Lake Magazine September 2017

What's happening to Lake Martin's fish?

Cassidy Gale Trains at the Lake Sister Glamping at Wind Creek

SEPTEMBER 2017

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L I F E’ S A J O U R N EY.

We’re here for all of it.

The path from becoming a woman to motherhood to menopause is complex.

As our bodies change, we need help to stay healthy. In our corner of the world, at Russell Medical, we have world class physicians providing top notch care for women of all ages.

Exceptional care just around the corner • 256.329.7149 • russellcares.com

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Staff Chairman KENNETH BOONE

Letter from the Editor

B

ack in August 2016, when we estimated our page counts for the 2017 magazines, we planned an 84-page issue for this month, but there is so much going on at Lake Martin that last month, we added eight pages to that count.

Summer is definitely not over at the lake, and now, it looks very much like it won’t be over until Oct. 15.

Though the fall extension of summer’s 491-foot water level couldn’t be declared until eight days after Lake magazine’s presstime, Alabama Power Company’s HydroServices Manager Jim Crew said the ‘somewhat likely’ status of the analysis on Aug. 23 was the highest designation there is without making it official. Some of the businesses around the lake are planning extended summer hours for the next six weeks, and others are at the ready to do so. We’ve done a little homework for you on page 40, so check out that article to plan your own extended time at the lake this fall.

In addition to making the fall extension possible, the rainy summer has had other effects on lake life, including a noticeable rise in striper mortality. Find out what’s happening with Lake Martin’s fish on page 42.

And on page 46, we’ve got a special treat for you, as we take you along on a practice session with professional wake surfer Cassidy Gale, who is taking the sport by storm in her first year on the circuit. This 18-year-old powerhouse chose Lake Martin when she wanted to put in extra time behind the boat during a one-day break in the USA Nationals competition last month at Callaway Gardens. The water was warm and inviting, and Lake Martin, as always, made a great impression.

No, summer is not over, and it’s not time to close up the lake house just yet. Take advantage of the water and visit Lake Martin regularly over the next six weeks to find out why the locals say that fall is the best time at the lake.

editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Publisher STEVE BAKER

editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Managing Editor BETSY ILER

editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Assistant Magazine Editor AMY PASSARETTI

amy.passaretti@alexcityoutlook.com

Marketing/Advertising Director TIPPY HUNTER

tippy.hunter@alexcityoutlook.com

EMILY GREGG

emily.gregg@alexcityoutlook.com

TABBY EDWARDS

tabby.edwards@alexcityoutlook.com

SCOTT HARDY

scott.hardy@alexcityoutlook.com

Circulation Manager DAVID KENDRICK

david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook.com

Creative Services AUDRA SPEARS

audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com

DARLENE JOHNSON

darlene.johnson@alexcityoutlook.com

HALLIE HOLLOWAY

hallie.holloway@alexcityoutlook.com

Betsy Iler, Managing Editor

On the Cover First-year professional wake surfer Cassidy Gale last month took a training day during the USA Nationals competition at Callaway Gardens to practice her jumps, spins and shuvs at Lake Martin. The practice time was well-spent, as Gale finished in second place the next day.

Photo by Kenneth Boone

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Contributors KENNETH BOONE JOHN COLEY HENRY FOY JESSE CUNNINGHAM JULIE HUDSON CLIFF WILLIAMS LEE WILLIAMS MITCH SNEED

GREG VINSON ROB MCDANIEL SAWYER DAVIS BOB CARLTON LIZI ARBOGAST DONALD CAMPBELL SHANNON MCDUFFIE

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

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

SEPTEMBER 2017

6400 Highway 63 South, Alexander City, AL 35010 docksunlimitedllc.com (256) 203-8400 Check out our Facebook Page: Docks Unlimited

SEPTEMBER 2017

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SEPTEMBER 2017

Contents

36

26. THE BLUE HERON An idyllic family cabin leads a double life as a lakeside school of art 40. MORE FUN LONGER Lake Martin businesses may alter their schedules if we see high water through October 42. ABUNDANT RAIN LEADS TO FISH KILL Striper and blueback herring populations suffer habitat loss in the 'summer squeeze' 46. PRACTICE TIME No. 2 ranked professional women's wake surfer spends time on Lake Martin during national championship 56. MR. JIM'S LAST VEGETABLE PLATE As elder statesman at Lake Martin's SpringHouse Restaurant, Jim Black creates a legacy dish 60. SISTERS ON THE FLY Women's outdoor social organization goes glamping at Wind Creek State Park 64. CRATA GETS $5,000 FOR SMITH MOUNTAIN CRATA is awarded a Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership grant toward the environmental center

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66. JAMES OTTO HEADLINES AT THE AMP Four talented, local bands line up to perform at this year's annual Labor Day concert

LAKE MAGAZINE’S MONTHLY FEATURES:

e

- edition

9. LAKE’S QUICK GUIDE TO

68. LAKE PROPERTY

THE LAKE

70. HOBO

10. LAKE SCENES

73. BEHIND THE BOAT

15. WHERE IS LAKE?

74. HEALTHY LIVING

16. LAKE MARTIN EVENTS

76. BIG CATCHES

20. LAKE MARTIN NEWS

78. CHEF'S TABLE

22. GEO 101

80. FROM THE CELLAR

35. FAB FINDS

83. PRO TIP

36. NATURE OF THE LAKE

& GOLF NEWS

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

SEPTEMBER 2017

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SEPTEMBER 2017

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

July 2017 July 2014 July 2011

23 34 25

$623,613 $387,790 $330,220

$487,500 $284,675 $320,000

171 218 172

294 378 422

10.38 15.70 24.95

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 Lake Martin Realty, LLC. (A Russell Lands, Inc. affiliated company.)

Holiday Weekend Boating Tips to Remember 1. Wait to celebrate with alcohol. It could be a long day on the water, but waiting until after you’ve returned home for the night before celebrating with alcohol is a wise move. Added to the effects of sun, wind and waves, alcohol lowers situational awareness and increases reaction times.

2. The more lookouts at night, the better. Having extra sets of eyes – family members or guests – can help prevent accidents.

3. Go slow after an event. When leaving a popular event from the water, you may have the urge to rush home.

Don’t. Slow down. Be cautious, and the odds for a safe return increase.

4. Get kids’ life jackets for free. The BoatUS Foundation’s free Kids Life Jacket Loaner program gives boaters a chance to borrow child-size life jackets for the day or weekend.

the boat, and be careful about adding extra coolers and gear. Passengers also should not ride on the top of a boat with an enclosed bow while underway.

Boat safely this Labor Day weekend and throughout the fall extension

6. Be a safe paddler. Kayak, canoe or stand-up paddlers should understand all of the nautical rules of the road, practice defensive paddling and assume no one can see them. At night, paddlers are required to show a white light – colored glow sticks around their necks doesn't cut it. Avoid crowded anchorages and congested ramp areas.

7. Never swim near a dock with electricity or in a marina or yacht club.

8. Avoid the two biggest hassles. To avoid having to contact a towing service, monitor your battery drain, go slow while hauling anchor line and be super vigilant, so you don’t run over someone else’s anchor line after the show ends.

5. Don’t overload the boat. Everyone should have a seat inside

Information from BoatUS Foundation

Lake Levels during Weather Outlook for September the Last Month September 2017 Forecast Summer: 491 MSL Winter: 481 MSL Highest: 490.58 Lowest: 490.46 Lake elevations are subject to change. Individuals who recreate below Martin Dam and those with boats and water-related equipment on the lake should always stay alert to changing conditions.

For up-to-date lake levels, log on to https://lakes.alabamapower.com.

Historically, the Lake Martin area experiences average high temperatures in the mid 80s with average lows in the low 60s and 4 inches of precipitation in the month of September. The National Weather Service has predicted that temperatures will be normal and rainfall will be above normal this month.

Year to Date

Precipitation: 49.89 inches Avg. high temp.: 77.5 Avg. low temp.: 54.1 Average temp.: 65.8

SEPTEMBER 2017

Our Normal September Precipitation: 4.1 inches Avg. high temp.: 84.8 Information from Avg. low temp.: 62 the National Weather Service.

Average temp.: 73.4 LAKE 9

LAKE SCENE

Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

PEOPLE AND PLACES

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Reader Submissions (1) Tyler Fuller experienced his first sparkler this July 4th.

(2) Bella, Hayes and Brooke Boyd love boating on Lake Martin. (3) Randy McClendon shot this glorious July sunrise from Cedar Point. (4) Katie, Michael and David Blanchard had a great time together tubing on the lake. (5) Laura and Kellan Heath at the July 4th boat parade.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE SCENE

Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

PEOPLE AND PLACES

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Reader Submissions (1) Matthew Montgomery flyboards over Lake Martin at sunset. (2) Judy Wood captured this photo of a risk-taker doing a backflip off Chimney Rock. (3) Garrett Smith's dog Skipper enjoying the sun and warm weather on a May day in Lake Martin. (4) Lisa Reese holds grandson James McBride as he experiences his first Lake Martin boat ride. (5) The azaleas in full bloom this April at the Gainers' yard. (6) Jennifer Kissic captured the sun setting on Lake Martin before the July 4th fireworks show.

SEPTEMBER 2017

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LAKE SCENE

Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

PEOPLE AND PLACES

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Reader Submissions (1) Karen Mooresmith and her pup take in a short boat ride before the rain came in on a Sunday afternoon. (2) Kurt Pfitzner took this picture of the 'last captain' on the lake under a beautiful sunset. (3) Trot Ashmore enjoying the Fourth of July holiday on Lake Martin. (4) Cathy Hooks took this picture during a summer gathering of friends at Sally and Chris Anderson's house. (5) Ray Smith captured this beautiful sunset from Smith Marina on Lake Martin. (6) Ashley and Jeremy Vance take a boat ride on the lake.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

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Our goal is to keep our clients as active as possible in their own homes to promote overall health and well being.

With our personally tailored care plans, you will receive the individual care you need with the dignity and respect you deserve.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS LAKE?

Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

PEOPLE AND PLACES

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Reader Submissions (1) Al and Rette Meadows, Mary Charis Haynes, Megan Denney, Hannah Clifton, Stormy Hubbard, Kelli Meadows, Nicole Cox, Shanda Cotney and Kathy and Frank Carpenter took Lake to Antigua, Guatemala, while on a mission trip to Casa Gloria Children's Home. (2) Captain Pieter of the MS River Splendor in Budapest, Hungary, leafed through a traveling copy of Lake magazine with Barbara and Doug Reid.

(3) Skye Bartlett and Casey Turner with Lake magazine in front of Big Ben on their trip to London, England. (4) Sheila Clayton and her son Joey took Lake magazine on their trip to Italy to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa. (5) Dixie and Ed Hicks in front of a 15th century B.C. fresco at the Palace of Knossos on the Island of Crete, Greece, during a study abroad trip where they took 25 students to Europe and Israel. (6) Scotty and Jane Howell, Jan and Matt Hare, Kay and Gary Thomas and Joyce and Kenney Riley took Lake on their annual trip to Steinhatchee, Florida.

SEPTEMBER 2017

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Sept. 3 Labor Day Weekend Concert

The summer concert series at The AMP comes to a close as concert goers of all ages gather for the final event of the year. Visit www.theamponlakemartin.com and The AMP Facebook page or call 256-397-1019, for tickets See page 66 for this year’s lineup.

Sept. 3 New Water Worship

Terry Slaughter will preach at 9:30 a.m. for the Labor Day weekend chapel service at New Water Farms, 460 Civitan Rd., Dadeville. Worship at the outdoor chapel on the banks of Lake Martin will be led by Robert Brandon.

All are welcome by boat or car. Dress is casual. For information, contact Micah Simpson at 205-725-1460.

Sept. 11 Horizons Unlimited

Dolores Hydock will present the fable The Red-Headed Woman Meets Mr. Death and Southern Comfort in a Cast-Iron Skillet, one of the last traditional tall tales of the American Frontier, at the Alexander City Board of Education building at 375 Lee St. The presentation will be held 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Hydock is a touring artist for the Alabama State Council on the Arts, a speaker with the Alabama Humanities Foundation and a member of the Southern Order of Storytellers.

Held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., friends and family can gather for a day of fun including arts and crafts vendors, food vendors and inflatables and other activities for children. Vendor booths are available and if interested, should contact the Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce at 256825-4019 or email chamber@dadeville.com.

Sept. 23 Fall Boogie

The 6th Annual Fall Boogie at Standard Deluxe in Waverly will feature Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires, Revel in Dimes, Maggie Koerner, Heath Green and the Makeshifters, Lonnie Holley Band and Faye Webster.

Tickets are $20-$30 and are available now on the website at standarddeluxe.come/shop/fallboogie6.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Sept. 25 Horizons Unlimited

Terry Robbins, award-winning singer/musician from Clay WHAT’S HAPPENING ON LAKE MARTIN County, will present Merle Haggard, The People’s Poet at the Alexander A popular entertainer in the City Board of Education area, Dolores Hydock will building at 375 Lee St. return to the lake this month from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Robbins worked in insurance for 32 years and taught school and coached as well. He only recently focused on his musical talents when he joined Sylacauga Songwriters in 2014.

Sept. 26-28 Still Life in Oils

Sept. 18 Horizons Unlimited

Dr. Paul Harris will present The Berlin Airlift and Operation Kinderlift at the Alexander City Board of Education building at 375 Lee St. from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Harris is the associate director for the University Honors College and mentors Auburn’s brightest students in the application for national prestigious scholarships.

Sept. 21 Artists Association of Central Alabama

The general meeting includes a membership drive with an open studio. The meeting will be held from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Senior Activity Center at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex in Alexander City.

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Sept. 23 Dadeville Fall Festival

Tallapoosa School of Art in Dadeville will host a three-day workshop for beginner to intermediate level artists. Painters will learn to create light and shadow on canvas and arrange floral still life in the studio and en plein air. Instructor Barbara Binford Davis will provide demonstrations and personal attention at this workshop. Visit www.tallapoosaworkshops.com for information.

Oct. 2 Horizons Unlimited

Sarah Bliss Wright will present Ida Quilt Project at the Alexander City Board of Education building at 375 Lee St. from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wright spent 30 years in the performing arts and singing in more than 40 operas before focusing her skills on quilt making. Her serious study of quilt history led to her textile art being featured

SEPTEMBER 2017

in exhibits and her selection as the curator for Our Quilted Past. She is a Road Scholar for the Alabama Humanities Foundation.

Oct. 2-4 Painting the Figure/Portrait in the Southern Landscape

Library Storytime in Dadeville

Hodges Soileau will lead this three-day workshop for intermediate to advanced levels painters at Dadeville’s Tallapoosa School of Art. Participants will learn to observe and paint the human figure from life in a natural light, waterfront setting. Models will be on site for daily demonstrations and plein air painting with special attention provided to each student. For more information, visit www.tallapoosaworkshops.com/schedule.

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. 9-10 Throw Away Day

Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership and the Tallapoosa County Commission have teamed up to place dumpsters at five locations for free use by residents. Large household items can be deposited in the dumpsters at the Courthouse Annex in Alexander City, Doubles Bridges on state Route 63, Eagle Creek, Camp Hill Town Hall and Union. For information and details, contact Sabrina Wood at sabrinawood@live.com.

Season-Long Events PATH Garden Harvest

Every Thursday at 8:30 a.m., volunteers and Lake Martin Area Boys and Girls Club members harvest vegetables at the PATH Community Garden on Green Street next to the Jacob’s Ladder playground. The harvest is donated to the Salvation Army for distribution. As the harvest increases, more helping hands are needed and welcome. For information, email Kim Fraher at kimfraher@yahoo.com.

Millerville Trade Day

Bibb Graves School on Highway 9 hosts this trade day on the third Saturday of every month from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Find books, toys, models, coins, lamps, original artwork, jewelry, clothing, antiques, glassware, quilts, home décor and more. Refreshments available.

Alabama Wildlife Federation Naturalist Hikes

applies and is $5 per person with a $20 maximum per family. The Alabama Nature Center is located at 3050 Lanark Rd. in Millbrook. Visit alabamawildlife.org to check holiday closings.

Storytime for children ages 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. and offers kid-friendly movies on the first Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m.

Gamers’ Club

Mamie’s Place Children’s Library hosts kids ages 12 to 17 in the conference room until 4:30 p.m. after school on Fridays starting Sept. 8. Bring handheld games or games from home (no games rated M allowed). Participants should be picked up by 4:30 p.m. For information, call 256-3296796.

Ladies’ Book Club

Ladies 18 years of age and older are invited to participate in the club at Adelia M. Russell Library on the last Thursday of every month at 3:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. Call the library at 256-234-4644 for each month’s book title.

Electronics Recycling

The City of Alexander City Public Works Department hosts an electronics recycling event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. Items accepted include computers, computer mouse, keyboards, modems or routers, CD and DVD players, power supplies, PC mix systems, home or cell phones, printers or copiers, mainframe servers, audio/video adapters, laptop chargers, cable boxes, nickel cadmium or lithium ion batteries and flat screen monitors and televisions. CRT monitors and televisions are no longer accepted. For more information, call the Alexander City Public Works Department at 256-409-2020.

Santuck Flea Market

The Santuck Flea Market is held the first Saturday of each month. The Santuck Flea Market is located at 7300 Central Plank Rd., Highway 9 in Wetumpka.

Sarah Carlisle Towery Art Colony Exhibit

The Sarah Carlisle Towery Art Colony on Lake Martin exhibit is on display all year long at the Alexander City Board of Education building, located at 375 Lee St.

$20 on the 20th

Every Tuesday and Friday, from 10 a.m. until noon, hike some of Lanark’s 5 miles of trails with an experienced Alabama Nature Center naturalist by your side. Learn how to bird or identify plants and animals; splash through the creek; or catch insects in the meadow. General admission

The Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce is asking our community to “Spend $20 on the 20th” of each month to help our local economy.

Children’s Harbor Treasures and Thrift Store

Located on Highway 63 just south of Lake Martin

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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.

Memory Makers Quilt Guild

Meets the second and fourth Mondays of the month at the Senior Center on the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex campus. Participants come and go between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. with a business meeting at 5 p.m., followed by show-and-tell. Bring sewing projects, machines and questions.

Real Island Supper

The Real Island community hosts a covered dish supper every third Friday of the month at the Real Island Volunteer Fire Department and Community Room, 1495 Real Island Rd., Equality. Everyone is welcome.

Admission is $3 per adult; bring a covered dish to share. Some nights are

themed, so call ahead to find out if costumes or certain types of food are in order. For information, call Dianne Perrett at 256-329-8724.

com for the scheduled subject matter, dates and times.

Antique Car Cruise-in

The Equality Performing Arts Center hosts music and other events on the second and fourth Friday nights of each month at 6:30 p.m. on Highway 9 in Equality. Country/Western, bluegrass, Southern gospel and instrumental music featured. For more information, contact Wayne Glenn at 334-5413302.

On the first Saturday of each month, car enthusiasts cruise into Arby’s parking lot on Highway 280 in Alexander City from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Join the fun and enjoy an era of classic cars and classic music.

Charity Bingo

Play charity bingo at Jake’s Restaurant at 16 Broad St., Alexander City, at 6 p.m. every Thursday night.

Cards are $1, and proceeds benefit local charities.

Amateur Radio Club

The Lake Martin Area Amateur Radio Club meets the second Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. at the terminal building at the Thomas C. Russell Field Airport (Alexander City Airport) with dinner and fellowship following at a local area restaurant. For more information, contact Michael Courtney (256-825-7766) or Mike Smith (256750-5710).

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 Calendar.RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.

Music at The Equality Performing Arts Center

Yoga on the Green

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

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.

MainStreet Farmers Market Set up to run every Saturday through October, this event will offer fresh-picked local produce, along with homemade goods such as jams, soaps and honey. There will be roughly 20 vendors each week from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., located on Lee St. in Alexander City, next to the First Baptist Church Family Life Center.

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Lake Martin News

Lake Martin Rocks took first place in the costume contest

Lake Martin Rocks the Lions Club Poker Run A record 204 poker hands were recorded at the 14th Annual Lions Club Poker Run held July 22 with an afterparty at Kowaliga Restaurant. Lake Martin Rocks won the Best Costume contest, and Lisa Sanders had the best hand with four kings.

More than 400 took part in this year’s event, which raised $20,000 for Lake Martin charities, setting new records in funds raised and attendance.

Coordinator of the event, Russell Marine President Dave Commander said the Lions Club Poker Run has become a staple for great family entertainment and a worthwhile cause on Lake Martin. ~Betsy Iler

Bassmaster Brings Huge Economic Potential It was recently announced that the Bassmaster Elite Series would kick off its 2018 schedule right here on Lake Martin.

While it’s obvious the selection of Lake Martin is a big deal for Alexander City and the surrounding areas, the potential economic impact goes much further than meets the eye.

“The big thing is there’s only so much ROI (return on investment) we can track,” Chamber of Commerce President Ed Collari said. “A lot of these tournaments will have the fishermen fill out a form about how many hotel rooms they had and how much they spent on gas and dining. But with the Bassmaster Elite Series, it’s going to be broadcast on ESPN, so how do you put a price tag on that exposure to our city and the lake?”

The tournament, which will launch from Wind Creek State Park, officially begins Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018, and runs through Sunday, Feb. 12. Three days of practice rounds will be held beginning Monday prior to the start. The series 20 LAKE

features 110 anglers for the first two rounds before the field is cut to 51 on Saturday and 12 on Sunday.

Other than a 28-day period prior to Monday’s first practice round, when fishers are not allowed to practice on the water, there’s a strong likelihood the anglers will head to Lake Martin before the tournament to scout out the lake and the best fishing practices.

An estimated 5,000 to 10,000 visitors will be coming to the lake during the week of the tournament. That number includes the anglers and their families, the tournament directors and officials and quite a few spectators.

Another potential economic impact this could bring is what Michael Mulone, the director of event and tourism partnerships for B.A.S.S., calls “residual tourism.”

The tournament should also bring quite a bit of national media attention. It’ll be broadcast on ESPN and the Watch ESPN Live app, as well as covered in Bassmaster Magazine. Mulone also expects online and newspaper coverage from around the country.

Last month, the Alexander City City Council voted unanimously to approve the request to provide $85,000 to cover the costs of hosting such a prestigious event.

“There might have been a little sticker shock, but I did my research on the economic impact and finding out if it’s worth it,” Collari said. “In talking to other communities, I found that yes, this is a huge win for us. In the grand scheme, that’s a small amount to pay for what you’re going to get in return.”

Mulone said some destinations have reported about a $2.5 million boost to their local economies.

A group of six Clarkson University MBA students did a study in 2013 about the impact the Bassmaster Elite Series had when it visited Waddington, New York, and the St. Lawrence River in August 2013. The students estimated that visitors likely spent $1.03 million to $3.38 million over the course of the tournaAnglers will likely head to ment. The Lake Martin for practice before the tournament study broke down that about 25 percent was spent on nonfishing-related shopping, 24 percent on accommodations and 23 percent on food and beverages.

During each tournament, Bassmaster also hosts an expo, which brings in fishing-specialty vendors and

SEPTEMBER 2017

provides a fun environment for the families of the competitors.

Although the cost is high, Collari said he had heard nothing but positive feedback from community members, including both anglers and business owners, who are excited about potential business during a relatively slow part of the year.

“We have a lot of traffic May through September for the lake and our economy, so our goal is to try to make year-round traffic and visitors,” Collari said. “Fishing tournaments are a key ingredient to that because the fishing is really good that time of year.”

No matter the economic impact, it’s certain to be a huge benefit for both Alex City and Lake Martin. ~Lizi Arbogast

SpringHouse considered inviting, scenic SpringHouse Restaurant's rustic stone and rough-hewn beams add atmosphere to dining experiences

SpringHouse is listed as the number one most beautiful restaurants in Alabama by the website Only in Your State.

The site reported, “SpringHouse is a warm and inviting restaurant that’s surrounded by the most beautiful scenery.

To help guests have a great experience, this restaurant offers a variety of dining areas.”

The local favorite features fresh local cuisine served in rustic, casual elegance. The interior contains rustic stone, rough-hewn beams and some hand-forged ironwork created by Benjamin Russell. The open-kitchen atmosphere invites guests not only to dine but also to a full culinary experience.

SpringHouse Restaurant is located at 12 Benson Mill Rd. in Alexander City within Russell Crossroads and is led by James Beard award-nominated Executive Chef Rob McDaniel. Open from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the seasonal menu focuses on progressive Southern simplicity.

Others included in the top 10 list were Acre from Auburn, Highlands Bar and Grill and GianMarco’s in Birmingham, along with Central in Montgomery and others from Huntsville, Anniston and Orange Beach. ~Staff Report

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LAKE 21

63

Timbergut Landing

22

280

Horseshoe Bend National Park

Jaybird Landing

Alexander City

Camp ASCCA

9 Flint Hill Church 280

49 22

Jacksons Gap Piney Woods Landing

Wind Creek State Park

280 Pleasant Grove Church

11

Alex City Boat Ramp

Mt. Zion Church

259 9

63

Dadeville

Bethel Church

128

Russell Farms Baptist Church

D.A.R.E. Park Landing

Friendship Church

57

280 New Hope Church

20

Liberty Church

Camp Hill

Smith Landing Willow Point

Pleasant Ridge Church

24

34

63 Camp Alamisco

Equality

Kowaliga Boat Landing

Lake Martin Baptist Church 49 Church of the Living Waters

The Ridge

55

Seman

Church in The Pines Camp Kiwanis

Trillium

Stillwaters

Union Landing

Children’s Harbor The Amp Ko

wa

lig

a Ba

y

80

9

Central

Walnut Hill 50

Yates Lake

90

50

Union

Union Church

Red Hill 63

49 229

Eclectic

GEOGRAPHY 101 Tallassee

Kent

Reeltown

STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

22 LAKE

SEPTEMBER 2017

Yates Lake Tallapoosa River’s ‘Middle Pond’ plays a significant role in wildlife management and preservation

Yates Lake stretches 8 miles from Martin Dam to Thurlow Dam on the Tallapoosa River

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LAKE 23

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Known by fishermen as the “middle pond,” Yates Lake takes its water directly from Lake Martin as it stretches for 8 narrow miles from Martin Dam to the site of Alabama’s first hydroelectric facility.

Yates Lake’s middle pond nickname stems from its flow directly into Lake Thurlow at the upper Tallassee dam, which along with the lake was named for Eugene A. Yates, a chief engineer and administrator for Alabama Power Company. Yates was largely responsible for the completion of Lay Dam, which was the company’s first hydroelectric plant.

The full pool lake level at Yates is 344 feet mean sea level, and the volume is 53,862 acre-feet or more than 1.75 billion gallons of water.

At just under 2,000 surface acres, Yates Lake is modest in comparison to Lake Martin’s 44,150 acres, but the area packs a punch in recreation, fishing and ecological significance.

About 20 percent of its shoreline borders dedicated wildlife sanctuary lands directly below Martin Dam. The Yates Lake Wildlife Management Area is available for public hunting, and along with property recently acquired by the Forever Wild Land Trust, the area also offers excellent hiking on the footpath-only John B. Scott Trail.

Also created on Forever Wild property on this section of the Tallapoosa River, Coon Creek Nature Preserve and Recreation Area offers visitors an environmental study area with 5 miles of trails and a public boat ramp.

Two additional public access boat ramps are located on the west bank at Elmore County Road 30, with another located at Gold Mine Road just south of Martin Dam. Because the area below the dam is a flood plain, there is little development along the banks of the lake, and the natural landscape is a haven for residential and migrating species of birds, including woodland songbirds, waterfowl and birds of prey.

Wood ducks, belted kingfishers, herons and egrets

24 LAKE

can be observed in numerous locations at Yates Lake throughout the year.

A recent bioblitz in the Yates Lake Wildlife Management Area near Tallassee documented 250-plus species in a two-day count, including the uncommon Southeastern five-lined skink and the Seminole bat.

Ecologically, the area carries significance as it is near the fall line, and aspects of the Piedmont and the Coastal Plain merge here.

“You’ve got montane longleaf pine sections here … then you’ve got bottomland hardwoods.

An interesting example is finding bald-cypress (a Coastal Plain species) growing along the margins of creeks with exposed bedrock, making it kind of a unique feature to see,” said Eric Soehren, who manages the State Lands Division’s Wehle Land Conservation Center in Bullock County and took bioblitz participants on a hike in the area.

With less boat traffic than Lake Martin, its neighbor to the north, Yates Lake is a popular kayaking area, as well, though paddlers should use caution, as submerged hazards and rising waters could create potentially dangerous conditions on the lake that averages just 1,600 feet across.

This middle pond also offers a unique situation for fishermen, as the cold water discharged from the depths of Lake Martin tend to prolong the spawning period for bream at Yates Lake, which is known for excellent catches of bluegill and sunfish through July. Largemouth and spotted bass can be caught on a regular basis; however, the lake does not grow large bass due to a lack of forage in the environment. Catfish, crappie and striped bass also can be caught in the lake, which has a maximum depth of 135 feet, though special regulations apply to striped bass on Yates Lake.

Yates Dam is just two years younger than Martin Dam and went into service on July 1, 1928.

GPS coordinates for Yates Lake are 32.4436 degrees North and 87.1002 degrees West.

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The Blue Heron

I

STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

In the early days of Lake Martin, the water levels fluctuated as much as 20 feet – sometimes more – but in 1972, a contingent of stakeholders flew to Washington to advocate for a higher and more consistent pool. Their efforts led to a 10-foot rule curve with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in the license that preceded the current license with its 7-foot winter pool allowance and conditional fall extension. Under the security of 1972’s licensed 10-foot rule curve, cabins sprung up on the hillsides around the lake.

Among these was a modest family retreat designed by architect Nick Davis for Taylor and Lucy Littleton.

Affectionately known as the Blue Heron, the original cabin was discreetly sited on a steep eastern bank with the objective of preserving as many of the lot’s shady hardwoods as possible.

The design won a 1973 architectural award for Davis, a member of the Auburn University architecture faculty.

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As the years turned over, the charming hideaway grew to accommodate the making of summer memories for the Littletons’ children and their children’s children, and in the off-season, the simple lake escape slept. But that cycle changed last year when Taylor and Lucy’s son George and his wife Dorothy built an art studio at the top of the hill.

“About 10 years ago, I started painting en plein air hoping that it would speed up my studio painting process.

I went to the Maine coast to study with Don Demers. I couldn’t take all of my painting supplies on the airplane, so when I got there, I had to purchase a chair, easel, paints and solvents … everything!” Littleton explained. “I rented a car and drove around using maps to find the harbors and remote fishing camps where we painted during the workshop. Lodging and meals were on our own, as has been the case in all of the art workshops I have attended over the years.

“I love studying with master artists in workshops, but

SEPTEMBER 2017

Opposite: (from left) Familystyle dining awaits guests in the ground floor porch; the studio construction includes reclaimed beams and tin siding; bedrooms are decorated with Littleton's art; This page: The rustic, vintage porch grants visitors comfort among the treetops

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 27

these experiences inspired me to use the cabin as an allin-one workshop location. I supply everything artists will need so that they can focus on instruction and painting. I have chairs and easels; we cater in the meals; we take artists by boat to places around the lake where they can paint; they receive instruction in the studio; and they lodge in the Blue Heron.�

The rustic, winsome setting of the lodge and studio embraces visiting artists before they even arrive, as the remote approach to the property takes them through the scenic landscape of the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Blue Heron, like the bird for which it is 28 LAKE

named, stands tall but elusive under its canopy of mature trees on a steep eastern hillside above Lake Martin.

The studio is perched at the top of the hill to make the most of the natural light and lake views, but the foothold of the lodge is planted some 70 stair steps below the road.

In a quaint, weathered lodge building where old iron beds are draped with antique quilts, the idyllic retreat welcomes artists to a porchside dining table covered with vintage cloths and surrounded by mismatched chairs that have been in the family since George was a boy.

George remembers digging the foundations for the main lodge structure with his brother when they were teenagers.

SEPTEMBER 2017

Clockwise from top left: The studio accommodates the differing styles and preferences of visiting painters; 70 steps take visitors from the hilltop to the lodges and lakefront; a poppy painted by Dorothy Littleton.

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 29

The dock, boardwalk and lakefront offer relaxation and plein air venues

The ground level screened porch living space includes this family-style dining area beside a cozy sitting area furnished with an old gray rocking chair, a lamp that makes an end table out of an aged trunk and a ladder-back bench swing suspended on chains and made comfortable with an arrangement of simple cushions. An Adirondack chair and a lovely white wicker rocker invite quiet conversation among the treetops and the eclectic collection of lake life accessories and art contributed by truly talented family and friends.

Four spacious built-in bunks on the inside wall immerse visiting artists in the full experience of nature as they live, dine and sleep among the treetops, drawing curtains across the bunk alcoves for privacy.

The porch ceiling reaches more than 16 feet up from the original pine floor, as a center loft above the porch offers a semi-private dining and reading experience just off a large mid-level bedroom inside, along with a full kitchen and bath. The large room at the top of the spiral staircase on the porch features comfortable accommodations with two twin beds for an artist who travels with a companion or doesn’t mind sharing the lodging expenses with another painter. The cozy one-person kitchen is perfect for the preparation of a simple meal or the mid-day warming of leftovers from the previous evening’s catered dinner.

Here, as in all of the accommodations, cable televisions and Wi-Fi are fully accessible.

Like the porch below, this level enjoys private access to the lake with an exit toward the central stairs that carry 30 LAKE

guests to the lake level. At the bottom of the stairs, a boardwalk leads to two covered sitting areas on docks along the 250-foot waterfront. Guests gather and mingle here, taking in views of Lake Martin. Nocturnal painters are invited to paint the moon rising over the waterfront to the east and the sunset over the river channel to the west.

Just a few steps up from the lake, the Littletons built a grilling deck. Shaded by a pergola and the intertwining of a lush grapevine, this outdoor porch tucked into the hillside makes a cozy corner for an artist seeking filtered light for a painting or the quiet respite of a cool nap on a sunny afternoon.

Several years ago, Taylor and Lucy added a third level to the original cabin. This apartment, stacked over the initial footprint, includes a screened porch and balcony from which they can view the lake and forest from a great but intimate height. With its exposed trusses, living room, kitchen, private bath and bedroom, this apartment is thoughtfully appointed, right down to the antique quilts on the bed and the cross-stitched samplers on the walls.

Some of the samplers feature quotations from the works of William Shakespeare and were stitched by former students of Taylor’s, who is a Professor Emeritus of English at Auburn University.

The quilts were made by Taylor’s grandmother, Nanny Longcrier, who was born in Birmingham during the Civil War. Works of art, they cover most of the beds in the lodge’s rooms, where comfort and style receive as much attention as the artistic atmosphere.

SEPTEMBER 2017

A second lodge was added to accommodate the Littletons' growing family

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LAKE 31

The Blue Heron's beds are covered with Nanny Longcrier's award-winning antique quilts

The main lodge is placed among the trees on the hillside

32 LAKE

Across the center stairs that run from the road to the lake, the Littletons built a second, smaller lodge to accommodate their growing family. And George and Dorothy recently renovated these rooms to enlarge and modernize the private baths for visiting artists. Each of the two bedrooms in this lodge includes a private screened porch that practically perches visitors right onto the branches of the nearby trees.

And on the lowest level of this new tower, Littleton has converted lake toy storage space into an art closet. Paints, brushes, chairs, easels and other essential gear are readily available and easily accessible.

High above it all, on the crest of the hill, George and Dorothy built the art studio on two acres, using reclaimed materials – tin siding, target molding and barn-wood beams in the vaulted ceiling. The thoughtful design includes open gables that bathe the workspace in natural northern light while supplemental lighting is recessed behind reclaimed beams to prevent glare. Counters, tables and furniture pieces can accommodate the individual styles and preferences of 10 artists – the class size limit in the workshops that Littleton hosts through the Tallapoosa School of Art.

SEPTEMBER 2017

A private screened porch places visiting painters among the branches above the lake

Most of the meals are catered during workshops, though kitchen facilities are available

Visiting instructors lodge in a loft above the open workroom.

This fall, those instructors will include Barbara Binford Davis, a portrait artist who discovered en plein air in 2004 and has exhibited works across the country, taking numerous awards. Davis will teach students to create light and shadow and arrange floral still life for painting in the studio and en plein air.

Other workshops in the coming fall and spring will feature Hodges Soileau, Craig Reynolds, David Boyd Jr., Ronald Bayens, Perry Austin, Bill Farnsworth, Greg Barnes, Nancie King Mertz, Iain Stewart and John P. Lasater IV, all notable names in the world of art.

And this year in particular, with the extension of the winter pool level into mid-October, plein air art students at this charming retreat will find the unique opportunity of painting autumn’s rich tones with Lake Martin’s full summer pool water, as conditions appear to have aligned for the granting of a fall extension – something that can be expected only once every four to six years.

For more information about the Tallapoosa School of Art, its workshops and guild memberships, visit the website at www.tallapoosaworkshops.com.

Artists are invited to take lunch or paint at a picnic table outside the studio

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 33

34 LAKE

SEPTEMBER 2017

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SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 35

NATURE OF THE LAKE

BY KENNETH BOONE

The Great Egret

Meet Lake Martin's Showy Shorebird

This graceful bird is 3-1/2 feet tall with a 4-1/2-foot wingspan and stands out from any other found on Lake Martin

36 LAKE

SEPTEMBER 2017

T

The Great Egret on Lake Martin is easy to ID. It is tall, graceful and majestic. Its plumage is stickout-like-a-sore-thumb bright white. It has a long, thin “S” shaped neck; a long, thin yellow bill and long, thin black legs. It spends most of its time walking the bank on lakes and creeks and other wetlands. It’s so large that it is easy to spot from hundreds of yards away: 3-1/2 feet tall with a 4-1/2-foot wingspan. The only other large white bird on Lake Martin is the white pelican, and those look nothing like the Great Egret, which looks a lot like a Great Blue Heron, except that the Great Egret is a touch smaller and eye-catchingly white.

The scientific name for this bird, Ardea alba, is about as plain Jane as you can get. It means “white heron” in Latin.

So if you see a large white heron-like bird here on Lake Martin, it’s a Great Egret.

However that is not true everywhere. In southern Florida, the Great Blue Heron sometimes grows allwhite plumage and is called a “white morph adult.”

These all-white Great Blue Herons are distinguished from a Great Egret primarily by a larger, heavier shape and pale yellow-gray legs.

Great Egrets are native to Lake Martin, but this area is near the northern edge of the birds’ common breeding area.

In most of the U.S. and southern Canada, Great Egrets are summer-dwellers – literally “snow birds” – that fly to Mexico, Central America, the West Indies islands and South America for the winter. During warm winters (which are increasingly common) some Great Egrets may stay here year ‘round.

Great Egrets hunt by stalking slowly or standing statue-still on the shoreline as they wait for the opportunity to snatch an unsuspecting fish out of fresh, brackish or salt water. They will also swim while hunting or fly over and pick fish from the surface, but the vast majority of the time, they’re prowling the shorelines. As a general rule, they actively hunt with their necks extended; relax with an “S” shaped neck; and fly with their necks pressed in close to their bodies.

Their diet centers around small fish, but this bird will also snack on most of the animals that live along the shoreline, including insects like dragonflies, beetles and grasshoppers; worms; frogs; salamanders; snakes; crawfish; shrimp; or small rodents and even other birds.

These stately birds were once so hunted that they were threatened with extinction. The reason is that during its summer breeding season, adult Great Egrets grow a cape of long, white, feathery plumes or “aigrettes” that during the late 1800s and early 1900s were all the rage in ladies’ hats. Plume hunting for great egrets was banned around 1910, and the birds began to make a comeback.

The Great Egret is the symbol of the National Audubon Society, a prominent conservation organization that was originally formed in an effort to stop the killing of these birds for their feathers.

Great Egret numbers have been increasing since the hunting stopped, and now scientists estimate there are more than 180,000 breeding pairs of great egrets in North America.

Male Great Egrets use their plumes, and a patch of skin on their faces, to attract mates. They raise their aigrettes and engage in a courtship display that includes stretching their necks up to the sky, holding sticks in their bills, ducking their heads, calling, circular flight patterns and preening their wings. The patch of skin on their faces turns a bright, almost fluorescent green. All of this is very attractive to the gals, and when choices have been made and the couples settle down, great egrets remain monogamous for the breeding season.

Large nesting platforms up to 3 feet wide are built of long sticks in trees and bushes, often above water but sometimes a good distance away. They typically nest with other great egrets, and islands are favorite spots for colonies.

Great Egret nests are usually built by the male before a couple partners up, and nests are the sites of the courtship displays.

After the couple is set, the nest is finished with plant material that forms a cup-shape to contain the eggs, and some (but not all) generous gals help finish building the nest.

Females lay a clutch of 1-6 (most often 3-4) pale green-blue eggs, which will incubate for three weeks to a month. When the chicks are born – with their eyes open and white downy feathers on their backs – they will stay in the nest for another three weeks before climbing out. Great Egret chicks can fly at the age of 6-7 weeks old.

Great Egrets like to be around other birds and will sometimes feed with other herons or cormorants and sometimes feed in fields with cattle.

One banded Great Egret lived to be 22 years, 10 months old, the oldest known individual.

Information for this article came from Cornell University’s www.allaboutbirds.org and the National Audubon Society’s www.audubon.org.

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 37

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38 LAKE

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LAKE 39

Businesses announce plans for hours and services around the lake during fall extension of summer pool level

A

Alabama Power Company’s (APC) most recent data analysis looks good for the granting of the conditional fall extension on Sept. 1, said APC HydroServices Manager Jim Crew.

“We will continue to evaluate it, and it looks like it will stay at ‘somewhat likely’ until Sept. 1, which is the highest, most probable category it could be at this point,” Crew said.

“All four of the criteria for a fall extension are met now, but it depends on what the data shows on Sept. 1.”

Under the operating license for Martin Dam, inflow and water levels at lakes on the Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers must meet specific criteria on Sept. 1 to warrant an extension of the summer pool. Crew said the criteria basically attest to there being plenty of water in the system.

“Everybody knows we’ve had a wet summer. I don’t think there’s any question about that,” he said.

There is still some potential rain coming from the tropical storms in Texas and inflows into the basin are good, which places the fall extension in an even better position, said Crew.

He also indicated that it’s unlikely the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE), which has some jurisdiction downstream, would have any effect on the possibility of the proposed extension.

“The Coosa River inflow effect, which is a seven-day average of rolling inflow, is affected somewhat by what happens upstream in COE projects. They have cut back on releases somewhat, but anything they would do would not be substantial enough to alter the situation,” he said.

Locally, restaurants and marinas on Lake Martin are watching the reactions of lake-goers and will adjust their hours and service availability as needed.

Singleton Marine’s Administrative Assistant Jennifer Shockley said Blue Creek Marina tends to base its winter hours solely on water level and foot traffic, so if both remain steady, the marina will be flexible with its hours.

She said customers could check the Facebook page or call the marina to determine hours, as she will be sure to continually update the recordings and the information.

“Our store stays open year-round. We never close, but we do start to cut back on hours during the day, especially Sundays, and average being open about five days a week.

If traffic remains steady though, we will keep all hours as it is. We’ll let our customers show us what hours we need to keep,” said Shockley.

Blue Creek Marina will have 24-hour gas pumps, seven

40 LAKE

days a week, 365 days a year, so there is constant availability for those still boating on the lake.

Parker Creek typically receives less traffic earlier and would close around Oct. 15, said Shockley; however, if the lake level is up and enough foot traffic remains strong, it could stay open for a bit longer.

After Labor Day, Chuckwalla’s Pizzeria will be open Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. until the end of September. Then the pizzeria will be closed for the season, but the marina store will stay open until the end of October Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Harbor Restaurant will host its final live entertainment Labor Day weekend with Mitch Emmons playing Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. The restaurant will remain open with its summer hours until Oct. 15, when hours will be Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Nibbler’s Float-thru Grill will be on the lake Labor Day weekend Saturday, Sunday and Monday before officially closing for the season.

SpringHouse Restaurant, Kowaliga Restaurant and Catherine’s Market will maintain normal hours.

SpringHouse is open Wednesday through Saturday 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kowaliga is open Wednesday and Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 9

SEPTEMBER 2017

More Fun Longer STORY BY BETSY ILER & AMY PASSARETTI PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE

p.m. Catherine’s Market is open Tuesday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (café closes at 2 p.m.), Friday and Saturday 1 a.m. to 8 p.m. (café closes at 4 p.m.) and Sunday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Friday on the Green and Catherine’s Market wine tastings will end Sept. 15.

“We’re typically open year-round for when people are here anyway, so I don’t anticipate that changing, and we already have events planned year-round. If there were some huge surge in crowds because of more water, definitely we would hope to be nimble enough to react,” said Roger Holliday, Russell Lands’ vice president.

Since children have gone back to school earlier this year, and it is quickly approaching everyone’s favored football season, extending events and hours is likely not beneficial for surrounding businesses.

“We don’t plan to extend restaurant hours because we feel the rhythm of the lake is dictated by the school and football schedule. Our lake community is a fluid community, so our main concentration is having our marina store open for customers through October and getting ready to winterize boats,” said Jane Harris of Chuck’s Marina.

The overall consensus seems to put Labor Day as the unofficial indication that summer is over and most waterfront businesses will adjust hours accordingly.

“We’d love it if more people would make more use of the lake longer into the year. The people who do live here will be able to enjoy it more if full pool is extended,” said Holliday.

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 41

Abundant rain leads to local fish kill

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STORY BY BETSY ILER

Striper fishermen likely will see the downside of the hot, rainy summer for another month or more, as the rain that has saturated the river basin also has killed many of the lake’s largest striped Pam and Bill Mac Allister bass. Large dead stripdiscovered a herring kill at ers and blueback herBig Beach Aug. 13 ring have been seen floating on the lake and washing up on the banks of the lake for more than a month, and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources officials attribute the fish kill to a depletion of the striper’s habitat due to the abundance of rain in the area this summer.

Though only a few large stripers may be seen on the surface, said Assistant Fisheries Chief for the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Chris Greene, that number is a very small percentage of the number of fish that actually are dying.

Most of the affected fish remain suspended under the surface or sink to the bottom, he said.

“We knew this year was setting up like this and had already honed in that this might happen,” Greene explained. “This type of event hits larger fish harder, so we’re seeing big stripers in this situation. The smaller, younger ones are able to toler-

42 LAKE

ate it. The larger fish are more affected by the summer squeeze.”

‘Summer squeeze’ is a term that describes the loss of water conditions that are ideal for the fish. With heavy inflows from the watershed, water temperatures and oxygen levels in the lake change, and layers form.

“You can feel that stratification sometimes if you are swimming. Your upper body is in warm water, but you can feel the cold water on your feet,” Greene explained.

The warmer layer at the surface is oxygenated, but the colder water is not, he said.

“Striped bass cannot tolerate either extreme and attempt to locate at an acceptable transitional depth with both cool water and adequate oxygen,” he said.

As that ideal layer shrinks, the stripers get ‘squeezed’ between the extremes.

“It hits larger fish harder,” Greene said.

“They need more oxygen to survive than the smaller ones.”

Some of the floating fish in the kill may have been caught by anglers but died as a result of being pulled up through the warm water layer, he said.

SEPTEMBER 2017

Blueback herring are not native to Alabama and also are affected by the transition.

“These fish ended up in Lake Martin apparently through an illegal stocking. Blueback herring have similar requirements as striped bass; therefore, they will suffer mortality similar to striped bass when suitable habitat is not available,” he added.

The problem is especially particular to the abundant rainfall the area has received this year. More water flowing into Lake Martin from upstream tributaries and runoff has required the passing of more water downstream.

“The power company has been pulling water and doing what they have to do to keep the water level right. As much water as they had to pull, it has messed with the oxygen levels in the water, and the fish are stressed out,” said Alex City Guide Service Capt. David Hare. “That’s affecting the bite and how they act. They’re harder to catch. We were out on the 18th, and we wore the stripers out, but on Saturday, we saw the fish, but they would not bite.”

The good news, Greene said, is that the kill will not have long-term effects on the striper fishing in Lake Martin.

“Anglers will still catch fish, but they will see a decrease in size for a while,” he said. “We stock the reservoir with striped bass every year – three per acre (approximately 130,000 anually). It will just take time for those fish to grow up.”

The kill is not expected to affect water quality on Lake Martin, said Lake Watch Lake Martin President Eric Reutebuch.

“I don’t think the fish that sink to the bottom would have any impact on water quality during the late spring-summer or early fall since the water there is confined to the bottom, being colder, heavier water, which is already low in dissolved oxygen,” Reutebuch said.

And though an increase in the amount of rain yields an increase in surface runoff – including fertilizers, pesticides and livestock waste – the detrimental effects of the runoff are minimized by several other factors, including dilution.

“I believe that this fish kill was likely unavoidable.

Summer rains like those we have had this are the worst because they occur when reservoirs are already at or near full pool, meaning there is little space to put the additional water unless the dam is run to make room,” said Dr. Steven Sammons, research fellow at Auburn University School of Fisheries.

The fish kill can be expected to persist for several more weeks, as the area continues to experience hot days with abundant rainfall, but as autumn weather moves in, the problem will naturally correct.

“We expect to see fish mortalities at Lake Martin cease once the lake begins to de-stratify and suitable habitat returns, which will likely occur sometime in October,” Greene said.

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 43

“Find Your Own Slice of Paradise on Lake Martin” Chuckwalla’s Pizza Open Thursday - Monday Ship Store Open 7 Days a Week SEPTEMBER

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• Sunday, September 3rd: Kane and PJ from Kane and the Saints closing out the weekend The bar will open until 11 pm once music starts on Friday and Sat. Music is played on Fri. and Sat. 7:30-10:30 and Sunday Holiday Nights 6pm-9pm Monday Labor Day Drawing Party Sept 4th: 2pm-5pm Get Ready for the 4pm Drawing for the 2000 Bayliner Boat Benefiting the Lake Martin Animal Shelter!

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44 LAKE

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LAKE 45

PRACTIC

Cassidy Gale throws the board into a spin during a practice session at Lake Martin

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SEPTEMBER 2017

CE TIME No. 2 ranked professional women's wake surfer spends time on Lake Martin during USA National Championship

STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 47

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Lake Martin played host to the No. 2 ranked professional women’s wake surfer in the nation last month when 18-year-old Cassidy Gale put in some practice time here during the USA National Championship competition. A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Gale spent Saturday, Aug. 19, with Lake magazine’s Behind the Boat columnist Sawyer Davis to get the practice she needed to edge out Jordan Wolfe for the second place spot behind powerhouse surfer Ashley Kidd.

Gale was tied for second two days into the contest, which was held at Callaway Gardens Aug. 17-20, and chose to spend the third-day break gaining experience behind a G23 Super Air Nautique like the one that was used in the competition.

“I surf behind a Malibu M235, which has a different shape wake than the G23,” Gale explained.

With the second place trophy on the line, Gale’s father, Doug Gale, arranged the practice day on Lake Martin to give his daughter the comfort level she needed to clinch the No. 2 spot.

“I need to work on everything, to get used to the shape of the wake,” Gale said during her Saturday morning workout.

A fluid, aggressive wake surfer, Gale hoped more

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practice behind the G23’s wake would sharpen her two 45-second routines in front of the judges during Sunday’s final competition round. The steeper wake of the Nautique required minor adjustments in Gale’s weight distribution and the execution of her ollies, 720s, slashes and other tricks.

“The front section of the wake is what’s different,” she said between run sessions.

By mid-morning, the rising high school senior was holding her position in the wake and executing tricks more comfortably.

Gale, who has been wake surfing since she was 10 years old, is in her first year as a pro and has quickly progressed. As an amateur, she took numerous titles, including last year’s wins in Nautique’s Canadian Wakesurf Championship, the USA Nationals and the Amateur Women’s Surf Final at the Centurion World WakeSurfing Championship. As a first-year pro, she took second place at The 10,000 Lakes Open in Minneapolis and also the Rocky Mountain Wakesurf Open in Utah last month and is ranked sixth in the world.

Gale is a hard charging, intense athlete who adapted the skills she has acquired on the snowboard to wake

Gale throws a bucket of water over the wake with a power slash

48 LAKE

SEPTEMBER 2017

A

Gale grabs the board under her feet as the board pops air above the wake

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 49

surfing. She grew up on the slope at Cannonsburg Ski Area in Belmont, Michigan, where she put the first board under her feet at 5 years old.

“My snowboarding definitely adds a dimension to surfing.

Standing is the same; it has the same feel and movement, weight shifts, and the execution is the same on some of the tricks,” she said.

She learned wake surfing at a family cabin on Walloon Lake in Petoskey, Michigan. And though her two brothers also wake surf, Gale is the only one who has taken the sport to the professional level.

A board athlete for most of her life, she’s as comfortable on the surfboard as she is walking, and she rides the wake with a level of confidence that is beyond muscle memory – it’s part of who she is now.

She practices every chance she gets and has a regular workout routine. She’s toned her slim build to the demands of whipping tricks with quick force. Her slash throws a bucket of water over the opposite side of the wake, as she channels energy from her shoulders, back, feet, legs and hip into the cut. And every trick is executed with power. She holds nothing back but gives her all in variety, execution, difficulty and intensity – the four categories judged in competition surfing.

Having fallen in love with the sport early in her athletic life, Gale has improved through the years with the support of her parents, Doug and Karen Gale, as well as her sponsors, including Malibu Boats, Tommy’s (Gale’s Malibu dealer), Agenda Surf and Follow. She has occasionally been professionally coached, but the best method of improvement, she’s found, has been video analysis and time behind the boat.

To get more of that time, she spent two months in Clermont, Florida, last year to prepare for pro competitions this summer.

“Michigan just doesn’t have a long enough season,” she said. “To compete at

A first-year professional, Gale gives her all to every trick behind the boat

50 LAKE

SEPTEMBER 2017

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 51

The 18-year-old Michigan native adapted skills she learned as a snowboarder to her love of wake surfing

52 LAKE

SEPTEMBER 2017

Gale approaches each maneuver with confidence and commitment

Gale will be a senior in high school this fall

this level, you have to get that extra time on the water.”

Practice is fun but definitely hard work. She pounds at perfection relentlessly to hit a new trick, which may take a week of practice sessions. She keeps her body toned and rarely has any muscle soreness.

As a pro, she must enter a minimum of four ranked contests in the season; she’s hitting six this year and drives herself toward the goal – a podium position at the World Championships.

Extra practice time on Lake Martin is part of the hard work she hopes will put her there one day soon.

Though hers was only a brief introduction to Alabama and the state’s only Treasured Lake – Gale and her father arrived at Lake Martin before 8 a.m. and returned to Callaway Gardens, Georgia, Saturday evening – the professional wake surfer said she enjoyed the area and she hopes she will be able to return.

“I love the beautiful, natural land and the steep banks,” she said.

Her session started in the early morning on glassy waters above the dam before the weekend lake traffic picked up. She rode along the shoreline of Goat Island for the morning practice session and smiled at the goats and the stories of their residency.

“The water is nice,” she said with a smile. “It would be fun to come back here.”

Her Lake Martin practice session helped Gale secure the No. 2 spot in the USA Nationals competition

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 53

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SEPTEMBER 2017

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 55

Mr. Jim's Last Vegetable Plate

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STORY BY BOB CARLTON, THE BIRMINGHAM NEWS/AL.COM & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

Mr. Jim was past retirement age when he heard about the time, he sounds like he really means it. fancy new restaurant that was opening near Lake Martin.

Next February will be his ninth anniversary at the restaurant “I was already over the age limit,” he remembers. “The – and he’ll turn 80 a couple of months later – so he figures that application said, ‘from 18 to 68,’and I was already 70 years will be a good time to hang up his apron for good. old.”

“I’ll have to talk it over with him,” he says, pointing to He applied anyway.

McDaniel. “He may talk me into staying a little longer.”

James Black, after all, had been cooking since he was 12, The son of a sharecropper and he had worked in restaurants almost all his adult life, Raised on a small farm outside of Alexander City, James including in swanky hotels like the Ritz-Carlton.

Black was the seventh of 11 brothers and sisters.

So he thought maybe that new restaurant and its young chef “I had a nickname – ‘Brother,’” he remembers. “That’s what could use someone with his experience. all the siblings called me until I became an adult.”

And he was right.

His father, Newt Black, was a sharecropper who grew Hiring James Black – or “Mr. Jim,” as most everyapples, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, peas and corn, which he sold body knows him now – was one of wisest moves Rob out of the back of a mule-drawn wagon.

McDaniel made when, at 31, he became the executive chef at “Those were good ol’ days,” Mr. Jim says. “It really was.”

SpringHouse, the Southern-influenced farm-to-table restaurant When he was 12 years old, though, his mother, Mattie Lou that opened outside of Alexander City in 2009.

Black, suddenly fell ill while washing clothes one morning.

“We were like the Bad News Bears when we opened this “Huge balls of sweat started running down her face and she place,” McDaniel recalls. “He was our 70-year-old grill cook.” started to shake,” he remembers. “We took her in the house With a menu that features produce grown by local farmand put her on the bed and called the doctor. The doctor was ers and seafood fresh from the Gulf, SpringHouse has since there in about an hour, I guess. become one of Alabama’s finest dining gems, and McDaniel, “He said he had to get her to the hospital right away, and a James Beard Foundation Award semifinalist for best chef in she passed away about five o’clock in the afternoon. I don’t the South for the past five years in a row, is one of the state’s know if she had a stroke or what because my dad would never rising culinary stars. talk about it.”

But McDaniel will tell you he will always owe a debt of Not yet a teenager, James Black took it upon himself to feed gratitude to Mr. Jim. the family.

“I don’t own this restaurant, and I never will,” McDaniel “Somebody had to cook for them, so I just got in the kitchsays. “But I feel like this restaurant is a part of my soul, as en and started doing the things I had seen her do,” he says. “I much as people say that I am a part of it. found out I really liked it.”

“And I think that Mr. Jim is just as much a part of it as I Some nights, dinner was just buttermilk and cornbread. am, because of how long both of us have been here and what “We were poor,” he says. “We didn’t have much. My dad we’ve been through to get to this point. I will forever be grate- would kill hogs in the wintertime. We grew our own vegetaful for the job Mr. Jim has done.” bles. It was just country food, you know.”

A tribute to Mr. Jim To St. Louis and back home again Fittingly, one of the most popular items on the summer After he finished high school, James Black joined the Army menu at SpringHouse is Mr. Jim’s Vegetable Plate, a bountiful and became a cook in the mess hall. He later settled in St. and beautiful medley of squash casserole, grilled okra, mariLouis, where he worked for a few years as a line cook at the nated cucumbers, creamed corn, field peas, heirloom tomatoes, Ritz-Carlton. “pool hall” slaw and a wedge of cornbread.

“I loved the Ritz,” he says. “I loved the glitter and glamour “I guess it was three or four years ago that I put his name on of hotels.” it,” McDaniel says. “I was sitting there one day, and I realized Until one day when he didn’t love it anymore. that Mr. Jim made everything on that plate. So it only seemed “We were busy on a Sunday morning for breakfast, and right that we honor Mr. Jim with that.” there were four cooks on the line,” he recalls. “We were putDuring the summer, the $28 vegetable plate is the most ting some food out, and one of the servers says, ‘Uh, which popular entree on the SpringHouse menu, and the restaurant one of these is an eggs Benedict?’ typically sells 75 to 80 orders on a Friday or Saturday night, “I said, ‘Did you go through the same training we went McDaniel says. through here, and you don’t know what an eggs Benedict is?’

“People get upset when we take it off the menu, and they And she told me to kiss what she sits down on. get upset when we don’t have it on the menu yet,” he adds.

“I didn’t curse her or anything, but I had some choice words “But I’ve always said that we will not have it on the menu to say to her. She went out and told her manager. They susunless all of those things are to a certain degree of perfection.” pended me for three days.”

Mr. Jim’s Vegetable Plate will always be a summer staple at He added some vacation time to that suspension and went SpringHouse, but this will be the last summer Mr. Jim will be back to Alexander City for a family reunion. here to prepare it.

It had been more than 25 years since he moved away, but Now 79, Mr. Jim is talking about retiring again, and this when he found out that Willow Point Country Club was hiring, 56 LAKE SEPTEMBER 2017

Mr. Jim with the vegetable plate that bears his name

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 57

he decided it was time to come back home again.

“I liked hotel work, but it was just too much going on in the big city,” he says. “I haven’t regretted at all moving back home.”

He worked as a line cook at the country club for about six months, and then he was offered a job running the kitchen at Lake Hill Restaurant in Alexander City.

“I did the buying, made out the menu, did all of the inventory,” he says. “I ran the whole thing.”

Mr. Jim stayed at Lake Hill Restaurant for about 14 years, until it closed around 2005, and he later worked part-time at Ruby Tuesday.

Then he found out that they needed help at SpringHouse.

A new home at SpringHouse They had quite a crew back then.

McDaniel had been a chef at Hot and Hot Fish Club in Birmingham and for the Jim ’N Nick’s Bar-B-Q chain. His sous chef had worked at Highlands Bar and Grill. Another cook came from Taco Bell, and a couple of others had never worked in a restaurant before. Another one had cooked with Mr. Jim at Lake Hill Restaurant.

“I often think back to when we first started,” McDaniel says. “There was one day in particular that I thought everybody was going to walk out on us because it was a rough day. And we hadn’t even opened the restaurant yet. We were still training.”

McDaniel was the one who started calling his 70-year-old grill cook “Mr. Jim,” out of respect.

“We’ve always called him Mr. Jim because he’s our elder,” McDaniel says. “We had another James (Bramlett) who was my sous chef when we opened, and James and I called him Mr. Jim, and it just stuck.”

After about three years at the restaurant, Mr. Jim, who is diabetic, found out during one of his checkups that he had leukemia.

His doctors caught it early, though, and he has been able to treat it with medication without missing any work, he says.

“I’m doing fine now,” he says. “I just have to take these pills every day.”

Still, when he first heard the news, it got him to thinking that maybe it was time to retire.

“I’m a praying person, and I’m a believer in the man upstairs,” he says. “When I came to work here, with my age, I said, ‘Lord, if you just let me get three good years at SpringHouse, I’ll be happy.’

“And when three years was up, I decided I was going to retire.”

After a couple of weeks, though, he got restless and bored being at home all by himself.

“I called Rob up and said, ‘Chef, I need to come back to work.’ He said, ‘Well, when can you come in?’ I said, ‘I’ll be there in an hour.’”

58 LAKE

That was five years ago, and Mr. Jim says he hasn’t missed a day of work since.

Three years turned into eight As he should, Mr. Jim takes pride in the fact that McDaniel – whom he calls “the best chef I have ever worked for” – is often recognized as one of the top chefs in the South, and that SpringHouse has become one of the region’s best destination restaurants.

“I’m very proud of that, I really am,” Mr. Jim says. “We had one couple that lived in Columbus, Ga., and they came up to SpringHouse every weekend and always sat at the chef’s counter just to see me work. Right now, we are really in the big time, so to speak.”

McDaniel and Mr. Jim are the only two left from the original kitchen crew that opened the restaurant more than eight years ago, but as he approaches his 80th birthday next spring, Mr. Jim knows it’s time to say goodbye to the job he has loved the most.

Of Newt and Mattie Lou Black’s 11 children, now it’s just him and his three sisters, two of whom live in St. Louis and one of whom is in Huntsville.

“I never got married,” Mr. Jim says. “But now I wish I had because all of the siblings have children except me. I’m the last male in my family living now. I lost two brothers and a nephew in the last six months.”

This year, he was ordained as a deacon at Darian Missionary Baptist Church in Alexander City, and he feels like the Lord is calling on him to do something else.

“My legs just don’t hold up the way they used to,” he says. “The Good Lord gave me the three years that I asked for, plus five more, and I don’t want to push it.

“Those three years have turned into eight, so I think it’s time I left work and I can spend more time studying the word.

“I’ll probably find some volunteer work,” he adds. “I have to stay busy. I’d be dead in six months if I just went home and sat down.”

McDaniel starts to tear up when he talks about what Mr. Jim has meant to the restaurant, and when he thinks about what it will be like there without him around.

“There have been a lot of folks (come) through these doors that have helped us get to this point,” he says. “But none of them has meant as much to me as Mr. Jim has.”

There’s still time, though, to get one last vegetable plate from Mr. Jim before it goes out of season in September.

“We will continue to make the vegetable plate,” McDaniel says. “But unless he comes back next summer, it won’t be made by him.”

Years from now, though, when guests see it on the menu and wonder how it got its name, McDaniel can tell them the story of Mr. Jim, the elder statesman of SpringHouse.

Reprinted by permission from Alabama Media Group

SEPTEMBER 2017

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Each woman has her own personal style, such as the Pink Palace

Cindy Yates enjoys using décor that brings back memories

STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI & PHOTOS BY SHANNON MCDUFFIE

Women from six states went glamping at Wind Creek State Park.

Photo courtsey of Jeanne Gaffney

60 LAKE

SEPTEMBER 2017

Sisters on the Fly ensure their campers stand out from others during group trips

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Combining a love of camping and sisterhood, a group of 30 women from six Southeast states glammed up their vintage trailers at Wind Creek State Park as part of Sisters on the Fly, a social outdoor club for women.

The two slogans of the group are “making girls out of women” and “we have more fun than anyone.” The rule is no men, no kids and be nice. With more than 9,000 members nationwide, participants may form a bond with women they have never met.

“You meet some awesome, awesome women that will be there throughout the trials and tribulations in your life.

If something happens, you receive cards and letters from all over the U.S., which is such a special feeling,” said Nan McGuffey, who’s been a member for nearly 12 years.

“You’re not mommy; you’re not a wife; not a babysitter; you can just let your hair down and be you.”

The sisters host events at various campgrounds throughout the U.S., and some travel across the country. This was the first Sisters on the Fly event at Lake Martin, but many had been on the lake before.

“We used to camp at Lake Martin all the time and love that you can just pull the boat right up and get out to camp.

Lake Martin is a beautiful location, and people are going to want to come back here,” said Sue Edmondson, one of the longest-standing members in attendance this weekend at number 612.

Each woman has a number, which is how members identify one another, and they are handed out in chronological order; therefore, the lower the number, the longer a woman has been a member. Most women in the group are retired with an average age of 55 and older, but anyone can join.

“Age doesn’t matter. The number means nothing. You feel young at heart anyway, and we all get to know each other so well,” said Laura Clifton, who is the wrangler (or coordina-

The interior of trailers are decorated with unique accents

tor) for Alabama.

Members pay $70 per year, which grants them access to conversations, member directories, a calendar of events and the community of support. They are not obligated to attend any events; nor is there a limit to the number of events they can attend. Members also pay all applicable venue fees for campsites and services.

While some stay in local cabins, cottages or hotels, the majority of women own, name and decorate their own trailers; and they aren’t exactly roughing it.

“We all make our trailers our own. We call it ‘glamping’ – glamorous camping. Everyone does their own thing, and you’ll see china, etched glassware, silver and lots of nice amenities,” said Jeanne Gaffney, who was the host for this particular event.

From outdoor décor – including rugs, awnings, plants and

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Beverly Dykes from Fairhope

chairs – to indoor themes named her trailer Ruby for its based on personal styles, the color and for being sweet regions in which they live or something special to them, these women take great care in making sure their trailers stand out from other campers.

Susan Sprigner owns a 1964 Airstream and has done all the renovations herself, including a countertop made with pennies.

At least three women at the park had named their trailers after their mothers and feature photos and memorabilia to honor them.

Often, the sisters form a trailer tour where they really go all out and even dress according to their themed décors. They’ve been known to have as many as 2,000 people visit the RVs, and they sometimes charge a fee for the tour, which they donate to one of their favorite charities: Casting for Recovery or Mazie Morrison Foundation. Many trips are organized around these events, which can be set up by the sisters or by the host campground.

When signing up for a new trip, each Cindy Lou Who boasts member tries to ensure she is located a delictable dessert display and '50s memorabilia in the same area as everyone else, and around the host camp, which is a centralized location to gather, share stories and meals and drink cocktails. safety and support in numbers with everyone willing to “Camping is the first line of attraction to the group, but help each other, even if they’re strangers at the start. once you get in, you don’t even realize or expect all this “You get to challenge yourself in some ways, overcombonding. It’s nice to have that anonymity aspect. We’re ing fears. You pull your own trailer and hook it up. It’s coming together on common ground, and there’s less presempowering to know you can do it,” said Gaffney. sure to share your story, and you can just be you,” said The organization began with two sisters, Becky and Clifton.

Maurrie, who were raised by their adventure-loving mother Although the group does try to teach or learn new skills Mazie and learned to appreciate the outdoors. They camped and hobbies, such as kayaking, fly-fishing, Dutch oven and fly-fished frequently and began to share their passion cooking and knot tying, the group is mostly social, and with other women, enjoying social time while camping. members spend their time hanging out together and enjoyEventually, membership exploded and expanded across the ing the outdoors. country.

The Lake Martin weekend was a training session for This concept has spread, and many members have joined new members to learn the ins and outs of the organization, because a friend or family member loved it and wanted the structure and guidelines and how to sign up for future them to be involved. Most get excited from the beginning, events. Rookie Roundup had nine new members from and many have joined and bought trailers after just one Alabama, which has had low membership. event or upon first meeting the group.

“We’re just now starting to see an increase in interest in “It’s easy to get wrapped up in work and children and Alabama, so that’s why we’re here. We’re trying to encour- lose who you are. I really found myself with this group,” age Alabama to step up and get involved,” said Clifton. said Vickey Perry, who has been a member for less than a There were also two ‘sisters on the try’ in the group, year but has jumped in at full speed, decorating her trailer which allows a woman to attend an event before joining, so and frequently attending events. she can test the waters. The sisterhood aspect adds a layer “This is the best thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Perry of comfort to those involved, and McGuffey said there are said.

62 LAKE

SEPTEMBER 2017

Happiness awaits just outside Auburn University. Hidden away in the world-class golf courses at RTJ Grand National, the community of National Village offers everything you’ll need for everyday living.

Reside in award-winning craftsman-style cottages, explore miles of picturesque nature trails, and enjoy multiple fishing and boating options on our lakes. Dive into the resort pools and serve up some fun at the tennis and pickle ball complex. Golfers will love the three courses at Grand National on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Homes from the high $200,000’s to over $500,000 in three distinctive neighborhoods.

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NEW DESIGNS LOCATED ON THE GRAND NATIONAL GOLF COURSE SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 63

Clean Water Partnership supports CRATA project Presents $5,000 grant for environmental education

T

he Middle Tallapoosa River Basin Clean Water Partnership (MTRBCWP) has awarded a $5,000 grant to the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association (CRATA) to be used for the Smith Mountain Outdoor Environmental Education Complex.

“Much of CRATA’s Smith Mountain project relates directly to our mission to educate the public about water resources and aquatic ecosystems and to promote wise, sustainable use of natural resources within the Middle Tallapoosa watershed, and we are proud to be able to contribute to that effort,” said MTRBCWP Coordinator Sabrina Clark Wood.

CRATA board member Harold Banks said the generous contribution would go a long way in helping the organization to meet a matching funds requirement for a recreational trail grant recently received from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

“We are blessed in the Lake Martin area to have some of the cleanest waterways on earth, and the MTRBCWP is committed to maintaining optimum water quality in the Middle Tallapoosa watershed. I have long admired their work and have participated in some of their projects and attended seminars sponsored by MTRBCWP. The CRATA board is elated to have them as a partner. In addition to using MTRBCWP’s funds wisely, we will call on their expertise to help us design educational panels related to water quality,” Banks said.

“The broad purpose of the MTRBCWP is to protect, improve and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Middle Tallapoosa watershed to meet and exceed the Clean Water 64 LAKE

Act and Safe Drinking Water Act goals through a basin-wide public/private partnership to include educational efforts, community outreach, technical assistance and resource allocation,” explained Wood. “We welcome all groups, public and private, to our table to find solutions and collaborate with everyone willing to participate to prevent water quality problems. We are politically neutral and bring people together in a non-regulatory way to preserve our precious water resources. We reach out to all age groups to teach children and adults how to protect the Tallapoosa River basin.

“We are probably most visible at our Water Festival, held each year at Wind Creek State Park, where every fourth grader in Tallapoosa County and Alexander City schools attends to learn about water quality, aquatic ecosystems, river basin stewardship and water safety. We sponsor workshops on septic tanks, rain barrels and erosion control. We have a drug take-back program to prevent the flushing and improper disposal of drugs and have throwaway day events that keep tons of garbage from ending up in ditches and drainage areas.

Currently, we are involved in a storm drain marking program to raise awareness of that potential channel for pollution into our waterways.”

Wood said her first significant appreciation for the work of CRATA came when her family visited Smith Mountain.

“I was blown away by the beauty of the mountain itself, and the views from the restored fire tower are definitely the most spectacular in our part of the state. I was impressed that CRATA volunteers had taken a dilapidated old tower and an area that was

SEPTEMBER 2017

once off limits and made it safe and accessible to the public for free.

“When I heard about CRATA’s plans to create an outdoor education complex on Smith Mountain, I was intrigued and invited Harold Banks to speak at MTRBCWP’s Stakeholder Committee meeting. Mr. Banks described CRATA’s plans to install an array of kiosks and high-quality graphic display panels on and around the Smith Mountain tower that would be the equivalent of an outdoor nature museum. Smith Mountain’s restored fire tower and network of hiking trails attract many visitors, and Mr. Banks explained that by helping people better understand the nature around them, we also help them become better stewards of the land and water. That objective is consistent with the education mission of MTRBCWP. CRATA applied for a grant that we offer from our Water Resources Management Project Fund, and our Executive Committee unanimously agreed this was a project worth funding.”

“The mission of CRATA is to build and maintain footpath-only hiking trails that provide the public with free access to areas of extraordinary natural beauty. All our trails emanating from four locations are intimately tied to the waters on and around Lake Martin. We appreciate all individuals and organizations that, like the MTRBCWP, are committed to preserving our Treasured Lake, unspoiled waterways and natural resources. Our hiking trails could not remain extraordinary without them,” said Banks.

Our Thanks to Recent Donors Teachers’ Helper Kimberly Shelton

Trail Blazers

Mikey & Mark Thorn Rob & Betsy Iler Leah Peavey Jimmy D. Evers

Visionaries

Lake Martin Resource Association Dr. Rex & Bickie Bushong

Legacy

Middle Tallapoosa River Basin Clean Water Partnership

Help tell our county's story CRATA is raising $50,000 to make Smith Mountain Park an educational center on the nature and history of Tallapoosa County

Contribution Form Name_____________________________________ Date_______ Address_______________________________________________ City_______________________ State_______ ZIP____________ Phone________________________________________________ Email_________________________________________________

Giving Levels

Tax deductible gifts to “CRATA-Smith Mountain Tower Restoration” are greatly appreciated! Please return this form and your gift to: Jimmy K. Lanier, CRATA, P.O. Box 240503, Eclectic, AL 36024 All donors will be recognized in print. All donors of $100 or more will be recognized on a permanent cast plaque. Anonymous gifts at all levels will be respected for confidentiality. Honorariums, memorials and appreciations will be acknowledged per donor direction.

Teachers' Helper Trail Blazers Vista Viewers Summit Toppers Visionaries Legacy Sponsors

Up to $99 $100-$249 $250-499 $500-$999 $1,000 or more $5,000 or more

Amount enclosed $_____________________

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 65

James Otto headlines Labor Day concert at The AMP

The Bank Walkers will return to The AMP Sept. 3 for the end-of-summer concert

66 LAKE

SEPTEMBER 2017

T

STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI & PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE

The annual Labor Day concert Sunday, Sept. 3, at The Lake Martin Amphitheatre (The AMP) brings good music from local artists and promises a good time to gather with friends and family.

The end-of-summer concert started with the creation of The AMP almost a decade ago, and attendance has been as high as 5,000 people, with an average of 2,500-3,500, according to Robert Gunn, Russell Lands’ director of events and social media.

“Turnout is always pretty good for this event, but it does depend on weather and Auburn and Alabama’s football schedules. A lot of people look at it, though, as one last weekend on the lake. They’ll come in Friday and have that Monday as an extra day to travel home,” said Gunn.

The four-band concert will kick off at 6 p.m. with local favorites, The Bank Walkers. This popular group has been playing together around the Lake Martin area for years and play a range of music from classic rock to outlaw country and a little bit of everything in between.

Alexander City native Rexton Lee will take the stage at around 7:15 p.m. At age 13, Lee and his family experienced a devastating house fire and lost everything except an old guitar that had been passed down from Lee’s brother. Lee taught himself how to play it and spent days and even weeks working on one new song.

Even though Lee now calls Nashville home, he admitted to owing his success to local roots. After Lee performed as a guest on Alexander City’s local TV show, The Front Porch, host Kenny Dean set up a meeting with an original member from Sawyer Brown. On Dean’s recommendation, Lee met with Sony/BMG Entertainment and was offered a record deal.

Another Alabama native, Ashton Shepherd of Coffeeville will follow Lee around 8 p.m. Shepherd received her first record deal with Universal Music Group (UMG) at age 20 and charted two top 20 Billboard hit songs. After the birth of her daughter, Raden, Shepherd split from UMG and decided to manage her own label, Pickin’ Shed Records. She released her first independent album, This is America, in 2013 but has spent her whole life writing and singing her own music.

The headliner for The AMP’s concert this year will be James Otto, who won the Most Played Country Single of the year in 2008 with Just Got Started Lovin’ You. Otto moved around quite a bit during his childhood but was raised mostly on his grandparents’ 700-acre farm in North Dakota until he moved to rural Alabama and discovered his love for country music. Before moving to Nashville, Otto served in the Navy for two years and got to travel the world before age 20.

After Otto and his wife, Amy, had their daughter Ava, Otto took a step back from his music to spend time with his family. He has co-written the song In Color with Jamey Johnson and penned songs for John Anderson, Trace Adkins, Randy Owen and others, including the Zac Brown Band hit, No Hurry.

“We have some really great bands this year. They’re not only good singers but good songwriters, and they all have well-defined country roots. Whether you like country music or not, I think most people will enjoy something they sing and the message they have to give,” said Gunn.

The grassy lawn of The AMP venue is the perfect spot to bring chairs, blankets and coolers – but no glass bottles, please. There also will be concessions available inside for purchase. Gates open at 5 p.m., so families can come in before the show starts to settle into spots on the hillside overlooking the lake.

Tickets are $10 (kids 6 and under are free) and are sold online at The AMP or at Nails convenience store, The Company Store at Russell Crossroads and the Russell Lands corporate office.

“Ten dollars for a ticket is unheard of for this type of talent. We look for good value when booking artists, and these bands are local or have limited travel time to Nashville. We want to be able to keep ticket prices low, so it can be a family event,” said Gunn.

The AMP was built in 1998 when Benjamin Russell donated the property for artistic and cultural enjoyment overlooking one of the most beautiful areas of the lake. The AMP is governed by the 501(c)(3) organization the Lake Martin Arts Council and is a not-for-profit venue, and the arts council donates funds from its events to local charities.

For more information, call Robert Gunn at 256-496-4232 or email him at rgunn@russelllands.com.

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 67

What is the price of luxury?

Sales and availability numbers tell different stories about Lake Martin’s market

I

hate to start an article with a bunch of disclaimers, but I am about to throw more disclaimers at you than a senior attorney advisor to the Federal Reserve Board.

Allow me to say, without hesitation, that home ownership is one of the bedrock principals that really makes America great. Never LAKE PROPERTY mind America’s politicians, the

BY JOHN COLEY ability of a member of the proletariat to own a hunk of land is one of our country’s greatest achievements. Merely owning any home, even on the lowest end of the spectrum in the USA, puts one in the upper echelon of wealth, if you look at it on a global scale.

Further, second home ownership is even more rare on Earth. Flecks of grain in haystacks, numerically. Even further, it is truly a rare thing to own any type of waterfront home here on Lake Martin, even if it is worth $1.

I say all this because I don’t want, in any way, to come off as flippant or dismissive of the category of Lake Martin waterfront homes under $500,000. This stratum is the subject of my article this month. If you could see where I hang my hat and my boat keys, it would be apparent that my humble abode is nowhere near this line of demarcation.

That being said, what would you say qualifies as ultraluxury in the real estate category here at Lake Martin? We all know that waterfront property sells at premium prices.

We also know that every person that plays college football in the SEC is an incredible athlete.

But only a small percentage of them, the hyper-elite, makes it to the NFL. The same holds true 68 LAKE

for luxury homes everywhere, including Lake Martin. But if I had to make you answer right now, what number do you think is the line in the sand that separates the luxury from the ultra-luxury? Where does the surf break – from the best to the incredibly difficult to attain?

Did you say $500,000? If so, don’t worry; you are not alone. See below.

The facts tell a different story.

This tale started, like many others for me, when a buyer asked me a very simple question, “What is the list price for the majority of homes on Lake Martin?”

I spouted my usual answer, “The bulk is between $350,000 to $500,000.”

Then, I began to think about that. When was the last time I checked?

At the end of July, I checked the Lake Martin Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and found that at that time, the total waterfront homes for sale were 302. When I parsed out those with list prices under $500,000, I found it was 111, or only about 37 percent; however, the $500,000$1 million bracket included 139 homes, 46 percent of the qualified listings. Waterfront homes asking more than $1 million comprised about 52 or 17 percent.

In other words, about 64 percent of waterfront homes are priced over $500,000. Maybe this is old news to you, the most educated real estate readers around, but I (in my head) considered more than $500,000 as ultra luxury – the highest of the high. The facts tell us differently.

Saying it another way: Under $500,000 is the bottom 37 percent of our market.

Saying it another way: You have to spend more than

SEPTEMBER 2017

$500,000 to get out of the bottom 37 percent.

That is totally crazy to me.

Naturally, I wanted to see how this compared to what has actually sold in the last year.

Looking in the Lake Martin MLS, I found that 340 waterfront homes sold in the last 12 months. If I look at the same $500,000 increments, it shakes out as 214/99/28, or 62 percent/29 percent/8 percent.

What a difference!

Under $500,000 is 37 percent of homes for sale but 62 percent of homes sold in the last rolling 12 months.

Why the difference? What does this mean?

I can think of a few applications. First of all, we should not be so surprised in that we are in the midst of a huge sellers’ market. Prices rise when quantity demanded is higher than supply. Secondly, it could possibly mean that sellers are leading their shot too aggressively. They have been enjoying this heated environment and are pricing their homes just a tad too high, even in a high demand situation. Thirdly, the current situation could cause local real estate agents to no longer consider anything under half a million to be noteworthy. As ridiculous as that seems, the numbers bear out the fact that it is, by definition, below average.

Could agents’ service levels slip for that price category?

More importantly – should they?

I will repeat, I write this column with my head spinning.

Let’s all step back and acknowledge that any home – regardless of price – that is well loved by a loving family, is far more valuable than a $100 million house that is empty as a crypt.

However, I also think it noteworthy to recognize that Lake Martin hasn’t run a mile in over four minutes for a long, long time.

John Coley is a broker and owner of Lake Martin Voice Realty. He is also the author of the blog Lake Martin Voice at LakeMartinVoice.com.

Calling All Artists Enter the 2017 Annual Lake Martin Living Art and Photography Contest

“Koi Pond at Lake Martin”

by Debra Griffith 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.

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 69

This year may be first for high water through October

C

an you believe it? We may be able to enjoy higher previous 7 days recalculated on a daily basis for a given lake levels this fall, maybe until Oct. 15. Wow! period of time) on the Tallapoosa River, calculated at With the fall extension, weekend visitors will be Thurlow Dam, is at or higher than the median flow (i.e., able to learn what full-timers have always known and the median of the recorded daily flows over the period of enjoyed. Absolutely, the best time on Lake Martin is the record for the particular day of interest); fall.

3. The rolling 7-day average total basin inflow on For readers who may not be familiar with the Coosa River, calculated at Jordan Dam, is the term ‘fall extension,’ an explanation at or higher than the median flow; and might help. During the seven-year process 4. The elevations at the Weiss, Neely of relicensing Martin Dam by the Federal Henry and Logan Martin developments on the Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Coosa River and the R.L. Harris Project on Alabama Power Company (APC), with the the Tallapoosa River must all be within 1 foot enthusiastic support of the Lake Martin of their respective operating curves.

HOBOs and most lake residents, requested “No later than July 14 of each year, the FERC’s approval to extend the summer lake licensee must monitor conditions daily. level into the fall as late as Oct. 15, if condiBeginning on Sept. 1 of each year, once the tions permitted. four conditions are met, the Conditional Fall HOBO For decades, the lake winter drawdown Extension will be implemented and continue

BY JESSE CUNNINGHAM has begun on Sept. 1, which prevented many to Oct. 15. The normal reservoir drawdown to people from enjoying the great weather and the winter pool must begin Oct. 15.” events around the lake in the fall. After many meetings There are always other conditions that might influence over the years, FERC initially denied approval of the our ability to enjoy the fall extension. In the license, fall extension; however, Lake Martin lovers requested “Alabama Power proposes to abide by all other operaand were granted a public meeting with FERC; more tional requirements while implementing the extension.” than 600 people met with FERC and convinced them to This is a catchall clause that basically means that if change their minds and approve a license provision for a the Corps of Engineers orders APC to send more water conditional fall extension. downstream, or Atlanta wants to drink or flush more or Why is it a “conditional” extension? This is where it any other need arises, guess who may have to make up gets a little complicated. any shortfalls ... Lake Martin.

Lake Martin water ultimately runs downstream, joins When will we get our fall extension of the summer the Coosa River and forms the Alabama River, which lake level? When the sun and moon rise in the west? No! flows to Mobile Bay. Simply holding back water in Lake Two years after the locust plague? I hope not. When we Martin would be great, except that other cities, farmare able to enjoy a mostly total solar eclipse right here on ers, fish, snails and little critters also need water. So the Lake Martin? Maybe. government powers and APC worked out a plan for the All of the conditions to allow a fall extension may conditional fall extension. When all of the conditions exist on Sept. 1 of this year. are right, the summer water level at Lake Martin can be For decades, people have put away their cabins, boats extended into the fall. and water toys after Labor Day because the lake level has The four specific conditions are clearly stated in the gone down. We’ve got to rethink that bad old habit and dam license: learn to enjoy our wonderful lake and surrounding area for at least two more months ... sometimes.

“Article 403. Conditional Fall Extension. The To follow weekly updates online by APC, visit the licensee must initiate the following monitoring process website at apcshorelines.com/our-lakes/martin. Click on on an annual basis to evaluate implementation of the “i.” Visit lakemartinhobos.com to reference documents Conditional Fall Extension. The flood control curve, online. identified in Article 402, must be at elevation 491 feet mean sea level (msl) from September 1 to October 15, Jesse Cunningham is president of the Lake Martin provided that the following hydrologic and operational Home Owners and Boat Owners Association. For more conditions are met: information, email him at jessecunningham@msn.com or 1. Lake Martin is above its operating curve during visit www.lakemartinhobos.com.

September (487 to 488.5 feet msl); 2. The rolling 7-day average total basin inflow (i.e., the average of the total daily basin inflow for the 70 LAKE

SEPTEMBER 2017

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LAKE 71

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72 LAKE

SEPTEMBER 2017

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End summer on top of the wake I

t’s the end of the summer but not the end of rid- hand in the air and take the handle to your rear hip. ing season. School is back in, and the summer is Your body will rotate 180 degrees, and you will officially over. This is the time of year I love. ride away switch. It may help to look toward the The weekday water is amazshore and not at the boat. The body ing, and we are operating with a will rotate where you look or where full pool on Lake Martin, given your head is turned. all the rain we’ve had consistently The i/o frontside 360 the past few months. Labor Day Same edge, maybe a little more weekend will kick off this month aggressive and harder pop, so bend with a ton of people coming to your knees a little more and jam down the lake, and we usually see some the rear leg for pop; release the front good blowout sales at the marinas. and begin to reach to the small of your BEHIND THE BOAT You can pick up that vest, wakeback/lead hand. Once your body has board or surfer for a good price begun rotating to the 180, turn the

BY SAWYER DAVIS and still have a little time to break handle over, like you were putting the it in a bit before we get some temback of your hand to the small of your perature drop and the water begins to get chilly. back. With your free hand, finish reaching back to By the end of the month, we sometimes get the handle and grab it. Finish the last 90 degrees of those cool mornings when a rider might even need rotation and ride away clean. a neoprene top. I’ve always said that of all the Next step, you can start grabbing these tricks equipment that I have, the neoprene long-sleeved and take them wake-to-wake. top is used more than anything and can really extend a season when it begins to cool off.

TRICK TIP FOR THE SURFERS This year, it looks like we will have the bonus of A skim style 360. higher water levels along with the cooler temperaThe most common problem I see is that people tures, as the conditional fall extension appears to are trying to do the spin entirely too close to be a given. the boat. Usually, the wave a rider has been surfing Most of us have been working on progression on is not set up properly, and the rider may have and learning new tricks, and the higher water level been riding too close to the boat in the first place. might mean a little more time for some of us to Get the board on edge and pump for a little spend on the water. speed. From the tail of the wave, accelerate and within a board length initiate the spin. Staying TRICK TIPS upright, body as close to on-axis as you can, spin.

Here’s a little combo to practice behind the boat Here’s the tricky part – transitioning from forward/ or PWC. The Inside Out Ollie, 180 and 360. Use toe weight to flat footed in the last 180. You have this tip when doing them frontside. Each trick is a to stay off your toes; lift them a little if you have progression to the next. to when learning. Stay low; don’t stand up as you You will need to time your pull from the middle spin. The hardest part is in keeping the board movof the wake or just on the side opposite the one ing on the wave when you spin. You have to have you plan to ollie off. Begin edging out toward the momentum to begin with; don’t stall the board wake you’re going to ollie; with knees bent, extend out in the spin. When your spin is done flat, you your rear leg down at the top of the wake to get the will keep the momentum pumping. The board will pop and raise your front leg slightly; catch it at the catch the drive, and you ride away. top and flatten (the board should be perpendicular See you on the water. to the water).

The i/o frontside 180 Sawyer Davis is a wakesurfer and Inboard You might need a little more speed, so begin to Specialist with Russell Marine and grew up on edge a little harder; pop and release the front/lead Lake Martin.

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 73

Do you have the stomach for life?

When it’s time to see a doctor for digestive symptoms

D

igestive diseases can interfere with are having symptoms of a heart attack, seek everyday life and must not be taken immediate medical attention. lightly. It’s like any other health conAcid reflux is a very common condition dition. Staying in tune with your body allows that can usually be managed quite easily; you to be proactive by changing lifestyle and however, if left unattended, it can become dietary habits to positively affect your health. very serious.

A surprising 60 percent of the adult Acid reflux occurs when the LES does population in the United States experiences not work properly and allows acid from the symptoms of digestive diseases, such as a stomach to back up into the esophagus. The burning sensation in the chest (heartburn), lining of the esophagus is much more deliregurgitation of food or sour liquid, chest cate than the stomach lining, so acid in the pain unrelated to a heart attack, persistent esophagus causes symptoms of heartburn. dry cough, asthma, hoarseness, sore throat or HEALTHY LIVING Lifestyle and diet changes are very important having trouble swallowing. About 20-30 perto help manage acid reflux, usually in combiBY JULIE HUDSON cent of adults experience these symptoms on nation with medication. a weekly basis.

GERD is a chronic digestive disease. It is the more These symptoms may be an indication of a variety of severe form of acid reflux. Symptoms may include bad digestive conditions, including heartburn, acid reflux or breath, heartburn, feeling like stomach contents come gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). These medical back up into the throat, chest pain, persistent dry cough, terms are often used interchangeably; however, the words asthma or trouble swallowing. These symptoms may be have very different meanings and warrant some undersevere enough to disrupt daily routines. standing.

Antacids and over-the-counter medications may not In the process of swallowing, food moves from the be very helpful at this stage. Consulting with a physithroat down to the esophagus, through the lower esophacian to discuss treatment options is highly recommended. geal sphincter (LES), and then into the stomach. If the Dietary changes, lifestyle modifications and prescription LES weakens or does not close correctly, stomach conmedications are usually the treatment plan for GERD. If tents or stomach acid could flow back up into the esophleft untreated, GERD can cause damage to the esophaagus. The actual back-flow of acid from the stomach is gus, including bleeding, scarring, ulcers and ultimately, a called reflux, and the uncomfortable feeling or burning condition called Barrett’s esophagus. This could increase sensation is called heartburn. the risk of esophageal cancer.

Occasional heartburn can be very normal and common Home treatment of heartburn, acid reflux and GERD among adults; however, if you experience these sympbegins with dietary and lifestyle changes. It has been toms two to three times per week, the recommendation is proven that eating certain foods increases the amount of to consult with a physician. If left untreated, the condiacid in the stomach, causing heartburn and acid reflux. tion could become worse and may lead to a narrowing of The food culprits that are known to increase acid prothe esophagus, an open sore in the esophagus or precanduction are: alcoholic beverages, chocolate, coffee, tea, cerous changes to the esophagus. greasy and salty foods, high fat foods, peppermint and Heartburn is a symptom that can be misleadspearmint, spicy foods, grapefruit, oranges, lemons, ing because symptoms can mimic heart attack pain. limes, garlic, onions, tomatoes and tomato products.

Heartburn causes mild to severe pain in the chest after Recommended lifestyle changes that improve the way eating a meal. It may feel like a burning or tightening you feel include weight loss if you are overweight, smoksensation, and symptoms may worsen if you bend over or ing cessation, not wearing tight fitting clothes, eating lay down. Mild, infrequent heartburn is common and can smaller meals and sitting upright for at least three hours be treated with dietary and lifestyle changes and, if necafter eating. These dietary and lifestyle recommendations essary, by taking antacids. may reduce or eliminate symptoms without medications.

But if you develop a pattern of relying on antacids Medical treatments of heartburn, acid reflux or gastroseveral times a week, this could be an indication that esophageal reflux disease range from over-the-counter your heartburn might be a more serious condition, such to prescription medications. Over-the-counter antacids as acid reflux or GERD. At this point, the recommendaare the first line of treatment. Antacids work quickly tion is to consult a physician. Also, if you ever think you to reduce the effects of stomach acid, which may help 74 LAKE

SEPTEMBER 2017

reduce symptoms. A second line of treatment may include medications to reduce the amount of acid being produced by the stomach. At times, taking antacids in combination with this type of medicine has been shown to work really well.

Another line of medications reduces stomach acid for longer periods of time and works to repair the stomach lining. Consulting with a physician could help to determine which medication or combination of medications is best for you.

“The first line of treatment recommended for reflux symptoms is always diet and lifestyle changes,” explained Christi Jackson, a certified registered nurse practitioner with Central Alabama Gastroenterology.

“Most patients are motivated to make these changes if it means staying off medications or eventually coming off their medication.”

Jackson said she sees first hand that making appropriate food choices and changing lifestyle habits are very important in helping someone feel healthy.

Taking ownership of your health should never stop.

Health and wellness are about achieving the right balance of diet and lifestyle habits that make you feel your best. If you feel that you are experiencing any of the symptoms relating to reflux, take the first steps to make changes in your diet and lifestyle. Consulting with a physician is highly recommended.

(256) 234-6366

(256) 839-6711

(256) 825-9244

(334) 864-8854

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

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SEPTEMBER 2017

Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy Long Term Care LAKE 75

Knot Know How From top: Snell, Palomar and Double Clinch knots

76 LAKE

SEPTEMBER 2017

F

or an angler, there’s nothing more frusmany people once used, and I imagine still trating than losing an important fish. For do. The Trilene and the old clinch knot don’t a competitive angler, the consequences slip too badly, but they are not as strong as the of losing a fish can be costly. For a lot of main line. Over time, I have phased them out. anglers, the drive to go fishing again is reinEventually, I discovered the Double Clinch forced by a desire to get it right the next time, knot. The double clinch is essentially the though the number of variables that can play same original clinch knot I once tied, but the into an angler’s overall success are countless. knot is tied with the loop that is formed when Among these is equipment, and under the doubling the line through the line tie. This is huge umbrella of equipment, there is fishing similar to starting a Palomar, with the doubled line. Any experienced angler can attest to the line throughout the process making it stronger importance of using the right line for the job. than the main line. This knot is more bulky Monofilament, fluorocarbon and braided than the Palomar, and three tag ends protrude, BIG CATCHES lines all have different properties that make as opposed to one, but it has exceptional impact

BY GREG VINSON them better for certain applications. Tensile strength. strength, stretch, abrasion resistance, visibility That makes the double clinch very good for and knot strength are the main variables. When a fish gets worm fishing or flipping soft plastics. The bulky knot is away, it’s usually followed by a sinking feeling in the stom- hidden inside the soft plastic when rigged, so it’s invisible ach that every angler has experienced. and has little effect on bait action. It’s a great knot for flipSome anglers will chalk it up to bad luck and move on, ping and pitching jigs and is effective for each of the line but usually, there’s a reason for losing a fish. If we can figtypes. ure out the problem quickly, we can minimize the chances The Snell knot is an old knot that I remember seeing on of it happening again. In the case of fishing line and, spepre-rigged live bait rigs. The advantage of the Snell is that cifically, the knots we tie, the problem is often signified by the line runs through the eye of the hook, and the knot is a missing lure. Here are some of the knots that work best tied to the shank. The effect is that the hook pops outward for me with various lines and lures. in a strike position and away from the line on the hookset.

One of the best all around fishing knots you can tie is Be sure to start running the line through the eye on the front the Palomar knot. The Palomar is tied by doubling the line side first; otherwise, the hook will pop out backward with through the line tie. Make a simple overhand knot with the the point facing down. loop end, and then pass the hook or bait through the loop. It I use the Snell when I have a heavy-punching rig weight is very important to wet it slightly and cinch down. It’s best above my hook; it helps the hook point clear the huge to pull the tag end, if possible, when cinching it down. weight on the hookset, maximizing the hookup ratio. It’s I like the Palomar knot because it’s simple to tie and great for braided line where knot strength is less of an it’s doubled throughout the knot, meaning it’s going to be issue, and the knot has no slip when fully cinched down. stronger than the main line in most cases.

In the past several years, more anglers are going to If there were any downfall to the Palomar, it would be braided line for their spinning reel applications. Spinning with impact strength in fluorocarbon lines. I use fluorocarreels are great for finesse tactics but can be problematic bon lines 75-80 percent of the time. My personal preference with larger diameter lines and fluorocarbon lines that have has been Seaguar for many years because it had the best more memory. Twists and tangles can be problematic with knot strength when I used a Palomar. Fluorocarbon is low memory. Braided line has very high tensile strength and visibility, low stretch and high density and has exceptional very little memory, so it’s great for spinning reels, but it’s sensitivity; however, it can be susceptible to burning when also the most visible line. To take advantage of the chartightening a knot. That’s why it’s important to wet the line acteristics of braided line on spinning reels, anglers could good prior to cinching down any knot. It’s even more critiuse braided line for the main line on the reel but transition cal with the Palomar and fluorocarbon. to a leader of pre-determined length for the business end.

I still use the Palomar with fluorocarbon when I’m fishUsually, the leader is fluorocarbon. ing hard baits like topwaters, crankbaits, etc., because it There are three knots I’ve found that are effective for makes a small knot and is less likely to interfere with the joining braided line and a fluorocarbon leader. The one I’ve action of the bait. Since I’m not using a power hookset with used the longest and is easy to tie is the Double Uni. On a hard baits, as I would with worms or jigs, impact strength is quest to find a knot that is smaller and possibly even stronless of a factor. For soft baits and jigs where I will be using ger, I’ve recently tried the Alberto and the FG knot. They a power hookset, I prefer a different knot for fluorocarbon. are harder to tie, but I’m encouraged by the tiny size of the For braided lines and monofilament lines, I always use knots. If you are like me, a diagram helps a ton, but seeing a Palomar when tying directly to a bait or worm hook. Be it done is even better. Remember the names of these knots sure to tighten the knot well with braided line to minimize and a quick search will reveal several videos available on slipping. A little overhand knot at the end of the process how to tie each one. can help, but I only recommend it with braid. Personally, I cinch the Palomar down extra good with braid and start Greg Vinson is a full-time professional angler on fishing. the Bassmaster Elite Series and PPA tours. He lives in Before I learned the Palomar, I used the old clinch knot.

Wetumpka and grew up fishing on Lake Martin.

The Trilene knot is another variation of the clinch that SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 77

BBQ Gulf Shrimp

Sauce Ingredients 2 1 1 1 1 2 2

cups Worcestershire sauce cup heavy cream lemon head of garlic large tomato cut into quarters Bay leaves sprigs of rosemary

Shrimp Ingredients

1 pound Gulf shrimp 1/4 pound cold butter cut into small cubes 1 tablespoon fresh black pepper Juice of one lemon 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley 1/4 cup fresh chopped scallion

78 LAKE

In a medium heavy-bottom pot, place all ingredients for the sauce and bring to a simmer. The sauce should reduce by half before removing from heat and straining into a blender. Blend on low speed and add the cold butter a few cubes at a time until all the butter has been added. Return the warm sauce to the pot and add the shrimp. Peeling the shrimp (or not) depends on how messy you want to get; I prefer head-on unpeeled shrimp when making this at home, but we peel them for the restaurant. Cook the shrimp in the sauce over low heat until done, about 5 minutes, depending on the size of the shrimp. Once the shrimp are done, add the black pepper, lemon juice, parsley and scallion. I like to serve with warm chunks of crispy bread and extra lemon wedges.

SEPTEMBER 2017

CHEF’S TABLE

BY ROB MCDANIEL Rob McDaniel, executive chef and general manager at SpringHouse Restaurant, earned a bachelor's degree in restaurant and hotel management from Auburn University and is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute.

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 79

More White Wines in the Fridge

80 LAKE

SEPTEMBER 2017

W

elcome to the wonderful world of wine. For vated in this part of France and is used in blending, as the last several months it has been the world well as a single varietal. The Picpoul is also very pale of white wine, so with just a sliver of sumand delicate. The nose is faint but clean followed by a mer left, we need to wrap up this series and get some hint of white peach on the palate. red wine on the table. But not so fast; we barely got Both the Frico and the Picpoul are very dry with started on a list of almost 20 white wines that would somewhat low acidity. Very nice with shelf prices at be great alternatives to Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay $11 and $10, respectively, and would pair well with for summertime or anytime. Let’s see what’s still in grilled fish, green vegetables and pasta. the fridge.

It bears repeating that we tend to drink Hmm … a half gallon of 2 percent our white wines too cold. The reasoning milk; two cartons of large white eggs; a explains why we like our domestic beers 32-ounce sports drink; a 46-ounce bottle ice cold – it conceals the flavor or lack of vegetable juice. OK, there’s an open thereof. Cold numbs the taste buds and bottle of Inniskillen Icewine, half a bottle subdues the taste. Both of these wines of Crossings Sauvignon Blanc and about are better when some of the right-outthat much Belleruche Cotes-du-Rhone of-the-fridge chill has dissipated. Just a Rosé. Here we go. Three unopened bottles couple of degrees can make a difference of white wine – Frico Bianco, Eppa White in the taste of things. Sure we like for Sangria and Florensac Picpoul de Pinet, hot things to be hot and cold foods to be just waiting to be sampled. Yes, Picpoul cold, but it is hard to enjoy too hot, and de Pinet. It’s French; we’ll get to that in a it’s the same way with cold. Putting perminute. sonal preference aside, a premium-quality FROM THE CELLAR Chardonnay should be served at between Now tell me, do those sound like wines

BY HENRY FOY that you would pull off the shelf in your 50 and 55 degrees (A medium-quality neighborhood convenience store? They Chard between 45 and 50). The flavors of are pictured on the facing page; do they look like most other white wines are more discernable between wines that you would purchase without knowing any43 to 53 degrees. thing about them? Yeah, we are kind of familiar with If cold and refreshing is what you want, try Sangria, which is pretty easy to make at home with Sangria, which is traditionally a red wine punch, Martha Stewart’s recipe and a few pieces of fruit. though recipes using a base of white wines are gainBut Frico Bianco? Who ever heard of that? The ing popularity. The origin of Sangria can be traced Picpoul (PICK-pool) you should be familiar with, to 18th century Spain and Portugal consisting of red though it’s been about nine years since I last wrote wine and chopped fruit and often including many about it. Remember? Maybe not. other combinations from orange juice to brandy.

Let’s start with the Frico Bianco by Scarpetta. It’s Originally a hot or cold beverage, it is believed the one with the large pig’s back half on the label. to have come to the United States by way of the Pigs have gotten to be very popular on wine bottles.

Caribbean during the colonial era. By the early 20th Not sure why. That’s just the way it is. The word century, popularity had waned, only to be revived in Frico is borrowed from peasant food, specifically an the late ’40s by Hispanic-inspired fare and flavors.

Italian cheese crisp from the Friuli region where this It may be the most well-known and favored Spanish wine is produced. Bianco is the Italian word for – you drink. guessed it – white.

Martha Stewart touts White Sangria as “the perFrico Bianco is what is called a ‘field blend,’ a fect drink to help you chill at your next barbecue or designation that allows winemakers to use whatever summer party.” One of her concoctions calls for 1/2 regional grapes are available, rather than being tied cup of cognac, mango, peach, red apple, a Granny by law or custom to a single varietal from vintage to Smith apple, plums and two bottles of dry white wine, vintage. The 2015 is a blend of regionally indigenous Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. Refrigerated in a grapes, including Chardonnay. Scarpetta produces pitcher overnight, the combined ingredients are served several wines in Friuli, ranging from fizzy Prosecco to on ice to yield about 8 cups. The Frico or Picpoul bold red Barbera. would make excellent White Sangria.

The color of the Frico – not to be confused That’s a little exotic, but you get the idea. The Eppa with Flaco, which is a Spanish red made from the White Sangria, priced at $11 and with a screw cap, is Tempranillo grape – is very pale and delicate, almost fruity and refreshing with hints of peach on the nose. clear; the nose is also quite fine. The medium-weight It’s a fun beverage and an effortless way to say goodpalate is crisp and clean. Frankly, this wine, right out bye to summer. of the refrigerator needs to warm slightly and breathe to allow the flavors to expand. We’ll come back to Henry Foy is the owner of Emporium Wine this one. and at Café 128 and Gallery 128 in downNext up is the Picpoul de Pinet from town Alexander City at 128 Calhoun Street. He can be the Languedoc (LAHNG-dakh) region of southreached at 256-212-WINE, on Instagram, Facebook ern France. It is one of the oldest varieties to be culti- and at emporium128@bellsouth.net.

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 81

82 LAKE

SEPTEMBER 2017

Staying Connected

Pro Tips From Lee Williams Believe it or not, in golf your hands have only one function, and that is to hold the club. They do not control anything. You read that correctly: The hands do not control anything. In this article, I will be talking about how to make your hands passive in your putting stroke. The effects of having passive hands are in hitting the putt more solid with the correct speed on your intended line. How do you do this?

I have a couple drills that I do on a regular basis to help me stay connected, resulting in the effects I described. My favorite drill is to place a glove at the bottom of my left armpit (right armpit for lefty) and putt. The goal is to hit putts without the glove falling out. To make this harder, place the glove at the bottom of the armpit. If you are doing the drill properly, the glove will never fall out. Another drill is to take a towel and fold it up lengthwise and place it under both armpits with the towel running on top of your chest. This drill promotes the same thing as the glove drill but is a little easier to do. It is the same drill with the training wheels on so to speak. Both drills will help you to feel a sense of being connected and putting with the big muscles in your upper body, such as the chest and lats. By doing this, your hands just become the passenger and not the driver. In golf, you always want your body in control, not your hands. Both of these drills have served me well for many years, and I still do the glove drill every single day I am at the course. I hope you will enjoy them as I do.

Good Luck!

Lee Williams

Lee Williams, a professional golfer on the PGA Tour, grew up playing at Willow Point Country Club. As an amateur, Williams was a member of the 2003 and 2005 Walker Cup teams, as well as the 2004 World Amateur Team. He is sponsored by Russell Lands, King Honda, Nowlin and Associates, P.F. Chang's, Tempus Jet, Hyatt Adams Golf, Russell Athletic, Titleist, Ameritas Financial Corp. and Southwest Airlines.

Lake Martin Classic to benefit LMRA

T

STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI

he Lake Martin Experience named Lake Martin Resource Association (LMRA) the beneficiary of its 10th Annual Lake Martin Golf Classic at Stillwaters Golf Course and Coppers Grill Friday, Oct. 27. Proceeds of this year’s tournament will help to repair and replace damaged hazard buoys on the lake.

“We were really excited to receive the wonderful message that LMRA was chosen to receive donations from such a prestigious event in the Stillwaters area,” said John Thompson, president of LMRA. Only about 35 of the 440 hazard buoys on the lake are currently lighted, and Thompson said LMRA has an ambitious goal of increasing that number to 150. The lighted buoys cost about $500 each.

“These would be replacement buoys for any that are currently damaged. But there are boats traveling at night due to the number of restaurants open late, and we think it’s a huge economic benefit to support that industry. People will absolutely respond to being able to have a better vision of where the hazards are at nighttime,” said Thompson.

A maximum of 25 teams are allowed to enter the fourperson, shotgun-start scramble, which will play from three tee blocks: ladies, men under the age of 65 and men 65 years and older. Participating golfers will receive complimentary breakfast and lunch, along with a BBQ dinner and live music at the after-play awards ceremony. Registration also includes a first-class gift bag and complimentary range balls on the morning of the tournament. Mulligans will be sold at registration with a maximum of one per player. The field also will be evened out with handicap adjustments, so any level of player would be able to participate.

In addition to prizes and giveaways, the tournament will have hole-in-one insurance on each hole; players will have the opportunity to win a car or boat valued at more than $50,000 for a hole-in-one.

The date selection for the tournament was a strategic choice, said Langston, as neither Auburn University nor the University of Alabama plays a football game that Saturday.

“We always try to find a time where either Auburn is off or Alabama is off – or each of them has a less-popular home game,” said Michael Langston. “I can’t ever remember them both being off in the same day though – ever.”

The deadline to register a team is Oct. 15. Entrance fees are $100 per player or $400 per team. Sponsorships also are available. For more information or to register, contact Michael Langston at michael@michaellanhston.com or 256-750-5200.

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 83

Legend

63

24

22

280

To Sylacauga

23

Public Boat Ramps

19

9 Churches

Alexander City

8

Camps & Parks

Camp ASCCA

Flint Hill Church

16

Power lines U.S. Highways

3

280

22

County Roads

Piney Woods Landing

Wind Creek State Park

Pleasant Grove Church

11

COOSA COUNTY

Alex City Boat Ramp

Mt. Zion Church

259 9

128

Russell Farms Baptist Church 63

13 20

D.A.R.E. Park Landing

Friendship Church New Hope Church

Liberty Church

7 17

Willow Point

24

6

9

Equality

63

10

Kowaliga Boat Landing

55

4

Seman

Trillium

22 The Ridge

2

The Amp Ko

wa

18

lig

aB

ay

80

9

Central

90

Union

ELMORE COUNTY Union Church

Red Hill 63

229

Eclectic

Tallassee

20 12

84 LAKE

Union Landing

Children’s Harbor

25

34

Camp Alamisco

1 11

Church in The Pines Camp Kiwanis

Paces Point Boat Ramp

Kent

SEPTEMBER 2017

Timbergut Landing

Lake Martin Alabama

Horseshoe Bend National Park

Jaybird Landing

Marinas 11. Kowaliga Marina 334-857-2111

255 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

TALLAPOOSA COUNTY

22. The Ridge Marina 256-397-1300

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

250 River North Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

49

42. Real Island Marina 334-857-2741

2700 Real Island Rd., Equality, AL 36026

Jacksons Gap

53. Blue Creek Marina 256-825-8888

7280 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853

280

62. Parker Creek Marina 256-329-8550

486 Parker Creek Marina Rd., Equality, AL 36026 Bethel Church

21

Dadeville

57

280

Camp Hill

Smith Landing Pleasant Ridge Church

82. Alex City Marine Sales and Service 256-215-3474

2190 Cherokee Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

Restaurants 96. SpringHouse 256-215-7080

12 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 6. Catherine’s Market 10 256-215-7070

17 Russell Farms Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

14 15

11 Kowaliga Restaurant 256-215-7035

295 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

Lake Martin Baptist Church 49 Church of the Living Waters

73. Smith Marina 256-444-8793

12 Bezlo's Cafe 334-639-0003

65 Main Street., Eclectic, AL 36024

Stillwaters

16 Karen Channell State Farm Financial Services 256-234-3481 5030 Hwy. 280, Alex City, AL 35010 17 Shipwreck Sam's Yogurt @ Smith's Marina 256-444-8793 18 5. Lake Martin Mini Mall 334.857.3900

7995 Kowaliga Rd, Eclectic, AL 36024 19 4. Russell Do It Center (Alex City) 256-234-2567

1750 Alabama 22, Alex City, AL 35010 20 4. Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 334-541-2132

1969 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024 4. Russell Building Supply 21 256-825-4256

350 Fulton Street, Dadeville, AL 36853 224. The Stables at Russell Crossroads 256-794-1333

288 Stables Loop, Alex City, AL 35010 234. Dark Insurance 256-234-5026

410 Hillabee Street, Alex City, AL 35010 www.darkinsuranceagency.com 24. McDaniels Storage Center 256-234-4583

1040 Highway 280, Alex City, AL 35010 25. Kowaliga Whole Health Pet Care & Resort 334-857-1816 8610 Kowaliga Road, Eclectic, AL 36024

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

Contact us at 256-234-4281 or marketing@alexcityoutlook.com for more information.

5

Business & Shopping 13 Lake Martin Storm Shelters 256-794-8075 970 Hwy. 63 South, Alex City, AL 35010

Walnut Hill 50 50

14 Lakeside Mercantile 334-850-6357 8246 County Rd 34, Dadeville, AL 36853 15 EastLake Coffee @ Lakeside Mercantile 334-850-6357 8246 County Rd 34, Dadeville, AL 36853

49

Reeltown

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 85

Lake Magazine Distribution ALEXANDER CITY

Alex City Marine American Inn Anytime Fitness Baymont Inn BB&T Big B Bar-B-Q Campus of CACC Carlos Mexican Grill Catherine’s Market Chamber Of Commerce Cherokee Quick stop Citgo Cloud Nine Collegiate Deli Comfort Inn Dark Insurance Darwin Dobbs Days Inn Discount Food Mart Emporium Wine Grace’s Flowers Hampton Inn Holley’s Home Furnishings Hometown Pharmacy Jackson Drugs Jake’s JR’s Sports Bar & Grill Koon’s Korner Koon’s Korner II Lake Martin Building Supply Lakewinds Golf Club

Larry’s General Store Longleaf Antiques Mark King's Lake Martin Furniture Mistletoe Bough Bed & Breakfast Queen’s Attic Regions Bank Ridge - Clubhouse Ridge - Marina River North Marina Riverbend Store Russell Home Décor Russell Medical Center Russell Lands Russell Retail Store Satterfield, Inc Senior Nutrition~50+ Center Sho’ Nuff Restaurant Springhouse Restaurant T.C. Russell Airport Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc The Medicine Shoppe The Sure Shot USAmeribank Warren's Appliance Parts Willow Point Country Club Wind Creek - entrance Wind Creek - store Winn Dixie 280 BP 280 Exxon

CHELSEA Winn-Dixie The Ditsy Daisy Boutique CHILDERSBURG Piggly Wiggly DADEVILLE

American Watersports Bay Pine Marina Blue Creek Marina City Hall Chamber of Commerce Chuck's Marina Dadeville Wellness Center Foshee's Boat Doc Homeplate Restaurant Harbor Pointe Marina Lakay’s Flowers & Gifts Lake Martin Flowers & Gifts Lake Martin Community Hospital Lakeshore Discount Pharmacy Lakeside Marina Niffer's At The Lake Oskar's Cafe Payne Furniture Pearson’s Place Poplar Dawgs Public Library Pug's Place

PNC Bank Renfroes Russell Building Supply Shell Station Sigger’s Stillwaters Country Club Store 34 USAmeribank

KELLYTON

ECLECTIC

SYLACAUGA Good Ole Boys BBQ Piggly Wiggly

Children’s Harbor Cotton’s BBQ Eclectic Do-It Center Johnson’s Furniture Kowaliga Marina Lake Martin Dock Lake Martin Mini Mall Nail’s Convenience Store Peoples Bank

EQUALITY Equality Food Mart Real Island Marina Southern Star INVERNESS Winn-Dixie Airwalk Ultimate Trampoline Arena Tree Top Family Adventure

Five Star Plantation MOUNTAIN BROOK Whole Foods Market

RED HILL Citgo

TALLASSEE Community Hospital Chamber of Commerce The Tallassee Tribune

WALNUT HILL Lakeside Mercantile Walnut Hill Grocery

WETUMPKA

The Wetumpka Herald A limited number of magazines are available at these locations. To start your subscription, call David Kendrick at 256-234-4281.

Lake Martin Business and Service Directory

SEE ME FOR INSURANCE

Harold Cochran 256.234.2700 haroldcochran.b2cn@statefarm.com

Do you want to see your photos in the next issue of Lake? WE DO! Send in your Lake Scene and Where’s Lake photos. Please include the names of everyone pictured, a brief description and your location.

LAKE

MAGAZINE

Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com 86 LAKE

SEPTEMBER 2017

Lake Martin Business and Service Directory Roofing Services By

Handrails • Guardrails Welded Fence • Custom Art Stairs • Gates Stainless Steel Cable Railing I-Beams • Steel Posts • Stairs On-Site Welding/Cutting Powder Coat • Sand Blasting

993 Yeager Parkway Pelham, AL 35124 O: (205)685-0040 F: (205) 685-0049 www.ApexRoofs.com

Full Service Free Damage Inspection Licensed & Insured

334-332-3435 334-391-0759

WAR EAGLE Amy

residential. commercial. interior. exterior.

H

OLMAN

Call on

Amy Clark

“WE’RE

LOOR

C

OMPANY

THE PROFESSIONALS”

Trey Callegan Area Manager

Broker/Realtor/GRI/ ABR/RSPS

256-749-3333 www.SellingLakeMartin.com

334-651-0033AL/706-225-8070 GA

columbus-auburn.certapro.com

HOMES FOR SALE

1550OpelikaRoadSuite6Box294,Auburn,AL36830

™

Hardwood Floors Ceramic Tile Carpet & Vinyl

A Division of Goldwater Bank, N.A.

Locally Owned for Over 45 Years

248 Inverness Ctr Dr, Birmingham AL

256-234-6071

1945 Hwy 280 • Alexander City

205-995-7283

Call TODAY for quick Pre-approval NMLS #47862 Corporate NMLS #452955

Performance!

Visit LoveLakeMartin.com

UPHOLSTERY

Paige Patterson

Complete Marine Upholstery!

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Call TODAY for quick Pre-approval!

Visit our showroom for samples and a free estimate!

COACH KRAFT

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

Patrick Mason 334-283-6759

205-616-8046

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

LAKE

F

Professional!

www.paigepatterson.com

Relax. Enjoy. Lake Martin.

Call to order your subscription 256-234-4281

MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 87

Our Advertisers n To Join, Call 256.234.4281 A&M Plumbing....................................................... 18

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

Russell Lands.......................................................... 45

Advanced Heating & Air........................................ 8

Harbor Pointe Marina.......................................... 82

Russell Marine........................................................ 91

Alex City Guide Service...................................... 44

Henderson & Coker............................................ 19

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

Alex City Marine................................................... 18

Hilltop Landscaping............................................... 54

Satterfield.................................................................. 6

Amanda Scroggins, RE/MAX Around the Lake.........72

Hinson Galleries.................................................... 43

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

Amy Clark, Selling Lake Martin ...................................87

Holley’s Home Furnishings................................. 92

Singleton Marine/Rambo Marine....................... 71

Apex Roofing....................................................................87

Holman Floor......................................................... 87

Sparkle Window Cleaning................................... 34

Beyond Home Care........................................................14

Jackson Thornton.................................................. 72

SportzBlitz.............................................................. 89

Blue Creek Iron Works....................................... 87

Kowaliga Whole Health....................................... 87

State Farm Insurance/ Harold Cochran..........86

Brandino Brass....................................................... 75

Lake Home Cleaning & Painting........................ 87

State Farm Insurance/ Karen Channell..........87

Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation....................... 44

Lake Martin Community Hospital..................... 39

Suit Properties....................................................... 88

C&T Eclectric........................................................ 24

Lake Martin Dock................................................. 21

Sunrise Dock.......................................................... 13

Cahaba Glass............................................................ 6

Lake Martin Mini Mall.......................................... 54

Tallassee Community Hospital........................... 44

CertaPro Painters................................................. 87

Lakeside Marina..................................................... 38

Temple Medical Center....................................... 24

Chuck's Marina...................................................... 44

Lakeside Marina at Bay Pines............................. 38

The Touchless Boat Cover.................................. 13

Coach Kraft Upholstery...................................... 87

Mark King's Furniture.......................................... 59

TowBoatU.S.............................................................. 5

Crew Lending......................................................... 87

McGhee Furniture Warehouse.......................... 38

Troy Cable................................................................. 6

Custom Docks....................................................... 14

National Village...................................................... 63

Walmart.................................................................. 86

Damon Story, Cedar Point................................... 3

Noel Boone............................................................ 87

Wedowee Marine................................................. 25

DAVCO Development......................................... 86

Paige Patterson, Lake Martin Voice Realty......87

Williams Plumbing Heating & Air........................ 8

Designs by Trish....................................................... 8

Prime Management............................................... 75

WSC Distinctive Builders, LLC......................... 55

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

Radney Funeral Home......................................... 14

First Baptist Church Alexander City.................. 8

Renaissance Electronics......................................... 8

Apartments for Rent Sherwood Forest A PA RT M E N T S

Azalea Court I A PA RT M E N T S

Azalea Court II A PA RT M E N T S

Welcome Home choose from three great properties in alexander city

suitproperties.com • 256.234.9999 • 219 knollwood lane, alexander city, al 35010 88 LAKE

SEPTEMBER 2017

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 89

90 LAKE

SEPTEMBER 2017

~ Henry Ward Beecher

“It's easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top.”

Photo by Kenneth Boone

Parting Shot

SEPTEMBER 2017

LAKE 91

92 LAKE

256.234.4141 Alexander City

SEPTEMBER 2017

334.279.3101 Montgomery