Five of the area’s community leaders were honored Thursday at No’Ala magazine’s second annual Renaissance Awards

Billy Ray Warren was named the Renaissance Person of the Year and the Renaissance Person for Service and Spirituality. Warren was recognized for his work with the Alabama Renaissance Faire, Walnut Street Historic District, Downtown Florence Unlimited and contribution to the vibrant arts and business district downtown.

Donna Johnson was honored as the Renaissance Person for Science and Medicine for her work as a caregiver at Mitchell-Hollingsworth and as a volunteer to combat cancer and Alzheimer’s.

The Renaissance Person for Business and Leadership was Bud Ward who was recognized for his efforts to help start-up companies through the Angel Network and to help students through the Shoals Scholar Dollars program.

Dr. Randy Pettus, the Renaissance Person for Education, was honored for his life-long dedication to teaching and administration and his work as executive director of Shoals Scholar Dollars.

Billy and Jeanne Reid were selected as the Renaissance People in Arts and Culture for their passionate support of local musicians through Shindig and promotion of cultural entertainment through On Stage.

“We created the Renaissance Awards two years ago to honor the people who work behind the scenes to better our community every day,” said Allen Tomlinson, editor of No’Ala magazine. “A Renaissance person is someone who is well-rounded and proficient in many areas. Our five winners, and our 24 nominees, have tremendous talents they’ve utilized in multiple ways. They are teachers, mentors, role models and wonderful ambassadors for the Shoals.”

Recipients were recognized in front of a packed crowd at Table 18. Each of the five winners received a custom sculpture designed by David Sims. The iron blades were hand-cut and distressed by Alabama Metal Art and the bases were created out of spalted maple by wood artist Robin Wade, who also assembled the awards. A sterling silver charm by Tishian Scales attached with waxed twine completes the statuette.

Nearly 30 leaders in Colbert and Lauderdale counties were nominated by readers of No’Ala, and a committee of 20 selected the five winners.  The five honorees will be featured in the March/April issue of No’Ala. For more information on the Renaissance Awards, call No’Ala magazine at (256) 766-4222 or visit www.noalamag.com.

Congratulations, you’re engaged!  Now what? Don’t worry, we researched all of the details for you! Download our wedding planning calendar and you’ll know what you’re doing every month—all the way up until the big day! Keep us posted on your progress!

Download our wedding planning calendar here.

You know, of course, that there are a million and one details involved in planning the perfect wedding. It all seems so confusing and overwhelming—who pays for what? What’s the best time of year for a wedding? What colors should you pick—and why? And is it really important to write all of those thank-you notes?

The reasons why we do some of the things we do, when it comes to weddings, are obscure and hidden in tradition. Some of the rules are hard and unchangeable, and some are a little more flexible. But when you get right to it, there are ten major areas of stress for every bride. Here they are—with some ideas about how to navigate. Relax—and enjoy the process!

Click here to download our planning guide.

Last year I attended only two weddings, and believe me they could not have been more different, or alike.

In late September, I was a guest at the wedding of Alex Wittscheck and Erin Speed. Their wedding, otherwise known as the Shoals Perfect Wedding, was held on the open fields of Bluewater Creek Polo Club. Although I barely knew the couple when the contest started, I discovered during the months of planning that this young couple seemed as though they had been together their whole lives. They were at once calm and wide-eyed, which only inspired us all to make sure their day was the most special it could be. The wedding was well attended with hundreds of family and friends, and the pastoral setting was ideal for letting couples dance, musicians sing, children run, and paper lanterns rise high into the crisp fall sky. Jordyn Dean, Armosa Studios and all of the wedding partners came together in such a beautifully united way that I don’t think it could ever really be duplicated again. It was the perfect wedding.

In early November, I attended the wedding of an old friend and his longtime partner. Unlike Alex and Erin’s wedding, Jon and Robert’s wedding took place in Washington, D.C., just blocks away from the Capitol at a hotel which allowed pets, since the couple’s three Basenjis made up the rest of the wedding party. There were less than 50 people in attendance, made up of mostly family and close friends who the couple made very clear had played a very important part in their lives. After dinner Jon and Robert gave their mothers each a beautiful necklace and thanked them for their love and acceptance. Then the wine flowed, sumptuous wedding cake was passed, and three energetic dogs entertained the crowd for hours. And again, it was perfect.

This is not the usual editors letter. I won’t take the time to direct your attention to any one page of the magazine, but I will tell you that designing a wedding issue and attending two very different weddings have taught me two things: Love is present everywhere—even in the most opposite of settings. And that every wedding is the perfect wedding.

It’s beginning to look a lot like…Christmas? Already? Where has this year gone?

In reality, it’s looked a lot like Christmas at the No’Ala offices for about two months. Almost as soon as the “Beautiful People” issue went to the printer, we started gathering the goodies we wanted to show for this holiday season. Shoals area retailers have some great treats for you this year, as you will see, and we were also able to collect and personally test some recipes for side dishes and desserts that will make an impression at your holiday table. It didn’t matter that we were cooking these dishes and gathering the Christmas gifts when it was still ninety degrees outside—we’re ready for the Holidays!

Although it seems that the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is dominated by holiday hustle and bustle, there are other things that happen around here during that time. One example is the Division II Championship Football Game, an event that has brought at least $26 million to the Shoals area since it was first played here. Along the way, it has transformed the way the NCAA Division II celebrates its championship teams, as you will see, and it certainly cements our reputation for Southern Hospitality. And how can you discuss Division II without talking about Division I, and UNA’s planned move to that level? We decided this would be a good time to take an in-depth look at what the move will mean, and writer Michelle Eubanks discovered it isn’t all about athletics.

Special thanks to Lynn and Randy Coleman, who let us take over their house to photograph the clothes for this Holiday issue. Thanks also to Grady Liles, Mickey Haddock and Mitch Dobbins, who spent time with us retelling the history of the Division II Championship Game. And finally, a very special thanks to the area retailers who were able to lend us the beautiful and wonderful things shown in our Holiday Buying Guide this year. If you’re looking for a unique gift, you’ll find it right here at home!

Now, a little holiday advice. Be sure to make time this year to slow down and enjoy the season. Read this issue carefully, make your shopping decisions early, and make it a point to buy locally. If you’re giving a Holiday party, pay special attention to Dan Halcomb’s Rules for Entertaining. Take in a concert or go see the dancing waters at Spring Park; join the festivities at First Friday or Third Thursday, and take note of the beautiful decorations all around the Shoals. Adopt a team and support them at the Division II Championship Game; cook and sing and decorate…and most of all, enjoy this wonderful season!