The Observer | Spruce Up For Spring | April 2024

Spruce Up For Spring | APRIL 2024

Right on the Money

Story By Nicholas Young

Photos Submitted By LP Money Customs

Do you want to make renovations to your home? Do you want a service that provides a professional experience that meets your needs and treats you as a top priority? Look no further because Lonnie Money is your guy.

After retiring from Opelika City Schools, Money said he decided that it was time for a second act. Having a background in a variety of renovation and repair including commercial spaces, including a large historic loft in downtown, Opelika, and smaller projects and woodworking paved the way for Money to start his new business LP Money Customs.

“This was a natural transition for me,” Money said. “After retirement I started the process of licensing, obtaining insurance etc., so I could get to work in the community right away.”

LP Money Customs handles mostly handyman and carpentry work, such as repair and replacement for windows and doors, trim work, casings, molding and exterior work such as soffit and fascia. LP Money Customs does most interior and exterior home repair.

Money said he understands that residing in an area for lengthy amounts of time will likely put wear and tear on homes. Providing services such as general upkeep, repairs and upgrades helps maximize the lifespan of one’s house.

“My target market is local home owners, especially those that live in homes that are a little bit older and starting to need upgrades,” Money said. “We are very fortunate that the housing market is competitive here. I target people that really like their homes but need it to be repaired or improved for them to continue to love it.”

Money said it can be hard to find a qualified professional who can be attentive to client needs.

“I often hear this from clients,” Money explained. “I try to fill this role, [being] experienced and skilled enough to be helpful while still being available and responsive.”

Additionally, Money said that those in need of work for smaller projects may have issues finding a professional company to take on their requests because they prioritize larger projects. LP Money Customs take on these smaller projects.

“I try to keep a little bit of time open every week for the small stuff,” he said. “Sometimes people just need something taken care of that they aren’t able to do. It’s part of my job to do that in a timely manner.”

Passion is a driving factor for Money, and he said he enjoys the creative process that comes along with the job. Money also said he draws his inspiration from styling designs he has encountered when he travels.

“It’s become my habit to look around places of different ages and styles to look for ideas,” he said. “If I see something I like, I take a note of it and look for ways to put it into practice with my clients.”

He recalled his work is often inspired by works he has seen in the past, such as where he hung a door in Auburn and performed a casing

Lonnie Money

in a style similar to something he saw in Corfu, a Greek isle.

“It’s really fun, and I get to be creative,” he said.

Money describes his services as a one-person operation, and he hopes to keep it this way.

“My focus is small projects and repairs for local homeowners,” he said. “My goal is not only to take care of small repairs but also to help those when their house needs changes or upgrades.”

Money said he aspires to have those in Opelika and Auburn view him as the go-to professional when they need work done around the house.

LP Money Customs serves the Auburn, Opelika and Lee County. Contact Money on Instagram at LPMoneyCustoms.

“Show ’ Em How It’s Done”

Story By Anita Stiefel

Photos By Steven Stiefel

R&R Landscaping offers expert design, installation

The team at R&R Landscaping can boast they were trained not only in Auburn University’s nationally renowned horticulture program, but also from the late great Coach Pat Dye, who apparently fancied himself as an expert at… hole digging?

“Coach Dye arrived at an important job site where one of his larger maples was being installed and decided our team was using their upper body too much with their shovel work,” explained Claire Goldman, co-owner of R&R. “So, he took the shovel out of one person’s hand to ‘show ’em how it’s done’ and proceeded with digging the hole!

“I loved his passion for plants and hard work,” she said.

For more than 20 years, R&R Landscaping has been putting that same passion to work, making the world more beautiful and enjoyable.

“We feel fortunate to have the opportunity to beautify our community, one outdoor space at a time,” said Claire, who owns the company with her husband, Charlie. “It’s such a huge honor to provide a conduit for connecting people with nature and creating beautiful spaces for families and friends to build relationships and make memories.

“From problem-solving basic functional problems like stormwater runoff, to building a beautiful view from a key window you look out every day that makes you smile, to providing spaces for people to connect, we take what we do very seriously and understand that it’s so much bigger than digging holes.”

R&R Landscaping was founded in 2003, and after earning horticulture degrees from AU, Charlie and Claire joined the team as employees in 2006 and 2008, respectively. Over time, they partnered

Claire and Charlie Goldman

with the owner until eventually buying him out in 2019.

“Today, R&R is a custom landscape design/build company with a clear focus on investing in developing and supporting our amazing team to provide the best experience for our clients from start to finish,” Claire said.

Just as the Auburn-Opelika area has experienced major growth over the past two decades, so has R&R Landscaping. But instead of trying to be all things to all people, the company’s focus has evolved.

“R&R was founded as a full-service landscape company and has served Lee County and surrounding areas for 21 years,” Claire explained. “Over time, we learned the value of having a clear identity and direction. We decided to dramatically scale down our maintenance division to allow us to provide the level of service our clients have come to expect on our design/build side, and we now only serve a small list of maintenance clients with a fine gardening/ robotic mowing service.”

Having a clear vision is key to designing and building a landscaping project, and developing that clear vision with clients is one of the things R&R does best.

“Our company is structured to walk you through the process of

getting aligned on a vision for your outdoor space and facilitating that vision through the implementation of the project” Claire said. “We have a full-time landscape architect and three landscape designers ready to meet and get to know you. We start with understanding the priorities for your home and any limiting factors we need to work within.

“We provide a plan and walk you through our ideas. Then, we make any needed revisions to meet the needs of the client after the plan has been presented, create a detailed estimate and move

forward with the project once we agree on all those details.”

R&R’s landscaping projects vary, based on the individual client’s needs.

“Of course, we do lots of plantings, sod and irrigation work,” Claire said. “We also often get into heavier construction projects with retaining walls, patios, outdoor kitchens, covered structures, water and/or fire features, pools, etc.”

Some landscaping projects are handled by R&R’s team, while others require bringing in outside help.

“Depending on the needs of the project, we will either bring in an in-house crew or coordinate between our crews and our trusted network of subcontractors,” Claire explained. “Our R&R team and our subcontractors understand the level of detail we expect, and the relationships we have formed help us to work together as seamlessly as possible and create a cohesive project, taking the bigger picture into account.

“Drainage continues to be a major hurdle for homeowners in our area,” she said. “Sometimes someone has such a mess on their hands that we will accept a drainage-only project every now and then. While we typically don’t take on jobs that are drainage only, it’s always accounted for in our projects. One day we hope to provide drainage consulting services for other contractors, to help them understand the basics of drainage and work with them to get things right for the client the first time.”

Headquartered in Waverly, R&R Landscaping primarily serves clients within a 45-mile radius, including Auburn, Opelika and most of Lake Martin. The company specializes in extensive design services and professional installation.

“We do stick to a $5,000 project minimum within our current structure,” Claire said. “Honestly, with what labor and materials cost these days, that minimum is reached pretty quickly and doesn’t exclude many projects outside of basic yard work.

“We define our ideal client as someone who trusts us as the expert and gives us the freedom to get creative,” Claire said. “It was important for us that our definition of who we serve was not tied to a project size or demographic statistic. We analyzed projects, both large and small, and concluded that the R&R team and the clients have the most success from start to finish when we start with a baseline of trust and open communication.

“When we finish a project and are bummed because we won’t get to see that client as much anymore because we had so much fun working with them, we file that into a job to analyze and understand what it was about the job and/or the client that made the process so fun for everyone involved. Of course, we have a similar system for jobs that are a grind and don’t go smoothly. We want to understand what we can do to improve and learn from those projects as we move forward.”

After 20-plus years in the business, Claire said she has countless

stories of memorable experiences.

“There’s never a dull day with what we do. The people we work with and the people we serve give us purpose and make this job one that Charlie and I still love doing, even after all these years,” she said. “Recently, we completed a large outdoor living space, and the clients invited us over for dinner to experience it. They were amazing hosts, and I realized that’s the first time we’ve been in a position (other than projects we’ve done for our friends) to enjoy the space the way the clients would be using it. We loved having that opportunity and having the time to get to know them even better.”

Making the world beautiful is R&R’s priority, but the company also values giving back to the community.

“We happily serve wherever we can be helpful,” Claire said. “We’ve had fun hosting a Girl Scout troop at our property to dissect daffodils and learn about plants. We donate maintenance services to community members in need. We actively engage in many nonprofits around our community including Storybook Farms and Baby Steps, and we support some of the local churches through donations and projects.

“We took a team to serve at the food bank when it was too rainy to be productive in the field, we have provided backpacks and supplies to local students, packed hygiene kits together as a team to disperse for areas affected by natural disasters, donated meal kits we assembled as a team to Esperanza House and worked with Tuskegee students to clean up a local park,” she said. “We also [utilize] local businesses with a cause to help us stuff our Christmas gift baskets. For example, we loved having some fresh baked goods from St. Duns Buns to offer our clients this year.”

Claire said two of the core values at R&R Landscaping are education and integrity.

“We work with Auburn University students, career tech programs in our area, Tuskegee students and anyone who will listen, communicating all the amazing opportunities in our industry and how to prepare for the professional world,” she said.

“Our internal vision is to cultivate a team of people known among the community for our spirit of service and unique design solutions. While we are incredibly passionate about creating beautiful outdoor spaces, our projects are a byproduct of our people,” Claire explained. “We spend a lot of time and effort coaching our team on leadership and communication skills. We find that effective and respectful communication is a lost art and is one of the most needed people skills, across the board.

“We aren’t over here saving the world, but by focusing on the impact we have on each other, we can multiply the impact we each have in our individual families and communities,” she said.

“It’s a massive responsibility to nurture and grow our team into landscape professionals who understand the importance of the impact we make on the people around us every day. We are grateful to serve our community and hope to provide a place that offers positive career opportunities and beautiful spaces that just continue to get better over time for a very long time.”

Claire said the company’s growth will continue to be driven by its team members.

“The more good people we get, the more we need to grow to continue offering career opportunities within R&R,” she ex-

plained. “We have employees from Tallassee, Auburn, Opelika, Beauregard, Dadeville and Loachapoka, and we love seeing them step up to the challenge when roles and responsibilities grow.

“We have spent the last couple of years really focusing on our internal infrastructure to give us the capacity to accept the demand we see and have the ability to get to your project in a timely manner. We anticipate significant growth over the next few years in our area and are excited to have the systems and people in place ready to handle the work that comes our way.”

Clean Inside and Out

WStory By Michelle Key

Photos Submitted By Tri-State Bin Cleaning

hat’s worse than smelly trash? A smelly trash can, according to Jeremaine Johnson, founder of Tri-State Bin Cleaning.

“The COVID-19 pandemic really got me thinking about germs and bacteria and how all of that can spread,” Johnson said. “Trash bins can be heavily comtaminated with bacteria, but most people never think about wearing gloves while taking out the trash, moving the trash bins out to the road for pickup or bringing the empty bins back to the storage space.”

Johnson said he realized that people, himself included, were inadvertantly bringing bacteria back into the home and spreading it in the very areas where children often access.

“I realized that people don’t really know about the importance of cleaning their trash can,” he said. “It is for the safety of our children. We think about safety inside our homes, but not about the germs that we are bringing into our homes.”

Johnson said he started doing research, took classes on how to safely sanitize and deodorize bins and filed for a business license. He officially started Tri-State Bin Cleaning in March 2023.

The sanitation process starts with spraying cleaning agents into the bin, followed by a thorough hand-wash. Once the bin has been scrubbed clean, Johnson said he hand-dries it and finishes the serivice with a deodorizer he nicknamed his “smell-good spray.”

“That smell-good should last two to three weeks, depending on how many times you open up your can,” he said. “People are so used to thinking, ‘Well, it’s trash — it stinks.’ But it doesn’t have to.”

Tri-State offers both residential and commercial cleaning services. Commercial services include cleaning cans as well as the concreate pads and fencing surrounding the trash collection area. But, cleaning trash cans is not the only service Tri-State offers, Johnson said.

Tri-State Bin Cleaning offers trash-day service, ensuring clients’ bins are placed at the road on pick-up days and later returned back to their storage area. This service is especially valuable to senior citizens or those with disabilities, who may not be able to maneuver the bins back and forth to the road ways.

Johnson said he can usually respond to a customer’s request for service within 24 hours. For service, call (334) 3703396 or email Tristatebins@gmail.com.

Jeremaine Johnson

It Doesn’t Feel Like Work

Story By Nicholas Young

Photos By Samantha Sweatman

Growing up, LaTerry Strong said he often found peace in performing lawn care, a task he describes as “therapeutic.” He joined the military and after his service ended, he said he wanted to create a business that would never feel like work again and would allow him the opportunity to serve the community. About one year after his military service, he formed LT’s Services LLC.

LT’s Services includes a team of experienced personnel who are dedicated to providing all customers with service that is uniquely tailored and attentive to their needs.

The company provides all aspects of lawn care needs, such as leaf removal, flower beds, land cleaning for gardening and utilizes cutting-edge equipment that is regularly serviced and upgraded to assure that the best service is produced. In addition to assuring a quality job, LT’s uses environmentally-friendly products and techniques to honor

its commitment to a sustainable approach to lawn care.

Strong said that he strives to create connections locally, especially with veterans, working families and the senior population.

“Client satisfaction is one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences of being in business,” Strong said.

In the local area, LT’s Services gives back to the community by donating and serving as a sponsor for events hosted by the Lee Russell Council of Governments.

Strong said he hopes that the company’s efforts will give it the reputation of being a business that is known for its outstanding service to Auburn, Opelika, and beyond.

“The intent is for our company to impact many people lives in a positive way,” he said. “I believes the future is bright for the company as long as we keep God first and keep striving to make our community and surrounding community a better place.”

Shanita Holcey and LaTerry Strong

From Furniture to Friendships

Story By Michelle Key

Photos Submitted By

Goree’’s Furniture Express

Spring time is the perfect time to update one’s outdoor spaces for entertaining, and relaxation. Goree’s Furniture is just the place to find the perfect blend of function and design.

Goree’s Furniture is a locally owned, community minded, massive furniture warehouse located in Opelika. It all began when Jimmy and Pam Goree decided to open a furniture store in 1989.

Jimmy worked in his parent’s upholstery shop from a young age and learned how furniture was not only repaired, but also how it was made. Pam has a flair for decorating, design and the latest furniture trends, and together they have created a reputation of having quality customer service and furniture.

Jimmy’s mother, Jewell Goree, helped build the business from the beginning and continued to work at the company, sharing her wisdom and expertise until 2019.

Goree’s said it has spent the last three decades building relationships with dozens of manufacturers so it can cut the middle man out and give its customer’s the very best price.

The no-pressure sales team, along with the Goree family, has more than 80 years of combined experience and strives to help customers. Whether it’s a customer’s first furniture purchase or a purchase to complement existing decor or an entire furniture makeover to give a home a whole new look, Goree’s stands ready to help.

Goree’s Furniture warehouse is located at 3797 Alabama Highway 169 in Opelika and features a 100,000-plus square foot showroom as well as a robust website for online shoppers. The store offers discounted furniture that can be taken home immediately, featuring brand names at low prices. They also offers special orders from upscale custom manufacturers. Customers can schedule a one-on-one consultation, where trainedstaff can help sketch a room, assist with fabric selections and help design a space perfectly with custom options made exactly to specifications.

Goree’s said it strives to have something for everyone with the largest selection in the area, and a price match guarantee

that ensures its customers get the best deal possible. Financing options are also available.

At Goree’s, customer service doesn’t stop at the furniture sale. The company’s goal is to make sure each customer is not only satisfied with his or her furniture purchase, but also pleased with the service provided after the sale. Goree’s offers an optional five-year protection plan for furniture in case one of life’s little accidents should happen.

“Total customer satisfaction is our top priority at Goree’s furniture, and we love it when our customers become lifelong friends,” said the Goree family.

Going Native

Story By Nicholas Young

Photos Submitted By Native Blooms

Sara Cook

As spring brings blooms and colors, Native Blooms is meeting all your gardening needs.

Native Blooms takes a unique approach for utilizing greenery for the betterment of the environment, the Lee County area and beyond.

In 2020, Native Blooms Founder Sara Cook turned to the hobby of gardening and plant work with her family to manage the anxiety and fear that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As a family, we took the extra time together at home to get outside and invest in healthier lifestyles.”

Cook said it was during this time that she reflected on her early life.

“I often found myself reminiscing on my childhood on a working farm in Eastern North Carolina and spending summers selling fruit and produce at the NC State Farmers Market in Raleigh,” she said.

Cook said that during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 Pandemic, she “found comfort in bringing those experiences as a child back into her life as an adult.”

It was during this time that Cook said she realized that along with a dwindling number of pollinators, there was a need for affordable and easily maintainable plants. It was this revelation that sparked Cook’s passion for this line of work and embarked her on the path to establish it as a business, she said.

“What began by growing plants and vegetables for my family and to give away to others in the area grew into an opportunity to scale up and to contribute to the local economy and environment,” Cook said.

Cook’s efforts have led to the development of relationships throughout the community and the business has continued to grow.

The company that eventually would be known as Native Blooms got its start in the Spring of 2021. Cook said she that she “began by seeding and propagating plants to give away to people in the community.”

This allowed her “to build many relations through social media and beyond.” As interest grew and Cook began to build a reputation in Lee County, she expanded her inventory to begin selling plants.

Following two successful spring and summer seasons, Cook established Paradise Plants in 2022 and began to further expand her inventory. In 2024, Paradise Plants was rebranded as Native Blooms. Cook said she believes that this name appropriately reflects the goal she has for the company.

“Rebranding in this way allowed me to focus my efforts and clientele on native, Alabama ecotype plants,” Cook said.

Along with selling high-quality, sustainable and locally-grown plants at affordable prices, Cook describes Native Blooms’ mission as one that “aims to increase awareness and knowledge of native plants and their benefit to the ecosystem,” while also “helping those in the community to cultivate easily maintainable and healthy gardens.”

Native Blooms has a number of specialty plants which include niche, artisan and heirloom vegetables from tomatoes to super-hot peppers and other planets native to the southeast region. This year, Native Blooms will be expanding its arsenal even more as Cook announced that the business will be “offering a larger variety of medicinal and culinary herbs that may be difficult to find at local retailers.”

Native Blooms have a variety of sizes from small four-inch cups with transplant-ready seedlings to one to two gallon size native flowers and small shrubs. Cook also spoke about the caution she took with plant care stating, “I only use Neem oil as necessary for pest issues and I avoid larger nursey-type plants such as shrubs and trees are typically avoided to keep prices affordable.”

All who have any interest in pollinator re-populations are encouraged

to consider visiting Native Blooms. Those who may be intimidated by the vast variety of options that bigger stores offer or have trouble differentiating the types of flowers can find some much-needed assistance from experts at Native Blooms.

“I am interested in working with anyone from those interested in only a single plant to those who want to transform their yards and positively impact the environment.”

Seasoned gardeners can seek out Native Blooms as rare and impossible-to-find heirloom variety plants are sure to appeal to those looking to expand their repertoire. Native Blooms is committed to improving its product in any way possible specifically through the council of other farming experts, Cook said.

“I spend time with my patrons and talk about what I grow and why — what works for me or for the career farmer who gave me their secrets at last week’s market,” she said.

Giving back to the community is a focal point for Native Blooms, Cook said. Along with the positive economic impact on the area that Native Blooms has, Cook hosts annual plant giveaways for the community. Additionally, educational outreach is provided to interested community members. To educate the community about the benefits of gardening, Native Blooms fosters seed sharing across the community and donates plants in recognition and support of local educators.

Native Blooms hopes to remain a small, local business and help others to start their own similar initiatives, Cook said.

“I want much of my focus to remain on cultivating and maintaining personal relationships with customers, neighbors and plant lovers,” Cook said.

Establishing a robust seed lending and exchange system in the Lee County community and specific ecotypes for the East Alabama region is one of the many ways that Native Blooms hopes to impact the Lee County area and beyond, Cook said.

“It is important to me to always find and create new and ongoing opportunities for those interested in learning and doing more,” she said.

Above all else, Cook said her goal is to “keep my focus on this business as a passion project.”

Story By Nicholas Young

Photos Submitted By

The Potting Shed

T he Potting Shed has been serving the Lee County area since 2017, getting its start after owners Heath Davis and Justin Carlson recognized a need in the area for an efficient source for quality plants, lawn products and expert advice.

The nursery features several resources that will meet a wide variety of gardening needs,including decorative pieces such as fountains and statues as well as pottery to help any plant stand out and add color to one’s household or workspace. Greenery such as annual bedding plants, trees and shrubs are also available.

Installation is an aspect of gardening that can be a headache for some. The Potting Sheds said it aims to alleviate this burden by providing in-store potting. If you can’t bring a plant into the store, they still have you covered with on-site potting of large pots in the house or workplace.

Additionally, The Potting Shed works with businesses offering an exclusive service to provide the workspace with plants and containers that match their office.

“I have a love for nature, plants and beautiful landscapes that gives me inspiration for what we do in business,” Davis said.

He also said he loves to give back to the community by

serving as a sponsor for multiple sports teams and yearbooks for local schools in the area.

Customer relations is a key aspect of any successful business as it grows, Davis said.

“We aim to assure that the quality of customer service it provides is unique compared to those at box stores,” he said. “This includes providing customers with the proper resources to have success when creating their own gardens.”

The COVID-19 pandemic serves as a testament to the dedication that The Potting Shed has to serving the community. Davis said he recalls this time as “a whirlwind.” He further explained that “navigating through Covid was a challenge due to the need for no contact deliveries.”

During this time Davis said he felt that he and his staff worked extra hard to provide customers with the products they enjoyed.

All gardeners in the Lee County area are welcome to explore all that The Potting Shed has to offer for their gardening endeavors. The Potting Shed has two locations. Find The Potting Shed at 4137 Moore’s Mill and 4300 Highway 147 North. Email the company at pottingshed@ yahoo.com or call (334) 759-7211.

Time to Plant

Grilled Chicken with Peach Balsamic Glaze

Season chicken breast with salt, pepper and garlic and place on grill.

While the chicken cooks puree two fresh, ripe peaches. Bring approximately 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar to a boil then reduce the temperature to low as the vinegar reduces. Add in the peach puree and honey or sugar to taste.

Reserve some of the glaze for serving. Brush glaze on chicken. Serve chicken with your choice of grilled vegetables for a beautiful and delicious spring meal.

Going Above and Beyond

Story

By

Nicholas Young

Photos Submitted By Above and Beyond Catering

Above & Beyond Catering offers full-service, high-quality catering for a number of occasions such as weddings, formals, tailgates, business lunches, reunions, engagement and birthday parties, holiday gatherings, rehearsal dinners and more.

Bill Schwenk became owner of Above & Beyond Catering in July 2021, but the company was founded by Jimmy and Beth Walt of Opelika in 2008. Since the acquisition, Schwenk said he has tried to continue to serve the community “above and beyond” with the quality service the company has provided for the last 16 years.

Schwenk said his company aims to serve anyone looking to feed a large group of people including people at Auburn University, Greek organizations and corporate groups.

“We are open to all sorts of new endeavors,” Schwenk said. “Above and Beyond has recently begun catering for private flights out of the Auburn Regional Airport, and I hope this will lead to further expansion into the Columbus, Montgomery and Birmingham markets. We are always looking for ways to expand the company.”

Schwenk’s identification as a Christian and status as a

veteran with a disability are key aspects that motivate how he operates his life and company, he said. “The fact that the company is owned and operated by a follower of Christ [means] we try to meet needs as they are presented to us, to the best of our ability.”

In fact, he said, the main focus of Above and Beyond can be summarized from the Bible scripture Colossians 3:23: “And whatsoever ye do, do. It heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”

A love for people fuels Schwenk to do all he can to serve the community, something he said he feels the company helps him accomplish.

“The greater impact is to utilize food as they did in the Bible, to develop and strengthen relationships,” he said. “The company has always been focused on giving back to the local community.”

Schwenk credits this company mindset to the Bible verse Mark 12:31“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Above and Beyond supports local ministries such as The Way and works closely with the Auburn Student Veterans Association. Schwenk and his wife, Jennifer, who owns Victory Designs, were recognized by ASVA with a community service award in 2023.

“Working with the veterans and participating in Iron Ruck with my son will be etched in my memory for ever,” he said. Schwenk has had many memorable moments throughout his

years in catering events, particularly all the weddings.

“There are so many special moments and experiences in this industry,” he said. “We are part the first moment two people have committed their lives to each other — that’s huge! The list of special moments is off the charts.

“Feeding the Mizzou swim team for a week during the SEC Championships, we felt like part of the team,” he recalled. “Honestly, the thing that sticks out to me is the conversations — or rather debates — among the kitchen staff, [which are] the extension of our family.”

He said he also cherished the little things, such as “a ‘thank you’ from a satisfied customer, or my children working alongside me.”

Customer satisfaction is Above and Beyond’s focus.

“The most humbling thing that ever happens is when other people recommend us, especially an amazing company like Wilton’s Catering — I couldn’t be more thankful for that happening.”

Above and Beyond primarily serves the areas around Auburn and Opelika, but occasionally will cater events in other locations, such as Pine Mountain and Lake Martin.

Schwenk said only God knows the future of the company, so he keeps his attention on the present.

“We are currently focused on handling the growth in the last few years and continuing to serve our customers in an excellent manner,” he said.

Story By Heather Ledbetter

For most people, the term “spring cleaning” conjures up feelings of fear and dread. However, with the right education and guidelines, those feelings can disappear as quickly as the expired food in your fridge. Often times, the barriers to Spring Cleaning arise because it’s difficult to know where to begin.

Perhaps you, like so many others, never learned how to declutter, and the task feels overwhelming. It’s time to tackle that clutter and feel empowerment over your living space.

Rather than going room-by-room, let’s lay out some general protocols to follow when decluttering.

First, and most importantly, set aside specific decluttering time. We’re all busy, and time is valuable. This protocol is especially important for procrastinators, because we (yes, myself included), always start out with the best intentions, but those intentions never make it onto our calendar. Look at your day or week. Perhaps you can set aside one hour each evening for a week. Perhaps you want to use your entire weekend. Maybe two hours on a Tuesday is all you can spare. Whatever the case, you know yourself and you know your schedule, so carve out time to make Spring Cleaning a reality.

Next, after you’ve calendared your decluttering time, survey your problem areas. Your problem areas and your friend’s problem areas may differ entirely. Do you suffer from piles of paper on your countertops? Is your pantry overflowing? Has your fridge been neglected since the holidays began? Is your linen closet a barrage of poorly folded cotton and polyester?

Next to the time slots you have allotted for decluttering, write down each problem area in order of personal importance. Even if you do not get a chance to tackle all of them, you will get to one or two of the areas that mean the most to you.

Now, you have calendared your cleaning times, you have assessed the problem areas and you are ready to get started. First, play some music or a podcast — anything to help you stay on track. Then, set a timer. If your allotted cleaning time is an hour, set a timer for one hour. Only work for as long as you have set the timer for. This step is important, because no matter how overwhelming the task is, you know there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Next, take everything out. Whether it is your pantry, the cabinet under your kitchen sink or even something as large as a walk-in closet, remove all items. Yes, you are making a mess, but it is a necessary mess.

Once you have removed all items from your problem area, start making piles. Make one pile for donations, one for things to sell, one for trash and one for items to keep. To determine what goes in each

pile, look at things like expiration dates, amounts of times you have used an item or reasons that you have held on to an item until the point of decluttering. Ask yourself, do I need this? Do I want this? Do I have more than one? Will I use this within the next six months? Is this item sentimental?

After you’ve discarded the trash pile and bagged up the donation and sell pile, look over the pile of items you are going to keep. Determine whether or not you have designated places for each item. This could look like having a bin for loose snacks, or a container for extra toothpastes and shampoo bottles. If the items you are keeping do not have their own space currently, create one. You may find it helpful to purchase a storage bin. Or, you may find that an old Amazon box does the trick. You may need shelving. If you are lucky, you won’t need any additional storage.

Before you put back your kept items, wipe down all shelves, counters or cabinets and sweep or vacuum the floor. Again, it depends on what area of your home you are decluttering, but there will be a surface or space to clean.

Once you have determined what is staying and where it is staying, put everything in its place. Wipe dusty cans and bottles down. Put items back in order of both importance and expiration dates (i.e. oldest and most-used shampoo bottles go in the front of the line). Store winter clothes away from your warm weather clothing. Keep similar items together and organized. The main takeaway here is to make it look nice. You are more likely to keep an area clean if it looks appealing.

Once you have decluttered all desired areas of your home, get rid of your donation items. If you plan to sell any of your items, have a yard sale, visit your local thrift store or try an online venue.

Now, breathe. You took those lemons and made lemonade. Spring is here. Enjoy.

Don’t JUNK It Up

Story By Nicholas Young

Photos Submitted By JDog Junk Removal

Since 2017, JDog Junk Removal and Hauling has proudly served the Chattahoochee Valley area. The veteran-owned and operated national franchise places a specific focus on putting former American military personnel back to work, the company said. Owner, Nicholas Bain described the JDog team as one made up of veterans, military spouses, veteran family members and others who embrace their same values and work ethic. Nicholas said that the mission of JDog is to “Empower, Serve and Protect.” The company does this by providing employment opportunities for members of their team within the community. A primary aspiration for JDog is to get veterans experience in business ownership as they transition from their time in service.

JDog Junk Removal and Hauling offers services such as full junk removal and dumpster rentals. Residential and commercial customers are welcome as all who may be acquiring new furniture, moving or just want to accomplish some spring cleaning should consider JDog Junk Removal and Hauling for their disposal needs. Providing an eco-friendly method for residents to dispose of any unwanted items is a key focus for JDog Junk Removal and Hauling. This emphasis on environmentally friendly methods of waste removal is centered around JDog Junk Removal and Hauling’s dedication to keeping Lee County

and the rest of Alabama beautiful. The company accomplishes this through its utilization of repurpose, resale, reuse and recycling strategies. Nicholas said this helps protect the environment by keeping “60 to 80% of removed items out of the landfill.” Along with environmental protection, JDog Junk Removal and Hauling also aims to serve the community, According to Nicholas, JDog partners with local nonprofit organizations to

reuse items that are donated. In addition to this, JDog provides clean-up services for the city through the Public Works Right-of-Way Maintenance Division.

Office Manager, Samantha Bain highlighted customer relations as a major indicator of satisfaction.

“Every client we service is memorable — the look on a client’s face when they reclaim some of their space because we remove a large volume of items is priceless.” Samantha said JDog takes great pride in the work they provide.

“We are just proud to serve our community the same way we served our country,” she said. “The military way; with respect, integrity and trust.”