fest, a celebration to kick off hiking season on the Pinhoti Trail. Right there in the center of town, Noble Park was dotted with tents as campers took up residence for the weekend event.

Pinhoti Fest drew vendors from around the country, as well as hikers eager to see the latest in gear and goods for the trail.

Check out this year’s event on page 38 and make plans to attend next year on the last full weekend of September.

Fall foods are some of the best, and Good Eats columnist Gina Abernathy kicks off the season with the most scrumptious and aromatic of breakfast treats – cinnamon pecan sticky buns.

Learn to make them on page 14.

And, as October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, George Miranda introduces us to four women who lead the charge on our homefront at UAB Medicine – Russell Medical Cancer Center. Meet the four sisters surgery team on page 40.

It’s time for fall festivals, and you’ll find a few to attend on the calendar pages in this issue of Lake Martin Living magazine.

Also in those calendar pages, you’ll find some information about taking part in Pennington Park’s annual holiday display.

Just to be clear, I’m truly not pushing one season upon us even before the emerging fall season has begun, but it does take planning and effort to make our favorite Christmas season events successful. Now is the time to prepare the wonderland of Pennington Park at Christmas, and it takes many hearts and hands to do so. That’s why you’ll find Christmas is the subject of this month’s Featured Calendar Event on page 48.

Enjoy the season!

Betsy Iler, Editor-in-Chief

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Lake Martin Living Chairman Kenneth Boone

General Manager Tippy Hunter Editor-in-Chief Betsy Iler Creative Services Audra Spears Business & Digital Development Director Angela Mullins Contributors Kenneth Boone Ben Smith Lacey Howell Lucy Edwards George Miranda Lee Williams Gina Abernathy Audra Spears Cliff Williams Abigail Murphy Henry Zimmer William Marlow Erin Chesnutt Lizi Arbogast Gwin Audience Development Director Samantha Himes Marketing/Advertising Sales Renee Trice Sheryl Jennings Hidey Arrington Melody Rathel Rachel Hubbard Lake Martin Living P.O. Box 999 Alexander City, AL 35011 256-234-4281 www.lakemagazine.life/lakemartinliving

Lake Martin Living is published monthly by Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. All contents are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. Reader correspondence and submissions are welcome. Please address all correspondence, including story ideas, letters, pictures and requests, to: Editor, Lake Martin Living, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011 or email editor@lakemartinmagazine.com.

Advertising inquiries may be made by calling 256-234-4281. A limited number of free copies are available at local businesses and subscriptions are $25 annually.

Lake Martin Living 5

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Jim Denney took first place in the photography category of Lake Martin Living magazine’s annual art and photography contest with his photo of a bald eagle on a rock in Lake Martin. Contest judge Kenneth Boone said it was a lucky shot, even for a skilled photographer with the right gear.

Photo by Kenneth Boone

FEATURES 22. AND THE WINNERS ARE ...

Each entering artist in this year's Lake Martin Living Art & Photo Contest are featured, along with the 2023 winners in each category.

38. GEAR UP AND GO! Sylacauga hosts a unique Pinhoti Trail hiking season kick-off at Noble Park.

IN EVERY ISSUE 9. AROUND THE AREA 10. GO LOCAL 14. GOOD EATS 18. GARDEN TALK 40. MEDICAL NEWS 42. MONEY MATTERS 44. OH SNAP! 48. LAKE REGION EVENTS 58. CULTURE SHOCK

22

Gatlin Brown's high-saturation pine photograph was displayed along with 102 other entries at this year's Lake Martin Living Art & Photo Contest exhibit to benefit Dadeville Performing Arts Center.

Photo by Kenneth Boone

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AROUND THE AREA

Community funds new fire station The Coosa County community raised more than $150,000 for a new fire station.

The Equality area’s second fire station was built from the ground up by donations from Coosa County residents, Equality VFD board vice president Burt Coffman said.

“It’s totally funded by the people that live down on County Road 20,” said Coffman.

Residents donated $164,000 toward building the new station. Previously, the area was classified as a “no fire coverage” area by the Insurance Services Office.

“The idea behind it was to get a station closer to their

Residents Go Above and Beyond for New Station

The new station was built entirely through the fundraising efforts of the people it serves.

residents to help them with their ISO rating, so that should change their insurance premiums drastically,” Coffman said.

“The trucks will be closer to the residents, and we can get to them quicker.”

There is more construction to be done, said Coffman, but the station is functional. The department is still looking for additional funds to complete the station.

Coffman said that when construction is finished, the department hopes to expand from 15 to 25 volunteers. ~ William Marlow

Life Lessons 101 Marcell Burns is a teacher at Radney Elementary and a wide receivers coach for Benjamin Russell High School football. Now, he's educating fifth and sixth graders in Alexander City on important life skills.

“I have seen that some of these boys don’t have the guidance,” Burns said. “Boys To Men is empowering young men to become successful young gentlemen.”

Burns started the Boys To Men program as a way to foster healthy habits in young boys who may not have a male role model in their lives.

The Boys To Men program will be taught by Burns using PowerPoints and lessons on topics such as hygiene, manners and conflict resolution.

The teachings may seem intuitive to most adults, but Burns says that children don't always understand these things right off the bat.

“Most of our boys come out of single parent homes,” Burns said. “Most of these boys don’t hear this stuff, or the parents don’t have a chance to discuss some of the basic needs of our young men."

It’s possible many of the kids in Burns’ first class will be the future Benjamin Russell student-athletes of tomorrow.

But before they ever touch the field or the classroom, Burns wants to make sure his boys are prepared for life. ~Henry Zimmer

Tallapoosa County Schools Receives National Recognition

Tallapoosa County Superintendent Ray Porter was presented with the National Beta District of Distinction Award on behalf of the school district, one of only 42 districts to receive this award nationwide.

~Abigail Murphy

Lake Martin Living 9

David Fuller Seafood STORY BY ERIN CHESNUTT

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avid Fuller began purveying and transporting special order Gulf Coast seafood for clients in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2019. Fuller grew up in Dadeville, and he knew that the Lake Martin town was the perfect place for his seasonal pop-up business to flourish.

An entrepreneur at heart, Fuller owned a boutique talent agency in Nashville, but when Covid severely restricted the entertainment industry in 2020, he decided to dedicate his time to the seafood business. His 30 years of experience in the food and beverage industry were just what he needed to launch David Fuller Seafood.

“We decided to make a social media post that we were bringing a load of fresh seafood to

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Lake Martin in our custom designed refrigerated retail trailer,” said Fuller. “We had no idea what to expect because of the lock down, but when we pulled in, there were 20 cars waiting for us. And we haven’t looked back.”

The success of the mobile business prompted Fuller to expand into a Dadeville storefront in 2021. Because the business is seasonal, customers can keep up with openings on social media.

O orders can be placed through the website at davidfullerseafood.com.

“We start our social media marketing campaigns two weeks ahead of the delivery date,” said Fuller. “Pre-orders are not mandatory but recommended to guarantee inventory.”

Walk-in customers are welcome, and the store

GO LOCAL

stays open until everything is sold.

Because the business does not have traditional hours, Fuller has made sure his customers have options available to enjoy his seafood when the store is closed. Customers can find David Fuller Seafood frozen seven days a week across the street at the Holiday Shores Grocery and at the popular Oskars Restaurant in Blue Creek.

Fuller caters parties and special events as well.

With the addition of the store on County Road 34, he offers in-house boiling and sometimes rents the location out as an event space. His mobile unit is available to deliver seasonal favorites for events such as crawfish boils and oyster bars. Fuller will put everything together and source the chef and

staff to cater events at homes or businesses.

David Fuller Seafood transitions seasonally, starting with spring crawfish, and is popular during football season and through the holidays with fresh gumbo. He also offers options to stock your freezer.

Fuller attended Dadeville High School and Jacksonville State University before serving in the U.S. Army. During his service, he was assigned to the 82nd Airbourne Division as a paratrooper. His wife, Chelsea Rothschild Fuller, is a clinical health psychologist serving veterans at the Tennessee Valley VA as the director of primary care mental health integration.

The couple splits their time between homes in Nashville and Lake Martin.

Lake Martin Living 11

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Cinnamon Pecan St icky Buns

A Gooey, Delicious Indulgence

Lake Martin Living 15

W

eekends are a little slice of heaven when we can slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures in life. That’s when alarm clocks are silenced, and days begin with no rush. The world seems quieter, and time moves at a slower pace, inviting us to enjoy these moments. Whether spending time with family, reading a good book or savoring a warm, gooey bite of Pecan Sticky Buns, these times remind us to rejoice in life’s pleasures.

As you leisurely enjoy those weekend mornings, there’s something delightful about the aroma of freshly baked goods drifting from the kitchen. These buns will fill your home with a warm, inviting fragrance that sets a cozy and comforting tone for the day ahead, making every weekend morning feel like a special occasion.

These Cinnamon Pecan Sticky Buns are a delightful treat that brings together the irresistible trio of gooey caramel, crunchy pecans and tender cinnamon rolls, full of flavors and textures that leave you Gina Abernathy craving the next delectable bite.

Weekends are meant for relaxation, and these buns deliver indulgence with little kitchen work. You can enjoy this delicious breakfast without waiting hours for the dough to rise, thanks to canned cinnamon rolls as a shortcut. It’s a nice balance of convenience and deliciousness freeing you up for what truly matters.

The world outside may be bustling, but within the walls of your home, it’s a time of relaxation and tasty delights. Whether enjoying sticky buns with loved ones around the table or indulging in a moment of quiet, these treats are a reminder that the simplest pleasures in life often are the most delicious. So, indulge yourself and those you cherish, and let the magic of these buns transform your weekend mornings into moments of pure delight.

GOOD EATS

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

Cinnamon Pecan Sticky Buns Ingredients

1/2 cup salted butter 1 cup brown sugar, packed 1/4 cup corn syrup 1/4 cup heavy cream 2 cups pecans, coarsely chopped 2 cans cinnamon rolls, 8 rolls each can

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a deep 9-inch by 13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add brown sugar and corn syrup and stir until boiling. Boil for one minute, stirring. Remove from heat and stir in heavy cream. Pour into bottom of prepared pan.

Top with pecans. Place cinnamon rolls on top of pecans. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

To remove from pan, invert the entire pan onto a platter (Be careful! These rolls are very hot!) or remove the rolls individually.

Serve rolls bottom-side-up. These rolls are best served on the same day they are baked but can be covered and stored on the counter for up to three days.

Reheat leftovers in the microwave for a few seconds until warm.

Recipe Tips

● Before you begin, make sure all of your

ingredients are ready.

● Use a 9-inch by 13-inch deep baking pan

to prevent the caramel from boiling over.

● Evenly spread the caramel pecan

topping in the bottom of the baking pan.

● Remove the rolls immediately after

baking, before the caramel begins to set, making it difficult to get them out of the pan.

16 Lake Martin Living

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Lake Martin Living 17

Beautiful Mums The colorful flowers of autumn

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M

any people associate garden chrysanthemums, or mums, with the beginning of autumn. Soon, these floral features will occupy garden centers and front porches around the country.

To ensure that every mum has the best longevity possible, let’s start with the basics.

Chrysanthemum Basics

In America, there are two main categories of mums: floral and garden.

Floral mums are typically grown indoors and are sold by florists for arrangements.

Garden mums are found in garden centers during the fall or in seed catalogs for landscaping.

Both floral and garden mums contain a variety of flower types. Blooms are classified according to shape and petal arrangement. The two most common types are “single” (daisy mums) and “decorative” (flower mums). Popular colors of this species include white, bronze, yellow, red, coral, pink and lavender.

There are many ways to display mums for the fall: Keep them in their original containers for décor, replant in larger containers or plant directly into the soil.

Keep in mind that mums require moist, welldraining soil with six hours or more of daily sunlight.

If up-potting into another container, make sure the new pot is at least an inch larger on all sides.

When replanting, whether in a pot or in-ground, don’t plant too deep – plant Lucy Edwards mums at the same depth as the size of their original containers. It’s better to plant too shallow than too deep.

A commonly forgotten practice with mums is dividing their shoots. Pinching new growth prevents long, spindly blooms

GARDEN TALK

Lake Martin Living 19

and allows for more blooms across the entire plant.

Deadheading the spent flowers also aids in maintaining appearance through the fall.

Choosing the Right Mum

Choosing the best mum is one of the most important aspects of caring for mums. There are a few characteristics to look for when choosing the right plant at a garden center.

Buy mums when the blooms are not yet fully open. It can be tempting to grab the largest, fully-blooming plant, but choosing one with blooms not quite open will allow for a longer bloom time.

Always check a chrysanthemum for insects and diseases. Be on the lookout for powdery mildew. Fungal infection occurs quickly on dry plant surfaces at mild temperatures and at a relative humidity of at least 95 percent. The characteristic cottony patches are usually seen within a few days after infection. To control mildew, remove all infected leaves and treat the mum with an appropriately labeled fungicide.

Water is Imperative

Mums rely heavily on adequate watering, especially in dry or hot conditions. This is probably the most common mistake when growing mums.

It is easy to assume the plant is fine. Too often, cooler temperatures lead to neglect in watering, especially if there have been a few afternoon rain showers. Before long, 20 Lake Martin Living

Mums the Word

Previous Pages: Mums are a fovorite decorating element for fall gardens and porches. Clockwise from Above: This fall favorite is available in a wide array of colors and sizes; Full flower mums are called "decorative;" Daisy mums are classified as "single."

there’s a dead plant on the front porch.

To remedy dry soil, daily measurements of soil moisture should be routine. Feel the soil each morning to the depth of 1 inch. If the soil is moist, wait 24 hours and measure it again. If it feels dry, be sure to soak the soil thoroughly.

Some people may have a difficult time regularly measuring water retention. In that case, plant mums in a container with a reservoir at the bottom. A saucer also could be added to collect water. These provisions could help extend watering intervals.

Consider a mass planting of one color for a landscape statement that will have the neighborhood talking.

Mums are an autumn staple for many decorators and horticultural enthusiasts. Be sure to share these tips with neighbors, friends and family to ensure that everyone’s porches and landscapes remain colorful.

For help on other home and garden questions, contact your local county Extension office or visit aces.edu. ~ Lucy Edwards is the County Extension Coordinator for Chilton County.

Lake Martin Living 21

Lake Mart in Living

Art & Photo Contest STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS, AUDRA SPEARS & KENNETH BOONE

M

ore than 150 people attended the Lake Martin Living Art & Photo Contest reception Sept. 28, raising over $1000 for Dadeville Performing Arts Center while celebrating more than 60 local artists who entered a total of 103 pieces.

The winners of this year’s contest include local photographer Jim Denney and artist Mark Mortensen.

Denney’s photo of a bald eagle on a rock in Lake Martin took first place in the photography category, and Mortensen’s impressionistic oil painting of a cottage in a field of flowers won the blue ribbon in art.

“Beautiful light, beautiful background,” photography judge Kenneth Boone said of Denney’s submission. “This portrait ... is just stunning, and it required a lot of good luck and planning to be at the right place at the right time.”

Art judge Dorothy Littleton of Tallapoosa School of

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Art in Dadeville found the values of light and dark in Mortensen’s work compelling.

“The color harmony and the artist’s skillful use of loose brushwork are just a couple of nice aspects that drew me to this tranquil scene,” Littleton said. “It’s peaceful. That’s difficult to render, but the artist has made it look easy.”

Dawn Davis’ portrait of a cow took second place in art this year. Littleton was impressed with the artist’s use of light and soft edges to create the whimsical, cheerful subject. For third place, Littleton chose Mimi Amerson’s blue crab.

“Many people have painted the blue crab on a square surface with the viewer looking down on top of the subject. This artist has taken a unique approach to depicting this complicated subject, using a narrow, wide surface to bring the viewer at eye level, face to face with the beautifully colored crustacean,” she said.

Littleton also offered two honorable mentions – one

For the Arts

Left: The Lake Martin Livng Art & Photo Contest reception was standing room only at the Dadeville Perfomring Arts Center; Above: Tippy Hunter (center) and Betsy Iler (right) present a donation to Dadeville Performing Arts Center Director Kim Walls.

to Sandra Doyle for a mixed media work on metal incorporating a picket fence frame; and Jim Denney’s egret in flight on a large canvas.

“From the white picket fence frame to the meticulously represented musical score and paintings of heirloom tomatoes, okra and peppers, this artist has brought an old tune to life as a visual statement about the things that money can’t buy,” she said.

“The snowy egret impressed me with its anatomical accuracy, skillful use of hard and soft edges and employment of a tonalist style to keep the values in the cool whites and grays close throughout the painting,” Littleton said.

Kyle Thornton took second place in the photography category with a honeybee approaching a sunflower.

Boone said it was a gorgeous image, perfectly cropped.

“The sunflower center is crisp, but the use of a wide aperture to blur the petals and background gives it a dreamy feel that pairs well with blurred honeybee. This image just makes you smile,” he said.

Adrienne Gaines took third place with a crisp image of a wave crashing on a Gulf beach.

“The line of waves breaking on a beach and the line of dynamic white clouds do a great job of capturing the reason so many people like looking out at a beach,” Boone said. “There’s lots going on in this seascape. I especially like the crisp breaking waves, the white reflections of the clouds in the sea and the fact the photo really only contains three colors in various shades: blue, white and gray.”

John Denney’s Milky Way photograph received an honorable mention from Boone, who said capturing stars and a local foreground requires lots of planning, the right gear and skill.

“This is a nice image that does a good job of capturing the Milky Way while keeping the silhouette of the sailboat in the water sharp. It would have placed higher if the image was less noisy and the lake was brighter to make the boat stand out even more,” he said.

Attendees at the event selected Mimi Amerson’s colorful great blue heron for the People’s Choice Award winner.

The reception, hosted at Dadeville Performing Arts Center by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., with presenting sponsors Everything’s Art and Pennington Park, was standing room only. Suzanne Scholz provided music throughout the exhibit, which featured a display of all entries in this year’s contest and included wine and an 8-foot charcuterie board by Mrs. P’s.

Additional sponsors included Oskar’s, The Mitchell House, Brooke Bartol, Tallapoosa County Tourism, Waymon Williams at Gunn Homes and Land, Alex City Arts, Karen Jennings and Picket Fence in Alexander City.

In security was provided by Dadeville Police officers and other event assistance was provided by Alexander City Schools, The Funky Goat, Kenneth Boone, Dorothy Littleton, Lake Martin Area United Way, Alexander City Theatre II, Market 34, Megan Mullins Photography, Kurt and Leigh Pfitzner, DPAC Director Kim Walls and the DPAC Board of Directors.

Lake Martin Living 23

Award Winning

Clockwise from above: Second place photo, Kyle Thornton; First place photo, Jim Denney; First Place art, Mark Mortensen; Second Place art, Dawn Davis; Third Place photo, Adrienne Gaines

24 Lake Martin Living

Award Winning

Clockwise from below: Honorable Mention art, Jim Denney, Honorable Mention photo, John Denney, People's Choice Winner, Mimi Amerson, Honorable Mention art, Sandra B. Doyle; Thrid Place art, Mimi Amerson

Lake Martin Living 25

Art & Photo Entries

Clockwise from above: Boathouse painting by Linda Pierce; Tallapoosa Red Eye Bass by Greg Shelton; Man on porch painting by Sandy Bishop; Green abstract painting by Parker Ewing; Petals on water photo by Zana McWhorter; Sand Island painting by Margaret Teague

26 Lake Martin Living

Art and Photo Entries

Clockwise from left: Man in sunglasses painting by Sharon Evers; Fighting birds photo by James Harrelson; Paris the dog painted

by Patti Smith; Boathouse sunet photo by Carrol Riddle; Woods watercolor by Mickey Miller; Red Tractor photo by Linda Brock

Lake Martin Living 27

Art & Photo Entries

Clockwise from top: Boat riding dog painting by Abigail Garner; Tornado photo by Morgan Kohn; Purple flowers in vase painting by Kennedi Tuck; Boat houses painted

by Mary Timberlake; Be a Light painted by Sarah Montgomery; Lady going fishing painting by Darla Sasser

28 Lake Martin Living

Art & Photo Entries

Clockwise from above: New Hope Church by Lana Scott; Bridge over Manoy photo by Pam Patterson; Kids on dock photo by Debbie Blackmon; Sunrise through sunglasses photo by Tena Hawkins; Girl underwater painting by Avery Sharp

Lake Martin Living 29

Art & Photo Entries

Clockwise from above: Hummingbird painting

by Donna Cantrell; Impressionist shoreline

by Joanne Staley; Lake Martin, AL painting

by Sydne Schuler; Chimney Rock by Steve Pemberton; Children's Harbor sunset photo by Tasha Dawkins

30 Lake Martin Living

Art & Photo Entries

Clockwise from below: Mine by Gabby Garner; Bald Eagle painting by Nita Klosowsky; Quiet Place by Debra Davis; Frenchie by Casie Fairley; Multi media trees by Lynda Thurlow

Lake Martin Living 31

Art & Photo Entries

Clockwise from above: Martin Dam powerhouse photo by Bob Collins; Red fox painting by Scott Staley; Children jumping off dock by Cathy Delionback; Trees graphic illustration by Urijah Thomas; Rabbit drawing by Finch Allen; Colorful lake sunset by Johnny Spears

32 Lake Martin Living

Art & Photo Entries

Clockwise from below: Waterfall photo

by Charles Hammet; Dog on boat by Lee Mapp Jr.; Row boat by Kay Fincher; Mallard ducks photo by Diana Willis; Stained glass cat by Sarah Jones; Barn by Greg Blackmon

Lake Martin Living 33

Art & Photo Entries

Clockwise from above: Lake shoreline painting by Paris Martinez Alvarado; Multi color abstract painting by Tammi Montgomery; Photo of driftwood statue

by Norman Greene; Mushroom photo by Susan Holdridge; Canoeing photo printed on cowhide by Gary Oliver; Multi color illustration of lake shoreline by Markeelias Johnson

34 Lake Martin Living

Art & Photo Entries

Clockwise from below: Bird Dog painting by Elaine Western; Hummingbirds at dawn photo by Phillip Simpson; Gloomy Dock photo by Jamie Clark;Owl at night painting by John Denny; High saturation pine tree photo by Gatlin Browen

Lake Martin Living 35

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Lake Martin Living 37

Gear up and go!

STORY & PHOTOS BY BETSY ILER

H

ikers from around the country descended upon Sylacauga last month for the Second Annual Pinhoti Fest, a hiking season kick-off celebration and expo in the Pinhoti Trail town’s Noble Park.

An estimated 2,000 hikers attended this year’s weekend-long event, with more than 200 camping overnight at the park, said Pinhoti Fest organizer Kimm Wright.

Wright is a founder of Pinhoti Experience Foundation and serves as the foundation’s executive director. She and her husband, Nathan, own Pinhoti Outdoor Center, a hiking hostel near State Route 150 on U.S. 280, where hikers, paddlers, cyclists and runners can spend the night and access a trail shuttle and find planning support for the area’s outdoor recreation destinations. Shortly after the couple opened

38 Lake Martin Living

the hostel center in 2019, local business leaders encouraged Wright to host an event that would draw outdoor tourism to the area.

Pinhoti Experience Foundation promotes outdoor education through in-person and virtual classrooms, school partnerships and events that focus on hiker safety and preparedness, trail maintenance and sustainability and the principles of the leave-no-trace conservation effort. The foundation also serves as an advocate for tourism in the trail towns and communities along the Pinhoti Trail, a connector trail for the extensive Appalachian Trail.

At pinhotiexperience.org, hikers can find services, water access, trail information and local landmark information in the various sections of the trail. They also can find information about area hiking events, such as Pinhoti Fest.

Prepping for Hiking Season

Clockwise from Above: More than 200 campers set up tents in Noble Park: Nathan and Kimm Wright; Some 30 industry vendors were in attendance; Vendors displayed the latest gear; Speakers discussed equipment innovations.

“Hikers come for the community, for the talks on new gear, hiking safety and the opportunity to purchase gear from vendors,” Wright said. “It took a couple of years to build relationships with local restaurants and with vendors coming in, but now local businesses are offering discounts to people who are in town for the event.”

Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Laura Strickland said tools are now in place to track spending from the event and gather sales tax revenue data.

“We work in partnership with other trail towns on the Pinhoti Trail,” Strickland said. “For example, Heflin offers a certificate for anyone who finishes the Pinhoti Trail, but to get the certificate, you have to register at Sylacauga.”

Glenn Alligood said he came from North Carolina for the three-day event, where he set up a tent in the park. In addition to hiking the local Flagg Mountain trails, he browsed the booths of more than 30 industry vendors, heard knowledgeable speakers and connected with friends in the hiking community.

“We had dinner at Pizza and Pints one night and lunch at Milo’s in town,” Alligood said.

Local trail runner and hiker Laurie Wilbanks said this year’s event drew more outdoor tourists

than last year.

“It’s great to see how supportive the community is of the Pinhoti Trail,” she said.

Chris Tomlin of Pell City noted that added tourism traffic on the trail has led to safety improvements.

“It used to be easy to get lost, but the trail maintenance is good now,” he said.

Strickland said she hopes to see the event grow year after year.

“We love these visitors,” she said. “And we want to give them the best experience here possible.”

Lake Martin Living 39

MEDICAL NEWS

Meet the Four Sisters team

T

his is a story about four sisters: Helen, Catherine, shared passions is reducing disparities in health care.

Minority women have a more difficult time accessing Rachael and Lily. high quality cancer care, as do women in rural areas.

All four women wanted to change the world So, the four sisters bring academic medicine to our when they grew up. All four worked hard to community hospital. For those of us who are well realize their dreams. The road was not easy, but all four insured, they provide the convenience of high quality persevered. breast care in our backyard, saving us the drive to Helen and Rachael went to school in Birmingham.

Birmingham. But for those in our community who are But to further pursue their dreams, Helen left for under insured – who are living paycheck to paycheck Chicago and Rachael went to San Francisco. Catherine and cannot afford the time off work or the cost of went to LSU, and then to Houston. Lily grew up in transportation to Birmingham – the sisters provide New York and went to school in the city, and then to lifesaving care these Israel and Boston and, women might otherwise finally, Duke University. have forgone.

Eventually, the road led Dr. Gutnik’s passion back to Birmingham for for knocking down the all four sisters. walls between women You might have and breast care takes guessed that these her regularly to Africa, women are not sisters by where she initiated blood. It is their passion several programs to that binds them together. train lay women to Helen Krontiras, perform breast exams Catherine Palmer, and to teach others how Rachael Lancaster to examine their own and Lily Gutnik are all breasts. breast surgeons at the Dr. Krontiras University of Alabama in funnels her passion for Birmingham. improving the quality of Dr. Krontiras is the care by serving on state director of the division and national committees of breast and endocrine that set standards of care surgery. Dr. Parker is in breast cancer. chief of breast surgery. Dr Dr. Parker researches Lancaster is the associate ways to prevent breast program director of the cancer by identifying breast surgery fellowship, breast cancer risk and Dr. Gutnik is the factors. assistant director for Four Sisters Dr. Lancaster also global surgery.

Left to right: Rachael Lancaster, M.D., Catherine Parker, researches breast cancer M.D., Lily Gutnik, M.D., and Helen Krontiras, M.D. The Sisters trained at risk factors, as well as the best breast fellowship ways to help women programs in the country: make informed decisions about their breast care.

M.D. Anderson, The University of California at San What this means for the Lake Martin community is Francisco, Duke and Northwestern. They each have that internationally recognized experts who are setting many titles and accolades, but they share a common the standards in breast surgery are bringing their passion for taking care of women – and men – with cutting-edge cancer care to our corner of Alabama. breast cancer (yes, though it is rare, about a thousand There is a fifth sister: Leanne Milner, RN, moved American men are diagnosed with breast cancer every from her position as a chemotherapy nurse at the UAB year).

Medicine-Russell Medical Cancer Center to serve And every Friday, one of these four sisters-in-arms as our first nurse navigator. We were excited that we against breast cancer drives to Alexander City to care had world-class breast surgeons on our campus every for the women of our community, because one of their

40 Lake Martin Living

Friday. But what about Monday through Thursday? We didn’t want our breast patients to have to wait seven days for the next step in their care. That wasn’t acceptable to us. So, we created the nurse navigator position to walk our breast patients through the diagnostic and treatment process. In between the Fridays, Leanne arranges for tests and biopsies to reduce the time it takes to get to definitive surgery.

Leanne meets with patients when they come to the breast clinic, and she calls them between visits. She meets with them the morning of surgery and provides educational materials and emotional support kits. Leanne is the GPS for our breast patients, as she helps them find the shortest and easiest path to where they need to go.

The next step in improving our breast program was to move the breast clinic to the Cancer Center, where the George Miranda breast surgeons can consult directly with our medical oncologists and radiation oncologists to provide state of the art multidisciplinary care for our patients.

There are three populations that are seen at the breast clinic. These are, obviously, the women who are diagnosed with breast cancer and will need surgery, possibly radiation and chemotherapy.

The second population is women who have benign breast disease, who will require surgery, but not cancer therapy. These conditions include fibroadenomas (a benign tumor), breast inflammation caused by blocked milk ducts, and atypical hyperplasia (a non-cancerous overgrowth of cells in the breast glands or ducts).

The third group are women who are at higher risk than the average population for developing breast cancer and need more intensive surveillance than an annual mammogram.

To accommodate all three populations, we are adding a nurse practitioner to our team to assist with managing the women who are high risk and the women who have benign breast disease. In collaboration with the Sisters, Erin Dean, RN, MSN, CRNP, will host a monthly clinic to provide more focused care to these women.

As we celebrate and honor the women – and men – in our lives who are breast cancer survivors this October, I wanted to let you know how Russell Medical is stepping up our game in breast cancer care. And I wanted to introduce to you the passionate, brilliant and caring women who are delivering that care.

MEDICAL NEWS

~ George Miranda is the Director of the UAB Medicine – Russell Medical Cancer Center.

Lake Martin Living 41

A Unique Opportunity

T

MONEY MATTERS

short of a default. On the other end of the he investing world has changed spectrum, savers who had parked money in dramatically over the last year. banks were stricken by low-interest rates. It Since 2008, savers have endured didn’t matter if they invested in certificates yields at next to nothing. Last of deposit, money market funds or held July, the Federal Reserve was forced to raise their money in savings accounts: The return interest rates for the 11th time this year was dismal. in response to elevated levels of inflation.

But as the Fed began its rate hiking Although the Consumer Price Index reports cycle in early 2022, the yield on these cash that inflation rates have fallen sharply from accounts began rising. The combination of around 8 percent to 4 percent, it is likely the increasing federal interest rates and beat-up Federal Reserve will continue to raise its bank balance sheets has caused banks to do benchmark rates in order to reach its goal of something they haven’t done for many years a 2 percent inflation rate. This has benefited – compete for assets. This is why banks run some and cost others. specials on certificates of deposit, money Anyone holding onto bonds with Lee Williams market accounts and the like. maturity dates many years into the future Government bonds also are yielding quickly realized they were sitting on huge similar rates, with the six-month Treasury hovering losses. Banks are the first group to come to mind. Some around 5.5 percent as shown on CNBC.com. For the bought long-dated bonds in the hopes that interest first time in many years, the highest quality bonds are rates wouldn’t go up for many years, if ever. Now that now competition to other asset classes. they have, these bonds have become significantly less What does all this mean? In summation, you can valuable than they were, yielding half of what the same now get a near risk-free yield above the current inflation type of newly issued bonds are worth today. rate. This has consequences for other asset classes, This is just about a worst-case scenario for banks,

42 Lake Martin Living

specifically stocks. This year, stocks have mostly shrugged off the interest rate increases under the impression that the Fed would start cutting rates later this year or early next year. The Fed has been clear that they are going to keep rates higher for longer, and even possibly raise rates further depending on how inflation behaves.

The market is finally starting to believe that rates will stay higher for longer, which means these high quality rates could stay higher for longer as well. If so, stocks will face headwinds in the near term. This doesn’t mean everyone should sell stocks and put everything into certificates of deposit, money markets or government bonds. The fact is, nobody knows how long this rate environment will last and how stocks will ultimately behave if rates remain high for an extended period of time. The economy and stock market have functioned just fine in the past with similar rates, albeit with different levels of government and corporate debt than today.

I believe that we have been presented with a unique opportunity to upgrade the yield on fixed income and lock in attractive yields. I also believe markets will get through this period as they have in the past, and over the long-term, stocks will do well. In the meantime, enjoy the attractive yield, and don’t lose sight of that long-term plan.

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.

Step Afrika!

Monday, November 6 7 p.m. dance & movement series

Easton Corbin Friday, November 10 7 p.m. country series

Mark Morris Dance Group Pepperland Tuesday, November 14 7 p.m. dance & movement series

Straight No Chaser Sleighin’ It Tour Thursday, November 16 7 p.m. celebrity series

View our complete 2023–24 season calendar online.

Lake Martin Living 43

OH SNAP! 2

4 1

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Car Cruise-In Wednesday, October 4, 2023 Main Street, Alexander City 1. Josh Patterson, Ryleigh Askew and Michelle West 2. Debbie Spivey, Joyce Reeves and Lola Popov 3. Randy Lee 4. Jared Powell 5. Alvin and Dee Conley and Scarlett Jo 6. Jay Benbeck, Lindsey Chavers and Red Lewis

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5 6

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Pirate Day Sunday, September 17, 2023 Bluff's Daiquiri Bar 1. Karen and Kevin Becker 2. Regina Mosley

8

3. Matt and Kelly Evers 4. Kenzo Johnson, Layna and Evan Thompson, Serenity Shupe and Sarah Jones 5. Cathy and Mike Maxey, Fred and Liz Bradford 6. Leslie, Larry and Mimi Amerson, Darryl Loggins 7. Phillip and Scarlett Gorham, Shelley and Jared Smith 8. Jennifer, Mary, Terri, Everett and Charlie Allison and Jacob Miller

Lake Martin Living 45

OH SNAP! 1

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Pinhoti Fest 2023 Saturday, September 23, 2023 Noble Park, Sylacauga 1. Benjamin and Dawson Brown 2. Laura Strickland 3. Spencer Wright

4. Rider Benefield and Wessley Deakyne 5. Adam Dasinger and Gloria Nielsen

6. Sasquatch 7. Bubba Pharris and Randy Anderson 8. Dan “Hot Pink” Gerken and Bennett “Jolly” Fisher 9. Brenda and Roger Justice 10. Keith Hudson, Anona Aderholdt and Jennifer Guire 46 Lake Martin Living

7

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OH SNAP! 1

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Raining Dogs Art Studio 7

Friday, September 15, 2023 Raining Dogs Art Gallery 1. Kathryn Braund and Matt Campbell 2. Gloria Pool 3. Jeff Bonebrake and Kurt Pfitzner 4. Kay Fincher and Tina Hawkins 5. Nathan Kuykendall and Kim and Chuck Ledbetter 6. Stacy Marando and Rick Hidding 7. Sam, Bill and Andreea Timberlake

Lake Martin Living 47

Calendar

THE LAKE REGION

FEATURED EVENT

Sign up to make Christmas special at Pennington Park STORY BY BETSY ILER

If you want to treat the kids to a wonderland in Pennington Park this holiday season, now is the time to get started.

More than 90 Christmas trees and creative displays with more than 30,000 lights will adorn Dadeville’s downtown park from late November through early January. Decorated trees, holiday vignettes and Christmas displays will fill the park in this community-driven project that brings the magic of the season home.

Park owners Kurt and Leigh Pfitzner mark off 10-foot by 10-foot areas throughout the park and have invited families, co-workers, church friends, civic groups, businesses, team members and more to set up holiday displays for the enjoyment of the community. Displays must fit the assigned areas and may contain family-friendly decorations.

All lighting must be LED. Motorized components must be pre-approved by park managers. Exhibitors must supply all decorations and wet-rated electrical cords internal to displays.

48 Lake Martin Living

Pennington Park will provide space, professional sponsorship signs and electricity to the displays and will monitor displays throughout the season.

“It doesn’t have to be a tree display. They could do a small scene where visitors might want to take pictures. We had one where they had a doghouse and a Santa that was decorating the doghouse with lights,” Kurt Pfitzner said. “It could be something related to their business. One year, Lake Martin Pizza Company turned their tree upside down and decorated it like a slice of pizza. We hope people will have fun with it. That’s what it’s all about, celebrating with the community.”

The exhibit will be lit on the Sunday following Thanksgiving, and lights are on from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. each night until early January.

The park’s display includes a full-sized wooden Santa’s sleigh with four lighted reindeer. The sleigh also features a North Pole mailbox where children could deposit letters to the Jolly Old Elf. Each letter is answered with a personalized response from Santa.

“We want people to feel like they are walking into something very special,” Pfitzner said. “We want it to be a place set apart from the world outside, something magical.”

To participate in the display or to become a helper elf with this event, email kppfitzner@gmail.com or call Pfitzner at 334-233-9852.

Oct. 14

Home is Sweeter Organized

Kim McBrayer will offer a Lunch and Learn presentation at The Square from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to benefit the Backpack Buddies weekend feeding program for kids. This event will focus on closet organization. The cost is $25. Email jamiewdark@yahoo.com for registration details.

Oct. 14

Eclectic Cotton Festival

The Town of Eclectic will host its 30th annual Alabama Cotton Festival from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This family-fun event features more than 200 vendors, music, and contests, including a dog show, a classic car show and the first annual cornhole tournament. Call 256-794-0379 for more information.

Oct. 14

Everything’s Art Holiday Arts and Crafts Market

Everything’s Art and Pennington Park will host Dadeville’s Third Annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This market features handmade crafts, jewelry, artwork, seasonal baked goods and food trucks. Call 770-328-2094 or email everythingsartguild14@gmail.com for a vendor application. Visit each organization’s Facebook page for more information.

Oct. 14-15

POK Open Regatta

Dixie Sailing Club will restore the Po’ Ol’ Kowaliga Open Regatta, once a popular multi-hull sailing event that drew beach catamarans from the coast as well as local catamarans. The event will be a fall open regatta, inviting sailors from across the Southeast. Winds should be great by mid-October, and fall is the best time to be at Lake Martin. Spectators are welcome. For more information, email jsimons944@aol.com.

Oct. 17

Breast Cancer Awareness

At 10:30 a.m., UAB Medicine - Russell Medical Cancer Center Nurse Navigator Leanne Milner and Nurse Manager Jessica Daniel will present information about breast cancer awareness at the Alexander City Housing Authority on County Road.

Oct. 18

LAKE REGION EVENTS

VCCA Lunch and Learn

From noon to 1 p.m., Randy Dawkins of River Bank and Trust and Carla Reese will discuss better branking practices and scams aimed at seniors. Bring a sack lunch to the VCCA office at 5030 U.S. Route 280, Alexander City. Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama will provide dessert and tea. This is a free program. To reserve a space by Oct. 16, call 256-234-0347 or send an email to vcca.al@gmail.com.

Oct. 19

LMAUW Fashion Show & Silent Auction

This popular annual event returns to the runway this year after COVID. Tickets are $30 and are available at the Lake Martin Area United Way office in downtown Alexander City. VIP tables are $500. Visit unitedwaylakemartin.org for details.

Oct. 20-Nov. 3

Build It and Play It

Children in grades three through six will build and decorate cardboard mountain dulcimer kits and learn to play them from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. every Friday at the Dadeville Performing Arts Center.

Email Kim Walls at kkcwalls@gamil.com or text her at 256-825-4958 for details. No fees for Tallapoosa County children.

Oct. 22

Montgomery Chorale

Alex City Arts will present the 50plus member Montgomery Chorale performing Awake My Soul and Sing, a variety of uplifting classical, spiritual and contemporary musical numbers. Visit Alex City Arts Council on Facebook for time and venue.

Oct. 23

Ferst Readers Golf Tournament

The Third Annual Ferst Readers Scramble Golf Tournament will be played at 8 a.m. at Stillwaters Golf. Entry fee for a team of four players is $500.

Oct. 25

VCCA Lunch and Learn

Lt. Arrington with the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department and an FBI associate will discuss ways to protect yourself from identity theft and how to practice safe internet use. The program will begin at noon. Bring a sack lunch,

and VCCA will provide dessert and tea.

This is a free program. To reserve a space, by email vcca.al@gmail.com by Oct. 23, or call 256-234-0347. The program will take place at 5030 U.S. Route 280, Alexander City.

Oct. 28

Main Street Fall Fest

It’s fall, y’all! And that means fun throughout downtown Alexander City from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be arts and crafts vendors, a bounce house for the kids, pumpkin decorating, field games, photo ops, face painting and trick or treating from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Oct. 28

Fall Festival at Russell Crossroads

Bring the family to Russell Crossroads from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for this one-ofa-kind event that includes a working blacksmith and grist mill, pumpkin patch, games, wagon rides, pony rides and a petting zoo. There will be a presentation

by Naturalist Marianne and cash and prizes for the Blue Ribbon Canning and Baking contests. Call 256-496-4232, or email rgunn@russelllands.com for information.

Oct. 28

Circumnavigation Metric Century Tour

This year's ride includes 20-mile and 40-mile route options, as well as the 66mile trip around the lake. The ride will leave the beach area at Wind Creek State Park at 8 a.m. Riders should bring plenty of water and whatever gear might be appropriate for the day, as well as funds to purchase lunch at Lake Martin Pizza in Dadeville. To register or for details, email lakecycling66@gmail.com.

Nov. 1

VCCA Lunch and Learn

From noon to 1 p.m., David Booth with Dadix will make a presentation about the iCloud. Bring a sack lunch, and Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama will provide dessert and tea.

This is a free program. To reserve a space

by Oct. 30, call 256-234-0347 or send an email to vcca.al@gmail.com.

Nov. 8

VCCA Lunch and Learn

Retired registered nurse Sandra Patten will present a program entitled, “Don’t Lake Martin Living 49

LAKE REGION EVENTS Grow Old, Grow Awesome,” from noon to 1 p.m. at the Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama office at 5030 U.S. Route 280 in Alexander City. Bring a sack lunch, and VCCA will provide dessert and tea.

This is a free program. To reserve a space

by Nov. 6, call 256-234-0347 or send an email to vcca.al@gmail.com.

Nov. 9

Lost, and Some Found, Treasures of 1800s Alabama

Jim Phillips will present a onehour program exploring true treasure discoveries in Alabama at 11:30 a.m. at Dadeville Performing Arts Center. He will share undiscovered treasure tales from across the state and will offer free appraisals of pre-1920s coins, bottles or paper currency. No tickets required.

Nov. 10

Bro. Billy Bob Bohannon

Dadeville Performing Arts Center will host comedian Bill King at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com.

Nov. 11

St. James Annual Bazaar

St. James Episcopal Church will host its annual bazaar from 9 a.m. to noon in the parish hall, featuring a variety of pottery, cakes, casseroles, soups, crafts and more.

Parishioners work year-round to create treasures for this event, and all proceeds benefit local community outreach programs. The church is located at 347 S. Central Ave., Alexander City. Come see what the St. James Pottery Guild has created this year. Proceeds benefit community outreach programs.

Nov. 24

Christmas at Crossroads

Stop by Russell Crossroads the Friday after Thanksgiving for a visit with Santa and browsing the Holiday Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be arts and crafts for the kids, horse-drawn carriage rides and games to play. This is a free event.

Nov. 27

Tree Lighting Concert

Gather at 4:30 p.m. in Dadeville’s Pennington Park for a tree lighting ceremony and Dadeville Community Chorus concert. The annual holiday display will remain lit from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. every night through Dec. 31.

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Nov. 27 thru Jan. 6

Christmas at Pennington Park

Park displays will be lit nightly from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Event will include display of full-size Santa sleigh with scheduled visits by the Jolly Old Elf himself. A North Pole mailbox will be available for special delivery mail for Santa. Every letter will receive a personalized response from Santa and Rudolph’s hoof-mark.

Season-long Events LMYP Game Night

Every third Thursday of the month, grab your crew and meet at The Local at 41 Main in downtown Alexander City from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. for games, laughs and exclusive LMYP drink specials.

It’s free to play the games, like trivia, bingo and more, and the grand prize is always $50. Visit the Lake Martin Young Professionals Facebook page.

Elementary Musical Theatre

Now through Dec. 15, Dadeville Performing Arts Center will host afterschool singing, dancing and acting workshops from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for third through sixth grade students every Monday. Contact Elaine Balint Forbus by phone at 256-749-7932, or email her at elaine.balint@gmail.com.

Enroll and complete permission forms at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com/ classes. No fees for Tallapoosa County children.

Lake Martin Civitan Club

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

meets at 6 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Lake Martin Area United Way office on Main Street. A meal is provided at the second meeting of the month, which features an engaging speaker. Call Mae Lynn O’Neil at 256-750-7404 for information.

Wellborn Musclecar Museum

Housed in a restored vintage auto dealership in downtown Alexander City, the Wellborn Musclecar Museum collection of great American automobiles of the 1960s and 1970s is open for public viewing Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission for adults is $11; children ages 7 to 17 admitted for $7, and children ages 6 and under are admitted for free. To arrange discounted group tours or private tours, email wellbornmusclecarmuseum@gmail.com or call 256-329-8474.

Clean Community Partnership Cleanups

Volunteers in Alexander City and Dadeville are encouraged to participate in community partnership cleanups every month. In Alexander City, the cleanups are held on the second Saturday of the month. Meet at Broad Street Plaza at 8:30 a.m. to pick up supplies and area assignments. For more information, call John Thompson at 334-399-3289 or Michelle West at 256-786-0584.

In Dadeville, volunteers can pick up sanitized pickers and bags at 8 a.m. at Dadeville City Hall on the second Saturday of the month. There will be a trash bag drop-off on site. Contact Mickey Forbus at 334-329-0905.

Fiber Fridays

Artists Association of Central Alabama

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

Call 334-444-1038 for more information.

Alexander City Lions Club

Storytime for children ages 5 and younger is held at the Dadeville Public Library every Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Mamie’s Place Children’s Library in Alexander City holds themed storytime

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.

Serving 27 local charities in Tallapoosa County, the Alexander City Lions Club

Library Storytimes

every Wednesday at 10 a.m. for children preschool-aged and younger.

Children’s Harbor Treasures and Thrift Store

Children’s Harbor Thrift Store is open Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You never know what gems you might find – from clothes and household items to boats. Proceeds help fund activities at the Lake Martin campus of Children’s Harbor and the Family Center at Children’s Hospital. For more information, call 334-8572008.

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.

Amateur Radio Club

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

FEELING THE CALL OF FALL? MAKE SURE YOUR HEART IS HEALTHY As the heat of summer fades and cooler temperatures come calling, we look forward to that feeling of fall. It’s the perfect time to be outdoors with family and friends, and a great time to be alive.

Make sure your heart is 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.

Naturalist Presentations and Guided Nature Tours

Naturalist Marianne fills the Naturalist Cabin at Russell Crossroads with children and adults to see and listen to her lively nature presentations with critters, insects, snakes, fowl and more.

There is never a dull moment with this wildlife biologist. Check RussellLands.com/blog/events for the scheduled subject matter, dates and times.

HEART & VASCULAR CLINIC AT RUSSELL MEDICAL 3368 Highway 280, Suite 130 • Alexander City, AL 35010 (256) 234-2644 • uabmedicine.org/HeartRussell

Lake Martin Living 51

9

GOLDVILLE 280

GOODWATER

Legend

To Sylacauga

TALLAPOOSA COUNTY

63

Public Boat Ramps

NEW SITE

Churches

★ Points of Interest

22

280

Power lines

Timbergut Landing

9

U.S. Highways

★ Jaybird Landing

280

County Roads

14 22

ALEXANDER CITY

4

★

Camp ASCCA

★

Alex City Boat Ramp

3

Charles E. Bailey Sportplex

ROCKFORD

Horseshoe National P

49 128

22

COOSA COUNTY

9

★ New Hope Church 9

24

★Smith Landing 34

63

Camp Alamisco

★

Kowaliga Boat Landing

★ Camp Kiwanis

Trillium

Children’s Harbor

★ The Amp 18 ★

Ko w

ali

ga

2 Ba

y

23 49

Church of the Living Waters

The Ridge

1 12

Church in The Pines

25

9

28

Smith Mountain Fire Tower

27

17

5

16

57

10 11

7

55

DADEVIL

Willow Point

EQUALITY SEMAN

★ Young’s Island

Liberty Church

280

D.A.R.E. Park Landing

Peanut Point

259

20

231

Creek ★ Wind Boat Ramp

26

11

JACKSONS GAP

Piney Woods Landing

Wind Creek 63 State Park

Chimney Rock

Stillwaters 22

8

Union Landing

★

19 6

WALNUT HILL

90

24 21

UNION

80

50

CENTRAL

Martin Dam

RED HILL

15

★

63 229

SANTUCK

49

ECLECTIC 13 KENT

ELMORE COUNTY

Reeltown

120

14

231

14 14

TALLASSEE WETUMPKA 52 Lake Martin Living

229

MACON COUNTY

Explore

ILLE DAVISTON 22

Lake Martin

EW SITE

1

Kowaliga Marina

334-857-2111

★

2

The Ridge Marina

256-397-1300

Horseshoe Bend National Park

3

River North Marina

256-397-1500

4

Russell Marine Boating & Outdoors 256-397-1700

CHAMBERS COUNTY DADEVILLE 16

28

CON NTY

50

CAMP HILL

20

280

WAVERLY 50

5 Real Island Marina

334-857-2741

6 Blue Creek Marina

256-825-8888

7 Parker Creek Marina

256-329-8550

8 Harbor Pointe Marina

256-825-0600

9 Smith's Marina - Shipwreck Sam's

256-444-8793

10 SpringHouse

256-215-7080

11 Catherine’s Market

256-215-7070

12 Kowaliga Restaurant

256-215-7035

13 Acapulco Mexican Gril

334-283-2725

14 Russell Do It Center (Alex City)

256-234-2567

15 Russell Do It Center (Eclectic)

334-541-2132

16 Russell Building Supply

256-825-4256

17 The Stables at Russell Crossroads

256-794-1333

18 Kowaliga Whole Health

334-857-1816

19 Aronov Realty Lake Martin

256-825-4133

20 Off the Beaton Path

205-994-0847

21 Hwy 50 Blue Creek Boat & RV Storage

334-391-0717

22 Creekside Lodge

256-307-1440

23 Red Ridge UMC

256-825-9820

24 Lake Pointe Baptist Church

256-373-3293

25 Lake Martin Dock Company, Inc

334-857-2443

26 Docks Unlimited LLC

256-203-8400

27 Dixie Sailing Club 28 Lakeshore Pharmacy

LEE COUNTY

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NOTASULGA 85 81

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Lake Martin Living 53

DON'T MISS A SINGLE ISSUE! Subscribe today or visit one of our local establishments each month for a free copy.

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

54 Lake Martin Living

Sho'Nuff BBQ Hair Design Mark King's Lake Martin Furniture Longleaf Antique Mall Playhouse Cinemas Chamber of Commerce Winn Dixie Re/Max Around the Lake City Hall A&E Metal Regions Bank Marathon - 280 Renfroe's Market Russell Medical Center Russell Marine Boating & Outdoors Koon's II Tallapoosa Ford Dylan Johnson - Country Financial Holley's Home Furniture Jackson's Drugs Selling Lake Martin - Amy Clark The Sure Shot Shell - 280 Big B Bar-B-Que Russell Do It Center Russell Home Decor Holman Floor Satterfield Inc. Grain & Leaf, Bottles & Cigars Tippy Canoe Love Lake Martin Real Estate Office Wind Creek Gate Wind Creek Store Willow Point Office Willow Point Country Club Smith Marina Nails Kowaliga Marina Children's Harbor Catherine's Market Russell Lands Corporate Office Russell Lands Real Estate Sales Center

SpringHouse Ridge Club Ridge Marina HACKNEYVILLE Hackneyville Water Authority NEW SITE Piggly Wiggly - New Site Foodland DADEVILLE Chamber of Commerce Raining Dogs Studio & Gallery Root 49 Salon Ellaby Boutique, LLC Alabama Power Siggers Siggers Barbershop Fusion Cafe Dadeville Library At the Beauty Shop Dadeville Courthouse Payne's Furniture PNC Bank Valley Bank McKelvey Chevrolet Renfroe's Market Foshee's Boat Doc Lakeshore Pharmacy Russell Building Supply Lakay's Tallapoosa Nutrition Sweet Pickins Century 21 - Rhonda Gaskins Farmers & Merchants Bank Jim's Pharmacy Poplar Dawgs Still Waters Country Club Still Waters Home Association Russell Lands Realty Fuller Realty Harbor Pointe Oskar's Aronov Realty Lake Martin Creekside Lodge Blue Creek Marina

Lakeside Marina Niffers Hwy 50 Eagle Millstone Japanese Maple Nursery Lakeside Mercantile Walnut Hill Chuck's Marina Deep Water Docks Lake Martin Pizza CAMP HILL Link Gas Station EQUALITY Five Star Plantation Equality Food Mart Southern Star Parker Creek Marina Charles Borden ECLECTIC Lake Breeze Realty Offshore Marina Lake Martin Mini Mall Corner Stone Coffee Co. Lake Martin Dock Company Cotton's Alabama Barbecue Russell Do It Center Johnson Furniture WOW Catering LLC Eclectic Library Real Island Marina Anchor Bay Marina Wetumpka Wetumpka Herald Office Tallassee Marathon Tallassee Eagle Tallassee Chamber Parris Mullins Jr. O.D. Get Lake Martin Living delivered to your mailbox for just $50 per year.

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LOGO HSCU’s 5TH ANNUAL

Fall

OCTOBER 18-20 SPECIAL CAR SALE RATES! Vertical Logo

NUMEROUS LOCAL DEALERS!

2023

Join us as we partner with local dealers for our 5TH ANNUAL Car Sale Event. We will have a team onsite to assist with questions and financing. Purchase rates will be available October 1-20. The three-day event is happening at our main office on HWY 280 but don’t forget that we can also help with your auto re-financing needs at any of our five locations from October 1-31. Trust us - you don’t want to miss this opportunity! Get pre-approved today by calling, visiting us online, or coming by one of our branches.

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AD INDEX Alexander Landscaping ....................................................................... 5

Lauriello Realty and Development...................................................... 3 7

Azalea Cove Waterside...................................................................... 5 6

Legacy New Homes........................................................................... 2 1

Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation........................................................... 6

OBGYN Associates of Montgomery..................................................... 8

C&C Wood Products............................................................................ 6

Oskar's Cafe........................................................................................ 5

Coosa Valley MRI............................................................................... 5 7

Phillip Pouncey Builders...................................................................... 5 5

Diamond Golf Cars............................................................................ 3 6 Electronic Technology Group.............................................................. 5 7 Four Seasons..................................................................................... 5 7 Francis Bryant Construction............................................................... 1 2 George Hardy, D.M.D.......................................................................... 6 Gogue Performing Arts Center.......................................................... 4 3 Harbor Pointe Marina.......................................................................... 5 Heritage South Credit Union.............................................................. 5 5 Highway 50 Blue Creek Boat & RV Storage....................................... 5 7 Jes & Gray Living................................................................................. 3

Precise Pressure Washing................................................................... 5 7 Prime Home Health.............................................................................. 8 Red Flag Pest Control.......................................................................... 6 Russell Medical.................................................................................. 6 0 Southern Sash..................................................................................... 5 S&K Offices....................................................................................... 5 7 Sunrise Docks.................................................................................... 1 7 TowBoatUS........................................................................................ 5 4 UAB All of Us...................................................................................... 2

Karen Channell, State Farm............................................................... 5 7

UAB Heart & Vascular........................................................................ 5 1

Kowaliga Veterinary Care................................................................... 5 7

USBank.............................................................................................. 1 2

Lacey Howell..................................................................................... 1 3

Vacation Rental Management............................................................ 5 7

Lake Martin Dock........................................................................ 57, 59

Viva Medicare.................................................................................... 5 9

Lake Martin Vascular.......................................................................... 3 6

Will Tampling, Keller Williams............................................................ 1 7

• • •

56 Lake Martin Living

BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY

334-857-2443 lakemartindock.com

BOATHOUSES | STATIONARY DOCKS FLOATING DOCKS | SEAWALLS EZ PORTS PWC LIFTS | BOAT LIFTS RE-DECKS | BOAT LIFT REPAIRS

KOWALIGA VETERINARY CARE

Mary S. Battistella, DVM Josh Morgan, DVM

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COOSA VALLEY

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Lake Martin Living 57

Just a

S

Girl Culture Shock

gave me the Holiday Barbie every Christmas, ummer 2023 will forever be The and eventually, I was not allowed to take them Summer of Barbie. The world turned out of their boxes. They were collectibles that pink, and it was all ‘Barbiecore.’ Brands lived in the top of my closet. like Ruggable, Chi Flat Irons, Crocs, A doll you can’t play with? It drove me crazy, Vans and Wrangler, along with cosmetics and and I sold them on Ebay a few years ago, for not even restaurants, had Barbie collaborations. much. I hope somewhere a little girl ripped into When I saw the first trailer for the movie, I those boxes. I gave a few others that were still in gasped aloud at the part when Barbie steps boxes to my nieces. When we cut the tape to free into frame and out of her shoes, all while them, their hair stayed in place, waving in the air, remaining on her toes. I watched the movie a and the elastics had dry rotted. few weeks ago and loved every minute. Despite Barbie’s hair. Oh, it mixed reviews, I knew if someone really loved has always been Barbie, they would love the movie.

Lacey Howell good. Was there I laughed. I cried. It was so much girl anything better power. I won’t give away the plot, but Barbie is than brushing the hair? having an existential crisis and has to go to the ‘real world’ to sort things out. It made me remember how hard it could I never cut my Barbies’ hair or took markers to be to be a little girl in the ’90s, but it also reminded me of their bodies. My Barbies how great it is to be a girl. Barbie is perfection, and she soon discovers there is no such thing in the real world. The were adored and acted out many plays for me. real world is messy.

Life is messy. We age, Barbie was introduced but Barbie does not. in 1959, invented by Ruth I loved my Hagler. She constantly Barbie dolls. I reinvents herself through careers, looks and had so many roles. Don’t we all do that? As the decades but always speed by, we have to adapt and evolve. Don’t loved when I got a brunette get that job? On to the next. Bad haircut?

It will grow out. These are strong lessons, one because especially to preteen and teenage girls. it looked Barbie can be anything. She represents like me. My grandmother inclusivity and diversity in the modern world. The movie shows Barbie in all colors and sizes, including pregnant Barbie and Weird Barbie (who had her hair butchered and was colored with markers), and they all are named Barbie.

Barbie is for everyone.

Let’s talk about Ken. The tagline is “She’s everything.

He’s just Ken.” There are plenty of deep dive essays online regarding the movie and the patriarchy, but I look at it lightheartedly. Ken loves horses and the beach. He wants Barbie’s attention, but he is just one fish in the sea. It’s Barbie’s world, and he is just an accessory, like a purse.

Barbie is iconic, and the movie is a nostalgic experience for all ages. It reminded me of the gift of imagination Barbie brought to my childhood. Not many toys have this level of timeless appeal. What makes Barbie special is different for everyone. ~ 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 and her Facebook page.

58 Lake Martin Living

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Call 1-833-202-5538 | TTY: 711 8am - 8pm, Mon - Fri (Oct 1 - Dec 31: 8am - 8pm, 7 days a week)

www.VivaHealth.com/Medicare Viva Medicare is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Alabama Medicaid Agency. Enrollment in Viva Medicare depends on contract renewal. Viva Health complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-888-830-8482 (TTY: 711). 注 意：如果您使用繁體中文，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務.請致電 1-888-830-8482 (TTY: 711). H0154_mcdoc3841A_M_08/06/2023

Lake Martin Living 59

• O C TO B E R I S B R E A S T C A N C E R AWA R E N E S S M O N T H •

Breast cancer shows no symptoms in the early stages.

The Women’s Center at Russell Medical reminds you of 3 measures that could save your life: MONTHLY SELF EXAM • YEARLY CLINICAL BREAST EXAM • YEARLY MAMMOGRAM Our Women’s Center is equipped with 3D mammography, providing better evaluation of breast tissue layer by layer.

Call 256-329-7246 for appointments and more information.

BREAST SURGEONS

Catherine Parker, M.D. Surgical Oncology

Rachael Lancaster, M.D. Surgical Oncology

Lily Gutnik, M.D. Surgical Oncology

Helen Krontiras, M.D. Surgical Oncology

russellcares.com