Elmore County Living June 2016 by Tallapoosa Publishers

Elmore June 2016

County Living

Millbrook's Hot Rod Show

ANNUAL WATER LIFE ISSUE

WHITEWATER FESTIVAL Who Got the Best Deal: Wetumpka or Gerry Purcell? Channahatchee Creek Float Trip n Collecting Day Lilies for 30 Years ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

Together with Lake Martin Dock Company, Bõte Paddleboards are now available! Demos, lessons and rentals available with Sharon Johnston. Ask us for details.

We Sell The Big Green Egg!

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ATTENTION, LAKE LOVERS:

YOUR APP IS HERE. The Shorelines app will tell you everything you want to know about your favorite Alabama lakes. If you love life on the lake, you’ll love the Alabama Power Shorelines app. It covers all 14 Alabama Power lakes and gives you the power to stay informed and get the most out of your favorite lake. From the hottest fishing spots to lake levels to generator schedules, you’ll be smarter and safer every time you visit. So download the Shorelines app today or visit APCShorelines.com. Then go jump in a lake. JUST SOME OF THE FEATURES: • Current conditions and water levels • Generation schedules • Fishing hotspots and hunting information • Interactive maps • Information about day-use parks and lake access

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From the Managing Editor's Desk

Jimmy K. Lanier makes me smile. I met him four years ago after he headed up the Smith Mountain fire tower restoration project in Tallapoosa County, and I ran into him again several times while hiking trails. Since then, I am privileged to have joined the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association (CRATA) board of directors, which he founded, in building a new Elmore County trail system on Forever Wild lands at Yates Lake Wildlife Management Area. Any time Jimmy calls me with news, recent developments or questions, it always brightens my day. So this month, I was excited that he sent me Walter Hutcheson’s photographs of an early May float trip on Channahatchee Creek, taken after a heavy spring rain. “It’s perfect for the ‘Water Life’ edition of Elmore County Living magazine,” I told him – and it is! What a rare and beautiful treat to share the story of that paddle with you on page 10. Also in this issue, it was Jimmy’s honor to present local attorney and conservation advocate John B. Scott with a resolution to name the new CRATA trail after him. Signage at the Goldmine Road trailhead will bear the name ‘John B. Scott Forever Wild Trail’ to commemorate more than four decades of Scott’s environmental work in Alabama. Read more about Scott in the Extra! Extra! section on page 8. Gerry Purcell, the new executive director at the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce, also left a smile on my face after a get-toknow-you interview for the Movers & Shakers article on page 14. Purcell is an enthusiastic grandfather and collector with deep personal faith, and he is dedicated to promoting and showcasing the community with which he only recently fell in love. We are excited in this issue to showcase the day lilies of Tallassee’s Faye Jones, who has collected these trumpet-shaped blossoms for more than 30 years. Her beautiful flowerbeds include more than 600 varieties that decorate the landscape at her Oak Valley Road home. Turn to page 16 to learn her secrets for brightening a garden with easy-to-grow day lilies. And there’s more to smile about in this issue of Elmore County Living, including Shannon McDuffie’s photo essay tour of the Millbrook Car Show that contributed two 55-gallon drums of canned goods to a local food pantry. Tour the vintage classics and zany adaptations on page 22. We hope this edition of Elmore County Living is a bright spot in your day, and we hope you will share your bright spots in Elmore County on the magazine’s Facebook page.

STAFF Chairman

Kenneth Boone

kenneth.boone@alexcityoutlook.com

President & Publisher Steve Baker

steve.baker@alexcityoutlook.com

Managing Editor Betsy Iler

betsy.iler@alexcityoutlook.com

Assistant Magazine Editor Mia Osborn

mia.osborn@alexcityoutlook.com

Distribution Manager David Kendrick

david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook.com

Marketing Consultant Jayne Carr

jayne.carr@thewetumpkaherald.com

Marketing Consultant Molly Brethauer

molly.brethauer@thewetumpkaherald.com

Creative Services Audra Spears

audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com

Contributors Suellen Young Jeff Langham Mary K. Moore Carmen Rodgers Jacob Saylor Larry Johnson

Corey Arwood Cory Diaz Walter Hutcheson Shannon McDuffie William Carroll

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 256-234-4281 All content, including all stories and photos, are copyright of

Betsy Iler, Managing Editor

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

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Growing to Better Serve You NEW LOCATION! Established in 1991, OB-GYN Associates of Montgomery is proud to announce we’re expanding into YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. Located just outside of Elmore Community Hospital, on MONDAY, JUNE 13 OB-GYN Associates of Montgomery will begin treating patients in WETUMPKA, ALABAMA. Make Your Appointment today!

Gynecology • Obstetrics

Bioidentical Hormone Pellet Therapy Performed by: Paula Sullivan, D.O.

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525 Hos pital Drive, Suite B , We tu m p k a , A L 3 6 0 9 2 • 3 3 4 -2 7 9 -9 3 3 3 W W W . O B G Y N M O N T G O M E RY. C O M ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

CONTENTS ON THE COVER Coosa River's Moccasin Gap challenged some 100 paddlers June 4 for the annual Whitewater Festival, which this year benefited Corn Creek Park. Photo by Kenneth Boone

40 Columns

42 Features

In Every Issue

Back in the Day

Grab a Paddle When It Rains

Extra! Extra!

Movie Man

Movers & Shakers

Out & About

The Gamer

2,500 Day Lilies

Community Care

Hot Rods in the Park

Southern Delights

38 40 54

Larry Johnson Beach Movies

Who's on Top at E3? Caring for Caregivers Cold Brew Coffee

Channahatchee Creek Swells Gerry Purcell

Collecting Flowers for 30 Years Millbrook's Annual Car Show

Whitewater Festival

Racing, Rolling and Riding Rapids

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News Briefs

In Elmore County

Coming Up

Fun Activities for Everyone

Where to Find Us Distribution List

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Shoe-in for Eclectic Library Most libraries spend their time looking for donations of books, but the Eclectic Public Library has taken up a new request recently seeking 2,500 shoes for two worthwhile causes: funds for the library and shoes for impoverished people throughout the world. Eclectic Public Library Director Betty Coker said that the idea was the brainchild of one of her board members, Paul Sexton, who pitched the idea to Coker as a way to raise funds for the library. The Funds2Orgs organization collects shoes for families around the world who survive on as little as $2 per day. With a donation of 2,500 shoes to Funds2Orgs, the library would earn approximately $1,000. “They sent all of the supplies we would need for the shoe drive,” Coker said. “They sent plastic bags and rubber bands to wrap around the shoes.” Funds raised will help to pay the library's utility bills. To donate new or gently used shoes as part of the drive, take them to the library at 50 Main St., Electic, or call the library at 334-639-4727.

Tractor show benefits Elmore VFD A large crowd attended the Alabama Antique Tractor Show and Pull event May 21 to benefit the Elmore Volunteer Fire Department. The event featured an antique tractor show and pull, inflatables and games for kids, includ-

ing youth pedal tractor races and a petting zoo. One of the most popular events was the car crushing display put on by the Bigfoot monster truck. Funds raised at the event will be used to build a brush truck for the department.

Extra! Extra! News from Elmore County and surrounding areas

Tallassee Woman Trys Out Andrea Rygiel’s open call audition try out for The Voice in Atlanta, GA was on Saturday, June 4. While Rygiel did not get a call back, she hopes to be an inspiration to others. “I hope that it can be an inspiration to others, especially the younger generation. To help them know that nothing is impossible. And also,you’ll never know if you never try. Life is a journey and experience is the best teacher. Although I didn’t get a second call back, it was a lot of fun, met some great people, and definitely worth the experience I gained.”

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Local teachers honored Local schools last month honored teachers of the year, including Holtville Elementary School’s Jeannie Broom and Millbrook Middle School teacher Veronica Montgomery. Broom and Montgomery were awarded elementary and secondary teacher of the year awards for the entire district. The selection process was conducted by an outside committee, which scored teachers based upon a rubric approved by the Alabama State Department of Education. Teachers were treated to a dinner catered by Bradshaw’s BBQ and provided by USAmeriBank. Broom said she got into teaching due to her own fifth grade teacher. “I am just in awe,” she said. “It is an honor to be thought of in this way and be honored for our profession. At the end of the day, though, it is all about the kids. They need our love and support. I am truly humbled, but I would do it without all the fanfare.”

Family pet alerts owner to rattlesnake in the house

Hampton Haynes with winning bream

Wetumpka 4-year-old wins Macon County tournament A father and son fishing team from Wetumpka won a fishing contest after the 4-year-old caught a 15-ounce bream at a private pond in Macon County. Scott Haynes said his son, Hampton, did all of the work reeling in the winning bream, aided only by his “Paw Paw,” who was the cricket man. “He put up a pretty good fight,” said Haynes, a lifelong Wetumpka resident. A local outdoors-based youth group, Venture Crew 380, held the contest to raise funds for a shark-fishing trip to Florida.

A 6-year-old rat terrior, Ms. Dottie, was bitten by a 2-foot rattlesnake she had cornered in her owner’s Eclectic home and was saved by an emergency trip to a veterinarian. Sue Bellury, 68, said she had left a screen door propped open with a small piece of wood so Ms. Dottie could come and go as she pleased; a practice Bellury said she has since stopped. About 20 minutes later, the dog’s barking led to Bellury’s discovery of the snake. Ms. Dottie was given anti-venom and has since fully recovered.

The final tally from the May 7 ‘Run for the Roses – Coosada Style,’ Kentucky Derby Party at The Elms was $3,450.

New hiking trail named for John B. Scott

Jimmy K. Lanier presents the resolution. Photo by Suellen Young

A new Forever Wild trail at Yates Lake Wildlife Management Area last month was named for John B. Scott. Scott, an attorney, was one of the first lifetime members of the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association (CRATA), which is developing the trail system on lands recently conveyed to Forever Wild. In addition to serving other local environmental concerns, Scott served on the Alabama Conservancy (now the Alabama Environmental Council) and as chairman of the State Bar Committee of Environmental Law. He was a board member of the Nature Conservancy of Alabama and was instrumental in the enactment of the constitutional amendment that created the Forever Wild program and served on the organization’s board of trustees. He also is a longtime member of Alabama Wildlife Federation. The John B. Scott Forever Wild Trail begins below Martin Dam on Goldmine Road.

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Grab a paddle when it rains Channahatchee Creek swells for recreation after spring and summer showers Story by Betsy Iler Photos by Walter Hutcheson

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A kayaker takes in the scenery along the swelled banks of Elmore County's Channahatchee Creek after an early spring rain

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he Coosa River’s Moccasin Gap isn’t the only place to find great water life in Elmore County. Eight local paddlers last month ventured down the Channahatchee Creek above Yates Lake after a good spring rain to discover mountain laurel archways over rippling rapids in the county’s northeast basin. Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association founder Jimmy K. Lanier said the group put kayaks in the water on the county right-of-way under the Deer Track Road bridge to access the creek that runs mostly through Forever Wild property. “It’s a forested area through a sycamore forest and cypress trees,” said Lanier. “And there were 15- and 20-foot high mountain laurel on both sides of the creek. The best part of it was the beauty of the trees. It was a sea of green with a stream of water going through it.” Lanier said the paddlers encountered several stretches of rapids along their route from the put-in point just above State Route 229 to the inlet 1 mile from Yates Lake. “Below Goldmine Road bridge is a long stretch of rapids that is real fun,” Lanier said. “We went around the old Weldon Mill dam; it’s very impressive.” The creek was 4 to 5 feet deep through most of the float trip, never over the paddlers’ heads, Lanier said. Gold Branch, which drains the watershed in the Cotton area, joined the Channahatchee about 100 yards from the put-in

point, raising the level and pace of the stream. “They weren’t big rapids – nothing over a class 2 – but they were fun,” Lanier said. Seven of the kayakers were experienced paddlers, but even the beginner on the trip had a great time on the nearly 3-mile route. In most places, the stream measured less than 50 feet wide, but Lanier said he later saw evidence of higher water levels. “When I back later, I could see debris 10 feet up in the trees. I think that must have been from when we got those heavy rains last month,” he said. “It would have been better on the first trip if the water had been about a foot deeper, but it was a good trip.” As yet, there is no established scale for the water depth of the creek, but Lanier said he plans to create one near the 229 bridge, so paddlers can monitor water levels and risk on the creek. The take-out is at the bottom of an old access road on Forever Wild lands. “You can get down there without 4-wheel drive if it’s dry, but if it’s been raining, that red clay would turn to mud, and you’d need a 4-wheel drive to get back out,” Lanier said. Plan two and a half hours for the trip with experienced paddlers and perhaps add another hour to accommodate beginners and stops to admire the scenery. And remember that this float trip is only accessible after a good rain.

The float trip included Mike Wilson, Bill Garnette, Jerry Bynum, Paul Magoni, Walt Hutcheson, Jimmy Lanier and Charles Chambers

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Jimmy Lanier bounces through a run on the swollen creek Swallowtails swarm on the creek bank

Paddlers approach a rapids near the 229 bridge

Jerry Bynum and Jimmy Lanier approach a rapids on Channahatchee Creek

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Deal-finder Gerry Purcell picked up the Miró in his chamber of commerce office for $30 at an estate sale

Movers & Shakers:

Gerry Purcell

Story by Betsy Iler & Photos by Suellen Young

t’s a good thing Gerry Purcell is fired up; he’s got a big job ahead of him. Purcell recently accepted the executive director position at the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce and this summer will launch the chamber’s business incubator facility on East Bridge Street. His goals include doubling the chamber’s social media coverage, offering businesscoaching services to members, perhaps launching a healthcare fair to help people navigate recent changes to the system and making the most of recent StreetScape and MainStreet designations down-

town. That’s a tall order for someone who three years ago had never heard of Wetumpka, Alabama. But Purcell brings a host of skills to the task, skills he picked up over the years and collected like the treasures he’s found in thrift shops. “You can find some great stuff if you pay attention,” Purcell said. “I once bought a box of junk for $5. In the bottom of it was an 18-karat gold Omega watch.” When Purcell and his wife of 19 years, Julianne, were looking for a small town in which to settle – somewhere between an aging mom in Atlanta and a grandchild in Orange Beach – they put a finger on

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the map and found Wetumpka. “Becoming a grandparent started me thinking about legacy. What was I going to leave my children and grandchildren? I don’t mean just in terms of money but in values. The Book of Proverbs talks about a wise man leaving an inheritance for his children’s children,” he said. Purcell wanted the inheritance he would leave for his grandchildren to include the riches of small town life, so Julianne and he made a visit to Wetumpka. They drove through downtown, admiring the riverfront park, historic bridge and the architecture. “We came around the corner, and my wife saw the beautiful Presbyterian Church with the white picket fence and said to me, ‘We’re going to live here,’” Purcell said. They bought an updated 1850s house and took on the role of caretakers of the property’s legacy azaleas. “I know all my neighbors for the first time since childhood,” said Purcell, whose life took him from solid Georgia roots to Hawaii, Texas and beyond before he settled for 20 years in Atlanta. “I joined the Army at age 20 after two years of college and got an ROTC scholarship, so I went back to school at Chaminade University of Honolulu with dual military science studies at the University of Hawaii, where I was stationed at the time,” he explained. “I started my Army career as a military intelligence analyst, and that has helped me to think strategically in the business world.” Purcell put that strategic military experience to work in his first civilian job after six years in the U.S. Army. “I went to work for Mobil Oil, and they put me through a very intense six-month training program. They take the trainees out to troubled areas in the marketplace, and the trainees have to write project plans for improvement. Well, I presented an elaborate project. It was like a business plan, and I must have done a good job because I graduated number 1 out of 35 in my class. “They put me in the worst-performing location in the country. There were seven stores in the district, and five of them were losing money. Within 12 months, all seven stores were profitable, and the area was in the top 11 in the country,” he said. Purcell joined a healthcare corporation in the 1990s and then made a career of healthcare consulting, guided by wisdom from his father, a Southern

Baptist pastor now deceased. “He taught me to live for a cause that was bigger than myself,” Purcell said. So he did. In high school, Purcell was national president of the 300,000-member SkillsUSA/VICA student organization, a vocational skills program. He was a decorated military intelligence officer, served as national sales director for a Fortune 500 technology and healthcare company and campaigned for statewide office. He did well in the polls and though he did not win the election, Georgia’s governor appointed him to a state healthcare advisory panel. He’s learned a lot, he said, because he reads a lot. Purcell subscribes to more than 25 monthly magazines. “If you’re not learning something every day, you’re not going to be significant. That’s something else my father taught me,” he said. Early on, Purcell said, he applied himself to learning how to be an extrovert. “I am naturally a very introverted person. One of my favorite ways to unwind is sitting on the couch with my wife, reading a book or watching TV. The couch is my happy place, but I decided to make myself be an extrovert. “I love connecting people together, singing their praises, seeing them be successful. I am passionate about it, and it’s a natural strength in this job.” And when he really wants to have a good time, Purcell thrills to great deals at auctions, thrift stores and estate sales. “There are three kinds of buying ,” he said. “Retail, wholesale and Pur-cell. I love to get a deal.” He’s found plenty of them, several of which he keeps in his office, including the turquoise leather sofa ($100), and the 3-foot saluting soldier below the American flag – a $50 find. Purcell said he applied for the chamber job because he loves the town and it’s an easy sell. “This town has a great team working to make great things happen. And there have been a lot of visionary people involved with the chamber before me, people who put this incubator project together and worked for the StreetScape program and the MainStreet designation,” he said. “And I get to be a part of implementing all that, to help to make it grow.” Purcell thinks he got a great deal, but the City of Wetumpka appears to have made out pretty well, too.

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2,500 Day Lilies Tallassee woman tends 30-year-old flower collection

Story by Betsy Iler Photos by Suellen Young

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Barbara Barnes

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ake a drive down Oak Valley Road east of Tallassee on a bright summer day before month’s end. It’s all summer greenery until you reach Ben and Faye Jones’ farm on the south side of the street. Just beyond a pine grove, the property bursts with the colors of some 600 daylily varieties – more than 2,500 plants – now in bloom. The beds surround the house and line the west side of the driveway. There are more plants behind the house, edging Faye Jones the patio, and more daylilies in a admires long bed beyond that where Jones her garden is putting in a white picket fence from a as a backdrop for the blooms. shaded Adjacent to the house, rows of bench color border the roughed-in road to the barn, and Jones planted three more long beds between the road and the immaculate longleaf pine grove. There’s another beside the grape arbor and one more between that and the house. Then, under the pecan trees in the front yard with a bench where she can admire it, Jones keeps the round bed of yellow flowers that started it all. “Miss Lynette Lazenby gave me a starter about 1985,” Jones said. “I went to church with her at Good Hope, and she lived up on Highway 14. These first ones were just old fashioned and simple, but they’ve been hybridized now for so many different colors. I wanted more colors and more variety, and I just started collecting them. Last time I counted, I had about 600 varieties.” And every year, she adds more. When the early summer blooms have faded, Jones browses through catalogs and visits suppliers where she picks up another 50 or so fans – a clump of stems and roots – to add to the collection she’s been building for more than 30 years. She finds some of them in Clanton and others in Millbrook and makes a practice of picking up fans whenever she Travels. Jones also routinely orders daylilies from Oakes Daylilies in Corryton, Tennessee. “I’ve never taken any gardening classes, but I have learned a lot from reading and from Oakes Daylilies in Tennessee,” she said. Last year, she filled a 10-foot circular bed with about 20 varieties she found in Delano, Tennessee, a small town in the state’s southeast corner that was named for the 32nd

president of the United States. There, she found a spider lily that measures close to 12 inches across the purple bloom. Jones used to label the plants with their names, but as her collection grew, maintaining the labels became too much work. Still, she knows many of the flowers by name. There’s the Quilt Path Lily with its purple ring and ruffles; the delicious-looking Candy variety; the goldenbloomed Stella De Oro; and then, there is a host of miniatures. “I love the ones with ruffles,” Jones admitted. “There are so many colors. “On occasion, I realized I had purchased something that I already had, but I take pictures of the flowers, and when I go shopping for them, I try to look through the pictures so I don’t do that very often.” The flowers start blooming in mid-May and continue to produce blossoms each day into early July. Each blossom lasts only one day. “The stems come up with several buds, and each one only blooms for one day. Every morning, I come out and spend about an hour and a half pulling off the dead heads. It keeps the next ones blooming.” In fact, the scientific name of the daylily, Hermerocallis, translates to ‘beautiful for a day.’ Jones has given presentations on daylilies to local garden clubs, and several of her flowers took awards at garden shows in the area, but she said she hasn’t entered them recently. She’s been busy tending and admiring the flowers. Daylilies originated in Asia and were introduced to Europe in the 16th century. Settlers brought them to North America in the 1600s, as the plants had medicinal uses. “They are used as food, too. You can fry up the buds and eat them,” Jones said. The plants reproduce with tubers, and about once every three years, Jones digs up the individual plants and splits them. She returns about one third of the fans to their original locations in the beds, and she gifts starters to her grandchildren or starts them in her own new beds on the property where she has lived most of her life. Jones was born in the house next door and in 1969 pur-

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Scarlett O'More

Jamaica Blush

Siloam Double Classic

The pine grove's needles provide mulch for the day lilies

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chased half of her father’s original farm, where she tends the garden. “They’re just the easiest flowers to grow if you put pine straw around them,” Jones said. The most time-consuming task in caring for her daylilies, Jones said, is the raking of pine straw. Fortunately, she doesn’t have to haul it far. The grove next to the beds keeps her in ample supply, and the constant removal benefits the cool grass under the trees. “That’s the job of the pine trees – to take care of the flowers,” she laughed. Jones sprays the edges of the beds with weed killer to keep grass from encroaching on them, and when the blooming is done, she cuts down the spent leaves and covers the beds with pine straw until February. After new blooms have become established – about a year after planting – she fertilizes in February with cotton compost. “I get the waste from the cotton gin,” she explained. “In February, I cover the beds with that cotton mulch and put pine straw on top of that.” In addition to gifting her grandchildren with daylily fans, Jones has used the flowers in arrangements for the altar at her church, bringing the flowers full circle; a fitting tribute for the original gift 30 years ago from Miss Lazenby.

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The car show on Millbrook's Village Green collected cans of food for an Elmore County food pantry

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Hot Rods in the Park Millbrookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third annual car show helps feed the hungry Story by Mia Osborn Photos by Shannon McDuffie ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

Memorial Day Weekend is known for events celebrating the U.S. military and all it stands for. In recent years, a new tradition has developed in Millbrook, one that honors the holiday weekend in true American style: with classic cars and free food, all for a good cause. This was the third year the Hot Rods in the Park Car Show took over Millbrook’s Village Green Park. For organizers Elijah Casey and Robert Whitten, the show has always been a labor of love. “I work a fulltime job. Cars are my hobby,” Whitten explained. He teamed up with Casey – former owner of Casey Automotive and founder of the Millbrook Street Mus-

cles club – to bring together classic and unique cars, trucks and motorcycles from all over Elmore County and beyond. Rather than an entrance fee, participants donated two cans of food to W.E.L.C.O.M.E., Inc., a food pantry serving the needs of west Elmore County. The event was made possible by sponsors, including Advance Auto Parts. “My wife, Sandra, got us most of the sponsors,” Casey said. This year’s show featured 165 vehicles from Alabama, Florida, Texas and other states. That’s a significant growth from last year, when they had 120 vehicles. “We had a real successful show,” Casey said. “We collected two 55-gallon drums full of food. We also collected money for Stanhope High Track and Field.” “We don’t keep anything for ourselves,” Whitten said.

Above: This 1968 Pontiac Firebird is owned by Jack Dale of Millbrook, but it was customized by George Barris, who worked on many famous televison and movie cars, including the Batmobile from the 1960s Batman television series. Barris completely reworked the car's hood, grill and trunk, as well as adding custom paint elements. Right: This lime green Mini Cooper also has a claim to fame: It is identical to the one used by Rowan Atkinson's character in the British comedy series Mr. Bean.

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Above: The "Hillbilly Harley" is made from a 1960 Volkswagon engine with a Harley Davidson motorcycle as the front end. Owner Bill McKnight added the skeleton as a finishing touch. "Kids like to get their picture taken with it," he said. Left: The gleaming engine of Greg Chevault's 1967 El Camino. Below: Harvey Sellers of Millbrook found this 1955 two-door Chevrolet Belair rusting in a barn near Troy. He and his wife restored the entire car, including suspension, engine, air conditioning and upholstery. The front plate features James Dean, one of the Sellersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; favorite movie stars.

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This page, clockwise from top left: Mustangs were a popular choice for Hot Rods in the Park participants. Based on a 1932 Rat Rod Ford, this contraption is a mix of boat, motorcycle and truck parts added by owner Eddie Howard. The exhaust comes from a speed boat and the rod used to prop open the trunk was once part of a Black Hawk helicopter. Photographer Shannon McDuffie snapped a shot of her reflection in the shiny chrome bumper of a classic Chevrolet. Greg Chevault brought this 1967 El Camino to the park. He has owned it since 1980. It has already been featured in Popular Hot Rodding magazine and an episode of the Speed Channel show Pinks All Out. Chevault has made some improvements over the years. "I added a 460 big block Chevy engine with 14-to-1 compression and roller cam bearings," he said. Richard Lohrmann's dog works on steering skills in this 1941 Dodge WC-10 military carryall. Lohrmann found the WC-10 in Texas and has been working on it for three years. He welded shut over 120 holes in the metal frame, then installed a new roof and added a winch to the front. His next project is to build seats so both he and the dog will be more comfortable. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It draws a crowd," said Lohrmann. Center: This 1974 Shelby Daytona Cobra GT Coupe was built from a kit, but was still impressive enough to be the show's featured vehicle.

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Matt Thornton turns his kayak on end to begin a whitewater flip maneuver

WHITEWATER FESTIVAL 31st Annual competition raises funds for Corn Creek Park Story by Cory Diaz Photos by Kenneth Boone & Cory Diaz

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Aaron LoCascio and Clayton Hoskins practice jousting before the competition

ome 100 paddlers turned out June 4 to compete for a handful of crowns, including the title of King of the Wave, at the 31st annual Coosa River Whitewater Festival, hosted by Coosa Outdoor Center in Wetumpka. Kayakers took to the Class III rapids at the river’s infamous Moccasin Gap, battling for supremacy in freestyle categories, as well as Classic Ender and Boater X. Walt Lynch captured the wave and became King in the last man standing event. “There’s only one king,” Coosa Outdoor Center owner Lonnie Carden said. In the Men’s Freestyle division, Matt Thornton won the top prize, edging Lynch and Aaron LoCascio. Thornton also finished first in the Classic Ender, where competitors sink their bows and

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hold their boats vertically in the water, while Eric Olds placed second. Chris McDonald came in first in the Boater X, which is a kayak race through the rapids. Amanda LoCascio ended up second. In the sit-on-top division of Boater X, Grayson Lang took first and Robert Smith was the runner-up. While the competition was fierce, Carden said the collective mood of the participants and spectators was relaxed. “Everybody was kind of laid back. But everyone had a good time and the weather change between the morning and by the start of the festival made things better,” Carden said. The Coosa River Whitewater Festival launched Friday, June 3, at the Coosa Outdoor Center with all-day registration, practice for the competitors and musical entertainment by The Signals. After the festival Saturday, awards were handed out at the Center, followed by musical act Charley C. & Cuzamatics. The three-

Walt Lynch digs in for a turn

A kayaker charges through the Class 3 rapids

The competition included freestyle paddling as well as race events

100 competitors flipped, rolled and raced at Moccasion Gap

Paddlers rested on the rocks as the clouds pass

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Competitors stay loose between events at Moccasin Gap

Eric Olds placed second in this year's Classic Ender competition

day event wrapped up Sunday with a Hometown Throw Down and a Lazy Day Paddle. All monies raised by the festival, an amount Carden estimated between $4,000 and $5,000, went toward the refurbishment and clean up of Corn Creek Park. With the help of Elmore County officials, the Coosa River Paddling Club hopes to repair and replace barbecue grills, picnic tables and other amenities at the park, which has been closed for the last three years. “We’ve already given the county $15,000 to help with the new road back in. We’re going to go back in there and refurbish barbecue grills and picnic tables, just refurbish and clean the place up and see what’s needed,” Carden said before the festival. The City of Wetumpka was a major sponsor the annual event. “We did all right. I was hoping it would come out a little greater and have more people register and come out, but with the weather saying there was a 60 percent of storms, we did OK,” Carden said. Recent rains had swelled water flow at the event to an estimated 8,500 cubic feet per second.

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THE LAKE IS THE PART OF US THAT

IS ALWAYS YOUNG.

Wild and full of wonder, it’s the place where we are still awed by sunrises and sunsets.

That’s the power of the lake.

P R E S E N T I N G T H E N E WELMORE E S T CCOUNTY OLLEC T I O N O F L A K E H O M E S I T E S 33 LIVING RUSSELLLANDSONLAKEMARTIN.COM | 256.215.7011 | LAKE MARTI N, ALABAMA

Parsonage hosts famous writer I am amazed at how some of the older homes of the 19th century have withstood the duration of time better than Larry Johnson others, especially BACK IN those that are THE DAY now owned by people without Larry Johnconnections son now lives to the original in Robinson owners. These Springs, just a few miles south occupants seem to have a special of where he love of history and an appreciation of what has grew up at Elmore, Alabama. occurred in the homes in times past. One such home in the heart of Robinson Springs in the City of Millbrook in west Elmore County is the “Old Parsonage” built by the Robinson Springs Protestant Methodist Church, circa 1845. The home was built for the use of the Methodist Protestant circuit riders and is located just south of the current-day Robinson Springs United Methodist Church. Founded as a Methodist Protestant denomination in 1828, this church was perhaps visited by one of the founding fathers of the Methodist Protestant denomination, Lorenso Dow. Mr. Dow was a preacher and the most famous circuit rider of his time. “On horseback, with his sprightly little wife, Peggy, mounted on a pillion behind him, he made long journeys through Georgia and Alabama, and very possibly preached in those early years to the people of the Robinson Spring neighborhood.” (May Harris, 1945) The Parsonage has since passed into private ownership and is currently occupied by the family of the late Colonel and Mrs. Joe Struby. Perhaps its most famous occupant was Albert James Pickett, the author of the first history of Alabama. Mr. Pickett was born in Anson County, North Carolina, in 1810 and died in Montgomery,

Alabama, in 1858. At the age of 8, he moved with his father, William R. Pickett, to the frontier of Autauga County, which was ceded to the The Methodist United States by Parsonage was the Creek Indians once home to in the Treaty of the author of the Fort Jackson. first history William Pickett of Alabama built a home, a mill building and a trader’s post, on Swift Creek near present-day Autaugaville. Albert befriended many of the Creek and frontier traders that frequented his father’s store. From them, he began to piece together the early history of the state, which he determined to put into writing. Pickett studied law but never practiced it professionally. He instead devoted his time to literature, agriculture and historical research. He traveled widely and corresponded with archivists and book dealers in the Atlantic states and Europe to document various parts of his history of the state. Pickett’s early history of Alabama dealt primarily with the “invasion” of the Spaniard, Hernando De Soto, into Alabama circa 1540 and ended in 1820 with these words: “But here we lay down our pen. The early history of Alabama, as far as it rest in our hands, is ended, and our task is accomplished. To some other person, fonder than we are of the dry details of State legislation and fierce party split, we leave the task of bringing the history down to a later period: THE END.” The History of Alabama and Incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi From the Earliest Period, by Albert James Pickett, was published in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1851. It is unclear how Mr. Pickett came to live in the Methodist parsonage. One historical source

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stated that he came to live at “Pickett Springs,” 5 miles north of Montgomery, rather than live on his farm acreage in Autauga and Montgomery counties. It could be the reference was to Robinson Springs rather than “Pickett Springs.” His daughter, Mary, was courted, while living in the home, by Samuel Smith Harris of Autauga County. Miss Mary Pickett later married Mr. Harris, who became The Right Rev. Samuel Smith Harris, second Episcopal Bishop of Michigan. The Harris family has a direct connection to Thornfield circa 1820, the pioneer home of Archibald McKeithen, located in the heart of Robinson Springs. Another event of historical significance occurred at this home as well. Mr. LeRoy Pope Walker married Eliza Dickerson Pickett, niece of Albert and Sara Smith Pickett, in 1850 prior to becoming the first Confederate Secretary of War in 1861. Our older homes have many stories to tell, and those stories need to be told. Some say that they are haunted and tell of strange happenings and noises. Others say that is “baloney.” I personally get great satisfaction in visiting older homes, occupied or unoccupied, and learning their stories. Sometimes when in the home, I let my mind wander to an earlier period and get vibes that prior occupants are glad and welcome me in.

Healthy Hearts Make More Memories More moments mean more memories. More time with grandkids and family. More days on the lake. More sunsets. Kevin Sublett, MD, and the staff at the UAB Heart & Vascular Clinic of Central Alabama are committed to keeping your heart healthy, so you can keep on making memories. The clinic is backed by the world-class expertise you expect from UAB Medicine, offering: • The full spectrum of cardiovascular care • Care from a physician board-certified in interventional cardiology • The latest in cardiac and vascular ultrasound technology, as well as nuclear medicine imaging in accredited laboratories • Diagnosis and treatment of cardiac rhythm disorders • Convenient location within Russell Medical Center Call us today to schedule an appointment!

Albert James Pickett

3368 Highway 280, Suite 130 Alexander City, AL 35010 (256) 234-2644 uabmedicine.org/heartcentralAL ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

Let's all go to Here we are in the midst of summer heat, and many of you are retreating to the waterfront in search of cool relaxation. Over the years, countless films have been set in and around the water. As temperatures soar, let’s take a journey back to the beach for some cinematic celebrations of “Water Life.” The celebration of water life has had a long history on film. One of the first highlights is the memorable beach scene from the Oscar-winning From Here to Eternity (1953), featuring the passionate kisses exchanged between Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr amidst crashing waves. This unforgettable love fest ended up being skewered years later as one of the funniest bits in the comedic disaster spoof Airplane (1980). Unquestionably, the 1950s supplied many classic celebrations of summer and life on the water. Who can forget perky Sandra Dee in the title role of Gidget (1959)? That film also led to a 1965 television series that star Sally Field may secretly want to remove from her resume (even though it jumpstarted her illustrious career). Gidget’s success led to some lessthan-stellar sequels, including Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961) and Gidget Goes to Rome (1963). It must be noted that Gidget introduced us to such classic lines as, “Surf’s up, Moondoggie!” Another beloved classic set around the water – 1959’s A Summer Place – centered on the screen dream couple of Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue. Its chart-

topping theme song also launched one of Muzak’s most familiar titles. The legendary Elvis Presley got into the act in 1961’s Blue Hawaii with stage and screen veteran Angela Lansbury playing his mother. For you trivia buffs out there, it is important to note that Blue Hawaii was the first of three Elvis films shot in Hawaii and was followed by Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962) and Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1965). The 1960s set the pace for fun at the beach with Where the Boys Are. Set in Ft. Lauderdale, this film focuses on the coming-of-age of four college girls from the Midwest during spring break and stars Connie Francis (who sings the memorable theme song) and 60s screen heartthrob George Hamilton. A disastrous remake in 1983, Where the Boys Are ’84, tried to capture the fun of the original by adding an R-rated spin. Deservedly, the film was a critical and commercial failure. Between 1963 and 1968, American International Pictures, a Hollywood studio renowned for its low budget films, made a fortune with Frankie AvalonAnnette Funnicello beach party movies. Among films in this beach brand are Muscle Beach Party, Bikini Beach, Pajama Party, Beach Blanket Bingo, How to Stuff A Wild Bikini and Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine. All of these titles generated long lines at the drivein theatres and local movie houses and offered a refreshing escape to audiences during the turbulent

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the Beach 1960s. Frankie and Annette still proved popular even into the 1980s when Paramount Pictures featured them, along with co-star Pee Wee Herman, in the well-received Back to the Beach (1987). In 1966, documentarian Bruce Brown created the ode to surfers, The Endless Summer, which has retained its popularity even to this day. In 2002, The Endless Summer was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. Brown eventually released a sequel, The Endless Summer II (1994), and his son, Dana Brown, released The Endless Summer Revisited in 2000. Of course, no discussion of beach movies would be complete without a tip of the hat to Steven Spielberg’s Jaws (1975), which retains its status even to this day as the seminal beach movie of the 1970s. Bruce the Shark is just as menacing today as he was more than 40 years ago. It is still hard to imagine that the filmmakers were braced for this movie to belly flop. Happily, it soared to new heights of profits, and it opened the door for the definition of the blockbuster movie – a film exceeding $100 million dollars at the box office. That definition seems almost quaint by today’s standards when a true blockbuster can approach $1 billion dollars.

Water life has also been explored through a wide range of projects from popular foreign films like Pauline at the Beach (1983) to dramatic surfing films like North Shore (1987) and Big Wednesday (1978) to action-packed films like the original Point Break (1991), which featured a successful box office equation: Keanu Reeves + Patrick Swayze + bank robbery + surfing. The recent Point Break (2015) remake completely fizzled at the box office. The ever-reliable Tom Hanks also made an indelible impression in 2000’s Cast Away, a modern-day Robinson Crusoe story about survival on the water and on a desolate island. With Cast Away, director Robert Zemeckis continued his winning streak with Hanks after the two of them gained Oscar glory with 1994’s beloved mega-hit Forrest Gump. Not to be outdone, the Disney Channel introduced today’s generation to outrageous beach party movies in the tuneful Teen Beach Movie (2013), which spawned a sequel in 2015. Indeed, Hollywood has captured water life quite successfully over the decades. After attempting to beat the summer heat at the lake, at the beach, or even in a nearby swimming pool, why not dip into some of the celebrations of fun, romance and adventure on the water? Dive right in and take this cinematic plunge!

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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.

Who will come out on top? E3 is coming! Many of you know that this is the show of shows – a true coming-together of all things nerd and geek. We’re at a pivotal moment in the current console cycle. Video game developers, publishers and players are all vying for power in the industry arena. This month, we’re slowing it down to take a look at some announcements and rumors that will likely be made into reality at this year’s E3.

Sony Goes All-Out

There’s a cacophonous amount of noise surrounding Sony right now. The industry is abuzz, and it shows: No one can guess what this gaming giant has planned. This will be Sony’s opportunity to forge a path into the future, cementing their dominance over competitors Nintendo and Microsoft for the next few years. Developer Naughty Dog just released another entry into the Uncharted franchise, marking the se-

ries’ retirement. My bet is on Naughty Dog returning to their roots: a new Crash Bandicoot title will probably make its way to center stage. Many argue that Naughty Dog will turn to its massively popular 2014 franchise, The Last of Us, but that’s just too easy. Sony is also the only company to invest in virtual reality for this console generation. They will likely give us more details surrounding this aspect of the PlayStation 4. Much of this information will likely come through first-hand experiences on the E3 show floor. We know that Playstation VR will cost gamers $399, releasing in October 2016. Sony will likely announce a number of exclusive, madefor-VR games at their E3 press conference.

Microsoft Tries to Gain Traction

Times aren’t so good for Microsoft: They’re desperately trying to pick up what remains of the last console cycle. Sales for the Xbox One are down,

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and recent releases, such as Quantum Break, have done little to foster any excitement for the console. This is a do-or-die moment for the American technology behemoth. Sadly, there’s little to indicate this will be anything more than par for the course for Microsoft this year. If I said that Microsoft had plans to enthusiastically announce a host of new exclusive titles, that would be hopeful, but dishonest. The truth is Microsoft hasn’t done anything notable recently, that is, unless you count delaying game releases into 2017 important. There’s some buzz surrounding the possibility of a new entry into the Halo franchise, but that’s just not good enough. We’ll probably hear more about the popular Gears of War franchise, which should bring some older Xbox 360 fans back to home base. Microsoft appears to be reverting to a cocoon in which they are trying to replicate their 2006 success. In that vein, gamers could expect a return to the more mature overtones that pervaded the early years of Microsoft’s gaming success.

Nintendo Walks a Lonely Road

I have written in this publication about my deep concern for Nintendo’s future. The Japanese company has failed on multiple occasions throughout the past few years to deliver new and inviting experiences, instead relying on their tried and battletested armory of intellectual properties that include Zelda, Mario, Metroid, Smash Bros. and more. In a way, Nintendo is in the same position as Microsoft – they have to deliver. The biggest variable lies in Nintendo’s upcoming “NX” console. Up until last month, the NX was nothing but a rumor. In late April, Nintendo announced that the NX would be debuting in March 2017, but the company failed to tell gamers much more. Nintendo will pitch this ace-up-theirsleeve at their E3 press conference. The reveal of a new console will be more than enough to satiate the journalists attending and, by extension, those of us following the show from home. Fans would likely rejoice if this news was accompanied by a strong

showing from the Nintendo 3DS: This is especially true if word gets out that a new Pokemon game is in the works. Despite the series’ long history, fans of all ages still flock to the Japan-born franchise. There’s no doubt that Nintendo will show up to the party with a good first-party lineup of titles, but they have shown a very clear disconnect with gamers over the past year. E3 will be Nintendo’s opportunity to patch things up with once-stalwart fans.

Multiplatform Madness

E3 is not only a platform for the big Three. In addition to being a platform for mega-publishers, it’s also the most important time of the year for third-party developers. Some games that we may see at E3 this year include Red Dead Redemption 2 by Rockstar Games, The Elder Scrolls VI and Mass Effect: Andromeda by Bethesda Softworks, Mirror’s Edge 2 by DICE Entertainment and Pokemon: GO by Niantic, Inc. In reality, this is a very small sampling of what might come at this year’s show. What gamers might be interested to hear is that both Sony and Microsoft are planning to release updated versions of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The implications for this revelation are far too wide and varied to cover here, but know this: The gaming industry is up in arms. The notion that gamers might have spent obscene amounts of cash on either a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One only to have that hardware made secondbest has become a concept of ill repute. As we head into the month of June, be prepared for monstrous competition and announcements between the bigwigs of the games industry. If there’s one thing the games industry is not without, it would be drama. Each and every E3 promises something unique, and while this year may not be the most exciting one in terms of video games, it is perhaps of the most import economically. What the developers and publishers in attendance do this year will set them on paths that must be followed – be these routes positive or negative. E3 Expo 2016 takes place from June 14, 2016 – June 16, 2016.

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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 @skulldrey.

Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

Caring for caregivers Kathy Monroe

COMMUNITY CARE Kathy Monroe is the Assistant to the

Administrator and the CFO at Community Hospital.

June is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and provides an opportunity for conversation about one of the fastest growing diseases diagnosed in the United States. The number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease is growing – and growing fast. Recent research reported by the Alzheimer’s Association suggests that one in nine people over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s disease. There are 5.4 million Americans currently living with Alzheimer’s disease, and by mid-century, someone in the United States will develop the disease every 33 seconds. These numbers are expected to escalate rapidly in coming years, as the baby boom generation is beginning to reach age 65 and beyond. By 2050, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s disease may more than double, to a projected 13.8 million. Those who provide care to Alzheimer’s patients often are a forgotten part of the impact of Alzheimer’s disease. Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s can be a long, stressful and intensely emotional journey that affects every aspect of the caregiver’s daily life. As there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, it is the care provided by caregivers that can possibly make the biggest difference in the quality of their loved ones’ lives. That is a remarkable gift to give, but it is also a huge responsibility. The primary caregiver for an Alzheimer’s patient has an all-consuming responsibility. As a loved one’s abilities diminish over the course of the disease, it is easy for a caregiver to become overwhelmed and neglect his or her own needs. That would hurt not only the caregiver but also the person under care. It is vitally important for a caregiver to plan a support network as early as possible to prevent becoming overwhelmed. Some important considerations for caregivers include asking for help; learning or updating caregiving skills; joining a support group, learning to manage stress; making use of available resources and adherence to self-care plans. Ask for help. Ask for and accept help from

other family members, friends or volunteer organizations. Caregivers who take some time away from patients not only provide better care but also find more satisfaction in their caregiving roles. Learn or update caregiving skills. Seek information. There are books, workshops and online resources that can help. Learn all you can about symptoms, treatments and the various stages of the disease. Join a support group. Connecting with others who know the challenges of caring for Alzheimer’s patients first-hand can be a tremendous help to caregivers in so many ways. Learn how to manage stress. Taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s can be one of the most stressful tasks a person would ever undertake in life. Learning how to cope with the stress is an absolute must. Make use of available resources. There is a wealth of information out there for caregivers. Ask a personal doctor and search the many online Alzheimer’s information websites for resources. Plan for your own care. Regular checkups with the caregivers’ own physicians and paying attention to any signs and symptoms that health issues could be developing are critical. It is easy to abandon one’s own health needs to care for those of a loved one, but caregivers won’t be able to sustain a quality level of care for patients if they aren’t in the best health possible. Caregivers for Alzheimer’s patients face special challenges, but they are not alone. Whether a caregiver is facing challenges at the beginning or late stages of an Alzheimer’s patient’s care, we are here to help. Community Home Care and Hospice sponsors an annual Fall Caregiver Conference, which addresses may of the issues faced by caregivers of family members with Alzheimer’s disease. The conference is free and open to anyone in the community. Contact Amy Jeter, social worker, at Community Home Care and Hospice (334-283-4250) for information about the conference or other important resources for caregivers.

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Looking to buy, build, or remodel a home this summer? Let our local team of lenders help you!

Klay Peters

Executive Vice President NMLS #822776 kpeters@primesouthbank.com 334-283-8368

Derona Wilson

Residential Lending Officer NMLS #201585 dwilson@primesouthbank.com 334-387-1655

Joel Hunt

Senior Vice President NMLS #822785 jhunt@primesouthbank.com 334-283-6594

Locations in Tallassee, Wetumpka, and Pike Road ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

OUT & ABOUT

Business After Hours

Wind Creek Wetumpka Hotel May 19, 2016 1. Beverly Wright, Cathy Thornton and Cathye Amos 2. Katrina Mitchell and Cheri Bedford 3. Gerry Purcell and Vanessa Snead

4. Jeff and Kay Martin 5. Misty Coley, Karen Brooks, Tammy Spivey and Sharon Brooks 6. Eric Hyde and Cody Williamson 7. Draper Carter and Robert Gantt 8. Scott and Donna Grier 9. Shannon Elliott, CT Bailey and Donnie Tucker

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OUT & ABOUT

Memorial Day Celebration Veterans Park, Tallassee May 30, 2016 1. Rob and Laurie Rygiel 2. George and Patsy McCain 3. Charles Blaylock and Bill Patterson

4. Nadine Hardy 5. Robert Scroggins and Harry Scroggins 6. Pam Messer 7. Jackie McCain and Ken and Judy Abrams

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OUT & ABOUT

Alabama Bass Trail Tournament

June 4, 2016 1. Deandrae Kimbrough and Orlando Harris 2. Keith Dees and Tommy Walley 3. Chris Colley

5. Terry Harris and Mark Ammons 6. Shaye Baker and Ben Weldon 7. Shelby Kinney and L.J. McCollough 8. Micah Easterling and Hunter McKinley

Bonner's Landing, Wetumpka

4. Roger Caldwell and Larry Bullock

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OUT & ABOUT

Whitewater Festival Moccasin Gap June 4, 2016 1. Meredith Hall and Jordan Davis 2. Tom Jones and Nic Freeman 3. David Haynes and Dale Oswald 4. Jessica and David Quinn 5. Aaron and Amanda LoCascio 6. Clayton Hoskins and Amanda Thornton

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OUT & ABOUT

Lake Martin Resource Association

Annual Meeting Children's Harbor Lodge June 4, 2016 1. Jackson Dozier and Jackson Lilly 2. Rendell Clark, Dick Cobern and Terry Young 3. Pat and Fran Coan 4. Will Denton and John Thompson 5. Capt. Jon Archer 6. Steve Forehand and Corky Hawthorne

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Community Hospital 805 Friendship Road Tallassee, AL 36078 (334) 283-6541 www.chal.org

Community Skilled Care and Rehab Community Hospital of Tallassee is now offering a transitional level of care to those patients who need rehabilitative and restorative services on a shortterm basis. Our program is designed to assist patients when acute care hospitalization is not required, but the patient needs further care to reach a level of strength and wellness in order to safely return to their home or residential facility. We have partnered with Crain Rehab to offer the finest in inpatient rehabilitative care. Who Requires Rehabilitative Care?

Why Choose Community Skilled Care and Rehab?

Patient examples include: • Generalized weakness • Rehabilitation following surgery • Recovery following an accident • Rehabilitation after a stroke or heart attack • IV medication therapy • Rehabilitation following an acute care inpatient hospital stay

Our caring and competent team provides personalized treatment, tailored to each patient’s needs. • Nursing care provided by experienced RNs and LPNs • 24-hour physician in-house • Low patient to nurse ratio • Physical, occupational and speech therapy • Respiratory therapy • Dietary and nutritional services • Social services • Coordinated & planned activities program • Team approach to discharge planning Community Skilled Care and Rehab

For more information please call: (334) 283-3857 E-mail: swingbed@chal.org Visit our website at www.chal.org ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

A division of

Community Hospital

Coming Up CALENDAR OF EVENTS

June 16 4-H Woodworking Day Camp

Kids aged 9 and up will learn basic carpentry skills, tools, project design and shop safety while they make a project to take home. The $10 fee covers supplies and a snack; participants should bring a lunch, beverages and a snack. Class runs from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Elmore County Extension Office, 340 Queen Anne Rd., Wetumpka. Pre-registration is required. For information and registration, call 334-567-6301.

June 16 Waterbath Canning

This food preservation class at 10 a.m. at the Elmore County Extension Office will cover food safety and canning techniques and tips. No cost for this program, but pre-registration is required. Call 334-567-6301 for information and registration.

Now through Aug. 31 Miss Millbrook “Pageant of Progress”

Contestants aged 2 through 19 can register for this October pageant, a celebration of young women and girls. The pageant will be held at the Millbrook Civic Center, 3168 Park Circle. Registration fee is $60 and includes two guest tickets, a souvenir program and a contestant T-shirt. The pageant is sponsored by the Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce. Download the application at www.millbrookareachamber.com or pick up an application at the chamber office. Submit a photo with application. Call Melissa (334-430-9654), Stephanie (334-3009655) or Melinda (334-657-0721) for details.

June 17 Jessica Meuse Benefit Concert

The Wetumpka Depot Players are pleased to announce a season extra to benefit the community theatre’s children’s theatre program. Jessica Meuse, singer, songwriter and American Idol finalist, will be in concert on the Depot stage at 7 p.m. Local children will have the opportunity to have a private “jam session” with Jessica prior to the concert and will perform a song or two with her at the end of her performance. For tickets or more

information, call the box office at 334-868-1440 or visit wetumpkadepot.com.

June 18 Go Fishing (Catch & Release)

Alabama Wildlife Federation will host movies, fishing and animal encounters from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Get outdoors and fish for catfish and bream in one of the Alabama Nature Center’s bountiful ponds. Limited number of fishing poles will be available for $2 a day, and limited amount of bait is available for a small fee. Call 1-800-9453 for information.

June 23 Soap Making Workshop

Learn to make your own soap from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through this Elmore County Extension Office program to be held at 340 Queen Anne Rd., Wetumpka. Call 334-5676301 for details and registration.

June 25 Cleanup Day in Millbrook

Bring your household discards from spring cleaning to the 3800 block of Grandview Road from 7 a.m. until noon. The City of Millbrook Street and Maintenance Department will provide a crew to dispose of the trash at no charge. No hazardous materials (paint, oil, etc.) will be accepted. For information, call 334-285-3653.

June 27-30 Elmore County Mid-Summer Basketball Camp

Boys and Girls ages 5 to 13 can sign up for basketball camp this year from 8:30 a.m. until noon at the Edgewood Academy Gymnasium. Camp will cover the fundamental of basketball and will featue motivational speakers. Fee of $100 includes T-shirt, certificate of participation and snack. Discount for multiple children in one family. Coach is Chris George. For registration information, call 251-605-6256.

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June 28 Priscilla Cromelin Reception

The Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery will host a reception to honor the life and work of Wetumpka’s Priscilla Crommelin, an internationally renowned artist with deep roots in the River Region. Her vibrant landscapes, portraits, floral and still life paintings have been featured in notable exhibitions and collections around the world, but this will be the first time her works have been publicly displayed in her hometown of Wetumpka.

June 30 Nature Trivia

Come out and team up with guests for an exciting night of nature trivia. Guests will compete for prizes while learning all about the natural world. Bring your own dinner; all ages welcome. Admission is $5.

July 1-31 Eighth Day Escape

Visit Wind Creek State Park and take part in the Eighth Day Escape photo contest. Visit www.alapark.com/explorer for complete rules and entry forms.

July 4 Russell Marine Fourth of July Boat Parade

Decorate your boat and join the patriotic crowd at Kowaliga Marina as boats of all sizes, shapes and decorations parade from Kowaliga Marina to Children’s Harbor, circling past the lighthouse and making the return trip. Spectators line the shoreline along the route to applaud their favorite boats and constestants. Registered boats will vie for top honors for Largest Flag, Tallest Flag, Most Patriotic Crew, Most Creative and Best Overall. Boat parade starts at 10 a.m. Call 334-857-2111 to register or for information.

July 4 Fourth of July Blast

Find a spot on the Lake Martin Amphitheater hillside for the 16th annual Fourth of July Blast, as Russell Lands hosts the Southeast’s largest fireworks show over Lake Martin. Gates open at 5 p.m. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. The Bank Walkers and Sweet Tea will entertain. Fireworks start at 9 p.m. Call 256-397-1019 for information.

July 5 4-H vs. Wild Day Camp

July 2 Russell Crossroads Community Garden Club Pancake Breakfast

Russell Crossroads Community Garden Club members will be up early cooking pancakes for all to enjoy from 8 a.m until 10 a.m. on holiday weekend Saturdays. Come by and feed the family and help out the club.

Get kids away from electronics and reconnecting with the outdoors at Ft. Toulouse this summer. Activities include a photo scavenger hunt, geo-cashing, learning survival skills and more. No cost for this event. Kids aged 9 and up eligible. Bring lunch, two snacks and beverage. To register or for more information, call the Elmore County Extension Office at 334-567-6301.

July 2-3 Arti Gras

July 11-13 Elmore County Football Camp

Russell Crossroads once again will host this juried art show on the Town Green. Browse the tents and find that perfect piece for your lake home. There will be handmade pottery, photography, furniture, watercolors, oil paintings, reclaimed wood décor, jewelry, soaps, jams, jellies and more from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. For information, call 256-212-1416.

Edgewood Academy Head Coach Bobby Carr will hold a football camp for kids ages 5 to 14 years old from 8 a.m. until noon. Camp cost is $75 and includes snacks, T-shirt and instruction with former NFL payers, collegiate players and state and national champonship players. For information or to register, contact Coach Bobby Carr at 334-5671038 or 334-567-5102 ext. 205 or email him at Bobbyc1234@ hotmailcom.

July 4 Wetumpka Independence Day Celebration

July 12 CAMGA Lunch and Learn

The Fourth of July festivities in Wetumpka will include a performance by the band Wishbone and a celebrity cookoff to benefit the Hemophilia Bleeding Disorders of Alabama, as well as the traditional fireworks display. The celebration starts at 5 p.m. at Gold Star Park.

Gardening can be painful! Find out how to deal with the aches and pains and cuts and scratches or worse and learn what should be in your gardening first aid kit at this free Central Alabama Master Gardeners Association Lunch and Learn program at 340 Queen Anne Rd., Wetumpka. Bring a lunch; water and tea will be provided. For details, call 334-567-6301.

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July 14-30 Calendar Girls

The women of Calendar Girls will bare it all, with the help of a few strategically placed buns! Wetumpka Depot Players will stage this Tim Firth production that was inspired by a group of Yorkshire, England, women who produced a clendar to raise money for luekemia research. This is a play about friendship, determination and hope. Grab the girlfriends and don’t miss this production. Visit www.wetumpkadepot.com for details and tickets or call 334-868-1440.

July 14 4-H Gardening Day

Kids aged 9 and up will build raised garden beds and learn about landscaping, garden maintenance and pruning and will make planter boxes to take home at this workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Elmore County Extension Office, 340 Queen Anne Rd., Wetumpka. For information, call 334-567-6301.

July 14 Pressure Canning

Pre-registration is required for this free food preservation program at the Elmore County Extension Office, 340 Queen Anne Rd., Wetumpka. For information and registration, call 334-567-6301.

July 15 4-H vs. Wild Day Camp

July 16 Lions Lake Martin Charity Poker Run

The 13th Annual Lions Lake Martin Charity Poker Run will begin at The Ridge Marina and end at Kowaliga Restaurant to raise funds for local charities. Participants will travel from The Ridge Marina to River North, Harbor Point, Real Island and Kowaliga marinas to collect the best hand. Prizes will be awarded at the after party at Kowaliga Restaurant.

July 16 River and Blues

From 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., the Riverwalk in Wetumpka will host the annual River and Blues Festival, including

two music stages, free children’s activities and a juried art show. This year’s headliner on the main stage will be Rockin Dopsie and the Zydeco Twisters. For information, call 334-567-5147.

July 21-23 and 28-31 Anne of Green Gables

Millbrook Theatre will stage the refreshing contemporary telling of the classic story by L.M. Montgomery and Sylvia Ashby. This play, which has charmed audiences the world over for years, tells the story of a young orphaned girl who by mistake is sent to a family who hoped for a boy to help them work the farm. The play follows Anne through her rebellious years, her transformation into a young woman and her romantic pairing with Gilbert. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Call 334-782-7317 for tickets and information.

July 21 Lip Balm and Candle Making Workshop

Get started on your Christmas gift list by making lip balms and candles this summer at the Elmore County Extension Office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pre-registration is required. A reasonable fee will be charged. Call 334-5676301 for information and registration.

July 23 Archery

Learn the basics of archery history, shooting and safety during this program from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the AWF Natureplex. For information, call 800-822-9453.

Season-Long Events Millbrook Farmers’ Market

Pick up fresh produce from 8 a.m. until noon at the Village Green in Millbrook every Tuesday all summer long, starting May 31. Early birds will find some growers who arrive before 8 a.m. Support your local growers and enjoy the market.

Cruise-In Car Show

Pull into the Super Foods parking lot on Gilmer Avenue, Tallassee, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. the third Saturday of each month for a look at the spectacular wheels.

Wetumpka City Pops

Wetumpka City Pops Community Band rehearses on Thursdays from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Wetumpka City Administration bulding. Any woodwind, brass and percussion players are encouraged to participate.

ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

Trusted. Rooted. Affordable.

Since 1969, one name has served our great community with the care and compassion it deserves — Jeffcoat. We celebrate the beauty of a life and make it our purpose to honor each one respectfully and affordably. Please take the time to compare our prices and services with those of other funeral homes... we know you will be pleasantly surprised. Our family would like to thank you for placing your trust in us for nearly 50 years.

255 Friendship Road • Tallassee • (334) 283-6801 • jeffcoatfuneralhome.com • Since 1969 ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

Business & Service Directory

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

Wetumpka

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

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

ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

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 â&#x20AC;˘ To Join, Call 334-567-7811 Alabama Power..........................................................................................................................3 City of Wetumpka....................................................................................................................2 1 Cloverdale Jewelers..................................................................................................................7 Collier Ford...................................................................................................................................7 Community Hospital..............................................................................................................4 7 Edgewood Academy................................................................................................................7 Gene Jones Insurance............................................................................................................5 3 Holley's Home Furnishings..................................................................................................5 5 Jackson Thornton......................................................................................................................5 Jeffcoat Funeral Home...........................................................................................................5 1 Karen's Mane Tamers.............................................................................................................5 2 Kowaliga Whole Health.........................................................................................................5 2 Lake Martin Mini Mall.........................................................................................................................2 Mark's Service Center...................................................................................................................... 5 1 OB-GYN Associates of Montgomery...........................................................................................5 Prime South Bank............................................................................................................................. 4 1 River Bank............................................................................................................................................. 2 0 Russell Lands on Lake Martin...................................................................................................... 3 3 Tallassee Health & Rehab, LLC...............................................................................................7 The Humane Society of Elmore County..........................................................................5 2 UAB Heart & Vascular.............................................................................................................3 5 Wetumpka Health & Rehabilitation LLC..........................................................................5 1 Wind Creek Casino..................................................................................................................5 6

ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

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 Jayne Carr or Molly Brethauer At 334-567-7811 or stop by our office located at 300 Green Street, Wetumpka AL 36092

Coffee worth the wait floated en mass to the top of my Mason jar. When I Last month, we talked about that good ol’ Southern tipped the jar over the strainer, the mass plopped out, standby, sweet tea. I’m a Southern girl, but truth be sending grounds and liquid everywhere. told, I prefer coffee to tea. All winter long, I drink my (Stop here to clean up mess. Big mess.) hot brew in the morning and right on into my three The coffee liquid I managed to strain and retain o’clock afternoon pick-me-up. At some point in the in my first measuring cup now needed to be strained spring, though, I can no longer tolerate a hot drink in in a strainer lined with a coffee filter. After about 15 the afternoon. Don’t know if it is the actual temperaM.K. Moore minutes, that was done. ture rise outside, the chill of the air conditioner or difSOUTHERN So two minutes to put the coffee and water in a jar; ference in the light due to Daylight Savings Time. Like DELIGHTS 12 hours to cold brew; some migratory bug two minutes to pour Mary Kather- or bird, my instincts it all over the kitchen; cause me to ditch a ine Moore is 20 minutes to clean up hot coffee in favor of an Alabama kitchen; and another 15 iced coffee. State Fair 1 cup ground coffee minutes waiting for the Way before there pepper jelly 4 cups water coffee to strain through was Starbucks and champion, has the coffee filter; plus, a way, way, way butchered a Combine in a jar and let sit on counter for dirty jar, a strainer, two before anything but a wild hog in 12 or so hours. measuring cups, a bunch breakfast cup of joe her kitchen Strain – very carefully – through wire of paper towels and a at McDonalds, folks and grows strainer. Strain again through wire strainer mop. took chances when heirloom tolined with coffee filter. I. Need. My. Coffee. ordering iced coffee in matoes in her To Drink - Fill glass with ice. Mix equal At this point, I was the South. Much like backyard. parts cold brew with water right in the thinking this was way ordering iced tea in glass. Just eyeball it. too much trouble for a New York, in ordering beverage, and perhaps an iced coffee here, To sweeten with sugar, use the sugar syrup I could have just been someone was bound from last month’s sweet tea article. Granuunhip and gone back to to pour hot coffee over lated sugar will not mix in cold coffee any drinking the morning ice and call it Day. more than it will mix in cold tea. leftovers. At home, I’m prone Finally, the coffee to pouring cold leftStore the rest of your cold brew coffee elixir was ready. over morning coffee in the fridge for tomorrow. Cold brew coffee over ice, which I now is very strong, so the understand is a comidea is to dilute with pletely Neanderthal move. Like many-a food trend, the hipsters have taken an equal part of water to drink it. I put ice in the glass and poured a portion of coffee and a portion of water, over not only coffee, but also now also iced coffee. added a little cream and some artificial sweetener. Seems iced coffee can never be exposed to heat at Some 14 hours after starting, I finally, finally got my any point. One must cold brew one’s coffee to get an coffee. icy caffeine fix. Well, ok then. Never one for shying I was grumpy. I needed caffeine. This did not bode away from a kitchen experiment, I decided to give it a well for the cold brew method. But you know what? It whirl. was good. Like really, really good. Smooth like smooth It was pretty easy. I put ground coffee in a jar with water and let it sit overnight. Shades of the sun-tea fad. jazz. And silky. It had a deep full coffee flavor without even the barest hint of bitterness. And the very best The next day, armed with a strainer, coffee filters part? There was a pint jar full of magic coffee elixir in and a couple of large measuring cups, I strained the the fridge ready to go, which meant the time to prepare coffee. Yep, strained it all over the counter, cabinets, iced coffee the next day was about five minutes. floor and me. Overnight, the coffee grounds had

Cold Brew Coffee

ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

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ELMORE COUNTY LIVING