Lake Martin Living December 2020

Lake Martin Pecan Company Buffy Colvin on becoming city council president

2 Lake Martin Living

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Lake Martin Living 3

From the Editor’s Desk

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i there, my name is Brittany Smith, I am the new editor here at Lake Martin Living magazine. This is an adventure that I have desired since childhood, and I never really thought I’d have the opportunity to live this part of the dream, but I stepped out on faith, as Buffy Colvin would call it, and here I am living the dream.

While this year has been challenging, it has taught me that I can achieve anything if I just believe in myself. As I look back over those adventures, everything seems surreal, but there is one thing, of which I am certain, I have so much for which to be grateful.

I am grateful for my family and the time that we have spent together during quarantine this year. I am grateful to be here in Alexander City. I am grateful to have the opportunity to meet new and fascinating people in a job that I absolutely adore. I am grateful to TPI for this amazing opportunity. Really, I am just grateful, and I could go on and on about me, but let’s be real here – the good stuff is in the pages to follow.

Speaking of good stuff, do you like 'puh-CONS?' I surely do, and you can read all about the history of the Lake Martin Pecan Company on page 10. Then flip over to page 14 to catch the article on Buffy Colvin as she shares with us about being the first female president elected to Alexander City City Council. And if that isn’t enough inspiration for you, the Christmas Day Luncheon at Comer UMC found in the calendar on page 36, will take the cake.They feed more than 275 people on Christmas Day, and that does not include the meals that are delivered to the firefighters and police officers.

I’ll tell you, the community and camaraderie here is incredibly heartwarming. I know it’s only December, but the love is in the air for the community, and it is almost palpable.

Combine that sense of love and community and head on over to page 22 for a delightful read about the schools in Tallapoosa County and how they have had to adjust the game plan in 2020. But if you really want to talk about a game plan, Dave Jennings brings a great column on page 16 about strategy and how your golf game will improve drastically with a little competition added to practices.

On page 28, Lee Williams shares an intriguing history of the stock market and the Dow hitting 30,000 while Lacey Howell takes us down Memory Lane on page 46 with a story about how to choose fine china patterns for the holidays. But if you have yet to read enough about dainty holly and mistletoe, I urge you to delve into Shane Harris’ column on page 19 about plants associated with the holidays and how certain traditions have come to pass.

Join me as we explore holiday traditions and camaraderie within the community in this issue of Lake Martin Living magazine.

Brittany Smith, Editor 4 Lake Martin Living

Lake Martin Living Chairman Kenneth Boone Publisher Steve Baker Managing Editor Betsy Iler Editor Brittany Smith Contributors Kenneth Boone Dave Jennings Cliff Williams Lacey Howell Shane Harris Siri Hedreen Jacob Holmes Lee Williams Susan Foy Audra Spears Magazine Distribution Manager Erin Burton Creative Services Audra Spears Marketing/Advertising Sales Tippy Hunter Rachel McCollough Marilyn Hawkins Julie Harbin Andy Carr Liz Holland Digital Services Elle Fuller Lake Martin Living P.O. Box 999 Alexander City, AL 35011 256-234-4281 www.lakemartinmagazine.com

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

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

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Lake Martin Living 5

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6 Lake Martin Living

Pecans have been a staple in Bobby Jennings’ life for the last 60 years, but the secret recipe that his family decided to share has been around for generations.

The Langley-SharmanJennings Pecan Pie recipe is said to be creamy and delicious; a divine secret recipe to note - and now, it’s yours as well. Get the recipe on page 13.

Photo by Kenneth Boone

IN EVERY ISSUE 9. AROUND THE AREA 16. FROM THE TEE 18. GARDEN TALK 28. MONEY MATTERS 33. OH SNAP! 36. LAKE REGION EVENTS 46. CULTURE SHOCK

FEATURES 10. HISTORY GETS UNCRACKED Step back in time with the pecan man as he shares where the idea for his store came from and how the pecan industry has changed over the years.

14. COUNCIL PRESIDENT STEPS OUT ON FAITH Alexander City’s first-ever female council president gets personal with a heartwarming story of female empowerment and sheer determination.

22. COVED-19 SPARKS INNOVATION IN EDUCATION Masks, sanitizers and sleepless nights make for interesting days in classrooms that teach both brick-and-mortar and remote student learning.

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Bobby Jennings hands over the pecan company to his children with expansion in mind.

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AROUND THE AREA

CARES funds student technology Funding from the federal CARES Act last month helped to prepare rural students for remote learning in Alexander City’s schools.

“It is a difficult decision to move to remote learning, if only for a period of time, as we want to keep students in school as much as possible but must do so in the safest way possible,” Alexander City Schools public relations specialist Jessica Sanford said.

“Thankfully, Alexander City Schools had the foresight to use funds to purchase hotspot devices for students without access to the internet in the event we had to move to virtual teaching and learning.”

In July, Alabama schools received $100 million in CARES Act funding toward devices. In September, Alexander City Schools used the funding to buy Kajeet Smartspot devices to

Kids Get Hotspots

Alexander City Schools provided students in rural areas with internet access.

distribute among the schools for students without internet.

The mobile devices use Verizon cell service to provide students with internet access even in rural places that broadband cables do not reach, allowing them to participate in lessons on their school-issued Chromebooks.

The hostpots do not give unfettered internet access; Kajeet Smartspots block social media and streaming services like Netflix.

To prepare for this year, Alexander City Schools invested in new hardware and teaching software that could be used in the classroom and for students tuning in from home. ~ Siri Hedreen

Giveaway goes to Girls Ranch Great Grocery spree.

Giveaway grand Regina Simmons prize winner of Dadeville was Candice Gulley, the original grand had three minutes prize winner and last month to fill chose to give her shopping carts in winning ticket to Russell Medicals the Tallapoosa shopping spree County Sheriffs fundraiser.

Girls Ranch.

RMF’s “Great The ranch relies Grocery Giveaway” on food bank raised money for donations, with a its crisis fund, grocery budget of which it created $2 per child per in response to day, said Gulley, the COVID-19 who filled two carts pandemic to help in three minutes.

Cotton Candy Cache employees cover “I almost got a Candice Gulley went for cotton emergency costs leg cramp on Aisle candy and meat in the RMF Grocery like medical costs 3,” Gulley said just GIveaway. and childcare. after the clock ran For $20, out. participants entered a drawing for 10 The total came to more than $900, $200 Renfroe’s Market gift cards and as paid as agreed by RMF. a grand prize, a three-minute shopping ~ Siri Hedreen

Dear Editor: I was extremely disappointed in Lacey’s shopping choices (November 2020 Lake Martin Living magazine) as she make mention of Tiger Town in Opelika and Sephora in Birmingham, Saks and Nordstrom, but no local shops in Alexander City were named. She might have mentioned Cloud Nine, Carlisle’s, The Wine Emporium, Cotney Jewelers and Jackson Drug, to name just a few of our local shops. Alexander City has a number of special places that certainly can benefit from being mentioned in a local magazine.

Diana French Alexander City

Lake Martin Living 9

History gets uncracked 60 years of growth at Lake Martin Pecan Company STORY & PHOTOS BY BRITTANY SMITH

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ow do you pronounce the word “pecan?”

Some say, “PEE-can” or “PEE-con” while others pronounce it “puh-CAN” or “puhCON.” According to Bobby Jennings from the Lake Martin Pecan Company, the proper pronunciation is “puh-CON.” Jennings has owned and operated the Lake Martin Pecan Company, originally named the Camp Hill Pecan Company, since 1960 when he began his first season buying, selling and cracking pecans.

The inspiration to buy and sell pecans came shortly after Jennings returned home from the military and enrolled at Auburn University. When his long-time 10 Lake Martin Living

neighbor, Will Yancey, who had bought pecans for years, passed away, Jennings decided to take up the stead in Yancey’s absence.

“I could buy pecans in the barn behind my family’s house,” said Jennings.

In those days, people had a world of pecans around Camp Hill and Dadeville, said Jennings. People brought in hundreds of pounds – even a ton – to sell.

The agricultural environment is market-driven which can affect buying prices for pecans. These prices fluctuate according to quality and type of pecan.

“I really bought a lot of pecans. I would transport

them to Albany, Georgia, to the shellers in a trailer truck,” Jennings said.

He decided it was time to expand his ideas around the pecan business and begin cracking pecans for the public. He bought an old cracker from San Antonio, Texas, for $600 and moved his business from the back of his family’s barn to the old post office in Camp Hill.

“Not long after that, my daddy built a little Texaco station on Old 280 in Camp Hill, and of course, we kept the cracker, and we started buying pecans over there,” he said.

At the time, Jennings was working for the USDA, and while he was on the road, his daddy ran the

business, selling and Cracking Up Above: Bobby Jennings, buying pecans from founder of the the Lake the Texaco station.

Martin Pecan Company; Jennings came home Left: Crackers are always on the weekends, running at the pecan store. sacked pecans and loaded them out on Sundays in transfer trucks.

“We’d sack them, sew them and send them to Albany, Georgia, on trucks 100 and 200 sacks at the time. We sold them wholesale to the candy company,” he explained.

After he retired from the USDA in 1994, Jennings purchased 5 acres of property on U.S. Highway 280 between Dadeville and Camp Hill where he built the Lake Martin Pecan Company. By then, he had accumulated several crackers, and people in the community brought in their pecans to sell or they came to get them cracked.

“If we cleaned them by hand, that takes time,” said Jennings. “So, we got a blower. The blower cleans the pecans, but there will always be a bit of debris that needs to be cleaned away, even after the blower has done its job.”

But today, not everyone who comes to Lake Martin Pecan Company comes to have his or her pecans bought, cracked or blown. Jennings has handed the company to his son, Mike, who retired from the USDA in 2015. While Jennings still spends most of his days at the store during season, he relishes the fact that Mike now runs the store.

“This all started in 1959 as an idea, a part-time Lake Martin Living 11

12 Lake Martin Living

seasonal thing for me, just during the pecan season. But in 2020, Mike expanded it into a year-round business,” Jennings said.

Throughout the decades, Jennings wife, Marilyn, and their daughter, Camey, have also enjoyed meeting people at the pecan company as well as packaging and selling the nuts.

He credits Mike’s wife, Bethany, for expanding the assortment of nuts and other products.

“She has merchandised and got everything looking good out in the storefront,” Jennings said. “And that’s good because there used to be a lot of pecans around, but now there’s not – people have died, farms have grown up; lots have grown up. I’ve seen a big decline in the number of pecans that we buy. So, having an assortment, that’s a good thing.”

Bethany has a Masters in Business from Auburn University and is in her 10th pecan season at the store. She uses her knowledge of business to expand the company while Mike broadens the availability of other products, such as syrup, local honey, assorted nuts, and, in the spring and summer, fresh fruit.

“This past spring and summer he would sell fruits. Sometimes, he would go to the Atlanta Farmers Market early in the morning and bring back a load. He sold cantaloupes, peaches and watermelons,” Bethany said.

Jennings used to open the store at the end of October and close it sometime in January; then, he would shut down shop. Since Mike and Bethany have taken over, Lake Martin Pecan Company now remains open for the majority of the year, selling seasonal fruits and other goods through the spring and summer and transitioning to pecan season in September Lake Martin Pecan Company is the last U.S. Highway 280 stop north of Columbus, Georgia, for guaranteed fresh nuts, which are purchased from various U.S. suppliers for resale.

Jennings loves meeting his customers – past, present and future – from all areas of the U.S. as they pause their U.S. Highway 280 travel to visit the pecan company.

“To me, the most rewarding part of this little business is the people that I’ve met over the years,” said Jennings.

Pecan Season is in Full Swing When requested Top left: The assembly line by their customers, of crackers runs all day; Top Lake Martin Pecan right: Jennings is running a ships nuts within the customer's cracked pecans continental U.S. For through the sheller; Bottom further information, left: Bags of processed pecans await eager buyers. call 256-896-4011.

Langley-Sharman-Jennings Pecan Pie Recipe Make or purchase two piecrusts.

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Ingredients 3/4 stick butter 1 cup white bars 1 cup white sugar 4 eggs slightly beaten 2 cups pecans, chopped 1-1/4 teaspoon vanilla Melt butter in a skillet. Then turn remove from heat and add bars and sugar – mix together. Chop pecans and add to mixture, along with beaten eggs.

Add vanilla and mix.

Pour filling into piecrusts and bake on cookie sheets at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes. Turn pies from back to front every 20 minutes to keep them cooking evenly. *May have to lower temperature to keep from over-browning.

Lake Martin Living 13

Buffy Colvin City council president steps out in faith STORY BY BRITTANY SMITH

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uffy Colvin has stepped up and stepped out for the Alexander City community. Not only is she a frontline worker, as a respiratory therapist at Russell Medical, but she also serves on the Alexander City City Council.

Most recently, Colvin was elected president of the Alexander City City Council. This is a historical event for Alexander City from two different aspects; Colvin is the first elected female president of the council. She is also the first elected president of African American descent.

It all started years back when Colvin decided to give Thomas “Toot Toot” Marbury a ride home one afternoon.

“I picked Thomas up one day, and he said, ‘You need to be running for city government. You have a good reputation; people like you; and we need good people in office.’”

Her cousin, Eliose Russaw, also thought Colvin should run for city council and encouraged her regularly to get involved.

At the time, Colvin didn’t know if running for city government was right for her. She decided to find someone that would run for city council, district 2. She was looking for someone with good values that wanted the community and the people in the community to thrive, so she set off to find someone to run for office.

14 Lake Martin Living

After a bit of time, she came Colvin Encourages Kids Top: Colvin speaks up short. There didn’t seem to at SWAGS back be anyone out there that had to school pep rally. the heart for the job. That is when she decided to do a bit of research herself. Her friends and family all agreed with Marbury: Colvin needed to run, and every chance they had to encourage her, they took.

“I started researching and going to meetings. I read a lot of articles and soon decided, ‘Okay, I’m going to run.’”

From the very start, Colvin wanted people to know that she wasn’t running for herself. This was not something that she needed to do to fill a void. Her main concern was for the people and the community. She didn’t realize then that she would be making history now.

“This year, I was elected to be the president of the council. I think this is the first time we’ve had a unanimous vote. It’s also the first time that we’ve had a female president,” said Colvin. “It was really a shock to me. I didn’t set out to do anything other than make sure district 2 gets what they need. So, it really shocks me that all of this comes to pass because I stepped out on faith and just ran.”

Not long after Colvin was elected president of the council, she tested positive for COVID-19, and while she was quarantined in her home for quite some time, she

continued to work on city “As president of the council, issues and stay in contact with my top priority is to keep the the community. city viable,” she said. “Agenda Colvin said she is grateful keeps us on the right track and for the support that the moving in the right direction. community has shown her We need more successful through these trying times. businesses, more successful “The people in our retail stores, more successful community are wonderful. small businesses and more and They prayed for me. They higher-paying jobs.” prayed with me. They keep Colvin fosters growth me propped up. They give me in Alexander City. She encouraging words. They call wants to give the kids in the me and tell me I’m doing a community something to great job,” Colvin said. look forward to when they The whole time she was graduate. She wants them to out with the coronavirus, be proud of their hometown. people in the community As a woman who is leaving took care of her, she said. a remarkable thumbprint on “If I told someone I needed Alexander City, Colvin urges a case of water – I would look the young in the community out on my porch and there to learn everything they can would be two cases of water. while they are young. She Making Moves in The Community If I told someone I needed advised them to soak up all of Top: As a frontline worker, Colvin is COVID-19 lemons – I would look out the knowledge that is available focused; Right: Amanda Thomas and Colvin review on my porch and I would to them because for the next the agenda at a council meeting. have two bags of lemons.

10, 20, 30, 40 years – they will One young woman brought use it. me groceries. It was just simply amazing, and I am blessed “Learn it all right now,” she said, “and learn it well.” beyond measure,” said Colvin.

Doing so, she said, could so that you, too, can foster Colvin said it is times like these that make her grateful for growth, education, knowledge and prosperity into this her upbringing. Her mother, Mabys Colvin, is driven and wonderful little community that we call our own.” determined and has a heart for the people. Alma Harrell, her grandmother, taught her how to be a productive member of society, a service oriented person. And, of course, Marie Russell Sutton, Colvin's Big Momma, taught her to use the 23rd Psalm as a shield when times get tough.

“I am grateful to have such strong women in my family,” said Colvin.

Today, she is COVID-19 free and back to the grind.

Colvin is working to make sure that there is total transparency between the community and the council and that the viability of the city is top priority.

Lake Martin Living 15

Add competition to your practice

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From the Tee

riends, it’s almost over. 2020 will be green. Please understand, that when I say “the in our rearview mirror in a few days. right side of the fairway,” I’m talking about the Sometime soon, we may see college right-center-not the rough edge. football games, and behind the ropes Always remember – bogeys beat double at Augusta could be filled with fans again. bogeys. Boy, what a brilliant statement. One of I hope that we soon may be able to shake the best ways to avoid double bogeys or worse hands with new acquaintances and old friends is to play the best shot and not rely on the without fear. I hope that high school and perfect shot. college graduates may enjoy their special day Say a golfer's approach shot is short-sided of celebration shoulder-to-shoulder rather with a downhill pitch to a tight flag and the than 6 feet apart. I have grown weary of masks ball is in heavy rough. I wish I had a nickel and distancing. for every time I have seen a player try to hit I watch a lot of golf on television, both PGA the perfect shot with a flop 60-degree wedge Tour and the LPGA. A simple way to improve and come up woefully short of the green. In is to pay attention to what better players do. this situation, play the right shot (take your For mere mortals, I have to say that the LPGA medicine) get the ball on the green. Chances is more relative, from tee-to-green, to how of saving par or only making a bogey are Dave Jennings the game should be played; rather than the greater with a 25-foot putt.

PGA Tour. The PGA Tour has become more I have to think that the term, “take your and more about distance versus accuracy and medicine,” must have originated from shot-making. someone who had to take a tablespoon or two of castor The ladies, who hit clubs a more similar distance to oil. The medicine may help in the long run, but it tastes most golfers, play the game with more strategy in mind. I awful. hope that the USGA will soon address this issue and roll After hitting an errant shot, it’s difficult to concede to the ball and equipment back so that these professional better judgment. Pitch out sideways to get the ball back golfers are forced to play the golf courses as designed in play? Pitch the ball past the hole? Attempt hitting by the architects. Until the USGA gains the nerve, let’s that one-in-a-million miracle shot that usually leads to consider what the ladies do play the angles. disaster?

All good golfers should have a plan in how best to play The thing is, recovery is possible from a bogey with to any particular hole before hitting the tee shot. Willow only one birdie, where double, triple bogeys, or worse, Point, prints a daily hole location sheet. Considering may lead to disastrous rounds of golf. where the pin is located on the green, a golfer should play I want to share some things that I do with my Central to strengths off of the tee.

Alabama Community College golf team, that could If a particular golfer normally hits a fade, and the pin improve a player's game. One of the best things I’ve done is in the middle of the green favoring the left side, it may in coaching the boys over the years has been in making be best for you to play to the right side of the fairway, off them compete in practice more often. Not only do of the tee to reveal more of the green for the approach internal competition rounds qualify for tournaments, but shot. Playing more right side will benefit the player also the boys compete in practice regularly. whether they are hitting a wedge or a 3-wood into the I suggest finding a golf partner who loves to compete 16 Lake Martin Living

and head to the practice putting green, chipping green, and sand bunker.

In recent years, I have not seen people compete on the practice green as much as I used to. Play up and down games over 18 holes in the practice area. Get in the bunker and alternate who gets to choose the shot and to what target. The golf team does this at least once a week in team practice.

I put an alignment stick in a spot on the chipping green and tell the boys what kind of lie and stance the balls must be hit from. I choose a different target and lie for every new shot. It's called the bunker game. Play to three points. The closest shot earns a good point. The furthest on the green gets a bad or negative point. If a player leaves the ball in the bunker or fails to get the ball onto the green or over it, the player automatically loses a point.

We have nine golfers on the team. The first one to have a negative three points must carry the golf bag of the winner back up to the parking lot after practice. They hate to carry that extra bag, so they grind over these shots.

Do something similar. Compete for a drink, dinner or lunch. Play 18 holes of match play.

Another great way to practice with a partner is to pick out two or three different targets on the range of 60100 yards; then, alternate who has honors and alternate between the various yardage shots. A few of these sessions will help in hitting wedge shots closer to the hole

on the course and create more birdie opportunities.

Having a practice partner makes better players. With only 1 hour of sunlight left in the day, get the practice buddy and head to the putting green. Make up games but compete.

As 2020 is left behind, pray that 2021 brings global and national healing.

I sincerely hope that you and your family enjoy a very Merry Christmas this year. Thank you all for your continued support of our CACC Trojan Golf Team and for being so kind and thoughtful to me. ~Dave Jennings is the men's golf coach at Central Alabama Community College.

Lake Martin Living 17

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Christ mas Trimmings

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ockin’ around the Christmas tree, kissing under the mistletoe, decking the halls with boughs of holly, and decorating with red poinsettias are just a few common Christmas holiday traditions.

But did you notice what they all have in common?

They all involve the use of plants.

Throughout history and over the centuries, plants have played active roles in the spirit and celebration of Christmas.

Have you ever wondered how or why our favorite Christmas plants and decorations became associated with the holiday? Most of the traditions and practices we associate with Christmas today evolved or originated from many old legends of ancient times. Interestingly enough, none of these holiday plants has any biblical reference to the birth of Christ, but many have evolved from mythology, folklore, and pagan symbols. Over time, they were

adopted as the religious or cultural significance of today. A look at history reveals that our customary American Christmas would not be the same without all these plants and the traditions that followed with them over the ages.

Christmas Tree The Christmas tree is a tradition that can be traced back to Germany to where it began around the 17th century. Several legends exist to when it actually originated; some historians say possibly as early as 700 A.D., but most think it started in the 16th or 17th century.

The primitive cultures in northern Europe are said to have believed that evergreen trees had some type of godlike powers and made it a symbol of immortality. People would bring evergreen branches into their homes during the winter to help protect their homes and encourage the return of life to the snow-covered forest in the spring. It

Lake Martin Living 19

Garden Talk

was also common for the Germanic peoples They used this evergreen, parasitic plant to to decorate fir trees, inside and outside, with decorate their homes. They believed mistletoe roses, apples, and colored paper. had special healing power for everything from As Christianity spread throughout Europe, poison ingestion to female infertility. the use of an evergreen tree became a symbol Scandinavians thought mistletoe was a plant of Christianity. of peace and harmony and associated it with Other historians believe that the Christmas their goddess of love, Frigga. Â They also used it tree may have begun in the 16th century as a sign of love and friendship. with Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer.

Welsh farmers thought mistletoe was a According to legend, Martin Luther was sign of good soil fertility, and an abundance coming home one dark winters night during of mistletoe meant a good crop the following the Christmas holidays when he was inspired season. by the beauty of starlight shining through Mistletoe is best known today for its the branches of an evergreen tree. He then superstitious and romantic role. Kissing simulated this sight by cutting down a tree, under the mistletoe was once thought of as an bringing it indoors, and attaching lit candles to increased possibility of marriage. Not kissing Shane Harris its branches. Martin Luther is usually credited an unmarried woman under the mistletoe with being the first person to put candles or meant the woman would remain single for lights on a Christmas tree. another year. The romantic custom of kissing under the The first record of a Christmas tree was in Strasburg, mistletoe may have gained traction in England in the Germany, in 1604. In the 1800s, the tradition of a 18th century when it became popularized as a Christmas Christmas tree was quite common in Germany and around decoration. Men were allowed to steal a kiss from any the 19th century soon spread to England. When the woman standing under the hanging mistletoe. The custom Hessian soldiers fought for the British in the American was if one refused the kiss, it would bring bad luck.

Revolution and Pennsylvania German immigrants came Holly to America in the 1820s, they both naturally brought with Ancient Romans considered holly to be sacred. They them their traditions and customs, including the Christmas used it to honor Saturn, their god of agriculture, during the tree.

Saturnalia festival held during the winter solstice.

Mistletoe The Romans gave wreaths made of holly, carried it in Traditions involving mistletoe date from ancient times processions, and decked images of Saturn with it. During to about 200 years before the birth of Christ. The Druids the early years of Christianity in Rome, many Christians used mistletoe to celebrate the coming of winter and decked their homes with holly to avoid detection and believed mistletoe could bestow health and good luck. persecution by the Roman authorities.

20 Lake Martin Living

As Christianity grew in popularity and became the dominant religion of the Roman Empire, holly was adopted as a symbol of Christmas.

In the Middle Ages, the early church banned the use of mistletoe due to its idolatrous associations and pagan origins. Holly was suggested and substituted for all Christmas greenery and decorations. It too is evergreen, often with red berries. The sharp, pointed leaves of holly were believed to be a symbol of the thorns in Christ’s crown and its red berries as the drops of His blood. Maybe it was its natural color pattern of green and red that made it so famous as a Christmas decoration.

Holly remains a popular Christmas plant used for wreaths, greenery, and centerpieces adorned with candles.

Poinsettias Poinsettias, the most popular Christmas potted plants, are native to Mexico. The Aztec Indians cultivated them and used their colorful bracts to make a reddish dye. They also used the poinsettia’s milky sap as a fever medicine.

After the Spanish conquest and the introduction of Christianity, poinsettias were used in Christian rituals and nativity processions. In the 18th century, Mexicans believed the plants were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem, thus becoming associated with the Christmas holidays.

Poinsettias got their name from the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Joel Robert Poinsett, who brought and sent the plants to South Carolina in 1828. He gave many to horticultural friends and botanical gardens.

The Ecke family of California has been instrumental in the development of today’s poinsettia. See the 2019 edition of Lake Martin Living for a featured article on Poinsettias.

Holiday Cacti Another colorful potted plant enjoyed during the

Christmas season is the holiday Greenery Galore Previous page: cacti. Holiday cacti, which are Evergreen trees native to Brazil, are popular fall are part and winter flowering houseplants. of Christmas Their variety of flower colors-red, tradition; Clockwise rose, purple, lavender, peach, from above orange, cream, and white–makes left: mistletoe, them quite intriguing, even as a poinsettia, holly, decoration. and holiday cacti.

Technically, there are Christmas cacti and Thanksgiving cacti, two separate species, but most folks rarely know the difference.

As their names state, one often blooms around Thanksgiving, and one blooms later around Christmas; however, light availability and conditions can really factor in when the plants bloom. To determine if it is a Thanksgiving cactus or a Christmas cactus, look at the shape of the flattened leaves, which are actually stems. On the Thanksgiving cactus, the stem segments have two to four toothed points along the margins. On a Christmas cactus, the stem margins are more rounded.

According to U-Mass Extension Service, most commercial cultivars of holiday cacti sold are Thanksgiving cacti. Modern breeding of new cultivars and mass marketing of holiday cacti names only adds to the confusion. This plant has no historical or religious ties to the Christmas event except its bloom time coinciding with the holidays. Regardless, it is another beautiful plant to be joyful about this Christmas season.

Shane Harris is the County Extension Coordinator for Tallapoosa County.

Lake Martin Living 21

COVID-19 sparks innovation in education STORY BY BRITTANY SMITH & PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS

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“M

asks up!” has become the most commonly used phrase in Christale Tuck’s second grade classroom at Jim Pearson Elementary School in Alexander City this year as students and teachers alike learn to navigate the new normal of COVID-19.

But masks are not the only change for classrooms in 2020. Hand sanitizer and Lysol have become musthave staples in the classroom, too. Schoolwork has been drastically reduced from paper and pencil to a completely virtual experience to cut down on the transmission of germs. And of course, in order to keep the classroom exciting, social distancing is a must.

Due to the social distancing protocols, most classrooms have become self-contained, or at least it is so at the elementary level; however, teachers are doing their best to make sure students still have fun activities that foster and encourage engagement and learning at the highest level possible for students attending brick-and-mortar classes, as well as remote students.

“I am proud of our principals, our admin staff, and I am beyond proud of our teachers,” said Superintendent of Alexander City Schools Dr. Keith Lankford. “They have stepped up and persevered. They have taught from the classroom. They have taught from home. They have done everything we’ve asked of them and excelled at the task.”

Teachers have learned to adjust, to become more innovative, and through this entire process, they have become better teachers.

“I’ve been teaching for 15 years at Jim Pearson Elementary, and we had a certain protocol, but we’ve had to shift our mindset,” said Tuck.

“The students come in with masks, hand sanitizer, and they are made to social

Lake Martin Living 23

distance, but this is what we have to do to continue being able to have fun activities.”

When the kids came back to school after a long summer break that started during the last school year’s spring break – they were ready, and they have been resilient, she said.

According to Lankford, teachers were prepared with many days of professional development geared at remote learning.

“We contracted with the Southern Regional Education Board, and we frontloaded professional development before the kids ever walked in the doors,” said Lankford.

“We did what we could to prepare our teachers.”

“At Horseshoe Bend, we use Zoom for IEP and counselor meetings, but everything else is going virtual,” said Guidance Counselor Cheryl Bynum. “The school has switched to a platform called Schoology and the students are able to access everything they need for all of their classes right there on the platform.”

Tallapoosa County is a 1 to 1 Chromebook initiative program, and every student has either a Chromebook or an ipad, depending on grade level, said Bynum.

“My main objective is and has been, ‘How am I going to do what’s best for the kids?’” said Lankford. “Every morning, I evaluate and prepare for the day. My morning routine has changed entirely. The first thing I do is visit the Alabama Department of Public Health website to determine the numbers of COVID-19 cases in Tallapoosa County. It’s been a while since we were in the red. That’s a good thing. I take those numbers and compare them to our school dashboard.”

Lankford and his team use these numbers every morning to make decisions about keeping schools open.

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“It is easier to find five substitutes than it is to find 35 substitutes, and that is what those dashboards help us determine,” he said. “We may have to close during difficult times, but I’m going to be in constant communication with my team and the school board, and we will do what is right.”

Lankford has personal benchmarks that he has set for the school year. He wanted to make it to Oct. 1, which they did successfully. The second benchmark was to keep the doors open until Thanksgiving, but they had to close the doors seven days ahead of meeting that goal, Lankford said. Now, they are back; school is in full swing; and his new benchmark is Christmas.

“If we can keep schools open – that is the goal – even if we have to do it in two- to three-week intervals. We have to do what’s best for the kids,” said Lankford.

But 2020 hasn’t just been about COVID-19, Lankford said. This year also has been about a national teaching shortage. Finding and keeping great teachers has become far more urgent than it has been in the past, but those who are here are doing a phenomenal job.

Alexander City teachers understand the urgency and the importance of teaching in 2020, said Tuck.

Teachers have become more innovative then ever before. They have learned Big Changes for Schools to adjust to each situation Previous page: Students as it is presented and and employees adjust troubleshoot any issue that to mask mandate may arise within their brick- at school; Below: New and-mortar classrooms, protocols call for temperature checks as well as with remote learners. The teachers are in and documentation.

the driver’s seat and their No. 1 initiative is to steer their students in the right direction towards success.

“2020 has impacted teaching because it has changed the way we think, the way we teach and the way the students learn,” said Tuck.

“Teachers now have to step back and look at how Social Distancing Required and what we The school board meets regularly to discuss COVID-19 numbers teach.” and ensure that it is safe While no one for students to attend school. could ever be fully prepared for challenges like those that 2020 has presented, Tallapoosa County Schools have stepped up to the challenge to make sure students are the top priority and teachers have the knowledge they need to ensure learning takes place in the classroom and remotely.

The biggest difference between brick-and-mortar and remote learning is that in the classroom the teachers are

physically able to help with whatever a student may need. It is a socially distanced, hands on, masks up, faceto-face approach to learning. With remote learning, teachers create or assign videos and different activities for the students.

“In the classroom, I can correct them instantaneously, but with remote learning, we have to watch our wording and make sure that the students are getting it. We want them to understand,” said Tuck.

According to Bynum and research that she procured for a classroom lesson on screen time, the average teenager is on the screen seven hours and 22 minutes a day. This average does not take into account schoolwork.

Student’s lives have been interrupted and abruptly changed; teachers and administration are working diligently to ensure that the process is as painless for parents and students as possible.

“Everyone is learning to adapt. It’s just 2020,” said Bynum.

Shoo, Dine, & Unwind thii Holiday Season!

Mry Ctm!

Lake Martin Living 25

S

Medical News

eason’s greetings, friends and As I write this, our ICU is full. We neighbors. My, what a year! None are amid a significant uptick in positive of us would have ever imagined COVID-19 cases, and the healthcare that we would significantly alter system at large is extremely taxed. our holiday plans to the extreme we are Available beds across Alabama are this year- due to the predicament and dwindling, and staffing needs are critical hardships COVID-19 has placed in our everywhere. Folks are tired – physically, lives. mentally and emotionally. But the fight Indeed, it has been a long, emotionally continues, and the care never waivers. challenging 10 months for everyone. We Our doors are always open, and we are can finally see the light at the end of this here for you. tunnel with the much-anticipated launch Our healthcare workers are of a vaccine. Although it will take some undeniably heroes and are fighting hard time to inoculate the masses, that curve to keep our community safe and well. will finally flatten, and we can eventually This pandemic has hit us all hard, and Susan Foy return to normal; however, normal looks we want to see it end. It has been said a in the future. We all look forward to the million times, but, please adhere to all day when we can safely hug our loved precautions. Wash your hands often. ones and break bread together.

Keep a safe distance between yourself and others.

From the hospital’s standpoint, I cannot find Wear a mask and keep your holiday gatherings to a the words to adequately convey our sincere minimum this year. The best Christmas gift we can appreciation for the outpouring of love and give each other is to put an end to COVID-19. support our community has shown us throughout All of us at Russell Medical wish you a happy this unprecedented time. From the donations of holiday and a healthy New Year. May you have the meals, supplies, handmade mask covers, protective gladness of Christmas, which is hope; the spirit equipment, treats, letters, monetary donations, the of Christmas, which is peace; and the heart of personal prayers and community-wide prayer vigils, Christmas, which is love. we say, thank you. Those two words may be simple, but they mean so much. It is a heartfelt sentiment ~Susan Foy is the marketing director for Russell from everyone at Russell Medical.

Medical.

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Lake Martin Living 27

Dow Jones

How the stock market got to 30,000

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MONEY MATTERS

s I write this article, the Dow Dow, it took this index several years to just closed above 30,000 for recover back to its 2000 level in the high the first time ever. Who would 10,000s. have thought its first close Shortly after the crash, in 2001, above this mark would be in the depths terrorists attacked the United States of a global health pandemic? Some on 9/11. A few short years after finally people years ago probably thought if we recovering from the dot-com crash and saw this number it would be many more 9/11, the country entered the Great years into the future. Markets tend to Recession, which saw markets decline surprise, good and bad. over 50 percent from peak to trough.

When I look back on a short history Years later in August of 2011, the of the last 30 years, I see in 1991 where U.S. lost its coveted AAA credit rating the Dow closed above 3,000 for the first after S&P downgraded it due to budget time on April 17 to be exact. deficits. At that point, fears grew that In remembering this timeframe, The the nation was headed for a double-dip Lee Williams Gulf War should come to mind. On recession, higher interest rates, and on August 2, 1990, the Iraqi Army invaded and on. and occupied Kuwait. Not long thereafter, the I’ll fast forward to today to get to the point. president at the time, George H. W. Bush, sent Right now, the world is in a global pandemic, troops to Saudi Arabia. Over the next months, which has sickened over 60 million people around The Gulf War was fought and more or less over by the world and killed almost 1.5 million people, March of 1991. according to Worldometer, which tracks worldwide Another historical moment over the last 30 cases/deaths. years was the dot-com crash. In March of 2000, In the midst of this, the Dow just crossed the Nasdaq hit it’s all-time high, and shortly after 30,000. Simple math says that over the last 30 markets went into a nosedive. In talking about the years through all the uncertainty, the market has

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compounded at approximately 12 percent, which is slightly higher than the historical average of around 10 percent.

To me, this says that investors have been compensated for uncertainties that will always come. There has always been a reason not to invest or sell out, whether it’s a war, dot-com crash, terrorist attack, financial recession, credit downgrade, or a global pandemic.

Throughout all of this, companies have continued to become more efficient and globalized which translates into higher earnings/ dividends for shareholders who have helped lift markets over the longer term.

In continuing to look back through the recent past, the same scenarios of uncertainty appear.

Time after time, the market has continued to reward those who looked past these short episodes of stress. Looking deeper into this, around a 10 percent compounded number, shows that around two-thirds of it is made up of companies increasing their earnings per share and one-third of it comes from dividends paid to shareholders.

A long-term chart of the market, will show the trend. It will not take much to realize the trend has historically been up.

Imagine back in the early '80s, when the Dow crossed 1,000 and interest rates were in the high teens. There was too much risk. Many sold out.

Now, imagine making the same decision today, with the Dow at 30,000.

Rationalize this: The U.S. is coming off of a historic election, and the country has too much debt. Should one take the same approach, as some did back in the early '80s, and throughout history, and get out?

I’m of the mindset that, over time, the market will continue to grow and compound because fundamentally, it will follow the earnings of companies, not the day-to-day noise.

As Benjamin Graham once said, “In the short run the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine.”

In closing, I’m going to borrow another quote from a famous investor by the name of Bill Miller.

He loves closing his letters with, “The path of least resistance is up.”

Lee Williams offers products and services using the following business names: Nowlin & Associates-insurance and financial services | Ameritas Investment Company, LLC (AIC), Member FINRA/SIPC-securities and investments | Ameritas Advisory Services (AAS) -investment advisory services. AIC and AAS are not affiliated with Nowlin & Associates.

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Lake Martin Living 29

Tales of Dadeville STORY BY BETSY ILLER PHOTOS BY AUDRA SPEARS & COURTESY OF ALABAMA POWER COMPANY

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adeville’s Roy Mathis returned to Zazu’s Verandah Dec. 3 for part 2 of his Tales of Dadeville presentation – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Mathis presented the first half of his telling of Dadeville’s history on Sept. 24. He left his audience hanging with the story of two escaped convicts that received a death sentence for killing a man. After they killed him, they stole the man’s shoes, which led to their apprehension.

Mathis began part 2 of his presentation with an explanation for the end of the exchange of prisoners between the North and the South at the end of battles in the war between the states.

“When Gen. Grant came in, he changed the policy because Southerners, when they were exchanged, they would go back to the battlefield, but Yankee soldiers would go back home,” Mathis said.

Mathis discussed the subsequent plight of prisoners and encouraged the audience to visit the Andersonville National Historic Site in Georgia.

“Take your children and grandchildren to Andersonville.

It is a learning experience of how prisoners were treated, not only during the War Between the States but also through all the wars,” Mathis said.

“We are still paying for the War Between the States,” he added. “In 1863, Congress founded income tax to finance the war. We have been paying for it ever since. In 1863, the tax was 3 percent. Now, the lowest tax bracket is 10 percent.”

Reconstruction brought tough times to the Dadeville 30 Lake Martin Living

area, Mathis said, as nearly 25 percent of Dadeville’s population moved to other areas.

Fortunately, prosperity returned in 1972 when the train came to Dadeville from Opelika.

“The lifestyle changed. Dadeville was on the map,” Mathis said. “You could order things, and they came in on the train.”

The railroad also brought vices. At Slaughter Crossing, the railroad built a house of ill repute to service railroad workers.

“That was also true of the big house at Sturdivant.

Traveling salesmen could stop there and get a good meal and a night’s sleep, but also girls,” Mathis said.

When the train rolled into Dadeville or Alexander City during the depression, a sheriff ’s deputy would meet the train and make sure that no hobos got off.

“They had to make sure no homeless people got off the train. They couldn’t feed the people they already had in town. They didn’t need any more,” Mathis said.

Electricity came to Dadeville in 1901, he said.

“Most people think it was Historic Ruins The walls of the Martin Dam that brought Sturdivant Manison electricity but in Dadeville, we got it in 1901 from a power plant still stand today. on Heron Street. It came from Bug Creek or Sandy Creek,” he said.

A few years after that, Nora Miller helped to establish the site of Martin Dam, he said.

“Nora Miller was a very well off woman. She built the Miller Hotel for $35,000 (almost $1 million in today’s Lake Martin Living 31

money). She owned a lot of property in Dadeville and World War II: blackout. No lights on. It’s still on the books. invested in the precursor to Alabama Power,” Mathis said.

“When a German submarine was found off the coast of “She might have had the first automobile in Dadeville. the Carolinas and Georgia, troops were placed at Martin Funny thing, she had a car, but there were no gas stations.

Dam.” She had to have gas brought up from Wetumpka, so she The area was greatly affected by World War II. A bin was could drive it,” he said. placed downtown for people to fill with their scrap metal, Then, roads needed to be upgraded for the use of and in March of 1945, a B52 crashed in Lake Martin. automobiles, and all able-bodied “It was struck by lightning. The men had to work five days on the military came in to investigate, but road. they only found one of the three “That was the law,” Mathis said. bodies.”

After World War I, the Great Mathis said that the Second Depression hit. Ledger books in the Amendment is the reason the U.S. Tallapoossee Historical Museum in was not invaded during World War Dadeville include references to the II. purchase of “dope” for 5 cents.

“There were 10 million people in “Coca-Cola was called dope the U.S., and everybody could have a because it had cocaine in it those gun – and everyone knew how to use days,” Mathis said. them,” he said.

The depression divided Mathis told lighter stories, as well.

Tallapoosa County.

He told the story of the Dadeville “There were two banks in Alex High School class that sowed turnips City, and they did not go under. in the lawn of the newly renovated They took care of their own, but they courthouse in 1960. didn’t help the people in Dadeville.

“When the courthouse was The Tallapoosa Bank, Dadeville, done, there was no sod, but the Camp Hill and Waverly all went construction crew had spread grass under, but Alex City banks did not. seed. The senior high school class They supported their own side of the went out at night and sowed turnip river but not others,” he said. seeds in with the grass, and later But even so, the banks in on, there was a turnip crop on the Alexander City were not in as great a courthouse lawn,” Mathis said.

Embracing Progress shape as they let on, he said.

In 1976, the bicentennial was a big Nora Miller was an early investor in “A man who had a lot of money event in Tallapoosa County. Mathis Martin Dam and may have owned the on deposit at a bank in Alex City was the Dadeville chairman, and the first automobile in Dadeville. decided to go down to the bank to committee published a history book. see how sound the bank was. Well, “We printed 1,000 of them and the bank didn’t have enough money to cover what the hoped to sell them all. Today, they are a collector’s item and man had on deposit, but the bank president heard he was sell for $100 on EBay,” he said. coming, and he came up with a plan. He put some big No. One of the local bicentennial celebrations included a 2 washtubs in the safe and filled them with rocks; then, he kangaroo court event. covered the rocks with silver dollars,” he said. “All the silver “Fred Wilder walked around town with a whiskey jug dollars they had in the bank were poured over those rocks, and a piece of rope tied in a noose. There was a couple that and when the man came to see the president of the bank, drove into town and didn’t know what was going on. They the president took him into the bank vault and showed him saw Fred Wilder and asked him what was happening. He that they had plenty of money, but all those washtubs were said, ‘There’s gonna be a hangin.' Well, they drove out of full of just rocks.” town real fast.”

People learned not to trust the banks during the Mathis ended his tale with a story about the two taxis depression, Mathis said, and from then on, they kept their that once served Dadeville. They were not used for travel so money elsewhere. much as for deliveries, he explained.

“As a firefighter, I went to a fire where a man’s house was “A fine lady could not go to the store and buy snuff or burning, and he said, ‘Let the house go but save the freezer.’ liquor. She wouldn’t smudge her name to be seen buying That’s where he had all of his money, in the freezer,” he said. that, so they would call the taxi, and the driver would go to “In another house fire, it was the Bible. It was full of money the store and get it and deliver it to her house.” between the pages.

As the Tales of Dadeville speaker series at Zazu’s “People didn’t trust banks anymore.”

Verandah concluded and patrons, most of whom had Then came World War II, which ended the depression attended all of the series events, filed out, they lamented because it put people to work, he explained. that the series had come to an end and hoped another series “We are breaking a city ordinance right now,” he said. would be started soon.

“We are sitting here with the lights on, but it was a law in 32 Lake Martin Living

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Dadeville Christmas Parade Sunday, December 6, 2020 Downtown Dadeville 1. Jadyn Burns and Autumn Reese 2. Raygan, Grayson and Josh Huff 3. Eddie Milner, Kaleigh and Grayson Wilie and Cheryl Milner 4. Spencer Meadors and Kate Lewis 5. Layla Johnson 6. Chloe Pritchard 7. Makinley Robinson and Colton Ankers 8. Charley and Taylor Toledo

Lake Martin Living 33

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Christmas at Crossroads Sunday, November 27, 2020 Russell Crossroads 1. Henry and Hamner Sullivan 2. Lutricia Smith 3. Tammy and Rick Towns 4. Rachel and Sam Latham and Schnauzer Jojo 5. Brian, Jennifer, Sydney Kate Welch and Ginger 6. Ashley, Christopher and Elliston Peak 7. Robyn Williams and Brooks, Collier and Kelsey Sandlin 8. Robert and Sue Schoonhoven 9. Emmy Harris, Evie Higgins, Addy Harris, Lawson Jackson, Baylee Harris and Santa

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Alexander City Christmas Parade Monday, December 7, 2020 Alexander City

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1. Bryson Edwards, Camron Vickers, Dixie Land, Fenix Burns 2. Ay’shuntai, Qua and Aluntai Davis 3. Devontay and Dea’mber Johnson 4. Joerius and Ivyonna Wilson, Zi’alan Sandlin 5. Zoey and Charlee Edwards 6. Teresa Dunaway, Austin Colley, Melinda Yates, Sage, Brandi, and Brier Hardy 7. Roy, Malik and Strawberry Davis 8. Lexi and Chason Smith 9. Victoria Burke, Carolyn, Haley and Drake Brown, Steven, Kaitlyn and Daxton Burke 10. Stephanie Abbott, Sophia Abbott and Kasen McDaniel 11. Easton Voss and Wilt Lashley 12. Linda Forbus, Deborah Moseley, Spanky Weaver, Cole Milner, and Carolyn Fincher 13. Christy and Brandon Smith, Christopher and Dani Weise, Kelleigh, Michael and Nora Welcher

Lake Martin Living 35

Calendar

THE LAKE REGION

FEATURED EVENT

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Join Comer UMC for Christmas

ec. 25 is a day full of cheer, worship, presents and food for most, and this year will not be any different because Comer United Methodist Church will host their 18th annual Christmas Day Lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The lunch is free and open to the public and will offer a delicious assortment of food for the holiday.

“We are completely there to feed and fellowship with the community,” said Stephanie Jennings, a member at Comer UMC. “Those of us here at Comer, we solicit local businesses for donations each year to raise our goal. We are extremely thankful for the community’s support in funding this event. We buy all the food, prepare it and then we feed and fellowship with everyone who wishes to spend the day with us.”

The Comer UMC, with the help of Duncan United Methodist Church, manages to feed on average 275 people per year at this event, not counting the plates they provide the fire stations and police department.

On the menu for the event is ham, dressing, green beans, macaroni and cheese, cranberry sauce, rolls, and cake. The servers will also offer tea, water and coffee.

36 Lake Martin Living

If anyone should wish Food and Fellowship to partake in the luncheon Festivities begin on Christmas morning but has a fear of Covid-19, at 11 a.m. and end the church is offering take at 1 p.m. out and pick-up this year, in addition to the usual sitdown meal.

Jennings added that if students would like to volunteer, Comer UMC offers community service hours toward graduation. For more information on how to help out or attend the luncheon, please contact Stephanie Jennings at 256-675-6494.

LAKE REGION EVENTS Now-Dec. 19

Food for Fines

Adelia M. Russell Library will forgive overdue charges for patrons that donate non-perishable food to the library’s annual Food for Fines campaign. For more information, call 256-329-6796.

Dec. 18

Alabama Garden Walks

Make a virtual visit to gardens around Alabama with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. While field trips are not possible in person, ACES leads a stroll through gardens around North and Central Alabama to learn new plants and practices to help make gardens more diverse and sustainable. This program at 12 p.m. features the Sassanqua Camellia with Hayes Jackson. To sign up, email Allyson Shabel at ams0137@aces.edu.

Dec. 19

Wildlife Presentation

Marianne Hudson, the Russell Lands On Lake Martin Naturalist will give a free presentation from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. about features that enable the animals in Russell Forest to survive the harsh winter.

Live animals will help to demonstrate how they manage with scarce food and freezing temperatures. There is no charge for this program. For more information, contact Hudson at naturalist@ russelllands.com or call 256-496-2710.

Dec. 20

Christmas Pop-Up Shop

Business owners will set up booths at the 1220 Event Center at 1220 Gilmer Ave., Tallassee, where shoppers could expect to find a variety of gift items at one stop. The pop-up will be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Dec. 20

Star of Wonder Christmas Play

New Covenant Church in Dadeville will host a constellation celebration at 10 a.m. with cupcakes, chips and ice cream.

Take a Christmas picture with family and friends. The play, a retelling of the birth of Jesus through the eyes of the stars, will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Dec. 29

At Home Beekeeping Series

Beekeepers could stay informed through virtual meetings with ACES

events. This month’s program at 6:30 p.m. will feature beekeeping Boxing Day sales with vendors and Geoff Williams and Anna Marie Fauval. For more information, email Allyson Shabel at ams0137@aces.edu.

Jan. 21

Lake Martin Dadeville Chamber Annual Banquet

This annual meeting and awards banquet will be held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. with introductions of the 2021 officers. Business and Person of the Year will be recognized as well. Tickets are $50; for location and details, email chamber@dadeville.com

Jan. 21

Cattlemen’s Association Steak Dinner

The Tallapoosa County Cattlemen’s Association annual steak dinner will be a drive-thru event with location details to be announced soon. Dinners will be distributed from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Call 256-307-0577 to RSVP.

Feb. 27

12th Annual Russell Forest Run

For 2021, we are adding a new feature to the Russell Forest Run! The 10K and 5K runs will still offer runners a chance to join us in person at Russell Crossroads on February 27th; but for those who can’t join us in person, we are offering a virtual component. The 10K will begin at 7:45, and the 5K will soon follow. From the starting line to postrace, 2021 Russell Forest Run runners can expect a few changes, but the outcome will be the same – raising those much-needed dollars for the Alexander City Schools Education Foundation.

Precautions will be in place for the safety of runners, volunteers, staff, and others involved in the run. More details are available, and registration is now open at russellforestrun.com!

Season-long Events Soup to Go

Drive through the parking lot at St. James Episcopal Church at 347 S. Central Ave. between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. every Tuesday and pick up a brown-bag dinner with soup, sandwich, fruit and

dessert. COVID-19 precautions are taken by volunteers who prepare, pack and distribute the meal, which is open to the whole community.

Clean Community Partnership Cleanups

Volunteers in Alexander City and Dadeville are encouraged to participate in community partnership cleanups every month.

In Alexander City, the cleanups are held on the third Saturday of the month.

Meet at Broad Street Plaza at 8:30 a.m. to pick up supplies and area assignments and help clean up the roads within Alexander City. For more information, contact Jacob Meacham at jacob. meacham@alexandercitychamber.com.

In Dadeville, the monthly cleanup is held on the first Saturday of the month, and volunteers can pick up sanitized pickers and bags at 8 a.m. at Dadeville City Hall. There also will be a trash bag drop-off on site. Contact Dianna Porter at 256-750-0075.

Millerville Trade Day

Bibb Graves School on state Route 9 hosts this trade day on the third Saturday of every month from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. with free outside setup for vendors, yard sale, flea market and swap meet items (no food vendors). Donations from sales to BGHS Alumni and Friends Association would be appreciated. There will be a designated area to bring vehicles for sale with a $20 donation to BGHSAFA upon sale. For information, contact Bruce Lowery at 205-522-5794.

Library Storytime in Dadeville

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

Children’s Library in Alexander City

Mamie’s Place Children’s Library holds themed storytime every Wednesday at 10 a.m. for preschool-aged and younger children. In addition, the children’s library hosts board games and puzzles every Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. For information, call Melissa Finley at 256-234-4644.

Lake Martin Living 37

LAKE REGION EVENTS Sarah Carlisle Towery Art Colony Exhibit

The Sarah Carlisle Towery Art Colony on Lake Martin exhibit is on display all year long at the Alexander City Board of Education building, located at 375 Lee St.

$20 on the 20th

The Lake Martin Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce asks our community to spend $20 on the 20th of each month to help our local economy.

Children’s Harbor Treasures and Thrift Store

Located on state Route 63 just south of Lake Martin Amphitheater, the Children’s Harbor Thrift Store is open Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 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 Childrens Hospital. Call 334-857-2008 for more information.

Memory Makers Quilt Guild

This group meets the second and fourth Mondays at the Senior Center on the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex campus.

Participants come and go between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. with a business meeting at 5 p.m., followed by show-and-tell. Bring sewing projects, machines and questions.

Charity Bingo at Jake’s

Play charity bingo at Jake’s Restaurant at 16 Broad St., Alexander City, at 6 p.m. every Thursday night. Cards are $1, and proceeds benefit local charities.

38 Lake Martin Living

Amateur Radio Club

The Lake Martin Area Amateur Radio Club meets the second Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. at the Senior Activity Center at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex in Alexander City, with dinner and fellowship following at a local area restaurant. For more information, contact Michael Courtney at 256-8257766 or Mike Smith at 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. Check the calendar at RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com/blog/ events for the scheduled subject matter, dates and times.

Trivia Night at Niffer’s on the Lake

Every Thursday, Niffer’s hosts trivia night at 7 p.m. Winners receive Niffer’s gift cards. First place gets $40; second place gets $25; and third place gets $15.

Grab a group of friends and come out for a night of games. A bonus question is posted on the Niffer’s Facebook page at 2 p.m. Thursdays.

Open Studio

The Artists Association of Central Alabama meets from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Thursday at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex Senior Center and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays at the

Dadeville Senior Center on Columbus St. Beginners are welcome, and there is no charge for open studios. For more information, call June Dean at 334-3015317.

Charity Bingo at Niffer’s Place Lake Martin

Niffer’s, 7500 state Route 49 in Dadeville, hosts charity bingo every Tuesday at 6 p.m. Cards are $1 each, and funds go to participating charities.

Tallassee Lions Club

The Tallassee Lions Club meets every Tuesday at Cozumel Restaurant, across from the football stadium in Tallassee, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. The public is welcome to join for an hour of humor, information, civic pride and patriotism.

For more information, contact Ron McDaniel at ronmcd416@gmail.com.

Equality Neighborhood Watch

The Equality Neighborhood Watch Association meets on the second Tuesday of each month at the old Masonic Lodge at 6:30 p.m. During the colder months, it meets at Equality Methodist Church on state Route 259. For more information, email Richard Penton at drichardpenton@gmail.com.

To have your upcoming event featured in the Lake Martin Living magazine Lake Region Events calendar submit details to Brittany.Smith@alexcityoutlook.com by the first of the preceding month.

We invite you to live a luxurious golf lifestyle at The Yards, our newest community at National Village The Yards, a must-see collection of 21 cottages, is now open at National Village along the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Auburn-Opelika, Alabama. You will fall in love with these new construction homes within a controlled access neighborhood with sidewalks and community gardens designed by WAS. The home plans for the cottages are designed by national award winner Larry Garnett and feature inviting porches. Best of all, The Yards is adjacent to the Marriott at Grand National and all of the resort amenities including spa, pickle ball, tennis, and pool. Schedule a tour by calling 334.749.8165 or visit NationalVillage.com.

TO LEARN MORE VISIT NATIONALVILLAGE.COM OR CALL 334.749.8165 Lake Martin Living 39

9

Goldville 280

Goodwater To Sylacauga

Legend

TALLAPOOSA COUNTY

63

New Site

Public Boat Ramps 22

280

Churches

Camps & Parks

Timbergut Landing

9

Power lines

280

18

U.S. Highways

Alexander City

County Roads

14

Horsesh Nation

Jaybird Landing

Flint Hill Church

22

Camp ASCCA

Alex City Boat Ramp

Rockford

3

49

128

22

Piney Woods Landing

Wind Creek 63 State Park

COOSA COUNTY

Pleasant Grove Church

25

11

9

Mt. Zion Church Russell Farms Baptist Church Friendship Church New Hope Church

259

Bethel Church

D.A.R.E. Park Landing

Smith Landing Willow Point

6

Seman

4 Camp Kiwanis

9

10 1

Church in The Pines

Children’s Harbor

Trillium

The Amp

Ko w

ali

ga

Stillwaters

19 5

7 2

Union Landing

Ba

22 Red Ridge United 49 Methodist Church

Church of the Living Waters

The Ridge

22

Walnut Hill

y

20 24

80

Lake Martin Baptist Church

Camp Alamisco

Kowaliga Boat Landing 55

Pleasant Ridge Church

34

8 63 17 9

Equality

231

16

57

12 24

Dade

280

26

Liberty Church

20

Jacksons Gap

23

Union

90

50

Central

Red Hill

15

63

Union Church

Refuge Church 229

49

Eclectic Santuck

11 Kent Reeltown

231

14

ELMORE COUNTY

120

14

14

Lake Martin Region Wetumpka

40 Lake Martin Living

Tallassee 229

MACO COUN

Marinas

Daviston

1 Kowaliga Marina 334-857-2111

255 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 2 The Ridge Marina 256-397-1300

450 Ridge Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

22

hoe Bend nal Park

eville

ON NTY

20 Nail's Convenient Store 334-857-3454 8394 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024

5 Blue Creek Marina 256-825-8888 7280 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853 6 Parker Creek Marina 256-329-8550

486 Parker Creek Marina Rd., Equality, AL 36026

21 Creekside Lodge 256-307-1440

6993 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853

7 Harbor Pointe Marina 256-825-0600

397 Marina Point Rd., Dadeville, AL 36853

22 Red Ridge United Methodist Church 256-825-9820

8091 County Rd. 34, Dadeville, AL 36853

Camp Hill

88 SpringHouse 256-215-7080

12 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 9 Catherine’s Market 256-215-7070

17 Russell Farms Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 10 Kowaliga Restaurant 256-215-7035

295 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

50

11 Acapulco Mexican Grill 334-283-2725 2867 Gilmer Ave., Tallassee, AL 36078 12 Shipwreck Sam's Yogurt & Flatbread Pizza 256-444-8793 smithmarinaonlakemartin@yahoo.com 280

Business & Shopping Waverly

50

19 Aronov Realty Lake Martin 256-825-4133

6928 AL-49 S Stillwaters Hwy, Dadeville, AL 36853

33. River North Marina 256-397-1500

250 River North Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 4 Real Island Marina 334-857-2741

2700 Real Island Rd., Equality, AL 36026

Restaurants & Venues

CHAMBERS COUNTY

18 Dark Insurance 256-234-5026 www.darkinsuranceagency.com

410 Hillabee Street, Alex City, AL 35010

Hotels & Lodges

Churches

23 Lake Pointe Baptist Church

8352 AL-50, Dadeville, AL 36853 256-373-3293

Dock Builders 24 Lake Martin Dock Company, Inc Marine Contractor License #49146 334-857-2443

180 Birmingham Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024 25 Docks Unlimited LLC 256-203-8400

6400 Highway 63 S., Alex City, AL 35010

Recreation & Entertainment 26 Dixie Sailing Club 767 New Hope Church Road Alexander City, Al 35010

13 Hodges Vineyards and Winery 256-896-4036

230 Lee Rd. 71, Camp Hill, AL 36850 14 Russell Do It Center (Alex City) 256-234-2567

1750 Alabama 22, Alex City, AL 35010 15 Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 334-541-2132

1969 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024

13

16 Russell Building Supply 256-825-4256

350 Fulton Street, Dadeville, AL 36853

LEE COUNTY

17 The Stables at Russell Crossroads 256-794-1333

288 Stables Road, Alex City, AL 35010

Loachapoka 14

Notasulga 85 81

If you would like to advertise your business on our Lake Martin Region Map, for as little as $25 call 256-414-3174. Space is limited.

Lake Martin Living 41

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

ATTENTION READERS: Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic some of our distribution locations have changed. This month, you may pick up the most recent issue of Lake magazine at the following locations. If you are ordering take out from any of the restaurants listed below or delivery from any of these groceries, request your free copy of Lake magazine with your order.

ALEXANDER CITY Robinson Iron A & M Plumbing Valley National Bank - 280 Carlos The Body Shop Jake's Moore Wealth Management Carlisle's Wine Emporium CACC Cloud Nine Shay Aesthetics Piggly Wiggly JR's Downtown Girl Russell Do It Center City Hall Dylan Johnson-Country Financial Chamber of Commerce Hillabee Towers Noel Boone George Hardy First Realty Mainstreet Family Care First Insurance Dark Insurance Warren Appliance Grace's Flowers Koon's Korner Larry's General Merchandise & Grocery Selling Lake Martin - Amy Clark Jackson Drugs Alfa BB&T Bank Alex City Marine Valley Bank Main Mortgage Pro AllState Daylight Donuts Hometown Pharmacy Allen's Food Mart (Exxon) Karen Channell - State Farm Insurance

Re/Max Around the Lake North Lake Condo River Bend Store River North Marina Lake Martin Building Supply Petro Sho'Nuff BBQ Hair Design King's Furniture Jim Bob's Chicken Fingers Longleaf Antique Mall Jameson Inn Winn Dixie Regions Bank American Inn Russell Medical Center Citgo Hampton Inn Koons II Tallapoosa Ford Days Inn Holley's Home Furniture Jackson's Refrigeration, LLC. Sure Shot Shell - 280 Big B Bar-B-Que Russell Home Decor Jet Pep Comfort Inn Holman Floor Satterfield Inc. A & E Metal Wind Creek (Gate) Wind Creek (Store) Smith Marina on Lake Martin Willow Point (Office) Willow Point Country Club Catherine's Market RUSSELL REAL ESTATE Springhouse Restaurant Ridge Club Ridge Marina Kowaliga Marina Sunrise Docks Kowaliga Restaurant Russell Lands Corporate Office Russell Lands Real Estate Sales Center Children's Harbor Love Lake Martin Real Estate Office HACKNEYVILLE Hackneyville Water Authority OPELIKA Collaboration Station EQUALITY Five Star Plantation Equality Food Mart Charles Borden Real Island Marina

Southern Star Parker Marina ECLECTIC Nails Lake Martin Marine South Lake Breeze Realty Mitchell's Upholstery Lake Martin Mini Mall Lake Martin Dock Cotton's Alabama Barbecue Russell Do It Center Cozumel 1st Community Bank Johnson Furniture Eclectic Public Library WOW Catering LLC DADEVILLE Sigger's Barber Shop The Tiny Rabbit American Watersports Raining Dogs Bay Pines Marina Siggers Alabama Power Dadeville Public Library Pearson's Place City Hall Dadeville Courthouse Payne's Furniture PNC Bank Home Plate Cafe Valley Bank McKelvey Chevrolet Renfroe's Market Foshee's Boat Doc Lakeshore Pharmacy Russell Building Supply Lakay's TMP Construction Dadeville Chamber of Commerce Farmers & Merchants Bank Store 34 Jim's Pharmacy Shell 280 Root 49 Salon Poplar Dawgs Still Waters Country Club Still Waters Residential Association Fuller Realty Harbor Pointe Marina Oskar's Creekside Lodge Blue Creek Marina Lakeside Marina Niffer's Hwy 50 Eagle Millstone Nursery Lakeside Mercantile Fusion Grill

Lighting the Way for the Lake & River Region for more than 125 Years

2 2 READERS’

CHOICE To subscribe call Linda Ewing 256-234-4281 P.O. Box 999, 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City, AL 35010

42 Lake Martin Living

At the Beauty Shop Chuck's Marina Tallapoosa Nutrition Century 21 - Rhonda Gaskins Nannie Bells Cart & Catering TITUS Kim's Corner MILLBROOK/PRATTVILLE Gene Jones Insurance Stone & Britt, LLC Millbrook City Hall Millbrook Chamber 1st Community Bank YMCA - Prattville SLAPOUT Lake Pharmacy Boy's Store Austin Flowers WETUMPKA Wetumpka Chamber Hampton Inn Russell Do It Center City of Wetumpka - Administrative Building Hog Rock BBQ Holley Mart WInd Creek Casino Convenience Store Wind Creek Wetumpka 1st Community Bank Valley Bank Brandt Wright Realty Jackson Thornton BB&T Bank Must Stop Cafe Emerald Mountain Store Bumpers Store Busch's Grocery Wetumpka YMCA Friendship Grocery TALLASSEE Marathon Tallassee Chamber Hilltop Grocery Road Runner Cozumel Tallassee Public Library True Value Hardware Walmart Red Hill Gallery Tallassee Eagle State Farm Get Lake magazine delivered to your mailbox for just $25 per year.

To start your subscription, call Linda Ewing at 256-234-4281.

IN-HOME CARE SERVICES

For elderly and disabled individuals needing assistance with activities of daily living.

Homemaking... Personal Care... Companionship Our goal is to keep our clients as active as possible in their own homes to promote overall health and well being.

With our personally tailored care plans, you will receive the individual care you need with the dignity and respect you deserve.

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Lake Martin Living 43

AD INDEX A&M Plumbing.................................................................................... 6

Nirvana Latte..................................................................................... 2 5

A&O Tree Service............................................................................... 2 9

OBGYN Associates of Montgomery..................................................... 5

Alexander Landscaping ....................................................................... 5

Payne Bros. Furniture......................................................................... 2 5

Beyond Home Care............................................................................ 4 3

Prime Home Health.............................................................................. 8

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

Red Flag Pest Control.......................................................................... 6

C&C Wood Products.......................................................................... 1 7 Coosa Valley MRI............................................................................... 4 5 DAVCO Development........................................................................ 4 5 Emporium Wine................................................................................. 2 5 Four Seasons..................................................................................... 4 5 George Hardy, D.M.D.......................................................................... 6 Harold Cochran, State Farm Insurance............................................... 4 5 Heritage South Credit Union................................................................ 2 Jim DeBardelaben................................................................................ 8 Jim's Pharmacy.................................................................................. 4 2

Rhonda Gaskins, C21 Lake Area Realty................................................ 3 River Region Dermatology.................................................................. 4 5 Romar Construction........................................................................... 4 5 Russell Medical.................................................................................. 4 8 Satterfield, Inc.................................................................................... 5 Singleton Marine............................................................................... 2 7 Southern Sash..................................................................................... 8 Southern Star.................................................................................... 4 3 Steve Mackey M.D. Dermatology....................................................... 2 5

Karen Channell, State Farm Insurance................................................ 4 5

Sunrise Docks.................................................................................... 4 4

Kowaliga Whole Health..................................................................... 4 5

Surgical Dermatology Group.............................................................. 4 3

Lake Martin Dock........................................................................ 17, 45

Swearingen Fence.............................................................................. 2 9

Lina's Mexican/Avita.......................................................................... 2 5

Tallapoosa County Board of Education............................................... 4 7

Main Street Alexander City................................................................ 2 5

Tallassee Health & Rehab................................................................... 2 9

National Village................................................................................. 3 9

TowBoatUS........................................................................................ 3 8

Lake Martin’s Marine Construction Company 6732 Highway 63 South, Alexander Cit y, AL 35010 | (256) 392-5200 | www. sunrisedock sllc.com

44 Lake Martin Living

BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY SEE ME FOR INSURANCE

Harold Cochran 256.234.2700

COOSA VALLEY

MRI

Diagnosing sports injuries with more head-out exams 315 West Hickory St.

INSIDE COOSA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER Sylacauga, Alabama

256-207-2686

harold.cochran.b2cn@statefarm.com

COOSAVALLEYMRI.COM

334-857-2443 lakemartindock.com

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

Lake Martin Living 45

A

Culture Shock

s an 8-year-old child, my promptly to the top of my closet. Along with a grandmother, Margaret Shaffer, treasure trove of Holiday Barbies, which no one prompted me to choose a Christmas would let me take out of the box; do not get me china pattern. I am not sure it gets started on that one. much more Southern than that. I can assure you To my dismay, Ma soon discovered that the I was waving my American Girl Doll catalog F&F pattern was going to be discontinued. under her nose. I did not cook and certainly had Unfortunately, I would need to choose another no clue as to what my Christmas china style was pattern to pursue the following Christmas. or what Christmas china style was for that fact.

I landed on Lenox’s Holiday design with gold One might assume that china patterns are trim. Holiday was introduced in 1974 and is best for a wedding registry, and one would be still a mainstay on tablescapes to this day. A right. But no, not in my family. rather elegant choice, the plates are wrapped Ma loved a collection of anything, whether with dainty holly. Ma was surprised at my it was Santa figurines for her own home or the mature choice. I have no doubt I was simply charms on our mutual charm bracelets. It made striving to pick something colorful, and it all for easy shopping. looked painfully boring to me without a second Lacey Howell So here I was, destined to receive this china Santa Claus art option. To this day, I still reach for every possible life event up until the for the most colorful option presented day she died. to me as my brain is like a Lisa Frank Ma felt the need to get going on this sticker book.

Popular Christmas collection right away. She insisted it Fast forward to 2020, and in my China Patterns would take years to complete and that garage, I do have a complete tub of in no particular order: I would be thrilled to have it all when I Lenox Holiday china. I slip two of the 1. Bernardaud Grenadiers got married someday. coffee saucers into my cabinet each 2. Waechters Christmas Tree Ma was Alexander City’s Mrs. season. I try to serve at least one big 3. Pfaltzgraff Yuletide Claus in the 1990s, and when it came dinner party on the plates, thinking 4. Lenox Holiday to Christmas doings, I did as she of my crazy, nutty Ma each time. I 5. Johnson Brothers Old Britain instructed, or she would call Santa bought my nieces their first Holiday Castles Pink Christmas from her landline.

Barbies this year, and yes, we ripped 6. Noritake Palace Christmas Gold I remember choosing Fitz and them right out of the box!

7. Johnson Brothers Merry Floyd’s Saint Nicholas with Santa on it Christmas from a catalog. An obvious choice for ~Lacey Howell is a recovering 8. Lenox Winter Greetings a kid as it had Santa and reindeer on English major from Auburn, who now 9. Mikasa Ribbon Holly it. My mother had Spode Christmas lives on Lake Martin, sells real estate, 10. Sakura Magic of Santa Tree, and I did not want to have the rides horses and loves good wine.

11. Royal Worcester Holly Ribbons exact same pattern. I received my first Follow her on Facebook and Instagram place setting that Christmas. It went @LaceyHowell.

46 Lake Martin Living

Lake Martin Living 47

Russell Medical offers some of the world’s best health care right here in our little corner of it.

Russell Medical is proud to be a member of the UAB Health System.

Now, in addition to cancer treatment, we are able to bring to bear UAB’s expertise in surgery, urology, eye care, cardiac care, and stroke treatment. You don’t always have to travel for advanced care, we have it right here in our corner of the world.

Visit russellcares.com/UAB for more information.

russellcares.com/UAB