LOGAN MARTIN NEWS – Page 3 – LakeLife 24/7 Magazine

In the Kitchen and by the Lake with the McSweeneys

Dream kitchen, dream home on Logan Martin Lake

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 49^th 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.”

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 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.”

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.

Pell City’s Hometown Block Party

25 years and going stronger than ever

Story by Cherith Fluker
Submitted Photos

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.

Siblings vs. Crappie

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.

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.

Pier 59

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.

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.

“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.

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.”

River’s Edge Marina reborn

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.

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.

Riverside Beautification

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.”

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

Logan Martin Lakefest and Boat Show 2024

Returning to Pell City’s Lakeside Park

Story by Paul South
Submitted Photos

On the social media platform “X” – formerly known as Twitter – Eric Housh made a powerful statement:

“I love the lake. Is it summer yet?”

“The lake” is Logan Martin. And Housh helps run LakeFest, a combination boat show, arts and crafts fair, music festival and block party that in 2023 drew an estimated 45,000 people.

Known as the largest in-water boat show in the Southeast, The Logan Martin LakeFest and Boat Show returns to Lakeside Park May 10-12 as “the place to be” for the past 15 Springs, save one coronavirus year. Some might even call it the unofficial start of another spectacular summer on the lake.

“We’re proud that it continues to grow a little bit every year and get bigger and bigger,” Housh said. “This year, we’ve already had a good response from all our sponsors and several vendors, so we’re looking forward to another really good, full event.

The festival will feature over 80 models of boats and personal watercraft, live music on the Tracker Stage, featuring the popular Louisville, Ky. B and The Velcro Pygmies, gourmet food trucks, lake lifestyle vendors and a fireworks show honoring vets from the Col. Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home in Pell City.

Admission is free. But food, drink and vendors’ wares will be for sale, so bring your wallet. Also, for prospective car and truck, boat and personal watercraft buyers, on-site financing will be available courtesy of America’s First Federal Credit Union.

LakeFest is an effort to promote Logan Martin Lake, raise money for local charities and build a stronger sense of community.

The seeds for the wildly popular event took root in a conversation between Housh and his next-door neighbor, Mike Riley, then president of the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association, as well as local businessmen Jerry Woods, Lee Holmes, Fred Casey and Joe Paul Abbott. Housh served on the association’s board and ran its website for a time.

“They had this vision of doing an event to really showcase Logan Martin Lake and the surrounding areas,” Housh said.

“If you live here, you know how special the lake is,” he added. “We felt like if we really showcase not only the lake and what it had to offer, but local businesses, vendors, local artisans, craftsmen, restaurants … The event was really about sharing with the outside community. It was kind of a way to welcome them in and share our special little slice of paradise here.”

Folks flock from across the South to the event – Mobile, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Atlanta and points in between. Call it a gathering of 40,000 of your closest friends.

“People come to the lake before then. But that weekend, everybody’s there,” Housh said. “You may see your lake friends year-round. But you may only see friends from Birmingham that weekend. It’s a way to have a celebration and look forward to enjoying another season on the lake and the lake lifestyle.”

Housh sums up the uniqueness of LakeFest in one word – “Community – “the people, the sponsors that make it happen. It’s always been a free event. We’re providing entertainment. We’re providing security. We have this massive fireworks show, and we feed the veterans on Friday night. That’s only made possible by people in this community.”

In its 14 years, the event has never had a safety incident, adding to its reputation as a family-friendly festival in this tight-knit community. And volunteers from church and youth groups man parking, concessions and other responsibilities.

“The public really values this event,” Housh said. “And that’s evident in the fact that everyone just comes out and has a good time. It’s a super-positive atmosphere. You can feel it.”

Logan Martin, it seems, is like New Orleans, in that just about every month, there’s a festival of some sort – LakeFest in Spring, Boo Bash in the Fall, summer’s Rock the Lake in Lincoln, Lakeside Live, Live at Logan Martin and so on. People here respect the lake and its community, celebrating it with family-friendly events.

“There are a lot of different opportunities to come together,” Housh said. “In general, we’re a community that likes to celebrate. We like to celebrate on the lake. We like to celebrate with our friends. So, as a result of that, you see a lot of these festivals popping up.”

Giving back to charity is one aspect that fuels LakeFest. So far, some $500,000 has been donated to local charities – police and fire department foundations, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Boys Ranch, animal shelters, Lakeside Park improvements and the like. Sponsors fund the event, but also boost charities.

“We try to be wise stewards of the blessings that we have and then turn around and give away what we don’t invest in the event,” Housh says.

Looking back, Housh remembers what organizers have overcome, like in year three, when heavy rains nearly washed away vehicles and closed Highway 34.

But one thing remains constant, the glowing, joyous faces of kids and veterans and new boat buyers. And after the event, charities receive big donations.

“Yeah, it’s a little stressful over the course of the weekend. But you always see these glimpses of people being happy, living their best life. Every year, something magical happens,” Housh says.

“If they haven’t come out before, I’d encourage them to come check it out,” Housh said. “It’s fully accessible. It’s pet-friendly. There’s something for the entire family.

There’s a bubbly reason to put LakeFest on your Spring “to-do” list for Mother’s Day weekend: Mimosas for Moms on Sunday. Free Mimosas are in store for mothers on their special day.

And while organizers spearhead the event, Housh is quick to point out that there’s a small army of volunteers – and the community – who help make the magic.

First-time festgoers need to know one thing, Housh said.

“If you haven’t experienced this community yet, this is a great opportunity to feel that. It’s a really special event.”

Summer is Coming: Camp Cosby

Celebrating more than a
century of summertime fun

Story by Scottie Vickery
Submitted Photos

For many kids, summer camp is a dream come true. There’s swimming, horses, campfires, crafts and new friendships that often last a lifetime. Factor in more than a mile of shoreline on beautiful Logan Martin Lake, and it’s easy to see YMCA Camp Cosby as a field of dreams of sorts.

The lake is a huge part of what makes the camp special, according to Sky York, senior program director. “We have so many activities on the water,” she said. “There’s sailing, canoeing, paddleboarding, fishing, and we’ve got a section of the lake roped off for swimming with lots of fun inflatables. The kids love it.”

The fun doesn’t stop there. Thanks to a partnership with Rambo Marine, which provides the use of ski boats and pontoons, campers can enjoy waterskiing, wakeboarding, wake surfing and tubing while learning about water and boating safety at the same time. “A lot of kids, especially if they’ve grown up in the city, have never gotten to do things like that,” York said.

Trying new things and meeting new people are some of the best parts of camp, she added. “It’s really neat to see kids come out of their shells and get really excited about trying new things,” she said. “I also really enjoy helping guide the staff so they can help kids fall in love with camp.”

100 years and counting

Camp Cosby, which is accredited by the American Camping Association, has been providing summer fun for more than a century. The camp first opened in 1922 after the YMCA bought property north of Trussville that had a 26-acre lake. While it started as a camp for boys, it later offered sessions for girls, too. The camp moved to its current location on 135 acres in Alpine in 1972.

Today, there are eight sessions of summer camp for kids ages 6 to 16, and more than 2,000 campers attend each year. While most sessions are Sunday through Friday, there’s an option for kids attending more than one session to stay over the weekend. In addition, a three-day session is offered for rising kindergarteners and first-graders who may not be ready for a full week, York said.

The goal of camp is to build confidence, inspire independence and foster a spirit of acceptance and family. In addition to watersports and swimming, campers can participate in horseback riding, archery, high and low ropes courses, arts and crafts, ceramics and more. Older kids can even learn to ride and maintain minibikes, and there are separate trails for hiking, horseback riding and minibikes. An outdoor classroom helps campers learn about and develop a love of and appreciation for nature.

The fun isn’t just limited to the summer, though. Camp Cosby offers programs and special events all year long, including Winter Camp, offered during the holiday season, and Teen Retreats held over weekends in the fall and spring. The focus is on leadership, and participants learn employment and life skills, as well.

Not just for kids

One of the biggest draws, though, is Family Camp, offered in the spring and fall, when entire families can stay in a cabin and enjoy the outdoors together. “Some parents may have only been to camp for drop-off and pick-up,” York said. “This gives them an opportunity to enjoy some of the same experiences their kids do.”

It’s also a great way to disconnect from electronics and other distractions so family members can better connect with each other. “Sometimes families just want a weekend away,” York said. “It’s a nice respite when they can come and hang out, take some time to get outside, and get a break.”

Family Camp can also be a good way to give new or young campers a glimpse of what they would experience at summer camp. “By the time summer rolls around, they know what to expect and they remember how much fun it can be,” York said.

Camp is a wonderful way to help build relationships, whether with family, counselors or new friends. “We have staff and kids from all over the place. Many times, those camp friendships end up lasting longer than other friendships,” York said. She added that group activities, cabin time and team-building experiences help deepen bonds.

The camp employs more than 100 seasonal staff members, and they come from all over the region, country and world. “We’ve had staff from Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South America and Mexico,” York said. “I love seeing the counselors bonding with the kids and encouraging them to try new things. Growing up, the counselors I had at summer camp had a big influence in my life.”

In fact, camp, in general, made a big impact. “I have a passion for it,” York said. “It’s a fun way to meet people you might never meet otherwise, and it’s a cool way to try new things. Some of my best memories were made at summer camp. It had a big impact on me as a kid.” l

For more information about YMCA Camp Cosby and its programs, visit campcosby.ymcabham.org.

In the Kitchen with the Pappas family

Love of cooking, heritage celebrated on the water

Story by Scottie Vickery
Submitted photos

Carol’s apron says it all. Greek to you? Translation: Good Appetite!

Carol Pappas was in elementary school when a teacher asked the students which food they would want if they were marooned on a desert island. While the other kids’ answers were fairly predictable – pizza, hamburgers or chicken fingers – Carol’s answer was a little different. “I said I would want Greek salad,” she said.

A descendant of Greek immigrants, Carol said the salad, complete with olives and feta cheese, was a staple in their Birmingham home during her childhood. Although her love of Greek cuisine remains a vital part of her identity, her taste in food is not the only thing influenced by her Greek heritage. Her appreciation of community and life on the water stems from her family, especially her father’s side, as well.

“My dad was born in Kastoria,” a city in northern Greece built on Lake Orestiada, she said. “It was fate that I ended up here.”

“Here” is her lakefront home in Logan Martin Lake’s Pine Harbor, the neighborhood she’s called home for nearly four decades. Her love of life on the water, Pell City, and St. Clair County is so ingrained, in fact, that she is the editor and publisher of two magazines that celebrate all the area has to offer, Discover St. Clair Magazine, and this one, LakeLife 24/7®

“I tell everyone that I was born in Birmingham, but Pell City and St. Clair County is my home,” she said.

A reporter for 40 years, Carol is much more comfortable being the writer, rather than the subject. It seems fitting, however, for the person who has penned so many stories about St. Clair County and its people to finally share part of her own. In the spirit of sticking to the truth, Carol’s principle for her career in journalism, it’s important to note that the original story planned for this feature fell through at the last minute. So after a little bit of arm twisting (okay, a lot), Carol agreed to share some of the things that define her: her Greek heritage, her love for family and friends, casual gatherings on the water, and the Greek style of cooking, which will always be her favorite.

“My (maternal) grandmother was a big influence in our kitchen and so was my mother,” Carol said. “Everything had a Greek flair to it. If we had baked fish, it was Greek style with lemon and olive oil. We had Greek salad nearly every night, and Sunday dinner was usually chicken or roasted lamb.”

Celebrating roots

Carol’s father, Ernest Pappas, emigrated to the United States with his father when he was 13, and he settled in Birmingham where they had relatives. Her maternal grandparents, Tom and Kaliopi Pappas, had emigrated, as well, and were raising their family in Indiana. Although the families were not related, they share the common Greek surname.

Vickie with one of her specialties, Baklava

After graduating from Auburn University and serving in World War II, Ernest returned to Birmingham “My father was on his way to a wedding in Chicago, and someone told him, ‘There’s this nice Greek family in Fort Wayne, Indiana. You should stop and visit them,’” Carol said. “It sounds strange, but that was the way of life for Greeks at the time.”

Ernest did, he met the family’s four daughters, and fell in love with Blanche. After they married, they made their home in Birmingham’s Crestwood neighborhood, and Ernest served as general manager and a shareholder with Home Baking Company.

They took pride in their Greek heritage and instilled it in their children. Carol and her siblings, Greg and Vickie, still hold the culture and traditions dear. Greg, in fact, owns Pappas’ Grill in Vestavia Hills, which he opened in 1992 after working at and managing other restaurants.

The restaurant’s sole chef, Greg cooks up favorite Greek classics such as Pastichio (Greek Lasagna), Moussaka and Stuffed Grape Leaves. Many are his family’s favorite dishes, while others are recipes he developed and perfected.

Although Vickie and Carol aren’t in the restaurant business, they both love to cook and are inspired by the meals that marked their childhood. “My mother made the best Greek Snapper,” Carol said. “It just melted in your mouth. I’ve never tasted anything like it.”

The dish was such as family favorite, it became known to the grandchildren as “Fish a la Yia-Yia,” since yia-yia is a common Greek term for grandmother. “I make it, but it’s not anything like hers,” Carol said.

Vickie mastered Spanakopita, a Greek pie with layers of dough to form the crust and filled with spinach and feta cheese, and she recently taught Carol to make it. “We made the crust from scratch, and the recipe was handed down from my grandmother to my mother,” she said. “I had helped my mother with it, but I had never cooked it myself.”

In addition to stews and fish dishes that were mainstays during her childhood, the family often enjoyed three different whole chicken meals. There was the Greek style roasted chicken, one with tomato sauce, and one stuffed with sauerkraut and rice, which was Carol’s favorite. “I later adapted that recipe because I wasn’t going to cook a whole chicken,” she said with a laugh. “I use chicken breasts and serve it over a bed of sauerkraut and rice.”

Carol said her mother helped start the Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral Greek Food Festival, which recently celebrated its 51^st year. One of Carol’s favorite cookbooks, The Greeks Have a Recipe for It, was compiled by the ladies in the church, including her mother and the mothers of her friends. “They’re all the Greek people I grew up with,” she said.

It’s a tattered binder filled with recipes that is among her most treasured possessions, however. One Christmas, she had it reprinted and bound and gave it to members of her family. It features Greek foods based on the Mediterranean diet of fish, chicken, fresh vegetables, and olive oil.

“It’s a very healthy way to eat,” Carol said. “We never had a lot of fried food growing up; everything was baked or broiled. We never used any kind of batter. I didn’t have fried okra until I was in high school, and I had fried green tomatoes for the first time in college. It was a whole new discovery for me.”

A mother’s influence

Just as her mother was a big influence in the kitchen, Blanche Pappas also played an important role in Carol’s career path, which led her to St. Clair County. “I wrote a book report in high school and Mother read it,” she recalled. “She said, ‘You’re a really good writer. You should go into journalism.’”

Since the most common professions for women at the time were teaching and nursing – neither of which seemed like a fit for Carol, she took her mother’s advice. After graduating from Auburn, she took a reporting job with the St. Clair Observer, a weekly newspaper published in Pell City that later was sold and merged into the St. Clair News Aegis. After working in Birmingham for a few years, she joined the staff of The Daily Home as a reporter and became the Pell City bureau chief about five years later. She remained with the paper for 28 years, rising through the ranks before retiring in 2010 as editor and publisher.

Carol soon started Partners by Design, a multimedia marketing and graphic design firm, and serves as president and CEO. Graham Hadley, who was managing editor for The Daily Home, joined the venture and is vice president of the creative division and chief operating officer. In addition to publishing Discover St. Clair Magazine and LakeLife 24/7 Magazine, the company provides consulting, graphic design, photography, social media and marketing services.

The great room at Carol’s, which opens to the kitchen

One of the best parts of her journalism career, according to Carol, is that it brought her to Pell City, the community she is proud to call home. “Pell City was very welcoming to me from the very beginning, and I found that to be true of all of St. Clair County,” she said. “I never thought of myself living in a small town, but it’s been wonderful. Everybody watches out for one another, and it just has a good feeling.”

She moved to the area in 1985 and was fortunate to be able to rent a home on the lake. The water had been an important part of her father’s childhood in Greece, and Carol inherited her love of it from him. She visited Logan Martin often with friends during high school and college, and she has wonderful memories of her father teaching her to fish at Lake Purdy, near Birmingham.

“He missed the water, so they came up all the time,” she said of her parents. “Crappie runs through here, and he would sit and fish for hours. One day we were on the pier, and I told him about a house down the street that was coming on the market. Before I could ask him what he thought about me buying it, he said yes.”

In addition to giving his blessing, her father helped buy the first boat, Carol said. “We called it a recreational partnership,” she added.

Carol said it took five years to afford to renovate the house, but the result is a 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath home with a with two-tiered deck, a screened porch, and a stunning view of the water.

It’s a favorite gathering place for family and friends, especially for Auburn football games in the fall. “I used to have a bar towel that said, ‘You never know how many friends you have until you have a lake house,’” Carol said and laughed. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Carol is active in the adopted community she loves. She served as board chair of the Pell City Center for Education and the Performing Arts and was on the board there for 11 years and is a member of the Pell City Rotary Club. She is also president of the Museum of Pell City, housed in a 4,000 square foot suite in the Municipal Complex. The museum is a celebration of the city’s history, as well as the history of St. Clair County and Alabama.

Lasting legacy

It’s a fitting role for someone who has been shaped by her own heritage and family history. Although her parents are gone now, Carol said she would always be grateful for the values they instilled in their children and for her Greek heritage, which places high value on family, friends and community.

It’s why she shares her love for St. Clair County and its people through Discover St. Clair Magazine and her love for the water inspired LakeLife 24/7.

It’s also what helped to lead her home – to a house she loves with a view she cherishes and neighbors who have become family.

“Now that I’ve lived on the water, I could never live anywhere else,” she said. “No matter how bad the day might get, when you get home and look out on the water, it’s like being on vacation all the time. The sunsets are breathtaking, the water is calming, and it just fills me with peace. It’s a beautiful place to call home.”

GREEK SALAD

Dressing:
½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
¼ cup wine vinegar
1 tbs. lemon juice
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. oregano

Place all ingredients in a covered container and shake well. Set aside until ready to serve.

Salad:
In a bowl, place the equivalent of one head of lettuce or assorted greens

2 tomatoes, cut into wedges
1 cucumber sliced
3 scallions chopped or the 2 thin red onion slices cut in half rings
½ cut pitted Kalamata olives
½ cup Feta cheese, crumbled

Add dressing and serve.
Serves: 4

TIROPETES (Cheese Triangles)

3 eggs
3 oz. cream cheese
½ lb. Feta cheese
½ lb. melted butter
½ lb. cottage cheese
1 lb. Phyllo pastry sheets

Combine cheese and mix well. Add eggs, one at a time.
Cut each pastry sheet into 3-inch strips. (The pastry sheets come in a roll, so you can cut the roll into sections with an electric knife and then roll out section of strips as need. Keep a damp cloth over the unused portions to avoid drying.)
Brush the strip with melted butter. Place one teaspoon of the filling on one end of strip and cover over to make a triangle. Continue folding from side to side in the form of a triangle. (Like the paper football from childhood)
Proceed this way until all pastry strips are used. Place the triangles on a buttered cookie sheet. Brush tops with melted butter. Bake on 350 degrees until lightly browned, about 25 minutes.
Makes about 75 pieces.

Notes: Uncooked triangles store well in a tight container in freezer with layers of wax paper in between each row. Simply pull out what you need, bake and you have a great appetizer for company! You can add thawed, frozen spinach to mixture halfway through and make Spanakopites for the remainder.

Speed on the Water

Drag boats add another racing venue to region

Story by Paul South
Photos by Mackenzie Free
and David Smith

Indy, hit the bricks. Daytona, Schmaytona.

When it comes to racing fast boats and fast cars, this Alabama city of 6,845 may be –at least per capita – the speediest town in America.

After all, Lincoln is home to the Alabama Superspeedway. And in November, the city’s picturesque Lincoln’s Landing on the waters of Logan Martin Lake, hosted its first drag boat race.

Think drag racing on the water in sleek, low-slung boats. The premier category of drag boats, Top Fuel, can pierce the water at up to 270 mph.

These boats look fast even when they are not moving

The city’s inaugural drag boat event was a success. Even though attendance was hampered by rainy weather, Lincoln has gone throttle up, making a pitch for drag boat racing’s world championship later this year.

The November race was an effort for Lincoln to get “a foot in the door” in the sport, with an eye toward hosting the world championship, Les Robinson, director of Lincoln’s Landing says.

“That’s kind of the way we looked at it and how we approached it,” Robinson says. “It was a new venue for these guys as well. It’s never been done on this part of (Logan Martin). I don’t know if it’s been done on any part of the lake.”

Drag boat race organizers traveled to Lincoln two or three times to evaluate the site, Robinson says.

“We felt like the venue that we have here would be more than adequate for what they were looking for. We came up with an idea for where the course needed to be.”

Rain and cold put a chill on the turnout, but the racing continued.

“They still ran. They contemplated calling it off. But they had people come from all over the United States and Canada to be here and they wanted to do it,” Robinson says.

Most of the Outdoor Drag Boat Association’s regional points race was visible from the grand pavilion at Lincoln’s Landing, where race fans warmed themselves by a roaring fireplace. Boaters from 42 teams competed in a variety of classifications.

If the city lands the world championship, it will be held the weekend before the Lowe’s RV Stop 250 and the 2024 Fall Xfinity Series Playoff Race on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5 respectively.

The NASCAR 2024 Yellawood 500 is set for Oct.6, and Lincoln officials want the race to coincide with Talladega’s autumn speed week.

“That was the plan,” Robinson says. “It’s not etched in stone that they’re coming, and it’s not etched in stone for the date. But that’s the plan.”

The ODBA teams arrived at midweek prior to the November race, filling nearby motel rooms and boosting the local economy.

The Lincoln’s Landing staff conducted a post-race review, and the venue and personnel earned high marks.

“The facility and the way the park is laid out was perfect for what (the ODBA) was doing,” Robinson says. “There was one situation where we could have had a little bit better flow where they were weighing the boats and where they were taking the fuel samples … But the park layout was great for the racers as well as the spectators.”

Watson and Robinson praised the work of Lincoln’s first responders – law enforcement, fire and EMTs, a veteran force familiar with staffing these types of events.

“Most of these folks have been with us a long time. This is part of their training. It’s their training and their dedication to the job. It’s the whole team,” Watson says.

The only downside – the park had to be closed for fishing on race day because of the course layout. And there is noise.

“(The boats) do create a bit of noise, but we did put that on Facebook that they would be running from 9-5 every day.”

As far as the city’s pitch for the 2024 ODBA world championship, Lincoln’s Landing did the talking.

“I think the park did all the pitching we need,” Robinson says. “I think our facility gave them the idea that ‘This is where we want to be.’ We hope that’s the case. I’m hoping for a positive outcome.”

Mayor Carroll “Lew” Watson agrees.

“We have facilities that aren’t matched by anybody else,” Watson says. “Our facilities are really the top of the chart. We may have to add viewing stands to attract more visitors so they can sit and watch. We have good sites, so that probably will be something for the future.”

Watson thinks city officials should travel to the sites of similar events to learn how those communities prepare and execute those events.

As for Lincoln becoming a racing capital, Robinson says, “If we’re fortunate enough to land this, and we’re pretty confident the races aren’t going anywhere at Talladega (speedway), (ODBA World Championship) could become an annual event for us, I like the analogy.”

If the city gets the world championship, what about the idea of Lincoln becoming a racing capital.

“It would certainly suggest that,” Watson says.

On drag boat racing, Watson says, “I never even knew such an animal existed. But it was interesting to watch. It came off very well. When you go see a drag race, it’s not much different, except one’s on the road and one’s on the water.”

The race and other events are evidence that Lincoln officials are using the landing for more than just a fishing spot.

“We’re capitalizing on what we’ve got, and we’re making the most of it,” Robinson says. “We’ve had three world class fireworks shows out here attracting thousands of people. We never thought that was anything that could be done at the landing until we tried. Everything we’ve done, we had to work really hard to make it happen.”

And the staff had to weather tornadoes and floods, cold and snow to pull off events.

“My staff and I joke, ‘What are they going to throw at us next?’” Robinson says.

The new year is setting up to be a good one for Lincoln’s Landing, which opened in 2020. Fireworks, bass tournaments, a kayak fishing tournament and other events – and a possible world championship – are on the calendar for 2024.

“No matter whether they’re fishing in a bass boat, a kayak or driving a drag boat, they’re all contributing to the local economy. That’s what this place was built for – to bring in events and bring in revenue.”