February 2018 lake magazine

FEBRUARY 2018

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“He has our hearts. It’s up to us to keep them healthy.”

Heart attack survivors Pam and Jeff Robinson with grandson John Bierman

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FEBRUARY 2018

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Letter from the Editor

Staff Chairman KENNETH BOONE

Lake Martin is a destination.

People come here from across the country because the lake has so much to offer: quality of life, recreation, economic opportunity and wedding memories that dreams are made of. Though it’s that last one that this annual bridal edition celebrates, in this issue you also will find that Lake Martin is a fishing destination, a retirement and second home destination and a golf destination.

Weddings take place at Lake Martin every weekend all year long, and they are spectacular. How could they be anything less with Alabama’s pristine Treasured Lake as a backdrop?

This year, we feature three beautiful weddings on the lake.

Hayes Holliday and Matt Saul’s Willow Point reception graces our February cover, and we talked with Hayes, a Lake Martin native, about how the lake enhanced her wedding dreams as she grew up here. Share in the joy of her wedding day on page 40 and read about other Lake Martin destination weddings, engagements, events and stories starting on page 26.

Then, lest we neglect so much more of what Lake Martin is, come along as the lake hosts its biggest fishing tournament ever – the Bassmaster Elite Series season opener in which the top professional anglers around the world compete for the title of best of the best. Learn more on pages 18 and 66.

And what a treat it was to meet Freida and Stan Limerick, who graciously shared with us a tour of their fine Blue Creek home on page 46. Though they only recently moved to Lake Martin full time, Freida and Stan have visited, vacationed and dreamed of life at the lake for years, and they’ve built a home that reflects their love for family, their memories of magic and their passion for Lake Martin’s beauty and lifestyle.

Check out more to see and do at Lake Martin in the calendar of events on page 14, and let’s celebrate Lake Martin as a destination together.

Betsy Iler, Managing Editor

On the Cover Fresno, California's, Matt Saul and Lake Martin, Alabama's, Hayes Holliday were wed last summer at Church in the Pines and celebrated with a reception at Willow Point Golf & Country Club. This year's bridal issue of Lake magazine features three beautiful destination weddings at Lake Martin, engagement stories at the lake and tips on how to pull off a beautiful lake event. Photo by Brad Burckel Photography

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editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Publisher STEVE BAKER

editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Managing Editor BETSY ILER

editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

Assistant Magazine Editor AMY PASSARETTI

amy.passaretti@alexcityoutlook.com

Marketing/Advertising Director TIPPY HUNTER

tippy.hunter@alexcityoutlook.com

KATIE WESSON

katie.wesson@alexcityoutlook.com

REBECCA CARLISLE

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ERIN BURTON

erin.burton@alexcityoutlook.com

Circulation Manager DAVID KENDRICK

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Creative Services AUDRA SPEARS

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DARLENE JOHNSON

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HALLIE HOLLOWAY

hallie.holloway@alexcityoutlook.com

Contributors KENNETH BOONE JOHN COLEY JULIE HUDSON CLIFF WILLIAMS MATT SHEPPARD MITCH SNEED JAMISON SKINNER GREG VINSON ROB MCDANIEL DONALD CAMPBELL

FEBRRUARY 2018

LIZI ARBOGAST DEE WALKER JOHN THOMPSON BRAD BURCKEL HARRISON TAYLOR 509 PHOTO DAVID LEIVA MEGAN MULLINS AUDRA SPEARS

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Contents

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18. AMONG THE ELITE Lake Martin hits the big time as anglers vie for the title of the best of the best 21. GALA Hospital foundation's signature event to honor local oncologist 26. REHEARSAL PARTY ON THE GREEN Guests gather at Friday On the Green for pre-wedding festivities 8. SHARE THE GIFT OF LAKE MARTIN Destination keepsakes introduce wedding guests to Lake Martin 30. ALICE AND JOE Nothing can dampen a bride's joy on her wedding day – not even the rain 34. A PERFECT FALL WEDDING New Lake Martin residents host autumn wedding at Stillwaters 37. LOST AND FOUND The tale of a lost wedding band found in the depths of Lake Martin's waters 38. SENTIMENTAL SUNSET PROPOSAL A surprise set up at this bride-to-be's favorite family dock on the lake

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40. DREAMS COME TRUE An elegant, soft summer wedding will forever hold memories of Hayes Holliday and Matt Saul's special day 46. FOREVER STYLE A Blue Creek home is designed with the forever future in mind

LAKE MAGAZINE’S MONTHLY FEATURES:

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- edition

9. LAKE’S QUICK GUIDE TO

54. LAKE Q&A

THE LAKE

58. LAKE PROPERTY

10. LAKE SCENES

61. LMRA

13. WHERE IS LAKE?

62. HEALTHY LIVING

14. LAKE MARTIN EVENTS

65. CHEF'S TABLE

16. LAKE MARTIN NEWS

66. BIG CATCHES

22. NATURE OF THE LAKE

68. HOPPY DAYS

25. FAB FINDS

70. 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.issuu.com.

FEBRUARY 2018

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FEBRRUARY 2018

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

December 2017 December 2014 December 2011

Number of sales

Average selling price

Median selling price

Days on the market

Total houses for sale

Inventory/ sales ratio

22 15 4

$463,541 $624,500 $443,250

$347,500 $570,000 $395,000

173 232 68

163 228 312

5.34 9.67 18.26

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

Lake Watch Lake Martin sets annual meeting Members and guests are invited to the Lake Watch of Lake Martin Annual Meeting March 4 at the StillWaters Home Owners Association Building.

Lunch will be served. Tickets are $10 per person.

Guest speaker Dr. Bill Deutsch will discuss his book, Rivers of Alabama, and the Tallapoosa Basin. Dr. Deutsch is the founder of Alabama Water Watch and Global Water Watch. Dr. Deutsch was a research fellow in the Auburn University Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures from 1988 to 2013 and served as Director of Alabama Water Watch.

Eric Reutebuch also will provide a water monitoring update. For time, more information and registration, visit www.lakewatch.org or email info@lakewatch.org.

Lake Levels Last Month Summer: 491MSL Winter: 481 MSL Highest: 483.98 Lowest: 483.88 For up-to-date lake levels, log on to https:// 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.

A passerby snapped this photo of a bear climbing out of Lake Martin

As the weather warms, watch for increased bear sightings With black bear season upon us and as the weather starts to warm, be cautious of the possible increase in bear sightings throughout Alabama, including the Lake Martin area.

According to a recent study of black

bear populations by Dr. Todd Steury of Auburn University, the interaction between humans and bears saw an uptick last year that will likely continue into the current season.

The conclusion of the study was that Alabama has two populations of black bears, and the one in the northeast has potential for expansion. The results also gave researchers population numbers, genetic diversity, points of origin and connections to other bear populations.

Steury said the DNA data indicated the population in northeast Alabama more than doubled, going from about 12 bears to 30. Northeast Alabama bears are finding suitable habitat to establish home ranges and expand the population.

“The bears are breeding,” Steury said. “We have seen numerous examples of sows with two or three cubs on our game cameras. We feel like the population there is going to grow, and there are still bears coming in from Georgia.

Most of the bears sighted at Lake Martin in recent years have been migrants from these two populations.

Weather Outlook for February February 2017 Forecast

Historically, the Lake Martin area experiences average high temperatures in the high 50s with average lows in the mid-to-low 30s and nearly 5 inches of precipitation in the month of February. The National Weather Service has predicted that temperatures will be above normal and rainfall will be slightly below normal this month.

Year to Date

Precipitation: 0.63 inches Avg. high temp.: 48.3 Avg. low temp.: 26.5 Average temp.: 37.4

FEBRUARY 2018

Our Normal February Precipitation: 5.35 inches Avg. high temp.: 59.3 Information from the Avg. low temp.: 34.6 National Weather Average temp.: 47.0 Service.

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LAKE SCENE PEOPLE AND PLACES

Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

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Reader Submissions 5

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(1) Collier McBride, age 4, catches her first fish at her parent's cabin on Cocktail Slough on Lake Martin.

(2) Trudie Owings took this picture of her son Luke fishing at Wind Creek State Park in October. (3) Fall doesn't get much prettier on Lake Martin than this view below Smith Mountain from Cheryl Gainer McCall. (4) Audrey Patton wears her princess dress under her life jacket for a ride on the boat. (5) Kyle Thornton enjoys the fall foliage behind Catherine's Market.

FEBRRUARY 2018

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FEBRUARY 2018

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FEBRRUARY 2018

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS LAKE?

Email your photos to editor@lakemartinmagazine.com

PEOPLE AND PLACES

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Reader Submissions (1) Gail Peacock Barker and Sharon Autrey Spears took Lake Martin Living and Lake magazines with them on their Carnival Fantasy Cruise out of Mobile, Alabama. (2) Butch Veazey took Lake magazine to the source of the River Nile in Jinja, Uganda. (3) Austin and Casey Teel invited Lake magazine to the rehearsal dinner at Orlando Hard Rock Café the night before their wedding. (4) Susan and John Prophitt, Tony and Nina Johnson and Ed and Virginia Gilmore took Lake along on a cruise to Aruba and Curacao. (5) Chad and Danah Gilliland and Randy Britt took Lake to South Africa at Damara's Game Ranch.

FEBRUARY 2018

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Feb. 2 Mardi Gras Auction

The Rodeo Club in Dadeville. Tickets are $15 in advance at Kowliga Country studios, 1051 Tallapoosa St. or $20 at the door. VIP tickets are also available.

St. James Episcopal will host live and silent auctions, raffles, wine/beer/non-alcholic beverages, hors d’oeuvres, desserts and entertainment. Doors open at 6 p.m. at St. James Episcopal Feb. 9 Church, 347 S. Central Ave., Alexander City. Tickets are $25 Valentine’s Event in advance and $30 at the door. All monies benefit Feast of Six past state pageant winners and the reigning Ms. Sharing, a ministry of St. James and First United Methodist Alabama Sr. America will perform popular love songs, a churches, providing a free meal twice a week to people in the romantic aria and tap dance their way into our hearts. Doors area. Contact St. James Episcopal open at 6:30 p.m. on state Route 9 Church at 256-234-4752 or in Equality. Contact Wayne Glenn CALENDAR OF EVENTS Denise Graves 205-826-4066 for at 334-541-3302 for more informore information. mation.

WHAT’S HAPPENING ON LAKE MARTIN

Feb. 3 Gumbo Cook-off

Feb. 10 Critter Crawl

MainStreet Alexander City will host a New Orleans-styled event with a gumbo cook-off, live music and activities for all ages at Queen’s Attic from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. First place winners of the cook-off will get $500 cash; second place will receive $250; and third place takes home $100. For information, contact Executive Director Bre Smith at 256-329-9227.

The Alabama Nature Center will host its annual Critter Crawl trail run through Lanark’s 5-mile trail system. New this year is the Yeti Dash, which is a 1-mile trail system run, and participants in costume will be eligible for a Yeti Dash medal. The 5K begins at 8:30 a.m. with the 1-mile run starting at 9:45 a.m.

Sign up on active.com. Call 334-285-4550 for information.

Feb. 5 Horizons Unlimited

Sadie McClendon, Photographer Glenn 10 years old, will Wills presents Forgotten perform at Copper's Alabama through 10,000 Grill Feb. 10 photos of abandoned churches, buildings, vehicles and schools throughout Alabama’s 67 counties.

The presentation will be held at the Alexander City Board of Education located at 375 Lee St from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., and refreshments are available. Membership is $20 per person or $30 per couple for the whole Horizons Unlimited semester.

Feb. 8-11 Bassmaster Elite Series Tournament

B.A.S.S. will launch the tournament series opener from Wind Creek State Park on Lake Martin with the top 111 professional anglers in the world. The public is invited to watch the daily launch at 6:15 a.m. and weigh-in at 2:30 p.m., as well as visit the Series Expo on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, see the article on page 18 and the sports pages of The Alex City Outlook or visit www.bassmaster.com/elite.

Feb. 9 Concert at The Rodeo Club

Kowaliga Country 97.5 FM and Lake Martin Tractor and Outdoor are teaming up to bring Daryle Singletary to 14 LAKE

Feb. 10 Sadie McClendon at Copper’s

Official member of the Last Honky Tonk Music Series, 10-year-old Sadie McClendon will perform at Copper’s Grill at Stillwaters at 6:30 p.m. The Last Honky Tonk Music Series is a historic roots music series featuring national artists.

Feb. 12 Horizons Unlimited

Peggy Shores, Ms. Missouri Sr. America 2002, will present Songs from the Heart at the Alexander City Board of Education located at 375 Lee St. The meeting is held from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., and refreshments are available.

Membership is $20 per person or $30 per couple for the Horizons Unlimited semester.

Feb. 16 Motown Magic

Alexander City Arts, Inc., presents an evening of Motown at 7 p.m. at the Benjamin Russell High School Auditorium. For ticket information, visit AlexanderCityArts.org.

FEBRRUARY 2018

Feb. 23 Equality Performing Arts Center

Birmingham musician Hunter Goff performs at the EPAC at 6:30 p.m. on state Route 9 in Equality. For more information, contact Wayne Glenn at 334-541-3302.

Feb. 24 Russell Medical Foundation Gala Proceeds from this formal ball at Willow Point Golf & Country Club will help to establish the Russell Medical Foundation’s Dr. John C. Blythe Healthcare Scholarship. Dinner at 6 p.m. with music and dancing at 7 p.m. Tickets are $150 each. Contact Tammy Jackson at tjackson@russellmedcenter.com for tickets and information.

Feb. 24 9th Annual Russell Forest Run

Hosted by Russell Lands On Lake Martin, the Russell Forest Run is a 5K and 10K scenic trail run over rolling hills on sand, clay and gravel roads. The 10K race starts at Russell Crossroads at 7:45 a.m., with a 5K run beginning at 7:55 a.m. Each runner will receive a high performance running shirt. Registration is $40, and proceeds help provide educational tools for students in the Alexander City school system. Plus, the grits bar and after-party at The Stables are second to none. For information, call 256-3971019.

Feb. 26 Horizons Unlimited

Dr. James Hansen, an expert in aerospace history, will present Neil

Armstrong at the Alexander City Board of Education located at 375 Lee St. The meeting is held from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., and refreshments are available. Membership is $20 per person or $30 per couple for the whole Horizons Unlimited semester.

Sarah Carlisle Towery Art Colony Exhibit

Season-Long Events

Children’s Harbor Treasures and Thrift Store

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

General admission applies and is $5 per person with a $20 maximum per family.

The Alabama Nature Center is located at 3050 Lanark Rd. in Millbrook. Visit alabamawildlife.org to check holiday closings. ​

Memory Makers Quilt Guild

This group meets the second and fourth Mondays of each 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.

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.

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

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.

Millerville Trade Day

Bibb Graves School on Highway 9 hosts this trade day on the third Saturday of every month from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Find books, toys, models, coins, lamps, original artwork, jewelry, clothing, antiques, glassware, quilts, home décor and more. Refreshments available.

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FEBRUARY 2018

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Lake Martin News Lake Martin marinas top the ranks OneWater Marine Holdings, owner of Singleton marinas on Lake Martin and others throughout North America, was ranked number one by Boating Industry's Top 100 dealers of 2017.

OneWater Marine Holdings is based out of Buford, Georgia, and Singleton Marine was founded in 1988.

“It’s about more than selling more boats than the competition. The primary criteria evaluated are demonstrating business acumen and creative marketing; delivering great service; and focusing on constant improvement,” said Jennifer Shockley of Blue Creek Marina.

Austin Singleton, CEO, started out on Lake Martin, working from the bottom up, and realized he wanted to expand the family boating experience to other lakes, said Shockley.

Singleton Marine now has 54 locations across the U.S. and OneWater has won this honor of top dealer for the second year.

“Anytime you are presented with such an honor for two years in a row, customers, future customers and future team members will hold us to a certain expectation. That increases our drive and desire to do even better. It’s a privilage to work for such a family-oriented company,” said Shockley.

Alexander City’s Russell Marine was ranked number three in the only independent ranking of boat dealers throughout North America.

“From the thousands of dealers in North America, these 100 dealers are the best of the best. These dealers excel not only

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OneWater Marine Holdings was named the top boat dealer in North America

at the business of selling boats, but also at delivering a great customer experience,” said Jonathan Sweet, Top 100 program director, at a gala in December.

This is the 13th year Boating Industry has celebrated the Top 100 boat dealers, and the list is getting stronger, said Sweet.

“The Top 100 and Hall of Fame rankings topped $3 billion in total revenue in 2016, surpassing the previous year’s total by more than $400 million,” Sweet added.

Skier’s Marine, Inc., out of Sterret, Alabama, also made the Top 100 list. ~ Staff Report

FEBRRUARY 2018

Popular nightclub re-opens The building formerly home to well-known Lake Martin nightspot Colonel Tom’s Tavern has recently reopened under a new name and new management.

CT’s Bar opened at the beginning of last month after several months of construction and remodeling. A liquor license was approved in October by the Tallapoosa County Commission for new owner Jeffery Mark Welcher.

The club on Highway 49 near Dadeville was sold by its previous owner Tom McElroy in July, and CT’s is currently open Fridays and Saturdays, with the potential to expand its opening from Thursday through Sunday starting this month.

The bar is open to those 21 years of age and older and hosts pool tables, dartboards, a free photo booth and live entertainment. River Dan performed on opening night, and more music is slated for weekends to come.

Arsonists burned Colonel Tom’s during a burglary in the early morning of Dec. 14, 2016, and the two men responsible entered guilty pleas and were granted youth offender status.

Big Green Egg

Golden Foundry Cast Iron Cooker

The building formerly known as Colonel Tom's is now occupied by CT's Bar

~Staff Report

Two arrested for theft around Lake Martin The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office arrested two suspects in connection with a dozen home burglaries, according to Sheriff Bill Franklin.

Two men were taken into custody after being caught breaking into at least five homes in one day in the Real Island community.

When the sheriff’s department descended upon them, they split up to make things more difficult, said Franklin.

Allen Wesson, 58, and George Megan, 24, confessed to targeting approximately 30 homes in the Lake Martin area in Elmore, Tallapoosa and Coosa counties, and targeting unoccupied homes, said Franklin.

Both suspects are charged with eight counts of burglary, theft and possession of burglar’s tools in Elmore County but may face more charges in other counties.

Bonds are set at $40,000 for each count. ~Staff Report

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FEBRUARY 2018

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Among the

Lake Martin will host the Bassmaster Elite Series Tournament Feb. 8-11

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FEBRRUARY 2018

Elite Lake Martin hits the big time as Bassmaster Elite Series opens 2018 season here with the world's best professional anglers STORY BY BETSY ILER & LIZI ARBOGAST PHOTO BY KENNETH BOONE

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olunteers are still needed for a local crew that will help to pull off the most prestigious fishing tournament Lake Martin has ever hosted.

The Bassmaster Elite Series season opener will launch Feb. 8 from Wind Creek State Park with the world’s best 111 professional anglers, a nationwide media crew, sponsors and fans. B.A.S.S. is the world’s largest fishing organization, and the Bassmaster Elite Series is the highest level of competition.

In addition to top-name national sponsors that include Toyota, Humminbird, Mercury, Yamaha and Carhartt, the event will be recorded for later television viewing on ESPN2.

“We expect 100 percent occupancy in our hotels. Already, we’re seeing people coming into town in preparation for the

tournament,” said Alexander City Chamber of Commerce President Ed Collari.

The population of the local area could swell by as much as 15,000 to 20,000 people during the tournament, Collari said, as many of the anglers travel with their families, sponsor representatives and crews. Fans also follow the tournament, taking to the lake to trail their favorite sportsmen, and the B.A.S.S. organization is expected to bring a large support crew to town for the event.

Local businesses are invited to take part in the Lake Martin Elite Series Expo, which will showcase lake area communities, products and opportunities, on the last two days of the tournament at WCSP.

FEBRUARY 2018

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Give Your Heart a Fresh Start The new year is here, so why not make a resolution that gives you and your loved ones peace of mind? We all know that healthy hearts live longer, more active lives.

That starts with a comprehensive cardiac checkup.

February is American Heart Month, serving as an annual reminder of the fight against cardiovascular disease. Kevin Sublett, MD, and his staff at the UAB Heart & Vascular Clinic of Central Alabama are proud supporters of this fight. We are committed to keeping your heart healthy, so you can live a healthier life all year long.

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

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FEBRRUARY 2018

“We are looking for any and all vendors,” Collari said. “The event is geared toward being a family-friendly event, so we’re specifically targeting crafts, food vendors, kids’ events, anyone with a business locally.”

On expo days, WCSP will be open to the public, and half of the expo will feature Bassmaster partners, such as companies that specialize in fishing rods, ATVs, lures, fishfinders, boat motors and more.

“Because the Bassmaster Elite Series has their own sponsorships and own partners, we can’t bring anyone in that conflicts with those,” Collari said. “As long as they don’t conflict with those, it’s open to anyone else.

We’ll have all kinds of stuff for kids.

“The tournament itself just draws so many spectators. You’ll see boats out there trailing fishermen to see how they fish and what they’re using. People also come for the weigh-in, so it’s just a way to capitalize on all that traffic. It’s a good way to get the community involved and draw more traffic and awareness to the event and create exposure.”

In addition, volunteers are needed to help local aspects of the event run smoothly.

“We will be out there every day to provide anything they need from us in the way of logistics or support, and we could utilize volunteers for some of that,” Collari said. “We need to make sure each angler, each visitor, has a fantastic time here.”

Chamber volunteers might help with set up, run errands or provide local knowledge.

“This is part of our contract with B.A.S.S., and it’s important that we go above and beyond to fulfill our obligation,” Collari explained. “There are a lot of residual benefits to bringing in this tournament. It gives us nationwide visibility and brings in a lot of tourism. Since it was announced that the Bassmaster Elite Series would begin the 2018 season here, we’ve seen people coming in, and they will keep coming after the tournament is over. People want to fish the same place where the pros fish.”

The economic impact of the tournament could exceed $1 million, Collari said.

Anglers will launch from Wind Creek State Park at 6:15 a.m. and return for weighin at 2:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

The field includes Lake magazine fishing columnist Greg Vinson, who offers a personal perspective of the event on page 66.

The Bassmaster Elite at Lake Martin is presented by Econo Lodge and marks the 14th time B.A.S.S. has held a tournament here.

To take part in the Lake Martin Elite Series Expo or volunteer on the ground at the tournament, contact the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce at 256-234-3461.

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Hospital foundation's signature event to honor local oncologist

The 2018 Russell that she wanted to be Medical Foundation a nurse. With the help of Gala will honor beloved the scholarship, she studied nursAlexander City native Dr. ing at Southern Union State Community John C. Blythe with a formal College in Wadley in 1978 and graduated in 1980. ball at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, Following several years as a traveling nurse, she eventuat Willow Point Golf and Country Club. ally returned home where she has spent most of the last Blythe is recognized as one the leading community 37 years at Russell Medical. cancer doctors in Alabama. He was the first medical “I use my medical education every day in my job, oncologist trained at the University of Alabama Hospital even though I don’t work directly in patient care,” and Clinics and the first medical oncologist to practice Phillips said. in Alexander City. He was Medical Director of the Phillips reviews patient records and documentation, Cancer Center at Russell Medical when it largely for Medicare services, to make opened in 2002. sure the records are complete and include An avid outdoor enthusiast, Blythe is a all of the information needed to cormember of Quail Forever and a contributrectly file claims. She also appeals cases ing writer for Covey Rise magazine. He in which insurance coverage has been was a founding member of the Alexander denied to assist in the payment of claims.

City Chamber Foundation. Blythe and his Russell Medical Foundation Executive wife, Ruth, are members of Alexander Director Tammy Jackson said the foundaCity First United Methodist Church and tion has awarded some 120 or more medreside at their local farm, The Settlement. ical scholarships since its establishment, Tickets for the gala event are $150 and the Dr. John C. Blythe Healthcare each, and proceeds will help to estabScholarship will provide another avenue lish the Dr. John C. Blythe Healthcare to help keep qualified healthcare profesScholarship, which will be administered sionals in our area. by the foundation.

The gala will feature entertainment Dr. John C. Blythe For more than 30 years, Russell in three rooms of Willow Point’s main Medical scholarships have assisted local clubhouse with Blue Vardaman and Bobby high school students in medical education that has Boone in the Camellia Room, Tom Gassaway in a helped them to establish lifelong careers, many of which 1920s-styled speakeasy in the Willow Room and First are spent serving patients in their hometown medical Generation Band in the main ballroom. facilities.

“It is going to be a very classy event,” Jackson said.

Faye Phillips, a registered nurse who works in docu“The walls will be draped with sheers with lights behind mentation improvement and audits at Russell Medical, them. It will bring back the era of the formal ball. was one of the first recipients of the scholarship.

Everyone will be dressed up in gowns and tuxedos. It “If it hadn’t been for the scholarship, I never would will be a very special evening.” have become a nurse,” Phillips said. “I was one of five For ticket information, contact Jackson at tjackson@ children, and our parents couldn’t afford to send us to russellmedcenter.com or call her at 256-215-7459. Look college. I couldn’t afford to send myself to school, so I for the February issue of Lake Martin Living magazine couldn’t have gone if I had not gotten the scholarship.” mid-month for more information about this year’s gala Phillips said she knew as early as her teenage years honoree, Dr. John C. Blythe.

FEBRUARY 2018

LAKE 21

Pied-billed Grebe Flamingo's cousin is known for its cooing and gobbling NATURE OF THE LAKE

BY KENNETH BOONE

Grebes winter in places like Lake Martin where water doesn't freeze over

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FEBRRUARY 2018

G

Grebes get no respect.

First of all, they look a lot like a duck – one of the most popular birds on the planet – but they’re not. You hear “duck, duck, goose” all the time.

When was the last time you heard “grebe, grebe, rail?”

(If you did hear anybody mention this quiet little bird’s name, it would sound like “greeb,” not “greebee” – the first “e” is long; the second is silent.)

Though these little birds look a lot like ducks from a distance, their feet aren’t webbed; they have almost no tail; and they are typically described as “small and stocky with short necks.”

Not exactly mallard material.

But that’s a look from a distance. Up close, these one-of-a-kind, cute water birds make up for their non-glamorous appearance with aquatic athleticism and impressive adaptability.

Of the seven species of grebe in North America, the Pied-billed Grebe is the most common.

Pied-billed Grebes live throughout the Americas, from northern Canada to the southern tip of South America – a range that encompasses roughly 21 million square kilometers. As Pied-billed Grebes if that’s not a large are excellent swimmers enough area, one and divers adventurous piedbilled grebe was spotted in the Galapagos Islands, and others have been seen in Hawaii and Europe.

They are highly adaptive to different environments, living from sea level to 8,000 feet of elevation in fresh, brackish and sometimes even in salt water. Pied-billed grebes seem to prefer fairly still or slow-moving water where they forage for crayfish and fish and almost anything else they can capture, from insects, frogs and salamanders to shrimp, snails and crabs.

Grebes winter in places where the water doesn’t freeze, so central Alabama is a popular winter location in the grebe world. Many pied-billed grebes live as year-round residents here on Lake Martin and our surrounding ponds, while those that visit for the winter migrate back to the cooler climates in summer.

They are not particularly afraid of buildings or piers but do tend to shy away from movement, loud noises and human activity. During the summer breeding season, these birds become very secretive.

Pied-billed Grebes grow to 15 inches long with

a 2-foot wide wingspan and a maximum weight of 1-1/4 pounds. Both males and females are brown, with lighter underparts and darker brown backs.

They have thin necks, especially in comparison with a fairly large round head.

The grebe'ss chicken-like bill becomes gray-white with a black band (hence the name pied-bill) during the summer breeding season; the remainder of the year, the bill is more yellowish brown.

A vocal bird, Pied-billed Grebes are known for making a number of bizarre calls, which have been described as cooing, whinnying or gobbling or similar to that of the yellow-billed cuckoo.

Although it’s hard to believe, recent DNA tests have shown that grebes are probably most closely related to flamingos.

Unlike their lanky pink cousins, Pied-billed Grebes are excellent swimmers and divers with at least three physical traits that help them in the water.

First, they don’t have webbed feet – instead their toes have paddlelike lobes on either side that act as tiny swim fins. A second swimming aid is the position of their legs way back on the rear of their bodies – the same place boat makers put their engines for the same reason.

Finally, Pied-billed Grebes have the ability to capture and hold water in their feathers, which allows them to control their buoyancy to the point where they can sit high on the water like ducks or sink so low that only the top of their heads are above water to hide from predators.

Bodies highly adapted for swimming are a disadvantage on land and in air, so grebes – poor fliers and wobbly walkers – spend most of their time in the water.

Carl Linnaeus, the father of taxonomy, was highly aware of this in 1758 when he dubbed this bird Podilymbus podiceps, a name derived from the Latin words for “feet at the buttocks” and “diver.”

Pied-billed Grebes are also known by a number of other common names including: American dabchick, dabchick, Carolina grebe, water witch, hell diver, devil diver, thick-billed grebe, pied-bill, pied-bill dabchick and dive-dapper.

During breeding season, male Pied-billed Grebes will lift their breasts out of the water and jerk their heads in courting displays, or swim very fast just below the surface, leaving a distinctive set of ripples

FEBRUARY 2018

LAKE 23

to impress their potential mates. If they feel threatpond. Parents can dive and forage with their chicks ened, they will often attack other males and other clamped under their wings, though it’s not uncomspecies of birds by sneaking up on them from under- mon for the babies to work free and pop to the surwater. face.

Both partners build Baby Pied-billed a nest on floating Grebes don’t look vegetation along the exactly like mom or FUN FACTS shoreline, usually in dad. Instead of a drab n Grebes – including the Pied-billed Grebes – are water deeper than 9 brown, these baby known to eat their own feathers, a practice thought inches, which allows birds wear black and to improve their digestion by protecting from internal for quick underwawhite stripes on their puncture wounds caused by fish bones. They also feed ter escapes in case faces. their feathers to their young. the nest is attacked.

The biggest threat Female Grebes sit on to Pied-billed Grebes n Pied-billed Grebes have a defense tactic commonly their clutches of 2-10 is habitat loss and the called a “crash dive” where the birds go from swimbluish- or greenishdraining or developming to diving belly-first very quickly with their wings white eggs to incument of wetlands. outstretched and rear-mounted feet kicking so hard bate them for three to Nearby human activthat water splashes several feet into the air. four weeks. ity has been known n A group of grebes are known collectively as a During that time, to cause Pied-billed “water dance” of grebes. if a mother leaves the Grebes to abandon nest, she will often their egg-filled nests, cover the eggs to hide and large boat wakes them from predators. can destroy nests.

A Grebe can have two or possibly three broods each So give Lake Martin’s grebes the respect that they year. deserve and please think twice before operating bigWhen the chicks hatch, they are initially poor wake boats near the back of still-water sloughs. swimmers, and the family abandons the nest the day all the chicks hatch. So for the first three weeks Some information for this article came from of their lives, Pied-billed Grebe chicks climb onto Cornell University’s website, AllAboutBirds.com, the the backs of mom or dad and hitch rides around the Audubon Society and the U.S. Wildlife Department.

A Grebe can regulate its buoyancy and water level position by holding water in its feathers

24 LAKE

FEBRRUARY 2018

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FEBRUARY 2018

LAKE 25

Rehearsal Party on the Green

The wedding weekend for Lizzy and Rob Dunavant and their daughter began with a rainbow over the Russell Crossroads Town Green

Guests gather at Friday On the Green for pre-wedding festivities

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STORY BY BETSY ILER PHOTOS BY AUDRA SPEARS & JAMISON SKINNER

When Lizzy Lay married her Auburn University sweetheart Rob Dunavant in an intimate ceremony at Church in the Pines on July 8, the groom’s family took advantage of activities at Russell Crossroads’ Town Green for the post-rehearsal gathering.

“We had guests who were just getting into town on Friday evening, and Rob and Lizzy wanted something fun but simple for the after-rehearsal party,” explained the groom’s mother, Amy Dunavant. “Our plan was to go to Catherine’s at 5 p.m. for the wine tasting, have dinner there and go over to The Town Green for the music and lawn games.”

Dunavant said she came up with the idea as she glanced through the summer calendar in the May issue of Lake magazine.

“I saw the article with the Friday on the Green schedule in that issue, and I realized it would be the perfect thing to do for the rehearsal party,” she said. “We go to Friday on the Green every time we come to the lake.

We set up our chairs and play the lawn games with the grandchildren.

“For the wedding weekend, our guests arrived into 26 LAKE

town and got settled in their rooms at the Willow Point Villas. Then, they went up to The Town Green to meet the rest of us on their own schedules. It was convenient for them to pick up dinner to enjoy dinner at Catherine’s just across the street and ice cream on the lawn. It was perfect.”

“It was a lot of fun, very casual,” the bride said. “I didn’t want a sit-down dinner, and this gave our out-oftown guests a place to gather. The food was great from Catherine’s Market, and the kids especially had a blast playing. Our daughter was about to turn 1 year old, and she had so much fun with the hula-hoops!”

Sid Phelps, the performer for the July 7 Friday on the Green event, congratulated the bride and groom from the stage, adding an extra special element to the postrehearsal gathering.

Nearly half of the Dunvants’ 150 wedding guests mingled with the regular Friday on the Green crowd, playing lawn games and dodging raindrops before the wet weather moved out of the area in time for the wedding the following day.

The lawn games and hula-hoops are available for use

FEBRRUARY 2018

at every free Friday on the Green concert throughout the summer, compliments of Russell Lands On Lake Martin.

Though rain greeted the couple the next morning for pictures, the bride and groom chose to follow through with their plans to hold the ceremony in the outdoor chapel at Church in the Pines and the outdoor reception at Willow Point Golf and Country Club.

“Our whole reason for being married at Lake Martin was to see the lake and be outside, so we made the call that morning to keep the reception lakeside instead of moving indoors,” Rob said. “The rain was out of the way for the evening wedding and reception. We had a beautiful sunset following the ceremony and an absolutely gorgeous evening for the reception.”

Rob and Lizzy Dunavant shared the special day with daughter Collin Rose

Lawn games were a big hit with the wedding guests' children

Guests at the post-rehearsal party dodged a few raindrops but the weather couldn't dampen spirits for the weekend event

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LAKE 27

Share the Gift of Lake Martin

A

Destination keepsakes introduce guests to the lake

An especially important part of any Lake Martin destination wedding is the goodie bag – a collection of fun surprises that will help out-of-town guests feel at home and enjoy their stay. It’s all the better if the bag and its contents are reusable souvenirs of the event and location.

A canvas tote embroidered with a Lake Martin landmark is a great choice. Local business North Lake Crafted offers several options. These hand pressed goods can be replicated A family friend with any landmark, logo or created the goodiedesign on a number of materibag map that als. A bride might also play up provided guidance the wedding theme with a creto out-of-town ative, relative container, such as a guests for wedding picnic basket, galvanized pail or and reception sites antique box. at the Saul wedding Out-of-town guests who are unfamiliar with the lake might appreciate the inclusion of the latest issue of Lake magazine for its calendar guide of things to do at Lake Martin.

28 LAKE

Guests should also receive detailed paperwork, including important times, addresses, dress codes, transportation information and a timeline for wedding events, as well as a wedding contact’s information in case they have questions. Brides could even create a customized map detailing wedding event locations with fun info-graphics. Other points to include might be area landmarks and ‘must sees and dos,’ along with restaurant suggestions.

The bride and groom could add a keepsake displaying the memorable date and/or their initials, such as koozies, candy, lip balm, a deck of cards, shot glasses or other customizable mementos.

Provide guests with sweet and savory snacks to keep them from raiding the mini bar or going hungry late at night. Locally produced food items might include boiled peanuts from Peanut Point; preserves, syrup or unfiltered honey from New Water Farm; goat milk caramels from Lakeside Mercantile; or Wickles Pickles, a national brand that originated from a local recipe.

Alabama Street Maker’s Market, Downtown Girl, Ooh LaLa, Madison House Restoration, Cloud Nine, Mix It Up! and Pearson’s are all area shopping options that offer handmade, local products or unique, small-batch boutique items.

In Dadeville, Lakeside Mercantile can provide unique, up-cycled vintage items, along with lake-themed décor and apparel. Lake Martin-themed artwork from The Company Store or Catherine’s Market at Russell Crossroads also could be included.

Bridesmaids’ bags could also include certificates for spa services at the recently opened Shay Dean Aesthetics in downtown Alexander City; or guests who have traveled some distance for the occasion might appreciate knowing where to get a relaxing spa day or massage.

For summer weddings, water bottles are essential, as are sunblock, bug spray, sunglasses and fans that could help guests to beat the heat.

A small emergency kit is both thoughtful and practical to add to the mix. Pain relief tablets, mints, Band-Aids, tissues, stain remover and mini sewing kits are all items that might be needed to battle low-level disasters on the big day.

And to thank guests for attending, a short note or handwritten card goes a long way in expressing appreciation and excitement at their sharing the special day with the bride and groom.

Alice and Joe Griffin included plenty of favorite snacks in the goodie bags for their guestsFEBRRUARY 2018

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LAKE 29

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Alice Fisher watches the rain on her wedding day from the deck of her parents' home in The Ridge

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FEBRRUARY 2018

Alice & Joe

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Joy shines on a Lake Martin wedding STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY 509 PHOTO

When Alice Fisher was a child, she delighted in teasing her grandmother with promises that she would marry the love of her life on the lawn of the old original Russell cabin where she spent summer weekends.

“She would protest, but I insisted,” said Alice Fisher Griffin, who married Joseph Lee Griffin Jr. last October at The Ridge.

“Both the cabin and my grandmother are gone, but we were married at my parents’ new Russell cabin at The Ridge.

“And it poured,” she added. “All of the other weekends in October, the weather was really nice, but it rained on our weekend. And it was unseasonably cold.”

But those unexpected elements prompted the personal touches that made the day extra special.

“We all wore vintage furs. I packed my grandmother’s

at the last minute, and when we got there for the wedding, everybody had on their grandmothers’ furs that they never get to wear,” she said.

The maid of honor brought hand warmers for the wedding party, and guests wrapped up in a collection of throws to stay warm. Baskets of throw blankets were added to the décor, so guests could wrap up upon arrival.

“We had a fire going in the fireplace all day. At the last minute, we added a coffee bar, so we all had hot chocolate and coffee with Kahlua and Bailey’s.”

Before the ceremony, Griffin stood on the deck of the lake house – sans fur – her spirits not dampened by the weather.

“Do you trust me?” asked her photographer, Caleb Chancey of 509 Photo, who had a brave plan to turn the rain into a unique backdrop the wedding portraits.

The rain stopped just in time for the lakeside ceremony

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LAKE 31

“So he took me down to the dock, and it was pouring rain,” the bride said.

And as Griffin stood under an umbrella in a lace covered gown with the rain falling all around her, a bouquet of peonies and roses trailing at her side, Chancey captured what the rain couldn’t wash away – the joy of a bride marrying the love of her life on the wedding day she’d dreamed of since childhood.

Griffin met Joe through mutual friends. Though both had attended the University of Alabama, Joe had graduated a few years before his bride, so they hadn’t met. They saw each other at football events on occasion after their first meeting but didn’t start dating at first; however, they shared a passion for the Tide. Joe incorporated that football loyalty into the proposal plan he launched two days before Christmas the previous year.

“I opened this package that was a ring box, and I thought here I was going to get a proposal. But when I opened the box, there were playoff game tickets in it,” she said. “Then, he gave me this clutch purse, and I kind of said, ‘Oh, that’s nice,’ and I set it aside. But he told me to look in it, and the ring was in the clutch.”

The couple chose an October wedding date because fall is one of their favorite times at the lake.

“October sunsets at the lake are amazing,” Griffin said.

“All I wanted was an October sunset.”

And despite the rain, she got it.

“We had a tent as a rain plan, but I really didn’t want to get married under the tent. Even though it was raining at noon, we made the call to have the wedding outside. We had it set up in the driveway with an arch of flowers and the lake in the background. Finally, right before I was going to go down the aisle, it just stopped raining, and we had this gorgeous sunset, just like I had wanted,” she said.

They held the reception under the tent, and the newlyweds made their getaway in a pontoon boat.

They live in Birmingham but visit the lake two or three times a month, rain or shine.

The sunset the couple had hoped for made its appearance at the end of the day

The bridesmaids arrived wearing their grandmothers' furs

The bride's flowers added color and sunshine to the festivities

The life-sized cut-out of Joe accompanied the maids on the bachelorette weekend

32 LAKE

FEBRRUARY 2018

At the end of the day, nothing could dampen the newlyweds' joy

FEBRUARY 2018

LAKE 33

A Perfect Fall Wedding New Lake Martin residents host wedding in Stillwaters

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STORY BY AMY PASSARETTI & PHOTOS BY MEGAN MULLINS

Kathryn and Josh Jordan were married on the anniversary of their first date on a warm, breezy fall day in October 2016 at Church of the Living Waters in Stillwaters.

“We always knew we wanted a wedding on the lake. We love being around water, and we wanted our ceremony near water as well. I loved the outdoor church the second I saw it. It was so beautiful on its own; there wasn’t much decorating that even needed to be done,” Kathryn Jordan said.

The couple has lived in Stillwaters since 2015 when they moved to the lake from Destin, Florida. When Josh’s uncle, Keith Hiett, bought Stillwaters Golf Course and decided to open a restaurant there, he asked his nephew to come work for him. Josh is currently the head chef at Copper’s Grill, and Jordan bartends there.

After seeing the deck and backyard space at Copper’s decorated and strung up with lights for a prom, Jordan said she could envision that as the perfect spot for her wedJosh Jordan ding. steals a kiss “I just thought it from his bride would be beautiful for a following their reception, especially with ceremony at all the greenery in the Church of the background with the golf Living Waters course,” she said.

Jordan chose the warm color of orange for her bridesmaids’ dresses, with some reds and yellows for her wedding décor and bouquet – except for the one detail she always knew she wanted.

“Ever since I saw the wedding episode on Friends, I knew I wanted simple bouquets for my bridesmaids. Calla Lilies are my favorite flowers, and it was the perfect choice for them to carry,” said the bride.

Jordan and her three bridesmaids prepared for the big day in the Golf Colony condos. The groomsmen stayed at the Courtside condos for the week, which is where they all gathered before the ceremony.

“The biggest thing for me is that I did not want Josh to see me beforehand. Josh said he was so nervous when I finally came down the aisle he could barely look at me,” she said.

The nearly 120 guests feasted on prime rib, chicken cordon

bleu, broccoli and chicken spring rolls, roasted potatoes and asparagus – a menu completely designed by Josh, cooked on site and served buffet style.

Working at Copper’s introduced the couple to many people in the lake community, including Sid Phelps, the musician that played at their reception.

“Sid and his band had never played our first dance song before, Michael Buble’s Feeling Good, but he practiced and made it his own version, and it was wonderful. He played a little bit of everything for the guests as well,” said Jordan.

Her favorite part was the party that followed, with the whole crowd enjoying a DJ and a dance party.

“We really know how to throw a party.

We had a blast, and I saw people dancing that I have never seen dance before.

They went to town,” she said.

The most sentimental detail of the wedding, according to Jordan, was the homemade, customdesigned wedding cake created by her mother and grandmother. The threetiered, intricately detailed cake was an important part of the day.

The couple had attended the same high school in Hiram, Georgia, and spent time together when both were members of the marching band there. Although they had similar friends and dated briefly, it wasn’t until they ran into each other at Jacksonville State University that their love story truly began.

Fate seemed to bring them back together.

The pair dated for about five years before Josh proposed on a Caribbean cruise they were attending with his family.

“We were on a balcony with the most gorgeous backdrop.

It was blue as far as the eye can see – blue skies, blue water; it was the perfect setting. It was sweet and simple, just like us,” Jordan said.

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Clockwise from top left:The couple held their reception at Copper's Grill; Kathryn's mother and grandmother handmade and decorated the wedding cake; Kathryn and Josh Jordan were married at Church of the Living Waters, which was so beautiful on its own that it did not need much decoration; Jordan chose warm, fall colors of orange with red and yellow accents for her bouquet and décor; Sid Phelps and his band met the couple while they were all working at Copper's Grill, and the band played for the Jordans' reception.

FEBRUARY 2018

LAKE 35

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FEBRRUARY 2018

Lost and Found Towboat captain dives for a wedding ring

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STORY BY JUDITH HILL & PHOTO COURTESY OF SUZANNE HUNTER

It was the perfect July weekend to do nothing else but be around a big body of water with great friends.

Husband and wife James and Suzanne Hunter packed up their car and did just that after receiving an invitation to vacation at a family friend’s home on Lake Martin. The couple headed to the lake to spend their long, summer weekend grilling out, hanging out and just doing all things that make Lake Martin life so magical.

The Hunters had spent time on Lake Martin on and off for about eight years. They both graduated from Auburn University and now call the Plains home. Though both of them are from the same small town, they didn’t connect until college at AU. There, the two fell in love and were married May 30, 2015.

Their weekend getaway started out like most weekends at Lake Martin. The crew hung out on the dock, enjoying the sunshine and slow-paced ease of summer.

Suzanne Hunter went inside to make lunch while James and the others took the boat out to water ski. What she found when she returned to the dock was not the jolly group she was with just an hour before.

“When I came back to the dock, everyone was just sitting quietly not saying anything. That’s when James told me what had happened,” Hunter said.

James explained that he had lost his wedding band in the water. He noticed it was missing as he grabbed the ski rope behind the boat and felt strongly that he had lost it while suiting up to ski. With a little help from the greasy sunscreen, he figured, the ring must have slipped right off. But hopefully, it was close to the dock, he added quickly.

“I knew it was gone,” Hunter said, “but James was determined to find it.”

James suited up once more, but this time it was snorkeling gear he put on in hopes of finding his ring.

Dive after dive, he searched, but to no avail. James’ amateur snorkeling skills and gear were no match for the monumental task. He decided his best chance of Susan and finding the band was to seek James Hunter the help of a professional on their 2015 diver. wedding day “Someone I was friends with gave us the contact of the scuba diving company and said they could be there in a couple hours,” said James’ bride. “In the meantime, we tried our best not to disturb that area.”

A few hours after receiving the call, Jackson Dozier arrived from TowBoatUS. Dozier suited up for one last attempt at finding James’ precious ring. He came up just six minutes after going down.

“He came up holding the ring like a trophy!” Hunter exclaimed. “Everyone was so amazed and got in on the excitement. The feeling was pure joy.”

Mission accomplished.

The heroic diver even found a pair of the lake home owner’s prescription glasses that had been lost months before.

“He was super nice, and the money spent for him to find James’ wedding band was well worth it,” Hunter said.

Though they have not been back to Lake Martin since the lost-and-found ring trip, the Hunters plan to return this summer and make the trip an annual vacation.

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Sentimental Sunset Proposal

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STORY BY JUDITH HILL & PHOTOS BY HARRISON TAYLOR

Hannah Moss’s grandparents have owned a home on Although she had a suspicion of when the proposal Lake Martin for as long as she can remember. She and was going to happen, Johnson still kept her on her toes. her family have spent countless days year-round enjoy- He planned a lake weekend with Moss’ family at her ing the company of each other and friends. grandparents’ lake house that July.

“My favorite place in the world is at my grandpar“He told me we were all going to the lake, and we ents’ lake house at sunset,” Moss said. were going to meet everyone at SpringHouse,” Moss That special spot now holds even more meaning for recalled. the soon-to-be Mrs. Chris Johnson.

But instead of a trip to their favorite restaurant, Moss caught Chris’ eye at a mutual friend’s birthday Johnson bypassed SpringHouse and took Moss to her party in June 2015. grandparents’ Windermere dock “Chris just walked up to me at sunset. and told me I was really pretty,” “He walked us down by the gushed Moss. “I don’t think we water, and there was a table even spoke the rest of the evewith a beautiful tablecloth and ning at dinner!” a Bible with our names on it It wasn’t until later that fall and a ring box,” Moss said. “He that the two really hit it off at then prayed over us and our Moss’ sorority date function. future.”

“I didn’t know who to ask. It After Johnson knelt on one was between some random fraknee and popped the question, ternity guy or the guy I barely Moss said yes to the man of her knew that told me I was pretty dreams and will become the the summer before,” she said.

Mrs. this summer.

Moss went with the bold During the proposal, Johnson move and asked Johnson. The told Moss that he had remempair continued talking after their bered her saying years before first date and never parted ways that this spot on Lake Martin from that day forward. was her favorite place in the Moss and Johnson officially world. Now, this place on the starting dating later that fall lake will forever hold an even and continued their relationship more special meaning to the on the Plains until he graducouple. ated in May 2016 with plans to Moss said some of her favorInstead of dinner at her favorite attend medical school. After a ite memories with Johnson at restaurant, Moss got a proposal long summer of patience and Lake Martin – other than the at her grandparents' lake house praying, Johnson was accepted proposal, of course – include to the medical program at fun times with family on the the University of Alabama at water, holidays at the lake and Birmingham. Moss, being a year younger than Johnson, going to SpringHouse Restaurant. remained in Auburn to pursue her doctorate in audiol“We love our memories at SpringHouse! We love ogy. getting all dressed up, taking photos there and going for After two years of long-distance dating, talk of the dinner after Auburn games,” said Moss. future began to come up between the two.

She loves the restaurant so much that she plans to “We had definitely talked about getting married, and celebrate her bachelorette weekend with there friends because of our school schedules, we narrowed it down this year before the big day. to a specific time,” Moss said.

38 LAKE

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LAKE 39

Dreams Come True

STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY BRADLEY BURCKEL PHOTOGRAPHY

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Newlyweds Hayes and Matt Saul enjoyed a few minutes to themselves on the way to the reception at Willow Point

Lake Martin holds in her heart not only the best of summer memories but also the most heartfelt dreams.

For the bride who calls it home, the lake holds dreams come true, like that of Hayes Holliday Saul, who – with airy elegance, simplicity and great personal style – came home to Lake Martin last June to wed Matt Saul, the love of her life, at Church in the Pines.

The bride and groom met at a CrossFit gym in Fresno, California, where the new Mrs. Saul had moved for a three-month assignment as a traveling nurse.

“It was kind of like third grade.

My friend told his friend that I liked Matt, and his friend told me that Matt thought I was cute and arranged for us to hang out,” Saul said.

Saul said she’d seen Matt around the gym several times but hadn’t spoken before the two found themselves in the same class one day.

“We were running, and I was wearing a pair of shoes that had the American flag on them, and he told me he liked my shoes. I said, ‘Thanks!’ but then we didn’t know what to say to each other, so it was kind of awkward. Later on in the class, every time I looked at him, he was looking at me, and it just had that sort of grade-school weirdness about it,” she laughed.

On her first travel assignment as a nurse, Saul said, she wasn’t looking for a relationship, but an Instagram invite from Matt’s friend led to a casual gathering one evening in which Saul and Matt got to know each other a little better.

“The next day, he brought me Starbucks, and he asked me to dinner. I almost said no, just because I didn’t want to get into a relationship at that point in my life. But I told myself, ‘Hey, it’s just dinner. You don’t have to marry him if you don’t want to,’” she said.

Dinner turned out to be burgers, but Saul said it was perfect.

“It was so easy to sit there and have a burger with a stranger. Just simple burgers, but I could really be myself with him. The next night

when I got off work, he left flowers on my doorstep, and that was it,” she said. “That’s when I fell for him.”

The relationship was well established when she left Fresno for a new six-month assignment in San Diego, but the two weathered the distance between them well. Once Matt met her parents, Roger and Cindy Holliday, the future was sure.

“That’s when I pretty much knew I was going to marry him,” Saul said.

She returned to Fresno when the San Diego tour concluded, and after another six-month assignment there, she took a permanent position.

The proposal came at a pool party with friends over Memorial Day weekend.

“I remember that I woke up that morning and thought, ‘I wonder if he’s going to propose today,’ but I really didn’t want to think about it.

I just figured it would happen when it happened, and I didn’t want to dwell on it. But I did wonder why my friend was following me around all day with her video camera in my face,” she said.

Matt popped the question during a pool game when Matt arranged for Saul to retrieve a toy that cradled her diamond. When he knelt on bended knee and asked for her hand, the answer was easy.

Saul called home and asked her father to put her name on the calendar for Church in the Pines.

The venue had been decided nearly 10 years before the couple met.

“When I was in high school at Benjamin Russell, I always told my dad I wanted to be married outside, and he would say, ‘No, you are going to be married in the church.’

When I was in college, we decided that Church in the Pines was a good compromise,” Saul said.

For this most important occasion, the bride paired lavender with a subtle silver gray to complement her wedding décor.

“It was light enough that it was not too much to look at, just a nice soft summer color. It’s always been one of my favorites,” she said.

Prior to the nuptials, the couple

Hayes Holliday pauses for a portrait on her way to the First Look

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Clockwise from top left: The bridal party included family and friends; Lake Martin provided a spectacular backdrop for the soft summer wedding; the groomsmen's socks recalled the first words the bride and groom said to each other; the lakeside reception was held under the tent at the Willow Point Cabana; wedding guests celebrate the joyous occasion.

shared a First Look on the dock at the Lodge at Cocktail Slough.

“I was really nervous when I was coming down the steps, and he was waiting on the dock with his back to me. But when I got down there with him and he turned around, all the nerves went away,” Saul said.

A bus provided transportation for the entire bridal party from their getting ready in separate quarters at the Lodge to the outdoor chapel on the lake and from the ceremony site to the reception at Willow Point Golf and Country Club.

“We stopped at the main clubhouse and took some pictures on the golf course,” Saul said.

While the bridesmaids wore simple silvery lavender gowns that draped lightly in the breeze, the groomsmen’s attire recalled the couple’s first conversation: The guys wore American flag socks.

A custom tent on the lawn at the Willow Point Cabana protected the celebration from the warm afternoon sun as the Club rolled out its best for the beloved daughter of Russell Lands’ vice president. The tables were set with white cloths and topped with bouquets of summer blooms from Grace’s Flowers in Alexander City.

The decision to be married at Church in the Pines had been made 10 years before Hayes Holliday met her groom

The buffet feast under the Cabana included boiled shrimp, watermelon salad with red curry lime vinaigrette and mint, pork belly and scallop skewers, crispy crab cakes with remoulade sauce and a chocolate groom’s cake heaped with dipped strawberries. The wedding cake of four tiers with its crown of perfect roses drew attention under the breezeway with the sparkling Lake Martin as a backdrop.

And among beloved friends and family, enveloped in the soft elegance of a Lake Martin summer’s eve, the band played and guests danced until dark.

After the event, Mr. and Mrs. Matt Saul returned to Fresno, their new home, where he manages an urgent healthcare facility, and she works as a nurse. Both are back in school, working toward additional degrees – nurse practitioner certification for her and a second bachelor’s in public health administration for him.

And the familiar places at the lake where Saul grew up and dreamed of her wedding – Cocktail Slough, Church in the Pines, Willow Point – now hold memories of that elegant, soft summer when she wed the love of her life.

Father of the bride Roger Holliday salutes his daughter at his First Look

Forever Style STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

A cabinet with multi-colored drawers fits easily into the open, handicapped-accessible floor plan of the Limericks' Blue Creek home

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Salvaged woods were used for the walls, ceiling, doors and some of the furnishings in the screened porch

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When Freida and Stan Limerick began work on their Lake Martin home in 2012, they did so with the future in mind. They started with a Donald A. Gardner Freida and architectural plan, to which they Stan Limerick made changes that suited their look forward fondness for family and their to full-time penchant for style and doing the life at the lake finish work themselves.

They engaged a builder for the main floor and a downstairs bathroom; and when the builder was finished, they added the finishes they loved during weekend trips over the next five years. Last summer, they made the move to full-time living in the midst of décor that celebrates the memories they cherish but leaves open the options to create new ones at the lake.

Their design highlights an extensive collection of reclaimed woods, furniture, artwork, antiques and favorite stuff in a handicapped accessible layout that, according to their plan, could seamlessly transition into retirement comfort in even their very late years. They salvaged many of the woods and furnishings from an old fam-

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ily home and picked up others in the places they’ve lived and visited in their 17 years of marriage.

The organic accommodations in 5,000 square feet of living space include smooth thresholds, large walk-in showers in the master suite and and 36-inch doors with open passages throughout the home.

Right down to the faucets and flooring treatments, no changes would be needed on the main living floor if a wheelchair were needed long- or shortterm. By planning their finishes around the possibility of future needs, instead of treating those possible requirements as afterthoughts, the couple created a true forever home at the lake.

They chose a gently sloping lot on the south side of Lake Martin’s Blue Creek and even adapted the landscaping to accommodate any physical restrictions in the future. LED lights along a grassy walkway lead to a lakeside entertainment area that includes a fire pit, an outdoor shower and an outdoor movie screen.

Honed and leathered kitchen countertops include dropdown electrical outlets

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The laundry room doubles as a sewing room

Guestroom decor centers around childhood memorabilia

The rec room bar is modeled after a Cajun river boathouse

The stairwell bookcase is one of the grandchildren's favorite places in the house

The design includes lots of windows for lake viewing

Though large at 5,000 square feet, the Limericks' home includes cozy spaces

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Peace prevails in the master suite

The home’s exterior treatment blends into the surrounding landscape with darkly stained railings, posts and trims. The lake side of the house features many large glass windows to afford expansive views from almost every room of the home.

Inside, Limerick’s décor does eclectic style and character with class. To help her coordinate the variety of materials, furnishings, artwork and delightful chachkies into the cohesive throwback style they love, Limerick consulted Lake Martin interior designer Phil Spraggins.

“Freida spent hours looking through magazines and saving pages of what she liked, and she kept a sketch book. That really made it so easy to put everything together,” Spraggins said.

From ceiling treatments to walls, floors and even some of the furniture, many finish woods were salvaged from a New Site home that once belonged to Limerick’s grandmother, including the walls in the screened porch, the kitchen and dining tables, laundry room shelving, a hallway coat rack and mirror frames. Cypress wood milled in Maringouin, Louisiana, was used to create a stairwell bookcase that is one of the grandchildren’s favorite haunts at the lake house.

“We had to add this little landing to make the stairs fit, and that left a space that was just wide enough for a bookcase,” Limerick explained. “It’s one of the grandkids’ favorite spots. They sit on the stairs and read books.”

They laid a piece of glass on an aged door from

the old New Site homestead to make a table in front of a lakeview window, creating surface space for the grandchildren’s crafting and art activities. Tin insets in the guest bathroom also were salvaged from Limerick’s grandmother’s house, as well as corrugated sheets of metal on the ceiling of a ground floor hallway.

Simply laid in place on a dropped-ceiling frame, the corrugated sheets on the ceiling disguise easy access to a network of wiring that connects an elaborate electrical system throughout the household. A technology executive whose work has taken him all over the world, Stan installed ahead-of-the-art technology in his lake home and located the command center in the ground floor utility room, which also accesses the home’s reinforced concrete storm room.

“We’ve lived in a lot of homes. This one includes everything we ever wanted in a house,” Limerick said.

That means more than 20,000 feet of low voltage wire, a whole house water filtration system, two laundry rooms – one of which doubles as a sewing room – a large pantry with pullout wire drawers and a catch-all off-the-kitchen space with chalkboard walls to help organize the days. The home also includes a sweep-in vacuum system throughout, eliminating the need for dustpans.

On the ground floor, every room has a theme that is based on some aspect of the Limericks’ family life or favorite places.

The Texas room was named by the grandchildren FEBRUARY 2018

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Chairs of similar style in mismatched upholstery surround a handmade dining table

A fishing boat and dock create a whimsical ceiling decoration

and includes a cowhide rug on the floor, a longhorn skull above the bed and barn shutters on the paneless windows. Ropes and a cowboy hat on the wall complete the theme, and a quilt that was hand-pieced by a favorite aunt is spread on the bed.

Another guest room features New Orleans, where the Limericks lived for four years. They added a transom to the red shuttered closet doors and incorporated into the room a mantle they had carried from home to home for years. Limerick laid the brick hearth herself, and the couple added corner space in the wall to backlight the mantle’s custom-designed cut glass artwork. The en suite bath mirrors the New Orleans décor.

They also added an eclectic Cajun vibe to the ground floor rec room. They wrapped 5-gallon buckets in rope to fashion footstools in a room adorned with a fishing boat – and the dock – on the ceiling.

The oars are mounted nearby on a shiplap wall dotted with fishing poles, baskets, photos and more.

The bar recalls a Cajun river boathouse constructed of junk lumbers and reclaimed oak beams. A natural curve in the fluid live-edge cedar plank bar provides the perfect siting for the bar sink. Stan made a wine and glass rack of copper conduit, which adds just the right touch of authenticity to the bar.

Another downstairs bath has been dubbed the ‘Russell Bathroom,’ a nod to the mill source for some of the woods used in the finish décor and the Russell Mills artwork on the walls. Old spools top an 52 LAKE

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up-cycled towel rack, and industrial lighting finishes the look. The vanity is handmade from pine flooring and was quite the challenge for Stan to build, as it includes cubbies for reed basket trays of towels and bath supplies, as well as bead trim. It also accommodates the plumbing for the cast stone double sinks and flat iron faucet fixtures.

“That vanity includes more cuss words per square inch than anything else in the house,” Stan admitted with a chuckle.

Around the corner from the ground floor bedrooms, the couple located the absolutely necessary lake space, an enlarged hall that includes hooks, bags, bins and shelves for towels, visors and flip flops, as well as in-and-out temporary storage of lake toys.

Upstairs on the entry level, the kitchen includes honed and leathered countertops with dropdown electrical outlets and Shaker cabinets. Above the stovetop, they placed a piece of stained glass that was reclaimed from an old mantle. Among the stainless appliances, they included a drawer microwave and also added a slow-cooker drawer under the double ovens.

In the dining area, Limerick upholstered an assortment of similarly styled high-back chairs in a variety of fabrics to carry character and an eclectic touch into the classic Lake Martin home design.

It’s a technique she used throughout the house to showcase a collection that includes plow blades, meat grinders, washboards, antique toys, old suitcases and

The masterbath includes wheelchair-accessible double showers and a television mirror

fishing gear.

Such treatment might be most true in a guestroom on the entry level. Placed strategically close enough to the master to double as a caregiver’s room in the future but far enough away to afford privacy now, the guest room serves as the Limericks’ Memory Room.

The tin-lined ceiling vault features material from grandmother’s old barn roof, and the bedside table is a piece that Limerick and her father found at a furniture sale.

“It was schoolhouse green, and my dad and I stripped and refinished it,” she said.

Stan’s baby quilt is framed on the wall, and his grandmother’s violin sits waiting to be played.

His mother’s beloved piece of art, along with the flag that had draped the coffin of his father, who served in World War II, are honored in this room as well.

But in the master suite, it is an atmosphere of peace that prevails. The bedroom features a ceiling coffered in cypress with custom milled trim. The soothing gray and white linens and furnishings are dressed up with black and white art and red

accents, and while the draperies instantly darken the room, behind them waits a breathtaking view of Lake Martin’s diamond-studded Blue Creek.

The Limericks’ en suite spa bath includes a wheelchair accessible double shower with no threshold or doors with which to struggle in the future.

Glass half-walls in the shower allow them to view the morning news on a television mirror above the built-in vanity. The vanity also includes a center bureau, which separates the sinks, and a makeup vanity at the far end.

But alas, the Limericks’ forever lake retreat is not yet finished.

Stan’s home office has barely been decorated at this point.

The Limericks plan to include memorabilia from their travels, as well as a twin-sized sofa bed to expand sleeping space in a pinch.

Also still to be completed is a bunkroom that will sleep eight, an outdoor kitchen and a downstairs patio.

But new projects don’t faze the energetic and enthusiastic Limericks. They appreciate the opportunity to continue doing the design and creative woodworking they love in their forever home at the lake.

FEBRUARY 2018

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Lake Q&A:

Where did you move here from? And how did that area compare with Lake Martin?

Mark Ward

We have a home in Senoia, Georgia, but always wanted a lake home for weekends and vacations. My family spent summers on Posey Lake in Michigan, and I was hoping to create that same experience for my children and grandchildren. Posey Lake was an all-sport lake, but only useable Memorial Day to Labor Day. We started looking for a lake house four years ago, and Lake Martin was the first lake I saw that I felt would be perfect for us.

How did you first hear about Lake Martin and what did you find of interest?

Some friends told us to look at Lake Martin. I liked the types of houses and boathouses on this lake compared to other lakes. I also liked the fact that you can have a lawn that leads down to the water.

What was your first impression of the lake and was it different than you expected?

My first impression was – this is it! The one thing that surprised me is that you can use the lake for most of the year. Our first year on Lake Martin, I put my boat in the water in early March, and I didn’t put it away until early November. That’s just amazing. More people should take advantage of that. To me, it’s extra special, since I grew up on a lake that could only be used during the summer months.

Where do you live on the lake, and why did you choose that location?

PHOTO BY DAVID LEIVA, COURTESY OF INFINA

For our first three years, we lived at Stoneview Summit condominiums in Stillwaters. I wanted to purchase a house, but when my wife saw the condo, she liked that fact that we had no exterior upkeep. Another plus was the condo was fully furnished when we purchased it. It was a good starter property for us. I was then elected to be the president of the HOA. Afterward, I learned more than I wanted to know and decided it was time to find a house. We looked at several, but most in our price range were going to take some work. We decided we wanted to build, based on our friends’ experience. Our realtor helped us find a lot and a builder, and nine months later, we moved into our lake home in Shady Bay. We love the location, and we shorten our travel time to/from Georgia by 15 minutes.

You seem to have a very interesting job – tell us a little about what you do now and what it is you used to do.

Today, I am a program manager with a small woman-owned business called Infina. We have a contract with the Federal Aviation Administration to support air traffic safety. Our biggest work is video, audio and graphic production. I retired three years ago as the director for the Eastern Service Center of the Air Traffic Organization within the FAA, where I was responsible for about 300 people that provide staff support for air traffic control from Maine to Puerto Rico.

You were working for the FAA during 9/11. What were your responsibilities? How did your job change as a result?

During 9/11, I was the manager of Tactical Operations for the Southeastern U.S., which basically meant I was responsible FEBRUARY 2018

LAKE 55

for the day-to-day tactical movement of airplanes. If there was bad weather or a constraint within the system, it was my job to help resolve it, or work with the facilities to help resolve or reduce the impact.

When 9/11 happened, a peer of mine grounded all airplanes when he saw what was happening. He was in a position called a NOM, National Operations Manager. Once the planes were grounded, we immediately started working on how and who to let back in the air. We had Lifeguard flights and emergency flights, so the FAA had to determine which flights should be allowed to take place. We spent the next month working that issue on a day-to-day, hour-to-hour basis. It was constantly changing. There is a telephone call (telcon) that started that day and has never hung up.

My job changed forever. Security took a huge role in the movement of airplanes. It used to be safety and efficiency. Now it’s safety, efficiency and security; allowing a flight to move about now has a third requirement.

What was one thing you learned from your experience?

We learned, first of all, we can shut down U.S. airspace entirely if need be, and secondly, we can bring it back up and control who can and should be flying in the airspace.

What do you enjoy most about your job, and what is the most challenging?

Because of my pilot license and ratings, along with my air traffic background, I have the opportunity to be in a lot of videos and training products we do for the FAA. I recently went to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for Air Venture 2017. It’s the biggest airshow in the world. I spoke to the National Association of Flight Instructors, of which I am a lifetime member. The most challenging part of my job is the actual management of the contract.

If you were going to write a book, what would it be about?

I actually have had a couple of ideas in mind. My first one would be about the back-stories of what goes on inside the FAA – some funny and interesting tales. It would be called As The Radar Turns. My second book would be called Dating in your 50s. It would be about some of the funny things that I experienced while dating in my 50s. I met Roxann on Match. com, and we have been married for seven years now; however, before I found her, I had some unusual dates. When I share the stories with others, they always say, “You need to write a book.” And I do, before I forget.

What are you interested in seeing or doing most at the lake?

I have driven probably 90 percent of the lake, so there are still some places to see. I love coving. We like finding a secluded cove somewhere and just throwing out an anchor and staying there for hours. I saw a new name for this in Lake magazine recently called “flinking,” which means: floating and drinking. So, whether I’m on a noodle or a saddle makes no difference, I just like being in the water with a drink in my hand. It doesn’t have to be alcohol. It’s more about the relaxation.

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Our Thanks to Recent Donors Teacher's Helper Greg & Kim Shelton

Trail Blazers

Berry & Natalie Nall Fred Warsham Mark Wilkinson Bill Colley Joe & Angela Holloman

Summit Toppers John B. Scott

Visionaries

Dr. Rex & Vickie Bushong

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

Contribution Form Name_____________________________________ Date_______ Address_______________________________________________ City_______________________ State_______ ZIP____________ Phone________________________________________________ Email_________________________________________________

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

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LAKE 57

All About the Results Lake Martin posts a winning sales year for waterfront homes despite the seller's market

D

oesn’t it shock you when the best just cator of market trends here at Lake Martin. keeps on getting better?

The first one I show is 2005. Remember Don’t you feel like an old timer when 2005? Oh boy. It was rolling, baby. Everyone you find yourself saying, “Well, you kids just agrees that the pre-bubble busting year of 2005 don’t understand how it used to be. This streak was stupendous. I also still hear a lot of people we are living through right now, it’s unprecsay, “The market will never come back from edented. You just don’t appreciate it.” that. Sales were too high, property was overvalI sure do. ued. It will never be like that again.” Huh? What No, I am not talking about Alabama football. are you talking about? 2005 saw 284 waterfront If that is your flavor, you will have to read Luke homes sold. In 2017, about 28 percent more LAKE PROPERTY Robinson’s page in Lake Martin Living magahomes were sold than in 2005. It is not even

BY JOHN COLEY zine for a monthly ode to all things crimson. close.

This humble column is focused on real estate. Specifically, Another period I chose for comparison is the “Year That waterfront real estate sales around Lake Martin. In late 2017, Must Not Be Named.” We had a drought the year before that after reviewing the momentum, I wondered if this would be kicked Lake Martin into the real estate slump. It was a cheap a winning year, and now we have the proof. The confetti has shot. We didn’t need that. But it happened. Only 137 waterbeen thrown, cleaned up and even found in our hair three front homes were sold all year, and to add insult to injury, days later. Bubbly? Well, it has been mostly spilled, but a inventory was sky high. After the so-called selling season little has been drunk. Everyone has mouthed the annual lie was over, in December of that year there were 461 homes of, “Wow, this champagne tastes great!” still on the market. It was brutal. A lot of good, smart, hard My point is, it’s over. working people were leveled by that turn of the market. I do 2017 is the new Lake Martin waterfront home sales cham- not make light of this. It was tough, and the lessons learned pion! then still (should) reverberate with all involved.

The thing is, it wasn’t even close. Please take a look at a After the slump, the Lake Martin real estate market chart that I made to illustrate the point. I tried to pluck out tracked with the rest of the country. There was steady some various years for reference. improvement, year by year, that gave an increasing amount Before I get going of confidence that the on these, you should worst was behind us. know my source.

In fact, Lake Martin Unlike football, waterfront home sales there is no mysteriwent on a seven-year ous committee that run of beating the chooses the finalprior year’s sales, and ists. Real estate is that, by my book, is about results. The pretty much the defimost accurate reposinition of an improving tory of realty results market. is the Lake Martin This upward traMultiple Listings jectory’s peak was Service (MLS). These in 2015, when 351 figures are made up waterfront homes of the sales by every were sold and a record agent in the area, number of lots were every brokerage. It sold. Also, as you can does not include prisee, inventory was vate sales, like when a back down to pre-bubdeveloper sells directble levels. 2015 was ly to a consumer. But, so good, in fact, that I I think it’s extremely dubbed it, “The Best reliable and, over Year Ever.” time, a consistent indiThe next year of 58 LAKE

FEBRRUARY 2018

2016 recorded 303 home sales. I will admit, a part of me wondered, “are we heading back down?” A closer look revealed that the difference was that of inventory. There simply were not the same number of homes available for sale, and this contributed to fewer sales. A loss, however, is a loss, no matter how you shake it.

Then comes 2017.

This past year the Lake Martin market set another sales record with 363 waterfront homes sold. This figure is about 3 percent better than 2015. That’s impressive, but even more remarkable when you consider that for most of 2017 we were operating with about 14 percent fewer homes for sale.

There were only 150 homes for sale at the end of 2017 as compared to 171 at the end of 2015. Imagine that – 3 percent more performance with 14 percent fewer resources.

So was 2017 the best year ever for Lake Martin real estate? I don’t think so. Waterfront lot sales were down. This past year, 60 lots sold as compared to 76 in 2016, so it is hard for me to ignore that fact. I will say that the lots category is experiencing an extreme lack of inventory. It is hard to sell apples when there are none left in the cart.

Let’s not lose focus on the big picture. It has been truly amazing that Lake Martin continues to sizzle along in a seller’s market. This long streak of setting new records is incredible, especially when you consider that the market is being handicapped with low inventory.

You kids just can’t appreciate this!

John Coley is a broker and owner of Lake Martin Voice Realty. Visit his blog at LakeMartinVoice.com.

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DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY! FEBRRUARY 2018

John Thompson's great big smile LMRA president applauds success of Treasured Mile program

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am very happy to report that the LMRA Treasured Mile program introduced in October 2016 has proven to be very successful. All of the 28 islands owned by Alabama Power Company have been adopted, as have 35 of the 78 segments of shoreline in the program.

Even with reports of increased boating activity over the summer, LMRA there have been very few reports of

BY JOHN THOMPSON littered beaches. Volunteers cleaned those that were reported within a few days. This is the way it should work. We would hope to someday see an end to criminal littering, but until then, we need these good volunteers to continue working together in the effort to keep Lake Martin shorelines litter free year-round.

I have received many reports from Treasured Mile adopters, along with pictures of shorelines before and after cleanups. The Mask family turned out all ages to clean the beaches around Goat Island. John and Deb Owen spent several days walking the shoreline on Young Island and removed numerous bags of trash. Billy and Mollie Barrett have the distinction of adopting an island and a large shoreline segment under the name of The Lake Martin National Shuffleboard Club, and they have done a great job of keeping these areas clean.

The Alexander City Chamber of Commerce team of Ed Collari, Jacob Meacham, Kim Dunn and Carla Culligan closed the chamber doors one day, packed a picnic lunch and spent a day cleaning their adopted island near DARE Park. It was a great way to build teamwork. Michael Langston adopted an island in the Blue Creek area and involves his entire Lake Martin Experience team in regular clean-ups.

The Dixie Sailing Club responded to a fire that was started by a careless group attempting to burn a pile of trash in a portion of its adopted area.

Club members were able to extinguish the fire and later assembled a team of young sailors to clean up the mess. The burning of aluminum cans, plastic and glass bottles, along with Styrofoam, is the absolute worst way to dispose of trash.

The last islands to be adopted as part of the program are located in the northern portion of Lake Martin near Hillabee Creek. Given there is a limited amount of boat traffic in the area, we were doubtful the islands would be adopted. Now, not only have they

been taken, but they have been adopted by Off the Beaten Path, which is the absolute perfect owner. This is a canoe rental and shuttle service owned by Lake Martin resident Chuck Browne.

Browne is a retired Lee County Extension agent and plans to team up with Shane Harris with the Tallapoosa County Extension Service in getting 4-H Kids involved with keeping the islands clean.

Why am I smiling? LMRA’s Treasured Mile is successful; we now have a Lake Martin clean-up program that involves young people; the program is measureable and sustainable; and everyone on Lake Martin benefits. There is still work to be done in locating volunteers who will adopt the remaining shoreline segments, and we are confident that will happen. Our next challenge is to find a way to keep our roadsides around Lake Martin litter free.

There are many to be recognized for the success of this innovative program, starting with LMRA board member Norm White, who developed the Google map found at www.lmra. info that shows the islands, segments and the owners. This is the heart of the program. The attractive Treasured Mile signs were selectively placed on the APC islands by the shoreline management team of Rhett Hanks and Clint McKelvey, who will also be keeping an eye open for areas that may need attention. Additionally, we offer our sincere gratitude to Betsy Iler, managing editor of Lake magazine, for keeping the program in front of the Lake Martin community with great articles on the progress. Thanks to all!

John Thompson is president of Lake Martin Resource Association. Contact him at lmra@lmra.info.

FEBRUARY 2018

LMRA President John Thompson and APC's Rhett Hanks and Clint McKelvey check a recently installed Treasured Mile sign

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Stay in the Moment Wedding planning can feel like running a marathon

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hen it is all said and done … take a deep breath and Hydration is incredibly important, especially on the day of remember the purpose of a wedding day is to marry the wedding. It is of utmost importance to eat healthy and drink the love of a person’s life and have amazing people lots of water on the big day. Many couples make the mistake of gathered with support to celebrate this joyous event. not eating before the reception. This could lead to loss of enerSounds like an easy task; however, planning the most impor- gy and fatigue. If not having a sit-down dinner, the idea of settant day of a person’s life can be quite overwhelming and ting aside a few minutes for the bride and groom to eat makes incredibly stressful. In the heat of the moment, for a nice way for the newly married couple to keeping everything in perspective may seem difbegin the celebration. ficult. In some ways, planning a wedding can When approaching the finish line – and the be compared to running a marathon. A person’s altar – marriage experts agree there are several endurance level, stamina, attitude, nutrition, hydrakeys to ensuring a successful marriage. It is said a tion status and stress level will make a difference successful marriage does not come merely through on how she runs the race. finding the right mate, but through being the right Start marathon preparations by making it a mate. top priority that fiancés stay connected with one It’s important to invest money, energy and time another and show gratitude to family and friends into a healthy marriage. who have committed their time and money to Love is a decision to stay committed to your make this day so special. spouse. True love lasts forever – through the ups There are some suggestions that may make the and downs. Faithfulness includes our body, eyes, HEALTHY LIVING mind and soul. Humility is the ability to admit you planning process a bit easier. Stay organized by

BY JULIE HUDSON making lists of ideas, venues, vendors and phones are not perfect. numbers and keeping them together It is essential to know that people in a wedding book. Gather pictures to make mistakes and forgiveness is visualize similar ideas that stand out. needed. Successful marriages exhibit Realize planning cannot be done alone undying patience and forgiveness and and ask several close friends to doudo not harbor in the past. ble-check lists or provide suggestions.

A happy marriage requires more Delegating tasks to others also helps time spent invested than any other a bride-to-be stay focused on what is relationship. A marriage should be really important. the most intimate and deepest relaBe sure to remember through the tionship. Trust and honesty are the months of planning that it is your day! foundation of a happy and successful This is a time for your creativity and marriage. Everything else falls into personality to shine. Keep a balance place if the couple works on these by maintaining a wedding-free zone essential tasks. Trust builds up after throughout the process. weeks, months and years of following As the marathon continues, make through on commitments. sure to focus on some essentials for Communication allows partners Hayes and Matt Saul steal feeling in tip-top shape. First of all, to experience patience, trust and a moment before the maintain a healthy lifestyle by makcommitment. Successful marriages ceremony to exchange ing sure to get plenty of rest. This exhibit communication about kids, letters and re-group will help you to feel relaxed and less bills, hopes, dreams and fears on a stressed throughout the planning proregular basis. cess. Being well rested also contributes to clear and productive A successful marriage is about giving hopes, dreams and life thoughts, happy moods and added energy. Achieving six to to another person. eight hours of sleep per night will allow recovery from a hard In closing, I quote a friend of mine who said to her son, “It is day’s work. not worth getting upset during the planning because in the end Exercise and proper nutrition will keep the bride-to-be’s it is just a party, and at the end of the day you will be married.” body and mind running smoothly. Exercising ensures proper Cheers to those who will marry the loves of their lives in emotional and physical care by relieving stress and helping to 2018! achieve and maintain a desired weight. Eating a healthy diet low in sugar and salt, moderate amounts of fat, lots of lean Julie Hudson is a dietitian at the Lake Martin Wellness protein, low-fat dairy, vegetables, fruit and whole grains will Center in Dadeville. provide energy.

62 LAKE

FEBRRUARY 2018

FEBRUARY 2018

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64 LAKE

FEBRRUARY 2018

Smoked Scamp and Potato Croquettes CHEF’S TABLE

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

Ingredients 1-1/4 pounds cooked and riced russet potato 1-1/4 pounds smoked gulf Scamp, flaked into small chunks (crappie would be amazing) 2 eggs beaten 1 cup thinly sliced scallion green and white Salt and pepper to taste If you don’t have a ricer for the potato mash, prepare as if making mashed potatoes but don’t add butter or milk. Once both the fish and potatoes have cooled, place in a large mixing bowl; add the egg, scallion, salt and pepper. Mix well; then shape into quarter-sized balls.

FEBRUARY 2018

Dredge 2 cups all-purpose flour 4 whipped eggs 3 cups seasoned breadcrumbs Directions Dredge balls in flour, being sure to knock off as much excess as possible. Then, working with a few at a time, coat in egg and then roll in seasoned breadcrumbs. Once the croquettes have been rolled in the breadcrumbs, fry or freeze for a later date. Fry at 350 degrees until golden brown. Enjoy with mustard and sauerkraut.

LAKE 65

Coming Home

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wo days before this article was due to the editor, I sat down to write. I stared at the screen of my outdated laptop trying to decide what I would write about this month. It’s not uncommon to experience a little writer’s block, but this was an unusual case. I originally had it planned out.

I would write about the role of sound and scent on baits and how I felt that sometimes they make all the difference and other times maybe not so much.

As of 9 p.m. the day the article was due, I decided to sit down and try again. Let’s re-visit the sight and sound topic another day. This month, instead of writing about how to conquer the fish of Lake Martin, I wanted to pay my respects to the lake and to the community that surrounds it. I don’t live far from the lake now, but when I push a boat off the trailer and onto the waters of Lake Martin, I truly feel I’m home.

I feel very fortunate to have had great parents who worked hard to provide for me and my brother David growing up.

They also worked hard to teach us right from wrong, and I’m forever grateful that they raised us in church. I’m thankful for having the opportunity to play several sports in city league 66 LAKE

and for Benjamin Russell. I learned many valuable life lessons through sports from my coaches and my teammates.

But, I also owe a debt of gratitude to Lake Martin because it’s on the lake that I really found my independence.

At 12, I was paddling around the lake in a Jon boat, and I remember feeling the most exhilarating level of excitement as I pushed the boat away from our dock in Bay Pines. A few years later, my Dad gave me permission to take his bass boat out by myself. I was so excited I ran out into the lake and stopped because I didn’t even know where I wanted to fish. I felt free, like it was just me and the lake.

We swam in the summer and fished under our dock light at night. I guided for crappie off a homemade barge that I helped my neighbor, Doug Patterson, build. I was a deckhand for Doug who happened to be one of the best stripe guides on the lake at the time. He taught me to catch catfish on a rig with the weight at the bottom and tiny hook suspended up the line (we call that a drop shot in the bassin’ world now).

I fished my first bass tournament on Lake Martin with my Dad, who was a die-hard Federation angler back then. The students at BRHS used to kid me about how they could get

FEBRRUARY 2018

nothing was on the line and no one was watching. Yet I felt that someday I would be back, competing in a big bass tournament on Lake Martin. At the time, it seemed unrealistic as I cast from our 15-foot boat with a 40-horsepower outboard. But, that time has now come, as the Bassmaster Elite Series comes to town Feb. 8-11.

I’m excited to showcase the beautiful waters of Lake Martin through the Bassmaster event. It really is a place where dreams can be realized. I know that there are thousands upon thousands of people who have their own stories about the great and memorable experiences they’ve had on and around Lake Martin. We are fortunate to have these clean waters to visit right here in our own backyard, whether we are recreational boating, fishing or just wanting to have a drink and watch a sunset with some friends from a lakehouse deck.

Steph and I have a son now, Gaige, who we’ve taken to Lake Martin since he was tiny so that we can share some of those good times with each other and hopefully teach him to appreciate the joy and value of the outdoors.

I’m grateful that Lake Martin was designated as a public water body when it was built, and I hope that will never change. It’s main purpose when the dam was built was for hydropower and flood control, but who could have imagined it would provide so much enjoyBIG CATCHES ment to so many people from all

BY GREG VINSON different walks of life?

It is my hope that with the Bassmaster Elite Series coming to Alexander City, Wind Creek and Lake Martin this month, the rest of the world will get a chance to see something special. Thousands will follow BASS Live with live tournament coverage online at bassmaster.com. The show will later appear on ESPN2 and the Outdoor Channel.

Photographers will capture the moments that all anglers cherish when the battles ensue and the fish are landed. They should see our amazing sprawling lake with nearly 900 miles of shoreline that is full of fish, especially bass. This is a community that loves its lake and loves the outdoors, and the people work hard and play even harder. There’s a top-notch facility in Wind Creek State Park that people from all across the country can visit to camp, play and fish. Lake Martin and the surrounding area truly is an awesome place to live and play.

Most importantly, I hope this event will inspire someone just to get outdoors, and maybe even chase a dream. Maybe it will be a kid who just can’t get enough fishing and, when no one is looking, pretends that he or she is on the biggest stage in bass fishing. I hope they know that those types of dreams can be realized, as one of mine will when I walk across the stage on Day 1 of the 2018 Bassmaster Elite Series at Lake Martin. Now it’s time to focus on the fishing!

my dad off of Alabama History and onto fishing with one simple question. Usually it was about his biggest fish ever.

My mom used to get up before daylight and drop me in at Bay Pines Marina, so me and my buddies could have twoand three-boat fishing tournaments. We had birthday parties at the lake and would throw the watermelon shells in the water and watch the turtles bob on them for hours. We even rode to Kowaliga in the bass boat to watch the July 4th fireworks – once.

I took my girlfriend out on Lake Martin in our bass boat, and we knee boarded. Most guys would be proud to take their girl out in their car, but I wasn’t old enough to drive yet.

I even got her to fish some. Her name was Stephanie. Now we’ve been married 16 years, and she’s by far the best catch of my life.

I used to run to Elkahatchee Creek religiously when I was learning to fish on my own. Everybody knew that was the best place to go back then. I would fish alone and pretend that I was in a big tournament. I would fight the fish as if my Greg Vinson is a full-time professional angler on the livelihood depended on it, like every bite was critical. I acted Bassmaster Elite Series and PPA tours. He lives in Wetumpka like I was fishing against the best fisherman in the world. and grew up fishing on Lake Martin.

I remember feeling that it was weird to be that way when FEBRUARY 2018 LAKE 67

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FEBRRUARY 2018

The Beer Sommelier Find the perfect marriage of food and fermented beverages for any occasion

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ou’ve got the entire evening The wedding season is upon us and planned. It will be nothing what better way to spice things up than short of perfect. Flowers. A to offer several different types of beer at quiet table. Romance will no doubt be the post-rehearsal dinner, couples shower in the air. You’ve considered everyand the reception. I am certainly not sugthing until you get the question. gesting forgoing a well selected bottle “What wine would you like with of wine because, well, wine is awesome; your meal?” however, offering well-paired craft beer Panic ensues. with different courses of the meal or Your magical evening is crashfinger food could only serve to make the ing about you. Every embarrassing event a more festive occasion. moment you’ve ever experienced has After having finished this beer flabeen multiplied by infinity, but only vored masterpiece, you shall be able to HOPPY DAYS because there is not a larger number carry yourself with the quiet confidence

BY DEE WALKER than infinity. that assures everyone that you are that Then, your savior arrives by your person who is capable of making these side in the form of a well-spoken, well-dressed most important pairings. wine sommelier. For our purposes, he or she probLet’s start light and work our way to the darker ably has an English accent to lend an even greater brews, as darker, heavier beers tend to overwhelm air of authority to your knight in shining armor. one’s palate.

The wine sommelier gently walks you through Pilsners: These pair nicely with American, possible selections while allowing you to maintain Muenster, Monterey Jack and Havarti cheeses. some sense of dignity by making it appear that you Pilsners enhance light seafood, such as salmon, are much more knowledgeable about wine than you tuna and trout, as well. Beginning the meal with a actually are. pilsner and a light salad is a great start.

Your dinner companion is terribly impressed and Wheat/Hefeweizen: Soups, salads, sweet Asian might even consider you sophisticated but for the dishes, citrus dishes and desserts all pair well with fact that you paint your shirtless torso on football these tasty, lighter beverages. game days. The evening is saved.

Lagers: Shellfish, sushi, grilled pork and chickWine sommeliers and people who fancy themen, light pasta dishes, Latin and Mexican foods all selves to be wine experts have been around since pair well with a lager that carries just a bit more just after the first bottle of wine was opened. Their weight than the pilsners and wheats. mission in life is to educate us as to their vast Ales: Burgers, steaks, wings, pizza and spicy knowledge of all things grape and what we should foods are enhanced with the addition of a nice ale. pair with the various and sundry courses that make Porters: Smoked foods, sausage, rich stew up our meals. meats, bacon and chili hold up well against a With the craft beer explosion over the last heavier porter. decade or so, we have seen the arrival of yet Stouts: Roasted and smoked foods, barbecue, another addition to the dining experience – the beer salty foods, oysters and chocolate are all enhanced sommelier. Not terribly prevalent in the South as when served with a robust stout. yet, beer sommeliers have been sharing their mystiThere you have it. Armed with this information cal food-pairing abilities with diners in urban areas you are now a beer sommelier! and other parts of the country for the last 10 years or more.

Dee Walker is the owner of Fermenter's Market I’m going to pull back the curtain on these gurus on the Green in Alexander City and Fermenter's of fermented beverages so that you, too, could be a Market at the Rex in Sylacauga. Find him on beer sommelier.

Facebook.

FEBRUARY 2018

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Golf on the Go Destination courses provide options for weddings and outings

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emories are made on the course. With Trail is open to the public and would be a great the focus of this month’s magazine option for a day trip with friends or family. being weddings, I figured we’d touch Farmlinks in Sylacauga is also about 45 minon destination golf travel and groomsmen’s preutes from Lake Martin. Farmlinks is home to wedding golf. As of late, weddings have become a wonderful 18-hole golf course designed by very popular at destination venues. These venues Hurdzan/Fry, who also designed Willow Point. have it all – lodging, golf, fine dining and ample Over the years, Farmlinks has added lodging, space to have the post-wedding reception. making it a great option for an overnight trip.

Throughout the season, we at Willow Point They also have an Orvis Sporting Clay operaare fortunate to host many wedding parties for tion that would be great fun for a group of guys golf. These groups typically consist of anywhere either before or after a round of golf. from eight to 24 players. The special thing about Those are two options that are open to the this is that we get to have a hand in helping the public and just a stone’s throw away from Lake PAR for the COURSE Martin. group make a memory that will last a lifetime.

BY MATT SHEPPARD Destination golf doesn’t have to revolve For those that might be interested in a lonaround a wedding; groups of friends and golfing ger trip, golfers from this area regularly travel buddies travel all the time to great places to play to many fun and exciting locations across the golf. Golf is known as a gentlemen’s game and, as I wrote last world to enjoy some of the world’s most famed tracks. A few month, can be enjoyed by all ages. People from all walks of that come to mind would be Pebble Beach, Bandon Dunes, life can find something in Pinehurst, Streamsong, common if they are golfers.

Ireland and Scotland. Those There is a special bond with would be, in my opinion, golf enthusiasts that is hard the hot spots for public to find anywhere else. access destination golf Over the past 20 years, travel. destination golf travel So whether you are options have become more attending a wedding at widespread across the couna venue that offers golf try and world. These opporor planning a trip with tunities can be day trips, friends or family, there are overnight trips or week-long countless options for you. trips. Due to the vast majorThe internet is a powerful ity of public and resort golf vehicle and will provide opportunities within drivyou with all the informaing distance from the Lake tion needed to access any of Martin area, the day trips are these destination golf locavery easily attainable and tions. The most valuable affordable. thing about traveling with The Robert Trent Jones friends or family is that you Trail offers Alabamians the are creating a memory that opportunity to play multiple can last a lifetime – a memfacilities within driving ory that was created around distance. The majority of the sport of golf. the locations offer more than just 18 holes. The closMatt Sheppard is a PGA est location to us would be professional at Willow Grand National in Opelika.

Point Golf & Country This location offers lodgClub. Contact him at 256Josh Jordan (center) and his ing and great golf just 45 329-0835 or email him at groomsmen break for a putting minutes away from the lake. msheppard@russelllands. contest during the reception The Robert Trent Jones Golf com 70 LAKE

FEBRRUARY 2018

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FEBRUARY 2018

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Legend

63

20

22

280

To Sylacauga

19

Alexander City

Public Boat Ramps 15

9 Churches

7

Camp ASCCA

Flint Hill Church

Camps & Parks

13

Power lines U.S. Highways

3

280

22

County Roads Piney Woods Landing

Wind Creek State Park

Pleasant Grove Church

11

COOSA COUNTY

Alex City Boat Ramp

Mt. Zion Church

259 9

128

Russell Farms Baptist Church 63

12 20

D.A.R.E. Park Landing

Friendship Church New Hope Church

Liberty Church

Willow Point

24

6

8

Equality

Kowaliga Boat Landing

55

4

Seman

63

Trillium

18 The Ridge

2

The Amp Ko w

ali

14

ga

Ba

y

80

9

Central

90

Union

ELMORE COUNTY Union Church

Red Hill 63

229

Eclectic

Tallassee

16 11

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Union Landing

Children’s Harbor

21

34

Camp Alamisco

9

1 10

Church in The Pines Camp Kiwanis

Paces Point Boat Ramp

Kent

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Timbergut Landing

Horseshoe Bend National Park

Jaybird Landing

Lake Martin Alabama Marinas

TALLAPOOSA COUNTY

11. Kowaliga Marina 334-857-2111 255 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 22. The Ridge Marina 256-397-1300 450 Ridge Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010 33. River North Marina 256-397-1500 250 River North Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

49

Jacksons Gap

42. Real Island Marina 334-857-2741 2700 Real Island Rd., Equality, AL 36026

280

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

Bethel Church

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Dadeville

57

280

4. Russell Do It Center (Alex City) 15 256-234-2567 1750 Alabama 22, Alex City, AL 35010 4. Russell Do It Center (Eclectic) 16 334-541-2132 1969 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic, AL 36024 4. Russell Building Supply 17 256-825-4256 350 Fulton Street, Dadeville, AL 36853 18 4. The Stables at Russell Crossroads 256-794-1333 288 Stables Loop, Alex City, AL 35010 19 4. Dark Insurance 256-234-5026 410 Hillabee Street, Alex City, AL 35010 www.darkinsuranceagency.com

62. Parker Creek Marina 256-329-8550 486 Parker Creek Marina Rd., Equality, AL 36026

. McDaniels Storage Center 20 256-234-4583 1040 Highway 280, Alex City, AL 35010

72. Alex City Marine Sales and Service 256-215-3474 2190 Cherokee Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

21 . Kowaliga Whole Health Pet Care & Resort 334-857-1816 8610 Kowaliga Road, Eclectic, AL 36024

Restaurants Camp Hill

Smith Landing Pleasant Ridge Church

9 Catherine’s Market 6.

256-215-7070 17 Russell Farms Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

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

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

10 Kowaliga Restaurant 256-215-7035 295 Kowaliga Marina Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

Lake Martin Baptist Church 49 Church of the Living Waters

8 6. SpringHouse 256-215-7080 12 Benson Mill Rd., Alex City, AL 35010

11 Bezlo's Bar & Grill 334-639-0003 65 Main Street., Eclectic, AL 36024

Stillwaters

5

Business & Shopping 12 Lake Martin Storm Shelters 256-794-8075 970 Hwy. 63 South, Alex City, AL 35010

Walnut Hill 50 50

13 Karen Channell State Farm Financial Services 256-234-3481 5030 Hwy. 280, Alex City, AL 35010 14 5. Lake Martin Mini Mall 334.857.3900 7995 Kowaliga Rd, Eclectic, AL 36024

49

Reeltown

FEBRUARY 2018

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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

74 LAKE

Mistletoe Bough Bed & Breakfast DADEVILLE Queen’s Attic Bay Pine Marina Regions Bank Blue Creek Marina Ridge - Clubhouse City Hall Ridge - Marina Chamber of Commerce River North Marina Chuck's Marina Riverbend Store Dadeville Wellness Center Russell Home Décor Foshee's Boat Doc Russell Medical Center Homeplate Restaurant Russell Lands Harbor Pointe Marina Russell Retail Store Lakay’s Flowers & Gifts Satterfield, Inc Lake Martin Flowers & Gifts Senior Nutrition~50+ Center Lake Martin Community Sho’ Nuff Restaurant Hospital Springhouse Restaurant Lakeshore Discount Pharmacy T.C. Russell Airport Lakeside Marina Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc Niffer's At The Lake The Medicine Shoppe Oskar's Cafe The Sure Shot Payne Furniture USAmeribank Pearson’s Place Warren's Appliance Parts Poplar Dawgs Willow Point Country Club Public Library Wind Creek - entrance Pug's Place Wind Creek - store PNC Bank Winn Dixie Renfroes 280 BP Russell Building Supply 280 Exxon Shell Station Sigger’s Stillwaters Country Club CHELSEA Store 34 Winn-Dixie USAmeribank The Ditsy Daisy Boutique

CHILDERSBURG Piggly Wiggly

ECLECTIC Bezlo's Children’s Harbor Cotton’s BBQ

FEBRRUARY 2018

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

Chamber of Commerce Tallassee Automotive The Tallassee Tribune

EQUALITY

WETUMPKA

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

KELLYTON Five Star Plantation MOUNTAIN BROOK Whole Foods Market

RED HILL Citgo SYLACAUGA Good Ole Boys BBQ Piggly Wiggly

TALLASSEE Community Hospital

WALNUT HILL Lakeside Mercantile Walnut Hill Grocery The Wetumpka Herald A limited number of magazines are placed at these locations.

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

Lake Martin Business and Service Directory

Residential | Commercial | Interior | Exterior

256-307-4061 columbus-auburn.certapro.com Mike&Kris DobbsOwners1550OpelikaRoadSuite6Box294�| Auburn,AL36830 EachCertaProPainters ® businessis independently ownedandoperated.

Each CertaPro Painters® business is independently owned and operated.

H

OLMAN

F

LOOR

C

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

OMPANY

“WE’RE THE PROFESSIONALS”

Hardwood Floors Ceramic Tile Carpet & Vinyl

Professional!

Trey Callegan Area Manager Call TODAY for quick Pre-approval!

Visit our showroom for samples and a free estimate!

A Division of Goldwater Bank, N.A.

Locally Owned for Over 45 Years

248 Inverness Ctr Dr, Birmingham AL

256-234-6071

334-332-3435 334-391-0759

1945 Hwy 280 • Alexander City

COACH KRAFT

SEE ME FOR INSURANCE

UPHOLSTERY Complete Marine Upholstery!

Harold Cochran 256.234.2700

LAKE

haroldcochran.b2cn@statefarm.com

■

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

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

205-995-7283

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

Performance!

Visit LoveLakeMartin.com

Paige Patterson

205-616-8046

www.paigepatterson.com

Relax. Enjoy. Lake Martin.

Call to order your subscription 256-234-4281

MAGAZINE

FEBRUARY 2018

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Our Advertisers n To Join, Call 256.234.4281 A&M Plumbing....................................................... 15

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

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

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

George Hardy D.M.D........................................... 59

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

Alex City Marine................................................... 15

Harris Carraige...................................................... 75

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

Amanda Scroggins, RE/MAX Around the Lake.........71

Heritage South Credit Union............................ 76

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

APCO Credit Union.......................................................64

Hilltop Landscaping............................................... 76

Satterfield................................................................ 17

Blue Creek Iron Works....................................... 75

Holley’s Home Furnishings................................. 80

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

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

Holman Floor......................................................... 75

State Farm Insurance/ Harold Cochran..........75

C&T Eclectric.......................................................... 8

J&M Tank Lines....................................................... 11

State Farm Insurance/ Karen Channell..........75

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

Jackson Thornton.................................................. 71

Sunrise Dock.......................................................... 11

CertaPro Painters................................................. 75

Kevin Lanier Photography................................... 29

Tallassee Community Hospital............................. 6

Cloverdale Jewelry................................................ 29

Kowaliga Whole Health....................................... 75

Temple Medical Center....................................... 59

Coach Kraft Upholstery...................................... 75

Lake Martin Dock................................................. 16

UAB Heart & Vascular......................................... 20

Crew Lending......................................................... 75

Lake Martin Mini Mall.......................................... 39

Walmart.................................................................. 75

Custom Docks....................................................... 29

Lake Martin Tractor and Outdoors.................. 59

Wedowee Marine................................................. 12

Damon Story, Cedar Point................................. 60

Mark King's Furniture.......................................... 63

White Acres Farm................................................ 36

DAVCO Development......................................... 75

McGhee Furniture Warehouse............................ 5

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

Deep Water Dock Services................................ 39

Moore Wealth Management............................... 79

Wind Creek Casino............................................... 3

Designs by Trish..................................................... 57

Noel Boone............................................................ 75

WSC Distinctive Builders, LLC......................... 56

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

Paige Patterson, Lake Martin Voice Realty......75

76 LAKE

FEBRRUARY 2018

GET STARTED TODAY WITH THE PLATINUM REWARDS VISA CREDIT CARD FROM HERITAGE SOUTH CREDIT UNION.

APR* UNTIL MAY 2018 WWW.MYHSCU.COM / 256.245.4776 SYLACAUGA - CHILDERSBURG - MOODY – ALEXANDER CITY

The promotional rate of 1.99% APR is valid on new HSCU VISA platinum rewards credit cards for all activity (purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances) completed during the promotional period and that rate will remain in effect on that promotional period activity through the final billing cycle of May 2018, at which point the balances on that promotional period activity will convert to the standard card rate – see credit union for details. Promotional offer good from 11/1/2017 – 5/1/2018. APR = Annual Percentage Rate FEBRUARY 2018

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FEBRRUARY 2018

~ Susan Orlean

"A snow day literally and figuratively falls from the sky, unbidden, and seems like a thing of wonder."

Photo by Kenneth Boone

Parting Shot

Advertorial

Maximizing Your Social Security Benefits

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

The problem with maximizing Social Security benefits is how complicated it has become and is likely to remain so for the next several years. Susan Moore of Moore Wealth Management, Inc. (MWM) conducts an annual workshop every February on maximizing Social Security benefits that includes recent changes to the rules. The February 2018 workshop will be on Tuesday, February 20 at 12 p.m. at the local office at 51 Clay Street.

Please call 256.234.2761 for more information and reservations.

The workshop will cover how the Social Security system works in general. Specifically, the workshop will discuss different techniques to maximize Social Security including when and how to file, how to lessen taxes on Social Security, and special rules that impact widows and widowers, divorcees and spousal benefits.

For example, rule changes went into effect in 2016 that result in

More than 95% of Social Security recipients don’t maximize their benefits, according to a study by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. Over 40% of Americans file at age 62, minimizing their benefits if they live into their eighties. By minimizing their benefits, Americans are missing out on tens of thousands of dollars of benefits, if not more, according to Larry Kotlikoff, author of a best-selling book on maximizing social security benefits that was published in 2015. different options for people born before versus after January 1, 1954. There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to maximizing Social Security. It pays to learn how the rules apply to you.

It will also discuss how the cost of living adjustments are figured and how those adjustments impact Medicare premiums as well as potential reforms to Social Security resulting from the solvency issues confronting Social Security and Medicare.

We conduct a variety of workshops and seminars at MWM. The mission statement of MWM is very simple: “and then some.” We attempt to do what is expected, what is required and then some. The Social Security workshop is part of our monthly “and then some” workshops.

In addition, MWM conducts monthly current events market updates that attempt to explain what is going on in the financial

FEBRUARY 2018

world. If you would like to be on the mailing list or receive email notifications of upcoming seminars, please call 256.234.2761.

Susan Clayton Moore, J.D. is a financial advisor and principal of Moore Wealth Management, Inc., with offices in Alexander City, Auburn and Montgomery, AL. Managing over $160 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 1996-2017.

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

Member FINRA/SIPC

LAKE 79

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256.234.4141 80 LAKE Alexander City

334.279.3101 Montgomery FEBRRUARY 2018