Cullman County Good Life Magazine - Winter 2013 by The Good Life Magazine

Cullman County

Fishing with Sammy, Danny and Dale: The Hall of Fame Nancy Bryant is one of Santaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best elves Culinary arts students serve holiday alternatives

Winter 2013 complimentary

Welcome

‘Hey, Matt!’ So this is what it feels like...

This is what Cullman is beginning to feel like to this guy from neighboring, yet in a way distant, Arab... I was driving downtown on 2nd Avenue NE in Cullman one day, heading somewhere after a chat at city hall with Mayor Max Townson. A man was crossing the street with a boy in tow. As he reached the far sidewalk, I recognized him as Matt Heim, owner of All Steak. I had talked to him twice about the magazine, most recently a few days earlier when he bought an ad on our special restaurant page. I opened my window and, feeling no inhibitions, called out across the street to him. “Hey, Matt!” I waved. “Hey, David!” He waved back. We made some quick, friendly exchange then went our ways. “Wow,” I thought. “I am really starting to feel at home. Here I am in downtown Cullman hollering out the car window to people I know.” A month or so later my wife took me out to eat for an early birthday present. I suggested Carlton’s Italian Restaurant, and we brought along two friends from Arab. It was the night of the progressive dinner downtown. We beat the crowd and enjoyed the food, the restaurant and company. During the meal I was talking about how much I enjoyed spending time in Cullman. “I almost feel like I live here,” I laughed, telling them about hollering out my window at someone know. “It was Matt Heim from All Steak,” I said. Leaving Carlton’s, our party crossed the driveway next to the restaurant’s outdoor patio area. A big black pickup truck slowed to let us pass, and, as we continued to our vehicle, someone called out. “Hey, David!” The truck had stopped part way in the drive, the window on the passenger’s side down. Standing in the light of the restaurant, I peered in the darkness of the truck’s cab trying to make out the several people inside. “David. Hey, it’s Matt.” I turned to my wife and friends. “See what I mean?”

David Moore Publisher/editor 2

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Contributors Cullman Extension coordinator Tony Glover never studied forklift driving at Auburn but perfected his skill running Glover’s Plants and Produce in Cullman. He put it to good use at the first Farm Y’all Festival, toting an 870-pound pumpkin for the pumpkin drop – and that wasn’t even the biggest one he lifted that day. Deb Laslie has some 90,000 books at Deb’s Bookstore in Cullman and claims to have read every one. Well... bunches of them anyway. And she has more at home. “We have bookcases but no furniture,”she says. “We sit on the floor with the dogs.” Steve Maze of the New Canaan community returns this issue with another tidbit from the history of Cullman County. We aren’t too sure, but he claims he’s never had a warrant out for his own arrest – unlike some of the characters dwelling in his family tree.

Advertising/art director Sheila McAnear also became our default warehouse foreman – our printer delivered thousands of our first magazine to her garage. They disappeared quickly, but now it’s filled up again – a good thing! Along with the Cullman magazine, this time we also got its new sister publication for Marshall County.

Writing and editing the first issue of Cullman County Good Life Magazine, David Moore pretty much forgot about the 35 years of late-nighters he pulled on newspaper deadline. But, with the addition of the new Marshall County Good Life Magazine this season, late-nighters returned. It’s like riding a bicycle. You don’t forget the fun...

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Inside

14 New meets old

Japanese in Cullman feel their way into the holiday season

20 The Warrant

A long-ago justice of the peace thinks first, acts later

26 Sammy, Danny & Dale

No one lands a trophy catch on this day; but Cullman gets the whopper

32 Tinker, tailor...

Justin Dyar builds a career and home focused on the lake he loves

50 Cover story

A St. Bernard monk on a religious quest brings light into the world

32 CORRECTION: In the fall issue we incorrectly identified the photographer of the 2012 Oktoberfest picture. It was shot by Blake Britton, who swept the event’s photo contest that year, winning first, second and third place.

David F. Moore Publisher / Editor 256-293-0888 david.goodlifemagazine@gmail.com Sheila T. McAnear Advertising / Art Director 256-640-3973 sheila.goodlifemagazine@gmail.com

Regular features 7

Good Fun: Celebrate Christmas and much more

Good People: Christmas Love with Nancy Bryant

Good Reads: A look at the past? A look at choices

Out ‘n’ About: Golfing, working and grandkids

Good ’n’ Green: ‘Tis not the season to ignore the yard

Good Eats: Blue Moose cooks home-style history

Good Cooking: Yearning for something different?

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Alabama Vietnam Veterans Memorial is engraved with the names of 1,209 state residents who died in war from 1963 to 1975. After traveling the state for veteran functions, the black granite wall found a home at Sportsman Lake Park as part of the nearly completed veterans area. The close of the Nov. 9 program will be held at the wall.

‘Welcome Home, Brother’ focuses on Vietnam, honors all veterans Nov. 9 Ken Brown was there. He knows what his fellow Vietnam veterans went through physically. Emotionally. He knows how they were “welcomed” home, and it wasn’t with parades and bands. He knows many of them have spent some 40 years forgetting, while trying to make a good life for themselves and their families. Ken set out to begin changing that denied homecoming with “Welcome Home, Brother,” a Veterans Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9. All veterans and citizens are encouraged to attend, but the celebration, long overdue in Ken’s view, will focus on those who served and sacrificed in Vietnam. It will be at – and spilling out from, he hopes – the Veterans Memorial at Sportsman’s Lake Park, just of U.S. 31 in Cullman. “I urge you to rise above the hurt, understand the effort being made for you, even though belated, and come out to be honored,” Ken says. The array of events are planned,

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including:

• Opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. • Numerous era military displays • A bluegrass concert by the Potentials at 11 a.m. • An air show by Vietnam vets at 1 p.m. followed by a parachute jump by Skydive Alabama that will include veterans • A program at 2 p.m. honoring all Cullman men killed in Vietnam, to include a roll call by veteran Rick Fox, remarks by family members, gospel music by The Revelations, special prayers and “Taps” by Vietnam Purple Heart recipient Steve Larsen and a flyby by veteran Jim Cox. The program is being funded by the Cullman City Council, Cullman County Commission and local businesses with help from the Elks Lodge – which will feed all veterans and their spouses for free. For more information, call Ken, a member of Cullman VFW Post 2214: 256-734-3369. – David Moore

Col. (retired) Ken Brown of Cullman – an F-4 Phantom weapons systems operator in Vietnam – organized and will emcee ‘Welcome Home, Brother.’

Head downtown on Dec. 6 to...

Good Fun

Celebrate Christmas

If you have not already kicked off the Christmas season by Friday, Dec. 6 – and even if you have – from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. that day will offer you a fun, first-time opportunity. Celebrate Christmas in Downtown Cullman combines the city’s traditional parade and tree lighting into a big, oneday event centered mostly along 1st and 2nd Avenue NE and Arnold Street, stretching from Busy Bee to Depot Park. Plans were still being finalized in mid-October, but the event will start at 3 p.m. and be in full swing by 5, says Nathan Anderson, president of

the Cullman Downtown Merchants Association. Christmas Bucks will be given away for unique shops and restaurants. There will be lots of kid activities, including a petting zoo and Santa Claus at the park. Carolers will be dressed in hoop dresses and top hats, and a Christmas movie will be shown on a jumbo screen in the park. The Christmas parade and float contest will begin at 7 p.m. on the south end of First Avenue and, with a turn or two, end at the park, delivering Santa. A 15-20-foot live tree will be lit at the park at 8 p.m., and Unknown Lyric,

a classical fusion band from Atlanta, will perform there starting at 8:15. Before and after the parade – probably at 5:30 and 8:30 – there will be a unique walking Christmas program, progressing from one downtown site to another. Cost for that is a $2 donation to the Cullman High School drama and choir program. Celebrate Christmas is presented by the downtown merchants association and Cullman Parks and Recreation Department. For more information, contact: CPR, 256-734-9157; or Nathan, nanderson@cullmandowntown.com.

Bundle up, get out and have a good time

• Nov. 7-10 – ‘Shrek: The Musical’ Wallace State Theatre presents this Broadway adaptation of the popular DreamWorks movie in the Betty Leeth Haynes Auditorium in the student center at the college. Showtimes are 7 p.m. for Thursday and Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students. For reservations call: 256-3528422 or theatre@wallacestate.edu.

Stores throughout Cullman will be offering special sales 10 a.m.5 p.m. Saturday, and select stores will be open 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Santa and a cookie decorating station will be at Weiss Cottage at 401 1st Ave. SW from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fancy Traveling Carriage will give rides around town for $5. Get your child’s picture made with Buddy the Elf at the Cullman Chamber of Commerce Saturday while you get gifts purchased from any chamber member wrapped for free. This is the first year the open house has been organized by the volunteer Christmas in Cullman board of birectors. For more information call: 256-887-9250.

• Nov. 9-10 – Christmas Open House The holiday shopping season kicks off in earnest with the 28th Annual Christmas in Cullman Open House Weekend.

• Nov. 14 – Out of Print “Out of Print,” the next presentation in the Wallace State Film Festival, will be shown at 7 p.m. this Thursday in the Burrow Center Recital Hall. Admission is free.

’Tis the season for much to do. With that in mind, here are some fun, entertaining and even educational activities you and your family can check out this season. Before heading out, we might suggest you first bundle up...

Narrated by Meryl Streep, the film presents today’s topsy-turvy world of words, illuminating the turbulent and exciting journey from the book through the digital revolution. Jeff Bezos, Ray Bradbury, Scott Turow, Jeffrey Toobin, parents, students, educators, scientists ... all highlight how this revolution is changing everything about the printed word – and changing us. Filmmaker Vivienne RoumaniDenn will be on hand for questions and answers. For more information, call: Wallace State, 256-352-8457. • Nov. 19 – Concert series Husband and wife duo Yang and Olivia Liu will be in concert at 7 p.m. this Tuesday at the Betty Leeth Haynes Auditorium in the student center at Wallace State Community College. Gold medalists in Chinese national competitions – Yang with his violin, Olivia on piano – they have appeared together internationally and in the November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

United States, including major festivals and venues such as the Kennedy Center, Oficina Music Festival in Brazil, Algarve Music Festival in Portugal and throughout their homeland of China. Storytellers nearly as much as they are musicians, their program of classical and traditional Chinese music demonstrates technical brilliance and virtuosity while communicating their message of faith, love and joy. Tickets go on sale two weeks before the show at: cullmancommunityconcert association.com. They’re also on sale the night of the concert at the door: $20 individuals; $10 students. • Dec. 4-Dec. 23 – Winter Wonderland The 11th Annual Winter Wonderland Christmas light display will be open at Sportsman Park 5-9 p.m. weeknights (except closed Dec. 9-10) and 5-10 p.m. weekends. Admission to the drive-through

or gifts for children under the care of the Department of Human Resources. Cost is $15 for chamber members, $20 for others. For more information, call: chamber of commerce, 256-734-0454.

show is $5 per vehicle, so pile in and see the light displays. You can stop and see Santa, who is there every night, and hot cocoa and candy canes will be served. You also can take a Victorian Horse and Carriage ride for $4 per person. For more information, call: Sportsman Lake, 256-734-3052. • Dec. 5 – Art auction The Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce will again sponsor its annual Art After Hours silent auction from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. this Thursday night at the chamber building downtown. Half of the proceeds go to Christmas Love – $473 last year – and half to the contributing local artists. Last year, participants bid on 64 paintings, drawings, mixed media, sculptures, jewelry, pottery, books and more while enjoying heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Attendees are invited to bring canned goods for Caring for Kids and/

• Dec. 6-7 – Christmas Arts and Crafts For this 26th annual event, 75-80 artisans will be set up at McGukin Civic Center from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. They have come from as far away as Texas, Florida and Georgia to show and sell a little bit of everything, from jewelry and pottery, to clothing and Christmas decorations. Admission is free. For more information call: Cullman Parks and Recreation Department: 256-734-9157. • Dec. 7 – County Christmas parade The 22nd Annual Cullman County Hanceville Civitan Christmas Parade

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will begin at 2 p.m. It runs from Wallace State Community College down U.S. 31 to Hanceville City Hall. The theme is “The Cross and the Flag,” and because that Saturday marks the beginning of World War II for the United States, all veterans will be honored. “We’re asking them all to ride on a decorated flatbed truck and serve as grand marshals,” says Civitan parade organizer Joann Walker. “We thought that would be appropriate.” The Parade typically draws a slew of themed floats from churches and other groups as well as antique vehicles, horses, pageant winners and others – enough to take 45 minutes or so to pass. Good Hope, Vinemont and Hanceville and perhaps others will be there. The Civitans donate $500 to each band. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in the parade and visiting with children afterward at city hall.

The parade is supported by local businesses, and there is no entry fee. “Everybody is invited, and most of the time everybody comes,” Joann says. For more information, contact: Joann, 256-352-9799 or walls747234@bellsouth.net. • Dec. 14 – Christmas in Good Hope Good Hope will hold its second Christmas parade and continue its annual Christmas in the Park. The parade this Saturday starts at 2 p.m. at Good Hope School and runs along old Ala. 69 to city hall. Last year 78 groups participated, and anyone is invited to participate this year. After the parade, Christmas in the park will provide games and fun for kids until dark. A free meal will be served to all who come, sponsored by local businesses. For more information or to participate in the parade, call: Good Hope City Hall, 256-739-3757.

• Dec. 16 – Community Band concert The Cullman County Community Band will perform a free concert at 7 p.m. this night at the Betty Leeth Haynes Auditorium in the student center at Wallace State Community College. Started in 2005, the band gives several performances a year, but this will be its first as part of the Cullman Community Concert Association. The 40-member volunteer band is looking forward to it, says conductor Garry Taylor. “We consider it a great honor,” he says. “We’ll play a mix of Christmas and traditional band music for this rare opportunity to showcase what we can do. I think we will put on a good show.” The free concert, he says, is a gift from the concert association and the city of Cullman. For more info, call: 256-636-2754.

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Good People

5questions

Nancy Bryant works as the assistant director of Cullman Caring for Kids. It is, she says, her passion to help stop child abuse in any way she can. But that’s not all she does. For a good portion of the year, she’s as busy as any elf in Santa’s workshop as a volunteer board member for the totally separate Christmas Love program. Nancy is hands-on active in helping identify children in needy families, raising money and buying and accepting gifts for those kids and distributing them to their parents. Here are five questions for the elf...

Nancy Bryant She’s as busy as one of Santa’s elves working to make Christmas Love real I have two sisters and a brother, and we had so much fun playing together. We got presents like Barbie dolls and accessories. My brother got a BB gun and chemistry set once… What were mom and dad thinking? And we had the stockings, of course. Later we would go to Grandma’s house to eat turkey and dressing and all the fixings. We had fun playing with our cousins on Christmas.

Do you have a favorite Christmas memory as a child?

Obviously not everyone loves children, or we would not have child abuse. But most people do love kids. Most, however, do not actually work to see after the welfare of underprivileged, neglected and abused children. What makes you do this?

It would be hard to pick because I have so many. It could be when we got the silver Christmas tree out – the kind with the color wheel – and put it together. Or every year my aunt and uncle, who had no children, came to our house to wake up on Christmas morning with us. Or my grandparents from Iowa who always sent a large box of presents already wrapped with our name on each one. Licking S&H Green Stamps and putting them in the books so Mother could get us free presents with them, that’s a good memory. And I loved listening to Christmas music – “Little Drummer Boy” was my alltime favorite. The hardest part was the long, sleepless nights before Santa got there. The best part, I’m sure, was waking up to see everything Santa had brought us and opening the gifts.

My husband, Kenny, and I have two children, and we have passed on my mother’s tradition of spoiling them on Christmas Day. So when Christmas Love was passed on to director Javon Daniel and me, it was so exciting to know we could make this “tradition” for so many children in Cullman. With our board of directors, volunteers and investors, we can make Christmas come true for more than 100 families each year. The number of children varies from 200 to 300. This is mine and Javon’s fifth year to be part of something so big. Each day is so exciting when we get started because we will be providing families a Christmas morning for children who otherwise would wake up to very little or nothing. I can’t think of anything sadder than a little

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girl waking up on Christmas and not having a baby doll, or pretty clothes to wear on the first day back to school after the holidays. Or a little boy who just wants a basketball and a new pair of shoes. Sometimes parents need help at Christmas time, so that is what Christmas Love of Cullman does for the families in Cullman. And I love being a part of that. Just imagine a child coming into the living room and seeing nothing for Christmas. Now imagine a child coming in finding toys and food. I like that scenario best, and it makes me want to do this.

3. What is one of the more

touching Christmas Love stories you have been involved in? Again, there are so many, but this gives you some idea... When parents come to pick up their Christmas, I get to tell them what a privilege it was to buy for their children with the money people and businesses have donated to us. But I also tell them we want them to be their child’s hero and not tell their kids where they got the gifts. We want the kids to think their mom and dad made it all happen and are the best parents in the world. So many parents start crying and many send us thank-you letters telling us how wonderful their Christmas was. One man broke down in front of us. All his son had asked for was a fishing pole, but we had been able to buy him a fishing rod and reel and a tackle box with tackle. We also gave him a coat, gloves and scarf to keep

Snapshot: Nancy Bryant

Story and photos by David Moore

Born: Cullman, Nov. 26, 1955; Parents: Willis and Boots Hill of Fairview, which she calls â&#x20AC;&#x153;best in the world;â&#x20AC;? Education: Fairview High School, Class of 1975; Other jobs or volunteer work: Owned her own greenhouse business; taught GA (Girls in Action) for more than 21 years at her Baptist church; Family: Married Kenny Bryant, her high school sweetheart, in 1977 and says they are still going strong; daughters are Stephanie Boyles (Adam Boyles) and April Smith (Casey Smith); grandchildren are Braxton Lee Boyles, Connor Reid Bryant and Alexis Taylor Smith. Hobbies: Traveling with Kenny, target shooting, archery, biking and spending as much time as possible with her family.

him warm while he went fishing and outdoors. The man said it would be the best Christmas he had ever had. This is just one of so many stories I could tell you about how this community plays a huge role in providing a great Christmas experience for the children. The magic of Christmas is so wonderful for many of us who had a great experience as a child. The sad part is so many children don’t have Christmas at all, not to mention a childhood with love, food and safety. It is my drive each day when I get up to help children have the best childhood memories they can. Christmas Love could not exist if it were not for the wonderful people who support this much needed program.

4. How does Christmas Love

work?

Christmas Love was established to make sure that children who are from lower income families have gifts for Christmas and food to eat on Christmas day. Under the direction of our board, families in need of assistance are identified through several sources in Cullman County. Parents or caregivers in these families submit applications with information about each child – their age, gender, clothing and shoe sizes, hobbies or interests and at least one gift they would like to receive for

Christmas. For the past five years we have been able to give each child a complete set of clothing with shoes, both educational and fun toys, books as well as food. All of these items are either donated or purchased with monetary donations. We also try to help with household items, such as bedding, cleaning items and cooking utensils. We continue to partner with the Cullman Lions and Lioness clubs to have a permanent place for our efforts. We usually begin in September identifying children to help. We collect items year round. Christmas Love also now tries to help needy children all year long if we are made aware of a specific need. This makes Christmas Love a helping organization all year long. For those who give, the peace we have in our hearts on Christmas morning cannot be measured. That’s why we say, “Share the love. ”

You can be an elf, too

Claus?

Here is how you can participate in Christmas Love… • Choose an ornament from a Christmas Love Christmas tree at Rumors Deli, Chick-fil-A, Monograms Plus or Premier Bank downtown. It will have a child’s name, age and a few gift wishes. Go shopping and return the unwrapped gifts to the location. Nancy Bryant will pick your items and add them to that child’s Christmas Love box, which also will contain clothes. • Sponsor a child or a family. This entails buying toys, a set of clothes, a coat and maybe school supplies. Expect to spend $100$150. Call Christmas Love to get a name or names: 256-775-6225. • Write a check – it’s taxdeductible – to Christmas Love and mail it to: Christmas Love Inc. of Cullman P.O. Box 1172 Cullman, Al. 35056

My answer to that is yes. I believe in the spirit of Christmas. So many people in Cullman share this dream. With everyone taking care of our small spot we occupy here, we can make the difference in these children’s lives for the better. And I think that’s a big part of the Christmas spirit.

Members of the Christmas Love board of directors are: • Javon Daniel • David Chambers • Stephanie Chambers • Debra Peek • Karen Roberson • Angie Jarrett • Nancy Bryant

5. Do you believe in Santa

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On earth, peace, good will toward men... and Japanese in Cullman embrace their families, too

By David Moore Illustration by Sheila McAnear Following Col. John Cullman, some 10,000 Germans seeking the good life immigrated to Cullman in the 20 years after its founding in 1874. Along with material possessions, they brought their religion and customs, including giving thanks for fall harvests and celebrating Christ’s birthday. Today, another, though smaller, wave of immigrants has come here – the Japanese who work at Yutaka Technologies and Topre America. Of the 425 employees at Yutaka, six are Japanese or Japanese-Americans; at Topre, 30 of 650 employees are Japanese or secondgeneration descendants. The extent of their Americanization varies – as does the extent to which they observe Thanksgiving and Christmas. In conversations with four Topre employees about the coming holiday season, “family” emerges above all cultural and religious differences as a common thread shared with long-time citizens.

K. Nishita is adopting the holiday mode from his wife and daughter K. Nishita Manager, Quality Assurance Department For Japanese-born K. Nishita, Thanksgiving this year likely will be a combination of the traditional turkey and, well, traditional Chinese food. He came to America in 1990 to attend the University of Alabama – Roll Tide, he says – earned engineering degrees, found a job at Topre 10 years ago and became a US citizen in 2010. His wife, Thongsay, is a Chinese-American from New Jersey. She also has engineering degrees from UA and works at Redstone Arsenal. “She is more ‘American’ than me,” Nishita says. “Because of her, I do Christmas and Thanksgiving now. “Her family comes for Thanksgiving – a bunch of people. We cook mainly Chinese food and also have turkey or something like that. It is kind of mixed, food-wise,” he laughs. During past holidays, Nishita and Thongsay usually visited her family in the Washington, D.C., area. But the advent of their daughter, Linsay, 3, now brings family members trekking to Alabama. Over the years, many people in Japan have started observing

Nishita shot this photo of his wife, Thongsay, with their daughter, Linsay, last Christmas morning at home Christmas, Nishita says, at least in a secular way. “I didn’t know that Christmas was the celebration of Jesus’s birthday until I came here,” he says. “I had no idea. I though it was just about Santa Claus and toys.” With the exception of a worship service, Christmas for his family is not unlike that of most life-long Americans. Linsay will be excited about Santa and opening gifts. “It’s pretty much the same. We don’t do anything different,” Nishita says. Is Santa bringing him anything for Christmas?

“He doesn’t have to,” he grins. “I have everything I need.” Children in Japan traditionally get cash on New Year’s from their immediate family and relatives. Linsay is unaware of that tradition – and she may remain that way. Double gifts could get expensive. “I think,” Nishita laughs, “that I’ll stay with the American custom at New Year’s.” The notion of holiday wishes is unfamiliar territory for Nishita, but after pondering the idea a minute, he wishes everyone all the best. “All the best,” he repeats the message. “Yeah, yeah! Sure!” November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

Katsu Hisayama with his wife, Saori, visiting Washington, D.C., in July

Holidays still a foreign concept to Katsu Katsu Hisayama Accounting Department To Katsu Hisayama, growing up as a Buddhist in Japan, Thanksgiving and Christmas were, quite literally, foreign concepts. “We never even knew what they were,” he says. Although the proliferation of television, internet and such has since changed that, Katsu’s first exposure to the holidays did not come until he visited America in 1999-2001. But with no family here, they meant little to him. Returning to the U.S. in 2003, he worked as a Denver sushi chef, earned a degree in accounting, became a citizen and, in 2010, married Saori. “She has a sister in Denver who married an American,” Katsu says. “After we married, they invited us to their Thanksgiving. It was my first 16

time. They served the traditional turkey and some other dishes.” Katsu was recruited to Topre two years ago. With no family here, Thanksgiving has yet to develop into a special day. “Most restaurants and stores are closed. We stay home. I watch football.” As for an attitude of thanks, he adds, “I appreciate everything.” Given his religion, Christmas hasn’t caught on with Katsu either, even the secular side, such as giving Saori gifts. But he has a pretty good excuse. Her birthday is Dec. 26. “So I gave her the present for her birthday instead of Christmas,” he grins. “The present” was a shopping spree to the Galleria in Birmingham. “She bought some clothes and shoes. That way, she can get whatever she wants.”

November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

Katsu sees a tie between Thanksgiving and the traditional Japanese celebration of New Year’s. “Thanksgiving here is the family gathering,” he says. “For New Year’s in Japan, it’s the same thing. It’s an opportunity to meet the people in the family. Christmas in Japan is about gifts.” Katsu misses his family this time of year, but not enough to return to Japan. Cullman, he says, is his and Saori’s new home. Like his co-worker, K. Nishita, Katsu grapples a minute before catching the spirit of offering holiday wishes for his friends at Topre and the people of Cullman County. “I wish for everybody to have good health and to be happy – not for only Cullman but for all people.” With a grin he adds, “I don’t want to work with unhappy people.”

Katsuhiro, at right, with his wife, Yuko, and youngest son, Akifumi, visiting Niagara Falls

Katsuhiro finds family central to holidays Katsuhiro Omi Manager, Engineering Department Katsuhiro Omi came from Japan to Topre in 2010 on a five-year contract with his wife, Yuko, and youngest son, Akifumi, now 17. Talking through Topre translator Yachiyo Takiguchi, Katsuhiro says that during their first year in Cullman, a Japanese family at Topre invited them to a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. He learned he likes turkey. He and his family spent their other Thanksgivings holidays here shopping in Atlanta and Nashville. “I have no plan yet,” for this Thanksgiving, but they will do something again as a family. Katsuhiro says he is a Buddhist but not particularly religious. In Japan, when his children were

younger, they celebrated the secular side of Christmas with a small tree and the Japanese custom of Santa leaving one present beside each child’s pillow. They’ll have a small tree again this Christmas, and, though Akifumi has outgrown Santa, he’ll still get a gift. Yuko will expect one by her pillow, too – something most wives in Japan don’t get. “It depends on the guy,” Yachiyo laughs. “But women like presents.” What might Katsuhiro want from Santa? “He says he doesn’t want material things,” Yachiyo translates. “He is not very greedy. He says he’s boring, but I don’t think so. He says as long as his family is happy, he’s happy.” If Katsuhiro offered a

Christmas wish to his coworkers, to the people of Cullman, what would that be? “He says he’s so grateful that everyone is so nice to him, and he just wants to continue this relationship,” Yachiyo translates. Katsuhiro has traveled to Detroit, Chicago and other big cities, Yachiyo continues, but he’s much more comfortable with the people here. He and his family have never felt mistreated by the friendly people in the community and at the schools, he says. Topre will close the Cullman plant for Christmas, though Katsuhiro will still have to work. But he’ll get a few days off for New Year’s. He’s thinking about visiting Washington, D.C., to see the museums and monuments. His family, of course, will be with him. November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

Alan and Eiko Oshiro have three children: from left, Kenny, at San Jose State; Leo, at San Diego State; and Agnes, graduating this year from the University of California at Davis.

Alan brings American influences with him but chooses not to carry burden of history Alan Oshiro Vice President, Press Operations Alan Oshiro has enough war tragedies in his past to sour a Christmas spirit – if he chose to dwell on them. During World War II, Alan’s father, of Japanese ancestry but born in Hawaii, joined the highly decorated 442nd Regimental Combat Team. While his father fought against German and Italian forces, Alan’s grandfather was interred in a relocation camp in Arizona. Meanwhile, Alan’s mother’s parents were among the nearly 250,000 troops and civilians killed during the 82 days it took American forces to secure Okinawa. One might think it hard to “get over” such history. “I have never ‘been on it,’” Alan smiles amiably, adding that he and his wife, Eiko, hate war, not people. The Okinawa native came to California at 18, already a U.S. citizen, and to Topre five years ago. He has three children in college – Agnes, 18

Kenny and Leo. Eiko lives in northern California, close to the kids and about as close as possible to halfway between Cullman and Okinawa. Because of the American military base there, Alan grew up exposed to American influences. “As kids, my mom, who is Japanese, made us turkey for Thanksgiving,” he says. “We put up a Christmas tree for Christmas. We did Halloween … because we lived in a neighborhood with a lot of Americans.” Those influences followed him. When he’s with his family for Thanksgiving, they celebrate – perhaps with a turkey he smoked on the grill, perhaps with burgers or even sushi. “We don’t stick to any one method of celebration. To me it’s an opportunity to see the family,” which he says he’s thankful to do. When the kids were young, they expected Santa at Christmas, which wasn’t easy on his then struggling

November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

budget. “My wife would take whatever was in the house and wrap it up and make the Christmas tree look like we had a lot of presents,” Alan laughs. “We did Christmas, but it wasn’t religious.” When Topre closes for the Christmas holidays, he plans to visit his family. “We may try turkey or ham this year,” Alan says. He won’t see them for Thanksgiving, but he is organizing a four-day trip to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon with three Japanese coworkers at Topre. “They are away from their families for the holidays. The least I can do is give them some entertainment,” he says. His holiday wish for the people of Cullman? “I hope they can spend time with their family,” Alan says. “As far as Cullman… overall, it’s such a nice town. I would think people have nearly everything they want here in Cullman.”

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Mayor: Max A. Townson City Council: Garlan E. Gudger, Jr., (President) Andy Page, John W. Cook, Clint Hollingsworth, Jenny Folsom November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

Riley Maze, left, posed with his family for this photo taken in the early 1900s. Jay Hugh Maze, the author’s grandfather, is on the back row, left of center. Note Riley’s bicycle on the porch at right.

Back during the 1890s in

The warrant

eastern-most Cullman County, it always paid to be nice to your neighbor. After all, you never knew when you might end up being related to one of your neighbors – or, for that matter, even the justice of the peace. Life might have turned out quite differently for Earlie Bannister had an incident involving her father and Justice of the Peace Riley Maze been resolved in a different manner. Often known as Squire Maze, some of his legal duties included performing wedding ceremonies and witnessing documents. At other times, he had the more unpleasant task of arresting people – including relatives. Whatever he had to do, Riley normally attended to his law duties astride a bicycle rather than a horse. 20

November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

by Steve A. Maze

As for Earlie, she was the youngest daughter of Alfred Bannister, a slightly built man who never weighed more than 88 pounds during his lifetime because he suffered from a severe case of asthma and emphysema. Medical remedies for Alfred’s illnesses were very limited back then. The family doctor burned out his adenoids, tonsils and the palate of

his mouth to offer some relief. The surgery affected his speech terribly. What’s more, he could no longer even whistle without first pinching his nostrils together. The illnesses and their cure left Alfred a shell of a man. To compensate for his lack of size and stamina, he carried a shotgun and shot pouch everywhere he went. “I can’t fight, and I can’t run, so I’ll just shoot ’em down,” was his proposed solution in the event that someone jumped him. The shotgun and tough talk made up for what he lacked physically, but his self-esteem was still rather low because he couldn’t work. Alfred felt badly that his wife and small children had to farm their 240 acres by themselves. He supplemented their efforts by declaring himself “manager” of the farm and handling all the bookwork and general supervision that

This photo of Alfred and Prester Bannister was taken from original hand-colored portraits owned by Steve Maze. If you wonder about the differences in their ages, there’s an explanation. Alfred, who was always frail, died at an early age. A photo from about that time was colored. Years later, the same was done for Prester, and their portraits were combined to make them a couple. was required. Alfred also built a shack on his property for sharecroppers, who sometimes worked the farm for a portion of the harvest. When he couldn’t work out a deal with a sharecropper, he would rent the house to whoever had a month’s rent in their pocket. One renter would make him regret it.

hat renter – Jim Stalin – and the notion of work mixed as well as oil and vinegar. Even though he was three months behind in his rent, the man and his wife were completely unconcerned that he had no job. Alfred offered to let him work on the farm as a swap-out for rent, but Jim was’t agreeable to that, either. One day Jim came to Alfred and asked him if he had some food he could share with his family. Alfred was fed up with him and his

wife’s laziness. “Jim, are you going to work?” he asked. “Yes,” the tenant replied. “I’ll work.” “Well, I haven’t seen you do it yet!” Alfred snapped. “My family works hard, and I’m not about to put up with you being trifle.” “But I ain’t got no job.” “Then go find one. If you do, there will be bread on your table when you get back, assuming your wife ain’t too lazy to fix it,” Alfred snapped. “And if your wife still ain’t too lazy,” he added, “she can pick some salad from my turnip patch. Otherwise, ya’ll can do without.” Alfred’s speech may have been affected by the surgery, but he sure could “talk plain,” as he put it. The heated conversation further degenerated and almost resulted in blows. Before it was over, Alfred, not surprisingly, threatened to shoot Jim

Stalin.

he renter and his wife left shortly after that incident – but not without the last word. The Bannisters heard that Jim Stalin had taken out a warrant against him, but Alfred didn’t give it much thought. Later though, his wife, Prester, got to worrying what might happen if the law took Jim’s allegations seriously and hauled her husband off to jail. “If only you hadn’t threatened to shoot him,” Prester said. “You always have to try and intimidate people with that shotgun.” Alfred did not normally let things like this bother him, but his wife’s comments concerned him. He knew that if he was arrested, it would be Justice of the Peace Squire Maze serving the warrant. But he also knew that Riley was a common sense lawman who tried to work out

Working for Cullman County Families since 1887 November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

differences between people before arresting anyone. A day or so later Earlie was standing on the front porch of the Bannister home when she noticed a trail of dust nearing their home. She shaded her eyes to see better. “Here comes Riley Maze,” she screamed, “riding his bicycle down the road!” Alfred stepped nervously onto the porch and saw Riley on his bicycle wobbling down the rutty, dirt road. “Oh no, it’s Squire Maze!” Alfred shouted when the justice of the peace got within hearing distance. “Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!” he added as a joke and acted as if he would run back into the house scared – which he really was. Maze got off his bicycle and propped it against the front porch. “Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!” Alfred repeated, over-playing his part. “Ah, Mr. Banister,” Riley grinned

as Alfred had hoped, Riley listened intently to his side of the story. “Well, Mr. Bannister,” Riley finally spoke. “I do have a warrant for your arrest. But I know your former renter, and I know you... and I just don’t aim to serve that warrant.” The lawman didn’t stop there. “Actually, I don’t blame you for what you done,” Riley added. “If I’d been you, I probably would have gone ahead and shot ’em!”

easily. “I ain’t gonna shoot ya.”

The men shook hands and sat

down on the porch. Young Earlie, however, was less then cordial to the visitor. The Bannisters were a close-knit family, and Alfred could do no wrong in the eyes of his youngest daughter. She stared in contempt at the man who had come to arrest her pa. The two men asked about each other’s families before the discussion took a more serious tone. “Mr. Bannister, I understand you had some trouble with one of your renters,” Riley said. “He signed a warrant for your arrest.” “Yes,” Alfred said a bit sarcastically. “I must be the meanest man in this world.” He went on to explain the events that led up to the warrant being taken out. In those days, a justice of the peace was given great latitude in cases to be brought before a judge, and,

nly then were Earlie Bannister and her family able to breathe a sigh of relief, but she still wasn’t happy that Squire Maze exercised any authority over her father – even if he were a lawman. In fact, Earlie’s contemptible attitude toward Riley Maze remained intact until Jan. 26, 1908. It was on that date that she married Jay Hugh Maze, who, by the way, just happened to be the son of that dastardly justice of the peace.

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Good Reads

15th century world gone mad is not a far stretch from today

A magical tale illustrates the consequences of our choices

men who used the Word of God as an excuse to kill and maim” whom do you trust? Reminiscent of today’s headlines, in “The Mercy Sell” Brenda Rickman Vantrease tells the story of Anna of Prague, who learns that not all in her 15th century He could not stop the world is as it seems. grinding in his gut as As an illuminator, a he watched the scene scrivener, she copies the first English translation of unfold… Today, it was the Latin Bible, secretly only books – only holy dispensing the text to the words consigned to the people. Anna is tested as her flames, not the people who church seeks to burn copied them – not flesh all heretics – and her and blood and bone. But first love is a spy for the church. this was prelude to the Vantrease draws her greater drama. characters so well I feel I know them… the betrayal of Anna and the righteous indignation of Lord John. I cheer the obstinate Abbess. I suffer with Little Bek. Loyalty. Compassion. Humility. Grace. Love. This book has something for everyone who values a sweeping historical novel. – Deb Laslie

everybody in it acted just like me?” In “The Lost Choice,” Andy Andrews again convicts and convinces us that “It is not enough merely to know the right thing to do. We must do it.” Andrews weaves You must build your another magical tale that might be fantasy character daily, my son. and might not, of a lost And immediately. All medallion with “magical blossoms of tomorrow, and powers.” We first learn of the all weeds as well, are in medallion in the Sinai the seeds you are sowing desert in AD 271, when, today… For ultimately, during an attack, its owner hacks it into four no person can ever rise pieces, placing one in beyond the restrictions of his terrified son’s hands his own character. before disappearing into the desert. In this great read, the remaining pieces turn up with Joan of Ark, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington Carver and others as markers for tipping points in the history of the world. The historic events lead us to a not so surprising but powerful revelation: Our choices, good and bad, affect more than we know, and define who we are. – Deb Laslie

In a “world. . . . gone mad with fierce and angry

November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

“What kind of world would this world be… if

Wiesner’s picture book captivates not just kids... but grownups, too

What happens after you’ve gone to sleep?

What are those sounds you hear outside? What was that your dad saw out of the corner of his eye as he made his midnight snack? What happened to the laundry drying on the line? Why are the dogs barking? And what are all those dried lily pads doing in the middle of the street the next morning? If magical flying frogs don’t come immediately to mind, you haven’t read “Tuesday” by David Wiesner. It’s a wordless picture book for children – though I haven’t found an adult yet who wasn’t captivated by this book. David Wiesner is one of my favorite children’s authors. He is only the second person to win the prestigious Caldecott Medal three times (“Tuesday” in 1992, “The Three Pigs” in 2002 and “Flotsam” in

2007). Pick up a copy of any of David Wiesner’s books. You can read and look at them again and again, and they’ll be just as fresh, just as inspiring and just as delightful as the very first time. And the kids will enjoy them, too! – Deb Laslie

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November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

“Y’all get in, let’s go. I can’t catch fish until we get

started.” Sammy Lee is urging action, but, in truth, the famous angler’s storytelling is what’s stalling our October outing on Lake Catoma. Listening are Daniel A. Moore, the famous Alabama football artist and Sammy’s best fishing buddy, and Dale Greer, famous in some circles as assistant director of the Cullman Economic Development Agency. Sammy is leaning against Dale’s trailered bass boat, exaggerating in true fishing fashion about Danny’s wife, Brenda. Thanks to meeting Sammy years ago, his story goes, Danny bought a boat. Then a truck to pull it. Then he had to build a garage… “Knowing you has cost us a quarter of a million dollars!” Brenda allegedly scolded. “I’ve heard that,” laughs Danny, who, actually, has no boat these days. This is Dale’s first time to meet Danny. It’s Dale’s first time fishing with Sammy, too, but, boy howdy, do they know each other. They worked together to land the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, a whopper of a trophy project expected to cost $30-plus million and be completed in 2015. Tied to his pro fishing fame, Sammy hosts a syndicated radio show, designs and sells hunting and fishing apps and is president of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame board of directors. Me? I’m joining this infamous trio because they insisted on having a photographer to record the monster bass they’ll catch that surely will get them nominations to the hall of fame. OK… as full disclosure, I’m here because this fishing trip was my idea. It would give me a different angle on the hall of fame story, plus I could add some fishing tales, football talk – we’re all Bama fans – and a few thoughts on the lawsuit the University of Alabama filed against Danny and his artwork eight years ago and recently lost. As further disclosure, I knew Danny long before he painted himself famous with his realistic renderings of monumental moments in Alabama football. I just can’t call him Daniel. Heck, he’s one of my three “little” brothers.

A native of Jasper and resident of Birmingham,

Sammy well knows Lewis Smith Lake. He’d always heard about the bass in Catoma but never fished it. Neither had Danny. But Dale knows Catoma and guides us to a promising point at the Ala. 157 bridge. Sammy spots large, suspended balls of fish on the sonar. “There’ll be fish,” Dale affirms. “There’s big ol’ shad bait out here.” “So,” says Danny, “if we throw big bait it won’t scare the fish away?” 26

November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

Story and photos by David Moore In short order he lands the first two bass, 2-3-pound spots. Sammy gets a good bite, sets the hook. “It’s a gar,” he says, reeling away. “If he says it’s a gar, he’s lying,” Danny laughs. “If he says it’s a largemouth, there’s no telling what it is.” Actually, it is a largemouth. “He used to fish all day,” Danny says as Sammy lands the bass. “Now it’s like, ‘Caught one. That’s good. Let’s go. It’s too hot…’” “Danny’s never told the truth about this,” Sammy retorts, “but when we go fishing, while I’m working and getting the boat in the water, he’s standing on the ramp already catching

Fishing from left are Dale Greer, assistant director of the Cullman Economic Development Agency; Sammy Lee, president of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame; and Daniel A. Moore, painter of famous Alabama football moments. fish.” “I have to get a head start on him,” Danny says. “The guy’s good.” Dale interjects with what he says is the real truth about how Cullman landed the hall of fame. “One day I called and said, ‘Mr. Lee, you don’t know me, but I have bought you a couple of boats fishing against you in tournaments.’” We laugh. “He said, ‘I don’t know you either, but I do appreciate the boats! Now I guess I owe you a Bass Fishing Hall of Fame…’”

hen the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame was founded in 1999 in Hot Springs, Ark., its board figured to build a permanent home for it on nearby Lake Hamilton, but high-

end property owners there torpedoed the plan. In 2001, Sammy began fishing for suitable sites, trolling 11 states without the benefit of Lowrance sonar. “I looked at some really great sites, but the communities didn’t understand fishing,” he says as the guys fish. “I found other sites where the communities were supportive and wanted us, but it didn’t make sense to be 60 miles from a major thoroughfare.” The last five years Sammy looked hard at Guntersville, Scottsboro, Leeds and Montgomery. Despite Dale’s story, what focused Sammy on Cullman was its “world-class” property next to the I-65 tourist corridor and seven miles from the county park at Lewis Smith Lake. “I came and saw the community and the people,” Sammy November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

The Birmingham firm of Goodwyn–Mills–Cawood designed the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame with a common entrance that also will serve Cullman’s new civic center/convention hall . If Daniel A. Moore had painted the rendering, he might well have titled it “The Catch.” Landing the hall of fame was a trophy catch for Cullman, which already boasts several tourist attractions, a top-ranked school system and a nationally recognized parks and recreation department. says. “They understand bass fishing. They understand recreation and tourism. They are very progressive. They are financially sound. And the best part about it, they were willing to put their money where their mouth is.”

ale, casting his line, says Cullman officials wanted a new civic center eventually, one big enough to draw conventions. They recognized the bass fishing hall of fame as an opportunity for a combined, mutually beneficial project. Dale, director Peggy Smith and the rest of the team at the economic development agency, Mayor Max Townson, park and rec director John Hunt and others worked out a deal on the civic center. Cullman would pay for the building’s shell and landscaping based on the BFHOF needs. The hall of fame would pay to finish out its portion. Adding to the offering, the Alabama Department of Transportation agreed to build a $19 million interchange near the site, which Dales says came about because of a $2 million commitment by the cities of Cullman and Good Hope, the Cullman County 28

November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

Commission and the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce and because of strong support from Cullman Sen. Paul Bussman. “They said, ‘We want you. We want you to be a part of this project,’” Sammy says. “Once everything was laid out on the table, it was not a question of should we go to Cullman, it was how fast can we get there. “To say it was a no-brainer is probably over-simplifying it, but it was a no-brainer. In spite of Dale Greer,” Sammy quips, “we still came here.”

ammy, who owns every Daniel A. Moore print available, recalls fits of hero worship when he met Danny 28 years ago. “I was like Odie the cartoon dog. ‘Mr. Moore! Mr. Moore! I am one of your biggest fans! Pant, pant, pant…’ He was like, ‘Get away.’ A few minutes later, my wife or maybe I said to him, ‘You know, I fish for a living…’ Boing! His antennae went up! ‘Anytime you want to go fishing, let me know. I have access to a good, private lake.’” “And you probably said you had a 35-foot Ranger,” Dale

laughs. Danny soon called. On their first trip Sammy caught five bass. Danny, using Mickey Mouse gear, caught 30. “I mean he was whacking them,” Sammy says. “But my five outweighed his 30.” “King of the Dinks,” Danny laughs, “that was my name.” “After that, at 4 in morning, he’s at the door, got his little rod, and I hear, ‘I’m ready!’” “Your lips are moving,” Danny notes. “Means he’s lying,” Dale says, but it doesn’t silence Sammy. “I have fished with a thousand people over the years,” he continues. “Some you don’t necessarily want to get in a boat with again. Some you look forward to fishing with again. That first year, we must have fished 20 or 30 times together. As the friendship and fellowship grew, he also became like my student.”

s we fish elsewhere on Cotoma, hall of fame talk resurfaces. BFHOF board members initially pigeonholed Cullman as a stereotypical small town, but in response to Sammy and Dale’s persistence they finally paid a visit. They came, they saw, they swallowed Cullman, hook, line and sinker. “They found a progressive town with a central sense of unity,” Sammy says. “As strong as this county is economically, that didn’t happen by accident. There are strong business leaders, forward thinking people.” Synergy, Dale says, was abundant. Everything and everyone worked together, starting with the property, which Cullman bought a few years ago from the family of the late Evelyn Burrow, and which Dale called a gold mine. The city had been trying to buy 60 acres from the family that’s on Cullman County 222, adjacent to its industrial park there. The family had finally agreed to sell if the city would buy another 110 acres across the road and, as a legacy to Evelyn, restrict it to park and recreation-related uses. Total price for the 170 acres was $1.5, but expensive utilities were already on 222 – a benefit for the hall of fame along with two 3-acre ponds on its 30 designated acres.

Before throwing him back into Lake Catoma, Danny gets a little face time with his second catch of the day, a spot weighing about 3 pounds. Sammy soon follows suit, landing what he insists (with a fisherman’s right to greatly exaggerate) must be a 13-pound largemouth. That may not be true, but it is true that Dale procured special permission to use his bass boat on Catoma – normally restricted to boat motors up to 10 hp – because of the publicity for the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

Cullman will spend an estimated $20 million on the building designed by Goodwyn–Mills–Cawood . The firm’s drawing depicts the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame on the left, which the BFHF board is raising $10 million to $12 million to finish out. Total square footage will be about 100,000. About 30,000 square feet will go to the hall of fame, while Cullman’s civic center/convention center, to the right of the building, will be about twice that size. From a tourist standpoint, 40,000 motorists use I-65 daily. Nearby Smith Lake has drawn more than 700 boats to fishing tournaments, Dale continues, and five new boat ramps are planned for the popular county park there. Plus the city draws throngs of people to huge tournaments hosted by the top-five nationally ranked park and rec department. Financially, alcohol revenue is flowing, there’s lots of activity downtown, and industry is clicking along. Plus, Dale says, there was all of the synergy between state, chamber, city and county officials to secure the crucial freeway exit. “The new county commission chairman is a big fisherman,” Dale reminds Sammy. “You need to stay in touch with him.”

long with discussing the hall of fame, Sammy and Danny tell lots of fishing tales. Some are true. Sammy regrets converting Danny from Renosky lures to jerk baits, helping him catch bigger fish. Then he brags on Danny’s record 10-pound, 4-ouncer dubbed Gertrude Mossback. 30

November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

They regale Dale and me with details on their record 153-bass day. Every third fish was 4-7 pounds. It was hot. They guzzled a case of water and got dehydrated anyway. Their hands cramped so badly they could barely reel in fish. By 3 p.m. they’d caught and released 100 bass. Sammy wanted to quit. “Of course,” Danny interjects. When they hit 110, Danny begged to catch 125; then that was not enough. Finally, with 152 fish caught and heading to the ramp, Danny made a final cast into what Sammy said were just bream hitting the surface near a sunken tree – but the artist reeled in the biggest bass of the day. “It was the kind of day memories are made of,” Sammy says. True, there might be memories from this afternoon on Catoma, but none of the famous trio comes close to landing a hall of fame nomination. Sammy blames Danny. “You knew better than to throw the first one back,” he laughs. “It’s bad luck, and you did anyway.” Maybe so. But Cullman still caught a whopper.

Dale lands a 3-4-pound largemouth bass. “Large mouth, small body, right?” Danny teases afterward. “He’s not real big, but I’m real proud of him,” Dale says. “Can I touch him?” Sammy begs. Dale replies, “You can smell him.”

Sammy, Danny and Dale talk of football – and the big win

Sammy Lee, Daniel A. Moore

Dale Greer and I are Alabama fans – insert your own joke here – and hall of fame and fishing talk this fine October afternoon inevitably turns to football. The 2013 season is still in its first quarter. A lot of football remains. And, for the Tide, a lot of questions remain. But after just zipping Ole Miss 250, the guys on the bass boat remain optimistic… if not a bit unsettled. At least the safety and goose egg the defense laid on the Rebels looked good, Danny observes. “That’s what C.J. Mosley means to them,” Dale says. “They looked much, much better.” “I liked the freshman, number 4, Eddie Jackson, coming in on defense,” Danny adds. “He’ll be a future star.” “It will be scary if our offense and defense ever gel at the same time,” Sammy says. We all nod hungrily.

That, of course, is what fans are counting on. Dynasty is destiny, right? The Tide has to win three national titles in a row. But to fulfill that destiny, who should they play for the championship? Settle the Oregon dispute? “No,” Sammy says. “I want to see Alabama beat Ohio State, so Urban Myers can crawl home with his tail between his legs. We already got him to quit one team, we might as well get him to quit another. “I’m pretty brutal,” he grins. Ducks or Buckeyes, beating either would naturally mandate a painting by Danny and, correspondingly, a new purchase by Sammy… even if he has nowhere to hang it. “I have Daniel Moore stuff in every closet, under every bed, covering every wall,” he says.

Talk turns to the lawsuit the

University of Alabama filed against

Danny in 2005, claiming, among other transgressions, that his paintings – back to the “Goal Line Stand” in 1979 – infringed on the university’s trademarked crimson and white jerseys. But you can’t trademark crimson and white. (Or houndstooth.) Federal courts have consistently ruled in favor of First Amendment constitutional rights for artists’ work. That’s what they eventually did here, and a judge at the end of September threw out the final dregs of the nightmare lawsuit. Had UA won, Danny would face a bankrupting $5-plus million demand. Not many teams shut out Alabama, but the courts rightfully dismissed every single count brought against Danny. If he’s lucky, UA will be ordered to pay his attorney’s fees, but either way… “I’m vindicated,” he says, making a nice cast into promising waters. “My name is cleared.” – David Moore

November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

Justin Dyar built a career and a house that mesh with his long-running love of Smith Lake

Lakefront living, says Justin, is all about, well, the lake. Mid Pointe, his home across from Echo Point island, puts that axiom into full effect starting with his two-slip boathouse

Story and photos by David Moore

Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor?

What to be when you grow up? While “real estate agent” is a rarity in most young imaginations, it piqued Justin Dyar’s interest, and Lewis Smith Lake played – and continues to play – a turnkey role in the path he chose. Justin grew up in Hamilton, near the Mississippi line, but spent so much time at friends’ homes on Smith Lake in the ’80 and ’90s that he claims it as his stomping grounds. “There was never a shortage of places to stay,” he says from his 4,300-square-foot lake house. “We used to come over all the time when I was young. I remember seeing all of the different homes, lots and people.” The sheer beauty of the uncommonly clear, deep water intrigued him. “You could almost see the bottom in places,” Justin says. “I remember swimming around a friend’s boat many, many years ago and being totally fascinated that I could see my toes down there. “Everyone I met at the lake was having fun and in a good mood. That positive attitude and enjoyment of life stuck with me. I got a love for the lake – and a 32

November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

featuring an upstairs bar.

knowledge of it.” As he grew older, separating Justin from the lake and its surroundings became nigh impossible. By road and water he learned intricately the coves and creeks. “I knew,” he says, “that eventually I would be involved somehow at Smith Lake.” His parents, Joe and Deborah Dyar, encouraged him. “They knew how much I truly loved the lake and real estate,” he says.

e was already on the track to a real estate career when he started The University of Alabama in 1999. “In college I would sometimes drive to the lake just to look around at houses,” Justin says. “I always knew that I did not want to sit behind a desk my whole life, and I wanted complete control of my career. The sky is the limit in the world of real estate.” He got his first taste of Smith Lake real estate in 2000 when his parents bought a place at Rock Creek. Justin found it for them. He studied marketing and computing technologies – both of which served his goal well. To no one’s shock, he went straight into real estate when he graduated in 2003. He’d lived at Smith Lake since 2001. But his living

November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

space limited entertainment, a big part of the fun of lake life. “You find lots of friends here,” Justin laughs. In 2007, his career already cranking, he sold the 13 lots at Four Waters Point, a development located where one of the three main fingers of Smith Lake flows past two branching coves in an expanse of deep water. Justin sorely wanted the one-acre, peninsulatipped lot overlooking Echo Point island, but it didn’t work out. Fate smiled two years later, however. The lot came open, and he bought it. He worked with designer David Smelcer of Birmingham to create a home that blended with the property as opposed to competing with it. In the meantime, Justin built a spacious twostory, two-slip boathouse, complete with swim deck, jet ski tie-ups and upstairs bar – ideal for entertaining on the water. First things first.

onstruction on the house – Justin named it Mid Pointe – started in 2010. He moved in late that year. The roomy house allowed him to host parties for 130 people who comfortably mingled between house, deck, screened porch, patio, grounds and boathouse. But Justin has no plans to sell Mid Pointe… well, he is a Realtor. Selling homes is what he does. With that in mind, the house is built with a thorough knowledge of what buyers want. With deep water and 500 sprawling miles of shoreline, uncluttered by industry or barge traffic, Smith Lake has been a hot real estate commodity for 15 years, Justin says. It’s convenient to Birmingham and Huntsville and close enough to Nashville and Atlanta to visit on weekends. “And I’m only 30 minutes from Cullman,” he says. “That’s important.” Justin finds clients drawn to the slow pace of lake life, the demeanor of trusting people, the long recreation season and low property taxes. “This,” he adds, “is one of the cleanest lakes in the country and a tribute to Cullman County.”

shareholder in Lake Homes Realty, Justin has been the top-producing agent on Smith Lake seven years straight, closing more than $52 million worth of homes and property in 2012 and on track to equal or top that this year. Managing 300-400 properties at any given time creates 18-hour days. Billing himself as “Mr. Smith Lake,” he tempers his long hours by practicing what he preaches, 34

November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

“You can’t just pick a plan out of a book,” Justin says of lake housing. Relying on his real estate experience, he provided Birmingham designer David Smelcer with photos of lake homes he liked and the amenities and design elements he wanted to produce a rustic but modern 4,300-squarefoot house. He left as many trees as possible and complemented them with a stone and brown Hardie planking exterior.

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Downstairs is a complete living space featuring two bedrooms, a common bath and a kitchen that open onto a patio. “When I have company,” Justin says, “they can come and go as they please.” Purchased from Southern Accents, wide planking and tin ceiling tiles from old buildings in Cullman add texture to downstairs rooms. 36

November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

Though it has its rustic and whimsical sides, Mid Pointe is a modern house with an open floor plan. The main room includes tall ceilings, a sitting area centered on a wood-burning fireplace, a large dining table and a well-appointed kitchen. The living area is a bit short on right angles â&#x20AC;&#x201C; befitting an owner who embraces change. November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

living and working where he sells – on the lake. He generally kickstarts his days with a 6:30 Mountain Dew in his lake-view home office. Much of his mornings are spent on the phone, his evenings on the computer. He finds the internet an effective sales tool, especially for lake property, which attracts buyers from afar. He’s signed contracts for lake homes with clients as far away as Alaska, France and Djakarta, Indonesia. Signings are often informal, done on the hood of a truck or a pontoon boat deck. As he planned it, business as usual is, well, usually unusual.

hanging hours, changing seasons, changing water activities… Smith Lake is a transient scene. Justin loves that its changes unfold in his backyard. “I have always liked change,” Justin says. “I have never liked a routine. I do not like to go to the same restaurants, eat at the same time, see the same people, drive the same car. “My interest in real estate gives me the flexibility to have a life of change while controlling the amount of change... if that makes sense. My customers change every day – or, really, every hour. I never go to the same place, and I never have the same schedule. “I absolutely enjoy what I do.” It’s part of the good life he set out to create, immersed, as it were, in Smith Lake. Though it’s a labor of love, it’s not without a few regrets. “No,” he confesses. “I don’t get the boat out every day. I should take more time with myself.” Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor? Justin Dyar chose real estate. That’s because, even while working, he’s seldom out of sight of the lake he loves.

Justin works from his home office overlooking Smith Lake. Also upstairs are a master suite, a second bedroom and another bath and a half. Lighting throughout is thoughtful and attractively effective. 38

November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

Out ’n’ About An October afternoon found Adam Jacobs of Arab and Gary Stephenson of Joppa, right, taking advantage of the pleasant weather at the driving range at Chesley Oaks. Gary says his buddy has offered him lots of good advice to improve on getting in the swing of things.

Zac Hayes maneuvers a motorized scaffold as he paints the sign at the Jet Pep station on U.S. 278 in Holly Pond. Zac lives at Jones Chapel and works on the maintenance crew for Jet Pep, the gasoline distributor headquartered in Holly Pond. Photos by David Moore

Fay Thomas had her hands full at Baileyton Park recently, keeping up with her four greatgrandchildren. Swinging high is Skyler Thomas, pushed by his sister, Sydney. On the other swing, Laila Craven pushes her cousin, Aubrey Thomas. Fay’s not sure if keeping up with the kids – ages 2 to 4 – makes her feel young or old. November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

Good ‘n’ Green

It’s cooling off... time to get outside By TONY GLOVER

For some inexplicable reason we in the

Tony Glover, daughter Julie Glover and Phil Gatlin, a local Master Gardener, inspect the root ball of a tree – which is OK to disturb before planting Photo provided by Tony Glover

November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

South work in our yards as if we lived in the North. Except for a few cold or rainy periods, November through January is a great time to work in your yard. The weather is cool enough to work outdoors without a heat stroke. The yard chore best done in fall and winter is often left undone until spring – planting. These are the best months for planting almost all trees and shrubs with the exception of a few marginally cold hardy plants, such as figs or Camellia japonicas. Planting correctly will play a big part in the growth and even survival of your tree or shrub. There are at least two myths about planting these woody plants that can impact your chance of success. The first myth is that if you have a lot of clay in your soil, you should amend the planting hole with loose organic matter, such as compost. Untrue. If you have a lot of clay do not use any soil amendments. There are two potential problems with adding organic matter, and they all revolve around water. If organic matter is added to a planting hole surrounded by heavy clay soil, the water movement is drastically altered. Either the water will not move out of the hole after it rains – causing a stopped up drain effect – or the organic matter will dry and not re-wet well. Both scenarios lead to root death. By the way, plant wilting is not always an indicator that your soil is too dry. Both drought and excessive water cause plants to wilt. The second myth is that you should not disturb the root ball coming out of the container. This relates to the previous myth, but needs some further explanation. Most plants are grown in containers at the nursery in a very light ground pine bark mix.

The key to success in planting is to research these questions first…

the drainage or lack of same? In heavy clay soils, poor drainage kills more plants than drought.

Study 1. Are the plants you have in mind to Cullman County’s climate? 3. Is your site adequate for continued first, adapted Being well adapted to our winters is one growth of the plant? Always think about but what we plant also needs to its mature size when selecting a plant then thing, be well adapted to our heat. and location. This often overlooked leads to problems if not plant 2. Will the plants tolerate your soil’s question addressed during the selection process. While great for growing shrubs and trees in the nursery, this mix can present terrible problems in the landscape. If this loose bark is allowed to remain intact, the water movement issues described in the first myth still apply, with the added problem of air pocket development around the roots as the bark decomposes. Therefore, it is best to gently wash most of the loose bark material off the plant until it is, for all practical purposes, a bare root plant. This may involve pulling the roots out if they have started winding around the root ball. If necessary you can prune or slice these roots to help make this job easier, but try to leave as many roots intact as possible.

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he planting hole should be shallow and wide. The depth only needs to be as deep as the root ball, but the hole should be at least two times the width of the root spread. Look for the uppermost lateral root to determine the planting depth. This lateral root should be at grade or slightly above the surrounding soil grade. To hold water, make a small ring of raised soil covering the area to which the outermost roots extend. Keep this area moist at all times for the first several weeks and then gradually decrease watering frequency and increase watering depth to encourage deeper rooting. Mulching the root area can give you a false sense of security about whether the plant has adequate water. It is very important to check the root area frequently to avoid drying. Do not apply mulch more than 2-3 inches thick. Post-planting care tips also include keeping the area around trees and shrubs free of weeds and grass, widening the weed-free area as the plant grows. Also, avoid using weed whackers or mowers near the plant base. To help with this the County Extension office in Cullman provides free landscape fabric tree rings. Just come by our office at 402 Arnold Street across from the Folsom Center and ask for your free tree rings. We also have many free publications on landscaping topics that you may pick up or find at: www.aces.edu.

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November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

Good Eats

Photo by David Moore

Mike Mullaney mans the Blue Moose bar during the ‘historic’ tapping of the Oktoberfest beer he and Gary Teichmiller brewed. The Moose seats 45, but on this night it “stood” many more.

Blue Moose: home cooking and history By David Moore

lue Moose Cafe and Brew Pub notched at least an asterisk in local history on Oct. 4 when it served the first beer brewed in Cullman County. Legally brewed, that is. At least in the last 100 years. The event ushered in the other half of the cafe’s name, which began serving Debbie Wood’s home-style cooking on First Avenue NE in April. Dubbed The Colonel’s Festbier, the historic beer made quite a splash as throngs of people piled into Blue Moose for the debut. Two 31-gallon kegs rapidly disappeared that night. The third and last keg was honored as the first beer tapped the following night by Mayor Max Townson at the opening of Cullman’s 2013 Oktoberfest. “I’d say they knocked it out of the park,” is what Scott Slatton says of the Colonel that first night. “It has an awesome flavor and great taste,” comments Jerri Glaser over the happy noise inside the Moose. “But just the idea of knowing this is the first time makes it good.” “I think it is very good,” adds Gyzelle Warren, sitting at a table with Jerri. “I have a rich German heritage and I am glad they are doing this.”

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“I am tickled to death with the way people responded to the beer,” says Brad Glenn. Brad is part of the “brew crew” with John Dean and Terry Harbin, who enthusiastically pitched in to help Cullman brewmasters Gary Teichmiller and Mike Mullaney. Mike and Gary used equipment ordered from California to brew the Colonel in the Moose kitchen on Sept. 7. “It turned out good,” Gary says of their effort. “But I’m never happy. We can do better next time.” Everyone who enjoyed the Colonel should find that to be exciting news. Mike and Gary are getting on a schedule that should keep three different Moose beers on tap. Long before they were licensed to brew commercially, they tried out and tweaked various craft beer recipes at home. In fact, in Gary’s case, he’s been home brewing since 1979. “It was legal at my house,” he joked. He and Mike were part of the Free the Hops lobbying effort to modernize the state’s alcohol laws. Alabama was the last state to legalize home brewing. Through the two brewmasters, Blue Moose became the 12th member of the Alabama Brewers Guild in July. By October, the guild had grown to 25 breweries, an indication of the interest in the craft brewing business. Obtaining a license to brew and serve involved digging

up historic records showing that beer was brewed for public consumption in Cullman prior to the Constitutional ratification of prohibition in 1919. Blue Moose finally got its license to serve its own craft beer on Oct. 1 Mike and Gary’s work impresses Debbie, and not just because they keep her kitchen clean. “Brewing is like an art to them,” she says.

ebbie always loved cooking but never planned to open a restaurant. She is retired from broadcasting and is an active real estate agent with Doyle real estate in Cullman. Her husband, Windell, is chief operating officer for Alabama Public Television. After graduating from Auburn, their youngest son, Jacob, couldn’t find work in his chosen field, so he spent time in Colorado. Debbie and Windell bought the vintage, 1893 building on First Avenue with the idea of Jacob opening a restaurant there. Colorado influences gave Jacob the Blue Moose name and the idea of adding a brew pub. But it turns out he’s too busy working with Nearen Construction to run the place, so Debbie, her good friend Judie Hubbard and manager Shane Guest operate the cafe for now. Debbie treats the kitchen like her own at home, cooking homestyle from scratch – think sour cream biscuits – and buying fresh and local whenever possible. They serve lunches Wednesday through Friday to a good clientele of women and business people who choose from the daily meat and two, perhaps meatloaf one day, poppy seed chicken another. The menu includes several regular choices, including free range chicken salad and sandwiches. Debbie’s now serving homemade soups and cornbread and makes a daily dessert. “We change it up, just like home,” she says. Also like home, when the food’s gone, it’s gone – which late arriving customers discover when the lunch crowd has been particularly hungry.

he Blue Moose opens Friday and Saturday nights until 10, unless it’s a beer-brewing Saturday, in which case they will post the closing on Facebook. The weekend clientele, Debbie says, is mature folks who appreciate craft beers on tap. On Fridays when a new Moose beer comes out, they often have entertainment. Along with Moose beers, they offer a changing selection

Photo provided by Blue Moose

Buttermilk oven fried chicken is just one of Debbie’s specialties at the Blue Moose

including the likes of Alabama’s Straight to Ale, Yellowhammer and Good People, along with Stone, Bell and Boulevard brews. Also on Friday nights, Debbie cooks her Cullman original tamales from a 100-year-old recipe and serves Moose Nachos. The plan remains for Jacob to run Blue Moose. He’ll own it with brothers, Tyler, who is doing a five year medical residency, and Zac, who works at Premier Bank. “I see turning it over to the boys soon,” Debbie says. “They have more energy. We are just helping them get it off the ground.” And making a little history to boot.

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Good Cooking

Fill that yearning for change What’s not to love about an old-fashioned Thanksgiving or Christmas feast? Nothing. But don’t you sometimes yearn to cook something different for the holidays to serve your family or friends? Chef Chris Villa understands. So, as instructor and head of the culinary arts program at Wallace State Community College, he asked some of his students to research recipes a little off the beaten menu. They offer these ideas to whet your imagination… and your appetite. APPLE STUFFED TURKEY BREAST Matthew Jett 4 turkey (or chicken) breasts 1 can cranberry sauce 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, thinly sliced 12 oz feta cheese 16 oz apple butter 1 tsp cinnamon 2 tsp butter 16 oz Panko bread crumbs Pre-heat oven to 350. Butterfly turkey breasts, open and wrap in Saran wrap; pound to ½ inch thick. Cut cranberry sauce into thin slices; place on one side of butterflied turkey. Spread feta onto apple slices; place on top of cranberry sauce. Close other side of turkey over stuffing. Melt butter with bread crumbs, mixing in cinnamon, then coat breasts with mixture. Bake about 30 min. or until internal temperature of meat is 165. Cool to touch, then slice on the bias (at 45-degree angle) and top with apple butter.

November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

DRESSING SOUFFLÈ London Hill crumbled corn bread diced onion diced celery celery seed sage salt and pepper chicken stock shredded chicken cranberry sauce whipped topping flour butter Preheat oven to 400. In large bowl, mix diced onions and celery into chicken stock. Mix chicken stock, shredded chicken, salt, pepper, celery seed and sage with crumbled corn bread until soft but not runny. Grease muffin pan and fill. Bake for 15-20 min. or until top is golden brown. Serve with

2/3 cup quality dark chocolate chips Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. In medium bowl beat oil, applesauce, sugar and vanilla. Fold in shredded zucchini and chocolate chips. Add wet to dry and stir until combined. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. FOR THE STREUSEL ½ cup all-purpose flour ½ cup sugar ½ cup light brown sugar 2 tsp cinnamon 5 tbsp butter, melted 2/3 cup pecans, chopped Combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, butter and cinnamon in a bowl. Add pecans and mix well. Spread over top of batter in pan. Bake 45-60 min or until you can insert toothpick and it comes out clean. Cool before slicing. Drizzle honey over the top of the bread. PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE MOUSSE Kelsey Wade 2 8 oz packages of cream cheese ¾ cup maple syrup

cranberry cream and gravy for plate painting. Cranberry cream Puree cranberry sauce in food processor. Beat heavy whipping cream and pureed cranberry until smooth. Gravy In saucepan, melt butter and brown flour. Add chicken stock until smooth but thick in consistency, salt and pepper to taste. CHOCOLATE CHIP ZUCCHINI BREAD Tiyana Orr 2 ½ cups whole wheat pastry or white wheat flour ¾ tsp salt 1 ½ tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 2 tsp cinnamon 1/3 cup canola oil ½ cup unsweetened applesauce 1 cup sugar 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract 2 cups shredded zucchini

Pumpkin cheesecake mousse, chocolate chip zucchini bread and snorkels ½ tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground nutmeg ¼ tsp ginger ¼ tsp cloves ½ tsp pumpkin puree ½ cup Greek yogurt Beat cream cheese until smooth. Slowly beat in maple syrup, scraping side of bowl to ensure even mixing. Beat in spices and pumpkin puree. Beat in yogurt. Pour into a large bowl or individual serving dishes. Refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving. Pour into a small pumpkin for a bowl and roast at 300 for 10 minutes. SNORKELS Taylor Tao Brown ¾ container small curd cottage cheese 1 lb butter 4 cups flour 2 cups cinnamon

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2 cups sugar 1 bag slices almonds 1 lb melted butter FOR THE GLAZE 2 cups powdered sugar 4 tsp water 2 tsp almond extract Preheat oven to 350. Mix butter and cottage cheese until creamy. Add flour and mix until similar to pie dough and split into 6 balls. Wrap each ball in waxed paper and refrigerate 24 hours. (FYI: keeps several weeks.) Knead dough balls until semi warm, place on floured surface and roll into circles. Spread on melted butter with spoon or brush. Cover with mixed sugar and cinnamon. With pizza cutter or knife, cut dough circles into “pie” wedges about 1 in wide on the outer end. Roll wedges from wide end to point like a croissant. Mix glaze while

baking dough for 20 minutes. Frost immediately from oven. SWEET POTATO WALNUT SOUP Tiyana Orr 3 cups sweet potato, peeled and cubed 1 cup light coconut* ¼-½ cup milk* 2 cups vegetable or chicken stock ½ tsp curry powder 2 tbsp cinnamon 5 tbsp butter ¼ cup raw walnuts to garnish * can substitute 1 cup coconut milk Steam potatoes until tender; skin and cube when cool. Combine with remaining ingredients in blender and puree until smooth. Transfer to sauce pan and heat thoroughly. Adjust seasonings to taste. Garnish with cashews in the middle and drizzle marshmallow cream over the soup.

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2045 Co. Rd. 222 • Cullman, AL www.vansoutdoors.com November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

Sweet potato walnut soup, Parmesan garlic money bread and spinach Parmesan balls PARMESAN GARLIC MONKEY BREAD Cheyenne Laipply 3 tbsp of finely chopped green onions 3 tbsp parsley 1½-2 tsp garlic powder ¼ tsp salt 5-6 tbsp melted butter 2 loaves frozen bread dough, thawed ½-1 cup Parmesan cheese 2 eggs Grease 10 inch tube pan. In a medium bowl, mix together green onion, parsley, garlic powder, salt, butter and eggs until well blended well. Break off dough into small pieces, dipping each into egg mixture. Place pieces to cover bottom of prepared tube pan. Sprinkle layer with Parmesan cheese. Repeat dough layers, sprinkling each with Parmesan, until everything is in pan. Cover loosely and let rise until

November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

doubled in size, which will take about 45 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

closely together on baking sheet. Cook in the top half of the oven until firm to touch, about 20-25 min. Cool 5 min., then transfer to platter and serve.

SPINACH PARMESAN BALLS Sandra Bates

CHRISTMAS PINWHEELS Created by Matthew Jett

1 pound frozen chopped spinach, thawed 5 eggs 1 large onion 10 tbsp margarine, melted ½ cup Parmesan ½ cup mozzarella 2 cloves garlic, minced ½ tsp dried thyme leaves ½ tsp cayenne 1¾ cups panko crumbs Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Squeeze excess water from the spinach and put in large bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well by hand. Form the mixture into 1 inch balls by hand or using small ice cream scoop. Place the balls

12 oz cream cheese ¾ lb. thick slices smoked turkey 12 oz jar roasted red bell peppers 12 large turnip green leaves, stemless, washed and dried 10 oz can whole cranberry sauce 5 10-in. flour tortillas 3 tbsp butter salt and pepper to taste Prep: Smooth cheese in mixer. Add cranberry sauce, mixing well until purple. Cut bell peppers into julienne slices; set aside with cheese. Melt butter at low heat in 12-in. sauté pan. Add 2-3 turnip leaves, seasoning to taste and cooking only enough to soften. Transfer to paper towel-

covered plate. Repeat with rest of leaves and let cool. Making pinwheels and constructing tree: Spread cheese mix with spatula on each tortilla leaving ½ in. space around edges. Fan out 2-3 turnip leaves in center of tortillas; place bell pepper on top of the leaves followed by two slices of turkey. Starting at the bottom, roll each tortilla tightly, ending with something similar to an open-ended burrito. Remove ends, then cut tortillas into 5-6 ½-inch slices. Build a Christmas tree with slices, starting with one at the top and expanding until you have five rows. Center two slices at bottom for the tree trunk.

Smith & Waldrop Pontiac 1956

Som e Th

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ge over Time

After 57 years in business, we’ve seen many changes. Vehicle styles – and technology – have changed. So has our building and name. Members of our staff have come and gone.

Furnishing Cullman area homes For over 40 Years

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Do you want to list your property?... Or do you want to sEll your property?

O ur a gents k nOw w hat i t t akes t O s ell p rOperty

Bill Smith

But one thing will never change. Our commitment to superior service in the community. My dad, Bill Smith Sr., started the business with one line of thought... You’re our neighbor, not just another number. We’ve kept this in mind as our dealership evolved into Alabama’s largest Buick gMc dealer – all because of our customers. Thank you Cullman! See you soon,

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November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

A monk, a chandler, Brother David Bryant helps shed light on the world one candle at a time Story and photos by David Moore

Brother David Bryant’s

calling to become a monk is the story of a quest – at once physical, mental and spiritual – for God’s kingdom. On the other hand, his path to becoming the chandler – or candle-maker – at Cullman’s St. Bernard Abbey was a very different quest – one to rid the gift shop at the abbey’s Ave Maria Grotto of, as he calls them, “stupid” whiskey shot glasses that were sold as souvenirs. Over time, his two quests have melted together like the wax of old candles he recycles and makes anew to bring light into the world… especially at Christmas, when candles, for many, become a part of the celebration. “The most obvious symbol of Christmas is light – Christ being the “light of the world,” says Brother David, a member of the Order of Saint Bernard. “And candlelight often evokes the warmth of home and family.” The tradition of a candle in the window dates back to colonial times when homes were often miles apart. The sight of a candle in a window 50

Brother David, 35, was not raised as a Catholic. He grew up in a Baptist church in Knoxville. A religious soul from youth, in high school he once built a prayer corner in his bedroom. During his religious quest he was drawn to the Methodist church through an invitation from a girl he knew to sing in the choir. He went on to study computers and videography at Pellissippi State Technical College in Knoxville, aspiring to become a Methodist minister and work professionally with the Boy Scouts.

from a distance, he says, was a sign of welcome to those wishing to visit. “And thus we welcome Christ into our own homes,” adds the Benedictine monk. “The candle burning down is also a wonderful symbol of life and time.” Interestingly, in terms of his life,

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t was as a cook at a Scout camp that he became good friends with another cook there, who happened to be Catholic and invited him to church. Captivated with the atmosphere of prayer, the catechisms, the enrichment of mass and the symbolism of the church, David converted to Catholicism in 2000, was confirmed into the church and, drawn in that direction, familiarized himself with monastic life with Franciscan monks in the Bronx. It was while surfing the internet

Brother David refers to John 1:1-5 for scripture to shed light on his chosen vocation as chandler – or candle maker – at St. Bernard Abbey. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

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in the Bronx that he discovered St. Bernard’s. He visited Cullman three times before entering the monastery Sept. 8, 2002. Candles, however, were nowhere on his visible horizon. Technology was. “I came here to do whatever,” he says. Given his computer skills, “whatever” soon led him to become the abbey webmaster. His first task was computerizing the inventory system for the grotto’s gift shop. Early on Brother David also attended “Monk Camp” at St. John’s Abbey in Minnesota. He was impressed with the artisan work being done there, including making beeswax candles. But learning the craft didn’t yet occur to him.

Two annoyances back at St. Bernard’s led Brother

David to his calling to become St. Bernard’s chandler. For one, he found it oddly inappropriate that the gift shop at Ave Maria Grotto sold whiskey shot glasses as souvenirs and votive candleholders. “You have to know the old grotto to understand,” he laughs. “But I wondered, ‘How can we get rid of these stupid things?’” It also bothered him that, after prayers and services, votive candles were simply discarded into growing piles. And in these things that darkened his mind, Brother David saw the light. Using the basement of the gift shop, he began remelting discarded candles. He poured the recycled wax into the thick glasses, incorporated mop strings as wicks and – replacing shot glasses – began selling them in the gift shop in July 2005. Visitors to the world-famous grotto - which attracts some 20,000 people annually – bought them. With income starting, the novice chandler trekked to Hobby Lobby and bought one-pound candle molds and fragrances by the ounce. “That Christmas we did well with our candle sales,” David says. “The operation was growing, and I had to move.” On the back side of the abbey he found an old barn that previously served a variety of needs, from an animal clinic to a tailor’s and an icon shop. He bought a large double-boiler vat for melting used candles and a cooker for melting the residue off his molds. Then he bought his first direct-heat wax melter.

s the chandler shop grew, Brother David knocked out a wall or two, built worktables and shelves and installed a hood and vent over his melters. He “robbed” the old monastery kitchen, recycling unused trays, racks and other implements for his needs. “I try to recycle as much as I can and build things for myself,” he says. Brother David expanded into wholesale. He and other monks also began selling candles at the ever-popular 52

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Brother David peers into his double-boiler wax melter, filled with melted, red-toned paraffin. The vat’s 40-quart capacity handles enough wax for 70 standard 1-pound candles. In conjunction with his four or two direct-heat melters, he can produce 600 standard candles per day, though that does not include inserting wicks, applying labels or other aspects of production. The entire heating and melting process – which reaches 180 degrees – takes about 8 hours. Ever a tinkerer, he is developing a computerized relay system for refilling the water in his double-boiler.

Blooming Festival at St. Bernard Abbey and Prep School. They sold about 1,000 candles there this past spring, accounting for about a third of the shop’s total sales of some $20,000. “We can do a lot better,” Brother David insists. Although being a chandler is a far cry from the hightech internet ministry Brother David broadcasts from his shop, making candles does get involved. It takes algebra. Testing of fragrances. Mixing of custom colors. Inventory. Quality control... “This is not child’s play,” he says. “There’s a lot that

goes into it.” For instance, wax has to cool at a precise, slow speed to crystalize to David’s satisfaction. He makes candles as large as two feet tall and six inches in diameter. The biggest sell for upwards of $200. “I could sell it for $500,” he says, “but I know how much goes into it.”

rother David has about $2.30 worth of materials in a standard 1-pound candle. That doesn’t include labor or, say, investment in equipment. At the grotto’s gift shop

or on his website, that candle sells for $9.99. Retail at a specialty shop, it would sell for $11.50. “It’s not that we work for money,” he says. Monks of old would weave baskets, sell a few, burn the rest, then make more a few days later, David says. What a waste, right? “Not really,” he continues. “The idea was to pray and work. Making baskets is not rocket science, it is the same motions, over and over, weaving the reed. This leads the mind to ponder on the things of God. “The candle shop is somewhat of a place to bring November | DECEMBER | JANUARY

Unlike mass-produced, commercially pressed candles from big box stores, those that Brother David Bryant, of the Order of Saint Bernard, turns out are hand-made, mostly of the pillar variety. Besides subtly stunning scents and colors, something else special goes into his candles. As with all tasks monks undertake, the idea is to use their work time for reflection and prayer. His candles are for sale at the gift shop at Ave Marie Grotto on the St. Bernard campus and online at: www. monasterycandleshop.com. Photos this page by Brother David Bryant

together many traditions and ideas to create one goal – to spread the word of Christ and of our monastery.” A closer look at the labels Brother David puts on his candles may help illustrate that. The label depicts the musical score for “Ubi Caritas,” a chant the monks perform on Holy Thursday. Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est. Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor. Exsultemus, et in ipso jucundemur. Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum. Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero. Where charity and love are, God is there. Christ’s love has gathered us into one.

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Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him. Let us fear, and let us love the living God. And may we love each other with a sincere heart.

etting fire the wick of that candle, wrapped in the “Ubi Caritas” score, sends that much more light radiating into the world. For the monk who makes those candles, it’s a continuation of his life’s quest. “One will never know really,” he says of the physical side of that quest. “My hope would be to stay here, but it is God’s will that I follow to the best of my ability.” And of the spiritual side of Brother David Bryant’s quest? “That,” he says, “will not be over until my earthly light is out and the light within has called me home.”

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