No'Ala Shoals November/December 2013

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Our 5th Anniversary Issue! | Helen Keller: Beyond the Water Pump | Wendell Gunn Opens a Door

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8 » November/December 2013

82HELEN KELLER: BEYOND THE WATER PUMPThe “First Lady of Courage”was an advocate for all people. She just so hap-pened to be deaf and blind.

BY LAURA ANDERS LEEPHOTOS BY PATRICK HOOD

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18From a Hollywood studio toa diner in Pulaski, TN: moviefood stylist and UNA gradJack White comes home.


28OPENING DOORSFifty years after desegrega-tion, UNA's first African-American student reflects onhow far we’ve come.


37WHAT TO WEAR, WHAT TOGIVE THIS HOLIDAY SEASONOur Annual Holiday BuyingGuide offers gift suggestionsfor everyone in your life, inevery price range.PHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELLAND PATRICK HOOD

60“MERRY CHRISTMAS!ENTERTAIN ME!”What do you do with ahouse-full this holiday sea-son? We have the answers.

BY LAURA ANDERS LEEAND CLAIRE STEWART

72RED RHYTHM RUNWAYIn a once-in-a-lifetime event,Shoals fashion and musiccome together to shine theirlights on a great cause.

BY ALLEN TOMLINSONPHOTOS BY PATRICK HOOD

104Shoals native Harriet Hilltakes us on a remarkablejourney from the jungles ofVietnam to the shores ofAmerica.


112Former professional elf Lauren Merritt tells us whatit’s like to work for the JolliestMan on Earth during the mostwonderful time of the year.

BY LAURA ANDERS LEE

93CAKE CONTEST WINNERS!Just in time for your holidaytable, we crown a new BestCake in the Shoals!PHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | NOAL APRESS.COM | 9

November/December 2013Volume 6: Issue 6

• • •C. Allen Tomlinson

Editor-In-Chief

David SimsCreative Director

Contributing WritersAmy Collins, Sarah Gaede, Laura Anders Lee,

Claire Stewart, Allen Tomlinson

Contributing PhotographersPatrick Hood, Danny Mitchell, Shannon Wells

Marketing Coordinators/Advertising SalesHeidi King, Myra Sawyer

Features ManagerClaire Stewart

Business ManagerRoy Hall

Graphic DesignerRowan Finnegan

• • •No’Ala is published six times annually by No’Ala Press

PO Box 2530, Florence, AL 35630 Phone: 256-766-4222 | Fax: 256-766-4106

Toll-free: 800-779-4222 Web: www.noalapress.com

Standard postage paid at Florence, AL.A one-year subscription is $19.95for delivery in the United States.

Signed articles reflect only the views of the authorsand do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors.

Advertisers are solely responsible forthe content of their advertisements.

© 2008-2013 ATSA, All rights reserved.

Send all correspondence toAllen Tomlinson, Editor,

at the postal address above, or by e-mail [email protected].

Letters may be edited for space and style.

To advertise, contact us at:256-766-4222, or [email protected].

The editor will provide writer’s guidelines uponrequest. Prospective authors should not

submit unsolicited manuscripts; please query theeditor first.

No’Ala is printed with vegetable-based inkson 100% recycled paper.

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10 » contents

S H O A L S• • • • •

14 CalendarEvents for November-December 2013

68 Check It OutBook ReviewsBY FLORENCE-LAUDERDALE LIBRARY

108 KudosBY LAURA ANDERS LEE

116 The VinePalate-Pleasing PersonalitiesBY AMY COLLINS

118 Food for Thought“Happy Holidays—For Real!”Baked Eggs and Raspberry Cream Cheese MuffinsBY SARAH GAEDE

122 Back Talk“What Happens When Kids Are Bad Before Christmas?”BY CLAIRE STEWART

126 Bless Their Hearts“Here’s Wishing You a Messy Christmas”BY CLAIRE STEWART

130 Parting ShotBY DANNY MITCHELL

93 Dan

ny Mitch

ell

editor’s letter « Allen Tomlinson « 11

Thank you for all our many blessings.

Where in the world does the time go? It seems like yesterday when this year started,and here we are looking at the mad rush of the holiday season once again. More sur-prising than that, No’Ala Magazine is celebrating the end of its fifth year ofpublication in the Shoals—where did the last five years go? We’ve grown a lot sincethat first issue, with Santa Carl (Casiday) on the front cover; we’ve won some awards,we’ve increased our pages and our circulation, we’ve launched a Huntsville magazine,and we’ve gotten a little more well known. We’ve been blessed, and we have ourreaders to thank—from an idea, formed before we knew the world was going into arecession, to the magazine you’re holding today, you have had a tremendous influ-

ence on us. Thank you.

This issue includes our annual Holiday Buying Guide, filled withdozens of pieces of proof that you do not need to go out of town tofind everything on your shopping list. Our staff loves picking items tofeature in this issue, because we are always surprised at the wonder-ful things here in the Shoals. We’ve even included our staff picks, incase anyone wants to spring for a gift for any of us. (You can leave thekeys to mine under the mat—I’ll make room in the garage for it.)

It’s not just things that make this such a fascinating place—it’s reallyall about the people here. So, we’re bringing you three stories aboutpeople from here who are doing or have done some amazing things.

Wendell Gunn was the first black student at Florence State University (now UNA),and you will be interested in reading about how he was treated; Jack White, anotherUNA graduate, styles food for the movies, including Catching Fire, opening inNovember. And we are all so proud of our native daughter, Helen Keller, but did youknow there is more to her than just a pump and the word “water?” You’ll also see theresults of our cake recipe contest, just in time for your holiday baking, and see somehighlights from Red Rhythm Runway, an amazing show that combined the high stylesand fashion from this area with iconic Muscle Shoals music. There’s a lot of varietyin this issue—we hope you enjoy it!

Our dear friend, Marigail Mathis, used to say that shopping locally is like wateringyour garden. You have to water your garden, or it won’t grow and produce the beautyyou want. You have to shop locally if you want local stores to continue to be able toprovide you with the things you want. As we travel, we hear over and over again thatthe Shoals has a reputation for wonderful boutique stores, outstanding food choices,and a wealth of talented entertainers. (Huffington Post named us one of the bestsmall towns in the country, based on our creative reputation.) This holiday, make apledge to help us water our garden by shopping for your gifts right here at home. Youwill be amazed at what you’ll find!

Now, take a deep breath. The year has passed quickly, and the holidays will be a blurunless we savor the moments. Spend time with the people you love; take advantageof the activities that always happen in this wonderful place at this wonderful time ofyear. No matter how you say it or celebrate it—Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christ-mas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays—we hope this is a joyous season for you andyours. And thank you for being one of our many blessings for these past five years.

We don’t like tobrag, but at theannual Southeast-ern MagazinePublisher’s Associa-tion GAMMAAwards, No’Ala woneight gold awards,one silver, and onebronze. Only oneother publication,Professional Photog-rapher, won morethis year—andthank goodness wedon’t compete intheir category!Heartfelt thanks toall of the writers,photographers, andfascinating subjectsthey covered thatculminated in thisrecognition.

Now through November 15Susan Weil and Jose Betancourt: BlueprintsMon-Fri 9:00am-5:00pm and Sun 1:00pm-3:00pm; $5 adults, $3students, and free on Sundays; Tennessee Valley Museum of Art;511 N. Water St., Tuscumbia; (256) 383-0533; ttvaa.org

November 1First Friday5:00pm-8:00pm; Free; Downtown Florence at Court St.; (877) 290-8880; firstfridaysflorence.com

November 2First Saturday and Christmas Open House3:00pm-8:00pm; Free; Heritage Park; 300 Wheeler Dr.; Downtown Rogersville; (256) 247-9449; rogersvillealabama.com

November 2Success By 6 ReadAPalooza 11:00am-2:00pm; Admission charged; Regency Square Mall, Florence; (256) 764-5892

November 7 - December 31 Debra Riffe: Linoleum Block PrintsMon-Fri 9:00am-4:00pm; Free; Kennedy-Douglass Center for theArts; 217 E. Tuscaloosa St.; (256) 760-6379; florenceal.org

November 7-10Snow WhiteThurs-Sat 7:00pm and Sunday 2:00pm; $12 adults, $9 students,and $5 kids; Shoals Theatre; 123 Seminary St.; (256) 764-1700;shoalstheatre.org

November 9Second Saturday at Jack-o-Lantern Farm9:00am-2:00pm; Free; Live music and local specialty foods; GarageRoad at TVA in Muscle Shoals; (256) 386-2335;jackolanternfarm.com

November 11Veteran’s Day Parade11:00am; Free; 200 N. Main St.; Tuscumbia; (256) 381-2298; colbertcountytourism.org

November 13-December 13Quilt Challenge ‘13Mon-Fri 9:00am-4:00pm; Free; Kennedy-Douglass Center for theArts; 217 E. Tuscaloosa St.; (256) 760-6379; florenceal.org

November 14Downtown Tuscumbia’s Christmas Open House5:00pm-9:00pm; Free; Sixth and Main streets; (256) 320-5437; colbertcountytourism.org

November 16 W.C. Handy Birthday Celebration11:00am-1:00pm; Free; W.C. Handy Home Museum & Library; 620 W. College St.; (256) 760-6434; florenceal.org

November 17The Ascending Voices Fall Concert6:00pm; Admission charged; Guillot University Center at UNA;(256) 765-4590; una.edu

November 21A Christmas Carol Preview7:30pm; $5; Norton Auditorium at UNA; (256) 765-5122;una.edu/music-theatre

November 22-24A Christmas CarolFri and Sat 7:30pm and Sun 2:00pm; $5 students and $15 adults;Norton Auditorium at UNA; (256) 765-5122; una.edu/music-theatre

November 22-December 24Visit with SantaFree; 6:00pm; With special choir performances on Dec. 2-3, 5-6,and 9-13; Regency Square Mall, Florence; (256) 766-2176; shopregency.com

November 23-24Christmas in the Country10:00am-4:00pm; Free; 1461 LaGrange College Rd.; Leighton; (256) 383-0783; colbertcountytourism.org

December 1Sheffield Christmas Parade6:00pm-8:00pm; Free; Montgomery Ave.; Sheffield; (256) 383-0250; colbertcountytourism.org

December 3Tuscumbia Christmas Parade6:00pm-8:00pm; Free; Deshler High School to Main Street; Tuscumbia; (256) 386-7200; colbertcountytourism.org

Santa Express8:00pm-9:00pm; Admission charged; Tuscumbia Depot/Round-house; 204 W. 5th St.; (256) 389-1357; colbertcountytourism.org

December 5-8Dashing Through the SnowThurs-Sat 7:30pm and Sunday 2:00pm; $10; Zodiac Theatre at Hermitage Ave. and Court St.; (256) 764-1700; shoalstheatre.org

14 » calendar

Continued page 16

November 17The Ascending Voices Fall Concert

December 6First Friday Florence5:00pm-8:00pm; Free; Downtown Florence at Court St.; (877) 290-8880; firstfridaysflorence.comDecember 6-7Santa Express6:00pm-9:00pm; Admission charged; Tuscumbia Depot/Round-house; 204 W. 5th St.; (256) 389-1357; colbertcountytourism.org

Basement Burlesque Presents “Jazzy Bells: A Classic Christmas”8:00pm; From $10; Pegasus Records Garage; 612 E Tennessee St.;Florence; facebook.com/basementburlesque

December 6-8Junior League of the Shoals’ Sugarplum MarketplaceFri 9:00am-7:00pm, Sat 9:00am-6:00pm, and Sun noon-5:00pm; $5; North Alabama Fairgrounds; Muscle Shoals; jltheshoals.org

Christmas Train Parade of Lights5:00pm-8:00pm; Admission charged; Spring Park; 1 Spring ParkRd.; Tuscumbia; (256) 389-1357; colbertcountytourism.org

December 6-24The Trees of ChristmasMon-Fri 9:00am-5:00pm, Sun 1:00pm-3:00pm; $5 adults, $3 students, and free on Sundays; Tennessee Valley Museum of Art;511 N. Water St., Tuscumbia; (256) 383-0533; ttvaa.org

December 7Rogersville Christmas Parade and Yule Log Ceremony5:30pm; Free; Heritage Park; 300 Wheeler Dr.; (256) 247-9449;rogersvillealabama.com

December 8Plantation Christmas1:00pm-5:00pm; Admission charged; Belle Mont Mansion; 1569 Cook Ln.; Tuscumbia; (256) 383-0783;colbertcountytourism.org

The Shoals Symphony Orchestra Presents “A Christmas Gift”2:00pm; Admission charged; Norton Auditorium at UNA; (256) 765-5122; una.edu/shoals-symphony

December 10Florence Camerata Presents “Christmas in the Shoals”7:30pm; Admission charged; Grace Episcopal Church in Sheffield;103 Darby Ave.; (256) 765-4515; florencecamerata.com

December 13Christmas Train Parade of Lights5:00pm-8:00pm; Admission charged; Spring Park; 1 Spring ParkRd.; Tuscumbia; (256) 389-1357; colbertcountytourism.org

Dickens Feast7:00pm; Admission charged; Tuscumbia Depot/Roundhouse; 204 W. 5th St.; (256) 389-1357; colbertcountytourism.org

December 14Christmas at Ivy Green8:30am-4:00pm; Admission charged; 300 N. Commons; Tuscumbia;(256) 383-0783; colbertcountytourism.org

Second Saturday at Jack-o-Lantern Farm9:00am-2:00pm; Free; Live music and local specialty foods; Garage Road at TVA in Muscle Shoals; (256) 386-2335; jackolanternfarm.com

UNA Commencement10:00am and 2:00pm; Free; Flowers Hall at UNA; (256) 765-4444; una.edu

Dickens Christmas, Y’all10:00am-6:00pm Free; Downtown Tuscumbia at Sixth and Main;(256) 383-9797; colbertcountytourism.org

Joe Wheeler Parade of Lights6:00pm; Free; Joe Wheeler State Park; 4403 McLean Dr.; Rogersville;(256) 247-5466; alapark.com/joewheeler

December 15The Best Christmas Pageant Ever2:00pm; Admission charged; Ritz Theatre, 11 W. 3rd St.; Sheffield; (256) 381-8370; ttvaa.org

December 21NCAA II Football ChampionshipTBA; Admission charged; Braly Stadium; N. Royal Ave in Florence;(256) 740-4141; d2championship.com

December 24Christmas Train Parade of Lights5:00pm-8:00pm; Admission charged; Spring Park; 1 Spring ParkRd.; Tuscumbia; (256) 389-1357; colbertcountytourism.org

December 31Joe Wheeler New Years Eve PartyAll Day; Admission charged; 4403 McLean Dr.; Rogersville; (256) 247-5466; alaparks.com/joewheeler

December 21NCAA II Football Championship

16 » calendar


The Joseph Naidu Foundation is a coalition of healthcare providerswho are committed to helping screen and educate people for a varietyof health conditions, so that they can know - and seek treatment - if se-rious conditions exist. These health screenings are FREE, and take placein a variety of locations.

Joseph Naidu was 43 when he died of a massive heart attack. To honorhis memory, his family and friends created the Joseph Naidu Founda-tion, to encourage health screenings and healthy living so that otherswould not have the same fate. These screenings, for PAD, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and other serious conditions, are FREE. Knowing if you have a treatable illness is the first step toward preventing a premature death.

To learn about health screenings near you, or to schedule a FREE screen-ing for your business, church or organization, please visit

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18 | NOAL APRESS.COM | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

TEXT BY LAURA ANDERS LEE » PHOTOS BY PATRICK HOOD

JENNIFER LAWRENCE SHOOTS AN APPLE INSIDE THE MOUTH OF A ROASTED PIGin The Hunger Games; Will Ferrell eats cake at the table in Step Brothers; Brad Pittmunches on another snack in Oceans 13; John Hamm sips a cocktail at a Mad MenChristmas party. Food plays a big role on the silver screen, and Jack White serves itup on a silver platter.

The Pulaski, Tennessee native and UNA graduate has been in show business formore than 20 years. While he’s acted in several major productions such as GuidingLight and Iron Man 2, his biggest role has been as a food stylist for some 100 filmsand 25 television shows including Arrested Development, Two and a Half Men, Girlwith the Dragon Tattoo, Star Trek, The Hangover, Spiderman, Charlie’s Angels, andCat in the Hat. Today, he shares his time between Venice Beach, California anddowntown Pulaski, where he lives above his new restaurant, Savory Jacks, whichdoubles as a prep area for films such as The Hunger Games.

No’Ala meets Jack at his restaurant, just off the courtyard square, on a sunny fall dayat lunch. Wearing sneakers, jeans, and a black t-shirt, Jack greets us with a friendlysmile, unaffected by Hollywood pretentions. We sit at a café table and talk, and ascustomers come and go, he apologetically interrupts the interview to greet them byname. Some get handshakes, others get hugs. “Jack, you’re back!” One customer isespecially thrilled. “Have you tried Jack’s carrot cake?” she asks. “It is to die for.”

Jack hasn’t lived in Pulaski in three decades. After high school, he left for UNA,where he graduated with a degree in broadcasting. Then he headed to Nashville,where he “had the fabulous job of being a tour guide at the Grand Ole Opry,” hejokes. But lucky for Jack, his friend from UNA, Pam Long, called him one day andsaid, “I’m moving to New York—come with me.”

In New York, Jack held various jobs, such as a sales position at the Hyatt at GrandCentral Station and as a singing waiter on a train from New York to LA. But whenhis friend Pam landed a job as head writer on Guiding Light, Jack got a recurringrole. Then, at the age of 31, he moved to LA with his eyes on Hollywood.

“I was pursuing an acting career and was cooking to pay the bills,” says Jack. “I did-n’t know what a food stylist was.”


Jack White in his Pulaski, Tennessee restaurant, Savory Jacks



For this iconic scenefrom The Hunger Games,Peeta throws a burntloaf of bread to a starv-ing Katniss. White madedozens of burnt loaves(above) for multipletakes. The rolls with theDistrict 11 brand werealso painstakingly madeby White and his crewfor the film, yet thescene was ultimatelycut.

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But through a mutual connection at his catering job, he was introduced to the industry.

“My very first food styling job was Doing Time on Maple Drive,” he recalls. “Themain character was dysfunctional and neurotic, you know, really anal, and every-thing had to be meticulously perfect. In the scene, her son comes home forThanksgiving. I really had to think about how the food reflects the character. Whenthe actor came out, she was really pleased with what we had created for her. Sheeven thanked us for helping her be convincing in her role. At that moment, I real-ized I was a food stylist, and that what everyone does behind the scenes adds to thestoryline. I could have artistic input. We could give depth to the film. I didn’t missacting after that.”

Jack developed a strong relationship with the prop masters in town, where he servedtheir team as a food stylist in productions.

“The prop master is responsible for anything the actors touch,” Jack explains. “AndI’m kind of the department head for the food.”

In some films, food and beverages just play a minor role, and Jack’s job is fairly sim-ple; in others, food is an integral part of the scene, and Jack works closely with thedirector as well as the talent.

“On the new Hunger Games, we had to create and style 185 feet of buffet table,” hesays of Catching Fire, set to release this month. “When they get back to PresidentSnow’s house on the victory tour, it’s the most opulent, over-the-top food that any-one has ever seen before. We worked for two weeks on that, with six to seven peopleon my crew, helping cook and style. On a movie like that, I get to work with some ofthe greatest designers and prop masters in the business. As an actor, I never got tothat level.”

For the movie, which was filmed in Atlanta, Jack brought in three UNA culinary stu-dents to assist him. The buffet table features gigantic cow ribs weaved together,resembling something off the Flintstones, roasted pigs with candied eyes, and traysof elaborate candies and cookies.

“Some food must be edible for the actors, and other food is called set dressing,” hesays. “That’s what I call bullet-proof food; it has to sit out 12 hours a day under hotlights and the whole nine yards.”

Jack and his crew must be extremely detail-oriented. If one bite is taken, if one pieceof ice melts, it must be replaced perfectly when the scene is cut and begins again sothe scene appears flawless in final editing.

“Once you’ve carved into a Thanksgiving turkey, you can’t use it again,” he says. Insome cases, there are hundreds of back-up items to replace the food that wastouched in the scene.

Everything must also pass the director’s eye. The crew had to pull an all-nighter tochange the icing on a plate of cookies to make the scene just right.

While there is no food in Mockingjay, the last of The Hunger Games trilogy, Jack’screw member and UNA student James Perini has already been hired as productionassistant for the prop department.

Jack recently finished another film, August: Osage County, which comes out in Jan-uary with Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Juliette Lewis, and otherA-list actors.

“There is a 25-page scene where all 10 actors are sitting around the table,” he says.“It’s quite a crazy scene. We changed out the plates every hour. There’s a lot of con-tinuity. Whenever they say cut, we have to get it just right.”

After four days of shooting the scene, the director announcedthat, thanks to the work of the food-styling crew, they wouldfinish a day early. The entire cast applauded Jack in a proudmoment in his career.

“Working with an actress like Meryl Streep is life changing,” Jacksays. “She’s a method actor, so when she talks to you, she talksto you in character. That was great fun. And Julia, I love her.They were all great to work with. Meryl is just Meryl Streep,what can you say? One of my first movies was with KatharineHepburn (Love Affair), and I thought I couldn’t top that.”

Another challenging part of the job is that despite all thepainstaking, tedious work, scenes often get cut in final pro-duction. For The Hunger Games, Jack and his crew bakeddozens of District 11 rolls for a scene with Jennifer Lawrence.Using a branding iron, the crew spent hours making the rolllook just right. “Jennifer ate like eight rolls that day, and thenthey cut the scene.”

While Jack thinks Catching Fire and August: Osage Countyprobably fulfilled his bucket list as a food stylist, the most funhe’s ever had on set was on Anchorman.

“I’ve done five Will Ferrell films; my first was Old School,” hesays. “Anchorman was one of my favorite movies. I had to runoff the set because it was so funny, and I didn’t want to be thatguy who laughed out loud while they were shooting. Remem-ber the cat poop salad? I worked on that.” Jack cracks up again,just thinking about it.

In two decades of working in Hollywood, Jack has expectedlybeen forced to work with his share of divas and their fastidi-ous and unreasonable requests. But all-in-all, he has lovedworking with the talent.

“I absolutely loved working with Holly Hunter,” he says. “I didall three seasons of Saving Grace. I tell everyone, working with

her is like being in a master’s class. It wasn’t like being at work. It was all about making it the best you could.All of us in life do what we can to get by, but the great ones really push.”

Jack began spending more time in his hometown of Pulaski about four years ago when his brother wasdiagnosed with bone marrow cancer. His brother, who owned a restaurant for 25 years, passed away, andJack was called to open a café in town.

“I’ve been gone for almost 30 years,” says Jack. “But there’s a lot to be said about reconnecting with old roots.LA is a different city than it used to be. The majority of the film work has left LA. The last two films I didwere in Atlanta and Oklahoma.”

From the looks of things around the restaurant, Jack feels right at home again, and he is enjoying his workmore than ever. Jack, who owns three buildings on First Street, is fully invested in downtown Pulaski. He’sbringing in singer/songwriters for Dinner and a Show at Savory Jacks. He’s hosting a cooking series for pub-lic access television in Pulaski and Huntsville. And, he continues to look for ways to get students involved,whether he’s speaking to a class at UNA or booking musicians from nearby Martin Methodist College. He’sdoing all this at home, while managing his crew in LA, who is working on their latest project, Jersey Boys,directed by Clint Eastwood.

“In New York, I met a mentor at one of the first jobs I had,” he says. “He told me, ‘if you enjoy the indus-try, stay in the industry. As long as you enjoy being in that industry, do it the best way you can.’”

Whether it’s the culinary industry, show business, or a marriage of the two, Jack is savoring the sweet tasteof success.


Many of the ideas for thefood White makes for filmare created in his commer-cial kitchen in Pulaski.


In fashion, sometimes you’re inside...

and sometimes you’re out.

SAVE THE DATE:December 7, 2013

Silent Auction and Cocktail party insidethe Historic Sweetwater Depot in East Florence

Dinner and dog and owner fashion show on the runway outside, under the tent

A fashionable fundraiser for PAWS and HASRA, limited to 200 guests

$100/ticket$150 to walk the runway

Sponsorship opportunities available

Limited seating: Call 256-766-4222 for reservationsor purchase tickets at The French Basket,

English Village, Florence

* Names for photos are provided by the organization or business featured.

26 » scene

Above: Auburn Alumni Scholarship DinnerAUGUST 19, 2013 MARRIOTT SHOALS CONVENTION CENTER

Below: Dish Gourmet Café 7th Anniversary PartySEPTEMBER 12, 2013 DISH CAFÉ, FLORENCE

Carter, Zoie, and Brandi McGuyer

Chad and Valerie OakleyNeil Caudle and championship rings

Robert Smith and Michael Hasty

Linda and Terry Mitchell

Kellie and Joey Poss

Billy and Brandi Hammock

Trav HovaterCindy Frazier, Sandra Wilson,and Rachel Hillis

Hope Frederick, Barbara Hunt, Mary MarshallVanSant, and Judy Keenum

Jon and Lisa DuPuis

David, Revonda, and Cat Twesme, RobertSmith and Michael Hasty

Rob Bunch and Pam Bolton

Kayla Mitchell, Heidi King, and Tashina Southard

Tashina Southard, Tracie Swift, Adam Grissom(back row), Tracy Posey, and Duell Aldridge

Billie Ryals and Kay Gable

Photos by Heidi King


28 | NOAL AMAG.COM | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

TEXT BY LAURA ANDERS LEE » PHOTOS BY PATRICK HOOD AND SHANNON WELLS

Wendell Gunn Opens a Door

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | NOAL AMAG.COM | 29

IT WAS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, ANDWENDELL WAS NERVOUS. He had not afriend at the entire university. Nobody daredto make eye contact, much less speak to himin class. He had endured a summer of threat-ening phone calls, warning him about beingthe only black student at an all-white school.He had watched on television as GovernorGeorge Wallace stood at the schoolhousedoor trying to block students—students justlike him—from getting an education. But inthe fall of 1963, Wendell Wilkie Gunndecided to go to college anyway, becomingthe first African-American to attend FlorenceState College, now known as the Universityof North Alabama.

Looking at his resume today—a bank execu-tive, a college professor, a White Houseadviser, business owner, the father of aRhodes Scholar—it’s difficult to imagine thestruggle he had to overcome 50 years ago. Infront of a packed audience for the 50th anniversary of desegregation at UNA, Wen-dell Gunn shared his story, and then sat down with No’Ala for a one-on-one interview.

A Different Era

Tuscumbia native Wendell Gunn had just completed his sophomore year at Ten-nessee State University and was home for the summer.

“I was sitting at a friend’s house near the campus and looking at a Florence StateCollege yearbook on the coffee table,” Wendell recalls. “I noticed they were no longera teacher’s college and now had a liberal arts degree. I was interested in chemistry.I literally put the book down, walked out the door and into the registrar’s office foran application.”

A few minutes later, Wendell was sitting in the office of President E.B. Norton, afterthree rather baffled university officials had passed him off. It was Norton who deliv-ered the news that under Alabama law, Wendell could not be accepted.

“One of the great things about universities is when you make a differencein the life of a young person, you make a ripple across time.”

—Dr. William Cale, UNA Celebration of Diversity Breakfast

Above: Wendell Gunn,right, leaves the doorwayof Bibb Graves Hall at TheUniversity of North Ala-bama (then FlorenceState College), Septem-ber 12, 1963. At left isformer college presidentE.B. Norton. Facing page:Wendell Gunn, pho-tographed at UNA duringthe college’s recent 50thanniversary celebrationof desegregation.

Courtesy of Th

e University of N

orth Alabam

a

“I’m not going to say all the problems have been solved, but most of them don’thave to do with race. I didn’t necessarily want to have a black president, but I

wanted to know that being black wouldn’t keep you from being president. Now that that question has been answered, we can move on to the next thing.”

—Wendell Gunn


“I was in his office, and I was ready to go, but he kept talking,”Wendell says. “He said, ‘I’m sure that you know if you were tosue us, and a federal judge ordered us to admit you, we wouldhave to admit you. Take a moment and talk about it with yourparents.’”

While Wendell wanted to attend Florence State, he wasn’t sureit was worth all the trouble. But to his surprise, his parentsreacted differently. Before he knew it, his mother was on thephone with civil rights attorney Fred Gray, who agreed to rep-resent Wendell and secure funding for the suit from theNAACP.

“I didn’t really expect them to follow through with a suit,” saysWendell. “If anyone was courageous in the situation I think itwas they. My parents knew better, and they did it anyway.”

And just as Dr. Norton had expected with his “wink-wink” sug-gestion, Wendell was accepted to Florence State.

“I got a lot of encouraging phone calls,” Wendell says. “Encour-aging me to stay the hell away from there. I didn’t know I wouldgo there until I actually went there.”

Wendell’s minister drove him into campus for registration, andthey waited in the car until the registration line dwindledbefore Wendell ran out to sign up and then ducked back intothe car. Once he was enrolled in school, the phone callsstopped, but Wendell wasn’t exactly welcomed warmly.

“Students didn’t speak to me unless they happened to be mylab partner,” Wendell recalls. “I had no social life; there wasplenty of time to study. During that first year I didn’t dare goto a football game—not that anything would happen—but Ididn’t know that.”

Everything changed for Wendell the end of that first year whenhe received a physics achievement award on honors day forhaving the highest grade.

“I stood up with a big smile on my face,” he says. “Peopleclapped. I cried. The applause grew. Within a few seconds theentire assembly was applauding. Not only did I lose my com-posure, I lose my composure every time I tell it. It tells me a lotabout people. There were just a few people who had problemswith human interactions. Most people are just trying to getthrough the day—get their children educated and keep themsafe. I learned a lot that day.”

That same spring of 1964 the Civil Rights Act went into effect,making it illegal for a business to refuse service to a customerbased on their skin color.

Photo by Shannon Wells


“I went with a date to Dale’s Steakhouse,” Wendell says. “I fullyexpected the service to be very cool at best. I was a little appre-hensive. But the service could not have been more courteous.That was a good steak.”

Wendell chuckles then turns serious. “Those were two defin-ing moments for me: honors day and my steak at Dale’s.”

Wendell says that looking back, the Shoals community andFlorence State really took to the changes well. “Given every-thing that was happening during 1963 and how smoothlythings went says a lot about our area. Something must havetold me it was okay to come over here.”

After he graduated, President Norton and Wendell’s chemistryteacher Dr. Thomas continued to support him. “Every time Igot a promotion Dr. Norton wrote me a hand-written lettertelling me how proud he was of me, and Dr. Thomas wasdetermined that I succeed.”

After that first year, Wendell’s sister’s husband joined him atFlorence State, and he even built a few friendships with whitepeers from his classes. Wendell graduated in 1965 and got a

job in Tennessee before latermoving to Chicago, where heworked as a chemist andattended graduate school.

“I didn’t particularly want toleave the South,” he says. “I justwanted to go to graduateschool at night. I did end up atthe University of Chicagotutoring people from those“elite” universities. They can’t teach mathematics better thanthey do here (at UNA). That’s why I tell the students here, ‘youdo what you have to do here, you’ll do just fine out there.’”

Wendell went on to become the vice president of Chase Man-hattan Bank, served as assistant professor of finance at TexasSouthern University, and was director of investor relations forPepsico. Then, he was appointed by President Ronald Reaganas assistant director for commerce and trade. Today he livesin Connecticut where he runs his own software business,Gunn Solutions.

“However, as long as we are free to explore the opportunities we have, there is no end to what we can do.

That’s what is great about America and the free enterprise system.” —Wendell Gunn

Courtesy of Th

e University of N

orth Alabam

a

UNA Freshman chemistry major DariusAsher admits he hasn’t faced many ofthe obstacles that Wendell Gunn hadexperienced 50 years prior.

Facing page: Wendell Gunn’s UNA yearbook photo.

Fifty years laterI don’t see color as much as personality. I have a wide variety of friends.

We’re all the same in some aspects, but different races.”—Darius Asher


“I’m not going to say all the problemshave been solved,” Wendell says. “Butmost of them don’t have to do with race.I didn’t necessarily want to have a blackpresident, but I wanted to know thatbeing black wouldn’t keep you frombeing president. Now that that questionhas been answered, we can move on tothe next thing.”

In response to integrating the Univer-sity of Alabama’s Greek system, Wendellsays, “all the sororities should be opento membership by anyone who wantedto join. Desegregation and integrationare two different things. Segregation justtells me where I cannot go. Absent that,I’ll go where I want to go.”

Wendell says that blacks and whites stillmay segregate themselves in lunch-rooms, at church, and at social events.“Their similarities can be along raciallines, occupational lines, or just plaininterests,” he explains. “You’ll still seeclusters, but as people get to know eachother, they will cluster around thosecommon interests, organically.”

As for how far the world has come in 50years, Wendell believes there really is nosuch thing as equal opportunity.

“I don’t think any kid has the sameopportunities as any other kid,” Wendellexplains. “However, as long as we arefree to explore the opportunities wehave, there is no end to what we can do.That’s what is great about America andthe free enterprise system. Not everyonewho is rich grew up rich. Freedom is thekey, not equality. I don’t want to be equalto you; I want to do better than you. Aslong as we’re all competing with one

another to do better, we all end up better. People talk about how this country has problems. It is still the landof opportunity.”

IT WAS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, AND DARIUS ASHER WASN’T NERVOUS AT ALL. He was clearlywanted at the university, where he had received half a dozen scholarships. He was enrolled in the honorsprogram and had made the drum line, something he had always wanted to do. As far as fitting in at theUniversity of North Alabama, it seemed he had already found a place on day one.

Darius stands in the doorway of Bibb GravesHall—the very samedoorway that WendellGunn crossed through onhis way to making historyin Florence, Alabama.


Like Wendell Gunn, Darius is a bright chemistry student witha supportive family. “My dad died when I was 12, and I’m theonly child,” he says. “My mom is a little protective, but I wasalways told I was goingto college no matterwhat.” Darius graduatedfrom Florence HighSchool, where he wassection leader of themarching band andmaintained a 4.2 GPA.

But unlike WendellGunn, Darius, who wasborn in 1995, hasattended school withwhite kids his entirelife. And he’s used tothe feeling of being theonly black guy in theroom. “In high school Iwas an honors AP stu-dent, and I was that one guy,” he says. “On the snare line, I’mthe only black guy. Even though I’m black and they’re white,we’re all people. I don’t see color as much as personality. I havea wide variety of friends…white, black, Mexican. We’re all thesame in some aspects, but different races.”

Darius admits he hasn’t had the same obstacles that WendellGunn faced 50 years before, and he doesn’t think he would beable to do what Wendell did.

“I don’t think my mama would have even let me,” Darius says. “Itmust have been dangerous, being the only black student. Backthen you just didn’t do things like that. He’s a courageous guy.”

Darius believes segregation still exists but that it’s natural, partof human nature.

“I’m not opposed to mixing together races in any setting,” heexplains. “But there are times where you have black peopletogether and white people together for certain occasions. It’sprobably how you were raised—like at church.”

Darius, who has just rushed from class to band practice thenhome and back to campus for this interview, is more focusedon his present life as a college student than on the past. But hetakes a moment to consider what the world is like for him in2013 versus what it was like in 1963 for Wendell Gunn.

“As far as racial equality, it’s a thousand times better,” he says.“I’ve never in my lifetime experienced outrageous racism. I’venever had that problem. I know of racism, and I know it’s outthere, but I don’t really run into it. It’s pretty fair. I think I havethe same shot at success as any other person.”


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SAVE THE DATE! HOLIDAY MARKET

Saturday, November 2310 a.m. - 4 p.m.

500 N. Montgomery Avenue, Sheffield AL 35660


WHAT TO GIVE,WHAT TO WEAR,THIS HOLIDAYSEASON

PHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL AND PATRICK HOOD » PRODUCED BY CLAIRE STEWART


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The Wine Seller(256) 766-1568

Decorative Dish Towels ($8 each)The Yellow Door(256) 766-6950

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Jar & Co.





The most wonderful time of the year can also be the most trying time of year, with all the holiday errands, shopping, cooking…

not to mention dealing with having the kids out of school and preparingfor out-of-town company. To make the most of your time together, here are some activities sure to put everyone in the holiday spirit.

“Merry Christmas! Entertain me!”Tips for taming restless holiday guests

TEXT BY LAURA ANDERS LEE AND CLAIRE STEWART


For the Little Ones

“Mom and Dad can hardlywait for school to start again…”

Instead of dreading the holi-days, make the most of them with afamily outing during the Christmas sea-son. Downtown Florence is the perfectplace to get away from the traffic andenjoy a stroll. First head to UNA for a visitwith the resident lions, Leo and UNA.Throw a penny in the fountain for aChristmas wish on your way back upSeminary Street. Walk across WilsonPark to the library, where you can checkout a few Christmas books or DVDs.Then, head back toward Court Street toTrowbridge’s for an “Oh My Gosh” icecream big enough to share.

“With candy canes and silver lanes aglow…”

Bobby Wright of Spring Valley wouldmake Clark Griswold proud. He has been spreading Christ-mas cheer for the past 40 years with hundreds ofover-the-top light displays, from traditional Nativity scenesto favorite childhood characters. You really must see it tobelieve it. Throw your kids in the car with their pjs, pick upa dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and sing carols all theway. To get to Wright’s Lights from Wilson Dam Road,turn left onto Highway 157, and then a right on ColbertCounty Road 61. At the stop sign, turn right, and go aroundthe curve. Then follow the glow (and the parade of cars).

“O tannenbaum…”There’s just nothing quite like cutting down your ownChristmas tree. Shell Farms in Colbert County has a greatselection of Virginia Pine and Leyland Cypress trees that youcan select and cut yourself. Your family will have a blast run-ning around the great outdoors or even taking a mule andwagon ride. Inside the country store, your kids can sit inSanta’s lap while you sip some hot apple cider.

City sidewalk, busy sidewalks…”In December, Downtown Tuscumbia’s Main Street isdressed in holiday style. A Dickens Christmas Y’all isDecember 14, where your family can meet some good, old-fashioned characters and take a horse and buggy ride. Enjoyan afternoon treat at Palace Café or a hot chocolate at ColdWater books while doing a little Christmas shopping.

“Yes, we need a little Christmas…”

One of the best ways to get intothe spirit is to escape for a fewhours with a great Christmas

story. The Ritz Theatre is bringing backThe Best Christmas Pageant Ever,December 11-15. Come laugh as thewildest, toughest kids in town take overlead roles in the play.

“Oh what fun it is to ride…”In December, you can hop aboard theSanta Express at the Tuscumbia Depot.Admission includes a visit with Santa and areading of the children’s book PolarExpress. At Spring Park, you can enjoyunlimited rides of the roller coaster,carousel, and train. Be sure to stay untiltwilight when the light displays begin tosparkle.

For Your College-Aged Kids

“Don we now our gay apparel…”After a semester in college, your young adult has seen thelatest styles that “everyone else on campus is wearing.”Instead of sending them to the mall with money or puttinga gift card in their stocking, make a shopping day out of it.Check out English Village Shopping Center where yourdaughter can find an outfit at Marigail’s, then you can grablunch at Sweet Basil Café to catch up on her life. Then visitMain Street in Tuscumbia, where you can grab a coffee atCold Water Books before looking for the perfect winter out-fit at Audie Mescal or Tuscumbia’s new men’s store, LeoMartin. They might not admit it, but they know you stillhave style.

“Walking in a winter wonderland…”The year’s last First Friday falls on December 6. Whetheryou’re buying last-minute gifts from street vendors or yourkids are catching up with their old high school friends, youcan all enjoy First Fridays together. Eat together as a familyat Dish or Yumm, and then scatter to various venues—catching a concert at Rivertown, buying sweets at CourtStreet Market, and watching the lighting of the tree in Wil-son Park, before meeting up after a night well spent.

“Lean your ear this way…”For those nights your kids want to meet friends, encourage

The year’s last First Friday falls on

December 6. Whether you’re

buying last-minutegifts from street ven-dors or your kids are

catching up withtheir old high schoolfriends, you can allenjoy First Fridays

together.•••

them to check out the shows atPegasus Records. In the pastyear, St. Paul and the BrokenBones, The Local Saints, DocDailey and the MagnoliaDevils, and The Pollies havegraced their stage on the weekends withsome exceptional shows. With weeklyconcerts, this venue has become a hotspot for young music lovers in the Shoals.Though they may have only enjoyedJustin Bieber or Ke$ha before they left forschool, you may find they’re back with anew appreciation for the amazing talentin their hometown—the talent that youhave been telling them about for years!

“Santa Claus is coming to town…”December 6 through 8 will mark the 7thannual Sugarplum Marketplace, hostedby Junior League of the Shoals. Thisthree-day marketplace at North AlabamaState Fair Grounds in Muscle Shoals fea-tures more than 90 vendors from acrossthe Southeast who will be selling clothing, food, and giftitems. Grab some hot chocolate in the main building andstroll the aisles with your college-aged kids. There will betons of cool handmade jewelry, funky clothes, and originalgift ideas they will love to check out.

“I don’t know if there’ll be snow, but have a cup of cheer…”

If it is your undergrad’s first trip back home after turning 21,what better activity to try out than Tapas Thursdays at theWine Seller? It could be sushi and sake, Oregon wines andoysters, or sangria and Spanish food, but the Wine Sellercrew always comes up with inventive and delicious combi-nations for the foodies of Florence. Teach your new legaladult how to drink the right way and prove to them that youknow where the happening spots are in town, too.

Out-of-Town Guests

“I saw three ships…”The Tennessee River is the perfect place to showcase theShoals, whether it’s having a picnic at McFarland Park,checking out the raised boardwalk at Riverfront Park, or tak-ing a stroll along the Old Railroad Bridge. Your out-of-townfriends will marvel at the engineering of Wilson Dam, asbarges lock their way through. The Joe Wheeler boat Paradeof Lights on December 14 is another fun way to experiencelife on the water.

“Rocking around the Christmas tree…”

For its 40th year, Tuscumbia’sTennessee Valley Art

Museum will present The Trees of Christ-mas. The exhibit includes nine 12-foot-talllive trees, each carefully decorated by vari-ous organizations, businesses, and schools.Visitors can expect a variety of fun and tra-ditional themes, including the MasterGardeners’ all-natural, floral tree and theUNA communications department’s FirstAmendment Tree.

“I’ll be home for Christmas…”Several historic homes in the Shoals areworth visiting while your friends and rela-tives are in town. The Rosenbaum Housein Florence is the only Frank Lloyd WrightHouse in the Southeast open to the publicand is a prime example of Wright’s Usonianstyle of architecture. On December 8, theBelle Mont Mansion in Tuscumbia opens

its doors to the public for Plantation Christmas. HelenKeller’s Ivy Green is another lovely place to visit at Christ-mas—for the decorations as well as the inspiring story.Then, turn on your Shoals playlist in your car stereo and giveyour friends a driving tour of homes on Sheffield’s Mont-gomery Avenue, Tuscumbia’s Sixth Street, and Florence’sWalnut Street and Wood Avenue.

“Sing, choirs of angels…”For a small community, the Shoals is home to some first-class arts organizations that rival those of bigger cities. TheFlorence Camerata, under the leadership of UNA’s Dr. IanLoeppky, is sure to move everyone in the audience at itsannual Christmas concert on December 10 at Grace Epis-copal Church in Sheffield. Also in December, the ShoalsSymphony Orchestra presents A Christmas Gift at Nor-ton Auditorium at UNA. After the concerts, treat yourguests to some amazing local cuisine at one of the area’s localrestaurants.

“Up on the house top…”For a stunning view of the Shoals, including Wilson Lakeand the Tennessee River, there is no better place than theMarriott’s 360 Grille. Grab a local cheese plate and achampagne cocktail in the revolving restaurant. Watch asthe city glows in the sunset, and toast to another great yearwith friends and family.

Bobby Wright ofSpring Valley wouldmake Clark Griswoldproud. He has beenspreading Christmas

cheer for the past 40 years with hun-

dreds of over-the-toplight displays, from traditional Nativityscenes to favorite

childhood characters.You really must see it

to believe it.•••




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How the Light Gets Inby Louise PennyAdult FictionCall Number: F-PEN(In New Arrivals Section)

How the Light Gets In is the latest in thebest-selling Inspector Gamache series byCanadian author Louise Penny. As thestory opens, it’s Christmas-time, and areclusive celebrity is scheduled to visit anold friend in Three Pines. When thewoman fails to appear, her friend callsChief Inspector Gamache of the Surete deQuebec. In the series’ first book, Gamachewas led to the tiny remote village by amurder. Since that time, he has made manytrips to town and forged multiplefriendships. But while Gamache is helpinga friend in Three Pines, his departmentand career in Montreal are being destroyedby dirty cops and politicians. The scandalthreatens both public safety and the life ofhis protégé, a young man Gamache feels hemust save.

Penny’s series is at heart a village mystery.Readers step back in time to visit the townwith no internet or cell phone service. Butthis is no cozy series—the link to Montrealbrings the stories fully into the oftendangerous modern world. Penny’scharacters, particularly Gamache, arecomplicated, flawed, heroic, and appealing.These are not just mysteries; they areexciting and thought-provoking literarynovels that draw readers in and leave themwanting more. (Elisabeth South)

Out Standing in My Fieldby Patrick JenningsJuvenile FictionCall Number: JF-JEN (In Juvenile Fiction Section)

Out Standing in My Field is a story byPatrick Jennings that takes place entirely inthe course of a single baseball game. It isthe story of Ty Cutter, a kid who is not verygood at baseball but is forced to play on hisdad’s team each year. The story is toldprimarily through Ty’s internal monologue,as he attempts to survive the last game ofthe season without having another error tohis name. His thoughts often wander fromthe game at hand, as he thinks aboutconflicts with his baseball-obsessed father.Through the course of a single baseballgame, the reader gets an understanding ofTy’s life.

Although the book is targeted for a youngeraudience, many adult themes are explored.Themes such as the obsession withwinning, father-son relationships, and evenhints at alcoholism are visited. Since thethemes are told through the mind of 11-year-old Ty, they are told in such a way thateven younger audiences will be able tounderstand them. Out Standing in My Fieldis a story for anyone who enjoys tales ofbaseball, on and off the field. (Colby Dow)

Emperor Mollusk Versus the Sinister Brainby A. Lee MartinezAdult FictionCall Number: F-MAR (In Adult Fiction Section)

Emperor Mollusk Versus the Sinister Brainis a wacky, whimsical, sort-of sci-fiadventure. The story is told from theperspective Emperor Mollusk—a geniusfrom Neptune, Ex-Warlord of Terra(Earth), and reformed all-around bad guy.The book begins with Mollusk saving theworld (again), by foiling the plans of hisevil clone, The Sinister Brain. Eventually,he joins forces with Zala, a lizard-ladysoldier from Venus, by side-tracking herfrom her favorite obsession: trying tocapture Mollusk and force him to answerfor his crimes against the Venusians. Thebook is a break-neck rollercoaster thatrockets you through the story, taking youeverywhere from other planets to Atlantis,but it does all of this in style.

Surprisingly enough, though, it’s not allcamp. Emperor Mollusk deals with somevery interesting themes about the moralityof a supervillain, or at least, an ex-supervillain. It manages to reflect on thesethemes in a very self-aware, tongue-in-cheek way, keeping the book light andplayful, without being composed entirelyof fluff. If you like tearing apart the fourthwall like it’s wrapping paper, or if you enjoyspaceships or giant, gelatinous monsters,then look no further: this one’s for you.(Patrick Lindsay)

68 » check it out » Florence-Lauderdale Public Library


Trumanby David McCulloughAdult NonfictionCall Number: 92-TRU (In Biography Section)

Of all United States Presidents, Harry S. Truman is perhaps theone who is most misunderstood. To many, his presidency seemsunimportant and pales in comparison to the presidency of hispredecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt. After all, how could a simplefarm boy from Missouri who had limited experience ingovernment affairs trump a man who had done so much for thisnation during its most critical hour? In short, everything wasagainst Harry Truman from the very start. Truman constantlybattled others’ opinions of him. Many lacked confidence in himand doubted his abilities. In the end, Truman proved to be a manwho could overcome all the obstacles that were set before him.

Do not let the thickness of this book scare you away. DavidMcCullough creates a detailed masterpiece that clearly andaccurately depicts the life of Harry S. Truman. It will surely keepyou on the edge of your chair wondering what will happen toTruman next. Truman is not only a story of inspiration but is alsoa story about a common man, a man who came from humblebeginnings and went beyond what anyone expected of him.(Kristen Tippett Briggs)

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, Illustrated by Jim KayYoung Adult FictionCall Number: YF-NES (In Young Adult New Arrivals Section)

In his Young Adult novel A Monster Calls, Patrick Ness exploresthe grief of a young boy whose mother is slowly dying from anillness that affects every aspect of his life. Thirteen-year-oldConor spends his days at school being bullied and overlooked, andat night he walks with a monster who speaks in metaphors andknows his most secret nightmares.

When his grandmother and estranged father arrive to help takecare of him and his mother, Conor’s situation gets even morecomplicated, as the people who care about him the most areunable to help him process his feelings. As Conor’s anger andsadness rage out of control, he becomes very similar to themonster who haunts him, but he ultimately finds help andunderstanding in a most unexpected place. The author’s narrativeis paired with Jim Kay’s beautiful yet disturbing illustrations,which give the reader a unique perspective on Conor’s emotionaljourney. Full of both sorrow and hope, this book serves as areminder to readers of all ages that love is much stronger andmore powerful than grief. (Jaimee Hannah)

At No’Ala Magazine, we believe strongly in giv-ing back. For that reason, we’d like to offer ourservices for a year to a non-profit organizationin the Shoals who might benefit from profes-sional marketing advice, graphic design and ayear’s worth of exposure in No’Ala.

Our guidelines are simple. First, write us a letterexplaining the mission of your non-profit, whatyour particular marketing needs might be, andhow you might benefit from our help. Make surethat letter arrives at the No’Ala office at 250 S.Poplar Street, Florence, before the close of busi-ness on December 1st, 2013.

We may ask you and others from your organi-zation to come in for a personal discussion, sowe can better understand your needs. We’ll se-lect one organization to “adopt” for 2014, andwe’ll work with you to help you spread theword. No strings; no obligation. You’re doinggreat things. Can we help?


Above, clockwisefrom left: Showdirector Keith Simsfine tunes light cuesduring rehearsal;Shawna P and JimmyHall address theaudience during theafter party concert;Jessie Childers models a MariannaBarksdale creation.

Red Rhythm Runway BringsShoals Music and FashionTogether at Last

If you travel much, you’ve probably run in to peoplewho have heard of the Shoals. People know us eitheras the place where all that great music comes from,or the country’s emerging Fashion Capital (behindNew York and Los Angeles, of course). The soundsand styles that got their start here have gone out intothe world, made an impression, and have reflectedwell on our region.

On September 28, Porsche of Huntsville and Gro-gan Jewelers presented Red Rhythm Runway, anevening of entertainment that married the soulful,get-up-and-dance music that made us famous withthe sophisticated fashions from three area design-ers. A fundraiser for the AIDS Action Coalition’sHames Clinic in Florence, more than 500 peoplegathered at the Marriott Conference Center to hearworld-class musicians and see stunning clothesdraped on beautiful local models. There was anexhibit of designs by UNA students in the lobby,pop-up shops featuring local merchants, and anafter-party sponsored by Truly Cigars of Florence.It was a special night—it was Muscle Shoals Magic.

(contiuned, page 74)


TEXT BY ALLEN TOMLINSONPHOTOS BY PATRICK HOOD


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Clockwise from topleft: Hair stylists Tim May (left) andWesley Roden prepare the models(like Kaitlyn Wilson),before the show;Makeup artistKendra Johnsonapplies lip color toCaroline Bobo;Nicole DeVaney getsa feel for the zig-zagrunway during herfirst rehearsal; models Anna Whitten, StormSpencer, and SarahPatterson wait backstage during themorning rehearsalfor their cue; one ofsix looks designed bystudents from UNA’sDepartment ofHuman Environmen-tal Sciences, createdentirely out of foundand recycled materials.


Clockwise from left:Kate Hunt in BillyReid; Laney Risner in Marianna Barks-dale; Justin Lanfair inBilly Reid, KaitlynWilson in MariannaBarksdale; CourtneySledge, center, inBilly Reid.


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Clockwise from topleft: Chris Klausmodels a Billy Reidlook from thedesigner’s Fall 2013collection; JessieChilders models anensemble from Ala-bama Chanin’s latestline; Anna Whittenin another look fromAlabama Chanin;Nicole Hugaboom inMarianna Barksdale;Canaan Marshall,center, opens theshow as a youngW.C. Handy.


Clockwise from left:Kelvin Holly, JimmyHall, Shawna P, andWill McFarlane.Shane Baker, center,entertains guests inthe atrium before theshow.


Clockwise from top left: Guests admire the gowns created by the students from the University of North Alabama’s Department of HumanEnvironmental Sciences; Stage manager Sarah Haynes (left) with modelsduring rehearsal; The horn section: Chad Fisher, Ken Watters, and BradGuin perform during the show.


“Savor the runway show, embrace the music, and immerse yourself in the inspiration

that surrounds us here. See and hear the unique magic that unfolds when world-class

artists come together in the spirit of creativity and compassion.”

—Judy Hood, from her RRR Forward


80 | NOAL APRESS.COM | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013* Names for photos are provided by the organization or business featured.

80 » scene

Above: Screening of Muscle Shoalsat Billy Reid’s Shindig

AUGUST 24, 2013 SHOALS THEATRE, FLORENCE

Below: Florence Foodies Eventat Yumm Sushi & Beyond

AUGUST 13, 2013 YUMM SUSHI & BEYOND, FLORENCE

Billy and Jeanne Reid

Harris Pride, Kris Lard, Kailey Smith, and Haleigh Hodges Daniel and Maggie Crisler

Jenny and John Paul White

Merle and Megan Stein

Matt Liles and Keri Klaus

Joe Daniel, Teryl Shields,Rachel Hillis, and Deb Jaquette

Justin Spears and PaulVisuthikosol

Mirium Stangel, Sarah Gaede, and Richard Fisk

Gift Iddhichiracharus and Paul Visuthikosol

Jonathan Oliphant and John Cartright

Bradley and Jordyn Dean

Paul Visuthikosol, Libby and Dick Jordan, JoeDaniel, Rachel Hillis and Deb Jaquette

Tommy Mathis

Photos by Abraham and Susan Rowe

Photos courtesy of Billy Reid


Providing Insurance and Financial Services

Myron Gardner, LUTCF 1819 Darby Drive, Florence, AL 35630 Bus 256-764-2234;Cell 256-335-6080 Email [email protected]

Phil Wiginton419 Cox Boulevard, Sheffield, AL, 35660

Bus 256-383-4521; Cell 256-762-5859Email [email protected]


“Only through freedom, freedom for all, can we hope for a true democracy.”

Helen Keller


We Alabamians think we know the story well. Helen Keller was born onJune 27, 1880, to Kate and Capt. Arthur Keller in Tuscumbia, Alabama. At the age of 19 months, an illnessleft her blind, deaf, and mute. She remained speechless until she was almost seven years of age, when herparents, with the help of Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, brought Anne Sullivan to their Ivy Green home,where Helen spoke the word “water” at the famed pump.

But the story doesn’t end there. In fact, that is just the beginning.

Like many other American heroes, Helen Keller has become more myth than human. Tens of thousandsvisit Ivy Green each year from all around the world longing to see the pump for themselves, to stand onthat sacred ground where a miracle took place.

“There are the urban legends that accrue to famous people in history like George Washington choppingdown a cherry tree and Big Abe with his stovetop hat,” says Lee Freeman, public historian with the Flo-rence-Lauderdale Public Library, “but once you start learning about them, you realize how much morecomplex they are.”

Complex indeed was Helen Keller. In her lifetime, she wrote 14 books, 475 speeches, and thousands of arti-cles and letters. Freeman points to a shelf filled with books about Helen Keller and a thick binder of localnewspaper clippings. The American Foundation for the Blind employs a full-time archivist—Helen Sels-don—with the sole responsibility of sorting through 80,000 documents housed at the New York officewhich span Helen Keller’s 87-year life.

“My biggest job since I’ve been here, and I’ve been here 11 years, is to make her a real person, not just amythic figure,” says Selsdon. “She lived her life as much as she could. She was extraordinary, there is noquestion. But people don’t see how very hard she worked. She was prolific. She wrote letters constantly.She was a clever child and a smart woman, but she worked hard at it.”

BEYOND THEWATER PUMP

HELEN KELLER



Another spokeswoman for Helen Keller is her great-grand niece, Keller Johnson Thompson. Thompsonlives in Tuscumbia where she serves as an ambassador for the American Foundation for the Blind andvice president of the Helen Keller Foundation, based in Birmingham, which conducts research and imple-ments educational programs.

“Unfortunately people tend to focus on the pump story and Annie Sullivan and not what she did later onand not what she fought for,” says Thompson.

Here is where Helen Keller’s story continues.

After that famed day at the water pump, Helen and Anne worked together closely on her studies. They hada special bond, and Helen Keller later called Anne her guardian angel. “She understood the void in my soulbecause her childhood had been so empty of joy,” Helen Keller described Anne in her memoir Midstream.

In 1896, by the time Helen was 16, she began studying for college entrance exams. Her father, who diedthat same year, had been a graduate of the University of Virginia, a four-star veteran in the Civil War, edi-tor of the North Alabamian, and believed a good education was very important. Helen first attended theCambridge School for Young Ladies and then Radcliffe College. Not only was she accepted, but in 1904she became the first deaf and blind student to ever graduate from college.

Helen had a zest for life, and she loved new experiences, whether swimming, sailing, flying, or art. Sheloved taking in the smells of a new city and feeling the sunlight on her skin. At college, she thrived on thenew surroundings and worldly ideas. Anne remained by her side, attending all her classes and transcrib-ing her lessons. In 1902 at the age of 22, Helen Keller’s autobiography The Story of My Life was publishedin a serialized version and the following year it was published as a whole. Helen was greatly assisted by JohnMacy, an editor and Harvard professor who had become close to both Helen and Anne. In 1905, John andAnne married, and John moved in with Helen and Anne. The three had a big influence on one another.They were intellectuals, often discussing politics and current events. Helen was passionate about pro-

Above: Ivy Green,Tuscumbia, AlabamaFacing page: HelenKeller at RandolphCollege

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BEYOND THE WATER PUMP


tecting individual rights, whether the rights of those with dis-abilities or the poor or disenfranchised.

“John Macy was definitely a huge influence on her and intro-duced socialism to her,” says Selsdon. “I think some people areinnately more emphatic, and Helen was one of those people.She was always for the underdog. She had a very Ghandi-esquequality about her.”

As a 30-year-old woman, Helen Keller’s beliefs were ahead ofher time, and the issues she fought for were at the forefront ofnational debate, something that is often missed in history books.

“We don’t learn that in elementary school,” says Carl Brandt ofVero Beach, Florida, a tourist to Ivy Green. “It’s all about over-coming the disability, but when you’re older, you research herand realize there is much more to her. We are given just thatbasic portrait of her and not the whole picture of her life. Herpolitical life is glossed over, left unmentioned.”

“She was blind and deaf but didn’t just sit there with her handstied,” says Thompson. “She was working with things close toher heart. She wanted to make the world a better place.”

In 1913, Helen Keller gave her first public lecture. People flockedto hear her inspiring story, the miracle of the deaf and blind girlnow able to speak, but Helen took it as an opportunity to shareher beliefs. At the podium, she often spoke about her faith,world peace, women’s rights, and the plight of the poor.

“We are marching toward a new freedom,” she said in her firstspeech. “We are learning that freedom is the only safe condi-tion for all human beings, men and women and children. Onlythrough freedom, freedom for all, can we hope for a truedemocracy.”

In 1912, she sent money to women in New York who wereprotesting better working conditions. In 1913, she stood upfor laborers in the following excerpt from Justice: “the outputof a cotton mill or coal mine is considered of greater impor-tance than the production of healthy, happy-hearted, freehuman beings.” In 1914, she wrote to the Sacramento Starabout the brutal treatment of the unemployed. She wrote toPresident Woodrow Wilson about a trial she believed wasunfair.

Helen Keller spoke out publicly in favor of birth control, whichwas highly controversial and not legalized until many yearslater. “The limiting of families is a matter of the gravest neces-sity to the workers,” Helen wrote in a 1915 New York Callarticle. “In spite of our boasts of national prosperity, poverty issteadily increasing. The cost of living mounts higher andhigher, and wages do not advance in proportion. If the familiesof the workers are left to the uncontrolled caprice of nature, weshall have a larger percentage of children that are forced to toilin mills and factories—who are denied their birthright of edu-cation and play.”

Helen Keller also fought for a woman’s right to vote. In an arti-cle entitled Why Men Need Women’s Suffrage, she wrote:“Anyone that reads intelligently knows our ideas are up a tree,and that traditions are scurrying away before the advance oftheir everlasting enemy, the questioning mind of a new age. Itis time to take a good look at human affairs in the light of newconditions and new ideas, and the tradition that man is thenatural master of the destiny of the race is one of the first tosuffer investigation.”

Helen Keller was a self-proclaimed socialist and felt capital-ism meant big profits for a few elite at the expense ofhard-working Americans.

“You have to understand her views and the time in which sheheld those views,” says Freeman. “Critics pigeon-hole her bycalling her a socialist, but you have to put everything in his-torical context.”

During this time, there were national debates about women’ssuffrage, frequent strikes at factories and mills, and the coun-try was entering World War I.

“The future of the world rests in the hands of America,” Helensaid in a speech at Carnegie Hall during the war. “The future ofAmerica rests on the backs of 80 million working men andwomen and their children. We are facing a grave crisis in ournational life. The few who profit from the labor of the masseswant to organize the workers into an army which will protectthe interests of the capitalists. You are urged to add to the heavy

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burdens you already bear the burden of a larger army and manyadditional warships. It is in your power to refuse to carry theartillery and the dreadnoughts and to shake off some of the bur-dens, too, such as limousines, steam yachts, and countryestates. You do not need to make a great noise about it. Withthe silence and dignity of creators you can end wars and thesystem of selfishness and exploitation that causes wars.”

Helen Keller was also very passionate about the constitutionalrights of Americans, believing everyone had the right to theirpolitical views. In the 1920s, Attorney General Mitchell Palmerarrested thousands of people he believed were radicals andcommunists in what became known as the “Palmer Raids.”This angered many citizens, and as a result, the American CivilLiberties Union was founded. Helen Keller was among its firstmembers.

Throughout this time, Helen remained close with her family.She often visited her sister Mildred, who lived in Montgomerywith her three daughters. Until she died in 1921, Helen’s motherKate accompanied her and Anne on lecture tours. Helen alsohad other loyal companions, such as Polly Thomson who man-aged her tour and had moved in with Helen and Anne in 1914,by which time John and Anne’s marriage had collapsed.

“In the modern world, people see it as funny when womenlived together or traveled together,” says Selsdon. “But in theVictorian Age, it was common for unmarried women.”

“At one time, Helen was engaged to Peter Fagan (who was JohnMacy’s assistant), but she was 36, and her mother and Annequieted that down,” says Thompson. “I think they were con-cerned about his intentions. And while I know she especiallyenjoyed children since she didn’t have any of her own, I thinkshe felt she had other work to do.”

Since her teenage years, Helen Keller had been a devout mem-ber of the Swedenborgian Church, a Christian church basedon the teachings of Swedish scientist and philosopher EmanuelSwedenborg who influenced other prominent figures such asHenry James and Ralph Waldo Emerson. In her book My Reli-gion, published in 1927, Helen wrote, “Sick or well, blind orseeing, bond or free, we are here for a purpose and however weare situated, we please God better with useful deeds than withmany prayers or pious resignation.”

Helen Keller wasn’t just a woman who spoke her mind andfrom her heart, but she was a woman of action.

“The piece I like to point people to is Helen’s letter to the Stu-dent Body of Germany,” says Selsdon. “It really just sums upwhat she stood for and who she was as a person.”

In the May 9, 1933 letter, Helen wrote: “To the Student Bodyof Germany: History has taught you nothing if you think youcan kill ideas. Tyrants have tried to do that often before, and

the ideas have risen up in their might and destroyed them. Youcan burn my books and the books of the best minds in Europebut the ideas in them have seeped through a million channels,and will continue to quicken other minds. I gave all the royal-ties of my books to the soldiers blinded in the World War withno thought in my heart but love and compassion for the Ger-man people. Do not imagine your barbarities to the Jews areunknown here. God sleepeth not, and He will visit His Judg-ment upon you. Better were it for you to have a mill-stonehung round your neck and sink into the sea than to be hatedand despised of all men.”

While politics and human rights were extremely important toHelen, she never lost sight of her core mission to help thosewith vision loss, and she became a life-long spokeswoman.

“She was employed by the American Foundation for the Blindfrom 1924 until she died,” says Selsdon.

In 1925, Helen Keller went to the Lions Club International andasked them to be Knights of the Blind. In 1931, Helen, Anne,and Polly participated in the first World Council for the Blind,and they continued to travel abroad as advocates for the Amer-ican Foundation for the Blind. During World War II, Helenvisited blind, deaf, and disabled soldiers in military hospitalsaround the country.

In a letter to President Herbert Hoover in 1933 requesting heattend the American Foundation for the Blind’s new soundstudio, Helen wrote: “Always there is a glow of gratefulremembrance in my heart of how you received the delegates ofthe World Conference for the Blind. Your fine spirit and coop-eration and Mrs. Hoover’s gracious hospitality are preciousmemories in my work. I realize how very heavy your burden is,and this letter stirs in me an ache of sympathy, but we are toldthat if we take His Yoke upon us and learn of Him, we shallfind the burden light and the yoke easy. The blind of this coun-try will have another reason to remember you with gratitudeif you can grant this request.”

The following year, she wrote a letter to President FranklinRoosevelt with this introduction: “It stabs me to the quick totake from you one second of the precious hours of rest andrecuperation you are seeking in the South, but my champi-onship of the cause of the blind is the urge that will not let meleave you alone.”

Helen Keller also wrote letters to President Calvin Coolidge,President Harry S. Truman, President John F. Kennedy, Presi-dent Richard Nixon, Samuel L. Clemons, Will Rogers, andAlbert Einstein.

In 1946, Helen and Polly made their first major overseas touron behalf of the American Foundation for the Overseas Blind,(Anne had died in 1936), and over the next decade, the twovisited three dozen countries on five continents. All the while,




“She was not an angel. When she traveled abroad, she was always incredibly charming and sweet but very determined to speak out.

She didn’t hold her opinion back. She was a Trojan Horse. Here was this 70-plus woman with a staggeringly tough schedule who

spoke her mind and spoke directly to governments.And because of that, laws were changed around the world.”

Helen Selsdon, Archivist for the American Foundation for the Blind

Helen Keller with Anne Sullivan and Polly Thomson

© American Foundation for the Blind


she continued to write books and arti-cles for her many causes.

In September 1964, President LyndonJohnson presented Helen Keller withthe Presidential Medal of Freedom, thenation’s highest civilian honor, but shewas unable to attend the ceremony dueto a stroke. Four years later, Helenpassed away, and her ashes wereinterred alongside Polly Thomson andAnne Sullivan at the National Cathe-dral. She left her archival collectionincluding letters, speeches, photo-graphs, and memorabilia to theAmerican Foundation for the Blind.

On the front page of the paper on June6, 1968, the Florence Herald published,“Tuscumbia-born Helen Keller whosemagnificent courage and determinationmade her an inspiration to millionsthroughout the world died Saturday ather estate at Easton, Conn. She was 87.Her long-time companion Mrs.Winifred Corbally, was at her side. Onceblind, deaf, and mute, Miss Keller’s phe-nomenal mastery of this triple handicapwas a triumph unequaled in this or anyage. She became a symbol of hope andencouragement to the handicap every-where. Miss Keller rose from this voidof soundless blackness to become aworld traveler, lecturer, author andhumanitarian who devoted her life tohelping the afflicted of every land.”

At a time when most women were rais-ing their children and tending tohousehold chores, Helen Keller was outfighting for a cause. She fought for peoplewith hearing and vision loss. She stoodup for the poor and the afflicted. She pro-tected the rights of women and laborers.She believed in equal rights for all.

“She was not an angel,” Selsdon says. “When she traveled abroad, she was always incredibly charming andsweet but very determined to speak out. She didn’t hold her opinion back. She was a Trojan Horse. Herewas this 70-plus woman with a staggeringly tough schedule who spoke her mind and spoke directly to gov-ernments. And because of that, laws were changed around the world.”

Helen Keller’s legacy lives on in many ways. Her work goes on through scientific research at the LionsClub International and the Helen Keller Foundation. Her letters and speeches are living documents at theAmerican Foundation for the Blind. She represents the state of Alabama on the quarter. Her statue stands

Hostess MaryEubanks leads agroup of schoolchild-ren through IvyGreen.



10 Facts You Might Not Know About Helen Keller30,000 people have visited Ivy Green this yearfrom all 50 states and three dozen countries.

LIFE Magazine named Helen Keller one of the 100most important Americans of the 20th Century.

Helen Keller was one of the first members of theACLU.

Helen Keller won an Academy Award for best doc-umentary in 1955 for The Unconquered (renamedHelen Keller in Her Story), a story about her life.

William Gibson’s play The Miracle Worker, basedon Helen’s early life, debuted on television and onBroadway.

She won the Presidential Medal of Freedom, thecountry’s highest civilian honor, at age 84.

Her remains are buried at the National Cathedralin Washington, D.C.

Her statue is at the U.S. Capitol.

She is honored on Alabama’s quarter.

There are 21 million blind people in the UnitedStates today.

in the U.S. Capitol as one of 100 American heroes. And thepump remains at Ivy Green as a symbol of hope and perse-verance.

In all her greatness, Helen Keller cannot be reduced to a sym-bol, and her tremendous efforts cannot be simplified to amiracle. She was a real person. She was an Alabamian, adaughter, a sister, a college graduate, a woman, an author, apublic speaker, an advocate for all persons. And she just sohappened to be deaf and blind.

2508 East Avalon AvenueMuscle Shoals · 256-381-6889www.jamiehoodonline.com

JINGLE BELLROCKS

* Names for photos are provided by the organization or business featured.

90 » scene

Above: Chapeaux Club Summer LuncheonAUGUST 24, 2013 LOCUST HILL, TUSCUMBIA

Below: ECM Doctor ReceptionSEPTEMBER 12, 2013 SWEETWATER DEPOT, EAST FLORENCE

Susanna Wylie, Joan Johnson, and Frances Peck

Mercy Winters, Pat Slusher, and Glenda Oldham Leslie Ryan and Pat Ward

Susan Beckett and Ann Aldridge

Dina Ba’albaki

Jo Ann Thomas, Laura Jane Self,Connie Barnes, and Martha Truitt

Dr. George Allen and Russell Pigg

Chris Heaton and Dr. William Heaton

Dr. Joseph Mokulis, Dr. RichettaHuffman-Parker, and Dr. ErikaCrenshaw

Jena Hamm NP, Dr. Gerard Haggstrom, Dr. WesStubblefield, and Jennifer Stubblefield

Dr. Allen and Debbie Barnes

Chapeaux Club

Molly Kalliath

Ashley and Dr. David Cozart, and Dr. Pavan Telang

Dr. Parag Patel, Dr. Pearl Govea, Ismael Govea,and Dr. Vijayamala Bondugula

Dr. Jonathan Summers, Dr. David Colvard, and Linda Colvard

Photos by Shannon Wells



The recipes are cherished, passed around to friends and family and prized—andthat makes sense, because cakes accompany most of the milestones in our lives. Weddings, birth-days, anniversaries, graduations, and holidays—you can always be sure a cake will be present.Everyone has that one cake recipe that is raved about at dinner parties and nibbled until the very lastcrumb is gone. Since everyone has a favorite cake recipe, we decided we wanted to hear (and taste)the best!

When we announced this cake contest, we were inundated with submissions from across the Shoals.We sorted through dozens of recipes for bundt cakes, layer cakes, pound cakes, and sheet cakes tofind our favorite three. We baked and iced them in the No’Ala test kitchen and found all three to beabsolutely delicious. Although any of these cakes could be a perfect addition to your holiday table,our judges picked their favorite: an amaretto-soaked peaches and cream layer cake, submitted byDavid Auston Johnson. Thank you to everyone who submitted, and we hope you will try these in yourown home. But try to remember this is the season of giving—you should share a little with the restof the family, too!

NORTH ALABAMA’S BEST


PHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL » PRODUCED BY CLAIRE STEWART


Cake stand and napkin from The French Basket

AMARETTO-SOAKED PEACHESAND CREAM CAKE

David Auston Johnson


Cake• 2 to 3 large peaches, pitted and cut into roughly 1/4 inch slices• 3/4 cup amaretto liqueur• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (fluffed, spooned, and leveled), plus more for pans• 1 teaspoon baking powder• 1 teaspoon baking soda• 1 teaspoon fine grain kosher salt• 1 1/2 cups sugar• 2 large eggs (room temperature)• 3 large egg yolks (room temperature)• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract• 1 cup low-fat buttermilk (room temperature)

Place peach slices and amaretto liqueur in a medium bowl and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but overnight is preferred for optimal flavor. Make sure to save the extra liquid inthe bowl after soaking the peaches. It will be used later in the recipe to make a peach-infused amaretto glaze.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour three 8-inch circular cake pans, tapping out excess flour. In amedium bowl, sift baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the room-temperature butter and sugar until light andfluffy. With mixer on low, beat in eggs and yolks, one at a time. Beat in vanilla. Alternately beat in flour mixtureand buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix just until combined. (Do not over mix)

Divide batter between pans. Smooth out batter with spatula. Tap pans against counter to level the batter andremove excess air pockets. Bake until cakes pull away from sides of pans or a toothpick inserted into the centercomes out clean—approximately 27 minutes. Let cool in pans 10 minutes. Run a knife around edges of pansand invert cakes onto a wire rack. Let cool completely. Use a serrated knife to cut off any domes from the topsof cakes.

Cream Cheese Frosting• 1 lb. cream cheese, room temperature• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature• 1-1/2 cups confectioners sugar, sifted• 1 teaspoon amaretto liqueur• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract• 1 tablespoon all natural honey• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

In the bowl of a mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until creamy and combined. Beat in confectioners sugar,lemon zest, amaretto, honey, and vanilla.

Tip: Make sure the cream cheese and butter are fully at room temperature. This will ensure a smooth andcreamy frosting. Just leave the packages on the counter all day.

Peach-Infused Amaretto Glaze• 1/2 cup light brown sugar• 1/2 cup amaretto

In a saucepan over medium high heat, combine light brown sugar and ½ cup of the leftover amaretto fromsoaking the peaches. Swirl pan and continue to heat until the sugar has dissolved completely. Lower the heatand simmer until the mixture reduces slightly. It should be the consistency of thin syrup. Remove from heatand allow to cool completely.

To AssemblePlace one cake, cut side down, on a cake plate. Spoon and spread the glaze over the first layer, allowing the glazeto trickle down the sides of the cake. Use an offset spatula (or knife) to spread with a layer of frosting. Lightly dabpeaches with a paper towel to remove any excess amaretto. Arrange a single layer of peaches, in a circular pattern, on top of the icing. Top with the second layer of cake, cut side down. Continue steps until all layers havebeen used. Glaze and spread icing on the final layer and arrange peaches in a circular or decorative pattern.

CAKE FACTS:The most expensive cakeever reported was $30 million. This wedding cake was made by Buddy Valastro (from TLC’s show,“Cake Boss”) at the requestof a New York socialite whowanted the perfect cake forher diamond gala event. On the cake were sapphires,emeralds, rubies, and diamonds.

Queen Victoria was the first person to havepure white icing on herwedding cake—this is why we call it “royal icing.”


Cake• 1 box Duncan Hines Classic white cake mix • 2 packages pistachio instant pudding• 1 cup shelled pistachios, crushed• 1/2 cup whole milk• 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil• 1/2 cup water• 5 eggs at room temperature

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans. In a large bowl, stir together cakemix, pudding, and pistachios. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, add milk, oil, and water, mixing wellafter each addition. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Batter will be thick and somewhatfluffy. Pour evenly into prepared pans and bake until done, about 20 minutes. Cool in pans 15 minutes. Removefrom pans to wire racks. Make sure cake layers cool completely before icing. Spread cream cheese frostingbetween each layer and on the top and sides of cake. Store cake in refrigerator.

Cream Cheese Frosting• 2 8-ounce blocks cream cheese, at room temperature • 1 cup salted butter, at room temperature • 1 2-pound bag confectioners sugar

Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter together until light and fluffy. Slowly add confectionerssugar, a cup at a time, until well blended.

CAKE FACTS:In ancient Rome, bread, notcake, was broken over thebride’s head to symbolizegood fortune and fertility tothe couple. Over time, withthe additions of yeast, flour,eggs, sugar, and spices, andthe introduction of bakingsoda and baking powder, themodern cake eventuallymade its way into historyaround the mid-1800s—andwe are all thankful for that!


PISTACHIO CAKELeslie Howard

Plates from Halsey House

CARAMEL APPLE CAKECeleste McCartney

Napkin from Halsey House


Cake• 2 cups all-purpose flour• 3 eggs• 1-3/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar• 2 teaspoons cinnamon• 1 teaspoon salt• 1 teaspoon baking powder• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda• 3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla• 2 cups apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced (the juicier the better—Golden Delicious are great)• 1 cup chopped nuts• 1/2 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease a 12-cup bundt pan. In a large bowl, blend together all ingredients for the cake batter except nuts and raisins. Beat 2 minutes on high speed. Stir in nuts and raisins.Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake 45 to 55 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool upright in pan for 30 minutes; invert onto serving plate. Cool completely.

Caramel Glaze• 1/4 cups butter or margarine• 1-1/4 cups confectioners sugar• 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar• 1 teaspoon vanilla• 2 to 4 teaspoons milk

For caramel glaze, melt 1/4 cup butter in a small saucepan. Stir in brown sugar; remove form heat. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. Blend well by whisking. Spoon the caramel glaze over cake.


CAKE FACTS:The Bundt cake is known forits distinctive ring shape.Though it was inspired by atraditional European fruitcake called a Gugelhupf, thebundt cake is not generallyassociated with any singlerecipe. The cake was popu-larized in America in the 50sand 60s after its name wastrademarked by the NordicWare company. But, the cakewas almost lost in historywhen the company saw thepan selling poorly in themarket. If it wasn’t for amention in the 1963 GoodHousekeeping Cookbookand thus a spike in the saleof the pan, the companywould have discontinued theline. From that time, theBundt cake became popularwith Tunnel of Fudge cakesand Jell-O molded treats.


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UNWRAP SOMETHING AMAZING


H’Yoanh Buonya, left, and Harriet Hill, co-authors of Escaping Viet Nam: H’Yoanh’s Story.

H’YOANH’SSTORYAT FIRST GLANCE, YOU’D THINK HARRIET HILL AND H’YOANHBUONYA COULD NOT BE ANY MORE DIFFERENT. Harriet wasborn in Alabama, H’Yoanh in Vietnam. At 16, Harriet was chasingboys and dancing at the Florence community center with collegejust on the horizon. At 16, H’Yoanh was fleeing the Viet Cong to thejungle, where there would be no education. At 23, Harriet was hav-ing the time of her life, a college graduate living in Atlanta. At 23,H’Yoanh was fighting for her life, crossing the Mekong River to arefugee camp in Thailand. (continued)




their camps. She faced grueling hunger, eating only what thewilderness could provide, which some days was only mud totrick her stomach into feeling full. She endured leeches andmosquitos which consumed her body. She suffered heartbreakwith the passing of a friend’s baby to parasites, another friendto suicide, and many others from the violence of the Viet Congand the cruelty of the jungle. Yet for seven years, H’Yoanh keptwalking toward freedom, eventually crossing the border.

“I had trusted God in my heart-through the hunger,the anxiety, the Mekong River crossing, the false accu-sations, the marriage to the man I loved....”

Then 11 years after leaving for the jungle, H’Yoanh and herhusband Y-Jim, whom she’d met at a Thailand refugee camp,began their emigration process. And finally, in 1986, they setfoot in their new home in North Carolina.

“We could stop running, we were free, we had newfriends, we would begin a new life, and we would havea baby born in America. Thanks be to God!”

Today, these women will tell you they are more alike than theyappear. They will tell you they met by the grace of God, in 1990in North Carolina, while Harriet was building a Habitat forHumanity house for H’Yoanh, who was settling in the UnitedStates as a new citizen. The two share a special bond, nurturedby afternoons spent together every Sunday for three years,while H’Yoanh told her story to Harriet. Co-authors of thebook Escaping Viet Nam: H’Yoanh’s Story, the two want tomake sure nobody forgets the gift of freedom.

In this compelling memoir, readers will gain a fresh perspec-tive of the Vietnam War from the eyes of a native. Aninspirational read for the holidays, it is a story of courage andfaith, of loyalty and hope.

In the book, H’Yoanh recounts being 16 in 1975 and her deci-sion to seek a better life.

“We were young. We had no fear. Nothing matteredexcept that we join our Montagnard friends and leavethe village. We only thought that it would be daringand responsible to get away from the security guardstelling us what to do and from the Viet Cong takingour villages. We did not think much of the risks aheadfor us.”

The risks ahead of H’Yoanh were indeed great. Every day inthe jungle she faced the terror that the enemy would discover

“I’d very much like for the book to be in the colleges and the high schools so young people, especially Americans, can see this true story, this memoir, and realize how fortunatethey are to be born in a free country.” —Harriet Hill

Soon, she would meet another woman of faith and loyalty,Harriet, who took a special interest in H’Yoanh.

“Our church was fortunate enough to draw their name for aHabitat house,” says Harriet. “I was totally involved in that, andI realized she needed more help with her English, and as Iheard bits and pieces of her story, I told her she needed towrite a book. This is 23 years ago.”

The two developed a friendship, and as the years passed, Har-riet began to write H’Yoanh’s story down.

“As H’Yoanh told her story, she began to remember more, andher English improved,” says Harriet. “About the second week ofwriting the book, I went into first person. It was very easy. Wehave a feeling for each other. We have a spiritual bond. We justknow each other. I can feel her enthusiasm, her sadness.”

H’Yoanh starts to say something, but her voice breaks, and shewipes away a tear.

“Every night, I am so grateful for my life,” she says finally. “Godis the most important…I always think God leads me, withangels helping me out.”

The two friends want readers to feel inspired by H’Yoanh’sstory, an untold perspective from a Montagnard, and a femaleat that, of the trials and tribulations in Vietnam.

“For me, I want to share my story with my friends and otherpeople to know what I went through,” H’Yoanh says. “So we alllearn about the different lives of people and compare what wehave now.”

Harriet agrees. “I’d very much like for the book to be in thecolleges and the high schools so young people, especiallyAmericans, can see this true story, this memoir, and realizehow fortunate they are to be born in a free country.”

Escaping Viet Nam illustrates that the American Dream is stillalive and well. H’Yoanh and Y’Jim were given a new life in theUnited States. They now have five grown children, Americancitizens, who have gone on to college and even law school.

“I want to thank the American people for welcoming us here,”H’Yoanh says. “Thanks to sponsors and neighbors and friends,I have a new life…I want to thank them not just for me, butfor all my countrymen. We are all so lucky to be here.”

Escaping Viet Nam: H'Yoanh's Story is available through TatePublishing, at tatepublishing.com.

H’YOANH’S STORY


I’m Dr. Lee Nichols. As an orthopedic surgeon, total hip and knee replacements are a primary focus of my practice. Having completedmy residency at the world-renowned Campbell Clinic, I have the training and expertise to perform state-of-the-art joint replacement

surgery locally. Many people are under the impression that they have to go to Huntsville or Birmingham for these surgeries. That is notthe case! In addition, joint replacement surgery requires multiple doctor visits, which require travel time which is not always convenient.

This is a great place to live - that’s why you, your primary care physician, and I all chose to live here. This is also agreat place for your total joint replacement surgery. If you are a candidate for a total hip or knee replacement, you

have a choice. Make it local — make it Shoals Orthopedics. Our quality care is available to you, night and day,right here at home!

Dr. Lee Nichols, Shoals Orthopedics & Sports MedicineTwo convenient Shoals locations to serve you:

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OVERNIGHT SUCCESS

The general manager of theMarriott Shoals Hotel and SpaLarry Bowser was namedHotelier of the Year for 2013by the Alabama RestaurantAssociation and the AlabamaHospitality Association. Larryjoined the team in 2004 andhelped open the property ayear later. Under his leader-ship, the Marriott Shoals wasnamed the No. 1 Marriotthotel in North America in2012, and the 360 Grille has received AAA’s Four DiamondAward status. Larry has more than 20 years of managementexperience at major properties in Florida, Georgia, Virginia,and Alabama. He is a graduate of Edinboro University inPennsylvania.

EYE OF THE TIGER

This fall, Carter McGuyerreceived Auburn University’sYoung Alumni AchievementAward. Carter graduatedmagna cum laude in 1998with a degree in industrialdesign. After college, hebecame design director at anational-branded kitchenmanufacturing company.Then, he founded the Carter

McGuyer Design Group where he and his wife developproducts that are both functional and beautiful, for nationalrenowned clients like Target. Their work has won numerousawards for its outstanding design. Auburn University createdthe Young Alumni Achievement award in 2011 to recognizeextraordinary accomplishments by alumni who are 40 andunder. This year, 10 recipientswere selected.

CASHING IN ONCOLLEGE

Bank Independent and theUniversity of North Ala-bama last month presentedthree Edward Fennel MauldinEndowed Scholarships toUNA students Brittany

If you want to share some good news about a friend, neighbor, or colleague—or even toot your own horn—send your kudos to [email protected].

Michael and Noelle Ingle, both of Florence, and LoganHeflin of Town Creek. The scholarship was founded tohonor the memory of the bank chairman and UNA sup-porter, Edward Fennel Mauldin, who passed away in 2010.

BOOKING IT

Crystal Magruder was recently named the director of Suc-cess By 6. An active community volunteer with a love forchildhood development, Crystal was the perfect fit for theUnited Way of Northwest Alabama’s latest initiative. Sheattended the University of Southern Mississippi in Hatties-burg where she received a bachelor’s in special education,and she holds her teacher’s license in the state of Alabama.She has taught developmentally-delayed preschool for threeyears and knows first-hand the importance of reading in achild’s life.

SHINES BRIGHT LIKE A DIAMOND

Grogan Jewelers has been featured in In Store magazine forits new store opening. In order to expand his product offer-ings and sales floor space, owner Jay Klos moved hisdowntown Florence store to a new location on Cox CreekParkway and Hough Road. The $2 million, 8,000 square footshopping center has space for three tenants, with Groganbeing the anchor store with 5,500 square feet. The new storefeatures 24-foot ceilings, a window wall, and a massive stonefireplace along with a special area for engagement rings andnew display cases.

Congratulations to all of our movers and shakers. If you knowsomeone who has received awards, accolades, or a promotion,please send your kudos to [email protected].

108 »

Laura Anders Lee

Larry Bowser

Dr. Debbie Shaw presents theaward to Carter McGuyer

Brittany Michael (left) and Noelle Ingle



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MANY COLLEGE STUDENTS KNOW EXACTLY WHERETHEY’LL END UP AFTER GRADUATION DAY. But not LaurenMerritt. Never in a million years would she have imagined herfirst job after school would be as an elf at Macy’s flagship storein New York’s Herald Square.

Daughter of David and Vicki Merritt and a graduate of CoffeeHigh School in Florence and Stephens College in Columbia,Missouri, Lauren moved to New York with a theater degreein 2005.

“I went to New York to sublet an apartment for three months,”says Lauren. “A friend of mine was a Rockette and told meabout being an elf at Macy’s Santaland. I ended up workingwith Macy’s for five years.”

While Lauren has moved on to “bigger” things and now livescloser to home in New Orleans, she remembers fondly hertime as Santa’s Little Helper.

To be an elf at Santaland, you have to go through an interviewprocess like any other job. “Have you heard of David Sedaris’sHoliday’s on Ice? It’s just like that,” Lauren laughs.

BY LAURA ANDERS LEE

Courtesy of Lauren Merritt

Lauren Merritt (above) with Santaat a Macy’s-sponsored appearance


Because of her bubbly personality and petite, five-foot-two-inch frame, Lauren was hired as Jingle Belle, an elf from theSouth Pole. (Each of the 100 elves has their own name andstory.) Using her theater background, Lauren transformed intocharacter each day, where she kept families entertained as theywaited to have their picture made with Santa.

“It’s a crazy job,” Lauren says. “People wait two hours to seeSanta. People who are afraid of Santa aren’t afraid of elves, sothey’d often tell me what they wanted for Christmas. It waspretty nutty with all the people, but it’s a well-oiled machine.Sometimes around 800 or 1,000 people would come throughthe store a day. Macy’s is actually the second-most visitedtourist attraction in New York City, second to the Empire StateBuilding.”

Macy’s Santaland is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Childrenwind through the North Pole, complete with snow and gin-gerbread houses and candy canes—and 100 friendly elvesrunning around. It’s a holiday tradition to sit in Santa’s lap, andthe Macy’s Santa is the ultimate. After all, he was proven to bethe real Kris Kringle in the 1947 film Miracle on 34th Street.“Macy’s Santa is classic,” says Lauren. “He’s dressed in a beau-tiful costume with fox fur, and the kids just love to touch it.”

After Christmas, Lauren held odd jobs, including several forMacy’s. She assisted the company in a PR effort when theybought Filene’s Basement and other stores across the country.She served as a chaperone to the NBC president’s childrenduring one particularly cold Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.“We just tried to huddle together and stay warm, and I toldthem they had to try and smile for the camera when it was ourturn,” Lauren recalls.

But her favorite role was as a traveling elf.

“They called me when they decided to go out on tour,” saysLauren. “Macy’s sent out Santa and three other elves. We trav-eled around by bus; we’d do Make-a-Wish events, give outgifts, go around to hospitals around the country. It was a lot offun.”

So for four years, as soon as the Macy’s Thanksgiving DayParade was over, Lauren and her co-elves would take off to adifferent city with Santa.

“We would have to be at the news station at 5:00 in the morn-ing,” she says. “Some days would start at 3:30 a.m. We’d do aMake-A-Wish event, a hospital visit, an in-store visit, and thenbe finished at 7:30 or 8:00 in the evening.”

Being an elf suited Lauren, a small girl with a big heart who loved seeing the faces ofthe children light up when they saw Santa.

“I feel so lucky to have been a part of this really random job,” Lauren says. “Only onetime I thought ‘I’m 29, and I’m an elf.’ But it’s really great because of the kids. Theytotally had a break from being in the hospital, seeing the doctor, being uncomfort-able. Two weeks before we came, a girl started decorating her room. She couldn’teven walk down the hallway. When we arrived, the little girl was just so excited toshow us her decorations, and then, for the first time, she walked with us to the sto-rytelling room. There are so many stories like that. It’s a really happy job.”

From Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris“I was in a coffee shop looking through the want ads when I read, ‘Macy’s Her-ald Square, the largest store in the world, has big opportunities for outgoing,fun-loving people of all shapes and sizes who want more than just a holiday job!Working as an elf in Macy’s SantaLand means being at the center of the excite-ment...’ I circled the ad and then I laughed out loud at the thought of it. Theman seated next to me turned on his stool, checking to see if I was a lunatic. Icontinued to laugh, quietly…I am a thirty-three-year-old man applying for ajob as an elf.”

DID YOUKNOW?Rowland Hussey Macy openedMacy’s in 1858 as a fancy, drygoods store on 14th Street in New York.

Macy’s introduced the first in-store Santa in 1862.

In 1902, the store moved to its current location at 34thStreet and Herald Square. It wasthe first American store to useescalators.

In its 86th year, the Macy’sThanksgiving Day Parade is seen by more than three millionpeople and viewed by 50 million on NBC.


Courtesy of Lauren Merritt

“They called me when they decided to go out on tour. Macy’s sent out Santa and three other elves.We traveled around by bus; we’d do Make- a-Wish events, give out gifts,

go around to hospitals around the country. It was a lot of fun.”—Lauren Merritt

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Home for the Holidays means different things to different people.

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Who Needs A Vein Procedure?Ask Troy Youngblood

S.K. Bailey, M.D., FACS • W.A. Collignon, M.D., FACSCertified by American Board of Veneous and Lymphatic MedicineLocated in the Shoals Hospital Medical Office Building203 Avalon Ave, Suite 100, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661256-383-0423 • 866-383-0423 • fax: 256-383-0922 • www.shoalsveincenter.com

Dr. Troy Youngblood is an avidrunner. When he isn’t taking careof animals at his veterinary practiceor spending time with his family,Troy keeps himself in shape by running. So when he developedvaricose veins in his legs, the painwas getting in the way of his exercise routine.

That’s when he came to ShoalsVein Center. Doctors Shelby Baileyand William Collignon performeda simple, painless and high-techprocedure that relieved Troy’s painand allowed him to get back to hisroutine.

If you suffer from unsightly orpainful vein problems in your legs,there may be hope for you. ShoalsVein Center understands all of thecauses of spider and varicose veins,and can treat those problems to getyou back to your routine, too.Ashamed of your legs? Is pain preventing you from doing whatyou love? Shoals Vein Center canhelp - ask Troy Youngblood, or Dr. Jimmy Gardiner, Anne Roy,Dr. and Mrs. Neal Clement . . .and many more!

Dr. Troy Youngblood, North Alabama Animal Hospital

CHRISTMAS IN MY FAMILY HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN EVENT. My mother, a talentedshopper, loved to spoil my sisters and me when we were children (presents piledrather than placed under the tree). Christmas morning began early; we’d open giftsand dump out our stockings and Dad would make the best eggs benedict on theplanet. By late afternoon, the extended family would begin to arrive, grown halfbrothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, a thick mix of strong personalities andusually a drunken performance or two. It was the company I most looked forwardto, the stories that invariably circulated around and between us. The more people,the more personalities. Given the range of variables, it’s a wonder we humans getalong as well as we do. Good wine helps.

Wines also have different personalities. Certain grape varieties have intrinsic quali-ties, like color and flavor profiles, which are written into the DNA. A Pinot Noir willalways have softer tannins than a Cabernet Sauvignon and some hint of cherry fruit,dictated by DNA. But whether or not the wine is very light, with high acid or darkand oaky, depends on where the grapes weregrown and how the wine was raised. Natureversus nurture. And so the possibilities ofpersonality combinations are extensive.When I first got interested in wine and tooka few classes, I often heard the phrase, “themore you learn about wine, the more yourealize you don’t know.” We could easily sub-stitute “people” for “wine,” and we’d all nodour heads in agreement.

For the sake of the holiday season, busyschedules, to do lists, gift lists, and theswarm of personalities we will inevitablyencounter at one party or another, let’s putthe deep thinking aside until January, whenwe need something to distract us from thepain of new exercise regimes and torture ofdieting, and simplify the wine matter. Iasked Jennifer Highfield, owner of TheWine Seller here in Florence, Alabama, tohelp me select a few personality-driven bot-tles for a buying guide for parties, dinners,gifts, and family over the next few weeks.

Palate-Pleasing Personalities

Follow Amy at www.pigandvine.com formore stories and wine suggestions.

116 » the vine » Amy Collins


Amy’s Gift Suggestions

Ricco Bianco, white blend, from the Veneto, Italy $9.99

This is a good Pinot Grigio-based white, with a bit moregoing on, naturally stylish and easy to talk to.

Kumbaya 2011, red blend,from California $9.99

The peacemaker and easy drinker everybody loves, becausehow can you not love someone with a smile and hug for allhe meets?

Secco Italian Bubbles 2011, from the Veneto, Italy $13.99

Dry and Prosecco-like, this is the late-night party girl,because when you’re having so much fun, you might as wellhave a little more.

Cuvée Stéphi Ebullience NV sparkling wine,from France $19.99

Elegant and sophisticated, yet surprisingly low maintenance.A blend of four different grapes, it is a delicate and delicioussipper.

Marcel Lapierre Raisins Gaulois 2012,from Beaujolais, France $15.99

A leader in the natural wine movement, your new BFF isincredibly knowledgeable on all matters good and healthy.And he’s really funny.

Poggio Anima 2011, Greco from Basilicata, Italy $15.99Friendly with food, good acidity, and pleasantly refreshing,even in cold weather. Secret life: it’s made by a famous,young, hot Italian winemaker.

Brandborg Pinot Noir ‘Bench Lands’ 2009, from Elkton, Oregon $20.99

New kid with all the right stuff to make a beautiful, well-structured drink. For the curious and small productionmindful. Ivy league without the ego.

Spellbound Petite Sirah 2011, from California $15.99

Deeply colored with a sturdy backbone, yet agreeable andcrowd-pleasing. The quiet mentor of good demeanor.

DuMol Chardonnay 2010, from Russian River, California $69.99

Rich, luscious, and hedonistic. A favorite of Robert Parker’s,popular with the in-crowd and hard to palate more than asingle glass.

Belle Glos Pinot Noir ‘Clark & Telephone’ 2012, from California $65.00

Super rich, concentrated chocolate cherry and a little bit ofspice in a red wax-dipped, heavy-bottomed bottle. JayGatsby in party attire.

ALTHOUGH THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FULL OF JOY AND CELEBRATION, peaceon earth, and good will to all, holidays are the most fraught times of the year. Notonly are we expected to be filled with the holiday spirit at all times, even for thosewho normally get on our very last nerve, we are expected to produce meals for raven-ing hordes that could grace the cover of Southern Living.

For many years, seduced by the nostalgia that society propagates at holiday time, myhusband Henry and I made the effort to join my family for Christmas, often drivingup on Christmas Day—until the year I burst into tears at dinner and fled the room.Being the good husband that he is, Henry followed immediately. As I wept, he askedme, “How old are you?” I snuffled, “45.” He continued: “How much longer is it goingto take you to figure out that you can’t do Christmas with your family?” It’s been 18years since that eye-opening event. We still visit, just not at holidays. Since then, wehave come to savor our time alone together on Christmas day, although we ofteninvite for dinner a few friends who are also foregoing family drama.

At our house, Christmas Eve is a simple supper of homemade soup or stew, made aday or two in advance, to fortify us for the night ahead at church, which is, after all,what Christmas is about. So as not to follow in the footsteps of a certain memberof Christ Church, Savannah, who was prone to keel over at the altar rail, we limit our-selves to one modest glass of wine. When we stagger home after the midnightservice, we have a nightcap, fill each other’s stockings, and head for bed.

Breakfast the next morning is something simple, with perhaps a mimosa to get usinto the gift-opening spirit. For the past few years, we have enjoyed caviar with bli-nis and crème fraiche (via the Internet) for lunch, along with thechampagne left over from breakfast. After a nice nap, I start ondinner, which gets simpler with the passing years. I learnedmy lesson the year I didn’t wake up from my Christ-mas afternoon nap until 4 pm, only to realize ittakes several hours to roast a whole duck. Thefirst course might be a roasted beet and citrussalad, or butternut squash soup, followed byrack of lamb or duck breasts in cherry-portsauce, accompanied by a reallygood wine. For dessert, a simplechocolate nut torte that canbe made ahead is just asgood as the elaborate Bûchede Noël with meringuemushrooms I used tofeel compelled to make,and a whole lotsimpler.

Happy Holidays—for Real!

118 » food for thought » Sarah Gaede

That leads me to my recommendation for a holiday breakfastmuch more elegant than cold cereal but almost as simple. Nomatter how many are at your table, it will leave you unstressed,well-nourished, and ready to enjoy the day. You can make themuffins weeks in advance and freeze them. (Or just buy somefrom the Publix bakery.) The baked eggs could not be easier,and are really yummy. Nuke some already-cooked bacon orput out a spiral-sliced ham if you want to. Add some cut-upfruit—Publix again—or freshly-squeezed orange juice, spikedwith Prosecco for the grownups, and you’ll be set, with mini-mal fuss and drama—just the way holidays should be.


Baked Eggs

• As many large eggs as you have people who want them

• Butter as needed• Cream• Salt and freshly ground pepper

Preheat the oven to 375°. Butter one custard cup orsmall ramekin for each egg. Place about 1/2 teaspoon ofbutter in each cup, and microwave briefly to melt.Then spread butter around cup with finger. Place 2 tea-spoons of cream in the bottom of each cup. Break oneegg into each cup, add salt and pepper, and place on abaking sheet. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until theeggs are just set and the whites solidified. It’s best toundercook slightly, as the eggs continue cooking a bitwhen removed from oven.

Raspberry Cream Cheese Muffins

• 2/3 cup (5 ounces) cream cheese, softened• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened• 1 1/2 cups sugar• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract• 2 large eggs• 2 cups (9 ounces) all-purpose flour• 1 teaspoon baking powder• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda• 1/2 teaspoon salt• 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk• 2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries (thawed)• 1/4 cup finely-chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350°. Line 2 12-muffin pans with papercup liners. Combine cream cheese and butter in mixerbowl. Beat at high speed until well blended. Add sugar;beat until fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs; beat well.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, andsalt. With mixer on low speed, add the flour mixtureand buttermilk to cream cheese mixer, beginning andending with flour. Beat only until just combined. Foldin raspberries and nuts.

Spoon batter evenly into liners. Place muffin pans sideby side on middle oven rack if possible; rotate front toback and side to side after 12 minutes. Bake for a totalof 25 minutes, or until golden. Remove from pans; coolon wire rack. Makes 24. These freeze great; just popthem into freezer bags when cool, and thaw inmicrowave.

Please make your nominations for the2014 No’Ala Renaissance Awards

Every two years, we ask our readers to tell us about the people in our area whoquietly work behind the scenes to make this an even better place to live.

We’re interested in the unsung heroes, the role models, and inspirational figureswho make a difference in your life and the life of our community. It’s time once

again to begin gathering our nominees for the 2014 award.

Our categories are: Science, Education, Service & Spirituality,Business & Leadership, and Arts & Culture.

We will convene a panel of prior award winners and nominees to help us choosethe five category winners, and from that group we’ll select

a Renaissance Person of the Year. These special people will be featured inour 2014 March/April issue.

Who inspires you? Who are your role models, your teachers,your mentors, and your inspiration?

Let us know by writing us and mailing your nominations to No’Ala Press,P.O. Box 2530, Florence, AL 35630;

or email your nominations to [email protected] us bring recognition to the unsung people

who make a difference in our lives.

WHO INSPIRES YOU?

The No’Ala Renaissance Award trophy is a collaborative effort. It is made from recycled steel with a hardwood base and finished with a sterling silver charm.

LAST CHANCE TO NOMINATE! DEADLINE: DECEMBER 1, 2013


Peyton

“I have always beengood. Hitting is bad,and I don’t ever hit

anyone.”—Peyton Rardin

Olivia

“Santa won’t come atall! If you say bad

words, you will be onthe naughty list.”

—Olivia Williams

Arjun

“You wouldn’t get anytoys if you were bad. Ihave been very good

this year! I hope I geta Spongebob game!”

—Arjun Thatimatla

Rishab

“Santa knows if you are good or bad

because his elveswatch you and tellhim what you do.”

—Rishab Telang

122 » back talk » Claire Stewart

What happens when kids are bad before Christmas?

Thomas

“You will get coal!One of my friends got

some one timebecause he pushed

someone.”—Thomas Scarborough

James

“Santa watches you allyear and knows if you

are bad. My sister tellson me if I am bad,

and my mom believesher and gets mad at

me.”—James Mallette

Maymie

“If you are bad you getno toys from Santa. If I didn’t have anytoys on Christmas Iwould probably justlay in bed and watch

TV all day.”—Maymie Fowler


Lilly

“You should get nopresents if you are bad.My brother should beon the naughty list. He

always says he issorry, but I know he

doesn’t mean it!”—Lilly McArthur

Andrew

“Santa wouldn’t bringyou toys. But I have

been good this year andI am going to get

something cool forChristmas. I can’tremember what

though.”—Andrew Meza-Tabares

Ruby

“If you are bad you goin time out. But I am

never bad.”—Ruby Hunt

Isha

“You will have nothingunder the tree. The

elves make all the toys.But I do not knowhow Santa knowswhat you want.”

—Isha Raj

Emery

“If you are bad you geton the naughty list.

I would be sad if I wason that list. One timemy friend bit me and

she went on thenaughty list and got

nothing!”—Emery Perry

Jaxon

“You would get nopresents. I have always

been good. I reallyhope I get a car

this year.”—Jaxon Penn

124 » back talk » What happens when kids are bad before Christmas?

All kids are in Ms. Jones’s first gradeclass at Riverhill School.

Dayne

“You would get nopresents. I have always

been good. I got aniPad last year

because I was good.”—Dayne Brewer

Grant

“You wouldn’t get anypresents. I only have

friends on the nice list!Santa just knows who

is good. Santa is special like that.”

—Grant Billingsley

Hailey

“Santa won’t come ifyou are bad. He has aglobe that he can seeall the kids in. Whenit is Christmastime hewill watch you all day.”

—Hailey Crabb

Maddy

“You would get nopresents. I want a

scooter this year!”—Maddy Beresford

Trace

“You will get no presents. I don’t thinkSanta is real. I don’tknow who gives me

presents though. Mymom, maybe?”

—Trace Fristoe

Haley

“You will get no presents. I don’t thinkSwiper on Dora the

Explorer will get anypresents. He is always

swiping!”—Haley Cabler


126 » bless their hearts » Claire Stewart

IMAGINE THE UPCOMING HOLIDAY SEASON IN YOURHOME. Are you spending eight hours making a gourmet mealfor Thanksgiving Day, attempting to find the perfect gift foreveryone on your list, or sending your ‘Seasons Greetings’photo postcard to all of your closest (and not-so-close) friendsand family? You may be going over the dos and don’ts withyour children again—“Be good or you won’t get any gifts,” “Saythank you for every gift you aregiven with a smile,” “Don’t interruptwhen people are talking,” “Keepyour elbows off the table…”

I am sorry to tell you, but that tur-ducken probably won’t be asdelicious and raved-about as youhad hoped. The gift you give thisyear may be completely forgottenand thrown in a closet somewherein three months. And your photopostcard will most likely enter arecycle bin soon after it arrives.Your children will probably forgettheir manners this year—they willchew with their mouth open, makea nasty face when Aunt Edna givesthem another itchy sweater, andcontinue to interrupt all adult con-versations throughout the holidayseason.

But that’s okay.

Life is usually a mess, instead of thepretty painted picture we have in our mind—and that is whatmakes it 10 times better.

Earlier this year I learned that in the end, the messy, awkward,and comical moments are the ones that matter the most.

In April, my father suffered a stroke very unexpectedly at theage of 60. All at once, our entire extended family was in thewaiting room at Huntsville Hospital, realizing these would be

the last few hours of his life. My sister flew in from Boston, mybrother rushed in from Tampa, and family members andfriends came from across the state of Alabama to be with usduring this time. During our last visit, my mother, brother, sis-ter, and I spent time at his bedside crying, laughing, and tellingstories. And I am sure he would have hated the stories wechose to tell.

Though I may be biased, my fatherwas an amazing man. A Methodistminister for 38 years, he trans-formed and brought to life many ofthe churches he ministered to. Hehad the perfect recipe for a greatsermon—a title that pulled you in,an anecdote that made you laugh, atie-in that made you think, and anending that left you inspired. Healso loved traveling the world. Hewas an outstanding cook with alove of New Orleans cuisine. Hewas an avid hiker who completed anumber of challenging trailsthroughout North America. And

he loved cultivating beautiful gar-dens which he planted at each andevery one of our homes. But thoseweren’t the things we remembered.

My sister Skye apologized foryelling at him when she was in 7thgrade. During a remodel of one ofour homes (the United Methodist

Church is infamous for moving their preachers around a lot),we got a new commode, and Dad put the old one on the sideof the road in front of our house. Skye was absolutely mortifiedthinking that everyone she knew would see the toilet. Dad did-n’t help by egging her on, telling her he had plans to plantflowers in it or considered reading his newspaper every morn-ing, sitting on that toilet. That day in the hospital, she told himshe was sorry for being a pain, and looking back, the joke wasactually pretty funny.

Earlier this year I learned that in the end, the messy, awkward and comical moments are the ones that matter the most.

Wishing You a Messy Christmas


My brother Nathan thanked Dad for playing catch with himwhen he was six. At this point, Nathan had decided he wasgoing to grow up to be a baseball player. My father had very lit-tle athletic ability but my brother didn’t seem to notice thatwhen he brought back a Braves jersey for my Dad from a gameand begged Dad to play with him. Dad put on the jersey, whichwas three sizes too small and fit more like a tankini than a well-tailored baseball jersey, and played catch with his son in thefront yard. As soon as Dad threw the first pitch, Nathan hit ahomerun into the neighbor’s yard. Nathan never went on toplay in major league baseball, but he said he would never for-get that day and how much it meant to him.

When it was my turn, I apologized for making Dad take mefishing in 5th grade. After another move, I had decided the onlyredeeming quality of our new residence was the lake that satbehind our property. I insisted that we go fishing. The next dayDad took me to pick out $100 of fishing supplies, includingrods, a tackle box, and an assortment of lures (only the ones Ithought were pretty), and we headed out for an early fishingtrip the next morning. As we walked to the water’s edge, I sud-denly became woozy, realizing I should have had more to eatand drink on this humid day in July. I proceeded to barf intothe water—surely scaring off all the fish nearby. Dad just heldmy hair back and took care of me the rest of the day. After that,I decided my fishing career was over. The tackle box sat in ourgarage until we sold it in a yard sale many years later. He nevermade me feel bad for not trying again and never pestered meabout the money he spent. And I thanked him for that.

In his last hours, I am sure my father would have picked otherpoints in his life for us to recall. But those wouldn’t be genuinestories of the father we cherished—and that wouldn’t be an inter-esting story. He taught us that when telling a good story, just likethe perfect sermon, you need highs and lows, a way to tug onheartstrings as well as bring a few laughs. Good stories can bemessy. And a perfect situation never makes an interesting story,just like a perfect life is never as good as the crazy, mixed-up, andcomical rides we are put on in our day-to-day lives.

So this holiday, give up your preconceived notion that this willbe the first year you perfect the art of the chocolate soufflé.Throw out the window your idea that the kids will like their toysbeyond Christmas Day. Just sit back, take in your time together,and know that the blunders, embarrassments, and hysterics arethe ones that make our stories worth remembering.

I mean, do you really think Mary would be happy to know theentire world found out her baby was born beside a pig sty?Probably not—but it makes a much better story, right?

Facing page: The Stewart kids: Skye, Nathan,and Claire, Christmas morning, 1990.


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130 » parting shot » Danny Mitchell


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May the spirit of the season stay with you all year long.

Merry Christmas and HappyNew Year from everyone atMilner-Rushing—a Shoals

tradition since 1853.

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No'Ala Shoals November/December 2013