Spotlight

Whereville, AL

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

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

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

November’s answer: This 19thcentury bandstand occupies the triangular park in the town of Gainesville in Sumter County. The town was founded by Moses Lewis, a New Englander lured to the “old Southwest,” as the Gulf states were known in the early 19th century. Gainesville, on the Tombigbee River, was a prosperous town in the antebellum period, but has a population of about 200 today. (Information from the Society of Architectural Historians; photo by Allison Law of Alabama Living.) The randomly drawn correct guess winner is Thomas Butler of Coosa Valley EC.

Take us along!

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

Four families from Moulton visited one of the slot canyons in Page, Arizona, in June: Warren and Trina Clark, Donny and Frances Blankenship, Jeff and Tina Blankenship, and Carolyn Hall. All are members of Joe Wheeler EMC. Jim and Linda Satter of Foley, AL took Alabama Living along on a trip to the Pacific coast of Costa Rica at the Tamarindo Diria Resort. They are members of Baldwin EMC.

David and Carol Aderholt of Cullman took their magazine along to Las Vegas. They are members of Cullman EC. Betsy and Dan Brunette traveled to Italy in March where they visited the famous Duomo in Florence. They are residents of Fishers, Indiana, and are members of Baldwin EMC. Michael and Stacy Dobbs of Section took their magazine to DreamMore Resort in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. They are members of Sand Mountain EC.

Kynleigh, Jennifer and Heath Wilson from Castleberry took their magazine to see the Statue of Liberty in New York City. They are members of Southern Pine EC.

Treasure in the Grotto

By Marilyn Jones

Like many travel destinations, we hear about them from friends and family. Such was the case for me when I heard about Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman. A friend suggested I visit the site.

He described miniature buildings created by a monk in the earlier half of the 20th century. Located about an hour north of Birmingham, the attraction is in a former quarry at St. Bernard Abbey, the only Benedictine monastery of men in the state. After paying a nominal admission fee, I start my tour by walking along a wide sidewalk down into the grotto.

It was Brother Joseph Zoettl, a Benedictine monk, who created each building. From Landschutt, Bavaria-Germany, Brother Joseph headed to America to pursue monastic life in 1892. Little did anyone know that he would leave the abbey such an incredible legacy. Brother Joseph was maimed in an accident that left him slightly hunched due to cervical kyphosis. He was not allowed to be ordained as a priest due to the rule that stated any man with a distracting disability could not be ordained a priest. He was considered a withdrawn, quiet man. After he arrived at the newly founded abbey, he spent his days praying and laboring in the powerhouse. When not busy shoveling coal into the furnaces, he constructed the miniatures.

He began making the first replicas in about 1912 and his last, the miniature of the beautiful Lourdes Basilica Church, in 1958 when he was 80 years old. He used rock and concrete to construct each building and marbles, glassware, seashells, tiny ceramic tiles and other objects to decorate the facades.

The tiny buildings were initially in the abbey gardens, but when so many visitors wanted to see them, they were eventually moved to their present home in 1934.

Visitors from around the world have journeyed here to see the tiny treasures.

The four-acre park is filled with lovely flowers, English ivy and towering trees. Nature has crept in on the tiny buildings making them seem like they were always part of the landscape.

As I walk past The Temple of the Fairies, Leaning Tower of Pisa, The Alamo, Montserrat, St. Peter’s Basilica, and 120 other small structures, I am amazed at his artistry detail and the apparent love that went into their creation.

Half of the hillside features buildings and scenes from the Holy Land. Also displayed are a number of secular buildings including Spanish missions, German castles, South African shrines and the St. Bernard Abbey power station.

His creations came from his extensive reading. He rarely left Alabama during his lifetime. Of all the structures, he had only seen four. The others were designed by using photographs and detailed written descriptions.

Brother Joseph died in 1961 at the age of 83 and is buried in the Abbey Cemetery. He was a monk of the abbey for 70 years.

Buildings hug the grotto walls allowing guests to easily view the tiny buildings and villages.

GROTTO PHOTOS BY MARILYN JONES

It takes me the better part of an hour to walk the two-block distance. There is such detail in each piece and village. Tiny staircases, statues and decorations add to the charm of each work of art.

About halfway through the tour is a statue of Brother Joseph. On its base is the inscription “Brother Joseph Zoettl, O.S.B., Creator of Ave Maria Grotto, Ora Et Labora,1878 – 1961.”

At the end of the tour are several other structures created after Brother Joseph’s death. Leo Schwaiger cared for the grotto from 1963 until his retirement in 2014 and, most notably, made the four Marian Shrines.

It was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1976 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Ave Maria Grotto is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11:30 to 5 p.m. except New Year’s Day, Easter, July 4th, Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is located in Cullman at 1600 St. Bernard Dr. SE. For more information: check avemariagrotto.com or call (256) 734-4110. Christmas events at the Grotto

For the Christmas season, the Ave Maria Grotto will be decorated with Christmas lights and music will be featured, along with horse carriage rides. On December 17 and 18 there will be live music from the St. Bernard monks singing Gregorian chants, and traditional Christmas tunes will be performed in Appalachian style. Johnny’s BBQ food PHOTO COURTESY AVE MARIA GROTTO truck will be on-site both nights, the Grotto’s picnic grounds will be lit up for use and horse-drawn wagon rides around the campus with a storyteller will be featured.

Dates:

Dec. 2, 3, 4 – 5-9 p.m. Dec. 9, 10, 11 – 5-9 p.m. Dec. 16, 17, 18 – 5-9 p.m. Dec. 22, 23 – 5-9 p.m. Dec. 30, 31 – 5-9 p.m.

Christmas Admission

Adults – $6 Students – $3 Children under 3 – free Wagon rides on Dec. 17, 18 – $5

In neighboring Hanceville, there is another religious destination open to individuals and families. Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament is a prominent Roman Catholic Latin Rite shrine located in a beautiful rural setting.

The Shrine is notable for its gilt interior, solemn atmosphere, and 7.5-foot monstrance. The site is quiet and peaceful. Roses frame many of the buildings.

The shrine is located at 3224 County Road 548. For more information: check olamshrine.com or call (256) 352-6267.

Refocused museum

Berman collection showcases more than just historic weaponry

By Mike Stedham

Lots of people think of the Berman Museum in Anniston as the “gun museum.” That’s no surprise, since the core of the museum’s extensive collection includes thousands of weapons that span the history of firearms. It’s the place where you can find rifles and pistols and machine guns that belonged to such historic figures as Catherine the Great, Jefferson Davis, Belle Starr, Kaiser Wilhelm and Napoleon III – to name just a few.

But there is a lot more to the Berman Museum than guns.

When it opened its doors in 1996, the museum got a lot of bang for its buck by banking on the famous weapons it exhibited. It drew visitors from around the country who were surprised to find such storied artifacts in a small Alabama city. It also became a popular school trip destination for students who were studying the wars that shaped Europe, Asia, Africa and their own country as well.

Then the Covid pandemic hit. The crowds stopped coming (temporarily), and the museum’s operators had time to re-think the stories they wanted to tell through their displays. Instead of general historical trends illustrated by the items in the collection, they crafted narratives that would integrate the famous artifacts on display. And for the first time they added new hands-on components in each gallery so that young visitors (and everyone else who likes to play with things) get an enhanced experience through tactile learning.

The pandemic closed the museum to visitors for 67 days, so the staff used that quiet time to finalize their long-range plans, do deep cleaning, and write grant proposals for future projects. When it re-opened for guests, the museum had a new floor plan and a new focus.

“Pretty much everything is different,” says Alan Robison, executive director of the Anniston Museums and Gardens, the parent organization of the Berman Museum. “It’s a new way of looking at the museum – new galleries, new exhibits.”

Below, “Coming Through the Rye” by Frederic Remington (1902); right, Berman Museum exterior.

A couple’s collection

The main thing that hasn’t changed is the Berman Collection itself. It contains more than 6,000 historical artifacts – weapons, armor, paintings, sculptures, personal items and more – that were collected throughout much of the second half of the 20th century by an Anniston couple, Farley and Germaine Berman. They met during World War II – he was an American O.S.S. officer in north Africa, and she was a member of the local French Resistance – and after their marriage they returned to his hometown where his family owned a clothing store. They kept their bourgeoning collection in their east Anniston home for decades, and the treasures it contained were the stuff of local legend.

Mrs. Berman died in 1993, and her husband died six years later. Before his death, Berman turned their collection over to the Farley L. Berman Foundation, which works with Anniston city government, owner of the museum building and grounds. The collection continues to grow with donations such as the 1,000-piece Asian Art collection from the Foo family, given in 2013.

Familiar items from the collection remain on display following the recent reorganization, but they are now part of several larger narratives based on world history. Visitors start on the first floor by viewing an exhibit called Becoming America, which tells the story of the exploration and colonization of the American West. Eighteen Frederick Remington bronze sculptures – about as many as you’ll ever see in one place – are a special treat. A new hands-on display lets visitors try their skills at sending Morse Code messages on the Internet of the 19th century (also known as the telegraph).

Around the corner from the Old West is the Reigns & Revolutions display of European history. Included in the display are medieval weaponry (suits of armor were all the rage) along with personal items that belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte and Catherine the Great.

The tour of the second floor begins with the Arts of Asia exhibit, which focuses on the various dynasties and belief systems of many cultures. The museum’s oldest item – a clay pot made more than 4,000 years ago – is included. Most of the floor is devoted to the Modern Warfare exhibit, which features weapons and artifacts from WW I through the War in Afghanistan. Many of the collection’s best-known pieces – including Adolf Hitler’s tea set – are featured.

Two special exhibits branch off from the Modern Warfare display. One is the Pearl Harbor room, which focuses on the stories of three men from Calhoun County who were killed in that attack. The other collection, Danger, Deception, and Disguise, pays tribute to the Bermans and their roles as spies during World War II. This contains an extensive collection of everyday objects that hold deadly secrets, such as the flute that can fire a bullet.

Crowds are coming back

All of the reorganization and modification of the exhibits seems to be paying off.

“Group visits are coming back, and we are trending at preCovid levels,” says Robison. “We also have a very strong program of presentations, where some of our interpreters are showing off artifacts on the floor. These are more numerous and in-depth than before.”

Although there is plenty to see and do on a typical morning or afternoon at the Berman Museum, serious history buffs with

Napoleon’s Dressing Set (1803), used by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.

some extra time on their hands should ask about taking The Discovery Tour – a visit to the museum’s basement. With roughly four-fifths of the collection not being part of the regular display at any given time, this is a great way to get a real sense of how extensive the museum’s holdings really are. Plus, your tour guide can answer questions and let you in on some of the museum’s secrets.

The rules are simple: a Discovery Tour must be booked in advance, it can include no more than 10 people, and even though you are much closer to the artifacts you still can’t touch them. There’s an extra fee involved, too.

This Gatling gun model was made after the Civil War and has 10 barrels that were fed by the attached drum magazine in the back. It could fire more than 1,000 rounds per minute. Above, Persian scimitar, made during the reign of Shah Abbas the great (1588-1629) and gifted to Catherine the Great of Russia in 1762. It contains 1,295 diamonds, 31 rubies, one 10-karat emerald, and three pounds of gold; below, Rama, from 19th century India or Thailand, made of gilded and patinated cast bronze.

The Berman Museum, 800 Museum Drive, Anniston, is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, with the last admission sold at 4:30 p.m.; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, with the last admission sold at 4:30 p.m. The museum is closed Easter Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas and New Year’s.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $6 for children with children under 3 free.

A Passport Ticket, which includes admission to the Anniston Museum of Natural History along with the Berman Museum, is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 for children and children under 3 free.

For more details, and to make reservations, visit exploreamag.org or call (256) 237-6261.

Heritage recipes take top prizes at fair

From left, Mary Lyons, Fair President Scott Williams, Nicole Penn, Joseph Goins and Alabama Living Editor Lenore Vickrey. PHOTOS BY DANNY WESTON

Alabama Living once again sponsored a cooking competition at the Alabama National Fair in October, marking the 8th year the magazine has helped judge the annual contest in the fair’s Creative Living Center. The fair, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Montgomery, draws thousands of visitors from across central Alabama. This year’s cooking contest theme was a new one, “What’s Your Heritage?” and drew recipes reflecting the background of the entrants. This year’s winners included cuisine from Native American culture, West Africa and Ireland. The winners received a cash prize and special gift from Alabama Living.

First Place

Indian Tacos with Indian Fry Bread

Bread ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon sugar 1 cup milk 4 cups oil for frying Toppings:

1 lb. ground beef 1 tablespoon taco seasoning 1 15-ounce can chili beans 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 2 cups iceberg lettuce 1/4 cup chopped onions Picante sauce or taco sauce Sour cream Tomatoes, chopped

In a large skillet, cook the meat with taco seasoning over medium heat. Once meat is browned, pour off fat but leave a little bit. Turn burner down and add beans. Cook until the mixture is warmed through. Cover and keep warm while making bread.

Bread: In a medium bowl, stir together the first four ingredients and mix well. Stir in milk and mix until the dough comes together. You may need more flour to handle the dough. Knead the dough until smooth on a lightly floured surface. Let rest for five minutes.

Heat oil in a large, deep heavy skillet to 365 degrees. Oil should be at least 1 ½ inches deep. Cut dough into 4 to 5 equal parts and flatten each part out into a thin circle. Fry breads in hot oil until golden on both sides, turning only one time. Drain on paper towel.

Top each bread with meat mixture and add toppings of choice.

Second Place

West African ‘Mock’ Oxtails

Nicole Penn, Eclectic

6 to 8 pieces of chicken 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon paprika 1 Scotch Bonnet pepper, seeded and chopped ½ teaspoon sea salt 1/4 cup white vinegar 2 cups chopped red, green & yellow bell peppers 1 onion, sliced 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 cups prepared mashed potatoes, or starch of your choice

Rinse and pat dry chicken pieces. Place in a Ziploc bag. Add the next six ingredients and seal bag. Shake to coat chicken. Marinate for one to 24 hours if desired. Pour chicken into crockpot and add chopped peppers and sliced onion. Drizzle with olive oil. Toss to coat. Cook on high for 4 hours or until chicken is tender. Serve with mashed potatoes.

Third Place

Luck of the Irish Cottage Pie

Mary Lyons, Tallassee

½ large cabbage, sliced 1 medium onion, diced 1 stick butter 2 cups fresh cut corn 6 large potatoes, cut and diced 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons black pepper 2 green bell peppers, sliced 2 cans crescent rolls 1 egg white for wash 1 large can cream of mushroom soup 1 package brown gravy mix 1 package of stew beef 1 cup water 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon minced garlic 2 tablespoons parsley 1 teaspoon black pepper

Cut and dice potatoes and cook on stove top until tender. Cook fresh cut corn on stove top on medium for 30 minutes. Set aside. In a large pot, sauté onion and bell pepper until onion is transparent, then add stew beef. Cook on medium heat for 15 minutes, then add water, brown gravy mix and cream of mushroom soup. Continue to cook on medium, stirring often.

Cook cabbage in pot on stove top with butter. Add balsamic vinegar, garlic, parsley and pepper. Stir well. Continue to stir until cabbage is soft and transparent. Spray the bottom of your baking dish with Pam cooking spray. Roll out one can of crescent rolls and place on bottom of the dish. Add potatoes and corn, then cabbage, then meat mixture with mushroom soup on top of cabbage. Add second can of crescent rolls on top in single layer. Brush on egg white wash. Bake at 360 degrees for 30 minutes or until top is golden brown. Sprinkle black pepper on top.

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.

Distracted by Alabama: Tangled Threads of Natural History, Local History, and

Folklore, by James Seay Brown, University of Alabama Press, $39.95. When the author moved to Birmingham to teach at Samford University, he began to explore Alabama’s rivers and countryside. He was enchanted by both the myriad animals and plants he discovered and the surviving old-time settler and Native American folkways. The book records his investigations into the rich diversity of Alabama’s history, cultural traditions and environment.

With the Devil’s Help: A True Story of

Poverty, Mental Illness, and Murder, by Neal Wooten, Pegasus Crime, $23.31 (crime/criminal biographies) Wooten’s family lived in poverty in a tiny community atop Sand Mountain in northeast Alabama. Growing up, Wooten learned the folklore legends of his grandfather; told from two perspectives, this book alternates between Wooten’s life and his grandfather’s, culminating in a shocking revelation.

100 Things to Do on the Alabama Gulf

Coast Before You Die, by John Mullen, Reedy Press, $15.75 (travel) The book will help visitors make the most of their visit with itineraries, insider tips and a local’s perspective. Explore the bustling resort towns as well as the natural environments of the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge and Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Whether you’re fishing for world-class red snapper or just enjoying a vacation, you’ll find spots to explore.

Abandoned Montgomery: Ruins of the

Confederate Capitol, by David Bulit, America Through Time, $23.99 (history) Montgomery, the birthplace of the Confederacy and the site of many crucial civil rights events, has a storied history. Its buildings are a reminder of its sometimes controversial past; the author, a photographer and historian, guides readers through some of the structures that have been neglected and face possible ruin.

Drifting Into Darkness: Murder, Madness, Suicide, and a Death ‘Under Suspicious

Circumstances,’ by Mark I. Pinsky, NewSouth Books, $23.95 (true crime) This book centers on the true story of Montgomery philanthropists Charlotte and Brent Springford Sr., who were brutally beaten to death in 2004. Suspicions fell on the couple’s son, Brent Jr., who would be tried and sentenced to life in prison. Pinsky is a veteran crime reporter who broke the cardinal rule of journalism by involving himself in the story, which gave him a unique access into the case.

History of the 60 Commercial Buildings Developed by the Retirement Systems of

Alabama, by Mark Fagan, $50 (architecture) Since 1977, the RSA has developed 15 million square feet of commercial buildings as alternative investments. Some were constructed by RSA, while others were purchased and refurbished. Such developments help revitalize downtown areas and in some cases preserve historical structures. This book explains how each building was acquired or built, developed and/or improved. Photos from several sources show the developmental progress of the buildings.

Winterization tips for energy savings

Q: How can I keep my home warm while saving on my electric bill this winter?

A: Winterizing is an important step to keep your home cozy and your bills low. These tried-and-true methods will ensure your home is sealed tight and ready for colder weather. I’ve also included tips that address common misconceptions.

Insulating pipes and water heater

You can raise the water temperature inside your home’s water pipes by 2 to 4 degrees by insulating, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Insulating allows you to turn down the heat on your water heater, saving energy and money.

Start by insulating the pipes coming out of your water heater. If you have a gas water heater, keep pipe insulation at least 6 inches away from the flue. Insulate hot and cold water lines. The latter can prevent condensation and freezing pipes. Insulating your water heater can save 7% to 16% on water-heating costs, DOE says. Insulation kits are available at hardware stores. Don’t obstruct the pressure relief valve, thermostats or access valves.

Air sealing

Air sealing and insulation are a great combination for minimizing home energy use. Insulation is like a warm sweater for your home, and air sealing is the wind breaker. All the cracks, gaps and holes in a typical home can be like having a window open year-round. Air sealing eliminates those leaks. It can be done as a do-it-yourself project or by a professional.

Window sealing and improvements

Windows can be a source of drafts and wasted energy. Close windows tightly.

Add weatherstripping around windows to prevent warm air from escaping your home and caulk the gaps where the window trim meets the wall and the window frame. Add curtains to make the room feel warmer.

Storm windows are a lower-cost option for upgrading single-pane windows. They are available with low-emissivity coatings, which insulate better, and are available for installation either from the inside or outside of the window.

Fireplace dampers

When I was little, my dad told me it was too cold to have a fire. I remember thinking that made no sense, but he was right.

We had an open, wood-burning fireplace—not a wood stove. A fireplace can draw the warm air out of the house, cooling it down or causing your heating system to use more energy.

Your fireplace adds ambience to your home but isn’t necessarily effective at heating it. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, close the damper when your fire is extinguished. An open damper in the winter is an easy exit for the air you paid to heat.

Adding tempered glass doors to a wood-burning fireplace can create an extra buffer between the cold outside and a cozy living space.

Some gas fireplaces require a damper to remain permanently open so gas can vent out of the home. Check the specifications of your unit to ensure safe operation.

Miranda Boutelle is the vice president of operations and customer engagement at Efficiency Services Group in Oregon, a cooperatively owned energy efficiency company. She also writes on energy efficiency topics for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. Insulating your water heater can save 7% to 16% on water heating costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

PHOTO COURTESY MARK GILLILAND, PIONEER UTILITY RESOURCES

Best practices for closing off parts of a home

Through the years, I have heard a lot of debate about closing off rooms or parts of the home to save energy.

Best practices come down to the type of heat source. If you have a zonal heating system, where individual areas are controlled separately, you can close doors and only heat the areas you use. Examples of zonal systems are wall heaters, baseboard heat, hydronic radiant heat, radiators and ductless heat pumps, also called mini-splits.

Keep areas with plumbing or water lines warm enough so pipes do not freeze.

If you have a central forced-air heating system, leave doors open to all heated areas. Closing doors and/or register dampers forces the system to work harder, uses more energy and can shorten the life of heating equipment.

Check your filters

Maintaining a clean filter in your furnace is one of the best ways to keep it running efficiently and prevent costly repairs. Check your furnace or ductless heat pump filter monthly during peak heating season.

SOCIAL SECURITY

Social Security benefits to increase in 2023

Approximately 70 million Americans will see an 8.7% increase in their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in 2023. On average, Social Security benefits will increase by more than $140 per month starting in January.

Federal benefit rates increase when the cost-of-living rises, as measured by the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). The CPI-W rises when inflation increases, leading to a higher cost-of-living. This change means prices for goods and services, on average, are higher. The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) helps to offset these costs.

We will mail COLA notices throughout the month of December to retirement, survivors, and disability beneficiaries, SSI recipients, and representative payees. But if you want to know your new benefit amount sooner, you can securely obtain your Social Security COLA notice online using the Message Center in your personal my Social Security account. You can access this information in early December, prior to receiving the mailed notice. Benefit amounts will not be available before December. Since you will receive the COLA notice online or in the mail, you don’t need to contact us to get your new benefit amount.

If you prefer to access your COLA notice online and not receive the mailed notice, you can log in to your personal my Social Security account to opt out by changing your Preferences in the Message Center. You can update your preferences to opt out of the mailed COLA notice, and any other notices that are available online. Did you know you can receive a text or email alert when there is a new message waiting for you? That way, you always know when we have something important for you – like your COLA notice. If you don’t have an account yet, you must create one by November 15, 2022, to receive the 2023 COLA notice online.

“Medicare premiums are going down and Social Security benefits are going up in 2023, which will give seniors more peace of mind and breathing room. This year’s substantial Social Security cost-of-living adjustment is the first time in over a decade that Medicare premiums are not rising and shows that we can provide more support to older Americans who count on the benefits they have earned,” says Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi.

January 2023 marks when other changes will happen based on the increase in the national average wage index. For example, the maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security payroll tax in 2023 will be higher. The retirement earnings test exempt amount will also change in 2023.

Be among the first to know! Sign up for or log in to your personal my Social Security account today. Choose email or text under “Message Center Preferences” to receive courtesy notifications.

You can find more information about the 2023 COLA at ssa. gov/cola.

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

December crossword by Myles Mellor

Across 1 One of Santa’s reindeer 4 What Santa brings 8 Kris ___ 10 Piece of snow 11 Christmas visitor 14 Collector’s goals 17 Supposing that 19 Skiing mecca 21 Farmyard bird 23 Large coffee pot 24 Prince of Broadway 25 High flying toys 26 African American celebration in December 28 Christmas carol “The First ____” 30 Color shade 31 Margarita fruits 32 Drink daintily Down 1 Fruit___: sweet Christmas dessert 2 Eight milkers in “The 12

Days of Christmas” 3 Price label 4 Crusty dessert 5 Santa’s North Pole helper 6 Glorify 7 It often has a star on top 9 Started a fire 12 Negative prefix 13 Heavenly being 14 They hold small Christmas presents 15 Yes, in Spanish 16 Jewish December celebration 18 Sumptuous repast 20 Breakfast item 22 Turkey dishes, for example 24 Nut 27 Goal 29 Raise