DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 1
2 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 3
Letter from the Editor
C
ongratulations to Singleton Marine Group (SMG) for taking the No. 2 position on the Boating Industry Top 100 Dealers List for 2015! SMG also won the Most Innovative Dealer award for taking an “outside the box” approach to customer service. The company chose Lake Martin when it opened its first marina 27 years ago, and SMG has been an important part of lake life here ever since. Read about what this year’s most innovative boating company plans for the future on page 40. You’ll meet another group of innovators in Mia Osborn’s volunteer firefighting feature on page 52. As the average age of these volunteers continues to rise – and their ranks continue to decline – local volunteer leaders are developing some unique strategies to recruit firefighters and provide coverage for homes around the lake. Then, turn to page 44 for some innovative decorating tips from Sherri Ellis who changes the color scheme and style at her Ware’s Slough Russell cabin whenever the mood strikes. There are more innovation stories in this month’s issue of Lake magazine, too, from a Florida couple who launched a home-watching company at the lake shortly after they moved here (page 56) to our Healthful Living columnist, Julie Hudson, who on page 69 encourages you to take a unique approach to avoiding extra pounds over the holidays, which might be a real challenge after you see Rob McDaniel's Christmas dinner spread on page 60. But perhaps the best innovation story you’ll find in this edition of Lake should be credited to Lake Martin Resource Association president John Thompson. His passion for keeping our Treasured Lake Martin litter free has driven the success of Alabama Power Company’s annual “Renew Our Rivers” fall cleanups year after year. This year, despite inclement weather, a record number of volunteers turned out to collect more than 6 tons of trash on the shorelines, roadways, river and streams throughout the Lake Martin area. On pages 28 through 33, we congratulate just a handful of the 290 people who braved the rain and sloshed through the mud to pick up trash around Lake Martin. And we hope you will find some innovative ways to thank John Thompson and his stalwart volunteers for their tireless efforts on our behalf.
Staff Editor & Publisher KENNETH BOONE
editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
Managing Editor BETSY ILER
editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
Assistant Magazine Editor MIA OSBORN
mia.osborn@alexcityoutlook.com
Marketing/Advertising Director TIPPY HUNTER
tippy.hunter@alexcityoutlook.com
KIM MORSE
kim.morse@alexcityoutlook.com
EMILY GUILL
emily.guill@alexcityoutlook.com
Circulation Manager DAVID KENDRICK
david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook.com
Creative Services AUDRA SPEARS
audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com
DARLENE JOHNSON
darlene.johnson@alexcityoutlook.com
HALLIE HOLLOWAY
hallie.holloway@alexcityoutlook.com
Contributors KENNETH BOONE JOHN COLEY HENRY FOY JOHN THOMPSON JULIE HUDSON ROB MCDANIEL
GREG VINSON CLIFF WILLIAMS LEE WILLIAMS MITCH SNEED DAVID GRANGER JESSE CUNNINGHAM
All content, including all stories and photos are copyright of:
256-234-4281 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. P.O. Box 999 Alexander City, AL 35011
Betsy Iler, Managing Editor 4 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
On the Cover Cover: Food columnist Chef Rob created a unique and flavorful Christmas table featuring stuffed quail and roasted vegetables, and this month he offers his top tips for stressfree preparation of a special holiday meal. Photo by Kenneth Boone
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 5
Not all “Highspeed Internet” is the same. A SPEED FOR EVERYONE 5 MEG, 10 MEG, 20 MEG & NEW - 30 MEG (10X FASTER THAN DSL) ON OUR NEW ETHERNET NETWORK
COM-LINK, INC. Serving the Lake Martin area since 1996
Connect NOW! 1.800.722.2805 SPEED + SECURITY 6 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
Contents 20. 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF LAKE Our final 10th anniversary roundup includes all the things that make great times on Lake Martin 28. LAKE CLEANUP 2015 We recognize some of the many volunteers who helped with the 7th annual cleanup 40. SINGLETON, RUSSELL HONORED A salute to three Lake Martin boat dealers who placed in Boating Industry's Top 100
52
44. UPSCALE CABIN LIVING Interior designer Sherri Ellis' basic Russell cabin goes big on style without breaking the bank 52. ON FIRE FOR SERVICE Local volunteer fire departments fight understaffing as well as fires 56. PARK AND MARTHA MYERS A Florida couple finds a business niche at the lake 58. LAKE VS. BEACH Make a lake vacation your fist choice when planning next year's getaway 60. CHRISTMAS DINNER Chef Rob McDaniel helps you pull off a special holiday dinner, SpringHouse style
LAKE MAGAZINE’S MONTHLY FEATURES:
e
- edition
44
9. LAKE’S QUICK GUIDE TO THE LAKE 10. LAKE SCENES 15. WHERE IS LAKE? 16. LAKE EVENTS 18. LAKE MARTIN NEWS 24. GEO 101 35. LETTER TO THE EDITOR
36. NATURE OF THE LAKE 64. FAB FINDS 66. HOBO 68. LAKE PROPERTY 69. HEALTHY LIVING 70. BIG CATCHES 72. FROM THE CELLAR 75. PRO TIPS & TEE TALK
Lake magazine also features an online, digital edition, available 24 hours a day, free of charge. This edition is perfect to share with friends and family and provides you complete access to stories, photos and advertisements from anywhere in the world with Internet access. View our digital edition today at www.issuu.com.
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 7
364 Highway 280 Alexander City, AL 35010
(P) 256-329-1180 (F) 256-329-1173
8 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
Lake’s Quick Guide to the Lake Lake Martin Area Real Estate Indicators Sales Month
October 2015 October 2012 October 2009
Number of sales
Average selling price
Median selling price
Days on the market
Total houses for sale
Inventory/ sales ratio
26 21 14
$540,602 $605,429 $435,493
$547,500 $350,000 $340,250
179 245 206
291 340 503
10.21 18.55 30.80
The above numbers are derived from raw sales data from the Lake Martin Area Association of Realtors MLS.The sales noted above are for Lake Martin waterfront residential (single family and condominium) sales only. This informtion is provided courtesy Lake Martin Realty, LLC. (A Russell Lands, Inc. affiliated company.)
Fishing Forecast for December
As the warmer temperatures of late fall continue to cool toward winter, the fish will be more active and fishing more fun, said Randy Baker of Fish Tales Bait & Tackle in Alexander City. “You’ll catch bass on spinner baits and crankbaits. Early in the month, you can catch them on topwater baits,” Baker said. “Try jigs and plastics.” The cooling water temperatures also will start stripers moving back into creeks where they are more accessible to the everyday fisherman, he added. “Use live bait for stripers, but this time of year, you can also catch them on artificial baits,” he said. Bream and smaller pan fish will be moving into deeper water, though crappie will still be out in 15-20 feet of water. “They will start moving shallower for a time in December before it turns real cold,” Baker explained. As the water level on Lake Martin continues to draw toward the winter pool level – still officially 10 feet until the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approves the request for a higher winter pool – fish could be easier to find around humps, Baker said. “Look at humps, especially shallower humps. Fish gravitate to humps as the water draws down. When the water level reaches winter pool, they’ll disperse out again, but during the drawdown, you might find them around humps.”
Lake levels during the last month
Summer: 491 MSL Winter: 481 MSL Highest: 486.51 Lowest: 483.49 Lake elevations are subject to change. Individuals who recreate below Martin Dam and those with boats and water-related equipment on the lake should always stay alert to changing conditions. For up-to-date lake levels, log on to https://lakes.alabamapower.com.
Fast Facts on Lake Martin Lake Martin is fed by the Tallapoosa River 880 miles of shoreline 41,150 acres The lake holds 1,622,000 acre feet of water It drains 2,984 square miles of watershed Maximum depth is 155 feet Average depth is 41 feet The lake is 31 miles in length
Lake Martin's weather outlook for December Year to Date
December 2015 Forecast
Our Normal December Precipitation: 5.43 inches Avg. high temp.: 73 Avg. low temp.: 21 Average temp.: 45.7
Information from the National Weather Service.
Precipitation: 43.06 inches Avg. high temp.: 76.7 Avg. low temp.: 53.7 Average temp.: 65.2
DECEMBER 2015
Historically, the Lake Martin area experiences average high temperatures in the low 70s with lows near freezing and about 5.25 inches of precipitation in the month of December. The National Weather Service has predicted that temperatures and rainfall will be above average levels this month.
LAKE 9
LAKE SCENE
Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
PEOPLE AND PLACES
1
2
3
4
5
6
Reader Submissions (1) Larkin Adams, granddaughter of Wayne and Janet Austin, enjoying the view from the boat with her dog, Charley. (2) Matthew Lancaster, 5, wake surfed near Chimney Rock this summer with his dad, Jason. (3) Mary Frances Bloodworth captured a silvery sunset over Lake Martin. (4) Hadley Gililand found this little frog lounging outside the birdhouse at the Howell House. (5) Tony Tumblin, grand-dog of Tom and Charlotte Bryant, posed for a portrait in his stylish life jacket. (6) Lorelei and Owen Durbin joined Zachary and Matt Lancaster for a porchside picnic and craft time.
10 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE SCENE
Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
2
1
3
6
PEOPLE AND PLACES
5
4
Reader Submissions (1) The Watkins family went all out for their 20th annual Halloween party at Smith Mountain. (2) Summer sun casts soft light over Smith Mountain in this photo by Tony Johnson. (3) Twins Kat and Connor Foreman showed off their best moves at the lake this summer. (4) Alice Squires took her quarter horse, Cotton, for a dip after they rode the Russell Forest trails. (5) Genice Fuqua took this picture of grandsons Aiden, Avery and Addison Reeves on their yearly trip to the lake. (6) Aaron, Griffin, Ross and Drew Sanders relax on their grandparents' dock.
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 11
LAKE SCENE
Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
PEOPLE AND PLACES
2
1
3
4
5
Reader Submissions (1) Rhett Farrior caught these point houses shrouded in early morning fog. (2) Will Sawyer, 6, loves riding his wakeboard on Lake Martin. (3) Steve and Colleen Kimsey took this photo of a beautiful Bald Eagle in the Longleaf area of Blue Creek. (4) Anthony Edwards snapped this rare double rainbow south of Lake Martin in late September. (5) Emily Grace, Jason and Heidi Jacques take their wave runner for a spin on Lake Martin.
12 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 13
Up to 20%
MSRP
Cash back on select 2014, 2015 and 2016 vehicles in stock.
- OR -
Qualified buyers can get up to
0% APR for 72 months on Select Models
1551 Hwy 280, Alexander City, AL 256.234.3432
www.tallapoosaford.com
14 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS LAKE?
Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com
PEOPLE AND PLACES
1
2
3
4
Reader Submissions
(1) Paul and Dee Lewallen took Lake to the top of the London Eye for a photo with Big Ben. (2) Ken and Angela Ledbetter and Lee and Genice Fuqua took Lake on vacation to St. John in the Virgin Islands. (3) Sherri Blasingame and friends took Lake to the Bama vs. Ole Miss game in Tuscaloosa. Left to right, front to back: Kat Hawkins, Hannah Funderburk, Kerra Hawkins, Claire Garrett, Emmalin and John Sullivan, Kristin Dean, Sherri Blasingame, Kim and Hagen Vickers, Kerry Hawkins, Kristina Clary, Jordan Gilliland, Gage Whiteard, Keith Dean, David and Rita Taylor, Jill Worthy, Chuck Bradley, Carol Dean, Portia and Allie Worthy, Jimmy Vickers. (4) Hugh Thompson and wife Sharon Cleary posed with Lake as they sailed away from Sibenik, Croatia.
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 15
Dec. 1-8 An Eclectic Christmas
bring out your own guitar to join in the Christmas Jam Session at 9 p.m. with national singer/songwriter Keith Moody follows. For more information about Eclectic’s Merry Christmas to All, call Lisa Elliott or Heather Martin at 334-541-3581.
Experience the Christmas Story firsthand at the 8th annual An Eclectic Christmas walking tours at the Falk Farm. The farm is located at 1733 Claude Rd., Eclectic, Alabama, 36024, just south of Eclectic on Highway 63. Admission is CALENDAR OF EVENTS free; donations are accepted and appreciated to help with WHAT’S HAPPENING ON LAKE MARTIN expenses. Tour groups are scheduled in 15-minute increments. The 6 Santa and Mrs. Claus will ride p.m. and 8 p.m. time the sleigh into Alexander City slots on each producduring the annual Hometown tion night are handiChristmas Parade on Dec. 7 capped accessible. Please notify us when registering if you require assistance. Reservations are suggested and may be made by phone at 334-578-4846, by email at reservations@aneclecticministry.org, or by visiting www.aneclecticministry.org.
Dec. 4 Music of the Season
Under the direction of Mr. Jerry Cunningham, Chair of the Tallassee High School Music Department, local singers will present a program of Christmas and seasonal musical selections at 7 p.m. at the Tallassee High School Auditorium. Choral, ensemble and solo pieces in religious and pop will be included. Tickets are $10 for adults; $5 for students. For information, call Mona Mills at 334-2014892.
Dec. 7 Hometown Christmas Parade
One of East Alabama’s largest parades, Alexander City’s annual event will wind through historic downtown Alexander City at 6 p.m. on the first Monday in December. Police Honor Guard, Navy Jr. ROTC, elaborate floats, dancing groups, beauty queens, marching bands, horse-riding clubs and Santa Claus highlight this highly-anticipated annual event.
Dec. 11 Merry Christmas to All
The Eclectic Christmas Parade begins at 5 p.m., followed by visits with Santa and the Town Tree Lighting Ceremony atTown Hall. At 7:30 p.m., the Community Choir will present a cantata, Fantasia Noel, at the high school auditorium. Then, 16 LAKE
Dec. 12 Christmas in the Park
The fun will start with the "Wild & Crazy Reindeer Race" sponsored by the Boys & Girls Club. The race starts at 2 p.m. At 4 p.m. local performers will play Christmas music in the hollow. Santa and his real, live reindeer will be there to hear about your Christmas wishes. There will also be an appearance by some of your favorite Frozen characters; there will be Polar Express train rides and a skating rink. Skates will be furnished! The park will be lit for carriage rides with family and friends. And there will be coffee, hot chocolate and a s'mores bar. The evening will close with a big screen showing of the classic movie, Frozen. All activities for this event will be free except the skating, there will be a $5 per person charge for this activity. So bring your family, your camera and create some wonderful Christmas memories.
Dec. 12 Camp ASCCA Jingle Jump
Form a team and help Camp ASCCA raise $26,775 by jumping in the pool during the camp’s annual Christmas Weekend. Just raise $725, and you get to jump in the pool! Visit campascca.networkforgood.com for details.
Dec. 13 Spirit of Hometown Christmas Parade
Dadeville’s annual Christmas parade will start at 2 p.m. Vendors are welcome. For information, call Cheryl Haggerty at 256-825-4532.
Dec. 15 Art Association of Central Alabama
Meet at 10:30 a.m. at the Lake Martin Area United Way building in Alexander City. Artistic technique in painting,
DECEMBER 2015
drawing and other arts taught at each meeting. For information, call Martha McKnight 256-825-6503 or Jerri Hallmark 256-825-0595.
Jan. 16 Alice in Wonderland
Missoula Children’s Theatre will bring their production of Alice in Wonderland to the Tallassee High School Auditorium at 5:30 p.m. This whimsically madcap, fun-filled fantasy is entertainment for the whole family. Follow Alice as she wanders through a terrific adventure into the zany world of Wonderland, complete with truly unforgettable characters – white rabbits, mad hatters, homicidal queens and a misguided jabberwocky! Can Alice save them all? Or is this just a dream? Tickets are $10 for adults; $5 for children. For information, call Mona Mills at 334-201-4892.
Jan. 19 Art Association of Central Alabama
Meet at 10:30 a.m. at the Lake Martin Area United Way building in Alexander City. Artistic technique in painting, drawing and other arts taught at each meeting. For information, call Martha McKnight 256-825-6503 or Jerri Hallmark 256-825-0595.
Jan. 22 Mardi Gras Auction
St. James Episcopal Church will host live and silent auctions at this inaugural event to support the Feast of Sharing ministry, which provides free meals twice a week at First United Methodist Church to some 100 people in need. Auction items will include original art, a Russell Marine wakeboarding package, framed photography by Kenneth Boone, handmade pottery items, a vacation at the beach for the whole family and the Rev. Rob Iler’s handyman services for a day. More items will be added before the event. There will be beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages, hors d’oeuvres, desserts and entertainment. Tickets are $25 per person and can be reserved by calling St. James Episcopal Church at 256234-4752. For information, contact Heidi Ross at 256794-7010 or Susan Mange at 601-234-4752.
Season-Long Events Library Storytime
Storytime for children ages 5 and younger is held at the Dadeville Public Library every Tuesday at 10 a.m.
Electronics Recycling
The City of Alexander City Public Works Department will host an electronics recycling event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month in conjunction with the Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership. Electronics contain a number of harmful chemicals. The events give citizens a chance to get rid of old and outdated electronics without risking the water supply by sending them to a landfill. Items accepted
include desktop or laptop computers, computer mouse, keyboards, modems or routers, CDs and DVDs, power supplies, PC mix systems, home or cell phones, printers or copiers, mainframe servers, TVs, audio/video adapters, laptop chargers, cable boxes and nickel cadmium or lithium ion batteries. There is a $10 fee per television. For more information, call Sabrina Wood at 334-4298832 or Amanda Thomas at 256-409-2020.
Sarah Carlisle Towery Art Colony Exhibit
The Sarah Carlisle Towery Art Colony on Lake Martin exhibit is on display at the Alexander City Board of Education building all year long. The Board of Education is located at 375 Lee Street.
$20 on the 20th
The Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce is asking our community to spend $20 on the 20th of each month to help our local economy.
Children’s Harbor Thrift Store
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. You never know what gems you might find – from clothes and household items to boats. Proceeds are used to help fund the activities at the Lake Martin campus of Children’s Harbor and the Family Center at Children's Hospital. Call 334-857-2008 for more information.
Memory Makers Quilt Guild
Meets the second and fourth Mondays at the Senior Center on the Charles E. Bailey Jr. Sportplex campus. Participants come and go between 1 and 8 p.m. with a business meeting at 5, followed by show-and-tell. Bring sewing projects, machines and questions.
Real Island Supper
The Real Island community hosts a covered dish supper every third Friday of the month (2nd Friday in December) at the Real Island Volunteer Fire Department and Community Room, 1495 Real Island Road, Equality. We have a lot of fun, and everyone is welcome. Admission is $3 per adult; bring a covered dish to share. Some nights are “themed,” so call ahead to find out if costumes or certain types of food are in order. For more information, contact Dianne Perrett at 256-3298724.
Antique Car Cruise-in
On the first Saturday of each month, car enthusiasts cruise into Arby's parking lot on Highway 280 in Alexander City from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Join the fun and enjoy an era of classic cars and classic music.
Charity Bingo
Play charity bingo at Jake’s on Broad at 16 Broad St., Alexander City, at 6 p.m. every Thursday night. Cards are $1 and proceeds benefit local charities.
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 17
Lake Martin News Lake Lessons for the next generation Gifted students at Radney Elementary School are learning just how clean Lake Martin is. “You see this snail?” Lake Watch’s Dick Bronson asked Laurie Barrett's students during a recent outing. “What direction does the snail turn?" When a students responded that it turned to the right, Bronson asked, “What does that mean?” “It means the lake is clean,” another student said. “That’s right, the right-handed snails mean clean water,” Bronson said. “Now the left-handed snail is a different story.” Bronson and volunteers from Alabama Water Watch taught the students three ways to test water. “There are three techniques for determining water quality that we are using with the students,” Bronson said. “Biology, bacterial and chemical. We just want to teach them about nature and the environment. To be better stewards of what is around them, birds, critters and water. We want to teach them about water quality and how the little critters can tell you about what is going on with the water.” Barrett has taken Radney students to the park in the past, but this year is a little different. “This is the first time we have put all three testing methods together,” Barrett said. “But it has been a great way to kick off the first trip of the year. “For the kids that like to get in the water and get a little muddy, the biology tests are for them,” Barrett said. “The students who are more into science will like the chemistry and chemical testing. For many students, it will be the first time handling the chemicals for the test.” The next trip the students will get a little more in depth. “Two weeks from now we are going to go to Sucker Creek,” Barrett said. “We are going to take more time and only do the biology assessment.” The field trips are preparing the students for their next project. “We have a $5,000 grant with the Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership,” Barrett said. “We are going to do some stream restoration work behind the UAB Cancer Center near 18 LAKE
the school. There is a stream there that the students have adopted. We are going to be planting different wetland grasses and plants to help the stream.” Barrett said she hopes the gifted program and its field trips lead to big things for the students. “Part of the goal of the gifted classes is to get them in the field,” Barrett said. “We want them learning about their environment, hopefully thinking about science careers.” ~ Cliff Williams
Sessions speaks to Georgia Water Wars Following a tour of Horseshoe Bend National Military Park last month, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) said one of the biggest issues facing the area right now is the protection of the water that supplies Lake Martin. He mentioned the continued disputes with Georgia and Florida over rights to flows from the Tallapoosa and Chattahoochee rivers. “We’ve had some battles but the main thing is that this great river system cannot be subject to damage by Atlanta and other big areas that disproportionately take water out of the system,” Sessions said. Current withdrawals from the river, Sessions said, by some of those areas are unauthorized according to the original act that created the dams, Sessions said. He mentioned that the wording of the resource manual of the Corps of Engineers could affect current and future diversions. “We don’t want them to write it in a way that affirms the takings that are occurring now,” said Sessions. According to Sessions, governors are supposed to negotiate a compact that serves the interest of all the states and, ultimately, these disputes cannot be settled in Congress. “But I really think we need to have the states to settle this, which is what the law contemplates,” said Sessions. He also talked about the economic benefits from drawing retirees to the area. But comments were primarily focused on maintaining the area’s natural resources and in particular its waterways. ~ Corey Arwood
DECEMBER 2015
Lake Martin is the Fairest of Them All Tallapoosa County was recently named the “prettiest” county in all of Alabama by The Washington Post. The Post article was called “Every county in America, with areas ranked by scenery and climate,” which got its numbers from the USDA and what is called the “natural amenities scale.” This scale takes into consideration the degree and amount of “natural amenities” present within every county of the U.S. These amenities consist of geographical variations like the presence of water, such as lakes or rivers, and mountainous terrain, among other factors, like how temperate each region is throughout the different seasons. Tallapoosa County was ranked 433rd overall, but considering that there were a total of 3,111 counties ranked, Tallapoosa County placed relatively high on the national scale. “I think it’s a tremendous honor … but it’s also one that I think is very deserving,” said John Thompson, president of the Lake Martin Resource Association. Thompson has been in the Tallapoosa County area since 1992, and this is his fourth year as president of the LMRA. He has also been involved in organizing efforts to clean local rivers for about eight years, and he said the latest effort brought out nearly 300 volunteers. Thompson said that he has done extensive hiking, backpacking, canoeing and kayaking in many different areas. “No other state or county had as many great offerings as far as the outdoors and the environment is concerned,” said Thompson. Sen. Jeff Sessions was at Horseshoe Bend National Park last month and commented on the ranking. “I don’t know how they rate those things, but you can’t get much better than Tallapoosa County,” Sessions said. He said that he thought the area was particularly pretty and that the combination of valleys and rivers and hills is what appealed to him. He said that it was good for the local economy and was comparable to industry in importance. “I do think that beauty creates an opportunity for attracting vacationers and people that come for recreation and retirement,” said Sessions. A lauded photographer based in the area, Jim Denney said he agreed with the ranking. “I think that Tallapoosa County is an outstanding county, especially for a photographer … We’ve got so many creeks and great scenes here on the lake,” Denney said. ~ Corey Arwood DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 19
Great Times on Lake Martin PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
O
ver the last few months, we have celebrated the 10th anniversary of Lake magazine with collections of the stories and photos that have appeared in these pages since
the first issue was published in March 2005. We hope you have enjoyed this walk down Memory Lane, as we have had a great time browsing through back issues of the magazine to choose the
pictures and events for each month’s anniversary section. To end our anniversary year, we wanted to share photos that are representative of great times on the lake. Taming the wind
Jumping, swimming and boating at Chimney Rock
Tricks behind the boat
20 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
Great times with friends
Fireworks at The AMP
Night fishing
Views from Smith Mountain
Views from Martin Dam
Relaxing on the beaches
Quiet times on the water
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 21
2015 Something for everyone in your nest.... Let us wrap a gift for you! Buttons & Bows 107 N. Broadway, Sylacauga, AL 35150 256-249-9988 buttonsnbowbtq.com
Christmas For the foodie on your list, give a Catherine’s Market gift basket or gift card. Sure to please with wine options, gift items, natural and organic products, premium meats, cheeses, seafood and made-from scratch pastries and bakery items. Located in the heart of Russell Crossroads. Catherine’s Market www.CatherinesAtCrossroads.com
Auburn Art is the ultimate Auburn fan’s home for unique gifts that represent the Auburn spirit! Shop our store in downtown Auburn or online Auburn Art www.auburnart.com Shopping for the water enthusiast on your list? Visit Russell Marine and receive 25% OFF All Pro Shop merchandise – including the NEW 2016 wakeboards, surfboards, skis and accessories. Visit RussellMarine.net and remember to like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram.
Kowaliga Restaurant gift cards are a perfect way to treat family and friends to lunch or dinner on beautiful Lake Martin. Stop by to see all the branded merchandise…. T-shirts, hats and koozies make great stocking stuffers. Kowaliga Restaurant www.KowaligaRestaurant.com
22 LAKE
Lake Martin Mini Mall has the areas largest selection of Big Green Eggs & Eggcessories with free set-up and delivery. Lake Martin Mini Mall 7995 Kowaliga Road Eclectic, AL 36024 334.857.3900 www.lakemarinminimall.com
DECEMBER 2015
Schedule a guided trail ride in the beautiful Russell Forest. Or a gift card just might be the perfect surprise for horse enthusiasts on your Christmas list. The Stables at Russell Crossroads www.RussellCrossroads.com
Fringe Consignment Boutique is your source for fine designer and chic fashions. Ladies, teens & young adults clothing, shoes, purses and jewelry. “Changing shopping habits...one closet at a time.”
125 S 8th Street, Downtown Opelika (334) 705-6727 www.fringeofopelika.com Mon.-Sat. 10-7
Gift Giving Guide BOTE Stand Up Paddle Boards & Accessories! Receive $100 Off your next purchase with this ad. (Offer
Get your Holiday Gifts here, from Homemade Home Decor, Pink Zebra, Hair Accessories and Much More! The Butterfly Barn 256-786-9871 facebook.com/thebutterflybarn
only applies to purchase of paddleboard. Accessories not included. Offer not valid on sale items and % off merchandise. Valid thru 12/31/15)
Lake Martin Dock Company 180 Birmingham Road, Eclectic, AL 36024 334.857.2443 sales@lakemartindock.com
Underwater Fish Light Illuminate your waterway & attract fish or your money back. 3 Year warranty and 100% money back satisfaction guarantee - Try one risk free for 60 days! Easy installation with no electrical knowledge needed. Just plug it in! Lake Martin Dock Company 180 Birmingham Road, Eclectic, AL 36024 334.857.2443 sales@lakemartindock.com
Wickles Pickles Gift Box - (2) Original pickles, (1) original relish and (1) spicy hoagie & sub relish. The perfect gift for all the WICKLES fans on your list! Wickles Pickles Dadeville, AL 36853 www.wicklespickles.com
Yeti items are at the top of everyone’s Christmas list this year! Come by Russell Do it Center in Alex City and Eclectic and check out our line of Yeti coolers, accessories and so much more! Don’t forget, we also have gift cards! Russell Do it Center www.RussellDoitCenter.com
Gift certificates from SpringHouse make the best gifts for the dining aficionado. They can be redeemed for dinner or Sunday brunch. The experience of dining with Chef Rob at SpringHouse is something that will become a holiday tradition. SpringHouse www.SpringHouseatCrossroads.com
DECEMBER 2015
Big Green Egg and Engel Coolers Satterfield 1584 Hwy 280 West Alexander City, AL 35010 256.234.0450
LAKE 23
There's another Blue Creek beyond the bridge
Little Martin
Life is quiet on the other side of Blue Creek 24 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
63
Timbergut Landing
22
280
Horseshoe Bend National Park
Jaybird Landing
Alexander City
Camp ASCCA
9 Flint Hill Church 280
49 22
Jacksons Gap 280
Piney Woods Landing
Wind Creek State Park
Pleasant Grove Church
11
Alex City Boat Ramp
Mt. Zion Church
259 9
Dadeville
Bethel Church
128
63
D.A.R.E. Park Landing
Friendship Church
57
280 New Hope Church
20
Liberty Church
Camp Hill
Smith Landing Willow Point
Pleasant Ridge Church
24
34
63 Camp Alamisco
Equality
Lake Martin Baptist Church
Kowaliga Boat Landing
49 Church of the Living Waters
The Ridge
55
Seman
Church in The Pines Camp Kiwanis
Trillium
Little Martin
Stillwaters
Union Landing
Children’s Harbor The Amp Kow
alig aB ay
Walnut Hill 50
80
9
90
Central
Union Church
Red Hill 63
50
Union
GEOGRAPHY 101
49
229
Eclectic
Tallassee
STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE Kent
Reeltown
F
rom her mouth at the Tallapoosa River to the Highway 49 overpass, Blue Creek is known for pizza at Chuck’s, resort living at Harbor Pointe and open water for swimming, boating and jumping wake to wake in the wide open waters. But beyond the StillWaters Highway Bridge, there’s another Blue Creek. Almost a lake unto itself, the other Blue Creek contrasts sharply with the busy-ness of the 5,257-acre main section of the creek with its 577,652 feet of shoreline. At just 392 acres and 68,133 feet of shoreline, the section of Blue Creek between Barron Bridge and StillWaters Highway goes largely unnoticed, and that’s how the area’s residents like it. “We like having it on the quieter side,” said Terri Knight who has had a house between the bridges since 2012. “We call it Little Martin.” DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 25
LAKE MARTIN MINI MALL FREE SET-UP AN D DELIVERY ON EGGS
5%
SALES TAX
10% Off Everything In Store! Nearly 69,000 feet of Blue Creek shoreline lies beyond the sign on StillWaters highway
We Believe in Quality Products Wed. - Fri. 10-5 • Sat.9-4 • Sun 1-5 7995 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024 • 334.857.3900 www.LakeMartinMiniMall.com
Everybody thinks about IT, but not everyone plans for IT. Choose someone you can depend on. • Burial & Cremation Services • Prearrangement Planning • Caskets, Urns, Vaults & Monuments
Choose Radney Funeral Home PO Box 99 1326 Dadeville Road Alexander City, Alabama 35011 256-234-2511 www.radneyfuneralhome.com
26 LAKE
Langley Funeral Home PO Box 130 21837 U.S. Highway 280 Dadeville, AL 36853 256-896-2571 www.langleyfuneralhome.com
Large boats can’t get under the Alabama Highway 49 bridge past Blue Creek Marina at full pool, which limits boat traffic to smaller vehicles and fewer large wakes, especially during the summer months. “We like to float in the water, and there are almost no boats over there,” said Knight. “And it’s a great place for smaller kids. It’s easy to get beginners to learn to ski.” Little Martin enjoys depths of 30 feet or more at full pool, so there’s no shortage of water for recreation – just a limit to the craft that can access it. During the summer months, outside watercraft traffic on Little Martin is limited to wave runners, kayaks and canoes, paddleboards and the few pontoon boats that can cautiously slip under the bridge beams. “As the water goes down, it’s easier for boats to get under, and there’s more access to our part of the lake in winter,” Knight explained. That quiet lake life was a selling point when her family chose the four-bedroom lake house, as was the water quality. “Crystal clear water,” she said. The area’s proximity to Auburn was another plus, Knight said. “We live in Opelika, and Little Martin is the nearest point to us. It’s the shortest drive to the lake, only 25 to 30 minutes,” she noted. With GPS coordinates at 32 degrees 44 minutes 13.5 seconds North and 85 degrees 46 minutes 27.5 seconds West, this section of Blue Creek is the easternmost point of Lake Martin. Yet Little Martin is close to the attractions and amenities that the Blue Creek area of the lake has to offer. It’s only minutes from Chuck’s Marina and the StillWaters Resort with its golf course and the new Copper’s Grill restaurant. Groceries are close by, too, with the Walnut Hill area at the intersection of highways 49 and 50 to the south and the intersection of Highway 49 and County Road 34 to the north, lying east of the Pace’s Point Peninsula. Creekside Lodge is nestled between the highway and Little Martin’s northernmost slough while Blue Creek and Lakeside marinas offer services at the bridge. “We love it here,” Knight said. “It’s like having our own private lake.”
DECEMBER 2015
Check out these new products and more while supplies last. Faucet Covers on SALE for
1.59
$
Merry Christmas to all from:
LAKE MARTIN BUILDING SUPPLY
2695 Dadeville Road
256.234.5500
Alexander City, AL
Looking for the perfect home? Contact us today.
TRILLIUM
5 BR, 4.5 BA • $1,795,000
BRANCH RUN
3 BR, 2 BA • $459,000
TRILLIUM
4 BR, 3.5 BA • $892,500
WINDERMERE
5 BR, 3.5 BA • $449,000
TIMBER C COVE OVE
5 BR, 3 BA • $639,900
FIRST FI RST S S STREET, TREET ECLEC ECLECTIC C CTIC C
WILLOW POINT
LARGE PRESTIGIOUS LAKE LOT • $429,000
AMANDA SCROGGINS amanda@amandascroggins.com www.amandascroggins.com 256-749-6634
4 BR, 3 BA • $549,000
SOUND LANDS END 3 BR, 4 BA • $399,500
SAMANTHA SPURLIN sam@samanthaspurlin.com www.samanthaspurlin.com 256-786-0650
office 256.329.LAKE (5253) • 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 27
Lake Cleanup 7th Annual Renew Our Rivers effort at Lake Martin draws record volunteer numbers STORY BY MITCH SNEED & PHOTOS SUBMITTED
S
ome 290 volunteers Nov. 6 and 7 braved messy weather to collect more than 6 tons of trash in the seventh annual “Renew Our Rivers” Lake Martin Cleanup, according to John Thompson, president of the Lake Martin Resource Association. “We had a total of 290 volunteers, including Camp Fire Girls, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other youth groups that removed trash from roadways, the Lake Martin shoreline and the Tallapoosa River,” said Thompson. The cleanup effort included volunteer crews who dispersed at Wind Creek State Park, Smith Mountain, public boat ramps at Kowaliga and Coley Creek and a portion of the Tallapoosa Scenic River Trail. “Four dumpsters located at three locations – Wind Creek State Park, Kowaliga public boat ramp and Coley Creek public boat ramp – were each one-half to three-quarters filled. In addition, more than 100 volunteers disposed of approximately 125 bags of trash at Real Island Marina, Kiwanis Girl Scout Camp and New Site,” Thompson said. Another group met at New Site on Nov. 7 to pick up trash. “We had a great turnout, and we were able to do a lot of work around the Hillabee Creek Bridge,” said County Commissioner John McKelvey who lead that effort. “We had an entire dumpster from there alone. It was good to get that done.” In addition to the lake, its shore28 LAKE
Julie Burns and Liz Parker take a break at Jay Bird Creek Landing
line and adjacent roadways, this year’s cleanup also included portions of the new Harold Banks Canoe Trail from Horseshoe Bend to Jay Bird Creek on the Tallapoosa River. Kayakers and canoeists took to the water to collect trash in areas that were inaccessible by land. LMRA, Alabama Power Company, Russell Lands, Advanced Disposal, Wind Creek State Park and Lake Martin Towboat sponsored the 2015 cleanup that drew volunteers from Birmingham and Auburn, in addition to the local turn out. DECEMBER 2015
There was much work to be done on the shores of Lake Martin
Ken and Tonya Holland, Art Jennings and Matt Bailey brought in a boatload of trash at Wind Creek Park
Steve Robinson at Coley Creek
Girl Scouts from all over Alabama came to Lake Martin's aid
More Girl Scouts combine their efforts
Alex Johnson, Jackson Dozier and Clint McKelvey
Art Jennings fills a trash bag at Woods Island
Amaya, McKenzie, Sydney, Jenna, Paige, Abbie, Elisabeth, Tori, Kinsley, Avery, Emma, Lily, Rosie, and Cadence
Leslie Sowash, Teresa Birnell and Meredith Harrison brought Girl Scouts Anna, Emma, Kinsley, Avery and Emily
Bill Thompson and Billy Barrett take a break from thier hard work
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 29
Bags and boxes of garbage piled up in no time
Abigail Joie Zinn brought class with a sash while picking up trash
Recycling Royalty Jr. Miss Teen Lake Martin Mackenzie Willoughby and Miss Lake Martin Print Model Abigail Joie Zinn
Many areas were nearly capreted with litter
John McKelvey, Katie Rasbury, Whit Milford and Rebecca Rasbury
Pi Sigma Phi members with Jerry and Cheryl Bynum
Members of UAB National Honor Fraternity Pi Sigma Phi
30 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
Leland Martin and Shirley and Jerry Williams cleaned the roadside at Bay Pines
Volunteers piled trash to the gunnels of pontoon boats Campfire Girls collected at Elkahatchee Creek
Tommy Abernathy cleaned the shore at Wind Creek
Volunteers delivered collected trash to designated public boat ramps
Lynda Davis, Charlotte Denton, John Coram, Chester Bell, Charles Borden, John Coram III, Lee Reynolds and Will Denton
Bill Harper at Wind Creek
John Coram III
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 31
Sandy Thompson and Sandra Thompson
Volunteers unload a boat at Wind Creek
Chuck Hicks
Many dumpsters were filled by the end of the weekend
Michael Clelland at Coley Creek
Ken Cowart, Edward Bailey and James Cowboy Bailey at Kowaliga boat ramp
Chester Bell and Lynda Davis
Charlotte Denton
32 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
Harriette Spiegner, Jean Allred and Bud Nason
Mary Carol Rasbury
Alyssa Gaither, Tyler Brown, Jeremiah Golden, David Joiner, Whit Milford, Katie Rasbury, Mary Carol Rasbury, Alyssa Milford and Rebecca Rasbury Harriette Spiegner and Jean Allred
After canoeing almost 6 miles picking up trash from the water during the Renew Our Rivers cleanup event, Chuck Browne got out of his boat and sank up to his knee in mud on the Tallapoosa River shoreline near Jay Bird Creek
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 33
34 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
Successful Cleanup LETTER TO THE EDITOR BY JOHN THOMPSON
Miss Junior Teen Lake Martin Mackenzie Willoughby collects trash during the annual lake cleanup
With the 2015 LMRA “Renew our Rivers” Lake Martin cleanup now completed and T-shirts distributed, I want to express sincere gratitude to all those that cared enough to come out under threatening skies to participate. It was a big success, with more than 6 tons of trash removed from the shorelines and roadsides in the Lake Martin community. In addition to expressing appreciation for all volunteers, I want to acknowledge the following contributions: Tim Price for furnishing the snacks and bottled water; Ken Cowart and the Rescue Squad for providing boats and manpower; Marshall Griffin for sponsoring the hot dog cookout at Wind Creek Park; Alabama Power Company for providing boats and manpower; Bruce Adams and staff at Wind Creek Park for providing boats and manpower; Bill Thompson for providing boat and manpower; UAB Friends for caring enough to make the trip from Birmingham to participate; Jackson Dozier, Towboat Lake Martin, for boat and manpower; In addition to these special contributions, we could never have a successful cleanup effort without the wonderful support of Betsy Iler, Editor at Lake magazine and Mitch Sneed, Editor at The Outlook. We are extremely blessed and very appreciative to have your support. John Thompson, LMRA President DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 35
Bluegill NATURE OF THE LAKE BY KENNETH BOONE
P
ound-for-pound, you’d be hard pressed to find a scrappier fish than a “bull” Bluegill. This fish is fearless – a half-pounder doesn’t think twice about attacking a human that’s 400 times its size if that person happens to swim too close to the nest the bluegill is defending. Fishermen appreciate the Bluegill’s feisty nature. Combine that with its ability to reproduce very quickly and its reputation as a good fish for the dinner table, and you’ll quickly realize why the Bluegill is one of America’s most popular stocked fish. Bluegills are one of many members of the bream or sunfish family that is native to Alabama, and it can be found in most bodies of water in our state. In fact, it is native to the entire eastern U.S., from Mexico to Canada; however, it has been introduced all across the U.S. and is now found in 49 states – Alaska is the only exception. 36 LAKE
This fish is so good at reproducing that it is considered an invasive pest in some areas, such as Germany and Japan, and may have caused native fish extinctions in some places where it has been stocked. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley made a gift of live Bluegill to Akihito in 1960, when he was the crown prince of Japan. Akihito donated the Bluegill to a fishery; the fish escaped and have caused problems for native Japanese fish ever since. When Akihito became
DECEMBER 2015
America's panfish will bend a rod, stock a pond and star in any fish fry
emperor of Japan, he apologized for the Bluegill situation in his country. This fish’s scientific name is Lepomis macrochirus, meaning “scaled gill cover” (Lepomis) and “large hand,” (macrochirus). Most mature bluegill are about the size of a large hand, which may account for its name. This fish is also known as a Bream, Brim, Copper Nose, Sunfish,
Sunperch, Panfish, Blue Bream, Copperbelly, Copperhead, Roach and Blue Sunfish. The name “Bluegill” comes from the iridescent blue and purple color on its gill cover and cheek. This fish is often identified by a dark, almost black spot on its “ear,” or the rear edge of its gill flap, and a similarly colored spot on the base of the dorsal fin. Its chin is blue, and its flat, tall, disc-shaped body usually has five to nine dark olive vertical stripes that can become more or less apparent depending on the fish’s mood. Bluegills have yellow breasts and bellies, and during breeding season, the breasts of males become deep, bright orange. These fish are usually 5 to 12 inches long, but they have been recorded to reach 16 inches. The IGFA world record Bluegill – a whopping
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 37
4 pounds, 12 ounces – was landed in Alabama’s Ketona Lake in Jefferson County by T. Hudson on April 9, 1950. Bluegills have small mouths designed for eating insects and small aquatic animals, and they eat a lot of them, up to a third of their body weight each week. Mayflies, caddisflies, dragonflies, crawfish, snails, freshwater shrimp, worms and small fish are all on the Bluegill diet. The fish capture their prey by getting up close and quickly opening their mouths, which creates suction. When Bluegill eat insects on the surface – mayflies are a favorite – you can hear the popping sound as they suck them down. This habit makes Bluegills especially good targets for fly fishermen, who cast dry flies and popping bugs for them. Many animals target Bluegill, including bass, catfish, pike and many other gamefish; turtles; birds, such as great blue herons, crested cormorants and belted kingfishers; as well as mammals, including raccoons and otters. Most ponds stocked with Largemouth Bass are also stocked with Bluegill that serve as food for the bass. Dawn is when Bluegills hunt most actively; dusk is another active feeding time for the species. Bluegills school in groups of up to 20 – sometimes schooling with other species – and they move from deep water in the daytime to shallow water at night, often hiding around structure during the brightest hours of the day. Bluegills mature in one year and typically live 4-6 years, though they have survived to the ripe old age of 11 in captivity. During the breeding season, which begins when water temperatures reach about 70 degrees, usually from April to September in Alabama, male Bluegill put on their mating colors. A male will begin digging a shallow crater-like depression for its nest. These nests are roughly the size of dinner plates, preferably built in sand or fine gravel where the water is less than 3 feet deep. Schools of 20-50 bull bluegills will build their nests together, pocking the bottom. Once the nest is finished, the bull will take up a position inside and begin grunting to attract females while he chases away any other creature that comes near the nest. When a prospective mate swims into the nest, the male will grunt at her aggressively. If she stays in the nest, they will begin swimming in circles, a sort of mating dance, before the male stops upright in the center of the nest and the female tilts at an angle so their bellies can touch; then, spawning occurs, with the sperm and eggs released into the water. The fertilized eggs fall to the bottom of the nest. A female may leave her eggs in a number of different nests, and she can deposit more than 50,000 eggs. Once the eggs are in the nest, the bull looks after them, protecting the nest, fanning the eggs and attacking anything that gets too close until the eggs hatch about a week later. Bluegill are one of the species that are density dependent: As their number in an area of water increase, their size decreases. In stocked fishing ponds, it is important to remove fish, so they don’t become overpopulated. Fishermen who target bluegill tend to so when they are “on the bed,” using small jigs and spinnerbaits, like Beetlespins, with ultralight gear, worms on cane poles or wet or dry flies on flyrods. Bluegill are usually scaled and pan fried whole, which make a tasty summer meal with hushpuppies and coleslaw. Some information for this article came from www.outdooralabama.com, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Orvis.com, www.animaldeversity.org.
38 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
Memorable occasions at our place or yours Whether planning your corporate event, an intimate dinner in your home or a lavish holiday party, Catherine’s Market, Kowaliga and SpringHouse offer an array of delectable catering options sure to impress your guests and make your occasion truly unforgettable. Holiday parties and dinners h Small, intimate, in-home gatherings h Corporate functions to personal celebrations Business breakfasts, lunches and meetings h Private chefs at your location At your venue or ours h Modest or magnificent, we’ll take care of all the details, so you don’t have to.
Our catering planners are at your fingertips. Just contact us and we’ll help you
make your occasion one memories are made of. For more details, contact Emily Spink at 256.794.1397.
Contact: Darrius Brown
256.215.7070 www.CatherinesAtCrossroads.com
Contact: Marie Mitchell phone: 256.215.7080 DECEMBER 2015 www.SpringHouseAtCrossroads.com
Contact: Stacey Jones phone: 256.215.7035 LAKE 39 www.KowaligaRestaurant.com
Singleton, Russell honored as top U.S. Marinas STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
T
hree Lake Martin boat dealers last month took honors at the Boating Industry awards banquet in Orlando, Florida, with Singleton Marine Group (SMG) taking second place and Russell Marine fourth out of 5,000. SMG also took the award for Most Innovative Dealer at the Nov. 18 gala event. Skier’s Marine, which opened a facility here last summer, was named to the unranked Top 100 Dealers list. Boating Industry, the leading dealership trade magazine, for 11 years has ranked dealerships by a criterion that includes customer service, boat show strategy, training and advocating for the boating industry, as well as other areas. Lake Martin companies historically have ranked high on the Top 100 list with both SMG and Russell Marine named among the top 15 dealers in North America since 2010. Singleton’s head of marketing Evan Davis said company leaders tried to think outside the box of marketing and customer service strategies to win the innovation title. “In everything we do, we try to support the philosophy that if we are treating the customer unlike anyone else, everything else will fall into place,” Davis explained. “One of the things we did
was we found that our customers were two times more likely to listen to Internet radio, so we created a station where they could listen to boating music.” Davis said SMG also expanded clinic and demo day activities to include entertainment and a food truck at some facilities. “We brought in the top wakeboarder in the world to do free wakeboard clinics for our customers,” he said. “We took people out, and he watched them ride and gave them pointers. With those types of events, we were able to leverage our size to pull in big name people like that to provide unique experiences for our customers. That’s not an option that is generally available for smaller dealers.” SMG has grown substantially in recent years, Davis said, lending more to the success at this year’s industry awards event. “We have a total of 28 locations – 19 sales locations, some marinas and service centers – as far west as Texas and as far north as South Carolina and south in the panhandle of Florida. We are predominantly around Alabama and Georgia,” he said. Singleton Marine Group opened its first marina at Blue Creek in 1988 in a building that once was a gas station.
Russell Marine took fourth place on the list this year
40 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
Singleton Marine Group last month was named No. 2 on Boating Industry's Top 100 dealers in North Amrica
Recently, Davis said, as SMG has added dealerships to the company, those acquisitions have retained a local identity by operating under their original names instead of assuming the SMG logo. “We’ve taken the approach to keep dealers’ names when we acquire them, and that’s shaking up the industry a bit,” Davis said. “We created OneWater Marine Holdings that is over all of them. “A lot has happened in the past year for us. We have three additional dealerships, and we opened several new locations. Expansion will be featured pretty dominantly in the next year. We will focus internally on the infrastructure to support that recent growth and adopt some standardization. We are trying to look at what our acquisitions have done right and see how we can apply those things across the company. Dave Commander at Russell Marine said great employees are largely responsible for the company’s consistent placement on the Top 100 list since Boating Industry, the leading trade magazine for boat dealers, started publishing the list 11 years ago. “They have a passion for excellence and service, and they are dedicated. They keep customers coming back,” Commander said. “Every year, our revenue goes up, and our customer satisfaction scores keep going up. Great customers and great employees are the primary reason, with special emphasis on our employees. “And we are fortunate to be on Lake Martin, such a great environment surrounded by a lot of good people, and we have great competition on Lake Martin with Singleton Marine Group and Skier’s Marine also being at the top of the dealership list.” DECEMBER 2015
Customer service strategies won the Most Innovative Dealer Award for SMG
LAKE 41
21 Main Street 256.329.9227 • www
42 1 LAKE LAKE
NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2015 2011
City Pawn ANDY TUCKER Pawn Broker
We Buy Gold & Silver Coin Dealer 256.329.8780 148 Calhoun Street Alexander City, AL (Across from Piggly Wiggly)
t, Alexander City w.mainstreetac.org
1
ST
Realty
BILL WHATLEY
BROKER, CRS, GRI, ABR, SRES
Off 256-234-5163 800-471-LAKE Res 256-329-8891 Cell 256 - 234-9295 FirstRealty@lakemartin.net www.LakeMartinHomes.net First Realty 468 Church Street, Alexander City, AL 35010
NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2015 2011
LAKE LAKE 43 2
UPSCALE CABIN LIVING
An artistic eye turns a simple Russell Cabin into a elegant weekend retreat STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
44 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
Ellis added a few classic pieces to the white walls and dark floors of a basic Russell cabin
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 45
A simple tree and red pillow add a pop of Christmas
She added interest in the master bedroom with textures, pillows and linen drapes
W
The porch view includes The Ridge across Ware's Slough
ping for an upscale look on a basic budget. hen Sherri Ellis signed the lease last “There’s nothing wrong with using inexpensive items year on a blank slate Russell cabin on that are good quality to achieve a high end look,” she Ware’s Slough, the Tuscaloosa native and said. “You can splurge on a few things like my hide Birmingham resident had a decorating plan bench and the end dining chairs, but you don’t have to for every mood and season. spend a lot on the rest of it.” “It’s a small space, and I wanted to keep it fresh, not So other than installing the appliances and stacking a boring. I didn’t want to invest a lot of money in it either,” few colorful dishes on the upper shelves in the kitchen, said Ellis, the owner of Birmingham’s Ellis Interiors. Ellis hung some cute lake themed dishtowels and turned “There’s a lot you can do with a simple cabin, and it her attention to the living spaces. doesn’t take a big budget to achieve a great look.” “I get bored with the same décor pretty easily, so I Having visited friends on Lake Martin on and off over the past 20 years, Ellis was tempted to have a place of her decided to go with a neutral palette that I can change out quickly with pillows and accent pieces any time I feel own. like it,” she said. “I didn’t know if I was really going to be here enough She selected an eclectic variety of styles in her furnishto justify a purchase, so I leased a basic Russell cabin. ings and, depending on the look she wants to achieve, It’s a great way to try out living at the lake for a short plays those elements up or down, so they will stand out or time without a long term commitment,” she explained. be less noticeable whenever she chooses. With a practiced “The cabin was just white walls and dark floors when I eye, the design liaison for the recent Birmingham Home started. I did almost nothing to the inside except bring in and Garden “Inspiration Home” collected a few pieces for beautiful things.” each of the decorating schemes she wanted at the lake, so The three-bedroom, two-bath cabin had a fireplace, a she would have items that she knew would work together small kitchen and a 11 x 30 foot screened porch. A prewhen she switched from one look to another. vious occupant had installed granite countertops in the In the open dining room, Ellis placed a farm table kitchen, but there were no appliances, so the first thing under the new light fixture and surrounded the table with Ellis did was pick up basic appliances in stainless steel. “The plantation shutters were on many of the windows. a mixed bag of seating options: two elegant upholstered Russell replaced a light fixture in the dining room for me. chairs finished with rustic nail heads, a pair of acrylic If you buy the fixtures, they are great about putting things ghost chairs from Ikea and a Zentique hide bench. She fell in love with a photo on canvas from Ikea and topped up for you. They also installed some can lights on a dimthe table with a bread bowl from At Home. mer for me which really brightened the space,” she said. Against the wall, she tucked a small bar and wine rack, Three months before she moved in, Ellis started shop46 LAKE DECEMBER 2015
A silver reindeer and bucket of Christmas ornaments dresses up the bar area
She kept the plantation shutters left by a previous renter
Colorful pillows can be changed out whenever the mood strikes
Ellis made no changes to the outside of the cabin
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 47
Building Trust... One Project at a Time! ALL WORK GUARANTEED
LAND OR WATER
FREE ESTIMATES!
• Gazebos • Seawalls • Pile Driving • Boathouses • Floating Docks • Boat Lifts • Step Systems • Decks
PLEASE GIVE US A CALL! (256) 268-8309 customdocksllc.com
CUSTOM DOCKS LLC 48 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
and above that Ellis hung mirrored fish pictures and a silver deer head from Z Gallerie. But she could and sometimes does replace them with other art pieces from her designated design closet if the occasion calls for a different style of décor. “I can go from Christmas to springtime in about 15 minutes,” she laughed. “A small space doesn’t need a big change to give it a new look.” By adding pillows on the slip covered Ikea sofa and chairs and switching a few accent pieces on the sofa table that has been in her family for years, Ellis can go from whimsical and bright to a more traditional cabin feel with heavier fabrics and fur throws if the mood strikes her. The standing lamps from Stock & Trade were one of the few splurges in which she indulged, because their versatility lends style to any changes she might make to the living area. By the same token, she keeps the changes subtle and the holiday decorations low key. “It only needs a little touch of Christmas,” she said. So a few sparkling red and green balls in a bowl and a small Restoration Hardware lighted tree dominate the cabin’s yuletide décor. Ellis found a simple mantel garland at Hobby Lobby and added a moss reindeer to the sofa table. On the hearth, she placed a basket of longleaf pine cones she picked up in her yard. In the bedrooms, Ellis was more interested in sleeping comfortably than she was in filling the small rooms with all of the traditional furnishings, like chests and dressers. “We just don’t need that at the lake,” she said. She put a king bed in the master with two small bed-
The background of white and cream makes it easy to add touches of color
Ellis purchased her own appliances for the cabin and added a few touches of color in the kitchen
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 49
A bright green on the pillows and rug dress up the wicker on the screened porch
side tables; then, she covered the windows with linen drapes. The gray and white bed covers and pillows dress up the small space. Though the Russell cabin’s master bath is small, Ellis gave it a larger look with a big decorative mirror and open shelving. In the guestroom, she put a queen bed and complemented its braided wingback jute headboard with a white trapunto spread, adding colorful pillows for contrast against the neutral backgrounds. Very little needed to be done outside, she said, so she parked a couple of rocking chairs in the middle of the porch for lake watching and added a table and chairs at one end. A wicker seating area on the opposite end offers comfortable seating out of the weather when she has friends at the lake. While the water level was down last winter, she lugged some rocks up from the lake bottom on her 175foot frontage for a fire pit, around which she arranges Adirondack chairs for taking in a view of The Ridge across the slough. A flagstone walkway leads to the docks. Last summer, she threw a floating mat off the dock and spent afternoons in the unique utter relaxation that only Lake Martin can offer. It was that lakeside relaxation – no matter the mood or occasion – that she was looking for when she leased the cabin last year and came home to the lake.
50 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
The occasional touch of Christmas lends holiday style to the small space
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 51
Lake Martin's volunteer fire departments strive to overcome challenges and attract volunteers STORY BY MIA OSBORN & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE, CLIFF WILLIAMS AND COURTESY OF KOWALIGA VFD
52 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
ON FIRE FOR SERVICE
Molly Parker, Dawn De La Cruz, and Eva Decker suited up for Firefighter 160 training.
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 53
V
firefighter,” said Tommy Johnson, olunteer fire departments Assistant Chief of Kowaliga VFD. were created to answer cries Those standards involve a lot of for help from the communitime commitment on top of hard ties they serve; however, in recent physical work. years Lake Martin area VFDs have “Being a volunteer firefighter is been issuing distress calls of their not an easy job. You get calls at all own. Local VFDs are suffering hours of the night,” added Danny from a lack of volunteers. Lloyd, Secretary of Eagle Creek According to Jason Moran, VFD. Emergency Medical Technician The challenges of drawing Director for Tallapoosa County, young volunteers and convincing the problem in many VFDs is not those with full time jobs and famiso much the number of willing lies to join have inspired several volunteers but their ages. local VFDs to work on unique “There are roughly 200 firesolutions. fighters in the county as a total,” The Reeltown VFD recently said Moran. “Approximately 110 came up with a way to spread of those 200 are 50 years old or the word about volunteering at greater. The reality of these numlocal high schools. Instead of a bers means that in a few years traditional health class, kids at there will be departments that Understaffing at local VFDs Reeltown High School this year cease to function as a result of no can slow response to fires were given the option to earn class one to perform the firefighting credit through a one-semester VFD task.” course. This lack of young volunteers “We wanted to show the students what the fire department is even worse in fire districts with small populations. Moran said rural departments have been hit the hardest because they is about, not what they think it is about,” said EMS Officer Cecelia Johnson. have a smaller group of potential volunteers from which to At the end of the semester, students over 18 could take the draw. And the problem will only get worse as time goes on. Emergency Medical Responder exam. This exam is a prereq“Lots of our rural departments have no one on their roster uisite for firefighter training at the Alabama Fire College. in their 20s, 30s or 40s,” Moran said. While the Reeltown school experiment has helped raise Even if younger people would like to be involved with the youth awareness of the need for volunteers, growth is still local VFD, they are less likely to do so because of time conslow. Many VFDs have come to rely on neighboring departstraints due to jobs and schoolwork. ments for help. “The reason I see it a challenge to recruit is that a volLloyd explained that a typical house fire call needs eight unteer is required to hold at the same standards as a paid Many VFDs work together to provide aid over large areas
54 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
volunteers for a full response: four firefighters working two hoses, two fire tanker operators, a pump operator and a safety officer, in addition to the fire chief. While every VFD has more than eight volunteers on staff, most of those volunteers have day jobs that cut into their available hours. Depending on the number of volunteers at a given fire station and the number of them that can respond to calls on a given day, there may or may not be enough people to staff a fire call. This insecure situation has led some local volunteer fire departments to call on volunteers from other districts for help when they are understaffed. Lloyd called this an automatic aid agreement. Since Eagle Creek is a small VFD, it has developed an automatic aid agreement with nearby Jackson’s Gap. Another challenge that might discourage a potential volunteer from becoming a firefighter is the training involved. The Alabama Fire College training course, commonly called Firefighter 160, is designed to prepare volunteers for the physical and mental skills they would need for the job. The course was originally centered on the AFC campus in Tuscaloosa, but now volunteers have the option of attending training at an approved Regional Training Center, such as Kowaliga VFD. Eva Decker and Dawn De La Cruz are both natives of California. They work at Chuck’s Marina, but volunteering for the Union VFD helps them fill the off-season. They are two of four women from various VFDs currently enrolled in Firefighter 160 at Kowaliga. “For me, it was a community call,” said Decker. This motivation helps potential firefighters get through their training, as the demands of the job are rigorous. In addition to the Emergency Medical Responder exam, all Firefighter 160 applicants must pass the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT). The CPAT consists of eight physical challenges, including dragging a 160-pound dummy 75 feet to simulate the rescue of an unconscious fire victim. Trainees must also use a sledgehammer to show they are able to break down doors in case forced entry is needed in a rescue situation. Another challenge of Firefighter 160 training has volunteers pick their way through a smoke-filled trailer full of hallways and sharp corners. This trailer is meant to teach volunteers how to work together in a house fire. The propane flames can be shut off quickly should something go wrong, but temperatures inside the trailer still reach upwards of 500 degrees. If all this seems too intense, there are many other volunteer positions that need to be filled. Lloyd said there are numerous jobs available at Eagle Creek and many other VFDs, such as cutting grass, cleaning equipment and collecting dues. “If someone wants to volunteer, I am sure that there is a job available that would match their skills,” Lloyd said. The current Kowaliga class is made of individuals from ages 21 to 66. Johnson explained that Kowaliga isn’t looking for a physical type in its volunteers, but rather, a particular attitude. “It’s the willingness to put other people first and to do our part to make our community better,” he said. The need for money goes hand in hand with the need for volunteers. Tommy Johnson said the Kowaliga VFD and its neighbors have taken out advertisements, sponsored open
houses and provided information to churches and schools in the hopes of encouraging the interested to become involved or donate. Donations, like volunteers, are even harder to find at small VFDs. Lloyd said Eagle Creek distributes a yearly letter to the local community asking for volunteer and financial assistance. They would like to do more to do more to get the word out, but again, they are limited by lack of funding. Having enough resources is crucial, not only because it helps VFDs serve their communities, but also because it saves those communities money in the long run. The better staffed and maintained a VFD is, the lower the rating that department will be given during inspections by the Insurance Service Office (ISO). A lower rating means lower insurance premiums paid by people in the VFD’s service area. When a VFD is well maintained, everyone wins, especially the volunteers who put their lives on the line to help others. “It’s a community thing,” said Dawn De La Cruz, who has worked for fire departments since 2007. “We love our community, so it’s just what we do.” All donations to volunteer fire departments are tax-deductible. For more information on donating and volunteering, contact your local VFD. Volunteers practice in simulated and training burns
Reeltown students learn CPR as part of their VFD class.
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 55
Park and Martha Myers Florida couple finds a business niche at Lake Martin
STORY BY JOANNE CUNNINGHAM WALKER PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE
56 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
W
hile Martha and Park Myers were looking for their own home on Lake Martin last year, they began to wonder, “Who is taking care of all these beautiful lakefront homes, many of them occupied only part-time?” That question launched them into a whole new facet of real estate and a valuable service for lake homeowners. The Myers knew real estate, having spent their professional lives in commercial real estate development, from shopping centers to residential dwellings to government buildings, primarily in Florida. “Park is CEO and a very detail-oriented person. I am a worker bee,” Martha described their partnership. “She is the people person, great in sales,” Park said of his gregarious wife. They grew up in Florida, met on a blind date and married in 1970. For the next 40 years, they pursued the real estate profession in the Tampa area while they also raised a son. The Myers had ventured out West for many years on vacations – skiing in the winter and hiking, fly fishing and camping in summers. “We are out-of-doors people,” they said. In 2010, they moved fulltime to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and traveled back and forth to visit their son, an attorney in Macon, Georgia, and his wife, a judge, and two grandchildren. Through Facebook, they re-connected with longago Florida friends, Marsha and Bob Hunt, who now live on Lake Martin. So, on one of their trips south, the Myers proposed, “How about we stop and visit?” After 40 years, the friendship was rekindled. “We picked up right where we left off,” they said. The Myers liked Lake Martin and rented a cabin near the Hunts for one winter. That did it. The allure and natural beauty of this lake captured their hearts. And as they had tired of shoveling snow and a move put them closer to their son and his family, they picked up their household and Belle, their golden retriever, and settled into a house in the Sandy Creek area. Still, they kept coming back to the intriguing idea that so many part-time vacant homes were not being professionally managed. “We had just come from another vacation area in Colorado and knew many of the problems presented by vacant houses: busted pipes, fallen trees, gnawing squirrels, plus security issues,” Martha explained. Park added, “Of 7,800 lake homes 5,000 are parttime residents – vacation homes.” Further investigation led them to the National Home Watch Association, a professional affiliation of more than 75 home watch companies located
throughout the United States and Canada. Diligent research and conversations with a number of home watch company operators lead the Myers to found ProWatch, a bonded, insured, licensed and fully accredited home watch service on Lake Martin. Their services are vast and varied, ranging from picking up package deliveries on doorsteps to meeting with repair people and even long-term, comprehensive routine inspections. For example, Park explained, if a homeowner is going to be away from the lake for an extended period of time; or perhaps the kids or grandkids have been visiting, and they are not familiar with closing the house; or maybe a storm has blown across the lake or the area has experienced a power outage, homeowners could contact ProWatch to discuss their specific needs. The Myers would draw up a customized individual checklist for the property with weekly, biweekly or monthly inspections, depending on the homeowner’s needs, which might include interior and exterior inspections, checking scheduled home services, securing boats, retrieving trash cans from the curb and more. “Interior inspections, as an example, may include water leaks, mildew, re-setting thermostats seasonally, checking electrical panels and re-setting breakers,” Park explained. “The bottom line is whatever will give homeowners peace of mind while they are away.” The couple use GPS enabled software that lets homeowners know exactly when they arrive on the property and provides a customized report, detailing their findings with photographs, if needed. They also use FLIR thermal cameras to pinpoint areas that are not sealed or insulated properly and moisture meters to find moisture before it causes problems. For the Myers on Lake Martin, the new business venture also puts them close to lots of fun and friends, near family and plenty of outdoor living. Park is an avid hunter. He may even hold a record as the only person who got three turkeys at 53 yards with one shot. Both of the Myers are fishing fans. Martha earned the “Snook Queen” nickname after she caught a record setting 22-1/2-pound, 41-inch long snook during a Gulf outing. But her passion is fly-fishing for trout in the West and bass on Lake Martin. The couple now warns their Sandy Creek neighbors, “If you see a pontoon boat dropping catfish traps, that might be us.” For more information about home watch services, visit www.prowatchlakemartin.com. Or email park@prowatchlakemartin.com or call the Myers at 256-786-9087.
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 57
Lake vs. Beach
Vacationing on a white sand beach can cost substanatially more than the vacation at the lake
STORY BY MIA OSBORN & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
No salt, no sand, no sharks - no problem
F
or many people, a lake vacation is a back-up plan put into effect in late spring when their hopes for a trip to the beach fall flat for lack of time or funds. But planning for a trip to the lake now just might benefit your health, as well as your wallet. We’ve rounded up a few reasons why the best spot for your next vacation might be close to home. Sandy ocean shores are supposed to be the picture of blissful relaxation; however, science suggests the average vacationer has less to fear from the environment at the lake than the beach. For one, the ocean is teeming with dangerous marine life. Lakes also have predatory animals, but they aren’t big enough to pose a threat to humans. Toothy Lake Martin natives, like the lamprey eel, are scary but harmless.
58 LAKE
Meanwhile, visitors to the Gulf of Mexico risk swimming with jellyfish, barracuda and the occasional shark. Even if you don’t get in the water, there’s another danger lurking at the beach: Sunburn is much worse at the beach. According to a 2012 article from The Huffington Post, those who sunbathe on white sand beaches often get more burn than they bargained for because sand reflects an extra UV ray punch – as much as 25 percent of the sun’s rays. Those rocky lake shores might not be as picturesque as sand, but the sun’s reflection on the rocks won’t increase your chances of skin cancer. You also won’t have to clean loose sand from your suitcase when you get home. Then there’s the cost. For those not lucky enough to live
DECEMBER 2015
on the water, a vacation at either the lake or the beach requires lodging. “For a week long vacation, the average size rental house has three to four bedrooms,” said Rhonda Gaskins, a Realtor for Century 21 Lake Area Realty at Lake Martin. For a rental house of this size in the Crowne Pointe area, a vacationer can expect to pay about $1,700 a week. Compare that to $2,822 for a weeklong rental on the Gulf Coast in July. To be fair, beachside vacationing is significantly less expensive in the off-season: That same rental house would cost $1,505 if you vacationed in the off-season, but the off-season generally is not a good time to get away. If children are still in school, options are limited to the most expensive times of the year. Beach vacations can continue to rack up costs even after the vacation is over, as the salt damage caused to electronics – such as cellphones, laptops and the kids’ gaming devices – may not be noticed until it’s too late to be remedied. And an article at the Department of Motor Vehicles website, www.dmv.org, recommends that people staying at the beach keep their vehicles washed, waxed and inspected regularly for signs of salt damage. This damage isn’t limited to just the metal parts of the car, as vinyl tops also are at risk for damage that might not be noticed until after the vacation is over. “Salt spray can accumulate underneath vinyl and may go undetected until it has caused serious damage,” site authors wrote. And there are lots of things to do at the lake all year round, from boating, fishing and camping to shopping and enjoying the fare at local restaurants, horseback riding, hiking and trail biking. So when you’re searching for your next peaceful vacation, consider the lake as your first choice instead the back-up plan.
Comprehensive Cardiac Care Close to Home
Kevin Sublett, MD, and the Cardiology of Central Alabama clinic are now part of UAB Medicine, bringing the latest in cardiac treatments and technology to Alexander City and surrounding communities. Together we have formed the UAB Heart & Vascular Clinic of Central Alabama, providing the world-class care you have come to know from UAB close to home. We are conveniently located in the Russell Medical Center. Dr. Sublett and his staff are committed to helping patients enjoy full and active lifestyles, offering: • • • •
Full spectrum of cardiovascular care Care by physician, board certified in interventional cardiology Latest in 4-D and 2-D ultrasound and nuclear medicine imaging Diagnosis and treatment of cardiac rhythm disorders
Call us today to schedule an appointment!
3368 Highway 280, Suite 130 Alexander City, AL 35010 (256) 234-2644 uabmedicine.org/heartcentralAL
DECEMBER 2015 Heart & Vascular Clinic ad COLOR 4.8x9.75-LakeMagazine.indd 1
LAKE 59 10/12/15 11:36 AM
Christmas Dinner A very special Lake Martin
CHEF’S TABLE
BY ROB MCDANIEL Rob McDaniel, executive chef and general manager at SpringHouse Restaurant, earned a bachelor's degree in restaurant and hotel management from Auburn University and is a graduate of the New England culinary Institute.
A
s a chef, I have experience in knowing when I can cook certain dishes and what I can heat up to make all of the dishes for Christmas dinner ready to serve at the same time. Home cooks don’t know that, because they don’t cook for that many people on a regular basis; yet, they want to cook a very special meal, something they don’t cook for the everyday table. My best advice is to plan a smart menu, something that does not require everything going into the oven at 350 degrees at the same time. Don’t overcommit yourself, or you might find that you will have to spend
60 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
all your time in the kitchen instead of enjoying the company of family and friends. Having a good game plan is the most important element for a successful holiday dinner. You can do something special – something that’s not the norm – without working at it all day. A menu featuring stuffed quail and roasted vegetables is a delicious alternative to the traditional turkey, and it won’t rob you of precious visiting time. But if it just won’t be Christmas without the turkey, you can still have a great meal and a great time socializing if you start with a good plan.
Brussels Sprouts and Cranberry Agrodolce
Roasted Baby Carrots with Curried Peanuts, Honey and Mint
Roasted Cauliflower
Roasted Baby Carrots
Brussels Sprouts 1 pound fresh Brussels sprouts 2 tablespoons olive oil Trim the stem end of each sprout and cut in half; then, blanch in boiling, salted water for 30-45 seconds and place in ice water. When they are nice and cold, drain very well. In a cast iron skillet, heat olive oil over medium high heat and very carefully add Brussels sprout; if you have dried your sprouts properly this will flame up so be very careful. Depending on the size of your pan, you may have to work in batches. Once the sprouts start to slightly brown, warm them through and place on serving plate; sprinkle with cranberries.
4 bunches baby carrots 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 whole Arbol chilies 2 whole bay leaves 1/2 cup water 2 sprigs thyme 2 tablespoons honey 10 small mint leaves Remove tops from carrots and wash; don’t peel the carrots but be sure to wash well. Place everything in a medium roasting pan and cover with foil. Cook in a 350-degree oven for 30-45 minutes or until the tip of a pairing knife can be inserted and easily removed. The size of the carrots will really be the determining factor for cook time.
Roasted Cauliflower 1 head cauliflower 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus 1 tablespoon for finishing 1/2 tablespoon salt 1/2 tablespoon black pepper Place cauliflower in baking dish and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Place in a 350-degree oven for 45 minutes or until nicely browned. Every 10 minutes, spin the pan one-quarter turn. When browned evenly, drizzle with one tablespoon olive oil.
Cranberry Agrodolce 5 cups dried cranberries 1 1/2 cups water 1/4 balsamic 1 tablespoon dark honey Place cranberries in enough hot water to cover and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Bring the water, balsamic and honey to a simmer. Strain cranberries but reserve liquid; add cranberries to simmering liquid and cook for 30 minutes over low heat. Stir cranberries every few minutes. The cranberries should absorb liquid, but if they get too dry, add a little of the water they were soaked in. Allow to cool.
Curried Peanuts 2 cups roasted peanuts 2 tablespoons vindaloo curry or yellow curry powder 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 tablespoon olive oil Salt to taste Melt butter in a sauté pan with olive oil; mix in curry powder and cook for 2 minutes. Place peanuts in curry mixture and toss; place in a 350-degree oven for 5-8 minutes. Remove from oven; season with salt and allow to cool. Toss several times during cooling process to coat peanuts with curry mixture. Once the peanuts are cool, rough chop. Place carrots on a serving platter; sprinkle peanuts over the top and drizzle with honey and mint.
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 61
5 Tips to Lighten Your Holiday Load If turkey tops the menu, make sure your bird is completely thawed and close to room temperature. Depending on its size, you may need to thaw the bird in the refrigerator for one or two days prior to cooking so don’t wait until Christmas Eve to start planning. Pull the bird out of the refrigerator 30 to 45 minutes before putting it in the oven. Write yourself a time line. Have a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, depending on whom you are cooking for and how long everything is going to take to cook, and lay out a cooking schedule. Tape the plan to a cupboard door or post it on the refrigerator with magnets; you want to be able to consult it frequently and at a glance without having to go looking for it. If you have a food warmer, here is your chance to use it. Side dishes hold well, so cook them ahead of time and hold them in the warmer. If you don’t have a food warmer, no problem; you can turn your cooler into one. Place a heating pan in the biggest cooler you have for 30 minutes or long enough to warm it. Boom! You have a warmer. If your guests offer to bring something, LET THEM! Finally, let your bird rest. After removing from your favorite method of cooking, let your bird rest for 15 to 20 minutes in a warm place. This is a good time to bake the rolls, reheat a side or visit with your guests. It doesn’t matter what cooking method you use, resting the bird will make it better. Christmas is meant to be shared with loved ones, so start with a plan and a menu that won’t rob you of time to relax together. Enjoy! ~ Rob McDaniel 62 LAKE
Roasted Manchester Farms Quail with Dirty Rice Stuffing and Roasted Vegetables
Roasted Manchester Farms Quail with Dirty Rice Stuffing 1 cup dry rice 2 1/2 cups chicken stock 2 bunches green onion 2 minced cloves of garlic 2 sprigs of thyme 1 cup finely chopped chicken livers and heart (you can substitute mushrooms) 2 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon salt 1/2 tablespoon black pepper 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper In a heavy bottom pot over high heat melt butter; add rice and toast, being very careful not to burn. Once the rice has started browning, 3-5 minutes, add livers, hearts and garlic. Stir mixture until livers and heart start to brown; add seasoning, green onion, thyme and stock. Bring everything to a boil over high heat; then, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 10 minutes. When rice is tender, spread dirty rice out to cool. Stuff 6 quail with dirty rice; cross legs and fold tight against breast; then, tie with butchers twine to secure. Season the outside of quail with salt and pepper; brown in a cast iron pan. Once browned, place in a 400-degree oven for 10 minutes.
Roasted Vegetables 2 apples – cut each into 6 wedges 2 persimmons – cut each into 6 wedges 1 heads fennel – cut into 16 wedges 5 baby turnip tops trimmed and washed 5 baby golden beets tops trimmed and washed 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 whole Arbol chilies 2 whole bay leaves 1/2 cup water 2 sprigs thyme Place turnips, beets and fennel in a medium roasting pan and cover with foil. Cook in a 350-degree oven for 30-45 minutes or until the tip of a pairing knife can be inserted and easily removed. The size of the beets and turnips will be the determining factor for cook time; 20 minutes into roasting, add persimmons and apples. Place roasted vegetables on a large serving platter or cast iron pan and serve stuffed quail on top.
DECEMBER 2015
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 63
FROM OUR REAL ESTATE ADVERTISERS
119 Sierra Court, Dadeville • $340,000 Like new 4BR/3BA lake home ready to move in. Open floor plan. Finished basement with bath, great room and shop. Irrigation system, perfect Mother-In-Law plan! Fruit trees, Knock-out Roses, covered porch located in a quiet cove not far from Hwy. 280. Metal roof, undergroung utilities. First Realty Call Bill Whatley 256-234-5163 • 1-800-471-LAKE www.LakeMartinHomes.net
FABULOUS FINDS
533 1st Street, Eclectic • $549,000 Unique, Lake Home!! Open LR, Kit, DR w/exposed beams and ductwork making for an Urban Cabin Feel! Freestanding gas FP, vaulted ceilings, gorgeous heart pine floors, lots of windows. Kit. features large, imported wooden island from Europe W/concrete countertops, SS appliances, gas stove. Also, ice maker and wet bar. 2 BD w/Jack n Jill BA on main level. Lower level has Master suite, 4th BD/BA and laundry. Covered boatslip, storage bldg. RE/MAX Around the Lake Call Amanda Scroggins 256-749-6634 www.amandascroggins.com
South Ridge Harbor The Spinnaker Russell Cabins Double Take Breaking ground and will be ready Summer 2016! A perfect design by Alex Krumdieck with 4 Classic Homes will introduce a new house plan to bedrooms, 4 full and one half bathrooms. Two South Ridge Harbor designed by Larry Furlong. owner’s suites on main level with open livingThe “Spinnaker” has 4 bedrooms and 5 full and one dining-kitchen spaces offering fabulous lake half bathrooms. Owner’s retreat and guest suite on views. Spacious screened porch is main level. Lake level has second living area with perfect for lake living. wonderful outdoor living and long water views. Call Russell Lands On Lake Martin today to find out more about this plan. Call Emily or Rhonda 256.215.7011 Russell Lands On Lake Martin www.RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com Emily or Rhonda 256.215.7011 www.RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com
The Ridge • $1,125,000 Great home for entertaining. Large kitchen with adjoining gathering room. A fully equipped media room for your enjoyment. Lake Martin Realty Damon Story 205.789.9526 www.LakeMartinRealty.com
64 LAKE
315 Hickory Trail, Jacksons Gap • $19,900 This fantastic interior home building lot in the awesome Baywood neighborhood conveniently located close to hwy 280. Oversized, corner lot is located on a cul-de-sac street for extra privacy. RE/MAX Around the Lake Call Samantha Spurlin 256-786-0650 www.samanthaspurlin.com
757 Wake Robin, Eclectic • $1,575,000 This is one amazing and unique lake home. Cookie Cutter it is not!! Lavish and extraordinary! Several great rooms/playrooms; bunkrooms to sleep an army; screened porch; covered deck, carport--and did I mention attached boathouse?? You need to see it--and the lot and view!! Gently rolling with deep water and one of those amazing views you dream about. Privacy? That too. Call…you must see this home! Lake Martin Realty India Davis 256.749.7592 www.LakeMartinRealty.com
43 Lake Vista Road, StillWaters • $399,000 Inside beautiful Stillwaters Resort, this 5 bedroom 4 bath home on Lake Martin. great potential needs a little TLC and updating. Huge wrap around porch with extra party deck. Lots of living space with downstairs game room. Call today to see it! Lake Martin Realty Jeff Cochran 256.786.0099 www.LakeMartinRealty.com
The Preserve • $949,000 Lot 14 Cedar Point Awesome home in gated community Proposed New Construction. The Mayfly plan designed by CMH Architects of Birmingham. situated in a quiet and peaceful cove. Deep water and incredible dock system. ProfesDesigned for easy living and entertaining with its spacious great room and open kitchen sional landscaping and lighting surrounding and dining area. Awesome views. the property. Lake Martin Realty Lake Martin Realty Damon Story 205.789.9526 Damon Story 205.789.9526 www.LakeMartinRealty.com www.LakeMartinRealty.com
Lot 22 Cedar Point Beautiful new cottage living with awesome views of Kowaliga Bay. Others available. Just call me for info. Lake Martin Realty Damon Story 205.789.9526 www.LakeMartinRealty.com
DECEMBER 2015
Christmas Specials on Laser Hair Removal! WELLNESS CENTER AT LAKE MARTIN
Lip Chin Sideburns Full Face Beard Brow Ears
The Path To A Lifetime of Wellness
Under Arms Full Arms Full Back Chest Shoulders Stomach
Gift Certificates! Specials beginning Dec. 1st
Bikini Brazilian Legs & Feet
We treat men, too!
Call For an Appointment Today! (256) 825-2304 Mon. - Fri. 5:00am - 8:00pm • Sat. 7:00am - 12:00pm Lake Martin Pharmacy has offered caring, fast, accurate prescriptions with a hometown touch for many years.
Pharmacist and Dadeville native
DR. KYLE SANFORD, PharmD
Dr. Kyle Sanford
is continuing in that tradition. Please stop by and welcome Kyle to the Lake Martin Pharmacy team As always, we have competitive prices and most insurance plans are welcome. You’ll also find a gift shop with name brand items such as YellowBox and Girlie Girl, plus Auburn and Alabama items and monogramming available. Monday-Friday 8:30-6:00pm Saturday 8:30-noon
256-825-7822
201 Mariarden Road, Dadeville, ALDECEMBER • 256-825-7821 • www.lakemartinhospital.com 2015 LAKE 65
Keeping Watch Lake Martin HOBOs work with Sheriff to promote Neighborhood Watch
O
Pace’s Point Volunteer Fire Department ur wonderful lake community has a probhas joined in the effort by volunteering use of lem. the firehouse meeting rooms, and the Pace’s It’s a problem that has existed for a Peninsula area is well on its way to organizing. very long time but recently has blossomed into a We feel this formula will work in most areas of near-crisis in some areas. Burglaries, break-ins or the lake. theft; call it what you wish, but there has been a Most roads around the lake can be divided rash of crime involving lake homes over the past into neighborhoods of 30 to 50 homes; each of two years. these areas can be organized into an autonomous Last winter, a gang from the Montgomery Neighborhood Watch group. area burglarized about 37 lake homes. This fall, HOBO Each area must have an organizer to help lead a local resident was arrested and charged with BY JESSE CUNNINGHAM the group, and each group will decide how it breaking in and stealing items from more than 20 will function. The success of each group will be lake homes. The list could go on, but hopefully dependent upon its members. we understand we have a problem that must be addressed. The HOBOs are well aware that the efforts of full time resiSo far, only unoccupied homes have been burglarized, but dents are the ones who will make the Neighborhood Watch the concern of having thieves break into a home and confront successful. owners face to face is a real possibility. To organize an area, a volunteer organizer is responsible Lake Martin has more than 7,000 homes located along its for recruiting homeowners to attend the first meeting, which shoreline, and about 65 percent of these homes (about 4,500) is conducted by a representative from the county sheriff’s are only occupied periodically, which makes them prime tardepartment. The sheriff and deputies provide information on gets for thieves. protecting your homes and yourselves, including recording Most of these weekend homes are loaded with giant flat screen TVs, electronics and other easy-to-steal-and-sell items. data from valuables. They also will present case histories of thefts around the lake. With society’s mentality that says, “What’s yours is mine for After this meeting, another meeting is scheduled for the the taking,” we, the property owners, must address this probindividual group to determine how the group will function and lem. determine goals and leadership. Many neighborhoods in America have joined together in Road signs and organizational and homeowner literature groups that have become known as Neighborhood Watch will be provided by the sheriff’s department and the HOBOs. groups. These groups, formed by neighbors with common To be successful in thwarting crime, neighborhoods need interests, stay in contact with each other, alert each other of volunteers to help organize and lead the Neighborhood Watch possible problems and check on each other during times of emergency, such as crimes, fires, tornadoes and other times of in each area. Please contact the Lake Martin HOBOs by emailing jesse@lakemartin.org or call Jesse Cunningham at need. We should all depend on each other. 256-825-0919 to volunteer to help your neighborhood. The Lake Martin Home Owners and Boat Owners Association (HOBOs) has joined forces with the Tallapoosa Jesse Cunningham is a member and former president of the County Sheriff’s Department to organize areas around the lake Lake Martin Home Owners and Boat Owners Association. into Neighborhood Watch groups.
“On behalf of the Tallapoosa County Sheriff Department, I would like to commend the Lake Martin HOBOs for their tireless efforts in organizing the Neighborhood Watch Program. During the past several months, staff members from our department have been meeting with homeowners at the Pace’s Point Fire Department and sharing with them the importance of the program. The program gives important information in the formation of a Neighborhood Watch and the benefits to law enforcement. As related to community policing, the program is very beneficial to local law enforcement in establishing a partnership with the homeowners to make our county a safer place. The program is only as good as those owners wanting to participate. Attendance at the organizing meetings is off to a good start and we look forward to working with each Neighborhood Watch group to help protect our community.” ~ Sheriff Jimmy Abbett 66 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 67
Feeling the Flip
Sure as it’s Christmas, the flippers are back at Lake Martin
S
When the real estate market was in the trough of ometimes feelings are more accurate than data. Take Christmas, for example. How many times 2007 and 2008, flippers were not berated but encourhave you heard or said, “Man, I can’t believe it’s aged. The thought back then was, “Hey, buy my house. I don’t care what you do with it.” December! It doesn’t feel like Christmas!” As I review the year of sales we have had here at Or, during a cold snap in fall, you might have sat Lake Martin in 2015, my feeling is that it in front of a roaring fire and thought, was the year of the strong return of flip“I know it’s only October, but this cold pers. I don’t think a majority of the home weather makes it feel like Christmas.” or lot sales were due to speculation, so Anyone with a phone or a calendar or I don’t think they are driving prices to even the ability to count on fingers and unnatural levels. But I do think, based on toes can give you a reasonably accurate my anecdotal evidence, that there are sevstatement on the date. eral very successful flippers here. Who needs a feeling to know when it’s A case in point is a house that I sold in Christmas? Admit it: Christmas is driven November. It was a home on a nice lot, by feeling. The older I get, the more I am but the structure needed a little repair, in tune with my feelings about the holiday. LAKE PROPERTY some TLC, if you will. I distinctly remember coming home BY JOHN COLEY It sold in a day, with two contracts subfrom college one year and realizing that mitted and three other buyers waiting in nothing felt like Christmas. As I drove the wings. They were all investment-minded buyers. home, I saw that Alexander City was all ready for it. This is not a lone example. I can think of several The red candles with the yellow flames were put other very nice homes that have sold recently that up on half the street light poles. The big red plastic were pure flips. Mind you, these were not cases of bells were on the other half, and the tree was up at predatory buyers purchasing something from a naive Frohsin’s Department Store. grannie, slapping a coat of paint on it and selling it I had missed the Christmas parade, because I was for huge profits. recovering from my final exams. I saw the trappings The flips of which I speak were professionally of Christmas, but I just wasn’t feeling it. done, with real value added, like extra bedrooms or Finally, on Christmas Eve, during the very last renovated kitchens. song at church, it hit me. They passed around little Is the presence of flippers a sign of market matuwhite candles and cut the lights off in the sanctuary. Everybody got up out of the pews and lined the aisles rity? I would not worry about this quite yet, for two reasons: to sing Silent Night. Firstly, Lake Martin’s market-wide sales continue Boom! It felt like Christmas! It is with the same attention to emotion that I report to beat last year’s. Until we start losing, we can’t ‘The Flippers’ have officially returned to Lake Martin. worry too much about that. Secondly, flippers in 2005 were bankers, real I have spotted a few flippers over the years and estate agents, stockbrokers, dentists, zookeepers, etc. reported them dutifully. I noticed them, hither and Everybody was doing it. They were hiring general yon, even as the market bounced back in 2008 and contractors to make it happen. 2009. But those were merely outliers, vanguards. This time around, it seems like the flippers are the They did not prove the existence of a true indigenous population. A flipper here and a flipper there does not contractors themselves. And the flippers aren’t going for home run, million-dollar houses. They are wisely a critical mass make. sticking to singles and doubles. A flipper is a person or company that buys a home, In other words, my feeling is that we have a healthy fixes it up and sells it in a short amount of time. I am dose of flippers here at Lake Martin. And that’s a sure you have seen some reality shows like this on good thing. TV. Merry Christmas! May God bless us, every one. Back in 2005 and 2006, when America was (insert laughter here) concerned about the skyrocketing price John Coley is a broker and owner of Lake Martin of real estate, some pundits even derided flippers, blaming them for over inflating values with their ram- Voice Realty. He is also the author of the blog Lake Martin Voice at LakeMartinVoice.com. pant speculation. Hypocrisy, I say.
68 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
Fit for the Holidays Challenge
I
Think outside the box to work in your workout
embrace the season without guilt. think most of us would agree that it is difBut remember that it is not always about ficult enough to find time to exercise durweight and the magic number; we must consider ing the year, much less during the holiday our overall health. Here are a few other suggesseason. As to-do lists get longer and longer, it is tions to help keep your weight in check. not uncommon for workouts to take less of a priorWeigh regularly. It can help you keep ahead of ity. Unfortunately, the thought of working in some those unwanted pounds. If you see your weight exercise seems to add stress, although we need to creeping up, make some changes. remind ourselves that exercise actually reduces Exercise in the morning. This is the best way stress and tension, lowers our blood pressure, to clear your schedule for the day. Studies show improves our mood and gives us more energy. that those who start the day moving tend to folStatistics indicate that during the last six weeks low that trend all day and are more active. of the year, the average weight gain is anywhere HEALTHY LIVING If exercising in the morning is not possible, try from 2 to 5 pounds. Keeping this in mind, let’s BY JULIE HUDSON to carve out some time each afternoon for exerchallenge ourselves and not fall into the statistic this cise before you go home. holiday season. Lengthen your workout routine. If you know that you will If your usual workout does not fit into your routine, think not be able to restrict holiday eating, notch your usual 30-minoutside the box. You can break up your weekly workout or ute workout to 45 minutes. During your weight training, add daily workout to fit your schedule. You break your 30-minute more reps to your routine. If you normally exercise three times workout into two 15-minute workouts or even three 10-minute a week, bump it up to five days a week. workouts. As for thinking outside the box, switch up your routine by Like anything else of importance, planning ahead is the key taking a class or including family or friends. Studies show that to success. Exercise can be a part of your day even while you changing your exercise routine is good for your body, and exerare shopping, hosting guests or traveling. cising with someone makes you more accountable. Take advantage of every minute and opportunity during the Taking advantage of every opportunity is so important. Every holiday season to fit exercise into your daily routine. Shopping is the perfect opportunity to pick up the pace. Park moment you have the chance to get up and move will be benefit your body, from cleaning the house to playing outside or going your car away from the mall entrance or stores. Start on a posifor a walk. tive note by taking a fast walk to the store of choice and even Thanksgiving through New Year’s can be a very hectic time include an extra lap before you begin your shopping. Always of the year. I challenge you to embrace this holiday season with use the stairs instead of the elevator. movement and activity. Find exercise that fits into your day And don’t think hosting guests will get in the way of some when you have houseguests or are traveling. physical activity. You can take advantage of cleaning the house Make fitness a lifestyle and a daily practice, no matter where before they arrive by mopping, vacuuming, scrubbing and taklife takes you. Exercise helps to relieve stress, lower blood presing multiple trips up and down the stairs. sure and improve your mood. It helps you sleep better, makes When company arrives, include everyone in some activity. your heart happier and helps Embrace the outdoors. Suggest a walk after meals or even a you to avoid those unwanted family game or activity outside. pounds. If you have a dog, go on several walks each day. If you are traveling to a hotel or visiting family or friends in Julie Hudson their homes, plan ahead so you know what activities are availis a dietician able. Look up options at nearby parks and walking/running at the Lake paths, or check out what might be available in the way of gym Martin equipment or classes. Wellness Warmer climate vacations could involve swimming, hiking, Center in biking riding and walks on the beach. Winter climates might Dadeville. entice you to ice skate, ski, sled or hike in the snow. On travel days, take advantage of gas stops to walk around for a few minutes, or while in the airport, walk instead of using the moving sidewalks or trains. Planning ahead and taking advantage of every moment could make all the difference between you and added weight gain this holiday season. Establish your priorities. Embrace the holiday season with activity. If you feel better about your weight, you will be able to DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 69
O
channel, ensures that they have a nice zone ver the years, the fall and winter to move to when cold fronts set in. It’s seasons have been less about deer important to remember that you can still hunting and more about fishing for catch fish casting at shallow targets when me. I still enjoy hunting, but it’s the time the conditions are stable, but the targets of year that I get to do more fun fishing. I should probably have some deeper water get a chance to experiment, because there close to them to be very dependable. aren’t tournament consequences if I’m Typically, the fish have been feeding on unable to catch fish that day. Having the flat points off the main river channel or liberty to experiment gives me the opporin the backs of creeks and pockets during tunity to add baits and techniques to my the fall. Water temperatures steadily drop arsenal, as well as a chance to hone my in the flat shallow waters following each existing skills. BIG CATCHES passing cold front. Since the deeper water Occasionally, I try areas of the lake with BY GREG VINSON will be slower to cool than the shallower which I am not so familiar, but I use baits water, expect fish to relate to the deeper and presentations that I know work at that water more or possibly where current mixes the water time of year. That way, I feel better about evaluating from the surface to the bottom to a more consistent whether the area is as good as the others. temperature. Sometimes I will try areas that are proven for me Rocks are a key type of cover when the water gets at certain times of the year, but I’ll use different baits cold. The bigger rocks or bluff banks are generally than I normally use. This allows me to determine related to a channel bank that has the deep water. I whether a new bait is as good or hopefully better than think the fish like the harder cover better, and the what I’ve been using in the past. The goal is to get rocks possibly hold a little more heat following a better at matching the perfect bait/presentation with sunny day. the perfect areas. Pay attention to the type of rocks you have on a Lake Martin is still close to home, so it’s defiplace where you catch fish. I can think of a few differnitely one of my favorites for getting practiced up for ent types that are common on Lake Martin, and they the clear-water reservoirs. The fall and winter are a all have been productive at different times for me. great time to fish Martin for a few reasons but mainly The fish will feed heavily throughout the fall and because the bass are more active during the day. I’ve caught some of my biggest bass on Lake Martin winter on baitfish like blueback herring, and one of my first choices is a 1/2-ounce Fish Head Spin rigged at this time of year as well. The key to any fishery, with a Netbait Little Spanky. A 1/2- or 3/4-ounce jigas I mentioned before, is putting yourself in a good ging spoon is very productive as well. area for the time of year. To do that, it’s important to Bass will begin feeding more on crayfish as the understand the seasonal patterns that typically apply. water temps cool into the winter. I’ll start to work a The fall to winter transition can affect a lot of jig and crankbait into my arsenal more often then, things that bass do. The most important factor that I keeping the Fish Head Spin handy when the right situthink you have to consider is depth. ation presents itself. “Deep” water is a relative term, depending on the When the weather turns cold, look for those steeper fishery you are in. If you are fishing a lake in Florida, and deeper banks, and you’ll be on the path to sucdeep water may be 4 feet; for Lake Martin, I would cess. consider deep to be 20 or 30 feet. Although they can most certainly be caught deeper, that’s a good referGreg Vinson is a full-time professional angler on ence for both ends of the lake. the Bassmaster Elite Series and PAA tours. He lives in Fish want to be in the most comfortable environWetumpka and grew up fishing on Lake Martin. ment while keeping their food and habitat close by. Having deeper water close, such as in a river or creek
70 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
Fishing Rocks! Rock locations and conditions can be productive at different times of year
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 71
Holiday Toasts
72 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
I
f November is about celebrating the bounty that we have worked for, December must be about giving and acknowledging the gifts we have been given. Regardless of our religious affiliations, we all are blessed. Last month, we talked a little about wines for the feast of all feasts, Thanksgiving. I say “little” because with wine, there is always more to be shared. Like this story: A young man came in two weeks before Thanksgiving wanting something to take to his girlfriend’s parents. He had wisely found out that they like Chardonnay, and like that, the deal was done. But he preferred red. After looking at Pinot Noirs for his budget, he added that he liked FROM THE CELLAR Tempranillo. BY HENRY FOY Tempranillo is a red-wine grape native to northern Spain and is the dominant grape of the Rioja wines. Like the Pinot Noir and Beaujolais that were suggested for Thanksgiving, Tempranillo is light with nice acidity and a moderate alcohol level of 13 percent. One called Flaco is very popular. It is 100 percent Tempranillo from near Madrid with a shelf price under $8. The young man would have taken a case of Beaujolais Nouveau, too, but Nouveau is never released until the third Thursday in November. Rather than make a special trip, he probably bought some where he was headed. This is a good place to comment on Christmas wines. Hopefully, you got in on the Beaujolais Nouveau event. By the time this issue hits stands, most of the Nouveau will have been sold. It is traditionally light, very fruity and reasonably priced. I especially get a kick out of the nose and the color of this first wine of the 2015 vintage to hit the market. It’s fun and plays well with the spirit of Christmas. Sparkling wines, like Champagne and Prosecco, go well with the food and celebrations that bring friends and families together. That’s something to raise a glass to. Readers often expect to see brand names and scores in the recommendations that are printed. It’s easier to ask for a specific brand than the general style or flavor profile. That goes back to the original plan for the year just ending: “To increase our enjoyment of wine by tasting, evaluating and experiencing a lot of new wines.” We have kept this resolution, though there were a few wines that fell through the cracks. I mentioned the 2012 Luca Malbec a couple of times this year. That’s the one to which reviewers at Wine Spectator magazine awarded 93 points with a drink time of best after 2020. I should probably store the remaining stock out of sight, as the itch to try that one is getting stronger. What didn’t make it to publication was an afternoon with the newly released Opus One. The 2012 scored 93 points from Wine Spectator, with a drink time of now through 2028. Imagine holding that for another 12 years knowing how good it is today. The shelf price is $230. Opus One released a new wine, called Overture, to our market this year. It is also a classic Bordeaux blend with the addition of cross vintage blending at $110. I prefer the original. Another one we haven’t tried yet is the 2012 Joseph Phelps Insignia, which also was rated at 93 points. According to Wine Spectator, the drink time is 2017 to 2030. We’re trying not to jump the gun on that one, but if I intend to hold a $240 bottle of Insignia for my 80th birthday in 2029, I think a preview would be in order in the next couple of years. Oh, but there’s one more holiday before that. By the time the January Lake hits the street, the celebrations will be memories. Champagne all around! But not just for the toast, because sparkling wines are great with food. Please celebrate responsibly. Henry Foy owns Emporium Wine, Café 128, Gallery 128 and the Cigar Shop at 128 Calhoun Street. DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 73
74 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
Windy Days
Pro Tips From Lee Williams Fall is here and winter is around the corner. Typically, this means cold fronts and lots of wind – a challenging time of year for golf. My goal in this article is to help you be more competitive this winter and understand how to better control the ball in the wind. The old saying, “When breezy, swing easy,” is a good one to remember. The biggest mistake most amateurs make is over swinging into a strong wind, causing the ball to shoot up into the wind and do the very thing you are trying to avoid. The correct way to play this shot is to never swing more than 80 percent. This will allow the ball to stay under the wind better and avoid getting knocked out of the air. Also, on an average day where the wind isn’t howling, your ball position with an iron should be about two ball widths inside your left heel (right handed golfers; right heel for left handers) and even with your left heel with your driver (right handed golfers; right heel for left handers). In the wind, it is best to move the ball farther back in your stance. With an iron, never move it back of the middle of your stance, and keep your driver around two ball widths from your forward heel. By doing this, you should notice your ball flight become more penetrating, which drives through the wind better. Downwind and crosswind shots can be tricky too, and the hardest part of these shots is guessing how much the wind is going to move your ball or how much farther it will carry it downwind. Unfortunately, judging this comes with experience. The one tip I will offer on a crosswind shot is for the average golfer to not try to fight the wind. Aim the ball away from whichever direction the wind is blowing and let the wind move the ball back toward the target. Also, keep in mind that this time of year tends to be cold. The ball does not travel as far in cold weather compared to warm weather. Obviously, the colder it is, the shorter the ball will fly. Really cold days can impact your carry distance as much as 10 percent. Keep this in mind as you play this winter.
Good Luck! Lee Williams, a professional golfer on the PGA Tour, grew up playing golf at Willow Point Country Club. As an amateur, Williams was a member of the 2003 and 2005 Walker Cup teams, as well as the 2004 World Amateur Team. He is sponsored by Russell Lands, King Honda, Nowlin and Associates, P.F. Chang’s, Tempus Jet, Hyatt, Adams Golf, Russell Athletic, Titleist, Ameritas Financial Corp. and Southwest Airlines.
StillWaters hosts new golf team
L
BY ROBERT HUDSON
yman Ward Military Academy (LWMA) last month began practice with its new golf program, announcing StillWaters Golf Course as its home course. “We don’t have a golf course, and we actually just made ourselves a green, but we needed a place where the cadets could actually learn how to golf,” said Lt. Col. Pat Kelly of LWMA, who will serve as the coach. Rob Witherington, PGA Professional and Director of Golf at StillWaters, said the partnership fits in perfectly with the mission of a golf pro. “As a PGA professional, my primary focus daily is to take care of the business here, but also to promote the game of golf and expand it,” Witherington said. “So anybody that shows an interest in golf, the pro is there for them. So, when Pat came by – he’s one of our residents and a part of our family here – he asked will you partner with us and went over the details. I said this can work.” Kelly said the cadets are showing their appreciation for being able to use the course through various projects at StillWaters. “Community service is important, especially for the cadets, and they wanted to do something to give back to StillWaters,” Kelly said. “They’ve got a lot of different jobs that we can do here, and in fact the cadets put in a couple hours the other day pressure washing. They want to give back because they appreciate being able to come out here.” Witherington said he is happy to be able to help out, as he has shown some of LWMA’s new golfers the basics of the game. “So, it’s my time and energy and our wonderful facility that are available to these young men,” Witherington said. “They did a great job in their first clinic that we did, and we’ll just continue to work on their game and help them improve. At some point, we’ll let them loose on the driving range and let them practice a bunch and they will then go on the course and play some real golf.” While the season of competition does not start until the spring, Kelly said the cadets have a lot of time to get practice on their game.
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 75
Legend
63
17
22
To Sylacauga
16
10
Public Boat Ramps
22
280
Alexander City
12
Churches 9
Camps & Parks
Camp ASCCA
Flint Hill Church
Power lines U.S. Highways
3
280
11
22
County Roads
Piney Woods Landing
Wind Creek State Park
Pleasant Grove Church
11
COOSA COUNTY
Alex City Boat Ramp
Mt. Zion Church
259 9
128
63
19 20
D.A.R.E. Park Landing
Friendship Church New Hope Church
Liberty Church
Willow Point
24
34
5
7
Equality
Kowaliga Boat Landing
55
4
Seman
8
Camp Alamisco
15 The Ridge
1 9
Church in The Pines Camp Kiwanis
63
Trillium
18
2
The Amp Ko
wa
lig
aB
ay
80
9
Central
90
Union
ELMORE COUNTY Union Church
Red Hill 63
229
Eclectic
Tallassee
13 Kent
76 LAKE
Union Landing
Children’s Harbor
DECEMBER 2015
Timbergut Landing
Lake Martin Alabama
Horseshoe Bend National Park
Jaybird Landing
Marinas 11. Kowaliga Marina 334-857-2111 255 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
TALLAPOOSA COUNTY
22. The Ridge Marina 256-397-1300 450 Ridge Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 33. River North Marina 256-397-1500 250 River North Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
49
42. Real Island Marina 334-857-2741 270 Real Island Rd., Equality, AL 36026
Jacksons Gap 280
53. Parker Creek Marina 256-329-8550 8300 Parker Creek Marina Rd, Equality, AL 36026
Bethel Church
14
Dadeville
57
280
20
Camp Hill
Smith Landing
Church of the Living Waters
Stillwaters
164. Dark Insurance 256-234-5026 410 Hillabee Street, Alex City, AL 35010 www.darkinsuranceagency.com
18. Kowaliga Whole Health Pet Care & Resort 334-857-1816 8610 Kowaliga Road, Eclectic, AL 36024
76. SpringHouse 256-215-7080 12 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 86. Catherine’s Market 256-215-7070 17 Russell Farms Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
11 5. Karen Channell State Farm Financial Services 256-234-3481 5030 Hwy. 280, Alex City, Al 35010
6
4. The Stables at Russell Crossroads 15 256-794-1333 111 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
Restaurants
10 4 Tallapoosa Ford 256-234-3432 1551 Hwy. 280, Alex City, Al 35010
21
144. Russell Building Supply 256-825-4256 350 Fulton Street, Dadeville, AL 36853
. McDaniels Storage Center 17 256-234-4583 1040 Highway 280, Alex City, AL 35010
Business & Shopping Lake Martin Baptist Church 49
134. Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 334-541-2132 1969 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024
62. Blue Creek Marina 256-825-8888 7280 Highway 49 South, Dadeville, AL 36853
9 Kowaliga Restaurant 256-215-7035 295 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010
Pleasant Ridge Church
124. Russell Do It Center (Alex City) 256-234-2567 1750 Alabama 22, Alex City, AL 35010
19 Lake Martin Storm Shelters 256-794-8075 8246 County Rd 34, Dadeville, AL 36024 20 Artistic Teak Traders 256-896-1111 334-559-6625 1405 Old Hwy 280, Camp Hill, AL 36850
Hotels & Lodging 2. Creekside Lodge & Conference and Event Center 21 256-307-1440 6993 Hwy.49 S, Dadeville, AL 36853 22 Cherokee Bend Bed & Breakfast 877-760-7854 5833 Highway 22 East, Alex City 35010
Walnut Hill 50 50
49
Advertise your business on our Lake Martin Region Map for as little as $25. Contact us at 256-234-4281 or marketing@alexcityoutlook.com for more information. Reeltown
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 77
Lake Magazine Distribution ALEXANDER CITY Alex City Marine Aliant Bank American Inn Anytime Fitness Baymont Inn BB&T Big B Bar-B-Q Campus of CACC Carlos Mexican Grill Catherine’s Market Chamber Of Commerce Cherokee Quick stop Citgo Cloud Nine Collegiate Deli Comfort Inn Dark Insurance Darwin Dobbs Days Inn Discount Food Mart El Rancho Grande Emporium Wine Grace’s Flowers Hampton Inn Holley’s Home Furnishings Hometown Pharmacy
Jackson Drugs Jake’s JR’s Sports Bar & Grill Koon’s Korner Koon’s Korner II Lake Martin Building Supply Lakewinds Golf Club Larry’s General Store Little Black Dress Longleaf Antiques Mark King's Lake Martin Furniture Mistletoe Bough Bed & Breakfast Queen’s Attic Regions Bank Ridge - Clubhouse Ridge - Marina River North Marina Riverbend Store Russell Home Décor Russell Medical Center Russell Lands Russell Retail Store Satterfield, Inc Senior Nutrition~50+ Center Sho’ Nuff Restaurant Springhouse Restaurant
T.C. Russell Airport Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc The Medicine Shoppe The Sure Shot Warren's Appliance Parts Willow Point Country Club Wind Creek - entrance Wind Creek - store Winn Dixie 280 BP 280 Exxon
Hospital Lakeshore Discount Pharmacy Lakeside Marina Niffer's At The Lake Oskar's Cafe Payne Furniture Pearson’s Furniture Poplar Dawgs Public Library Pug's Place PNC Bank Russell Building Supply Shell Station Sigger’s Stillwaters Country Club Store 34
DADEVILLE American Motorsports Aliant Bank Bay Pine Marina City Hall Chamber of Commerce Chuck's Marina Dadeville Wellness Center Foodland Foshee Boat Dock Homeplate Restaurant Harbor Pointe Marina Lakay’s Flowers & Gifts Lake Martin Flowers & Gifts Lake Martin Community
ECLECTIC Children’s Harbor Cotton’s BBQ Eclectic Do-It Center Johnson’s Furniture Kowaliga Marina Lake Martin Dock Lake Martin Mini Mall Nail’s Convenience Store Peoples Bank
EQUALITY Equality Food Mart Real Island Marina Southern Star
KELLYTON
Five Star Plantation
RED HILL Citgo
TALLASSEE Community Hospital Chamber of Commerce The Tallassee Tribune
WALNUT HILL Lakeside Mercantile Walnut Hill Grocery
WETUMPKA
The Wetumpka Herald A limited number of magazines are available at these locations. To start your subscription, call David Kendrick at 256-234-4281.
Lake Martin Business and Service Directory Handrails • Guardrails Welded Fence • Custom Art Stairs • Gates Stainless Steel Cable Railing I-Beams • Steel Posts • Stairs On-Site Welding/Cutting
residential. commercial. interior. exterior.
334-651-0033AL/706-225-8070 GA
columbus-auburn.certapro.com 1550OpelikaRoadSuite6Box294,Auburn,AL36830
334-332-3435 Since 2008
H
OLMAN
“WE’RE
F
LOOR
C
OMPANY
THE PROFESSIONALS”
Hardwood Floors Ceramic Tile Carpet & Vinyl Visit our showroom for samples and a free estimate! Locally Owned for Over 45 Years
256-234-6071
1945 Hwy 280 • Alexander City
78 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
Lake Martin Business and Service Directory
Performance! Your Bridge between City & Lake
Paige Patterson
205-616-8046
LAKE
www.paigepatterson.com
Relax. Enjoy. Lake Martin. Call to order your subscription 256-234-4281
MAGAZINE
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 79
Our Advertisers n To Join, Call 256.234.4281 A&M Plumbing....................................................... 38 A.G. Wilson Attorney at Law............................. 42 Advanced Cardiovascular.................................... 27 Advanced Heating & Air........................................ 8 Alex City Chamber of Commerce...................43 Alex City Guide Service...................................... 27 Alex City Taxi & Shuttle...................................... 79 Amanda Scroggins, RE/MAX Around the Lake.........27 Atkinson Home..................................................... 79 Auburn Art............................................................. 22 Blue Creek Iron Works....................................... 79 Brown Nursing Home......................................... 34 Buttons & Bows.................................................... 22 C&T Electric.......................................................... 34 Carlisle's..............................................................6, 43 Catherine's Market............................................... 22 CertaPro Painters................................................. 78 City Pawn................................................................ 43 Cloud Nine............................................................. 43 Coach Kraft Upholstery...................................... 78 Com-Link, Inc........................................................... 6 Custom Docks....................................................... 48 Damon Story, Cedar Point................................... 3 Dark Insurance Agency........................................ 42 DAVCO Development......................................... 78 Designs by Trish....................................................... 5 Docks Unlimited..................................................... 5 East Dale Realty.................................................... 42 First Baptist Church Alexander City.................. 8
80 LAKE
First Realty.........................................................6, 43 George Hardy D.M.D........................................... 34 Henderson and Coker......................................... 13 Hilltop Landscaping............................................... 34 Hinson Galleries.................................................... 14 Holley’s Home Furnishings................................. 84 Holman Floor......................................................... 78 James & Co............................................................. 70 Kenneth Ingram, JR............................................... 27 Kowaliga Whole Health....................................... 79 Lake Martin Building Supply............................... 27 Lake Martin Community Hospital..................... 65 Lake Martin Dock.......................................... 19, 23 Lake Martin Mini Mall................................... 22, 26 Lakeside Concierge.............................................. 78 Lakeside Excavation.............................................. 79 Langley Funeral Home......................................... 26 Mark King's Furniture.......................................... 67 Merle Norman....................................................... 42 Mitchell's Upholstery........................................... 34 Music Depot........................................................... 79 Noel Boone............................................................ 42 Paige Patterson, Lake Martin Voice Realty......79 Painting By Allen.................................................... 79 Radney Funeral Home......................................... 26 Rambo Marine....................................................... 48 Renaissance Electronics......................................... 8 Russell Do It Center............................................ 23 Russell Lands.......................................................... 39
DECEMBER 2015
Russell Marine........................................................ 22 Russell Medical Center.......................................... 2 Satterfield......................................................... 13, 23 Security Pest Control............................................ 8 Seibel's..................................................................... 51 Service Printing...................................................... 42 Southern Star Alpaca Farm................................. 13 SportzBlitz.............................................................. 74 SpringHouse .......................................................... 23 State Farm Insurance/ Harold Cochran..........78 State Farm Insurance/ Karen Channell..........42,79 Tallapoosa Ford..................................................... 14 Tallassee Community Hospital........................... 80 Temple Medical Center......................................... 8 New Waters Realty.............................................. 63 The Butterfly Barn................................................ 23 The Shoppes at Queen's Attic........................... 43 The Stables at Russell Crossroads.................... 22 Thomas Mortgage................................................. 42 TNT Stone............................................................. 38 TowBoatU.S.............................................................. 5 UAB Heart & Vascular Cinic.............................. 59 United Rentals......................................................... 8 Walmart.................................................................. 79 Ware Jewelers....................................................... 83 Wickles Pickles...................................................... 23 Williams Plumbing Heating & Air........................ 8 WSC Distinctive Builders, LLC......................... 35
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 81
82 LAKE
DECEMBER 2015
Parting Shot
~ Wilbur Wright
"It is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge and skill."
Photo by Kenneth Boone
AQUARACER WITH DIAMONDS
Maria Sharapova never stops challenging herself. Like TAG Heuer, she keeps pushing her limits and never cracks under pressure.
111 South College Street • Auburn, AL • 334.821.7375 The Shoppes at EastChase • Montgomery, AL • 334.386.9273 Eastern Shore Centre • Spanish Fort, AL • 251.338.9273 www.warejewelers.com
DECEMBER 2015
LAKE 83
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 24 Months Interest Free Financing*
*See store for details.
84 LAKE
256.234.4141 Alexander City
DECEMBER 2015
334.279.3101 Montgomery