Lake Magazine July 2022

Boating

July 4th Events Arti Gras Candles for Ukraine

Safety Quiz

JULY 2022

LAKE 1

When it comes to cancer, we’re in your corner.

If you have to fight cancer, you don’t want to have to travel up and down the road for quality care. UAB Medicine – Russell Medical Cancer Center, located in Alexander City, is right here at home where we’ve assembled a team of world-class cancer specialists and revolutionary technologies to fight these deadly diseases with precision and expertise. We’re your neighbors. We’re the UAB Medical- Russell Medical Cancer Center, and we’re proud to be in your corner!

Exceptional care just around the corner 256.329.7888 • russellcares.com/cancercenter 3446 Hwy 280 Alexander City, AL 35010

Join a clear cause — like one that’s removed 16 million pounds of waterway trash.

Over the span of more than 20 years, Alabama Power’s Renew Our Rivers has grown into one of the nation’s largest river cleanup initiatives, removing over 16 million pounds of trash and debris from the Southeast’s waterways. Alabama Power is committed to protecting our river ecosystems for generations to come and invites you to join us in carrying out that mission.

Contact mbclella@southernco.com for more information.

Learn more at AlabamaPower.com/RenewOurRivers. © 2022 Alabama Power Company

JULY 2022

LAKE 3

Letter from the Editor

Staff

ach month holds its own beauty and draw at Lake Martin, and at Lake magazine, we try to reflect the best that every season offers, from the fairytale weddings and blushing brides in the February edition to honoring cleanup volunteers in December. That means that in July, we’re all about the fun – where to go and what to do to have it and how to keep it going, summer after glorious summer at the lake.

One of teh best ways to prolong the fun is to buy a lake house, and when you are lucky enough to find one as fabulous as Phil and Anita Tomlinson’s gorgeous home at The Ridge, the fun is practically built in. The Tomlinsons combined their modern lake home and traditional living style to create a space that not only fuels the family fun but also offers breathtaking glimpses of the lake’s spectacular beauty. Turn to page 44 to explore this fine example of what lake life should be.

And while the calendar on page 14 is all about the fun at the lake all month long, the July 4th weekend takes it to a whole other level. To catch all the fun you possibly can over this month’s holiday, check out the story on page 30 and plan your good times. From Friday on the Green at Russell Crossroads Friday night to the concert after the fireworks at The Amp on Monday, you won’t want to miss a thing.

That’s because fun is serious business at Lake Martin, and protecting the memories you make at the lake this summer is no laughing matter for three advocacy organizations that work to keep you and your loved ones safe. On page 62, Eric Reutebuch at Lake Watch Lake Martin shares the new Swim Alert system that monitors the swim condition of the water in which you play at popular beaches, dock areas and swimming holes in the area. Lake Martin Resource Association adds a little fun to their plea for safety on the water with a quiz on page 38. Take the quiz and post your score on Lake magazine’s Facebook page for a chance to win a giveaway.

And on page 36, State Rep. Ed Oliver looks ahead with the Lake Martin Homeowners and Boat Owners Association to plan development and growth around the lake for seasons yet to come.

With all the fun there is at the lake this summer, you’ll create beautiful memories that will draw you back to the lake in July year after wonderful, fun-filled year. It’s what July at Lake Martin is all about.

Chairman KENNETH BOONE

E

editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Publisher STEVE BAKER

editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Editor in Chief BETSY ILER

editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Art Director AUDRA SPEARS

audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com

Business & Digital Publishing Director ANGELA MULLINS

angela.mullins@alexcityoutlook.com

Audience Development Director ERIN BURTON erin.burton@alexcityoutlook.com

Marketing/Advertising Director TIPPY HUNTER

tippy.hunter@alexcityoutlook.com

Marketing MARILYN HAWKINS

marilyn.hawkins@thewetumpkaherald.com

Digital Success Manager ELLE FULLER

elle.fuller@alexcityoutlook.com

Contributors KENNETH BOONE JULIE HUDSON GREG VINSON CLIFF WILLIAMS PETE MCKENNY RANDY KIRKLAND STEVE MCWATERS HARRY DENEGRE JOHN THOMPSON LONNA UPTON

JOHN COLEY WILLIAM MARLOW KAITLIN FLEMING KYMI DONOWSKI LARRY ROBINSON HENRY FOY ERIC REUTEBUCH PETER ROUILLARD JERRY KING AUDRA SPEARS

Betsy Iler, Editor-in-Chief Correction: In the Watusi Cattle article on page 36 of last month's Lake magazine, the brown cows were misidentified as the bulls. The brown cows actually are the steers, and the brown and white cows are the bulls. We regret the confusion.

4 LAKE JULY 2022

All content, including all stories and photos are copyright of Tallapoosa

Publishers, Inc. P.O. Box 999, Alexander City, AL 35011 256-234-4281 | lakemagazine.life

On the Cover

W E R EQUI

MAYVILLE & WEST BEND, WI

P

CR

AFT O F MA

LE

M

ISO 9001 Registered

AL

T

USA

ET

EN

SCA

PO

M

G

Across the Southeast, The Amp arguably hosts the biggest and best July 4th celebration. This year, Andrew Jannakos will headline the concert, performing before and after the spectacular fireworks show. Holiday weekend festivities in the lake area also include a juried art show, a patriotic boat parade, a golf cart parade and a family friendly celebration in town.

Photo by Kenneth Boone

YV

IL

Serving Lake Martin Since 1997 docksunlimitedllc.com | 256-203-8400

Stationary and Floating Docks | Pile Driving Seawalls | Boat Lifts | Boat Houses

JULY 2022

LAKE 5

Apply by Responding to Our Job Postings on Indeed.com

Recruiting Top Quality Healthcare Professionals

RNs and LPNs

3701 Dadeville Road Alexander City, AL 35010

V 260 W. Walnut St. Sylacauga, AL 35150

385 East LaFayette Street Dadeville, AL 36853

RN and LPN Management and Charge Nurse positions available, 100% pre-paid scholarships for aspiring nurses, tuition reimbursement, sign-on bonuses, short-term contracts, and we consider buying out existing employment contracts

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) and Medication Assistant Certified (MAC)

Tuition FREE, paid training classes, prepaid exam fees, signon bonuses, and we consider buying out existing employment contracts.

Dietary and Housekeeping Positions Excellent Pay and Benefits

16 Jones Hill Road Goodwater, AL 35072

805 Hospital Street LaFayette, AL 36862

6 LAKE

PM21_AD_HalfMag_RecruitRev_10.14.21.indd 1

Low co-pay & deductible BCBS Health/Dental/Vision/Prescription Drug Insurance, paid vacation, 401K, company paid life insurance, Longevity Bonus up to $1000 a year, employees and their children receive priority for scholarship opportunities, shift differential, and additional weekend differential that starts on Friday

Join us every Saturday June through September 8 AM - 12 PM 4 Court Square - Old City Hall parking lot

JULY 2022

11/4/21 11:15 AM

Contents 20. JAZZ FEST REVIEW This year's 32nd annual signature concert event at Strand Park and The Amp was one of the best.

26. BRU63 @ RUSSELL CROSSROADS Russell Lands opens a coffee shop with an energetic vibe at Catherine's Market.

30. HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS Come to Lake Martin for a patriotic celebration that is second to none.

20

32. ARTI GRAS CANDLES FOR UKRAINE An Arti Gras artist shares her moving story and helps wartorn Ukraine with her beeswax candles.

36. AN EYE ON LAKE MARTIN'S FUTURE Lake Martin Homeowners & Boat Owners look to control the lake's inevitable growth.

38. SERVICE FOR SAFETY Take the safe boating quiz and post your score on Lake magazine's Facebook page to win a giveaway.

44. FABULOUS FIND FOR FUN WITH FAMILY Couple mixes traditional style with a modern home for family adventures at the lake.

LAKE MAGAZINE’S MONTHLY FEATURES:

44

e

- edition

9. LAKE’S QUICK GUIDE TO THE LAKE 10. LAKE SCENES 13. WHERE IS LAKE? 14. LAKE AREA EVENTS 18. LAKE MARTIN NEWS 57. NATURE OF THE LAKE 61. LAKE PROPERTY

62. LAKE WATCH 65. FAB FINDS 66. HEALTHY LIVING 68. CHEF'S TABLE 70. FROM THE CELLAR 72. BIG CATCHES 75. THE SCRAMBLE 82. PARTING SHOT

Lake magazine also features an online, digital edition, available 24 hours a day, free of charge. This edition is perfect to share with friends and family and provides you complete access to stories, photos and advertisements from anywhere in the world with Internet access. View our digital edition today at www.lakemagazine.life.

JULY 2022

LAKE 7

Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Services • Physical Therapy • Occupational Therapy • Speech Therapy Cecily Lee, Administrator Angela Pitts, Director of Nursing Candi Tate, Clinical Liaison

2334 Washington Street, Alexander City | 256-329-9061 | www.crownehealthcare.com

A Place To Worship Lake Martin Area Churches

WATERFRONT Church of the Living Waters Inside StillWaters, Dadeville 256-825-2990 New Hope Baptist Church 529 Peppers Road, Alexander City 256-329-2510 Church in the Pines Kowaliga Road, Kowaliga 334-857-2133

OFF WATER Equality United Methodist Church 281 AL Hwy 259, Equality 334-541-4063

8 LAKE

OFF WATER

OFF WATER

OFF WATER

First Baptist Church Court Square, Alexander City 256-234-6351

Alex City Church of Christ 945 Tallapoosa Street, Alexander City 256-234-6494

Hillabee Baptist Church Hillabee Road, Alexander City 256-234-6798

Red Ridge United Methodist Church 8091 County Road 34, Dadeville 256-825-9820

Episcopal Church of the Epiphany 2602 Gilmer Avenue Tallassee, AL 36078 334-252-8618 (12 Miles South of Lake Martin)

First Baptist Church 178 South Tallassee Street, Dadeville 256-825-6232

St. James Episcopal Church South Central Avenue, Alexander City 256-234-4752

First United Methodist Church 310 Green Street, Alexander City 256-234-6322 First United Methodist Church West Lafayette Street, Dadeville 256-825-4404 First Presbyterian Church 371 Jefferson Street, Alexander City 256-329-0524

Lake Martin Baptist Church 9823 County Road 34, Dadeville, AL 36853 256-825-7434 Lake Pointe Baptist Church La 8352 Highway 50, Dadeville, AL 36853 256-373-3293 Faith Temple Church 425 Franklin Street, Alexander City 256-234-6421

JULY 2022

St John The Apostle Catholic Church 454 North Central Avenue Alexander City, Al 35010 256-234-3631 Flint Hill United Methodist Church 2858 Flint Hill Road Alexander City, AL 35010 256-234-5047 Good News Baptist Church 10493 Hwy 280 Jacksons Gap, AL 36861 256-825-2555

Lake’s Quick Guide to the Lake Lake Martin Area Real Estate Indicators Sales Month

Number of sales

Average selling price

Median selling price

Days on the market

Total houses for sale

Inventory/ sales ratio

30 37 32

$1,050,962 $570,214 $435,896

$847,500 $539,000 $381,250

68 137 164

56 289 351

2.04 11.45 12.32

May 2022 May 2019 May 2016

The above numbers are derived from raw sales data from the Lake Martin Area Association of Realtors MLS.The sales noted above are for Lake Martin waterfront residential (single-family and condominium) sales only. This information is provided courtesy of Lake Martin Realty, LLC (a Russell Lands, Inc., affiliated company).

Do You Know?

Does your boater's license pay for the hazard buoys on Lake Martin? What lights should be used on your boat for night riding? How many people can you legally carry on a boat? Do you need an engine cut-off switch on a personal watercraft?

Lake Martin Resource Association and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Marine Patrol's Sgt. Steve McWaters teamed up to create a boating safety quiz on page 38 of this issue of Lake magazine.Take the quiz; and then, turn to page 40 to see how many questions you got right. Post your score on the Lake magazine Facebook page for a chance to win the giveaway in a random drawing.

As boating season ramps up this month, safety is of the utmost imporance. Keep your loved ones safe by making sure they know the rules. Pick up a boating safety brochure at lake area restaurants, and take a few minutes to go over the rules and required equipment with young boaters. It makes a difference in keeping Lake Martin safe for everyone.

Weather Outlook for July July 2022 Forecast

Historically, the Lake Martin area experiences average high temperatures in the low 90s with average lows in the low 70s and more than 5 inches of precipitation in the month of July.The National Weather Service has predicted that temperatures and rainfall will lean above average this month.

Year-to-Date

Precipitation: 22.83 inches Avg. high temp.: 68.5 Avg. low temp.: 43.3 Avg. temp.: 55.9

Our Normal July Precipitation: 5.21 inches Avg. high temp.: 91.2 Avg. low temp.: 69.7 Avg. temp.: 80.5

Information from the National Weather Service.

JULY 2022

Last Month's Lake Levels Summer: 491 MSL Winter: 481 MSL Highest: 490.52 Lowest: 490.41 Lake depth is measure d in reference to mean sea level. For up-to-date water levels at the lake, visit lakes.alabamapower.com.

Lake elevations are subject to change. Individuals who recreate below Martin Dam and those with boats and waterrelated equipment on the lake should always stay alert to changing conditions.

LAKE 9

Lake Scene n People & Places

Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

2

1 3

5

4

READER SUBMISSIONS (1) Kim Duffet has 772 sunset photos in her file, but her top 10 – including this one – are all from Lake Martin. (2) Caroline McKenzie makes an elegant leap from the deck of her grandparents' house at Lake Martin. (3) Macon Scout Daniel had a great time at Lake Martin over Memorial Day weekend. (4) This downy woodpecker didn't much care for sharing a meal with the male cardinal at the Gainers' lake house near Smith Mountain. (5) Carson Head pulles a big one from Lake Martin. (6) Tony Johnson took this family portrait near his home on Lake Martin.

10 LAKE

JULY 2022

6

Lake Scene n People & Places 1

3

Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

2

4

5 6

READER SUBMISSIONS (1) Susan Griffin sent a photo of cousins Ella Kate, Ann Margaret, Alice and Gracie on the first boat ride of the 2022 season. (2) The Smith Mountain Fire Tower is silhouetted against the afternoon sky in this photo by Tony Johnson. (3) Bill Pemberton drove the boat past a sunning great blue heron while his wife Janice admired the scenery. (4) Finley Lawhorn is loving his first summer at Lake Martin. (5) Andrew Levin reeled in breakfast at Lake Martin for daughters Emma and Olivia. (6) Tony Johnson caught the brilliant firey colors of a Lake Martin sunset from the Big Water side of the lake.

JULY 2022

LAKE 11

Lake Martin’s Marine Construction Company 6732 Highway 63 South, Alexander Cit y, AL 35010 | (256) 392-5200 | www. sunrisedock sllc.com

12 LAKE

JULY 2022

Where is Lake n People & Places 1

2

Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

3

4

5

6

READER SUBMISSIONS (1) Karen and Mark Allen Treadwell took Lake to Fenway Park to see Paul McCartney in concert.

(2) Lake went for a swim on the Israeli side of the Dead Sea. (3) Johnny Spears holding Lake magazine on the sandy white shores of Panama City Beach.

(4) Lake watched the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix with Aleem Gillani on the last stop of a sixmonth cruise. (5) Lake magazine went to Rome for a vacation of a lifetime with Chad and Kelly Shores, Scott Cone and Liz Lowe and Laura and Stan Maxey. (6) Lake almost got dropped in the Suez Canal on her adventure cruise with Aleem and Cyndi Gillani.

JULY 2022

LAKE 13

July 1 Free Movie Night

First Baptist Church of Dadeville will host a free movie night for the whole community. Bring blankets and chairs for a showing of Disney’s Over the Hedge under the stars on a 33-foot screen. There will be popcorn, treats, giveaways and more. The fun begins at 7 p.m., and the movie will start at dark.

most patriotic crew, most creative theme and best overall boat and crew. Best over boat and crew will win $500. First place winners in each category will win a $150 gift certificate from Russell Marine. Second place winners will win a $75 Russell Marine gift certificate. Registration is free, so gather your best friends and family, pick a theme and go all out with costumes and boat decorations for one of Lake Martin’s most fun summer events.

July 4 July 4th Concert and Fireworks The 11th Annual Arti Gras will open from 9 a.m to 4 p.m. at The Amp

July 2 & 3 Arti Gras

at the Town Green at Russell Crossroads with artisans and patrons from across the Southeast displaying their handmade works. Jewelry, soaps, paintings, pottery, Independent country woodwork, lotions, furmusic artist Kensie niture and more will be Coppin will join 19 on display and availother songwriters able for sale. Contact at 11 venues for this Hannah Henley at year's Lake Martin hhenley@russelllands.

Songwriters Festival com for more informaat the end of July tion and booth rental.

Set up your chairs and spread a blanket on the grassy lawn at The Amp for the annual Fourth of July concert and the Southeast’s largest fireworks show. Music starts at 6 p.m., and the bands play before and after the spectacular fireworks show. Tickets are $10. See the article on page 30 for line up and details or visit theamponlakemartin.com.

July 8-9 Bice Motors Lake Martin Rodeo

July 3 18th Annual Celebate Freedom

Gates open at 5 p.m. at the Alexander City Celebrate Freedom Horse Riding Arena at will launch the area’s the sportplex.

Bo Jones first official Fourth of performs Friday night July fireworks show and Rocky Lucas on on the front lawn of Saturday. The rodeo Benjamin Russell High show starts at 7 p.m.

School in Alexander CALENDAR OF EVENTS both nights. Tickets City. Marshall Street are $15 at the gate; Baptist Church will WHAT’S HAPPENING ON LAKE MARTIN $10 in advance at host this annual concert Lake Martin Building and fireworks event Supply, Tractor Supply, Lake Martin Mini Mall, Alexander that will include three acts on stage, starting at 6 p.m. The City Parks and Rec and Benjamin Russell High School.

Griffith Family will open the show with Southern gospel Kids 5 and under admitted free. A fundraiser for the BRHS music, folowed by Christian comedian Mickey Bell, and FFA, this SPRA sanctioned event will feature eight rodeo American Idol Season 11 fan favorite Colton Dixon will headline the event. The fireworks will blast off after dark set events, as well as a mutton busting event for kids under 75 pounds. See mutton busting details on the Benjamin Russell to patriotic music. Food trucks will be parked on site, and FFA Alumni and Supporters Facebook page. Rodeo clown patrons will able to purchase other items – such as baked and a specialty act at intermission. goods and ice cream. No smoking or alcohol is allowed. No coolers, but bring lawn chairs and blankets for the lawn. The event is free and open to the public.

July 9

July 4 Fourth of July Boat Parade

Pottery Class

Russell Marine will once again host their annual Fourth of July Boat Parade, leaving from Kowaliga Marina at 10 a.m.

Register at russellmarine.net/event/4th-of-july-boat-parade up to 9:30 a.m. on the day of the event. Prizes will be awarded for the tallest flag (must go under the bridge), largest flag, 14 LAKE

Maria Lujan Auad will teach a pottery class from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Red Hill Gallery, 3284 Red Hill Rd. in Tallassee. There is limited capacity, and the cost for the class is $75. Call 334-918-0043 to reserve a spot.

JULY 2022

July 29 & 30 Backpack Buddies Fundraiser

July 10 Pennington Park Farmers Marketplace

Visit the producers-only market at Pennington Park in Dadeville from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to find quality homegrown produce and homemade goods. Live music is scheduled at the pavilion. Booth spaces are free. Email klpfitzner@gmail.com or call 334-233-9851 to request an application or for additional information.

July 16 18th Annual Lions Lake Martin Charity Poker Run

This just might be the most fun you have at Lake Martin all summer long. The day is filled with boating, fun, family and friends while raising money for local Lake Martin charities. Participants will start at Kowaliga Marina and will travel to Real Island, Harbor Pointe and River North marinas to collect cards and swag, ending at The Ridge Marina for food and awards. Prizes total $5,800 for highest hand, worst hand and best dressed crew. Register your boat and crew for $160 online at russellmarine.net/event/lions-lake-martin-charitypoker-run. Purchase an extra card at The Ridge Marina to better your hand. Call 256-749-4388 for more information.

July 23 Pottery Class

Maria Lujan Auad will teach a pottery class from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Red Hill Gallery, 3284 Red Hill Rd. in Tallassee. There is limited capacity, and the cost for the class is $75. Call 334-918-0043 to reserve a spot.

July 30 5th Annual Duck Norris Race

This annual fundraiser for Tallapoosa County Sheriffs’ Girls Ranch and Tri-County Children’s Advocacy Center has raised more than $23,000 since the duck race began in 2018.

Purchase individual ducks or increase your chance of winning by buying in bulk. Look for details in upcoming issues of Lake magazine or visit the Chuck’s Marina Facebook page.

Aug. 5 Free Movie Night

First Baptist Church of Dadeville will host a free movie night for the whole community. Bring blankets and chairs for a showing of Disney’s The Wizard of Oz under the stars on a 33-foot screen. There will be popcorn, treats, giveaways and more. The fun begins at 7 p.m., and the movie will start at dark.

Season-long Events

July 24 Pennington Park Farmers Marketplace

Visit the producers-only market at Pennington Park in Dadeville from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to find quality homegrown produce and homemade goods. Live music is scheduled at the pavilion. Booth spaces are free. Call Kurt Pfitzner at 334-233-9851 or email klpfitzner@gmail.com to request an application or for additional information.

July 27-31 Lake Martin Songwriters Festival

Tallapoosa County Tourism will present 20 up-andcoming musicians at 11 local venues in the 2nd Annual Lake Martin Songwriters Festival. Musicians will criss-cross the lake to perform their music at lake area businesses, including the Town Green at Russell Crossroads, Chuck’s, The Social, Copper’s Grill, Zazu’s Verandah, Main Street Alexander City and more.Visit lakemartinsongwritersfestival.com for the line up, schedules and more.

July 29 & 30 2nd Annual LMPA Poker Run

Visit 31 Main Street, Alexander City, and purchase new, vintage and antique items to support this community program that feeds school children and youth on the weekends when school lunches and breakfasts are not available. The sale will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 8 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 9. All proceeds will provide food for children and youth who have been identified by their teachers as being food insufficient. For more information, email Jamie Dark at jamiewdark@yahoo.com.

Lake Martin Powerboat Association will host the second annual poker run for Alabama sheriffs youth ranches. Last year’s event raised more than $21,000 to support homes for Alabama’s abused and neglected youth. Look for details at lakemartinpowerboatassociation.com.

Strand Sessions

Lake Martin Young Professionals invite you to bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnic baskets, coolers and family and friends to Strand Park in downtown Alexander City from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month through August for free music in the park. Watch the kids play, meet friends old and new and enjoy a pleasant evening.

Visit the Strand Sessions Facebook page for details.

Pop Up Community Yoga

Lake Martin Yoga will host 60-minute outdoor yoga classes at 9 a.m. on Saturdays at StillWaters. Park in the lot across from the tennis courts and walk along the pond to the tree by the pond. Bring mat and water. Cost is $15. Register at lakemartinyoga.com.

Driving and Docking Clinics

Every Monday from now through August, Singleton Blue Creek Marina will hold free driving and docking clinics for pontoons, sterndrives and towboats. Call Liz Nowling at 256-825-8888 to make a reservation.

Music in the Air

Spend your Thursday evenings at Zazu’s Verandah on the beautiful Dadeville Square enjoying a variety of live music.

The music begins at 6:30 p.m. indoors or outdoors under the

JULY 2022

LAKE 15

verandah, depending on weather conditions and performers’ preferences. Come early to settle in and be sure to get a seat.

Free admission but please tip the musicians. Visit Zazu’s Verandah on Facebook for the weekly scheduled programs.

Third Thursday Trivia

Every third Thursday of the month, The Local at 41 Main on Main Street in Alexander City will host a trivia contest with Lake Martin Young Professionals. Drink specials start at 5:30 p.m., and the competition begins at 6:30 p..m.

Artists Association of Central Alabama

AACA artists meet on the third Wednesday of the month at the Senior Center on the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex grounds. Meetings are followed by an open studio program, which also is open to the public. Club dues are $20 for the year.

Bingo Wednesdays

Come out to the alley next door to Castelluccio on Wednesday nights for bingo. Order dinner and wine from Castelluccio or your favorite downtown restaurant and have it delivered to your table. The event is limited to six people per table, and the number of tables is limited to 20, due to social distancing. Reservations for this weekly event go quickly, so email Main Street Executive Director Stacey Jeffcoat at sjeffcoatmainstreetac@gmail.com to reserve your table.

Wellborn Musclecar Museum

Housed in a restored vintage auto dealership in downtown Alexander City, the Wellborn Musclecar Museum collection of great American automobiles of the 1960s and 1970s is open for public viewing Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This exemplary collection includes the famed K&K Dodge, the 1970 Grand National Champion, as well as Aero cars designed for NASCAR. You will see an example of each manufacturer’s highest horsepower cars of 1970, from Dodge, Plymouth, Chevrolet, Buick, Porsche and Oldsmobile. The inventory on display changes frequently, so every visit includes something new and exciting. Admission for adults is $11; children ages 7 to 17 admitted for $7, and children ages 6 and under are admitted for free. For discounted group or private tours, call 256-329-8474 or email wellbornmusclecarmuseum@gmail.com.

Episcopal Church Services at the Lake

St. James Episcopal Church will hold Holy Eucharist services at noon at Church in the Pines on the second and fourth Sundays in July and August. For more information, visit stjamesalexcity.com.

Clean Community Partnership Cleanups

Volunteers in Alexander City and Dadeville are encouraged to participate in community partnership cleanups every month. In Alexander City, the cleanups are held on the third Saturday of the month. Meet at Our Town Volunteer Fire Department at 8:30 a.m. to pick up supplies and area assignments and help clean up the roads within Alexander City.

16 LAKE

For more information, call John Thompson at 334-399-3289.

In Dadeville, the monthly cleanup is held on the second Saturday of the month, and volunteers can pick up sanitized pickers and bags at 8 a.m. at Dadeville City Hall. There also will be a trash bag drop-off on site. Contact Mickey Forbus at 334-329-0905.

Lake Martin Creativity

This group meets every Monday at 1 p.m. in the downstairs community room at the StillWaters Residential Building. Anyone interested in arts and crafts is encouraged to join. Bring something to work on or come see what others are doing. A monthly fee of $5 is charged to help pay for the use of the space. For more information, contact Christine Glowacki at 205-535-5974 or Kay Fincher at 256-825-2506.

Library Storytime in Dadeville

Storytime for children aged 5 and younger is held at the Dadeville Public Library every Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Children’s Library in Alexander City

Mamie’s Place Children’s Library holds themed storytime every Wednesday at 10 a.m. for preschool-aged and younger children. In addition, the children’s library hosts board games and puzzles every Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. For information, call Melissa Finley at 256-234-4644.

Children’s Harbor Treasures and Thrift Store

Located on state Route 63 just south of Lake Martin Amphitheater, the Children’s Harbor Thrift Store is open Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You never know what gems you might find – from clothes and household items to boats. Proceeds are used to help fund the activities at the Lake Martin campus of Children’s Harbor and the Family Center at Children’s Hospital. for more information, call 334-857-2008.

Naturalist Presentations and Guided Nature Tours Naturalist Marianne Hudson fills the Naturalist Cabin at Russell Crossroads with children and adults to see and listen to her lively nature presentations with critters, insects, snakes and fowl, just to mention a few. There is never a dull moment with this wildlife biologist as she educates on the beauty of nature in the wild and the outdoor classroom.

Check the calendar at RussellLands.com/blog/events for the scheduled subject matter, dates and times.

Yoga on the Green

Bring your mat and a water bottle to this free yoga class every Saturday morning all summer long. Certified instructors will lead routines that are appropriate for all levels, from beginner to advanced. Meet at 7 a.m. at the Town Green at Russell Crossroads.

JULY 2022

JULY 2022

LAKE 17

Lake Martin News Fun at 4-H Kayak Kamp

Extension service coordinator Shane Harris (right) teaches a 4-H member to safely handle flipping over in a kayak

Local children last month beat the summer heat and took advantage of the Alabama Extension Service 4-H River Kids program on Sandy Creek at Lake Martin.

No electronics could be found on children for more than four hours as they paddled and swam down Sandy Creek.

The program introduces children to kayaking by providing a brief instructional and safety program that includes learning how to get back into the kayak after turning over in the water, paddling and steering techniques.

After the tutorial, the children spent more than two hours floating, paddling and swimming in the creek.

The beginner kayaking class cost $10 and included lunch. For more 4-H summer activities, visit aces.edu or call the Extension office at 256-825-1050. ~ Cliff Williams

Find pirate's booty at the lake

Keep a keen eye this summer as Dadeville’s Dye Pirates monetary prize bags have been dropped across the Lake Martin area as part of a summer-themed treasure hunt.

Store owner John Vandenbrook created the Pirate’s Booty event as a fun seasonal activity for the Lake Martin community, as well as a way to attract business to the CBDproduct store.

“We are just wanting people to enjoy the lake, and I thought it would be fun for everybody and cheaper than putting up a billboard to try to get people to come to my store,” Vandenbrook said.

Dye Pirates debuted in 2018 as the only Physicians CBD Council-certified store east of Colorado. Some of the store’s most popular products include CBD oil and pain relief cream, pet products, suckers and gummies.

He has hidden prizes in pouches throughout popular Lake Martin tourism destinations near marinas, hiking trails and public beaches and parks. Finders of the bags will discover valuables inside, ranging from silver coins and necklaces to coupon vouchers. Coupons include promotions for free coffee or cinnamon rolls at Nirvana Latte, as well as a Dye Pirates-specific coupon for a free tie-dye.

“It is just really treasure on the lake, and they are all over the place, so if you find one, you win,” he said. ~ William Marlow

Martin recognizes as tourism superstars individuals who make a difference and go above and beyond for visitors to the area.

Last month, they congratulated Linda and Stanley Ingram with The Stables at Russell Crossroads as the latest Tourism Superstar Award winners. Their nomination stated, “Linda and Stanley Ingram are always willing to go the extra mile to accommodate any request. They greet everyone with a smile and welcome them to The Stables. Whether you are taking a guided horseback ride, planning a wedding or rehearsal dinner, or enjoying a family wagon ride, they have suggestions and options to make every occasion memorable.”

Linda and Stanley are wonderful ambassadors for tourism to our area, and they were presented with a plaque of appreciation and a $100 check on May 18th. ~ Staff Report Lake Martin Tourism director Brandy Hastings (left) presents Linda and Stanley Ingram with the Superstar Award

The Stables managers named tourism superstars

Lake Martin Tourism Association realizes the importance of great customer service in growing visitation to the area.

The official destination marketing organization of Lake 18 LAKE

JULY 2022

JULY 2022

LAKE 19

Jazz Fest Review PHOTOS BY LARRY ROBINSON

20 LAKE

JULY 2022

Clockwise from top left: Hot 8 Brass Band headlined at Strand Park; Food trucks fed the hungry; Hot 8 Brass Band came up from New Orleans to perform at Jazz Fest; Lawn games and bubbles were popular before the music began; Children's artwork was on display during the concert; The brass filled the air downtown; The Talismen started the show in Alexander City; Hot 8 Brass Band blended hip hop with jazz and funk to entertain the crowd on the grassy hillside; Families spread blankets on the ground to enjoy the concert.

JULY 2022

LAKE 21

Clockwise from top left:Taylor Hicks returned to the Jazz Fest stage to headline Saturday's concert at The Amp;A crowd filled the hillside to enjoy the concert; Joslyn & The Sweet Compression added festive color to the mid-stage show; Between acts, the sunset took center stage; The Sweet Compression brought a line up of professional musicians to the keyboards and brass; Hicks hit notes on the harmonica during his set;Tristen Gressett brought a rockstar persona to the stage at The Amp; concertgoers enjoyed a breeze off the lake for an evening of great music and fun at Lake Martin Amphitheater as the 32nd Jazz Fest concert series drew to a close.

22 LAKE

JULY 2022

JULY 2022

LAKE 23

SAINTJAMES CROSSLOGO TAGLINE GOES HERE Episcopal Church Summer Services at Lake Martin 12 noon at Church in the Pines JUNE 12th and 26th

JULY 10th and 24th

AUGUST 14th and 28th

stjamesalexcity.com

24 LAKE

JULY 2022

JULY 2022

LAKE 25

(Left to right) Jakethia Edwards, Sarah Brown, Rachael Woodard and Stanton Miller (not pictured) are the baristas at BRU 63

26 LAKE

JULY 2022

Window-height tables, stickers and a variety of drink options help to create an energetic vibe at the new coffee shop

Manager Emily Brown assists customers at BRU 63

BRU63 @ Russell Crossroads

B

STORY & PHOTOS BY BETSY ILER

BRU 63 is now open at Catherine’s Market in Russell Crossroads. The cozy new coffee shop with an energetic vibe is focused on coffee, community and connection, said Emily Brown, who manages the popular destination.

“It’s a place that’s designed for people to hang out and reconnect,” Brown said.

We created a space that reflects the coffee shop’s mission – coffee, community, connection – by emphasizing the views and natural light in an existing dining space that could not be used during the COVID-19 mandated closures.

“We knew there was a need for this at the lake, but there was no avenue for it in Catherine’s Market until the pandemic hit,” Brown explained. “The dining room at Catherine’s sat empty for a year. Since we couldn’t have it open, it was the perfect time to revisit how the space could accommodate the needs at the lake.”

Brown traveled to coffee shows across the Eeast Ccoast to gather ideas and learn the ropes of running a successful local coffee shop. After several shows, long nights of brainstorming, calls and emails with contacts, BRU 63 was ready to open its doors. She envisions BRU 63 to be a place where community and connection isare prioritized., where every customer feels like a regular when they walk in.

Over the winter, one-third of the indoor café dining area on Benson Mill Road was converted into a state-of-theart coffee bar featuring specialty blends from Nonfiction Coffee. Additional roofing was installed to offer more covered patio space, and the interior dining room at the café was transformed to delight coffee lovers young and old.

“Nonfiction Coffee had already developed a signature coffee blend for Catherine’s, so we partnered with them to research and create signature options for BRU 63,” Brown said. “BRU’s Blend is a Guatemalan and Ethiopian blend.

Our Espresso is a Honduran and Brazilian blend, and our cold brew is a Honduran and Guatemalan blend. All of our

blends are designed with summer at the lake and customer preferences in mind.

“Alex Sherman at Nonfiction Coffee is great. We call him our coffee professor, and he’s committed to teaching and training us in all things coffee.”

Also available are BRU’s traditional hot and cold drinks, from hot chocolate to iced coffees, fraps, Art of Tea products and Lotus Energy specialty Revivers. To complement the beverages, BRU 63 also offers whole food bars

by Earnest Eats and breakfast items from the Catherine’s Market bakery, including quiche, scones, muffin tops and a breakfast potpie of house-made sausage and gravy.

Russell Lands unveiled this new connection over Memorial Day weekend, following six months of construction. The design includes elevated gathering tables along the windows to make the most of the picturesque landscape views at Russell Crossroads. Standard tables also are available in the center space of the room. Woods anchor the clean, modern lines and add warmth to BRU 63’s standing invitation to settle in and stay for a while.

The internet connection is amazing, Brown said, and reviews have been positive on all fronts.

In addition to packaged coffee blends to brew at home on the lake, BRU 63 also offers Fifty/Fifty tumblers, ball hats, stickers, coffee blends and customized journals. Gift cards can be purchased in any amount as well.

“We also have loyalty cards. With the purchase of their sixth drink, customers get a discount on merchandise, and their 10th drink is on the house,” Brown said.

BRU 63 opens at 7 a.m. six days a week – one hour earlier than Catherine’s Market. The coffee shop closes at 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays; 8 p.m. on Fridays to accommodate Friday on the Green guests; 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. The shop is closed on Mondays.

JULY 2022

LAKE 27

28 LAKE

JULY 2022

JULY 2022

LAKE 29

Holiday Happenings

STORY BY BETSY ILER PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE

30 LAKE

Create lifelong memories when the family enters the Russell Marine July 4 Boat Parade

JULY 2022

S

Self-starter Andrew Jannakos will headline the July 4th concert and fireworks show at Lake Martin Amphitheater. The Georgia native’s online presence has skyrocketed since his Season 16 tenure on NBC’s The Voice and the viral response to his Gone Too Soon indie country release in September 2020.

The concert will open at 6 p.m. with The Bank Walkers, a local band comprised of professional businessmen that play together across the Lake Martin area. Playing favorite tunes from a spectrum of genres, The Bank Walkers’ sound appeals to young and old with a mix of classic rock, folk, Americana favorites and Southern jams.

Gates open for the concert and fireworks show at The Amp at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 at theamponlakemartin.com. Coolers and picnics are welcome at The Amp, but please leave the pup safely at home for this event.

Jannakos will play two sets, one before the spectacular fireworks display and one after. He also will kick off the sky show with the national anthem.

Growing up in a family that appreciated music, Jannakos listened to a variety of artists and genres as he developed his own popforward style. He posted videos on Facebook and YouTube and played for friends and family, and by the time he was 24, he knew his future was in music. Though he was eliminated in the battle rounds on The Voice, Jannakos had developed a global fanbase through the television exposure.

When his wife posted a TikTok video of him singing Gone Too Soon while cooking dinner, the spot hit 250,000 likes within 24 hours. A month after the song’s release, it had garnered more than 15 million streams.

The song made Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, and Jannakos debuted at No. 1 on the Emerging Artists list.

“He’s making a lot of noise, and we’re excited to bring him to The Amp,” said Robert Gunn, director of events and marketing operations at Russell Lands.

And while the July 4th concert and fireworks show is the pinnacle of the holiday weekend at the lake, the festivities begin on Friday and roll all weekend long, from Jonathan Bloom at Friday on the Green to the 11th annual Arti Gras juried art show, the boat parade and other local celebrations.

Start the weekend with friends and family at the free concert on the lawn at Russell Crossroads’ Town Green. Bring lawn chairs and a blanket to spread on the grass, as well JULY 2022

as a cooler and picnic supper. There will be lawn games for children and adults as the music plays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The next morning, come back to the Town Green to browse the works of regional artisans at this year’s Arti Gras juried show.

More than 50 artists will exhibit their handmade goods, from jewelry to pottery, paintings, furniture, candles and more. The show will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

July 4th dawns with great anticipation as boaters prepare vessels and crew for the traditional Russell Marine July 4th Boat Parade. Entrants vie for cash and gift certificate prizes in a contest for tallest flag (must fit under the bridge), largest flag, most patriotic crew, most creative theme and best overall boat and crew. The parade launches from Kowaliga Marina at 10 a.m., and spectators line the banks, as well as the on-water parade route. Entrants will be accepted until 9:30 a.m. on the day of the event.

Catch the Blue Creek parade on Olana Drive in Dadeville at 11 a.m. on July 4.

Participants in this neighborhood golf cart event throw candy and trinkets as they pass spectators on the route to Niffer’s on the Lake.

Head into town on Sunday night for the 18th annual Celebrate Freedom event on the front lawn at Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City. The stage will host three Christian acts, starting with Southern gospel from the Griffith Family, followed by comedian Mickey Bell. Headliner Colton Dixon will appeal to young audiences, said event emcee Steve Culberson, and the fireworks will explode over the high school after dark.

There will be food trucks on site, as well as baked goods and ice cream from local churches. The event is hosted by Marshall Street Baptist Church and is free and open to the public.

Join the patriotic fun at Lake Martin this July 4.

There’s no better place to be.

LAKE 31

Arti Gras Candles for Ukraine STORY BY KYMBERLY DONOWSKI PHOTOS BY AUDRA SPEARS

Eclectic artist Olga Grant exhibits her beeswax candles at art shows across the Southeast

32 LAKE

JULY 2022

A

Arti Gras candle and soap artisan, Olga Grant comes to this year’s juried art show at Russell Crossroad with a mission to channel the pain inherent in her homeland’s war crisis into a passion that is creating positive change.

“I’ve learned when you think positively, you create positive vibes,” said the artist who is looking not only to create positive vibes at the lake but also to bring much needed help to the people of Ukraine.

“I was born in Russia, during the Soviet Union.

I think we were happy because we didn’t know any better. But, during the ’90s, things were worse. I remember having dinner. It was pasta and some sort of preservative from our garden, like pickles. They would have these coupons that were given to your family. You’d stay in the lines for about a day and a half. You’d switch with your family members just to fulfill these food coupons,” she explained.

Grant learned not only the full weight of being thankful but also the importance of community and helping neighbors. Despite the difficult living conditions, Grant’s family taught her to find refuge in nature.

“We lived in a big city, and my parents would take me every summer to go camping in tents. We would go completely into the forest by the bank or a river for a week or two. My mother would teach me about herbs, collect herbs to make teas or add to some food. We would go fishing and eat what we got from the river because we didn’t have a refrigerator, so we couldn’t keep it. You get absolutely connected with nature – now, they call it meditating. But I was a child. I didn’t know,” she said.

Her appreciation for nature’s peace and beauty has kept her grounded through many changes in life, including gaining citizenship in the United States and moving to Alabama.

“When I got here in Alabama, it reminded me of where I grew up. It’s the same landscape as the rolling hills. I can smell the scent in the air, and it smells very sweet here. I try to recreate it in my candles. That’s my feeling, you know, I try to project it into products and show how I perceive the world,” she said.

Moving to America gave Grant the opportunity to rewrite what she was told she was capable of as a child. America allowed her to dream and explore what she wanted to learn.

“A lot of people come to America to start a better life. After one year, I’d completely fallen in love Grant donates funds from candle sales to support Ukraine

She forged strong connections with scents of nature as a child in Russia

JULY 2022

LAKE 33

In addition to Grant's candles, the juried show features pottery, jewelry, works in wood and more

Grant will show her candles July 2 and 3 at Arti Gras at Russell Crossroads

with the States. America has the most freedom I have ever experienced. If you want to be somebody, you can. I came here and decided to reset and start fresh,” she explained. “I had to learn to trust people again, so I decided I wanted to do something with my hands. I decided to make candles because people like candles. It was a hobby at first.”

From camping as a child to traveling as an adult, scent became a way to scrapbook her impression of the places she’s seen and experienced.

“When I’m creating, I’m trying to share what I have seen and what I have felt in different countries,” Grant said. “When I grew up, they wouldn’t let us go to church because practicing religion wasn’t allowed by the Soviets. But we, as kids, would sneak and look into the windows. We would go to the church without telling anyone, even if we didn’t understand what was going on. We would go and look at all the magic.”

These adventures showed Grant that a candle could strengthen sacred moments and bring comfort to the viewers. She has tried to instill her love and reverence for beeswax in her candle scents and designs.

“Beeswax is very special to me. I’m Orthodox Christian. If you think about the Catholic Church, they burn pure beeswax candles. It’s what they do in the Russian church, too. They would have lots of pictures of saints, and when the candles were lit, they would sparkle. So when you were praying, it would almost be hypnotic. It was very spiritual. Beeswax smells of honey and pollen, but when it’s burned, it reminds me of this church.”

Recently, Grant has found it difficult to be proud of these connections to her past. The actions of Russian president Vladimir Putin have not only harmed the country of Ukraine but more intimately, many relationships on both sides of the Russian/ Ukrainian border.

“People constantly ask me where I’m from because of my accent. Now, I hesitate to answer because

34 LAKE

Russians are immediately seen as bad. I say, ‘Sorry, I’m Russian.’ I’m very ashamed of what my country is doing right now. My best friend of 40 years, I grew up with her, and we were like sisters. This has destroyed our friendship. That was the real wake-up call for me because I understood it was real.”

The reach of the war has affected her frame of mind, even from far away.

“I just was sick and tired of worrying, and I have friends from the Ukraine, and I feel directly connected. They’re telling me about how their houses and cities have been destroyed. I wanted to do something to help,” she said.

So Grant drew on her skills and connected to scent for inspiration, using her talent and love for candles to help raise money.

“I thought people could enjoy a candle. They can think about the people in Ukraine and pray when they’re looking at the candles because, you know, that’s helping; and then, the money can go to helping the refugees.”

Grant works mainly with Into Freedom, which works with the Frazier Church in Montgomery and the missionary Frazier Church. She also partners with Samaritan’s Purse because she can see just where the help is applied. These organizations have personal connections in Ukraine, and Grant purposely sought out organizations that could have big impact.

Visit Grant and more than 50 other local artisans July 2 and 3 at the annual Arti Gras event on the Town Green at Russell Crossroads. From spectacular photography to jewelry, reclaimed wood bowls, furniture, organic berries, jams and jellies, birdhouses, sculpture, pottery and more, every piece of art harbors an artist’s story. Arti Gras will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Grant’s candle creations also are available online at jimshillwaxworks.com.

JULY 2022

JULY 2022

LAKE 35

An Eye on Lake Martin's Future STORY BY BETSY ILER & HARRY DENEGRE

A

labama State Rep. Ed Oliver (Dist. 81) addressed development issues at the Lake Martin Homeowners and Boat Owners Association annual meeting, held at First Baptist Church in Dadeville on June 11. Increased growth over recent years, especially after people flocked to the lake during the COVID-19 pandemic, has raised questions about infrastructure and lifestyle, as well as traffic patterns and boating laws.

“We’re wanting to get ahead on Lake Martin before it becomes Lake Lanier,” Oliver said after the meeting. “Fortunately, we’re not starting from scratch. EDA, ALDOT, ADEM and others – we all have worked on plans for these things, so we’re working together to address these issues.”

With an economic downturn on the horizon, Oliver said, it’s hard to know how the lake economy will react.

“The lake area is enjoying a robust economy right now, but with inflation the way it is, it may be difficult for people to think about building. We may see a drop in tourism. There’s been no drop-off so far, but we don’t know what the economy is going to be,” he said.

While the need exists for a corridor along state Route 49, funds may not be available to build a road, so Oliver said officials are looking at plans for managing development in both economic scenarios – a boom or a bust. The same is true for sewage, water and lake laws, he noted.

36 LAKE

In matters of lake laws, including proximity limits and licensed driving requirements, Oliver said, legislators are working with Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Marine Patrol to craft laws that are enforceable.

“One of the reasons the 200-foot proximity bill did not pass a while back was that the marine police said it was difficult to enforce. It was too subjective.

We’ll be trying again with another bill, and I will be a sponsor on it,” he said. “We also have some issue with licensing. The way it is now, if you live in Alabama, you have to have a license to operate a boat, but someone who doesn’t live here doesn’t have to. That needs to be addressed, along with other safety and quality of life issues at the lake.”

Some 100 HOBO members turned out for the breakfast, which was provided by Renfroe’s Market in Dadeville. The 2022-2024 board includes Wallace Jones, Judy Heinzen, Jerry Purcell, William Haynes, Ann Campbell, Bill Walker, Brad Copeland and Chris Searcy, as well as president Harry DeNegre.

HOBOs is in the process of a membership drive and urges anyone who owns a lake home or a boat to join the association, which advocates for the lake and sponsors safety events, including a boating license class and citation-free inspections. Visit the website at lakemartinhobos.com or the Facebook page for more information.

JULY 2022

WINDOW CLEANING PRESSURE WASHING GUTTER CLEANING SOFT WASHING

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL Serving Auburn, Opelika & Lake Martin Areas!

(334) 759-7080 • sparklealabama.com

JULY 2022

LAKE 37

Boating safety volunteers affix a light to a Lake Martin hazard buoy

L

Service for Safety STORY BY JOHN THOMPSON

Lake Martin is big, beautiful, clean and potentially dangerous to careless boaters. There are extensive rock formations, huge sandbars and other hazards that could be hidden from the view of a boater who is not familiar with the area. Water levels in Lake Martin fluctuate throughout the year, which makes it more difficult for boaters to determine the exact location and type of the hazard. Running up on a sandbar or striking a rock formation at any speed can be dangerous to boaters and damaging to watercraft.

Lake Martin Resource Association, working together with the Marine Police has identified 330 hazardous area locations over the most popular boating areas of Lake Martin. Of these, 90 are installed with blinking solar lights. The lighted buoys usually are installed in heavy traffic areas.

With changing water levels and wave action that moves buoys around, it is impossible to place buoys directly over hazards. Additionally, both sand bars and rock formations vary in size, with some being very large.

Buoy information material available from LMRA warns boaters to stay at least 100 feet away from hazardous area buoys and to never travel between a buoy and a nearby shoreline or between two buoys near each other.

The other type of buoy that is installed and maintained

by LMRA volunteers is a No Wake buoy, which means just that: There should be nothing but smooth water trailing behind the boat. There are 125 of these installed over Lake Martin at bridges, marinas, Wind Creek Park and other locations, as determined necessary by the Marine

38 LAKE

Police.

More than 450 buoys are managed by a small group of volunteers utilizing one pontoon boat that has been modified for this purpose. It is hard work, and it is very costly to manage. LMRA members fund the program with membership dues and donations.

The financial side and the volunteer contributions are both necessary, but the most important part of the program is the safety of Lake Martin boaters. Without the hazardous area buoys marking the danger beneath the surface, Lake Martin would become extremely dangerous.

Most boaters are aware of the buoys and respect them by following the 100-foot guideline. Unfortunately, some do not, and herein is the problem.

Careless boaters are now destroying buoys at the fastest rate LMRA has ever experienced. When a buoy is hit, it immediately loses its effectiveness. It no longer stands as a sentinel to warn unaware boaters; but instead, it becomes a potential hazard. The LMRA buoy team relies on the boating public to notify them when a buoy is missing. They also check sites when making install runs.

There is always a time lapse between collision time and replacement time.

Boaters beware: LMRA is committed to making Lake Martin as safe as possible with its buoy program, which has been copied by other lake associations in Alabama, but help is needed from the boating public. Please slow down. Follow the buoy guidelines, and report missing or damaged buoys to lmra@lmra.info.

JULY 2022

Safe Boating Quiz

With the summertime increase of boaters on Lake Martin, test your boating safety knowledge. Answers to the following questions were provided by Sgt. Steve McWaters of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Marine Patrol Division and Lake Martin Resource Association’s boating safety committee chair Randy Kirkland. Give yourself one point for each correct answer and post your score on Lake magazine’s Facebook page by July 11, 2022, to be eligible for a giveaway prize.

1. Should boaters take a water safety course?

2. Are you required to pass a marine vessel licensing test to boat on Lake Martin?

3. If you witness an accident on Lake Martin, whom should you call?

4. If you witness reckless or careless operation of a vessel, whom should you call?

5. Is there a requirement to conduct a pre-departure safety equipment checklist?

6. If the life jackets/personal flotation devices (PFD) on board your boat are all adult large, does this meet the requirements?

7. How do you know if a PFD is Coast Guard approved?

8. Does my plastic blow-up swim ring meet the “through cushion” or ring requirement?

9. If you’re being towed (skiers, wake boarders, surfers, etc.), are you required to wear a PFD? If so, what type?

10. Must you wear a PFD to paddle board?

11. On a boat, who is required to wear a Coast Guard approved PFD at all times?

12. Are you required to wear a PFD if operating a personal watercraft (Jet Ski, SeaDoo, Wave Runner, etc.) a short distance?

13. Is it legal to pull three people on a tube with my three-person rated Jet Ski? 14. Must I have a sound-producing device on my boat and PWC? 15. Is an open container of alcohol permitted on my boat?

16. What happens if I'm drinking/driving and get stopped by Marine Patrol?

17. What is the major cause of accidents on Lake Martin?

18. A pontoon boat has docking lights. Should you use them if foggy and dark out?

19. Is it ok to operate a boat at night with swim lights on?

20. If you’re not familiar with Lake Martin, is it OK to navigate at night?

21. There are three types of buoys on Lake Martin. What do the symbols mean?

22. Does LMRA authorize, install and manage Slow No Wake buoys?

23. Is LMRA responsible for managing and maintaining the orange swim balls/moorings?

24. Is there a certain distance that I should stay away from a hazard buoy?

25. If a boater accidentally damages a buoy, whom should they contact?

26. Do boater license fees pay for the buoys and placements?

27. If you see someone damaging a buoy, what should you do?

28. Why is it so important to stay hydrated and protected from the sun?

29. Is it OK to go boating alone?

30. Are there hand signals when tubing, skiing, wakeboarding and surfing?

31. Is checking the weather forecast before and during an outing recommended?

32. Are spotters required when pulling skiers, wake boarders, surfers with a boat?

33. How about when towing with a PWC? 34. Is it a law to navigate on the right side of the lake heading north and opposite side heading south?

35. Does it matter how many people ride on my boat?

36. What is an engine cutoff (kill switch) and do I need to connect it to my body while operating my boat?

37. Is an engine cut-off switch required on a PWC? For more information about Alabama Boating Rules and Regulations, visit alea.gov/dps/marine-patrol/boating-rules-andregulations. For more information about Lake Martin Resource Association, visit lmra@lmra.info.

JULY 2022

LAKE 39

Safe Boating Quiz Answers 1. SM - Yes, a boater safety course will give a boater more knowledge on the laws and instructions on how to boat safely.

2. SM: If you are a resident of the state of Alabama, you are required to obtain a vessel endorsement to operate a personal watercraft (PWC) or vessel, beginning at the age of 12.

3. SM: 9-1-1. Advise of location and dispatch will notify the needed agency.

4. SM: ALEA dispatch at 334-676-7200 to advise location and try to obtain vessel number.

5. SM: There is no requirement, but it is a good practice to conduct such a checklist. It is taught in the boaters education class.

6. SM: If you have only adults on board, then yes. If you have children on the boat – No, it is does not. In addition, all PFDs for everyone on board must be U.S. Coast Guard approved.

7. SM: It is located on the inside of the PFD. 8. SM: No, the type IV throwable also must be Coast Guard approved.

9. SM: Yes. Type I, II or III Coast Guard approved.

10. SM: You do not have to wear it, but it must be on board the paddleboard.

11. SM: Children under 8 years of age.

12. SM: Yes, the PFD must be worn on a PWC, even if you are operating only for a short distance. This includes launching the PWC. 13. SM: No, you can only allow the number for which the PWC is rated. The vessel operator counts as one, so you can only have two on the towable.

14. SM: It is determined by length of the vessel. Vessels less than 16 feet long are not required to have sound-producing devices, but it is strongly recommended that these vessels carry horns or whistles on board.

Vessels that are 16 feet to 40 feet long are required to carry on board whistles or horns or some other means to make an efficient sound signal.

15. SM: Yes, open containers are permitted.

16. SM: You will be checked for your sobriety, and the results could indicate BUI. 17. SM: Operator inattention and careless operation.

18. SM: No, docking lights are just what they state they are. They are for docking. If you use your docking lights to navigate, it drowns out your navigational lights, and you can’t see other boaters approaching.

19. SM: I would only recommend you operate your navigational lights for safety reasons.

20. SM: Yes, but always have a pre-trip plan and let others know your plans. Also, keep a charged cellphone on board for any emergencies that may arise.

21. RK: Diamond – Hazard; Diamond with cross – Restricted/Boaters Keep Out; Circle – Slow No Wake.

22. RK: Authorization process is by the Marine Police. If approved, LMRA will install and manage.

23. RK: No. Those are considered private.

24. RK: Yes, 100 feet. The buoy isn’t typically installed on top of the hazard.

25. RK: Please contact Lake Martin Resource Association at lmra.info or call 256-212-1422 and provide the buoy number and location, so it can be replaced quickly.

26. RK: No. All costs for buoys, lights, anchors, etc., are covered by LMRA through membership dues/ renewals and donations. LMRA volunteers manage the buoy program.

27. RK: Call Marine Patrol dispatch at 256-234-2601 and/or LMRA at lmra.info or call 256-212-1422.

Pictures would be helpful.

28. SM: One is for health reasons; the other is boater’s fatigue. The sun literally drains you, and you will not be aware of it until it’s too late.

29. SM: Sure, there are many boaters that boat alone, but again, have a pre-trip plan and let someone know about your plans.

40 LAKE

JULY 2022

Safe Boating Quiz Answers continued 30. SM: Yes, they are taught in a boater’s safety and education class.

31. SM: Always. Weather in the state of Alabama can change in a heartbeat.

32. SM: You must have someone 12 years of age or older to spot for people being towed, or your vessel has to be equipped with a tow mirror of at least 78 square inches.

33. SM: No spotter is required, but the PWC must have tow mirrors attached to each side of the PWC. 34. SM: It is not a law that requires you to do so; however, in narrow channels and tributaries, you must stay to the right, just like riding on a highway.

35. SM: Yes, there is a capacity plate on the vessel that tells you how many people can occupy the vessel.

The limit can be found on the capacity plate.

36. SM: Engine cut-off switches, also know as ECOS or kill switches, are required by Alabama law for vessels that are less than 24 feet in length, have an open cockpit and are powered by more than 50 horsepower. The lanyard of the switch must be attached to the person, clothing or PFD of the vessel operator.

37. SM: Yes. It must be attached to the operator.

For more information about Alabama boating rules and regulations, visit alea.gov/dps/marine-patrol/boating-rulesand-regulations. For more information about Lake Martin Resource Association, visit lmra.info.

JULY 2022

LAKE 41

A

makers market

showcasing works from

artisans from the Lake Martin area and

throughout the SouthEast.

Find homemade pottery, jewelry, photography,

reclaimed wood décor, painting, metalwork, furniture, and much more!

RussellLands.com

To42aLAKE p p l y c o n t a c t H a n n a h H e n l e y a t 2JULY 5 6 . 2022 212 .14 31 o r h he n l e y @ r u s s e l l l a n d s . c o m

JULY 2022

LAKE 43

Some pieces of art in the home are 5 to 6 feet tall

44 LAKE

JULY 2022

Fabulous Find for Fun with Family

P

STORY BY LONNA UPTON & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

Phil and Anita Tomlinson had never considered owning a home on Lake Martin.

They have long enjoyed time on the water, whether the lake, the beach or out in the country hunting and fishing. While they had visited friends here occasionally many years ago, their longtime lake retreat was Lake Harding near Columbus, Georgia, where they loved being out on the lake with close friends. But when they visited their daughter and her family’s new home in The Ridge, they were sold.

“I knew The Ridge was beautiful from the street side, and when we saw it from the water, we just knew we needed to be here. We have three married daughters, five granddaughters, two grandsons and one great-grandson, and we love to entertain, so we knew we would love all the space,” Anita Tomlinson said.

The Tomlinsons found a move-in-ready home that was perfect for them. With a design by architect Jeffrey Dungan and TCC General Contractors as the builder, the couple knew they would be the second owners of a unique home built with competence and quality. Most of the upholstered furniture belonging to the previous owner was part of the sale of the home, but for all newly purchased furniture, décor and

A seating area for two across from the wet bar makes a quiet place to enjoy a beverage

artwork, Tomlinson turned to Jeanie Bross, Allied ASID, who, along with her brother, are the third generation in a 71-year-old furniture/interiors business, Hinson Galleries in Columbus.

“Working with the Tomlinsons has been rewarding through the years, and the Lake Martin home was no different. They were ready to start lake life, and we had work to do. The artwork was a fun challenge. The house calls for a more abstract design, and the Tomlinsons are more traditional, so I worked to find a mix of transitional pieces to pull things together, to make the existing furniture work with the new,” Bross said.

The home sits on a wooded point lot accessed through a gate and columns with gas lanterns. The front door and foyer are located on the side of the house, providing an entrance easily accessible for guests arriving by boat. The foyer empties into a hallway that leads into guest bedrooms in one direction and to the main living areas in the other direction.

White oak floors cover the expanse of the kitchen, dining and keeping rooms while white oak beams accentuate the wood ceiling. The beams are also used vertically on the wall to add a visual separation between the three living spaces. Venetian plaster was JULY 2022

LAKE 45

46 LAKE

JULY 2022

The lake room offers extraordinary lake views from every vantage point

JULY 2022

LAKE 47

Clockwise from below: Upstairs, guests enjoy four bedrooms and a comfortable living space; The office includes lake views from its tower room; Soft and airy, the master suite is a peaceful escape from household activities; A glass breezeway connects the primary suite to the main house.

used for the walls. Windows on both ends of the room offer lake views. Two large, comfortable upholstered sofas on a black and white striped rug face each other in the keeping room. Bross placed three live-edge dining benches side-by-side, each measuring 108 inches wide by 15 inches deep and 18 inches high, to serve as the coffee table. Pieces of art themselves, the benches provide a location for special books and sculptures. Large works of art add depth and character to the room.

“There are several pieces of art in the house that are 5 to 6 feet tall. I added a few commissioned pieces that came into the store, and I went to the Wendover Art Group, which we carry at our gallery, for most of what I found for her to use throughout the house,” Bross said.

Two steps down from the keeping room, a mudroom hallway features built-in cubbies,

48 LAKE

JULY 2022

a laundry room and a full bath. The area is a perfect set-up for coming in from the lake or pool with wet towels, wet feet and a basket of wet toys.

Serving as a hallway of sorts, two steps down from the dining space lead to an area with two armchairs on the left and a wet bar on the right. The wet bar includes an undercounter Sub-Zero refrigerator, wine refrigerator and icemaker. Shelving above holds whimsical lake life signs and bar ware. The slate floor continues into a great room, which the Tomlinsons call the lake room.

One end of the lake room is a stone fireplace flanked with windows that wrap along the room’s side walls. Drapes run on a ceiling track to allow privacy in what is essentially a glass room. Facing sofas share a live-edge cocktail table from Zimmerman Chair. Two black upholstered chairs at one end of the

JULY 2022

LAKE 49

Clockwise from above: The kitchen, dining room and keeping room were designed for entertaining; An upstairs bedroom is decorated with whimsical charm for the grandchildren; The pool is incorporated into the outdoor living space that includes the porch, patio and access to the lake.

50 LAKE

JULY 2022

gathering area balance two taupe leather recliners at the other. The vertical shiplap walls are painted gray, and the wood ceiling is painted black. The lake can be seen from every seat in the room.

“My favorite room is the keeping room. I think it is the most comfortable. But Phil’s is definitely the lake room,” Tomlinson said.

Back through the wet bar, the dining area features a round table with eight leather chairs that perfectly accommodate dining with family, as well as one of Tomlinson’s favorite pastimes with her friends – poker.

A Triad 15 pendant by Apparatus, molecular in design, hangs above the table with a round, animal print rug beneath it.

Tomlinson displays dishes and serving ware, some with a dash of red, in a center island, as well as in the large scullery nearby, which offers floor-to-ceiling shelving accessed by a rolling ladder. The scullery includes a full-sized Sub-Zero refrigerator, a full-sized Sub-Zero wine refrigerator, a prep sink and two Asko dishwashers.

The scullery and the kitchen have the same matte black quartz countertops, including the island, which houses a six-burner Wolf range with a Best Hood above. Another Asko dishwasher is near the sink. Brass plumbing fixtures complement the brass hardware on the espresso cabinets. Framed by Liaigre sconces, the extra-large apron front sink is a smooth nickel finish.

A breakfast room with banquette and built-in coffee bar is connected to the kitchen. The area also houses the pantry and another Sub-Zero refrigerator. A hallway near the breakfast area leads to another laundry room and to the stairway, which accesses the upstairs bedrooms.

The master bedroom affords privacy through a glass breezeway from the kitchen. Stone surrounds the entry, and Venetian plaster was continued from the kitchen.

A seating area, anchored by an antique side table from Tomlinson’s mother’s family, is at the end of the bed.

The light fixture is a halo circle pendant. Tomlinson purchased the console table for the television at Tippy Canoe in Alexander City.

A private screened porch sits just outside the bedroom. The closet has a center island for storage and a three-way, full-length mirror across the hall. The bath has marble countertops and floors, plus a glass shower room. Windows on one side of the room allow natural light, and the mirrors hang from the wide casement in front of those windows. An exterior door from the master bedroom leads to the three-car garage and the guesthouse, but a small hallway also provides access to a private office space and what Tomlinson refers to as a secret room.

“The secret room above the garage has become a favorite for the older grandchildren. The door from both sides looks like the wall, so it is a secret way to get in.

There are so many twists and turns that I actually got lost back there one time when we first moved in. The

JULY 2022

LAKE 51

52 LAKE

JULY 2022

The lake room offers the perfect vantage point for viewing Lake Martin's spectacular sunsets

JULY 2022

LAKE 53

Clockwise from above:The guest house provides privacy in cozy comfort; At the water's edge, the guest house architecture mirrors that of the main house;With splashes of red, the scullery stores dinner and serving ware; Natural light and cozy sofas make the keeping room a favorite place to relax.

54 LAKE

JULY 2022

wall in the stairway had a handrail that goes across the door, and I just didn’t see the outline of the door,” she said.

Bross converted this room from an exercise space to a bedroom.

Using the existing black, white and gray geometric flooring, she added a dresser with a subtle black and white vertical striping and a bed with mirrored sides. The room had a mirrored wall with an arch over the bathroom door, which amplifies the size and patterns in the room.

The second floor of the home houses a sitting area with a wet bar, including an undercounter Sub-Zero refrigerator and icemaker.

A laundry room is conveniently tucked behind folding doors in the hallway. Three private suites with bedroom and bathroom are beautifully appointed with fourposter beds, bright colored rugs and luxurious linens. A bunkroom on the end has four individual bunks.

Children’s artwork hangs on the wall.

In addition to six bedrooms in the main house, guests can also enjoy the guesthouse on the property and adjacent to the beach area. The guesthouse includes a living area, bedroom and bath, kitchen, laundry room and screened porch. Bright blues and orange are splashed throughout in paintings and textured rugs and linens.

A few steps down from the kitchen, a covered porch invites guests to more transitional living space. A table for 14 sits under gas lanterns near the built-in grilling area. The porch wraps around the back of the house to offer additional gathering areas, chaise lounges and an outdoor fireplace. A swimming pool is situated between the porch and the lake.

“When my family is here, they are all over the place, and it is wonderful. I love the house, but my favorite things are the family photos I have everywhere. I have been told to take a few down, and I did for this photo shoot, but I will put them right back up. We just love having the kids close by,” Tomlinson said.

IT’S TIME FOR OUTDOOR FUN, IS YOUR HEART HEALTHY? It’s time for outdoor fun, and you don’t want to miss a single moment in the sun.

Make sure your heart is healthy and ready for the season with an appointment at the UAB Heart & Vascular Clinic at Russell Medical.

Kevin Sublett, MD, is board-certified in cardiovascular care and offers the latest in prevention, testing, and treatment for keeping your heart healthy.

Our clinic is backed by the knowledge and expertise of UAB Medicine, including: • • • •

Advanced ultrasound testing Nuclear medicine imaging in fully accredited labs Management of cardiac rhythm disorders Interventional cardiology care

HEART & VASCULAR CLINIC AT RUSSELL MEDICAL Make an appointment today by calling (256) 234-2644.

3368 Highway 280, Suite 130 • Alexander City, AL 35010 uabmedicine.org/HeartRussell

JULY 2022

LAKE 55

A Series of Educational Classes, Art Exhibits, Vendors and Expert Demonstrations, such as:

WETUMPKA Wildlife Arts Festival NOVEMBER 5TH 10AM - 4PM Historic Downtown Wetumpka

Sporting Dog Demonstrations featuring Wildrose Kennels Cooking Demonstrations with Premier Chef Chris Hastings Alabama Wildlife Federation - Live Animal Presentations Carving Demonstration with Wildlife Artist John David Foote Live Music Artisans and Crafters Children’s Activities Food Vendors Plein Air Artists

For More Information Visit The Kelly.Org or Call 334-478-3366 56 LAKE

JULY 2022

Choose Sweetspire for a deer-resistant, native landscape shrub

Virginia Sweetspire NATURE OF THE LAKE

BY KENNETH BOONE

JULY 2022

LAKE 57

I

The blossom spires measure up to 5 inches long and smell quite sweet

If you want a tough, deer-resistant native shrub in your yard that looks terrific in spring, summer and fall, you need to know about Virginia Sweetspire.

Virginia Sweetspire is also known as Tassel-white and Virginia Willow. Its scientific name is Itea virginica. “Itea” is the Ancient Greek name for willow, and “virginica” means from Virginia, which certainly clears up the meaning behind the common name Virginia Willow; however, most people simply call this plant Sweetspire.

Sweetspire is native to the eastern United States, from Florida to New Jersey and west to the Mississippi Valley.

For natural gardeners and those who would like a sure bet in their beds, Sweetspire is a stellar landscape shrub since it is an Alabama native, evolved for our environment, and it’s a beautiful ornamental for most of the year.

Sweetspire is a deciduous shrub that grows to about 8 feet tall in the wild, usually 4 to 5 feet tall in gardens. It has an upright growth pattern with lots of branches that arch down-

58 LAKE

JULY 2022

d The 4-inch oval leaves grow alternately along the stems

ward. Its leaves are handsome, medium green colored, 4-inch-long ovals that grow alternately along a stem.

Around Lake Martin, this plant blooms with 5-inch drooping spires of tiny white flowers in May. The sweet-smelling blossoms open from the base and proceed to the tip of the spire and remain attractive for a number of weeks. These blossoms are very popular with butterflies, bees and other insects.

During the summer, Sweetspire is a lovely green shrub. But it is during autumn that Sweetspire again grabs attention, as its leaves turn beautiful shades of yellow, orange and red. Some cultivars available commercially produce deep red and purple leaf colors.

Often, these leaves stay on the bushes for a long time; temperatures must drop into the teens before Sweetspire releases its leaves.

If you are planning to landscape with Sweetspire, know that a single plant can look a bit gangly, so it’s best to plant several bushes together in a close group for the best look.

Sweetspires need lots of water, and

d

Virginia Sweetspire's blossoms are popular with butterfliess and bees

they tend to grow best near wet areas, like the lakeshore or along stream banks or in swampy areas. During summer droughts, Sweetspire will to need to be watered during its first couple of years. Once it has a wellestablished root system, Sweetspire becomes more drought tolerant.

These shrubs are an understory plant, evolved to leaf beneath trees alongside a body of water, so they do best in partial shade. Sweetspire will have more blooms and stronger red color if the shrub receives full sunshine for part of the day.

This plant likes acidic soils – which pretty much defines the Lake Martin area – and it does well in sandy or loamy soils and even clay – which also pretty much defines the Lake Martin area (though we are also known for our rocky soils).

In areas with optimal growing conditions, Sweetspire produce suckers in an effort to create a colony. This is not a problem if you would like to have only Sweetspire in your bed, but if it’s sharing space with other

The shrub grows well along stream banks and lakeshores

plants, the suckers would need to be clipped.

Virginia Sweetspire is easy to propagate from wild or garden plants. If you have suckers near a mother plant, all you need to do is cut the sucker free and plant it elsewhere.

You can also take stem cuttings during the summer months, which will develop roots in about a month.

This shrub is considered deer-resistant, which means it is way down the list of favorites on a Whitetail’s menu. It’s also resistant to disease and insect pests, which makes it almost care free in a garden.

Some information for this article came from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at wildflower.org, Clemson University, piedmontmastergardeners.org and also from wordsense.eu.

JULY 2022

LAKE 59

Changes in the Tide Has the real estate market reached a turning point?

A

s we celebrate our great nation’s 246th increased in the first half of 2007, until the drought, low birthday this month, I would like to mention water levels and a national real estate crisis all came another memorable day that passed just last home to roost. month. June 4 through 7, 2022, marked the The point here is that we could only realize that the 76th anniversary of the Battle of Midway in World War sellers’ market was over in the middle of 2007, even II. though we started the downward slide in March of 2006 Most Americans know that our devastating defeat at as we started to lose versus the prior year’s sales. In a Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, spurred the country to declare small market like ours, it’s tough to judge market direcwar against Japan. The Battle of Midway tion month to month. That is compounded was a sea battle waged between the navies by the fact that Lake Martin’s is a seasonal of Japan and the U.S., and it occurred market, with most sales coming March about six months after Pearl Harbor. through October. These forces often comThe Battle of Midway was waged at the bine to obscure large trends until the dust Midway Atoll, which is about 1,300 miles settles at the end of the year. By the end of northwest of Honolulu. Historians consider 2007, though, we, along with the rest of the it important because it was a huge turning nation, knew that the market had shifted point in the Pacific theater in World War and the buyers had the upper hand.

II. The Americans won the battle, handSales got a lot worse in 2008. Even LAKE PROPERTY ing defeat to Japan by sinking or crippling fewer homes sold that year when compared

BY JOHN COLEY many boats, aircraft and pilots. Perhaps to 2007. Inventory soared. Home values more importantly, it proved to our own dropped. People started saying that number nation that we could win. The victory sent American of sales and values would never again reach 2005 levmorale soaring. els. We should have never said never.

It was the beginning of the end for Japan. American The turning point was July of 2008. That was the forces started planning for an eventual conquest of month that the number of home sales started consisJapan. Japanese admirals began playing defense. The tently beating the prior year. That month was the botwar with Japan lasted another three years, and though tom, and the market started gaining steam again. But, the U.S. lost some other battles and paid dearly for just like values rose while sales dropped in 2006 and other victories, most people could look back and say 2007, it look a while to catch on that the market had that the Battle of Midway was the turning point. shifted again. Values continued to drop in 2008 and, I will tack this article back around to Lake Martin by in my opinion, 2009, even though the number of home asking, What do March of 2006 and July of 2008 have sales was increasing and signaling a strengthening on in common? the sellers’ side of the equation.

These months were, in my studied opinion, pivotal In both market shifts, it took real estate professionals months in the Lake Martin waterfront real estate marat least 18 months to feel comfortable enough to say ket. that the tide had changed. Again, the seasonality of our By pivotal, I mean that those months were the ones market usually masks trends. But still, you would think when the market changed course and started going in we could have called it faster than that. a different direction. They also have in common that it I think the evidence is mounting that March of 2022 took professionals and consumers many more months to will be another pivot point in the waterfront market at realize that the change of direction had happened.

Lake Martin. We have seen that March, April and May The year of 2005 was the previous record year for of this year have not sold the same number of homes waterfront home sales on Lake Martin. In that year, as last year. That might not be newsworthy considering 247 homes were sold, only about half the homes sold that 2020 was the top year ever, so 2021 lost to it as in 2020. But, back then, 2005 was a huge year. So well. big, in fact, that we did not notice until later that 2006 The difference has been that we have had less than was not quite as good. Even though numbers of home half of our normal inventory. When 2021 posted monthsales were down, prices continued to go up. Prices also ly losses to 2020, we said, “Well, of course, we aren’t 60 LAKE

JULY 2022

selling as many homes; we only have half the inventory. Plus, the COVID-19 effect in 2020 made everything wacky.” Both are true statements and are why I have been hesitant to call a market shift until now.

If we look at how many homes were sold for the year through the end May of 2022, we see that 113 homes have been sold through the Lake Martin MLS. The comparable time in 2021 was 156, or a decrease of about 27 percent. Is a lack of inventory to blame?

No. Comparing the numbers of waterfront homes that were for sale on average in May of 2022, we find that number within 3 percent of the number for sale in 2021. Granted, the inventory levels are still less than half of where they normally are this time of year. But if we don’t sell as many as we did last year and can’t blame it on a lack of inventory, is that a trend?

How has the slide in sales affected prices? In short, it has not. Because of the small sample size, I don’t want to hazard a guess at an exact amount; however, I can say that my gut tells me prices have increased in 2022 over 2021. I base that on the price level at which I see individual homes selling this year. They are above the prices of comparable homes sold last year. Other agents agree with me that values have increased so far in 2022.

I think evidence is mounting that history is repeating itself.

I think waterfront home values on Lake Martin are increasing this year, even though the market peaked back in March, but hey, I could be totally wrong. I have made more than my share of errors when trying to figure out how a post-pandemic financial world would react to things. If I am wrong, I think it will be because of the factor I mentioned earlier, that we still have a historically low number of homes for sale and demand is just out pacing it.

When will we know for sure? It will be until the end of the year, at least.

Until then, if you are a property owner, you may be in the unique position of having your property value increase even though sales are dropping.

If you are considering buying, I would not hesitate to buy this year. Go ahead; however, do not expect to be able to flip it in three months and make money.

Personally, I think that a lake property purchase should be a long term one, anyway. As long as your investment horizon is longer than two or three years, I think you will be fine.

John Coley is a broker and owner of Lake Martin Voice Realty. Contact him at john@lakemartinvoice.com.

JULY 2022

LAKE 61

Swim Alert has launched L

ake Watchers have been hard at work iniria at swim areas. If E. coli is present, the water tiating the new Swim Alert monitoring is contaminated with feces of a warm-blooded program since my last article describing animal and considered unsafe for swimming our swim alert vision in April’s issue of Lake (when the contamination is above 235 E. coli magazine. We have identified popular swimming per 100 milliliters of water – about half a cup). spots in and around Lake Martin; built webpages I’m sure that none of us want to swim in poopy for posting and accessing swim-site test results; water. initiated Lake Watch bacteria monitoring at the Popular and regularly visited swim sites sites; and posted results on our Swim Alert webwere at the top of the list for monitoring site site at www.lakewatch.org/swim-alert. Thanks to selection. Several are developed swim beaches.

LAKE WATCH Lake Watch’s fabulous monitor coordinator, Ann They include Wind Creek State Park beach,

BY ERIC REUTEBUCH Campbell, and dedicated water monitors, Lake D.A.R.E. Park beach, Camp Alamisco swim Watch Swim Alert is now a reality. area, Camp ASCCA swim area, Kowaliga Restaurant beach, We are working on getting the word out to the Lake Willow Point Country Club beach, Big Beach and Villas on Martin community so that all can avail of this information. the Harbor Pier adjacent to Harbor Point Marina beach. Lake Thus far, Swim Alert has been posted in many places online, Watch volunteers also monitor the popular swimming area on including the Lake Watch website at lakewatch.org, the Hillabee Creek right above the state Route 22 bridge and the Lake Watch of Lake Martin Facebook page, lakemagazine. popular canoe take-out site at Jaybird Landing in the upperlife, nextdoor.com, the City of Alexander City’s Facebook most reach of Lake Martin. page, Lake Martin Homeowners and Boat Owners’ website at Additional testing sites include two on the upper lake lakemartinhobos.com and the Lake Martin HOBOs Facebook above Coley Creek. One is near the community of Andrew page. We welcome suggestions and help to spread the word Jackson, and the other is a bit above the confluence of Coley about Swim Alert to the lake community.

Creek and the lake. These last two sites are not swim areas; As stated in our last article, we are testing for E. coli bacte- they are considered sentinel sites for detection of bacterial contamination coming from the watershed above the lake and flowing down the Tallapoosa River into the lake. We are still working to add monitors at other swim sites.

For most of the lake, bacterial contamination is not an issue, but there are a few areas that have issues. Thus far, at the time of submission of this article, two areas have repeatedly had E. coli contamination at unsafe levels this year: Jaybird Landing has tested high in E. coli in six out of nine tests, as did the swimming area at Hillabee Creek in six out of 10 tests. Jaybird Landing had a high of 1,800 E. coli per 100 milliliters in early April, more than seven times the level considered safe for swimming, and Hillabee Creek had a whopping high of 4,600 E. coli per 100 milliliters in early April, almost 20 times the safe level. These levels of fecal contamination are definitely unsafe for human contact. E. coli levels have declined in the most recent tests at these two sites but are still over the safe level.

The ultimate goal of Lake Watch is to identify the sources of fecal contamination and get them resolved. Until then, please help spread the word about Swim Alert. Send the link lakewatch.org/swim-alert to family and friends to keep your loved ones safe while recreating in the lake. Check Swim Alert regularly for updated test results for your favorite swim areas, and support Lake Watch of Lake Martin so that we can continue this effort throughout the lake.

Enjoy our beautiful Treasured Lake this summer and be safe.

Eric Reutebuch is past-president of Lake Watch Lake Martin. Learn more at lakewatch.org.

62 LAKE

JULY 2022

Custom Home Builder | Interior & Exterior Remodels Additions | Outdoor Living Spaces | Seawalls

David Robinette | Steve Fuller Andrew McGreer 205-383-9222

lakemar tinsignatureconstruc tion.com JULY 2022

LAKE 63

64 LAKE

JULY 2022

FROM OUR REAL ESTATE ADVERTISERS

W AT ER

AC C

ES

S

FABULOUS FINDS

Russell Cabins at The Willows, Portico • $910,000 Builder: Classic Homes • Beds: 4 Baths: 4.5 • Sq Ft: 2,396 Russell Lands Rhonda Watson, Anna Speaks, Thomas Lamberth 256.215.7011 • RussellLands.com

379 Whiskey Ridge Road, Dadeville • $1,050,000 Beds: 3 • Baths: 3 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Damon Story 205.789.9526 LakeMartinRealty.com

288 Whisperwood Drive, Dadeville • $1,890,000 Beds: 4 • Baths: 3 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Jeff Cochran 256.786.0099 LakeMartinRealty.com

94 Stone Ridge, Alexander City • $1,825,000 Beds: 4 • Baths: 4.5 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Ashley Chancellor 334.202.9017 LakeMartinRealty.com

75 Oakcrest Drive, Eclectic • $798,000 Beds: 4 • Baths: 2 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Becky Haynie 334.312.0928 LakeMartinRealty.com

258 Upper Trail Road, Alexander City • $639,000 Beds: 3 • Baths: 3 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Judith Jager 205.789.0698 LakeMartinRealty.com

149 Lake Ridge Drive, Jackson’s Gap • $499,000 Beds: 2 • Baths: 1 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Michelle Brooks-Slayman 256.749.1031 LakeMartinRealty.com

37 Shade Tree Point, Alexander City • $375,000 Beds: 3 • Baths: 1 • Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Mimi Rush 334.399.7874 LakeMartinRealty.com

JULY 2022

DID YOU KNOW? When Realtors advertise in Lake magazine they receive FREE fab finds.

Call 256-234-4281 to find out how.

LAKEMAGAZINE.LIFE

LAKE 65

Swim for fun and fitness

S

wimming is one of the best exercises for risk of falling. These studies compared several leisure improving cardiovascular health, total body activities and determined that golfers and swimmers conditioning and burning calories. Swimming had significantly decreased risks of falling. is considered a lifetime sport because young Swimmers performed better in walking tests and and old learn to swim and add a water workout to their had lower postural sway, both of which are indicators exercise regimens. of good balance. Due to the water’s buoyancy, swimWater supports and cushions the body, which is mers can exercise longer and harder in the water than why it makes a great exercise for everyon land with no additional joint or muscle one, including those who are unable to pain. As evidenced by swimmers’ wellperform intense impact exercises on land. defined muscles, swimming builds upper Swimming is very easy on the joints and is body strength by using the resistance of recommended for those who are pregnant, the water. Swimming doesn’t just build have movement limitations from injuries or strength; it provides intense, nonimpact medical conditions like arthritis. It’s great cardiovascular workouts. for people with disabilities and those who Swimming is also the perfect alternative want more intense cardiovascular exercises for an injured athlete who needs to mainwithout impact, are overweight/obese or tain cardiovascular endurance and upper HEALTHY LIVING body strength while recovering from lower have osteoporosis.

BY JULIE HUDSON According to the Centers for Disease body muscular injuries. The resistance of Control and Prevention, swimming prothe water works upper body and core musvides the following health benefits: reduced joint and cles while increasing the body’s heart rate. Swimming muscular pain associated with chronic conditions like is the perfect cross training choice for those who want Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. It improves to give their joints a break from high-impact exercises. mental health for children and adults. It decreases disThe resistance and buoyancy properties that make ability and increases quality of life in older adults. It swimming a great workout for athletes and non-athletes improves balance and reduces the likelihood of falls. also make it a great choice for those with disabilities.

Although swimming is a non-weight-bearing exerThere are many floatation devices and adaptable equipcise, it is not considered a good choice to increase bone ment available that assist in keeping individuals afloat density to prevent osteoporosis; however, it is considand safe. Always consult with a doctor or professional ered a great choice for those who have osteoporosis, as prior to using adaptive equipment. it builds muscular strength and increases cardiovascuIf you would like to get involved in swimming but lar strength. Regular exercising in the pool will build have never learned to swim, there are many options. strength, improve physical functioning and improve YMCAs, community pools, private pools, schools and confidence while reducing fear of injury, so some land gyms offer swim lessons for children through adults exercises may be performed. Studies have demonwith different abilities. Water aerobics classes are a strated that swimming improves balance and lowers the nice option to help build one’s confidence of moving 66 LAKE

JULY 2022

around in the pool. After learning the basic strokes of free style, breaststroke or backstroke, begin swimming laps. It is recommended to start slowly and build into a routine. The first week, swim for 30 seconds and rest for 30 seconds. Then repeat nine more times. Change this up by kicking. Using a kickboard, repeat the same routine as mentioned above. Kick for 30 seconds and rest for 30 seconds; then, repeat nine more times.

As you enter into a new day, week or month, add more time to your interval. As you build strength, shorten the rest time and alternate the stroke. As with any exercise, swimming requires a gradual increase in the number of laps, intensity and duration. Kickboards and hand paddles could help by adding resistance to any workout.

Safety is a very high priority when swimming, especially in a pool with no lifeguard or in open water, such as a lake or ocean. Even experienced and strong swimmers should never swim alone. At the very least, have someone on shore in the event assistance is needed. Caution should be taken before exposing yourself to open water with currents, waves, wildlife or debris.

Always consider using floatation devices, especially in wide-open water.

Swimming offers benefits at any age or fitness level. It has the power to provide a full body workout, improve general wellbeing, burn calories, improve muscle strength, transform cardiovascular health, increase energy levels and increase calming after a stressful day.

Julie Hudson is a certified dietician at Lake Martin Wellness Center in Dadeville.

JULY 2022

LAKE 67

Soft Shell Crab Softshell Crab

1 cup all-purpose flour 3 cups cornmeal 2 tablespoons garlic powder 1 tablespoon onion powder 1/8 teaspoon cayenne 2 teaspoons paprika Buttermilk for soaking 1 zucchini 1 yellow squash 1 carrot 1 cup sherry vinegar 2 cups vegetable oil 1 minced shallot 2 minced garlic cloves Salt and pepper to taste Preserved lemon and garlic confit aioli

Crab Directions

Clean the softshell crab by removing the gills and the front of the crab (Cut the face off).

Add flour and cornmeal to a bowl with garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne and paprika and mix well. Add more cayenne if you like it spicier. Place the softshell in the buttermilk. Make sure the whole crab is submerged. Remove the crab after 30 seconds and place in the cornmeal breading. Cover completely and give it a gentle press to ensure the whole crab has cornmeal on it. Fry at 350 degrees for 2 to 3 minutes.

Flip the crab over using a pair of tongs, so both sides are crispy.

Vegetables and Dressing Directions

Julienne the zucchini, squash and carrot and blanch them together in a boiling salted water bath for 30 seconds; then, remove the vegetables and place in an ice bath.

Toss the sherry vinegar, vegetable oil, shallot and garlic cloves together and set aside. When ready to eat, mix the julienned vegetables with some of the vinaigrette and taste for seasoning.

Serve with lemon over aioli.

68 LAKE

JULY 2022

Pete McKenny, General Manager and Executive Chef at SpringHouse Restaurant, trained at four-star restaurants and Forbes four-star resorts in Ohio,Washington, Arizona and Vermont before returning to Russell Lands on Lake Martin, where he began his career as chef de cuisine at Willow Point Golf & Country Club 12 years ago.

JULY 2022

CHEF'S TABLE

BY PETE MCKENNY

LAKE 69

Summer Wine 70 LAKE

JULY 2022

I

n the April issue of Lake magazine we explored cent to 5 percent range, hard seltzers are the go-to what to do with older wines. Here in the height alternative to craft beer at twice the alcohol. Made of summer, things are totally different. We are with real juice and spirits, the lower-alcohol-lowermost likely thirsting for wines with little age, calories seltzers satisfy the consumer demand for zero age worthiness and fresh, crisp wines that say, RTD products that help them pace consumption. “drink me now.” These are generally white wines and High Noon is a four-pack of 355-milliliter (12-ouncsome light reds that will be more appealing in the es) cans at 4.5 percent alcohol and 100 calories per heat of summer. gluten-free can selling at $10 to $11 in five flavors: Typically, this means wines that are lower in watermelon, lime, black cherry, pineapple and peach. alcohol. As consumers have become more aware of That’s almost two bottles of wine per four-pack that what we are consuming, trends toward lower carbs, fits neatly into a small cooler, and nobody cares that calories and better lifestyle choices have exploded you’re drinking out of a can. the market for ready-to-drink beverages. Once geared If you haven’t heard of Ranch Water, you will. toward the younger market, think Juicy Juice. The It is a popular hard seltzer brand of which there are RTD category has combined the better-for-you manseveral producers riding the trendy Ranch Water tra with the beverage alcohol market. It’s name. Before hard seltzers came on like Juicy Juice for grownups and goes well the scene, ranch water was and is beyond wine in small boxes, cans and splits. a tequila highball made with lime, Splits are a quarter the size of a standard tequila and Topo Chico, a Mexican 750-milliliter bottle of wine. The 375-milsparkling mineral water. Topo Chico liliter at about 12 ounces is called a half or is the must-have ingredient for the demi. cocktail known for its limestone-rich It’s hard to be a wine snob while drinkmineral character. Hard seltzers like ing out of a can or box, so the convenience Ranch Water from Houston’s Lone factor of the smaller serving doesn’t seem River Beverage Company are more that attractive. Most people will want to commonly lime, agave, carbonated drink from a glass, even if it is really acrylic. water and flavoring with 80 caloThough the 187-milliliter (about 6 ounces) ries, gluten free and only 4 percent bottle of wine is perfect for one serving, eco- FROM THE CELLAR alcohol. With roots in West Texas, nomics is also a factor. The smaller format Ranch Water is bound to be big for

BY HENRY FOY bottles are almost always more costly. For the summer. one, maybe two mimosas at brunch before One of the strangest of these sumthe serious drinking ensues, the split could be prefer- mer sensations is not really wine, beer or spirits. able to opening a 25-ounce bottle. I would say here Social is a sparkling sake. Sake is the fermented rice that one should never waste good champagne. Let’s product generally associated with Japanese cuisine move on. and culture. By design, the seltzer tastes nothing like There are a good number of wines that a pseudo rice wine but instead has been infused with a variety snob might be comfortable drinking out of a can of hip flavors like hibiscus cucumber, elderflower or plastic cup. You might not pair these with bacon apple and strawberry rose. They must be the perfect wrapped tenderloin, but with a burger or an afternoon summer beverage at 88 calories per 10-ounce can, on the lake, they check all the boxes. Sometimes, life vegan, no gluten or sulfites and 4 percent alcohol. or a good time on the lake isn’t about fine wine, and Plus, 1 percent of proceeds supports nonprofits that it may not be wine at all. bring peace, love and joy to people’s lives. The marStella Rosa is the undisputed leader in semi-sweet, keting says “Social was created to provide a tasty semi-sparkling wines. Using grapes from the Asti guilt-free pleasure for those seeking vibrant happy region of Italy, the wines are crisp, light and lower lives” and urges consumers to “Please be balanced.” in alcohol with a refreshing level of sweetness that I’ll drink to that. Uncomplicated. Not complex. goes well with a sweltering day. Stella Rosa has a Not particularly sophisticated and certainly not snobflavor for every taste from red apple to green apple, by. Happy Summer. watermelon, honey peach, pineapple, tropical mango, blackberry, lemon-lime and several more. Priced at Henry Foy is the owner of Emporium Wine and under $15 per 750-milliliter bottle and $8 for the Spirits at 128 Calhoun St. in downtown Alexander 500-milliliter (8.5 ounces each) two-pack cans, the City with a large selection of premium wines and vegan and gluten-free flavors run about 5 percent cigars. Call 256-212-9463 for current hours and alcohol. directions or email emporiumwine128@gmail.com.

Hard seltzers are big again this year with Ranch Water and High Noon being top sellers. In the 4 per-

JULY 2022

LAKE 71

CHASING I

the early bite

t’s that time of year when the days are long and hot.

Alabama humidity makes the heat feel even more intense. Fortunately, we have Lake Martin to jump into and cool off whenever we need some relief. Although the fishing can be tough at times, it can be surprisingly good at times, too. There are a variety of factors at play that determine whether the bite is as hot as the weather.

There’s almost always an early bite somewhere on the lake, regardless of the time of year. In summer, the shallows cool some overnight. The fish are quick to seek out the most comfortable zones in the water column this time of year.

Predator fish like bass use the low light periods of the day to ambush prey. Getting on the water early doesn’t mean at sunrise. In the dead heat of summer, the best bite is when there’s just enough light to see where the cast lands. The best window of opportunity is between that darker spectrum of daybreak and sunrise. Oftentimes, this very early window is when the biggest bite of the day will happen. But always remember to put running lights on to make that first run before daybreak.

Topwater is a great, fun option to cover some water and get a few blow-ups before the traffic cranks up on the lake.

It’s worth getting up early for that surface action, and soft plastic worms or creatures can be just as, if not more, productive. These shallow early morning bass travel in small wolf packs, cruising the bank and looking for unsuspecting bream or spottails to ambush. Knowing what type of forage the bass have in mind could help when considering bait selection.

To extend the shallow bite some, look for remaining shade as the sun moves overhead.

While the shallow bite is best at daybreak, the other option – the deep bite – is often better later in the day. Once the sun moves overhead, baitfish begin to gather into baitballs; then, they often migrate toward offshore structure and cover.

BIG CATCHES This time of year, the recreational boat traffic picks up

BY GREG VINSON around mid-morning. The fish have adapted to the traffic and actually feed fairly well when the turbulence of boat traffic disorients the baitfish. Offshore bass group up in schools on submerged humps and long points that are adjacent to deep water. Some cover in the form of brush piles, rock piles and even isolated stumps attract these schools as they get in 72 LAKE

ready position to attack any baitballs that pass by.

Small swimbaits and topwaters work well for the fish that are near or coming up on the surface. When the fish are relating to the bottom, drop shots, shaky heads and jigs are excellent choices. Although it’s not a favorite personally, a Carolina rig is an excellent option as well.

That being said, it’s critical to be aware of the surroundings and try to avoid high traffic locations since some boaters get distracted. I once had a really good spot going with some quality fish and didn’t want to move. In the 30 minutes I spent on it, I had three close calls with other boats. Two got too close for comfort, and one was on track to hit me had I not waved like a mad man to get the driver’s attention. The good fishing just wasn’t worth getting plowed, so I avoid that high traffic spot in the peak summer months now. I recommend wearing bright colors, especially on a shirt or a hat, to be more visible when fishing offshore this time of year.

One variable that seems to play an important role with the activity level of offshore bass is current. Lake Martin is a big sprawling reservoir, so the current won’t typically be visible like a Coosa River or Tennessee River impoundment. Just because it’s not visible doesn’t change its significance though. The water being pulled through Martin Dam essentially comes from the bottom of the lake. The slightest movement of water in the depths could trigger otherwise inactive fish to position and feed.

For years, the phenomenon was easy to notice on the Coosa and Tennessee river reservoirs. Schools of fish would actually start schooling during the hottest part of the day just

JULY 2022

because the current started moving. I’ve come to the conclusion that it plays a similar role on Lake Martin. Without tracking it using the Smart Lakes app from Alabama Power, it’s nearly impossible to see whether the water is moving. Fortunately, the Smart Lakes app displays the current operation in real time, as well as the predicted generation schedule.

I believe the generation of current applies not only on the main lake spots, but also in the larger tributaries. Water is essentially being sucked out of the main arteries that are creek channels. The current is even less noticeable in the creeks, but I’m of the belief that the fish know and will often feed accordingly. While visualizing the deep current flowing through the lake, pick locations on the map that might catch some of that subtle movement of water. Bass will congregate on these spots as they wait on passing baitfish.

For those who are determined to catch a few fish any

time of year, even in the sweltering Alabama heat, this is the recipe for summertime bass. Get out extra early, if possible, to take advantage of the daybreak bite and calmer water. Then, move to deeper structure and cover as the sun moves more overhead. Watch the predicted generation schedule on the Smart Lakes app to maximize the catch on offshore structure near the channels, and last but certainly not least, be safe and aware that there are many other boaters of all experience levels out this time of year.

The old IPDE process learned in driver’s education might be well applied on the water also. Identify, predict, decide and execute. The fishing on Lake Martin is good year round, and the summer is definitely no exception. Be safe, and have fun.

Greg Vinson is a full-time professional angler on the major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour. He lives in Wetumpka and grew up fishing on Lake Martin.

JULY 2022

LAKE 73

L A K E M A R T I N R E A LT Y. C O M

Unlock the value in your lake home and trust the market leaders.

Jerry Purcell 205.382.3417

Allison Ladson 256.750.0711

Damon Story 205.789.9526

Mike Davis 256.226.1238

Lindsay Kane 256.675.6792

Amy Duncan 256.212.2222

Hugh Neighbors 256.750.5071

India Davis 256.749.7592

Judy Voss 256.794.0779

Rhonda Jaye 256.749.8681

John McInnish 334.415.2149

Michelle Brooks-Slayman 256.749.1031

Jan Hall 256.329.6313

Sawyer Davis 205.965.7940

Jim Cleveland 256.596.2220

Ashley Chancellor 334.202.9017

Becky Haynie 334.312.0928

Adam Yager 205.914.0830

Mimi Rush 334.399.7874

Jeff Cochran 256.786.0099

Judith Jager 205.789.0698

Cindy Scroggins 256.794.3372

David Mitchell 256.212.3511

Howard Haynie 334.312.0693

Haley Fuller 256.750.2411

Randall Rogers 334.707.5804

Denise Cochran 256.786.2484

John Shelton 404.858.9198

WE’RE THE MARKET LEADER Lake Martin Waterfront Market Share

DADEVILLE

256.825.9092

OURTOWN

256.212.1498

WILLOW POINT

256.212.1498

OTHER COMPETITORS (49 companies)

45.7% 74 LAKE

OUR CLOSEST COMPETITOR

LAKE MARTIN REALTY/ RUSSELL LANDS *LMAAR/MLS Member Firms Sales Volume Data May 2021 – April 2022

JULY 2022

Play Golf The game for a lifetime

G

olf may not be for everyone; but it could be. What other sport can be played on your own time and terms? Alone or with family/ friends/colleagues, young or old, competitive or not.

Physical mobility or ability shouldn’t factor into the enjoyment value. Golf participation is what you make it.

Golf courses are a wonderful environment in which to spend time outdoors.

Golfers come from all walks of life. They have varying motivations for playing the game. A form of exercise that could be as strenuous as one desires; walk the course or ride a cart between shots.

Beginners may consider a best ball or scramble format THE SCRAMBLE to minimize the impact of PETER ROUILLARD errant shots.

For those with competitive natures, the game could be humbling. It takes time to learn and develop the skill necessary to compete at a high level. Ability and coordination are only two factors influencing how good one could become.

Regardless of ability, coordination and time dedicated, the game owes no one anything. Errant shots, mental lapses or “rub of the green” are plenty. There will be great days and days where nothing seems to generate positive results. Golf for the better player tends to be more mental than physical.

Family and junior golf are two of the sports’ rewarding aspects. Hours spent with loved ones in a beautiful, relaxing environment. Watch young enthusiasts gain confidence, learn etiquette associated with golf and mature from life skills acquired through others playing the game. Golf vacations and junior competitions could take the family to a golf course down the street or across the globe. Golf for juniors with dedication and perseverance could lead to affordable higher education. Then there is career association with the game they love.

For those of us not so young at heart, golf is an avenue to new friendships. An opportunity to embrace much-needed exercise and enjoy camaraderie with others that love the game of golf. Senior golf organi-

zations exist in most communities, and clubs offer those with free time an avenue for playing with others with like experiences. Consider traveling with friends, family or in groups to experience new places and adventures. Establish a USGA handicap to participate in events requiring it.

Is there a better atmosphere in which to conduct a business meeting? Business executives to company presidents have used the golf course as a neutral location to finalize negotiations. It’s hard to discuss business with associates in a conference room for several hours, but invite them to a golf course and the door quickly opens for longer, more diverse dialog. There may not be room for a Power Point presentation, but there will be a relaxed atmosphere where free flowing communication could lead to tremendous outcomes.

Additionally, organizations of all facets utilize golf courses for team building. Non-conventional golf activities or changing team makeup often enhance the effectiveness of business related golf activities.

Golf is a game for all ages.

You don’t have to be good to participate. Use golf as a catalyst to other endeavors in life. Play for fun. Play to win.

Enjoy the walk in golfs’ park.

Peter Rouillard is general manager at Stillwaters Golf and Copper's Grill.

JULY 2022

LAKE 75

Legend

63

22

280

To Sylacauga

23

Alexander City

Public Boat Ramps 19

9

Churches

4

Camp ASCCA

11 Flint Hill Church

Camps & Parks 280

Power lines U.S. Highways

3

22

County Roads Piney Woods Landing

Wind Creek State Park

Pleasant Grove Church

11

COOSA COUNTY

Alex City Boat Ramp

Mt. Zion Church

259 9

10

128

Russell Farms Baptist Church 63

D.A.R.E. Park Landing

Friendship Church

18 20

New Hope Church

Liberty Church

12 Willow Point

24

7

13

Equality

Paces Point Boat Ramp

63

Camp Alamisco

14

Kowaliga Boat Landing

22 The Ridge

55

5

Seman

Camp Kiwanis

1 15

Church in The Pines

24

2

The Amp Ko w

ali

19 80

9

Central

ga

Ba

y

29 90

Union

ELMORE COUNTY Union Church

Red Hill 63

229

Eclectic

Tallassee

20 Kent

76 LAKE

Union Landing

Children’s Harbor

Trillium

34

JULY 2022

Timbergut Landing

Horseshoe Bend National Park

Jaybird Landing

Lake Martin Alabama Marinas

TALLAPOOSA COUNTY

49

Jacksons Gap 280

Bethel Church

21

Dadeville

57

280

25 Camp Hill

Smith Landing

Red Ridge United Methodist Church

Lake Martin Baptist Church 49 Church of the Living Waters

6

4. Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 20 334-541-2132 1969 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024

42. Russell Marine Boating & Outdoors 256-397-1700 19 Russell Marine Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

4. Russell Building Supply 21 256-825-4256 350 Fulton Street, Dadeville, AL 36853

52. Real Island Marina 256-397-1200 2700 Real Island Rd., Equality, AL 36026

4. The Stables at Russell Crossroads 22 256-794-1333 288 Stables Loop, Alex City, AL 35010

63. Blue Creek Marina 256-825-8888 7280 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853

234. Dark Insurance 256-234-5026 410 Hillabee Street, Alex City, AL 35010 www.darkinsuranceagency.com

2. Parker Creek Marina 7 256-329-8550 486 Parker Creek Marina Rd., Equality, AL 36026 83. Harbor Pointe Marina 256-825-0600 397 Marina Point Rd., Dadeville, AL 36853 www.harborpointe.net

Restaurants & Venues

Walnut Hill

27 26 Lake Pointe Baptist Church

33. River North Marina 256-397-1500 250 River North Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

12 Smith Marina - Shipwreck Sam's Froyo 256-444-8793 smithmarinaonlakemartin@yahoo.com

9

17 50

19 4. Russell Do It Center (Alex City) 256-234-2567 1750 Alabama 22, Alex City, AL 35010

2. Alex City Marine 11 256-215-FISH(3474) 2190 Cherokee Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

Stillwaters

8

22. The Ridge Marina 256-397-1300 450 Ridge Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

10 2. Lakeside Marina at Bay Pines 256-825-0999 3455 Bay Pine Rd., Jackson's Gap, AL 36861

28

16

18 Lake Martin Storm Shelters 256-794-8075 970 Hwy. 63 South, Alex City, AL 35010

2. Lakeside Marina 9 256-825-9286 7361 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853

Pleasant Ridge Church

50

6. SpringHouse 13 256-215-7080 12 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 146. Catherine’s Market 256-215-7070 17 Russell Farms Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 15 Kowaliga Restaurant 256-215-7035 295 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

49

Business & Shopping

11. Kowaliga Marina 256-397-1210 255 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

24. Kowaliga Whole Health Pet Care & Resort 334-857-1816 8610 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024 25 . Off the Beaton Path 205-994-0847 21322 Hwy. 280, Dadeville, AL 36853 26 . Hwy 50 Blue Creek Boat & RV Storage 334-391-0717 8421 Hwy. 50, Dadeville, AL 36853

Churches 27 Lake Pointe Baptist Church 256-373-3293 8352 Hwy. 50, Dadeville, AL 36853 28 Red Ridge United Methodist Church 256-825-9820 8091 County Rd. 34, Dadeville, AL 36853

Dock Builders 29 Lake Martin Dock Company, Inc Marine Contractor License #49146 334-857-2443 180 Birmingham Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024

Advertise your business on our Lake Martin Region Map for as little as $25.

Contact our Marketing Department at 256-234-4281 or marketing@alexcityoutlook.com for more information.

16 Lake Martin Pizza 256-373-3337 5042 Hwy 49, Dadeville, AL 36853 17 The Burritos Corner Mexican Grill 256-307-1887 8605 AL HWY 50, Dadeville, AL 36853

Reeltown

JULY 2022

LAKE 77

Lake Magazine Distribution ALEXANDER CITY Robinson Iron A & M Plumbing Carlos The Body Shop Walgreens Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. Jake's Moore Wealth Management Carlisle's Emporium Wine Cloud Nine Downtown Girl Shay Aesthetics JR'S Hillabee Towers Senior Nutrition Center Noel Boone George Hardy First Realty Dark Insurance Warren Appliance MainStreet Family Care Grace's Flowers Koon's Korner Larry's General Merchandise Daylight Donuts Alfa Valley Bank - 280 Pricare Temple Medical AllState BB&T Bank Hometown Pharmacy Lake Martin Home Health Allen's Food Mart (Exxon) Karen Channell - State Farm Insurance North Lake Condo River Bend Store River North Marina Lake Martin Building Supply Petro

Sho'Nuff BBQ Hair Design Mark King's Lake Martin Furniture Longleaf Antique Mall Playhouse Cinemas Chamber of Commerce Winn Dixie Re/Max Around the Lake City Hall A&E Metal Regions Bank Marathon - 280 Renfroe's Market Russell Medical Center Russell Marine Boating and Outdoors Koon's II Tallapoosa Ford Dylan Johnson - Country Financial Holley's Home Furniture Jackson's Drugs Selling Lake Martin - Amy Clark The Sure Shot Shell - 280 Big B Bar-B-Que Russell Do It Center Russell Home Decor Holman Floor Satterfield Inc. Grain & Leaf, Bottles & Cigars Tippy Canoe Love Lake Martin Real Estate Office Wind Creek Gate Wind Creek Store Willow Point Office Willow Point Country Club Smith Marina on Lake Martin Nails Kowaliga Marina Kowaliga Restaurant Children's Harbor Catherine's Market Russell Lands Corporate Office

Russell Lands Real Estate Sales Center Springhouse Restaurant Ridge Club Ridge Marina HACKNEYVILLE Hackneyville Water Authority NEW SITE Piggly Wiggly - New Site Foodland DADEVILLE Chamber of Commerce Raining Dogs Studio & Gallery Root 49 Salon Ellaby Boutique, LLC Alabama Power Siggers Siggers Barbershop Fusion Cafe Dadeville Library At the Beauty Shop Dadeville Courthouse Payne's Furniture PNC Bank Valley Bank McKelvey Chevrolet Renfroe's Market Foshee's Boat Doc Lakeshore Pharmacy Russell Building Supply Lakay's Tallapoosa Nutrition Sweet Pickins Century 21 - Rhonda Gaskins Farmers & Merchants Bank Jim's Pharmacy Poplar Dawgs Still Waters Country Club Still Waters Home Association Russell Lands Realty Fuller Realty Harbor Pointe Oskar's Aronov Realty Lake Martin

Creekside Lodge Blue Creek Marina Lakeside Marina Niffers Hwy 50 Eagle Millstone Japanese Maple Nursery Lakeside Mercantile Walnut Hill Chuck's Marina Deep Water Docks Lake Martin Pizza CAMP HILL Link Gas Station KELLYTON Five Star Plantation EQUALITY Equality Food Mart Southern Star Parker Creek Marina Charles Borden ECLECTIC Lake Breeze Realty Offshore Marina Lake Martin Mini Mall Corner Stone Coffee Co. Lake Martin Dock Company Cotton's Alabama Barbecue Russell Do It Center Johnson Furniture WOW Catering LLC Eclectic Library Real Island Marina Anchor Bay Marina Wetumpka Wetumpka Herald Office Tallassee Marathon Tallassee Eagle Tallassee Chamber Parris Mullins Jr. O.D. Get Lake magazine delivered to your mailbox for just $50 per year. To start your subscription, call Linda Ewing at 256-234-4281.

lamberthandlamberth.com

256-234-6401 6 Franklin Street • Alexander City

Mon - Thur 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Fri 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

78 LAKE

JULY 2022

Lake Martin Business and Service Directory

COACH KRAFT

UPHOLSTERY Complete Marine Upholstery!

■

KOWALIGA WHOLE HEALTH PET CARE

Mary S. Battistella, DVM

e July Special e 20%f Spa Of Baths

Includes Shampoo, Creme Rinse, Blueberry Facial, Ears & Nails

■ Floors ■ Carpets Bimini Tops ■ Custom Seats ■ Mooring Covers

Patrick Mason 334-283-6759

LAKE

676 Dean Circle • Tallassee, AL www.coachkraft.com

(334) 857-1816

8610 KOWALIGA ROAD ECLECTIC, ALABAMA

Relax. Enjoy. Lake Martin.

Call to order your subscription 256-234-4281

MAGAZINE

JULY 2022

LAKE 79

Our Advertisers n To Join, Call 256.234.4281 A&M Plumbing............................................................. 19

Heritage South Credit Union.................................. 67

Prime Management....................................................... 6

Alabama Power.............................................................. 3

Hinson Galleries.......................................................... 28

Raining Dogs Gallery................................................. 79

Alex City Guide Service............................................. 8

Hwy 50 Blue Creek Boat & RV Storage............... 79

Reinhardt Lexus.......................................................... 35

Alex City Marine......................................................... 62

Hughes Pools............................................................... 80

Renaissance Electronics............................................... 5

Artic Air........................................................................ 37

Karen Channell State Farm...................................... 79

Russell Lands................................................... 42, 43, 84

As Close As Family..................................................... 24

Kowaliga Whole Health............................................. 79

Russell Medical.............................................................. 2

AVSP............................................................................... 25

Lake Martin Dock....................................................... 19

Saint James Episcopal Church.................................. 24

Blue Creek Iron Works............................................. 79

Lake Martin Mortgage................................................ 65

Satterfield........................................................................ 5

Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation..........................................8

Lake Martin Pressure Washing................................... 6

Security Pest Control.................................................. 8

Childersburg Primary Care...................................... 19

Lake Martin Realty...................................................... 74

Singleton Marine......................................................... 29

Chuck's Marina............................................................ 28

Lake Martin Signature Construction...................... 63

Sparkle Cleaning Services......................................... 37

Coach Kraft Upholstery............................................ 79

Lake Martin Storm Shelters..................................... 29

Sunrise Dock................................................................ 12

Custom Docks............................................................. 56

Lamberth & Lamberth............................................... 78

Temple Medical Center............................................... 8

Davco............................................................................. 79

Main Street Alexander City........................................ 6

The Kelly....................................................................... 56

Diamond Golf Cars.................................................... 64

Mark King's Furniture................................................ 17

Tippy Canoe................................................................. 24

Docks Unlimited........................................................... 5

Moore Wealth Management..................................... 83

TowBoat US................................................................. 64

Electronic Technology Group................................... 79

National Village............................................................ 81

UAB Heart & Vascular............................................... 55

Froggy Bottom Materials.......................................... 41

Odd Jobs....................................................................... 24

Vacation Rental Management................................... 79

George Hardy D.M.D................................................... 8

Off the Beaton Path..................................................... 8

Wind Creek Zipline................................................... 67

Harbor Pointe Marina................................................ 12

Phil Interior Design.................................................... 28

Henderson Glass......................................................... 79

Precise Pressure Washing......................................... 79

80 LAKE

JULY 2022

New Homes With Luxurious Amenities: Resort, Golf, Tennis, Fishing, Spa, and Wooded Trails

Everyday Grandeur D I S C O V E R A LU X U R I O U S G O L F L I F E ST Y L E L I V I N G A LO N G G R A N D N AT I O N A L G O L F C O U R S E Tucked away on the outskirts of Auburn University at the world-class Grand National Golf Course, the award winning National Village offers everything you’ll ever need for the way you want to live. The thoughtfully crafted master planned community features georgeous homes designed by national award winner Larry Garnett and built by Ab and Don Conner at Conner Bros. Construction Co., Inc., a local company with more than 100 years of experience. With the Marriott at Grand National on site, residents enjoy championship golf, miles of picturesque nature trails and lakes for fishing, spa and pool. National Village is truly an unbelievable place to live – inside or out.

Plus, thanks to the high speed fiber optic network of Opelika (Alabama’s first Gig City), our homeowners enjoy some of the Nation’s fastest internet for any work- or learn-from-home requirements.

T O L E A R N M O R E , C A L L U S AT 3 3 4 . 7 4 9 . 8 1 6 5 JULY O R V I S I T W W W. N AT I O2022 N A LV I L L A G E . C O M .

LAKE 81

82 LAKE

JULY 2022

~ Mark Twain

"Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does the work."

Photo by Audra Spears

Parting Shot

Lake traditions begin at The Heritage. Build yours.

Russell Lands extraordinary lakefront community and Coore & Crenshaw golf

O

ne of the South’s most distinguished companies, Russell Lands, has unveiled plans for Lake Martin’s newest luxury residential development, The Heritage. With stunning lakeside living,

families will build memories, season after season. The centerpiece of the neighborhood will be Wicker Point Golf Club, a signature Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw private golf course, with 18-holes in an extraordinary natural setting of pine plantations, meandering creeks and lakefront holes. A flagship lake club for residents will offer fun, family recreation.

Don’t miss the life that will rewrite your heritage for generations. Opportunities coming summer 2022.

RussellLands.com/The-Heritage | 256.215.7011 | RealEstate@RussellLands.com

This is not intended to be an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offers to buy real estate in The Heritage development to residents of Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania or South Carolina, or to residents of any other jurisdiction where prohibited by law. No offering can be made to residents of New York until an offering plan is filed with the Department of Law of the State of New York. The Heritage is a proposed planned master development on the shores of Lake Martin, Alabama that does not yet exist.

84 LAKE

JULY 2022