The Electric Cooperatives of Alabama
Alabama Living
DECEMBER 2010
Christmas on the River Page 9
Contents
The Electric Cooperatives of Alabama
Alabama Living DECEMBER 2010 Vol. 63 No. 12
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Co-op News. . . . . . . . . 4 Local information you can use
Around Alabama. . . . . . 9 Christmas on the River
Coastal Conservation. . . . 20 CCA protects Gulf Coast
Fish & Game Forecast. . . 21 Destinations. . . . . . . . . 22 Linden’s ChiLLy Fest
Alabama Gardens. . . . . . 24 Color with hardy annuals
Safe @ Home. . . . . . . 25 Emphasis on Efficiency . . . . . . 10 Consumer-owned electric cooperatives lead the way in promoting the “fifth fuel” of efficiency
Decorate safely
Cook of the Month. . . . . 26 Christmas Monkey Bread
Only Alabama. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
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Montgomery’s two state-run gift shops provide several opportunities to buy the perfect Alabama gift
Alabama’s Grand Canyon . . . . . . 16 Little River Canyon is so expansive it once halted the progress of an entire Union Army
On the cover Vist the 39th annual Christmas on the River in Demopolis, Dec. 2-5.
Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Cinnamon
Alabama Snapshots. . . . . 38 “The Holidays”
Next month Learn what Auburn University’s new dean of agriculture sees in the state’s future.
A l a b a m a R u ra l E l e c t r i c A s s o c i a t i o n Fred Braswell, AREA President • Darryl Gates, Editor • Mark Stephenson, Creative Director • Michael Cornelison, Art Director Jay Clayton, Director, Marketing & Advertising • Mary Tyler Spivey, Recipe Editor • Ronnie Fitzgerald, Production Assistant Alabama Living is delivered to some 397,000 Alabama families and businesses, which are members of 22 not-for-profit, consumer-owned, locally directed and taxpaying electric cooperatives. AREA cooperative member subscriptions are $3 a year; non-member subscriptions, $6. Alabama Living (USPS 029-920) is published monthly by the Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Alabama, and at additional mailing office. POSTMASTER send forms 3579 to: Alabama Living, P.O. Box 244014 Montgomery, Alabama 36124-4014. ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL OFFICES:
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Alabama Living | DECEMBER 2010 |
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Decorate Safely this Holiday Season Better safe than sorry, especially during the holidays. • Secure outside Christmas lights with insulated holders (never use tacks or nails) or run strings of lights through plastic hooks. • Choose Christmas lights that have been tested and deemed safe by a reputable testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories. Christmas lights listed as safe by these groups will note that on the packaging. • Try to use the cooler-burning "mini" Christmas lights as opposed to the traditional larger bulbs. The older style burns much hotter. • Only use Christmas lights that have fuses in the plugs. • Inspect each set of Christmas lights - old or new - for damage. Return or throw out any set with cracked or broken sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.
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ne of the sure signs that Christmas is approaching is the appearance of holiday decorations in homes and businesses. While these are meant to bring us joy, when we don’t take the proper care, they can bring tragedy. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission says 12,500 people every year seek emergency room treatment because of holiday lights and electrified ornaments that either severely shock or burn them. Some are fatal. Holiday lights should not be used near any type of utility installation. Don't place yourself or any other object such as a ladder in a position where you or it may come in contact with a power line, because the result may be fatal. Look up before raising ladders or other objects. Keep at least 10 feet away from overhead lines. Use this handy home safety checklist for holiday lights:
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• Replace burned out bulbs promptly with bulbs of the same wattage. • Never hang Christmas lights on a metal tree. The tree can become charged with electricity and shock someone. The tree can also short out the Christmas lights and cause a fire. • Use outdoor Christmas lights for exterior decorations. The packaging will note whether the lights can be used indoors, outdoors, or both. • Use extension cords properly. Outdoor cords can be used inside or outside. Do not overload extension cords - they can get hot enough to burn. • Outdoor electric lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold. GFCIs can be installed permanently to household circuits by a qualified electrician.
Keep computers in good shape If your holiday wish list includes computer equipment, plan now to keep it clean and tuned-up for a longer life. A few tips: Set your new computer up in a room that has no carpet. Static from the carpet, some say, can damage the computer’s circuits. If your home office already has a big rug, use an antistatic spray or mat to reduce static buildup on the carpet. • Keep computer surfaces clean. Use a lint-free cloth and an antistatic cleaning fluid. Spray the fluid onto the cloth rather than directly on the keyboard or other surface. Turn the computer off before you clean it. • Avoid cramming the computer amid lots of other equipment, and don’t stack books or paper on or around it. Computer equipment needs air to circulate around it so it won’t overheat. • Don’t smoke near your computer equipment. • Insert three-prong plugs into three-prong outlets. Those outlets are grounded. If your older house has two-prong outlets, call an electrician to upgrade them. • Be sure to use three-prong electrical outlets for your computer. The three-prong plug grounds the equipment.
Going ‘green’ doesn’t have to mean sacrificing comfort You can be both comfortable and environmentally responsible. Here are five ways to cut your energy consumption without sacrificing comfort: • Buy a programmable thermostat. If you turn your heat or air conditioning off and on when you leave the house or start feeling too warm or cold, you can wind up spending more for electricity than if you let a thermostat ease the temperature up and down a bit at regular intervals. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that you can save 1 percent on your utility bill for every degree you raise or lower your thermostat for eight hours. • Don’t “binge” on electricity. Even on a freezing cold day, resist the urge to crank the heat way up. Try to keep your thermostat at a steady temperature while you’re home so you don’t wind up with a big surprise on your energy bill.
• Wait until after dark to run the dishwasher and wash clothes. Electricity is in greater demand during hours of the day when everybody is getting ready for work or cooking dinner, so the later you can wait to use energy-guzzling appliances, the better. In some cases, your electricity rate could be cheaper if you use the power late at night. • Ask your electric cooperative if it offers a “timeof-use” rate that rewards homeowners who use electricity during off-peak hours. Take advantage of utility and government rebates on energy-efficient appliances. • Keep up-to-date with the latest energy-saving technology. Appliances, windows and other energyefficient products might cost a little more to buy than inefficient models, but they save you enough on your energy bills to pay for themselves in the long run.
Alabama Living | DECEMBER 2010 |
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How to have good mornings
At some point you may have been asked, “What side of the bed did you wake up on this morning?” Of course, the intent in the sarcasm is to highlight an irritable or ornery mood; most folks have them from time to time. Sometimes the morning includes dealing with difficult people or the stress of a long commute. No matter what the circumstances, there is value in starting your day on the right foot. A good morning can positively affect your productivity and interactions with others throughout the day. Consider adjusting your nighttime and morning routines to increase your sense of peacefulness and optimism. Here are some tips to keep your mornings good! 6
| DECEMBER 2010 | Alabama Living
• Prepare in advance. The foundation of a good morning starts the night before. Establish a nighttime routine that includes preparation for the morning, such as choosing what clothes to wear, what to eat for breakfast, and what route to take to work. • Get adequate sleep. Stop working at any task an hour before bedtime to calm mental activity. According to the National Sleep Foundation, one in three Americans has daytime sleepiness that interferes with daily activities on a regular basis.
• Wake up early. Although it is not an easy habit to get into, getting up early to enjoy some time to your self can be rewarding. You might spend this time reading something inspirational or listening to music that promotes relaxation and creativity. • Establish rituals that might include making your bed. A simple thing to do, it helps some people bring order to the start of the day. • Get some exercise. It is beneficial to exercise in the morning. Whether it’s yoga, hitting the gym or a short series of stretches, morning exercise is a rewarding habit. • Eat a regular, healthy breakfast. Too many people skip or skimp on breakfast and suffer the consequences. According to the Mayo Clinic, a healthy breakfast that includes whole grains, low-fat protein, low-fat dairy and fruits and vegetables, promotes better concentration and productivity throughout the day. • Connect with your loved ones before you leave the house. Kiss all the people you love in your house, as well as the dog and cat, before you leave. Connecting with your family can help to soothe stress and refocus on what’s most important to you. • Ease the aggravation of your commute. The principals of time management and stress management are the keys. Allow enough time to comfortably get from Point A to Point B. Find ways to accept and productively cope with the stress. This might include listening to a book on tape, breathing deeply or mentally organizing your day.
• Commit to a positive attitude. Attitude influences your satisfaction. As you encounter others at work, your positive attitude will help to strengthen your interactions. • Make a To-Do list for the day. Organize your tasks based on what must be done, what might be able to wait, and what you can either do or not do without consequence. This step helps you transition from your peaceful morning to your work day in an organized fashion. Sources: The National Sleep Foundation, the Mayo Clinic, LifeWork Strategies, Inc., and Washington and Shady Grove Adventist Hospitals. This health tip is for educational purposes only. For additional information, consult your physician. Please feel free to copy and distribute this health resource.
Alabama Living | DECEMBER 2010 |
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Get your chimney ready for cold weather—and Santa You empty the ashes and sweep your fireplace after every use to keep it safe and looking nice. But is it ready for Santa? Your fireplace isn’t really clean until you remove what you can’t see: the creosote, soot, ashes, dust, leaves and even birds that are stuck in the flue and chimney. Unless you want Santa to scrape off the flaky mess with his big belly on his way down the chimney on Christmas Eve, you’d better get the job done before he arrives. If you do, you’ll have a clean, safe chimney and fireplace to sit around with company during the holidays.
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| DECEMBER 2010 | Alabama Living
Unless you’re already finished with your shopping, baking, wrapping, mailing and card-writing, you might want to hire a professional chimney sweep to do this time-consuming and messy job. That will cost you $100 or so. Why bother? When smoke from your fireplace goes up the chimney, some of it condenses into soot and tar in the flue, which is the chimney’s inner surface. That creosote builds up over time, and it’s highly flammable. Keeping your chimney clean will help Santa slide down it worry free. And it will help your family enjoy celebrating the holidays around a dancing fire—also worry free.
Around Alabama Demopolis
39th annual Christmas on the River
Arab – Nov. 26-Dec. 31 Christmas in the Park Music and entertainment each weekend. Lights will be on each evening through Dec. 31 Admission: Free Contact: Becky Hawkins at 256-586-8128 or bhawkins@arabcity.org Montgomery – December 1-5 5th Annual Interfaith Nativity Exhibit Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 3460 Carter Hill Road Admission: Free Contact: Merrilyn Lloydwww.nativityexhibit@gmail.com Cullman – December 3&4 Christmas Arts and Crafts Show Sponsered by Cullman City Parks and Recreation Cullman Civic Center Fri. 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat. 9 p.m.-5 p.m. Admission: Free Luverne – December 4 5th Annual Biker Appreciation Day 9 a.m. -TBA Admission: Free, donations accepted Contact: 334-799-2552 or 334-429-1296 Mobile – December 4&5 Richards DAR House Musuem Annual Christmas Celebration, “Winter Wonderland.” 256 North Joachim St. Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
December 2-5
The 39th annual Christmas on the River in Demopolis will be held Dec. 2-5, and will feature all new nautical floats (with the exception of the lead Elf float), hand designed by Kirk Brooker and Ben Sherrod. Included in the celebration will be replicas of the Nina and Pinta, two of the ships Columbus used on his journey that resulted in the discovery of the Americas. The ships will be available for visitors to tour, and will be part of the night river parade. Country star Ashton Shepherd will be this year’s grand marshal of the parade. Since its debut in 1972, Christmas
on the River has grown into one of the Southeast’s leading attractions. As in years past, visitors will hear reading of the Christmas Story, enjoy candlelight tours of antebellum homes, see the crowning of St. Nick, and the famous championship barbecue cookoff. Last year’s attraction brought approximately 40,000 into Demopolis. For more information visit www. demopolischamber.com/COTR, or contact the Demopolis Chamber of Commerce at (334) 289-0270.d
Donation: $5 Contact: the Museum at 251-208-7320
Sponsered by Revive Frisco & City Council 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Admission: Free Contact: Dell Walston at 251-267-3383 or dellwals@frontiernet.net
Daphne – December 6 The Baldwin Pops Band – Holiday Concert No.2 Daphne Civic Center Admission: Free Contact: Linde Lynn at 251-987-5757 or www. baldwinpopsband.com
Talladega – December 19 Christmas Program, “I’ll be Home for Christmas.” 400 East Street South 6 p.m. Admission: Free Contact: 256-362-3891
Foley – December 7 The Baldwin Pops Band – Holiday Concert No.3 Foley Civic Center Admission: Free Contact: Linde Lynn at 251-987-5757 or www. baldwinpopsband.com
Talladega – December 22&23 Live Nativity 400 East Street South 6 p.m. Contact: 256-362-3891
Somerville – December 10-12 Outdoor Live Nativity Pageant Blue Springs Baptist Church, 385 Blue Springs Road Admission: Free Contact: 256-778-8900 or 256-682-8461 or pat_rose2@netzero.com
Rainsville – January 6 Gospel Singing Featuring Comedy by Tim Lovelace and Music by The Trammels, New Ground and The Taylors Northeast Alabama Agri-Business Center 1571 McCurdy Ave. N Admission: $10 Contact: Chris at 256-528-4939
Decatur – December 12 & 13 Annual Christmas Tour of Homes Albany and Old Decatur Historic Districts 3 p.m.-8 p.m. Admission: Charged Contact: 256-350-2028 or www.decaturchristmastour.com
Greenville – January 14&15 Fort Dale Academy Deer Hunt Admission: $700 Contact: Drew Gaston at 334-782-3225 or www.fortdaledeerhunt.com
Frisco City – December 17 & 18 Live Nativity Drive Through Frisco City High School practice ball field
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Alabama Living | DECEMBER 2010 |
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Emphasis on Efficiency Consumer-owned co-ops lead the way in promoting the ‘fifth fuel’ By Magen Howard
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| DECEMBER 2010 | www.alabamaliving.coop
ou’re probably familiar with the concept of energy efficiency – doing more with less electricity. Some even call efficiency the “fifth fuel” – behind coal, nuclear, natural gas, and renewables – to show its importance in the mix of technologies that produce power for our nation. Energy efficiency benefits both electric co-ops and their consumers. When members use less energy, they not only help keep their individual electric bills affordable but reduce the overall demand for power. That, in turn, delays the need for co-ops to build new generating plants and saves everyone money. Due to to various efficiency measures, per capita energy consumption by electric co-op members has grown less than 1 percent per year since 1978 despite an explosion in computers and other home electronics. Before that date, average residential electricity use by co-op consumers increased by about 7 percent each year, according to information from the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC), a supplemental lender to electric co-ops. A key piece in this trend has been the introduction of national energy efficiency standards for appliances. In the early 1970s, for example, the amount of energy a refrigerator used depended on its design and the amount of built-in insulation. Due to ever-higher energy efficiency standards since then, the typical fridge today consumes 75 percent less electricity than in 1975 – even though the size of the average unit has grown from 18 cubic feet to 22 cubic feet, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). “Appliances consume a huge amount of electricity, so they provide enormous potential to both save energy and take pressure of consumers’ pocketbooks every month,” explains DOE Secretary Steven Chu. The Energy Star program has also played a role in raising the bar for energy-efficient appliances and electronics. Launched in 1992 by DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Energy Star-rated products in more than 60 categories deliver the same or better performance as comparable models while using less energy and saving money.
Helping you save Electric co-ops have long been in the business of energy efficiency – it’s a natural extension of their business model. “Unlike investor-owned utilities, not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric co-ops aren’t structurally motivated to sell more kilowatthours,” observes John Holt, senior manager of generation & fuels for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). “To deliver a safe and reliable supply of electricity at an affordable price, co-ops strive to maximize use of existing resources and infrastructure. “Efficiency can help co-ops temporarily head off the need for constructing new generation. The biggest payoff comes from consumers switching to more energyefficient geothermal heat pumps, lighting and appliances.” According to NRECA surveys, 93 percent of co-ops conduct energy efficiency educational efforts such as holding public meetings and seminars; publishing reams of information in statewide consumer publications, local newsletters, bill stuffers and websites; broadcasting radio and TV advertisements; and even launching a sweeping promotional campaign, “TogetherWeSave.com.” Almost 80 percent of co-ops offer residential energy audits and 66 percent offer commercial and industrial audits as well. Depending on a home’s age and upkeep, savings from acting on an audit’s recommendations can be significant. Brian Sloboda, senior program adviser for NRECA’s Cooperative Research Network, predicts that most co-op members will see bills at least 5 percent to 10 percent lower – “amounts that far outpace anything spent.” To encourage consumers to implement efficiency steps, more than 40 percent of co-ops offer efficiency and weatherization services, including selling and installing high-efficiency lighting
Looking to the future.
systems, electric water heaters, geothermal and air-source heat pumps, insulation and Energy Star appliances, while roughly 50 percent include interactive energy use calculators on their websites. Most co-ops are taking advantage of recent technology advancements, too: upgrading power lines, replacing older transformers, using advanced equipment to control voltage fluctuations and deploying advanced metering devices. Others are encouraging consumers to change out traditional incandescent lightbulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). “Co-ops are doing everything they can to keep consumers’ electric bills as low as possible, and energy efficiency is a big help,” Holt says. “You continue to use
According to DOE, if every American household replaced one incandescent bulb with a CFL, our nation would save enough electricity to light 3 million homes and save more than $600 million a year. And that’s just lightbulbs. The Palo Alto, Calif.-based Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), an independent, non-profit research and development group that counts electric co-ops as members, sees massive potential for savings if energy efficiency initiatives are enacted nationwide. “The achievable potential at the low end – what we call realistic – is 236 billion kilowatthours saved by 2030, roughly five times the (yearly) electricity consumption of the New York City metro area,” says Omar Siddiqui, EPRI program manager for energy efficiency. “At the high end is a reduction of 382 billion kilowatt-hours by 2030.” Efficiency’s greatest impact will likely come from advances in commercial lighting, commercial office equipment – particularly information technology components like servers and data centers – and home electronics. “Large screen televisions, game consoles, laptops to cell phones, where there isn’t a strong efficiency standard now in place, opens up opportunities for efficient versions that result significant savings,” Siddiqui points out. To uncover your own opportunities to save energy and money, call your local electric cooperative or visit its website. “Energy efficiency remains key to how electric co-ops will keep electricity affordable in the face of rising prices,” says NRECA CEO Glenn English. “Co-ops are putting their expertise to work in fashioning innovative programs that will help members get the most out of every kilowatt.”d
Recycle older refrigerators, which can use 75 percent more electricity than new ones the same products at your home, but at a lower cost. The lights are on, the air conditioner is running, but they’re more efficient, so you use less electricity.” And co-op members are answering the call. A recent NRECA study showed a majority taking low-cost or no-cost energy-saving steps like turning off lights when they leave a room, turning their thermostat up in summer and down in winter, replacing incandescent bulbs with CFLs or lightemitting diodes, adding weather stripping around doors and windows, and only running the dishwasher or washing machine with a full load.
Alabama Living | DECEMBER 2010 |
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Only Alabama Looking for a gift that says Alabama? Visit Montgomery’s two state-run gift shops By David Haynes
So you’re looking for a gift that says Alabama, but the big-box discount and department stores seem to offer only caps or sports apparel with popular college football logos. Tucked way in Alabama’s capital city are two gift shops where each item available for sale features an Alabama connection. 12
| DECEMBER 2010 | www.alabamaliving.coop
Alabama Living | DECEMBER 2010 |
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ocated within the Alabama State Capitol, the Goathill Museum Store is bursting with items from or about the Heart of Dixie. Operated by the Alabama Historical Commission, the Museum Store’s stated mission is to promote the work of Alabama writers, artists and artisans who create works featuring their home state. Judy Jehle, a sales associate at the Goathill Museum store, tells me the shop is one of Montgomery’s best kept secrets, but not because it wants to be. The store is located on the back side of the Capitol, off Union Street. She says people are often surprised when they discover the gift shop, telling her they had no idea it was there. In fact, she recommends customers use the Union Street entrance, where after entering the building, they can find the store just to their right. Ms. Jehle also points out that while parking can be a problem
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during the week in and around the Capitol, there’s plenty of free parking near the Union Street entrance on Saturdays, when the store is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Weekday hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the store is closed Sundays. A few blocks away from the Capitol is a small, peach-colored cottage on Finley Avenue bordered by a white picket fence, directly across the street from the Alabama Governor’s Mansion, which is on South Perry Street. The 1920s cottage with its front porch swing and unassuming atmosphere makes for an ideal venue for the Governor’s Mansion Gift Shop, where the hospitality and charm of the Old South are alive and well. Patrons at the Gift Shop can browse the Alabama-themed Tshirts, ball caps and decorative refrigerator magnets as well as a treasure trove of distinctive art, culinary articles, decorative items and
other unique Alabama souvenirs. Complimentary coffee or hot tea help to make visitors feel at home while they shop. The Governor’s Mansion Gift Shop is also an excellent place to find information on various sights and attractions around Montgomery. The friendly and knowledgeable staff is happy to assist visitors in finding historical sites, points of interest and special events in the area. The final stop during school children’s tours of the Governor’s Mansion is the shaded patio of the gift shop where youngsters enjoy old-fashioned lemonade and cookies. Located at 30 Finley Ave., the gift shop is operated by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel. For additional information and hours call the shop at 334-241-8824. For additional information about the Goathill Museum Store in the Alabama State Capitol, call the store at 334-353-4969.d
Miniature figurines make perfect Alabama gifts By David Haynes
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hat do Confederate States of America President Jefferson Davis, Tuscumbia’s Helen Keller and the Tuskegee Airmen have in common? Each is featured in a new series of miniature figurines reflecting Alabama’s people and history. In fact, one of these uniquely Alabama figurines might just be the perfect holiday gift that hard-tobuy-for friend or relative. Commissioned by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel, the figurines are available exclusively
figurines. Sentell says the company did a masterful job with the project. He carried one of the bronze miniatures of Helen Keller to Washington when the life-size sculpture of Keller at the water pump outside her Tuscumbia home was unveiled at the U.S. Capitol. Sentell says when he showed the miniature to the sculptor, he was amazed at the detail and quality of the work. Six of the figurines are actually miniature versions of real, life-sized or larger sculptures. These include diverse figures in the state’s history
at the Goathill Museum Store in the Alabama State Capitol and at the Governor’s Mansion Gift Shop, located across the street from the Governor’s Mansion on Finley Avenue in Montgomery. Alabama Tourism Director Lee Sentell said the idea for the figurines originated about three years ago. “When I travel I always buy miniatures of historic buildings and wanted Alabama to have high-quality collectables like this available,” Sentell says. The Tourism Bureau commissioned Designmasters, a specialty company in Virginia, to create the
ranging from the statue of Jefferson Davis that stands outside the Alabama Capitol, to the Tuskegee Airman, a miniature version of a life-size bronze statue on permanent display outside the U.S. Air Force Academy Chapel in Colorado Springs, Colo. Other prominent Alabamians featured in the figurines are countrywestern artist Hank Williams with his guitar; the towering iron statue of Vulcan that’s a landmark atop Red Mountain in Birmingham; and a miniature of Civil Rights pioneer Rosa Parks. Sentell says the collectible figurines have sold well, adding that
the ones depicting Helen Keller and Hank Williams have been the biggest sellers. The series also includes miniature likenesses of significant buildings in the state’s history, like the Alabama Capitol – available in three sizes – and the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church. Also available are a Christmas ornament featuring a miniature replica of the Governor’s Mansion, another that’s a likeness of the Alabama state bird, the yellowhammer, and a bracelet charm with a tiny version of the state Capitol. Sentell says other collectible figurines may be added in the future.d
Alabama Living | DECEMBER 2010 |
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Alabama’s Grand Canyon
Little River Canyon is so expansive, it once halted a Union army 16
| MONTH DECEMBER 2010 2010 | Alabama | www.alabamaliving.coop Living
By Doug Phillips
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labama’s many natural wonders are not always part of the image that outsiders have of Alabama. People from other regions sometimes still suffer from mythical misconceptions of our state. You know, like the tired old stricture that Alabama is just a vast flatland of cotton plantations, dirt roads, bare feet, straw hats, magnolias and mint juleps. Well, let it be confirmed that the troublesome era of cotton plantations is long past in Alabama. And let it be affirmed that most Alabamians have absolutely no problem with dirt roads, bare feet, straw hats and magnolias. We’re even OK with mint juleps if that’s your taste. But, for those who might think Alabama is just a vast flatland, well, such folks are in for quite a shock, as was the case for an historical group of travelers who encountered a particular feature of the Alabama landscape back when cotton plantations yet prevailed. The year was 1864 and the civil war was in full tilt. Union Gen. William Sherman was preparing for what would become his infamous march across Georgia, burning and destroying Southern towns and property. Sherman and troops were camped near the northwestern border of Georgia as another party of Union soldiers, led by Gen. Andrew May, headed southeast across north Alabama in route to join Sherman. May’s group moved steadily onward, at times crossing difficult and unfamiliar terrain. As they continued eastward across Lookout Mountain, drawing within a day’s distance of Georgia, their journey came to an abrupt halt. To their stunned surprise, May and his men found their route blocked by an awesome canyon, a gorge so long and so deep that attempts to locate a path across it failed. Whereupon, as story has it, May’s troops were caught from behind by Confederate troops closing in pursuit. May survived the confrontation and in later reports proudly referred to the huge gorge as “May’s Gulf.” Today this remarkable feature is known officially as Little River Canyon, and is often called “The Grand Canyon of the South.” As its grand reputation suggests, Little River Canyon is no “little” gorge. It is 18 miles long, threefourths mile wide at widest point, and 700 feet deep at its highest point. By several measures, Little River Canyon is, in fact, the largest and grandest canyon east of the Mississippi River. But simply describing the canyon’s dimensions does little to convey the sensation felt by visitors to this marvel of nature. And nature is the operative word here. The canyon lies high along the plateau elevations of Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama, where it is snuggled amidst plentiful nature – unfettered forests, meadows, fields and farmland for many miles around. First timers to the canyon feel the same surprise
experienced by May, as the mountain plateau of wild woodlands suddenly gives way to an impassable gorge plunging hundreds of feet deep and extending endlessly in either direction. Some would say the most impressive appeal of Little River Canyon is the mesmerizing waters of its namesake, Little River – snaking along in the canyon depths and typically flowing pristine and emerald green as it makes its way over myriad waterfalls, shoals and rapids, and through numerous deep, quiet pools. These waters begin their journey as small trickles near the Georgia-Alabama line, far north of Little River Canyon. On their way southward through Alabama, Little River’s two primary headwater streams, its West Fork and East Fork, collect some of the nation’s purest waters from surrounding mountain springs and tributaries. The West Fork runs near the town of Mentone, below which it soon reaches DeSoto State Park and drops more than 100 feet at dramatic DeSoto Falls. The East Fork cuts through varied farmlands to join the West Fork just above another dramatic drop, the wide and rugged precipice of Little River Falls. Here Little River takes a roaring leap of roughly 60 feet down into the great Canyon itself. Little River offers not only rare natural beauty; it is also a renowned attraction for expert kayakers and canoeists seeking the rare challenge of class IV and V rapids (warning: this is a risky and sometimes lethal adventure, not to be attempted by anyone without whitewater expertise). There is also accessible opportunity for fishing and camping at the canyon’s “Mouth Park,” where Little River meets the broad countryside of the Coosa Valley and draws nearer its terminus at Weiss Lake. And for those content to see the Canyon via automobile, the beautiful two-lane drive along the length of the Canyon’s western rim offers breathtaking overlooks in several places. Today about 14,000 acres of the Canyon area are protected as Little River Canyon National Preserve, managed by the National Park Service. And the National Park Service is partnering with Jacksonville State University in providing opportunities for nature study and outdoor interpretation at the canyon and at the Little River Canyon Center, a newly-constructed 23,000 square foot building located near Little River Falls on Alabama 35 (see accompanying story). The center has classrooms, auditorium, library, outdoor trails and other educational facilities suitable for school groups, environmental groups, and anyone interested in learning about Alabama’s abundant natural diversity. Just think: “The Grand Canyon of the South,” found right here in Alabama – and but one of the many remarkable natural wonders of our special state.d
Doug Phillips is host of the Emmy-honored television series Discovering Alabama, a production of the Alabama Museum of Natural History/The University of Alabama in cooperation with the UA Center for Public Television and Alabama Public Television. Visit the series at www.discoveringalabama.org
Alabama Living | DECEMBER 2010 |
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Little River Canyon Center
By David Haynes
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ittle River Canyon has long been one of Alaacross the state of Alabama were in one of the conbama’s most beautiful and unique destinations ference rooms attending an Appalachian Regional for a variety of outdoor activities ranging from Commission session on sustained economic growth; kayaking in world class white water to simply drivJacksonville State University’s Field School was holding along the rim of one of the deepest gorges in the ing a class for kids learning how Native Americans eastern United States and taking in the breathtaking made pottery; Park Service rangers were assisting views. tourists with questions about the Little River Canyon More than 20 miles long and as much as 900 feet Preserve and a film crew was about to arrive to shoot deep, the canyon was formed by the waters of Little a video about the facility and Little River Canyon. And River cutting through sandstone this was just a Tuesday morning! as it descended Lookout MounThe Little River Canyon Center tain over the eons. It is also one was the brainchild of EPIC Diof very few rivers anywhere that rector Pete Conroy, who took a runs most of its length within a few minutes from his hectic day mountain. to review the history of how the In 1992 much of the canyon was Center came to be a reality. protected for future generations Surprisingly, Conroy told me to enjoy as the Little River Canyon grants from NASA paid for much National Preserve, administered of the construction of the multiand maintained by the National million-dollar facility because Park Service. the Center will be used, in part, Last year the opening of the to educate visitors about climate Little River Canyon Center marked change and global warming. another milestone for enhancing This fits right in with EPIC’s the experience of a visit to this mission statement: “To work unique area. The center was built closely with organizations, govand is operated by the Environernment, business and the pubmental Policy and Information lic to guide and provide sound Center (EPIC) of Jacksonville State programs, policies and practices University. that encourage the protection of EPIC Director Pete Conroy Located on Alabama Highway natural resources.” 35 just a quarter mile from the As he showed me around the northern terminus of the Little River Canyon Parkway, building Conroy emphasized that a minimum numthe Center offers visitors information on every aspect ber of trees were removed and that the building is a of the canyon experience as well as a wide variety of “green” facility, meaning that systems and technoloenvironmentally oriented classes and activities. gies are used to maximize efficient use of energy. He And since the National Park Service moved its office said it’s important for people to see what these techfor the Preserve from Ft. Payne to the Center this sum- nologies do and that they work and the center can be mer the facility has become a hub for information and a model for green construction techniques. a beehive of activity. One example is the heating and cooling system, On a recent weekday when I visited, mayors from Continued on Page 37
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Alabama Living | DECEMBER 2010 |
19
CCA
The Coastal Conservation Association is working to preserve our delicate shoreline
T
he sun had just risen enough to safely navigate the boat’s position and allow an accurate cast into the area where speckled trout and redfish congregate and feed in the mornings. The second cast of a topwater plug hit the mark and a four-pound female speck rose and exploded in the cool, misty air above the surface. After an exciting tug of war, I netted the fish, admired the catch and returned it to the water for some other lucky angler to enjoy in days to come. We sometimes take a lot for granted here in Alabama, but there are several great organizations working to ensure that you and your grandchildren continue to have mornings like these in years to come. These
Alan White is publisher of Great Days Outdoors magazine. To learn more, www.greatdaysoutdoors.com or call 800-597-6828.
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| DECEMBER 2010 | www.alabamaliving.coop
groups are made up of outdoor sportsmen doing the work that must be done to protect our outdoor resources and provide habitat for fish and wildlife. One of the most active groups
concentrates its efforts on coastal conservation issues and is called CCA (Coastal Conservation Association of Alabama). I’ve admired its work for many years. If you’re not familiar with what it does, let me tell you a few things that will interest you. CCA Alabama is one of 17 coastal
state chapters of one of the world’s most prominent marine conservation group. CCA is a grassroots membership organization, and its formula of membership, education, advocacy and fundraising has served it well since the early ’80s. Its national membership has passed 100,000, and CCA Alabama has more than 2,000 members in eight chapters across the state. Most of the funds raised in Alabama, stay in Alabama and are used entirely for marine conservation. A small amount goes to CCA’s national organization for publication of TIDE magazine and national fisheries advocacy. The mission of CCA is to conserve our marine resources for future generations to enjoy. Composed primarily of recreational anglers with a passion for conservation, CCA has been at the forefront of every marine fisheries debate since the organization’s beginning. CCA’s efforts are providing a significant, direct impact on coastal
Alabama. Listed below are a few victories they’ve won in the recent past.
] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
By pioneering the building of the nation’s largest array of artificial offshore reefs, Alabama’s coast has benefitted tremendously.
CCA obtained game-fish status for blue and white marlin, and had them classified as overfished by long-liners. Also, it obtained game-fish status for redfish, speckled trout and tarpon.
It’s legal team filed and won a critical lawsuit related to red snapper management by forcing the National Marine Fisheries Service to address shrimp trawl by catch. It’s built a 3,000-ton inshore reef in Perdido Bay. The reef is strategically located in an area that provides shelter for juvenile gag grouper as well as inshore species.
CCA convinced the state Department of Conservation to close the upper portions of Mobile Bay to shallow-water shrimping, thereby dramatically improving the health of inshore species. CCA was behind a bill in the Alabama Legislature that reduced the number of active commercial gill netters to less than 50. Plus, they helped put a 10-fish limit on flounders, with a 12-inch minimum.
The Deepwater Horizon oil well disaster has created an entirely new set of priorities for CCA Alabama. Going forward, they’ll be focusing on habitat restoration, but for now they’re attempting to do what they can to help with the cleanup operation. According to CCA officials, BP’s focus has been entirely on public beach areas. Owners of waterfront property along the coast have been left out of the effort. CCA Alabama views that as a significant gap in the cleanup operation and has created a plan to fill the void. As well as helping with the cleanup efforts, CCA will be lobbying for complete restoration of our inshore and offshore fisheries, and it needs your help. You can contact CCA and join the team at www. ccaalabama.org.
l Collect
hunter observation and deer harvest data. This is an important part of your deer management program. It allows you to assess trends in the program to determine whether it’s working or needs adjusting. If you don’t have a program, develop one this year.
l Plant
More than 100 Coast Watch volunteers were trained and a reward program was established for whistleblowers.
l Make notes of roads that need
And it’s made great progress in convincing the National Marine Fisheries Service to better manage our offshore fisheries.
a.m. p.m. Minor Major Minor Major
Wildlife Management tips for December
Duncan Oil was stopped from drilling a shallow gas well in Grand Bay. The Grand Bay estuary is a very sensitive nursery area for crabs, fish and other important marine animals.
CCA’s saltwater fishing license plate program was started in 2008. About $41.25 from each $50 tag goes to CCA and is use for marine conservation.
Tables indicate peak fish and game feeding and migration times. Major periods can bracket the peak by an hour before and an hour after. Minor peaks, half-hour before and after. Adjusted for daylight savings time.
fruit and nut trees now. Late December and early January are prime times for best results in planting trees. attention. Midwinter is usually wet and gives you a good opportunity to identify roads that need attention during the off-season. Once your property dries out, it’s difficult to remember all the places that need repair after the hunting season is over.
Dec. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
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10:31 11:01 11:46 07:16 07:46 08:16 08:46 09:01 09:31 02:46 03:01 12:46 - - 07:31 09:16 10:01 10:46 11:31 - - 07:31 07:46 08:16 08:46 02:46 03:16 01:16 04:31 08:16 09:46 10:31 11:01
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Alabama Living | DECEMBER 2010 |
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Destinations
CHILLY FEST Whether you cook chili or just like to eat it, Linden is the place to be on Dec. 11
By Jennifer S. Kornegay
Getting There Linden is located on U.S. 43 about 17 miles south of Demopolis. There is free admission to the ChiLLy Fest, and no entry fee to compete in the Chili Cook-Off or to participate as a vendor. For more information visit www.chillyfest.com or www.lindenalabama.net.
Linden
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| DECEMBER 2010 | www.alabamaliving.coop
When the weather turns chilly, there’s no better way to warm up – from the inside out – than by enjoying a big bowl of, well… chili. Recognizing how well the two “chillys” go together, and playing off the slightly different spellings of the words, the city of Linden in west central Alabama founded a free festival and is inviting everyone to its 5th annual ChiLLy Fest Dec. 11. “We started small and simple, with a nighttime parade, but it was so popular and people were so excited, we decided to add some elements and extend it to a weekendlong event,” says mayor and Linden native Mitzi Gates. One of the new features was a chili cook-off, and it quickly became the focal point and highlight of the weekend, hence the name ChiLLy Fest. The cook-off pits teams of Linden locals made up of church groups, area businesses and just friends against each other in a hot competition to determine who can whip up the best batch of chili. After the last spoonful of chili has been sampled and rated, the chili champion is announced. This year, the winner will get the brand new ChiLLy Bowl Trophy with his name engraved on it. In the years to come, the ChiLLy Bowl will be passed along to every cook or group of cooks who wins the cookoff. An award for best presentation is given, too.
Of course, it’s not just the judges who enjoy the fruits of the cookoff participants’ labors. “Each team offers their chili and all the fixings for free,” Gates says. “Everyone attending the ChiLLy Fest is welcome to it. And some teams end up cooking other things as well; last year one guy did brown-sugar cured bacon. It was delicious and got everyone all thirsty, which was nice, because the city sells drinks at the event to raise money!” Last year, approximately 3,0004,000 people attended the event and ate as much chili as their tummies would hold. In addition to the chili, other festival food favorites are on hand each year, and the event isn’t just about eating. There are carnival rides, a Christmas parade and a fireworks show. Paying homage to the mass quantities of chili consumed at the festival is the ChiLLy Fest’s “Poot-n-Scoot” 5K run. This year brings with it some new elements. The first ChiLLy Fest Pageant held on Nov.18 crowned Miss Chilly Fest, who will reign over all the activities. To coincide with the Year of Alabama Small Towns and Homecoming Events going on all over the state in 2010, Linden has invited five prominent “native sons” back home to serve as the festival’s Grand Marshalls. “You can take the boy out of Linden, but you can’t take Linden out of the boy,” Gates says.d
Alabama Living | DECEMBER 2010 |
23
Alabama Gardens
HARDY ANNUALS Pansies, violas and ornamental cabbage and kale can brighten a winter garden Garden tips for
December
3 Place poinsettias in a location with plenty of morning sun and where temperatures remain constant (between 65 to 70 degrees, or even a little cooler) to make them last longer. 3 Reduce or eliminate houseplant fertilization during short winter days. 3 Place indoor plants in humid areas of the house, such as the kitchen or bathrooms, so home heating systems do not dry them out. 3 Cover the soil around outdoor shrubs and perennials with organic mulches to protect them from freezing weather. 3 Transplant trees and shrubs. 3 Plant roses, hardy annual plant seeds and springflowering bulbs. 3 Prepare lawn equipment for winter storage.d 24
| DECEMBER 2010 | www.alabamaliving.coop
By Katie Jackson Annual winter bedding plants can be a real joy this time of year. They add color to an often drab winter landscape and also help control erosion in empty flower beds. The best annuals for the dead of winter are in the category known as “hardy� annuals, which means they tolerate cold, wet weather and significant frost events. Among the hardy annuals that are tried-and-true options for Alabama are pansies, violas, China pinks and ornamental cabbage and kale. Hardy winter annuals are best planted beginning in October and November, which gives them time to become well established before cold weather sets in, but it is not too late to plant them now. Since it is already a little late in the season, though, the most reliable option is to buy transplants rather than grow these from seed. To ensure your plants do well, purchase high-quality plants that show no signs of insect or disease infestation and do not have yellow or burned-looking foliage. Pick plants that are compact and have short, thick stems rather than rangy, long-stemmed plants. Also, look for plants that have lots of buds and healthy green foliage
rather than plants that are already in full bloom. Finally, examine the roots of the plants (or a sampling of the plants if you are buying a large flat). The roots should look healthy, show signs of small white root hairs emerging and not be too pot-bound. Try to irrigate freshly planted transplants for the first few weeks so their root systems can become well established. Almost all winter annuals will benefit from some deadheading (removing spent flowers). Learn more about choosing and planting annual bedding plants year-round by reading the Alabama Cooperative Extension System publication Annual Bedding Plants, which can be found online at www. aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0184/. See the most current results of winter annual bedding plant variety studies (from 2004-2005 trials) at www.aaes.auburn.edu/comm/pubs/ circulars/cir330/index.php.d
Katie Jackson is associate editor for the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. Contact her at csmith@acesag.auburn.edu
Safe@Home
KEEP THE SEASON JOLLY Don’t be a statistic this holiday season – follow these rules of safe decorating Their stories were just about the same. It was almost Christmas and time to decorate the evergreens outside their Indiana homes with holiday lights. Nearby were overhead utility lines carrying high voltage. But the outcome was different. Shawn Miller, 37, lost part of a limb and required over 30 surgeries to repair his severe electrical burns. Bryan Davis, 42, wasn’t so lucky. He was buried by his family. Both the death of Davis and the injury to Miller were tragic revelations of the powerful force of electricity that flows through overhead utility lines. When the mishaps come during the holiday season, the memories will remain forever in the family. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says 12,500 people every year seek emergency room treatment because of holiday lights and electrified ornaments that either severely shock or burn them. Some are fatal. This time of year electric cooperatives nationwide warn against the use of holiday lights near any type of utility installation. The advice is to stay away from utility lines or feeder lines that connect the house to the power lines. Before stringing outdoor lights, check for overhead power lines. Don’t place yourself or any other object such as a ladder in a position where you or it may come in contact with a power
line. The result may be fatal. Look up before raising ladders or other objects. Keep at least 10 feet away from overhead lines. Other recommendations include: • Secure outside Christmas lights with insulated holders (never use tacks or nails), or run strings of lights through plastic hooks. • Choose Christmas lights that have been tested and deemed safe by a reputable testing laboratory. The best are UL or ETL. Christmas lights listed as safe by these laboratories will note that on the packaging. • Try to use the cooler-burning “mini” Christmas lights as opposed to the traditional larger bulbs. The older style burns much hotter. • Inspect each set of Christmas lights – old or new – for damage. Return or throw out any set with cracked or broken sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. • Replace burned out bulbs promptly. • Never hang Christmas lights on a metal tree. The tree can become charged with electricity and shock someone. The tree can also short out the Christmas lights and cause a fire. • Want Christmas lights outdoors? Use outdoor Christmas lights. The packaging will note whether the lights can be used indoors, outdoors, or both. Make sure this holiday season is remembered for the happy times.d
Send your questions: Safe @ Home Alabama Living 340 TechnaCenter Dr. Montgomery, AL 36117 334-215-2732
www.alabamaliving.coop
Jason Saunders & Michael Kelley are certified managers of Safety & Loss Control for the Alabama Rural Electric Association.
Alabama Living | DECEMBER 2010 |
25
Alabama Recipes Cook of the Month
Holiday Traditions
Christmas Morning Monkey Bread Stephanie Huffaker Central Alabama EC 1/2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 2 cans of refrigerated biscuits (10 count cans work best) 1 block of Philadelphia cream cheese, cut into 20 cubes 1 stick of butter 1 cup of brown sugar 1 small box of butterscotch pudding mix 1/2 cup of walnuts, chopped Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a bundt pan by spraying it with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside. Mix together your cinnamon and sugar. On a cutting board or clean work surface, separate your biscuits. Sprinkle each biscuit top with your cinnamon sugar mixture. Place a cube of cream cheese in the center of each biscuit and then fold the edges in to conceal the cube of cream cheese. Rolling the biscuits between your hands to form a small ball is helpful. Once you have all your biscuits filled and rolled into balls, put them into a large ziploc bag. Pour in the rest of your cinnamon sugar mixture and shake thoroughly to coat the biscuits. In a small saucepan melt together your butter and brown sugar until combined - don’t burn!! Now you’re ready to assemble your bread. First, scatter your chopped walnuts around the bottom of the bundt pan. Then place half of your biscuit balls into the bundt pan, making sure to evenly space them around the pan as well (although they will be stacked on top of each other). Cover those with your butter and brown sugar mixture. Sprinkle with half of the DRY butterscotch pudding mix. Then add the remaining biscuit balls and coat with your remaining butter and brown sugar. Top with remaining DRY pudding mixture. Bake in the oven on the middle rack for 40 to 50 minutes, until the biscuits have plumped up and get golden brown. Serve warm with your favorite hot coffee.
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Editor’s Note: Alabama Living’s recipes are submitted by our readers. They are not kitchen tested by a professional cook or registered dietician. If you have special dietary needs, please check with your doctor or nutritionist before preparing any recipe.
ating Tailg te Favori Sunday
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When I smell the rich aroma of cinnamon, I know it’s Christmastime. Most stores will put out their holiday scents and candles this time of year because people associate cinnamon with the holidays. We use cinnamon more in the kitchen during the holidays in our traditional cooking. After trying some of the recipes in this issue, try making some cinnamon stick Christmas tree ornaments. Hot glue 5 cinnamon sticks together in a pyramid. Stack 3 sticks on the bottom, 2 in the middle, and one on top using hot glue to make sure they stay together. Use a wide, pretty ribbon to bundle the sticks and thread the ornament hanger through the knot at the base of the bow. Make sure that once it is all the way through that you bend it so that it cannot fall out. Now you are ready to hang your homemade, sweet-smelling ornament on the tree or to adorn a special present. Merry Christmas
$
I regret there was a mistake with Harriet Frantz’s “Sweet Potato Dumplings” in the last issue. The recipe calls for 2 cups of sugar instead of 5. See her correct recipe on Page 28.
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You could win $50! If your recipe is chosen as the cook-of-the-month recipe, we’ll send you a check for $50! Upcoming recipe themes and deadlines are: February Cream Cheese December 15 March Chicken/Poultry January 15 April Puddings February 15 Please send all submissions to: Recipe Editor P.O. Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124 or e-mail to: recipes@areapower. coop. Be sure to include your address, phone number and the name of your cooperative.
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Alabama Living | DECEMBER 2010 |
27
Sweet Potato Dumplings
2 packages sweet crescent rolls 1 package sweet potato patties, cut in half 2 cups water
1½ sticks margarine 2 cups sugar 1 tablespoon corn starch 1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
Roll each potato patty half in a crescent triangle. Place in a baking dish. Heat water, sugar, margarine, corn starch and vanilla. Pour over dumplings. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until crescent rolls are brown. Sprinkle with cinnamon when done. Harriet Frantz, Marshall-DeKalb EC
¼ cup evaporated milk 1 cup sugar ½ cup cinnamon
Glazed Cinnamon Bars
2 sticks butter 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed 1 egg, separated Dash of salt 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
Cinnamon Pecans
1 teaspoon baking powder 3 teaspoons cinnamon ½ cup un-sifted confectioners’ sugar ½ to 1 cup walnuts, chopped
Combine all ingredients, except pecans. Dissolve sugar over medium heat. Add pecans and continue cooking, stirring frequently. Cook until pecans are completely sugared with no syrup left in the pot. Spread on waxed paper and let cool. Alice M. Smith, Sand Mountain EC
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 15x10-inch pan. Mix brown sugar, butter, yolk and salt combining well. Sift flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Add to butter mixture and mix just until combined. Spread batter into pan. Beat egg white until foamy. Stir in confectioners’ sugar. Brush over batter. Sprinkle with nuts. Bake for 25-30 minutes. While hot, slice into squares. If the bars cool off they will crack when cut.Yield: 48 cinnamon bars.
Holiday Coffee
Elaine Hallman, Marshall-DeKalb EC
1 cup butter, softened 2¾ cups sugar, divided 2 teaspoons vanilla 4 eggs 3 cups all purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder
Cinnamon Breakfast Puffs ⁄3 cup butter or margarine, softened ½ cup sugar 1 egg
1
1½ cups self rising flour ½ cup milk ½ teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon vanilla
Cream butter and sugar. Add egg, mix well. Add flour, milk, cinnamon and vanilla. Mix until blended. Fill greased muffin cups 2⁄3 full. Bake 350 degrees 20-25 minutes. Drizzle with icing and serve warm.Yield: 12 muffins Icing: 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2-3 tablespoons milk
Add milk to sugar gradually, mixing until “drizzle” consistency. Leslie Beard, Joe Wheeler EMC
2 tablespoon water ¼ teaspoon vanilla 3 cups pecan halves
Sprinkle ½ teaspoon cinnamon over coffee grounds before brewing. Serve with a candy cane for stirring and a splash of cool whip on top. Kim Lee,Wiregrass EC
Cinnamon Coffee Cake
1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 2 cups (16-ounces) sour cream 2 tablespoons cinnamon ¾ cup pecans, chopped
In small bowl combine cinnamon, ¾ cup sugar and pecans; set aside. In large mixing bowl, cream butter and remaining 2 cups of sugar until fluffy. Add vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine all dry ingredients. Add alternately with sour cream, beating just enough after each addition to keep the batter smooth. Spoon 1⁄3 of batter into a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan. Sprinkle 1⁄3 cinnamon mixture over the batter in pan. Repeat layers 2 more times. You will end with cinnamon mixture on top of the cake batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 70 minutes or until cake tests done. Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan to wire rack to cool completely.Yield 16-20 servings. Patti Bell, Clarke-Washington EMC
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| DECEMBER 2010 | www.alabamaliving.coop
Editor’s Note: Alabama Living’s recipes are submitted by our readers. They are not kitchen tested by a professional cook or registered dietician. If you have special dietary needs, please check with your doctor or nutritionist before preparing any recipe.
Caramel Cinnamon Muffins
3 tablespoons butter ⁄3 cup brown sugar Cinnamon 2 cups sifted flour 3 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt
2
1½ teaspoons cinnamon 1 egg 1 cup milk 2 tablespoon melted shortening, preferably butter flavored
Grease a 12-cup muffin pan or use liners. Place ½ teaspoon butter, 1 teaspoon brown sugar and a pinch of cinnamon in each cup. Sift flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon together. Beat egg, add milk, shortening and remaining ¼ cup brown sugar. Add to dry ingredients, stirring only enough to dampen flour. Fill muffin pans 2⁄3 cup full. Bake 450 degrees about 20 minutes.
Honey Bun Cake
Icing: 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 sticks butter ½ pound powdered sugar
⁄3 cup water 1 cup brown sugar 2 teaspoon cinnamon
1
1 teaspoon vanilla ¼ cup milk
Mix first five ingredients. Pour half batter into long cake pan, greased with cooking spray. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon, sprinkle half over batter, pour remaining batter and sprinkle remaining brown sugar over top, cut into swirl with knife. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until knife comes out clean. Mix confectioners’ sugar, milk and vanilla; bring to a boil. Pour over cake while hot.Yield: 24 servings.
Mix all ingredients with mixer until fluffy. Delicious on toast or hot rolls. Glenda Zimmerman, Cullman EC
Syrup: 4 cups water 1½ teaspoons ground ginger 30 whole cloves 12 whole allspice 12 cinnamon sticks Juices: 2 quarts apple cider 2 cups orange juice 2 cups lemon juice Tang powder, equivalent to 1 quart ready-made
Cinnamon Butterfingers
Bring syrup to a boil then simmer covered for 30 minutes. Remove spices and add to juices. Makes one gallon. Serve hot or cold. Note: frozen concentrate juices can be used.
Joyce Weaver, Joe Wheeler EMC
Betty Abbott, Cullman EC
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or plain margarine 3/4 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ cup honey
Spiced Apple Cider
Leah Mosley, Cullman EC
1 box yellow cake mix 4 eggs ¾ cup oil 8 ounces sour cream
Honey Butter
21/4 cups plain flour 3/4 cup powdered sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Sour Cream Pecan Coffee Cake
1 box white cake mix 1 cup sour cream (8 ounces) 1/2 cup oil 3 eggs
1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans 1 ⁄3 cup oats 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Beat butter or margarine until well blended. Add sugar and beat until creamy. Add flour gradually then vanilla until well mixed. Cover and chill at least 4 hours or overnight. Pinch off by a teaspoonful and roll with both hands forming a “finger” shape. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets at 300 degrees 25-30 min. Combine powdered sugar and cinnamon. Remove cookies and let cool about 3 minutes then gently roll in cinnamon sugar. Let cool on wire racks.
Beat together cake mix, sour cream, oil and eggs for 2 minutes. Divide batter into 2 greased 9-inch loaf pans. Combine pecans, oats, brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle half mixture into each pan; swirl into batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes..
Becky Tomerlin, Black Warrior EMC
Martha Black Handschumacher, Arab EC
Alabama Living | DECEMBER 2010 |
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Classifieds Miscellaneous OUTSIDE WOOD HEATER - $1,545.00 – Houses, mobiles, shops – www. heatbywood.com, (417)581-7755 Missouri DIVORCE MADE EASY – Uncontested, lost spouse, in prison or aliens. $149.95 our total fee. Call 10am to 10pm. 26 years experience – (417)443-6511 PUT YOUR OLD HOME MOVIES, SLIDES OR PHOTOS on DVD – (888)609-9778 or www.transferguy.com CHURCH FURNITURE – Does your church need pews, pulpit set, baptistery, steeple or windows. Big sale on new cushioned pews and upholstery for hard pews – (800)231-8360, www.pews1.com WALL BEDS OF ALABAMA / ALABAMA MATTRESS OUTLET – SHOWROOM Collinsville, AL – Custom Built / Factory Direct - (256)490-4025, www.andyswallbeds.com, www.alabamamattressoutlet.com I BUY OLD CLOCKS – Grandfather,Wall and Mantel – Call (256)363-2476 AERMOTOR WATER PUMPING WINDMILLS – windmill parts – decorative windmills – custom built windmill towers - call Windpower (256)6384399 or (256)638-2352 WORK CLOTHES – GOOD CLEAN RENTAL TYPE: 6 pants and 6 shirts, $44.95 – Lined work jackets, $10.95 – Denim jeans, $6.00 – Call (800)2331853, www.usedworkclothing.com – 100% satisfaction guaranteed CUSTOM MACHINE QUILTING BY JOYCE – Bring me your quilt top or t-shirts. Various designs offered – (256)735-1543 FAMILY TREE RESEARCH – We can do it for you. Reasonable rates, quick results. Homeplace Research, dl12453@aol.com or (256)506-8159 KEEP THE FISH ALIVE! Clean the ponds with our aeration windmills and pond supplies. Windpower (256)638-4399, (256)899-3850
Business Opportunities NEW! GROW EXPENSIVE PLANTS, 2,000% profit, Earn to $50,000 year, FREE information, Growbiz Box 3738-AB12, Cookeville,TN 38502 www. growbiz-abco.com MOMS, READY FOR A CHANGE? Fun, flexible business at home. No parties, inventory or risk. Visit www.mybugnbee.com for more information. BEAUTICONTROL – A beauty business specializing in personalized skin care, anti-aging, glamour and spa parties. Become a consultant. Training, flexible hours, excellent income – www.beautipage.com/marthabrooks or (256)764-9102 START YOUR OWN BUSINESS! Mia Bella’s Gourmet Scented Products. Try the Best! Candles / Gifts / Beauty. Wonderful income potential! Enter Free Candle Drawing - www.naturesbest.scent-team.com
Vacation Rentals PIGEON FORGE,TN – 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath house for rent $75.00 a night – Call Bonnie at (256)338-1957 GULF SHORES / FT. MORGAN / NOT A CONDO! The original “Beach House” on Ft. Morgan peninsula – 2BR/1BA – pet friendly, non-smoking – $675/wk, (256)418-2131 APPALACHIAN TRAIL – Cabins by the trail in the Georgia Mountains – 3000’ above sea level, snowy winters, cool summers, inexpensive rates – (800)284-6866, www.bloodmountain.com
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PRIVATE COTTAGE ON CEDAR LAKE – Russellville, AL. - Waterfront, Furnished. (256)436-0341 1 BEDROOM CABIN NEAR PIGEON FORGE – $85.00 per night – Call (865)548-7915, ask for Kathy GATLINBURG and PIGEON FORGE CABINS – 3BR, hot tub, gameroom, WiFi ($149 - $295 / night) – www.smokiesrental.com, (205)663-3697 WEEKS BAY – Waterfront, 3/3, boat dock - $100 / night – (251)269-0634 MENTONE, AL – LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN – billiard table, Jacuzzi, spacious home, sleeps fourteen – www.duskdowningheights.com, (850)7665042, (850)661-0678. GULF SHORES RENTAL BY OWNER – Great Rates! (256)490-4025 or www.gulfshoresrentals.us SMITH LAKE VACATION HOME – 3BR / 2BA, 2 satellite TV’s, deep water - $75 night / $500 week – (256)352-5721, www.vacationsmithlake.com GATLINBURG: OVERLOOKING SKI SLOPES in a beautiful mountain resort. Fireplaces, firewood furnished. Can accommodate up to six in this chalet condo for only $70 per night. Call Jennifer in Scottsboro at (800)314-9777, www.funcondos.com DISNEY – FLORIDA: 6BR / 4.5BA, private pool – VRBO#234821 - $1,500 / week - www.skeetersvilla.com – (423)802-9176 HOUSE FOR RENT ON ALABAMA RIVER – across from River Oaks, South of Orrville – Fully furnished, 3BR / 1.5BA, fireplace, non-smoking, boat dock & ramp. Monthly rates call (334)872-6124 GULF SHORES CONDO – 2BR / 1.5BA, sleeps 6, pool, beach access – (334)790-9545 SMOKIES TOWNSEND, TN – 2BR/2BA, secluded log home, fully furnished. Toll free (866)448-6203, (228)832-0713 GULF SHORES PLANTATION - Gulf view, beach side, 2 bedrooms / 2 baths, no smoking / no pets. Owner rates (205)339-3850 PIGEON FORGE, TN – Log cabins in the Smokies – (251)649-3344 or (251)649-4049, www.hideawayprop.com GATLINBURG, TN CHALET – 3BR / 3BA Baskins Creek – Fallfest, 10 minute walk downtown, Aquarium, National Park – (334)289-0304 ORANGE BEACH CONDO, 3BR/3BA; 2,000 SQ.FT.; beautifully decorated; gorgeous waterfront view; boat slips available; great rates - Owner rented (251)604-5226 CABIN IN MENTONE – 2/2, brow view, hottub – For rent $100/night or Sale $275,000 – (706)767-0177 GATLINBURG – DOWNTOWN LUXURY CREEKSIDE CONDO – 2BR / 2BA, sleeps 6 – aubir12@centurytel.net, (256)599-5552 GATLINBURG ONLY - $185 total price for 3 days and 2 nights – Condos available this in a beautiful mountain resort - Call Jennifer in Scottsboro at (800) 314-9777 – www.funcondos.com HOUSE IN PIGEON FORGE, TN – fully furnished, sleeps 6-12, 3 baths, creek, no pets – (256)997-6771, www.riverrungetaway.org GULF SHORES – CRYSTAL TOWER CONDO – 2 bedroom, 2 bath, gulf view with lazy river pool on beach – www.vrbo.com #145108 – Call owner (205)429-4886 PIGEON FORGE, TN: $89 - $125, 2BR/2BA, hot tub, pool table, fireplace, swimming pool, creek – (251)363-1973, www.mylittlebitofheaven.com
ADVERTISING DEADLINES: February Issue – Dec. 15 March Issue – Jan. 25 $1.65 per word April Issue – Feb. 25
For Advertising, contact Heather: 1-800-410-2737 or hdutton@areapower.com - Subject Line: Classifieds
KATHY’S ORANGE BEACH CONDO – 2BR/2BA, non-smoking. Best rates beachside! Family friendly – (205)253-4985, www.angelfire.com/ planet/kathyscondo
WE PAY CASH for SELLER FINANCED NOTES, Trust Deeds and Commercial / Business Notes, Nationwide! Free Quote / Fast Closing. Call (256)638-1930 or cwbell@consultant.com
Travel
GULF SHORES – 1 and 2 bedroom gulf front condos – www.vrbo.com #288789 – Call owner (205)429-4886 or (205)363-0175 Cell GATLINBURG TOWNHOUSE VILLAGE on BASKINS CREEK! GREAT RATES! 4BR/3BA, short walk downtown attractions! (205)333-9585, hhideaway401@aol.com GATLINBURG / PIGEON FORGE CABIN – 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, hot tub, gameroom – www.vrbo.com/175531, www.wardvacationrentalproperties.com, (251)363-8576 GULF SHORES BEACH COTTAGE – affordable, waterfront, pet friendly – http://www.vrbo.com/152418, (251)223-6114 ALWAYS THE LOWEST PRICE $65.00 - beautiful furnished mountain cabin near Dollywood, Sevierville, TN - (865)453-7715 PANAMA CITY BEACH CONDO – Owner rental – 2BR / 2BA, just remodeled inside and outside – (334)790-0000, jamesrny@graceba.net, www.theroneycondo.com GATLINBURG, TN – Fond memories start here in our chalet – Great vacation area for all seasons – Two queen beds, full kitchen, 1 bath, Jacuzzi, deck with grill – Call today toll free (866)316-3255, www.hillshideaway. com ALABAMA RIVER LOTS / MONROE COUNTY, AL – Lease / Rent – (334)469-5604 HELEN GA CABIN FOR RENT – sleeps 2-6, 2.5 baths, fireplace, Jacuzzi, washer/dryer – www.cyberrentals.com/101769 - (251)948-2918, email jmccracken@gulftel.com
Camping, Hunting & Fishing ANDALUSIA AREA RV CAMPGROUND FOR HUNTERS / FISHERMAN – on Point ‘A’ Lake. Reservations (334)388-0342
Real Estate AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY AVAILABLE – High resolution aerial photography available from 1956 to present day. Photos cover the entire USA. Photography is perfect for viewing hunting land, developments, farms, cities, lakes, golf courses. Delivered on disc or printed. Sizes available up to 30”x40”. Call Will @ (205)242-2932 or email will@rrpub.com 241 ACRES FOR SALE – Timbered & 2 Duck Ponds – Henry County, TN – Owner (251)276-3420
CARIBBEAN CRUISES AT THE LOWEST PRICE – (256)974-0500 or (800)726-0954
Musical Notes PLAY GOSPEL SONGS by ear! Add chords. 10 lessons $12.95. “Learn Gospel Music”. Chording, runs, fills - $12.95 Both $24. Davidsons, 6727AR Metcalf, Shawnee Missions, Kansas 66204 PIANOS TUNED, repaired, refinished. Box 171, Coy, AL 36435. 334337-4503
Education WWW.2HOMESCHOOL.ORG – Year round enrollment. Everybody homeschools. It is just a matter of what degree. Contact Dr. Cerny (256)705-3560 or website. FREE BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE – write to 23600 Alabama Highway 24, Trinity, AL, 35673 BECOME AN ORDAINED MINISTER correspondence study. Founded in 1988. Free info. Ministers for Christ Outreach, 7549 West Cactus #104207 Peoria, Arizona 85381. http://www.ordination.org
Critters CHIHUAHUA PUPPIES. Tiny, registered, guaranteed healthy, raised indoors in loving home, vet records and references. (256)796-2893 ADORABLE SHI-TZU PUPPIES, AKC, non-shedding, home raised – average 7-9 pounds, some smaller – (334)391-8493, (334)272-3268 ADORABLE AKC YORKY PUPPIES – excellent blood lines – (334)3011120, (334)537-4242, bnorman@mon-cre.net
Fruits, Berries, Nuts & Trees GROW MUSCADINES AND BLACKBERRIES, half dollar size – We offer over 200 varieties of Fruit and Nut Trees plus Vines and Berry Plants. Free color catalog. 1-800-733-0324. Ison’s Nursery, P.O. Box 190, Brooks, GA 30205. Since 1934. www.isons.com
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Marketplace
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Our Sources Say
A STRONG SUITE OF RESOURCES TVA’s goal is to attract good-paying jobs by selecting sites for high-tech industry A TVA economic-development program has identified a dozen sites in the Southeast as prime locations for developing the region’s growing data-center industry. Data centers are specially designed to house computer, telecommunication and datastorage systems for Internet search-engine companies, financialtransaction processors and other high-tech industries. The initial sites identified in the Alabama TVA service area are in Guntersville and Hartselle. Other sites are located in Tennessee, Mississippi and Virginia. Demand for data centers is growing as increased use of electronic commerce and information technologies requires more data storage space. There are exceptional opportunities for regional growth potential in this industry. These initial 12 sites in particular have the resources, infrastructure and other qualities needed to support strong datacenter development. TVA chose Chicago-based Deloitte Consulting to assess more than 50 locations across the Waymon Pace is general manager, customer service of the Tennessee Valley Authority in Alabama.
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TVA service area for accessibility, telecommunications infrastructure, electric power availability and reliability, and other characteristics beneficial to data-center development.
The potential data-center sites we’ve identified in the TVA region possess a strong suite of resources that could be attractive to the industry and beneficial to the region’s economic growth.
The potential data-center sites we’ve identified in the TVA region possess a strong suite of resources that could be attractive to the industry and beneficial to the region’s economic growth. The 12 sites are considered “primary sites” that are ready for development and meet the requirements to support a major data center. TVA is partnering with local power distributors and regional, state and community economic-development leaders to begin marketing the sites as part of its data-center recruitment initiative.
Other sites reviewed during the initial process are working to fulfill the criteria, and more locations are expected to be identified as primary sites after they are assessed a second time. The TVA board of directors approved rate incentives in December 2008 to attract data centers and similar businesses to the region. Qualifying data centers could be eligible for TVA manufacturing rates if they have a power demand in excess of 5 megawatts and operate at an average of at least 80 percent of this demand. Data centers provide highly skilled, good-paying job opportunities for the region. TVA’s goal is to help make the region more competitive in attracting and retaining these types of industries and the economic benefits associated with them.d
Our Sources Say
Under mandates, costs go up and consumers pay Last December, I wrote about Gus Mayer, my loyal bagel (half beagle, half basset), and his carbon footprint as described in the book, Time to Eat the Dog? A Guide to Sustainable Living. A year later, Gus Mayer and I are again sitting here talking about the day’s issues. Gus Mayer is a fine companion and a patient listener. Today, I was lecturing him on the elections and the changes that are likely – in particular, climate change and renewable energy standards (RES). He was more interested in what we would have for lunch, but was still concerned that climate change will result in him being eaten, or possibly more disturbing, a change in his diet. With an overwhelming Republican victory in the U.S. House, conventional wisdom dictates that cap and trade legislation to tax and limit carbon dioxide emissions will not pass for at least two years. However, with the change of power in Congress, progressives (they don’t like to be called liberals) have shifted their focus and plan to use EPA regulation and RES to increase the price of energy. Their goals remain the same: increase the price of energy, reduce energy usage and thereby reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The results will be the same as well: increase electricity costs and lose millions of U.S. jobs. Renewable energy is popular
Gary Smith is President and CEO of PowerSouth Energy Cooperative
Gus Mayer among Americans, and the progressives give great weight to that support. But that support is limited. The same polls that show support for a national RES also show that 57 percent of Americans are opposed to paying even 5 percent more for electricity from renewable resources. That limitation in support is where the progressives’ plans meet hard economic fact. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) says that renewable energy costs at least twice as much as traditional fossilfired generation. For example, EIA estimates the cost per megawatt hour from conventional coal resources is $78.10, but the cost of onshore wind is $149.30; the cost of off-shore wind is $191.10; the cost of thermal solar is $256.60; and the cost of solar photovoltaic is $396.10. All those costs are without the benefit of federal and state government subsidies, but coal and natural gas generation receive no subsidies, either. Additionally, natural gas generation will be equal to or cheaper than the EIA’s quote on conventional coal if natural gas costs remain in
the $4 per MBTU range. If the federal government mandates that 22 percent of electricity come from renewable resources, energy costs will increase substantially. A Heritage Foundation analysis predicted household electricity prices would increase 36 percent, industrial electricity prices would increase 60 percent, national gross domestic product would decline $5.2 trillion between 2012 and 2035, and the United States would lose more than 1 million jobs. If renewable energy was costcompetitive, there would be no need for a RES mandate. As the most critical input to our economy, forcing higher electricity costs will increase the cost of production. However, as opposed to a normal tax, the government will obtain no revenue from that increase. The costs go up and only the renewable energy providers – electric utilities – will benefit. In the end, our economy will suffer when industrial production is shifted off-shore where renewable mandates are not in force. We will gain nothing from the shift, and the progressives’ efforts to save the world will again be in vain. After a while, Gus Mayer lost interest and went to sleep in the sun, dreaming of juicy cheeseburgers. When I woke him up, he wanted to know if there will be a requirement that a minimum amount of food come from the magic windows at fast food restaurants. They are his favorites, and he would hate for renewable mandates to put them out of business
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Continued from Page 18 which Conroy explained is augmented by the largest geothermal system anywhere in the state of Alabama. A series of pumps and more than a mile of tubing allow for glycol to be pumped more than 300 feet deep where the ground temperature is around 57ºF year-round. This liquid is then incorporated into the heating and cooling systems during extremely hot or cold days and saves around $1,000 monthly on the Center’s utility bills. Even though the geothermal system cost about $100,000 to install, the additional, up-front cost will be offset by energy savings in seven or eight years. After that the money saved can be used for other needs. Other environmentally friendly and energy-efficient
Pottery class at the Little River Canyon Center features of the building include the use of a woodlook-alike composite material on porches and decks made from recycled plastic bottles and sawdust and a realistic-looking composite “fake” stone. Most rooms have sensors that turn on lights when someone enters and turn them off when the room is empty. Similar sensors can turn off heating and air conditioning for rooms not in David Haynes is a freelance use. Even the restrooms photographer and writer from use high tech waterless Blount Springs. Each month fixtures. he rides his motorcycle to a But as enthusiastic different Alabama location and tells us about it. Contact him at as Conroy is about the studioblsp@mindspring.com. building, his eyes really
Junior rangers taking their oath widen and his voice quickens when he talks about what is now and what will be happening there in the future. He explained that until July the NPS offices for the Preserve have been located 8 miles from the canyon in downtown Fort Payne. Moving the operations to the Center in mid-summer this year is allowing more interaction with Park Service rangers and the public. The change also consolidated the NPS personnel into a centralized location, including administrative, maintenance and law enforcement staff. While I was there a visitor stopped at the Center to ask about a place to take his daughters swimming. A ranger was able to give him directions to a nearby swimming hole. The center also provides a place nearby the canyon itself for visitors to pick up permits for camping or ATV riding. Soon the Center’s huge auditorium will play an introductory film that will give visitors an overview of the Preserve’s features, attractions and history. The Center also hosts JSU Field School, which offers a diverse array of environmentally-oriented courses, hikes and tours. Field School Coordinator Renee Morrison was working with middle school students in a weeklong nature camp the day I was there. Students took an oath to become “Junior Rangers” and learned pottery-making techniques that day. The Center’s conference and meeting rooms host to a variety of meetings, conferences and seminars. A one-mile interpretive nature trail loop begins and ends at Center and future plans include an amphitheater on the grounds.d
For more information on the Little River Canyon Center, JSU Field School classes and activities or the Little River Canyon National Preserve, visit the JSU EPIC website at: http://www.jsu.edu/epic/ or the Little River Canyon National Preserve website at: http://www.nps.gov/liri/index.htm
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The Holidays
p Pierc e months, n Cooper, 6 s Robby & ubmitted by H olly Sain u Chase, 3, submitted by Joy Section t, & Joey Duncan, Cullman
p Madison, submitted by her aun t Jennifer Newby, Birmingham
u Edna Watts, Arley
t Tim, Janet & Seth White, Ider
t The Christmas hearth of Barbara Grill, Birmingham
u Grayce, 3, & Th om Walker, 6 months. as Submitted by Jan “GiGi” Seay, Boaz
February Theme:
‘Friends’
Send color photos with a large SASE to: Photos, Alabama Living, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL, 36124. Rules: Alabama Living will pay $10 for photos that best match our theme of the month. We cannot be responsible for lost or damaged photos.
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Deadline for submission: | DECEMBER 2010 | www.alabamaliving.coop
December 31