30 the sport of kings

VOL. 3, ISSUE 4
OCTOBER 2012
ENSE
ECLECTIC INTELLECT FOR THE SOUL
+
14 Alabama’s Streets of Fire
42 Artist Nancy Raia
45 It’s Raining Fines!
30 THE SPORT OF KINGS
22 Polo at the Point’s
Deep South Décor
What “someday I’m gonna…”
is made of.
What hope is made of.
Putting all the elements into play to beat pediatric cancer.
It would be make-believe to say that we can prevent all kids from
being afflicted with cancer, but we can make a difference in the lives of children and families facing a pediatric malignancy. In partnership with USA Children’s
& Women’s Hospital and USA’s pediatric oncologists,
we provide the only pediatric oncology services in the
region. It’s a commitment that comes from being able to offer an
entire family of care—from groundbreaking research
to leading edge clinical treatment options. At USA
Mitchell Cancer Institute, we work together to help
people live happily ever after. Because, when it comes to
beating cancer, everything matters.
www.usamci.com | 1-800-330-8538 |
1660 Springhill Avenue | Mobile, Alabama 36604 | 251-665-8000
FacebookTwitter
188 Hospital Drive, Suite 400 | Fairhope, Alabama 36532 | 251-990-1850
The All New 2013 GL550
Redesigned. Engineered. Accelerated.
Twin-Turbo
429 Horsepower
516 lb-ft Torque
Proud Sponsor of
Polo at the Point
04 | OCTOBER 2012
CONTENTS
We Speak
07
They Speak
08
Brackish Classic & Delta Bash.
Contributors
In the Loop
Being there: Must-sees and
have-to-dos throughout the South.
the sense of it all
cousin leroy speaks
MARKETPLACE
Alabama auto industry is running hot.
TRAVELOGUE
Experience the unforgiving winter in
trendy Quebec city, therapy.
CUISINE
An aternative to keep fine spirits
chilled and diluted.
design
Three of Alabama’s finest designers
bring artistic intrigue to this year’s
Polo at the Point.
20
11
13
36
ARTS
39
WELLNESS
USA student confronts burning glass at
the university’s state-of-the-art hot shop.
Reclaiming memory through art therapy.
greensense
45
14
46
17
48
20
Expert advice on how Mobile, Ala. can
handle their stormwater issue.
OUTDOOR LIFE
Riding with friends—not just for kids
anymore.
LITERATI
Travel two city blocks with Corey
Harvard while he spends $20.
22
22
17
46
SENSE GOES MULTI-MEDIA
Like us on Facebook
SENSE MAGAZINE | 0 5
06 | OCTOBER 2012
FEATURE
30 The Sport of Kings Returns to Point Clear
TEXT BY justin vicory
photography by kim campbell
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 4.1 / October 2012 ON THE COVER:
PHOTO courtesy of Stephanie gillis
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 4.2 / October 2012 ON THE COVER:
PHOTO courtesy of Kim Campbell
Issues-oriented Sense magazine gives voice to diver se political opinions but does not endor se the opinions or reflect the views
e x p r e s s e d h e r e i n . Yo u a r e w e l c o m e s u b m i t y o u r O p - E d p i e c e v i a e m a i l t o e d i t o r @ t h e s e n s e o f i t a l l . c o m .
SENSE MAGAZINE | 0 7
ENSE
eclectic intellect for t h e soul
PUBLISHERJamie Seelye Leatherbury
COPY EDITOR INTERNTheresa Corbin
ART DIRECTOR Jennifer Birge
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Justin Vicory
Jeff Gill
Simmons Murphy
Brandon Boykin
Lynn Oldshoe
Skeet Lores
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jennifer Birge
Kim Campbell
Stephanie Gillis
Perri Farlow
ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER
Linda Lou Parsons
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Rosie McGowin
ADVERTISE WITH US
[email protected]
(251) 454-6058
EMAIL [email protected] [email protected]
[email protected]
SENSE OFFICES251 South Greeno Road Fairhope, Alabama 36532
Tel (251) 604-8827
Fax (251) 990-6603
Sense is published and licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License by Eco-Urban Media, a division
of Eco-Urbaneering Corporation. Creative Commons defines the spectrum of possibilities between full copyright
and the public domain. For more information go to http://www.creativecommons.org and http://creativecommons.
org/about/licenses/ and http://www.theSenseofitAll.com. All content of Sense is copyrighted. However, Sense also
works under Creative Commons licensing guidelines for works published in Sense by contributing writers, artists
and photographers. All rights to works submitted to and published by Sense will revert in their entirety to the
respective contributing authors, artists and photographers 120 days after publication. At Sense, we believe this
policy promotes journalistic independence and fosters mutual goodwill between the publisher and the contributing
writers, artists and photographers..
08 | OCTOBER 2012
| WE Speak
The Salty Worm Brackish Classic and Delta Bash
Fisherman and Humanitarians take note! Get ready for the world’s only, the first ever of its kind actually, Bass and Speckled Trout
Tournament and Blue Grass Fest. Notably called the “Salty Worm Brackish Classic and Delta Bash”, say it three times fast, it’s an event to
raise awareness and money for charity- through the Gaillard Pancreatic Research Endowment with partnership from the Mitchell Cancer
Institute.
In spring of 2011, the Gaillard family approached the Mitchell Cancer Institute about their wish to establish a research endowment
in memory of brothers Peter and Tommy Gaillard who passed away within months of one another from pancreatic cancer. The family
recognized the need for advanced cancer research in their home town of Mobile, AL and established the Gaillard Pancreatic Cancer Research Endowment.
The Salty Worm is the world’s only fishing tournament that pits saltwater speckled trout fishermen head-to-head with freshwater bass
fishermen. The ability to have such a unique event is found in the distinctiveness of its location: Mobile-Tensaw Delta. The tourney will
take place in October – a special season in the Mobile Delta-when both speckled trout and green bass can be found in the Delta.
The structure for the Salty Worm Brackish Classic will include three fishing categories including one unlike any ever conceived. Fishermen can opt to fish in the Speckled Trout Category, the Green Bass Category and a Combo Category. The Combo is a direct competition
between the two unique fishing cultures.
After the tournament, there will be a family-oriented party at the Blue Gill restaurant on Mobile’s Causeway overlooking the beautiful Mobile Delta. The After Party will include live
music – Blue Grass music, college football broadcast on large TVs, and the Blue Gill restaurant’s fabulous seafood. The Blue Grass bands scheduled to appear at the bash include the region’s
best: Phil and Waylon, Fat Man Squeeze, and Delta Reign.
All tourney participants are automatically included in this event, but the Delta Bash is open to the public for a $30 entry fee – with all proceeds going to pancreatic cancer research.
The tournament and festivities will take place Saturday, October 20.
For more information contact Chris Teague 251-402-5140 or [email protected]
For ticket information go to: http://saltyworm.eventbrite.com
SENSE MAGAZINE | 0 9
| They Speak
C O N T R I BU TO R S
Perri Farlow is a lifestyle photographer born and raised in
Fairhope, AL. She attended Faulkner and received an associates
in Commercial Art/ Computer Graphics in 2006. Perri has been
pursing photography for the past 6 years and is currently opening
a photography studio in the winter of 2012 in Fairhope. Perri takes
an editorial approach to her photography and specializes in fashion
photography, portraits, and wedding photography.
JEFF GILL is a student of Mechanical Engineering at the University
of South Alabama where he has acted as Opinion Editor for The
Vanguard. Though he still has a year to go before graduation, he is
an active member of the University Sustainability Committee and has
helped his university branch out to recycle plastic bottles. Some of his
hobbies include biking, teaching himself Spanish, and watching bad
movies on Netflix.
Kim Campbell is a graduate of Bayside Academy and Tulane
University. She is married to Chip Campbell and they have two
children, Camille and Camp. Kim’s passion is action/sports
photography. Kim hones her polo photography by traveling across
the US with her husband and son, who both play polo.
Justin Vicory earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications
at the University of South Alabama. Former news editor of the
university paper the Vanguard, he has also worked as a contractor
for Columbia Southern University, writing study guides for students.
In his spare time, he doubles as a bartender at California Dreaming
restaurant, where he serves beer, mixed drinks, and martinis all made
with love, compassion and understanding.
Simmons Murphy holds an M.A. from the University of
Southern Mississippi. Murphy is an adjunct English Instructor at
the University of South Alabama and a poet. Outside of the literary
world and academia, she has been, and currently is, employed within
the health care industry as a cardio-pulmonary tech, hemodynamic
monitoring tech, and pharmacy tech. Simmons finds both the
medical and literary world equally rewarding. Stephanie gillis has always had a love of photography. After
moving to Mobile in 2007, she began to persue her dreams of
becoming a professional photographer and enrolled in classes
for Photography Certificate program, she has refined her skills as
a portrait and fine art photographer. When she is not out taking
pictures, She spends time with her husabdn, three children and their
black lab.
WANT TO BECOME A SENSE CONTRIBUTOR?
Sense is always looking for new talent. If you are interested in becoming part of the Sense team, e-mail us at [email protected].
10 | OCTOBER 2012
ADVERTISERS
5A Multimedia Design
Atchison Imports
Bayside Academy
B’Beth Weldon Artist
Bellingrath Gardens
Blue Rents
Center for the Living Arts
CK Collection
Coldwell Banker Rheel Properties
Dr. Helva
Dr. Johnson
East Bay Clothiers
GiGi & Jays
Goldstein’s
Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center
Hair Design by Ann Rabin
Louise Doggett Antiques
Lyon’s Share
Mercedes of Mobile
Mercy Medical
Merrill Miller’s Interior and Gifts
Metal Benders
Mobile Museum of Art
Mobile Symphony
Parsons Boat Works, LLC
Point Clear Tennis Club
Old 27 Grill
Sadies
The Colony at the Grand-Watershed
The Fairhope Store
The Gallery Shoe Boutique
Sense Magazine
USA Mitchell Cancer Institute
USA Children’s & Women Hospital
Warlocks
DISTRIBUTORS
MOBILE
Alabama Orthopedic Clinic
Anders Bookstore
Ashland Gallery
Atchison Imports
Azalea City Physicians for Women, PC
Ballin’s Limited
Renaissance Battle House Hotel
Bay Gourmet
Bebo’s Springhill Market
Bliss Salon & Day Spa
Bradley’s
Café 615
Callaghan’s Irish Social Club
Camille’s Sidewalk Café
Carpe Diem Coffee & Tea Company
Center for Dematology
Charles Phillips Antiques and Architectuals
Chat A Way Café
Claude Moore Jeweler
Coiffure Chic Hair & Nail Salon
Cold Snap @ USA
Debra’s
Downtown Mobile Alliance
Dragonfly Boutique
Estetica Coiffure
Five Gold Monkeys
Fuego Coastal Mexican Eatery
G Harvell Men’s Clothier
Goldstein’s
Heroes Sports Bar & Grille
Hertha’s Sesond Edition
High Cotton Consignment
Hillcrest Orthodontics
Inside Up
Island Day Spa
Joe Bullard Jaguar/Cadillac
Little House Bistro
LLB&B Realty
Louise Doggett Antiques
M.A. Simons
Martha Rutledge Catering
McCoy Outdoor Company
Maghee’s Grill On the Hill
Mercedes Benz Mobile
Metropolis Hair Color & Design
Mobile Arts Council, Inc.
Mobile Museum of Art
Mobile Regional Airport
Private Collection
Red Or White
Roots Hair Salon
Roberts Brothers Realtors
Royal Scam
Satori Coffee House
Serda’s @ Royal Street
Silhouettes Day Spa
Something New Bridal
Spoke ‘N Trail
Spot of Tea
Springdale Travel
Springhill Taekwondo Center
State Farm - Allison Horner
Stir
Taste @ Airport
The Bicycle Shop
The Crescent Theater
The Ivy Cottage
The W Salon, Spa, and Nail Bar
The Shed
Twists Cupcakes @ Legacy
Virginia Health Foods
Wine Loft
Wintzell’s Airport
World Nails @ Airport
Woven Treasures
Zimlich Brothers Florist
Zoe’s Kitchen
DAPHNE
Allegri Farm Market
Baldwin Bone & Joint
Barnes and Noble
Baumhower’s Wings
Comfort Inn
Daphne Library
East Shore Café
Glamour Nails
Guido’s
Haley Dermatology Center
Hilton Garden Inn
Homewood Suites of Daphne
Lake Forest Shell
Leons Gas Station
Malbis Shell
Market by the Bay
Rosie’s Grill
Starbucks @ Hwy 181
SPANISH FORT
Boltz Pain & Wellness Center
Bayside Chiropractic
Blue Gill
Eastern Shore Centre
Felix’s Fish Camp
Malbis Parkway Pediatric Dentistry
McMurphy Orthodontics
Private Gallery @ Spanish Fort
Twist @ ESC
SOUTH BALDWIN COUNTY
Blue Water Ships Stores
Bluewater Yacht Sales
Intra Coastal Bread and Bottle
Cosmo’s Restaurant and Bar
Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce
Gulf Coast Hatteras
Ginny Lane Bar & Grill
Jesse’s
Lulu’s
M II the Wharf
Malouf ’s Furniture and Design
McCollough Institute
Merrill Miller’s Interiors & Gifts
Ono Realty @ Orange Beach
Spectrum Resorts
The Hangout
Villaggio Grille
FAIRHOPE/POINT CLEAR
Battles Wharf Market
Bay Animal Clinic
Bayside Dental Care
Bayside Orthopedics
Brown & McCool Gynecology
Buck’s Diner
Camellia Café
Clear Medspa
The Coffee Loft
Dragonfly Restaurant
Eastern Shore Heart Center
Eastern Shore Plastic Surgery
Fairhope Inn
Fairhope Library
Fairhope Physical Therapy
Fly Creek Café
Hair Designs by Ann Rabin
Hampton Flooring & Design
Heavenly Creations
J J Eyes
Lyon’s Share
Majestic Nails
Market by the Bay
Mary Ann’s Deli
Mr. Gene’s Beans
Page & Palette
Panini Pete’s
Papa’s Pizza
Patina Art Gallery
Provence Face & Body
Red or White
Running Wild
Sandra’s Place
Shanghai Cottage
Marriott’s Grand Hotel
The Wash House
The Windmill Market
Virtu Salon
I-65 Corridor
Conecuh Sausage - Evergreen
Bates House of Turkey - Greenville
Greenville Country Club
YMCA - Greenville
Priesters Pecans - Ft. Deposit
Sense is distributed to over 100 locations throughout Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Because we are in the business of promoting the economy and design in Gulf Coast communities, we distribute through our advertisers and local
businesses. We feel that this brings the opportunity to exchange ideas, encourage conversation, and support the local economy. It will also move us forward by furthering thought for our future and how we wish to design it,
resulting in participation by each of us in weaving the fabric that is our Sense of Community.
SENSE MAGAZINE | 0 11
012 | OCTOBER 2012
| in the loop
TOP
1
10
OCTOBER EVENTS
Polo at the Point
october 19 & 21 | point clear, Al
Polo at the Point has raised millions of dollars that has benefitted cancer research, local non-profit organizations, and children’s charities in the last 24 years. As
the Gulf Coast’s most prestigious charity sporting event, Polo at the Point provides an exceptional experience for polo fans and those experiencing the “King’s
sport” for the first time. Festivities begin with the Player’s Party on Friday night October 19th and Sunday’s events include world class polo, gourmet food,
champagne, divot stomping, tailgating fun, garden party attire, a hat parade, a silent auction and much more. Tickets range from $10 (tailgating) to $150.
Sponsorships are available. For more information, visit www.poloatthepoint.com or call 251-928-9704.
2
Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance
October 13 | Mobile, AL
This one night only show is perfect for dance lovers and first time theater goers
as well. Featuring the sensational talents of 6 Bad Boys and 1 Pretty Girl,
this show will surely get you on your feet and smiling. Set to a soundtrack
nothing short of stellar, this show is exciting, fun, powerful, and brilliantly
entertaining. For more information please call 251-342-2241 or visit www.
mobileballet.org
3
Wine Festival at 5 Rivers
October 18 | Spanish Fort, AL
Wine, Wine and more Wine! What more could a wine lover ask for? As Mobile’s
premier wine-tasting event, Wine Festival at 5 Rivers is expected once again
to attract hundreds of wine and food lovers in this its sixth year. For more
information please call (251) 272-3380 or email [email protected]
4
5th Annual Buddy Walk
October 20 | Mobile, AL
Grab your buddy and join the Down Syndrome Society of Mobile County
for their Buddy Walk at Hank Aaron Stadium. This one-mile walk is to help
raise awareness and promote inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome in
our community. On-line registration: www.dssmc.org (click on Buddy Walk
icon) or http://www.ezeventsolutions.com/fr/DSSMC/2012BuddyWalk. For
more information please call (251) 342-3122 or email downsyndromesociety@
gmail.com
5
BONNIE RAITT with Maia Sharp
Oct 26 | Mobile, AL
Female Blues Legend Bonnie Raitt will grace the Saenger with her Famous Slide
guitar skills and distinctive voice. No stranger to our area, Maia Sharp should
set the scene for a musically memorable evening. Show begins at 8 p.m. For
more information please call 251-208-5600 or visit www.mobilesaenger.com
6
Noche de los Muertos Costume Party
October 27 | Alys Beach, Panama City Beach, FL
An over the top Adult Costume Party and Contest intended to entertain and
inspire. The incredible design and architecture of the pool itself is enough to
draw a crowd but throw in costumes and it’s definitely a party. 8 p.m. - 11:30
p.m. Caliza Pool at Alys Beach.
7
Placido Domingo Gala
October 12 | New Orleans, LA
Placido Domingo’s will perform with some of the world’s leading operatic
talent, including Stephanie Blythe, Ana Maria Martinez, David Lomeli, and
New Orleans’ own Sarah Jane McMahon. They will be joined by the 80-voice
New Orleans Opera Chorus and accompanied by the Louisiana Philharmonic
Orchestra for a glorious musical evening conducted by Robert Lyall, and
hosted by New Orleans’ own Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Academy Award
nominee, actress Patricia Clarkson. Show starts at 7 pm at the Mahalia Jackson
Theater For more information please visit www.mahaliajacksontheater.com
8
Beer Festival Seminar – Three Decades of Craft Beer
October 19 | Baytowne Wharf, FL
Join fellow Beer Lovers for a Seminar and Sampling Friday at 6 p.m. featuring
John Holl. The award-winning author, journalist and beer expert will highlight
“Three Decades of Craft Beer: A Taste of History and Today”. Compare and
sample a variety of beers at Grafitti & The Funky Blues Shack. Tickets are $15
per person and available at www.baytownewharfbeerfestival.com or at Funky
Blues Shack-Baytowne Wharf location.
9
Rosemary Beach Uncorked
October 20th | Rosemary Beach, FL
Join vintners, connoisseurs, foodies and other wine fans as they sample the
signature dishes and featured wines of eight restaurants at South Walton’s
newest Tradition, Rosemary Beach’s Uncorked Festival. This event centers
around the area’s diverse selection of world-class restaurants and continues to
grow in popularity annually. From 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Advance tickets $75 per
person available at RosemaryBeachUncorked.com. Day of the event Tickets
$95 per person available at the door.
10
Salty Worm Brackish Classic & Delta Bash
October 20 | Spanish Fort, AL
“WORLD’S ONLY” Bass and Speckled Trout Tournament and Bluegrass Fest!!!
This charitable Tourney and Fest is to raise Awareness and Money for Pancreatic
Cancer Research via the Gaillard Pancreatic Research Endowment. There are
three categories of competition: Speckled Trout, Green Bass or Combo. After
the Weigh in join, continue the fun at The Delta Bash. Live Blue Grass music,
college football and fabulous food at The Bluegill restaurant will make this
event one to remember.
Submit events to [email protected]
SENSE MAGAZINE | 13
2012
bayfest
lineup
friday, october 5th
AT&T/Southern Ford Dealers Stage
7:00 PM
8:05 PM
9:30 PM
Loverboy
Pat Benatar
Journey
Miller Lite/Wind Creek Casino Stage
6:45 PM
Wendell B
8:00 PM
Ruben Studdard
9:30 PM
Eric Benet
11:00 PM
Coca-Cola Stage
6:45 PM
7:45 PM
9:00 PM
Phunk Blue Moon
DJ Trey Stein and Chris Spies
MiMOSA
Coca-Cola Stage
2:30 PM
3:45 PM
5:00 PM
6:00 PM
7:30 PM
9:00 PM
10:45 PM
Spank the Monkey
Johnny No
The Ugli Stick
The Campaign 1984
My Darkest Days
Buckcherry
Bush
Launching Pad
3:15 PM
4:30 PM
5:45 PM
7:15 PM
8:45 PM
10:30 PM
Los 4 Amigos
The Suzies
The Handsome Scoundrels
K-Rob
Rochelle Harper Band
Brandon Green
Launching Pad
7:15 PM
8:30 PM
10:00 PM
Gospel Stage
6:45 PM
7:25 PM
8:05 PM
Jazz Tent
6:30 PM
8:00 PM
9:30 PM
Battling Delirium
Adam Holt
McKenzie’s Mill
Cliff Robertson
Anonymous The Apostle
Cedar St. Baptist Church
Excelsior Band
Suburban Jazz Quartet
Roman Street
saturday, october 6th
AT&T/Southern Ford Dealers Stage
2:30 PM
Trigger Root
4:00 PM
Gretch Lyles & the Modern Eldorados
5:30 PM
Grayson Capps
7:00 PM
Randy Houser
8:45 PM
Big & Rich with special guests
Cowboy Troy and Bradley Gaskin
10:30 PM Willie Nelson
Miller Lite/Wind Creek Casino Stage
2:30 PMYoungest 1’s
3:45 PM
Mob Towne Revival
5:15 PM
Dennis “Fingeroll” Nelson
6:45 PM
Tank
8:15 PM
Mary Mary
10:00 PM Charlie Wilson
Gospel Stage
3:10 AM
2:30 PM
3:50 PM
4:30 PM
5:15 PM
5:55 PM
6:35 PM
Jazz Tent
2:00 PM
3:30 PM
5:00 PM
6:30 PM
8:00 PM
9:30 PM
Cafe Stage
2:15 PM
3:30 PM
4:45 PM
6:00 PM
7:15 PM
The McCray Family
Da Hood Preacher
Light for Shadows
Friendship Baptist Church
P.T. Johnson
Rite Direction
Brothers United
Shad and the Gang
Burke Ingraffia
Jimmy Robinson
Shane Philen Quartet
Zombo Combo
Dennis “Fingeroll” Nelson
Sonny Bama & Band
Acoustic Cafe
Formerly Known
Flatrock
Elmo & the Bluesman
sunday, october 7th
AT&T/Southern Ford Dealers Stage
2:45 PM
4:15 PM
5:45 PM
7:30 PM
Elley Duhe
Jerrod Niemann
Chris Cagle
Luke Bryan
Miller Lite/Wind Creek Casino Stage
2:30 PM
4:00 PM
5:30 PM
7:15 PM
Tonya Boyd-Cannon & So Divine
Mel Waiters
Rose Royce
Al Green
Coca-Cola Stage
2:30 PM
4:00 PM
5:30 PM
7:15 PM
Rollin’ In The Hay
Rayland Baxter
Michael Franti and Spearhead
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
Launching Pad
3:30 PM
4:45 PM
6:45 PM
Rexton Lee
The Beat Daddys
Rez & the Solutions
Gospel Stage
3:10 PM
4Given
3:55 PM
7th Vessel
4:40 PM
Gospel Music Workshop of Alabama,
Mobile Area Chapter
5:45 PM
Mishondia
Jazz Tent
2:00 PM
3:30 PM
5:00 PM
6:30 PM
8:00 PM
Cafe Stage
Davidson High School Jazz Band
Jonathan Martin Quartet
Faulkner State Jazz Bands
Rebecca Barry Quarter
Mobile Big Band
2:15 PM
Donna Newell & Gerry Squires
3:15 PM
Ashelea Penquite
4:15 PM
Dat B
5:15 PM
Bonus Brothers
6:15 PMPick of the Litter
7:15 PMGrits-N-Pieces
| the sense of it all
LE R OY
S PE A K S :
THE
B OX.
C OU S IN
OU T S I D E
In 1992, the citizens of Alabama overwhelming supported and voted in favor of the constitutional
amendment that allowed the Forever Wild Land Trust to be set up for Alabama Citizens and visitors. It seems that some politicians want to make sure we still want it. It seems that we could lose it if we
do not vote for it again. i n si d e
T H INK
c l i mb
Don’t Lose Your Land or Your Money! On November 6th, 2012
Vote Yes
For Amendment 1
To continue funding Forever Wild Land Trust from our offshore gas royalty monies.
For more information, please visit
www.outdooralabama.com
th e
www.alabamaforeverwild.com
www.alabamiansforforeverwild.org
b ox .
Yours in Community,
[email protected]
th e r e
i s
a
s o lu t io n .
SENSE MAGAZINE | 15
|| MARKETPLACE
Marketplace
“Depending upon output by other state’s auto manufacturers,
Alabama could very well see itself moving up and becoming No. 4,
or even No. 3, in the nation in automobile production.”
—Greg Canfield, Secretary of Commerce and
Director of the Alabama Development Office.
Image Provided by Mercedes Benz
In The Fast Lane
Automobile industry in Alabama puts the brakes on economic woes
Text By Justin VicoryFortunately, if you live in Alabama, the act of coming back
from a manufacturing abyss, and turning the corner on a
serious recession, might be as simple as starting the ignition
to your car.
While manufacturing jobs have declined nationwide
over the past few years, Alabama’s automobile industry
stands out as the silver lining, representing a colossal and
dynamic shift of industry geography, from the traditional
Midwest heartland to states south of the Mason Dixon line.
In fact, the entire Southeast region of the nation has
seen a progressive increase in the abundance of automobile
manufacturers, turning Alabama, in less than 15 years since
the introduction of its first auto assembly plant, into a key
transportation hub.
Consider this: before 1997, the state of Alabama did
not create one automobile, and did not have one facility
to produce automobiles. Currently, Alabama ranks fifth
overall in the nation in the manufacturing of autos, behind
traditionally strong Midwestern states Michigan and Ohio,
and then, Missouri and Kentucky. And to many, this is just
the beginning.
16 | OCTOBER 2012
“Depending upon output by other state’s auto
manufacturers, Alabama could very well see itself moving
up and becoming No. 4, or even No. 3, in the nation in
automobile production,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary
of Commerce and Director of the Alabama Development
Office. “If this doesn’t occur by the end of this year, the next
3 to 5 years will certainly promise to follow recent trends in
that direction.”
In total, Alabama manufactured 745,000 cars and
light trucks in 2011. Predictions for overall production by
the end of 2012 suggest an increase from last year, which
could mean nearing the 900,000 mark, pushing Alabama
into the top three auto making states in the U.S.
All three of Alabama’s automobile companies—which
include Mercedes Benz, Hyundai, and Honda—announced
plant expansions recently, promising to ensure employment
well into the future. Add to this the affiliated supply chain
of the automobile industry that creates component parts
and supplies, and total employment could see a significant
increase in the years to come.
The supply chain includes makers of automotive tires,
brakes, seats, glass, plastics, carpets, and electronics, which all benefit when auto makers
increase production and local parts sourcing. The latest information from the Alabama
Department of Commerce indicates that there are over 250 suppliers and ancillary
businesses, and facilities that have industry in Alabama.
According to recent figures from the Alabama Chamber of Commerce, Alabama
suppliers and vendors to Honda, Hyundai, Kia (in Georgia), and Mercedes-Benz have
announced a combined total of 607 projects and over $7 billion in capital investment
since 2000.
“The automobile supply chain is immensely important to the state of Alabama,”
said Canfield. “Current automobile manufacturers, or OEMS, help provide the critical
mass for automobile suppliers to congregate in Alabama and establish their footprint in
the region.”
Other automobile plants have set up shop just outside of Alabama, including
Toyota which opened a plant just outside of Tupelo, Mississippi in November of
2011, Volkswagen which opened up for production in April of 2011 in Chattanooga,
Tennessee, and Kia in West Point, Georgia in 2010.
Still others have chosen Alabama to build their engines, including Toyota Motor
Manufacturing, Inc. in Huntsville, and International Diesel, which produces advanced
technology diesel engines. In March, Toyota Motor announced the production of
their 2 millionth motor and expects to manufacture number 3 million by 2014. All
told, the expansion of the automobile industry has helped secure a significant amount
of suppliers and parts manufacturers, representing a 286% increase since 1991.
A number of incentives have helped land foreign based industries—including the
automobile industry—in Alabama. Some of these incentives include: a tax structure
and incentives for new and expanding industry that lowers the cost of doing business;
cost of living data that demonstrates Alabama communities are below the national
index; and most significantly, a geographically strategic location centered in the fast
growing Southeast region of the United States.
Keeping pace with the burgeoning automobile industry, Alabama has done a
number of things to ensure future productivity by training and educating workers via
the Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT) program, ranked first among
workforce training programs in all 50 states. This includes recruitment, assessment, and
training of potential employees; development and production of job-related training
materials; provision of training facilities; and delivery of job-specific services. The
AIDT is involved with enhancing technical program offerings at the state’s community
and technical colleges, and helps to guide employers to existing resources.
Organizations such as the Alabama Development Office and the Alabama Export
Alliance have been proactive as well in assisting companies in Alabama to ensure a
pool of skilled workers by tailoring the training process to the specific demands of the
company.
In Alabama, vehicles continue to be the state’s top export. In 2011, exports
continued to grow and Alabama recorded the highest-ever total for the value of goods
exported during a single year: $17.9 billion, up 15.4 percent from $15.5 billion in
2010. 2012 is on pace to surpass 2011 as the latest data provided by the Alabama
Department of Commerce shows a 17 percent increase over last year.
“Exports create jobs, and this surge of our products being sold overseas is fueling
our state’s engines for growth,” said Governor Robert Bentley in a recent press release.
Over 36,000 Alabamians draw their income from the automobile industry, a
number that promises to increase as production facilities expand, and suppliers race to
maintain the status quo. Average weekly wages of automobile employees outpace other
manufacturing jobs, at just under $1,500 week in Alabama, according to the Bureau of
Labor Statistics.
Future developments in Alabama auto production look promising right out of
the gate as current production of autos has risen 19 percent in the first half of 2012.
Through June, the state’s three auto assembly plants produced a combined 439,365
vehicles, according to production estimates from the Automotive News Data Center.
This puts the state on pace to surpass last year’s total output.
Job applicants can find information regarding a potential career in the automobile
industry via the human resources department of Mercedes Benz, Hyundai, and Honda.
Further information can be found at the Alabama Industrial Development Training, or
AIDT website.
Images Provided by Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama
SENSE MAGAZINE | 17
Working Together for you
251-990-6622
Residential
18 | OCTOBER 2012
Commercial
www.reehlproperties.com
Development
Land
251-621-1111
Certified Relocation Specialists
| TRAVEL
Photos provided by Quebec City Tourism
Joie de Vivre
Text By Jeff Gill
North America’s French Getaway
FROM THE COBBLESTONE STREETS, the mountains, and the plains, journey to
Europe without leaving North America. Situated on the North side of the St. Lawrence
River is one of the oldest and modern moving municipalities in Canada, “L’Ville de
Quebec.” This antique, almost medieval settlement of Quebec City would prove a
wonderful place to start that Canadian getaway you have been planning.
As a tourist, getting around in Quebec City is easy if you make use of the
sophisticated bus system. Bus-only lanes make public transportation in downtown
traffic atmosphere, fast and stress-free. Écolobus is an emission-free bus system that
operates downtown.
For classic and cultural Quebec lodging, Le Cheateau Frontenac is the centerpiece
of both Quebec City’s skyline and its selection of hotels. Built in 1924, the hotel is
indulgent, unique, and top-rate. It was recently renovated in time for the city’s 400th
anniversary. The historical aspect of the city helps one appreciate its charm. The
colorful, scattered design and gridded cobblestone downtown lends the city a charming
and well-worn mood.
Preserved for historical significance, the Battlefields Park and Fields of Abraham
are located within the city. Noted for its volume of urban green space, if a quiet place to relax
during your stay in Quebec City is on your must-do list, then visiting Battlefields Park and
Fields of Abraham is just what you have been looking for. Endless grassy knolls and meadows
await a restful day.
An educational tour of the facilities is available which includes the Martello Tower.
Within the Plains of Abraham, the Musée National des Beaux-arts du Quebec is an expansive
prison-turned-museum and major Canadian art venue. The ever-evolving permanent
collections includes 35,000 works of art dating from the 17th Century to present day. They
also have a wide array of art genres, including a selection of Inuit Art. A new exhibition that
began in August 2012 and is scheduled to run through April 2013 is the Arts of New France.
The exhibition includes 125 works focusing on three major themes—prayer, decoration, and
figuration.
For dinning, trendy restaurants worth consideration are Le Saint Amour and Panache.
These are both well-advertised restaurants, in the downtown Quebec City area. Le Saint Amour
has an amazing chef ’s sample menu, as well as foie gras. The ambience offers a variety of three
different flavors in separate dining rooms, each brighter and sharper than the last. Billowing
SENSE MAGAZINE | 19
| TRAVEL
The colorful, scattered design, and gridded cobblestone downtown,
lends the city a charming and well-worn mood.
Photo: Genevieve Cooke
curtains, colored glass, high ceilings, and suspended vegetation gives the restaurant a
surreal aspect to dining.
The juxtaposition of the clean urban Canada and the timberland Canada, mix
easily in the restaurant Panache, owned by the Auberge Saint-Antoine. Exposed rafters
and stone walls house aesthetically plush pillowed seats and white tablecloths, while
holding in warmth from the central fireplace. Cozy and intimate dining with a varied
wine list overlooking the river sets the scene for a romantic dinner.
From restaurants to recreation in ‘Bec City, a popular destination called Complexe
Maurice, dabbles in both. With a Victorian façade dramatically lit over its own terrace, the
complex includes a restaurant—Voodoo Supper Club, a nightclub—Maurice Nightclub,
and a cigar shop—Societe d’Cigar, making it a bustling nighttime crossroads.
The Old Quebec Boulevard Laurier is a shopper’s mecca. Within walking distance
of each other, three malls populate one side of Laurier, allowing the consumer access to
hundreds of shops. This paradise is not in the downtown area, but about 3 miles west of
downtown.
An agricultural fair called Expo Quebec, the Canadian equivalent of state fairs, if
you will, occurs each year in late August. The down-to-earth feel of a state fair is blended
with bicycle stunts and live shows by mostly Quebec-local bands.
The Winter Carnival will be held in Quebec City from February 1 to 13, 2013.
This is a larger festival for French Canada than Expo Quebec, and features insane night
parades attended by as many as 100,000 people cumulatively, giant ice sculptures of
usable buildings, and colossal ice figures.
If mixing trendy and old-world is the getaway you desire, there is no need to leave
North America, travel north and visit Quebec City and enjoy life in this Canadian city.
20 | OCTOBER 2012
Like us on
welcomes
Kim Jefferys
2A South Church St.
Downtown Fairhope
251-929-1899
HAIR & MAKEUP BY OXANA MEADE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY LESLIE GOLDBERG
NATURAL HAIR EXTENSIONS • SHELLAC MANICURES/PEDICURES • UPDOS
FACIALS • HAIR STRAIGHTENING • BELLA’ PIERRE MAKE-UP/ SKINCARE
• GOLDWELL COLOUR • PUREOLOGY PRODUCTS •
SENSE MAGAZINE | 21
| cuisine
&
Whiskey,
ice,
rock-n-cold
Text by Greenberry Taylor
Photography by Sweet Darling Photography
Ordering a drink on the rocks takes on a
whole new meaning with the emergence of
an alternative to keep fine spirits child and
undiluted.
22 | OCTOBER 2012
Created from soapstone are ‘whiskey rocks’
which provide the chill without affecting
the taste of high-class bourbons, scotch and
whiskies drunk exclusively for their bold and
unique flavors.
JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING ROCKS, doesn’t done since 1795, carrying on the family tradition, mastering
mean it’s made of stone – unless we’re talking alternative what we’ve been doing since its conception.”
With Jim Beam comes tradition, including how the
solutions for keeping bourbon, whiskey or any other fine
bourbon has served in previous decades before whiskey stones
spirits cold and undiluted.
Observe a bourbon connoisseur when they order/fix were around. However, Noe said these soap stone creations
themselves a refreshment. The odds are in your favor the are an addition to today’s presentation of the liquor.
“Water will affect the taste of whiskey,” Noe said. “Stones
drink will either be “on the rocks,” which means ice, or
with a “splash of water.” Observe an amateur, and you will are cold, chills it (bourbon) and doesn’t dilute it at all. But I
most likely notice the cup they’re holding consists of a small like a little water to open up the bourbon myself, but some
helping of bourbon and large portion of a mixer such as people don’t – it’s a personal preference.”
Too much surprise, the stones are still fairly “green”
Coca-Cola or Ginger-Ale.
The importance is not to resonate on the heinous crime when it comes to the general population, a major reason
committed by the latter of the two, but the connoisseur’s being their absence in bars and other public places.
Grant Saltz, Bar Manager at Moe’s Original Bar B Que
main concern – minimizing the dilution of his chosen
liquor. Dilution is a major problem in that it takes away in Daphne, Ala., shed a little light on why these stones aren’t
from the uniqueness and flavor created by the aging process popping up left and right in local bars.
“High volume establishments such as college bars,
achieved over time from the distillation in certain wooden
neighborhood dives and nightclubs have little use for these
barrels.
Thanks to whiskey stones, taking away from taste is no rocks,” Saltz said. “I would venture to say the bulk of your
upper-echelon bourbons and scotch whiskies are consumed
longer an area of major impact.
Whiskey stones, or whiskey rocks, are handcrafted outside of bars, the primary reason being pricing.”
Most bars run a 10-15 percent liquor cost margin;
disks and cubes that take the place of ice in drinks. These
unique items are typically made of Soapstone, which is the meaning that if a 1.25 ounce pour of a certain brand costs
preferred material. This particular type of stone is extremely one dollar, then that pour would sell out at anywhere from
dense, creating a high volume of thermal mass (an object’s seven to 10 dollars, according to Saltz.
“Whiskey stones are a fantastic asset to good bourbon
ability to absorb heat) so when the stones come out of the
freezer and hit the bourbon, it cools down just enough to or scotch,” Saltz added. “The stones combat the ever-present
problem that has plagued the advanced liquor palate since
take the edge off and eliminate the diluting conundrum.
Fred Noe III, the Seventh Generation Distiller of Jim the invention of the ice cube – dilution.”
Douglas Anderson, a local and bourbon enthusiast,
Beam Bourbon and great-great-great grandson of founder
Jacob Beam, talked about the history of Kentucky bourbon, recalled his experiences with the stones.
“Using stones instead of ice to chill your bourbon is a
it’s progress and how whiskey stones and their affect on the
natural and practical way to have your bourbon ‘on the rocks’
liquor.
“The big thing that’s changed for us (Jim Beam) is the without turning the drink into ‘with a splash of water’ in no
process is the same but we use computers to help control time,” Anderson said. “So naturally, I was very eager to try
the process much tighter than we ever could before,” Noe them.
said. “The whiskey is a lot more consistent now than it ever A few years ago, Anderson received a set of stones as a gift,
was before. I think about everybody is doing the same thing and to much surprise, the cool-cut rocks weren’t what he was
expecting.
now.”
“I dropped them in my glass once or twice of course
Throughout time some bourbons and whiskies have
fluctuated their recipes – but not Beam, they’ve maintained – my friend gave them to me, for Pete’s sake – but truth be
consistency, which is probably why it’s one of the top-selling told, I’ve had hundreds of glasses of bourbon since without
thinking of them,” Anderson said. “It seems like a great idea,
bourbons in production today.
“We’ve tried other things like Red Stag (a bourbon but I never really get around to using them anymore. Call
slowly infused with natural black cherry flavors), Devil’s Cut me simple, but I really like the stuff straight from the bottle.
(barrel-treated extract blended with 6-year-old Jim Beam No ice, water or stones. But if I was not an on the rocks guy
bourbon and bottled at 90 proof ) but our basic Jim Beam is before, I’d probably be an on the rocks guy now.
still the same,” Noe said. “We do it just like its always been
Please join us First Friday Oct. 5th 6-8 pm
11” x 14” Abstract Foil
by Melanie Blackerby
330 DeLaMare Avenue, Fairhope | 251-928-2507
SENSE MAGAZINE | 23
| DESIGN
Designing Around
the Divots
Text by Jamie McFaden
The attendees of this year’s Polo at the Point Luncheon can savor respite in
style at one of three creatively designed tents. Each of the three structures will
hold artistic intrigue and ambiance ideal for one of Point Clear’s most upscale
events. Three Alabama-based design firms are lending their expertise to ensure
the prestigious charity affair is aesthetically amazing as ever. SENSE magazine
is excited to introduce the crème de le crème of local designers competing for
top honors.
24 | OCTOBER 2012
| DESIGN
Carl Clark
Southern
of
Veranda
With heavy draping and the use of black and white,
Carl Clark and his team at Southern Veranda seek
to create a haunting nighttime haven within the
confines of the tent.
For Carl Clark, owner of Southern Veranda in Fairhope, Ala., high drama is the
name of the game for prestigious affairs. With an extensive background in floral
design, Carl’s ability to create displays that inspire awe and reflect emotions is
easily understandable. Carl has won a number of awards for his design skills and
was named Alabama Floral Designer of the year. When designing displays, Carl
focuses on the emotion he is attempting to procure for the particular event or
occasion. “The name of my tent is Midnight’s Whisper. The whole feel is going
to be calm and soothing.” As every good leader should, he gives credit to his
design group for their abilities in making his vision come alive, stating, “I have
a fabulous team of employees that work so well together in an effort to create
something spectacular and unusual. Now, we’re just looking forward to hearing people’s comments on what they like and on the positioning of everything.
Clark said of the upcoming Polo event, “A project like this gives you the ability
to express yourself, and the drama of design is such a big part.”
Photography by Funes Photography
26 | OCTOBER 2012
Photo by Sweet Darling Photography
| DESIGN
Photo by Jan Childs
28 | OCTOBER 2012
“It’s such an adrenaline kick to have a project like this. Having this
idea, this plan, and then putting together the last-minute details is
just such a wonderful part of creating a space,” said Fran Cobb of
Boxwood in Fairhope, Ala.
Fran Cobb
Boxwood
of
Home Garden
&
Fran Cobb, interior designer and owner of Boxwood Home & Garden in Fairhope,
has a vision of what she calls “coastal elegance.” Inspired by her late mother-in-law’s
affinity for boxwood plants and entertaining, she incorporates these boxy shrubs in her
design work. According to Cobb, scattering natural elements among clean lines creates
a sense of melding organic materials and high design. Fran likes to mix contemporary,
antiques, and traditional furnishings. Blending her client’s personal treasures with
different materials to create beautiful space is what makes Cobb’s designs exclusive.
Considering her favorite color is white and her preference to use objects from nature,
her personally designed tent should be a perfect reflection of her unique style. “I
named my tent ‘Between the Boxwoods’ as a nod to my use of the plant.” In addition
to the excitement of being given creative reign for her tent setting, Fran feels she has
a personal interest in being part of an event of such glamorous magnitude. “For me,
this is like getting to throw the big, fantasy rehearsal dinner (for my two sons) that I’ve
not yet been able to experience. I have loved being able to apply my own ideas for the
tent, and it’s just been such a dream come true to make this particular space beautiful
and elegant,” she said.
Photography by Sweet Darling Photography
SENSE MAGAZINE | 29
| DESIGN
design
Kathy Mezrano
of
J. Messer Photography
Kathy G
Company
&
Arden Photography
30 | OCTOBER 2012
Kathy G. & Company
With Visions of “stylistic table scapes” and “exquisite food beautifully presented”
Kathy G. Mezrano, owner of Kathy G & Company in Birmingham, is in the business
of entertaining the senses. For her tent, aptly named “Southern Sophisticate,” she
called on design director of the company Andy Hopper’s proficiency in floral creativity.
Andy’s background as an interior designer has inspired many of their spectacular
designs. Kathy and Andy have been highly honored and recognized for the incredible
displays showcased at wedding receptions, corporate dinners and many other social
galas. Their work has been feature in several industry publications, and was recently
spotlighted as the cover story in Catering Magazine. Desiring to create a space where
guests can both marvel and relax, Kathy said “Andy and I want to put a ‘spin’ on the
tent design with a fresh, new approach. We want to make it inviting but simple in the
lines and design.” Mezrano and Hopper hope to set their Polo at the Point “stage” with
an allure capable of captivating all those who experience it.
Arden Photography
SENSE MAGAZINE | 31
Photography
Frank Carnaggio Photography
|| feature
feature
Francisco Bilbao
32 | OCTOBER 2012
The
s
s
“Sport of Kings”
Makes Its Return to Point Clear
Text By Justin Vicory
Photography by Kim Campbell
Point Clear, Alabama will be the site for an extraordinary polo tournament, one that will feature the best
of the best American league polo players from around the world in a fund-raising event October 21st.
SENSE MAGAZINE | 33
| feature
U
Julio Arellanos
34 | OCTOBER 2012
Guillermo Usandizaga
pon a determined glance, one thing is certainly
inescapably true about the sport of polo, and
that is the absolute purity, the beauty of the
game-at time’s poetry in motion, the graceful
merging of man and animal-both supreme specimens of
rigorous training and athleticism.
Dubbed the “Sport of Kings” by the initiated, polowhile unfamiliar to many, represents a number of things:
competitive intensity, extraordinary skill and technique,
and most importantly, sportsmanship. Yet it’s popularitywhile shared by an intensely passionate fan base, is far from
the spotlight, and generally even further from view.
This year-following an annual tradition that dates
back to 1988, Point Clear, Alabama will be the site for an
extraordinary polo tournament, one that will feature the
best American polo league players in a fund-raising event
October 21st. Two matches will occur, one at 11:30 and the
other at 2:30, that will determine who will win the coveted
Point Clear Cup.
Noted polo professionals such as American Julio
Arellano, one of the top rated polo players in the world
with a near perfect 9 goals handicap, will be on hand to
demonstrate his world-class abilities for spectators.
Currently, Arellano is the top ranked American polo
player, something he hopes to change. Deeply involved
in the development of his own kid’s polo careers, he is
determined to elevate the sport of polo in America. While
he has held the prestigious handicap of 9 for the last three
years, he says “it is unfortunate that there are not other
Americans there yet, something I can hope to change.”
Born in Nicaragua, the 40 year-old Arellano has been
playing polo since the age of 12. He has been a professional
for over 17 years, and the polo veteran says appropriately
perhaps, “experience is my greatest attribute.”
While he calls Aiken, South Carolina home he spends
a great deal of time travelling around the world competing
in tournaments and matches. He has played at Point Clear
before, and advocates for the largest possible turnout
emphasizing with genuine charm the desire for a larger polo
community.
Alan Martinez may well seek to validate the nickname
of “Flaco”, the Spanish word for skinny or thin, to the polo
world. Intensely knowledgeable, strategic, and down to
earth, the 29-year-old polo professional likens himself to “a
polo gypsy”, and happens to be following in the footsteps of
his father, also a professional polo player.
At a young age Martinez learned the skills and
exhibited the talent to pursue polo in a professional manner.
He is also returning to Point Clear where he has showcased
his skills three times previously.
Wesley Uys, or “Whistle” as his nickname goes, has
been playing professional polo for over eleven years. Known
for his solid defensive prowess, the South African will be
in south Alabama for the first time. “Whistle” anticipates a
more offensive role in the tournament, and will saddle up
primarily on a “faster, more, handy horse.”
Uys makes clear the connection between horse and
rider, the symbiotic relationship that is involved, and how
much time it takes for most polo riders to get a good feel
for the pony they are riding. “Generally, it takes less than
a minute, 45 seconds perhaps, for a rider to diagnose the
connection between himself and the horse.”
“Consider car racing,” Uys remarks creatively, “if the
other rider is driving a Porsche, and you are riding a pig, it
doesn’t matter how much skill one has you are going to lose
the match.”
Born in Argentina, the hotbed of polo, Francisco
Bilbao-or “Frankie”, started playing polo at the age of 14
and began traveling at age 20 to groom and play. Frankie
plays in Point Clear in the spring and fall months of the
year.
Jesus Eloy Escapite Jr., or “Pelon”, is a 30-year-old from
El Paso, Texas that has been playing polo professionally for
eight years. For the last four years he has held the distinction
of having a 6 goal handicap. In his return to Point Clear
from last year, he anticipates on wearing the number 4
jersey where he will focus primarily on the defensive side of
the field.
A former catcher in baseball, Pelon enjoys rooting
for his Texas Rangers. Outside of polo, he is also a diehard
Dallas Cowboys fan.
Guillermo Usandizag, who has a 6 goal handicap, will
be in Point Clear as well.
Originally developed as a training regiment for guards
of the Persian King, the sport of polo has over 2,000 years
of evolution, and reckons back to an earlier time where man
and horse were co-dependent upon one another.
Often times, polo is a fascinating mix of violent,
almost turbulent action, and skillful redirection and timing.
All the senses experience some stimulus when watching a
polo match, but the sense of sound may top them all when
one hears the magnificent sound of stomping hooves from
specially-bred ponies that can stop on a dime, and then
accelerate to speeds of 35 miles per hour in seconds-faster
than most cars.
While the particular breed of the horse becomes a
matter of personal preference, in general, Thoroughbreds
supply a quick burst of speed while Arabians are noted for
their intelligence. Due to the rapid turn of play that the
sport demands, Quarter horses are in high demand as well.
Different players have their preferences for different
horses, and sometimes what matters most is the particular
position of the polo player. In general, the defensive player,
who is designated by the number four, tends to require a
larger horse to block, or “ride off”, offensive charges. The
upwards player, signified by the number one, will tend to
require a very agile horse. Most players bring between seven
to ten horses with them per match.
Guillermo Usandizaga
Wesley Uys
The player wearing the number three on the field happens to be the tactical leader and
must be a long powerful hitter to feed balls to number one and number two. Also, he/she must
maintain a solid defense. The best player on the team is usually the number three player, and
usually wields the highest handicap. In the Point Clear Cup, Arellano will most likely wear the
number three jersey.
In polo, the athletes use flexible mallets, similar to an extended version of a golf putter,
to smash a white ball between two posts, or goals, while on horseback. It is played at speed on
a large grass field up to 300 yards long by 160 yards wide, the largest field in organized sport.
Each polo team consists of four riders and their mounts. While truly unique, some elements of
the sport resemble field hockey, soccer, and even basketball.
And like golf, the game incorporates a handicap system that identifies a player’s strengths
and weaknesses before a match. The sport is dependent upon this handicap which is rated on a
scale from minus-2 to 10. Minus-2 indicates a novice player, while a player rated at 10 goals has
the highest handicap possible. It is so difficult to attain a 10-goal handicap that there are fewer
than a dozen in the world, and about two-thirds of all players handicapped are rated at two goals
or less. At one time, polo was the only sport in the world that considered sportsmanship when
rating a player.
Handicaps of five goals and above generally belong to professional players. It is not an
estimate of the number of goals a player might score in a game, but rather of the player’s worth
to his or her team. The handicap is the overall rating of a player’s horsemanship, team play,
knowledge of the game, and strategy.
In matches played by “handicapped” players, the handicaps of all four players are totaled.
If the total handicap of a team is more than the total of team against which they are playing, the
difference is added to the scoreboard.
Strategic plays in polo are based an imaginary line created by the ball, designated as the
“line of the ball”, as it travels down the field. This line traces the ball’s path and extends past the
ball along that trajectory. This “line of the ball” changes each time the ball changes direction. In
Alan Martinez
general, other players cannot cross the line of the ball in front of the player who hit
it. A player can only cross the line of the ball when it does not create a dangerous
situation.
“Hooking” is a common defensive play. Here, an opponent can block the swing
of another player by using his/her mallet to hook the mallet of the player swinging
at the ball. The “bump”, or “ride-off”, is when a player rides his pony alongside an
opponent’s mount in order to move an opponent away from the ball or to take him
out of a play.
As a game that is decidedly rich in tradition, polo includes a number of staplessome familiar, some unique. Spectators of the match in Point Clear, for example, will
participate most likely in a tailgating session, and might even be allowed to “divotstomp” at half-time. “Divot-stomping” is the long held tradition of replacing the
mounds of earth (or divots) turned up during the match.
Traditional tail-gating carries its own symbolism with it while the polo version
can best be described as a sophisticated version of the tail gate. Whereas hot dogs
and hamburgers remain well within the range of the festivities, items such as a tuna
and chickpea salad with pesto sauce, minted watermelon salad, and fresh corn with
shrimp and cherry tomatoes might be on the menu. Champagne and/or a fine wine
would not be unusual.
Here, in south Alabama, polo represents the best of humanity also, the
foundation for charitable giving. Since 1988, Polo at the Point has raised millions
of dollars that has benefited cancer research, local non-profit organizations, and
children’s charities. Polo at the Point has become known as the Gulf Coast’s most
prestigious charity sporting event and provides a unique experience for fans of polo
or those experiencing the sport for the first time.
Today, the sport of polo is played professionally in 16 countries, and at one
time, was an Olympic event.
| feature
SENSE MAGAZINE | 37
| ART
Gash Gold-Vermillion
Text By Brandon Boykin
Photography by Stephanie Gillis
A searing, first hand encounter with glass
The water hisses and spits, and the glass crepitates.
I’m making a fluted bowl. I’ve already added frit to the mix. It’s a ruby,
tomato red color that I’m addicted to. The sudorific heat from the
glory hole blasts my face. I’m perspiring profusely. The roar of the two
huge furnaces permeates my ear drums. I’m sitting in an odd-looking
bench, and with my palms, I rotate a hollow, metal pipe along the
bench’s rails. My inner forearm is on fire.
“Shield,” I say.
Without skipping a beat, Jordan, my partner, grabs a large,
charred wooden paddle and places it between my arm and the bright,
glowing orange ball at the end of the pipe. Instantly, my arm is no
longer stinging. The orange ball is roughly the size of a grapefruit,
and it’s around 1000º F (870º C). While deciding what I should do,
I forget to rotate, and the large lump of semi-liquid slumps slightly,
pulled by gravity, toward the cement floor of the hot shop.
“Watch your rotation, Brandon,” says my professor, Matt, while
making his rounds.
I turn the pipe a complete 180 degrees and the glass falls back
on center. With glassblowing, you don’t have time to think.
I make my way toward the marver. I continuously rotate the
pipe during my five-step journey; it must stay on center, or I risk the
air bubble collapsing. Holding the pipe at a 60 degree angle, I let the
glass touch the marver and move it along in a fluid roll. The glass
bends to my will. I’m shaping it. In some aspects, I’m cooling it as
well. I hang the glass off the edge and blow into the pipe. I watch the
edges of the glass, and the oddly-shaped lump inflates, expanding like
some futuristic dirigible.
By the time I head back to the bench, the glass is no longer
glowing. It’s solid. Glass is stubborn, but hard glass is the true beast of
burden. It doesn’t move. If it gets too cold too quickly it could shatter.
I heat it back to orange and take the jacks to it as I roll. The blades
slide through the glass effortlessly pinching in a neckline.
“Will you give me some air,” I ask. Jordan does so. As it inflates,
38 | OCTOBER 2012
the glass presses against the hard angle of the jacks. It’s under my control,
and it moves where I want it to move. My arm is on fire because Jordan is
too busy giving me air. I grit my teeth and bear it. It’s insane, but the shape
is more important than a possible burn. Satisfied with the shape, I’m ready
for a punty.
Jordan brings the punty. I heat the orb in a flash, but I make sure to
only stick the bottom into the glory hole. I only heat what I want to move.
I come back to the bench, grab the paddle, and lightly place it against the
bottom of the glass. I roll. It flattens.
Jordan returns with the punty, and we attach it, dead center, to the
flattened area. We rotate together as I dab water onto my neckline. The
water hisses and spits, and the glass crepitates. I give the pipe a light tap,
and it separates, cleanly, from the sphere. There’s a hole where I blew the air
bubble, and I heat that area in the glory hole. I take the jacks to the inside
of it and press up as I roll. It opens wider and wider.
Once the opening is wide enough, I place it into the glory hole. I
begin to spin––slowly at first—to build heat, but I steadily increase speed.
After a minute, like some great, magical spell the glass heats up, and gravity
folds it out backward. Faster! And suddenly it spins out in a brilliantly
blurred disc of neon gold-vermillion.
My hair is drenched in sweat, and I can feel the blood in my face. “I’m
ready,” I scream. “Hurry!”
Jordan and another classmate open both glory hole doors, and still
rotating, I pull out the glass. I continued to spin only for a moment, and
without warning, I drop the punty perpendicular. The molten disc—pulled
by the spinning of the planet—folds down in extraordinary cinnabar
ripples. I turn it slowly until it hardens in permanency. It’s solid but thin. I
give it a flash to stabilize the temperature.
At the knock-off table, Jordan waits for me. Dressed in a fire-retardant
suit, it looks as though she’s ready for a jog in space. She holds out her gloved
hands, and I lay the bowl into them. I drizzle water where it’s attached to
the punty, and it makes a sibilant sound. I give it a light tap; it snaps off.
Jordan rushes over to the annealer and slips the bowl inside. For the first
time in my three hour class, I relax and smile. I even throw in a chuckled
sigh as Jordan gives me a sweaty, but much needed, high-five.
I watch the edges of the glass, and the oddly-shaped lump
inflates, expanding like some futuristic dirigible.”
Glossary of terms:
frit - a sand-like mixture of silica and fluxes that is fused at high temperature to color glass; comes in a variety of transparent and opaque colors.
glory hole - a medium-sized furnace used to keep glass malleable for hand-working.
bench - a glass blower’s workstation; has two rails (long arms) that the pipe or punty rides on while the blower works with the glass.
paddle - flat pieces of wood or graphite used for creating flat spots or to shield the blower from heat.
marver - a stone, or cast-iron plate on which hot glass is rolled to give it shape.
jacks - large tweezers with two blades; used for forming glass.
punty - an iron or steel rod used to hold glass.
annealer - usually a small furnace used to slowly cool glass over a period of hours or days; this prevents the glass from cracking due to thermal stress.
SENSE MAGAZINE | 39
Mum Festival
at
See one of the nation’s most spectacular Outdoor Cascading Chrysanthemum Displays
Fall events for everyone...
Fall Floral Showcase featuring James Farmer s Oct 10th
Fall Floral Showcase in the Bellingrath Home s Oct 10th - 14th
Balloon Glow in the Gardens s Oct 27th
Chrysanthemum Bloom Out s Nov 10 - 22nd
40 | OCTOBER 2012
Open Daily 8am - 5pm, Closed December 25th
Groups Welcome s Cafe s Gift Shop
12401 Bellingrath Gardens Road s Theodore, Alabama 36582
800.247.8420 / 251.973.2217
www.bellingrath.org
| wellness
Breast
Cancer
Awareness
“Women are so busy being caregivers
they forget to care for themselves.”
— Dr. Windy Dean, Oncologist,
Mitchell Cancer Institute
Text by Simmons Murphy
Photography by Sweet Darling Photography
C
urrent statistics state that 1 in 8 women
will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
Grandmothers, daughters, sisters, wives, aunts,
granddaughters, nieces, and cousins offer eight
possible victims. In 2011 alone, over 39,000 females
died of breast cancer, while another 230,480 were newly
diagnosed. Unsettling is the fact that women postpone
yearly mammograms, forget monthly self-exams, or worse,
totally ignore both, putting their future on the line.
In the early stages of breast cancer, a 90 percent survival
rate exists. At mid-stage, chances drop to 50 percent. In
the most advanced cases, the statistic plummets to a 15
percent survival rate. Primarily, there are two types of breast
cancer—Ductal carcinoma and Lobular carcinoma. The
most common is Ductal, starting in the ducts, which moves
milk from the breast to the nipple. Lobular carcinoma
develops in the lobes of the breast, where milk production
occurs.
Estrogen has been a recognized factor in contributing
to the growth of breast tumors. These growths are referred
to as receptor estrogen positive cancers, for which a new
hormonal therapy has been developed in attempts to block
cancerous growth. In simple terms, hormone therapy works
on the theory that if estrogen production is greatly reduced,
the tumor has nothing to feed its growth and dies.
Estrogen levels are also considered in the development
of other risk factors for women. A spike in estrogen levels
promotes the first menstrual cycle in a female. And if the
levels of estrogen are a factor in the development of breast
cancer, the theory that the menstrual cycle playing a pivotal
role has to be considered. Women, who started their period
before the age of 12, or went through menopause after
the age of 55, have shown an increased risk of developing
breast cancer.
Women who have had hormone replacement therapy
with estrogen, who have children after the age of 30, and
women who have never had children fall under the greater
risk category. However, the risk drops for women who have
been pregnant more than once. Research has found that
if the age at which estrogen levels drop and menopause
begins, that menopause can contribute to the risk of
developing breast cancer. The most advanced cases of breast
cancer are found in women over the age of 50, whereas the
term advanced means the cancer existed before the age of
50.
Researchers have also found that genetics is also a
contributing factor in the development of breast cancer.
Twenty to 30 percent of women with breast cancer have had
a family history, and chances are increased if you have a close
relative with uterine, ovarian, or colon cancer. Inherited
DNA mutations are potentially a negative risk factor. BRCA
1 or BRCA 2 genes usually help in the recognition and /
or repair of damaged DNA, preventing abnormal growths.
Damage to either of these genes, or the inheritance of a
damaged gene from a parent, can mean an 80 percent
increase in risk of the development of breast cancer.
Dr. Windy Dean, an oncologist at the Mitchell Cancer
Institute, states that the majority of patients she treats have
failed to perform monthly exams and / or skipped their
mammograms. “Women are so busy being caregivers they
forget to care for themselves,” Dean says. While having
M.D. and PhD degrees from the University of Illinois, plus
experience in studying and treating cancer, her most personal
experience is with her own family. Several of her aunts have
had breast cancer and her brother died of colon cancer. His
ordeal influenced her decision to study oncology, when a
crude physician explained his prognoses by informing him
he should not plan on reading “a long book.”
Dean believes patients must know, and believe, they
are going to be given the best care possible, and that they are
not alone. Dean’s advice: Your physician is there to help you
through all stages—physically, mentally, and even spiritually.
Remember, you can speak freely to your physician. Finding a
support group can also help in the recovery, as well as dealing
with the effects of treatment.
Mitchell Cancer Institute (MCI) offers a gathering
called “Breast Friends Forever.” In this support group,
members can share their personal battle with fellow patients,
admitting to emotions that they may not share with family
or friends. The therapy benefits the patient because many
times they may not want to worry family members they
are embarrassed, or they fear that those without the disease
will not, or cannot, understand. This group can also offer
suggestions or tips for how to cope with the many emotions
that cancer patients deal with. Dr. Dean and MCI are in the process of establishing
a fund to help women without insurance—such as the
homeless, or the economically disadvantage, who cannot
afford co-pays for their mammograms. Women, especially
in this economy, are frequently choosing to pay for the
repairs of cars, homes, appliances, or the needs of other
family members over their own preventive care. As a rule for
good health and preventive measures, women benefit from
maintaining a healthy weight, avoid red meat or processed
meat, and eat lots of vegetables and some fruit. Do not
smoke, or quit if you do smoke, and limit alcohol intake. As
Dr. Dean emphasized, “Your life is in your hands.”
As of now, there are two clinical trials under way at
MCI in breast cancer, with an expected major expansion
within the next year. Many forms of research are in constant
progress.
SENSE MAGAZINE | 41
| wellness
Chemo-Sabes
The volunteer program at Mitchell Cancer
Institute was started by Leila Hollowell—an artist,
friend to many, and a cancer patient. Leila Hollowell
lost her battle with cancer after a very determined
fight. However, she tried to help make the way easier
for those who had to follow. From her personal
battle with breast cancer, she knew the importance
of someone getting you a blanket or a snack, or just
offering conversation while you are “hooked up” to
a chemotherapy IV. The volunteers help patients,
no matter how good or bad their mood, or physical
condition.
As an artist with a rebellious streak, Hollowell
selected the symbolic name “Chemo-Sabes” for the
volunteers, drawing from the name “Kemosabe”
from The Lone Ranger. The Chemo-Sabes do not
have super powers or outlandish gadgets, but are
community hero’s for their friendship, and possessing
determination, as many cancer patients have today. MCI
Upcoming Events
October 25, 2012
3rd Annual Think Pink Tea
4:00 – 6:00 P.M.
Mitchell Cancer Institute
Co-Sponsored by Infirmary Health System
October 28, 2012
3rd Annual Tennis for Tatas
1:00 P.M.
www.tennisfortatas.eventbrite.com
Mobile Tennis Center
Benefits breast cancer research
42 | OCtOBER 2012
FRESH ideas,
clean dESignS,
& SiMPLE solutions
to help you achieve your internet marketing goals.
CuStoM WEbSitE dESign + Content ManageMent
WEbSitE HoSting + SEaRCH EnginE oPtiMization
SoCiaL MEdia + eMail CaMpaigns + CoRPoRatE idEntity
BroChures + diRECt MaiL + tradeshow graphiCs
251.583.4218 | www.5amultimedia.com
SENSE MAGAZINE | 43
| wellness
The Healing Power of Art
With a paintbrush and laughter, art teacher Nancy Raia breaks down the barriers of disabilities and
leads her classes through the healing process of art.
“I am thinking of a favorite day in my life. What were you wearing on your favorite
day?”
With this simple question, Nancy Raia, art teacher and Director of Outreach at the
Eastern Shore Art Center, extracts stories of childhood, personal accomplishments, and
simple pleasures from her class of adults who have suffered memory loss and disabilities.
Raia uses affirmative memory techniques, such as avoiding the word “remember,” to stir
minds until shining, familiar moments are almost close enough to live again. Paint brushes
fill in pieces of the past: a St. Louis Cardinal jersey worn to baseball games; a baseball cap
that blocked the sun’s bright rays during games of golf; cut-off pants worn fishing the day
after the Army set him free. Lives lived before Alzheimer’s—before the stroke.
“Nancy takes our people back to things they can remember, a time when they had
clarity,” says Leisa Richardson, director of Shepherd’s Place in Fairhope, Ala., a daily
program that provides care and activities for adults with memory loss or physical needs.
“They relax and their personality comes out. They show who they were before, when they
weren’t fearful or insecure. Nancy’s art projects give them things to take home and display,
and it builds their self-esteem.”
Raia is a natural artist, but did not originally choose art as a career. She majored in
finance at Emory University and worked in banking, television, insurance, and acting.
Her path changed direction when she volunteered to teach art at her daughter’s elementary
school. Raia rediscovered her own creative roots and found a new calling. Twenty years
later, Raia was named the 2011 Art Educator of the Year for Special Needs by the Alabama
Art Education Association. She is also an award-winning artist specializing in acrylic
44 | OCTOBER 2012
and watercolors. She designs her own line of uplifting pen and ink greeting cards and
motivational products that are sold at the Eastern Shore Art Center and Private Gallery
in Fairhope.
Raia’s diverse background, creativity, and contagious energy help her connect with
any person, no matter the disability or artistic skill. She is an expressive teacher with a
personality as sunny as the yellow shirts she often wears to class. When she steps in front
of the class, it is impossible not to know that she sincerely cares about each person around
her.
“I am a communicator first,” Raia describes herself. “I like to use art and humor
to communicate. We all speak the same language through art, no matter the situation,
illness, or disability. Art is about connection and showing that everyone has a story. I love
to tell these stories, and I lobby for people who don’t have as loud a voice.”
Fairhope, Ala., is a natural place for the healing power of art. Founded by artists in
1894, the town is still a thriving community for artists, and Raia’s work is symbolic of
the artistic spirit of Fairhope. Funded only by grants and private donations, each month
Raia and her volunteers teach over 100 children and adults with disabilities and chronic
illnesses in classes at the Southwest Alabama Regional School for the Deaf and Blind, The
Brennity assisted living in Daphne and Fairhope, and Shepherd’s Place. They often share
art with children and youth groups such as the Fairhope Rotary Club’s youth program and
the Snook Boys and Girls Club in Foley.
“Whatever the population is, Nancy is able to pin it down. It is her soul and she
loves what she does,” says Susan Wright, Raia’s treasured volunteer assistant. “She reads
Text By Lynn Oldshoe
Photography by Farlow Photography
“I lobby for people who don’t have as loud a voice.”
—Nancy Raia
a room and watches how they interact with each other, then makes adjustments. If there is
a problem or hesitation, she immediately shifts to find another way to get their attention.”
Marian Peters, 57, Raia’s student at The Brennity in Daphne, is a former nursing
instructor at The University of South Alabama. Peters has Huntington’s disease, a
neurodegenerative genetic disorder that causes a breakdown of nerve cells in the brain and
a decline in physical and mental abilities. “This disease is something that gets worse, and
it causes depression and high anxiety,” says Peters. “My penmanship is bad, but painting is
something that I can still do with my hands. It makes me feel good that I did it.”
Peters sense of accomplishment, and the chance to let go of problems, as well as express
thoughts and feelings without the barriers of disabilities, reveals the healing powers of art.
Helping people connect with their emotions and express themselves is Raia’s biggest reward.
“All you need for my class is a sense of humor, an open mind, and willingness to paint,” says
Raia. “I draw a line, you draw a line, and our conversation begins. We share a lot together,
and at the end of the class, I feel completely fulfilled.”
The Eastern Shore Art Center (ESAC) does not charge for outreach classes and provides
all class materials. The Center operates on private donations, grants, membership dues, and
art sales, and does not receive money from the City of Fairhope. To make a donation to the
ESAC, please call 251.928.2228, or mail your donation to ESAC Director: Kate Fisher at
401 Oak Street, Fairhope, AL 36532.
SENSE MAGAZINE | 45
46 | OCTOBER 2012
| GREENSENSE
Causing A Storm
Transferring stormwater into a wetland paradise
Text By Skeet Lores
W
hat’s the big problem with stormwater?
Isn’t it just the excess rainwater that falls in our area?
The answer to that question is a resounding No!
Stormwater is rainwater, but rainwater that has picked
up all kinds of contaminants from our streets, buildings,
lawns, and fields; sediments from soil erosion, farm fields,
and construction sites; and even airborne contaminants that
are washed out of the air in the rain. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), in studying relationships between
landscapes and pollution, found that the landscape element
most correlated with the level of pollution in a water body is
the percentage of impervious surfaces in the landscape. Those
impervious surfaces create contaminated stormwater.
Contaminants found in storm water include metals
like lead, cadmium, and mercury; pesticides and fertilizers;
animal waste from farms and lawns; plus carcinogens and
petrochemicals from autos and industrial sources. Many of these
contaminants collect on impervious surfaces as dry deposits
such as fly ash from coal fired power plants, hydrocarbons and
particulate emissions from motors, wear and tear of tires and
vehicles on roads. These dry deposits build up until the next
rain when the runoff carries them into ditches and street drains
and then into our streams. The more impervious surfaces there
are, the more runoff we have, and the faster it flows into our
streams, rivers, and bays.
In addition to contaminants, there are sediments from
soil erosion at construction sites, farmlands, and stream bank
erosion, caused by the excessive runoff and faster stream flow.
These sediments are not as harmless as you might think. When
washed into our bays, these sediments smother sessile benthic
organisms like clams and oysters and increase turbidity in
the water, which reduces light penetration and kills sea grass
beds—an important habitat for many organisms like shrimp,
crabs, and fish. These sediments also fill in channels that require
dredging in order to maintain waterways.
Pensacola, Fla. has been actively working on reducing the
effects of stormwater runoff since 2001. The city’s program is
paid for by a stormwater fee that is assessed based on the amount
of impervious surface on residential property, and cost the
average homeowner $68 per year. In 2011, this fee accounted
for a total of $2.4 million. With this revenue, the storm water
program employs a variety of methods designed to keep these
unwanted materials out of our bays and bayous. Pensacola’s
stormwater program includes a fleet of street-sweepers that
work to keep sediment, trash, and debris from ever getting into
the storm drains. The city also installed a series of baffle boxes
to trap sediment and debris before it gets to waterways. And
the city built a series of 54 storm water retention and detention
ponds along with 70 subsurface treatment units to clean or
prevent the water from entering the bay. In fact, one of their
stormwater treatment ponds is a beautiful feature of Admiral
Mason Park in downtown Pensacola. The project, with its series
of aerating water fountains and wetland plants, was awarded
a design excellence award in 2012 by Florida Storm water
Association.
According to Al Garza, Director of Pensacola Public
Works Department, street sweepers, which are the most cost
effective tool overall, collect an average of over 3,100 tons of
sediment and 350 tons of vegetation per year; the baffle boxes
remove an average of 725 tons and the ponds remove about 690
tons of sediment per year. These ponds also remove nutrients
that can be harmful in excess: every year they prevent 4.3
tons of Phosphorus and 23.9 tons of Nitrogen from entering
waterways.
In contrast to Pensacola’s efforts, cities in Mobile
and Baldwin counties are just beginning to deal with their
stormwater problem; in some cases they are being forced to deal
with the problem by citizens and the Alabama Department of
Environmental Management (ADEM). The city of Mobile has
avoided dealing with the problem for so long that they are now
facing fines from ADEM for failure to implement a program to
deal with the storm water problem.
Residents do not have to wait for their city to implement
a program; they can do a number of things on their own to
help reduce the effects of stormwater. For example, rain barrels
or cisterns can be installed to collect rainwater as it flows
off roofs, and the collected water can be used for lawns and
gardens during drier weather. Bioswales can also help trap at
least part of the runoff and allow it to infiltrate the ground. The
cultivation or maintenance of stream or shoreline vegetation
can help reduce erosion.
Like Pensacola, cities can do many things to reduce the
effects of stormwater, but the thing that residents appreciate
the most is a stormwater pond that is turned into a beautiful
wetland where people can sit, walk, and enjoy nature. These
constructed wetlands are not only pleasing to residents, they
also do a great job of removing pollutants from the water and
trapping them in the organic matrix. These wetlands create and
allow natural processes to decompose pollutants or lock away
metals in insoluble forms.
Like Pensacola, cities can do many things
to reduce the effects of stormwater, but
the thing that residents appreciate the
most is a stormwater pond that is turned
into a beautiful wetland where people can
sit, walk, and enjoy nature.
SENSE MAGAZINE | 47
| outdoor life
BIKING IN THE SLOW LANE
A social club on wheels.
Text by Robin Fitzhugh
Photography by Kim Pearson
“A good thing about riding slower is that you can
carry on a conversation with your neighbor
cyclist instead of staring at their rear wheel.”
—Molly Peterson
48 | OCTOBER 2012
The pace of life is like the weather—everybody complains
about it, but nobody seems to be able to do anything
about it. Nobody, that is, but the Slow Bike Society, whose
members have abandoned biking as a competitive sport and
returned to the leisurely fun of childhood rides with friends.
The Slow Bicycle movement began in Copenhagen
in 2008 by locals who advocate “style over speed” in their
casual get-togethers in Denmark’s capital. Even the term
“bicycle” is replaced in their logo by “bike”, because it takes
longer to say bicycle. Slow Bicycle groups have now formed
in Argentina, Poland, Canada, New Zealand and the UK,
with the international motto of “cycle slow and live the trip.”
Slow biking has also spread across the United States
with loosely organized chapters in most major cities. Locally,
groups have formed on both sides of the bay. In our May
issue, Sense brought you coverage of the cycling safety efforts
of Mobilian’s On Bikes (MOB’s) and Niklas Hallberg. On the
Eastern Shore, Fairhope resident, Molly Peterson, organized
the Slow Bike Society (SBS) in August of 2011, along with
Valerie Stickney, another Baldwin County resident she met
at a MOBS ride. The SBS blog, slowbike.wordpress.com,
lists the upcoming rides, which are generally Friday evenings
and Sunday afternoons. “We mostly ride in Fairhope, Point
Clear, Daphne or Gulf Shores,” Peterson says, “although
we did do one group ride in Louisiana.” The group also
participated in the Crewe of Mullet Mates on County Road
1 this year, riding decorated bicycles and tossing beads and
moon pies to the crowd.
Like most Slow Bicycle groups, Peterson intends to
keep SBS loosely organized. “We have had 100 or so different
people ride with us since we started in August, but on most
Sunday rides, we average 10 to 15 participants.” Peterson
acknowledges that many people do not feel comfortable
riding a bike, a pastime that most Americans gave up when
they were old enough to drive. She has also encouraged her
two children to be active bike riders with the hope they will
continue to enjoy cycling throughout their lives. “Riding a
bike, especially in a town the size of Fairhope, gives kids
a sense of independence,” Peterson says, adding that she
is setting an example by using her own bike for running
errands close to home.
Bicycle safety is an important issue, regardless of the
size of the community. Peterson began riding with the
Saturday morning group that meets at Fairhope Bicycle
Shop in downtown Fairhope, but admits she was not skilled
in riding on local roads and has found a greater comfort level
staying on bike paths or less trafficked side streets. The Slow
Bicycle Movement promotes the social aspect of group rides,
noting that “a good thing about riding slower is that you can
carry on a conversation with your neighbor cyclist instead of
staring at their rear wheel.”
While neither of the local groups have political agendas,
both Peterson and Hallberg have followed closely the efforts
of local government to make cycling more accessible with the
installation of bike paths and bike stands. The Eastern Shore
blogsite sums up the new movement, stating “it is about
regular people on regular bikes wearing regular clothes” who
enjoy a slower lifestyle in Lower Alabama.
Anytime, Anywhere...
For more information and a calendar of rides and events, please
visit http://slowbike.wordpress.com/calendar-of-rides-events/
Slow Movement
Goes International
Since the Industrial Revolution, when we learned to make
more goods in less time by standardizing the workplace,
people around the world have sought ways to slow down the
pace of life. In this era of constant electronic connectedness,
the temptation to multitask at the expense of enjoying life’s
small moments has invaded lives around the world.
The Slow Food Movement began in Italy in 1986 as
an attempt to appreciate the cultural and social importance
of food by rejecting fast food and fast life and promoting
regional cuisine. That idea has grown into a holistic
approach to agriculture and fisheries around the world, with
the underlying theme that if you want to change the world,
you have to change the menu first.
The Slow Food mindset has spread to other facets of
modern life and websites are available for everything from
Slow Beer to Slow Education. Slow Travel encourages
tourists to travel by train, barge or bicycle, and take the
time to relax and learn the local culture for “more pleasure
and greater memories.” Like Slow Food, Cittaslow began
in Italy and has now spread to Germany, Norway and the
UK, attempting to slow the pace of urban life through the
effective use of public space and controlled traffic flow.
Cittaslow’s philosophy encourages “caring for your town
and the people who live in it, getting to know the needs and
values of the local community.”
i n f o r m at i v e , e n t e rta i n i n g , e n g a g i n g , & m o s t
i m p o r t a n t l y, i n s p i r i n g i n f o r m a t i o n a t y o u r
fingertips.
Download the APP today!
Visit the Apple App Store, Android
App Store, or Scan this code to download
the Sense Magazine App.
| literati
Hollis and His Friend Marshall
By Robin delaney
My teenage son decided to build a boat. I paused. I remember the time he almost
drowned. Then he tried to make a sailboat with a beach towel for a sail. Then he made
a gas racing boat that hit a tree. Then he wanted to sail to an island in a sailfish. Then
he wanted to go 40 miles off shore. Then he wanted to build a car.
So I said what kind of boat? A wooden boat, with oars, he said. I breathed. That
sounds better. So off he flew to Maine to learn how to build a wooden boat. Then he
got back and started sanding. And sanding. And working at a gas station to pay for
the paint. And then he moved the boat around like a vagabond, trying to find a place
to work on it. Once he was caught in a Mardi Gras parade, but with this 18 foot boat
hanging off the roof the police thought he was part of the procession. The kids on
Texas Street wondered why he wasn’t throwing candy.
Then one day he landed at Marshall Parsons’ workshop, an Iraq war vet that had a
yard littered with famous old wooden Stauter and Negus boats once owned by people
his grandfather knew. What followed was a story of how a wise craftsman took him
in and said I like to help kids. Days and nights after work Marshall taught him what
to do.
Where you gonna take this row boat, Marshall asked him. Across the bay, he said.
Maybe to Dauphin Island. Maybe fishing in the Gulf. Thank you, Marshall, I think.
I went home to get my copy of Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. And a life
jacket.
My son wrote a story about the time his dad and uncle almost drowned in the Gulf.
It was published. Be careful what you teach your children. And what you don’t. But
let them dream.
Marshall asked my son, what is your job this summer. I am working on cell research
at Mitchell Cancer Center, he said. He just wants to cure cancer.
LITERATI SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
Sense invites you to submit edgy, eclectic pieces. We welcome short fiction, essays, humor, and poetry submissions. Rights to the material submitted remain those of its author, who is protected
under Creative Commons licenses. We reserve the right to choose all materials that appear in the publication. For more detailed submission information, email [email protected].
50 | OCTOBER 2012
DigiTal MaMMography,
FasT resulTs
at the Imaging Center at USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital
Quick. Convenient. Thorough.
That’s the special treatment our mammogram patients receive at the Imaging Center at USA Children’s & Women’s
Hospital. We provide our patients with a report from the reading radiologist before the patient leaves. No waiting
for a phone call hours or days later. Your physician is sent a formal report within 48 hours with our findings and
recommendations.
Our Breast Center utilizes Hologic state-of-the-art equipment. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in
women, but digital mammography provides an important tool for early detection, which is the best hope for treatment
and recovery.
please call us at 415-1660 or visit
www.usahealthsystem.com/cwhimaging
for more information.
17
*
Travel Canada
20 Rock N’ Cold
WWW.THESENSEOFITALL.COM
36
Hot Shop