August 2019 Lake magazine

AUGUST 2019

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MODEL CLEARANCE SALE ON 2019 BOATS AND PREOWNED BOATS.

lo w est p r i c es o f th e s eas o n o n m e r c h a n d i s e , acc es s o r i es, a p p a r e l , l i f e j a c k e t s , w at e r t o y s a n d m o r e .

The Ridge Marina 256-397-1300

Kowaliga Marina 256-397-1210

River North Marina 256-397-1500

R U S S E L L M A R I N E . N E T

AUGUST 2019

Real Island Marina 256-397-1200

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Staff

Letter from the Editor Dragonflies were not your everyday insect among the Illinois cornfields where I grew up, so it was a special occasion to see one – and even more special if it happened to rest for a moment on my arm. That brought especially good luck, I was told by my older brothers and sisters. At the time, I thought of dragonflies as elegant and delicate, fairy-like and beautiful creatures.

I later learned that the dragonfly is a symbol of spiritual renewal. My husband had gone to seminary, and his sister gave him a Tiffany desk lamp that features graceful dragonflies in spectacular shades of colored glass.

When my husband was in graduate school, our family was privy to another – very different – view of the dragonfly. A very thoughtful and generous supporter of my husband’s ministry arranged for us to take a week’s vacation at the beach with our three children one October. Our trip coincided with the annual migration of the monarch butterfly, and as we were homeschooling our elementary school-aged children at the time, we elected to study the monarch for our biology lesson.

The first three days of our adventure included clouds of orange and black wings – clouds, really. They were everywhere and in and on everything. At Fort Morgan – our history lesson for the week – we saw what we thought were lovely burnt orange blossoms on a hillside – until the monarchs took to the air, and our wildflowers flew away in the ocean breeze.

Those days were like a beautiful, delightful dream – until the dragonflies showed up.

They were huge – 5 inches across – and on a mission to fill their bellies with butterflies. We watched, dumbfounded, as dragonflies snatched monarchs in mid-air and perched on railings, signs, chairs – even the sandy beach – to devour them. The children all reacted differently: One cried in horror; another still cringes from the nightmares he had as an innocent second grader; and the third was fascinated and creeped out at the same time.

For two days, we watched those dragonflies chase the monarchs across the Gulf. We sheltered exhausted butterflies on the balcony of our condominium while they garnered the strength to outfly their voracious predators. It was an experience that none of us has forgotten, and we recall that biology lesson every time any of us see a dragonfly.

So of course, it was the first thing I thought of when Kenneth Boone wrote the Nature of the Lake column on page 34 of this issue of Lake magazine about the Blue Dasher that is common on Lake Martin. His article offers an overview of this harmless – to humans, anyway – and beneficial insect that lives among us.

Perhaps it is good luck if one of these seemingly fragile creatures lands on your arm, but don’t be fooled by the incredible beauty Kenneth captured in his photographs of the Blue Dasher: The monarch knows the monster within.

Chairman KENNETH BOONE

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

Art Director AUDRA SPEARS

audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com

Circulation ERIN BURTON

erin.burton@alexcityoutlook.com

Marketing/Advertising Director TIPPY HUNTER

tippy.hunter@alexcityoutlook.com

Marketing KATIE WESSON

katie.wesson@alexcityoutlook.com

MARILYN HAWKINS

marilyn.hawkins@thewetumpkaherald.com

JULIE HARBIN

julie.harbin@alexcityoutlook.com

JOLIE WATERS

jolie.waters@alexcityoutlook.com

Digital Advertising Director KAT RAIFORD

kat.raiford@alexcityoutlook.com

Digital Advertising Coordinator ELLE FULLER

elle.fuller@alexcityoutlook.com

Creative Services DARLENE JOHNSON

darlene.johnson@alexcityoutlook.com

SHELLEY MCNEAL

shelley.mcneal@alexcityoutlook.com

Contributors KENNETH BOONE JOHN COLEY MAGALÍ ZASLABSKY JULIE HUDSON CLIFF WILLIAMS LONNA UPTON GREG VINSON ROB MCDANIEL

GABRIELLE JANSEN LIZI ARBOGAST BEN WATTS JOHN THOMPSON MATT SHEPPARD HENRY FOY JIMMY WIGFIELD JUDITH JAGER

All content, including all stories and photos are copyright of: Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.

Betsy Iler, Managing Editor 4 LAKE

AUGUST 2019

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

On the Cover Creativity abounds at the annual Lake Martin Lions Charity Poker Run, held in July to raise money for local charities. Entrants are judged on costumes and boat decorations, as well as the best and worst poker hands as they make their way around the lake to collect cards. This Saturday Suds entry tied for first place in the 2019 event with a well-executed original idea.

Photo by Kenneth Boone

www.Scag.com

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AUGUST 2019

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Contents 17. WHEN LAKE GOES TO PARIS Magalí Zaslabsky shares the inside track on a Champagne region side trip for your next visit to Paris 24. WAKE SURF SUMMER Trials and triumphs characterize summer wakesurf clinics on Lake Martin

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30. ALABAMA POWER INCREASES PERMIT FEES Apply for permits now, as a new fee schedule for seawalls, dock work and construction projects is on the way 41. NIGHT BOATING AND FISHING Bass Pro Greg Vinson and ALEA Marine Patrol's Capt.

Gary Buchanan offer tips to keep you safe at night 48. DREAM HOME A Lake Martin decorator takes on her toughest client yet – herself – to create the perfect home at the lake 58. NAUTIQUE REGATTA Russell Marine hosts an exclusive weekend with World Wake Association pros for Nautique owners 66. A FAMILY AFFAIR The Bakers are all in to care for the ruminant residents of Lake Martin's Goat Island

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LAKE MAGAZINE’S MONTHLY FEATURES: 9. LAKE’S QUICK GUIDE TO THE LAKE 10. LAKE SCENES 14. WHERE IS LAKE? 18. LAKE MARTIN NEWS 20. LAKE MARTIN EVENTS 34. NATURE OF THE LAKE 70. FAB FINDS

72. BEHIND THE BOAT 75. LMRA 76. LAKE PROPERTY 78. CHEF'S TABLE 80. HEALTHY LIVING 82. BIG CATCHES 84. FROM THE CELLAR 87. PAR FOR THE COURSE

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

AUGUST 2019

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Celebrating 25 Years!

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

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

A Place To Worship Lake Martin Area Churches

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

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

OFF WATER

OFF WATER

OFF WATER

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Small Space Advertising Works.

Call Jolie Waters 256-414-3174 & ask for Lake Church Page

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AUGUST 2019

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

37 47 34

$583,680 $451,694 $401,479

$598,000 $345,000 $339,092

131 147 227

283 340 410

June 2019 June 2016 June 2013

Inventory/ sales ratio 11.17 12.00 21.77

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

How to be a good steward of the watershed Alabama Extension Services has unveiled a new watershed stewardship educational program designed to promote healthy watersheds, increase understanding of water pollution and provide knowledge and tools to help prevent and resolve local water quality problems.

Facilitated by the Pepperell Branch Watershed Partnership and the Alabama Water Watch staff, the eight-hour workshop costs $10 (plus tax) and includes a catered lunch. The first workshop was launched in mid-July, but another is scheduled for Aug. 8 at the Opelika Sportsplex.

Do Your Part

The program, which will begin at 9 a.m., will provide training for community-driven watershed management and information about improving watershed function, Alabama’s quality and quantity of water and the mechanics of watershed systems. The focus will be on protection and restoration of Alabama’s abundant water resources, which range from fastflowing mountain streams to large, lazy rivers and picturesque shorelines.

To register, visitaces.edu/event/awsauburn-08-08-2019 or email Nikki Dictson at ndictson@auburn.edu.

Weather Outlook for August

August 2019 Forecast

Historically, the Lake Martin area experiences average high temperatures in the mid- to lower 90s with average lows in the upper-60s and about 4 and a half inches of precipitation in the month of August. The National Weather Service has predicted that temperatures will be slightly above normal, and rainfall will be in the normal range this month.

Year to Date

Precipitation: 32.02 inches Avg. high temp.: 74.8 Avg. low temp.: 51.1 Avg. temp.: 63

Our Normal August Precipitation: 4.50 inches Avg. high temp.: 89.9 Information from the Avg. low temp.: 68.4 National Weather Avg. temp.: 79.2 Service.

AUGUST 2019

Discarded plastic makes up about 60 percent of the 105 tons of trash that has been collected from Lake Martin’s shorelines and roadways during the annual Renew Our Rivers cleanups, but there are some things that boaters can do to reduce the amount of plastic that gets turned into trash at the lake. n Fill and bring along a large, insulated beverage container with water instead of packing individual bottles for a day on the lake. n Invest in a set of non-breakable plates, cutlery and food containers to cut down on the singleuse plastics on board the boat. n Designate and secure a trash receptacle onboard and instruct everyone on the boat to discard trash into it. This could cut down on the amount of trash that gets blown out of the vessel while you are underway.

Keep our Treasured Lake clean!

Last Month's Lake Levels Summer: 491 MSL Winter: 481 MSL Highest: 490.57 Lowest: 490.20 Lake depth is measured in reference to mean sea level. For up-to-date water levels at the lake, visit the website lakes.alabamapower.com.

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.

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Lake Scene n People & Places

Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

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READER SUBMISSIONS

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(1) Joseph Tyler Harrelson took a photo of this firey sunset near Manoy Creek Memorial Day weekend. (2) Belle and Max hit the lake for an early summer boat ride. (3) Dustin Davenport and his 8-year-old son, Asher, had a great time on Goat Island. (4) Summer starts with a boat ride for Ella Kate and Ann Margaret. (5) Troy Willoughby enjoys fishing with his grandpa Kenneth Fuller on Lake Martin. (6) Tinsley Ballard and Cale and Luke Hanks treasure their time at grandparents Jerry and Marsha Hanks' home on Lake Martin.

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AUGUST 2019

Lake Scene n People & Places

Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

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READER SUBMISSIONS (1) Haylen Grace Phillips, 5, practices her paddleboarding while Riley Phillips, 8, goes along for the ride. (2) The folks on Powell Drive at Lake Martin celebrated the 4th of July in style with fireworks.

(3) Conlee Rudd wears her patriotic sunglasses upside down at Lake Martin just because she can. (4) Tommy Bice shared his morning view of Lake Martin from Wicker Point. (5) Ian, Gabe and Hope Huffstutler took a boat ride with their grandparents on Lake Martin. (6) The morning sun turned the sky orange over Lake Martin during a cool spell in late spring.

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Lake Scene n People & Places

Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

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READER SUBMISSIONS (1) The sun sets on another perfect day at Lake Martin's StillWaters in this photo by Milli Dee Lewis. (2) Kasie, Lainey and Connor Wilson, Michael and Kathy McKeen, Kayla, Keaton and Chandler Posey and Joyce Reeves gathered at the Reeves lake house near The Narrows for 4th of July. (3) Identical twins Ashton and Payton Smith love swimming when they camp at Wind Creek State Park. (4) An orange sunrise ushers in another summer day at Lake Martin in this photo by Cheryl Gainer McCall. (5) John Cooper Golz and Collier Bell were exhausted after their day at the lake. (6) Mobley Estes loves coming to the lake with his 4-year-old Weimaraner, Waker. (7) Logan Sevin hand feeds a young kid at Goat Island on Lake Martin.

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AUGUST 2019

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

You’re Invited!

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26 M a i n S t ree t | A lex a n d e r Ci t y , A L AUGUST 2019

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Where is Lake? n People & Places

Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

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(1) Haley Carroll and Eloise Franklin took Lake magazine on a mission trip to San Isidro, Costa Rica. (2) Lake took a Sea Dream cruise to the Island of Elba and along the northwest coastline of Italy with Greg and Jennifer Mast, Bill and Walker Jones, Kate and Claude Neilsen, Ken and Nina Botsford, Ann and Billy Harrison, Sarah and Bruce Denson, Guerry and Nancy Denson, Allison and Milton Harsh, Janie and John Williams, Karen and Tommy Terrell, Carol and Rex Alexander, Connie and Jack Tomlinson. (3) Sharon Hickman, Dorothy Holdridge and Sally Chapman shared the view from Stone Mountain, Georgia, with Lake magazine. (4) Sandra and Mike Booker took a magazine along on a cruise to Havana, Cuba. (5) Nolan Brown and Shay Rogers took Lake to the sea on their trip to Key West.

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AUGUST 2019

Where is Lake? n People & Places 1

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READER SUBMISSIONS (1) Lake magazine tagged along when Barbara and Wayne Gregory visited Kusadasi, Turkey. (2) Melvin, Kaila and Daisy Melton took Lake magazine to Savannah, Georgia, to meet Bobby and Paula Deen at her book signing at her restaurant, The Lady & Sons.

(3) Beth and Russ Campbell took Lake magazine to Positano, Italy, on the Almafi Coast. (4) Dick and Mary Brantley Chambliss took Lake magazine to see the rainbow over Niagara Falls. (5) Lola Popov, Joyce Reeves and Di Riccio had a blast at the beach with Lake magazine. (6) Doug and Barbara Reid took Lake to St. Petersburg, Russia.

AUGUST 2019

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D I S C OV E R

I T TA K E S A V I L L AG E T O M A K E A H O M E

What makes a home in National Village so special is the sum of the parts of National Village. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National, the pool, the lake, the hiking trails, the dining, the friendship, and of course Auburn Football. Perhaps the saying is true, the whole is equal to the sum of its parts.

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AUGUST 2019

T O L E A R N M O R E V I S I T N A T I O N A LV I L L A G E . C O M O R C A L L 3 3 4 7 4 9 8 1 6 5

When Lake magazine goes to Paris:

Discover the Champagne Region

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STORY & PHOTOS BY MAGALÍ ZASLABSKY

On your travels to Paris this summer, take a day trip from the City of Lights to discover the Champagne region.

Renown as a sought-after beverage around the world, Champagne has become common in local supermarkets and liquor stores in the United States. What most people don’t know is that these bottles have travelled a long journey from the historical province of Champagne, a worthwhile visit on your next trip to France.

The Champagne region, the only place in the world allowed to call its sparkling wine “Champagne,” is located in the northeast of France, 80 miles from Paris. If you are visiting the City of Lights and have the time, don’t miss the opportunity to take a day trip there.

The national railway system in France, the SNCF, offers an average of 22 trains a day between Paris and Reims, one of the main centers of Champagne production. From Gare de l’Est in Paris, the quickest route takes only 40 minutes, and prices start at 10 euros. This option is perfect for those who want to take it easy and enjoy what Reims has to offer.

From its French Gothic cathedral, where the coronation of the kings of France took place, to its numerous Champagne houses, Reims is a great destination for Champagne and history lovers alike.

But for travelers who want the freedom to explore, the best way to access the region is by rental car. Driving will allow you to travel through the Parc Naturel Regional de la Montagne de Reims. This is an ideal place to combine a nature getaway, driving through vineyards and forests, with a tour of the main cities of the region.

Located south of Reims is Épernay, known as the unoffi-

cial capital of Champagne and for its Avenue de Champagne.

Many world-leading Champagne producers – including Moët et Chandon, Mercier and De Castellane – have cellars located on this avenue, or more precisely, underneath it.

Locals joke that it is the most expensive avenue in the world, as millions of bottles of Champagne are stored in the miles and miles of cellars under this elegant cobblestone road. Some of these bottles can be as expensive as $400; for example, the prestigious Dom Perignon located in the nearly 18 miles of mazes that form Moët et Chandon’s cellars.

If you would like to take a tour and enjoy a tasting, it’s better to reserve a spot as soon as possible because of the limited availability in English. These tours, which generally cost anywhere from 25 to 50 euros, could include the history of the Champagne house, a visit to the cellars and a sampling of a glass of their Champagne. To buy the advance tickets for a tour, visit the producers’ websites, also available in English.

No reservation is needed to walk into most cellars. Most of them offer the opportunity to taste their products and to look inside the luxurious Champagne houses, a more spontaneous option for Champagne aficionados.

The best tim of year to visit this region is now – from late spring, when the vines start to grow leaves, to the fall, when the harvest takes place. The valleys of pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay grapevines turn bright green at the beginning of the summer, creating a unique landscape that you won’t want to miss.

And when you go, be sure to take along a copy of Lake magazine for a ‘Where Is Lake?’ photo!

Bottles of Dom Perignon line the walls of a cellar beneath the most expensive avenue in the world

French kings were crowned at Reims Cathedral

AUGUST 2019

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Lake Martin News Lake Martin's 'Azalea Man' passes

The man with 500 azaleas at the base of Smith Mountain died last month at the age of 87 after suffering a stroke. For more than 30 years, Giles Gainer planted and tended azalea bushes that became a beautiful spring landmark on Lake Martin’s eastern shoreline. His collection eventually grew to include some 500 bushes – about Giles Gainer 100 different species – that created a spectacular display and announced the arrival of spring at the lake every year.

“It all started because four of the original bushes died in the first year,” Gainer told Lake magazine three years ago.

“I called up the man in Reeltown where we’d gotten them, and he said he wasn’t in the business anymore. He told us to go see this other man, named Johnston, and pick out four new ones and he’d go pay for them. So we went to see Mr. Johnston. He replaced the four, and we came home with another 30.”

The Gainers started their collection when they moved into their lake house off of Young’s Ferry Road. Whenever they visited local nurseries, they usually came home with more azaleas – encores, Formosas, natives, antiques and hybrids. The collection fills the yard in the Powell Drive home that Gainer shared with his wife of 58 years, Dorothy Baxley Gainer.

He was born in Maryland in 1931 and enlisted in the Air National Guard in 1949. In 1952, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, became a test pilot and instructor and rose through the ranks. He completed 100 missions over North Vietnam as a Wild Weasel pilot and was awarded the Command Pilot Badge with 4,300 flying hours. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel, enjoying his azaleas for the past 31 years.

For many years, Gainer's collection of 500 azaleas has announced the arrival of spring at Lake Martin

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Gainer was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Monique; his brother Bob and sisters Audrey and Judy. He is survived by his wife, daughter Cheryl Gainer McCall, grandson Stephen McCall, special niece and nephew Bobbi Joyce Penny and Brett Gainer and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held Aug. 8 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Langley Funeral Home in Camp Hill. ~ Staff report

BADA makes contribution to Children's Harbor

Children’s Harbor is one of 10 local charities that received contributions as a result of the efforts from the Birmingham Automobile Dealers Association (BADA) at the 2019 Alabama Auto Show. On Wednesday, July 15th, a generous contribution of $30,000 was presented by Jennifer Whisenant, Executive Director of BADA, at the Children’s Harbor Family Center while patients and their families raced remote-control cars in the atrium of the Harbor building.

“Children’s Harbor is very appreciative of the generous support from the Birmingham Automotive Dealers Association that helps us continue our mission of providing no-cost services to seriously ill patients and families served at the Family Center at the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children in Birmingham and our Lake Martin Retreat Facility in Alexander City, AL,” said LeAnn Crowe, Chief Development Officer of Children’s Harbor. ~ Staff report

Corey Smith to headline Labor Day concert

Corey Smith will return to Lake Martin to headline the annual Labor Day concert at Lake Marth Amphitheater, Russell Lands Director of Events and Social Media Corey Smith Robert Gunn announced last month. The Bank Walkers will start the show at 6 p.m.

Gates will open at 5 p.m. Bring lawn chairs, coolers and friends (but no dogs, please) to the grassy hillside on Lake Martin to this popular annual event.

Smith, a well-known Country singer-songwriter and guitarist with Lake Martin audiences, will take the stage for this unofficial end-of-summer event.

Visit theamponlakemartin.com/tickets for details. ~ Staff report

AUGUST 2019

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

BY JOHN THOMPSON

Dear Editor at Lake magazine, Thank you so much for the great article in the July issue of Lake magazine commemorating the 20th year of Alabama Power Company’s “Renew our Rivers.” As you indicated, the cooperative efforts of many volunteers has resulted in more than 100 tons of unsightly and sometimes hazardous trash being removed from the shoreline of Lake Martin.

In recognizing the partnerships that were responsible for this great effort, you failed to mention one of the most important, which is the role TPI and particularly Lake magazine has played in this great achievement. You have always been there in support, and through the years, volunteers have been recognized and motivated by your wonderful articles and pictures.

We offer you and the entire TPI staff our sincere gratitude.

John Thompson President, Lake Martin Resource Association

Innovative Design, Stylish Ideas Computer Generated Room Designs

Cabinets & Countertops Countertops displayed at Wellborn Industries Showroom 329 Piedmont Road, Jackson’s Gap, AL 36861

Denise Booth 256-749-6177 homeologylakemar tin.com debooth.al@gmail.com

Ask about the traveling granite car!

AUGUST 2019

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Aug. 1 Strand Sessions

The Lake Martin Young Professionals will host the final concert event in this summer’s Strand Session series from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Strand Park, downtown Alexander City.

Clay Barker will perform at this free, family-friendly event.

Bring coolers, chairs, blankets and food or purchase dinner from a downtown merchant. For more information and artist lineup, visit lakemartinyp.com.

Aug. 16 Painting with Your Palette Knife Landscape in Oils

The final one-day workship in the Tallapoosa School of Art summer series features palette knife techniques for the beginner with artist Alisa Koch. Tuition is $150 and includes supplies, lunch, tea, coffee, bottled water and snacks. For registration, email dorothylittleton@gmail.com.

Aug. 23 An Evening with The Band of Heathens

Aug. 5 Watercolor Workshop

Standard Deluxe will host The Band of Heathens on the outdoor stage. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m., and Chef Brian Artists Association of Central Alabama will hold a watercolor workshop from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Senior Cosby will be serving up supper in the FeedShak at 6 p.m.

This event will be BYOB, but Activities Center in Alexander please no glass. Tickets City. The workshop will CALENDAR OF EVENTS are $18 in advance and address autumn leaves $25 at the gate. Kids 14 using unusual pigments. years old and younger Contact June Dean at WHAT’S HAPPENING ON LAKE MARTIN will be admitted free.

334-373-3324 for fees and supplies list.

The Band of Heathens will play on the outdoor stage at Standard Deluxe this month

Aug. 10 Duck Norris Derby

Chuck’s Marina will host this rubber duck derby at 1 p.m., and the first duck to cross the finish line will win $2,500. Proceeds will support The Girl’s Ranch and Tri-County Advocacy Center.

Tickets are $5 per duck; a "Quack Pack" is $20 for 5 tickets, and a "Duck Float Pack" is $100 for 30 tickets.

Aug. 10 Tyler Reese Tritt at The Rodeo Club

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. as The Rodeo Club presents Tyler Reese Tritt with special guests Jeff Bates and Kevin Moon. Tickets are $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Visit tylerreesetritt.com or wkga975.com for tickets and more information.

Aug. 15 AACA General Meeting

The Artists Association of Central Alabama general meeting from noon to 2 p.m. at the Senior Activities Center on the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex campus is open to anyone wanting more information or to learn about the organization. Contact June Dean at 334-373-3324 or email AACAartclub@gmail.com for details.

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Aug. 24 Horseshoe Bend National Military Park Symposium

Horseshoe Bend will host its annual symposium at the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center (Pebble Hill) for the Arts and Humanities from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

This year’s symposium will commemorate the bicentennial with presentations focused on Alabama’s earliest historians and their insights into Creek Indian history, the Creek War and the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. Pebble Hill is located at 101 S. Debardeleben St., Auburn. For more information, visit nps.gov/hobe or call the park at 256-234-7111.

Sept. 1 Labor Day Concert at The AMP

Corey Smith will close out the summer concert series at The Lake Martin Amphitheater this year. The Bank Walkers will start the show at 6 p.m. The AMP is located at 8878 Kowaliga Rd. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, coolers and friends for the last blowout concert of the year. For more information, visit www.theamponlakemartin.com or call 256-397-1019.

AUGUST 2019

Sept. 6 Chris Cooley and Diana Thompson

Ladies’ Book Club

Sardis United Methodist Church and Lake Pointe Baptist Church will present a free recital featuring international pianist Chris Cooley and opera soprano Diana Thompson, who will perform together at Lake Pointe Baptist Church, 8352 state Route 50 in Dadeville at (time TBA). A love offering will be taken up, and a reception will follow with light refreshments and an opportunity to meet the musicians.

Sept. 9 Horizons Unlimited: Dolores Hydock

Dolores Hydock will present her one-woman show, Through the Back Door: The Music that Bridged the Bayou, bringing to life a wide range of characters from history.

Horizons Unlimited is a series of programs that are held from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church Trinity Campus, 3266 U.S. Hwy. 280 in Alexander City. Membership is $20 per person and $30 per couple for the semester.

Sept. 16 Horizons Unlimited: Chris Goodman

As the hydro manager for Alabama Power, Chris Goodman is responsible for hydro-generation dams and units. He will present The Hydro Generation of Martin Dam. Horizons Unlimited is a series of programs that are held from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church Trinity Campus, 3266 U.S. Hwy. 280 in Alexander City. Membership is $20 per person and $30 per couple for the semester.

Season-Long Events

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., state Route 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

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

Memory Makers Quilt Guild

Wine Tastings

Catherine’s Market will host a wine tasting from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays through the summer. Admission is $5, and participants will receive 15 percent off any wine purchases from the evening’s selections.

Alexander City Farmers Market

The Farmers Market at Broad Street Plaza opens from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. every Saturday through September. Find fresh produce – including blueberries, tomatoes, peppers, beans and corn – along with honey, jams, jellies, handmade art and more. For information, contact Main Street Alexander City at 256-329-9227.

Library Storytime in Dadeville

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

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. Meet in the conference room at 4 p.m. Call the library at 256-234-4644 for each month’s book title.

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

Quilters meet the second and fourth Mondays of every 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 more information, contact Dianne Perrett at 256-329-8724.

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 in

AUGUST 2019

LAKE 21

Alexander City, with dinner and fellowship following at a local area restaurant. For more information, contact Michael Courtney at 256-825-7766 or Mike Smith at 256-750-5710.

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.

Visit russelllandsonlakemartin.com/blog/events for the scheduled subject matter, dates and times.

Fourth Fridays at EPAC

The Equality Performing Arts Center on state Route 9 in Equality hosts music and other events at 7 p.m. on the fourth Friday night of each month. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Visit the Equality Performing Arts Center Facebook page for a schedule of upcoming artists.

Trivia Night at Niffer’s on the Lake

Every Thursday, Niffer’s hosts trivia night at 7 p.m.

Winners receive Niffer’s gift cards. First place gets $40; second place gets $25; and third place gets $15. Grab a group of friends and come out for a night of games. A bonus question is posted on the Niffer’s Facebook page at 2 p.m. Thursdays.

Clean Community Partnership Cleanups

Worship on the Water

Dadeville First United Methodist Church partners with New Water Farms to host non-denominational worship services every Sunday through Sept. 29 at 8:30 a.m. New Water Farms is located at 460 Civitan Rd. in Dadeville.

First Saturday Markets

Standard Deluxe in Waverly will host its local markets on the first Saturday of each month through September from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local vendors will be on site, the T-shirt shop will be open, and food will be available for purchase.

For more information, visit StandardDeluxe.com.

Yoga on the Green

Perfect for beginners or seasoned practitioners, this free yoga session starts at 7 a.m. on the Town Green at Russell Crossroads every Saturday throughout the summer. Just bring a mat and water.

Friday on the Green

Wind down your busy week on the Town Green at Russell Crossroads every Friday night from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bring chairs, blankets, coolers and friends. Play some cornhole, decorate the sidewalks with chalk and take turns with the hula hoops.

St. James Episcopal Services

The Episcopal service includes outdoor praise and worship with an acoustic band at Church in the Pines at noon on Aug. 11 and Aug. 25.

The third Saturday of each month, volunteers throughout the community are encouraged to meet at Broad Street Plaza at 8:30 a.m. to pick up supplies and area assignments and help clean up the roads within Alexander City. Email jacob.meacham@alexandercitychamber.com for more information.

Roman Catholic Services at the Lake

Coffee & Connections

Church of Living Waters

Every third Tuesday of the month, the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce hosts a networking event at 8 a.m. open to any chamber member. Participants should meet at the TPI Bullpen at the Lake Martin Innovation Center for coffee, a light breakfast and a chance to network with community members.

Open Studio

The Artists Association of Central Alabama meets from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Thursday at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex Senior Center and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays at the Dadeville Senior Center on Columbus St. Beginners are welcome, and there is no charge for open studios. Call June Dean at 334-301-5317 or Kay Fincher at 256-825-2506 for more information.

St Vincent’s Roman Catholic Church in Tallassee will hold a vigil mass at 6 p.m. at Church in the Pines every Saturday through Aug. 31. Confession will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Every Sunday through Sept. 1, Church of the Living Waters hosts guest speakers from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Church in the Pines

Sunday services will begin at 9 a.m. with guest speakers through Labor Day. To include your upcoming event in Lake magazine’s calendar, email details to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com by the 15th of the preceding month.

Music on the Deck

Every Sunday, there will be live music at Kowaliga Restaurant from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

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AUGUST 2019

It’s easy to love the rain when you’re prepared for the storm.

In Alabama, we love the rain. It gives us beautiful forests, a thriving agriculture and even helps power our hydro plants. But a thunderstorm is a different story, especially if the power goes out. Good thing Alabama Power is engineering and incorporating the latest technology to prevent outages and restore power faster than ever. As soon as it’s safe, our whole team works around the clock to get your lights back on. And we keep you informed about our progress.

If you’ve got an outage, we’ve got you covered.

Report online at AlabamaPower.com/reliable.

Or call our 24/7 outage support line at 1-800-888-APCO (2726).

© 2019 Alabama Power Company

AUGUST 2019

LAKE 23

WAKE SURF SUMMER

24 LAKE

AUGUST 2019

Wake surf clinic takes skills to the next level STORY & PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS

Hayes McKell landed his first 360 behind the boat

AUGUST 2019

LAKE 25

H

Hayes McKell pumped his arms as his eyes opened to the size of dish plates after completing a 360 on a skim board last month while taking part in a Russell Marine wake sports clinic at The Ridge Marina with Sawyer Davis.

Davis blew the boat’s horn as Hayes’ younger brother Harrison congratulated him, too.

“That was his first one,” the younger McKell said with a smile.

It is not Davis’ first experience seeing a novice take on the growing sport of wakesurfing.

“I was out with a family giving a private lesson,” Davis said. “They hadn’t been able to get up on a board.

Their 11-year-old daughter got up for the first time, and her eyes got real big. The whole family was happy. The father messaged me a while later and said she was still talking about it. He said, ‘It was worth every penny and then some.’”

Hayes is not a complete newbie, as he has been wakesurfing for a while.

“We got a surf boat in ’16,” Hayes said. “I have been doing surf clinics since last year. I have gotten around before but never landed it in the wake. This is the first time I have landed it.”

Davis, a Lake Martin native with a long history behind the boat, has been in the spot of the McKells before when he learned of wakesurfing through videos and decided to give it a try more than 10 years ago.

“Larry Bain taught me on a ski boat and a real surf-

board,” Davis said. “I never thought I would let go of the rope.”

Davis even helps to develop wakesurfing boards on Lake Martin with Victoria Wake of California. An avid and accomplished wakesurfer, Davis offers input when the company is developing boards. He tests them on Lake Martin; and then, offers his analysis of how the boards performed, as well as makes suggestions for adjustments and other changes.

“Four boards have been developed on this lake,” Davis said.

He’s expecting another shipment of prototypes to arrive at his door soon.

Davis has tried traditional surfing on the oceans, but as he first kicked up a board behind the boat, he finds the time between ocean waves difficult.

“It is with a 7-foot board and a lot of work,” Davis said. “You have to paddle a lot to get to a good wave. I showed an instructor wakesurfing, and he said no wonder you are bored.”

According to Davis, not just any boat will work for wakesurfing.

“Most of my job as an instructor is putting weight in the right places in the boat,” Davis said. “It’s finely tuned to get a wake like that.”

Russell Marine hosts several water sports clinics every summer. Look for next year’s wake sports schedule in the May 2020 issue of Lake magazine.

Sawyer Davis gives position and technique tips to a surfer between rides

26 LAKE

AUGUST 2019

Adjusting the wake to fit the rider and balance the boat is an important aspect of wake surfing

At the end of the summer, there's nothing like nailing a trick that was practiced all season

AUGUST 2019

LAKE 27

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. – 1 Peter 1:3

28 LAKE

AUGUST 2019

AUGUST 2019

LAKE 29

Alabama Power to increase permit fees Changes take effect Jan. 1

S

Start the permit process for Lake Martin shoreline work now, before a new Alabama Power Company permit fee structure goes into effect next year. Alabama Power Company has announced that its first permit fee increase since 2005 will become effective on Jan. 1, 2020.

Permits are required for any residential shoreline work or construction along the shoreline of Lake Martin, including seawalls, repairs, docks, boat houses and home building, as well as commercial work that applies to new marinas, pumps and projects. Non-compliance fees also will be increased.

Permit fees for work begun or con-

STORY BY BETSY ILER

ducted after the first of the year on projects for which permits are issued and the fee paid in 2019 will be charged based on the current schedule, which could be a significant savings on some projects, an Alabama Power spokesperson explained, so anyone planning permitted work is urged to begin the permitting process now.

The general construction fee for new structures or added footage to existing structures will increase from $250 to $400, an increase of more than 60 percent. In addition, general repairs that currently carry no permit fee will be $200 in 2020, and modifying a permit after it has been issued

will no longer be free but will cost $100 for the updating of the permit.

The greatest increases will be felt in encroachment situations. An afterthe-fact fee for non-permitted work discovered post-build currently set at $250 would be $600 after the first of the year. And failure to remove a dilapidated structure, which currently carries no fee, will cost $800, plus restoration/mitigation costs.

Permits allow the power company to monitor repairs and improvements according to a quality standard designed to protect and enhance the scenic, recreational, environmental and cultural values of the lake for the benefit of all lake users and residents.

Permit fees for seawall construction and repairs will go up, so apply and pay before the end of the year to save money

30 LAKE

AUGUST 2019

Residential Fees:

Updated Fee Structure - Details

Permit Type General Construction Repair Permit modification

Current Fee $250 None None

Proposed Fee $400 $200 $100

Notes Includes new structures or added footage Covers general repairs Covers modifications to permit after approval

Permit Type After-the-fact permit Non-compliance fee Failure to remove dilapidated structure

Current Fee $250 $250 None

Encroachments Proposed Fee $600 $800 $800

Notes If found post-build, but fits in guidelines Plus costs associated with bringing into guidelines Plus site restoration/mitigation costs

Permit Type General Construction Repair Permit modification

Current Fee $1500 None None

Proposed Fee $2000 $500 $500

Notes Includes common areas or new projects < 10 slips Covers general repairs Covers modifications to permit after approval

Permit Type After-the-fact permit Non-compliance fee Failure to remove dilapidated structure

Current Fee $1,500 $1,500 None

Encroachments Proposed Fee $2,500 $3,000 $800

Notes If found post-build, but fits in guidelines Plus costs associated with bringing into guidelines Plus site restoration/mitigation costs

Multifamily Fees:

For example, lakeshore use permits provide residents access to the water through structures like docks and boathouses.

Permits can be used to help residents protect their lakeshore properties from erosion by obtaining authorization to install bank stabilizations along the shoreline.

The permitting program also helps protect the shoreline and the environment while ensuring recreational opportunities for all lake users.

The last time Alabama Power adjusted its permit structure was 2005 – nearly 15 years ago. Much has changed over that time; one thing being that inflation has gone up more than 30 percent since 2005, and regulations have increased the need for services that may not have existed 15 years ago.

“The permitting process is one of the most important tools we have to ensure that public safety is a top priority through permitting guidelines that help us maintain water storage capacity, protect the scenic, environmental and cultural qualities of our lakes and enhance quality of life for all lake users and residents,” said Thomas St. John, Alabama Power Shoreline Management manager.

Permits have been required for construction along Alabama Power’s 3,500 miles of lake shoreline – includ-

ing Lake Martin’s 880 shoreline miles – since 1992. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which regulates Martin Dam and other Alabama Power lakes and hydro projects, allows utilities to establish fees to help cover the costs of administering a permit program.

“The company hasn’t had any fee adjustments in nearly 15 years,” St. John said. “Even with the changes, our fees will be in line or less than what other utilities with hydro reservoirs charge for similar services.”

For each permit, shoreline management team members often make as many as two to three site visits. This close and careful review ensures each permitted project meets lake- and river-specific guidelines, the spokesperson said.

“Shoreline management team members are dedicated to serving our lake communities,” St. John said. “We will meet with our customers and will help walk them through the process, making sure they understand the big picture and protect the lakes we all love.”

Those considering any work along the shoreline of Lake Martin are encouraged to contact the local Alabama Power Shoreline Management Office and apply for a permit before the new fee structure goes into effect at the beginning of next year. The local shoreline manAUGUST 2019

agement office is located at 1296 Tallassee St., Dadeville. For the full fee schedule, call the shoreline management office or visit the website at apcshorelines.com/permits.

LAKE 31

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32 LAKE

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AUGUST 2019

LAKE 33

B

Blue Dasher Blue Dashers are your friends.

These small, beautiful, gem-tone dragonflies are fun to watch as they patrol the lake shore, and – big added bonus here – they can eat more than 30 mosquitoes each in a day.

Male Blue Dashers are highly decorated. They have bright blue abdomens with black tips, yellow tiger-striped thoraces and bright, reflective blue or green eyes above their white faces. Females are not as brightly colored, with striped thoraces and brown and yellow-striped abdomens.

Blue Dashers often have patches of amber color in their wings. They grow to roughly 1.75 inches long.

Blue Dashers are members of the skimmer family – the largest family of dragonflies in the world – and they are one of the most common dragonflies in North America. In fact, their range is bigger than just our country. These dragonflies are native from southern Canada to Mexico and also are found in Cuba, the Bahamas and Belize, although they are not seen in the Rocky Mountains or the Dakotas.

Blue Dashers are sometimes called the Swift Long-winged Skimmer or the Blue Pirate. The scientific name of this insect is Pachydiplax longipennis, which doesn’t mean what you might think.

In Latin “longipennis” means “long wings,” (pennis is the plural of penna, which means “wing”).

Although a male Blue Dasher’s wings aren’t much longer than its relatives, a female Blue Dasher has a shorter body, which does make its wings look longer in comparison.

Blue Dashers live near the shoreline of still bodies of water, which could include everything from Lake Martin to a drainage ditch or a slow-moving stream. They seem to prefer marshy, low areas in warm climates.

These dragonflies sit on their perches and help control their internal temperatures by changing their positions relative to the sun. Often on hot days, Blue Dashers will hold their abdomens straight up in what scientists call the “obelisk” position in an

34 LAKE

attempt to remain cool.

During the day, Blue Dashers are very active; at night, they roost in trees.

Males are very territorial and will chase away other males that fly over their turfs.

Mating takes place in the air and can last from several seconds to two minutes. Once a couple mates, the male will stand guard on a perch while the female flies close to the water’s surface, repeatedly releasing eggs as she touches her tail to the surface. Blue Dasher females are capable of releasing 300-700 eggs in only 35 seconds.

When the eggs hatch, the young Blue Dashers are called niaids, and they hang out in aquatic vegetation and ambush other larva that drift or swim by. Once they mature, they will crawl up on vegetation that extends above the water at night and molt their exoskeletons several times to take the familiar dragonfly shape.

Blue Dashers have a fierce, dragon-like reputation for being vicious hunters of other flying insects. Each day, these dragonflies consume insects weighing up to 10 percent of their body weight.

They hunt by ambush in air as well, remaining still on a perch and waiting for a prey insect to wander by. By prey insect, we’re speaking of almost any flying bug. These dragonflies are not picky and will catch and consume anything that flies, from moths to gnats. When a flying bug does stray nearby, a Blue Dasher dashes out and grabs it, enveloping it with its spiked legs; and then, flies back to its perch to eat.

While you can watch Blue Dashers with the naked eye, an even better way to observe them is to identify a stake-out spot – dragonflies will often use the same perch over and over during a day while hunting, Bring a pair of close-focusing binoculars and a chair for your own Blue Dasher stake-out.

Some information for this article came from the websites at bugguide.net, Smithsonian.com, as well as iNaturalist.org and odonatacentral.org.

AUGUST 2019

NATURE OF THE LAKE

BY KENNETH BOONE

Standing on its head helps the Blue Dasher dragonfly regulate its body temperature

AUGUST 2019

LAKE 35

A dragonfly on a hunt will remain very still on a perch until its prey wanders by

Fun Facts 



 

n

36 LAKE

A lthough dragonflies today can grow to about 5 inches long, in prehistoric times, fossils show that dragonfly wingspans reached up to 2 feet.

D ragonflies are super-efficient hunters that use their feet to catch their prey in the air. One study done at Harvard University showed that dragonflies catch between 90-95 percent of the prey released into their enclosures; however, if a dragonfly damages its wings, it will starve, as it only eats prey it catches on the fly.

D ragonflies are terrific fliers and can hover motionlessly in the air or fly straight up or down, in addition to forward.

A dragonfly has huge eyes that encompass most of its head and allow it to see in almost every direction except directly behind itself, all at the same time.

W hile adult Blue Dashers can catch scores of mosquitoes in a day, the youngsters do their part, too. Dragonfly larvae, which live in the water, also eat mosquitoes, along with tadpoles, small fish … and sometimes each other.

AUGUST 2019

B RING R USTIC C HARM T O Y OUR H OME. . .

MK

M a r k K i n g â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s F u r n i t u re

AUGUST 2019

LAKE 37

August Line up FRIDAY, AUGUST 2

Korey Rose 7:30pm - 10:30pm

SATURDAY, AUGUST 3

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As night falls, the risks related to being on the water increase

Night Boating and Fishing STORYâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;BY BETSY ILER

AUGUST 2019

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Navigation lights communicate a vessel's size and direction of travel to other boaters, which is essential, especially at times when traffic is congested, as on July 4th when boats congregate at the AMP to watch the fireworks

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“The lights on your boat at night are not there to help you see; they are there to keep you safe,” Major League Fishing Bass Pro Greg Vinson said after a double incident involving three separate boats took the life of an Auburn man earlier this summer.

“Running lights at the proper heights and locations and in the right colors are a huge deal at night.”

Auburn’s David George Goodling, 56, was killed when his boat was struck near the Bridge to Nowhere south of The Ridge Marina. His boat was left to drift until an hour later when another vessel struck Goodling’s boat again, and the driver of that third vessel towed Goodling’s boat to the marina. That crash was only one of three fatal boating accidents that have occurred on East Central Alabama waterways since May. Along with Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s

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Capt. Gary Buchanan, Vinson lent his voice to night boating safety to encourage boaters – drivers and passengers – to have fun but use caution on Lake Martin after dark.

“People often assume that they are not going to get hit – it’s a big lake, and it’s not as crowded at night as it is during the day. They think it’s not a big deal if they have a light that’s not working, or they think it’s too much trouble to replace it or fix it, but those lights in those positions and at those heights tell other boaters information that they need to avoid hitting you,” Vinson explained.

A green light on the starboard side and a red light on the port side of the boat, along with a white light at the stern, communicates to other boaters how big your boat is and in what direction it is travelling, Buchanan said.

AUGUST 2019

Safety is the marine patrol's primary concern, said Capt. Gary Buchanan

Tournament anglers prepare to leave the staging area

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Medical personnel prepare a boating accident victim for transport

“Those lights indicate who has the right of way.

If you don’t have the proper navigation lights, it becomes confusing to other boaters what they need to do to avoid you,” he said.

Another source of confusion on the water, Buchanan added, is additional lighting in navigational colors but displayed contrary to required navigational light placement.

“If you want to put additional lighting – like the popular LED lights – on your boat, that’s fine, make yourself visible, but put the correct color on the correct side of the boat. Don’t put extra green lighting on the port side of the boat. Other boaters who see that will see the green lighting and think you are travelling in the opposite direction,” he explained.

In that case, your lights could lead an oncoming boat to turn directly into your path instead of away from you.

“It’s not very sexy, but the best thing to do if you’re putting extra lighting on your boat is to put green lights on the green side and red lights on the red side,” Buchanan advised.

Vinson suggested that a boater could flash his lights off and on several times very quickly if an approaching vessel did not seem to notice his boat in its path.

“Make sure you get them back on, of course, but you might catch someone’s attention if you flash your 44 LAKE

lights. Boat lights sometimes can get lost among the lights of houses and businesses on the shore, and an oncoming boat might be able to make you out if he’s approaching but can’t tell the difference between you and distant onshore lights,” Vinson said.

“And you need to have your head on a swivel.

When you’re driving a car, there are lines on the road and signs that tell you who has the right of way. The lake is not like that. Traffic can come from any direction, and you have to be watching in all directions, all the time, because it can happen in a split second.

“I’ve had some close calls over the years in boating, and it can happen even if you are paying attention.”

“Out on the water, most people drive in straight lines, from where they are to where they want to go,” Buchanan said. “That means they cut across points, which puts them coming head-on into traffic, and if they’re driving fast, they lose reaction time and control. Slowing down would be a big help.”

“I don’t know how to be any more clear or blunt than ‘just slow down.’ Nighttime boating is not a fast boat affair.”

“Whatever speed you drive during the day, cut it in half or less at night,” Vinson agreed.

Buchanan said alcohol played a role in each of the three fatalities the area has experienced this summer, and he again urged boaters to refrain from drinking

AUGUST 2019

Night fishing can yield big catches, but it's important to be visible and careful on the water

on the water.

“First, I can’t stress enough that there needs to be a designated boat driver, but just because passengers can legally drink on the boat doesn’t mean it’s smart to do it,” Buchanan said. “Think about some of these incidents where boat passengers have ended up in the water. If you are a passenger on a boat and end up in the water in an accident situation, being intoxicated is not going to help you or anybody else.”

The blood alcohol content legal limit for lake driving is the same as on the road: .08 percent. A BUI conviction could result in loss of license, jail time and a great deal of expense, and most BUI arrests occur after 4 p.m., Buchanan said.

“It’s fun to be on the lake at night,” said Vinson.

“The temperatures are cooler. It’s just great to be out there in the summer after dark, but it’s more risky.

Everyone out there needs to be more aware and use common sense. If everyone would do that, we’d hear about a lot fewer of these fatal incidents.”

AUGUST 2019

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Custom barn doors with cobalt blue glass panes make a statement in the Jacksons' great room

Dream Home A Lake Martin decorator takes on her toughest client yet − herself STORY BY LONNA UPTON & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

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Jackson's 'she-shed' parlor offers respite with a view

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After spending years away from Lake Martin for college, jobs and starting a family, Alexander City natives Nan and Jerone Jackson returned home to Pitchford Hollow 17 years ago. They loved their Russell cabin there, so when it came time to build a forever home, they selected an interior lot in Russell Lands’ Willow Glynn neighborhood in Pitchford Hollow.

“I really feel like we are up in the mountains,” Nan Jackson said of the just-completed home that sits high on a hill but has a beautiful lake view. “We have all the trees and the birds and the lake just down the hill.”

As a professional decorator and designer with her own company, Jackson designs and decorates homes.

Starting immediately after the foundation is poured for a new house, she selects everything from exterior colors, stone and wood types to linens, drapes, the perfect pillows and everything in between. She said making selections for her own home took lots of research and a long time, but she and her husband would not change one thing about the finished product.

“My idea for the exterior was the architectural style seen in the Hamptons on Long Island. And inside, I wanted subtle. We worked with architect Larry Furlong, and he listened to everything we wanted. Derryl Thomas contracted to oversee the project,” Jackson said.

Three panels of mahogany and glass, with the front door as the center panel, span the wide entry leading from the front porch into the 4,300-square-foot home.

A brass chandelier lights the way across a soft rug, with

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an accent wall of pecky cypress wainscoting to the right and a pecky cypress barn door for the powder room on the left, built by Ken and Sandra Megs with Creative Cabinets in Alexander City.

Installed by Michael Sims Flooring, the white oak floors remain their natural color with just a coat of polyurethane and no additional stain. Small blue, elliptical shaped glass tiles highlight the powder room floor, adding a splash of blue that is carried throughout the home.

Jackson credits Paula Robbins at Henry Tile with offering expert advice.

As the home is designed to flow easily from the great room onto the covered porch or into the kitchen and dining area, the great room shares equal billing as a beautiful focal point with the other living spaces. A large sofa and four rocking club chairs frame the fireplace, built from concrete peacock pavers resembling textured, old stone.

“Bruce Sharpe did an amazing job with the fireplaces.

His creativity just brought it together beautifully,” Jackson said.

Both sides of the fireplace are adorned with matching antique sideboards and mirrors. A rug defines the space, which is filled with different textures in the upholstery and pillows, from heavy chenille to embroidered cotton.

All of the Jacksons’ new furniture and rugs came from Mathew’s Furniture and Design in Atlanta – designers with whom Jackson has worked for more than 30 years.

“It definitely takes a team of people to put every-

AUGUST 2019

Pecky cypress wainscoting brings the outdoors into the Jacksons' living space

Jackson's love of birds is reflected throughout the home

Jackson displays art in unexpected spaces

AUGUST 2019

The laundry room features wallpaper with whimsical birds

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Leo DiCaprio claims the kitchen

The porch is one of Jackson's favorite places in the new home

The Jacksons designed their home with The Hamptons in mind

Separate vanities include lots of storage in the master bath

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AUGUST 2019

thing together. It’s not just about my inspiration. In fact, the day we moved in, Don Easterling and Nina Nash came from Mathew’s, and we installed every piece of furniture and hung every item on the wall in one day,” Jackson said.

The walls in the home are painted with Sherwin Williams’ Crushed Iced; the trim is White Dove.

Although painted the same color as the walls, the wooden kitchen cabinets and the island contrast with the drywall color due to the difference in surfaces. The countertops and backsplash are a white Cambria product. Gray barstools provide seating at the island.

“We decided to go with the Cambria for the lifetime warranty. Anything can be spilled on these countertops, and nothing will harm them. I also decided not to add electrical outlets in the backsplash. All the outlets are under the cabinets with the lights, so the backsplash is smooth and uninterrupted,” Jackson said.

Jackson is happy that her kitchen has tons of built-in storage space plus a pantry. The massive and unique Antonio Bertazzoni range serves as both functional and decorative centerpiece in the kitchen.

The dining area features a round table and an antique Irish cabinet and hutch to show off Jackson’s collection of classic Blue Willow china. Adjacent to this area, Jackson’s favorite room sits behind what she considers the statement piece in the house – two oak barn doors with cobalt blue glass insets. With the doors closed,

walls of glass offer a clear vantage into the room.

“I call this room my she-shed, and I love it. It’s just peaceful. Soft furniture and lots of plants. And I decided on a brick fireplace to add a different little flair than stone. The brick came from Acme Brick, Tile and Stone in Montgomery, and I love that it looks old. The dark blue and white drapes are made from Schumacher fabric, and I knew when I saw it that I had to have it for my she-shed,” Jackson said.

Another area with Jackson’s touch of architectural detail is a hallway from the great room to the master bedroom. In addition to adding shiplap on one wall, Jackson mounted three floating shelves to display large, antique glass bottles.

The master bedroom, purposely simple and open, provides the sanctuary the couple desires after a hard day’s work. Soft linens in neutral colors, along with warm, dark furniture, create the required relaxation space. All of the linens in the home are from Traditions Linens.

A small screened porch off the side is a perfect, private space for meditation, as well as for Leo the cat to watch the squirrels. Special antique pieces, including a handpainted tole mirror that belonged to her mother, add nostalgia and character to the room. Custom draperies complete the space.

Porcelain 12by12 tiles cover the master bath floor and are carried, in a smaller size, onto the shower floor and wall. The Jacksons added a shower system with

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Transoms and sidelights allow natural light into the entry

Gracie May has staked out her favorite place to nap

three heads at different levels, selected from Ferguson Plumbing Supply, and a teak bench that can be moved where needed. Creative Cabinets built floor-to-ceiling cabinets on one wall to add an enormous amount of storage space.

On the main level but opposite the master suite, Jackson has beautifully appointed two guest rooms with king-sized beds, comfortable linens and handmade drapes. A wall between the two rooms became the optimum space for a grouping of framed paintings and prints of dogs.

Jackson has collected artwork featuring dogs and dog figurines for years. Between the guest area and kitchen,

a built-in bookcase features many of those figurines, along with books and other special pieces Jackson found at art shows on Lake Martin.

Three levels of outdoor living space present fabulous entertaining possibilities â&#x20AC;&#x201C; two are flagstone just off the kitchen area; the lower connecting to the covered porch.

Plans for the large patio include a conversation area and a fire pit. Furniture upstairs on the covered porch is Summer Classics, selected because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to clean and no problem for wet swimsuits. The teak table offers seating for eight. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love flowers and plants, inside and out. I have large containers, but I also like smaller ones with ferns and

Guestrooms are furnished with king-sized beds

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Upholstered stools and a wide island invite guests for a casual visit

herbs and succulents. It’s such an easy way to decorate a table. My favorite part of the porch – I love the birds that visit. We have two Eastern bluebirds that must have a nest underneath the porch. They sit in the tree and watch; then, they come down to the birdbath on the rail,” Jackson said.

Upstairs, the Jacksons included two large rooms and a bathroom with a tub for the grandchildren. One room is a study, and the other is a playroom with two queen beds.

The mud entrance from the garage includes a coat closet with a tornado room. Jackson chose a whimsical Schumacher wallpaper featuring pencil drawings of birds of all sizes and shapes for the laundry room. The light fixture and the drawer pulls are acrylic, adding yet another bit of fun.

“I could not have done this without the best subs ever: Tony Bishop, Cocker Bailey, Lin Rogers, Chris Baker, Chris Sims, Caleb Brasell and the Clowdes brothers. I love these guys and their crews,” Jackson said.

Years of planning, selecting a beautiful lot and finding the perfect pieces have paid off for the Jacksons. Nan and Jerone share their new home with their dog, Gracie May, and their cat, Leo DiCaprio, all four enjoying visits from children and grandchildren.

AUGUST 2019

Jackson chose brick for the 'she-shed' fireplace

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Nautique Regatta 58 LAKE

AUGUST 2019

Participants received on-the-water riding tips from the pros to improve their riding skills

Russell Marine hosts an exclusive weekend for Nautique owners

STORYâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;BY JUDITH JAGER & PHOTOS COURTESY OF WORLD WAKE ASSOCIATION

AUGUST 2019

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The Ridge Marina was home base at the end of June their time with him. While Murray instructed younger when Nautique and the World Wake Association teamed brother Finn first on different wakesurfing techniques, up to bring the 2019 Nautique Southeast Regatta to sister Meadowe took it all in. beautiful Lake Martin. The Regatta kicked off on Friday “Scoot your back foot forward!” Murray said. “Keep morning with a golf tournament at the your eyes up; don’t look at the water – Willow Point Golf & Country Club, front foot back! Yeah, that’s perfect!” followed by a welcome dinner that eveNext up was Meadowe. She hadn’t Video Bonus ning at the Willow Point Cabana. Event quite gotten the hang of surfing ropeless, attendees also were invited to take part but that changed after a little encourageWatch WWA Pro Jodi in a poker run Friday and Saturday. The ment from Murray.

Grassman behind the boat, route included many stops around the “Be confident!” Murray yelled out to and see Meadowe let go lake, giving participants a great opportuher on the water. “You got this!” of the rope nity to take in the beautiful scenery Lake It was a monumental moment when for the first time Martin has to offer.

Meadowe threw the rope back into the at lakemartin.life!

Guests had the opportunity to engage boat while wakesurfing and felt “the in one-hour demo sessions with Team push” for the very first time.

Nautique professionals. These sessions “You not only threw the handle, but were available every day of the weekyou made the push, went back, regained end-long event. Some took advantage of the professional the push. That’s pretty big,” Murray told Meadowe back instruction, and the wakeboard and wakesurf pros offered on the boat after her ride. pointers while they were out on the water. Others thrilled “It’s all about being confident, keeping your stance at watching the professionals do their thing; many right, leaning here and looking here. Focus on your goal, enjoyed a mix of both demo and instruction. not on your fears,” he said.

One of the first Saturday sessions paired four-time Much like the Freemans, Murray originally got into World Champion Shaun Murray with the Freeman famwater sports while growing up on a lake with his family. ily. Meadowe and Finn Freeman beamed with excitement “I was born in Southern California but made my way when Murray stepped onto their boat. The young riders across the states to Orlando, and I’ve been wakeboarding were all ears and eyes to soak up all they could during professionally for almost 25 years,” he said.

Wakesurf pro Jodi Grassman demonstrated an easy level of comfort and ability behind the boat

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AUGUST 2019

Pro Shaun Murray takes a selfie with regatta participants

The weekend began with the option of golf at the Willow Point course

Rafting up was part of the weekend fun

“My family moved to St. Louis when I was in high school, and we lived on a lake, so water skiing became an everyday activity after school.”

When it came time for Murray to pick a college, he heard that Florida Southern had a water skiing team and decided that would be the perfect fit for him.

“While I was in Florida, I did some competitive skiing and slaloming. I was wakeboarding one day, and the short version is someone saw me and said, ‘Hey, why don’t you try this professionally and go on the tour,’ so I did,” Murray explained.

Aside from competing, Murray takes time to coach and instruct others on and off the water.

“This sport has given me a lot of opportunities to speak to people,” he said. “My faith is a big thing for me, so I get to use my platform a lot to talk about how to go through life not living for other people and not living with the fear of rejection or failing.”

The Nautique Regatta events originally began in the Southwest, but the rapid growth of water sports led Nautique to add an additional event. The maker of worldclass wake boats chose Lake Martin for its first Southeast event location. These three-day regattas are exclusively for Nautique boat owners and offer a memorable weekend for the entire family.

Saturday evening, The Stables at Russell Crossroads hosted a Country Western-themed dinner catered by

Kowaliga Restaurant. Awards for attendees were presented at an evening ceremony.

Nautique owners were recognized in different categories, such as Oldest Nautique Award, Longest Journey traveled by a Nautique owner and Best Rig Award for Nautique boat and truck combination.

Wakeboard Pros Cory Teunissen and Tony Lacconi did the honors of handing out GromFest prizes from the kids’ competition earlier that day. Teunissen said he especially enjoyed being a part of the GromFest and loved seeing the young kids excited about watersports like he was at their age.

“I first stepped on a wakeboard when I was just 4 years old and water skied a year before that,” he said.

“My dad was always into the water skiing environment, and when my brother and I came around, it just got passed down to us like second nature.”

Teunissen was born and raised in Brisbane, Australia, but had a lake house about an hour from the city growing up.

He now calls the Gold Coast and Orlando, Florida, home and spends about six months in each country, chasing the sun throughout the year.

“I haven’t seen a winter in about eight years,” he said.

Teunissen was pumped when he heard the Southeast Regatta was going to be held at Lake Martin and said it made for a pretty great first experience in Alabama.

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The pros wowed spectators with their skills behind the boat

“This place is unreal, and the scenery is so picturesque. You got crystal clear lake blue water, and the properties on the lake are insane,” he said.

As a Masters Champion, World Champion and Nautique Wake Series Champion, Teunissen attributes his success to consistent practice and dedication to the sport. His fearlessness for trying new tricks makes him stand out from the crowd.

“I love any backside 180 variation. It’s a basic rotation, but you’re able to throw it so many different ways.

I love the more basic stuff that you can change up and make it your own,” he explained.

During the season, Teunissen said he gets out on the water every day, sometimes twice a day, to maintain his skills and practice technique.

Wakesurf Pro Jodi Grassman also joined in on the GromFest fun and spent the majority of her day coaching kids during owner demo sessions.

She especially bonded with 7-year-old Sloane Wilson from Auburn while out on the 6x Wakeboard Boat of the Year, The Super Air Nautique G23. The Wilson family has only been coming to Lake Martin for about a year but are now hooked on the community and activities that are offered here.

“This sport is incredibly family oriented, and it gets everyone on the boat involved,” Grassman said.

The 21-year-old Grassman began wakesurfing just six years ago but quickly accelerated to pro status.

“Three months after learning, I tried my first contest and fell in love with it,” she said.

When it comes to trying out new tricks, Grassman coaches herself and watches others for inspiration.

“I either watch videos and just try them, or I video myself trying new tricks,” she said.

Long term, Grassman hopes to be a mentor and get more people involved in the wakesurfing community.

“Podiums are great, but I’m here for the growth of the sport,” she said.

The three-day fun-filled weekend ended with more pro instruction and Nautique boat demo rides on Sunday. With wide smiles all around, it’s safe to say the first-ever 2019 Nautique Southeast Regatta on Lake Martin was a success. Russell Marine President Dave Commander said it was an honor to host the event at The Ridge Marina, and he hopes the event will return next year.

Lake Martin was a hit with team members and boat owners alike

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AUGUST 2019

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Britney, Bailey and Blaire hold some of their favorite four-footed friends for a portrait with Michael White and Stacie and Ricky Baker

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A Family Affair The Bakers are all in on Goat Island STORYâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

AUGUST 2019

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Goats have roamed the scrub and rocky landscape of a 70-acre island north of Martin Dam for about 70 years now. And for just as long, boaters have pulled up on the island’s southernmost point to disembark, feed and pet the goats, take photos with them and check off this allimportant Lake Martin bucket list item. During the summer months, it’s not unusual for boaters to wait in line for a place to tie up, so they can take their turns visiting the island’s famous residents.

“They’re celebrities,” said Stacie Baker, who now leads the family team that owns and cares for the island’s goat population. “We’ve met people from all over the U.S. and from Canada and Europe who come to see the goats.”

The 16 goats on Lake Martin’s Goat Island entertain thousands of visitors from early May to the end of September when the weather cools and the water level drops toward winter pool. The goats are happy to munch on the potato chips, bread and greens that visitors bring; happy to let toddlers kiss them and let pretty teenaged girls in bathing suits carry them around the island like puppies.

But the ruminants can’t live their whole lives that way.

Like any pets would, they need veterinary care; healthy foods to balance the delicious junk food; and shelter and safety from Nature’s sometimes-harsh elements. That’s where the Baker clan comes in.

Baker, a registered nurse, her husband Ricky, a mechanical engineering student at Auburn University, and their children – Blaire, Britney and Bailey now are the main caretakers of the goats, along with a community of helpers

and supporters. Michael White helps keep the site clean and the shed in good repair, and Dawn Thornton made a sign to help visitors know what is and is not safe for the goats to eat. A golf tournament earlier this year generated a significant donation, but most of the support for the goats comes from T-shirt sales and donations.

Baker keeps thousands of followers informed through the Goat Island of Lake Martin Facebook page, where visitors often post photos with the goats, ask questions and post notes of appreciation to the Bakers for the investment of their time and resources toward the goat tradition here.

A lake area native, Baker was introduced to the island’s residents by her father, Alan Wallace, who took over the Goat Island tradition nine years ago. Before then, a few families rented goats in the summer and took them to the island. When they chose to end the practice, Wallace carried the tradition forward.

“I came with my family to see the goats, just like everyone does,” Baker said.

Wallace’s grandchildren had fallen in love with the animals, raised them from kids and named them, and he wanted that to continue.

“We helped my dad; then, we decided to take over three years ago,” Baker said. “My father still comes out to visit them and helps feed them, but my husband and my kids and I do most of the heavy work now.”

And there is plenty of that to do. Every two or three days, the Bakers ferry over a fortified sweet feed mix to provide the animals with the nutrition that is lacking in

Attentive care keeps the island's goats healthy and their coats soft for petting

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a diet of cheese puffs and chips. They work with Dr. Thomas Passler at Auburn University to ensure that the goats are vaccinated and receive appropriate medical care, and they clean up the old food and debris that collects on the dirt floor where the goats receive their guests.

Last winter, the first through which the goats stayed on the island, they also ferried hay several times a week, as the island forage will not support the goats through the dormant season.

“They are more work in the winter. The goats stay healthier on the island because there are fewer parasites, and Dr. Passler suggested we do a trial with them over the winter last year to see how much healthier they would be,” Baker said. “But it was a lot of work to get on the boat in 20-degree weather to come out here and feed them and check on them.”

In summer, health problems stem less from having enough of the right kinds of food and more to having altogether too much food.

“They are sensitive animals,” Baker explained. “They will eat too much, and they can go from fine to sick very quickly.”

When that happens, help needs to come quickly, too.

Fortunately, the goats are rarely without company, and visitors usually will post a photo of the sick animal on the Facebook page with a note about the goat’s behavior.

In the alternative, a number of the neighbors around the island keep scopes focused on the goats and can alert the Bakers when something is wrong.

A sick animal is picked up – sometimes as early as 6:30 a.m. – and taken to the clinic at Auburn University’s School of Veterinary Medicine.

“They are our pets, and we love them, so we get distressed when one of them is sick,” Baker explained.

To keep the goats healthy, the Bakers ask visitors to feed them only from their hands or by putting food in the troughs. Food on the ground can become contaminated and, if ingested, could make the animals sick. Corn is the worst culprit, Baker said. The goats’ stomachs cannot digest corn well, and visitors are asked not to feed it to them.

Visitors also are asked to keep dogs off the island, as dogs love to chase goats. Whether or not the dog could catch one – or would know what to do if they did – the canines often run a goat to exhaustion or, worse, run a goat into the water, where the goat could drown. Several goats are lost every year because careless boaters have allowed dogs to run free on the island.

It costs about $6,000 annually to maintain the herd, and the public has actively supported the effort in recent years.

Donations can be deposited in a Goat Island account at First Community Bank in Eclectic. Donations also can be made through PayPal to goatislandlakemartin@gmail.com or to the Venmo account Goat-Island.

“It’s definitely something that we hope to continue,” said Ricky Baker. “It means so much to the community, to the people at the lake. It’s given me a new appreciation for the small joys in life.”

AUGUST 2019

Bailey rubs the chin of a goat that loves the attention

A kid jumps in to reach the sweet feed mix in a trough

LAKE 69

FABULOUS FINDS

FROM OUR REAL ESTATE ADVERTISERS

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Lot 18 White Oak Landing, Jackson’s Gap • $679,900 •Beds: 3 •Baths: 3.5 •Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Damon Story (205) 789-9526 LakeMartinRealty.com

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48 Blue Herron Lane, Dadeville • $669,000 •Beds: 5 •Baths: 4 •Waterfront Lake Martin Realty David Mitchell (256) 212-3511 LakeMartinRealty.com

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49 Bald Cypress East, Eclectic • $1,995,000 • Beds: 4 • Baths: 5 •Waterfront Lake Martin Realty Rhonda Jaye (256) 749-8681 LakeMartinRealty.com

South Ridge Harbor, Cascadia • $1,999,000 Builder: Legacy New Homes Beds: 5 • Baths: 7 • SQFT: 4,786 Russell Lands On Lake Martin Emily McDaniel, Rhonda Watson 256.215.7011 RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com

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70 LAKE

South Ridge Harbor, Stonehaven • $1,790,000 Builder: Lake Martin Signature Construction Beds: 4 (5th opt.) • Baths: 5.5 • SQFT: 4,072 Russell Lands On Lake Martin Emily McDaniel, Rhonda Watson 256.215.7011 RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com

AUGUST 2019

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FROM OUR REAL ESTATE ADVERTISERS

FABULOUS FINDS

Lot 1 at Kennebec - $669,900 3.4 Acres - 1,000 Feet - Waterfront Custom Home Site Lake Martin Voice Realty John Coley (334)221-5862 KennebecAL.com

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Lot 24 at Kennebec - $344,900 1.2 Acres - 295 Feet - Waterfront Custom Home Site Lake Martin Voice Realty John Coley (334)221-5862 KennebecAL.com

Lot 34 at Kennebec - $219,900 0.7 Acres - 218 Feet - Waterfront Custom Home Site Lake Martin Voice Realty John Coley (334)221-5862 KennebecAL.com

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AUGUST 2019

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LAKE 71

Give your ride a signature style

W

Ben Watts rolls with style

Trick Tip Toe-side Front Roll The front roll is best described as a front flip. It is a toe-side trick, meaning you will approach the wake with your toes facing the wake. Before doing this trick, you need to be sure you are comfortable doing a toe-side wake-to-wake and a basic 180.

To begin, you will approach the wake like a normal wake-to-wake. Start slow; and then, build speed all the way to the top of the wake. When you reach the top of the wake, you will be going top speed. At the top of the wake, push off much harder than a normal wake-towake and immediately throw your chest down toward your knees and reach your back hand toward the board. This will begin the rotation. Make sure to stay tucked and look for your landing.

Focus on trying to land on your toes.

And remember, the faster you edge into the wake and the harder you push off the top, the more likely it is that you will complete the flip.

72 LAKE

akeboarding is a solo Oftentimes, contest judges sport in the sense that and photographers tend to prefer when you compete, riders with more style because you compete alone and go headit shows the time and effort they to-head against other competitors. have put into making their rides This is similar to sports like gym- look exactly how they want while nastics or diving and much differ- also making each trick unique. ent from team sports, The best way to such as football or develop style is to go soccer; however, out and ride as much wakeboarding offers as possible. Start something unique, with one trick at a and that is style. time and get creative Style in wakewith the performance boarding describes of that certain trick. the individuality of Grab the board or a rider. For example, weight longer in the two riders could go air before starting out and do the same BEHIND THE BOAT the trick. These are trick but make them moves that help a

BY BEN WATTS look completely difrider to develop style. ferent. This can be applied to all For example, take a front side tricks, lending a certain distinction 180: This is a very simple trick about a rider that makes that perbut can be performed in so many son stand out from others. This is different ways. Try grabbing the different than gymnastics or other board first; then, do the rotation; solo trick sports where a competi- and then, grab the board again at tor tries to achieve a perfect verthe end of the rotation. Delaying sion of a certain maneuver. While the rotations of spins is called performing particular tricks well stalling, which is another aweis important, adding individual some way to add more style to style adds to the difficulty and riding tricks. This allows a rider intricacy of the tricks. A riderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to push toward getting better and style is a direct reflection of the also is a great way to test creativamount of time invested in perity. Try new things and new techfecting the ride, which is why it is niques that will ultimately make beneficial to work on style. you a better rider.

This is one of the things I love Make sure to start with tricks the most about wakeboarding. A you are already comfortable riderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s uniqueness and individual- doing; then, begin to add your ity can be recognized, applauded own signature to your tricks. and respected. It inspires creativUltimately, wakeboarding is ity and allows for a never-ending meant to be fun, and if you are progression. I have been wakegetting bored with your riding, boarding for 15 years, and I still this might make it more exciting have not even gotten close to and push your riding to the next doing all of the different tricks level. and variations of tricks that are out there. To me, this is someBen Watts learned to love thing that can be hard to find in wakeboarding on Lake Martin. He many other sports, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why I is a student at Auburn University was so attracted to wakeboarding and takes every opportunity to get in the first place. behind the boat.

AUGUST 2019

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74 LAKE

AUGUST 2019

You are responsible for your wake W

hen Lake Martin is at full pool, it is The slogan “Watch your Wake, Share the not unusual for a boat wake to cause Lake” was developed, and efforts began to property damage by washing over seabring awareness to the boating public. walls, lawns and patios. It is a common sight “Watch your Wake, Share the Lake” signs to witness boats and floating docks “rockhave been posted at many docks and most ing and rolling” when large waves – some marinas on Lake Martin, and who knows as high as 2 feet – are created by careless, whether or not there have been some positive inconsiderate boaters and come rolling in. results. What we do know is that the issue has There have been reports of small children not been resolved. There is some hope that being knocked off docks and floats into the we will see a bill introduced in the next legLMRA water and being placed in very dangerous sitislative session establishing a No Wake proxBY JOHN THOMPSON uations when these large waves are created in imity restriction. Even with a law, there is an swimming areas. Some inexperienced boaters issue with enforcement. Our marine police are unaware of this potential danger while many others are division is thinly staffed, and officers have their hands full just simply rude and inconsiderate. with other serious issues.

Boaters are always encouraged to not operate vessels, So do we throw up our hands and learn to accept the pull skiers or wakeboard/wake surf in narrow sloughs and dangerous nuisance? to always travel at idle speed within 100 to 200 feet of On the contrary; there are some action steps that propfloating docks, moored boats, swimmers and shorelines. erty owners can take to protect themselves, their families Common courtesy and concern for safety should come and their property: into play at all times when operating a boat of any size. n Place “swim balls” in front of your floating dock; This seems to be as much of, if not more of, the problem. marine police are OK with these as long as they are within It is not just the wake boats that present the problem; any 25 feet of your dock. size boat with a motor attached can create damaging and n Try to flag down those causing the problem and point dangerous wave action. out the issues they are creating.

In February 2012, at the initiative of Lake Martin n Take pictures of the offending boat and the occuResource Association, a meeting was held in Alexander pants and post them on social media with a description of City with representatives from all of the major Alabama their offense; perhaps you will embarrass them into good lakes, along with representatives from the Department of behavior.

Conservation & Natural Resources and the marine police. n Follow closely any potential legislative action and The group agreed this was a statewide problem that was encourage your representatives to support passage; at growing each year as a result of an increase in the numLMRA, we certainly will be doing this. ber of boats on the water, as well as an increase in the The size and make of boat is not the problem; the probpopularity of wakeboarding and now wake surfing. The lem is that there are inconsiderate operators who show no Commissioner of DCNR was asked to establish a 100-foot concern for others. Making them aware and pointing out proximity regulation, creating a No Wake zone within 100 consequences could help. feet of piers and floating docks. Fearing a strong backlash If you are not a member of LMRA, please join us in from the state fishing groups, the commissioner denied the working to solve this problem and other threats to Lake request.

Martin.

At the suggestion of the marine police, though LMRA strongly disagreed, the group decided the next best alterJohn Thompson is president of Lake Martin Resource native was to tackle the growing problem with a statewide Association. Learn more at lmra.info. public education campaign.

AUGUST 2019

LAKE 75

Rule Curve Returns Lake Martin is a place on the rise

Y

ou are biased.

This fact struck me like a thunderbolt. Wait a minute, In America’s current sociological climate, that I thought. You mean there is enough demand for quality might be a very insulting sentence for you to live minnows that this young man can sustain himself? He read. It almost seems like nowadays “bias” has replaced can drive two hours north to cast nets for them, drag them other terms that were considered fightin’ words – like in, store them in live wells and even deliver to you on “yellow belly” in the Old West or “dishonorable” to a location? Never in a hundred years would I have dreamed medieval knight. this possible. But that only revealed another bias that I But I still say that you are biased. have – local bias.

Don’t worry, I am biased, too. We all are. All humans I am from here. Raised up. Both sides of my family. I show bias in almost every decision we make, such as can trace our local livin’ back almost 200 years. Maybe which hand we use (right or left biased?). your people have been in the lake area for longer, and The challenge, I think, as decision makers, is the degree that is cool with me. That means we both have a limited to which we can admit our own bias and be vision (sometimes) on Lake Martin’s potenagreeable to it. In other words, I think it is tial. Sometimes, it takes someone who wasn’t healthy when we can admit that we each have born at Russell Hospital to open our eyes our particular biases and yet make sound to the possibilities of tourism and its related decisions anyway because we are actively fields. Do you know anyone with local bias? looking for evidence that is contrary to our Hint: They pepper their language with absohypotheses. If we find contrary evidence, we lute words like “never” and “always.” should change the hypotheses.

What in the world does this have to do I lead with this definition to admit to all with a real estate column? readers (both of you, in fact) that I very well Everything, I think. When anglers that may have been a victim of my own confirmavacationed in Florida realized that they could LAKE PROPERTY tion bias this past month. In this very column get good live bait, all year long, by merely

BY JOHN COLEY I have hypothesized that the current rule idling out to the pass and calling “live bait…. curve (Alabama Power’s marching orders live bait” on their radios, it was a gamefrom the federal government on when and how to raise changer. They came more often. When their non-fishing and lower the water level) of Lake Martin will definitely family members realized that there were pretty good resincrease support industries around here. I think that the taurants and other pretty fun things to do, they came, too. next 30 years or so will be a time of birth and growth for You get my drift. It snowballs. all kinds of businesses that revolve around the wants and There is no stock ticker for Lake Martin real estate. needs of the people that frequent our lovely lands. I share There is no way to judge, moment to moment, the directhis hypothesis with many hundreds of people, so I know I tion of value for a waterfront lot or home here. Not yet. It am in danger of looking for confirmation. is still a long-term asset that rewards long-term analysis.

Yet, a few weeks ago when I called a cell phone numFor right now, I study the facts like real estate results, and ber in search of live bait, I found much more than threadI complement the facts with my gut and my observation. fin shad. I think I found a great example of support busiMaybe it’s just confirmation bias, but if we are a place nesses that are popping up all around Lake Martin. that can support a business dedicated to threadfin shad, Alex Ray runs a live bait business. He supplies threadLake Martin is a place on the rise. That’s what my gut fin shad to anglers that need good bait. As any angler will says. It is more than made up with my observation and my tell you, there are many good spots to fish if you have other two high school friends that have recently started good bait. So I called Alex and let him know that I would businesses focused on helping out-of-town owners manage like to buy some live minnows with which to try and catch their lake properties. some striped bass with my sons. I soon learned that Alex The new rule curve is already affecting our community now runs his “Live Bait” operation full time. Such is the in positive ways. demand for superior shad (a member of the minnow speNow that I am done writing for this month, I think I cies, known to be favored by striped bass) that Alex is will go fishing. making a living being the conduit for Lake Martin, supplying the professional guides like David Hare and Alex John Coley is a broker and owner of Lake Martin Voice City Guide service, as well as weekend amateurs like me. Realty.

76 LAKE

AUGUST 2019

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LAKE 77

Tuna Tartare Ingredients

5 ounces fresh Gulf tuna, diced into 1/8-inch cubes 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon fresh minced jalapeño, split 1 teaspoon dried garlic, split 1/2 teaspoon benne seeds or sesame seeds 1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh chive, spilt Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a chilled bowl, mix tuna, lime, soy sauce, olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon jalapeño, 1/2 teaspoon garlic, 1/2 tablespoon chive with salt and pepper to taste. Using a round cookie cutter, biscuit cutter or ring mold, place the tuna mixture in the center of a serving dish; then, top with remaining jalapeño, chive and garlic. Serve alone or with crackers.

CHEF’S TABLE

BY ROB MCDANIEL

78 LAKE

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.

AUGUST 2019

AUGUST 2019

LAKE 79

The fruit that acts like a vegetable

O

f all the colors, red is a premier attention antioxidant. It is specifically a very powerful antigetter. That’s why stop signs and fire oxidant that helps fight cancer and prevents heart engines are red. It is no different with disease. food. Red foods grab our attention, too, because Studies have shown that lycopene collects in they add visual appeal to a meal while providorgans of the body, such as the lungs and prostate. ing lots of nutrition, and one of the reddest, most These studies have found that – particularly in attention-grabbing and popular foods – especially men who ate 10 or more servings of tomato prodin the South – is the tomato. ucts raw or in sauce, juice and pizza – the lycoSome may call it a vegetable; however, the pene content reduced the risk of prostate cancer tomato actually is classified as a fruit. by 35 percent.

The typical American eats about 95 pounds of Research also has shown us that the body is tomatoes per year, and half of that amount comes less able to extract lycopene from a raw tomato.

HEALTHY LIVING Cooking a tomato releases the lycopene to do its in the forms of canned tomatoes, tomato paste,

BY JULIE HUDSON tomato sauce, ketchup, soup and pasta sauce. work more efficiently in the body.

Tomatoes are so very versatile, which makes them Lycopene is fat-soluble. This means you easy to consume. They can be eaten sliced, in sandwiches, as a will get the maximum benefit from tomatoes when they are homemade salsa or tomato sauce or added to salads and soups. absorbed by your body with the aid of fats. You can accomThe tomato has evolved into one of America’s favorite foods. plish this by cooking tomatoes with a little olive oil or by Nutrition from tomatoes is so rich. It contributes to healthy eating a raw tomato with some avocado, which will help your living and a healthy immune system that will reduce the risk of body absorb lycopene more readily. Tomato sauce is made various diseases. with a little bit of oil, which makes the lycopene from tomato Tomatoes have always had a great reputation as a provider sauce more easily absorbed. of cancer-fighting antioxidants. The most talked about benefit Regular consumption of tomatoes helps in the regulation of of the tomato is the special pigment called lycopene. Lycopene proper digestion of food to prevent diarrhea and constipation. is an antioxidant found in few foods. About 80 percent of Tomatoes help reduce blood pressure and positively impact lycopene in food comes from tomato products. Lycopene circulation throughout the body. comes from the same family as beta-carotene; however, unlike They are rich in potassium and vitamins A, B, C and E, beta-carotene, lycopene is more readily available to act as an which help the body in a variety of health functions. Tomatoes

Tomato with Ricotta Cheese

Grilled Tomatoes Create a disposable pan with sides out of tin foil. Slice small, medium or large tomatoes in half.

Place in tinfoil pan. Sprinkle lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper or your favorite seasoning salt. Place foil pan on grill, cover with grill lid. Cook until tomatoes are soft, slightly brown and begin to shrivel. This makes a great side dish to eggs at breakfast.

80 LAKE

Slice cherry or medium tomatoes in half. Place a dollop of ricotta cheese on top. Season with salt and pepper. Make with cherry tomatoes for a colorful appetizer. Use larger tomatoes and serve for lunch or dinner with mixed greens lightly sprinkled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze.

AUGUST 2019

benefit eye function and reduce the risk of night blindness and macular degeneration. Tomatoes protect the heart and help to control bleeding and blood clotting.

Summer is a great time to stock up on fresh tomatoes from the farmers market or from your own garden. Enjoy them with any meal, in recipes or whip up a batch of homemade sauce to freeze for use during the off-season months.

Tomatoes add color and nutrition to guacamole, potato salad, coleslaw, couscous and quinoa. Slice fresh tomatoes and create a tomato-mozzarella salad with fresh basil on top.

Adding tomatoes to your diet is easy, especially because there are endless ways in which to consume this fruit. Fresh, canned, pureed, roasted or cooked and made into a sauce are ways to reap the benefits of this powerful fruit.

INTERIOR & EXTERIOR HOUSE CLEANING • INTERIOR & EXTERIOR REMODELING • GUTTER REPAIRS RE & CLEANING • PAINTING • PRESSURE WASHING • SEAWALLS • DOCKS • ROOFING • PROPERTY MAINTENANCE • TRASH PICKUP

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

Marinara Sauce 3 tablespoons olive oil 3 cups chopped onion 1 tablespoon sugar 3 tablespoons minced garlic 2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons dried basil 1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 2 cups fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth 3 28-ounce cans no salt added crushed tomatoes Heat oil in large stockpot over medium heat.

Add onion. Cook 4 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add sugar and then garlic, salt, basil, oregano, thyme and pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in vinegar; cook another minute.

Add broth and tomatoes and bring to simmer.

Cook over low heat for 55 minutes or until sauce thickens, stirring occasionally.

Cool sauce and place in freezer-friendly containers. Freeze for later use.

Yield: about 12 cups (recipe doubles well).

We want to meet all your household needs!

Wes Waters | 256.596.1428 AUGUST 2019

LAKE 81

Fishing in the dark L

ake Martin is buzzing with activity this time of year, and it can be challenging to find good fishing in the summer. Once we acclimate to the extra traffic on the water, though, the fishing can be better than many people might expect.

I often refer to a childhood growing up on Lake Martin because that’s where my determination to catch fish developed. In between sports practices and games, I was usually trying to catch some type of fish. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to enjoy the lake year round. Our house was small, but it didn’t seem that way because I was outside in a large backyard attached to a lake with more than 750 miles of shoreline. That’s where I spent my free time. Fishing, riding and swimming were more than enough to keep me happy. I could cut just enough grass in neighborhood yards to support my fishing habit.

One of the yards I cut belonged to a seasoned Lake Martin veteran, Doug Patterson. Doug lived a little farther back in the slough than I did. During the summer as a kid, I’d see him heading out at dusk on a houseboat that he had built. Usually, it was loaded down with family and friends. If I happened to wake up early enough the next morning, I saw them returning as the sun rose.

My curiosity was boiling, and somehow, I ended up getting invited to go out on a trip with them one night.

I’d like to say Doug invited me first (pretty sure he did), but I remember wanting to go so badly that I might have invited myself in some way. Whatever the case, I was introduced to a method of fishing that was unique compared to everything I had learned to that point. Rather than moving around the lake, trying to find the fish, he dropped anchor

82 LAKE

almost in the middle of the river channel and waited for the fish to come to us.

I enjoyed that nighttime crappie fishing trip so much!

The houseboat was big enough to include a couple of recliners in the middle and a couple of bunks for anyone to take a nap. As the adults would get tired one by one and fall asleep, I found myself getting to watch not only the two rods I was responsible for but also six or eight more that belonged to others on the boat. I literally fished from sundown to sunup; and then, I was so excited that I walked the bank casting a topwater for a while once we got back in. I was invited back again later, and eventually, I was able to earn a little more fishing money as a deckhand on Doug’s trips.

A few years later, perhaps in relation to the houseboat rule that was implemented on Lake Martin, Doug built another homemade barge from which to fish. After fishing from that rig for a year or so, my neighbor sold that one to me and my family on the promise that I would guide from the homemade boat to pay back the $2,500 that it cost.

I became a guide at 16 with the knowledge that Doug had shared with me and a homemade boat that I had helped to build. In fact, one of my first groups to take out was a crew from the local newspaper, The Alex City Outlook.

AUGUST 2019

The key to so many great fishing trips were able to draw fish to the boat, where in the dead heat of summer was lighting. it was the main attraction, and nothing The boat was lined with lights that operated else competed for the attention of the baiton 12 volts. Four large, 31-series lead/acid fish and the fish once they got there. batteries could run most of the lights we Today, there are much better options had. There were spotlights rigged to send a for lighting with the power of LED lights. concentrated beam of light deep below the They are brighter and use less energy than water’s surface. I imagine these could draw the old lights. LEDs come in a variety of baitfish and fish that were as deep as 20 or strips that light a large area evenly com30 feet. There were lights that broadcast pared to the old spotlights that can penlarger beams over a wider area around the etrate deep below the water’s surface. boat. The idea was to make the boat itself a If you plan to spend time on your rig fish attractor with lighting. As the hours of at night, these are great additions to your BIG CATCHES the night rolled on, more baitfish (shad) were boat. Bluewater LED is one source that I

BY GREG VINSON drawn to the lights, and the crappie and an recommend as you shop. Blacklights are occasional striper would follow. The longer another great addition to highlight your the boat sat, the more concentrated the baitfish around line and, more importantly, your rod tips. With a few the lights. Usually, the bite got better as the baitfish col- extra lights and strategic placement, you can set up just lected around the boat. about any boat as its own nighttime fish attractor.

A few lights were rigged overhead along the roof of Multiple rod holders mounted on boat rails are a big the boat. These lights broadcast even more light over help, but it can be as simple as leaning the rod up on the the surface of the water, but more importantly, they side of a pontoon rail. Crappie aren’t strong enough to allowed us to see our rod tips when we got a strike. The pull a rod overboard, but a 20-pound striper or flathead overhead lights helped with rigging bait, unhooking fish catfish is a different story. Stay close to the rods if they and finding our way around the boat. From a distance, aren’t secured. the boat probably looked a lot like the Rockefeller When I was a child, rods and reels in a local departCenter on Christmas Eve, and that’s what we were after. ment store were some of the cheapest around. Light to We anchored the boat on the river channel side of an medium action with small spinning reels or Zebco 33s offshore point or hump – not much different than where were great, and 6-pound monofilament line worked just we might choose to fish in the daytime but in much fine. Pinching a 1/4-ounce split shot about 10 inches deeper water. By sitting in 60-100 feet of water, we over a gold No. 2 Tru Turn hook was the deal, and we used small baitstore minnows as bait.

We measured out enough line to suspend our rigs under the boat anywhere from 12-20 feet deep.

Occasionally, we used small jigging spoons when the fishing was hot, but the live bait was always hard to beat.

Mark the tips of the rods with white or orange spray paint. If you want to try something less permanent, colored electrical tape can be removed easily after the fishing is done.

Over the years, my friends and I had some special times night fishing for crappie on the old barge. These were pure fun times etched into memory that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

If you’re spending some time at the lake and have the opportunity to do some night fishing for crappie, I highly recommend it. It’s a good time with friends and family, and there’s just something about sitting still for a while, watching the stars and waiting for the tips of the rods to bend that makes it an amazing experience.

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

AUGUST 2019

LAKE 83

84 LAKE

AUGUST 2019

Summer Whites W

hen asked to name the white wine the lake like a bottle with fish on the label that they prefer, most people will ($11). reply with either Chardonnay If the key for summer refreshment is or Pinot Grigio; a few will say Sauvignon light, crisp and refreshing, the Nortico Blanc, and even fewer than that will say Alvarinho from Portugal certainly delivRiesling. Those grape varieties make some ers. You may be familiar with the Spanish excellent wines, but they are only four of version, Albariño, a long-time favorite in the hundreds of grapes used to produce our shop, made from the same grape. The white wine. As regular readers have learned growing region for both wines is along the over the past 15 years of perusing this colborder between northern Portugal and the umn, many white wines are made using Rias Baixas region in northwestern Spain. red wine grapes. Champagne, anyone? But Alvarinho is a low-yielding but high qualthat’s another story. ity grape-rich wine with complex flavors of FROM THE CELLAR citrus, peaches and apricot. In addition to There are many alternatives to those four

BY HENRY FOY varietals and many styles within the group. being a great seafood wine, fattier dishes An unoaked Chardonnay is quite differlike broiled oysters, fish tacos or creamy ent from one that has been aged in oak barrels. And cheeses also would pair well. Portuguese country folk Chablis wines have a unique style due to the soil in the call it a “porch-sipping wine” and enjoy it with buttered region of France where they get their name. Chablis is cornbread ($15). What a life!

Chardonnay but is nothing like the typical California Not far (400 miles south) from where Alvarinho concoctions that we often think a Chardonnay should gets its start is another fabulous Spanish growing taste like. region, Jerez, the center of Spain’s Sherry Country.

Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris (the grape is actually Sherry, of course, is fortified wine, one of the three Pinot Gris) are the same variety but made in differgreat fortified wines that include Port and Madeira. Our ent styles heavily influenced by where the grapes are first introduction to the Pedro Ximenez grape was the grown. Sauv Blanc and Riesling are made in many absolutely stunning sherry-styled ($25-$64) wines that styles, from many regions, and like most wines, are must attain a classical character before being released. guided by the winemaker’s ideals as well. The question, They are dark, deep, luscious and raisiny dessert wines and challenge, becomes not just about the grape variety with a hint of caramel at 17 percent alcohol. That is but our preference for a particular style or flavor profile. the grape, Pedro Ximenez. It is original to Spain but Of course, we’re talking about white wine because made its way to Chile with the Conquistadors. And now there’s a lot of summer left, and white wine just seems we have this amazing white wine with fresh acidity, a to go well with summer. But, if the big four are getting touch of minerality and a long finish. It’s just what we old and tiresome, there’s still time to try some alternawere looking for in light summer wine with fragrances tives. We’ll start with three, but the list could grow of jasmine and white flowers and flavors of stone fruit, before we’re finished. In addition to being all the things lychee and nectarines ($13). you want in a summer white, light body and crisp acidAs usual, we have just scratched the surface for alterity, these wines have interesting connections to other native whites to cap off another great summer at the wines. lake, the beach or just sitting out on the patio. There are Can you spot the elephant in the room? It’s the one so many fantastic wines that don’t fall into the category with the sea creatures in our photo. The name, Pesce, of the big four. If you can’t find the ones above, look is Italian for fish and is homage to the old saying about for White Pinot Noir; that has been a hit this summer, white wine with fish and red wine with meat. It’s a pret- as well as Pinto Blanc and Trebbiano. And don’t forget ty good generalization for people who – let’s say – are the Champagne – blanc de noir; white wine from red just starting out. White wine does pair well with fish, wine grapes. and the Pesce is no exception.

Put a little excitement in your summer!

It is a propriety blend of several Italian varietals,

which are unlisted because the blend is subject to Henry Foy is the owner of Emporium Wine and change with each vintage. The goal is a refreshing, easy Spirits at 128 Calhoun St. in downtown Alexander City drinking wine of good value pulling from more than with the area’s only walk-in humidor and cigar lounge.

2,000 grape varieties in Italy alone. It is classified as a He can be reached at 256-212-WINE, on Instagram, Vino Bianco (white wine) that would also go well with Facebook and at emporiumwine128@gmail.com. light cheeses and pasta dishes. Nothing says summer on AUGUST 2019

LAKE 85

Invitational gets an upgrade

W

illow Point Golf and Country Club and 2002. The field will be cut to the lowest 30 scores the Alabama Golf Association have joined and ties after 36 holes. The number of sides making forces to launch the Inaugural Southeast the cut will be calculated based upon the percentage Mid-Amateur Four-Ball Championship, of sides in each division compared with which will be played Aug. 23-25. the total field. Initial groupings will be Formerly the Willow Point for first two rounds; the field will be cut Invitational, the event is designed to and re-paired by score after the second attract the best mid-amateur and senior round. amateur golfers in the Southeast, spotIn the event of a tie for first place lighting golf in Alabama at one of the in the mid-amateur or senior division, state’s premier facilities. a hole-by-hole play-off will be held The Southeast Mid-Amateur Fourimmediately following play. The playBall Championship will consist of 80 off holes and their order of play will two-man sides with 50 teams in the be determined by the championship mid-amateur division (ages 25-plus+) committee. All other ties will be split and 30 teams in the senior amateur divi- PAR for the COURSE equally.

BY MATT SHEPPARD sion (ages 50-plus).

Entries are open to sides of male amaWe are excited about the Inaugural teur golfers who have an active USGA Southeast Mid-Amateur Four-Ball. This Handicap Index® issued through a event provides us with an unparalleled opportunity USGA Allied Golf Association. Maximum allowto showcase our facility and Lake Martin to the best able combined team handicap is 8.8 for the midplayers in the Southeast. We could not be more hon- amateur division; 12.8 for the senior division under ored to partner with the Alabama Golf Association. the USGA Handicap System™. Two players who “The Alabama Golf Association is thrilled to play as partners comprise a side. Partners are not partner with one of the premier golf facilities in our required to be from the same club or state. Both state to host the best amateurs in the region,” said members of the side must qualify under the stipuAndy Priest, executive director for the AGA. “The lated age requirements. setting along Lake Martin, along with the club’s Tee times will be available for practice rounds on amenities and hospitality, will provide a memorable Thursday, Aug. 22. experience for all participants.”

For more information, visit the championship Entry fee for the championship is $795 per website at www.southeastmidamfourball.com or the side, which includes practice round cart/range fees, Willow Point website at www.willowpoint.com. championship cart/range fees, a hosted player reception on Thursday evening, breakfast and lunch from Matt Sheppard is the PGA Director of Golf at Friday through Sunday and a player gift package.

Willow Point Golf and Country Club.

The format will consist of 54 holes of four-ball stroke play on this original Tommy H. Nichol course that was re-designed by Hurdzan and Fry in

Dr. George W. Hardy General Dentistry

AUGUST 2019

LAKE 87

Legend

63

22

280

To Sylacauga

13

22

Alexander City

Public Boat Ramps 18

9

Churches

Camp ASCCA

Flint Hill Church

Camps & Parks

16

Power lines U.S. Highways

280

3

22

County Roads Piney Woods Landing

Wind Creek State Park

Pleasant Grove Church

11

COOSA COUNTY

Alex City Boat Ramp

Mt. Zion Church

259 9

9

128

Russell Farms Baptist Church 63

D.A.R.E. Park Landing

Friendship Church

15 20

New Hope Church

Liberty Church

14 Willow Point

24

6

10

Equality

Paces Point Boat Ramp

63

Camp Alamisco

11

Kowaliga Boat Landing

21 The Ridge

55

4

Seman

Camp Kiwanis

1 12

Church in The Pines

23

2

The Amp Ko w

ali

17

ga

Ba

y

80

9

Central

90

Union

ELMORE COUNTY Union Church

Red Hill 63

229

Eclectic

Tallassee

19 Kent

88 LAKE

Union Landing

Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Harbor

Trillium

34

AUGUST 2019

Timbergut Landing

Horseshoe Bend National Park

Jaybird Landing

Lake Martin Alabama Marinas

TALLAPOOSA COUNTY

11. Kowaliga Marina 256-397-1210

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

450 Ridge Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 49

Jacksons Gap 280

Bethel Church

20

Dadeville

57

280

Camp Hill

Smith Landing

Church of the Living Waters

5

8

53. Blue Creek Marina 256-825-8888

7280 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853

4. Russell Do It Center (Alex City) 18 256-234-2567

1750 Alabama 22, Alex City, AL 35010

62. Parker Creek Marina 256-329-8550

486 Parker Creek Marina Rd., Equality, AL 36026

4. Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 19 334-541-2132

1969 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024

3. Harbor Pointe Marina 7 256-825-0600

397 Marina Point Rd., Dadeville, AL 36853 www.harborpointe.net

4. Russell Building Supply 20 256-825-4256

350 Fulton Street, Dadeville, AL 36853

82. Lakeside Marina 256-825-9286

7361 Hwy 49 S., Dadeville, AL 36853

12 Kowaliga Restaurant 256-215-7035

295 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

Walnut Hill

50

17 5. Lake Martin Mini Mall 334.857.3900

7995 Kowaliga Rd, Eclectic, AL 36024

6. Catherineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Market 11 256-215-7070

17 Russell Farms Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

Stillwaters

7

42. Real Island Marina 256-397-1200

2700 Real Island Rd., Equality, AL 36026

6. SpringHouse 10 256-215-7080

12 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

Lake Martin Baptist Church 49

24

50

15 Lake Martin Storm Shelters 256-794-8075 970 Hwy. 63 South, Alex City, AL 35010 16 Karen Channell State Farm Financial Services 256-234-3481 5030 Hwy. 280, Alex City, AL 35010

Restaurants & Venues

13

Business & Shopping

33. River North Marina 256-397-1500

250 River North Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

2. Lakeside Marina at Bay Pines 9 256-825-0999

3455 Bay Pine Rd., Jackson's Gap, AL 36861

Pleasant Ridge Church

14 Shipwreck Sam's Yogurt & Flatbread Pizza 256-444-8793 smithmarinaonlakemartin@yahoo.com

214. The Stables at Russell Crossroads 256-794-1333

288 Stables Loop, Alex City, AL 35010 4. Dark Insurance 22 256-234-5026

410 Hillabee Street, Alex City, AL 35010 www.darkinsuranceagency.com . Kowaliga Whole Health Pet Care & Resort 23 334-857-1816 8610 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024

Churches 24 Lake Pointe Baptist Church 256-373-3293 970 Hwy. 63 South, Dadeville, AL 36853

13 Lake Martin Pizza

256-392-5454

2 Broad St., Alex City, AL 35010 256-373-3337

5042 Hwy 49, Dadeville, AL 36853

49

Reeltown

Advertise your business on our Lake Martin Region Map for as little as $25. Contact our Marketing Department at 256-234-4281 or marketing@alexcityoutlook.com for more information.

AUGUST 2019

LAKE 89

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 Touchless Boat Covers The Medicine Shoppe The Sure Shot Valley 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 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 Root 49 at Lake Martin Russell Building Supply Shell Station Sigger’s Stillwaters Country Club Store 34 USAmeribank

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

EQUALITY

KELLYTON Five Star Plantation MOUNTAIN BROOK Whole Foods Market

RED HILL Citgo SYLACAUGA Good Ole Boys BBQ Piggly Wiggly

TALLASSEE Community Hospital Chamber of Commerce Tallassee Automotive Tallassee Community Library The Tallassee Tribune

WALNUT HILL Lakeside Mercantile Walnut Hill Grocery

WETUMPKA The Wetumpka Herald A limited number of magazines are placed at these locations.

To start your subscription, call Linda Ewing at 256-234-4281.

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

alexcityoutlook.com thewetumpkaherald.com tallasseetribune.com lakemagazine.life

Lighting the Way for the Lake & River Region for more than 100 Years 90 LAKE

AUGUST 2019

Lake Martin Business and Service Directory

Residential | Commercial | Interior | Exterior

• Automotive Parts • Machine Shop • Paint & Body Supplies • Hydraulic Hose Assemblies 150 Green Street Alexander City, AL 35010

(256) 234.5023

157 South Street Dadeville, AL 36853

(256) 825.4155

40611 US Hwy 280, Sylacauga, AL 35150

(256) 245.5296

497 Hillabee Street, Alex City • $495,000 •Beds: 7 •Baths: 6.5

256-307-4061 columbus-auburn.certapro.com

This lovely property can be acquired as a private home. It is currently operating as a bed & breakfast and event venue. This charming inn is an enchanting 1895 Queen Anne mansion with 7 bedrooms and 6.5 baths and is characterized by a variety of chimneys, a two-story corner turret, wraparound porch and veranda. Perfect for relaxing on warm evenings and lazy afternoons. This spectacular home comes completely furnished with period decor.

Mike&Kris DobbsOwners1550OpelikaRoadSuite6Box294�| Auburn,AL36830 EachCertaProPainters ® businessis independently ownedandoperated.

Each CertaPro Painters® business is independently owned and operated.

Lake Martin Realty Jerry Purcell (205) 382-3417 LakeMartinRealty.com

SEE ME FOR INSURANCE

Harold Cochran 256.234.2700

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.

Homemaking... Personal Care... Companionship

Lake Martin innovation Center 175 aLiant Parkway • aLexander City, aL

(256) 414-6090

haroldcochran.b2cn@statefarm.com

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

H

OLMAN

“WE’RE

F

LOOR

C

COACH KRAFT

IN-HOME CARE SERVICES

UPHOLSTERY Complete Marine Upholstery!

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

■

Patrick Mason 334-283-6759 676 Dean Circle • Tallassee, AL www.coachkraft.com

OMPANY

THE PROFESSIONALS”

Hardwood Floors Ceramic Tile Carpet & Vinyl Visit our showroom for samples and a free estimate!

Locally Owned for Over 45 Years

LAKE

334-332-3435 334-329-4635

256-234-6071

1945 Hwy 280 • Alexander City

Relax. Enjoy. Lake Martin.

Call to order your subscription 256-234-4281

MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2019

LAKE 91

Our Advertisers n To Join, Call 256.234.4281 A&M Plumbing.............................................................31

First Community Mortgage......................................77

PoorHouse Boat Outlet............................................77

Alabama Power............................................................23

Frohsin's Clothier.......................................................56

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

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

George Hardy D.M.D.................................................87

Professional Plumbing................................................38

Alex City Marine.........................................................32

Harbor Pointe Marina................................................56

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

Amanda Scroggins, RE/MAX Around the Lake....74

Heritage South Credit Union..................................32

Rhodes Construction.................................................92

Beyond Home Care...................................................91

Hilltop Landscaping.....................................................63

Rhonda Jaye, Lake Martin Realty.............................73

Big B BBQ....................................................................... 6

Hinson Galleries..........................................................74

Russell Lands......................................................... 33, 47

Blue Creek Iron Works.............................................91

Holley’s Home Furnishings.......................................96

Russell Marine................................................................ 3

Bolton Cove.................................................................63

Holman Floor...............................................................91

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

Brown Machine Fabrication......................................40

Homeology, Denise Booth........................................19

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

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

Jackson Thornton........................................................46

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

C & T Electric........................................................................ 77

Jerry Purcell, Lake Martin Realty.............................91

Shay Donna Aesthitics................................................40

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

Kowaliga Whole Health.............................................91

State Farm, Harold Cochran....................................91

CertaPro Painters.......................................................91

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

State Farm, Karen Channell......................................91

Chic Soul.......................................................................28

Lake Martin Mini Mall................................................64

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

Chuck's Marina............................................................38

Lake Martin Realty............................................... 29, 86

Temple Medical Center.............................................87

Cloud Nine...................................................................13

Laketown.......................................................................65

Thomas Auto Parts.....................................................91

Coach Kraft Upholstery............................................91

Lamberth & Lamberth...............................................32

TowBoat US.................................................................46

Custom Docks.............................................................28

MainStreet Alex City..................................................45

Walmart........................................................................91

Davco.............................................................................91

Mark King's Furniture................................................37

Wedowee Marine.......................................................93

Deep Water Dock Services......................................64

Moore Wealth Management.....................................95

Wind Creek Zip Line.................................................39

Designs by Trish............................................................. 5

National Village............................................................16

WSC..............................................................................57

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

Odd Jobs.......................................................................81

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

Oskar's............................................................................ 8

RHODES BROTHERS/KEY BUILDERS

RESTORATIONS | ADDITIONS | KITCHENS | OUTDOOR KITCHENS | BATHS | METAL BUILDINGS REMODELING | ICF CONSTRUCTION | RESIDENTIAL | COMMERCIAL | CONCRETE SEAWALLS

Ge Co nt RHODES BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION

KEY BUILDERS

Builder John Rhodes - 256-675-0217 Custom Home Chris Key- 256-749-0179  rhodesbrothersinc.net chriskeybuilding@yahoo.com General Contractor johnrhodes1@charter.net 92 LAKE

AUGUST 2019

AUGUST 2019

LAKE 93

94 LAKE

AUGUST 2019

Pictured from left to right are Jake, Aspen and Moose

~ Mae West

"I'll try anything once, twice if I like it, three times to make sure."

Photo by Lindsay Moneyham

Partingâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;Shot

Advertisement

Putting Your Estate in Order

By Susan Clayton Moore, J.D., principal of Moore Wealth Management, Inc.

I

n addition, when is the last time you reviewed your beneficiary designations in your 401(k)s, IRAs, life insurance policies and annuities? One of the most common estate planning mistakes is not making sure that beneficiary designations are in order. Many people believe that the will governs everything about their estate and don’t worry about regularly reviewing their various beneficiary designations. In fact, if your beneficiary designations differ from what is expressed in your will, the beneficiary designations specified in your retirement plans or insurance policies will trump the will.

Every August, Susan Moore of Moore Wealth Management in Montgomery, conducts a free estate planning workshop.

The workshop covers a number of issues, including a review of the various legal documents involved in estate planning such as wills, durable powers of attorney, advanced healthcare directives, revocable 95 LAKE

When is the last time you reviewed your estate plan? Do you have a will? According to a recent survey by the Harris Poll, 64% of Americans don’t have a will. Why? The most common reason mentioned was that “they hadn’t gotten around to it yet.” If you have a will, when is the last time you reviewed it? Due to estate law changes in the last five years, there is a good possibility that a will that was drafted more than five years ago needs to be revised. and irrevocable trusts.

Beneficiary designations are a great tool, properly used, in estate planning. They are flexible and can be changed without having to re-do legal documents to reflect family changes such as births, deaths and divorces. The workshop covers how to use these beneficiary designations properly, including primary and contingent beneficiaries and per capita or per stirpes distributions.

In addition, the workshop gives attendees a template of how to conduct a family meeting at which you communicate to your family and heirs your plans and intentions around the distribution of your assets.

A vital part of this meeting is to define the roles and responsibilities of your various heirs as well as general instructions, including the location of key documents, burial wishes and intentions for tangible personal property.

The August workshop will be held on Tuesday, August AUGUST 2019

27, at the local Moore Wealth Management Office at 51 Clay Street. For more information and reservations, please call 256.234.2761 Susan Clayton Moore, J.D., is a financial consultant and principal of Moore Wealth Management, Inc., with offices in Alexander City, Auburn and Montgomery, AL. Managing over $150 million in assets, she has been a financial planner for nearly 35 years. She is affiliated with LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC, the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer* and ranks in the top two percent of their financial advisors based on total production. Contact Susan at 256.234.2761.

Email contact is susan@ moorewealthmanagement.com. * Based on total revenues, as reported in Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2018.

Securities and Advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor.

Member FINRA/SIPC

WAREHOUSE

SALE

August 1 - 17

Deep Discounts Scratch & Dent, One of a Kind, Discontinued Items, Etc. All Sales Final

UNBEATABLE SELECTION! UNBELIEVABLE EVERYDAY PRICES! Alexander City, 256.234.4141 | Montgomery, 334.279.3101

96 LAKE

AUGUST 2019