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Island Camping on Lake Martin
HIKING THROUGH HISTORY The Cherokee Bluffs Dam Railroad Trail
HUNTING ARROWHEADS Unearthing local ancient artifacts
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166 HERITAGE POINT NORTH $4,795,000 LISTING COURTESY OF RUSSELL LANDS
THE TRAILS • 156 VILLAGE TRAIL 4 BD 3.5 BA • WATERFRONT • DOCK $849,900
THE TRAILS • 180 VILLAGE TRAIL 4 BD 3.5 BA • WATERFRONT • DOCK SOLD $855,450
BOAT SLIP
THE TRAILS • 208 VILLAGE TRAIL 4 BD 3.5 BA • WATERFRONT • DOCK SOLD $849,900
THE TRAILS • 108 VILLAGE TRAIL 4 BD 3 BA • WATER ACCESS • BOAT SLIP $559,900
BOAT SLIP
BOAT SLIP
THE TRAILS • 92 VILLAGE TRAIL 4 BD 3 BA • WATER ACCESS • BOAT SLIP $559,900
THE TRAILS • 124 VILLAGE PKWY 3 BD 2 BA • WATER ACCESS • BOAT SLIP $459,900
THE TRAILS • 22 RAMP CIRCLE 4 BD 3 BA • WATER ACCESS • BOAT SLIP SOLD $629,000
44 HICKORY DR • 3 BD 2 BA WATERFRONT • PIER/DOCK • GARAGE SOLD $521,250
WATER ACCESS
STILLWATERS • 726 STILLWATERS DR 3 BD 2.5 BA • GARAGE $529,000
85 MARTIN RIDGE TRACE • 3 BD 2 BA WATER ACCESS • COMMON BOAT SLIPS $415,000
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 | OCTOBER 2026 3
On the Cover
editor's LETTER
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Ever since I was a child, there are two things I have always wanted to find: a shark’s tooth and an arrowhead. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like I have an eye for either, as I’ve never had much luck finding one outside of a souvenir shop. But around Lake Martin, you never know what might be buried just beneath your feet. As water levels drop each fall, miles of shoreline and lakebed begin to emerge, revealing a glimpse of history that spans across thousands of years. Long before Lake Martin was formed, Native American cultures lived throughout this region, leaving behind traces of their lives in the form of stone tools, pottery and, most commonly, arrowheads. On page 54, we spoke with archaeologist Ben Hoksbergen, a former president of the Alabama Archaeological Society. He takes us through the history behind the arrowheads and artifacts that can be found around the lake region – and more importantly – what you can and cannot do if you happen to find one. While I may not have much luck looking down, I do seem to have better luck looking up. I’ve always loved lying outside on a clear night, counting shooting stars, watching the moon and waiting patiently for a UFO to make an appearance. Some of my favorite nights at Lake Martin have been spent doing just that, catching meteor showers by the shoreline or even getting a
4 OCTOBER 2026 | LAKE
rare glimpse of the northern lights. Away from bright city lights, the lake offers a pretty incredible window into the night sky. On page 22, Auburn Astronomical Society President Jim Harstad helps us chase constellations, spot unique aspects of planets and share a few simple tips for getting the best view right from your own dock. And while lower water levels and cooler temperatures may signal the end of the summer season, new autumn adventures are just beginning. In this Outdoor issue, we also dive into what you need to know before camping on one of Lake Martin’s islands on page 36 before lacing up our hiking shoes on page 28 to explore the historic Cherokee Bluffs Dam Railroad Trail, where remnants of the century-old railroad used to build Martin Dam still remain along the path. So, this fall, get outside, explore somewhere new and keep your eyes open – sometimes the best adventures are found simply by taking a closer look at what has been around us all along. Stay adventurous!
With dozens of islands scattered across Lake Martin, a little preparation can turn an ordinary fall weekend into an unforgettable experience of camping along the shoreline under a canopy of stars. Photo by Kenneth Boone
Shaylee Beck Moore Editor-in-Chief
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lakemagazine.life Shaylee Beck Moore, Editor-in-Chief
Focused on What Matters COMING TOGETHER FOR CLEANER RIVERS Through Renew Our Rivers, volunteers across Alabama have helped remove more than 13.5 million pounds of trash from lakes and waterways. What began as a simple cleanup effort has grown into one of the nation’s largest river cleanups, bringing together more than 104,000 people who care about protecting the places that make Alabama special. It’s a reminder that caring for the places we love is something we can all be part of – and anyone is welcome to join the effort.
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LAKE | OCTOBER 2026 5
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TABLE OF
CONTENTS CATCHING CONSTELLATIONS ....................... 22 Look to the night sky with expert tips for beginning stargazers at Lake Martin.
HIKING THROUGH HISTORY ........................... 28
Discover the local history behind hiking the Cherokee Bluffs Dam Railroad Trail.
ISLAND CAMPING ................................................. 36 Trade the campground for an island and discover a unique way to experience the outdoors at Lake Martin.
THE POINT OF LASTING LEGACY .................. 42 One couple transforms a generational lake cabin into a dream home on the shoreline at The Heritage.
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HUNTING ARROWHEADS ................................ 54 Archaeologist Ben Hoksbergen shares what to know when searching for arrowheads around Lake Martin.
LAKE MAGAZINE’S MONTHLY FEATURES: LAKE’S QUICK GUIDE TO THE LAKE........................................... 09 LAKE SCENES............................................................................................. 10 LAKE CALENDAR OF EVENTS.......................................................... 14 LAKE MARTIN NEWS ........................................................................... 18 NATURE OF THE LAKE ....................................................................... 58 LMRA ............................................................................................................. 62 HEALTHY LIVING .................................................................................... 64 FAB FINDS ................................................................................................... 67 CHEF'S TABLE ........................................................................................... 68 THE ACE ...................................................................................................... 70 FROM THE CELLAR ................................................................................ 72 BIG CATCHES ........................................................................................... 74 PARTING SHOT ....................................................................................... 82
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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 | OCTOBER 2026 7
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Relax. Enjoy. Lake Martin.
LAKE QUICK GUIDE Last Month's Lake Levels ➤ Highest: 489.89 ➤ Lowest: 488.51 Summer: 491 MSL Winter: 481 MSL
Renew Our Rivers Returns For more than two decades, volunteers from across the community have had a hand in preserving Lake Martin’s beauty, one piece of trash at a time. The annual Renew Our Rivers cleanup returns November 6 and 7, encouraging volunteers of all ages to help clean shorelines, roadsides, boat ramps and neighborhoods around the lake area. Led locally by the Lake Martin Resource Association in partnership with Alabama Power, Russell Lands, Advanced Disposal, Wind Creek Park, TowBoat US Lake Martin and Lake Martin Dock Company, the cleanup is part of a much larger effort to protect Alabama’s waterways. Renew Our Rivers began in 2000 when a group of Alabama Power employees organized a cleanup along the Coosa River after becoming concerned about litter in the water. Since then, the program has expanded into one of the nation’s largest river cleanup efforts, bringing together thousands of volunteers across the state each year. At Lake Martin, that effort has made a significant impact. Over the years, volunteers have removed
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.
more than 160 tons of trash from shorelines and surrounding roadways, along with more than 600 automotive tires that were collected and recycled. This year, volunteers are encouraged to work independently, collecting litter along shorelines, roadsides and within their own neighborhoods before delivering bagged trash to designated dumpsters. Lower fall water levels also provide an opportunity to reach debris that may have collected along the shoreline throughout the year. The cleanup will take place from 8 a.m. to noon both days. Supplies will be available at dumpster locations, with volunteers on-site to help unload boats and vehicles. Dumpsters will be located at Kowaliga Public Ramp, Real Island Marina, Wind Creek Park Marina, Big Fish Real Estate, Siggers Grocery and Union Public Boat Ramp. Volunteers who deliver collected trash will receive a custom T-shirt featuring the Lake Martin centennial logo. For more information, contact Steve Robinson at 256-654-0047 or steverobinsonrunner@gmail.com.
October Weather Outlook October 2026 Forecast
Historically, the Lake Martin area experiences average high temperatures in the high 70s with average lows in the lower 50s and about 3.64 inches of precipitation in the month of October. The National Weather Service has predicted that temperatures will be above average and rainfall will be average this month.
Year-to-Date
Precipitation: 39.83 inches Avg. high temp.:78.3 Avg. low temp.: 55.5 Avg. temp.: 66.9
Our Normal Precipitation: 3.64 inches Avg. high temp.: 76.7 Avg. low temp.: 50.8 Avg. temp.: 63.7 Information from the National Weather Service.
Lake Martin Area Real Estate Indicators Sales Month August 2026 August 2023 August 2020
Number of sales
Average selling price
Median selling price
Days on the market
Total houses for sale
Inventory/ sales ratio
41 34 57
$ 1,735,582 $ 1,026,221 $ 690,328
$ 1,275,000 $ 899,500 $ 600,000
101 86 138
147 97 91
6.04 4.77 2.55
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).
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(1) Makenzie Monk, Braden Forsyth, Olivia Monk, Eli Monk and William Hill at Monkapalooza XVI Family Reunion at Lake Martin. (2) Meagan and Axel Leonard proudly show off their first catch of the season. (3) Gatsby catches a quick nap with his mom after a fun day of boating and swimming. Photo by Taylor Hauk. (4) Catia Byers caught these summertime favorites in bloom at Wind Creek State Park. (5) The Fables family shows off their patriotic pride on the Fourth of July. Photo submitted by Nick Fables. (6) Davis Heflin was ready to drive the pontoon boat in the Fourth of July parade. Photo submitted by Julia Heflin. (7) Dallas enjoys a Lake Martin sunset cruise with his parents, Matt and Logan Tanaka. Photo submitted by Jessica Leonard. Send us your Lake Scene photos! Email editor@lakemartinmagazine.com or drop a photo on our Facebook page.
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READER SUBMISSIONS (1) A group of domestic Pekin and Silver Appleyard ducks paddle across Lake Martin. Photo by Tony Johnson. (2) Buddy and Bugget love feeling the wind in their whiskers with Jen Dye and Ronda Moreland. (3) The Griffin girls and their friends enjoy time at the Harbor Point pool in StillWaters. Photo submitted by Susan Griffin. (4) A stunning Lake Martin sunset near Pace’s Point. Photo submitted by Tony Johnson. (5) A Labor Day cookout with the DeVries, Spears and Baker families. (6) A pair of geese keeps watch as their little ones explore near Real Island. Photo submitted by Jessica Leonard. (7) Catia Byers took in the serenity from a dock at Wind Creek State Park.
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Send us your Lake Scene photos! Email editor@lakemartinmagazine.com or drop a photo on our Facebook page.
LAKE | OCTOBER 2026 11
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October 3 Dadeville Fall Festival
Celebrate fall in downtown Dadeville from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with local vendors, live music, arts and crafts, family-friendly activities and plenty of food. Enjoy a day of smalltown fun while shopping handmade goods and supporting the local community. For more information, email chamber@dadeville.com.
October 3 & 4 Po’ Ol’ Kowaliga Regatta
The classic Lake Martin tradition returns for a weekend of competition and camaraderie. The two-day regatta welcomes sailors to compete in the DSC Catalina 22, MC Scow, Flying Scot and open fleets. For more information or to register, visit dixiesailingclub. com.
October 4 Pumpkin Carving Tutorial at Wind Creek State Park
Join park naturalist Dylan Ogle at the Wind Creek State Park Clubhouse for a guided pumpkin carving tutorial and learn tips and techniques for creating the perfect jack-o’lantern. The program is open to all ages and costs $10 per person. Online registration is required. For more information, call 256-8279540 or email dylan.ogle@dcnr.alabama.gov.
October 10 46th Annual Oktoberfest
Join Alexander City Parks and Recreation from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for the 46th Annual
Oktoberfest and Custom Car Show. Enjoy vendors, food, entertainment and familyfriendly activities, including a petting zoo, inflatables and arts and crafts. For more information, contact Megan Blake at 256-5961846 or megan.blake@alexandercityal.gov.
October 10 Dadeville Historic Cemetery Heritage Walk
Step back in time as costumed reenactors bring 10 notable figures from Dadeville’s past to life during a guided tour through the historic cemetery. The event starts at 5 p.m. and tickets are $10, with proceeds benefiting preservation and restoration efforts at the cemetery, including the gravesites of veterans. Tickets are available at the Tallapoosa County Museum, Tallapoosa Nutrition or historicdadeville.org.
October 15 Lunch & Learn
Master gardener Gail Bolt will share tips on preparing your garden for the colder months and winterizing plants from noon to 1 p.m. at the Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama office, located at 5030 U.S. Highway 280 in Alexander City. Attendees are encouraged to bring a sack lunch, and dessert and tea will be provided. The program is free and open to the public. Reservations are required by noon October 12. To reserve a spot, call 256-234-0347 or email vcca.al@ gmail.com.
October 17 Kylee Cooper Farms’ Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival
Celebrate fall at Kylee Cooper Farms’ first Fall Festival and Pumpkin Patch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy pumpkin patch fun, local vendors, food trucks and more. For more information, call 334-380-1298.
Fall Family Festival at Russell Crossroads includes games, a pumpkin patch, petting zoo and more
CALENDAR OF EVENTS WHAT’S HAPPENING ON LAKE MARTIN 14 OCTOBER 2026 | LAKE
October 24 Alexander City Downtown Fall Festival
Bring the family to downtown Alexander City for an afternoon of autumn fun during the annual Fall Festival. Hosted by Main Street Alexander City, the event will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and feature vendors, food, games and activities for all ages, with trickor-treating beginning at 11 a.m. For more information, email mainstreet35010@gmail. com.
Alexander City Theatre II brings Washington Irving’s iconic tale to life in a spooky stage production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Performances October 23, 24 and 25 will be held at Radney Junior High School in Alexander City. Admission is free, and donations are accepted. The October 30 performance will be held at the Tallassee Performing Arts Center, with tickets available for $10 online or at the door. Visit the Alexander City Theatre II Facebook page for more information.
October 30 & 31 Turpentine Tales
Take a walk through the Russell Forest as Turpentine Tales returns from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Russell Crossroads. Beginning near the Town Green, trail guides will lead visitors to the ruins of the old Dixie Industrial Company’s turpentine distillery, where young actors portraying woodland animals share their roles in the forest. Along the way, visitors may encounter deer, a bald eagle, possums and other forest residents before ending the evening around the campfire with s’mores. Visit russelllands.com/events for more details.
October 31 Fall Family Festival at Russell Crossroads
Get into the autumn spirit at the annual Fall Family Festival from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Russell Crossroads. Held on the Town Green, families can enjoy a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, horseback rides and demonstrations at the grist mill and blacksmith shop. Naturalist Marianne will also be presenting at the Naturalist Cabin, and children are invited to dress up for a costume contest. The festival will also feature the annual Blue Ribbon Baking and Canning Contest, with cash and dinner prizes. Admission is $25 for a family of four or $10 per individual, and additional pumpkins are $5 each. Visit russelllands.com/ events for more details.
November 6 & 7 Renew Our Rivers Cleanup
The annual Renew Our Rivers cleanup returns to Lake Martin from 8 a.m. to noon both days. Volunteers are encouraged to collect litter along the shoreline, roadsides leading to public boat ramps and neighbor-
hoods throughout the Lake Martin community. Supplies will be available at designated dumpster locations, where volunteers can also drop off collected trash. Volunteers who deliver collected trash to a dumpster location will receive a custom T-shirt featuring the Lake Martin centennial logo. For more information, contact Steve Robinson at 256-654-0047 or steverobinsonrunner@gmail.com.
November 7 Lake Martin Cyclo-Circumnavigation
Cyclists will take on the challenge of biking around Lake Martin during the fifth annual Lake Martin Cyclo-Circumnavigation. Riders will meet at the beach parking lot at Wind Creek State Park at 7:45 a.m., with the ride beginning at 8:15 a.m. Registration is required. For updates and registration information, visit the Lake Martin CycloCircumnavigation Facebook page or email lakecycling66@gmail.com.
November 8 Dadeville Christmas Open House
NOVEMBER
October 23, 24, 25 & 30 ACT II’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Kick off the holiday shopping season during the Dadeville Christmas Open House from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Dadeville. Hosted by the Lake Martin-Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce, the annual event invites shoppers to visit local businesses and retailers, find unique gifts and cross a few items off their holiday lists. For more information, email chamber@dadeville.com.
November 12 Soldiers in Greasepaint
Storyteller Dolores Hydock will present “Soldiers in Greasepaint: USO Camp Show Entertainers from World War II” at 2:30 p.m. at Red Ridge United Methodist Church, located at 8091 County Road 34 in Dadeville. Hosted by Friends of the Dadeville Public Library, the free program is sponsored by a grant from the Alabama Humanities Alliance. For more information, email friendsdpl85@ gmail.com.
November 14 Dadeville Hometown Holiday Market
Get a head start on holiday shopping at the Dadeville Hometown Holiday Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Patriot Park in downtown Dadeville. This longtime holiday tradition returns with an expanded lineup of vendors, food, children’s crafts, activities and Christmas spirit. Browse handmade items and
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unique gifts while enjoying a festive day for the whole family. For more information, email darlasasser@yahoo.com.
November 14 Wind Creek State Park Holiday Market
The holiday season is coming to Wind Creek State Park. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors can browse a variety of food and merchandise vendors set up throughout the park’s day-use area and enjoy a festive outing with family and friends. Admission is $5 per carload. For more information, call 256-3290845.
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.
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 through October, this family-friendly gathering welcomes car enthusiasts from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. to showcase classic, custom and modern vehicles. For more details, call Michael at 334-663-5323 or Shannon at 256-749-7477.
Lunch & Learn
Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama will host a free Lunch and Learn series each Thursday in October from noon to 1 p.m. at 5030 U.S. Highway 280 in Alexander City. Programs include home safety, fraud awareness and prevention, winter gardening and plant care and more. Programs are free and open to the public. Attendees should bring a sack lunch unless otherwise noted; dessert and tea will be provided. Registration is required. Call 256-2340347 or email vcca.al@gmail.com.
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Mahjong Open Play at Carlisle’s
Carlisle’s Soda Fountain will host mahjong open play each Tuesday from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in downtown Alexander City. The weekly event is free and open to players of all skill levels. RSVP by Monday evening through the TeamReach app using the code 35010NEWS.
Fall Session of Grief Share
Grief Share’s fall session, “The Journey From Mourning to Joy,” meets from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, located at 3266 U.S. Highway 280. The 13-week program offers support for those grieving the death of a loved one. The seminar is sponsored by Radney Funeral Home & Cremation Services and First United Methodist Church.
Adult Guitar Lessons
Join instructor Judy Hughes for a beginnerfriendly adult guitar class at the Dadeville Performing Arts Center on Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon. Lessons are $5 per class and are open to beginners. 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. 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 attend and enjoy an evening of fellowship.
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LAKE NEWS Much-needed paving planned for 2027 Residents of Sturdivant Road have known for a while their road was in really bad shape. During District 6 council member Mike Lucas’s town hall meeting Tuesday night, several residents asked when the road would be paved. “I've coordinated with (Tallapoosa County District 3) commissioner John McKelvey,” Lucas said. “That's his district and the majority of that road is the county’s.” McKelvey said the county’s 2027 budget includes the paving of Sturdivant. “It's a unique road,” he said. “You've got the city that owns a portion of it, and then the county owns a portion of it, and then there's a contractor that has to develop and finish a portion of it before the city takes it.” McKelvey said the road has taken a beating with the amount of construction traffic as well as a tornado that came through the area and also timber harvest. “It's an issue,” he said. McKelvey said the total cost to pave from U.S. Highway 280 up to the bridge is $400,000. The plan is for the county to pave the entire section, with the Sturdivant Road is on schedule city reimbursing to be paved in 2027 the county for its portion of the road. The county’s share of the cost is $205,000. “The other part of it is whenever the developer gets his portion of the road up to code for them to do it, they're going to do it all at one time,” he said. The county is responsible for the section of Sturdivant Road only between the two city limit signs, McKelvey said. As of right now, there is only a verbal agreement between Alexander City and the county. “The conversation that I have had with the council members and (Alex City Mayor Mike Densmore) is that we would do it and they would reimburse us,” McKelvey said. “We have to have a formal contract signed for that to happen, and we haven't done that part, but I foresee it coming.” Densmore said there have been conversations to get this situation resolved. “We haven’t presented it (to the city council) to get approval for (the reimbursement),” he said. “But we are in mutual agreement to work together long term for the people that live there.” The plan is to start repaving Sturdivant Road in the spring and be completed within nine months, McKelvey said. ~ Gwen Bishop 18 OCTOBER 2026 | LAKE
Three-day retreat healing for survivors A local nonprofit founded in Georgia is crossing state lines offering the opportunity for healing and connection. Angela’s Voice, a nonprofit dedicated to support and advocacy of child sexual abuse, is hosting a three-day Time to Heal retreat at New Water Farms from Nov. 6-8. Attendance to the retreat is limited to only 24 women, but keeps Christ at the center as workshops, activities and conversations give adult survivors the tools they need for continued healing. Angela’s Voice founder and executive director Angela Williams, who currently resides in Dadeville, said the retreat is purposefully held at New Water Farms as she described it as one of the most beautiful areas at Lake Martin. She said what participants can truly expect is compassionate teaching. “(They will be) hearing from survivors who have actually experienced it and healed from it and are walking in victory,” Williams said. “We will have worship. We will have guided small group discussions coming out of the workshops. There will be prayer. We will have a prayer team for individual prayer. There will be restorative activities. There will be good food, and opportunities for survivors to rest and and receive.” The goal is for the workshops to help the survivors understand the lasting effects of trauma physically and mentally. She said the lasting effects of trauma is not often explained, so it is important they address subjects like shame, identity and emotional triggers. “(We will discuss) how to deal with triggers, what are healthy boundaries, relationships, just practical ways to continue their healing,” Williams said. “Sort of just filling their toolbox with tools so they can walk away saying ‘Oh, now I understand why I have an eating disorder or an addiction, substance abuse.’ Williams started Angela’s Voice as she is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Williams faced her abuse from age 3 to 17. Her own battle with trying to tell trusted adults and an eventual suicide attempt at 17 birthed a form of therapy for her and advocacy and support for others: Angela’s Voice. The retreat is for women ages 18 and older. Registration is available at www.angelasvoice.com/retreat. Local businesses, churches, organizations and individuals throughout Alabama are encouraged to become healing partners at www.angelasvoice.com/partner to assist in funding scholarships that offset costs associated with the retreat. The retreat registration is $295 and includes registration, two nights of accommodations, all meals, Christ-centered workshops and healing activities throughout the weekend. ~ Sarah Chase
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LAKE | OCTOBER 2026 21
Catching Constellations STORY BY SHAYLEE BECK MOORE PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE & AUDRA SPEARS
Cooler temperatures make autumn an ideal time to stargaze at Lake Martin 22 OCTOBER 2026 | LAKE
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Gazing up at the night sky, miles away from bright city lights and populated areas, Lake Martin offers a front-row seat to some of the best star gazing experiences around. From dimly lit docks and piers, the local night sky can open a window into another world, revealing planets, shooting stars and even the Milky Way from backyards right at the lake. “For me, it’s not about being a scientist,” said Jim Harstad, president of the Auburn Astronomical Society. “It’s just a matter of getting out, setting up the telescope and looking up to see the universe above you.” Harstad’s own interest in astronomy began as a young child, when someone pointed out Venus in the night sky. Intrigued, he followed the planet throughout the summer, noting changes in its brightness and position in the sky. That simple observation sparked a lifelong fascination with astronomy. “I thought it was so interesting,” Harstad said. “I just started reading child-level books on astronomy, and then as a teenager, my parents gifted me a telescope. It was pretty rudimentary, and I have since invested in a bigger one, but I still have it. I’ve been interested in astronomy ever since.” An amateur astronomer, Harstad has served as president of the Auburn Astronomical Society since January 2025, sharing his knowledge of the night sky through outreach events with schools, Scouting groups and curious members of the public. While the vastness of the universe can seem intimidating, Harstad said astronomy does not have to begin with distant galaxies, black holes or a complicated understanding of science. It can start by simply stepping outside and gazing at the fascinating sky above. What appears to be a blanket of stars overhead is actually a view across an almost unimaginable range of distances. While the moon is relatively close in perspective, the stars visible from Earth can be hundreds of light-years away – making the view overhead even more remarkable. “I think what’s interesting is just going out in the yard and looking up,” Harstad said. “It’s not just a pattern of stars on a dome across the sky. Once you start understanding a little bit of what you’re looking at, it adds perspective. Those are real objects made of gas, dust and rock, and they’re there to be looked at just like any other natural object here on Earth.” Lake Martin’s darker skies also make the area a good place to watch for meteor showers, though Harstad cautions beginners not to expect the sky to look like the
dramatic images often seen online. “You see a picture online where they’re showing dozens of meteors coming down at the same time, and that’s not what it looks like,” Harstad said. “It’s onesietwosies, but it’s still fun to see them.” And there is no need to wait until the middle of the night for constellation gazing. Harstad said interesting objects can become visible as early as about 40 minutes after sunset or 40 minutes before sunrise, with a moonless night offering ideal darker conditions for viewing stars and other objects. For beginners with binoculars or a small telescope, Harstad said the moon itself is one of the easiest – and most interesting – places to start. Craters, mountains and other features along its surface can come into view with even basic equipment. “My favorite time to look at the moon is when it’s in its first quarter phase, when it’s half lit,” Harstad said. “When the line between light and dark is right down the middle.” During that phase, sunlight strikes the moon from the side, casting shadows along mountains and crater rims that make the features of its surface easier to distinguish. “You can see they’re casting long shadows, and they really stand out,” Harstad said. “In order to see that, you will need something – at least binoculars or a small telescope. But that’s the best time. So, look at the calendar for the first quarter moon.” Beyond the moon, Harstad said two of the most popular targets for beginner stargazers are Jupiter and Saturn. Even with a modest telescope, viewers can see Jupiter’s four largest moons – known as the Galilean moons – or catch a glimpse of Saturn’s famous rings. “The planets are always interesting, particularly Jupiter and Saturn,” Harstad said. “Those are always fan favorites.” For help identifying objects overhead, Harstad also recommends using a stargazing app, such as Stellarium, which allows users to point their phones toward the sky Beginners can use a stargazing app to help identify objects
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“
For me, it's not about being a scientist...It's just a matter of getting out, setting up the telescope and looking up to see the world above you." ~ Jim Harstad, Auburn Astronomical Society President
Basic stargazing equipment can reveal Jupiter’s moons, Saturn’s rings and lunar craters from Lake Martin
and identify stars, planets and outlines of constellations. And as temperatures begin to cool around Lake Martin, the coming months offer some of the best conditions of the year to give stargazing a try. Fall and winter bring darkness earlier in the evening, allowing observers to head outside without staying up as late. Cooler temperatures also generally mean less of the humidity and haze that can interfere with visibility during an Alabama summer. There will also be plenty to watch for before the end of the year. The Orionid meteor shower peaks October 21-22, followed by the Southern and Northern Taurids in November and the Leonids November 16-17. One of the year’s most active meteor showers, the Geminids, peaks December 13-14. 24 OCTOBER 2026 | LAKE
Those interested in learning more about astronomy can also turn to the Auburn Astronomical Society. The organization hosts public outreach events throughout the area, including stargazing programs at Wind Creek State Park. For beginners ready to invest in their first telescope at home, Harstad recommends starting simple. A small tabletop reflector can offer plenty to see without a major investment, he said, while those looking for something larger might consider a telescope with a Dobsonian mount. But whatever the style, stability is key. “The worst thing you want to watch out for is a telescope that wobbles, because if it wobbles, nothing else matters,” Harstad said. “You’re going to have a miserable time.” Above all, Harstad encourages beginners to be patient
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and manage their stargazing expectations. Photographs online may show brilliant colors, dozens of meteors or details the human eye will not necessarily see through a telescope. But that does not make the experience of stargazing any less remarkable. “Just remember what you’re looking at is live and real,” Harstad said. “That alone is very cool.” The Auburn Astronomical Society meets online once a month and welcomes anyone with an interest in astronomy, from beginners to experienced observers, to join. For more information about the Auburn Astronomical Society, upcoming events or memberships, visit auburnastro.org or follow the Auburn Astronomical Society on Facebook.
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Hiking through history with the Cherokee Bluffs Dam Railroad Trail STORY BY SHAYLEE BECK MOORE PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
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With fall foliage beginning to peak around Lake Martin, one of the area’s most unique hiking adventures lies near Martin Dam, where explorers can not only catch the brilliant autumn colors and wildlife but also walk through more than a century of local history. The Cherokee Bluffs Dam Railroad Trail, located near Martin Dam, follows portions of the old railroad system that was once used to transport materials for the construction of the dam. Today, traces of that railroad remain hidden within the woods, offering hikers a glimpse into the history and massive undertaking that ultimately created Lake Martin. More than a hundred years ago, when mules and wagons were still common modes of transportation, construction of Martin Dam was about to transform the remote stretch of the Tallapoosa River Basin into the lake seen today. With few reliable roads and vast stretches of undeveloped land surrounding the site, getting the materials needed to build the dam at Cherokee Bluffs presented a challenge of its own. The solution was a railroad. By 1912, William Blount was already expanding the Birmingham & Southeastern Railway through the region. The railroad stretched from Union Springs through Fort Davis to Milstead, and later that year, Blount purchased the existing Tallassee & Montgomery Railway, a short line connecting Milstead and Tallassee. 28 OCTOBER 2026 | LAKE
Railroad crews nicknamed Blount’s growing line the pour permanent concrete footings. Instead, large timbers “Bump & Slide Easy,” a play on its B&SE initials. About were set into excavated areas to support the bridge’s a decade later, the railroad would take on an important superstructure. The timbers were later removed, but the new role when the B&SE partnered with Alabama Power impressions left behind remain visible along the trail. to haul materials needed to build hydroelectric dams in “You can still see these places where they dug to put the region. those big timbers,” Lanier said. “They’re about 10 feet That partnership would eventually bring the railroad to long, and they’re several feet deep. You can tell exactly Cherokee Bluffs – and help make the construction of Martin Dam possible. By that time, the B&SE’s main line extended north through Kent to Eclectic. When work began at Cherokee Bluffs in 1923, approximately 6 miles of railroad track were laid by Alabama Power from the B&SE railhead at Kent to the remote dam site, providing a way to haul construction materials and equipment through the rugged terrain. As the railroad approached the dam site, it divided into what became known as the Lowline and Highline sections. The Lowline continued toward the Tallapoosa River and crossed near the base of the future Lake Martin dam. From there, the tracks crossed the river again, forming a loop that allowed trains to travel through the construction area. Historic railroad A second route, known as the Highline, crossties can be branched off for approximately 1 mile and found along the trail climbed about 126 feet above the Lowline, carrying materials such as sand and gravel to the upper portion of the construction site to what would later become the top of Martin Dam. where the bridge went right across the Great Gorge.” There, the materials were mixed into the concrete used But the Great Gorge is only one fascinating piece of the to construct the dam. railroad still visible today. Along both the Highline and “It’s really interesting to look at it,” said Jimmy Lanier, Lowline routes, hikers who know what to look for can former president of the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail spot remnants of the railroad crossties. Association. “The big, concrete piers are still in the river “One reason I recommend this trail is because of the on the Lowline railroad below the dam. You can see them history of it,” Lanier said. “But also, there are actually when you cross the bridge.” some places on the railroad trail that you can still see In addition, seven railroad bridges were constructed in where the railroad crossties were. They are 103 years old. the area in 1923 to help move materials to and around the It’s a neat piece of history to explore.” dam site, Lanier said. Just three years later, after Martin The Lowline Railroad Trail currently stretches 2.7 Dam was completed, the temporary bridges were then miles before reaching Channahatchee Creek, where there demolished. is no dry crossing, making the complete out-and-back At the height of construction, approximately 3,000 men hike approximately 5.4 miles. Hikers can also explore were working on the dam, and Lanier said as many as 125 portions of the Highline route and continue through the carloads of materials arrived by railroad in a single day. trail system toward Saddle Rock Mountain, the highest Today, hikers can access the Cherokee Bluffs Dam point in Elmore County. Railroad Trail from the trailhead on the Yates Lake Today, the trains, bridges and thousands of workers Forever Wild property off Gold Mine Road. From there, may be gone, but traces of the railroad still remain tucked portions of both the historic Highline and Lowline routes away amongst the overgrown trees, making the Cherokee can be explored. Bluffs Dam Railroad Trail more than an afternoon hike For Lanier, one must-see sight along the trail is about – it’s an opportunity to follow the historic path of the raila mile into the Lowline hike at the Great Gorge, where road that helped build Martin Dam, and ultimately, create remnants of a temporary railroad bridge can still be found Lake Martin. more than a century later. Visit CRATA.org for hiking maps and more informaTo carry the railroad across the gorge, workers contion. structed a temporary bridge – but, knowing it would only be needed during construction of the dam, they did not LAKE | OCTOBER 2026 29
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Beyond its history, the trail offers plenty for hikers to discover along the way, from colorful fall foliage and native wildlife to scenic views around every turn.
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Hikers can choose between the trail’s high and low lines, with routes stretching approximately five miles through the woods, featuring rocky crossings, native plants and remnants of the century-old railroad.
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Island Camping
STORY BY SHAYLEE BECK MOORE & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
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With facilities such as Wind Creek State Park and Whiskey Ridge RV Park readily available, camping is hardly a new way to experience the outdoors at Lake Martin. But beyond the traditional campsites, a unique experience awaits just off the mainland. Scattered across the lake, dozens of small islands offer a secluded way to spend a night outdoors – especially in autumn. As the summer crowds thin out and cooler temperatures settle in, island camping can become opportunity for an overnight adventure unlike anywhere else on Lake Martin.
PACKING FOR ISLAND CAMPING
Trading a mainland campground for a primitive island changes the rules. Unlike pitching a tent at an established campground with a store just down the road, once the boat leaves the dock, there is no quick trip back to the car for something left behind. 36 OCTOBER 2026 | LAKE
In addition, campers need to plan for a remote – and potentially wet – experience. At minimum, campers will need to pack a tent, sleeping bags, flashlights or headlamps, drinking water and dry bags to protect clothing, electronics and other essentials. Everything needed for the night must fit securely aboard the boat. When loading the vessel, keep heavier gear, such as water jugs and coolers, low and near the center of the boat to help maintain stability. Sleeping bags, clothing and other items that cannot afford to get wet should be packed in waterproof dry bags or sealed inside heavyduty plastic bags. One unexpected wave or sudden rainstorm while venturing to an island can make for a long night if the bedding gets soaked before reaching shore. And don’t skimp on the drinking water. With no potable water available on an undeveloped island, plan to bring about 1 gallon per person, per day, with extra on
Several of Lake Martin’s islands offer secluded spots to pitch a tent and spend the night outdoors
hand for emergencies rather than relying on lake water as a backup plan. While Lake Martin is known for its clean water, that does not mean untreated lake water is safe to drink. Lake Watch of Lake Martin regularly tests sites for E. coli, and levels can vary by location and conditions, particularly following heavy rainfall. Its online Swim Guide provides recent testing results, but those results indicate whether the water meets standards for swimming – not whether the lake water is safe to drink.
CHOOSING AN ISLAND
Choosing where to spend the night takes a little planning. Not every island on Lake Martin is open for public use, and an empty shoreline does not automatically mean the property is available for camping. Private islands, such as Young’s Island, are strictly off-limits to
the public and patrolled. Alabama Power does allow primitive camping on islands classified as natural undeveloped lands under its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license. Public islands such as Cheeseburger Island may be options, but campers should first contact the Alabama Power Shoreline Management Office to confirm an island’s ownership and classification. Campers should also keep in mind that stays are limited to three days, and campfires and permanent structures are not permitted. Because ownership and land classifications can vary from island to island, Alabama Power encourages anyone planning an overnight trip to contact its Shoreline Management Office before setting up camp at MartinYatesThurlowLakeShorelines@southernco.com or 256-825-0053. LAKE | OCTOBER 2026 37
SETTING UP CAMP
After arriving on a permitted island, choosing the right tent site is essential. Unlike the flat, manicured pads of a campground, island terrain can be uneven and unpredictable. While a sandy beach might look tempting, it is best to find a flat, elevated clearing set back from the shoreline. Pitching a tent in low-lying areas could leave campers vulnerable to waves from a pop-up rain shower or passing boats during the night. Wind is another consideration. Islands can be exposed to breezes sweeping across the lake water, so look for a site with natural protection from the wind. A shaded clearing can also offer relief from the afternoon sun and help keep the tent cooler throughout the day. Before pitching the tent, look up at the canopy above. Avoid setting up beneath dead or leaning trees or hanging branches that could fall during high winds or a storm. Sandy or loose soil may also make it difficult for standard tent stakes to hold, so longer stakes designed for soft ground may provide additional security without disturbing nearby trees or vegetation.
NO FIRES, NO FOOTPRINTS
Because open campfires are strictly prohibited on Alabama Power islands, meal options have to shift away from traditional camp cooking – meaning leave the raw hot dogs and s’mores at
home. Instead, lean into a creative no-cook menu with sandwiches or wraps, fresh or dried fruit, energy bars and trail mix. For an easy sunset dinner overlooking the water, elevate the evening with a packable charcuterie
Island Camping Essentials Checklist Shelter & Sleep n Tent with rainfly n Sleeping bag n Sleeping pad n Longer tent stakes for sandy or loose soil Food & Water n At least 1 gallon of drinking water per person, per day n Cooler with no-cook meals & snacks n Reusable plates, cups & utensils n Trash bags Light & Power n Headlamp or flashlight for everyone n Lantern n Extra batteries n Portable phone charger n Waterproof dry bags
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Personal Essentials n Weather-approppriate layers & rain gear n Extra dry clothes & socks n Insect repellent n Sunscreen n First-aid kit n Toilet paper n Hand sanitizer n Sealable waste bags For the Boat n Required life jackets & boating safety equipment n Navigation lights n Anchor & appropriate lines For Fun n Champ chairs n Fishing gear n Playing cards or games n Binoculars n Star chart or stargazing phone app
Prep for island camping with simple, no-cook meals
spread of crackers, jams, cheeses and cured meats. It is also important to keep in mind that whatever comes along for meals must leave the island with you. This is particularly important when primitive camping somewhere without trash cans, restrooms or campground staff. Alabama Power has a “carry-in, carry-out” policy for public access areas, meaning food wrappers, empty bottles and other waste should be packed out and not left behind. Primitive camping also means planning for something considerably less glamorous – the bathroom. With no restroom facilities on the islands, campers should come prepared with toilet paper, hand sanitizer and a plan for properly disposing of human waste. A portable camp toilet or simple bucket-style toilet lined with a sealable waste bag can make an overnight stay much more comfortable and practical. Waste bags designed for camping often contain absorbent material that helps control liquids and odors and can be sealed after use. Just like food wrappers, bottles and other trash, campers should pack out all waste, including used toilet paper, rather than leaving it behind on the island. Keeping a clean campsite also helps protect the island’s wildlife. An island may seem like an empty campsite, but it is already home to insects, birds and small animals. To prevent attracting unwanted nighttime visitors, never keep food or trash inside the tent. Instead, securely seal these and scented items inside a hard-sided cooler and store it locked on the boat overnight. When the boat pulls away the next morning, the goal is simple: The island should look exactly as it did when campers arrived.
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ON ISLAND TIME
Once settled in, slow down and take in the views of Lake Martin. Play cards by lantern light, pull up a chair along the shoreline, watch for shooting stars or simply listen to the waves hitting against the shoreline. With a little preparation, island camping can turn an ordinary fall weekend into a unique and unforgettable night on the water – and a completely different way to experience Lake Martin.
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Located at The Heritage, the Hardy family has had ties to the property since the 1800s
The Point of Lasting Legacy STORY BY SHAYLEE BECK MOORE & PHOTOS BY KENNETH BOONE
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For Dana and Will Ferniany, building a home on Lake Martin wasn’t simply about creating a place to retire. It was about holding onto a piece of family history that had been passed down for generations. Long before Lake Martin was created, Dana’s greatgrandfather, Walter William Hardy, owned property in the 1800s along the Tallapoosa River. When plans for creating the lake began to take shape in the 1920s, the Hardy family ultimately deeded 1,700 acres of its land to Alabama Power for approximately $3,600. Old photographs – kept in a cherished family album – offer glimpses of what the property looked like before the landscape changed, such as cattle roaming the farmland that once surrounded the rustic Hardy homestead. Though much of the land now lies beneath the waters of Lake Martin, one beloved piece of history from the original Hardy property still remains visible today – New Hope Church. Established in 1871, the church survived the creation of the lake and now sits across the slough from the Fernianys’ current home, where Dana and Will see it every morning from their patio. Following the creation of Lake Martin, the Hardy family rented a Russell cabin in 1951 on a remaining point overlooking their original land, surrounded by endless waterfront views.
For Dana, the cabin became an unforgettable part of her childhood. “My grandfather, who I called Poppy, was my babysitter when I was a little girl,” Dana said. “I used to come down to the lake with him, and I remember we’d go out and pick wild plums and blackberries. I learned how to swim down here, and the beaches were always fun for me and my siblings growing up.” Dana later met her husband, Will, in Birmingham, and throughout their 48 years of marriage, the lake has remained a staple for creating memories with family. The cabin became a place for community crawfish boils, long days of shuffleboard games and time spent working on the family boat, fondly referred to as “Cream Puff.” Some of their most cherished family moments were made through music, too. “One of our favorite memories was the Hardy Family Band,” Will said. “Her mother was a brilliant piano player. She just played by ear, so everyone would grab an instrument, or even an old jug, and play along.” In 2022, another opportunity for change arose as plans for The Heritage began taking shape. Though Dana and Will had already built their retirement home in Willow Glenn, the couple found out that the lot their family had come to love for generations was up The home sits on 1.8 acres surrounded by waterfront views
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The couple aimed for an elevated design while preserving the nostalgic feel of a lake cabin LAKE | OCTOBER 2026 45
Hues of blue, bronze and green carry throughout the home, inspired by the kitchen backsplash 46 OCTOBER 2026 | LAKE
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Family heirlooms displayed throughout the home honor generations of memories
for sale and they knew there were too many memories tied to the land to let it go. The Fernianys purchased the point lot and began designing a new lake house where they could give the next generation a place to make lifelong memories of their own. Partnering with builder Classic Homes and architect Taylor Dawson, the Fernianys created a dream lake house retreat, spanning more than 6,300 square feet complete with soaring 20 foot ceilings, four bedrooms and views that take full advantage of its position on the water. One of the couple’s main priorities was to have a view of Lake Martin from every window of the home while still maintaining an elevated, yet nostalgic, feel of a lake cabin inside. The design team of Vickie Herring and Robin Holcombe helped bring that vision to life, beginning 48 OCTOBER 2026 | LAKE
with an unexpected inspiration – the kitchen backsplash. “We wanted a colorful house,” Dana said. “We saw this tile at Robert F. Henry Tile in Birmingham and decided to decorate the entire interior around those colors.” The tile became the starting point for the home’s colorful interior, complemented by black granite countertops, Inline Lighting fixtures and additional elegant finishes sourced through Russell’s. Doors sourced from Europe and Egypt dating back to the 1700s add another layer of unique character throughout the lake house. One of the most personal nods to the property’s past is tucked inside a half bathroom on the main floor, where local artist Charles Forbus painted a life-sized mural on the walls, depicting the former family cabin and New Hope Church. Other spaces were designed with the Fernianys’ grandchildren in mind. The Hardy family home in the 1800s
The primary bedroom with a private study
Creative design elements preserved views of the lake
The home features two private beaches
The guest house provides space for the couple’s recreational gear
The guest house offers a secluded retreat for company
Waterfront views can be enjoyed from every space in the home
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The front entryway
The wraparound porch offers views of both sunrises and sunsets
An upstairs game room for grandchildren and guests
A cozy bunk room for sleepovers and making memories
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An outdoor shower off the primary bedroom gives little swimmers a place to rinse off before running inside, while upstairs, a playroom with a pool table and pinball machine offers an entertainment space of their own. Nearby, a bunk room decorated with “Charlie Fish” artwork leaves plenty of opportunities for sleepovers and long lake weekends with cousins. Perhaps one of the Fernianys’ favorite features is the outdoor wraparound porch. Overlooking the point and facing due North, the couple has endless views of both sunrises and sunsets. A wood-burning fireplace provides a relaxing spot for cooler evenings, while Will’s outdoor grill and pizza oven are put to good use entertaining company. Beyond the main lake house, a guesthouse and private garden greet visitors as they make their way down the drive. The guesthouse spans more than 2,100 square feet and features two bedrooms with a private deck overlooking one of the property’s two beaches. Below, the active couple store their coastal rowing shells, kayaks, bicycles and other favorite outdoor equipment. Building the new home also required tackling a few challenges unique to the property. Located on a point, the land was known to be prone to lightning strikes. As a precaution, Will added a lightning prevention device on top of the lake house, designed to create a roughly 300,000-square-foot ion dome to shield the property from potential storm damage. Unique tile patterns appear throughout the home
“
One of our favorite memories was the Hardy Family Band. Dana's mother was a brilliant piano player. She just played by ear, so everyone would grab an instrument, or even an old jug, and play along." ~ Will Ferniany
The main home and guest house sit along a secluded stretch of waterfront property
But perhaps the largest undertaking happened along the shoreline. A cofferdam was built during construction, expanding the property to approximately 1.8 acres. A specialized team from New Jersey constructed the massive seawall around the Creating music together point, a project the became a favorite pastime Fernianys were for the Hardy family told was among the most complicated and extensive seawall projects yet on Lake Martin. Despite the scale of the new home, remnants of the original cabin still hang in almost every corner of the lake house. Cherished games, murals, ceramic jugs and other family mementos are tucked throughout the home – even Otis Hardy’s old name tag found a new place near the front entrance, greeting visitors as they
walk through the door. Pieces of the historic Hardy home also made its way to Alexander City, where its wood was incorporated into building what is now Dr. George Hardy’s office as well as the house next door. Today, Dana and Will love to watch their children, grandchildren and even their “granddog” enjoy the same shoreline where Dana spent so much of her own childhood. “We have so many memories, and now my grandchildren are loving the beach and loving being down here,” Dana said. “We’ve just continued to carry on the family tradition for all these years.”
LAKE | OCTOBER 2026 51
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HUNTING ARROWHEADS at Lake Martin
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STORY BY SHAYLEE BECK MOORE & PHOTOS COURTESY OF BEN HOKSBERGEN
With Lake Martin’s annual winter drawdown exposing stretches of shoreline normally hidden beneath the water, the lake bed can reveal some interesting finds – old bottles, fishing lures, and, for the lucky observer, artifacts left behind centuries or even thousands of years ago. Finding an arrowhead is almost like discovering a missing piece of a puzzle – one that could date back as far as 15,000 years. “There’s potential to find artifacts going back to the late Ice Age,” said Ben Hoksbergen, archaeologist and cultural resource manager at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and a lecturer at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Hoksbergen has been fascinated by archaeology since the third grade. Growing up on a farm in Iowa, he discovered his family’s land contained a former Native American camp site. He occasionally tagged along with people searching the fields and became captivated by the arrowheads and other stone tools they would often find on the property. It was a thrill that intrigued him at a young age, and it is one he still experiences today. “I think just the appeal of finding ancient things in the dirt just got in my blood, and I’ve done it ever since,” Hoksbergen said.
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Long before Lake Martin was created by the construction of Martin Dam in the 1920s, Native American populations lived along the Tallapoosa River for thousands of years. During the Mississippian period, beginning around A.D. 1000, Indigenous societies across the Southeast established communities, grew crops and developed extensive trade networks. Centuries later, the Tallapoosa River valley became home to a number of historic Upper Creek towns of the Muscogee Creek Nation, such as Tukabatchee, Talisi and Okfuskee. The river itself made the area an attractive place to live. “Anywhere where you have a big navigable waterway like the Tallapoosa River, that’s going to be the main conduit for human movement back in the day,” Hoksbergen said. The river provided transportation and drinking water, as well as fish and other resources. People occupied river terraces and traveled along tributaries, leaving traces of their lives behind. And although “arrowhead” is the term most people use when they find a pointed stone artifact, many of those discoveries were never actually attached to arrows. Many predate the widespread use of the bow
and arrow and are more accurately called projectile points. Depending on their age, size and shape, they may have been attached to atlatl darts or spears, while others could have been hafted onto handles and used as knives. Archaeologists study a point’s shape, material, flaking patterns and signs of wear to help determine its age and how it was used. In the Lake Martin area, Hoksbergen said some of the more likely discoveries include Archaic and Woodland period projectile points, along with pottery from later periods. The material itself that was used to create an arrowhead can also offer a clue into the past. While high-quality flint or chert was preferred because it was easier to control and shape, it wasn’t naturally available in this part of the state. Although there is potential to find a piece of this imported glossy black or red stone, Native Americans in the Lake Martin area more commonly created tools from milky-white quartz, which was a natural resource available locally. Hoksbergen has found quarry sites near the lake where quartz eroding from hillsides was worked into usable pieces. “You can see all the quartz chips and flakes and cores where they’re chipping it off, trying to work it down into usable sizes that they can turn into stone tools,” he said. Because quartz is difficult to work with, an artifact may not immediately resemble the perfectly
shaped “arrowhead” someone expects to find. To an untrained eye, it may simply look like a broken white rock. While hunting for arrowheads, Hoksbergen suggests looking for signs of intentional shaping, including a pointed tip, sharp continuous edges or a stem or notches where the point could have been attached to a shaft or handle. Because arrowheads required so much effort to acquire or make, those tools were rarely disposed of. “Arrowheads were kind of multifunctional tools,” Hoksbergen said. “The technology was really dynamic, where they would be resharpened or repurposed for different things.” A damaged point could be reworked into a smaller tool rather than discarded. Something that began as a projectile point might later become a blunt tool or a small scraper used to clean hides. For those interested in learning to identify artifacts, Hoksbergen recommends the 2019 second edition of Handbook of Alabama’s Prehistoric Indians and Artifacts, a comprehensive guide to which he contributed to as an author. The guide includes photographs, measurements and classifications that can help identify projectile points and estimate their ages. But knowing where an artifact is found is just as important as knowing what it is. Before searching the lake’s shoreline for arrowheads, Hoksbergen said the most important rule is
Archaeologist Ben Hoksbergen excavates a Woodland Period storage pit at an ancient village site
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to know who owns the property and to have permission. Collecting artifacts from federal or state property is restricted by law, and private landowners and companies may have their own rules governing what can be removed from their property. For Lake Martin in particular, exposed lakebed should not be assumed to be public property simply because the water has receded. This land typically belongs to Alabama Power, and removing artifacts from the reservoir shoreline or lakebed without authorization is strictly prohibited. “The biggest rule of thumb as far as the laws go is to always have permission,” Hoksbergen said. Those protections exist because removing an artifact can also remove part of its story. Archaeologists rely on an artifact’s context – its exact location, its position within a site and the other objects found around it – to understand the people who left it behind. Once an artifact is removed without docu-
mentation, much of that information can never be recovered. If someone discovers what appears to be an artifact, Hoksbergen recommends photographing it on a cell phone to preserve the memory and documenting its exact location to help archaeologists preserve the past, rather than immediately Arrowheads found at Lake picking it up. Martin made from quartz Depending on where it is found, the discovery should then be reported to the appropriate agency, such as the Alabama Historical Commission for state property or the Alabama Power Shoreline Management Office if it is along Lake Martin, to protect the artifact from losing the historical clues that may be hidden within the find. “Archaeologists are really dependent on the context of these artifacts,” Hoksbergen said. “So, it’s not just the artifact itself, but where it was located, what site it was located on, its position on the site, how it was oriented. All of these things are different clues that we can learn from.” Private landowners who discover artifacts on their own land can also reach out to local archaeologists to learn more about what they have found. “I work with a lot of private landowners that are just interested in the past,” Hoksbergen said. “They find these things and they want to know more about them, and it becomes a really mutually beneficial relationship.” After all, the value of an arrowhead is about far more than the object itself. “The most important thing to remember is that artifacts are all pieces of a puzzle,” Hoksbergen said. “Archaeologists are kind of like detectives, and we’re depending on these little material clues to piece together the past. So, every time one of those clues gets moved or taken away, or one of those pieces gets removed from the puzzle, that’s lost knowledge that people could potentially learn from.”
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Despite their intimidating appearance, these native Alabama spiders are relatively harmless to humans
NATURE OF THE LAKE BY KENNETH BOONE
58 OCTOBER 2026 | LAKE
Golden Silk Spider
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The golden silk spider is big, almost as big as your hand, and if you’re not a fan of spiders, it admittedly looks pretty darn scary. But this native Alabama spider is actually harmless, helpful, peaceful and – once you get past the shock of seeing a spider this large – beautiful. These spiders are found in areas of high humidity and open space, so think boathouses, forest edges, roadsides and open woodlands here in the South. Their native range is from the southern U.S. all the way down into Peru and Argentina in South America. These spiders have a number of names, both common and scientific. Common names include golden orb-weaver, banana spider and golden silk orb-weaver. Formerly known as Nephila clavipes, this spider is now known to science as Trichonephila clavipes. Golden silk spider sexes are definitely not equal. The female grows more than 2 inches long – it’s one of the largest spiders found in North America – and it’s at least five times larger than the male. Both sexes are primarily yellow with some reddish-brown and white markings. Their long, slender legs are yellow with black tips, and there are bunches of black hair above each leg joint. The legs all connect to a white carapace, with black eyes and mouthparts on the front end. The spider’s large, oval abdomen connects to the opposite end of the carapace. It is usually golden or black with white patterns that change as the spider ages. One distinguishing characteristic of the golden silk spider – the one that provides its common name – is that it spins gold-colored silk. In fact, this spider is a consummate web builder. Golden silk spiders weave very large webs, up to a yard wide and 1 to 3 yards above the ground. The main rounded, classic-looking web has a second component of tangled silk on the side of the
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These spiders are named for the distinctive golden hue of their webs
web. It’s thought that the tangle of silk is useful as a barrier and alerts the web builder if a predator is coming. Female golden silk spiders have seven separate silk-producing glands. One is used to make a kind of superglue to anchor the webs to a structure, another has high tensile strength and is used to span wide areas, two are sticky and stretchy to capture insects, one is flexible for wrapping up prey, one is used for scaffolding in building webs, and another creates a shell over the spider’s eggs. The silk used as a cement to anchor the webs has a tensile strength eight times stronger than steel. Many spiders completely rebuild their webs each day, but the golden silk spider takes a more practical approach and just patches broken areas. Although this spider looks big and intimidating, it is not aggressive and almost never bites people. The only time it will bite a person is to defend itself when being handled roughly. Its bite has been compared to a mild bee sting and, barring an allergic reaction, it only causes redness and temporary pain at the site of the bite; however, that’s not the case with smaller creatures. When a golden silk spider bites small flying insects caught in its web, the venom incapacitates its prey and the spider moves it to a holding area outside the center
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of the web, where it wraps it in silk to preserve the meal. Over the course of their lives, these spiders go through a number of molts. After their final molt, the spiders are sexually mature. Female golden silk spiders can mate for 48 hours after their last molting. Males approach and vibrate their abdomens and pluck with their legs to try to get their partners to mate. Although it is not as common as with other spiders, some male golden silk spiders are killed and eaten by their partners. Once the spiders mate, the female sometimes changes male partners. But the wedding party doesn’t last too long: females live 27 days after their final molt, while males live two to three weeks. Scientists have long studied golden silk spiders because their silk is remarkably strong, stronger than that of most other spiders and stronger than Kevlar used to manufacture bulletproof vests. A golden silk spider was once taken to the International Space Station to study how a lack of gravity affects its web-building abilities. Some information for this article came from the LSU Ag Center, Animal Diversity Web from the University of Michigan, University of WisconsinMilwaukee and BugGuide.net.
Interior Design
Ashley Chancellor, Lake Martin Interiors
334-799-3922 | David@LegacyNewHomes.com
legacynewhomes.com Russell Lands Approved Builder
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ADOPT AN ISLAND
Stewardship of the Lake We Love
For those who get to experience Lake Martin, there is something special that is difficult to put into words. For some, it is an early morning boat ride when the water is perfectly still. For others, it is an afternoon spent with family and friends at a local waterfront restaurant, a favorite fishing spot, a quiet beach or a sunset from the end of the dock. Whatever brings each of us here, we share something in common: we want Lake Martin to remain the special place it is today for generations to come. That desire is at the heart of our mission at Lake Martin Resource Association. For more than five decades, LMRA has worked to protect, preserve and promote the health and wellness of Lake Martin. Our work touches many different aspects of life on the lake. We advocate for issues affecting Lake Martin and its stakeholders. We work with our partners on environmental stewardship, litter removal and issues affecting water quality and quantity. We promote boating and water
LMRA BY JODIE MCGIRT
Jodie McGirt is the president of Lake Martin Resource Association.
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safety. Through our buoy program, volunteers help maintain the navigational and hazard markers that thousands of boaters rely on each year. Much of this work happens quietly. You may never meet the volunteer who checks a buoy, picks up trash along a shoreline, participates in a cleanup or attends a meeting on an issue affecting the lake. But we all benefit from their community efforts. And it is all built around a simple idea: Lake Martin may not belong to any one of us, but the responsibility for caring for it belongs to all of us.
Stewardship in Action
One of the best examples of that responsibility in action is the Adopt-an-Island program, part of Lake Martin’s Treasured Mile initiative. The concept is simple. Individuals, families, neighborhoods, businesses, churches, civic organizations and other groups can take responsibility for helping care for one of Lake Martin’s designated islands or shoreline areas. Volunteers periodically visit their adopted area, remove litter and debris and help keep it clean for everyone who enjoys Lake Martin. The program grew from a partnership among LMRA, Alabama Power and Russell Lands and turns protecting Lake Martin into something each of us can actually do – both individually and as part of a larger community effort. When you look across 44,000 acres of water and hundreds of miles of shoreline, it can be easy to wonder what difference one person or small group can really make. The efforts to date of individuals and communities around Lake
What LMRA Is All About
Adopt-an-Island also illustrates how LMRA approaches our broader mission. LMRA cannot protect Lake Martin alone – and we were never intended to. We work alongside volunteers, lake residents, businesses, community organizations, public agencies and many other partners who share an interest in the long-term health and future of Lake Martin. Sometimes our role is highly visible. Other times it is simply bringing the right people together, identifying a need, advocating for an issue or helping turn concern into action. That spirit of collaboration and stewardship has been part of LMRA since our organization was founded in 1970, and I believe it is more important today than ever. Lake Martin continues to grow. More people are discovering what those of us who have loved this lake for years already know. That growth brings tremendous opportunities for our communities, but it also brings greater responsibility. More people means we need more volunteers actively caring for Lake Martin. That doesn’t mean everyone has to serve on a committee or spend every weekend volunteering. Stewardship can take many forms.
HOW YOU CAN HELP Martin have demonstrated that together, we can make a huge impact on the health and wellness of the lake.
So, Where Do You Start?
Think of one place where you live, where you play or where you travel that could use some TLC to keep it pristine. If enough of us accept responsibility for one island, one shoreline, one slough or even the area immediately around us, collectively we can make a difference. Adopting an island is certainly about keeping Lake Martin clean, but I believe it represents something much bigger – it creates a sense of stewardship and community. These islands and the lake around them are here for all of us to enjoy. Caring for them reminds us – and particularly our children and grandchildren – that enjoying Lake Martin also comes with a responsibility to protect it. I especially love seeing families participate together. A child who spends a Saturday morning helping family pick up bottles, cans and other debris from an island learns a lesson that goes well beyond litter. They learn that beautiful places do not stay beautiful by accident – they stay beautiful because people care enough to do something. Stewardship means leaving an island cleaner than we found it. It means securing trash in our boats so it cannot blow into the water. It means picking up the bottle floating beside the dock even though it isn’t ours. It means taking a few minutes to remove debris from a shoreline rather than assuming someone else will take care of it. Those individual decisions may seem small, but multiplied across the Lake Martin community, they have a tremendous impact.
n Adopt an island n Participate in a cleanup (Renew Our Rivers, November 6-7) n Practice responsible boating n Help a neighbor n Pick up litter n Teach your children & grandchildren to respect the lake n Support organizations that are working to protect the lake
We Need You
If Lake Martin is important to you, I encourage you to consider the role you can play in its future. One of the simplest ways to help is by joining LMRA, renewing your membership or making a donation. LMRA is funded through memberships and donations from people who believe Lake Martin is worth protecting. That support helps us continue our buoy and boating safety programs, environmental initiatives, cleanups, advocacy, education and stewardship efforts such as Adopt-an-Island. You don’t have to live on Lake Martin to have a stake in its future. If you boat here, fish here, vacation here, own a business here, raise your family here or simply love spending time here, you have a reason to help protect it. Protecting Lake Martin is not someone else’s responsibility. It is ours. Whether you adopt an island, volunteer at a cleanup, help us promote boating safety, become an LMRA member or make a donation, you are choosing to be a steward of this lake. Lake Martin may not belong to any one of us, but the responsibility for caring for it belongs to all of us. I hope you’ll join us. LAKE | OCTOBER 2026 63
Pumpkins:
More than a fall flavor As fall approaches, pumpkins are beginning to appear in grocery stores, farmers markets, as decorations and perhaps on the dinner table. When you hear the word pumpkin, if your mind automatically thinks of pumpkin pie, other holiday desserts, warm and cozy autumn recipes and pumpkin spice lattes, you are not alone. Let’s take a look at how this vibrant orange squash has so much more to offer than just seasonal flavor. From a nutrition perspective, pumpkin is worth celebrating for its impressive combination of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber and naturally low-calorie content. Pumpkin is a type of winter squash primarily composed of water and belongs to the same family as butternut and acorn squash. The bright orange color comes from carotenoids, including beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A. Vitamin A supports normal vision, immune function and healthy skin. Pumpkin also provides potassium, vitamin C and other nutrients that support overall health. Pumpkin is versatile and adds flavor, moisture, color and nutrients to meals without requiring a large amount of added fat or sugar. Pumpkin is surprisingly nutrientdense. One cup of fresh, cooked, mashed pumpkin contains approximately 49 calories, making it an excellent choice for adding volume and nutrients to meals without a large number of calories. That same 1-cup serving provides 12 grams of carbohydrates, 2.7 grams of fiber, 5.1 grams of natural sugar and 1.8 grams of protein. It is also an excellent source of vitamin A, a good source of potassium and provides smaller amounts of vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, magnesium and folate. If you prefer the convenience of canned 100 percent pure pumpkin, a 1/2-cup serving provides 45 calories. That serving also contains 10 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 4 grams of natural sugar and 1 gram of protein. It is an excellent source of vitamin A, a good source of potassium and provides smaller amounts of vitamin C, calcium and iron. Pumpkin also contributes fiber to our diet. Fiber helps support digestive health and provides a feeling of fullness after eating. While pumpkin alone will not provide all the fiber you need in a day, incorporating it alongside other high-fiber foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds will help create a fiber-rich eating pattern.
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ADDING PUMPKIN TO YOUR DIET Let’s think beyond pumpkin pie. A huge benefit of pumpkin is its versatility. It can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. Try adding pumpkin puree to the following foods to create a balanced meal combination of carbohydrates, protein, fat and fiber: n Oatmeal with cinnamon, nuts and Greek yogurt n Smoothies with fruit and a protein source n Soups for a creamy texture and naturally sweet flavor n Chili for added nutrients and body n Pasta sauces for a seasonal twist n Whole-grain pancakes, quick breads or muffins n Yogurt with fruit and seeds n Dips and spreads n Roasted vegetable dishes
The carotenoids found in orange and yellow vegetables are one reason nutrition professionals encourage people to eat a variety of colorful produce. Beta-carotene and other carotenoids are important for maintaining normal vision and protecting cells from oxidative stress. Including pumpkin alongside other colorful vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, tomatoes and peppers can provide a broad range of beneficial plant compounds. If you scoop out a pumpkin, do not overlook the seeds. Pumpkin seeds, also called pepitas, are sold without their shell. Pumpkin seeds are very different from pumpkin flesh. They contain protein, healthy fats, fiber, magnesium, zinc, iron and other nutrients. Roasted pumpkin seeds or pepitas can make a satisfying snack or crunchy topping for salads, soups, oatmeal, yogurt or grain bowls. There is no doubt that pumpkin can be part of a balanced diet. Pumpkin is nutritious, but how it is prepared matters. Pumpkin itself is relatively low in calories; however, popular pumpkin-flavored foods may contain substantial amounts of added sugar, saturated fat or refined carbohydrates. For example, the nutritional value of a slice of pumpkin pie or a sweetened pumpkin coffee drink is very different from that of a serving of plain pumpkin puree. You do not have to wait for pumpkin season to enjoy its nutritional benefits. Fresh and canned pumpkin can both be nutritious choices. Canned pumpkin puree is especially convenient and
HEALTHY LIVING BY JULIE HUDSON
Julie Hudson is a dietician at Lake Martin Wellness Center in Dadeville.
can make it easy to incorporate pumpkin into everyday meals. When purchasing pumpkin, check the label to make sure you are purchasing 100 percent pumpkin rather than pumpkin pie filling, which contains added sugar and other ingredients. Canned pumpkin can be stirred into oatmeal, yogurt, soups, chili, pasta sauces, smoothies or baked goods. Fresh pumpkin is another excellent choice, particularly when roasted or incorporated into soups and stews. Different varieties can vary in sweetness and texture, so experimenting with several types can keep meals interesting. It is very important to distinguish between pumpkin and pumpkin-flavored foods. Pumpkin spice is not the same as pumpkin. Many popular fall products contain pumpkin spice but very little or no actual pumpkin. Seasonal muffins, cookies, pastries, flavored creamers and specialty beverages may contain substantial amounts of added sugar and saturated fat. This does not mean these foods cannot be enjoyed – there is absolutely room for seasonal treats in a balanced diet. My advice as a dietitian is to recognize the difference: pumpkin itself is a nutrient-rich food, while pumpkin-flavored items are primarily treats. My takeaway for you is that pumpkin is one of the foods that certainly earns a place at your table all year long. The biggest nutrition lesson is to look beyond the word pumpkin on a menu. The nutritional value depends on the ingredients, preparation, portion and overall meal. Pumpkin is not just a fall flavor. It is a versatile, nutrient-rich food that can be part of a balanced eating pattern all year long. And if you like pumpkin pie or a pumpkin spice latte? Enjoy them too. Healthy eating does not require giving up the foods that make a season special. Consider this philosophy: eat a variety of foods, include plenty of plants and make room for pleasure at the table. Pumpkin can happily fit into all three.
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LAKE FABULOUS FINDS FROM OUR REAL ESTATE ADVERTISERS
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688 Luanne’s Way, Alexander City • $3,500,000 Beds: 5 • Baths: 4.5 Russell Lands Anna Speaks, Rhonda Watson, Thomas Lamberth 256.215.7011 • RussellLands.com LAKE | OCTOBER 2026 67
Grilled Pork Chop
with Fingerling Potato Salad Fingerling Potatoes
Ingredients 2 pounds fingerling potatoes 4 to 6 sprigs thyme 2 arbol chiles 1/2 cup water 1 to 2 tablespoons salt and pepper Directions Combine all ingredients in a baking dish and cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes. Carefully remove the foil, watching for steam, and poke the potatoes with a toothpick. The toothpick should enter smoothly and not stick when removing. Set aside, uncovered, to cool slightly.
Caramelized Onions
Ingredients 3 to 4 sliced onions 2 tablespoons canola or cooking oil 2 cups water Directions Thinly cut the onions with the grain into slices rather than half-moons. Warm the oil in a skillet. When the oil begins shimmering, carefully add the onions. Sauté until golden brown. If the onions begin to stick, add a splash of water to release them from the skillet.
Directions Add all ingredients except the oil to a blender. Purée until smooth and well mixed. Slowly drizzle in the oil until it starts to thicken and emulsify. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Fingerling Potato Salad
Ingredients 6 to 10 slices cooked bacon, diced 3 to 5 ounces feta cheese, crumbled Directions Combine the cooked and chopped bacon into a skillet with the caramelized onions and mix well. Add the warm potatoes and toss to combine. Drizzle with the vinaigrette until well coated. Finish with crumbled feta cheese.
Grilled Pork Chops
Directions Season the pork chops with salt and pepper. Grill until the internal temperature reaches 130 degrees. Allow the pork chops to rest for three to five minutes before serving. Serve with the fingerling potato salad.
Apple Cider Vinaigrette Ingredients 400 grams apple cider vinegar 4 grams fresh thyme 1 tablespoon dried oregano 40 grams Dijon mustard 600 grams grapeseed oil
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. 68 OCTOBER 2026 | LAKE
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Pretty Strokes Don't Always Win Matches
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There is a player at almost every tennis club who makes you stop and watch. The forehand is smooth. The backhand is effortless. The serve has pace and perfect rhythm. In warm-ups, the ball seems to travel exactly where it is supposed to go. Every stroke looks like it belongs in a tennis instructional video. Then the match starts. Suddenly, the beautiful strokes don’t seem quite as impressive. Across the net may be another player whose technique isn’t nearly as polished. The swing might be shorter. The backhand might look ordinary. The serve might lack power. There may not be much variety in the shot selection. And yet, that player keeps winning. It’s one of the great distinctions in tennis: being good at hitting tennis balls is not necessarily the same thing as being good at playing tennis.
patiently hit crosscourt several times, waiting for a shorter ball before changing direction. Neither sequence requires a spectacular shot. What each requires is a plan. The difference becomes especially obvious when players face someone who hits hard. The technically gifted player may be tempted to respond with even more power. But the smarter match player recognizes that the goal isn’t to hit the hardest ball. The goal is to create the highest-percentage opportunity. Sometimes the right shot is boring – that’s the point. A deep ball to the opponent’s backhand may not earn applause. A high, heavy ball may not look impressive. A shot hit safely through the middle may seem uninspired. But if those shots consistently produce the desired response, they’re good tennis.
The Difference Between a Stroke and a Point
Golf Has the Same Problem
A great stroke is an individual skill. A great point is a sequence of decisions. A player can have a terrific forehand but not know when to use it. They can hit a beautiful drop shot but attempt it from the wrong position. They can possess a powerful serve but fail to recognize what to do with the next ball. Match play demands something beyond technique. It requires players to understand the situation unfolding in front of them. Where is my opponent standing? What shot do I have? What shot does my opponent dislike? Should I attack, defend or simply keep the ball in play? What is the score? What has been working? These decisions are happening constantly. The player who understands them can turn ordinary shots into effective tennis. That’s why the best match players don’t necessarily produce the prettiest tennis – they produce the tennis that solves the problem.
Construction Over Decoration
Point construction is a little like telling a story. A player might serve wide, hit the next ball behind the opponent and then move forward for an easier opportunity. Another might
THE ACE BY JOE BOBBA
Joseph “Joe” Bobba is the Racquet Sports Professional at Willow Point Golf & Country Club. His professional career includes leadership roles as head pro at both Riverchase Country Club and Old Overton.
70 OCTOBER 2026 | LAKE
Golf provides an almost perfect comparison. Go to a driving range and you’ll see golfers with gorgeous swings. The takeaway looks perfect. The tempo is smooth. The finish is balanced. They can stripe a 7-iron down the range. But then they play 18 holes – and the score doesn’t match the quality of the swing. Why? Because golf isn’t a series of perfect swings. It’s a series of decisions. Where should I hit this shot? How aggressive should I be? What trouble should I avoid? Should I attack the pin or aim for the middle of the green? What club gives me the best chance of avoiding a big mistake? A golfer with a less aesthetically pleasing swing may understand those questions better. They may know how to manage a difficult hole, recover from trouble and choose conservative targets when necessary. The swing may be prettier. The round may not be. Tennis works much the same way.
Pickleball Makes It Even More Obvious
Pickleball offers another fascinating example because the sport places such a premium on positioning, patience and decision-making. A player may possess a powerful drive, impressive spin or flashy drop shot. But those shots don’t automatically translate into winning points. A player who consistently gets to the kitchen, recognizes when to speed up the ball, knows when to reset and understands how to move with a partner can be extremely difficult to beat. In other words, shot selection is only valuable when it serves a purpose. The flashy player wants to hit the shot. The experienced player wants to create the situation in which that shot becomes effective. That’s a subtle but important distinction.
When Technique Meets Intelligence
None of this means technique doesn’t matter. It does. Good mechanics provide a foundation. Players need reliable strokes to execute their strategies under pressure. A technically sound player with strong tactical awareness can be extremely effective. But technique is a tool, not the entire game. The challenge for many players is that practice often rewards the wrong thing. We spend an hour hitting forehands and celebrate the ones that look and feel perfect. We practice serves without always thinking about what happens after the serve. We hit crosscourt rallies without asking why we’re hitting them. Match play asks different questions. Can you recognize patterns? Can you adapt when Plan A stops working? Can you make the right decision when you’re nervous? Can you win a point when you aren’t playing your best? Those are the skills that separate a player who hits tennis from a player who plays tennis.
The Beauty of an Ugly Win
Perhaps that’s why an ugly 6-4, 6-3 victory can be more impressive than a dazzling collection of winners. The great match player understands that tennis isn’t judged by the beauty of individual strokes. It’s measured by what happens between the lines, point after point. The same lesson applies on the golf course and the pickleball court. Pretty swings are enjoyable to watch. Beautiful strokes are satisfying to hit. Flashy shots can be spectacular. But sports are ultimately about solving problems. The golfer who manages the course, the pickleball player who constructs the point and the tennis player who understands the match all share the same quality: they aren’t simply executing shots – they’re playing the game. And sometimes, the player who makes it look the least spectacular is the one who understands it best.
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Uncorking the New Season
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With back-to-school season and Labor Day behind us, October is literally the beginning of the holiday season. Football is in full swing; baseball’s World Series takes place at the end of the month; and Halloween is October 31. If you’re putting all this on a calendar, don’t forget the midterm elections on November 3. Beaujolais Day falls on the third Thursday of November, one week before Thanksgiving. There is much to celebrate well ahead of Christmas and New Year’s and plenty of opportunities, from parties to gift-giving, to include wine in the festivities. Tailgating is not usually a big wine event, but for wine drinkers, the trend toward low- and no-alcohol beverages makes a crisp, light white wine the perfect match for being outdoors on the last hot days of summer. Like Lago Vinho Verde, 10 percent ABV from Portugal at $11, and Seaglass Pinot Grigio, “alcohol removed,” from California’s Central Coast at $14. Both offer good flavor and don’t cost much for wines that are satisfying both outdoors or indoors. As temperatures moderate and we begin to move inside, red wine consumption also starts trending upward – just in time for Beaujolais Day. Ah, Beaujolais Day, the international celebration marking the release of the first wine of the vintage, a tradition that began in the 1950s of harvesting and racing to deliver the new wine to anxious consumers. Beaujolais wine takes the name of the wine-producing area, Beaujolais, extending from southern Burgundy into the Rhône Valley north of Lyon. Classified as a Burgundy wine, it is unique in that it is from the Gamay grape, not Pinot Noir as are most red Burgundies. It is typically a very light, fruity red wine with low tannins across a tiered hierarchy of quality. Nouveau is at the lowest end of that spectrum, a simple wine that is meant to be drunk young. The time from harvest to bottling is about eight weeks. For some consumers, it is delightful for what it is and what it represents, which is nothing pretentious. For others, it is mildly unspectacular. Personally, the color, aroma and taste of each new vintage are exciting. Officially, it is Beaujolais Nouveau Day, recognized as a holiday since 1985, when the French authorities standardized the date as the third Thursday. Though the frenzy and media attention in the U.S. have waned somewhat since the spectacles of the ’70s and ’80s, for Europeans and other devotees, Nouveau
FROM THE CELLAR BY HENRY FOY
Henry Foy is the owner of Emporium Wine, Spirits and Cigars, now celebrating more than 22 years of business in Alexander City at 128 Calhoun Street. For current hours and information, call 256-212-9463 (WINE) or follow us on Facebook.
Day remains a fun “experience” and reason to gather for a taste of the first juice of the new vintage. Due to the timing and the worldwide celebration of its release, Beaujolais Nouveau is often referred to as the Thanksgiving wine. The light, fruity characteristics of the Gamay grape make any of the Beaujolais wines a good pairing for the plethora of flavors of Thanksgiving fare. Selecting the right wines for Thanksgiving can be a challenge. For most of us, the center of attention will be the big platter of poultry, and we immediately think of the standard “white meat, white wine.” That’s okay, this time. Most whites are light with some acidity that will pair well with the milder flavors. An unoaked Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc would be a good start, but this might be an opportunity to expand your palate and try something different. All too often we grab what we know and what we are most comfortable with, or what our guests will like, to the unfortunate exclusion of a lot, a whole lot, of excellent alternatives. Go for it, but don’t shy away from the reds. A light red like the Beaujolais or a Pinot Noir will pair very well with turkey, white and dark meat and the veggies. Oooh, and Champagne (or sparkling wine). Read on; we’ll come back to Champagne. Without looking at a menu, my own choice for Christmas dinner would be something a bit bigger and bolder. That assumes that this feast will be hearty with winter vegetables, rich proteins and thick, savory sauces. I’ll go to the cellar for this one and bring up something dark and chewy with a little age on it. The tannins will have softened and the juice will be like velvet. Nothing too expensive, just a high-quality, age-worthy wine that has been properly stored for the right time and occasion. Would you buy that for yourself? Maybe someone would have gifted you such an exquisite wine. Or not; gifting wine can be a challenge, too. When you think about it, wine makes a great gift for those who have a taste for it and will appreciate the thought. Try to match the gift to the recipient’s taste and budget with the general idea of getting something they might not buy for themselves. A familiarity with what they prefer is a good starting point from which to guide or judiciously deviate in making your selection. Let’s go back to Champagne, from the Champagne region of France (sparkling wines such as Cava and Prosecco are from other regions). These bubbly wines are not just for celebrations and go well with seafood, roast poultry, pork, salmon and mildly spiced dishes. The traditional blend for Champagne and domestic sparklers is three grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Brut Champagne uses all three grapes, Blanc de Blanc is 100 percent Chardonnay and Blanc de Noir is made from red wine grapes, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Don’t like Chardonnay? Try a Blanc de Noir. The characteristics of Champagne are a fascinating journey worth exploring to find your style. Happy holidays and please, drink responsibly!
LAKE | OCTOBER 2026 73
Fishing the Fall Turnover Cooler temperatures bring better bites for anglers this season
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October might possibly be the best month of the year around our little slice of the country to be outdoors. It marks the true transition out of the heat and humidity of summer, and with each day as we progress toward November, the nights get slightly crisper. It’s not uncommon to start the morning in a sweatshirt and a light pair of pants and be down to shorts and a T-shirt by afternoon. When fishing, there might be a light fog on the water in the early morning from the cooler night temps intersecting with the warm surface water of the lake. These are the days we anticipate for months as anglers because falling temperatures this time of year signal great fishing! The weather transition we experience in our lives above water pales in comparison to
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the change going on beneath the surface. With each cool spell that passes, the water is getting increasingly cooler. Beneath the surface, the water is layered because of normal biological processes that take place in most of our Southern reservoirs. Each cool spell creates a cooler layer of water on the very top of the lake that will essentially sink, causing a turnover. During turnover, those layers of water that have existed for months from the surface of the lake to the bottom are suddenly mixed together. For the fish, their whole world is getting flipped around until the turnover subsides. From strictly an angling point of view, it seems that this phenomenon happens in various sections of the lake rather than the whole lake at once. Perhaps a heavy enough cooling event could cause this to happen over most of the lake at once. Most years, though, I see it happen in sections. Initially, as some turnover occurs, the fish will scatter and roam more. They are likely looking for zones in the lake and the water column that have the best combination of temperature, dissolved oxygen and food. Since the surface of the lake is cooling more rapidly early on, the fish tend to suspend and roam near the top more. For an angler, this means surface-oriented presentations are going to be in play. Topwater baits are the first that come to mind. Then there are others like soft plastic minnows, wacky rigs, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and the latest trend — urchins. This time of year, don’t be surprised to pull up to a favorite point or brushpile and see the fish suspended over it on forward sonar. They will still occasionally swim to the bottom to eat a worm or jig, but they might prefer to feed on something coming over their heads instead.
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. The same could be said for shallower targets like docks, stumps and laydowns. One important factor that seems to come into play this time of year as much as any is wind direction. Wind aerates the surface water, but more importantly, it moves plankton to the windblown areas of the lake. Plankton is the primary food source for baitfish like shad. Wherever the best concentration of plankton moves, so goes the bait. Shad are a staple in the diet of most predatory fish in our lakes. Wherever the shad go, predators like bass, striped bass, crappie and even some catfish will follow. If you’re deciding where to go hunt for your favorite fish to catch, pay attention to larger areas that are getting some wind in their direction. This October, plan some time outdoors and know that it’s a great time to be fishing on Lake Martin. The heavy boat traffic is finally beginning to subside, and the temperatures are still plenty comfortable on the water. Just use extra caution in the event there’s some fog in the mornings. And, most importantly, the bite is turning on as all fish are feeding up in preparation for winter!
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Legend
22
280
To Sylacauga
Public Boat Ramps
ALEXANDER CITY
4
17
9
Churches
★
Timbergu Landing
63
9
★
Points of Interest
Alex City Boat Ramp
TALL CO
Camp ASCCA
★
Charles E. Bailey Sportplex
3
280
Power lines U.S. Highways
22
County Roads
31 Piney Woods Landing
Wind Creek State Park
★
11
COOSA COUNTY
Wind Creek Boat Ramp
32
259
9
128
Pirate Island
★Peanut Point 63
16 20
★ D.A.R.E. Park Landing
★
New Hope Church
Young’s Island
★
Liberty Church
30
SmithMountain Fire Tower
10
Sm Lan
Willow Point
24
7
11
EQUALITY
Paces Point Boat Ramp
63
34
Camp Alamisco
12
★
Kowaliga Boat Landing
20
55
5
SEMAN
1 13
Church in The Pines
★ Camp Kiwanis
80
Union Landing
Children’s Harbor &
Trillium
19
9
Church Living W
The Ridge
★ Hank Williams Cabin 21 ★The Amp
Ko
26
2
wa
lig
aB
ay
★
Chimney Rock
5 90
UNION
CENTRAL
ELMORE COUNTY RED HILL
★ Martin Dam
63
229
ECLECTIC
TALLASSEE
18 KENT
76 OCTOBER AUGUST 2026 76 2026| |LAKE LAKE
REE
Timbergut Landing
Explore
★
Horseshoe Bend National Park
Jaybird Landing
Lake Martin
TALLAPOOSA COUNTY
1 2 3
49
4 5
JACKSONS GAP
6 7
280
8 9 10 11 12
DADEVILLE
27
k 57
19
13
28
14 15
280
22
★
SmithMountain Fire Tower
CAMP HILL Smith Landing
16 17 18 19 20 22 23
33 Church of the Living Waters
21
25
14 49
24 25
Stillwaters
8 6
26 27
29
28 29
15
30
WALNUT HILL 50
24
23
31 50
UNION
32 33
Kowaliga Marina
334-397-1210
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
Kowaliga Restaurant Lake Martin Pizza
The Burritos Corner Mexican Grill Lake Martin Storm Shelters
Russell Do It Center (Alex City)
256-397-1200
256-329-8550 256-215-FISH
256-444-8793 256-215-7080 256-215-7070 256-215-7035 256-373-3337 256-307-1887 256-794-8075
256-234-2567
Russell Do It Center (Eclectic)
334-541-2132
The Stables at Russell Crossroads
256-794-1333
Russell Building Supply
256-825-4256
Kowaliga Veterinary Care
334-857-1816
Hwy 50 Blue Creek Boat & RV Storage
334-391-0717
Off the Beaton Path
Lake Pointe Baptist Church Red Ridge UMC
205-994-0847
256-307-1499
256-825-9820
LakeScape
334-857-2443
Lakeshore Pharmacy
256-825-0063
First Baptist Church Dadeville
256-825-6232
Momentum Marine at Lake Martin
256-825-9286
Singleton Marine
256-269-0088
Bolton Cove
BoonDocks at Bay Pine Martin's @ Lake Martin
256-392-7524 256-307-1119 256-307-1338
Your Lake Martin Sightseeing Pass. Scan me!
49
REELTOWN
Get on the Map! 256-234-4281 LAKE | AUGUST 2026 2026 77 77 LAKE | OCTOBER
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
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.
Another Lake Martin Property Sold Most homes on Lake Martin are marketed locally, that limits who sees them.
Your home could be next
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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Breanna Sexton 205-234-6549
Associate Broker's Michele Burbank
205-222-7630
LAKE BUSINESS AND SERVICE DIRECTORY KOWALIGA VETERINARY CARE
Josh Morgan, DVM Mary S. Battistella, DVM
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LAKE ADVERTISERS n TO JOIN, CALL 256-234-4281 Alabama Power.......................................................................5
Hwy 50 Blue Creek Boat & RV Storage.................. 79
Plastic Surgery Associates of Montgomery............. 41
Alex City Guide Service.................................................. 79
Hughes Pools........................................................................ 66
Prime Management...............................................................6
Ashley Chancellar, Lake Martin Realty...................... 27
JSC Dock.........................................................................26, 52
AVS Pros................................................................................. 34
Judith Jager, Lake Martin Realty.................................... 81
Blue Creek Iron Works.................................................... 79
Karen Channell State Farm............................................. 79
Breanna Sexton, RE/MAX Advantage........................ 78
Kowaliga Veterinary Care................................................ 79
Brown Nursing & Rehabilitation.................................. 79
LAH Sotheby's...................................................................... 25
Centennial Homes.............................................................. 34
Lake Martin Garden Shop............................................... 57
Sunrise Dock..................................................................12, 80
Coach Kraft Upholstery.................................................. 79
Lake Martin Realty............................................................. 53
Temple Medical Center.................................................... 79
Custom Docks........................................................................8
Lamberth & Lamberth...................................................... 34
Tippy Canoe.......................................................................... 20
Diamond Golf Cars............................................................ 19
Legacy New Homes.......................................................... 61
Docks Unlimited................................................................. 19
Life Styled............................................................................... 39
Dunning Roofing.................................................................. 17
Lindsay Kane, Lake Martin Realty...................................3
George Hardy D.M.D....................................................... 79
Mark King's Furniture........................................................ 21
Hagen Wealth Management........................................... 12
Moore Wealth Management.......................................... 83
Harbor Pointe Marina....................................................... 20
National Village.................................................................... 13
Hinson Galleries.................................................................. 40
Odd Jobs................................................................................. 20
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Russell Lands......................................................................... 84 Russell Marine....................................................................... 35 Slate Barganier...................................................................... 40 Stanley Steamer................................................................... 79
The Cart Source....................................................................2 The Locker Room............................................................... 26 TowBoat US.......................................................................... 52 UAB Heart & Vascular...................................................... 56 Vanessa Tolbert, Lake Martin Realty.......................... 71
LAKE | OCTOBER 2026 81
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"Maybe you're not meant to fit in. Maybe you're meant to stand out." ~ Emiko Jean
Photo by Kenneth Boone
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