The neighborhood is buzzing

Covington Electric Cooperative

Board of Trustees

Charles Grace District I - Dozier

Dr. Bill King

Asst. Sec./Treas. District II - Andalusia

W.B. Smith

Chairman District III - Brantley

C. Heflin Smith

Vice Chairman District IV - Kinston

Trey Martin

District V - Enterprise

Patricia Janasky

Sec./Treas. District VI - Samson

Headquarters:

18836 US Hwy 84 Andalusia, AL 36421 334-222-4121 1-800-239-4121 Fax: 334-222-1546

Main/Enterprise Office Hours:

7:30 AM - 4:30 PM Monday - Friday

covington.coop

Report Power Outages

1-800-239-1193

The neighborhood is BUZZING BUZZING

By Ed Short, CEC President, CEO and General Manager

Some members could be wondering why we got into the internet business again when we launched Buzz Broadband last year. After all, we’re an electric cooperative. What does high-speed fiber have to do with electricity?

But the truth is that while Covington Electric will always be dedicated to bringing our members affordable and reliable electric service, we are a cooperative first and foremost. That means our members aren’t just customers, they’re a part of everything we do. As such, we can’t stop at just doing what we have always done. If there is a need in our community that we can fill, it’s part of our cooperative mission to do that.

That is what we’ve been up to ever since construction officially started on our Buzz Broadband network last October. It’s no secret that high-speed internet isn’t the luxury it was just 10 years ago. Today, it’s an essential part of helping our community keep up in business, education, health care and more.

So we’d like to take a moment to update you on where the rollout of Buzz Broadband currently stands. At the time of this writing, service has expanded to our members in Wing, Sanford, Kinston and Red Level. By the time you read this, the Carolina and Enterprise areas will both be added to the list.

All of that is on top of the middle mile project that was already completed to connect all of Covington Electric’s substations with high-speed fiber. That connection will allow us to monitor our system with up-to-the-second data and restore power for our members even faster.

Fiber crews have made good progress over the last nine months and we’re proud of the work they have done in the face of economic challenges. As is the case with every industry right now, they have faced supply chain setbacks. They’ve also overcome contract labor shortages to help keep the expansion of this network on schedule.

Even with those difficulties, we’re excited to let everyone know that we fully expect to meet the original goal we set of making Buzz Broadband available to every member who wants it within two years. Since construction on the middle mile project began in June 2021, that means all of our members can look forward to having access to the fastest internet speeds available by June of next year. However, all installs to homes may not be completed at this time, but we do expect that part of the project to be complete by the end of 2023.

I would like to take a moment to thank all of you for your patience as this process unfolds. It’s never easy waiting for something to arrive in your area. I know that some of our members had already been waiting for years when we made the announcement that Buzz Broadband was coming. Today, that dream is already a reality for more than 800 of our members, and it is our goal to add several hundred more each month for the near future.

If you’re eagerly awaiting the arrival of fiber internet in your area, I encourage you to visit buzzbroadband.com to make sure you are pre-registered. Doing so will ensure you are notified as soon as service is available in your area. You can also check out the interactive map on our website that shows the status of construction and when members can expect service in their area.

High-speed internet service certainly wasn’t something our founding members could have imagined when they established this cooperative. What they did know was that they were willing to work hard to bring a crucial new technology to their community. In that sense, Buzz Broadband is a natural extension of that original mission. And it’s one we can’t wait to make a reality for everyone. n

Busy Bees

BUZZ BROADBAND makes impressive progress in first year

Just over a year ago, Covington Electric Cooperative started work on a simple plan to connect all of our electric substations with high-speed fiber internet. This “middle mile” build out would be a major upgrade for our electric service, helping us identify and respond to outages faster than ever before.

But we didn’t want to stop there. With that fiber backbone keeping Covington Electric’s own equipment connected, we had the opportunity to serve an important need in our community — making high-speed fiber internet service available to underserved areas.

That was our goal when we launched Buzz Broadband and we haven’t looked back. Since then, construction on our residential fiber system has begun in earnest and more than 800 CEC members are now getting the fastest internet speeds available.

WHAT IS FIBER?

We all know faster internet is a good thing. But what exactly is fiber and how does it work? Here’s how this technology keeps you connected at unprecedented speeds.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Fiber lines are made up of pure glass strands thinner than a human hair. Pulses of light send digital information across these strands at the literal speed of light.

CLEAR SIGNAL

Unlike copper wire, the purity of fiber strands means information can travel at incredible speeds across great distances without losing quality along the way due to signal degradation.

The Buzz Broadband team brings fiber internet to rural communities! HIGH CAPACITY

Just a single fiber can carry the information from an entire set of encyclopedias three times per second.

POWER IN NUMBERS

A single cable can bundle together hundreds, or even thousands, of fiber strands, making it possible to send huge amounts of information simultaneously.

Director of Telecom Services William Baines expects the number of Buzz subscribers to continue growing by several hundred members each month for the remainder of the project. And, despite facing the same economic challenges as any construction project these days, he is confident Buzz Broadband will be available to everyone right on schedule.

“We’ve made excellent progress and we’re working toward hopefully beating our timeline goals,” Baines says. “Of course, we’re experiencing the same supply chain issues and labor challenges everyone else is facing. But we’re really hoping by June of 2023 that we can offer service to any CEC member who’s interested.”

Right on track

Each phase of the buildout starts with a design stage, where our engineers handle surveying and staking to lay out the plans for lines and connections in manageable groupings. Once design is complete, construction crews can begin hanging the fiber lines and placing the equipment throughout the system that will eventually connect homes and businesses. Finally, when all lines have been installed and the system is in place, we can schedule appointments to activate service for individual households and businesses.

Construction on Buzz Broadband officially started last October in Wing. From there, the buildout has expanded to the north and northeast, to include members in the Sanford, Kinston and Red Level areas.

“It’s an ongoing cycle, so our design team may get ahead and then construction comes in behind them to hook up the fiber connections,” Baines says. “When we go into an area like Kinston or Red Level, we may build out all of it, or the nature of the other steps might mean we have one area finished quicker than others.”

In recent months, crews have continued to extend service to members throughout those areas and also started expanding to Carolina and around Enterprise. Baines expects work in those areas and Red Level to continue into August and possibly early September.

Stay in the know

As much progress as we’ve made, we also know that many members are still waiting for Buzz Broadband to arrive in their area. We appreciate your patience as we continue to bring this exciting new service to more and more people.

One thing members can do to ensure service reaches them as soon as possible is to take care around the existing wires. Damage to wires from people shooting at birds sitting on the lines not only poses a safety risk to members and line crews, but it also means a longer wait for service as time and effort is put into making repairs.

If you can’t wait to find out when Buzz Broadband will be available in your neighborhood, be sure to visit buzzbroadband.com, where you can pre-register and receive notifications the second service is available to you. You can also look at our interactive map to find more information about the status of construction and service in each part of the CEC service area.

Thank you to all of our members for your support as we enter this exciting new phase of our cooperative mission. Just as we have done for your electric service, we look forward to providing the highest quality and most affordable fiber service for decades to come. n

The team at CEC helped launch Buzz Broadband in the summer of 2021, celebrating a year of connectivity.

YEAR ONE HIGHLIGHTS

We could not be more proud of the progress our crews have made building out Buzz Broadband since construction began. Here are just a few of the highlights from our first year of fiber service:

JUNE 2021 — Construction completed on “middle mile” fiber ring to connect all of Covington Electric’s substations and offices. This improved the technology the cooperative uses to monitor electric service.

OCTOBER 2021 — Buzz Broadband turns on service for its first customers in the Wing area.

JANUARY 2022 — Fiber service expands north to the Sanford area.

APRIL 2022 — Construction finishes for the first design area in Red Level and customers start receiving fiber service.

MAY 2022 — Buzz Broadband begins offering service to customers in Kinston, bringing the total number of fiber customers around 750.

otices eighborhood

Provide your email to receive important notices from CEC

We want to do a better job of communicating CEC planned outages, rights-of-way (ROW) maintenance, website upgrades and other important activities with our members. You can help by adding a current email address to your account. Members can log into their My Co-op Account online to add an email address or update an old email address themselves. Of course, members can always call CEC during regular business hours to do this as well.

One of the most obvious ongoing activities that CEC does is maintaining power line ROW, which is an essential part of providing reliable electricity. This type of maintenance requires trimming of trees and underbrush on a planned and continuous basis. It also helps when we have cooperation from our members. By working together to keep the lines clear, we can create a more reliable and affordable electric service for everyone.

Most people rarely think about what it takes to deliver power to our homes. But behind every flick of a switch, there are about 2,700 of miles of power distribution lines stretched across six counties for those living in the CEC service territory. And it’s our job to make sure these power lines are always working in order to bring power to the members 24-7.

After major storms, that can mean working through the night to repair broken poles and raise downed power lines. But for most of the year, it means working diligently to maintain each mile of line on our system and planning ahead for the next stormy night.

In fact, most of the outages on our system aren’t caused by hurricanes, but by something as simple as a tree limb or other debris falling on lines and interrupting service during pop-up thunderstorms. While most of these outages are relatively minor, they are inconvenient for our members and can add up to costly repairs for the cooperative.

That’s why our contract crews dedicate so much time to trimming tree limbs and clearing underbrush growing too close to power lines. ROW contract crews clear vegetation to create 20 feet of space on each side of a line. Doing so reduces the risk of wildlife causing disruptions or nearby branches falling on lines the next time there are high winds.

Because our system covers so much ground, we can’t trim around every section of line each year. Instead, CEC uses contract crews to cut ROW on a five-year cycle, using equipment like side trimmers and brush mowers to clear the way. One year after a section of the system has been cut, contracted spray crews follow up with herbicide to keep undergrowth from springing back.

CEC really appreciates your patience with ROW maintenance, planned outages and all of the other things your co-op does to deliver safe reliable electricity. Be sure to get your email address added to your account information to receive the CEC neighborhood notices via email.

The power cost adjustment increases again

We rely on electricity to power our lives. Whether at home or at work, at the gas pump or the grocery store, electricity affects us. Unfortunately, world conditions can affect the price of electricity. While the energy we use every day remains a great value, especially compared to the skyrocketing prices of other common goods and services, the cost of producing and purchasing that energy is rising. As a result, CEC will add an 11-mill adder to our rates on the June energy usage and a 12-mill adder in July. In common terms that equals $12 for every 1,000 kWh of electricity members use. Of these increases, $6 is passed on from our wholesale energy provider, PowerSouth, while the rest has been needed to cover the rising cost of materials, equipment and more. We encourage members to take steps to lower their energy consumption during this difficult period. Members can visit covington.coop and go to the “Energy Conservation” tab at the top of the page where they can find a variety of tools to help them determine what changes can save the most money and some tips for implementing them.

Tinley Parker at Hurbert Family Tulip Farm in New

Market. SUBMITTED by Lori Parker, Rainsville.

American white pelicans at Wheeler Refuge public boat launch in Decatur.

SUBMITTED by Michael Segorski, Decatur.

Sunset. SUBMITTED by Celina Calvert, Gulf Shores.

Cruella enjoying her new life in Alabama.

SUBMITTED by Michelle Kilander, Cullman. Wise old owl spotted in Mentone. SUBMITTED BY Brenda Yates, Glencoe.

Beautiful fall morning on the farm. SUBMITTED by Stewart Kopp, Bon Secour.

September theme: “Football”

Deadline to submit: July 31

Online: alabamaliving.coop Mail: Attn: Snapshots P.O. Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124

SUBMIT to WIN $10!

RULES: Alabama Living will pay $10 for photos that best match our theme of the month. Photos may also be published on our website at alabamaliving.coop and on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Alabama Living is not responsible for lost or damaged photos. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope to have photos returned.

New program provides money for beginning farmers

If you’re a beginning farmer in the lower 40 counties served by Alabama Ag Credit, a $10,000 grant may help you jumpstart your farming dreams.

“We know that starting a farm is a challenge,” says Doug Thiessen, Alabama Ag Credit president and CEO. “Our team is passionate about supporting agriculture in Alabama, including these startup operations.”

Full- or part-time farmers who started farming within the past two years or who plan to start a farm business in the next year can apply for one of five $10,000 jumpstart grants. In addition to farming in the Alabama Ag Credit territory, recipients must submit a business plan and complete the AgBiz Basics educational program by July 31. Applicants need not be current Alabama Ag Credit customers.

To learn more, visit AlabamaAgCredit.com/jumpstart

Severe weather knows no seasons

Alabama is no stranger to storms, tornadoes, flooding and other weather-related events. It’s important to be aware of pending weather to remain safe.

The Alabama Rural Electric Association safety staff offers these reminders as we continue into hurricane season: • Make a safety plan for severe weather. Pick an area of the home without windows, such as an interior bathroom, to seek shelter. • For smaller children use a bicycle helmet or other type helmet to protect their heads. • Make sure flashlights are charged or have fresh batteries.

See more information at Ready.gov.

Take us along!

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.

Paula Blass of Arab Electric Cooperative took her magazine along on a visit to Tuckaleechee Caverns in Townsend, Tennessee. Faith Byrd of Montgomery took her magazine to San Marcos, Texas, for a trip last fall to the Troy Trojans vs. Texas State Bobcats football game. TROY won 31 -28. She is a member of Dixie EC.

Fuel your day with healthy snacks

Carbohydrates and fats are our main fuel sources throughout the day. The more active we are, the more carbohydrates we need and use. Our bodies use fats too, but those require more oxygen and are typically for when we are at rest or moving slowly.

In contrast, good quality, nutrient-dense carbohydrates help us feel good and give us energy, alertness and focus for exercise.

From HealthMed Inc., here are some healthy snack ideas to fuel your day:

Veggies (bell peppers, carrots, cucumbers, etc.) with guacamole or hummus; Greek yogurt with mixed berries; apple slices with nut butter; hard-boiled egg; cheese stick with whole-grain crackers and a piece of fruit; air-popped popcorn; oatmeal with fresh fruit; smoothie made with fruit; edamame and frozen grapes.

Sam and Debbie Black, members of Cullman EC, visited the Snake River with their magazine in the Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming.

Carol Burton of Gulf Shores, a member of Baldwin EMC, visited the famous Alabama Jack’s Roadside Bar and Grill in Key Largo, Florida, with her copy. Traci and Jeff Pryhuber of Bay Minette packed their copy of Alabama Living on a trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey. They are members of Baldwin EMC.

Whereville, AL

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 August issue.

Submit by email: whereville@alabamaliving.coop, or by mail: Whereville, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124.

Do you like finding interesting or unusual landmarks? Contribute a photo you took for an upcoming issue! Remember, all readers whose photos are chosen also win $25!

June’s answer: This closeup is of the eight-foot, one ton bronze statue of Jesse Owens, the track and field star who won four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. The statue, created by sculptor Branko Medenica, is part of the 30-acre Jesse Owens Memorial Park in Oakville, dedicated to the athletic icon who was born at the site on Sept. 12, 1913. Owens is remembered for his athletic accomplishments, but also as a symbol of triumph over obstacles and achievement of the American dream. (Information from Encyclopedia of Alabama; see more at jesseowensmemorialpark.com.) (Photo by Lenore Vickrey of Alabama Living) The randomly drawn correct guess winner will be announced in the August issue.

By the time you receive this magazine, many of you will have found the airplane dingbat in the June issue. But due to delays at our printer, many of you did not receive the June magazine in time for us to review your contest entries and congratulate the winner this month. We promise to reveal the winner for June in our August magazine. Meanwhile, enjoy looking for this month’s dingbat, a hotdog, just in time for your July 4th cookout! Happy hunting!

Find the hidden dingbat!

Sponsored by

By mail: Find the Dingbat Alabama Living PO Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124

By email: dingbat@alabamaliving.com

Have a happy (and safe) Fourth of July

In 2020, at least 18 people died and over 15,000 people were treated in emergency rooms for fireworks injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. 66% of all fireworks-related incidents reported in 2020 occurred around the July 4th holiday. While it’s common to give

The safest way to enjoy a fire- children sparklers, they burn works display is at a communi- at about 2,000 degrees. ty-sanctioned, licensed event. Alabama law allows only consumer fireworks, formerly known as class Consider giving kids glow sticks, confetti poppers or flags instead, the National Safety Council recommends. C fireworks. Some municipalities outlaw fireworks altogether.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission prevents large numbers of hazardous fireworks from reaching consumers. Illegal mail order kits contain chemical mixtures that can explode unexpectedly and violently. M-80s, cherry bombs and quarter sticks are so highly explosive that they have been banned by federal law since 1966. If fireworks are legal where you live and you decide to set them off on your own, be sure to follow these important safety tips: • Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks. • Never use fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs. • Read and follow all warnings and instructions. • Discuss safety procedures with children, including teaching them to "stop, drop and roll." • Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks. • Never aim or throw fireworks at another person. • Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves and flammable materials. • Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly. • Never try to relight or pick up fireworks that have not fully functioned. • Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby in case of a malfunction or fire.

Source: Alabama Department of Public Health

The giraffes, standing 16 feet tall, love for visitors to hand-feed romaine lettuce from a raised vewing platform.

Take a wild ride

at the Alabama Safari Park

Story and photos by Nick Thomas

Visitors to the Alabama Safari Park this summer can expect many of the animal residents to personally greet their human guests. In fact, you’ll have many eating out of the palm of your hand – literally.

Home to more than 800 animals, visitors to the 350-acre wildlife park just south of Montgomery in Hope Hull drive the facility’s 3-mile winding gravel road while pausing periodically to hand-feed the free-roaming zebras, llamas, ostriches, and many other species from food buckets through car windows.

“It’s very safe, but there are rules that should be followed,” says park founder and CEO Eric Mogensen. “For example, you must always remain in your vehicle. You can ride in the bed of a pickup truck, but you absolutely cannot exit your vehicle. We have staff constantly monitoring the park, ensuring everyone follows the rules.”

In addition to catering to the daily stream of curious tourists, the park is dedicated to wildlife conservation as part of the Zoofari Parks group, which operates similar facilities in other states.

“We work closely with other zoos and private breeders around the country on captive breeding programs to build a healthy population of animals,” Mogensen says. This includes their sister parks, Virginia Safari Park, Gulf Breeze Zoo in Florida, and their newest Texas Safari Park, which is opening soon. “Our collection (of animals) depends upon availability, and proper management depends upon facilities and staffing.”

The park also supports conservation projects both nationally and globally, as well as native Alabama wildlife programs, by offering grants ranging from $100 to $5,000. Supported projects include the Siaga Conservation Alliance, Pygmy Hippo Research, tortoise population research at the University of West Florida, the International Crane Foundation, and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

“We budget a certain percentage of our income to be used towards our conservation programs,” Mogensen says. “We believe that there are habitats and species around the world that need additional funding for their programs, and we are able to assist. Our guests can enjoy the fact that while they are enjoying our park, they are actually helping our conservation efforts.”

Mogensen says the park is entirely self-funding, accepting neither donations nor state or federal money. “Because we have been doing this for a long time, we have developed a successful business model that allows us to be self-sufficient. We operate on income generated by admissions, feed sales, our gift shop, and animal encounters.”

Feeding some new friends

In addition to the self-driving tour, animal encounters include hand-feeding giraffes with lettuce (available on-site). From the raised viewing platform, visitors can stand eye-to-eye with the tallest terrestrial animal in the world which, on average, towers some 16 feet over fellow inhabitants in their native African savannahs and woodlands.

For an additional cost, visitors can also feed vegetable sticks to the newest park residents – the slow-moving but gentle twotoed sloths. And in a separate exhibit, Madagascar’s most famous mammals – lemurs – are on display. The park’s ring-tailed and black-and-white ruffed lemurs represent two of the 100 lemur species that are only native to the west African island nation.

There’s also a petting area with goats, potbellied pigs, chickens, and baby llamas, and at the Kangaroo Walk-About area, the famous bouncing Aussie marsupials could be leaping effortlessly across the grassland, lazing in the Southern sun, or tending to baby joeys in their pouches. Barnaby and Armstid, a pair of Giant Anteaters, are also recent additions to the park’s menagerie.

While Alabama is home to several traditional zoos, Mogensen doesn’t view the park attraction as a commercial rival.

Different from a zoo

“Before we built this park we were in close contact with the management of the Montgomery Zoo and have been careful to be an asset rather than competition,” he says. “We offer a very different experience than the Montgomery or Birmingham Zoos because our park is a drive-thru safari park. Guests can interact more with the animals and have closer encounters with various animals. It’s worth noting that our organizations are very supportive of one another.”

The region just south of Montgomery was selected for the Alabama park site due to the abundant grazing fields. And with Interstate 65 just minutes away, there’s easy access for travelers passing through the area looking for an interesting detour.

For the animals’ safety, visitors cannot provide outside food of any kind, but buckets of suitable feed are available for $5 at the gift shop. But with a constant mobile human food delivery service throughout the day, could the animals overeat?

“Our animals tend to self-regulate when being fed,” Mogensen says. “That is why every trip through is a different experience. When an animal eats and gets full, it will tend to move off and settle down for a nice rest.”

In addition to daily park passes, annual memberships are also available offering unlimited visits.

“We are constantly adding new animals and exhibits and are always planning for the future,” says Mogensen. “A guest should always notice something new with each visit.”

The Alabama Safari Park is open daily (except Thanksgiving and Christmas days), with summer hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; last admission is 4 p.m. Adults are $22.95, with discounts for children, seniors, and the military. Admission grants access to the Safari Drive-Thru and Walk-Thru areas for the entire day (receipts allow re-entry to the park). Wagon rides are also available for $10 per person.

The park is located off I-65 at Exit 158 at 1664 Venable Road, Hope Hull. Phone 334-288-2105 or go to www.alabamasafaripark.com for more information.

The slow-moving but gentle two-toed sloths enjoy munching on vegetable sticks.

This young Scottish Highland cow is gentle and easily handled.

Corporate marketing manager Susan Robichaux gets up-close and personal with the giraffes.

Lake Martin comes to life at songwriters festival

By Scott Baker

The sounds of Nashville will reach the shores of Lake Martin in late July during the 2nd annual Lake Martin Songwriters Festival. More than 20 hit-writing and highly acclaimed songwriters are slated to appear and perform at 15 different venues in the area July 27- 31, 2022. The big finale on Saturday night in downtown Alexander City will be headlined by Thompson Square.

The inaugural event in 2021 attracted so much attention and praise from both the songwriters and patrons that the organizing committee has been overwhelmed with writers clamoring to get involved. “I never expected to be receiving phone calls from such prestigious writers,” says Sandra Fuller, Executive Director of Tallapoosa County Tourism and one of the organizers. “I’ve been listening to these artists’ hit songs on the radio, and suddenly they’re calling me up and asking if they can participate. It’s surreal!”

Jamie O’Neal, the writer and artist behind the #1 hit singles “There Is No Arizona” and “When I Think About Angels”, is one of those artists. Another is Kristen Kelly, who is taking a break from touring with Brad Paisley, Racal Flatts and others. The star-studded songwriter

line-up also includes Marla Cannon-Goodman, Heidi Raye, and Brian White among others. While their names may not be recognizable, the artists who’ve recorded their songs are: Rascal Chad Wilson headlined the 2021 Lake Martin Songwriters Festival at Main Street in Alexander City. PHOTO BY SCOTT BAKER Flatts, Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, George Strait, Reba McEntire, Martina McBryde, and just about every other major recording artist. Grammy-nominated Blue Foley, writer of Ashley MacBryde’s “Never Will”, enjoyed the event so much last year that he wasted no time drumming up enthusiasm and support for the second year event. The effect of Foley’s support is evident with the inclusion of Johnny Bulford, co-writer of the #1 hit “A Woman Like You” by Lee Brice and “Lonely Eyes” by Chris Young. Terri Jo Box, a hit-writing machine for Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Trisha Yearwood and many others, declared her desire to return before she even left the stage last year. “The folks at Lake Martin were so welcoming, and the lake is absolutely magnificent,” Blue Foley says. “All the songwriters stayed together and we jammed all night and played on the lake all day. I couldn’t wait to return to Nashville and tell everyone about it.

Blue Foley

PHOTO COURTESY OF BLUE FOLEY

(From left) Chancie Neal, Kensie Coppin, Emma Zinck and Cameron Havens perform at Copper’s Grill at Stillwaters during the 2021 festival.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT BAKER

This year is going to be even better!”

The Lake Martin Songwriter Festival is more than a showcase of the writers behind the songs; it’s a weekend chock-full of world-class performances at small venues where the writers share insight on their writing process, what compelled them to write the song, and invite questions from attendees. At many of the venues, spectators are merely a few feet away from the performers and the feeling is intimate and conversational.

In addition to the showcase of talent, this year’s event will feature a songwriting competition for writers 20 years of age and younger. Held on Friday night at Wind Creek State Park, the event will be hosted and judged by Bruce Wawrzyniak with “Hear This Now” podcast and Trey Foshee of the band Blackberry Breeze. The winner will perform their winning composition on the main stage concert Saturday night. Main Street in Alexander City will be transformed with a stage erected between the historic downtown buildings creating a natural acoustic venue. The Josh Kiser Band opens the concert at 6:30 pm, followed by Jamie O’Neal performing her hit singles “There Is No Arizona” and “When I Think About Angels.” Thompson Square will share their new single “Country In My Soul,” among other favorites. “One of the best parts of the Lake Martin Songwriters Festival is it’s all free,” Fuller says. “Lake Martin already is a fantastic vacation destination and this festival will continue to grow and introduce more and more songwriters and music lovers to Lake Martin and central Alabama.” The Lake Martin Film Festival is presented by Those Lake Martin Guys and Tallapoosa County Tourism. For more information and a complete lineup, Chad Wilson and Eric Erdman entertain the audience at Copper’s Grill at Stillwaters. visit lakemartinsongwritersfestival.com.

Planning a remodel? Timing is everything

Q:I’m planning a remodeling project this year. What energy efficiency upgrades should I consider?

A:I write this from deep in the throes of a remodel that, like many remodels, has lasted much longer than planned.

Remodeling is a great opportunity to take care of energy efficiency improvements by adding them to your scope of work. If your home is already under construction, take the extra step to make it more efficient.

Planning for efficiency is the first step. Look at the scope of your remodeling project to see what energy efficiency upgrades you can add. There may be cost savings and convenience in tackling both at once.

Here are a few examples of energy efficiency upgrades for common remodeling projects.

Kitchen remodel

If your kitchen remodel includes new appliances, buy ENERGY STAR®-rated models. ENERGY STAR® refrigerators are about 9% more efficient than standard models, and ENERGY STAR® dishwashers save both energy and water.

As for kitchen faucets, there are options available with multiple flow-rate settings. You can save water by using a lower flow rate on your faucet when washing dishes, vegetables or your hands, but you can change the setting to quickly fill a pot for cooking.

Bathroom remodel

If you plan to remodel your bathroom, include a high-performance showerhead. Look for the WaterSense logo for showerheads, faucets and toilets, which ensures the product meets performance and water use standards.

Check the fine print on your existing equipment to see how much you can save. The gallons per minute (GPM) is usually printed on showerheads and faucet aerators and the gallons per flush (GPF) is usually printed on toilets.

High-performance showerheads and faucet aerators conserve water and save energy used to heat water. Using less water can lower your water bill or increase your septic system’s lifespan.

When shopping for new appliances, check for the ENERGYSTAR® logo on the Energy Guide. ENERGYSTAR®-rated dishwashers save both energy and water. PHOTO COURTESY MARK GILLILAND, PIONEER UTILITY RESOURCES

New siding or exterior paint

The best time to make sure your wall insulation is adequate— or to see if you have wall insulation at all—is when you replace your siding or paint the exterior of your home.

Wall insulation saves on energy costs, makes your home more comfortable and reduces outside noise.

Batt insulation, spray foam or foam board are good options if you are removing the siding. If you are painting, you can have a contractor blow insulation into the wall cavities through holes cut into the siding or from inside the house. The holes are then plugged and prepped for paint.

Lighting

Whether it’s under cabinet kitchen lighting or new can lights in the basement, LED options use less energy than traditional incandescent or CFL bulbs.

Attic insulation

Basement remodel

This is where I find myself right now. Our basement has gone from a wide-open space with concrete walls to a nearly completed living space with a den, two bedrooms, a bathroom and a laundry room.

We air sealed and insulated the sill plate and rim joist—the framing between the concrete foundation and the main level floor. We built and insulated walls around the basement’s perimeter, ensuring a cozy living space and a more comfortable home.

We upgraded our electric storage water heater to a hybrid—or heat pump—water heater, which is 70% more efficient than a standard electric model.

Also, we ran power for an electric vehicle charger while the walls were open. It is much less expensive to run the power supply while you have access.

Miranda Boutelle is the director of operations and customer engagement at Efficiency Services Group, which partners with electric utilities to provide energy efficiency services to members. She writes on energy efficiency topics for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives.

Often, remodeling requires work in the attic for new lighting or venting bath or kitchen fans. During any project that takes you into the attic, check insulation levels. Work in the attic can negatively impact attic insulation by crushing it or removing it to access work areas.

If more insulation is needed, air seal and check ventilation. Also, make sure all bath and kitchen fans vent to the exterior of the house.

Insulation may not be as pretty as new countertops, but it can help reduce your energy costs and make your home more comfortable.

A little planning during a remodel can go a long way toward improving your home’s energy efficiency. Remember: it’s more difficult and more expensive to go back and tackle energy efficiency projects after your space is finished.