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Comes to Madison
KentuckyDerby Local
Goat CheeseRecipes
April 2012
gets you inshape
Irish dancing
Welcome Neighbor
madisonALhospital.org
facebook.com/MadisonHospitalFan
N
ow
O
pen
The dream of a hospital to serve
Madison and western Madison
County has become a reality.
While we take care of you and
your family, we pledge to treat
you like a member of our family.
Madison Living 3
Welcome Neighbor
madisonALhospital.org
facebook.com/MadisonHospitalFan
N
ow
O
pen
The dream of a hospital to serve
Madison and western Madison
County has become a reality.
While we take care of you and
your family, we pledge to treat
you like a member of our family.
4 Madison Living
What sets our magazine apart, some wonder. It’s the community journalism.
It’s the stories and photographs you won’t find anywhere else. That’s what makes Madison Living unique. Our community-focused feature stories showcase the best Madison has to offer.
In this April edition, we covered Derby Days, an event that brings the Kentucky
Derby to Madison. Gloria Hester, a certified therapeutic yoga teacher uses her skills to relax horses. We take you inside the home of Norma Henry and display the tastiest goat cheese in the area.
We want to feature all things great in our community and are pleased you are joining us for the ride.
MADISON LIVING
MANAGEMENTErica Slone
EDITORIALMichael Hansberry
Gregg L. ParkerBrittney JonesAnna Durrett
MARKETINGApril Strickland
Myra Sawyer
OFFICE MANAGERLaura Samples
PRODUCTIONDaniel HolmesJamie Sparacino
Sarah BrewerAmy Baldis
Madison LivingP.O. Box 859 Madison, AL 35758
Advertising Iquiries256.772.6677
Madison Living is published monthly by Madison Publications, LLC
MadisonLivingMagazine.com
Cover photograph by Sarah Brewer.
Madison Living 5
features
food
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6Arts & cultureDerby Days of May
to your heAlthIrIsh DancIng gooD for the soul
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29let’s eAthuMble heart farMs has area’s best goat cheese
In the bIzhester IntroDuces soMatIcs’ to area
out & AboutoutIngs arounD town
homehomethe grace ofhenry hoMe
style
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10fAshIonlanDers Mclarty style shoot
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ARTS & CULTURE
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The Madison Station Historical Preservation Society is bringing the Derby back to its original
home.Madison Derby Days is said to be one
of the city’s premier festivals, promoting Northern Alabama as the original Southern home of horse racing.
On Saturday, May 5, the first annual Madison Derby Day’s festival will be held in downtown historic Madison. Dawn Johnson is the chair for this festival. She says the historic society is excited to help bring this event to Madison residents.
“Since October of last year, there have been many helping hands in making this event come to fruition,” Johnson says. “We have more than 60 volunteers, service clubs, as well as local businesses working together.” Johnson says she first became interested in Madison Derby Days while attending a regular monthly meeting of the historical society, 501(C) (3) (a non profit organization). Wanting to do something a little different from the regular home tour, Dawn contacted Shrail Heinrich, whom Johnson calls her “event advisor.” Heinrich has been instrumental in planning many Madison Street Festivals. “When I spoke
with Shrail,” Johnson said, “this event started to turn into a festival. Shrail had so many great ideas. I’d like to give her the credit because it was Shrail’s suggestion to combine our home tour with the 10K Run Through The Roses race on May 5th, which is organized by Kristen Kulovich.”
While discussing plans for Madison Derby Days at a monthly historic meeting, historian John Rankin said Madison was once famous for its horse racing.
“The once world-famous races held here in Madison actually pre-dated the Kentucky Derby,” Johnson said. “Elijah Boardman played a tremendous historical
erby ays of MayD
wrItten by brIttney JonesPhotograPhs by sArAh brewer
LEFT: Juliana Johnson and Final Analysis. She is the three-year-old philly of Derby winner, Monarchos. Monarchos is best known for winning the 2001 Kentucky Derby. He also has the second fastest time in the races history, coming in second to Secretariat. ABOVE LEFT: Rachel Masterson ABOVE RIGHT: From left to right-Tammy Miller, Keegan Mumaw, Rachel Masterson, Jenni Sproul, Debbie Gallier and Stephanie Horton.
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BELOW: Juliana Johnson and Final Analysis. RIGHT: Tammy Miller
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role in attracting fine race horses to this area. Boardman owned prized-winning horses and was the owner of “Boardman Stables,” which was once located on the land currently owned by Redstone Arsenal,” she adds. Local historians Nancy Rohr and John Rankin believe that Madison could have been the “original Derby of the South.”
Madison Derby Days is Madison’s first public celebration of the Kentucky Derby. We will have singer-songwriter
performers from Nashville and the local area organized by Jim Parker, tethered hot air balloon rides, mechanical bull rides, human hamster ball races, car exhibits and even a diaper derby for babies,” she says.
The festival wouldn’t be complete without funnel cakes, fried green tomatoes, roasted corn, sweet-tea drinks and non-alcoholic mint juleps.
Johnson says since Derby Days will be held on the actual day of the Kentucky Derby there will be five large TV screens
spread throughout the downtown area and will cover the Derby festivities during the Madison festival.
Madison Derby Days will be something you will not want to miss. Everyone is encouraged to come out and support this event. All proceeds are earmarked for renovations in downtown historic Madison. Come expecting to have a good time, learn some history and don’t forget your Derby Hats! More information can be found at Madisonderbydays.com.
CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT: Jenni Sproul, Keegan Mumaw, Stephanie Horton and Debbie Gallier. BELOW: Juliana Johnson gives Final Analysis a kiss.
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FASHION
PhotograPhs: sArAh brewer & crIsten smIthVehIcles: suPPlIeD by lAnDers mclArty
Riding instyle with Landers
McLarty
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Megan Crowell, Angela Walczak and Tim Harwood know how to picnic in
style by their Chrysler 200 Convertible S at Edgewater. The Convertible
S and Limited models feature the award-winning 3.6L PentastarR V6 engine coupled with the AutoStick
six-speed automatic transmission as standard equipment. It delivers 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of
torque, while providing fuel economy ratings of 19 city / 29 highway mpg+.
In addition, it has a Flex Fuel Supply System that can operate effectively
on any blend of gasoline and fuel-grade ethanol up to E85.
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Horses don’t drive like a minivan-and when Elizabeth Shawn takes
her children to places like the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, she prefers
the comfort, class and power of the Chrysler Town & Country. The Town
& Country features a 3.6L PentastarR V6 engine coupled with the
AutoStick six-speed transmission, delivering best-in-class 283
horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque+ with fuel economy ratings of
17 city / 25 highway mpg+. BOTTOM LEFT: Lee Shawn & Jack
Shaw enjoy the spacious comfort of the Town & Country’s back seat.
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Christy Hawkins Dunn likes shopping at places like Bridge Street Town Centre, and she prefers transportation with Italian style. The FIAT 500c Pop and Lounge models provide you with the perfect blend of emotional design, rational appeal and a high level of standard features and personalization options. The interior design theme of the FIAT 500c is an artistic blend of clean lines and conveniently located features inspired by the historic model. Even with the top up, the interior is airy and roomy, and its environment designed to be comfortable and enjoyable for any destination. 30/city & 38/highway mpg.
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When Chad Martin goes fishing with his son Camden at Edgewater, he takes the Dodge Ram 1500 to ensure
they can take that ‘big catch’ back home. Ram is the only pickup manufacturer to achieve 20 MPG HWY+ across its entire light-duty engine lineup. Available 5.7L Hemi(r) V8
with 390 HP 10,450 pounds maximum towing capacity. Available in Regular, Quad and Crew cabs with three bed sizes. Exclusive available RamBox(r) Cargo Management
System. Get behind the wheel of a Ram truck and you know you can take power and performance for granted.
But there’s also an incredibly smooth ride, extra grip and pulling power available when you need it and extreme pride - from those who made it and those who drive it.
STORAGE Inside and out, no space went uninspected for storage capability. It’s why the Ram 1500 boasts available in-floor storage bins, an available two-tier center console and the available RamBox(r) Cargo Management System,
with lighted, waterproof drainable storage compartments on both sides of the truck bed that can each fit drinks and
ice or your golf bag or an array of power tools.
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Markees Basset likes to take his date, Brittney Jones, to nice places like the Von Braun Center
in style—that’s why he prefers the 2012 Chrysler 300 . The Motor city’s heart comes in Two Sizes: V6 and V8. Power, efficiency and control all add
up in the 2012 Chrysler 300. The 3.6L PentastarR V6 8-speed produces 292 horsepower and a
powerfully efficient 19 city / 31 highway mpg+. The Chrysler 300C 5.7L HEMIR V8 delivers a road-
gripping 363 horsepower with a gas-sipping 16 city / 25 highway mpg+ - with that power wielded
most precisely by the advanced 300C all-wheel-drive system. And with a host of standard control
offerings for all trim levels. The Chrysler 300 is built to exceed expectations and do donuts
around compromise.
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Daniel, Tim, Sharon and Rosalie Holcombe prefer the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee for trips to places like Rainbow Mountain and it’s obvious why. From your first moment inside, you’ll experience the exquisite comfort and exceptional quality that only comes from a luxury vehicle of the highest caliber - the most luxurious SUV in its class. From the first moment inside an Overland Summit, you’ll enjoy exceptional quality and craftsmanship with the finest materials including rich, supple leather and real wood inlay. Available features include a real wood and leather-trimmed, heated steering wheel, and cooled, vented front seats. WRAP-AROUND PROTECTION Jeep Grand Cherokee is designed to help protect you with 45 available Safety and Security features. Full-length side-curtain as well as driver and passenger seat-mounted pelvic and thorax air bags are standard on all models. Outstanding structural integrity with extensive use of high-strength and ultra-high-strength steel and door guard beams help to protect you and your occupants in the event of a side impact collision. Get wide-open viewing day or night with Grand Cherokee’s available Command View dual-pane panoramic sunroof. It offers twice as much surface compared to the standard sunroof and includes a dual-pane design with a power sliding glass front panel and a fixed glass panel with power sunshade in the rear.
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HOMELush lawn and inviting design grace the Henry homewrItten by GreGG l. PArKerPhotograPhs by sArAh brewer
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Norma Henry's home is located in Rainbow Landing.
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Norma Henry modestly describes herself as “just an ordinary person.” Yet, one glance at her lawn, a
view indoors or a conversation make for an exceptional experience.
Her traditional home in Rainbow Landing has intricate fieldstone on the front with cut-limestone window keystones and sills.
The house features gracious foyers, three bedrooms and bathrooms, open kitchen and formal living and dining rooms.
Color schemes rely on peach and cream.In the music conservatory, she keeps a
piano, antique violin and guitar. Custom artwork blends with a flowing mural of music notes, clarinet and violin.
Mark Williams with Chateau de Faux
Inc. created the mural and other designs of whimsy and elegance with faux and art finishes. A royal peacock preens in one bathroom, decorated in purples and blues.
Playful rabbits, songbirds and egret grace the walls. Trompe l’oeil (trick the eye) techniques depict a mother quail checking her eggs. Bunches of grapes sprout real tassels. Mice bashfully peek from a mousehole.
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An immaculate decorator, Henry always has tables fully set with glistening serving pieces. In the baths, fresh flower petals float in partially filled tubs.
Her late husband Felton was employed by Coca-Cola for 40 years, and one room memorializes him with Coke memorabilia, including serving trays and a Christmas tree covered in Coca-Cola ornaments. “Felton was an Alabama fan, as you would see by the many Alabama prints in the Coca-Cola room,” she said.
Henry’s lush lawn has evergreen and deciduous shrubbery and trees, from arborvitae, holly and dwarf nandina to Knockout roses and maples. She has received Yard of the Month and 1,000 Points of Light awards from the Madison Beatification and Tree Board.
Camellias, Henry’s favorite shrub, brighten the January landscape with pink and red ruffles. One camellia blooms twice each year.
Henry grows both miniature and large-leafed specimens of shade-loving hosta. “The large green ones are my favorite,” she said. “Hostas are so beautiful in spring but don’t tolerate July heat.”
On the backyard’s gentle slope, Henry’s showpiece is the three-tiered koi pond with two waterfalls. By hand, she feeds dazzling orange fish with white and black markings. Pansies, creeping Jenny and flowering annuals line the pond.
“Felton and I had a pond at our other home, so I built a large pond here for all our fish,” she said.
Henry is a collector of Depression glass, Mary Frances purses and Madame Alexander and porcelain dolls. Cake plates are choice pieces in Waterford crystal. She wore brooches from her extensive Weiss antique jewelry when she worked for an aerospace company.
Daughter Sherry Hall lives in Madison. Henry’s granddaughter Laura volunteers with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. A graduate of Auburn University, grandson Brandon is finishing law school. His wife is Jo Layne Hall.
“I like to share my plants with people,” Henry said about sharing cuttings. Guests often leave with other parting gifts ... a candle, a note or any symbol of Henry’s Southern graciousness.
RIGHT: Henry’s lush lawn has evergreen and deciduous shrubbery and trees, from arborvitae, holly and dwarf nandina to Knockout roses and maples. BELOW: An immaculate decorator, Henry always has tables fully set with glistening serving pieces.
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To Meet Your NeedsWhether you’re in the market for a storage building, horse barn or farm shop, Morton Buildings can construct a building that meets your needs without breaking your budget. From the initial meeting through the construction, you work with your Morton sales consultant and a team of dedicated employees to ensure you get a quality building that will remain stylish and functional for years to come.
You deserve a quality building, you deserve a Morton building.
©2011 Morton Buildings, Inc. All rights reserved. A listing of GC licenses
available at mortonbuildings.com/licenses.aspx. Reference Code 043.
256.352.0406Garden City, AL
800-447-7436 • mortonbuildings.com
For more information
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Humble Heart Farms has area’s best goat cheesewrItten by AnnA DurrettPhotograPhs by sArAh brewer
LET’S EAT
Spell and her son, Isaac, usually start the day on the farm at 5:30
a.m. and it ends at 5:30 p.m.
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Sitting on a plot of land in Elkmont is a blissful farm with well cared for animals. Most of the animals are goats, but there
are also sheep, ducks, cats and a Great Pyrenees dog that watches over the herd and protects them from coyotes.
Humble Heart Farms has been producing dairy products for locals to enjoy since 2006, including its soft, spreadable goat cheese made from the milk of Saanen goats, which are native to Switzerland.
“Everything is a product of what it eats,” says Leslie Spell, the owner and caretaker of the farm. The diet of a goat impacts the taste of its milk. The happy, playful goats on Humble Heart Farms graze on grasses and are fed a high protein mixture of cottonseed, cotton hulls, alfalfa, corn and soy. Spell attributes the mild taste of her farm’s goat cheese to not only the grasses on which they graze, but also the cottonseed and cotton hulls in their diet. Only goats in areas that grow cotton can cost-effectively use it as feed, so Spell’s goat cheese has a different taste than any cheese from California or Wisconsin farms.
On top of making their milk tasty, the diet gives them the nutrients they need to produce milk without being overworked.
“Once they have their babies and they’re into their milking season, they’re like athletes that need to be eating the absolute best,” she says. “They produce milk from anywhere between 8 and 10 months out of the year.”
However, Spell says every farm has its own pluses and minuses.
“Corporate farms produce a cheaper product in vast amounts, but it has a lower quality and is less nutritious than a natural setting farm,” she says. “When (people) think of a healthy farm, they think of sunshine and grass. To a lot of people, the idea of everything being under a roof is a little weird.”
Spell sells her products at the Madison City Farmers Market. The market will be open Saturdays beginning April 21.
She says her cheese is more nutritious and naturally tastier.
“The farmers market costs more, but you’re going to get so much more and we’re going to continue a local food source,” says Spell. She notes that if local farms continue
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to go out of business, the United States will wind up being completely dependent on its corporate farms and other countries, like China and Mexico. In this scenario, the common person will have no control over what he or she eats.
Humble Heart Farm offers a diverse variety of goat cheese flavors, including French, Honey, Rio Grande, Plain, Smoked Paprika, Garden Herb, Tuscan, Texas Hickory, Pecan Cranberry, Morocco and Madras Curry. Tuscan and honey are
two of the most popular flavors. Goat cheese will last in a refrigerator for about two weeks, but it can also be frozen until it is ready to be used without sacrificing any of its quality.
The farm also uses its goat milk to make various flavors of sorbet and what Spell calls Udder Escape, which is similar to ice cream. One of its flavors, Apple Pie, uses apple cider from Isom’s Orchard in Athens. Small containers of the desserts can be found seasonally at farmers markets in the
area. Humble Heart Farms goat cheese
can be purchased year round at Ayers Farm Family Market on 2015 Memorial Parkway in Huntsville at Saddle Rack at 22806 Sandlin Road in Elkmont. Find the scrumptious cheese seasonally at Madison City Farmers Market, Hampton Cove Farmers Market and NASA Farmers Market. Huntsville restaurants 1892 East and Shea’s Express prepares dishes using the goat cheese.
LEFT: The mild taste of the farm’s goat cheese is not only attributed to the grasses on which they graze but also the cottonseed and cotton hulls in their diet. ABOVE: Bags of cheese hang in the cheese processing facility. The bag separates the cheese from the whey.
Mediterranean Spinach Dip1 Pkg. Frozen Creamed Spinach
(Green Giant or Birds Eye)1 Container Humble Heart Farms
Mediterranean Goat Cheese2 Tablespoons Raisins
Remove frozen spinach from plastic pouch and place in a 2qt. pot and heat on med until spinach has melted. Add Humble Heart Farms Mediterranean Cheese; stir until cheese has melted. Toss in raisins and stir. Serve warm
with chips or crackers – pita style chips work well. 32 Madison Living
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Easy Honey Cheese Dessert 1 container Humble Heart Farms Honey Cheese
Graham CrackersChocolate or Caramel Topping – optional
Seasonal Fruit – optionalPlastic container to store in refrigerator over night
Break crackers in half (most are perforated so they break cleanly)
Spread Humble Heart Honey Cheese on one side of each cracker then stack them together. Place it on its side in a
plastic container or plate covered tightly with plastic wrap; refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
This cheese cake is great by itself or topped with chocolate, caramel, or fresh fruit. If you can’t decide, a combination
of both may be the answer – Chocolate with Fresh Strawberries – Caramel with Fresh Peaches.
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[email protected] | 256-542-1629 | www.flashlightsandfireflies.com
Arugula and Pear Goat Cheese PizzaUse your favorite pizza crust and roll into a circle. Brush the dough with olive oil and cook on a pizza stone in a 500 degree oven for about 5-10 minutes. Remove the crust and allow to cool for a few minutes. Spread your favorite goat cheese on the bottom of the crust and top with fresh arugula. Slice a pear and arrange the slices on top of the arugula. Use additional goat cheese and sprinkle over the top of the pizza.
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IN THE BIZ
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wrItten by brIttney JonesPhotograPhs by stePhen Pyle
Hester introduces somantics to areaG
loria Hester believes in bringing people and horses together in a way that benefits both.
Hester is a Certified Therapeutic Yoga Teacher and Certified Somatic Educator (with emphasis in the tradition of Thomas Hanna) for the horse and human body. She is also a Certified Equine Hanna Somatic Educator (CEHSE) and Yoga teacher trainer. She is responsible for ensuring the best quality for horses and the healing art of one’s body.
Hester is the founder and director of the Yogic Wisdom for Horse and Human Training Institute. She is a member of the International Association of yoga therapists and specializes in yoga and somatics as therapy. She has been teaching yoga since 2000, as well as working with horses somatically since 2006.
“Somatics is beneficial for humans in that it is an internally based biofeedback mechanism,” she states. “It is helpful in re-patterning the neuromuscular system to relieve chronic pain and injuries that other modalities have not been able to relieve,” she states. Hester originally began to study yoga to help heal a low back injury.
She is dedicated to sharing the benefits of both and currently travels to hold
retreats, clinics and teacher trainings internationally.
“My work is varied and interesting,” she says. “I am blessed to have the opportunity to share what I love as well as what inspires me with others.”
Hester offers programs that draw students from all over the country, many of whom have similar interests in teaching Yoga in a more individualized and specialized way.
“One does not have to be a yoga teacher or a horse person to work with me. Clients range from horse owners to professional horsemen to certified yoga teachers, students of yoga, massage therapists and acupuncturists,” she says.
Somatics is a method for reawakening the mind’s control of movement, flexibility, and health and is part of the knowledge base she works from with both species.
Hester grew up on a horse farm. Her background with horses and her training in the field of Yoga were a natural fit for her within the field of equine somatics.
Hester says horses are, by nature, “very attuned” to our state of being as they are prey animals. Their survival depends on their ability to judge whether we are a threat or not.
“They are great teachers and helpers in
LEFT: Hester grew up on a horse farm. Her background with horses and her
training in the field of Yoga were a natural fit for her within the field of
equine somatics.
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the field of self-awareness,” she says. “Our somatic state is another way of saying how we show up in the world, what we embody. And some horses are very good at helping us see this.”
Hester says while her work predominantly focuses on helping the horses themselves, they often inadvertently help those working with
them just as much. “We are really working with the horses
own nervous systems through gentle, slow movement. It is such a lovely way to work with them and, of course, the individual participants get to experience through their own movement the power of a somatic practice.”
She says somatic work is very gentle
and is appropriate for most anyone. “Ideally, by the end of our time
together, both horses and individuals are happier, free of pain, more empowered and are moving more freely. Both have more control of their own sensory motor processes,” she added.
While working with the horse and human body, Hester’s main focus is to re-
BELOW: Hester says horses are, by nature, “very attuned” to our state of being as they are prey animals. Their survival depends on their ability to judge whether we are a threat or not. RIGHT: Somatic work is appropriate and helpful for all vertebrate animals one does not have to be injured to benefit from a somatic practice, although often times this is what leads people to this work.
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educate the nervous system while enabling self-correction and releasing chronic holding patterns in the musculature.
“Since this work has been adapted from the tradition of Thomas Hanna’s Somatic work, the brain and the body begin to have a different kind of communication with one another,” she says.
Hester added her work involves alpha
gamma motor-neuron co-activation in the central nervous system, which allows the voluntary portions of the brain to reset what the involuntary portions of the brain have been controlling up to this point.
Somatic work is appropriate and helpful for all vertebrate animals one does not have to be injured to benefit from a somatic practice, although often times
this is what leads people to this work. Hester is originally from Alabama. She
has traveled to several locations to work with horses and teach yoga, including Costa Rica, Hawaii and all over the southwest desert.
If you would like to be on Gloria Hester’s “mailing list” for upcoming trainings and retreats, visit Gloriahesteryoga.com.
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ABOVE: Hester is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and specializes in Yoga and Somatics as Therapy.
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TO YOUR
HEALTH
Irish step dancing is a traditional
dance that comes from Ireland and
requires little to no use of the arms.
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DancingwrItten by mIchAel hAnsberryPhotograPhs by sArAh brewer
good for the soul
Irish
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All it took for Brandan Newman was will and a strong desire.
Fresh out of high school, Newman started teaching dance at age 18, with no previous teaching experience.
“I was hooked immediately,” Newman said.
Newman owns Fitness Arts Center, located at 312 Palmer Road in Madison. She’s now in her twelfth year of teaching.
She offers classes in Irish Step Dancing from beginning to advanced levels and Fèis Prep. She offers American Girl-themed dress-up birthday parties, as well as Girls’ Night Out events, in which girls ages 4 to 11 can come spend the evening playing dress up, do arts and crafts and get their hair and nails done.
“Our students perform year-round at community events, fundraisers and parades each year,” she said. “This year, we had the opportunity to perform at a Huntsville Stars baseball game, many international festivals.
The group also performs at the Madison Street Festival.
“Irish step dancing is a traditional dance that comes from Ireland. It’s the same style of dance that you see in shows like Riverdance or Lord of the Dance. It requires little to no use of the arms.
“I would say that Irish dancing is gaining popularity in the area as more residents become exposed to it,” she said. “There was previously no Irish dance school in Madison for the past 10 years, so it’s still very foreign to many people.”
Irish step dancing is broken into two parts: soft shoe and hard shoe.
Soft shoe is quiet and includes reels, light jigs, slip jigs and single jigs.
Hard shoes have a fiberglass tip and heel that make loud sounds, and dances include hornpipes and treble jigs.
She said dancers learn solos in both styles of shoes. They also learn céilí dances, which are group dances in various formations of two to 16 people.
“Irish step dancing is unique in that dancers must learn both soft and hard shoe
ABOVE: Owner, Brandan Newman ABOVE RIGHT: From left to right-Irish dancing is a fabulous way of tricking the mind into exercising. After class, students are dripping with sweat and exhausted Newman says her students have had the opportunity to perform the Huntsville Stars baseball game and many international festivals. Irish step dancing has huge health benefits for any age group and many people have found that their stamina has increased.
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in order to be deemed a true, proficient dancer,” she says.
“I don’t know of any other genre of dance that requires the dancer to be fluent in two very different styles.”
Newman moved to the area from the northern Virginia/Washington, D.C. area and opened her school in June of 2009. It wasn’t until the next year when she got a facility of her own.
“It has been quite an adventure in starting a dance school literally from scratch with all of my students starting at the absolute beginner level,” she says. “I opened not knowing anyone in the area, and have grown to over 50 dancers ages 6 through adult.”
Newman says she has a large base of home-school students, as well as entire families in her classes.
Not only are the classes socially beneficial, Newman says they are good for general health.
“Irish step dancing has huge health benefits for any age group,” she says. “My children and teen students find that their stamina is getting better, and they can do a lot more now that they’ve been dancing.”
She says many of her students also play sports and find that dance is great for cross training.
“My students are always saying how they did a certain exercise in their PE class that
day, and they were the best at it because we’ve been doing the same exercises in dance class,” she says. “I have tiny second-graders who can hold a plank for close to two minutes without shaking.
“Once my dance class starts, you never stop moving. My students come out dripping of sweat and exhausted after their night of classes. It’s a fabulous way of tricking the mind into exercising. You are usually unaware of how hard your body is working because you are too busy having fun.”
For more information, visit the site at Fitnessartscenter.com or email at [email protected].
ABOVE: Irish step dancing is broken
into two parts: soft shoe and hard shoe.
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redstone federal credit union ribbon cutting
redstone federal credit union held its ribbon cutting tuesday, feb. 7. redstone is located at 12157 county line road.
1. Mary grace evans and Dawn speegle
2. Dr. Pat odom,Ken Jost and Joyce Dye
3. liz Ponder and robert Davis
4. felecia McInnish and lori King-taylor
5. steve fisher and Javier ramos
6. Valerie rhodes, Jonathan Dobbins, bernadette spears and Danielle brooks
7. Phoebe steele, stephanie gerstman and alan Miller
8. lori Mcnutt and Melissa fields
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hospital Grand opening Gala & ribbon cutting Madison hospital held its grand opening gala, held february 24th and ribbon cutting, held feb. 28 in the hospital’s atrium.
1. Dr. Julie and Mayor Paul finley and lauren and Drew battle2. rao Kakani and cindy spillers3. gerald Dupree and beth Martin4. Mayor Paul finley and Dr. Julie finley, nansi clark and councilman steve haraway5. harpist Katherine newman from the huntsville symphony orchestra6. Police chief larry Muncey, councilman tommy overcash, Debbie overcash and Jan and burr Ingram7. Debbie Mccutcheon, clarence and Joyce tidwell, and representative Mac Mccutcheon8. laura and commissioner Dale strong9. Dorothy bridges and Pam holtzclaw10. tammi blockel, annie sandilin, Melissa Kuensli, Debbie fees and Dorrie neveau
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cafeteria ribbon cuttingMadison hospital held a ribbon cutting for its cafeteria tuesday, feb 28.
1. Keith sipek, Jacob hall and charlene Martin
2. cedric Junearick
3. clay brown and cathy anderson
4. Marie hyman and shree curry
5. crissy watkins and amanda clardy
6. Phoebe steele, felecia McInnish and susan Masotti
7. stephanie fish and thad gerrell
8. greg Moore and Keith DeJesus
9. christel Ilges
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Cafeteria ribbon cutting
Madison Hospital held a rib-bon cutting for its cafeteria
Tuesday, Feb. 28.
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AKA 54th annual Debutante ballthe alpha Kappa alpha 54th annual Debutante Presentation and ball was held at the Von braun center friday, feb 24th.
1. Meagan haywood, bukita stephens, ashley Matthews and brianna James
2. shakiyla nunn, alexis townsend and allysa King
3. art white and greggory haywood
4. lisa and telecia bradford
5. Janae heathm, gabrielle Jones and
cierrina thompson
6. sharron butler and rosetta williams
7. DJ Moore, Mark Jampton, Josh Kent, Darrius sanders, Jurquavius hampton and Jordan Moore
8. woneka Pride and stephanie burton
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fire & rescue fire Demonstration
the Madison fire and rescue Department recently held a fire demonstration open to the public.
1. Daryl McMeans and Pete Mehok
2. fire chief ralph cobb
3. brandy Moon and greg lockard
4. tavis Malone and alex ogden
5. David glassman and scot adams
6. Jeff bass, adam richter and Dea calce
7. Marty emerson and chris Mankin
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toddler storytimeMadison Public library hosted toddler storytime tuesday, Jan. 10. toddler storytime usually lasts around 15 minutes. It is geared toward the needs of children 12 months old to three years old. short books are read to introduce basic pre-literacy skills and develop attention spans.
1. adriana and Kaylie Key
2. sheila and Mikayla sanders
3. shannon and wesley carson
4. cathy, sarah, and river Parkerson
5. Paula and Isabele Morey
6. Jessica and lindsey Marsaw
7. June and Kaylee Murray
8. bhavika and shreeya Kumar
9. hallie and alice Kenny
10. ava and Katie scott
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mcc monthly luncheon
the Madison chamber of commerce luncheon was held feb. 16 at the Inn at Madison.
1. Melissa tsang, Michelle nesin and sen. tom butler
2. Pat wyenandt and larry Vannoy
3. Joe Knoch
4. Margie Morrow and angela giles-Moultonn
5. June landrum and brady wakefield
6. Jerry bong and Jim wittkop
7. terry sampson
8. tom Jarrell, tabitha Ivey and becca Jarrell
9. superintendent Dr. Dee fowler
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We hope you enjoyed learning about what Madison has to offer. We’ll see you next month.
PhotograPh by sArAh brewer
Y’ALL COME BACK
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