Good boy

Persistence, positive rewards help train man’s best friend

By Pamela A. Keene

Sit. Off. Stay. Roll over. These seem like fairly simple pet commands, and in many cases your dog is more than happy to oblige, as long as you, the pet owner, are willing to work with him consistently and reward him appropriately.

“With a persistent approach, short verbal commands and positive rewards, it can be easy to train a pet, whether you’re teaching him new tricks or working to replace bad habits with good ones,” says Kitty Thompson, owner of South Paw Obedience Training in Arab, Ala. “The key is to work with him regularly and remember that you’re the alpha in charge of the relationship.”

Thompson prefers to start training from the time a pet is a puppy. “All puppies like to bite and chew; it’s part of their inherent play behavior with their litter mates, not aggression,” she says. Here’s what she recommends:

“If the pup starts nipping at you, make a growling sound like its mama would make. That will get his attention. Then say, ‘Leave it,’ or ‘No bite.’ Choose one of these short commands and use it consistently. Repeat the low growl then the same verbal command each time,” she says. “If you need something stronger to get his attention, do a high-pitched yelp, like a puppy would make. Then say, ‘Good. No bite.’”

Use this correction and praise pattern every time it happens. Soon the pet will associate the words with the action of not biting. Giving a kibble is a great way to reward and reinforce behavior, as long as it’s associated with the positive behavior.

By no means should an owner ever strike a dog to get its attention. “A dog will respond to sounds, but some dogs may take longer to learn commands,” she says. “Again, you need to be consistent and persistent. Physical reprimands can instill fear or aggression in a pet; instead use verbal commands and praise.”

Start with basic commands, such as “sit,” “off” to avert jumping up, “stay” and “no bark.” “Use a reward system, sometimes called lure-and-reward training, involving a treat as the reward,” she says. “As the dog stands in front of you, hold the treat near his nose, then move your hand upward still holding the treat, and say ‘sit.’ There’s no need to physically move the dog into the sitting position. His rear will naturally sit as you raise your hand with the treat. Then give him the treat and say, ‘Good dog.’” Keep the treat close to the puppy’s nose/mouth to keep him from jumping to grab at the treat.

Go through this exercise several times, and repeat it in multiple sessions. Teach one command in a session. Training should be short and fun. Be mindful of the pace of training. Trying to teach a dog too much at one time can be confusing for her. “If you’re feeling frustrated, there’s a good chance that your dog will too,” she says. “Know when to take a break. Be affectionate and positive with your dog as you end the session, then come back later to try again. It’s best for both of you.”

Thompson’s technique for teaching a pet not to jump up is straightforward. “Stand with your hands clasped and fingers laced just below your waist, arms hanging down. As the dog starts to jump up, turn your hands palms down so that the dog’s nose hits the palms as he jumps, push back with your hands and say ‘Off.’ Then give them a positive job to do, such as the command ‘Sit.’ Reward them with a treat for the ‘Sit.’”

You’re correcting the jumping with the “Off” command, then rewarding the positive action of the “Sit” with the praise and the treat.

When you’re training, it’s important to use a stern/firm tone in your commands. “If you are whiny or begging the dog will not take you seriously. I’ve even had to use more gruffness in my voice or add a deep gravelly sound, like an alpha dog will do.”

Taking a dog out for a walk requires training, too. Thompson teaches her canines to sit quietly once they’re leashed, then follow her outside. “Never let your dog go through the door before you,” she says. “Not only are you keeping your dog safe from possibly running into the road or wandering off, you’re establishing that you’re the alpha, the person in charge.”

Kitty Thompson, owner of South Paw Obedience Training in Arab, shows how to teach a dog not to jump. PHOTO COURTESY KITTY THOMPSON

A word about crate training

Dogs are den animals and their crate is their den, their sanctuary, not a place of punishment, and it should be treated as such. Give him a treat when he goes in his crate and praise him, every time, regardless of the reason for putting your dog in his crate.

“You can use the crate to help with housebreaking by putting the dog in the crate, then giving him a walk to relieve himself every two to three hours on a schedule,” she says. “He may not need to relieve himself every time, but when he does, verbally praise him for doing his business. Over time, he will be trained to know that the appropriate place for potty is on his walks.”

Crates are the best ways to transport a dog for trips to the vet or when traveling with the family. “Dogs should not be put in a vehicle without a crate that’s secured in place, because crating can reduce the chance of injuries from sudden stops or collisions. Your dog may love to hang his head out the window to enjoy the breeze, but the risk of objects from the road flying into his face or eyes is far too great.”

Thompson, who’s been training dogs for several decades, says that the owner/pet relationship should be clear from the beginning. “You, as the owner, are responsible for the health, safety and well-being of your canine and it’s a big undertaking,” she says. “But from the very beginning, establish that you are the alpha, the person in charge. Your pet will look to you to provide for his needs, take care of him and love him. And by doing that, you’ll reap many years of happy and contented pet ownership.”

SOCIAL SECURITY

What is a Social Security representative payee?

Millions of people get monthly Social Security benefits or Supplemental Security Income payments. Some need help managing their money. When we receive information that indicates you need help, we’ll assign a representative payee to manage your benefits for you. We try to select someone who knows you and wants to help you. A representative payee receives your monthly benefit payment on your behalf and must use the money to pay for your current needs, including: • Housing and utilities. • Food. • Medical and dental expenses. • Personal care items. • Clothing. • Rehabilitation expenses (if you’re disabled).

If you need help managing your benefits, tell a Social Security representative that there is someone you want to be your representative payee. They should be someone you trust and see often, and who clearly understands your needs. Social service agencies, nursing homes, or other organizations are also qualified to be your representative payee. Ask them to contact us.

You can write to us within 60 days of being assigned a representative payee if you don’t agree that you need one or if you want a different representative payee.

We also offer an option, called Advance Designation, which allows you to choose a representative payee in advance. In the event you can no longer make your own financial decisions, you and your family will have peace of mind knowing you already chose someone you trust to manage your benefits.

You can submit your advance designation request when you apply for benefits or after you are already receiving benefits. You may do so through your personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount, by telephone, or in person.

You can find more information atssa.gov/payee.

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

Spring crossword by Myles Mellor

Answers on Page 53

Across 1 Creates new flowers 5 Lamb sound 8 Tranquil 9 Early spring flowers 13 Spring month 14 Bowls over 15 Clear day descriptor 17 Melting as ice on a spring day 18 Come alive again after hibernation 20 Early spring bloomer 24 Prepare to propose 26 Scale note 27 “In spring a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of ___” Tennyson 28 Nuptials words 31 Going public letters 32 Lush as vegetation 33 Renaissance, for one 34 Chartreuse, for example 35 They show themselves in spring Down 1 Flower starter 2 On vacation 3 Ostentatious, as spring flowers 4 Wet, like dew in the morning 5 Disney deer 6 __ __ carte 7 Youngest of Alcott’s March sisters 10 Ardent devotee 11 ___ Lorean car 12 Like a clear night sky 15 Shining like sun hitting a river’s surface 16 Bulls and Heat org. 19 Put more zest into 21 Chuckle softly 22 Pleasant odors 23 Flowery 25 Stir memories of 29 The in German 30 Festive charity event

27-28

22-24 Orange Beach, Bama Coast Opp, The 60th Cruisin’. This annual event will return annual Opp to The Wharf, with vendors, a swap Rattlesnake meet and a show and shine, among Rodeo, Channel- other family-friendly activities. Free. Lee Stadium. (The 2020 event was postponed until Arts and crafts September due to COVID, and then and concessions canceled due to Hurricane Sally.) vendors, snake BamaCoastCruisin.com handling and demonstrations, children’s rides, 23-24 Jemison, Antiques in the Garden, a 5K run/walk, Petals From the Past, 16034 County pageant and Road 29. 9 a.m. to 5 pm. Variety of more. The featured vendors selling antiques, crafts and entertainers are collectibles. Food vendors will be Shane Owens and available. PetalsFromthePast.com The annual Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee will be a virtual event this year. PHOTO BY ART MERIPOL The Oak Ridge Boys. Tickets are $10 in advance, 24-25 Troy, TroyFest Art Festival, on the MARCH and individual teams competing and $15 at the gate; children 6 and square in downtown. 9 a.m. to 5 in several categories. Food, music, under are free. RattlesnakeRodeo. p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 4-6 Monroeville , Monroeville Literary children’s activities and a raffle. Fundraiser for the South Baldwin com or search for the event on Facebook. Sunday. Find the event on Facebook. Festival. Registration is open Chamber Foundation. Gates open at for this virtual event, which was 11 a.m. FoleyBBQandBlues.net, or formerly the Alabama Writers Symposium. Speakers for this call 251-943-5590. APRIL event will explore the writing, music and art of the literary South. Visit MonroevilleLiteraryFestival.com for schedule and registration. 13-14 Orange Beach, Festival of Art. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Orange Beach Waterfront Park, 26389 Canal 3 Prattville, Wilson Pickett Music and Arts Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pratt Park, with a concert at 5 p.m. This is a free family 5-7 Selma, 56th annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee. For the first time, this event, a celebration of the victories of the voting rights Road. Free. The festival celebrates the visual, performing, musical and culinary arts, with more than 100 vendors and a kid’s art alley. festival featuring art, entertainment, demonstrations, kids’ activities, food vendors and more. 334-595-0850 or visit PrattvilleAl.gov. movement, will be hosted virtually. There will be interactive workshops, storytelling by the foot soldiers of the movement, awards ceremonies, a virtual expo floor and a concert. Selma50.com OrangeBeachAl.gov 19-20 Odenville, The Cozy Nest Rustik Bucket Vintage Market. This vintage inspired biannual event is held in the spring and fall and features more 10-11 Fort Deposit, 50th annual Calico Fort Arts and Crafts Fair. This outdoor show features more than 100 exhibitors on six acres, along with children’s activities and 12-13 Mobile, Festival of Flowers, LoDa Style than 50 artisans and food vendors. St. Clair County Arena, 1050 Blair entertainment. Visit CalicoFort.com for more information. in Cathedral Square, is a community event presented by the Providence Hospital Foundation. Eight to ten teams will create living sculptures representing the theme. Teams will go head-to-head as they compete for the people’s choice award. Proceeds will be used to purchase critical care monitors for the cardiac care unit at Providence Hospital. FestivalOfFlowers.com Farm Road. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., $5 admission. Search for the event on Facebook or call 256-504-6144. 20 Dothan, Spring Farm Day at Landmark Park. Experience life on a Wiregrass farm in the 1890s. Watch plowing with horses and mules, spring planting, arts and crafts, pottery, textile work and more. $8 adults; $6 for seniors and military; $4 for children; free for park members 17-18 Guntersville, 60th annual Art on the Lake. Features more than 120 booths with fine arts and craftsmen from across the Southeast and beyond. Food vendors, outdoor games and rides and a bake shop. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. $2 ages 13 and older; event is rain or shine. 1500 Sunset Drive, Guntersville. Artonthelake13 Foley, BBQ & Blues Cook-off, downtown Foley’s Heritage and children 2 and under. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. LandmarkParkDothan.com Guntersville.com Park. This cook-off attracts corporate 24 Calera, 10th annual Strawberry Festival, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oliver Park, 9758 AL-25, Calera. Caleraparkandrec.com

MAY

7-8 Decatur, Greater Morgan County Builders Association 2021 Home and Garden Show, Ingalls Harbor Pavilion. 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Gmcba.org or call 256318-9161.

15-16 Auburn/Opelika, Lee County Master Gardeners Association 2021 Garden Tour. This year’s tour, Spring Stroll, will showcase 12 unique gardens from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Advance tickets are $35; children under 12 admitted free. Lunch included, as is a bonus garden at the Auburn University president’s home. Rain or shine. Leemg.org

21-23 Pell City, 10th annual Logan Martin LakeFest and Boat Show, Lakeside Park. Live music all weekend. For more information, follow 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. Like Alabama Living on facebook Follow Alabama Living on

Twitter @Alabama_Living

Holistic management of arthritis, joint pain in pets

Symptoms of arthritis in animals include a reluctance to run or play and stiffness or lameness.

In January’s article, I discussed medications that can help treat arthritis in pets; this month, I’ll talk about holistic management.

Supplements for joint pain have been around for decades. It is hard to find a veterinary office that does not carry a few joint supplements. They are here to stay. It will be difficult to address all the available “non-drug” supplements and their scientific merits in this short space. But I will try to address the broad categories. I firmly believe that the medicines are the most potent pain control tools available to us and if used with care and judiciousness, they are quite safe. But maybe adding supplements will reduce the need for medicines.

Herbs: We tend to reach out for herbs as soon as the initial “wound-up” pain gets under control. At least in the initial phases of arthritis, we will maintain control with the regular use of herbs and occasional use of medications on an as-needed basis. There are numerous herbs that can be fine-tuned to your pet’s individual problem and can address chronic muscle tightness (talk about minerals), chronic inflammation, and hyperresponsiveness of the brain to pain signals.

Herbs have been shown to reduce pain and inflammation associated with arthritis and are generally considered to be safe. The general wisdom is that combination herbs may be more useful. My favorite combinations include Solomon’s seal, prickly ash, boswellia, and oh, the list goes on!

Acupuncture: This is a hugely powerful modality! There have been hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific articles published on the benefits of acupuncture. Although it is very effective for almost all back pain, we tend not to reach out for acupuncture at first because of the slight inconvenience of having to return to the clinic for treatments at regular intervals. But when all else fails, like major back problems or hind leg paralysis in dachshunds, acupuncture becomes our primary go-to modality.

We recommend once a week for 4 weeks, followed by once a month for 5 months, and then as needed.

Goutam Mukherjee, DVM, MS, Ph.D. (Dr. G) has been a veterinarian for more than 30 years. He works at his home as a holistic veterinarian and is a member of North Alabama Electric Cooperative. Send pet-related questions to drg.vet@gmail.com.

Chiropractic/veterinary orthopedic manipulation, massage:

Depending on the situation, “re-aligning” the back can be of great help. On top of that, almost anyone can do some massage on their pets at home to supplement the benefits of manual adjustment.

Prolotherapy: Prolotherapy, also called regenerative joint therapy, promotes long-term, often permanent pain relief by stimulating the body’s ability to repair itself by injecting a solution into the affected ligaments, tendons, or joint capsules. This solution acts not as a nutrient but acts by stimulating the body’s natural ability to repair these tissues, encouraging the growth of new ligament or tendon fibers.

Nutrition and supplements: Along with adjusting the diet, there are numerous nutritional supplements that help with arthritis and inflammation and can be safely used with other treatments. The most well-known nutritional supplements are glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM. Calcium and magnesium work great for muscle spasms. Even though many scientists do not believe that these are useful inhibitors of pain, quite a few clients feel that they work very well. The proof is in the pudding, right?

Homeopathy, biopuncture: Sometimes we use a combination of homeopathic remedies for chronic arthritis. In some cases, it has been very effective, and the need for pharmaceutical drugs has been kept to a minimum!

As always, work with your local veterinarian to find the best course of treatment for your pet.

A public face for importance of the arts

Many Americans were impressed by Amanda Gorman, national youth poet laureate who dazzled the audience at the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration. But did you know Alabama has its own Poet Laureate? She’s Jennifer Horne, the 12th person to hold the honor, named to the four-year post in 2017. The daughter of a poet and a lawyer, she grew up in a family of readers in Little Rock, Arkansas, and has lived in Alabama since 1986. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Hendrix College, and three master’s degrees from the University of Alabama. The author of three books of poetry and editor or co-editor of four anthologies, she has been a teacher, workshop leader and journal, magazine and book editor. She is married to writer, editor, and literary interviewer Don Noble (featured in Alabama Living in August 2019). Follow her on her blog, “A Map of the World” at jennifer-horne.blogspot.com; on Facebook, where she reads works by Alabama poets every Wednesday; and on Twitter at @ALPoetLaureate. – Lenore Vickrey

When did you first start writing poetry? Do you still have some of your early work?

With a mother who wrote poetry and read poems for children to us, I was encouraged early to try writing. I loved writing poems from the time I could read and write and found it exciting to be able to express emotions and convey images through language that was different from ordinary speech. I do still have a notebook that I wrote my early poems in and a poster I painted to go with a poem on “Art” entered in a contest sponsored by the Arkansas Poets’ Roundtable, which my mother belonged to and which had annual contests for both adults and children.

Why is it important for a state to have an officially designated Poet Laureate?

I believe that people need art—poetry, stories, theater, music, dance, painting and other visual arts—as much as they need those basics of food, shelter, and clothing, along with human connection. It’s a different kind of need, but no less strong. One of my favorite poems, taught to me by my mother, who was taught it as a child by her older sister, is:

“If thou of fortune be bereft / And in thy store there be but left / Two loaves, sell one, and with the dole / Buy hyacinths to feed the soul.”

Having a poet laureate—and for that matter a state Arts Council and a state Humanities Alliance—is a way for a culture to recognize the importance of the arts in our lives, and to affirm that literature helps us understand what it means to be human, in all our complexity, to understand ourselves and one another better, and to live more fully and empathetically as a result. As poet laureate, I’ve tried to be a “public face” for that affirmation.

What did it mean to you to see Amanda Gorman, the national youth poet laureate, speak at the inauguration?

Like so many other Americans, I was bowled over by her presence, talent, and optimism. Her beautiful, powerful poem illustrated the possibility of poetry to bring us together and inspire us.

Tell us about your anthology Working the Dirt: An Anthology of Southern Poets.

Working the Dirt was my first book; it came out in 2003 and was published by NewSouth Books, which has kept the book in print and continued to support it. I enjoy gardening, and as we know I love poetry, and the idea just came to me one day that a book of garden poetry might be something people would enjoy. A conversation with Randall Williams of NewSouth came at just the right time; at a conference dinner, he asked what I was working on, and when I told him he suggested I consider poems to do with farming as well. That sent me to a much deeper level with the book, drawing the connections between the South’s rural and agricultural history and the desire of so many people now to have a garden, whether it’s ornamental or a kitchen garden in the sideyard.

Who is your favorite poet, and what is your favorite work of that poet?

It is so hard to say that one poet is your favorite, because you go to different poets for different things and in different moods. In college and graduate school, I studied both American and British poetry, and I’ve also tried to educate myself about poets from other countries, especially Ireland and Russia. In the past three years I’ve read almost exclusively books of poems by Alabama poets—and there are a wealth of such books!—so that I can better represent and advocate for poets within our state borders. I tend to love individual poems as much as individual poets. I’ve memorized Millay’s “Recuerdo,” Seamus Heaney’s “Digging,” Theodore Roethke’s “The Waking,” Yeats’ “The Lake Isle of Innisfree,” and a lovely little poem by Emily Dickinson, “To make a prairie it takes a clover, and one bee. / One clover, and a bee. / And reverie. / The reverie alone will do, / If bees are few.” That poem speaks volumes to me about the power of the imagination.

What three poets, living or dead, would you like to have over for tea/coffee?

As someone who’s long been interested in women’s voices and women’s rights, I’d love to have three women from different time periods sit down and talk about their lives and their poetry. Here’s one possible trio: from classical times, the Greek poet Sappho (sixth century B.C.), from early American literature, Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672), and from the 20th century, the Russian poet Anna Akhmatova (1889-1966). How did they see their work? Where did they stand in relation to male poets of their time? What would they have to say to 21st century women?

Serving coffee and eats – not time –in a former jailBy Allison Law

You might be distracted by the unmistakable aroma of fresh coffee and the familiar coffeehouse chalkboard, filled with all kinds of iced and hot drinks, frappes, teas and specialty drinks. Or, depending on the hour, by the food – scones, pastries and Conecuh sausage pigs-in-a-blanket in the mornings, or loaded baked potatoes, salads, tacos and nachos around lunchtime.

But did you notice the bars on the jail cells? Yep. You’re in the old jail in Jackson, Ala., now given a new post-incarceration life as Bigbee Coffee Roasters.

The restaurant/coffeehouse gets a number of visitors who’ve heard of its storied past (a famous music group spent a little unintended time there – see Page 36), but most patrons are local folks eager for a caffeine jolt, some tasty eats and personal service.

“The few things we try to do well are quality, product, whether that be coffee or food, and great service,” says Jesse Quillen, co-owner of Bigbee with his son, Preston Quillen. “I figure, if we can do those things, even if we mess up, they’ll forgive us. We love people, we love our community, and we want to make a difference. I know it’s old-fogey, old-school stuff, but that’s true.”

From the ground(s) up

Preston came up with the idea for the business after visiting Haiti for two summers and seeing how coffee is grown and harvested. He started researching the process, and while he was living in a small apartment in Tuscaloosa, he started roasting coffee beans in a popcorn popper, selling coffee to his friends.

He talked to his dad about a potential coffee business. Jesse’s background was in insurance and economic development, but he was intrigued with the coffee idea. The two took a roasting tour in Minnesota, learned how to use a commercial roaster and earned the necessary certifications.

Father and son considered starting a business in Tuscaloosa, but the expense

Jesse Quillen talks about the new American-made coffee roaster they acquired last fall. The Quillens can roast roughly 60 pounds of coffee in less than an hour. PHOTO BY ALLISON LAW

BY BROOKE ECHOLS Bigbee Coffee offers an assortment of familiar coffee drinks – lattes, pourovers, Americanos, cold brews, French press – as well as specialty drinks, like iced coffees and frappes.

118 College Ave. Jackson, AL 36545 (251) 262-1231 Bigbeecoffee.com; find them on Facebook @bigbeecoffee, for daily specials Hours: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday

Jackson

Some ramblin’ men pay a visit to Jackson’s jail

The former city jail that is now home to Bigbee Coffee Roasters has had its share of intrigue over the years, but its most famous visitors left a mark on the place. Really.

On March 22, 1971, members of The Allman Brothers Band were travelling between Tuscaloosa and New Orleans and stopped at a Jackson truck stop. Already big names by that time, the appearance of the long-haired band and crew in a small town didn’t go unnoticed.

The whole group was arrested and booked on various drug charges, according to an al.com story, quoting from the book Midnight Riders by Scott Freeman. They bonded out the next day and were eventually able to reach a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to disturbing the peace, and paying a few thousand dollars in fines.

Jesse Quillen says in the cell where they stayed, “there’s a little heart carved into the brick wall in there that says Allman Brothers Band, and right below it says ‘Red Dog was here.’ Red Dog was their roadie. I learned that from a guy that was through here, doing an Allman Brothers tour kind of thing.”

Visitors can enter and view the cell, and some of the other cells are open for dining. The interrogation room still has the carpet on the walls and the one-way glass used by officers.

“The whole intrigue, it allows us to get that conversation started and tell stories about that,” Jesse says.

The Greek shrimp salad.

PHOTO COURTESY BIGBEE COFFEE ROASTERS

of a commercial space for a start-up there was daunting. At the time, Jesse was working in business recruitment, and had connections. He knew of a place right in the heart of downtown Jackson, a building that had been vacant for more than a decade and had a rather colorful past.

Bigbee Coffee Roasters opened in June 2017 with in-store coffee sales only, but has expanded to an online and a subscription coffee business, and now does wholesale business as well as supplying regional coffee and doughnut shops. All roasting is done by the Quillens on site, with coffee beans imported from countries in Africa and Central and South America.

A long-term plan to renovate the entire building (Bigbee Coffee Roasters now occupies only part of the space) should allow the Quillens to start holding coffee cuppings, where Preston can teach people about different brew methods and how to appreciate varying flavors. They hope to offer traditional coffeehouse seating, and perhaps a small room for meetings. Preston says the plan is to continue building the atmosphere of community that has been a hallmark of the business from the beginning.

Pre-COVID, Bigbee hosted Mission Mondays, donating some of the day’s proceeds to local charities and churches. “We’re trying to get back there, but COVID has taken a toll,” Preston says. “That’s something we’re passionate about – community, and trying to make a change and trying to help people.”

No ordinary jail food

The emergence of COVID-19 in March 2020 changed everything for businesses, and Bigbee was no exception. The state health order mandated that restaurants were essential and could remain open for curbside service. But Jesse’s interpretation was that since Bigbee served coffee drinks only, it wasn’t a true restaurant.

After a two-week shutdown, the Quillens entered survival mode. They started doing short-order items and quick foods, like sandwiches. Jesse was inspired by watching a food truck operator who once set up nearby.

“He had like a dozen items on his menu. It amazed me, as I watched him serve people, how efficient he was. Right? You could get any one of those 10 or 12 things on his menu, and it was step one, step two, step three, and you’re on your way.”

The menu has continued to evolve and expand since those early days. They now serve brisket and pulled pork, which they smoke on site, as well as chicken and shrimp – as salad toppers, on baked potatoes and in sandwiches, sliders and paninis.

Because the menu changes almost daily, Bigbee has no printed menu, much to the frustration of some customers. But Preston updates their social media channels frequently, and coveted specials can make an appearance with short notice.

Beignets appeared recently, in a nod to Mardi Gras. Loaded breakfast burritos make an occasional appearance, and chicken wings have in the past. Homemade soups warm up a chilly day. One constant is Saturday mornings, when Bigbee does a full breakfast, with pancakes, sausage, French toast, hashbrown casserole and more.

They’ve even catered a Christmas meal for 500 at a local paper mill. And in November, they opened a second location in Chatom that serves coffee beverages only.

“We’re still young, still growing, still trying to probe and find our way,” Jesse says. But one thing will be consistent: Customers are like family.

“You could have stopped at several other places up the way, but you wouldn’t have gotten the interaction that you get here,” Jesse says. “I’m old school, but I still believe that has value to people.”

Tacos made with brisket, left, and shrimp.

PHOTO COURTESY BIGBEE COFFEE ROASTERS

Alabama Bookshelf

In this periodic feature, we highlight books either about Alabama people or events, or written by Alabama authors. Summaries are not reviews or endorsements. We also occasionally highlight book-related events. Email submissions to bookshelf@alabamaliving.coop. Due to the volume of submissions, we are unable to feature all the books we receive.

Underground Birmingham: Images

From Birmingham’s Iron Ore Mines, by Jeff E. Newman and Josh Box, Arcadia Publishing and the History Press, $23.99 (photographic history) The book takes readers on a pictorial journey deep into the cold, dark and long abandoned mining tunnels that are now buried and hiding along the ridge of Birmingham’s Red Mountain. See the rooms and passages where miners of all backgrounds spent their lives, literally carving out a living for their families and to make their city successful.

Live As If: A Teacher’s Love Story, by Frye Gaillard, Negative Capability Press, $21.99 (memoir) The author reflects on the life and work of his wife Nancy, who died of leukemia in 2018. Partly the memoir of a vibrant marriage, the book tells the story of Nancy’s work as a public school teacher, principal and professor during a time of education under siege. Gaillard is a journalist and author and is a writer in residence at the University of South Alabama.

Shaking the Gates of Hell: A Search for Family and Truth in the Wake of the Civil

Rights Revolution, by John Archibald, Knopf, publisher, $26.95 (religion/memoir) Pulitzer Prize winner Archibald grew up watching his Methodist preacher father as a moral authority, a moderate and moderating force amid the racial turbulence of the 1960s. But was that enough? Can a good person remain silent in the face of discrimination and horror, and still be a good person? The al.com columnist writes of this difficult, at times uncomfortable, reckoning with his past. The book will be released March 9, 2021.

Let’s Eat Snails! By Barbara Barcellona Smith, illustrated by Karen Lewis, NewSouth Books, $18.95 (children) The book celebrates Italian-American culture through a story that introduces kids to its familial and culinary traditions. When Margie visits the Barcellona family home, she isn’t ready for what the Sicilian family is bringing to the table: snails! The book recognizes our differences and shows that what sets us apart also brings us together. Surviving Savannah, by Patti Callahan, Berkley, publisher, $23.40 (historical fiction) This dual timeline novel centers around the sinking of the steamship Pulaski, known as the “Titanic of the South.” Alternating between modern day and 1838 when the ship sank, Callahan weaves an intricate and evocative tale bringing to life two very special parts of Savannah — past and present — and asking questions about survival, sacrifice, loss, legacy, fate, and choice. The author lives part-time in Mountain Brook; the book will be released March 9, 2021.

The Incredible Winston Browne, by Sean Dietrich, Thomas Nelson, publisher, $26.99 (fiction) This latest work from “Sean of the South” reminds readers that sometimes the most extraordinary things in life come from ordinary people. The well-meaning Winston Browne finds romance, family and love in unexpected places. This feel-good book offers a rich and nostalgic tale about community, kindness, and the meaning of the everyday incredible. The book will be released March 2, 2021.

Can I recycle that?

Find your way through the rules of recycling

By Paul Wesslund

Can I recycle my Think like an acmail with the countant: You stapled paper might be thinking, it and plastic envelope sounds like I’m dowindows? Do I need ing the work for the to break down card- recycling program. board boxes before And you are. You putting them in the could just dump anyrecycling bin? Or thing and everything should I just give up in your recycling bin on recycling because and let the workit’s way too compli- ers sort it out. They cated? would do that––for

Three of every five a price. You can help U.S. households have keep recycling costs curbside recycling low by following the pickup, according to rules. a study by the Sustainable Packaging Here are some of Coalition. Another the most-won14% have curbside dered-about recyservice available but cling rules: do not subscribe. Recycling offers environmental and financial benefits for our local communities.

Reasons to recycle PHOTO BY PHILLIP JEFFREY Mail: With one exare both environ- ception, all mail can mental and financial. Recycling 10 plastic Think local: There are about 300 Materi- go in the bin. Staples and plastic windows bottles, for example, saves enough energy als Recovery Facilities around the country, get sorted out by the machinery. The exto power a laptop computer for more than and many of them have different equip- ception is magazines wrapped in plastic— 25 hours, according to the Environmental ment, meaning every community has its that kind of shrink wrap is better handled Protection Agency. own set of rules for what can be recycled. by supermarkets, which specialize in

Recycling can also help out with your Find out who handles recycling in recycling bags and other plastic “stretch tax bill. Local governments pay for dis- your community, and they will have a list wrap” around food, paper towels and othposing home and office waste, tradition- of what can be recycled. And of course, er products. ally by burying it in a landfill. But if some there’s an app for that. Two popular apps of that waste could be sold for reuse, are Recycle Coach and ReCollect. Just type Food containers: When you’re done with the income would reduce the cost of the in your zip code to learn how your local the peanut butter jar, no need to rinse it waste management program. recycling program treats individual items. out. It can go right in the bin. Cardboard boxes: The only reason to break them down is to save space in your bin. They’ll get well crushed in the truck that picks them up. Pizza cartons: Don’t leave crusts or garlic butter containers in them, but recycling equipment can handle a greasy pizza box just fine.

The list of recycling rules is long and complicated, but a way to help master them is to try three different types of thinking:

Think like a sorter: When your curbside bin gets emptied, it’s taken to a Materials Recovery Facility where it is dumped onto a conveyor belt where workers pull off items that will gum up the next step in the process, a large screen that jiggles items into a different bin. Think about items that might cause problems with sorting.

According to a study by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, 14% of American households that have curbside recycling pickup do not participate. PHOTO BY BILL SMITH Plastic bottle caps: Screw the lid back on, and recycle both the bottle and cap.

Labels: You don’t need to remove them.

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Buying land: What you may have missed

Owning rural land, whether it’s for agricultural or recreational purposes, is a dream of many people. And, much like buying a house, buying land can quickly become complicated. It’s crucial to understand your real estate goals prior to any purchase. Here are some important factors you may want to consider.

Access to modern conveniences

You may think electricity, running water, cell phone service, and internet are a given, but there are many areas that do not have access to these modern conveniences. When you are searching for land, ask if these utilities are available. For example, you may find that access to water and sewer services are not readily available and you need to consider a well or septic system.

Conduct a survey

Obtaining a land survey prior to purchase can provide vital information necessary to understanding the value of the property and determining whether it aligns with your goals. Surveys not only give you the land’s precise boundaries and measurements, but also provide geographical information that will help determine potential uses for the property.

Deeded access and mineral rights

Proper access and mineral rights are just some of important details that need to be considered when searching for land. These are details that can create major headaches down the road if not addressed during the purchasing process. Legal access to the property should always be addressed, during due diligence, as it can become problematic after the transaction is complete.

If land ownership is your dream, our experienced TEAM is ready to help you through the complexities you may face. Let’s talk about your vision.

land@alabamaone.org RT Floyd

205-609-8338

Ryan Stallings 205-562-2342

Continued from Page 40

Plastic straws: Can be recycled, but smaller items tend to fall off the conveyor or through the screen sorters and onto the floor, where they get swept up and hauled off to a normal landfill.

If you want to take the next step in recycling, think about the big picture—the point is to reduce the waste from your home into the world. First, reduce—if you don’t really need to buy something, don’t buy it. Second, reuse—bags and wrapping paper, for example, can have more than one life.

Remember, recycling helps our environment but can also reduce the cost of local waste management programs. Check with your local waste management program to learn more about recycling rules in your community. 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.

EPA Link to Local Waste Programs Information:

https://www.epa.gov/hwgenerators/links-hazardous-waste-programs-and-us-state-environmental-agencies

Check with your local waste management program to learn more about recycling rules in your community.

PHOTO COURTESY MERIWHETHER LEWIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL