Issuu

Camp ASCCA Celebrates 50 Years BARBARA SOKOL

Lifeguarding again at 80 years young

LAKE MARTIN BEACH CLUB

The lake's newest waterfront destination LAKE | AUGUST 2026 1

THE HERITAGE • 468 LUANNES WAY SOLD $900,000

THE TRAILS • 156 VILLAGE TRAIL 4 BD 3.5 BA • WATERFRONT • PIER $849,900

THE TRAILS • 180 VILLAGE TRAIL 4 BD 3.5 BA • WATERFRONT • PIER SOLD $855,450

THE TRAILS • 208 VILLAGE TRAIL 4 BD 3.5 BA • WATERFRONT • PIER SOLD $849,900

THE TRAILS • 22 RAMP CIRCLE 4 BD 3 BA • WATER ACCESS • BOAT SLIP SOLD $629,000

THE TRAILS • 108 VILLAGE TRAIL 4 BD 3 BA • WATER ACCESS • BOAT SLIP $559,900

THE THE TRAILS TRAILS •• 124 92 VILLAGE VILLAGE TRAIL PKWY 4 3 BD 3 2 BA • WATER ACCESS • BOAT SLIP $459,900 $559,900

THE TRAILS • 124 VILLAGE PKWY 3 BD 2 BA • WATER ACCESS • BOAT SLIP $459,900

44 HICKORY DR • 3 BD 2 BA WATERFRONT • PIER/DOCK • GARAGE $579,000

STILLWATERS • 726 STILLWATERS DR 3 BD 2.5 BA • GARAGE $529,000

166 HERITAGE POINT NORTH $4,995,000 LISTING COURTESY OF RUSSELL LANDS

Contact me to learn more about Russell Lands' exclusive Lake Martin communities, including Ridge Island, The Heritage, and Russell Cabins at Kowaliga.

Lindsay Kane

GRI | ABR® | RSPS | PSA | e-Pro®

REALTOR ® | Associate Broker

256.675.6792

LAKE | AUGUST 2026 3

On the Cover

editor's LETTER

Many years ago, I worked as a fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, helping organize events across Alabama – fundraising walks, galas and, of course, the ever-popular Shamrocks campaign. At the time, my focus was always on raising money for groundbreaking research. With few treatment options available, I believed the future depended on every dollar we raised. Each summer, we also hosted what we called "the best week of the year" – MDA Summer Camp at Camp ASCCA. It wasn't until I experienced camp firsthand though that I truly understood what our efforts made possible. I watched children who spent much of their lives in wheelchairs float freely in a swimming pool for the first time. I saw campers soar down a zip line, laugh around bunks and build friendships with other children who understood their daily challenges. It was a place where they didn’t feel different – instead, they belonged. In those moments, I realized our work wasn't just about funding tomorrow's breakthroughs. It was about giving children the chance to simply be kids today and live without limitations. Camp ASCCA wasn't just a week of fun – it was changing lives, including mine, every single summer. This August, Camp ASCCA celebrates 50 years of creating those unforgettable experiences. Turn to page 34 to discover how the camp began, meet the visionaries who built its foundation and the dedicated staff and volunteers who continue its legacy today. Then, flip to page 28 to meet Barbara Sokol, a local woman whose

4 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

life's work has been devoted to water safety. After teaching generations of children to swim and mentoring countless lifeguards throughout her career, Sokol had one special wish as she approached her 80th birthday – to lifeguard one last time. As we savor the final weeks of summer, we wanted to also highlight one of the most memorable Fourth of July celebrations on Lake Martin. Turn to page 22 to relive the excitement. And as the countdown to school and footbal season begins, many Lake Martin boaters will find themselves lingering a little longer after sunset one last time. While nighttime cruises beneath a sky full of stars is one of the best ways to experience the lake, they also require extra preparation and awareness. On page 62, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency shares tips for safely navigating Lake Martin after dark. Looking for one more taste of summer before the season slips away? The new Lake Martin Beach Club is bringing the coast to Blue Creek, complete with waterfront views, frozen daiquiris, creative coffee drinks and a menu inspired by beachside favorites on page 42. Looking through these pages, one theme kept emerging: The most meaningful moments and places aren't necessarily remembered for the scenery alone, but by the people who pour their hearts into making them so special.

This August, Camp ASCCA celebrates 50 years of providing life-changing summer camp experiences where individuals with disabilities build confidence, create lifelong friendships and live without boundaries. Photo by Kenneth Boone

Shaylee Beck Moore Editor-in-Chief

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 lakemagazine.life Shaylee Beck Moore, Editor-in-Chief

LAKE | AUGUST 2026 5

We Touch the Lives Best of the Nursing Home & People Assisted You Love Living

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Contributors

Assisted Living & SCALF Short Term Rehab Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy

KENNETH BOONE AUDRA SPEARS SAM VISE JULIE HUDSON GREG VINSON PETE MCKENNY ERIC REUTEBUCK JOE BOBBA LIZI ARBOGAST SAMUEL HIGGS CLIFF WILLIAMS GWEN BISHOP SARAH CHASE ANA SOFIA MEYER NIFFER'S PLACE AT LAKE MARTIN

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TABLE OF

CONTENTS MARINE PATROL STATS ..................................... 20 ALEA's Marine Patrol dives into the stats from the busiest weekend of the year at Lake Martin.

FOURTH OF JULY IN REVIEW ........................... 22 Relive highlights of America's 250th anniversary at the lake with these snapshots.

ONE FINAL WATCH.............................................. 28 Barbara Sokol takes the lifeguard stand one last time as she celebrates her 80th birthday.

LIFE UNLIMITED: CAMP ASCCA ....................... 34 Look back at the eras of Camp ASCCA as the beloved camp celebrates its 50th anniversary.

LAKE MARTIN BEACH CLUB ............................. 42

Lake Martin's newest waterfront destination brings a coastal twist to lake life.

A HOME WORTH THE WAIT ........................... 50

One couple builds their dream family retreat in the heart of The Willows.

AFTER DARK: NIGHT BOATING SAFETY .... 62 ALEA shares tips for safely navigating Lake Martin at night.

WATER SKIING AT LAKE MARTIN.................. 66 The history behind how water skiing began at Lake Martin.

LAKE MAGAZINE’S MONTHLY FEATURES: LAKE’S QUICK GUIDE TO THE LAKE........................................... 09 LAKE SCENES............................................................................................. 10 WHERE'S LAKE? ....................................................................................... 13 LAKE CALENDAR OF EVENTS.......................................................... 14 LAKE MARTIN NEWS ........................................................................... 18 NATURE OF THE LAKE ....................................................................... 72 LAKE WATCH .......................................................................................... 76 HEALTHY LIVING..................................................................................... 78 FAB FINDS ................................................................................................... 81 CHEF'S TABLE ........................................................................................... 82 CHEERS! ....................................................................................................... 86 THE ACE ...................................................................................................... 88 BIG CATCHES ........................................................................................... 90 PARTING SHOT........................................................................................ 98

LAKE also features an online edition, e available 24 hours a day, free of charge. the QR cod This edition is perfect to share with Scan ne li on us friends and family from anywhere in to visit the world. View our digital edition today at lakemagazine.life. LAKE | AUGUST 2026 7

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LAKE QUICK GUIDE Last Month's Lake Levels ➤ Highest: 490.43 ➤ Lowest: 490.23 Summer: 491 MSL Winter: 481 MSL Lake depth is measured in reference to mean sea level. For up-to-date water levels at the lake, visit lakes.alabamapower.com. Lake elevations are subject to change. Individuals who recreate below Martin Dam and those with boats and water-related equipment on the lake should always stay alert to changing conditions.

and it was implemented Sept. 30 following rain from Hurricane Helene.

August Weather Outlook

What Triggers the Fall Extension?

August 2026 Forecast

Historically, the Lake Martin area experiences average high temperatures in the low 90s with average lows in the high 60s and about 4.7 inches of precipitation in the month of August. The National Weather Service has predicted that temperatures will be slightly higher than average and rainfall will be average this month.

While many Lake Martin residents look forward to the possibility of an extended summer water level each fall, the decision isn't based on a single rainy week or the lake's elevation alone. Beginning no later than July 14, Alabama Power monitors conditions throughout the Coosa and Tallapoosa river system. After September 2, all four of the following conditions must be met for the fall extension to take effect. First, Lake Martin's water level must remain above its normal operating curve. Second, the seven-day average inflow on the Tallapoosa River at Thurlow Dam must be at or above the designated medium-flow level. Third, the seven-day average inflow on the Coosa River at Jordan Dam must also reach at least medium flow. Finally, the reservoirs at Weiss, Neely Henry, Logan Martin and R.L. Harris must each be within 1 foot of their normal operating curves. If every requirement is satisfied, Lake Martin remains at full summer pool until October 15 before beginning its annual drawdown. Since Alabama Power's Federal Energy Regulatory Commision took effect in 2016, those conditions have lined up seven out of 10 years. Still, there are never any guarentees. Rainfall and river flows across the entire Coosa and Tallapoosa basin – not just Lake Martin – ultimately determine whether summer sticks around just a little longer.

Year-to-Date

Precipitation: 33.14 inches Avg. high temp.: 74.6 Avg. low temp.: 51.2 Avg. temp.: 59.4

Our Normal Precipitation: 4.70 inches Avg. high temp.: 90.2 Avg. low temp.: 68.6 Avg. temp.: 62.9 Information from the National Weather Service.

Information and graphic sourced from Lake Martin Resource Association.

Lake Martin Area Real Estate Indicators Sales Month

Number of sales

Average selling price

Median selling price

Days on the market

Total houses for sale

Inventory/ sales ratio

June 2026 June 2023 June 2020

29 37 57

$ 1,264,858 $ 1,704,965 $ 749,027

$ 1,000,000 $ 1,209,000 $ 505,937

107 92 192

169 99 119

7.24 4.73 3.68

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

LAKE | AUGUST 2026 9

LAKE SCENES n READER SUBMISSIONS 1

2 3

READER SUBMISSIONS

(1) Ezlyn Potter agrees that it is never too early to start living the lake life. Photo submitted by Kayla Cole. (2) The Brittains received a visit from a friend in Trillium for the Fourth of July. Photo submitted by Lucie Brittain. (3) Whitley Jones submitted a photo of her lake dog after a quick swim. (4) Bella Yoder and Hayden Carmack at Russell Crossroads. (5) The Fables family having a little summertime fun. Photo submitted by Nick Fables. (6) Relatives from the Jack Burton family cabin went all out for the Fourth of July, winning the grand prize in the annual boat parade. Photo submitted by Melinda Ligeon. Send us your Lake Scene photos! Email editor@lakemartinmagazine.com or drop a photo on our facebook page.

10 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

LAKE SCENES n READER SUBMISSIONS 1

READER SUBMISSIONS (1) Donna Crawley sent us this photo of her pooch splashing in the water. (2) Jazzlyn Baker and Isaiah Moore at the Dadeville High School prom at New Water Farms. (3) Kate Minix and Rhodes Michael Hand having a little fun surfing Lake Martin. (4) Sarah Jo is loving life at The Landing. Photo submitted by Kristie Prokop. (5) Sawyer and Sega love a boat ride adventure together at the lake. (6) Casey Raschen and Logan Shortall celebrated their Fourth of July engagement at Lake Martin. (7) The Fables family showed off their patriotic pride on the Fourth of July. Photo submitted by Nick Fables.

Send us your Lake Scene photos! Email editor@lakemartinmagazine.com or drop a photo on our facebook page.

LAKE | AUGUST 2026 11

MONTGOMERY • AUBURN • TLRCLOTHIERS.COM 12 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

WHERE'S LAKE n READER SUBMISSIONS 2

READER SUBMISSIONS

(1) Andy, Sara, Rebecca and Ricky Lott pose with LAKE in front of the Carton House in Galway, Ireland. (2) Scott McCall at Lake Martin with the DHC-2 Beaver seaplane and pilot Mark "Woody" Woodruff. (3) Aleem and Cindy Gillani took LAKE on their travels to the Alhambra Palace and fortress in Granada, Spain. (4) Ken and Judy Howell took LAKE on a sleigh ride to the top of a mountain in Park City, Utah. (5) Melissa Reynolds and Pepper Pouncy brought LAKE on their Gulf Shores beach trip. (6) Audra Spears traveled to the Holy City of Wichitas in Lawton, Ok. (7) Kristina Browder brought LAKE on her dream birthday vacation to Florence, Italy.

Send us your Where's Lake photos! Email editor@ lakemartinmagazine.com or drop a photo on our facebook page.

LAKE | AUGUST 2026 13

August 8 Mahjong Charity Tournament

Mahjong players are invited to put their skills to the test while supporting a good cause. Held at The Ridge, the tournament and social play event will include lunch, raffle prizes and awards, with proceeds benefiting Lake Martin Animal Rescue. Doors open at 9 a.m., and play begins promptly at 10 a.m. The event will take place at 40 N. Ridge, Alexander City. For more information or to register, contact Sherry Pruett at 256-698-2250. A mahjong charity tournament will benefit Lake Martin Animal Rescue

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

AUGUST

WHAT’S HAPPENING ON LAKE MARTIN

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August 1 Alabama Has Talent

Alabama's Has Talent returns to Tallassee, showcasing performers of all ages at the Mount Vernon Performing Arts Center. The competition offers a $1,000 grand prize and is free for contestants to enter. Doors open at 3 p.m. and the show starts at 4 p.m. Food trucks and vendors will also be on-site. Admission is $10 for ages 3-16 and $20 for ages 17 and older. Children 2 and younger are admitted free. For more information, contact info@alabamahastalent.com or call 334-812-5554.

August 2 Back to School S’mores

Send summer off with a sweet treat at Wind Creek State Park. Join the park naturalist by the campfire outside the Clubhouse at 5 p.m. for free s’mores, good company and one last taste of summer before the school year begins. Park entrance fees apply for day visitors. Contact the naturalist at 256-329-0845 for more details.

August 7 U.S. The Band at Martin’s

Enjoy an all-American summer night at Martin’s at Lake Martin, featuring live music from U.S. The Band. General admission tickets are $25, or $65 with a steak dinner included. VIP tables are also available and include dinner for six guests. Tickets are available via Eventbrite.

August 8 Evening Hike on the Speckled Snake Trail

Experience Wind Creek State Park at night on a guided hike along the Speckled Snake Trail. Join the park naturalist at 5 p.m. at the trailhead near the Boat Launch Parking Lot for a scenic 4-mile trek through hilly terrain. Bring water, comfortable shoes and a sense of adventure as you explore the sights and sounds of the outdoors. Recommended for ages 12 and older. Park entrance fees apply to day visitors. For more information, contact dylan.ogle@dcnr. alabama.gov.

August 10 Tallassee Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament

Hit the links for the Tallassee Chamber of Commerce's annual golf tournament at Arrowhead Country Club. The tournament begins at 8 a.m. and includes lunch, snacks, door prizes, longest drive, closest-to-the-pin contests and more. For more information, email tallassee@tallasseechamber.com or visit TallasseeChamber.com.

August 10 – 18 Tallapoosa County Throw Away Days

Tallapoosa County residents can take advantage of Throw Away Days from August 10 - 18, offering a free opportunity to dispose of unwanted household items at designated locations throughout the county. Dumpsters will be available on select days in Daviston, Hackneyville, Alexander City, Union, Wall Street, Double Bridges and Camp Hill. Items such as paint, pesticides, refrigerators, air conditioners, tires, batteries, light bulbs, TVs and propane tanks will not be accepted. For the full schedule, accepted items and additional information, visit the Alexander City Public Works Department Facebook page.

ACT II is holding auditions for its production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, with featured and ensemble roles available for male and female performers ages 12 and older. No experience is necessary. Auditions will be held at 216 Tallapoosa St., Alexander City, on August 11 and 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., August 15 from 10 a.m. to noon and August 16 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit the Alexander City Theatre Facebook page.

August 14 Local Herp Encounter

Hop on over to the Clubhouse at Wind Creek State Park at 5 p.m. for a close-up look at local reptiles and amphibians. For more information, contact dylan.ogle@dcnr.alabama.gov.

August 14 Wrygrass Reunion

Wrygrass is coming back to the Dadeville Performing Arts Center for a bluegrass performance. Show begins at 3 p.m. Admission by donation to support DPAC community programs. Visit dadevilleperformingartscenter. com for more details.

August 15 Children’s Harbor Inaugural Poker Run & Block Party

Deal yourself a winning hand for a great cause. The Children's Harbor Junior Board invites the community to its inaugural Poker Run and Block Party, where participants are invited to collect cards at popular stops around Lake Martin for a chance to win cash prizes for the best hand, worst hand and best boat theme. The Poker Run begins at 10 a.m. at The Ridge Marina and concludes at 4:30 p.m. with a block party featuring food, music and awards. Poker Run entry is $200 per hand and includes two block party tickets. The block party is open to everyone, with tickets available for $25. Proceeds benefit Children's Harbor. Register at bit.ly/chpokerrun.

August 22 The Black Jacket Symphony presents The Eagles at The AMP

Experience an epic evening of rock as the Black Jacket Symphony returns to The AMP, performing two sets of The Eagles' greatest

hits. Gates open at 6 p.m. and show begins at 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets at ticketmaster. com.

August 31 Fork & Cork Chef’s Dinner

Experience an evening of culinary excellence and creativity at the Children's Harbor Fork & Cork Chef’s Dinner. Held at Birmingham's Historic Kress Building, the event features a specially curated menu by James Beard Award semifinalist Chef Rob McDaniel, while Children's Harbor Junior Board Artists of the Year create artwork live throughout the evening. Cocktails begin at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Proceeds benefit Children's Harbor. Purchase tickets and sponsorships at ChildrensHarbor.com or email franniemcbrayer@childrensharbor.com for more information.

September 4 & 5 Labor Day Music Festival

SEPTEMBER

August 11, 13, 15 & 16 Auditions for ACT II’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Wind down the summer season with Russell Lands’ annual Labor Day Weekend Music Festival at Russell Crossroads. From 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. both nights, the Town Green will feature a star-studded lineup that is sure to have attendees dancing alongside the fireflies. Admission is free. For more details, visit russelllands.com/events.

September 18 All for Ada Golf Tournament

Swing for a cause at the All for Ada Golf Tournament at Stillwaters Golf Club. The fundraiser will support StillWaters residents, the Watts family, as they continue young Ada's medical journey. Tee-off is at 1 p.m., with lunch, door prizes, on-course contests and mulligans available. Team registration is $400. Sponsorship packages available. To sponsor a team, register to play or learn more, call 256-329-3954 or 256-307-1081.

September 24 Lake Martin Living Art & Photo Contest

Celebrate the region's best artists and photographers as the annual Lake Martin Living Art & Photo Contest returns to the Dadeville Performing Arts Center. The evening will feature a cocktail reception, cash prizes and live music, with proceeds benefiting DPAC. Sponsorship opportunities, including exclusive Event Experience Sponsorships, are now available, but don’t wait – spots are limited

LAKE | AUGUST 2026 15

SEASON-LONG

and going quickly. Contact shaylee.moore@ lakemagazine.life for more information.

Season-long Events Naturalist Presentations and Guided Tours

Come see Naturalist Marianne and her lively nature presentations at the Naturalist Cabin at Russell Crossroads. There is never a dull moment with this wildlife biologist as she educates on the beauty of nature. Visit russelllands.com/events for the scheduled subject topics, dates and times.

Friday On The Green

Every Friday night all summer long (with the exception of Labor Day weekend), Russell Lands hosts free music and lawn games on the Town Green from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bring blankets, lawn chairs, coolers, kids and the pup on a leash to start your weekend at the lake with family and friends. Visit russelllands.com/events for the full line up.

Weekly Birdwatching Adventure

Join the Wind Creek State Park naturalist on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. to learn about feathered friends that call Lake Martin home. Park entrance fees apply for day visitors. For details, email dylan.ogle@dcnr. alabama.gov.

Cars & Coffee

Enjoy Cars & Coffee on The Square in downtown Dadeville. Held on the fourth Saturday of each month from March through October, this family-friendly gathering welcomes car enthusiasts to showcase classic, custom and modern vehicles. For more details, call Michael at 334-663-5323 or Shannon at 256-749-7477.

Adult Guitar Lessons

Join instructor Judy Hughes for a beginner-friendly adult guitar class at the Dadeville Performing Arts Center on Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon. Lessons are $5 per class and are perfect for adults just getting started. Email office@dadevilleperformingartscenter.com for more information.

Painting in the Park

Experience the beauty of Lake Martin with Wind Creek State Park’s painting series. Whether you’re a seasoned painter or just looking to try something new, these inspiring sessions are perfect for all skill levels.

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Visit alapark.com/parks/wind-creek-state-park/ park-events for the scheduled painting topics, dates and times. Park entrance fees apply for day visitors.

Acoustic Jam Session

Acoustic musicians of all skill levels are invited to gather on the second Saturday of each month to share music in a fun and welcoming environment. The acoustic jam session is free, and the public is invited to attend, listen or join in. The event takes place at 128 N. Broadnax Street in Dadeville. For more information, contact office@dadevilleperformingartscenter.com.

Covered Dish Social

The Real Island Volunteer Fire Department hosts this monthly covered dish social on the third Friday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the training center, located at 1495 Real Island Road in Equality. Whether a longtime resident, visiting or new to the area, everyone is welcome to come fellowship.

Bingo Night at the Elks Lodge

Try your luck at Bingo Night every Thursday at the Alexander City Elks Lodge. Open to the public, the weekly event features a $400 little pot, a $1,200 big pot, wings, drinks and frozen beverages. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and bingo begins at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit the Alexander City Elks Lodge Facebook page.

Dulcimer Club

All levels of mountain dulcimer players and those blending traditional instruments are invited to gather at the Dadeville Performing Arts Center from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays to rehearse for performances at a variety of community events. The group plays old-time, gospel and traditional music. Email kim.walls@dadevilleperformingartscenter. com.

Cars & Coffee

17 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

LAKE NEWS

Moose Road is one of several projects on the county's list that will receive improvements

County secures funding for upgrades on Moose Road

Moose Road has been heavily traveled over the last year due to the construction being done on Highway 63. Moose Road connects Elkhatchee Road with Highway 63 past the construction zone, and because of this travel, the road has become “beat up,” according to Tallapoosa County commissioner John McKelvey. But on Monday, the commission voted to help that. “Myself, (State Rep.) Ed (Oliver), (county engineer) Joseph Moncrief and (county administrator) Embirly (Collum), we went to Birmingham and met with the state director on those projects,” McKelvey said. “We asked for some additional funding on Moose Road because of the detour traffic that was coming off 63 that just basically damaged the road. That gave us an extra $200,000 to go toward the Moose Road project to do a little more work over there on it.” Additionally, the Alabama Department of Transportation allotted $50,000 for improvements at the Highways 34 and 49 intersection. According to McKelvey, a plan for a roundabout at that area is still in the works but the county was given a two-year extension to complete the project and the $50,000 will go toward additional road signage to make the intersection safer in the meantime. “The state has recommended a four-way stop at that intersection,” McKelvey said. Those aren’t the only road improvements discussed by the Tallapoosa County Commission during its regular meeting Monday. Additionally, Sturdivant Road has received a ton of complaints ever since the Miner’s Cove development began construction. McKelvey said the work has been pushed off because there’s so many construction vehicles currently using that road. However, Miner’s Cove is now in its final stage of development and is scheduled to be finished in the spring of 2027. Because of this, the county has agreed to pave its portion of Sturdivant Road. “Then upon (Alexander City) agreeing to the reimbursement, we’re just going to do it all at one time,” McKelvey said. Another discussion item also revolved around roadwork but this time it had to do with materials. According 18 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

to McKelvey, the stone used most frequently to work on secondary roads is Stone No. 78 and he said there’s been limited access to the stone. “The quarries are fulfilling their major contracts with their suppliers, and they’re filling them fast,” McKelvey said. “They’re not producing enough for the major contractors, so for the last six to eight months, we have not been able to get any of the materials for the roads, so that puts our projects off on our secondary roads. We’re basically at the mercy of the quarries.” ~ Gwen Bishop

LMRA philosophy increases Lake Martin endurance

Lake Martin Resource Association began as a group of 35, but is now one of the most influential voices when it comes to Lake Martin. LMRA president Jodie McGirt said 100% of what the organization does is funded through membership and donations. As she spoke to those in attendance at the Lake Martin-Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce quarterly luncheon, she broke down exactly what those efforts look like, which involve the 3Ps: protection, preservation and promotion. “One of (our initiatives) is probably the most visible to everybody is the boater safety program,” McGirt said. “I would say another most visible is (Tallapoosa County commissioner and Alexander City Chamber of Commerce president) Steve Robinson’s environmental education and activities. The last piece is the advocacy component, which most people do not even think is a thing.” Additionally, the association conducts boater training as part of their protection initiative in partnership with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. LMRA supports the ALEA team when it does licensing and partners with Children’s Harbor to assist in developing its boater training as there was LMRA President no standardization Jodie McGirt when it came to speaks at the Lake taking family memMartin-Dadeville bers and children on Area Chamber boats. of Commerce “We want to quarterly focus on ‘How do luncheon we enhance the safety of yourself?’” McGirt said. “‘How do we enhance people’s education and knowledge of what we do?’” There are more than 450 buoys on Lake Martin, according to McGirt. LMRA is responsible for the

purchase, installation and maintenance of the hazard and slow wake buoys. A large component of the association’s budget is for improving buoy placement and making certain they maintain them. If there are any buoys in the area that have a light not functioning, or there is damage, people can reach out to LMRA.info and a response team will act quickly. Preserving the lake requires action. For LMRA that involves promoting and hosting lake cleanups. Environmental education is also a key component to preserving the lake and McGirt said thinking about environmental impact starts at a younger age. In collaboration with Alabama Power Company, LMRA helped develop and place fish habitats, which fishermen take advantage of; another activity aiding in the preservation component. “We want to make certain this beautiful lake we have, this treasured lake that we have maintains its treasured status as well as its usefulness and access for all,” McGirt said. ~ Sarah Chase

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MARINE PATROL STATS

JULY 4TH WEEKEND PERIOD COVERING JULY 3RD - JULY 5TH

Provided by ALEA Marine Patrol for Lake Martin

THE WEEKEND BY THE NUMBERS

n 1 Boating incident n 0 Boating fatalities n 0 Boating under the influence arrests n 23 Vessel stops n 13 citations issued n 2 warnings issued n 2 Boater Assists n 2 Permitted Marine Events

MOST COMMON INFRACTIONS n Operating a Vessel without a license n Registration violations n Insufficient personal floatation devices n Improper navigation light n Careless operation of a vessel KEY ENFORCEMENT FOCUS AREAS n Operation Dry Water - Zero-tolerance (BUI) n Proximity and Wake Laws n Unpermitted Fireworks Barges

MAJOR INCIDENTS

] PROPELLER STIKE

July 4, 2026 - A 25-year-old water tuber was seriously injured near Big Kowaliga Creek in Tallapoosa County after falling off a tube and getting struck by the propeller of a 2024 Godfrey Aqua Patio pontoon boat during retrieval. He was transported to UAB Hospital.

20 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

BARGE FIRE

July 4, 2026 - A makeshift-vessel caught fire at approximately 8:45 p.m. near the Tallassee Slough on Lake Martin in Elmore County. The barge was being used as a platform to launch fireworks. Marine Patrol along with the Red Hill Fire Department extinguished the fire, and recovered the vessel.

A special thank you to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Marine Patrol for keeping the waterways safe – not just during holiday weekends, but every day of the year. We appreciate your dedication to protecting everyone who enjoys our treasured Lake Martin. Your commitment to safety helps make our lake a place where families and visitors can create lasting memories with confidence.

LAKE | AUGUST 2026 21

LAKE MARTIN

s e t a r b e l Ce America's y a d th r i B 250th PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

22 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

From boat parades to concerts and dazzling fireworks displays, Lake Martin was filled with patriotic spirit for a memorable Independence Day weekend. LAKE | AUGUST 2026 23

Clockwise from Top Left: Boats gathered in Kowaliga Bay to watch the largest fireworks show in Lake Martin history at The AMP; Creative displays stole the show during the annual Fourth of July boat parade; Fly By Radio rocked the stage at The AMP; Crowds gathered on the grassy hill in anticipation for the concert and fireworks show; The Bank Walkers opened the evening with an energetic performance at The AMP.

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One Final Watch

Barbara Sokol returns to lifeguarding at 80

STORY BY SAM VISE PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

Sokol watches over swimmers at the Willow Point Golf & Country Club pool 28 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

If one pulls up a chair next to Barbara Sokol at the beach or along the shores of Lake Martin, they might think she is simply enjoying the sun. But look a little closer at her eyes – they are constantly moving, scanning the horizon, pacing the top of the waves and watching the children playing in the shallows. “Once a lifeguard, always a lifeguard,” Sokol said with a smile. This August, Sokol will celebrate her 80th birthday. While most people her age are happily leaving their working years in the rearview mirror, Sokol had one specific birthday wish: to don the whistle and step onto the stand for one final, official lifeguarding session this summer. It is a symbolic victory lap for a woman who has spent decades dedicating her life, her lungs and her heart to water safety in Alexander City and beyond. Sokol’s journey with the water began in the 1950s at Camp Mac in Munford, Alabama. Moving steadily through the American Red Cross swimming tiers, she earned her junior lifesaving certification at age 12 and her senior certification at 15. What started as a teenager’s love for the outdoors quickly shaped into a profound respect for the mechanics of swimming. When she enrolled at the University of Alabama, she took her Water Safety Instructor certification under the legendary coach John Foster, a former Olympic coach. It was a golden era for aquatics. “We had a conference where Olympic coaches were coming in, and they had just started the research on body alignment and reforming some of the strokes,” Sokol said. “We got to be on the ground floor of that. I had such a good experience and such a good teacher.” After marrying her husband, Eddie – whose family owned the Sokol furniture stores and one of the first Russell cabins – she moved to Alexander City. By the summer of 1968, she was lifeguarding at the Cabana at Willow Point and teaching local children how to swim at the old Russell pool. Even when life took the family to Washington, D.C., in the 1970s while Eddy worked for Senator John Sparkman, the water called her back. When a local preschool needed a day camp lifeguard, Sokol walked into an inner-city D.C. natatorium to recertify. “I was there with all of these football players,” she laughed. “But what I had going for me was swimming. They had the strength, but they didn’t have the flow of the swimming skills that I already had. I did very well in that class.” When the family returned to Alexander City, Sokol stepped into a foundational role at the Russell Corporation recreation area. The CEO at the time initially wanted her to start a competitive swim team. Realizing that corporate restrictions prevented them from entering recreation leagues, Sokol shifted gears to something far more impactful: the “Summer Fun” day camp program for the children of Russell employees and afternoon lessons for the community. Sokol became the heartbeat of the Russell pool. She wasn’t just a lifeguard; she earned certifications to teach

both lifeguard training and WSI in-house so the community wouldn’t have to outsource their safety. Sokol credits the success of the lessons to the support she received from Sandra Harris, who supplied training resources, and Rickey Milam, who provided lifeguards and recreation staff from the Russell Recreation Area. “Everybody who lifeguarded at the Russell pool was also a certified water safety instructor,” Sokol said. “It was a full company effort to provide for the children, and I was fortunate enough to be able to lead the swimming part of it.” Under her watchful eye, generations of Lake Martin children spent their mornings in no-cost structured swim lessons and their afternoons in free swim. Sokol’s commitment to water safety extended into infancy. Fascinated by early childhood development and her own training as a paramedic – she climbed the ranks from EMT-Basic to Paramedic and taught EMT classes at night – she began teaching infant swimming. “Markita Campbell, administrative assistant to Ben Russell, came to me and said, ‘Barbara, we live out in the country, and we have a pond. My baby is 3 months old, and I’m so afraid,’” Sokol recalled. She taught the infant how to instinctively rotate its head to breathe if it fell into the water. It became a Sokol founded a no-cost summer day camp for children

She has taught generations of children to swim through lessons at the Russell pool

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legacy she passed down to her own children – one of her daughters carried on the role, teaching infant swimming lessons of her own. Following her retirement from corporate life, Sokol’s mission found a home at Children’s Harbor on Lake Martin, where she forged a deeply emotional 15-year relationship with Camp Smile-A-Mile, a camp dedicated to children facing childhood cancer. Of all the thousands of lives Sokol touched, one teenage girl stands out. The girl was 15 years old, thin from treatments and facing a very poor prognosis. She had one final wish in life: she wanted to earn her “green band,” the camp’s designation that a swimmer is safe to cross the deep end of the pool. “She was beautiful, tall, very lean and very afraid of the water,” Sokol said. “We had a small window. I needed to get her comfortable. I finally got her face in the water, finally got her to breathe and blow and I finally got her to swim.” On a triumphant Tuesday afternoon, surrounded by cheering campers and staff, the girl swam across the pool and received her green band. She fell ill that night and had to return home. Sokol later learned the girl had passed away shortly after leaving camp. “That was what she wanted to do, and I was gifted with the opportunity to teach her,” Sokol said through tears. “It was her determination, fighting all kinds of odds. It was a gift for me.” After spending decades watching children grow their

confidence around the water, Sokol said it was the candid moments that brought her just as much joy as the accomplishments. “A little boy came up to me and asked if I was a lifeguard,” Sokol said. “I said, ‘Why yes, I am.’ And his eyes got real big and he said, ‘I have never seen a lifeguard with gray hair.’ It was the funniest thing, and it actually made me feel pretty proud.” Though Children’s Harbor now hires full-time summer aquatics staff, Sokol wasn’t ready to let her certifications expire. She still regularly drops in on local lifeguard training courses run by Sammy Teal and Megan Blake, ensuring the new generation is staying safe in the waves. “I just want to see who we’re putting out there to take care of our people,” Sokol said. To keep herself in shape, Sokol practices yoga and attends the seniors’ fitness program at Russell Medical. And she still keeps a 5-gallon bucket in her vehicle containing a tow rope – just in case she ever needs to throw a lifeline from a beach or dock. As her birthday on August 10 approaches, the local community is rallying to ensure Sokol gets one final shift on the stand. For her, it isn’t about pride or setting a record. It is about honoring a lifelong promise she made to the water and to the community she has protected for more than half a century. “I want to do it at least one time when I’m 80,” Sokol said. “So that I can say I spent all these years, from the time I got my junior lifesaving all the way up, involved in water safety. It’s just endless. It’s in me.”

The community celebrated Sokol's 80th birthday with a heartfelt show of appreciation

30 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

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Life Unlimited Camp ASCCA celebrates 50 years of barrier-free fun

STORY BY SHAYLEE BECK MOORE PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE & COURTESY OF CAMP ASCCA

“C

“Camp ASCCA! Oooo… ahhhh…!” A familiar chant rings through the dining room as excitement fills the air. Nerves begin to settle from the first day of arrival, and campers and counselors both eagerly start looking toward the week ahead, imagining the full schedule of activities, new friendships and endless possibilities. Yet, those exhilarating weeks at camp come and go all too fast. Another successful summer season is coming to an end – but this time the goodbyes are a little sweeter as Camp ASCCA celebrates five decades of campfire stories, barrier-free adventure and helping make dreams come true.

The Early Days

Camp ASCCA began with a simple, profound vision to become a place where people living with special needs could experience a week without limitations. In 1968, President Jerome Levy of Easterseals Alabama – known then as the Alabama Society for Crippled 34 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

Children and Adults – appointed an exploratory committee to study the possibility of a permanent, year-round recreational facility for individuals with disabilities. That search led them to a pristine piece of waterfront property on the north end of Lake Martin in Jackson’s Gap. Recognizing the weight of the mission, Alabama Power agreed to a 15-year lease of the land for $1 per acre, or $230 per year, giving the visionaries an opportunity to set a sturdy foundation – one that would last for generations. “They just wanted to build a camp that specifically served people with disabilities, so the mission has never changed,” said Matt Rickman, current director of Camp ASCCA. “That’s what we were from day one when we started in 1976 and that’s what we will always be.” Initial construction funds poured in from passionate community outreach. Local organizations such as Russell Corporation, Rotary International and Birmingham Monday Morning Quarter Back Club stepped up as major early donors. By the 1970s, Alabama state government became the largest single contributor, investing more than

$200,000 annually into the program. Alongside critical, handson construction work from Alabama Power Company, South Central Bell and the Army and Air Force National Guard of Alabama, Camp ASCCA reached its initial fundraising goal of $1.5 million. What came of these efforts was a camp ready to change lives. Camp ASCCA’s first summer session kicked off in 1976. The trailblazing staff included eight counselors and three program directors, proudly welcoming their very first campers from the deaf community. The original roster of activities included swimming, fishing, canoeing, pontoon boat rides, archery, riflery, arts and crafts and outpost camping. These weren’t just classic camp activities – they offered campers endless freedom, some for the first time. During those first few weeks, the counselors came together to create what would become the most beloved tradition at Camp ASCCA over the next 50 years – the “Goodnight Song.” “That’s the most special thing that we do,” said Amber Cotney, program director at Camp ASCCA. “All the campers know the words to it. All the staff knows the

words to it. We sing it every night; it’s the biggest Camp ASCCA tradition that we have.” That first year ultimately welcomed a total of 323 campers from a multitude of special needs communities, including those diagnosed with spina bifida, muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy. Standing on the shorelines of Lake Martin, the original crew knew they weren’t just running a summer camp – they were setting the stage for generations to experience boundless joy and freedom.

Growing Camp ASCCA

Early on, Camp ASCCA was setting the standard for adaptive recreation. When the initial founders stepped down, locals Jerry Bynum and Tom Collier stepped up to carry on the torch. Bynum joined the Camp ASCCA team in 1977 as the administrator, serving the camp for 26 years. In 1978, Collier was hired as the program coordinator, and later as camp dorector, also dedicating 26 years of his own career to the camp’s growth. Together, the duo focused heavily on aggressive fundraising to pay off the initial debt associated with starting the facility, helping set the financial foundaLAKE | AUGUST 2026 35

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tion for future success. Spending months at a time without a day off, their passion helped fuel the camp’s momentum. “We were helping make dreams come true for kids with disabilities,” Bynum said. “We wanted to help a person fulfill dreams they’ve always had, and build their confidence, that self-assurance, and know that they are worthy.” In addition, Bynum and Collier were leads on growing the camp. To spread the word about the facility, the two frequently traveled to specialized organizations throughout Alabama as well as recruited passionate college students to volunteer. Their efforts succeeded – perhaps a little too well. “Camp grew rapidly,” Bynum said. “That was our biggest challenge, was how fast it was growing. The demand for service was high.” To meet the growing need, they promoted the camp relentlessly to local organizations for donations, inviting key supporters to tour the grounds so they could see the direct impact of their financial gifts. Today, that legacy of community stewardship lives on. Camp ASCCA continues tto be heavily supported by statewide civic groups such as Elks, Rotary, Civitan, Kiwanis and Lions as well as many individuals. With an operating cost that now sits at $2 million annually, consistent community backing is the lifeline that keeps the camp in operation. Surviving entirely on donations, the leadership team works endlessly to be excellent stewards of funds – a philosophy they pass down directly to the staff they hire. “We try to stress to staff that a percentage of salary is being donated by somebody that they may not even know,” said John Stephenson, staff member and current administrator for Camp ASCCA for 30 years. “And to keep that in mind when they’re doing their jobs – that people are supporting their efforts and believe in what they’re doing.”

A Lifelong Passion

The bond between a camper and counselor at Camp ASCCA is undeniably unique. Because counselors are

fully responsible for campers’ personal needs throughout the session, their relationship is built mainly on trust. It is a bond so strong that many staff members connect with the mission during their first summer, leading them to decades of service. Current director Matt Rickman first arrived at Camp ASCCA in the spring of 1998 as a therapeutic recreation intern. He accepted a full-time position the following year as the outdoor adventure director while his wife, Dana, also joined the full-time staff to head up the camp’s public relations. Together, the couple have been an anchor for Camp ASCCA for 28 years. “I knew I loved it just from being an intern,” Rickman said. “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I would love to do this for the rest of my life.’” Cotney shares a similar passion. She originally heard about the camp through a local newspaper ad calling for volunteers, starting with Camp ASCCA at just 15 years old. What was supposed to be a one week volunteer commitment turned into a 26-year career. “I can very specifically remember calling my mom from a pay phone, crying and begging her not to make me come home,” Cotney said. “I loved it, I was immediately obsessed with camp.” Now, as the program director, she loves helping others find a similar passion for camp. Judy Williams, who served on the original 1976 staff before becoming head counselor, remembers instilling the importance of their role into her new staff members. “I always told new counselors that the campers didn’t come to ASCCA and say, ‘Oh, am I going to get to go down the zip line?’ They’d come to camp saying, ‘Who is my counselor?’” Williams said. “I wanted them to know how important they were to the campers.” Williams also recalled how close the bonds were between staff, connected by the exhilarating, yet exhausting, work. Decades later, Williams still continues to support the staff through an annual scholarship that is awarded to an outstanding counselor. While many campers and counselors have come and gone through the cabin doors, the camp has left a lasting impression on hearts beyond campfire songs and activities. “We say this all the time, that everything’s all about the campers,” Rickman said. “But what I’ve learned being

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camp director is how it affects so many of the staff. These college students come here when they are 19 and 20 years old, and it changes their lives.”

Overcoming Challenges

While Camp ASCCA has thrived over the decades, even an establishment this stable couldn’t hide from external hardships and unexpected hurdles. During the national recession in 2007 and 2008, the camp took a major financial blow. Donations temporarily dried up, creating an immense challenge to keep operating. Then, when the pandemic hit in 2020, the leadership team was met with another unique challenge. As COVID19 surged, Camp ASCCA pivoted – refusing to let their campers down. The staff successfully launched a virtual camp, continuously adapting their programs to engage campers hundreds of miles away. “Every week we were having to change the rules based on what the CDC was putting out,” Rickman said. “We were navigating it on a day-to-day basis.” While the pandemic forced disruptions for summer sessions, it ultimately led to a blessing in disguise – a close partnership with international stars, The Red Clay Strays. As concerts were cancelled across the world, the group chose to continue to perform by livestreaming shows for campers – right from the grounds of Camp ASCCA. To this day, Camp ASCCA holds a special place in the hearts of band members, and they frequently return for impromptu performances. “As an organization, we’ve been through ups and downs,” Rickman said. “But nobody panics. We all just say, ‘We’ve got this.’ As a staff that works with campers with individual needs, everything we do is about adapting and adjusting to what’s going on around us.” Time and again, the community

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continuously shows up in times of need with unwavering support. Even when lightning struck the dining hall in 2025, the Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief organizationcame out to help prepare and serve meals for campers in the parking lot. “We’re surrounded by so many good people, good staff and so many good donors and supporters that believe in what we do,” Rickman said. “We know we can survive whatever curveball comes our way.”

Boundless Adventures

Camp ASCCA specializes in offering adaptive programs for individuals of all ages with different abilities, allowing campers to experience thrilling activities they otherwise wouldn’t have the chance to do; however, with this the camp also faces a unique challenge. Unlike most registered summer camps where children eventually move on, many individuals never age out of Camp ASCCA. Because of this, the leadership team established a core philosophy the very first summer – to evolve and expand the camp every single year. “We have some campers who have been coming here for literally 50 years,” Rickman said. “So, we make it a point to add or improve on something new every year, whether it’s renovating a building or revamping a program.” Today, the programs feature classic activities along with newer thrills, ranging from ziplining and tubing to miniature golf, a demo farm and outdoor education center. “The water slide is a huge one that they love,” Rickman said. “Because if you have a physical disability, you’ve probably never had the opportunity to go down a water slide. So, it’s been a big hit for us.” For Rickman, one of his favorite camp memories came during an outdoor activity. One sum-

mer while hosting a camp, a non-verbal autistic teenager was getting ready to try the zip line for the first time. Rickman was uncertain about sending the boy down, as he couldn’t tell by the boy’s body language if he was excited or not. As he eased the boy off the platform, he heard a gut-wrenching sound. “He made the loudest, shrillest scream I’ve ever heard,” Rickman said. “I couldn’t see his face, because he was zip lining away from me, but I immediately thought he was terrified.” Rickman looked to the ground for reassurance from the teenager’s guardian and was shocked by her reaction. “She was wiping away tears from her eyes,” Rickman said. “She finally gathered herself and said, ‘Matt, he’s completely fine. He’s laughing. I’ve known him since kindergarten, and I have only ever seen him do that one other time.” Beyond adventures, one of the highlights for campers are the true concert experiences at the camp’s music venue, the BcK4T. Rickman said the camp focuses on bringing in exceptional acts for performances, including The Droptines, Drake White, Brent Cobb and international sensations, The Red Clay Strays. “Music has a way of bringing people together, and nowhere do we feel that more than at Camp ASCCA,” The Red Clay Strays said. “What makes this place so special is that they don’t just create activities for campers, they create real experiences. They give their campers live music the way everyone deserves to experience it, bringing in artists and putting on genuine concerts.” Rickman said while the activities are fun, when campers leave on their final day it’s not the water slide or concerts they miss – it’s the connections they made with people. “When campers go home on Friday, a lot of times there’s tears and people are crying,” Rickman said. “But they’re not crying because they miss a zip line or canoeing. They’re crying because they are going to miss the people. It’s truly the people that make the program.”

The Next Fifty Years

Today, Camp ASCCA welcomes more than 1,500 campers during summer sessions and operates with the dedicated support of 65 staff members alongside countless supporters – from all walks of life – who look forward to carrying on the camp’s legacy. “The campers give us far more than we could ever give them,” The Red Clay Strays said. “Their enthusiasm, joy and love for music is contagious, and every visit reminds us why we fell in love with playing music in the first place. It’s an honor to be part of what Camp ASCCA has become and continues to grow, and we always leave looking forward to the next time we’re back.” As Camp ASCCA celebrates its 50th anniversary, its greatest legacy is the lasting confidence it instills in each person who steps onto the campgrounds. “Camp ASCCA is such an important resource, because everyone deserves to have a chance to make friends and be treated like a regular person,” Cotney said. “For them, camp is one of the only places they get that experience.” “For so many of our campers, they literally call this place home,” Rickman said. “It’s the place where they feel like they’re treated like family and that they’re not different when they come here. Camp ASCCA is truly a unique and special place.” Some information for this article was sourced from the book, “Camp ASCCA 50th Anniversary,” by Glenn Roswal, Dana Rickman and Tom Collier.

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Lake Martin

BEACH CLUB

STORY BY SHAYLEE BECK MOORE & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

Bright blue Adirondack chairs stretch across a boardwalk as frozen daiquiris swirl behind the bar, live music drifts across the lake and boats ease up to the dock for lunch. Just steps away, the aroma of fresh coffee and warm cinnamon rolls drifts through the air from a nearby shop while guests carry vibrant lattes and ice cream creations to their seats along the waterfront deck. It feels more like a coastal getaway than a typical day on the lake – which is exactly the atmosphere that inspired the vision of Lake Martin Beach Club. For years, Creekside Lodge sat tucked away along the highway shoreline on Blue Creek in Dadeville, becoming a somewhat

42 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

forgotten drive-by venue that blended into the scenery for many locals. One of those people was Spencer Mann. Mann had passed by the property countless times after moving to the Lake Martin area more than a decade ago. Originally from Andalusia, Alabama, Mann had spent several years living along the beaches of 30A and Sandestin – an experience that would later become his inspiration for Lake Martin’s newest venue. As time went on, Mann couldn’t help but imagine the possibilities of what the property could become. On a whim late last fall, Mann contacted the owner of Creekside Lodge to see if they

A coastal twist on lake life

Creative flatbreads and signature po' boys are among the restaurant's top sellers LAKE| AUGUST | AUGUST2026 2026 4343 LAKE

would consider selling – and within a few days, he was signing paperwork to purchase the property. “To begin with, we were originally planning to just run it as a boutique hotel and event center,” Mann said. “But I knew it would take a while for renovations to be completed and to get the business going. About three or four days after I closed on it, we came up with the concept of the coffee house, and then that evolved into the Beach Club. It was full speed ahead from there.” What followed was months of renovations, completely transforming nearly every corner of the property. Today, Mann’s vision has grown into three distinct lakeside venues, each with its own personalities and experiences. At the center of it all is the Lake Martin Beach Club, a colorful waterfront restaurant with a menu as flavorful and vibrant as the atmosphere. While classic dining staples such as chicken tenders and wings are available, the restaurant has quickly become popular for its more unique offerings, such as flatbreads, po’boys and fried homemade funnel cakes. “The flatbreads are what people have been going crazy over,” Mann said. “Our hot honey pepperoni flatbread has been the No.1 seller across the board, followed by the shrimp po’boy.” Behind the bar, frozen daiquiris and soft-serve margaritas have become an instant hit amongst guests, offering tropical flavors and creative combinations to the expansive cocktail menu. Outside, Creative Habitats of Auburn helped redesign the property’s boardwalk, connecting The Lake Martin Beach Club to Wake House – a completely different experience of its own. Walking up, guests are greeted with the scent of fresh brewed lattes and house baked biscuits, set in a relaxing coffee shop atmosphere complete with a waterfront view. The shop serves a variety of specialty coffees, handcrafted drinks and breakfast items, including savory cinnamon rolls, Dirt Road Gourmet sausage and grits casserole and fresh baked biscuits with a side of a Southern favorite – tomato or sausage gravy. Working alongside the baristas, Madison and Mann have created a colorful menu of signature lattes, dirty sodas and elaborate ice cream desserts, including their famous turtle sundaes and ice cream nachos. “The ice cream business has just blown us away,” Mann said. “It’s become really popular during the afternoons and the evenings. My wife, 44 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

Clockwise from Far Left: The Lake Martin Beach Club offers waterfront dining; Wake House brings creative flair to lattes and dirty sodas; Frozen daiquiris and soft-serve margaritas add to the coastal atmosphere.

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“

We just wanted to create a place where you can bring the entire family, get together and have a great time." ~ Spencer Mann

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Adirondack chairs line the new boardwalk along Lake Martin

Madison, has been instrumental in the early success of Wake House. That’s been her baby from the start.” Later this summer, Mann plans to open The Lounge – an upscale cocktail bar featuring a second-story deck overlooking Lake Martin. While the three venues are open to the public, they also serve as a welcomed attraction for guests staying at The Creekside Lodge. Boasting a newly renovated exterior, 24 hotel rooms, three suites and two-story stone fireplace, the hotel also has its own swimming pool and hot tub for guests to enjoy during their stay. “It’s like your own little resort right here,” Mann said. “It’s a great place for families to come and everyone can stay in one place.” Signature sundaes and dipping Outside of the busy summer season, desserts are popular Mann envisions the property serving among Wake House guests as a destination for corporate retreats, weekend weddings and hosting travelers during football season. For guests wanting to visit after a day A spacious dining room and coastal-inspired on the water, The Beach Club currently design create a welcoming atmosphere offers docking space for many boats, with plans to expand into boat and jet ski rentals next year. Mann acknowledges that people are quick to criticize waterfront access due to the height of the nearby bridge over Blue Creek, but said that smaller boats and personal watercraft make the trip regularly. “We have lots of boats coming here every day,” Mann said. ““The tri-toons and fixed tower boats may not be able to make it under the bridge, but we watch lots of people slowly inch their pontoons under the bridge to make it here. But I think that’s kind of part of the fun, when people turn it into an adventure to get here.” More than anything, Mann hopes the and great comments so far. People are thanking us for new venues offer a unique addition to bringing this to this side of the lake, and that makes us the experiences that both locals and visitors can enjoy happy. That’s what we’ve been trying to do from the at Lake Martin. beginning.” “We just wanted to create a place where you can The Lake Martin Beach Club is open seven days a bring the entire family, get together and have a great week. Visit lakemartinbeachclub.com for hours and time,” Mann said. “And the public has been incredthe full menu. ible. We’ve been blown away by all of the positivity

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The Trails is the newest waterfront enclave in The Village at Lake Martin. With HOA-managed perks like lawn care and on-site trash disposal, residents can spend their time enjoying the other amenities like swimming pools, nature trails, a fitness center and community boat ramp. Boating access_comes with an optional slip purchase.

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Nestled in The Willows, the home was designed to create generations of family memories

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A Home Worth the Wait STORY BY SHAYLEE BECK MOORE PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE

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For nearly a decade, Brian and Jennifer Kulbersh have spent summers at Lake Martin. Most weekends, the Birmingham couple would pack up their three children and trade the city life for peaceful days at the lake in rented houses, enjoying family activities such as tubing, skiing, visiting with friends and making memories on the water. “One of our favorite things to do with the kids is go to The Landing by boat,” Jennifer said. “It’s a weekend thing that we always have to do. But we really love to stay in and cook other nights and, of course, be in the water.” The more time they spent at Lake Martin, the more the couple realized they weren’t simply planning vacations anymore. They were imagining what their own place might look like – a home where their children could grow up enjoying the same kind of lake-oriented childhood both Brian and Jennifer experienced themselves. Then, during a family trip in 2020, Jennifer decided on a whim to contact a local real estate agent and make that vision a dream come true. The phone call connected her with Ashley Chancellor of Legacy New Homes, who began showing the couple available waterfront properties to build their Lake Martin retreat. Before long, they found the perfect site at The Willows that immediately captured the couple’s hearts. “We fell in love with the location,” Jennifer said. “We both grew up on lakes and knew we wanted to do this eventually.” Although the couple purchased the property that same summer, the Kulbershs intentionally waited several years before beginning construction, wanting their children to be a little older before building the generational lake home they envisioned. And for the Kulbershs, the final design was worth the wait. Completed in time for Memorial Day weekend 2025, the five-bedroom, six-bathroom residence was crafted by Legacy New Homes with one main goal in mind – bringing waterfront views into every room.

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“I wanted everything to be facing the lake,” Brian said. “From the moment you walk in through the front door, you see the water. It almost feels like the house is touching the lake because of the design and the slope.” Upon entering the two-story home, guests are immediately greeted by soaring vaulted ceilings and windows that provide uninterrupted views of the water. Rather than designing a house around individual rooms, the Kulbershs focused on creating a space that made every day lake life easier for their family. One of the home’s most unique features is an oversize service window that connects the kitchen to a screened-in grilling porch. Created with active lake days in mind, the hydraulic window allows for meals to be served while children and guests can pull up a seat on the bar

Facing Page Top to Bottom: A custom herringbone vent hood and textured backsplash create a sleek, timeless design; Rustic accents add warmth and character throughout the home; Counterclockwise from Top: Green accents throughout the house add a pop of color to the lake-inspired palette; Sleek appliances complement the kitchen's classic design; An outdoor grilling area connects to the dining room through a serving window.

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A soaring vaulted ceiling and fireplace anchor the home's cozy living room

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stools outside. “When our kids come in from being in the lake, instead of coming inside wet, they just go to this little bar area,” Brian said. “We just open the window and serve them up food.” Without question, the couple agreed that the adjoining porch quickly became the family’s favorite gathering space. Designed with vaulted ceilings, a stone fireplace and remote-controlled retractable screens, the outdoor living area easily transitions between an open-air porch and a cozy retreat, perfect for year-round entertaining and relaxation. “Our favorite place to spend time is on the porch,” Brian said. “We have a view of the sunset from our dock almost every night.” Beyond maximizing the lake views, the couple had one more request. Just a few months before construction was completed, Jennifer decided the home needed one final feature to fit the family’s needs – a pool. Offering an additional place to escape and

unwind, it has quickly become one of the family’s favorite additions. “Obviously the lake is like a giant pool for the kids,” Brian said. “But sometimes on long weekends people get tired of the lake and want to do something else. And I have to give it to Jen, the pool has been great.” As first time lake home builders, the couple relied heavily on their trusted friend and Montgomery interior designer, Bill Barganier of B. Barganier Interiors, to help create a customized space that felt unique and elevated, yet welcoming. “He worked on our home in Birmingham, so he already knew our style and what we were looking for,” Jennifer said. “We really just gave him a blank canvas and trusted his process.” Rather than following current home design trends, Barganier focused on creating a lake house that felt cozy, classic and timeless – a style that the couple knew they would enjoy for years to come. To achieve that look, Barganier sourced

Cherished furnishings were woven into the lake home's gathering spaces

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The outdoor patio offers sweeping waterfront views and stunning sunsets

new upholstery and home furnishing lines, while incorporating many of the Kulbershs’ Birmingham home pieces. Dining room chairs were reupholstered to better fit the home’s relaxed lake setting, while the upstairs living space was centered around favorite pieces they had collected over the years. Throughout the residence, Barganier also incorporated custom details that give each space its own personality, including an accent wall, wallpaper in smaller spaces, floating shelves and barn doors that conceal pantries and storage areas. The custom cabinetry, crafted by Grace Fabrications in Montgomery, carries that same timeless character throughout the home. Finished primarily in Sherwin56 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

Williams Alabaster with accents of Jasper, the color palette creates a bright, inviting feel while adding depth and contrast throughout the space. While elegant designs, comfort and décor were emphasized throughout the home, the functionality of the space was the biggest priority. Performance fabrics were selected throughout the home so their children, guests and pets could come inside from the lake without worrying about wet swimsuits or sandy feet. In addition, an upstairs room originally intended for bunk beds was reimagined into a second laundry room, making it easier to keep up with the endless towels and extra linens that come with weekends on the water.

“

Our plan is to be in this house for a very long time, so that when our kids have kids, they can come back. We wanted this house to be something we can give to our kids and hand down for generations. ~ Brian Kulbersh Soft textures and warm lighting create a welcoming retreat

The home's open layout creates a welcoming space for lake living

A soaking tub and custom cabinetry add a luxurious touch to the primary bathroom

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Outside, a separate poolside bathroom and shower also provide a convenient place to rinse off before heading in from a day on the lake. For Brian and Jennifer, however, the home’s greatest feature has been the quality time they’ve been able to spend with their friends and family. “We’ve had a ton of family here this summer and just love when friends stop by on their boats at our dock,” Jennifer said. “It’s such a peaceful and relaxing place.” For the Kulbershs, the true vision has never been simply building a house on Lake Martin – it was creating a home where generations of their family could create new traditions and lifelong memories together. “Our plan is to be in this house for a very long time,” Brian said. “So that when our kids have kids, they can come back. We wanted this house to be something we can give to our kids and hand down for generations.”

Neutral tones and layered textures complement the home's timeless design

Each room was designed to take advantage of the waterfront views

Retractable screens allow the outdoor living space to be enjoyed year-round

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The dining room chairs were reupholstered to reflect the home's lake-inspired aesthetic

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Another Lake Martin Property Sold Most homes on Lake Martin are marketed locally, that limits who sees them.

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Buyers for homes like this are often coming from Birmingham, Atlanta, Huntsville and beyond, not just within the lake market. Ge ng your home in front of those buyers are what makes the diﬀerence. If you’re curious what your home could sell for; we would be happy to walk you through our proven marke ng strategy and how we posi on homes to reach buyers beyond the local market.

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ART

SUBMISSION DETAILS n Mediums accepted in acrylic, oil, watercolor, pastels, pencil, photography & mixed media. (3D works are accepted as long as they can be hung on the wall.) n No free-standing sculptures. n Entries must reflect the nature, beauty or lifestyle of Alabama. n All entries must be ready to hang. n Entry fee is $30 per piece. Children’s entry fee is $10 per piece.

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Clearly mark each entry with the artist’s name, address, phone number and email. Deliver entries to the Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. office located at 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City.

LAKE MARTIN LIVING

PHOTO

Call magazine Editor-in-Chief Shaylee Beck Moore at 256-234-4282 with questions or email editor@lakemartinmagazine.com. 60 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

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AFTER DARK Boating safely at night on Lake Martin STORY BY SHAYLEE BECK MOORE PHOTOS BY AUDRA SPEARS & KENNETH BOONE

For many boaters, a day on Lake Martin doesn’t end when the sun begins to dip below the horizon. Instead, summer evenings often include setting out to catch one of the lake’s famous sunsets, enjoying dinner at a waterfront restaurant or taking in a relaxing cruise beneath a sky full of stars.

Familiar waters can look surprisingly different after sunset 62 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

While boating after dark can be one of the most enjoyable ways to experience the lake, it also requires a different approach than boating during the day. Once daylight begins to disappear, the shoreline starts to look different, distances become harder to judge and operators need to rely more on their patience, preparation and heightened awareness. “People don’t necessarily recognize the hazards that are associated with operating a vessel at night,” said Capt. Jeremy Burkett, who has served with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency for 20 years. “One of the biggest issues is simply visibility.”

Nighttime drastically affects visibility and depth perception

The Nighttime Optical Illusion

As the sun sets, the human eye gradually loses much of its ability to distinguish color, contrast, shadows and depth – visual cues that the brain naturally relies on to distinguish the shoreline from open water, judge distances and spot potential hazards like unlit docks and floating debris. And unlike driving a vehicle on the roadway, lakes don’t have traffic signals, painted lanes or street lights to help guide the way. A common marine analogy compares night boating to navigating a massive parking lot where only a few streetlights are working – one can see some objects, but accurately judging speed and distance become a challenge. In addition, a boat’s docking and navigation lights are designed primarily to help other vessels see one another – not illuminate the water ahead. Without clear shoreline references, depth perception can change drastically. A dock light, buoy or oncoming boat can appear much farther away than it actually is. This optical illusion may cause operators to approach hazards too quickly or travel faster than they realize.

Experience is Key

A boater who knows Lake Martin well during the day may also find familiar landmarks used to navigate the vast waters become surprisingly difficult to recognize after dark. For Burkett, that’s one of the reasons why experience matters. With roughly 800 miles of shoreline, Lake Martin is a massive – and somewhat complex – body of water that simply takes time to learn. From changing water levels throughout the year to sunken sandbars, small islands and hidden sloughs, even longtime lake residents often find themselves learning new areas and challenges while exploring different parts of the lake. In addition, during major holiday weekends, such as Fourth of July and Labor Day, thousands of additional visitors also take to the water, many of whom are boating on Lake Martin for the first time. “During these big extended holiday travel periods, and especially during our summer months, we see a lot of new boaters,” Burkett said. “It’s not necessarily that a new boater is a bad boater, but oftentimes they’re just inexperienced. When you take inexperience and mix that with operating a vessel at night or in low-light conditions, and then even worse than that, you add alcohol into the mix, that’s where we really see these issues start to occur.” One of the easiest ways to build confidence boating at night is to first become familiar with Lake Martin during

Experienced boaters can help spot hidden hazards after dark

Navigation lights are crucial for helping boaters see one another

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the day. Burkett recommends learning common navigation routes in broad daylight before attempting those same waters after dark. Another suggestion is to bring along an experienced boater, someone who knows Lake Martin well and can be an extra set of eyes to spot sudden hazards and add an additional layer of confidence behind the wheel.

Seatbelts of the Waterways

Above all, Burkett’s strongest recommendation is a simple habit change – putting on a life jacket before ever boarding the boat. Because docks can become slick and hard to see at night, it is easy to slip or have a misstep that could lead to a disaster. “I know that sounds unusual to talk about it this way, Drinking & Night Boating but there are all kinds of hazards between the pier, the Because navigating dock and the landat night requires greater ing,” Burkett said. Slow speeds and safe practices help make every concentration, mixing “Oftentimes people get sunset cruise more enjoyable alcohol and boating can in the boat and then put be a seriously dangerous on their life jacket if combination – especially they’re going to wear it. at night. Even small Well, you’re already in amounts of alcohol can the boat at that point, it impair the operator’s doesn’t help you if you peripheral vision and slip or fall in.” reaction time, and the Burkett also suggests constant rocking motion keeping life jackets in of the boat can actually everyday locations, such intensify the effects of as the trunk of a car, alcohol. for easy access before In addition, operatboarding a vessel. ing a vessel under the Should an unexpected influence in Alabama emergency occur, locatcarries the same weight ing someone in dark as drinking and driving water is far more diffiIF YOU LOSE YOUR BEARINGS on the roadway, and can cult than during the day, OR BECOME DISORIENTED land the operator with making life jackets even WHILE BOATING AFTER DARK heavy fines, jail time more important after and potential loss of sunset. ➤ Move safely out of the main navigation channel. their license. “I absolutely can’t ➤ Drop anchor if needed. talk about it enough,” ➤ Turn on your 360-degree white anchor light. Slow Down & Burkett said. “Personal ➤T urn off unnecessary interior lights to help your eyes Enjoy the Ride flotation devices are adjust to the dark. Burkett also sugreally the seatbelts of the ➤ Use GPS to safely backtrack your route, if possible. gested one of the simwaterways. We lose too ➤ Listen for approaching boats for assistance. plest ways to make many boaters across the ➤N ever guess your way through unfamiliar water. boating safer is to slow state every year because down, which gives the people just simply aren’t operator critical reaction wearing a life jacket.” time to recognize changing water depths, spot debris or Along with life jackets, another essential safety tool notice smaller, non-motorized vessels such as kayaks and onboard – especially at night – is the engine cut-off switch canoes. lanyard, commonly known as a kill switch. In Alabama, “One of the biggest recommendations for boating at operators are legally required to wear this emergency lannight is to slow down,” Burkett said. “That gives you time yard while a vessel is underway. If the operator is thrown to recognize what’s going on and then be able to react to from the helm, the lanyard immediately shuts off the it.” engine, preventing the boat from continuing without anyIf an operator does become disoriented or loses their one at the controls. bearings at night, safety experts recommend slowing “Having a kill switch is so important,” Burkett said. down, pulling completely out of the main channel and “That way, if something happens to the operator and dropping anchor. they’re separated from the vessel or the steering wheel, After turning on the anchor light, it is also suggested then at least the vessel is going to cut off and stop.” to turn off all unnecessary internal boat lights, stereos For many Lake Martin families, some of the best memand electronic screens to let everyone’s eyes adjust to the ories are made after sunset, whether it’s watching the stars dark, which can take up to 30 minutes. Operators can use or enjoying dinner by boat. With a little extra preparation, this quieter moment to check their GPS, locate familiar patience and planning for unexpected challenges, those landmarks or listen for other vessels for additional help. evenings can remain as safe as they are unforgettable. 64 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

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How water skiing took off on lake martin STORY BY SHAYLEE BECK MOORE PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE & TPI ARCHIVES

Today wakeboarding and surfbalance on simple wooden boards while being ing dominate the waves, but Lake towed across the water. Martin’s watersports history began in It wasn’t long, however, before that primia much simpler era with a classic trative style of surfing was replaced with a new dition: water skiing. national craze. Tallassee native and longtime From the 1950s through the Lake Martin resident Margaret Hollabaugh 1990s, Lake Martin became one of remembers the early 1950s as a time alive the Southeast’s premier water skiing with excitement as water skiing began taking destinations, drawing in nationally the nation by storm. ranked competitors, hosting some of “Lake Martin was really a part of it from the region’s largest tournaments and the beginning,” Hollabaugh said. “Water skiintroducing generations of families to ing was more organized in the larger cities the exciting new pastime. such as Birmingham, but the 1950s was when “Lake Martin for a long time was the people at the lake were just kind of getting epicenter of competitive water skiing in started to know about it.” Central Alabama,” said Mike King, a longtime Lake Martin Multiple water skiers glide resident and former president across Lake Martin near of the Kowaliga Ski Club. “We Chimney Rock had the biggest club, best water ski site and biggest tournaments. There were many national champions to come from Lake Martin.” Remarkably, the lake’s watersports reputation began with surfing – but not the kind seen today. In the early 1950s, the concept was experimental, where riders would 66 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

Hollabaugh was one of the original students at the Kowaliga Ski Club

than wooden skis and raw talent, Hollabaugh quickly advanced through the sport. “I would say, ‘Hit it!’” Hollabaugh recalled with a laugh. “That’s when the boat driver knew I was ready to go. It just tickled everyone.” A natural water skier, Hollabaugh tackled complex maneuvers that would amaze onlookers to this day. Her greatest accomplishment was mastering the Backward Swan – a trick where she skied backwards on a slalom ski, holding the tow rope with her other foot while arching her back and holding her arms wide. The trick was made famous at Cypress Gardens in Florida and it was a very impressive for sight all who saw it. Because Lake Martin was a much more remote destination at the time, its low boat traffic made it a paradise for serious skiers. Pre-made, portable slalom and jump courses began appearing all across the water in areas Hollabaugh was first introduced to the sport in 1954 like Wind Creek State Park, Blue Creek and locations while in high school, working the gift shop at Kowaliga now occupied by neighborhoods like The Heritage and Restaurant alongside her older brother, Ernest Moore, Windermere West. who manned the grill at the restaurant’s snack bar. At one point, six to eight courses could be found That summer, word was quickly spreading that around the lake, but the most popular site was located Auburn University football star and future NFL linein a secluded cove near Kowaliga Restaurant known as man George Atkins was coming to Lake Martin for his Porter’s Branch. honeymoon alongside his new bride, Leah Marie Rawls To organize the rapidly growing community, the – the 1953 women’s world champion water skier. Kowaliga Ski Club was formed at Porter’s Branch in “We didn’t even know what water skiing was all about the late 1950s. At its peak, the club had between 250 at the time, except maybe from and 300 members, and Porter’s a distance,” Hollabaugh said. Branch quickly earned a reputa“When Leah Marie came, she tion as one of the most elite water realized that nobody around here skiing tournament sites in the that they were talking with knew country. how to water ski. So she said, During these early decades, the ‘Well now, we better get busy on gear was a far cry from modern this.’” technology. For nearly a month, Rawls “Originally, we were skiing on remained at Lake Martin and wooden skis and we wore a ski taught local residents the fundabelt,” King said. “We didn’t start mentals of the sport. She demwearing safety vests until probonstrated everything from basic ably into the early ‘70s. We would starts and jumping techniques to laugh because we used to wear pulling multiple skiers behind a cutoff jeans over our shorts for single boat. protection.” The craze took off. Local mariKing, who grew up near Little nas began stocking water skis, Steel Bridge, first stood on skis more families bought boats and at age 5 when his father pulled skiers from across Alabama starthim behind the family boat. But ed making their way to Kowaliga his true passion started at age 11 Bay’s secluded, flat-water coves. when a neighbor invited him to Hollabaugh became one of the Kowaliga Ski Club to try the Rawls’ very first students and slalom course. one of the original water skiers “I was hooked,” King said. “I on Lake Martin. With her brother thought, ‘This is one of the greatserving as her trusted boat driver, Hollabaugh performing est things ever.’” the duo practiced nearly every the Backward Swan The following year, King day. Geared up with nothing more LAKE | AUGUST 2026 67

John Massey, Eric Watts, Steve King and J.D. Wiswall

began entering tournaments. He spent the next 13 years competing across the Southeast, eventually becoming a nationally ranked water skier. One of his proudest achievements came in 1970, when he won the men’s expert division at the Lake Martin tournament. “I so loved water skiing on Lake Martin,” King said. “I grew up slaloming, jumping, tricking and barefooting. I just loved the event and I loved the people involved.” By the mid-1970s, tournament weekends were massive weekend events, with Porter’s Branch packed with excited competitors and curious spectators. King served as president of the club – officially renamed the Lake Martin Ski Club in the 1970s – a total of five times between 1974 and 1982. He recalls that the sheer volume of competitors led them to begin enforcing a strict cap. “We had to cap it at 125 skiers because that’s all we could pull in two days,” King said. “Tournaments would start at 7 o’clock on Saturday and go to sundown, and we’d repeat on Sunday.” Pulling off these massive tournaments required elite precision behind the wheel from drivers like J.T. Jones. Now the manager of Real Island Marina, Jones has spent more than 30 years on Lake Martin and has been passionate about water sports his entire life. From 1968 to 1976, Jones served as a designated tournament driver, a high-stakes role because competitors relied entirely on the driver’s ability to maintain a flawless path and precise speed. “I was a pretty good skier, but a much better driver,” Jones said. “There were no electronics on boats at the time; it was all mechanical. You had to be able to keep the speed using only a manual throttle, and the courses were timed. You had only between a 16.1 and a 16.4-second margin of error.” Jones pulled some of the sport’s premier national icons, including legendary skiers Roger Robbins and Steve Stanley, cementing Lake Martin’s reputation for producing and hosting the most elite names in the sport. For decades, water skiing was at the heart of summers 68 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

Lake Martin is still a favorite destination for water skiiers

Life jackets became increasingly popular in the 1970s

on Lake Martin. But as the sport – and the lake – grew in popularity, many competitive skiers began looking for quieter waters on private lakes. Around the same time, major advances in boat design began opening the door for a new era of water sports. At 69, King still skis three times a week, passing his love of the sport on to his two sons – both former state champions. Hollabaugh remained an avid skier for decades, celebrating her 75th birthday by hitting the waves one more time. Today, she has passed that deep love for water sports to her children and grandchildren, who can still be found hitting the exact same waves at Lake Martin. And while the golden era of 125-skier tournaments at Porter’s Branch may have passed, many say a water skiing comeback is on the horizon as newer generations are gravitating towards older traditions. But no matter what trend comes next, one thing is for certain – Lake Martin will always be a place where families can bond over sunny days on docks, handed-down traditions and, of course, a love for watersports.

A local water skier on Lake Martin in the 1980s Photo submitted by Casey Raschen

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Thread-waisted

Wasps Meet the graceful, long-legged hunters that play an important role in keeping nature in balance

Talk about a descriptive name – if you know there’s such a thing as a thread-waisted wasp and you see one in the wild, it’s an easy ID. But if you want to get specific, that’s another thing altogether. Depending on how you count them, there are between 125 and 1,100 different thread-waisted wasps native to North America. The wasp pictured here is likely a common threadwaisted wasp, or Ammophila procera; however, there are more than 60 species in the genus Ammophila, and even professionals can have trouble identifying them. Members of this genus tend to be primarily black with some orange or red on the abdomen. They are medium-sized wasps – just over an inch long – with a slender build. The most obvious giveaway is a waist tiny enough to make a Kardashian envious. The waist is actually a thin, threadlike tube located between the insect’s thorax and abdomen. In this group of wasps, the abdomen points downward or straight out, never up. Males, which are usually even more slender than the females, have more black coloring with less or even no orange at all.

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A well-known cousin of thread-waisted wasps is the mud dauber, which is probably building a mud nest somewhere on your boathouse as you read this. Mud daubers, or dirt daubers as they are more frequently called around Lake Martin, share this insect’s superthin waist. Although the word “wasp” is usually associated with painful stings, thread-waisted wasps are not aggressive toward humans – they rarely pay us any attention at all. Thread-waisted wasps are solitary and timid. If you threaten a thread-waisted wasp, it will fly away if possible. If it can’t flee, you may get stung – and it will hurt. But this wasp’s venom won’t cause health problems unless you are allergic to insect “bites.” One interesting fact about thread-waisted wasps

NATURE OF THE LAKE BY KENNETH BOONE

A downward-pointing abdomen and slender waist are classic characteristics LAKE | AUGUST 2026 73

is that females are known to “chirp” to attract mates. Although honey bees tend to get most of the credit, thread-waisted wasps are important pollinators in North America, along with a large number of other creatures like flies, beetles, hoverflies, butterflies and moths, native bees (honey bees are not native to North America) and even hummingbirds. Adult thread-waisted wasps eat flower pollen and nectar, mostly from white or yellow blossoms that aren’t shaped like a cone. Common native plants that attract the wasps include goldenrod, Queen Anne’s lace, mountain mint and asters like black-eyed Susans (and more than 50 other asters native to Alabama). However, sometimes these wasps stray from their vegetarian diet. “Ammophila” means “sand loving” in Greek, and again these wasps are well named because soft, sandy soil is where the female threadwaisted wasp digs its burrow when it comes time to lay eggs. Before the mom-to-be deposits an egg in the burrow, she goes hunting, usually for caterpillars. When she locates one, she uses her jaws to Mud daubers are well-known relatives of thread-waisted wasps

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grab the caterpillar behind its head and stings it, which paralyzes the insect. The wasp then drags the stunned bug to its burrow and pushes it in. Then she lays a single egg on the caterpillar, seals up the burrow and covers it with debris to camouflage the entrance. Two days later the egg hatches and the baby wasp starts eating the caterpillar alive. These wasps sometimes use other zombie insects like paralyzed roaches and grasshoppers to stock their nursery. Sometimes these wasps will commandeer other wasps’ burrows by opening them up and laying their eggs on the unfortunate prey. Once the burrows are sealed up, the wasp’s work as a mother is complete. Inside the burrow, the wasp larva will finish off its caterpillar in about five days before pupating underground. When it reaches adulthood, the thread-waisted wasp will crawl out of the nest with fully developed wings. Some information for this article came from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Missouri Department of Conservation and The Animal Diversity Web.

Flower nectar provides an important food source for thread-waisted wasps

LAKE | AUGUST 2026 75

THE TALLAPOOSA RIVER

BOUNTIFUL BIODIVERSITY Red-eye bass Photo by Drew Morgan

Did you know that Alabama ranks No. 1 among all states in the U.S. for aquatic biodiversity? We are truly blessed to live in “America’s Amazon!” Alabama rivers and streams have 340 freshwater fish species, more than any other state, according to the Encyclopedia of Alabama article “Fishes of Alabama.” We also have more freshwater turtle species, crayfish species and freshwater snail and mussel species than any other state. Who knew? The Tallapoosa River Basin is home to Lake Martin, which lies in the Middle Tallapoosa River Basin. Lake Wedowee is in the Upper Tallapoosa Basin upstream. Lakes Yates and Thurlow are in the Lower Tallapoosa Basin downstream. The Tallapoosa Basin is a big contributor to our state’s No. 1 status in freshwater fish diversity, with 134 species of fish. In fact, we have some species that are found only in the Tallapoosa Basin and nowhere else in the world, four of which are mentioned in this article. The rivers and streams of Alabama contain rainbows of color. The stunningly beautiful rainbow darter inhabits waters of north Alabama in the Tennessee Basin. Closer to home, the waters of the Tallapoosa Basin

have their own rainbows. Have you heard of the Tallapoosa darter? You probably haven’t seen one unless you’ve done a lot of wading and snorkeling in local streams. They are small, only growing to a maximum of around 2 1/2 inches long. They spend their lives darting along the stream bottom (thus the name), eating aquatic bugs. What they lack in size, they make up for with their brilliant coloration. They are little swimming rainbows of color, rivaling the beauty of tropical reef fish. Other beauties in the Tallapoosa Basin include the Tallapoosa shiner, the speckled darter, lipstick darter, longear sunfish and the Tallapoosa redeye bass. The Tallapoosa Basin is the only place on the globe where you’ll find the lipstick darter and Tallapoosa redeye bass, as well as a not-so-pretty fish, the Tallapoosa sculpin. The Tallapoosa sculpin is tiny, approximately the same size as the Tallapoosa darter. It also lives on the bottom of rivers and streams, eating aquatic insects, crayfish and other small fish. It is extremely hard to see due to its camouflage coloration. As you can see, there’s much more to the aquatic community than bass, bluegill, catfish and crappie. The

LAKE WATCH BY ERIC REUTEBUCH

Eric Reutebuch has worked to protect Lake Martin and its watershed since the 1980s. An Auburn University researcher and former Alabama Water Watch outreach director, he has served as a Lake Watch of Lake Martin water monitor, past president and board member since 2015.

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Tallapoosa darter

Consider joining Lake Watch of Lake Martin to help us protect our lake, streams and the Tallapoosa River, and all of the amazing creatures that call this basin home. Go to lakewatch.org or scan the QR code and come aboard.

Pygmy sculpin

game fish get nearly all of the attention, of course, since they are fun to catch and quite tasty. The biggest game fish that anglers hook in the Tallapoosa Basin lakes is the saltwater striped bass, ranging up to around 50 pounds. They are stocked into the lakes by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources nowadays, whereas they used to have massive runs up the river from the Gulf before the rivers were dammed. These stripers would be considered minnows compared to the monsters that swam up the rivers beside them in the pre-dam days: the Gulf sturgeon, which grows to more than 13 feet long and 300-plus pounds. This article is just a brief snapshot of the many fish species in the Tallapoosa Basin. For a good overview of aquatic critters in the basin, check out the Alabama Extension blog article “Native Aquatic Species of the Tallapoosa Watershed,” search Gulf sturgeon “Tallapoosa aquatic species” at aces. edu; the book “Alabama Rivers: A Celebration and Challenge” by Dr. Bill Deutsch at alabamarocksandrivers.com; and the Alabama Water Watch publication “Citizen Volunteer Watershed Stewardship of Alabama’s Reservoirs: Special Lakes Worth Protecting, Lake Martin Watershed” at tinyurl.com/ LMWatershed2012. Sources for this article include the Encyclopedia of Alabama, Alabama Extension, Lake Martin Watershed, Outdoor Alabama, Tallapoosa Publishers Inc., the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Alabama Water Watch and Dr. Bill Deutsch’s Alabama Rivers: A Celebration and Challenge. LAKE | AUGUST 2026 77

The Pillars of Wellness

August is Wellness Month, a reminder that good health is established through consistent daily choices rather than quick fixes. It is easy to be attracted to diet trends or wellness challenges; however, our wellbeing is built on creating sustainable habits that nourish the mind and body. What are the key aspects of wellness? Wellness is not only being free from illness – it encompasses a lifestyle that supports your physical, mental and emotional health each and every day. Nutrition sits at the center, but true wellness is built on several pillars. When one area is neglected, the other areas are affected.

NOURISHING THE BODY

Nutrition is front and center as the most important foundation of wellness. The food and beverages you choose provide the energy and nutrients your body needs to function properly. Striving for an eating pattern that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats and adequate hydration will promote steady energy levels, a healthy immune system, strong bones and muscles, heart health, healthy digestion and brain function. Start with establishing balanced meals. Use these guidelines to build your plate. Fill half of your plate with colorful vegetables and fruits. Reserve one-quarter of your plate for lean protein such as fish, chicken, beans, tofu or eggs. Fill the remaining quarter with whole grains or other high-fiber carbohydrates like brown rice, quinoa or whole-wheat pasta. Include a healthy fat such as avocado, nuts, seeds or olive oil. While you sit down at the table, practice mindful eating. Eat without distractions when possible. Chew your food completely. Eat slowly by placing your silverware down after each bite. Pause midway through your meal to check your hunger level. Appreciate the flavors, textures and smell of your food. Mindful eating can improve digestion and help prevent overeating. Starting the day with breakfast will provide a steady energy source and improve focus. Consider foods that combine protein, fiber and healthy fats, such as Greek

HEALTHY LIVING BY JULIE HUDSON

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

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yogurt with berries and nuts, oatmeal topped with fruit and seeds, whole-grain toast with avocado and eggs or a smoothie made with fruit, spinach, yogurt and nut butter.

STAYING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE

Regular movement benefits every system in your body. Exercise helps improve cardiovascular health, strengthens muscles and bones, enhances mood, reduces stress and supports healthy weight management. Regular physical activity doesn’t have to mean hours spent in the gym. Walking, gardening, cycling, dancing, swimming and recreational sports all contribute to better health. The best activity is one you enjoy and that becomes a regular part of your daily life.

PRIORITIZING QUALITY SLEEP

Sleep is often overlooked, but it is essential for wellness. When we sleep, our body repairs tissues, regulates hormones, strengthens the immune system and consolidates memories. Poor sleep affects our appetite, concentration, mood and energy levels. Strive for consistent, restorative sleep by maintaining a regular bedtime routine and limiting screen time.

MANAGING STRESS

Stress is a normal part of life, but chronic stress can be devastating to physical and mental health. It can influence food choices, digestion and sleep quality. Managing stress in a healthy way may include meditation or deep breathing, regular physical activity, spending time outdoors, practicing hobbies, connecting with loved ones and seeking professional help when needed.

SUPPORTING MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH

Mental wellness ranks just as high as physical health. Taking care of our emotional well-being allows us to cope with life’s challenges, maintain healthy relationships and enjoy daily activities. A sign of strength and self-care is practicing gratitude, setting realistic goals, maintaining social connections and asking for help when needed.

STAYING HYDRATED

Water is essential for almost every function of the body. Proper hydration supports digestion, circulation, temperature regulation, joint health and concentration. It is important to keep water nearby throughout the day and to increase fluid intake during hot weather or physical activity.

PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE

Taking steps to prevent illness before it occurs is an important part of wellness. Regular health checkups, recommended screenings, vaccinations, dental care and routine eye exams can identify health concerns early and support long-term health.

BUILDING HEALTHY HABITS

Lasting wellness is established with small, consistent habits rather than dramatic changes. Preparing balanced meals, taking daily walks, drinking enough water, getting enough sleep, being mindful and spending time with family and friends will have a meaningful impact on your health. Wellness is not about strict rules or perfection. It is about finding a balance that works for your lifestyle with choices that support your health each and every day. Positive decisions lead to better health. During Wellness Month, choose one or two healthy habits to focus on. Small changes practiced consistently lead to lasting improvements in your energy, health and quality of life. Wellness is a journey, not a destination, where every healthy choice counts.

LAKE | AUGUST 2026 79

80 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

LAKE FABULOUS FINDS FROM OUR REAL ESTATE ADVERTISERS

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316 Laurel Ridge, Alexander City • $6,950,000 Beds: 6 • Baths: 6.5 • Waterfront Russell Lands Anna Speaks, Rhonda Watson, Thomas Lamberth 256.215.7011 • RussellLands.com

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Honey Cake

with Blueberry Glaze HONEY CAKE Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup buttermilk 1/2 cup honey 2 teaspoons vanilla 8 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature 1 1/2 cups sugar 4 eggs, room temperature

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and lightly flour three 8-inch round cake pans. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In a small bowl, mix together the buttermilk, honey and vanilla. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed for 4 minutes, until fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Gradually add the dry and wet ingredients, alternating, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix. Divide the batter evenly between the three 8-inch round cake pans and bake for 15 minutes on low fan speed, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 to 15 minutes, then remove them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

82 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE 82 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

HONEY CREAM CHEESE FROSTING Ingredients

12 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 4 to 6 cups confectioners’ sugar 1/3 cup honey

Directions

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and cream cheese until combined. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar and continue to mix, scraping down the sides of the bowl until smooth. Add the honey and mix until smooth.

BLUEBERRY GLAZE Ingredients

2 cups blueberries 1 cup granulated sugar 1/2 zest of lemon 1/2 juice of lemon

Directions

Bring the ingredients to a boil, then reduce the mixture to a simmer. Cool slightly, then blend. Strain and cool before pouring over the cake.

CHEF'S TABLE BY PETE MCKENNY

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

LAKE | AUGUST 2026 83 LAKE | AUGUST 2026 83

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Lake Martin Lemonade CHEERS! NIFFER'S PLACE AT LAKE MARTIN

Ingredients

1.5 ounces tequila 1.5 ounces Corona Extra 1.5 ounces limeade mix (Island Oasis Margarita Mix is recommended) 1.5 ounces Sprite

Directions

Layer equal parts of each ingredient into a 15-ounce glass of ice. If using a smaller or larger sized glass, maintain equal parts of each ingredient until full. Garnish with a lemon and enjoy.

86 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE 86 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

April 25th • 10 am - 5 pm AnnuAl On -WAter

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LAKE | AUGUST 2026 87

Why Tennis Surfaces Change Everything

If you’ve ever watched the same player on TV look Clay also sharpens footwork like no other surface. unbeatable one week and completely out of sorts the next, Small adjustment steps become essential because positionchances are the court beneath their feet had something to ing is everything. If your feet aren’t set correctly, your do with it. In tennis, changing surfaces doesn’t just alter timing disappears. The extra fraction of a second that the color of the court – it changes the entire game. clay provides allows players to develop cleaner technique From the red clay of Roland Garros to the acrylic hard and better balance, skills that transfer beautifully to every courts of Melbourne and New York, and the perfectly other court surface. manicured lawns of Wimbledon, every surface rewards Then there’s the mental side. Because rallies last longer, different skills. While all three have their own unique points aren’t usually decided with one spectacular winner. challenges, many players will tell you there’s something Instead, concentration, discipline and resilience become special about clay. It teaches patience, movement and cre- your greatest strengths. It’s no coincidence that many of ativity in ways that no other surface can. the sport’s smartest tacticians have built their games on Hard courts are often seen as the “middle ground” of clay before finding success elsewhere. tennis. They provide a consistent bounce and generally The weather plays its part too. Clay courts can become reward players who strike the ball cleanly and take time noticeably slower in cool or damp conditions, making away from their opponents. Big serves, aggressive returns heavy topspin even more effective. On scorching summer and early ball striking are all valuable weapons. Timing is days, especially in the Deep South, the challenge shifts. everything. Arrive half a Long rallies combined second late and the ball is with intense heat demand THE ACE already flying past you. exceptional fitness, hydraThe downside? Hard tion and patience. Winning BY JOE BOBBA courts can be unforgiving on clay often feels like Joseph “Joe” Bobba is the on the body. completing a marathon one Racquet Sports Professional at Because the surface point at a time. Willow Point Golf & Country has very little give, every Grass, meanwhile, Club. His professional career sprint, stop and change remains tennis’ great speincludes leadership roles as of direction sends impact cialist surface. head pro at both Riverchase back through your ankles, Although today’s Country Club and Old Overton. knees and hips. Over a Wimbledon courts produce long season, those repeata more consistent bounce ed shocks can take their than decades ago, grass is toll. Many professional players carefully manage their still the fastest of the three major surfaces. The ball stays schedules during hard-court swings simply because of the low, slices skid through the court and players have far less physical demands. time to react. Quick hands, explosive movement and conClay tells a completely different story. fident decision-making are rewarded immediately. The slower surface and higher bounce naturally create That’s exactly why Jannik Sinner looked so comfortlonger rallies, meaning points are often won through conable during his Wimbledon title run this year. His compact struction rather than outright power. Instead of trying to swing mechanics, exceptional balance and ability to strike blast winners at every opportunity, players are encouraged the ball early allowed him to take precious time away to think two or three shots ahead, using spin, angles and from opponents. Rather than relying on extravagant movepatience to open the court. ment, Sinner’s efficient footwork and laser-like ball strikMovement is where clay truly separates itself. Rather ing made grass work perfectly for his game. than stopping abruptly, players learn to slide into their Linda Nosková showcased similar qualities on the shots, allowing momentum to carry them through the ball. women’s side. Her powerful first serve earned plenty of At first it feels unusual – even intimidating – but once free points, while her clean, flat groundstrokes stayed low mastered, sliding becomes incredibly efficient. It reduces through the court and prevented opponents from settling the harsh impact of sudden stops and helps players recovinto long rallies. Just as importantly, she stayed composed er more smoothly for the next shot. during the biggest moments, trusting her aggressive

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instincts rather than overthinking on a surface that rewards decisive tennis. Yet despite the glamour of Wimbledon and the reliability of hard courts, many coaches still believe clay is the best classroom in tennis. It teaches players to defend without panicking, attack with purpose and build points intelligently. It encourages fitness, develops patience and rewards those willing to work for every point. Even players who never compete seriously on clay often notice improvements in their movement, balance and consistency after spending time on the dirt. Perhaps that’s why so many of the world’s greatest all-court players developed their games on clay before taking those lessons onto faster surfaces. Every court has its personality. Hard courts reward boldness. Grass rewards precision and lightning-fast reactions. But clay rewards complete tennis. And in the long run, that’s a surface worth getting dirt in your shoes for.

LAKE | AUGUST 2026 89

Success in the shallows

The book says fish go deep when it’s hot, and there’s definitely some truth to that. After all, the deeper water is cooler than the surface in most cases since the sunlight can only reach a certain distance through the water column. There are some factors at play, though, that drive a percentage of the population to the shallows despite the warm water they have to deal with. These fish can be targeted more easily by anglers than the deep schools that have been pressured all summer. By this point in the summer, the upper layers of the water column are thoroughly heated. It may be a little cooler in deeper water, but it’s not necessarily the refuge that it was in late spring and early summer. Similarly, biological processes increase oxygen demands in the depths, making it a less hospitable environment until things cool off. There are a lot of fish that will stay in the depths through the summer and “grind it out” waiting for temps to turn. But I feel like there are some fish that make a move to the shallows in anticipation of the cooler mornings to come. By late summer, the days are getting shorter, meaning less time for the water to heat during the day and more time to cool each following night. The shallows begin to cool faster with the longer nights, and there are fish and baitfish that will move into these shallow zones as a result. So, what types of areas work well for a shallow bite in late summer? The first would

BIG CATCHES BY GREG VINSON

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

90 AUGUST 2026 | LAKE

be an area that has some shallow water, such as a flat area that’s close to deep water. These fish can pull up and take advantage of the shallows when they’ve cooled overnight. But they have that deep-water refuge to move to if the water heats up too much during the day. These places can be very good in the first two to three hours of the morning. Once the sun breaks over the trees, start looking for shallow areas that still have some shade. As the sun moves overhead, it will limit the amount of shade the fish have around the bank. The bite may slow down with time, but it’s still possible to extend the bite by “chasing the shade.” Topwaters like walking baits, prop baits, ploppers and buzzbaits can all work to cover these areas early. If the surface bite slows down, shift to wacky rigs or flukes up in the water column. Try jigs and shaky heads for the bottom bite. The other location option is the far backs of creeks or up the river. These places have the shallow water that will cool at night with the added bonus of any fresh inflow from occasional thunderstorms. The runoff following a rain, even if it was in the afternoon, can recharge these areas, drawing bait and bass in to feed. Most of these “way-back” type places are going to be very shallow. The good news is they often have a little color in the water from the occasional rain, opening the door for more power presentations. Again, surface baits can be good since there are sometimes fish schooling on the first schools of shad moving back. Bream imitators like jigs, crankbaits and soft plastics can be good also because bream often bed in these locations. This summer, have confidence that there are always some fish shallow. As we move closer to September and October, it will only get better!

Look for shallow, shaded areas close to deep water LAKE | AUGUST 2026 91

Legend

To Sylacauga

Public Boat Ramps

★

Points of Interest

ALEXANDER CITY

Churches

★

280

Alex City Boat Ramp

Camp ASCCA

★

Charles E. Bailey Sportplex

280

Power lines U.S. Highways

County Roads

31 Piney Woods Landing

Wind Creek State Park

★

COOSA COUNTY

Wind Creek Boat Ramp

259

128

Pirate Island

★Peanut Point 63

16 20

★ D.A.R.E. Park Landing

★

New Hope Church

Young’s Island

★

Liberty Church

SmithMount Fire Tower

10 Willow Point

EQUALITY

Paces Point Boat Ramp

Camp Alamisco

★

Kowaliga Boat Landing

SEMAN

★ Camp Kiwanis

Union Landing

Children’s Harbor &

Trillium

The Ridge

1 13

Church in The Pines

★ Hank Williams Cabin 21 ★The Amp

lig

★

Chimney Rock 90

UNION

CENTRAL

ELMORE COUNTY RED HILL

★ Martin Dam

229

ECLECTIC

TALLASSEE

18 KENT

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Timbergut Landing

Explore

★

Horseshoe Bend National Park

Jaybird Landing

Lake Martin

TALLAPOOSA COUNTY

1 2 3

4 5

JACKSONS GAP

6 7

280

8 9 10 11

14 15

280

★tain

DADEVILLE

CAMP HILL Smith Landing

16 17 18 19 20 22 23

33 Church of the Living Waters

14 49

24 25

Stillwaters

8 6

26 27

28 29

WALNUT HILL 50

31 50

32 33

Kowaliga Marina

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The Ridge Marina

256-397-1300

River North Marina

256-397-1500

Russell Marine Boating & Outdoors

256-397-1700

Blue Creek Marina

256-825-8888

Harbor Pointe Marina

256-825-0600

Real Island Marina

Parker Creek Marina Alex City Marine

Smith's Marina - Shipwreck Sam's SpringHouse

Catherine’s Market

256-397-1200

256-329-8550 256-215-FISH

256-444-8793

256-215-7080 256-215-7070

Kowaliga Restaurant

256-215-7035

The Burritos Corner Mexican Grill

256-307-1887

Lake Martin Pizza

Lake Martin Storm Shelters

Russell Do It Center (Alex City)

256-373-3337 256-794-8075

256-234-2567

Russell Do It Center (Eclectic)

334-541-2132

The Stables at Russell Crossroads

256-794-1333

Off the Beaton Path

205-994-0847

Lake Pointe Baptist Church

256-307-1499

LakeScape

334-857-2443

Russell Building Supply

Kowaliga Veterinary Care

Hwy 50 Blue Creek Boat & RV Storage Red Ridge UMC

256-825-4256

334-857-1816 334-391-0717 256-825-9820

First Baptist Church Dadeville

256-825-6232

Momentum Marine at Lake Martin

256-825-9286

Lakeshore Pharmacy Bolton Cove

Singleton Marine

BoonDocks at Bay Pine Martin's @ Lake Martin

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Your Lake Martin Sightseeing Pass. Scan me!

REELTOWN

Get on the Map! 256-234-4281 LAKE || AUGUST AUGUST 2026 2026 93 93 LAKE

LAKE DISTRIBUTION ➤ ALEXANDER CITY Abernathy Farm Supply Alex City Airport Alex City Marine Alex City Public Library Alex City Nutrition BeYOUtiful Salon Benjamin Lake Club Big B Barbeque Bone & Joint Specialists Carib Kitchen Carlisle's Carlos Mexican Grill Catherine's Market Central State Bank Chamber of Commerce Cherokee Quickstop Citgo - HWY 22 City Hall Cloud Nine Court House Annex Dark Insurance Days Inn Docks Unlimited Dr. Mackey Dr. Sublett Emporium Wine Exxon - HWY 280 Fanny’s George W. Hardy- Dentist Grace's Flowers Hampton Inn Heritage South Credit Union Hillabee Towers Hometown Pharmacy Jackson Drugs Jake's Jes & Gray Living Jim Bob's JR's Sports Bar & Grill Karen Channel - State Farm Agent Koon's Korner Lake Martin Pizza Co. Lake Martin Nutrition Larry's General Store Longleaf Antiques Main Street Urgent Care Marathon - CHEROKEE RD Mark King's Furniture Medicine Express

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Moore Wealth Management North Lake Condo Pri Care Quality Inn Regions Bank ReMax Renfroe’s Ridge Marina River Bank & Trust River Bend Store River North Marina Ron Carroll-State Farm Insurance Agent Russel Do It Center Russel Marine Boating & Outdoors Russell Home Decor Russell Medical Center Russell Lands Real Estate Sales Center Satterfield Senior Nutrition Center Shay Aesthetics Sho’Nuff BBQ Smith Marina SpringHouse Sun’s Diner Sunrise Docks Super 8 Tallapoosa Publishers Temple Medical The Body Shop The Ridge Club The Square Sure Shot Outdoors Tippy Canoe Truist Bank Valley Bank Walgreen's Warren Appliance Willow Point Golf & Country Club Willow Point Office Wind Creek State Park Gate Wind Creek State Park Store ➤ DADEVILLE Alabama Power Amazin' Grazin' Backyard Dreams Boondocks at Bay Pine Blue Creek Marina

Chuck's Marina City Hall Courthouse Creekside Lodge Dadeville Public Library Dadeville Wellness Center Deep Water Docks Ellaby Boutique Farmer's Merchant Bank Floyd's Feed and Seed Flutterflies Harbor Pointe Marina Holiday Shores Grocery Ivy Creek Urgent Care Jim's Pharmacy Lakay's Lake Martin Community Hospital Lake Martin Dadeville Area Chamber Lake Martin Pizza Co. Lakeshore Pharmacy Lake Martin Realty Lucky Flight Bottle Shoppe Martin’s at Lake Martin McKelvey Miller's on Broadnax Millstone Japanese Maple Nursery Momentum Marina Niffer's Place Oskar's Payne's Furniture Phoenix Nails PNC Bank Poplar Dawgs Porch and Pine Renfroe's Market Route 49 Russell Building Supply Shell Siggers Stillwaters Country Club StillWaters Residential Office Store 34 The Backyard The Cart Source The Grand Bakery Three Sixty Lake Martin, LLC Two Ghosts Coffee Valley Bank Wisp and Well

➤ EQUALITY Equality Food Mart Parker Creek Marina Real Island Marina Southern Star The Landing at Parker Creek ➤ ECLECTIC Anchor Bay Marina, Inc. Children's Harbor Thrift Store Cotton's BBQ Eclectic Public Library First Community Bank Johnson Furniture Company Kowaliga General Store Kowaliga Marina Kowaliga Restaurant LakeScape Lake Martin Dock Company Lake Martin Machine Gun Lake Martin Mini Mall Lake Martin Reflections Spa Nails Offshore Marina Russell Do It Center Slice of Eclectic The Social at Lake Martin ➤ WETUMPKA First Community Bank The Wetumpka Herald Office ➤ TALLASSEE 1220 Cafe Chamber of Commerce Community Hospital Eagle (Gilmer Ave) First Community Bank Guardian Credit Union Louie's Chicken Fingers Marathon (Kent Rd) Get LAKE magazine delivered to your mailbox for just $75 per year. To start your subscription, call Baily Terry at 256-234-4281.

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LAKE ADVERTISERS n TO JOIN, CALL 256-234-4281 Alabama Power.......................................................................5

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

Ashley Chancellar, Lake Martin Realty...................... 85

Judith Jager, Lake Martin Realty.................................... 31

Russell Lands...............................................................21, 100

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Karen Channell State Farm............................................. 95

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Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation.................................. 26

Lake Martin Garden Shop............................................... 80

Stanley Steamer................................................................... 95

Centennial Homes.............................................................. 70

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"Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit." ~ E. E. Cummings

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Putting Your Estate in Order

By Susan Clayton Moore, J.D. Wealth Manager Moore Wealth Management, Inc. In addition, when is the last time you reviewed your beneficiary designations in your 401(k)s, IRAs, life insurance policies and annuities? One of the most common estate planning mistakes is not making sure that beneficiary designations are in order. Many people believe that the will governs everything about their estate and don’t worry about regularly reviewing their various beneficiary designations. In fact, your beneficiary designations differ from what is expressed in your will, the beneficiary designations in your retirement plans or insurance policies will trump the will. Every August, Susan Moore of Moore Wealth Management in Montgomery, conducts a free estate planning workshop in a Webinar format. The workshop covers a number of issues, including a review of the various legal documents involved in estate planning such

When is the last time you reviewed your estate plan? Do you have a will? According to a recent survey by the 1Harris Poll, 64% of Americans don’t have a will. Why? The most common reason mentioned was that “they hadn’t gotten around to it yet.” If you have a will, when is the last time you reviewed it? Due to estate law changes in the last five years, there is a good possibility that a will that was drafted more than five years ago needs to be revised.

as wills, durable powers of attorney, advanced healthcare directives, revocable and irrevocable trusts. Beneficiary designations are a great tool, properly used, in estate planning. They are flexible and can be changed without having to re-do legal documents to reflect family changes such as births, deaths and divorces. The workshop covers how to use these beneficiary designations properly, including primary and contingent beneficiaries and per capita or per stirpes distributions. In addition, the Webinar offers attendees a template of how to conduct a family meeting at which you communicate to your family and heirs your plans and intentions around the distribution of your assets. A vital part of this meeting is to define the roles and responsibilities of your various heirs as well as general instructions, including the location of key documents, burial wishes and intentions for

tangible personal property. These methods will be covered in a Webinar format on Wednesday, August 26th by Susan Moore of Moore Wealth Management, Inc. at 12 p.m. Please call 334.270.1672 or email sarah@moorewealthmanagement.com for more information and reservations. 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 Putting Your Estate in Order workshop is part of our monthly “and then some” workshops. In addition, MWM conducts daily current events market updates that attempt to explain what is going on in the financial world. If you would like to be on the mailing list or receive email notifications of upcoming webinars, please call 334.270.1672.

Susan Clayton Moore, J.D., is a financial advisor and wealth manager of Moore Wealth Management, Inc., with offices Montgomery and Alexander City, AL. Susan has over $150 million in assets (as of 9.1.24) under management through Kestra Financial and has been a financial planner for over 40 years. Contact Susan at 256.234.2761. Email contact is susan@moorewealthmanagement.com. The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney or tax advisor regarding your individual situation. Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory Services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. Kestra IS or Kestra AS are not affiliated with Moore Wealth Management, Inc. https://www.kestrafinancial.com/disclosures

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