February 2026 Coosa Valley EC

Coosa Valley Electric

CONNECTED KITCHENS

CVEC & CVT Support Area Eateries

Manager Jon Cullimore

Co-op Editor

Kylie Entrekin

ALABAMA LIVING is delivered to some 450,000 Alabama families and businesses, which are members of 22 not-for-pro t, consumer-owned, locally directed and taxpaying electric cooperatives. Subscriptions are $15 a year for individuals not subscribing through participating Alabama electric cooperatives. Alabama Living (USPS 029-920) is published monthly by the Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Alabama, and at additional mailing o ce.

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Karl Rayborn

Editor Lenore Vickrey

Managing Editor

Allison Law

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Sean Burnley

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Danny Weston

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For co-op members, contact your local electric cooperative. Non-members, send your address change to contact@alabamaliving.coop.

9

Just the Two of Us

Pairs can come in all types: siblings, husbands and wives,  best friends and even our pets! 12

State of Symbols

Alabama’s official state symbols range from the colorful camellia to a red-bellied turtle to the state song, once sung by every child in our public schools.

18 Big Band Sound

The Dothan Moonlighters have been entertaining audiences with their cavalcade of Big Band hits for 50 years this month.

34 Plenty of Pasta

Pasta, whether it’s fancy spaghetti or traditional mac and cheese,  can be the base for a delicious meal. Our cooks share their favorite recipes with us.

ONLINE: www.alabamaliving.coop

EMAIL: letters@alabamaliving.coop MAIL: Alabama Living

is popular among patrons. Blue i Bistro is just one eatery relying on CVEC & CVT services. See story, Page 6.

Manager’s Comments

Buy Local

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

I tend to be a do-it-myself kind of guy, which means that from time to time, I take on projects big and small. Over the holidays I tackled several of these, one of which is requiring a little more research and planning than I had originally imagined.

Last year I purchased a new “toy hauler” camper. I like to explore offroad trails, and I like to camp but not rough it too bad. I do like some creature comforts.

My new toy hauler fits the bill perfectly except for one thing. I would like to upgrade a few things with the electrical system so that on those trips when I am truly “off grid,” I won’t have to fire up the generator every time I want to make a cup of coffee.

To accomplish this, I need to buy several things, such as wire, switches, breakers and several other bits of hardware. Now I could easily order these materials through Amazon. I often do buy through the online retailer because the variety, price, and delivery are hard to beat. But this is one of those times when I prefer to buy local and for several reasons.

With a project like this, ordering online doesn’t give me the opportunity to put my eyes and hands on the materials to make sure of the quality. Materials such as wire can be deceiving. Online sources, even those who sell through Amazon, often sell inferior products. They claim to be the grade and rating I want, but when I get them, I sometimes discover they’re not. And sending them back can be a hassle.

On the other hand, a local seller who’s been in business a while is usually more familiar with the products they sell and has built a local reputation for dealing with quality. If do I end up having a problem with an item, my local retailer is usually more responsive in resolving the issue.

I also find that local retailers are often

good sources of information and advice. If I’m working on a project, I can’t be the only person to have done what I’m doing. The knowledgeable employees at these businesses on more than one occasion have helped me avoid some common mistakes and kept me from purchasing items I don’t need.

One of the most important reasons for buying local, especially from locally owned businesses, is it helps keep money in the local economy and supports local people. That’s not to say the big box or chain retailers don’t support their local communities, but local businesses are owned and operated by our neighbors and sometimes even our friends. Even if I do end up buying from a chain store, instead of online, I still know that at least a portion of the money will stay local. And I’m still helping to employ local people.

A great example of this is locally owned restaurants. Even when I travel, I prefer to eat at local places as opposed to chains. While there are some good chain restaurants, I find the local joints typically offer an all-around more unique experience. Occasionally, I run into a bad meal, but thankfully those moments are rare. Within our service area we have some great local restaurants. For more information about a few local eateries, check out the article on pages 6 and 7.

Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative also likes to support businesses in our area. From the materials we use to build and maintain our distribution system to parts that help maintain our fleet of vehicles, we try to do whatever we can to help support our local communities and buying local is a big part of that.

Feel free to wish me luck as I tackle this camper project.

I hope you stay warm and are able to enjoy a Happy Valentine’s Day with someone you love. n

PROPANE SAFETY CHECKS MATTER

Behind Every Warm Home is a System Worth Checking for Safety and Reliability

By Kylie Entrekin

When winter mornings call for warm homes, hot showers and dependable cooking heat, propane is working to provide those everyday comforts. This versatile energy source powers everything from furnace and water heaters to stoves and generators. Like anything you rely on every day, propane equipment performs best when it’s properly cared for. Conducting routine propane safety checks offers a simple way to protect homes while keeping systems running safely and efficiently.

Coosa Valley Propane trained technicians are available to perform a professional inspection of the propane systems of customers.

“During an inspection, a trained technician examines your propane tank, gas lines, regulators and appliance connections to confirm everything is operating as it should,” said Clark Morris, a CVP technician. “We also look for signs of wear, corrosion or leaks and ensure the system meets current safety standards. These inspections help identify potential issues early, providing peace of mind for homeowners and an added layer of protection for families.”

Safety checks are especially important when starting new pro-

pane service, after a service interruption such as running out of gas, when moving into a home with propane appliances or after installing new equipment.

“Even if everything appears to be working normally, periodic inspections are a smart part of routine home maintenance,” he said.

Scheduling a propane safety check with Coosa Valley Propane is easy! Customers can contact the office by phone at 256-3624780, online at CoosaValleyPropane.com or through the CVP mobile app to request an inspection at a convenient time. In addition, CVP offers recertification for propane containers brought to the office at 69680 AL Hwy. 77 in Talladega for refilling to ensure the smaller tanks are safe and compliant for continued use.

“Our team will explain what to expect during the safety checks and recertification process and answer any questions along the way,” Morris said.

At Coosa Valley Propane, our responsibility goes beyond delivering fuel. We’re committed to helping customers use propane safely and confidently every day. Reach out today to schedule your propane safety check! n

By Jackie Edmondson

TCONNECTEDKitchens CVEC & CVT Support Area Eateries

he smell of hickory smoke drifting down Stemley Bridge Road, the hum of an espresso machine before sunrise in Lincoln, and the clink of glasses during happy hour near Blue Eye Creek all have something in common: they’re powered by Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative and connected by Coosa Valley Technologies.

These three locally loved food and drink destinations prove that dependable service helps them thrive and great food and drinks often are best close to home.

Powered by Coosa Valley: CVEC & CVT

Ask any restaurant owner what keeps them up at night, and many of them will say “power, connectivity and reliability.” For The Shack Barbecue, Lincoln Brewhouse and Blue i Bistro, that peace of mind comes from CVEC and CVT.

“We’re dedicated Coosa Valley customers,” said Rickey Frieze of The Shack. “They’ve always been good to us. When Hurricane Zeta hit, they made sure we were one of the first places with power so we could cook meals for storm-affected communities.”

At Lincoln Brewhouse, dependable service matters just as much as good coffee beans.

“We absolutely love it,” owner Lacey Stephens said. “No complaints at all.”

Blue i Bistro owner Loren Peters echoed the sentiment.

“They’re efficient, affordable and easy to work with. We’ve been very happy,” he said. “And the employees are great customers. They eat here a lot.”

The Shack Barbecue

Long before barbecue became big business, it was simply what Dot Hann slow-cooked for the people she loved. When customers at her husband’s bait and tackle shop began following the rich scent of hickory smoke to its source, they urged Dot to sell the meat. She agreed, and the popularity of the tender pork quickly grew into the idea of opening a restaurant.

Built with crossties and heart, Dot and Haskell Hann opened “Hack’s Shack” on July 1, 1983. After Haskell passed away the next year, the restaurant became known as The Shack, a name now synonymous with Talladega barbecue tradition. Over the decades, that tradition has earned recognition well beyond the local community with The Shack recently being named one of “10 unsung Alabama restaurants with great food” by AL.com and one of “11 low-key BBQ joints in Alabama that keep long-time regulars coming back” by the Family Vacations U.S. website.

Sharon Frieze, the Hanns’ daughter, and her husband Rickey bought the restaurant in 1990.

“We haven’t changed the way we cook in all these years,” Sharon

said. “We still cook our meat outside for 12 to 15 hours over hickory. We won’t change our ways just to make it easier.”

Their son Michael, who joined the staff full-time three years ago after a decade as a health inspector, keeps the tradition alive by smoking up to 200 pork shoulders a week with ribs often selling out by mid-afternoon.

“We begged him to come work with us,” Sharon said of Michael. “We’re not getting any younger, and we can’t do this forever. We need family to carry on the tradition.”

The Shack feels less like a business and more like a family reunion. Their daughter Heather waits tables on weekends; a waitress has been there since she was 15; and longtime cook Gloria White has been employed for 32 years.

“We really are one big family at the Shack,” Rickey said. “We really stand by one another.”

Famous guests from Dale Earnhardt to Billy Ray Cyrus dot the walls in autographed photos hanging on the Shack’s walls, but it’s the generations of local families that mean the most to the Friezes and their employees.

“We love seeing parents bring their kids, then those kids come back as adults,” Sharon said. “If it wasn’t for family, I don’t think we would have done this for so long.”

Lincoln Brewhouse

While most of Lincoln is still asleep, Lacey Stephens is already baking. By 3:30 a.m., the ovens are on and the scent of blueberry cheesecake muffins, her most requested item, fills Lincoln Brewhouse. Everything is made from scratch, from croissants and scones to cinnamon rolls and cake pops.

“Owning a coffee shop is something I’ve always wanted to do,” she said. “It truly has been a dream come true.”

She and her husband Daniel opened the shop in March 2024 and have enjoyed a steady stream of customers. Lacey said it’s the connection with their customers that sets them apart.

“We try to make every visit a personal experience,” Lacey said. “We pay attention to what our customers order, so we already know what they want when they walk in the door.”

The menu is as creative as the space is Instagram-friendly: caramel chocolate chip coffee (their top seller), lattes, macchiatos, sassy sodas, Red Bull-infused drinks and over 40 flavor options.

Their reach now goes beyond brick and mortar. A coffee trailer travels to festivals and football games, and a second location, Valley Brewhouse, is set to open soon in Alexandria.

“People will drive 30 minutes just to get here,” Lacey said. “We want to be where our customers are, so we are expanding. It really is an exciting time.”

Blue i Bistro

Blue i Bistro wasn’t supposed to exist — at least not this way. Loren and Tracy Peters originally opened Blue i Eatery on Lake Logan Martin last February only to lose it to a devastating fire just weeks later.

“We cried for a week,” Tracy said. “Then we made a Plan B.”

That plan led them to a cozy spot in downtown Lincoln at the end of Blue Eye Creek. One symbolic survivor of the fire made the journey with them: a hand-blown glass “i” crafted in Venice, Italy. Cracked but standing, it now anchors the bistro’s story of resilience.

“It’s a symbol of our comeback in the new location,” said Loren of the bistro that opened in October. “It’s a symbol that we are trying to keep the dream alive.”

The menu shifted to match the lack of storage and smaller kitchen, focusing on fresh, madeto-order dishes dreamed up by Tracy and executive chef Beau Haywood.

“We’re just different than other restaurants,” Haywood said. “Everything is cooked from scratch.”

His Guinness Glaze, a slightly sweet, deeply savory sauce, has become a house signature. Tracy’s made-from-scratch cupcakes, baklava, cookies and candies as well as specialty coffees round out an impressive breakfast, lunch and dinner menu.

Beyond the food, Blue i is a gathering place. Trivia nights, live music, bingo and a lively bar program keep the bistro buzzing.

“People don’t just come here to eat,” said Jennifer Peterson, the bar manager. “They come to connect. We host events where people find their best friends.”

From smoke pits to espresso bars to bustling bistro tables, these businesses share more than great food and drinks. They share a commitment to community and local partnership. With CVEC and CVT behind the scenes, they have the reliable power and connectivity needed to keep serving their customers and their communities. n

The Shack BBQ

7744 Stemley Bridge Road, Talladega

Sunday-Thursday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Specialties: BBQ Pork Sandwich, BBQ Pork Salad and Shack Stack French Fries

Lincoln Brewhouse

48041 U.S. Hwy. 78, Lincoln Monday-Friday: 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday: 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

Specialties: Coffees, lattes and pastries

5 Crawford Street, Lincoln

Breakfast: Saturday – 8 a.m.-11 a.m.

Brunch: Sunday – 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Lunch: Monday-Saturday – 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Dinner: Monday-Saturday – 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Happy Hour: Monday-Friday – 2 p.m.-6 p.m.

Specialties: Burgers, sandwiches, steaks and craft cocktails

CONNECTED

by Trust

By Jackie Edmondson

In today’s always-connected world, reliable internet is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity. For Coosa Valley Technologies, providing fast, dependable service is only part of the mission. Equally important is ensuring customers feel heard, supported and valued every step of the way.

From installation day to ongoing support, the company focuses on building trust and long-term relationships within the communities it serves. That commitment is reflected in the feedback CVT receives through customer surveys, phone calls and online reviews.

“Our goal has always been simple,” said Patrick Harris, sales and marketing manager for Coosa Valley Technologies. “We work hard to deliver a strong, reliable connection, and it’s the people we serve that truly make CVT special.”

Customers frequently point to reliability and customer service as standout qualities. One customer shared in a recent survey, “CVT has the best internet we have had up where we live. Good service!”

Others echo similar sentiments during customer service calls. “It’s the best wi-fi service we have ever had,” one customer noted. “They offer good prices for anyone and everyone.”

Online reviews tell the same story. A recent Google review read, “Service is extremely fast. It runs my phone, desktop and my TV all at the same time. Plus, it costs less than the other services I used. The price is a third of what I used to pay (a competitor).”

Another reviewer wrote, “Like their electric service, fiber internet from Coosa Valley Technologies cannot be beat! Their uptime is nothing short of phenomenal and their customer service is world class.”

Jon Cullimore, the general manager for Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative and its subsidiaries, said these testimonials highlight more than just fast speeds. They reflect a culture built on responsiveness, accountability and community pride.

“At CVT, we understand that satisfied customers are the foundation of sustainable growth and continued investment in local infrastructure,” he said. “We listen to our customers in order to gain that understanding. Their feedback helps us get better every day.”

As Coosa Valley Technologies continues to expand and enhance its network, the company remains focused on delivering

Customers Share their Satisfaction with CVT Service

an internet experience that matches the needs of modern households and businesses.

“Our internet is strong, our service is local, and our customers are the reason we do what we do,” Harris said. “We encourage Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative members who haven’t yet made the switch to take a look at CVT internet and experience the difference for themselves.”

For more information, visit CoosaValleyTech.com or call 256649-4669. n

Just the two of us

April theme: “Gone fishin’” | Deadline: February 28

Submit photos at alabamaliving.coop/submit-photo or by scanning the QR code. Photos submitted for publication may also be used on our website and on our social media pages.

THIS MONTH IN ALABAMA HISTORY

The Arrest of Aaron Burr

In February 1807, former vice-president of the United States Aaron Burr was arrested in present-day Alabama. The charge was suspicion of treason. A deadly 1804 duel with Alexander Hamilton had defined this outsider’s political legacy. But on the southern frontier, Burr faced a new reckoning.

Burr had come to Washington in 1791, unseating popular U.S. Senator Phillip Schuyler of New York, who was Hamilton’s father-in-law. Then, in 1800, Burr challenged Thomas Jefferson for president. A second-place finish ushered him into the vice presidency. Still, many in Washington regarded Burr with suspicion. His fatal duel with Hamilton near the end of his term in office only compounded these feelings of enmity.

Cast out of politics, rumors circulated about Burr’s intentions. Some said he planned to create a rival nation, carved from the West or the Spanish territories in the South, and make war upon the country of his birth. In November 1806, President Jefferson issued a proclamation calling for Burr’s apprehension and trial.

Months later, in the small hours of a cold night, Burr and a companion rode through the settlement of Wakefield in Washington County. The unusual occurrence alarmed a watchful land agent named Nicholas Perkins. He and the local sheriff followed the nightriders to a neighboring home. There, by the light of the fire, Burr’s distinctive facial features, including piercing black eyes, betrayed him.

Perkins quickly alerted Lt. Edmund Gaines, commander of nearby Fort Stoddert. On the morning of Feb. 19, 1807, Gaines caught up with Burr near McIntosh and detained him. In early March, Gaines dispatched a small group of well-armed men from Fort Stoddert to transport the prisoner North for trial. Acquitted for lack of evidence, Burr withdrew from public life.

— Scotty Kirkland

1801 to 1805. He was arrested for treason in 1807 in the

Corrected legislative maps

The map for the House of Representatives printed in January’s Alabama Living contained incorrect information for House Districts 11 and 12. The representative for District 11 is Heath Allbright and for District 12, Cindy Myrex. Correct maps and co-op listings are available at alabamaliving.coop/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ Alabama-Living-Legislative-Maps-01-26.pdf

Letters to the Editor

E-mail us at: letters@alabamaliving.coop or write us at: Letters to the editor 340 TechnaCenter Dr. Montgomery, AL 36117

Reflecting on that first color TV

Your most recent article, “It’s Black and White to Me” (“Cup o’ Joe, January 2025) made me reflect and laugh. The circumstances of our first color TV were very similar. We also had a pine-paneled den and the TV was a piece of fine furniture. The only significant difference is that we did not have to wait for a technician to come after delivery, and I was able to delegate channel changing to my little sister. The absolute best part was that I got the old black and white TV in my room. I was the only kid in the neighborhood with a TV in his room. I thought I had arrived and arrived in style. Countless are the number of nights of listening to the national anthem playing at 12:00 midnight and then watching ant races until I fell asleep. The event detailed in the article must resonate with a large number of citizens. Thank you for sharing.

Timothy D. Garner, Gulf Shores

Find the Hidden Dingbat!

Nearly 500 of our readers correctly spotted the January dingbat, a cup of hot cocoa near the top of the Alabama State House in the photo on Page 14. Some of our readers had fun with this location, including Jessica Morris, who wrote: “I imagine legislative staff would love hot chocolate delivery by air instead of taking the stairs or elevators. The dingbat on the State House window frame had us imagining drone delivery.” Jeanie Haugen of Tyler wrote that before she started searching, she thought it would be hidden in something brown. “After I turned a couple of pages, there it was on Page 14…I found it pretty quick this time.” Usually it takes her two or three times through, but this time, she wrote, “I now think I will go make me a cup of hot chocolate.” Good idea, Jeanie! And we’re grateful for those of you who read while you’re searching, like Betty Browning of Groveoak, a member of Sand Mountain EC. On Page 14, she notes, “Chief Operating Officer Sean Strickler talks about how important it is to know our leaders. We don’t need to only find out about things when they go wrong, but also when they go right. I enjoyed finding out about this while hunting for the cocoa.” Thanks, and keep reading, Betty!

Congratulations to Nancy Kramer of Robertsdale, our randomly drawn winner of $25 from our sponsor, Alabama One Credit Union. This month, we’ve hidden this candy heart somewhere in these pages but remember, it won’t be in an ad or on pages 1-8. Good luck!

By email: dingbat@alabamaliving.coop

By mail: Find the Dingbat Alabama Living 340 TechnaCenter Dr. Montgomery, AL 36117

Sponsored by

Whereville, AL

Take Us Along!

Identify and place this Alabama landmark and you could win $25! Winner is chosen at random from all correct entries. Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified. Send your answer with your name, address and the name of your rural electric cooperative, if applicable. The winner and answer will be announced in the November issue.

Submit by email: whereville@alabamaliving.coop, or by mail: Whereville, 340 TechnaCenter Drive, Montgomery, AL 36117.

Contribute a photo you took for an upcoming issue! Send a photo of an interesting or unusual landmark in Alabama, which must be accessible to the public. A reader whose photo is chosen will also win $25.

January’s answer: From the observation deck at Cherokee Rock Village near Leesburg, enjoy a 100-mile view of three states. This unique mountaintop public park features picnic tables, pavilions and miles of trails, caves, crags and crevices. Enjoy rock climbing, bouldering, bird watching, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, geocaching and other outdoor family activities. Primitive camping available. (Photo contributed by Paula Langhurst of Marshall-DeKalb EC) The randomly drawn correct guess winner is Anna Roberts of Baldwin EMC.

See more travelers on page 28!

We’ve enjoyed seeing photos from our readers on their travels with Alabama Living! Please send us a photo of you with a copy of the magazine on your travels to: mytravels@alabamaliving.coop. Be sure to include your name, hometown and electric cooperative, and the location of your photo. We’ll draw a winner for the $25 prize each month.

 Rebecca and Warren Abraham of Dothan took a motorcoach tour in Ireland and Edinburgh, Scotland for their 40th anniversary last year. “We had a great time, and took several pics with Alabama Living in Ireland and Edinburgh, but this is one of my faves,” Rebecca writes. “The morning of this photo was very overcast. But by afternoon we had that beautiful blue sky, and HAD to take more photos of the castle on the hill!” They walked up Castle Rock (a volcanic crag 443 ft above sea level) to this historical castle where they saw St. Margaret’s Chapel, built by her son around 1130 on the highest part of the rock. Queen Margaret died in the castle in 1093 and was later canonized. The oldest building in Edinburgh, the chapel is still used for weddings and christenings.

 Lynn Suddith of Littleville, a member of Franklin EC, took her magazine to Waimea Canyon, Kaua’i, Hawaii, often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.”

Sarah Beck and Terri Beck Strunk took Alabama Living along on a visit to see their cousin, Tonya Wright, in Ashboro, North Carolina. They are members of Black Warrior EMC

 Gage Wilhite was on a mission trip with Desperation Church to Morostica, Italy, when he made a stop at the Paris airport along with his magazine. He’s a member of Cullman EC.

A STATE of SYMBOLS

BY EMMETT BURNETT

From a homegrown horse to homemade whiskey, a mammoth monster to a tiny butterfly, a fighting fish to a celebrated rock, Alabama is a land of symbols. Some are heroic, others are inspiring and a few take the cake. Actually, one is a cake.

ALABAMA

Basilosaurus cetoideA life-size replica of a prehistoric whale that inhabited our waters millions of years ago. Basilosaurus cetoide is our state fossil

ALABAMA

State Dessert: The Lane cake

In 1898, Clayton, Alabama’s Emma Rylander Lane entered her cake in a county fair contest. Winning the event was just the beginning. Word spread about the confectionary delight akin to fruitcake on steroids. The Lane cake received statewide and national acclaim.

The Lane cake is mentioned in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and became a favorite of President Jimmy Carter who served it in the White House. In Alabama the cake became a favorite dessert.

“Making a Lane cake is not too difficult,” says Denise Cochran Fisher, social media host of “South Alabama Cooking.” “But you must have everything just right. Use only egg whites and whip those whites until they have peaks. That gives it a lightness and freshness.”

The cake, which includes raisins, coconut, pecans, and bourbon (or grape juice for the meek), was designated our State Dessert in 2016. (Read more about Lane cake in the May 2022 Alabama Living, alabamaliving.coop/articles/ 5-essential-dishes-every-alabamian-should-know-howto-make.)

State Spirit: Clyde May’s Whiskey

Formerly Conecuh Ridge Alabama Fine Whiskey, Clyde May’s Whiskey is our brew of distinction.

In the early 2000s, several Alabama legislators pushed Clyde May’s brand to claim official designation of State Spirit. “I think they wanted the brand, not just for the spirit of the whisky, but for the spirit of the man who made it,” notes L.C. May, Clyde May’s grandson.

The elder May manufactured and sold his brew illegally and served prison time for doing so. He was also a devout family man and served in the U.S. Army with honors.

Clyde May died in 1990. His whisky is now sold legally.

The beverage of benevolence gained state officiality in 2004 but not without a fight. Gov. Bob Riley vetoed the legislature’s selection. The governor did not want the state’s official drink to be a brand name. He was overruled.

Clyde May’s Whiskey became our official spirit in 2004.

State Fossil: Basilosaurus cetoide

Behold, Basilosaurus cetoide, a prehistoric whale, creature of nightmares, and our State Fossil.

“ This was a monster,” notes Alabama Natural History Museum Director, Dr. John Friel, about the whale that ruled 35 million years ago. “It was a top predator in its day.”

A life-sized replica of the 60 foot-long beast is suspended from the Tuscaloosa-based museum’s ceiling. The museum’s curator of paleontology, Dr. Adiel A. Klompmaker, adds, “The species was declared the State Fossil in 1984 because it is fairly common in Alabama.”

State Insect: The Monarch Butterfly

Many consider the monarch butterfly as a lovely, dainty, frequently fluttering winged bug. Lovely they are. Dainty they are not.

“ They are beautiful and rugged,” notes Carmen Flammini, Alabama Cooperative Extension agent. “Monarchs fly from Alabama, around the Gulf of America, onward to Mexico, and back to Alabama. That’s a 2,000 mile trip.”

Thanks to Alabama schoolchildren, who pressured the State Legislature, the monarch was designated the State Insect in 1989. The well-traveled bug is a worthy symbol of hope, resilience and beauty.

The monarch is often confused with the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, our state mascot, also designated in 1989. We also have a State Agricultural Insect – the Queen Honeybee.

State Mammal: The American Black Bear

In 2006 the State Legislature designated a State Mammal. Selection criteria included an animal indicative of Alabama’s rich biodiversity and ecology. Debate was short. The American Black Bear was perfect.

“Black bears are all of that and more,” notes Chris Jessee about the state’s designation. The Saraland resident and professional bear photographer adds, “To me, the appeal of black bears is their strength and independence. They do their own thing.

“Bears are not afraid of a stick breaking in the woods because they are the biggest thing in the woods and they know it. They are not nervous.”

Courage, strength, and peaceful coexistence are exemplified by ’Bama’s bears, a worthy symbol indeed.

State Rock: Marble

Actually we have several stones of distinction. The state gemstone is the star blue quartz. The state mineral is hematite. But when it comes to pure rock-steady beauty, nothing beats the marvel of marble, designated our state rock in 1969.

“Anywhere you see pure white marble, it’s probably from Sylacauga,” says Judy Green, director of Sylacauga’s Comer Museum and Arts Center. “Our marble is all over the world.”

The world includes Washington D.C. where Sylacauga’s marble adorns the Lincoln Memorial, the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, and the Supreme Court Building.

State Bird: The Yellowhammer

Also known as the northern flicker, the yellowhammer is our official state bird, as designated in 1927.

“ The name derives from its yellow tail feathers and yellow patches on its wings,” notes Ralph Havard, president of the Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries. The “hammer” part of its name comes from the bird’s tapping on trees.

Havard adds, “Alabama made a good choice with the yellowhammer as state bird. They are strikingly beautiful.”

State Reptile: The Red-Bellied Turtle

In 2005, the Alabama Legislature approved the red-bellied turtle (pictured in the Table of Contents on page 2) as our state reptile because of its uniqueness in our state. Mobile and Baldwin counties are among the few places on earth where the red-bellied turtle exists.

“Even in our area, reds are not widely scattered,” notes Dr. David Nelson, associate professor emeritus, Department of Biology, University of South Alabama. “They are a federally protected species.”

It is also a chain-link fence protected species. As noted by Dr. Nelson, “female red-bellied turtles are aquatic and only visit shore to seek elevated dry land to lay eggs.” Unfortunately, roads are elevated on dry land and lure turtles to their demise.

The Alabama Department of Transportation installed fencing at red bellied turtle-laden road areas to prevent death by asphalt.

State Horse: The Racking Horse

“ The racking horse originated in Alabama. It is the only breed that calls Alabama home,” says Bill Stricklen, president of the Racking Horse Breeders Association of America, headquartered in Decatur.

He adds, “the Racking Horse is very gentle, people-oriented, with a great disposition, and has an impressive stride.”

The breed was officially recognized by the USDA in 1971 and designated Alabama’s official State Horse in 1975.

State Flower: The Camellia

A Japanese import, the camellia found favor with Alabamians in the 1800s. By the 1900s, our botanical pink passion reached a fevered pitch.

In 1949 Butler County’s Greenville Men’s Camellia Society attempted to replace the state’s unofficial flower, the goldenrod - nature’s sneeze machine – with the camellia. The legislative drive failed, due to lingering resentment about World War II and Pearl Harbor.

Undeterred, the society spent the next decade building camellia support. The Greenville Camellia Society’s president, Jan Newton, recalls, “People conducted mass plantings, held camellia shows, and continuously lobbied the state.”

Greenville’s pink perseverance worked. In 1959, Governor John Patterson signed off on the camellia, which become the state’s official flower. In January, Alabama’s governor was honored with a camellia named in her honor, the Governor Kay Ivey Camellia.

State Saltwater Fish: The Fighting Tarpon

Few lay claim to fresh and saltwater symbols in the same state. Alabama can.

The fighting tarpon was designated in 1955 as Alabama’s official saltwater fish. Chris Blankenship, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, notes about this feisty fighter, “They play an important role in the state’s outdoors economy by drawing seasonal anglers from across the country. Tarpon are also known for putting up a strong fight, which makes them an appropriate symbol to represent Alabama.”

State Freshwater Fish: The Largemouth Bass

“When you think of fishing in Alabama, the largemouth bass is at the top of the list for anglers throughout the country,” adds Commissioner Blankenship about the 1975 inductee. “This fish, maybe more than any other game animal, bonds us through shared experiences in the outdoors. It is a fitting emblem for outdoor recreation in Alabama.”

State Crustacean: The Brown Shrimp

Blankenship continues, “Typically brown shrimp make up the largest share of commercial shrimp landings each year, pumping tens of millions of dollars into the state’s economy. The shrimpers who supply our seafood industry with this delicious crustacean reflect the hard work and determination Alabama is known for.”

These are but a few of Alabama’s State Symbols. Others include: State Amphibian, the Red Hills Salamander State Fruit, blackberry State Game Bird, Eastern Wild Turkey State Marine Mammal, West Indian Manatee State Nut, the pecan State Outdoor Drama, “The Miracle Worker” State Shell, the Johnstone’s Junonia And many more.

State Song: Alabama

We close with the State Song, “Alabama.” Sadly, “Alabama,” for many years taught to and sung by countless Alabama public schoolchildren, is seldom performed anymore. Over the years state government leaders have attempted to replace the ballad in favor of something more contemporary. Suggestions included “Sweet Home Alabama,” “My Home’s in Alabama,” and “Stars Fell on Alabama.” All failed.

“Alabama” was penned in 1931 by Julia Tutwiler, educator, writer, and women’s prison reform advocate. Tutwiler Prison is named for her.

The song’s lyrics open and close with “Alabama, Alabama, we will aye be true to thee!” Certainly “symbolic” words to live by. 

Dothan Big Band

Celebrating 50 Years

BY LENORE VICKREY

Kurt Caldwell, 16, has an unusual range of music tastes, from metalcore to soft jazz. And on Thursday nights, you’ll find him, bass trombone in hand, playing hits from the 1940s like “Satin Doll” and “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” tunes that are a popular part of the repertoire of the Dothan Moonlighters, a Big Band-era band that has been entertaining crowds since 1976.

A junior at Rehobeth High School in Dothan, Kurt, and his trombone-playing brother, Trey, 26, are among the younger members of the group that plays gigs throughout the Wiregrass area.

Seated on the same row of trombonists are men six decades older: John Belcher, 77, and his cousin, Byron, 81. When they begin to blast out the notes of “New York, New York” or “I’ll Fly Away,” however, the years that separate them fall away. “We are a family,” says John Belcher. “The camaraderie of being with that group of folks once a week and performing with them is something you just can’t put a price on.”

The Moonlighters are one of the only big band orchestras in the state that plays a wide range of music from the 1930s to the 2000s.

In November they played for an outdoors, 1940s-themed evening for

donors on the terrace of the Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery. In December, they opened for the Atlanta Pops Orchestra at a holiday concert in Dothan, and Feb. 5 they will play for the Southern Alabama Regional Council on Aging (SARCOA) at the Enterprise Civic Center. On Feb. 13, they’re booked for a Valentine’s Dance at Abbeville Methodist Church.

Not only does the group play for civic and professional groups, but it has an impressive record of community service, raising $33,000 for the Vivian B. Adams School in Ozark and a high of $110,000 overall in 2016, according to manager Terrell Glover. He has been with the band for all of its 50 years, has recruited many of the current members, and provides rehearsal space in his warehouse. Glover, with the help of Mary McLean, keeps the band’s books, its music, and has binders full of programs from all its concerts going back decades.

“The band now has 20 musicians, two vocalists, two set-up men and one sound man, totaling 25 members,” says Glover, 73, who plays trumpet. While some groups that call themselves a band may have only a lead guitar, bass guitar, a drummer and piano player, “Well, that’s our percussion section,” he says. “We have five saxophones, six trombones and five trumpets.”

For some of their concerts, the band plays for free, Glover says, including fundraisers for SARCOA, the Houston-Love Memorial Library, the Elba Theater, Honor Flights and more.

“There’s something almost every month,” Glover says.

The Moonlighters are a special favorite of students at the Vivian B. Adams School in Ozark, which serves individuals with intellectual disabilities from six Wiregrass counties. “We love the Moonlighters,” says school Resource Coordinator Susan Owens. “They’ve played probably four or five times for us. Our students as a general rule just love music, and to have a group that will interact with them, that means a lot. They encourage them to clap and sing along. They are just so encouraging to us and we love that.”

Abby Royal, 16, has been playing saxophone with the Moonlighters since October 2024 and says performing at the school is the most fun she’s had with the group. “It was very lively and I enjoyed seeing the people dance,” she says.

“It is a joy to play for those folks,” adds Belcher. “It just warms your heart.”

The group has two vocalists, Tim Willis, a retired minister of music and worship at Ridgecrest Baptist Church who also serves as emcee, and Maria Speight, a retired social worker who has sung professionally with nationally known musicians for more than 30 years. Speight’s nephew is a student at the Adams School, so the connection there is personal.

“Everyone, no matter what their age, commits to doing this music and creating an atmosphere for the people who come to hear us play,” she says. “We all have a great time, we love the music and it’s a pleasure to work with people who bring professionalism to the gigs as well as great music.”

World War II-Era Origins

Glover says the band’s origins date back to the pre-World War II days when Richard Shill, a Pittsburgh, Pa., native with musical training who was stationed at Dothan’s Napier Field, was sent to Europe without a specific assignment. Instead, his commanding officer learned he’d played with some of the better known big bands in college and asked him to put together a band for his fellow soldiers to boost their morale.

“That was the thing that kept them together, that music from their time and knowing that their girlfriends and their wives and friends back home were listening to the same music as they were,” says Glover. “That brought tremendous comfort to those soldiers over there.”

When Shill came back to Enterprise after the war, he took over his father-in-law’s business and put his horn in the attic, Glover says. “It

stayed there for 45 years and when he retired, he got his horn back out, started practicing and joined the civic band in Dothan. He’d been working with some of the local high school bands, exposing them to Big Band music, and got the idea to form a big band out of the civic band.”

Glover was playing French horn in that band, but since dance bands don’t have a French horn, he switched to trumpet. “I’ve been playing trumpet ever since and that’s how we got started. We had the first meeting at Honeysuckle Middle School in February 1976.”

They settled on the Moonlighters name (other ideas were “The Foot Lifters” and “The Peanut Vendors”). “The band was kind of up and down and had different managers until I took over in 1991,” Glover says, “and we’ve been playing steady ever since.”

Members range in age from their 80s to teens, and include an Army Black Hawk helicopter pilot, two retired ministers, a retired contractor, college instructors, and real estate, insurance, and phone company executives, and more.

Conductor Joe Daughtry, 72, who earned a degree in music education from Auburn where he played in the marching band and with the Auburn Knights band, had a successful career in the telecommunications industry in Texas. Family responsibilities brought him back to his hometown of Dothan in 2011. That Christmas, he attended a Moonlighters concert and spotted his old Dothan High School band mate, Terrell Glover, in the band.

“I told my wife, I’m gonna go over there and speak to Terrell,” Daughtry says, “so I’m walking across the floor and Terrell looks up and sees me coming across and he sticks his finger out at me and he said, ‘Joe Daughtry, I will see you at rehearsal Thursday night.’”

Daughtry told Glover he hadn’t picked up his trombone in 20 years and it would take six weeks for him to get back in shape enough to join them. But he agreed, playing every day for six weeks until he was ready. “I worked my butt off,” he says. Now he conducts the band, as well as playing first trombone.

John Belcher had a similar story, playing in his high school band and then not picking up his trombone for 20 years before joining the Moonlighters in 1990. He took a 10-year break when travel with Blue Cross kept him from being able to rehearse, but came back eight years ago.

Now, he says, “It’s the highlight of my week.”

Follow The Dothan Moonlighters on Facebook and watch their concert videos on YouTube. The Moonlighters can be reached through Facebook Messenger or contacting Terrell Glover at 334-618-6845.

Siblings Earn Titles in Rise to the Top of Duck Calling Art

BY JOHN N. FELSHER

Any family would be blessed with one member winning championships, but two siblings in the Wisener family of Guntersville are champions in the world of duck-calling, with one the reigning world champion.

Jake Wisener has won multiple duck calling contests, including two Alabama state duck calling titles, but hasn’t quite topped what his younger sister Kacie Wisener achieved in her rookie year of competing.

“We live about 50 yards from Jake, his wife and children,” says Lynne Wisener, their mother. “Everybody knows when it’s getting close to duck calling season. It’s definitely loud, but we enjoy it. We are very proud of them both.”

Jake began his foray into duck calling competitions, not quite by accident, but close. At age 12, the active athlete suffered a torn Achilles tendon that required surgery.

“I was playing football, basketball, baseball, everything,” Jake recalls. “I didn’t hurt it, but it began to hurt over time. They said that tendon was too short and would continue to hurt until they fixed it.”

Unable to put any weight on his foot, Jake could do little more than look at his iPad or watch TV for months. While watching “Duck Dynasty,” he became fascinated with blowing duck calls. He watched videos to teach himself the art of duck calling.

“We had been duck hunting a few times with friends and really enjoyed it, but we knew nothing about calling ducks,” says his father Mark, a Methodist pastor and owner of a turf management company.

“When Jake was hurt and shut down for that long, duck calling was one of the things that interested him that he could do. Coming home from work one day, I heard calling coming from his room. I thought it was another video, but it was Jake.”

Jake practiced vigorously for weeks, honing his skills. While Jake practiced, sister Kacie listened intently. At age 10, she blew her first call and hunted a few times.

“I listened to my brother forever,” Kacie says. “I would occasionally pick up a call and blow it.”

When the family attended the 2012 Tennessee Valley Hunting and Fishing Expo in Huntsville, Jake noticed a booth for Mayday Calls from Union Grove, not far from Guntersville. He picked up a call and started blowing it.

Impressed, the owner suggested the youth enter some calling competitions and even made a call for Jake. A couple

months later, Jake entered his first local contest and won it.

“I entered that first contest for fun,” Jake says. “I really didn’t know much about contests. Competing never entered my mind. I just wanted to be a good hunter. The idea of communicating with an animal and convincing it that I was not a human was very interesting to me. I relate it to a chess match between man and nature.”

Jake started entering more prestigious events. While Jake competed, Kacie listened to the calls he and the other men made.

“ The more I listened to the men, the more it stuck in my head what a duck call is supposed to sound like,” she says.

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At one event, the family met Butch Rickenbach, founder of RNT Calls, a major duck call manufacturer. He sponsored Jake and taught him about competition calling.

In 2017, Jake won the Last Chance Regional Duck Calling Contest. Held the night before the World Championship Duck Calling Contest in Stuttgart, Ark., that event qualified Jake to compete in the men’s adult championship contest for the first time the next day.

“I owe all my success to Butch,” Jake said. “He became a friend and mentor. He was like a grandfather to me.”

The calling championship annually takes place during Thanksgiving week in conjunction with the Wings Over the Prairie Festival in Stuttgart. The event began in 1936 and marks its 90th year this fall. To date, Jake has competed in three world championships at Stuttgart.

Each year, the Wisener Family rents a recreational vehicle to travel to Arkansas. During those hours-long trips, Kacie

would listen to Jake practicing his routines in the back of the RV. Driving home from Arkansas after the 2024 championship, Kacie listened to her brother as usual.

“Whenever we went to Arkansas, Butch would hand me a call to blow,” Kacie says. “When I called, everyone said it sounded good and that I should enter calling contests. I never wanted to jump on the bandwagon of competing, but everyone said that if I didn’t enter the 2025 contest, they would be mad at me. Jake helped me prepare.”

When the family returned home, Kacie began making TikTok videos documenting her journey into competitive calling. The videos became very popular with people encouraging her to compete.

“ The videos blew up,” Kacie says. “I would occasionally make a video, but in the last month before the contest, I tried to do one about every day. People said we need more women to compete.”

Finally, she entered the 2025 Women’s World Championship Duck Calling Contest, also held in Stuttgart. She competed against six other women and now reigns as the current women’s world champion duck caller.

“Winning a world championship is definitely much harder for the men because they have a lot more competition, but it’s still a big accomplishment for a woman to win a world championship,” Kacie says.

Now 22, Kacie teaches prekindergarten and is the assistant volleyball coach for Guntersville High School where her team won the state championship.

Jake, now 25, recovered from his injury enough to become the starting quarterback at Guntersville High School. He later played in college. He took two years off from calling and married Dayleigh. The couple now raise daughter Remi, 3, and son Reed, 1. Jake works as a firefighter.

“Jake has been very successful on many levels throughout the years of competing,” Lynne says. “Through all those years, Kacie has watched, listened and supported her brother in this journey. We are extremely excited to see what Kacie’s journey will be now that she has accomplished this win for the world championship.” 

Full Moon on 5th March 6 • May 1 5th Street, Downtown Meridian

Eat in, take home; hot lunches, cold foods, sweets and more

Jonathan Moore instructs a class at one of House of Plenty’s Studio Sessions. The design of the eatery is deliberate; the space can be used as a regular restaurant, or as a cooking demonstration setup.

House of Plenty Brings Variety to Northwest Alabama

BY ALLISON LAW

Part studio, part demonstration kitchen, part event venue, part restaurant – the House of Plenty fulfills a multitude of needs in rural Hamilton, tucked into Marion County in the northwest part of Alabama.

The House of Plenty has evolved since September 2021, when owner Jonathan Moore fell in love with a commercial space in the downtown area. With a nudge from his wife and now business partner, Kalyn, he followed his heart to create an outlet for his cooking and hospitality skills while also serving the needs of the community.

The mom-and-pop places in the area are putting out good products, Moore says, but he felt the need to provide more variety and diversity of foods and services. And he wanted it done with true Southern hospitality.

“The heart behind what we do is, beyond the food for me, it’s about the hospitality. It’s about making people feel special and valued and taken care of, and I use food as an avenue to do that,” Moore says. “It’s about creating a place where everyone is welcome, and they can come here and be nourished, hopefully more than with just with the meal.”

‘Bring them to the table’

Moore is actually from the Midwest, near St. Louis, and didn’t grow up with Southern ingredients and flavors. But he did have family members who enjoyed cooking, so when cousins were out playing football, Moore was in the kitchen, learning how to cook for a crowd and special occasions.

As a young adult, he had a traveling job that brought him to Hamilton for a short assignment. He fell in love with the community, made friends and found a church home; when the assignment was over, he decided to stay, met and married Kalyn and started working at a local restaurant. There, he learned how to run a restaurant and how to cook for 200 instead of 20.

Another restaurant job followed for a couple of years, then a job at a local pharmacy through the pandemic. In February 2021, Kalyn gave him the confidence to “follow my dreams and passions for creating a place to host people and to bring them to the table.”

While still working at the pharmacy, he’d started a blog, sharing recipes and trying to demystify cooking and make it accessible. On nights and weekends, he would rearrange his kitchen, set up a camera and film videos for the blog. But all that took away from family time and was difficult to do with two small children running around.

Then came the idea to have a studio space where he could create recipes and film videos. He picked up catering jobs to make it pay for itself. The space, which he calls a “studio kitchen,” serves many needs; the open cooking space in the middle allows him to host cooking classes, but the open area up front can be used as an event venue.

Kalyn had the idea to create Take Home Tuesdays, to supplement the business. Every weekend, Moore sends out a memo to text subscribers, and they can place an order over the weekend for what House of Plenty will have on that menu on Tuesday. Then on Tuesday, they pick up the meals on their way home. The first week, they sold out in an hour. He doubled the amount of food and sold out again.

A diversity of options

At this point, it was just Moore doing all the cooking, planning, menu designing, everything. He hired someone with kitchen experience to help and then a couple weeks later needed to hire others “because it just kept growing.” The phone rang off the hook for catering orders for weddings, business lunches and other events.

“ The Take Home Tuesday and catering response was so large, I never actually got to do the creative side of … doing shoots and recipe development. The blog and videos had to go on pause, because I didn’t have any time.”

It was two years, once the catering side settled down a bit, before he was able to start filming more YouTube content in the studio that he designed just for that purpose. “We beefed up our schedule with some more classes, and then we did what we call a Chef’s Table, which is like a private ticketed event … it’s a secret menu. They don’t know what they’re going to get until they arrive.” It’s a fine dining affair, with antique china and flatware, linen napkins and names on placecards.

Those events have been popular, but Moore felt there was more they could do to diversify the dining options in Hamilton. “I thought, what can I do out of the space I have? And that’s how the Lunch Counter was birthed.”

With the other events during the week, Moore would have food left over that he didn’t want to go to waste. “So I’d make up some extra things, and I’d send out a text to some of my customers saying ‘hey, I’ve got some chili, I’ve got this casserole and that casserole,’ and every Friday it cleared out.”

He started with one cooler and hired another person to make fresh sandwiches and salads every day, along with chicken salad and snacks and such – all cold foods. The idea to have these options available at lunchtime, as a grab-andgo, went over well.

A few months later, he started to offer one hot plate option every day; it’s not a menu that customers pick from, but one of several lunch options that rotates. One day could be poppyseed chicken; another, Baja fish tacos; and Thursday is always loaded baked potato day.

The store also sells baked goods — cookies, danishes, savory pasties and more — made in-house from scratch.

All this reimagining and evolution is at the heart of House of Plenty, Moore says.

“We want to constantly bring something new and fresh and reimagine what the culinary experience can be, so that we have a changing landscape in the culinary area here in Hamilton,” he says. “We want to make sure that those things are consistent for our everyday and weekly customers.

“We want to offer that sort of consistency, but also bringing in other things, like our Chef’s Table, or classes –something new and different,” he says. “We provide a bigcity experience, but in a rural place, and we try to make it as accessible as we can to all people.” 

House of Plenty

117 1st Ave. SW, Hamilton, AL 35570

205-921-2427 | Houseofplenty.net

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Take Us Along!

Continued from page 11

 Joseph and Patricia Tarver of Satsuma, members of ClarkeWashington EMC, cruised to Freeport in the Grand Bahamas, Key West and Nassau for their 50th wedding  anniversary, along with their Alabama Living.

 Laura Gaskin of Hartselle, a member of Joe Wheeler EMC, took a trip to The Colosseum in Rome, Italy, to learn about her family’s heritage.

 Neil and Deb Pierce of Dixie EC traveled last year to see their great niece, Maddie, perform in “The Little Mermaid” at the historic San Antonio Majestic Theatre. She took time out to read the May issue.

 Baldwin EMC members Robert Bantivoglio and Renea Fields of Gulf Shores traveled to Providenciales Turks and Caicos. “It was a fabulous time!” reports Renea.

Hello CROSSWORD

Across

1 Alabama beach city where you can enjoy dolphin cruises on Valentine’s Day

4 Courageous leader who fought for an end to racial segregation (includes initials and last name)

9 African nation which has produced many Olympic gold medals in long-distance running

Down

1 “ Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the ole ____ ___” , 2 words

2 Raggedy doll

3 Romantic luxury hotel and spa in Fairhope, The _____

5 Tuskegee native who sang “Endless Love” with Diana Ross, _____ Richie

10 In 1926, he was the originator of the concept of Black History month, Carter _____

12 In no way

13 Hotel that’s part of the Wyndham brand

16 Rosa Parks left a ____ of standing up against injustice and racism throughout her life

18 Shade tree

20 “Water for _____s”, romantic drama starring Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon

24 Greek god of love

25 Fathers

2 7 Alabama river where you can find rare ____ lilies

29 Tuskegee ____: the first African military aviators in the US Army Air Forces in World War II

32 In addition

33 Black singer who starred in a comedy drama and famously sang the original soundtrack of “The Bodyguard,” Whitney ______

35 Origination point for the 1965 marches against segregation and for the constitutional right to vote

37 Body of salt water

38 Female deer

39 dreams 40 Heavens above

6 Social media platform which created its first Black History Month programming in 2018

7 Juniper-flavored spirit

8 Wonder

11 Faithful pet

14 Everything

15 Madame, for short

1 7 Affirmative answer

19 Hospital workers, abbr.

21 Handheld device, abbr.

22 Natural environment

23 Act passed to protect rights of people with disabilities

26 Affectionate gestures

2 7 Pacific salmon

28 Romantic spa in Mobile, Battle ____

29 “Scarface” star, Pacino

30 Fish eggs

31 Approaches

32 Buzz Lightyear’s owner

34 W itness

36 Hawaiian garland

BY MYLES MELLOR

EVENTS Around Alabama

FEBRUARY 7

Fort Morgan, 2026 Fort Morgan Tour of Homes, a fundraiser to benefit the area volunteer fire department. Five of Fort Morgan’s most distinctive architectural homes, each offering its own take on coastal living and design, will be featured. All are short-term rentals and showcase the relaxed, family-friendly lifestyle of the area. Hosted by the Ladies Auxiliary. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

FEBRUARY 7

Wetumpka, Galentine’s on Main, 116 Company St. All “girls” welcome to come downtown for a day of fun and shopping. Merchants will offer deals and discounts. Search for the event’s page on Facebook.

FEBRUARY 7

Millbrook, Millbrook Revelers Mardi Gras Festival and Parade. Festival grounds open at 9 a.m. with more than 60 vendors and activities for children. Parade begins at noon after the staging at Mill Creek Park, behind Smokehouse Bar-B-Q restaurant on Main Street. Millbrookrevelers.org

FEBRUARY 14

Livingston, Mardi Gras 2026. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vendors, live music by Tyler Sellers, inflatables and games for children, parade at 12:30 p.m. and barbecue judging at 2 p.m. Visit the city’s Facebook page at City of Livingstonlston, AL.

FEBRUARY 17

Gulf Shores, Mardi Gras Parade, 10 a.m. The Mystic Order of Shriners joined with the Pleasure Island Players in 1979 to become the oldest parading order in Baldwin County. Parade starts at the intersection of highways 59 and 182. GulfShores.com

FEBRUARY 17

Wetumpka, Arti Gras 2026, 6 to 9 p.m. at the Wind Creek Penthouse, 301 Hill St. This fundraiser for The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts features catered food, drinks and wine, a mask contest and an art pull. See the event’s page on Facebook.

FEBRUARY 21

Anniston, 46th annual Heritage Festival, 920 Museum Drive, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Event celebrates Black History Month with live music, local vendors and museum tours. Young people are encouraged to enter the oration competition to develop public speaking skills and practice creative writing. Search for the event’s page on Facebook.

FEBRUARY 21-22

Decatur, Home and Garden Show, Ingalls Harbor Pavilion, hosted by the Greater Morgan County Builders Association. Latest trends in custom home building and remodeling ideas for every room of the home. Gmcba.org

FEBRUARY 26-28

Monroeville, Monroeville Literary Festival, a project of the Monroe County Museum. Among the festival’s highlights are the presentations of awards, which this year will honor Ace Atkins and Patricia Foster; other authors scheduled to speak include John Archibald, Anne Byrn, Emily Carpenter, Carolyn Haines, Honoree Fanonne Jeffers, Lesa Carnes Shaul, Tom Spencer and Joe Kittinger. Visit monroevilleliteraryfestival. com for a full schedule of events.

FEBRUARY 28

Orange Beach, 34th annual Seafood Festival, The Wharf, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Food, arts and crafts booths, music for the whole family, a kids’ zone and large car show with antique, classic and hot rod vehicles along Main Street. Event is free; funds raised from the car show benefit MAAAC, which raises money to benefit Orange Beach city schools. Orangebeachal.gov

MARCH 5-7

Florence, 29th George Lindsey UNA Film Festival, on the campus of the University of North Alabama. Festival celebrates independent filmmaking and features various categories for professionals, students and young filmmakers. It also honors its namesake, actor George Lindsey, and is Alabama’s longest-running film festival. Details will be noted on the website and social media channels. Lindseyfilmfest.com

MARCH 5-8

Selma, Bridge Crossing Jubilee, commemorating the 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the Selma-to-Montgomery March and the signing of the Voting Rights Act. Featuring educational events for young people, the 50-mile Peace Rally and Walk, public conversations, mass meetings, battle of the bands, cultural village, church services, Super Soul Sunday benefit concert and more. Selmajubilee.com

MARCH 7

Montgomery, 2026 Monster Truck Nitro Tour, 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Garrett Coliseum, 1555 Federal Drive. 334-356-6866 or stop by the Coliseum.

MARCH 7-8

Gulf Shores, 12th annual Ballyhoo Festival, Gulf State Park. A juried fine art festival featuring 100 artists and $6,000 in awards. Additional focus is on cultural exchange, including presentations by the Poarch Creek Indians and live music, fiddle and banjo competitions and food vendors. Ballyhoofestival.com

MARCH 20-26

Montgomery, SLE Rodeo, Garrett Coliseum. The Southeastern Livestock Exposition supports youth who are involved in livestock in Alabama; proceeds benefit such programs as livestock shows, Alabama 4-H, youth rodeo associations and others. Visit slerodeo.com for information on the rodeo activities and schedule.

MARCH 21

Fort Payne, DeKalb County Master Gardeners 2026 plant sale, VFW Fairgrounds Post 3128, 151 18th St. Native plants, herbs and perennials from Master Gardeners’ own gardens. Pollinator and beekeeping information will also be available. 256-630-0979.

MARCH 27-28

Furman, Wilcox Historical Society Tour of Homes, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eight houses, two churches, a welcome reception and more. Guest speaker will be Charlie Hurt, opinion editor of The Washington Times and co-host of Fox and Friends Weekend. His presentation will focus on our nation’s founding fathers and early American history. Tickets available on Eventbrite.com.

MARCH 28

Opelika, Auburn Rodeo 2026, Sistrunk Farms, 15400 U.S. 80. Tailgating in the parking lot all day, live music by Treaty Oak Revival, Muscadine Bloodline, Kaitlin Butts, The Bends and Hayden Blount, and rodeo beginning in the afternoon (bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding). Tickets, parking passes and more info at TheAuburnRodeo.com

To place an event, e-mail events@alabamaliving.coop. or visit www.alabamaliving.coop. You can also mail to Events Calendar, 340 TechnaCenter Dr., Montgomery, AL 36117; Each submission must include a contact name and phone number. Deadline is two months prior to issue date. We regret that we cannot publish every event due to space limitations.

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Gardens

Pruning Ornamental Shrubs in Alabama: A Simple Guide

If you’ve ever wondered when or how to prune your ornamental shrubs, you’re not alone. In Alabama, where our climate encourages lush growth, pruning is essential for keeping plants healthy and attractive. But here’s the good news: With a little know-how, pruning doesn’t have to be intimidating.

Pruning isn’t just about shaping plants to look pretty. It’s about plant health. Removing dead, diseased, or damaged branches improves air circulation and reduces pest problems. It also encourages new growth and flowering. Think of pruning as giving your shrubs a fresh start.

One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is pruning at the wrong time. The May Rule is a great guide for making sure that you get the timing just right.

• Spring-flowering shrubs (bloom before May) should be pruned right after they bloom. These plants set their flower buds in summer for the next spring, so pruning too late means cutting off next year’s flowers.

• Summer-flowering shrubs (bloom after May) bloom on new wood. Prune these in late winter or early spring before growth starts.

Avoid heavy pruning in late summer or fall—it can stimulate tender growth that may be damaged by winter cold.

While this timing rule applies to most shrubs, there are always exceptions. Some plants have unique growth habits or bloom cycles that require special consideration. When in doubt, check recommendations for your specific species.

How much is too much? A light touch goes a long way. In most cases, it is best to remove no more than one-third of the plant at a time. Over-pruning can stress shrubs and reduce flowering. Start by cutting out dead or crossing branches, then step back and look at the plant’s natural shape. The goal is to enhance, not fight, its form.

In rare cases, shrubs that have become overgrown or woody may benefit from renewal or rejuvenation pruning. This involves cutting the entire plant back to 6–12 inches from the ground to encourage vigorous new growth. It’s best done in late winter or early spring and only on species that tolerate severe pruning, such as hollies, forsythia and spirea.

A note of caution: Conifers (like junipers and arborvitae) should never be candidates for renewal pruning as they do not regenerate from old wood and can experience a decline in plant health if cut back severely. Additionally, this type of pruning on conifers often leaves them permanently disfigured and unattractive, with sparse foliage and bare stems that never recover their natural form. Use this drastic measure sparingly and only when other pruning methods can’t restore the plant’s health or shape.

And remember pruning is never a solution for planting the wrong plant in the wrong place. If a shrub’s mature size or growth habit doesn’t fit the space, constant pruning won’t fix the problem. Choosing the right plant for the right location is always the best long-term strategy.

Sharp, clean pruning tools make all the difference. Hand pruners work for small branches, while loppers handle thicker stems. For larger shrubs, a pruning saw may be needed. Always make cuts just above a bud or branch junction, and angle them slightly to shed water. This helps prevent disease.

Our humid climate can lead to fungal issues, so pruning for good airflow is key. Also, fast-growing shrubs like ligustrum or hollies may need more frequent attention. Don’t forget to sanitize your tools between plants, especially if you’ve removed diseased wood.

Pruning ornamental shrubs isn’t just a chore; it’s an investment in your landscape’s beauty and health. By pruning at the right time and using proper techniques, you’ll enjoy vibrant, well-shaped plants year after year. So, when the time is right, grab those pruners and give your shrubs the care they deserve! 

Seniors get new medical alert device

Instantly connects to free unlimited nationwide help with just the push of a button with no contracts, no deposits, and no monthly bills

■ NO MONTHLY BILLS: “My wife had an old style help button that came with hefty bills every month and she was embarrassed to wear it because it made her look old,” said Frank McDonald, Canton, Ohio. “Now, we both have FastHelp™, the sleek new medical alert device that our grandkids say makes us look ‘cool’ not old,” he said. With FastHelp, seniors never have to worry about being alone and the best part is there are no monthly bills ever.

Seniors born before 1964 get new medical alert device

Nationwide: Demand for new Medical Alert Device soars

The phone lines are ringing off the hook.

That’s because for seniors born before 1964, it’s a deal too good to pass up.

Starting at precisely 8:30am today the Pre-Store Release begins for the sleek new medical alert device that comes with the exclusive FastHelp™ One-Touch 911 Button that instantly connects you to unlimited nationwide help everywhere with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever.

“It’s not like old style help buttons that make you talk to a call center, only work when you’re at home and come with hefty bills every month. FastHelp comes with state-of-the-art cellular embedded technology. That means it works at home or anywhere and everywhere cell service is available whether you’re out watering the garden, driving in a car, at church or even hundreds of miles away on a tour or at a casino. You are never alone. With just a single push of the One-Touch E Button you instantly get connected to free unlimited help nationwide with no monthly bills ever,” said Jack Lawrence, Executive Director of Product Development for U.S. based Universal Physicians.

“We’ve never seen anything like it. Consumers absolutely love the sleek new modern design and most of all, today’s instant rebate practically pays for it and no monthly bills ever,” Lawrence said.

FastHelp is the sleek new medical alert device with the best of combinations: a quality, high-tech engineered device that’s also an extremely great value because there are no monthly bills ever. ■

■ FLYING OUT THE DOOR: Trucks are being loaded with the new medical alert devices called FastHelp. They are now being delivered to lucky seniors who call the National Rebate Center Hotline at 1-800-209-4926 DEPT. FSTH140 today. Everyone is calling to get FastHelp, the sleek new medical alert device because it instantly connects you to unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available.

HOW TO GET IT

BORN BEFORE 1964:

Use the rebate coupon below and call this Toll-Free Hotline: 1-800-209-4926

EXT. FSTH140

BORN AFTER 1964:

You cannot use the rebate coupon below and must pay $299 Call: 1-800-209-6405

EXT. FSTH140

■ SENIORS SNAP UP NEW MEDICAL ALERT DEVICE: Instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever. Nothing to hook up. You don’t need a land line or cell phone. It’s ready to use right out of the box. Comes with new cellular embedded technology that works at home or anywhere you go so you are never alone.

BOTTOM LINE: You don’t need to shop around. We’ve done all the leg work, this deal is too good to pass up. With the instant FastHelp rebate, it is a real steal at just $149 and shipping. There are no monthly bills ever.

PROS: It’s the sleek new medical alert device that comes with the exclusive FastHelp One-Touch 911 Button that instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help with no contracts or deposits. It connects you to the vast available network of cellular towers for free and saves seniors a ton of money because there are no monthly bills ever making this deal a must have. Plus it’s the only medical alert device that makes seniors look important, not old.

CONS: Consumers can’t get FastHelp in stores until later this year. That’s why it’s so important for seniors born before 1964 to call the National Rebate Center Hotline within the next 21 days. For those who miss that deadline, the sleek little medical alert device will set you back over $300 bucks.

Hurricane Help

“We had two hurricanes recently. I had no electricity for 6 days. I fell, so I pushed the button, and they came right out and picked me up off the floor. I tell many of my friends they need to get FastHelp!” - Virginia, FL

LIFESAVER

“When I got my FastHelp I never thought I’d have to use it, but when I fell and broke my hip it saved my life.” - Harold, OH

Very appreciative of having FastHelp

“I did have an emergency. Help RESPONDED quickly and came in a few minutes.” - Irving, PA

WE LOVE THE PRODUCT

“We bought it outright with no bills ever.” - Rosemary, NY

Safe anywhere

“This little FastHelp device is my guardian angel. I’m so glad my daughter-in-law got it for me.” - Pete, FL

A+ Rating: These are unsolicited consumer feedback from satisfied customers as reported to Universal Physicians.

Consumer Wise

If you’re looking for a new TV, Energy Star-certified models are 34% more efficient than conventional models.

Should I Upgrade My Appliance?

Buying a new appliance can feel daunting. Before you hand over your hard-earned money, here’s how to choose an appliance that will help you save money over time.

When shopping, keep in mind that not all new appliances are high efficiency and not all old appliances are inefficient. The less efficient your current appliance, the more you will save with an upgrade. The yellow EnergyGuide label on new appliances shows the yearly energy cost, kilowatt-hour electricity use and Energy Star logo, if certified.

Let’s look at some appliance examples to see how the costs and savings stack up.

Refrigerators have seen major efficiency improvements over the years. New refrigerators use up to 73% less energy than 1970s models and about a third less than 20-year-old models.

On a visit to my mom’s house, she proudly showed off her 1980s refrigerator she bought when her 1970s harvest gold model died. If her 80s fridge uses 2,000 kWh per year, at 14 cents per kWh, it costs $280 per year to operate. New Energy Star-certified refrigerator prices start at $500 with yearly energy costs ranging from $38 to $122. If mom buys a new Energy Star-certified refrigerator for $1,000 with $100 yearly energy cost—saving her $180 per year—it will pay for itself in about 5 1/2 years.

If you intend to keep your old appliance, be sure to weigh the additional energy costs. Maximize efficiency and keep your food safe by setting your refrigerator to 37 degrees and your freezer at 0 degrees.

New Energy Star-certified clothes washers and dryers are also more efficient than older models. Use the Energy Star Product Finder at energystar.gov to compare products. Integrated Modified Energy Factor measures the washer’s energy efficiency. A higher number is better. Integrated Water Factor measures water efficiency. A lower number is better.

I recently bought a new washing machine when my old front-load machine died. I was considering a topload machine. When I compared Energy Star-certified top loaders to front loaders, I changed my mind. Energy Star-certified front loaders use about 50% less energy and water than top-load agitator washers and about 25% less energy and water than top-load impeller washers that don’t have an agitator.

My new washer cost $698. According to the appliance’s EnergyGuide, based on six loads of laundry a week and an electricity cost of 14 cents per kWh, the yearly energy cost is $15. Similar non-Energy Star-certified models were $48 per year. Mine didn’t cost much more than non-Energy Star models and will help me save over time.

Then I had to make the decision about buying the matching dryer. My dryer was functional but had features I didn’t like. At 14 cents per kWh and running roughly six loads a week for an hour each, my old dryer used $131.04 per year.

The new matching Energy Star-certified dryer cost $698 and estimates annual energy use at 607 kWh, which is $84.98 per year at 14 cents per kWh. With an estimated savings of $46 per year, the dryer would take 15 years for the savings to cover the price. That’s a long time and not worth the cost.

To improve your washer and dryer efficiency, wash in cold water, don’t over dry clothes and clean your lint trap between every load.

Just like the light bulbs in your home, LED televisions offer increased efficiency. Energy Star-certified televisions are 34% more efficient than conventional models. If you have a working LED television, swapping to an Energy Star model is more efficient but may not make up for the cost of a new TV. Instead, check the efficiency settings on your TV or buy a smart power strip that turns off other connected devices when not in use.

Whatever appliance you are upgrading or replacing, make an informed decision by comparing the cost of operation and shopping Energy Star models to help lower your electric bill. 

Meet the Beauty in the Beast

Discover this spectacular 6½-carat green treasure from Mount St. Helens!

For almost a hundred years it lay dormant. Silently building strength. At 10,000 feet high, it was truly a sleeping giant. Until May 18, 1980, when the beast awoke with violent force and revealed its greatest secret. Mount St. Helens erupted, sending up an 80,000-foot column of ash and smoke. From that chaos, something beautiful emerged… our spectacular Helenite Necklace

Helenite is produced from the heated volcanic rock of Mount St. Helens and the brilliant green creation has captured the eye of jewelry designers worldwide. Today you can wear this massive 6½-carat stunner for only $99!

Helenite Earrings -a $99 valuewith purchase of Helenite Necklace

Make your emeralds jealous. Our Helenite Necklace puts the green stone center stage, with a faceted pearcut set in .925 sterling silver finished in luxurious gold. The explosive origins of the stone are echoed in the flashes of light that radiate as the piece swings gracefully from its 18" luxurious gold-finished sterling silver chain. Today the volcano sits quiet, but this unique piece of American natural history continues to erupt with gorgeous green fire. Your satisfaction is guaranteed. Bring home the Helenite Necklace and see for yourself. If you are not completely blown away by the rare beauty of this exceptional stone, simply return the necklace within 30 days for a full refund of your purchase price.

JEWELRY SPECS:

- 6 ½ ctw Helenite in gold-finished sterling silver setting - 18" gold-finished sterling silver chain

Helenite Necklace (6 ½ ctw) Only $99 +S&P

Helenite Stud Earrings (1 ctw) $99 +S&P

Helenite Set $198 . . . . . . . . . . Call-in price only $99 +S&P

(Set includes necklace and earrings)

Call now to take advantage of this extremely limited offer . 1-800-333-2045

Promotional Code HNN234-05

Please mention this code when you call. Limited to the first 600 orders from this ad only

“My wife received more compliments on this stone on the first day she wore it than any other piece of jewelry I’ve ever given her.” - J. from Orlando, FL Stauer Client

Perfect Alabama Recipes

Pasta

Food prepared and photographed by Brooke Echols

Anne Ward says her recipe for Greek Spaghetti “isn’t what I’d call typical Greek spaghetti,” because “every time I make it it’s a little different.” She created her recipe based on a dish she had several years ago at a small Greek restaurant in Clearwater, Fla. “I was an insurance examiner for the state of Alabama,” she recalls, and while there working on a case her aunt and uncle took her to eat at the restaurant. The spaghetti was a side dish to an entrée. She liked it so much she wanted to make it for herself and her family, and “I’m always willing to try something new.” The result was her prizewinning recipe that uses sausage for the meat, and what she calls “stoplight” bell peppers to add color and taste. Those ingredients aren’t typical, she admits, “but you know I’ve always got to mess with recipes!” She says her children like it and her neighbors like it, and now she’s glad Alabama Living readers will get a chance to taste it as well. Anne won Cook of the Month honors in 2024 for her recipe for “Butter Buckle Ice Cream Dessert.” “I’m just tickled I won for the second time,” she says. “Wow!” -- Lenore Vickrey

Cook of the Month

Anne Ward, Dixie EC

Greek Spaghetti

1 14-16- ounce package smoked sausage (Polish kielbasa, Conecuh, Kelley's, etc.) cut into rounds or bite-sized medallions

1-11/2 cup dry white wine (or chicken, vegetable broth)

1 pound fresh mushrooms, cleaned and sliced thick

2 large or 3 medium sweet onions, sliced thick Fresh or refrigerated garlic, minced

3 bell peppers (1 each green, red and yellow), sliced thick

2 celery stalks, pared (destringed), sliced thick Greek seasoning, to taste

1 lemon, zest and juice

1 8- ounce bag baby spinach or baby kale and spinach blend (or 1-10 oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained)

1 cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1 16- ounce package long noodles (spaghetti, fettuccini, linguini)

Grape tomatoes, halved, optional for garnish

Capers, optional for garnish

Feta cheese, optional for garnish

Brown sausage medallions in large Dutch oven. Remove from pan and set aside. Deglaze pan with white wine or broth. Add mushrooms and onions. Cook down until soft but not mushy. Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 1 minute). Cook celery and peppers in microwave, 6-9 minutes on high, stirring after each 3 minutes. Drain any moisture that cooks out. Add Greek seasoning to taste and lemon zest. Add spinach/kale and cook only until wilted. Add back the browned sausage. Cook an additional few minutes. Add olives. Turn off heat.

Cook noodles in salted water in accordance with package directions to al dente. Drain, reserving about a cup of the salted water. Add 1 stick butter to the hot noodle pan and stir until melted. Add lemon juice. Cook about 1 minute on low. Turn off heat. Stir in noodles to coat with the lemon butter sauce. Add lemon buttered noodles and any remaining sauce to the sausage and vegetables. Mix well. Add a little of the reserved salted pasta water if you need to thin out the sauce.

Garnish with halved grape tomatoes (uncooked) at the end, if desired. Garnish with capers and/or feta cheese (optional). Serve alone or with Greek salad and garlic bread.

Pasta is my love language. In a perfect world, pasta is calorie-free. But sometimes we just have to splurge a little and I have a tasty way to do it. We take one of the best food products of the great state of Alabama and make a delicious and easy OnePan Conecuh Pasta dish. It is southern comfort food done easy with minimal clean up. Now that is what I call a beautiful thing! Find more recipes like this at thebutteredhome.com.

One-Pan Conecuh Pasta

1 pound smoked Conecuh sausage

2 cups rotini pasta, cooked al dente

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 can diced tomatoes, drained

11/2 cup Half & Half

1 tablespoon plain flour

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Pinch red pepper flakes

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta and drain; set aside. Slice sausage and brown in a large skillet. Remove and drain. Place butter in the same skillet over medium to low heat. Once melted, add flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly add in Half & Half and whisk until thickened. Lower heat and add sausage, tomatoes, both cheeses and seasonings. Add cooked and drained pasta back to pan. Heat through for a minute and remove from heat. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and serve.

Spaghetti Pie

1 pound box angel hair spaghetti

1 pound ground beef

1 8- ounce package cream cheese

1 medium white onion, chopped finely

4 ounces mozzarella cheese

1 5- ounce can tomato paste

8 ounces Parmesan cheese

Sauce:

1 16- ounce jar marinara sauce

1 medium tomato, diced and crushed

4 ounces ricotta cheese

¼ teaspoon each: Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder

Cook spaghetti per directions on package. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Brown ground beef in a large skillet until no red is present. Move beef to one side of the skillet and then saute the chopped onion in the beef fat. Add a couple ounces olive oil, if skillet is too dry. Add tomato paste and cream cheese. Stir ingredients together until cheese is melted. Leave on low heat, stirring as necessary.

Pour the marinara sauce into a two-quart pot and put on medium heat. Add the diced tomatoes and ricotta cheese until cheese is melted. Add the marinara mix to the skillet and mix thoroughly. Season with garlic powder, onion powder and Italian seasoning. Grease a large 15-inch deep dish pizza pan. Mix half the Parmesan cheese into the cooked spaghetti. Press the bottom of the pan with the cheese and spaghetti mixture. Cover the spaghetti completely with the sauce and meat mixture. Cook spaghetti pie in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove pie from oven and cover top of pie with the other half of the Parmesan cheese and mozzarella. Return pie to oven for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Remove from oven and cook for 10 minutes. Cut and serve.

Lonnie S. Meaders Baldwin

EMC

ENTER

TO

WIN $50 Cook Of The Month Prize!

Mom's Signature Dish

May theme: enter by March 6, 2026

Mac and Cheese

16 ounces elbow macaroni

2 boxes chicken broth

1 stick butter

16 ounces block-sharp cheddar cheese, grated

1 can white cheddar cheese soup

1 large can evaporated milk

1 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon white pepper

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 tablespoon creole seasoning

Boil noodles in chicken broth. Drain, but do not rinse. Pour in a 9x13-inch pan and cut up butter and place on top. In a saucepan, mix all remaining ingredients and stir on low until melted. Pour over macaroni noodles. Top with more shredded cheese and place in oven on broil just long enough to create a nice cheesy crust.

Valarie Walker Joe Wheeler EMC

The Best Macaroni Salad

1 pound elbow macaroni

4 ounces mild cheddar cheese, shredded

½ red onion, chopped

4 ribs celery, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 cup frozen English peas

½ cup mayonnaise

¼ cup vinegar

½ cup fresh dill

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons sweet pickles, chopped

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

Cook macaroni, rinse in cold water. Mix noodles, cheese, onion, celery, bell pepper and peas. Whisk together mayonnaise, vinegar, dill, sugar, pickles, mustard, salt and pepper. Pour over noodles. Coat well and chill.

Charlotte Megginson Black Warrior EMC

Chicken Vermicelli

1 3-pound whole chicken

1 large onion, chopped

1 medium bell pepper, chopped

1 12- ounce package vermicelli

½ stick butter or margarine

1 10.5- ounce can cream of chicken soup

1 10.5- ounce can cream of celery soup

2 cups cheese, shredded, divided

Salt, pepper and poultry seasoning, to taste

Place whole chicken in a large stock pot and cover with water, add seasoning and boil until fully cooked. Remove to cool (reserving broth in pot), then debone and cut or shred the meat. Add vermicelli to reserved broth, simmering gently. Meanwhile, sauté onion and bell pepper in butter or margarine. Mix together chicken, vegetables and soups; add to vermicelli. Mix gently. Divide into two casserole dishes, top each with one cup of cheese. Bake one of the casseroles at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Freeze the other.

Johnette Brown Baldwin EMC

Pierogi Lasagna

12 lasagna noodles, divided 6 cups mashed potatoes, divided 2 sweet onions, thinly sliced and divided 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded and divided 1 stick (½ cup) butter

Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray. Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions and set aside. In a large skillet, add onions, butter, salt and pepper. Sauté on medium heat until soft, about 10 minutes. Place 4 lasagna noodles in an even layer on bottom of baking dish. Next layer is 1/2 of the mashed potatoes (3 cups) followed by 1/2 of the sautéed onions, then 1/2 cup cheese. Repeat another layer of noodles, remaining mashed potatoes, sautéed onions and 1/2 cup cheese. Top with the remaining 4 noodles and 1 cup cheese. Bake for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Paula Langhurst Marshall-DeKalb EC

Pet Health

Helping stray animals takes all of us

It was one of those winter nights just before Christmas when the wind sounds like it’s carrying secrets — sharp, restless, and full of voices from the woods. The kind of cold that sneaks under the door frame and makes you hesitate before stepping outside.

That’s when they saw her — a thin, trembling shadow near the woodpile. At first, just a flash of eyes reflecting the porch light. Then a hesitant step forward. A little dog, all ribs and worry.

She froze when the door creaked open. Her tail gave one uncertain wag, as if asking permission to exist.

“Mercy me,” the husband murmured. “She’s half a ghost.”

The wife nodded, already heading inside for a blanket and a leftover piece of cornbread. Compassion doesn’t always wait for a plan — it just moves.

They didn’t name her that night. You don’t name heartbreak until you’re sure it’s staying. But they left out food, water, and the softest blanket they had. By morning the blanket was crumpled and warm. The food was gone. The dog was still there, sitting in the pale dawn light like she’d finally decided she was safe.

When the couple stepped out, she didn’t run. She lowered herself to the ground, tail thumping, eyes searching their faces for the verdict — stay or go.

Each night she came closer — from the porch edge to the doormat, then one cold morning, straight into the kitchen like she’d always belonged there. She wanted to trust, but trust is hard currency for a soul that’s been spent before. Each inch closer was a tiny rebellion against fear.

She didn’t bark or beg. She just curled up by the woodstove and sighed — that long, heavy sigh of someone who’s finally stopped running.

The wife watched her for a while before whispering, “She’s home now, isn’t she?”

That’s how most stray stories begin: a decision made quietly in the cold, with no fanfare. Just a human and a dog and a moment of mercy.

The hard truth about strays

Stray dogs aren’t always born wild. Most start out as someone’s pet — until they aren’t. Some run off during fireworks and never find their way back. Others are abandoned when the rent’s due or when puppies outgrow their “cute” phase. Some, heartbreakingly, are tossed out on purpose, as if loyalty were disposable. Winter is especially cruel. Thin coats can’t keep out the cold. Empty bellies ache louder at night. Water freezes, paws crack, and even the strongest survival instinct begins to fade when the temperature drops.

Shelters do what they can, but most rural areas don’t have enough space or funding. Rescue volunteers drive back roads in old trucks, leaving food and prayers. For every dog saved, two more go unseen.

That’s why small acts — a meal, a blanket, a bit of patience — matter so much.

Compassion isn’t measured by how many animals we can save, but by how many hearts are willing to try.

Earning trust, one meal at a time

It took three days before she dared to step onto the porch. A week before she let them touch her. They learned she liked her food warmed and her blanket near the heater. The wife started calling her “Mercy,” the husband said “Missy” — and somehow both stuck.

“Looks that way,” her husband said. “Guess we’ve been adopted.”

Compassion isn’t measured by how many animals we can save, but by how many hearts are willing to try. “

The warmest thing we own

There are thousands of Missys out there tonight — dogs curled in ditches, huddled under trailers, pacing behind gas stations. Each one with a story that began with someone and could end with someone else — someone who decides to care.

Not everyone can take in a stray, and that’s okay. But everyone can do  something. Drop food at a rescue, foster for a week, share a post, or report an animal in danger. Every small kindness ripples outward.

Still, kindness alone can’t mend the whole problem. Real change takes more than warm hearts — it takes informed voices. We need stronger animal-protection laws, and for that, we need to understand what works.

If you’ve ever wondered where to start, visit paws4change.com — an educational site run by an animallaw expert. Learn what’s being done, what’s needed, and how your voice can help shape compassionate legislation.

Because compassion isn’t about fixing every problem — it’s about refusing to ignore one. 

SpiritualityMee

“I never expected it to be so beautiful that it takes your breath away.”

— Kaya C., on Stauer Opals

In a quaint village, nestled between rolling hills, lived a young woman with a deep appreciation for gemstones. Her grandmother gifted her a delicate cross pendant adorned with opals. The opals shimmered with a mesmerizing play of colors, reflecting hues of blues, greens, and fiery oranges. Her grandmother shared the legend of the opals, believed to bring hope, purity, and luck to those who wore them.

Using this story as inspiration, Stauer brings you the Opal Spirit Cross Pendant. With over 2 total carats of Kyocera lab-created opals set in .925 sterling silver encased in yellow gold, this pendant is a radiant celebration of beauty and craftsmanship. Each opal captivates with a kaleidoscopic dance of fiery oranges blending into oceanic blues, streaked with flashes of vibrant green that seem to come alive with every movement. The shimmering opals are skillfully arranged to create an enchanting, otherworldly glow, embodying the spirit of hope and harmony.

This breathtaking combination of color and craftsmanship is available as a limited availability of only

930 pieces, making it a rare and treasured addition to your jewelry collection. Plus, when you order today, you’ll receive the gold-finished sterling silver chain—a $69 value—absolutely free!

Don’t miss your chance to own this exclusive tribute to timeless elegance and meaningful symbolism.

Necklace Specifications:

• 2 1/2 ctw. Kyocera lab opals and DiamondAura® accents

• Yellow gold-finished .925 sterling silver setting

• 18" gold-clad .925 sterling silver chain

Outdoors STRIPED DYNAMITE

Scrappy fighters go on a rampage attacking baitfish

into spawning habitat and swim upstream to spawn in reservoirs and rivers. Many creeks in Alabama have good white bass spawning habitat.”

Spawning depends upon water temperature. White bass typically begin spawning when water temperatures measure about 60 degrees. Depending upon the location and weather, spawning could begin in late February or March and might last through late May.

Terry Bates shows off a white bass he caught on a spinnerbait while fishing around cypress trees on a cold February day.

BY JOHN N. FELSHER

Alabama sportsmen can fish for abundant, widespread, hard-fighting pugnacious powerhouses that outfight many larger species, but few do.

“White bass are widely distributed throughout Alabama,” says Michael P. Holley, a Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division biologist in Eastaboga. “The only place they are uncommon is the coastal plain in southeast Alabama.”

True bass not related to largemouth or smallmouth, which belong to the sunfish family, white bass belong to the temperate bass family with striped bass and yellow bass. Crossing white bass with stripers creates hybrid bass.

Also called sand bass, white bass resemble smaller, stockier versions of striped bass. They can exceed six pounds, but most range about one to three pounds. The Alabama state record stands at 4.75 pounds, a fish caught in the Warrior River on Valentine’s Day.

For the best white bass action, fish in late winter or early spring before they spawn. Spawning requires high energy reserves. Therefore, the prolific and highly aggressive striped predators gather in massive schools to gorge themselves before spawning and females carrying roe reach their heaviest weights of the year.

“In February, white bass focus on food sources to prepare for the coming spawning season,” Holley says. “Adult white bass mainly eat other fish, primarily shad. When water temperatures reach the upper 50s, they move

“White bass spend most of their time in open water, staying close to schools of threadfin and gizzard shad that they prefer to consume,” Holley says. “They constantly relate to baitfish schools or congregate around dams when baitfish are there except during spawning season when they move below dams and into creeks and tributaries with rocky shoals.”

The chunky fish provide incredible sport on light tackle. With insatiable appetites, white bass viciously attack anything that resembles a threadfin shad or other small baitfish. Use a light spinning rod with six- to 10-poundtest line. Throw any shiny or white lures that simulate threadfin shad. Some good artificial temptations include lipless or lipped crankbaits, small jerkbaits or spinners, chrome spoons and shiny blade baits. White bass even hit flies that resemble minnows.

“What is really exciting about catching white bass is the fast action they provide when they concentrate on feed before spawning,” Holley said. “Shad is their primary food source, so any lure mimicking a small baitfish works well. My personal favorite white bass lure is a Number 5 Rapala Shad Rap in a shad pattern, but a host of other small crankbaits also work.”

Anglers can also use live shiners or small shad. Fish these on a free line or under a cork. Occasionally pop the cork, but live fish don’t require excessive additional motion. Just the struggling shad on the hook should provide sufficient temptation.

The gregarious fish regularly travel in huge schools when hunting shad and other baitfish. Once anglers find such a school, action can come extremely fast. Since they concentrate in giant schools, readily strike lures or live baits and fight like champions, they make excellent sport fish for children or novice anglers to catch.

“White bass are a great way to introduce kids to fishing,” Holley says. “When white bass congregate below dams or in creeks and tributaries before spawning, they provide fast action and are fun to catch.”

The Tennessee, Coosa and Warrior river systems offer the best white bass action in Alabama, but any flowing streams and associated reservoirs in the state could hold white bass. Anglers might catch some in the Tombigbee and Alabama systems as well. The state worked to improve fishing in some areas.

“Due to lower abundance in our electrofishing surveys and some poor year-class development, we did some recent stockings of white bass on Martin Reservoir and Mitchell Reservoir,” Holley says. “The biggest threat to white bass is siltation and sedimentation on the shoals and rocky habitat they use to spawn in creeks and tributaries.”

In the right spot at the right time, even the youngest anglers frequently catch white bass on every cast and might land boatloads of fish in a short time. More important than that, they will catch great memories. 

- 9:51 8:45 - 10:15

Su 22 2:42 - 4:42 3:06 - 5:06 9:09 - 10:39 9:33 - 11:03 Mo 23 3:30 - 5:30 3:54 - 5:54 9:57 - 11:27 10:21 - 11:51

Tu 24 4:18 - 6:18 4:42 - 6:42 10:45 - 12:15 11:09 - 12:39

We 25 5:06 - 7:06 5:30 - 7:30 11:33 - 1:03 11:57 - 1:27

Th 26 5:54 - 7:54 6:18 - 8:18 NA 12:45 - 2:15

Fr 2 7 6:42 - 8:42 7:06 - 9:06 1:09 - 2:39 1:33 - 3:03

Sa 28 7:30 - 9:30 7:54 - 9:54 1:57 - 3:27 2:21 - 3:51

MARCH A.M. PM AM PM

Su 1 8:18 - 10:18 8:42 - 10:42 2:45 - 4:15 3:09 - 4:39

Mo 2 9:06 - 11:06 9:30 - 11:30 3:33 - 5:03 3:57 - 5:27

Tu 3 10:42 - 12:42 11:06 - 1:06 FULL MOON 5:09 - 6:39 5:33 - 7:03

We 4 11:30 - 1:30 11:54 - 1:54 5:57 - 7:27 6:21 - 7:51

Th 5 NA 12:42 - 2:42 6:45 - 8:15 7:09 - 8:39

Fr 6 1:06 - 3:06 1:30 - 3:30 7:33 - 9:03 7:57 - 9:27

Sa 7 1:54 - 3:54 2:18 - 4:18 8:21 - 9:51 8:45 - 10:15

Su 8 3:42 - 5:42 4:06 - 6:06 DST 10:09 - 11:39 10:33 - 12:03

Mo 9 4:30 - 6:30 4:54 - 6:54 10:57 - 12:27 11:21 - 12:51

Tu 10 5:18 - 7:18 5:42 - 7:42 NA 12:09 - 1:39

We 11 6:06 - 8:06 6:30 - 8:30 12:33 - 2:03 12:57 - 2:27

Th 12 6:54 - 8:54 7:18 - 9:18 1:21 - 2:51 1:45 - 3:15

Fr 13 7:42 - 9:42 8:06 - 10:06 2:09 - 3:39 2:33 - 4:03

Sa 14 8:30 - 10:30 8:54 - 10:54 2:57 - 4:27 3:21 - 4:51

Su 15 9:18 - 11:18 9:42 - 11:42 3:45 - 5:15 4:09 - 5:39

Mo 16 10:06 - 12:06 10:30 - 12:30 4:33 - 6:03 4:57 - 6:27

Tu 1 7 10:54 - 12:54 11:18 - 1:18 5:21 - 6:51 5:45 - 7:15

We 18 NA 12:06 - 2:06 NEW MOON 6:09 - 7:39 6:33 - 8:03

Th 19 12:30 - 2:30 12:54 - 2:54 6:57 - 8:27 7:21 - 8:51

Fr 20 1:18 - 3:18 1:42 - 3:42 7:45 - 9:15 8:09 - 9:39

Sa 21 2:06 - 4:06 2:30 - 4:30 8:33 - 10:03 8:57 - 10:27

Su 22 2:54 - 4:54 3:18 - 5:18 9:21 - 10:51 9:45 - 11:15

Mo 23 3:42 - 5:42 4:06 - 6:06 10:09 - 11:39 10:33 - 12:03

Tu 24 4:30 - 6:30 4:54 - 6:54 10:57 - 12:27 11:21 - 12:51

We 25 5:18 - 7:18 5:42 - 7:42 NA 12:09 - 1:39

Th 26 6:06 - 8:06 6:30 - 8:30 12:33 - 2:03 12:57 - 2:27

Fr 2 7 6:54 - 8:54 7:18 - 9:18 1:21 - 2:51 1:45 - 3:15 Sa 28 7:42 - 9:42 8:06 - 10:06 2:09 - 3:39 2:33 - 4:03 Su 29 8:30 - 10:30 8:54 - 10:54 2:57 - 4:27 3:21 - 4:51 Mo 30 9:18 - 11:18 9:42 - 11:42 3:45 - 5:15 4:09 - 5:39 Tu 31 10:06 - 12:06 10:30 - 12:30 4:33 - 6:03 4:57 - 6:27 The Moon Clock and resulting Moon Times were developed 45 years ago by Doug Hannon, one of America’s most trusted wildlife experts and inventors. The Moon Clock by DataSport, Inc. 11770 Haynes Bridge Rd, Suite 205-125, Alpharetta, GA 30004 — specializing in wildlife activity time prediction. To order the 2026 Moon Clock, go to www.moontimes.com.

Power on Your Terms

SmartPay is Changing the Way Members Can Pay

In an era when flexibility and choice matter, Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative has a powerful way for members to manage costs without the constraints of traditional monthly billing.

The Cooperative’s SmartPay program is a pay-as-you-go billing option that lets members pay for electricity in the amounts and at the times that make the most sense for their budget.

“Rather than waiting for a monthly statement, SmartPay allows member families to stay on top of usage and payments in real time,” said Meredith Hughes, supervisor of member services. “This helps to avoid surprises and build better financial control.”

Under SmartPay, members pre-fund an account with a minimum amount and then draw down that balance as energy is used. The Cooperative applies the payments directly to the member’s account so they are aware of how much energy they’ve consumed and how much credit remains.

“This approach is especially useful for households that prefer paying smaller amounts more frequently instead of one larger bill every month,” she said.

Another advantage is deposits are not required to join SmartPay. New service does require a modest connect fee along with the initial SmartPay funding.

“For members interested in traditional billing, those options remain available, but SmartPay offers an alternative that works for many families,” Hughes said.

Combined with CVEC’s broader account tools, including online access and mobile payment options, SmartPay reflects the Cooperative’s mission to provide convenience and control to the people it serves.

For more information about Smart Pay, go to CoosaValleyEC.com and click on Your Account. Click on Payment & Billing. Click on SmartPay n

A Brighter Night

Dusk-to-Dawn Lights Bring Security and Peace of Mind

Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative is offering dusk-to-dawn lighting to qualified residential and commercial members seeking an added measure of safety, visibility and convenience around their homes and businesses.

Dusk-to-dawn lights, also known as streetlamps and security lighting, automatically turn on at night and off during daylight hours, providing consistent illumination without the need for manual operation.

“These lights can help deter unwanted activity, improve nighttime visibility for residents and visitors, and enhance overall safety around driveways, yards, parking areas and building entrances,” said Lucas Browning, CVEC’s energy services representative. “For

businesses, the lighting can also contribute to a more welcoming appearance while improving security after hours.”

Residential members may rent dusk-to-dawn lighting for a monthly fee of $10.50 per light while commercial members may rent lighting for $21 per light per month. All rentals are based on a four-year agreement.

In some cases, lighting installations may require additional facilities, such as extra wiring or poles, and may result in additional charges. Members are also responsible for the cost of lights that are damaged or destroyed as a result of vandalism.

Browning encouraged members interested in improving safety and visibility on their property to consider the dusk-to-dawn

A Smarter Way to Heat Program Provides Rebates to Manufactured Homeowners

Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative is offering a Heat Pump Rebates Program designed to help manufactured homeowners improve energy efficiency, lower heating costs and increase year-round comfort.

Manufactured homeowners who currently use an electric furnace may be eligible for a rebate of $400 per ton when upgrading to a high-efficiency heat pump. Heat pumps provide both heating and cooling and are significantly more efficient than traditional electric furnaces. Members who switch to a heat pump can save an average of $620 per year in heating costs.

Members purchasing a new manufactured home may also take advantage of the program. When upgrading from an electric furnace to a heat pump in a newly purchased manufactured home, CVEC will cover the cost difference directly to the home dealer. To qualify, the new manufactured home must be placed at an address located within CVEC’s service territory.

“The Heat Pump Rebates Program supports CVEC’s ongoing commitment to help members manage energy use, reduce monthly utility expenses and make informed decisions about energy-efficient upgrades,” said Lucas Browning, the energy services representative. “Heat pumps not only reduce heating costs but also provide reliable performance during both winter and summer months.”

Manufactured homeowners interested in learning more about the program or submitting an application can visit CoosaValleyEC.com/energy-services, click on Other Services and then select Manufactured Home Rebates. For additional information, members may contact Lucas Browning at 256-480-2535.

lighting option as a simple, reliable solution.

“Good lighting makes a real difference in how safe and welcoming a place feels,” he said. “We handle the installation and maintenance so our members can enjoy better visibility and added security.”

To apply for a dusk-to-dawn lighting fixture, members can visit CoosaValleyEC.com, click on Services, and then select Additional Services. For more information, members may call 256-362-4180, ext. 7. n

Climate and Power

This month I offer a paper prepared by Jesse Ausubel for the American Electric Power Board in 2019. Jesse is the director of the Program for the Human Environment at Rockefeller University in New York City. Jesse and I have been friends since we served together on the EPRI Board in the early 2000s. You are not the smartest person in any room he is in. I have revised Jesse’s paper to fit the space.

I speak now because in 1977 I was among the first researchers to make a living from the question of how human activities change the climate. Work to which I contributed in the early 1980s was recognized with the 2018 Nobel prize in economics to William Nordhaus. In the past couple of decades my own work has concentrated on adjacent challenges such as how to measure ocean life and the quantities and origins of hydrocarbons. While I have not participated in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change or other campaigns in the climate wars, I have remained informed about them. I offer perspective and proportion, not the latest gossip or squabbles.

These are my ten statements that summarize my understanding on power and climate.

• No one knows what will happen to emissions, how the climate will change, or the consequences.

• The question is risk aversion.

• Biases of stakeholders, whether business executives, environmental activists, or university professors, predictably color risk and environmental assessments. That said, I can offer my view.

• Density of consumption, rising watts per square meter, drives the energy system.

• Methane and uranium are the way through decarbonization to a hydrogen–electric economy.

• Public policies to lift efficiency have not much affected long-term trends.

• Public policies do strongly affect adaptation to hazards, or “ Trailer parks causes tornadoes.”

• Societies are moving indoors and climate-proofing.

• Nevertheless, seek to monitor environmental variability and change, objectively.

• Form a club of China, India, Russia, and the US if you aim to determine the global energy future.

Let me begin with the difference between the known, the unknown and the unknowable. A crucial factor is the level of detail; broad averages may be knowable, but rarely particular outcomes. A similar factor is that the rough hillsides of real life contrast with the smooth surfaces of mathematical models, and a small detail, unknowable, may change the behavior of a system. Moreover, as we complicate our models, they themselves may become unknowable. Researchers and analysts, whether on Wall Street or in natural sciences, tend to blur the distinction and over long periods of time things that were unknowable may become known. But the world and environment of 2050, much less 2080 or 2100,

Gary Smith is President and CEO of PowerSouth Energy Cooperative.

are largely unknowable. Hard limits impede predictability, so let’s be modest.

Many try to improve foresight, but anyone who confidently describes 2050 should also be required to put much of her or his personal wealth on the bet. Reports including the IPCC are prepared by people who risk nothing. Corporate directors take risks that the report writers cleverly avoid.

Future greenhouse gas emissions, the fraction of emissions that will remain in the atmosphere, how climate responds to changes in chemical composition of the atmosphere and other factors, how ice sheets respond, and how Ohio or Texas or Venezuela will adapt, each of these questions offers a range of possibilities that jointly broaden into a spectrum from negligible to catastrophic.

After 40 years of ever more head-scratching about climate, we are left with the broad truth that “Something terrible could happen.” We do not know, and probably cannot know, whether Earth’s climate system operates gradually like a dial or abruptly like a switch. We do not know whether among the very numerous feedbacks the positive or negative will prevail. The alarmists could be right, but so could the skeptics. In assessing the assessments, we come back to what anthropologists call the cultural bias of the forecaster.

That said, I offer my own view. Over the long run, the spatial density of energy consumption at the level of the end user drives the evolution of the energy system. Think of Earth at night and the most brightly illuminated spots, those with the highest demand or usage in watts per square meter. These spots, basically modern cities, or one might say, data centers, proliferating in China and India, drive the overall system. As the spatial density of energy consumption rises, only electricity and gases satisfy demands for precision, power, cleanliness, reliability, and other attributes. In turn, for generation, the sources that can achieve economies of scale win over the long run, and the firms that can capitalize and manage them. The compact and thus scalable sources of power generation are methane and nuclear.

Finally, what about a firm making and distributing electricity? First, one need not take a side in the falsely polarized climate issue. Maintain some humility about times as distant as 2080; the integrated circuit and the word software were invented only in 1958, 61 years ago. Much we would like to know will stay unknowable.

We do need to assess our own risk aversion and make some investments accordingly. The investments should foster decarbonization via methane and nuclear, and efficiency and reliability. Consider carefully whether to promote pictures of wind turbines and solar roofs as images of the future. Keep climate-proofing and reducing threats from related hazards, many of which people induce or amplify. Give away 5G smart phones and digital assistants if you want to promote electrification. Support and share in the costs of global environmental monitoring systems. Forego the big multilateral blah-blah and support careful relationships among China, India, Russia, and the US to understand and shape the evolution of the global energy system and our climate. And stay profitable. Red ink is not green.

I hope you have a good month. 

How To Place an Ad in Marketplace

Closing Deadlines (in our office): April 2026 Issue by February 25

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Education

FREE MATERIALS: When Church / Government Unite, Enforcing Sunday Law, The MARK OF THE BEAST is HERE! Don’t be deceived, be informed! Leave mailing address only – TBSM, POB 374, Ellijay, GA 30540 – TBSMADS@yahoo. com – (888)211-1715

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ARE YOU CHANGING YOUR ADDRESS? If you’re a member of an electric cooperative, please contact your local co-op office with your new address so you can keep receiving Alabama Living. If you’re not a member of an electric co-op, send your new address to contact@ alabamaliving.coop.

If You Can’t Beat ’Em, Scoot ’Em

“What in the world did you just do?”

That’s not something I usually say at one of the happiest places on earth. Yet there I was, on a recent trip to Universal Studios in Orlando, saying it to my wife.

Because on the second morning, in front of my kids and grandkids, she committed a small but unforgivable act of betrayal, one that stomped my dignity flat.

She ordered me an electric scooter.

Yes, I arrived with a bum right knee. Yes, I walked about eight miles the first day that felt like the Bataan Death March. Yes, I swallowed enough ibuprofen to fill a small bag of peanut M&Ms.

But still, an electric scooter is crossing a big line. I considered that thing a rolling obituary notice. In my mind, it’s saying to the world, “Yes, I have all my affairs in order.”

I’m not in denial about getting older. I’ve made several concessions to Father Time. I quit doing regular yoga because every time I went to the class, something new snapped, crackled and popped. I called it twist and shout. These days it’s chair yoga for me. I have begun playing golf from the “super senior” tees which are so short my younger buddies refer to them as the “tombstone tees.”

I swapped power walking for water aerobics, which is easier on my aging joints, but hard on my pride. Am I too old to even walk?

However, after about an hour of complaining, denying, and downing another round of anti-inflammatories, I reached a scary place, a place I had never been before. My physical pain finally outweighed my conceit.

So at last, I grudgingly took the keys from my wife, climbed aboard the scooter like an old man mounting a tractor, turned on the ignition, and sat there in silence.

Almost immediately, justification kicked in.

“Wow, this seat is soft,” I thought.

“It’s kinda like a golf cart, and I use those.”

“And nobody knows me down here.”

“And she’s already spent the money, so I really don’t have a choice.”

The process was complete. “I’ll use the stupid thing,” I said.

When I rode the scooter down the elevator and out to the path leading from our hotel to the front gate, my head was on a swivel. “Please Lord, don’t let anyone from home see me,” I thought. I felt like a villain in a low-budget James Bond movie. All I needed was a cat in my lap, a British accent, and a plan for world domination.

Quietly, quickly, and smoothly, the scooter took me to the front gate. Honestly, it was kind of fun. I even raced my wife’s scooter and whipped her easily. And my knee brace gave me enough credibility that everyone probably thought I had surgery instead of just surrendering.

Once I got inside the park, things got a bit dicey because of the crowds. It reminded me of Black Friday at a shopping mall. I had to pay close attention because there were people constantly cutting in front of me. If I had only thought to bring an air horn. They must have thought I was just another pedestrian, which I was not. Unlike my wife, who has no problem plowing through the groups that get in her way, I eventually learned the trick; match the speed of the walkers. Once I did that, I blended into the crowd. Soon I became just another pedestrian who happened to be on an electric scooter.

When we got to the rides, the attendants would instruct us where to park, and asked us if we needed a wheelchair. My wife always eagerly accepted their offer; however, I firmly declined.

One big line was enough to cross in a week.

A little while later, my six-year-old granddaughter said her legs were tired, and asked if she could ride with me. I would never say no to such a pretty hitchhiker. So, for the next three days, I had a passenger.

And let me tell you something. It’s impossible to blend into a crowd with a scooter when there’s a little girl riding with you who’s waving at everyone like she’s in the Rose Bowl parade.

Just roll with it. 

Forest Through the Trees

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Mom’s Signature

Dish

See page 36

Send us your “Gone Fishin’” snapshots See page 9

GET TO SHOOTING!

FOR YOUR SHOT AT SOME COOL CASH.

Get ready for your chance to shine in Alabama Living magazine. We want to see more of your awesome photos! Grab your camera and start thinking ahead to what you’ll enter in our annual photo contest. Winners and honorable mentions will be published in the magazine later this year. First-place winners in different categories will win $100!

Keep an eye out for the photo categories, official rules and deadlines in an issue in the late spring.

ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST!