Alabama Living November 2021

Stories | Recipes | Events | People | Places | Things | Local News November 2021

Electric

COOPERATIVES of ALABAMA

Remembering veterans Museums pay tribute to those who served

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STATEWIDE

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Electric

COOPERATIVES of ALABAMA

ALABAMA LIVING is delivered to some 420,000 Alabama families and businesses, which are members of 22 not-for-profit, consumer-owned, locally directed and taxpaying electric cooperatives. Subscriptions are $12 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 office.

POSTMASTER send forms 3579 to: Alabama Living, P.O. Box 244014 Montgomery, Alabama 36124-4014.

ALABAMA RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION

AREA President Karl Rayborn Editor Lenore Vickrey Managing Editor Allison Law Creative Director Mark Stephenson Art Director Danny Weston Advertising Director Jacob Johnson Graphic Designer/Production Coordinator Brooke Echols

ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL OFFICES:

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More public hunting opportunities

The state of Alabama recently opened more acreage to public hunting, including areas where people can hunt waterfowl in open water, marsh and tributaries in Mobile County.

28 F E A T U R E S

Printed in America from American materials

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NOVEMBER 2021

Thankful readers

9 Ask our readers what they’re

thankful for, and family tops the list, evidenced by this month’s snapshots.

Ready to compete

18 Gulf Shores native Lauren Bradford,

Miss Alabama 2021, is ready to make Alabama proud in the Miss America Pageant in December.

cauliflower

30 Cooking Roasted, riced or raw, cauliflower

is a delicious cruciferous vegetable that’s easier to prepare than you might think.

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D E P A R T M E N T S 11 Spotlight 25 Around Alabama 28 Outdoors 29 Fish & Game Forecast 30 Cook of the Month 38 Hardy Jackson’s Alabama ONLINE: alabamaliving.coop ON THE COVER

Look for this logo to see more content online!

VOL. 74 NO. 11

Sandy Thompson, director of the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives in Athens, in front of the museum’s Pearl Harbor exhibit. Story, Page 12.

PHOTO: JIM PLOTT

30 YY WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

ONLINE: EMAIL: MAIL:

www.alabamaliving.coop letters@alabamaliving.coop Alabama Living 340 Technacenter Drive Montgomery, AL 36117

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Record shattered in Great Alabama 650 Paddle Race

By David Rainer, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Mirko Pruefer and Dan Voss perfect their paddling rhythm en route to Fort Morgan.

Paddlers in the AL650 had to portage around nine dams during the 650-mile race.

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Alabama Living

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Portage and checkpoint locations for the

Great Alabama 650 Race Numbers in rectangles correspond to areas covered in detailed map pages.

Checkpoint 1 CoosaRiver Adventures N32.54172W-86.20238 Contact: 334-514-0279

Huntsville

Checkpoint 2 Millers Ferry Campground N32.11655W-87.38937 Contact: 334-682-4191

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231

72

Scottsboro 59

Coosa River Portages

Race start

Weiss Lake Dam

Co o Ri sa ve r

Checkpoint 3 Mouth ofthe Bon SecourRiver

43

Neely Henry Dam

Birmingham

20 Map 1

Logan Martin Dam

280

Alabama River Portages

Tuscaloosa Checkpoint

Selma

Millers Ferry Lockand Dam

Checkpoint

2

Map 4

Mitchell Dam Jordan Dam

82

Robert F.Henry Lock and Dam

Lay Dam

231

80

Alabama River

1

Map 2

Montgomery

85

Map 3

82

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er

Riv

ile

Al

ab

am

a R iver

Claiborne Lock and Dam

Map 6

Mob

W

ith almost perfect weather and water conditions, Paul Cox and Joe Mann shattered the record for the Great Alabama 650 (AL650) paddling race that traversed Alabama from Weiss Lake in the northeast corner of the state to Fort Morgan on the state’s beautiful Gulf Coast.

Cox and Mann won last year’s AL650 in 5 days, 22 hours and 8 minutes. The team covered the 650 miles this year in 4 days, 17 hours and 2 minutes. Runners-up Rod Price and Bobby Johnson finished in 4 days, 22 hours and 25 minutes. The top female and solo paddler was Salli O’Donnell, who finished in 4 days, 22 hours and 39 minutes.

The AL650 started in 2019 as a way to showcase Alabama’s abundant waterways and diversity, according to Laura Gaddy, communications director with the Alabama Scenic River Trail.

“We wanted a way to highlight how valuable our waterways are for recreation,” Gaddy says. “We thought, what better way to demonstrate that than to invite the world’s best racers to compete on this course.

“They said the AL650 is one of the toughest courses in the world. They say it’s a paddler’s race.”

One reason the paddlers deem the AL650 one of the toughest courses is they have to portage around nine dams on the Coosa and Alabama rivers. Once they get to the Mobile River, the portages are finished, but then they must deal with the unpredictable conditions on Mobile Bay. “We are accomplishing the goal we had when we started the race,” Gaddy says.

“People are becoming more aware how valuable our waterways are. This competition is known internationally among elite paddlers. They put it on their bucket list of events. We think as people recognize our water is so good that elite paddlers are willing to travel across the globe that everybody, even Alabamians, will recognize how unique our resources are.”

The number of entries into the AL650 is capped at 20 to be able to staff the route.

“We want to manage the race in a way that is responsible,” Gaddy says. “Organizing and managing the race is a feat unto itself. We have to have staff at each one of the nine portages.”

Even though the winning team set a new standard for the race, Cox, who lives in Atlanta, said it was not easy.

“It’s extremely hard,” Cox says. “The thing I like about the AL650 is you have

Mobile Mobile Bay

10 Map 7

Checkpoint

3

Race end

so many types of water conditions. You start in the lakes in northern Alabama and then you get to Wetumpka and get a little whitewater in. The lakes can be very difficult because of all the recreational boating traffic. But this year, I’m guessing because of the overcast and rainy weather, there weren’t many recreational boats on the water. We didn’t have to contend with boat wakes much, which made it better.”

Unlike other races, the AL650 has no sleep requirement, which means that sleep deprivation is another hurdle for some of the paddlers.

Cox estimated their sleep consisted of an hour at Wetumpka, two hours at Selma,

Mouth of the Bon Secour River

Map courtesy of Alabama Scenic River Trail

two hours before they entered Mobile Bay and then a final two hours about twothirds of the way to Fort Morgan.

“That’s what you have to do to be fast,” Cox says. “Sometimes you have to fight off the sleep monsters. There were definitely moments when I wasn’t paddling well. I was trying to stay upright, splashing myself with water. You have to talk to each other and tell stories. My partner, Joe, is a great storyteller, but he finally told me no more stories. That’s when I knew we needed to pull over and get some sleep.”

Although the rapids at Wetumpka broke up the routine for the paddlers, Cox especially appreciated Mitchell Lake.

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deal from last year’s race and utilized that knowledge to shave as much time as possible.

Alabama has a lot to offer

Joe Mann, left, and Paul Cox celebrate their victory in the Great Alabama 650 with a trophy and cup of coffee.

“I think the Mitchell Lake section was probably my favorite of the whole race,” he says. “It’s just so beautiful. You have the rock formations that jut out from the eastern side of the lake.

“Then you get to Wetumpka and get a little taste of whitewater. Then you get into the Alabama River, and it gets to be a wider, slower river. But there was obviously a lot of rain this year, so the rivers were moving faster this year. That contributed to the faster pace.”

After the paddlers went through Montgomery and Selma, they found out just what rural Alabama looks like.

“You don’t see many people after Selma,” Cox says. “As a racer, you start having to deal with sleepiness, being tired and not seeing your crew as often. North of Selma, we would see our crew about every 12 miles. After Selma, we went for stretches up to 50 miles before seeing them.”

During the stops, the support crew met the competitors with warm clothes, food and fresh water. They prepared warm food, like chili or roast beef and mashed potatoes, that they put in Thermos containers for the paddlers to take on the next leg of the race.

“That was the difference,” Cox says.

“Our fantastic crew would do anything for us.”

Cox and Mann then got a close-up view of the magnificent Mobile-Tensaw Delta, although it wasn’t as long a visit as last year.

“The river down south was flowing so fast that we made great time,” Cox says.

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While Mitchell was the favorite spot for Cox, Mann said traversing Mobile Bay provided a unique satisfaction, even after taking a swim in the Bay’s brackish water.

“I’m not a big ocean guy,” Mann says.

“I live in Kansas City, Missouri, about as far away from the ocean as you can get.

I’ve never been a fan of the bays. I was not looking forward to it at all. And this year it ate us. We tipped over. We had to use a lot of energy to get back in the boat. We were more than 90 percent to the finish. We decided it could all fall apart right here, so we stopped, got dry, got something to eat and slept.”

That stop gave the team enough energy to tackle the Bay with waves building from an early cold front that prompted small craft advisories.

“It was the hardest thing I’ve had to do – get back out there in the dark and fight those waves,” Mann says. “But we knew if we wanted to win, that’s what we had to do. As it turned out, honestly, we had a lot of fun. We figured out the pattern of the waves and how to do it. Paul did a masterful job of steering the boat. The last four hours, we had it down. I felt like we could take on anything. I was tired, but we had a much higher level of confidence.

“Anytime the big rollers came in, we began to recognize the angles of the waves.

There were two different sets of wave currents that would cross each other. We would ride one and jump on the next one.

The Bay ended up being quite fun.”

Mann said he and Cox learned a great

“The first time you do something like this, it’s a magical sense of adventure and everything is new,” Mann says. “The second time you have the learning curve.

When we looked back, it was so much fun, but we made a lot of mistakes. With a course this long, there’s a lot of room for mistakes, which adds up to a significant amount of time.

“I think the difference this year was we approached this a lot more analytically.

It’s not that we didn’t want to have fun, because we did. Before it was a magical adventure. This time it was how were we going to execute our plan to stay in the boat and keep moving. Obviously, we did that by beating our old time by almost 30 hours.”

Cox would not commit to attempting a three-peat because of logistics of such a long race. He does not count it out though.

“What makes the 650 so cool is the varied conditions you have to contend with,” he says. “You have lakes, rivers, whitewater and the bay. It’s quite a challenge. I’ve been competing for 15 years. I’ve done races in the Yukon Territory. I did the 1,000-mile race up there a few years ago.

“But this one is special because of the diversity of habitat. You’ve got mountains and swamps. You see everything from great blue herons to eagles. You always feel like you’re in the real natural world. I think it’s a great race. Alabama is so beautiful.

Alabama has a lot to offer for sure.”

For those who love to kayak or canoe but prefer a leisurely paddle along some of the most scenic vistas in Alabama, consider a trip down the Bartram Canoe Trail or the Perdido River Canoe Trail. The trails, developed and now managed through the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ State Lands Division and Forever Wild Land Trust, cover 196 miles of water.

The Bartram Canoe Trail in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta has four land-based shelters and four floating platforms for camping. The floating platforms are used by reservation only. The Perdido River Canoe Trail is in Baldwin County and has six land-based camping shelters.

Visit alabamacanoetrails.com for information on both trails. www.alabamaliving.coop

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How will we charge all the new electric vehicles?

By Paul Wesslund

What electric cars need to become a top choice for American drivers is a nationwide network of charging stations to overcome fears of running out of juice on long trips.

Or maybe that’s not true at all.

There are already nearly one-third as many charging sites in the U.S. as there are gas stations. And that doesn’t even count the “refueling stations” found in the electric outlets of every home in America.

Plus, the range of electric cars already exceeds how far most people drive in a day. Ninety percent of Americans drive less than 45 miles a day, and the average range for electric vehicles is 250 miles.

The ballyhoo over charging stations has created a powerful conventional wisdom that they’re a necessary step toward overcoming the “range anxiety” about getting stranded in the middle of nowhere. President Biden’s American Jobs Plan proposes a national network of 500,000 charging stations by 2030, up from the Department of Energy’s current count of 50,000.

But the conventional wisdom masks a different road ahead.

Range anxiety may be the least of the reasons there aren’t more electric vehicles on the road, says Brian Sloboda, director of consumer solutions for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

“There are people who argue we need the charging network for the electric vehicle market to be successful. They might be right, but I’m not one of those people,” says Sloboda. “Let’s say your electric vehicle is only used for commuting and you’re just driving it from your home to the grocery store to work. It is very likely that you would never even use public charging stations because you can charge your EV at home for a very reasonable price.”

Sloboda is quick to list the advantages of electric vehicles, from how they affect the environment to their lower maintenance costs to the fact that you can wake up every morning with a full tank of “gas.” But he sees bigger issues than a lack of charging stations standing in the way of greater acceptance.

He says, “You have limited model availability, limited body styles, limited manufacturers, high prices and most people are unfamiliar with the technology.”

But Sloboda sees those problems as solvable. Right now, you’ll pay about $10,000 extra for an electric model. But those costs are coming down as batteries get cheaper and more powerful.

And competition is heating up. Every major car manufacturer has high-profile plans for electric models—Ford has announced an electric model of its popular F-150 pickup. Although electric vehicles make up less than 4% of the auto market, that’s doubled from just one year ago.

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According to the Department of Energy, there are currently about 50,000 electric vehicle charging sites in the U.S., which is about onethird the number of gas stations.

Photo Source: Paul Brennan

Electric co-ops across the country are responding to consumers’ rising interest in electric vehicles by installing charging stations or offering special rates for EV owners who charge vehicles during designated hours.

Photo Source: Roanoke Electric

Even if charging stations are not the most important determiner of the future of electric vehicles, they are a growing part of the landscape. To find the nearest charging station, a variety of apps will guide you. Many electric co-ops are also responding to the rising interest.

“Co-ops are looking at what they can do to support public charging,” says Sloboda. “They do it to meet the needs of their members, but they also do it as economic development to bring tourists into the community to support local businesses like hotels and parks.”

While trends point to strong growth for electric vehicles, forecasting the future of charging stations is trickier. It’s not as easy as comparing the number of charging stations to gas stations.

For one thing, people don’t have a gasoline pump in their garage, which is essentially the case with an electric. And while an internal combustion engine might take 4 minutes for a fill, it could take more than an hour to recharge an electric vehicle.

“It’s something everyone is wrestling with,” says Sloboda. “But if you’re truly interested in making the switch to electric, don’t let the current charging infrastructure deter you. Focus on your daily driving needs, your budget and read reviews from trusted sites like Consumer Reports, Motor Trend, and Car and Driver.”

Paul Wesslund writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives.

From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56% of the nation’s landscape.

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ENERGY SAVINGS FILL-IN-THE-BLANK

Saving energy at home can help your family save money and help our environment. Test your energy efficiency knowledge by completing this fill-in-the-blank activity.

Tip: Use the word bank for help. Don’t forget to check your answers in the key below!

1. Turning off the tap water while brushing your teeth can save up to four _______________ of water per minute.

2. Energy vampires, like TVs and phone chargers, consume _______________ even when they’re not in use. Turn these devices off to save energy.

3. Turning off _______________ every time you leave the room saves energy.

4. Wash clothes in _______________ water to reduce the load on your water heater.

5. LED light bulbs typically use 75% less energy than _______________ light bulbs.

6. To save energy, only run full loads when running the _______________.

Word Bank: incandescent

dishwasher

electricity

gallons

lights

cold

Answer Key: 1) gallons 2) electricity 3) lights 4) cold 5) incandescent 6) dishwasher 8 NOVEMBER 2021

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I’m thankful for...

| Alabama Snapshots |

My Papaw, Lewis Karr, who is 95 years young!

SUBMITTED BY Rachel Brimer, Killen.

The love and support of family. SUBMITTED BY Gwen Windham, Robertsdale.

Charles Kiplinger taking our granddaughter Aspen on her first fishing trip. SUBMITTED BY Sandra Kiplinger, Union Grove.

Delaney and Audrey. SUBMITTED BY Jamie Sutton, Mount Hope.

I’m thankful for the family God has blessed me with! SUBMITTED BY Lynn Wilks, Flat Rock.

Submit “Pets wearing clothes” photos by Nov. 31. Winning photos will run in January.

Include your social media handle with photo submissions to be featured on our Facebook and Instagram!

Alabama Living

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

My sister, Annette Duke McAdams (middle) is a 9-year breast cancer survivor, and my mom (right) is a 1-year breast cancer survivor.

SUBMITTED BY Shelly Elrod, Logan.

My husband Donald and great-nephew Jaxon at Night to Shine, 2021. SUBMITTED BY Myra Morrison, Grant.

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.

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Spotlight | November North Alabama Mural Trail highlights public art works

‘Alabama Living’ wins several national awards Several members of the Alabama Living team were recognized recently for their good work in 2020. The Statewide Editors Association’s annual Willies Awards highlight the best stories, columns, photographs and covers produced by magazines across the nation, which serve the members of their state’s rural electric cooperatives.

Mark Stephenson, Alabama Living’s creative director, won the top award in the Best Photo category for his striking June 2020 cover photo of a sunflower and butterfly. Stephenson and photographer Jeff Rease won an Award of Merit for Best Cover for their collaboration on the November 2020 cover photo of a World War II veteran.

Columnist Hardy Jackson won the Willie Award for his column, “Appreciating veterans, and anchovies,” from the November 2020 issue. And managing editor Allison Law tied for an Award of Merit for her September 2020 personality profile of Facebook sensation Brenda Gantt.

Letters to the editor

E-mail us at: letters@alabamaliving.coop or write us at: Letters to the editor

P.O. Box 244014

Montgomery, AL 36124

Commends restaurant

I was glad to see you put a great article together (October 2021) about Jesse’s Restaurant in Magnolia Springs! Steve and Angie are precious people and their reputation and restaurant is top notch.

Their food is absolutely delicious! It is definitely worth the ride to try, but I would suggest making a reservation, especially on the weekends.

Rhona Reid Beckwith, Fairhope

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The new North Alabama Mural Trail features more than 125 works of public art in the 16 northernmost counties in Alabama. The trail will allow visitors and residents alike to travel across the region to view street art paintings that help explain the Oneonta alley murals. history and heritage of the cities and communities in the area.

To access the self-guided tour, download the mobile passport at www.NorthALMuralTrail.org. Upon registering, the passport will be delivered to the registrant’s mobile phone via text and email and is ready for immediate use. There is no app to download.

The Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, which launched the trail, encourages visitors to have their phones ready to take photos and tag #NorthALMurals in selfies and pictures on social media. When visiting a mural location, simply check in using the mobile phone’s GPS to record each visit. Visit www. northalabama.org/trails/mural-trail for more information.

Immerse yourself in the world of Van Gogh “Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” is a unique multimedia experience that takes the viewer on a journey through more than 300 iconic artworks of the renowned Dutch painter, including the recognizable classics “The Starry Night,” “Sunflowers” and “Café Terrace at Night.” And this month, it will make its debut at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.

Set to a symphonic score and using the artist’s own dreams, thoughts and words, Vincent Van Gogh’s art comes to life by appearing and disappearing, flowing across multiple surfaces and heightening the senses with their immense detail. Guests will leave with a new appreciation of the prolific artist’s stunning work. The visit takes about one hour, and COVID protocols will be in place.

Learn more about the exhibit and purchase tickets at VanGoghBirmingham.com.

Memories of country drives with dad

My dad and I used to drive around in the country. He loved looking at farms and historic buildings, tractors, and cows. As I got older, after he passed away, it became a pleasure of mine as well. I’d intentionally get lost on the back roads of Northern Alabama, gazing in wonder at the rolling, green hills, covered by lush, well-watered trees.

One of my favorite memories with my father happened when I was a young girl. We were about to drive his classic Monte Carlo over a small bridge with a sign that read “Weight Limit: 2 Tons.” My dad stopped the car and told me to get out, because we wouldn’t make the weight limit otherwise. Now, I do the same thing to my sons.

Stephanie Benton, Gardendale www.alabamaliving.coop

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November | Spotlight

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. Please include your name, hometown and electric cooperative, and the location of your photo and include your social media handle so we can tag you! We’ll draw a winner for the $25 prize each month.

Brenda Carter of Hulaco, a member of Cullman EC, and her granddaughter, Alice Fortenberry, had fun on their trip to snowy Utah, where they visited near Immigration Pass outside Salt Lake City.

Jennifer Johnson of Wetumpka, a member of Central Alabama EC, took her magazine along on a trip to Arches National Park, Utah.

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 by Nov. 8 with your name, address and the name of your rural electric cooperative. The winner and answer will be announced in the December 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 your own photo for an upcoming issue! Remember, all readers whose photos are chosen also win $25!

October’s answer: This map of the U.S. in stones is located on Worth Street, one block west of U.S. Highway 431 across from the Historic Post Office in Guntersville in Marshall County. It has been fenced to prevent destruction; however, it can be viewed from the sidewalk or the street on Worth Street. (Photo submitted by Susan Lynn Allen of North Alabama EC.) The randomly drawn correct guess winner is Angie Wolford of North Alabama EC. (Due to the delay in delivery of some magazines, we extended the deadline for guesses through Oct. 11.)

Alabama Living

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Kenith and Angela Sims traveled all the way to South Dakota with their magazine this summer. While in Rapid City, they got a photo in front of a 1.5-ton bronze quarter pounder at a McDonald’s restaurant. They are from River Falls and members of Covington EC.

The Mob Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada, made a fun backdrop for this photo of Keith and Delinda Cain of Arab. The museum’s official name is the National Museum of Organized Crime & Law Enforcement.

Find the hidden dingbat!

Many of our readers thought we were pretty sneaky hiding the October dingbat, a black cat, where we did. The cat replaced the letter “b” in Alabama at the top of Page 25. “I found that sneaky critter on my fourth round of searching the magazine,” wrote Mary S. Hutto of Shorterville, a member of Pea River Electric Cooperative. “Sly little devil! Sad to say, but he crossed my path three times before I found him! Oh, no!”

Robert and Joyce Norman of Alpine, members of Coosa Valley EC, said they almost thought they saw the cat perched on top of the pumpkin truck on Page 9, until they keep looking and found it on Page 25. Laurie Vines of Rockford said she was reading the events calendar on that page when she “had the strange feeling someone was watching me! As my eyes scanned to the top of the page to look up…lo and behold, there it was! A something, not a someone, peering at me! It was a black cat named DINGBAT!” Robert and Dawn Smith of Hanceville, members of Cullman EC, said the dingbat looks like their cat Squeaky. And Central Alabama EC member Robin Nelson of Wetumpka said the cat reminded her of the sweet black cat, appropriately named Bama, she had as a girl growing up on Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. “Thanks for the trip through time this month,” she wrote.

Congratulations to Charles Urban of Decatur, a member of Joe Wheeler EMC, our winner this month who won a prize package from Alabama Rural Electric Credit Union. For November, we’ve hidden a scarecrow, but don’t be scared when you find it! Entries are due by Nov. 8.

By mail: Find the Dingbat

Alabama Living

PO Box 244014

Montgomery, AL 36124 By email: dingbat@alabamaliving.com

Sponsored by

NOVEMBER 2021 11

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Museum preserves the service and stories of state’s veterans

By Jim Plott

T

wo years ago, after a more than 80-year absence, Edgar DaAmong the artifacts is a metal piece from the forward deck of vid Gross finally came back home to Alabama. the battleship USS Arizona, which was bombed and destroyed at The Navy seaman was among the 2,400 casualties at Pearl Pearl Harbor. Thompson said the piece – “one of our prized possessions” – was removed from the ship to make room for the memoriHarbor, Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941, when Japanese war planes attacked the naval base and surrounding military installations. al. The museum requested and was given the item.

In 2018, after DNA testing, The museum also displays the seaman’s remains were remany authentic uniforms of interred to a cemetery in a rueach war, including those worn ral Limestone County commuby enemy combatants. nity where he grew up.

“We had someone from Germany who toured the museHis story, and the stories of um. When he returned home, multiple sailors, soldiers and he sent us an actual German Marines who died or survived uniform from World War II,” combat in numerous wars, are Thompson says. “You just nevunfolded at the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives in er know who is going to walk Athens, near Huntsville. through the doors and what Gross, age 40 at his death, they might bring.” served 16 years in the U.S. In pre-pandemic times, the Navy when hostilities in the museum attracted about 12,000 world resulted in him being visitors a year, Thompson says. recalled into service in 1940.

A tribute to those He was aboard the USS Oklahoma when it and seven other who served The non-profit and mostly battleships – along with multiple other ships and nearly 170 privately funded museum had aircraft – were destroyed in the its beginning in 1995 when attack that thrust the U.S. into Veterans Service Officer Kenneth David decided to collect World War II. World War II military artifacts “This museum is a tribute to to commemorate the 50th anthe people that bought us freedom and some of them, like niversary of the end of that war.

Edgar David Gross, paid for it “Once it was over, a lot of with their lives,” says Museum the donors decided that the Director Sandy Thompson, items they brought were too a retired U.S. Air Force servaluable to be returned to a Navy seaman Edgar David Gross, a native of Limestone County, was geant. “If it wasn’t for them, we stationed on the USS Oklahoma and was among the casualties of the closet or attic and be forgotten wouldn’t be living and enjoying attack on Pearl Harbor. Included is a flag that draped his casket when his or damaged so they left them the liberties that we have today remains were returned to Alabama two years ago. where they thought they would PHOTO BY JIM PLOTT in this country.” be protected,” Thompson says.

While the museum focuses “Pretty soon people started mainly on people from Limestone County, Thompson said their bringing items from other wars and combats, and everything just stories mirror those of veterans from every part of the United sort of morphed into this wonderful museum.”

States.

Officially open in November 2002, the museum set up shop in With more than 5,000 artifacts and documents on display, the the former L&N railroad freight depot. Eight years later the Limestone County Commission donated a larger adjacent building to museum covers every major war and conflict that the United States help the museum manage its mushrooming collection. has been involved in from the American Revolution to the present.

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Sandy T Museum museum an actu was sun

Displays Veteran

The Ath World W has bee the pres

Gov. Kay Ivey toured the Athens museum in July 2021 when she attended the grand opening in the new building.

PHOTO BY HAL YEAGER/GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

Museum volunteer Yvonne Dempsey adjusts the hat of a mockup of Navy WAVE Nell Smith Lutz (also in the photo), who served during World War II. Sandy Thompson, director of the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives in Athens, stands in front of the museum’s Pearl Harbor exhibit. The exhibit includes an actual piece of the battleship USS Arizona which was sunk in the Japanese attack.

PHOTO BY JIM PLOTT

PHOTO BY JIM PLOTT

Displays and artifacts are preserved at the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives in Athens.

PHOTO BY HAL YEAGER/GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

The Athens museum has displays like this one from World War II for every major war and conflict the U.S. has been involved in from the American Revolution to the present.

PHOTO BY JIM PLOTT Alabama Living

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The 20,000-square-foot building, half of which is dedicated to museum displays, was officially opened July 1 with Gov. Kay Ivey among the more than 750 people who attended the event.

Ivey called the museum a tribute to Alabamians who served in the armed forces and a beacon to remind current and future generations of the hardships and sacrifices men and women in uniform endured in defense of freedom.

The new addition includes a larger library and veteran research center, a virtual reality room, gift shop and several new exhibits including one honoring the sacrifices made by civilians on the “home front” during World War II. In addition to the exhibits, the museum hosts a monthly “coffee call,” a free socializing and light breakfast event for veterans and their families. The event, which has been placed on hiatus during the pandemic, is sponsored by area businesses.

Displays and artifacts are preserved at the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives in Athens.

PHOTOS BY HAL YEAGER/GOVERNOR’S OFFICE Thompson said the museum plans to unveil additional exhibits and make additional imble sacrifices and the intensity of war.” provements inside the building. Meanwhile, the museum is hopThe museum at 100 W. Pryor Street in downtown Athens is ing to acquire additional property for a memorial park. open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donations “The role of this museum as we see it is not only to entertain, are appreciated. Visit AlabamaVeteransMuseum.com but to educate,” Thompson says. “We want to convey the incredi-

Other selected veteran and military museums in Alabama U.S. Army Aviation Museum (Fort Rucker)

Building 6000 Novosel Street ArmyAviationMuseum.org 334-598-2508 A military museum housing more than 160 military aircraft and one of the largest collections of military helicopters.

Indoor and outdoor exhibits. Donations appreciated and gift shop proceeds fund the museum.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 More than 160 aircraft from all eras are on p.m. Monday-Friday display at the United States Army Aviation 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. SatMuseum at Fort Rucker.

PHOTO COURTESY U.S. ARMY AVIATION MUSEUM urday

U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum (Huntsville)

2060A Airport Road Email info@memorial.museum.org 256-883-3737 Indoor and outdoor displays of more than 30 military vehicles along with exhibits. Donation requested.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday 14 NOVEMBER 2021

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Talladega Hall of Heroes (City of Talladega) 112 Court Square East TalladegaHeroes.org 256-268-7217 Museum pays tribute to veterans and first responders.

Donations accepted.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday-Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. second Saturdays Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site

(Tuskegee) 1616 Chappie James Ave. NPS.gov/tuai.index.htm 334-724-0922 Tour the hangar and training grounds of the Tuskegee Airmen, the famed African American pilots who were trained and participated in combat missions during World War II. Free.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday

USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park

(Mobile) 2703 Battleship Parkway USSAlabama.com 251-432-0261 Tour the USS Alabama battleship and submarine USS Drum and view military planes and equipment. Admission charged with discounts for some.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Sunday www.alabamaliving.coop

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| Worth the drive |

Pecan on Broad breathes life into Camden’s downtown Pecan on Broad fronts the main street in downtown Camden.

Story and photos by Jennifer Kornegay

T

he pecan is an exceedingly Southern food and an absolutely also selections less-common to rural towns. They hoped residents Alabama one too, resulting in the strong regional flavor that would enjoy it all often, and that as news spread, it would draw Camden’s Pecan on Broad, a specialty market and restaurant more — and more diverse — visitors to Camden. that opened in 2019, evokes simply with its name.

It worked so well, the success came as a surprise. “We knew The moniker is also rooted in reality. Part of its building was we were filling a void,” Dunagan says. “And we wanted it to be a pecan business in a former life, and it fronts Broad Street, the a springboard for further development downtown, but when we main thoroughfare in the small town’s downtown. But this spot is realized we really were bringing people from outside the area, we much more than either the literal or figurative aspects of its brand. were kinda shocked.” And the big win: Other businesses are seeing For starters, it’s packed with an array of offerings. Shelves are more people too. heavy with sauces, spices, jams and relishes. Tables are stacked People have driven more than an hour for Pecan on Broad’s with candles, glassware and pottery. The cold case is laden with Saturday brunch, where they feast on savory brisket and grits or casseroles, soups and cakes. A chalkboard announces the day’s French toast casserole and candied Conecuh sausage. At lunchtime, you’ll find all ages tucking into chicken salad (generous multiple ice cream options. The old vault in the side of the building that was once a bank now holds bottles of wine instead of bills. amounts of shredded rotisserie chicken seasoned simply); broccoli salad (florets with pecans, When Ryan Dunagan and red onion and tart dried cranChris Bailey came to visit a berries); daily specials, includfriend in Camden a few years ing meat ’n’ three favorites; and ago, the surrounding countryside’s rustic beauty and the hearty soups with gooey grilled town’s laidback vibe instantly pimento cheese on the side. earned their affections. Then, Dunagan is the kitchen wiz the historic-home and antiquhalf of the team. While he ing enthusiasts bought Rivhas no official culinary backerbend, a circa 1840 house in ground, he relishes cooking Camden, and began restoring and learned from his dad, who and reviving the structure, made most of the meals in his while still living in Mobile. family. He makes everything Soon, weekends turned into in-house but hired a local lady weeks, and they decided to Pecan on Broad’s salad trio plate (a scoop each of orzo pasta salad, for the sweets. “Our signature make the move permanent. dessert is the hummingbird chicken salad and broccoli salad) is always popular, as are its pimento “Once we knew Camden cheese and hummingbird cake. cake, and of course, we do pecan pie,” he says. was our new home, we wanted to do something beneficial for the entire community, and that He’s particularly proud of his take on pimento cheese, of which sparked the idea for Pecan on Broad,” Bailey said. they sell “a ton.” “I go lighter on the mayo and use cream cheese In keeping with their love of old things, both are into smalltoo, plus some jalapeno peppers,” he said. There’s almost always town downtowns, and they quickly noticed that Camden’s was a steady flow of folks popping in to grab items from the cold lacking life. They also noted that Camden already had visitors, case, including that prized pimento cheese, as well as casseroles, mostly outdoorsmen. “We realized they could bring their families take-and-bake pizzas, soups, cinnamon rolls, plus a wide range with them, except there wasn’t much else to do,” Dunagan says. of meats.

Dunagan has also employed skills from his interior design caEnter Pecan on Broad with its food products, home-décor and reer, which is ongoing, to create Pecan on Broad’s sophisticated yet gift items, plus a restaurant serving some Southern classics but comfortable style, which called for keeping as much of the original building intact as was possible.

Pecan on Broad 110 Broad Street, Camden, AL 36736 Whether they come to Pecan on Broad for a double scoop of 334-455-4036 Creole praline ice cream, some fancy mustard, a chicken pot pie pecanonbroad.com Camden or a whimsical tea towel, when they leave, everyone walks under Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Friday l “Y’all come back!” painted on the wall above the door. With so 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday much in one spot that’s underpinned with a true “you all” mindset, Left, The Pecan co-owner, Ryan Dunagan. chances are good most folks will RSVP “yes” to that invitation. 16 NOVEMBER 2021

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Alabama Living

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| Alabama People |

Lauren Bradford

Ready to make Alabama proud Miss Alabama 2021 is Lauren Bradford, a Gulf Shores native whose accomplishments and talents make her a worthy representative for our state. She’s a 2021 summa cum laude graduate of Auburn University with a degree in finance, and after her year of service as Miss Alabama, she’ll attend Vanderbilt University to pursue an advanced degree in finance. She’s a talented classical violinist, who began studying the instrument at age 6; it’s her talent in the competitions, and she continues to practice every day.

Preparing for the Miss America competition in December has become a full-time job; she spends her time networking, having meetings about her social impact initiative, called “UNPLUG: The Digital Diet Plan,” doing interviews, visiting sponsors, traveling to events and doing speaking engagements, and practicing for the interview portion of the competition. She’s had several events in her hometown (her parents, Wade and Lisa Bradford, are members of Baldwin EMC), and says her community has been incredibly supportive; she’s the first Miss Alabama from Baldwin County in the 100-year history of Miss Alabama. – Allison Law What has life been like since you won the crown this summer?

Life has been so full and so rewarding. I have had opportunities that I never dreamed – I’ve already traveled the state quite a bit and met people from all backgrounds. I have experienced the fullest extent of the word “busy” like never before. This is an incredible honor that I want to view with reverence in every moment – I never want to take it for granted.

How did you prepare for the Miss Alabama pageant?

I was scheduled to compete in Miss Alabama in the summer of 2020. Because of the pandemic, it was postponed for one year. So, I actually held my local title of Miss Jefferson County for almost two years before competing at Miss Alabama. Throughout that time, I grew so much as a person. … I did all of the external preparation: curating my talent (I performed “My Heart Will Go On” from the film “Titanic” on violin), mock interviews, always watching the evolvement of current events, growing my Social Impact Initiative, etc.

But I also did a lot of the internal preparation as well. My faith is the most important thing in my life. …

Throughout preparation, my faith kept me anchored to something so much bigger than me. It helped me to have a vision of what my goals actually would be as Miss Alabama. It gave me a purpose for the why behind even competing for this job. And it gave me peace during the competition week.

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Talk about your social impact initiative.

Growing up, it was always a rule in our household that we would not get a phone until we were going into high school.

Therefore, I was able to have a front row seat to how technology usage was impacting my peers in an alarming way. I watched as communication abilities decreased, grades slipped, and addictions to screens were formed. …

I created “UNPLUG: The Digital Diet Plan” in 2015. The name came from the parallel philosophy of balance in food intake, where dessert is an occasional indulgence.

Our leisure technology consumption should be the same: integrated into life, work, and education in a cohesive way and used for its intended purpose: as a tool. UNPLUG is ultimately an educational campaign for people of all ages to gain an understanding of the harmful consequences of tech overuse, while learning practical steps to find a balance of use.

It has grown beyond my wildest dreams; I believe that people everywhere inherently understand that screens have the potential to control our lives and strip us from our abilities to engage in human connectivity. I’m proud to have spread a positive message of how we can integrate technology into our lives in a healthier way.

PHOTO BY GOVERNOR’S OFFICE/ HAL YEAGER

Tell us, how does it feel to wear that beautiful crown?

It’s so surreal! Every time I put it on, I try to take a moment to appreciate that I have been given this opportunity to steward, to make an impact, to be a role-model, to be a champion for those who need one. I never want to forget that – my heart is full of gratitude.

To book Bradford for a speaking engagement, visit Mi s s A l a b a m a . com. www.alabamaliving.coop

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PET HEALTH

Help your pets stay warm Staying hopeful about this winter pet welfare – and staying warm S

Building an outdoor shelter for your pet can be a great family project.

eptember’s article about pet abandonment generated a large number of responses. It is obvious that people care deeply about the wellbeing of the unfortunate dogs and cats. Frequently we feel despondent about our failure to make any meaningful difference. However, change is slow.

We have been working towards reducing animal suffering for centuries. The first SPCA was established in England in 1824.

The first American SPCA started in New York in 1866. The Humane Society was formed in the U.S. in 1954. Through the tireless work of many generations of compassionate human beings, we as a society now treat animals with more care than we used to.

When I feel despair, I remind myself that every bit matters and every passion counts. We just have to keep the conversation alive. We will continue to talk about these issues and we will also brainstorm how to make some VERY small but forward moving changes next year.

Warding off the chill

Now, back to the present! It is the beginning of winter and four months of cold days are ahead of us. Lucky for us, the winter here is not like winter in Montana, but it gets cold. Below freezing temperatures are not uncommon, especially in north Alabama where we live.

Like people, cats and dogs are susceptible to hypothermia and should be kept inside during cold weather. In the past, I got some letters from upset readers for pushing the idea that dogs should mostly be indoors. Thick-coated dog breeds, such as huskies and Pyrenees, indeed do better than short-hair breeds, but even they get cold! The signs of hypothermia (uncomfortably low body temperature) could be whining, shivering, anxiety, slow moveGoutam Mukherjee, DVM, MS, Ph.D. (Dr. G) has been a veterinarian for more than 30 years. He owns High Falls Holistic Veterinary Care near Geraldine, Alabama. To suggest topics for future discussions, email him at contact@alabamaliving.coop

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ments, weakness, or burrowing for a warm place. An easy way to tell if your pet is cold is to notice how they are resting. Curled up in a tight ball means they are cold and conserving body heat while being sprawled out shows they are warm and comfortable.

Feed them a little extra with high-quality food. This helps them better maintain their body temperature. Having access to warm water will be a great plus for many outdoor pets. Several manufacturers like K&H sell heated pet bowls for less than $20.

The next big issue is shelter. A thermometer reading alone does not give us the whole picture of how a pet feels. Wind and rain can also affect how cold we are. Just like us, they tend to lose body heat much faster if they are wet and subjected to even a slight breeze on a cold winter day.

Build a shelter or buy a shelter. Orienting the opening to the southeast may be a good idea. There are many YouTube videos to guide you. Foam board insulation is a better choice than fiberglass insulation. T1-11 can be used for the exterior and the interior.

Make the inside chew and scratch-proof. Be careful when heating the doghouse. I’ve personally heard of two cases where the doghouse caught fire from a heat lamp. Consider something like a Safe Chicken Coop Heater. These are around $40. There are also thermostatically controlled outlets (thermocube) to make sure heating apparatuses turn on when the temperature drops below a certain point. Please discuss the details with a licensed electrician.

Now, about cats. Cats tend to do better to find shelters, but they also need our help and will cherish a nice cozy house. I guarantee that they will kill more mice if they can rest easy in their heated hunting cabin. K&H Pet Products and Kitty Tube make many kinds of heated cat houses. Above all, consider safety. Think of and plan for all the possible ways things can go wrong. You will sleep with a clear conscience.

During these holiday seasons, please shop from smile.

Amazon.com and designate an animal charity of your choice to benefit a few cents from your every purchase. Happy holidays to you and all your friends, whether they bark, meow, squawk, or even hiss. www.alabamaliving.coop

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Alabama Living

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| Gardens |

Creating cozy outdoor rooms for winter O utdoor spaces have become essential gathering places for many of us over the last 20 months, and thankfully we don’t have to abandon them this fall and winter. We just have to create a room (or two) for them.

Like many folks, my husband and I discovered the joys of small outdoor get-togethers during the pandemic summer of 2020 when an oscillating fan and cool drinks could make even the hottest, buggiest days and nights bearable. As temperatures began to plummet last fall, though, staying outside required more effort. At first, we simply bundled up against the cold, but it soon became clear that we needed more protection from the elements, which is when we created two “outdoor rooms” — one on our front porch and the other on our back patio.

The outdoor room concept entails designating outdoor living spaces and designing them to meet particular needs — entertaining, exercising, meditating, etc.

These rooms can be elaborate and expensive or simple and economical. We opted for functional and cost-effective and created them using small space heaters, wind screens and lap blankets, all of which allowed us a degree of refuge from the worst of winter’s elements.

Truth be told, our outdoor rooms weren’t always warm and cozy, but they made being together with friends and family possible. And, despite having vivid memories of chattering teeth, we and our stalwart loved ones look forward to doing it again this year. Here are a few ideas if you, too, want to create an outdoor room (or two) of your own.

Location: Pick a room site that’s close enough to the house for easy access to the kitchen and bathrooms; access to an outdoor faucet and an electrical source is also helpful. If possible, find a place that’s sheltered on at least one side by an outside wall or fence. (Just a hint: south-facing Katie Jackson is a freelance writer and editor based in Opelika, Alabama. Contact her at katielamarjackson@gmail.com.

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sites tend to be warmer.) Covered porches and patios and open carports are great locations, too, because they offer sufficient air flow but also cover from rain — or even sleet and snow.

Heat source: The most important and potentially most expensive component of a cold-weather outdoor space is a reliable, safe source of heat. Options range from fire pits and chimineas to gas and electric heaters to custom-built outdoor fireplaces. Costs vary depending on the size and style of the heat source and the type of fuel it uses (wood, gas, electricity, etc.) so do some research before you buy and keep an eye out for sales. Check local codes and ordinances that may restrict outdoor fires and certain fuel types. Most important of all, though, is to use a safe heat source — no burns or noxious fumes allowed!

Wind breaks: Wind, which can gutter flames and chill the warmest of outdoor rooms, is difficult to manage but you can mitigate its effects. Options include natural barriers of evergreen trees and shrubs (planted in pots or in the ground) and purchased or DIY permanent or portable screens made with weather-resistant wind/solar screen fabrics, vinyl, plexiglass, wood or other materials. As with heaters, pick something that fits your

budget and is safe, but also keep in mind whether you’ll want these in place come warmer weather.

Combined these three primary elements with sufficient lighting and comfortable, cozy furniture, rugs and lap blankets you can enjoy outside gatherings into the upcoming holidays and on through the winter. You may just find a new appreciation for the winter landscape and who your fair-weather friends really are.

NOVEMBER TIPS • Clean equipment and tools before storing them for the winter.

• Plant cool season vegetables (leafy

greens, garlic and onions, root crops, etc.) and flowers (poppies, snapdragons, pansies, etc.)

• Continue planting trees, shrubs and spring-blooming bulbs.

• Collect pinecones, leaves and other natural treasures to use as DIY gift and decorating projects.

• Start planning for the coming year’s gardening projects.

• Keep bird feeders and baths clean and full.

• Wash windows to let in more winter light.

• Bring potted houseplants in for the winter.

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Alabama Living

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SOCIAL SECURITY

Sign up for Medicare Part B online

Y

ou can sign up for Medicare Part B online! If you’re enrolled in Medicare Part A and want to enroll in Part B during the Special Enrollment Period, please visit our Medicare web page at ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/.

From there, you can enroll in Part B by completing these forms: CMS-40B (Application for Enrollment in Medicare – Part B [Medical Insurance]) and CMS-L564 (Request for Employment Information).

You can also fax or mail the CMS-40B and CMS-L564 to your local Social Security office to enroll. You can find the fax number and address for your local office at ssa.gov/locator. Please contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) if you have any questions.

Kylle’ McKinney, SSA Public Affairs Specialist, can be reached by email at kylle.mckinney@ssa.gov.

November Across 1 Spectacle in the sky seen on Nov 12-13, 1833 which became known as “the night the stars fell on Alabama” 8 What the original Thanksgiving celebrated 9 Caramel ____ slab pie 10 Thanksgiving vegetable: ____ beans 12 Herb used in stuffing 13 Measurement of distance, abbr.

14 Salty Chinese sauce 17 Thanksgiving side: cranberry ____ 20 Large coffee pot 22 State where leafpeepers enjoy fall colors, abbr.

24 Very very long time 26 Type of dressing seen at many Alabama Thanksgiving dinners 28 Thanksgiving pie 30 Stuffing ingredients 32 Roasting spit 34 Yes at sea 35 Cornmeal cakes 36 Turkey topping Down 2 Traditional Thanksgiving food 3 Have a debt to 4 Arrange cutlery, bowls etc. at the table 5 Autumnal color 6 Trade show 7 Red root vegetables 8 Holds close 11 Source 15 Deja ___ 16 On Nov 5, 1970, one of the first black Alabama legislators was elected to the House of Representatives, 2 words 18 “In the ___ Tonight” (Phil Collins song) 19 Ear holder 21 Rejection word 24 NOVEMBER 2021

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Note: When completing the forms:  State, “I want Part B coverage to begin (MM/YY)” in the remarks section of the CMS-40B form or online application.  If your employer is unable to complete Section B, please complete that portion as best you can on behalf of your employer without your employer’s signature.  Submit one of the following types of secondary evidence by uploading it from a saved document on your computer: - Income tax returns that show health insurance premiums paid.

- W-2s reflecting pre-tax medical contributions.

- Pay stubs that reflect health insurance premium deductions.

- Health insurance cards with a policy effective date.

- Explanations of benefits paid by the Group Health Plan or Large Group Health Plan.

- Statements or receipts that reflect payment of health insurance premiums.

Please let your friends and loved ones know about this online, mail, or fax option.

crossword 23 25 26 27

Little Women sister Sounds Herb in curry powder Dark film genre, for short

28 29 31 33

by Myles Mellor

Apple core item Yuletide beverage Beside Medical professional, abbr.

Answers on Page 37 www.alabamaliving.coop

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November | Around Alabama

The Alabama Designer Craftsmen Annual Fine Crafts Show features the work of many types of artisans.

NOVEMBER

6

Beatrice Cane Syrup Makin’ Day, Rikard’s Mill Historical Park, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The mill is transformed into a pioneer village as history is brought to life by rural heritage demonstrators. Watch as sugar cane is squeezed in the mule-driven cane press and the cane juice is slowly cooked down. $5 per person; seniors and children under 12, $3. Call 251-575-7433 or email mchm@fronteirnet.net

6

Fort Payne Canyon Fest, 10 a.m. Little River Canyon Field School and Interpretive Center, 4322 Little River Canyon Rim Parkway, invites you to come and enjoy live music, nature and arts activities, arts demonstrations and sales, great food, vendors, children’s activities and more.

Canyoncenter.org or call 256-843-3548.

13

Collinsville Collinsville Turkey Trot, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Food, fun and games; antique car and tractor show; turkey shoot; cake walk; and historic “turkey toss” from the roof of a building make this a fun event for all ages.

Sponsored in part by the Collinsville Historic Association. Search for the event’s page on Facebook.

13

Foley Chocolate and Cheese Festival, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Heritage Park. Chocolatiers, vendors featuring chocolate, cheese and other foods, live music, arts and crafts, kids’ zone and chocolate martinis. Gourmet Dash and local high school culinary program will give away samples. $5 admittance; 12 and under free. BestFloridaFest. com/chocolate_cheese_festival.php

13

Harpersville 7th annual Harpersville Day, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Harpersville Municipal Park, 3115 Park Place. Hay bale contest, arts and crafts, food trucks, cruise-in and antique car show, music and more. Free. Search the event’s page on Facebook.

13-14

Monroeville Veteran storyteller Dolores Hydock will present “A Sweet Strangeness Thrills My Heart: The Journals of Sallie Independence Foster, 1861-1887,” a onewoman stage play at the historic Old Courthouse Museum. Performances are at 5 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The play is the keynote event for

the Monroe County Museum Endowment Board’s annual autumn Fruitcake Festival. 251-575-7433 or MonroeCountyMuseum.org

13-14

Birmingham Alabama Designer Craftsmen Annual Fine Crafts Show, Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday. More than 40 Alabama artisans will share their crafts, including basketry, metal work, clay sculpture, pottery, wearable fiber, fiber wall works, gourds, jewelry, glasswork, stained glass, woodwork, printmaking, leatherwork and more.

AlabamaDesignerCraftsmen.com

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Alex City Christmas at Crossroads, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 19 Russell Farms Road. On the Town Green, there will be a holiday bazaar and arts, crafts and games for children. Santa will arrive by carriage around 10 a.m. at the Green Stage and stay until about 2 p.m. Free. 256-397-1019.

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Pine Apple The 25th Annual Hunter Appreciation Day and Fall Festival. Arts and crafts, live music, rides, great food, and the big buck and hog hunting contest. Visit www.pineapple. com or email joycewall@yahoo.com.

DECEMBER

1-5

Montgomery Montgomery’s Interfaith Nativity Exhibit. This tradition has shared the Christmas spirit in the River Region with nativities from cultures around the world and concerts by local musicians. Free.

Open daily 1 to 8 p.m. at 3460 Carter Hill Road.

256-537-0561.

2-4

Millbrook Spirit of Christmas. Tree lighting ceremony will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 2 on the Village Green, with caroling, refreshments for sale, Christmas lights and music. Parade begins at 2 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Mill Creek Sports Complex and ends at the old City Hall. Refreshment, arts and crafts and other vendors will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Village Green. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in the gazebo from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

See the event’s page on Facebook.

Call or verify events before you make plans to attend. Due to the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, some events may change or be canceled after press time.

To place an event, e-mail events@alabamaliving.coop. or visit www.alabamaliving.coop. You can also mail to Events Calendar, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124; 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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| Consumer Wise |

Getting charged up about electric vehicles

By Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen

Q:

I read your recent article about electric trucks and SUVs, and I’m excited that some electric vehicle options are now better suited to rural areas. Can you tell me more about how the battery system and charging works in an electric vehicle?

A:

We’ve been hearing more buzz about electric vehicles (EVs) in rural America, so it’s a good time to know more about EV batteries and charging options.

Batteries, like the vehicles they power, come in different sizes that provide different mileage ranges. Most people charge their EVs at home, but if you take a cross-country trip, you can charge your EV at one of the rapidly growing number of charging stations around the country. The Department of Energy estimates there are currently 50,000 EV charging sites in the U.S. Electric vehicles will tell you how many miles are remaining before a charge is needed, and many models offer in-car navigation to the next charger. For EVs without this feature, there are many smart phone apps available to help you navigate to the next charging site.

We often refer to three levels of electric vehicle charging. A new EV comes equipped for Level 1 (L1) charging, which simply plugs into a regular electrical outlet. This is the slowest option for charging, but if you don’t travel many miles per day or your EV is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) with a small battery, L1 charging will likely meet your needs. L1 requires less than 1.5 kilowatts, which is about the same as a hair dryer, and will give the battery 3 to 5 miles of range per hour of charging. If you drive your car 40 miles or less during the day and can charge it for 10 hours every night, this method should work for your daily driving needs. But if you have an all-electric EV with a 60-kWh battery, it would take more than 40 hours to fully charge with L1.

Level 2 (L2) is the most common type of charging because it operates on 240-volt power, which nearly every home has. Level 2 can supply roughly 6 to 19 kW of power, depending on what your vehicle can accept and your electric circuit’s amperage. L2 can provide 100 miles of charge in several hours, and fully charge a large battery in eight to 10 hours. You may need to install a new circuit if there isn’t a 240-volt circuit near the area you park. L2 is the most common type of charging at public sites, like grocery stores, libraries and workplaces.

Level 3 (L3) chargers, often called DC Fast Chargers (DCFC), require much more current and are not installed in homes. L3 chargers are typically seen at specific EV charging sites and some gas stations. These chargers have power levels from 50 kW to 350 kW, depending on the charging station. Some new EVs can acPatrick Keegan writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives. Write to energytips@collaborativeefficiency.com for more information.

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Ford, Hyundai, Kia and Volkswagen will be offering electric vehicles in 2022 that can potentially power your home during a prolonged power outage.

PHOTO COURTESY FORD

cept 250 kW or more and charge a battery from 10% to 80% in less than 20 minutes. Some older EV models may take an hour or more to achieve 80% at 50 kW. When selecting an EV, the charge time from 10% to 80% can be an important factor if you regularly head out on road trips.

“Vehicle to home” is an exciting new technology that enables EVs to power a home or shop during a power outage. Ford’s upcoming F-150 Lightning Pro (2022), Hyundai’s Ioniq5 and Kia’s EV6 crossovers, and the 2022 Volkswagens are slated to offer this option.

Another important decision is when to charge your EV. Your local electric co-op may offer special rates if you charge your EV at night when energy demand is lower, which can help keep electricity costs down. Electric co-ops around the country are working on programs to prepare for more EV home charging, so reach out to your co-op if you have questions about EVs, charging or specific programs and rates.

EV charging infrastructure is currently being built across the country. You may not see them in your area yet, but they’re coming, so get charged up about electric vehicles. Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen of Collaborative Efficiency write on energy efficiency topics for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56% of the nation’s landscape. For additional energy tips and information on Collaborative Efficiency visit: www.collaborativeefficiency.com/energytips. www.alabamaliving.coop

10/14/21 3:34 PM

Retirements don’t just grow on trees

By Tyler Foster, Alabama ONE Wealth Advisory No crop thrives on its own. And no livestock reaches its best without care and attention. The same is true of retirement.

Working with a financial advisor to meet with regularly and create a retirement strategy provides the focus and attention that can benefit your financial goals.

Focus and perspective

Keeping a strategy on track requires focus and maintenance. If the markets shift or tax laws change, your advisor pays attention.

Their experience and knowledge give them a perspective on what is significant and can suggest changes to your strategy, if needed.

Benefits to your strategy

Better options: Your advisor can provide you with better, less well-known, options for your situation. For example, if you own

a business, you have retirement options that allow you to save much more money than an IRA. Consistent care: No strategy works if it is ignored. An advisor helps keep you and your plans on track and can encourage when needed.

Attention to milestones: Certain milestones have a significant impact on your retirement. For example, when you change jobs, your advisor can help decide if rolling over your retirement assets is the best option. Ten years from your retirement, your advisor can present strategies seeking to protect your savings from potential market downturns.

Throughout your life, your advisor provides focus and guidance that can help you work towards your retirement goals.

Tyler and the Wealth Advisory team can help you determine the next steps as you prepare for retirement, regardless of how soon that day is. Contact him at tylerfoster@alabamaone.org or call 205-342-0108.

Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker/dealer (member FINRA/SIPC).

Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. Alabama One Credit Union (AOCU), Alabama Rural Electric Credit Union (ARECU), Alabama One Wealth Advisory and Alabama Rural Electric Wealth Advisory are not registered as a broker/dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using Alabama One Wealth Advisory and Alabama Rural Electric Wealth Advisory, and may also be employees of AOCU or ARECU. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from and not affiliates of AOCU or ARECU or Alabama One Wealth Advisory and Alabama Rural Electric Wealth Advisory. Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are:

Not Insured by NCUA or Any Other Government Agency

Alabama Living

AL STATE NOV21.indd 27

Not Credit Union Guaranteed

Not Credit Union Deposits or Obligations

May Lose Value

NOVEMBER 2021 27

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| Outdoors |

State adds acreage for public hunting opportunities

A

labama opened more acreage to public hunting, thanks to a at more than 6,200 acres. The new portion borders Mississippi small, rare amphibian.

Sound, so people can hunt waterfowl in open water, the marshes In 2020, the state received $9 million from the U.S. Fish or the bays and small tributaries. and Wildlife Service to buy critical habitat for the endangered “The new portion of Grand Bay Savanna WMA was purchased Red Hills salamander. It lives in the Red Hills region of Butler, through the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Act, which resulted from the oil spill Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Monroe and Wilcox counties in 2010,” Smith says. “The additional acreage was purchased by and nowhere else in the world. In 2000, Alabama declared the the Nature Conservancy and given to the state of Alabama. Most salamander the state amphibian. of that WMA is wet pine savanna habitat. No doubt, it will have With that money and additional help from Forever Wild, the some waterfowl hunting along Mississippi Sound and the bays.

Nature Conservancy and other partners, Alabama expanded an There are deer on the property and a good number of hogs. People can find turkeys on some higher existing Forever Wild property. ground on the tract.”

As a result, the newest wildlife The state also added the 140-acre management area, Red Hills WMA, Simmons Tract to the Upper Delta now totals 11,063 acres of Monroe WMA. The new tract sits between County north of Monroeville.

“Red Hills was about 4,500 acres the Mobile River and Tensaw Lake and people could hunt on it,” says in Baldwin County. In addition, the Chris Smith, assistant chief of the state added 37 acres to Mobile Tensaw Delta & W.L. Holland WMA Wildlife Section of the Alabama immediately south of I-65 near Department of Conservation and Dead Lake in Mobile County.

Natural Resources. “Now that it In addition, the state entered into has more acreage, we moved it into an agreement with the USFWS to our WMA system. It has good deer manage hunting on the Choctaw and turkey populations. It also has National Wildlife Refuge in Chocsome feral pigs on the property. It taw County near Coffeeville. The has some good mass-producing state will offer limited archery hunts trees, so squirrel hunting should for deer on the federal property. The be good there. We have done some state also opened a 400-acre sechabitat management over the last tion of Frank Jackson State Park in several years, like tree thinning and Covington County for archery deer fire, so it has a few coveys of wild hunting. quail on it.”

The area also holds some rabbits.

“This will be the first year Choctaw NWR will be hunted,” Smith For deer, the state will allow archery says. “We divided the refuge into equipment and black powder rifles, four hunting units. Each person but no centerfire firearms except The state of Alabama added thousands of acres of new public selected will be able to bring a shotguns loaded with slugs and hunting lands for the 2021-22 season including an entire new wildlife management area in Monroe County. Many of these guest. Those two hunters will have no buckshot. The habitat consists lands will offer deer hunting. Here, a hunter aims her bow at a a nice-sized piece of property all to mostly of mixed hardwood forests deer passing near her tree stand. themselves.” on steep hills.

PHOTO BY JOHN FELSHER “Red Hills WMA should be pretty The state also created several new good for archery hunting,” says Jared Knight, an Alabama wildlife Special Opportunity Areas and expanded others. Among these biologist in Spanish Fort. “It has a lot of terrain features that will new SOAs, the state designated the 165-acre Prairie Glades SOA make it more challenging to get into some remote locations. The in Montgomery County specifically for dove hunting and planted hills might benefit archers. It’s very rugged terrain, but that can be sorghum, millet and wheat for bird food. an advantage in some cases.”

“The Prairie Glades SOA should be really good for doves,” says In addition, the state also added 1,100 acres to Grand Bay SaSeth Maddox, the state migratory game bird coordinator. “It is in vanna WMA in Mobile County. The property extends west from the Black Belt Region with that fertile clay component in the soil.

Henderson Camp Road. This puts the total acreage for the WMA There is abundant food out there for the birds.”

These smaller SOA properties offer limited hunts on certain days for varied game species. To hunt these public lands, sportsJohn N. Felsher is a professional freelance writer who lives in men must apply to hunt specific days. Those randomly chosen can Semmes, Ala. He also hosts an outdoors tips show for WAVH FM hunt an assigned section of land with a friend.

Talk 106.5 radio station in Mobile, Ala. Contact him at j.felsher@ For more information on hunting Special Opportunity Areas, hotmail.com or through Facebook. see outdooralabama.com/hunting/special-opportunity-areas. 28 NOVEMBER 2021

AL STATE NOV21.indd 28

www.alabamaliving.coop

10/14/21 3:34 PM

DOUG HANNON’S FISH & GAME FORECAST

2021

NOVEMBER

We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

DECEMBER

We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

EXCELLENT TIMES A.M.

9:06 - 11:06 9:54 - 11:54 10:42 - 12:42 NA 1:06 - 3:06 1:54 - 3:54 2:42 - 4:42 3:30 - 5:30 4:18 - 6:18 5:06 - 7:06 5:54 - 7:54 6:42 - 8:42 7:30 - 9:30 8:18 - 10:18 A.M.

9:06 - 11:06 9:54 - 11:54 10:18 - 12:18 10:42 - 12:42 NA 1:06 - 3:06 1:54 - 3:54 2:42 - 4:42 3:30 - 5:30 4:18 - 6:18 5:06 - 7:06 5:54 - 7:54 6:42 - 8:42 7:30 - 9:30 8:18 - 10:18 9:06 - 11:06 9:54 - 11:54 10:42 - 12:42 NA 1:06 - 3:06 1:54 - 3:54 2:42 - 4:42 3:30 - 5:30 4:18 - 6:18 5:06 - 7:06 5:54 - 7:54 6:42 - 8:42 7:30 - 9:30 8:18 - 10:18 9:06 - 11:06 9:54 - 11:54

MOON STAGE

PM

9:30 - 11:30 10:18 - 12:18 11:06 - 1:06 FULL MOON 12:42 - 2:42 1:30 - 3:30 2:18 - 4:18 3:06 - 5:06 3:54 - 5:54 4:42 - 6:42 5:30 - 7:30 6:18 - 8:18 7:06 - 9:06 7:54 - 9:54 8:42 - 10:42 PM

9:30 - 11:30 10:18 - 12:18 10:42 - 12:42 11:06 - 1:06 NEW MOON 12:42 - 2:42 1:30 - 3:30 2:18 - 4:18 3:06 - 5:06 3:54 - 5:54 4:42 - 6:42 5:30 - 7:30 6:18 - 8:18 7:06 - 9:06 7:54 - 9:54 8:42 - 10:42 9:30 - 11:30 10:18 - 12:18 11:06 - 1:06 FULL MOON 12:42 - 2:42 1:30 - 3:30 2:18 - 4:18 3:06 - 5:06 3:54 - 5:54 4:42 - 6:42 5:30 - 7:30 6:18 - 8:18 7:06 - 9:06 7:54 - 9:54 8:42 - 10:42 9:30 - 11:30 10:18 - 12:18

GOOD TIMES AM

3:33 - 5:03 4:21 - 5:51 5:09 - 6:39 6:45 - 8:15 7:33 - 9:03 8:21 - 9:51 9:09 - 10:39 9:57 - 11:27 10:45 - 12:15 11:33 - 1:03 NA 1:09 - 2:39 1:57 - 3:27 2:45 - 4:15 AM

3:33 - 5:03 4:21 - 5:51 4:48 - 6:28 5:09 - 6:39 6:45 - 8:15 7:33 - 9:03 8:21 - 9:51 9:09 - 10:39 9:57 - 11:27 10:45 - 12:15 11:33 - 1:03 NA 1:09 - 2:39 1:57 - 3:27 2:45 - 4:15 3:33 - 5:03 4:21 - 5:51 5:09 - 6:39 6:45 - 8:15 7:33 - 9:03 8:21 - 9:51 9:09 - 10:39 9:57 - 11:27 10:45 - 12:15 11:33 - 1:03 NA 1:09 - 2:39 1:57 - 3:27 2:45 - 4:15 3:33 - 5:03 4:21 - 5:51

PM

3:57 - 5:27 4:45 - 6 ;15 5:33 - 7:03 7:09 - 8:39 7:57 - 9:27 8:45 - 10:15 9:33 - 11:03 10:21 - 11:51 11:09 - 12:39 11:57 - 1:27 12:45 - 2:15 1:33 - 3:03 2:21 - 3:51 3:09 - 4:39 PM

3:57 - 5:27 4:45 - 6 ;15 5:11 - 6:41 5:33 - 7:03 N 7:09 - 8:39 7:57 - 9:27 8:45 - 10:15 9:33 - 11:03 10:21 - 11:51 11:09 - 12:39 11:57 - 1:27 12:45 - 2:15 1:33 - 3:03 2:21 - 3:51 3:09 - 4:39 3:57 - 5:27 4:45 - 6 ;15 5:33 - 7:03 F 7:09 - 8:39 7:57 - 9:27 8:45 - 10:15 9:33 - 11:03 10:21 - 11:51 11:09 - 12:39 11:57 - 1:27 12:45 - 2:15 1:33 - 3:03 2:21 - 3:51 3:09 - 4:39 3:57 - 5:27 4:45 - 6 :15

The Moon Clock and resulting Moon Times were developed 40 years ago by Doug Hannon, one of America’s most trusted wildlife experts and a tireless inventor. The Moon Clock is produced by DataSport, Inc. of Atlanta, GA, a company specializing in wildlife activity time prediction. To order the 2021 Moon Clock, go to www.moontimes.com.

Alabama Living

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| Alabama Recipes |

Cooking with

Cauliflower

Photo by The Buttered Home

Brooke Burks

Cauliflower Salad

Cauliflower Salad is a new favorite over at The Buttered Home. I love cauliflower in all of its many forms: roasted, mashed, or made into a ks Bur Brooke pizza crust. But the family, not so much! I like to buy fresh riced cauliflower in the produce section, as it saves me time, but ricing your own is fairly easy in a food processor. Once it is riced, it is so versatile. This recipe uses cauliflower in its purest form. No cooking required! It’s similar to coleslaw but with a touch of Italian flavor and lots of freshness from the cauliflower, tomatoes and the peppery arugula greens. It will soon be a favorite in your home, too! See more recipes at thebutteredhome.com and on Facebook @thebutteredhome.

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2 cups uncooked, riced cauliflower 1 cup chopped tomatoes 11/2 cups chopped arugula 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1/2 cup reduced-fat Italian dressing Prep tomatoes and arugula. Add to riced cauliflower in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well.

Add dressing, stir and chill in refrigerator for at least an hour. Serve and enjoy!

www.alabamaliving.coop

10/14/21 3:34 PM

Cook of the Month: Kathy Phillips, Wiregrass EC Watch Kathy prepare this month’s winning recipe on her Facebook page, Kathy’s Southern Kitchen!

When a friend shared her recipe for Bang Bang Cauliflower with Kathy Phillips, she warned her it was addictive. But the recipe called for deep frying the vegetable, and Kathy wanted to change it up a bit and make it healthier, so she decided to roast the cauliflower. “It was absolutely delicious,” she says.

“Roasting the cauliflower really brings out all of its delicious flavor. And she was right, it’s addicting!”

Kathy, a Dothan resident and member of Wiregrass EC, says her family loves the recipe “and we eat it like popcorn… with the exception of my husband.

He’s not a fan of cauliflower. But he’s a sweetheart and said that if he did like it, this would be his absolute favorite!”

She says the crunchy dish is a favorite to serve to her carb-counting friends, and makes a fantastic appetizer. “I also serve it as a main dish alternative for some of my vegetarian friends and family members. If there are any leftKathy Phillips and her "addicting" Bang Bang overs, they reheat beautifully. Honestly, it’s good with everything and the Cauliflower. sauce really gives it pizazz.”

Kathy says her love of cooking was inspired by her mother and grandmother. “I love how food brings people together. No matter where a party or gathering is located in a home, people always seem to gravitate toward the kitchen. It’s the heart of the home.” She had taught cooking classes in Houston, Texas, before moving back to her hometown of Dothan, and a year ago created a Facebook page, Kathy’s Southern Kitchen, where she shares simple recipes. “I want to help those that feel intimidated in the kitchen know that they can get in there and create something delicious,” she says. -- Lenore Vickrey

Bang Bang Cauliflower 1 1 1 1 1/2 6 3 2

Photo by Brooke Echols

Cauliflower facts • Cauiflower can be a great low-carb alternative to rice and pasta.

One cup of cauliflower contains 5 grams of carbs, while one cup of cooked white rice contains 45 grams of carbs.

• Cauliflower contains sulforaphane, a compound found in many cruciferous veggies like broccoli and Brussels sprouts, which has been linked to having protective effects against certain cancers.

• Cauliflower is rich in Vitamin C! One cup of chopped cauliflower provides 85% of the daily vitamin C recommendation.

head cauliflower cup buttermilk cup panko breadcrumbs tablespoon seasoning salt cup mayonnaise teaspoons sweet Thai chili sauce teaspoons sriracha teaspoons rice vinegar Cilantro or green onions, garnish

For cauliflower, separate washed and dried cauliflower into large bite size pieces. Add buttermilk to a large Ziploc bag and add all of the cauliflower to the buttermilk. Allow the cauliflower to sit in the buttermilk for at least 15 minutes. Meanwhile in another Ziploc bag, mix together panko bread crumbs and seasoning salt. Remove cauliflower from buttermilk and add it the panko mixture a few pieces at a time. Repeat until all the cauliflower is covered with the breadcrumbs and seasoning. Spread cauliflower onto a cookie sheet sprayed with nonstick spray and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Remove from oven and garnish with chopped cilantro or green onions. Serve with sauce below.

For sauce, mix together mayonnaise, Thai chili sauce, sriracha and vinegar in a bowl. Serve sauce with cauliflower.

SOURCE: Sofia Sanchez, MBA, RD, LDN, Community Health Specialist, Alabama Cooperative Extension at Auburn University Alabama Living

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Cauliflower Au Gratin 1 4 4 ½ 2 3

head of cauliflower tablespoons butter tablespoons flour teaspoon salt cups milk cups sharp shredded cheddar cheese, divided

Separate cauliflower into medium-sized florets. Boil or steam cauliflower until slightly tender (about 5-7 minutes).

Drain liquid. Arrange cauliflower in baking dish with rounded part of cauliflower side up. Set aside. In a saucepan melt butter, add flour, salt and dash pepper. Blend, then add milk all at once.

Cook stirring constantly over medium heat until mixture thickens and starts to bubble. Add 1 cup cheese and stir to blend. Pour mixture over cauliflower.

Top with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes until golden brown. If not browned in 30 minutes cook a little longer or turn on broiler to get a golden color.

Cauliflower Parmesan 1 small head cauliflower 21/2 tablespoons butter, melted 21/2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 cup breadcrumbs 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, divided Salt and pepper, to taste 2 cups marinara sauce 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese Toss cauliflower florets with melted butter and olive oil in a large bowl. Add breadcrumbs and half the parmesan, season with salt and pepper, then toss.

Spread on a baking sheet and roast

50

medium cauliflower cup green onion, diced cup onion, diced cup sliced black olives cup chopped pimento

Bring the following to a boil and pour over vegetables: ½ 3 ½ 3

cup salad oil tablespoons lemon juice cup sugar tablespoons wine vinegar Salt and pepper

AL STATE NOV21.indd 32

Cut the stem off the head of cauliflower so it will stand. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place cauliflower in an oiled iron skillet. Pour 1 jar of buffalo wing sauce over the cauliflower and bake for 1 hour. Then pour the second jar of buffalo wing sauce over the cauliflower and bake for another hour. Baste the cauliflower every 15 minutes the last hour.

Top with Parmesan cheese and serve with blue cheese or ranch dressing.

Kirk Vantrease Cullman EC

Nancy Sites Sizemore Baldwin EMC

Cauliflower Cucumber Corn Salad 2 cups fresh cauliflower florets 1 cucumber, sliced and quartered 1 red bell pepper, chopped 15 ounces frozen or canned corn, drained 2 green onions ½ cup mayonnaise ¼ cup fresh dill ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper Salt and pepper, to taste Donna's Marinated Salad | Photo by Brooke Echols

to the winning

Cook of the Month!

Please send us your original recipes, developed by you or family members. You may adapt a recipe from another source by changing as little as the amount of one ingredient. Cook of the Month winners will receive $50, and may win “Cook of the Month” only once per calendar year. To be eligible, submissions must include a name, phone number, mailing address and co-op name. Alabama Living reserves the right to reprint recipes in our other publications.

32 NOVEMBER 2021

Donna Hovey Wiregrass EC

1 head of cauliflower 2 12-ounce bottles wing sauce, cook’s choice 2 cups parmesan cheese 1 bottle blue cheese or ranch dressing

Donna’s Marinated Salad 1 ¾ ½ 1 ½

Stir all ingredients, add mayonnaise, salt and pepper to taste.

Buffalo Cauliflower

Stacey Burkett Covington EC

Marinate for several hours; overnight is best. Keeps well in refrigerator and serves at least 6.

Andrea Blakeman Baldwin EMC

$

at 425 degrees until tender and crisp, about 35 minutes. Transfer to a 3-quart baking dish and top with marinara, mozzarella and remaining parmesan.

Broil until bubbling, about 3 to 4 minutes.

Themes and Deadlines: February: Chicken | November 5 March: Irish Dishes | December 3 April: Pecans | January 7 Online: alabamaliving.coop Email: recipes@alabamaliving.coop Mail: Recipes, P.O. Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124 www.alabamaliving.coop

10/14/21 3:34 PM

CECIL PIGG STEEL TRUSS, INC. P.O. BOX 389, ADDISON, AL 35540

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Alabama Living

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Solar-powered fun and it’s free!

By Maria Kanevsky

The sun has an incredible amount of energy––more than we could ever fully harness. Fortunately, there’s an array of solar-powered gadgets and devices available to help you take advantage of this free source of energy. These technologies are a great way to power everyday things for free, by simply using energy from the sun!

When you want to bring your music outdoors, solar-powered Bluetooth speakers are the perfect solution. Many Bluetooth speakers can be recharged with a USB port and electrical outlet, but solar-powered speakers are easily recharged by sunlight. As long as the sun is shining, the speaker will never run out of power.

Most solar-powered speakers include a backup battery that allows the speaker to run long after the sun goes down. When shopping for a solar-powered speaker, be sure the speaker can handle the proper outdoor terrain. For example, if you’re planning to bring the speaker to the beach, make sure it’s water-resistant.

For an easy, low-maintenance approach to light up your lawn and walkways, solar pathway lights (and other solar décor) are a great addition. Outdoor solar lights come in a variety of styles and can be used to decorate your outdoor space in different ways. They can be used as an alternative to traditional lights and offer several

Most batteries for solar-powered watches can last up to 10 years.

Photo Credit: Dennis Amith

One of the most popular solar-powered grills is by GoSun, which uses a solar vacuum tube to absorb light while also providing insulation.

Photo Credit: GoSun

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Many solar-powered Bluetooth speakers, like the Sunfox Solar Speaker shown here, include a backup battery that allows the speaker to run long after the sun has gone down. Photo Credit: LuminAID

benefits. Once installed, solar lights run on their own and work relatively maintenance-free. Solar lights are powered by batteries that can run all night if the panels receive enough sunlight during the day. Solar lights are wireless, so there’s no need to search for an electrical outlet. You can purchase solar lights for about $5 to $20 depending on the size and design.

If you’re looking to engage your children, there are several DIY kits available for kids to learn more about solar energy. These kits typically include a small solar panel, connecting wires and the end-use device which varies depending on the kit. From powering a small fan, to lighting a light bulb, these interactive kits provide an educational opportunity for kids to learn more about solar.

As an alternative to a charcoal or gas-powered grill, the solar-powered grill is another great way to cook meals outdoors.

One of the most popular solar-powered grills is by GoSun, which uses a solar vacuum tube to absorb light while also providing insulation. Using solar heat, the parabolic reflectors focus sunlight onto the vacuum tube. The tube can then convert about 80% of the solar energy into heat. There are plenty of occasions for using a solar-powered grill, such as traveling, camping or even during a power outage. The internal temperature can typically reach up to 550 degrees, while the insulation makes it cool to the touch on the outside––an important safety feature. Prices for solar-powered grills range from $150 to $300, making them comparable to gas-powered grills.

A gadget to help you keep track of time is the solar-powered watch. A small solar cell underneath the dial converts the solar energy into electrical energy, with excess energy stored into the rechargeable battery. As long as the watch receives a moderate amount of sunlight, the battery doesn’t need to be replaced for up to 10 years, which is much more convenient than replacing the battery roughly every year for conventional watches. Solar-powered watches can cost anywhere from $50 to $1,000 depending on their design.

The sun provides an endless amount of energy, and these gadgets are a great way to power everyday devices. As more solar-powered technologies are developed, you may find yourself considering a solar-powered gadget for your next purchase.

Maria Kanevsky writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives.

From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56% of the nation’s landscape.

www.alabamaliving.coop

10/15/21 12:43 PM

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| Our Sources Say |

TVA partnership results in largest solar project on TVA system to support Facebook data center

Xxxx

ØRSTED ENERGY

C

olbert County, Alabama, is now home to the largest solar energy project in the TVA system. Last fall, TVA partnered with sustainable energy company Ørsted Energy to complete the 227 MW Muscle Shoals solar project. The facility has 670,000 solar panels or the equivalent of power for 36,300 homes annually. This new project will support the sustainability goals of Facebook’s data center in Huntsville that began operations on September 15.

“This solar farm is a historic moment in TVA history,” says Doug Perry, senior vice president, TVA Commercial Energy Solutions. “It’s the first Green Invest project to come online, and it demonstrates the value of TVA’s focus on cleaner energy. Green Invest is helping us build the clean, low-cost energy system of the future that’s essential to achieving our environmental goals and competing for jobs in the new clean economy.”

In April, Facebook announced that its operations are now supported by 100% renewable energy. To support that goal, in the last year, Facebook has signed Green Invest agreements for 475 megawatts of new solar to be built in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Since 2018, Facebook has agreed to purchase a total

of 852 megawatts of power generated by multiple new-to-theworld solar farms linked into the TVA electric grid to support their operations in the region, including the Huntsville data center and a second one under construction in Gallatin, TN. According to Chris Hansen, TVA vice president of Origination and Renewables, the Muscle Shoals solar project is the first of six new solar facilities in various planning stages to support Facebook operations.

“It has taken years of collaboration with Facebook and Ørsted to bring this project to life,” said Hansen. “It has been a learning process, but lessons learned will serve us well with the long queue of Green Invest solar projects for Facebook and other customers.”

Since 2005, TVA has reduced our mass carbon emissions by 63 percent, and we plan to reduce that number to 70 percent by 2030, 80 percent by 2035, and to achieve net-zero emission generation by 2050. With a variety of initiatives, including utility-scale solar projects through Green Invest, TVA is also working to decarbonize the Tennessee Valley, for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Kevin Chandler is general manager, Alabama District Customer Service, for the Tennessee Valley Authority.

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| Classifieds | How To Place a Line Ad in Marketplace Closing Deadlines (in our office): January 2022 Issue by November 25 February 2022 Issue by December 25 March 2022 Issue by January 25 Ads are $1.75 per word with a 10 word minimum and are on a prepaid basis; Telephone numbers, email addresses and websites are considered 1 word each.

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Answers to puzzle on Page 24

Alabama Living

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NOVEMBER 2021 37

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| Hardy Jackson's Alabama |

Illustration by Dennis Auth

Remember ‘Franksgiving’?

W

hy do we celebrate Thanksgiving when we do?

Some say it is because the harvest is in and farmers can take a break to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

But the harvest comes in at different times in different places, so why do we all, farmer and non-farmer, country folk and city dwellers, celebrate when we do?

Well, like so many things that today we take for granted, for this you can thank the American genius for working things out— and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Here is the tale that was told to me.

It was 1939. The Great Depression was still troubling the land. The big retailers were hoping that the Christmas shopping season, the weeks between Thanksgiving on the last Thursday in November, and the 25th of December, would boost the botHarvey H. (Hardy) Jackson is Professor Emeritus at Jacksonville State University. He can be reached at hhjackson43@gmail.com

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tom line and get them out of the year with a profit.

Then someone noticed that November 1939, had five Thursdays. The last fell on Nov. 30, the last day of the month, cutting a week off the Christmas shopping season.

Big retailers were upset and they told the President so.

Now Thanksgiving had fallen on the last Thursday in November ever since President Lincoln declared it a day to give thanks for the Union victory at Gettysburg, which a generation of Southerners refused to do. Since the date was set by Presidential Proclamation, instead of by Congress, it was not “official.”

So, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, reasoned that he could change it, and he did.

Big retailers rejoiced.

But they were almost alone in their happiness.

Printers, who already had 1940 calendars printed and ready, protested. So did people who had made holiday plans based on the other date.

Most upset of all were college football coaches who had scheduled traditional Thanksgiving games on what was no longer Thanksgiving. One coach reportedly announced that if it was not changed back, he would never vote for a Democrat again.

Meanwhile polls showed that 62 percent of Americans opposed Roosevelt’s plan.

Republicans, sensing a political advantage to be had, took to calling it “Franksgiving.”

Roosevelt waited out 1939 to see what would happen, but when retail sales did not increase significantly, he knew he was wasting a lot of political capital with little hope of any profit.

Congress settled the matter. It passed a joint resolution declaring the fourth Thursday in November the official Thanksgiving, and the president signed it.

That is why we celebrate Thanksgiving when we do.

Moral of the story: Politicians should not mess with something that people like.

End of lesson. www.alabamaliving.coop

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We’re thankful for our readers!

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