Elmore County Living August 2017

Elmore County Living

Dam Century Ride Mover & Shaker William Bergeron No-Cook Panzanella

Wetumpka's

SNAIL TRAIL August 2017 ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

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ECL is the River Region’s preium coffee table magazine with more in-depth features and more faces from around the area.

Do you want to market your business?

We offer the most competitive rates, along with our award-winning design team, who is committed to producing effective advertising that works for you.

Elmore County Living

To advertise contact our marketing consultants Marilyn Hawkins 334-202-5108 or Kat Raiford 334-444-8981 2

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Community Medical Arts Center

Tallassee Internal Medicine

welcomes...

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Family Care For All Ages

Patients Age 18 & Older.

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8 am -5 pm Friday 8am-Noon For an appointment call: 334.283.3844

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8 am -5 pm For an appointment call: 334.283.3111

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From the Managing Editor's Desk Audra Spears, Betsy Iler and Amy Passaretti

This month, I handed over my baby to someone else – someone whom I trust to take care of it and keep it growing in a healthy direction. Granted, I didn’t birth this child, but for three years, I have nurtured it, lost sleep over it and urged it forward. It’s been a part of me, and I’ve been a large part of it, but the time has come to move on.

No, I’m not going anywhere, and I will continue to serve as managing editor for the TPI magazine division, loving every minute of it. I will continue to write articles about people, places and events in Elmore County, too, but I am passing the daily preparation of Elmore County Living magazine into the very capable and talented hands of Amy Passaretti as I focus time and energy on launching new projects.

You met Amy in March, and she has worked diligently in each subsequent monthly issue to inform and entertain you and highlight great living in Elmore County. She sees with fresh eyes and a bright perspective, and I have found her an absolute pleasure to work with; I have no doubt you will find that to be true as well.

And Amy will continue to have the guidance and assistance of Audra Spears in the creative services department at TPI as she puts her own spin on this publication. Audra matches our vision for each issue with the content. She assesses the collection of stories and pictures and the sizes and shapes of the ads, and when she is done working her magic, it all fits neatly on the prescribed number of pages – and it looks good, too!

The three of us make a great team, as we appreciate each other’s ideas for putting together award-winning publications that delight and entertain our readers and offer value to our advertisers. We spur each other’s imaginations, catch most of each other’s goofs before they make it to print and applaud each other’s efforts to do our best work for you.

Starting next month, the team will change it up a bit, and it will be Amy’s photo you will see here – and her perspective on the people you will meet in these pages and the exciting things they – you – are doing to live well in Elmore County. You can email Amy at editor@ lakemartinmagazine.com. Share your story ideas with her, and let her know what you want to read in these pages. She would love to hear from you.

So when you see Amy at events, please stop to say hello and congratulate her on her new position as Editor of Elmore County Living magazine and ask her how the baby’s doing.

Chairman

Kenneth Boone

kenneth.boone@alexcityoutlook.com

President & Publisher Steve Baker

steve.baker@alexcityoutlook.com

Managing Editor Betsy Iler

betsy.iler@alexcityoutlook.com

Editor

Amy Passaretti

amy.passaretti@alexcityoutlook.com

Distribution Manager David Kendrick

david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook.com

Marketing Consultant Marilyn Hawkins

marilyn.hawkins@thewetumpkaherald.com

Marketing Consultant Kat Raiford

kat.raiford@alexcityoutlook.com

Creative Services Audra Spears

audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com

Contributors

Jeff Langham Carmen Rodgers Jacob Saylor Corey Arwood David Granger Sara Perry

Nancy Rader Jenny Enslen Stubbs MK Moore Barry Chrietzberg Sarah Stephens

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

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

Betsy Iler, Managing Editor

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STAFF

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CONTENTS ON THE COVER Main Street Wetumpka Executive Director Jenny Stubbs in front of the Coosa River where the Tulotoma snail lives, which was the inspiration for her cultivation project.

Photo by Audra Spears

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Columns

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Features

In Every Issue

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Community Care

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Getting Paid to Play

6

Extra! Extra!

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Movie Man

12

Scenic Cycling

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Out & About

The Gamer

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Tulotoma Snail Trail

40

Southern Delights

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Movers & Shakers

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Keep Kids Healthy

What to Watch This Fall It's Never Too late Rustic No-Cook Option

Intern Builds New Board Games Second Annual Dam Century Ride Cultivating Public Spaces Principal William Bergeron

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News Briefs

In Elmore County

Coming Up

Fun for Everyone

Where to Find Us Distribution List

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Take a Book, Return a Book The brightly colored boxes around Tallassee are called Little Free Libraries. They were dedicated to the Tallassee community by Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO).

The idea is simple. A Little Free Library is a 'take a book, return a book' free book exchange. The boxes come in many shapes and sizes, but the most common version is a small wooden box of books.

Little Free Library book exchanges have a unique, personal touch. There is an understanding that real people are sharing their favorite books with their community.

Because Tallassee is divided into two counties, the Tallassee APSO group requested two Little Free Libraries – one on each side of the river – so that everyone in town can take advantage.

Little Free Library kits are available for online purchase; however, for those do-it-yourselfers, Little Free Library offers free building instructions, online resources and ongoing support for each project.

A Tea Party Dream Come True Jamie DiGiovanni finally got the tea party she has always wanted.

About 20 ladies gathered in the room above Original Grace Boutique in downtown Eclectic to honor the 38-year-old woman with Down syndrome.

Rebecca Griffith, the owner of Original Grace Boutique, provided her space – which was decorated especially elaborately for the occasion – and made sure each guest took home a teacup and a small lipstick purse. Jamie was given a special purple flower, which was attached to the front of her hat.

Kitty Graham catered the affair, and the guests actually drank tea, allowing it to steep in the cup before adding lump sugar and/or cream, and Maggie DiGiovanni said it was wonderful to see her daughter having such a great time.

Cruisin' fer Critters a great success The 15th Annual Cruisin' fer Critters hosted by the motorcycle group, Predator's Riding Club, raised $8,500 for the Humane Society of Elmore County.

The fundraising bike ride began and ended at DeJa Vu in Montgomery and is a rain or shine event. The event includes a poker run with cash prizes.

For those that did not ride, there was a $5 cover, which included food, music, auction items, bike/car wash and kid-friendly activities.

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Come Drink a Pint

Just in time for the River and Blues Music & Arts Festival, the Coosa River Craft House, owned by John and Paige Stewart, opened its doors at 11 a.m. July 22.

The craft beer is finally flowing at 108 S. Main St. in the old Carr Motor building.

Of the 19 beers on tap currently, which are subject to change, approximately 12 are Alabama-brewed.

Stewart, who became a fan of craft beers during his 20-year career with a Birmingham tractor company, took the final steps to open when he was granted a city license for on– and off–premise sales.

The Coosa River Craft House does not serve food but encourages its customers to bring food in from other downtown establishments or order delivery from a local pizza place.

The establishment is open from 3 p.m until 10 p.m Monday through Thursday and 3 p.m. until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Extra!

Extra!

News from Elmore County and surrounding areas

Making Moves to the Majors Hunter Roberts, graduate of Holtville High School, finally got the call he had been waiting for and headed to Mississippi for a try out that takes him a step closer to fulfilling his athletic dreams.

After a successful senior season with the Holtville Bulldogs as a star catcher, Roberts went on to attend Wallace State Community College in Selma. A MLB scout recommended junior college, which allows players the option of being drafted anytime as opposed to waiting three years when signing with a four-year institution.

It didn’t take long for Roberts to make an impression in Selma.

The freshman catcher started 44 of 53 games and Tony Jackson, a scout from the Atlanta Braves, saw Roberts play and offered him the tryout in Jackson, Mississippi. Six catchers attended the tryout and in the end, Roberts was the last man standing.

Although Roberts is a year away from knowing if the Braves will pull the trigger, with the abundance of draft picks held by MLB teams, Roberts will have a place in the organization whether he begins a career in the minor leagues or gets called up early.

Roberts plans to finish his time with Wallace State and take the time to improve so he’ll be ready come next summer.

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Getting Paid to Play Chamber intern Sara Perry builds a career in game development

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Story by Amy Passaretti Photos by Amy Passaretti & Courtesy of Sara Perry

hat began as a hobby has now turned into a career path for University of Montevallo student Sara Perry, who is learning how to create her own board games and is starting a freelance design business with five friends over a shared passion for gaming.

“I like that I can be creative with this job, but also a huge part of my interest is that games are where I found my friends. So not only is it an interesting career, but it’s both fun and satisfying to be able to make something and give it to the community,” said Perry, a rising senior.

Since Perry’s father was in the Army, her family moved around but settled in Wetumpka when she was in the eighth grade, which is the area where both of her parents grew up.

Currently, Perry is working as a summer intern at the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce.

The majority of her internship is spent working on a business plan for her company, Space Lion Games. She is also in the early stages of helping the city plan a gaming event with board games, video games and an escape room.

Perry’s current board game in process is a second

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generation of one she already built, prototyped and displayed at the annual Dice Tower Convention, a conference where game developers receive professional critiques and feedback from other attendees and also play-test games.

The original version of the game she presented was about ramen chefs and played with the premise of building ramen bowls with various ingredients.

“I got some people at Dice Tower Con to play-test my game, and I realized I needed to fix some stuff.

I really wanted a high-energy, fast-paced game, and it didn’t feel that way when everyone was Sara Perry methodically trying to build their ramen bowls,” said Perry.

Knowing she liked the concept and wanted to involve a food theme, she decided instead to create the game Hibachi, which is still a working title.

“I thought, ‘what works well with fastpaced cooking?’ It’s got all the flare and entertainment and the heat. So I’m working on restructuring that to fit the feel I was hoping for,” said Perry.

The concept designates a player as a hibachi chef, and opponents vie for the title of best chef in the restaurant by combining ingredients and completing orders before the other players to obtain a five-star review. Perry is a fan of quick board games and ones that rely on

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Perry used a website to generate a prototype of her intial game idea to be play-tested at Dice Tower Con

just enough strategy ning is subject to to propel players change throughout toward winning the development through the control stages. of certain decisions.

“After you have “I don’t want to some core ideas for have to think too rules, you just need hard when playing to make it. Even if a game. It’s my free it’s the worst postime and fun time. I sible thing, you want to be able to exneed to get it down ercise my brain and on notecards, and think but not drain that’s usually where it,” Perry said. it comes out. You Every game prore-play it with noStephen Gilbert, Sara Perry, Will Kirkpatrick, vides a player with tecards over and over Chuy Guizar and Quinton Burnett a certain experience until it becomes what based on its objective, and people tend to choose paryou want it to be. It’s a lot of iteration,” said Perry. ticular games for this reason.

Gathering as many viewpoints as possible helps “When brainstorming a new game, it all begins with work out any potential issues and clarifies the game the type of experience you want players to have. Do play. Perry said although she receives a lot of feedyou want them to feel like they have to be really straback when playing alongside others, she feels the best tegic and plan and manipulate; or just have fun; or be critique comes from sitting back and watching people frenzied?” said Perry. play, being aware of their subconscious reactions.

Following that choice, the next step is factoring in Once everything is finalized, the focus can be what type of rules and game play could facilitate that turned to art and aesthetics of the actual game. Perry experience, she said. From here, a concept is born; uses a website called The Game Crafter, which specialhowever, Perry said, the theme chosen in the beginizes in making tangible prototypes of games. Having

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The premise of Perry's first version was to build ramen bowls with various ingredients

a prototype helps when trying to sell the idea to a publisher as the theme is more easily understood with a physical version of the game.

Even though Perry is an English major, with a minor in game studies and design, she would prefer to major in the latter if the option were available. As a game studies and design minor, Perry has taken some core classes, including history of gaming – from ancient classics, such as chess, to modern arcade and video games; mathematics of gaming to learn the probability and statistics involved; and a year-long game design workshop to learn how to prototype a new game to publish within the industry. Perry had to churn out a new game idea every two weeks for this class.

But her interest in pursuing this field didn’t come from playing a ton of board games as a child, as she was initially more interested in video games. The

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desire to learn about games more in-depth stemmed from YouTube shows.

During high school, Perry discovered the show Tabletop on Geek and Sundry, hosted by Will Wheaton, during which he plays various board games with celebrity guests and explains the rules of play and strategy involved.

“I used to watch a lot of videos of other people playing games. I then went out and bought a lot of them and tried to get people to play them with me,” said Perry, whose current favorite game is Blood Rage, created by Eric Lang.

Hibachi may be a personal project for Perry, but she and her co-business partners are using their undergraduate research project this year to benefit the company and develop their first company game. The group has begun brainstorming, and Perry said each member has its own strengths and academic major that complement one another and provide depth to the company.

The thing that binds them all together, though, is their love of gaming. They met at the Montevallo Organization of Gaming (MOG), a student organization to play games, and have been playing together for 10 hours a week for four years with MOG, along with extra time on the weekends.

“I can’t wait to get out of school though and just be in the real world and start working. Who doesn’t want to get paid to play board games all day?” said Perry.

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Scenic Cycling Tallassee’s Second Annual Dam Century Ride takes five-county tour of Central Alabama

Story by Betsy Iler Photos by Kenneth Boone & Carmen Rodgers 12

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Each rider chooses an 18-, 62- or 100-mile route

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Nearly 50 bikers rode in the inaugural Dam Century Ride through five counties

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ign up now for the Second Annual Dam Century Ride through 100 miles of scenic Central Alabama roadways on Sept. 23.

The ride, hosted by the Tallassee Chamber of Commerce, will begin at Tallassee High School at 7 a.m. Riders can register online at www.tallasseechamber.com and pay the registration fee through PayPal; download the entry form from the website and mail the entry fee to the chamber office; or stop by the Tallassee Chamber of Commerce at 17 Sistrunk St. Riders also can register between 6:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. on the morning of the event.

This year’s ride includes three courses that are similar to the three routes offered in the inaugural ride last year, but there have been a few changes to the routes, said Tallassee Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michone Roye.

“We will the begin the ride at the high school this year. That is a more prominent location for the starting line and should be easier for riders to get to,” Roye said.

Additional changes were made to the shortest and longest routes.

“Last year, the shortest route was 29 miles, but we changed that to 18 miles this year to draw in more novice riders. The route includes Macedonia Road, which is very hilly. Because of the elevation, 29 miles was a little tough for beginner riders; 18 should be more doable,” she explained.

The 100-mile route also was adjusted to provide easier access to a rest stop and to add a water stop between the last two rest stops.

“Some of last year’s riders requested another water stop. At the end of the ride, it was just a little too far between the last couple of stops without the water break,”

she said.

The 62-mile route remains unchanged from last year’s inaugural ride.

Like last year, this year’s course runs through five Alabama counties, including Elmore, Tallapoosa, Macon, Bullock and Montgomery, but in addition to the marked turns on the roadways, cyclists will be able to track their progress through global positioning satellites (GPS).

“A lot of the riders like to mount their cellphones on their bikes and keep up with their ride statistics that way.

Being able to access the route by GPS will enhance their ability to do that,” Roye said.

Sag wagons and Cyclists gear up for last mechanical assistance year's 100-mile scenic ride will be available to riders en route throughout the day.

At the end of the ride, participants will be treated to a high-carbohydrate meal of spaghetti, salad, rolls and sweet treats to replenish their energy. And every rider will receive a T-shirt and a bag filled with gifts from local merchants.

Additional T-shirts can be purchased for $20 and will be available during the week of the event.

The entry fee is $35 through Aug. 22 but then increases to $45. Part of the proceeds from the ride will be donated to The Learning Tree, a nonprofit organization that provides educational, residential and support services to children and adolescents with developmental disabilities, including autism.

Last year, 44 riders took part in the inaugural event, which is named for Thurlow Dam on the Tallapoosa River, at the site of a 19th century textile mill that was destroyed by fire last year.

For more information about the ride, visit the chamber website, email chamber@tallasseechamber.com or call 334-283-5151.

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Story by Amy Passaretti Photos by Audra Spears, Jenny Enslen Stubbs & Barry Chrietzberg 16

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Elmore County Museum is the first stop on the snail trail to be renovated according to the rendering seen below

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nce upon a time, a small, seemingly insignificant animal helped to save the City of Wetumpka.

The Tulotoma Magnifica river snail, indigenous to the Coosa River, was nearly extinct until the 1990s when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s federal scientists mandated that Alabama Power Company comply with the Clean Water Act. This set minimum water releases from Jordan Dam, allowing for greater water flow down the Coosa River.

The mandate not only saved the species, which requires moving water to survive, but also helped increase tourism for kayaking and paddling.

The City of Wetumpka is rooted in historical stories like this one, which its own residents may not even know.

Main Street Wetumpka strives to tell these stories of the town through its creation of the Tulotoma Snail Trail, which incorporates artistic elements, educational signs and beautification of the downtown area to increase awareness and appreciation.

“The idea of the project is to foster love for the community and provide an understanding of where we live. We want people to take pride in their community because when you’re proud of something you treat it differently,” said Jenny Stubbs, executive director for Main Street Wetumpka.

“We say we’re helping the look of downtown catch up with its charm.”

Initial brainstorming for the project began with a crowdfunding challenge. Main Street was chosen as one of 15 Main

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Street designations throughout five states to participate in its cultivating place challenge. The organization partnered with ioby.org to provide a platform and raised more than $11,000 in just a few weeks, and amount over their intended goal and a great start for the first step of the project's Phase One. “I think what made our Main Street stand out from others was the potential they saw in our project to grow into something bigger than our initial idea,” said Stubbs, who took the position in fall of 2016.

The snail trail idea was the joint brainchild of Stubbs, Joe Champion and Ron Drinkard. Champion and Drinkard raised an additional $1,000 through a fundraising breakfast they voluntarily put together, and they have provided endless resources and input.

The comprehensive project, which will occur in phases, incorporates many different elements and locations, and its goal is to partner with the city to beautify the downtown, cultivate public spaces that are under-utilized and create an atmosphere where people will want to linger.

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A rendering of Alley Yard in downtown that will include seating and art pieces with an area for small concerts

History of the Tulatoma Snail The Tulotoma Magnifica is a fresh water snail that was discovered in Alabama in 1834. It used to be abundant in the Alabama rivers from Calhoun County to Monroe County, especially the Coosa River system.

As a result of habitat destruction and the impoundment of the Coosa and Alabama rivers for hydropower in the early-mid 20th century, its population declined significantly. By 1976, the river snail was

declared nearly extinct.

These areas where dams were built drowned out the shoal areas where the snails live. In the ’80s, field biologists rediscovered the snail in the Coosa River, just below Jordan Dam, as well as the river tributaries.

When the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared the snail endangered in 1991, they required that Alabama Power Company modify the dam's water release schedules to allow for more frequent water movement.

Tulotoma Magnifica river snail These releases coincide with the snails reproductive habits and have improved its habitat. By 2010, the snail’s status moved from endangered to threatened.

This increased water flow also helped save the kayaking and paddling tourism of the area, positively affecting Wetumpka's economy.

Philadelphia naturalist Timothy A. Conrad gave the snail its name “magnifica” in 1834 because of its ornate globular shells with spirals of portruding points.

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The first phase of construction will include three steps, the first of which will be the initial snail trail stop at the Elmore County Museum, formerly the city’s post office. The idea is to combine historical markers that can be renovated and restored, along with other historical elements of the town where their story can be told in an aesthetic setting.

“There is so much history that exists here that is hidden, and we are trying to bring it back out again,” said Stubbs.

Cory Worden of Beneath the Bark, a chain saw carving entity, created a 300-pound hand-carved wooden sculpture of the Tulotoma snail, which will be placed at the museum, along with signage about the building’s history. The creation of a stone walkway, instead of brick pavers, will better blend with the environment and historical nature of the adjoining marble museum, said Stubbs.

Before groundbreaking could begin on this stop, Stubbs realized they needed to do some work on the area itself. If the idea is to promote an aesthetically pleasing location for people to enjoy, the area itself must be restored to beauty.

Main Street has already worked with the city to repaint the flagpole and repair broken glass and are partnering with Precision Floor Care to fund a total restoration of the marble steps in front of the building. The hope is to have this stop complete by Sept. 15and to include a temporary exhibit of the Tulotoma Magnifica river snail within the museum and two outdoor benches that will match the new streetscape.

“It’s a lot of moving parts. We are so thankful for the op-

Downtown Wetumpka will receive renovations, restoration and a streetscape to promote more foot traffic to the area

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Jenny Stubbs, executive director of Main Street Wetumpka

The 100-year old unfinished Lock 31 stands beneath the Bibbs Grave Bridge honoring a piece of Wetumpka's history

A rendering of an area for an overlook spot of the Fall Line with corresponding signage of its significance portunity to do this, but we need long-term perspective in terms of timing and issues. Undoubtedly though, it will be well worth the wait, sweat and tears,” said Stubbs.

The next snail trail stop will be in the alleyway and would be a much larger project. Funding must be secured before this task can be undertaken, and it will likely play out piece-by-piece, said Stubbs.

Each stop will contain an artistic element by an array of local artists, which is important to the process as Wetumpka prides itself on being an artistic town.

Main Street intends to create a presentation about the Tulotoma snail to share its significance with students, so they realize and appreciate its impact.

“We want kids to get excited about their community early on. If we start teaching kids now, just think how magnificent it will be 20 years from now when they’re the town leaders,” Stubbs said.

There are many different downtown historical elements to consider along this project, including the Alabama fall line, the Wetumpka impact crater, history of the Cherokees, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Horace King, the Crommelin Brothers and so much more, that the trail could be an ongoing project, especially as more people get involved.

“People in the community are really becoming a part of it because it’s their downtown and more is able to happen as more people volunteer their efforts and their love,” said Stubbs.

It may be nearly impossible to replicate history, but Stubbs said the goal is to maintain the historical integrity of the area

and make it relevant to today.

For Stubbs, being embedded in the community was integral in being the right fit for the position and that passion must play a huge role.

“You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who loves downtown as much as I do. I believe in downtowns,” said Stubbs, who has spent nearly 20 years in the publishing industry writing about towns and what makes them unique, as each one has its own challenges and own advantages.

Since the initiation of Wetumpka Main Street in the summer of 2016, with the help of the organization’s board members and volunteers, including Dennis Fain and Lynn Weldon who did a great deal to help Main Street acquire its designation, Stubbs has seen incremental growth in the downtown area that is continually gaining momentum.

“There is a domino effect downtown of change and improvement,” said Stubbs.

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Movers & Shakers:

Principal William Bergeron

Story by Amy Passaretti Photos by Sarah Stephens & Barry Chrietzberg

Dr. William Bergeron took the position of principal in October 2016

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r. William Bergeron doesn’t just believe in helping kids succeed academically, but he has implemented new tactics to help students succeed in life.

As the new principal of Stanhope Elmore High School, Bergeron has already reduced disciplinary referrals by half, created a controlled environment for the freshman class to allow for less failure and taken steps to market the school and include the community in its success.

“I did not come straight out of college as an educator, so I have a different perspective of what a school should turn out. To me, teaching is a noble profession.

We love what we do and don’t regret it. I take it very seriously, and I love these kids but I am hard on them because I want them to be successful when they leave here,” said Bergeron, who took this position in October 2016, after being assistant principal for five years.

His long-term objective is marketing the school to the public and making sure the county knows about its achievements. By reaching out to the community for a symbiotic relationship, Bergeron hopes to increase positive publicity.

Over the last year, Bergeron has visited and joined many local civic organizations, along with building a relationship with city council.

“We’ve got some of the best kids and greatest teachers I’ve ever worked with, and we don’t do a good job bragging about ourselves,” said Bergeron.

“If the community and the school work together, this school can be back to the way it was in the early 2000s.”

The high school, which was built in 1965, was booming from about 1998-2005 with renovations or new buildings added almost annually until the school went through six principals over the course of five school years. The academics of the high school went down, and the facilities became outdated.

Elmore County Superintendent Richard Dennis recently has been working with the school to renovate and update the building and has big plans in place to increase its aesthetics, said Bergeron.

“That’s why I am working with the community and the mayor because as a school goes down, so can a community; but if we can grow, Millbrook and Elmore County can grow as well,” Bergeron said.

While students do not have a community service requirement, Bergeron urges his teachers to take their classes and do some visible volunteer work within the area. He said Millbrook has given so much, so it is the

high school’s turn to return the favor. To honor this appreciation, Bergeron hung a great big sign in the stadium thanking the city for their assistance.

“These things go a long way to getting support,” said Bergeron.

Creating a Facebook page promoting all the wonderful things students are doing and sharing in their success stories is just one form of publicity on Bergeron’s plan. Students can send in photos of their accomplishments or a cool event they were a part of to the technology coordinator of the high school to post online, so it maintains control. Throughout the year, Bergeron also plans to build a Twitter account for the school.

Realizing that 100 percent of the students coming through the high school this year would be eligible to vote for the next president, Bergeron takes a strong stand on ensuring children are prepared academically and for life outside of high school.

He said part of a school’s job is to prepare students for life after high school, including how to dress, how to be on time and how to be respectful; and also, Bergeron enforces the fact that every action has a consequence.

When he took over the position of principal, one of the initial changes Bergeron made was creating a freshmen academy. This isolates the incoming freshman in a separate building, with its own administration, an assistant principal dedicated solely to that class and hand-chosen teachers who would give 250 percent to the children, to ease the transition from a more tightly controlled middle school to the more open environment of high school, said Bergeron.

Last year, the school lost 59 out of about 250 freshmen to failure, and Bergeron hopes that by allowing students an extra year to transition separated from other grade levels, their chances for greater achievements increase.

“If they’re successful as freshmen, they’re successful throughout the rest of high school,” said Bergeron, who spent time examining other high schools and how they have implemented this policy.

High school level math can be a difficult subject for many children as well, especially during the first year of high school, said Bergeron, so he has blocked off two-hour classes for the nearly 75 freshmen that struggle with math skills, such as algebra and geometry. The teachers focus a whole semester on remediating the lessons they didn’t grasp in eighth grade before re-joining their fellow classmates the following school year.

He also hired a new math teacher to help reduce

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Bergeron gets his last hair cut in February

Students shave the principal's head and beard at the end of each year

Bergeron coincides this event with a pizza party for chosen students

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class size, especially for those who need extra help and said he hopes to hire a reading teacher as well.

Those two subjects are what the school itself is graded on, and the principal wants the children to succeed to the best of their abilities and for the school to flourish.

“If you can’t read, you can’t do anything in life.

This is a big area of focus,” said Bergeron.

The high school also is bringing back its robotics team and implementing math and scholars bowl teams to generate more inclusivity around the school.

After 22 years spent in the military, Bergeron prides himself as a disciplinarian and feels the children are being cheated if they are not held to a high standard. Although he allows some flexibility to freshmen, he said seniors should be able to accept full responsibility for their actions.

“If we give them multiple chances, we’re setting them up for failure when they get into the real world,” he said.

The simplest tactic for success is to follow the code of conduct set out by the county, word for word, said Bergeron. He asks his assistant principals to do the same, which ensures consistency throughout the process.

“We treat everybody fairly. It’s protection for everyone: kids, parents and the school system,” said Bergeron, who believes in teaching children the soft skills in life as well.

This isn’t only a negative outcome, though.

Bergeron believes in rewarding students for their good actions and allows seniors who have done something exceptional to be nominated to assist the kids from the self-contained classroom to shave his beard and his hair at the end of each school year. He gets his last hair cut in February and lets it grow until the kids cut it in May. “When I first started teaching, I thought, you’ve got to have something to motivate these kids because they’re not all being motivated at home,” said Bergeron, who has been partaking in this gimmick for the last 15 years and coincides this event with a pizza party.

Bergeron comes from a family of educators and didn’t follow the traditional path to get where he is now, but he wanted to give back since he is a consumer and a product of public education.

“I chose this profession knowing what the sacrifice would be. I knew what I was getting into,” said Bergeron. “And I wouldn’t give this up for the world.”

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Brandino Brass Co. offers an uncompromising selection of decorative hardware for doors and cabinets, kitchen and bath accessories, lighting, fire balls, mailboxes, gate hardware and much more.

2824 CENTRAL AVENUE SUITE 100 | HOMEWOOD, AL 35209 205.978.8900 | WWW.BRANDINOBRASS.COM

Wetumpka

Flea Market & Antiques Thanks for all the “Grand Giveaway” turnout! It was so much fun!

OVER 100 BOOTHS! EVERYTHING FROM ODDS & ENDS TO FINE ANTIQUES

334-567-2666 5266 U.S. Hwy. 231 Wetumpka, AL

Winn Dixie Shopping Center • Behind KFC ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

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Play, Eat, Sleep Keep children healthy this school year with a few simple tips

Nancy Rader

COMMUNITY CARE nancy rader is office

manager at ivy creek

healthcare's urgent care

of tallassee.

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Parents of children in daycare or school often fight the battle of keeping children healthy during the school year. It’s not unusual for parents to feel they live in a revolving door when it comes to the number of days their children are sick with the latest bug.

Especially if a child is in a daycare for the first time, getting a cold or ear infection might actually be a good thing for your child. Babies and toddlers in daycare are more susceptible to infections because they are coming into contact with illnesses they have never had. According to a recent Australian study, children in daycare were sick more frequently during the pre-school years but were less likely to fall ill once they started standard grade school attendance.

Dr. Uttam Podder, Ivy Creek Urgent Care physician, said the best preventive a

parent could offer children to avoid common school illnesses might be a healthy diet high in fruits, vegetables and ironrich foods, along with plenty of sleep that could build strong immune systems.

Many of the common childhood illnesses are caused by viruses. All it takes is a single child to bring a virus to school for the spread to begin. If the child coughs or sneezes in the classroom, the whole class is exposed to the virus (cold). Children with strong immune systems stand a better chance of not coming down with the cold.

Good common sense can go a long way toward staying healthy in school. Frequent hand washing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to stay healthy in school. Teach children the trick of washing their hands with soap and water as long as it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song

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Ja'Nea Youngblood, holds tightly to her father, Cornelius Youngblood, on the first day of school at Tallassee Elementary School

Photo by Carmen Rodgers

twice. Washing hands before meals and after using the toilet should be standard practices at school and at home. Make sure children have some hand sanitizer to use when washing their hands is not an option.

According to Dr. Podder, school-age children are going to get sick, but parents could reduce the number of times children catch the viruses by taking three easy steps: Play – Make sure children get plenty of exercise, which helps the body and mind to stay healthy.

Eat – Eating a healthy diet is the best thing for a growing body.

Sleep – Nothing prepares a child for success in school better than getting a good night’s rest.

If children do become ill and parents cannot see their regular doctor in a timely manner, an urgent care facility is a great alternative. Many urgent facilities, including Ivy Creek Urgent Care of Tallassee, are open seven days a week with little or no wait time and no appointment needed.

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What to Wat It’s fall movie season again! Approximately 125 movies will be released between now and the end of the year in studio's efforts to win box office gold, Academy Award gold or both. So settle down in your local movie theater for one of the many film treats coming in the months ahead.

SEPTEMBER

It – Based on Stephen King’s novel, this new film version tells the story of seven children in a small town in Maine who are terrorized by Pennywise the Clown and end up facing their own personal demons in the process.

Many fans vividly remember the 1990 television miniseries featuring Richard Thomas and John Ritter.

American Assassin – Based on the 2010 novel of the same time by the late great Vince Flynn, one of my favorite spy thriller authors. Mitch Rapp, the central character in all of Flynn’s novels, comes vividly to life in this action thriller starring Dylan O’Brian and Michael Keaton.

Home Again – This film stars Reese Witherspoon in what promises to be a sparkling romantic comedy written and directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer in her directorial debut. Meyers-Shyer’s parents, Nancy Meyers and Charles Shyer, have brought us such beloved hits as Baby Boom, Father of the Bride and What Women Want.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle – This sequel to 2014’s Kingsman: The Secret Service features an all-star cast, including Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Halle Berry, Elton John, Channing Tatum and Jeff Bridges.

The Lego Ninjago Movie – Can you ever have too many Legos? If you loved 2014’s The Lego Movie and this year’s The Lego Batman Movie, get ready for this newest movie based on the Lego Ninjago toy line (reportedly the first film to be based on an original Lego property).

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Flatliners – The sequel to the 1990 Julia Roberts-Kiefer Sutherland thriller about medical students who jeopardize their own lives in exploring life after death experiences.

Kiefer pops up again this go around with a cast that includes Ellen Page and Diego Luna.

OCTOBER

Blade Runner 2049 – Directed by Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Prisoners), this eagerly anticipated sequel to 1982’s Blade Runner stars Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford, who reprises his role as Rick Deckard from Ridley Scott’s visionary original film.

The Mountain Between Us – Stars Idris Elba and Kate Winslet as a surgeon and a journalist who survive a plane crash in the mountains of Utah and commence with the fight for their lives against seemingly impossible odds.

Marshall – Chadwick Boseman, so memorable as Jackie Robinson in the movie 42, headlines this moving biography about the first African-American Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and one of the first cases of his early career.

The War with Grandpa – When a young boy (Oakes Fegley) is forced to give up his room to his grandfather (Robert DeNiro), the lad creates plenty of hijinks in an attempt to make Grandpa move out.

Granite Mountain Hotshots – In the tradition of Deepwater Horizon comes this drama based on the elite crew of firefighters who battled a wildfire in Arizona in June 2013 that claimed the lives of 19 members of their team. Miles Teller and Jeff Bridges star.

And of course, if you crave Halloween scares, don’t miss two chillers, Jigsaw and Cloverfield 2017, which will hit the multiplex shortly before All Hallows Eve.

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tch this Fall NOVEMBER

Thor: Ragnarok – Chris Hemsworth returns for a third time as the Marvel superhero (after 2011’s Thor and 2013’s Thor: The Dark World).

This time, the Marvel Cinematic Universe pits Thor against the Hulk. Watch out, Hulk, Thor is after you, and it may be “Hammer Time!” (sorry, but I couldn’t resist).

Murder on the Orient Express – Directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh as Agatha Christie’s super sleuth Hercule Poirot, this film, like the beloved 1974 version, features an extraordinary cast, including Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Derek Jacobi, Michelle Pfeiffer and Daisy Ridley.

Justice League – Featuring further adventures in the DC Extended Universe. In Justice League, Batman (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) assemble a team consisting of Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg to face the catastrophic threat of Steppenwolf. Superman (Henry Cavill) also joins in the mayhem.

Wonder – Based on the 2012 bestseller by R.J. Palacio, the film stars Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson as the parents of a young boy, portrayed by Jacob Tremblay (Room), struggling to overcome a facial deformity.

Death Wish – Director Eli Roth remakes the 1974 Charles Bronson film with Bruce Willis assuming the role of Paul Kersey, a mild-mannered father who turns into a vigilante killing machine to avenge an attack on his family.

DECEMBER

Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Directed by Rian Johnson and starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac. How bittersweet that Fisher died in December 2016 in this, her final film role.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle – A follow- up to the 1995 film Jumanji. The film stars Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black and Kevin Hart.

The Greatest Showman – Features Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams and Rebecca Ferguson in this musical extravaganza about American showman P. T. Barnum, founder of the circus that became the famous traveling Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which just ended its long run earlier this year.

Jeff Langham

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

Governmental Affairs and a lifelong lover of film.

Ferdinand – A 3D computer-animated treat, featuring the voices of John Cena and Kate McKinnon, this film is based on the children’s book, The Story of Ferdinand, about a peaceloving Spanish fighting bull.

Pitch Perfect 3 – This third and final installment in the Pitch Perfect trilogy brings back many of the original cast members, including Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson and Hailee Steinfeld.

So, this fall, with over a hundred new releases headed your way, it’s time to swing by your local multiplex and ‘fall’ into the thrilling escapism of these cinematic treats!

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It's Never Too Late A look into the games you may have missed recently

Jacob Saylor

THE GAMER Video games journalist

Jacob Saylor has covered the massive

Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles.

Follow Jacob on Twitter @skulldrey.

As most familiar with the hobby of gaming would attest, there are a ton of titles from which to choose. And falling behind is highly conceivable, even for enthusiasts. Over the years, I’ve missed out on certain games and, for many of those, I’ve accepted defeat: I will never get to them. But what about the games I missed and still desperately want to play?

I took a quick look at the following games to discern which are worth the jump back in time:

Final Fantasy XV (2016)

The Final Fantasy franchise has its roots as far back as back goes. The series built a name for ahead-of-its-time storytelling, characters and worlds. That legacy has held true in later iterations, including Final Fantasy XV. What’s keeping me from delving into this title isn’t the content but rather, the time investment: Most Final Fantasy games require more than 100 hours to complete and, frankly, there just aren’t enough hours in the day.

The Division (2016)

The Division is one of many different video games released under the Tom Clancy brand – who doesn’t like a good spy thriller? While The Division might have gotten mediocre review scores, the hype and attention it received leading up to release were frenzy-like, and I still wonder what the fuss was about.

Unfortunately, whenever I decide to load up a new game, The Division fails to make it to the top of my list because of its less-thanstellar reception.

Watch Dogs 2 (2016)

Yet another game from 2016, Watch Dogs

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2 is something of a sore spot for me. I really enjoyed the first entry in the futuristic, hacking-centric series, but nothing about the sequel seems innovative enough to entice me to commit and jump in; living in the golden age of gaming, I have come to expect more of developers. And by all accounts, Watch Dogs 2 is very nearly a clone of the original. With so many great adventures out there, it’s really no surprise that something like this falls lower on today’s list.

Red Dead Redemption (2010)

Crafted by the legendary Rockstar Games (Grand Theft Auto, Bully), there come few experiences better than Western-themed Red Dead Redemption. With such high praise, you’re probably wondering why I haven’t played this already. The unfortunate truth is that I technically have – but only halfway.

My PlayStation 3 decided it was time to head to console heaven during my playthrough, and when it left, so too did my saved data for Red Dead Redemption.

Overwatch (2016)

Overwatch is 2016’s breakout title from the enigmatic Blizzard Entertainment, one of the only entities on this list with name recognition that rivals that of Rockstar Games.

Overwatch features fast-paced, first person shooter battles that have taken the eSports (electronic sports) scene by storm. Colleges across the U.S. are playing this game, some even offering scholarships to exceptional players. Sadly, I have no good excuse for not having played Overwatch, apart from the fact that I don’t want to shell out the $40 necessary to download it.

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Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy (2017)

My memories of the original Crash Bandicoot trilogy amount to what I imagine I might remember after getting knocked out by Mike Tyson – bits and pieces here and there, all smashed about. The only concrete memory I’ve got is the deletion of my cousin’s saved game files … He wasn’t too happy about that. But I’d love to learn more about this platformer that took the world by storm, helping to usher in a new era of video games on the original Sony PlayStation.

Super Mario 64 (1996)

Before you attack me for this one, hear me out. All I’m asking for is a little mercy because I know having not played this monumental game is wrong. I know that Super Mario 64 is a legendary game, but my gaming sacrileges are few and far between. Playing Super Mario 64 is in my plans, but in the same way I haven’t gotten to it since 1996, I can’t say when or where I’ll finally remedy this mark against my gaming credentials.

But I’m getting to it soon. I promise.

Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time (2013)

The Sly Cooper franchise has always been one of my favorites. You’d be hard-pressed to find more intuitive, smart games than the original trilogy, so you can imagine my excitement when I heard Sony had plans for a fourth entry to the

series. Unfortunately, it had been years since I played the original games, and I resolved to play through them all before starting Thieves in Time. Four years later, and here we are.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)

In all fairness, I should have gotten to The Witcher 3 a long time ago. It debuted in 2015, was bought for me at Christmas last year and has sat in its shrink wrap ever since. Much like Final Fantasy XV, the only reason I haven’t sat down to conquer this title is its size. It’s an RPG with well more than 100 hours of content, and anyone who says that’s not intimidating at the start has a startlingly dubious relationship with the truth.

Considering I own the game, this domino will certainly fall – but when and at what cost?

Horizon: Zero Dawn (2017)

There are no games I want to sink my teeth into more than action-adventure game Horizon: Zero Dawn.

The title looks beautiful and is developed by the always-impressive Sony-owned studio Guerrilla Games (Killzone, Rhino Rumble). In fact, I have followed this game since it was first shown at E3 2016, all the way to its early 2017 release, but I ran the marathon and gave up just before the finish line. Why this game has eluded me since its debut is a tough question, but if the gaming gods are good, it won’t be long now.

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OUT & ABOUT

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Elmore County Humane Society

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12th Annual Wags & Whispers Auction July 28, 2017 Wind Creek Entertainment Center 1. Charline Pope and Tracy Barnes

2. Mark Harris

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3. Marilyn Hawkins and Frank and Lynn Bertarelli

4. Deborah Langham and Mary Jo Little

5. Lee Thackston, Lisa McMichael and Rea Cord

6. Mike and Meg Jones

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First Day of School August 8, 2017 Tallassee Elementary School 1. Kylee, Haleigh and Zane McGlamery 2. Jayden Kring 3. Melissa and Jacob Burton 4. Calesha and Micalyn Jones

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5. Jayme and Jaycee Burton 6. Ryan, Steph and Marlee Osborne 7. Sherwauna, NyAsia and Jaiden Gordon 8. James, Mandy, Emily and Michael Blakely

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9. Ben and Marilyn Speake

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OUT & ABOUT

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Tallassee Little Free Library Dedication

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July 12, 2017 N. Ann St., Tallassee 1. Kevin Taunton 2. Roger Mathis 3. Kat Raiford

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4. Rob Cater 5. Tabitha White 6. Mike Jordan 7. Melinda Emfinger and Ansley Hinson

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Back to School Bash August 5, 2017 Tallassee City Hall 1. Preston Reeves 2. Kaelynn Lincoln and Meggie Winship

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3. Briyah Smith 4. Logan and Emily Miller 5. Lagarious Askew 6. Courtney and Gavyn Myers 7. Catherine Halstead, Koden McNelley and D’Angelia Holmes 8. Makinsey Mann, Gage Simmons and Emily Stillwell

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River & Blues Music and Art Festival

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July 22, 2017 Wetumpka 1. Randall and Avery Boykin 2. Rachael Phillips and Corey Davis 3. Crystal Willis and Karmen Holland

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4. Michael and Sandra Sebcech 5. Jerry and Crystal Russell 6. Anthony and Paul Auen 7. Ben, Showy and Aaron Healey, Ernessa Yazzie, Sheen Sheen and Ashley Kroll 8. Laurie Hinson, Vicki Sanders, Amy Bowden, Tammy McGee, Sheryl Lebel and Kelly Porter

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Badcock Furniture Grand Opening July 12, 2017 Wetumpka

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1. Brianna Bolton 2. Bret Coleman and Tommy Bolton 3. David, Savannah and Camaryn Traywick

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4. Shawn Glidewell and Shannon Taylor 5. Yvonne Whiteside, Bob Whiteside and Mike Yowtsey 6. Rachel Hearn 7. Heather Bolton 8. Bill Pou and Ben Waugh

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OUT & ABOUT

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Inaugural Biker Tribe Ride

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July 15, 2017 Wetumpka High School 1. Kristina Mathews

2. Henry Zeigler

3. Mike Glass

4. Clarissa Lewis and Ronda Tunnell

5. Lesha Powell and Kelli Mann

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6. Allison Casey, Tatum Messer and Gabby Williams

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Snapology Camp July 13, 2017 Redland Elementary School 1. Laineykaye McCord

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2. Teagan King 3. Andrew Stanfield 4. Elliott Wosden 5. Caleb Garner 6. Wylde Rudder 7. Liam Hayes

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8. Adeline and Asa Corbin

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Coming Up CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Aug. 19 Alabama Avenue at Chuck’s

Alabama Avenue will spend the night at Chuck’s Marina on Lake Martin to end the summer with singing and dancing. Music starts at 8 p.m.

Sept. 12 Wetumpka Business Expo and Healthcare Fair

Get to know the Wetumpka business community at this annual expo held at the Wetumpka Civic Center from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. For information or to register as an exhibitor, contact the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce at 334-567-4811 or email jyoung@wetumpkachamber.org.

Sept. 14-30 I Do! I Do!

Wetumpka Depot Theater presents a timeless story of young newlyweds as they progress from wedding night jitters to parenthood, mid-life crisis and, finally, the golden years. Visit www.wetumpkadepot.com or call 334-868-1440 for ticket information and details.

Sept. 17 Bark in the Park

A day of fun activities for you and your pets from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Fort Toulouse in Wetumpka. There will be pets available for adoption, interactive demonstrations from the Wetumpka Police K-9 team, games for kids, a microchip clinic, a pup parade and more. Refreshments are available, along with other vendors for both you and your pet. Admission is $5 per person over 13 and proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Elmore County.

Sept. 30 17th Annual Titus Bluegrass Festival

Located at the Titus Community Center, a day of fun for all ages with live bluegrass music, barbecue, arts and crafts and a variety of vendors. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and feature the following bands: Clear Blue Sky, Brighter Day and the Laura Harris Band.

Champ’s will be serving food, and admission is $5 for adults, while children 12 years and under are free. The

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shady grove location is about 10 miles north of Wetumpka on U.S. Highway 231 to north on County Road 29. For more information, visit www.tituscommunitycenter.org.

Oct. 3 Wetumpka Chamber Drawdown and Silent Auction

A $100 ticket includes dinner, drinks, a silent auction and a chance to win up to $10,000 in this Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce event at the Wetumpka Civic Center. Dinner-only tickets are $25. Stop by the chamber office at 116 E. Bridge St. to purchase tickets or register online at www.wetumpkachamber.com.

Oct. 7 Coosa River Challenge Adventure Race

Teams and individuals take on this endurance challenge, a 4-6 hour race through Alabama’s major river systems, starting and finishing in historic downtown Wetumpka. Race includes trail running, mountain biking, river paddling and lots of obstacles and tests in between. Registration ends Sept. 23. Registration is $100 for individuals and $150 for teams of two. For details visit coosariverchallenge.com.

Oct. 8 Alabama Art Colony Art Walk

Shop for original art created by regional artists of the 2017 Alabama Art Colony workshop. The walk will be held on the Lake Martin campus of Children’s Harbor from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in cabins 9 and 10.

Oct. 21 Angel Fest

St. Michael and All Angels Church at 5941 Main St., Millbrook, will host its annual Angel Fest from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a bake sale, the famous silent auction, concessions, children’s carnival and a Boston butt sale. Festivities include family fun and entertainment with gospel music. Free admission. Proceeds benefit the church’s outreach programs. For information, call the church office at 334-285-3905.

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Oct. 25-28 Wetumpka’s Second Annual Haunted History Tours

Season-Long Events

Experience the rich history of Wetumpka’s downtown and listen to hair-raising personal experiences of paranormal occurrences in the buildings when you take a haunted history tour. And if you are especially daring, sign up to participate in a paranormal investigation in one of the most haunted buildings in town. Early registration is $15 for the standard tour; $45 for the extended tour with investigation opportunities. Registration is now open at www.wetumpkachamber.com.

Oct. 28 Fall Family Festival

The kids and grandkids will have a great time at this annual festival at Russell Crossroads. Dress the kids in their favorite costumes or let them come as they are for a scavenger hunt, face painting, pumpkin decorating, wagon rides, archery and more. See a real grist mill and blacksmith in action. Enter the pie and canning contests.

At the end of the day, victorious canners and bakers will walk away with huge prize ribbons for their efforts. For more information call 256-397-1019 or visit www.Calendar/RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com.

Children’s Harbor Treasures and Thrift Store

Located on Highway 63 just south of Lake Martin Amphitheater, the Children’s Harbor Thrift Store is open Fridays and Saturdays 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.

Call 334-857-2008 for information.

Friday on the Green

Wind down the busy work week at The Town Green at Russell Crossroads with live music, lawn games and time with family and friends. Bring coolers, blankets, chairs, kids and pets from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. every Friday through Sept. 15.

Wetumpka City Pops

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

End of Summer Concert This is America.

Gates open at 5 p.m. for the Sept. 3 concert at The AMP. Tickets are $10; kids age 6 and under are admitted free of charge.

Bring lawn chairs, blankets, coolers and friends, but please leave dogs at home.

“The Labor Day weekend concert at The AMP is always a great way to end the summer concert series at Lake Martin,” said Russell Lands’ Director of Special Events and Social Media Robert Gunn.

For information, contact Gunn at 256-397-1019. Order tickets at www.theamponlakemartin.com.

Labor Day at Lake Martin Amphitheater (The AMP) this year will feature headliner James Otto, the Nashville singer/songwriter behind the 2015 hit single Somewhere Tonight.

The song launched a new phase in the musician’s career, one in which he’s created his own unique brand of country music.

Taking the stage before Otto will be The Bank Walkers at 6 p.m., followed by local favorite Rexton Lee and Alabama’s own Ashton Shepherd, whose country albums include Where Country Grows, Out of My Pocket, Sounds So Good and

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Busy Bee Quilters

The quilters meet the second Friday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at the Santuck Community Center, 7300 Central Plank Rd. Call Shelia Puckett at 334-399-3249.

Stories and Rhymes

The Eclectic Public Library hosts a variety of activities, including stories, rhymes, dress-up, dance and music at 2 p.m. every Tuesday and 10:30 a.m. every Saturday.

These programs are free and enrich a child’s lifelong love of reading. Guests are welcome to visit the library’s gift shop and bookstore during hours of operation from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

Haunted Wetumpka Investigations

Beginning in June, in-depth paranormal investigations will take place in the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce building from 7 p.m. to midnight on the third Saturday of the month. Cost is $50 per person, and reservations are required. For information and registration, call 334-567-4811 or email jyoung@wetumpkachamber.org.

Alabama Wildlife Federation Naturalist Hikes

Country Music Jam

Every Friday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., the Red Hill Community Center hosts an open stage country music jam. All players, singers and listeners are welcome. Coffee and snacks are provided at this family-friendly event.

No admission is charged, but donations are welcome.

The community center is located at the Old Red Hill School on Alabama Highway 229 south of Kowaliga.

Email Paul Castleberry at mcasby53@windstream.net, for more information.

Master Gardeners Lunch and Learn

Bring a sack lunch to the Elmore County Extension Office in Wetumpka from noon to 1 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month for a gardening presentation hosted by the Central Alabama Master Gardeners Association.

Event is free and open to the public. Drinks provided.

Visit www.aces.edu/counties/Elmore/for information or call 334-567-6301.

Dixie Art Colony Foundation Exhibit

Regular gallery hours are held from 10 a.m. until noon on Mondays and Wednesdays at 219 Hill St., Wetumpka.

Appointments and small group tours are available upon request. Special tours include a 16-minute video, Dixie Art Colony: A Look at Its Lasting Legacy. Exhibits rotate every four months. A selection of periodicals and books from the DAC Foundation Resource Library also are on display. For information, call Mark Harris at 334-328-0730 or email him at M.Harris@DixieArtColony.org.

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Every Tuesday and Friday, from 10 a.m. until noon, hike some of Lanark’s 5 miles of trails with an experienced naturalist by your side. Learn how to bird or ID plants and animals, splash through the creek, or catch insects in the meadow. General admission applies and is $5 per person with a $20 maximum per family. AWF is located at 3050 Lanark Rd. in Millbrook. Visit alabamawildlife.org to check holiday closings.

Electronics Recycling

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

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

Tallassee Civitan Club

The Civitans meet at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at the Budde Building on Gilmer Avenue. This volunteer organization serves individual and community needs by funding and hosting special events for people with developmental disabilities.

There's a social time at 5:30 p.m.

ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

Millbrook Farmers Market

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

Blue Grass Jam, Sit and Scrap and Sit and Sew

All three activities are held on the first Saturday of each month from 9 am. to noon at the Alabama River Region Arts Center in Wetumpka. All acoustic instruments and skill levels are welcome at the Bluegrass Jam. Scrappers and paper crafters are encouraged to attend Sit and Scrap. All sewers and knitters are welcome at Sit and Sew. For details, call 334-5789485 or visit www.arrac.org.

Healthy Hearts Make More Memories More moments mean more memories.

More time with grandkids and family.

More days on the lake. More sunsets.

Cruise-In Car Show

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

Yoga on the Green

Discover your inner being with free yoga at The Town Green at Russell Crossroads at 7 a.m. on Saturday mornings through Oct. 1. Great for beginners and experienced yogis; bring a mat and water bottle.

Catherine’s Market Wine Tastings

Come by Catherine’s Market for wine tastings from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays through Sept. 15.

It’s $5 to sample a variety of wines and apply that $5 to your purchase of a bottle of your favorite from the night’s sampling.

Kevin Sublett, MD, and the staff at the UAB Heart & Vascular Clinic of Central Alabama are committed to keeping your heart healthy, so you can keep on making memories.

The clinic is backed by the world-class expertise you expect from UAB Medicine, offering: • The full spectrum of cardiovascular care • Care from a physician board-certified in interventional cardiology • The latest in cardiac and vascular ultrasound technology, as well as nuclear medicine imaging in accredited laboratories • Diagnosis and treatment of cardiac rhythm disorders • Convenient location within Russell Medical Center Call us today to schedule an appointment!

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

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Business & Service Directory

334-567-7811

Pick up Elmore County Living at these locations: Eclectic

Bezlo's Cafe Bless Your Heart Eclectic Town Hall Eclectic Library Johnson’s Furniture Original Grace First Community Bank

Lake Martin

Russell Lands Russell Marine Nail’s Cotton’s BBQ

Millbrook

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

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Slapout

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

Tallassee

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

Wetumpka

Aldridge Borden Company Bennett’s Archery First Community Bank Russell Do It Center Bumper’s

Karen’s Mane Tamers River Ridge Steakhouse Emerald Mountain Store Redland Market Seivers Accounting Wetumpka Depot Players A Touch of Class Angel Locksmith Verizon Wireless Unplugged Must Stop Café Alfa Realty Wetumpka Century 21 Brandt Wright Realty Wells Fargo BB&T Jackson Thornton Lee’s Auto Repair McQuick Printing Company Hankins Insurance Hog Rock BBQ Wetumpka YMCA Adams Drugs Bell Chiropractic Wetumpka Urgent Care USAmeriBank A Beautiful Creation

ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

Austin’s Flowers Camo Country Alabama State Employees Credit Union Smokin S BBQ Elmore Community Hospital Wetumpka Preschool Wetumpka City Library Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce City of Wetumpka Administration Bldg.

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

Our Advertisers • To Join, Call 334-567-7811 Advanced Heating & Air........................................................................................................1 1 American Watersports...........................................................................................................1 1 Brandino Brass..........................................................................................................................2 5 City of Millbrook......................................................................................................................1 1 Collier Ford.................................................................................................................................2 5 Community Hospital................................................................................................................3 Community Medical Arts........................................................................................................3 Jackson Thornton....................................................................................................................4 5 Karen's Mane Tamers.............................................................................................................4 4 Kowaliga Whole Health.........................................................................................................4 4 Mark's Service Center...................................................................................................................... 2 5 River Perk.............................................................................................................................................. 1 0 Russell Lands....................................................................................................................................... 4 8 Tallassee Health & Rehab, LLC.............................................................................................1 1 Tallassee Internal Medicine....................................................................................................3 Wetumpka Flea Market.........................................................................................................2 5 UAB Heart & Vascular of Central Alabama......................................................................4 3

ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

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

To advertise please contact - Marilyn Hawkins 334-202-5108 - Kat Raiford 334-444-8981 or stop by our office located at 300 Green Street, Wetumpka AL 36092

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No-cook option makes a fresh, rustic meal MK Moore

SOUTHERN DELIGHTS Mary Katherine Moore is an Alabama State Fair pepper jelly

champion, has butchered a wild hog in

her kitchen and grows

heirloom to-

matoes in her backyard.

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August. Alabama. It is about a thousand degrees in the shade. Nightfall offers scant relief and hordes of mosquitoes. It is far too hot to cook.

It is almost too hot to eat. Well, I can always eat.

But, that doesn’t mean we have to fire up any appliances that create more heat. Lucky for us, the farmers market and the Italians have the answer to a meal that is satisfying, easy and doesn’t require slaving over a hot stove.

I’m talking about panzanella, or bread and tomato salad. See, about 100 years after tomatoes made their way to Italy, some home cook took some day-old bread and mixed it with some cutup tomatoes, added some salt and a little drizzle of olive oil. Boom! Dinner. No need for cooking.

Panzanella is politely termed as ‘rustic’ food, which is just code for food that ordinary people eat. Or food that you make when you don’t have much food and don’t want anything to go to waste. Like dried bread. Or a couple of tomatoes from the garden.

So fast-forward to now and the need for a fast, no-cook, economical supper that won’t sap you in this heat. First up? Bread. I can and have made this salad with all sorts of leftover bread. Save up your bread loaf heels. You know – the end pieces no one wants to make a sandwich out of. Or use the half a loaf of Italian bread that no one ate after last week’s spaghetti supper. I have even made this Italian dish with a Southern twist by using leftover cornbread. Or you can just buy a loaf of French bread. Or a bag of stuffing mix bread chunks.

Whatever bread you choose, you are going to want it dry. As with any rustic dish, people have tried to fancy it up, creating lots of extra steps and the use of heat-producing appliances. So I will tell you now: You don’t have to toast the bread. You don’t even have to cut the bread. Just tear it up into chunks and let it sit out overnight.

Moving on to the star of this dinner show: the tomatoes. In August in Alabama, you have no excuse for store-bought tomatoes. Go to the farmers market, Grandmama’s garden or your own backyard and pick yourself a couple of nice, sun-ripe tomatoes. This is an excellent way to use up those less-than-perfect tomatoes. Cut out the bad spots and use the rest.

Chop up the tomatoes and put them and all the pulp in a glass bowl. Sprinkle with a fair amount of salt and let them sit until they are good and juicy. At this point you are good to go to the next step. Or you can hit them up with a little fresh basil. Or some sliced scallion or onion. Or a little Parmesan cheese.

I’m a purist and don’t need much more than bread and tomatoes in my salad, but you will find recipes that include all sorts of other veggies. And, if you are scrounging this together and thinking economically like our rustic Italians of yore, no harm in adding some diced cucumber, bell pepper or zucchini. Good way to clean out the vegetable bin. Or make use of the veggies you couldn’t resist at the farmers market.

So you have your juicy tomatoes and maybe some other stuff in one bowl. Add a big glug of olive oil and some pepper. Taste it. It may seem a little salty, but you have all the bread to flavor.

If it doesn’t seem a little salty, well, add some salt. In a bigger bowl, you have the bread.

Now mix it all together. Let it sit 10 minutes and stir again. Done!

Panzanella is everything I love about summer food. Fast, flexible, doesn’t require cooking and doesn’t weigh you down in the heat. But who am I kidding? You know it is mostly about my love of bread and tomatoes.

ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

Enter the 2017 Annual Lake Martin Living Art and Photography Contest

Calling All Artists Winners featured on the cover and inside pages of our October magazine edition.

Entries will be on exhibit at Alexander City’s Wine Emporium and Gallery 128.

Submissions accepted in acrylics, oil, watercolor, pastels, pencil & photography.

(Up to three works of art per artist accepted)

Entries must reflect life and scenes in Tallapoosa County.

All entries must be framed, matted or mounted on boards and ready to hang.

A panel of local artists will judge the entries. There is no fee to enter, and no prizes or monetary awards will be made.

The contest is just for fun!

Clearly mark each entry with the artist’s name, address and telephone number and deliver entries to the office of Lake Martin Living magazine on or before 5 pm September 22.

The office is located at 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City, across from Benjamin Russell High School.

Please call managing editor Betsy Iler at 256-234-4281 with questions or email editor@lakemartinmagazine.com.

Now accepting submissions through September 22, 2017.

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RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com

ELMORE COUNTY TheAMPonLakeMartin.com

LIVING

Russell Lands, nails, The Company store Or online at TheAmpOnLakeMartin.com and @LakeMartinAmphitheater on Facebook