NOVEMBER 2017
LAKE 1
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1801 Eddie L. Tullis Rd., Montgomery, AL | WindCreekMontgomery.com | ©2017 Wind Creek Hospitality
NOVEMBER 2017
LAKE 3
Letter from the Editor
M
y heart caught in my throat when I read Steve Forehand’s email last month. I had sent him a quick note to confirm that a reported fire on Lake Martin’s Chimney Rock Island was a controlled burn, but his answer was not what I expected. It was not a controlled burn, his email read. Of course, I reached for the phone and dialed his extension at Russell Lands while I finished reading the email. He assured me the incident ended well, thanks to quick action and an outpouring of support from volunteer firefighters, but that heart-stuck-inthe-throat feeling stayed with me all day and reminded me to not take for granted the exceptional beauty of where we live and work and play. With that in mind, we have crafted an issue that celebrates – and advocates for – the lake we love. For starters, we hiked through Russell Forest, past babbling brooks and trees just starting to show off their fall colors. The Forest now boasts nearly 125 miles of trails that are open to equestrian, bicycle and foot traffic. We caught our breath – and Kenneth Boone caught photos – in just a few of the prettiest places we found. Walk along with us on page 24. We closed out the summer on a Treasured Mile cleanup with members of the Dixie Sailing Club youth program on the last warm and sunny Saturday of the fall extension full pool. The kids found some serious trash and worked hard to bag it all before club activities moved off-water for the winter. Check out their haul on page 40. In this issue, we’re happy to play a part in launching the Lake Martin Resource Association lighted buoy campaign on page 22, and we’re hyped up for this year’s Renew Our Rivers Cleanup at the lake and on adjacent roadways (see John Thompson’s column on page 47). We’ve also included a different sort of crafting in this issue – the kind that pertains to beer. On page 56, Dee Walker of Fermenter’s Market on the Green acquaints us with the history, process and varieties of the lagers, stouts and ales now available locally. Along with Emporium Wine’s Henry Foy – who will continue to help us taste the wine – and Ocie & Belle’s Mark Gilliland – who will treat us to the stories and recipes behind our favorite cocktails – Dee’s column will appear quarterly in Lake magazine. We hope you enjoy reading them all throughout the year. Oh, and be sure to turn to page 32 for a status report on the Chimney Rock Island fire. I encourage you to take a hike; join the cleanup this weekend; donate to the lighted buoy program that protects us on the lake; or just sit in the autumn sunshine on a dock or a lakeside porch to remind yourself of how special the lake is to you and those you love. Get that heart-stuck-in-the-throat feeling.
Staff Chairman KENNETH BOONE
editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
Publisher STEVE BAKER
editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
Managing Editor BETSY ILER
editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
Assistant Magazine Editor AMY PASSARETTI
amy.passaretti@alexcityoutlook.com
Marketing/Advertising Director TIPPY HUNTER
tippy.hunter@alexcityoutlook.com
EMILY GREGG
emily.gregg@alexcityoutlook.com
TABBY EDWARDS
tabby.edwards@alexcityoutlook.com
SCOTT HARDY
scott.hardy@alexcityoutlook.com
REBECCA CARLISLE
rebecca.carlisle@alexcityoutlook.com
Circulation Manager DAVID KENDRICK
david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook.com
Creative Services AUDRA SPEARS
audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com
DARLENE JOHNSON
darlene.johnson@alexcityoutlook.com
HALLIE HOLLOWAY
hallie.holloway@alexcityoutlook.com
Contributors KENNETH BOONE JOHN COLEY JULIE HUDSON CLIFF WILLIAMS LEE WILLIAMS MITCH SNEED GREG VINSON
ROB MCDANIEL J. HAROLD BANKS DONALD CAMPBELL JOHN THOMPSON DEE WALKER BETH DAVIS STEVE FOREHAND All content, including all stories and photos are copyright of:
256-234-4281
Betsy Iler, Managing Editor 4 LAKE
NOVEMBER 2017
Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. P.O. Box 999 Alexander City, AL 35011
On the Cover The Lakeview Loop in the center of Russell Forest is among the most scenic of nearly 125 miles of trails that wind through open woods, meadows and across creeks to Kowaliga Bridge on both sides of Hwy. 63. Fall is the perfect time to hike these picturesque roads, which also are open to equestrian and bicycle riders. Photo by Kenneth Boone
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LAKE 5
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Contents
36
20. MORE LIGHTS ON THE LAKE LMRA launches ambitious plan to increase lighted buoys in high-traffic areas 24. RUSSELL FOREST HIKE Now boasting some 125 miles of trails, Russell Forest shares its simple wonders with fall hikers 34. FIRE ON LAKE MARTIN Chimney Rock Island damage remains unknown after last month's wildfire 36. REBUILD REVEAL A from-the-foundations-up Blue Creek rebuild already is filled with memories 42. DIXIE SAILING CLUB CLEANS UP THE LAKE DSC kids care for their Treasured Mile on their last weekend on the water before winter 44. STICKY BUSINESS Turpentine played an important economic role in the county's early years
30
LAKE MAGAZINE’S MONTHLY FEATURES: 9. LAKE’S QUICK GUIDE TO
49. LMRA
THE LAKE
50. HEALTHY LIVING
10. LAKE SCENES
53. CHEF'S TABLE
13. WHERE IS LAKE?
54. BIG CATCHES
14. LAKE MARTIN EVENTS
56. HOPPY DAYS
18. LAKE MARTIN NEWS
59. PRO TIP
30. NATURE OF THE LAKE 43. FAB FINDS
e
- edition
46. LAKE PROPERTY
Lake magazine also features an online, digital edition, available 24 hours a day, free of charge. This edition is perfect to share with friends and family and provides you complete access to stories, photos and advertisements from anywhere in the world with Internet access. View our digital edition today at www.issuu.com.
NOVEMBER 2017
LAKE 7
8 LAKE
NOVEMBER 2017
Lake’s Quick Guide to the Lake Lake Martin Area Real Estate Indicators Sales Month
September 2017 September 2014 September 2011
Number of sales
Average selling price
Median selling price
Days on the market
Total houses for sale
Inventory/ sales ratio
38 26 21
$647,825 $449,846 $512,295
$599,500 $323,250 $365,900
161 132 133
250 346 371
8.55 14.12 20.90
The above numbers are derived from raw sales data from the Lake Martin Area Association of Realtors MLS.The sales noted above are for Lake Martin waterfront residential (single family and condominium) sales only. This information is provided courtesy Lake Martin Realty, LLC. (A Russell Lands, Inc. affiliated company.)
Renew Our Rivers Lake Martin Cleanup Nov. 3-4
Stop pollution before it starts The Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership and the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force have partnered to make everyday a drug take-back day with the placement of collection boxes for medications in three different locations. The boxes are located at Hometown Pharmacy in Alexander City, the Tallapoosa County Courthouse Annex and the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office location will be open 24 hours, seven days a week.
Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership Coordinator Sabrina Wood said she was happy to partner with the task force to keep the drugs from making their way into the water supply. “We are looking at it from a water quality standpoint. We want to educate everyone to not flush their medications, which was the recommended method years ago.” said Wood. Flushing unused medications can cause issues with septic tanks and sewage systems and make their way into creeks, rivers and lakes.
Weather Outlook for November November 2017 Forecast
Historically, the Lake Martin area experiences average high temperatures in the high 60s with average lows in the low 40s and nearly 5 inches of precipitation in the month of November. The National Weather Service has predicted that temperatures will be normal and rainfall will be below normal this month.
Year to Date
Precipitation: 59.57 inches Avg. high temp.: 79 Avg. low temp.: 55.9 Average temp.: 67.5
Join the effort to keep our Treasured Lake clean! Volunteers needed. Read more on page 47 or contact John Thompson at 1942jthompson420@gmail.com.
Our Normal November Precipitation: 4.79 inches Avg. high temp.: 66.8 Information from Avg. low temp.: 41.1 the National Average temp.: 54 Weather Service.
Lake Levels Last Month Summer: 491MSL Winter: 481 MSL Highest: 490.67 Lowest: 490.28 For up-to-date lake levels, log on to https:// lakes.alabamapower.com.
NOVEMBER 2017
Lake elevations are subject to change. Individuals who recreate below Martin Dam and those with boats and waterrelated equipment on the lake should always stay alert to changing conditions.
LAKE 9
LAKE SCENE
Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
PEOPLE AND PLACES
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Reader Submissions (1) Seven-week-old John Philip Bryan already enjoys perusing Lake magazine from a chair on the deck. (2) Cody Loggains and Savanna Grace Johnston love hanging out on one of Lake Martin's Treasured Mile islands. (3) Peanut Point is one of Kellan Heath's favorite spots at the lake. (4) Mary Walls caught the vivid colors of a Lake Martin sunset. (5) Skipper rests on Garrett Smith's dock on a warm day in May. (6) Brian and Amy Robinson with their dogs, Duchess and Blue, and friends Jim, Donna and Zeb Oswald and Matt Peterson and Calvin Barnes celebrate this year's Lions Club Poker Run in patriotic style.
10 LAKE
NOVEMBER 2017
5
LAKE SCENE
Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
PEOPLE AND PLACES
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Reader Submissions (1) Bobby and Joy Samford's two Yorkies, Cam and Duchess, enjoy a Lake Martin sunset on the boat. (2) Lyla Patterson checks out a view of Lake Martin from a Jacksons Gap dock. (3) Cousins Colt Bush and Joanna Reese enjoy a boat ride together on Lake Martin. (4) Claire Owens took this picture of Sharon Loftin, Debbie Hurst and Janet Wood joining Morgan Wood on his first tube ride in Sandy Creek. (5) New Water's outdoor chapel on Lake Martin silhouetted through Tony Johnson's camera lens.
NOVEMBER 2017
LAKE 11
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12 LAKE
NOVEMBER 2017
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS LAKE?
Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
PEOPLE AND PLACES
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Reader Submissions (1) Hope and Terry Greene took Lake magazine on their trip to Grenada, the Spice Island. (2) Jeff, Karyn, Erin and Carson Rowell took Lake magazine on their trip to Thira, Santorini, Greece. (3) Bobby and Gini Beth Welch, Charles and Sylvia Borden, Melanie and Larry Little and Charlotte and Allen Meadows took Lake magazine aboard the S.S. Maria Teressa, Uniworld cruise ship on the Danube River in Austria. (4) Rachel Markham and Terri DeVries took Lake magazine to Moraine Lake, Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. (5) Barbara and Wayne Gregory took the February issue of Lake magazine to the Judean desert.
NOVEMBER 2017
LAKE 13
Nov. 3-4 Renew Our Rivers Lake Martin Cleanup
nificantly lowering healthcare costs. For more information, contact Ella MacFiggen at ellafish62@gmail.com.
This annual effort to keep Lake Martin clean has drawn as many as 300 volunteers and collected more than 9 Nov. 16 tons of trash in previous years. Lake Martin Resource Artists Association of Central Alabama Association will partner with Alabama Power Co., Russell The general meeting will have an open studio. The meetLands, Wind Creek State Park, Advanced Disposal and ing will be held from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the TowBoatUS to clean lake shoreSenior Activity Center at the line and adjacent roadways. Charles E. Bailey Sportplex in CALENDAR OF EVENTS For information, call John Alexander City. Thompson at 334-399-3289 WHAT’S HAPPENING ON LAKE MARTIN or e-mail him at 1942jthompNov. 18 son420@gmail.com.
Annual Fall Bazaar
St. James Episcopal Church will host its annual bazaar from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. featuring kitchen creations, handmade treasures, pottery and more. The church is located at 347 South Central Ave., Alexander City, and all proceeds will benefit community outreach programs.
Nov. 11 Camp Hill Flea Market
The Town of Camp Hill Flea Market will open 30 minutes after daybreak and will close at 2 p.m. For vendor information, contact James Woody at 256-749-8270.
Nov. 11 Veterans Day Program
The Goodwater Disabled Veterans will honor veterans at 10 a.m. at the Alabama National Guard Armory at 20430 state Route 9 in Goodwater.
Nov. 18 Football Youth Sports Day
Shop local at the Holiday Open House in downtown Alexander City Nov. 12
Nov. 11 Alexander City Veterans Day Program
Bill Nichols State Veterans Home will host a guest speaker from Maxwell Airforce Base at 10 a.m., along with the Alexander City Middle School Jazz Band, honor guards, Mayor Nabors and the Benjamin Russell High School ROTC unit. The public is invited to attend. Veterans will visit local schools during Veterans Day programs as well.
Nov. 12 Holiday Open House
Holiday decorations will be up and area retailers will open their doors from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon to showcase their gift ideas for the holiday season.
Nov. 14 Blue Zone Site Visit
Meet the Blue Zone team at 5 p.m. at Lake Martin Innovation Center and get the scoop on what this innovative healthcare project has planned to help local residents live longer, better lives by improving the environment. In 29 Blue Zones Project cities across the U.S., this systematic approach to wellness has been improving health and sig14 LAKE
Auburn University will treat kids to an unforgettable day, to include access to indoor practice facilities, a pre-game message from a former Auburn and NFL player, participation in the Tiger Walk and Eagle Flight and more, including a post-game photo for groups of 100 or more. Tickets are $25. For information, contact Michael Taylor at 334-549-2337.
Nov. 24-26 Christmas at the Crossroads
Open the Christmas season with this weekend-long event at Russell Crossroads. Shop the Company Store for gifts from Cloud Nine and handcrafted items created by local artisans. Stop at Catherine’s Market for discounts and giveaways. Bring the whole family to admire the town decorations and revel in the Christmas spirit while shopping the arts and crafts at the Holiday Market at The Stables. Santa will arrive in town between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to see all the boys and girls. The Holiday Bazaar will be held in conjunction on the Town Green, and local artisans will display handmade jewelry, soaps, woodwork, paintings and more. This is a juried art show and applications are being accepted now through Nov. 11. Contact Tyler Mitchell at tmitchell@russelllands.com. The fee for exhibitors is $75 per booth. For information or to register as a vendor, call 256-397-1397 or visit www.russellcrossroads.com.
NOVEMBER 2017
Nov. 30 Sweet Potato Pie’s A Home Grown Christmas
Season-Long Events
Dec. 1-9 An Eclectic Christmas
$20 on the 20th
Ring in the season with a light-hearted production at the Benjamin Russell High School Auditorium. This Alexander City Arts, Inc., presentation will start at 7 p.m. For ticket information, visit AlexanderCityArts.org.
An Eclectic Ministry hosts its 10th annual walking tour of the Christmas story told through scenes and reenactments at the Falk Farm located at 1733 Claude Rd. in Eclectic. Reservations are suggested, and time slots are scheduled in 15-minute increments. To make a reservation, please call 334-578-4846, e-mail reservations@aneclecticministry.org or visit aneclecticministry.org. Admission is free, but donations are accepted and appreciated. The 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. time slots are handicap accessible, so be sure to specify if you require assistance.
Dec. 3 Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
Get in the holiday spirit with hot chocolate, carols and tacky Christmas sweaters at Broad Street Plaza. Paint Alex City Rocks and visit with a very special guest whose initials are S.C.! For information, call Breanna Smith at MainStreet Alexander City at 256-329-9227.
Dec. 4 Hometown Christmas Parade
Light up the night in Alexander City as the annual Christmas parade winds its way through town at 6 p.m. with bands, dancers, decorated floats and the much-anticipated arrival of Santa Claus. The parade will line up on Comer Street and follow Cherokee Road past Benjamin Russell High School, turning up Church Street; then, turning east on state Route 22 and ending at the bottom of the hill. For parade entry information, contact the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce at 256-234-3461.
Dec. 5-9 Christmas on the Coosa
Gamers’ Club
Adelia M. Russell Library hosts kids ages 12 to 17 in the conference room on Fridays after school until 4:30 p.m. Bring handheld games or games from home (no games rated M allowed). For information, call 256-329-6796. The Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce asks everyone to spend $20 on the 20th of each month to help the local economy.
Children’s Harbor Treasures and Thrift Store
Located on Highway 63 just south of Lake Martin Amphitheater, the Children’s Harbor Thrift Store is open Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You never know what gems you might find – from clothes and household items to boats. Proceeds are used to help fund the activities at the Lake Martin campus of Children’s Harbor and the Family Center at Children's Hospital. 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 (second Friday in December) 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. Contact Dianne Perrett at 256-329-8724 for more information.
Antique Car Cruise-in
On the first Saturday of each month, car enthusiasts cruise into Arby’s parking lot on Highway 280 in Alexander City from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Join the fun and enjoy an era of classic cars and classic music.
Amateur Radio Club
This event kicks off with a tree-lighting in Gold Star Park at 6 p.m. Dec. 5, and children can have their picture taken with Santa starting at 5 p.m. Dec. 8 is Nativity and Luminary Night when downtown businesses will light the town and portray the Christmas story through a series of scenes. Dec. 9 is a day full of activities, starting with a character pancake breakfast for kids at 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. An arts and crafts show will run in Gold Star Park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and a car show will be held in the Wetumpka Depot Players parking lot from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Christmas street parade will begin at 2 p.m., wakeboarding Santa hits the Coosa River for his show at 4 p.m. and fireworks begin at 6 p.m.
The Lake Martin Area Amateur Radio Club meets the second Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. at the terminal building at the Thomas C. Russell Field Airport (Alexander City Airport) with dinner and fellowship following at a local area restaurant. For more information, contact Michael Courtney (256-825-7766) or Mike Smith (256-750-5710).
Naturalist Presentations and Guided Nature Tours
Naturalist Marianne Hudson fills the Naturalist Cabin at Russell Crossroads with children and adults to see and listen to her lively nature presentations with critters, insects, snakes and fowl, just to mention a few. There is never a dull moment with this wildlife biologist as she educates on the beauty of nature in the wild and the outdoor classroom. For scheduled subject matter, dates and times, check the calendar at Calendar.RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com.
NOVEMBER 2017
LAKE 15
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Lake Martin News Renew our Rivers Winning Artwork
Ava Barrett holds her winning artwork for the Renew our Rivers T-shirt contest
The artwork of Stephens Elementary School fourth-grader Ava Barrett will be featured on this year’s volunteer T-shirt for the Lake Martin Resource Association “Renew Our Rivers” cleanup of Lake Martin Nov. 3 and 4. But art is not the only things students worked on while producing designs. “They have been learning about water conservation,” said Stephens Elementary School art teacher Debra Griffith. “The Tallapoosa County Extension Service brought in a model of the watershed to help teach students about runoff. It is all building up to the big cleanup.” LMRA’s John Thompson is organizing the cleanup. Dumpsters for the cleanup will be located at the Real Island Marina, the Kowaliga Public Boat Ramp, Wind Creek Marina and the Union Public Boat Ramp. “This year’s effort will once again be focused on littered shorelines, as well as roadsides leading to public boat ramps,” Thompson said. “Additional efforts will be made to get neighborhoods throughout the Lake Martin community involved.” More than 70 hand-created pieces of students’ artwork for the contest can be seen at the Smithsonian Institute Water|Ways exhibit at the Alexander City City Hall. The traveling Smithsonian Institute Water/Ways exhibit is on display at Alexander City City Hall until Nov. 7 as part of its Museum on Main Street series. Hosted by MainStreet Alexander City and sponsored by the Smithsonian and Alabama Humanities Foundation, the free, self-guided exhibit explains the importance and impact of water in our daily lives. In one corner, a touch-screen display examines the impor18 LAKE
tance of the ocean; what the water cycle is; and how writers like Mark Twain and Henry David Thoreau were influenced by bodies of water. Other displays detail how water has been viewed in religion, including Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and the Japanese religion of Shinto; the various ways water has been used for recreational purposes; and how everyone can work together to overcome water pollution. Along with these resources, there are informational displays from the exhibit’s partners. The Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership has leaflets available about projects it has accomplished to keep the river and Lake Martin beautiful, while Lake Martin Resource Association and Alabama Power also provided supplemental information. The 15 finalists for the T-shirt art contest include Linley Brown, Aaron Perez, Kylee Sanders, Jackson Padgett, Mason Kim, Amanda Cantrell, Bella Westbrook, Carmyn Thomas, Paulina Torres, Riki Lin, Elodie Waller, Cayleigh Collier, Campbell Richardson, Avery Harrelson and Emma Swindall. ~ Cliff Williams & Donald Campbell
Wind Creek zip line set for summer Thrillseekers will have another option on Lake Martin next summer, as Wind Creek Aerial and Zip Line Adventures opened briefly in October and is ready for full operation next season. The new attraction is a partnership between the Alabama State Parks System, Historic Banning Mills, a 501(c)(3) conservation center in Banning, Georgia, and American Adventure Park Systems of Whitesburg, Georgia. “This is kind of a soft opening for us here in the fall,” said Banning Mills' Donna Holder said. “But we were done and wanted to start to let people experience it and see what it’s all about before the big kickoff next spring.” The lines range in height from 20 to 70 feet off the ground and span a distance from 200 to 650 feet. “The course is in the open and with high traffic of campers and visitors, people have really been asking about it,” Holder said. “We are excited about getting it opened and think it will be a great addition to the park amenities.” Two or more staff members will accompany each one- to two-hour zipline tour, and guests wear harnesses that are always locked into the cable safety system. ~ Cliff Williams & Mitch Sneed
NOVEMBER 2017
Wind Creek's zip line tour is ready to roll for next summer on the lake
Initial issues in Harris relicensing mirror Lake Martin's Although the official start of the R. L. Harris Hydroelectric Project doesn’t begin until June 1, 2018, Alabama Power Company hosted an issue-identification workshop Oct. 19 at Wedowee Marine South in Wedowee. APC officials and representatives from Kleinschmidt, Alabama Power’s consultants, explained the relicensing process and facilitated break-out group discussions of issues in four resource-specific areas, including fish and wildlife; water quality and quantity; project operation and recreation, shoreline management and cultural relations. This process is very similar to the approach the power company used during the Martin relicensing process. The representatives presented a tentative schedule of relicensing actions and deadlines, culminating with the license application filing on or around Nov. 30, 2021. The actual issuance of the license by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission could take up to two years or longer. If the new license has not been issued by the expiration of the current license, FERC will allow Alabama Power to continue operating the project under the current license until the new license is finalized. Approximately 80-100 stakeholders were present at the meeting, including representatives from U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, property owner groups, downstream owners and interest groups. Many property owners expressed concerns similar to those expressed during the Martin relicensing, i.e. desire for higher winter pool levels, concerns over erosion and sedimentation, concerns about water intake and concerns about water releases from the dam and downstream flooding. Lake Martin Resource Association was present to represent Lake Martin interests, and LMRA’s board plans to remain active throughout the Harris relicensing process. The Harris project is located 78 river miles upstream of Lake Martin. The license to operate the Harris project was originally issued in 1973 and is the only Alabama Power project still operating under its original license. It consists of 9,870 acres of reservoir with 367 miles of shoreline. A unique aspect of the Harris project is that it has a scenic easement that prohibits certain activities on project land, such as cutting trees over a certain diameter, to maintain the natural aesthetic of the lake. It also includes 15,000 acres of project land in the Skyline Wildlife Management Area in Jackson County near Scottsboro as mitigation for the environmental aspects of the original project. Alabama Power has established a website for the relicensing process, with information and schedules. It can be viewed at www.harrisrelicensig.com. Electronic notices from FERC may be received by signing up in the e-subscription section of the FERC website and using the P-2628 project docket designation. ~ Steve Forehand LMRA Counsel NOVEMBER 2017
LAKE 19
More Lights LMRA launches ambitious plan to increase lighted buoys in high-traffic areas
L
STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
Lake Martin Resource Association has launched a lighted buoy campaign that could make night boating safer and improve the local economy, but the program could cost upwards of $75,000, said LMRA President John Thompson. The Light Up Lake Martin program would increase the number of lighted buoys on Lake Martin from the current 35 to 200 over the next few seasons. “We expect that this will be a two- or three-year project,” Thompson said. “The plan is to raise the necessary money through charity events and donations. We would not use membership dues for this program because those funds finance the maintenance program, and we don’t want to pull money away from maintenance.” LMRA’s membership is 1,440 right now, which generates some $36,000 for the maintenance program, including gasoline and upkeep on the buoy boat and the cost of buoys, cables and concrete. Thompson said the need for more lighted buoys on the lake has long been apparent, but the prohibitive cost has made the acquisition of lighted buoys difficult. The Marine Police arm of the Alabama Law
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Enforcement Agency determines placement of the buoys, and Thompson noted that the lighted buoy program will not add to the overall number of buoys on the lake but will replace unlit buoys with lighted units. Despite the inability of homeowners to request specific locations for the lighted buoys, he was encouraged by the support of Lake Martin residents. “We used the donated funds that we received from the Young Professionals Polar Plunge to increase the number of lighted buoys from 20 to 35 this summer, and we have received a lot of favorable comments,” Thompson said. “We recently gave a presentation on safe boating to a Lake Martin community, and some of the homeowners there asked about getting lighted buoys on some hazards in their neighborhoods. When I explained that each lighted buoy costs about $450-$475, I was surprised at the number of folks who said they would be willing to pay for that. “It just really pointed out to us how important it is to the homeowners that we do this to make Lake Martin safer.” LMRA now plans to use all donated funds,
NOVEMBER 2017
on the Lake
including those from the recent Lake Martin Classic Golf Tournament, for this project, Thompson said. “With these charity events and donations, we hope that now we will have some real dollars to apply to the program,” he said. “As the lake gets busier, we hope that people will feel safer boating after dark with more lighted buoys on the water. There are several restaurants on the lake that are open at night and provide water access; hopefully by making it safer and easier to navigate at night, they will see an increase in business.” Thompson said the standard, unlit buoys could not be altered to accommodate light kits, as the retrofitted seals would not hold up in the water. “The mechanism needs to be part of the manufacturing process, and then we install the actual light on the boat,” Thompson explained. The 26-foot pontoon boat that the buoy team uses was purchased and modified to accommodate the maintenance program with financial assistance from Alabama Power Company. The boat includes storage racks and toolboxes, as well as a work area in which all necessary adjustments to buoys can be
LMRA intends to increase the number of lighted buoys on Lake Martin over the next few seasons, for safety reasons
made. It has been equipped with a winch system from which buoys can be deployed. Each buoy weighs about 50 pounds, but another 150 pounds are added as an anchor to hold the marker in place. In some cases, hazards are marked with permanent white poles that have been painted with official markings. The buoy program started in 1980, but LMRA reorganized and ramped up the maintenance program about 10 years ago in front of the recent relicensing of Martin Dam. The Ridge Marina donates a covered slip for the boat, and Nails at Kowaliga donates storage space for buoys and equipment. The Marine Police donated the first buoy supply. Each year, the LMRA Boating Safety Committee replaces more than 80 lost or damaged buoys around the lake – nearly 20 percent of the 440 buoys they maintain – and Thompson said the number increases every year as more boaters visit the area. Of 86 replacements this year, 15 were lighted buoys. “Our crew works for six hours a day three days a week in summer, and they can replace between
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A team of LMRA volunteers drop the 50-pound buoys in place with heavy anchors
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Each light is visible for 1 mile at night
six and eight buoys in a day. Most of those are replaced through routine maintenance or reports we receive of lost or damaged buoys,” he explained. The buoy placements are tracked on software that the team has on the boat during operation, so updates can be made in real time. “The buoy team can do all of it right from the boat: install the solar powered lights, attach the cables and weights and lower the buoys into place; and then, update the records,” Thompson explained. The lights on these buoys are subtle dots, not bold or glaring bulbs that might disturb shore life, Thompson said. Each light is visible for 1 mile at night. “They will be noticeable to boaters and will be especially helpful to boaters who are inexperienced on the lake,” he said. Thompson said volunteers are needed for the buoy team, which generally works from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on weekdays. “We don’t go out on weekends, just weekdays, and Monday is the biggest day. Volunteers can work as many or as few days as they want to,” Thompson said. “It’s hard work, but it’s pleasant and very rewarding, too. Volunteers cruise the lake – it’s very scenic work – and they have conversation, stop and replace a few buoys – and come on in.” To volunteer for the buoy team, email lmra@lmra.info. To donate to the Light Up Lake Martin campaign, send a check to Lake Martin Resource Association, 2544 Willow Point Rd., Alexander City AL 35010. NOVEMBER 2017
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Autumn Activities
Hiking season at Lake Martin begins when the water goes down STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
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Russell Forest offers public access to more than 100 miles of hiking trails
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Butterfly Crossing offers one of the most scenic picnicking spots in Russell Forest
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P
Plug Day doesn’t end the recreational season at Lake Martin; rather, it signifies a shift. As the water level and temperatures go down, residents and visitors alike trade their boat keys for hiking boots and find the trekking opportunities almost endless. More than 150 miles of trails harbor natural beauty and lead families and friends into another season of memories at the lake from October through April. More than two-thirds of these trails wind through valleys and over hilltops, past historic homesteads and over picturesque creeks in Russell Forest, a designated natural habitat into which the public is cordially invited to stroll, picnic and play. Maintained under the direction of The Stables Trail Boss Stanley Ingram, the trail system has been expanded and improved over recent years with grading, the addition of weather-resistant benches, an in-process signage project and a free app that uses global positioning to help hikers find their way. Among the additions are the Pitchford Creek trails north of Willow Point Cut-Off Road, the Frontier trails, the Pony Express Trail and Lakeview Loop. Turtle Back Loop and other trails also have been extended to offer more scenic hiking experiences, said Ingram. Pitchford Creek trails are accessed at points on the north side of the road east and west of the Willow Point Cut-Off Trailhead. The section includes nearly 5 miles of new trail, the longest of which doubles back along the paved cut-off road on a line west of the trailhead; and then, loosely follows Hwy. 63 north to Pitchford Creek.
The wide path through old growth pines gives way to the dense hardwood forest floor, crossing several streams as it meanders east to Willow Point Road. The trail ends at the Willow Point security gate, and hikers follow the Green Way along Willow Point Cut-off Road to return to the parking area at the cut-off trailhead. This new trail is most accessible in dry periods, as some spots along the trail are not passable during wet weather, though rainy periods offer the sight of beautiful cascades on the creek. South of Willow Point Cut-Off Road, Big Way provides access to the heart of Russell Forest. Parking is available at four trailheads that are roughly evenly spaced from north to south. Willow Point Cut-Off, Adamson Road, Russell Crossroads and Wilson Road trailheads all offer plentiful parking and easy routes to the unique scenic beauty of the woods. The Frontier trails stretch 4 miles from the Big Way access slightly south of the Cut-off parking lot to Adamson Road. Though the graded trail is wide and flat, Ingram suggested hikers allow two hours to wind through the system. It might be wise to park a second vehicle at the Adamson Road Trailhead if a return hike is not on the itinerary. To make a day of it, pack a lunch; however, expect that the easy stroll will be challenged with the picnicking options, the first of which greets hikers at the Adamson Road Trailhead. This plan allows plenty of time after lunch for one of Russell Forest’s most scenic routes, the 3-mile Dark Valley Loop. Follow the
Dogs are welcome in the Forest but must be kept on a leash
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Adamson connector trail to the southern leg of the loop where the canopy shades a walk over gentle slopes interspersed with some steeper areas. The trail can be muddy at times, so come prepared. Instead of taking lunch at Adamson, save it for Butterfly Crossing, another favorite picnic area in the northern section of the Forest. There’s more than one way to get to this picturesque creekside meadow at the edge of the woods on Big Way, one of which is a cut-off trail about halfway down Hwy. 63 on the Frontier Trail. Follow Horsely Creek as it spills and babbles over a rocky bed to the picnic area. For another picnic option, take the Horsely connector from Frontier and turn south just past the creek to climb Heavenly Hill and picnic in the hilltop meadow. South of Adamson, Big Way leads to yet another option at Seven Points, the hikers’ gateway to new and expanded trails in the center of Russell Forest. The new 2.5-mile Pony Express Trail lies between O.Z. Hall and Gordon Taylor roads and passes the yucca field as it undulates through mature pines and hardwoods and over small streams. Turning south at the T, pick up Two-Day Loop, the most challenging of the Russell Forest trails. High fitness level is recommended for this advanced trail that includes rocky areas and fallen trees with rough, wet ground and steep inclines. A deep water crossing – chest-high or deeper – could prevent hikers from finishing the entire loop; instead, this trail can be done in sections on different days. Another option from Pony Express might be to take the Long Leaf Loop to Lakeview Loop, which takes hikers to a lakeside picnic area just north of Crossroads Landing. 28 LAKE
Of course, if the picnic didn’t get packed or was inadvertently left on the counter at the cabin, this is a great place to refuel. Take the Beechtree Hollow path to The Stables Loop, stopping to view a turpentine mill site that fed the local economy at the turn of the last century before catching lunch at Catherine’s Market or relaxing in front of the fire at SpringHouse. To go the length of the Forest, take Turtle Back Loop from Russell Crossroads to some of the area’s most scenic and engaging hiking. Excellent for birdwatching and wildlife viewing, the 3.5-mile loop to Turtle Back Rock and back includes diverse terrain that transitions from cane bottomland to hardwood hillsides and open meadows. Pick up Lakeside Loop for the water views, and the Rocky Mount Loop West and Branch Loop West trails will lead to the Wilson Road Trailhead and the end of a great day at Lake Martin. Though the switchbacks, loops and connectors might be confusing on the ground, download the Russell Lands free app to follow a prescribed route. The updated Many trails in open areas app includes a are graded to prevent erosion and GPS map of the offer access to interior loop paths Forest, as well as 17 new blueways – paddle trips on the Alabama Scenic River Trail – as well as launch sites, rules and safety tips. The app also includes links to current events and a Help button that connects a hiker to Russell Lands Security in case of emergency. Maps are available at The Stables at Russell Crossroads and at the Willow Point Security Gate. The latest version is green. Please call Russell Lands Security at 256-329-1511 before entering and upon leaving the Forest.
NOVEMBER 2017
www.ivycreekhealth.com
Our Family Caring For Your Family
a division of
Beth Wade, RN Clinical Director
Since 2004 Lake Martin Hospice has offered the finest care with compassion, excellence and reliability. The entire team lives in the service area and therefore has established relationships with local doctors, drug stores, hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities.
We provide comfort and expert care
Linda Segrest, RN, CHPN Regional Director
Dr. Melissa Thompson, MD Medical Director
• Specialized Nurses educated in palliative care and pain control • Home Care Aides to provide personal care services and to assist with basic needs • Social Workers to ensure your loved one and your family process the emotional end-of-life issues • Spiritual Care Counselors are available to guide patients in meeting their spiritual needs as the end-of-life approaches • Volunteers as needed to provide valuable companionship, emotional support and help in many ways • Medical Equipment and a supplement of personal care items Lake Martin Hospice is available by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Remember, November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month.
201 Mariarden Road Dadeville, AL 36853 256-825-3272 NOVEMBER 2017
500 Hospital Drive Wetumpka, AL 36092 334-514-0682 LAKE 29
Blazing Star
The long, wavy stigma emerging from the flower's head resembles sea anemones
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These purple perennial native wildflowers add color to the fall landscape NATURE OF THE LAKE BY KENNETH BOONE
NOVEMBER 2017
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A fall stroll down a Lake Martin country road is likely to reveal a breathtaking natural wildflower bouquet – the darker greens of autumn are polka-dotted with yellows and whites and often accented with streaks of purple. And there’s a good chance those purple streaks are “blazing stars.” Blazing stars are a group of about 40 perennial wildflowers native to North America. These flowers are members of the huge aster family – the family that includes daisies, sunflowers and a grand total of almost 33,000 species. The scientific name for the blazing star genus is Liatris (Lie-aye-tris), a name often used Around Lake Martin, these by florists and garflowers can be found in deners. Another rocky, pine forests common name for this same group is gayfeather. The purple flower shown here is a Grassleaf Blazing Star, Shaggy Blazing Star, Greene’s Elegant Gayfeather and Grassleaf Gayfeather. Same flower; different common names. Scientists know it as Liatris elegantula. Dr. Brian Keener, a botany professor at The University of West Alabama, said Alabama is home to 14 species of blazing stars and two hybrids. While many of them are pretty enough to be grown in flower gardens, blazing stars grow wild in many locations, from the sandy dunes on the Alabama Gulf Coast all the way up into the mountainous northeast corner of the state. “We’ve got four or five that are very common,” Keener said, “The Grassleaf Blazing Star, Liatris elegantula, is a very common species, especially around Lake Martin.” Grassleaf Blazing Star grows throughout Alabama, as well as in Mississippi, Florida and Georgia. Here around Lake Martin, you are likely to find them in rocky, pine forests, but they are also found on longleaf pine, scrub oak forests or dry mixed pine-hardwood forests and on the edges of fields and on the shoulders of roads. These plants can be up to 3 feet tall, and their stems are green and usually straight and unbranched. This blazing star can be found growing straight up or sometimes at an angle, propped up by other plants in the forest. Grassleaf Blazing Star leaves are long and thin, and if you look real close, they have white hairs on their edges close to the stem. These leaves are attached directly to the stem without stalks and grow alternately up the stem. The largest leaves grow at the bottom of the plant, and the leaves get progressively smaller up the stem. The scores of bright purple flowerheads are the crowning glory of Grassleaf Blazing Stars.
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“What you see is not just a flower. They have several flowers tucked away in something we call a ‘head,’” Keener said. Grassleaf Blazing Star’s purple flowerheads line the wildflower’s stem and are a bit unusual because they begin opening from the top of the stem and work their way down. Each flowerhead is made up of a cluster of between eight and 11 flowers. Each tube-shaped flower has five lobes. The long, wavy stigma, which emerge from each flower, look like tiny purple sea anemones. Keener said blazing star blossoms initially start out with five stamens (the male organ in a flower) that don’t stick out of the flower very far. As the flower ages, the stigma, which is the “tip-top of the female part of the flower,” extends farther out. Blazing stars are pollinated by butterflies, bees and other insects that pick up pollen from stamens and deposit it on stigmas as they go from flower to flower searching for nectar. As cut flowers, Grassleaf Blazing Stars are very pretty and so long-lasting in arrangements that many people want to raise them in wildflower gardens. “If someone found a roadside population that was ample in number, and they wanted to grow a few individuals, if they were careful not to decimate the population, they could perhaps extract two or three,” Keener said. “Most of them have a nice globose corm, a spherical, starch-filled underground stem – kind of like a potato but not exactly – and they’re pretty easily transferred. Alternatively, they could gather the seeds and germinate them.” If you are growing blazing stars, there is a good chance the stems will need to be staked to prevent them from falling over as the plant matures. “I grow these in my garden, and Liatris is my wife’s favorite wildflower, so whenever we see different ones, we typically extract two or three just to put in our wildflower garden. They’re always very pretty when they flower,” he said. “I counted this year, and we have six different species that flower at different times.” Keener said one of the rarest wildflowers in the United States is a blazing star called Liatris oligocephala. This flower, also known as a Cahaba Torch, was first recognized and named in 2001 and is only found in Bibb County, Alabama. Due to the rarity of the Cahaba Torch, Keener said it should never be taken from the wild. Some information for this article came from the Alabama Plant Atlas www.floraofalabama.org and www.missouriplants.com.
NOVEMBER 2017
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LAKE 33
A passerby alerted Russell Lands Security to a wildfire that apparently was purposely set on the main channel side of Lake Martin's Chimney Rock Island. About a dozen volunteers from the Windermere Volunteer Fire Department responded to a call shortly after 1 p.m. on Oct. 1 and fought the fire until 6 p.m. With close to 20 people working on land and in the water, equipment – including a bulldozer and water-pumping boats – was brought in, and the wildfire was contained at the ithsmus to Ridge Island. Once it was contained, it was treated as a controlled burn. Russell Lands General Counsel Steve Forehand said the fire could not have started naturally, as the afternoon was clear, though high humidity helped to keep it at a slower burn than it might have been on a drier day. Prevailing winds worked in favor of firefighters. Still, Forehand said, the damage could not be assessed until spring. "We'll just have to wait and see what comes back in the spring and what doesn't," he said.
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Fire
on Lake Martin Chimney Rock Island damage remains unknown
I
STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY BETH DAVIS
It won't be until spring that the extent of damage will be known at Lake Martin's Chimney Rock Island after a wildfire quickly spread across the entire island last month. The fast work of Windermere volunteer firefighters prevented the blaze from crossing a narrow strip of land to Ridge Island after a passing boater reported the fire near an iconic Lake Martin landmark. Russell Lands General Counsel Steve Forehand said the new growth period beginning next March would indicate the number of trees that did not survive the blaze. "Fortunately, there are a number of longleaf pines in that area, and they are very resistant to fire damage," Forehand said. The fire started on a very steep main channel section of Chimney Rock Island and burned most of the underbrush and trees there, but with the help of more than a dozen volunteer firefighters and six Russell Lands security officers, the fire was contained in fewer than five hours. “We were able to put in a fire lane and backfire it down the hill to get the fire put out quickly,” Forehand said. Russell Lands Security received a call from a passing boater shortly after 1 p.m. Oct. 1 alerting them to a fire that apparently was purposefully set. “Where the fire started, no one could have been camping, so it was either set intentionally or somebody was grossly
careless. There’s no doubt it was started by humans – there was no lightning that afternoon,” Forehand said. The fire was started on the main channel side of the island immediately south of the iconic Acapulco Rock recreation area commonly known as Chimney Rock. With the island fully involved, the main concern of firefighters was to prevent its spreading to the adjacent – and much larger – Ridge Island. And while winds were between 10 and 15 miles per hour at the time, Forehand said the winds actually helped firefighters. “The wind was blowing against the fire, so once we got our timber equipment there and got out the drip torches, we were able to light some back fires and back it down the hill,” he explained. By lighting small head fires that blew toward the main fire on the island, the firefighters essentially deprived the fire of the fuel it would have needed to spread. In addition, volunteer firefighters from the nearby Windermere Volunteer Fire Dept. used floating pumps to fight the fire from the lake side. “We just can’t emphasize how very appreciative we are for the Windermere Volunteer Fire Department and all of the concerned passersby who alerted us to the fire,” Forehand said. J. Stern saw the smoke while on the lake and went in to see what was happening and captured videos and images of the blaze. “I’ve never seen a forest fire before, it was very sad,” Stern said. “After talking to some of the firefighter professionals I was assured that it is a good thing in the end. They made firebreaks and monitored it and treated it like a controlled burn once they got it under control. But it was still very sad and very apocalyptic.” Russell Lands On Lake Martin owns the island.
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Rebuild Reveal
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A from-the-foundations-up Blue Creek rebuild already is filled with memories STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
The Wadsworths rebuilt their cabin in the footprint of its predecessor
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In 1986, Tom and Janet Wadsworth bought a two-bedroom, one-bath cabin on the east side of Lake Martin and counted themselves lucky to have a place at the lake that was convenient to their fulltime home in Auburn. The little Blue Creek cabin provided the retreat they wanted for their family, but as the family grew, they needed more space, so in 2002, they added another structure to the lot – a two-story daylight basement cabin with additional bedrooms, baths and a studio kitchen. The couple used the second building as a master suite and let the kids use the beloved old cabin. They kept it up well, despite its age, but two years ago, they discovered a leak and lots of mold at the original cabin and decided a full-scale renovation was in order. The more they delved into the project, the more damage they found, and it became apparent the little house that had sheltered their early years on the water needed to go. They demolished it, right down to the foundation. “All that was left was the original footprint,” Tom Wadsworth said. Though Janet loved the idea of a rebuild, she didn’t look forward to choosing colors, flooring, backsplash tiles, cabinets, etc.; nor did she look forward to making the myriad additional decisions for the lake home, so her husband concocted a plan and a very special gift for his bride. Working with the building and design team of Jack and Melissa Manifold of J Manifold Construction, he proposed an HGTV Fixer Upper-styled reveal to surprise Janet last March with the finished four-bedroom, threeand-a-half-bath cabin, which Manifold furnished based on conversations with Janet. “It was just so wonderful!” Janet said of the reveal. “Melissa included all sorts of family pictures and pieces that mean a lot to us, and she added in lots of touches that she thought we would like. The result was perfect. We love it!” The original cabin had included a lakeside screened porch that Jack Manifold incorporated into the main house with a vaulted ceiling in the open concept living space and lots of windows with a spectacular view of the lake. A large, new screened porch was added on the wooded east side of the house, and in an upstairs loft, the fixer upper included a Jack-and-Jill bath between two all-new bedrooms, in addition to the two bedrooms and bathrooms downstairs. Historic and reclaimed touches throughout the home include circular saw cut floors from a 150-year-old house in Selma and a custom light fixture made from a beam that came out of a historic Auburn home, as well as many others. In the lakeview living area, Wadsworth fashioned a coffee table from a hatch cover they owned for more than 40 years. “It’s from the World War II Old Liberty Ship, and it had
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been stored in our basement since we found it in a shop in Destin,” Janet explained. “We always said we would do something with it someday.” In the den area, Manifold placed a 2-foot diameter coffee table that Wadsworth made from the crosscut section of a Paul Harris Friendship Tree. The founder of Rotary International, Harris planted the trees in cities he visited around the world. The tree from which the Wadsworths’ table was made was planted in 1944 in Tuskegee, Tom Wadsworth’s home town. To create a space that she knew Janet would love, Manifold met with her to talk about her priorities. “It became apparent that Janet’s priorities were not the décor, but she approached it from the standpoint of representing the family. This is a home with memories,” Manifold said. Following her meeting with Janet, Manifold spent some time with Tom – touring his barn, basement and other areas where he had stored pieces the couple had collected over the years. “The things that Tom pointed out and talked with me about were the little things, like the artwork that he gave Janet on their honeymoon. What I tried to put together was a reflection of This vintage gasoline pump their life by using these artifacts was once owned by Wadsworth's father that they had accumulated through years together and never knew what to do with them,” she said. Manifold was determined that the home be an expression of the Wadsworths, not an example of her own style. She seamlessly mixed the Wadsworths’ beloved vintage and antique pieces with contemporary comfort by setting the modern elements in soft hues and letting the bright, rich colors of the sentimental pieces add pop to the scheme. The neutral contemporary furnishings reflect the natural light and provide space in which Manifold showcased the personal items. “With every project that we do, we create a different palette. This project began with the old pieces that have very vibrant colors. To do something that drew attention away from those would have added conflict. The softer tones didn’t compete with what was most important to them,” she said. “The whole tone and style was simple, relaxed and comfortable. Classic. “What was really fun was that Janet didn’t see any of it until the reveal. They trusted us and totally gave us freedom on the design. Tom just wanted to do this for Janet, to make it wonderful for her; and Janet wanted something nice for Tom, something for the family.” In essence, Manifold said, the Wadsworths trusted their design and construction team not only with the story of the couple’s own relationship but also the history of their family. One such historical vignette includes a gasoline pump with a visible-pump globe amid memorabilia from Wadsworth’s career as a gasoline wholesaler and convenience store franchi-
NOVEMBER 2017
The second cabin was built 15 years ago for extra space and privacy
The deck area offers long views of the lake across Blue Creek to Curry Point
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Manifold chose accent pieces that mirrored the rustic antique style the Wadsworths love
Their builder wired a beam from a historic Auburn home for the island pendants
Wadsworth crafted this farmhouse table himself out of rough sawn poplar wood
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The woodpecker knocker followed the family from their first cabin on Lake Martin to this one
NOVEMBER 2017
see. Photos and awards decorate the shelves and walls behind the pump, which came out of a station that Wadsworth’s father owned. Furnishings are focused on the lake view, but in the living area, Manifold chose swivel chairs that can easily be turned to join the activity in other areas of the great room. Though the arrangement of furnishings and accessories clearly defines designated spaces for dining, kitchen and den, the choices and placement of furniture readily expand the use of these areas to accommodate the many friends and family who gather under the Wadsworths’ welcoming roof. Wadsworth himself made the farmhouse table from rough sawn poplar wood, to seat 10, as well as the driftwood wine rack on the bar behind it. Reclaimed wood was used throughout the home to lend a vintage foundation to the space. Jack Manifold wired glass pendants through a beam that was salvaged from the old Poucher House in Auburn, and 200-year-old barn wood was used to make the sliding doors for the bedrooms in the loft. In addition to the authentic woods, Manifold found replica accents to carry the theme forward, such as a charging station disguised as a turn-of-the-century telephone. On the wall near the screened porch door, Manifold placed a treadle sewing machine base topped with an old tobacco basket, and she placed a ship’s wheel on a wall near the bedrooms. Tucked sweetly on shelves throughout the home are family photos that Manifold chose from Janet’s albums, as well as original works of art that Tom and Janet have collected over their 46 years together. Upstairs, the bedrooms include furniture that belonged to
Janet’s grandmother – and in the dormers, daybeds were added for the Wadsworths’ three grandchildren. “We have grandmother camp at the lake,” Janet said. “We catch minnows and visit Goat Island and go see the osprey, and they sleep well.” The vintage feel extends beyond the interior living spaces, as Manifold found homes for some of Janet’s most sentimental treasures – a brass tugboat bell that belonged to her father, along with her grandmother’s Hoosier cabinet, which graces a corner of the spacious porch beside a wide swing bed. Manifold wrapped the aesthetic ropes for the swing around a sturdy chain as an added measure of safety; so family members could pile on amongst the pillows for those wonderful mornings and late afternoons on the screened porch. Outside, the lakeside deck area grows from a refreshing breezeway between the two cabins, so even before they enter the house, visitors are held captive by the long view across Blue Creek to Curry Point. On the pebbled walk to the dock, Wadsworth arranged a pair of anchors that were pulled up from Mobile Bay. “We think they could be from French ships that sank there in the late 1700s,” Janet explained. This delightful fixer-upper actually is the second Lake Martin property to act as the family’s retreat. Their first escape was a Real Island A-frame that they purchased from relatives some 40 years ago. At the time, they were living in Tuskegee, and the Little Kowaliga Creek area was easily accessed. When they moved to Auburn, Blue Creek was more convenient, and the airy fixer-upper affords them the space and comfort for many more years on Lake Martin.
Rugs, furnishings and décor define the cabin's living areas within the open concept
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LAKE 41
Dixie Sailing Club cleans up Lake Martin STORY & PHOTOS BY AMY PASSARETTI
D
ixie Sailing Club youth handled their latest Treasured Mile shoreline cleanup as a scavenger hunt, competing for the most unique items and making the day less of a chore and more of an adventure. DSC adopted the shoreline from Peanut Point to New Hope Church with Lake Martin Resource Association’s Treasured Mile program. “This is our way of giving back to the community because they’ve been more than generous supporting our youth program. What better way to help out than in the area where we play,” said Stephanie Childers, organizer of the event. Six children and four adults shuffled through so much waste that they filled 15 bags to be picked up by LMRA and could have filled even more. “This is DSC’s first year doing this, so we are kind of playing it by ear to see what works and what’s the most effective way to handle the cleanup,” said Childers. The scavenger list included nearly 40 items to keep the cleanup interesting, but all of the participants took to writing down the even more unusual items they never expected to find outside, including a mattress box spring, pillow and sheets, DSC youth and adult volunteers collected 15 bags of trash near Peanut Point
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clothing and shoes, a smoker grill and other abnormal items people had left behind. Ethan Childers was awarded first place with the longest list of unique scavenger hunt items, but all the children involved received gift cards. “Kids learn to not throw trash in the lakes because they see first-hand the mess that's left behind and what they have to cleanup. If we get more kids involved, we will teach them responsibility and hopefully cut down on the amount of people trashing our lake areas,” said Jim Simons, president of the DSC youth program. Laurie Barrett, a gifted teacher at Alexander City schools, presented environmental education about watersheds and water/pH sampling to supplement the cleanup. “I like to get kids outside and learn outdoors. What we’re trying to do here is keep our watershed clean, so giving them something hands-on and fun to do teaches them why we do this,” said Barrett. This event marked the end of the DSC season, but the youth program is planning another cleanup event in the fall to extend their reach farther down the shoreline for which they are responsible.
FROM OUR REAL ESTATE ADVERTISERS
FABULOUS FINDS
140 Parson Lane, Jacksons Gap • $519,000 How about a beautiful 4BD/2Bunkrooms/3BA lake home with gorgeous views of Lake Martin? Well, here it is! Totally updated w/ hardwood flooring, lovely cabinetry, SS appliances. 2BD/1BA on main. Upstairs master suite, 2/4-bed bunk rooms, BD/BA and 2nd FR on walkout level. Concrete flooring, shiplap, barn doors and so much more.. lovely flagstone walkway to lake. Great boathouse w/ boat slip and lift, floating dock and deck built on lakeside. Perfect for entertaining or just plain family fun! A must see! RE/MAX Around the Lake Call Amanda Scroggins 256-749-6634 www.amandascroggins.com
128 River Ridge Road, B2, Alexander City • $219,000128 River LIVE ON LAKE MARTIN in this adorable townhome with one car garage in the wonderful low density community of Hillside Hideaway. Conveniently located to Hwy 280. 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom with gorgeous view and assigned boat slip. Beautiful community pool. Very convenient to Alex City & Auburn. Ready for Lake fun and football season! A MUST SEE! Call today! RE/MAX Around the Lake Call Samantha Spurlin 256-786-0650 www.samanthaspurlin.com
1031 Lakeshore Drive, Jacksons Gap • $409,000 Cozy, super cute, lake cabin styled for outdoor fun...sits on deepwater cove that opens to big water. 3BD/2.5BA, split plan w/ spacious master BD/BA, double granite vanity and lg. walk in closet. 2BD/ BA on opposite end. Open kit/din/LR. laminate flooring throughout, 3 sets of french doors on lakeside open to huge deck, perfect for entertaining. Lovely flagstone walkway to dock. Covered boatslip w/ lift and floating dock. Nice landscaping. Everything you need to begin making memories on Lake Martin!! RE/MAX Around the Lake Call Amanda Scroggins 256-749-6634 www.amandascroggins.com
191 Hagan Road, Eclectic, AL • $495,000 Great location in Tallassee Slough. Nicely updated cabin on flat lot in quiet cove. Just around the corner from the big open water of Kowaliga Bay. Just what you're looking for in a weekend lake cabin. Updates include granite counter tops and tile baths. Close to everything on the lake. Minutes from Kowaliga restaurant and Harbor Docks. Come and enjoy the summer now! 3BR 2BA Lake Martin Realty Damon Story 205.789.9526 www.LakeMartinRealty.com
525 Nicholson Road, Alexander City • $995,000 Enjoy Lake Martin like it was meant to be enjoyed. Create memories in this ''Cabin'' style home. Located in the cabin community of Nichols Cove with wooded surroundings and nostalgic dirt roads.Convenient to everything. Very private with open views of Kowaliga Bay! If you are looking for a move-in ready home, great location and views, you have found it here! A must see. Lake Martin Realty Damon Story 205.789.9526 www.LakeMartinRealty.com
Willow Glynn, The Abby $1,250,000 Just completed by RLH Construction. The Abby is a 3,219 sq. ft. plan designed by Chuck Frusterio. Owner’s suite and guest suites on main level with spacious livingdining-kitchen and large covered porch. Lake level offers two bedrooms, two bathrooms, generous lake-prep room, family room, wet bar, second laundry, and spacious covered patio for outdoor entertaining. Russell Lands On Lake Martin 256.215.7011 www.RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com
Willow Glynn, Riverside Cottage $1,195,000 Move-in-ready RLH Construction & designed by Mitch Ginn, this design offers 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 2 living areas and vaulted ceilings in the kitchen and owner’s suite. Enjoy the spectacular water views from both of the spacious covered porches. Russell Lands On Lake Martin 256.215.7011 www.RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com
South Ridge Estates, Y Knot Looking for the perfect homesite and lake houseplan? Take a look at this stunning design by Bill Farshee. Under construction by Classic Homes, this plan is a unique design that provides lake views from every room. The main living area is surrounded by covered lakeside porches. Two owner’s suites on main level and rec room, bunk loft and two guest suites on upper level. A detached two-car garage with guest suite above completes this plan. Russell Lands On Lake Martin 256.215.7011 www.RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com
South Ridge Harbor, Diamond View $1,650,000 Classic Homes, a division of Russell Lands, has just broken ground on the "Diamond View" in The Ridge. This exciting new lake home design by Larry Furlong has it all: four bedrooms, four full baths, two powder rooms, PLUS two Great Rooms...one on each level. Claim your spot next to the stone fireplace and cozy up to spectacular views of Kowaliga Bay! The open kitchen overlooks the living and dining areas making this home perfect for entertaining family and friends. Call today for more details or to visit this new home project in person! Russell Lands On Lake Martin 256.215.7011 www.RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com
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LAKE 43
Sticky Business
Turpentine's economic role in the county's early years STORY BY J. HAROLD BANKS
T
hat sticky, gummy pine sap that won’t leaf pine forests and the collapse of foreign A single wash out of your clothes was once a markets. turpentine valuable commodity, and its extraction One of the largest turpentine operations tree could was a major industry in the Southeast, includin the state was started by former slave John provide ing the Lake Martin area. During the days of Jackson Benson, born in 1850. Benson opermore than 140 wooden boats and sailing ships, pitch and tar ated a prosperous sawmill and turpentine farm pounds of produced from pine resin were essential for in the Kowaliga Creek area. resin over waterproofing and caulking. These products A son, Will Benson, graduated from 20 years were called ‘naval stores,’ and assuring an Howard College in Washington, D.C., before without ample supply was a national security concern returning home to expand the Benson enterkilling the for many nations, including the United States prises and land holdings. In 1895, he founded tree and Great Britain. the Kowaliga School to improve the lives of Turpentine, originally a by-product of naval the local African-American population. In stores production, had many uses as a solvent 1897, the name was changed to The Kowaliga and was a base for numerous products. Early Academic and Industrial Institute. Turpentine settlers took advantage of the large expanses of and rosin produced at the Benson turpentine longleaf pine forests once common in this area mill provided a major source of revenue to to create turpentine farms. support the school. To extract pine resin, diagonal gashes were Germany was the largest purchaser of turscribed on one face of the tree, and a galvapentine from the Benson mill. Unfortunately, nized tin gutter directed the oozing sap into a the closure of shipping lanes at the outset of quart-sized metal cup fixed to World War I also forced the the tree. Done properly, one closure of the turpentine mill tree could produce 7 pounds and ultimately contributed of resin per year for 20 years to the decline of the Benson or more without destroying empire. Ruins of the Benson the tree. turpentine mill can still be Keen observers hiking seen near Russell Crossroads Trail Blazers Cherokee Ridge Alpine trails on Highway 63. can still find the distinctive Today, turpentine and rosin George & Peggy Dyar diagonally marked ‘catface’ are primarily collected from scars on longleaf pine trees resin-soaked stumps and as that once were tapped for a byproduct of plywood and resin. Tens of thousands of longleaf pines in the Lake Martin paper production. Turpentine and rosin are versatile materials area were once tapped for the precious resin they produced. that can be altered and used in adhesives, printing inks, rubPrior to the Civil War, voting places, militia and road mainber compounds, fragrances, medicines and household cleaning tenance obligations in Tallapoosa County were all based on products. But as fiddlers, turkey callers and baseball players the beat system. The county was divided into 10 beats, one of could tell you, unaltered rosin still has its uses. which was called Turpentine. For several years in the county’s The longleaf pine turpentine stump pictured here will be early history, naval stores as a cash crop was second only to one of the exhibits showcased at the Smith Mountain Outdoor cotton. Environmental Education Center. Plans for the center are proWith the passing of wooden ships, the industry remained gressing nicely, and the CRATA board of directors is on track vigorous as new products created new markets. Raw pine resin to have it completed next spring. was distilled to produce turpentine, and the product left after Donors who contribute $100 or more to the project will distillation was called rosin. For many years, rosin and turpenhave their names memorialized on a cast metal plaque. All tine were used unprocessed in common household products, contributors also are recognized in Lake magazine. This Smith such as paint, paint thinner, varnish, soap and paper. Mountain nature center will be impressive, unique to anything For decades, Alabama ranked third in production of naval else in the state, and you will be glad your name is associated stores and turpentine. The turpentine industry peaked about with the project. Write a check right now to CRATA-Smith 1908 when there were 192 turpentine stills in the state. Mountain Restoration and send to Jimmy K. Lanier, CRATA, Production then declined rapidly with the destruction of longP.O. Box 240503, Eclectic AL 36024.
Our Thanks to Recent Donors
44 LAKE
NOVEMBER 2017
Help tell our county's story CRATA is raising $50,000 to make Smith Mountain Park an educational center on the nature and history of Tallapoosa County
Contribution Form Name_____________________________________ Date_______ Address_______________________________________________ City_______________________ State_______ ZIP____________ Phone________________________________________________ Email_________________________________________________
Giving Levels
Tax deductible gifts to “CRATA-Smith Mountain Tower Restoration� are greatly appreciated! Please return this form and your gift to: Jimmy K. Lanier, CRATA, P.O. Box 240503, Eclectic, AL 36024 All donors will be recognized in print. All donors of $100 or more will be recognized on a permanent cast plaque. Anonymous gifts at all levels will be respected for confidentiality. Honorariums, memorials and appreciations will be acknowledged per donor direction.
Teachers' Helper Trail Blazers Vista Viewers Summit Toppers Visionaries Legacy Sponsors
Up to $99 $100-$249 $250-499 $500-$999 $1,000 or more $5,000 or more
Amount enclosed $_____________________
NOVEMBER 2017
LAKE 45
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle S
Or just take it to the lake cabin
ay what you will about the youth of today, Why would you want to control your lake but you have to admit they are pretty home’s cabin from afar? Especially when aware of the planet’s environment. They it might be an old system? Even the more realize that, on this big blue ball we call Earth, reason, I say. Think about it: At your prithere is a dwindling supply of places to stash our mary home, if you forget and leave the air trash. running wide open, you will likely be back When I was growing up in the 1970s in there in 10 hours to remedy it. If it’s a lake Alexander City, I was not this globally aware. home, and you aren’t scheduled to come I am sure that there had to be some people in back for two or three weeks, that might be our area that were ahead of this trend. LMRA’s 21 straight days of high power bills. Have LAKE PROPERTY John Thompson comes to mind. But as a kid, you ever woken up in the middle of the night BY JOHN COLEY I did not give a second thought to where my and wondered if you turned the air off before Big League chew wrappers went when I threw them in the you left? I have. garbage. The same place as my Stretch Armstrong toy after Or what if we have a freak cold snap before you have I shot it with my BB gun, I guess. prepared and winterized your plumbing pipes? Wouldn’t Looking back, there was one form of the 3Rs going on you want to be able to turn on your heat and at least help in our house – the “Reuse” part. Our family had a Russell the situation? cabin on Lake Martin, and that meant that no piece of furniAgain, at a primary home, you are there all the time to ture, no appliance, no National Geographic Magazine was remedy mistakes. The remoteness of the lake home makes it ever thrown away. It all got taken to the cabin. Anyone who all the more reason to be able to access it remotely. had then or has a cabin still, can surely relate. My second point includes these new-fangled batteryDad got a new color TV for the den? Take the old black powered yard tools, like leaf blowers and weed eaters. I and white to the cabin. The old black and white at the recently bought one because I had encountered a yard tool cabin quits working? Get the small black and white from crisis. My lake leaf blower and my town leaf blower both town and put it on top of the old black and white. So the died within a couple of weeks of one another. The twomicrowave is starting to spit nuclear-looking sparks? Don’t cycle, pre-mix gas situation conspired with ethanol and throw it away – take it to the cabin. A beloved family mem- killed them both. There has to be a better way, I thought. ber passes away? Start a mental inventory of what the relaWho among us has not dreaded some yard chore – from tives want and what just needs to be taken to the cabin. hedge trimming or weed eating or the like – because of the In this way, the lake cabin became the last stop on the crank? You know the feeling. You know it’s been a while long road to obsolescence of many household objects. The since you have run it, and you cringe when you think of cabin was a time machine to days of yore, a reminder of yourself out there with it, pulling and pulling and pulling, tougher times gone by. only to not hear that engine jump to life. “You see, kids, when I was your age I had to cut weeds You need to know that the 56-volt battery-operated tools with a sling blade. My friend opened up his leg with one work like charms. They are plenty powerful and don’t and got 32 stitches. Yes, this is the same mattress I slept require any gas. Why would this be suited to the lake on, too. Every spring, we had to take it out for dusting, and life? Because at the lake, we are always several miles from there would be snake skins in there on the box springs.” the nearest gasoline source, let alone an ethanol-free one. Now, what with Al Gore having invented the internet and Even if your weed eater operates perfectly, you will have all, I think in a totally different manner about lake homes. to replenish it some time. Instead of them being the screen in the kitchen sink of techPlus, with the battery-operated tools, there is no carburenology, they really should be at the forefront of testing new tor to get clogged up. There are no messy gasoline spills products. Lately, two different items have inspired me on from these new nozzles on gas cans. You don’t smell like this thought: Wi-Fi thermostats and battery-operated leaf gasoline when your chores are done. You pop the batblowers. tery, squeeze the trigger and go. If you are unfamiliar with Wi-Fi thermostats, basiOnce America realizes how well these tools work, will cally they are just like a regular thermostat for your air they begin to disappear from our “town homes,” too? conditioning system, except that they are connected to the Maybe so. internet through Wi-Fi; therefore, to have one at your lake That’s why I think the lake house has grown from a home house, you would have to have internet service and a Wi-Fi goods’ bone yard to high-tech testing ground. router. If you have that, you can connect with your air conditioner, through your phone, from anywhere in the world. John Coley is a broker and owner of Lake Martin Voice Turn it up, down, off or on with a mere click on an app. Realty. Visit his blog at LakeMartinVoice.com. 46 LAKE NOVEMBER 2017
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Your Local Electrical Experts Serving Lake Martin and Surrounding Areas
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48 LAKE
NOVEMBER 2017
Talking Trash L
Renew Our Rivers Cleanup Nov. 3 & 4
ake Martin Resource Association, assist in unloading boats or vehicles during the Alabama Power Company, Russell hours of the cleanup. Lands, Advanced Disposal, Wind n On Nov. 3, Russell Lands associates and Creek State Park and TowBoatUS Lake other volunteers will meet at 7:45 a.m. at the Martin are once again coordinating the annual Russell Lands corporate office to receive sup“Renew our Rivers” cleanup of Lake Martin. plies and assignments. In 2016, the combined efforts of more than n Trash can be deposited in the dumpsters 300 volunteers removed more than 20 tons of on Nov. 3 and 4 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. trash, including 140 automotive tires, from the n Volunteers in the Real Island area will lake’s shoreline and adjacent roadways. have access to dumpsters located at Real LMRA This year’s effort will once again be Island Marina. BY JOHN THOMPSON focused on littered shorelines, as well as roadn Volunteers will be urged to separate recysides leading to public boat ramps. Additional clables, which will be accumulated and delivefforts will be made to get neighborhoods throughout the ered to the Alexander City Recycling Center. Lake Martin community involved. n On Nov. 4, Wind Creek State Park officials will shuttle Volunteers are again encouraged to work independently volunteers to designated shoreline areas within park boundwith their cleanup efforts and deliver the bagged trash to aries. dumpsters that will be located at the Kowaliga public boat n On Nov. 4, local scout groups will clean designated ramp, Wind Creek State Park Marina and Union public boat areas and gather at Wind Creek State Park afterward for a ramp. If transporting the bagged trash proves to be difficult, hot dog cookout, courtesy of Marshall Griffin, manager of arrangements can be made to have it picked up. Email me Alabama Power Company offices in Alexander City and at the address below. Dadeville. Supplies will be made available, and each volunteer who n Also on Nov. 4, all participants in LMRA’s Treasured delivers to the dumpsters any bagged trash or items that Mile program will be invited to Wind Creek State Park to have been retrieved from Lake Martin shorelines, adjacent celebrate the one-year anniversary of this very successful roadsides or neighborhoods in the Lake Martin community program. will receive a custom designed T-shirt featuring artwork For more information, contact me at 1942jthompfrom the “Renew our Rivers” art contest held annually at son420@gmail.com. Stephens Elementary School. Here is the way it will work: John Thompson is president of Lake Martin Resource n Volunteers can pick up supplies at dumpster locations Association and coordinates the annual Renew Our Rivers beginning at 8 a.m. on both Friday, Nov. 3, and Saturday, cleanup. Contact him at 1942jthompson420@gmail.com to Nov. 4. volunteer. n Volunteers will be available at the dumpster sites to NOVEMBER 2017
LAKE 49
Cranberry Cravings T
A Holiday Favorite for the Thanksgiving Table
he day is coming when America sits Cranberries are known for promoting uridown to share a special meal, reflect nary tract and gastrointestinal health, cardioon that for which we are thankvascular and metabolic health, reducing cancer ful and appreciate the foods that embellish risk and promoting glycemic control. Studies the traditions of Thanksgiving Day. Often have demonstrated that cranberries, in the pushed to the side in lieu of turkey, stuffing form of pure juice, decrease the occurrence of and potatoes, cranberries will make it to most urinary tract infections by 30 percent. Thanksgiving feasts in some form or fashion. Research focused on the ability of the Native Americans, who also used them antioxidants, particularly one called proanthofor medicinal purposes, first enjoyed cranbercyanidins to prevent the adherence of E. coli ries for food. The rich red juice was used as on the cells that line the wall of the bladder. a natural dye for rugs, blankets and clothing. Gastrointestinal studies have demonstrated the Native Americans first introduced the Pilgrims HEALTHY LIVING consumption of cranberry juice could have to the many uses of cranberries, making the benefits for controlling or eliminating the H. BY JULIE HUDSON justification for serving cranberries at the first phylori bacteria, which is linked to gastric, Thanksgiving meal a stronger one. peptic and duodenal ulcers, as well as gastric cancer and It was not until the 1800s that people began farmlymphoma. Cranberries serve as an anti-microbial, antiing cranberries. Early on, cranberries were harvested by viral and anti-fungal, which acts against the H. pylori bachand, which proved labor intensive. In the 1930s, farming teria and serves to enhance the gut microbiota. shifted from harvesting to what is called wet harvesting, In a 2016 review, cranberries improved cardiovascular which significantly increased the efficiency of the bogs in risk factors, such as low-density lipoproteins, systolic which cranberries are grown. Wet farming spurred on the blood pressure (the top number), fasting glucose, A1C and cranberry industry as we know it today. body mass index. Current studies have shown that drinkBogs or marshes are flooded with water, which allowed ing two 8-ounce servings of low calorie cranberry juice the berries to loosen from the vines and float to the each day for eight weeks improved fasting triglycerides, surface, where they could be harvested by machines. diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number), fasting gluHarvesting cranberries mechanically did impose the issue cose and insulin resistance. of all berries not being perfect as a fresh product. The Cranberries exhibit cancer-fighting potential by reducsolution to using imperfect berries was the process of can- ing cancer cell growth and even causing cancer cells to ning. die. Cranberries have been shown in lab studies to inhibit Ocean Spray began canning ready-to-serve cranberry cancer of the esophagus, stomach, colon, bladder, prosjelly in 1912. This allowed the company to offer a packtrate, glioblastoma and lymphoma. The American Cancer aged product beyond the September-through-November Institute has placed cranberries on the list of foods that growing season. fight cancer. Due to the cool climate, cranberries are grown in Cranberries, as a sauce or accompaniment to meat, have Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey and parts of been documented as part of American culinary history Washington and Oregon, with Wisconsin producing more as early as the 19th century. The tartness of cranberries than half of the world’s total crop. Fresh berries are availdoes require at least a small amount of sweetening. Using able September through November; however, it is good to fresh berries offers the option of controlling the amount of stock up because they stay fresh for up to four weeks in sweetener used. the refrigerator and can be frozen for up to a year. Try sweetening berries with 100 percent juice or a There are many benefits to keeping cranberries on hand, naturally sweet fruit when making cranberry sauce. Dried not only for the holiday tradition but also for good health. cranberries contain sugar, so check the labels to find a Cranberries are very low in sugar and calories. Their bigvariety with the lowest amount of added sugar. Choose gest asset is their antioxidant power, as they contain five 100 percent cranberry juice and try the low calorie verdifferent categories of antioxidants. One cup of chopped sion. cranberries contains 5.1 grams of fiber, 94 milligrams of potassium, 20 percent of the recommended daily Vitamin Julie Hudson is a dietician at the Lake Martin Wellness C and manganese – all for only 46 calories. Center in Dadeville. 50 LAKE
NOVEMBER 2017
Try these delicious cranberry recipes Fresh Cranberry Relish 2 cups fresh cranberries 1/2 cup of liquid of your choice – water, cranberry juice, juice of one orange or orange juice 3/4 cup sugar or sweetener of choice Optional ingredients – orange zest, chopped and toasted walnuts or pecans, finely chopped apple or pear Bring cranberries, liquid, sweetener and/or optional fruit to boil for 10-15 minutes until sweetener melts and cranberries begin to pop. Remove from heat and add optional ingredients, such as orange zest or nuts. Allow to cool.
Cranberry Bread 2 cups all-purpose flour 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon soda 1 cup sugar 1 egg, beaten 2 tablespoons melted butter 1/2 cup fresh orange juice 2 tablespoons hot water 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1 cup fresh cranberries, sliced in half Grated rind of one orange
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Sift dry ingredients together. Add sugar. Add egg, juice, melted butter and water. Fold in nuts, cranberries and orange rind. Pour into greased and floured loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until set and golden. Cool bread thoroughly and then wrap in plastic wrap. Store cranberry bread in the refrigerator. Hint: This bread freezes well.
Assisted Living Short Term Rehab Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy Long Term Care
NOVEMBER 2017
LAKE 51
256.215.FISH (3474)
2190 Cherokee Road , Alex City, AL
www.alexcitymarine.com
Certified Outboard Dealer
Call us today about our Winterization Specials!
52 LAKE
NOVEMBER 2017
Shaved Benton's Country Ham Salad
Ingredients: 6 oz thinly shaved Benton's Country Ham 3 cups fresh arugula 2 cup roasted fresh mushrooms (shiitake, button or oyster) 2 Tablespoons Sherry Vinegar 3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil Directions: In a small mixing bowl whisk together the Sherry vinegar and olive oil then, reserve half the vinaigrette for dressing the greens. After cleaning you mushrooms roast in 400 degree oven until slightly brown immediately after removing g from the oven toss in half your vinaigrette and allow to cool. Arrange ham on a large serving platter in a single layer. Gently arrange arugula on top of ham then sprinkle cooled mushrooms around the platter. Drizzle with reserved vinaigrette and season with fresh cracked black pepper. Serves six.
CHEF’S TABLE BY ROB MCDANIEL
Rob McDaniel, executive chef and general manager at SpringHouse Restaurant, earned a bachelor's degree in restaurant and hotel management from Auburn University and is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute.
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LAKE 53
Think Tiny
Try using smaller bait to land a bigger fish 54 LAKE
NOVEMBER 2017
T
his month, forget everything a striper angler, maybe try a few things you’ve been taught about the that are geared toward bass. This is a Big Baits = Big Fish theory. challenge to the macho mentality but Yes, it is true that there are times something I can speak to from experiwhen big fish will ‘only’ bite a big ence. bait; there also are times when it’s I’ve been reluctant at times to difficult to keep the smaller fish off throw the tiny 1/8-ounce rooster tail, of the bait long enough for a big a crappie crankbait, a beetle spin or fish to take it. Consider that big fish a crappie grub. Then I found out too are going to be the older and, more late that my competition was not as importantly, wiser fish. They’ve made reluctant and put the fish in the boat to it this far in their lives for a reason. get a nice check and valuable points. Some could argue that they’ve gotten In the end, they were laughing all the BIG CATCHES big because they were more aggresway to the bank. Last season at Lake BY GREG VINSON sive feeders and outcompeted the Cherokee, the tournament was won on other fish, but aggressive fish also are a bait fewer than 3 inches long. more likely to be caught by anglers. If you’re not a tournament angler, there’s still a Each time a fish is caught, it runs the risk of certain excitement to catching fish on ultra-light getting taken home for dinner. Even if a fish is tackle that is tough to match with traditional gear. not taken out of the system, it is less likely to be The fight you get from a feisty spotted bass on fooled the same way the next time. This is espeLake Martin is one of the best you’ll get anywhere cially true for baits that vary from the natural for- in the country. age that fish are used to eating on a normal basis. Highland reservoirs like Lake Martin are notoriSome baits don’t really represent something a fish ous for having smaller forage species in general, sees in nature or has seen from anglers. The fish so to ‘match the hatch;’ we often need to downwill bite the weird-looking or weird-sounding bait size our offerings. These tiny baits are lighter out of curiosity or just as a ‘reaction’ bite. Once weight than what we’re used to casting and workthe fish has been caught on that new bait, it’s less ing. To maximize casting distance and allow the likely to try it the next time. tiny baits to work effectively, we need light-action Most anglers will agree that when fish have rods, spinning tackle and line no bigger than received a lot of pressure and have seen a lot of 8-pound test. The smaller the line, the more freebaits, they are more likely to still bite a smaller dom we give the bait to move and look realistic. offering. We call it finesse fishing when you use a For me, 6-pound test has always been the limit, smaller-than-normal bait and smaller-than-normal but I’m considering dropping that close to the equipment. At a time when everyone seems to be 5-pound mark to see if I can generate more bites better at locating fish with electronics, map study, and still land the fish. This should prove to be an networking, etc., it’s becoming more and more exciting test of my skills and may result in better important to get bait selection and presentation catches overall. right. Most of these baits are going to be minnow imiSometimes, anglers have a macho mentality that tators, so select baits that are white, grey or blue, that keeps them from picking up a small spinning possibly with a little chartreuse to make them rod and reel spooled with 6-pound test and throw- stand out some. On baits like the rooster tails ing a bait the size of a bumblebee. But in the end, or tiny fish head spins, the tiny nickel spinners we all like to hold up the larger fish for our phorepresent small minnows well and attract a multitos or the scale. The end justifies the means in this tude of species. Tiny jigs, tubes and craw-colored case when it comes to finesse fishing. Using ultra- crankbaits are excellent choices to mimic the little light tackle can lead to some exciting days. Most crawfish that are often a favorite for the bass this of the time, it means more catches in general, and time of year. I’ve been surprised over the years to learn that This fall, expand your arsenal to include some it’s a great way to catch a very large fish that has of these smaller-than-normal offerings, and you lived long enough to see just about everything. may just see some surprising results. A tiny morsel is often hard to resist, even for the most educated fish. Greg Vinson is a fulltime professional angler The challenge is to take what you consider to on the Bassmaster Elite Series and PPA tours. He be a small offering for the species you’re after and lives in Wetumpka and grew up fishing on Lake go even smaller. For a bass angler, this may mean Martin. shopping for your baits in the panfish section. For
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LAKE 55
Beer School Crafting beverages in Alabama 56 LAKE
NOVEMBER 2017
I
n May of 2009, Alabama lawmakers enacted credit for the modern beverage that we call beer. the ‘Free the Hops’ legislation, raising the They began using hops and a more advanced ferallowed alcohol by volume (ABV) of beer menting process in the Middle Ages. to 13.9 percent. Laws enacted over the next six Had you ordered an IPA 20 or so years ago, years or so have led us to where we are today. your local bartender might very well have given Craft beer brewers were quick to avail themselves you a curious look. Not so in 2017. We have of the easing of these restrictions and now bring our friends, the British, to thank for this brilliant us a spectacular variety of fermented beverages. discovery. It came about quite by necessity, if From Avondale Brewing Company, located one considers beer a need-based commodity. The in Birmingham, to Yellowhammer Brewing in British occupied India during the late 18th centuHuntsville and 30 more breweries across the state, ry and found that they were not able to brew beer Alabamians and visitors to our great state have in the brutal heat to which the region was subject. more craft beer options than ever imagined. A fellow by the name of Hodgson developed HOPPY DAYS Craft beer is loosely defined as beer produced a heavily hopped fermented beverage that was BY DEE WALKER in lots of fewer than 6 million barrels per year by strong enough to survive the six-month journey to independently owned breweries. Most everyone is the East. While this original style died out, it was aware of Sam Adams. It would certainly be at the higher end Americans around 1976 that revived the process and set the of the production. Many have not heard of Red Clay Brewing stage for the craft beer explosion. in Opelika, but do not let production size fool you. Red Clay Craft beer comes in numerous flavors. Don’t be afraid of offers some wonderful beer that is second to none. Goat Island trying new beers. There are several establishments in the area in Cullman might be considered small in size but brews a vari- that allow for mixing six packs, which is a relatively inexpenety of beer that is huge in taste. sive way to try a number of different beers. Growlers, a great Craft beer is still in its infant stages in Alabama. Roughly way to buy draft beer in quantities less than 1 gallon, are legal 65,000 barrels of beer were brewed in the state in 2016. The in Alabama as well. beer brewed ranges from pilsners and lagers to porters and Broaden your beer-drinking horizons in a safe and responstouts and all beer in between. The more adventurous beer sible manner. drinkers clamor for pale ales and India pale ales (IPA). These Enjoy! are easily picked out of a beer lineup by their distinct bitter taste, which often is described as ‘hoppy,’ given the hops used Dee Walker is the owner of Fermenter's Market on the in the brewing of these tasty treats. Green in Alexander City and Fermenter's Market at the Rex in Pilsner, a type of lager, is brewed with bottom-fermenting Sylacauga. Find him on Facebook. yeast and typically is light in color and taste. Ales require topfermenting yeast to develop darker colors and more flavorful beverages. Goat Island makes a very nice Richter’s Pilsner, while the Snakehandler IPA brewed at Birmingham’s own Good People Brewing Company challenges even the heartiest of IPA drinkers. Porters and stouts are a bit more complex. Porters are brewed with dark, malted barley and hops. This provides for a beer that falls somewhere between sweet and bitter. The stout was born when brewers began tweaking their porter recipes by adding new and different ingredients. Today’s stout is distinguished from a porter largely as a result of the addition of unmalted roasted barley. This gives stouts their signature coffee taste. Avondale Brewing offers a very popular Vanilla Porter while Fairhope Brewing Company, located in Fairhope, has a Merry Widows Stout that is truly top-shelf, a stout cleverly named for the legendary Joe Cain, or more accurately, the many women who loved him, his Merry Widows. Craft beer and its beginnings – and the names attached to craft beer – very often have entertaining stories behind them. It would be nice to designate one person or collection of people to thank for his or her contribution to a civilized society that includes beer, but I am afraid no one actually stepped up to take credit for such a miraculous concoction. History indicates that the first beer was stumbled upon some 12,000 or so years ago as our hunting and gathering forefathers transitioned to an agrarian society. The Chinese fermented beverages using rice, fruit and honey some 9,000 years ago. The Sumarian poem Hymn To Ninkasi, circa 1800 B.C., provides us with the first recipe for beer. Christian monks are given NOVEMBER 2017
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FURNITURE WAREHOUSE
894 Hillabee Street Alexander City, AL
OPEN EVERY SAT. 9am-4pm CLOSEOUTS • ONE-OF-A-KIND ITEMS • DISCOUNTED MDSE 58 LAKE
NOVEMBER 2017
Playing into Wind and Cold
Pro Tips From Lee Williams
As we transition into fall – and then winter – we will begin to see cold fronts move in, and with these fronts, we normally see a lot of wind. In a golfer's world, this is a tough combination. First of all, you need to understand that the ball doesn’t travel as far in cold weather as it does in warm weather. The colder it is, the shorter the distance the ball will go. I recommend adding a minimum of 5 percent to your yardage in cold weather, giving you an equivalent number to what that ball would go in the summer. As if the cold air isn’t enough to throw off your game, wind can add another variable. The number one thing to keep in mind when playing in the wind is to take more club and swing smooth. The old saying, “When breezy, swing easy” is true. The only change I would make to the statement is smooth and not easy. Most average golfers have a hard time swinging off speed, and the word easy to me imparts an off-speed swing, as opposed to smooth, which means normal. Next, understand that to hit a more penetrating shot when the wind is in your face, you might want to start with the ball in the middle of your stance with your irons; with a driver, I recommend one ball width inside your left heel for right handed golfers (lefty is one ball width inside right heel). The last key to playing good golf in the wind is to focus on solid contact. Nothing affects a ball more in wind than a mis-hit shot. Good luck this fall and winter with the cold, breezy days that will inevitably lie ahead.
Lee Williams, a professional golfer on the PGA Tour, grew up playing at Willow Point Country Club. As an amateur, Williams was a member of the 2003 and 2005 Walker Cup teams, as well as the 2004 World Amateur Team. He is sponsored by Russell Lands, King Honda, Nowlin and Associates, P.F. Chang's, Tempus Jet, Hyatt Adams Golf, Russell Athletic, Titleist, Ameritas Financial Corp. and Southwest Airlines. NOVEMBER 2017
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Legend
63
20
22
280
To Sylacauga
19
Public Boat Ramps
15
9 Churches
Alexander City
7
Camps & Parks
Camp ASCCA
Flint Hill Church
13
Power lines U.S. Highways
3
280
22
County Roads
Piney Woods Landing
Wind Creek State Park
Pleasant Grove Church
11
COOSA COUNTY
Alex City Boat Ramp
Mt. Zion Church
259 9
128
Russell Farms Baptist Church 63
12 20
D.A.R.E. Park Landing
Friendship Church New Hope Church
Liberty Church
Willow Point
24
6
8
Equality
Kowaliga Boat Landing
55
4
Seman
Paces Point Boat Ramp
63
9
Camp Alamisco
18 The Ridge
1 10
Church in The Pines Camp Kiwanis
Trillium
2
The Amp Ko
wa
14
lig
aB
ay
80
9
Central
90
Union
ELMORE COUNTY Union Church
Red Hill 63
229
Eclectic
Tallassee
16 11
60 LAKE
Union Landing
Children’s Harbor
21
34
Kent
NOVEMBER 2017
Timbergut Landing
Lake Martin Alabama
Horseshoe Bend National Park
Jaybird Landing
Marinas 11. Kowaliga Marina 334-857-2111 255 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
TALLAPOOSA COUNTY
22. The Ridge Marina 256-397-1300 450 Ridge Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 33. River North Marina 256-397-1500 250 River North Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
49
42. Real Island Marina 334-857-2741 2700 Real Island Rd., Equality, AL 36026
Jacksons Gap
53. Blue Creek Marina 256-825-8888 7280 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853
280
Bethel Church
17
Dadeville
57
280
Camp Hill
Smith Landing
4. Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 16 334-541-2132 1969 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024 4. Russell Building Supply 17 256-825-4256 350 Fulton Street, Dadeville, AL 36853 184. The Stables at Russell Crossroads 256-794-1333 288 Stables Loop, Alex City, AL 35010 19 4. Dark Insurance 256-234-5026 410 Hillabee Street, Alex City, AL 35010 www.darkinsuranceagency.com
62. Parker Creek Marina 256-329-8550 486 Parker Creek Marina Rd., Equality, AL 36026
. McDaniels Storage Center 20 256-234-4583 1040 Highway 280, Alex City, AL 35010
72. Alex City Marine Sales and Service 256-215-3474 2190 Cherokee Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
21 . Kowaliga Whole Health Pet Care & Resort 334-857-1816 8610 Kowaliga Road, Eclectic, AL 36024
Restaurants 86. SpringHouse 256-215-7080 12 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 9 Catherine’s Market 6. 256-215-7070 17 Russell Farms Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
Pleasant Ridge Church
4. Russell Do It Center (Alex City) 15 256-234-2567 1750 Alabama 22, Alex City, AL 35010
Advertise your business on our Lake Martin Region Map for as little as $25. Contact us at 256-234-4281 or marketing@alexcityoutlook.com for more information.
10 Kowaliga Restaurant 256-215-7035 295 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 11 Bezlo's Cafe 334-639-0003 65 Main Street., Eclectic, AL 36024
Lake Martin Baptist Church 49 Church of the Living Waters
Stillwaters
Business & Shopping
5
12 Lake Martin Storm Shelters 256-794-8075 970 Hwy. 63 South, Alex City, AL 35010
Walnut Hill 50 50
13 Karen Channell State Farm Financial Services 256-234-3481 5030 Hwy. 280, Alex City, AL 35010 14 5. Lake Martin Mini Mall 334.857.3900 7995 Kowaliga Rd, Eclectic, AL 36024
49
Reeltown
NOVEMBER 2017
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Lake Magazine Distribution ALEXANDER CITY
Alex City Marine American Inn Anytime Fitness Baymont Inn BB&T Big B Bar-B-Q Campus of CACC Carlos Mexican Grill Catherine’s Market Chamber Of Commerce Cherokee Quick stop Citgo Cloud Nine Collegiate Deli Comfort Inn Dark Insurance Darwin Dobbs Days Inn Discount Food Mart Emporium Wine Grace’s Flowers Hampton Inn Holley’s Home Furnishings Hometown Pharmacy Jackson Drugs Jake’s JR’s Sports Bar & Grill Koon’s Korner Koon’s Korner II Lake Martin Building Supply Lakewinds Golf Club
Larry’s General Store Longleaf Antiques Mark King's Lake Martin Furniture Mistletoe Bough Bed & Breakfast Queen’s Attic Regions Bank Ridge - Clubhouse Ridge - Marina River North Marina Riverbend Store Russell Home Décor Russell Medical Center Russell Lands Russell Retail Store Satterfield, Inc Senior Nutrition~50+ Center Sho’ Nuff Restaurant Springhouse Restaurant T.C. Russell Airport Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc The Medicine Shoppe The Sure Shot USAmeribank Warren's Appliance Parts Willow Point Country Club Wind Creek - entrance Wind Creek - store Winn Dixie 280 BP 280 Exxon
CHELSEA Winn-Dixie The Ditsy Daisy Boutique CHILDERSBURG Piggly Wiggly DADEVILLE
American Watersports Bay Pine Marina Blue Creek Marina City Hall Chamber of Commerce Chuck's Marina Dadeville Wellness Center Foshee's Boat Doc Homeplate Restaurant Harbor Pointe Marina Lakay’s Flowers & Gifts Lake Martin Flowers & Gifts Lake Martin Community Hospital Lakeshore Discount Pharmacy Lakeside Marina Niffer's At The Lake Oskar's Cafe Payne Furniture Pearson’s Place Poplar Dawgs Public Library Pug's Place
PNC Bank Renfroes Russell Building Supply Shell Station Sigger’s Stillwaters Country Club Store 34 USAmeribank
KELLYTON
ECLECTIC
SYLACAUGA Good Ole Boys BBQ Piggly Wiggly
Children’s Harbor Cotton’s BBQ Eclectic Do-It Center Johnson’s Furniture Kowaliga Marina Lake Martin Dock Lake Martin Mini Mall Nail’s Convenience Store Peoples Bank
EQUALITY Equality Food Mart Real Island Marina Southern Star INVERNESS Winn-Dixie Airwalk Ultimate Trampoline Arena Tree Top Family Adventure
Five Star Plantation MOUNTAIN BROOK Whole Foods Market
RED HILL Citgo
TALLASSEE Community Hospital Chamber of Commerce The Tallassee Tribune
WALNUT HILL Lakeside Mercantile Walnut Hill Grocery
WETUMPKA
The Wetumpka Herald A limited number of magazines are available at these locations. To start your subscription, call Linda Ewing at 256-234-4281.
Lake Martin Business and Service Directory
SEE ME FOR INSURANCE
H
OLMAN
“WE’RE
F
LOOR
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OMPANY
THE PROFESSIONALS”
Hardwood Floors Ceramic Tile Carpet & Vinyl
Harold Cochran 256.234.2700
Visit our showroom for samples and a free estimate!
haroldcochran.b2cn@statefarm.com
1945 Hwy 280 • Alexander City
Locally Owned for Over 45 Years
256-234-6071
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NOVEMBER 2017
Lake Martin Business and Service Directory Roofing Services By
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Call TODAY for quick Pre-approval NMLS #47862 Corporate NMLS #452955
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Handrails • Guardrails Welded Fence • Custom Art Stairs • Gates Stainless Steel Cable Railing I-Beams • Steel Posts • Stairs On-Site Welding/Cutting Powder Coat • Sand Blasting
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NOVEMBER 2017
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Our Advertisers n To Join, Call 256.234.4281 A&M Plumbing....................................................... 52
George Hardy D.M.D........................................... 48
Russell Medical........................................................ 2
Advanced Heating & Air...................................... 48
Hilltop Landscaping............................................... 52
Satterfield................................................................ 57
Alex City Guide Service........................................ 8
Holley’s Home Furnishings................................. 68
Security Pest Control............................................ 8
Alex City Marine................................................... 52
Holman Floor......................................................... 62
SportzBlitz.............................................................. 65
Amanda Scroggins, RE/MAX Around the Lake.........16
Jackson Thornton.................................................. 45
State Farm Insurance/ Harold Cochran..........62
Apex Roofing....................................................................63
Kowaliga Whole Health....................................... 63
State Farm Insurance/ Karen Channell..........63
Blue Creek Iron Works....................................... 63
Lake Martin Community Hospital..................... 29
Sunrise Dock.......................................................... 13
Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation......................... 8
Lake Martin Dock................................................. 19
Tallassee Community Hospital........................... 64
C&T Eclectric........................................................ 48
Lake Martin Mini Mall.......................................... 16
Temple Medical Center......................................... 8
Cahaba Glass............................................................ 6
Lakeside Marina..................................................... 58
TowBoatU.S.............................................................. 5
CertaPro Painters................................................. 63
Lakeside Marina at Bay Pines............................. 58
Troy Cable................................................................. 6
Coach Kraft Upholstery...................................... 63
Mark King's Furniture.......................................... 47
UAB Heart & Vascular......................................... 53
Crew Lending......................................................... 63
McGhee Furniture Warehouse.......................... 58
Walmart.................................................................. 62
Custom Docks....................................................... 48
Noel Boone............................................................ 63
Wedowee Marine................................................. 17
Damon Story, Cedar Point................................. 33
Paige Patterson, Lake Martin Voice Realty......63
Williams Plumbing Heating & Air........................ 8
DAVCO Development......................................... 63
Prime Management............................................... 51
Wind Creek Casino............................................... 3
Designs by Trish....................................................... 5
Radney Funeral Home........................................... 6
WSC Distinctive Builders, LLC......................... 23
Docks Unlimited..................................................... 5
Renaissance Electronics......................................... 8
First Baptist Church Alexander City.................. 8
Russell Lands.......................................................... 67
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NOVEMBER 2017
NOVEMBER 2017
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Parting Shot Photo by Kenneth Boone
“Everything you can imagine is real.” ~ Pablo Picasso
66 LAKE
NOVEMBER 2017
Memorable occasions at our place or yours Make an iMpressiOn.
catherine’s Market, kOwaliga, and springhOuse offer an enticing array of catering options sure tO leave their Mark On yOur cOrpOrate event , private dinner , Or lavish hOliday party . Holiday parties and dinners h Intimate in-home gatherings h Personal celebrations Business breakfasts, lunches or meetings h Private chefs at your location h Your venue or ours We’ll take care of the details, so you don’t have to.
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NOVEMBER 2017
256.215.7035 www.KowaligaRestaurant.com LAKE 67
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68 LAKE
256.234.4141 Alexander City
NOVEMBER 2017
334.279.3101 Montgomery