Elmore County Living July 2015

Elmore July 2015

County Living

The Learning Tree Lady Indians win state!

Healthy Living

Dave Ramsey's Classic Collection ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

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PRESENTING THE NEWEST COLLECTION OF LAKE HOMESITES RUSSELLLANDSONLAKEMARTIN.COM | 256.215.7011 | LAKE MARTI N, ALABAMA ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

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From the Managing Editor's Desk Back in May, my husband and I attended a garden party at The Elms in Coosada. Strolling the grounds late in the afternoon, we – along with a few friends – stopped to admire our own reflections in the shine of a blue 1959 Jaguar XK150S, beautifully restored, that was parked on the lawn. A friend beside me remarked that he attended church with the owner and knew there were more such magnificent vehicles in an airplane hangar down the road.

I begged an introduction and moments later was shaking hands with Coosada’s Dave Ramsey.

Last month, photographer Kenneth Boone and I spent a delightful afternoon with Ramsey who opened the doors of his jaw-dropping transportation collection to us. From the rare beauty that prompted the story on page 12 to a 1952 Cessna 195 airplane he bought in California and the antique Airstream motor home he still drives today, Ramsey is a caretaker of the classic.

Another classic restoration project we visited last month was an historic antebellum home on Mansion Street in Wetumpka. Tonia and Todd Ayers purchased the shell of the original residence in 1996 and worked on it for two years before they could even move in. They’ve spent nearly 20 years building a place to gather with family and friends, from the stately house in town with its beautiful garden to a comfortable camp cabin on the Coosa River. This gracious local couple allowed us to share their home with you in the feature on page 20.

Also in this issue, we’ve collected a few health and fitness articles that celebrate local success and offer support for others who strive for better living through diet and exercise.

You’ll meet golf pro Robby Blackwell on page 36 and pick up some healthy eating tips from Community Hospital dietician, Cindy Kirkpatrick, on page 34.

In addition, The Learning Tree, a residential school for developmentally disabled children, this month celebrates its 10th anniversary of providing services in Tallassee, and they’re inviting everyone to tour their facility on Dubois Street at the end of July. Find out more on page 32.

Next month, we’ll be gearing up for college football season with game day fashions, tailgate recipes and some insights into what life is really like on the field. Don’t miss it!

STAFF President & Publisher Kenneth Boone

kenneth.boone@alexcityoutlook.com

General Manager

Shannon Elliott

shannon.elliott@thewetumpkaherald.com

Managing Editor Betsy Iler

betsy.iler@alexcityoutlook.com

Editor

Peggy Blackburn

peggy.blackburn@thewetumpkaherald.com

Distribution Manager David Kendrick

david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook.com

Marketing Consultant Jayne Carr

jayne.carr@thewetumpkaherald.com

Creative Services Audra Spears

audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com

Contributors Barry Chrietzberg Jeff Langham Mary K. Moore Willie G. Moseley Griffin Pritchard Jacob Saylor Kevin Taylor Larry Johnson Cory Diaz Darren Freeman

To subscribe to Elmore County Living, $25 a year for 12 issues, please call David Kendrick at 256-234-4281 For Advertising Inquiries 334-567-7811 For Editorial Inquiries 334-567-7811 All content, including all stories and photos, are copyright of

Betsy Iler, Managing Editor

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Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 99 300 Green Street, Wetumpka, AL 36092 334-567-7811

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CONTENTS ON THE COVER Coosada's Dave Ramsey purchased the 1952 Cessna 195 show plane in California, adding it to his own collection of classic vehicles.

Photo by Kenneth Boone

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42

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10 In Every Issue

Features

Columns 38

Back in the Day

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Planes & Automobiles

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Extra! Extra!

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Movie Man

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River House

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Business Spotlight

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The Gamer

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The Learning Tree

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Out & About

Southern Delights

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Eating Healthy 101

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Coming Up

Softball Champs

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Where to Find Us

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Scott House

Summer Heat E3 Buzz

The Plate of Food

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Dave Ramsey's Classic Collection Never-ending Restoration Project Celebrating 10 Years in Tallassee Taking Better Care of You Wetumpka Breaks Record

20 Questions

Golf Pro Robby Blackwell

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News Briefs

Tallassee Automotive, Inc. In Elmore County Calendar of Upcoming Events Distribution List

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Explorers to return to Tallassee with new name

Baynes honored

Ride raises $15K for humane shelter Tallassee's Coach Ronnie Baynes last month was honored for his knowledge of the game and influence on local players when he was presented with a replica of his No. 13 jersey encased in glass and a city proclamation designating June 6 as Ronnie Baynes Day. Baynes served as football, baseball and girls’ basketball coach during his time in Tallassee and was even an administrator.

He coached five teams of Tigers to the 4A state championship in 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990 and 1991. His Tigers were runners up in 1985 and semifinalists in 1992.

Through his tenure, Tallassee appeared in 15 state playoff games. He left Tallassee to coach at Mountain Brook and then Central Alabama Community College.

He also played football with the Dallas Cowboys and officiated for both the SEC and NFL before

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This marked the 13th year the Predators Motorcycle Association turned out to take part in a ride benefitting the Elmore County Humane Shelter.

Every year, the dollar amount raised has increased, and this year was no different, as more than 110 riders supported the shelter to the tune of $15,000.

“This is really something that they think so much of the shelter to work as hard as they do to help it,” said Rea Cord, executive director of the Elmore County Humane Shelter.

Extra!

Extra!

News from Elmore County and surrounding areas

ECHS principal earns ACCESS award Elmore County High School principal Wes Rogers was honored during the 2015 Alabama Educational

Wes Rogers and Tommy Bice

Technology Conference as Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators and Students Statewide (ACCESS) Distance Learning Program Administrator of the Year.

According to the ACCESS press release, the award is given to an individual who “is broadening awareness of a program that aims to provide an infrastructure delivering equitable, quality learning opportunities for all high school students.”

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Led by Tallassee Police Department Sergeant Jason Gray, a post of the Exploring organization, an affiliate of the Boy Scouts of America, is organizing in town for rising high school freshmen through 19 years of age. Tallassee’s previous Explorer club disbanded some years ago, Gray said, and the revised organization is worksite-based.

Meetings of the new post will be held at Tallassee Police headquarters.

A former Explorer himself, Gray has been with the Tallassee police force since late 2013 and supervises the night shift at the TPD. He also teaches at Chapman Christian Academy in Millbrook.

“It’s about exploring career fields and skills, all across America,” Gray said of the organization’s new name and approach.

For further information, Gray can be reached at (334) 391-0107, or at jason.gray@ tallasse-al.gov.

Gator makes surprise visit to shelter

Eclectic honors military service with annual ceremony

Shelia Gilliland had been working and volunteering at the Elmore County Humane Shelter for the last 17 years and had seen her share of various animals.

But one Saturday last month topped them all.

“We were sitting down to lunch when we were told there was a gentleman outside with an alligator in the back of his SUV,” Gilliland said. “We all kinda were like ‘ha, ha, very funny’ until I saw him in the back of the SUV.” There he was — a 4-foot alligator.

“You probably can’t put in the paper what I first thought when I saw him,” Gilliland said. “So I got on the phone and called Rea (Cord).”

Cord, who is the executive director of the Elmore County Humane Shelter, happened to be away from the shelter when her cell phone rang.

“It must not have been just a few seconds after Shelia saw (the gator) that she called me,” Cord said.

It was later discovered the alligator was hurt and was in need of further attention.

Luckily, Cord has contact with various animal experts who can care for “unique” animals, and she was able to make arrangements for the gator’s transfer and care.

“I’m just glad we were able to make contact to get the alligator the help it needed,” Gilliland said.

More than two dozen residents from Eclectic and surrounding communities from Tallapoosa and Elmore counties were on hand to honor those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces and have passed.

Veterans from wars, including World War II, Korea and Vietnam also turned out to pay their respects to their fellow brothers in arms.

Family members were allowed to lay flowers under the names of their relatives lost.

The annual ceremony is sponsored by Eclectic the Beautiful.

Storm shelter installed Workers moved a Safe-T-Shelter from the trailer to the foundation located across from Tallassee City Hall. The shelter can hold 165 people and survive winds up to 250 mph.

Coosada woman shares love of flying with youth

Anita Weaver drove by the Wetumpka Municipal Airport every day, and her daughter, Savannah, was captivated by the lights and the airplanes parked each time they passed.

Savannah started flying lessons a month after getting her driver's license, and she's been flying ever since.

The Coosada native and Auburn mechanical engineering student now has a pilot’s license and is a certified aviation mechanic.

She recently shared her passion for airplanes during the annual Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagles Fly-In at the Wetumpka Municipal Airport.

“This is where my (aviation) career started, so I come back to share my love for flying with others,” Savannah said.

Savannah also is the only female pilot among the group.

“I’m proof though that nothing can hold you back whether you are female or male.”

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Tallassee auto business gets new dealer

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Story by Griffin Pritchard Photo by Barry Chrietzberg

en Atkinson’s tenure as a Tallassee business owner came to a close after 28 years on May 7 when he officially sold Ben Atkinson Motors to Jessie Liechty.

The new facility is known as Tallassee Automotive, Inc. “There are a lot more departments here than my other stores have. There are a lot more working components within this store, and it’s taking me a while to get used to it,” said Liechty. “This is great and will open us up to different avenues. I really see this store growing and pulling Auburn and Montgomery traffic into this market and at the same time raise the number of sales and revenue.”

Liechty said the quality of dealership Ben Atkinson created and maintained was one of the main reasons he wanted to make such a significant investment in Tallassee.

“This place has a great reputation, and it’s up to me to mess it up,” Liechty said with a laugh. “This place has a great business model and is well thought of in the community. It just needs some new energy.”

“The first place I ever worked was in a Ford dealership,” Liechty said. “I did that years before I ever bought my first dealership.”

Liechty owns and is president of Parkway Mitsubishi in LaGrange, Georgia, Kia of LaGrange and Kia of Auburn.

“I’m a truck guy,” Liechty said. “I have a 125-acre farm with cattle and horses. I’ve always had a truck, but I’ve never had one that I felt I could sell personally to my customers or to use personally. I was wanting to find something close by where I could be here and be hands-on and be close to my other dealerships as well.”

Liechty said since he came from the Ford family, he felt that this would be a great purchase, and he wants to strike a balance between a legacy and the ability to sell and present in an ever-changing market.

“The original dealership is going to be a stand-alone Ford dealership, and the Napa Store is going to be stand-alone Chrysler dealership,” Liechty said. “They are actually forcing us to separate, which we had already planned to do.”

With that, both stores will be remodeled and renovated – a project that Liechty said should take around a year to

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complete.

In the end, the existing buildings will have different looks featuring the company they sell and their own sales teams and service staffs.

“The Chrysler store, we are going to actually expand it to meet their demands and to meet the demands of the community,” Liechty said. “We aren’t sure how many new jobs this will create, but we will have to have additional service writers, additional salespersons and additional service people.”

Liechty said the Chrysler store will be the first facility to undergo a remodel; and then, he will focus on the building that will become the Ford store.

“That way we don’t have any downtime,” Liechty said.

“We are just starting it now, so it’s going to be a year. We are getting preliminary bids and talking with architects.”

With four stores, Liechty said, he plans to be visible at each one and not just a voice on the other end of the telephone.

“I plan to be very involved,” Liechty said. “I’m very involved in all of the communities and have a home in Georgia and one in Lee County, Alabama, as well. I stay in this area a lot, and I’m here almost every day. Not all day, but we have general managers that are going to be here all day. For me, I’m going to be touching the stores almost every day. It allows me to operate more than one entity at the time.”

Phil Sollecito will manage the store now known as Tallassee Automotive.

“He’s been working for me for three or four years now.

He was the general manager of my Auburn Kia store,” Liechty said. “We still have the same sales manager and the same sales crew. But with Ben leaving, there was a void, and I couldn’t be here everyday, so we needed a day-to-day guy here.”

Liechty said he also is in the process of hiring a full-time finance manager.

“We are very customer-friendly,” Liechty said. “We are not a high-pressure dealership. We don’t run hokey-pokeygimmicky ads. I’ve never done that and never had that reputation. We just want to give a good, honest fair deal to the customer, and I think the customer appreciates that. We just want to put our best foot forward.”

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Jessie Leichty purchased the Ben Atkinson dealership earlier this year

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A Classic

It started with a 1959 Jaguar XK150S that Coosada’s Dave Ramsey didn’t buy in 1960

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Collection

Story by Betsy Iler & Photos by Kenneth Boone

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“I didn’t have any money to buy the Jaguar in 1960,” said Ramsey, a timber trade magazine publisher who makes his home in Elmore County. “There were only 1,400 of them ever built. It’s a very rare car.”

The Jag remained in Ramsey’s thoughts, even as he made the move from cold Canada winters to life among the moss-laden oaks in Elmore County, Alabama, in 1968. As a collector at heart, he never forgot the classic Jag that sparked 40 years of collecting, and when the opportunity to own the car came again years later, he didn't pass it up.

Fifteen years after he reluctantly let that first Jag go, Ramsey bought a white 1975 Stingray convertible. It was the last year the classic convertible Chevrolet was available, and it became the first in a collection that now occupies a hangar at Wetumpka Municipal Airport. In the ensuing years, Ramsey collected classic coin-operated machines and vintage signage, along with classic autos like the 1934 DeSoto Air Flow he found in Seattle, but the bug bit hard in 1990 when he picked up a 1948 Chrysler Town and Country woody convertible.

“That was the first one I restored,” Ramsey said.

“The body was all shot. The wood was rotted. It took me three years to finish it.”

Over the years, Ramsey has bought, sold and collected a variety of classic automobiles, boats and airplanes.

“I just love to tinker with them,” he explained.

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Clockwise from opposite left: Ramsey has been flying since the early 1970s. He bought this 1952 Cessna 195 for shows and travel after previously purchasing a 1946 Cessna 120 taildragger on which to learn to fly a taildragger; He's had 10 years of travel in this radial engine airplane that lives in a hangar amid antique coin-operated machines and classic vehicles, including an original Airstream motor home in which he still travels with his wife, Mary; Ramsey purchased the plane in very much the same excellent condition in which he maintains it; a taildragger, the Cessna 195 has a wheel behind the main landing gear, under the tail; Montgomery photographer Darren Freeman of Image Master Photography took the photo of Stephanie Thrasher Savoie with Ramsey's Cessna 195 for a stylized "Rosie the Riveter" photo, which he framed for Ramsey.

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Clockwise from above: Ramsey finally bought the 1959 blue XK150S in 1996 from a Canadian owner and spent five years restoring the rare Jaguar; the classic "Blue"with its porcelain exhaust manifolds still has its original 250 horsepower engine, though it's been rebuilt. Ramsey reskinned the doors, which had suffered salt damage in Canada; "The car underwent a complete body-off restoration, which included re-chroming, repainting, new leather interior and top, wheels and tires." This Jaguar was the end of the line for the XK series.

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Clockwise from upper left: The "woody," Ramsey said, sports custom seats; the mahogany veneer panels on the rear and sides of the original Town & Country automobile were milled in Ohio; Ramsey finished the wood with marine spar varnish; when the car was acquired, it was complete with all parts but needed a total restoration. Ramsey restored this first auto in a garage at his home after purchasing it from the family of a Thomasville, Alabama, merchant who had refused numerous previous offers.

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Topmost and right: American journalist Henry Manney dubbed the Jaguar XKE the best "crumpet catcher known to man." The golden sand XKE 4.2 was based on the Jaguar racing car line of the 1950s. Ramsey had his eye on the sleek Jag for seven years and finally convinced its owner to store it in the hangar.

After some time, he purchased the car from its owner, Ramsey spent eight years in restoration; Above: The Airstream features many of its original appointments, including oak cabinets, a spacious interior and the individually lapped and riveted exterior construction.

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River House The Ayers spent two years renovating the 1841 home before moving in

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hen Tonia and Todd Ayers first looked at the historic antebellum home on Mansion Street in Wetumpka, the front parlor was a bamboo forest.

“When I opened the door, there was bamboo growing where there should have been a floor,” Tonia said.

They bought the house anyway.

That was 1996, and for nearly 20 years, the couple has almost constantly had a reconstruction or renovation project in process.

“We buffed out the plaster, completely rewired and replumbed the whole house,” Todd said.

“We kept the original windows and fireplaces and the original front door.”

The home, designed by Daniel Pratt in 1841, is said to be the first in Wetumpka with electricity. Now more than 170 years old, it is one of the city’s oldest buildings and a testament to Southern architectural style.

The Ayers, while updating the home and making it a livable residence for the 21st century, have honored the home’s integrity wherever possible.

“The mantles are all original, but we did move

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some of them around to different rooms,” Tonia explained. “We kept the ceramic hearths and iron fireboxes where we could, but some of them cracked and broke when we had to jack up the front of the house by 10 inches.”

The couple removed a dilapidated porch on the back of the house and found a kitchen fireplace behind a wall. Enlarging the kitchen, they used heart-pine wood from ceilings and walls throughout the original home for the flooring.

While the new kitchen includes modern stainless appliances, marble counters and Shakerstyle cabinets, they incorporated the discovered fireplace into a kitchen-side den and blended the room’s historic origins with modern art and contemporary seating.

At some point in the home’s history, they determined, a bathroom was added toward the back of the house. Their renovation of the space included a laundry and sewing room, along with a black and white hex tile bathroom remodel that retains the home’s historic flair.

They were able to keep the original beadboard paneling and bannister in the stately stairwell, as well as the wide traditional upstairs hall that leads to the classic front balcony; however, they made a number of changes to the bedrooms

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Tonia and Todd Ayers have created a whimsical, wildly

individualistic home with an historic, straight face in town and a playful, outdoorsy face on the river.

A covered porch by the river is a great place to entertain guests in comfort and style

to accommodate their family’s needs.

In the master, they converted an existing bathroom that seemed ready to fall off the back of the house into a walk-in closet and enlarged a previously added bathroom.

They also incorporated part of the home’s original 19th century “nanny suite” at the back of the house into their son’s bedroom and created storage space in the remaining section of the old room.

The preliminary renovations took two years, and the Ayers did not move into their historic home until 1998; however, even now, the work continues. This summer, they began construction of a new porch off the kitchen and are making changes and painting in the downstairs parlors.

Outside, the Ayers added a garden that showcases the beauty of the classic home. Azaleas, crepe myrtles, roses, hydrangeas and Rose of Sharon in beds trimmed with monkey grass add color to a picket-fenced yard under sprawling oak trees, and a jasmine-covered arbor offers a warm invitation to the garden.

They also kept an original brick curb along the street.

In the backyard, Tonia said, they enlisted the help of neighbor Hope Brannon.

Brannon’s design converted a flat and uninteresting lot into an outdoor living space with amenable options and finishes that include a modified kidney-shaped swimming pool surrounded by a flagstone patio; an attractive pump house and gazebo; statuary and a fountain; a tree house; an arbor; and beautiful garden beds.

When the house next door came up for sale, the Ayers purchased it as well. They maintain the house as a rental investment and put a garden in part of the backyard. An outbuilding on the extra lot was converted into Todd’s office.

Several years ago, they also purchased the woods behind the house, extending the property line to the Coosa River. Dubbed “Coosa Rica,” they have, over time, created a unique riverside entertainment space along the shaded bank, starting with a 6-foot diameter fire pit surrounded by local stone and handmade benches.

The riverside camp includes a screened sleeping cabin with limited counter space that can be turned into a small kitchen when needed and a larger covered porch that accommodates guests at several tables. Todd added a hand-hewn bar, grill and sinks to the covered porch area, so weather doesn’t have to ruin a weekend

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cookout. The cabin at the edge of the Coosa also has a roomy deck with a view of the stage where bands can play on a summer evening while guests dance and visit or sit in the riverfacing bench-swing to wave at passing kayakers.

“We had some friends who met here and started dating; and then, they became engaged here,” Tonia said. “They wanted to complete the circle and be married here, so they built a wedding platform with an arbor over it. We left it there for future weddings.”

After a rainy weekend turned the venue muddy, Todd brought in several loads of gravel

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for the picnic parking area.

And tucked off to the side behind the cabin but still convenient, he built a rustic, though well-appointed, outhouse. The facilities include plumbed bathroom fixtures and an outdoor shower with a corrugated metal surround.

He also added a fish-cleaning station with running water.

“It’s a great place to spend time with family and friends,” Todd said just before he started talking about future projects for the riverside camp.

“I don’t think we’ll ever be finished,” Tonia added with a smile.

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Above: The kitchen-side den incorporates a fireplace that the Ayers found during the demolition phase; Top right: The Ayers' neighbor, Hope Brannon, designed a backyard garden around the swimming pool where the family dog barks at squirrels; Right: Herbs and roses dot the flower bed beneath a tree house in the backyard.

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Clockwise from upper left: A relaxing view beckons visitors to the riversade camp and picnic area; Windows and trim throughout the house are original; Brannon's garden design included the pool pump house and even the back wall of her own next door garage; The kitchen was added where a porch once stood at the back of the house, and the Ayers salvaged wood from walls and ceilings in the home to lay the floor in the new kitchen; Next page, top: The riverside cabin offers a weekend retreat and gathering place for friends; bottom: The grand stair is original to the home.

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Softball Champions

Wetumpka Lady Indians capture first ever state title Story & Photos by Cory Diaz 28

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Wetumpka's Lady Indians show off their state championship trophy

he Wetumpka softball team broke the school’s 33-year team state championship drought in May, winning the Class 6A – the program’s first-ever – state title, 3-2, over Southside-Gadsden High School at Lagoon Park in Montgomery.

From third base in the bottom of the seventh, senior leftfielder Destinee Brewer scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch from Southside-Gadsden pitcher Claire Graves, sliding into home plate under the tag.

“I had imagined that before it even happened, right when I got on third base,” said Brewer, who was named the state tournament MVP. “I said if this ball gets by, I’ve got to score. I’ve got no choice but to. So I ran as fast as I could, and I scored, and we won.”

Wetumpka’s win marked the first team state championship since the 1982 Indian baseball team.

The Lady Indians (42-8-1) won its first three games of

Senior Alex Christian hugs MiKayla Holt after the win

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the 6A bracket, including a 6-1 victory over Southside Saturday morning to clinch a spot to play for the title.

Southside handed the Tribe its first loss, 5-4, of the postseason – 6-0 at that point between South Central regional tournament and state – as Emilee Coker took home on a fielding error from WHS second baseman Jessi Freeman, putting the title up for grabs in a third game between the two teams.

Lady Tribe sophomore pitcher Lindsey Johnson took the loss in eight innings, despite not giving up an earned run in the second game with the Panthers.

Wetumpka softball coach Randy Belyeu credited his senior-laden team’s mental toughness for bouncing back after dropping the second game on errors.

“They’re tough; they’re mentally tough,” Belyeu said.

“We’ve had close games all year. They’ve come back.

They’ve been behind by several runs several games, including regionals, and they’re just mentally tough. Can’t be more proud of them.”

Six of the seven Wetumpka seniors have signed to play college softball, highlighted by Brewer who inked

with D-1 Lipscomb University. Pitcher Lauren Lett signed with Northwest Florida State; shortstop Courtney Richardson with Shelton State; first baseman Alex Christian with Lurleen B. Wallace; along with pitcher Savannah Reaves and centerfielder Mia Mitchell with Marion Military Institute.

Reaves gave the Indians a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second of the final game, scoring on a Mollie Free error. Four batters later, Brewer collected an RBI single, scoring Freeman and putting WHS up 2-0 in the second.

After four scoreless innings, Southside finally broke through on Lett in the fifth, as Free’s sacrifice got her team a run back, 2-1.

The Tribe still led and was one out away from clinching the 6A championship without having to play the bottom of the seventh, but again, Graves batted in a run, tying things up, 2-2.

“I never thought it would end like this,” Reaves said after the game, having gone 2-for-3. “I never thought it would be that big of a dogfight between us and another Supporters line the street during the team's championship parade

Lady Indians are No. 1

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The team hoists the trophy after the winning the state championship

team that we had already beaten once and lost to once.”

Lett earned victories in both games that Wetumpka won against Southside, giving up three runs in two contests.

“Just to be playing for my team, it was all that I focused on,” Lett said. “I wasn’t playing for anybody but them. I was just trying to work hard, everybody kept me up when I was down. No matter how hard the game got, we always just pushed through and had big defense and came back with hitting.”

Brewer led the Indians going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

“That first game, we just lost it in the end,” Brewer said. “Coming back in the second game, we got together and said ‘We’re not losing this game. We’ve come this far; why stop now?’ We have the whole community, everybody, come out to support us. We just wanted to make everybody proud.”

And making history was at the center of it all, something all the Wetumpka seniors and their coach couldn’t describe.

“Holy cow, it’s history,” Belyeu said. “No one else has done it. There’s been great teams, great coaches in the past, but this is awesome. There’s no other word. I know it’s coach-speak, but this is great.”

The City of Wetumpka celebrated the historic championship, honoring the softball team with a parade at the beginning of June. With multiple Wetumpka Police Department squad SUVs and cars, along with a fire engine from the Wetumpka Fire Department, the team paraded through downtown as supporters cheered, celebrating the Class 6A state title.

“It was really fun,” Brewer said. “Just to know we have people that support us all throughout the way, to have them do something special like this for us, it’s pretty cool.”

One of the fun things, Richardson said, was being led by the police.

“It was great to be escorted by police officers,” Richardson said. “We did something good, the community came out and helped us.”

State Rep. Mike Holmes (R-Wetumpka) was on hand to present the team with a House of Representatives Proclamation, congratulating WHS on its achievement.

Mitchell said she and her teammates felt like hometown stars.

“It was awesome, just like winning state,” Mitchell said. “I’m still speechless. It still seems unreal, a little, that we won it. It feels pretty amazing still, to be state champions, I feel famous.”

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The Learning Tree Celebrates Ten Years Story by Betsy Iler Photos by Barry Chrietzberg

Tallassee's The Learning Tree will host an open house July 30

T

allassee’s The Learning Tree turns 10 years old this month and will celebrate with an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. July 30.

One of the city’s top five employers, The Learning Tree also spends more than $11,000 locally each month to maintain the school on South Dubois Street and the 11 group homes in which students live.

“We’re a big part of the city, but so

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many people here don’t know what we do, so we wanted to invite the public to come in and see,” said executive director Dr. Marc Williams.

The school will be open for tours during the July 30 event, and teachers will be on hand to offer an overview of their classroom objectives and methods.

“We hope this will give the community an awareness of the services we provide,” Williams explained.

With schools in Auburn, Anniston, Jacksonville and Mobile, as well as Tal-

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lassee, The Learning Tree began in Mobile in 1983 when parents there asked two classroom teachers, Jerre Brimer and Pat Murphy, to start a program designed for their developmentally disabled children.

The Tallassee location serves 36 students who have significant educational, medical and behavioral challenges, Williams said.

“Most of our students have a form of autism and other developmental disabilities,” he explained. “These are students who can’t be served in their local

school systems or at home because of their behavioral challenges or the level of their educational challenges, so we offer an educational program with special training to meet their needs.”

The key, Williams noted, is applied behavior analysis, a discipline of psychology that involves changing behaviors by arranging an environment that is conducive to channeling good behaviors.

“For example, if we have a student that does not talk and has no sign language skills, he can’t get what he wants or avoid what he doesn’t want. Often, he learns that negative behaviors, such as throwing tantrums, gets him what he wants,” he said. “We try to figure out what function those negative behaviors serve and how to change those behaviors by teaching him other ways to convey that message.”

Picture card exchanges and communicating with iPads are two of the methods teachers might employ in the process, Williams explained.

“The local community has been very supportive,” he said. “GKN donated money for iPads for some of our non-communicative students. Neptune in Tallassee donated computers for both administrative and student use. We’ve had in-kind donations of building supplies; the folks at Tallassee Now brought us barbecue, and First United Methodist Church every year does an angel tree for our students.

“They really go above and beyond, too. It takes our maintenance man six trips in the truck to pick up all of the gifts, because the people at the church get everything on the students’ lists.”

All donations to the 501(c)3 organization are tax deductible, Williams said, and there are many ways the community can help.

“It’s almost impossible to list all the individual things that people

can do. Funding is always an issue. We operate on the edge year after year. Our grocery bill, which is money spent in the local community, is $7,000 a month,” he said.

“We appreciate the help of people who have access to resources we need, and we’ve gotten good at being creative about how we make ends meet.”

Williams said he hopes the open house will help the community to identify areas in which they can help and will educate local people about The Learning Tree’s activities in the area.

“Our students live in town. They go to movies, the grocery store, take part in cleanup days and attend churches,” he said.

“And when you meet them, act normal. Don’t stare or whisper.

No one appreciates it when people treat us like that. If one of our kids has a behavior problem, let the caregivers handle it. They’ve been trained in how to take care of it.

“Our services go beyond teaching reading and writing. We also have to teach daily living skills. The severity of our students’ disabilities varies greatly. Some are very communicative, and others can’t speak a word. The point is to enable each one to live and work as independently as possible for the rest of his or her life, however challenging their level of impact, through issues that also include self-care, dignity and self-respect,” Williams explained.

In working through its mission, he said, The Learning Tree employs 187 people in the Elmore County area, including teachers, maintenance people, therapists, nurses, aides and administrators.

“We just encourage people to visit us on July 30 and see what our employees and supporters in the community do, and maybe find a way that they can participate as well.”

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Bessie works on problem-solving skills

Tyler practices daily living and job training skills

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Healthy Eating 101 Story by Griffin Pritchard

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It’s not a simple conversation, said Cindy Kirkpatrick, Community Hospital’s registered Dietician.

“Everything changes through time,” Kirkpatrick said. “The most important thing right now is to try to eat more fruits and vegetables.

That’s been shown to reduce the risk of cancer and obesity. As Americans, we tend to eat more red meat and starches, but we need to put more fruits and vegetables on our plates.”

Everydayhealth.com suggests toying around with salads as a way to start adding healthy foods into the dietary rotation. Artichokes, strawberries, mint, radishes, spinach and asparagus are some of the items that can be used to make a salad more nutritious and

colorful, as well as tasty.

“In the South, we have a lot of great crops of vegetables; fruits from Florida and peaches from Clanton. We do know how to cook fruits and vegetables as part of our diet,” Kirkpatrick said. “We just tend to put a lot of fatty items with them: Butter, fatback, bacon. I think the most important thing for Southerners is to have a vegetable or fruit plate and not have meat with every meal. That’s not easy.

“Try to eat things with natural colors. Things that came to this earth and haven’t changed. That’s one step. The Alabama Department of Public Health suggests using a Rainbow Diet where you try to eat fruits and vegetables of different colors. The more color in your diet, the healthier you can become. The more natural something is, that’s the best way to get nutrition.”

The addition of Vitamin B has been shown, through studies, to reduce mental decline, Kirkpatrick said.

“That shows you how advanced this has become. Twenty years ago, when I was at Auburn, we didn’t know anything about Vitamin B. We didn’t know what it did. But now, we are learning more about it and its effect on the body.”

Fish is also a healthy alternative for carnivores looking to reduce the amount of red meat in their lives.

“Fish is very good and is great for you. It gets overlooked, because I don’t think a lot of people know how to cook it. We need easy ways to make it delicious. My mom would make salmon cakes when I was growing up, but I think we don’t have the access to the fresh fish and that we are intimidated by it,” Kirkpatrick noted.

Venison and turkey also are alternatives to red meat.

She said one of the trends she’s noticed in the hospital setting is the mentality that if a person has high blood pressure, they have to eliminate pork from their diet.

“That’s only true for bacon or processed pork with a lot of sodium in it,” Kirkpatrick said. “Pork tenderloin is actually very lean.”

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has noted that over the last 20 years, obesity has seen a dramatic increase in the United States. More than one-third of adults in this country and approximately 17 percent of children under the age of 19 are obese.

“We’ve become a bigger country; in the South, we have the most,” Kirkpatrick said. “We’ve got to avoid processed foods. A processed food is anything that goes to a plant and is ‘messed around with.’ Processed things, like cookies and crackers and ice cream – things with ingredients you can’t pronounce – are bad for us. I think if you can get something in moderation, it’s still ok. That’s the big thing, moderation.”

In the South, life revolves around food.

“Church, entertainment, family reunions, holidays, tailgating – the list goes on and on and on.

And I think that’s the hardest part,” Kirkpatrick said. “I think the trick is finding the balance between getting the treats but not having them as often. Portion size is another problem we have in this country. We serve huge portions during meals.”

Mississippi leads the South (according to CDC figures) with a 35.1 percent obesity rate. Arkansas follows at 34 percent. Tennessee and Louisiana weigh in at 33 percent.

Alabama is next in line at 32 percent. Georgia rounds out the listing at 30 percent.

In terms of childhood obesity, the national average is 14 percent. Kentucky leads the nation at 18 percent. Alabama follows at 17 percent.

“In terms of dieting, the best advice is whatever works for that person. Whether it be a very trendy diet or not – any of them could work. But you don’t want to do it for a long time. If it helps lose weight initially, then stick with it. The problems typically arise if you don’t transition back into a normal and healthy diet and keep those lifestyle changes. If you haven’t made any of the changes, then you are going to put the weight right back on,” Kirkpatrick said.

Eating healthy is one step, Kirkpatrick said. Being active is another.

“We like to sit on the couch and watch television,” Kirkpatrick said. “We’ve got to move. That’s the biggest thing we have to do. Go outside and work in the garden; do things around the house.”

Purposeful movements strengthen muscles and bones and helps with balance. It also helps to regulate blood sugar and improves cholesterol levels.

“It’s important when you do exercise to have a buddy system,” she suggested. “You have somebody to hold you accountable, and you have to listen to your body. Swimming pools are great. Take the stairs instead of the elevator.”

“Start with small, achievable goals,” Kirkpatrick said.

“Just increase them each week.”

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Golf Pro:

Robby Blackwell 36

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Robby Blackwell is director of instruction at the Robert Trent Jones Academy of Golf at Capitol Hill Country Club in Prattville.

What was the best golf purchase you ever made?

The first lightweight, non-cotton, Dri-Fit golf shirt.

Made summers in Alabama more enjoyable.

Describe your best game ever; now, is that a dream or did it really happen?

I shot 67 to finish as tied for Low Medalist in the qualifier for the Dixie Section Nike Match Play in 2014.

Then promptly got beat in the first round 8 and 7.

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?

Derek Jeter, Jack Nicklaus and Michael Jordan: I want to know what drove them to become great at their respective sports.

What is the most special aspect of Prattville’s Robert Trent Jones course?

The first hole on the Judge provides a spectacular view to start off your round.

How did you get started in golf?

Growing up, my dad played recreationally, and I would always tag along to watch him and his friends play. I would hit a shot occasionally but didn’t really start playing seriously until a friend in high school asked me to join him playing one summer.

You’re very vocal about the importance of teaching golf to kids. What can golf give to children? And what can children give to golf?

Golf, like most sports, can teach a lot about life. You have to know the basic fundamentals and be patient when things don’t quite go your way. As a PGA professional, I try to do my part in growing the game of golf by introducing golf to juniors. If they are involved and playing, then the game of golf is successful.

Name the award that gives you the most pride today.

Just this past year, I was named the Alabama Chapter Youth Player Development award winner for the Dixie Section.

If you had a free day with your best friend, what would you do?

Probably play golf.

What would you do with $1 million?

I would pay off any debt for my family, invest the rest and go about my life as normal.

What’s your secret dream job?

Instead of teaching golf, I would want to play golf for a living.

What’s the dirtiest job in golf?

Working in maintenance cutting grass, digging up irrigation and cleaning up all of the grass golfers destroy. (Just kidding!)

What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?

Anytime a student tells me they played their best round of golf.

What is your favorite golf movie?

Tin Cup is my favorite golf movie, because it is an underdog story of a golf instructor making it to the U.S. Open and being in position to win. Of course, he doesn’t, but he did prove to himself that he could play with the best.

What valuable life lesson have you learned from a child?

Be genuine. Children have the uncanny ability to sense when someone is genuine or not.

Who do you consider your mentor and why?

I consider all of my former bosses mentors. Whether they knew it or not, they taught me a lot about running the business of golf, and that has helped prepare me for my career as an instructor.

Name one thing that most people don’t know about you.

At my heaviest, I weighed 330 pounds. A few years ago, while teaching some junior clinics, I made the decision to change my health condition and better myself, so people may take me more seriously in my profession. Through hard work and better decisionmaking, I weigh less than 200 pounds today and have proved to myself that working hard pays off.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten and who was it from?

Always think a step ahead. From my first boss, Who’s your favorite golf celebrity and why? working as an electrician’s helper after high school. I At the moment, Rory McIlroy. He just has a great have used this advice many times over the years work- swing and the ability to hit amazing shots in big touring with others, especially when doing work for a boss. naments.

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Elmore County cabin feels good at camp Larry Johnson

BACK IN THE DAY

Larry John-

son now lives

Robinson Springs, just a in

few miles south of where he grew up at more,

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El-

Alabama.

My wife and I honeymooned on Jekyll Island John Engelhardt Scott, Jr., in the 1990s with the off the coast of Georgia in 1963, and a poem by understanding that it would be disassembled and Rachel Lyman Field was posted in the hotel. I reassembled at Camp McDowell as near as poshave never forgotten the island or the poem, and sible to the original structure and actively used by I have never been quite the same since. the camp.

I recently had the opportunity to stay overToday, the house is very much as it was originight in the Scott House at wonderful Camp nally constructed, with the exception that the McDowell in Winston County near Nauvoo, “dog trot” has been enclosed and modern conveAlabama. The Scott House is a niences added, such as plumbing restored early 19th century log and electricity. The interior doors, “If once you have slept house in the style of a “dog trot” on an island you’ll never including their hardware, are all that was prominent in the early original to the house. be quite the same ...”

1800s.

In addition to housing camp Rachel Lyman Field Camp McDowell is owned and guests, Scott House includes a operated by the Episcopal Diosmall apartment for a camp emcese of Alabama. I have the same emotions about ployee. It also holds a humble studio apartment the Scott House as I do about sleeping overnight that serves as the bishop's quarters at the camp. on an island. Once you have slept in the Scott Due to the authenticity of its preservation, the House you will never be the same as well. house carries visitors back to an earlier time in the So, what does the Scott House at Camp Mchistory of our state and Elmore County, and visiDowell have to do with Elmore County? tors are so very thankful to the Englehardt/Scott Actually, quite a lot – once one knows its hisfamily for having it preserved for years to come. tory.

According to experts, the Scott House is one-ofThe Scott House was originally constructed its-kind, still standing in Alabama and possibly in in Robinson Springs in West Elmore County in the entire United States. It is constantly in use by the 1830s. The house was an “Alabama Fever” the camp. It is not a museum. pioneer home, constructed when the Alabama So what is so special about sleeping overnight territory was opened after the battle with the in the Scott House or on an island, and why is one Creek Indians at Horseshoe Bend. never the same?

The first builder of the home is not known, but It’s difficult to explain, but I once asked a lady, it was constructed by one of the many early set“What’s going on with you today? You look so tlers in Robinson Springs near the great springs happy,” and she responded, “I don’t know. I just for which the area is named. The house was have the ‘feel good willies’ today.” acquired by the Englehardts of Montgomery in “What is the ‘feel good willies’?” I asked.

1874, and the family used it as a summer retreat She said, “You just tingle all over and unconnear the beautiful and cool Robinson Springs. sciously smile when there is really nothing or Many families did the same to escape the heat anyone to smile at.” of the city and to socialize, some from as far away Good explanation. as Lowndesboro.

Maybe that is it. Staying overnight in an 1830s The home is uniquely constructed with handpioneer home and sleeping on an island just give hewn square logs so meticulously carved and one the “feel good willies,” and once you have placed that little or no chinking is required to the “feel good willies,” you will never be quite make it weather proof. The home was donated the same. to the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama by June and That is my story, and I am sticking to it.

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Originally built in Elmore County, the Scott House now offers lodging for an Episcopal church camp in Nauvoo, Alabama

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Beat the heat with a film treat

With summer’s heat hanging so oppressively over our county, many of you might not want to wander outside to a local movie theatre. To remedy this dilemma, here are some film treats available for your home viewing during this time of soaring temperatures.

First, there are plenty of recent releases on streaming video services, like Netflix and Amazon Prime, which you may want to check out Nightcrawler – Jake Gyllenhaal gives an acclaimed performance as a “sleaze ball” that shoots footage of accidents and crimes to sell to local news channels in Los Angeles. This mesmerizing thriller, written and directed by Dan Gilroy in his directorial debut, also features the alluring Rene Russo and popular actor Bill Paxton. This film garnered much critical acclaim during its theatrical release late last year and was also

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nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay (Netflix).

Chef – Written, produced, directed by and starring Jon Favreau, this little film proved to be a winner with both critics and audiences. Favreau assembled a stellar list of co-stars, including Sofía Vergara, John Leguizamo, Scarlett Johansson, Oliver Platt, Bobby Cannavale, Dustin Hoffman and Robert Downey, Jr., for this delightful tale of a professional chef (Favreau) who quits his job at a trendy Los Angeles restaurant and returns to his hometown of Miami to operate a food truck. The film highlights his reconnecting with family and his adventures in a cross-country trek back to L.A. Chef is a treat for foodies and film lovers alike (Netflix).

Rosewater –The Daily Show host Jon Stewart may have won even more fans with his impressive writing and

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directing skills on this powerful film based on the memoir Then They Came for Me by Maziar Bahari and Aimee Molloy. The movie centers on Bahari’s 2009 imprisonment by Iran and proves Stewart a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood studios with this remarkable achievement from a first-time filmmaker (Netflix).

Fed Up – For the documentary aficionado, this fascinating expose, co-produced and narrated by popular TV journalist Katie Couric, focuses on the causes of obesity in the U.S. and presents evidence showing that large quantities of sugar in processed foods are the culprit for this health dilemma. Unfortunately, powerful lobbyists with unlimited financial resources have effectively sidelined policies related to this issue. Prepare to increase your appetite for political advocacy as you watch this challenging and thought-provoking work (Netflix).

Grace of Monaco – WARNING: It is not a good sign when a movie keeps getting pulled from theatrical release and after a long period of time finally debuts on the Lifetime Network. Such has been the sad fate of this once heralded biopic starring the luminous Nicole Kidman in the role of movie legend Grace Kelly (Netflix).

Before I Go to Sleep – Prepare yourself for this nifty thriller based on S. J. Watson’s 2011 novel of the same name and starring Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth. Amnesia victim Kidman learns that her memories are full of terrifying truths about her past that could stop her dead in her tracks. Nothing is as it seems in this twisty “suspenser” (Netflix).

Streaming video is also rolling out some classic treats this month as well: The High and the Mighty (1954) – One of the earliest “disaster” films features screen icon John Wayne, who was also the film’s co-producer. Hollywood veteran Robert Stack used his costarring role in this airplane drama as a springboard for his hilarious turn nearly 30 years later in disaster spoof, Airplane! (Netflix).

Glory (1989) – Featuring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes and Morgan Freeman, this is a powerful and unforgettable war drama about the first formal unit of the Union Army during the American Civil War to be made up entirely of African-American men under the leadership of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. Denzel Washington took home the Best Supporting

Actor Academy Award for his galvanizing performance. The legendary film composer James Horner (who died tragically in a plane crash last month) provides Glory’s glorious score with able assistance from the Harlem Boys’ Choir (Amazon Prime).

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) – This pitch black comedy satirizes the Cold War fears of a nuclear conflict between the USSR and the United States. Directed, produced and co-written by Stanley Kubrick, it stars Peter Sellers and George C. Scott. In 1989, the United States Library of Congress included it in the first group of films selected for preservation in the National Film Registry, and it frequently pops up on lists of all-time classics (Amazon Prime).

Additionally, the home video market is offering some great options, fresh from firstrun theatres, for rental and/or purchase: Woman in Gold – Multiple-award-winning actress Helen Mirren and popular and charismatic actor Ryan Reynolds are the central characters in this true story of the yearslong legal fight waged by an elderly Jewish refugee and her young lawyer against the government of Austria over the rights to an iconic family portrait confiscated by the Nazis. You will cheer the efforts of this unlikely duo on their journey from despair to testimony before the Supreme Court of the United States.

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – The engaging sequel to the 2012 sleeper hit The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Many of the appealing performers from the first installment have returned (Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy), as well as some welcome additions to the cast (David Strathairn, Richard Gere). This movie is a refreshing reminder that there is an audience for movies that do not feature comic book characters, haunted houses or surly teenage vampires.

Clouds of Sils Maria – An All About Eve for the new millennium, this is a movie you will be hearing more about at awards season. Oscar winner Juliette Binoche stars as a veteran actress who grapples with the realities of ageism in her profession. Kristen Stewart and Chloë Grace Moretz provide critically praised performances here as well.

So, don’t let soaring temperatures cool down your efforts to seek out these film treats.

Enjoy!

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Jeff Langham

MOVIE MAN Dr. Jeff Langham is State Assistant Superintendent for External and

Governmental Affairs and a lifelong lover of film.

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Gamers still hyped over E3 The gaming industry is still abuzz over last month’s E3 2015 convention. Though the festivities and presentations might be over, there is a reinvigorated anticipation for what lies ahead in video games. We’ve done our best to narrow the expo’s biggest and most important announcements.

These are some of the E3 reveals that seemed to resonate with crowds and critics the most over the weeklong conference: Horizon: Zero Dawn Guerrilla Games revealed during Sony’s E3 press conference that they are working on a new intellectual property.

The announcement of Horizon: Zero Dawn marks the studio’s first movement away from first-person shooter franchise Killzone since 2009.

The series follows a young woman named “Aloy” who lives almost a millennium from the current real-world date. Society has broken down and humans are not at the top of the food chain. Instead, mechanized creatures and dinosaurs roam the Earth.

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The resources that these often-dangerous foes provide are essential to the survival of what little human life remains. The game appears to reflect a hunter-gatherer society in prehistoric times, although it takes place in the distant future. The already stellar offerings of Zero Dawn are bolstered by an astounding graphical capability, with gorgeous landscapes and particle effects to boot.

Zero Dawn is expected to arrive in late 2016 exclusively for the Playstation 4 console.

Shenmue 3 The Shenmue series has a speckled past. The series was canceled after two entries due to financial loss, but its critical reception was overwhelmingly positive. Most times, if a game is received well, it will fare well in the marketplace. Yu Suzuki’s Shenmue series ended with its second iteration, unfinished and abandoned by publisher Sega.

Suzuki, game director and producer of Shenmue, wants to put a capstone on the series.

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During Sony’s press conference last month, the intrepid developer announced that he would be starting a kick-starter campaign.

The kick-starter effort, which asks gamers to crowdfund $2 million, was live as he walked off the stage. Before night fell on the same day, Shenmue 3 was a reality, having passed its crowdfunding goal in just a few hours.

There are still a few days left for you to donate to the cause, which can net you a copy of the game, in addition to other rewards. These rewards vary by the amount you’re willing to give.

Final Fantasy VII Remake If you’re not familiar with the Final Fantasy franchise, it’s time to get acquainted. Square Enix dropped one of the biggest bombs of this year’s E3 at Sony’s press conference.

They announced the development of a Final Fantasy VII remake through a CGI trailer, leaving the crowd cheering for almost 10 seconds. The trailer did not even have the game’s name emblazoned upon it, as the characters and logo were sufficient to identify the title – a testament to the legacy left by what is arguably the most memorable Final Fantasy game ever.

The Final Fantasy VII remake will feature a complete overhaul of the original’s offerings.

The remake is completely separate from the original in a technical sense but will retain any plot or story-related elements that made Final Fantasy VII such a provocative tale. Fans have anticipated this announcement for years now, as more recent Final Fantasy titles have failed to achieve the same luster. The remake adds an enormous capstone to a Square Enixdominated 2016. The studio has quite a few titles lined up for release next year, including the likes of Kingdom Hearts 3 and Final Fantasy XV. Fallout 4 Bethesda Softworks held their own press conference alongside other big names in the industry just before the actual E3 expo began.

This gathering confirmed what many had come to expect: an announcement of Fallout 4, which has been one of the most anticipated titles in recent years. Various members of Bethesda’s development team had alluded to the announcement on Twitter months before E3 took place, but seeing a real, concrete trailer for the title was quite special.

Fallout 4 will build upon the story of its predecessor, taking place 200 years after a nuclear apocalypse ravages the world. You play as the sole survivor from Vault 111, a shelter built for a small number of people who have since passed on. Mysteriously, the protagonist of this story is unaged after these 200 years, lying dormant inside the Vault.

The rest of the game’s plot is unclear, and more information should become available as we near Fallout 4’s November 18, 2015 release date.

Xbox One Backward Compatibility In what may have been one of the most monumental announcements of E3 2015, Microsoft cleaned house with the news of upcoming backwards compatibility support for the Xbox One console. Backwards compatibility was phased out during the last console generation by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony. The reasons behind these decisions were likely financial, though they left a gaping wound in the hearts of gamers all over the world.

The feature allows consoles the ability to play titles from previous console generations.

This support usually extends only to the cycle before it, though we may see a change in that with Microsoft’s upcoming foray. The reason that this announcement hit the top of our list is purely economic: If Sony and Nintendo don’t follow suit, they stand a large chance of being left behind. Luckily for Microsoft’s competitors, hardware to support backwards compatibility is no longer essential, as downloads and hard disk drives are now the focal points of console gaming.

E3 2015 was one of the most important conferences in recent history. There were a number of major announcements and updates made – far more than we could ever cover here. If there is one thing to take away from this year’s offerings, it’s that we are in for a treat over the coming years.

Video games are seeing exponential growth, and support for them isn’t faltering.

It would appear that industry bigwigs like Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo are paying attention to what gamers have been asking for, which will likely foster more growth inside the industry. One thing is for sure: It’s a good time to be a gamer.

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Jacob Saylor

THE GAMER Video games journalist

Jacob Saylor has covered the massive

Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles.

Follow Jacob on Twitter @skuldrey.

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OUT & ABOUT

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Tallassee Now, Tallassee June 5-6, 2015 1. Whitney Hester 2. Eric, Jake and Eli Norrell 3. Collin Jones, Jace Jones and Woodrow Dean 4. Joe and Joseph Frazier and Scott Keeser

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5. Hailey Sanford, Aleina Still and Ariah Still 6. Jo Degraffenried, Ketch and Paisley Burdette 7. Jerry Thornell 8. Sally Weaver, Cindy Pressley, Ann Stuedeman 9. Kate Hale 10. Shotsie Jones 11. Marilyn Durham, Evelyn Dubay 12. Cohen Moseley

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OUT & ABOUT

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Depot Benefit Concert, Depot Theatre June 6, 2015

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1. Dirk and Barbara Burchard, Deb and Drozdowski

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2. Ron and Donna McCullough, Jessica Meuse 3. Andrea Barclay, Gayle Sandlin, Evie Yonker

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4. Carolyn Osbourn, Sylvia and Chick McConnell 5. Ella Law, Tarvis Law, Aimee Crawford 6. Sandy and Mike Smith, Tom and Margie Horton

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Iron Horse Camp, Iron Horse Ranch, Wallsboro June 15, 2015

1. Abe McGhee, Quinn Sanford, Seth, Ella and Eli McGhee, Clay Edwards 2. Cayden Brown, Gracie Arnold, Ava Walsh, Skyler Worden, Kiley Henderson, Abby Mullino, Macie Arnold, Madalyn Mulder, Liliana Rojo, Carson Cantrell, Anna Claire Elliott, Rainah Alexander, Raegen Wadsworth 3. Jackson Gaines, Brantley Bozeman, Ava Bozeman, Darien Whatley, Jolie Burdick, Josie Burdick, Carlie Lanier, Nellie Millergren 4. Kailey Thompson, Megan Bozeman, Anna Kate Norton, Michael Horn, Allie Blackmon, Kate Wright, Grace Stuart, Kendal Butler, Samantha Stuart, Leroy the horse.

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OUT & ABOUT

Tallassee Patriotic Celebration June 26, 2015

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1. Frelia Bush 2. Aaron Fortner and Riley Davis 3. Danny Rooks, Bob Arnwine, Ray Barry, Wiley Monteabaro, Bryan Gierlatowicz, George Winslow 4. Louneal Grant and Angie Melton

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5. Liz Britt, Ann Christian, Mary Charles Chandler, Russell Chandler 6. Ben and Gwen Atkinson 7. Kirsten Cummings, Tyler Hill, Katie Hammonds, Hannah McLain, Emma Bridgman, Mac Roberts, Woodrow Dean Cleondis

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Fourth of July, Lake Jordan Marina July 4, 2015 1. Kitty Petkovich and Marie Maness 2. Wes Sargent, Alisha Tolbert, Tracy Murchison, Rebecca Sides, Ashley Rotton, Angie Tolbert, T.J. Lloyd, Chris Maraman, Donna Maraman 3. Abe McGhee, Quinn Sanford, Seth, Ella and Eli McGhee, Clay Edwards 4. Allen and Gail Head 5. Julia Willcutt, Linda Strickland, Hayden Strickland, Brooke Payson

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Eclectic Public Library Summer Reading Program, The Warehouse June 30, 2015 1. Renyn, Rylan and Rhys Watkins 2. Paisley Williams, Kate Johnson, Rylee Rich, Lizzie Reese 3. Cole Parsons, Tom Parsons, Joel Edwards 4. Landon Ywakira, Caiden Stephens, Brayden Glass 5. Abby Reese, Courtney Sides, Sylvia Maddox, Myah Oliver 6. Conner Caldwell, Hayes Fulmer, Kaden Hragyil 7. Libbye McGhee and Betty Coker 8. Landon and Brantley Prater

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Coming Up CALENDAR OF EVENTS July 10-18 Babe Ruth State Baseball Tournament

Tallassee will play host to the top Babe Ruth teams throughout the state as they vie for a berth into the regional tournament. The week-long event will begin on July 10 with a social at Tallassee Elementary where former Auburn Tiger and Major League Baseball player Gabe Gross will serve as the evening’s speaker. Competition begins July 11 at Southside Middle School.

July 18 River and Blues Music and Arts Festival

Come to downtown Wetumpka to enjoy a variety of musical acts on two stages, as well as a kidzone, arts and crafts vendors and concessions. Free event sponsored by the City of Wetumpka from 2 to 10 p.m.

July 18-25 Sun Festival

dling races, Battle of the Bands, theatre and dinner out are just a few of the activities planned for Alexander City’s annual Sun Festival celebration, culminating in a sportplex stadium concert featuring country music’s David Nail. Visit www.alexandercity.org for activity schedule and details.

July 16-19 & 23-26 Annie Warbucks

This Millbrook Players musical picks up where last year’s production of Annie! left off. Daddy Warbucks learns he must find a wife to provide a “proper” home for beloved Orphan Annie. Friday and Saturday evening performances start at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees open at 2 p.m. Tickets are $11 in advance and $12 the day of the show. Children’s tickets (ages 6-9) are $9 in advance and $10 on show day. Visit www.millbrooktheatre. com or call 334-782-7317 for tickets and information.

July 25 From the Heart Pocket …

Letters and Music of the Civil War

An original full-scale theatrical production that takes audiences back in time to the period between 1861-1865 will be presented at 7 p.m. on July 25 and at 2 p.m. July 26 at the Tallassee High School Auditorium, 500 Barnett Boulevard, by the Talisi Historical Preservation Society and Friends of Tuckabatchee. For advance tickets call 334-283-2722 or 334-283-6888.

July 30-Aug. 2 and Aug. 6-9, 13-15 and 20-21 Smoke on the Mountain

Directed by Hazel Jones, Wetumpka Depot Players will stage their summer musical at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoons.

Tickets are $15 and are available at the Depot box office or online at wetumpkadepot.com.

Sept. 17-19, 24-27 & Oct. 1-3 Love, Loss, and What I Wore

A glow-in-the-dark run, cook-offs and a pie contest, games for the kids, music in the park every night, pad-

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The Wetumpka Depot Players will stage this lighthearted and witty chick flick for the perfect girls night out or date night. Call 334-868-1440 or visit wetumpkadepot.com for tickets.

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Sept. 26 15th Annual Titus Bluegrass Festival

Electronics Recycling

On the first Saturday of each month, electronic items for recycling are accepted at the Wetumpka Recycling Center on East Charles Avenue. There is a $10 fee to recycle tube televisions; other electronics incur no charge.

Come from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Other accepted electronics include computers, monitors, cell phones, chargers, modems, remotes, printers, batteries and more.

Fridays on the Green

The music starts at 10 a.m., and bands will play until 6 p.m. at this year’s bluegrass festival on the lawn at the Titus Community Center. Featured bands include Prattville’s Glory Band, Solid Blue of Huntsville and Cullman’s Baily Mountain Band. This fundraising event for the community center and the Titus Volunteer Fire Department also includes barbecue, beverages, children’s activities and arts and crafts. Admission is $5 for ages 12 and over; free for children. Bring a lawn chair and come ready to tap your toes as banjos, mandolins and guitars take center stage 10 miles north of Wetumpka on Highway 231, then 6 miles north on County Road 29. Visit the Facebook page or email titusbluegrassfestival@gmail.com for information.

Oct. 15-18, 22-25 Tuesdays with Morrie

Based on Mitch Albom’s poignant best-selling book by the same name, this play combines comedy and drama with a class in the meaning of life as the author is reunited with an old professor battling Lou Gehrig’s disease. Call 334-868-1440 or visit wetumpkadepot.com for tickets.

Season-Long Events Jasmine Hill Gardens

Music and games for the whole family will be offered every Friday through Sept. 25 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the Town Green at Russell Crossroads. Pack a cooler or stop by Catherine’s Market for food and favorite beverages. Local musicians will be featured each week.

Blue Grass Jam, Sit and Scrap and Sit and Sew

All three activities are held on the first Saturday of each month from 9 am. to 12 p.m. at the Alabama River Region Arts Center in Wetumpka. All acoustic instruments and skill levels are welcome at the Bluegrass Jam. Scrappers and papercrafters are encouraged to attend Sit and Scrap. All sewers and knitters are welcome at Sit and Sew. For complete details, call 334-578-9485 or visit www. arrac.org.

Santuck Flea Market

The Santuck Flea Market is held the first Saturday of each month at 73300 Central Plank Road, Highway 9 in Wetumpka.

Children’s Harbor Thrift Store

Alabama’s “Little Corner of Greece” will open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 31. Admission is charged. For information, visit www.jasminehill.org or call 334-263-5713.

Located at Children’s Harbor at Lake Martin on Highway 63, the Children’s Harbor Thrift Store is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 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 information.

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Business & Service Directory Elmore County Museum Elmore County Historical Society Open Fridays & Saturdays 10 AM - 3 PM Other Hours: Open by Appointment Only Call for More Information

(334) 300-2085

Schools, Church Groups, Civic Clubs, Reunion Groups & Social Clubs are encouraged to take advantage of this FREE educational & historic experience.

Call today 334-567-7811.

Pick up Elmore County Living at these locations: Eclectic

Eclectic Town Hall Moose's Eclectic Library Johnson’s Furniture Tropical Tan Zone First Community Bank

Lake Martin

Russell Lands Russell Marine Nail’s Cotton’s BBQ

Millbrook

Verizon Wireless First Community Bank Lucretia Cauthen Realty Bliss Salon Millbrook Chamber of Commerce Realty Central Stone & Britt Law Gene Jones Insurance

Montgomery

Publix – Atlanta Highway

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Publix – Zelda Rd Publix - Vaughn Rd Publix - Taylor Rd

Prattville

Publix – Cobbs Ford Road

Slapout

Lake Pharmacy The Golden Frog The Boy’s Store First Community Bank

Tallassee

Kent Eagle Y Petro Parker Tire RoadRunner Herron Hill Pharmacy Friendship Grocery The Apothecary Community Hospital Tallassee Health & Rehab 5 Points Store Ben Atkinson Motors

Wetumpka

Bennett’s Archery First Community Bank Russell Do It Center Bumper’s Karen’s Mane Tamers River Ridge Steakhouse Emerald Mountain Store Redland Market Seivers Accounting Wetumpka Depot Players A Touch of Class Angel Locksmith Verizon Wireless Unplugged Must Stop Café Alfa Realty Wetumpka Century 21 Brandt Wright Realty Wachovia Bank BB&T Jackson Thornton Lee’s Auto Repair Southeastern Business Printers Hankins Insurance Hog Rock BBQ Wetumpka YMCA

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Adams Drugs Bell Chiropractic Wetumpka Urgent Care Aliant Bank A Beautiful Creation Austin’s Flowers Camo Country Alabama State Employees Credit Union Smokin S BBQ Elmore Community Hospital Wetumpka Preschool Wetumpka City Library Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce City of Wetumpka Administration Bldg.

Coosa River Adventures Stoddard’s Bait Shop Collier Ford The Prissy Hen Wee Ones Daycare Wetumpka Health & Rehab Canal Grocery Kim’s Corner

Our Advertisers • To Join, Call 334-567-7811 Alabama State Employee Credit Union..... 5

Humane Shelter of Elmore County.......... 52

Collier Ford........................................... 7

Jackson Thornton................................. 49

Community Hospital............................. 19

Kowaliga Whole Health....................... 52

Damon Story, Cedar Point..................... 27

Lake Martin Hospice............................... 44

DeRamus Hearing Centers..................... 56

Mark's Service Center & Body Shop, Inc......44

Eclectic Family Dental Care, PC............... 7

Patrick Mahaney.......................................44

Edgewood Academy.............................. 5

RE/MAX, Nancy Oates........................ 52

Elmore County Hospital.......................... 7

River & Blues Festival.............................. 3

Elmore County Museum........................ 52

Russell Lands......................................... 2

First Baptist Wetumpka.......................... 55

Wetumpka Health & Rehabilitation LLC... 44

Gassett Funeral Home............................ 5

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Don't see your ad in this issue of Elmore County Living? Neither did the thousands of potential customers who read our magazine monthly.

To advertise please contact Shannon Elliott or Jayne Carr At 334-567-7811 or stop by our office located at 300 Green Street, Wetumpka AL 36092

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The Plate of Food Kindess served in Athens, Greece

M.K. Moore

DOWN HOME DELIGHTS Mary Katherine Moore is an Alabama State Fair pepper jelly

champion, has butchered a wild hog in

her kitchen and grows

heirloom to-

matoes in her backyard.

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We hit Athens early. I had an agenda, and I was sticking to it. No, we were not heading to the Parthenon with the rest of the tourists. That was for later when we could skip the crowds and get pictures without any other people in them. We would spend this morning at the National Archaeological Museum, have lunch and then make for the Parthenon complex.

After hours of viewing the amazing museum artifacts, we were ready for lunch and the few museum employees dutifully pointed us to the museum café.

Not really our thing; we walked up the hill behind the museum.

It was July. During a heat wave.

Athens is hot, Alabama-hot with a sizzling side of Mojave Desert thrown in.

Everything was blindingly white, with nary a tree in sight. We walked on and on without seeing any local cafés or watering holes.

We took to asking strangers on the street, but none of them understood what we were asking despite my bright friendly “Geia ssas!” (“hello” to Southern people).

Finally a small boy turned around and spoke to us as his mother tugged him away. Turns out we were in a residential neighborhood with limited dining options.

And it was Sunday. If you think everything in the South closes on Sunday, go to Greece.

The kid called over his shoulder that there was a taverna “that way.”

We stepped inside a single room where a bunch of men sat around a table staring at us.

Now, this doesn’t bother me. It has happened before in a Pennsylvania biker bar. Don’t ask.

Because “Geia ssas!” was all the Greek I knew, we asked in English if we could get some food. Finally, an Indian guy (go figure, since we were in Greece) asked us if he could help.

Yes! We explained that we needed some food. And something to drink.

To our delight, he said we could get that at the taverna.

When I asked what they served, he answered with a quizzical smile and a shoulder shrug, “Food.”

We settled ourselves at a table in the deep shade of a pepper tree outside, leaving the table of men to their laughter inside.

It wasn’t long before the server brought us beverages. Then he came back with what is reverently known today as “The Plate of Food.”

I remember that plate; a steaming potato drizzled with olive oil, quartered tomatoes, sausages, fried cheese, a boiled egg and olives.

And balanced on top was a giant slab of crusty grilled bread.

It was all things that food writers go nuts for these days. Simple food prepared simply.

I took one look and told the waiter we were going to need another one of those. And then we fell on that plate of food – and the next one – like wolves.

When we stepped into the main room to pay and say thank you, the men at the table smiled and waved. We even got waves and fond farewells as we left the taverna and headed back down the hill with our heavenly memories of The Plate of Food.

What was it that earned this meal of potato, egg, tomato, sausage, cheese, olives and bread such a distinguished title?

Kindness. The kindness of a child stopping to help a stranger. The kindness of a stranger in a strange land ordering food for us.

Without such kindness, we would not have had The Plate of Food or a table in the shade at which to eat it or the tale of an experience that eclipsed the Parthenon.

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