no'ala, november/december 2012

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Riding With the Mooreland Hunt | Toys for Tots | Puppy Love | Making Knives with Harmon Hazle

Gifts you’ll love, and somethat’ll love you back

2 | NOALAPRESS.COM | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

Member FDIC, Any payments made between the date your fi rst auto debit payment is made on a qualifying loan and December 31st of that same year will be included in calculating the initial February 28th annual payout. If there are insuffi cient funds in your checking account to make any payment when scheduled, you will be ineligible for the cash back program during that program year. Any late payments or events of default (as defi ned in your Promissory Note and/or other loan documentation) during the year disqualify you for that year’s bonus. Your checking account must be open and your

auto debit active on February 28th to receive the cash back credit into your checking account. The cash back incentive applies to all new or existing, checking accounts and any consumer or commercial installment loan with a maturity date of at least one year that is opened on or after 6/22/2012. There is no minimum balance requirement to obtain the cash back incentive. Maximum cash back amount per individual is $500. Please see a Personal Banker for minimum balance requirements on Bank Independent’s checking accounts. Interest rates and APY’s** for checking accounts vary. Please see a Personal Banker for details. There is no minimum balance to earn the APY. All rates are effective as of date quoted. Fees may reduce earnings on the account. Any non-interest bearing checking

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8 » November/December 2012

66One of North America’s mosthighly respected Hunts, theMooreland Hunt is both asport and a way of life for itsNorth Alabama members

BY ALLEN TOMLINSONPHOTOS BY ADRIAN JENNINGS

62This year, Toys for Tots plans to provide Christmasfor at least a thousand kids in Lauderdale, Colbert andFranklin counties—a Christ-mas they wouldn’t haveexperienced otherwise

BY LAURA ANDERS LEE

20For the 30th Anniversary of the Shoals Symphony, Roger Briggs has written an amazing story about the Shoals using only musical notes

BY LAURA ANDERS LEEPHOTOS BY SHANNON WELLS

26Know any good boys and girls?

Our Annual Holiday Gift Guide has 186 gift ideas—something for

everyone on your list!

90David Abramson and hisfamily raise a litter of elitehunting dogs (with a fewrescues); you’ll love them(and they will love youback!)

BY LAURA ANDERS LEEPHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL

On the CoverThough perhaps the sweetest cover model wehave ever worked with, Anna (one of the Abram-son’s eight beagle puppies) was not exactly themost cooperative. She wiggled more than anymodel we’ve ever worked with! Thank goodness,we managed to capture one perfect shot.

November/December 2012Volume 5: Issue 6

• • •C. Allen Tomlinson

Editor-In-Chief

David SimsManaging Editor/Design Director

Contributing WritersSarah Gaede, Laura Anders Lee, David Sims,

Claire Stewart, Allen Tomlinson

Contributing PhotographersPatrick Hood, Adrian Jennings, Danny Mitchell, Shannon Wells

Business ManagerRoy Hall

Marketing Coordinator/Advertising SalesHeidi King

Editorial AssistantClaire Stewart

Graphic DesignerRowan Finnegan

InternsSara Kachelman, Ryan Paine

• • •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.

© 2008-2012 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.

Join us on Facebook: No’Ala Mag

10 » contents

S H O A L S• • • • •

14 CalendarEvents for November-December 2012

54 Everybody’s BusinessHarmon Hazle Is One Sharp ManBY ALLEN TOMLINSONPHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL

104 Food for ThoughtNot Bambi’s Mother!BY SARAH GAEDE

108 Back TalkHow Does He Do It?Our Panel of First Graders Weigh in on Santa’s Odds for Christmas 2012BY CLAIRE STEWART

112 Bless Their HeartsA Tale of Two Christmases PastBY DAVID SIMS

114 Parting ShotBY DANNY MITCHELL

SHARP MENHarmon Hazle (center)crafts beautiful bladeswith the occasional helpof his grandsons Jordan(left) and Gil Jaggers

editor’s letter « Allen Tomlinson « 11

This is the fifth Holiday issue of No’Ala, since the magazine began in 2008 with anissue that featured Carl “Santa Claus” Casiday on the cover. For this Holiday issue,we’ve worked hard to bring you lots and lots of ideas for gift giving and entertain-ing, but we worried that there was never anything in the Holiday issue that a manwould care about. To remedy that, we’re bringing you some hunting stories—oneabout the Mooreland Hunt, a fox hunting group that practices America’s oldest andmost fascinating sport, and another about David Abramson’s carefully bred huntingdogs. Check out Sarah Gaede’s column, which includes a recipe for venison chili,

and check out Harmon Hazle’s knives. No excuses, guys—there’s something in this issue for everyone!

In our last issue, we made a mistake when we printed therecipe for Tracy Posey’s German Chocolate Pie, leaving outan entire paragraph that—no surprise—seriously affectedthe outcome of this delicious dessert. And boy, did you letus know about it! We started getting emails and phone callsalmost immediately, and to remedy the situation, we printeda corrected recipe and mailed it to every one of our sub-scribers. If you read our magazine because you pick up acopy somewhere, and you want the real recipe, check out

our Facebook page; this pie is incredible, easy to make, and truly delicious (if you fol-low the correct rules.) And we’ve learned a couple of things. First—our readers loveit when we introduce them to new things, so we have to make sure we get it right;secondly, there are hundreds of people out there who seriously love some GermanChocolate Pie. We can’t promise that we won’t make mistakes, but we do promisethat every recipe we publish from this point forward will be tested in our ownkitchens to make sure we get it right. We don’t need a pie in the face again!

As we head into the busiest season of the year, take a moment to read about Toys forTots and consider helping, if you can. Not everyone is able to have an elaborate hol-iday season, but that’s not really the point; the real joy in this season is spending timewith those you love. When you shop, shop locally; take advantage of all of the won-derful activities the season offers, and enjoy yourself. No matter how you say it orcelebrate it—Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays—we hope this isa joyous season for you and yours, and that we all can look forward to a bright andhappy New Year.

Christmas treats and pie in the face.

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]


14 » calendar

Through November 9Merging: Guadalupe Lanning RobinsonTennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 N. Water St., Tuscumbia;9:00am–5:00pm, Monday–Friday and 1:00pm–3:00pm Sunday;Admission is $5 adults, $3 children, Sundays free, museum members free and group rates available for 15 or more people;256-383-0533 or tvaa.net.

A show by artist Guadalupe L. Robinson, who designs and buildspots in her studio in Huntsville, where she has been working sincemoving from her native Mexico City in 1985. The exhibit includesboth pottery and quilts.

Through November 16World War I & II Axis and Allied postersTennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 N. Water St., Tuscumbia;9:00am–5:00pm, Monday–Friday and 1:00pm–3:00pm Sunday;Admission is $5 adults, $3 children, Sundays free, museum members free and group rates available for 15 or more people;256-383-0533 or tvaa.net.

World War I & II Axis and Allied posters from collection of PeterMorris, of Leighton, will be on display at the Tennessee ValleyMuseum of Art.

November 1–3David Christopher’s Holiday Open HouseDavid Christopher’s, 411 S. Montgomery Ave., Sheffield;9:00am–5:00pm. No admission; 256-383-2274 or www.davidchristophers.com.

November 2Apple Annie DayLocations all across the Shoals; a project of the Junior League ofthe Shoals.

This will mark the 71st anniversary of the annual charity performance of red stocking clad ladies selling apples to supportmany local nonprofit organizations.

First FridayDowntown Florence; 5:00pm–8:00pm. No admission charged.www.firstfridaysflorence.com.

This exciting monthly event is a gathering of artists of all kinds:musicians, painters, sculptors, photographers, hand-crafted jewelry creators, and more. Local and regional artists will be sellingtheir works along the sidewalks; live music can be heard through-out the streets; and downtown merchants will stay open late.

November 3Rogersville First SaturdayDowntown Rogersville; 3:00pm–8:00pm. No admission charged;256-247-9449.

Live music and merchants line the streets of downtownRogersville.

November 4Daylight Savings Time ends

November 6–December 28Wanderings: Oil Landscapes by Paula FrizbeKennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, 217 E. Tuscaloosa St., Flo-

rence; 9:00am–4:00pm, Monday-Friday. Admission free. 256-760-6379 or florenceal.org.

November 6UNA Faculty Recital: Mr. Viljar Weimann, violin, with Dr. Yi-Min Cai, piano.Music Building Recital Hall at UNA; 7:30pm.

November 8–11Shoals Community Theatre Presents The Lion, The Witch and The WardrobeShoals Community Theatre, 123 N. Seminary St., Florence; 7:30pmThursday–Saturday; 2:00pm Sunday. Admission $15 adults, $10students. 256-764-1700 or shoalstheatre.com.

November 8–11, 16-176 Characters in Search of an AuthorGeorge S. Lindsey Theatre, University of North Alabama, November 8-10 and 16–17 at 7:30pm; November 11 at 2:00pm. $5Students, Senior Adults, & UNA Employees; $10 General Public;256-765-5122 or www.una.edu/music-theatre.

The University of North Alabama Department of Music and Theatrepresents 6 Characters in Search of an Author, by Luigi Pirandello,Adaptation by Robert Brustein, adapted and directed by Dr. DavidRuebhausen. As an acting company is starting a routine rehearsal,they are interrupted by the mysterious arrival of six people claim-ing to be characters, unfinished and abandoned by their author.Though assumed by the actors to be lunatics, the characters soonlure them into their story and show the actors that the linebetween reality and fiction is often unclear. Written in the early20th century by Italian playwright, Luigi Pirandello, 6 Characters inSearch of an Author is considered a landmark work of world dra-matic literature, asking its audience to ponder the question: “Whatis reality?” This play contains some language and subject matter ofan adult nature.

November 9–10Holiday Open House at Lola’s Gifts and Flowers214 N. Montgomery Ave., Sheffield; 10:00am–6:00pm; 256-383-2299.

December 9The Shoals Symphonyat UNA Presents a Celebration Concert

November 10St. Francis Faire’s White Elephant Sale, Bake Sale and Craft FairTrinity Episcopal Church, 410 N. Pine St., Florence; 9:00am–4:00pm. All proceeds benefit the St. Francis Project.

ChiliFest 2012Trinity Episcopal Church Park, 9:00am–4:00pm. Chili Cook off. Prizes and trophies for best chili and most creativeshowmanship. Music, football, and chili!

November 11Veterans Day

Sunday at the Center Concert: Sara Grey & Kieron MeansKennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, Southall-Moore building,217 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence; 2:00pm; Admission free. 256-760-6379 or florenceal.org.

November 13UNA presents a Woodwind Chamber RecitalMusic Building Recital Hall at UNA; 7:30pm.

November 14–December 14Quilt Challenge ‘12: Works by the Shoals Piecemakers Quilt GuildKennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, 217 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence; 9:00am–4:00pm, Monday–Friday; Admission free. 256-760-6379 or florenceal.org.

Members of the Shoals Piecemakers Quilt Guild follow new challenging rules each year to create innovative quilts of all sizes.

November 14UNA presents a Collegiate Artist Solo CompetitionMusic Building Recital Hall at UNA; Noon.

November 16W.C. Handy Birthday CelebrationW.C. Handy Home, Museum & Library, 620 W. College St., Florence; 11:00am–1:00pm; Admission free. 256-760-6434 or florenceal.org.

Live music, cake and free tours of Handy’s Home and Museumcommemorate the birthday of the “Father of the Blues” and Florence native William Christopher Handy.

November 17Dam Bridge RunBegins at Marriott Shoals Hotel, 10 Hightower Pl., Florence; contact Todd Allen at 256-627-0658.

Cross the Tennessee River on the historic Wilson Dam, and return across the Patton Island Bridge. Each river crossing isapproximately 0.8 miles.

Nov. 17–18 Christmas in the Country at LaGrange1461 LaGrange College Rd. Leighton; Saturday, 10:00am–4:00pm and Sunday, 1:00pm–4:00pm. No admission. 256-446-9324 or 256-383-0783.

Enjoy a preview of Christmas at the LaGrange College site and pioneer park. Homespun holiday decorations and activities,including wagon rides with Santa. No admission. Holiday craftsand bake sale benefit LaGrange Living Historical Association.

November 22Thanksgiving Day

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012 | NOAL APRESS.COM | 15

Continued page 16

16 » calendar

November 23Black Friday. Shop locally!

Children’s Book Reading at Coldwater BooksColdwater Books, 101 W. 6th St., Tuscumbia; 10:00am–2:00pm. Noadmission. 256-381-2525.

November 27Tuscumbia Christmas ParadeMain Street, downtown Tuscumbia, 6:00pm. For information call256-386-7200.

UNA presents a Faculty Recital: Dr. Yasmin Flores, saxophoneGUC Performance Hall at UNA; 7:30pm.

November 30–December 2Sugar Plum MarketNorth Alabama State Fairgrounds, Muscle Shoals; time TBD. Admission charged.

November 30–December 2UNA presents Amahl and the Night VisitorsWesleyan Hall Auditorium, UNA Campus; 7:30pm.

November 30–December 24The Trees of ChristmasTennessee Valley Museum of Art, 511 N. Water St., Tuscumbia;9:00am–5:00pm, Monday–Friday and 1:00pm–3:00pm Sunday;Admission is $5 adults, $3 children, Sundays free, museum members free and group rates available for 15 or more people;256-383-0533 or tvaa.net.

Community groups and individuals create an alluring exhibitionusing nine 12 foot tall live spruce and fir trees to tell their stories.Decorators use a variety of uncharacteristic techniques and mate-rials to carry out both traditional and unexpected trees. Theexhibition of decorated trees, the smell of fresh trees and specialmuseum decorations make for a pleasurable experience that hasbecome a part of many family traditions.

December 1First Southern Bank presents the Downtown Florence Christ-mas ParadeBegins at UNA and progresses through downtown Florence onCourt St.. Line-up begins at 5:00pm. No admission charged.

Downtown Sheffield Christmas ParadeMontgomery Avenue, Sheffield; 6:00pm. Call 256-394-1556 forinformation.

Rogersville First SaturdayDowntown Rogersville; 3:00pm–8:00pm; no admission charged;256-247-9449.

December 2 A Plantation Christmas at Belle Mont1569 Cook Ln., Tuscumbia; Sunday, 1:00pm–5:00pm. $6 adults, $3children, under 6 free; 256-383-0783 or 256-383-0783.

Visit the mansion and enjoy a Christmas celebration reminiscent of the old South, complete with vintage ballroom dancers, periodmusic, and traditional Christmas decorations of fresh greenery and fruit. Sponsored by Colbert County Historical LandmarksFoundation.

December 3–7Holly & Ivy LuncheonsKennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, Florence; Cup o’Cheer 11:30am, lunch at noon; Admission $20 in advance; 256-760-6379 or flo-renceal.org.

December 4UNA presents a Brass Ensemble ConcertNorton Auditorium at UNA; 7:30pm.

December 6Muscle Shoals Christmas ParadeAvalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals; 7:00pm. Call 256-386-9250 forinformation.

December 6–7The Best Christmas Pageant EverRitz Theatre, Sheffield; Performances for school groups will be at9:00am and 10:30am, with an additional public performancescheduled. Admission will be charged. 256-383-0533 or tvaa.net.The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is presented by Time Out for The-atre, the children’s-programming arm of the Tennessee Valley ArtAssociation.

December 7First FridayDowntown Florence; 5:00pm–8:00pm. No admission charged. firstfridaysflorence.com.

The Dickens Feast—A Dickens Christmas, Y’allTuscumbia Utilities Building, 202 E. 6th St., Tuscumbia; Friday,7:00pm. Tickets are $25 in advance only, purchased at FiddledeeD!, Tuscumbia. For more information: 256-383-9797 or 256-383-0783.

Enjoy a scrumptious Christmas feast with Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit,Scrooge, Marley, and all the Ghosts of Christmas from A ChristmasCarol. Holiday music and decorations complete the scene. Sponsored by Tuscumbia Retail Development, Inc.

December 8–16Hanukkah

December 8Joe Wheeler Annual Boat Parade of LightsJoe Wheeler State Park, 4403 McLean Dr., Rogersville; Buffet beginsat 4:00pm. Parade begins at 6:00pm

The parade features many beautifully decorated boats that will circle in front of the lodge and marina area. The reflection of thelights on the water is spectacular. A special holiday buffet will beserved at Daniella’s in the Park.

“Dickens Christmas, Y’all”Downtown Tuscumbia, along Main Street; begins at 10:00am andlasts all day. Arts and Crafts, Carriage Rides, and special events arescheduled to take place throughout the day, beginning at10:00am. Most events are free, some events have nominal cost. Formore information call 256-383-9797 or 256-383-0783.

Join Scrooge and all the characters from A Christmas Carol on thestreets of downtown. Events include: Breakfast with Santa at HelenKeller Library, Milk and Cookies with Tiny Tim at Cold Water Books,Christmas caroling, and more.

December 9Shoals Symphony at UNA presents a Celebration ConcertNorton Auditorium, UNA; 2:00pm. Admission charged.


International composer and conductor Roger Briggs, a native ofFlorence, was commissioned by the Symphony to compose a piececelebrating the 30th anniversary of the Shoals Symphony at UNA.The world premiere of Symphony No. 2 “The Shoals” will be pre-sented at the Celebration Concert. Features Conductor Viljar P.Weimann, Composer and Conductor Roger Briggs, and GuestArtists Terrance Brown, baritone, and Tiffany Bostic-Brown,soprano. Program includes Le Corsaire, Overture, Op. 21 by Berlioz;“Prologo” from Pagliacc, by Leoncavallo; “Si mi chiamano Mimi”from La Bohème, by Puccini; “O mio babbino caro” from GianniSchicchi by Puccini; and the World Premiere of Symphony No. 2 “TheShoals,” by Briggs.

Christmas at Ivy Green300 North Commons W., Tuscumbia; Saturday, 8:30am–4:00pm.Admission charged. Call 256-383-4066 for more information.

The quaint home of Helen Keller is decorated for Christmas bymembers of the Helen Keller Garden Club, using fresh greeneryand traditional appointments.

December 11The Florence Camerata presents its Christmas Choral ConcertGrace Episcopal Church, Sheffield; 7:30pm. Admission charged.

December 15NCAA Division II Football Championship GameBraly Stadium, 521 N. Royal Ave., Florence; Time TBA; Admission charged. 256-740-4141.

Voted one of the top 20 events in the Southeast during the monthof December, this is more than just a bowl game, it is a champi-onship! Watch the most talented athletes in Division II football, as achampion is crowned.

Shoals Margarita BallSeventh floor, SunTrust Building; 6:30pm; by invitation only; call256-764-0112 for an invitation.

The law firm of McCutchen & Hamner hosts the Margarita Ball forthe third year to collect toys for Toys for Tots and other charities.

December 17Christmas at Ivy Green300 North Commons W., Tuscumbia; Saturday, 8:30am–4:00pm.Admission charged. Call 256-383-4066 for more information.

The quaint home of Helen Keller is decorated for Christmas bymembers of the Helen Keller Garden Club, using fresh greeneryand traditional appointments.

December 25Christmas Day

December 31The Huntsville Symphony Orchestra presents New Year’s—The American WayMark C. Smith Concert Hall, Von Braun Center, Huntsville; 7:30pm;Admission charged. 256-539-4818 or www.hso.org.

The Symphony is joined by members of the U.S. Materiel Com-mand Band for an evening of American music to celebrate thebeginning of the New Year.

18 » scene

Chef Einar Gudmundson

Steve and Connie Carpenter

Chef Johnson Ogun

Chef Ryan Mathewsand Amy Rhuland

Mike Pretes and Nita Thornell

Andrea Holt

Heidi King, Billy Burns, and David Shields

Kieran Byrne and De Frevold

Kate Beckett,Wells Beckett,Trip Bower, and Susan Beckett

Michelle and Jeff Eubanks

Above: Farm to Table to Classroom—James Beard Foundation Scholarship Fundraiser

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012 UNA EAST CAMPUS

Below: 2012 Deadwood Hollow Zombie 5KOCTOBER 6, 2012 FLORENCE

The Runners

Emily Creasy, M. Fletcher Brown, Janie Tanner,and Jessie Childers

Donna Lefort, Jennifer Highfield, and Pierre Lefort

The Zombies

Sonja Zelada

UNA Culinary Students

PHOTOS BY SHANNON WELLSAND SARAH GAEDE

PHOTOS BY HEIDI KING


20 » everybody’s business

A Gift of MusicTEXT BY LAURA ANDERS LEE » PHOTOS BY SHANNON WELLS

Viljar Weimann,Music Director andConductor of theShoals Symphony at UNA


Here’s a challenge: You’re a symphony orchestra, located in the Muscle Shoals area, where your commu-nity’s name and music are forever linked. You’re about to celebrate your thirtieth season of performance,and you’d like to mark the occasion by giving a gift to the community to thank them for three decades ofsupport. What do you do?

If you’re the Shoals Symphony at UNA, you find a world-renowned composer who just happens to befrom the Shoals, and you commission him to write a symphony score that puts North Alabama’s heritageto music. And that’s just what they did, commissioning Dr. Roger Briggs to write the Symphony of theShoals, which will be performed at Norton Auditorium in Florence on December 9.

FOUR MOVEMENTS THAT CHANGED OUR LANDSCAPE

Without using any words—only musical notes—Dr. Roger Briggs has writtenan amazing story about the Shoals. The community will hear that storythrough the symphony’s four movements, each of which honors the area’smusical and cultural heritage. The movements are entitled Singing River, Boo-gie and Blues, Trail of Tears and Renaissance.

Our history begins with Native Americans, and even though it was hundredsof years ago, there are still reminders that they played a major part in thedevelopment of this area. There is an Indian Mound by the river, and on rainydays, farmers throughout the Tennessee Valley walk through freshly plowedfields and find arrowheads and flint pieces that were left behind by our ances-tors. It is thought that the Tennessee River and our spot along its banks wereconsidered sacred, and it’s not difficult to see why; the geography here is beau-tiful, the ground here is fertile, and the climate here is gentle.

“The thing I’ve spent a lot of time doing is investigating the history of the area and, you might say, thereally significant turning points,” said Dr. Briggs. “I discovered a beautiful Native American tune from theYuchis and Cherokees called ‘Corn Dance,’ and I couldn’t get it out of my head. I realized the Native Amer-ican culture there referred to the Tennessee River as the ‘Singing River.’ The first movement is called SingingRiver and incorporates ‘Corn Dance.’ I tried hard in the 21st century to honor that tune. Of course the ideaof the river that sings is very musical and brings together many images.”

As our area developed, it moved into a traditional Southern landscape, where cotton was king and plan-tations were the centers of commerce. For many reasons, this part of the world is considered the birthplaceof the blues, and most musical scholars consider the songs sung by slaves on the plantations to contain theroots of that musical heritage. Florence’s own native son, W.C. Handy, called “Father of the Blues,” knewthat the music he heard in church and among friends was the basis for something very special.

“The second movement—since W.C. Handy is from Florence—deals with that whole aspect of the bluesand the boogie side,” said Briggs. “The marriage of African-American and white settler culture blendstogether beautifully.”

“The third movement is called Trail of Tears,” he added. “There are two huge tragedies in the history ofNorth Alabama: the Civil War and the Trail of Tears. The Trail of Tears is very area-specific to NorthernAlabama and in some ways the hardest movement to write because it’s a memorial—the removal of onegreat culture by another great culture.”

Dr. Briggs is referring to a mass relocation of Native Americans that happened in the early 1830s, follow-ing the passage of the Indian Removal Act. It is estimated that as many as 46,000 people were forced outof their homelands and herded to Oklahoma, and the Shoals area (specifically Waterloo) served as an

Photo courtesy of Roger Briggs

Composer Roger Briggs


embarkment point; because it was difficult to navigate thewaters of the Tennessee River, the Native Americans weremade to walk to Waterloo where they were put on boats for thenext leg of their journey. Some 30 years later, the nation wastorn apart by the Civil War, and many battles were fought inand around the Shoals.

“The last movement is very hopeful and optimistic for thefuture, and it’s called Renaissance,” said Dr. Briggs. That’s anappropriate title, especially for Florence, which calls itself ‘TheRenaissance City.’”

While Dr. Briggs has been around the world to study and com-pose music, he credits his North Alabama upbringing forinstilling in him a love for music early on. “I heard a woman inmy church playing the piano, and I must have been seven yearsold then,” he recalled. “I wanted nothing more than to be ableto do that. I went to my mother and father and asked if I couldtake piano lessons. They wouldn’t let me until I turned eight.That year of waiting was really exciting. And I lucked out withmy teacher, Norman Hill, because he lived two doors down,was an opera lover, a piano player, and was strict.”

Like any typical eight year old, young Roger was ready to quitafter a year, but his parents and teacher made him stick to hiscommitment. He not only continued piano lessons, he wenton to sing in his youth choir at Northwood Methodist Church

and play drums in the Coffee High School band. He acknowl-edges his high school piano teacher Walter Urben and highschool directors Floyd McClure and Alan Flowers for contin-uing to push him musically. And by age 15, he was conducting,composing, and arranging music for school and communityproductions as well as private performances.

“Growing up in the 60s, I played in several rock bands in Flo-rence,” said Briggs. “We had Battles of the Bands down at theFlorence Recreation Center. North Alabama, musically, wasfantastic. It’s always had an atmosphere for jazz and blues andSouthern Rock. It hasn’t had a name for classical music, butthat’s developing, too.”

Briggs went on to study music at the University of Memphis,where he met his wife, and then went to the Eastman Schoolof Music in New York. He got his first teaching job at St.Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, and did his post-doc-toral work at the Dartington Institute in Totnes, England.Currently, he is the professor of composition at WesternWashington University and conductor emeritus of the What-com Symphony Orchestra.

Having strong teachers while growing up in Florence had a bigimpact on Dr. Briggs’ decision to teach. “To me, it’s like a duty,an honor, to pass on a great art to kids,” he said.

“North Alabama, musically, was fantastic. It’s always had an atmosphere for jazz and blues andSouthern Rock. It hasn’t had a name for classical music, but that’s developing, too.”

—Composer Roger Briggs


THE SHOALS SYMPHONY: A LOOK BACK

This year, the Shoals Symphony turns 30, and there is much to celebrate. Whatbegan as a group of local string musicians wanting to play together has evolvedinto a semi-professional, regional orchestra. Throughout the last three decades,the Shoals Symphony has performed numerous concerts, brought in acclaimedguest musicians, and helped foster the talents of young student musiciansthrough educational partnerships. In a community that celebrates its rich rock-n-roll, country, and blues heritage, the Shoals Symphony has reminded us thatclassical music deserves to share the spotlight.

The Tennessee Valley Community Orchestra was founded in 1982 in Sheffield’sGrace Episcopal Church. Its roots date back a few years earlier when a group ofstring musicians started gathering to play, and the group kept getting larger.

“Gerry Byars and Betty Dardess helped start the Tennessee Valley Art Center’sstring program back in the late 70s,” said Harriett Edwards, a violin player andpast president of the Symphony board. “I moved here in 1978 and saw anannouncement in the paper that they were forming an adult string class. Isigned up for that, along with a lot of people in town who had always wanted todo it. I played with the Shoals Symphony for about 10 or 12 years. It startedmore like a recital for friends and family and now it’s evolved into a symphonywith artistic excellence, with students of high competence and with profes-sionals.”

In 1985, the Tennessee Valley String School and the Tennessee Valley Commu-nity Orchestra incorporated as the Shoals Symphony Orchestra. Then in 2002,the Shoals Symphony Orchestra and the University of North Alabama signed anaffiliation agreement, allowing for a full-time UNA music instructor to alsoserve as conductor and director of the symphony, and giving the symphony ahome on campus. Today, most of the brass and percussion section, as well assome woodwinds and string musicians, are UNA students on scholarship. Thesymphony has become a harmonious mix of professional musicians and adultsplaying alongside college and even high school students. The Shoals Symphonytypically has 40 to 60 musicians who perform four times a year.

“We have close ties to the Florence City Schools string program, and their reallystrong players will play with us,” said Mary White, outgoing president of theSymphony Orchestra Board. “We sponsor the annual Hoffmeister Competitionfor rising high school students. It’s amazing, these kids who come to perform.It restores your faith in young people to hear these dedicated musicians play; it’sjust impressive.”

“It’s impressive what this community has done for the arts,” White added. “Wewanted to commission a symphony to showcase who we’ve become and to thankall of the people in the Shoals who have supported us over the past 30 years,whether financially or by being a member of the audience. The musical her-itage where we live is remarkable. Over the years, we’ve emphasized our blues,rock, and country musicians, but not our classical musicians. Roger Briggs isone of the most acclaimed classical musicians in the country and has won prettymuch every award there is.”

The December performance featuring Dr. Roger Briggs is the season’s grandfinale and sure to be an unforgettable celebration of how far the Shoals Sym-phony has come. Come and listen, and have the music transport you throughour area’s rich musical history. It’s the Symphony’s gift to you!

And passing along a great art is preciselywhat Dr. Briggs has done, sharing his tal-ent with students, audiences, and criticsacross the globe. He’s received numer-ous accolades and awards throughouthis career, and in 2005, he was awardedthe coveted Goddard Leiberson Fellow-ship by the American Academy of Artsand Letters, given only to the best com-posers in the country. He has conductedand recorded with the London Sym-phony Orchestra, the Czech RadioOrchestra, and the Prague SymphonyOrchestra. He has written numerousworks—the Symphony of the Shoals willbe his second full symphony.

And writing a symphony is not an easyfeat. It’s much like writing a novel for anauthor. “It takes a long time,” said Briggs.“I’ve been working on this for well overa year now, spending 12 to 15 hours aday this summer. Once you’re finishedsketching it out from beginning to end,you have to orchestrate it. You have tomake sure the 85 instruments are inagreement…every piano, every forte,every crescendo.”

And Dr. Briggs won’t actually know howhis symphony turns out until December9, when the Shoals Symphony performsit. He has been sending conductor ViljarPuu Weimann the movements as he fin-ishes them for the orchestra to practice,but much like a movie producer whosees a film in its entirety for the first timeat the premiere, Dr. Briggs won’t hear hismasterwork until the concert.

“I’m so excited to be coming home, andso is my wife,” said Briggs. “The ShoalsSymphony has been so generous.They’re going to have me down prior tothe performance, working with the uni-versity and the orchestra. I came downlast summer, too, and it was wonderfuljust to breathe the air and remember.”

The traditional gift for a thirtiethanniversary is a pearl or a diamond, andwhile a pearl might be a rare find anddiamonds may claim they are forever, anoriginal piece of music might just be thegreatest gift the Symphony Orchestracould give our area.


At Riverhill School, learning is a family affair

Learning doesn’t take place in a vacuum—and at Riverhill School,

there are plenty of ways for parents, grandparents and siblings to

get involved, to enhance the learning experience. Our families are focused on

excellence in education, and it shows in the faces of our students. At Riverhill,

learning is a family affair. Won’t you be a part of our family, too?

We’re registering now for our Pre-K2 through sixth grade classes. Call 256-764-8200 or visit riverhillschool.org for more information.


TEXT BY DAVID SIMS » PHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELLPRODUCED BY CLAIRE STEWART

It’s that time of year again—the most wonderful time of the year! This Holiday season, take the opportunity to discover all the

unique, independently-owned shops in your area—and then spend somemoney with them. They’ll appreciate it, our local economy will benefit,

and you’ll be a Holiday Hero! Just about any gift on your list can be purchased in our neck of the woods, and shopping locally creates a

microclimate of positive economics. Plus, you’ll save time and gas! Youmight even have time to bake cookies with your family and friends.

Our annual gift guide is full of wonderful suggestions—from extravagant jewelry, to handmade furniture and designer clothing.

From the simple to the sublime, it’s everything you wanted, and somethings you didn’t know you had to have. So, put down that computer

and start shopping down the block and around the corner. And say helloto your local shopkeepers because—well, because you can.


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JEWELRY (opposite)

A 14kt 1.03 ct Diamond Ringby Ostbye & Anderson ($3,995)

B 18kt Sterling Citrine Bangleby Colorè ($450)Mefford’s Jewelers(256) 764-2632

C 2.7 ctw Black and White Diamond Bangle Bracelet ($1,940)

D .5 ctw Open Filigree Pave Necklace ($1,150)

E 1.55 ctw Cushion Cut Yellow Diamond Earrings with Pave White Diamond Halo Studs ($3,650)Jamie Hood Jewelers(256) 381-6889

F Mint Amethyst and DiamondFashion Ring ($1,500)

G Yellow Gold and Chocolate 2ct Diamond Pendant ($4,000)Grogan Jewelers(256) 764-4013

H La Fonn Bracelet ($1,549)Creative Jewelers(256) 766-7650

I Maltese Pearl Stretch Bracelet ($1,540)

J Maltese 32” Chain and WhiteSapphire Pave Necklace ($2,750)

K Pave Maltese White Pearl Earrings ($2,250)Parker Bingham Jewelers(256) 764-2032

L Vaubel Gold ChainNecklace ($2,418)

M Vaubel Earrings ($620)Marigail’s(256) 764-9444

Hazel Fur Vest ($88)Melie Blanco Berry Purse ($106)Coconuts Calvary Boots ($99)Level 99 Skinny Jeans ($97)Geranium Metal Necklace ($31)Velvet Long Sleeve Tee ($71)Geranium Black Ring ($31)Audie Mescal(256) 314-6684



Elan USA Poncho Sweater ($49.95)Lenny & Eva Bracelet ($58)Mudpie Necklace ($29.95)Silver Aiko Skinny Jean ($85)Market House(256) 577-5197

JEWELRY (opposite)

A Gold Four Strand Necklace ($49)

B Leather Bolt Bandfor Men ($38)Relique(256) 767-4810

C Lonley Hunter Necklace ($48)Driftwood Home+Design(256) 349-5981

D Pearl Couture Aqua Necklace($172)The Village Shoppe(256) 383-1133

E Michelle Rhodes Necklace ($72)Jewell’s(256) 712-5988

F Pearl and Silver Necklace ($85)Firenze(256) 760-1963

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Your BizHub Watchdog

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If you’re interested in controlling costs withoffice equipment solutions for almost anybusiness challenge, call me. We’re the specialists, because we’re the watchdogs.—J.T. Ray

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A Pish Posh Initial Ring ($18)Polka Dots(256) 702-1612

B Gold Chain Earrings ($22)Relique(256) 767-4810

C Silver Plated Magnetic Bracelets in Rose, Rhodium, and Black Rhodium ($85 each)Jamie Hood Jewelers(256) 381-6889

D Sheerwater Earrings ($13.95)E Recycled Aluminum Ring

($19.95)Andy’s the Professionals(256) 767-2800

F Black Matte Ring ($42)Firenze(256) 760-1963

G John Wind Bracelets ($55 each)

H John Wind Earrings ($35)Side Lines(256) 767-0925

I Liz P Mint Earrings ($42)Jewell’s(256) 712-5988

J Diana Warner Earrings ($89)K Seasonal Whispers Bracelets

($92 each)Market House(256) 577-5197

Donald J. Pliner Black Ville Pump ($244)Elizabeth McKay Top ($192)Elliot Lauren Skirt ($108)Vaubel Gold Chain Necklace ($2,418)Marigail’s(256) 764-9444



A Young Colors Chicken Dress ($64)Dena Diane(256) 760-9671

B Guitar Print Bag ($23.99)C Lamb Wishpet ($12.99)

Mimi’s(256) 248-4761

D Jonathan Adler Umbrella ($29.95)

E Flower Rain Poncho ($17.99)Market House(256) 577-5197

F Fancy Nancy ($17.99)Cold Water Books(256)381-2525

G Bumble Bee Growth Chart ($20.99)

H Reindeer Sock Doll ($18.99)David Christopher’s(256) 383-2274

I Insulated Lunch Purse ($16.95)Goodman Sports(256) 766-5760

J Kavu Fall Feathers Mini Keeper ($23)

K Climate Block FuchsiaMorgan Jacket ($124.50)Alabama Outdoors(256) 764-1809

L Piggy Bank ($20)Firenze(256) 760-1963

M Fumika Tanaka Sketchbook ($6)Metallic Color Pencils ($8)Printers & Stationers, Inc.(256) 764-8061

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A Grouchy Bird Hat ($30)Polka Dots(256) 702-1612

B Mulberribush Robot Tee ($32)Dena Diane(256) 760-9671

C Little Squirts Water Bottle ($3.95)Market House(256) 577-5197

D The Book with a Hole($14.50)

E The Substitute Creacher ($16.99)Cold Water Books(256) 381-2525

F Seatbelt Snoozer ($29.99)G Elf Sock Doll ($14.99)

David Christopher’s(256) 383-2274

H Red & White Team Scarf ($8.95)Goodman Sports(256) 766-5760

I UNA Autograph Football ($35.95)Off Campus Bookstore(256) 764-7507

J Boys Hyvent Rain Jacket ($45.50) Alabama Outdoors(256) 764-1809

K Domino Set ($10)Pick Up Sticks ($6)Set of Jacks ($6)

L Oahaca Mechanical Creature ($11.35)Printers & Stationers, Inc.(256) 764-8061

M Durango Brown Flag Boots ($69.95)Austin’s Shoes(256) 386-8720

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Party Works

We Know How to Party!

For invitations and supplies for holiday parties — notto mention everything for birthdays, garden parties, weddings, showers and every kind of celebration —

your party source is Party Works!

Follow us!

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Huntsville, AL 35802

(256)881-7780


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News, classicalmusic and more


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A Savannah WingtipRust ($375)

B Bowties ($126 each)Billy Reid(256) 767-4692

C Heritage Line Alabama Hat ($24)

D Southern Point Heyward Sweater ($120)

E Rowallan Shoe ShiningKit ($46)

F Jon Hart Billfold with Initial Hot Stamp ($97)Printers & Stationers, Inc.(256) 764-8061

G Padrón Madaro Torpedo Cigars ($386 per box)Truly Cigars(256) 275-3601

H Alabama Decanter ($149.99 with Four Matching Glasses)

I Auburn Beer Stein ($23.99)The Wine Seller(256) 766-1568

J Tortoise Costa Sunglasses ($169)

K Caye Glass Costa Sunglasses ($199)

L Lifeproof iPhone Case($79.99)Alabama Outdoors(256) 764-1809

M Vintage Cufflinks ($20)Side Lines(256) 767-0925

N Steve McQueen LeMans Monaco with Navy Leather Strap ($5,600)Grogan’s Jewelers(256) 764-4013

O Pocket Watch ($145)Jamie Hood Jewelers(256) 381-6889

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ye merry gentlemen

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jingle belles

Under Skies Lace Top ($45)

Black and Gold Bangle ($12)

Under Skies Black Dress Shorts ($33)

Frolic(256) 766-6150

Madden Girl Glitter Heels($49.95)Austin’s Shoes(256) 765-0303

Velvet Polka Dot Dress ($148)

Alice and Angie Pearl and Sphere Necklace ($38)

Alice and Angie Double Stranded Pearl Necklace ($38)

Cake Clutch ($145)Harper & Co. Clothing (256) 760-7115

OTBT Petaluma Boots ($189.95)Austin’s Shoes(256) 765-0303

Cluce Dress with Leather Belt ($72)

OTBT Boots ($214)BCBG Leather Bag ($118)Arm Candy Side Bar

Bracelet ($34)Jewell’s(256) 712-5988

Diana Warner Necklace ($142)

Chinchilla Dyed Rabbit Jacket ($1,488)

Miraclebody Pants ($110)

Brighton Jetson Computer Bag ($340)

Rose Knit Scarf ($150)Ming Wang Tank ($135)The Village Shoppe(256) 383-1133

Smoked Pearl Lucky Brand Boots ($219.95)Austin’s Shoes(256) 765-0303



A Cowhide frame ($38)B Horse sculpture ($285)C Canister ($62)

Firenze(256) 760-1963

D Shaker Table ($750)B.J. Kavanaugh(256) 648-6586

E Noir Zimmerman Side Table ($575)Halsey House(256) 764-9294

F Garden Java Pillow ($185)G Mink Patterned Pillow ($175)

The French Basket(256) 764-1237

H Picket Fence Coat Rack ($112.99)David Christopher’s(256) 383-2274

I Oil and Vinegar Bottles (set of 2/$60)

J Penguin ($45)Yellow Door(256) 766-6950

K Retro Gold Lamp ($169)Southern Shades(256) 757-0045

L Blue Urn ($97.50)M Heirloom Pumpkin Candle

($15.50)Lola’s(256) 383-2299

N Aztec Printed Chair ($275)O Brown Chicken Brown Cow

Pillow ($125)Driftwood Home+Design(256) 349-5981

P On A Lark Himalayan Candle($16.95) Fiddledee D(256) 383-9797

Q Glass and Iron Decanter ($299)Village Interiors(256) 247-0990

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deck the halls…

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A Tennessee River Cheese Board ($35)B.J. Kavanaugh(256) 648-6586

B Assorted Poufs ($250)C The French Dog

by Rachael Hale ($29.95)The French Basket(256) 764-1237

D Ambiance Alabaster Lamps (prices vary)SBS(256) 764-8481

E Anna’s Applique Grey Felt Placemat ($90)

F Red Relief Applique Placemat ($310)

G Custom Order Placemats (prices vary)Alabama Chanin(256) 760-1090

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A Angelica Painting ($95)B Gold Cross ($35)

Halsey House(256) 764-9294

C Match Salt Shaker and Pepper Mill ($243)The French Basket(256) 764-1237

D Measuring Spoons ($23)Yellow Door(256) 766-6950

E Fleur-de-lis Glass Box ($28.75)Lola’s(256) 383-2299

F Plug-in Oil Warmer ($12.95)Lyda’s Delights(256) 248-4021

G Patterned Napkins(Set of 4/$9)

H Napkin Rings ($5 each)I On A Lark Himalayan

Candle ($16.95) Fiddledee D(256) 383-9797

J Forest Silver Platter ($159)Village Interiors(256) 247-0990

K Beatle ($16)L Ice Blue Wooden Tray ($125)

Firenze(256) 760-1963

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Put some stuffingA Ribbon Candy ($5.50 each)B Mandy’s Peppermint Drops

($3.75)Sweet Basil Café(256) 764-5991

C My Drap Cotton Napkins ($28/roll of 50)

D Chat Pack Conversation Starters ($12)Yellow Door(256) 766-6950

E Crow Watch ($30)F Elephant Keychain ($20)G Lua Scarves ($45 each)

Side Lines(256) 767-0925

H Eco-friendly bags ($9.99)I Chai Vermints ($3.49)J Beeswax Hand Cream ($9)

Osa’s Garden(256) 764-7663

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in your stockings

K Owl Contact Lens Case ($4)L Pocket First Aid Kit ($6)M Smathers & Branson

Keyrings ($25)Printers & Stationers, Inc.(256) 764-8061

N OPI Polish ($8.50 each)O OPI Manicure Kit ($19.95)

Andy’s the Professionals(256) 767-2800

P Stephanie Johnson Cosmetic Pouch ($32)

Q Square Gold Frame ($14)The French Basket(256) 764-1237

R Over Under Wallet ($50)S Over Under Leash ($55)

Jar & Company(256) 768-1004

T See the LightFiddleworms ($12.99)Available locally at Pegasus Records and The Sound Shoppe

U A Year in ColorJenny Ray ($10)Available locally at Rivertown Coffee, Marigail’s, Pegasus Records, and The Village Shoppe

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V The Race Of My LifeAlex R. Godwin ($14.95)Available locally at Cold Water Books

WFabric for StockingThread(256) 383-2223

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Moss Eidson Galgano,and Gwen Baker

Victoria Shin, Megan Stein, and Megan Green

Lauren Williamsonand Sarah Minelli

Mallory Baxley, Chelsea Murdock,and Sylvia Towery

Anne Bernauer and Sandy Evers

Jane Gough and Anne Langstaff

Lee and Kevin Callaway, Anne Bernauer, and Brian Corley

Susan Beckett, Claire Stewart,and Trip Bower

Lane and Gail Sutherland, Tiffany and Russell Daily

Leah Beth McNutt, Casey Stewart, KaylaFrancis Terry, and Brittany Willis

PHOTOS ANNE MARTHA CORLEY

P.D. BernauerTiffany Daily and Anne Martha Corley

Julie Greenhaw, Melodie Bridges,and Jill Chambers

52 » scene

Allen and Cecily Wall

Kathryn Robinson and Libby Barnes Hicks

Above: UNA Alpha Gamma Delta 35th AnniversaryHomecoming Soirée

SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 PICKETT PLACE, FLORENCE

Below: An Evening at the Buffler HouseSEPTEMBER 22, 2012 ST. FLORIAN

Sarah Daniel and Jessica Jo Harrison

HARMONHAZLE IS ONESHARP MAN

54 » everybody’s business

ARMON HAZLE CREATES WORKS OF ART,although he wouldn’t necessarily call himself an artist.The knives he hand crafts in his workshop in Courtland,Alabama, have deer horn handles and exquisitely turnedblades, and come sheathed in leather holders that he hasalso cut and sewn by hand. They are beautiful, and when

you know the amount of work that goes into each one, atbetween $150 and $250, they are also a bargain.

“My dad brought me a Japanese bayonet from Korea when hecame back from the Korean War,” said Harmon. “I carried thatfor years when I went to the woods, but one day I lost it. I wasworking at Monsanto at the time, and I got interested in maybemaking my own knives. I made my firstone with a file and put a deer horn on itwith epoxy. It actually worked prettywell, so I started making more.”

It worked pretty well, for sure. Peoplestarted seeing them and wanting themfor themselves. Friends would bringHarmon deer horns and trade them outfor knives. “I make about 40 a year now,and most are sold through word ofmouth. I’ll sell one, and they will show itto someone else, and pretty soon theyshow up and want one,” he said.

Each and every one of these knives iscrafted from scratch, usually startingwith a piece of scrap tempered steel thatused to be a saw blade from a local palletcompany. He draws out the shape of theknife blade and begins cutting it away,using a belt sander he built himself. Hestill attaches the deer horns with epoxy,and different horns have different colors; Harmon picksthrough his stash to find the horn that will match the knife he’smaking.

Harmon makes specialty knives as well. He recently made oneto match an 1890 rolling block rifle, and he occassionally isasked to make a decorative knife to hang on the wall as adisplay. Mostly, though, he says these are used by hunters, soeven though they are beautiful, they are also functional.

Making knives has become a family affair. Grandsons Gil andJordan Jaggers tell it like it is. “Our grandfather has a certain


TEXT BY ALLEN TOMLINSONPHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL

Harmon Hazle, above,is the very definitionof a craftsman. Hishand-tooled knivesare made in his shopusing found objects—deer horns, reclaimedsteel—and manytimes made withmachinery he has alsoput together fromreclaimed parts.

way to do things, and we call it“Harmon-izing,” they explained with alaugh. “We only make knives in thewinter, because there is no airconditioning in the shop, and we learnedearly about Harmon-izing when wehelped him.” It’s obvious there is pride intheir eyes as they help their grandfathershow us the shop, the piles of scrap steeland deer horns that will soon becomeknives, and the leather cases that havebeen hand cut and sewn but areperfectly put together. The grandsonsare learning the art of knife makingthemselves, but just spending time withtheir grandfather is the most fun forthem.

Harmon can create a custom knife to acustomer’s design, or can design ithimself. For more information or todiscuss ordering these works of art, callHarmon Hazle at (256) 412-9622.

Clockwise from left:Some of Hazle’sknives and a hand-made sheath; Aselection of deerantlers, mostly givento him by friends, areused along with woodas handles for theknives; Hazle polishesa knife blade beforeit’s photographed.


Robert Perry and Leslie Yancey

Tony Turnbow and Ninon Parker

Bud Pride

Billy Don Anderson and Robert PerryInez McWilliams

and Butch WalkerRobert Thrower and Chris Allison

Mike Smallwood and Butch Walker

60 » scene

Carol Driskell

Above: Oka Kapassa Festival–Return Walk to Tuscumbia Screening

SEPTEMBER 7, 2012 TUSCUMBIA

Below: Riverhill School Grandparent’s DaySEPTEMBER 14, 2012 RIVERHILL SCHOOL

Elizabeth Webb, Janette Wilkson,and Ellen Cross

Cruz Files, Mattie Penn, Jaxon Penn

Cindy Pingree, Karsen Kabel, Ridge Kabel,Avery Kabel, Alex Pingree, Thatcher Kabel

Brooks Moore

Philip, Maymie, andMary Jane Fowler

Brooks Moore and Brooks MooreLarry Hamilton, Abigail McGee,

and Sherry HamiltonAnn Jaggers, Mariela Torres,and Herman Jaggers

Santa Claus is coming



SOMETHING CURIOUS HAPPENED AT SCHOOL, and Elizabeth didn’t quite understand it. After the stu-dents returned from Christmas break, the teacher took time during the class to allow each child to telleveryone else what Santa Claus brought. Elizabeth was thrilled to be able to share all of the wonderfulgifts she had received, but she noticed that there were two or three children in the room who seemed alittle uncomfortable. When it was time for them to speak, two of them had their heads on their desk, eyesclosed, as if they were taking a nap; the third stammered and stumbled, and the teacher ended up passinghim by.

Why would these kids be so shy about sharing? Elizabeth wondered about this, and that evening asked hermother about it. It had never occurred to her that those children didn’t get a visit from Santa at all.

He’s making a list and checking it twice; gonna find out who’s naughty and nice; Santa Claus is coming totown.

We’re bombarded by it during the holiday season. When kids are good (for goodness sake), Santa willreward them on Christmas Day with presents under the tree. But actually, that’s not the way it really works,at least not for several hundred kids in the Shoals. While those kids are making their Christmas lists, theirparents are poring over their checking accounts, trying to figure out how to make it all work…and some-times praying for a Christmas miracle.

According to a study last year by the American Research Group, consumers spent an average of $646 onChristmas gifts. For a single parent making minimum wage, that’s about two-and-a-half weeks pay towardpresents, when every single paycheck they earn must go toward living expenses. So how does a family whostruggles financially explain to their bright-eyed children that Santa can’t make it to their house this year?

to town TEXT BY LAURA ANDERS LEE

There’s good news for those families thisChristmas. With help from a generous Shoalscommunity, every child can get a visit fromSanta this year. Toys for Tots plans to provideChristmas for at least 1,000 kids in Laud-erdale, Colbert and Franklin counties—a Christmas theywouldn’t have experienced otherwise.

“Parents want to give their children everything they can givethem, even when they don’t have extra money,” says AshleyButler, director of financial operations at United Way ofNorthwest Alabama, who is assisting the Marine Corps withthe annual Toys for Tots campaign. “At Christmas they espe-cially feel like they have to. Many of the families areexperiencing hard times—job loss, a sickness. And being win-ter, the electricity bill can be higher, and it’s difficult for familieswho aren’t able to plan ahead.”

These families in need can apply for the Toys for Tots programor various other Christmas assistance programs, such as theSalvation Army’s Angel Tree. United Way shares a databasewith community organizations and area churches to ensurefamilies are covered under one program, so that there is noduplication of services, and so that resources are allocated toas many families as possible.

For the Toys for Tots program, United Way reviews a family’sapplication, verifies the need, and then works with the MarineCorps through the toy drive and gift giving program. The U.S.Marine Corps Reserve founded Toys for Tots in 1991 to providenew, unwrapped toys to needy children in local communitiesacross the country, and the United Way of Northwest Alabamaadministers the program here on their behalf.

“My primary job is Field Artillery Chief, but during the holi-days, it’s Toys for Tots,” says Master Sergeant Keith Langfordof the 2nd Battalion, 14th Marines in Huntsville, who overseesToys for Tots in a 12-county area in North Alabama. “It defi-nitely is my goal to make every single dollar go into theorganization. I try to get outside agencies, volunteers and localcompanies to help out.”

Keith, with three children of his own, says Toys for Tots strikesa personal chord with him.

“A lot of people are experiencing a hardship, and that little bitof extra money for Christmas when they live paycheck to pay-check is hard to come by,” he says. “But the program assists thefamilies who are in need a way to provide a good Christmas fortheir kids, and their kids are smiling at the end of the day.”

This year, Ashley says approximately 450 families, representingaround 1,000 children in the Shoals, will apply for Toys for Tots,and that doesn’t include the hundreds more who will apply forother Christmas assistance programs. Various drop-off loca-tions in the Shoals are available now to accept new toy donationsfor infants through 12-year-olds. And many local businesses willbe offering discounts for customers who drop off items.


New toy donations can include anything—from games and Barbies to books and balls.Ashley suggests that families donate what theirown children would enjoy.

“Our goal is to give a bike to every family this year,” says Ash-ley. “The bags we pack up are filled with nice, popular toys. It’swhat I would give my four and five-year-old.”

Once gifts are gathered and packed by age group, the UnitedWay distributes them to families on a scheduled date at theArmy National Guard on Helton Drive. Every 60 minutes, theUnited Way hands out bags of toys to some 40 families. Chil-dren don’t come with them so that Christmas Day can be asurprise.

“That’s the rewarding part—when the parents and grandpar-ents come to pick up the items, they are so happy and thrilled,”says Ashley.

Ashley can recall the tears in the eyes of a grandparent whopicked up an Easy-Bake Oven for her seven-year-old and thesheer joy and gratitude on the face of a mother who picked upa Disney Princess bike for her four-year-old.

Ashley says there is not one stereotype for the parents inneed—from single moms, single dads and grandparents to tra-ditional couples down on their luck; a wide range of families inthe Shoals are going through hard times, yet still want to pro-vide for their children at Christmas.

“I think people would be surprised at some of the dads whocome in,” says Ashley. “They can’t get a job they are qualifiedfor, and at the moment they are unemployed. It’s a hard thingfor a man to swallow his pride and come in and ask for help.”

“The number of grandparents is also surprising,” she adds.“They have already raised their kids and retired from work,but they are now in the position of raising their grandchildrenand just don’t have the means. Many mothers who are preg-nant and expecting this fall have also signed up.”

The program is designed to help families like these get throughthe difficult season.

“In future years, we hope they can give back, when they getback on their feet,” says Ashley.

One such mother has done exactly that. A local resident andsingle mother who participated in Toys for Tots for her youngchildren years ago now donates toys every year, paying it for-ward to another family in need. Now that’s the spirit ofChristmas.

To find a Toys for Tots drop-off location, visit toysfortots.org orcall Keith Langford at (256) 213-9683, extension 107.

This year, Ashley says approximately 450 families, representing around 1,000 children in the Shoals, will apply for Toys for Tots.


TEXT BY ALLEN TOMLINSON » PHOTOS BY ADRIAN JENNINGS

The Mooreland Hunt Kicks Off the Holiday SeasonWith a Display of Tradition and Sport

WHEN THE AIR BEGINS TO FEEL A LITTLE CRISP and there’s a light froston the ground in the morning, most people begin to think about sports. There’sfootball, of course, and deer hunting and even the sport of shopping for the holi-days; but the oldest sport in America, a sport that goes back hundreds of years andcarries with it a rich tradition, is not exactly the first thing that comes to mind.

This sport has deep tradition—even tailgating—but doesn’t take place in a stadium.It has uniforms and team colors—even rules—but no scorekeeping. The sport is foxhunting, and for a large group of people across North Alabama, it’s a passion thatrivals the fiercest Alabama or Auburn fan’s.

But instead of runningbacks and quarterbacks, you’re following Field Masters andhounds.

“Hunting is a sport, but it’s not just a sport,” said Evie Mauldin, one of the Mastersof the Mooreland Hunt. “It’s a way of life. No…” She pauses for a moment. “It is a life.”You might not understand exactly what she means by that until you learn more aboutthe sport of hunting and how it encompasses almost every waking hour.

First of all, it’s important to make a distinction between fox hunting and deer hunt-ing. “This is not shooting, this is hunting,” says Evie. “That is a distinction that wasoriginally made in England, where the sport of hunting began. When you go shoot-ing, you go out with a gun; when you go hunting, you go on horseback and followthe hounds. They are the ones doing all of the work.”

In other words, deer “hunting,” another popular sport in the fall, is technically deer“shooting.” Riders on a fox hunt are not armed with guns.

Secondly, hunting requires a great deal of athletic skill, and not just from the hunters.Hunts take place on horseback, following the hounds, and it’s a rigorous course thatcan cover as much as 25 miles in a single event. It can be dangerous: Evie and her sis-ters, Martha VanSant Zuelke and Mary Marshall VanSant, tell stories of scrapes andbruises, sore muscles and broken bones; a horse could step in a hole at any momentand injure itself and its rider.

But the athletic skill that is most fascinating to watch is that of the hounds. “Theseanimals have been bred to hunt, and they are highly trained athletes,” said Martha.“Because hounds are pack animals, they work as a team, and it’s interesting to seeeach hound develop his or her unique skill. It all blends together and works, just likea highly skilled football team.”

What’s most interesting about the hounds is the fact that they rarely see the prey.“From the back of a horse, we’re up high and can see the fox or coyote,” said MaryMarshall, who is one of the field masters for the hunt, “but the hounds hardly lifttheir heads. They are hunting purely on scent.”


“Because hounds are pack animals, they work as a team, and it’s interestingto see each hound develop his or her unique skill.

It all blends together and works, just like a highly skilled football team.”—MARTHA VANSANT ZUELKE

Here’s another fact about hunting: it’s complicated. The hounds are led by a hunts-man, who happens to be a paid employee of the hunt; his job is to train the houndsand then direct them during the hunt. He does that through signals with his horn andwith his voice, and it’s his job to make sure the hounds don’t get too distracted or gooff on tangents. One rule of the hunt is that you don’t get ahead of the huntsman andthe hounds; another is that there is a hierarchy of hunters, with beginners at the backof the pack and more experienced hunters who have been awarded their colorsnearer the front.

But let’s back up.

The sport of hunting is heavily dependent upon the hounds. Hounds are bred togive birth in the spring – this is called “whelping.” After the puppies are about a yearold, right before they start hunting, hunts will have Puppy Shows, where they invitetheir own members to come see the year’s newest participants and they invite mem-bers of other hunts to come take a look as well. “We don’t sell our puppies, butinstead we “draft” or trade them with other hunts,” said Evie. “A hunting hound is avery specific breed of animal, not found in the general house dog population. Weeven have our own governing body, and breeding is closely regulated. Every houndhas a tattoo in his ear, to identify him, and although these dogs are very valuable, wenever sell them. Instead, we share them and trade them with other hunts. It’s all verycivilized and gentlemanly.”

Male dogs are called “dogs,” and females are called “bitches,” but the name “hound”applies to them both. After the puppies are whelped and weaned, they are named,and there are strict traditions that govern the way this happens. All puppies in a lit-ter are named using the first initial or vowel of the parents’ names. For example, if

the father is named Penn and the mother is named Windfall, the offspring will all benamed with names that begin with “W-E:” “Weasel,” “Wedlock,” “Wendy,” etc. Thenames aren’t necessarily human names.

After the puppy shows, puppies are sent home with members of the hunt, wherethey are socialized. They learn their names, learn manners, and learn to be friendlyto people. “It’s important to socialize a hound because during the hunt they are sur-rounded by people,” said Martha. “We don’t want them to be anti-social or afraid, andwe don’t want them to be skittish.” This brief period of time in a member’s home iscalled “walking,” and a hound will be out on walk for several months.

After they have been out on walk, they return to the kennels where their trainingbegins. The kennel is maintained by the hunt, and the huntsman and his staff are incharge of teaching the hounds their role in the sport. It will take a puppy a full yearof training before entering the pack, and they are called “puppies” until they beginto hunt. During that year, they work with other, more experienced hounds, learningto work as a group, and learning to be “biddable,” which means they have to learn torespond to the huntsman’s commands. “If the huntsman tells them to stop, they haveto stop, and they can’t go until the huntsman releases them,” said Evie. (The popu-lar phrase “release the hounds” is a fox hunting term.)

Evie, Martha, and Mary Marshall are members of the Mooreland Hunt, and, in fact,Evie is one of three Masters. There are three Masters of the Mooreland Hunt, allinvolved because of their demonstrated commitment and understanding of hunt tra-dition. Leslie Rhett Crosby, Mr. Harry Rhett’s daughter, is one of them; Dr. Jack Moodyis one; and Evie Mauldin is the third.


“This is not shooting, this is hunting. When you go shooting,you go out with a gun; when you go hunting, you go on horseback

and follow the hounds. They are the ones doing all of the work.”—EVIE MAULDIN

HUNTINGTERMSDRAW A BLANK

To fail to find a fox.

COLORSThe distinctive colors that distinguish the uniform of onehunt from another. Usually a distinctive color of collar on acoat. To be awarded or giventhe colors is to be given theright to wear them.

COVERT (pronounced “cover”)A patch of woods or brushwhere a fox might be found.

CRYThe sound given by houndswhen hunting. “The pack is infull cry.”

ENTERA hound is “entered” when he isfirst regularly used for hunting.

HUNTSMANThe man who controls thehounds in the field.

LINEThe trail of the fox.

TONGUECry. A hound “gives tongue”when he proclaims with hisvoice that he is on a line.

VIEWTo see the fox.

WHIPPER-INA staff member who assists theHuntsman in the control of thehounds.

HISTORY OF THE MOORELAND HUNT

Harry Moore Rhett, Jr., a prominent community leader inHuntsville, loved to hunt. According to his daughter, Leslie,who has taken the reins as a Joint-Master of the MoorelandHunt, he hunted so much in Virginia, with a group of huntingfriends, that her mother begged her father to find a way tohunt closer to home. Because the Rhetts owned land in Lime-stone and Lawrence counties, and that land had fox, coyoteand bobcats on it, it just made sense to start a hunt right herein Alabama.

That was in the early 1960s. The Mooreland Hunt (so namedbecause of Mr. Rhett’s middle name) is a small to mid-sizedhunt, with 60 or so members and has become one of the mosthighly respected in North America.

There are responsibilities for the three Masters, some of whichare financial. The Hunt employs a huntsman, Rhodri Jones-Evans, a Welshman who has been with the Mooreland Huntsince 2005, and it also employs a professional whipper-in,Shannon Roach. (A whipper-in assists the huntsman with con-trol of the hounds.) Members of the Hunt are either mountedfollowers or social members, and there are dues associatedwith each type of membership; social members can ride up tothree times before having to pay a “capping fee.” Regardless ofyour designation, you must be invited to be a member by oneof the Masters, and in many cases hunting is a generationalthing. (Leslie’s teenaged daughter, Hattie Crosby, is an avidhunter; Martha’s daughters, Mary Hurston and Elizabeth, haveboth been awarded their colors at the Mooreland Hunt.)

Mr. Rhett died in 1996, but the Hunt he loved continues. It’snot hard to believe that his spirit permeates the MoorelandHunt, and that he would be proud of the way it’s endured.

THE HUNTING SEASON BEGINS

It’s a chilly morning in early November, and members of theMooreland Hunt have gathered for the Blessing of the Hounds.They are all dressed in their traditional “kits,” the name for theformal clothing they wear at a hunt. Although the kits are beau-tiful, they are also very functional. Boots come to the knees, forprotection during the ride, and women’s boots are patentleather at the top. Men wear white breeches, and women weartan or canary; shirts have standing collars and there is a whitetie at the neck that sort of looks like an ascot. “The tie is veryfunctional,” said Martha, “because it is long and can be used asa tourniquet, a bandage, or a sling, if necessary. It’s pinned witha large pin, that can also be used in emergencies.”

Vests are usually canary or tattersall, and the coats are colored

The Mooreland Hunt is a small to mid-sized Hunt, with 60 or so membersand has become one of the most highly respected in North America.


hunt and in tailgating parties which fol-low them; even though the season onlyruns during the winter months, there areopportunities to get together at puppyshows and other social events in thewarmer months.

“That’s why we say it’s not just a way oflife—it’s a life,” said Evie. “Some call it anobsession,” she adds with a laugh. This isnot football, but with its rules, its tradi-tions, the skills required and theceremonies surrounding it, it is certainlya sport. It just happens to be the oldestsport in America—and it’s practicedright here in North Alabama.

depending upon the rank in the hunt. Atthe end of the season, some members ofthe hunt will be awarded their colors,and as such granted the ability to ridecloser to the hounds.

At the Blessing, the horses have beenfreshly bathed, manes braided. Thepriest invokes a traditional prayer, onewritten just for the Mooreland Hunt. Heasks for blessings upon the hounds, thehunters, the landowners and the prey.

And then, it’s time for the hunt.

“The hounds are trained for the hunt,but so are the horses,” said Evie. “Weprefer thoroughbred horses for ourhunts, because a hunt can last for fouror five hours and we’ll cover 20 or 25miles. The hounds cover even more ter-ritory than that—but it’s important thata horse have the endurance to be able towithstand that sort of exercise.”

The huntsman decides which hounds tobring to each hunt, about 37 to 40

hounds. He puts together the pack basedon experience, mixing those who arehunting for their first season with thosewho have hunted for years. He also hasto take into consideration how tired thehounds might be, because there can beas many as three hunts every weekthroughout the season, which runs intothe early spring.

The strike hound finds the scent; thehunt begins.

HUNTING SEASON

Hunt season runs from late October,when the crops are out of the fields, untilMarch, when the landowners begin tomake plans to plant. Season opens withthe Blessing of the Hounds and ends withAwarding of the Colors at the ClosingHunt Breakfast, a celebration in whichhunt members are given traditional col-ors and a new position in the hunt thenext season. In between, hunters haveample opportunity to participate in the


This page:Mooreland’s Professional Huntsman, RhodriJones-Evans

Opposite:Evie Mauldin, one of the Hunt’sMasters


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TEXT BY LAURA ANDERS LEE » PHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL

“Now that I’m retired, I have plenty of time, and I love[training my dogs] more than anything in the world.”

—David Abramson


David Abramson has spent nearly all his life outdoors—from growing up on a dairy farm and building bridges androads, to hunting every minute during his off time.

David’s first love was a beagle named Doc. At just 10-years-old, David trained Docas his hunting dog. Since then, he’s trained some hundreds of dogs to accompany himon his many hunting excursions, whether in his back yard or around the country. Sowhen David retired 13 years ago, he and his wife Faye bought an 1830s home on afarm in Florence with plenty of room to raise hunting dogs. Today the couple, withhelp from their son Zac, is raising a family of beagles like Doc, including eight pup-pies, along with a handful of American Pointers and a few rescues.

When David and Faye got married 55 years ago, his first purchase was a $50 hunt-ing dog, which would cost thousands of dollars today. His new bride and high schoolsweetheart was more understanding than most.

“I didn’t have the sense enough to get mad,” laughed Faye.

“Faye hunted a lot with me at first,” said David. “She was a good shot.”

Throughout his career as owner of Abramson and Sons, Alabama Bridge Buildersand Bellew and Roberts, David squeezed in hunting trips before work or on week-ends, spending as much time as possible in the woods. He and Faye even spent theirvacations traveling the country to hunt. They covered a lot of territory, from NorthAlabama and South Texas and from Alaska to Canada, hunting everything from rab-bit, quail, and doves to deer, elk, and caribou. After one hunting trip, David broughthome a pet deer for Zac, who was in sixth grade at the time.

“I could never hunt after that,” recalled Zac. “But I loved being around all the ani-mals.”

The deer was just one of hundreds of animals the Abramsons have raised. Besidesdogs, the family has had a raccoon and a possum. Today they have donkeys namedObama, Michelle, and Hillary after their favorite Democrats along with some twodozen hunting dogs.

Zac, who lives in downtown Florence, comes to the farm every day to help his fathertake care of the dogs. David sells a hunting dog occasionally, but he really just raisesthem for himself as a hobby and to have company on his hunting trips.

“Getting them to mind, getting them to come, you have to spend a lot of time withthem,” said David. “But now that I’m retired, I have plenty of time, and I love doingit more than anything in the world.”

David, who’s 74, is still energetic and active, rising at 4:00 a.m. to drink his coffeeand check on the dogs. Then he’s gone by sunrise, whether it’s to hunt in the fall andwinter or to fish in the spring and summer.

One of the Abramsons’ beagles recently had eight puppies that David is busy train-ing. They are three months old now, and at six months, they’ll be able to run rabbits.

Facing page:Abramson with oneof eight beagles he’straining; Precedingpage: Robin MarieHerald, friend ofthe family, lovesspending time withthe beagle puppies.


“About the only way you can hunt rab-bits and birds is with dogs because theytrack or point them,” said David. “I’ll takeabout seven beagles out with me at atime for rabbit hunting. When one ofthem smells a rabbit, they bark, and theothers follow. When we spot one, we sayTally-ho!”

That’s the signal the dogs have been wait-ing for—they know they’ve done their job.

The beagles’ mother was a hunting dog,and they come from a special bloodlinewith keen natural instincts, makingthem perfect hunting companions. Butnot all of the Abramsons’ dogs are froman elite bloodline.

“This dog is a rescue my son Zac pickedup,” said Faye, pointing to one of thedogs in their large kennel, which over-looks open fields behind the house. “Iguess he’ll be here til the end. We’re justanimal lovers.”

“Nemrod came to my house during athunderstorm,” added Zac. “I put an adin the paper but couldn’t find the owner.If I take him to the pound, no one willwant him—he’s old and has bad teeth.He’s the sweetest dog in the world butnot adoptable. I come out and walk himevery day. Waterloo is another rescuedog we have—we call him Loo for short.”

One of the Abramsons’ short-hairedAmerican Pointers was born prematureand deformed. His bones not completelydeveloped, he looked flat, like a pancake.But before putting him down, Zac andDavid waited it out.

“We didn’t think he would survive, buthe did,” said Zac.

Not only did Lucky survive, but he’s beenone of the Abramsons’ best bird dogs.

The Abramsons have also raised Trigger,another pointer and bird dog, along with

Trigger’s parents and siblings. Thepointers accompany David on quailhunts. While David and the beagleschase the rabbits merely for fun, he andthe pointers bring the quails in.

“We have it for a good many meals in thewinter months,” Faye said. “I sauté it, putit in a pan and bake it for about 45 min-utes with a little wine over the top.”

Both David and Faye love cooking andenjoy hosting weekend hunting tripswhich always include plenty of food,from chicken stew and fried fish towhatever has been freshly killed. For 30years, the Abramsons owned a 3,000-acre wildlife preserve in Cullman wherepeople came in from all over the countryto hunt trophy bucks, many on theBoone and Crockett scale. Weekendguests paid a large sum of money to stayin a log cabin with luxury amenities suchas a personal chef and hunt the covetedbucks that David raised himself in con-

What was once a corncrib on the Abramsonfarm, now functions as both his office andas a gathering place for the family.


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junction with Auburn University. Today,the Abramsons host an annual dovehunt on a much smaller scale for closefriends at their farm in Oakland, justnorth of Florence.

“David was a patient of my husband’s,”said Merry Ann Herald of Birmingham,whose family attends the annual dovehunt and often visits the Abramsons.“He’s gone from patient to huntingbuddy to best friend. My son Luke hasbeen hunting with them since he wasfive, and my daughter Robin Marie triesto keep up. She’s a little tomboy.”

Luke, who’s now 15, is a skilled marks-man, and Robin Marie, who’s 10, often

goes out with David and her BB gun. Shecan call all eight beagle puppies by nameand told David he better consult with herbefore giving any of the puppies away.

“I like dogs, and I love to hunt,” saidRobin Marie. “When you combine both,it’s all the better.”

Not only does David share his passion forthe outdoors with his family and friends,but he’s involved with various organiza-tions in the community. He volunteersfor the Florence/Lauderdale Countytourism bureau, where he helps themmarket the area as a fishing destination.In the early 90s, David was appointed byGovernor Jim Folsom on the first boardof Alabama’s Forever Wild Land Trust.Forever Wild has purchased more than227,000 acres of land for public use suchas state parks, hiking trails and naturepreserves. While Alabama is still behindother southeastern states for percentageof land designated for public conserva-tion, Forever Wild continues to expandto make more land available for futuregenerations, like Luke and Robin Marie.

While many men have a man cave withfootball memorabilia or a pool table,David’s man room is an upscale barnwith attached kennel. Inside are dozens

of trophies mounted on the wall, fromsheep and wild boar and even a moose.But while he loves spending time in his“office,” his favorite place to be is outside.For David, the thrill of the hunt is onlythrilling with his dogs by his side.

Left: Abramsonbonds with Trigger,an AmericanPointer he raised;Below, right: Fourbeagle puppies fromthe litter of eight viefor the camera’sattention.


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.

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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 2013, andwe’ll work with you to help you spread theword. No strings; no obligation. You’re doinggreat things. Can we help?

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100 » scene

Karen Landersand Ranel Spence

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Modern Travel - Old Fashioned Service

Without a doubt, this is the best place in the world to live. But from time to time, we travel to other places and see things we wish we had here at home. Starbucks. Entertainment districts. High speed rail and public transportation. Litter-free streets.

Why not have those things here? No’Ala Magazine wants to get a conversation started about things that would make our wonderful lives here that much better. Our March/April, 2013, issue will be our “Why Not?” issue, and we’re inviting you to weigh in.

We’re asking our readers to let us know what they dream about when they envision the future of northwest Alabama. No dream is to big; no idea is too small. We can’t promise we’ll have room for all of them, but we’d certainly like to consider them. Won’t you take a moment to sit back and dream...and then share that pie-in-the-sky dream with us?

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104 » food for thought » Sarah Gaede

IT’S NO WONDER SO MANY AMERICANS ARE DUBIOUS ABOUT EATING VENI-SON. Bambi, the movie, has been traumatizing generations of children since 1942.We all witnessed Bambi’s mother’s death at the hand of a villainous hunter, whichcaused Bambi to experience abandonment issues, and caused us to wonder, “WhenI eat venison, how do I know I’m not eating some innocent little fawn’s beloved mom?”

Who knows how many children—or adults—become vegetarians after falling in lovewith an anthropomorphized movie character? My friend swore off eating pork aftershe saw the movie Babe. (She doesn’t count bacon as pork, because she’s not afanatic, and because, as we all know, bacon is like crack cocaine.) I will eat rabbit,although I feel a bit peculiar about it, not only because of the fluffy little tail andwiggly nose, but because I have a grandbunny named Lightfoot. She lives inCharleston with my daughter, her bunny daddy, and her part-time bunny nanny.

People who hunt will tell you it is more ethical to hunt what you eat than to buy itcut up in the grocery store, and I think they are right. If I thought about it too much,I’d probably become a vegetarian (except for bacon, of course). Venison has one-third the fat of beef and is lower in calories. Deer lead happy lives right until themoment they are sent to be with Jesus. And let’s face it, if we don’t do some judiciousculling, deer will take over the world, eating their way through all our flowers, fruits,and vegetables on their way to world domination. Without deer hunters, our coun-try would be like India, except with deer instead of cows.

When we decided on a hunting theme for the Holiday issue of No’Ala, I thought avenison tenderloin recipe would be perfect. Unfortunately, all I knowabout deer hunting is what my friend Rob Brown, Episcopal priest andhunter, posts on Facebook. I found out venison tenderloin costs $70online, my first stop for everything exotic. Lucky for me, I’m one ofthose southern women who will talk with anyone, anywhere, aboutanything. My farmers’ market vendor buddy Carl Ahonen was com-plaining one morning that the deer were eating his pears andmuscadines. I remarked, “So, you going to be gettingsome venison soon?” He replied, “Why? You wantsome?” He turned to his crony Gerald Perrigin andasked, “Gerald, you got some venison?” “Yep,” Geraldanswered. “How much you want? I’ll bring some Satur-day.” I didn’t realize most hunters have a stockpile of lesser

Not Bambi’s Mother!

DEER LEAD HAPPY LIVESRIGHT UNTIL THE MOMENT

THEY ARE SENT TO BE WITHJESUS. AND LET’S FACE IT,

IF WE DON’T DO SOME JUDICIOUS CULLING,

DEER WILL TAKE OVER THE WORLD, EATING THEIR

WAY THROUGH ALL OURFLOWERS, FRUITS, AND

VEGETABLES ON THEIR WAYTO WORLD DOMINATION.


cuts of venison in the deepfreeze. Gerald brought me steaks,sausage, and ground meat, and didn’t charge me a dime. Notenderloin, but I couldn’t argue with the price. And, as Rev.Rob points out, “So much better for you than processed cow!”

Chili is a good place to start with venison. You don’t have to tellpeople what’s in it, and they need never know. The followingrecipe uses cubed meat instead of ground, which was perfectfor the half-inch-thick leg steaks Gerald gave me, althoughground venison or plain old hamburger would work just aswell. I threw in some canned beans because I had them in mypantry. That’s the fun of cooking; figuring out how you can usewhat you have on hand to make something good.

Venison Chili

• 4 strips bacon (or 2 tablespoons bacon fat, or 2 tablespoons olive oil)

• 1-1/2 pounds or thereabouts leg or shoulder of venison, cut in 1/2-inch cubes

• 1 large onion, chopped• 1 large green bell pepper, chopped• 3 large cloves garlic, minced• 1 tablespoon chili powder (any kind—I used

good old McCormick’s)• 1 teaspoon ground cumin• 1 teaspoon ground coriander• 1 teaspoon dried oregano• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper• 1 tablespoon tomato paste• 1 cup hearty red wine—I used Malbec in a box

from Target• 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes with juice• 1 can beef broth• Salt and pepper to taste• 1 or 2 cans beans, such as pinto, black, or kidney beans,

or a combination, optional (I used 1 can pintos with bacon, and 1 can seasoned black beans)

• 1 tablespoon cornmeal or masa harina • 1 cup finely diced sweet or red onion• 1 tomato, seeded and chopped• Grated cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese

(I used Pepper Jack because that’s what I had)

In a Dutch oven big enough to brown the meat in onelayer, cook the bacon until the fat is rendered and baconis crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and reserve.Add the venison to the hot fat and cook until well-seared(or at least brown-ish.) Add the onion, green pepper, andgarlic, and cook until onion is translucent. Stir in spicesand tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, for 1minute. Stir in the wine, tomatoes, and beef broth, andbring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper. Lower heatand simmer, covered, until meat is tender, stirring occa-sionally if you happen to pass by, for at least an hour. Addbeans; simmer 20 minutes. Add bacon and stir in corn-meal; stir until thickened. Check for salt. Serve withonion, tomato, and grated cheese.

Serves 4 to 6


Angel Clayton Mooneyham

Michelle Suttle, Hailey Crabb, Cecilia Weinert,Mike and Alice Suttle

Dinky and Sara Holland

Betty and Curtis Ahrens

Lauren Barber, Phillip Barber, and Lisa Hill

Jeff Bibbee, Chris Haeger, and Sarah Franklin

Noel and Robert Beck

Gary and Bonnie Barnes, andKathrine Anderson

Ken Shepski, Brianna Pinkard,and Shaun Melton Chris Roach

Grace Gilchrest, Erica Sigle, Gunther Sigle, Josie Gilchrest,Lisa and Paul Wallace

106 » scene

Liz Wilcoxson and Selena Miller

Above: St. Bartholomew’s 50th AnniversaryAUGUST 2426, 2012 FLORENCE

Below: Sweet Magnolia Café Third Anniversary Celebration

SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 FLORENCE

Roy and Rita Nelson

Olin Mefford, O.T. Mefford, Pat Knox, BillKnox, and Cornelia McIntosh

Michael Jordan

Donna Lefort, Henry and Sarah Gaede

108 » back talk » Claire Stewart

How does Santa deliver all the gifts—all over theworld—in just one night?

“He gets everywhere in his sleigh. He flies faster than anyone in the world.” —Brie B.

“Umm…. probably on a skateboard.” —Aubree B.

“His magic makes him disappear and reappeareverywhere. But I know that when he eats all thecookies he gets fat, and it makes him slower.”—Ella M.

“Fast reindeers that only eat candy.” —Landon T.

“Santa doesn’t do anything. The elves make the gifts and take them everywhere. The elves do all the work.” —Avery W.

Aubree B.

Avery W.

Ella M.

Landon T.

“He goes fast, full speed. But theelf on the shelf tells him who has been goodand who he should bring presents to.”—Zachary W.

Zachary W.

Brie B.


“All I know is that when you sleep on Christmas, the presents appear. I don’t know how he does it, but he only comes to the good kids’ houses.” —Elijyah M.

“He flies with his fast reindeers. He is going tobring me a new book for Christmas.” —Reese P.

“His sleigh goes really fast, and he climbs through thechimneys. He always eats the cookies that we leave. I bet he can eat more cookies than me.” —Cade D.

“I don’t know how he gets everywhere but he makes all the toys. I asked him to bring me a dinosaur,

a pineapple, and a Superman costume this year…I saw the sled before. He is real!”—Sawyer H

“He drives a really fast buggy that looks like a flyingcar. He eats all the cookies but still makes it to all thehouses. I don’t know how. He is magic.” —Erin L.

“He runs super fast around the world. When he is all done he eats a really big breakfast.” —Annica R.

Annica R.

Elijyah M.

Cade D.

Erin L.

Reese P.

Sawyer H.

110 » back talk » How does Santa deliver all of the gifts—all over the world—in just one night?

“His sleigh takes him everywhere he needs to go.But the next day he is very tired and rests.” —Stella B.

“His sleigh has fire coming out of it and it shoots him all over the world. He only speaks English, I know that for sure…I have never seen him, but my friend did. He saw him and jumped on his backand Santa screamed ‘Ahhh!’” —Isaiah S.

“I think he goes a certain way…China first,Jamaica(my dad went there one time),

then Alabama.”—Caroline S.

“This is a hard question… Maybe he isa fast runner?… Or maybe he can jump very far?…Or maybe he has a wand?… Yea. I think that is it.” —Zach T.

All children are enrolled in Ms. Murdock’s 1st grade class at Forest Hills Elementary in Florence.

Stella B.

Isaiah S.

Caroline S.

Zach T.

“Really fast…as fast as Sonic the Hedgehog.But, I know that he is only two inches tall

but still strong enough to pick up a house.” —Kedrick T. Kedrick T.


Home for the Holidays...faster.

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112 » bless their hearts » David Sims

I know I’m probably not alone when I say that my family’s Christmases were notexactly of the Currier & Ives variety. I grew up in Pensacola, Florida, which duringlate December is already hit-and-miss when it comes to wintery weather (moremiss). And no matter how many times our parents tell us kids that our white sandslook just like snow, sand will never be snow, and 75 to 80 degree temperatures do notencourage a steaming batch of hot chocolate nor a round of neighborhood caroling.Holidays in the Florida panhandle were confusing to children who were subjected totelevised Christmas specials featuring happy, bundled children sledding, buildingsnowmen, or daring each other to touch their tongues to frozen flagpoles. So wemade do.

Our holiday season would usually kick off with the hunt for the perfect tree—or inthe case of the Sims family—the hunt for the tree that was the “most straightest”and “least dryest.” By the time we got around to visiting our local tree lot, it was rid-dled with dangerous holes where the good trees had once stood. Gone were the“forests” of wonderfully scented fir trees that often became the backdrop for a gameof hide-and-seek, or some other boyish adventure. All that were left were orphansand deformities, no doubt cut down in early November and trucked from places likeOregon and Colorado where they belonged—and where they were happy. Our treealways looked as though it was suffering from a severe case of scoliosis, and no mat-ter how hard my father tried to force (and curse) its trunk into our red and greenmetal tree stand, it would eventually have to be tethered by a thick rope to the cur-tain rod in the living room. How I longed for a tree that stood proudly on its own.Even that rope had an honored place among the Christmas ornaments.

Our ornaments were at best only pleasant—never anything special. Often purchasedin bulk from the Lillian Vernon catalog, we plucked them from their original boxesyear after year, with a dubious grin—the grin that’s usually reserved for similar crustyrelatives you also see annually. Truthfully, the only ornaments that provoked fondmemories were the ones handmade in grade school by my brothers and me, and“Little Drummer Torso” (which I will get to shortly). But all of the ornaments,

A Tale of Two Christmases Past

Those gatherings at my grandmother’s house were a lot like the ones portrayed on the Andy Williams Christmas special—only her roaring fire was complemented by a blaring window unit air conditioner.

whether they were hand-painted wooden, flocked glass, or theangel tree topper with gossamer wings, were just potential kin-dling for an already dangerously dry tree. And when you throwin the fact that the only lights on the tree were overly large andhot (and old), then you understand why my mother would onlylet us turn the tree on for brief, supervised viewings. The treewas always lit for company though, which was an event ofwhich I always took full advantage. There I would be, uncom-fortably seated among a group of adults, staring unblinkinglyat the pretty lights—mostly embarrassed about the clumps oficicles (they should be placed individually by hand), and nerv-ous about the tree falling into Aunt Dot’s lap, or worse—theimminent possibility of a house fire. How would Santa get tous? Would he even bother?

You get the picture. Christmases at the Sims’ were more akinto Charlie Brownish ones. But that was okay, because holidaysat my grandmother’s house were magical. My grandmotherwas the consummate hostess. She had the space, she had whatseemed like the only fireplace in Pensacola, and she sewed andbedazzled her own Christmas aprons. Those gatherings at mygrandmother’s house were a lot like the ones portrayed on theAndy Williams Christmas special—only her roaring fire wascomplemented by a blaring window unit air conditioner, andthe dainty snow fall outside of Andy’s fake living room win-dow was replaced with the thick, white fog of fivechainsmoking adults. And the food! Pâté, Triscuits with realSwiss cheese, a four layer coconut cake, sliced roast beef withspicy mustard on tiny little buns, and a glorious footed bowl ofambrosia—full of pineapple, coconut, mandarin oranges, andMaraschino cherries—made this annual event one you did notwant to miss—even if you had no other choice.

But I have a choice now, how I make my holiday memories.And I choose to combine a little of both of those Christmases.Today my trees always have straight trunks, and they standproudly—without assistance. The lights are smaller, but stillcolorful, and my ornaments are carefully chosen—except forone. The Little Drummer Torso (it truly is just a tattered foil,legless little drumming boy) has been saved by my brothersand me. We take turns keeping him, and you never knowwhere he’ll show up. But it’s always fun, and funny. And Iwouldn’t have my Christmases any other way.


114 » parting shot » Danny Mitchell

Half In, Half Out—Wendy at Cypress Creek


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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.

no'ala, november/december 2012

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