Lake Magazine December 2023

Overlook Fire Tower Update English Christmas at Lake Martin

DECEMBER 2023

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DECEMBER 2023

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Letter from the Editor

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e’ve been working on this holiday issue of Lake magazine for a couple of months now, and it’s been great fun to look forward to all the festivities. Decorations set the mood and gifts elevate the celebration, while food warms the heart and soul and draws us close to family and friends. But in the midst of all the holiday hustle and bustle, we hope you will take time to savor the everyday things that matter.

At the top of that list is home and hearth, so we’re delighted to share a glimpse of the Day home during the Christmas season on page 32.

And you need only glance out the window at the glassy Lake Martin to recognize the value in our Treasured Lake.

Last month, 243 volunteers grabbed pickers and bags to clean up the roadsides and shorelines of Lake Martin during the annual Renew Our Rivers cleanup. John Thompson, the Lake Martin Resource Association volunteer who coordinated the event, estimated the haul at 5 tons. On page 18, we honor the volunteers we encountered on roadsides around the lake.

And as we have in recent years, Lake magazine awarded the Golden Picker bag to one of them.

This year’s Golden Picker bag winner was super-volunteer Ken Holland. Word has it that Ken was razzing Lake writer Ben Smith on cleanup day about the coveted bag of goods.

And meanwhile, back at the ranch, Audra Spears actually did pull Ken’s name from the hat! Congratulations to Ken Holland, who has put in countless hours year-round to preserve and protect Lake Martin, along with his wife, Tonya.

See the Quick Guide on page 9 for details.

It’s always a delight for us when we can give a shoutout to organizations that make a difference at the lake. In addition to LMRA, we put our hands together this month for Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association on page 24.

You may recall that last year about this time, we announced CRATA’s new fire tower project above the Overlook trailhead. We checked in with them again to learn about their progress toward the reality of the tower and are thrilled to report how well it’s going.

There are so many fabulous holiday celebrations afoot in the area. On page 16, we highlight just a few we’re sure you won’t want to miss, but turn to page 12 for many more events in the calendar pages.

We at Lake magazine hope you have a truly blessed holiday.

Staff Chairman KENNETH BOONE

editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

General Manager TIPPY HUNTER

editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Editor in Chief BETSY ILER

editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Art Director AUDRA SPEARS

audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com

Business & Digital Development Director ANGELA MULLINS angela.mullins@alexcityoutlook.com

Marketing RENEE TRICE

renee.trice@alexcityoutlook.com

SHERYL JENNINGS

sheryl.jennings@thewetumpkaherald.com

HIDEY ARRINGTON

hidey.arrington@alexcityoutlook.com

RACHEL HUBBARD

rachel.hubbard@thewetumpkaherald.com

Contributors KENNETH BOONE HENRY ZIMMER BEN SMITH ABIGAIL MURPHY JULIE HUDSON LONNA UPTON GREG VINSON DAVE JENNINGS CLIFF WILLIAMS HARRY DENEGRE PETE MCKENNY STEVE ARNBERG LIZI GWIN MELODY RATHEL CRAYTON WALTON

All content, including all stories and photos are copyright of: Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.

Betsy Iler, Editor-in-Chief Clarification: The rooms featured on pages 56 and 57 in the print and online editions of the November 2023 issue of Lake magazine were designed by Ashley Chancellor of Legacy New Homes.

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DECEMBER 2023

P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011 256-234-4281 | lakemagazine.life

On the Cover A live centerpiece of greens and flowers adorns Christian and Sarah Day's holiday table as the family celebrates the season twice – once at their beloved Lake Martin and again with loved ones in London. Here, they incorporate English traditions and decorations throughout their delightful home, bringing together tokens of their heritage, as well as the warmth of their hearts. Photo by Kenneth Boone

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Contents 16. CHRISTMAS EVENTS Get a quick look at local holiday events happening around Lake Martin.

18. CLEANUP HONOR ROLL Renew Our Rivers volunteers turned out enmasse to clean up lake area roadsides and shorelines.

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24. FOOTINGS FINISHED Construction continues on a second CRATA fire tower at Lake Martin.

32. CHRISTMAS AT THE LAKE The Day family celebrates Christmas on both sides of the pond.

LAKE MAGAZINE’S MONTHLY FEATURES:

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9. LAKE’S QUICK GUIDE TO THE LAKE 11. LAKE SCENES 12. CALENDAR OF EVENTS 14. LAKE MARTIN NEWS 28. NATURE OF THE LAKE 44. CHEERS! 46. LAKE PROPERTY

48. HOBO 51. FAB FINDS 52. HEALTHY LIVING 54. CHEF'S TABLE 56. BIG CATCHES 59. LOVE OF THE GAME 66. PARTING SHOT

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Lake magazine also features an online, digital edition, available 24 hours a day, free of charge. This edition is perfect to share with friends and family and provides you complete access to stories, photos and advertisements from anywhere in the world with Internet access. View our digital edition today at www.lakemagazine.life.

DECEMBER 2023

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Loan options for those approved: Lot loans* Purchase a lot to build now or in the near future and get financing with no prepayment penalties.

*Standard maximum of 10 acres; however parcels not exceeding 20 acres may be considered if typical for the area and supported by acceptable appraisal valuation. Lot loans are not intended for investment or speculation purposes. Loan approval is subject to credit approval and program guidelines. Not all loan programs are available in all states for all loans amounts. Interest rates and program terms are subject to change without notice. Visit usbank.com to learn more about U.S. Bank products and services. Mortgage, Home Equity and Credit products are offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Deposit products are offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Member FDIC. ©2019 U.S. Bank 257701c 10/19

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DECEMBER 2023

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Lake’s Quick Guide to the Lake Lake Martin Area Real Estate Indicators Sales Month October 2023 October 2020 October 2017

Number of sales

Average selling price

Median selling price

Days on the market

Total houses for sale

Inventory/ sales ratio

14 46 24

$1,118,500 $ 795,655 $ 476,064

$ 797,000 $ 625,375 $ 428,500

165 90 183

103 73 227

1.81 1.91 7.69

The above numbers are derived from raw sales data from the Lake Martin Area Association of Realtors MLS.The sales noted above are for Lake Martin waterfront residential (single-family and condominium) sales only. This information is provided courtesy of Lake Martin Realty, LLC (a Russell Lands, Inc., affiliated company).

Ken Holland wins cleanup's Golden Picker bag Congratulations to Ken Holland, our 2023 Golden Picker Award winner. Holland has been a longtime volunteer with the annual Alabama Power Renew Our Rivers cleanup, having participated in the event for 10 years. More than 240 volunteers turned out for the cleanup this year, said cleanup coordinator John Thompson. Of course, Holland and Tonya were among them.

When Holland and his wife, Tonya, started coming to the lake, they often spent their weekends cleaning up trash on the islands and shorelines. They began collecting fishing lures they found among the cans, bottles, plastic bags and other trash around the lake. The Hollands have used this extensive collection of jigs, crankbaits and spinnerbaits to decorate their Christmas tree the last few years.

Holland's prizes for this year's cleanup include a Bluetooth speaker and portable charger, a tote bag, a cheeseboard, a $100 gift card to Wind Creek State Park, a thermos, hats, T-shirts, a picnic blanket and much more. Special thanks to the following sponsors, whose donations made this gift possible: John Coley, Michelle West of Studio West, Main Street Alexander City, Lake Martin Resource Association,Wind Creek State Park, Children's Harbor, River Bank & Trust, Alabama Lake magazine's Ben Smith Power, Russell Lands and presented Ken Holland with Tallapoosa Publishers. the Golden Picker Prize bag.

Weather Outlook for Month December 2023 Forecast

Historically, the Lake Martin area experiences average high temperatures in the upper 50s with average lows in the mid 30s and about 5 and a half inches of precipitation in the month of December.The National Weather Service has predicted that temperatures and rainfall will be above average this month.

Year-to-Date

Precipitation: 48.03 Avg. high temp.: 77.1 Avg. low temp.: 53.6 Avg. temp.: 65.4

Our Normal December Precipitation: 5.47 inches Avg. high temp.: 58.4 Avg. low temp.: 34.9 Avg. temp.: 46.6

Information from the National Weather Service.

DECEMBER 2023

Last Month's Lake Levels Summer: 491 MSL Winter: 481 MSL Highest: 489.52 Lowest: 485.46 Lake depth is measured in reference to mean sea level. For up-to-date water levels at the lake, visit lakes.alabamapower.com.

Lake elevations are subject to change. Individuals who recreate below Martin Dam and those with boats and waterrelated equipment on the lake should always stay alert to changing conditions.

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DECEMBER 2023

Lake Scene n People & Places Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com 1

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READER SUBMISSIONS

9 DECEMBER 2023

(1) This time of year, the sun rises at the back of the slough on Powell Drive. (2) Briggs Hutto and Russell Blankenship survey the lake for any sign of Peanut Point. (3) Walter Haywood took this photo of a beautiful full rainbow in Sandy Creek. (4) Zoey, aka "Brown Dog," loved riding in the boat with Lisa Woolard's grandson, Fred. (5) Life will never be the same again for James Negaard after he's dipped his toes in Lake Martin. (6) Melinda Ligeon, Athina Ryals and Karen Clark took a snapshot after a lovely lunch at Catherine's. (7) Tony Johnson snapped this photo of golden light reflecting on the lake in early October.

(8) Lauren Wellington's Zoe enjoys a relaxing float near Real Island in the dog days of summer. (9) Carmen Boshell sent this photo of reeds at the ready as a storm blows over Lake Martin.

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Now thru Jan. 6 Pennington Park Light Show

Park displays will be lit nightly from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Event will include display of full-size sleigh and scheduled visits from Santa. A North Pole mailbox will be present to receive special delivery mail. Every letter will receive a personalized response from Santa stamped with Rudolph’s hoof-mark.

Now thru Dec. 9 'Tis the Season to Shop Local

Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Tickets are available online at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com.

Dec. 7 Sylacauga Christmas Parade

Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce will host the annual holiday parade at 6 p.m. The route starts at the high school and travels over Broadway and Norton avenues, ending at the city’s Parks & Rec.

Get a stamp for every $10 you spend at participating local retailers. Collect enough stamps to be entered into a $250 gift card drawing, presented by the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce.

Dec. 9 Downtown Christmas

Alexander City Parks & Rec and Main Street Alexander City will host the annual Downtown Christmas event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Main Street.

Events will include Frosty's Playground, pictures with Santa, Build-an-Ornament, a Polar Express train, and more.

Dec. 1, 2 & 3 A Christmas Carol Live Radio Play

​​Alexander City Theatre II will present a radio play rendition of Charles Dickens' classic holiday tale with a script written by Joe Landry. Performances will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 and Dec. 2 and at 2 p.m.

Dec. 3 on the Betty Carol Graham Center stage at the Central Alabama Community College campus in Alexander City. Admission is free.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS WHAT’S HAPPENING ON LAKE MARTIN Alexander City's Christmas Parade features music, dancers, floats, bright lights and much more.

There will be vendors and activities in downtown Dadeville before the Spirit of a Hometown Christmas Parade takes to the streets at 3 p.m.

Dec. 4 Alexander City Christmas Parade

‘Fairytale Christmas’ is the theme for the annual Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade.

The parade starts at 6 p.m. Visit alexcitychamber.com for details.

The Dadeville Community Chorus will perform their annual holiday concert at 7 p.m. at the Dadeville 12 LAKE

More than 30 vendors will set up in the Hamilton Place Ballroom from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a holiday shopping market with refreshments and activities.

Dec. 11, 14 & 18 Christmas with Friends

Dec. 3 Dadeville Christmas Parade

Dec. 5 Fall/Holiday Concert

Dec. 9 & 10 Christmas Market at Hamilton Place

Tallapoosa Aid to People in Alexander City, Care House in Sylacauga and Elmore County Food Pantry in Wetumpka are the designated beneficiaries of this year’s concert series. The concerts will all begin at 6:30 p.m. and will take place at the Wetumpka Civic Center on Dec. 11, at Central Alabama Community College in Alexander City Dec. 14 and at First Baptist Church in Sylacauga Dec. 18. There is no charge for admission, but donations are requested.

Dec. 14 & 15 Karaoke Christmas

Dadeville Performing Arts Center will host performances of a children’s Christmas choral collection at 7 p.m. This lively 30-minute musical will be presented by local children and directed by Elaine Forbus. Songs include Frosty the Snowman; Run, Rudolph, Run; Jingle Bell Rock and

DECEMBER 2023

more. Tickets are $10 in advance; $15 at the door, and are available at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com.

fees for Tallapoosa County children. Contact Elaine Balint Forbus at 256-749-7932 or elaine.balint@gmail.com.

Dec. 15 Buffalo Nichols at Standard Deluxe

Everything’s Art Classes

Welcome Buffalo Nichols back to the Little House at Standard Deluxe at 7:30 p.m. Gates and bar open at 5 p.m. with supper by the Waverly Chicken Man. Tickets are $20 in advance; $25 at the door. Only 50 tickets available. Visit standarddeluxe.com for details.

From 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on alternate Tuesdays, children in grades three through five will learn the elements of art through class projects with Everything’s Art teachers.

Enroll and complete permission forms at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com/classes. No fees for Tallapoosa County children. Email Delaine Hanson at delaine.hanson@gmail.com for details.

Dec. 16 Gypsy Candlesticks

Alexander City Lions Club

Tony Brook and Yve B. will welcome special guest Mace Glasscock to the Little House at Standard Deluxe at 7:30 p.m. Gates and bar open at 5 p.m. with supper in the Feed Shak at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $25. Visit standarddeluxe.com for details.

Dec. 17 Christmas Cantata

Red Ridge United Methodist Church will host this annual Christmas musical presentation at 9:30 a.m. with a 30-menber choir and a full orchestra. Music composed and arranged by Lloyd Larson.

Dec. 19 “Real Bells” Hand Bells Ensemble Concert

Led by Carol Bonebrake, this large ensemble will perform Christmas music and other selections to ring out the holiday season at 6:30 p.m. at Dadeville Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

Jan. 1 First Day Hike

Bring in the New Year with Wind Creek State Park Naturalist Dylan Ogle as he leads a 3.5-mile hike around the Speckled Snake Trail. Meet in the marina parking lot.

Step off time is 10 a.m., so arrive early with plenty of water and snacks. Wear sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. No charge for the hike, but there is a nominal dayuse fee to be paid at the park entrance.

Jan. 13 LMYP Polar Plunge

Lake Martin Young Professionals encourage everyone to join the plunge in the lake to raise money for Lake Martin Resource Association’s lighted buoy program. Look for more details in next month's issue of Lake Magazine.

Season-long Events Elementary Musical Theatre

Now through Dec. 15, Dadeville Performing Arts Center will host after-school singing, dancing and acting workshops from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for third through sixth grade students every Monday. Enroll and complete permission forms at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com/classes. No

Serving 27 local charities in Tallapoosa County, the Alexander City Lions Club meets at 6 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of each month at Lake Martin Area United Way office on Main Street. A meal is provided at the second meeting of the month, which features an engaging speaker. For more information, contact Mae Lynn O’Neil at 256-750-7404.

Fiber Fridays

Bring your knitting, crochet, needlepoint, embroidery and other fiber art projects to The Yarn Shop Around the Corner in Dadeville from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Fridays to meet fellow fiber artisans, share tips and techniques and talk with others who share your interests. Call 334-444-1038 for more information.

Real Island Supper

The Real Island community hosts a covered dish supper on the second Friday of this month at the Real Island Volunteer Fire Department and Community Room, 1495 Real Island Rd., Equality. Admission is $3 per adult; bring a covered dish to share. Some nights are themed, so call ahead to find out if costumes or certain types of food are in order. For more information, contact Dianne Perrett at 256-329-8724.

Second Friday Open Mic Night

The Equality Performing Arts Center invites all musicians to its monthly jam sessions on the second Friday of each month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. There is no cover, but donations are greatly appreciated. There will be an intermission for snacks, and people are encouraged to bring a dish to share. For more information, visit the EPAC Facebook page.

Naturalist Presentations and Guided Nature Tours

Naturalist Marianne fills the Naturalist Cabin at Russell Crossroads with children and adults to see and listen to her lively nature presentations with critters, insects, snakes 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 RussellLands.com/blog/events for the scheduled subject matter, dates and times.

DECEMBER 2023

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Lake Martin News Lannie Kim wins Renew Our Rivers T-shirt design contest

Third grader Lannie Kim of Stephens Elementary School was announced the winner of the 2023 Lake Martin Resource Association T-shirt design contest.

Her artwork is featured on the T-shirts for the annual Renew Our Rivers Cleanup, which took place early this November.

Kim drew her and former LMRA president John Thompson picking up trash from a pair of boats on Lake Martin. A pair of underwater trash pickers was included in the picture, as well.

For more than a decade, LMRA has relied on the art of students at Stephens for the T-shirt art for Renew Our Rivers. Due to funding decreases this year, Alexander City Schools was forced to cut the art program.

But, the students’ art contest wasn’t going anywhere.

“The art contest has been one of those activities we have done since the beginning that the kids really look forward to each year,” said Ann Goree, Left to right: Ann Goree and John who has worked closeThompson show off this year's ROR ly with the students cleanup T-shirt while art contest on this project since winner Lannie Kim holds her original the beginning. “We artwork for the shirts. love seeing how each child interprets the lessons they have learned about renew, reuse and recycle and applying that to the colorful scenes around Lake Martin.”

The judges had their work cut out for them this year, according to Goree. There were depictions of imaginary trash-removing inventions, scenes from around Lake Martin and wildlife pictures.

“This year’s artwork was amazing,” Goree said. “It was fun to see their interpretations of the lake. They brought so many of their own aspects, ideas and experiences around Lake Martin to life.”

The students were also immersed in lessons about environmentalism, the importance of cleaning up litter and more. Goree said the students were shocked to learn over 1 billion people worldwide don’t have access to clean water, and that more than 2,000 children die every day because of it.

“The hope is that these lessons will inspire kids to continue to make better decisions, even if it’s as simple as turning the water off while brushing their teeth,” Goree said. ~Lizi Arbogast Gwin 14 LAKE

Bill "Bubba" Bussey detailed the installation project for a new repeater.

This step involved lifting the antennae onto the tower.

Bubba presents at the Lake Martin HAM radio club

Bill “Bubba” Bussey of The Rick & Bubba Show came to the Lake Martin Amateur Radio Club meeting in Alexander City.

Bussey recently worked alongside multiple LMARC members to put a HAM radio repeater in Kellyton. Bussey originally bought the property for hunting purposes but then found it would be a great place to put a radio tower.

He said he knows many may wonder why we need more repeaters when there are already hundreds in the state. But both Alex City and HAM radio are growing, and on top of that, the repeaters in the area are always at risk of any tornado that comes by.

In short, the more the better for this growing interest in HAM radio. Of course, these things aren’t done without the Alabama Repeaters Council, which coordinates repeaters across the state.

The repeater in Kellyton currently stands at about 90 feet, although it could go as tall as 120 feet. The tower uses both UHF and VHF frequencies.

“In some areas UHF will work better with getting through buildings, but most of the time, as a general rule, VHF is going to outperform it,” Bussey said. “Now, the tradeoff is the antennas are smaller, so you can build bigger antennas for more gain to try to make up the difference.”

Bussey also has a Facebook group for the all-star nodes and echolink information for the repeater. He wants interested parties to join in because HAM radio is all about having fun.

Bussey said people interested in the repeater are welcome to email him at kj4jj@mac.com. In the spring of this coming year, there is a plan to add more aspects to the repeater. ~Abigail Murphy

DECEMBER 2023

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LAKE 15

Christmas Events

B

Bundle up and set off with the family for a host of holiday fun around Lake Martin this year. Here’s a sampling of spectacular Christmas events to get you started. n A cast and crew of 30 will kick off December’s holiday events with three free performances of A Christmas Carol at the Betty Carol Graham Center at Central Alabama Community College. This Alexander City Theatre II live radio play, adapted by Joe Landry and directed by Doug Roberts and Steve Thomas, opens at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1, and Saturday, Dec. 2. A 2 p.m. matinee is set for Sunday, Dec. 3.

Set in a 1950s radio station, the play is based on Charles Dickens’ classic novella and features a number of ACT II’s experienced actors, as well as many talented locals who are new to the stage.

Rodney Meadows will play the title role of Scrooge, and Keith Garrett will play the radio station stage manager while Chuck Clark and John Jung take over the foley table with a plethora of innovative sound effects. Also returning to the stage from previous ACT II productions are Lindsay Goree, Jack Wright, Dianna Walker, Lou Long, Patti Smith, Chris Baker, John Jung and John Mitcham. Making their ACT II debuts are Alesia Boddie and Bucky Alleman.

The play puts a fresh spin on the age-old story of a curmudgeon who learns the true meaning of Christmas with the help of three ghostly visitors on Christmas Eve. Donations will be accepted at the door, but admission is free, as annual patrons and sponsors help to pay for ACT II’s season of four productions each year. n Also launching on Dec. 1 is Eclectic’s live action Christmas story of the coming of the Christ Child.

With vignettes performed in outdoor settings at Falk Farm, An Eclectic Christmas will open Dec. 1 with nightly performances through Dec. 8. Tour groups embark upon the road from Nazareth to Bethlehem every 15 minutes from 6 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., encountering Roman soldiers on horseback,

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street vendors, tax collectors, shepherds and angels before arriving at the humble stable where the baby Jesus was born.

Admission for the tour is $5 per person, and reservations can be made online at aneclecticministry.org/reservations. Each group is limited to 40 guests, and a guide will be assigned to every group. Accommodations can be made for guests who are unable to walk the three-quarter-mile route. Please request golf cart support when making reservations. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space is available.

More than 200 volunteers make this annual pilgrimage possible with support from local businesses and individuals. Coordinated by the non-denominational An Eclectic Ministry, the production draws from the community to host an exemplary event.

This production is not to be missed for anyone in the Lake Martin area in December. n Throughout the month of December, visit Pennington Park in Dadeville for another magical holiday presentation. Local businesses and individuals have decorated trees and created holiday vignettes in this annual display of Christmas magic.

Santa’s sleigh and reindeer greet visitors as they enter under arches of light. Take a family photo in the sleigh and let the children mail their letters to Santa at the special mailbox. Every letter with return address information will be answered, signed by Santa Claus and stamped by Rudolph.

Peruse the display of trees and lights and peer into Santa’s workshop at the gazebo. The display will be lit from 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. through the season of Christmas, and touring the magic is free.

Many more holiday events and adventures await at the lake this month. Turn to the calendar pages (starting on page 12) for more Christmas fun.

DECEMBER 2023

AAA Journey to Journey Journey to to Christmas Wonder Christmas Christmas Wonder Wonder

DECEMBER 2023

LAKE 17

Cleanup Honor Roll

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STORY BY BETSY ILER PHOTOS BY BEN SMITH & BETSY ILER

More than 240 volunteers picked up 5 tons of trash from Real Island to the Union boat ramp during last month’s Renew Our Rivers cleanup, coordinated by Lake Martin Resource Association’s John Thompson.

“More than that, actually, because we don’t get a weight on the tires that come in or the trash that goes in the county dump trucks and Real Island dumpsters,” Thompson said.

At Real Island, 42 volunteers filled 40 bags with roadside trash and collected 10 tires, as well as a roll of carpet.

“If we could inspire every Lake Martin community to be as active as the Real Island community, our litter problem would be drastically reduced,” he said.

While Real Island led the charge in numbers of volunteers, other communities around the lake certainly made an impact as well, Thompson added.

At the Kowaliga boat landing, 30 volunteers halffilled a dumpster with bagged trash. Russell Lands employees cleaned up both sides of State Route 63 from U.S. Route 280 to Our Town, and Dixie

Sailing Club members removed 16 bags of trash and eight tires from the lake shoreline. Collecting trash from Youngs Ferry, Madwind, Old Susannah, Genie Martin and Parson Hills, 26 volunteers filled a county dump truck.

“Many of these volunteers remove roadside trash on a regular basis,” Thompson reported.

LMRA and Alabama Power boats removed 40 bags of trash and several large items from various shoreline locations with the help of 26 volunteers. And at Wind Creek State Park, 40 young Lake Martin Trailblazers and many of their parents removed trash under the leadership of Staci Pemberton. Furthernmore, 13 Alexander City Parks and Recreation employees removed a mattress and numerous bags of roadside litter on Coley Creek Road.

“This being our 19th year, there is less trash being removed each year because there is less trash to be found. We are finding more volunteers are choosing to remove unsightly litter on a regular basis, which is absolutely wonderful,” Thompson said.

Clockwise from top left: Real Island Volunteers; John Christenberry; Joe and Tracy Allen; Dave Buckner; Lauren Watts and Sydnee Riley.

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DECEMBER 2023

Clockwise from top left: Allison Brazzell; Danielle Dunn; Jennifer Powell; Mike Clelland; Andy Steele; Ralph Frohsin; Sandy Thompson and Marsha Mason; Dave O'Neal; Jeff LaMonica; Jim Robbins; Minnie Allen; Mike and Becca Wilson; Mary Leigh Meredith; Jane Malloch; Maury Miller and Sue Ann McMahan; Dave Commander; and Joanne Robbins.

DECEMBER 2023

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Clockwise from top left: Ken Holland, Tammi McVickers, Tonya Holland, Robert Gunn, Marshall Griffin; Bill and Gina Murray; Kathy Talley, Daneille Dunn and Frances Morris; Emily Sprayberry and Joe Moultrie; Justin Clayton; Lamar Jones and Carole Borden; Will and Charlotte Denton; Bernie Farris; Kathy Talley; Lee Reynolds; Maria Hicks; Lamar Jones; Linda Reynolds; Kent Whetstone; David McCabe; Susan and Greg Womack; Tim and Tammy Wheeler.

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DECEMBER 2023

Clockwise from top left: Candy and Randy Jones; Charles and Nita Franz's truck; John Coram and Bonnie Vinson; Hannah Hicks; Frances Morris; John and Palmer Coley, Michelle Isenberg and Mark Johnson; Steve Robinson, LeeAnn Waldrip, Abbie, Amelia, and Leelyn; Kristi and Mark George; Charles Borden; Brooke Culver; Dana Rose DiChiara; Jean Deal; Jane Malloch; Ken and Tonya Holland, Bill Thompson, John Thompson and Tammi McVickers; Laura Farris; Josh Datnoff; and Marty Krauel.

DECEMBER 2023

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DECEMBER 2023

Be Merry & Shop Local

This Christmas think local.

When you shop local, not only are you helping grow your area’s economy, but you’re helping grow the dreams of your neighbor.

Be the difference.

Merry Christmas DECEMBER 2023

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Footings finished Construction making headway on second Lake Martin fire tower

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STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS COURTESY OF CRATA

CRATA’s Overlook Tower is out of the ground. Since the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association broke ground last fall for a second fire tower at Lake Martin, volunteers have been working below ground on the tremendous footings that will support the 110-foot tall tower. With the completion of those footings last month, construction will now move above ground.

CRATA restored the popular Smith Mountain Fire Tower on Lake Martin’s eastern shoreline 12 years ago, and the organization maintains that tower along with its outdoor education center and 26 miles of hiking trails around the lake. The Smith Mountain site is renowned for its panoramic view of the lake and surrounding countryside.

In 2021, the idea of a second fire tower at the lake was discussed among the board members, and later that year, volunteers traveled to Virginia to begin the process of moving a fire tower back to Lake Martin.

“The tower’s owners had purchased the property and

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didn’t want the liability. They said we could have it for free if we came and took it down,” said Steve Thomas, president of CRATA. At the time, a permanent location for the tower had not yet been chosen, but board members knew there was plenty of time to decide, as the Virginia tower components needed reconditioning and safety upgrades. Wire mesh was added to the pre-built railings, which were raised in height for added safety, and other modifications were made in the interest of protecting visitors to the tower.

“For the original tower, the handrails were down by your knees,” said Jimmy K. Lanier, one of the founders of the CRATA trail system at Lake Martin. “Those guys Below: CRATA board members and volunteers built forms into which concrete was pumped for the tower footings; Facing Page:Volunteers monitored the concrete pump, making sure there were no air pockets in the footings.

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who worked in the towers were used to running up and down, and they didn’t need more than that. But that’s not safe enough for our purposes. Safety will be our primary concern, just as it was on the Smith Mountain Fire Tower.”

A 12-acre parcel of land just off Overlook Drive above Martin Dam and the Overlook picnic site and trailhead was purchased from Alabama Power and selected as the new tower’s permanent home. As stair flights were rebuilt and metal parts were sent to be galvanized, work began with the clearing of trees. Dixie Electric dropped power at the site, so the parking area at the new attraction could eventually be lit, and an engineer was engaged to advise board members and oversee the project.

“Salvatore Granata is a structural engineer who has looked at everything we’ve done and approved it,” Thomas said. “We’ve gone over and above the requirements on everything, just to be sure we’re as safe as possible.”

CRATA began a fundraising campaign to refurbish the new tower and to address other trail system issues.

Fortunately, much of the work has been contributed at no charge by licensed engineers, Lanier said.

“Mr. Granata didn’t charge us anything. Butch Nabors, the footings engineer, helped us lay it all out and didn’t charge us. Wayne Bylsma with Site Mix pumped 27 yards of concrete – no charge, and the concrete was tested free of charge by Contour Engineering,” Lanier said.

Paul Wright helped set the pyramid foundation forms, as well as the anchor bolts with their steel rebar grids.

“He said it was a two-rock job. He didn’t charge us anything, but he wanted two of the rocks we dug out,” Lanier laughed. “If we have him come back and do anymore work, it may cost us another rock.”

Chris McConnell dug the footing holes down to the 26 LAKE

underlying rock with a backhoe. Concrete bases in the bottom of the footings are 5 feet by 5 feet, when 4 by 4 is the requirement, Thomas said. Forms were constructed for the four 7-foot pyramid footings. Each of these footings holds two 1-1/8-inch-diameter anchor bolts that are 7 feet long and protrude 9 inches out of the top of the foundation to hold the tower in place.

When the forms were removed last month, the four footings were declared perfectly level. The next order of business will be to add dirt to the holes around the footings and compact those areas. Tower sections will be constructed on site, and in the spring, a crane will lift the sections into position over the footings.

“We dug up a lot of rocks in this process. We’ll use those for erosion control around the tower and for aesthetics and security to keep vehicles out of the tower area,” Lanier said.

When complete, the attraction will include a parking lot off Overlook Drive and a building that will serve as CRATA’s headquarters. The acreage for the tower includes 1,700 feet of road frontage.

“This is strictly a tower area,” said Thomas. “There will not be any trails to the tower, no picnic facilities.

Just the tower. There are other facilities for those activities just down the road at the Overlook trailhead.”

“We expect there will be a lot of traffic coming here just to climb the tower,” Lanier said.

Look for the tower sections to appear in spring of 2024. To donate to the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization’s new tower and other trail projects, visit crata.org, or send checks to CRATA, c/o Jimmy K. Lanier, P.O. 240503, Eclectic AL 36024.

After the concrete had cured, volunteers filled the holes around the footings with dirt, compacting it to help retain the structural integrity of the tower.

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LAKE 27

Shellcracker Pound for pound one of the hardest-fighting game fish in Alabama

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Shellcrackers, as they are known here in the Lake Martin area, also go by the common names Redear Sunfish, Georgia Bream, Cherry Gill, Chinquapin, Yellow Bream and Sun Perch, as well as the scientific name Lepomis microlophus. But whatever you call them, this is a game fish that gets people excited in the early spring.

Shellcrackers don’t have a lot of color. They are mostly green with brownish spots, often arranged as faint vertical bars, on their backs. They are light gray to silver on the sides with light yellow to white bellies. Their fins are light green or yellow color. The only strong colors on these fish are on their “ears,” or opercular flaps, that are black with a splash of red or orange along the rear edges. Male Shellcrackers have red ears; the females’ ear flaps are orange.

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NATURE OF THE LAKE

BY KENNETH BOONE

DECEMBER 2023

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Typical of the sunfishes, Shellcrackers have thin, deep bodies with generally oval shapes. There are three ways to tell Shellcrackers apart from other sunfish. The first is their red ears; the second is a lack of orange or blue markings on their cheeks; and the third is their noticeably long pectoral fins, which are located just behind the gill plate.

Generally, Shellcrackers and Pumpkinseed sunfish look a lot alike, except that the Pumpkinseeds have brightly colored lines on their cheeks.

The average size Shellcracker is larger than the most sought-after panfish, the Bluegill. An average Shellcracker is between 8 and 8-1/2 inches long, but it can grow up to 17 inches.

Jeff Lashley caught the whopper 4-pound, 4-ounce Alabama state record Shellcracker way back in 1962. Lashley’s Shellcracker was landed at Chattahoochee Park in Houston County.

Only three other Alabama gamefish records are older: a 10-pound, 8-ounce Smallmouth Bass from 1950; a massive Bluegill caught the same year that weighed 4 pounds, 12 ounces; and the longest-standing freshwater record, a Freshwater Drum that tipped the scales at 41 pounds, 8 ounces in 1949.

Shellcrackers are native to the Southeast United States, but because of their reputation of being terrific small gamefish, they have been widely stocked across the country and even overseas in South Africa, Panama, Puerto Rico and Morocco.

These sunfish are best adapted to calm, warm water like lakes, ponds, slow rivers and backwaters, usually with a depth of at least 6 feet.

During the spawning season, which begins when water temperatures rise above 70 degrees, males clap their jaws to make a popping sound that attracts the ladies. As courting heats up, the males lunge toward females and swim circles around them while popping their jaws. The popping or grunting sound seems to encourage the females to deposit their eggs.

Male Shellcrackers build nests, or shallow depressions in the bottom of the lake, often in huge groups numbering up to 100. Shellcracker “beds” are sometimes found beside or even built among the beds of other species of sunfish. The beds vary from 8 to 24 inches across and can be found in

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water anywhere from one to 20 feet deep.

Females lay their eggs in multiple nests, while each male fertilizes the eggs in his nest and stays put, guarding it from predators until the eggs hatch about two days later. During the mating season, a female is capable of producing from 9,000 to – and this is not a typo – 80,000 eggs.

The spawning season may extend from early spring to mid-summer.

This is also the time when fishermen target Shellcrackers by fishing their beds. Fishermen who are lucky enough to find a large community of panfish can get one or more strikes on every cast as these feisty fish strike anything that “threatens” their nests.

Pound-for-pound, Shellcrackers may just be the toughest, hardest-fighting fish in a body of water, and on ultralight fishing tackle, it’s a battle on both ends of the line.

These fish become sexually mature at the age of one in warm water, but in colder areas they may not mature until they are two years old. The average lifespan of a Shellcracker is six years, but the oldest known wild Shellcracker was eight. In captivity, they have lived up to seven years.

A Shellcracker’s diet starts out with algae and tiny crustaceans. As the fish grows, it begins to prey on larger insects and small aquatic snails. By the time a Shellcracker reaches maturity, it has developed strong jaws with extensive molar teeth that are strong enough to crush shells, and it begins to feed almost exclusively on snails and hard-shelled mollusks – hence the common name Shellcrackers.

People are listed among the Shellcracker’s primary predators, along with bass and catfish. That’s no surprise, since Shellcrackers are excellent table fare, larger than most panfish and a blast to catch on light fishing gear.

Some information for this article came from Outdoor Alabama, the Animal Diversity Web from the University of Michigan, and Realtree.com.

Previous Pages: Shellcrackers have long pectoral fins and red ears but no orange or blue markings on their cheeks; Above: In addition to bass and catfish, humans also love this tasty fish.

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Christmas

at the Lake

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STORY BY LONNA UPTON & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

Christian and Sarah Day, along with their children Sebastian and Harriett, have celebrated an English Christmas at Lake Martin every year since their move from London in 2016. They are happy to be in Alabama and around the lake, but they make a point of maintaining their English traditions at Christmas time.

“We spend several weeks back home in London for Christmas each year, but we also really want a Christmas at the lake, so I get to decorate twice,” said Sarah Day. “I begin decorating the minute Halloween is over, so we can enjoy it before we go to England.

In London, our decorations are more elegant, and at

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the lake, I like a more rustic look.”

Throughout the home, Day’s decorating combines natural elements from her yard with artificial greenery.

Combining velvet and striped grosgrain ribbons pulls everything together for a classic look.

The double front doors have wreaths with large bows, pinecones and antique bells. A lighted snowman waves guests through the doors into the Above: Wreaths with brown velvet ribbon and antiqued bells adorn the front doors; Facing Page: The fireplace is decorated with faux fur stockings and a special hamper of goodies from London.

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Previous Pages: Day extends her rustic look to the dining table using velvet ribbon and bells as napkin rings, bamboo cutlery and a live centerpiece; This Page, Clockwise from Above: The Christmas tree is decorated with brown and green velvet ornaments, feathered birds and natural elements;Artificial greenery mixed with live magnolia are a beautiful addition to the porch fireplace; A dough bowl filled with fresh greenery and fruit is displayed on the island.

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home. Day uses the same fresh, Christmas scent at both her home in England and on Lake Martin: a pine and eucalyptus scented candle from Jo Malone, London.

In the foyer, Day uses a holly sprig from her yard to decorate Amish bells hung on a leather strap. It's a treasured Christmas gift from a dear friend. The wide stairwell to the left features an 8-foot-tall mirror with a wreath hanging at the top.

The top of the Christmas tree is adorned with a beautiful, taupe-colored velvet bow with long streamers. Day has added large ornaments, or baubles as she calls them, of brown velvet and green velvet, alongside pinecones, acorns and some lightly glittered pieces. Small birds with long, feathered tails are clipped onto branches. In memory of her sister, Ann, a glass ornament with a photo inside hangs both on this tree and the one back in London. She carefully places

sprays of artificial fern, cedar and berries to fill out the tree and complete the natural look. A faux fur skirt provides a soft backdrop for gifts.

“In England on Christmas Eve, Father Christmas gets milk and miniature mince pies. As part of our family tradition, Christian reads Twas the Night Before Christmas. We always have hot chocolate in our special gingerbread house mugs and warm mince pies with brandy butter. We will be in London that night, and I will make homemade eggnog,” she said.

A nutcracker was added to their Christmas décor last year to celebrate their daughter Harriett’s role in The Nutcracker ballet, which her troupe from Variations Dance School performed at the Gogue Performing Arts Center in Auburn. After the ballet, the family started a new tradition of watching The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House when they are in London.

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Artificial greenery with fresh magnolia leaves creates the indoor mantel stage while cream colored taper candles illuminate the stone fireplace. The faux fur stockings, matching the tree skirt, are attached to the mantel with the brown velvet and striped grosgrain ribbon.

A hamper filled with Christmas treats from a London store sits on the hearth below. The basket is sent from England and contains a special Christmas coffee, jams, cookies and peppermint bark, among other items.

“The hamper is from Fortnum and Mason, a London store that has a royal warrant, meaning the store supplies to the royal family. Any company granted a royal warrant is authorized to display the royal crest, lending prestige to the brand,” Christian Day said.

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Their table is set with china and bamboo cutlery.

The teacups are for a traditional English cup of tea with Christmas fruitcake served after the roasted turkey. The exquisite live centerpiece was created by Mary Hodson at the Flower Store in Auburn. Moss and brown tapers in pewter candlesticks stand alongside votive candles at each end of the centerpiece. Two topiaries are positioned to add a little touch of green to the setting.

A wreath hangs on the stove hood in the kitchen.

Tall golden vases filled with greenery balance the island, a dough bowl filled with fruit and fresh greenery between them. In one corner of the counter top, Day arranges items from Claridge’s, a hotel in London’s Mayfair where the couple were married in 2007.

Every year during their Christmas visit, they visit the

DECEMBER 2023

Previous Pages: Guests are greeted with Christmas warmth when they enter the front doors; This and Facing Page, Clockwise from Left: Five live topiaries grace the outdoor dining table; Baxter, the Days' English cocker spaniel, waits patiently for Christmas morning; The family's Christmas Eve tradition includes hot chocolate, mince pies and a reading of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas."

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hotel for a festive afternoon tea, including champagne, sandwiches and English scones. The Days have enjoyed a Christmas pudding from Claridge’s every year since they were married. The pudding, made with a preserved fruit base, is traditionally doused in brandy and set on fire before serving.

A large wreath hangs on each post of the screened porch. Pots of live greenery and white poinsettias are on the tables, along with soft light from lamps and hurricane candles. On one end, the fireplace brightens the sitting area, where a nativity is displayed on the coffee table.

Five live topiaries, also from The Flower Store, became the centerpiece for the outdoor dining table.

Downstairs, the children have their own special Christmas tree. It's covered in ornaments they made at school or bought for themselves. Each year, the children receive Christmas bears that become part of the décor.

White and gold soft figurines complete a nativity scene on a trunk in the room. Two Advent calendars – Lindt and Legos – are ready and waiting for the first day of December.

Before the Days' journey to London for Christmas with family, they anticipate a very merry English Christmas season right here at Lake Martin.

Left: Day dresses a friend's gift of Amish bells with a sprig of holly; Gold and white nativity figurines are part of the downstairs Christmas magic.

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LAKE 43

New York Sour

CHEERS

WITH CASTELLUCCIO

The traditional New York Sour is thought to have been created in the 1880s in New York.

This classic pre-prohibition cocktail combines the smooth citrusy taste of a whiskey sour with the savory flavor of a Pinot Noir. This cocktail is an easy way to elevate any event.

(Makes 2) 4 ounces Old Forester bourbon 6 ounces sour mix 3 ounces pinot noir 44 LAKE

1 ounces of egg white A bourbon soaked cherry for garnish Add bourbon, sour mix and egg whites to a mixing tin. Dry shake (without ice) for 10 seconds.

Add ice and shake until cold. Strain into a rocks glass over ice. Over the back of a bar spoon, pour red wine carefully until a “halo” of red wine forms under the foam but on top of the whiskey sour.

Serve.

DECEMBER 2023

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LAKE 45 KowaligaRestaurant.com

Key metrics point to another good year

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When people ask me about the lake going to be like in the future. I don’t prereal estate market, I could say, “It tend to be able to tell the future, because depends on your position.” there are so many factors, like interest If I am asked by an owner of lakefront rates, which are impossible to predict. property, I would say, “The market is There are metrics, however, that help great. Property values are at an all-time me define trends in the market and high, with median sales prices 12.3 assess what type of market we might percent higher than the same reporting experience over the next six to 12 period last year.” I also would add that months. I shared a couple of those key there is a small supply of homes on the numbers above, but let me unpack how market currently, just a 4.91-month supfive key numbers indicate market health. ply of single-family waterfront homes.

For the purposes of this article, I am LAKE PROPERTY If I am asked by a potential buyer, I using the most recent 12-month sales

BY STEVE ARNBERG would say, “It’s a challenging market, data for single-family waterfront homes because prices are higher than last year, derived from the local MLS. The most and there is a limited selection of available properrecent data at Lake magazine’s presstime was for ties. If you find a property that will work for you, do the 12-month period ending Oct. 31, 2023, comparnot hesitate; there is likely another buyer waiting in ing that data to the 12-month period ending Oct. 31, the wings.”

2022.

If I could only have one metric, it would be the sales-price-to-list-price ratio. The most recent numA professional perspective ber for sold residential waterfront homes is 98 perI am also asked that question by co-workers and others in my industry, such as bankers, land develop- cent. That means property sellers, on average, sold their property for 2 percent less than the advertised ers and home builders. Their questions are not just listing price. The professional application is that any of how the market has been, but of what I think it is

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ratio above 96.5 percent indicates that we are in a seller’s market.

This type of market has more buyers than listed properties, and the seller does not need to look for a significant discount to sell a properly priced home.

The second number is the inventory-to-sales ratio. The most recent number is 4.91. This takes the current active listings (79) and divides it by the average monthly sales pace (16.08 units per month). The metric tells me that, without any new inventory, we will be sold out in 4.91 months.

That is a low number for Lake Martin but higher than last year’s 3.76. Inventory is building slowly but is still well below the 6.98month supply for the same period in 2019 (which was a good year).

The third number would be the percentage increase or decrease in the gross dollar volume of sales for single-family waterfront homes. Currently, there is a yearover-year decrease of 6.3 percent.

If you follow my articles, you will find that I expected a decrease due to the small supply of listed property beginning the year (just a 3.76-month supply) coupled with higher interest rates.

The fourth metric is median price. The current median price for single-family waterfront homes is $1,025,000. That is 12.3 percent higher than the same 12-month period last year. A double-digit increase is a strong indicator of market strength and the value of the entire market.

The fifth and final metric is days on the market, which is a measurement of how long a sold property was on the market prior to being sold. That number is 100 days. Historically, this metric has been around 180 days, since the lake market tends to be seasonal.

Last year, that number stood at 93.

tinued healthy demand, sellers are able to sell their lake properties at nearly list prices. Buyers are faced with a still-limited inventory of homes and will likely only find a few options in a given price range to consider. Given that limited supply, a buyer will not gain significant discounts off list price.

That means that sales prices, even with higher interest rates, have support for further increases, but the double-digit increases experienced over the last year may taper off if the supply of homes increases; however, given the fact that so many property owners purchased or refinanced at roughly 3 percent fixed, there appears to be little motivation for owners to part with lake properties. Property values are very unlikely to decrease.

While gross dollar volume has decreased, the past comparable periods are near record highs for the months following COVID. Recent months have shown a leveling off, and sales volume is near last year’s levels. Therefore, I expect the next year to be similar to this year, which was a good year.

Increasing days on the market tell me that while we are still in a seller’s market, we are beginning to move to a more normal market. Sales pros, sellers and buyers should carefully analyze comparable sales to determine the correct asking and/or selling prices.

My disclaimer to the above is that I assume the economy will be fairly smooth; interest rates stay within a percentage point of current levels; and current international conflicts will be contained.

What election time will be like, or what it will cause, is anyone’s guess.

Steve Arnberg is Vice President Real Estate Sales for Russell Lands.

My analysis

So, taking all these numbers into account, this is what I would say about the market. Because of low inventory numbers and con-

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Safeguard our Lake Regulation needed to check Lake Martin's rapid growth

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You do not have to look very far get this planning put in place. This effort around Lake Martin to see that things needs to be incorporated on our ballots are changing. That’s very evident and implemented for our next election around U.S. Route 280, as well as State cycle. We can no longer afford to allow routes 49, 50 and 63. While we all want developers to build without some zoning progress and growth, we are seeing regulations and community involvement. our forests cut down and replaced with This action will include the lake cement and asphalt. Not all growth is and surrounding communities. Master good growth. planning should be done on a regional We want to see some control and level by all three counties and by management of the growth. Our local Alabama Power. Alexander City, county governments should take Dadeville and other local municipalities responsibility for managing and planning should form this regional planning group HOBO for this growth. We need them to step up and involve the HOAs and citizens in

BY HARRY DENEGRE with a regional plan. That is their job and local workshops to begin this planning. responsibility.

This will take time and effort, but it will improve HOBOs board members receive weekly our area. There is a need for this. We are currently communications from our members, homeowners seeing what could happen on a larger scale without associations and concerned citizens around our this type of effort. Our community and lake are at community about the ongoing surge of development. risk. We cannot leave this up to profit motives. It is Most of these concerns center around development our lake, too. that apparently is happening without any local Lake Martin HOBOs can be contacted at government planning or involvement. There needs to info@lakemartin.com or visit our website at be regional planning for the lake and its surrounding lakemartinhobos.com. We look forward to hearing communities. from you.

Alabama Power has always been a great steward of our Treasured Lake. Alabama Power should Harry DeNegre is president of Lake Martin work with the three county governments and state HOBOs. Visit lakemartinhobos.com to learn more government, assisting them in developing a regional about HOBOs. plan for growth. Zoning needs to be planned and put into effect. If we don’t get this done, we are going to have a mess on our hands for the community.

Lake Martin HOBOs will be active in this regard. We are requesting any local homeowners associations to contact us and allow us to speak with you about these actions. We will be happy to organize and work with HOAs on contacting local governmental officials to

HOBO hopes regulating growth will preserve Lake Martin's pristine beauty.

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DECEMBER 2023

LAKE 51

Comforting Soup

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Soup can be comforting any time of n Puree the right the year, but especially in the winter when vegetables. Roasted or the weather turns cold. It’s one of those sautéed white potato, sweet potato, foods that warms you from the inside out. cauliflower, winter squash (butternut squash) Homemade soups tend to be much healthier, and carrots will naturally produce a creamy lower in sodium, calories and fat compared consistency after blending. to convenient ready-to-eat or canned soup. n Evaporated skim milk could be used as a Studies have determined that after eating lower calorie cream substitute. Evaporated soup, people feel fuller and less hungry than means most of the water is taken out; thus, eating solid foods. It is well documented producing a rich and creamy skim milk. that soup has a significant impact on fulln Try plant-based milks. Saturated fat is ness and weight maintenance. Eating soup found mostly in animal products. Almost HEALTHY LIVING any milk made from plants like soy, oat, in place of solid foods often results in a

BY JULIE HUDSON lower total calorie intake. When soup is almond, rice and cashew are free of satueaten at the beginning of the meal, total calrated fats and lower in calories than regular ories and the amount of food from the meal to follow are cow milk. The exception to this rule is coconut milk, typically reduced. Soup may enhance overall diet quality; which does contain saturated fat. however, one should remain cautious the high sodium n Substitute plain Greek or regular yogurt. This could be content of canned and packaged varieties. Making home- used as a substitute for sour cream or regular cream. made soups or choosing a reduced sodium version could n Add beans or rice. Create a thick puree by placing be a much healthier option. beans or rice in a blender. It is the perfect way to thicken Homemade soups offer more control over the sodium and create a creamy texture. Puree the beans or rice using and high-calorie ingredients that go into the soup. Using just the liquid from the soup if you want to savor the broths, fresh or dried herbs, non-salt flavorings or allium chunky vegetables and protein. For a completely creamy vegetables, such as onions, garlic and leeks, adds a ton of textured soup without any chunks, puree the entire soup flavor without the added calories and sodium. It is easy mixture together. to prepare a lower calorie soup by starting with a seaSometimes, pureeing only some of the soup can make soned broth base; then, add whole, diced, crushed canned a huge difference. Ladle out a portion of the soup, puree or fresh tomatoes, or add your favorite tomato sauce. it in a blender or with an immersion blender; then, add Adding a protein, vegetables, noodles or rice further the puree portion back into the pot. enhances the recipe. n Leftover mashed potatoes also will thicken soup. Add If you are cravonly a small amount at a time until desired thickness is ing a creamier achieved. soup, here are n Incorporating uncooked rice, noodles or lentils without some ideas on pureeing is another way to thicken soup. These starches how to establish a absorb the liquid, making the soup thick. Arborio rice luscious creamy texture (used to make risotto) is a powerful thickener. without the calories or fat. n Flour or cornstarch is another ingredient that thickens soups. Start with melting butter; then, add the same amount of flour or cornstarch to the melted butter. Stir to make a thick paste. Add to the soup in small amounts, stirring well after each addition, until desired thickness is achieved.

Soups could be frozen for easy weeknight meals. Add an open face sandwich and a salad to compliment your recipes.

Julie Hudson is a dietician at Lake Martin Wellness Center in Dadeville.

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DECEMBER 2023

Roasted Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons

6 pounds of fresh tomatoes, cut in half Cooking spray Salt and pepper, to taste 2 yellow onions, chopped 6 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 cups fresh basil leaves, chopped 3-4 cups water Balsamic vinegar, to taste Croutons (2 slices whole grain bread and 2 slices of cheddar cheese) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mist tomatoes with cooking spray, arrange tomato halves on baking sheet skin side down, sprinkle with salt and pepper and roast for 45 minutes. In a large pot, sauté onions, garlic, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper and olive oil for 5 minutes. Add roasted tomatoes, fresh basil, water, salt and pepper to the pot. Puree the mixture with a hand immersion blender until semi-smooth. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Place cheese on bread. Place bread on baking sheet. Broil for 5 minutes until cheese

bubbles and bread is toasted. Cut into 1-inch bites.

Serve soup with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and cheese croutons on top.

Serving size: 1.5 cups plus 5 croutons equals 195 calories

Creamy Broccoli Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 yellow onion, chopped 8 cups chopped broccoli (1-1/2 to 2 pounds) 4 cups water 1 can (15 ounces) white beans, rinsed and drained Salt and pepper to taste Toppings: 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 cup low-fat Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives, salt and pepper to taste In a soup pot, sauté oil, garlic, onion and broccoli about 10 minutes, until tender. Add in water and beans. With immersion blender, puree half of the soup. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Mix lemon juice, yogurt, chives, salt and pepper. Drizzle on top of warm soup and serve.

Serving size 1.5 cups equals 147 calories

DECEMBER 2023

LAKE 53

54 LAKE

DECEMBER 2023

Cheese Baked Cauliflower & Broccoli Ingredients

4 tablespoons butter 4 tablespoons flour 2-1/2 cups milk, warmed 3-4 cups cheddar cheese, shredded, or your favorite cheese Pinch of cayenne pepper 1 head cauliflower, bite size pieces 1-2 heads broccoli, bite size pieces Seasoned bread crumbs

Directions

Melt the butter and slowly mix in the flour. Cook the butter and flour for a few minutes.

Have warm milk ready. Pour one third of the milk in and mix until smooth. Add another third and cook until thickened.

Repeat with the rest of the milk.

Once all of the milk is in, add the shredded cheese a little at a time.

Stir to melt all cheese; then, add more. Adjust the seasoning; add the cayenne pepper, and set aside.

Blanch cauliflower and broccoli and dry. Mix as much cheese sauce as you like with the vegetables.

Place mixture in a cast iron or other oven-safe dish; top with a CHEF'S TABLE little more cheese and bake at 350

BY PETE MCKENNY degrees until bubbly and cheese has melted. Carefully remove dish from oven and top with breadcrumbs. Return to oven for another two to four minutes or until breadcrumbs have browned. ~ Pete McKenny, General Manager and Executive Chef at SpringHouse Restaurant, trained at four-star restaurants and Forbes four-star resorts in Ohio,Washington, Arizona and Vermont before returning to Russell Lands on Lake Martin, where he began his career as chef de cuisine at Willow Point Golf & Country Club.

DECEMBER 2023

LAKE 55

The bills have it

D

The anatomy of a crankbait fine tunes its ability to attract fish

December is one of my favorite months of the year to throw crankbaits. It seems that in recent years, the crankbait has handed its torch to other techniques like swimbaits, vibrating jigs, wake baits, glide baits and others. But there are windows of time when nothing can match the productivity of a crankbait. Its ability to deflect off cover and trigger baits from otherwise inactive fish could be its greatest attributes.

There might be more brands, styles and models of crankbaits than any other artificial bait on the market. Finding the most productive ones could seem overwhelming and be expensive. When selecting crankbaits, consider their features and their varying purposes in the quest to generate bites.

The first and most important characteristic is the “bill.” The bill of the crankbait is most often plastic

56 LAKE

that protrudes from the nose of the bait, including the line tie (where the knot is tied). Depending on the shape and size of the bill, the bait will offer different actions and characteristics as it’s retrieved through the water column.

For example, a longer bill traditionally sends the bait deeper. A bait designed to run 4 feet will have a much shorter and often smaller bill than a bait that runs 15 feet or more. Bait companies often include the “running depth” range on the back of the package. The next time you’re looking at baits on the shelf, take a look at the bill on the bait; and then, look at the designed running depth. It won’t take long to get a feel for finding a bait that has a bill designed to hit the depths you’re targeting.

While there’s some merit in getting a bait that runs

DECEMBER 2023

deep enough to always hit bottom on the retrieve, two sets of corners on each side. Each corner is at there's a catch: A bait that’s trying to run much deep- about a 45-degree angle. The idea is that the coffin er than the targeted zone will lose some of its ability bill could have some of the good deflection properto “hunt” and deflect off the bottom. The result will ties of a squarebill, but still hug the cover like a be fewer bites and more hang-ups. round bill. Honestly, it sounds great in theory, but it The width of the bill also affects its performance. seems the coffin bill has been relegated to third place.

Basically, a wide bill equals a wide wobble, which is That being said, it still has its place and can be prothe distance the bill travels back and forth as the bait ductive at times. is retrieved. It causes much more water displacement, The right crankbait has the right marriage of bill which could encourage the fish to find the bait. It and body. The body shape and size affect the action also has more drag, so wide billed baits and appeal of the bait as well. Match are often fished at slower retrieves than the body size of the bait to the size of the alternatives. the forage they might be eating. On One of the best examples of a wide Lake Martin, the predominant forage wobble bait is the Wiggle Wart. It has are smaller threadfin shad and crawfish. a relatively small body but a wide bill.

To target the larger percentage of the It literally crawls along the bottom. population of fish in Lake Martin, the Popular square bill baits have short but size needs to be relatively small. The wide bills. Since the bills are shorter, exception is when targeting the very few the bait doesn’t have the drag of a bait big fish in the lake. They will eat gizzard like the Wiggle Wart, so it can be fished shad, bream, larger crawfish and even a little faster while still having a fairly crappie. In that case, a larger body can wide wobble. trick a big one, but don’t expect to catch If a wide bill equals wide wobble, a very many fish with it.

BIG CATCHES narrow bill equals tight wiggle. You may Crankbaits have varying body widths.

BY GREG VINSON have heard anglers talk about a crankbait The best way to judge the width of the having a “tight” action. Essentially, that bait is to look across the back of it. A means the bill is traveling less back and forth while bait that’s as wide or wider than a thumb is going the bait comes through the water. A tight action is to have a wider wobble. Like the bill, wider body more subtle but seductive to wary bass. One of the equals wider wobble. More often than not, a wide best examples of tight wiggle is a Shad Rap. It has a body crankbait usually has a wider bill, too. If that’s longer bill for its size, so it dives well. But the bill is the case, plan on fishing the bait slowly and allow it very narrow, and it’s one of the best baits of all time to do its shake along the bottom. Big bass, especially for catching finicky fish. when the conditions call for an aggressive bite, will Another feature of the bill that makes a difference jump on bait with a wide, wobbling action. is its edges. By that, I mean whether the bill is more The other extreme is a thinner, flat-sided crankbait. rounded at the front, or if it has corners. The best It can slide through the water with a subtle wiggle example of this is the square bill bait. A square bill that fools even the most skittish bass. The ideal crankbait has almost 90-degree corners on each scenario for a flat sided crankbait that shines is end of the bill, which causes the bait to deflect at a post weather front conditions or when the fish have maximum when the bait runs into cover. That does been highly pressured by other anglers. During the two things: First, it keeps the bait from hanging retrieve, it can be tough to feel the wiggle of the bait. in the cover, as it kicks back away when making Rest assured, if it’s a good one, it’s just enough to contact. Second, it triggers reaction strikes from fish fool the fish into thinking it’s unsuspecting prey. that are holding tight to cover just as the bait crashes The next time you’re considering buying a crankinto it. bait, think about the depth and action you want the Several companies make squarebills (1.5, 2.5, etc.) bait to have based on the spot and conditions you’re that are successful. The first one I remember was the fishing. Then, choose a color that matches the type of Lucky Craft 1.5, followed by the KVD 1.5. Now, forage the fish could be eating, and you’ll be on your there are many more with similar body shapes and way to success. bills that work.

Just as a squarebill with sharp corners tends to Greg Vinson is a full-time professional angler on deflect hard, a round bill could still make good the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour. He lives in contact with the cover, but it will not kick out with Wetumpka and grew up fishing on Lake Martin. contact. Instead, it will basically hug the cover just enough to stay in close contact, but with just the right amount of deflection to avoid hang-ups.

Another less common shape is a coffin bill. It has

DECEMBER 2023

LAKE 57

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A Few Tips after a Golf-less Vacation

I

I just returned from a vacation, which great improvements to his ball control. was immediately followed by a three-day Nearly all golfers have a predominant golf instructional workout with a young shot pattern. Whether it’s a draw, a fade or man in St. Petersburg, Florida. Vacations even a straight shot, golfers need to be able are something I rarely have indulged to control the initial direction as the golf myself in. As much as I love playing golf ball begins its flight. Practicing with these courses around the world, it’s still golf, and two alignment rods could help players conthat puts me on the clock. So, this vacation trol, or at least realize, their starting lines. was very unique and special to me.

While working with this young man, I My vacation was spent, golf-less, on a saw another fault that I see in many other seven-day cruise. This was a New Orleans golfers’ putting. It’s funny, it seems that Blues cruise called, “The Big Easy Cruise.” the more players practice without being A lifelong friend of mine, who owns a LOVE of the GAME aware of this fault, the worse the fault reservation software company and books gets, and the more frustrated the golfer

BY DAVE JENNINGS hundreds of different of cruises throughout becomes. This common fault is head and/ the year, invited me to join him. This was or eye motion in the putting stroke. When my first cruise, and it really was awesome. We sailed golfers are putting, and the eyes and/or head turn toward from Ft. Lauderdale to New Orleans; then, to Cozumel, the target at impact, the blade of the putter frequently Mexico; and then, back to Ft. Lauderdale. On the boat, opens. For the right-handed player, this means putts will there was music nearly all the waking hours. Little Feat be missed to the right. played two shows (I have been a no-kidding fan since The cure for this is very simple and takes just a short 1974), and in New Orleans, the Tedeschi-Trucks Band time in practice to cure. I suggest that players place came aboard and played a two-hour show. No question three tees at various distances from the hole on the about it, Derek Trucks is the best guitarist/slide guitarist putting green. Place a golf ball at each location. Use a around today. It was a fantastic getaway.

Sharpie pen to mark a spot on the green just behind the The Big Easy Cruise will sail again in January 2025. golf ball at each short, mid-length and long location. At Information may be found at cruises.soulatsea.com/theaddress of the ball, the mark will be hidden by the putbig-easy-cruise-2025/. If you are a music fan, I highly ter, but after the stroke is completed, the mark should be suggest that you give this cruise consideration. I promvisible. If head and eyes did not turn toward the target at ise I’m not on commission. impact, a golfer should quickly realize how much more Upon my return from the cruise, I worked with a consistent the strike of the ball is and the truer the roll young man for three days on his game in St. Petersburg, on the ball. Give it a try.

Florida. This young man has tremendous God-given Friends, I hope we have many great golf days ahead talent, and he bombs the ball so far, it’s crazy. His game this December and January. With any luck, I will see is very much like a wild animal that just needed to be you on the first tee. If you don’t see me there, I may just tamed a bit. be practicing my putting while listening to Little Feat.

One thing we spent a great deal of time on was Merry Christmas, and may God Bless you in every focusing on the starting line for his shots. I think nearly way in 2024. I pray that this upcoming year brings you all of us need to put a bit more work on this. To help great happiness and that you may see all your dreams him see his starting line, I placed 2 alignment rods come true. about 8 to 10 feet in front of him, about 18 inches apart, and I leaned them slightly toward the target, so they Dave Jennings is the owner of Jennings GolfHelp, wouldn’t snap like twigs, in case they got hit. Hitting LLC. Email him at djenn47495@gmail.com or visit shots between the alignment sticks for three days made Jenningsgolfhelp.com.

DECEMBER 2023

LAKE 59

Legend

63

To Sylacauga

Public Boat Ramps 9

ALEXANDER CITY

4

17

Churches

★

22

280

Alex City Boat Ramp

9

Camp ASCCA

★

★

Charles E. Bailey Sportplex

Points of Interest

280

Power lines U.S. Highways

3

22

County Roads Piney Woods Landing

Wind Creek State Park

★

11

COOSA COUNTY

Wind Creek Boat Ramp 259

9

128

Pirate Island D.A.R.E. Park Landing

★

★Peanut Point 63

16 20

★

New Hope Church

Young’s Island

★

Liberty Church

Smith Mount Fire Tower

10 Willow Point

24

7

Paces Point Boat Ramp

63

11

Camp Alamisco

12

EQUALITY

34

★

Kowaliga Boat Landing

20

55

The Ridge

5

SEMAN

1 Church in 13

The Pines

★ Camp Kiwanis

Union Landing

Children’s Harbor &

★ Hank Williams Cabin 21 ★ The Amp

Trillium

19

2

Ko w

ali

ga

Ba

y

26

★

Chimney Rock

80

9

90

UNION

CENTRAL

ELMORE COUNTY RED HILL

★ Martin Dam

63

229

ECLECTIC

TALLASSEE

18 KENT

60 LAKE

DECEMBER 2023

Timbergut Landing

Explore

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Horseshoe Bend National Park

Jaybird Landing

Lake Martin

TALLAPOOSA COUNTY

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JACKSONS GAP 280

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Ridge Marina HACKNEYVILLE Hackneyville Water Authority NEW SITE Piggly Wiggly - New Site Foodland DADEVILLE Chamber of Commerce Raining Dogs Studio & Gallery Root 49 Salon Ellaby Boutique, LLC Alabama Power Siggers Siggers Barbershop Fusion Cafe Dadeville Library At the Beauty Shop Dadeville Courthouse Payne's Furniture PNC Bank Valley Bank McKelvey Chevrolet Renfroe's Market Foshee's Boat Doc Lakeshore Pharmacy Russell Building Supply Lakay's Tallapoosa Nutrition Sweet Pickins Century 21 - Rhonda Gaskins Farmers & Merchants Bank Jim's Pharmacy Poplar Dawgs Still Waters Country Club Still Waters Home Association Russell Lands Realty Fuller Realty Harbor Pointe Oskar's Aronov Realty Lake Martin Creekside Lodge Blue Creek Marina Lakeside Marina Niffers Hwy 50 Eagle Millstone Japanese Maple Nursery

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DECEMBER 2023

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Merry Christmas!

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LAKE 65

Parting Shot Photo by Kenneth Boone

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Make it their NEW PHASES IN DEVELOPMENT

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Firepits and birthdays. Starry nights and laughter. There’s no life more wonderful than The Heritage on Lake Martin. Set among Lake Martin’s nearly 900 miles of shoreline surrounding over 40,000 acres of pristine water, The Heritage is a 1,500-acre waterfront development along 12 miles of sparkling shoreline—all from Russell Lands, one of the South’s most respected land companies. The stunning community features spectacular waterfront and luxury interior homesites, as well as a flagship resident-owned lake club and private Coore & Crenshaw golf course.

Don’t miss your chance to start your own cherished traditions.

Opportunities to rewrite your Heritage are now open. Contact us today.

This is not intended to be an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offers to buy real estate in The Heritage development to residents of Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania or South Carolina, or to residents of any other jurisdiction where prohibited by law. No offering can be made to residents of New York until an offering plan is filed with the Department of Law of the State of New York. The Heritage is a proposed planned master development on the shores of Lake Martin, Alabama that does not yet exist.

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DECEMBER 2023