A simple idea to create an event that gives back to the community while giving families something fun to do has blossomed into the Lakeside Live Musicfest, which returns to Lakeside Park in September.
The Five16 Foundation hosts this annual music festival and car show at Pell City Lakeside Park. Event Director Casey Cambron says the foundation expects this year’s event to impact The Saint Clair Children’s Advocacy Center (The Children’s Place) in meaningful ways.
Now in its fourth year, Lakeside Live embodies the Five16 Foundation’s mission of “shining our light through fundraising, service, and good works.” Cambron expects thousands of people to flock to the park for a day of music and family fun. In turn, they will be helping others.
Since its inception, the festival has evolved significantly. Originally held in November, the event was moved to mid-September to avoid the cold weather, finding its sweet spot on the third Saturday of the month.
From muscle cars to VWs, the car show brings it all
Generously supported by sponsors like Buffalo Rock Pepsi, this year’s festival is slated for Sept. 21 with gates opening at 10 a.m. The event will go on until approximately 8 p.m. with a variety of activities planned throughout the day.
Lakeside Live exudes a friendly, family-oriented atmosphere. It attracts a diverse crowd, with smiling faces, kids playing games and families enjoying food from local vendors. As the name implies, music is the main ingredient.
Cambron announced that this year’s music headliner is The Spin Doctors, a popular American alternative rock band. “We’re excited to host The Spin Doctors this year, but we are also very excited about our opening band,” says Cambron. The festival opener will be Sand Rock, a band made up of Pell City High School students. Other notable acts are The Greg White Band, Deputy 5, The Leverton Brothers, The Wingnuts, and more.
Inspired by other local events, Lakeside Live stands out for its unique blend of activities. In addition to an entertaining musical lineup, the event also offers an impressive car show with hundreds of cars on display, most of which are from the St. Clair County area.
The car show itself is quite a draw, showcasing a wide range of vehicles from high-end cars to bicycles. Custom handmade awards are presented to winners, adding a personal touch to the event.
Over 100 vendors and food trucks and a variety of children’s activities will be available for attendees to enjoy. About 90% of the vendors are local. While there is no charge to browse the car show, items at vendor booths and food trucks are available for purchase.
Rides and more
One highlight of the event is the Battle of the Badges, a spirited competition between the fire and police departments. This competition features an obstacle course, tug-of-war and other challenges. Cambron described Battle of the Badges as an “entertaining interaction between local first responders that allows the community to engage with them in a fun way.”
Having won two of the three years of the Battle of the Badges, the Pell City Fire Department is eager to challenge the reigning champions, the Pell City Police Department.
In addition to benefitting the Children’s Advocacy Center, proceeds from Lakeside Live Musicfest also contribute to various local causes, such as the police and fire departments, the local school system, children’s organizations, and more.
“We are so thankful for our generous sponsors like Buffalo Rock Pepsi and Lakeside Boathouse, who have believed in our dream from day one,” said Cambron. He also credited fellow board members, Pell City High School Wrestling and other volunteers who give of their time throughout the year and on event day to make Lakeside Live Musicfest a success.
Looking ahead, the goal is to continue growing the festival, maintaining its community-focused spirit while expanding its reach and impact. By continuously improving and adapting to feedback, Cambron hopes to make each year’s event better than the last, ultimately creating a lasting legacy of community support and enjoyment.
Editor’s Note: For more information and to apply as a vendor, visit the festival’s website at lakesideliveshow.com. Vendor applications are accepted until Sept. 1, 2024.
New store brings kayaks, accessories and more to Pell City
Story and photos by Carol Pappas
Turn off U.S. 231 South at the colorful, largemouth bass mailbox, and it’s your first hint that something special awaits up ahead.
Just beyond is newly opened The Yak Shak, a stone’s throw from Logan Martin Lake. Inside, you’ll find something special indeed – and it’s not just the kayaks and accessories.
Meet Allen and Jessica Norris, owners of The Yak Shak, a business they started five years ago when they were dating. Kayak fishing was Allen’s hobby, and he soon introduced Jessica to it. When it became their passion together, they decided to build a business around it. The Yak Shak already has a franchise opening in Indiana soon.
Allen, Jessica and Madelyn Norris, not pictured, 2-year-old Coleman
They located their initial store in a strip mall in Pelham and experienced early successes when the COVID pandemic hit, and people began heading outdoors. “It’s been a wild ride,” Allen said. “We’ve only known pandemic retail,” added Jessica. “Interest exploded. We thought that was the way it was going to be.”
While other businesses closed their doors during the pandemic, The Yak Shak thrived. It wasn’t until the year after, when supply chain problems surfaced that their business plan headed in an adaptive direction. “We worked off pre-orders,” where customers could choose their exact color, style, and customization.
Much of their business is still centered on pre-orders today, but they have adapted and expanded when opportunities arose. They found a market in used kayaks generated by the new kayak market. They have trade-ins, they offer full customization of the kayaks, and they ship smaller items all over the country.
They define their business as a “destination” type – customers looking for a place to buy a kayak. They sell kayaks, paddleboards and inflatables not found in big box stores. They also offer well-known brands like AFTCO, Heybo, Big Bite Baits, YakAttack and Rapala. They sell Bending Branches paddles and NRS inflatable kayaks.
Average price range of kayaks and accessories is $500-$2,500. Now that kayak fishing tournaments allow motors, The Yak Shak has seen an influx of customers wanting to add trolling motors, outboards, live scope, and many more electronics to their kayaks. “We cater to tournament-focused brands,” Allen adds.
A tournament weigh-in held there a couple of weeks ago accommodated 17 vehicles with kayaks and trailers in the parking lot. “We had plenty of room,” said Allen, noting another plus of their move from Pelham to Pell City.
Of course, it’s not a weigh-in in the bass tournament sense of the phrase. Kayak fishing tournaments are ‘weighed’ with photos and a “bump board,” a ruler-like board with a hard end to measure the fish from nose to tail. A photo then captures the size for this catch-and-release method.
Every boat and accessory they offer, they tested themselves. “It’s our passion,” Allen said. He gives the nod to Jessica in the fishing, though. “Her personal best is a 7-pound largemouth.”
How they got here from there
The couple arrived at this moment in their lives from different directions, but there is no disguising the joy they have already found running a business in Pell City together.
Kayaks on display in showroom
He graduated from Kennesaw State College in Georgia in Management, Entrepreneurship and International Business. “I speak Chinese,” he said, referring to his International Business interest. He went to work at Hewlett Packard right out of college, and a promotion brought him to Birmingham.
She graduated in Communications at the University of Alabama, and her background is in marketing and franchising. In her spare time between their business, working remotely with a software company, tending to their 4-month-old and 2-year-old, she wrote a children’s book – Francine’s First Fish. She was already in Birmingham.
They met, fell in love, married and started a business. They found a home on Logan Martin Lake and moved a coupled of years ago. It just made sense to trade the long commute for a business near their home and the lake.
“We’re excited to be a part of the community,” Allen said, noting that The Yak Shak has already been involved in LakeFest and events at Lincoln’s Landing. “This is where we live and want to do business. It’s where we want to raise our kids.”
He points to the growth all around and said, “It is very encouraging to see that as a new business.” When the location on U.S. 231 opened up, they decided to close Pelham and move The Yak Shak to Pell City, Allen said. “It was the best move for our family and our business.”
St. Clair County Farmers Market in Pell City is a growers’ market, meaning it is grown locally. The market itself has grown locally, too, necessitating a move to Lakeside Park this year.
The market moved from the Avondale Walking Track to Lakeside Park in the parking lot by the boat launch. The market got underway June 5 and will be open each Wednesday, weather permitting, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the summer.
Veggie Bucks for the kids are back thanks to community sponsors. Children ages 5-12 can come by the St. Clair County Extension tent to receive a $3 voucher to spend on the fruits or vegetables of their choice.
St. Clair County Farmers Market is an effort by the St. Clair County Extension Service.
Story by Elaine Hobson Miller Photos by Mandy Baughn
According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, to repurpose is to “adapt for use in a different purpose.” That’s the perfect description for what Maria Hull does with her art, not to mention what she has done with her life.
An MICU nurse at UAB Hospital for more than 30 years, Maria retired, trading that high stress environment for the beauty and tranquility of lake life. She and husband, Tommy, moved from Trussville area to Logan Martin Lake in Cropwell on Treasure Island.
Living on the water inspired her, and her creativity began to thrive. For years, she has put her skillful hand to transforming old into new – each piece a work of art. No two piece are alike.
A collection of bird feeders she has made
She takes vintage stone, metal beads and crystals to create her jewelry designs. Vintage beads and pendants may become a cross. A utility meter becomes a whimsical piece of yard art, using antique doorknobs for the eyes and a brass hose nozzle for the nose. In Maria’s realm of creativity, a bird cage becomes the housing for a vintage lamp, a piece she treasures because it belonged to her late sister, Demetra.
“When I was able to retire, I had more time to create and have fun with it,” she says. A collector of antiques and vintage jewelry, she took her mother’s costume pearl necklace and added one of her own wire art crosses to that piece. Later, she started making crosses from beads, too. “I inherited all my mom’s old costume jewelry. I love having crosses and being able to wear something of my mom’s. I like revitalizing what I have so I can enjoy it.”
Her crosses have complete symmetry, and the wire is tightly wound around each piece. She collects antique beads, copper, brass, natural stones and crystals from around the world, dating as far back as the Roaring 20s. “Some of my vintage beads came from a woman on the West Coast whose 90-year-old mother had collected them and from a local designer,” she says.
Sheformed Treasure Island Wire Art Designs LLC, and for several years had booths in antique malls around Birmingham and Talladega. Some of her pieces were sold in the gift shop at the Birmingham Museum of Art, too. She retired from that career, too.
At home on the lake,her art and creativity surround you. The beauty of her plants serve as accent pieces. “I love my gardens,” she said, referring to the colorful array of plants and flowers interspersing God’s handiwork with her own – a bottle tree, statues, birdhouses and benches – along the winding pathways she created.
“I don’t like destroying anything,” Maria says. One of Tommy’s old boots became a birdhouse, and she fashioned a bird feeder from a copper piece, metal, wire and glass that glistens in the sunlight.
A necklace with cross holds special meaning
Cedar boards from their home’s original 1960s boathouse serve as the top of a window treatment where a collection of vintage and antique teapots rest. Old wooden legs from a table salvaged from an old farmhouse form the sides of the window treatment. “I’ve learned not to ask, ‘What the heck are you going to do with that?’” says Tommy of her odd finds.
Her love of crosses led her to turn a hallway into a Cross Wall, where dozens of bejeweled crosses of various sizes hang along the top half. She painted the wall to look like natural bricks, adding flowers and planters to create an Old World appearance. “I used plaster and concrete, then mixed acrylics with other paints for the design,” she says.
Maria has always been fascinated with faces and hands and has incorporated them in art pieces throughout the house. She made “Treasure Island Girls” with faces made of flattened silverplated spoons, wire for the hair, painted bodies and studded beads for accents.
“My whole purpose in all of my art is to bring life back to forgotten objects,” she says. “Where most people see an elongated piece of wood, for example, I might see a fish made of driftwood from the lake.” She considers it a privilege to work from her wooden kitchen table or back porch, because they overlook their pier and the water.
She is passing her legacy on to her three granddaughters — Kate, 10, Reese, 12, and Maci, 15. They have taken an interest in jewelry making, and she hopes they might follow in her footsteps.
The philosophy that guides her? “Enjoy each day, repurpose, save the planet, create and most of all, have fun.”
Story by Scottie Vickery Photos by Wallace Bromberg Jr. and David Smith
When Rod and Robin McSweeney decided to build their dream home on Logan Martin Lake, Robin knew she wanted it to look like something out of a fairy tale. Her wish came true, and for the past five years, the McSweeneys have been enjoying their “happily ever after” at their house, which with its towers, cobbled stone, cypress shake roof and cupola, truly resembles a castle at the water’s edge.
Rod and Robin McSweeney welcome guests with her summer salad
It’s where the couple, who will celebrate their 49th anniversary in January, spend as much time as possible creating magical moments with their children and grandchildren while enjoying everything that living on the lake has to offer. “We wanted this to be a fun place so they would want to come here,” Robin said of their family. “We both grew up loving lake life, and now our grandkids are river rats. We just love that.”
Nearly every detail of the house – from the bedrooms to the pool to the landscaping – was planned with their two sons, daughters-in-law and five grandchildren, who range in ages 5 to 18, in mind. “Our whole life centers around family,” Robin said.
Their family got its start not long after Rod and Robin graduated from high school. “We both went to Erwin (in Birmingham) but we never dated in high school,” Robin said. “We got together about a year later.”
Even then, they shared a love for the water. “Both of our parents had trailers on Smith Lake,” said Rod, who has long been an avid fisherman – perhaps a little too avid. “This is where I grew up fishing,” he said. “I had to repeat the seventh grade for fishing. I missed 30 days of school because I was fishing here.”
Stone fireplace one of the focal points
The McSweeneys lived in Trussville for most of their married life and raised their boys, Matt and Michael, there. Through the years, they owned two different houses on Logan Martin – one in Mays Bend and the other on the Talladega side of the lake – but they didn’t get to enjoy the lake as often as they wanted.
About seven years ago, Rod decided it was time to live at the lake full-time. After taking a year to design the house and another year to build it, the McSweeneys have enjoyed hosting friends and family and sharing meals on the patio, which is home to a full outdoor kitchen.
“This is where Rod lives when we have company,” Robin said, adding that both boys and their families live in Indian Springs near Birmingham. Chances are, he’ll throw something on the grill or the griddle while she handles the side dishes. “We cook easy here,” she said. “We work well together. He’s my right hand, and I’m his left.”
Homemade ice cream is a favorite whenever there’s a crowd, and Robin has discovered that Cocoa Krispies make one of the best toppings. “If you’ve never tried it, you should. And if you ever try it, you’ll never eat it another way again. Everyone loves it, including the grown-ups,” she said.
The path home
The story behind their fairy tale home actually began about 30 years ago when Rod was fishing in a bass tournament with one of his sons. He pointed out a wooded, overgrown lot in a then-undeveloped part of the lake, saw its potential and made a promise. “I’m going to build a house on that lot one day,” he told his son.
Decades later, Rod remembered the lot that had caught his eye all those years before and managed to track down the owner. It took a while to convince her to sell, however, and even then, they weren’t exactly sure what they were getting. “It wasn’t until we started clearing the lot that we realized how fabulous it is,” Robin said. “We didn’t even know what kind of house would fit on it,” Rod added.
Although Robin and Rod and been collecting pictures of houses and features they liked for years, they credit Chris Reebals and Ria Neill of Christopher Architects and Interiors, Trey Goldstein of Cotton Construction, and interior designer Joanna Goodman with making their dream come true.
“You can see every side of the house from the water, so I wanted each side of the house to have its own character, and they did such a great job. They were fabulous, every single one of them,” Robin said. “It was the most fun thing we’ve ever done,” Rod added.
The attention to detail is amazing. Each stone, inside the house and out, was hand-chiseled by masons. “I wanted them to have a castle look,” Robin said. The enormous, curved beams in the two-story great room were built onsite. The interior walls are made from white oak and the kitchen cabinets and dining room ceiling are pecky cypress. Everything works together to create a comfortable, welcoming space. “We want it to be inviting,” Robin said. “We want people to feel like they can come up and put their feet up and relax.”
Although they both shared ideas and had input, Rod said he focused more on the pier and outdoor areas and left a lot of the interior decisions to Robin and the architects. “I wanted it to be what she wanted, honestly, and I just enjoyed watching her do it,” he said.
The bunk room
The house, which is more than 8,000 square feet, boasts six bedrooms, a bunkroom that sleeps eight, five full bathrooms and two half-baths. Matt and his wife, Susie, and Michael and his wife, Bradi, each have their own rooms, and the McSweeneys designed special rooms for the grandkids: Moriah, Miriam, Marek, Christian and John Reagan.
There’s a stage just off the bunkroom with a collection of instruments, including drums and a keyboard, and karaoke nights have become a family favorite. The pool, by Shoemaker Pools, was designed with the kids in mind, as well. There are two waterfalls, a slide, diving board and hot tub. “We tried to think of everything – anything the kids would have fun doing,” Robin said.
The kids, who call the McSweeneys Nana and DaDeet, weren’t all they took into consideration, however. There’s an elevator in the house in case someone needs it later. “All of our parents needed an elevator before they passed away, but there was nowhere to add one in the house we lived in at the time. When we started the plans for this house, we decided to go on and put one in now,” Robin explained.
There’s also a safe room they can retreat to during tornado warnings that doubles as a dog washing station for their two dogs, Remington Steele and Stevie Nicks. The dogs also have a “Doodle Door” that leads from the kitchen to the patio. “It’s cute, and it’s unique, but they are terrified of it,” Robin said. “We have to hold it open with a bungee cord to get them to use it. Otherwise, you couldn’t offer them a T-bone steak to go through there.”
The personal touch
The personal touches don’t stop there. The McSweeneys planted trees in honor of each grandchild. There are bald cypresses for the oldest two boys, a weeping willow for each of the two girls, and they planted a Lacey oak in honor of their youngest grandson.
“They all have deep roots, they love the water, and they’re strong. We wanted them to remember those traits,” Robin said.
The graceful branches of the weeping willow remind them of the girls’ hair, and the “curly, wispy leaves” of the Lacey oak makes them think of their youngest grandchild. “He has curly, curly blonde hair,” she said.
They also have four large pots in honor of each of their parents, and they change the flowers each season as a way to honor them. “Every day we can look out at those pots and have a happy thought about our parents,” Robin said. “I’m very sentimental.”
Suspended bed made from boat
She and Rod, who attend the Church of the Highlands, also have strong faith. One of Robin’s favorite pieces of furniture in the house is a prayer bench from the 1600s that came from a church in France. It holds a place of honor in the dining room.
“God is very important in our lives,” Robin said. “We’re a family of faith, and we’ve been very blessed, but we try to instill in our kids and grandkids that it’s not what you have on the outside that’s important. That can be gone in a minute. It’s what you have on the inside that can’t be taken away, and that’s what really matters.”
Robin, a registered X-ray technician, has filled the shelves in the office area just off the great room with personal mementos. One shelf holds a statue of a father and son, a gift from Rod’s mother when their youngest son left for college, and a clock that has been in Robin’s family for generations. “This is to remind us of how quickly time flies,” she said.
There are also a number of photographs taken throughout Rod’s career. He founded Southern Comfort Conversions, which was in business for 43 years and focused on customizing specialty vans, cars and trucks by adding everything from audio systems to custom seats and massage chairs to off-road suspension. Both boys eventually joined the family business and were active partners with Southern Comfort.
They opened McSweeney Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Pell City about seven years ago and recently added a dealership in Clanton, as well. The bookshelves hold photos of Rod with a number of his clients, including Nick Saban, General Norman Schwarzkopf, and former President George W. Bush.
No regrets
Although their dream home was years in the making, both Robin and Rod said they wouldn’t change a thing. They enjoy their house and all of its unique touches, and they agree that family, friends, community and the beauty around them is what truly makes lake life special.
“The lake, and even Pell City in general, are a little slower paced and remind me of what life was like a long time ago,” Robin said. “People here care about you and bring you supper when you’re sick. They call and check on you, they bring you a bag of tomatoes if they have extra. They’re just good, kind people.”
Rod especially enjoys watching the wildlife, listening to the birds, and watching the fish jump. “It’s just so peaceful here,” he said. “I get up early, a lot of times before it’s even daylight, and I just enjoy being able to watch God’s creation working in harmony. It’s really pretty amazing.”
Favorite Summer Salad
Ingredients:
Romaine lettuce
1 can of mandarin oranges, drained
Strawberries, sliced
Dried cranberries
Feta cheese
Candied pecans
Poppyseed dressing
Toss everything but the dressing together in a large salad bowl. Add dressing to taste just before serving so the lettuce doesn’t wilt.
Crawfish Alfredo Steak
Ingredients:
Filets
Coarse pepper
Salt
Chef Paul Prudhomme Blackened Steak Magic Seasoning
Tony Chachere’s Spice N’ Herbs Creole Seasoning
Salted butter
15 ounces of your favorite Alfredo sauce (he uses Bertolli Alfredo Sauce)
8 ounces of sliced white mushrooms
Red or white cooking wine
16 ounces of thawed, peeled and washed crawfish tails
Directions:
Take filets out of the refrigerator and let them sit for two hours so they’ll come to room temperature. About an hour before cooking, sprinkle steaks with coarse black pepper and salt. Coat them with Blackened Magic seasoning.
Crawfish Alfredo Sauce
Wash the crawfish tails in a colander to reduce the fishy taste. Use a small skillet and add 2 tablespoons of salted butter, a generous sprinkle of the Spice N’ Herbs Creole Seasoning and Alfredo sauce. Bring to a slow simmer and add white mushrooms and several tablespoons of red or white cooking wine and cover. Stir often.
About 10 minutes before serving, bring the heat up a bit and add crawfish tails.
Steaks
Melt ¼ stick of butter on the griddle (or a large iron skillet) and generously sprinkle the Spice N’ Herbs Creole Seasoning and Blackened Steak Magic on top of the butter prior to laying the steaks on it. Cook until your desired temperature and plate them. After adding other sides to your plate, cover the steaks with the Crawfish Alfredo Sauce and enjoy!
*The Crawfish Alfredo Sauce is delicious served over a baked potato or a baguette, as well.
Nana’s Homemade Ice Cream
Ingredients:
1 can condensed milk
1 can evaporated milk
2 cups sugar
½ pint whipping cream
2 full tablespoons vanilla
Whole milk
Ice
Rock Salt
Directions:
Add all of the ingredients to ice cream freezer and stir well. Add whole milk and fill to the “fill line” of the canister. Put paddle in the center of the canister and close the top. Fill bucket with ice and rock salt. Refill ice and salt as needed. Motor will stop when ice cream is ready. Remove paddle. Leave cannister in ice and cover with a towel until ready to eat. Ice cream will get firmer if it sits in packed ice a little longer. Add Cocoa Krispies or other cereal to the top, if desired.
If you have plans scheduled for June 1, you might want to reconsider them. That date is reserved for Pell City’s largest event of the year – Hometown Block Party.
Taking place from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. in historic downtown Pell City, this annual event is expected to draw around 18,000 people from Pell City and surrounding areas.
Organized by the Greater Pell City Chamber of Commerce, the Hometown Block Party serves as a platform to showcase local businesses and highlight the talents of local artisans, musicians, craftsmen and more.
Crowds gather for live entertainment and fun for the whole family
According to Chamber Director Urainah Gladwell, the 2024 edition of the event will feature over 100 vendors offering an array of items, including T-shirts, candy, tumblers, local art, furniture, home decor, jewelry and more.
Local restaurants and chefs will have delicious food and drink items for sale, too.
Several nonprofit organizations will man booths at the event to share information, raise funds, and give away fun prizes. It is seen as an opportunity for the community to learn about the different nonprofits in the area and gain insight into the services they provide.
“The Pell City Hometown Block Party was actually started in 1999” as a class project of Leadership Pell City, the forerunner to Leadership St. Clair. “So, this is our 25th year hosting this event, and it has continued to grow over the years,” said Glidewell. “People of all ages can find something they enjoy at the block party.”
The block party’s mission is a basic one. “We simply want to bring people together for a great time,” she said. This free outdoor festival is an ideal setting for people to enjoy live music, connect with neighbors, and take pride in the community.
Downtown streets are closed to vehicle traffic, opening the entire area up for this year’s festivities, which boast four music stages featuring a variety of music: rock, country, R&B and a “Homegrown” stage featuring local schools and church groups. Bands play on stages strategically set at downtown intersections around the courthouse square, city hall and Cogswell Avenue.
There will also be a separate kids’ area complete with carnival rides and games. “Foam Zone Parties of Odenville was a big hit at last year’s event. All the kids, and the parents, had a blast,” Glidewell said. Reflecting on last year’s success, she added, “We are hoping they will come back again this year.”
Confirmed food vendors include The Main Squeeze, Q&A Concessions, Down South Catering and several others.
And don’t worry, the fun isn’t just reserved for the kids. There are plenty of entertaining activities lined up for adults, too. “This event is for everyone,” Glidewell noted.
Back by popular demand, the Hometown Block Party’s car show will make its grand return for this year’s festivities. It will feature an impressive lineup of over 80 vehicles.
“I love seeing how much joy this event brings to our community,” Glidewell said. “Everywhere you look, people are having fun, smiling, interacting, and in line to get some delicious treats. Everyone looks happy.”
Vendor applications are still being accepted until May 20. Those interested can visit www.pellcitychamber.com for a vendor application. The deadline for vendor applications for early bird pricing ($50) is May 12. May 13-20, the price will be $75 for a booth.
Brother and sister return to the scene of ‘big catch’ year after year
Story by Carol Pappas Photos by Richard Rybka
Kentuckians Gloria Spangler and Richard Donoho don’t know much about sibling rivalry. Their only tussles since childhood have been with a fish – a battle they’ve enjoy fighting together for decades.
From an early age, they developed a love for fishing. Their grandfather taught them on rivers, ponds and creeks, and that passion for fishing sparked long ago is a shared bond that only strengthens now as they age well into their 70s and 80s.
It’s what brings them to Logan Martin Lake twice a year, where they catch a boatload of Crappie with the help of their fishing guide, Curt Simpson, who also lives in Kentucky.
Fishing from the dock to pass the time
Why Logan Martin, Alabama? The answer is easy on this sunny day in late March at University Marine, where their boat is docked. Just a glance at a nearby table reveals a spread of 60 Crappie – all over the 9-inch requirement – caught earlier in the day. “We caught 22 Crappie in two hours,” Richard said. “The Crappie here are bigger than Kentucky. If you caught one that big in Kentucky, we’d be screaming!”
By week’s end, they’ll have 100 plastic freezer bags chocked full of Crappie filets to bring back to family and friends and of course, to savor for themselves. “It’s more than we can eat,” Richard said.
They return to Logan Martin each Spring and early Fall on the same quest – catch as much Crappie as the law allows. “We enjoy being here,” said Gloria. “We love this place.”
They should. It’s paid them more than a whopper in dividends, judging by the catches they proudly display and disburse. “Curt provides everything – the bait, rods, reels. Deep, shallow, he knows where to fish,” Gloria said.
The boat is equipped with state-of-the-art electronics, including a live scope, and they head out each morning with Curt about 7 and return to the marina about 4 or 5. That’s the drill for their seven-day stay.
They have aunts in Gadsden and Lincoln, so they were already familiar with the area. They’ve fished the Coosa River chain of Weiss and Neely Henry, too, but they keep coming back to Logan Martin.
Curt’s the one who encouraged them to try Logan Martin. Since then, it has been a return engagement twice annually for years. Gloria worked at Franklin Bank & Trust for 50 years in Bowling Green, and that’s how she met Curt. He had retired from IBM but was working as a courier at the bank. “When he found out I liked to fish, every five minutes, he was in my office,” she said.
Curt’s own love of fishing led him to the fishing guide business in retirement and with Gloria and Richard’s zeal for the sport, it was a perfect match. “He’s a good guide and a good friend,” Richard said.
Curt was steered toward Logan Martin back in 2004 by a guide on Weiss Lake, Butch Young. “He introduced me to Logan Martin. I fell in love with it.” Now, he guides 30 to 40 trips a year.
He always liked his job at IBM, a job he held for 31 years, he said, “but IBM didn’t let me fish a lot.” Retirement did, and Young mentored him. “All my skills were honed through Butch Young.”
Curt’s enthusiasm for Crappie fishing is contagious and along with the day’s limit of Crappie, the siblings have definitely caught it. Richard and Gloria enjoy their time together out on the water with Curt leading the way. “The rest of the family thinks we’re crazy,” Gloria said. “We have fished when it’s been snowing and scraped the ice off the seats of the boat to fish.”
They’ve fished after a tornado. They’ve endured hail and lightning. “That’s the best day. After that, you can catch fish,” Gloria said.
The enjoyment of it all is evident from the smiles that never seem to leave their faces as they recall their angling adventures over the years and their close-knit kinship. “We’ve never had an unkind word in our whole life,” Gloria said.
She credits their upbringing with the closeness of their family. They have a sister and brother, too. “She’s the oldest,” Richard said, pointing toward Gloria. “So, I take care of all them,” Gloria retorted.
“Our mother was soft spoken,” she added. “She worked hard, and she always wanted the best for her children. She was proud of us, and she told us that. We’ve always tried to live up to that.”
As Richard and Gloria pull in another day’s limit of Crappie, it’s suspected it would be a sight their mother would be proud to claim.
Crappie tips from a successful guide
Ask what fishing guide Curt Simpson fishes for, and the reply is simple: “Just Crappie.” His website gives more than a hint of that laser focus – crappiecurt.com.
He “fell in love” with Logan Martin years ago, and the lake has been his getaway and his treasured ‘fishing hole’ ever since.
Curt shares his knowledge with clients and was willing to give a few tips to our readers.
On this week in March, where they caught the day’s limit every day for a week, these were the tools of the trade:
The lure: Black Chartreuse Charlie Brewer Sliders and fishing grubs
The rod: BnM 7.5-foot
The line: 4-pound K9 Clear Fluorescent
So, take a tip and try your luck when Crappie season hits February to May and early Fall, and your “Gone Fishin” should hold a lot more promise.
After 31 years, a popular lake eatery where everybody knows your name
Story by Paul South Photos by Richard Rybka Contributed photos
Thirty-one years ago, Janet Swann and her partner, Dennis Reno, bought a place she describes as “a little concrete floor beer joint.”
Today, that joint is Pier 59, one of the iconic eateries on Logan Martin Lake. Other restaurants have come and gone, but Pier 59 remains a constant.
Brody and Janet
Open only three days a week in the offseason and four in Logan Martin’s summer high season, Pier 59, has the vibe that’s a combination of a waterfront place and a fictional Boston bar.
“We wanted to be like Cheers, a place where everybody knows your name,” Swann said.
And it has, as families flock there to feast on chef “Ziggy” Zigmund’s crab claws, chicken wings and tenders, Tilapia and other popular dishes.
Before coming into the restaurant business, Swann and Reno ran Birmingham International Raceway, the short track where NASCAR legends Donnie, Bobby and Davey Allison, Neil Bonnett and others cut their racing teeth.
“My mom was in the restaurant business,” Swann says. “She had a restaurant for a couple of years in Fultondale, and we had the snack bar at Pine Bowl.”
Now at Pier 59, Swann loves her customers.
“I love my people. I want to treat people when they walk into the pier like I want to be treated when I walk into somewhere,” Swann said. “I wanted to have a restaurant that was kid friendly up to a certain time. When I first started I wanted something that everyone could enjoy from the water.”
Pier 59 has come a long way from when Swann and Reno arrived. It gives diners the classic waterfront vibe, laid back and the epitome of “chill.”
“Yes, there is,” Swann said when asked about the waterfront effect. “Because when we came up here, all we had was like, two pool tables in front of the bar. But we put a big deck on it, and wanted to make it something nice on the lake.”
Like successful businesses, philosophy that drives Pier 59 hasn’t changed.
“I want my customers to be my top priority,” Swann said. “I want everyone to leave there happy. If there’s a complaint, I want them to come to me, and I’ll fix it.”
That happiness is seasoned with one of Swann’s hugs for customers. Little wonder it’s become a “place to be” on the lake.
Live music a big draw at Pier 59
“I hope it’s that way. That was my goal when we started,” Swann said.
Along with the food, what makes the restaurant so popular among the growing stream of lake residents and visitors?
“I think it’s because I try to treat people as individuals. I don’t treat them as just people coming in to spend money,” she said. “I don’t mind telling my customers, ‘I love y’all’ when they come in. That’s just me. I don’t mind huggin.’ And I do.”
Something that shouldn’t be lost in the Pier 59 story is that this is a restaurant with heart. For 15 years, Pier 59 has celebrated “Christmas in July,” a benefit for the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind. The restaurant has raised nearly $500,000 for the school. In 2023, Pier 59 raised $109,000 on a single Saturday.
“That is my heart,” Swann said of the school. AIDB has its main campus in Talladega and satellite facilities across the state to serve visually and hearing-impaired students that hold a special place in the hearts of all involved in the fundraiser.
Swann credits her customers and volunteers for the drive’s success.
“Without my customers and volunteers, this would not be possible,” she says.
St, Clair County is a big-hearted place with a boatload of charitable organizations to support veterans, the homeless and others in need. The students at AIDB, who Swann calls her “babies,” drew her to help the school.
“There are so many kids over there who would not have a Christmas it wasn’t for our Christmas drive,” Swann says. “That’s what makes me work all year and keeps me going.”
Now an endowment has been created to bring AIDB kids Christmas cheer, long after Swann and Reno are gone.
“I love those kids,” she said. “If you could see their faces when they open up (their presents) and have their toy party and everything, it’s just so emotional … You can just see the joy in their eyes.”
While the AIDB children have her heart, the restaurant claims her business acumen. Swann has learned more not only about business, but about herself.
“I can’t walk off and leave it,” she said. “I have to be there. A guy told me on the second day I was open that if I watched my pennies, I wouldn’t have to worry about my nickels and dimes. If the Pier’s open, unless I’m sick, I’m always there.”
But along with Zigmund, the chef known in the lake community as “Ziggy,” Swann and Reno have a team of dedicated staff. Some have been at Pier 59 for 15 years or longer, off and on. Her grandson Brody is her bartender. And Zigmund has been with her for 20 years.
“Everybody just knows him as Ziggy. He’s fabulous. He’s just one of these who’s not going to use little wings that are only as big as your little finger. He wants customers to feel full and that they got their money’s worth,” Swann says. “And trust me, they do when they leave here at night.”
As the lake population has grown, so has the restaurant’s schedule. Winter used to be the offseason, but no more.
“I do a little vegetable special on Thursdays that’s kickin’ it,” Swann says.
Fried crab claws a local favorite
But while the business is still largely seasonal, offseason traffic has grown by some 50 percent, Swann says, because of the blossoming year-round population. When lake levels rise, Pier 59’s doors open Wednesday through Saturday, starting at 3 p.m. Closing time is when customers are heading home.
“From Point A to where we are right now, it’s picked up a lot,” Swann says.
For first time diners, Swann recommends her two favorite dishes.
“I love our grilled blackened Tilapia with vegetables, and I really love our Hawaiian chicken.”
During the summer, vegetables come from local growers.
As far as sandwiches, Swann is a fan of the French Dip. But the restaurant is perhaps best known for its chicken wings and its crab claws, both Ziggy specials. The claws – always fresh and battered in a secret recipe – are sold by the pound.
“Everybody says they’re better than what you get at the beach,” Swann says proudly. “We are really known for our claws. They’re really good.”
And while Cheers’ Sam Malone, Carla Tortelli, Cliff Clavin, Norm Peterson and Frasier Crane may not be found at Pier 59, Swann wants the spirit of the iconic TV show to fill the restaurant.
“I want a place where everybody’s going to know your name and everybody’s going to be friends.”
New River’s Edge, Burgers & Breakfast, Tiki Hut ready for new season
Story by Carol Pappas Photos by Mackenzie Free
In its 1960s and 70s’ heyday, Rabbit Branch Marina was THE place to go on the newly created Logan Martin Lake. Today’s River’s Edge, the Tiki Hut and Burgers & Breakfast, the modern-day edition, is quickly becoming that place once again.
General Manager Michael Emerick said longtime lake residents talk of “how great it used to be,” and Emerick and his father, Paul, have continually worked to transform the property. Over the years, they have vastly improved it, adding amenities hard to match anywhere else on Logan Martin.
The latest, set to open May 4, is the brand-new River’s Edge Burgers & Breakfast, marina office and so much more. Gone is the one-story block building that housed the kitchen, walk-up order windows and an office in the rear. “The old building was outdated and didn’t match the beach vibe we give to the lake. So, we ended up with this,” Emerick said, motioning toward the newly constructed River’s Edge. The two-story building itself is 2,600 square feet, excluding the porches.
Enjoying a day at the Tiki Hut
Replacing the nondescript building is an impressive complex dressed in a Caribbean-style blue that welcomes one and all by water or land. Upstairs is a massive, covered deck overlooking the water, nearby beach with palm trees dotting the landscape, dozens of boat slips and docks, a family friendly playground and swimming area.
Take the stairs or the elevator and have a seat at one of the many picnic tables after placing your order at the window of a brand new, cutting-edge kitchen. Then, take in the view. There’s not a bad seat among them.
The menu includes its signature favorites: Freshly handmade ground chuck burgers and hand cut fries, Edge Rolls, Yum Yum, Cowboy and RYNO Cheeseburgers.
Head downstairs to the covered porch below and take your pick of open air “hangouts” – a line of aqua-colored lounge chairs nestled in the sand, conversational areas of sofas and chairs with upholstered seating, suspended swing chairs and Adirondacks.
Thirsty? Head just a few feet over to the popular Tiki Hut, a 30 x 30-foot open air bar with six specially designed machines turning out your favorite frozen libation. It has become the place to be on weekends from May to September. In two years, it has nearly doubled in size. “We’ve definitely blown all expectations out of it,” he said.
The nearby covered porch can handle overflow crowds and ease congestion under the Tiki Hut.
Tiny homes are among amenities at marina
River’s Edge, located off Rabbit Branch Road, is easily accessible by vehicle or boat. “We have the most boat parking on the lake,” Emerick said, noting that there are 30 to 35 open slips to allow traffic flow in and out. New state-of-the-art concrete piers and 24/7 gas on the dock are new amenities as well.
The full-service marina itself boasts the only fully enclosed dry storage and the first to offer luxury boat rentals. River’s Edge rents Bennington pontoon and tritoon boats, Emerick said. “It’s the nicest fleet of rental boats on the water.”
The marina also offers RV lots, limited wet slips and short-term tiny home rentals. Its sales include personal watercraft docks – EZ Docks – and Lake Eze ladders that are spring assisted and dog friendly. They also sell inflatable mats and box anchors.
Emerick’s philosophy is simple: “We just want to make it the spot to hang out on Logan Martin” – just like it used to be.
Editor’s Note:River’s Edge Burgers & Breakfast and Tiki Hut will be open Saturdays and Sundays from May 3 to Labor Day and then Saturday only through the end of September. Future plans include opening on Fridays, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
With a walking trail, mural, butterfly garden and more, community looking better than ever
Story by Paul South Photos by Richard Rybka Submitted Photos
Imagine Riverside without its new playground or there was no colorful mural welcoming one and all to town. What if there were no annual community soup supper, Santa’s arrival or Poker Run?
For the 2,251 who call this lakeside town home or the thousands more who visit each year, the allure wouldn’t be quite so inviting; the quality of life so appealing.
That’s why Riverside Beautification Organization is key to Riverside’s everyday life, making it better – brighter.
RBO began as a grassroots effort to beautify the city. Its premise is two-tiered: Organize events, activities and projects to benefit and showcase Riverside. And hold fundraisers to achieve those goals.
More than a garden club, the seeds for RBO were planted in 2008, right after Mayor Rusty Jessup took office.
“I knew there was a need for a good civic group here in town,” Jessup said. He met with several women interested in making Riverside a better place to live.
“I just wanted an organization interested in making Riverside a more beautiful place,” Jessup said. “It took off, and they’ve just done so much for our town.”
The small group of five blossomed into a small, all-volunteer group of women. In its early days, the group focused on planting flowers at city buildings and promoting volunteer recycling.
A stroll or drive down Depot Street these days showcases the RBO’s work – flower beds, a welcome sign, Landing decorations for the holidays, city building signage, a new playground at Riverside Park and walking trails in the park. Jessup could make a list.
The 501 (c) 3 nonprofit has grown into a catalyst for the construction of walking trails at the city park, maintaining the Lotus Pond – home to the native American Lotus only found in three places in St. Clair County – and building sanctuaries for birds – bluebirds, osprey, purple martins and wood ducks.
“When we adopted Lotus Pond, we realized that it would be nice to have walking trails throughout the park,” said Laura Pounders, who serves as RBO president. “With several grants and fundraisers, we’ve just now been able to complete the walking trails that connect the playground area to the ballfield area to the ponds and to the back fishing pond.”
The RBO hopes that one day, the area will be part of the Alabama Birding Trail.
“You know, we’re a small town. We don’t have a lot of resources,” Jessup said. “What we do have, we have to spend on police officers, the fire department; we just don’t have a lot of frills. Riverside Beautification Organization has helped to provide these things.”
Chimes in the Park
Grants, contributions from citizens, businesses and fundraising efforts finance the RBO’s efforts, and volunteer labor keeps the work more affordable.
It seems the RBO has done things great and small – from city hall landscaping to logo designs to signs pointing to city businesses and the new playground to lighted snowflakes and a nativity at Christmas.
Their work impacts the city’s ability to attract new businesses and new residents, Jessup said. It’s about quality of life
“It’s a tremendous help,” Jessup said. City parks and signs and the new playground are “things that add to the quality of life. That’s why a civic group (like RBO) is important. Everybody in town wants (these amenities). But they don’t want a tax increase. It’s great to have volunteers who step up and make these things happen.”
The RBO spent over three years writing grants and raising money for playground equipment and the park, Pounders said.
The organization is also trying to do more than beautify. It wants to build stronger ties between Riverside residents. A yearly, communitywide Soup Supper was held in late February and Santa’s arrival came in December.
A new community event to promote local crafters and artists, Spring Fling, is set for March 23. In 2023, 35 vendors sold their wares along with activities for children, including an egg hunt and the Easter bunny. More are expected this year, Pounders said.
Spring Fling turned out to be a fundraiser along with the Poker Run on the river in June, which has become an annual community event.
Future projects to be completed by the Poker Run in addition to the Riverside Post office mural is another mural behind the Landing designed and painted by Penny Arnold that will greet boaters as they prepare to dock or dine at nearby Buck’s Barbecue.
But the RBO is always looking for new ideas and new members in the growing city.
“The biggest thing that they do is that they create a sense of community, a sense of pride in the Riverside area,” Jessup said. “And it’s the kind of pride only citizens can provide. City leadership, we can do everything as far as making ends meet and meeting the basic needs of the community. But the citizens and volunteers of community are really what make quality of life. Without them, we would sorely miss the quality of life that Riverside offers.”
“We’ve clearly gone beyond planting flowers,” Pounders said. “We’ve all fallen in love with Riverside. The river and all the little tributaries that come off of it are beautiful.”
Riverside, she added, is “a pretty little town. Because it’s a small town, you get to know your neighbors. We’ve made so many friendships by opening up the RBO to anybody that’s interested in volunteering and being part of us.”
RBO has a wish five or 10 years down the road. “We could be more of an educational group,” Pounders said. “We could have school groups come into the park and learn about native plants and animals. Community education and participation are important.”
Just like its quality of life.
Editor’s Note:The Riverside Beautification Organization meets monthly and open to all residents. For more information, contact Pounders at juliepounders@yahoo.com
