Fall 2011 Hartselle Living

Vol. 1, Issue 2

Makingthe gradeHow the railroadimpacted whereHartselle is located

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table of contents

Hartselle Living • 5

ON THE COVER

A CSX train rolls throughtown by the old HartselleDepot. If it wasn’t for the rail-road, Hartselle would havebeen located just north ofwhere it is today. Due to thesteep grade at the formerlocation of Hartselle, thedepot had to be relocatedand the city followed.

STAFF

President and PublisherRandy Garrison

EditorBrent Maze

AdvertisingKim JohnsonKaren McAfee

Pam GrayAnn Kirby

ContributorsClif Knight

Lynn Garrison

BookkeeperJanet Sugg

CONTACT US

Hartselle Newspapers, LLC407 Chestnut St. NW

P.O. Box 929Hartselle, AL 35640

256-773-6566Fax: 256-773-1953

[email protected]

Hartselle Living is publishedquarterly by Hartselle

Enquirer, LLC.A one-year subscription to

Hartselle Living is $10.Single copies are available atselect locations throughout

the Hartselle area.To advertise or to get moreFREE copies, call 773-6566.

www.hartselleliving.comCopyright 2011 by

Hartselle Newspapers, LLC

FEATURE

DEPARTMENTS

The John Mark Stallings Special Needs Accessible Playground splash padoffers a way for special needs children to interact with typical children.

IN EVERY ISSUE: Letters • 6 Calendar • 8 Scene • 10 Last Word • 30

FOOD:Take time to enjoy somehomemade ice cream

HISTORY: Railroad’s steep gradecauses Hartselle to move.

WELLNESS: Here’s some tips fordealing with stress

PEOPLE: Randy Sparkmanplays the fiddle.

WAY OF LIFE: Hartselle all-in forhigh school football.

26. Fun for all kids

24

20

26

23

11

FALL 2011

LETTERS

A train runs through itsking if the railroad

played an important role

in the history of

Hartselle is almost like

asking if you will get wet if you

walk in the rain. The town’s

namesake George Hartsell (yes, no

extra “e”) was one of the owners

of the North and South Railroad.

(Later L&N) Hartselle, founded

in 1870, came into existence due

to the construction of the railroad.

The town was previously one mile

north of the current location.

However, as you will find out later

in this edition of the magazine, it

moved down the railroad because

of the railroad.

The town grew from the depot,

general store and a saloon to a

bustling community fulfilling a

role as a shipping point for timber

needed for the continued growth

of the railway lines. The growth

of Hartselle continued as the importance of railroad continued

to grow and expand.

Present day Hartselle has approximately 45 trains that pass

through town each day, but unlike the earlier days, the trains

speed through without stopping. In fact if asked, many citi-

zens view the trains as an inconvenience in present day

Hartselle. They bring you to a halt crossing from the west to

east side of town and vice versa.

When you are dining at the Freight House Restaurant,

you’re forced to stop your conversation due to the train’s

noise. If you’re attending a meeting at the Hartselle Area

Chamber of Commerce, the speaker must pause while the

train passes by.

But if you’re a history buff or a train enthusiast, the sight

and sound of a passing train take you back to days gone by

and look back fondly on our history with the train.

In fact, local historians decided more than 30 years ago that

Hartselle needed a way to honor and remember our friend,

the railroad. Hartselle began holding “Depot Days” in 1980, a

celebration of the railroad that last year saw an attendance of

over 18,000. Downtown fills with food vendors, entertain-

ment, arts and crafts and others selling their goods. The

downtown merchants have the largest customer base to pull

from all year long and the familiar greeting “y’all come in”

can be heard.

Several pages of this issue of Hartselle Living are dedicated

the railroad and the role it played in our town’s beginning.

The railroad reminds us daily of our existence and the role

in our hometown’s heritage. Few homes within Hartselle’s

city limits don’t hear the familiar sound of the train whistle as

the big locomotive makes its way through town.

Visitors many times ask, “How do you stand the noise of

the train? Doesn’t it wake you during the night?” With a

smile on their face the folks of Hartselle respond, “What

noise?”

After a few years, the sound of the train moving along the

tracks almost has a calming effect through during the night

hours, like an old friend coming home and letting all know

that all is well.

We hope you enjoy the stories and pictures we are provid-

ing and continue to enjoy the life that Hartselle offers to all of

us.

A

6 • Hartselle Living

Randy Garrison • Letter from the Publisher


A day in the parkhen you live in Hartselle, one of the places you’ll

probably spend some time visiting is Sparkman

Park. If you have kids, they’ll want to go play on

the playground or when they get older, they’ll be

playing ball on the baseball or softball fields. If you’re a walker

or a runner, the three-fourths of a mile track is a great place for

you.

Spending a Saturday in the park (even if it’s not the Fourth of

July) is probably one of the most interesting places to be in

Hartselle. You’ll see different kinds of people there. In particular,

one Saturday earlier this year showed me just how much goes on

each week.

On the day before Easter, I was in Sparkman Park covering

one of the more unique Easter Egg Hunts that I’ve ever attended.

It was the Easter Dog Bone Hunt, which was held near the pavil-

ion areas.

Not only did I see have the families and their dogs participat-

ing in the dog bone hunt, but you had other families in the park

just enjoying the beautiful weather. They were picnicking. Kids

were playing on the playground.

Then, you also had another group who were playing Frisbee

golf. It’s great to see Hartselle have this type of course. Of all of

the places I’ve been, this is the only city I’ve lived in that has a

Frisbee golf course, especially one that’s located in its main park

where anyone can enjoy it.

Then there were others who were sitting out on the grassy

areas either just taking time to relax or reading a good book.

Other activities going on the park are the usual baseball and soft-

ball games, which attracts many young families.

There was even another imaginative group who looked like

they were dressed semi-Medieval style maybe playing some kind

of Lord of the Rings type game. I’m not exactly sure what they

were doing, but I could tell they were having a good time.

Like others, the park is probably my favorite place to unwind

and reflect, whether it’s during the middle of the day or in the

evening. This is one can’t miss spot in Hartselle.

W

Brent Maze • Letter from the Editor

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS HARTSELLE LIVING?The Ward family takes a photo with Hartselle Living while visiting a statue ofJohnny Mercer, famed composer from Savannah, Ga. Pictured are, from left, TyWard, 12; Aden Ward, 14; Jerome Ward; Tracy Ward; and Eli Ward, 10.

Show us where Hartselle Living has visited. Take a picture holding the magazine atyour vacation or business trip destination. Then send your photo to [email protected]. Don’t forget to include everyone’s name in the photo along with thelocation of where the picture was taken. We look forward to seeing your photo!

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CALENDARSeptember 5VFW Patriotic Celebration

A patriotic celebration will be held

at South Park in Falkville on Sept. 5

from 1 to 5 p.m., sponsored by VFW

Post 10774 and its Auxiliary.

Featured will be live music, a 16-foot

water slide, a dunking booth and food

vendors. Come out and say thank

you to a veteran. You’ll love the way

we treat you.

September 1110-year anniversary of 9-11-01

A 9-11 Celebration at Oak Ridge

United Methodist Church. Come join

Hartselle High School drum line and

the Oak Ridge Volunteer Fire

Department for cookout after our 11

a.m. service. Call 256-773-5210 for

more information.

September 10-17Hartselle’s 31st annual Depot Days

Hartselle’s 31st annual Depot

Days, once rated one of the 10 best

fall events by Southern Living in

2006, will return to downtown

Hartselle Sept. 10-17. The event

kicks off on Sept. 10 with the second

annual Miss Depot Days Pageant at

the Hartselle Fine Arts Center. Down

Memory Lane is scheduled for Sept.

12 at 7 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center.

The topic is Morgan, A County

Divided. On Sept. 13, Depot Days

will celebrate the Year of Alabama

Music with a concert at East

Highland Baptist Church. The street

festival is all day Sept. 17. For more

information, log on to www.hartsel-

lechamber.com or call the chamber at

256-7734370.

September 17Morgan County Night of Bands

All Morgan County high schools

will participate in the Morgan County

Night of Bands at A.P. Brewer High

School’s James Tucker Stadium. The

event begins at 5 p.m. and tickets are

$5 apiece. for more information, log

on to http://www.mcnob.com/.

September 22Fall Fashion Fling

The Decatur Women’s Chamber of

Commerce presents the Fall Fashion

Fling at the historic Princess Theatre

on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. The fashion

show features Cricket by the Creek,

Grecofiore, Diva, Doodlebugs and

Debutantes & Eloise & Henry and

Little Feet, Tallulah’s, and the

Carriage House. The event is an

opportunity to preview fall fashions

in a festive setting. Exciting door

prizes will be given away.

September 24Movies in the Park: How to TrainYour Dragon

Bring a blanket or a lawn chair and

enjoy watching “How to Train Your

Dragon” in the park. Movies will

start at dark. Bad weather will cancel

the movie. For information on all

movies, please call (256) 341-4818 or

visit www.decaturparks.com.

Depot Days are scheduled for Sept. 10-17in downtown Hartselle. The street festival,shown in this photo, will be Sept. 17.


October 1Southern Hospitality Marching BandFestival at J.P. Cain Stadium

The Hartselle High School

Marching Band and Hartselle High

School Band Boosters will be hosting

the 16th annual Southern Hospitality

Marching Festival on Saturday, Oct.

1, at J.P. Cain Stadium. This is one of

the premier marching band competi-

tions of the year and will feature

more than 20 bands performing in

competition. Hartselle High School

Marching Band will perform in exhi-

bition preceding the awards ceremo-

ny. And the University of North

Alabama, “The Pride Of Dixie” band

will perform at the conclusion of the

competition in the evening. The open-

ing ceremony will begin around 9

a.m.

October 3-7Hartselle High School Homecoming

Hartselle High School will cele-

brate its homecoming Oct. 3-7.

The students and community will

be participating in numerous events

throughout the week including lawn

decorations, a Battle of the Classes, a

Powder Puff Football on Oct. 6 at 6

p.m. and a Pep Rally Oct. 7 at 2 p.m.

The homecoming game will be Oct. 7

at 7 p.m. in J.P. Cain Stadium as the

Tigers take on Curry. For more infor-

mation, log on to

http://hartselle.hcs.schoolinsites.com/

or call the school at 256-773-5426.

October 7Youth Dance

Sparkman Civic Center will host a

youth dance for ages 11-15. The

dance will be Oct. 7 from 8 until 11

p.m. In celebration of homecoming,

we will crown a king and queen that

will be elected by the people at the

dance. Admission to the dance is $5

per person. Once the student has paid

to come inside, he/she will not be

allowed out without a

parent/guardian. We also need volun-

teers to chaperone. Call the civic

center to have your name added to

the list. Without a sufficient number,

organizers will be forced to cancel the

dance.

Hartselle HighSchool’s marchingband will host theSouthernHospitalityMarching BandFestival Oct. 1.


OUT AND ABOUT

Hartselle held its 112th Camp Meetingin June. The event attracted numerouspeople from the area and the state. 1.Mary Chandler is ready to follow alongin her Bible during a Hartselle CampMeeting service. 2. Bill Williford waitsfor the service to start at HartselleCamp Meeting. 3. Marty Hand, EdHuggins and Jimmy Yarbrough, fromleft, relax in rocking chairs at the diningroom prior to the start of the 112thencampment of Hartselle CampMeeting. 4. Youth fill the front pews atthe first service of the 112th encamp-ment of Hartselle Camp Meeting.

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The Town of Priceville held its annual Cruise-InCar Show at Veterans Park on Alabama 67 inAugust. The show drew thousands of people. 1.Several hundred cars filled the ball fields forthe event, which is one of the largest car showsin Morgan County. 2. Bobby Martin makeslemonade for several attendees of the event. 3.Nathan Lasater of Meridianville, sits in a carthat his grandfather was trying to sell at thecar show. He said he would like to buy it backone day to keep it in the family. 4. Numeroustypes of cars were on display for the show.


Numerous local children partici-pated in Camp Art’selle 2011 atthe Hartselle Fine Arts Center. 1.Jaegan Barnett asks WesleyGeorge a question while workingon her pop art. 2. Campers listento Jaime McKelvey play a tune byear on the piano in the musicclassroom. 3. Camp Art’selle stu-dents participate in the perform-ance of “Come Together.”This per-formance was a culmination of theevents of the annual art camp atHartselle Fine Arts Center. 4. Thesefour charter members of the FinisJ. Self Chapter 2212 of the MilitaryOrder of the Purple Heart spear-headed the location of the PurpleHeart memorial in Hartselle.Pictured, from left, are Mark Cleek,James Shaffran, George Mann andJerry Cleek.

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GET TO KNOW

Randy SparkmanSelf-proclaimed computer nerd spends his free time playing bluegrass music

artselle native Randy Sparkman is a busy man; from his job at

Marshall Space Flight Center to his position on Hartselle City

Schools Board of Education.

Sparkman, his wife, Penny, and daughter, Katie, are active

members of First United Methodist Church, where he serves on various

committees and is a past Chairman of the Administrative Board.

He is a graduate The University of Alabama-Huntsville with a degree in

economics.

Sparkman presently serves as an information technology manager with the

Marshall Center, where he runs a data center for the facility.

Something you might not know, he is also a talented musician playing

both the fiddle and guitar.

Hartselle Living: When did you begin playing music?

Randy Sparkman:Began playing at 12 years of age

HL: What are the names of the bands that you have or current-

ly playing with?

RS: In the past with the Sugar Creek Bank and now on occa-

sion with Hurricane Creek.

HL:Describe the style of music you play.:

RS:Bluegrass

HL: Who are your musical influences?

RS:My grandfather and father were also musicians and gave

me my start. My father actually played with the Louvin

Brothers on the Grand Ole Opry.

HL: What is the best concert that you have ever been to?

RS:Emily Lou Harris and Willie Nelson in 1977.

HL: What is your all-time favorite song and why?

RS:“Soldier’s Joy” because my granddaddy taught me to play

it on the fiddle.

HL: When someone you work with at NASA finds out you

play the fiddle, what is their reaction?

RS:Usually “you’re kidding me.” A computer nerd does not

fit with a fiddle player.

HL: How do you balance music, work, church, and family?

RS: It is actually pretty easy. My family all seems to like the

same things so they blend well. Also I have learned to ask

permission.

HL: How do you think music has influenced your life?

RS: Immeasurably. Music is a gift that creates a community of

people that stay with you. It is not just playing music that is so

great but also the contacts that you make. It is also a great

stress reliever.

HL: Where do you see yourself in the future with your day job

and your music career?

RS: I will be happy in my job and continue to play music in

my spare time. The closer I get to retirement I will be able to

spend more time with my music.

COMPILED BY RANDY GARRISON

H


Downthe tracksHartselle moves its city center toaccommodate for the railroad

STORY BY CLIF KNIGHT

HISTORY

steep grade north

of town caused the original site

of Hartselle to be moved a mile south after

steam locomotives pulling rail cars from

Decatur to Birmingham experienced difficulty stop-

ping and starting.

Daniel S. Downs chose the ill-fated town site in

1870, five years before Hartselle was incorporated.

He probably acted on a hunch that the South and

North Alabama Railroad would need a central loca-

tion in Morgan County to stop for fuel and other

supplies. Thus, he quickly erected a building and

opened a general merchandise store and a saloon.

The railroad followed suit by choosing the same

location for a depot. Unfortunately, that decision

turned out to be ill conceived. Trains had to huff and

puff to get over the hill and it became too demand-

ing to continue stopping there. A solution to the

problem was found when the railroad moved its

depot to its present location. Quickly, buildings

sprang up on both sides of the railroad track and

Hartselle became a bustling pioneer town.

Local historian and bank president David

Burleson doesn’t think Downs’ location for a store

was such a bad idea.

“I feel it had the makings of a community,” he

said. “If you follow North Railroad Street to its end,

you’ll find a valley to the west. that’s about where

the old Hartselle pond was located and where

George Hartselle homesteaded on 40 acres. Signs of

the original railroad bed are still visible at the south-

ern

foot of

Mountain View

Subdivision.”

“The 1850-1860 U.S Census shows that a few

families lived in this general area at that time,” he

added. “ No doubt, Downs was looking to them as

prospective customers when he started his business.”

Southbound trains heading into Hartselle still

struggled with the grade as it caused them to slow

down. It has been written that a favorite pastime of

teenage boys at that time was to walk the tracks a

mile to the north and climb aboard a rail car for a

ride back to town.

Such shenanigans probably occurred until around

1913 when the South and North line corrected some

of its earlier engineering shortcomings by relocating

the tracks to the east of the steep grade and aban-

doned town site.

Two Hartselle street names--Sloss and Milner—

are named for men who worked hard and untiringly

to get the railroad built through Hartselle.

James W. Sloss was president of the Nashville and

Decatur Railroad in 1868-1871. He was an advocate

of extending a railroad from Louisville, Ky. Through

Central Alabama and all the way to Gulf ports. He

joined forces with Frank Gilmer to organize the

Mountain Company to build the central line with

A


Railroad workerswork on theconstruction ofbridges just tothe north ofHartselle.

TRAIN continued on page 18


state aid. Eventually the South and North Line absorbed

the Mountain Co. and went on to build the railroad

through Hartselle.

John T. Milner was the engineer assigned by the

Alabama legislature in 1868 to survey a practical

route for the central railroad. He remained with the

project until it was completed in 1872.

A complex game of cat and mouse involving

three major rail companies—came within one vote

of killing the proposed Decatur to Birmingham

expansion, with Hartselle’s future at stake.

The Alabama & Chattanooga Railroad, headed

by John C. Stanton, fought for an expansion that

would extend the Alabama main line from

Birmingham to Chattanooga instead of from

Birmingham to Decatur. Sloss’s financially

strapped Nashville & Decatur line opposed

such a move. While Stanton seemed to have

the upper hand, Sloss made a move involving

the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. He

offered to lease the Nashville & Decatur

line to L&N for 30 years in return for it

taking up the company’s bonds and agree-

ing to complete the South and North proj-

ect. The offer deadlocked at three votes

for and three votes against with President

H. Victor Newcomb remaining uncom-

mitted. Later, Newcomb cast the decid-

ing vote in favor of the Nashville &

Decatur line.

The contracts were signed in May of

1871 and work between Decatur and Birmingham was

completed Sept. 24, 1872.

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OUR WAY OF LIFE

Friday Night LightsThe whole town turns out to watch and support theHartselle football team each Friday night during the fall

STORY BY RANDY GARRISON • PHOTOS BY BRENT MAZE



ights, Sound, Action

Filming a motion picture? Hardly. The lights,

sounds, and action are coming from J.P. Cain

Stadium on any given Friday night from the last

week in August until – hopefully and with a little luck – all the

way through the month of November.

Friday night football in Hartselle is the highlight of the week

as summer turns to fall. Newcomers to Hartselle find it hard to

believe how the town’s folk support Hartselle High football. It

is so engrained that no one asks what your plans are for Friday

night. If the Tigers are playing in town the stadium will be

full.

Now we do not mean that folks show up just in time for the 7

p.m. kickoff. In fact many of the fans show up as soon as the

school traffic empties from the stadium parking lot. Smoke

from the grills of tailgaters can soon be seen and smelled. Pork

loin, chicken wings, hotdogs, and burgers are simmering over

the coals The appetites of the fans grow as they arrive with the

potato salad, chips, and dessert to accompany the contents of

the grill.

While the tailgates are let down and the crowd continues to

gather, the sound of the band marching in can be heard.

Shortly before 6 p.m. the Tigers walk over from the high

school and parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and friends

form a welcoming line to cheer them on and show their sup-

port for the team as they get ready to warm up on the field.

After the food is blessed and placed on the table everyone

finds plenty to enjoy. The food and fellowship is enjoyed by

all and the conversation turns to the game soon to be played.

The opponent is discussed as well as the last meeting of the

two teams.

The clock continues to count down to game time and the

stands continue to fill. By kickoff, the stands are full along

with areas on the home side of the track. The student section

is filled and loud as they are here to cheer on their team.

Many covered in paint show their support of the Tigers and

the cheerleaders are in place and working hard to keep the

fans fired up. The band plays and the team runs onto the field,

all in the stands are on their feet full of encouragement and

support.

As each touchdown is made and the extra point is put on the

scoreboard the fans support never slows down. Even if by a

slim chance the scoreboard is not showing a win, the fans con-

tinue to urge the players on the field to keep on. The win is

still in sight. The student section never sits, staying on their

feet yelling and cheering for their team.

After the halftime show the band plays a fight song in front

of the stands that even pulls men in their seventies to their feet

dancing to the music. The smiles on the faces of the fans give

proof to the good time being had by all and how much they

enjoy Friday night football.

As the second half draws to a close and the whistle blows,

fans are already making plans for next week’s game as they

make their way down the steps of the stadium. The support of

the team is not yet over as many of the fans wait inside the

stadium to congratulate the team as they leave the locker room

and make their way back to the school. Pats on the back and

good game can be heard as the players move through the

crowd.

Yes Friday nights are alive in Hartselle especially those that

take place in the months of August, September, October and

November.

L

The Hartselle football team runs through the helmet to signifythe beginning of another home game at J.P. Cain Stadium.

one of us can escape stress.

For some of us, it occurs

prior to a speaking engage-

ment. For others, it hap-

pens before a first date. Other things

that may be stressful include the loss

of a loved one, a child leaving home,

an illness or money problems.

Stressful feelings are caused by the

body’s instinct to defend itself. This

can be helpful in emergencies, such

as getting out of the way of a poison-

ous snake ready to strike. But long-

term stress can increase the risk of

diseases such as depression, heart dis-

ease and a variety of other health

problems.

When stress occurs, your body is

working overtime and has no place to

put all of the energy it is generating.

This can make you feel anxious,

afraid, worried and uptight.

Some of the possible symptoms of

stress are back pain, fatigue,

headaches, high blood pressure, short-

ness of breath, insomnia. stiff neck or

jaw, upset stomach and weight gain or

loss.

One step you can take to deal with

stress is to avoid the event or thing

that leads to your stress - but often

this is impossible. A second way is to

change how you react to stress.

WELLNESS


Dealing with stressStress is natural, but can lead to increased risk of disease over the long term

Tips for coping with stress • Don’t worry about things you can’t control, such as the weather• Solve the little problems. This can help you gain a feeling of con-trol• Prepare to the best of your ability for events you know may bestressful, such as a job interview• Try to look at change as a positive challenge, not a threat• Work to resolve conflicts with other people• Talk with a trusted friend, family member or counselor• Set realistic goals at home and at work. Avoid over scheduling

• Exercise on a regular basis• Eat regular, well-balanced meals and get enough sleep• Meditate• Participate in something you don’t find stressful, such as sports,social events or hobbiesIf you want more help treating stress symptoms, ask your familydoctor for advice.

Information source: FamilyDoctor.org

NSTORY BY CLIF KNIGHT

FOOD


Sweet frozen delightsHaving homemade ice cream is much easier than you might realize,you don’t even have to use an ice cream maker to do it

aking homemade ice cream for friends and

family is a sweet way to celebrate summer -

and it's easier than you might think.

Ingrid Hoffmann, host of the Cooking

Channel's "Simply Delicioso" and "Delicioso" on

Telefutura/Univision, uses Eagle Brand(r) Sweetened

Condensed Milk as a fool-proof base for these easy-to-

make, tropically-inspired frozen treats. You don't even

need an ice cream maker - your freezer does the work.

To help you make your summer entertaining even

more delightful, Ingrid has some helpful tips:

• Create easy homemade artisan ice cream made fresh

with new flavor combinations using berries, lemon, fresh

mint, espresso, honey, fresh herbs or spices. Try the

recipe for Fresh Fruit Ice Cream or Pineapple and

Chipotle Ice Pops for a cool summer treat.

• For beautiful desserts with little prep work, try layer-

ing ice cream between prepared short bread cookies for a

gourmet inspired ice cream sandwich or cake. For a real

crowd pleaser, create a topping bar where guests can

select the ice cream toppings of their choice. You could

also serve as ice pops by freezing the ice cream mixture

in molds and inserting wooden craft sticks in the center.

• Instead of serving in a traditional bowl, make a bowl

out of your favorite summer fruit. Take half of a small

cantaloupe, mini watermelon or pineapple, and scoop out

the flesh. Then cut a flat edge off the bottom of the skin

to make it stable. Fill it with your ice cream and drizzle

with chocolate sauce and add other fun toppings.

Visit www.eaglebrand.com (and in Spanish at

www.marcaeagle.com) for more dessert recipes, as well

as helpful baking and entertaining tips.

M

Fresh Fruit Ice CreamYield: about 1 1/2 quarts

Prep Time: 10 minutes

1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand Sweetened

Condensed Milk

1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

1 cup pureed or mashed

fresh fruit, such as peaches,

strawberries, bananas and raspberries

Food coloring

2 cups (1 pint) heavy cream

Combine sweetened condensed milk

and vanilla in large bowl; stir in 1 cup

pureed fruit and food coloring, if

desired. Fold in 2 cups (1 pint) heavy

cream (do not use non-dairy whipped

topping). Pour into 9 x 5-inch loaf pan

or a 2-quart freezer container; cover.

Freeze 6 hours or until firm.

– information from Family Features


10 Tips for Sundae Making

1. Using store-bought ingredients makes sundae-makingfast and easy. You can always doll things up, like dissolvesome instant coffee in a little hot water and stir it intostore-bought caramel sauce to make a coffee-caramel driz-zle.2. Using whole nuts and dried fruit for add-ins can giveyour sundae extra texture and a big crunch.3. Roll scoops of ice cream in any kind of crumbs, crunchedcereal or chocolate milk powder for an ice cream "truffle."4. Use mini containers like egg cups, espresso cups andcordial glasses to make mini sundaes.5. Make a quickie fresh-fruit topping by mashing yourfavorite berries with a little white or brown sugar.6. To keep your ice cream from melting as fast, freeze yoursundae bowls or dessert dishes overnight.7. To make your scoops more perfect-looking, dip your icecream scoop in hot water in between scoops.8. Use two or more flavors of ice cream in a sundae to addextra flavor and flair.9. Simply tucking a cookie next to a scoop of ice cream,standing up, can really dress it up.10. Create an exotic-looking sundae by using a woodenskewer to thread fruit onto, and then stick it into a scoop ofice cream. Use things like berries, ripe peach wedges andbanana slices.

For more tips and recipes, visit www.breyers.com orwww.facebook.com/breyers.

Mini Coffee Ice Cream SundaesMini Coffee Ice Cream Sundaes

4 servings

Prep Time: 25 minutes

2 cups Breyers Coffee ice cream

salted caramel sauce*

almond whipped cream**

1 shot espresso coffee

4 amaretti cookies

chocolate-covered coffee beans

Arrange 2 (1/4-cup) scoops ice cream in 4 demitasse coffee

cups. Drizzle with salted caramel sauce, then top with almond

whipped cream. Pour a little espresso into each cup, then gar-

nish with cookies and coffee beans.

*For salted caramel sauce, bring 3/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup

water to a boil over high heat in heavy-duty saucepan until

caramel-colored. Remove from heat, then slowly stir in 1/2 cup

whipping or heavy cream. Let cool, then stir in 1/4 teaspoon

kosher salt. Let stand at room temperature until ready to use.

**For almond whipped cream, whip 1/2 cup whipping or

heavy cream, 1 teaspoon sugar and 2 drops almond extract in

mixing bowl with electric mixer until soft peaks form. Chill

until ready to serve.

– information from Family Features


FFun fun foorraalll kl kiiddss

SNAP helps bring excitement andjoy to lives of Lovelady family

STORY AND PHOTOS BY CLIF KNIGHT


he mention of the word “SNAP” brings smilesto the faces of twins Carson and ConnerLovelady, both of whom are unable to run, jumpand tumble like most 8-year-old boys.

That doesn’t matter at all when their parents, Chrisand Stephanie Lovelady, take them to the John MarkStallings Special Needs Assessment Playground(SNAP) in Hartselle’s Sparkman Park. There they areon a level playing field with all the other kids. And inspite of being confined to their wheelchairs, they canhave just as much fun as anyone else – swinging, get-ting sprayed with water in the splash pad or just hang-ing out with their friends.

The twins were born with muscular dystrophy buttheir condition wasn’t diagnosed until they were a yearold. Then at age 3 Conner was diagnosed with autism, acondition that affects intellectual ability and the devel-opment of social skills. Both receive occupational andphysical therapy and special accommodations as thirdgraders at Crestline Elementary School.

Carson said of all the different water features in thesplash pad he likes the elephant (Alabama) and the tiger(Auburn) the best.

“I like the splash pad,” Carson volunteered. “It feelsgood to be with other kids and watch them have fun,too.

Looking ahead to the completion of the playground’sthird and final phase, headded, “I think it will begreat for kids in wheel-chairs.”

“They love the play-ground,” said Stephanie.“They get to see some oftheir schoolmates and havefun with them. They don’twant to leave becausethey’re having fun doing thethings other kids are doing.”

Chris and Stephanie saidthey first heard about plansfor SNAP from her father,retired State Farm Insuranceagent Charles Howse.

“Even though it was in thetalking stage at that time wewere overjoyed,” saidStephanie. “We were excitedand thrilled just to know thatthe community was

acknowledging the need for such a facility.”“We were more than willing to do what we could to

help,” added Chris. “We participated in a number offundraisers and parades and will continue to beinvolved. We realize how beneficial SNAP is to ourboys as well as many others in our community andcounty.”

“I think it’s great that the playground is open to allkids,” Stephanie pointed out. “This gives typical chil-dren the opportunity to learn about the disabilities otherchildren have and enables them to interact with oneanother in a fun-filled play environment.

“It warms our hearts to see our boys playing withother kids and having a good time,” Chris stated. “Italso makes us feel good to know we live in a communi-ty that has gone the extra mile to take care of kids withspecial needs.”

Fundraising continues to be an integral part of theSNAP project.

The estimated cost of the third phase of construction– the entryway and “Ramp and Play” main playground--is $321,626. It is hoped that funds will be available tobuild the entryway later this year and the main play-ground in 2010.

Donations may be mailed to SNAP, P.O. Box 512,Hartselle, AL 35640.

T

Conner, left, andCarson Lovelady,9, are frequentvisitors atHartselle’s SpecialNeeds AccessiblePlaygroundSplash Pad.

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Fall 2011 Hartselle Living