Fried Pie Lady Gifts for Gardeners
From the Editor’s Desk Lake Martin Living
When it comes to holidays – and I mean all holidays – I am known to go a bit overboard. Just ask my husband. I love the thrill of dragging out decorations and starting new traditions. Most of all, however, my hope is that somewhere in the midst of my passion, I am sparking joy for someone who may need it the most.
This month, I’m thrilled to be writing as the new editor for Lake Martin Living. Over the last few years, I have had the opportunity to write about events and impactful individuals in our area. Like the holidays, my passion for our community grows deeper with every story I uncover.
One of the stories that captured my heart years ago is of a local woman who bakes the best fried pies I have ever tasted. My husband’s grandfather would bring home an array of desserts from her shop each week, and among them were always golden, gooey fried pies. I knew that I had to meet the woman behind these creations, and when I finally had my chance, her passion for baking captivated me. Meet the Fried Pie Lady on page 32.
While I have you craving sweets, turn to page 10 for our Go Local column this month, where we tempt you to pour up a cup of cheer this holiday season at Scooter’s Coffee in Alexander City.
When it comes to favorite holiday traditions, the beloved Christmas tree display at Pennington Park has become a staple of local celebrations. What many may not be aware of, however, is the dedication of two individuals who spend countless hours each year bringing to life the true spirit of Christmas for the community. Though this year will be the final display of these dazzling lights and Santa visits, there is hope that the end of one tradition for the park can perhaps become the beginning of something new. Read about the holiday magic on page 26.
Of course, ringing in the new year often brings the ever-popular promise to dive into fitness. On page 14, Betsy Iler introduces you to three local gyms that use a sense of community and whole health perspectives as motivation to help you stay on track when the holidays are over.
Here’s cheers to the most wonderful time of the year!
Shaylee Beck Moore, Editor
Chairman
Kenneth Boone
General Manager
Tippy Hunter
Editor-in-Chief
Betsy Iler
Editor Shaylee Beck Moore
Creative Services
Audra Spears
Business & Digital Development Director Angela Mullins
Contributors
Kenneth Boone
Lacey Howell
Shane Harris
George Miranda
Lee Williams
Gina Abernathy
Audra Spears
Cliff Williams
Abigail Murphy
Sam Higgs
Melody Rathel Lizi Arbogast Gwin
Audience Development Director
Baily Terry
Marketing/Advertising Sales
Renee Trice
Samantha Himes
Erin Vickers
Gena Kay Dixon
Carmen Rodgers
Lake Martin Living P.O. Box 999
Alexander City, AL 35011
256-234-4281
www.lakemagazine.life/lakemartinliving
Lake Martin Living is published monthly by Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. All contents are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. Reader correspondence and submissions are welcome. Please address all correspondence, including story ideas, letters, pictures and requests, to: Editor, Lake Martin Living, P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011 or email editor@lakemartinmagazine.com. Advertising inquiries may be made by calling 256-234-4281. A limited number of free copies are available at local businesses and subscriptions are $25 annually.
As a sentimental chapter comes to a close, Dadeville couple Kurt and Leigh Pfitzner bring to life one final holiday season at Pennington Park before wishing a bittersweet farewell to the gathering place that has brought many heartfelt memories to the local community.
Photo by Kenneth Boone
14. GET FIT WITH FRIENDS
Three fitness coaches share their methods of success that may help maintain a healthy lifestyle in the New Year
26. CHRISTMAS AT PENNINGTON PARK
Dadeville residents have the opportunity to experience one final holiday season as a new era approaches for Pennington Park
32 THE FRIED PIE LADY
Meet the beloved Eclectic duo that became locally famous for their fried pies and friendships
9. AROUND THE AREA 10. GO LOCAL
GARDEN TALK
GOOD EATS 36. MEDICAL NEWS 38. MONEY MATTERS 40. OH SNAP! 46. LAKE REGION EVENTS 54. CULTURE SHOCK
This deliciously sweet and spicy appetizer is a perfect addition to your menu while hosting for the holidays
AROUND THE AREA
Man embellishes home with handmade decorations
For many, decorating a home for Christmas is an annual routine. For Bob Mathis, Christmas decorations are a yearlong hobby he’s been active in for the last two decades. With just plywood and paint, Mathis’ home tells multiple stories every Christmas.
“I made about 90 percent of it,” Mathis said. “I had too much stuff so I had to put some of the decorations in my neighbor’s yard.”
Throughout the year, Mathis creates decorations to add to his ever-growing collection. He first started creating his own decorations 20 years ago when he discovered he enjoyed crafting large decorations.
Partnership benefits local JROTC program at local schools
Southern Prep has exciting news for Tallapoosa County.
In partnership with Edward Bell Career Tech Center and the Tallapoosa County Board of Education, Southern Prep is opening its JROTC program to students at Reeltown, Horseshoe Bend, and Dadeville High Schools.
As of now, about 10 students from these schools have enrolled, and Southern Prep still has room for more. These students will be bussed to our campus in Camp Hill during the first block to participate in JROTC. Each student-cadet will be fitted for a uniform and fully immersed in the JROTC experience.
The program is open to male and female students in grades 9-12 with classes beginning Jan. 2025. Transportation will be provided by Edward Bell Career Tech Center.
~ Staff Report
Homemade Holidays Handmade holiday decorations are on display across mutliple neighboring yards on Lamberth Road.
“It’s just something I started and I just like to do it to add to it,” Mathis said. “Most of it is made out of plywood. I buy a pattern, cut it out, paint it and sit it in the ground in the light for it to dry.”
Although decorating is part of the fun for Mathis, his favorite part is having people drive by his home and enjoying the spectacle spreading across his yard.
Mathis’ home is located at 1071 Lamberth Road. He encourages people to drive by to see his creations.
~ Melody Rathel
ALDI coming to Alexander City next spring
In February 2025, the Alexander City Winn-Dixie will close for renovations and be converted to an ALDI store, according to a release statement by City of Alexander City public relations specialist Jessica Sanford.
“We are excited to welcome ALDI to Alexander City,” said Sanford. “This
addition will diversify our grocery shopping options and provide residents with new opportunities for quality.”
Unique Grocery Shopping
The Winn-Dixie on U.S. Route 280 will be converted into an ALDI store next year.
Scan the QR code to visit our website. Stay connected:
~ Melody Rathel
great day.”
A friendly smile is more than quality customer service; it is a part of the company’s identity. In the beginning years of Scooter’s Coffee, co-founder Linda Eckles began placing smiley face stickers on coffee cups to brighten the day of customers. As the stickers became a sensation among regulars, Scooter’s Coffee embraced the smiley face as its trademark and named its beloved icon “Mr. Smiley.”
“Mr. Smiley is on a lot of our cups now,” said Dawson. “He is the face of the franchise and a really big part of our business. He represents the values we believe in as a company.”
In Alexander City, Scooter’s Coffee is owned and operated by business entrepreneur Daniel Yates and has been serving up fresh brews and delicious treats in the community since 2021. While there are approximately 850 locations nationally, Yates is proud to have opened the first location in the state of Alabama.
“I wanted to offer something different to the community,” said Yates. “To me, that was a drivethru coffee shop. I had been considering opening a Scooter’s Coffee since 2014, so when they were ready to grow their brand in the Southeast, I knew that’s what
STORY BY SHAYLEE BECK MOORE PHOTOS BY AUDRA SPEARS
I wanted to do.”
Scooter’s Coffee takes pride in crafting brews with high-quality ingredients, sourcing its coffee from the top 10 percent of specialty beans worldwide.
In addition, Scooter’s Coffee makes many unique flavors in-house, including the caramel sauce that is drizzled on top of its signature drink, the “Caramelicious” - a combination of velvety caramel, espresso and milk, topped with whipped cream.
While the Caramelicious may be a brand bestseller, customers can also have their choice of fruit-flavored smoothies, herbal and chia teas and Red Bull-infused beverages.
Yates’ favorite is the Peanut Butter Power.
“We use real peanut butter in it,” said Yates. “And it is blended like a protein shake. It’s really good.”
Along with serving up fresh brews, Yates believes in giving back to the community. The Alexander City franchise supports various charitable causes, including donating proeeds to hurricane relief efforts, Wounded Warriors and breast cancer awareness. In addition, Scooter’s Coffee supports community organizations specific to Alexander City.
“Locally, we try to do what we can to support different organizations that might need help raising money right here in Alex City,” said Yates. “One example is our local band sponsorship. We try to give back to the community as much as possible.”
While Alexander City may be small, the local Scooter’s
Serving Up Smiles
Left to Right: Scooter's Coffee offers Alexander City a unique variety and blend of beverages; The Caramelicious is a fan favorite alongside hot cinnamon rolls; Mr. Smiley has become an iconic face of the company; Alexander City staff members place an emphasis on fast and friendly customer service; The Red Bull-infused beverage is one of many specialty drinks served.
Coffee shop is nationally recognized on the corporate brand’s website. The Alex City staff can be found cheerfully serving up drinks in a promotional video that highlights the unique and personal service the company promises to its customers.
As a brand, Scooter’s Coffee bases its core values on building relationships as the foundation of success.
“Our biggest goal here is to have a personal connection with our customers,” said Dawson. “I think that’s what separates us from all other competition. We have a lot of regulars that come through every single day. We get to know the whole family’s names, their dog’s names, their orders. We love to make people’s day like that and keep our customers ‘scooting’ through.”
As the company looks to celebrate its fourth anniversary in January, Yates is honored to have set franchise roots in Alexander City, paving the way for Alabama locations across the state.
“Even though Scooter’s is a franchise, we are locally owned and operated,” said Yates. “It means a lot because you’re trying to put back into the community you live in. As the first Scooter’s in Alabama, we hang that on our wall proudly.”
Scooter’s Coffee can be found at 4141 US Highway 280 and are serving up specialty beverages every day of the week from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. While scooting over to the coffee shop, download the Scooter’s Coffee phone app to see holiday specialty drinks, order ahead and build up points for free beverages.
Get fit with friends
Workout buddies boost accountability
STORY BY BETSY ILER
PHOTOS BY BETSY ILER & COURTESY OF NIKKI WIGGINS & RILEY GOREE
Community might be the element that helps you stick to your plan when the holidays are over and the New Year rings in the resolve to lose weight, work out and eat healthier. Owners at three area gyms agreed that reaching those New Year’s goals could be easier with an approach that includes friendships and a whole health perspective including emotional and spiritual aspects as well as physical.
Nikki Wiggins at Next Level Pump Fitness said she believes the sense of community at the Eclectic gym makes the difference in consistent class attendance.
“Sometimes, the low impact class decides to go to lunch together after working out. We have had a meal train whenever anyone in a class was sick and needed that support,” Wiggins said. “And when one member was doing burpees to raise money for a mission trip, everyone in the class did them to help her meet the quota.”
The camaraderie builds after a few weeks in an exercise class, said Riley Goree at Prime Fitness in Alexander City.
“Community is the strength that brings you back. It provides accountability. If someone isn’t in class, somebody who was will be asking, ‘Where were you?’” she said.
Crush It Coach
“It’s a team atmosphere that goes beyond what happens in this gym,” said Josh Epperson at Epoch
Nikki Wiggins (Below) loves the sense of family that develops among workout class members (Right).
Movement in Tallassee. “God has a purpose for us. We’re trying to be healthy so we can be our best for fulfilling God’s purpose for us.”
Transformation is the goal at Epoch Movement where Epperson and his wife, Emma, build on four tenets to help friends and neighbors change their lives for the better – into the New Year and beyond.
Epperson fell in love with strength conditioning through school sports, graduating Tallassee High School in 2014 and attending Newberry College in South Carolina. He coached in area fitness centers and online and realized it could be a way to transform lives. In November 2021, he opened Epoch Movement with his heart set on teaching people to build strength and confidence, not just physically but also through a faithful foundation, a positive mindset and healthy diet.
“We have clients from age 18 to over 70, from highperforming athletes to people who just want to be able to get up and down off the floor and play with their grandchildren,” Epperson said. “We meet people where they are and take baby steps to get them where they want to go.”
Those tenets of the teaching method are depicted in a pyramid graphic on the wall just inside the gym door at the studio above Restoration Coffee on Ann Avenue. The foundation, Epperson said, is faith in Jesus Christ, followed
Build Strength and Friendships
Prime fitness members (Above) encourage each other and hold each other accountable, said Goree (Right).
by a positive mindset; then fitness; and finally, nutrition.
“Nutrition is equally important. Your body is made of what you eat. Whole foods are the foods that God made,” he said. “We teach sustainable habits. It’s not about a quick fix, it doesn’t happen in a week.”
Epperson said he has learned the pillars over time since he opened the gym three years ago. Now, he shares them with gym members and encourages them to adopt the tenets as a team.
“Members come four or five times a week, and they encourage each other and recognize each other’s progress,” he said.
As a member of the gym before she began coaching at the new family business, Wiggins said the community atmosphere kept her coming back week after week. A Pennsylvania native who has lived in the Lake Martin area for 24 years, Wiggins said she fell in love with the gym and the camaraderie she found there more than three years ago. They helped her gain her strength after an injury that
included multiple fractures.
Wiggins has now expanded the class offerings for seniors. Like Epperson, she wanted to enhance the quality of life for those who struggle with balance and other aspects of aging, such as decreased mobility, pain and an increased dependence on medications. For these members, the social aspect of working out is pivotal, she said.
“We call it the ‘fit fam,’” she said. “We really are a family. A lot of gyms are a revolving door. People come in and go out, never to come in again. But here, it’s focused on the camaraderie. Members will call each other in the morning and say, ‘Are you going? Let’s do this! I’ll see you there.’ They keep each other accountable, as well as encourage each other during the workouts.”
Wiggins’ members also stay in touch through a private
social media page, where they applaud each other’s progress and share positive thoughts for the day. They also participate in the Alabama Department of Human Resources’ annual Angel Tree. Last year, they purchased gifts for four disadvantaged children.
Their own children often are part of the gym experience, as well. While parents work out, their children have a play area in full view of the gym space. The kids see their parents prioritizing health and fitness and often emulate those role models, said Wiggins, who brings her 8-year-old son to the gym regularly.
The Next Level Pump Fitness building includes a large airplane hangar door that opens to wooded acreage, allowing the children to play outside when weather permits. Wiggins also uses the outdoor space to expand the variety of exercises and change the class setting.
She also includes a faith aspect with fitness.
“We pray together after working out, and we pray for each other inside and outside of the gym,” she said. “We want you to be the best version of yourself in all aspects, including outside of the workout space. We use fitness to accomplish that.”
In addition, Next Level offers other amenities to members, including access to a concierge physical therapist, Dr. Joy Mees, PT, DPT, who keeps an in-house schedule. Members can employ an InBody Body Composition scanner to evaluate their progress and aid in setting goals with customized calories and macros set for them. The facility also utilizes five coaches in addition to Wiggins’
“To keep members engaged, they need to know you care, but it’s the friendships formed that keep them coming back,” she said. “We cut up a lot. We laugh a lot, but never at each other. There’s no intimidation. There are modifications for everything we do, so you can enjoy your workout but also challenge yourself and progress.”
operate their business on four tenets to help members (Above) succeed in and outside of the gym.
Riley has a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Auburn University and is a licensed physical therapy assistant. She is also a certified in personal training, group fitness, Les Mills, bungee fitness, CrossFit and as a nutritional coach.
Riley said she changes up the routines to help members move beyond the plateau.
“That plateau – staying at the same level for a while – happens when you don’t change your routine,” she said. “We do strength training, circuits, Pilates, aerial Pilates, spin, suspension training, weights. We go outside. We change it often, so it doesn’t get monotonous.”
Through it all, members encourage each other and applaud each other’s successes.
“Fitness is for everybody, from children to the elderly, and you can start at any level with modifications. Its benefits go far beyond the gym, and they’re insane. The benefits are insane,” Riley said.
Visit websites and social media pages to learn more and find the workout routines, memberships and communities that will help you stick to that New Year’s fitness resolution and improve your quality of life.
high intensity interval training, strength training and tabata, as well as low impact classes.
Pillars of Progress Emma and Josh Epperson (Left)
Docks & Seawalls
Decks & Patios
Landscaping
Lighting & Electrical
Repairs & Maintenance
Gardener GIFTS
Selecting and buying Christmas gifts for that special someone can indeed be a challenge. Although the choices are numerous and unlimited, finding that practical and perfect gift can take a lot of time and consideration. Sometimes, you just don’t know what to get.
When you are shopping for Christmas gifts, keep in mind that gardening is America’s favorite hobby, even though it sounds out of season. This year, forget the typical gifts of the same old thing and give something related to lawn and garden. Any item from the gardening section or a gift related to lawn and garden is something most people will enjoy and might actually want. Most aren’t that expensive; some are quite useful; and all will make great Christmas presents.
GARDEN
TALK
Shane Harris
A good idea, right? Well, there can be an additional hiccup to this challenge, as the inventory and selection may be quite limited. Some retail businesses convert their gardening section into rows of Christmas supplies in the fall. Maybe it’s because Christmas is celebrated in the dead of winter, but important gardening supplies seem to get pushed aside and packed up this time of year. Really nice gardening gifts may be hidden among the green and red garland, flickering lights and wrapping paper stacked everywhere. I’ll never understand that marketing strategy; it’s not like everyone just stops gardening or working in the yard around the holidays.
When shopping for that perfect gift for a gardener, consider this. Owning a house and property and maintaining the home and yard are ongoing tasks. Over time, things wear out, break and must be replaced. I can speak on this with some authority – nothing frustrates a gardener more than having tools and other necessities break when you need them right now. The shovel or rake handle suddenly snaps in half, the water hose or nozzle begins leaking, gloves and pruners come up missing, and to top it all off, the chainsaw, tiller, lawn mower, trimmer or tractor will not start.
Perfect Presents Previous Pages: There are many ways to shop for the gardener on your holiday list this year; Left: Pointsettias are a popular decoration for the season; Right: Potted plants brighten the home with festive colors.
Yep, someone special on your Christmas list just might need a new one. Here is a list of lawn and garden items that would make great gifts.
TOOLS
Every gardener or person working in the yard needs tools. Little tools, big tools; you can never have enough. There are so many to choose from: hand trowels, rakes, shovels, pruning loppers, hoes, leaf blowers, lawn mowers, pump sprayers, tillers, chainsaws, carts, fertilizer spreaders, and wheelbarrows all make wonderful gifts. They help the gardener get the job done and be more efficient with his or her time. One thing to remember about tools is to buy quality. Cheap ones do not last and are a waste of time and money. Buy what you would like to use or receive.
Speaking of tools, modern battery-operated ones are nice as long as they work. Batteries tend to need recharging often and can delay one from getting the current chore or task done. A very much appreciated gift
idea is another set of batteries and maybe another charger for those who already own electric power equipment. You have to be able to run those battery-operated leaf blowers, pole saws, hedge trimmers and chainsaws. You can’t use a tool if the single battery is dead or still charging.
PLANTS
If you haven’t noticed, plants are quite popular during Christmas. Just look at all the poinsettias that are being grown, sold and used as decorations. They also make great gifts. Give houseplants and potted ones that will last a long time, such as poinsettias, Christmas cactus, African violets, cyclamen, paperwhites and amaryllis. Winter is also the very best time to purchase and set out fruit trees, small fruits, ornamental trees and shrubs. Planting a shade tree or flowering camellia in someone’s honor or memory makes a very special and longlasting gift. Other ideas might include re-landscaping around the house or constructing a raised bed garden. Plants can also be passed on to the next generation and keep on giving.
Thinking back over the years, I have given so many plants as special gifts, more than I can remember. For family members and dear friends, I have given historic apple trees, satsuma mandarin oranges, oak trees, native and evergreen azaleas, daffodils and irises. The more sentimental, the better.
GARDENING SUPPLIES
that would allow someone to not be delayed and able to complete the pressing lawn and garden chores. Other nice gifts might be new packs of flower bulbs, vegetable seeds, outdoor lighting kits, bird feeders and houses, garden carts and wagons, various tarps, buckets and bungee cords.
Next to tools, basic garden supplies also make perfect Christmas gifts. Maybe it is to upgrade what someone already has or just add to the stash on hand when it breaks or goes bad. You can save someone time and money by not having to run to the store to get it. I would suggest getting and always having a backup water hose, nozzle and wand sprayers, gloves, trimmer line and hand trowel. Consider these important items to have around
Surprise with Tools and Supplies
Gardening tools are among the most popular gift choices for planters.
BOOKS AND MAGAZINES
Gardeners are always looking for more reference material to help them become better gardeners and educate themselves on specific subjects. They love books and magazines related to gardening; you can never have enough (in truth, gardeners like looking at all the pretty pictures). There are many regional and national books and magazines on every subject related to gardening, plants and projects. Pick up a few good books or purchase a magazine gift subscription for the gardeners on your Christmas wish list. They will thoroughly enjoy it.
GIFT CARDS
Yes, gardeners love gift cards from their favorite stores. A gift card from an online horticulture business, home improvement store, or specialty nursery would allow them to choose whatever they really need or want. Sometimes the real thrill is in the browsing after the holidays, knowing one has the funds to spend.
This Christmas season, try looking in the lawn and garden section. You just might find the perfect gift for that special gardener, yard man, or flower lady. Merry Christmas! For help on home and garden questions, contact your local county Extension office or visit aces.edu.
~ Shane Harris is the Tallapoosa County Extension Coordinator for the Alabama Cooperative Extension.
CRANBERRY Jalapeño RELISH
This year, shake things up with this cranberry jalape ñ o relish – a bold, colorful recipe that perfectly blends sweet and spicy. Made with fresh ingredients, this dish is as eye-catching as it is delicious and will brighten any table.
This relish might become your new holiday favorite and pairs perfectly with pork. The tangysweet and slightly spicy relish complements tenderloin, pork chops and even the holiday ham. The flavors work well together, creating a nice balance and elevating your dinner menu.
If you’re looking for a new appetizer this year, serve this relish over cream cheese. The red and green colors are festive and perfect for the holiday season, making it a hit at any gathering. When served as a dip, it always seems to fly off the table with its fresh taste and festive appearance.
GOOD EATS
Gina Abernathy
This relish is a bit unusual, but trust me – the ingredients come together in the best way possible. They create a flavor combination that’s unique and downright irresistible. It looks as good as it tastes, and your guests will ask for the recipe.
This cranberry jalapeño relish is incredibly easy to whip up, making it great for the busy holiday season. Simply pulse the cranberries in a food processor until they are coarsely chopped and stir in the other ingredients; mix until everything is well combined. Cover and refrigerate. That’s it – you’re done.
Whether you’re hosting a formal dinner or a casual party, surprise your guests with this dish
and bring a touch of the season to your table. With its bold flavors and seasonal charm, it’s sure to become a holiday favorite. Merry Christmas!
Ingredients
12 ounces cranberries
6 to 8 green onions, diced 2 jalape ñ os, deseeded, minced 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, minced 1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons lime juice 3/4 cup sugar
Directions
Pulse cranberries in a food processor a few times until coarsely chopped. In a medium bowl, add cranberries, onions, jalape ñ os, cilantro, lime juice, sugar and salt, stirring until blended. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least six to eight hours or overnight. When ready to serve, remove the cranberry mixture from the refrigerator and drain the liquid.
Recipe Tip: For the best flavor, let this relish chill in the fridge for at least 6 to 8 hours or overnight. Drain the juice before serving over cream cheese or pork.
How to Serve
Cranberry Jalape ñ o Relish
If serving as an appetizer, spread softened cream cheese onto a pie plate or a serving dish. Top the cream cheese with the cranberry jalapeño relish mixture and serve with crackers, pita chips, or your favorite dippers. Or place a block of softened cream cheese on a serving plate and top with drained cranberry relish. If serving with pork, spoon over the meat or serve alongside.
~ Gina Abernathy is the author and recipe creator behind the blog, Home at Cedar Springs Farm.
The spirit of hope is what has driven Dadeville locals Kurt and Leigh Pfitzner to dedicate the last six years to Pennington Park, a small 2-acre haven in the community. The park has brought the magic of the holidays to life for locals; however, this Christmas season will mark the final event at Pennington Park, closing a beloved chapter in the Dadeville community.
Since 2018, Pennington Park has served as a staple for various free events, ranging from extravagant holiday celebrations to local fundraising walks.
“We bought the land from the estate of Johnnie Fae Pennington, who used to be a longtime teacher at Dadeville High School,” Kurt Pfitzner said. “That’s
who we named the park after. We wanted it to be after a positive member in the community.”
The park debuted that same year with the Pfitzners’ first community event, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
“Our first Christmas lighting was probably 10 or 15 trees that we managed to scrounge up,” said Pfitzner. “We got such a great reception, however, that it just got bigger every year, to the point that it is now with over 35,000 lights.”
Pennington Park has been the heartbeat of the holiday season for many in the community.
Light Up The Night Pennington Park comes alive at night with a brilliant show of Christmas lights.
Christmas at Pennington Park
STORY BY SHAYLEE BECK MOORE
PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
Among the dazzling Christmas trees, decorated by businesses and members of the Dadeville community, are favorite seasonal activities, such as community choir performances, sipping hot chocolate and meeting Santa.
In addition, the couple adds new elements to their holiday celebration each year, with 2024’s highlight being the addition of “Santa’s Workshop” to the pavilion. Featuring a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, an array of toys and brilliant light displays, the Pfitzners brought their vision of a magical holiday destination to life for families to enjoy.
For many children in the area, the park becomes more than a festive holiday event; it becomes a place of wonder and, more importantly, hope.
children’s letters to Santa Claus.
Each year, a mailbox is set up at Pennington Park for children of all ages to send letters to Santa using a message template. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the Pfitzners, along with a small team of volunteer “elves,” read every letter submitted. Impressively, they handwrite and send heartfelt, personalized responses to each child. Over the years, the Pfitzners have replied to more than 1,000 letters to Santa.
Holiday Fun
“For us, the best part of the park is watching the kids sit on Santa’s lap,” Pfitzner said. “We have a large, impoverished community here in Dadeville, and for some children, this is their first experience being surrounded by something so magical. Their eyes are as big as saucers when they come here. They sit on Santa’s lap, and they just talk to him. At that moment, Santa Claus is real to them. Santa is alive.”
Below: Snowmen are among the many festive displays set out by the community; Facing Page: The magic of the holiday season is captured at Pennington Park.
The magic of Christmas lives within one particular activity that is close to the Pfitzners’ hearts –
“In the very last week prior to Christmas, we hand-deliver every letter,” Pfitzner said. “They are all guaranteed to get to the children’s houses before Christmas. And if the kids live out of state, we FedEx overnight letters, sometimes as far away as Minnesota, Texas and Florida, so the children get their letter the next day. We have never missed a single one.”
The Pfitzners often go beyond replying to these messages and bring a Christmas wish to reality for some members of the community.
“The letters we’ve seen from kids have been just amazing,” Pfitzner said. “The innocence and heart behind them are remarkable. We had one little girl who asked Santa for a microwave for her mom because they didn’t have one. So, our elves went out and bought a microwave, wrapped it up, and put it on their doorstep for Christmas.”
Another letter came from an 89-year-old woman who was alone for the holidays and asked for friendship for Christmas. The Pfitzners worked behind the scenes to
make her Christmas wish come true by connecting her with social groups within the community.
“It’s those little magical moments that made all the difference and make the world a better place,” Pfitzer said. “We hope that, at least just for a short time, we have given people a belief that while there may not be Santa, there is Santa’s heart, and this is why we do what we do.”
The giving goes beyond the holiday season for the Pfitzners. Each year, they dedicate countless hours to various events at the park, including Easter egg hunts, farmers markets and Art in the Park.
“Everything in Pennington Park has been free,” said Pfitzner. “The only time we’ve ever charged admission is for the Everything’s Art fundraiser. But otherwise, we have never charged for events.”
As an Air Force veteran who served 32 years in the United States military, the Memorial Day display holds a special place in Pfitzner’s heart. Each year, more than 2,000 American flags are meticulously planted and aligned in 21 rows at Pennington Park, representing the 21-gun salute to honor military heroes. The arrangement also forms a cross-shaped walkway, adding a meaningful design element to the tribute.
In addition, hundreds of personalized grave markers are displayed to honor fallen soldiers.
“We say in the military, ‘All gave some, but some gave all,’” said Pfitzner. “There’s a lot of symbolism behind our display, and we wanted it to be an experience that made you think, even reflect, on the sacrifices of our soldiers.”
When reflecting on the years that he and Leigh have owned the park, Pfitzner draws inspiration from a poem he keeps tucked in his wallet. Titled Success by Ralph Waldo Emerson, the poem purports that true success lies in the impact one makes on the lives of others through their actions.
For many in the Dadeville community, the Pfizners have embodied this mantra and become a beacon of hope, inspiration and joy through their years of selfless giving.
The final Christmas season for Pennington Park will occur throughout the month of December until January 3, when everyone is welcome to enjoy the light displays from dark until 10 p.m.
While this may be the close of one chapter for Pennington Park, there are hopes of passing the torch to another passionate volunteer who sees the vision of the Pfitzners and will continue the traditions and spirit of the park for the community.
Dazzling Displays
“It’s the end of an era, but the park was never about us,” said Pfitzner. “It has always been about the community and the people who have experienced this. It is our hope that someone will step up to be the new caretaker of Pennington Park, and the community will pick up where we leave off."
Top to Bottom: Santa's workshop is showcased at the park pavilion; Pennington Park comes to life under the glow of Christmas lights; Creative tree displays capture the uniqueness of each local business; Each corner of the park offers a new glimpse of holiday cheer.
The Fried Pie Lady
STORY BY SHAYLEE BECK MOORE
PHOTOS BY SHAYLEE BECK MOORE & AUDRA SPEARS
Nestled in the heart of Eclectic, Alabama, lies a hidden hometown treasure – a family-operated store run by beloved duo, Ronnie and Carol George of George Family Farm. Over recent years, it has become a cherished spot for the community, where among the tempting rows of cakes, chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon rolls, locals find a true Southern favorite – homemade fried pies.
Varying in flavors from cherry to blueberry and strawberry, these golden, flaky desserts have become a local sensation, earning the woman behind the creations the title “the Fried Pie Lady.”
Every morning, Carol George, 81, wakes up between the hours of 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. to bake these savory treats, creating each one by hand in her home. George has a multi-oven operation in her house, along with a bread maker for her cinnamon rolls and a high-pressure canning machine for her assortment of jams and jellies.
Relying solely on years of baking experience and traditions passed down to her through generational role models, George never writes down her recipes. Instead, she keeps hundreds of them memorized.
Baking with a Passion
Facing Page: Carol George gets her inspiration from people dear to her heart; Top: Blueberry fried pies and homemade bread are among the most popular item choices; Bottom: The George Family Farm store offers a welcoming atmosphere for customers to visit.
“I have these recipes mostly in my head,” George said. “I don’t write them down. I have to really concentrate because when I’m baking, I’m doing three or four things at a time.”
George’s passion for baking began when she was 15, mentored by her mother-in-law at the time.
“I didn’t even know how to boil water,” George said. “My first husband and I lived on a ranch in
Colorado with our children, and his grandmother took me under her wing. She taught me how to cook and bake on a wood stove. If you can bake on a wood stove, the rest of it’s a piece of cake. I still thank her to this day.”
Over the years, George’s baking continued to be influenced by several individuals in her life who shaped her skills and passion for baking. When she lived near an Amish community, George formed unique friendships with several local women who
shared their traditional baking techniques with her. They also taught George food-preservation and canning skills.
George oftent borrowed ideas from local recipes to inspire new baking creations.
“Ronnie would bring home food from different Amish places that were absolutely amazing,” said George. “So, I learned to recreate them. I would dissect each of the ingredients of the items until I got the recipe just right.”
Today, George continues to incorporate these traditions in her store, offering a selection of canned goods alongside her desserts, including a colorful variety of jams such as strawberry-peach, muscadine, pepper jelly, seedless blackberry and rhubarb-strawberry peach.
“Strawberry rhubarb is Ronnie’s favorite,” George said. “Nobody down here in the South has really heard of rhubarb before. But it is a big thing in the North and where I am from. We source our rhubarb from a farm in Indiana near where I grew up, and 70 years later, we are still getting our rhubarb from that same farm.”
While George heads up the operations for baking the desserts, she fondly refers to her husband, Ronnie, as her sous-chef. Over the years, he has become her wingman in the kitchen, assisting her by prepping time-consuming items, such as rolling out pie crusts and peeling fresh green apples for her pies.
In addition, Ronnie oversees the financial side of the business and meticulously sources top grade produce that George needs for her creations.
Through strong relationships with local farmers, the Georges ensure that all the produce used in their products are locally sourced or come directly from a farm. The pecans used in many of their baked goods often come fresh from trees in their yard.
To keep up with the demand, the George couple has a vigorous weekly schedule.
“Earlier in the week, I like to start making my candy, pralines and my Chex mix,” said George. “Then Wednesday is a marathon day for us. I average about 16 hours and will work right through, taking about 10 minutes for lunch or so. Baking keeps you hopping.”
Local Favorites
Top to Bottom: Jumbo cinnamon rolls are a customer favorite; Only fresh ingredients are used in Carol's creations; The Georges offer a variety of products for customers; A homemade apple pie fresh from the oven. Facing Page: Ronnie assists George in baking her creations.
Though originally known as the “Fried Pie Lady,” George has also gained local fame for her homemade baked bread. Each loaf is hand-rolled, shaped and personally packaged with care.
George began selling her bread as a hobby in the couple’s original store, known to carry high-grade beef, pork and
lamb raised by the George family.
“I baked a few loaves of bread at first and just put them out,” said George. “And pretty soon, people wanted more and more. People heard about our shop, and it became really popular.”
It was after her customers made an unusual request that George started making her coveted treat.
“The fried pies came after I discovered what they were,” said George. “Customers started asking me if I could make them, but I had never heard of fried
Change the Medicaid mindset
Alabama is one of 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid coverage. The other nine are Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Most people know that expanding Medicaid is a controversial political football, but very few know why.
To understand the issue, we need to go back to 2010, when the Affordable Care Act (ACA), aka “Obamacare,” was introduced. Sir Alec Issigonis, the designer of the British Mini automobile, once said that a camel is a horse designed by a committee. Well, we can think of the ACA as a sort of camel. In order to bring all the stakeholders to the table – none of whom wanted to play with each other – concessions had to be made with the health insurance industry, the health care interest groups, such as the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association, and other interested parties like AARP.
The result was a cobbling together of government and private sector elements to absorb the expense of expanding healthcare access to more Americans. Despite its unwieldiness, the program works. The camel can run. Whatever criticisms one might have of Obamacare, it has succeeded in providing an additional 45 million previously uninsured Americans with access to healthcare.
The backbone of coverage is employer-sponsored health insurance, supplemented by a marketplace for individual plans, Medicare for the elderly and disabled, and Medicaid for the poor. To balance the risk assumed by health insurance companies, the plan called for expanding Medicaid coverage beyond the traditional population of low-income disabled individuals,
pregnant women and children, and making the program available to anyone who earned less than 139 percent of the federal poverty level, which in 2024 tops out at $35,632 for a family of three.
If you made more than that, you would qualify to purchase individual coverage in the marketplace.
In 2012, two years before Medicaid expansion was scheduled for implementation, the U.S. Supreme Court broke the camel’s back. SCOTUS ruled that the federal government could not force states to participate in Medicaid expansion. The effect of this ruling was to create a coverage gap in the states that refused to expand. The gap engulfed people who made too much money to qualify for regular Medicaid coverage – in Alabama that’s an annual income of $4,475 for a family of three – but did not make enough to participate in the ACA exchange. That leaves somewhere between 100,000 and 175,000 Alabamians without affordable healthcare. Some 3,100 of those uninsured persons live in Tallapoosa County, and 574 live in Coosa.
More than half of the folks caught in the coverage gap work in jobs that do not offer employer-provided coverage. In Alabama, this includes 28,000 fast-food workers, 20,000 construction workers and 18,000 landscapers, janitors and environmental service workers.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has the power to implement Medicaid expansion; however, there is stiff opposition in the legislature, including local representative Ed Oliver, even though surveys show nearly 72 percent of Alabama voters favor it. The governor’s spokeswoman, Gina Maiola, stated, “Ensuring Alabamians all across the state have access to quality health care is important to the governor; however, on the question of expanding
Medicaid, she remains concerned for how the state would pay for it long-term.”
Currently, Alabama covers about 26 percent of the cost of its Medicaid program, with the federal government footing the bill for the other 74 percent. If the governor were to expand Medicaid, the state would pay only 10 percent of the additional cost; 90 percent would be paid for by the federal government. That additional cost to the state is estimated to be around $225 million annually.
MEDICAL NEWS
To answer the governor’s question of how the state would pay for Medicaid expansion, the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama commissioned Jacksonville State University’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research to perform an economic analysis of the impact of an expansion for a six-year period.
The analysis concluded that expanding Medicaid would cost the state an average of $225.4 million per year but would also generate annual savings of $397.8 million, for a net annual savings of $172.4 million. Much of those savings come from reducing the state’s cost for folks currently covered by Medicaid, who would now be covered by the expansion. In other words, Alabama’s portion of the cost of their medical care would drop from 24 percent to 10 percent.
In addition, the Jacksonville State analysis found that Medicaid expansion would create 20,000 new jobs each year and generate an annual economic impact of $1.89 billion.
More importantly, Medicaid expansion would provide health care for 283,686 Alabamians, most of whom are the working poor. It means access to primary care from a physician rather than the emergency room. It means detecting cancer early on when it’s curable. It means lower maternal and infant mortality rates, as well as a reduction in the disparity between Black and White mothers dying in childbirth. It means fewer people with medical debt. Currently, 17 percent of Coosa County residents have medical debt in collections.
Medicaid expansion will not only help the working poor; it also will help financially strapped hospitals across the state.
There is a billboard on Interstate 85, approaching Montgomery, with the message: “Save Jackson Hospital. Expand Medicaid now.” It’s paid
for by Cover Alabama, a consortium of nonprofit groups, healthcare providers and the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network.
Jackson Hospital recently defaulted on $60 million in long-term debt. Proponents claim that Medicaid expansion would help keep safety-net hospitals like Jackson, as well as rural ones, afloat.
Thomasville Regional Medical Center recently closed its doors due to financial challenges and staffing shortages. In the last four years, other hospitals that have closed or reduced their services include Monroe County, Princeton Baptist in Birmingham, Shelby Baptist in Alabaster, Randolph Medical in Roanoke and Georgiana Medical Center in Greenville.
Cover Alabama reports that 15 of the state’s 52 rural hospitals are at imminent risk of closure. When a hospital closes, the community doesn’t just lose access to health care; it loses a major employer and an economic engine for the community.
Last year, the hospitals that serve Tallapoosa and Coosa counties provided $33.8 million in uncompensated care. While Medicaid reimbursement typically does not cover the total cost of care provided to its recipients, if these uninsured patients had been covered by Medicaid, it would have reduced these losses by 75 percent.
A study by the Chartis Consulting Group found that hospitals in Medicaid expansion states were 62 percent more likely to avoid closure than hospitals in states that have not expanded Medicaid. The American Hospital Association reported that 74 percent of rural hospital closures between 2010 and 2021 were in states that did not expand Medicaid.
The governor is understandably concerned about the increased cost that comes with Medicaid expansion. But the preponderance of analyses supports the financial benefit to the state. And while the taxpayer (you and me) ultimately pays for Medicaid expansion –because nothing in this life is free – consider that Alabama taxpayers are already paying for it.
We’re just paying for the 40 states that have already expanded Medicaid.
~ George Miranda is the director of the UAB Medicine – Russell Medical Cancer Center.
George Miranda
The below article was written in December 2020. I thought it was worth republishing. Today, the DJIA is sitting just shy of 45,000. In a short period of time, the rate of change has been 50 percent. Markets are hard to predict, if not impossible. Few, if anybody, would have predicted that in a few short years, even with COVID-19, we would see a market near 45,000 today, but we have. Over this short period, I have heard many in the industry talk about the risk of investing and how risky the markets were at that moment in time. The way I see it, the real risk was not being invested.
Enjoy the article below, and Merry Christmas!
MONEY MATTERS
As I write this article, the Dow just closed above 30,000 for the first time ever! Who would have thought its first close above this mark would be in the depths of a global health pandemic? Some people years ago probably thought if we saw this number, it would be many more years into the future. Markets tend to surprise, good and bad.
When I look back on a short history of the last 30 years, I see back in 1991 when the Dow closed above 3,000 for the first time, on April 17 to be exact. If you remember this timeframe, the Gulf War should come to mind. On August 2, 1990, the Iraqi Army invaded and occupied Kuwait. Not long thereafter, our president at the time, George H. W. Bush, sent our troops to Saudi Arabia. Over the next months, the Gulf War was fought and more or less over by March of 1991.
Another historical moment over the last 30 years was the dot-com crash. In March 2000, the Nasdaq hit its all-time high at that point, and shortly after, markets went into a nosedive. Since we are talking about the Dow, it took this index several years to recover back to its 2000 level in the high 10,000s. In the middle of this, we were also attacked by terrorists on September 11 of 2001.
A short few years after finally recovering from the dot-com crash and September 11, we entered the Great Recession, which saw markets decline more than 50 percent from peak to trough. A few years later, in August 2011, the U.S. lost its coveted AAA credit rating after S&P downgraded it due to budget deficits. At that point, fears were that we were headed for a double dip recession, higher interest rates and on and on.
I’ll fast forward to today in order to get to the point. Right now, we are in a global pandemic that has sickened over 60 million people around the world and killed almost 1.5 million
History repeats itself
people, according to Worldometer, which tracks worldwide cases and deaths. In the midst of this, the Dow just crossed 30,000.
Some simple math says that over the last 30 years, through all the uncertainty of which I briefly touched on above, our market has compounded at approximately 12 percent. This is slightly higher than the historical average of around 10 percent. To me, this says that investors have been compensated for uncertainties that will always come.
There has always been a reason to not invest or sell out, whether it’s a war, dot-com crash, terrorist attacks, financial recession, credit downgrade and now a global pandemic. Throughout all of this, companies have continued to become more efficient and globalized, translating into higher earnings and dividends for their shareholders, which has helped lift markets over the longer term.
If you were to continue looking back past these recent 30 years, you will find the same scenarios of uncertainty. Time after time, though, the market has continued to reward those who looked past these short episodes of stress with a historical average of close to a compounded 10 percent return over the last 100 years. Looking deeper into this around 10-percentcompounded-number, you will find that around two-thirds of it is made up of companies increasing their earnings per share and one-third of it comes from dividends paid to shareholders.
The next time you see a long-term chart of the market, take a look at the trend. It will not take much to realize the trend has historically been up.
Can you imagine if back in the early ‘80s you thought the market was expensive when the Dow crossed 1,000 for the first time with interest rates in the high teens and you decided there was too much risk to buy and instead sold out?
Can you imagine if today, with the Dow at 30,000, you decided we are coming off a historic election, our country has too much debt, one should take the same approach as some did back in the early ’80s and throughout history and get out?
I’m of the mindset that over time the market will continue to grow and compound because fundamentally it will follow earnings of companies, not the day-to-day noise in which we tend to get caught. As Benjamin Graham once said, “In the short run, the market is a voting machine, but in the long run, it is a weighing machine.”
In closing, I’m going to borrow another quote from a famous investor by the name of Bill Miller. He loves closing his letters with, “The path of least resistance is up.”
~ Lee Williams
Lee Williams
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The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice and it should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security. It does not take into account any investor’s particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status or investment horizon. You should consult your attorney or tax advisor.
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Pretty Woman: The Musical
Tuesday, February 4
Wednesday, February 5
Thursday, February 6
7 p.m.
broadway series
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Spanish Journey
Thursday, February 13
7 p.m.
chamber music series
Voctave
The Corner of Broadway & Main Street
Friday, February 14
7 p.m.
concert series
BODYTRAFFIC
Wednesday, February 19
7 p.m.
dance & movement series
Savanah Haggerty and Mark Waters
2. Kurt and Leigh Pfitnzer
3. Marley Goodman and Louveda Huhn 4. Tom and Mary Ann Thilmany 5. Caleb, Andy, Watney and Victoria Rigsby 6. Mari and Maci Williams
Melonie Laymon and Michael Tallent
Saturday, November 16, 2024
St. James Epsicopal Church
1. Katie Dyer and Virginia Christian
2. Rebecca and Hayden Futral
3. Natalie Durden and Kathy Roy
4.
5.
Anna Marie and Mandy Fisher
Laura Spencer and Janet Spann
6. Martha Chapman and Beth Morris
7. Judy Quick and Rob and Betsy Iler
8. Jennifer Carlisle and Emily Mann
9. Martha Sue Champion
10. Mary Jane Lindley, Paul Godfrey, Sue Pritchard and Linda Godfrey
11. Dawn Davis, Denise Graves and Leslie Little
1. Kinsleigh, Samantha, Brayden, Bradley and Bentley Chambers
2. Patricia and Ava Romero, Sarina Arnold, Daniel Romero and Quay Burton
3. Ansley, Justin, Joanie and Hannah Toland
4. Chris and Casey Oliver
5. Amanda and Matt Chambers 6. Willow, CJ and Kendra Sorensen
Harold
Friday, November 15, 2024
Dadeville Performing Arts Center
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Mayor Jimmy “Frank” Goodman and Harold Banks
Steve Thomas and John Alsobrook
Jackie and Terry Wilbourn
Larry and Peggy Stephens
Chris McConnell and Jeannie Curtis
Harold Banks and Wanda Ryals
Nancy Washburn and Tim Craddock
Susan Raines, Sharon Gaither, Roberta Green and Jackie Wilbourn
Charlie Walker, Lydia Staples and John Alsobrook
Russell Crossroads
1. Charlie Harris
2. John Lewis and Sander Parriott
3. Hatten Huff and Anderson Aldag
4. Leigh and Logan Misso
5. Braylen Woodward, Santa and Trip Woodward
6. Jacob Smith and Claire and Charlie Goldman
7. Shirley Baker, John Denney and Harvey Baker
8. Wesley, Haley and Liam Lamborne
9. Ivey Rae Zampieri and “Nanny” Beth Roberts
10. Jenny and Emma Mizzell and Liz Lake
11. Julie and Ashlyn Churi
Sunday, December 1, 2024
Dadeville
1. Alelia Hart, Deambrah and Carlee Davis, Myrtis Canaly, Carlton Davis, Lakeshia Farrow and Tiffany Stone
2. Chris and Charlie Hallmark and Chris and Bailey Deloach
3. Briana Jackson and Gregory Moss
4. Tmani Garcia and Amina Garcia
5. Peggy and Cindy Bullard and Amy Allen
6. Don, Jack, Paul, Jamie, Lauren and Chris Bruins
THE LAKE REGION
Calendar
FEATURED EVENT
Main Street Alexander City offers downtown carriage rides
Visit Main Street
Alexander City between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. December 21 to take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the downtown streets and enjoy the holidays decorations.
Main Street Alexander City made a special effort to add a sense of magic to the downtown setting with more lights, trees, reindeer figures, garland and more. Wreaths hang on the lampposts, lending an air of magic to the evening. Alexander City's downtown glows with breathtaking decorations, and nothing says "Happy Holidays" in grander style than a horse-drawn carriage ride at Christmas.
Get cozy with your sweetheart; treat the kids to a traditional holiday favorite experience or make it a fun evening out with friends.
Reserve the carriage for eight seats after 4:30 p.m.; four seats after 5 p.m.; or two seats after 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person and reservations are required. Text Michelle West at 256-786-0584 to make reservations or for more information.
Making Merry with Main Street Alexander City Reservations are now being accepted for horse-drawn carriage rides through Alexander City's beautifully decorated downtown on December 21.
December 17
Christmas Music at DPAC
The Real Bells and Lake Martin Dulcimer Club will present a oneof-a-kind concert with a unique tone and style of Christmas tunes, some favorites and others not so familiar. Children admitted free by reservation. Adult tickets are $10 in advance at dadevilleperformingartscenter.com or $15 at the door.
December 20
Special Storytime
Local children’s author Jessica Keyes will read Dessa Mae Donkey Wants to be a Reindeer at 10 a.m. at the Dadeville Public Library.
December 20
Creatures of the North Pole Class
Join the Wind Creek State Park naturalist as he teaches about the amazing animals that live in the frigid Arctic Circle. Contact dylan.ogle@ dcnr.alabama.gov for details.
December 21
Cocktail Class
Join the fun and learn to mix up a great cocktail at The Local at 41 Main in Alexander City from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The class is $35, and participants will go home with recipes for holiday party drinks, classic cocktails and more.
December 31
New Year's Eve at Zazu's Verandah
Ring in the New Year with friends and live music at Zazu’s Verandah. This is a 21-and-older event with a minimum tip of $20 per person to the band, MUSE, from Auburn, Alabama. Wine and beer will be available for purchase, while charcuterie snack trays are available for preorder. No need to make it a late night; the Zazu drop happens at 10 p.m. Call Zazu’s Verandah at 256-307-2188 for more details.
January 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
LAKE REGION EVENTS
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 day-use fee to be paid at the park entrance.
January 12
Mutts Gone Nuts
Gather at Benjamin Russell High School Auditorium at 2 p.m. for this Alex City Arts program that introduces you to eight world class shelter dogs in a hilarious comedy production. Tickets are $20 in advance at alexcityarts.org and $25 at the door.
January 18
LMYP Polar Plunge
Save the date for the annual Lake Martin Young Professionals Polar Plunge. Everyone is encouraged to join the fun and jump 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
Naturalist Presentation and Guided Tours
Come see Naturalist Marianne and her lively nature presentations at the Naturalist Cabin at Russell Crossroads. There is never a dull moment with this wildlife biologist as she educates on the beauty of nature. For details, check out the events listing at RussellLands.com/blog/events.
Christmas in
Pennington Park
Pennington Park and Everything’s Art will host Dadeville’s 6th annual Christmas in Pennington Park. Last year, the park hosted 112 beautiful displays lit by more than 35,000 lights. The park displays will be lit from approximately 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly during the month of December. A fullsized Santa sleigh will be present, along with periodic visits from Santa himself. A North Pole mailbox will be available for sending letters to Santa.
Red Hill Dance Hall
Every Friday night and on select Saturdays, the old Red Hill Schoolhouse is filled with rhythm and dancing. A rotating schedule of bands perform each night, playing renditions of Hank Williams, Otis Redding and anything else to get you up and grooving. The music starts at 6:30 p.m. and lasts until 8:30 p.m. Attendance is completely free. Food will be provided, but alcohol is strictly prohibited. Call Red Hill Community Center President Paula Castleberry at 334-541-2474 for details.
Memory Makers Quilt Guild
This group meets the second and fourth Mondays at the Senior Center on the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex campus. Arrive at 9:30 a.m. and sew until 2 p.m. Bring your lunch or a snack, sewing projects, machines and questions.
Children’s Harbor Treasures and Thrift Store
Located on state Route 63 just south of Lake Martin Amphitheater, the Children’s Harbor Thrift Store is open Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You never know what gems you might find – from clothes and household items to boats. Proceeds are used to help fund the activities at the Lake Martin campus of Children’s Harbor and the Family Center at Children’s Hospital. Call 334-857-2008 for more information.
Tallassee Lions Club
The Tallassee Lions Club meets every Tuesday at Cozumel Restaurant, across from the football stadium in Tallassee, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. The public is welcome to join for an hour of humor, information, civic pride and patriotism. For more information, call Marilyn Speake at 334-283-6864 or email her at marilyn.speake@tcschools.com.
Explore
Lake Martin
Kowaliga Marina 334-857-2111
The Ridge Marina 256-397-1300
River North Marina 256-397-1500
Russell Marine Boating & Outdoors 256-397-1700
Real Island Marina 334-857-2741
Blue Creek Marina 256-825-8888
Parker Creek Marina 256-329-8550
Harbor Pointe Marina 256-825-0600
Smith's Marina - Shipwreck Sam's 256-444-8793
SpringHouse 256-215-7080
Catherine’s Market 256-215-7070
Kowaliga Restaurant 256-215-7035
Acapulco Mexican Gril 334-283-2725
Russell Do It Center (Alex City) 256-234-2567
Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 334-541-2132
Russell Building Supply 256-825-4256
The Stables at Russell Crossroads 256-794-1333
Kowaliga Whole Health 334-857-1816
Aronov Realty Lake Martin 256-825-4133
Off the Beaton Path 205-994-0847
Hwy 50 Blue Creek Boat & RV Storage 334-391-0717
Creekside Lodge 256-307-1440
Red Ridge UMC 256-825-9820
Lake Pointe Baptist Church 256-373-3293
Lake Martin Dock Company, Inc 334-857-2443
Docks Unlimited LLC 256-203-8400
Dixie Sailing Club
Lakeshore Pharmacy 256-825-0063
Singleton Marine 256-269-0088
DON'T MISS A SINGLE ISSUE!
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ALEXANDER CITY
Robinson Iron
A & M Plumbing
Carlos
The Body Shop
Walgreens
Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.
Jake's
Moore Wealth Management
Carlisle's
Emporium Wine
Cloud Nine
Downtown Girl
Shay Aesthetics
JR'S
Hillabee Towers
Senior Nutrition Center
Noel Boone
George Hardy
First Realty
Dark Insurance
Warren Appliance
MainStreet Family Care
Grace's Flowers
Koon's Korner
Larry's General Merchandise
Daylight Donuts
Alfa
Valley Bank - 280
Pricare
Temple Medical
AllState
BB&T Bank
Hometown Pharmacy
Lake Martin Home Health
Allen's Food Mart (Exxon)
Karen Channell - State Farm
Insurance
North Lake Condo
River Bend Store
River North Marina
Lake Martin Building Supply
Petro
Sho'Nuff BBQ
Hair Design
Mark King's Lake Martin Furniture
Longleaf Antique Mall
Playhouse Cinemas
Chamber of Commerce
Winn Dixie
Re/Max Around the Lake
City Hall
A&E Metal
Regions Bank
Marathon - 280
Renfroe's Market
Russell Medical Center
Russell Marine Boating & Outdoors
Koon's II
Tallapoosa Ford
Dylan Johnson - Country Financial
Holley's Home Furniture
Jackson's Drugs
Selling Lake Martin - Amy Clark
The Sure Shot
Shell - 280
Big B Bar-B-Que
Russell Do It Center
Russell Home Decor
Holman Floor
Satterfield Inc.
Grain & Leaf, Bottles & Cigars
Tippy Canoe
Love Lake Martin Real Estate Office
Wind Creek Gate
Wind Creek Store
Willow Point Office
Willow Point Country Club
Smith Marina
Nails
Kowaliga Marina
Children's Harbor
Catherine's Market
Russell Lands Corporate Office
Russell Lands Real Estate
Sales Center
SpringHouse
Ridge Club
Ridge Marina
HACKNEYVILLE
Hackneyville Water Authority
NEW SITE
Piggly Wiggly - New Site Foodland
DADEVILLE
Chamber of Commerce
Raining Dogs Studio & Gallery
Root 49 Salon
Ellaby Boutique, LLC
Alabama Power
Siggers
Siggers Barbershop
Fusion Cafe
Dadeville Library
At the Beauty Shop
Dadeville Courthouse
Payne's Furniture
PNC Bank
Valley Bank
McKelvey Chevrolet
Renfroe's Market
Foshee's Boat Doc
Lakeshore Pharmacy
Russell Building Supply
Lakay's
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Christmas Memories of Mom
The week before Thanksgiving, I was getting ready to throw a birthday party at my house. I went out to our storage shed and started rummaging through plastic tubs looking for serving platters and party gear. I lifted and slid boxes, coolers, fishing gear and lamps. Sweating, I swept up one cardboard box, and it caught my attention. “Bring down in 2016” was scrawled in black Sharpie on the side and in my mother’s handwriting.
Sighing, I opened the box. In it were the ornaments I had chosen to keep when I cleaned out my parents’ house in early 2021. They both had passed away, and the box had gotten hidden among other things, and I had not opened it since I packed it.
Everyone has their own version of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and in that moment, in my shed, the attic scene came to my mind. Clark gets stuck in the attic and rummages through mementos, dresses up in old women’s clothes to stay warm, and starts crying while watching home movies before falling hilariously out the hatch when his family finally opens it.
Culture Shock
When I am showing houses, I constantly catch myself saying, “Where do you store the Christmas decorations?” as we try to determine whether or not the house has enough storage. Usually, they say, “In the attic.”
Growing up on Dobbs Road, our Christmas decorations lived in the attic. It had the fold-out ladder like Clark’s. As kids, the day after Thanksgiving my brother and I started in on my Dad to please bring the boxes down. Mom never helped with that (she did have a bad back in her defense), and he really dreaded doing it. The boxes were heavy, and couldn’t exactly be tossed down because everything was breakable. Dad sweated and cussed under his breath while Mom rummaged through the boxes in the garage, cherry-picking what she wanted out of each one. Then, Dad dutifully hauled the boxes back up the ladder. There were be plenty of empty Budweiser cans from the ’90s in that attic when we cleaned it out. In fact, Dad told me, “You guys are really going to be cussing me when you have cleaned out the attic.”
The years went by, and Blake was finally big enough to help Dad get the boxes down. He started at the foot of the ladder at age 7 and by 12, Dad had him in the lead position at the top of the ladder. Little brother was getting his first taste of what Dad had experienced all those years. Flash forward to around 2012, Blake was around 21. Sweating and back hurting, crammed up in the attic (I’ll point out one could not stand upright there), he said to Dad too loudly, “Christmas really sucks.” Unbeknownst to them, Mom overheard them from down below. There was a window from the kitchen into the carport.
“What did you just say?”
Uh oh.
Dad tried to cover for him. “He said, ‘Look at this truck’.” Blake stuck an arm down from the attic, waving an old Russell Corp 18-wheeler toy as proof.
Most people remember my mom as this really sweet and relatively quiet lady. I always roll my eyes at that because if you really knew her, you knew she could heat up like a microwave. I’m going to edit what she said, but in a fit of what could only be Christmas fury, she told Dad and Blake they would put up their own “gosh dang it” tree, and she would give everyone a check and no presents. True to her word, the boys had to decorate the tree, and Dad bought Mom a piece of jewelry to make up for it.
It became funny family lore later, but on that day in my shed, the box punched me in the stomach because it didn’t come down in 2016; 2015 was Mom’s last Christmas, and Dad never dragged down one box after that.
I know this reads kind of sad, but the truth is Christmas can be kind of sad and that’s OK. Christmas brings up a lot of nostalgia and childhood memories, and I always think about the people I wish were still here. I always say that when it comes to grief, it does get easier, but I always miss people a little more at Christmas.
The hard and stressful things about the holidays are, in truth, really funny if you let them be. When you are running from party to party, eating barbecue cocktail weenies, drinking cheap wine while small-talking fifth cousins, it’s easy to get burnt out. So when the lights go out on the tree or you are gifted a fruit cake, just pour a glass of champagne in a moose mug and live in the moment. Christmas really isn’t about the tree or the presents. It’s about family. If your family is a little smaller this year and you are feeling blue, know that I am hugging you tight and I hope you find joy in small places.
I am excited about finding that lost box. It was a rediscovered old gift, and when I decorate the tree this year, I’ll be thinking of Mom and treasures in old attics.
~ Lacey Howell is a recovering English major from Auburn who now lives on Lake Martin, sells real estate, rides horses and loves good wine. Follow her on Instagram @ LaceyHowell.
Lacey Howell
