November 2025 – LakeLife 24/7 Magazine

In the Kitchen and around the Lake with the Grieves

Story by Scottie Vickery
Photos by Mackenzie Free

The path Erik and Erica Grieve followed to make their dream of living on Logan Martin Lake a reality is really a tale of two countries.

Moving to Central Mexico for Erik’s job helped them sock away enough money to make it happen, but after they fell in love with the life they created there, leaving it all behind when they returned to the United States and Pell City was harder than they imagined.

The lure of the water, though, was still a strong one, and the tranquility they’ve found at the lake was exactly what they needed. In the six years they’ve lived there, they’ve been treated to glorious sunsets, magical wildlife encounters and the peaceful calm that only life on the water can bring.

“We love our life here,” said Erica. “When we’re at home, and we walk out on the deck, we can just relax. We can find that peace we need to find.”

The lake provides the perfect backdrop for entertaining family and friends, including some they met during the years they lived abroad. It’s even more perfect for enjoying quiet evenings at home with their 16-year-old daughter, Sadie. “We love our homemade pizza nights,” Erica said.

Long-distance house hunt

The Grieves first moved to Pell City in 2010. The Calhoun County natives, who were introduced by mutual friends, had been married for four years, and Sadie had just turned a year old. They lived in Twin Oaks, and they could hear the boats on the lake, but they couldn’t see them. “We knew that if we ever got the chance, we wanted to live on the water.”

Cathedral ceilings show off home’s mid-century lines and a painting from Mexico

They weren’t sure it would happen, but then Erik’s supply chain job with Honda Manufacturing of Alabama took them to Central Mexico for several years. Because they had a housing allowance and the cost of living was lower there, the Grieves were able to put some money away in anticipation of their move back home. That came in fits and starts, however, because the family moved back and forth between Mexico and Pell City several times over the next few years.

They first moved to Celaya, about three hours northwest of Mexico City, in 2015. About two years later, Erik returned to Pell City on a business trip and did a little house-hunting while he was there. Their time in Mexico was coming to an end, and they had been looking at homes on Logan Martin online, so he checked out a few of their favorites while he was in town. When he got to the Skyline house they eventually bought, “I FaceTimed her from here during the walk through,” he said.

Erica loved the house and after seeing it in person, she only had one concern. “I’m not a big gardener,” she said, adding that the house sits on nearly two acres. “I said, ‘That’s a lot of yard to keep up. As long as you’re game, I’m in.’”

He was, they bought the house, and they started coordinating renovations from Mexico a short while later. In addition to updating the kitchen and primary bathroom, the Grieves replaced the existing roof and added a new one over the deck, changed the siding, got new paint and floors throughout the home, and built a new dock and boathouse. “We slowly kind of re-did everything from there,” Erica said.

The family moved back to Pell City in the fall of 2017 but had to live in a hotel for three months until the renovations were complete. They finally moved in just before Christmas 2017. “I told Erik if we can live at the Holiday Inn for 90 days with two adults and a child, we can get through anything,” Erica said with a laugh.

They got a chance to prove that theory because after enjoying their new home for about four months, they got word they needed to go back to Mexico. This time, Erica and Sadie stayed about a year before moving back to the lake for good in 2019 while Erik was back and forth until June of 2022.

“We’ll always look back on our time over there as some of the best times of our life,” Erica said. “God was working in our lives for sure during that time. We made some wonderful friends.” One family, in particular, served as their tour guides. “We got to experience so much more than we would have,” Erica said.

Mission-style dining room table and chairs

Their 4-bedroom, 3-bath home is filled with handmade furniture and artwork they collected while living in Mexico. “Almost every room has pieces from Mexico that we brought back,” Erica said. “We love mixing it in with our other pieces. It’s all part of our story.”

Peaceful, easy feeling

As much as they enjoyed Mexico, the Grieves love this chapter of their lives on Logan Martin, as well. They cook most nights and love being in the kitchen together. “We try to cook really healthy and still make it taste delicious” Erica said.

Veggie turkey burgers are a go-to, and they earn rave reviews from anyone who tastes them. “My mom would never normally eat something like that, but she loves them,” Erica said.

They eat a lot of fish, including red snapper and salmon, and Erik enjoys making fajitas on the Blackstone or cooking wings or chicken breasts on the smoker. Everyone’s favorite, however, is their homemade pizza nights.

“We do that almost every single week,” Erica said. “We have a playlist we listen to, we have a glass of wine and talk about the week. We love our pizza nights. It’s such a nice time to talk and connect.”

Daughter Sadie joins her parents at the front door

With a busy teenager in the house, the Grieves love any chance they get to be at home together. A junior at The Donoho School and a member of the band and jazz band, Sadie plays the piano, flute, guitar and drums. In addition to music lessons, she is in theater and participates in two plays a year, enjoys painting and drawing, and also juggles a part-time job.

Their crazy schedules make the simple things, like afternoon boat rides or time spent kayaking and paddle boarding, even more special. They love sitting on the deck at the farmhouse table Erik built and enjoying the view of Bird Island.

“The sunsets are unbelievable,” Erik said. “We see purples, pinks, blues, oranges, reds, every color you can imagine,” Erica added.

They also enjoy watching the birds – everything from herons to hummingbirds, red birds and blue birds – and other wildlife. “We’ve got a family of foxes that lives here,” Erik said. “Just about every morning, they’re rolling and playing on the hill in the yard.”

And that’s why Erik and Erica said they are thrilled they were able to make their dream of living on the water come true. “We love it here,” Erik said. “It’s even better than we imagined.”

Veggie Turkey Burgers

Ingredients

2 lbs. lean ground turkey
1 small zucchini, grated and excess liquid squeezed out
3 baby portobello mushrooms, finely minced
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp Allegro Honey Garlic Marinade
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
⅕ tsp salt (or a scant ¼ tsp)
¼ tsp black pepper
Panko breadcrumbs, as needed
Brioche buns
Cheese slices of your choice

Directions

In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, zucchini, mushrooms, Worcestershire, marinade, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix gently with your hands until just combined – do not overmix.

If the mixture is too sticky to form patties, add 1-2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs. Continue adding a little at a time until the mixture holds together.

Shape into 8-12 patties, depending on desired size, and place them on a wax paper–lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.

Preheat a Blackstone grill (or griddle) to medium-high heat (375–400°F). Lightly oil the surface with avocado oil to prevent sticking.

Place patties on the hot griddle and press lightly with a grill press for even cooking. Cook 4–5 minutes per side, flipping once, until golden brown.

Check doneness with a meat thermometer: the internal temperature should reach 165°F. (Tip: remove at 158°F; the burgers will rise to 165°F as they rest.)

During the last minute of cooking, top each burger with cheese if desired. Cover with a dome lid to melt.

Toast buns cut-side down on the griddle for 1–2 minutes until lightly golden.

Assemble burgers with your favorite toppings and serve hot.

The Grieve Signature White

Ingredients

1 Publix Parmesan pizza dough (bakery section)
6-7 Tbsp Alfredo sauce of your choice
1 Tbsp Epicurean Specialty Truffle Parmesan Black Garlic Seasoning
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
½ cup goat cheese, crumbled
1 cup sliced mushrooms
¾ cup roasted red bell pepper strips, chopped
⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes
2 cups chopped fresh spinach

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray.

Stretch or roll pizza dough to desired thickness and place on the prepared baking sheet.

Spread Alfredo sauce evenly over the dough.

Sprinkle seasoning over the sauce, then add 1½ cups shredded mozzarella as the base layer of cheese.

Layer on mushrooms, roasted red bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese and spinach. Top with the remaining ½ cup mozzarella.

Bake for about 15 minutes, rotating halfway through for even cooking, until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling.

Remove from oven, let rest 2-3 minutes, then slice and serve.

Another successful Boo Bash

A day of Halloween fun on Logan Martin Lake

Ever seen creativity afloat? If you made it to Boo Bash on Logan Martin 2025, you couldn’t miss it.

From boats dressed as Pac Man, Creepy Castle and Ghostbusters, creative juices were flowing like Logan Martin Dam when the spillway gates are open.

Not to be outdone, docks were in full Halloween regalia with the likes of Pine Harbor Urgent Care, a not-so comforting medical theme of saws, knives, blood and bones.

Little Dock of Horrors was a double deck of ghoulish goblins, ghosts, and grimacing ghouls. And Fear the Pier had boats and revelers approaching with trepidation.

And Boo Slough made sure everyone got to enjoy the day. No dock? No boat? No problem. Logan Martin Lake Protection Association and Pell City Parks and Recreation hosted fun, inflatables and giveaways at Lakeside Park, easily accessible by vehicle, boat or on foot.

Now in its fourth year, Boo Bash has grown into a full-scale movement, bringing the entire lake community together in a festive seasonal celebration. And its proceeds go to a worthy cause – LMLPA’s safety program.

Think dock-to-dock trick-or-treating is just for kids? Think again. It’s hard to tell which age group has the most fun. There’s plenty of treats for adults and pooches, too.

Capped off with an after party at presenting sponsor, The Tiki Hut, Boo Bash gets bigger and better every year thanks to the two simple words that began it all – “What if?” The brainchild of Kelli Lasseter and Sonya Hubbard and bolstered by a growing army of volunteers, Boo Bash has now become a Logan Martin tradition.

And the Logan Martin community thanks all involved on an idea well done. See you next year!

Logan Martin Lake pollinator plots

Birds, bees and planting seeds to help the planet

Story by Paul South
Submitted Photos

This is a story about the birds and the bees.

Parents, don’t panic. This is still a family-friendly magazine, safe for children. In fact, this story is about an Alabama Power initiative that makes the planet better for our kids and grandkids and brings colorful, fragrant beauty to Logan Martin and other Alabama lakes.

It takes a variety of flowers to serve the needs of pollinators

In 2018, the utility began its pollinator plot program at nine sites around Alabama. Two pollinator-friendly plots are located in Double Cove Park at Logan Martin near the dam. The program is part of The Preserves, 65 public recreational sites along the state’s shorelines.

Each half-acre plot was built in the wake of a decline in pollinator populations, notably bees. But a variety of wildlife, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, hummingbirds, lizards and bats are pollinators that plants depend on to survive and thrive.

That spread of pollen doesn’t just help flowers to blossom, it impacts the food supply. Each plot is seeded with a custom blend of native seeds specific to each site – a recipe of annuals, biannuals and perennials. Each plot commonly includes milkweed species, black-eyed Susans and goldenrod. The seed mix is created following a soil analysis at Auburn University.

The company partnered with the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service in developing the pollinator sites.

“Our goal was to establish pollinator friendly sites at each Alabama Power public recreation site capable of development,” said Garret Parker, Alabama Power team leader on Shoreline Recreation and Compliance.

Goals for the program include:

Enhancing existing recreation sites.
Protecting the scenic, recreational and environmental aspects of each site.
Encouraging stakeholders to enjoy, learn and grow a deeper appreciation of Alabama’s ecology and natural landscape.

The plots have to be redone every five years, Parker said. It generally takes about three months to re-do the plots.

“The wildflowers come back every year, but over time you get a lot of invasive weeds and grasses and sometimes even trees,” Parker said. “They slowly start to get into the plots and out-compete the native wildflowers.”

In late fall, employees plant a wildflower seed mixture that by next spring and summer will be a cornucopia of beauty, color and fragrance – bergamot, black-eyed Susans, blue false indigo, butterfly milkweed, purple cornflower and others.

Fighting off the threats

In the past quarter century, pollinator populations and their habitats have drastically declined, thanks to a number of factors, including pesticides, pollution, pests, pathogens and changes in land use, such as increasing human development, according to the Pollinator Partnership. It is an organization that collaborates with farmers, gardeners, land managers, scientists and industry to improve pollinator populations.

Double Cove Park is home to two Pollinator Plots

Climate change also plays a key role, according to the partnership. The increased temperatures have damaged habitat and the food supply for pollinators, as has extreme drought and an increase in the number of weather-related disasters.

Here are a few examples of how pollinator populations have declined:

Several species of native bumblebees, including the common bumblebee, the western bumblebee and the Rusty Patched bumblebee, have experienced a decline in population. Researchers have seen a decline in the geographic range of the species.
The number of managed beehives in the United States has declined from 5 million in the 1940s to 2.68 million in 2023, according to USDA statistics.
The monarch butterfly population loss has increased from between 35 to 49 percent to 58 percent.

Along with the pollinator plots, the utility has worked with universities like Auburn, researchers, state and federal agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to grow the pollinator population, Parker said.

“Alabama Power coordinated with the Auburn University Bee Lab and the Electric Power Research Institute to conduct a multi-year research study on ways to protect pollinator friendly plant species when conducting required vegetation management on utility rights of way,” Parker said. We also work with state and federal partners and NGOs to protect specific species such as the white fringeless orchid.”

Among the NGOs partnering with Alabama Power is the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The company also supports the Alabama Wildlife Federation and Alabama Audubon Society and their efforts to establish wildlife and pollinator friendly vegetation.

An example of the partnerships is between the power company and Auburn University’s Bee Laboratory. The university uses “citizen science” by encouraging public participation in the National Colony Loss & Management Survey. It’s a “boots on the ground” effort to monitor bee population.

The utility is among a number of partners with Auburn, including the University of Maryland and the USDA.

This past summer, the utility worked with the Pollinator Partnership to sponsor its annual Pollinator Week, a celebration of the birds and bees, butterflies and other animals that go crazy over Alabama wildflowers. Humans like the picturesque plots too.

Why is the program important? “By prioritizing environmental stewardship,” Parker said, “we’re safeguarding resources and opportunities for future generations.”

Editor’s Note: Community members can find a pollinator plot to host a counting event near them by downloading the free Shorelines mobile app or visiting apcshorelines.com.

Catchin’ the Coosa November 2025

Pro fishing tips on Logan Martin Lake and Neely Henry Lake with Zeke Gossett

Logan Martin

opefully, the cooler weather will drop the water temps on Logan Martin, and the fish will begin to eat up and fatten up for the wintertime.

November and December are my favorite months to fish on Logan Martin, and I hope my tips will help you become more successful during this time of the year.

Remember, there are a few things happening during these months. First, the lake should be at winter pool which condenses the fish into a smaller area. However, don’t forget winter pool for Logan Martin now is three feet down unlike previous years when it use to be five feet down.

The new winter pool level has changed the way I’ve fished Logan a little. Some places are not as shallow now with the extra two feet of water, and the fish have adapted quickly.

Another thing that happens during these months is the fish are feeding up for the winter months. What that means is that they’re heavily feeding on shad most of the time. Finding suspended fish in the creeks is one my favorite ways to catch them.

It’s an easy equation. You find the baitfish, the bass won’t be far behind. A small damiki rig and deep diving jerkbait are some of my favorite ways to catch them. Also, a square-bill and spinnerbait are a couple of great choices when covering shallow points or channel swing banks.

I mainly focus on the main river with these two baits. Typically, the banks with deeper water nearby are my favorite. During this time of the year to get a bigger bite, I am fishing a jig. This is especially true in the latter part of December when the water temp is below 55. It also helps if the lake has a foot of visibility or less.

These two months on Logan Martin offer anglers a lot of options to catch fish many different ways. The fish are getting fat, and there is less boat traffic, so go enjoy some fish catching action.

Neely Henry

Neely Henry is also great late fall/early winter lake. I mainly focus on the bottom end of the lake during these two months. There are a lot of bluffs, docks, and rip rap in this region of the lake that are some of my favorite places to fish.

Rain totals usually dictate where I spend the majority of my time fishing. If there has been a lot of rain, typically, Alabama Power will be generating water. This is when I will focus on main river points and docks.

A couple baits I always start out with are either a bladed jig or square-bill crankbait. The current should have the fish set up and ready to bite whatever eases past them. Now, once the water temp gets below 50 degrees, that’s when I will ease my way back into the creeks.

Usually, I want to be in the region of the creek where I feel like most of baitfish action is taking place. What I mean by that is either I’m seeing bait fish on my electronics or maybe a slight degree or two difference in water temperature. Once I find that, I’ll heavily depend on my forward-facing sonar and pick off bass that are maybe chasing bait in creek channel bends or just off the banks.

I’ll use either a damiki rig or jerkbait, depending on where the fish are in the water column.

Another way to catch fish once the water temp is 55 degrees or lower are in creek mouths. I fish the smaller creek mouths with either a squarebill crankbait or jerk bait depending on water color.

Another great choice is a bladed jig or spinnerbait. My bait choices really depend on the water color.

To find the most productive creek mouths, look for shad. The shad will keep fish there in the same general area until they decide to leave. Over the years, I have found that the colder mornings are, the more the shad will congregate together in the creek mouths.

This is when the bass will feed heavily in the creek mouths. It’s an easy meal for the bass as they fatten up for the winter months.

Keep your lure choices simple and keep moving during these two months and find that special spot where the fish are most active. The fish can change by the hour or even minute on this particular body of water.

Zeke Gossett of Zeke Gossett Fishing grew up on the Coosa River and Logan Martin Lake. He is a former collegiate champion and is now a professional angler on the B.A.S.S. tour circuit and is a fishing guide. Learn more about Zeke at: zekegossettfishing.com.

Ways to get involved

Coosa Riverkeeper is getting ready for a few events near Logan Martin Lake this November! Check out the events near you to participate in fun activities for kids, fishing groups, and more! Sign up and learn about Coosa Riverkeeper & our events by visiting our website below.

C.R.E.E.K. Birds & Wildlife of the Coosa – Join Coosa Riverkeeper & Anniston Museum & Gardens as we team up for a fun day of learning about native bird species on the Coosa, a chance to meet some special birds, crafts, and more! We can’t wait to soar the Coosa with you on Nov. 8, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Visit our website below to sign up and learn more! (Limited spaces available)

Coosa Riverkeeper Angler Focus Group – Calling all Logan Martin anglers! Join us Thursday, Nov. 13, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St Simon Peter Episcopal Church, 3702 Mays Bend Road, Pell City, to talk all things fishing around the Coosa! We will provide dinner and a free gift for attending and participating in our focus group. RSVP sign up is required. Sign up today on our website!

Volunteer Cleanup at Highway 77 Boat Ramp – Keep the Coosa River clean with us! Jump it at Highway 77 boat ramp on Nov. 22, at 8 a.m. All materials are provided by Coosa Riverkeeper. We will have water, sports drinks, and snacks! An exact location will be sent to volunteers who have signed up!

Want to join us as we protect, restore, and promote the Coosa this Fall? Visit CoosaRiver.org/Events to sign up today!

Follow Coosa Riverkeeper on Facebook & Instagram @CoosaRiverkeeper
For more information, swim over to www.CoosaRiver.org.

A season of lights

Oxford and Pell City Shine Bright for the Holidays

Two East Alabama communities are set to dazzle once again this holiday season, each offering its own take on the magic of Christmas lights — from snow tubing and Santa’s Village in Oxford to a community-driven wonderland along the shores of Pell City’s Lakeside Park.

Oxford Festival of Lights

The 2025 Oxford Festival of Lights returns for its sixth season with more sparkle, more snow, and an extended calendar that gives families extra time to take in the show.

New this year are two winter attractions inside Santa’s Village, the grand finale after visitors drive through more than 2.5 million lights arranged in glowing displays around Choccolocco Park.

Snow Mountain Tubing will deliver the thrill of a multi-lane, 20-foot slide built on a blanket of real snow, while Frosty’s Playground offers a hands-on winter experience where children can make snow angels, build snowmen or toss snowballs.

With more to do, organizers have extended the normal run of the festival which will now begin November 21, 2025, and run through January 4, 2026, with new select weekday daytime hours and 1 p.m. until 10 p.m. on weekends for Santa’s Village.

Tickets for the drive-through and Santa’s Village are available beginning Oct. 1 at oxfordlights.com. Passes purchased in October will be discounted to $20 and automatically entered into a “Golden Ticket” drawing, which includes full admission and extra amenities from Santa’s Village.

“Over the past five years, we have had almost 250,000 come through the show,” said special events coordinator Madison Gardner. “We are looking forward to being bigger and better this year with more to do and the opportunity to come multiple times. We look forward to seeing everyone there and making memories with this special holiday experience.”

First Bank of Alabama returns as the primary sponsor for the Oxford Festival of Lights, which takes place at Choccolocco Park, 954 Leon Smith Parkway.

Pell City Lights in the Park

About 40 miles west, the glow of holiday cheer will also illuminate Lakeside Park in Pell City, where the 2025 Lights in the Park event will showcase more than 70 holiday displays and thousands of twinkling bulbs.

This year’s event opens Saturday, Nov. 29, and runs nightly through Dec. 31, with lights on until 9 p.m. each evening. Admission is free, and community members are already registering to take part in the display.

According to the city’s website, “We are thrilled with the growing excitement and dedication of our participants, which is what makes Lights in the Park such a cherished holiday tradition. As the event continues to grow, we are introducing a new Sustainability Initiative. This change ensures a spectacular and reliable event that brings joy to our entire community for years to come.”

The Sustainability Initiative encourages participants to help maintain and expand the light displays in one of two ways. They can pay a $50 non-refundable contribution fee at registration – funds the Parks and Recreation Department will use to purchase new displays – or provide a receipt showing at least $50 in new lights or display materials purchased within the past six months.

“Participants think of this as a direct investment in the event’s longevity and quality,” the city’s statement read. “Your contribution increases the number of lights in the park, either through your own display or by supporting the Pell City Parks & Recreation display.”

The city hopes the initiative will keep the event growing without losing its community spirit. Lights in the Park is hosted at Lakeside Park, 2801 Stemley Bridge Road in Cropwell, with entry through the Civic Center parking lot. For details or registration, visit pellcity.recdesk.com or follow Pell City Parks & Recreation and the city on Facebook.

Reimagining the City of Gadsden

Downtown, riverfront & more on the move

Story by Paul South
Contributed photos

Economically speaking, this Coosa River town is hotter than free Taylor Swift tickets in a junior high lunchroom.

Kay Moore remembers not terribly long ago, when Gadsden, especially downtown, seemed to have practically given up the ghost. Back then, she worked at a local bank. The city’s two major employers, Goodyear and Republic Steel, closed. Retail mainstays like Ike Saks, Hagedorn’s and Rutenberg’s tried but did not survive.

But the script has flipped in Gadsden. From downtown to the Coosa riverfront and Noccalula Falls, the city is flourishing. And while others may bill their cities as “comeback towns,” few Alabama municipalities have experienced a resurgence like Gadsden.

Mural artist William Bebee poses with finished product

For the past 18 years, Kay Moore has served as the director of Downtown Gadsden, Inc., the local arm of the Alabama Main Street program, charged with promoting Alabama cities and towns.

DGI sponsors events, promotes downtown via social media, events and in collaboration with local merchants.

“We all work together to make things happen,” she said. “That’s the most positive part of this whole thing. We’ve got a lot of great people here, and we’re continuing to work together. We’ve come a long way in 18 years.”

She added, “My job is to promote what (merchants) do, both individually and as a group.”

And it’s attracting notice well beyond its borders. In August, Downtown Gadsden, Inc., received three Awards of Excellence from Main Street Alabama:

Excellence in Marketing for its banner project.

Excellence in Building Design in the non-historic division, for the renovation of the Mary G. Hardin Cultural Arts Center, and

Excellence in Public Art for the Pitman Hands mural.

Reimagining downtown

What’s now DGI began in 1972 as the Downtown Action Council. Shopping malls were springing up across the country, hurting downtown merchants.

“Back in that day I was just working a block down the street at what was then Central Bank, she recalled. “They got together a group of businessmen to save the downtown, because they could see what was going to happen.”

Despite best efforts, the larger downtown stores closed. Belk Hudson moved to the mall as did Budd’s Men’s Store, Ike Saks, Rutenbergs and Hagedorns.

There are more than 40 lofts in the downtown area

“Belk was the center of downtown. And when that huge store left, it left a big hole downtown.”

The building sat vacant for years until the Cultural Arts Center moved in.

“In the mid-1970s when the mall took off, and downtown became pretty much a ghost town, I was thinking, ‘If I didn’t work downtown, I wouldn’t come downtown. There was nothing. The occupancy rate was about 40 percent. Places were boarded up. It was not a fun thing.”

All that has changed. Gadsden’s downtown is on a roll. Moore, a lifelong resident of the city, says the city center is reminiscent of an earlier, prosperous time. Families are coming to Gadsden. While fathers fish for trout at Noccalula Falls or for crappie and bass on the Coosa, moms and their kids shop and eat, or visit Imagination Place or the Gadsden Museum of Art.

“People who grew up here say, it’s like it was a long time ago. And it kind of is … Retail stores are very, very vibrant, and we’ve got good restaurants downtown.”

Those once-empty storefronts are mostly filled with an occupancy rate of about 90 percent, she added. “The ones not occupied are just not ready to be occupied. It’s a cycle.”

A turning point came in 1998 when the city built a downtown streetscape and businesses began to return. First Friday – a mix of food, music and classic cars celebrated on the first Friday of every month – also sparked a return to the city center.

Sylvia Smith, owner of the Stone Market on Court Street, started First Friday in January 2006.

“I give First Friday a lot of credit in bringing businesses and people back to downtown,” Moore said. “(Smith) started it to bring people into her store. Then, the other people on Broad Street started noticing.”

In 2007, First Friday grew, and it took off in 2008.

People aren’t just working, dining or shopping downtown. There are more than 40 loft apartments downtown, with 27 planned in the old Sears building on Forrest Avenue that looks down on Broad Street. Completion of those lofts is expected early next year. An additional 15 apartments are in their early stages. That more than doubles the number of lofts.

“What I’d like to see in the next five years is a huge population of younger people who want to live downtown and bring their friends. They are going to shop, and they’ re going to eat. It’s just a positive impact,” she said. “Young people are wanting to come back. You just see a more vibrant personality downtown.”

Other changes are four-way stops downtown to improve traffic flow and make the downtown more pedestrian friendly. Other plans to improve traffic flow are being considered.

One of DGI’s major fundraisers – the 13^th annual Sunset Sips – was Oct. 21. There are 300 tickets available at $50 each. Memorial Bridge is blocked off, allowing revelers to enjoy music, wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres as the sun sets on the water. They are encouraged to continue the celebration by dining downtown. The money raised is reinvested downtown.

“We’re just trying to do things that will bring a positive look to downtown,” Moore said.

Riverfront, Recreation and Rebranding

Meanwhile, Coosa Harbor, the multiuse residential/commercial and entertainment development on the banks of the Coosa River, continues to move forward. The city is completing its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission permit and grant applications, which when approved will allow construction of piers behind Coosa Harbor.

It’s hoped that the pier project will be completed by the late first quarter of 2027. Private sources have already invested some $20 million into the project that’s also being boosted by tax incentives from the city. Coosa Harbor is expected to break ground in 2026 and take two to three years to complete.

Vintage cars one of the many draws at Downtown Gadsden First Fridays

The city has also partnered with Gadsden State Community College to construct 10 tennis courts behind the Gadsden Sports Complex and a cross-country trail that in part, runs along the banks of the Coosa.

The city is also moving forward with its GROW Gadsden plan, and has invested in a $100 million RISE initiative, Reimagine, Invest, Strategic Planning and Economic Development. The initiative is expected to have a $190 million economic impact and create 2,400 jobs.

A gem of the plan is a new Gadsden Athletic Complex, featuring an aquatic center, 16 volleyball courts and 10 pickleball courts, eight basketball courts, four baseball/ softball diamonds and a walking track. The GAC is expected to be online in 2028-29.

A cobblestone hotel is located near the harbor site, but the city is looking for more hotels to meet the expected demand once the GAC comes online. “We don’t have enough hotels to meet the expected demand,” said John Moore, Gadsden’s director of Commercial Development and Community Affairs in Mayor Craig Ford’s office. “We’re three hotels short right now.”

For John Moore, all of this activity from downtown to the river comes down to one word –energy.

“It’s excitement,” he said. “People actually see the vision that the mayor has, that we are progressing, and that we’re a city on the move.”

That progress has even been noticed in America’s corridors of financial power. Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s provide credit ratings for companies, cities and countries.

“Gadsden is no longer classified as an older city (by Moody’s and S&P),” Moore said. “We’re now classified a new and up and coming city. I thought that was absolutely beautiful.”

Changing an image

Had someone told Kay Moore back in the 1970s how Gadsden and its downtown would be in 2025, they would’ve been met with skepticism and a laugh.

“I would have probably thought you were a little bit crazy. It was so dead. You had boarded up places. Now we have so many people downtown. It’s a great problem to have.”

With this beehive of activity from the river to downtown and seemingly everywhere in between, the bottom line is that the city is poised to improve its citizens’ quality of life, John Moore said, not just in Gadsden, but in Etowah County and in northeast Alabama.

“We are making Gadsden a destination place where people come and spend time with the entertainment we’ll be able to offer, whether its walkability of our downtown or sitting on the Coosa River at Coosa Harbor, or when you’re actually playing night golf over at Twin Bridges once we finish that up,” he said. “There are so many things the city has to offer that aren’t available anywhere else in a 120-mile radius.”

In 2023, the city revamped its seal and logo. Gone are the Emma Sansom Monument, farmland, and the Republic Steel plant, replaced by the Coosa River, Noccalula Falls and downtown. It’s all part of an ongoing effort to create a fresh brand for Gadsden.

“Not only are we changing the culture, but we’re changing the image of Gadsden,” John Moore said. “What I say to our staff is, ‘How do we make the City of Gadsden a cool brand?’ and ‘If the city were a clothing line, would it be a high-end clothing line?’ I don’t know if we’re there yet, but we’re getting there.”

Praising in the Pines

Chapel in the Pines celebrates 60 years of worship on the banks of Logan Martin Lake

Story by Roxann Edsall
Submitted Photos

The engine of the approaching personal watercraft quiets to idle speed, the unit plowing through the water headed for the pier. Arriving at the pier moments later, its driver allows it to spin and stop and begins to tie off.

Wearing T-shirts, shorts and visors, the driver and his passenger hop onto the pier, greeting passengers of another arriving boat. Walking past the parking lot, they follow the path into the woods. It’s Sunday on the lake, and they’re headed to church at Chapel in the Pines.

For 60 years now, residents of Logan Martin Lake, along with their guests and visitors to the area, have gathered at the river to worship at the outdoor chapel known as Chapel in the Pines. Since its inception, the plan has always been for the service to be short and informal, allowing both time to worship and time to play on Sunday mornings. Visitors are encouraged to come to the 30-minute non-denominational service in casual attire, then hit the water to continue lake-loving activities for the rest of the weekend. Services are held at 8:30 a.m. beginning the first Sunday in May and continuing through the September.

Weekly church services at Chapel in the Pines are a ministry of Pell City First United Methodist Church. “We are happy to be able to offer the community an opportunity to gather at a weekly ecumenical service,” said Pell City FUMC senior pastor Rachel Gonia. “People who are here visiting during the summer have a place to come when they’re away from their home church.”

The message is delivered by a different preacher each week, with a representation by each religious denomination in the local area. That was one of the unique things that drew Sue Pat DuBose and her late husband, John, to Chapel in the Pines in 1984, eventually serving on the chapel board for five years. “We lived across the street, and we’d hear people singing, but we couldn’t hear the speaker,” says DuBose. “So, we walked over, and we enjoyed it so much. It was exciting, because, at that time, you never knew who the preacher was going to be or who was going to do the music.”

These memories were among many shared at the end of this season of Chapel in the Pines during an anniversary celebration honoring the history of this Logan Martin tradition. Deanna Lawley, a former chapel board member, recounted events from its early years. “It was like a homecoming when the season began,” she remembers. “We’d go over there when it was still dark to sweep off and around the benches before the people arrived.”

That was when Chapel in the Pines was in its first location in Pine Harbor Marina, where University Marine at Pine Harbor Marina is now. Pine Harbor Resort developer Thomas Casaday set aside land there with an outdoor chapel in mind to encourage lakeside residents, particularly those in Pine Harbor, to make time to worship while enjoying the lake.

For 49 years, the 16-foot tall cross at the marina at Pine Harbor drew people to the outdoor worship space. When the long-team lease expired in 2014 and negotiations to renew the lease with the new owners failed, the search was on for a new home.

A cross marks the way to the outdoor chapel

Sam Huffstutler, Pell City FUMC pastor at the time, worked with the Chapel in the Pines Board and found a partnership with city leaders in Pell City. The resulting deal with Pell City gave the church authorization to build a 300-seat outdoor amphitheater at Lakeside Park. The traditional Christmas Eve service that year was the first service held at the new location.

Chapel in the Pines welcomes believers from all denominations at any stage of their faith journey. Creating a community of faith in the lake community and serving local and global partners through acts of faith and service is their mission. Any money collected above small operating costs goes back to the community through grants given out to local nonprofits, such as the St. Clair County Boys Ranch, Gateway Community Garden, The Gideons International and First Priority.

Celebrating community and common ground is an important reason that Carl Wallace, author of Lake Ramblings, attends Chapel regularly. “Love of the lake provides us a common ground for a diverse community,” says Wallace. “Chapel in the Pines is an extension of the common ground and provides a predictably safe place, a place of encouragement, a place of worship.”

When the world went sideways during the height of COVID-19 when many places of worship shut their doors for a time, Chapel in the Pines became a place of spiritual peace for many in the Logan Martin area. Organizers found a way to still gather for worship, allowing seating in every other pew and encouraging social distancing.

During that time, Wallace was still writing his Saturday morning “Lake Ramblings” on Facebook and posted about the precautions he and his wife, Mar, would make to allow them to participate in chapel.

“We’d take our lawn chairs and sit up on the hill across from the entrance to the amphitheater. We’ll be socially distanced, but we’ll be part of the service,” Wallace recalls. “We talked about that experience in ‘Lake Ramblings’ the next week and comedically called the hill ‘Scaredy Cat Hill.’ The next Sunday, we had nine more on the hill, then 12 more, then a bunch of us. Scaredy Cat Hill allowed us to gather in that common ground of Chapel in the Pines and gave us the encouragement we so desperately needed.”

Scaredy Cat Hill is no longer necessary, thankfully. Still, Chapel in the Pines continues to be the source of encouragement to many families, even as they say their final goodbyes to loved ones. DuBose chose to hold the memorial for her husband at Chapel after he passed away in April. “My husband loved Chapel so much and always told me when he passed, he wanted his service held to be held there,” said DuBose.

Suellen and Jim Dargan chose the chapel as their wedding venue and left by personal watercraft after tying the knot

Suellen and Jim Dargan rented the spot for their wedding in May of 2022. Both were serving and volunteering at Chapel in the Pines and consider it a very special place. “We both wanted something special and unique for our wedding,” said (Jim) Dargan. “And we wanted it there so we could travel on our Sea-Doo to and from the ceremony.”

Traveling to church by boat or personal watercraft, whether for church or for special occasions, gives Logan Martin Lake lovers another way to make memories with family and friends. “We’ve made lifelong friends who are more like family through Chapel in the Pines,” says Chapel Board member Amy Stinson.

Chapel in the Pines will hold a Christmas Eve service again this year at 3 p.m. You’ll want to drive the car to that one and maybe bring a blanket or two.

Editor’s note: The amphitheater at Lakeside Park where Chapel in the Pines is held can be rented for weddings, birthdays, or other special events by contacting Pell City Parks and Recreation.

Great Alabama 650 2025

Epic paddle battle returns to Coosa River

Photos courtesy of
Alabama Scenic River Trail

Six times. Six wins. Not bad. Not bad at all for Logan Martin fan favorite Salli O’Donnell as she capped another win in the Great Alabama 650’s 2025 edition with a first solo finish, first female finish and third overall.

Finishing first overall and first tandem winners, Bobby Johnson and Matt Taylor, captured the top titles in a time of 5 days, 9 hours, 3 minutes.

Overall Solo and Female Solo winner Sallie O’Donnell heads to Logan Martin portage

Chris Thomas was first male solo finish, and Trey Reaves, last year’s solo and overall top finisher, was in tandem this year with John Wellens. They finished second overall.

A 650-mile Alabama professional ultra-endurance paddle race through Alabama Scenic River Trail on Weiss Lake, Neely Henry, Logan Martin, Coosa River and Alabama River to Mobile Bay and Fort Morgan, the epic event stretched from Oct. 4-14. Racers have 10 days to complete, but the winners arrived at Mobile Bay and Fort Morgan at the 5-day mark.

The Alabama Scenic River Trail (ASRT) maintains and promotes the core National Water Trail, along with a network of over 6,500 miles of paddling trails throughout the state.

The organization’s trail network spans from North Alabama mountain streams and whitewater rapids to South Alabama’s river deltas, making it one of the most varied water trail networks in the nation.

As a nonprofit, ASRT operates through collaborations with local partners, organizations, and outfitters, serving as the state’s paddling resource for all skill levels.

The Great Alabama 650, ASRT’s signature race, highlights the full scope of these waterways, promoting appreciation and recognition of the state’s exceptional water recreation opportunities.

Fall is a special time on the lakes

There’s something about the lake, the Fall and the holiday season. It’s like three gifts all wrapped up in one enticing package.

Of course, the lake is a gift all year long, but Fall adds its own special feel as leaves finally begin their seasonal change in color, their reflection in the water painting a perfect picture. And then there’s Thanksgiving and Christmas – a season where memories are made, traditions return once again, and gatherings take on their own warm glow of celebration.

I saw a sign once that read: “Christmas is better at the lake.” If you’re a lake lover like me, the sentiment goes a step further – Everything’s better at the lake.

After the final summer surge, Labor Day, things around these parts seem to settle down. But not for long. Lakeside Live Musicfest took the stage in September with a bigger, better edition at Lakeside Park.

Chapel in the Pines, Logan Martin’s ‘come as you are’ church at the amphitheater at Lakeside Park, celebrated its 60th anniversary in September with a packed house reminiscing about its formation just after the lake itself was created.

October saw Boo Bashers – dock to dock trick-or-treaters and revelers – making their way up and down Logan Martin for a day of ghoulish good times. There was even a “Boo Slough” with activities and trick-or-treating at the park. The day ended with an after party to celebrate at Tiki Hut.

The lake was busy that day as was Neely Henry with paddlers from all over the world navigating Alabama’s waterways in the longest paddle race in the country – a grueling test of endurance from Weiss Lake in the north to Ft. Morgan in the south.

Downtown Gadsden and the riverfront have been mighty busy these days, taking advantage of their own vantage point with leaders bolstering efforts to enhance downtown and all along the waterfront.

In this issue, we’ll take you inside the kitchen and lakeside home of Erik and Erica Grieve, who cook up something special for our readers. And our bass pro, Zeke Gossett, offers tips, tricks and trends on Neely Henry and Logan Martin this time of year to make the fishing fun and best of all, productive.

It’s all right here in this issue of LakeLife 24/7. Turn the page and discover it all with us.

Carol Pappas
Editor and Publisher