CHRISTMAS AT THE LAKE

STORY BY BETSY ILER PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS & COURTESY OF AN ECLECTIC CHRISTMAS

The Hometown Christmas Parade will march through Alexander City on the first Monday of December

Christmas at Lake Martin is a recipe for the best Christmas ever, and it starts now – on and off the lake – with a host of parties, parades and other events to awaken the holiday spirit and set the stage.

The spectacular An Eclectic Christmas opens Dec. 1 with tours available through Dec. 11. This 1-mile stroll takes visitors from Nazareth to Bethlehem, past kings journeying to see the newborn King, past angels proclaiming Christ’s birth to shepherds and through the city market of old to a humble stable where the Savior lies in a manger. Roman soldiers on horseback, greedy tax collectors and travelers on the road interact with the touring public in this fabulous sharing of the Good News. More than 200 volunteers take part in the event every year.

The tours are free, but donations are appreciated. Reservations are advised, though walk-ins will be accepted on an “as available” basis. Accommodations

Ccan be made for the handicapped and elderly. Visit An Eclectic Christmas on Facebook or on the website at aneclecticministry.org for reservations, location and details. Alexander City Theatre II kicks off this month’s events with three free performances of Joe Landry’s It’s A Wonderful Life Live Radio Play, directed by Dadeville’s Steve Thomas and Eclectic’s Doug Roberts at the Central Alabama Community College Betty Carol Graham Center stage. The classic tale of George Bailey’s wonderful life in Bedford Falls will be told in 1940s radio-studio style by local actors and crew. Keith Garrett plays George Bailey, with Rodney Meadows as the curmudgeonly Mr. Potter. Rob Iler takes on several roles, changing hats to play head angel Joseph, as well as Mr. Martini and George’s father, Peter Bailey. ACT II newcomer Chuck Clark will be the loveable “angel second class,” Clarence. And Joy

Johns will play the part of Mary Hatch/Bailey. Chris Baker, John Hill, Scears Barnes, Susan McCrispin, John Jung, Graden Hill, Julia Walters, Julia Kilby Kison and Kendall Sims also will appear in this timeless story focused on the true meaning of the season.

But the real stars of this play will be Doug Roberts and Ivana Hodges, who keep the show rolling with an inventive array of tackle and tools to create realistic sound effects throughout the production. From the crunch of shoes in snow to the stiff wind on the bridge where Clarence prevents George from committing suicide, Roberts and Hodges create the background sounds that bring the play to life.

The production will be offered without admission charge to the community at 7 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 5. Audience is limited to 300 at each performance, so arrive early to ensure seating.

Sponsorships from local businesses and individuals have made it possible to present this show free to the community. Those sponsors include Central Alabama Community College, Realtor Rhonda Gaskins and Billy and Ann Harrison as Jingle Sponsors. Additional sponsors include Dr. Doug Roberts at Alex City Chiropractic; Scears and Barbara Barnes; Bice Motors; Jerry, Cheryl and Brannon Bynum; Alex City Arts Council; Dark Insurance; Phyllis Hurst; Rob and Betsy Iler; John and Jan Jung; Lake Martin Living magazine at Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.; Diane and Rodney Meadows; and Steve and Julia Thomas.

Also on Dec. 2, Creekside Lodge and Event Center in Dadeville will host an open house and grand reopening to benefit the Tri-County Advocacy Center’s Christmas gift-giving for children in their care.

New owner Jason Lasure has been busy during the pandemic with renovations at Creekside, and the chamber of commerce will be there to cut the ribbon as this lakeside destination re-opens. Jazz player David Jones will provide entertainment at this festive event, and local restaurants will put out a spread of delicious treats. There will be beer, wine and seasonal cocktails and door prizes, and anyone who donates to the cause will be entered in a raffle.

“There is a great need for these foster kids and foster families, and we hope people will turn out to have a good time, see the new renovations and make donations to brighten these kids’ Christmas,” said Creekside Event Center manager Sherri Wilson. “If anyone wants to bring a gift for a child age 8 or younger, that’s fine, but especially for the older kids, it’s easier to donate money.”

For more information, call Wilson at 256-307-1440.

On Saturday morning, Dec. 4, The Square on Calhoun Street in downtown Alexander City will host a new Christmas event for children. Bring the kids to

A Roman soldier on horseback orders a family to travel to Nazareth for the census in the An Eclectic Christmas production at Falk Farm

Dadeville's Spirit of a Hometown Christmas Parade follows a full day of fun near the courthouse square

Santa visits with children at Dadeville's downtown Christmas festivities

Floats, food and fun are part of the activities preceeding the parade in Dadeville Breakfast with Santa from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. There will be storytime with Mrs. Claus, one-on-one time with Santa himself and the opportunity for you to take some wonderful pictures. Each child will receive a small gift from Santa. The cost per child is $20.

And there’s more Downtown Christmas to come. “This year, we wanted to incorporate more events in our downtown to draw more people into the area,” said Main Street Executive Director Stacey Jeffcoat.

Three years ago, Main Street Alexander City and the Alexander City Parks and Recreation Department started partnering on a daylong event to warm hearts and toes and make the magic of Christmas accessible for more people. This year’s Downtown Christmas will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with musicians and dancers strolling the city street. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available for photos, and children will be able to write letters to Santa, ride the Polar Express and decorate ornaments for their Christmas trees at home. Frosty’s playground will be open for the littlest children, and the holiday market will be open for shopping.

Then, on Dec. 16, Main Street Alexander City’s Third Thursday event will feature a live Nativity and music from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Stores will be open until 7 p.m. to help you finish your last-minute shopping.

Dadeville’s Spirit of a Hometown Christmas Parade, hosted by the Dadeville-Lake Martin Chamber of Commerce on Sunday, Dec. 5, tops off an afternoon of food, fun and holiday fare just off the courthouse square. The fun begins at noon when arts and crafts and food vendors open, and kids can catch a ride on a holiday train and play in the bounce house. There will be pony rides, face painting and a petting zoo, too. This will be a great place to find gifts for those hard-to-shop-for folks on your list and pick up stocking stuffers. Emcees Ed Shikoski and Jason Flowers will keep the music playing and highlight vendor events, and Santa and Mrs. Claus will tour the event in their holiday golf cart, taking pictures with children and collecting Santa letters.

The parade begins at 3 p.m. at the high school with the judges’ station at the library and will end just beyond the festivities off the square.

The Alexander City Chamber of Commerce will welcome Santa to town with a parade on Monday, Dec. 6. The theme for this year’s event is “Miracle on Main Street.” Line up along the parade route from Comer Street to Strand Park and bring along some hot cocoa. Daytime temperatures could be as high as 60

degrees on the day of the parade, but the low will be around 36, so bundle up to witness the miracle.

Add a touch of international history to your holiday on Dec. 11 when St. John’s Catholic Church in Alexander City revives the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Tradition has it that in 1531, the Virgin Mary appeared to the Aztec Juan Diego, which led to the conversion to Catholicism of Mexico, Central and South America.

In Alexander City, church members will host a traditional parade with prayers and a mariachi band at 7 p.m. along streets near the church at 454 N. Central Ave. As the parade returns to the church, a Mass will be held, followed by a community meal. This event provides a wonderful opportunity to not just read about cultural history but also to experience it.

Also making a comeback after COVID-19 this year is the annual Christmas cantata at Red Ridge United Methodist Church, Christmas Dreams, by Heather Sorenson and Joseph Martin will be presented Dec. 19 at 9:30 a.m. with traditional carols, as well as newly composed selections. Refreshments will follow in this historic local church. The cantata is one of Red Ridge UMC’s most popular programs of the year, so arrive early to get a seat.

These are just a few of the holiday highlights around Lake Martin this year. You’ll find more listed in our calendar section, starting on page 14. Make the most of this blessed season by attending a variety of festivities and events around the lake to have your best-ever Christmas at Lake Martin.

Downtown Christmas in Alexander City features reindeer races, writing Santa letters, sipping hot chocolate, shopping and much more The Red Ridge UMC Christmas cantata returns Dec. 19

Virginia Creeper

NATURE OF THE LAKE

BY KENNETH BOONE

This native vine becomes a showpiece when it turns red in the fall

VVirginia Creeper is a native vine that often suffers from a case of mistaken identity – some people confuse it with poison ivy.

That’s a big problem for this mostly people-friendly plant that can be a beautiful addition to landscaping, because absolutely nobody wants poison ivy around the home. This time of year – the fall – is when Virginia Creeper really shines. In early autumn around Lake Martin, Virginia Creeper leaves change from deep green with light green undersides to a brilliant red, maroon or purple that makes whatever it’s creeping on stand out in a crowd of browns. This vine, which can grow up to 100 feet long, is usually limited by the height of its host structure. It’s often seen climbing on trees, telephone poles and buildings. Savvy gardeners plant Virginia Creeper to enhance garden walls and fences. Virginia Creeper is a long, then woody vine that loses its leaves each winter. It’s primary identifying feature is its leaves. Each leaf is made up of five leaflets emerging from the end of a stemlike structure called a petiole. Each leaflet is 4 to 6 inches long and oval shaped with pointed ends and toothed edges. And honestly, Virginia Creeper does look something like the three leaflets of a poison ivy. This confusion has created a famous country saying: “Leaves of three, let it be. Leaves of five, let it thrive.” Rarely, Virginia Creeper with have a leaf with three or even seven leaflets, but the vast majority will have five leaflets, so this is one old saying that holds true today. One characteristic that makes this vine good for gardeners is that it holds onto whatever it climbs with tendrils tipped with flattened wooden holdfasts. It can climb on brick or stone or boards without damaging the surface, and if it dies, the wooden sucker discs will rot away. This is a vine that climbs without any need for support, so it’s easy to establish: Just plant it near a wall or fence and leave it alone. Eventually, it will cover a structure as more vines branch out. However, if you’re not sure where you want this vine to grow, it’s best to wait until you are sure. It is hard

to remove Virginia Creeper once it is established, and while the holdfasts won’t typically harm the finish, pulling them off could. Virginia Creeper flowers are small and greenish and easy to overlook while its fruits are tiny and bluish purple to black. The reason that Virginia Creeper is “mostly” people-friendly is that its berries and leaves contain oxalic acid, which is toxic to humans if ingested. Most of the time, reactions include mouth and throat irritation, but it also could damage kidneys. It can irritate some people’s skin, too, causing a rash. If you have sensitive skin, it’s smart to wear gloves when handling Virginia Creeper. For birds, which are immune to the oxalic acid, Virginia Creeper berries are an important food source during the winter months. Virginia Creeper is a member of the Vitaceae family, which it shares with grapes. Its scientific name is Parthenocissus quinquefolia, which is a mouthful. It sometimes goes by other common names, such as Woodbine, Victoria Creeper, Fiveleaved Ivy and Fivefinger. If you want your vines to look their best, it is smart to plant them in full sun; however, Virginia A gardeners' Creeper is a plant that favorite, Virginia can handle shade or Creeper climbs walls partial shade. A wall or and fences without fence facing west or east damaging them is probably safest, as a south-facing wall may get too hot and a north-facing wall may not get enough sun. This vine prefers welldrained soil, but it can tolerate many different types of soil, including those with wide pH ranges. Virginia Creeper can be used to make a pink dye. It has been used to treat several maladies, including jaundice, gonorrhea and diarrhea. Some people make a tea from this plant, which is used as a wash to treat poison ivy – an ironic twist for a plant that is often confused for the same plant it is treating. Some information for this article came from Auburn

University’s Cooperative Extension Service, uaex.uada. edu and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s wildflower.org page.

Be Merry & Shop Local

Be Merry & Shop Local