TEX-MEX TASTES | ROLLIES | LEAH MANSELL
September/October 2020 Vol. 10 Issue No. 5
Pyrography
PASSION
Wood-burning hobby provides therapeutic outlet
Rollies shop provides sweet tooth satisfaction The Posey Patch farm blossoms in Russellville
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Editorial ALISON JAMES CIERA HUGHES
Contributors PHILIP GOAD HEATH GRIMES MONTANA HESTER EMILY MAYS
Marketing PEGGY HYDE
Administrative SOMMER MORRIS ____________________
Features 5 6 7 11 12 14 18 25 26
Faith Focus What’s Happening Pyrography passion Education Corner Pocketful of posies Taste of Franklin Sweet tooth satisfaction Money Matters Why I Love Franklin County
Franklin Living is published bi-monthly by Franklin County Newspapers, Inc. Copyright 2020 by Franklin County Newspapers, Inc. P.O. Box 1088 Russellville, AL 35653 256-332-1881 fax: 256-332-1883 www.franklincountytimes.com
ON THE COVER: When it comes to hobbies, Tracy McCauley won’t settle for any ho-hum, run-of-the-mill pastime. For her, pyrography is the activity of choice to slow down and while away her creative hours. To read her story turn to page 7.
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FROM THE MANAGING EDITOR
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rying to pinpoint a new hobby? Looking for a sweet treat to beat the summer heat? Need some fresh flowers for your special event? Interested in trying your hand at a delicious Tex-Mex recipe? Boy, have we ever got you covered in this edition. Our cover feature for this issue is Tracy McCauley and her pyrography – for the uninitiated, “wood burning” – hobby. With a few simple tools plus countless enjoyable hours of practicing to hone her skill, McCauley now counts pyrography among her favorite pastimes. The creative outlet gives her the opportunity to slow down and really dedicate the time to creating something beautiful – and isn’t that something we all need a little more of? Her handmade works have found new homes both through commissioned orders as well as sales at festivals and markets – but many of her favorite pieces can be found at home at Rusty Armadillo Farm, which we toured in the May/June edition. Get your tastebuds ready because between this issue’s business and recipe fea-
tures, we have plenty of tasty treats for you to try. Rollies is the newest face in downtown Russellville, bringing hand-rolled ice cream and authentic boba tea to Franklin County. The location is the second for this region, following business partners’ Abigail Ray and Ronny Juan’s initial success in downtown Florence. For something a little more spicy or savory, check out Cindy Coan’s selections for a Tex-Mex meal. Count us in for her delicious guacamole and stuffed peppers, for sure! For a little jaunt into the great outdoors, we bring you a peek into the Posey Patch – a Russellville flower farm that is owner Ashley Bolton’s dream-come-true. Part business, part passion, part family-togetherness, the Posey Patch is a fledging foray for Bolton, who credits her grandmother for her love for flowers. As always, we have endeavored to bring you all the latest and greatest goings-on across Franklin. Do you have a suggestion for a future feature? I’d love to hear about it.
Alison James
Discover the value of enrolling in a local Medicare Advantage plan. Call us today for easy-to-understand answers to your Medicare questions. Your local Franklin, Colbert and Lauderdale agent: Jessica Tate 256-426-8823
Toll-free: 1-888-830-VIVA (8482) | TTY: 711 www.VivaHealth.com/Medicare
Hours: Mon - Fri, 8am - 8pm | Oct 1 - Mar 31: 7 days a week, 8am - 8pm Viva Medicare is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Viva Medicare depends on contract renewal. Viva Health complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-888-830-8482 (TTY: 711). 注意：如果您使 用繁體中文，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務. 請致電 1-888-830-8482 (TTY: 711). H0154_mcdoc2040A_M_09/15/2018
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Franklin Living
FAITH FOCUS
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Are you running in the right direction?
t is New Year’s Day 1929, and UC Berkley and Georgia Tech are squaring off in the Rose Bowl. During the first half, Tech halfback Stumpy Thomason fumbles on his own 20-yard line, and Berkley defensive back Roy Riegels recovers the fumble and begins returning the ball. Unfortunately, while dodging would-be tacklers, Riegels changes course and, in doing so, changes his legacy. Riegels ends up running the wrong way – toward his own end zone! Thinking he’s on his way to scoring a touchdown for his team, he’s actually racing toward scoring a safety for Georgia Tech. By the time he figures out his error, it is too late, and the safety is scored for Tech. Roy Riegels is best remembered for what he did wrong. At the time of this writing, it is still very much up in the air whether we will get our fall college football fix this year. Yet, the story of “Wrongway Riegels” and his Rose Bowl blunder still provides an important reminder some 90 years later. As we navigate the problems, obstacles and challenges that make up the game of life, it is easy to become so turned around that we end up running in the wrong direction. In 2 Timothy 2:22, the apostle Paul wrote, “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith,
love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” Paul’s inspired words serve as a reminder that a healthy relationship with God is about more than just running away from certain temptations and obstacles. It’s also about the constant pursuit of the virtues that he lists – ones that are revealed throughout the New Testament. It’s also worth noting that Paul teaches us that our pursuit of righteousness, faith, love and peace will be most successful when we join with others who are pursuing those virtues too. As the story is told, Roy Riegels was so devastated by his costly error that he didn’t want to come out of the locker room for the second half that day. Thankfully, Coach Nibs Price didn’t give up on Riegels, and he wouldn’t allow the young man to give up on himself. The coach reminded his embarrassed player that the game was only half over, and it was reported that no one played harder in the second half that day than Roy Riegels. Thankfully, we serve a God who doesn’t give up on us. While we won’t get to decide whether college football games get played this fall, it is up to us to decide if we will run in the direction God wants us to. Are you running in the right direction today?
Philip Goad is the minister at North Highlands Church of Christ in Russellville. He is married to Marla, and they have a daughter, Kayla Thorne, who is married to Josh. They also have a son, Preston and one grandchild, Greyson Thorne.
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What’s Happening
Check out all the upcoming community events! Submit community events for future issues of Franklin Living to alison. james@franklincountytimes.com. Requests must be received by the first of the month for consideration for the next edition.*All events are subject to change depending on the progression of the coronavirus.
Franklin County Football September-October
Long-standing in-county rivalry games are a cornerstone of high school football in Franklin County. This year, county team face off Sept. 18, Red Bay at Tharptown, and Oct. 30, Tharptown at Vina.
Music in Heritage Park Sept. 11
The City of Red Bay presents Music in Heritage Park Sept. 11, featuring gospel groups Resound and Heaven’s Mountain Band. Following the concert, attendees will be treated to a dazzling firework display. The event is free admission, and attendees should bring their lawn chairs and masks.
Red Bay Founder’s Fest Sept. 19
Founder’s Fest 2020 will welcome friends and neighbors back to Red Bay for the annual community festival in downtown’s Bay Tree Park. Festival-goers can enjoy the Queen’s Train Ride, live music, fried pie contest, buck dancing, arts and crafts, prizes, vendors, car/truck/motorcycle show and more. The Museum will be open for tours, and downtown businesses will offer sales and specials. In addition, LifeSouth will hold a blood drive outside nearby city hall.
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LifeSouth Blood Drives October
The LifeSouth bloodmobile will be in Franklin County for several blood donation opportunities as fall begins: Oct. 19 at the Franklin County Health Department on Highway 48 in Russellville from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Certain Teed Saint Gobain; Oct. 22 at Russellville Hospital from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Oct. 23 from noon to 6 p.m. at Big Star on South Jackson Avenue in Russellville. For more information or to make an appointment, visit www.lifesouth.org.
Spirit of Hodges Festival Oct. 10
The 2020 Spirit of Hodges Festival will be held Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Town Park. Live music will entertain while visitors shop the vendors, and there will be plenty of activities and fun for all ages. All proceeds from the festival go to the Hodges Fire and Rescue Department. For more information on attractions or becoming a vendor or sponsor, visit The Spirit of Hodges Festival page on Facebook.
Spruce Pine Day Oct. 17
Spruce Pine will host its annual community festival, Spruce Pine Day, Oct. 17 in downtown. Numerous activities and attractions are planned. Money collected benefits the Spruce Pine Historical Society.
Pumpkin Palooza Oct. 31
The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce is planning a fun, oneday festival in celebration of Halloween and the fall season. There will be plenty of family-friendly fun to enjoy. With the event still in the planning stages, the Chamber will announce details in the coming weeks.
Franklin Living
Pyrography passion Therapeutic hobby brings patience and peace
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Story by ALISON JAMES Photos by MARÍA CAMP
ut on Rusty Armadillo Farm in Hodges, Tracy McCauley is always busy. There are goats to feed, eggs to collect, micro-greens to harvest and fruit trees to nurture. There is goat’s milk waiting to be turned into soap and other products, and there’s 61 sprawling acres waiting to be transformed by the McCauleys’ agri-tourism dreams. In her eagerness to move from project to project, McCauley describes herself as someone who has a hard time sitting down. “I always have a hundred projects going on, and when I don’t, I’m thinking about projects, and I have a to-do list, and even at night I can’t shut my brain off.”
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That all changes, however, when she finds a pocket of time to enjoy the creative outlet she discovered in October 2018: pyrography. The art of burning images into wood, pyrography became an instant passion for McCauley after she first saw the craft on a TV show. She said although she has always had an artistic nature, drawing is not a strong skill – except, apparently, when it comes to drawing on wood with a white-hot pen. “From the moment I touched it I had so much fun,” she explained. “From the very first piece I did, I thought, ‘This is it. This is going to be my thing.’” Husband Doug is a woodworker, and it was he who encouraged Tracey’s initial interest, purchasing a beginner kit for her to try her hand at pyrography. The beginner kit came with a single pen and five interchangeable tips. “It almost worked like a stamp,” she said. “Each tip, you would press down on the wood and make different designs. I loved it. I burnt the whole thing up within probably two months, I used it so much.” With her new passion growing, it was time to upgrade to a more professional kit – the Colwood Super Pro 2, complete with two different heat setting and a wide array of replaceable pens and tips. With her new tools in place and a ready supply of wood thanks to Doug and the couple’s sawmill, all she needed was a dedicated work space. She started at the kitchen table – but that quickly escalated until her new-found hobby had overtaken half the kitchen. “We decided to just turn one of our spare rooms into my work room.” She now has a long workbench with good lighting – “Lighting is key, of course, with any creative project,” – and an easel her husband built. She has a torch she can use on certain projects – “That takes some of it to the next level. With a torch I can blacken big areas or shade areas. It’s just another level of fun I can experiment with” – and a chisel and dremmel kit, along with paint and pencils, round out her tools. “It’s so nice to have everything right within my reach.”
“It forces me to be patient and relax. I get into a zone, and next thing you know, three hours have gone by, and I’m in a whole different state of mind.” 8
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To others who might be interested in trying pyrography, McCauley has a word of warning: Be ready for the hobby to cultivate your patience and consume many hours of your free time. That’s the case for her, anyway. “I have to make sure all my other little chores and responsibilities are out of the way before I sit down to do pyrography because once I do, I can sit there for hours and do nothing else,” McCauley said. It’s a passion she pursues every week – sometimes daily, when work around the farm is slower. “I’ve always been a person who likes instant gratification, and it’s really hard to be patient. You’re forced to be patient. You have no other choice. It’s a lot of tiny little repetitive movements that you do, and if I’m going to do a big portrait of something, it might take me days to do it – and I think that’s a good thing. It teaches you to slow down and be in the moment.” McCauley said the more time she takes on a project – whether it’s a farmland scene with a barn and rolling hills, like her first major piece, or something small and simple – the more realistic the end result is. “You have to do it slow and steady,” she emphasized. “The biggest thing I would tell anybody is that it teaches you to be patient, and if you are patient, it pays off 10-fold.” Besides proper tools and a great supply of patience, each project requires wood suited to the job. McCauley said 90 percent of the wood she uses is sourced right from their farm. For pieces with a lot of detail, she chooses birch, cedar or cherry. “Those are all a little bit softer, and they don’t have a ton of woodgrain,” she explained. Oak is more difficult to work with. Pine can also be a challenge, McCauley said, because although it is a soft wood, it has a tight woodgrain, which can be difficult to manipulate. “It limits what you can do when there is a lot of woodgrain,” McCauley said. “My favorite wood to burn on is actually cedar. I love the color of cedar. I love the different variations in the color. I think it’s the perfect backdrop for a lot of wood burning. The bonus is the smell; It smells so good when I’m burning it.” Although McCauley’s pyrography passion is firstly for herself, she soon realized she could turn her hobby into a money-making side gig. With her husband and son already involved in custom carpentry, she had ready outlets to promote her craft – particularly the festivals and markets the family has attended.
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As word of her abilities has spread, McCauley said she has begun receiving commissioned orders – from pictures of hummingbirds and beach landscapes, to children’s portraits, to religious scenes and more. A friend has asked her to burn scenes into boxes that will hold a sister-inlaw’s ashes. “I’ll put a little verse and a cross, and her name, and maybe a flower or two,” McCauley said. “It’s done very elegantly.” As McCauley has studied the craft of pyrography, she has found that many artists rely on tracing or stenciling to achieve the design they want. Not McCauley. “Mine is all freehand,” she said. To produce the designs she wants, she’ll put in hours of research beforehand. “I’ll look at maybe hundreds of different images of horses until I see some images I like. I call
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those my inspiration pieces,” she explained. Some things she has become comfortable with tackling right off with the burning pen – like trees, flowers, leaves and branches. For more complicated or detailed images, she will start by creating a light pencil sketch on the wood. McCauley also sets herself apart by sometimes incorporating painting or staining into her designs, something she has not seen from many other pyrography artists. Once she has determined the image she wants to create, whether it’s something for herself or a commissioned piece, it’s time to get to work. McCauley said she keeps about 10 different nibs on hand for her pen, although she uses just two or three a majority of the time. “Some of them have more straight angles, and some of them are
spoon-shaped on the end. A couple of them are kind of like a ball-point pen, and then some are a smooth round curve that would be great for shadowing and shading,” she said. “The biggest thing is how you hold it – how you use it and get used to it. You’re letting the heat do the work for you. You have to have a really light touch.” The more she has honed her skill, the more McCauley has discovered about her own artistic eye when it comes to pyrography. In addition to eschewing stencils or tracings, McCauley has learned to avoid images that don’t fit in her preferred style of natural, true-to-life subjects. “I like to do realistic images a lot better than cartoon images” – a truth she discovered when she created a set of “Alice in Wonderland”-inspired pieces. She was able to sell them immediately, “but I didn’t enjoy doing them nearly as much. I didn’t find it as satisfying. The way it turned out was beautiful, but I didn’t enjoy it.” So she sticks to natural scenes whenever she can and relies on photographs – as opposed to drawings – as her inspiration to help her create images that are as realistic as possible. The bigger the challenge, the more satisfying McCauley finds her success. “It opens up boundaries I thought I had. Every hurdle I jump over gives me a little more confidence,” McCauley said. “It makes me very proud of the things I’ve done. When I look at some of the things I’ve done, it’s amazing to me. It’s very gratifying.” For the works McCauley creates to sell, she said she tries to be fair in pricing. Although some pieces require extensive research and planning, she charges based on her handson time and her materials. One project might start with a $50-100 piece of wood, while a birch panel might cost just a few dollars. A decorated jewelry box might run in the $30 range, while larger portraits and scenes might cost the buyer in the hundreds. At the end of the day, however, it’s not as much about the profit as it is about the passion and the personal satisfaction. “I enjoy it so much.” She also treasures the way her family and customers have encouraged her. “Having someone who is supportive makes a world of difference,” she said. “If what I did didn’t get appreciated, I probably wouldn’t enjoy it as much myself.” McCauley said she can’t say enough about the calming effect pyrography has for her. “I’m forced to get into the moment. I can’t be doing this and thinking about something else,” she said. “It forces me to be patient and relax. I get into a zone, and next thing you know, three hours have gone by, and I’m in a whole different state of mind. It’s a wonderful feeling. It truly is my therapy.” “It’s just the best thing. The very best thing.”
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EDUCATION CORNER
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Foster positivity despite pandemic
he only thing certain about this school year is that nothing is going to be certain. While we have plans in place and protocols to follow that we have all diligently worked on this past summer, we all know these plans can change in the blink of an eye depending on how this virus continues to affect our area. All of the uncertainty is no doubt stressful for everyone – parents, students, teachers and administrators. We’re all feeling the effects of the uncertainty and lack of control over our circumstances. As I have reminded others and myself, however, we CAN control how we respond and the type of attitude we have during these uncertain times. For parents of school-aged children, having a positive and supportive attitude at home is especially important to those of us in education. Parents have a tremendous influence over their children, and if you have a negative mindset, chances are very high your children will, too. If, on the other hand, you make it a point to fill your conversations with positivity and a good attitude, especially where school is concerned, hopefully that will rub off on them as well and help ease any anxieties they have about a school year that is much different than any they’ve experienced thus far. This school year is going to be an adjustment, no doubt,
so I’m not saying it won’t be difficult to maintain a positive and supportive attitude. There are aspects that will be challenging and tough. There will be times we’ll all want to throw our hands up in frustration. But when those times come, I hope you will remember your children are looking to you to set the tone for this year as much as they are looking to their teachers. If you’re constantly critical of every decision made, they will be, too. If you routinely badmouth teachers, principals and administrators, that will probably taint their views as well – and with all the other obstacles educators will be facing this school year, a room full of students with negative attitudes fueled by negativity at home shouldn’t be something they have to worry about. So while class schedules, athletic events and extracurricular participation might not go exactly as planned this year, the best advice I can give our parents, students, teachers and community at large is to remain positive and supportive while we navigate these situations together. Kindness and support really are the best gifts we can give one another right now, as always, and I sincerely appreciate the teachers, parents and students who are already modeling this in their classrooms, homes and lives. No matter what this year brings, it’s still GREAT to be a Golden Tiger!
Heath Grimes is the superintendent of Russellville City Schools. He and his wife Amy have three daughters: Leah, Halle and Erin.
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Pocketful of posies The Posey Patch blossoms in Russellville
Story by ALISON JAMES Photos by MONTANA HESTER
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“G
oing to work” doesn’t have to mean driving to the office, sitting at a desk surrounded by paperwork, endlessly trying to complete someone else’s to do list. In fact, for Ashley Bolton, work means taking time to stop and smell the roses – literally. In the space of one year, Bolton’s father and grandmother died, and she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The cascade of bad news was almost too much, but instead of being overwhelmed by everything coming at her, Bolton decided to see the circumstances as a catalyst for change in her life. “It was one of one of those life-altering moments when you think, ‘Is this really what I’m living for?’” Bolton said. “Over time I slowly started planning.” The plan? To someday wave goodbye to working in federal government, a job she’s held for 13 years, and make The Posey Patch Flower Farm her full-time career. Ashley and husband William had just purchased their Russellville farm when her father passed away in 2018. Although the initial intentions for the farm were to give William the space he needed as a poultry farmer for Mar-Jac, Ashley began formulating a vision for her own little portion of the property – a portion where she could bloom right alongside the flowers she wanted to plant. “It was something I was passionate about, flowers and gardening,” she said. That passion was seeded and cultivated by her grandmother, Helen. “When I bought my first house in 2007, she helped me learn about roses and other flowers,” Bolton said. “It became an outlet for me, working in a high-stress job and the demands of daily life, like everyone has. I’d rather spend all day out there doing manual labor than to be inside at a desk, any day.” So, a day at a time, Bolton’s Posey Patch grew from a dream to reality. She began marketing her flowers in November 2019, creating a customer base as she watched her garden grow. A good starting point, she now nurtures more than 300 rose bushes on the farm – “It will probably be more next year” – to say nothing of the array of other blooms, from zinnias and cosmos to sunflowers, delphinium, astrantia and dahlias, which are “just so beautiful, and they get so big,” Bolton said. “You can have nearly every color imaginable.” Roses, however, are a main focus. Yellowtoned blooms predominate – “Yellow is happy. We like yellow” – but white and blush variants are also a focus, and popular variations of red and pink also have their place in The Posey Patch. For Bolton, the growing process is therapeutic. “It’s a constant learning process. I like the challenge,” said Bolton, who especially enjoys the tangible payoff of gardening. “You can see the product, beginning to end, and that’s rewarding
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in a lot of ways.” It’s a perfect example, she added, of God’s power, “seeing all the miraculous things that He can do.” William does tractor work for the flower farm, and Ashley has two willing helpers in daughters Emmalyn, 8, and Taylor, 11. “My daughters were thrilled. They love it – most days,” Bolton said. “Both of them have been extremely helpful and enjoy being out there, which is great because it gives us time together.” Whether it’s pulling weeds, watering flowers or helping plant seeds, Emmalyn and Taylor are ready to get their hands dirty. “They actually planted a large number of dahlias by themselves,” Bolton said – and “an extremely crooked” sunflower was also the product of her daughters’ hands. Bolton orders seeds from a bulk supplier, and she has bolstered her knowledge of flower farming through any source she can – including books, podcasts and YouTube videos. “You learn over time, just like anything else. You learn who knows what they are talking about and who doesn’t. I try to filter those as best I can.” Like so many things, Bolton’s plans were hindered when COVID-19 spread into north Alabama, but she’s still carrying on. She said she has primarily used social media to connect with customers and has also started talking with florists, “so we have the retail side and the wholesale side,” she explained. “Floral designers are really starting to focus on local blooms or American-grown blooms. We’re certified American Grown, and we’re members of Sweet Grown Alabama. Most of the flowers you see sold in the United States are imported, and that’s why they’re inexpensive. For a true-blue American product, buyers are going to see a higher price point, but Bolton said the price is worth it when one considers the freshness of the blooms and the ability to get speciality flowers. A standard mixed bouquet might run about $25, while a dozen speciality roses might top out closer to $45. Amid the Boltons’ 60 acres on Highway 63, about an acre right now is dedicated to The Posey Patch. Bolton said although roses need a fair bit of space to grow well, many other varieties of flowers can be planted closely together, meaning a big yield for only a small space requirement. Although the Posey Patch is not open to the public, Bolton said customers can schedule a visit, and she also offers overnight delivery via FedEx. Although the growing season will soon wind down, “the busy season” is nearly year-round for The Posey Patch. “Fall is a huge time to plant, so even though you won’t see flowers blowing during that time, that’s when a lot of farmers are doing planning and planting for spring,” Bolton explained. She said she expects to continue to have fresh flowers through the first frost around the end of October – “We do have a pretty long growing season here, compared to much fo the country” – at which point she will switch her focus to cedar wreaths for November and December. Bolton said she only hopes to grow and expand from here – although William sometimes has to be the voice of reason if she gets too gung-ho too fast. She said hopes to build hoop houses to further extend the growing season. The big focus is to continue to find ways to connect with customers and buyers, whether that’s local businesses that might want to carry her flowers or groups she could partner with for fundraisers or other efforts, in addition to her existing wholesale and retail business.
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TASTE OF FRANKLIN
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Franklin Living
Fiesta of flavors Cooking with Coan Cindy Coan Russellville High School
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hen it comes to an inspired meal full of flavor, hungry foodies just might turn to a Tex-Mex feast. Cindy Coan has cravings covered, with recipes for tastes a little elevated above the basic, plain-Jane taco.
“American cuisine is a combination of the flavors from all over the world. As people settled in America they brought with them their tastes and cooking
techniques from their home countries and adapted them to the available produce and meats found in the area where they settled,” Coan said. “This is why American cuisine has so many different flavors and options. We are literally a ‘melting pot’ of people and their foods.” Coan describes her stuffed peppers are a super simple recipe, a great option for those on a low-carb diet. The stuffing, she adds, is also delicious for stuffing vegetables besides peppers, such as zucchini or squash. Extra sausage mixture can be refrigerated and served as a dip or frozen for a later meal. Coan said the sausage could be replaced with cooked chicken for a
different taste. “The corn muffins are a versatile bread to serve with many Southern dishes,” Coan said. “Here they are served with a Tex-Mex meal, but they are also good with soups, a vegetable plate or even with breakfast.” Leftover muffins – if there are any – can be frozen to prolong their freshness. What would dinner be without dessert? Coan’s cobbler recipe is “so easy and a great way to use bountiful summer fruits,” she said. “You can also decrease the recipe easily and bake in a 9x9 pan for a smaller portion.” This sweet treat is topped with a real, fluffy biscuit crust – “which is how I like my cobbler,” Coan added.
GUACAMOLE Yields: 2 cups 2 large ripe avocados, diced 1 1/2 Tbsp. lemon juice 1-2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tsp. dried basil leaf, crushed 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes Half of a tomato, diced 2 Tbsp. thinly sliced green onion 1/4 cup sour cream (or more to taste) 1/2 tsp. salt (or more to taste) 1 Tbsp. minced cilantro 1. Peel and mash avocados. 2. Mix with lemon juice, cilantro, garlic, basil and salt. 3. Fold in sour cream, red pepper flakes, tomato and green onion. 4. Serve with tortilla chips and fresh vegetables.
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GREEN CHILI CORN MUFFINS Yields: 48 miniature muffins 1 1/4 cup cornmeal 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons baking powder (I use this even with selfrising cornmeal) 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1 cup of cream-style corn 1 cup sour cream 4 oz. can chopped green chilies 1/2 cup canola oil 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 2. Spray muffin tins with cooking spray. You can make mini or regular size muffins, depending on the meal. 3. In a small mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, salt and baking powder, stirring with a spoon. 4 Add the cheese, corn, sour cream and chilies. Stir until lightly combined. 5. Add the oil and eggs and stir until everything is just combined; do not over stir. 6. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Do not overfill. 7. Bake for 18-20 minutes.
EASY PEACH COBBLER 2 cups fresh sliced peaches or one 29-oz can of sliced peaches in natural juice, drained 2 cups Bisquick All Purpose Mix 2 cups milk 1 cup butter (two sticks) 2 cups sugar 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 2. In an 9x13 baking dish, melt butter. 3. In a bowl, stir Bisquick mix, sugar and milk together until thoroughly mixed. 4. Pour over melted butter. 5. Spoon peaches over the cobbler crust. 6. Bake for one hour or until crust is a golden brown. Serve warm. Tips: • Cobbler is terrific served hot with vanilla ice cream but may be enjoyed cold, too. • You can use 2-3 cups fresh peaches, strawberries or blueberries. Coat sliced fresh fruit with half a cup of sugar and let set for 10 minutes to macerate.
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CREAMY STUFFED PEPPERS 2 bell peppers, red, green or yellow 1 pound sausage 8 oz. block of cream cheese, softened 1 can Rotel diced tomatoes, drained 1 cup cheddar or pepper jack cheese, grated Olive oil Salt and pepper 1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. 2. Slice the cap from the peppers and cut each pepper in half to create a boat for holding the filling. 3. Remove the seeds from the peppers. 4. Place peppers in a shallow baking dish, drizzle each with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. 5. Roast peppers in hot oven for five minutes to soften. Do not overbake. 6. While peppers are roasting, fry sausage in a skillet, crumbling the sausage as it cooks. Drain. 7. Return cooked sausage to the skillet, adding the cream cheese and Rotel diced tomatoes. Stir until cream cheese is melted. 8. Spoon mixture into roasted peppers. 9. Top with cheese. 10. Bake in oven until cheese is melted and bubbly.
CONFETTI RICE 1 small package Mahatma yellow rice 1 stick margarine 2 cans Green Giant mexicorn, drained 1 can cream of celery soup 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated Paprika 1. Cook rice according to package directions. 2. Add margarine and stir until melted. 3. Stir in corn, soup and 3/4 cup of cheese. 4. Pour into greased casserole and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. 5. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese and paprika. 6. Let stand 10 minutes for cheese to melt.
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Sweet tooth satisfaction Rollies rolls into downtown Russellville Story and photos by ALISON JAMES
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fter a successful start in Florence, Rollies co-owner Ronny Juan said he knew just where he wanted to open his second location: his hometown, Russellville. Juan and business partner Abigail Ray met at the University of Alabama as college students. They were friends first but soon began dating, and Juan said they encountered the rolled ice cream phenomenon when they would go on trips together. He said they thought the concept was “nice and unique, and it would be a fun experience to bring to this area. This is where I grew up, and it’s been the same for a good minute.” Juan had his first taste of the unique treat when he was in his teens, and from that moment, the idea of opening his own shop one day had lingered in the back of his mind. A 2014 Russellville High School graduate, 24-year-old Juan is not a complete newcomer to small business ownership. As a child he spent many hours working with his parents in their locally-owned grocery store, Los Dos Hermanos. Wanting to go a different direction, Juan found that opening his
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own ice cream shop had captured his imagination. He decided to launch his first location in Florence, leaning on the larger population in the Shoals to get a strong start. Florence Rollies opened its doors in July 2019, just a few months after he began seriously looking at the logistics in January 2019. “I was kind of scared,” Juan admitted, as plenty of uncertainty surrounded his foray into the restaurant industry – but Rollies was immediately a “huge hit.” “Once we opened, it was jam-packed – so many people. It was long days. It was kind of exciting because we brought this here, something fun that everyone can enjoy.” A twinge of fear continued even in the face of success, though, as Juan wondered what he had gotten himself into. He didn’t want to be in business ownership alone. Ray was working in Atlanta at that time, but she was open to the idea of going into business with Juan; the two had continued dating since 2017. The timing was ideal:
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She had become burned out in her career as an exercise physiologist, and although a few other doors had opened, the Rollies door was the one she opted to walk through. “I decided it would be a fun venture to go into,” Ray said. She used some of her savings to buy in, and the couple’s relationship added a business partnership layer. A 2013 Huntsville High School grad, Ray said moving to the Shoals from Atlanta was a big change but felt like coming home. With the “two heads are better than one” proverb officially in play, and their success undeniable, Juan and Ray began considering a second location. Although Juan had long hoped to one day open a shop in Russellville, it was the clamor of fans that helped seal the deal. “There was a poll one of the employees had posted on Facebook, like ‘If we opened a second location, what do you guys think? Russellville, Tuscumbia, Muscle Shoals?’ and Russellville won by a landslide,” Ray said. That overwhelming support didn’t spur them immediately to action – but it didn’t take long. Ray said in their free time the couple enjoys browsing real estate, always on the look out for a new opportunity. One day Juan was touring downtown Russellville with his brother, as the family was making plans to remodel and expand Los Dos Hermanos. Russellville Mayor David Grissom was showing them a few different possibilities when “somehow the topic came up about Rollies because Mayor Grissom has been there a few times. He helped us out through this whole process,” Juan said. Grissom encouraged the pair to pull the trigger on their second location. “It’s really exciting. That’s one of things people have talked about for some time – an ice cream place downtown,” said
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Grissom, who co-owns the building with local businessman and Franklin County commissioner Chris Wallace. “This fits in really well with what other cities have done to make downtown more of a destination for people.” Downtown revitalization has continued to be a pet project for Grissom. “Downtown is the heartbeat of every local community,” Grissom said. “We wanted to try to help bring that back to downtown Russellville … Getting the empty buildings filled back up with nice businesses is exceptional for the downtown area.” When Juan officially proposed the Russellville shop, Ray said she was a little hesitant at first. “Not being from here, I hadn’t come to Russellville much, so I wasn’t really sure – I haven’t been in the community. I wasn’t sure what the response would be from the community,” she said. “But everyone has been really nice out here – so helpful and so sweet. Everybody has just been very supportive.
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“We just wanted to bring something that everyone could enjoy – the whole family – that would be a good, fun thing to do,” Ray added. Juan agreed, noting, “There’s not much dessert or fun things to do here.” So they signed a lease on the restaurant space in February – and then the pandemic hit. Tentative plans to open the Russellville Rollies in May had to be tabled, and for months they were barely able to keep the doors open at Florence Rollies, with many of their employees forced to quit because Ray and Juan couldn’t give them enough hours. The couple remembers long empty days at the Florence shop, operations reduced to counter service only, with the Russellville shop on an indefinite hold. Despite the delay, Ray and Juan soldiered through and finally made their second location a reality in August, complete with mask requirements, signs encouraging social distancing and strict health and hygiene standards behind the counter. The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce
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helped the new business celebrate its grand opening. “It is always an exciting day to have a ribbon cutting for a new business,” said Chamber executive director Cassie Medley. She noted a record week for the Chamber, “welcoming three businesses to the same block of downtown Russellville – Russellville Florist & Gifts, Rollies and Hair Studio 722. With each new business addition, downtown is beginning to steadily transform. “The opening of Rollies brings excitement of a storefront along with serving unique products,” Medley added. “Their opening was perfectly timed with the summer heat, school starting and Alabama Restaurant Week Aug. 14-23. I foresee a very busy future for Rollies with afterschool business paired with local restaurants, shopping and visiting the salon. Rollies definitely offers a treat of eating ‘rolled ice cream’ but also of watching your creation being made.” When it gets down to brass tacks, Juan handles the ma-
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jority of the financial side of the business, with his degree in accounting. He also handles the company’s graphic design and even rolls up his sleeves to roll up some ice cream. Ray’s focuses include more of the “people side” of the business – from advertising and customer service to dealing with vendors. Although they each have their areas of focus, “we both do everything,” Ray said. “The things I lack, he is overwhelmingly good at … We complement each other pretty well. It took a little while to get into the flow of things, but it’s very easy now to work together.” There’s a policy Ray and Juan hold to, and to which they also expect their employees to adhere: work is work, and home is home. They are intentional about keeping their personal relationship separate from their business partnership. Although recognizing that boundary was a challenge in the beginning, the two said it has become a crucial part of their business management strategy. “There’s a little bit of a learning curve to it, but now I think
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we’re pretty good,” Ray said. Juan agreed, adding, “We’re learning more as we go along.” According to different online sources, the average age of business owners and entrepreneurs in America is between 42-50. That makes Juan and Ray, at 24 and 25, part of the smaller percentage of successful millennial business owners. “So many people work so hard at their 9-to-5, and they save and save and save, and then when they’re in the 30s, 40s, 50s, they open their dream job,” Ray said. Their philosophy, on the other hand, was – why wait? “We get to do what we want to do every day. It’s definitely a blessing.” Ray and Juan pride themselves on their fresh-never-frozen ingredients, and they said they try to accommodate allergies as much as possible, including gluten- and dairy-free as well
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as vegan offerings. In addition to rolled ice cream – with favorite preset flavors like Strawberry Shawty and Caramel Pecan, as well as a “build your own” option with a wide array of mix-in and topping options – Rollies also offers authentic Taiwanese-style boba tea and other tea drinks. “I am East Asian by heritage, so that’s close to my heart,” said Ray, whose mother is Korean. “Living in Atlanta, I’ve had a lot of boba, and I do feel like we sell a good product. I’m very proud of our product.” Russellville Rollies is open from noon to 8 p.m. daily except Tuesday. Ray and Juan said they appreciate everyone’s patience as they have gotten established amid the “new normal” of the continuing pandemic, and they are very excited to bring something new to the Russellville community.
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MONEY MATTERS
Starting over financially and finding a job in pandemic times
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any people’s finances look a lot different today than they did at the beginning of March. Whether you lost your job temporarily or permanently or had to take a cut in pay, you feel that impact immediately. Looking for a new job during pandemic times is just one more facet of 2020 that feels like a mountain to overcome. Staying motivated while facing this challenge can be frustrating. COVID cases continue to rise; filing for unemployment is a complicated process; and scarcity of jobs in some areas is enough to make anyone anxious for their financial future. Here are some things to keep in mind while job hunting in an extremely tough time. First, you’re not alone. Even if no one in your immediate circle has been laid off or had reduced wages, it’s important to know that this is one of the times where everyone is experiencing the pandemic in some way. If it’s not financially, it might be work or family-related. Each challenge comes with its own set of stressors. Try to remember, in times of “freaking out,” there are millions of others in the same situation. Next, keep in mind, hiring takes time. When you’re applying for tons of jobs, it seems at least one of them would be ready to hire on the spot – but that process can take weeks or longer, depending on the company you’re applying to. You might have
to make budget concessions in the meantime until the right job comes along. Financial experts call it the “ramen noodle budget.” In other words, only spend money on the absolute necessities, like eating ramen for dinner instead of takeout or a grocery haul. These are not always pleasant times, but remember, it is only temporary. Don’t forget to think outside the box on where you apply. Thanks to the digital age we live in, there are many remote working or workfrom-home options out there. Also, consider if a commute or a move would fit into your life. You might end up on a whole new career path simply because you were forced to make a change; this can be a bright side to an unexpected hardship. Take advantage of what’s available to you. We’ve all gotten used to applying online for jobs now; I can remember when we pounded the pavement submitting applications. Use today’s technological capabilities and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Go ahead and beef up your LinkedIn profile. Search skill sets and see what a good fit might be. Google how to make your resume stand out. Search applicable hashtags on Instagram and see what you find. Make a Facebook post letting friends and family know you’re looking. Sometimes it’s as simple as who you know, and they need to know you’re looking.
Emily Mays is vice president/senior marketing director at Community Spirit Bank in Red Bay, working in finance for 14 years. She is an enthusiastic social media marketer, financial literacy advocate and go local supporter. She lives in East Franklin and has one daughter, Lola.
Working hard for you
Willodean Davis (256) 762-5671
Selling North Alabama
Kathy Senkbeil
Bonnie Gray
(256) 483-1158
(256) 460-8064
Marty Vandiver
Greg Masterson
(256) 810-9292
(256) 810-8563
Assoc./Broker
Agent Assoc.
Jorge Rendon Office Manager
Agent Assoc.
Assoc./Broker
Diane Workman Office Manager
115 N. Jackson Ave. Russellville, AL
(256) 332-9920 Cell: (256) 762-5671 Franklin Living
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Why I Love Franklin County
Leah Mansell
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eah Mansell is married to high school sweetheart Drew Mansell, an equipment operator at Constellium, and they have two daughters: 6-year-old Livi and 2-year-old Lila. Mansell serves as Franklin County administrator, and she is a 2006 Russellville High School graduate, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UNA. 1. How long have you lived in Franklin County? I have lived in Franklin County my entire life. 2. What does your role as county administrator entail? I work with the county department heads on their budgets, oversee the County Commission office and work with the chairman and commissioners
“My family is here, and there is no other place I would rather be.”
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on grants and other county issues. 3. How did you choose your job, and what do you enjoy about it? My mother worked in the Commission Office for 10 years doing payroll, so when I had an interest in accounting and there happened to a job available, it seemed like a natural fit. I love working with numbers and am very organized. 4. What are your favorite Franklin County restaurants, and what do you like about each of them? There are so many, but Daily Bread’s cheeseburger and nachos from Rancho Viejo would be my favorites. 5. Why do you love Franklin County? Because it is home! My family is here, and there is no other place I would rather be.
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1. Favorite hobby: Reading and spending time with my family 2. Favorite food: Chocolate 3. Goal or ambition: To be able to travel more around the country and hopefully overseas, especially to visit Yellowstone National Park 4. Church: Currently looking for a new church home 5. Something people might not know about me is: I love to organize
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